The Kid With No Name: *ambles in, watching everything with a small, mysterious smirk on his face.*

He mocks me despite all my attempts to talk to him, so best of luck to y'all.

*smiles and busies myself with my drawing* oh hmm, nothing, nothing...I'm sure you're perfectly responsible when it comes to blowing up your enemies...

Lajh: Chayn, you're right...he kinda does....

Virika: *looks through book* p-o-m-p-o-u-s.... P-o-m-p....

Simperer: you won't hurt her? I've heard that lie before: from the mouth of one I trust. Forgive me for not believing it from the mouth of one I don't. Virika, if you want her to help you then go look it up by the other children.

Mentally ill? No! I didn't mean thaaaat.

Breindel: *sits next to Flash* you all right?

Tinsley: I like this new kid. Hail, nameless one!

White kitten: mewmew! *curls up beside Tawni*

The Kid with No Name: *gives a slight bow of his head and widens his smile slightly*

That's what he does, always.

Mordir: *To Simon* I see.

Zinaan: I can give her one! *Takes the candy and hurries to Tawni. Shyly hold the candy to her.*

The cuteness of all the kids!

Lillian: *Smiles* Big brothers are pretty awesome. *Looks at Aren* Oh... so, why Earth? Why not some other, more empty planet?

'Cause Earth always gets the supernatural.

Mordir:

Tynx: *Bounds over to Kid* Hi! I'm Tynx! Why are you smirking? Are you like Simperer, where you like to smile funny? What world do you come from?

Alright, who gave him caffeine?

Mordir: *To Abigail* *Smiles while toying with a dagger* I am very responsible, indeed.

Chayn: *Looks at Lajh* Do you like your eagle look?

Mordir: *Lifts hands and backs away from the girls* I'm moving away.

Ivy: *Looks up from the book* What are you doing, Papa?

Mordir: Nothing, love.

Ivy: *Looks at Simperer, then back at the book* What should I look for?

The Kid With No Name: *nods politely and points upwards towards the stars, pauses and pulls an old battered book from his messenger bag and flips it open to a certain page*


Ouska: *sits down with a groan, wincing as his bones creak. He leans on his spear* You will have no luck talking to 'im. I tried.

Tinsley: ummm....the caffeine may or may not have been my fault... Sharp pointy thing I can throw! If that goes missing I don't know what happened to it. Can't talk to him? Maybe he speaks another language. Unfortunately, all the languages I speak haven't been created yet. ...do you speak in a different language, star-boy?

*headdesk* how much caffeine did you have, miss half-elf who's supposed to be an adult?

Lajh: *thoughtfully* I'm not sure yet...I look kinda silly. Aren looks better. Aren, what's it like to be an eagelly thingy?

What is with you guys today? Stay in character! Like...everybody else. *waves hand vaguely*

Lajh: *stroking cat like a villain and glaring evilly at Tanner* Youuu want thisss.

...do not tell me that was a Star Wars quote. *headdeskheaddeskheaddesk*

Simperer: *tilts head* ...I still don't trust you.

Like that. Good job, sir.

Simperer: ...?

Virika: help me look for the p-o-m section...we're getting closer....*waves for other children to join her quest* come on, this is fun!

Alastair: *stares at Enya's fire* does that hurt?

*white kitten crawls onto Tawni's lap* mew!

Flash: *picks his head up from his hands and looks sideways at Breindel* *after a long pause, he glances back down* Yeah.

Tawni: *smiles a little and pets the white kitten, but doesn't leave Timothy's side*

Simon: *nods, looking up at Mordir* Sorry. I'd bring her one if she wasn't scared of me.

Tawni: *flinches a little bit when Zinaan hurries up to her* *then shyly reaches out and takes the candy from Zinaan* *says quietly* T'ank you.

Me: I know, all these kids are adorable! *edges closer to Gael, whispers in her ear* And so are all the other characters; like Mordir. XD *moves back again and looks innocent*

Simon: *blinks when Simperer speaks, and Mordir moves away* *looks back and forth between the two*

Sarai: *comes bounding over and stands next to Mordir* *speaks to Simperer, regarding Mordir* But he's nice!

Tawni: *giggles and keeps stroking the white kitten's fur*

The Kid With No Name: *chuckles softly and shakes his head* *flips through the book again*

Ouska: *shakes his head sadly* Touched in the head, this one is.

Tinsley: I most certainly am not!

Lajh:

Ouska: *peers at them* Not you. *jerks his head towards the Kid* 'Im.

