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 Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 12:09 am
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((This RP is backdated to have occurred after the Halloween 2014 ToTing, but before the Squires were sent on the rescue mission to Dragnid Forest.))
*****
She wasn't here out of necessity.
Well, not really. Unless preferring some choice in her equipment was considered a necessity.
A crimson-haired angel wove her way deftly through the crowds of the City marketplace. She made an exercise of it...work her way from Point A to Point B without touching anyone. Now, from Point B to Point C. Ah ah, dodge that lady with the screaming, flailing toddler. Ugh, no thanks, she wasn't in the mood for that sort of ear-piercing, shrieking nonsense. Lailah ducked down an alternate path, immediately re-plotting the path to where she wanted to go while avoiding such 'hazards' along the way.
Undisciplined little brat. There was no use in such behavior.
She'd certainly never acted that way at that age.
Away from the luxury items of scarves and fine cloth, the angel wove her way forward. The few citizens of the City who recognized her, if not by her general appearance, then by her eyes, moved to give the teenager plenty of leeway. Heh...only making the game simpler. She dropped her eyes, avoiding meeting stares if she could to keep up her own 'disguise' as a normal City teen. Even if she was anything but.
The booths gave way to more 'practical' stands, in Lailah's personal opinion. The castle had its own weapons and armor smiths, but while they provided the general purpose equipment the Squires needed...sometimes, one wanted to see if there was some choice to be had. Expert eyes flickering over the booths, Lailah made notes to herself while the stand proprietors hopped to attention, eager to leap forward if she showed interest in any of their wares. Basic weapons and armor...similar functionality to much of their training equipment really. A few items seemed more ornate, but were they any more effective because of it? Doubtful. Some seemed more unique as a whole, branching away from the typical weapons she was used to. She'd thought if nothing else to see about the quality of whet stone these dealers might have available, for her own blades, but now some of these unique blades caught her eye. So different from her own...single blades, uniquely shaped...double blades...even one with three blades, a place for one's hand in the center, with blades on either side of the grip as well as in front of it!
Fascinated by this particular piece, she paused at the booth to peer at it with obvious interest.
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Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 8:00 am
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 It was a typical day for Chini.
Go out, find some food and shinies, go home to Pasha and play or sleep off the hard work. Things didn't change much, and though the routine hadn't been noticed by Chini it seemed to now. She was almost dragging her feet and when it came to shinies there weren't any nearly shiny enough. Food, on the other hand, she snatched up easily. She wasn't going to slack on that part, but there just wasn't any passion in it for Chini today.
That was till a particular red headed teenager happened on the path Chini was taking. She was slowly making her way down her usual route when the red head popped in and out as if dodging something outside of it. It was a familiar manuever to Chini and she instantly perked up. Had she really recognized that female? Could it really be? Her heart beat furiously as her pace picked up. She'd have to trail her and find out.
It didn't take her target very long to stop. Chini watched her from the shadows of an alley before glancing around. This wasn't typically the area she browsed in. Though there were plenty of shiny things they were more sharp than pretty. She and Pasha had yet to become rehearsed in stealing such deadly things and hadn't really ever considered it. They liked to play it safe with what they knew.
Chini hesitated. She wasn't use to walking out in broad daylight, but she needed to talk to her. She walked back down her alley a ways before crouching by the wall. She certainly couldn't walk out with a bag full of stolen goods. So, she wiggled out a section of the building, shoved her bag into a hallow space she had made ages ago for moments like these or when she was being chased and needed to act innocent, before shoving the part back in. Alright, she was clean now.
She stepped out and took a moment to let her eyes adjust. She gave off a soft sneeze and held her hand up as she walked. As she neared she dropped the hand and cleared her throat. Alright, how was she going to go about this? Before she felt like such a silly child, but now she was older! Maybe only just a bit, but she had to prove she was a big kid. So, she walked right up beside the crimson haired teen, and almost froze. What was she doing!? Could she really just walk up and talk to her? Did you just walk up and talk to people like her? Chini was starting to get the shakes!
“HAI!” Chini flinched at her own voice. Oh gosh that had been loud. She took a step back shyly and tried again, “Haaaai” she said quieter and slower even though her heart was racing. “Ees Chini. I know you!” she said excitedly. “You find shiny?” The more she talked the squeakier her voice was getting. Dumb dumb! Why be so dumb!? She was totally being weird oh no...
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 2:43 pm
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The markets weren't all that quiet, though there were fewer Pae shouting from booth to booth in this area compared to some others. The food stalls were usually pretty bad about that, though it seemed to be an effective enough marketing technique as it clearly worked to draw in customers. There was a murmur of conversation in the area, the clink of metal on metal sounded from time to time, either shopkeeps tending their wares or reseting displays.
So while it wasn't silence that was broken, the sudden, very loud, very young voice immediately drew all attention in the area. Especially the young Squire's. Her composure didn't change, though she did tense and turn a wary eye towards the source of the voice. Just some kid, nothing to get all worked up about.
