Sunday Banshee
Dec. 25th, 2011 10:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lavandarlizard2A little something for the holidays... ^___^
The cast of this fic has decided to lead me around the mulberry bush a few times, so the next bit may be a while in coming. >_> Fortunately, this is a little longer than usual. ^___^
BFB – Part 103 – Crazy is as Crazy Does
Ctik was gone for almost fifteen minutes; at the ten-minute mark, I was ready to go check on him, but Heero just rolled his eyes at me and I realized I was doing the same thing he does to me. We had ordered and had just received our food when Ctik returned looking amused and relieved.
“Gisela had no idea there is a vault, but Michael has seen it. He has always played with the gargoyles.” He chuckled fondly. “I will need to open it for the movers, but it is apparently undisturbed. I gather Michael has tried some of the crypt tricks on it and been disappointed that he couldn’t get in.”
“Ctik, that kid needs a career that will let him be as nosy as he likes,” I said. “He’s interested in forensics.”
Ctik rolled the word around silently on his tongue. “He has mentioned that word, as I recall. I wasn’t familiar with the context. It is an investigative technique, is it not?”
“It is,” said Heero. “Popularly linked with criminal investigations right now, due to the number of television programs, but found in almost every field. Duo has spent more time with Michael than I have, but he does seem to be a very sharp and detail driven child.”
“Oh, he is very bright,” Ctik agreed proudly. “Not that the other children aren’t, of course, but their enthusiasms seem much more… hm… channeled? Perhaps, they have always known their paths.”
While they discussed the kids, I listened and ate and thought about how the same set of genes could produce such different personalities. That led me down a well-worn path into some of my own fantasies.
I used to daydream when I was a kid; of what my life would be like if my mother hadn’t died. I didn’t know until I was on my own that Human kids frequently have the same sorts of dreams. I probably wouldn’t be here if Danc had lived. Or maybe I would have wandered with her. I might have grown up knowing who and what I was. Might have known my father as a father, rather than a nebulous cloud of mist. Maybe I would have had siblings.
Banshees aren’t prolific breeders, but they usually have more than one child when they have children at all. I could have been a big brother to someone. Could have been a son instead of a nephew. Maybe even had a kid or two of my own. The sexuality of Magical Creatures is a lot more fluid than that of Humans, magical or not. Look at Heero with his duty children. Maybe I would have done something similar. My mother could have been a grandmother, an aunt to Dael and to Caz’s children. Maybe my mother would have even challenged Mika for matriarch…
I blinked. Crud. I didn’t need to do that again, especially right now; those daydreams just led straight to sleepless nights and deep black thoughts. I took a deep breath and focused again on Heero and Ctik.
They had moved on to the general topic of living quarters and the information that we had a Witch helping. Unfortunately, Heero was saying, the habit nowadays was for rather close and tacky dwellings. Most of the old buildings had long since been torn down or turned into hotels or tourist attractions. The few not so purposed were in the hands of the super wealthy and unlikely to ever be available at any price.
Ctik sighed and I jumped in to tell him we’d figure out something, one way or another. I felt like such a slug! All he wanted was a suitable home, and so far… nothing. Then Heero brought up something else from my list.
“Ctik, you have no supply of earth currently, is that correct?”
The vamp twiddled with his drink for a moment. “That is correct,” he said finally. “I had only the one coffin… Another foolish move on my part.”
“Never mind that now; I believe you have learned better.” He glanced at me. “Duo, what do you have scheduled for tomorrow?”
I blinked and fished out my list. I wasn’t entirely sure what day it was – Wednesday? No, today was Wednesday.
“More appraisers,” I said finally. I grinned at Ctik. “We’re inventorying and valuing the contents of the house, so you can tell if Miles might have made off with anything.” He blinked at me and sighed.
“That boy…” he muttered. “Vivian would be heartbroken.” He shook himself and took a deep breath. “Never mind. Thank you for that; I am sure Gisela appreciates it. She mentioned being amazed at how much is actually in the house.”
“Beren says people always have more than they think they do; something to do with perceptions.” I turned to Heero. “Are you volunteering to help?” I asked winsomely and he snorted.
