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Chapter one: Serenity
Born to a modest family of store owners, the Tipps, Hion would come into this world greeted with adoration by a large gathering of strangers.
Hion's mother began labor shortly after late milk on a lazy summer morn. She dropped to the floor unexpectedly and let out a howling scream. Her husband, stocking the shelves at the time, dashed out the door to fetch the mid-wife. Her screams continued in his absence. They were loud and feral and could be easily heard from a distance. After a few minutes she had attracted quite a bit of attention from passers by and a crowd began forming in the store. The crowd was enthusiastic and offered words of encouragement for the mother to be. The gathering quickly turned festive, while the poor mother to be waited in agony for her birthing partner to arrive.
A moment passed.
More and more people began to congregate. Smoke started to fill the room as many onlookers lit pipeweed filled vessels. A keg of ale also made an appearance courtesy of a dwarf from Akan. He was in the middle of making his weekly delivery to the Ale House across the street and saw the commotion. Never one to miss a social occasion the dwarf sprung into action and fulfilled his dwarven duties: festivities call for festive beverages!
Another moment passed.
The father to be shoved his way though the now packed store front dragging the poor mid-wife with behind him. The labor was intensive and took nearly an hour in total. By time the Hion's head crowned, the noise was nearly deafening. Not from the mother, though she was screaming in pain, but from the now standing room only crowd. They were cheering and singing. A game of dice broke out in the corner.
Fifty-five minutes of intense labor passed. Then silence. The mother now holding her child looked up through the smoke filled room to see the crowd before her. It was clear on the faces of each and every bystander. They all looked down at the new child with the same quiet awe that his mother did. It was on the faces of every patron and well wisher including the degenerate gamblers in the corner. The child she held in her hands was absolutely perfect. Not perfectly divine. Not perfectly strong. Not perfectly smart or cunning. No. Hion was perfectly beautiful.
Chapter Two: Epiphany
The years leading up to his adolescence were very impressionable and would forever alter Hion's life. The things his mother would come to say to him, the things he would observe, and the things he would come to reason would send him down a dark and most dangerous path.
At a young age, Hion was the apple of the community's eye. Everyone in the neighborhood would visit the Tipp's store just see the little boy playing on the floor. Store sales rose dramatically after his birth and the family business grew prosperous.
He was an active child and reveled in the adoration of friends, relatives, and even strangers. Everyone would remark how handsome, gorgeous, and cute he was. Occasionally someone would even run out of superlatives to describe the boy. Without fail each and every person that spoke to Hion would eventually mention how just the child's presence made their day brighter.
Just the mere sight of him could turn a complete stranger's worst day around. It wouldn't be a dramatic turn around mind you. His presence wouldn't change a funeral into a party, but just with him being there it made any loss seem less tragic. Any setback or personal tragedy seem less severe.
The reasons for these emotional transformations where numerous, and would inevitably be poorly articulated to Hion. It wasn't just his good looks that brought people joy. It was his personality. It was the sure and confident way he strolled through the streets of Blackclaw. It was the way all his clothes draped casually over his frame. It was the way he smoothly and calmly talked to people. It was the way other people looked at him with admiration, that made a complete stranger want to speak to him. It was the way he made everyone feel like they were best friends with a famous celebrity.
As Hion started to approach adolescence, his reasoning skills began to develop. He was a bit late in his intellectual development but was in no way retarded or slow. He began to realize how everyone's face would light up in his presence and that pleased him greatly. He seemed to have a gift that no one else in the world had.
He began to wonder.
If his presence would brighten a persons otherwise dull or perhaps awful day, could his absence produce the adverse effect? People would experience a high state of emotional satisfaction with him around, but what if they experienced an equally low point when he wasn't with them?
The thought was throughly depressing and he broke down sobbing.
For the next few months he became reclusive. He was shamed at the thought that he couldn't provide happiness for everyone all the time. Through the long winter Hion stayed up in his bedroom and kept to himself. He didn't play with any of his friends, speak to his family, or bring anyone joy. The family business took a financial hit that winter, and the overall mood in the community was forlorn. That was a long winter for the people in Blackclaw.
The winter cycle started to draw complete. It was a few weeks before planting season when Hion's mother came into his room to perform an intervention. Hion watched the door open, and his mother walk through. She was graceful as always, but her face was saddened. The first and last time Hion would witness his mother not a glow with happiness.
He poured his heart and soul out to her. He explained that he felt empowered to move people emotionally, but he was powerless to help all but a small group at a time. He was guilty and confused. He didn't understand why people were festive and in high spirits when he was around. What made him so different, he asked his mother.
She paused.
And then paused again.
She looked deeply into the adolescence's eyes and said something true, but not complete. She said, "Son. You're beautiful and it pleases people to no end just to be with you." It's tragic that Mrs. Tipp chose those words exclusively. A more complete answer would have included not just his physical beauty, which was undeniable, but also his personality and charm. The way he made every one feel included. It wasn't his physical beauty, but it was his inner beauty that changed people's lives.
Chapter Three: Beauty
It was first day of planting season, and the hustle and bustle of the farmers and seasonal hands was in full swing. This was always a a big sales season for the Tipp's dry goods store. They sold planting equipment, seeds, and small budding plants specifically for this time of year. Sales this year were expected to be more of the same, provided their son would work the store.
Hion emerged from his seclusion early that day, and entered the store. His parents were pleased to see him back in the store, but they were concerned that he would give a quick hello and go back to hiding in his room. Those concerns were quickly dismissed.
