LUNA LIVES!
Muttonhawk Member
Let Slip the Corgis of War
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- Joined: 12 yrs ago
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Bio
Dear Mr Curly,
I have done little travelling lately because I have been so dreadfully weary. Can it be true as the old Ecclesiastes said; that all things lead to weariness? Surely not. Perhaps the opposite is true: that all nothings lead to weariness. I have a peculiar feeling, Curly, that I am worn out from something I haven't yet done and the more I don't do it, the more exhausted I become. How strange. Could it be something I haven't realised? Perhaps it's something I haven't said? Something I haven't finished! It must be very large and true whatever it is and a lively struggle in the doing but I look forward to it immensely. I know I need it. First, however, I must curl up in my chair and sleep deeply with the duck. Perhaps I'll dream of this thing and wake up refreshed and do it. My fond wishes to you Mr. Curly, and to all Curly Flat.
Yours sleepily,
Vasco Pyjama
xxx
P.S. Not having breakfast can make you weary. That's for sure!
Most Recent Posts
Narsi remained glum and grumpy, if quiet. She regarded Meesei with sideways glances only, especially when hints of Meesei's inebriation became apparent.
When Meesei made her comment -- even if it was only meant as a jab against Lorag -- Narsi showed more of her teeth. She only took a second before she talked back. "With respect to your strength," she said, quirking her head to one side, "you can fuck off."
Some of the words Zharan used were not common in the conversations Janius thought Julan engaged in. It left a hope that Julan did not even think to take his grandfather's criticisms personally. Still, Julan could know the words, and he could probably pick up on the sentiment.
"I can see your opinion of me has not changed. I did not expect a change, though we still wished for you to meet our son." Janius stepped aside to allow Julan and Zharan to face one another. He tried to touch upon the obvious in a gentle manner. "You...and Kaleeth's mother."
When Meesei made her comment -- even if it was only meant as a jab against Lorag -- Narsi showed more of her teeth. She only took a second before she talked back. "With respect to your strength," she said, quirking her head to one side, "you can fuck off."
Some of the words Zharan used were not common in the conversations Janius thought Julan engaged in. It left a hope that Julan did not even think to take his grandfather's criticisms personally. Still, Julan could know the words, and he could probably pick up on the sentiment.
"I can see your opinion of me has not changed. I did not expect a change, though we still wished for you to meet our son." Janius stepped aside to allow Julan and Zharan to face one another. He tried to touch upon the obvious in a gentle manner. "You...and Kaleeth's mother."
Narsi tried to wrench herself free to no avail. She stopped for a moment when Lorag clamped his hand around her shoulder. Halfway through his attempt at persuasion, she pushed her lips together and tried to push Lorag's wrist away. Curiously, Lorag found her grip stronger than both Rhazii and Julan's, but Narsi was still no match for him.
She grunted angrily when Lorag finished talking. "Fine!" She stopped and caught her breath. "Fine. I'll go. Just...let go'a me, alright?"
Narsi pushed Lorag's hand off her shoulder and followed along with her head down.
She had nothing else to say before meeting Meesei. Whether Meesei had held back on her drinks before they got there was up to fate.
Janius felt his own heart beating faster as he approached Zharanthixil's hut. He held optimism that did not quite comfort him. His mind was not willing to think about the most likely response Kaleeth's father would have to seeing his face again, but reality soon played it out for him.
Keeping himself reserved, Janius clasped his hands together in front of himself when Zharanthixil addressed him. Janius bowed his head respectfully. "Hello, Zharanthixil," he said with a neutral look. "It has been a long time."
Only then did the details come out in the corners of Janius' eyes. His mother-in-law was conspicuously absent, in body and in trace. An invisible ribbon tightened around Janius' throat.
He checked to make sure Julan was still beside them.
She grunted angrily when Lorag finished talking. "Fine!" She stopped and caught her breath. "Fine. I'll go. Just...let go'a me, alright?"
Narsi pushed Lorag's hand off her shoulder and followed along with her head down.
She had nothing else to say before meeting Meesei. Whether Meesei had held back on her drinks before they got there was up to fate.
Janius felt his own heart beating faster as he approached Zharanthixil's hut. He held optimism that did not quite comfort him. His mind was not willing to think about the most likely response Kaleeth's father would have to seeing his face again, but reality soon played it out for him.
Keeping himself reserved, Janius clasped his hands together in front of himself when Zharanthixil addressed him. Janius bowed his head respectfully. "Hello, Zharanthixil," he said with a neutral look. "It has been a long time."
