18 min read
The Phone Call
September 27, 2017
◈ WHO: Emyr, Mark, Ryder, & Reuben (HaiLaSin & Skyeforge)
◈ WHEN: Late evening on September 27, 2017
◈ WHERE: The Rothmore Household
◈ WEATHER: Indoor air conditioning abounds.
◈ WHEN: Late evening on September 27, 2017
◈ WHERE: The Rothmore Household
◈ WEATHER: Indoor air conditioning abounds.
Two hours had passed since Emyr first floated himself into Mark’s apartment and in that time Emyr had experienced his first phone call, nearly broke Mark’s television, gotten himself tangled up in Chittery’s rope gym, told Mark a story he had crafted that was clearly a jab Mark’s cleaning habits, and told more lies than Mark could keep track of. All in all, it seemed as if the Raevan had adjusted to his new habitat incredibly well and incredibly quickly. Which, if Mark was being perfectly honest with himself, was a good thing. It meant that Emyr didn’t need to be babied through the process.
With the Frei now examining his space upstairs, the guardian allowed himself a moment to return to his phone, skimming over messages and smiling when he was met with Ryder’s response to his earlier text.
‘Fantastic. I just let Reuben know.’
‘I would love to meet him. New stories are always welcome.’
Well that settled it then. If Ryder wanted to meet Emyr there was little reason why Mark shouldn’t call Reuben up and arrange a meeting. Flipping through his list of contacts, he settled on the guardian’s name and with a quick press the phone began to ring.
With the Frei now examining his space upstairs, the guardian allowed himself a moment to return to his phone, skimming over messages and smiling when he was met with Ryder’s response to his earlier text.
‘Fantastic. I just let Reuben know.’
‘I would love to meet him. New stories are always welcome.’
Well that settled it then. If Ryder wanted to meet Emyr there was little reason why Mark shouldn’t call Reuben up and arrange a meeting. Flipping through his list of contacts, he settled on the guardian’s name and with a quick press the phone began to ring.
Dinner was finished, the soup had been delightful, and Ryder’s small meal of soggy bark, as Reuben was accustomed to making for the frei these days, was just so-so according to the consumer. Nothing more had been discussed at dinner about Mark and Ryder’s texts, but it was definitely on the tarotist’s mind throughout the entire meal.
After the meal, Ryder went off into the bedroom as was per his usual while Reuben cleaned up a bit.
Just as Reuben had finished doing the dishes from dinner, his cell phone began to buzz. Looking at the caller I.D., he noticed it wasn’t a number he had saved. Since he was expecting a call from Mark, he let out an annoyed sigh before answering in his normal, chipper tone, just to be safe. “Hello?”
After the meal, Ryder went off into the bedroom as was per his usual while Reuben cleaned up a bit.
Just as Reuben had finished doing the dishes from dinner, his cell phone began to buzz. Looking at the caller I.D., he noticed it wasn’t a number he had saved. Since he was expecting a call from Mark, he let out an annoyed sigh before answering in his normal, chipper tone, just to be safe. “Hello?”
“Hey! This is Reuben, right? It’s Mark! From the park? The guy with the monkey? The future Raevan guardian?” A brief chuckle, the man’s tone light and friendly. “Or well, I guess you can say just straight up guardian now. Ryder said he told you right? I hope you don’t mind I got his number while you and Chittery were becoming buddies. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have everyone's contact information.” A shuffle, as if Mark was adjusting his seat or looking around for something. “Anyway! So Emyr was born and when I asked him about it Ryder seemed to be interested in meeting him so I figured it was worth bothering you to arrange a meeting.” A slight pause, Mark realizes something. “Uh, not that I was going behind your back or anything? I just figured with the type of business you do you’re probably busy doing things and that it made more sense to make sure Ryder was even interested first before bothering you with a phone call.”
"Yes, this is Reuben. Hey Mark. First off, congratulations on Emyr's birth," he stated as warmly as he could muster, switching the phone to his other ear as he walked into the living room and sat on the couch, listening to the man speak. When he was finished, Reuben began again. "No, no, I don't mind at all. Thanks for clearing that up. I was just a little shocked, if I'm being honest, when Ryder came in and told me what was going on. But honestly, I'm happy for you and Emyr. He doesn't speak Ancient Celtic, does he?" a slight chuckle escaped his lips before he continued. "And I am glad that Ryder is interested in making friends. He definitely seemed quite excited when he flew into the kitchen to tell me all about it." A small rustle could be heard as Reuben switched the phone back to the other ear. "I'm happy to plan a playdate if you want. What days work best for you?
