Post by skullwhite on Nov 23, 2007 17:06:23 GMT -5
The kelpie went over the events of the past few days. He had reverted back to his old opportunistic self. Only, this time, instead of feeling glee that he'd once again escaped certain doom, he felt only a strange, bitter feeling he had not ever had before. Guilt, perhaps? No, that was insane; he had nothing to feel guilty about. He had acted in the manner most profitable to himself, and the rebellion had never stood a chance anyhow. It was better that those kids got a stern rebuke now, rather than being tried and perhaps shipped off to Azkaban later.
In any event, things should settle themselves in the next week or two. With any luck, he'd be able to forget about this whole thing then. For now, he sought the library to forget his dilema. Perhas in one of these books lay the answer to this strange malady. He picked one up that bore the title, One-Hundred Common Curses and Their Remedies. Yes, perhaps this strangness was just a curse, or perhaps it was just iron-sickness.
Last Edit: Feb 6, 2008 18:17:29 GMT -5 by Sparky Cobalt
His hair slicked back with a large amount of gel, Torrid Nightshadow, better known to his classmates and professors as TJ, walked down the aisles of the library, on occasion skimming through books on the wooden shelf. He wasn't exactly considered a bookworm, but he loved a good book now and then. His eyes flickering in the dim light as he continued to tread across the carpeted flooring, the boy's eyes rested on an ancient-looking book, it's spine worn by the excessive reading of others. Reaching for the cedar shelf, smelling the tangy scent of the wood as he picked up the old tome, the Ravenclaw student looked at the title. In faded gold lettering were the words 'Mysterious Creatures and Men; The Faery Folk'. The boy's calloused thumb reached for a page and thumbed it open, skimming the text. ... kelpies are mysterious folk, often tricksters and cunning. They can change form at their will, and are magical beings... Slamming the book shut, the boy's hands shook with amazement. Here was an amazing book to keep his mind off things. For his mind was indeed in a perplexed state, lonesome and cut off from the outside world.
Lately he had been struggling with inner demons, those of loneliness and anger. He had begun to cut himself out from the outside world, and became less and less studious. He seemed to be losing the grip on his friendships, with his only true confidante, Morgan, distantly slipping away. He was shading himself away from the true fragrance of life, and was being distracted by bitter silence. He had cut classes, lost touch with his family, and spent the holidays lonesome, with Will and a few other loner students. His mother was pregnant, and he didn't know when the baby was due. Many thoughts of doubt and loneliness swept through his mind. It was bitter melancholy for the remorse he had of cutting himself off from his friends and family; those who cared for him. It was a misery that could not be traced easily, but there were fingerprints of his depressed form that could be seen. Alas, he had fallen away, and his formerly blissful soul was being shattered into a broken room. The changes were so sudden, that he seemingly slipped away from the ones he loved.
His eyes watery from sadness, the boy held the book tightly as he swept across the library, finding an empty seat in a dark corner. The desk was a stained oak wood, sturdy for studying and recreational activities. The chair was well crafted, and sturdy enough to support his muscular build. Sliding onto the smooth surface of the chair, he rocked back and forth a few times on the four-legged seat before settling down, his fingers rapping against the desk. He was saddened, and began to reopen the tome, shifting his depressing thoughts into a more studious light. Flipping lightly through the yellowed pages, the teen's body began to lean onto the desk, his tight sweater rubbing against the wooden surface. Looking for a start, the boy found a chapter that certainly interested him, and began to read. Kelpies? Quizzical folk, TJ thought to himself, his deep chocolate eyes scanning the pages with interest, How interesting...
The professor looked up, aware of someone else in his vicinity. Putting a scrap of parchment in his book to mark his place, He stood and looked around, the tome tucked under his arm. Rounding the bookcase nearest nim, The false Munro came across one of his pupils, a young Torrid James Nightshadow. The lad looked vaguely troubled, similar in disposition to himself. He caught sight of the book he was reading. What a coincidence, he thought cooly, as he approached the boy.
"Mister Nightshadow, are you alright? You look troubled, my boy," he said in his smooth, lightly Spanish voice.
