A Dash of Chipmunk (open)

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Mr. Kar? Ok that was one he hadn't had been expecting. And then she objected to being an infant, calling herself a teenager. She acted almost like a human, it was odd. Must have been a result from exposure to human society when she was so young and impressible. Though he was hardly one to talk about that.

"What do ah teach?" Karmine said, a little concerned. How would he say that in a way to keep the girl from turning her opinion of him?

"I teach people how ta defend emselves. It can be dangerous out there, so it helps ta know how to defend yaself and other people. After all, a prince has ta be able ta defend his lady."

He shrugged. "Ave had a while ta practice, so ahm gonna pass it on ta the younger ones, they could use tha help it'd seem. Ahv had a few good students, a girl name Kirien stands out, and the current head o Caven house, or as I call em, Kennedy, his girlfriend Angie was another story all tagether, hopeless case that one. I got the younger Cavan, Morgan, now, and I even taught the Scottish lass Raelena a little somethin or other, granted she seemd ta know more then enough 'fore stepping inta class."

He held out his fingers, as if counting. "An now I got a dragon, a shy girl who seems like she'll be Angie all oer again, and a young bookworm demon. Also a flashy red haired punk among em. Looks like it's gonna be ah interesting year."

[Kiri Honeywater]

Taught others how to defend themselves, sounded like an old teacher she once had. But her fairy godfather sounded much nicer than that old teacher.

"I'm not very good at the defending part, but I do fly really fast!" She perked up startling the young fawn awake for the second time. This time the fawn gave Kiri a not so happy look then shakily got to its feet and walked a bit away. Finding a nice soft spot on the grass she laid down her head curled away from the hyper girl.

Does everyone know Kennedy? He's so popular! Trying to remember any of the other people he listed off, or descirbed none really connected. The bookworm made her think of Locke, but he wasn't a demon.

"Wow, that sounds exciting. You get to meet to many interesting people in your job." It sounded like a fun job too, teaching other people with new and unique personalities. "I bet I'd be a worst fighter than this Angie girl you talk about."

For some odd reason Kiri wasn't connecting Angie to Angela and was wondering if Kennedy had gotten a new girl friend. She hoped he was okay, and wondered why the coupel had broken up.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Karmine smirked. "Worse then Angela? Hah, I dun think it possible. Tha girl up and cowered at not more than a floating twig. " He then heard Kiri's remark about flying and a devilish grin formed.

"Oh? Well then would tha lady be interested in goin for ah spin around tha Academy? It's good ta get ya wings stretched every now an again." He said, spreading his again for emphasis.

"Personalities are more common then ya'd think. People may act differently, but deep down they are very much da same. Even the meanest face on the outside." He said looking over at the forest edge with a grin. "Hides tha same thing on tha inside. We're all very similar that way, ya know?"

[Kiri Honeywater]

She giggled at the idea of someone being afraid of a floating stick shaking her head at such a silly thought. At his suggestion to go for a fly she looked to her animals who urged her to go have fun. Standing she readied her own wings with a bright smile.

"Sure! I don't know if I'm as fast as you...but I can try to keep up!" Her wings fluttered a bit lifting her slightly into the air. It had been such a long time that she'd flown with someone that she was a bit nervous.

"I don't know some people I've met are so different from me I can't see how we're the same at all." She shrugged flittering from side to side. "But you're more experienced in different people than I am."

Kiri wanted to make sure she respected her elder.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"Well." Karmine began, flying closer and poking her nose. "Ya may be all cute an friendly on tha outside. But inside ya have fear, indecision, jealousy, love, humor, all those little things. Everyones got em, somtimes they jus bury em pretty far down in there, tha fun is findin em."

He flew back a bit and flew a bit higher into the air. "But enough wit all tha seriousness! S'time to fly fer a bit! Catch me if'ya can!" He declared, taking off towards the Academy at far slower then top speed, he'd make this fun for her.

After all, this was probably one of the first times she'd seen her own kind in a long time, so he could take time out of his oh so busy immortal life to play with her.

