Post by Milla on Nov 12, 2010 9:33:43 GMT 10
Title: Omniglot
Rating: PG
Length: 2625 words
Category: (Tortall)
Summary: It is a puzzle to them both.
Peculiar Pairing: Numair/Tkaa
NOTES: It almost killed me but I finished it. I just got these ideas and I had to work out how to get to there. I think it got weird in the end
Afterwards Numair wonders why he does this. Keeps on doing it. Oh, he has learnt much-they both have and continue to do so. He has even surpassed his original goal. The problem is that this most likely cheating in some form (After some deliberation he had decided it was between emotional and maybe intellectual). He loves Daine, gods he loves her; what bothers him that after each time he does this that ball of guilt seems grow smaller than larger. It shouldn't work like that.
Numair has gotten better at reading the other party involved in this 'project' of theirs. Each head tilt, blink and tail twitch are a sign. He knows Tkaa also wonders why they continue.
It must be some strange fancy for them both.
"Tkaa, I would like study you. As in basilisks in general. For a university paper," Numair said without preamble. He had walked at brisk pace straight from his study to the basilisk's quarters.
"Numair, it is nice to see you as well," Tkaa said mildly, looking up from marking the first years' assignment on centaurs. "So why do you wish to study me? I heard you were currently researching the effects of storing magical energy outside the body."
"Ah, that little project hit a wall so to speak. And went through another one, so I decided to let that one cool off. Anyway I was perusing through my copies of treatises on immortals when I realised that there is no in depth work on basilisks. The dragons have the 'Dragon Codex', the Stormwings have 'The Steel Emotivores' and so forth."
"And this is in comparison to?"
"Very general information at best. And that's if it's correct, the most well know book states that basilisks are born from a toad or snake egg which are hatched by cockerel. Or the other way around, I believe the author could not decide."
Tkaa gave Numair a blank grey stare then sighed, "Cockerels cannot lay eggs can they?"
"Outside divine intervention or magical experimentation? No."
A brief pause then; "When do you wish to start?"
The lights in his mage laboratory are dim now. To be fair actual work had been done that day now it is just him and Tkaa, watching each other. No, studying is more apt. They both study each other trying to gauge the other's mood from non-verbal cues, neither speak at least not yet. The silence has become part of this makeshift ritual.
"I do not think it is a good idea to try and recreate that experience. There is a chance that time was a fluke."
"But on the other hand it would be a great way to study how the stone spell works and it's limits.."
"Numair, I am not going to turn you to stone. If you get trapped I will be known as 'The basilisk who inadvertently killed Numair Salamin' for short time I still live." Tkaa paused and added dryly "And you would not have finished the paper."
After a moment Numair nodded "Perhaps after then."
It was the first day of basilisk research. After the initial delay they started in earnest. "I would like to begin by stating that basilisks hatch from basilisk eggs..."
In the end it is Tkaa that breaks the stalemate. The basilisk's tail brushes along the ground as he closes the distance in two long strides before reaching out and lightly tracing along Numair's jawline with his talons. Numair tilts his head back so he can he can look Tkaa in the eye distantly thinking that Tkaa was one of the few people he actually had to do this for.
Tkaa's gaze is calm (though Numair can recognise the intense fascination that flickers in his eyes momentarily) as he watches the expression on Numair's face for minute changes. Currently his claws have found and press gently at the strong pulse in Numair throat. It quickens.
"I have wondered about immortal bones," Numair says as studies Tkaa's silvery talons. They are deceptively delicate, the mage has seen them cut through rock with ease. "Their appearance suggests silver but they are stronger than steel and have the same weight as a mortal creature of the same build and size."
Numair takes hold of Tkaa's forepaw and looks up-"May I?"-Tkaa assents and Numair's long fingers start to feel along the small bones "Perhaps it is a product of the Divine Realms and there are minerals there with similar qualities?" Numair's fingers work their way up the arm he mentally takes notes of the bone and muscle structure as he continues to theorise about 'living metal'. Engrossed in his analysis he does not see the brief, odd expression appear on Tkaa's face. But it disappears as soon as it appears.
