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Post by nokose on Nov 17, 2009 11:05:01 GMT -5
Nokoseuhbholke made an effort to hold in a grimace. This was no where near his intent. You really never can be certain of the iceberg’s shape below the sea, telling himself.
“My heaviest of condolences towards his conditions,” cautiously edging the words forth, the craft briefly slowing to a halt when his body paused, “and sincerest prayers for his recovery.”
Any celeritous idea was eaten away in the distracting, mercurial cadence of the marketplace heard off in the distance. So many voices of life drifting down the canal ways to greet them from the side as they came to each intersection marking off a city block. Her brother should be enjoying this, passed through his mind. It was in part of what he fought to protect, what any warrior fought to protect.
“Perdon any further rudeness o my part,” Nokose finally said. “But has you family arranged a meeting with a spiritual mediator, a medicine person, as of yet?” He proposed.
“The efforts of a waterbending healor can do much for the body, but a body alone is not a full person,” ignoring the notion whether he could honestly attest himself to that. “Sometimes, even the inner being may need to be healed just as well. His nightmares could include more than just his physical injury.”
And somewhere in his mind thereabouts Nokose questioned what was happening to them? Warriors among the tribe were suffering a malaise even though they have managed to repel two Fire Nation sieges in almost as many months. Among them was Nati’s brother, Kian, who for a time served under his command but after the Fire Nation’s latest effort against them was stricken such discomfort and frustration he found no ease until he joined Saghani aboard the ironclad Yue to fight abroad. And, from what Pika told him, Aden’s temporary inability to waterbend. And himself? His being had been elsewhere for quite some time before the first siege.
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Post by pika on Nov 19, 2009 10:37:35 GMT -5
Pika arched an eyebrow, somehow doubting that the note was about the canals, given Aden's reaction. Still, he wasn't about to call him on it. He'd done enough to the other waterbender in the short time he'd gotten to know him, and badgering Aden about a message from a gondolier would likely do more damage than good. So, he shrugged and let it go. When Aden's father called, the Harta boy looked in the older man's direction and offered a wave. He wasn't so sure just how much his friend's family blamed him for the buffalo yak incident, but being friendly never hurt anybody, right?
In response to Aden's question, he simply shrugged again. "Nowhere really. I've got no classes today, and no errands to run."
He could always have gone to help his father and brothers as they prepared to depart the North for their trade run...but that meant the inevitable discussion of his joining the merchants would rise. He'd rather face an entire Fire Nation fleet with nothing but a half filled water skin than go into that conversation for a second time today.
"Need a hand?" he asked in a surprising turn of events. Pika hated using bending for menial labor, and wasn't even sure why he was offering assistance to begin with. Still, the offer was out there and he wasn't going to retract it. If he was lucky, maybe Aden would turn him down.
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Post by aden on Dec 2, 2009 20:49:17 GMT -5
Aden was somewhat regretting his invitation for a conversation. He'd hoped Pika would sense the fact that he was working and excuse himself to do other things, but his gambit apparently backfired. Still, Aden couldn't help but see the opportunity to toss a verbal jab at his acquaintence ("friend" would be an overstatement at this time).
"An extra set of hands is always useful," the former warrior replied, "But they don't allow just anyone to build these bridges and buildings." Aden shifted his weight, crossed his arms and adopted a very nonchalant expression. "You have to know what you're doing..."
The subtle insult wasn't really meant to hurt Pika's feelings, as Aden's ensuing smile gave away the fact that he was only joking. There was some truth to his words, however. Utility bending was a whole different method of bending than typical waterbending used for fighting. Whereas the martial arts were dynamic and flowing, utillity benders learned to optimize water in its static forms. There was much greater emphasis on precision, control, and phase shifting. Knowing Pika, though, he figured it would be enough to get some sort of rise out of him... maybe even a challenge.