[Kiri Honeywater]

No, her mask was gone now! She wasn't hiding anymore. Her life was happy now, there wasn't a need to hide behind false smiles anymore. Sure she still got unhappy now and then but it wasn't like before. No more heavy loneliness. It was better now.

"I'm not sad. Nope, not anymore!" Kiri giggled her face squinting at the nose poke. If he'd been a peer she would've said something about treating her like a kid, but he was an elder. He was allowed to treat her like a kid because to him she was one.

"I'm ready!" He flew off and she followed as fast as her yellow and black wings could take her. If he kicked it to full gear no way would she catch up but for one so young, so small she had some speed behind her. The first time to fly since her mother she almost cried she was so happy. She'd found... a friend.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Karmine turned around, flying backwards, to watch the girl. She was quite adept at it, that's good. A fast learner he supposed. "Whoa there, ya got tha hang o this already? Well then, let's go give tha sky a little kiss, eh?" He said, shooting upwards.

He kept his speed low so he could fall back if she had trouble, but he kept rising into the sky. Soon enough the lake would be a puddle under them, and the whole academy would be tiny. At last he stopped, satisfied with the high, assuming of course there were no complications with Kiri's flight.

"Now ain't that a breathtakin view..." He said, looking down over the grounds. "Ya ever been this high up a'fore little one?"

[Kiri Honeywater]

Kiri giggled and waved as he flew backwards. Some might take that as him taunting her but she knew she wasn't the fastest flyer around. So instead she took a deep breath and forced her wings to buzz faster.

Up, and up he went like a rocket to the moon. She was having a slightly hard time at this speed going to this height. One thing she knew for sure and that was she did not want to look down. Kiri didn't have a fear of heights per se it was just this was really high.

"I'm...It's...kinda...hard...to...breathe." She gasped as she finally reached him her head light, and her wings tired. The young fae shook her head at his question, never having ever flown this high. Afraid to look down, but wanting to see the world from this point of view she turned her head down with her eyes closed.

This would be a great drawing. You could share this with Locke if you just opened your eyes.

Kiri slowly opened her eyes taking in her world at a much smaller scale. It was breathtaking, amazing and...she wavered in the air. Her stomach dropping to her toes. So very high. She loved flying, basically loved heights, but this was an extreme. The world started swirling together and she clapped her hands over her eyes.

"I don't feel so good, Mr. Kar." She mumbled trying her best to take deep even breaths. "Can we go down a bit?"

It was apparent that she would have to work up to this height if she were to ever to decide to go this high again.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Karmine definitely did realize that Kiri was having trouble, and when her eyes closed and her wings slowed he saw the danger signs. Too much, too fast. She probably couldn't even safely descend like that. Before she had a chance to react Karmine swooped down and grabbed her up bridal style, one arm under her knees and the other behind her lower back.

"Whoa now lady, bit too much fer ya ey? Ok, we'll go down a bit fer now." And he started a slow descent. Last thing she needed was to be sick on her first flight, that would only traumatize the young girl. "Ya impress me though, not many younguns can fly tha well on ther firs big trip. I was 'spectin ta lose ya 'bout five hundred feet back."

He continued the descent until he touched down on one of the roof top balconies, that allowed for people to reach the top areas of the school. It was more like a large patio then a balcony.

"Ya feeling ok now? Well 'nof to stand?" He asked concerned. Perhaps it WAS a bit too much for the young girl, but he thought she'd stop when she was tired.

Instead she just flew right through it. A streak of determination that was quite admirable.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Being scooped up like that almost had her tossing her meal of the day. So with one hand over her eyes and one hand over her mouth she waited until she felt the pressure change. Slowly she removed her hands taking deep calming breaths.

"Sorry, I just thought if you flew that high. I should fly that high." Kiri partly hadn't even felt anything until it was too late. Flying too fast and all. She had also been determined to get to him no matter how her wings ached. Being a fae meant more to her than some people. It was who she was, who her mother was. Something she couldn't and wouldn't ignore. So she wanted to enjoy it. All of it, including the flying.

"I think I can stand. Thank you, Mr. Kar." Slipping her feet down to the ground she wobbled a bit. "Whoo, I haven't flown that high before."

