Posted by oc pirate on August 29, 2008, 6:11 pm, in reply to "for Pirate."
98.117.216.157
silence is not the absence of sound, but the uniformity of it
The light mist that surrounds them glitters with the sun's reflection, and so do Aelina's light-butterflies. They make a happy spectacle, together, and Pirate cannot help but wonder - what it would be like, to have an ability that provided simply joy. That had no underlying purpose, no ulterior motive, so second function that he tried not to think about but could not, somehow, entirely ignore. Pirate could become a falcon, to revel in riding the winds; but also to watch over his loved ones with a predator's eye, and to have a beak and talons with which to protect them. Pirate could conjure fog, to project a happy, sparkling mist like the one before him - but also to shroud another, should there be any perceptible threat to them.
Pirate loves his wind, but he is small and it, peaceful. And the realization has recently come to Pirate, with all the heralding of a smack upside the head, that he needed to be able to protect, defend, and yes - even attack. These were evil times, and it is sad, but unavoidable. One must adapt, as Pirate has.
Pirate blinks suddenly, coming out of his reverie as his warm, golden eyes once again focus on Aelina. A smile comes unbidden to his lips, and it feels strained, but looks smooth - natural. It belongs there. "You have learned much. Wyvern was a good teacher - " and here he pauses slightly, before continuing. "And lucky to have such a bright student." Pirate cannot help it. Some do not give praise lightly, even to those who are due - Pirate does not lie, but where a good job has been done, he will recognize it immediately. He cannot see the wisdom in pushing a student away rather than nurturing them.
Ah, but Pirate corrects himself. Aelina is a student no more.
Her question makes him pause to think, his gaze distant and introspective. He has been asked it before, by Ozymandias - but that answer is not appropriate, for Aelina. It was not a lie, and neither is the answer that eventually comes to Pirate - neither are lies, but neither are the same, because neither are the whole truths. The whole truth, Pirate could not put into words. "It is a responsibility," Pirate begins, probably with much the same words that Aelina respects. "To your herd, and to...well, all of Legend," he says, chuckling.
"Basically, Oracles are here to keep them all together - the harems, the rogues, the warriors, spies, and scholars. Hopefully, we're doing a passable job." His smile wanes ever so slightly - imperceptibly, perhaps. Yes, hopefully they were doing a passable job. The outcome of many things depended on that answer. do not worry about the darkness; for that is when stars shine the brightest
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