"Thanks. I really mean it. Just come to my house." Draenen clicked off the red pearl in her choker, then frowned. Kirious had been literally the last person on his list, and she doubted the wisdom of calling him. But as she glanced over at the runner from the School, she reminded herself that it really was an emergency.
"Why don't you go ahead and get some 'bo's ready for us?" She said to the runner. "Some… really fast ones."
–-
"… That damn trap better be off!"
Draenen jumped up from where she was sitting and moved to lower the defensive spell and open the door. Kirious stood in the hallway, his arms crossed over his chest.
"So, what's this emergency?" He paused, eyeing Draenen. "And what the hell are you wearing?"
She tugged on the white vest, then shrugged. "New armor." She stepped back into the apartment, Kirious a few steps behind her, and grabbed her knives off the table. "A couple of girls from the School went missing last night."
"No point in trying to force runaways to stay." Kirious was busy examining the contents of her bookshelf. "They'll just do it again."
"The Headmistress doesn't think they actually ran away… more like, they decided to go on a trip. And even if they really did run away, there's the issue of what they stole."
He stood up straight and grunted. "So, you need me for a missing persons and item recovery job?"
Draenen glanced at Kirious, then away. "… Not quite."
"Then what?"
"… Auntie?" From the still-open door, Aderyn peeked around the corner and frowned at Kirious. "Who's that?"
"This is Kirious, Aderyn." Draenen had some satisfaction at Kirious' growing expression of shock and horror. "He's going to watch you for a little while."
The boy seemed to consider that for a moment, then nodded. "Oh. 'Kay." He ducked into the partitioned area that was his room.
Kirious grabbed Draenen's arm. "Oh HELL no. I'm not babysitting the brat."
"Look, I'm not happy with the idea either. But I can't bring him with me and there wasn't anyone else left to call."
Kirious' scowl deepend. "I'll go find the missing twits and the shit they stole, but I'm not–" His eyes widened in shock as Draenen spun around, grabbed him by the front of his harness, and lifted him off the ground.
"You'd just make a bad situation worse." She hissed. "The girls who took off have a bad reputation; you could approach them in the most peaceful and unthreatening way possible, and they'll still carve you up just because you're a male. You'd probbly end up killing them. And while Altana knows those little psychos deserve it, the repercussions inside the school would be disastrous."
Kirious glared down at Draenen. "You know, I have no skills with kids."
She put him down and stepped back. "All you gotta do is make sure no-one breaks in, and that he doesn't set the place on fire."
"… Fine. But I don't do diapers."
Draenen rolled her eyes. "He's six, Kirious. If you were still in diapers at his age, then there's more wrong with you than I'd ever imagined."
He snorted, then looked around. "Do I have to feed him?"
"There's a cold dinner under the tray on the table there." She jerked her head at one of the workbenches. "There's enough for the both of you." Draenen checked herself over, then headed to the door before stopping and looking back. "… Kirious?"
"Yeah?"
"… Just so you understand… I'm not entirely comfortable with my nephew going to school next year; I don't know his teachers."
Kirious frowned. "The hell you getting at?"
"… I don't trust Aderyn's safety to just anyone." Draenen took a breath. "So… please, don't make me regret this." She shut the door behind her, and a moment later there was a distinct pop and crackle as she reset the spell on the door.
Cursing under his breath Kirious stalked around the room, peering and examining all the knicknacks Draenen had on display. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he got the impression that two people had had a hand in decorating the tiny apartment; one who had a very traditional sense of taste and liked exotic things, and one who just liked shiny unusual stuff. He was pretty sure the latter was Draenen.
He was busy examining a set of alchemic equipment – dust free but showing obvious signs of not being used in a very long time – when Kirious felt like he was being watched. He turned around and realized that Aderyn was sitting on a cushion in the middle of the floor, looking at him calmly and curiously. He was a very ordinary looking boy, with black hair that fell nearly to his shoulders and showed signs of being recently trimmed with a knife. The only thing that was out of place on him were his eyes; they were a strange colour, more gold than brown, and were far more serious than a six-year-old's should have been.
"… What are you staring at, brat?" Kirious growled, glaring at the boy.
He didn't flinch. "Auntie says those belonged to my mother." Aderyn's gaze flicked to the alchemic equipment, then back to Kirious as he stood up and walked closer. "Do you know anything about alchemy? Auntie says alchemists can make medicines and fireworks. I think when I get older, I'd like to learn how to do that too. Especially the fireworks… I wanna make better ones than the gobbies."
Kirious grunted at the boy as he continued prowling around the apartment. Aderyn followed behind him by a few paces, offering commentary on the things the man stopped to examine closely.
"… I don't like those ones." Aderyn shuddered as Kirious picked up a statuette of a white Mithra in wicked black armor. "If you want to steal them, I won't tell on you."
"I already have this set." Kirious put the statuette back, then glanced at the boy and sneered. "Why? Are they scary?"
Aderyn thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. "No. Not scary. But when I look at them, they make me feel funny deep inside." He pointed at a similar statuette of a Hume. "That one's the worst, I think. I don't like how it makes me feel."
He snorted and moved on. There wasn't much left in the apartment except two partitioned off areas. Kirious stuck his head into the nearest one.
"My room." Aderyn said proudly.
"… You have a nightlight shaped like a snoll?"
