wingedhatchlingPiper pulled her dark blue hood down over her darker blue hair. She stayed glued to her older brother's side. He certainly didn't mind as he had his arm around her. He was her middle elder brother, Slith. Well he was sort of her elder brother, he was really a third-cousin, but Piper didn't know that. He kept her close glaring at any male that dared look at them. Piper was too distracted looking at the different wagons containing items and searching for her youngest brother to notice her middle brothers glare.
SwissArmySpork"Oh come on, he doesn't hate you!" Eldon looked over at his brother, who walked with his head hunched down, glaring at the ground, " Remember how I thought he hated me, because I refused to wear all that frilly stuff?" Eldon stuck his tongue out as if disgusted by the memory, "That's just how he treats everyone. Yours evolving just made you notice it more, is all." Gideon looked over at him dully, arching an eye-brow, "Uh huh. Then tell me, why are the servants not fit for grocery shopping all of the sudden, hm? I tell you, this is passive-aggressiveness. First, we have to go out fetch something, next we have to clean the manor, and before you know it we're sleeping in the servant's quarters." He finished with a toss of his head, his hair briefly hiding his glowering expression. Eldon ducked his head down guiltily, "Actually, I volunteered us to go. I figured you could use a walk. Seriously, sitting around writing that weird murder-suicide poetry can't be healthy." Giddy looked at his brother with something akin to pity, " It's not 'murder-suicide', it's called Renaissance, and is the latest trend in the courts. Perhaps if you'd cared about such things, you'd know. But no, instead you go chasing after servant girls." Eldon grinned, "Hey, I seem to be having more luck than you," Giddy's answer was a slap upside the head.
wingedhatchlingPiper saw her youngest brother, he wore the same clothing as she did, but with his hood down, revealing his spikier dark blue hair. She managed to struggle from her middle brother's grasp and trotted over to him. She spoke in a worried voice, "B-boulder, why d-d-do you always run off?" Boulder, the youngest of her elder brothers caught piper's head in his arm and noogied her, causing her to squeal in protest. He pushed her off and ignored her question, then he walked in the opposite direction, walking like he was a stud-muffin, leaving Piper alone in the market place. She sighed and turned to go back to Slith, who had somehow dissapeared. Piper turned around in confused circles searching for any of her brothers. She stopped shivering, she could probably get back to her house alone...probably.
SwissArmySporkReaching the market square, Gideon paused, shielding his eyes from the sun and regarding the space. It was rare he came here, and he was surprised by quite how much grime layered the ground, looking down, he quickly took a step back to see he was standing in a suspicious grey slush. He turned to say something to Eldon, to find him watching him in amusement, seeming perfectly at ease. "See? This is what I mean. You need to get out more." Gideon scowled, gathering the hem of his robe up with one hand and pulling Eldon along with the other as he walked to the slightly cleaner centre of the square, "Let's hurry up and get this done so we can get out of this pig-sty. What is it we need?" Noticing the mischievous smile on his brother's face, Gideon tightened his grip warningly. Eldon nodded toward a large stand in the corner, covered by a sheet of blue and white fabric, blood caked on the cobble-stones around it. Gideon, after taking a glance at the butchery, turned to sharply glare at his younger brother. "Really?! Of all things, you schedule this little promenade on the day we need meat?!" With an irritated huff, he let go of Eldon's arm, "I am NOT touching that."
wingedhatchlingPiper called out her brother's names, well her eldest and youngest brother's names. She didn't dare call out her middle brother's name. If she called out his name, then who knew who might show up. Piper sided and she retraced her steps back to the food section of the markets. She had sold some of her homemade pies to the bakery this morning, one of her brothers would hopefully follow his nose back to the food. Boulder usually like to get something to stuff in his face on the way home. After all his love of eating everything in front of him was how he had gotten his name. Piper giggled to herself as she thought of the story.
SwissArmySpork"You know, I'd love to carry it all myself..." Eldon began, walking in casual circles around Gideon, who was furiously kneading the fabric of his robe between his fingers, as if trying to rub a hole in it, "Really I would. I can imagine how hard it would be to get all that blood out of your favourite white coat..." Gideon stepped out in front of him, breaking up the third circle, "And why exactly can't you?" Eldon looked apologetic, but was obviously only barely hold back a smile, "We need to get 300 pounds." Gideon stared. That was not a normal figure, "The governor from the city over the mountain is visiting, remember? And he ought to be bringing his family, if I remember correctly. Plus there's the servants..." Still no comment from Giddy.
wingedhatchlingPiper sighed and leaned against the bakery's stand where customers could look and select their food. Her nose twitched as she glanced at the freshly baked bread. Reaching into her jacket's pocket she was disappointed to find nothing. Oh that was right she had given all of her money to her middle brother. Now she had nothing to do but wait. Her nose twitched again, the smell of fresh meat caused to her mouth to water a little. But she suppressed her carnivore urges quite easily. Well sort of easy, not very easily at all. She looked at the ground trying to distract herself, oh a copper piece. She could buy a cookie. Piper leaned over to retrieve it.
