graves_hall

It was October. And he was feeling restless, roiling, tense. It was hard to admit when something as insignifigant as Elemental alignment would over take your personality for a time, but it did, right now he was overcome with the restlessness of a gale cutting across a dusty plain. Where most people saw the straightlaced dignified person he was sure there was underneath nothing but a bird ready to peck through his eyes and fly away to the mountains or maybe across the sea. He was rife with metaphor today.

He looked at his breakfast, picked up the class or green sludge. Instead of drinking it in a gulp, walked to the nearest kitchen window and poured it out. Then dropped the glass into the garden. He hefted a sleepy Ikra in his arm and headed for home in New Meridian. He said he was ill and sent note to his classes.

He had to go outside. Where there was wind and oxygen. Taking in a deep breath he wondered why this restlessness over took him? If there was something unlucky in the air, or some mysterious outer influence. But then he found it out.

This time of year made him nervous. It should have only affected him every ten years or so. But still there was that feeling, in his heart. Of anxiety, of loss. He remembered being eleven years old sitting on the front stairs looking out at the street wondering if it was all possible to be so upset and so sure if you wished something it would come true. A slight windy chill picking up in the air as he worried his hands back and forth.

There would be a new king in October. And he wished that the prophets would leave his house alone.

He knew know it was silly the prophets knew where they must go, and the whole of Aylasia would depend on them to find the right person wherever they were. And there were many people in the world who were not going to be king. But he had the nagging suspicion that one day the Prophets would come for his father. Even though his father had long since gone to his grave. He still had dreams that something had taken him away in the night. The feelings were still there. When he was boy, it seemed to him no better then kidnapping, taking a person away and making them king.

No one came the whole day that day when he was eleven. Robert was too busy working, the prophets no longer had their eye on him after that point, and Kanaan could pretend for those few moments that he did have his father around.

He was too young to remember when his father was made King of course, and it was probably a very happy fine day. Mother was still there, Sasha was there, and the whole world was proably glad to have a new king. But he couldn't remember anything of that, of course. He didn't have much of those times left in his rattling mind.

Kanaan sat trying to have some breakfast. He knew that he should return back to work. That he didn't need to come all the way home to have juice and some scrambled eggs. He picked the Aether Cafe, a little outdoor cafe near the high class city townhouses where the parliamentarians kept their city homes. It was generally accepted if you were in parliment you could afford at least two homes, or your own home in this region. He and his father lived in the town house up until the year Kanaan decided to move out of New Meridian. He used to come to the Aether to avoid Sasha's nagging and take out his girlfriends if he snuck them in his house overnight. He could see himself 17, having breakfast the morning after with some winsome brunette, smoking a cigarette between sips of apple juice. He was trying ever so hard to appear like a suave adult instead of the insecure boy he was. He couldn't even remember her name all these years later.

Ikra was pacing around the restaurant sleepy. He became agitated at one of the tassels on the table cloth. It was shaking and vibrating right above his head when he was trying to sleep. The crabby creature bit the tassle trying to rip it off. Kanaan fed him a glob of egg to calm him down
"I could always say I needed to see my cousin. So no one thinks I've gone insane." He muttered to Ikra looking at his breakfast. Didn't one of them have profound political ambitions and the youth to dream. Burton DeVries-Connor? There were people who would go to sleep and dream one day the prophets would come to them and make them king of all the land. Kanaan had to remember that he was considered by most a little eccentric.
He continued picking at his breakfast food watching the young men of parliament rush to work.

	From: gideon_morrow	Date: 09/10/2007 12:37:09

It was in passing that little restaurant that Gideon saw Kanaan DeVries, as if the man had a giant target painted over his head. Oh my, how I could make him uncomfortable.

The lizard king still wasn't certain how he was going to use the little tidbit of information that the tart Evie Wilheard had passed to him. The "entertainer" was such a useful informant and for the right price Gideon Morrow could find out any number of things.

The bit of information of Kanaan was useful, but how best to blackmail the man? That was a question Mr. Morrow had yet to answer. He strolled into the restaurant easily and took a seat at a table very near Mr. DeVries. He had no intention of ordering food and thought perhaps a little game of stand-offish intimidation might fare him best this morning.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 09/10/2007 13:12:10

He was zoned out until Ikra stopped his struggle with the table runner, to hop on the chair to get a better look at something either excited or scared. His big eyes wide and his tail wagging furiously.
He noticed Gideon Morrow taking a seat nearby. He wondered if Morrow noticed him. Kanaan was never comfortable around those with Fortuna ability. It seemed unnatural to him.
He looked to see if he was decieved. He actually called out to him
"Mr. Morrow? Is that you?"