Only then did the details come out in the corners of Janius' eyes. His mother-in-law was conspicuously absent, in body and in trace. An invisible ribbon tightened around Janius' throat.
He checked to make sure Julan was still beside them.
Narsi followed along passively. When she wasn't keeping her eyes down on the ground in front of her, she was looking out at the forests and fields away from Lorag.
When Lorag finished talking at the gates, Narsi was quiet for a moment, before starting to blow frustrated breaths from her nose. A few seconds passed before she wrinkled her nose. "Screw this," she said under her breath. She spun on her toe and started on a walk away from Lorag and the city.
Janius' Jel was much more practiced than the last time he was in the marsh, though he remained less than confident speaking it. He cleared his throat. "My name is Janius," he said slowly enough in Jel to be understood in spite of his accent. "I am Kaleeth-rei's partner." He looked down at Julan and gestured to him. "You should introduce yourself, son."
Julan had been taught the basics of Jel, at the very least.
When Lorag finished talking at the gates, Narsi was quiet for a moment, before starting to blow frustrated breaths from her nose. A few seconds passed before she wrinkled her nose. "Screw this," she said under her breath. She spun on her toe and started on a walk away from Lorag and the city.
Janius' Jel was much more practiced than the last time he was in the marsh, though he remained less than confident speaking it. He cleared his throat. "My name is Janius," he said slowly enough in Jel to be understood in spite of his accent. "I am Kaleeth-rei's partner." He looked down at Julan and gestured to him. "You should introduce yourself, son."
Julan had been taught the basics of Jel, at the very least.
"Not by much," Narsi said. "You just left out the part where she was decided she was going to go out fighting after everything went to shit. She was ready to die and kill as many of those Vile fuckers as she could along the way. She only ran 'cause she learnt I existed." She caught herself before she raised her voice any further. "She wasn't tryin' to get out of it for herself."
"Finally here, after all this time," Janius said during their wait, taking in the air.
His demeanour was much more high and confident. An effort put on for Kaleeth -- he was internally nervous and looking at every errant shape in the marsh trees. Janius did not think in his rational mind that they would be attacked on sight but his gut told him just enough lies to put him on-edge. However, in the face of Kaleeth's voiced doubt, he did not feel the need to speak. He simply gave her a smile, took her hand, and held on reassuringly.
They had come this far together. They could take this step.
"Finally here, after all this time," Janius said during their wait, taking in the air.
His demeanour was much more high and confident. An effort put on for Kaleeth -- he was internally nervous and looking at every errant shape in the marsh trees. Janius did not think in his rational mind that they would be attacked on sight but his gut told him just enough lies to put him on-edge. However, in the face of Kaleeth's voiced doubt, he did not feel the need to speak. He simply gave her a smile, took her hand, and held on reassuringly.
They had come this far together. They could take this step.
Sounds good. I didn't really have much more planned until Ahnasha's family arrives.
Llarasa and Monderyn each waited for the other to answer first. After a while, Monderyn adjusted his cuff and sighed. "Don't take this the wrong way, but it has not felt for me like these past years since talking to you last were such a long time..."
Shortly into the conversation, Monderyn's statement was more or less disproven. Their memories jogged as various events came to mind. Between the yearly to weekly to daily routines of running the winery with their father, Monderyn and Llarasa had plenty of things to talk about. New friends had been made and old friends moved onto new stages of life. The winery had expanded marginally, with more experience and networks earning them a reputation for quality. Llarasa even mentioned her cat dying of old age a year before their conversation. Monderyn had to call out why she mentioned that instead of all the spare-time canvas painting she had been doing over the years, but Llarasa insisted that was just a hobby.
Perhaps the most impactful period was the time spent putting together eye medicine for Fendros' mother Calia. Over a year-long treatment process, she regained use of her sight enough to travel slowly without assistance. Sadly, she never regained full use of her eyes, though the skills she learned when blind more than made up for her remaining deficiency.
Of course, most overarching events had already been conveyed through letters. The real substance of the conversation set in when everyone had finished at least two drinks. By then, they were relaxed enough to settle into more general conversations about mundane, if often wholesome, aspects of life.
Rhazii even contributed to the conversation, though he mostly kept his distance. A combination of anxiety and the age disparity left him far less to relate to. Fendros and Ahnasha pulled him into the conversation numerous times in the capacity of proud parents, letting slip non-harmful accomplishments he had made. Rhazii kept himself humble at first, though he acted in contrast to the self-assurance he otherwise expressed if his capabilities were even subtly brought into doubt.
