weathermage
Oct. 10th, 2007 10:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrJust the very very rough prologue ^^;;
The Weathermage
Prologue: The Wind and the Water
The wind whipped around the city like a child fed too many sweets on Carnival Day, but when it slipped beneath the heavy cloak of his tunic, it felt to Gallatin like a lover's caress. He smiled faintly and let the wind snatch his hood away, tilting his head up briefly to look at the dark clouds filling the gray sky.
He laughed at the way they seemed to grow darker by the second, wishing he were in a position to enjoy the storm properly, out on the sea and well away from the so called civilized world.
All around him people fled the coming storm, shutters and doors banging shut, the sound echoing down the crowded street. His boots slapped the uneven cobblestones of the street and he dug his fingers into his hair to keep it from his face, laughing as his ribbon was snatched by the wind, finally landing several feet ahead of him.
He snatched it up and tucked it away in the pocket of his coat, and in that brief moment the wind went instead for his hair, all but snatching the ash-blonde strands off his head.
Gallatin laughed loud and long, stopping in the middle of the street. Stripping off his black leather gloves, he held his hands high and fanned his fingers out. Tilting his head back, he let his eyes fall shut and took a deep breath, then let it out slowly, as though on a sigh.
Around him the winds calmed to a gentle breeze.
He opened his eyes and lowered his arms, pulling on his gloves as he continued on his way.
Two more streets and he came to the building he sought – the Giggling Serpent. The faded sign over the door displayed that very namesake, and the words written in the old script. Illegal, that, in this day and age only the language of the new monarchy was allowed – but here in the darkest corners of the country, they were willing to overlook a few things.
For now, anyway.
Pushing the door open, he waded into the stench of sweat and booze and flesh. He shoved his way impatiently through the mass of bodies, a grimace twisting his handsome face. Finally he lighted upon the one he sought; the one he'd known would be here. Knocking aside a couple of people foolish enough to fall into his path, he reached the table in the back and grabbed a half-naked boy by the scruff of his neck and tossed him aside.
"Get," he said dismissively, tossing a silver coin down.
A young woman remained, and Gallatin sent her fleeing with a look.
"Well, well," said a tired but amused voice. "Look at what has blown in with the winds."
Gallatin sat down and snatched away the bottle in the man's grasp, taking a swig of its contents for himself. "You have looked better, Leath."
Leath shrugged. "Haven't we all? What do you want, Tin?"
"For you not to call me that," Gallatin retorted, relieved more than he liked to admit when the old complaint succeeded in dredging up a smile.
Taking the bottle back, Leath took a healthy swallow before slamming the bottle down on the table. "Besides that."
Gallatin looked him over, wondering yet again if he was making the right choice.
Leath had, indeed, looked better. His hair, once long, had been cut to an almost military shortness. His pale blue eyes were almost stark in his face, the finely cut features almost razor sharp now. If it were possible, Leath had lost wait in the seven years since everything had changed.
Yet still Gallatin could feel the thrum of energy that only appeared between the two of them, like a burst of lightning just waiting to be released. High Wind calling to High Water. Beneath the foul stench of the cheap tavern, he could just barely detect the scent of Leath himself, sea salt and sunshine.
"I have found him."
He got a blank stare for a moment – then the eyes widened almost comically. Fumbling, Leath snatched the bottle up again and took another swallow. It nearly toppled as he set it down again. "Where?" he asked hoarsely.
Gallatin shook his head. "Are you going to help me, Leath? Or am I going to watch you wander off eventually to a different tavern to drink and fuck yourself into another oblivion?"
"Serpent swallow you whole," Leath snapped. "Better to sulk as a drunkard than mope as a monk."
Gallatin threw his head back and laughed, knowing he'd made the right decision. "Leath, I have missed you."
"And I you, Tin," Leath said, and his smile was warm and beckoning as he shifted to close the space between them, nearly hot to the touch where their thighs pressed together. "So how monkish have you become? You look good for a man supposedly living a pious life."
"Supposedly, my friend, only supposedly. I am not so devoted to the gods that I have forgotten how to make you scream."
Leath shivered. "Oh, good. First, however, tell me what we're up to."
Instead of immediately replying, Gallatin leaned forward and covered Leath's mouth with his own. The kiss was lazy and slow as they relearned one another's mouths, tasting all the changes, and Gallatin was somehow relieved that Leath still tasted as he always had – like salt and sun and wine, a strange mix of sweet and bitter.
Finally he broke the kiss just enough to speak, still close enough they shared breaths. "We are going to kidnap the Crown Prince."
