Walking in the Air

[counterklock]

((OOC: The song below is 'Walking in the Air' by Celtic Women. <3 ))

It was a surprisingly warm spring night, considering the cold and damp spell Teirm had been unfortunately experiencing. It had been raining off and on for the past several days. The rain, combined with a cold wind coming inland from the sea and the dark, heavy clouds that had hung in the sky, had been responsible for the dull and depressed mood that seemed to grip the city like a vice. This morning the city had woken to the same such weather, but over the course of the day the rain had ceased, the clouds had been blown away further inland, and the wind had died down to a somewhat pleasant breeze. By noon, the sun had risen high into the sky and there were but a few scattered white clouds. The sunny afternoon had certainly helped dry away the last of the lingering moisture, warming the air and the moods of all the men, women and children of Teirm.

It had been a warm afternoon, quite warm considering it was still early spring, but no one complained. The warmth had helped ward off the moisture and the depressing haze that had plagued the port-city for days, and it had lifted the spirits of all. The evening had been slightly cooler, the temperature dropping but still pleasant. It seemed as if the mild weather would hold over for at least a few days. Coastal towns tended to be quite wet during the winter and spring months, overcast and dull, so the prospect of sunny weather was appealing to everyone.

The sun had set hours ago, and those that lived and worked at the Citadel at the highest point of the city had long since retired to bed after going about their busy days. It seemed that only the guards were awake this late in the night, patrolling the walls of the fortress, watching for any signs of trouble. It seemed, however, that there were none awake so late in the night.

No one except Devon, of course.

He had returned to his quarters after a long day of attending to Lord Genji’s needs, fully intending to sleep, but when he had laid down upon his mattress, rest had not come to him. He had lay there for what seemed like hours, his body feeling exhausted but his mind very much awake, staring at the dark ceiling above. He had tossed and turned. At the end, he had been no more lethargic than before.

He wished he could say that the reason for his lack of sleep was a perfectly logical one, but if he did, he would most certainly be lying.

Devon had never experienced infatuation towards another before. As a slave, he had very little time for romance. He had never really understood it fully, nor did he wish it upon himself in the near future. In addition, after observing various mistresses, masters and fellow servants make fools of themselves when proclaiming their love for their loved ones, he had no wish of making those same mistakes. Quite frankly, he had no time for love in his life. His heart, however, had other things in mind, and from the very first day of serving the Count of Teirm it was apparent he was most obviously infatuated with his master. Though he had enough self-control to stop himself from composing ridiculous love poems, he had been so far unable to stop the shortness of breath, the erratic heartbeat and the momentary inability to speak from striking at random whilst he was in the presence of Genji.

These reactions both fascinated and mortified him. On one hand, every time Genji so much as glanced at him, Devon’s heart sung like a pleased bird. He had never felt this way before in his life, and it was quite a learning experience. On the other, every time Genji looked at him, his mouth ran dry, his ears flushed red, and he had to force himself to speak with an even voice to avoid appearing like a tongue-tied fool. It hadn’t taken him long to identify these attributes in himself. He knew that at least one of Genji’s guards suspected him. If he did not get himself under control quickly, his master would notice the glaringly obvious issue, and there was no telling what would ensue afterwards. Devon had no doubt Genji would be very displeased with him if he found out his new attendant was a lovesick idiot.

This was the third night that he had been unable to fall asleep, and he was fast losing patience with himself. Devon had never suffered from insomnia before, but he supposed there was always a first for everything. Finding himself unwilling to continue contemplating possible solutions to his problem, he resolved that perhaps a walk would sufficiently tire him out. He found his white tunic hanging neatly at the end of his bed and put it on, slipped on his boots, and tiptoed out of the room.
The servant’s quarters were not far from the kitchens, which were on the first level. After some thought, Devon decided he would make a quick loop around the Citadel gardens and come straight back. Evading the castle guards was somewhat of a task but not wholly impossible, for he had slipped past them and out without their noticing. He loped quietly along in the shadows, circling around the fortress swiftly before his destination came into view.

