I'll Be Dog-Gone (11)
ArtistStudio -- Kitten shrieks in terror and Rae shrieks
in pain as ArtistFrog returns to his proper form - inside a conduit, bursting the pipe and doing tremendous damage to himself and the ship's air ducts.
"Get out of my mind!!!" Rae screams as Artist writhes in agony, his body bruised from the sudden transformation inside too small a space - several bones broken and dislocated. The pain pours endlessly into Rae's mind and magic spews uncontrolled from her, singing Sweetiepie's feathers, cutting through the mast which topples overboard - the flaming sails fluttering down to the deck and setting fires all aboard the longboat.
"All right - I'll do it - just stop!" Rae screams again. She concentrates her power - released from Artist's pain for a moment and transforms 6th back to her proper form. Artist's strength fails and his pain pours once again into the sorceress's mind. She writhes in agony on the deck.
"What the frell???!!!" Rag rages as Drum struggles to control the fires on the deck.
"Artist!" Kara shouts. She grabs 6th's hand and races below decks - catching the sounds of his agony over the cacophony on deck.
Sixth Sense Dreamer -- 6th and Kara ran below....
to find Artist on the floor, his arms and legs twisted in odd directions.
"Oh god!" Kara breathed, horrified. They both knelt down beside him.
"Artist! Say something!" 6th cried, carefully checking his body out for more broken bones.
"Something." Artist groaned. He coughed, blood trickling out of his mouth.
"Don't move." 6th said calmly. Inside, she was a wreck. he had broken so much...internal damage as well...what could she do? Surely not sit by and watch him die in front of her.
6th looked at Kara, crying softly over Artist. She stood, closing her eyes and reaching out with her mind...
*********************
Drum was furiously casting spells left and right. His mind link to 6th gave him an extra boost he'd never have been able to reach on his own, not at his level of training. Jets of water sprayed over the deck, blasting away at the flames. The others were doing their best to put out the fires. No sign of Rae...Drum kept casting water spells...She was here somewhere.
*Drum!* in his head. 6th!
*What, 6th?*
*Come down to the hold! Artist is dying!*
*So's the boat! I can't be in two places at once!* Drum cried in his mind.
*Yes you can!* 6th called back after a second. *You're in my head! Can you cast a healing spell on Artist through me?*
Drum thought. It could work. *You'll have to say the spell with me and stand just this way.*
*Can do. Just tell me what.*
Drum relayed the information to her, like lightening through his mind. 6th stood over Artist, her hands outstretched and pointing at his chest.
*Ready.* she thought to Drum. Together they chanted, one on deck and one below. Drum felt power surge up out of him and race below deck.
*HOld on 6th, here it comes!* he thought to her, just before the magic hit.
6th, having never delt with magic like this before wasn't ready for it. It arced through her as if she'd been struck by lightening. Her hair stood on end as she screamed. But her aim was true at least and the spell was cast over Artist. He cried out and writhed as his bones knitted themselves back together, his internal organs mending thier wounds.
Up on deck, Drum caught sight of Rae, curled up in a corner of the deck. Washing the entire deck with water in one last spell, he ran to her, calling the others.
"Rae!" he cried. Oh she was burned, and burned badly. Barely breathing, there was no time for talk.
Drum began casting another healing spell over Rae. He knew of the differences in her body, but was aware that his spell would make allowences for that, and not damage her worse instead of healing her. Good magician that he was, he knew how to control it. But this healing would take a few minutes.
Below deck, Artist sat up as 6th sank to her knees.
"Oh god, you're ok!" KAra sobbed flinging her arms around his neck. 6th looked wearily up at him.
"Better?" she asked weakly.
"DOn't I look it?" he smiled.
"Good. Now someone heal me." she rolled over on the floor, sucking on her scorched fingertips.
"Oh NO, not you too!" KAra cried, crawling over to where 6th lay. 6th struggled up.
"No I'm fine...really...just...whew! That was a real blast!" she grinned a lopsided grin at them both.
"So did you miss me?" artist asked. "I never got a chance to find out."
6th looked at Kara. Kara looked at 6th. They both looked at Artist.
6th tossed her head and winked at him "Why don't you come over here and find out for yourself?" she laughed.
Up on deck, Drum froze in mid cast.
"Uh..." he half gasped. His hands shook over Rae's body.
Rae, half healed, put her hands over her eyes and moaned. She was healing, but found herself unable to move or think while Drum quenched the flames burning inside her. All she could do was lay there, burning not only with her wounds, but with emotions she had never felt before.
"What's wrong?" Mouse asked Drum, worried as she watched him go pale.
"Noth...ing." Drum said, his voice cracking. "Just...nothing." He focused everything he could on healing Rae, and tried to ignore the thoughts, sights and sounds that were currently flowing through his head. Perhaps he did need to find a way to block off SOME things from his mind link...
Chryse74 -- As quiet descended on the boat
and the water sluiced away over the sides, the fires out. The various scoobs cautiously look out on deck to see if it was safe.
*well, looks like Artist is back to normal* thought Chryse. Looking over at Drum and Rae, she thought that it was a bit odd that Drum's magic was working so well.
"Gosh darn it!" came a voice from out of the engine room. "what the heck are your people doing up there?!?!" asked the wet mechanic as he stomped up on the deck.
