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Post by vu on Nov 16, 2006 20:19:47 GMT -5
“A-are you sure,” recoiling her legs towards her as she questioned him.
He saw her looking down at him but could only make out the outlining of her face. But no such luck at discerning her facial expression. At least, he was guessing, Proud was on his side. Scurrying near his feet the vole-tiger looked upward mrowing something to her; to which Vu translated as either the creature’s approval of the idea or for her to hurry up.
Or maybe the animal was openly laughing or mocking her. Humans’ and their clumsy ineptness at tree climbing.
Kage was taking her time at coming to a decision. Judging her options apparently.
“Okay…,” she resigned, “just don’t drop me…” Uncoiling her legs to hang straight again.
His lips curved, his smile forming into a sliver of a crescent moon. If he showed his teeth it could have looked more so. Male humor—cruel as it was at time. He had no intention of dropping her, though. Nor did he want to do such a thing. Even if the thought of dropping her was mildly amusing, falling from that height may do some harm nor did he wish to deal with whatever repercussions she could conjure against him.
Moving a foot back and bending his knees he prepared. His elbows bent and arms outstretched as if he were catching a ball as she shifted her helps. Falling towards him more suddenly than expected.
Catching her, safely enough, though maybe grasping her sides a little too hard, he was successful. Yet he misjudged her weight… then again, unless they were babies or infants—he thought—what woman was light, really? But rather than unintentionally dropping her, Vu had to bend backwards at his waist and bring his arms further inward. Colliding her into him.
His body immediately tensed with most of her mass inadvertently pressed to him. Vu managed to withhold the sudden urge to forcefully push her off and away from him. As if she were somehow revolting.
And yet, he did not find her revolting. Vu was merely unprepared for the feeling of having a warm body so close to him. Let alone a woman’s.
For what seemed to be months since reassignment he had endured far too little human contact. Even when wrestling with men in loin-cloths during the camps wrestling tourney contact rarely closer than elbow length.
Controlling himself, Vu lifted the woman from him, setting her down.
“Effective, no?” Hoping she would be unable to discern whatever embarrassed expression he had on his face. Thankful he couldn’t be seen blushing in the dark, if he did. Taking a moment or two to look upon her as best he could in this lack of light, noticing she was shorter than he expected—a little over a head shorter it seemed, and then he quickly turned away. Looking down on the ground for her sandal.
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Post by leighanief on Nov 17, 2006 0:44:55 GMT -5
She tensed more as his hands gripped her sides quite strongly, not really have been expecting much less, but it was just rather instinctual, or rather so it had become. She could feel his arms wain slightly though then he pulled her inward more.
Well at least he hadn't dropped her but... but, she was now rather against him... quite a bit. Her eyes opened up quickly and she looked somewhat surprised as her eyes adjusted to the dark. He was.. what was it? Human or maybe just alive, that different feeling that was most definitely warm and independant to the touch.
She kept her arms to her side, holding back the urge to take hold of his shoulders so that she may balance herself rather than have him hold all her weight and balance for the both of them. She almost had, but she wasn't sure furthering the contact would be the best of all the choices. She just felt glad it was dark to hide her surprise and probably reddened cheeks.
She did however, push off the front of his shoulders lightly as he set her down. One set of toes feeling the cool grass and dirt against her skin. She looked up and nodded slightly, "Mm-hmm." She managed to his 'effective' comment, not knowing momentarily what else to say. It was odd how she thought momentarily that it seemed as though she could still feel his finger on her sides.
He was taller than she expected, quite a bit so, but then again she was rather short. She took a step back. Himizu filled the space between them quickly, pressing against her legs, tail still flicking in irritation. As he so quickly looked away she lifted a hand, pressing the back of it against her skin, trying to figure out if it was warmer than normal. She wasn't exactly sure.
"He... Proud, where's my sandal?" She looked down to him as he pushed his face roughly into her shin. She bent over slightly and petted his head, but gave his butt a small push. "Hm?" He breathed out and made distance from her, looking around the ground as well, while she tried to more systematically figuring out where around it'd have fallen from how she'd gotten it off. She glanced back to Vu... definitely taller than she'd predicted.
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Post by vu on Nov 17, 2006 20:26:54 GMT -5
And if she was hanging right about here, he knelt one knee under the suspected spot where Kage held the branch. Metohdical in tracking down the woman's sandal. Trying to remember the position of her legs and amount of force it was slipped off to guess its trajectory.