Leath chuckled and nibbled at his bottom lip. "Sounds like fun. Just like old times. It really is good to see you again."
"Yes," Gallatin replied softly, and kissed him again briefly before dragging him away to speak where no one would overhear.
The Weathermage
Prologue: The Wind and the Water
The wind whipped around the city like a child fed too many sweets on Carnival Day, but when it slipped beneath the heavy cloak of his tunic, it felt to Gallatin like a lover's caress. He smiled faintly and let the wind snatch his hood away, tilting his head up briefly to look at the dark clouds filling the gray sky.
He laughed at the way they seemed to grow darker by the second, wishing he were in a position to enjoy the storm properly, out on the sea and well away from the so called civilized world.
All around him people fled the coming storm, shutters and doors banging shut, the sound echoing down the crowded street. His boots slapped the uneven cobblestones of the street and he dug his fingers into his hair to keep it from his face, laughing as his ribbon was snatched by the wind, finally landing several feet ahead of him.
He snatched it up and tucked it away in the pocket of his coat, and in that brief moment the wind went instead for his hair, all but snatching the ash-blonde strands off his head.
Gallatin laughed loud and long, stopping in the middle of the street. Stripping off his black leather gloves, he held his hands high and fanned his fingers out. Tilting his head back, he let his eyes fall shut and took a deep breath, then let it out slowly, as though on a sigh.
Around him the winds calmed to a gentle breeze.
He opened his eyes and lowered his arms, pulling on his gloves as he continued on his way.
Two more streets and he came to the building he sought – the Giggling Serpent. The faded sign over the door displayed that very namesake, and the words written in the old script. Illegal, that, in this day and age only the language of the new monarchy was allowed – but here in the darkest corners of the country, they were willing to overlook a few things.
For now, anyway.
Pushing the door open, he waded into the stench of sweat and booze and flesh. He shoved his way impatiently through the mass of bodies, a grimace twisting his handsome face. Finally he lighted upon the one he sought; the one he'd known would be here. Knocking aside a couple of people foolish enough to fall into his path, he reached the table in the back and grabbed a half-naked boy by the scruff of his neck and tossed him aside.
"Get," he said dismissively, tossing a silver coin down.
A young woman remained, and Gallatin sent her fleeing with a look.
"Well, well," said a tired but amused voice. "Look at what has blown in with the winds."
Gallatin sat down and snatched away the bottle in the man's grasp, taking a swig of its contents for himself. "You have looked better, Leath."
Leath shrugged. "Haven't we all? What do you want, Tin?"
"For you not to call me that," Gallatin retorted, relieved more than he liked to admit when the old complaint succeeded in dredging up a smile.
Taking the bottle back, Leath took a healthy swallow before slamming the bottle down on the table. "Besides that."
Gallatin looked him over, wondering yet again if he was making the right choice.
Leath had, indeed, looked better. His hair, once long, had been cut to an almost military shortness. His pale blue eyes were almost stark in his face, the finely cut features almost razor sharp now. If it were possible, Leath had lost wait in the seven years since everything had changed.
Yet still Gallatin could feel the thrum of energy that only appeared between the two of them, like a burst of lightning just waiting to be released. High Wind calling to High Water. Beneath the foul stench of the cheap tavern, he could just barely detect the scent of Leath himself, sea salt and sunshine.
"I have found him."
He got a blank stare for a moment – then the eyes widened almost comically. Fumbling, Leath snatched the bottle up again and took another swallow. It nearly toppled as he set it down again. "Where?" he asked hoarsely.
Gallatin shook his head. "Are you going to help me, Leath? Or am I going to watch you wander off eventually to a different tavern to drink and fuck yourself into another oblivion?"
"Serpent swallow you whole," Leath snapped. "Better to sulk as a drunkard than mope as a monk."
Gallatin threw his head back and laughed, knowing he'd made the right decision. "Leath, I have missed you."
"And I you, Tin," Leath said, and his smile was warm and beckoning as he shifted to close the space between them, nearly hot to the touch where their thighs pressed together. "So how monkish have you become? You look good for a man supposedly living a pious life."
"Supposedly, my friend, only supposedly. I am not so devoted to the gods that I have forgotten how to make you scream."
Leath shivered. "Oh, good. First, however, tell me what we're up to."
Instead of immediately replying, Gallatin leaned forward and covered Leath's mouth with his own. The kiss was lazy and slow as they relearned one another's mouths, tasting all the changes, and Gallatin was somehow relieved that Leath still tasted as he always had – like salt and sun and wine, a strange mix of sweet and bitter.
