&& the Joy {Open}

[Reva Vassu && Chandrakant]

.....swish. Re's dark skirt rustled around her ankles as she swivled her hips. Counting out slowly she sang a few notes, her voice bright and clear.

Reva stood in a small nook in the building behind her. It was a spot she had only just found and the bustling sidewalk before her provided the perfect place to display her talents.

...swish

I do it for the joy it brings
Because i'm a joyful girl
Because the world owes me nothing
And we owe each other the world
I do it because it's the least i can do
Ido it because i learned it from you
And i do it just because i want to
Because i want to

A slow song...Re could see Chan nodding his handsome gold head. Still singing she reached down and swung him up onto her shoulder. He held her finger in his tiny wrinkled hand, rubbinghis head against her cheek. Smiling she continued her soft swaying shecould feel a soft rumble in Chans chest, adding his voice to hers

I wonder if everything i do
I do instead
Of something i want to do more
The question fills my head
I know there's no grand plan here
This is just the way it goes
When everything else seems unclear
I guess at least i know

Chan slipped quietly into her arms now. Craddling him she almost broke into a laugh as he reached up and gripped a loose curl that tumbled from the messy knot on top of her head. She could hear her own voice ringing back at her at the times when there was a lull in the noise ofthe street. She continued moving her hips keeping her own time slowing softening her voice...

I do it for the joy it brings
Because i'm a joyful girl
Because the world owes me nothing
And we owe each other the world
I do it because it's the least i can do
I do it because i learned it from you
And i do it just because i want to
Because i want to
To the last line......

{{Lyrics are from 'Joyful Girl' by Ani DiFranco}}

[Kayla & Stormation]

Kayla Airlark slipped behind a building. She was meant to be at Jorden College, but had no intention to go there to learn boring things like she had been doing all morning. The mischievious ten year old watched the other girl with wide, blue eyes. "Storma," She said, turning her head slightly to be able to see her daemon, usually a grey tabby cat, but now took the form of a chaffinch. "Look at that girl singing to herself!" Stormation let out a smirk, and Kayla peeped her head just a little more round the building to get a view of the girl a little better. Her daemon, she noted, was a monkey, though she didn't think she knew the proper name for it.

"Lets show ourselves!" Kayla said quietly. "No, she'll think we're stupid!" Stormation grunted, forming into a tabby cat and perched on her shoulder. Kayla sighed and looked at her daemon. "Well i'm going to go to her, and then you'll have no choice." She told him, and slipped out into the street. She skipped along towards the singing girl, feeling the urge to run back to her daemon - the pain was unbearable. But she sighed in relief as she felt the invisible band loosen between them, and turned to see Storma trotting over to her.

"Hello." Kayla said to the girl. She felt Stormation flutter up onto her shoulder as a wren, then forming into a cat to steady himself on his human's shoulder.

[:.Sariana.: && .:Tarkothos:.]

"Tar, quit it!"

The young girl couldn't help but laugh as her daemon flew in dizzying loops above her head. It was amusing to see a wolf as large as Tarkothos acting like a tiny, excited puppy. But he was beginning to attract attention, and that was that last thing they wanted- and so, with a sigh, Tar folded his wings in, dove down and landed next to his human with a soft thump.

A song, sung in a girl's voice, drifted to both pairs of ears, and Sariana hummed along softly. She knew the song, and normally would sing along, but she didn't want to ruin the clarity of the bright voice that washed over the busy sidewalks.

"Sariana, can we go see who it is?"

Tar, too, was enjoying the music, his head swaying in time the tune. Sar shrugged and then nodded, happy to oblige. "Why not? It's not like we're doing anything else."

This was true. Sar's birthday was coming up, and she had taken a few days off of her busy life, wishing to rest a while without any odd jobs. She and her daemon had been doing nothing useful, simply wandering around and observing Oxford.

Tarkothos, with his keen black ears, led the way. Black audits swiveled right and left as he stopped occasionally- even he was confused by the chatter and noise of the crowd. At last, with a resigned sigh, the wolf spread his wings and, with a few powerful downstrokes, lifted his pitch black form above the heads of passerby. Sariana waited patiently, glaring at people and daemons who shot questioning looks at her (not that she wasn't used to that by now, but it did get annoying). After a few minutes Tar swooped back down, not bothering to land but rather gathering the back of Sar's shirt in his mouth and rising up into the air.

"Tarkothos!"

"It's quicker this way," her daemon mumbled around Sariana's clothes. "No people to deal with."

She had to admit he had a point. The crowd was thick- even getting a short distance took some effort. This way was much easier.

"I see her!" Sariana pointed to a girl who looked to be about her age, maybe younger, with a lion daemon that danced with her. She felt herself bob up and down in Tar's mouth as he nodded, and then they were falling that way, silver wings angled downward. They landed a minute later, Sar dropping down and landing in a crouch and Tarkothos following, dumping the air out of his wings and setting down gracefully beside her.

Even from behind the singer, Sariana had to admire her talent. Her voice was sharp and clear, her notes sweet, and her dancing second to none (or at least none Sar knew). She walking around in a half-circle to watch the girl from the front, a soft smile on her face as human and daemon watched and listened.