Though that was easier thought than attempted as he patted his hand along the ground in a surveying arc. Left and right. Forward and back. And so far only came down upon grass, dirt, rocks and twigs.
Pawing at the ground he was glad to ignore everthing else that wanted to venture into his mind. A worthy attempt it might have been but matters repeatedly seeped into his mind. Most importantly, and loudest of which, was the repeated phrase of "What am I doing here?"
His hand came down on another object. Not feeling like a rock nor a twig. Enclosing his hand about it, his index finger and thumb felt its way about a leathery strap.
"Unless this is someone else's sandal," he was lifting the discovered item up to her viewing level, "then I shall guess this is yours."
He cast his eyes elsewhere once she had it. "Lovely night for a walk," calmly stating from his lips with ease. There may have been a slight crease on his lips.
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Post by leighanief on Nov 18, 2006 0:06:24 GMT -5
She kept looking around squinting her eyes for anything unusual, and couldn't help but think it'd be useful if she could firebend so there was light, but that was a definite faux-pas and she wasn't here to get in big trouble. Rather... She paused and glanced back to Vu, or 'Nhat' as it were. Why was she here? Simply to show a stranger her performance? Was she so desperate for social interaction.
Whatever it was she didn't want to think about it, it'd probably make her feel even worse. The fact was they were both there and well, though somewhat surprised still he'd shown up lat instead of not at all, she'd have to take it as the oppurtunity it was. Plus... she'd spent a good deal of time setting things up that well... it'd be better to not have been in vain now.
"Ah." She stood up straight again and accepted the shoe back, feeling rather sheepish now that she'd kicked it off in the first place or rather... gotten herself stuck up in a tree at all. The embarrassment would hopefully go away though. She slipped the shoe back on, tugging to make the leather sit in the right spot. Or rather the one already calloused and used to it. "Fancy that, it fits." She said out without much thought, clearing her throat after and chuckling briefly.
Himizu watched as she put it on, scowling in his own animal fashion to it, he'd looked too, and had the nose for it, but the man had gotten to it first.
Lovely night for a walk, eh? She smirked slightly and found her direction easily enough, being to do just that. She took on her own normal pace which was a bit quick stepped, but she was sure he could keep up and if he couldn't... well then she'd have the right to laugh at him. "Glad you think so... cause it's a bit far off." Nothing to severe inbetween ten and twenty minutes of one, but really if he did keep with her pace, it'd be around the ten mark.
Himizu followed at her heels closely, glancing back toward Vu occassionally, sharp eyes watching very closely now, but Kaijin payed little attention to how he was acting really, only looking down occassionally if she felt him brush against her leg.
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Post by vu on Nov 18, 2006 1:29:57 GMT -5
Instead of answering him verbally she turned a begin walking. In a rather quick pace as well. Causing Vu to wonder if he said or even did anything wrong, holding her as he did.
“Glad you think so…” she replied as he stood up and walked after her, “cause it’s a bit far off.” He was trailing behind at first, and then speeding up to match her speed. Though walking a few paces behind her and Proud.
The three walked in silence for a few minutes. The two still maintaining their pace while he purposely lagged a few steps behind, also at their pace.
She must have been doing this for a while, he suspected. Referring to her time spent traveling. He would doubt anyone recent to this sort of life would have normally made such a pace, or even maintain it as long as she could. Maybe she could keep it up for hours, probably has before, he began to inspect her in between making sure where he was going and stepping. Perhaps looking a little too closely than he should have, even if it was dark.
His view first discerning her legs, or at least the outlining of it—a bit bulkier than your typical woman, meaning she has traveled for quite some time. His eyes moved upward to her hips, which seemed to be more of a shapely, athletic round than plump round. While his eyes were there he tried to make out the shape of rump hidden behind the flap of her tunic before finally fanning his sights on the rest of her, which included a shapely bulk to it. I’m guessing at least two years worth of travel, he concluded. Turning his attention from her, and trying to hide what personal shame he felt, he surveyed to his surrounding, especially behind him if he needed to find his way back.
Vu silently swallowed. Attempting to conjure a discussion to break the silence. Opened his mouth, only to close it for a moment. Finally, “I take it you have been dancing for quite some time?”
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Post by leighanief on Nov 18, 2006 15:20:06 GMT -5
She kept going, feet hopping over some roots as they came to them. Her chin remained upward mostly, glancing around occassionally, eyes tracking what she'd left behind.