“Thanks man! He’s a fussy little guy but I’m so happy to have him here. And no, we lucked out. He speaks English. He’s actually surprisingly chatty for a newborn. Wouldn’t keep quiet in the car ride home.” A hearty chuckle and a contented sigh, a smile that could be felt through the phone. “Did he really? That’s awesome! He was pretty withdrawn during our first meeting so I’m glad he’s getting a bit more social. As for day, I wa-”
“Mark. Doughnut phone again? Why? Who?'
“Oh hey buddy. Didn’t hear yo-”
“Is Vesna? I will speak now. Give.”
“Emyr, no. I’m in the middle of a-” rustling, and Mark’s voice becomes more distant. “...and you take the phone. Okay.”
“Who this? Vesna? Not Vesna? Speak now.” The voice was much younger, more firm and demanding, incredibly confident despite the fact the speaker didn’t know who was on the other line.
“Mark. Doughnut phone again? Why? Who?'
“Oh hey buddy. Didn’t hear yo-”
“Is Vesna? I will speak now. Give.”
“Emyr, no. I’m in the middle of a-” rustling, and Mark’s voice becomes more distant. “...and you take the phone. Okay.”
“Who this? Vesna? Not Vesna? Speak now.” The voice was much younger, more firm and demanding, incredibly confident despite the fact the speaker didn’t know who was on the other line.
"Oh that's great. I'm happy to hear that he speaks English. Yeah, Ryder wasn't ever really chatty, but Alice was," Reuben began, not realizing that Mark likely had no idea who Alice really was. "But uhh-" it was at this point he heard the young frei speak in the background. Reuben couldn't help but chuckle when the conversation turned from Mark to Emyr. When Emyr took over the conversation, Reuben went along with it, understanding that as a newborn, he likely didn't understand phone etiquette quite yet. "Hey, buddy! No, this isn't Vesna, but I do know Vesna. This is Reuben, Ryder's dad." Reuben covered the phone mic as best he could and called for Ryder. "Ryder! Come out here a second, please!"
Within a minute, Ryder floated out into the living room. His voice in the distance, "Yes?"
With the phone pulled away from his face, Reuben spoke to Ryder a quick moment. "Emyr is on the phone, do you want to talk to him?"
Ryder's eyes widened as he approached the couch. He just shook his head and floated over, almost nervously. Why would his guardian put him on the spot like that?
Reuben then spoke directly into the phone, "Hey Emyr, I'm going to let you talk to Ryder for a minute, okay?" A rustle could be heard as Reuben shoved the phone into Ryder's hand.
Staring directly at the phone, Ryder slowly brought it to his ear. "H-hello?" he said sheepishly.
Within a minute, Ryder floated out into the living room. His voice in the distance, "Yes?"
With the phone pulled away from his face, Reuben spoke to Ryder a quick moment. "Emyr is on the phone, do you want to talk to him?"
Ryder's eyes widened as he approached the couch. He just shook his head and floated over, almost nervously. Why would his guardian put him on the spot like that?
Reuben then spoke directly into the phone, "Hey Emyr, I'm going to let you talk to Ryder for a minute, okay?" A rustle could be heard as Reuben shoved the phone into Ryder's hand.
Staring directly at the phone, Ryder slowly brought it to his ear. "H-hello?" he said sheepishly.
Emyr’s second phone conversation was very different from his first. The voice on the other end was not Vesna’s but someone else’s. How many voices were within the doughnut phone? Why did Mark not tell him of all these different voices? At least they knew of him. He was what was important here after all. Not the doughnut phone voices.
Emyr listened as Reuben spoke, his expression a consistent pout as the man explained who he was and introduced himself as Ryder’s father as if that meant something to the newly born Frei. He did know Vesna, though. So perhaps they all resided within the phone land. Yes. That had to be it. If not, Emyr would make a story about it.
