“That was Phineas,” Ruarc spoke casually as the truck made its way through the small town. “Not his actual name, but, well, I’m not really sure how to pronounce his name, and he was fine with Phineas. Anyway, I received the cliffnotes from him. Following the exercise, I checked in with some of the spirits.Katerina and Johann were with Laoise, so it was easy to get feedback about their performance; you, Willow, and Vrey however went your own way, which in hindsight is pretty true to form I suppose.”
The truck turned onto the main road out of town. The day was pleasant and the rolling emerald hills formed a crisp contrast with the deep cerulean sky; both occasionally spotted with drifting white. Laoise pecked Ruarc’s leg.
“It showed good initiative.”
Laoise pecked Ruarc’s leg.
“And you’ve come a long way.”
[The Keep] Walking to Skye
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Drysi was only paying a bit of mind as she was splitting her attention between the map and the road. She thought well enough of other people's achievements, but hearing her own made her glow inside. It took hearing of her work to draw her away from her topographical lines and numbered lines.
She sat up a little straighter, at the praise, feeling a bit of pomp in herself. A smile grew from under her lips, one she tried not to show too readily.
"I have come a long way," hummed the thought in Drysi's mind.
She felt Gideon curl around her shoulders and press under her chin, cooling her mind and inciting her to speak.
"I wanted to win."
Gideon bumped his head against her chin.
"Hang right here."
Gideon bumped against her chin again.
"I've had some good guidance to get me where I'm at."
She sat up a little straighter, at the praise, feeling a bit of pomp in herself. A smile grew from under her lips, one she tried not to show too readily.
"I have come a long way," hummed the thought in Drysi's mind.
She felt Gideon curl around her shoulders and press under her chin, cooling her mind and inciting her to speak.
"I wanted to win."
Gideon bumped his head against her chin.
"Hang right here."
Gideon bumped against her chin again.
"I've had some good guidance to get me where I'm at."
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
The truck rattled as Ruarc turned onto the next road. A man was repairing a stone wall off to the left; he lifted a hand in a cordial wave that Ruarc returned as his arm draped on the edge of the open driver side window. The normally stern and stoic Irishman seemed truly at ease right now, and the familiars looked to feel right at home as well; with Laoise fluttering over and perching on Drysi’s shoulder against her poofy hair.
“Wanting to win is a good motivation. Makes sense that’s when you and Willow started to click,” Ruarc spoke, his tone friendly and relaxed as Laoise cocked her head and seemed to stare at her druid at the mention of the other student. Ruarc met her gaze with a sidelong look as they seemed to say something back and forth.
“Seems like you two are doing well, following Hawaii. No issues with the room assignment?” he followed up after seeming to finish speaking with his guide.
Back on Drysi’s shoulder, Laoise shifted to look at Gideon.
”And how are you doing, Gideon? Getting the hang of things?” the dove asked the snake.
“Wanting to win is a good motivation. Makes sense that’s when you and Willow started to click,” Ruarc spoke, his tone friendly and relaxed as Laoise cocked her head and seemed to stare at her druid at the mention of the other student. Ruarc met her gaze with a sidelong look as they seemed to say something back and forth.
“Seems like you two are doing well, following Hawaii. No issues with the room assignment?” he followed up after seeming to finish speaking with his guide.
Back on Drysi’s shoulder, Laoise shifted to look at Gideon.
”And how are you doing, Gideon? Getting the hang of things?” the dove asked the snake.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
"Issues?"
The map crumpled into Drysi's lap, and she tried to hide the caught, strained look on her face.
"Why? Why would there be issues? Because there aren't any issues. None."
Ruarc could see Gideon shift under Drysi's hair, and the blood seemed return to her face.
"Unless the RA said something," she stammered, snapping the map back up to hide her rosy glow, "and if he did, I don't see how it's his business. Willow and I have a relationship that's based on professionalism and rigorous study and nothing else. Our beds are almost always on the opposite ends of the room, like good, studious friends."
