Ode To The Lost

[Naelona Ezel]

October was a dull month. Thick frost in the morning that made the steps slick, heavy rain which made for icy cold puddles. Naelona didn't mind any of this though, for all points and purposes, she stayed inside most of the time.

A book was in her hands, but she wasn't reading it. Sitting in a wide cushioned window seat, feeling the chill that came off the cold glass panes but between the thick wrap about her shoulders and the sounds of the crackling fireplace nearby the boogie hardly took notice. The study held little interest to her, even if that was where she normally conducted her paper work. The study or within her own quarters. But the later was too stuffy and the former just irritated her every time she neared it. She detested being cheated and was adamant she'd been as well though didn't go much in voicing this. It was still something she'd accepted and for that time, made it valid.

Any double would be skinned and gutted, she was sure. Naelona wasn't a violent boogie my nature to her own kin, but doubles were not kin. They were no better than slaves, and perhaps a little worse. Even so such thoughts were kicked from her mind as her eyes shifted from the dreary site of outside to the little monkey at her feet. Mar was munching on a dead bug it'd found upon the sill. Reaching over she scratched her familiar's head with her finger, at least a few things would not change. "You could have cut down on the mischief sooner, Mar." The boogie woman murmured. Some miracle that'd been. As ornery as Mar had become, he'd absolutely dropped the brat act the moment Kristopher was gone. Probably helped that Naelona had threatened many painful and torturous things to the small creature if he acted otherwise shortly after the event.

But that was besides the unfortunate fact.

[Kristopher Roberts]

October wasn't the only dull month, November and December was right up there with October. Kristpoher hated these months because it was cold, slick and dangerous for him. He had to be careful during these months on what he was wearing, how much vitamins he took, if there was any about, and what to avoid. His health was always on the list of number one things to take care of, because this was the months of hell for him.

The said blond was currently working and feeling as tired as ever, he had little sleep between work, Sin, and more work followed by a bit more of Sin. He felt like the bastard was going to kill him at this rate!

Slowly, he shifted a box of candles in his arms. The blond was stocking the study and music lodge with extra candles for the darker days a head. The blond bumped the door open with a swore hip from having been on his feet since five this morning after Sin kicked him out of his bedroom.

So the poor blond sported the marks of nightly events and abuse from opening his mouth when it wasn't or was called for. At first the blond did not notice his ex-master and dropped the box on a desk and let out a sigh, leaning on the desk. He raised a hand and coughed into it a few times before moving his growing hair behind his ears. He held turned then and but his back to the desk, his tired green eyes opened and caught sight of her sitting off to the side.

He offered her a soft smile and a bow, but said nothing. His jaw was still hurting from the current event of learning to keep his trap shut, the evidence was clear on the side of his face.

[Naelona Ezel]

It was Mar who first noticed that someone other than themselves was within the spacious room. It wasn't from their smell, or the soft sounds that betrayed a quiet slave, but the scent of blood picked up by the familiar's sensitive tiny nose that made the creature crane it's neck about to look. Half-eaten bug forgotten, Mar hissed briefly in Kristopher's direction, and ducked out of sight behind the relative safety of Nae's folded legs.

The sound of a box thumping upon a table made her ear twitch. The sound of coughing creased her brow while a frown crossed her lips. Familiar as it was, it was pitiful when one could recognize their own slaves former slaves by the sounds of their illnesses. Finally looking up from her pages, Naelona caught the soft smile and the remnants of the bow. Kris was always so proper. She'd trained him that way since he was a child. Well - he still was a child - but, when he was more of a child..

Her eyes didn't remain pleasantly resting upon his young form, no, they grew rather cold as she noted one marred feature, then another. The slave prize was being mistreated horribly. Well not really mistreated.. just that Sin Dre'vis was more than rough with him and it showed. An obvious play upon her aff.. upon her habits and slight mockery of her nature. Quietly she motioned for Kristopher to come closer. Slaves were under rule to obey other boogies unless instructed otherwise by their respective Masters, after all.

She motioned for him to stop before he came any closer than a few feet away. The thought occurred, being Sin was involved in the matter, she could never be too careful. How was she to know the boy in front of her was indeed Kristopher and not a blasted double? He would just have to prove that himself, she decided. "You're injured, Kristopher." Naelona spoke quietly, softly in the deserted room. More of a statement than anything else. The dark beneath his eyes, bruised skin, and a multitude of other small details told her more than the boy would be able to within a handful of minutes.

"Sit with me." The boogie spoke, pointing to the space upon the window seat at her feet. She wanted to know a bit more about how he was fairing first, after all. The candles could wait a few more minutes.

[Kristopher Roberts]

Kristopher paused and stared at Mar who hissed at him, as usual and then dratted to rest about his Madam’s legs. Figures, somethings never change. The boy sighed softly and went to turn to work on the task that was given to him. He felt slightly uneasy with the look upon his old Masters face, she was staring at him with that calculating look upon her face that Kristopher wasn’t sure was a good thing or a bad one.

He picked up a single candle and then put it back down as soon as he caught movement. Naelona was motioning for him to join her. Carefully he looked up and then to either direction, just to make sure she wasn’t motioning anyone else and too make sure Sin was no where near the area. Like Naelona, Kris was concerned if Naelona was herself or a double made by Sin. That damn boogie made him paranoid.

So he went to her slowly, and then stopped when motioned too, his hands went behind his back as his habit went and pulled at his sleeves. His eyes averted. A normal habit of the boy.

”You’re injured, Kristopher.”

The boy shook his head slowly, “I’ll be fine, it’s only a few bruises here and there.” He replied softly, bringing up a sleeve covered hand, coughing into it roughly before speaking again. “Nothing serious, Madam Naelona.”

”Sit with me.”

The boy blinked and then joined his old Master, sitting where she directed him. Although he took his time doing so, he was still swore and his movements more then likely showed it. Once he sat, the boy let out a pleased sigh and shifted into a more comfortable position with his arms resting on his bent knees. God, it felt good to sit down for a change. “Is there anything I can help you with?” Kris asked, tilting his head to look at the female boogie, offering as always to aid her if she needed it.