In the World Outside Time. Jubal and Wreck

[mancalledjubes]

The great hall of the castle stands empty, its far corners and the uppermost reaches of its carved and fabulously vaulted ceiling forgotten in shadows. All is silent but for the soft scrape of a footstool's feet as it walks toward a side door.

Then there's a swish and a flash of light, and two men appear. Both are tall. One, a slender Asian with bright blue eyes, immediately takes to the air and hovers a few feet over the head of his companion, who is more muscularly built. The man on the ground's face is partially sheilded by a brown beard, but even so his expression is clear.

Comments

[mancalledjubes]

The echos barely had barely had time to fade before the summons was answered from a high window above the massive front doors.

"Yes, Sir James?" asked a deep, soft female voice as massive wings overshadowed Wreck and Jubal for a heartbeat. Then what looked like an angel carved of off-white marble lit lightly next to the firey little man and folded huge batwings of soft grey. Long pointed ears perked toward him as misty grey hair swirled around a lovely, sculpted face.

"What's this I hear 'bout there bein' a woman and her banyan here, Mist Maid?" He scowled up at her sternly.

The winged woman's ears twitched, then she turned toward Wreck and Jubal for a moment, reveling statueque porportions clad in loincloth and halter. "She vas brought here to rest vhen her vork vas done."

[trecebo.livejournal.com]

The sailor nudged Jubal but didn't say anything. It just didn't seem the time.

[mancalledjubes]

"It's time for her to come home," said the Herald softly. "Her husband and kids need her."

The woman looks at him for a few moments, face expressionless, then nods and strides from the room.

[trecebo.livejournal.com]

"That's it?" came the puzzled whisper.

[mancalledjubes]

-You didn't know about her other two kids, did you?- Jubal turned to look at him. -There are people like Anmut on your Earth.-

Then there was a shout of mingled joy and disgust and strong arms wrapped themselves around Wreck's neck as a form cannoned into him.

"Sailor Brains!"

[trecebo.livejournal.com]

"Fire Cracker!" He pulled her close, allowing the joy of the moment to wash over him. Suspicious tears formed and he whispered into the dark black hair, "Al sure has missed you."

[mancalledjubes]

"I missed him too," she muttered back, biting her lip and then suddenly bawling hysterically into the front of his sweater.

"Mama?" asked a dark-haired toddler from Anmut's arms.

[trecebo.livejournal.com]

With a gentleness only his wife was so familiar with, the sailor rubbed the crying woman's back, murmuring comfort and nonsense in a soft, baritone hum. He motioned for the 'woman' holding the child to come. Holding out an arm, Wreck waited to see if the toddler would accept his invitation and slide over.

[mancalledjubes]

The little one regarded him with wrinkled nose and narrowed blue eyes for several moments, but then suddenly hopped over, headbutting him in the side of the jaw in the process. "Mama?"

[trecebo.livejournal.com]

"Ow?" Wreck worked his jaw and tried to keep hold of the wiggling bundle of energy. He was thankful of the practice he'd had with his nephew and nieces. "Easy, Sparky. Mama is okay." He shifted the tyke so that mother and child were together.

[mancalledjubes]

Jubilee cried for a long time, but then she finally wiped her face and sniffled, starting to say something, only to freeze and turn to stare at Jubal, who was shining softly as he watched her. "What the hey?"

[trecebo.livejournal.com]

"Um, Jubilee, meet Jubal. He's...um...you. Sort of."