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The Vorelock Chapter 8

Deviation Actions

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Five minutes later, in the parlor of Toby's keep.....

".....You want to run that by me again?" the tone of Fiochmar's voice was a combination of disbelief and aggravation as she leaned in close to Toby's face, causing him to back up a bit, pressing the back of his neck into the cushions of the sofa's headrest. "I...I got hurt in the fighting that broke out yesterday at Dakerton..?" Toby's response, fraught with nervousness, sounded more like a question than an answer.

"Oh no....not that....the part where 'ye got hurt because 'ye decided your balls were brighter than your brains and you went for your ship instead of parkin' your a-" the deadlock of Fiochmar's eyes with Toby's was broken for an instant as they flittered ever so briefly to Ann, who sat at the other end of sofa as Toby, before visually pinning him again, her voice hesitating for a moment, causing her to draw out the word "aaarse where the peacekeepers told you to."

There was a tense moment of silence as Fiochmar stared Toby down with expectancy and indigence, Toby eventually breaking the silence as his expression and tone changed to one of defensiveness "Ann and I were in danger Fio, and there was no way of knowing how much. I couldn't just sit around and hope that the local peacekeeper force could take care of it and protect every civilian, especially considering just who it was that was attacking the city...."

Again the room fell into awkward silence, the two verbal combatants now sitting at a stand off, Toby refusing to back down and Fiochmar's position softening a bit. Ann looked back and forth between the other two, feeling a mixture of curiosity at the unspoken implications about who had attacked and what it being they specifically implied and a bit of awkward guilt at likely being the only reason Toby had decided to flee the city instead of bunking down and waiting it out.

"Toby dear, I know you don't give the peacekeepers much credit and I understand, there were some that did ye' wrong in the past and I can sympathize, but there's been a lot of changes since then. The best thing you could have done with uniformed SON members rilin', up a fight is to just sit back and let them n' the local guard slug it out.....I know it's a scary thought, but if SON were to launch a full scale assault on a place like Dakerton while the local guard had civilians held up in a shelter, you can bet the sage council would have a full regimen down there before you could bat an eye, so ple-"

Fiochmar was suddenly cut off by Toby, his tone still adamant, maybe even more so than before "This has nothing to do with my history with the peacekeepers Fio, nor my feelings about their competence or that of the sage council....SON has been getting more bold, aggressive and radical these last few months....there was NO way in hell I was going to subject Ann to that kind of danger....".

Yet again, heated conversation gave way to tense silence until  finally, signaled by her agitated sigh, Fiochmar decided to back down, shaking her head "Fine, fine, you win Toby boy but please.....promise me you won't be so reckless in the future. I know you, and I can tell how much you care about the well being of your....." Fiochmar glanced over to Ann for a moment, a sly smile coming to her lips as he tone lightened a bit "...apprentice....but next time, don't chance your fates on runnin' smack dab through the middle of a battle so you can rush back to home sweet home....gettin' back won't make much a difference if you're dead you know...."

Toby was about to chime in again, but as he opened his mouth, Fiochmar cut him off with timing that made it seem like she'd been waiting to do so. "Have 'ye seen any of the the reflections about the attack yet deary?" Toby, who had paused with his hand up and mouth hung open slightly from his primitively blocked rebuttal, shook his head slightly as he lowered his hand, his posture easing back off the defensive

"No.....I spent almost all the time between getting home and now trying to recuperate....how bad was it?" Fiochmar's posture grew solemn, her head bowing slightly as a sad scowl came to her lips. "I had to pull strings to come and see you myself.....I am, unfortunately, going to be very busy today.....here......"

Fio turned away from Toby, taking a quick scan over the room trying to locate the scrying device that he would have had to have to call for a healer to begin with. "Where's your scryin' glass? You need to see this....". Toby quickly stood up seeming nervous at Fio's question. "It's downstairs, I-I'll go get it, go ahead and have a seat"

Ann's eyebrow quirked a bit at Toby's sudden, energetic response, a feeling that something was unusual about his sudden change in attitude starting to flair up. "Toby..." Fio looked to Toby with an amused and slightly surprised expression, shifting her weight onto her left foot, placing the hand of that side on that hip as well "you've been injured.....multiple times....I haven't even gotten a chance to give you a once over, fine as ye' seem, but even so you shouldn't be exerting yourself too much...you know....rushin' around the house....movin' furniture....."

