Ixia Larkspur

*CheeseWedge
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am

Posted by *CheeseWedge »




Name: Ixia Larkspur ( Ixi, Red, Pixie, Ixapotamus )
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Age: 20 years

Height: 5’ 2”
Weight: 110 lbs.
Appearance: Ixia is a petite and relatively pretty girl, often found with her little nose either high in the air, or deep in a book. She has fiery red hair - streaked with natural gold and bronze - that reaches her mid-back, framing a porcelain face used to a lack of sunshine. Her large, almond-shaped eyes are bright and mischievous, deep stormy blue in color. Her smooth, slightly rounded face ends with a distinguished, strong chin just below plush and pink lips, well-known for protruding into a pout whenever she is in one of her moods.

Personality: “I may be a bitch, but that doesn’t make me a bad person.”

Ixia, almost always, will come off as a snobby little brat. Sheltered and probably spoiled with material goods throughout her childhood, she is used to getting what she wants, when she wants it, and is likely to get huffy when this does not happen. She thinks highly of her own intelligence, and though she is rather gifted, often overestimates her own ability. Lack of ability, however, will not stop her from mouthing off and pushing at anyone who insults her or gets on her nerves. Her personality is fiery and impish, bordering on wild. She often becomes bored very easily, and is always eager to explore new places and get herself into trouble.

Yes, she sounds like a nightmare.

However, it would frequently surprise someone to learn that Ixia is often a girl with her heart in the right place. Though she can be skeptical of people and their intentions, she would almost never sit back and watch anyone be hurt, even if it means throwing herself into something bigger than she can handle. Though it is easy to rub her the wrong way, over and over again she fails to pass petty judgments and is usually more than willing to forgive if a person is willing to deserve it.

Origins: Though she stubbornly refused to elaborate on which plane she originated from, Ixia has often spoken of her parents and home. Her father is a rather wealthy and reputable merchant, married to her mother for her beauty and intelligence. She was raised sheltered and pampered, and was educated from an early age at her motherÂ’s request. With the hopes of marrying her into nobility, IxiaÂ’s mother put her through hours a day of several tutors; learning letters, dancing, etiquette, and all the formalities of the high class world. Though her mother did not much care for IxiaÂ’s interest in the Arcane, her father stepped in and at least gifted her with a mentor, to fill the hours her mother wasnÂ’t parading her around.

Her arrival in Sigil, it appears, was the foggy result of Ixia’s insatiable curiosity and “playing around” with her mentor’s belongings when he was not around. Oops.

*Drawing done by me, CheeseWedge.
*CheeseWedge
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am

Posted by *CheeseWedge »


Ixia, Unamused



"Ixia, would you please stop making that face?"

The primped up little redhead continued to scowl, looking thoroughly uncomfortable laced up in a ribbon and pearl gown. She was unhappy. Her makeup was on too heavy, her hair was pulled too tight, and she swore her breasts were pushed so high they were close to touching her chin.

"Please, Ixia?" The words were meant to be pleasant and polite, but coming out of Mrs. Larkspur's mouth, they were sharp and filled with warning. She gestured to the frowning man who sat behind an easle with a half-painted canvas. "Smile and let the good man paint you."

"Why?" Ixia huffed, feeling very indignant about the whole thing. "Because some perverted high-up wanted his very own painting of me?"

"Ixia!" The older woman hissed. "You will not speak of any kind gentleman willing to take time out of his day for you like that."

"If he didn't have any money or power, you wouldn't care..." Ixia muttered sourly, slouching in the plush red chair she'd been sat on for this ridiculous session.

"Sit up straight, Ixia," Mrs. Larkspur commanded, dismissing her daughter's comment with a wave of her hand...




*Drawing is done by me, CheeseWedge.
*Photo for referrence by faestock
*CheeseWedge
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am

Posted by *CheeseWedge »


“Daddy, one of my horses got away!” The little redhead squealed in despair as she burst into the wealthy merchant’s study. She was dressed in a simple white sundress and her hair was pinned up in one of those ridiculously tight fashions, but it was windswept and falling down. “That stupid old man left the gate open and Gandalad got away!”

The man standing behind his desk was well dressed, with short chopped salt and pepper hair and a harsh, square face. He was not alone. Several other gentlemen, quite a few dressed in heavy robes, stared blankly at the small, disheveled girl who had just burst in on their meeting. Estwid Larkspur did not look amused at the intrusion.