	From: gideon_morrow	Date: 09/10/2007 13:15:33

So much for stand-offish, he thought, genuinely disappointed that he wouldn't get to play his favorite game. "Why indeed it is me, Mr. DeVries," he replied cheerfully, as if they were old friends who often met in public randomly. "How do you fare this fine morning?" he asked rather loudly from his own table, not ready to move yet. He'd wait to see which side of the chess board he was on before he made his first move.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 09/10/2007 13:35:28

He said "Better then sometimes." He said a little deflated. "Its October again." He said. "The Prophets will be convening soon enough." He said. "I'm sure that makes you busy enough, getting ready for the change."
Gideon gladly made his political enemies. He smiled and nodded.

	From: gideon_morrow	Date: 09/10/2007 14:18:28

"I do believe your calendar needs to be reset Mr. DeVries. It is only the tenth of September. There are still many days left to this fine month before the new king is coronated," he said pointedly. Such a peculiar man. I doubt anyone would even think twice of his questionable tastes. Though Gideon wasn't about to let that stop him from bargaining with that information. "So far as being busy is concerned," he said with an upraised eyebrow, "there is always a lot to do in Parliament. A new king is just another bump on the road," he added, so nonchalant about the thing that he almost believed himself.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 09/10/2007 15:31:06

Ikra on the chair scratched his ear. "Do sit down Mr. Morrow. I've had too much of the world lately."
Ikra gave Kanaan a look and hopped onto the floor, leaving a trail of beast hair.
"My cousin Bertram Connor, would insist they were appointing the king today. Every day my cousin tries to call on me, asking for my advice on how to attract the attention of the Prophets or to become a more likely candidate."
He looked down at his juice "The only way an intelligent and exceptional man like Bertram could get the notice of the prophets was if he went wandering in there in a pink party dress."
He enjoyed a mean spirited smirk.
"I don't understand these people. I have been around some forty years and I don't understand why these young fools are so enchanted by the idea of it. Of Being King. What end does it come to but assassination, public scandal, and the compromise of all ones inner values?"
He continued on his rant, far too arrogant that Gideon Morrow would be a kindred spirit of his delusions.
"Could you explain to me why it is everyone's dream to be king?" He asked the man looking his directly in the eye.

	From: gideon_morrow	Date: 09/10/2007 15:48:44

"All men want to be the top of the food chain. It is our biological imperative," he said with a fake and very charming smile. "I'm certain Bertram could pull off the pink dress," he added as he took a seat at the table Kanaan was occupying. "Of course, most of your young people want the prestige of the office. They do not understand the hard work that is involved in being the absolute leader. I am not certain one can attract the attentions of the prophets for the office anyway. It is not a job that can be applied for, I am told." He rested back in the chair, his words careful and quick to dance around his own desires regarding the subject. He was reverent all the same, so enamored of the idea of king, the absolute final word in justice.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 09/10/2007 16:18:47

"When I think about all the sleepless nights my father had in fear for his life and the frustration of trying to change the world for the better, I am just saddened. Even a king can die. It seems to me that a king would be in more danger then anyone else. That is not something I would bother with." He said.
Ikra noticing that Gideon was going to sit too close to his human. Familiars certainly were lacking training this day and age. The beast hopped on the table and puffed out his little feathers. It a burst of anger that was as infrequent as it was completely humorous
"Ikra, be polite to Mr. Morrow. He is a friend."
Ikra looked like a rusty cotton ball like that, His facial features obscured by a mound of "He must have thought you took his sleeping place. You must forgive his bad temper."

	From: gideon_morrow	Date: 09/10/2007 16:26:34

"It's nothing," Gideon said with a mere wave of his arm. Agave sat on his shoulders as serene as ever, almost an extension of Gideon's own body. The lizard's tongue curled out along with the sound of exhaling air. He was slow to move, trickier than the usual predatory beast. He sized up Ikra and eased that flickering tongue towards Gideon's ear. Would you like me to silence the beast? he asked, in a hissing whisper only Gideon could hear.

"I should think not," Gideon replied with a light laugh. "We'd never live it down."

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 09/10/2007 16:55:52

Ikra being small tried to look for a place to join the conversation scampering around the table as the mages spoke.

Kanaan sat down. "The world has gone insane. He said. Perfectly reasonable requests for public safety go unnoted. My ex-students are either stupid or doing positively foolish things with their lives. And almost everyone who will still talk to me is a bigger arsehole then I am. To forgive an expression."
He looked at Gideon. "Maybe we do need a new king." He said "How are you faring this summer? How is the family? I know he and his girlfriend are still married." He said "You should be happy most marriages that age don't last more then a month or two."
He knew that from personal experience. "I've seen married couples that were more annoying. They are a bad pairing, as that sort of thing goes." He admitted as graciously as he could.

	From: gideon_morrow	Date: 09/10/2007 17:13:06

Gideon faked a bit of a coughing fit in response to the questions about his nephew Garage and his new wife Samra. He had his own feelings about Sam, none of them positive though he wasn't entirely certain why. She was a gifted mage, pretty and kind. Perhaps that's why he didn't like her. That and she was such good friends with the grandson of that scourge Hamlin. "My family fares well," he answered carefully. "As for Garage and Samra I celebrate their happiness and wish them many returns on that investment."

