poetry on a sunny morning

[Damien]

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Damien leaned his back against a tree, paper and pen in hand. Inspiration had been low for him recently. He leaned his head up against the tree trunk to look up at the sky. What he wouldn't give for an adventure right now, something that would be exciting and daring. But he had never really even left his country home. He had just read countless books and dreamed through his poetry. He wanted to actually do the things that he dreamed. But where would he go? There was nowhere in Britain, that he knew of, anyway, that fit his requirements for a proper adventure. Damien’s pen started to flow across the page as he wrote, having found inspiration at last in his own musings:

Fly to the Clouds
Hear the Joy
Hear the sound
Hear the music
All around

Watch them dance
Watch them fly
Watch them dream
To the sky

Smell the flowers
Smell the sugar cane
Smell the freshness
Of the wet rain

Feel the friendship
Feel the love
Feel the sunlight
From above

Don’t look down
Don’t look around
Just close your eyes
And escape the ground

Fly to the clouds

Damien sighed and put his pen down. He was glad that he had finally written something after days of inactivity, but all this thinking and writing just made him want to get away even more. He lay back again and closed his eyes when he heard someone come up behind him…

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[Fox Reznik]

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Fox Reznik.
"Nothing in this world is given for free."

The daylight played across the dew covered fields of grass which stretched for what looked to be miles all around there was rolling hills broken by clusters of trees and the lone tree at every odd interval there was also a dirt road cutting through the rolling hills it’s long strip of brown a sharp contrast to the green grass, and wildflowers of any colour. A village could be just about made out through the haze nestled neatly into the bowel of the valley; a scowl was etched into his moreover handsome features, although weatherworn with the stubbles of a blond beard covering his chin, strands of satin blond hair waving unkempt across his face as his moss-green gaze was fixed on the village below the place he had left a few days ago to most likely never return.

‘You need to lighten up!’ a voice spoke up shattering the silence, a female voice rather mature by the sound of it. His eyes broke from the village glancing upwards seeing the dark, friendly hazel eyes of his magpie daemon peer down at him being perched on his head; Raven was a cheerful girl, quite the contrast to her sullen, often brooding companion. “I have little to be happy about.” He muttered in response, as his gaze returned to the grassy field, he was about to add something but was cut off as his eyes fell upon a figure seated under one of the trees. Fox was a bit surprised seeing people all the way out here so far from the village utmost few left its perimeter.

‘Who’s that?’ Raven spoke as she too had noticed the figure, the blond man didn’t answer instead however he was slowly approaching this stranger; although it was rare for Fox to regard the odd stranger with interest but this guy for some reason intrigued the young vagabond. Maybe it was the fact that Fox hadn’t expected to meet any people on his way to the next town which was usual he rarely did meet anyone else on his travels and this encounter would be one of rare ones. As he got closer he could see from the movements of the other that this guy was writing something, Fox didn't try to hide his approach as the guy would no doubt hear him coming.

“I didn’t expect to meet anyone this far from the village.” Fox eventually spoke his voice quite plain yet with a hint surprise hidden within. His own ragged clothes clearly giving off his “trade” as a vagabond which often than not killed any conversation before there could really be any, most people wouldn’t want to associate with him; not that Fox really blamed them much as he was after all a thief not one with a renown but still a thief.

[Damien]

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Damien kept his eyes closed. The only physical reaction that he had given to the stranger's approach was that he moved Pui from his spot next to Damien into his lap. "I could say the same to you," he said calmly. "I came here specifically because no one would come out to disturb me. Not that I was doing anything too terribly important." At this point he finally opened his eyes and turned to look at the person who had disrupted his musings. The stranger had blonde hair and was sporting ragged clothes. Vagabond? Maybe this was the adventure that Damien had been looking for. He raised his eyebrows. “You’re a Vagabond, aren’t you? What brings you out here? There’s not much here to steal, since I’m the only person who lives this far out.” Damien’s curiosity was getting the better of him. Instead of running from the dangerous stranger, he was being drawn in. This could go one of three ways – he could be completely rejected and both of them could go on their ways, he could get seriously injured, or, for his best case scenario, he could end up traveling with him somehow. But the more he thought about it, the more dim the possibility became. So what was going to happen?

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[Fox Reznik]

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Fox Reznik.
"Nothing in this world is given for free."