A second new voice greeted him and Emyr frowned at how sheepish it sounded. This was Ryder? It had to be. The Reuben said it was. “Hello. I am Emyr. You are Ryder? Why are you important? No. Mark tell. You wait.” Emyr pulls away from the phone. “Who Ryder? Why important?”
“He’s another Raevan. We thought you two might like to be friends.”
“I already knew this.” A pause, Mark snorting over the very blatant lie, before Emyr’s voice returns to Ryder. “I am back now. We speak more. You are Raevan, yes? What is your Essence? What are you made from? It won’t be as good as me but if Mark thinks you are good potential friend then it must be interesting. Tell me now.”
Emyr listened as Reuben spoke, his expression a consistent pout as the man explained who he was and introduced himself as Ryder’s father as if that meant something to the newly born Frei. He did know Vesna, though. So perhaps they all resided within the phone land. Yes. That had to be it. If not, Emyr would make a story about it.
A second new voice greeted him and Emyr frowned at how sheepish it sounded. This was Ryder? It had to be. The Reuben said it was. “Hello. I am Emyr. You are Ryder? Why are you important? No. Mark tell. You wait.” Emyr pulls away from the phone. “Who Ryder? Why important?”
“He’s another Raevan. We thought you two might like to be friends.”
“I already knew this.” A pause, Mark snorting over the very blatant lie, before Emyr’s voice returns to Ryder. “I am back now. We speak more. You are Raevan, yes? What is your Essence? What are you made from? It won’t be as good as me but if Mark thinks you are good potential friend then it must be interesting. Tell me now.”
Reuben couldn’t help but chuckle with Ryder’s reaction. All Ryder could do was sit and listen. The voice on the other line was actually very talkative, something Ryder was not used to. Most of the time phone conversations with Reuben and the seldom Calista calls were short and to the point. But, in an attempt to make a new friend, especially one who liked to tell stories, Ryder decided to try his best to hold an actual conversation.
The questions the fellow frei asked were almost...awkward. Why was he important? He didn’t know? And he was very unsure of how to answer. “Y-yes, I am Ryder. I’m-” Luckily for him, he didn’t have to. Before he could even finish his sentence, Emyr had cut him off.
When Emyr had taken a second to speak with his guardian, Ryder took the time to do the same. Pulling the phone away from his face, Ryder spoke, “He’s talking to Mark. What do I, uhh, say?”
Reuben just shrugged and had a goofy grin on his face.
Oh, he was no help. When Emyr returned to the line, he instantly went into more questioning, demanding he answer. Ryder took each question and decided to answer it and also return the conversation back to him. “Uhh, welcome back. Yes, I’m a raevan, a frei to be more specific. I’m made from Visible Imagination and a toadstool, what about yourself? And...yes, Mark told me that you like to tell stories? Can you tell me one?” The toadstool frei was more interested in some new stories, especially ever since he was grounded, his muses and desire to practice his magic was slowly fading away. It was as though he was hit with a huge block and couldn’t get over the hurdle. Hopefully a new story would inspire him enough to get some practice in. That was his hope anyway.
The questions the fellow frei asked were almost...awkward. Why was he important? He didn’t know? And he was very unsure of how to answer. “Y-yes, I am Ryder. I’m-” Luckily for him, he didn’t have to. Before he could even finish his sentence, Emyr had cut him off.
When Emyr had taken a second to speak with his guardian, Ryder took the time to do the same. Pulling the phone away from his face, Ryder spoke, “He’s talking to Mark. What do I, uhh, say?”
Reuben just shrugged and had a goofy grin on his face.
Oh, he was no help. When Emyr returned to the line, he instantly went into more questioning, demanding he answer. Ryder took each question and decided to answer it and also return the conversation back to him. “Uhh, welcome back. Yes, I’m a raevan, a frei to be more specific. I’m made from Visible Imagination and a toadstool, what about yourself? And...yes, Mark told me that you like to tell stories? Can you tell me one?” The toadstool frei was more interested in some new stories, especially ever since he was grounded, his muses and desire to practice his magic was slowly fading away. It was as though he was hit with a huge block and couldn’t get over the hurdle. Hopefully a new story would inspire him enough to get some practice in. That was his hope anyway.
