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 Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:36 pm
The small kitten of a girl was huddled in the corner of the highest tower in the playplace, bundled up to her eyes in the ruffles on her dress. Her green eyes beheld through the scratched and foggy windows the forms of her mother and father sitting at a table in the dining area, looking as small as ants from so far away. Whimpering softly as she realized again how high up she was, the little one moved back, huddling against the back wall of the small tower room once again, the pinpricks of tears beginning to form in her eyes.
See, Chailai was unsure of how she would be able to escape from her prison tower. The way up had seemed like a simple and easy climb aside from a few times that she'd tripped on her dress or petticoats. Even when the crowd of other children thinned out, she hadn't thought that there was any reason but them being uninterested in what was up high. It turned out that the reality was that there was no easy escape from being up there. No slides attracted the attention of the other children, and the only way to get down was to fumble blindly for a foothold the way she'd come up, on a very steep angle, no less.
By all stretches of her young imagination, it seemed that she was trapped, a princess in a tower, awaiting a knight so bold as to rescue her. The young girl's tail flicked softly to wrap around her and she hugged onto the plume at the end, snuggling against it and sniffling softly. Brown-tipped ears quivered before tipping back softly and she looked again to the window, down to where her parents sat, oblivious to the tragedy that she was facing.
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:58 am
She was told over and over again that they would be here only but for a moment. It was all but drilled into her head with the frustrated drumming that spouted from Sterre's fatigued voice, and yet, Xanthe hardly minded. Perhaps it was because she was barely paying attention to the words that were repeated, but she knew they were there. Unfortunately, for a toddler who was more interested in the new sights around her than to the directions that were being addressed to her, it was all but white noise to her sharp ears. With a frustrated sigh, Sterre squeezed the child's hand and hissed, "You got that?"
Wide green eyes turned upward to the woman, replaced quickly with a smile, "Ah-huh!" Sterre held back from rolling her eyes, but couldn't catch the irritated sigh. She knew better -- Xanthe wasn't paying attention. Why would she? As long as they were able to get back home relatively soon, the woman could probably hold out. Tired and stubborn persistence to get back to her research took hold at that moment, and her priorities were divvied up again as she reached the counter.
It wasn't until after the order for a kid's meal had been placed did she notice that Xanthe was no longer within reach -- or within the indoor barriers, for that matter. "That girl is going to be the death of me," she breathed. At the very least, the woman was able to locate the toddler beyond the window to the play area. She wouldn't run off in there. Probably...
The giant structure stole away with Xanthe's attention span almost immediately. Awe turned to curiosity as she poked and prodded the structure, which then led to glee. What a neat contraption! She didn't know that restaurants could have playgrounds, too! Finding the nearest platform, she jumped onto it only to be able to land with a solid stomp as shoes met plastic, her voice coming out in giggles. It would make a great watchtower!
It was then that her sensitive ears picked up the sound of a quiet voice, blanketed in the murmuring of other restaurant-goers from the other side of the brick walls. "Someone there?" she called out, spaded ears perked forward in concern, as a deer searching the wind for the cracking of a tiny twig underfoot. Was she hearing someone crying? Leaning against a support pole, she frowned, "You okay?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:11 pm
Chailai had already gotten into the habit of turning her ears down when she cried. That way, she didn't hurt her hearing if her sobs became too loud, and she would be able to tune out the terrible sound of her parents fighting when they did - it seemed like it happened almost every night. She clung to her tuft of a tail and cried into it sadly, her entire small frame trembling with fear from where she was stuck, so far away from the entrance of the little playplace. How was this a place that kids could even go? She was so afraid... and she was a kid, too! If that was so, then it wasn't right to let kids go in there and scare themselves to death. What if her parents left her here, after all!! They weren't allowed to come in, and no one would come get her!! She would be stuck up in this tower forever!!