SwissArmySpork"You're bloody mad! That's more than both of us weigh together." Gideon cried, gesturing wildly, causing a couple curious glances, "Why can't we just have it delivered as usual? Or send someone to pick it up?" Eldon stepped forward, trying to calm Gideon down, "Shh! You're making a scene. Jeez, for being the one being concerned with appearances you're awfully crass." He sighed, shaking his head, "Fine, tell you what. The governor's not coming for another day or two, so that we can get delivered, but we still need about 50 pounds for dinner tonight, and there's no way they'd deliver it in time. So, I'll take 25 and you'll take 25. There, no need to cry about it." Before Gideon could give voice to his irritation, Eldon was gone to make the transaction with the butcher, attracting the glances of a couple beggars with his enthusiastic display of gold. Gideon looked around, fiddling with a lock of hair. 25 pounds wasn't that bad...but the fact that it was meat, and it was bloody and generally disgusting certainly was. Whatever Eldon said, he WOULD NOT touch that stuff. The simplicity of the solution nearly made him face-palm, had he not been worrying about his public image. Picking out a slightly-less-unsavory character than most of the others, he approached her, careful to avoid touching the people making up the crowd, as if afraid to catch the plague. "Good morning, mademoiselle," he said looking down at her, leaned over as she was. Perhaps a girl wasn't the best choice, but it was only 25 pounds, and besides, he would not want to come within a foot of any of the men around here.
wingedhatchlingPiper looked up at a tall slimmer type of man, she instantly stood feeling embarrassed about being caught leaning over. As she stood her face came into light and so did her actual hieght. The top of her head didn't even reach the man's shoulders. She felt a light annoyance at her shortness. "Y-yes?' She asked cautiously. Usually strange men coming up to a young women in the market place was a dangerou thing, especially if they siad something like I have a job for you.
SwissArmySporkGiddy considered a proper introduction for a moment, but to bow down to one of the common brood...instead he offered a gracious smile and a small nod of the head, "I suppose introductions are in order. I am Gideon Avoltaine, of the family by the same name," he paused meaningfully, as if allowing this to sink in, then continued," and I fear I must request a favour of you. You see, I have been caught in quite the...degrading position, and I believe you may be able to help me. Of course, your service would be rewarded." there was the gleam of gold in his palm, before he replaced the coin back in his pocket, where it clanked sharply against what sounded like many others.
wingedhatchlingPiper raised an eyebrow, this man...did not sound like anyone in her family and he certainly was not afraid to show his cash. She did probably have a couple of hours until her brothers came back to maybe try to find her...yet at the same time who knew what this job implied? Piper did not think this way because of vanity, but because of some of her brothers friends that visited time to time. She spoke in her normal softer voice trying not to offend the man in any way, "Umm, I urge you not to f-flash coins like th-that around Sir. About this j-job, what is it exactly?"
SwissArmySporkGideon paused, looking slightly taken aback. Few who knew his family's name would dare address him quite so forwardly, which naturally led him to assume she was not familiar with it. He chose not to mention this, or her little indiscretion. "Nothing difficult, I assure you. I only need someone to carry something for me. The walk to the ma-" he stopped himself. Perhaps he should keep her in the dark for now, "house should take hardly an hour. " "Hey, Giddy! Hurry up, or you're carrying it all!" Eldon called, leaning against the butcher's stand and waving at Gideon. Giddy glanced at him over his shoulder long enough to wave him off before turning back to the girl, hands clasped loosely behind his back, "Well, Mademoiselle, what do you say? I assure you it will be quite worth it."
wingedhatchlingPiper put two fingers on the bridge of her nose thinking for a brief second. She suddenly looked up in interest, "I-I don't suppose I could carry it for a book?" Piper had an odd fascination for reading, currently she owned three books and was very proud of her collection. Books were very expensive after all and no one else in her family really had use for them. She looked up hopefully.