At night, the Citadel gardens were... breathtaking. He had not had the chance as of yet to see them in the daylight, but if they were only a fraction of the beauty he saw now, they would still be awe-inspiring. All intentions of a quick walk were quietly abandoned in favour of settling himself into the shadows of a swaying willow that grew alongside the artificial brook that wound its way throughout the gardens, watching as the moon’s light flickered and shimmered as it filtered through the hanging branches. For several minutes, Devon simply sat, his knees tucked to his chest, appreciating the sights around him. It was quiet. It was calm. It was peaceful.

He did not know where the urge had come from, but once the words he had thought he had forgotten long ago began to form in his mind, he found himself unable and unwilling to stop himself from softly singing them out as they came. How long had it been since he had heard this song? How long had it been since he had sung it himself? Though he was just recalling the words still, Devon marvelled at how fast they returned to him.

” Walking in the air, floating the sky...
Floating in the air...

We're walking in the air,
We're floating in the moonlit sky,
The people far below are sleeping as we fly.

We're holding very tight,
I'm riding in the midnight blue,
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you...”

[/i]

He remembered this song now. It had been his lullaby, sung to him by his father, so very long ago. How sweet it had been... how sweet it still was. He felt he did not do it justice, with his high voice and soft tones. Devon was aware of his singing abilities – before his last master, his main tasks as a servant was to sing and entertain guests whilst playing the harp – but he had never really considered them in this way before. A thought came to him; was his singing as beautiful as his father’s had been?

Devon hoped so.
[/size][/blockquote]

[Elloria]

Gregory yawned widely as he poked around in the kitchens. He wasn’t usually up so late. If his dreams got too scary he’d stay up and walk around the Citadel but usually he was sleeping like a log. It had to be past midnight, but he was hungry. He hadn’t eaten much that day because the cooks had gotten mad at him and told him to stay out. Well, he didn’t want to make them madder, so he’d stayed out except when it was mealtime. He’d gone to bed hungry, so his tummy had woken him with its growling. So now he was hunting for something to eat. He rooted through the pantry and eventually found a hunk of bread, some cuts of roast beef and another hunk of cheese. He didn’t dare to take anything else because it was all special stuff for Lord Genji’s meals. And nobody messed with Lord Genji’s food. He ate the roast beef in the kitchens, stuffing his mouth almost too full to chew so that he could get out quickly. Sometimes Cook Crystal came in to snack, too. And he definitely didn’t want to get caught by her. The cheese quickly followed the roast beef. Satisfied for the moment, he nibbled on the bread as he poked his head out of the kitchen door to make sure no one was coming. He jerked back in real quick when he saw someone approach, but stayed by the door crack because it hadn’t looked like Cook Crystal. He was surprised to see the new slave that Lord Genji had bought a while ago tiptoeing his way down the hall. He hadn’t had a chance to talk to the boy because he was always with Lord Genji during the day. But he’d heard the boy’s name was Devon and was an ‘elf-type’ - whatever that meant. Gregory didn’t think he looked like an elf, but he’d never seen him up close.

Still nibbling on the bread, he slipped out of the kitchens as soon as Devon was past. While very tempted to go to bed, he was now more interested in what Devon was doing. So, heeding his curiosity, he turned his steps in the direction Devon had taken and followed the new slave. It seemed Devon was heading for the gardens, but Gregory couldn’t understand why he was avoiding the guards. Gregory just walked right past them. They either waved at him or nodded. He’d wandered around at night a lot after his momma had died. The other slaves he shared a room with didn’t like listening to his crying, so he’d made sure to do it where it wouldn’t bother them. “Walking the zoos again, Gregory?” one of them asked. Gregory smiled, though he didn’t know if the guard could see it or not. “Yep. Not too sleepy tonight, so I’m gonna go visit with the animals. Maybe walk through the other gardens, too. Is that okay, Nicolas?” He shuffled his feet sheepishly, though he knew Nicolas wouldn’t mind. As he thought, the guard just nodded. “Try not to stay out too late, all right?” Gregory nodded fast and waved before jogging out of the Citadel doors and turning towards the gardens. He couldn’t think of where else Devon might head. He soon reached the gardens and meandered through them in search of Devon, still nibbling at his bread. At first, he couldn’t find him. The gardens were pretty big and Gregory was pretty small. But after several minutes, he heard a high soft voice floating through the air.