The song wound down, and Sariana clapped as Tarkothos barked out his approval. The two walked forward toward the girl, crossing the distance quickly; Sariana smiled and began to talk, her usual fearlessness coming through in a lack of any shy behavior.

"Hi! I'm Sariana- Sar for short- and this is Tarkothos." Tar stretched his front limbs downward into a credible, non-groveling bow as his human continued to speak. "You're really good. Are-"

She was cut off by another's footsteps, an whirled to see another girl. A familiar one, at that. "Kayla?"

There was no mistaking that cat daemon. Storm, wasn't it? The two girls had met at the docks as two of Sariana's semi-friends had gotten into a fight, though Sar couldn't quite remember all the details at the moment- the shock of seeing a face she knew had chased the memories right out.

[Kayla & Stormation]

Kayla turned her head to see - "Sar!" She grinned and ran over to her, Stormation fluttered overhead as a hawk, and skydived onto her shoulder. "She's a good singer, ain't she?" She whispered in Sariana's ear. Storma let out a low chuckle, which came out as a laughing squawk.

The hawk-Stormation flapped him beautiful silver wings, telling his human silently to look at the girl and her monkey-daemon again. Kayla did watch. Storma decided to mimic her daemon, and formed into a monkey just like the girl's. "Stop it, Storma!" She laughed. Her daemon just chuckled slightly and hopped onto her head.

"So." Kayla said, lifting Stormation off her head and into her arms, "Who are you?"

[Nova [& Merlythidon]]

Just because I lurk in the shadows, doesn't mean I'm evil.

Nova and her daemon, Merlythidon peeked out from behind the brick building. A girl about her own age was singing. Her pure voice beckoned to Nova and she moved behind a closer building to get a better look. The joyous music was a sweet relief from the clanging of pots in the kitchens. Nova had gotten a job as a servant there to earn enough money to pay for new clothes.

Merlythidon flew silently over the musician. He glided back to Nova's shoulder and whispered in her ear. Their decision was made. Nova stepped out into the light and walked slowly towards the singer.

"That was nice song.", Nova said softly as she handed the girl a coin. She waited to learn the girl's name. After a moment she wondered if the girl was like herself, a runaway. Better not to pry. she thought and turned to Merlythidon. He mindspoke to her, sharing his opinions. It seemed that her daemon felt the same way. The pair looked at each other and turned to leave.

[.:Artemis & Skyran:. [gone]]

((Just out of curiosity . . . where's this one taking place? -Likes to know exact setting- xD Are we in town, or on the campus?))

[Kayla & Stormation]

((In the town somewhere I think. Just post its cool!))
Kayla looked at the girl that had just come over. Stormation formed into a chaffinch and fluttered his wings on her shoulder until he folded them up. "Come and join the fun." Kayla said to the girl who had just come. "By the way, name's is Kayla Airlark, and this is Stormation. Call 'im Storma." She signalled to the chaffinch that sat on her shoulder. He formed into his main form again, a silver tabby cat, and purred, his blue eyes glowed.

The sun blazed overhead, and Kayla watched the others closely. "What your names?" She said coolly.

[Reva Vassu && Chandrakant]

Reva smiled shyly at the group of girls that now stood watching."Reva Vassu"she said holding out a small hand "and this is Chandrakant"she added,gesturing to her shy daemon, who had buried his wrinkled brown face in her shoulder.

Aceppting the coin the girl offered her she reached daown to slide it into the top of her boot but it was snatched from her fingers by the nimble Chan. Laughing Re watched him dance about playfully, waving the bit of metal above his head.

"I'm glad you all like the song" Re said, giving a general answer to the other's questions. Chan, now mouse shaped, raced up her leg and, after some difficulty, dropped the coin down her boot. Continuing his climb, he topped her shoulder and changed once again into the golden headed lion tamarin shape he loved so well. Wrapping his tail possesivly around her throat, Chan grinned playfully at the other daemons around them "Would you like to hear another?" she asked shyly, mentally running through a list of things she could sing.

{{Yes it's out in the city. Somewhere busy}}

[.:Artemis & Skyran:. [gone]]

((Hm . . . I shall get Artemis over her elochophobia somehow.))

[Kayla & Stormation]

"You can bet on it!" Kayla gave on small exited hop and clapped once. Stormation's blue eyes shone with exitement. Once again, he mimicked Chandrakant's monkey form, and waved his bare hand once before sitting on top of Kayla's head, chuckling to himself.

He soon formed into a tabby cat again, eager to get into his main form. Kayla smiled warmly at Reva. "'You go to Jorden College?" She asked, hoping she wouldn't ask about her history. Kayla didn't want to tell her that her mother was a witch and still alive.

[:.Sariana.: && .:Tarkothos:.]

Sariana nodded at Kayla's whispered words, smiling a little as she ran over, though there was a sad tint to her eyes as she did so. The young girl's endless enthusiasm was a source of mixed amusement and longing to the girl, who would be more than willing give anything (okay, anything minus Tarkothos) to have that kind of innocent, carefree energy again. The weight of her role in her family weighed on Sar wherever she happened to be, and seeing Kayla made the teenager wish that she could, even just once, be without a care in the world.