However, the voice managed to break through the sound barrier. One of her speckled ears perked up slightly, curving toward the tower's entrance. On trembling limbs, the young girl crawled to the edge, where the ladder dipped down almost ninety degrees into the rest of the little play area. She shivered to herself as her worried mind pictured her small body falling down that chute, and crept backwards, still holding tightly to her tail as she now sat with her legs folded underneath her, about a foot away from the ladder to get up. Leaning forward, she risked calling down to the person whose voice she heard.
"'Allo?" called her small, polite little voice, very quiet despite the fact that she was calling out toward someone else. She didn't know how to yell, and the yelling of her parents scared her away from ever trying to. "Are jou a knight...?" she called in her French-lilted voice, her other ear slowly rising up, hopeful for a positive reply from the person who was calling for her. One hand lifted up to swipe at one of her teary green eyes.
"Could jou save moi?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 7:56 pm
As the muted shuffling of the other toddler came to her sensitive ears, Xanthe attempted to follow the sound, to pinpoint exactly from where it was originating. She was grateful that it was a rather slow day, as far as the restaurant was concerned, so mixed signals didn't become a problem; there didn't appear to be any other kids in the play area at the moment. Of course, it was the afternoon of a weekday, but this thought didn't cross Xanthe's mind as she climbed around the plastic-and-steel structure, ears still held rigidly upward to catch the slightest rustle.
It became easier ten-fold when Chailai's voice, although quiet, breached through the surroundings. The icy-haired toddler grinned as she found from where the other spawn was holding up, but the frown was quickly replaced when she recognized the distress in the tone. She shuffled her feet to stand to the side of the ladder that led up the tower, glancing upward in an attempt to see the one who was speaking. Unfortunately, the plastic prison appeared to be too dark, overcast in shadow, so Xanthe couldn't make out any specifics.
She jumped down from her little ledge so that she could more easily climb the ladder if need be. She glanced down at herself when Chai's question was asked. Well... could a knight wear a dress? She would have liked to believe so, since being a knight really did sound fun. Not only that, but couldn't Robin Hood also be considered a knight? At least, in the guise of a knave. She had the armor of a knight, but she didn't suppose she could consider herself a knight without the label being put on her by another person. Gee, this was a tough one!
Gripping her hands onto a low bar on the ladder, she rested a foot on the lowest step. Hmm... what would Robin Hood say? "Not a knight, but I can't leave you there if you need help!" she replied, trying to consider how she was going to get the girl down from her cage once she climbed to the top. Maybe she could figure it out once she was up there... For a moment, she reconsidered her answer as she heaved herself onto the next bar, correcting herself after a brief pause, "Knight-in-training?" She giggled, trying to cheer up the other, who seemed rather upset. "Don' worry, I'll get you down! Jus' need'a get up there first!" she kept talking, going through her thought process aloud so Chailai knew she was still there, and trying her darnedest to help.
As she reached the top of the ladder, hands scuffling to try to get a grip on the floor, she huffed a strained, "My name's Xanthe. C-Could you help me in?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:02 pm
There was a heaviness that settled around Chailai's shoulders when her 'knight' admitted to not being a knight. True, she supposed that the sound of a female's voice should have given her a hint that this was simply another young girl, but the hope in her young mind couldn't be bothered to take that into consideration, especially without the question to make everything absolutely sure. A soft, tremulous sigh fell past her lips, her ears having fallen against her head, as they did often. Alas, it seemed that she was destined to a life in this tower, all by her lonesome. Perhaps it was even guarded.
Pale green eyes widened at that possibility. Was there, perhaps, someone who wanted to keep her in this place? Or, worse, something? A small white tooth poked out of her mouth, tugging softly at her lower lip. It was when she leaned forward once again, wavy hair falling over her shoulder, that she both caught sight of her savior for the first time as well as hearing the admittance that she was, perhaps, a knight-in-training. Slowly, her brown-tufted tail raised up, flicking gently as she allowed a smile to cautiously adorn her tear-stained face.