The young man had a warm look on his face and flashed his mother a big feline smile on his way in. Hion walked over to the stocked shelves. His father assumed he was going to start taking inventory, but he was wrong. Hion grabbed a wheelbarrow, a shovel, several sunflower seeds, tulip seeds, and other random seeds, fertile soil, and an empty bucket which he would later fill with of water. After placing all the items into wheelbarrow, he turned, smiled, and casually pushed everything outside.
Everyday Hion pursued his cause with the vigor of a passionate man. His mission was undeniable.
The summer came quickly that year and the fruits of Hion's labor were displayed prominently for all to see. The walkway leading up to the Tipp's store was blooming with a beautiful arrangement of tulips, sunflowers, orchids, and roses. Each flower was hand placed and given as much personal attention as it required. Hion had a theory: Beauty naturally leads to happiness. After 4 solid months of painstaking labor, he was now able to test this hypothesis.
Every day for a solid week he observed people coming in and out of the store. He looked closely on their faces as they walked past the floral display. The reactions were mixed. Some seemed to be pleased with what they saw, some oblivious, and some even seemed put off by the display evidenced by a cough or sneeze. Hion was hoping that the people observing his artwork would show the same emotional surge as when they were talking to him in person. This whole episode was perplexing. If beauty leads to happiness how come these people didn't light up at the sight of all the flowers?
Clearly the display wasn't good enough. Hion would have to try harder. There was still time in the season to tear down the current arrangement and begin again. Everyone would be in high spirits come fall.
Chapter Four: Perception
It was now a week after Hion decided to change his floral display. He was a bit more experienced at dealing with planting and arranging and his resulting week of work showed it. He carefully lowered a sunflower into the hole he made for it. The flower was already mature and carried with it the full beauty that nature intends. That flower as well as all the other sunflowers the young gardener was planting today came courtesy of a makeshift greenhouse behind the Tipp's home. At the start of the summer the lad converted an old shed into a nursery for dozens of flowers and plants. They were sectioned off in were in various stages of development and many were now ready for transplanting.
He pushed some fresh soil over the roots and it filled the hole. After several firm pats with his hand, the sunflower had a new permanent home. He leaned back and expelled some air from his lungs. The sun would soon crest and bring with it the heat of a Blackclaw summer day. He reached back and grabbed a glass container. He brought it to his lips and with a final swig, finished his late morning milk.
He set down the glass bottle and was just about to continue with his planting, when he noticed a couple of his old classmates walking down the street. It had been quite a while since he had been at school. He didn't attend the summer session this year, since he was busy with the floral arrangements. His depression resulted in his parents getting him a tutor for the previous spring and winter sessions. Hion thought for a minute trying to recall these two lad's names. They were a couple years older than Hion. What were their names?
As they approached he noticed they were both giggling. Hion felt a bit awkward and figured they were making fun of him and his gardening but wasn't quite sure. Hion had been in these types of social situations before. Occasionally he would out of place, or do something inappropriate but he always had the elite socialite skills to bring his social status back to adoration. His skills were a bit rusty now, but he felt confident he could win the respect of this older lads. The two lads were walking right in front of Hion now, and he reached out to them.
"Hey chums. What's your take on these flowers? Pretty fabulous hunh?"
Hion emphasized the statement with his trademark wink, finger snap, and point. Immediately both of the lads broke into an all out belly busting laughter. Hion could hear their laughter for several minutes, until the two lads had walked out of hear shot. What just happened? How could his charms have produced this affect?
After planting two more sunflowers, it was time for lunch. The noon pheasant special over at The Ale House would be particularly delicious.
The walk over was one of deep reflection. Maybe he lost his gift. Maybe he focused too much on gardening. Maybe his social skills had eroded. Maybe his charms were boyish and he was just too old now to have that sort of affect on people. Maybe something else.
He walked into the tavern and ordered a plate of the noon special. The bartender had several plates of game bird and potatoes prepared for the noon rush and handed a steaming plate over to Hion as soon as he paid. The young gardener turned to look for an empty seat, but didn't notice one a first. In fact the only thing he could notice was the look on the faces of the approximately 30 bar patrons. They were all looking at him with a mix of puzzlement and caution. Actually they were all staring at him.
Hion glanced around, found an empty table, and quickly took a seat. Now he was really concerned. What was wrong with him? Was his attire inappropriate? He quickly scanned his clothing. He was wearing a set of his mother's old gardening clothes: light purple overalls, covered with dirt stains. His mother had sewed several patches of various colors, though many were pink, to cover tears and holes from many years of gardening. They were a bit too long for the lad, and he had rolled the pant legs up so they wouldn't drag on the ground. The clothes?
Hion thought some more. He had been spending a lot of time in his flower garden. Maybe his obsession was strange. Other people in the community had hobbies though. The old guy down the street. What's his name. He always carved and whittled small toy boats. And that middle-aged spinster that baked cookies and cakes all day. They were obsessed with their hobbies, but no one thought of them in any strange way. The gardening?
Hion worked on his meal. He started to clear his mind of this nonsense. The room came back into focus after his ponderings and he was again aware of the people around him. Everyone was having conversations and the background noise started to put the young man at ease. Then he heard the word. It was as clear as a bell and he felt like he was run over by a wagon. "Queer."
It wasn't the gardening. Everyone thought he was gay! Hion knew he wasn't gay and was attracted to many of the females his age and even some of the older fela around the fort. He was just a bit too obsessed with trying to make other people feel welcomed and at ease, to chase after some scattered tail. He looked down again at his purple and pink overalls. Dear God.
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