|
|
Post by yumi on Jul 14, 2007 19:58:13 GMT -5
Clouds covered the sun’s hot, intense rays, causing a dark shadow to cast over the capital of the Fire Nation. As always, Lun Yang was busy. Citizens could be seen hurrying down the busy streets while new civilians entered through the main gates. A typical day really – nothing out of the ordinary. Despite the busy and thriving life of the city, Yumi was bored out of her mind.
There was nothing exciting going on and no work could be found. Work – she dreaded to think about work. It was something that had been causing a bit of a guilt trip lately, eating away at her. For the last three days of staying in the capital in the cheapest inn she could find to save money, she would think. Her occupation of choice was not exactly something one could be proud of.
With those thoughts in mind constantly, she quit... temporarily of course. There was nothing else she could do at the moment, except work at random facilities, but it was worth a shot. Just as long as she got away from work. Today, Yumi had some luck, being able to be hired for a short escort job for a merchant. She had met the old man just the day before at a small tea shop.
They had discussed it briefly yesterday, but went over basic information. She would learn more about her job today. Yumi waited in front of the same tea shop that she had met the merchant in, leaning against the wall of the place with her arms crossed over her torso. The young woman crossed her right leg over the other, sighing deeply in frustration. He was late. Just perfect...
|
|
|
|
Post by jorani on Jul 14, 2007 20:30:34 GMT -5
The city was teeming with people, and because of this, the old man's ostrich horse team had a difficult time navigating through the traffic of pedestrians and wagons. Finally though, the merchant arrived to the tea shop. There was the woman he'd hired, leaning indolently against the wall. The man, Kousei by name, pulled up, bringing his wagon to an abrupt halt with a tug on the reigns. With a bit of difficulty, Kousei climbed down. He was a portly old man, probably in his late 50s, maybe early 60s. Long years of traveling under the blazing sun which always seemed to shine upon the Fire Nation had caused his face to become tanned, deeply wrinkled and leathery. His dull brown eyes regarded Yumi a moment.
"Let us step inside and finalize the terms of our agreement," his deep bass voice suggested, as he made a gesture to the door.
--------------------
Elsewhere in Lun Yang, a 10 year old girl sulked as she followed her escort, her governess Tenka. She was Jorani Kalliyan, the youngest child of the house of Kalliyan. It was...rare...that Jorani was allowed past the gates of her own home and the grounds around it. In past times, she would've been elated with joy, bouncing around and making Tenka's life a living hell with her antics. But since her brother's departure to join the Fire Nation Army, there was not much that could lift her spirits.
Jorani looked up at Tenka and glared at the frumpy old woman. The only reason she was even in the city proper with her governess was because she needed to be fitted for new clothes. After a horrible temper tantrum, Jorani had burnt a set of fine silks. Right now she wore her cotton qi pao and canvas shoes, her 1000 thread count cotton "play clothes." In her hands, she carried her new set of silks.
The girl desperately wanted to escape from her governess. She wanted to find a way to leave Lun Yang. She wanted to find the person more dear to her than any other in the world. Her older brother Hino...
|
|
|
|
Post by yumi on Jul 15, 2007 16:09:57 GMT -5
"Finally..." she muttered as the old man finally arrived at the small shop.
"Let us step inside and finalize the terms of our agreement."
She gave a slight nod, making her way to the door, pushing it open lightly with one of her long hands and entered. The tea shop was simple yet elegant in a way. It was clad in shades of deep reds, golds and greys. The Fire Nation’s famous (the word infamous maybe a little more fitting for it) could be seen on long sheets of crimson colored cloths near the back and along the walls.
Small, wooden framed windows were at various spots, letting in some light as well as fresh air. It was dimly lit, with small candles sitting atop each of the low, wooden tables. The facility was having a slow day today. Only five people were seen in the shop, seated at different spots with cups of tea. After examining the room briefly, Yumi took a seat at an unoccupied table, sighing.
"Now, just give me my instructions so we can leave already."
Yumi was not one for small talk.
|
|
|
|
Post by jorani on Jul 15, 2007 20:46:54 GMT -5
The portly old man followed Yumi into the tea shop, sitting down across from the young woman.
"Now, just give me my instructions so we can leave already."
Now this was a woman after his own heart. THe crusty old man wasn't much for idle conversation, and was pleased to see the woman he was hiring felt the same way.
"You are to accompany me to Sun Sei. As of late there've been bandits haunting the main road leading there, and I've had two of my men lose shipments to them. My clients in Sun Sei are getting antsy and I've got to deliver this shipment of goods or else I'll lose them all together. I'll pay you..."
The large man detached a coin pouch, filled with what appeared to be gold pieces.