Finally he broke the kiss just enough to speak, still close enough they shared breaths. "We are going to kidnap the Crown Prince."
Leath chuckled and nibbled at his bottom lip. "Sounds like fun. Just like old times. It really is good to see you again."
"Yes," Gallatin replied softly, and kissed him again briefly before dragging him away to speak where no one would overhear.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 02:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 02:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 02:40 am (UTC)I was trying to think of something completely absurd. I guess I succeeded.
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Date: 2007-10-11 02:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 02:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 02:44 am (UTC)Had I known of the awesomeness this story contained....
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Date: 2007-10-11 02:49 am (UTC)Lol. I'm not really sure two pages of a story is enough to say it contains awesome, but desire to change vote duly noted ^^;;
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Date: 2007-10-11 02:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 03:02 am (UTC)*pokes at you* Mooooooooore.....
I love that he kisses Leath even after finding him in the middle of a brothel. And I'm intrigued by this third person and the need to kidnap the crown prince.
*puppy eyes and offers first born?*
no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 03:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 04:07 am (UTC)" If it were possible, Leath had lost wait in the seven years since everything had changed."
I do believe you meant weight.
Ookay...back to lurking now. >.>
P.S.
Your stories are so awesome. I frequently check your journal (and tygati's) for story updates. This new story seems interesting. ^^
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Date: 2007-10-11 04:41 am (UTC)'The Giggling Serpent'? Heh. Better than 'The Tipsy Poodle' by a far margin, yes. *knowing nod*
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Date: 2007-10-11 05:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 05:51 am (UTC)BTW, is this the same 'verse as the one with the boy serving in the inn where a stranger walks in during the rainy season? (or was that Skylark and I'm completely losing my mind?)
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Date: 2007-10-11 11:35 pm (UTC)I'm kind of amused people just assume it's a threesome. Not quite sure why that is.
Nope, nope, and it was actually [Unknown site tag] who wrote that story ^__^
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Date: 2007-10-12 04:28 am (UTC)Eheheh, I sort of thought that story was written by you, so since that magical man seemed to have a love interest already... ^^"
Either way, I await whatever you post next!
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Date: 2007-10-13 12:16 am (UTC)^___^
and that should have been
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Date: 2007-10-11 06:27 am (UTC)I read the poll post after reading this, but I still figured that this was what you've been trying to stamp down on for a while now. I have to say I'm both sad and happy you gave in ^_^;
I think it will be interesting to see where this goes. Gallatin and Leath are fun :D
no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 07:24 am (UTC)When I was little, I used to... I don't really know how to describe this... "call the wind", is what I usually refer to it as. One of my all time favorite activities is to sit on the beach when it's particularly windy, and every single storm that comes through is a mental fight to stay inside and not go play in the weather. I live in Florida, so you can imagine how that might be quite an effort for me.
My point is, I think I may already be in love with this story, just for being what it is. Weathermages always get me in the gut.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 09:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 10:50 am (UTC)*_*
Date: 2007-10-11 12:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 02:01 pm (UTC)Okay, okay.
I totally ignored the clock because this was awesome.
You're still a tease.no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 03:30 pm (UTC)I am very much intrigued, by the relationship between Leath and Gallatin, and who this 'him' is, and what the Crown Prince has to do with it. I love the way you used the bar name (that made me giggle, too, btw) to tell us about the current political climate. I'm intrigued about how large this empire is, and how the new monarchy came to be in power. I love your political drama. Yum.
Good luck deciding which of the pretties gets your attention. Well, if they even let you decide. ^_^
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Date: 2007-10-11 04:24 pm (UTC)You mean 'weight'?? ^__^ this has put me in such a good mood, no matter how short. I'm sooo boooreeeddd. I guess being bedridden does that to a person, but hey, I get to steal the laptop until I can actually sit in a chair again.
Anywho, rather than me going on about myself, I'll be all "bwa!" to the story. Tis verra nice. Though you're making me wonder what other mischeif those two have gotten into, if kidnapping the crown prince is like old times. Mmm. So if these two are casual lovers, does that mean when they do steal the prince there'll be even more yumminess?
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Date: 2007-10-11 04:56 pm (UTC)^__^
Date: 2007-10-11 06:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 11:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 11:31 pm (UTC)I know I'll like it. Just poo.
I still favor NAAW and Embrace. I've been waiting for those...
no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 11:32 pm (UTC)Off Topic
Date: 2007-10-12 01:25 am (UTC)Re: Off Topic
Date: 2007-10-12 01:26 am (UTC)Yeah, eventually. I've started it, but something about it twigs me and I've not yet figured out what is off about it.
