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 Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:32 pm
Kouyo assures her that he will be okay - his nerves have just been a bit frayed recently for reasons he would prefer not to discuss. Then, with some effort, he hauls the full pot of water to the stove and sets it on a burner. After studying the array of knobs, the High Priest finds the correct one and turns it to start heating the water.
He turns to Sneaky again and smiles shyly, projecting that he might need help draining the heavy pot of water when the hot dogs are finished boiling, but that will not be for a little while longer. The priest picks up on her loneliness, and reassures her that she need not leave.... Kouyo apologizes again for worrying her.
In an effort to change the subject, Kouyo gently inquires if Miss Sneaky has lived in Gaia her whole life?
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:08 pm
Limited as her social skills are, Sneaky knows better than to press the subject. She does, however, wonder if being fearsome is quite as useful as she had thought... but brushes that idea away as well. This is not the time.
If it is strength that is needed, Sneaky is happy to help. While not as large as these "dinosaurs" she has seen in pictures, she is pretty strong for her size. Normally at this point she would offer a demonstration, but considering the circumstances, she thinks that might not be the best idea. sweatdrop
Pleased with the subject change, she confirms that she has lived in Gaia her whole life. She was never quite sure if her kind was native or if she was brought for somewhere else as an egg, but she does know that she has only seen a few others like her, and that was long ago. But Sneaky doesn't mind too much; she enjoys being unique.
Sneaky barely knows anything about the Golden World, but she assumes it must be different from Gaia in some ways. She wonders about these differences, but is more curious about something else. How is Kouyo liking Gaia so far?
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:09 pm
Gaia has been... difficult for Kouyo, though his projections do not carry to much negative connotation. Back in the Golden World, he had no freedom, so it is a big change for him to be here in Gaia, able to go where he pleases when he pleases. Having all of Gaia now, though... the High Priest shyly admits that he frequently finds it overwhelming and frightening.
He smiles then, leaving the subject alone, and turns to the pot of water. Placing his hand against the top metal edge of the pot, Kouyo directs his magic into the water to help it boil more quickly. Then he asks Miss Sneaky what "dinosaurs" are? He has a great many books to look through at work, but he does not think he has seen any about dinosaurs.
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:49 am
New places can be disorienting, Sneaky agrees. While she was born and raised in Gaia, her travels have taken her to some interesting places. Places that she would have enjoyed much more were she not alone. On that note, she hopes that Kouyo has had many people to explore with, so it would not be too frightening.
Ah, dinosaurs. Sneaky has heard and seen many different things in regards to dinosaurs. Some tell her that they were an enormous kind of lizard, others say that they are what birds used to be. Some say that they all died a long time ago when a big rock hit the planet. Others say it was because the world turned into a giant refrigerator, and still others say that dinosaurs never died, but are just hiding in a park somewhere. Some of the ones in pictures do look like Sneaky, albeit with more dull colors, but many times larger. All Sneaky knows for sure is that she has never seen one, but if they are as big as she's heard, she'd rather keep it that way. Sneaky may be confident, but she isn't stupid.
If Kouyo looks through books, does this mean he can read? To Sneaky reading is akin to flying; a useful skill in the right circumstances, but not one she loses any sleep over not having. She can find out most of what she wants to know by looking at the pictures anyway. But she does give credit where credit is due, and is at least mildly impressed.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:18 am
Kouyo nods, projecting great interest in these dinosaurs. They were real then, yes? Not like some sort of mythical creature? He will have to be sure to seek out more books about them if he can; perhaps the High Priest can read about them and pass along the interesting bits to Miss Sneaky?
Aah, and reading is like flying, Kouyo notes with a genuine smile. A skill this little bird is infinitely thankful he has learned, because it allows him to go so many places so easily, even when he was confined within the walls of his tower. Reading and his writing poetry. Both of them, lovely escapes - the priest could not live without them.
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:22 pm
As far as Sneaky knows, they are real. That seems to be the one thing that the 'experts' agree on. And Sneaky is certain there are books about them, because she has seen them. She probably has one or two somewhere at home, but they are more for pictures than words, since Sneaky can at least appreciate pictures.