SwissArmySpork"A book?" Gideon asked, restraining his laughter. How odd, to pass up gold for a book. But it was something he could appreciate, being rather fond of literature himself. Enough to start his own library in the manor, despite the family one being more than sufficient. He doubted anyone would mind if one of the books went missing, "If you'd prefer a book then so be it. Now then, we must hurry before my fool of a brother manages to embarrass us more than he already has. " With that, regardless of whether she intended to reply or not, he strode over to Eldon, who was now leaning on two baskets stacked one upon the other, lined with several layers of cloth, which were already turning a light pink. "There you are! And you were accusing me of chasing after servant girls!" He laughed, holding out one of the baskets, "Here, try it out," He said, grinning triumphantly. Finally, his brother would get knocked down from his high horse.
wingedhatchling"Thank you," Piper responded and she easily took the basket. She braced herself for a heavy load but was pleasantly surprised when she could probably carry at least four of them. In fact as she lifted it she actually felt a little awkward. Had the tall robed man actually been worried about a burden such as this? Although as she glanced at him noting his cleaness and white clothing and as a the cloth covering the basket became a darker shade of pink she understood. The girl lined herself up with the man's brother, ready to take off.
SwissArmySporkEldon looked at her in surprise, the look changing to dissaproval as it passed to Gideon. "Tsk, I shoulda guessed." Other than that he said nothing, picking up his own basket and beginning to thread his way through the crowd back to the road, Gideon on his heels, seeming preoccupied with the sky. Eldon turned to the girl carrying the other basket, "Since we're going to be spending the next hour or so walking together, we should at least know each others names." He said in an attempt to break the silence, "My name's Eldon. Unfortunately, I'm his brother." he nodded toward Gideon, his tone joking, although he did seem a little irritated by Giddy at the moment.
wingedhatchlingPiper cracked a smile, but she restrained a giggle for the one behind her's sake. "N-nice to meet you Eldon. My name is Piper." She was very grateful for someone to talk to on the walk. If it had just been her and Gideon she would probably be stuttering all over the place, but Eldon's kind words she had only stuttered once in that whole phrase. So she smiled happily as she began to think about being able to talk to everyone that way. As they began to leave the nice part of the market however she started to glance around. They were oddly enough passing through the more slum part of the market and she really didn't want to have to fight today. Especially in a strange territory with strange species of Gijinka around. She might now win after all, which was a strange prospect since when she almost always had a brother with her.
SwissArmySporkEldon's chatter trailed off as he looked around glumly, frowning at the stooping buildings, their walls rotten and caving in. "I don't understand why father won't let mum and I go ahead and finance the building of new houses." He said to Gideon, who was now walking beside him, looking with distaste around them, "Because, as I've told you before, El, it's a waste of resources. All these savages are going to do is just tear everything up again." Eldon gripped the basket tighter. Although it was difficult to tell, his being pale as he was, his knuckles were turning white, "Waste? By forcing people to live in this filth, we're practically condemning them to sickness! And without a surgeon or even a clean place to sleep, many of them don't get better, and how do you expect them to earn enough to feed themselves and their family when they feel like a fire's started in their skull?" Eldon was shaking, and Giddy, noticing this, gently put a hand on his shoulder, "Keep your voice down, we don't need to attract their attention." "But-" " We've discussed this before, so drop it." Gideon seemed to just now remember Piper, and risked an inconspicuous glance in her direction to gauge her reaction. Eldon was now silent, looking around at the slums as if he wished he could fix it all then and there.
wingedhatchlingPiper had been freely listening in. She didn't know much about city slums, she was looking around her with interest. Eldon was right these people needed help, but at the same time it seemed like an overwhelming task to take on. She didn't really know what to make of it so she just cocked her head in confusion and stared right back. She felt that she needed to say something, something to cease the brother's arguments at the very least. When her brothers argued it usually ended in a brawl. Fighting..."S-so do people here hold fights? Err...rather I mean what do p-people do with themselves?"
SwissArmySporkGideon shrugged, beating Eldon to answering, "Here? Probably. After all, they do live like animals. Whenever I chance by one they are always either groveling at your feet, awaiting their chance to cheat you of your property, or are lazing around hurling insults at respectable people. As for ourselves," he tilted his head upward proudly, the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile, "We, however, do not squabble for such petty things. Only when one's honour has been insulted does one quarrel with another, and then it is a noble affair, not at all the likes of which go on here."
wingedhatchling"Hmm," Piper thought about this for a second. She had known various people in her forest. Almost all forest-dwellers were kind in the summer. Fruit was plentiful and the water never frozen. Yet in the winter, carnivore's instincts came out the strongest. "W-well have you ever been hungry or dirty?" Piper wasn't trying to be high and mighty, she was in fact sharing a little joke with herself. She was quoting her oldest book, a book full of ancient wisdom of philosophers. The particularly funny part of this phrase was that the man who had first stated it had eaten his brother the following winter when all of their food had run out.