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Date: 2007-10-12 02:48 am (UTC)I just have one slight request for your other stories (and sorry if it is too much work or sounds too demanding, this is just a request from a fan) Is there anyway you could sort of give a brief summary and major warnings (threesome or multiple partners is pretty much all I am interested in avoiding (there are others, but I haven't noticed you writing any of those))
I went through and read some of the stories or looked at them that you put in that poll, but there are so many other stories that you have that might be good, but I am afraid to read because I don't really want to get halfway into a story and find out it has things in it Idon't like.(I am on dialup and LJ takes forever to load as does your website sometimes) I am adult enough to just back click, but there is still all that wasted time when I could be reading other stories of yours that I do like (like meant to be or kidnapped or lost gods or fairy tales or.... :D)
Anyway, again sorry to sound demanding. I really do like your stories and hope to see many more coming (no matter what they contain)
Catherine.
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Date: 2007-10-12 10:52 pm (UTC)I will say this story is not threesome. I can't promise stuff won't intermingle for a bit, b/c one of the chars is rather easy with his affections, but ultimately it's not a threesome.
As to that, I used to do summaries on my stories but I took them down after all I got was flack for how bad they were. I don't do warnings b/c they tend to spoil stuff and I resent having to ruin my stories before they can be read. But I understand not everyone likes the same stuff, totally. If nothing else, you can always email me and I wll be more than happy to tell you what is what.
I'm also leaning more and more toward revampig my site, and when I do I will manage something in the way of warnings, though, because I really do resent having to spoil my stories by warning of the nature of the pairings.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-13 01:56 am (UTC)Ah, for the summaries I was thinking along the lines of this is part of the xx universe and is a magic/sci fi/whatever, not indepth.
I do understand about the warnings, and you will be getting an email soon ;) I just dont like reading some stuff (and other stuff I actively seek out) and since i dont' have much time online, I tend to download the stories to read offline later, and while it is faster than reading online, it still takes time (especially with the length of stories I like to read. Treasure is at the low end of about average for the types of stories I read, so imagine how long it takes on dialup to download them, especially the ones in parts or to even read them online :D) so that is the main reason I tend to prefer warnings. I just dont' want to download a promising story and get halfway through and come across something that I cant' stand (and it did happen once, on a HUGE story that was like 80 chapters long UNCOMPLETED and it REALLY shocked and disgusted me (lets just say it involved animal death that was unexpected) and after that the tone of the story itself changed. so I had wasted all that time (and at that time I had even less time online than I do know) downloading that story when I could have been looking for one that better suits my tastes.)
I have noticed a couple of things that authors have done about warnings. One is to put all warnings AFTER the story so people who WANT to be warned can be, but the others dont' have to be. Another is to put a link to the warnings from the main story but don't display them on the actual story. torch's site has a list of stories without warnings and pairings (she writes fanfic mainly, or did last time I was there) and then has a list of stories WITH and the site defaults to the list without. others do like you said and just say email for warnings (which I don't really mind, takes a bit more time, but hey, if I want the warnings, I can take the bit of extra time to ask)
Anyway, thanks for repling (and being so nice, many authors wouldn't have been) and I will definately email you.
And thanks for writing such wonderful stories :D
no subject
Date: 2007-10-12 08:17 pm (UTC)That poll of yours was really difficult. I didn't know what to choose. I love all your stories! (Brightleaf is my #1 because it was the first story I ever read from you, Thorley and Geoffrey are just so cute).
I will stop blabbering now...
-Stalker/lurker
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Date: 2007-10-12 10:44 pm (UTC)*laugh* I will try to finish other stuff so I can work on it properly.
^___^ I luffs Brightleaf.
<3
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Date: 2007-10-12 09:05 pm (UTC)you're like the nora roberts of yaoi. (in like, the decent-to-fantastic quality, endless variety yummy goodness).
thankee, and can't wait to get more!
...and i really hope you're not offended by the crack-dealer implication. really. not implying any drug-thing- i'm not on drugs. i mean-
shutting up now.
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Date: 2007-10-12 10:44 pm (UTC)<3 I can deal with drug dealer ^^;;; Hee hee.
I never read a whole not of Robers, but my mom is a huge fan ^___^
no subject
Date: 2007-10-14 05:56 pm (UTC)I vote for this!
Date: 2007-10-15 02:49 am (UTC)looking forward to this during NaNoWriMo. ^v^