"We've had a few problems. Don't worry about it." said Kara.
"Don't worry? All that water got down in the engine room and messed up the engine real good! Those dog treats melted! It'll take even more time now to wash out the residue. If you all don't want to be stuck here for a week, I'd appreciate the help from the mechanically inclined."
Raven-Kat -- “I’ll help you.”
Rae told the mechanic, rising weakly. "If I can overhaul a prowler, I can fix a long-boat engine." As she walks past Drum, who's still crouching on the deck, she grabs a handful of his hair and pulls his head back. She leans towards him and whispers, "Whoever you're drawing your power from, stop it! This isn't how we're meant to do these things and you know it."
Rae releases Drum and follows the mechanic.
"You sure you know what you're doing?" the mechanic asks.
"Sure I do. We'll have this baby pulling H-12 in no time." Rae smiles weakly, glad for something to distract her attention from the pain she's feeling.
Mouse2000 -- Mouse looked at Drum
and wondered what the hezmana was going on inside his head. He had a really loopy look on his face, combined with some emotion that was hard to pin down.
Mouse calmly went down into the hold, got the fire extinguisher, and proceeded to put out the interior fires. She enlisted Spyral's help and SunAeryn volunteered to help Rae and the mechanic. Spyral looked longingly at the long interior corridor and said, "I wish we had a chair with wheels. That would really ROCK with this fire extinguisher!" Mouse laughed at his expression and continued to check out the galley. Then they headed back upstairs.
Ragnar looked at his longboat, which was burnt in places, the mast was severed, and it was generally in really bad shape. Drum snapped out of his trance long enough for Mouse to whisper in his ear, and he set about finding a spell to repair a ship. Mouse and Spyral moved far enough away from Drum while he was thinking to be safe.
"Don't want to end up a real Mouse," Mouse laughed.
"Don't worry, I think Drum's back on track." observed Spyral. He reached into his wing and brought out several rolls of grey duct tape and passed them out to the others who were surveying the damage also.
"Duct tape fixes everything." said Jila as she, Kaybe, and Chryse started reviewing the damage with Drum and Ragnar.
Mouse saw Viridian glance her way and motion for her to come to the Groovy Girl pup tent. Mouse walked over, stooped to see in, and was introduced to Wendy. Wendy seemed interested in Mouse's career and Mouse was happy to spend the time with her talking about the different careers in chemistry she had had in the past, BF (before FarScape).
Kara, 6th, and Artist took a few moments to reorient themselves (in Artist's case) to human form, and decided a nap was in order.
Unnoticed by all except Ragnar was a small yellow head that popped up from the hold. He shook his head to clear his vision, and the head was gone. Did he really think he saw what he thought he saw?
RagnarRB -- BadToy!
the small pile of debris stirred and a little smudged kitten head popped out. Boing! Boing! up go the ears, to be quickly shook free of dust and ash. She looked around, not really any the worse for wear. Nothing a bath wouldn't cure...* A bath Uggg!!!!!!
"Meow , meow!" She started off saying *It's the toys fault, the toy's fault. I didn't do it! Only there was no one around to hear.
Her ears drooped a little as she found herself feeling safer from reprimand for a moment. *Pooey! I never get to play with any toys! she thought. *They should send that one back it was deffective! Sigh, they just didn't make toys like they used to!
Crawling free from the rest of the pile she shook herself off....wondering what else she could find to play with. Hmm....maybe Artic would be out with the others and Mr. Duckie would be available.
With a flick, flick of her tail she startmed off meowing as she went.
.....boy wa she dirty.
Sixth Sense Dreamer -- 6th woke from her nap
her fingers still feeling scorched. She stretched, showered, changed into cut-off shorts and a halter top, and headed for the deck.
"Hey." Artist said softly, leaning against the wall behind her. She spun, startled, he hadn't been there a moment before.
"Being invisible again, huh?" she grinned.
"It has it's assets." he grinned, and 6th wondered how long he'd been invisible, and where he had been before the hall.
"Were you in...never mind. Come with me." she said taking his hand.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"To see Rae." 6th said. Artist was silent. *Rae?*
"Won't she...uh...you don't want her to...um...change me into anything?" he asked, and 6th felt him pull back somewhat as she led him down the hall.
"You two need to talk." 6th said.
They wandered for a while, finally finding Rae in the map room. She'd done all she could with the engine, and had headed to the map room to pore over Rag's maps.
"Rae!" 6th said, pulling Artist inside with her and shutting the door.
Rae looked up, taking in the sight of Artist and 6th. She glowered.
"Now is not a good time, 6th." she hissed, glaring at Artist, who was surreptitiously trying to melt through the wall.
"It's never a good time with you." 6th sighed. She grabbed Artist by the shoulder and led him to a chair. "Sit." she said, and he did, pleading with 6th with his eyes.
"I'm glad you brought him back to me. Now I can change him aga..." Rae began. Artist bolted upright, and 6th shoved him back down.
"No." she said to both of them. "No changing. No running. Rae, you need to tell him what you told me."
Rae sighed. "6th..."
"Rae, if he knows, we can all figure out something to do about it! It's better than sticking him with being a dog or something!"
Rae shook her head slowly. Talking things out was not something she was accustomed to doing. But...
