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Post by Lethalia on Jun 30, 2019 21:36:00 GMT -6
It was too real. The mansion's tricks of the eye were much closer and more threatening than a mirror. The less she thinks about it, it's likely she'll be able to walk around the mansion to the front again without another endless hallway. Lethalia snuggled Meade close, choosing to pay more attention to the hen than the mansion. It's all benign enough, but the capability of such power makes her skin crawl. If such displays are possible it means the magic available was capable of so much more. Why let idiots like her come collect little trinkets from here? Lethalia's met enough people to doubt any true altruism; why would a being capable of such power, allow people in this place? Whether the being was some sorcerer pulling strings from afar or the structure itself. It was all odd; she wished there was more to know about the mansion, but there's remarkably little actually known about the place. Just what other locals have to say. Meade lv|3 ly|3
June|15
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Post by Lethalia on Jun 30, 2019 21:36:15 GMT -6
If she focused on Meade more than she thought about her surroundings, things began to feel like they were passing by faster. So that was, at least, improvement? Lethalia's not certain if she's just asking for a floorboard to be pried loose beneath her hooves because she's not looking down, but it feels like asking for further mockery by the house. Even so, it feels better than watching it's tricks and letting herself get stressed about the magnitude of the unknown happening. However much power it took, however much of it was smoke and mirrors - she was probably better off not knowing. Perhaps because she put her head down and just paid attention to the hen for a moment, the satyr found herself facing the front door of the mansion sooner than she'd expected to. Sighing and squinting at the door, she decided she should probably just head in if the place was going to mess with her so much for staying out here. June|16
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Post by Lethalia on Jun 30, 2019 21:36:25 GMT -6
Lethalia doesn't expect the inside to be much better, but hopefully whatever tricks this place has in store for her are at least more interesting in there. Who knows, maybe Meade would even get courageous enough to come and explore out in the open! That may be hoping for a bit much. It's almost an abandoned hope when, upon just slightly cracking the front door open, the dark just within explodes with white light and screaming as the fireworks went off right before them. The door was slammed shut once again as the satyr took in a quick breath, rubbing her temple with her free hand as Meade burrowed into the crook of her neck for protection yet again. Why did she think it would be a good idea to bring her here right now, again? She'd thought that exposure to the fireworks might help Meade acclimate to sudden noises, but if she's too frightened of them it would be cruel to linger for too long. June|17
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Post by Lethalia on Jun 30, 2019 21:37:02 GMT -6
There would still be as much of an attempt to go explore as she could muster, though. Might as well press on as far as they can get when they've come this far, even if that ends up Meade 'telling' her she's done sooner than planned. That would be fine if it happened - not that the satyr was looking for an out, or anything like that... But if Meade provided a reason to leave, she's not going to complain. Lethalia's not sure whether or not to be pleased. Meade recovers from her fright more easily than other times, seeming to grow bolder with a large transport to keep her safe. The hen begins to peer at the door, peeping at her owner as the satyr reached out for the door again. "Really now?" she asked with a smile, charmed by the hatchling's focus on maybe getting a glimpse of what was behind there again. June|18
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Post by Lethalia on Jun 30, 2019 21:37:21 GMT -6
With both of them expecting it this time, opening the mansion door was met with less of a jolt even if it exploded with no fewer mini-explosions. Lethalia pushed the door open to utter darkness; the fireworks lit up a small mudroom as they flew by. The sparkles of color don't seem to come from anywhere in particular, and sometimes from just inside the door and some just before her eyes, in spite of not even setting foot in it yet. The satyr wants to be upset with the mansion's bothering, but Meade is too good of a distraction for her to remain too upset. Relaxed enough to stare at the glittering entities that danced in front of them, Meade became fixated enough to snap at the passing sparks even if an occasional scream or pop still made her jump. Apparently she wasn't going to be Lethalia's source of escape, she's too content! June|19
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Post by Lethalia on Jun 30, 2019 21:37:39 GMT -6
Lethalia puts out her hands to feel a sparkler as it passed by them to ensure wee Meade wouldn't burn herself on it. They did feel a little warm, but the satyr figured it would be overly protective to try and keep her away from snapping at embers; this hen could breathe fire, after all. She was at least somewhat resistant to the heat, so at least that was one less thing Lethalia had to worry about with her. Creeping into the mudroom, the intermittent explosions reveal an entryway that looked frozen amidst a gathering. Many people's bags, cases of soda and beer in droves, coats and purses piled on a bench when the overflowing hooks could no longer hold them all. There were sounds of a party, though distance it was in this dark room. Well, this was more innocuous than the satyr had been expected, aside from the tiny fireworks. Meade lv|4 ly|4
June|20
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Post by Lethalia on Jun 30, 2019 21:37:56 GMT -6
Charmed enough by the fireworks, Meade finally seemed somewhat more curious about her surroundings. It was easier to be curious about her surroundings once she'd gotten over finding all of it scary, and Lethalia was heartened by the hen coming around a little. Bringing one of the hatchlings that were able to see in the dark may have been better than bringing this one, but she seemed to be doing just fine in the relative dark for now. Lethalia finds herself hoping that the hen gets comfortable enough to get down and explore sooner or later, because her arms are going to get tired. Frequent flashes of light left the room more illuminated than not, lending to making it feel a little more cozy than it really was. When her hoof caught on something jutting out of the wood floor, she'd been expecting the worst of the mansion's trickery - but it's nothing more than patches of grass growing between the floorboards, at closer glance. June|21
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Post by Lethalia on Jun 30, 2019 21:38:14 GMT -6