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Post by ukaleq on Dec 10, 2009 0:26:13 GMT -5
"...Yes," Ukaleq answered after a moment as she took in Nokose's words. It stung her to hear that perhaps they were not doing all they could be. Did it not occur to him to that maybe they were? Her mother, Naylee Ulloriaq was one of the highest respected healers in the tribe. Of course they were exploring spiritual avenues. Her father was even trying to gain permission from the Chief to venture to the spirit oasis, or to take water from the spring back to his son. "..My mother is trying." She admitted in a bitter, choking voice as she bit her lower lip and blinked feverishly, trying to fight back tears. She lifted her face, furlined sleeve clenched in her fingers as she dabbed at her eyes and the tears that were welling in her lashes. It was all too silent on the smoothly sailing gondola. The waterways and canals were quiet, even as another boat passsed them by. The skilled waterbenders simply nodded at eachother, smoothing out the wakes.
The young woman inhaled, her throat trembling though she did her best to suppress the urge to let her emotion out. She did not want to cry anymore and certainly not in public. It would not be lady-like or wise. Lowering her arm, she tucked her hand back into the warmth the layers provided, resting her hand on the doll in her lap. The quicker they arrived and she could gift the little girl her doll, the better. She was growing increasingly agitated, uncomfortable and nevous being on the gondola all alone. She should have told her Father or her Mother, but they would have never let her come; Not with a strange man and Quanah was no where near well or strong enough to escort her. Perhaps a family friend would have been called upon but it would have been too late.. and she did not know where the first of the neices lived.
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Post by nokose on Dec 31, 2009 17:31:49 GMT -5
Whatever disturbances wracked Ukaleq or emanated from her, went wholly unnoticed by Nokoseuhbholke. At times, like now, his attentions could become rather nonexistent. But the cause was on no account of Ukaleq as his mind had was even empty of the gondola's course.
"That is good," he stoically replied, empty headed and having given memory to his body in guiding them towards their destination. "Then I am certain he shall be well in due time," he assured as the gondola cornered around the receding sidewalk of a building and opened to a quiet, watery sidestreet. The stillness made whatever sounds they heard all the more pronounced. On one side of them they passed by windows along a building side, some closed with heavy fur as shutters and others open to the building's occupants going about their business before the structure ended in a stretch of wall. To the other side of them was entirely a sheer wall of ice with local foot traffic heard atop it that as they continued gradually lowered into a flight of stairs that transformed into a walkway along the canal.
Nokose began to drift closer to it as they gained on two children. The lead was a spirtely young girl, skipping over sections of the walkway while trying to balance a parcel atop her head, alternating between use of a hand, no hands and both hands. Lethargically behind her, yet a few years ahead, followed her dour brother who tight facedly turned to acknowledge Nokose's and Ukaleq's approach before continuing his duties.
"Down there," Nokose pointed his chin towards an open alleyway for Ukaleq as he docked his gondola to a tiny flight of steps at the water's edge. Not so faintly he could hear children at its end, in the open courtyard settled between the tenement houses on the other side. In fact, one of the small multi-story houses formed one side of the alley. And atop it a trio of men sat three chatting men with their legs dangling over the roof and waved to them. The young girl was already dashing down the alley, her brother's pace not even changing, as Nokose finished mooring the craft.
"... we are here," he finally said to Ukaleq in a bow after a moment to recognize one of the men waving at them was a brother-in-law.
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Post by ukaleq on Jan 26, 2010 18:14:05 GMT -5
Her face suddenly was awashed with warmth and heat as it became apparent that they were nearly there. She felt her hands growing hot inside the snug gloves and her fingers tightened on the rag-doll she had made. She bit her lip as she let her eyes follow the wall of eye, dancing over the children, but she was suddenly silent and withdrawn. Her head movements was subtle, it would be bad if she was to be accused of staring. It was an alleyway, their own private little canal it seemed and it ended in a staircase which Nokose brought the boat up to with precision that only came with much practice. Hardly a ripple ran through the water as they slowed. The boat bumped up to it, gently and Nokose stepped out to secure the gondola. Ukaleq looked down the little street towards the central courtyard with the u-shape of multi-storied homes around it with a cautious, almost scared look on her face. What was she doing here? With the doll tucked under one arm and close to her chest, Ukaleq uncurled her legs from under her and used her knee to push herself up to her feet. Her free hand gathered up the front of her skirts, the cream box-pleats many layers thick to keep out the chill wind and the young noblewoman stepped out onto the stairs. The skirts fell back down into place, just shy of the snow and ice that was the ground and she turned towards Nokose as the much taller gondolier finished securing the boat.