"Ok. Artist," she said through clenched teeth, "If you stay in my head, the dark side of me is going to affect you, and badly. If we don't get you out of my head soon, you'll end up becoming like Hannibal Lector or...or Ted Bundy or something!"
Artist looked surprised. "Well...I could..."
"NO!" Rae yelled, "We are NOT doing it your way!"
"It wouldn't help now anyway, right, Rae?" 6th said, resting her hands on Artist's shoulders. "It's been too long. So your way is out." She looked at Artist, to make sure he got it. He nodded slowly.
"Ok. Then what?" he asked.
"I could change you into a dog again until we figure out something. That's why I wanted to keep you like that. It slows the change down." Rae looked pointedly at 6th when she said that. 6th just sighed.
"No changing me into anything else!" Artist said. "I hate that!"
"But it's the only way!" Rae said, frustrated. "It's dangerous to leave you like you are!"
6th held up her hands, "Guys, please! Be calm! If there isn't ANY thing else we can do, Artist, darling, you may have to submit to it. But, let's think for a bit. What else can we do? Rae? Artist?" The sorceress and the illusionist looked warily at each other.
"Ok, look," 6th said, "I'm going to go for a bit. I've got some things to do. You guys try and figure out a compromise while I'm gone. I'll come back in a little while and we'll talk some more. If I find when I come back that either of you left, I'll tie you up and leave you in a locked room with the other person. I know neither one of you wants to be helpless in a room with the other. SO don't push your luck, cause I WILL do it! And IF I come back and find either one of you have been up to things you shouldn't be, like not keeping your hands to yourself," she looked at Artist, "OR changing people into little easily squashed animals or anything ELSE," she glanced at Rae, "Then SOMEONE will be in a world of hurt! Got me?" Both of them opened their mouths to say something, but 6th held up her hands and shook her head. "Nope, I don't want to hear it. You two NEED to TALK. So, talk!" she stepped outside, hoping that she wouldn't come back to find Artist a puddle of goo. He had said once that he was a gentleman if nothing else...she hoped it were true.
6th pulled out the map she'd picked up while she was inside the map room, and went to find Ragnar. He'd holed up in his cabin, now that the fires were out and the engine was nearly back to normal.
"Hey babe." 6th said, leaning on the door frame. Ragnar nodded to her and poured another tankard of beer out of the keg.
"How's it going?" 6th asked, getting another tankard off his shelf, filling it and sitting down on the floor beside him.
"I'm still breathing." Ragnar muttered. "Other than that..." he shrugged.
"Well, we still need to talk, but I've not got time for that now, and you don't look up to it, so..." 6th spread the map out on the floor.
"Where are we going next?" she asked.
"Home, maybe?" Ragnar asked, downing the beer and filling another.
6th laughed, even though she could see he was seriously considering it.
"We can't go home, Rag! Unless, of course, YOU'RE going to adopt all those dogs?" she fluttered her eyelashes at him, watching him shake his head, and roll his eyes at her.
He leaned down, taking another swig of beer at the same time and pointed at the map.
"There." he said, and 6th peered at the island near the tiny longboat on the map.
"What does that say...Oh Classic Land!" 6th cried, "What's that like?"
"Well," Rag said leaning back, and sighing, "It's also called the Land of Black and White. All the classic movies. The silent films, which is like walking around with subtitles instead of speech, the comedies..."
"You mean we'll have to read each others subtitles?" 6th laughed, almost snorting her beer.
"Yup. The Comedies, Stooges, Marx Brothers, Bob Hope, etc., the dramatic stuff, Like the Maltese Falcon, and Casablanca, you know, gangster stuff, and the colorized old stuff, musicals, whatever. It's all divided into four equal sections on the island. We'll be landing on the north side, which will put us in the middle of the dramatics. I hope I can find some good boat repairmen there. Duct Tape might cut it for a little while, but..." he spread his hands as 6th nodded.
"I know, hon. It's your boat. I don't want it in ruins either. So how long will we be in Classic land?"
"Hopefully, not more than a week." *if I can keep a low profile, that is...* Rag thought to himself. *But with this bunch...*
6th was esctatic. Gangsters! One of her favorite kind of men! "Oh, excellent, Rag! I'll go tell the gang. How long will it take us to get there?"
"Shouldn't take too long, a few hours maybe, once the engine is good to go, which shouldn't be too much longer." Rag held out his hand as 6th headed for the door. She looked at him, puzzled, as he waved his fingers at her with a frown on his face. It took her a minute, but...
"OH! Your mug!" 6th laughed. She tossed back the beer in three swallows, trying not to smile at Rag's expression. Then she handed him the empty tankard, licking her lips, and grinning openly at his startled face.
"Delicious!" she purred, "Thank you." and she skipped out the door.
Rag watched her go, then peered into the empty mug. He held the thing upside down, then peered back inside it. Slowly he shook his head. *Note to self: Either get into a drinking contest with 6th to see just how much she can put away, or avoid it like the plague cause she'll drink me under the table!* And thinking about being under the table drunk with a drunken 6th was enough to give him the most interesting kinds of nightmares.
6th walked along, passing the word to the gang about their upcoming stop at Classic Land. Finally she made her way to Drum's room. She wanted to let him know where they were going, and to thank him for saving Artist.
She knocked on the door...
ArtistStudio -- The sorceress catches the illusionist’s
eye.