Numair feels a shiver through his body as Tkaa continues his slow patient journey, currently caressing the hollow of his throat. It seems like Tkaa has been mapping every sensitive spot he finds. And knowing him he probably has. The mage reaches out now and strokes the beaded hide, the heat of his body even more apparent against the cool dryness. When he feels a slight tremor below his palms, Numair smiles.
The intense study had gone into the afternoon as Numair tirelessly worked his way up the body noting the physiological details. As Numair had worked his way up Tkaa had lowered his body without comment, neither had spoken for awhile, though occasionally Numair would utter calculations under his breath. When Numair reached up and lightly touched the basilisk's head crest, he was surprised by the reaction.
Tkaa had practically jumped (later he realised the last time he had seen the Basilisk surprised like that was when they had first met) then suddenly placed his forepaws onto Numair's head, claws twisting into his hair. They stood in that strange position; Numair one hand on Tkaa's crest the other on his face, while Tkaa's talons pressed in Numair's hair, his tail occasionally twitching. Their faces were close to level with each other.
"I apologise, you startled me...my head crest is sensitive to touch." Tkaa said eventually "Among my kind it is a sign of affection to touch the other's crest" his eyes glanced at where his paws where and Numair watched as they widened slightly as if the basilisk was unsure they how they got there. When the basilisk continued he sounded-hesitant? Numair couldn't tell, "Especially between potential and actual mates."
Heavy silence.
"Ah-well I guess that is similar to many mortal species as well." Numair blurted out "Avian, reptile, mammals though I'm not sure about insects," neither had moved Numair noticed from what he now saw as a bizarre sort of lover's embrace.
Slowly he lifted his hands away and Tkaa moved his paws. "I think I have collected enough information for now. Why don't we take a break?" Numair says and quickly turns away, trying not to think about how those talons had felt quite nice in his hair.
To stay standing up would have been foolish (They had tried that once and the next day Numair had a cramp in his leg.) Numair sat cross-legged while Tkaa crouched behind him. Tkaa's claws were busily moving around beneath the man's tunic and he had to bite back a laugh as the basilisk found a ticklish spot. This was been a recent development but not exactly unwelcome. Numair eyes shut and he leans back, soon he hears the soft whispery voice right next to his ear.
"Speak."
With his eyes still shut, Numair recalls a dialect he learnt when he still lived in Carthak. It had been the language of a contemporary of the ancient Thak Empire "Ayeru Des-yilal. Kahən-at..."
One thing Numair had learnt from this project was basilisks loved learning new languages.
Numair sat heavily at his desk and busied himself transcribing his observations while he mentally tried rationalising what had happened the previous day. He had been absorbed in his work and accidentally had done something awkward. It had happened before (The cook still wouldn't let him come into the kitchens.) And nothing had actually happened so why was he trying to rationalise something that hadn't happened? Satisfied with his circular logic Numair settled back into work.
"Numair?" the mage in question didn't have to turn around to see who it was. Tkaa stood by the door arms raised in a raised in a very human gesture of supplication "I would like to apologise for earlier. I misread your intentions and acted out of instinct and I did not mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
"Please, don't trouble yourself, I was the one that grabbed at your crest." Numair smiled and relaxed. He had been right it had been a misunderstanding then he sat up straighter "Wait, what do you mean by misread?"
"Your body language. Humans depend on spoken speech so much that their non-verbal communication is extremely subtle. I have spent only a small fraction of my life around humans."
Tkaa moved away from the door and stood beside Numair's chair "I must have misread you, it is quite clear; as a basilisk and a human would be extremely incompatible as mates. So it puzzles me why I interpreted your actions as a courting advance," his last few words were quite snappish. This was unusual for the calm-mannered basilisk so Numair looked up and saw what on anyone else could be seen as mild irritation. On Tkaa this was extreme agitation which changed into something resembling resignation.
"I do not know why this still effects me so. Nor why a mistake has envoked...feelings. I consider you my friend and-" the basilisk cut himself off abruptly and turns on his heel for the door, "Good day to you Numair."
"So, I wasn't the only one who felt odd after that. A relief to say the truth."
Tkaa pauses and Numair continues "It didn't feel bad. Oh, it was confusing. Still is actually," he grins "But now the worst thing we could do is leave this unresolved where it festers then blows up at the most inconvenient moment. Like with those two knights. And besides, we haven't finished our research."
