Bath time at last?

[Sky]

Phasmatis 17, 1595, mid morning
Naktis Castle, Naktis, Veperian Badlands

Amberly sighed as she walked into the main hall of the castle, instantly heading towards the hall her room is down. She was tired, Loki seemed to want to work her to death over the course of a few days. It was tiring, and she didn't want to run a single more errand that involved traveling through the desert for a herb that he had plenty of. She wanted nothing more than to just sit down in a nice cool bath and relax. The Vedail had avoided Loki today, and now she planned to do just what she wanted, take a bath.

A bath seemed like ancient history to her, it had been days since her last one. Loki hadn't given her time to bath, and she hated that. She was going to hurt him somehow if he didn't let her bathe today.

"Amberly, you can't avoid him forever you know." Kaen spoke as he lighted down on her shoulder. She welcomed the familiar weight of the small sparrow dragon.

"I know Kaen, doesn't mean that I don't deserve to take a bath, and I want one too. Loki hasn't given me a chance to, so I'm going to take this into my own hands."

"Okay, just don't quite understand this decision to avoid him, he is your mentor after all." Amberly sighed and just waved off Kaen, continuing to head towards the hall that her room was down.

[TBG]

[OOC : Been a while since I've roleplayed. Forgive me for sucking. ;) ]

Although he desperately wanted to be doing something other than the dullest part of being a mystic, Loki knew it was a necessary task to make sure he had an adequate stock of the more essential herbs. One glance was more than enough to assure himself that he had plenty of herbs as he had been sending Amberly, his mentee, out on numerous trips to gather herbs for him. Pushing all the work onto her freed up a lot of Loki's time that he would have otherwise spent doing very, very insipid jobs. Naps and “playing” with others now occupied many of his hours and he loved it! Being a mentor was great! It was like having a slave, but not really. All he had to do for today was confirm that his supply was sufficient and he could go right back to . . . Wait. There was something missing.

An entire stash of a herbs had gone missing. Was it misplaced? Loki was sure it was there the other day. Which day? He wasn't entirely sure. The olisthir didn't even know what kind of herb was missing. All he knew was that it was there one day and now it wasn't. 'Dammit,' he thought to himself, 'this is going to cut into my sleeping hours.' As much as Loki wanted to leave it alone for now, he couldn't forget about it. If the herb was suddenly required, it would be because he screwed up. But, did he really have to go through the entire stockpile to see which herb was amiss? The very thought of doing such a mundane task made him groan. Surely there was a way to make this easier.

'Amberly.' Oh, yes! Amberly! She could do it. All Loki had to do was come up with some bullshit reason why it was training her to become a mystic. 'Where would she be right about now?' The first and most obvious place to check would be her room. Loki darted towards the main hall as quick as he could and as luck would have it, there was Amberly. The olisthir hadn't even reached the hallway of her room and he already spotted her! Relieved that he would not have to bore himself to death by spending his precious times in a room filled with plants, a playful grin developed as he yelled, “Amberly! There's something I need you fooor!”

[Sky]

It took a lot to scare Amberly, and she had only been somewhat scared before, but this nearly sent her the twenty feet into the air and through the roof. "Loki! Don't scare me like that! You don't want me to keel over and die from a heart attack do you?!" She was iritated, and it was evident in her voice. All she wanted was a bath, to finally clean all of this filth off of her body. Every time she had tried the past few days Loki never failed to show up and ruin her day.

"Amberly, calm down will you? He just needs you to do something." Kaen was right, she was his apprentice but she didn't want to do anything but bathe, but she had an idea. Only one thing could let her bathe, and that was if she requested a vacation. But would he let her take a week off to visit the capitol.

She could always claim that she was going to go help Holly with that girl Max she had heard was living with her at the moment. Loki wouldn't believe though, he was too smart, and knowing him, would take off to see if this girl was really with the Olisthir in Acerbus Umbra.

"Loki, do you mind if I take a bath first? I haven't had one in a few days and I really need one." She smiled at herself, knowing what she really wanted to do after her bath but knew it wouldn't happen if Loki had a job for her. When was the alst time she had been on a date anyways?

