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Post by Leda on Jun 12, 2008 1:19:31 GMT -5
The young priestess visibly swelled with joy as Pachacamac took his breakfast. He was smiling! Even a faint one was a VERY good sign! Tikal hummed softly as she retreived the remainder of the food that was to be her own portion. She'd fumbled once today, but things were sure looking bright again! At Athair's invitation, Tikal seemed only to become more pleased, and scrambled a bit to gather her breakfast. "I would love to eat with you, Elder!" she chirped enthusiastically. Taking a seat where he'd suggested, the young echidna happily popped several berries into her mouth.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 12, 2008 11:45:44 GMT -5
Athair smiled softly, taking a stealthy glance at the (small) amount of food Tikal had. After a moment, he suddenly looked up and past her, like he'd spotted something. "Hm?"
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Post by Leda on Jun 12, 2008 11:48:46 GMT -5
Glancing up at her grandfather, and then in the direction he had turned, Tikal blinked as she saw... nothing on the horizon. "What is it, Elder?" AND THE PUPPIES WERE PUPPY-LIKE.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 12, 2008 11:50:53 GMT -5
And while Tikal was looking in the direction of Athair's "ingenious" distraction tactic... The elder slipped some of his food VERY stealthily into her hand, then put some of his in his mouth so it seemed that he'd eaten the share he'd just given her.
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Post by Leda on Jun 12, 2008 12:00:18 GMT -5
Well, whatever it was, she must have missed it. Tikal shrugged and returned her attention to her meal... which seemed to have grown. Blinking again, the youngest of the echidnas turned to look at the priest at her side. Had that all been a ruse just to make her eat? A moved smile overtook Tikal's face, and she quietly went back to her breakfast. I'll have to do something nice for him soon to thank him.
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Post by DB on Jun 12, 2008 20:49:51 GMT -5
Pachamac noticed nothing, instead being absorbed with his food. Or actually, the absorbing was going in the opposite direction. Either way, he didn't care about what everyone else was doing.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 16, 2008 19:49:10 GMT -5
Athair said nothing, neither confirming or denying that he'd given her some of his food. Instead, he just continued eating his (reduced) share.
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Post by Leda on Jun 16, 2008 23:13:11 GMT -5
Or he would have, if he hadn't been interrupted by a pup holding out a cup half-full of fresh tea. "My grandfather asked me to give this to you!" Bella announced as she handed it off to the aging echidna. At that moment, Soren rose to his feet and dusted off. "I think we'll be going now. Again, I can't thank you enough for allowing us to stay with your party for the night, and even more so for providing food for my granddaughter." The old canine smiled and nodded as he began to head off. "I hope we cross paths again sometime." "Goodbye, Tikal," Bella said as she approached the young priestess. "I wish we could've gotten to know each other better." "Me too!" Rising to her feet as well, Tikal wrapped her new aquaintance in a hug, then trotted after Soren along side her. "I'll see you off!" It wasn't long before the two chattering girls had disappeared through the brush along the path that Soren had set.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 16, 2008 23:26:29 GMT -5
Athair took the cup silently, and nodded in thanks to the canines, taking a sip from it. A slight smile was visible on his face, hidden by the improvised cup. Once the two guests and his grandaughter were gone, however, the smile just VANISHED, his gaze falling onto Pachacamac. And regardless of most people's perception of Athair, his expression could only be read one way. The old priest was PISSED. OFF.
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Post by DB on Jun 18, 2008 19:39:18 GMT -5
Pachacamac did not notice at first, instead being rather content over the fact the canines had left, smiling to himself and happily munching on his breakfast. That is, until what seemed like a cold breeze suddenly blew past. Looking up, his own smile vanished, his eyebrows rising in surprise- and worry. "... Elder?"
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 18, 2008 23:11:13 GMT -5
Athair's eyes never left Pachacamac, as he stood, and walked over slowly, purposefully. "Now that we're alone, grandson, we are going to TALK." The elder, taking advantage of his, at the moment, height advantage over the younger echidna, planted his cane directly into the ground between Pachacamac's crossed legs and his body, so the cane was mere INCHES from the younger male's nose. "We really MUST catch up. And discuss your treatment of my great-granddaughter."
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Post by DB on Jun 18, 2008 23:15:00 GMT -5
Pachacamac blinked in confusion and honest surprise. "P-pardon me, Elder?"