"Knight-in-training?" she asked again, her voice as soft and lilting as always, every single letter audible between her diction and her overwhelming accent. Still leaning out of her perch, she nervously glanced about, checking for the possible dragons or trolls who wanted her for their own. When her eyes again fell on the other young girl, she finally allowed herself the luxury of taking in her appearance. She was... similar to Chailai, herself, in quite a few different ways. They both wore similar dresses, though it seemed that Chai's were a bit floofier, less made for playing around like most children. They both carried the same ears and tail, though in different colours, and this other girl... was she wearing armour? A soft giggle fell past Chailai's lips. How interesting!! "It is good zhat jou brought armour! 'Tis also good zhat jou are a knight-in-training. I would not want just any see-vil-ee-in to risk saving moi, especially if zhere may be someone keeping me 'ere..."
It was obvious in her voice that she did honestly believe that there was a possibility of something -perhaps invisible?- keeping her prisoner in this tower. Yet, that was something that happened to a girl who was convinced that she was truly a young princess. It was much more than a game to her, after all. A soft gasp fell past her lips when one of the others hands grasped over the edge of the platform, scooting back as a result of her other expectations - and her worries about the possible monsters. When she realized that it was simply the knight-girl trying to get in, she moved forward again, taking both of her hands in both of her speckled ones. Making a soft squeak of effort, she leaned back with as much strength and dead weight as she had, squealing in surprise when the other finally made it over, tumbling back without remembering to let go.
Much to her surprise, the other girl was quite heavy as the two of them fell back, forcing a soft 'oof!' of air to be pressed out of Chai's lungs. The young princess coughed softly, getting herself up awkwardly and helping the other up as well. With the both of them there, the little area only seemed even smaller in the long run. Faintly, she smiled at her new friend, righting the small tiara on her head and fidgeting a bit nervously. "'Allo... X-Xanzhe. I am Princess Chailai Daciana Lawrence zhe First. 'Tis nice to meet jou."
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Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:24 pm
Before climbing through the entrance to the plastic hideout of the play area, Xanthe's face contorted slightly, confused at Chailai's comment. As she was reaching in, trying to wrench herself up on her own, she had to think it over a little, before she allowed her imagination to shed a little light on the matter. She took a brief look around the outer area before being helped up, trying to find if there were any other kids out here. Were they bullying her around, keeping in here? Or was her imagination getting the better of her? She supposed it didn't really matter, as Xanthe would react to either situation in the same manner. Well... unless the bully was being really mean. Then there might be a bit more work involved. But no, there wasn't anyone else around at all... seemed it was an off time of day for children to be coming here.
Xanthe ended up yelping in surprise at the force that Chailai was able to exert in the effort to pull her up. It didn't take long at all to get up, and she felt a little badly for making the other toddler strain herself so much to do so. Especially when she was so heavy! "I'm sorry! You okay?" she breathed once she was up onto the platform. She had little time to refuse to be helped up off the floor, worried that the other girl had hit the floor with greater force than Xanthe had. She was starting to become more of a nuisance than a true knight! Perhaps it was a good thing that she didn't accept the title when it was offered to her, at least not yet. She had to prove that she was capable of it, first!
"Oh wow, really?" Xanthe's eyes went wide as the caramel-dusted girl introduced herself, "You're a real princess?" All of a sudden, Xanthe didn't really feel as though she even deserved to be in the girl's presence, truthfully being more of a peasant than the nobility that came with being a knight. The feeling was quickly brushed off and determination took further root.
Xanthe bounced to her feet, pacing around the small enclosure to scope it out, considering where the sun-warmed tubes may connect to and where would be the quickest route out. As she did so, she decided now would be a good time to clarify the situation, and it could double as small-talk to ease the fear away, too! "I bring my armor with me wherever I go, 'cause," she tapped her left shoulder lightly with a balled fist so that the metallic sound could be heard, "I can't take it off!" She giggled, though in all, it could really sometimes be quite the annoyance, such as the obvious extra weight that it placed on her. Her smile shifted more into concern, but she tried to keep the smile from fading completely, "So, who you think would be keeping you here?" She thought a moment, realizing that she may just scare Chailai with a question like that, and quickly added, "I need to know who I gotta beat up if I hafta!" Sticking her tongue out mischievously, she made the effort to look as though she were ready for anything that came her way.
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