“Ixia, can you not see I am busy?” He snapped, curling his hands into fists upon his desk.

“But Gandalad, Daddy, he’s going to get away!” She cried, looking to the other men in the room to see if perhaps one of them cared enough to help.

“I don’t have time for this. You have plenty of other horses, Ixia!”

“Gandalad is my favorite!” The girl pleaded. Her hands gripped at her dress , tears beading in her stormy blue eyes. She stood alone at her end of the study, a strange and forlorn sight amidst the tidy and exquisite décor.

“Get a new favorite, Ixia.” Estwid growled, his fists tightening. “And get out of my study!”

The men around the desk had started to murmur amongst themselves, casting the young Ixia odd glances. A few were sympathetic to her plight, but most were sneering and condescending. Some were even as angry as Estwid that business had been brought to a halt because of a lost pet.

“No, Daddy!” The redhead’s voice raised in pitch and those tears spilled over, rolling down her cheeks. Even with the tears, however, in usual Ixia fashion, her expression was that of anger and determination. “I love Gandalad! He’s my favorite! Please!”

“Out. Now. And don’t you dare misbehave like this in front of my associates.”

His deadly tone gave Ixia pause, where she just gripped at her dress and tugged it. Then she lifted her chin into the air and stomped her little foot. “My horse, Daddy!”

“Leonard, take care of her.” Estwid muttered to one of the robe-clad wizards at his side. And that was that. He picked up the documents they had been discussing off the desk, and began reading again as Leonard approached the girl with the tear-stained cheeks.

Her watery eyes widened and she gasped, taking a step back from the wizard. “N-no! Please, don’t!” She wailed in a panicked tone, but Estwid’s wizard did not care for the girl’s pleas. The uttering of arcane words, a hand reaching out to touch the frightened girl’s forehead.

And she was stone.

The child statue was removed from the study, and business continued as usual.
*CheeseWedge
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am

Posted by *CheeseWedge »


All thatÂ’s paved and lays before us,
and itÂ’s all weÂ’ll ever see.

(Soft swear,
this isnÂ’t what I wanted.)
My language on the verge of sleep.

(Soft swear,
this isnÂ’t what I wanted.)
Concrete waves crashed over me

(Soft swear,
this isnÂ’t what I wanted.)
and weÂ’re allowed to want more than we need.

WeÂ’re doing well for you (IÂ’m doing well for us)
and IÂ’ll show you promise
without integrity.

Because youÂ’re only the Thunder, not the lightening.

(Soft swear,
this isnÂ’t what I wanted.)
Living in our minds can be so frightening

(Soft swear,
this isnÂ’t what I wanted.)
when we rant and rave of your confusing tidings.

(Soft swear,
this isnÂ’t what I wanted.)
WeÂ’re butterflies in the sun with snowflake wings.

I canÂ’t do this for myself (you canÂ’t do this for me)
YouÂ’re not embracing our existence,
youÂ’re playing with the mess of things.

So IÂ’m going to pack my heart in bubble wrap

(Soft swear,
this isnÂ’t what I wanted.)
and leave you grinning, willingly entrapped.

(Soft swear,
this isnÂ’t what I wanted.)
IÂ’ll leave blessings and band-aids with all your crap.

(Soft swear,
this isnÂ’t what I wanted.)
I bandaged my wings in bubble-wrap.

Soft swear,
this isnÂ’t what I wanted,
so IÂ’ll break my own heart first.
Soft swear,
my soul is my own, Thunder,
melting wings wont soothe your thirst.

(Soft swear,
this isnÂ’t what I wanted.)

Soft swear,
soft swear,
swear softly for us.
*CheeseWedge
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am

Posted by *CheeseWedge »


The lisianthus flower, in purple ---

“Lisi, come look at this!” Young Ixia’s voice was bright and delighted. She ran into the small parlor where a younger girl with mousy brown hair practiced her piano, the keys tinkling hesitantly under fingers not yet skilled at using them. She looked to the excited redhead, blinking a couple of times before parting her lips to speak.

“… What is it, Ixi? Did you do something you shouldn’t have…?” Her tone was unsure, but underlying that uncertainty was the same excitement - curiosity at what her older sister had found.

“No, no! I mean, I did something, but I can’t get into trouble for it,” Ixia assured, giving a little laugh at her baby sister’s usual suspicions.

