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Post by shinta on Nov 24, 2006 15:36:59 GMT -5
The islander apparently had no qualms about getting within striking range of Shinta, as was quickly evidenced by his long strides and firm embrace of the man. The sudden close contact that the islander instigated sent warning bells clattering through Shinta’s mind, and the wariness only increased when the man demonstrated his strength by lifting him into the air a few inches.
As his feet were returned to the ground, Shinta forced his uneasiness away. After this incident he would have to have a talk with his wife about who she invited home, possible ally or not. While the man acted like a simple islander, his abilities were, as evidenced in the tea shop, much beyond that.
“Soraya is heating some vegetables and rice,” He said in response to the man’s question about dinner. “Please, come in.”
Inside was warm and welcoming, if furnished somewhat sparingly. The plain, wooden furniture was illuminated by a simple fireplace in the corner of the room. One door led outside to a cooking area, while a partition separated the living area from the sleeping area.
“Dinner will be ready shortly,” Shinta said. “So, tell me, what brings you to this part of the Fire Nation?”
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Post by iikagen on Nov 24, 2006 16:55:26 GMT -5
Iikagen followed Shinta into his home, quickly taking a measure of the man in his thoughts. The crafty islander hadn't noticed any weapons on his person, but the Fire Nation man felt solid enough to be a potential threat should things turn sour. Iikagen stepped onto the hardwood floor, appreciating the smooth texture after days of walking barefoot on dirt and rocks, and surveyed the simple but cozy furnishings.
“Dinner will be ready shortly,” Shinta said. “So, tell me, what brings you to this part of the Fire Nation?” Iikagen looked at the man with a smile. He never liked to give out any more information than he had too, so he decided to simplify his intentions into something that wouldn't really give the two farmers any idea of his future plans.
"Just passing through," the islander replied, his eyes roaming over the layout of the building. "I heard there was some kind of new transport system a bit further inland, so that's where I'm headed." Good enough, he supposed, to end that line of questioning for the moment without really telling them anything they couldn't already have guessed. But just in case the man entertained any thoughts of continuing his questioning, Iikagen inhaled deeply through his nose like he'd just caught a scent. "Mmmm! That does smell delicious!" he exlaimed, letting his accent shine through a little more. He took a few strides further into the room so he could see out the door to the cooking area where Soraya was at work with supper.
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Post by shinta on Nov 24, 2006 17:38:28 GMT -5
Shinta listened to the islander’s explanation without outward interest. The man hadn’t told him anything, after all. He shouldn’t have expected anything, really. Everything that the man had shown so far indicated that he was a lot smarter than he looked.
The Igni suddenly sniffed the air with a sound of appreciation. "Mmmm! That does smell delicious!" The sudden change of topic caught Shinta’s attention as the man walked over to the door so he could watch Soraya cook.
Soraya was kneeling over the pot as she stirred the vegetables. The rice was steaming in another pot nearby, and the cooking area was filled wi8th the delicious smell. From the other room, she could hear the Igni and her husband conversing in friendly tones. She caught some of their conversation, but concentrated on making a good meal.
She was stirring the rice when she felt eyes on her back. The conversation had suddenly died down, and she paused, suddenly tense, before she heard her husband’s voice. “It’ll be done soon enough,” he said. “Give her a few more minutes.” Hearing this, Soraya went back to her cooking.
Shinta glanced sideways at the islander. “I’m sorry, I don’t believe I caught your name?”
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Post by iikagen on Nov 25, 2006 0:00:04 GMT -5
A wide, toothy grin was the response to Shinta's request for a name. Iikagen took his eyes off Soraya and turned to face the husband. "My name is Iikagen," he began, spreading his hands at his sides as he contionued, "Traveler from the Igni Islands of the Ignis Archipelago, at your service!" He finished his lavish introduction with an extravagant bow that had his nose nearly touching the floor and his arms swept gracefully to one side.
He popped back up quickly from his unusual introduction and seemed to have a spark in his eye that seemed more fitting in a child who'd just had too much sugar. However, for all the facade Iikagen was presenting, he was actually enjoying the game. He'd seen a number of 'nobles' since his time in the mainland, and found it humorous to imitate and exaggerate their fancy, long-winded titles and greeting rituals. Not to mention that the couple who had offered him shelter must certainly be thinking twice about their decision.
They were likely off-balance; unable to guage exactly what the visitor was capable of. In short, they had almost no idea what to expect of him... and that is exacty the way Iikagen preferred it.
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Post by soraya on Nov 25, 2006 12:40:00 GMT -5
Shinta smiled in amusement at the Igni’s impersonation of nobility. It was obviously a mocking art that had been perfected over many experiences. Inwardly, however, Shinta was wary. These tactics of keeping your opponent constantly on their toes, these elaborate impersonations; these skills were the things used by people who were hiding something. He had used them often enough himself during his training, though he had never been any good at them. The islander, however, with his already eccentric appearance, used them as second nature.