She had left markers for them, small strips of material about one inch thick in varying colours, tied quickly to branchs and small things that'd be viewable if you knew to look for them. Mostly about her eye height sometimes a bit higher or lower depending on what was available for tieing.
Himizu kept right close to Kaijin's legs, glancing back quite often to watch very precisely to Vu, ears listening closely to the surroundings.
Kaijin glanced back to the man behind her a few times as well. Catching him looking at her... back? She arched an eyebrow slightly, wondering what exactly it was that he was looking at. She lowered her chin slightly in thought, a hand coming to rest on her belt and sash where her wheels hung from on the side of her back.
Was he looking at that? Maybe... sometimes people from a far thought it was a poorly designed water carrier, but the material wrapped handles still showed a bit of metal at the sides before the leather covered it up. So it was sometimes problematic when people did get a good idea of what they were. Or at least what they probably were.
She looked back at him more fully though when he asked the question, "Ah." She tried to think over the years that had past since her brother had showed her the box of things in the attic. It was hard... she had lost track of actualy numbers. She smiled slightly and nodded, "Quite some time would probably describe it..."
She looked back ahead and looked about, finding she'd lost herself momentarily in the process, and slowed down looking around for where they were supposed to go. She knew they were getting close, but she always scattered the markers more when the camp was closer. Himizu rubbed up against her as she stopped and grumbled strongly, pushing his head into her knee.
She looked down to him, and sighed. "You're such a big baby." He lifted up his leg and pawed at her leg, she pulled it back slightly, not wanting to let his claws catch at all. "Okay." She crouched down and pulled him up into her arms. Holding him below her his front legs, and letting his back legs dangle, until her got him up to her shoulder and he put his paws overtop of them, and then held him up by hooping her arms under his bottom.
She then continued to look around as though she was lost. "I guess I was... around 12 when I started trying to dance." She grinned a bit sheepishly, "Yeah, so a while." She squinted somewhat and headed over to a bush, running her fingers over some of the branches while still trying to craddle Himizu like an actual child, until she found what she was looking for.
She grinned and tried to signal with her chin, and started walking again, a bit slower with her new luggage. "This way."
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Post by vu on Nov 18, 2006 23:16:42 GMT -5
Returning her attention forward after answering him, her pace slowed considerably. It seems she was losing track of where she was going… thanks to him. She probably had the trail to and from the rive somewhat memorized in her head, yet with the fall of darkness whatever landmarks she had in her memory were a tad distorted and shaded.
He took her answer of “quite some time” at face value. It may have actually been too long for her to estimate a remotely accurate number of years. Besides, now reflecting upon himself, not even he was able to estimate the number of years since he first began ink brush calligraphy and painting. Though he decided to guess the least number of years she had been dancing at six. Four wherever it was she called home and another since she probably began traveling. Guessing two years as the amount of time she had been traveling on her own. Though Vu was not going to ask her from where or why she began traveling. Rather leave her to do that; tell him if she wanted to, outright or hinting.
“You’re such a big baby,” she was admonishing her Proud, who was pawing at her leg. “Okay,” as she began to crouch down to Proud’s level; and what she was doing… Vu face—his mouth contorting in confusion and his eyes widening a bit as he watched them. She had managed to put the vole-tiger on her back… as if… it were a child. His eyebrow now quirked as the animal’s forelegs were over her shoulders and hind legs at her sides while she looped her arms under the Proud’s bottom.
Are all owners of large pets like this, he pondered. Sure it was “normal” for owners to be attached to their pets, even to the feeling that such animals were the equivalent of children to them at times. But this…
She began to look around again. “I guess I was… around 12 when I started trying to dance,” he quickly tried to wipe the look from his face as he made out a gin on her face. “Yeah, so a while,” she began walking to a bush.
So he was off by probably a couple of years. From what he could guess about her body and how developed it looked, in the dark, she was most certainly over sixteen and possibly over eighteen.
She grinned again and began walking, a little slower this time with added weight of Proud cradled on her back. “This way.”
He began following, then realizing something. “Started trying? So you never took formal training then,” hoping to sound more genuinely interested than ridiculing.
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Post by leighanief on Nov 19, 2006 0:50:40 GMT -5
She readjusted Himizu's weight. The vole-tiger just remained slumped on her shoulder victoriously. Brilliant eyes watching Vu continuously now, assessing the situation and wrinkling his nose up sometimes if Vu got too close. He made little verbal communication though since he was so close to Kaijin's ear.