Lisianthus’ eyes rolled down to her sister’s boots. They had been a fine, bleached-white leather with delicate lacy ribbons holding them tied. Now they were caked in mud and muck. “… You’ve been playing outside in your nice shoes.”

“I know, that’s beside the point. I’ll clean them later. Come on!” Ixia gestured impatiently.

“… Before mom sees?”

“Yes, before mom sees!” And the redhead was out the door. Lisianthus had to hurriedly close the piano and scramble off her bench to catch up. Even once outside, the redhead shot forward across the gardens towards the pond, contrasting her little sister who stepped carefully to avoid her boots meeting the same, mucky fate.

“Ixia, slow down!” Lisianthus’ childish voice pleaded, but Ixia had already ducked down at the far edge of the pond.

“Over here, quick!” Ixia pointed at something amongst the pond grass and weeds, grinning widely and with more than a bit of pride. Lisianthus quickly shuffled over to take a look, all too intrigued with whatever had excited her sister. Crouching down at the redhead’s side, she squinted into the tall grass.

“… It’s pink!” The mousy-haired girl all of a sudden cried out, and burst into a short fit of giggles. “It’s gross!”

“But it’s pink!” Ixia joined in with the giggling, as she poked a stick at the very pink frog. The amphibian did not look too happy with its new color. “Look, look! I think I can do it again. Wanna see, Lisi?” Without waiting for her answer, the redhead was already scrambling to grab a new frog. The animal gave a very disgruntled croak, but didn’t struggle too much. Ixia offered it to her sister. “Hold it, quick.”

Lisianthus wrinkled her nose up, but she was still giggling and still highly amused by her older sisterÂ’s antics, and obeyed her. Her tiny hands enclosed on the frog to hold it still as Ixia fumbled with what appeared to be a bit of fleece torn from a shoe.

“Okay, now watch…” The magelet’s tone turned conspiratorial and she grinned at her baby sister as she scooted in to show her just what she had done to the other unfortunate amphibian.

Their peels of laughter could be heard throughout the gardens, and all the way back to the house. For the most part, servants and gardeners would ignore the usual antics of the young siblings. And they would not say a word when one of the girls ended up waist-deep in the pond. Eventually, someone would be sent out for them, and one of them (usually Ixia) would get into trouble. But for the time beingÂ… they giggled and played.

And turned frogs into all sorts of unnatural colors.

.
*CheeseWedge
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am

Posted by *CheeseWedge »


We're all just a little paranoid,
a little shocked, a little void,
a little aware, a little dreary.
We are all just a little weary.

We're all just a little scared,
a little doubtful, unprepared.
Who is it that they plan to desert?
We are all just a little hurt.

An eye for an eye and we're still not satisfied -
clawing the wound, though we really did try.
Dying inside, can you relate to this fate?
Falling to pieces, but standing up straight?

We're all just a little forsaken,
a little alone, a little shaken,
a little old, a little new.
We are all just a little untrue.

An eye for an eye and we're still not satisfied -
clawing the wound, though we really did try.
Dying inside, you must know of this fate.
Falling to pieces, but standing up straight?

We're all just a little tired,
a little down, a little expired,
a little hard, a little cold -

Just promise me it's not growing old.
*CheeseWedge
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am

Posted by *CheeseWedge »


Weylin the Stable Boy

A large, dark bay horse antsed about in place, the ropes tied to his halter holding him in the little nook between stalls. A sandy-blonde boy in his early teens brushed him down with a metal wire curry comb, as a certain happily talkative redhead combed out his thick, wiry tail. Though she was only a year or two younger than the lanky stable boy, he still towered over her by at least a foot. But Ixia had grown into her usual demanding presence, and by the way she held herself, one could swear she thought herself twice his height.

Not to say she felt herself any better than the boy, but it was in her nature to hold herself high. And perhaps overcompensate when her shortcomings became so blatantly obvious. Weylin had come to understand this over the years of caring for IxiaÂ’s many, many horses and being one of the girlÂ’s only friends, and he did not mind.

“Don’t go yankin’ his tail out, Lady,” Weylin chided, his tone light and teasing. He knew exactly the sort of response he would get from the young redhead.

“I’m not yanking his tail out!” Her voice was high and indignant. “I’ve done this before, and you know it!”

“Yeah, yeah,” the boy snickered. “And I always hafta soothe the poor beasts afterwards, an’ tell them they still look pretty with their frazzled li’l tails.”