“Walking in the air, floating the sky...
Floating in the air...”

He was instantly drawn to it. It was soothing and gentle, like his momma’s voice. He followed the sound until he reached the stream with the weeping willow. He slipped into the shadows behind the tree, peering around it at Devon. The song was so pretty. He wondered where it was from because he’d never heard anything like it before. Sure, he hadn’t been all over Alagaesia but he knew music. Lord Genji expected him to know all sorts of different songs, so he was always keeping his ears open. Definitely not this one, though. He leaned against the tree and just listened until Devon seemed to be done, slowly finishing his bread. Once he was, Gregory stepped out from behind the tree. “Hi!” he said, waving at Devon. “Your name’s Devon, right? Mine’s Gregory. I heard ya singing just now. That was a really pretty song. What’s it called? And you have a really nice voice, too.” He popped the last bit of bread into his mouth, chewed it up and swallowed. “It’s kinda part of my job, so I really mean it when I say it’s nice. ’Course, I’d really mean it even if it wasn’t part of my job.”

[counterklock]

” We're holding very tight,
I'm riding in the midnight blue,
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you...”

He had not had much time to himself for a long time. It was to be expected, of course, as he was a servant and servants generally did not get time to themselves, but before he had come to the Citadel he had been permitted to take the occasional hour or two off every now and then. Lord Kelan had been most insistent he not ‘work himself to death’, and Devon had hardly been able to argue with his master. At age fourteen, he had not had much to do on his own time, however, and he often preferred to do housework to pass the time. Kelan hadn’t quite liked that. There were several memorable times over the three year period in Kelan’s service when his old master had gotten tired of his ‘dusting and pittering about’ and just locked him out of the house for the day. Kelan had always complained about his hovering, but it had been Devon’s job to take care of the old man, and he had done his best until the very end.

” Far across the world,
The villages go by like dreams,
The rivers and the hills,
The forest and the streams...”

Devon still grieved over the old man’s death, but it could not have been helped.

The last several weeks had been busy, and he had learned how different working in a large household like this one was from his former home. Lord Kelan’s manor had had few servants (for he was the only one living there, having booted his freeloading children out long, long ago) but there seemed to be no limit to the number of workers in the grand fortress he now served in. The Kelan manor seemed like a cottage compared to the Citadel, with large rooms, endless hallways, stairways that seemed to rise higher and higher within the tall towers... Devon had had no choice but to adapt.

” Children gaze, open mouth,
Taken by surprise,
Nobody down below, believes their eyes...
We're surfing in the air,
We're swimming in the frozen sky,
We're drifting over icy mountains floating by...”

The biggest change seemed to regard his duties. As Lord Genji’s attendant, Devon took care of each and every one of his whims. He served tea, fetched desired objects and occasionally tidied up his master’s bedchambers during the mornings. He even attended to personal matters. He did not need to help prepare meals as he had before, nor did he have to tend to gardens, do laundry, and dust shelves. There were other servants to do those tasks. At some times, Devon felt disconcerted. Often, he was unsure of what to do with himself, but he was fast learning and finding his place here.

Devon was most content when he was working. Deep down, he sometimes longed for freedom and equality, and he resented that he was treated, at times, even lower than the dirt beneath his boots. Seven years of service had conditioned him, however, and he much preferred to be useful. It was futile to pine over something that was unlikely to come to pass, so he made the best of what his life was – he utilized his skills, striving to please his masters, and tried not to become bitter and resentful of his lot in this world, as so many other servants and slaves had. He had come to realize that even if he were to attempt a daring escape, similar to those fantasized by dissenting servants, he would have no place to go. Even after seven years in Alagaesia, he had not once visited another city. Apart from walks up the shoreline or up the Toark River, he had not left the city walls. He had come to accept his life and his place, but could not help but wish to be just a little bit more... accepted.