Many hours of catching up eventually had to end as dinner was approaching. Llarasa and Monderyn were adults, it was true, but missing the family dinner without notice would bring undue suspicion. They took their leave with gracious farewells, hugs, and promises to speak tomorrow. This time with mother in tow.
Narsi walked with a surprised start at Lorag's turning and leaving. Once she caught up with him, she looked back at her mother Harriet. Harriet returned her look, scowling, but she brought her fingertips to her lips and then lifted the hand to wave her off. Narsi's face twisted and she looked away and down. Lorag could hear her breathing unevenly, but she did not sob once. No tears dropped from her lowered face.
By the time Lorag asked Narsi about Harriet's side of the story, she had only just started calming down. She was just as petulant in her tone as before. "She didn't lie if that's what you wanna know," she said. "How do I know you're even smart enough to understand? Not like I can just say she killed the guy and you'd be satisfied."
Shortly into the conversation, Monderyn's statement was more or less disproven. Their memories jogged as various events came to mind. Between the yearly to weekly to daily routines of running the winery with their father, Monderyn and Llarasa had plenty of things to talk about. New friends had been made and old friends moved onto new stages of life. The winery had expanded marginally, with more experience and networks earning them a reputation for quality. Llarasa even mentioned her cat dying of old age a year before their conversation. Monderyn had to call out why she mentioned that instead of all the spare-time canvas painting she had been doing over the years, but Llarasa insisted that was just a hobby.
Perhaps the most impactful period was the time spent putting together eye medicine for Fendros' mother Calia. Over a year-long treatment process, she regained use of her sight enough to travel slowly without assistance. Sadly, she never regained full use of her eyes, though the skills she learned when blind more than made up for her remaining deficiency.
Of course, most overarching events had already been conveyed through letters. The real substance of the conversation set in when everyone had finished at least two drinks. By then, they were relaxed enough to settle into more general conversations about mundane, if often wholesome, aspects of life.
Rhazii even contributed to the conversation, though he mostly kept his distance. A combination of anxiety and the age disparity left him far less to relate to. Fendros and Ahnasha pulled him into the conversation numerous times in the capacity of proud parents, letting slip non-harmful accomplishments he had made. Rhazii kept himself humble at first, though he acted in contrast to the self-assurance he otherwise expressed if his capabilities were even subtly brought into doubt.
Many hours of catching up eventually had to end as dinner was approaching. Llarasa and Monderyn were adults, it was true, but missing the family dinner without notice would bring undue suspicion. They took their leave with gracious farewells, hugs, and promises to speak tomorrow. This time with mother in tow.
Narsi walked with a surprised start at Lorag's turning and leaving. Once she caught up with him, she looked back at her mother Harriet. Harriet returned her look, scowling, but she brought her fingertips to her lips and then lifted the hand to wave her off. Narsi's face twisted and she looked away and down. Lorag could hear her breathing unevenly, but she did not sob once. No tears dropped from her lowered face.
By the time Lorag asked Narsi about Harriet's side of the story, she had only just started calming down. She was just as petulant in her tone as before. "She didn't lie if that's what you wanna know," she said. "How do I know you're even smart enough to understand? Not like I can just say she killed the guy and you'd be satisfied."
@Antarctic Termite
Another computer break?!
That's it, you must be operating computers in an actual termite mound. I can't logic this any other way.
Another computer break?!
That's it, you must be operating computers in an actual termite mound. I can't logic this any other way.
"That actually sounds rather manageable," Llarasa said.
Fendros' head turned at her optimism.
She continued. "Not only would a business negotiation not last too-too long, it means mother and father will not be continuously giving them hospitality. A break here and there could be helpful."
"Hopefully it will make the difference," Monderyn responded. "Well, we had better let mother know now. We can all meet up later to see if we have any strategies..."
"Wait, brother." Fendros half-raised a hand before Monderyn could stand up. "In all fairness, we're not in a rush. Do you have time to stay and share a few drinks with us? Without worrying about all this? It's been so long since we've spoken to you both."
"It would be nice to catch up," Llarasa said with a smile. "I can stay a while."
Monderyn clutched the arm of his chair and was silent for a moment. He exhaled through his nose and relaxed back into his chair. "Very well," he conceded.
Harriet kept her cross-armed, eyes-down posture and let Narsi answer.
