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+--- Thread: [BB] the young, the innocent, and righteous (/showthread.php?tid=8346)
RE: [BB] the young, the innocent, and righteous - Ischium - Aug 15 2020
Ischium scratched a flea.
Bonebound and Gembound! Come!
Oh, okay then. He leaped to his paws and, telling his family he'd be back as soon as he could, bounded to the source of the sound, wagging his tail at the sight of Aure - although it began to tuck when he realized, oh, this was about that, he hadn't understood a lot of it but it was still very bad he understood that well enough.
His head swung to face Giggle, an ear twitching, quickly scratched by a back paw oh he itched! and then a little hog-thing was yelling, and he tilted his head oh what was that? joined by another thing, and Kerberos was speaking, all three of his heads, and he understood, just a bit,
RE: [BB] the young, the innocent, and righteous - Skeena - Aug 15 2020
It had been a very long time since Skeena had seen her family.
She had lost herself to her bones, to her own mind.
But it was... nice. She had found peace, a balance, for once. They were quiet, murmuring only rarely, and though she wanted, nothing more, than to visit her family, to see them and talk to them, she feared losing herself again.
So it was only when her presence was demanded that she went.
Her tiny bone was clutched in her paw, and she bounded across familiar bones, ears flat against her skull.
So she waited, waited for a lull, then spoke up for the first time in many, many cycles,
RE: [BB] the young, the innocent, and righteous - Auré - Aug 17 2020
A wry smile twisted the corners of his beak as he bowed,
Kerberos came to his attention next, and the young King regarded him with just as much warmth. Indeed, he was big and strong — but, so gentle and determined to protect his family. They didn't share the closeness of brothers like they should (
For Ischium and Skeena, he offered —
There was nothing from Damask, and it didn't go unnoticed. He glanced at the monochromatic hybrid, his daughter — all grown and looking better than she had weeks ago, at his crystalline bedside. Not that he hadn't known this before; they'd had their fair share of interactions since his reawakening. Aure was, though, unaware of what mire lurked beneath the exterior, all casual stiffness and buttoned-up tuxedos. The damage he'd believe himself to have caused. But, the young King knew, she wouldn't want him to linger on her, put her at the center of attention unwittingly. His attention traveled on after a split-second sympathetic smile, frown, and squint of the eyes for her.
Ashtoreth said nothing, either, but he had no expectation of anything different; she was content on the sidelines, doing as she pleased. If she wanted something, they could talk about it later.
Aure didn't recognize the lammergeier that piped up in the next opening, not even as a creature ambling about on the fringes of Canis. In all his patrols and gliding about, the young King managed to miss Nemo every time. Regardless, his opinions and counsel were welcomed and received eagerly,
Speaking of... the slightly unwelcomed uproar. His feathers stayed smooth, even as he distinctly recalled a bird with sparking spurs and a grating voice, hell-bent on assault. The boar — and her companions — weren't jumping to violence, but it was difficult not to read too far into the bristling of hairs and rambling about her loss.
The young King didn't know about the Trial of Darkness and its involuntary subjects; only that, one day, a number of Gembounds went into the Tunnel, and weeks later, not so many emerged. It was some Trial, at the very least. Was it fair, then, to be upset that this group of Gembound went in (as far as he was assuming) and suffered losses? Aure's beak drew into a thin line. Vincenzo had gone in of his own volition, and he died for it. But, the bird hadn't known. That'd been the first of them. Unbeknownst to Aure — and his Bonebound — they'd lost two more of their own, too: Elyon and Vinea.
Then again, the youth and unawareness of implying that Masters weren't universally known as harbingers of bad news — and the barging in? "What do we owe them?" He'd just said compliance in exchange for their collective survival.
But, Aure waited for Kerberos to talk, taking the time to run a dialogue through his head and mentally thank the cerberus for his own address and advice — it was good. Don't judge a creature by its bite and its claws, but it's ability to change.