Fox’s eyes only briefly studied the creature this guy had now moved into his lap; Raven had repositioned herself from his head and onto his right shoulder instead. The vagabond’s gaze broke from the creature the moment the guy spoke up saying he hadn’t expected to meet anyone out here just like Fox and revealed that he came here not to be disturbed. Now that both men had each other’s attention Fox got a good look at the other’s attire which was quite the contrast to his own ragged straps; apparently this fellow was better off than himself.

The thief found himself trapped in his own thoughts about why a man as well dressed as this would be sitting under a tree in a middle of a grassy field, as far as Fox knew that was not what people of good standing did. The man’s words however threw him out of his thoughts he blinked trying to recollect what the guy had been saying and as the words registered a frown threatened to cross his features. Was it that plain? On second thought however it probably was, after all he was rugged; his worn clothes stained with dirt, and mud from the countless hours he had spent on a road, his face, hair, and exposed skin; like hands weren’t much better darkened by dust and dirt the same with his unkempt and pretty messy shoulder-length hair and his unshaven face.

Fox simply nodded trying to keep as plain a face as possible while the man stated the obvious fact from just looking at him. “Actually, I’m hitting the road.” Fox spoke, as he hoisted his bag further up on his shoulder to keep it from sliding down in the same moment Raven had seated herself in the tree watching the conversation in silence yet the interest in the well dressed man was plain to read in the magpie’s face. Fox almost choked though as the other mentioned that there was nothing out here to steal, “I-I can see that.” The blond haired man coughed, trying to regain his composure from the slight surprise even if he hadn’t really contemplated to rob this man which was actually a first for Fox.

Usually the reason he struck up a conversation with anyone was to take something from them, which was given the look on the magpie’s face Raven thought was going happen; but Fox had no such ideas. Despite this man’s well-off standing it was clear he had nothing of value on his person, “What brings you out here? I mean people as well-off as you usually don’t spend their day lunging under a tree in the middle of a field.” He paused scratching the back of his neck idly, “That’s more what you’d expect from my kind of people.” He added a brief though bemused grin spread across his face.

[Damien]

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Damien looked down at his clothes. They looked nice but were very cheaply made. A poet’s salary didn’t get you very far in life. And though Damien had gotten a small inheritance from his grandfather, he didn’t want to waste it on things like clothes. Mostly he used it for writing supplies – quills, paper, ink. Damien was a man of simple things. That’s why he knew it was pointless to steal from him. Most things he had owned that were of any value he had sold and anything else was kept safe in secret hiding places around his little cottage of a house. Damien looked at the sky with clear blue eyes. “What else are people as ‘well-off’ as me to do?” He asked. “Besides, this is a good place for me to get inspiration. Lots of clean, clear air and nature all around with no people there to ruin it…usually.” He added as an afterthought.

ooc: Current outfit

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[Fox Reznik]

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Fox Reznik.
"Nothing in this world is given for free."

By ‘well-off’ Fox had just meant that man’s clothes compared to his own were of better standard, cheaply made sure but they were maintained. Even if this guy had more intricately woven clothes the vagabond would be honestly surprised seeing a person wear something of such value out here, while sitting under a tree of all places, and the fact that he had money of some amount and the thief assumed a roof over his head made him automatically ‘well-off’ in Fox’s mind. The magpie had lost interest in the conversation when she realized that Fox hadn’t planned to rob this man, having jumped further up into the leafy crown of the tree, disappearing from sight.

The vagabond blinked as he retorted a question, asking what people as ‘well-off’ as him did Fox fumbled through his mind to find a proper explanation which wasn’t a stereotypical insult “Well eh,” he began slowly, “Spending time socializing with others of the same echelon as themselves and ignoring the rest of the world so best they can.” It was clear that most, if not all of the so deemed ‘well-off’ people Fox had crossed paths with until now were elitist snobs, which unfortunately gave him a rather biased view of that entire part of the populace, but if all you meet are the bad apples of a group it makes it hard not to assume that the barrel isn’t in fact rotten to the core.

The guy then spoke his reason for being out here, very mal-placed according to Fox, was because he wanted inspiration and that there was no one out here to disturb him at least until Fox had made his appearance. The ragged blond took that as a hint that he should perhaps be moving on and that this guy hadn’t been looking for conversation in the first place, but why then had this guy even bothered to answer him? “Very well,” he exhaled giving this man a nod of farewell, “I should be on my way.” A sharp, high-pitched whistle followed his words and Raven promptly returned to her master settling herself on his head, apparently a favorite spot of the magpie.