Lethalia scowled at herself, wondering how much the tricks of this place were real magic and how much of it was her prey-brain panicking at every ghost it sees. It would put that impulse to some heel if she considered bringing herself some actual backup, instead of just juvenile sarane. Not only would that make more sense, but it would be admitting her fears of the place. She hasn't really decided if there's anything real to be concerned about it, or not, other than what wild ideas her imagination could bring her to thinking about the magic of the place. Animals are supposedly more sensitive to eerie things than humans, and Meade is as content as she ever was. Tired of snapping at fireworks, the hen's eyes followed Lethalia's movements, knowing enough about doors to crane her neck to try and get a peek into the door when her owner's hand hovered over the handle. June|22
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Post by Lethalia on Jun 30, 2019 21:38:27 GMT -6
Well, if even Meade is curious about what's behind the door, she doesn't feel like she's got a lot of choice in the matter. Here she'd thought the hen would have given her a good out by now! But there's not a single bone in her body that's capable of saying 'no' to a little one. "You were supposed to bust me out of here kid, not get me to stay longer," she murmurs as she twists the door handle, cringing to brace against whatever was behind it. This door was much quieter than the first, and didn't bring explosions of sparkles in her face either. It's not as if the mansion is about to pick up any manners, but at least that's a small improvement. "What d'you think, Meade?" Lethalia tilts her head down to murmur at the hatchling, who didn't seem as interested in what she was saying as she was trying to peer into the darkness of the room in front of them. June|23
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Post by Lethalia on Jun 30, 2019 21:38:40 GMT -6
Lethalia stood in place with her hand remaining on the doorknob, certain the mansion had something lying in wait for her as soon as she opened it past the crack she had. Meade let out a curious squeak, the most noise that had been heard out of the little critter this entire time. If even the hatchling thought she was meandering too much, she probably was. Admitting she needed to move on didn't mean she was going to forge on ahead as if there wasn't a building out to get her. Ahem. Pulling the door open once again, a jolt ran through the satyr's spine at a sudden squall that sounded like it was just over her shoulder. Releasing the door to place a protective hand over Meade instead, Lethalia whirled around and let the door swing shut on it's own accord while she made sure there wasn't anything here with them. June|24
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Post by Lethalia on Jun 30, 2019 21:38:54 GMT -6
Another groan rises, this one lower in pitch and more drawn out - it didn't sound particularly threatening, but what was it? Once the door came to a close with a click, and Lethalia found herself in the crackling darkness of the entryway... only then, did it dawn on her. Creaky hinges. On the door. You know, the door she was literally just opening? And apparently, opening so slowly to make the old hinges cry out in protest, like most do when they're opened with such a pace. Heh. Pursing her lips, Lethalia was quite happy that little Meade was the only one around to have seen her particular brand of ridiculous. Well, best to keep pressing on then. Even if her pounding heart protests, there's no real reason she can't keep exploring, especially since Meade is getting quite restless at her dawdling at this point. Perhaps she'd even get bored enough to get down! Meade lv|5 ly|5
June|25
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Post by Renathan on Jun 30, 2019 22:01:02 GMT -6
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Post by Lethalia on Oct 20, 2019 1:46:04 GMT -6
Perhaps it was all just in the interest of tradition, but whatever it was, Lethalia was quite excited to bring growing Meade back to the mansion. It was amazing how differently two specimens of the same species could 'choose' to grow up so markedly differently. Meade was taking her sweet time getting there, only just reaching the large-dog adolescent stage that the woman found so endearing. It took Esti just a month to reach maturity. There was a chance there was too much comparing between the two hens going on, but she wasn't certain how to stop it. She couldn't compare the female hatchling to the three boys she's raised thus far, and so her only previous hen is all the experience she has to go off of. The only similarity between the two is really the ability to breathe fire, and even at that, Meade is much less fire-aligned than the older hen.
Meade lv|5.1 ly|5.1
October|1
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Post by Lethalia on Oct 20, 2019 1:46:54 GMT -6
The mansion, however, was going to be taking on quite a different form than when she'd gone with a growing Esti. Even as they approached the grounds, the change in shape was drastic enough to be readily apparent at such a distance. Once bountiful trees were already barren, unseasonably early considering many peoples were still celebrating their harvests' yields through October. Twisted unsightly branches reached towards the clear blue sky, having already rid themselves of leaves and fruit. Further in the distance, the mansion itself looked like it had fallen into a state of decay within mere weeks of being the warm welcoming harvesty house that September brought. Shingles decaying and falling away, a roof that looked caved in at several places. Perhaps she was imagining it, but there almost looked to be an unearthly fog just beyond the building. It would be spooky were it not intentional for the month-long Vai Min Mur celebrations, but having the excuse of the holiday still made it seem unwelcoming.
October|2
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Post by Lethalia on Oct 20, 2019 1:48:19 GMT -6
There was the passing thought - was this too much to be asking of Meade? Consideration had been given to taking the younger, more raucous sister out to the mansion this month instead of her softer older sibling. While she was going to have to essentially babysit Meade this whole time, because it was unlikely she possessed the fortitude to not be afraid of everything, Ardith may have drawn real enjoyment from the experience. There was something about the striped sister that took on more of their sire's personality, and was as stupidly bold and brave even this young. Reasoning in a slightly selfish decision, Lethalia came to the conclusion that she would rather 'hang out' with Meade rather than Ardith just right now. It felt bad to admit of course, but it was hard to not acknowledge how different they were going to turn out. You weren't supposed to admit favorites in kids or animals, after all...
October|3
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