[TBG]

It was somewhat of a surprise to see that Amberly would be frightened by such a silly thing. It was certainly not expected. Loki didn't really pay much attention to her complaints, but it was clear that he was getting on her nerves. The irritation in her voice was quite satisfying. Oh, how he loved to torment her! After a bit of snickering, he heard Kaen say a few words in an attempt to calm her down. 'Yes, yes! It would be best if you listened to the flying lizard!' he thought to himself. The sooner this herb issue was resolved, the sooner Loki could return to his carefree lifestyle. It obviously couldn't be left alone in case of the possible, sudden emergency. How embarrassing it would be if he were caught in a situation without the correct supplies! Not to mention the tremendous guilt he would feel if the incident were to result in death. Now was not the time to be thinking of such bleak possibilities though! It was the time to make this apprentice do the work Loki really didn't want to do himself!

"Loki, do you mind if I take a bath first? I haven't had one in a few days and I really need one."

Loki was hesitant to answer this question. Refusing to let her bathe and allowing her to both came with risks and benefits. He decided it would probably be best if he didn't try to deny her personal hygiene. It would probably be better for the herbs if a clean person handled them, anyway. After a brief sigh, Loki spoke, “Well, I suppose you could use a bath. You are beginning to smell rather awful and I would just absolutely hate it if your odor happened to spread throughout the castle.” He knew very well that such words were not even close to the kindest way to grant Amberly permission to bathe which he made quite clear with the smile on his face. “I'll wait for you . . .” he paused before he could finish the sentence. How would he know if she would actually want to do the job? No doubt she was sick of the work he was forcing onto her. It was definitely some of the most tedious work of being a mystic, which was the whole reason Loki was pushing it all on Amberly. He really, really, really did not want to do any of it. Loki couldn't think of anyone who could possibly enjoy anything that involved herbs! They're plants.

A bit frustrated and worried by the possibility that he may have to do a very uninteresting task, he asked Amberly, “How will I know that you don't run off after your bath, hm?”

[Sky]

Amberly frowned, was that any way to talk to a girl? Especially one that was as pretty as her? She felt like just driving her sword through the mystic right there and now just to shut him up, but then she wouldn't have a mentor. Aria already had one and Rin was too young to have an apprentice right now. The vedial sighed to herself and looked at Loki. Why did the olisthir have to be so difficult with her? She flinched when he mentioned her leaving without staying there to do whatever job it was that needed to get done. Well, she did want to skip out on him but she couldn't now that he brought it up. Now she had to go to him after her bath, even though she wanted to go out today. Maybe if she wore an pretty dress he would change his mind?

"Loki, I wont skip out on you, I'll send Kaen to tell you when I'm done with my bath so that you can escort me to whatever you want me to do. I should be dressed by the time you get to my room, and if not and you don't knock I may knock you silly. Anyone would if they were walked in on only half dressed."

She wasn't lying, Amberly would knock him upside the head if he didn't knock while she was in her room and instead barged in with her half dressed. She would actually like to knock him out, but she figured it would be better to warn him first.

[Ams]

She looked at the parchment paper as she approached the castle, the had the directions to the Naktis Castle from her original home Kokoro Village in Utro. She smiled slightly and pushed on the doors as hard as the small child could manage and walked in.

"H-hello?" The tiny voice traveled through the halls of the castle. She looked around in awe for she had never seen such a beautiful place. Her smile stretched across her face even more. The kalahati started down the halls too see if she could find her destination.

"Helloooooo," she called a little louder hoping that someone could hear her. Then, she saw a man standing there on the outside of a door. She ran up to greet such man hoping he would know anything about where she could find her goal. She tugged on his shirt and looked up at him with her big green eyes all hopeful.

"Hello sir, My Name is Lily Suzuya." The kalahati's small voice chimed with happiness, "I am looking for my half sister, Amberly. Do you know where I might find her?"

[TBG]

'Yes, yes. A midget like her is definitely capable of knocking me silly.' The very idea of someone as short of Amberly knocking him out made Loki giggle for a moment. He simply couldn't picture it. The first few minutes he spent waiting for Amberly felt like half an hour. Were long baths normal for most women? Ugh, he had no idea how he was going to survive the long hour ahead of him. Could he take a nap, or is it possible Amberly would take that opportunity to escape and leave him with the horrible, boring, awful, terrible work of sorting through herbs to find out what the supply was actually missing? Loki lowered his face into his hand, partially covering his face, in frustration. He was trying to make Amberly do this so he could avoid boredom in the first place but he just walked right into one hour of nothing but! He released a sigh and shortly after, felt something softly tugging his shirt.