Fio turned toward the doorway and looking back over her shoulder at Toby, who was growing more and more visibly unsettled as time went by "Why don't ya' just tell me where it's at and i'll go fetch it, eh'?"

As soon as she'd finished her question, Toby raced up to the door, turning back and looking to the three occupants of the room "No no, it's quite a mess down there, I certainly couldn't subject a guest to such. Really, just relax and i'll be right back, and then you can give me as through an exam as you want, and I won't complain in the least. I'll be right back!" Toby quickly darted out the doorway before anyone could contest him, heading toward the door to the the lower level of his keep with an almost panicked pace and locking it behind him once he'd gone through.

The two girls Toby had left behind stared silently at the doorway he'd just exited, an almost identical look of surprise on their faces, Fangs looking back and forth between the two and trying hard to contain his laughter. "My.....what's gotten into that boy?" Fio mused aloud as she turned her head back to look to Ann,  who gave a shrug as she responded

"Eh'.....you know how boys can be....probably something down there he'd be embarrassed of a girl seeing" Ann stuck her tongue out, biting it a bit, her voice teasing in tone.

"Heh, you're heh probably right darlin'...so then, now that we're alone..." Fio turned the rest of her body toward Ann, a sense of nervousness suddenly flaring up in the younger girl at the inflection in Fio's voice. "Y-yes?" Ann's nervousness grew as Fio drew closer, her hair standing on end a bit as she came to a stop just in front of her, leaning over and inspecting Ann's face with scrutiny.

"Hmmm...." Fio continued to look Ann over for a while, making "hmm"s and "Mhmm"s as she did, a look of mild, awkward social discomfort coming to Ann's face, not wanting to be rude but feeling quite uneasy with Fio's actions at the same time. "M-may I....help you?" Fio suddenly stopped her inspection as Ann spoke up, making direct eye contact with her again. "So, I never got an an answer before deary....how long have you and Toby been....."

Ann cocked a brow as Fio paused, awaiting a responce. "How long have we.....what?" Fio laughed a bit at Ann's responce "How long have you two....you know.....been together...." Ann's face flushed a bit as her brow suddenly deeply furrowed "WE ARE NOT DATING!"

Fio couldn't hold back a hardy laugh at Ann's responce, sitting opposite  of her on the couch "Oh m'sorry deary, but you are such a fun one....So then, how long have ye' known Toby?" Ann's expression eased back as she thought about the question for a moment, debating on how best to answer her question. "Well, I've known Toby for a few months now.....but I've only just recently come to stay here with him. He uh.....invited me to come and be his apprentice. How long have you known Toby? From the sound of it it's been a long time."

Ann tried to deflect the topic of the conversation, feeling that given the nature of how she came to this world that it might be best not to divulge too much. "Well, I don't suppose that you two have exactly gotten to meeting each others families, so I'm not much surprised that he's not said anything about Auntie Fiochmar..."

Ann's face lit up, somewhat excited at the prospect of meeting Toby's family, thinking perhaps they would be as trustworthy and kind as Toby, a reassuring thought given the negative experience of her first venture out into public in this world. "Oh you're his aunt? What side are you related to him from, his mother or father?"

Fio shook her head slightly "I'm not is aunt by blood really, though everything but. His mother and I have been close as sisters for as long as I can remember....so then...how'd you two meet, eh'? Toby's usually such a shy boy.....though, I suppose if you're his apprentice you two must have a particular interest in common and I'm sure that's quite the ice breaker, eh?"

Fio gave Ann a sly look that called the flushed redness  back to the bridge of her nose "I....I don't know what you mean..." Ann turned her head with a defiant look, knowing full well what Fio meant but denying it anyway out of the habits she'd grown accustomed to in order to protect herself from the harsh scrutiny of others in her own world.