The children were running towards the houses, the little girl with the parcel on her head trying so hard to keep it up with both hands. The young boy was behind her, moving at a slug's pace though. Siblings maybe? Cousins? Niece or Nephew? She wondered. Tight lipped she glance towards one of the homes. On the roof.. sitting were three older men. One of them was waving towards Nokose. Again, her cheeks flushed and she wondered where Pokkoisuche was.. the familiar little cabbit that was so soft, perhaps seeking the comfort of the little snowball. Nokose acknowledged the men on the roof, before bowing towards Ukaleq in a most diginfied manner now that his gondala had been secured. She offered a somewhat reserved smile at him and a soft "..Okay. Lead the way.."
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Post by nokose on Feb 18, 2010 12:56:45 GMT -5
Nokoseuhbholke tilted his head then pivoted in place. His pace in leading Ukaleq down the alley was natural to him—deliberately slow yet lacking any measure of caution or sense of lethargy. He had simply carried himself as such for some time now: mechanically. While they followed steps behind the children ahead of them, to one side and above a blur bobbed back and forth on the edge of Nokose’s vision. He gave it no real attention, assuming it was his brother-in-law, and would offer none until it addressed him. Soon enough the blur disappeared and the young girl ahead of him and Ukaleq began to hustle into a sprint as she neared the end of the alley, parcel bouncing on her head, then disappeared around the building’s edge. Her unenthused relation or chaperone did nothing but continued to walk, stuffing his hands deeper into the pockets of his parka until finally disappearing around the corner as well.
Nokose’s and Ukaleq’s turn was coming up likewise and the trickle of undecipherable sounds was expanded into a string of chatter and sounds. Occasional clear words floated into his ears along with the flatulence burst of a whistle and the whinny of some draft animal. Trying to halt at the unfamiliarity of the central courtyard the three housing complexes formed, Nokose’s pace instead became even slower than his already naturally slow pace. He had lost all trace of the young girl they followed to here. The boy on the otherhand was drifting towards small collection of similar aged boys who distanced themselves from the younger children and greeted him as nonchalantly as his coming approach.
In the courtyard’s center was a large dome-shaped structure, an igloo, likely made from waterbending Nokose assumed in spite of the carved lines along its length as well as it not being there last time he was here. Those lines were too uniform to be made from hand, analyzing the structure as he was finally coming to a halt. Along much of its length, around knee-height were numerous carvings likely done by children but higher above it and more likely done by an adult was inscribed “Happy Birthday Ikingut!” Next to it was a smaller igloo with a trail of smoke winding its way out of its top. A cookhouse, Nokose noted to himself of the smaller one while the larger was likely serving as a celebration hall.
He was blasted from his revere by the latest abrupt belch of a whistle. A toddler swayed to a stop in front of him, an egg-shaped bone-white ocarina held in his mouth as he stared at Nokose and Ukaleq. His cheeks puffed in and out a few times like a hamster-cat before blowing on his ocarina before uncoordinatedly toddling off, hands flailing about in the air and blowing his ocarina as he went. The child rounded about the ring of gathered adults playing around a few pai sho boards with many onlookers, deftly—as well as a toddler can—evaded at least three of the women that ‘chased’ after him and his 'chubby cheeks' then began stumbling in circles near two amused men, one with a flat handdrum and the other grayer haired one was tuning a two-string cello-like instrument. The three of them looked far too familiar to one another not to related Nokose absentmindedly pondered just he heard the peals of “Ukaleq! Ukaleq!” that suggested he step aside.