It was odd for the boy to read so deeply, but the topic was interesting. He found it amazing how a kelpie could disguise himself and blend into the society with easy, a natural likable air probably burning through their veins. It was so much harder for a regular mortal to blend into a society they wished to blend into. Flipping a yellowed page with the thought of carefulness, cautious to not rip a page, the chocolate-haired teenager released the edge of the written document and began to read further. His elbows propped against the oak table for support, the boy read the book under dim lighting, trying to make out the illegible text. It was getting harder and harder to read, for the age of the page faded the text and illustrations. Finally giving up on trying to decipher the seemingly hopeless tome, the boy closed the cover, the neck of the book folding into place.
As the boy set the crimson-covered book down onto the table, sighing as he took in a deep breath. The elderly youth was about to turn around when he sensed a presence behind him. Not that of malice, nor peer-to-peer realization, but a more studious, caring presence. Turning around and leaning against his sturdy chair, the boy was surprised to see a certain Ryder Munro, the teacher who taught Astronomy; a kind and friendly gentleman, to an added effect. TJ had helped Professor Munro carry his things to Firefox, and was amazed at the man's smooth charisma and friendly speech. He had amazed him to a further extent by calling out faeries to help him with his bags. Though suspicious, the boy decided not to investigate further, and with that, he went on attending his classes. Lately he had missed one, and from what he had heard, it was a great one. That was another consequence of his spiraling depression.
Giving a shammed carefree smile, the boy tried to make it look as genuine as possible. He didn't want to seem like he didn't like the Professor, but he felt isolated and didn't want to communicate to people smart enough to try to fix his emotional distress. Looking with his dark bistre eyes at his superior Professor, the boy nodded in acknowledgment to his presence. The Professor than broke the silence, asking a simple inquiry in his lightly-sprinkled Spanish accent. He spoke softly, saying, "Mister Nightshadow, are you alright? You look troubled, my boy." It was a caring question, and one that hit the mark. But would a proud teenager want to admit he was unstable emotionally, and that thoughts of depression were running through his mind and soul? Nay, wild horses couldn't drag it out of him.
"Yes sir," TJ replied quickly, his eyes averting, giving away the already unconvincing reply, "I'm just dandy. Why do you ask?" He looked up closer to man, and saw that his appearance had also changed. From a formerly cheery man came a sallowed, exhausted looking Professor, who looked like he had been worn out by someone or something. He had a book tucked under his arm, and the boy spotted the title, being One-Hundred Common Curses and Their Remedies. Was the dear Professor ailing a sickness or curse? The boy then cleared his voice, and tried to put on a slight but noticeable smile. "I could ask the same of you, Mr. Munro. Are you in fact alright? You seem exhausted." This was obviously a feeble attempt to switch the spotlight, and with luck, the maneuver would pay off. But then again, he knew Professor Munro wasn't stupid. He would find out sooner or later.
This was not the T.J. Nightshadow he'd met that day in Drakborough; the happy, handsome boy with a gaggle of friends. This boy was sad, emotionally despondent on some level the kelpie couldn't fathom, and most shockingly, alone. Not even Miss Pendragon, with whom the kelpie'd observed had an especially strong friendship with the boy, was here. That was a bad sign. A kid like T.J. ought to be enjoying his friends, especially this time of year.
The Professor saw through Nighshadow's lie immediately, but decided not to press the issue. "Oh, cold weather always makes me tired, and unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of sleeping the day away; as much as I'd like to. But you should be outside, enjoying a snowy day off with your friends. I'm sure they'd like to build snowmen, or whatever it is you kids do in the snow. Not whiling the time away with dusty old volumes. Besides, those books never get the facts right, you'd be better off reading Muggle fairy stories."
"Oh, cold weather always makes me tired, and unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of sleeping the day away; as much as I'd like to. But you should be outside, enjoying a snowy day off with your friends. I'm sure they'd like to build snowmen, or whatever it is you kids do in the snow. Not whiling the time away with dusty old volumes." The Professor seemed to be hiding something as he spoke of his condition, stating he was simply tired. Being one not to press issues further, the boy listened as the Professor suggested TJ going outside and enjoying the day. Though he had considered going out, he couldn't have possibly imagined taking his friends alongside with him. The grief he had experienced had no explicit reason, so it was hard to identify the root cause of his recent depression.