"Get out of my mind. I don't want you here."
"I never wanted to be here. I've never had violent or angry
thoughts before. I abhor violence - now I feel like killing someone just to feel them die in my hands. Your mind is a dark, frightening place."
"And it's mine. Mine alone. I told you I'd solve this with a
pulse-rifle if I had to."
"You know that would kill both of us."
"Better that than one more minute in your pathetic, shallow
little mind - if only my pulse-rifle hadn't been melted..."
"Let me break the link, then."
"Not your way!"
"You didn't give me a chance to explain. I learned much from
Queen Maleficent. A lot I never wanted to know. She created mind links at will - and broke them at will."
"Show me!"
The entire conversation took place in the blink of an eye.
Before Artist could object, Rae rifled his memories, finding the area where Artist had mapped a number of Maleficent's spells.
"Ah, so there IS a way! But this isn't going to be leasant."
"For either of us - but what part of this has been?"
Rae touches Artist's hand - and triggeres the spell which sends them back into the dream state - where the link had been forged - the only place where it could be severed...
Drumheller -- “Knock, knock”
Drumheller didn't even look up when he heard the knock, he just kept his nose in the spell book.
Again came a soft knock on the door.
Drum gave the door an irritated glance and continued with his search. If only he could find the spell, then he'd be rid of the mind link!
*BANG,BANG,BANG*
"Come on Drum, I know you're in there!" came 6th muffled voice.
"I'm busy! Come back later!" He yelled a reply.
"What the..., what's the matter with you, open the door!"
Drumheller's only reply was to continue reading. Maybe if he just ignored her, she would give up and go away. Yeah, right!
"DRUM, Open this frellin door!" 6th yelled as she continued to bang on the door.
"OK, ok!" He said, putting down the book.
Drumheller opened the door, then turned back to his book.
"I just wanted to let you know...." 6th began
"I know, we're going to Classic land." Drum interrupted.
"Was that all."
"How did you...OH, the mind link thing!" 6th said as she closed the door behind her.
"Yeah, the mind link." Drum replied without looking up.
*What's the matter with him?* 6th thought to herself as she found a seat across the table from Drum. *He's acting really strange*
"Nothing's wrong with me!" Drum said, finally looking up at her.
Seeing 6th's look of surprise at his outburst, Drum realized she hadn't said that out loud. "Um....I....I'm just kinda busy, that's all."
"Whatcha working on," 6th said getting up and heading around the table. "maybe I can help."
"Umm...no...I don't think..." Drum stammered as he started to backpedal away from her, trying to keep the book out of sight. "It's just..um..magic stuff..I need to study."
6th continued to advance, and Drum kept backing away, trying to keep the table in between them.
"What's the matter Drum," 6th said "you're not trying to keep secrets from me, are you?"
"N-no, of course not!" Drum replied. *Oh man, I gotta think of something else, she can probably read my thought too.*
*Why is he acting this way* 6th though, starting to feel hurt. *What could be bugging him*
Drum kept backing away from 6th, until they had reached the door. Drum quickly opened the door, and grabbed 6th by the arm to guide her out.
"Um..If you'll excuse me, I really need to get back to work." Drum said as he pushed her out the door. "I talk to you later, ok?"
As Drum shut the door, 6th caught sight of the book he was holding.
"Mind links and you: A beginner's guide for control"
6th looked at the closed door, a shocked expression slowly creeping onto her face.
*OH NO!* she thought to herself *He sensed everything! That's why he was acting so distant*
Feeling hurt and ashamed of herself not think of his feelings, 6th walked toward the deck wondering what she could do to make it up to him...
Raven-Kat -- The dream, part one
The Dream...
"Okay..." Artist says cautiously. "So far so good."
Rae frowns as she takes in the landscape, a pleasant hillside on a clear summer day. She reaches into a back pocket and produces a pair of sun-glasses. "Yuck..."
"Rae! It's gorgeous." Artist protests.
"It's so... BRIGHT." Rae spits on the ground. "Come on."
Artist sighs and follows Rae over the top of the hill into HER portion of the dream. "Ah..." Artist regards the scorched land-scape curiously. "Lovely. I guess."
"Coming?" Rae strides confidently down the hill. So far, so good.
"This place..."
"Home." Rae points to the shattered remains of a farm-house.
"I'm... sorry."
Rae stares blankly at him. "Come on." She leads him through the shattered reamins of the village and to the edge of a vast, dark forest.
"Who did this?"
"Scarrans. Who else?" Rae peers into the forest, searching for movement. "I was five." she adds as an afterthought. "I probably would be a farmer now if it hadn't happened."
"And this... This is what you see when you close your eyes?"
Rae stares at him in bemusement. "When I close my eyes, it is dark. I do not see anything. Now come on."
"Why the forest?"
"You don't know?" Rae smiles cruely. "The forest is where it started. So it must end there."
"But it's so dark."
"Is it? I hadn't noticed." Rae frowns into the bright glade. "Are you SURE?"
Artist takes a step backwards. "VERY dark, Rae. Are you sure about this?"
Rae nods. "Scared?"
Artist nods. "Oh yeah. You?"
Rae shakes her head. "No, not yet. Not yet..." She stares into the (to her) brightly lit forest. "Let's do this. I'm not sure of the specifics, but I think if we can make it through..."