“In a way. Ctik needs a supply of earth –“ I tapped my list to indicate that line. “Excellent. While you are dealing with the house, then, I will go with Ctik to collect a good supply of his earth.”
I opened my mouth to say… something, and then closed it when I realized that I couldn’t be everywhere and do everything myself. I wanted to, though; oh, how I wanted to be the superhero that did it all. That was just a little bit disturbing, too. When did I become the only person who could fix something? I couldn’t even reliably control my own magic!
I took a sip of my drink instead, and regrouped. “Tomorrow? Where do you have to go?”
Heero produced a map and he and Ctik put their heads together over it. “It may be possible to do it tonight,” Heero muttered. He retrieved his ‘does everything but beat off’ cell phone and began checking websites. “Do you have your pouch of earth with you?”
Ctik pulled out the small pouch and handed it over. Heero tapped it with his fingers a couple of times, then tapped the map. A tiny gold star appeared on the map, accompanied by a string of numbers.
“Cool!” I leaned in, trying to read it. “Did you just GPS Ctik’s earth?”
Heero snickered. “I have Chosen a brilliant Banshee! Yes, I ‘GPS-ed’ Ctik’s original burial site.”
Ctik and I laughed. “And that’s helpful because…?”
“Because now I can calculate the sunrise and sunset times for that position and determine whether we should go tonight or wait until tomorrow.”
Time zones again!
Ctik looked hopeful. “I tend to rise early and go down late,” he offered. “Sometimes as much as an hour after full sunrise. Depending on the season, of course. And I do have a few charms left.”
The idea of swooping off tonight to accomplish Operation Dirt kicked at my adrenalin. “Is there time?”
“There is time.” He twiddled something else on the phone and hummed to himself. “And we are in luck; there is nothing currently obstructing the site.”
Ctik blinked. “Really? After all this time? Amazing!”
“Humans tend not to build over graveyards,” I reminded him. “Bad juju or something.”
“This is true… And the cemetery was still active the last time I visited and that was… oh, before the big war. Maybe in the 1930s?”
Heero tapped the map again and we saw an aerial view of the location. It looked like any old cemetery with some old statues and buildings that were likely family crypts, a fair number of old stones and a scattering of the modern style markers or smaller headstones. Not as well manicured as the American style of burial, but tidy and obviously cared-for. Even the old church was somewhat intact, although there was a suspiciously shiny bit that may have been part of a metal-roofed addition.
“How interesting! I have never viewed it like this. Where would my grave be?” Ctik asked eagerly.
Heero tapped a remote corner. “Right in here. This is the oldest section. It goes back into at least the 1400s. Since you were a visitor and not a local, they chose a plot on the edge of the grounds.” He smirked at us. “Not quite in the pauper’s section, but still within the hallowed ground.”
“How generous of them,” I muttered.
“Ilya paid,” murmured Ctik dreamily. “I still had my funds when I awoke. She was always generous that way.”
The cast of this fic has decided to lead me around the mulberry bush a few times, so the next bit may be a while in coming. >_> Fortunately, this is a little longer than usual. ^___^
BFB – Part 103 – Crazy is as Crazy Does
Ctik was gone for almost fifteen minutes; at the ten-minute mark, I was ready to go check on him, but Heero just rolled his eyes at me and I realized I was doing the same thing he does to me. We had ordered and had just received our food when Ctik returned looking amused and relieved.
“Gisela had no idea there is a vault, but Michael has seen it. He has always played with the gargoyles.” He chuckled fondly. “I will need to open it for the movers, but it is apparently undisturbed. I gather Michael has tried some of the crypt tricks on it and been disappointed that he couldn’t get in.”
“Ctik, that kid needs a career that will let him be as nosy as he likes,” I said. “He’s interested in forensics.”
Ctik rolled the word around silently on his tongue. “He has mentioned that word, as I recall. I wasn’t familiar with the context. It is an investigative technique, is it not?”
“It is,” said Heero. “Popularly linked with criminal investigations right now, due to the number of television programs, but found in almost every field. Duo has spent more time with Michael than I have, but he does seem to be a very sharp and detail driven child.”
“Oh, he is very bright,” Ctik agreed proudly. “Not that the other children aren’t, of course, but their enthusiasms seem much more… hm… channeled? Perhaps, they have always known their paths.”
