Post by xian on Jan 8, 2008 0:27:59 GMT -5
After his strange encounter earlier that day, Xian had finished his work without problems. As a daily routine, the old man paid Xian for his work, and by that time, it was nearing afternoon. Xian had a lunch break earlier, though it hadn't been anything spectacular. With his day's pay in the pouch tied to his belt, he allowed the final rays of the setting sun to warm his skin while he stretched his limbs. Various tendons and muscles cracked and strained before his body relaxed. Carrying various types of boxes and items throughout Ba Sing Se didn't come easy. As the shade of the carts before him began to extend further, Xian walked down the short steps of the shop and onto the dusty streets of one of Ba Sing Se's many markets. Still bustling with people, Xian began to make his way through the crowd. He allowed his thoughts to wonder for some time as his current walking course remained random; wherever his feet decided to take him.
Dark strands were rustled as he scratched the side of his head. He had been living comfortably, or at least, as he would see it. Still, he had yet to find his childhood friend. After visiting nearly every single school he could find over the last year, he still had yet to find her. He started to doubt she had ever made it to Ba Sing Se. Still, he couldn't help but cling to hope. His left hand stumbled into his pocket and pulled out the folded sketch paper of Ran. By now, the paper was torn on the corners and folded to the point where the picture lost most of its detail. He paused in his step and allowed his jade hues to become lost in the picture. He could piece together the small smudges and details to fit the picture of what his friend looked like all those years ago. If he had any sort of painting skills, he probably would have made portraits to aid in his search. Still, it would be smart to get the sketch a little more updated, or at least, have someone trace it on better paper. The city was large and seemingly endless. Even after being here so long, he still had yet to track through the entire place. It seemed almost impossible. Nevertheless, he still couldn't help but feel she was here, somewhere.
As the cool winds began to brush against him, his eyes shifted skyward. The clouds were barely visible; merely broken patches among the dark blue tinted sky. The sun had seemed to finally set, and Xian took the time to find out exactly where he was. He hadn't been paying all that much attention, and as he attempted to get his bearings, he felt the need to internally admit he had gotten himself lost. He let out a hesitant chuckle and characteristically threw a hand behind his head and scratched a bit. Funny; he'd been a delivery boy for quite some time, and knew the ins and outs of nearly every street of his district. This place, however, seemed a bit unfamiliar to him.
There were a few stores to his right, and to his left, some residential houses. Nothing to grand, but in comparison to his own home, it was a bit better; larger, at least. The sudden aroma of food filled his nostrils. With his terrible sense of direction forgotten at the thought dinner, Xian began to follow the scent to a small shop on the left side. He pushed the tarp-door open and poked his head inside. There were very few tables in the small hut-like shop, three total; two on the side, one up front, and a small counter that could probably only fit four people. There was a kitchen beyond the view, and at the counter, an elderly man sat, seemingly half asleep. He was a bit overweight, unshaven, and streaks of gray over his beard. His arms were crossed over his chest, and while leaned back in the chair, his straw had seemed to of fallen over his face some time ago. Xian motioned himself quietly to the counter as to not wake the man, but it seemed as though the old fart had the ears of a cat.
"Can I start you off with a bowl of soup?" the old man asked as he tipped up his straw hat. Xian blinked for a moment, but nodded as he took a seat at the counter.
"Sure," Xian agreed as the man nodded his head. It had been a while since he had any cooking other than his own, or Fan's. "Plain noddles is fine."
"Plain?" the man looked to him as if he had four heads. He blinked, ruffled his beard, then shook his head as he entered toward the back kitchen. Xian smelled the air once more and could only wonder what else was brewing behind the counter.
Dark strands were rustled as he scratched the side of his head. He had been living comfortably, or at least, as he would see it. Still, he had yet to find his childhood friend. After visiting nearly every single school he could find over the last year, he still had yet to find her. He started to doubt she had ever made it to Ba Sing Se. Still, he couldn't help but cling to hope. His left hand stumbled into his pocket and pulled out the folded sketch paper of Ran. By now, the paper was torn on the corners and folded to the point where the picture lost most of its detail. He paused in his step and allowed his jade hues to become lost in the picture. He could piece together the small smudges and details to fit the picture of what his friend looked like all those years ago. If he had any sort of painting skills, he probably would have made portraits to aid in his search. Still, it would be smart to get the sketch a little more updated, or at least, have someone trace it on better paper. The city was large and seemingly endless. Even after being here so long, he still had yet to track through the entire place. It seemed almost impossible. Nevertheless, he still couldn't help but feel she was here, somewhere.
As the cool winds began to brush against him, his eyes shifted skyward. The clouds were barely visible; merely broken patches among the dark blue tinted sky. The sun had seemed to finally set, and Xian took the time to find out exactly where he was. He hadn't been paying all that much attention, and as he attempted to get his bearings, he felt the need to internally admit he had gotten himself lost. He let out a hesitant chuckle and characteristically threw a hand behind his head and scratched a bit. Funny; he'd been a delivery boy for quite some time, and knew the ins and outs of nearly every street of his district. This place, however, seemed a bit unfamiliar to him.
There were a few stores to his right, and to his left, some residential houses. Nothing to grand, but in comparison to his own home, it was a bit better; larger, at least. The sudden aroma of food filled his nostrils. With his terrible sense of direction forgotten at the thought dinner, Xian began to follow the scent to a small shop on the left side. He pushed the tarp-door open and poked his head inside. There were very few tables in the small hut-like shop, three total; two on the side, one up front, and a small counter that could probably only fit four people. There was a kitchen beyond the view, and at the counter, an elderly man sat, seemingly half asleep. He was a bit overweight, unshaven, and streaks of gray over his beard. His arms were crossed over his chest, and while leaned back in the chair, his straw had seemed to of fallen over his face some time ago. Xian motioned himself quietly to the counter as to not wake the man, but it seemed as though the old fart had the ears of a cat.
"Can I start you off with a bowl of soup?" the old man asked as he tipped up his straw hat. Xian blinked for a moment, but nodded as he took a seat at the counter.
"Sure," Xian agreed as the man nodded his head. It had been a while since he had any cooking other than his own, or Fan's. "Plain noddles is fine."
"Plain?" the man looked to him as if he had four heads. He blinked, ruffled his beard, then shook his head as he entered toward the back kitchen. Xian smelled the air once more and could only wonder what else was brewing behind the counter.