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Post by ukaleq on Feb 26, 2010 21:02:05 GMT -5
The domed igloo caught her eye. It seemed out of place, like it normally did not sit in the middle of the court yard. The young woman blinked, turning her head quickly to look at the multi-storied buildings that surrounded the courtyard. No, it certainly would not make sense for it to be sitting out in the middle of the yard. Her thick, shaply eyebrows knitted together as she took look of the rough, uneven surface texture along the bottom half of the large igloo. Were those.. children's drawings? Nokose stopped infront of it, turning to look away after a moment towards a smaller rounded dome of snow. Lost in her own world for the moment, she reached out with a gloved hand to run her fingers along the grooves of the children's drawings. A smile grace her face, a perfect curve of her raspberry hued lips as she lifted her eyes to the elegant carving above the children's drawing. There was an adult's work, engraving a birthday message for the little girl whose day they were celebrating.
A loud, shrill whistle cut through the chilled air. Ukaleq screeched in surprise, her body reacting in a jerky jump as the little boy blew through his bone-white ocarina. Her hand pressed against her breast, fingers buried in the thick ring of grey fur that encircled her lowered hood. The whites of her eyes were shocking against her dark features, her pickled bluewood eyes clearly surprised as she stared at the little boy. Her mouth opened a little as if she was going to speak, but there was nothing to say. The little boy turned to toddle off back towards the group of adults. Her eyes rose up to them, the older men with the instruments.. those lifting their heads from the Pai Sho Tiles and suddenly, quiet very suddenly, she felt like an intruder. She was a stranger. They had no clue who she was.. this woman whose parka was lined with fine rabbit's fur, with ivory embellishments at the neck and the waist, with the multi-layered skirt that trailed over the fine dusting of snow. She had never seen any of them before, or if she had it was only in passing and not long enough to penetrate her mind. The hand on her chest went immediately to a looped braid that hung over her shoulder, gloved fingers running over the smooth plaits of hair that hung alongside her face. Bowing her head, her eyes slipped under the long lashes of kohl as she bit her lower lip. Perhaps it was wrong to come here...
"Ukaleq! Ukaleq!" A child's musical voice cried her name and on instinct, young Ukaleq lifted her head. That's right, they were here for Ikingut, the little birthday girl whom she had brought the doll for. The ragged doll in her arm, whose features and clothes were made from a wide variety of cloth scraps. Her hair was braided from multi-textured fabric, her clothes hemmed with flourishing stitches, tiny, small ivory ornaments woven on the little doll's dress. Her escort, the tall and lean gondolier Nokose stepped aside, exposing the noblewoman to the running little girl.
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Post by aden on Mar 7, 2010 17:01:45 GMT -5
"Please!" Pika countered immediately to Aden's insinuated challenge, "My bending qualifies as a fine art. I bet I would get a commendation from the Chief if I were to bless one of these streets with a bridge of my design." The older bender swiped a hand through his hair stretched his interlaced fingers out in front of him, cracking several knuckles before resting his arms up behind his head.
"Art isn't functionality," Aden was quick to point out, "And since form follows function, judging by your bending form, any bridge you make should be labeled a death trap and used as a defensive measure next time the Fire Nation rears its ugly head."
"Ooh!," Pika said, grimmacing as if he'd just been punched in the gut, "You're just vicious today, arent you..." Aden smirked at what he perceived to be Pika's acknowledgement that he had won their verbal exchange. However, before he could mark up a point for himself on the proverbeal scoreboard of their encounters, Pika decided to swerve the subject toward something where he had the advantage. "Any reason for your unusual peppiness this morning?"
Aden shrugged in response, still smiling slightly from what he considered a well-worded exchange of wit. "I wouldn't call it 'peppiness'."
"Wouldn't have anything to do with your little excursion with your gal-pal up onto the Shelf the other day?" Pika asked in a slightly quieter voice, likely to avoid being overheard by Aden's father.
The confident expression very quickly left Aden's face. "How do you even hear about these things?"