Artist is nodding. "This is where our minds come together and cross over. I think we'll both find our worst fears in there."
Rae stares at him. "What you find in there will make your worst fears seem trivial."
"And you?"
"I fear fear." Rae says simply.
"Damn." Artist finds his hand on Rae's shoulder. A look from her is enough to make him withdraw.
"It's time." Rae says suddenly. She grabs Artist's head, pulls it down sharply and plants a kiss on his forehead before shoving him into the forest. "See you on the other side." Slowly, she follows him.
Raven-Kat -- The dream part two
Artist's dream...
Artist looks around in confusion. He isn't in a forest, and there's no sign of Rae. He seems to be inside a very large palace. Oddly, it's not at all spooky. In fact, it's kind of nice. Torches every few feet provide more than enough illumination, and "Do you Believe in Magic" seems to be playing on a near-by radio. Could this be what he had been so afraid of?
Artist shakes his head. "No, there's a catch here. Got to be." He reaches out mentally for Rae, only to find that she is no longer there, or, more accurately, that she is in so many places at once that he can't establish a clear link. "Oh, I get it!" Artist realizes that he must be fully within her mind now. "What now?" he asks no one in particular. "Do I find a way out? Find Rae?"
"You called?" Rae appears before him wearing a long, form-fitting red dress. "Ah, Artist!" She extends her hands. "How wonderful to see you again!"
"Again?" Artist smiles uncertainly. "Rae?"
"In a manner of speaking." She smiles at him. "Hungry? I've just taken a batch of cookies out of the oven."
"You cook?" Artist stares.
Rae laughs, a light, airy laugh. "Of course I do. How else would I eat?" She smiles and takes him by the hand. "Come."
Artist follows unceratinly. "That's a, uh, lovely dress. It brings out your eyes."
Rae stops and stares at him. "Is that ALL it brings out?"
"Er..." Artist takes a step backwards. "You sure you're Rae?"
"We've already covered that." she reminds him. "Hurry. The tea's getting cold."
They spend an enjoyable afternoon eating cookies and sharing jokes. "You know, Rae." Artist says, helping himself to another cookie, "I don't think I've ever seen this side of your personality."
"Do you like it?" Rae asks, leaning forward. When Artist nods, she laughs. "Then what's the problem?"
"Did I say there was a problem?" Artist asks, smiling. He's beginning to see that this isn't Rae as he knows her, but simply one aspect of her personality. "You don't get out much, do you?"
A small frown. "Not so much any more."
"That's too bad."
"Tell HER that." Another frown, and an odd glint in her eye. "Killjoy bitch."
Artist smiles and leans as far away as he can wihtout seeming to. "Do you have a name?"
"Other than Rae? Well, Colonel Kat, of course, but other than that, no. Why?"
"No reason." Artist smiles. "Can I just have a look around? I'm curious."
"I'll bet you are. Shall I show you the dance floor?"
"You like to dance?" Artist laughs. He's learning new things about Rae all the time. Like that she has a selection of dirty jokes that spans half the galaxy.
"Of course. But Rae never lets me have any fun!" That bitter glint is back, and this time it lasts long enough for Artist to recognize it.
"You!" Artist jumps out of his chair and backs away.
The evil portion of Rae's mind rises slowly and smiles at him. "What ever is the matter, dear? I thought you liked me."
"Get back!" Artist reaches for the first thing that comes into his hand-a pulse rifle.
Rae smiles at him again. "Go ahead. You'll enjoy it. Very much so, I'll wager."
Artist shakes his head. "No!" He backs away, but doesn't put the rifle down."Get back!" *What am I doing?* his mind screams frantically. *I can't shoot her! I can't hurt a woman! I've never even USED a weapon before!*
"It's easy, dear." Rae assures him mildly. "The catch is by your thumb. You'll enjoy it. Pain is fun."
"Evil is beautiful." Artist whispers. It's a though that had been chasing through Rae's mind a lot recently.
"It's not JUST beautiful. We have no use for empty beauty. You must know that by now."
"You!" Artist screams, dropping the rifle and rushing her. This was the part of Rae's mind that made him want to cause pain to those he loved. He HAD to destroy it. He felt his fingers close around her throat and felt a kind of sick satisfaction from it. *THIS is living!!!* his mind screamed. *This is POWER!!!*
Rae just stood there, smiling at him. "Enjoying yourself?"
Artist recoiled in horror. He HAD been enjoying himself. "No." HE shook his head and ran.
"Come back!" Rae screamed after him. "I can give you everything! Anything you want!"
Artist kept running until he reached a great pair of double doors.
Raven-Kat -- The dream, part three
Rae's dream & the return...
"Artist?" Rae calls, looking around the field in confusion. She stops to examine a large blue flower.
"Smell it." Artist suggests from behind her.
Rae spins around and drops into a defensive stance. "Artist. Damn!" Rae mutters. "Where were you?"
"Over there." Artist points to a large tree in the center of the meadow. "Come on. It's at least 10 degrees cooler in the shade."
"Right." Rae brings the flower with her. It smells so sweet. "So, what now?"
"I thought you'd know." Artist pulls a picnic basket from behind the tree. "Hungry?"
"No, but I could use a drink."
Artist pulls a bottle of white wine from the basket. "Chableis. Your favorite, as I recall."