"Come now deary, there's no reason to be like that....I know all about Toby's...eh....unqiue interests, and just how seriously he takes them. If he's taken an apprentice, than I'm sure that is the particular subject he's teachin' ye'..." Fio quickly put one hand up flat as Ann shot her an indignant glare "...and I see nothing wrong with it..... I mean that deary...Toby's gotten a lot of undeserved flack about it too. S'long as your not hurtin' anyone, puttin' anyone in danger or forcing something on 'em against their will, I see no harm in it...so please, put the dagger eyes away"

Fio chuckled lightly as Ann's expression eased up again, feeling slightly guilty that she'd reacted so aggressively when she'd been nothing but kind to her this far. "Sorry....it's just....there are a lot of people who're really mean and judgmental about things like this....OH" a shocked and apologetic look suddenly shot to the surface of Ann's expression as she brought her hands up, waving them in a "no" motion, "which is not to say I think you're mean or judgmental or anything, you seem very kind and understanding and funny and......" Ann's rambling trailed off into silence as a slightly depressed look came to her face, her eyes averting from Fio a bit "....it's just that I've had...some very bad experiences in the past when people found out....I liked this sort of thing...."

Ann's eyes suddenly widened in surprise as she felt the grasp of Fio's cloth clad hand at the back of her head for only an instant before she was yanked suddenly across the couch, the other hand quickly following the first and pulling Ann into a warm, tight embrace. "Now now deary....none a' that. A sweet little thing like you aught not to wear such a frown....."

Ann's eyes teared up a little as a soft, warbling smile came to her face at Fio's kind words and tight embrace, her hand gently stroking the younger girls hair. ~She reminds me of Mom...just...less uptight....~ Ann thought, feeling a bit of embracement at her growing urge to reach out and cling to someone she'd only just recently met, the chance to do so being cut off before she could act as Fio brought her hands down to her shoulders and gently moved her back a bit.

"Sorry if that was a bit much for ya' deary......you can see why people tend to say I'm a bit forward, eh'?" A wide, warm grin spread over Fio's face as she watched Ann regain her composure, genuinely very happy to have been able to cheer the girl up before she got too depressed. "Alright then....on to an easier topic then. Where do ye' come from Ann? Can't say as I've ever seen you around the local before."

~Uh oh.....easier topic she says.....what should I say? Toby said he didn't break any rules, but....something tells me I really shouldn't tell her I'm from another world" Fio blinked a few times as Ann just sat there smiling at her silently, Fangs pearking head head up, having been half paying attention to the conversation and half dozing off. "Uhhh.....deary? Did ye' hear me?"

~Uh, Master, you need to get back here...now~ Fangs sent Toby a mental message as he watched the two girls, the awkward tension in the room beginging to grow.

"A...are you alright deary?" Just as Fio was about to get up and move over to check on Ann, Toby came through the doorway in a rush, his back turned to them as he slid the heavy scrying table across the floor, pulling it behind him a few feet at a time, grunting loudly with each pull. "I'm....phew...I'm back! See....no time....no time at all...." everyone's attention was immediately drawn to the spectacle, Toby panting lightly between words.

"Toby boy, why didn't ye' just levitate the thing?! I told you not to exert yourself, didn't I?" Fio and Ann quickly shot up off the sofa and hurried over to Toby's side to assist with moving the table. "Well....You know what they say....got to stay in shape right? It's our duty to ourselves and each other....can't have....phew....another crisis of atrophy, now can we? Besides...." the three of them moved the table, much more easily now, almost too easily Ann thought, over to the center of the room, setting it down before the fireplace in clear view of the seating arrangement

"This one has wards set up to prevent tampering, alteration, tracking....you name it. I doubt levitating or recalling it would even work, even within the assistance zone of my home." Turning her head to Toby with a confused look and unable to go on listening to all these terms she wasn't used to that seemed to be so commonplace to the others due to the burning curiosity and sense of conversational exclusion, Ann finally decided to speak out in front of Fio, though more from reflexive curiosity than conscious choice "Assistance Zone? What's that?"

Fio's eyebrow cocked as both of the others turned their attention squarely to Ann, causing a sudden sense of awkwardness to flair up. "You....you mean to say they don't set up assistance zoning where you live deary?"

Ann's face scrunched up a bit at Fio's question, Toby quickly interjecting before either could continue "Fio, that was rude! Is it really so shocking that someone might not have an assistance zone set up around their home, or even choose not to." There was a brief awkward pause as Fio stuttered a bit, having honestly only been surprised that Ann wasn't familiar with the term that was so commonplace in their world.

"Oh it's okay Toby, Fio didn't mean anything by it, did you? I just took her off guard is all" Ann broke the tense silence, her tone light and cheery as she flashed a smile to Fio, who returned it, happy to be reassured she hadn't accidentally insulted Ann. "Anyway...." Ann turned back to Toby, quite sure now that the entire reason he'd even spoke out like that, and why he'd been acting so strangely, was to avoid the topic of Ann's origin, and deciding to assist him in doing so for the time being, though she made a mental note to question him about just why he was so hesitant to be forward about it later.