"Isn't it great?" He wormed past Kirious and jumped on his bed to easily reach the lantern. "Auntie was a little concerned, too, when I picked it out. But I think there's scarier things in the dark than monsters like that. What do you think?"
Kirious shrugged as he backed out of the room. There was something about the boy that bothered him. Children should be – and always were – afraid of him, but Aderyn just seemed to calmly accept his presence. His responses and comments were off as well; they were much more mature than should have been. This kid, Kirious thought to himself, looked under his bed and really did find monsters… and he's not afraid of them.
He wandered across the apartment and stepped into the other partitioned area. It was a strange little room; a hammock against one wall, a few wicker beaurus and a matching chest. It was faintly lit by a mandragora-shaped lamp, another lamp that seemed to have been made from a living plant, and a cage of glowflies. Under the hammock there was a long, locked sword-case. And much like the alchemic equiptment, the room was clean but showed no signs of recent use.
"… My mother's room." Aderyn offered quietly.
"Where does your aunt sleep?" Kirious picked a heart-shaped box sitting next to the bonbori and, surprisingly, turned it over. On the bottom was inscribed 'To M–, from M.F', and he frowned at the writing.
Aderyn pointed at the cushion-piled sitting area in the middle of the room. "There. I don't think my mother would mind if Auntie used her room, but I think Auntie's a little uncomfortable on hammocks."
Kirious snorted. "And I bet the hammock is glad it doesn't have to hold her bulk." He put the box down and quickly exited the room. He flopped onto one of the cushions, and raised an eyebrow as Aderyn copied the motion and took a spot on a cushion next to him. "… What do you want now, brat?"
Aderyn thought about it for a moment. "Well, it's too early to eat. So, a story?"
Kirious closed his eyes and snorted. "I don't have stories to tell you."
"Make one up."
Kirious turned over and glared at the boy. "What did you just say?"
The boy calmly returned the look. "I said 'make one up'. It shouldn't be too hard for you." He paused, then nodded. "Yeah, you can do that. And make it about the Starlight Festival."
Kirious ground his teeth together, resisting the urge to jump up and kick the boy across the room. This was not how a child should act towards him! "Feh. Fine. One story, and then you leave me alone until your aunt comes back."
"Deal." The boy sat up, watching the man expectantly.
Sighing, Kirious stared up at the ceiling, thinking…
Every Taru in Taru-ville loved the Starlight Festival alot, But Kirious the mercenary, who lived in Jeuno, did not. Kirious hated the Festival, the entire winter season. But we know not why, there seemed absolutely no reason.
Perhaps he was beaten, or given the boot. Perhaps his mother had simply never given a hoot. Maybe he was just mean, or perhaps missing a few screws. But whatever the reason, he listened from his Mog House, hating the Tarus.
He covered his ears, unable to drown The festive music and it's joyful sound. He opened the door and in a shout damned it all, Perhaps his heart was simply three sizes too small.
He listened from his home, angry as hell At just that moment he was given a /tell–
"A slash tell? Kirious, what's that?"
"Don't talk while I'm speaking, you rotten little brat!"
The tell was from a Avina, the dimwitted one, She told Kirious they were all having fun. Kaolla, and Kenjii, Draenen and Saerun, The group consisted of just about everyone.
The merc howled and he growled, he fumed and he steamed. Those pathetic little worms were about to get creamed. Kirious cracked his knuckles and kicked down the door, He'd beat their skulls in, and then give them some more.
He dashed outside into the dark of the night. To see the merc charge brought oh, such a fright! Kirious removed his swords with the greatest delight, "Alright you little bastards! Who's ready for a fight?!"
He took down the mages, the warriors and monks, Frankly their fighting abilities stunk. He took out the Taru, and even his team. Victory was his at last, or so it did seem.
But there was one last opponent, and wouldn't you know? It was the mad doctor, Professor Shantotto. That little Taru, she let out a laugh, then threatened the merc with her big shiny staff.
"Oh little Kirious, this simply won't do, I'm going to have to beat some sense into you!" A powerful spell the mage began to cast, If the merc was to win, he'd have to think fast.
With quick thinking, Kirious cast Chaotic Eye. It was defiantly time for that Taru to die. The silence spell had interrupted her Burst For a bottle of echo drops Shantotto did thirst.
Kirious rushed forward with a grin like a shark, He cut though a chocobo as it called out with a "Wark!" Shantotto was in danger, her spell was a dud! But her staff came down on the merc with a thud.
"Kirious, you dolt, don't you know what this day is about?! If your ears are full of dirt then I'll simply have to shout!" The Taru's lecturing words the merc did resent Until the doctor handed him a small green present.
He looked at the box, then back to the doc. He took it from her, no need for more talk. He opened it up, and then some say, Kirious might have been less of a douchebag that day.
A Raise spell was the gift, "Go on, try it out! People are calling for raises in /shout!" The merc changed is sub, to that of white mage. He learned the spell quickly by reading the page.
Why then sudden change? What had given him a lift? Was it simply the act of receiving a gift? Was it really that simple act of kindness Kirious did seek? Or was it because, when no one was looking, he kicked Tadpole into the creek?
To see him celebrate was oh, such a sight. But if you tell ANYONE, I'll pay you a visit tonight. And now that you all have something to fear, Enjoy the Festival, and Happy New Year.
~~Happy Holidays from Kirious and Draenen (Kiri and Mae)~~
Xelo Dual Member replied
705 weeks ago