The willowy curls of Drysi's hair parted to make way for Gideon's head, stopping just short of Laiose.
"I haven't been alive very long, but I'm constantly overwhelmed," admitted Gideon, tasting the air a couple of times before continuing, "Drysi has trauma, baggage, and now, destiny and an unfortunate place in the grand design of others. Every second of my life is devoted to helping her with the first two, but the latter makes me think I need my own familiar."
The snake gently receded, just short of onscuring himself.
"I'm sorry, that was probably more than what you were asking for," Gideon's normally cool, composed voice was sheepish, "I've really missed you and Ms. Maeve the last two days, a lot has happened."
The map crumpled into Drysi's lap, and she tried to hide the caught, strained look on her face.
"Why? Why would there be issues? Because there aren't any issues. None."
Ruarc could see Gideon shift under Drysi's hair, and the blood seemed return to her face.
"Unless the RA said something," she stammered, snapping the map back up to hide her rosy glow, "and if he did, I don't see how it's his business. Willow and I have a relationship that's based on professionalism and rigorous study and nothing else. Our beds are almost always on the opposite ends of the room, like good, studious friends."
The willowy curls of Drysi's hair parted to make way for Gideon's head, stopping just short of Laiose.
"I haven't been alive very long, but I'm constantly overwhelmed," admitted Gideon, tasting the air a couple of times before continuing, "Drysi has trauma, baggage, and now, destiny and an unfortunate place in the grand design of others. Every second of my life is devoted to helping her with the first two, but the latter makes me think I need my own familiar."
The snake gently receded, just short of onscuring himself.
"I'm sorry, that was probably more than what you were asking for," Gideon's normally cool, composed voice was sheepish, "I've really missed you and Ms. Maeve the last two days, a lot has happened."
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
The Irishman’s head turned slowly to look at his apprentice. His look was flat and his eyes gave little doubt that he could see through her deflections. Letting his gaze stay for several withering moments, Ruarc eventually returned to looking at the road; and then, coupled with the rumbling engine and blowing breeze, Drysi could hear him chuckling lightly.
“Drysi. You do remember where I was during the whole Hawaii incident, right? I was, like, fifty feet away when you kissed Willow. Not to mention when you said you were in love with her back in the cottage when we were talking over tea,” Ruarc looked sidelong once more back to Drysi. “Relax. This isn’t an inquisition.”
Back on Drysi’s shoulder, Laoise cocked her head and stretched a wing before bringing the tip back to tap her chest in a confident and haughty manner.
“You will learn before long, Gideon, that the familiars with simple druids are often the more boring animals with which to associate. Eventually, once you’re properly acclimatized to your role, you will handle the rigors of shepherding tumultuous minds.”
Laoise’s other wing shifted to pat Gideon’s head.
“But, and this is a very important note for you, remember to take time for yourself. We familiars do not exist in a vacuum. We have minds just as complex as our hosts, and if we do not take care of ourselves we can go mad; so to speak. So, my professional recommendation is to take a personal care day from time to time.”
“Drysi. You do remember where I was during the whole Hawaii incident, right? I was, like, fifty feet away when you kissed Willow. Not to mention when you said you were in love with her back in the cottage when we were talking over tea,” Ruarc looked sidelong once more back to Drysi. “Relax. This isn’t an inquisition.”
Back on Drysi’s shoulder, Laoise cocked her head and stretched a wing before bringing the tip back to tap her chest in a confident and haughty manner.
“You will learn before long, Gideon, that the familiars with simple druids are often the more boring animals with which to associate. Eventually, once you’re properly acclimatized to your role, you will handle the rigors of shepherding tumultuous minds.”
Laoise’s other wing shifted to pat Gideon’s head.
