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 Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:38 pm
Winter Solstice.
That was the first thing that fluttered through the haze that is Lien Si's mind, bringing him back to reality. He pushed himself off the aged pine table and looked around. It appeared he had fallen asleep in the study again. His study. His study. After so many years, it was difficult to tell to whom the room belonged to anymore.
Noticing that one sleeve had apparently been soaking up ink while he was unconscious Lien Si roused himself to wash and get changed. He vaguely remembered Muoh Li inviting him to celebrate the holiday and eat tangyung together.
"You won't gain a year if you don't eat your *tang yuan you know!"
The old saying and the doctor's words echoed in his head. Perhaps... the immortal looked up from the basin of water at the smooth bronze mirror that sat above it. An ageless face stared back at him, its eyes telling him the answer, and he looked away, his eyes gravitating to the reflection of a fur-lined cloak draped on a chair in the corner. Unlike the rest of the room (that looked almost as if nothing had been moved from it's own rightful spot in years), the items in that corner left there carefully, but with no sign of organization. The fur cloak, a fox-eared hood scarf sized for a child, a delicate comb, a small jade rabbit, and a number of other things.
A little later Lien Si stepped out of the pavilion, clothed in fresh garments and the fur cloak. The small jade rabbit hung from a decorated Chinese knot attached to his belt.
Perhaps it was better this way.
((*tang yuan, basically mochi cooked with water and served hot with either sweet (red bean) or savory (has veggies in it, I'm not that familiar with this one) soup/broth/stew/something
He'll arrive at the pharmacy in the next post I think. Why do I tend to take forever setting things up OTL))
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:12 pm
MeiLin sat quietly as her father raged. An expensive vase tumbled to the floor, shattering nearby but she didn’t flinch, simply stared at the scene of birds and mountains that had been painted onto the wall of her father’s study. His ‘business’ trip had not gone well; they had lost a lot of money and apparently the Long family was considering dropping the arranged marriage.
For MeiLin it was if her wishes had been answered; but her father didn’t see it that way, and somehow it was her fault. Noticing Ce peeking around the doorway she gave him a reassuring smile, waving him away with a flick of her hand.
It took another half hour before he had cooled down enough to let her go on her way. MeiLin didn’t mind that she seemed to get the brunt of her father’s ire. She was the oldest and it would have hurt too much for her to watch Ce get in trouble. Putting on her warmest jacket she stepped out into the streets and began wandering through the town.
It was cold, but the air was refreshing. Far from being upset, MeiLin was quite happy that her intended was having second thoughts on the marriage. It was a momentary weight off her shoulders. However she also knew that her father would try and find somebody else to marry her. The sons of his acquaintances were all arrogant men. Even a stranger was better than any of them.
Turning the corner into another street she realised that this was where the pharmacy was. Maybe Muoh Li wouldn’t mind her stopping by for some tea and chat? And she could see Lien Si again. MeiLin smiled. Would he be a child or an adult this time? She wondered with an internal giggle.
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:34 pm
Lien Si watched with detached interest as a black, feathered covered figure scampered off down the street, running into a number of innocent bystanders as he went. Despite the man's clumsiness, it was apparent that he was trying to hide something very carefully in his arms.
Fate. Affinity. Destiny.
These words and other synonyms crossed Lien Si's mind as he turned his back to the feathered man and continued toward Muoh Li's pharmacy. He adjusted the cloak so that it sat properly on his shoulders again, not because he was cold, but because the black figure had tugged it loose when they came in contact a few minutes earlier.
He pushed open the door to the pharmacy without knocking, knowing that Muoh Li already knew he was coming. And there the doctor was, perched on a stool behind the counter, wrapped in layers of cloth and furs. The doctor shrunk deeper into his pile of warmth.
"What are you doing just standing there, come in and close the door behind you. Stop letting the cold in! Surface area to mass ration indeed... At least you're wearing the cloak today."
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:06 pm
MeiLin took some time to simply stand in the street, staring upwards into the cool night air. She shivered, arms curling against her body for warmth. The sky was clear and the stars shone brightly to the light the way for those on earth. The world was such a beautiful place. A small body bumped into her from behind, one hand tugging on her clothes.
“Where are you going?” Ce demanded, teeth chattering. He pouted up at her as if she had gone out purposely to annoy him.