Except that she was speaking directly to her. Lifting a brow, Lailah stared at the child for a moment while processing what she'd said. She knew her? Oh, wait...
Setting the weapon back on the stand and ignoring the shopkeep's look of disappointment, the Squire turned her attention to the child. Her stare wasn't as hard as before, but it was curious. "You're that kid...from the candy thing, right?" Had she given her name before? Lailah couldn't remember. There'd been an awful lot of kids running around that day. How she got roped into handing out treats to them, she still wasn't sure. Any of the other Squires would have been more fitting than she.
Still, even if she hadn't remembered her name, she remembered the odd red-haired child who had seemed to take such personal interest in her. Yes, not just in the treats, but in Lailah herself. It had been...oddly unnerving at first, but then...as the day had continued less so. Which may have been strange in itself, considering Lailah wasn't normally much of a fan of little kids. Or necessarily other Pae in general.
Considering what else she'd said, Lailah's gaze flickered back to the weapons on the table, then down towards the child. "Yeah, I suppose they are pretty shiny," she conceded with a shrug. Not something someone so young should be concerned with though. Well...not some normal civvie kid anyway. Putting a hand on one hip, she shifted, unconsciously placing herself between the kid and the weapons behind her. "So, kid...what are you doing around here anyway? Looking for your folks or something?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 8:25 am
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Chini counted it as a victory when the lady didn't leave or act like she didn't know her. Chini wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but it was a good feeling to have the female stop and pay attention to her. It was also a bit... weird. Chini was so use to just her and Pasha, hiding in the shadows from all other eyes. How was she suppose to act? She'd seen so many different interactions happen around her that it seemed all so confusing. She just knew Pasha act and mean guy/gal chasing you act. It was normally run and hide, but it didn't feel necessary here.
Chini felt some tension leave her as the eyes around her turned away. She was thankful they were in an area that she didn't explore often- anywhere else she may have had some unwanted attention. Perhaps from someone that she had 'borrowed' some shinnies from in the past, and never gave back. She'd out smart most with how well she had traced out the nooks and crannies of the city, but she didn't want to create that kinda commotion around her.
"Yup!" Chini's chest puffed out in pride. She totally remembered Chini! "Chini gots lossa sweeties!" So many that they were still working on them! So many that she had also experienced tummy achies like never before! Now she knew how many she could handle in a day...
Chini made a face at her pondering her question. Folks? Her mind raced as she tried to recall that word from someone on the street. A few came to mind- parents, adults- and an image of a small Pae like herself holding the hand of a bigger one as they traveled the streets together looking at stuff. Chini snorted at that point and shook her head. She took an almost superhero like stance with her fists against her hips and chest sticking out, "Chini take care of Chini self! Oh, and Pasha! Chini and Pasha take care of Chini and Pasha self!" she declared looking proud. Nah, she didn't need no big Chini to take care of Chini. Little Chini was doing a good job! Well, at least she thought so.
"Chini saw red." Chini continued attempting to answer the question with a gesture towards her to say Chini meant her. She realized she didn't know what this female called herself, but she was more concerned about answering the question fully. She had gotten a feeling that what she did was bad and not good to talk about or share with. It kept them alive though, would she understand that? Ok, so not everything they took was to keep them alive. Perhaps she could bypass that little detail. "Chini was getting food and saw red. So Chini follow red till Chini could talk to red." she said with a shrug.
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 12:00 am
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The child's strange speech patterns were difficult to interpret at the best of times, which lent some credibility to the suspicion growing in Lailah's mind. Could it be, the child didn't have parents? Sure, plenty of kids claimed they took care of themselves, but that was just childish independence speaking. They could claim all they wanted up until the point Mom or Dad showed up to usher them home. That was usually the case Lailah assumed when she'd spotted other children running around the streets of the bazaar: temporary freedom while their parents were busy shopping.
But, if someone had never been around to teach the child to speak properly...perhaps, she really was on her own. If that was true, how many other times had Lailah's assumption been false? She didn't usually stop to actually speak to them. Were there really children running around the City with no parents? No one taking care of them? Did they not have a home?
Frowning to herself, Lailah regarded the speckled child before answering. "Well, that's the way to do it, isn't it? You take care of yourself." What was the other name she'd mentioned? Pasha? She could only assume that was another child like herself then. "You and Pasha watch each other's backs, eh?"
Lailah had trouble following the next part of the child's short speech, until she realized 'seeing red' didn't mean what she thought...the girl was referring to the Squire. She wanted to talk to her? With a short snort, Lailah shook her head. "First of all, kid, the name's not Red. Let's clear that up. It's Lailah. Got it? Lailah." She repeated her name, pronouncing the syllables slowly. "So, alright, you caught me. Good job. Now, what did you want to talk to me about?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:50 pm
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Chini's head bobbed in excitement as the female seemed to be getting what she was saying. This wasn't always the case outside of Pasha, so the fact Chini's idol was getting it meant the world to the small kid. She knew this one was special the more she spoke to her!