Ixia peered around the flank of the large horse to scowl at Weylin, her lower lip protruding out in its usual pout. Giving him what she considered a healthy dose of her wrathful gaze, she huffed and went back to brushing. Weylin found this just as humorous as always, and continued to chuckle at the poor girl as he worked.

“You’re still just jealous that Aithne will listen to me, and not you,” came the girl’s gloating tone after several moments.

“Hah!” Weylin barked. He set down his curry comb and circled around the horse to where Ixia stood. “I’m not jealous. That’s t’ be expected.” His grin widened into something devious. “She’s a li’l bitch of a mare. Kinda reminds me offa certain redhead I know.”

Ixia gasped, swirling around to face the boy. “Weylin Stable-boy Pritchard!” She shrieked, chucking the comb she had been using at the boy. He flinched at the projectile and laughed, dancing away from her.

“I didn’ know stable-boy was in my name, Lady!”

“Like I would know your middle name, or if you even have one! I wouldn’t care enough to find out,” she sniffed, lifting her little nose into the air.

“Tha’s not true,” Weylin wagged a finger at her, inching towards the stable door. “I may just have one, and you’re gonna wanna know now, Miss Curious. Not gonna find out, though!” And he was out the door, his lanky legs pulling him to a sprint across the meadow.

“Weylin!“ Ixia shrieked again. After a second of battling with her own pride, she untied the horse they had been grooming, kicked over the mounting block, and swiftly threw herself up onto the horse. With a firm nudge to its side, the equine darted out the door, following the boy. “I am so going to tell Aithne to stomp on your toes!”

.
*CheeseWedge
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am

Posted by *CheeseWedge »


Weylin the Stable Boy, Part II

“I know you don’t care much about what sort of trouble your daughters get into…” Amaranth Larkspur spoke in an even tone to her husband one evening. “But at least think about your image and your name should something like this carry on…”

“The Pritchard boy has been our stable boy for years, Amaranth.” The gruff tone replied. The man was distracted, his focus almost entirely upon the paperwork on his desk. One of few men who could truly multi-task, however, he had no trouble keeping a lazy conversation with his wife. “I don’t see any trouble.”

“Not yet,” Amaranth sighed. She stood on the opposite side of the large wooden desk, tapping her fingertips on the edge of it impatiently. “but Ixia is coming of age. She’ll be a young lady soon. And we all know how young men are, especially the lower class, uneducated ones. She’s curious and… unruly enough to fall into his grubby hands should he make an effort.”

“You’re worried the stable boy is going to make a move on daughter…” Estwid’s tone was flat, uninterested.

“Yes,” Amaranth responded with exasperation. “Don’t you see how detrimental that could be? Your daughter rolling around in the hay with some dirty, moronic peasant?”

Estwid did finally put down his pen to lift his eyes and regard his wife.

“What if she were to fall pregnant? I honestly doubt we could hide that for long!” Amaranth ranted. The frazzled looking woman blew at a strand of silver-streaked red hair that had fallen into her face. “Even if you don’t worry much for your proper standing with the nobility, this would still be an embarassment and a detriment to your name and respect amongst your colleagues, Estwid.”

Estwid was silent a moment. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared thoughtfully at his stressed out wife. Amaranth was relieved he was at least taking the time to think the situation over.

“And what would you have me do to prevent this?” He spoke after a long moment.

“Well, get rid of the boy, of course!” Amaranth gestured her arms out sharply, as though this solution were the obvious one.

“We need a stable boy, Amaranth,” Estwid’s voice was low and calm. “And it would be another boy, or a man. You won’t find many women working that job.”

“Then hire a eunuch,” his wife’s hand slapped upon the desktop. She was going to throw another fit, right there, if a solution wasn’t made. Amaranth’s temperamental, half-insane fits were not a pretty thing to behold. But at her suggestion, an idea came to Estwid’s mind. It would never be said that Estwid could not think up creative solutions for just about any situation.

“No… I think I’ve a far better way to handle this…” A glint of dark mischief lit up the eye of Ixia Larkspur’s father.

.
*CheeseWedge
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am

Posted by *CheeseWedge »


There is nothing left to say
but that I loved you first.

There was no other way,
was nobody else.
It just simply
had to be
me.

And really - secretly,
and despite my worst,
with pained sincerity
I pray

that you wonÂ’t dwell on me
and my misery
needlessly.

