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 Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 5:59 pm
Alania felt like decisions were being made for her without any say. It was unsettling, to say the least.
As Io walked away, Alania bent down so that she was eye to eye with Etsu. The cub in her arms turned to the girl, staring wide eyed. It reached out with a large paw and swiped at the mask.
Alania didn't quite understand that the girl was talking, but when Sukku replied to nothing, Alania got the hint that perhaps there was more than she was hearing. Her big ears would do nothing to help in this case. Still, Alania gave the girl a soft smile, finding her quite charming.
"You said her name was Etsu, correct Sukku?" She murmured up at the guardian, before turning her eyes back down to Etsu. "Well, little one. My name is Alania. Since you have gotten me into this, I should think you will help me as well."
The winged girl had hopped up after Io left, and her face scrunged up slightly at the idea of the masque helping out. She knew what the girl was, and knew that the Rade hated them. If she wanted to get on this Rade's good side, she might have to use that inborn hatred to her advantage..
..and to the girl's disadvantage.
Alania looked up as the other, taller girl stood by her side, and gave her a critical glance.
"You are the one who has agreed to help me. Might I ask your name?"
The girl shook her head fervently, holding a hand out. "Name's Emilie! Pleasure to meet you. All of you!" She extended the greeting to Sukku and Etsu as well.
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:11 pm
(( Whee, so much to skip over at light speed. >> ))
Kenshi glanced over to Zahar as she introduced him to Galilee, and he gave the other masque a small bow. It seemed that Galilee would be coming with them after all, which wasn't a problem, he would just have to grin and bear it, so to speak. Though he couldn't really relax, and not because the taller masque had joined them, but there seemed to be an odd tension in the air. He wasn't sure if Galilee felt it, but he could tell that Zahar was uncomfortable about something, and in turn it made him a little wary.
When she muttered the word coward, his brows slowly drew together behind his masque, for a moment unsure of who exactly she was talking about. He guess she was saying it to herself, but the word hit him rather hard nonetheless, and he averted his azure eyes from her. She wasn't talking about him, but he was being a little cowardly, after all, it was only two people... he should be able to handle it.
Malus leaned forward on the Samurai's shoulder, his long, blue hair falling over his shoulders and his bangs sliding in front of his eyes. He frowned upon seeing his friend's eyes, but decided not to say anything; he didn't want to attract any attention the boy, who was obviously already feeling a tad bit uncomfortable. He straightened back up and then sat down on Kenshi's armored shoulder, lightly patting the boy, even if he couldn't feel it.
Kenshi glanced up as Zahar slowly backed away from him and Galilee and his hand involuntarily tightened on his glaive. Apparently she needed time alone to sort things out, which was understandable. After what she had just told him, she was probably wary of all the masques right now. Still, being left alone in a place he was unfamiliar with wasn't one of his strong points and he took a small, subconscious step backwards. Perhaps it had been the wrong time to ask her for his help, she had seemed to be very troubled. He silently brooded for a moment, debating on whether or not he should wait a little to see if she would come back and take him or if he should just go. In the end, he decided it rude to just up and leave without at least saying goodbye, and so he waited.
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:38 pm
chaeval She had told him she didn't need to say anymore, so she just squeezed his hand lightly against her fingers and watched quietly the water lapping the edges of the ground. It would be nice to start over. Not this botched "beginning" where the ghosts of the past were clinging to them still, but a pure beginning. Where they were free as they could be without this misery hanging about them. She wished she was a bird in the sky that could take wing and fly above these troubles. But her feet were firmly on the ground.
It would all be allright in the end...wouldn't it?
He couldn't tell if what he was remembering was true or not. At first, he'd imagined that he'd dreamed it all. Afterall, everything had come back to him while he was asleep. It hadn't made sense.
Now, however, the pieces of the puzzle were slowly being put in their place. There was a missing piece. Actually, it was more like a large hole.