Tarkothos nudged his human's leg with his paw, speaking to her silently, and she turned to see another girl walking toward them. Sariana gathered her breath for another introduction, but there was no need- the new girl stayed for only a few moments before turning to leave. Sar thingyed her head in a wolfish sort of gesture, curious but not wanting to pry. This girl was a loner- she respected that.

Girl and daemon turned back around as the singer began to speak again. "Reva," Sar said, testing the name on her tounge- it fit the girl, clear and pure. "Reva Vassu and Chandrakant."

Both Sariana's and Tarkothos' eyes lit up at the mention of another song, and both gazed at the singer with anticipation. "Would you?" Sar reached into her pocket, pulling out a coin and holding it out in thanks.

[Kayla & Stormation]

Kayla looked slowly at the coin that Sar handed out for Reva, and reached into her pocket. Even only at the age of ten, Kayla was a mischief maker, and she pulled out a coin that she had stolen from the Master.

"Here." She handed the coin she had out to Reva, and grinned. Stormation took the form of a chaffinch, and chirped as he flew up to her shoulder.

[Reva Vassu && Chandrakant]

Blushing pinkly Re accepted the coin and laughed as Chan mimicked the other daemons chaffinch form. "No" she said in replie to the girls querie about Jordan "I...er..live by my wits...and my singing" she said with another flashing smile. Pushing her curls back again she bit her lip, thinking that these girls would probably prefer a faster song....

i am not a pretty girl
that is not what i do
i ain't no damsel in distress
and i don't need to be rescued
so put me down punk
maybe you'd prefer a maiden fair
isn't there a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere

Re let the song take her away, ignoring the street before her and the other girls eager faces. Even when Chan lept to her arms she did nothing more than shift so that she could hold him

i am not an angry girl
but it seems like i've got everyone fooled
every time i say something they find hard to hear
they chalk it up to my anger
and never to their own fear
and imagine you're a girl
just trying to finally come clean
knowing full well they'd prefer you
were dirty and smiling

and i am sorry
i am not a maiden fair
and i am not a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere

A small smile played across Re's lips and Chan added a quiet thrumming from deep in his tiny chest. Strocking him she began to sway...

and generally my generation
wouldn't be caught dead working for the man
and generally i agree with them
trouble is you gotta have yourself an alternate plan
and i have earned my disillusionment
i have been working all of my life
and i am a patriot
i have been fighting the good fight
and what if there are no damsels in distress
what if i knew that and i called your bluff?
don't you think every kitten figures out how to get down
whether or not you ever show up

Taking a deep breath Re let the music swell to fill her as she neared the end of the song. A soft breeze was blowing her curls once again into her dark face. She ignored them this time concentrating fully on the music

i am not a pretty girl
i don't want to be a pretty girl
no i want to be more than a pretty girl

At the close of the song, Reva shook her head and looked around, waiting for a reaction from the girls before her. Chan was becoming sleepy and she could feel the effects of his sleepieness passing on to her. Cuddling him against her chest Re smiled....

{{Lyrics from 32 Flavors by Ani DiFranco

[Kayla & Stormation]

"Wow. Your such an awesome singer." Kayla breathed. Stormation gave a playful flap of his blue-brown-red-white wings in agreement. Her blue eyes glowed with admiration for Reva. "Kayla, I think its dinner at Jordan... its gettin' dark." Storma formed into his main form, a tabby cat, said, yawning.

"Stop worryin' so much, Storma. It won't be dinner just yet. Anyway, i'm sure we would of heard the bell, won't we?" Her cat-daemon shuffled uncomfortably on her shoulder, his claws sheathing and unsheathing constantly. "Look, whats wrong with you?" Kayla stroked her daemon gently, and held him in her arms, hugging him.

[Daja Sekhmet]

Daja was walking through the streets, slightly bruised and out of breath. She'd just been in a big fight, and was both exhausted and exhilirated at the same time. "That 'uz some fight, weren't it, Tar?" Daja said with a grin. "Ya got that 'un boy's tiger daemon good, never thought ya'd be able t' defeat her."
Tarquin sniffed. "Have a little faith, will ya? I don' loose any more n' you do."
" I know that. I was just tryin' t' give ya a compliment, ya dolt."
"Well, ya failed."
Daja smiled. "But if I failed, then you did too. Ya just said ya don' loose any more n' I do."
"But--Oh, whatever," Tarquin muttered.
"Haha," Daja smirked. She slowed down as they approached a gang of girls, one of whom was singing. "Hey, don' that girl Kayla go t' Oxford? Guess them college kids do get out sometimes," Daja mused. "Let's go talk t' them."
"Why?" Tarquin asked.
" 'Cause we don' got anythin' betta to do, 'cause our s-posed to talk t' people ya know, 'cause Kayla might 'ave money t' buy us dinner, and 'cause I don' know them other kids an' it's my business t' know mos' every'un. how many reasons d'you need?" With that, Daja quickly strode over to the other girls. "Hey, I'm Daja, and this is Tarquin. Who are you lot?"