” Suddenly, swooping low on an ocean deep,
Rising up, a mighty monster from its sleep...”

This wish helped explain his infatuation with Genji. The count of Teirm did not look down on him for his rank. He did not utter disparaging comments under his breath, just loud enough for Devon to hear. He did not sneer and glare at him for his appearance, like so many others did. Genji spoke to him like an equal, as if he respected him and thought him worthwhile. Not even Kelan, however kind and well-meaning, who had talked to him as if he were a child, had spoken to him as such. For the first time since he had been captured by slavers seven years ago, he felt appreciated.

” We're walking in the air
We're dancing in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly...”

His mind slowly ceased wandering as he sang the last verses of the song, and he was silent once more. For a few minutes, Devon was... content.

A young boy suddenly stepped out from behind a nearby tree, and Devon felt a jolt of surprise. Who was this child? How long had he been here? How had he not noticed him? The boy introduced himself as Gregory, and the half-Sylvan found himself recalling seeing him from time to time around the Citadel. He complimented him on the song he had sung, and Devon felt something akin to shyness; it was rare that he received compliments.

”I thank you,” He murmured politely in response, quickly rising to his feet. ”And you are correct; my name is Devon. The song I have just sung is titled ‘Walking In The Air’.”

[Elloria]

Without invitation or shame, Gregory plopped down on his tush right by Devon. He'd been standing an awfully long time and his legs were getting tired. You would think that being on your feet all day long would build up your stamina for it. But no. It just made you not want to use your legs at all by the time you went to bed. “What’s your rush, mister?” he asked plaintively, tugging on Devon's pants leg. “No one’s chasin’ after ya. Or cares if you’re out and about this late. You just gotta tell ’em you’re goin’ for a walk,” he said. He looked up at Devon with his usual innocently playful look, silently imploring the older boy to sit with him. He didn't like being alone at all. Being alone was never a good thing around the Citadel. The boys would pick on him or Cook Crystal would beat him. And the grounds were lonely when he was by himself. That's why he usually hung out in the zoo gardens. It was a bit harder to be lonely with all the animals. So he patiently waited until Devon sat back down, which the older boy eventually did. It made Gregory smile broadly and brightly. “There ya go. No need to be so tense and stuff. Though I guess working real close with Lord Genji like you do would make anybody tense. He’s one tough cookie and kinda scary. But I like him. So long as I don’t do something stupid, he treats me like a human being.” He stared at Devon, practically bursting with curiosity. And maybe a little jealousy. It was a source of much gossip and speculation as to what went on in the West Wing because nobody was allowed in there without Lord Genji's permission - and practically never when he was in the wing. He wanted to ask. He really wanted to ask. But it wasn't any of his business. But man, did he ever want to ask. Instead, he decided to turn his curiosity to something more easily answered. “Walking in the Air? I’ve never heard it before.” He wriggled a little as he looked at Devon, eyes shining with his need to know. “Where’d ya learn it? Is it a song from wherever you’re from? Like, did your momma or dad sing it to you when you were little? I’ve got a song like that that Momma used to sing to me all the time before she died. Lord Genji really likes songs like that.”

[counterklock]

The appearance of this boy had caught Devon off guard. He had thought he had been alone in these gardens, but it appeared he had not been the only one unable to sleep tonight. He had not expected to meet another out here, much less be overheard and complimented. He was unused to being praised, and he felt unsure of how to even respond. Against his volition, he felt the tips of his pointed ears flush and he could only be grateful that the darkness hid this reaction. Regardless of his embarrassment, he certainly felt flattered.