Around a minute later feels a touch on his shoulder. Tkaa moves pretty quietly for someone of his size "We have not yet discussed basilisk mating rituals have we?" Numair turns in his chair to see that Tkaa was half crouching down so he could look him in the eye.
"There are other things involved, such as building a nest and gifts of stone but the most important part are the songs," the basilisk speaks softly and his paw drifts from Numair's shoulder to his exposed lower arm. He lightly touches it, when Numair doesn't move away he begins to absent-mindedly caress the underside with his claws.
"We speak and sing in the languages we learnt from our travels as well as our own tongue. Poetry, endearments, songs- it is all valued. The more eloquent a speaker is as well as the more tongues they know, the more desirable they are." Tkaa inclines his head "When I think of it more, you would be considered highly desirable if you were a basilisk. Perhaps that is an explanation"
"It may be," is all Numair says as he watches the claws sketch random shapes across his skin. "Tell me of the nest building."
Numair has gone through a several dialects. Sometimes Tkaa answers in the same language other times he seems content to listen and draw circles down his spine. Then he hears it. He has heard Dragon-speech before from both Kitten and that time in the Dragonlands. this is similar though higher pitched more- akin to birds of prey, with the underlying sound of pebbles dashing against each other. The original language of the basilisks. He can also so feel it, this close to a speaker- each syllable sends a shiver through his blood and bones.
"Attend, my student," Tkaa says as he moves around so he can face Numair. Numair can understand him, it's what they have been studying all these times. Many of their lessons have in a normal situation but during these particular times Tkaa seems to like leaving them till last. Numair is sure this is because Tkaa likes to see the effect that the basilisk tongue has on him this close. Him breathing heavily and Tkaa finds that fascinating.
Despite this, Tkaa actually does teach going through the various words and grammar rules in both Common and Basilisk. And Numair once a teacher's pet and always a teacher's pet-listens.
"Are you well?" Tkaa asks with a touch of concern. He had been demonstating the Basilisk speech when Numair's breathing had suddenly deepened. Catching his breath Numair looked at him "I could feel it. When you starting speaking I could feel my body react to each note."
"That is strange, I have never heard of anyone being affected like this. And it has not affected you before as I have used rock-spell in your presence which uses an archaic dialect of that speech with no ill effect." Tkaa's expression subtlely changes to what Numair recognises as calculating.
Tkaa moves to the other end of the room, speaks then comes back, leans in close and chirps, clicks and whistles the same phrase as before and observes Numair jumpin his chair then makes his analysis "Interesting, your breathing rate has hastened, the hairs on your skin have raised. Also I believe your pupils have expanded," he concluded by saying "As I speculated, proximity is the key."
Numair shoots him a half-hearted glare "So now we have figured that out this doesn't explain why this is happening-Wait, hah yes. I think I have it!" He rises out of his seat and paces "The rock-spell."
"What of it?"
"It was the first exposure I had to the language as well first time I had broken that sort of spell. There are many accounts of spells and curses leaving traces which have effects further on in time. For example there is the story of the child that reflected a death-curse onto it caster and later on gained powers and memories from the caster. Also-"
Tkaa, who like many people knew how long Numair could keep talking about all the examples he he had read about a particular situation. Normally he didn't mind but he had a pressing question of his own so he interrupted him.
" Numair, are you sure you wish to continue with your plan to learn Basilisk speech? If it has such an effect on you may not want to learn."
In reply Numair smiles and walks up to Tkaa and reaches up and strokes his head crest (This time Tkaa doesn't startle) "I think I we will manage."
The language lesson finally over, a tired Numair stretches out his legs and lies back against Tkaa who proceeds to comb through Numair's hair with his claws. Both are tired, eventually they will get up and go their separate ways but for now they are content to sprawl on the floor.
Presently the basilisk speaks "I have a predicament."
"Hmm?"
"I wish to give you a gift. Traditionally, edible crystals or stones would be given but you do not eat rock. Do you have any preferences?'
Numair yawned "I think both of us passed traditional about 8 weeks ago. That said, no dormice thank you."
Neither Numair or Tkaa know why they continue these trysts ( Even by the standards of Tortall's peculiar court their tryst were pretty peculiar. ) or how exactly they feel. It's strange and complicated and many people could get hurt.