With those words Fox continued ahead although his steps weren’t brisk as he wasn’t in a hurry per say, ‘He’s not that bad.’ The magpie mused; Fox’s brows knitted hearing her words. “What?” he muttered glancing up at the black and white bird on his head, ‘I just expected him to be more, rude is all.’ Raven added quietly although it was clear to Fox that wasn’t all the bird had meant, but he didn’t press the issue as it was a stupid notion; she often spoke her mind Raven did.

[Damien]

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Damien snorted at the blonde’s explanation for what he was supposed to be doing. “People who socialize on a regular basis don’t know what they’re missing in staying away from other people,” he commented. “And besides, most of them are just gossiping busy-bodies anyway. No point in dragging myself down to their level.” Damien had obvious disdain for those of higher social status than he. He thought that they were just a bunch of people with too much time on their hands and nothing to do with it.

When the man tried to leave, Damien sighed and got up. He stretched and said, “Since you’ve already disrupted my creative process, and it’s almost lunchtime anyways, how about you just come over to my house and get something to eat. It’s the least I can do for your relatively intelligent conversation. It was entertaining.” That they had given him entertaining conversation was probably the highest compliment that Damien had ever given to anyone. He wasn’t lax in giving his praise.

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[Fox Reznik]

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Fox Reznik.
"Nothing in this world is given for free."

The ragged tramp was left blinking glancing over his shoulder as the man snorted at his words on what people of ‘good standing’ should be doing, hearing the other’s words Fox was left rather surprised if he was be honest; this was the second time in the past a hour and a half this guy had discredited the thief’s assumptions concerning upper-class people. “It seems we think alike.” He responded the surprise still lingering in his voice, turning to face this man whom he had not yet even been given the name of. But then he hadn’t given his own either so he wasn’t exactly obliged to do such, his gaze trailed over the other which stood there a few meters from him the wavy green grass, and wild flowers between them.

Brows inched up on his dust stained face as the man practically invited him to lunch, Fox was left stunned at first he thought the other was pulling a jest. The last thing anyone would do was to invite someone like him into their home much less offer him food, and just for a simple exchange of words. Taken aback by this offer his gaze flickered up to Raven still perched his head, a discreet nod from the bird told him that she advised him to accepted this offer of generosity and good-will.

“Thank you, I-I’d be honored.” He stumbled in his words, in all honesty Fox didn’t know what else to say it was clear that meeting friendly people who regarded him with some small degree of true respect not just because he was good in his trade was a rare thing for this weather beaten, yet young man indeed more than often he received nothing but a cold shoulder, dismissing gestures, and suspicious glares. Fox didn’t complain as he was used to it and that partially he deserved it; he was a thief after all but he didn’t have much of a choice as it was the only way he could sustain himself, he stole food most of the time; he could beg of course but that hardly every turned up much of anything.[/size]

[Damien]

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Damien walked into his house. If the stranger followed, then he would get fed. If he went on his way, then Damien had nothing else to do with it. He went to the kitchen and started a fire so that he could cook soup. Soup and bread was about all he could afford, but it fed him well. He thrust the bucket at the man behind him. “Go out back and get some water.” He himself went to the counter and started chopping up the vegetables and seasonings that would go into the soup.

“So what’s your name?” He asked, realizing that he didn’t even know. Names didn’t mean that much to him, since he would probably never see the man again, but it was good to know for the time being, if just to have something to call him in casual conversation. He could forget it later if he wanted to.

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[Fox Reznik]

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Fox Reznik.
"Nothing in this world is given for free."

The tramp followed the other to his house; it was simply furnished, but still better than the shacks which cramped up the slums in the cities. His gaze trailed around the house until the guy shoved a bucket at him and told him to go and fetch some water. With the bucket in hand Fox left, it took only a few minutes and he returned with the water quickly enough handing the other the bucket of water Fox was left watching the man prepare the meal, which he assumed would be some sort of soup.

As the man spoke up again but this time asked for a name Fox’s gaze shifted from the bubbling pot of soup and to the guy which had invited him here. “Name’s Fox.” he spoke plain, truthfully it was more an alias but it had become a true name as he had no clue what his actual name was, or even if he had one. “That’s Raven.” Deciding to introduce his daemon as well, gesturing towards the ordinary magpie perched on the kitchen table watching the two men with interest.