All together though, the site was all too unbelievable, but Kaijin had her reasons at least. True she babied him too much, but Himizu did have some lasting injuries from his time being in a small metal crate, let alone how they'd attempted to tame their beats.
"Um... no." She admitted, clearing her throat awkwardly, "I learned... from old notes mostly." She decided to explain no more, not wanting him to become regretful of his choice to come all this way for some notebook dancing, which she admitted sounded quite unimpressive.
She's worked quite hard to learn the steps and put grace into her movement, intertwining it with many things, and designing dances of her own to go with certain types of music. Normally the easy to generate kind, since she had no one in specific to do that for her. Mind you that would have been nice.
She looked around the somewhat famillar area, and squinted again once more, "Ah this is it." She stated and quickened her pace over to glowing embers in the distance past some trees. As she entered the clearing, she set Himizu down near the things she left there. The bag with her food, had been hung up from a tree to keep the critters in the forest away from it for at least a little longer.
She went over to where a fire once had been and blew on the embers slightly, before she started putting stripped birch bark on to the redder embers, and flakes of woods she had outside it's stone laid 'barrier'.
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Post by vu on Nov 19, 2006 5:50:59 GMT -5
…learned from a notebook, he pondered. Meaning she either did not have the means to obtain a teacher, was unable to find a teacher or both. At least it’s not self taught martial arts, he grinned. That always turned out bad for a lot of people it seemed. And surely she would have some deft of skill after probably, at least, eight years or more at it.
“Ah this is it,” she said, rushing off to a pile of glowing embers. Seems they were coming unto some sort of clearing. Setting Proud down further away she set at the embers, stoking the slowly dying fire. He tried to get a good look at her face whenever the embers glowed brightly. Though most of her face was turned away from him.
Looking for someplace to sit he lifted the satchel from about his shoulder. “’Old notes mostly,’ eh,” he began wrapping the satchel’s strap about his arm a few times before placing the satchel itself under his arm. “I must admit that it is a bit impressive though not uncommon as you may think. Most of the men I know—knew learned to play instruments from notes, memory or self taught because they were away from teachers or never had the means to afford one.” He quickly added, “In my old life. Some of them turned out pretty good, if they got enough practice. Though very few of them could even sing. Very few.”
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Post by leighanief on Nov 19, 2006 13:29:39 GMT -5
Kaijin kept at the fire, putting more things on it, grabbing some of the dried pine needles she'd gather up into a neat little pile. Himizu resigned to going over to a small blanketed area and lied down, refraining from aiding it any way. His 'sister' seemed to always get quite upset when he helped with these things with other people around. He yawned and slumped his head down, watching her closely now.
She kept at building up the fire, finding mostly the embers just ate at the sides of the dry fuel she gave it and turned then to ash, but she had little patience to wait, so she secretly helped it along, placing a hand on the rocks and extended her fingers as if to feel for the warmth it was giving off, but slowly increased the heat herself, until two small licks of flame showed under the bark she'd thrown in. She grinned slightly and sat back, letting it build a bit more on its own before she put in a couple bigger branches to actually burn unlike the scraps that'd just burn off.
It was slow to build, but she found all, more or less, natural campfires were like that, and so long as she took care of it well, it'd burn for a very good while so long as it was kept fueled with the larger wood she'd found herself prior.
She listened to him while she watched the fire, and then glanced over slightly, brushing back some of her hair. Thinking over what he was saying. In his old life. How detached that sounded, but was that how she viewed her own as well? It was more or less, and for that she felt slightly guilty, but there was little in it she wanted to return to now. "Ah, yeah. Practise's what makes everything it seems, that and learning from mistakes."
She put another piece of wood, the closest thing she could find to a 'log' substitute on to the somewhat larger flames. Sprinkling some of the kindle overtop of it, so that the fire might spread more temporarily over the thing, hoping it'd then start to burn into it as well. "But really, one doesn't need to know how to sing to play an instrument, though I suppose it wouldn't hurt. Besides..." She breathed out and turned slightly towards Vu now, in her seated position, "My notes were written by someone who'd have been a very good teacher I imagine. So I think that helps."
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Post by vu on Nov 19, 2006 16:54:56 GMT -5
Practice and mistake learning, indeed, he nodded as she was able to get the fire going. He was grinning before she turned around. Sure, one did not need to know how to sing to play an instrument… but that never stopped some soldiers from trying to sing while they played. Or those who did not play an instrument from freely singing either.