"You brought the table up here for a reason, didn't you?" Ann winged the conversation a bit, hoping that Toby would be able to fill in the blanks and make it more convincing "Yes, of course......go ahead and have a seat you two....I'll set up the reflection scry. Fio.....i'm going to assume it's the official bulletin channel?"

Toby looked back to the two as they made their way back to their seats, Fio giving a quick nod in response. Turning back to the table, Toby ran his right hand along several of the various runes engraved the table, the mirror in the center lighting up, an unfocused holographic projection beginning to phase into existence above the table, a strange, nearly undefinable cacophony of sounds emanating from the image, clearing up into clearly audible speech as the image focused into that of a man in a very formal looking suit sitting behind a large table, staring directly ahead.

~Is...is this like their form of television?~ Ann thought to herself as she watched the scene before her, seeming almost exactly like the news broadcasts she was used to at home. "Recent news regarding Dakerton city...." Toby spoke to the image in a very dry, monotone manor as he walked back to the large chair off to the side of the sofa, turning and staring at it more like an object than a person as he stat down.

"There are twenty six entries posted over the last seven days, three marked as urgent alerts. Would you like entry titles in chronological order?" The image spoke in a very dry, formal tone, the man's expression never changing, his eyes staring blankly forward. "List titles marked as urgent" Toby spoke to the image in a commanding manor, Fio's mouth scrunching up in an unhappy manor in anticipation of hearing the story again

"One....Emergency status declared in Dakerton City, explosions confirmed , attack by radical sect of Sovereignty of Origin Nations group suspected. Two....State of emergency lifted in Dakerton City, suspected members of anti government terrorist group apprehended. Brave and decisive action by local and central peacekeeper forces result in zero fatalities. Three....Terrorist group Sovereignty of Origin Nations participation in heinous attack on Dakerton City confirmed, perpetrators to be moved to Peacekeeper central command for further interrogation. Please select an entry by listing number or make another query."

As the image of the man fell silent, Toby turned his head to Fio with an expectant expression as if to ask which entry to select, Fio returning his gaze for a moment before turning to the image of the man and speaking in a slightly unsettled  tone. "Entry two" as she made her selection, then Toby turned back to the image again.

"The state of emergency in the city of Dakerton has been lifted with three suspected members of the attacking splinter group of the Sovereignty of Origin Nations group, better known as SON, in custody, though no one has come forward to take responsibility for the attack. It is currently unknown what prompted this attack, as the city of Dakerton is an unusual target for SON, having relatively little influence in the world political stage..." As the four occupants of the room watched on in silence, the image before them began to distort, loosing shape and quickly reshaping into a sort of circular first person perspective reminiscent of a cameras view, the view at  edge of the circle hazy and faded.

Squinting for a moment, Ann felt something was very familiar about the scenery the image was portraying, her feelings soon confirmed as voice of the man began to speak again. "...eyewitnesses of the event have said the attack began without warning, and while not entirely random, a distinction was not made between peacekeeper and civilian targets..." the view of the camera panned over several scenes of the city Toby had brought Ann to yesterday, the buildings badly damaged with rubble and debris strewn throughout the streets, people standing about the mess seemingly trying to find a place to even start cleaning up.

~Jeez.....who ever these SON people are, they really did a number to that place.....damn...it was such a nice looking city too.....~ a scowl began to form over Ann's lips as the broadcast continued.  "While damages are still being assessed, the combined efforts of local and dispatched central peacekeepers managed to subdue the attacking group fairly quickly, the battle lasting only about half an hour and while there have been many injuries, miraculously no fatalities have been reported...." the image distorted for a moment again before forming back into the visage of the man behind the desk again "Three of the attackers have been taken into custody, though no information has been released yet as to any official affiliation with the SON group. This has been CRB News, news you can trust."

As the man fell silent, even his smallest mannerisms suddenly fell utterly still, as if the image had simply frozen in place as Toby and Fio turned to look at one another. "....How bad is it?" worry was fraught in both Toby's voice and expression, growing deeper as Fio's own expression grew grim "....as they said....nobody died....what they didn't expand upon is those confirmed injuries....lots of people hurt pretty badly Toby, it's a miracle you got through the thick of it as ye' did with what you did.....and speaking of which...."

