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 Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:23 pm
This happens roughly simultaneous to the inside RP. Though the udonya is usually quiet by this time of night, sometimes even dark, today it is brightly lit, the yellow lights from the house spilling out the windows and the wide-open door, mingling with the flickering orange light coming from several mismatched candles, protected by glass globes, set on the tables outside, casting dozens of disorganized shadows about the area as the tall cook moves frantically from inside to outside.
All but one of the udonya's tables have been moved into the yard with all of its chairs gathered around them. The surfaces are cluttered with a plate, two small bowls, a cup, and a spoon and pair of chopsticks for each attendee, as well as many large and small serving bowls, some covered and some uncovered, revealing colorful vegetables, some steamed, some heavily seasoned, some stir-fried. Though the china and utensils are all mismatched, characteristic of this bachelor's household, most of them are in quite good condition, with one lone placement, off to one end, receiving the most shabby and chipped items of the collection.
And, a xenobiologist would note with relish, it seems that the Porcelain chef has suffused the entire block with a strong aroma of fish.
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:19 am
Little white hands appear grasping the edge of the table. Then a tiny grunt of exertion, like someone trying to get as tall as possible on just tip-toes, and one of the hands ventures closer to the center before feeling around for something to grab from the table's surface. Something up there smells really good - Xiao Huo had spent a good portion of the day off by himself in make-believe land while the adults of the house had been frantically cooking, but the smells had not escaped his notice. And now, the food was unattended on the table.
Apparently a lot of people were coming to visit, which made the boy a little nervous, but no one was here yet. Sir Setsushi had seemed kind of fidgety and anxious while cooking, though, which Xiao Huo took to mean he was not sure the food turned out okay. So... the child figured he could try to help by sampling some of the things before the others arrived, and then report back to the Knight.
All the chairs were pushed in to the tables at the moment, though, and he was just too short to reach any of the food without standing on one. Grumbling a little to himself, the boy moved around behind one of the chairs and pulled it back from the table, and then started to climb onto it.
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:50 pm
But despite the child's best efforts to nobly sample the food laid before him, a single pale hand grips his chair thus impeding any progress.
Connected to the hand is an older woman, a casual smile planted on her cheeks as she inspects the child. After a few moments, the woman, dressed in a dirty smock covering the billowing folds of her green and brown clothing, places a hand on her chest and bows her head faintly.
"How kind of you to pull out a chair for a lady, noble Sir," says Tenkyuu with faint amusement in her voice, "There are few gentlemen in Gaia, and I would like to the name of such a genteel young man."
Tenkyuu, with some shaking in her arthritic knees, kneels before the boy.
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:23 pm
... The boy stares up at his elder with a caught-with-his-hand-in-the-cookie-jar look on his face. Uh, yes, yes, he is here to be helpful! A chair for ma'am, and because she is kind and taller than he is, he will accept his reward in tidbits from the table 3nodding
Xiao Huo steps back from the chair, and slightly away from the older woman, as well, clasping his hands behind his back and rocking back and forth on his feet. He looks around at everything but her when she kneels in front of him, and gives off a fidgety feeling of shyness as he tries to tell her his name... then clarifies that his super-secret code name is Xiao Huo!
He gathers up his dolls from where he had left them on another chair, and hugs the trio of them to his chest.
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:53 pm
Tenkyuu moves her hand to stroke slowly at her chin as if the motion would decipher the secrets of the world. With a faint nod of her head, she smiles and bows her head.
Tenkyuu is happy to meet Xiao Huo--for a code name, it is extremely lovely, and she promises not to divulge it to any evil individuals. Tenkyuu raises her brows at the sight of Xiao's companions and soon cocks her head to the side.
Tenkyuu must inquire about Xiao Huo's companions as well--what are their names? Or, as Xiao Huo is on a mission, is Tenkyuu allowed to know?
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:24 pm
The boy glances around suspiciously, then tells the lady that he cannot reveal their real names. His subordinates are are Agent One, Agent Two, and Agent Three. ... She is nice, and clearly on his side, so she is allowed to meet them.
With a little grin, Xiao Huo holds them out to Tenkyuu if she wants to see his fine fellow secret agents.
