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rosipheleeYes, at long last ^_^
I can't actually remember how long ago it was that I promised this - well before Christmas, at any rate. So, I started a story, with a chat between Tad and one of his colleagues which was supposed to lead in to his talk with Istellon. I got to the end of the first conversation, and it stalled.
Today, I finally twigged that I should be writing a different conversation between these two. After all, they've known each other since Istellon was born, so they've obviously had more than one conversation in their lives.
So, here you are. Istellon's been dumped, and Tad's trying to cheer him up.
Advice
After an hour of searching, Tad found Istellon perched on the scree below Hirat Crag, his wings hunched up around him. He didn’t turn his head when Tad swooped over him, or when he stubbed his toe on landing, despite the fact that Tad was pretty sure his yelp of pain had just scared off every jackal in ten zatis.
Marvellous.
Tad hopped from boulder to boulder, wincing a little, and flopped down beside the boy. All he could see from here were pink wings and hunched shoulders. Istellon had pulled his hair forward over his shoulder, and was obviously tugging at the ends.
“Well met,” Tad said, and Istellon pulled his wings in closer.
Fabulous. Why was this still his job? Why wasn’t Jerrioh or Gallodin dealing with it? They were far closer in age to the boy.
Tad sighed, and gazed up at the bright sky. Nary a cloud in sight, a sweet breeze from the east, and he still had a week of leave. He should be in the air, heading out towards the Laapeks for the races.
“So,” he said brightly. “Girls. Funny things.”
“Go away, Tadilen,” Istellon said, his voice muffled by feathers.
“I regret that I cannot. I have been entrusted with this mission by one I dare not anger, and may not return until-”
“And you can tell mother it’s none of her business, either.”
“What makes you think she’ll believe me?”
Istellon snorted.
Tad sighed. It was hot down here, out of the breeze. Much as he missed a good bit of sunshine when he was in the Citadel, today he’d rather fly than bask.
“Want to tell me about it?”
“Go away, Tad.”
Tad winced. At least he would never again be fifteen and making a fool of himself over fluffy-winged little flirts. Although, when he thought on it, he was thirty and still making a fool of himself over fluffy-winged little flirts. Maybe Caria had a point when she told him he needed to grow up.
“She might change her mind,” he tried.
“She is affianced to Frialat gar Trissalan.”
Ouch. Silly young fledglings would be pleading in the Seneschal’s court before they were twenty. “Er, did she arrange this before or after she split with you?”
“It was why she split with me,” Istellon muttered.
Two-timing little hag. “She’s not worth it, then, ayliar.”
Istellon’s shoulders slumped. “You don’t know anything, Tadilen. Go away.”
Tad patted his shoulder awakwardly, and got buffeted in the face for his pains. “You must admit it looks cruel.”
“Kalita’s not cruel!” Istellon snapped. “She’s just – just disorganised..”
That was a new excuse. Well, he had part of her name now – all he needed was her clan, and she’d be taking an unexpected bath in the Aahra, the hussy. Honestly, was he the only one in the family who knew their priorities?
“You deserve better than disorganised,” he said firmly. “Shake your wings out, bright feather. It’s a new day.”
“I don’t care,” Istellon said. “I don’t want someone else. I want Kata.”
“Listen to the expert,” Tad said. “It’s better to end it cleanly. We’ll find you a new girl.” He was proud he’d managed not to say better.
“Expert?” Istellon echoed. “You? Remind me, yet again, what happened to your last girlfriend.”
Tad winced. Little brat. “She joined a celibate garriah. Which was her choice, and obviously where she felt she needed to be for her spiritual development, so I fail to see-.”
“And the one before?”
“Differing tastes in literature are a serious matter. I do not blame Tiarla.”
“And the one before that?”
“Thought I might be rich,” Tad muttered. That was not a happy memory. “Must we review the complete annals of Tadilen yir Hiresta’s terrible luck with women?”
Istellon snickered behind his wing. “I was merely reminding myself of your expertise on such matters.”
Tad flicked him on the ear. “You could at least learn from my mistakes.”
“Unlike some, I am not clearly destined for a life of celibacy. Accept it, Tadilen, the garriah is calling you – ow!”
“I’m still bigger than you, squeaker.”
“True,” Istellon said gloomily, “but I long ago surpassed your intellect.”
That deserved a proper punch, and they went rolling down the scree in a tangle of bright wings, yelling.
Tad, who had years more practice, ended up sitting on Istellon’s legs. “Hah. I am triumphant.”
“Why me?” Istellon lamented into the rocks. “What did I do to deserve brothers?”
“Think of my predicament,” Tad said cheerfully. “For two whole years, I was an only child. I have still not recovered from the shock.”
Istellon snorted again, but there was laughter in it this time.
“There’s a fair in Low Tiamin,” Tad said, shuffling off him.
Istellon sat up, shaking his wings out, and shot him a sceptical look. His eyes were red-rimmed, but there was the beginning of a smile on his face. “That stopped working when I was ten, Tad.”
“Alack the day,” Tad said. “I like fairs.”