*CheeseWedge
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am

Posted by *CheeseWedge »


Weylin the Stable Boy, Part III

Ixia awoke to screaming in the dark of the night. It was warm and she had left her window open, and though the stables were still a distance away, she could hear clearly the hoarse and pained shrieks of a familiar, young male voice carrying through the cracked window. With a startled gasp, she flopped out of her plush bed and threw the window open fully, sticking her head out and squinting to adjust to the dark. Indeed, though it was well past midnight, there was light coming from the stables. And that screaming.

The redhead didnÂ’t even bother getting dressed. In her thin, draping nightgown she darted out the door and sprinted down the hall, following several staircases down as her bare feet slapped frantically on the hard, marble floor. The house guards didnÂ’t even have a chance to stop her, though they were used to her odd behavior and tendencies to take off at any moment.

Outside, and momentarily grateful that her father insisted on mounted patrols around the perimeter of the estate, Ixia dashed to one of the free charges as its armed rider was in the midst of switching mounts. The armed part did not give her hesitation as she swung herself up onto the weary horse, as the guards were forbidden from using force on the daughters without permission. All the startled man could do was shout at her, and release the horseÂ’s reigns as Ixia abruptly jerked the horse away or risk possibly losing an arm.

Even though the beast was tired from the nightÂ’s patrol, it carried the young redhead swiftly to the stables and towards the sound of the anguished shrieking. IxiaÂ’s heart thudded painfully in her chest as her mind raced alongside the horse through all the possible things that could have gone wrong to have her charming stable boy and best friend screaming so.

“Ixia Rhiannon Larkspur!” A familiar and shrill voice shrieked. Her mother? The horse hadn’t even come yet to a halt as Ixia threw herself off of it and made for the stable door, but that voice brought her to a panicked halt. “What are you doing out here at this time of night! You aren’t even dressed!”

Did she not hear the screaming? “M-mother!” Ixia was breathless from her ride, and frightened for her friend. “What’s going on? Where’s Weylin!”

“He is inside having a chat with your father,” Amaranth’s voice was sneering as she approached her pale and alarmed daughter. “Now go back to the house.”

“A chat?” Ixia’s squeaked incredulously. “He’s screaming. What is he doing to him?”

Even in the dark of the night, Ixia could spot that sadistically amused spark of pure crazy in her mother’s eye. “He is removing a problem. A small problem,” Ixia could have sworn there was hidden mirth in her mother’s voice. “He’ll survive, and he won’t miss it much. Though I do hope he had no plans for children in the future.”

It didn’t take much thought on that for Ixia to draw the correct conclusion, and the girl sucked in a horrified gasp as her eyes widened. “Weylin!” She cried out, turning for the stable door, but her mother’s hand on her arm jerked her to a stop. “He’s not some horse you can geld! He is a sentient human being! Why are you doing this?!”

“He lives with the horses, he sleeps with the horses, he spends all his time with the horses,” Amaranth Larkspur hissed, “He even almost talks with the horses. He might as well be a horse. And like an ill-bred horse, we are removing unwanted genes from the pool before he corrupts it.” As Ixia gave a strangled and distraught sound and tried to pull away from her again, Amaranth added, “And Weylin chose this for himself.”

That gave Ixia pause, but only so that she could whip around to face her mother with a dangerous and outraged glare. “And what choice did you offer him?”

“He could either lose his job, or keep it and lose his gender.” Amaranth sounded oddly calm while faced with the fury of her daughter.

“His job!” Ixia shrieked. “He is his family’s only income. His family is poor. If he lost this job, they would all starve to death.”

“Which is why he made this most noble decision,” Amaranth’s voice made an attempt at sounding soothing that failed before it even left her sneering lips. Another shriek from within the stable left Ixia without a response as she swung around again and lunged for the door. But then there was a cloaked figure looming in her way. Amaranth laughed.

“Leonard,” Ixia struggled not to stutter. She was terrified of this man, who smirked amusedly at her from beneath his hood, but she had to get inside. “Leonard, move. Let me through!”

The man only laughed. Another shriek from beyond. Ixia swore, and clad only in her thin nightgown, threw her hands up to make a futile attempt at formulating a spell to use against the greater wizard. She was not fast enough, and definitely not powerful enough, and promptly found herself on her butt in the dirt. And paralyzed.

She could hear his screaming. Terrified, bloodcurdling screaming. Her mischievous stable boy. Her grinning companion. Her friend.

And she couldnÂ’t do a thing.

.
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