Oh yeah, what's ma'am's name? Or her codename, if she can't tell him her real one ninja
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:37 pm
Tenkyuu narrows her eyes before peering over her shoulder as if some rogue agent might attack any moment. With a grim expression, Tenkyuu nods before leaning her head in.
"Then I will tell you," whispers Tenkyuu faintly, her eyes focused on Xiao Huo as she speaks below even a whisper, "I am code name 'Heavenly Bow'." She then turns her eyes to Agents One through Three and nods her head faintly in acknowledgment.
It is a pleasure to meet such brave men in service of the Empress.
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:09 pm
Xiao Huo grins and bows. Secret agents must stick together! Agents One through Three think that Lady Heavenly Bow will be a powerful ally.
.... They should have a secret handshake, so they can identify each other even if they are in disguise.
And then they can both sample the food on the table to be sure it's good for guests to eat, right? Of course he has not forgotten his true mission! ninja
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:21 pm
The winged silhouette of a woman walking, along with those of two smaller figures, came closer to the udon-ya as the smell of smoke, fish and other delights drew them nearer. Yaruka, with Tsubei and Ren'i in tow, came up to the shop with a mixture of curiosity, excitement and a slight amount of apprehension.
"Seems we aren't the earliest birds to arrive," Yaruka mentioned with a smile as she saw the two others that occupied the lovely set-up. She bowed respectfully to the elder Porcelain and to the young boy, both of which she recognized. She could feel anxieties coming from the little house shop and couldn't stop herself from smiling.
"Oh dear, seems our dear soldier boy is having some difficulties. If you'll excuse me, I'll go see if they need an extra pair of hands." She bowed again and smiled to her two wards, then headed inside the house.
Ren'i, his violin case clasped in his hands, raised a curious eyebrow as his Gaian guardian excused herself so soon....and after meeting such an illustrious elder! Well......he supposed he could forgive her this once. Gaian's didn't seem to know Porcelain very well anyway, so he would just have to be more of a teacher in the future.
Retaining his own manners, he bowed deeply to the two and expressed humility and respect to Tenkyuu. He elbowed Tsubei in the side gently, projecting that she show propriety immediately.
Tsubei had felt the anxieties within and was glad when Yaruka went to lend her assistance. She smiled after her caretaker and suddenly felt Ren'i's urgent and rather demanding projections. She shot an annoyed look to him before turning to the other two guests and bowing to them. She recognized the boy with a smile and sent respectful feelings to Tenkyuu.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Tenkyuu. I am Tsubei and this is Ren'i." The woman who just went inside is their guardian, Yaruka. Tsubei apologizes for her rudeness, if any was present.
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:45 pm
Tenkyuu laughs faintly before shaking her head. The Heavenly Bow is afraid that Agent Setsushi would be after the both of them if they were found with fish on their breath. While Tenkyuu cannot help Xiao Huo in his mission, she can grant him some aid.
Tenkyuu's hand disappears into the folds of her clothing briefly before it emerges cradling a piece of wrapped chocolate. It is all the Heavenly Bow has, but she would be most pleased if Xiao Huo would take it--after all, she has heard of his exploits and knows him to be a true Agent of Good.
Tenkyuu peers at Yaruka, her brows rising faintly at the presence of a winged woman. She quickly gains her composure, however, and bows her head in return as she laughs faintly.
"Yes, yes, I think that would be appropriate," says the elder before her eyes shift to the two. A smile lines her lips as she watches the two with amusement before she shakes her head faintly.
Tenkyuu was not insulted at all--after all, she is only Tenkyuu in Gaia. The two do not need to worry about titles or pleasantries aside from Dame. Tenkyuu laughs faintly before gesturing towards the youths.
It is all Tenkyuu's pleasure.
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:55 pm
Faint disappointment starts to come from the little boy at Agent Heavenly Bow's words, but he immediately lights up like a Christmas tree at seeing the chocolate. Holding all his dolls in one arm, he steps up to her and tugs at her sleeve, begging for the treat at the same time he questions if it will make his tummy angry.
... He is trying to eat more than just toasts and bananas now because he was feeling very sick anyway, being afraid of everything to eat in Gaia. But Xiao Huo is willing to trust his fellow secret agent!!1
Kouyo seems a bit surprised to see not just Tsubei, but also her winged Gaian guardian and another young Porcelain boy he does not think he recognizes. He greets them all quietly but politely as he stands back, against the front wall of the house.
