Theory of Ghosts

[Cobalt]

Reggie awoke from a small nap to an odd silence. His record player had long since finished playing its music, and his incense had all burned away. He realised the general noise of the Cirque was not missing, but dimmed.
He supposed everyone was out doing something away from the tents, and came to the conclusion that that was where he should be, too.

He got up and looked outside the tent flap to find his suspicions confirmed - nobody was nearby. He applied a light coating of make-up, pulled on a jacket and some shoes and set out to investigate. He was quickly becoming bored.

A few wisps of something dark and smoky on the hill with the tree on top caught his eye; even though it was one of the many hills that surrounded the Cirque's setting. He squinted at it, trying to make it out. It looked too dark to be smoke, and yet it was too wispy to be any much else.
He shrugged and made his way to the hill with the tree on top, hoping to find something and someone to entertain him.

[Tayuyaxn]

Jared had been twitchy in their trailer, wanting to make things, but not really having the space. After Jared had pulled for the tenth time in 20 seconds on his shirt (and Jens had lightly reminded him not to do that), Jens had packed them easy snacks and two blankets, as well as three heavy books for himself.

They had gone up the hill to what Jared now referred to as ''their tree'', shadowy wings spread wide in happiness, even if one tendril was stubbornly clinging to his arm.

Jens had arranged one blanket on the ground, sat down with his back against the tree, dropped his books one side and the food on the other side. Jared had been patiently waiting, not making a sound or gesture, and had sat down between his legs. The smaller twin had leaned back a bit more to be comfortable, and had set his open book (a heavy one about the myths of south America) to rest on his brother's back, who was then careful not to jostle it too much.

Jared was stretching some kind of shape. A big shape that rised like smoke. ''What are you doing, Jay ?'' he asked, puzzled.

Maybe Jared was having delusions of grandeur today, was what Jens was thinking, even if arrogance would be the last thing one would accuse his brother of, ever. He was humble to a fault sometimes.

His brother turned to him with a smile that implied he'd see soon enough, but he might have betrayed himself by looking down in the book, which was illustrated with a big feathered serpent.

Jared liked doing that, ''making real'' what was in his books. He gave an affectionate squeeze to his brother's neck (and rubbing his thumb in, which Jay always liked), not wanting to screw too much with his concentration.

Because like he'd said earlier, Jared was apparently aiming for something big. A big feathered serpent to play with.

[Cobalt]

As Reggie drew nearer to the top of the hill, the shadowy things seemed to get bigger and suddenly he was having doubts as to whether or not he wanted to find out what it was. But his curiosity got the better of him, and he continued forward.

He hummed a cheery tune, adding in the few lyrics he remembered to keep him going. The steepness of the hill was taking his toll on him, however, and by the time he reached the top he was quite huffed.
'What a hill,' he said to himself, proud he had made it to the top, and looked up. What he saw took him by surprise, but it soon turned to burning curiosity and hundreds of questions threatened to burst from his mouth.

'So that's what that was!' he let out an incredulous grin. 'My, I was right in thinking it wasn't smoke. What a peculiar trick! How do you do that?'

[Tayuyaxn]

Jared was startled by the young man appearing from nowhere.
It generally was in the book of ''very bad ideas'' to startle him.

He made a small manly gasp, turning himself in the direction of what had startled him; which meant that he also instinctively coiled his newly formed feathered serpent in a cocoon around him and Jens, the serpent making a soundless roar, shadowy tendrils separating from the main body of the serpent, sharp tips aiming at the visitor.

Jared was mumbling under his breath about magic people popping out of nowhere with unknown intentions, still seated between his brother's legs, except his hands had done a flurry of movement to coil his snake as a defense, and his hands were in mid-air, ready to react.

Jens, for his part, had already noticed the blond mop of hair climbing the hill, and had fixedly stared at the cheerful young man when he had asked how Jared was making his shadows; he had been about to answer something pleasant, when Jared had been startled and had bristled like a porcupine, and now there was a big shadowy haze around them.

Calming Jared down was his priority - he hugged his brother, resting his head on top of his shoulder - so he'd be able to look at the newcomer, book dropped and forgotten, and even hooked his legs around his waist (the best way to comfort Jared was always physical contact).

''Jared, Jay, hey, Kjerne, calm down.'' he said soothingly. ''I'm pretty sure he didn't climb up the hill to kill us, and he's not a magic person who appeared from nowhere. In fact, I'm pretty sure he's part of the circus. You can uncoil Quetzalcoatl now, we're safe.''

Well. At least the pointy tendrils had retracted back into the snake who was still coiled around them, even if the head was barely a meter away from the newcomer now.