While they discussed the kids, I listened and ate and thought about how the same set of genes could produce such different personalities. That led me down a well-worn path into some of my own fantasies.
I used to daydream when I was a kid; of what my life would be like if my mother hadn’t died. I didn’t know until I was on my own that Human kids frequently have the same sorts of dreams. I probably wouldn’t be here if Danc had lived. Or maybe I would have wandered with her. I might have grown up knowing who and what I was. Might have known my father as a father, rather than a nebulous cloud of mist. Maybe I would have had siblings.
Banshees aren’t prolific breeders, but they usually have more than one child when they have children at all. I could have been a big brother to someone. Could have been a son instead of a nephew. Maybe even had a kid or two of my own. The sexuality of Magical Creatures is a lot more fluid than that of Humans, magical or not. Look at Heero with his duty children. Maybe I would have done something similar. My mother could have been a grandmother, an aunt to Dael and to Caz’s children. Maybe my mother would have even challenged Mika for matriarch…
I blinked. Crud. I didn’t need to do that again, especially right now; those daydreams just led straight to sleepless nights and deep black thoughts. I took a deep breath and focused again on Heero and Ctik.
They had moved on to the general topic of living quarters and the information that we had a Witch helping. Unfortunately, Heero was saying, the habit nowadays was for rather close and tacky dwellings. Most of the old buildings had long since been torn down or turned into hotels or tourist attractions. The few not so purposed were in the hands of the super wealthy and unlikely to ever be available at any price.
Ctik sighed and I jumped in to tell him we’d figure out something, one way or another. I felt like such a slug! All he wanted was a suitable home, and so far… nothing. Then Heero brought up something else from my list.
“Ctik, you have no supply of earth currently, is that correct?”
The vamp twiddled with his drink for a moment. “That is correct,” he said finally. “I had only the one coffin… Another foolish move on my part.”
“Never mind that now; I believe you have learned better.” He glanced at me. “Duo, what do you have scheduled for tomorrow?”
I blinked and fished out my list. I wasn’t entirely sure what day it was – Wednesday? No, today was Wednesday.
“More appraisers,” I said finally. I grinned at Ctik. “We’re inventorying and valuing the contents of the house, so you can tell if Miles might have made off with anything.” He blinked at me and sighed.
“That boy…” he muttered. “Vivian would be heartbroken.” He shook himself and took a deep breath. “Never mind. Thank you for that; I am sure Gisela appreciates it. She mentioned being amazed at how much is actually in the house.”
“Beren says people always have more than they think they do; something to do with perceptions.” I turned to Heero. “Are you volunteering to help?” I asked winsomely and he snorted.
“In a way. Ctik needs a supply of earth –“ I tapped my list to indicate that line. “Excellent. While you are dealing with the house, then, I will go with Ctik to collect a good supply of his earth.”
I opened my mouth to say… something, and then closed it when I realized that I couldn’t be everywhere and do everything myself. I wanted to, though; oh, how I wanted to be the superhero that did it all. That was just a little bit disturbing, too. When did I become the only person who could fix something? I couldn’t even reliably control my own magic!
I took a sip of my drink instead, and regrouped. “Tomorrow? Where do you have to go?”
Heero produced a map and he and Ctik put their heads together over it. “It may be possible to do it tonight,” Heero muttered. He retrieved his ‘does everything but beat off’ cell phone and began checking websites. “Do you have your pouch of earth with you?”
Ctik pulled out the small pouch and handed it over. Heero tapped it with his fingers a couple of times, then tapped the map. A tiny gold star appeared on the map, accompanied by a string of numbers.
“Cool!” I leaned in, trying to read it. “Did you just GPS Ctik’s earth?”
Heero snickered. “I have Chosen a brilliant Banshee! Yes, I ‘GPS-ed’ Ctik’s original burial site.”
Ctik and I laughed. “And that’s helpful because…?”
“Because now I can calculate the sunrise and sunset times for that position and determine whether we should go tonight or wait until tomorrow.”
Time zones again!
Ctik looked hopeful. “I tend to rise early and go down late,” he offered. “Sometimes as much as an hour after full sunrise. Depending on the season, of course. And I do have a few charms left.”