"100 gold pieces now. If nothing happens on this run, and I get all these goods to Sun Sei safe and sound, I'll pay you another 100 gold. Depending on how well you do, I might consider hiring you on a more permenant basis."
---------------
Jorani was made to stop as Tenka came across a friend. While the two talked, the young girl glanced around her surroundings, checking to see if she was being watched. Though there were many folks about in the capitol city, all were seemingly involved in their own errands. Then her eyes flitted to the pouch of gold tied to her governess's belt. It was bulging at this point, as Tenka had been instructed to visit several shops on her way home to buy various things for the household. So far the only stop that had been made was the one to the seamstress, so there was still quite a bit left.
While Tenka was absorbed in conversation, Jorani's nimble fingers went to work. Her tongue stuck out a bit as she worked at the simple knot, trying not to make movements that would be detected.
Yes! she thought as the pouch was liberated and without notice.
Then, the little girl slipped into the crowd, and moved away from her warden. She ran for quite awhile before she finally stopped to catch her breath in front of a tea house. She noticed a wagon parked outside of it, filled to the brim with various goods.
Okay...I'll sneak into the wagon. Eventually they'll have to stop at a town, right? Then I'll see if I can find out where my brother went to...
To her childish mind, this seemed a fool proof plan. She didn't know that there were some huge gaping holes. What would happen if she got caught? How would she find her brother? Would people even know about him? Still, her mind didn't even consider these possibilities as she climbed into the wagon and nestled herself in among bolts of cloth and baskets, pulling a large basket over herself so that she was hidden from plain sight. She hugged her fine silks and the money pouch close to her as she waited with bated breath for the owner of the wagon to come back out and hit the road.
|
|
|
|
Post by yumi on Jul 16, 2007 16:58:38 GMT -5
Yumi listened carefully as the old merchant explained her assignment. It seemed fairly easy enough. She was decent when it came to combat and seemed to be getting better with the training she was enduring in her free time. Her eyes soon widened once he took out a pouch.
"I'll pay you... 100 gold pieces now. If nothing happens on this run, and I get all these goods to Sun Sei safe and sound, I'll pay you another 100 gold. Depending on how well you do, I might consider hiring you on a more permanent basis."
A small smirk came to her pale lips. Now, she really wanted to do her job well. Doing well would mean a permanent job for her and she could forget all about her other occupation for good. With a nod (as well as a greedy look in her golden eyes) she got up from the crimson cushion.
"Alright, it’s a deal. Let’s head out now, shall we?"
She didn’t wait for an answer, but just walked out of the door casually. Yumi spotted the wagon and quickly got into the front seat, leaving some room for the merchant. She just wanted this to go well with no problems and to be over with quickly, so running into bandits was not an option.
|
|
|
|
Post by jorani on Jul 16, 2007 19:58:36 GMT -5
With a great deal of effort, the large man clamored up into the front seat. He was breathing heavily as he reached forward to take the reigns. The merchant clicked his tongue and the ostrich horse team took off. Jorani had a giddy grin on her face as the wagon began to move. She'd done it! She'd actually succeeded in running away. She kept quiet though. So far she had escaped detection and she wanted to keep it that way. And so, the youngest daughter of the notable Kalliyan noble family found herself on her way out of Lun Yang for the first time in her young life. ---- "So Tenka, what chore brings you out this day?" the governess's friend asked. The older woman rolled her eyes. "Miss Jorani burned another set of fine silks. Didn't we--" Tenka had turned to regard her young charge...only to find to her horror that the 10 year old was gone! The governess glanced about wildly. "Miss Jorani? MISS JORANI!?" As she turned about, trying to find the girl, she noticed that her belt was considerably lighter. Her mind jumped to a horrible conclusion: Miss Jorani had been kidnapped...and they culprits had made off with the Kalliyan's gold! Jorani has left this thread...to be continued in That's the way the cookie crumbles |
|
|
|
Post by yumi on Jul 18, 2007 15:58:21 GMT -5
She raised an eyebrow at the crusty merchant, but then shrugged. He was old, wheezing wasn’t exactly unusual for someone his age. Yumi crossed her arms over her chest, sighed deeply and looked at her surroundings in boredom. Nothing, but buildings and people scurrying about so far. It didn’t take long for them to reach the main gates of Lun Yang, passing through them within seconds. Now, all Yumi could see was the dirt road and the trees. There was an uncomfortable silence between her and the old man, at least to her. It seemed like it would stay that way. Yumi fiddled with her thumbs, whistling. Her mind was elsewhere, hoping that nothing would happen during their trip to Sun Sei and it wouldn’t take too long to get there. She shook her head. Keeping bad thoughts in her mind could jinx her, she thought. Might as well stay positive. Well, this should be simple...Yumi has left the thread |
|