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 09/10/2007 17:46:15

"I mean he's not entirely insane, but I do wish he would stop riding his device over my front lawn." He said. "Every day at six I have to make sure that Ikra doesn't try to catch him as he rides by. I can't even say the word bicycle without."

"Bike. I want the Bike where's the bike chaaaaase the bike." The familiar became too excited and began to hop up and down.
"Ikra." He actually smiled at his familiars behavior, he couldn't hide it. "Eat this and be quiet." He gave him more food to keep the familiar quiet. He gave the creature a pet.

"It's good to hear." Kanaan somehow felt himself calming a bit from his restlessness and felt his speech halt to a slower more usual rant. It was so easy for him to get carried away, but his temper was uneven quick to pass. "I am glad things are well with you," He said. "I think just getting all of these troubles off my chest is deflating my temper quite quickly." He said. "It is good to speak of such things." For some reason he felt like he could trust Gideon and relax. Perhaps because he was older and more dignified. Perhaps because of his sterling reputation. Perhaps because unlike so many others Gideon Morrow kept the veneer of good manners and dignified behavior that he had expereinced all his life growing up. Calm dispassionate, confident and strong, a person that could be depended upon, even though they might not be friendly or warm or even genuine. They could be trusted to be peaceful and pleasant, and not so dangerously unpredictable and honest. But he liked talking with Gideon, and had labeled him a worthy confidant. Even enough to let him see Kanaan pet his familiar. And wash his beak with a napkin. That could have been too personal with any other person he knew.

	From: gideon_morrow	Date: 09/10/2007 18:36:10

Agave made the same hissing noise as earlier, a little trill of tongue and air that meant Ikra was getting on his nerves. Gideon was glad when the familiar settled. He didn't think he could hold Agave back if he was really prompted to slither off his shoulders. "It is good to have a confidant," he commented idly, ignoring the talk of his nephew and the bike. How he could ride such a thing he didn't know, but they were so popular now most everyone had some variation on a bike. "It is nice to have someone other than your familiar to vent to. They are all well and good, but speaking with a mage is such a different thing," he said, Mr. Morrow, high and mighty.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 09/11/2007 00:28:58

Ikra stopped bouncing looking up at the strange mage and the massive lizard. He spoke directly to them both"I like bikes though. Just so were clear." He sat down rather dignified.
"Well They do try their best to understand he said." Kanaan nodded to Gideon. "Though some of my problems would compromise the integrity of others you see. I would never hope to complain and hurt someone in one blow." He said. He could not go into the events that transpired at the Hotel Mosaique. He would not damage Evie's reputation with and officer of the law. He might have accepted what had happened, but he didn't agree with it and knew many would judge.

	From: gideon_morrow	Date: 09/11/2007 13:03:03

"Ah," Gideon said, leaning back comfortably. "It seems that the others in question already have a certain lack of integrity if your complaints would damage them." It was smart and smooth, a quick way to put Kanaan at ease.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 09/11/2007 13:21:01

He was troubled by that. Integrity, it always seems was elusive concept for something so firm. And many people had pride and integrity at what they did for a variety of reasons. But did that mean anything if what they did was wrong and bad for them.
"I may have been born judgmental, Mr. Morrow. But who am I to say anything. Unless its a fourteen year old boy caught with a bottle of whiskey sneaking out after curfew, I don't think there is much I can do anyway. I've never tried to hard to gossip or take entertainment from the vice of others. I have sought hard to avoid it in fact." He said. Maybe that is why he was so shocked by this whole situation. "Especially in mixed company."

	From: gideon_morrow	Date: 09/11/2007 16:14:20

Dancing right over the surface of the thing, Gideon thought idly. He had judged and been judged in his day. At his age it didn't seem to matter much anymore, though some people would do insane things to keep from being seen as inferior, or wrong. He didn't care much for society types anymore, but that they had the best gossip. In his own opinion most people were below him and their opinions of him simply didn't matter. "Ah well. We all have our vices. It the nature of being a mage."

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 09/11/2007 17:32:58

He spoke confidently. "True but some people have vices and flaws that you can't help but have a perverse admiration for." He said. His food was all but untouched.

He looked over at Morrow looking sincerely. I wonder what business has been occupying your time. Clearly it would have more import then my panic attacks or how much Ikra loves bikes." He said

"Because I do." Ikra said from the floor from under the table. "I do love bikes."

Kanaan didn't look down at the familiar as he spoke. A bit easier and more relaxed as he spoke. His eyes fixed on his speaking companion

	From: gideon_morrow	Date: 09/11/2007 19:46:51

Gideon had no idea what Kanaan was driving at. At the present moment he had no desire to comment on bikes and could give no advice for panic attacks. He was not a healer and knew nothing about such things. "Well, I do keep busy," he said oddly. "There is much business to attend to this day and there is already a good deal on my mind." Obviously his meeting with Kanaan wouldn't amount to much and he was done trying to extract information when clearly he could not. "I should be off in fact," he said, rising from his seat and smiling cordially. "Do take care Mr. DeVries and have a good day."

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