He was grinning as she was about to turn around. Sure you did not need to know how to sing
“My notes,” she turned to him, “were written by someone who’d have been a very good teacher I imagine. So I think that helps.”
Nodding, “Meaning that that set of notes,” he was assuming she had more than one set of dance notes, “was not obtained from some dirty looking vagabond charging kids a silver coin for a two copper fake instruction manual.” He was not intending to doubt her abilities, merely attempting to joke with her, smiling at her. “Well! It has been known to happen when I was a kid,” he began laughing. “Some dirty, wandering wretch selling faulty, self-taught gongfu manuals at inflated prices to little boys who did not know better.”
He turned from her for a moment. Embarrassed by the memory. “In fact I was one of those little boys who didn’t know any better,” turning back to her, “But my older sister taught me the error of my ways… as ‘lovingly’ as an older sibling could.” He chuckled but then began to wince for a moment. “Other boys however were not as lucky. Especially when they attempted to test their ‘amazing’ gongfu skills.”
As she was getting the fire going he offered her a hand up from her sitting position. “It was hardly ever a pretty site: watching some boy play hero with his newly learned Buddha’s Diamond Palms Technique or Armor Piercing Bone Crushing Crossbow Kicks against some bully. They never worked.”
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Post by leighanief on Nov 19, 2006 18:41:02 GMT -5
She pulled some of the bigger pieces closer to herself and set them up like a teepee around the already existing fire. Using the tips of her fingers to try and get the thing to stay upright at first, trying not to get near to be licked by any sort of flame. She then tossed more dry needles under it, a nice bunch of them, and then watched the fire closely to make sure it would eventually do what she wanted from it.
She snorted though, laughing in a manner which made it seem as though she'd never have been caught doing such a thing. "I assure you my notes are not from a vagabond."
She tried to hold back her chuckling as he admitted he'd been one of the tricked young boys, long ago she was sure."oh... oh no, poor boys indeed." She couldn't imagine moves with such names would work, unless of course a child got in a lucky shot by accident. Maybe it'd been far too long, but she found it hard to see how even a child could be fooled like that, though she could see how perhaps they could have been impressed into the faulty purchase.
She cleared her throat, a crooked grin still on her lips as she tried to not laugh still. "My father would never have allowed it for my brother or I buy such things." But then again... I guessed we never needed them. She'd had her fair share of real scrolls to mull over labourously at a young age.
"But you have a sister? What is she like?" Kaijin asked off-handedly, genuinely curious. She's never had much of a female influence in her home, and wondered somewhat of how it would have been like.
She'd lifted up her hand to accept his, not that she needed the help, but would still accept it, and what seemed like too quickly, Himizu had come over. He moved to stand in front Kaijin and she pulled back her hand slightly, looking to him in questioning. Wondering what it was exactly he wanted as he stared at her briefly with some sort of agitation. Then looked up to Vu. She grinned slightly and shook her head, patting the beast's crown, but re-extended her hand to Vu's gesture.
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Post by vu on Nov 20, 2006 0:14:19 GMT -5
It seemed she had Proud under control as she re-extended her hand to him. A tad wary, Vu kept an eye on Proud while sliding his own hand under Kaijin’s. Aiding her off the ground. “I do believe he is a wee protective of you,” giving his full attention to her for a moment. “Though I can not blame him…” For a moment he thought of purposely giving her a sly grin for the fun of it, but decided not to.
“As for my sister,” beginning once she was on her feet. Scratching his throat for a moment and almost forgetting to release her hand, “I will begin by saying she is a kind and gentle woman—less bad luck befalls me,” he smiled at her. “But seriously, she was often mature and… benevolent, not just as an older sister to my brothers and I, but as a person. Sure she can be bossy and controlling, a few times toward our parents as she got older, but that only ever seemed to happen after you burned her extremely long fuse of a temper. Otherwise she was often calm and patient—even when you saw her eye twitching in anger,” he chuckled. “And if you ever did manage a confrontation with her you were automatically in the wrong unless you could prove her otherwise.”
He let out a somewhat regretful sigh that he was telling her all of this. “Incidentally that was how our argument over the fake martial arts manual I bought started… eheh… and how she discovered her innate martial skills if you will. The ‘Flying Tackle,’ ‘You Are Coming With Me Painful Ear Pull,’ ‘Box Your Little Brother’s Ears Til They Turn Red’ and ‘Sit Atop Your Little Brother Like A Comfy Cushion’ techniques were always her favorites. As a result my younger brothers never forgave me as they were repeatedly used in her physical arsenal of keeping us in line. Come to think of it,” he looked up and smiled before looking back down at her. “I am not sure her children will forgive me either when they find out I was the reason she invented those moves she sometimes has to uses on them.”