The idea of swooping off tonight to accomplish Operation Dirt kicked at my adrenalin. “Is there time?”
“There is time.” He twiddled something else on the phone and hummed to himself. “And we are in luck; there is nothing currently obstructing the site.”
Ctik blinked. “Really? After all this time? Amazing!”
“Humans tend not to build over graveyards,” I reminded him. “Bad juju or something.”
“This is true… And the cemetery was still active the last time I visited and that was… oh, before the big war. Maybe in the 1930s?”
Heero tapped the map again and we saw an aerial view of the location. It looked like any old cemetery with some old statues and buildings that were likely family crypts, a fair number of old stones and a scattering of the modern style markers or smaller headstones. Not as well manicured as the American style of burial, but tidy and obviously cared-for. Even the old church was somewhat intact, although there was a suspiciously shiny bit that may have been part of a metal-roofed addition.
“How interesting! I have never viewed it like this. Where would my grave be?” Ctik asked eagerly.
Heero tapped a remote corner. “Right in here. This is the oldest section. It goes back into at least the 1400s. Since you were a visitor and not a local, they chose a plot on the edge of the grounds.” He smirked at us. “Not quite in the pauper’s section, but still within the hallowed ground.”
“How generous of them,” I muttered.
“Ilya paid,” murmured Ctik dreamily. “I still had my funds when I awoke. She was always generous that way.”
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-12-26 07:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-26 05:19 pm (UTC)You are most welcome! Duo was trying to get angsty on us, but I think that's been headed off. ^____^
no subject
Date: 2011-12-26 02:25 pm (UTC)Banshee superhero, huh? Isn't he already that?
no subject
Date: 2011-12-26 05:20 pm (UTC)The Maxwell always believes he can Do It All, regardless of situational species. ^____^
Yuy's got nothing on him in that department. ^__~
no subject
Date: 2011-12-26 05:14 pm (UTC)Bad juju indeed...can't build over graveyards!
Hope your Christmas wasn't too...er, bad? o_O
no subject
Date: 2011-12-26 05:25 pm (UTC)Personally, I consider the whole 'burial' thing as being wasteful of potentially productive land, but... eh. >_> I suppose it's easier to have a picnic on top of Grandma than to spread out in front of a quart-sized urn. ^___^
My xmas was delightful, thank you. New yarn, new patterns, finished something (always a cause for celebration), got a half-gallon soda and took a short road trip just because and got to talk to my Bro. I'm easy to please. ^____^
Christmas Present
Date: 2012-01-02 02:53 am (UTC)Re: Christmas Present
Date: 2012-01-06 01:04 am (UTC)Oh my! That's so sweet of you! ^___^
I hope there's nothing horrible wrong with your computers... O.o The beasts are so finicky sometimes. >_>
Re: Christmas Present
Date: 2012-01-06 05:24 pm (UTC)Re: Christmas Present
Date: 2012-01-09 09:28 pm (UTC)Well, ick! I swear these electronic gadgets are totally sentient. O.o
no subject
Date: 2011-12-26 05:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-29 05:36 am (UTC)Dirt is always good. ^___^ Especially for vampires.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 05:53 am (UTC)Hope your Christmas was nice.
Great, Ctik will have his earth. He'll 'sleep' better for it.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-29 05:38 am (UTC)My Xmas is always quiet. Yarn, cats and DVDs. ^___^
Once he has a permanent place to sleep... ^___~
no subject
Date: 2011-12-27 06:39 pm (UTC)*hugs* Hope you had a good Christmas!
no subject
Date: 2011-12-29 05:40 am (UTC)Wait a month or two; someone will make an app. ^___^
I had the *best* cookies... O.o Gingerbread? And fudge... mmmmmmmmmm... fudge....
(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)
no subject
Date: 2011-12-31 02:23 pm (UTC)And I want a magical GPS too...
no subject
Date: 2012-01-03 07:45 am (UTC)Most vamps are of the supremely confident sort, but seriously - they can't all be the biggest and baddest. O.o Somebody has to do the boring parts. ^___^ And Ctik is maybe still a bit amazed that anyone would want to make him immortal. ^___^
The magical GPS would indeed be cool. ^___^ I like maps myself, but being able to find any location within a few meters... Yeah, that would be cool. ^___^