MeiLin stared down at her little brother in surprise. “I’m just going to visit a friend Ce... did you run all the way out here after me? And you don’t have a jacket!” She quickly took off hers, forcing him into it. “Oh Ce...” There wasn’t else for it but to bring him along.
Taking her brother’s hand, MeiLin set a brisk walk the rest of the way to the pharmacy, realising rather belatedly that they could easily be out. Well, then she may just have to drop decorum and run all the way home. MeiLin couldn’t help but laugh at the thought, gaining a confused and rather annoyed look from Ce.
Stopping in from of door she gave a quick knock.
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:20 pm
"Come in!" Muoh Li shouted at the door, then added, "And close the door quickly!" He shuffled toward the backroom and instructed his assistant to cook some more tangyuan, explaining to the teen that they had extra company he had not accounted for. The teen nodded and threw more of the rice balls into the pot, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, Lien Si (adult) was curled up with a book in his usual chair. On a side table beside him sat a green-tinted lotus floating in a decorated glass platter--one of the doctor's many collections.
((short
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:41 pm
MeiLin opened the door ushered Ce in and then quickly shut it behind her. “Good evening Muoh Li; Lien Si! I hope I’m not a bother.” They both received a warm smile as she moved Ce into a seat and made sure he was as snug as possible.
Ce sat down as he was told and glared at the two men in the room. He was pretty sure their father wouldn’t approve of these ‘friends’ of hers. They were too shady and possibly had ‘devious plans’ for his sister. The young boy kept a close eye on both of them to make sure they knew their place.
“The stars are lovely tonight.” MeiLin said as she rubbed an arm to get some heat back into them. “Lien Si, you’re a handsome man for me again.” She teased gently; in surprisingly good spirits despite her troubles earlier.
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:23 pm
"It's not proper for a child to be out alone at night after all," He answered, in his usual soft tone. Sensing an unfamiliar gaze, he looked up to see Ce glaring at him.
Muoh Li, coming back out with a fresh pot of hot tea had also noticed Ce's blatant hostility but paid it no heed. "Since there's a lot more people than I had anticipated before, why don't we move to the back room where there's a proper table.
"Have either of you eaten your annual tangyuan yet by the way My assistant is cooking up a pot right now. And even if you have, I'm sure it'll warm you right up."
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:40 pm
“Oh no, we haven’t had any yet. I’d forgotten all about it.” MeiLin was more than happy to take up the offer; she turned to share a smile with Ce but her good cheer fell away when she say the look on his face. With a sigh she stroked his hair. “Please don’t glower like that little brother.”
Ce’s glare turned into a pout and only after a great deal of cajoling did MeiLin managed to get him into the back room and to the table.
“I-I’m sorry, please don’t mind him. He’s just a little upset.” MeiLin smiled apologetically at Muoh Li. “I’m sure some tangyuan will cheer him up a bit... I hope. In any case, I could do with something warm.”
Approaching Lien Si, and after admiring the lovely lotus beside, she offered him a hand. “Come sit beside me Si.” It was hard, even when he did look like an adult, not to want to coddle him like she did when she had first met him as a child.
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Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:07 pm
((Lien Si has no surname.))
Muoh Li laughed it off and told MeiLin not to worry, "I would be just as on guard if I had a kind, beautiful sister such as you." And then he added, addressing Ce as the assistant brought in bowls of the mochi cooked with sweet red bean stew, "Eat a bowl of tangyuan, grow a year older, and then you can protect her better than before."
Lien Si looked up at MeiLin from his position in the chair, observing her reactions to the blossom. Instead of responding to her invitation, he instead asked, "Do you like it?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:30 pm
Ce wriggled impatiently as the bowls were placed down on the table. “I’m not trying to protect her. I have to make sure she doesn’t dishonour our family name.” He said loudly, for MeiLin to hear as well. But despite his words he quickly started eating the tangyuan, a stern look on his young face.
“Ah yes, of course, it’s lovely.” She reached a hand out; fingers just stopping short of caressing one of the petals. “I’ve never seen a lotus that colour before. It’s very calming.” MeiLin smiled, gazing down at the flower in obvious delight.