“You could take Melly’s twins.”
Tad shuddered. “I could coat my wings in honey and go looking for a wasp’s nest, too. Equally safe.”
“I’ll tell them their Uncle Tad thinks he isn’t seeing enough of them.”
“Try it, and I’ll persuade Melly to send them to stay with you and the parents. Until they come into their wings.”
“Woe,” Istellon said, mock-swooning. “Very well, Tadilen. I will come to the fair.”
“Most excellent,” Tad said, and stood up, tugging Istellon to his feet. “Last one to get there’s a siryat worm!”
And he ran for the wind, confident his brother was behind him.
~*~
I will also post the other conversation, which doesn't involve Istellon, as it connects nicely to Wind's Road. I just need to get home and find the full version (I only have a bit of it on my work computer)
I can't actually remember how long ago it was that I promised this - well before Christmas, at any rate. So, I started a story, with a chat between Tad and one of his colleagues which was supposed to lead in to his talk with Istellon. I got to the end of the first conversation, and it stalled.
Today, I finally twigged that I should be writing a different conversation between these two. After all, they've known each other since Istellon was born, so they've obviously had more than one conversation in their lives.
So, here you are. Istellon's been dumped, and Tad's trying to cheer him up.
After an hour of searching, Tad found Istellon perched on the scree below Hirat Crag, his wings hunched up around him. He didn’t turn his head when Tad swooped over him, or when he stubbed his toe on landing, despite the fact that Tad was pretty sure his yelp of pain had just scared off every jackal in ten zatis.
Marvellous.
Tad hopped from boulder to boulder, wincing a little, and flopped down beside the boy. All he could see from here were pink wings and hunched shoulders. Istellon had pulled his hair forward over his shoulder, and was obviously tugging at the ends.
“Well met,” Tad said, and Istellon pulled his wings in closer.
Fabulous. Why was this still his job? Why wasn’t Jerrioh or Gallodin dealing with it? They were far closer in age to the boy.
Tad sighed, and gazed up at the bright sky. Nary a cloud in sight, a sweet breeze from the east, and he still had a week of leave. He should be in the air, heading out towards the Laapeks for the races.
“So,” he said brightly. “Girls. Funny things.”
“Go away, Tadilen,” Istellon said, his voice muffled by feathers.
“I regret that I cannot. I have been entrusted with this mission by one I dare not anger, and may not return until-”
“And you can tell mother it’s none of her business, either.”
“What makes you think she’ll believe me?”
Istellon snorted.
Tad sighed. It was hot down here, out of the breeze. Much as he missed a good bit of sunshine when he was in the Citadel, today he’d rather fly than bask.
“Want to tell me about it?”
“Go away, Tad.”
Tad winced. At least he would never again be fifteen and making a fool of himself over fluffy-winged little flirts. Although, when he thought on it, he was thirty and still making a fool of himself over fluffy-winged little flirts. Maybe Caria had a point when she told him he needed to grow up.
“She might change her mind,” he tried.
“She is affianced to Frialat gar Trissalan.”
Ouch. Silly young fledglings would be pleading in the Seneschal’s court before they were twenty. “Er, did she arrange this before or after she split with you?”
“It was why she split with me,” Istellon muttered.
Two-timing little hag. “She’s not worth it, then, ayliar.”
Istellon’s shoulders slumped. “You don’t know anything, Tadilen. Go away.”
Tad patted his shoulder awakwardly, and got buffeted in the face for his pains. “You must admit it looks cruel.”
“Kalita’s not cruel!” Istellon snapped. “She’s just – just disorganised..”
That was a new excuse. Well, he had part of her name now – all he needed was her clan, and she’d be taking an unexpected bath in the Aahra, the hussy. Honestly, was he the only one in the family who knew their priorities?
“You deserve better than disorganised,” he said firmly. “Shake your wings out, bright feather. It’s a new day.”
“I don’t care,” Istellon said. “I don’t want someone else. I want Kata.”
“Listen to the expert,” Tad said. “It’s better to end it cleanly. We’ll find you a new girl.” He was proud he’d managed not to say better.
“Expert?” Istellon echoed. “You? Remind me, yet again, what happened to your last girlfriend.”
Tad winced. Little brat. “She joined a celibate garriah. Which was her choice, and obviously where she felt she needed to be for her spiritual development, so I fail to see-.”
“And the one before?”
“Differing tastes in literature are a serious matter. I do not blame Tiarla.”
“And the one before that?”
“Thought I might be rich,” Tad muttered. That was not a happy memory. “Must we review the complete annals of Tadilen yir Hiresta’s terrible luck with women?”
Istellon snickered behind his wing. “I was merely reminding myself of your expertise on such matters.”
Tad flicked him on the ear. “You could at least learn from my mistakes.”
“Unlike some, I am not clearly destined for a life of celibacy. Accept it, Tadilen, the garriah is calling you – ow!”
“I’m still bigger than you, squeaker.”
“True,” Istellon said gloomily, “but I long ago surpassed your intellect.”
That deserved a proper punch, and they went rolling down the scree in a tangle of bright wings, yelling.