“But, and this is a very important note for you, remember to take time for yourself. We familiars do not exist in a vacuum. We have minds just as complex as our hosts, and if we do not take care of ourselves we can go mad; so to speak. So, my professional recommendation is to take a personal care day from time to time.”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
"Uggggh nooooo!" mewled Drysi, her face glowing red. She brought the map up to hide the radiant embarassment, "I thought I was going to die out there, and I thought Willow had dropped me when she stopped being a druid. Otherwise I wouldn't have been so cringe. Who just comes out and says it!?"
Her embarassment caused her legs to curl up so much that her boots were pointed to the ceiling. "That idiot should have been the one to say it first, to do it first! I make all the first moves, I do all the romance, I bundle her laundry with mine because it supposed to be cute when we pick out each other's bits, but she's never around for the foldin' cause there's nothin' in her bin, apparently."
A loud huff puffed out as her boots slamming back down into the floormats. Then she looked over her shoulder, "Oh, that was yer turn back there."
Gideon held on, as well as he always did, keen on the ebb and flow of his druid's outbursts. His head followed the movement of her wing, sharing in the humanity of the expression. It was as if he himself were a young man Drysi's age, and his glassy eye shimmered in the same way that young man's would, looking up at Laoise.
"We can do that?" the question bubbled up first, and he nodded, his gaze drifting in thought, "Mental health? I thought being a familiar meant you were naturally resistant to the stresses of the new and strange. The things I advise to Drysi, the recognition of motions in people that put me on guard; that's not the magic in us? That's just who I am?"
His head receded into the curls, poking only a nose and a tasting tongue, "I can go mad?"
Her embarassment caused her legs to curl up so much that her boots were pointed to the ceiling. "That idiot should have been the one to say it first, to do it first! I make all the first moves, I do all the romance, I bundle her laundry with mine because it supposed to be cute when we pick out each other's bits, but she's never around for the foldin' cause there's nothin' in her bin, apparently."
A loud huff puffed out as her boots slamming back down into the floormats. Then she looked over her shoulder, "Oh, that was yer turn back there."
Gideon held on, as well as he always did, keen on the ebb and flow of his druid's outbursts. His head followed the movement of her wing, sharing in the humanity of the expression. It was as if he himself were a young man Drysi's age, and his glassy eye shimmered in the same way that young man's would, looking up at Laoise.
"We can do that?" the question bubbled up first, and he nodded, his gaze drifting in thought, "Mental health? I thought being a familiar meant you were naturally resistant to the stresses of the new and strange. The things I advise to Drysi, the recognition of motions in people that put me on guard; that's not the magic in us? That's just who I am?"
His head receded into the curls, poking only a nose and a tasting tongue, "I can go mad?"
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“Hmm, funny thing, that,” Ruarc responded nonchalantly to news of his missed turn, but made no show of turning around; in fact, he accelerated a bit. “Rework the route.”
Coupling with the new task, Ruarc continued to press the Willow matter to keep his apprentice off balance.
“Why would you need to worry about first moves and romance in a relationship between friends based on nothing but professionalism and rigorous study?”
“Not really, at least, not in the traditional sense,” Laoise booped Gideon’s nose before withdrawing her wing back to her side. “Our minds, much like our bodies, are capable of recovering from terrible stress and injury. Over time however those recoveries can take a toll. Trust me, stay ahead of it; take some time for yourself on occasion. It isn’t a bad thing.
Coupling with the new task, Ruarc continued to press the Willow matter to keep his apprentice off balance.
“Why would you need to worry about first moves and romance in a relationship between friends based on nothing but professionalism and rigorous study?”
“Not really, at least, not in the traditional sense,” Laoise booped Gideon’s nose before withdrawing her wing back to her side. “Our minds, much like our bodies, are capable of recovering from terrible stress and injury. Over time however those recoveries can take a toll. Trust me, stay ahead of it; take some time for yourself on occasion. It isn’t a bad thing.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Drysi went searching for the rationale in her master's actions, feeling the lurch of the truck in her stomach. It was barely faster, but she saw the next turn coming, and her heart began starting to thump. Her finger went tracing over the map, but the next turn was already gone. Again she looked back at this man she trusted wholy, and found herself tracing another path on the map.