Rae grins and pours herself a glass. She offers the bottle to Artist who shakes his head. "Oh, that's right. You don't drink, do you."
"No." Artist reaches towards the sky and pulls down a handful of clouds. Working quickly, he shapes the cloud into a white raven, which he extends for Rae to inspect.
The raven bows towards Rae before flying away. "You ARE an Artist!" Rae laughs, helping herself to another glass. "Show me how."
Artist hands her a pile of fluffy clouds. "Why don't you start with a tree-form, dear."
Rae takes the cloud, shivering slightly at how cold they are. "Okay..." She watches Artist, imitating his actions until she has created a small tree. She places it on the ground and watches it grow into an ancient oak. "Wow!" she laughs, whiping her hands against her jeans only to discover that she isn't wearing jeans at all, but a simple white gown. She pours herself more wine as she considers this. "Artist?"
"Yes?" he looks up from the very complex dragon he is working on.
"Wasn't there something we were supposed to do?"
"You're out of wine." Artist produces another bottle and hands it to her.
Rae looks at her glass in confusion. "How'd that happen?" She giggles and accepts the bottle.
"Maybe you drank it." Artist suggests slyly.
Rae giggles and wonders why she's never done so before. It's oddly satisfying as a manner of expression. "What a frelling waste of an afternoon!" she giggles, marveling at how much FUN it is.
"Fun, isn't it?" Artist asks with a secretive smile.
Rae nods. "And the flowers! They smell so good!!" Rae sighs in the fragrence. "Jasmine. Makes a great tea base."
"Rae." Artist leans over and pulls the glass from her hand. "For once in your life, stop being so practical."
Rae leans over and retrieves the glass. "Well, if you insist. But I know there was something..."
"If it was important, you'd remember it." Artist tells her. "Relax."
"Yes, sir!" Rae salutes him with a laugh. She pulls herself into a cross-legged meditation position and extends her arms.
"What are you doing?" Artist demands with a laugh.
"Relaxation excersise." Rae says. "You said to relax."
"Rae!" Artist grabs her wrist. "For... once... in... your... life. Be spontanteous."
Rae looks down at the hand on her wrist with a frown. Something tugs at the back of her mind. *Right! I... HATE... PHYSICAL... CONTACT!* "Let go!" Rae says urgently. "Let go!"
"What's wrong, Rae?" Artist smiles warmly as he removes his hand.
"That's a good question." Rae frowns.
Artist pours her another glass of wine. "I'm sure you'll figure it out. No hurry."
"Yes, there is!" Rae jumps to her feet, spilling her wine over Artist's dragon, who disperses in an indignant puff of smoke. "There IS a hurry!" Rae starts across the meadow.
Artist grabs her wrist. "Rae!"
"LET... ME... GO!!!" Rae shrieks, dropping her fist onto his arm in a maneuver calculated to break it. Instead, it glides through and an over-balanced Rae hits the ground with a thud.
"Don't fight me, Rae!" Artist says softly. "Don't resist." He pulls her to her feet.
Rae stares at him in confusion. "That's the first thing you've said all afternoon that makes any sense." Rae pulls free of his grip and extends her arms. "No more resistance."
Smiling, Artist steps forward to hug her. Rae closes her eyes and steps towards Artist and, as expected, right through him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The double door bursts open and Rae falls through, colliding with Artist. They look around in confusion.
"The long-boat." Rae breathes.
"Is it..."
"Real." Rae nods. "I think we did it!"
Laughing, Artist hugs Rae. Laughing just as hard, Rae shoves him away.
Artist casts around in his mind, searching for traces of Rae. There are some, but the link has, undeniably, been broken.
Viridian -- “Uh, Ragnar?”
The Viking looked up from his maps to see Viridian at his cabin door with Wendy's smiling face peeking from around her back.
"Oh! Hello you two." Ragnar leaned back and offered two available seats with a sweep of his hand.
Viridian shook her head. "No thanks pal. We just dropped by to let you know we will be gone for a bit." She grinned at the girl. "Wendy's decided on M.I.T."
Ragnar let loose a low whistle. "Not bad, young lady."
He frowned up at Vi. "How is Peter going to take it?"
Viridian shrugged, Wendy was the one who answered. "He won't like it," she said flatly. "It's tough though. I'm the one who has been stuck with all the chores all these years-- now it's his turn." Viridian just crossed her arms and looked up at the ceiling, smiling faintly. Ragnar managed to keep from chuckling, he had heard this same story from Vi some years before. Wendy let out a deep sigh for one so young-- Ragnar had to remember that she was considerably older than he was.
"I've been mothering the others for 100 years," she continued, "that's enough! From here on in it's microbiology and genetics for me!"
"And growing up first," Viridian added softly. She rested her hand on the shoulder of her long ago friend.
"Well young lady, you are most welcome at the Mansion," Ragnar said kindly. "There is plently of room and a fun bunch of people."
"Is there all that magic?" Wendy asked with worried eyes.
Ragnar met Viridian's gaze. "Uh, no-- not really. Things got a bit out of hand." Vi nodded silently. Ragnar decided to change the subject. "So are you actually going to fly Viridian? I thought you got airsick."
Vi rolled her eyes. "I just took a dose of Dramaine. Tinkerbell is buzzing around outside. We're going to talk to Peter, get Wendy packed up and on her way and then I'll be back."