SwissArmySpork"No." The brothers answered in unison, only difference being the tones. Eldon's was almost ashamed, while Giddy's was decidedly proud, as if it were the crowning accomplishment of his life. They exchanged glances, then Eldon spoke up, "We have been very fortunate our entire lives. Although I'd readily give it up if we could only help our city's people." Before he could say anything else, Gideon intruded, speaking to Piper, "Why do you ask?"
wingedhatchlingPiper smiled a little guiltily, she didn't want to tell them that she found brothers eating each other funny, instead she said her first reason. She did not realize however the stereotypes of savagery that came with living and surviving the 'wild'., "W-well where I live there are plenty of people and almost all o-of them are nice to each other in the summer, because their bellies are full and they're warm. However in the winter the become o-opposites of themselves. A lot of pokemon (Calling them pokemon because I can never remember how to spell Gujinika whatever it is) turn on the weak and eat eachother. Also proud pokemon get on their knees and beg weaker pokemon for food. S-so I was just thinking if you t-two were hungry and dirty th-then maybe you'd have opposite opinions..." Piper was satisfied with that answer and pleased that she had gone for so long talking. It might have been a new record~
SwissArmySporkEldon and Giddy again exchanged looks. Even Eldon, generally accepting of all, looked slightly uneasy. After all, he had spent his entire life with his family. He, just like Gideon, had heard tales of the wild pokemon and their savagery, something un-heard of in the city. "Yes, perhaps we would if that ever happened." Eldon said gently, before being pulled away by Gideon to a distance they felt they wouldn't be heard, "Bravo, Gideon. Not only do you use a girl as a pack mule, but one that could turn on us any moment, if we do something that sets her off." Gideon pretended to not be bothered, but his frequent glances at Piper clearly said otherwise, "It'll be fine. The moment we reach home, I'll dismiss her, and there, problem solved. And besides, aren't you the one always telling me that every person is unique, or some such foolishness? You see, she's timid. Just listen to how she stutters. Do you really think she'd do anything, especially with us both together?"
wingedhatchlingPiper felt a surge of surprise as Eldon suddenly pulled away. She was confused of what she had said to make them react in such a manner. She reviewed her words, had she come on too strong? Maybe city people really were a little 'slow' at thinking of things that didn't concern coin as her eldest brother always said. She looked back at Gideon giving him a look of complete bewilderment. Then she looked down at the ground and smiled gravely. Eldon's words had sounded pretty, but now she wondered if he would really give it 'all' up. Even his safety which he seemed to take for granted. Perhaps Gideon was the wise one after all, despite the natural sense of wanting everything he said to be wrong. Then again Eldon could always just as easily be sincere. She looked back up smiling in a friendly manner to the both of them She must have been thinking for a few minutes as almost all of the homes around her had changed.
SwissArmySporkEldon finally returned to Piper's side, again picking up a some-what awkward conversation. Giddy, walking a couple feet away, seemed to have trouble not staring, and eventually reverted to just fiddling with one of his gloves. Eventually, the houses gave way to finely pruned trees, their bases sprinkled with shrubbery and flowers. The road climbed up a hill, and as the trio ascended it, they could see the first spires of the manor rising above the crest, the sunlight falling dully on the dark shingles and gleaming on the metallic accents.
wingedhatchlingPiper looked around a little amazed at such surroundings. She had never been somewhere so...organized and...clean. She felt very awkward and out of place. The thought of Gideon and Eldon's family now came to her. They must be fairly wealthy...Piper felt butterfrees in her stomach.
wingedhatchlingAnd not the one her brother Boulder caught for them this morning.