"Willow," Drysi tried to defend herself, but was torn in trying to find another path, "I mean-... Turn here!"
She returned to the map in feverish pursuit, realizing that she hadn't fully plotted the route. It wasn't even good, but it got them back toward where they were, although through a couple of villages that would slow them down.
"I put a lot of work into the friendship," grumbled Drysi, trying to trace to their destination, "have you ever worked with someone you felt could be doing more in their position?"
Just in case, Drysi began working out some alternate paths. Whereas Gideon settled on her shoulder, occupied by the expanding breadth of his mortality.
"Worse yet," Gideon's voice resonated in her mind, "What if I'm the one who isn't doing enough."
"That's right," Drysi snatched up the cue, "what if I'm not doing enough? You keed standards! What about you and Ms. Caoranach?"
"Willow," Drysi tried to defend herself, but was torn in trying to find another path, "I mean-... Turn here!"
She returned to the map in feverish pursuit, realizing that she hadn't fully plotted the route. It wasn't even good, but it got them back toward where they were, although through a couple of villages that would slow them down.
"I put a lot of work into the friendship," grumbled Drysi, trying to trace to their destination, "have you ever worked with someone you felt could be doing more in their position?"
Just in case, Drysi began working out some alternate paths. Whereas Gideon settled on her shoulder, occupied by the expanding breadth of his mortality.
"Worse yet," Gideon's voice resonated in her mind, "What if I'm the one who isn't doing enough."
"That's right," Drysi snatched up the cue, "what if I'm not doing enough? You keed standards! What about you and Ms. Caoranach?"
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“Carrie and I communicate,” Ruarc answered simply without hesitation. “When there are issues or concerns, we talk about them. Now, a note of caution, both you and Willow are teenagers and might not necessarily be in the same mind set for a relationship. Not saying to do anything drastic, but just be patient and see if things level out.”
“He’s leaving out the fact that he almost nosedived the relationship due to his own insecurities. Turns out these two are, in fact, oddly well suited for a master and apprentice,” Laoise noted as she looked at her druid before turning her attention back to Gideon. “Just as you are well suited to be her guide. You’re doing just fine, kid.”
The drive, for the most part, seemed to relax back following Ruarc pressuring Drysi to adapt her plan. The truck returned to a normal speed as Ruarc drummed his fingers against the metal door to a beat in his head while his other hand draped over the steering wheel. The villages they ended up passing through as a part of the detour were quaint and charming, and Ruarc took a moment to even pull over to a farmboy and his sister selling fruit along the roadside. With a bunch of apples and a couple of small baskets of fresh berries accompanying them, they continued onward. A little before three in the afternoon, the truck pulled into Timiduane.
Smaller than Morann, Timiduane had a more sprawling grouping of buildings, with roads that likely began as herding trails winding through the rolling hills. As Ruarc pulled to a stop near the center of town, which amounted to a square and a number of shops, the sky had taken on an overcast layer of clouds. Casting his gaze upward as he stepped out of the truck, he clicked his tongue as he considered the weather.
“Looks like a chance of rain later in the day,” Ruarc said to no one in particular as Laoise stepped out of the truck next, in her human form; which if Drysi were watching looked like her dove form meshing towards human as it shimmered with golden light bordered with glimmering geometric patterns. Maeve on the other hand opted to stay in her owl form and take flight from the truck door. The air was warm with notable humidity, but a cool breeze that had a slight chill to it cut through.
“Ready to get to work?” Ruarc now spoke to Drysi on the other side of the truck. His apprentice could see him fixing the rolled sleeves of his flannel before putting on a nice looking patchwork cap; and then he grabbed a clipboard from under the truck seat.