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 18, 2008 23:21:05 GMT -5
Athair's voice was very quiet as he spoke, almost forcing Pachacamac to have to strain to hear. "Why, pray tell, does she seem almost terrified of you? What has her so convinced that she's nothing but a failure?" The cane dug into the dirt a little deeper. "Tell me everything. And do not try to lie to me, boy." While Athair had both hands on top of his cane, the hand resting directly on the haft of wood had it clenched TIGHTLY, almost forcing a creak of protest from the object. "I have Sight that tells me the truth, and I WILL know if you lie to me." His grip tightened just a LITTLE more. "But you will be the one who pays for it."
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Post by DB on Jun 18, 2008 23:29:45 GMT -5
An expression of bafflement was on the other echidna's face as Athair's words sunk in, and then his brows furrowed and his muzzle twisted into a scowl. "There is nothing to tell! I've done nothing but try to be the best father I can for her, but I can't control the girl! I don't know why she does what she does!" And, to Pachacamac, this was the absolute truth.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 18, 2008 23:58:05 GMT -5
With a BARELY held back growl, Athair pulled his crane free of the ground. "Well, then I truly wish to know what you consider 'being a good father'." Athair pointed the direction Tikal had gone with the canines. "Do you realize that while she was gathering supplies, she made a single mistake gathering supplies, that I helped her correct, but she had a near BREAKDOWN. Over a SINGLE. MISTAKE." Then elder then brought his head down, so he was nearly nose to nose with Pachacamac. "So I will ask once more. What have you done... to my great-granddaughter?"
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Post by DB on Jun 19, 2008 0:01:04 GMT -5
Now that the cane was removed from where it was, Pachacamac got up with a slight struggle, thanks to his previous wounds. However, once he was up, he glared down at the older echidna. "That's simply how she IS! Elder, do you believe that I enjoy listening to her cry over every little thing?? It isn't my fault that the girl is so sensitive!"
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 19, 2008 0:15:00 GMT -5
Athair's eyes narrowed further, his cane lifting off the ground as he was very close to bringing it up against the side of the younger male's head. "No, Pachacamac. That is not 'how she is'! I've SEEN the real Tikal! What YOU have is a girl terrified to make a single mistake around you." "You are her FATHER, and you raised her more or less ALONE for the last 15 years! If ANYONE is at fault, IT COULD ONLY BE YOU!" Athair's muzzle was actually becoming red from slight exertion, and he was now officially one wrong word from swatting Pachacamac so hard he saw Astal himself.
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Post by DB on Jun 19, 2008 0:26:20 GMT -5
Pachacamac's muzzle wrinkled in anger, and he hissed, very calmly and quietly. "Elder, I don't believe you understand the entire situation. You've only listened to what my daughter has told you. I've done nothing wrong other then try to raise her to be the best that she can be."
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 19, 2008 0:31:30 GMT -5
Athair just brought his cane up, shaking it menacingly near Pachacamac's face. "SHE told me nothing, except apparently how INCOMPETENT she thinks she is! You think I'm only limited to your word against hers? I'VE SEEN IT. THE LAST 15 YEARS. ALL OF IT!" The elder looked on the verge of, possibly, a heart attack, although Pachacamac wouldn't be so lucky.
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Post by DB on Jun 19, 2008 0:37:27 GMT -5
Pachacamac took a step back, giving the elder a skeptical look over. Perhaps, in his old age, the Elder was becoming senile. It was very likely, after all. He shook his head. "Then I do not know what you've seen."
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 19, 2008 0:46:22 GMT -5
Athair suddenly just... went calm, his head dropping to look at the ground for a moment, and his cane tip hitting the dirt, although if anything his hold on it had strengthened. "Is that so..." The elder looked back up at his descendant, slowly, and to Pachacamac at least, brought his cane up with a familiar movement. "Then perhaps something should JARR YOUR MEMORY!" And in a movement almost too fast to see, Athair brought the cane smashing into Pachacamac's shoulder with VERY impressive force, especially for his age.