"My family owns a ship and you have to pass rght by the wharf to get to the lifts. One of my cousins saw you too heading up there."
"Great," Aden deadpanned, "Just the kind of rumors I need right now."
"So spill it," Pika said with a slight laugh, "You take my advice or what?"
Aden glanced around and started to walk down the sidealk of the canal toward the intersection at the other end of the waterway. He could see his father casting the two of them glances from on top of the bridge every now and then, and figured he should finish up the prep work. "Look, I really need to get back to-"
"Whalesh*t!" Pika exclaimed in a hushed voice as he quickly walked after him. "C'mon, man... If you can't trust me with this stuff, than who can you trust?" Aden stopped walking and stared siolently at Pika with a slightly raised eyebrow. "Ooookay, point taken." Aden resumed walking, but Pika wasn't ready to abandon his questioning. "But all I'm asking is whether you had a good time... I'll leave it at that."
Aden continued walking for several steps in silence before he said simply, "Desna and I won;t be seeing each other so much any more." the young waterbender knew Pika could be somewhat crass, but for some reason he expected the older boy's reaction to be a little bit more understanding than:
"Wow, were you that bad?!"
Aden's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Nothing like that happened," he clarified with a tone of finality that left little room for Pika to think he was joking. And yet somehow, the other boy kept going.
"Oh, so you're breaking up because she didn't want to-"
"No," Aden interrupted. "We're not breaking up because there was never any relationship."
"Then you prematurely evacuated?" Pika asked with a barely contained smirk at his own pun.
For a moment Aden thought his fingernails were going todig a hole through his gloves, he was clenching his fist so hard. "Listen... to me..." he said slowly, stopping in his walk to face Pika directly. "We did not go to her house. We stood up on the Shelf for a while." Pika's commentary of 'How sweet,' was met with a deadly stare that let him know that his interjections were not needed. "We talked for a while, and realized that things just weren't going to work out right now. That's all. Now would you please-"
"So she's available and not looking for committment?" Pika asked, apparently skipping completely over any concern for Aden's emotional health and skipping right to his own fantasies. However, when he saw Aden's fist actually start to lift by his side, he was quick to take a step back and quickly utter, "I'm kidding! I'm kidding!"
"Just forget it," Aden grumbled, and he looked away.
"Look, I'm sorry things didn't work out," Pika said, apparently trying to make up for his stereotypical boyish disconcern for actual emotional troubles. "I'll get out of your hair and let you concentrate on your work."
Aden gave him a momentary stare before sighing and saying, "Thanks."
"And hey, if it's still eating you up later, I've got some of that imported Earth Kingdom stuff from before."
"No thanks..."
Pika chuckled. "Take it easy then. And don't worry about the traffic control on this end. I'll make the sign for you." Aden was a little surprised by the gesture, but nodded in thanks and then started back toward the bridge to help his father.
Once Aden turned away, Pika walked to the end of the street and raised up a small wall of ice. And on the front he carved the words: 'DANGER Angry Teen at Work'.
[Aden has left the RP[
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Post by nokose on Mar 9, 2010 13:42:22 GMT -5
“See, just like I told you,” squeaked the matter-of-fact voice as Ikingut greeted Ukaleq. She strolled after Ikingut holding a rawhide ball atop her head and slightly larger than her own head. “My uncle may be slow as a turtle-snail,” she stated, “but he will arrive—oh hi uncle!” Now suddenly noticing him standing off to Ukaleq’s side.
“Mmph,” Nokoseuhbholke replied then poked a fingertip at his giggling niece’s forehead in both greeting and admonishment then in turn curtsied to Ukaleq in greeting.
Niviarsiaq soon came last, urging a small and curious band who cautiously followed. They were mainly other younger girls but a couple of boys were bold enough to follow, mostly to get the ball back as much as they wanted to know what the fuss was about.