The first thing he really noticed was that the boy was small, even smaller than himself. Devon barely came up to the elbows of most men at best, but Gregory had to be at least a good foot shorter than him. Devon could not help but quirk an eyebrow in curiosity. It was rare that he encountered anyone smaller than him, and even most children over the age of ten were taller than his measly five feet-two inches. Gregory looked young, with a slight build and a round face, still slightly pudgy with baby fat. How old was this boy? The youth could only estimate.

A hand tugged at his pant leg, and when he looked down his gaze was met by two very big, rich brown eyes that seemed to silently beg him to stay. Suddenly, Devon was reminded very much of someone who he had lost several years ago. Even in this light, Gregory’s eyes seemed to be the exact same shade of brown as his older brother, Jaden’s, eyes had been. His heart twisted unexpectedly at this and his throat constricted painfully. Though the boy did not resemble his elder brother in any way other than that, it still made Devon feel a sense of grief and separation he had not experienced in a very long time. He blinked his own, now very wide blue eyes rapidly for a few seconds before he slowly sank down beside the other boy.

He recovered quickly after that. ”... I was unaware it was permitted to wander the grounds at night.” And he had not. He stored this new piece of information away for later.

He did not correct Gregory as the boy assumed his tense posture was due to his – their – master. Devon appeared stiff all the time, and being in the presence of Genji did not cause this. It was almost endearing to listen to Gregory as he chattered on, and the older boy found himself beginning to relax minutely as each minute passed on. The corners of his mouth twitched upward in the beginnings of a smile as the boy spoke. He certainly was quite the talkative one, wasn’t he?

”Well...” He shifted slightly under the younger boy’s scrutiny as the conversation turned to the song. He could see that Gregory was squirming with curiosity, and he could see that inquisitive nature gleaming in his eyes. It was gratifying to find a kindred spirit. Devon suddenly felt quite self-conscious. ”... My older brother used to sing it to me, late at night, when I was unable to sleep. He learned it from our father, before I was born. I have always been fond of it. I sometimes think of it, and of him, when I am unable to sleep, but... I have not sung it in many years.”

[Elloria]

(OOC: Genji and song will be in the next post, I promise.)

Gregory tilted his head slightly to the left. He'd never assumed that it wouldn't be okay to walk around the grounds after dark. A lot of the younger servants did it, especially the teens. Well, Devon was new so of course he didn't know about the little things. And he spent a lot of time around Lord Genji. Like...all his time, practically. Hardly any of the servants and slaves got to see the new guy. Well, they saw him but no one talked to him much. Partly because of Lord Genji, but mostly because Devon was some sort of ‘elf’ type. Gregory couldn't understand why that would throw people off. He was too young to remember the war between humans and elves and he'd never met an elf personally. Besides, Devon seemed really nice. He was even relaxing a bit as Gregory rambled on. That was always good. And then Devon started chipping into the conversation. Yes, he'd definitely have to put Devon on the good guy list. He didn't mind Gregory's rambling and wasn't telling the boy to get lost. Always a plus, that was. “Your brother used to? That’s pretty cool. I don’t have any brothers or sisters. My dad died before I was born and Momma couldn’t have any more after me. The healer said it wasn’t good for her health.” He frowned slightly as he thought about it. His momma had always seemed much sicker than the other ladies that worked in the Citadel. But Lord Fenix had always liked her company best, it had seemed. He remembered the nights when he would wake up alone because she was with Lord Fenix. He had often wondered why that was, but had never asked. He didn't remember much about her anyway. Just the song she always sang when she would come back and find him crying quietly on the bed they shared - quietly because the other slaves yelled at him if he cried loudly. “It didn’t really matter because she died anyway,” he said quietly. The frown smoothed away, but the sadness didn’t leave his eyes. “I don’t really remember her much, to be honest. She’s kind of just...a song to me now.” He glanced at Devon sheepishly. “Would you...like to hear it?” He hoped Devon would, because he really wanted to sing it right now. It would make him feel loads better. But if not, he could just sing it later. When he was by himself.