Tad, who had years more practice, ended up sitting on Istellon’s legs. “Hah. I am triumphant.”
“Why me?” Istellon lamented into the rocks. “What did I do to deserve brothers?”
“Think of my predicament,” Tad said cheerfully. “For two whole years, I was an only child. I have still not recovered from the shock.”
Istellon snorted again, but there was laughter in it this time.
“There’s a fair in Low Tiamin,” Tad said, shuffling off him.
Istellon sat up, shaking his wings out, and shot him a sceptical look. His eyes were red-rimmed, but there was the beginning of a smile on his face. “That stopped working when I was ten, Tad.”
“Alack the day,” Tad said. “I like fairs.”
“You could take Melly’s twins.”
Tad shuddered. “I could coat my wings in honey and go looking for a wasp’s nest, too. Equally safe.”
“I’ll tell them their Uncle Tad thinks he isn’t seeing enough of them.”
“Try it, and I’ll persuade Melly to send them to stay with you and the parents. Until they come into their wings.”
“Woe,” Istellon said, mock-swooning. “Very well, Tadilen. I will come to the fair.”
“Most excellent,” Tad said, and stood up, tugging Istellon to his feet. “Last one to get there’s a siryat worm!”
And he ran for the wind, confident his brother was behind him.
I will also post the other conversation, which doesn't involve Istellon, as it connects nicely to Wind's Road. I just need to get home and find the full version (I only have a bit of it on my work computer)
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no subject
Date: 2006-06-27 04:24 pm (UTC)And I should ask while I'm thinking of it - was there any more Wind's Road while I was gone?
no subject
Date: 2006-06-27 04:39 pm (UTC)*shuffles feet* Er, no Wind's Road, unless you count this silliness. (http://rosiphelee.livejournal.com/52890.html#cutid1) There was Pan's birthday story, as well, which involved Tad and cinnamon (here (http://rosiphelee.livejournal.com/51888.html#cutid1)
Thanks for reading :)
no subject
Date: 2006-06-27 09:26 pm (UTC)YAY! MY STORY!!!!
*squees and dies*
Maybe I'm just dense but I didn't realise (or, at least, had no clue until the cinammon story) that Tad and Istellon were in fact brothers... But then I am notoriously dense...
*beams*
Well, that was just wonderful. ^_^ *chuckles* Very sweet. Lovely.
Sorry... you're not gonna get anything more coherent out of me, I don't think.
*beams*
*squees*
*runs*
no subject
Date: 2006-06-28 07:35 am (UTC)I've always known they were brothers, but I've never had much reason to mention it. There's a bit in Dark Wings where Tad mentions his youngest brother, but I haven't developed that thread yet. There's fifteen years and seven others between them.
Glad you liked it :)
no subject
Date: 2006-06-28 12:26 pm (UTC)Seven others, huh? Sounds as bad as my WtF families ... although some of those sisters are going to be packed off to become cousins instead, if only to stop me from wondering when the hell the Zalahr wasn't pregnant. *snickers*
no subject
Date: 2006-06-27 09:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-28 07:38 am (UTC)No idea is I can get away with that scientifically, but that's what I'm going with.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-28 09:34 am (UTC)And I didn't realise they were brothers either, but that makes things even more interesting in Wind's Road... well, in my head anyway ^_^ Though I already like the pretty flamingo.
Tad, however, I adore more and more with each new snippet of him. Poor lamb, very much like the clumsy opening ^_^ and his string of disasters. Istellon is the typical, snide teenage brother.
Lovely, lovely, me dear!
no subject
Date: 2006-06-28 09:39 am (UTC)They've always been brothers - Istellon has actually been around for longer, but when I started Dark Wings, and realised that Geldorath needed a secretary, I decided that he could easily be one of Istellon's brothers. Hence Tad. I wasn't expecting anyone to notice - they have the same surname, and Istellon gets mentioned in passing in Cinnamon, but you'd have to be going through with a fine toothcomb to work it out.
I adore Tad. He's always such fun to write, bless him.
Glad you liked it :)
no subject
Date: 2007-07-07 07:31 am (UTC)Maybe Caria had a point when she told him he needed to grow up. <- I love Tad. ^-^
Honestly, was he the only one in the family who knew their priorities? <- *snickers* Yep, far too much love for Blue-Feathers. I do adore Istellon too, though. He's so good at the sulking. ^-~ This whole dialogue is so wonderfully sweet and light-hearted. It's a treat.
“Most excellent,” Tad said, and stood up, tugging Istellon to his feet. “Last one to get there’s a siryat worm!” <- It's brilliant how easily they slip in and out of all that formal language. I really, really like that touch.
*grins* This was lovely, me dear. A great little way to start the day indeed. (Rhyme not intended.)
no subject
Date: 2008-07-09 12:28 pm (UTC)^_^ Tad's a sweetie, and far less self-obsessed than certain other wingy ones.
Tad's a good brother, in his own overbearing way, and Istellon's a typical snotty teenager.
The formal language is for fun and they don't always have to keep appearances up with family.
Thank you :)