Looking down, he saw a very little girl who he probably would not have noticed if it weren't for her physical contact. 'Damn, the castle's security must be terrible if such a tiny kid can get in.' Apparently, she was looking for Amberly. Who was her half sister? No, that was impossible. This kid was far too adorable to belong to a woman who threatens to knock her mentor unconscious. Yes, clearly this kid was mistaken. With a very big grin formed on his face, Loki bent down to eye level with Lily and said, “How can someone as adorable as you be related to that?” But, perhaps this surprise visit could get Amberly out of the bath and into the wonderful land of boring plants? Possibly. It's not like she would actually knock him out. . . Right? Hopefully not. Loki stood back up and said, “But, if you really want to see her, I can get her for you, okay?” And so, Loki burst into Amberly's room almost immediately after and announced, “Hey, this little kid claiming to be your half sister is heeere !”

[Sky]

Amberly turned and quickly walked down the hall to her room, stepped inside, and closed the door. She stepped forward and pulled off each separate piece of the armor she wears whenever she has to go long distances and placed them on her bed. She conjured up a stream of water and filled her tub, making sure it's hot once or twice. After she had the tub filled she sighed and motioned for Kaen to go behind a curtain. Despite him being her companion, she didn't really like him watching her whenever she stripped down to change, or on the rare occasion like now, take a bath. The vedial had just finished undressing and was about to step into the tub when Loki barged in.

Her face reddened in a mixture of anger and embarrassment. She instantly grabbed a towel to cover herself up with before turning angrily to Loki. "I thought I told you to knock." She slowly grabbed one of her training swords and approached slowly for a few steps and then broke into a fast run, bringing the wooden sword down hard on his head. "PERVERT!"

Amberly then noticed the girl and blushed again in embarrassment. "I'm sorry you had to see that, he had it coming. If you'll wait a moment for me to change I'll be right out." She smiled at the girl and heaved Loki out of the room, closing the door so that she could have some privacy while she changed, but leaped in the bath tub quickly and jumped back out, drawing the water from her body.

"Why is it that I finally get Loki to let me take a bath and I end up having to do this anyways?" She sighed as she slipped on a somewhat tight fitting flowing dark red dress and twirled momentarily to see herself in her mirror. The vedial smiled at the dress, it looked just as good on her as she had hoped. She opened the door, "Kaen, you can come out now."

The small dragon darted out and landed next to her. Amberly smiled at the girl warmly and knelt down. "Now what can I do for you?"

[Ams]

Lily watched Loki get hit with the wooden sword and the shout of the word Pervert rung in her ears. She squinted her eyes and her tail turned down as she hid against the wall in fear. She looked at Loki wondering if he was alright from the hit on his head. Then, her curiosity kick in.

Lily's fear was suddenly over as she walked over to Loki to see if he was okay. She walked over and knelt by his head, her green and brown dress sunk to her side by the quick motion down. She looked at his head, then proceeded to look at his face making sure he was okay. "Sir?" she poked at his nose. She crawled over to reach his arm and picked it up and let go of it letting his arm falling to the ground again. She giggled then put his arm laying his forearm across his stomach, then did the same with his other arm.

By the time she was done messing around with Loki's limp body her sister had come back over. She smiled as she knelt to her side, 'Now, what can I do for you?' her half sister's voice sounded just like she had imagine. Her smile was just how her parents described it to her. As a matter of fact, everything that they said about her was true, Her auburn hair, her bright amber eyes, and her pale skin. The kalahati couldn't help but smile.

"Amberly," she smiled with her small voice, " I am your sister."

[Sky]

At this Amberly frowned and her eyes widened. "I only have a brother that is three years younger than me, Akio. Are you sure that you have the right Amberly?" She stood slowly and walked back into her room, looking out the window as she tried to sort out what the girl had just told her. I have a sister? Do you think that's true Kaen?

It's possible, you haven't been home in a little over eleven years now.