“And you?” Fox asked returning the question from whence it came, Fox didn’t assume that this man had a very complicated name, as some upper-echelon people did having two or three middles names often those of notable ancestors followed by a roman numeral, it was sort of funny in a way, redundant and funny.[/size]

[Damien]

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Damien nodded when he accepted the bucket of water. He poured it into a pot and hung it over the fire to heat the water to a boil. Then he started cutting up a chicken that he had grabbed from the icebox to thaw before he had gone out for the day. When he was done he put it on a pan and put that on the stove over the fire. Then he turned to his guest.

Damien listened to the other man’s introduction. Fox…that didn’t sound like something a parent would name their child. Unless they were demented, which they very well could be, for all Damien knew. Then Fox introduced his raven…Raven? Damien raised his eyebrow. “Very creative name,” he commented. Then he introduced himself and his own daemon. “My name’s Damien. And the little furball already curled up by the nice warm fire is Pui.” Damien sat down on the sofa. “You may as well sit down. The food is going to take a while. There’s another spot on the couch or there’s another chair.” Damien might as well be polite since he had invited the guy in. He wasn’t much of a host. Pui got up just long enough to move to sit in Damien’s lap before falling asleep again. “Lazy rat,” Damien muttered, but he ran his finger gently down Pui’s spine.

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[Fox Reznik]

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Fox Reznik.
"Nothing in this world is given for free."

Fox had hung his coat up on the rack, and taken off his shoes as custom, he had after all at least a basic grasp of common courtesy and customs. Now he wore but a coarse linen shirt, with the odd patch work and stitch marks of numerous self-repair jobs, his lose fitting leather pants were some of the same story, but not as bad as the shirt at least. Fox had followed his host and taken a seat in the seating space offered, the magpie daemon followed her master perching herself on the arm rests of the chair. A brief smile flickered across his face as the man he now knew as Damien introduced his daemon; a small white thing, Fox wasn’t sure if it was either a rabbit, or some sort of long eared weasel, or a rodent as the vagabond swore he caught it’s master call her a rat. But whatever it was, Fox had to admit the creature was kind of cute, and its name rather original. His own daemon’s name wasn’t half as creative but it fitted her and Raven herself had never seemed to mind the association, or even the mislabel the name could cause her as she wasn’t a raven; granted she was a crow-like bird but that was where the similarities ended.

Fox sat there in silence gaze trailing around the room, he would’ve said something if he had a topic of conversation in mind but he honestly didn’t know what to say. He idly scratched the back of the bird’s neck and Raven in response closed her eyes contently craning into her master’s caress, like a cat being petted. The close bond he shared with his daemon was not just because they were bonded in the soul quite literally but more the fact that she was his only friend, and had always been his only friend. Despite their complete opposites in nature which often than not was the cause of animosity between a daemon and their master, no such thing existed between Fox and Raven oh sure they had their moments, but these were rare even if Raven had to put up with her master’s normally snarky attitude which often than not have gotten them both into trouble on a number of occasions.

“Thanks again, for the invitation, and your kindness.” Fox spoke in an attempt to kill the awkward silence, he had left his snarky attitude somewhere else at the moment as Damien deserved no such thing.[/size]

[Damien]

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[Fox Reznik]

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Fox Reznik.

"Nothing in this world is given for free."

The lonely, unbeaten track wasn’t such a terrible companion otherwise Fox would’ve stuck in one place and then he wouldn’t be a vagabond but rather a beggar; not there was very much a difference between the two on the exception that one hardly ever left the cities or villages they occupied, while the other travelled around excessively almost. Decides changing turf often was more a benefit than anything as there was utmost few that could recognize him and given his illicit profession discretion was imperative to his survival; after all he didn’t want a date with the gallows any time soon. Stealing may not sound like such a heinous crime compared to murder and what worse is, but its punishment was just as sever. Fox’s gaze trailed from the floorboards and back to his host hearing the other’s words, on how it was the least he could do for a fellow outcast. So Damien was ostracized as well? As far as Fox could gather the man didn’t seem like a criminal, not like him at all whatever the cause was for this man’s alienation from society the reason was most likely unfounded and if not stupid.

They had a reason to shun thieves, and murderers, criminals in general but no such reason existed for Damien, at least in Fox’s opinion. The thief was lost in his own thoughts but snapped out of it as Damien offered him a drink, he blinked as his mind registered the question; “Some water would be nice.” Not that water in most places was really safe to drink and Fox was sure his body had felt the brunt of this more times than not, but he didn’t have much of a choice as his meager budget in those rare moments he had money could hardly buy him half a crumpet, even if the said crumpet was a week old. [/size]

[Damien]

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