“Frei. So you are like Emyr.” The words are thoughtful, the other Raevan trying to imagine what Ryder might be like. “Visible… Imagination? Toadstool? Yes! Very good! Not as good as Emyr but still very good. I wish to see powers when we meet! I am Mabinogi Branch and Stoat, but also called Ermine. I am perfect.” A snigger from Mark.
The Frei’s voice immediately becomes noticeably excited. “You wish to hear story? Good! I will tell! Still in progress but I think has much potential! You give opinion later in person maybe when finished but here is preview. I call Little Cleaning Witch right now.”
“Once, long time ago, live human with big house. He was very, very busy, all the time because he was famous musician. For this his home suffered. Dust and cobwebs, mold and decay, food rotting in corners and dishes not washed. Human not notice because he was too busy but many people talk about it behind his back. They say ‘Oh this human is so gross! He not wash house! Why not hire servant if he so lazy?’ But human does not trust servants. He did not trust anyone because last servant stole precious violin.”
“So his house stayed gross and he lived in filth. Very disgusting. Then, one day when there was big storm, there was knock on the door. Bang bang bang. Human was very distracted by the loud banging. He could not work with the loud banging! So he go to the door and he open it to find a young woman. She was small, with hair the color of dust and clothing the color of mold and eyes the color of mud. Pretty, but at the same time not pretty. She had only a broom and she was drenched from storm.”
“Human is confused. Why this girl here? Who is she? So he ask ‘Girl who are you? Why are you at my door?’ and then the girl say ‘I am lost, dear sir. Please, will you not let me stay the night by your fire?’ And human hesitate. He did not like strangers but girl was small and would get sick in rain.After much think-”
“Thought.”
“Much thought yes, I thank.”
“No problem, buddy.”
“After much thought, human tell girl that she may stay by the fire for one night. He lets her in and goes back to his study while girl settles in by fire. He not come out all night. When morning come, he wake to find his study much more organized. No dust. No cobwebs. He not know why. He leave room and find that whole house like this. Not disgusting anymore! Impossible he thinks! No person could clean whole house in one night! He run to the room where girl was by fire and find she not there. Instead, all that was left was broom and note.”
“The note say ‘Thank you, kid sir. Because of your kindness I was able to continue my journey. As thanks, I have left you my magic broom, for I am the Witch of Cleanliness and can make many more should I wish. You need only ask the broom to clean and it will do so faster than any man. But kind sir, do not forget that a broom is not substitute for friends.’ And the human is shocked. He look at broom and back at note and he think wow! This is very convenient!”
“...I still working more on it as it cuts off short and want more on how human handle broom but that is start. I know it good. Best story told by new frei! I make it today! You are in awe yes? Yes, of course.”
The Frei’s voice immediately becomes noticeably excited. “You wish to hear story? Good! I will tell! Still in progress but I think has much potential! You give opinion later in person maybe when finished but here is preview. I call Little Cleaning Witch right now.”
“Once, long time ago, live human with big house. He was very, very busy, all the time because he was famous musician. For this his home suffered. Dust and cobwebs, mold and decay, food rotting in corners and dishes not washed. Human not notice because he was too busy but many people talk about it behind his back. They say ‘Oh this human is so gross! He not wash house! Why not hire servant if he so lazy?’ But human does not trust servants. He did not trust anyone because last servant stole precious violin.”
“So his house stayed gross and he lived in filth. Very disgusting. Then, one day when there was big storm, there was knock on the door. Bang bang bang. Human was very distracted by the loud banging. He could not work with the loud banging! So he go to the door and he open it to find a young woman. She was small, with hair the color of dust and clothing the color of mold and eyes the color of mud. Pretty, but at the same time not pretty. She had only a broom and she was drenched from storm.”
“Human is confused. Why this girl here? Who is she? So he ask ‘Girl who are you? Why are you at my door?’ and then the girl say ‘I am lost, dear sir. Please, will you not let me stay the night by your fire?’ And human hesitate. He did not like strangers but girl was small and would get sick in rain.After much think-”
“Thought.”
“Much thought yes, I thank.”
“No problem, buddy.”
“After much thought, human tell girl that she may stay by the fire for one night. He lets her in and goes back to his study while girl settles in by fire. He not come out all night. When morning come, he wake to find his study much more organized. No dust. No cobwebs. He not know why. He leave room and find that whole house like this. Not disgusting anymore! Impossible he thinks! No person could clean whole house in one night! He run to the room where girl was by fire and find she not there. Instead, all that was left was broom and note.”