This something different to both of them. And in their own way both want to see how it ends.
Rating: PG
Length: 2625 words
Category: (Tortall)
Summary: It is a puzzle to them both.
Peculiar Pairing: Numair/Tkaa
NOTES: It almost killed me but I finished it. I just got these ideas and I had to work out how to get to there. I think it got weird in the end
Afterwards Numair wonders why he does this. Keeps on doing it. Oh, he has learnt much-they both have and continue to do so. He has even surpassed his original goal. The problem is that this most likely cheating in some form (After some deliberation he had decided it was between emotional and maybe intellectual). He loves Daine, gods he loves her; what bothers him that after each time he does this that ball of guilt seems grow smaller than larger. It shouldn't work like that.
Numair has gotten better at reading the other party involved in this 'project' of theirs. Each head tilt, blink and tail twitch are a sign. He knows Tkaa also wonders why they continue.
It must be some strange fancy for them both.
"Tkaa, I would like study you. As in basilisks in general. For a university paper," Numair said without preamble. He had walked at brisk pace straight from his study to the basilisk's quarters.
"Numair, it is nice to see you as well," Tkaa said mildly, looking up from marking the first years' assignment on centaurs. "So why do you wish to study me? I heard you were currently researching the effects of storing magical energy outside the body."
"Ah, that little project hit a wall so to speak. And went through another one, so I decided to let that one cool off. Anyway I was perusing through my copies of treatises on immortals when I realised that there is no in depth work on basilisks. The dragons have the 'Dragon Codex', the Stormwings have 'The Steel Emotivores' and so forth."
"And this is in comparison to?"
"Very general information at best. And that's if it's correct, the most well know book states that basilisks are born from a toad or snake egg which are hatched by cockerel. Or the other way around, I believe the author could not decide."
Tkaa gave Numair a blank grey stare then sighed, "Cockerels cannot lay eggs can they?"
"Outside divine intervention or magical experimentation? No."
A brief pause then; "When do you wish to start?"
The lights in his mage laboratory are dim now. To be fair actual work had been done that day now it is just him and Tkaa, watching each other. No, studying is more apt. They both study each other trying to gauge the other's mood from non-verbal cues, neither speak at least not yet. The silence has become part of this makeshift ritual.
"I do not think it is a good idea to try and recreate that experience. There is a chance that time was a fluke."
"But on the other hand it would be a great way to study how the stone spell works and it's limits.."
"Numair, I am not going to turn you to stone. If you get trapped I will be known as 'The basilisk who inadvertently killed Numair Salamin' for short time I still live." Tkaa paused and added dryly "And you would not have finished the paper."
After a moment Numair nodded "Perhaps after then."
It was the first day of basilisk research. After the initial delay they started in earnest. "I would like to begin by stating that basilisks hatch from basilisk eggs..."
In the end it is Tkaa that breaks the stalemate. The basilisk's tail brushes along the ground as he closes the distance in two long strides before reaching out and lightly tracing along Numair's jawline with his talons. Numair tilts his head back so he can he can look Tkaa in the eye distantly thinking that Tkaa was one of the few people he actually had to do this for.
Tkaa's gaze is calm (though Numair can recognise the intense fascination that flickers in his eyes momentarily) as he watches the expression on Numair's face for minute changes. Currently his claws have found and press gently at the strong pulse in Numair throat. It quickens.
"I have wondered about immortal bones," Numair says as studies Tkaa's silvery talons. They are deceptively delicate, the mage has seen them cut through rock with ease. "Their appearance suggests silver but they are stronger than steel and have the same weight as a mortal creature of the same build and size."
Numair takes hold of Tkaa's forepaw and looks up-"May I?"-Tkaa assents and Numair's long fingers start to feel along the small bones "Perhaps it is a product of the Divine Realms and there are minerals there with similar qualities?" Numair's fingers work their way up the arm he mentally takes notes of the bone and muscle structure as he continues to theorise about 'living metal'. Engrossed in his analysis he does not see the brief, odd expression appear on Tkaa's face. But it disappears as soon as it appears.
Numair feels a shiver through his body as Tkaa continues his slow patient journey, currently caressing the hollow of his throat. It seems like Tkaa has been mapping every sensitive spot he finds. And knowing him he probably has. The mage reaches out now and strokes the beaded hide, the heat of his body even more apparent against the cool dryness. When he feels a slight tremor below his palms, Numair smiles.