"Well, we will be on our way to Classic Land."
"I'll find you-- I am taking the GPSS."
"Safe journey you two," the Viking wished them. "Hurry back Vi." With that, Viridian and Wendy left. Ragnar returned to his maps and his beer.
"Oh Rag?" Viridian popped her head around his door again. "Do me a favor-- keep the dogs out of my pup tent will you?"
She flashed a grin and was gone.
RagnarRB -- Another night passed
Sipping his early morning coffee Ragnar stood on deck, one foot placed atop a short keg, leaning a bit foreward, and surveyed the scene.
*Sigh...the boat had deffinately scene better days, likely its passengers and crew as well. They all seemed exhausted, burned out, tired. But alas just as the boat could be repaired so could they. A good nights sleep and a fresh new day and who knows....
Now was that little shutter caused by the thoughts of a new days adventures or the morning chill? He sipped some more coffee and felt its warmth flow thru him. This had become quite an adventure. It's the first time he'd ever seen Scooby's at odds with one another. He'd have to remember Malificient and the danger she posed. She had somehow gotten past the Scooby verse the world bond that held them all together. Yes, she was deffinately to be avoided.
But at least he could return to Disney Land if he wanted. They hadn't gotten into so much trouble that the locals there too were looking for them.
The Sun began to peak its first rays across the horizon. A pretty day in the making. :)
There was a tiny motion out of the corner of his eye. Hmmm....
Tweety bird raced out from behind a crate and darted across the deck his little legs a pumping. Behind him, in gleeful persuit, came the kitten. Suddenly the bird came to a perfect toon halt at the edge of a small rift in the deck. He turned a stuck out a hand in a typical stop sign fashion. In response the kitten planted all four feet in an effort to obey. Not that easy on the slick deck. With a roll and a tumble she skidded to a halt, all four feet splayed to the winds, an crumpled on her belly.
<PLOP>
Tweety waved a cautionary finger at her, pointed at the dent in the deck... then pushed her in. <SPLASH>
Ragnar hadn't noticed the puddle of water there. He smiled. At this rate Tweetie was going to save someone the work of bathing the kitten. She was still filthy!
Tweety skipped off in another direction and Ragnar sipped more coffee.
ArtistStudio -- “What?” Drum looks up as another
knock came on his door. Artist wanders into his room. "The last person I want to see." Drum thinks as he marks his page and sets his book down - concealing the title. The apprentice wizard composes himself and looks up. "6th isn't here. I think she went to find Ragnar."
Artist cocks his head in an odd listening pose. Drum has learned enough about the illusionist to see through his residual self-image - despite the immaculate tux and clean, sharp appearance, he looks like he's been through hell. Artist clears his throat. "She's sulking in her cabin."
"How can you tell that?"
"I've spent a lifetime learning how to affect the senses. I can hear her. The dogs are eating, Wendy is going to MIT, the mechanic is grumbling about the wiring, Rae is muttering an enchantment, Sweetiepie is preening himself in the crow's nest."
"Does anyone ever get any privacy around here?"
"Takes an effort. I picked all that up when I was looking for 6th." Artist settles down in the other chair across the table from Drum. "I wanted to thank you for saving my life - and Rae - and the boat - and repairing the mast. You've been magnificent recently."
"Um, well," Drum looks down. "She - I mean you - that is..." the wizard blushes violently. "And Rae told me... Look, it's been incredible, but it isn't fair to you. I'm working on..."
"Don't." says Artist simply. Drum looks up, surprised. The illusionist has never seemed more intense. "You have much to learn from her. She and I have been very close for a long time. We care deeply about each other. We don't own each other."
"I figured that. But I don't know how to deal with it."
Artist stands up and walks to the door. He turns and the room vanishes for a moment, the walls melting into a brightly lit glade - a river - a little waterfall - birds singing - water rushing. He smiles at the wizard. "Shared joy, my friend. It isn't that hard to get used to."
The illusion fades as Artist walks out and quietly closes the door, leaving Drumheller alone in his tiny cabin. The wizard lifts his book - then puts it back on the table and pours himself a drink.
Raven-Kat -- The smell of coffee
draws Rae out onto deck. Pale and trembling, she helps herself to a cup.
"Rae, you look awful!" Ragnar informs her.
Rae flinches away from his voice and holds up a finger for him to lower his voice. "Hangover." she croaks.
"You?"
Rae nods weakly. "Don't ask."
"Celebrating having your brain to yourself again?"
"Something like that." Rae takes a small sip of coffee. "Where are we going next?" she whispers.
"Classics Land." Ragnar pours more coffee.
"Hmmm." Rae considers this for a moment. "No magic. Good." She wanders off. "Infirmary if you need me. Nappy-time..."
Sixth Sense Dreamer -- Drum sighed....
he'd poured himself a drink an hour ago, but had done little more than sip it. He felt like a heel, treating 6th like he had. He'd known how she was, part of what made her 6th was to be wild and free, but for a second he'd hoped...but why make her change?
He pushed himself to his feet, tossing back his drink, and tucking his book under his arm. He walked out the door, intent on finding 6th to apologise, and crashed into her.
"Drum!" 6th said, startled.
"6th, I..." Drum looked up to see her tear-streaked face. He swallowed hard, looking into her forlorn eyes. Those deep brown eyes...suddenly he was at a loss for words.
