“So if I were to throw a knife aimed at that picture, you could use luck and make it hit…let us say the door.” He glanced down at his empty leather pouch, “but you cannot conjure up things like rocks or lavender. It must be useful to have a bullet or in my case an arrow or a sword thrust miss you.” He suddenly turned to look at Jarrod, “can I take him to my home? You have no idea what luck can do for our cause.”
"Ask him his opinion on crime." Jarrod replied.
“Crime?” Arwood glanced from Jarrod to Felix, “pardon me, but I do not think I understand.”
"Laws are ridiculous and anarchy should be the only legal form of government!" Felix began.
"Actually, this was a shitty idea." Jarrod started, but Felix just talked over him.
"Laws are made by weak people! Yes, I don't mind being nice to people, but the fact that dueling is illegal is downright atrocious! How the hell do people settle their difference anymore? And another thing, why is the prison sentence for grand theft so high? It was only 2 cars, it's not that big of a deal. I even returned them when I was done! Also, the fact that casinos are illegal? This country has gone so far downhill it's actually ridiculous."
"My point is," Jarrod interjected, "Felix may be useful, but he's also a handful. Everything he just said is bullshit. He loves committing crimes against the more fortunate people of the world for the thrill of it. By the end of the first day, you'd have complaints about how someone's most expensive jewelry was stolen and glued to a stolen chicken who was placed inside of another persons home with a stolen cat chasing after it. So I mean by all means, take him. Just don't complain to me when he causes you more trouble than good."
“Ah,” was all Arwood managed to say as he digested all the strange words thrown at him. “Most of those laws I have never heard of before, also” he turned to Jarrod, “I already have someone very similar to Felix and do not really want another one, and Berthold would probably kill me if I brought another companion identical to Kale.”
(I love Felix so much. 😂)
(He's here to be a friend and does it well)
Austin jumped back and accidently let out a pained growl. A very real sounding growl. "Ow." He muttered.
"Sorry." He sighed, looking at the ground. "I just… sorry. Sorry."
You're an idiot. He thought. Of course she doesn't want to let you see it, how often do you let people see your stupid cuts? Idiot.
Austin sighed again. "Sorry. …To answer your question I… do make this pretty often. …Pretty much every other night when I don't get sleep. It's a ritual at this point."
He stirred the concoction once more, before pouring it into two mugs. He grabbed one and started sipping. "Enjoy." He muttered.
Willow dipped her head. "No its just… an old injury," she sighed. "It doesn't need washed." she reached for the mug, and sat on the floor because she didn't like chairs much. Actually Willow doesn't like anything much. "Thanks." she said quietly, wincing at how much tension she had created just because she couldn't be still.
"Oh. Alright." Austin took another sip. "So… what do you think? Of the drink?"
Mashka twirled out of Vozreal's grip and spun across the dance floor to Felix. "Play some music! I've never danced to music before this, and it's delightful."
Willow took a cautious sip, and her eyes lit up. "I remember this. We called it some thing else, and it was a little less sweet, but it's the same!"
Mashka twirled out of Vozreal's grip and spun across the dance floor to Felix. "Play some music! I've never danced to music before this, and it's delightful."
Felix sighed. He was itching to fight someone or something, but playing the piano would do for now.
Jarrod caught the glint in Felix's eye and grabbed his ear.
"Youch! What are you doing?!" Felix shouted, batting at Jarrod's arm.
"I know that look. We aren't fighting anybody or anything that isn't already hostile, because I know you'll just over do it. No. Fighting. Got it?" Jarrod hissed into Felix's ear.
"Alright, alright!" Jarrod let go of his ear and walked away again. "Sheesh. Killjoy."
Felix began to play again, this time a low angry tune. Jarrod gave him a look, and Felix just gave him a look back.
~~
Willow took a cautious sip, and her eyes lit up. "I remember this. We called it some thing else, and it was a little less sweet, but it's the same!"
"What do you call it? Cocoa or something like that?" Austin asked. He winced before taking another sip.