“He’s leaving out the fact that he almost nosedived the relationship due to his own insecurities. Turns out these two are, in fact, oddly well suited for a master and apprentice,” Laoise noted as she looked at her druid before turning her attention back to Gideon. “Just as you are well suited to be her guide. You’re doing just fine, kid.”
The drive, for the most part, seemed to relax back following Ruarc pressuring Drysi to adapt her plan. The truck returned to a normal speed as Ruarc drummed his fingers against the metal door to a beat in his head while his other hand draped over the steering wheel. The villages they ended up passing through as a part of the detour were quaint and charming, and Ruarc took a moment to even pull over to a farmboy and his sister selling fruit along the roadside. With a bunch of apples and a couple of small baskets of fresh berries accompanying them, they continued onward. A little before three in the afternoon, the truck pulled into Timiduane.
Smaller than Morann, Timiduane had a more sprawling grouping of buildings, with roads that likely began as herding trails winding through the rolling hills. As Ruarc pulled to a stop near the center of town, which amounted to a square and a number of shops, the sky had taken on an overcast layer of clouds. Casting his gaze upward as he stepped out of the truck, he clicked his tongue as he considered the weather.
“Looks like a chance of rain later in the day,” Ruarc said to no one in particular as Laoise stepped out of the truck next, in her human form; which if Drysi were watching looked like her dove form meshing towards human as it shimmered with golden light bordered with glimmering geometric patterns. Maeve on the other hand opted to stay in her owl form and take flight from the truck door. The air was warm with notable humidity, but a cool breeze that had a slight chill to it cut through.
“Ready to get to work?” Ruarc now spoke to Drysi on the other side of the truck. His apprentice could see him fixing the rolled sleeves of his flannel before putting on a nice looking patchwork cap; and then he grabbed a clipboard from under the truck seat.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Feverous calculations in Drysi's mind had worked up an appetite in her stomach. While watching the world go by, she nipped at an apple, picking out the seeds to throw them out the window and gobbled down the core when done. She was working on the crisp flesh of a second when she had stepped out of the truck.
"Mmm!"
Ruarc could see her look over the truck bed and nod her head rapidly, silenced by the apple in her teeth. Seeing her Master's preparedness in looking at least somewhat normal, she cast aside her cloak, trying to appear more normal in a mundane environment. Her three eyes glasses would stay in her bag, and some bangs adjustment could comfortably mask her uncorrected top eye from making her dizzy.
Gideon fetched her a hairtie from her bag, looped around his neck. Drysi pulled her curls back into a high pony tail, and let her snake settle in the bag.
Her familiar thought quietly on what Laoise had told him. He watched her magnificent transformation, the magic that defined her was something greater than even the ritual that bound her to her druid. A small ounce of envy in his heart yearned to know what it was like. What more could he do with that kind of power?
"I'm fine as I am," thought Gideon aloud.
"What? Of course you are," stated Drysi.
"Where to first?" asked Drysi, pulling the apple from her mouth.
"Mmm!"
Ruarc could see her look over the truck bed and nod her head rapidly, silenced by the apple in her teeth. Seeing her Master's preparedness in looking at least somewhat normal, she cast aside her cloak, trying to appear more normal in a mundane environment. Her three eyes glasses would stay in her bag, and some bangs adjustment could comfortably mask her uncorrected top eye from making her dizzy.
Gideon fetched her a hairtie from her bag, looped around his neck. Drysi pulled her curls back into a high pony tail, and let her snake settle in the bag.
Her familiar thought quietly on what Laoise had told him. He watched her magnificent transformation, the magic that defined her was something greater than even the ritual that bound her to her druid. A small ounce of envy in his heart yearned to know what it was like. What more could he do with that kind of power?
"I'm fine as I am," thought Gideon aloud.
"What? Of course you are," stated Drysi.
"Where to first?" asked Drysi, pulling the apple from her mouth.