Nika squeazed Shi's hand gently, realization striking him. A puzzle was made up of pieces that fit perfectly together... Perhaps his memories were like a puzzle. Maye, if he put the other pieces together he could find the missing one...
...Io was a piece of the puzzle...
...Zahar, too, was a part of it...
...Sei, Lyra...
...Sister, daughters, brother-in-law...
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:59 pm
She smiled briefly as his fingers tightened. Just a small pressure. She still said nothing, her own thoughts troubling and heavy. Maybe a new start wasn't such a bad idea after all. What was really holding them to this place anymore?
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:37 pm
Sound...
Nika stiffened visbily, sighed and stared out at the water. His memories of her were so cloudy... It was hard to believe that he'd gone so long without remembering her; without thinking of her.
Her voice came back to him more clearly than ever. It was the part of her he remembered the best, something he never wanted to forget again.
He'd been so clueless... Why hadn't he remembered earlier? Why couldn't he remember more about her? Nika recalled the time when he'd talked with Sei about how the other man was Io's and Zahar's uncle. He should have realized it then!
He gently brushed his thumb across Shi's knuckles, forbidding hiself to mention Sound to her. Later, maybe. He wasn't ready to talk about her...
'What's on your mind, Shi?' Nika smiled at her, half-heartedly. It was an attempt at distracting himself for his own thoughts... which proved a difficult task.
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:57 pm
She sensed his unease, the sudden roiling in his emotions. She clamped down on her own senses, not wanting to enhance his discomfort. He seemed suddenly to need her to say something.
A distraction?
She stared out at the water, now almost obscured in the darkening sky and brushed a wisp of hair out of her eye with her free hand.
*Just silly thoughts.* she replied. *Thoughts of starting over, brand new. Thoughts of being free, leaving and not coming back. Just silly things that won't ... and shouldn't happen, I guess.*
She lifted her eyes to him, seeing his effort at levity. *You don't have to pretend. I won't ask, whatever it is. But please don't pretend to feel what you aren't. That's a worse mask than the ones we are cursed in.*
She touched where his cheek would be, were it not for the false surface of the sun. *No matter what...even if things...aren't like they are. We're still friends, aren't we? Friends shouldn't pretend, even if it's something they want to keep alone in their hearts. And friends don't force answers, when none are ready. Whatever is there in your heart, it's yours, and I have no right to it.*
She wondered sadly if there had been a kingdom not of ruin. Had the halls withstood the test of time...would they be sitting here still? What really had changed between them? Was it a true change? Or merely the after-effects of a displaced kingdom that once was.
Did he even want to rebuild? Did any of them? Why? For what? As an empty testament to those that died? What sort of life would they ragged few carve from this place?
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 8:19 am
he stood waiting for some kind of response from the woman and thought what a dope he was in his head, mind you hed ment the coment so i guess it was ok. hopefully she wasnt a psyonics uses and could read his thoughts mind you he didnt feel anytihng trying to intrude his thoughts. he kept the coy smile on his face never shifting his to give her an inclination of any of his thoughts.
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 1:38 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:37 pm
'Those aren't silly thoughts,' Nika shook his head, 'But we will never be free of this place...'
What would it be like to start over? Leaving sounded like an okay idea, but never forever. He knew that he couldn't leave Masquerade for good. It was what he knew and he was slowly begining to remember his past. Indeed, he did plan on rebuilding, especailly if it meant that his people (even if they were few in number) had a place to call home.
He understood what she meant and he agreed with her... but it was so hard. He didn't want the memory of Sound to have any form of influence on his relationship with Shi. It wouldn't be fair to her or to him. He knew that he still loved Sound and a part of him knew that he always would.
Surely, it didn't mean that his feelings for Shi would suddenly dissapear? She was so sweet and understanding and patient...
He covered the hand that touched his cheek with his own bigger hand and turned to look her in the eye. No, he still loved Shi.
'I had hoped were were more than just friends...' he smiled fondly at her and then hurried on, 'Whatever is in my heart is mine to give and I say that you have as much right to it as you want.'