Aren: We have no connection to other worlds. For whatever reason, Earth was singled out as the world with which we connect. We have acted poorly in the past, but it is said to come to greater rights in the end.

Trevelian: *takes a seat and strokes a grey kitten*

Aren: *to Lajh* I suppose it is the same as being human is to you or a fish is being wet. I have never tried any other body to know the difference. A Fearn might be the only being who could answer your question.

Tanner: *raises eyebrows* Why?

Timothy: Oooh, the white one looks different.

Me: You probably mean cute, buddy.

Breindel: Are you certain? *stern glowing prophetess expression*

HE ISSSS!

Lajh: Annwyl, you started her up again...

Simperer: *blinks at Sarai* I don't think a little girl would quite comprehend the nature of it. Go play.

Tinsley: ohhhh, whew. I thought you were talking about me!...Hey, star-boy. *pokes him in the solar plexus* say something. *pokes him again* stop reading. You're in public. *pokepoke*

Lajh: ooo, can a Fearn come in then? ...I dunno, maybe because it's adorable?

Alastair: *sits next to Trevelain* hi.

The Kid With No Name: *chuckles and turns the book around to reveal a picture of a vast world with figures moving about within*

Sorry, I haven't developed Matthias enough to bring him in here...

Tanner: Okay...

Trevelian: Hello.

Flash: I-- *stares at Breindel for a few moments* *sighs and flips the hood of his hoodie up, hiding his face in the shadows and leaning his head on his arms* Yeah.

Me: *at Gael* I know. *looks at Lajh* ...oops. Sorry.

Sarai: But he is nice! *hugs Mordir*

Jonah: *glances over at Simon, and then both glance at Simperer* *then they look at Mordir and Sarai* *they go back to what they're doing, but keep a watchful eye on their little sister*

Tinsley: Hey-- *mesmerized*

Lajh: who's Matthias? He sounds fun. Bring him anyways!

Alastair: ...

*bright pink kitten pushes its nose into The Kid With No Name's leg* MEEEEOWWWW!

Breindel: *softly* all right. *gives him space*

Me Sarai: you don't have to convince me

Simperer: stop using all the smiley faces. You're giving me a headache.

Aww, poor you. Do you want to use one?

Simperer: No.

Crabby today, aren't you. you're just mad because I am using them when referring to Mordir.

Simperer: No.

...Liar.

Tynx: Ouskar's back! Did you get old?

Tynx!

Tynx: *Oblivious* *Looks at Kid* You're from outer space? What's in the book? Moving pictures?! That's cool! It's like TV in a book! What is it about?

Chayn: I don't think he'll talk.

Tynx: I'll get him talking! Talking is fun!

*Isn't sure if she should glare at Tinsley*

Chayn: *Looks from Aren to Tynx to Lajh* Hmm, perhaps Aren looked something like this when he was younger. An adolescent stage.

Mordir: *Looks at Simperer* Well, I'm not asking you to. My little girl has made a new friend. She doesn't have many. I won't risk her losing one.

Ivy: P-o-m... Papa, what's p-o-m-p-o-m say?

Mordir: Uh, pompom.

Ivy: That sounds fun. Is it the word you're looking for, Virika?

Mordir: *Smiles at Simon* No worries, lad. Perhaps one day you'll do something heroic, and she won't be able to stay off you.

I have no words...

Zinaan: *Grins widely* I'm Zinaan, but some people call me Zye. What's your name?

Mordir: Wait what? I'm what?

Adorable. You, sir, are adorable.

Lillian: He is? He was a little weird when I first met him. All puffed up and like *does a bad Mordir-imitation* "I wasn't saving you, it was in my way."

Mordir: I do NOT sound like that.

Tynx: *Has shifted into his fox form and jumps onto Kid's shoulder* So how old are you? What's your world like? Do you have dragons there?

Breathe.

Mordir: *Looks down at Sarai in surprise*

Lillian: *To Aren* Oh. I guess Earth is just a major other-world magnet.

Mordir: *Glances at Simperer, then Sarai* *Smiles slightly* I'm honored you think me as such, but I'm not without my faults.

Ivy: *Looks up* What's wrong?

Mordir: *Quickly* Nothing, love. *Starts in surprise when Sarai hugs him* *Pats her head*

*Gives Mordir a calico kitten*

Mordir: *Tenses as he holds the kitten, unsure of what to do* Why-

Don't. You are holding kitten, any argument you make will be invalid.

Mordir: *Stiffens as kitten claws it's way into a small pocket inside his coat* Someone help me. I think I may be being attacked.