It is clear that Kouyo likes to read very much, and Sneaky feels a bit awkward. She cannot appreciate the skill the way he does, and even after the comparisons drawn and examples put forth, she does not value it more, particularly. It is useful, certainly, but one does not need to read to survive, anymore than one needs to fly. There is no way for one person to learn everything, and Sneaky would generally prefer spending her time on different pursuits. But that does not make it any less wondrous, she supposes.
She wonders as well, why Kouyo continues to refer to himself as a bird. Is he one, or can he take that shape? Or perhaps he was a bird in a past life and is hiding feathers underneath his clothing? It would not surprise her; she has heard of many such things in Gaia; but has temporarily forgotten that Kouyo is not from Gaia in the first place.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:08 pm
The High Priest quickly tells Miss Sneaky that he does not think less of her at all, by any means - they have obviously led very different lives and have need for different skills. There is probably quite a lot she can do that Kouyo could only dream of; she is certainly stronger than he is, for one thing. He blushes and reiterates that he did not mean to offend. Reading is just one of Kouyo's favorite ways to pass time. He wonders what sorts of things Miss Sneaky enjoys?
When the guest asks Kouyo if he is a bird, however, the priest immediately becomes anxious again, burying his face in his hands. Hesitantly, he answers her question by telling Miss Sneaky that he is not actually a bird; Kouyo's projections are jittery and perhaps hard to follow as he says that it is because he has freedom now, like a bird, and not because he wishes harm upon himself.
... He sits down on the floor in front of the stove and flattens himself back against the oven door, arms folded over his chest as he closes his eyes and tries to calm himself down.
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:43 am
That, at least, Sneaky can agree on. Surely their lives are quite different, and that leads to different skills. She nods at this, assuring Kouyo that he did not offend her at all. She simply finds it difficult to relate to that particular activity, but that is no reason that he should not enjoy it. She is positive that he would be in a similar situation if Sneaky described some of her pastimes... which she is not sure she should describe, considering their nature. ninja
But she can admit to liking eating, especially Nusumu's food. And she also admits that she likes to collect things. She has many collections at home, and adding new items to them is one of Sneaky's favorite things.
Ack ack ack! Sneaky did not mean to imply anything by that suggestion, and is sorry she brought it up. She just didn't know. If Kouyo has not met people who appear to be one thing and are another, or have two shapes that are both natural, or appear to be a mixture of different animals, then he only has yet to. Such things are very common in Gaia, though Sneaky understands that they are less common elsewhere, so maybe the question was not appropriate. If so, then her other question- why he would possibly wish harm upon himself- is definitely not appropriate, so she keeps it to herself.
While she respectfully keeps her distance, Sneaky watches Kouyo warily. Will he be alright? Is there something Kouyo needs? Sneaky would like to help, if she can. She did not mean to upset him. gonk
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Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:48 am
Kouyo shudderingly tells Miss Sneaky that she has done nothing wrong.... He is just sick, suffering from these attacks of fear from time to time. Long hair sliding forward to hide his face, the priest holds his head in his hands and curls up, sobbing but not crying. The only outward feeling he gives off is one of expending great effort an energy, likely doing so in order to hide his anxiety and panic from the guest. He must not... lose control....
... If Miss Sneaky can fetch him a cup of water. Please. Kouyo has a cup on the table. The High Priest is... terribly sorry. His thoughts are nothing but forced calm, but Kouyo coughs once, a few tears running from his hidden face down his forearms.
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Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:09 am
Cup. Table. Water. Got it.
While not quite panicked, Sneaky's worry increases tenfold and she practically runs to get the water. Fortunately, she was paying attention when Kouyo filled the pot, and when it is full she gingerly carries the cup back, setting it a few inches in front of Kouyo. She is still nervous about getting too close, and backs away quickly to give him space, though she stays close enough to react if he needs anything else.
There is really nothing to be sorry about- at least, nothing Kouyo should apologize to Sneaky for. She knows she is not the easiest to talk to, and has probably upset him many times already. So there is really no need to apologize.
Is there anything else she can do to help? Not having seen anything quite like this, the first thing that occurs to Sneaky is an ambulance, but she waits for an answer before overreacting.