The Bone King took it into his own conscious, shaped his next words with it:
Despite the cottony, tightening feeling of his throat at the mere thought —
No, no, not now. Aure softened somewhat, bright eyes looking almost earnest as he spoke again,
Staring more closely at the boar and the strange hybrid-beast, the young King noticed them... struggling. His gaze left them for the moment, flicking through the crowd. Rifling through the faces, even though he couldn't come up with an immediate suspect (nor would he name them out loud, if he could) he chirped,
Since this post is a massive 1,064 words long and things are slightly out of posting order, I've underlined the names (or titles, in Giggle's case) of all the characters Aure has addressed and their respective paragraphs, for easy skimming and responses. Enjoy this literal wall.
@Giggle @Sora @Morganite @Damask @Ischium (Skeena) @Kerberos (Ashtoreth) @Charles @Nemo @Pumpkin ... and still any others interested in spectating or joining the Bonebound!
For Sora and Morganite, please allow other Bonebound to post their reactions to prior posts before doing your own posts! :cattoblush:
RE: [BB] the young, the innocent, and righteous - Giggle - Aug 18 2020
Morganite, Kerberos, Nemo and Skeena are somewhat personally addressed. Anyone else can mostly just skim her dialogue if needed.
Giggle's head jerked this way and that as the others spoke. Strangers. Were they Bonebound, now-? Were there new members, without her having been made aware? Irritation, nervousness, rose in her--not at the idea that someone might've been invited without her knowing (that wasn't her place, or her concern) but at the mere presence of a cluster of strangers.
When Morganite spoke, she was quick to correct it.
"YOU," she snapped, turning and narrowing eyes at it. "Why did you say BREEDING? Who said BREEDING? I didn't say BREEDING. Don't make assumptions that aren't SAID. He has family ALREADY, and that's what I meant, unless there's something you know that you aren't sharing," she added. It wasn't a necessarily hostile statement, but it was stern and clear. She did not want her readings, or her words, twisted and misrepresented. That was not how the bones should work!
When Kerberos spoke, though, his voice calm and measured--and wasn't that something; when Kerberos was the voice of reason among them?--she herself calmed, her ruffled fur lowering along her back, her eyes shifting to him. She bowed her head in acknowledgment. "I agree with Kerberos. If we have a problem with them, I suggest we talk to them, or ask the bones if they'll be a threat and what to do about it. Planning in the background, sniping and bitching about them, is a coward's way and should be a last resort," she added, flashing a glare at the newcomers. Astraea had spoken to them candidly. Had offered to teach them. Yes, some of his words had been unpleasant but he, so far as she knew, had made no attempt to hide anything from them or to threaten them in any way.
Nemo spoke--another Lammergeier-? Giggle stared, blinking. "Are you one of us?" she asked, out of surprise and not confrontation. There'd been so many lammergeiers in Canis that it was sometimes hard to tell if she'd met individuals--and if he wasn't one, surely he was meant to be-?
Ischium was asking to learn, and Giggle nodded to him; she'd leave that for Aure to arrange. Surely the Bone King could find him a suitable teacher?
Ahh, and now Aure was speaking. Giggle spotted Skeena in the crowd, and pushed up, pacing over to sit beside her--offering a friendly nudge--as she listened to her son. Strange, to think they're siblings, sort of. They're so different, she thought, absently. A nod to Aure, a smirk, as he titled her; and then she turned her attention to his words.
She glanced around as he said 'whoever's doing that, let go, let them speak'; her eyes settled on Sora, and she realized that the pig was trying, and failing, to continue in her words. The hyena glanced around again in some surprise, but she had no idea of who was capable of that sort of magic, let alone who might actually dare to use it in a meeting.
RE: [BB] the young, the innocent, and righteous - Ashtoreth - Aug 18 2020
Ashtoreth had only been paying half-attention, shooting the occasional glance toward Damask in an attempt to catch the raptor's gaze and roll her eyes at some of the comments being thrown around. Unfortunately, Damask was much more enraptured in the show, and eventually, Ash seemed to catch on to why, as Giggle snapped and Aure called out for the magic to stop being cast.