Kiri smiled up at him then took a small step back. "Mom would be so proud."

"She always insisted that I keep up on my flying." She found the academy wall and leaned against it still trying to regain her composure. That had taken nearly all of her energy and she shook a bit from the intense height.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Karmine smiled at the girl and then sat down on the roof, gesturing to her to do the same as he dug around in his coat.

"Never fails..." He muttered. "Can't find it when ya need it." And then he produced what looked like an old wineskin, he hoped Kiri didn't mind the fact that it was clearly made of animal hide. He had his flask for drinking, but he always did carry water with him. It was better then alcohol after you had worked out, and of course children could not drink. He passed it to her.

"Here, have a drink, it'll help ya recover afta that. An I gotta say I'm impressed with ya, that was some impressive flyin there. Ya mother must be proud of ye, afta all, all mothers want ta see there children be happy, successful and with special people. Sounds ta me like ya nailed all three at such a young age." He said with a grin. "Good fer ya. Now we've earned ourselves a little break." Karmine said wiping a bead of sweat off his brow. In truth he had not flown that high in a very long time, he'd have to get back into that.

"Family...can be hard ta live up to. Trust me, I know that one from experience. But, ya gotta remember, ya family loves ya know matter who ya are. It's just what a family is. Don't feel ya gotta do it just cause o' ya mom. I'm sure ya mom wants ya to be happy, an not kill yerself to impress 'er." He said, smiling at the young girl. "Afta all, work too hard an ya won't have any time fer fun. An we wouldn't want one like ya to loose that."

[Kiri Honeywater]

"I'm not successful, just lucky." Kiri grinned and took the offered animal skin. It made her frown but after smelling the opening she took a drink. After finding it to be nothing but water she took another drink and handed it back to him. "Thank you."

"My...I don't know if my mother is proud of me. I haven't seen her in about two years." The young fae said this with a smile as she sat down next to him. Thinking on his words she hoped that her mother was proud of her and happy with how Kiri had managed through these two years without family.

She pushed her bright smile as usual while staring off at the horizon. Her life was almost perfect at the moment, but her mother would want her to be happy.

"Family? Do you have a big family?" Kiri turned her gaze to the nice man beside her bringing her knees up tight to her chest.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"Two years eh?" To Karmine that was the blink of an eye, but it was 1/8th of Kiri's life, a very long time. "She raised a beautiful, happy and wonderful daughter, what mother could need any more?" He asked her, re stowing the skin under his coat.

He then pondered the answer to her question. "Family? We'll for tha longest time was just me an mah sis. But we don't get along too well, so we keep our distance. She's pretty strict, all bout the rules and stuff, and I dun think ya realized, but I'm not like that at'all. But we're family ya know? The only family we got, so we watch out for each other. It's just how ya gotta do it. But now, no now I have a little goddaughter here." He said wrapping his arm around the girl and giving her a soft squeeze. "So both our families jus got a little bigger eh? How about that?"

This girl looked like she needed a family. A father figure at least would help.

Ugh, but that meant that he had to start being a good example, rough. He'd been forced to act like an adult a few times, and it was a nice change now and again.

Oh well, it was always worth it.

[Kiri Honeywater]

She gave him another bright smile for his compliments. Such a nice man. Yes, she was very lucky. Maybe that was a gift her mother had given her. Luck was something not everyone had, but she seemed to find a lot of luck as of late. First Locke, and not finding another friend. She hugged her legs and giggled silently thanking her mom for sending her luck.

"Mom gave me lots of things. I just hope wherever she is that she's found happiness just like I have." Her hair stirred a bit in the wind as he spoke of his sister. It made her giggle picturing this relaxed soul up against someone so strict sounding.

"Family is good even if you don't get along. At least you'll never be quite alone with family." Goddaughter. Kiri laughed a big loving her arm to hug him back. It might not be by blood but she now had a godfather and a big brother. Her family was indeed growing. "Family."

Whispering she smiled her eyes lifting to the sky. Somewhere her mother knew her daughter was happy. Just like she knew somewhere her mother was happy.