Eh… prototype chapter. Next year, if you guys want, I can be persuaded to release a more detailed version. Merry One-Day-Late Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate), and a happy new year. Oh, and keep an eye out for my Animorphs/Escaflowne crossover. I might put up the first chapter sometime soon...
"Dilandau, what are you doing?" The albino child didn't look up, engrossed in his paper. Eries huffed under her breath when she received no reply after five minutes, turning instead to the adults' conversations.
Folken Lacour de Fanel smirked, leaning over the boy's shoulder. Dilandau didn't notice, sticking his tongue out further and pressing his red crayon into the white paper with the air of an important businessman signing off a 'You're Fired' slip. One word could describe his mood- gleeful. The Fanelian teen rolled his eyes, and vowed to keep a close watch on the Zaibach brat and his younger brother.
Dilandau plus gleeful plus Van Slanzar de Fanel equaled pain and headaches for all involved. This Folken knew to be a natural law of the universe- much like gravity.
"Hey, Dilandau." Folken winced, reclining stiffly in his seat as Van stomped over. The five year old prince pushed passed Hitomi Kanzaki and her two friends, Amano and Yukari, eliciting a surprised squeal from Yukari and an outraged cry from Hitomi. Amano glared after the younger Fanel brother, but didn't say anything.
Amazingly, Dilandau ignored Van as well, hunching intently over his paper. Folken watched interestedly as Van's face went from surly to tearful.
"Mama!" he wailed, running and clinging to Varie. "Dilandau's i-ignoring m-meeee!" Folken cringed as the dreaded Whiny Tone assaulted his ears.
"He wasn't put on Gaea to cater to your every whim," he snapped, earning a round of disapproving looks from the adults- and Eries. Folken hid a scowl. He detested the eleven-year-old princess almost as much as she disliked him.
Dilandau took center stage with a series of deranged, malevolent chuckling that made Folken's blood run cold. It wasn't everyday that a five-year-old made a fifteen-year-old genuinely fear for his life- but then, most five-year-olds weren't homicidal pyromaniacs bent on murdering your younger brother (and any other 'unknown elements detrimental to the cause') in his sleep, so Folken wasn't too embarrassed.
Varie cleared her throat nervously. "Ah… Dilandau…" the queen trailed off uncertainly. Hitomi wasn't as easily intimidated.
"What'cha drawin', 'landau?" The red-eyed boy glared at her, then displayed his masterpiece proudly. Folken sweatdropped, muttering a quiet, "Typical…"
The picture consisted of a badly drawn, completely red Santa Claus wielding a surprisingly well drawn, all red flamethrower, torching a scrawny looking Christmas tree. Beneath one of 'Santa's' boots was a flame-bitten stick figure.
The stick figure was labeled 'VAN' in large, distorted letters.
"Hey!!!" Van whined. "That's me!" Dilandau's insane cackling could be heard through the ensuing silence. "MEANIE!" the black haired boy howled, lunging at Dilandau with a spoon stolen from Varie's plate. Dilandau screeched as it grazed his cheek.
"INSOLENT CUR!" the albino raged, brandishing his mutilated crayon. "You damaged my face! Gatti! Miguel! Get behind him!" The blond and brunet five year olds moved according to their miniature master's orders. Folken sighed, sitting back to watch the adults take care of the chaos.
He told them it would be a bad idea to get together for the holidays…
SEASONS GREETINGS!