VINNIE THE VOICE

The gull hesitated, and then--with his long, strong yellow beak--started sifting through the treasures. He loved shiny things; he was a bird, so of course he did. Topaz, diamond, something dull green--... No, no... no...

Ahh! There! A sparkling gemstone that reminded him of a sea he'd never known; it shimmered and shifted as he moved it, not unlike his own gemstone. And this one was neatly on a thin, beaded chain, each tiny crystal bead not unlike a drop of sea-spray come to rest.

Happily he twisted this over his head, so that it hung at his neck. He found that it dangled far too loosely, and so he looped it again.

"Hey, thanks, guy. Appreciated, yeah? Best of luck to you. You need any more help, you just shout!"

With that he turned, lifting off with broad wingbeats and circling Pisces. He'd watch, making sure everything was okay, that Aure left safely. And caves, were those two other kids cute! Worry flickered through him--these caves were not a safe place. But then, they seemed to have pretty big guardians. That was good, at least!

He circled higher, and away, his raucous call echoing once behind him.

________________

exit Vin

Arsu was quiet, watching the glittering field of beautiful things. The food interested him moreso--he liked vibrance, he liked being alive, the touch of plants underfoot, the hum of life and scent of sweet. The sparkle of gemstones, lifeless, if beautiful, did little for him.

He was nibbling on a delicious fruit pastry of some kind when he noticed his brother's double. He blinked up, surprised, and spoke past a mouthful of food--not at all as graceful as his form would suggest.

"WASH TH' OO?" ...He blinked, swallowed, and tried again. "Was that you? But it seemed that Azizos himself wasn't sure, so Arsu looked back to the pile. He pulled another pastry, hauling it over--and nudged this toward his brother even as his brother offered him a crown, of sorts. It dangled loosely, though, and Arsu wasn't quite sure what to do with it either. He glanced briefly around--he could see Bremen with a snowglobe, and Vinnie, the gull, pulling a necklace down over his head. It must work like that, he thought, and tried to slip his the thing over his head, from his brother's mouth. It sat on his head, instead, but it didn't readily fall off, and he liked the cool touch of it there.

Well, the pastry wasn't enough for that! He looked around, and spotted a single gem that reminded him of his brother. This one was a soft translucent gold--almost clear, but with a hint of warmth, like bright sunlight. It lay on a long, white cord, something soft and supple. He picked this up in his own mouth--leaving the pastry at Azizos' feet--and trotted back to him.

"For you!" he squeaked back happily. "And the food, too. It's good!" he added.

@Azizos

lmfao guess who finally remembered to post in this lmfao :)

Arsu was just as surprised by the doppelganger as he was! The fawn-cub skidded to a halt, dancing on the spot. "I don't know. Maybe..." Azizos would have pursed his lips in thought if he could. After approximately two seconds of deep thought, he bleated excitely in revelation, "maybe we have another brother!" Tail haplessly swaying through the air, the young Morning Star looked for the vanished sibling. His ears flickered back, slightly disappointed to see absolutely no sign of the copycat. Maybe it was him --- he had been seeing through two sets of eyes, after all.

He watched as Arsu abandoned his pastry for a moment, drawing up his own gift from the pile. Reaching sky-high levels of genuine appreciation, the fawn-cub gasped. It was a crown, too! Instead of individual links, it was strung on some strange white stuff that reminded Azizos of a spider's silk. It shone in the orb-light, making him all the more eager to smush his face through it. Unlike the crown that rested on his brother's head, the object slipped over his face and down his neck with ease. Maybe it wasn't a crown, after all. A whole lot of maybe's were being encountered, today!

"Thank you---" he started, then mewled in joy at the food. Quite the eager beaver, Azizos knelt and took a delicate little bite. He couldn't particularly detect the sweet aspects of the confectionery (a side effect of being part feline and carnivorous), but enjoyed the earthy, tart taste it had. Scarfing the rest of it down appreciatively, he purred. Crumbs strewn all the way down his chest, he trotted forward. Lowering his head and voice into a conspiratorial whisper, the fawn-cub plotted, "we should pick out presents for Fathers. But! They have to wait until we get home and we'll surprise them!"

It was fool-proof! Whether or not Arsu was on-board, Azizos was already beginning to scour the pile for the perfect offering.

@Pride

Pride stepped over, stately as ever, and gave both young ones each a gentle nudge. He held a gentle gaze, too, to Mercurius, and it was to him that he spoke quietly. "I'm exhausted. I've been leading these deer all day, down the ice tunnels from Fornax. That's on top of magic backfiring," he added wryly. "You mind if I get back?"

He looked to the little ones, adding--"You two, are you ready to come back to Eridanus? We can rest, and then tell stories later, yes? Those are very pretty gifts you've chosen for one another."

"They're good kids," in a murmur to the lion. And they were. So happy and full of joy, just to be granting gifts to one another--and judging by the food over Azizos' face, to eat. Well. That was only natural.

Amused, the stag turned, and though he waited for Mercurius and the children, he would soon depart.

exit Pride

Arsu listened quietly to Azizos, and then gave a secretive nod.

"I'll get one for lion-dad," he whispered playfully, before diving back toward the pile. It didn't take him long to choose one of the snow globes, though he found almost at once that it was impossible, or nearly-so, to carry. It was heavy, for one so small, and had no easy way to grip.

He'll like this, though. It's another world! Like his stories!

Almost at once giving up the idea of somehow carting it all the way back as a surprise, he bounced up to Mercurius. "Dad!" he bleated--and then remembered he'd forgot the gift. He bounced back away again, and then rolled it over the stone, luckily not scratching it up. "It's a present for you but it's too big and I can't carry it back! But it's a story like your stories! --But I don't know the story!" he added.