SwissArmySporkEntering the courtyard, they were momentarily surrounded by a swarm of servants, all bowing up and down, giving them the appearance of a churning sea, as they hurriedly relieved them of the baskets and dissipated back to their duties, save a couple who remained to see if they needed anything, before being shooed away by Eldon. "Sorry about that. The servants are usually a bit on edge when dad is home." he said, turning to Piper with a slightly sheepish smile. "You mean they do their duties for once." Gideon said with a harsh laugh, walking up to the doors of the manor, which were immediately opened by a servant dressed in fine livery. Pale green banners adorned the walls at regular intervals. Each one was adorned with a triumphantly rearing white rapidash, which looked oddly more demonic than the snake entwined about its horn, its open-mouthed head impaled upon the tip of the horn.
wingedhatchlingPiper could only stand, mouth agape her hands sill holding an invisible basket. She realized that the two brothers were entering the manner and began to follow. However with a second look inside she couldn't bring herself to enter. Was she even allowed to look inside? She glanced at the banners, it must be their family crest. It made her feel a bit better to see a rapidash even if it looked...like that. Piper took a step forward and then a step back. She looked around for help and finding none she piped up her voice nervously, "U-umm sh-should I just w-wait out here?"
SwissArmySpork"Nonsense! Come in, you're welcome here of course." Eldon called, pausing to glance behind. Seeing how nervous she looked, he retraced his steps to her side and offered her his arm. Gideon stopped, turning around to watch them. He hoped for Eldon's sake their father didn't catch him treating her so. It wouldn't end well for him at all. Suddenly he frowned. But then, why was Eldon being all friendly with the girl to begin with, when she was really his to concern himself with. At this though, he strode over to them, gesturing for Eldon to move. "Don't mind my brother, if you please. I will escort you mademoiselle. Wouldn't want you messing with things you oughtn't mess with." He said with a frigid smile. Unlike Eldon, he made no move to offer her his arm, or any manner of such courtesy, really.
wingedhatchlingPiper still a little culture shocked said, "I-I wouldn't dare t-touch anything..." She had been flustered at Eldon's gentlemeness and was glad that Gideon did not offer his arm to her. She wouldn't have known what to do really. She followed the brothers closely trying to stay small behind them and for once being glad for her natural shortness. She smiled kindly at the servants, not really not knowing what to make of them. What a strange concept to have a house so big that you had to enlist people too take care of it. She briefly wondered what their parents did to gain such wealth.
SwissArmySpork"There you two are!" A bell-like voice rang out from the staircase, where the owner of the voice was standing, a tall woman in a beige gown, one hand resting upon the staircase, smiling softly. " I suppose I really should be mad at you two for running of like that, but to see Gideon out of the house for once..." She shook he head, laughing, before gliding down the stairs to stand in front of them, "Oh, who's this?"
wingedhatchling Piper smiled nervously at the beautiful woman. She looked at her feet not sure whether to reply or not "H-hello Ma'am," Piper stuttered out nervously. She was a little frightened of the women, not in the sense that she was frightened of her own mother, but in an odd new kind of way. As if the women's opinion would decide Piper's own accomplishments as a women and person.
SwissArmySporkShe smiled warmly, looking at her sons in joking disapproval, "Well, what have you two done to make her behave so? Or should I say what did Gideon do," Giddy looked away with a slight pout at her good-natured laugh. She turned back to Piper with a small shake of the head, "It's all right dear, you need not stand on propriety. I never much cared for forcing such things upon people not familiar with them," she unconsciously looked up to the banners, her voice quieting down as if imparting a secret. "Now then," she said, clapping her hands together, "What brings you here, hm? Oh, don't tell me one of them is up to their schemes again." She said, leaning in a little and gesturing toward the two brothers, the amusement clear in her features.
wingedhatchlingPiper smiled at the women's friendliness and giggled at her jokes. She herself relaxed and felt very ridiculous at having been so nervous in the first place. "W-well I don't know what they're planning, b-but I just came along to h-help with a chore. I was just about to get a book I think." The cyndaquil (Still categorizing them by pokemon names...because it's easy) smiled to herself as she remembered her main mission. She briefly thought back to her brothers, were they looking for her? No they must still be doing things in the town. She would have at least an hour or so...if of course one of them didn't get in a 'misunderstanding' with local law enforcers again.
SwissArmySpork"A book? Well, I am certain-" Gideon's mother began. As she spoke Gideon stepped forward and lightly placed a hand on Piper's shoulder, almost as if uneasy about touching her. "Thank you for your concern, mother, but I can handle it myself. Now then...Piper, was it? Yes, come now, and we'll get you your book, and you'll be on your way." He forced a smile, then steered her around his mother, who was watching him with something between sadness and resignation. Gideon led the way up the stairs, not noticing the form of his father, standing at the head of the stairs, watching them coldly with arms folded.