*Is loving it* XD

Flash: *rocks back and forth for a few moments, breathing unsteadily* *draws in a deep breath, picks his head up and glances sideways at Breindel* *blinks several times, eyes suspiciously shiny* *says quietly* No.

Simon: *blushes a little, sheepish grin* I'm not really the one to do something heroic. Jonah's the brave one.

Tawni: *tilts her head to one side* I'm Tara. My... my daddy used to call me Tawni. He had to go away for a while. I want him to come back.

Me: ... my little ones here all have such dark or traumatic lives. Why is that? *giggles when Mordir overhears me*

Sarai: *smiles up at Mordir, head tilted to one side* My big brovver Tommy says that even though everybody's done wrong, they've been forgiven. He says that God loves everyone, even cri-crin-... *hesitates, frowning, then looks at Simon* Simon, what was the word?

Simon: Criminals.

Sarai: *her face lights up in a grin again* That's it. Tommy says God loves everyone, even criminals. God says we should love everyone, so I love everyone here. I love you too!

Me: Not just yet...

Trevelian:

Aren: My my people's reckoning, I am in my late adolescent stage. *to Lillian* Yes, my people suspect there is a reason, or we would not have been given such a connection to it.

ONE HUNDRED PAGES! YAAAAAAAY!

Ouska: *frowns, thinking* Who... is Ouskar? And I have been old for nearly eight hundred years.

Me: This is what happens when an entire setting is completely overhauled. Characters change.

The Kid: *smiles at the kitten, and picks it up to set it on his shoulder* *laughs softly and shakes his head at all the questions*

Mordir: *Smiles at Simon* Nonsense. Anyone can be brave. You just need to decide what to be brave for. You have your brothers and sisters, for instance.

Zinaan: My papa goes away a lot too. But papas always come back.

Mordir: *Smiles at Annwyl*

Tynx: *To Ouska* Oh, whoops! Sorry! Your name is really similar to Ouskar. Whoa, you're 800 years old?! How'd you manage that?

Mordir: *Smiles at Sarai* I doubt your God could love someone like me. I've done many bad things.

Chayn: *Looks at Aren closely* Hmm... maybe more of a childhood stage, then.

Lillian: Ooh, that sounds mysterious!

Tynx: *To Kid* Not even a little answer? Hmm. *Shifts into a monkey, grabs the book, and rushes off on two legs* Catch me!

*Face/wall face/tree face/desk*

Ouska: Hmm. Such happenings are beyond my experience. How did I get old? Heh. *he gives a dry cough* Bathing in the cold springs of the Northlands. *snorts* I invoked the Feargh Jorava.

Kid: *chuckles and makes book dematerialize to re-materialize in his hand*

Aren: I wouldn't say back that far, perhaps when I was in my early twenties...

Simon: *smiles a bit* I guess. *looks at his twin brother and little sister*

Tawni: *blinks at Zinaan* They do? *hopeful*

Me: *starts when Mordir smiles at me* *smiles back*

Sarai: *still holding onto Mordir's arm* *shakes her head* God loves everyone! And even if you've done bad things, I still love you too!

Jonah: *rolls his eyes* You love everyone, Sarai.

Sarai: *ignores him*

Tinsley: if you glare at me then fish will swim in a pond.

Wait...what did you just say?

Tinsley: I said if she glares at me, I'll glare back.

Lajh: it's no fair . Everyone here has wings except meeeee........

Virika: no, I'm looking for pompous. Your daddy said that me and my daddy use pompous words. I didn't know what that means. *holds book out to Ivy* do you want to look?

*watching Mordir* can I take him home?

Breindel: *sits next to Flash again* no? Do you want me to stay?

Pink Kitten on Kid's shoulder* Purrrrrrrrrr *noses his face*

Alastair: where did Tanner go?

Me:

Flash: *lowers his gaze, says quietly* If you don't mind. *takes a deep breath in order to attempt to calm himself and hide the fact he's about to cry* *rakes a hand through his hair, pushing his hood back in the process*

Tanner: *tears at grass for lack of anything to do* Right here...

Tynx: You invoked the what? *Realizes book is gone* Hey now! *Hurries back and climbs onto Kid's head, shifting into his fox form* Start talking or I'll turn into an elephant.

Chayn: Early... wait, what? How old are you?

Mordir: *Smiles and ruffles Simon's hair* You look like a brave boy. I can tell.

Zinaan: *Nods enthusiastically* Yeah! My papa comes home, even though he's gone for a long time. Mama says he always comes home.

Mordir: *Looks at Sarai* Ah, I don't think He could love me. My bad things are far worse than theft or deception.