“Are those green things gills,” having kept his distance one of the boys decided to inquire, tilting his head to one side and squinting. The other meanwhile was walking circles around Nokose in order to retrieve the ball from Yuhkeknetaye who also walked circles around her uncle. Nokose feigned ignorance at their game.
“AHO!!” The man with the handdrum came over to Nokose. “Welcome,” his voice continued to boom as he reached a hand over the children walking around Nokose’s legs. “Good ta see ya again,” he turned to Ukaleq with a question on his face.
“Well met,” Nokose clasped the man’s wrist in a handshake.
“Papa. Come,” Ikingut had a clutch of the man’s leggings in her small hands and began the herculean effort of dragging him to Ukaleq with her own strength. “This is her!”
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Post by ukaleq on Mar 16, 2010 23:58:23 GMT -5
Finding herself suddenly self conscious, the young woman's hand nervously stroked the plaited hair, the thick braids that curled over her shoulder and then back up behind the stiffened, tulle flowers that sat alongside her her head. Or 'gills' as one of the little boys referred to them as. Her head snapped to the side, wided eyed at that comment and her dark skin flashed with that faint flush of scarlet across her cheeks and nose. She bowed her head for a moment, biting her lower lip in embarssment but then she saw the doll in her arms that she was clinging to so tightly. Oh! The whole point of her visitation. Again, she flushed red across her caramel toned skin and quietly, she lowered her hand from her hair. She swept back the creamy, crinkled skirts that protruded from the furred hem of her parka to knee down infront of the little girls.
"Happy Birthday, Ikingut. I hope that all your wishes come true from this day forward." She spoke softly, gently and in a low voice only to the little girl as she unwrapped her arm protectively from the doll she had held so tight. She presented the rag doll in both hands out to the little girl, smiling sheepishly. It was not like the dolls Ukaleq had, dolls that were family treasures and had been imported long ago from the Earth kingdom. This truly was a rag doll, made from quilting and embroidery with notted strips of fabric for hair, and mis-matched patterns layered for her dress but everything was done with such care. Aside from the fabric, her dress was a beautiful reporduction of a noble woman's gown, her hair, done with multiple shades of browns and umbers. Little flowers made from tiny bits of fabric had been added as decorations, and her eyes were lined with delicate, tiny strips of darkened fabric, raised on an another wise flat face. She smiled shyly, unsure if her gift would be welcomed. Had the little girl expected more perhaps? Would she be disappointed? Oh Ukaleq hoped not. She bit her lower lip again, waiting as her navy blue eyes darted to the other faces, guaging their reaction. They must be wondering about her, this strange woman from the upper rings who was visiting their little girl on her birthday?
The little girl had exclaimed "This is her!" to her papa, so she had obviously talked at some length about her. That surprised Ukaleq. She had thought that perhaps the little girls had forgotten her. After all, the impression she had thought she'd made was not a very strong one. Her eyes went back to Ikingut, and her smile began to widen.
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Post by nokose on Mar 31, 2010 11:03:42 GMT -5
“I’msuh coming darling’ I’msuh coming,” letting his squeeing daughter ‘drag’ him away from Nokose and towards Ukaleq.
Ikingut swept a hand over Ukaleq in a showy ‘ta da’ as introduction while her new doll was sitting in the cook of her arm. Yet her father became rather self-conscious upon looking at Ukaleq; a momentary blanch in his face at her likely social status that lead to him straightening his posture and attempting to fill out his oversized parka with his thin, lanky frame but still no less embarrassed by having her here. At the same time Nokose had found opportunity in a brief distraction to quietly pluck the rawhide ball from his niece.
Holding the ball over his head he said, “May I introduce you to…,” trying to recall her surname while his niece and the boy reached, jumped and pulled at his arms to retrieve their ball. “Miss Ukaleq Ulloriaq. Miss Ulloriaq, I introduce you to Ka—”
“Be all right, just call me Kappia,” halting Nokose with a half-raised palm who nodded in reply then tossed the ball away. The two children gave chase. “Anah pleasure to finally meet yah lil miss,” bowing then melting back into his natural posture of a skeleton wearing a parka. “Was might curious as who you be,” stroking his giddy daughter, “didn’t think you be an Ulloriaq,” sliding almost absentmindedly.