And then the priest jokes shyly and somewhat awkwardly to Dame Tenkyuu and Xiao Huo that Dame is correct, and Agent Setsushi has, er, eyes and ears keeping watch for uh, suspicious covert operations and things.
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:03 pm
Ren'i feels humbled in now not only the presence of the Heavenly Bow, but also of the High Priest himself. He turns and bows to him deeply, expressing his respect.
The Dame Tenkyuu should not besmirch her illustriousness, for even this young one has heard of her.
Tsubei smiled sweetly to Xiao Huo and Tenkyuu, nodding to them both until she turned to see Kouyo had suddenly appeared. She turned and bowed to him with gentle greetings, keeping a hold of the satchel bag that was slung around her neck as much as Ren'i was clutching his violin case.
"In that case, Ren'i had better behave himself and be a proper musician." She shot a teasing look to the younger boy beside her, having come to think of him as a kid brother.
"It is nice to see that you will be joining us, Kouyo." She seems genuinely happy, if a little nervous. As a side thought, she wonders when Unsou would arrive, looking back in the direction they had come to see if her figure was any closer.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:45 pm
Tenkyuu stares at Kouyo for a few awkward moments...
Before she covers her mouth daintily with a hand and laughs. The Heavenly Bow soon nods as she looks down to Xiao Huo, a warm smile occupying her face. The chocolate tastes sweet--it is worth trying, Tenkyuu assures Xiao Huo.
It is the only sweet that spies eat, she informs him privately.
Tenkyuu's eyes then sweep to the two youths and her smile lightens yet remains. Tenkyuu would be most happy to hear Ren'i's instrument sing. Tenkyuu most wonder what talents his relative(?) holds--by chance is she a dancer?
The Heavenly Bow watches the pair with interest as she steps forward.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:27 am
Ren'i smiled brightly at the recognition of his instrument, as well as the possibility of being able to play it. It was one of the reasons he brought it, that and his precious friend never left his side anymore.
Ren'i is more than happy to play for Tenkyuu when she pleases. Ren'i's surrogate sister is.....different. The boy's eyes shifted in an almost suspiscious manner towards Tsubei, a slight impish grin on his face.
Tsubei, in turn, looked at Ren'i with an expression of placid annoyance. She was starting to doubt the pros of having siblings. Instead, she turned to Tenkyuu with a soft smile.
"I dance, yes. However, my primary talent is in tailoring." She explained demurely. Tsubei is not completely familiar with the Porcelain dance style, save for the dance-drama devision. She does, however, manage to mix in what she has learned with what she knows of Gaian dancing to instrumental music.
Ren'i thinks Tsubei is good......just not as good as he is.
Tsubei thinks that Ren'i should deflate his ego a bit before he pushes everyone off of the world.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:51 pm
Kouyo is pleased to meet young master Ren'i, as well, and echoes Dame Tenkyuu's request to hear him play. And he is glad to see Miss Tsubei again, as well; his projections to her are still polite and shy, but carry perhaps a bit more warmth of familiarity, as the High Priest is getting to know her better.
... The priest then fidgets under his aunt's gaze, blushing when she laughs at him, and falls completely silent.
Xiao Huo takes the treat from his elder and bows quickly to thank her before taking a hesitant nibble from the corner.
The boy closes his eyes and concentrates as he chews and swallows the little bit of chocolate, trying to use his very Lucid Porcelain might to determine if his tummy is going to be upset if he swallows it....
-- But cannot wait for the full process of meditation and stuff because the chocolate tastes so good, and promptly stuffs the rest of the piece of it into his mouth. If it's spy candy, he needs to hurry up and DESTROY THE EVIDENCE, right?//
And while he is working on chewing the chocolate, Xiao Huo watches the unfamiliar boy and the older girl with him. Somewhat shyly, he edges back towards Kouyo....
... who squirms slightly to avoid the chocolatey fingers reaching for his robes, and then takes the tiny boy's hand in his own instead sweatdrop
Kouyo then politely inquires if he might be able to see Ren'i's instrument at some point during the evening? It does not need to be now, since young master has only just arrived, but... the High Priest does not recognize it by the shape of the case, so he is curious. It is a Gaian instrument, yes?
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