The intense study had gone into the afternoon as Numair tirelessly worked his way up the body noting the physiological details. As Numair had worked his way up Tkaa had lowered his body without comment, neither had spoken for awhile, though occasionally Numair would utter calculations under his breath. When Numair reached up and lightly touched the basilisk's head crest, he was surprised by the reaction.
Tkaa had practically jumped (later he realised the last time he had seen the Basilisk surprised like that was when they had first met) then suddenly placed his forepaws onto Numair's head, claws twisting into his hair. They stood in that strange position; Numair one hand on Tkaa's crest the other on his face, while Tkaa's talons pressed in Numair's hair, his tail occasionally twitching. Their faces were close to level with each other.
"I apologise, you startled me...my head crest is sensitive to touch." Tkaa said eventually "Among my kind it is a sign of affection to touch the other's crest" his eyes glanced at where his paws where and Numair watched as they widened slightly as if the basilisk was unsure they how they got there. When the basilisk continued he sounded-hesitant? Numair couldn't tell, "Especially between potential and actual mates."
Heavy silence.
"Ah-well I guess that is similar to many mortal species as well." Numair blurted out "Avian, reptile, mammals though I'm not sure about insects," neither had moved Numair noticed from what he now saw as a bizarre sort of lover's embrace.
Slowly he lifted his hands away and Tkaa moved his paws. "I think I have collected enough information for now. Why don't we take a break?" Numair says and quickly turns away, trying not to think about how those talons had felt quite nice in his hair.
To stay standing up would have been foolish (They had tried that once and the next day Numair had a cramp in his leg.) Numair sat cross-legged while Tkaa crouched behind him. Tkaa's claws were busily moving around beneath the man's tunic and he had to bite back a laugh as the basilisk found a ticklish spot. This was been a recent development but not exactly unwelcome. Numair eyes shut and he leans back, soon he hears the soft whispery voice right next to his ear.
"Speak."
With his eyes still shut, Numair recalls a dialect he learnt when he still lived in Carthak. It had been the language of a contemporary of the ancient Thak Empire "Ayeru Des-yilal. Kahən-at..."
One thing Numair had learnt from this project was basilisks loved learning new languages.
Numair sat heavily at his desk and busied himself transcribing his observations while he mentally tried rationalising what had happened the previous day. He had been absorbed in his work and accidentally had done something awkward. It had happened before (The cook still wouldn't let him come into the kitchens.) And nothing had actually happened so why was he trying to rationalise something that hadn't happened? Satisfied with his circular logic Numair settled back into work.
"Numair?" the mage in question didn't have to turn around to see who it was. Tkaa stood by the door arms raised in a raised in a very human gesture of supplication "I would like to apologise for earlier. I misread your intentions and acted out of instinct and I did not mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
"Please, don't trouble yourself, I was the one that grabbed at your crest." Numair smiled and relaxed. He had been right it had been a misunderstanding then he sat up straighter "Wait, what do you mean by misread?"
"Your body language. Humans depend on spoken speech so much that their non-verbal communication is extremely subtle. I have spent only a small fraction of my life around humans."
Tkaa moved away from the door and stood beside Numair's chair "I must have misread you, it is quite clear; as a basilisk and a human would be extremely incompatible as mates. So it puzzles me why I interpreted your actions as a courting advance," his last few words were quite snappish. This was unusual for the calm-mannered basilisk so Numair looked up and saw what on anyone else could be seen as mild irritation. On Tkaa this was extreme agitation which changed into something resembling resignation.
"I do not know why this still effects me so. Nor why a mistake has envoked...feelings. I consider you my friend and-" the basilisk cut himself off abruptly and turns on his heel for the door, "Good day to you Numair."
"So, I wasn't the only one who felt odd after that. A relief to say the truth."
Tkaa pauses and Numair continues "It didn't feel bad. Oh, it was confusing. Still is actually," he grins "But now the worst thing we could do is leave this unresolved where it festers then blows up at the most inconvenient moment. Like with those two knights. And besides, we haven't finished our research."