“The note say ‘Thank you, kid sir. Because of your kindness I was able to continue my journey. As thanks, I have left you my magic broom, for I am the Witch of Cleanliness and can make many more should I wish. You need only ask the broom to clean and it will do so faster than any man. But kind sir, do not forget that a broom is not substitute for friends.’ And the human is shocked. He look at broom and back at note and he think wow! This is very convenient!”
“...I still working more on it as it cuts off short and want more on how human handle broom but that is start. I know it good. Best story told by new frei! I make it today! You are in awe yes? Yes, of course.”
“Yes, I am a frei also,” Ryder began, still rather unsure of what to make of the way this boy spoke. It was as though he wasn’t quite familiar with sentence building yet. Maybe others had issues with it? Ryder wasn’t entirely sure. “I’m glad you-,” Ryder began when the other frei spoke of his combination being ‘very good’ but was cut off by the rest of the sentence, ‘not as good as Emyr’ and as he continued to tell what he was created with and that he was perfect, Ryder couldn’t think of how to respond. “Uh...oh...umm okay?”
It wasn’t until he spoke about telling a story that Ryder felt any sort of relief. “Finally, yes, a story, please,” he said, his tone noticeably different from before. Ryder floated over to the mirror on the wall within the living room. Reuben just continued to sit upon the couch and watch.
“Little Cleaning Witch, got it,” the frei said, touching the mirror and quieting down so Emyr could tell his story.
The story played out in Ryder’s mind as Emyr spoke. Through his imagination he saw this human, and the mirror seemed to warp into a window of sorts. All one could see is what Emyr spoke.
"Dust and cobwebs, mold and decay..." The large, ominous house within the mirror began to turn grungy, dirty, and overall a pigsty. Ryder kept his concentration on the words the ermine spoke.
As the story continued, so did the miniature movie through the looking glass. But, no matter what happened within the story, Ryder’s recreation of it was off, and he didn’t like it. Nothing came out perfect. The ‘small girl with dusty hair, muddy eyes, and clothes of mold’ turned out differently. Her dusty hair wasn’t dusty at all, her muddy eyes just didn’t resemble the color of mud. Things the ermine spoke of didn’t come to pass in Ryder’s imagination.
“Something’s off,” Ryder spoke with an aire of irritability as the story ended. “Oh, uhh, sorry, the story was great. Umm, I just...can’t seem to picture it properly.
It wasn’t until he spoke about telling a story that Ryder felt any sort of relief. “Finally, yes, a story, please,” he said, his tone noticeably different from before. Ryder floated over to the mirror on the wall within the living room. Reuben just continued to sit upon the couch and watch.
“Little Cleaning Witch, got it,” the frei said, touching the mirror and quieting down so Emyr could tell his story.
The story played out in Ryder’s mind as Emyr spoke. Through his imagination he saw this human, and the mirror seemed to warp into a window of sorts. All one could see is what Emyr spoke.
"Dust and cobwebs, mold and decay..." The large, ominous house within the mirror began to turn grungy, dirty, and overall a pigsty. Ryder kept his concentration on the words the ermine spoke.
As the story continued, so did the miniature movie through the looking glass. But, no matter what happened within the story, Ryder’s recreation of it was off, and he didn’t like it. Nothing came out perfect. The ‘small girl with dusty hair, muddy eyes, and clothes of mold’ turned out differently. Her dusty hair wasn’t dusty at all, her muddy eyes just didn’t resemble the color of mud. Things the ermine spoke of didn’t come to pass in Ryder’s imagination.
“Something’s off,” Ryder spoke with an aire of irritability as the story ended. “Oh, uhh, sorry, the story was great. Umm, I just...can’t seem to picture it properly.
Ryder’s enthusiasm to hear the story was met with an equal level of enthusiasm to tell it. For the first time, Emyr had an audience who was not just captivated by his tale but excited for it. The feeling this gave the newly born Frei was a rush like no other; more addicting than any substance known to man. Every word from his mouth had an extra bit of flourish, every sentence spoken with purpose despite the slight disjointed nature of his speech. Emyr didn’t just tell his story for Ryder, he tried with all of his might to entertain the other Frei with it.