“So now that dis bear-turtle be here, we know the food is bout ready,” he guffawed at Nokose’s rebuff. “Pawwh, not my fault the womenfolk can use your speed as a cooktimer. If you wanna call it speed.”
Nokose mumbled something almost inaudible in response as Kiappa led them towards the large iglu. Ikingut appeared at Ukaleq’s side, offering her hand as escort with Niviarsiaq nearing close and offering to take her other hand as the other girls kept a curious distance, with Yuhkeknetaye racing over and kicking the ball ahead of her before the ball was intercepted. A small few of the adults who saw Nokose began to move inside as well, figuring that it was time to eat. A few pai sho games came to a then frozen over to keep the pieces in place before putting some of the boys closest to manhood to work by having them carry the boards inside.
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Post by ukaleq on Apr 20, 2010 0:43:54 GMT -5
There was a hint of laughter in her eyes as the little girl eagerly led an older gentleman who Ukaleq assumed was a father or uncle over. The dark haired child, clutching her new doll close to her chest as she waved an hand in a gesture indicating to Ukaleq. She straightened, the wrinkles in her thick, suede like parka flattening out as she clasped her hands infront of her, interweaving her dove grey clad fingers together. She pressed her lips together, biting them as she fought back that wide-grin that wanted to break foth. She did not want this man to think she was laughing at them. Ukaleq was more than aware of the weight her name bore, the status the ivory pendants that were plenty over her parka must have said. Properly, she bowed her head and shoulders, making sure that her angle was lower than the man's across from her. Her dark eyes caught how he inhaled deeply and seemed to hold onto his breath extra long, straightening his back.
"May I introduce you to…" She heard Nokose, the tall gandolier, speak in his baritone voice from beside her. He paused for a moment before giving her name. "Miss Ukaleq Ulloriaq."He started to speak, trying to elvate his voice, once again to introduce this man before her.. and Ukaleq turned her attention towards the thin gondolier, lifting her face up towards him. However, he and his formalities were interrupted by Kiappa.. She blinked, her eyes widening to the doe-eye like stare for a moment as her gaze flickered between the two.
Allowing herself to smile, as she saw the elder man relax somewhat as he held his Daughter close to his hip, his hand stroking her dark hair, She bowed her head again to him. "..Thank you, Sir. I'm happy I was able to keep my promise to Ikingut. Please.. do not let me impose." Though with her quiet voice it went unnotice as Kappia proceeded to reprimand Nokose's slowness. She held her tongue, merely watching the exchange as an outsider, a complete stranger to the family dynamics. She felt a small hand grasp her hand and at first, she did not recognize it until a gentle tug brought her out of her stare. It was Ikingut, leading the older woman forth. She started to protest, trotting behind the little girl. She hadn't meant to stay.. to impose.. but it was obvious that they would hear none of it. The small crowd filed forward into the constructed Igloo, filled with smoky air and the sweet smell of steamed, marinated meat.
Tables had been made out of ice and snow, furs spread out along them for kneeling and dishes were being spread out on their cermaic plates by the women, many of who were thicky bundled, their hair brushed back into thick braids today for their slaving over the fires. The young woman was led over to a spot near to the place of honor. Young Ikingut was the Guest of Honor, and as such, she had a higher table placement, but she placed Ukaleq next to her at the table. She flushed red once more, not wanting more attention paid to her, but it seems it would be inevitable as her fingers left the child's grasp.
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Post by nokose on May 12, 2010 19:27:20 GMT -5
Approaching the igloo among the rest of the party, Nokoseuhbholke came to cautious halt upon spotting a duet near the entrance. One was his brother-in-law and was gingerly pointing out Ukaleq to a familiar woman standing near the cookhouse with a headwrap bound around her hair. Familiar in the sense that she was related to Nokose and caused him to grimace once her eyes locked on her younger brother. Nokose held still like a bird in a predator’s sight, as if he didn’t move his sister wouldn’t see him.