[Cobalt]

Reggie saw one of the pair eye him as if to answer, and he waited patiently for him to do so, before the smoky thing suddenly took defensive action and Reggie's excitement turned to worry. He ran his fingers through his hair and swallowed. Perhaps he was right in thinking he shouldn't have come in the first place.

He heard small pieces of what the calmer one was saying, and nodded in agreement.
'Yes, I'm the make-up artist. Nothing magic about me!' He cleared his throat. 'I think I've interrupted something,' he said in an effort to negotiate. 'I think I'd best be leaving now. Please forgive my senseless intrusion, I'll leave you be.' he turned on his heel to leave, though reluctantly. He was still curious about the shadow puppet, and he deliberately stalled in case he could be able to discover more.

[Tayuyaxn]

Jared crossed his arm loosely, nervous now that the adrenaline had come down. Alright, so it wasn't a magic man that came out of nowhere with bad intentions, but he didn't feel like apologizing; He had been startled. It had been a perfectly natural reaction to shield himself and Jens !

He made a small huff, before turning away slightly and cozying up in Jens' arms.

He uncoiled his feathered serpent enough to give some space to talk and whatnot, and now the big thing was lying down in a half-circle around them. It was kind of awkward to rely so much on his hands for this kind of things (he didn't even have to, it was a habit), especially since his face was mashed up against his brother's collarbone.

Jens was more open to discussion, and gave a small smile at the newcomer, now stroking his brother's hair in a I'm-here-everything's-okay motion. ''I'm Jens, and this easily startled cross between an octopus and a human...'' he ignored the mumbled objection ''is Jared.''

''You didn't interrupt much, it's okay. I'll forgive your intrusion... if your forgive Jay sticking a snake in your face. I don't know if we've met - but we're new around here as well, so if you'll excuse us for not really remembering you... Well met, make-up artist without a name ?'' his smile morphed into a small smirk.

''But don't think I've forgotten your very enthusiastic curiosity earlier. I mean you did climb all the way up here just to see what Jared was doing - even if you didn't know that's what it was at the time.''

He paused, waiting to see if Jared was going to object something, but his twin seemed content to just hide his face and have his hair petted. The snake didn't even twitch. It was a little odd that Jared hadn't apologized for the somewhat excessive display, but Jared hated being startled - he probably felt justified. He chuckled a little, and Jared poked his thumb in his ribs.

''Because yes, that's all Jared's doing. I'm just the moral support.'' He made a vague motion encompassing the serpent coiled around them - kind of like a pet, actually. They had the strangest pets, shadow feathered serpent gods, and that made him smile again, and he pressed a small kiss on the top of Jared's head.

He was rewarded by his brother going boneless, tension finally completely out. Kiss on top of the head were like a kid's comforter-blankets for Jared. The snakes' wings stretched around lazily - his brother's creation wasn't tense anymore either.

''It's a... gift of sorts. He's very good at it, he can make anything.''

[Cobalt]

Reggie smiled as the shadowy serpent was calmed and the puppeteer hid away stubbornly. He didn't mind that he'd nearly attacked him; he was rather happy about it, really. All it meant to him was a new experience to discover.

'Oh, I'm quite relieved to hear I haven't done too much damage,' he said. 'Ah, well, don't you worry a bit about that; it's certainly not his fault if he acted on instinct. It sure is lovely to meet you both. I'm Reginald, though most call me Reggie.' he held out his hand to shake.

He smiled sheepishly and hit himself lightly in the head. 'Yes, this confounded curiosity often gets the better of me,' he said. 'I really need to learn how to contain myself but it's so wonderful seeing new things and people!'

He watched the two, intrigued. He thought their bond was obviously strong, and he thought it was rather sweet to watch.

'A gift, you say?' he leant forward to look at Jared, hoping to make eye contact. 'My, my, that is incredible! So-So you can make anything, can you?' he hopped a little in excitement. 'That's amazing. Pray tell, how is it done? Some new genetics thing, is it? Or that fancy technology? I did a little science whilst I was in university and let me tell you, I had never encountered anything like this in all my biological studies. Oh, you simply must show me; it all sounds so marvellous!'

[Tayuyaxn]

Jens shook Reginald's hand heartily, as he had been taught. He was a bit dismayed when Reggie hit himself on the head afterward, but he chuckled again at his enthusiasm. Jared had started to turn his head a little, to better keep an eye on things.

To Jens, Reggie seemed like an overenthusiastic young man, and fairly harmless. A normal, basically, someone who had no innate magic powers and was just as happy - although with a whole new level of curiosity for it. He didn't mind talking to him - he seemed pretty friendly.

To Jared though, he was an unknown. It made him a little uncomfortable that he was just... too much there, in a way. Lots of moving around while moving hands. It wasn't his best day either - he'd hoped for calm downtime with his twin and instead they'd gotten Reginald. Plus, he was starting to have a headache.

