You Got a Friend in Me (Flashback--Solo)

[Majnoon Gerges]

The had been walking for approximately three bells, three long, uphill bells and the last of Majnoon’s patience went bye-bye approximately half a bell ago. So far, he had a black eye, curtsey of Darnell, who had oh-so-kindly let a tree branch snap him in the face, two bruised elbows and thin cuts from crawling over the blasted rocks. Sure, magic was frowned upon in the city but did they have to go so far out? “Where the petch are we going?!” He got no reply, only an amused cackle, the blasted old man would enjoy torturing him like this, after all he got just as much amusement from watching the boy struggle through Auristic training. He fingers itched to chuck his walking stick at the back of the man’s head, it was summer, it wasn’t hot but crawling up the godforsaken stone’s was not pleasant. Dragging a hand across his face he was more than disgusted at the liquid that soaked over his palm, it did not help that seconds later he tripped in a crevice and promptly fell flat on his face. “Boy, that is not going to get you anywhere. Don’t be lazy.” “May Krysus get your petty old soul!” “Respect your elders! Now up, stupid boy!” Gritting his teeth Majnoon stood shakily and glaring briefly at his skinned knees he began to stumble after the old man. Who looked quite pleased with himself, as he walked down the slanted stone, the boy was seriously beginning to hope something ate him. Still he had no time to focus on Darnell for long, his attention solely on picking his way over the low stone and trying not to pass out from exhaustion. Running errands for his father was entirely different than running around in a forest and he could feel the toll it was taking on him. But getting a familiar was his dream, no matter what he would accomplish this! And so, steeling himself he continued his trek. Though it didn’t stop him from grumbling and huffing every two minutes.

[Majnoon Gerges]

On and on, it seemed to go on forever, nothing but stone and random groups of trees, though it seemed as if the stone and the ground were becoming wet and moist, making it harder to use them as a grip. Already he found small cuts littering his hands and yet the old man navigated as if he had been there many a time and he probably had considering his profession. Still he was beginning to doubt they were doing anything other than trying—and succeeding—to drive him mad! “We’re lost aren’t we?” “Be quiet.” “Funny, I’ve lived in Slyrias my whole life and I still get lost too, so admit it!” “Would you shut up trap?” “No.” The old man spun on his heel, his walking stick waving dangerously close to Majnoon’s face, “Lookie here, boy, you will listen to me. Now shut the petch up and walk through those damned trees.” Rolling his eyes he strode forward, “And through the trees there is…?” “Oh.” “That got you to shut your mouth, didn’t it? I guess there’s a first for everything.” He made no retort, instead only stared in shock. He had never seen a place like this, all curving smooth stone, surrounded by thick trees and in the middle was a large—well, huge really, pool of water. The stone reflecting with the trees and sun to make it appear a crystalline green and with the promise of a slow cool to his burning skin he darted forwarded and pitched in. Now, for a few seconds it was beautiful, the water refracting the light against the bubbles from his breath and the immediate soothing cool to his overheated skin. It was bliss. Pure bliss. Until, that is, his foot found no grip, nothing to push himself upwards with and he could not swim, hell, he’d never even really gone to a lake! I’m going to drown. Panic set in as he failed his arms, the water slowly the motion ridiculously so that he looked like he was barely moving. He could feel the cool trickle of water slip past his lips and begin to fill his lungs, his clothes weighing him down, his body not understanding how to go up. It cooled quickly though and he attempted to force his body upwards like a fish, wriggling this way and that—this of course, did nothing. Strangely enough he suddenly had the urge to laugh and he did, it bubbled up from him quicker than a scream and forced the water into him faster, expelling the air and taking its place. He salvation came from above, quite literally and with a lot of pain, what he guessed to be the old man’s walking stick colliding painfully with his head still, he reached up to grab it, straining his muscles just to hold on while the other pulled him up slowly. He nearly let go twice, his vision fading in and out to white and even as his head was roughly yanked above the water’s surface he found he couldn’t breathe. “Boy!” Parchment-like warmth pressed to his lips before thick curving shapes pressed into the back of his throat, while another warmth pressed viciously against his chest, was the old man trying to revive him or slaughter him? Still his body did as it was forced to, heaving and jerking violently before expelling the water stuck in his lungs, which now burned something fierce. Turning to lie on his stomach he proceeded to empty the content of his stomach while attempting to get as much air into his lungs as possible.