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:14 am
The High Priest accepts the cup with one shaking hand, and holds the other in front of his face as he takes a drink, in an effort to hide his tear-streaked face from the guest. Behind the sheer fabric of his sleeve, Kouyo's makeup has mostly managed to stay put, but there are a few places where it has smudged slightly. He keeps his eyes shut as he takes a few sips of water.
Though his thoughts are still scattered, Kouyo insists to Miss Sneaky that she has done nothing wrong, and also assures her that he will recover in a few moments.... Though there is a touch of doubt to the latter statement. Kouyo will- he will measure the house. Again. And everything will be alright. But Miss Sneaky must not tell anyone that he has done so.
He can hear the water in the pot on the stove above him boiling as he starts to climb to his feet. Kouyo sets the cup on the counter beside the packet of hot dogs, spilling some by mistake as he does so. Then he counts the hot dogs very slowly, and takes three of them and drops them into the pot as he asks shakily how many the guest would like to eat? Is three enough for her, or shall he make more?
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:09 pm
Sneaky waits patiently, if rather worried. Even when the High Priest tells her that it is not her fault, she cannot completely believe him. After all, she went on bragging about being scary, and this is the result. Sneaky hadn't considered that she might truly scare someone she didn't mean to. Oops.
Measure the house? Looking skeptically at the walls, Sneaky shrugs. If it will make Kouyo better, then she won't argue, even if it is an unorthodox cure. She does at least promise that she is very good at keeping secrets. It comes with the territory of being sneaky.
After a moment's consideration, Sneaky confirms that three will suffice for her. At least, it will tide her over for a while, and she really doesn't want to eat Kouyo out of house and home after all this.
... is Kouyo suuuuuure he will be okay? sweatdrop
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:18 pm
With shaking hands, Kouyo drops the hot dogs into the boiling water, then moves to the closest wall of the house. He then crosses to the opposite wall, taking carefully measured steps, then returns, double-checking his count of paces. Then he does the same in the other dimension across the floor. This routine seems to help considerably, though the High Priest still gives off a feeling of general nervousness, as well as slight embarrassment.
... High Priest Kouyo is sincerely sorry Miss Sneaky had to see him like that. He is ill, but it is not ordinarily this bad....
His projections fade away to quiet as he puts the remaining hot dogs away in the electric cold-box, and fetches a plate for when the ones cooking are finished. After he has allowed them to boil a few minutes more (they look done), Kouyo turns off the stove and holds his hands over the pot. Fighting to keep his mind tranquil, he casts magic to cool the water, then reaches into the pot to pick out the cooked hot dogs one by one with his hands.
Ah, he hopes Miss Sneaky will not mind his fingers. But her snack is ready now. Is there anything else Kouyo can provide? To make up for his earlier oddness?
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:08 am
Sneaky tries not to look directly at Kouyo, since it seems that her watching would not help matters. Instead, she looks at him out of the corners of her eyes, wondering what walking around the house could possibly do to help. It must do something, however, since he seems to calm down a great deal- much to the raptor's relief.
There is nothing to be sorry for. If anything, Sneaky is sorry for giving Kouyo things to worry about.
She continues to watch as the hot dogs finish cooking, wincing slightly as Kouyo plucks them out of the pot. While she does not mind fingers, she asks how that could not hurt, picking the hot dogs out of boiling water. Sneaky knows from experience that it is quite hot indeed.
There is nothing else, she insists firmly. Hot dogs are delicious, and while not quite what Sneaky had in mind when she came, still quite satisfactory. Her stomach growls softly as she leans closer to the kitchen area. Besides, Sneaky is used to all kinds of oddness, and she hopes Kouyo doesn't think she thinks any less of him because of it.
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 11:54 pm
With a weak smile, Kouyo offers the plate of hot dogs to Miss Sneaky, and at the same time holds out his hand to show her that his fingers are all okay. He is the High Priest, and has magic for protection, and to help with simple tasks. With a feeling of confidence, to reassure himself as much as the guest, Kouyo tells her that his magic makes him at least a bit stronger than he looks.
And... he thanks Miss Sneaky for her understanding. Hesitantly, he reaches towards her as though to touch her nose, but stops before his trembling fingers meet her scales. The priest forms a single shy question-shaped thought: would Miss Sneaky find such a gesture inappropriate?
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