He couldn't deny his feelings for Shi. It wouldn't be right. He just... needed some more time.
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:55 pm
She smiled back at him. *I hoped we were too. But I didn't want to force that assumption on you as well.* After all, what was she but a lowly guard? She chuckled, but it wasn't an entirely happy sound. Only now, with no kingdom to rule was he on her level. *When you need to talk about whatever it is, I'll be ready. But only when you need to.*
There were things she hadn't told him either. About meeting Sei or about her mother. Even about why she hated the Rade so much. It didn't seem the right time to talk about bitterness.
*You don't want to leave then, I gather?* She answered, a slight chill entering into her at his words.
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 6:11 pm
'Not really,' he answered. Talking was good. It distracted him from thinking about anything but the conversation.
'I'm not sure I'd like to stay either, I mean... Going away for awhile wouldn't hurt but I'd love to make a home here. It would be better than leaving this planet to be colonized by others who could never know this place like we do... and I would like to kick the Rade out of the ruins. It was our home at one time and the thought of them wandering around in them isn't appealing, to me.'
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 6:16 pm
She had felt that way not too long ago as well, hadn't she? What had changed? When had this stopped feeling like a home to her?
*I don't like the thought of those beasts wandering anywhere at all.* she said, words slightly wrathful. *Not on this planet, not in the ruins...but...*
Wouldn't it go back to the way it was if they rebuilt? Back to when she could only watch and worry from the sidelines? Did she want to rebuild that kind of life for herself again? She wanted more this time. She wanted him this time. She hadn't a chance last time.
*I wonder what it would be like to be out amongst the stars.* she admitted, covering her lapse. *There is so much that is not known.*
Would they have to re-bind themselves to a past that had died long ago?
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Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2005 6:53 pm
"Yes, I've nowhere to live myself, or else I would offer it. They destroyed everything."
She tried not to look at the cub when she spoke of the Rade in disgust, though her eyes flittered to it for a brief second.
Alania stood up once more, and the cub in her arms wiggled in discomfort.
"Why does everyone have to hold me? Let me go, let me go!"
"Something tells me if I do that, you'll run away. Then you'll be in trouble, little one.. we're just trying to take care of you."
The cub huffed slightly, though she quieted down. She couldn't remember too much of what had happened, and the woman who spoke had such a soothing voice, that even she couldn't help but listen. Besides, they had similar features. Perhaps this was.. her mother?
No, that couldn't be..
"Regardless, if there's somewhere for us to stay, at least temporarily, I'd really appreciate it." Alania spoke, directed at Sukkubus. "I don't mean to be a bother. And if there's anything I can do for you all in return.. just name it."
She knew she couldn't return to Gaia just yet - her body wouldn't be able to handle another transformation so soon. Still, she wouldn't stay here forever. She had a family to take care of, after all.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:14 pm
Zahar sighed and looked down at her slightly dirty and a bit frayed skirt. She wished that she could talk to him, to just open her mouth and speak hermind to someone other then the masks here and Kataio. Shaking her head slowly Zahar looked back at him. She pointed at her chest, indicating herself, after taht pointing back towards home base, and then shaking her head no and waveing her hands. Hopefully he would understand that she didn't want to go back.
Zahar called out to Kenshi and Galilee back in home base, 'I am sorry I have some things I need to take care of. I am a coward... Kenshi you and Kasai are the only ones I have told. If anyone asks about my past, or what happened, you may tell them if you wish. Good luck...' She trailed off he words as she again brushed her skirts. Zahar pointed at the lizard man and then herself, motioning that they should move on further into the woods.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:59 pm
he smiled slightly at her gestureing but believed he got the jist, at least the last bit of it. it seemed they were to continue on. he stepped by her side place his hand on the small of her back very gently and motioned for her to lead on. they walked side by side off into the woods. he kept himself alert to anything in the surrounding area and kept glanceing back at the yellow skinned girl to see if she was trying to tell him anytihng else.
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