The furry noodle did a quick survey: Sora and Morganite, struggling to open their mouths and make any sound; and the others, looking around furiously. It took only a split second to put two and two together, and to be quite honest, Ashtoreth didn't want the blame being cast on any of the rest of the Bonebound. It was bound to, perhaps, start a fight... But she could diffuse it, right then and there.
With a
Read: 'Ughh, whatever you say, Aure. They better watch what they say, though.'
A big, fake show, but immediately all blame was deflected easily on to her-- Ashtoreth was a quiet, terrible little mischief maker who in the past had certainly shown the capability of using pressure magic to silence others. Maybe not this specific spell, hah, but with one perfectly dramatic play, all eyes were easily taken off of the true perpetrator.
RE: [BB] the young, the innocent, and righteous - Kerberos - Aug 18 2020
Kerberos was exceedingly proud of how the others took his words. At least... Well... How Aure and Giggle responded to them. His tail thumped happily, and he held his heads high, glancing around at the gathered as though he had set an exceedingly good example.
A dog, just like him, spoke up among the others, saying that he wanted to learn how to help and provide. Kerberos tilted his heads toward the coyote, tail thumping. He didn't actually know this Bonebound very well, but he could smell the dusty, bone-smell all over Ischium. This, paired with Aure and Giggle's response, got the big hellhound wriggling a little in his seat.
Quietly, he woofed,
Aure insisted that Canis would be a safe haven for the others, if they wanted it. Kerberos didn't want to interrupt too much, but he did add on,
A whine came from the canine's three throats, and he glanced about, only to end up staring down Ashtoreth, the little noodle who... she was Bonebound, but she also was something of the black sheep of the family. This was a peaceful gathering-- why was she using magic on anyone?
@Ischium in particular, no one else is addressed super directly//
RE: [BB] the young, the innocent, and righteous - Ischium - Aug 20 2020
There was praise, if slight, from Aure, and Ischium's tail set to wagging so violently as to nearly knock over the scrap of a coyote, his hind paws dancing to keep his balance. Oh, oh he was a good bonebound!
And then there was an offer to teach him from Kerberos, and he nodded,
One of the nearby rat skulls, his eyes darted to, grinned.
There was chaos, and he whined, looking from Bonebound to Bonebound - what should he do?
RE: [BB] the young, the innocent, and righteous - Skeena - Aug 20 2020
Seer.
The same title Aure had used for Mother. She would not be the same sort of Seer, no, but seer all the same - they would be kin and kith, and her ears perked up, a grin on her face.
And - Mother! - she nuzzled close, not speaking but showing her affection all the same, still clutching close her little bone, leaning against her as she looked around, taking in the intruders that had been muted. The hybrid attempted to catch Kerberos' eye - at least, one of them, there were rather a lot - and nodded, she'd like that.
RE: [BB] the young, the innocent, and righteous - Eythan - Aug 21 2020
This post contains potentially sensitive material:
That was an if. He was better than that, now.
The spotted hybrid bristled immediately, a narrow-minded anger bleeding into his entire body. Eyes squinted, ears back, teeth half-bared beneath his beak, Eythan waited for the others to spit before he delivered his piece in a low, disgruntled muttering:
It was the principle of the act, more than anything.
But, judging from the brief glare his brother gave him, it was the Bone King's call what came next - who had what rights.
RE: [BB] the young, the innocent, and righteous - Charles - Aug 21 2020
He was barely listening to what was being said. His head was reeling, his eyes were drooping, but he had something he wanted to say. It was...it was important. He didn't have the same care at the moment to start planning a fight back against the Masters. Perhaps earlier he had, but he just wanted to sleep, sleep and forget. But he needed to say something important because he didn't think they knew...they didn't know.
He opened his wings and fluttered off, landing on the ground and managing to lift his head up.
His speech complete, he turned and climbed back onto Sora and began to disassociate again, trying not to think about the encroaching darkness that kept trying to prod at the back of his head.