She sweetly shuffled over to him. He attempted to take a few steps back as she came closer. An arm locked around his. “Sooooo…,” poking her familial looking face into his, resembling his own though not as dark as his and a more reddish undertone.
“So?” He turned away, annoyed.
“So who is your little friend over there,” tugging him back towards the igloo with one arm in the crook of his arm and her other hand untying the knot of her headwrap.
“A client,” Nokose tried not to hiss as they went inside the igloo with the gathering guests. “She is Miss Ukaleq Ulloriaq of the upper Pamut Ring. She is Ikingut’s and the girl’s friend.” He tried to find a spot near the end of the room.
The crook of his meddling sister’s arm kept him from settling down. “Even if she is a friend of the girls she probably still feels like a stranger around all of us,” she admonished then nudged further into the room. Nokose tried to refuse only to be given a brief glare then and scooted further along the room towards where most of the children were gathered around Ikingut.
Nokose pretended as if he would continue down that way, dancing between the guest who garnered a seat or setting a table place or dishes. He then stood in place for a good while, pretending to look for a seat then frowned at his niece waving her hand wildly in the air to attract his attention, patting a spot next to her. Just can’t win, complaining to himself while the room was quieting down and trays of hot, damp towels were being passed down the room.
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Post by ukaleq on May 21, 2010 20:14:07 GMT -5
It was true, she did fell immensely out of place, surrounded by strangers. She felt watched, stared at and studied, even as Ikingut eager talked away right beside. The little girl with her sweet smelling, dark hair done in braids was chattering excitedly about her day, how it started with being allowed to sleep in and miss morning chores and then how it got better when fish pancakes were brought to her in bed, as per a birthday tradition. Then she and the other girls had raced outside, like their butts were on fire to play in the courtyard, knowing that the massive igloo would have been erected. Their mothers hardly were able to get them bundled up.
She sat next to Ikingut, her arms folded over her torso with her hands tucked up into the long sleeves on her Parka listening quietly and intently to the child as she excitedly spoke, her eyes dashing about, her gaze and head dropping, lifting, while those little cupid bow lips moved and occasionally paused. Her energy came in bursts. She's stop, drawing out a long "um...." before launching into a fast pace recollection of some part of her day. She had run outside, seeing the large igloo which was already decorated for the most part. Her friends came over later, along with cousins, Aunts and Uncles, and together, running around the courtyard, they put the finishing touches on the outside while the women and the men set about to working on the large meal for later.
She smiled gently, focusing all her attention on the little girl who hugged and played with her doll, dancing her over the table over the tableware and the small clay cups. Watching her, Ukaleq relaxed - Children had that affect on her. She adored them, and it was so much easier to talk with them and to listen. They didn't have all the cares of the adult world. They were like the books in the archives. Except they didn't have the musty smell. She chuckled, giggled at that thought and drew the interest of Ikingut. The little girl looked towards her with those big eyes. "What's funny, Miss Ukaleq?
She lifted a hand up to her lips, covered her laugh and then putting the back of her hand to them. She cleared her throat, her dark eyes bright with sparkle. "Nothing, my dear.. Nothing." Her hand lowered and she reached across to straight some of the braided strands of fabric that made up the doll's hair. "You don't have to sit by me, Sweetie. Go have fun with your friends and sit with them if you want." Ukaleq waved her away, urging the little girl to her feet from the furs. She seemed unsure of leaving her guest, but she glanced over to where the other little girls were and then back to Ukaleq who smiled and patted her shoulder. "Go. Have fun, Birthday girl."
Ikingut turned and set her new doll on the table, sitting in front of Ukaleq. The patchwork doll's head rolled to the side but she remained upright. "Elisabet will keep you company." She stated, almost commanded before running off to her friends, splitting two of her elders who giggled at the child's antics. The noblewoman pressed her lips together in a gentle smile as she folded her hands in her lap, watching her go.
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