[counterklock]

((OOC: A wild Counterklock appears! It uses NINJAPOST. It is super effective!))

It occurred to Devon that Gregory was the first servant of the Citadel to actually speak to him outside matters regarding duty. It made him feel... welcome. True, he had had very little chance to talk to the other servants due to the fact that he spent most of his time in the otherwise forbidden west wing with Lord Genji, and other servants had spoken some words to him since he had arrived, but it was only now that he began to realize just how excluded he was. No one chatted with him during the rare mealtimes he spent in the kitchens (For he usually ate with Genji) and no one bid him goodnight when he returned to his quarters after he had been dismissed.

Before now, this had never bothered him. Since even before his arrival in Alagaesia, it had never been necessary for him to have friends. Due to the discrimination, suspicion and downright hatred he often faced on a daily basis, he found himself quite content to not form friendships with others of this land. Devon supposed he did this to subconsciously protect himself from harm – he did not wish to become emotionally tied to one person in fear of being hurt, both physically and psychologically. Before Lord Kelan, he had always remained detached and cold, perhaps confirming, in most of his previous mistresses’ and masters’ eyes, that he was very much an ‘elf type’. The lord, however, had managed to somehow worm his way into Devon’s heart, and old man, however doddering and senile as he had been, would always be remembered with rather fond memories. Kelan had taught him that not all Alagaesians were savage brutes, prone to bigotry and prejudice.

Which lead his thoughts back to his current master. The logical part of Devon felt like a fool for developing inappropriate affections for Genji, when for so long he had done all that was in his power to avoid becoming emotionally attached to people and objects. A tiny part of his mind even harboured illogical and unlikely fantasies of romantic nature, which would certainly never become reality if his rational thoughts had anything to do with it. Once again he was reminded, however, that not all Alagaesians hated the very sight of him; Genji was not even Alagaesian, of course, so he supposed they were somewhat kindred spirits in that they both hailed from different continents. Genji did not look upon him as if he were just a mere servant, or some sort of vermin or foul thing that had run underfoot, like so many others.

And, by the way Gregory was chattering on, he could assume the boy shared the same sentiments.
”I grieve with thee,” He murmured solemnly as Gregory frowned, momentarily silent, and he found himself empathizing with the boy. He too had lost a parent and could sympathize with the pain that he could see Gregory was feeling. He wanted to reach out and... do something. Comfort him. Hug him. Anything to show that he understood the grief. But such intimacy was only shared between close companions, and he had only just met Gregory.

In all his life, he had had very few friends. Perhaps it was due to his mother’s influence, his determination to please her, or his avoidance of emotional attachment. Even now, a part of him was telling him to walk away, to refrain from taking the risk, but he ignored this part of himself. Establishing relationships was a natural part of life, he reasoned, and it was high time he started doing so. He had thought himself content being alone, but now, faced with the possibility of something more, he found that he hadn’t even known he’d been lonely. Devon wanted to be friends with this little boy, who did not look at him in disgust or fear, who simply saw him as another intelligent being just like himself.

”I would be honoured to hear your mother’s song, Gregory,” He assured. After a moment, he then added, ”... After all, you do owe me a performance.”

[Elloria]

(OOC: Gregory's song: You’ll Be in My Heart by Phil Collins)

Genji jerked upright in his bed. His chest heaved as he desperately sought to dispel the feeling of suffocation that had awoken him. Cold sweat bathed his body. Shivers wracked his body as his hands scrabbled against his neck and he choked in air. His mind raced frantically as his eyes darted around the room. He had to get out, had to disappear. Somehow, somewhere...it didn't matter! He tossed the constricting bed covers off and scrambled out of the vast bed. He landed gracelessly on the floor with a quiet thud. But it barely fazed him. He immediately crawled for the door. His head poked out the door and he took in the surroundings. None of his Itasan guards were moving about and some distant part of his brain knew that there would be guards at the west wing's entrance. He didn’t want to be near them. Without effort, he snaked his way along the corridor, down several flights of stairs until he reached the second floor. He knew there was a storage room on this floor where he kept random odds and ends - including a great deal of rope. He quickly located the room and rummaged until he found the rope. Again, a distant part of his mind reminisced about the nights when he had frequently used these lengths of rope to scale the walls of the Citadel - sleepless nights haunted by the desire to escape. Just as he felt the need right now.