At Pride's gentle words, he turned, bounding clumsily along with stick-like legs. He was happy to have gotten out; happy to have met this stranger, to have gotten gifts, to have seen the deer. It had been an exciting day, though he was--as any children would--quickly growing tired.

"I'm ready," he told Pride, following along at his heels.

exit Arsu

@Mercurius

Naskital seemed too busy with his sleigh to provide a proper answer, so Mercurius simply gave up on the prospect of getting any information. Perhaps the situation was a tad bit overwhelming, with all of these Gembound around. Surely another of the Ancients would know what their 'work' was supposed to be. The storyteller nodded to Pride, "ah, I've been busy growing plants and helping out that odd black hybrid, just over there. His name is Oliver." Mercurius's tail flicked in the direction of the crow-dog, a smile across his face, "he is trying to grow plants in Canis, and I offered to help him, sometime."

Again, he could only nod as his companion stated the children's goodness. Pride --- no pun intended --- swelled in his heart, as he watched the fawn-cubs exchange gifts and be ever-so-kind. "They are," Mercurius purred. Moonlit eyes widened slightly as Arsu called out to him, approaching swiftly. Whirling around, the young one began to nudge a shimmering orb toward the lion's feet.

Mercy peered down at it carefully, watching as minute snowflakes spun within. At its heart was a fantastic landscape, well-crafted and detailed: a circle of pillars, rosy-red and glimmering in the light despite their smoothness. Rich green grasses lay at their bases, swaying softly in the watery substance surrounding them. "It's beautiful, Arsu," he rumbled, beginning to lean down and pick it up, "we may not know its story yet, but perhaps we will figure it out together. Thank you."

With the snowglobe clutched between his teeth, base sticking halfway out his mouth, the storyteller waited for Azizos, but followed the other two out at a leisurely pace.

;exit Mercy

Okay, the plan was a-go! "I'll pick something for deer-dad." The Morning Star trotted back to the plethora of presents, slipping a little as he did so --- Pisces was really slippery, alright? Silvery eyes scanned over each prize in the trove, looking for something that would serve as the perfect gift for deer-dad. There was the food, which was delicious but wouldn't last that long. Sweet-smelling rocks stuck out of the pile, too, and he was sure it was food, too. Perhaps it'd last a little longer, but it was still just food.

Oh, here was something! An intricate weaving of beads, elegant yet simple, stood out among the many other bits of jewelry and decorations. Silver, slightly translucent beads wove in and out of loops, sometimes accented by small pearls no larger than his own pupils. It was beautiful, indeed! There was a simple loop at the end, and a larger bead; both made up the clasp. When worn, it'd likely come to rest just above Pride's shoulders. Azizos took it into his mouth, as to hide it, and ---

A surge of childish betrayal simmered up as he watched his brother give Mercurius his gift, already. Affronted, Azizos scuttled up to Arsu's side and whispered through the mess of beads in his mouth, "I thought we were going to wait!" Regardless, the fawn-cub trailed after both fathers and his brother. The best would just have to be saved for last!

He'd just have to wash it when they all got home.

;exit Azizos

He waited a few moments longer, with his chosen gifts gathered beneath him. Aure --- sobered by the reality he'd inevitably have to face at home --- suddenly realized he wasn't in much of the mood to hang around others. His bright eyes followed Vincenzo as he spiraled into the eyes, and the wyvern couldn't help but feel a need to follow. They were friends (and had somewhat of a babysitter-baby relationship) and he should at least invite him into the family. Aure nodded to Naskital again, and rose into the air. Gemstones carefully clutched in his talons and cuff in his mouth, he followed after the gull.

;exit aure lmfao

oops i forgot about this

Asimona watched with wonder as the pile of gifts tumbled from the sleigh. Her face lit up brightly at all the many wonderful things that were within the pile. Jewelry and foods and little gemstones that looked beautiful. A draconic instinct surged in her stomach and she wanted all of it. She wanted all the jewelry to herself, but she forced herself back. No, she wasn't going to take everything. These things were for everyone, after all.

She stepped forward and leaned towards the pile, nudging through the jewelry, carefully picking out some nice things both for herself and for the children that would come soon. After a moment's thought, she picked up a few of the larger candies out of interest before backing away. "Thank you, Naskital." Not really sure what else to say, she dipped her head and turned towards her own corner of Pisces and lifted into the air, clutching her presents to her chest.

*exit

"Can you hear their voice?"
"Find the one who'll guide you."
To the limits of your choice.

tags:
notes:

Glory watched proudly as the creature, Naskital, happily took his tools and repaired his sled. The tools had served him well in the past and he hoped that their new owners would get as much use from them as he did. As the presents tumbled from the sled, he couldn't help but give a small excited leap. "Oh...how beautiful! I can use these in my work! Thank you, my friend!" Without hesitation, he picked out a few of the fragile looking gemstones, admiring their magical shimmer, as well as some jewelry and decorations that he thought would make excellent additions to his craft. He found a thick golden band and immediately thought of Dread, so he picked that out too. Curious, he nibbled on a few of the breads and, upon enjoying them, nabbed a few of the foods as well.

He didn't take too much, though. That would have been rude and, besides, there were others here, but he took enough for both himself and some things for Dread. When he was done, he hopped back, wearing some of the jewelry around his neck to carry and clutching the rest in his talons. "Thank you for the gifts! May your endeavors be successful!" He spread his wings and leaped back towards Monoceros, looking forward to Dread's reaction to the many little trinkets he had gotten for him.

*exit