Around a minute later feels a touch on his shoulder. Tkaa moves pretty quietly for someone of his size "We have not yet discussed basilisk mating rituals have we?" Numair turns in his chair to see that Tkaa was half crouching down so he could look him in the eye.
"There are other things involved, such as building a nest and gifts of stone but the most important part are the songs," the basilisk speaks softly and his paw drifts from Numair's shoulder to his exposed lower arm. He lightly touches it, when Numair doesn't move away he begins to absent-mindedly caress the underside with his claws.
"We speak and sing in the languages we learnt from our travels as well as our own tongue. Poetry, endearments, songs- it is all valued. The more eloquent a speaker is as well as the more tongues they know, the more desirable they are." Tkaa inclines his head "When I think of it more, you would be considered highly desirable if you were a basilisk. Perhaps that is an explanation"
"It may be," is all Numair says as he watches the claws sketch random shapes across his skin. "Tell me of the nest building."
Numair has gone through a several dialects. Sometimes Tkaa answers in the same language other times he seems content to listen and draw circles down his spine. Then he hears it. He has heard Dragon-speech before from both Kitten and that time in the Dragonlands. this is similar though higher pitched more- akin to birds of prey, with the underlying sound of pebbles dashing against each other. The original language of the basilisks. He can also so feel it, this close to a speaker- each syllable sends a shiver through his blood and bones.
"Attend, my student," Tkaa says as he moves around so he can face Numair. Numair can understand him, it's what they have been studying all these times. Many of their lessons have in a normal situation but during these particular times Tkaa seems to like leaving them till last. Numair is sure this is because Tkaa likes to see the effect that the basilisk tongue has on him this close. Him breathing heavily and Tkaa finds that fascinating.
Despite this, Tkaa actually does teach going through the various words and grammar rules in both Common and Basilisk. And Numair once a teacher's pet and always a teacher's pet-listens.
"Are you well?" Tkaa asks with a touch of concern. He had been demonstating the Basilisk speech when Numair's breathing had suddenly deepened. Catching his breath Numair looked at him "I could feel it. When you starting speaking I could feel my body react to each note."
"That is strange, I have never heard of anyone being affected like this. And it has not affected you before as I have used rock-spell in your presence which uses an archaic dialect of that speech with no ill effect." Tkaa's expression subtlely changes to what Numair recognises as calculating.
Tkaa moves to the other end of the room, speaks then comes back, leans in close and chirps, clicks and whistles the same phrase as before and observes Numair jumpin his chair then makes his analysis "Interesting, your breathing rate has hastened, the hairs on your skin have raised. Also I believe your pupils have expanded," he concluded by saying "As I speculated, proximity is the key."
Numair shoots him a half-hearted glare "So now we have figured that out this doesn't explain why this is happening-Wait, hah yes. I think I have it!" He rises out of his seat and paces "The rock-spell."
"What of it?"
"It was the first exposure I had to the language as well first time I had broken that sort of spell. There are many accounts of spells and curses leaving traces which have effects further on in time. For example there is the story of the child that reflected a death-curse onto it caster and later on gained powers and memories from the caster. Also-"
Tkaa, who like many people knew how long Numair could keep talking about all the examples he he had read about a particular situation. Normally he didn't mind but he had a pressing question of his own so he interrupted him.
" Numair, are you sure you wish to continue with your plan to learn Basilisk speech? If it has such an effect on you may not want to learn."
In reply Numair smiles and walks up to Tkaa and reaches up and strokes his head crest (This time Tkaa doesn't startle) "I think I we will manage."
The language lesson finally over, a tired Numair stretches out his legs and lies back against Tkaa who proceeds to comb through Numair's hair with his claws. Both are tired, eventually they will get up and go their separate ways but for now they are content to sprawl on the floor.
Presently the basilisk speaks "I have a predicament."
"Hmm?"
"I wish to give you a gift. Traditionally, edible crystals or stones would be given but you do not eat rock. Do you have any preferences?'
Numair yawned "I think both of us passed traditional about 8 weeks ago. That said, no dormice thank you."
Neither Numair or Tkaa know why they continue these trysts ( Even by the standards of Tortall's peculiar court their tryst were pretty peculiar. ) or how exactly they feel. It's strange and complicated and many people could get hurt.
This something different to both of them. And in their own way both want to see how it ends.