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Post by DB on Jun 19, 2008 14:53:38 GMT -5
The force of the blow, and the fact that the blow had hit a previously injured location, caused Pachacamac to stumble, an expression of surprised confusion once again playing across his face, only this time with the addition of pain. Which, once again, all turned to anger as soon as he regained his bearings. "ARE YOU MAD?!"He meant this as if 'are you crazy', as, quite obviously, the Elder was most definitely upset.His previous thought that the Elder was going senile found themselves much more supported now.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 19, 2008 15:13:10 GMT -5
Athair was almost blind with the rage he'd held back while the others were present, as he brought his cane up again. "Let's start with the most RECENT offense, shall we!?" And the cane came down towards Pachacamac's shoulder. "Convincing your own daughter she tried to KILL YOU!" The cane came back up, then down again, this time swinging dangerously close to the younger echidna's head, but destined for his other shoulder. "Making Tikal terrified of the very IDEA of your dissapproval! Her emotions are almost completely dependent on yours! IN FACT, SHE'S MORE HAPPY WHEN YOU AREN'T AROUND! A SENTIMENT I SHARE!" Once more, the cane came up, then before it came back down, but not in a swing, but so Athair could lean on it, panting softly for breath. "And for convincing her that she needs to give you half of her own food, even when it's obvious you don't need it. And that's only a fraction of the list of offenses I have against you..." Athair then turned, hobbling away from Pachacamac a short ways, his age more evident than ever for the moment.
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Post by DB on Jun 21, 2008 3:21:28 GMT -5
Pachacamac was bludgeoned into unconsciousness.Wincing as the cane hit it's mark and irritated even more old wounds, Pachacamac somehow managed to stay on his feet, though faltering slightly. Listening to Athair and taking the abuse, Pachacamac's fists clenched in anger as he grit his teeth. Once the elder had apparently finished, Pachacamac more or less hissed. " That isn't the way things are at all..." Foolish, foolish old man! Couldn't he see how things REALLY were?! He was supposed to be a priest! But no, instead he was beating up an innocent and making insane claims...
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 21, 2008 12:01:18 GMT -5
With impressive speed, the elder whirled around, and was almost muzzle to muzzle with his great-grandson. He was almost GROWLING as he answered, his voice lowered to match Pachacamac's. " Then how, in your perception, ARE things, great-grandson?" Athair's hands were clenching his cane tightly, but for the moment, he didn't seem to be planning to hit the younger echidna again... but that was no guarantee.
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Post by DB on Jun 22, 2008 2:01:23 GMT -5
Pachacamac lifted his hands in a gesture of aggravation, or possibly one of pleading. "I've TOLD you Elder! I've done nothing but try and raise her the best I could! You know that I've been doing this alone, without a mother for her to help guide her in the right direction! You don't know how difficult it is or how difficult she is!"
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 22, 2008 2:14:26 GMT -5
Athair's expression could best be described as a combination of shock, and anger as Pachacamac answered. "How... difficult SHE is!?" In a movement almost too fast to track, Athair struck a glancing blow to the younger echidna's head, then planted his cane firmly in the sand between them. "She does NOTHING except try to please YOU. Why, I will never understand. You don't even thank her, puggle!" The elder turned away again, looking out over the water as he considered his next words. "Boy... Have you ever even told her you loved her?" His gaze returned to the younger male's face, and he continued. "Those words would mean more to that young woman than anything you could do for her, but it seems like you've never even shown her you loved her, much less said it to her." The air was filled with a deep pause, and Athair gave his parting shot, of shorts. "Even now, talking to me, you never said it once."
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Post by DB on Jun 22, 2008 2:18:08 GMT -5
The blow to the head was enough to bring the hulking echidna down into the sand. Struggling to regain his bearings, he sputtered. "OF COURSE I'VE TOLD HER I LOVED HER! SHE'S MY ONLY CHILD! WHAT HEARTLESS MONSTER DO YOU THINK ME TO BE?!"
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Post by V for Vizetta on Jun 22, 2008 2:27:20 GMT -5
Athair's expression had become, almost sad as he looked down at his great-grandson. "Do you truly want me to answer that question?" And with that, Athair stepped around the now-dead fire, and sat down, looking past Pachacamac to a degree, probably tuning him out, as well. But you could never know with Athair.
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Post by DB on Jun 22, 2008 21:21:05 GMT -5
A sour expression was etched deeply onto Pachacamac's face, as if he'd just stepped into something very unpleasant. Managing to get back onto his feet, he turned and walked out to the lake, limping slightly from his old and now disturbed wounds. It'd be best to bring himself away from the Elder before he did something he may regret...
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