"I...uh..." He stepped back, and held his arm out, gesturing her into his room. "Do you...uh...want to come in?"
"Please, yes." 6th said. She stepped by him as he held the door open for her, her red hair swirling out behind her. Drum clutched his book to his chest, and looked down. As flustered as he was already, looking down was not the best thing to do, as it gave him a perfect view of her legs. He watched her walk across the room and sit, unable to tear his eyes away. *Dren! How am I supposed to concentrate on saying anything to her now?* he swallowed hard, just watching her.
6th looked up at him, standing in the doorway. He looked upset, but not at her.
"Are you going to come in too?" she asked quietly. He jumped. How long had he stood there, just looking at her?
"Um, yes..." he came back in, shutting the door with his foot, almost tripping over his robes in the process. He stumbled forward, catching hold of the back of the chair in front of him. He sat, sighing. 6th just watched him.
"I'm..." they both said at once. 6th smiled a little smile, but still looked so upset, that it almost broke Drum's heart to look at her. She looked as miserable as he felt.
"Go ahead." she said.
"Uh..." Drum thought. *Oh, man, NOT a good time to have a brain lock here! Think, Drum, think!*
"You first." he said finally, hoping that at least he'd gain some time to collect his thoughts.
6th took a deep breath, glancing away. She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes.
"I'm...sorry, Drum, for what happened. I got carried away and forgot all about your mind link with me. If I'd thought, it wouldn't have happened. I just...I am like I am. But I'm sorry you had to see things you didn't want to. I never meant for that to happen, or for you to get hurt by it." she sighed, finally looking up at him. "I just don't know what to do to make it up to you! I..." she paused, looking at Drum. "I'll do anything you want, to make you happy. I just can't stand all the pain I'm getting off of you. It...just breaks my heart, that I was so thoughtless!"
Drum sat back, stunned. He hadn't realized that she could feel what he was feeling too!
"Oh, 6th..." he said. She looked at him expectantly. He could feel her thinking. She didn't blame him at all! She thought he'd done nothing wrong.
"6th, you're not the only one to blame here, I...that is..." he looked down at his hands. *What to say? How to make it clear?*
"I...you know, you don't...it's not that...er..." Frell his lack of experience in this kind of thng! He looked up at her, then back down.
6th stood, and walked around the table between them to kneel at his feet. "You feel just as bad as I do."
"I...yes..." Drum said softly, blushing.
6th touched his knee softly, not looking up. "You feel bad for shoving me out of your room earlier, because it wasn't that you didn't know how I am, but what you saw, you were hoping for yourself. And it was kind of a shock to see, to not be able to not see..."
"Uh...huh..." Drum just watched her trailing her fingers in circles on his leg. He noticed she had her eyes closed, her face tilted toward the candlelight giving her an almost ethereal look.
"I knew that you...that...you..." she trailed off, looking up at him. He had to draw in a deep slow breath to keep calm. The way she looked right now...
"That I...felt..." he tried. He couldn't say it either. Oh, how he wanted to, but he just couldn't. He had no idea what to say to make it clear how he felt, what he felt for her.
6th was still, her gaze locked with his, then raised up on her knees, taking his head in her hands, pulling him down slightly to touch foreheads with him.
"Do it. " She whispered. "Take me in. It will be easier for us both."
Drum's hands shook, as he placed them gently on her face. He didn't even have to chant this time, they were already linked. He just closed his eyes and opened his mind to her completely.
She gasped, arching her back, a tremor ripping through her body as the flood of his emotions overwhelmed her.
*Oh Drum,* she thought to him, a single tear rolling down her cheek, *I had no idea!*
*I had no way to tell you. I'm not good with this kind of thing...* he thought back to her. *It's ok the way you are. I don't want you to change. I just want to share in that joy.*
*Until we can control this link, I won't do anything that you wouldn't want to see. Sweet, sweet Drum...* she was crying against him now, his arms around her, holding her.*I had no idea!* they thought together.
Drum pulled back to look at 6th. She still had her eyes closed, her lips trembled slightly as she let the emotions flowing around and through them rip through her soul. Softly, he ran one finger down her cheek, wiping away a tear, then pulled her up to him to kiss her, longer and more deeply than he could have thought possible. He raised one hand up after a moment, to cast a quick spell on the door. Hearing the <snick> of the lock on the door slide into place, he went back to losing himself in this moment.
Lurkingghost -- Sometime later,
Drum was walking about on deck when 'Ghost floated over to him.
"Drum, I think you and 6th should get out of each other's minds. You two are getting so tightly bound I can barely see where one of you leaves off, and the other picks up. It's dangerous, Drum, it's not healthy. Please?"
Sweetiepie Parrot -- Ragnar pulled the longboat away...
from Disney Land, headed for the Classic channel. Sweetiepie flew up and kept pace above the boat for a while. He would have perched on the mast but that was gone. As he flew above the boat, he noticed something coming up from behind.
Like an arrow he flew down and perched on Ragnar's shoulder.
"Hey Rag." the bird said. "When you were here in Disney before, you didn't, by any chance, call yourself Nemo did you?"
"Um, well actually..." Ragnar started but Sweetiepie interrupted him.
"Because..." the little parrot plowed on. "We're being followed by a giant squid!"