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Post by leighanief on Nov 21, 2006 0:19:37 GMT -5
She gave him an awkward grin, wanting to excuse Himizu for his ways but... the vole-tiger's actions were sweet in their own way, and she felt somewhat guilty actually apologizing for them, since the little animal had always tried to do his best to protect her once they'd become closer. She'd have declined the protection if she could, but when it came from an animal it was always so much... different. Simple but genuine.
She gripped his hand mostly with her thumb, curving her fingers slightly around his wrist. His hold seemed a bit tough, fitting to his manner she supposed, but warm again. She pushed off the ground with her other hand and successfully rose up, looking up to the man once more. "He is... a bit. Mostly around men." She said, sheepishly grinning. "And since you're so tall... and a stranger. Erm." She brought her hand up and rubbed the back of her neck. "I'd just watch your fingers." She warned trying to not sound as though it was some sort of threat.
She looked down to his hand as it let go of hers and she pulled hers behind her back quickly, interlacing her fingers back there before she glanced down to the fire briefly, checking on its progress. It seemed to be on its way, nicely... though she'd helped it along. But... no one needed to know that.
She glanced back up to him, taking a half step back. "She sounds very wonderful." Kaijin said with a small smile, "Though, I bet those children won't let it off your back, if they learn their Uncle's responsible for bringing out such disciplinary measures." She chuckled to herself. 'Nhat's' sister did indeed seem like a nice woman, she wondered how much of an age difference there was between the two of them. Though he'd mentioned younger brothers, so it was probably one of the shorter age differences, though she could not be sure. She wasn't sure if it was her business to ask much further either. So she just nodded with an amused grin on her lips.
"It's probably a good thing she kept you out of trouble though." She mused, "My brother kept me out of most trouble, but we made our fair share of it too." She breathed out almost like a sigh of laughter. An odd mix, but she turned away, and headed over to the blanket and slipped off her sandals and set them near her one bag. Himizu lingered a moment, continuing his watch on Vu, then headed over ot her once more. Lieing down near her bags by the edge of the blanket. "Uhm... you can sit here to watch, if you'd like."
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Post by vu on Nov 21, 2006 21:22:34 GMT -5
He nodded, walking to the blanket. His head held straight but those amber irises snuck their way to the side of his eye sockets. Slowly coming to discern her shape and features ever better in the growing firelight. He examined her feet as he sat just outside an arm’s reach of her belongings. Opening his satchel and keeping it just under eye level while he did. Making out their size, length, shape and texture; he quickly tired to stop himself when he imagined them twisting and curling.
“An-older-brother-I-take-it?” Quickly spilled, wanting to change his mental subject. “I used to wonder sometimes what that would be like,” he finally placed his hand into the satchel and rummaging inside. “Having an older brother,” he voice becoming a measured, casual pace. “Then I remembered about myself being the older brother and my… shenanigans towards them and decided I was better off with my older sister.” He fished out the bamboo tube and extra pouch, setting them to one side and the satchel to the other side of him.
In mid-placement of these his movement slowed. Maybe she did not run away, he considered. Maybe she and her brother were just orphans. Pondering where and what happened to her brother he began to assume the worse. He could have ended up a soldier but even then he would be allowed to bring her along right? Or… or he was dead. The culprits were obvious but he could not help but feel personally responsible.
Hails of arrows, lanced and trampled under a cavalry charge, set ablaze by firebending infantry, rotting in some prison camp or gagged and dressed in a Fire Nation uniform and sent out unarmed in the middle of an engagement flashed momentarily in his mind concerning her brother’s death. What then took precedence over these were the image of just her brother, his own war crawler and himself. Crushed under debris collapsing debris, ran down under its spiked wheels, atop the crawler and seeing Vu’s hand followed by the erupting flame as his last sight. And there was the screaming each time he murdered him.
“But I am sure,” his voice slowed as his head hang, “it your brother was easier on you. You being a little sister and not a little brother… and I am sure he misses you,” wanting to wipe the feeling out of his mind. “But would be delighted to know his little sister—the little adventurer,” he attempted to crack a smile, “is quite well.”
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