Ivy: *Looks at Mordir* What, Papa?

Mordir: *Tenses* ... Nothing, love. Keep looking for the word.

Ivy: *Smiles, appeased, and looks at the book* Pompous... Ooh, is it this one? *Points to a word directly below the word pompous*

Ivy can't read?

Mordir: She's only four. Odds are she's off with Zinaan half the day and too exhausted the rest of the day to learn. And, again, she's only four. *Freezes* Wait, take me home?

XD Would your family appreciate having an assassin to dinner?

Mordir:

*Watches Flash* You can take Mordir home if Annwyl lets me take Flash home.

Mordir: Whoa hold on, I really think I should get a say in this! I'm already being miserable having to interact with... with someone I don't like.

You mean Simperer? Or Yassuel?

Mordir: Yassuel. He's the one in the story. I can deal with Simperer. Just... someone who used to... own me... isn't fun.

Lillian: *Pokes Tanner's side* Don't be gloomy. Tell me about your gladiators. What made you start them?

Simon: *smiles* Thank you.

Tawni: *smiles a little more* Maybe my daddy really will come home.

Sarai: *shakes head firmly* Nuh-uh, God loves everybody! One of the best apostles, Paul, used to be a bad, bad man. He killed lots of people. But his name then was Saul. But he changed, and God forgave him and kept on loving him. He loves you too!

Me: I'm sure Flash would love to come home with you, Aris.

Tanner: I didn't start them, they were established at the academy years ago.

*considers bringing Amos in to talk to Mordir*

Ouska: *shakes his head* The less ye know of it, the better. Naught but tragedy comes from it.

Kid: *scratches kitten under the chin* *laughs at Tynx, sounding a bit a million gentle bells* *pulls a notepad from his bag and a pencil* *writes out quickly* The time for my speech has yet to come.

Zinaan: Yeah! Papas always come home, even if they go away for a long time. That's what Mama says.

Mordir: *Smiles at Sarai* Indeed? Maybe your God does love me, but with my bad things... I doubt I could be easily loved. I... my bad things can't be easily forgiven.

Uh... you do know you and Paul are pretty much-

Mordir: No, we're not. Unless he... *Lowers voice how his children can't hear* Unless he was an assassin, we're different.

Yay! I take Flash home! Ooh, who is Amos?

Lillian: What academy? Like college?

Tynx: *Ears droop a little* Oh... *To Kid* Well.... fine.

Timothy: *takes notice when Paul is mentioned* How's that worse than being a regular killer like Paul?

Breindel: of course I don't mind. We all need someone to sit near sometimes.

Alastair: oh. hi. ...why destroy the grass?

Virika: you can't read???? ooo, you found it. *reads* *evil little girl scowl at Mordir* That was mean! *sticks out her little tongue*

...nobody said I had to tell them what he does.... do I have permission to brutally murder Yassuel? In the most painful way possible?

Tinsley: *pokes Kid again* you have funny handwriting.

I am joining the theology conversation against Mordir: Yes, boy, Paul was a type of assassin. He specifically hunted down and killed Christians. X) piping down now. *still sits there like I want to continue being theological*

Tanner: I'm not destroying it, I'm just picking some...

Tawni: *smiles* Good. I miss my daddy.

Sarai: Nuh-uh! *shakes head yet again, still holding onto Mordir* God loves everyone, no... no... Simon, what's the wor--

Simon: Exceptions.

Sarai: T'ank you! *back to Mordir* Exc-ep-tions. No exceptions.

Flash: *manages a shaky smile* *whispers* Thank you. I just... when I saw those kids and their dads... *trails off, sighs*

Mordir: *Looks at Tanner* *Speaks in the same low tones* Because I kill people for money. I have no prejudice or hatred for the people I am paid to murder. I'm paid, I'm told how and when it's to be done, and who I should look for.

Easy. Don't get mad at Timothy

Mordir: *Jumps when the kitten in his pocket mews* Gracious I forgot that thing was there. And I'm not getting mad. I apologize if I sounded that way.

Tynx: *Looks at Kid, hanging upside down from Kid's head* So... if you won't talk now, when? Why not now? Don't you like talking? It's a lot easier to know what people mean.

*To Abigail* Good point. XD

Ivy: Not really. I can read some. Mama teaches me, the. I read to Papa. *Looks at the word, then watches Virika* Don't call my papa mean! He didn't do anything to you.

Mordir: Ivy, don't. Just be friends.

Ivy: But she-

Mordir: It's okay. *Eyes widen* Wait, murder? He's being rather cooperative right now...

