Waves Goodbye(Open)

[AIDSwolf]

["Two scoops, please!" said the precocious little scamp with the scraped knees. Oscar smiled from ear to ear and obliged him, free of charge. He'd sold enough for the day, and had leftover enough to hand out freebies, especially if it meant making this little boy happy. Oscar had a soft spot for kids.


Oscar thanked the small boy for his patronage and hung a small, hand-written sign made of wood on his cart indicating he was momentarily away. He walked up the stairs to the roof of a modest shop and took out a match, struck it on his shoe, and began to smoke. He gazed at the utopia below him, perfectly peaceful and beautiful in its simplicity. It had been five years since he'd found his calling, five long years purveying ice cold treats to the residents of Twilight Town. He wondered what else the world had to offer.

He stood right on the precipice of the ledge, and imagined falling forever. That's what he was doing now, in a sense. Falling through an endless void,just enjoying the ride. Now he had to figure out how to steer this unruly metaphor.

He wasn't worried about leaving his parents or friends behind; he was attached to them, certainly, but there'd be new people just around the corner. He was worried about the danger the rest of the world held. But he had always believed in overcoming your fears. It made you a better person. And he could use a change of scenery.

He walked back home through the busy streets, beaming at everyone as he strolled. He took out his key and unlocked his door, quickly packing up his bag with all his valuables; not that he had many. He had his books, and his journal, his favorite quill pen made from a parrot feather, and his bag of pipeweed. He needed to do thisfast before the doubt set in. Doubt was a big truck full of bricks, slamming into your dreams before you even knew you had them. A big, long armed bully forcing their palm to your aspirations forehead, preventing them from going anywhere.

He locked his door on the way out, and walked quickly back to his cart. It was good to be your own employer. You could take off any time you wished. "In fact", he idly thought, "why haven't I done this before now?"

Because you're a worthless coward, Oscar.

His internal monologue had a point, but he wasn't about to let that stop him. His casual whimsy grew into desperate desire, wanting to spitefully prove to that nagging truth in his head that he was wrong, that he could be something more than this.

Now he just needed to find away out.

[Slash]

I know I left the bird somewhere around here...

[/center]

Really, all this planning and he was stuck having to look for the center of the plan. That stupid bird was probably pecking away at a dumpster. Or perhaps she had been distracted by something shiny.

I told her to stay in the damn Underground. Perhaps she also possesses the memory of a bird instead of just the legs of one.[/color]

Ah, there were three claw marks on this wall. That was her. Interesting that she'd decide to come out into the open, being a freak of nature and all.

Had I a heart, I would be frustrated. I think I'll see if I can make her even uglier.[/color]

He ended up tracking her marks to somewhere near an ice cream vendor. This one was strange, and there didn't seem to be any other marks near it. If he messed up what direction it was going in he'd waste valuable time.

Xaldin spent a while staring at the mark, which had the unintended effect of him standing right at the side of the ice cream cart for a minute or two.

[AIDSwolf]

A rather imposing looking figure stood before Oscar's cart. He instinctively moved to duck behind something until this man left, then realized that a strange looking man like this, he may have the means for him to leave this stagnant place. He worked up the scant amount of courage he had and dived headlong into conversation.

"Hello, there, Mister Idunnoyourname, you look to be a stranger from a far off land with many wonderful tales of heart pounding excitement and whimsical wonder, and I was wondering if you might oblige a simple man such as myself in his silly dreams of exploring the world at large, meeting new people, seeing new sights, selling my treats to the youth and writing all about it in my book?"

He panted as he finished his long winded request, and hoped for the best. The best being that he simply ignored him and his insignificant self and walked away before Oscar said something else that got him killed.

[Slash]

...What?

[/center]

Xaldin stared at the vendor for a few seconds. It took him a second to process everything the rapid-speaking man had just said, and after tha he couldn't decide whether he wanted to walk away or just impale him repeatedly.

Oh, hell, he needed help finding Three and this guy could go wander aimlessly for him. Besides, when it was all over he could just send him somwhere else in a Corridor and never see him again.

This was such a pain.

"Take a look at these claw marks, follow them, and see if you can find the bird that made them. It's a very large bird. I don't think you'll miss it. If you can do that, then I'll help with...whatever it is you wanted to do."