"Besides, those books never get the facts right, you'd be better off reading Muggle fairy stories." The Professor stated this, a flourish of his Spanish accent ringing through his slightly suspicious tone. He was definitely trying to hide something, but the Ravenclaw teenager knew his lines of curiosity were at its edge. Smiling at the Professor disarmingly as he swept his hand across the textured cover of his reading material and onto the desk it sat on. "No, snowmen building isn't really for me. As for my friends, well..." His brain searching for an excuse, the boy quickly winged an answer. "Er, uh, they're busy. Yeah, all of them are really busy." Nodding his head in agreement with himself, the boy tried to convince the Professor that he was not hanging out with his friends by choice.
"So, yeah, I kind of just was led to the library. Good for relaxing the mind and stuff. Oh yeah, sorry for missing your Astronomy class. I was really busy and all..." Clearing his throat as if dismissing the subject, the bistre-flecked eyes of the boy observed around the room absentmindedly, finally looking up to Professor. "So, sir," the boy started to inquire, "Do you know anything about Faery Folk? Seeing that you say these books aren't accurate, I assume you must know something about them." Smiling as he was glad there was a change of subject, the boy straightened his posture, fixing his slouched position. Yes, this was indeed a good change of topic.
Nightshadow earned an ever-so-slightly raised eyebrow when he declared all of his friends were busy. However, it wasn't the kelpie's place to gainsay the boy. Even if he had happened to see Miss Pendragon sitting alone, looking rather morose he might add, in the Feasting Hall. If T.J. wanted to avoid his friends, then that was his right.
"Don't mind about the class, boy. Just make sure your homework is submitted by my next class. I can understand if you weren't feeling well." His grin had returned, though it was a little lopsided. He eyed the Ravenclaw lad and his book slightly suspiciously. T.J. had seen him call the pixies in Drakborough, and might be suspicious of him already. Surely, this book would only serve to heighten his supicions, especially if the boy noticed any of the signs that he wasn't who he was pretending to be.
He had the real Munro's body, preserved and hidden, in case of such a situation, but he hoped he wouldn't need it. He found that, to his surprise, he enjoyed teaching, and rebellions aside, he found real satisfaction in his students. It was far different from any of his previous experiences as a fae. Working towards a real goal was something new for him.
However, he was pulled out of his own thoughts by a shrewd question by T.J. He settled himself down on a chair across the table from the boy, his own book being put down on the table top, forgotten for the moment. "What do I know of Faery Folk?" he mused as he gathered his thoughts. "Do you remember when you first met me in Drakborough? How I called the pixies? Well, I admit, I may have fibbed a bit that day. I did not, in fact save a fairy lass. I am however, sensitive to the presence of the Folk."
He thought for a moment, deciding how exactly to play this. He settled on a plausible explanation, and spoke again. "You see, my father's grandmother is, or was, one of the folk. When she met my great-grandfather, a mortal Scottish wizard, she fell in love with him, and gave up her eternal youth to be with him, since she couldn't stand the thought of him dying while she lived on. So, I have a tiny smattering of Faery blood in my veins. I was taught all about the People from my father.
"He wanted to be one of them, I think. Anyway, he told me everything his mother had told him about the Faerie, and so, I do pride myself on my knowledge of the Folk." He stopped speaking for a bit, almost missing the Court, except...he never felt needed there. Sure, he was one of the Lady's knights, but nothing he did there really mattered. Besides, Faeries were all mad anyhow. "The reason I didn't tell you that at first, is that I don't generally go aroung annoucing my lineage, since I usually get one of two reactions. Either they look at me like I'm not human, or they think I'm lying. What do you think, Mr. Nightshadow?"
"Alright sir, I'll try my hardest to get the assignment in. But if I don't, you can just call me into detention or something... don't deduct points from Ravenclaw, please. I'm just a little off these days..." Smiling weakly as his brown irises flickered towards the Professor's direction, the boy wrapped his slender fingers each other, the joints curling onto one another. He felt a gravity pull between going back into his anti-social demeanor, or giving into his curious nature and finding more about his kind but shrouded teacher.
Professor Ryder Munro was a curious man, and though not eccentric, he carried a mysterious air about him. He was extremely kind to pupils and random passerby alike, but he was not extremely explanatory to his past. He explained convincing stories of his past, but somehow, they didn't match up. TJ was a particularly intelligent boy, and he easily spotted missing pieces in the story. It was hard to put his finger on, however, and he wasn't sure how to explain the odd cryptic mystery shrouding Prof. Munro.