Genji left the room and dashed for his old bedroom on the fourth floor. He shoved the door open, ran to the bed, and tied the rope to the post nearest the window. Testing the knots to make sure it would hold, he tossed the rest of the length out the window. After one final test to satisfy himself, he gripped the rope firmly, climbed out the window and began rappelling down the side of the Citadel. It took several long minutes, but he was soon less than ten feet from the ground. He made one last rappel, then let go of the rope. His knees bent as he landed, absorbing the shock of his fall, and he rolled to avoid breaking his legs. He paused, eyes quickly scanning the area to make sure he had not been spotted. All was quiet, so he immediately sprinted for the gardens. He ran blindly, just letting his instincts take him where they would. Eventually, they led him to a copse of oak trees. It was here that Genji finally came to rest, his breath coming in ragged gasps from the exertion and raw fear. He focused on just breathing. In and out. In and out. He had escaped for the moment from the Citadel and everything it stood for. That was enough for now. He sank to his knees in the middle of the copse, letting his body calm itself after his mad flight. Slowly, the sounds of the night reached him. Nocturnal animals moving about their nightly business. The gentle sound of a babbling stream off to his left. If he peered closely, he could see the stream flowing by mere feet from the copse. And...voices drifted to him on the warm night air from the stream’s direction. He crawled closer to it, hiding in the shadow of one of the oaks. His eyes had long since adjusted to the darkness of the night and so it was with little difficulty that he caught sight of two figures sitting beneath a willow tree across and upstream. Squinting slightly, he found that one was Devon and the other looked like a small boy. Which meant it was probably Gregory. The boy had a habit of wandering the grounds at night. He was about to dismiss them both when Gregory’s gentle, lilting voice reached him.

====

Gregory's eyes lit up with great delight as Devon asked him to sing his momma's song. He clapped his hands together and grinned. “All right! I'll give ya a performance, then!" He scooted away from Devon before kneeling on the soft grass. He situated himself so he was sitting on his calves, his feet turned inwards to make the position more comfortable. Lord Genji himself had showed him how to sit like this. It was how they sat wherever Lord Genji was from. Gregory didn't really think much about that. All he knew was that he sang best when sitting like this. He relaxed and folded his hands in his lap before taking a deep breath. His voice was rich, lilting and crystalline as he sang.

“Come stop your crying,
it will be all right.
Just take my hand, hold it tight.

I will protect you from
all around you.
I will be here,
don't you cry.

For one so small,
you seem so strong.
My arms will hold you,
keep you safe and warm.
This bond between us
can't be broken.
I will be here,
don't you cry.

'Cause you'll be in my heart.
Yes, you'll be in my heart.
From this day on,
now and forever more.

You'll be in my heart.
No matter what they say.
You'll be here in my heart, always...”

As his voice faded away, he felt peace flow through him. Everything was right with the world now, no doubt about it. Nothing could make him feel better than singing, especially if it was his momma's song.

[counterklock]

((OOC: "Blackbird" is by the Beatles, though I envisioned that Devon was singing the Glee version while I wrote this. <3 ))

Gregory had claimed that singing songs was his designated duty and Devon now clearly knew that, above all else, the boy had a talent of the voice. The sound that drifted leisurely through the air was beautiful; he had rarely encountered someone so skilled before in the past. It was a most pleasing song, and he found himself committing the words to memory; not so he could replicate it in the future, but to just... remember. Perhaps someday he might sing it too (though he doubted he could ever make it sound as beautiful as Gregory), but for now he wanted to remember the melody of such a beautiful piece, for beauty was a rare thing in this seemingly otherwise awful and ugly land.