[AIDSwolf]

"Oh, but of course, sir, your excellency, your grace; are these honorifics appropriate, or shall I use something more exotic, like marquis?"

Oscar cleared his throat in silence.

"I'll be on my way now, Sir Marquis."

An hour and a half later

Oscar had retrieved a stale baguette from his home to lure out what could possibly be an ostrich. Did ostriches like bread? He made a mental note to research their dietary habits at a later time. Now was the hour of the hunt. There was big game afoot. He could feel the thrill of the chase pumping through his veins; it was too much. He had to take a break, calm down, keep a cool head. That's how you catch a crafty top tier predator like this.

He leaned against the wall of the dreary alley he was occupying and lit up. Immediately, this quelled burning clarity in his head, replaced it with a foggy, almost tangible apathy. The comfort that no matter how hard he failed, nothing mattered. Everything will be gone eventually; me, you, that pompous, self-important guy with the dreads back there. It'll all fall apart.

Oscar giggled softly to himself, and started pacing forward, following the tracks and tearing off bits of bread.

[Slash]

Food?

[/center]

Food.

A giant multi-colored bird shot down from the sky, noticing the small man who was throwing food around. The crumbs were much too small to pick up.

Food! Food.[/color]

She wanted to speak directly in his mind and tell him to give the food, but the Lancer would not be happy. No, he wouldn't. Not supposed to talk to anyone else, he said. Not unless told. Nope.

The giant bird screeched at the man repeatedly. He'd give the food if she kept screeching really loud.

_____________

Meanwhile, Xaldin was incredibly bored. His newest attempt to amuse himself involved firing spears at the ice cream truck from a good distance. He was trying to see how many times he could hit one spot in a row- his record was currently 25 times.

Wait, why didn't I just send a few Dusks to find her?[/color]

Damn it.

[AIDSwolf]

Oscar looked up, quite belatedly, to notice a screeching airborne creature hovering in place as best it could nearly directly above him. This amused him so greatly that he spent five minutes or so laughing to himself and pointing at it.

It hadn't budged, however, and he got the idea to set the rest of the bread directly on the ground.

[A very big bird, indeed, he thought absentmindedly.

Before he knew what was going on around him, the bird had swooped down viciously and clamped the bread in its' maw, devouring it promptly, and startling Oscar in the process, causing him to fall on his backside.

Without trying, without thinking, Oscar's reptilian brain produced some latent ability, and the winged beast known as Three found itself intoxicated by the mellow demeanor of a man who sells frozen dairy products for a living.

Oscar noticed this change, and walked up to it to pet it. Oscar liked animals. The bird showed no hint of disapproval. Oscar became more confident in his patting and stroking of it's beak, tittering with glee. He'd always wanted a monstrously huge avian pet.

Without thinking, he hopped on the creature's accommodating back and kicked his work boots twice to get it to fly. In a matter of seconds he was soaring above the sky, happier than he could remember being in a long time. This was the sort of adventures he fancied. The kind full of whimsy and fun, and perhaps a good tea party.

The bird somehow knew to glide gracefully over to Oscar's safe and familiar ice cream cart, which was-

"Covered in spears? I don't remember those being there."

[Oscar used Peaceful Thoughts.
Ability lasts for 3 posts.]

[Slash]

There's the bird.

[/center]

God, there they were. Finally. The spears disappeared, to be used again at a later time.

Xaldin looked at the bird. "Drop him," he said.

The bird shook him off at the Lancer's orders and flew down to him, reverting to its normal form. Said form was horribly unforutnate, as most people did not find blank, sightless eyes or bird legs attractive on a girl.

I am back,[/color] she said, far too complacent for Xaldin's tastes. She had blatantly disobeyed his orders to stay still, and yet she did not seem afraid.

Without a word, he opened up a Corridor behind her and kicked her square in the head, knocking her back into it. Such a useless bird.

"Well, you did what I asked." He opened another Corridor. "If you want to get off the world, go through there."

He had ten seconds before Xaldin kicked him through, too.

[AIDSwolf]

Oscar held his breath, braced himself for possible dismemberment and/or de-atomization on the other side, and dove headfirst into the foreboding gate that appeared from thin air.

Before he passed through, he yelled.

"Thank you, Sir Viscount!"