Mashka frowned slightly - the music was all maroon and sour and lumpy, nothing good to dance to.
"Play something else," she said, leaning over the piano and experimentally prodding at the keys, her hair falling over Felix's face. "You can't dance to this one."
(Mind you she was raised alone in a mansion so she has no idea of what you'd call "appropriate" social conduct)
Felix sputtered and batted Mashka's hair out of his face. "Okay okay, I will, just get your hair out of my face. It's getting in my mouth and stuff, eugh."
Felix began playing a much more up beat song, one that's rhythm swung.
"Reminds me of the 1920s!" Vozreal stated, dancing.
Arwood inwardly winced at Jarrod’s choice of discipline. He opened his mouth to object but hastily closed it deciding not to intervene. If he had been in Jarrods position, he wouldn’t want a stranger telling him how to govern his troops.
Instead, he crossed his arms over his stomach, wrapping his cloak about him and stretching out his long legs watching the individuals dancing strangely about the room.
Mashka skipped out to the middle of the dance floor and started dancing.
He danced fluently
"You dance very nicely," Mashka commented.
"Thanks… Millenia of practice!"
"What do you call it? Cocoa or something like that?" Austin asked. He winced before taking another sip.
"I don't think it was a Common Tongue name," she said, tilting her head towards the music. "He keeps changing the song. He must know a lot of them," Willow commented. She noticed him wincing, but couldn't read why. She hadn't kicked him that hard had she? Maybe she did, it was a reflex she couldn't really control.
Austin saw Willow's expression go to confused, and realized he must of flinched or something.
"I have this.. uh.. headache. That comes and goes." He explained. "Nothing major. Just annoying. And yeah, Felix has been playing for decades apparently. He knows a lot of songs."
Austin checked his watch and realized it had nearly been an hour. He drank the rest of the hot chocolate and set down the mug. He'd wash it out later.
"I've got to go let everyone know I'm not dead. I'll be back if you just want to chill here." Austin started to leave, then stopped and turned around.
"Hey Willow?" Austin tugged on the neck of his shirt, revealing a few scars the ran up and across his collar bone. "Just remember that you aren't alone in having some painful reminders. Whatever yours reminds you about, it's not something only you have to deal with. We just met and all, but I'm always willing to listen if you need it. Yeah. That's all."
And with that, Austin left to rendezvous with the others.
(Austin is soooo sweet!)
(He's a cinnamon roll. But he's a cinnamon roll with a bat, so be careful.)
Jarrod checked his watch. "Felix, lets go meet with the others in the foyer."
Felix sighed, and finished his song. "Fine, but lets make this quick. I'm pretty sure this place has a wine cellar somewhere and I want to find it!
They started walking for the foyer.
~~
Austin's phone buzzed. He checked it to see a message from Mel.
Text me back if you get this
*What's up? Are you in trouble or something? He typed. Send.
He pocketed the phone as he stepped into the foyer. The others hadn't gotten here yet. He flopped down onto the couch to wait.
"Wait, where are you going?" Mashka hurried after the piano player and his friend.
Taking a deep breath Arwood started to his feet and followed them towards the parlor rubbing the sleep from his eye with the tip of his fingers. He was tired, but he knew better than to sleep when there were so many mysteries about the house and its occupants.
They were all back where they started. Except for Mel and Em.
Oh thank god the phones work. We're trapped in some room Came a text.
"Guys, Mel and Em need our help." Austin typed back a response asking where the two were.
"What? How do you know?" Jarrod asked. Austin just waved the phone in response. "Phones work? Maybe we can text someone outside the mansion."
Jarrod tried texting Missy, but the text wouldn't deliver. He tried texting Austin as a test and the message went through instantly. He sighed. It was worth as shot.
If you follow the hall to the right at the end of the hall to the left there's room. Go there Austin got up and started walking.
"Come on guys, they're this way."
Felix sighed. He still had his heart set on the wine cellar. Jarrod bapped him on the back of his head and the two followed Austin.
Can I join?
(OP hasn't been active in the chat since I've been on, but everyone's welcome, go ahead)