A few minutes passed before Soraya came into the room with two steaming bowls of rice and vegetables. Smiling, the woman motioned her guest and husband to the low cushions surrounding a small table before placing a dish first in front of their visitor, and then in front of Shinta. She then returned to the kitchen for a moment before returning with her own bowl.
Eyes flickering over to Soraya for the briefest of moments, then to Iikagen, Shinta spoke. “I hear that you took out those soldiers at the tea shop pretty nicely.”
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Post by iikagen on Nov 25, 2006 13:07:51 GMT -5
Iikagen smiled at Shinta's comment, though he was currently inspecting his own dish. He was holding his hand over the steaming food, watching the whisps of vapor flow between his fingers. "She told you about that little scuffle?" he asked, still looking down and moving his fingers in a circular motion to disperse the steam. "No," he said, laughing slightly and finally looking at Shinta with a wide grin, "the man was already drunk and about to fall over... I just gave him a little push."
The islander reached down at his side, as though checking to make sure he hadn't misplaced his pack which was on the ground right beside him. He grabbed it and slid it slightly under the table to put it out of the way. Iikagen's eyes didn't even glance at the traveling pack, but from simple sense of tough, he managed to position the bag with the open end facing him. Nothing on his face hinted at sinister intentions, but he was now within easy reching distance of his blowgun which was already loaded with a dart tipped in sleeping poison.
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Post by shinta on Nov 26, 2006 14:41:33 GMT -5
Soraya’s eyes watched as the islander—Iikagen, she thought his name was—nonchalantly positioned his pack under the table. Remembering the swift, neat lines of his attack earlier, she had no doubts that he was dually prepared to end the conversation rather abruptly if the need arose. The spy rested her chin on her knuckles for a moment while stirring her soup, apparently disinterested in the current topic.
Out of the corner of his eye, Shinta noticed Soraya’s movement. Her chin was on her knuckles, and not resting in her palm, which would have told him that he was in safe territory. The topic was dangerous, then. But to drop it now would rouse just as much suspicion. Before the silence could stretch too long, he spoke again. “Whether the man was drunk or not, it was appreciated. They’re like that often enough for it to be considered normal anyway.” He took another bite of his meal.
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Post by iikagen on Nov 26, 2006 15:06:28 GMT -5
Iikagen shifted his glance casually between the couple. So far they seemed fairly normal and pretty hospitable. But still, why had she even offered him a place to stay? It was far too selective to have just been random kindness, and the way she seemed to have been weighing the situation since their meeting hinted at a cleverness unbecoming of a common farmer's wife. Regardless, Iikagen let those thoughts simmer in the back of his mind while he kept the conversation moving.
"Maybe the lack of a war on their own soil is making them sloppy?" he offered, picking up a pair of chopsticks and fumbling to position them properly. Iikagen screwed up his face in apparent concentration, but he was actually containing a laugh. His people had traded enough with the mainland to know of chopsticks and how to use them, but he enjoyed playing coy. The more foreign he seemed, the better.
After a few more moments, he gave up and just held the two sticks side-by-side and tried to scoop up his rice on the narrow surface.
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Post by shinta on Dec 1, 2006 19:19:34 GMT -5
Shinta watched Iikagen’s gaze as the man appeared to think for a moment. ”Perhaps the lack of war on their own soil is making them sloppy?” The man’s suggestion would have seemed appropriate, were it not for the apparent difficulty he was having with his chopsticks. The fumbling fingers and easygoing, almost naïve attitude of the island native stuck out in sharp contrast to his careful observations, which merited some thought.
“True…” Shinta mused, “But that would be a terrible thing to admit, would it not?” His dark eyes glinted in amusement. Of course, it was true, to a point. If the Earth Kingdom were to attack from within they may actually have a better chance than if they continued along the path they were on. And with the native populace on their side…
Shinta began to grasp what his wife had seen in this Igni tribesman. It was a good plan, he knew, but even so, Soraya had not thought it out as thoroughly as she should have. The biggest question that weighed on his mind now was how to get the islander to trust them.
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Post by iikagen on Dec 2, 2006 11:16:24 GMT -5
Iikagen shrugged noncomittally at Shinta's statement. "War is like a forge," he began, taking another bite of rice and pausing to chew, "Its heat keeps warriors hardened and sharpened... Without it, we just rust and corrode until we're nothing but fragile lumps of iron." The Igni held up one finger as he recited the saying with his eyes closed in thought, but then broke into a wide smile. He looked from SHinta to Soraya, seeming to be holding back a laugh. "Or at least that's what I saw on a poster in town," he said, scooping another bite of rice into his mouth, "I think it was outside a recruitment office."
Despite the fact that he'd actually seen a similar message in town, the saying Iikagen recited was actually very attuned to the views of his culture. For a true Igni warrior, conflict was the greatest test of a man's character, and in many ways it was exactly why he had left his home in the first place. Two straight years of peace had started to create a sense of lethargy in the battle-hungry war hero.
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Post by shinta on Dec 23, 2006 18:52:19 GMT -5
The islander shrugged and spoke; his serious voice the only sound for several seconds as he likened war to a forge. The moment of sober reflection and inward agreement was broken only a moment after, however, as the islander finished. ”At least that’s what I saw on a poster in town. I think it was outside the recruitment office.” His repressed laughter lit his features.