Fio stood up and quickly crossed past Ann over to stand in front of Toby so as to block him from standing up or moving. "Alright now Fio, you don't have to go to all that....I promised I'd be good and let you look me over and I will...." Fio reached down and took the man's hands, which had been sitting folded on his lap, and spread them out wide to either side. "That's a good boy....I know how stubborn you can be but when you make a promise, you always do stick to it, just like your mum....Now just hold still a moment...."

Ann watched with curiosity as Fio held Toby's left wrist in her hand, holding her thumb and middle finger on either side of his arm, the tips of each digit glowing with a soft, white light and emitting a light hum as she slowly slid her grasp his arm to the shoulder, stopping just before she reached the cut wound, which had scabbed over, though it was obviously still very vulnerable.

Pulling her hand back, she put her fingers flat against each other and held her free palm up over Toby's wound, the lighemanating from her fingers now radiating out the the entire surface of her palm, the light changing from it's pure and pristine white to a bright red as she held it close to the wound. "Well, I will give ya' this much Toby, ya' did the right thing lightin' that lifewatch when ya' did and doin'....well....whatever exactly it is that you and the pup did. You're healin' up nice and you're  wound isn't infected....you're lucky though....I'm told some of the bastards were usin' tainted weapons...."

Fio snarled the word out, Toby's eyes widening as she said it, a sudden, subtle jolt causing her to shift her eyes from her work to his own. "....that's right. Why do you think I was so worried about ye' boy? These arn't just violent roughnecks we're talkin' about.......some of them are real monsters, and the whole lot of 'em are nuttier than squirrel droppings.....stand up, I wanna' check your ribs...." Fio let go of Toby's wrist and backed up a bit, bending down a bit and placing her hands gently against Toby's sides as he did as he was told.

"Fio, I really don't think that's necessary. I didn't get hit directly...." Toby grew silent as she looked up to him and her hands stopped their gentle trailing down his sides, suddenly giving him a short, firm squeeze, causing him to wince heavily and grit his teeth, his eyes widening at the unexpectedly sharp pain. "Which one of us is the restorationist deary? You've banged your ribs up somethin' awful, your lucky you didn't break somethin' boy!" Fio gave Toby a stern look as she gently eased him back into a sit, kneeling down onto on knee before him as he came to rest in the chair.

"Alright now....give me 'yer leg...." As Toby started to raise his left leg, Fio brought her hand up and slapped it back down at the shin, careful not to be to rough "not that one. C'mon, don't give me a fuss...." Letting out a sigh, Toby slowly brought his other leg up, Fio taking a gentle grasp of it as she did, repeating the same process she had with his arm, though as she reached the wound in his leg, the light emanating from her hand changed from a white to a much deeper, darker red, causing Fio to take a hissing breath in between her teeth "Damn child, that's a right nasty bit of work you've had done to 'ye there.... I'm going to need to get my bag...."

Fio slowly, tenderly brought Toby's leg back down to a complete rest before standing and turning to the exit, looking to Ann as she made her way out "I'm countin' on 'ye now darlin', don't let him scamper off before I get back!" Ann giggled at Fio's remark, both she and Toby turning their heads to watch as Fio exited the room.

For a moment, everything was still and silent until that silence was broken by the sound of Fio opening the front door of the keep, the auditory assurance of their privacy prompting Ann to speak, her voice a sweet and cheery tone. "Toby?"

Taken slightly off guard, he turned his gaze from the doorway Fio had just left to Ann, though she didn't return the look. "Yes Ann? What is it?" turning her head back to return Toby's look now, there was a sweet smile on Ann's face, an expression that almost seemed to be hiding something

"When she leaves, you're going to tell me exactly why you're trying so hard to hide the fact that I'm from another world." though the subject seemed dire, the tone of Ann's voice never changed, though Toby began to desperately stutter out a hurried response none the less.

"I-I hav-" Toby was quickly cut off as Ann interrupted him with a blunt, quick "Shut up" in that same light hearted tone, the timing of which denoted she knew how he'd respond. Falling silent to her interjection, a severe sense of nervousness began to grow wildly out of control in Toby's mind as he started to fidget about a bit, not at all sure what to do or say.