The Professor set his book down, the tome seemingly temporarily forgotten. Will he talk to me about this? This will be quite interesting. Though Teej was not in the mood to talk, his curiosity overwhelmed his harbored feelings as he suddenly light up into a vacuum of knowledge. The Professor pulled up a chair and settled his hands on the table, looking straight into the teenager's deep, brown eyes. "What do I know of Faery Folk?" the man began, looking as if he was trying to gather is thoughts into a good explanation, "Do you remember when you first met me in Drakborough? How I called the pixies? Well, I admit, I may have fibbed a bit that day. I did not, in fact save a fairy lass. I am however, sensitive to the presence of the Folk."
Though the Ravenclaw boy was a little surprised that Ryder Munro would have fibbed to him, he also understood that on many occasions had he stretched the truth, and even sometimes made things completely up to get out of trouble. He quickly forgave Ryder and dismissed any shock or contempt a boy might have received after he realized his teacher had lied to him. TJ was one quick to forgive if someone openly realized their fault and admitted it. Seeing Ryder pause, the slender boy swung his arm off the desk and over his chair, relaxing himself in a more comfortable position. Smiling as the Professor seemed to try to collect his thoughts further, the boy intently listened as he finally agreed on what he was about to communicate and spoke.
"You see, my father's grandmother is, or was, one of the folk. When she met my great-grandfather, a mortal Scottish wizard, she fell in love with him, and gave up her eternal youth to be with him, since she couldn't stand the thought of him dying while she lived on. So, I have a tiny smattering of Faery blood in my veins. I was taught all about the People from my father."
Ryder continued on. "He wanted to be one of them, I think. Anyway, he told me everything his mother had told him about the Faerie, and so, I do pride myself on my knowledge of the Folk." Professor Munro stopped for a second. TJ saw him debating whether or not he should elaborate, and to his disappointment, he did not. "The reason I didn't tell you that at first, is that I don't generally go around announcing my lineage, since I usually get one of two reactions. Either they look at me like I'm not human, or they think I'm lying. What do you think, Mr. Nightshadow?"
"Alright," the even more curious boy replied, ruffling through his brown hair, "The story you have given me is little more sense. I would think faeries would be a little more careful than to ask for help from a human, and I was also a little suspicious when you said you actually helped a faeriemaid. For a mortal to be able to help in any way is really hard, so it kind of... puzzled me. If what you say is true, you are not human. But not being human is nothing bad or hugely shocking. All creatures alike have souls, and humans are at the same level as a fly, or a rose. Each one has their pros and cons, and I wouldn't see why I would like you any less or more if you had told me you weren't a human. So as for that, I actually think it's neat to have some faery blood in you."
The tanned youth stooped, a smile replacing his recently glum expressions. "And I trust that you are not lying. If you were, and I found out, I would be much more hurt. I cannot be sure that you are not, but I will trust you, because you are a good soul and a person just like me, as well as a smart, kind teacher who wants what's best for his students." A genuine smile appeared on the boy's face for quite a while. "Thank you for the explanation, Mr. Munro. I really appreciate it. So, anyways, is it true that faeries can, like, transform into different forms? I don't know if it's true, but it always really fascinated me..."
OOC: Yo Ryder, sorry for the post crap. Not length-wise, but quality wise. And look out for a post in the Feasting Hall between now and Christmas, because that will be an ultimate move in TJ's development.
Teagan Offline: This board is full of nostalgia.
Aug 22, 2020 8:39:09 GMT -5
Missing the old MH: gotta say missing when MH and all that was around.
Nov 6, 2019 0:02:30 GMT -5
Willow_lazy: why tf are there 400 posts about adidas
Sept 6, 2018 17:35:57 GMT -5
Azrael: I'm not hard to find, since I'm the only one there who goes by "Azzy", I'm pretty sure. XD
Feb 10, 2018 16:44:41 GMT -5
Azrael: Dunno if anyone still pops by here from time to time, but if any of you mofos do and still feel like gettin' yo nerd on, I've been hanging around this here place a bunch recently: www.roleplayerguild.com/
Feb 10, 2018 16:44:10 GMT -5
Azrael: hold onto your pantaloons
Jul 25, 2016 5:16:43 GMT -5