Narsi took a moment to clench her hand into a fist. She didn't look up at Lorag, but he could see her lowered face looking stern as a wall. "'Course I can," she said indignantly.
Fendros' head turned at her optimism.
She continued. "Not only would a business negotiation not last too-too long, it means mother and father will not be continuously giving them hospitality. A break here and there could be helpful."
"Hopefully it will make the difference," Monderyn responded. "Well, we had better let mother know now. We can all meet up later to see if we have any strategies..."
"Wait, brother." Fendros half-raised a hand before Monderyn could stand up. "In all fairness, we're not in a rush. Do you have time to stay and share a few drinks with us? Without worrying about all this? It's been so long since we've spoken to you both."
"It would be nice to catch up," Llarasa said with a smile. "I can stay a while."
Monderyn clutched the arm of his chair and was silent for a moment. He exhaled through his nose and relaxed back into his chair. "Very well," he conceded.
Harriet kept her cross-armed, eyes-down posture and let Narsi answer.
Narsi took a moment to clench her hand into a fist. She didn't look up at Lorag, but he could see her lowered face looking stern as a wall. "'Course I can," she said indignantly.
Llarasa curled her lips inwards. "I understand, Ahnasha. We understand." She glanced and Fendros and Monderyn. "The next question is how long to they intend to stay?"
Fendros looked to Ahnasha. "Did they mention that in their letter?"
"However long they wish to stay, we can head back home to fill mother in." Monderyn straightened his back as if eager to get up. "She might have some ideas of her own, as...tactical as she usually is with these social matters. Are there any more details we should know about?"
"You haven't gotten any less thick over the years, huh?" Harriet blew through her lips. "Pfft. So much for wisdom of age. Alright, I'll spell it out for you: Narsi's gonna fight you. You're gonna beat her down. She's gonna get back up and try again. It'll keep happening. Eventually, between fighting you, she'll start lookin' for ways to learn how to beat you. She's gonna learn those foundations with a stay with the clans, and with a stay with you, whether you want to teach her or not. She's gonna get experience with other lycans and learn with peers instead'a just her momma. She's gonna learn to put a lid on that temper of hers. She's gonna make friends. She's gonna realise she's not so alone. She's gonna prove to herself that she can take care of herself without bein' stupid about it. Then, she'll come around and beat your aging ass into the dirt once and for all. She might have to come back and beat me first, but I ain't gonna make it easy for her. Neither should you." Harriet turned her head to the cabin. "Hear that, pup?!"
Narsi crept around the door of the cabin wearing a hide coat and a filled knapsack over her shoulder. She kept her eyes low, probably to hide the redness that still lined them in spite of her having wiped away the other evidence as best as she could. "Yes, momma," she said just clearly enough to be heard.
Harriet turned back to Lorag with her arms crossed and her head bowed forward, not looking at his eyes. She lifted one hand to itch the top of her head. "That's my aim. That's all there is."
Fendros looked to Ahnasha. "Did they mention that in their letter?"
"However long they wish to stay, we can head back home to fill mother in." Monderyn straightened his back as if eager to get up. "She might have some ideas of her own, as...tactical as she usually is with these social matters. Are there any more details we should know about?"
"You haven't gotten any less thick over the years, huh?" Harriet blew through her lips. "Pfft. So much for wisdom of age. Alright, I'll spell it out for you: Narsi's gonna fight you. You're gonna beat her down. She's gonna get back up and try again. It'll keep happening. Eventually, between fighting you, she'll start lookin' for ways to learn how to beat you. She's gonna learn those foundations with a stay with the clans, and with a stay with you, whether you want to teach her or not. She's gonna get experience with other lycans and learn with peers instead'a just her momma. She's gonna learn to put a lid on that temper of hers. She's gonna make friends. She's gonna realise she's not so alone. She's gonna prove to herself that she can take care of herself without bein' stupid about it. Then, she'll come around and beat your aging ass into the dirt once and for all. She might have to come back and beat me first, but I ain't gonna make it easy for her. Neither should you." Harriet turned her head to the cabin. "Hear that, pup?!"
Narsi crept around the door of the cabin wearing a hide coat and a filled knapsack over her shoulder. She kept her eyes low, probably to hide the redness that still lined them in spite of her having wiped away the other evidence as best as she could. "Yes, momma," she said just clearly enough to be heard.
Harriet turned back to Lorag with her arms crossed and her head bowed forward, not looking at his eyes. She lifted one hand to itch the top of her head. "That's my aim. That's all there is."
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