"I'm back! Told 'ye I wouldn't be but a moment!" Fio called out from the main hall as she rushed back into the parlor with a carpet bag in tow, coming quickly back to where she'd knelt before Toby before. Opening the bag with a quiet "Snap", Fio jammed her left hand deep into it's confines, seemingly far too deep for what the exterior would suggest was possible, and began to root around for something in particular, muttering to herself as she did.

After a few moments of rummaging, Fio produced two containers from the bag, a long silver cylinder about an inch in diameter and roughtly six inches long and a shorter glass jar about three inches in diameter and about an inch deep, each with a screw on lid, setting the two items down beside the bag before snapping it closed again. "Alright....this" Fio picked up the shorter jar and moved to put it into Toby's hand, stopping when she took notice of his changed demeanor. "Heavens Toby what's got you so jittery today?".

"He's a big baby is what. He doesn't want to take his medicine, but he knew it was coming and I'll make sure he get's it Miss Fiochmar" Ann said with a toothy grin as she approached from behind, coming to sit on the closer side of the sofa to the two.

"Well, seems you've gotten yourself quite the apprentice here, Toby. She's the one taking care of the master!" Fio chuckled as she spoke, handing the jar over to Toby, who accepted it willingly. "Anyway, this is a disinfectant, it'll keep your wound clean and your pattern clear, just apply a nice even coating to the wounded areas....and this" Fio reached down and retrieved the other container, holding it up before Toby and shaking it back and forth a few times, shaking it up a bit. "is a regenerative elixir...take one capful a day just before bed, and I mean JUST before, no meandering about after you drink it, 'ye hear me?"

Toby gave a quiet nod, his lips forming into a soft smile as his nervous expression melted into one of gratitude. "Thanks Aunt Fio....you've always taken good care of me."

Fio stared dead into Toby's golden eyes, her own shimmering like emerald green pools as they began to grow teary, a quiet sound of failing restraint emanating from Fio's throat, promoting Toby to brace himself for what he knew was comeing next. Fio's arms suddenly shot around his form, hugging him tightly as she pulled herself in close to embrace him.

"Oh Toby! Don't you EVER do something so reckless as that again, you hear me!?" Fio's voice was uninhibitedly loud and emotional, her concern and love for Toby shining through clear and undeniably genuine.

"Yes yes, I'll be more careful, I promise....but there are other people who need your help more than I do right now...we mustn't forget about them, yes?" Fio gave a few solid nods, giving Toby's body one last firm squeeze before standing back up. "You're right....I need to be off, much work to be done. You two take care of each other, ye' hear? And next time I expect to be getting word from 'ye for something nicer than you gettin' yourself all banged up. Now..."

Fio bent down and took hold of her bag, standing up and placing her free hand on her hip. "You're sure there's nothing else I can do before I go?". Toby began to dismiss her, but as he did, Ann quickly stood up, raising her left hand a bit as she spoke to make sure to get Fio's attention.

"Actually.....well...since Toby should be taking it easy and resting, would you mind helping me shut the door to the ship dock..um...thing? We kind of left it open in our rush to get Toby in and taken care of....important things first ya' know?" Fio gave a smile and a nod as she motioned for Ann to lead on "That's right. You've got a good head on your shoulders Ann."

Moments later, the two girls stood before the large, heavy doors of the docking bay, staring at the cock-eyed parking job Toby had done. "Oh yeah....I forgot he left it like that...." Ann mumbled to herself sheepishly as the ship came into view, looking over to Fio, who to her surprise, was looking over to her as well. "Well deary....what was it you wanted to say?" Ann blinked a few times at her statement, not sure what she ment. "What did I....what do you mean?"

Fio gave an a sly look as she drew closer, tapping the side of Ann's leg gently with her bag "The doors don't seem broken sweetie, they don't have to be closed manually....so what is it you wanted to get away from ol Toby to say, 'mm? It's okay, there's no need to be shy with me". Quickly thinking over the opportunity she'd unwittingly opened for herself in, Ann grabbed at the first convincing subject that came to mind "Earlier you said....Toby's had some issues with the peacekeepers before...he seemed somewhat sensitive about it so I thought it might be better if I asked you instead...I don't want to upset him or anything...." there was a brief silence before Ann quickly chimed in again

"...should I not ask? Thinking about it more, it seems like maybe i'm being a bit rude" her reluctance causing Fio to chuckle a bit, she reached out and gave the younger girl a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "No, no.....it's no like he's a criminal or anything....here, help me get the door and i'll explain as we work"

Moving over to one side of the double door, Fio sat her bag down as the two girls gave one another a nod of acknowledgment before placing their palms flat against the obstacle, pushing hard. "When Toby was much younger....in his early teens I believe....he had quite the problem with bullies...." Ann shifted her gaze from the door over to Fio, a somewhat surprised look on her face. "Really....I...ungh...wouldn't have thought he would....he's...ungh....kind and gentle but...when push comes to shove...he really seems to take charge...."