He was a little put-off because of that. And because he'd been startled senseless.

He cringed and tried to hide deeper in his brother's collarbone than he had been (earning a noise of discomfort), when Reggie started asking just how Jared could do his thing, beside the fact that it was a gift. He dispelled the snake, replenishing his ''power supply'' which in turn made his wings appear again.

It was the first time they would be a source of discomfort to him. The stranger would probably ask more about them, but he felt more secure with the tendrils hugging Jens and curling around himself. He kept them as translucent as he could. ''Sh-show wh-wh-what ?'' he mumbled.

Nobody questioned it further when Jens (because it was always Jens) told others it was a gift. ''Like I said, it's a gift. It's magic of a kind I suppose, we didn't really delve deep into finding what it was.'' his twin answered, stroking his shoulder reassuringly. ''It was just something he could always do - small things at first, I remember fondly Jared making birds when we were younger. He never could make them sing, that always made him a little upset.''

Jared couldn't see it but Jens had a small frown - it was agitating Jared and he didn't like it. He comfortingly rubbed his brother's shoulder; he hoped mentioning the birds was a good move, to bring up nostalgia instead of anxiety.

''I don't know much about biology or sciences... and I can't speak for Jared, but I wasn't aware there were biological studies on innate gifts ?'' that last part had peeked his curiosity a little.

Maybe it could shed light on their powers - but maybe it was best to not dig too deep about it. The elders of the village had never questioned it too much... or talked much about it either.

Jens could make shadows too - but was utterly awful at it while his brother was a prodigy. Even their mother and grand-parents had quietly accepted it as something that just was (well, they were hardly the first ones with gifts in the village).

[Cobalt]

Reggie gave a small gasp when Jared's wings appeared. He thought it was wonderful to look at the wispy joints and watch them blur between solid and smoke.
When he spoke, Reggie beamed.
'Ah! You spoke! That's great, I was thinking maybe you weren't going to. If you please, just show me how you make anything! I want to see it.'

Reggie considered this. 'Hmm, so I see. Well, I haven't seen anything quite in the nature of your "gift" in biology, but of course I never studied it for very long. We will have to ask around to see if there's a library anywhere nearby. So, in saying that it was something you could always do, did it ever start from a certain age? If you can remember, that is.'

[Tayuyaxn]

Jared turned away again, cringing when Reggie singled him out; ''R-r-rude. W-w-would've b-b-been r-rude t-to ig-ignore y-you. B-but y-you-you're r-r-rude t-t-too. G-g-gift or n-not, it j-just i-is.'' he muttered, but he obliged, in his own disgruntled way.

He waved his left hand quickly toward Reggie before once again clinging to his brother's shirt, and a Roc - a mythical bird of prey, materialized in front of Reggie. The bird, who was human-sized at this time, had his wings all spread out and talons reaching forward, seemingly to attack but harmlessly went flying through him, looping back to stand next to Jens and Jared.

Jared's wings were still curled around himself or Jens, perpetually in swaying movement, even if they were less substantial since he was using a portion of his power to make the bird.

''Th-that's h-how.'' Jared mumbled, muffled by Jens' shirt.

Jens held back a chuckle because he hadn't quite expected Jared to be cheeky like that. ''Jared.'' he said admonishingly, but not really meaning it - and Jared knew it too. He remarked afterward that finding a library would probably be a good idea - but he had no idea where to find one around here, since they hadn't wandered off much from the circus ground since arriving.

It was a bit of a delaying tactic - or was it outright obfuscating ?

Because it wasn't like they had kept track of when and where, their mother would know more about it. Jared had only been able to make smaller things until he had been around 20 - when their larger power pool had manifested (along with the wings as the physical manifestation of his powers). Their powers were symbiotic and Jared could use it as if it were his own - and at Jens' request, had sealed them so Jared was the only one able to use it. But neither felt like sharing that kind of information outright to someone he had just met.

[Cobalt]

Reggie pursed his lips and his eyebrows pulled together. 'Rude? Oh, I hardly mean to be. I am sorry for that.'

The sudden appearance of the Roc made Reggie fall on his behind in surprise. He blinked for a moment, composing himself, before letting out a grin.
'Remarkable!' he beamed. He crossed his legs and hurriedly pulled himself forward along the ground to lean closer.
'That was fantastic. You have an amazing talent, my friend!'

Reggie agreed that he hadn't the foggiest idea where a library might be, but he assured Jens that if he ever found one, he'd be sure to let them know. He felt as though he might be pushing a bit too deep into their lives, but his interest in both of them was so strong that he wouldn't act on that notion unless either of them confirmed his sneaking suspicions.