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:03 pm
The doctor merely chuckled, "An honorable thing to do indeed, you will surely become a good head of the family." He reached out one hand to pat Ce on the head but paused, reconsidering Ce's hostility. A mischievous smile crept across the older man's face, and he continued with his original plan, purposely ruffling up the child's hair slightly. "We still have more tangyuan if you want more, by the way," he added, before sitting down and attacking his own bowl of sweets.
Lien Si took in MeiLin's outward delight and felt that he had made the right decision. He stood up slowly from the chair and, in his usual soft voice he told the girl, "I brought it for you. This blossom is for you."
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:16 pm
To those words, Ce at least gave a grudging nod. Yes, he would become a good head of the family. Then MeiLin would never have to get married and they would live happily forever in their house... without any of her crazy friends.
“Yes I want more tangyuan.” He huffed out, looking quite the grouch when the doctor dared to ruffle his hair as if… as if he were a child!
“For me?” MeiLin stared at Lien Si in surprise, one hand curled against her chest. “But it’s so beautiful, I…” A happy blush covered the young girl’s cheeks. “T-thankyou so much. I’ll take good of it I promise.” Even if the gift hadn’t been so lovely, just to know she had been thought of was enough to bring a tear to her eyes.
Forgetting to keep a respectful distance she grabbed Lien Si in a tight hug. “You’re so kind.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:52 am
The doctor's assistant, ((insert name here, I'll get back to it)), being the hard worker he is, quickly filled Ce's bowl again and added that, "It's hot, be careful not to burn your tongue." Hiw own bowl, however, was untouched. Muoh Li noticed this and frowned, urging his assistant to stop being so diligent and enjoy his own hard work. ((insert name here)) merely smiled and blew a spoonful of tangyuan, cooling down the sweet soup.
Knowing that men and women should keep skinship to a minimal level, and understanding what, if anyone were to look, a passerby may see, Lien Si accepted MeiLin's hug with grace (or he was just too slow to react, then decided not to react at all) and lightly patted her on the back. This wasn't the first time MeiLin had hugged him, though before he had always be in his younger form.
He had known, somehow, that this blossom was touched by the pure soul of MeiLin when he saw it on the waters of the lake that morning, before he left for town. He had saw it floating there, and felt it call for him, to bring it to her. And so he did. He had entered the water and felt it come toward him, and he took it, brought it with him (along with a few hitch hikers he had not noticed), kept safe within one sleeve.
"It is a gift for all the kindness you've shown me," he said, "It does not need earth or water to survive, just the smoke of incense. As long as your heart is as beautiful as it is now, this lotus will surely stay in bloom as well."
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Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:15 pm
“Hmph.” Ce knew that the tangyuan was hot, but he wasn’t about to listen to some silly assistant and so he stuck a spoonful straight in his mouth. The boy’s eyes watered as it burnt his tongue and throat, but he kept as stoic a face as he could manage.
MeiLin pulled back from the hug, touching her fingers gently to her lips as she smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry that was presumptuous of me.” Her attention turned back to the lotus and now she finally reached out to touch it gently; stroking one perfect leaf with the tip of her fingers.
“I will cherish it with all my heart. I-I can’t thank you enough. This means so much to me.” The gentle glow of the lotus made her heart feel content; as if nothing in the world could now go wrong.
“Come on, we should have that tanyuan now.” No doubt Ce was getting very impatient with her.
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:10 pm
Lien Si nodded lightly and made his way to the backroom, leaving the glowing blossom in MeiLin's care.
"Sure took the two of you long enough." Muoh Li commented, starting too, on his second bowl. "The three of us were going to eat it all up of you two were any slower." The doctor said jokingly, though his comment had nearly caused his assistant to choke. Being unable to speak with his mouth full of the sticky rich balls, the teen shook his head and hands furiously, trying to express with his gestures that he'd never even consider something like that.
Taking a seat beside the doctor, Lien Si smiled at the frantic teen. Toward Muoh Li he said, "You'd have to be a starved ghost to be able to finish all the tangyuan you had ((insert name here)) and I bring back this afternoon."
Hearing Lien Si's words, the teen stopped his shaking and nodded in agreement. After all, the doctor did have them buy a lot, it was the reason Lien Si had to go with him to pick up the goods.
"Oh?" Muoh Li took a long, meaningful sideways glance at his assistant, "Are you nodding in agreement that I'm a starved ghost?"
The poor teen froze, and began frantically shaking his head again.
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