Ann seemed to be putting a lot more effort into the act of closing the door than Fio, though she didn't appear to be slacking off and only pretending to help. "Well deary...he wasn't always like that you know.....and you know how boys can be...well...a few bad apples who thought they'd nothing better to do kept beatin' on poor Toby....he'd gone to the professors about it and of course they just wrote it off as children being children...but when they started to get really violent Toby took it upon himself to take it right to the local peacekeepers...."

Fio's eyes narrowed at the bitter memory, letting her elbows bend a bit and letting her body come closer to the door as she began to really try to push the door, the somewhat slow progress they'd been making suddenly speeding up drastically. "Everythin' was FINE up until the little villains tried to make themselves out to be victims.." *SLAM* the first door came up to the edge of it's hinge hard with a loud metallic crash, Fio quickly storming over to the other door and Ann following behind mousily, surprised again at Fio's physical prowess.

"When the keepers confronted the boys while they were beating poor Toby, they started sayin' he was harassing them with his.....well with his unusual affinity...." This time it was Ann who was putting forth less effort, not that she wasn't trying, but simply unable to keep up with Fio as she vented her frustrations on the door. "... He'd really just started to have a feelin' about such things and those little bastards started lying on Toby, telling the keepers he was threatening to eat them and making all kinds of lewd acts at the school lunch.....the keepers thought him as off as those boys....just stood by and let it happen 'till his mother 'n I showed up, wonderin' what'd been keepin' the boy....The rotten bastards were fired a'course, and those little monsters disciplined almost as harsh as I feel they deserved but...."

With the door almost closed, Fio let it's momentum drift the door away from her a bit, causing Ann to look over to her with a bit of confusion at the act, though as she watched Fio's body language her eyes went wide. Cocking her right arm back, Fiochmar balled her hand into a solid fist and slammed it into the front of the door with a loud *THUNK* and sending it the rest of the way back, bouncing hard against the hinge and recoiling back a bit from the force. "....well....." Fio's expression lightened up into more of a sympathetic one as she looked back to Ann, who still gawked at her wide eyed "Toby's never been able to bring himself to trust another peacekeeper since....not that I can blame him...but I hope one day he sees they're not all bad. OH!" Fio jumped a bit in surprise "But look at me babblin' on. Well, I'll be off now deary, you take care...and take good care of Toby for me too, okay?"

Waving a fond farewell, Fio turned and made her way off to the small ship of her own, parked and anchored down with small yet heavy iron anchor not too far off from the front of Toby's keep, climbing abord aboard and pulling the anchor up before turning her ship skyward and taking quickly off into the horizon, leaving Ann waving goodbye as the ship vanished from sight.

Alone now, Ann stood watching where the ship had fell from sight as Toby made his way quietly up beside her, leaning on the his walking stick. "Well, that was a pleasant visit. It's a shame Fiochmar's and I don't spend more time together" Ann nodded in agreement, a soft smile on her lips.

Toby's eyes slowly drifted down from the horizon to Ann, his mouth tightening a bit as he spoke again in a slightly wary tone "So....now that I'm feeling better, care to join me for a meal? Maybe some light reading? " Ann closed her eyes, a somewhat sly look on her eyes as she silently shook her head no at his question, causing him to furrow his brow a bit, making a barely audible groan before speaking again, a heavy tone of dejection in his voice "There's no chance I'm going to get out of a drilling about this, is there?".

"Not a chance in hell" Toby closed his eyes and gave out a heavy sigh at Ann's response as the two of them turned and made their way back inside.

End Chapter Eight
Ann and Toby get a visit from an old family friend, Fiochmar, who is the restorationist (kind of like the doctors of Toby's world) sent to check up on Toby's injuries. Some of Toby's past comes to light, but what could he be hiding now, and why?
© 2014 - 2024 NiborDeathridge
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starfighter101's avatar
ohh boy, he's in trouble nooow. XD