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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:51 pm
Miranda sniffles, still clinging to Keme, but helping him up when he starts moving, still too nervous and frightened to speak yet, but she planned to thank Kaleb properly once everyone had calmed down.
Keme stands on shaky legs, leaning on Miranda and Naruto, but it was a little difficult since the two were so much shorter then him. With their help, he makes his way over to the ice cream parlor, literally falling down into an avaliable chair, slumping in his seat.
Naruto wipes at his eyes quickly, but lets out a breath, his pounding heart starting to slow down. He leans his hands on his knees, his body still shaking from anxiety.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:02 pm
Seeing that Keme is indeed okay, Rikku leads her sister to a nearby seat as well then immediately goes to give gentle comfort to Naruto. Placing an arm about his waist she simply pats his arm.
Relm sits for a while, numbly quiet & twisting her hands about her brush. At long last she raises her head & looks at Keme squarely. "Don't you ever scare me like that again." Her feeling scares her, causing her to sound slightly cross in her worry. "Espers, Hummer! You could have been..." She gulps not able to say "killed" just yet as a glimmer of moisture forms in her light green eyes.
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Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:02 am
Kaleb quietly trailed along behind the group, pleased to see that Keme was moving on his own even if he did need the support. The mage still hadn't dropped his professional expression. The moment he ceased to be needed as a healer would be the moment his calm confidence completely dissolved, and he didn't dare let go until he was sure everyone else was okay.
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Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 3:07 pm
Naruto doesn't notice right away that Rikku had put her arm around him and was patting his arm, still shook up over what almost happened. When he does notice, he jumps a little bit, but lets out a breath and he wraps his arms around her, hugging her close.
Making sure that Keme will be alright, she turns to Kaleb and suddenly throws herself on him, hugging him tightly, "Thank you so much Kaleb...." she whispers, some tears still falling down her cheeks.
Keme still shakes somewhat in his seat, his breathing almost back to normal. He looks over at Relm, catching her words and then he looks down, still too shook up to say anything to anyone just yet.
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Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:45 pm
Rikku just stands there, quietly hugging the ninja & continuing to lend her support. She shoots a worried look at her sister. Why did she go & say that?
As she sees Keme look down Relm feels like the biggest heel. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said anything..." Glancing away the artist uses the soft bristles of her brush to hastily wipe away an errant tear.
"Hey." Rikku piped up softly. "I think we could ll use that ice cream right about now. I could get it, if everyone told me what they'd like."
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Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 7:13 pm
The surprise hug shocked Kaleb's calm and focused exterior right off, and he blushed brightly as he stuttered and flailed, losing his balance quickly under the not unwelcomed assault. It was fortunate there was a chair right behind him, which he managed to fall into with a bone-jarring thud, pulling Miranda down with him as she hugged him.
At that point he wouldn't have been able to speak even if he had known what flavour of icecream to ask Rikku for, so he just sat quietly as he blushed and trembled, while trying to pretend he wasn't so flustered and nervously overwhelmed.
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Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 7:23 pm
Naruto finally lets Rikku go, sniffling one last time as he wipes at his eyes, his body finally calmed down, even though he still feels a little anxious over what happened. He blinks a few times when Rikku offers to get everyone their ice cream, "I-I'll help too." he says.
Miranda squeaks when Kaleb falls into his chair and she is basically straddling one of his legs. She quickly gets off him so she won't embarrass him, blushing brightly. She sits in another seat and she lifts her head up shyly when Rikku offers to get everyone their ice cream, "I-I-I'll have mint chocolate chip if they have it. In a cone please." she says quietly, looking back down at her hands, her face still red.
Keme shakes his head, his body starting to calm down as well, "No....no don't be sorry Relm....you....saved my life.....thank you..." he whispers, putting his face in his hands, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.
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Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 7:53 pm
It is not the artist's display of magic that has her so suddenly drained. Damned if she will admit what really has her feeling suddenly & completely bereft since the appearance of that infernal vehicle. By now her art is likely starting to fade away into the ether from which it was formed, but Relm pays it little head. She does not know why she has an inclination to kneel in front of Keme with her hands clasped together near his knees, looking up at him to see if he is truly all right. The artist mage shoves the image from her head as she turns to face the hummingbird audio once more. "You're welcome." Relm replies almost by rote. She does not feel very much like a hero.
Trying both not to get in the way or be invasive, the Al Bhed quietly ticks off orders aloud. "So cookies & cream for 'Ruto, Mint chocolate chip for Mir, Kahlua Cream for me..." That certainly was not enough. "Keme? Kaleb? Relm? Would you like to wait..." Rikku trailed off. She was not accustomed to being, well, quiet.
Shaking her head Relm waved her brush in the air. "No. Whatever. Something Honey. Or mango. I don't know... Just pick one for me, won't you Blondie?"
Stunned, Rikku nodded. "Yeah. Sure Relm." She glanced at the other two boys. Was it wise to nudge Keme to decide something so trivial so soon?
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:19 am
Kaleb jumped a bit when he heard his name, and stumbled over his words as he sat with his paws clenched tightly in his lap so they didn't shake. "Uhm, what? I-icecream? S-something very chocolate, please?" He smiled lopsidedly, but it was only half hearted as all the anxiety from earlier caught up to him, and his whole body seemed to tremble slightly.
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:02 am
Keme shakes his head to clear it, looking over to Rikku and Naruto, "If they have anything like....Daquiri Ice, get me a small cone." he says softly, rubbing at his chest lightly as he tries to sit up in his seat.