So when the response he received from Ryder upon it’s completion was distracted at best the younger boy’s heart sank. Ryder had seemed perfect but now it felt as if the toadstool Raevan had betrayed him. Hurt and more than a little insulted, the younger of the two boys huffed in response to his words, the sound distorted by the phone in an unpleasant sounding burst of noise. “You not listen good enough then! Nothing is off about story! Something is off about-”
“Woah, hey there now. I know where that sentence is going to end and that’s not a nice thing to say Emyr.
“...hnnn. Sorry.” It was a lie, everything about Emyr’s tone suggested as much. “When meet, you will listen better. Make promise!” He urged, his tone forceful even as his words moved on to suggest he had forgiven Ryder’s brief discretion. “Will tell better and then no problem with imagining it! You will see! Emyr’s promise! I go work on now! You will see!”
The sound of movement and the phone switching hands, Mark chuckling as he brought the phone to his face. “Hey there! I’m not sure what you said to him but Emyr is all kinds of pumped to finish that story! Sorry if he almost gave you a tongue lashing. I think you might have said something insulting towards the end there but don’t worry about it too much, since he seems to have gotten past it pretty quick.” Another chuckle. “Anyway, can you put your dad back on the phone? We never did get to finish planning out a meeting.” A small pause, his tone turning a little hesitant and questioning. “...unless you don’t want to meet him anymore?”
So when the response he received from Ryder upon it’s completion was distracted at best the younger boy’s heart sank. Ryder had seemed perfect but now it felt as if the toadstool Raevan had betrayed him. Hurt and more than a little insulted, the younger of the two boys huffed in response to his words, the sound distorted by the phone in an unpleasant sounding burst of noise. “You not listen good enough then! Nothing is off about story! Something is off about-”
“Woah, hey there now. I know where that sentence is going to end and that’s not a nice thing to say Emyr.
“...hnnn. Sorry.” It was a lie, everything about Emyr’s tone suggested as much. “When meet, you will listen better. Make promise!” He urged, his tone forceful even as his words moved on to suggest he had forgiven Ryder’s brief discretion. “Will tell better and then no problem with imagining it! You will see! Emyr’s promise! I go work on now! You will see!”
The sound of movement and the phone switching hands, Mark chuckling as he brought the phone to his face. “Hey there! I’m not sure what you said to him but Emyr is all kinds of pumped to finish that story! Sorry if he almost gave you a tongue lashing. I think you might have said something insulting towards the end there but don’t worry about it too much, since he seems to have gotten past it pretty quick.” Another chuckle. “Anyway, can you put your dad back on the phone? We never did get to finish planning out a meeting.” A small pause, his tone turning a little hesitant and questioning. “...unless you don’t want to meet him anymore?”
When the boy began his tirade, Ryder wasn’t sure what to say. “No! That’s not what I-” he began, but was cut off by Mark’s voice in the background. As Emyr was reprimanded and changed his tone ever-so-slightly, Ryder just sighed into the phone. “I promise,” he said once the ermine was finished. As Mark took the phone back, Ryder just turned towards his guardian and shook his head, alerting Reuben that he was obviously done with this conversation. “Yes, I’d really like to meet him still. I’m sorry,” he said, handing the phone off to Reuben and instantly leaving the living area, not giving the phone a second thought.
As Reuben brought the phone to his ear, he spoke, “Hello? Mark? I’m not sure what all just happened, but it looks like Ryder is still interested in meeting Emyr.”
The guardian paused a moment, watching his charge float down the hallway quickly, rather concerned for what may have happened. “So, are you guys free next weekend? The seventh or eighth? If so, we can go ahead and set up the date and time for that weekend. It’ll give me enough time to alert my clients that I’ll be away.”
As Reuben brought the phone to his ear, he spoke, “Hello? Mark? I’m not sure what all just happened, but it looks like Ryder is still interested in meeting Emyr.”
The guardian paused a moment, watching his charge float down the hallway quickly, rather concerned for what may have happened. “So, are you guys free next weekend? The seventh or eighth? If so, we can go ahead and set up the date and time for that weekend. It’ll give me enough time to alert my clients that I’ll be away.”