Shinta nodded; a smile lighting upon his own solid features. “Yes, I do believe that I saw that poster as well.” Inwardly, he frowned at the ideas raised by ‘fragile iron’, but he understood what the Fire Nation was trying to say to its citizens. Conflict was essential to human development. The man who did not understand this was not fit to be in charge of whatever operation he presumed himself to be in charge of.
Shinta sighed. “It’s true, of course. But I wish they would keep the conflict on the battlefield. In that environment, I would be all too happy to fight. But here on the home front, where citizens are required to give so much to the cause of war already, the strain of being abused by their own soldiers is too much for a good portion of the people.” The spy shook his head. “If they rotated the troops more often, then the new recruits could get it into their heads that this is not a game, and they would be more serious about their duties.”
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Post by iikagen on Dec 23, 2006 22:01:46 GMT -5
Iikagen nodded, chewing down his last bite of chicken as Shinta suggested rotating the troops so they'd no longer have an abundance of arrogant soldiers who'd never seen battle guarding their cities. By the time Shinta had finished speaking, Iikagen had cleared his throat and replied, "Or maybe if they just had some one to give them a bit of conflict on their own shores..." He poked his chopsticks toward his host slightly to accentuate his thought, and it was immediately followed by one of his trademark smirks.
The suggestion of stirring up trouble was almost too much a give-away to Iikagen's true intentions on the mainland, but that was a concession of information with a purpose. It was a hunch really, and nothing more, but something told Iikagen that this seemingly normal Fire Nation couple was not quite as average as they seemed. Perhaps it was the fact that the wife had taken a special interest in him. Or maybe even the subtle, almost imperceptible hints in their tone and body language when they spoke of the soldiers. Anyone else might think they were just annoyed citizens, but Iikagen could tell that the feelings they harbored went much deeper than annoyance. It boardered on loathing...
Whatever the case was, even as he casually began stabbing at his chicken for anothe bite, his eyes were working double time to gauge the reactions of the couple.
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Post by soraya on Dec 23, 2006 23:20:46 GMT -5
”Or maybe if they just had someone to give them conflict on their own shores…” The islander gestured towards the couple with his chopsticks, smirking as he did so.
Shinta’s chopsticks paused halfway to his lips, lingering there for a moment before the farmer calmly set them down once more. Beside him, Soraya shifted in the sudden silence. “These words you speak,” Shinta’s voice was hard as he scrutinized the Igni, “They border on treason.”
Soraya’s heartbeat seemed suddenly loud in her ears as her husband locked gazes with the islander. Of all the times for this to happen… she wished that it could have come later. But maybe it could still be salvaged. “He’s right,” she said softly. Shinta’s gaze swerved over to meet hers, a question rising in his eyes.
“Was the Earth Kingdom to penetrate the country- it would give the military a reality check. Maybe that would be enough for them to remember what their purpose is.” The words were foul in her mouth.
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Post by iikagen on Dec 24, 2006 0:31:12 GMT -5
Iikagen grinned at Shinta as he pointed out the danger in his previous suggestion. The sobered reaction, so abrupt a change from the disdainful opinion he held about the military just moments before, hinted that their allegiance was a touchy subject. Why was that? the islander wondered. In any case, he managed to fit in a quick response of, "Only treason if this were my home," before Shinta began speaking.
“He’s right,” the farmer's wife said softly, turning Iikagen's wild copper eyes toward her, “Was the Earth Kingdom to penetrate the country- it would give the military a reality check. Maybe that would be enough for them to remember what their purpose is.” Iikagen's smile widened a bit more. Very interesting... She spoke as if one privvy to a secret. It almost seemed like she was expecting such an invasion. But certainly no typical farmer had access to that level of information.
The Igni's curiosity was growing more compulsive by the second.
"An interesting thought," he mused, stabbing his final piece of chicken with a chopstick. As he lifted the piece up towards his mouth, Iikagen paused and added nonchalantly, "But I doubt it'll ever happen."
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Post by soraya on Dec 24, 2006 14:12:41 GMT -5
Soraya lowered her eyes as she resumed her eating. The two men had both turned to regard her during her short comment, and she wondered perhaps if she had overdone it by just the slightest bit. The Igni’s wide grin remained ever present on his face as he leaned back to pop a piece of chicken in his mouth. "An interesting thought," he mused, “But I doubt it will ever happen.” Shinta nodded in agreement, and Soraya deemed it safe to move on to other, safer, topics. Before she could speak, though, Shinta spoke once more.
“You said it was only treason if this were your home,” He said casually. “What did you mean by that? Do you not consider yourself part of our great nation?”
There were times when Soraya was amazed at her husband’s control over his true feelings, and others when she felt utterly appalled by how casual he could be when speaking of something like, this. This was one of the latter times. Standing, she grabbed her own dish and that of her husband before turning to Iikagen. “Would you like any more?” she asked.
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