She knelt and let Kaen climb up onto her arm and turned around, the little dragon on her arm. The vedial then walked over to the girl and looked down at her. "If you are my sister than my dad never told me about you in any of the letters he has sent me over the years. Why would I be finding out now instead of him telling me about you?"

[Ams]

Lily looked at her confused at Amberly was in denial. The kalahati's face didn't look as upbeat anymore. Now that her cheeks weren't turned up, she had more of an "oh" look about her. Her eyes saddened as she looked down to her hands twiddling her thumbs, "I know it is you," she mumbled to herself just barely audible because of the castle halls, "You are just how mommy described you."

Lily continued to look at her fidgeting hands as her emotions built up. She wasn't expecting Amberly to "run away" in confusion. She was hoping for more of a happy reaction...

in her mind, this is how the eleven-year-old thought of it...

"Amberly," she smiled with her small voice, " I am your sister."

Amberly stared at her for a bit with a blank gaze. She was probably was confused, then a smile creeped up on her face and she grabbed Lily into a bear hug. "I can't believe I have another sister!" Lily smiled as her older sister warming hug made her explode with happiness and giggled. "I can't believe after all these years of Mommy telling me about you i was able to see you" Lily said with excitement about her new sibling.

But clearly, that is not what happened. The kalahati looked up to see her half sister turning into the safety of her room. A tear slid down her face. Lily looked back over at Loki to see if he was still okay. She knelt now by his head, examining the spot that Amberly hit. She saw no blood, but instead a fairly big egg. Lily sniffled and wiped what was left of the tear that originally stained her cheek.

Lily heard her sister come back over and she scooted away from Loki's body. Once Amberly approached her she looked at her shoes. "The reason that your father didn't tell you is because he isn't with Mommy anymore. They split not much after you and Akio left home. Not much later, Mommy got with my Dad. So he wouldn't have known about me." She looked up at her half sister her eyes cleared, but still had the blank expression on her face.

[Sky]

Amberly shook her head sadly. "I knew about my dad and mom splitting up, I was still living with them at the time. I'm only twenty-four after all and I didn't start training with Loki until afterwards. I was ten at the time that they split, which was part of the reason why I left at such a young age. I trained under the teachers in the Mage's District of Celestial City and then met Loki, who has been training me more thoroughly ever since...."

The vedial looked off into the distance, sadness in her eyes as she recalled the messy divorce of her parents. She still didn't understand why her mom left, especially with Akio only being seven. She sighed and looked at Kaen, wondering what he was thinking. He had been there for the divorce, for her dad believed in companionship at a young age.

"It was a very messy divorce. I am surprised she hasn't cried yet." Kaen said, hopping lightly from Amberly's shoulder and landing next to Lily. "Amberly had been trying to escape this past, and that was one reason why she is so far from where she was born back in Celestial City."

[Ams]

Lily looked at Amberly with big sympathetic eyes. The bunny had no idea things ended like that much tragedy, her mother rarely had talked about her relationship with Amberly's father. She only talked about the memories that she had of Amberly and Akio. she slid over to her half sister's legs and hugged them for a moment. Her tail stuck out under her dress more that she was at a slight angle to hug Amberly's legs.

Little Lily scooted back and stood up just as the dragon landed on her shoulder. The eleven-year-old girl looked at the small dragon as he spoke, then looked back at her sister to make sure she didn't start crying like he said she normally does. Her eyes grew dull again as she slightly put her head down, "If you are trying to get away from your past..." she faded off for a moment, "I can leave, so I won't remind you of it."

[Sky]

Amberly shook her head and looked down at Lily, forcing a smile on her face. "You don't have to go, I'll be fine. I should get in touch with Akio though and tell him that we have a little sister. He would be more ecstatic then I am right now." She took out a note pad and wrote down a few things in it and looked at Loki and sighed.

"I guess I better make sure he's okay..." She knelt down and examined his head where she had hit him. She smiled when she felt no permanent damage but a welt had formed where she had hit him.

"Maybe that will teach him to burst into our room like that. He has almost caught you with no cloth-."

"Shush Kaen." She stood and sighed, shaking her head at her mentor. "I guess I should wait for him to wake up before telling him I need a bit of time off to go to Celestial City......"