Gregory’s song also reminded him of his old home somewhere across the sea, and the youth was immensely grateful that Gregory had chosen to sing it for him. It reminded him of the long days he spent with his elder brother, afternoons spent together roving the farmlands of their father on foot or on the backs of sturdy horses. He remembered the long months they had spent alone after his father’s death, struggling to stay alive, and how Jaden had always ensured he had eaten enough. Those were days that he would never forget, for memories were all that he had of his past life.

He had long come to accept that the chances of returning to the land of his birth were low at best (He didn’t even know the name of the country, or even which direction he would have to sail, if that said anything about the subject) and the likelihood that he would ever even see Jaden again were next to nothing, but he had never quite given up the hope that one day he might find his way back, or that Jaden might find him here in this foreign land and take him home. Since he knew that this probably would never happen, the only thing he had were his memories, and Devon spent much time reflecting on them.

He had a feeling he wasn’t the only one remembering.

Gregory finished his song and for several moments it was quiet. The only sounds that could be heard were made by the various creatures found in the gardens, both awake and asleep, and the gentle babble of the stream as it flowed peacefully past the willow that they sat under. Devon found he was at a loss for what to say. He wished to thank his young companion for the performance, for it had been phenomenal, but he illogically felt that the silence should not be broken. Not yet. Still, in thanks, he dipped his head.

Then, after a few moments, he began to sing once more. It seemed... fitting.

”Blackbird singing in the dead of night,
Take these broken wings and learn to fly,
All your life,
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Black bird singing in the dead of night,
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see,
All your life,
You were only waiting for this moment to be free...”

[Elloria]

Genji felt himself slowly relaxing with each word that passed Gregory's lips. He had realized very early on that the boy was a gifted singer, rather like his mother. Admittedly, he had not been fond of the mother or the way his doddering, aged fool of a father doted and fawned over the female. But he did not deny talent when he encountered it any more than he denied the teachings of Yawata no Kami. He gently slipped to the ground, leaning his side against the oak he was currently hiding in the shadow of. He let out a contented sigh. Perhaps he needed to start having Gregory come into to sing before he fell asleep. The boy could always calm with his gentle, rich voice. More importantly, he seemed utterly unaware of his status in relation to Genji's. Or anyone else, for that matter. One of those innocents that saw the world through clear eyes and simply wished to show it a little love. Simple fool that he was. But for some reason, Genji never felt the need to disillusion the boy. So he just let Gregory sing and when it was finished, he slowly pulled himself up from the ground. He brushed his ass free of dirt and grass before turning to head back to the citadel. He froze in his steps as another voice began drifting through the still air towards him. It was decidedly not Gregory, whose voice held many rich tones despite possessing the high-pitch of youth. Which meant it had to be Devon.

Devon had not been lying when he had mentioned one of his skills was singing. In its own way, it was as beautiful as Gregory's. Though perhaps not as varied-sounding as Gregory's, it was still rich, still soothing. It drew Genji back to the shadows of the oak tree. He settled on the soft grass once more, eager to hear more. It was preferable to returning to the Citadel just now.

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Gregory unfolded himself from his odd sitting position moments after he finished singing. It was quiet for a little bit, too, and he wondered if maybe Devon hadn't liked his song. He was gonna ask, but Devon nodded to him so he figured the older boy had liked it. That was good. It made Gregory happy. He liked when others enjoyed his singing. What was the point of having a talent if no one else got to hear it or enjoy it? Made no sense to him at all. That's why he was always telling stories or singing or whatever. He was good at it and he wanted people to enjoy it. They usually did, too! Except when he went on too much. Then they got angry. And that was when he'd disappear for a while and let ‘em cool off. He was young, but he wasn't stupid. He was a bit distracted by these thoughts and so didn't immediately realize that Devon was singing again. The moment he did, though, he was intently focused on the older boy. Devon really did have a nice voice, but Gregory felt that something was missing. He just wasn't sure what. So he just sat and listened quietly, trying to figure it out while rolling the words around in his mind.