[Tayuyaxn]

Jared remained plastered against his twin, even if he wasn't as disgruntled anymore. Knocking the stranger down made him feel strangely satisfied, and it was good that he had stopped asking so much about the origins of their powers. At the praise, though, he tried to hide even more.

Jens, as usual, knew that it was embarrassing him, and whispered to him that it was well-deserved praise, because Jared was amazing and that was that. Jared was probably trying his best to imitate the color of a tomato right now, but since he couldn't see his own face... He tightened the tendrils that were wrapped around Jens in retribution, a little indignant.

Jens turned a small indulgent smile at Reggie, as if to silently say to be patient with Jared. ''He can make more, if he'd feel inclined... but any way - what about you ? Is that all you do, come in and come bother strangers hiding on hills ?'' he said, amused. It was good-natured teasing. As he was speaking, he tried to wave around to encompass their tree, but winced when his movements were restrained by his brother's wings.

There was a little movement, and if Jared was poking his belly again... but the Roc faded away, and Jared made himself a little more cozy - uncurling himself, but only just a bit. Looked like he'd be here for some time.

[Cobalt]

Reggie didn't mind Jared's silence; he got the vibe that he was very shy, and he didn't want to push him. He did, however, want Jared to know how fantastic he thought he was, even if Jared didn't accept the compliment.

'Oh! Well, it would seem so.' he gave a light chuckle. 'I've just been very bored recently. But no, I like to consider myself experienced in many areas - as I've told you before, I paint faces, but I also take an interest in sewing, creative writing, hair dressing and styling, home and interior design, soccer (though I haven't played in years), and I play a little piano.' He beamed, always happy to talk about himself.

'Although, aside from that, I studied a fair amount of subjects in university; though I don't particularly "specialise" in them, if you know what I mean. I have knowledge of a few languages, mythological creatures, some science-- oh, I'm rambling on again,' he blushed. 'I've got to learn not to do that! So, what about the two of you? Any interests aside from shadow puppetry and gathering on hills with trees?' he smiled as he returned the light teasing manner Jens had addressed him with.

[Tayuyaxn]

He raised an eyebrow at the extensive list of things Reggie liked to do; ''That... is a lot of hobbies, you keep yourself well occupied at all times, it's a wonder you find the time to come find people on hills to alleviate your boredom.''

''I would like to reply that it is all we do, but that wouldn't be entirely truthful.'' he said with a small smile; ''I also cook actually - have to feed ourselves and particularly Jared's bottomless stomach''. He chuckled when Jared swatted him with one of his wing-tendrils for that one.

Jens huffed; ''You eat for three, don't deny it.''

Jared mumbled something in answer about how it was not his fault that he was too tall.

''A lot of reading is done too - I read on varied subjects, and Jared is generally always reading over my shoulder, so it's generally my pick. I love mythology, which inspires Jared's creations a bit. Encyclopedias about most subjects are generally interesting - we have this one about the sea creatures...'' he continued.

''W-w-which i-is a-a-as t-t-thick a-as h-his h-head.'' Only to be interrupted by Jared making his own teasing contribution.

''And nicely illustrated.'' he finished, giving a soft headbutt to his brother for interrupting.

''I really like classical music, so Jared indulges me from time to time by letting me put on the CDs - or attending concerts even if it's really loud. But we're frequently outdoor, since it has all the space for Jared to do his thing. All sorts of outdoor things - climbing trees...'' he paused, rubbing his brother's neck where an obvious white scar was partially hidden by his shoulders. ''And all kind of roughhousing we never grew up from since we were boys. And swimming - although it is strange to not expect water elementals to dunk you here.'' he finished.

''H-he d-d-draws t-too.'' Another contribution from his twin, who was apparently going bolder as the stranger didn't show signs of leaving.

''Just sketching from time to time, it's not very good - he's the one with the creative genes.'' He amended.

[Cobalt]

He grinned. 'I get bored easily, so I try to find new things all the time. Hence my rather long list of interests.'

'Oh! You cook! I envy you; I can't cook for the life of me.' he chuckled at Jens' remarks at Jared. 'Oh, I know the feeling: I am usually quite hungry myself. Not as much as I used to be, though, and quite possibly not as much as you are.'

'Reading certainly is fantastic, isn't it?' he propped his chin on the palm of his hand. 'Oh, encyclopaedias. You can learn so much from them!'

Reggie nodded as Jens listed more things. He found it so terribly interesting.
'That all sounds lovely. Music and trees and outdoor activities.. I think we are more alike than previously imagined! Though, water elementals? How do you mean?'

Reggie lit up when Jared noted Jens could draw.
'Even so, you are both so creative, and sketches are merely the skeletons of masterpieces! Oh, this is a wonderful place. I'm so honoured to find such darned clever people.'