[Majnoon Gerges]

When he was finally able to get ahold of himself, he scooped some of the water up and rinsed out his mouth, spitting it out to the side before facing the old man with a grin. “Well, that was an adventure, wasn’t it?” “You almost drowned, stupid boy!” “Ah, but I didn’t.” “Idiot.” The old man grumbled under his breath before once more returning to his previous task, he had obviously been unpacking the supplies before realizing that Majnoon had been drowning. It looked be a simple setup, drawn onto the ground with a mixture of powder of some sort and a stick. “What is that?” “Stupid boy! Don’t you pay attention? Ah, never mind. its salt and your circle for you damned familiar. Jep!” “Expanding, now.” The voice came from the old man’s cane, to be exact the small bead in the eagles eye that slowly reformed in front of his eyes into a large sphere of blue. Seemingly ignoring everyone else the man grabbed a small knife from the sack and poked his finger roughly. Majnoon felt a momentary panic, “But how do I know which one is right?” For a moment it looked as if Darnell would only give another of his scathing replies but changed his mind half way through, “You…you will have to speak to it, like an interview—“ “An interview? With a familiar?” “Don’t interrupt, boy!” Majnoon mimed sealing his lips much to the older man’s chagrin, “Like I said, you interview it. Jep, here will bring someone he thinks matches you and you can talk. Ready?” “Wait! Does he bring all of them at once?” “No you idiot! One a time—reminds me, you get two chances, why? Cause I don’t feel like sitting here all damned day. So pick wisely. You'll know.” “Bu—“ “You don’t like it? We can just leave then.” He made as if to repack everything, leaving Majnoon wondering if he should just wait until he could find someone else…then again he would doubtfully ever get another chance. “No! I mean, no, it’s fine, we stay.” That had been a bluff of course, he would not have wasted his time coming just to close the circle, turning to the floating glob beside him Darnell spoke carefully, “Bring someone.” “…Request: Denied.” “Don’t argue!” “Arguing: Exchanging views in a heated, asinine manner, Don’t: To not do something Example: Jep did not argue…Manners: To be politer and offer thanks and pleases, Example of non-manners: Darnell.” Majnoon had to smoother his laughter, Jep was a strangely sarcastic for an Irylid but he played it off well but it always threw Darnell into a bit of a temper. He had no idea how the ever formed a contract and he doubted it was a pleasant story. For a moment it looked as if it would be a standoff, Jep refusing to go and Darnell refusing say please but a few more moments of heat convinced him it wasn’t worth it. “Fine! Damn brat. Would you please bring someone for that idiot to interview?” “Request: Granted. Coordinates: Secret.” It was only when Jep inched his way through the puddle looking circle on the ground that Majnoon realized what it was. A summoning circle! It was practically a puddle on the ground but it could do so many different things, he wondered if people could travel through it with as much ease.

[Majnoon Gerges]

He wonder wore off though as the chimes went by slowly and no Jep reemerged from the watery surface, Darnell did not seemed worried though he sat comfortably while leaning against a rock his eyes closed as if he was about to doze off. That actually seemed like a good idea considering the one who carried the ridiculous sized bag all the way there was Majnoon. “Jep has returned, candidate one: Jep’s sister, La’An’Ra.” His eyes snapped towards the puddle where a similar shaped sphere was hovering, “Darnell!” A snore was his only response. “Right. So. Let’s get this started then, what can you do?” "Give information.” “…Okaaay, anything else? Hobbies? Or something you expect from me?” He felt like an idiot for talking and asking questions to a being without a face or voice tone for that matter but he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to ask and Darnell was obviously going to be of no help. “Is that information important?” “Sure.” “What will I gain in return?” “What?” It was Jep who spoke this time, “Jep’s sister: Information giver if the price is right.” "Nothing is free." Now he understood what Darnell had meant when he said that her would have to interview and he would ‘just know’ because right now he ‘just knew’ this partnership was not going to work. “La’ An’ Ra’ this is—“ He was cut off by her methodically ticking off a few names that would equate to what he was before Jep had her go back, he only had one more try and Jep would not go until Darnell woke. But how was he supposed to get it right with only one more shot? “That boy, was the most amusing thing I’ve witnessed all day!” “You were awake?!” He felt his annoyance from earlier in the trip returning, “You could have told me what to ask.” “And spoil the fun? Not likely, now listen here and listen good, you have more chance. One and don’t you dare ask for more. The first one is always a relative so it wouldn’t have mattered either way because an Irylid is too much for an idiot like you. Jep!” “Reply: Yes?” “Would you please go get another one, from the green coordinates?” “Request: Granted, Coordinates: Green.” Majnoon just sighed slightly, if he couldn’t find a familiar through Darnell he was not sure who he would turn too. His only choice was to hope that Jep brought someone that would actually match him.