Miranda lets out a shaky breath, putting a hand over her heart. She looks over at Kaleb and sees him trembling, and forgetting her earlier embarrassment, she reachs over and lightly takes his hand in her own, squeezing it gently.
Naruto nods, keeping quiet for once. He was so ready to just fall into a seat and just wait for the night to go away, but he promised Rikku he would help her with the ice cream.
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:47 am
"So cookies 'n' cream, mint chocolate chip, something chocolate, Daiquiri Ice, something honey-mango, & my Kahlua cream.” Rikku counted off the order & nodded, seeing that all where accounted for. Then with less than her usual forcefulness she lead Naruto back inside to place the order.
Fighting what she was considering to be the more annoying of feminine instincts & emotions, Relm squirmed to go to Keme & comfort him. Shaking herself of that she painted a more comfortable chair around the form of the metal cafe one he sat upon. The chair solidified gently around him as Relm chewed her lip in careful concentration at this working that required a bit more finesse. When she was finished she smiled in satisfaction; feeling more at peace with her urge to comfort Keme. "Relax, Hummer. It will hold. Just let me know when it starts to fade & I'll repaint, okay?”
A content smile on her face, Relm leaned back in her own seat & tapped her foot to the beat of her song as she started to softly hum along.
Inside, Rikku wasted no time getting to the counter & wove Naruto & herself through those who had just noticed the fading wall outside in the street & were trying to catch a glimpse of what had happened. She paid them no heed & stepped right up underneath the "order here" sign. "We'd like six cones. Sugar. Cookies 'n' Cream, Mint Chocolate Chip, Daiquiri Ice, Kahlua Cream, your super dooper-est Chocolate, & whatever you've got that's either mango or honey flavored." She paused, thinking. "Preferably both."
The attendant blinked, half recognizing the audio pair as both having been in moments before & being with the group he could see outside the window with the one who had nearly been run over by a car. He stammered a little nervously. "a..a..ah... I think Death by Chocolate has the most chocolate in it... a..a...and there's a new Mango Smoothie flavor with mango, honey, banana & yogurt in it."
"That sounds great. Relm will love that." Rikku added aside to the ninja with a happy grin. Then she turned her bright smile back on the young man."What's in the Death by Chocolate?"
"oh, uh... white, milk, & dark chocolate swirled ice cream with fudge ripple swirls & chunks of chocolate fudge."
"Booyah! I hope Kaleb likes it!" Rikku beamed at the attendant with an inadvertent flirt. "Make the last two Mango Smoothie & Death by Chocolate." She nudged Naruto to pay playfully. It was okay. If he did not, she would. Her brow furrowed as a thought crossed her mind. "And could we borrow one of your cone-holder-stand-things? Just to get them outside?"
"Uh... yeah... sure." The nervous youth nodded as he started scooping ice cream into cones. "Just... ah... bring it back, you know?"
"Sure!"
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:02 am
Kaleb glanced over, and managed a more enthusiastic lopsided smile as he squeezed her hand back. He hoped the chocolate would do something to calm his nerves, the mage couldn't seem to get himself to stop shaking.
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:36 am
Naruto was finally coming out of his daze when Rikku had started make their orders and he almost forgets to pay attention to her when she nudges him. "Oh yea....pay...gimme a second." he says, unzipping his jacket and reaching inside for his froggy wallet, openning up and taking out the right amount to pay for all their ice cream. When the attendant is done, he hands the money over, still not saying anything, even when he is given his change back. He takes the ice cone holders quietly, turning and heading out, a grim sort of look in his blue eyes.
Miranda smiles reassuringly at Kaleb, "I think what you did was very brave Kaleb." she whispers. She soon turns her attention to Naruto making his way out of the ice cream shop and she can't help but feel sad for him, seeing the depressed look in his eyes.
Keme jumps a little bit when the chair he is sitting in suddenly starts to change underneath him, but when Relm tells him its alright, he sighs and sinks further down. He doubted he would go out with anyone anymore after this. Maybe sticking to the forest would be a good idea. He lifts his head when he notices Naruto and Rikku coming back out.
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:57 am
Rikku could not help but giggle at the froggy wallet. She waved cheerfully to the attendant before following Naruto out. Then she let her worry for her best friend show. Her feelings flicker across her face as she studies him.
Once actually with the others, it is almost as if the thief does an about-face, smiling as she hands out the cones. "Daiquiri Ice for Keme, Death By Chocolate for Kaleb." She winks cheerfully. "Hope that's enough 'very chocolate' for you! Ah! Mint Chocolate Chip for Miranda." Eyeing Mir & Kaleb's joined hands her eyes sparkle for her friend. "Mango Smoothie for Relm: it has honey AND mango in it, Sis! Kahlua Cream for me, & Cookies 'n' Cream for 'Ruto." Taking the last two out of the holder Rikku handed Naruto's back to the ninja, kissing him on the cheek lightly before slipping the tray from his fingers. "Let me take this back, 'Ruto."
Relm licks her cone thoughtfully as she keeps an eye on Keme. "mmm... thanks Blondie."
Rikku nods accepting her sister's gratitude & bounces off to return the cone holder.
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:42 am
Kaleb blushed a bit, brave wasn't how he would have described his actions. He certainly didn't feel brave.
The scrawny mage's face lit up when Rikku brought around the icecream, the name of the flavour did sound very chocolate. He didn't quite trust his shaking paw to hold onto the cone safely, so he gently let go of Mirandas hand so he could take the icecream without dropping it. He licked it eagerly, the overwhelming chocolate taste was just what he needed.
Suddenly he was reminded of his train of thought prior to the car incident, and gave the cone in his hand a scrutinizing look as he silently prepared and applied a magical weave.
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