Chini made a weird face at the female. Watch each other's backs? Why would they look at theirs backs? Was there something on Chini's back she should be worried about? It took everything in her to not look, just in case there was something horrifying back there. Would the red lady take care of it for Chini? She didn't look alarmed by anything though so what could she have meant? "Noooonono Chini and Pasha busy." she said waving a hand at her almost dismissively. "No look at backs, must find noms and shinnies."
Now this was going to bother Chini till she could get away from the other and look.
Chini scrunched up her face as she listened to the other's name trying to catch it all. She moved her lips in time with the other's trying to follow every movement before "La...il..ahhhh" She nodded firmly "Lailah." Alright no more red talk, she'd call Lailah, Lailah. "Where you find name?" she asked. "Chini find name sound in market. Why Chini stay here. Good noms and Chini first 'members." Her memories were pretty muddled, since she didn't sit around and day dream much. Her first memories, though, were of the market so she tended to stick around. Not only was life here, but it just had that sort of home comfort.
Lailah's question took her by surprise. Why had Chini sought her out? It had really started out as an urge because the female was so like Chini in Chini's mind. She wanted to understand her... Chini blinked up at her for a few times before shrugging helplessly, "'unno.” She finally caved in. Chini wanted the other to like her, but she just couldn't come up with a good reason or at least explain herself. She just did it.
“Chini like Lailah.” she pointed at her head then Lailah's. Sure, the red hair had been the first thing she noticed during the candy bag thing, but it was also the way Lailah had put the kids in their places and the air about her. She was a surviver like Chini, but she didn't know how to verbalize that or where it came from. Chini wanted it. “But Lailah not all like Chini. Lailah...” she put a hand to her mouth as she thought about the words. “No noisy noise kids wanted Lailah sweet noms 'cause Lailah was monster scary. Chini not scared of Lailah though. Chini wanna be Lailah.” At the last comment she puffed out her chest, “Chini take care of Chini self so Chini need be scary.”
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Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 12:41 am
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Lailah caught the confused look the child shot her before her dismissive reply. What? Look at backs? No... Sighing, the Squire reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose, shaking her head. "No, not looking at your backs...I mean...it's a phrase. It means you watch out for each other. Like a wingman watching your back while flying. They watch to make sure nothing comes up behind you where you can't see it. It means you trust and take care of each other."
Granted, something she was still working on with her own teammates...
Nevermind that...where'd she find her name? What an odd question. Though...if the child really didn't have parents or anyone taking care of her...had she just chosen her own name then? For what had started as a mere curiosity, this conversation was starting to make Lailah feel just a bit uncomfortable. Touching on memories she hadn't in seasons, she answered, "My parents named me. And, well...it's the name the fairies have always called me by, so I suppose it's always been mine? Didn't have to find it."
And the child didn't know why she had pursued the Squire? No, it seemed she had some reason, but she was having trouble verbalizing it. Ugh, this exchange was taking far longer than she'd initially imagined it would. And all the attention they were drawing from passersby as well as the hovering stall attendant were making the normally-discrete Squire uncomfortable. Ignoring the obvious disappointment as she waved off the shopkeep and moved away, Lailah made her way instead towards a bench, assuming her new tag-along would follow behind.
She took a seat, nonchalantly putting one foot up on the bench and leaning on one knee. Not for the first time, Lailah caught herself wondering what it was about the odd child that had captured her attention. She wasn't one for small children, that was for sure. Most of them tended to be loud and obnoxiously undisciplined from her observations in the marketplace. While this one didn't seem to be either of those things, that couldn't have been enough to earn the Squire's attention.
Well, it wasn't their hair color; though the thought brought an amused half-smirk to Lailah's face. Yes, clearly that was what made them alike, as the child said.
Monster scary. The child thought Lailah was 'monster scary' as she put it. And yet...she wasn't scared of her. Eyes narrowing, Lailah took a moment to ponder on this shared observation. She was still unclear on why she had been selected to distribute candy to the children in the City. So many others would have been more appropriate for that sort of civic duty. She hadn't looked forward to the required interactions, and it had proven somewhat difficult to keep so many children under control, especially with treats being involved. She'd tried to be firm and keep order despite the threatening, encroaching chaos of the horde of small children...but scary?
Had she been scary?
And Chini wanted to be Lailah? She could only assume the child meant she wanted to be like her, since she couldn't actually BE her, clearly. They'd always been told to remember that they were the future leaders of the Guardians' chosen people, that they would lead them towards enlightenment and peace. Already, the Squires received looks of awe and gestures of respect when out in the City.
Yet this was the first time it really seemed to hit home the weight of the responsibility of their work.
Someone wanted to be just like her.
Silent for some time processing this, Lailah took a moment before she spoke again. "You know, kid...you've got a lot to learn if you really want to be like me. If you really understand what it is you want." Was this a challenge from the Guardians for her? She'd been given so many already; she hoped she'd done as well as she felt she had, yet...there were always points where she felt she could have done something better. An attempt that wasn't quite perfect, if only she'd done something just a bit different...
Perhaps it was an opportunity instead of a challenge.
"Tell me, kid. What do you know about the Guardians?"
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