Yeah, he's reformed. No worries. Yassuel's a good guy now.

Mordir: A liar, but-

Oh stop. He's not lying. And you won't remember I said that in the story.

Mordir: He... He does truly know?

Yes.

Chayn: *Rolling in a sand pit for no obvious reason*

Mordir: *Looks at Abigail* Maybe, but I kill people merely for pay. I have nothing against the people I'm assigned to. I'm paid, I hunt, I assassinate.

Wow, way to sound like a monster, Mordir. o.o

Mordir: *Shrugs* That too.

Tynx: Of all the stars he's a gloomy grown-up.

Mordir: *Looks at Sarai* Maybe...

Sarai: *hears some of what Mordir says about killing for money* *looks up at him with her head tilted to one side, studying his face* *gives him a tight hug* It's okay, you know. You're forgiven for all of it, if you're sorry about doing it.

Alastair: why? Are you going to braid it?

Breindel: *tentatively lays a hand on his arm, sending comforting warmth flooding into him* you weren't so fortunate? I'm sorry...

I'm still gonna kill him. I have grudges against fictional characters. Even if they die heroically. If they were cruel to a favorite, they need to be murdered.

Virika: but he called me and my daddy's words pompous! *scowls and snaps the book shut*

Simperer: oh dear. ...Vi, come here a moment? You shouldn't have such a temper. Be nice.

Virika:

Simperer: none of that. If I had known you'd throw a fit I wouldn't have let you see it. Is my daughter supposed to have such bad conduct?

Virika:

Simperer: *sigh* you're as bad as your mother... Give me my book. Thank you. Now go on.

Virika: *pouting viciously* *walks back over to Mordir and Ivy* sorry.

Lajh: there's a sand pit? *jogs to Timothy and Tawni* wanna go play in it?

...*can't help it* *runs over to Mordir, tackles him and pins him by his shoulders* Lllliiiiiiissssstttttteeeeennnnnnnnn toooooooo meeeee!!!!!!!!!!! Have you ever heard of John Newton? You're fixing to get a lecture I usually only reserve for when Jehovah's Witnesses come over...

Simperer: o.o *looks like he pities Mordir's predicament of being pinned by me in a theological mood*

Flash: *relaxes a bit* My dad drank. A lot. Mom never tried to make him stop. They divorced when I was seventeen. All my life... I was told boys don't cry... but even though both of them hated me, thought I was a mistake... I cried when they divorced. Dad got custody of me. *stops for a moment, taking deep breaths* I ran away. I wasn't going to let him hurt me anymore.

Tawni: *shyly looks at Lajh but doesn't answer*

Timothy: *puts an arm around Tawni* What's your dad like? *to Mordir* I can't say it's better for not having hatred attached, but everything is forgivable if you're willing to turn from it.

Tanner: No... I'm just... fidgeting.

Breindel: *sighs through her nose, as if accepting a heavy load* I'm so, so sorry. boys don't cry? *whispering* I don't believe that. Crying, I think, isn't a sign of weakness, or cowardice. It's a sign you have a heart, they you care enough about the situation, feel deeply enough, to shed tears over a lost relationship.

Yes, listen to Timothy. He has a point too.

Alastair: Want to race, then?

Tawni: *rests her head on Timothy's shoulder* My daddy is smart. He's always busy doing stuff and going places, so I stay with Uncle Jack while he's gone. But he's been gone for a very long time, longer than usual. I miss him.

Flash: *shrugs* Dad said it was wimpy, a sign of weakness, and something only girls do... I... *shakes head, sighs* I don't know.

The Kid: *shakes his head slightly and waves his hands, indicating destruction, fire and death*

Tanner: *looks over at Breindel* *to Alastair* Okay, where to?

Timothy: What's his job?

Trevelian: Then your father was a coward and hardly a man himself.

Lajh: guys, honestly? There's a giant sand pit, and you don't want to play in it?

Breindel: *points to the Simperer* would you consider a torturer wimpy? Because I have seen him cry. *shakes her head gently* if you weren't meant to show emotion, Esh Okhlah would not have given you any.

Alastair: uh...that tree? *points to a tree* and back?

Tinsley: *watching Kid* sounds awesome. Do it

Tawni: *frowns thoughtfully* He never told me.

Flash: *nods quietly* I guess so...

Tanner: *gets up* Okay.

Timothy: Aw... What do you want for a job?

Tawni: I dunno... I like stories, though. I'd like to live in one someday.

Kid: *shakes his head, and writes some more* Even I must abide by my father's plan.