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 Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:26 pm
Bataar wasn't so sure as to whether he should have been pleasantly surprised or taken aback at Kyung's laughter; it certainly seemed out of place to the maroon Lunarian and an expression of confusion played out upon his facial features as he observed the slender creature in his arms.
He flushed when he was corrected, a brief contortion of anger momentarily defining his visage. He had a feeling that he'd succeeded only in failing at casual conversation, especially seeing as he was beginning to feel slightly taunted by the blue Lunarian. Besides that, Bat was having a hard time discerning the Noble's meaning at all. Kyung's explanation hardly seemed as simple as he was making it out to be.
"You don't know that for sure. My mother's a shaman! She... she could have maybe figured it out beforehand." Bat mumbled in a weak attempt to defend himself. It wasn't that he truly believed his claim; he just didn't want to be insulted.
The youth glanced down at Kyung in bewilderment at the blue Lunarian's sudden apology. Its suddenness had startled him, although he nodded in an attempt to be agreeable.
"I don't care, anyway." The maroon Lunarian muttered in a contrived effort to sound as if he really wasn't affected. The curve of his lips, however, revealed quite a different story for he was trying his damnedest to prevent himself from pouting. He knew enough to be aware that he probably shouldn't have been so affronted, but Bat could hardly help himself.
"I haven't been here long. I hate it. Too many people." Bat looked relieved at the oppurtunity to express his general dislike for the city he was now stuck in. He detested how everything here was so close together; it was simply much too crowded for his tastes.
"I... can't read." Bataar confessed, his expression unreadable. He'd only ever cared once he'd gotten to the city where he was almost always mixed up or lost. Reading had simply never been an issue where the commoner had grown up; it was only proving to be a problem now. "But, I mean, if you just point--not with the broken wrist, the other one--I can get you to your home."
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:16 pm
Kyung looked up and kept the lower half of his face covered as he smiled. He could see the maroon Lunarian doing his best to try not and pout but it was in vain. He was like an over sized, very muscular twelve-year old. Very simple, he found himself being able to read Bataar like a book. It seemed wrong almost, it was like violating a woman or the alike. He had never violated a woman per say, but in essence, it seemed simply immoral and below his dignity. Looking away, he brought down his sleeve and listened to Inden and Tian Bao's light argument.
"Tian Bao, I propose you go and get Master Geum."
"And just why might I be the one leaving the young master? Hmmm??? You're the strapping young lad here! You go get Master Geum!"
"Well... you're the one that always finds the master with ease."
"I am not leaving my baby. You hear? Not with that... fur wearing hillbilly. NEVER!"
Kyung cut in. He understood that Tian Bao was still upset about his wrist being broken but that was no excuse for her to verbally abuse Bataar. Especially when the maroon one couldn't even hear her. While Kyung did not wholly approve of Bataar, he also didn't disapprove of him as well. Sure, the Mongol's intelligence level was a little bit too low for his liking but his behavior earlier had shown that Bataar had meant to do no harm.
"Tian Bao. I have told you once before to stop. Control yourself. You were my most esteemed nurse. It does you no good to act like a young maiden who has just gotten her pin stolen away from her. Besides, for all we known, his fur lined raiment is a culture norm from where he comes."
Closing his eyes for a moment's rest, Kyung continued to listen to Bataar talk. Of course, if Bataar was new here then he most definitely wouldn't know the streets. And of course, even for the most versatile of young lads, adjusting to the Imperial City took a year at the least. Kyung's eyes flew open in horror when Bataar admit his inability to read.
"You can't read? Me pointing the way will take too long. I am not familiar with the streets of a commoner."
Interesting enough, Kyung wasn't too distraught at the thought of Bataar not being able to read. Though it did lead to some complications. It truth. Kyung himself only knew street names. These streets were known for suddenly changing names halfway down its length. This was why he always rode a palanquin or came through a way he knew! And with Bataar having walked so far already from the tea house... they were lost. Brilliant. He would most definitely have to send Tian Bao for his father now. How troublesome.
"Bataar, take me to the nearest restaurant."
It was a command. There was no room for argument. Inden watched as the soul of the late nurse fluttered off to find Kyung's father. What a mess indeed.
"Tian Bao has already left to find your father Kyung."
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 2:42 am
The maroon Lunarian was wholly unaware of the fact that he was being deciphered almost like a simple code. It was probably better if Bat didn't realize, though; there was no telling what he'd do if he ever figured out what a rift there was between Kyung's intelligence and common sense and his own. It wasn't even terribly certain that he'd be able to wrap his head around the idea; Bataar wasn't actually terribly stupid, though. He was simply ignorant beyond his years.
The youth looked uncomfortable as Kyung began to speak again and grimaced, trying his hardest to ignore it and failing. "You're talking to no one again." Bat muttered under his breath, mainly to himself, his eyes flicking around simply to verify that there actually wasn't anyone around. Trying not to care had collided with the idea that it was unladylike to chatter to no one; after all, Bataar still maintained his claim that Kyung was a female.
"Reading's not important where I come from." Bat put up another weak defense, trying not to sound as Barbaric as he seemed. He would have probably gotten lost here if he could read, anyway; the closely placed houses and interconnected roads would have had Bataar's head completely addled. He was almost positive he still would have disliked it here, too, even with a rough education in the area of reading. The city was suffocating with its swarms of people and lack of space.
"Um, okay." Normally Bat would've punched anyone who'd given him that command, but he was beginning to realize that departing from his norm might be beneficial. Otherwise, he might make a bad impression on the lady, right?
He ambled over to a nearby restaurant with Kyung, thinking he was ruining his own reputation as he went. Bataar, after all, hadn't yet comprehended the sheer amount of people within the city. He'd supposed that if a few people saw him doing something that looked faintly nice, like toting around the blue Lunarian, then everyone would figure it out in turn.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 2:49 pm
Kyung ignored Bataar's comment. He was most definitely not talking to no one. Inden and Tian Bao were certainly someone. No matter how long they've been dead. Of course, the gift of hearing the dead was rare. It only made sense that the maroon Lunarian would think him mad. While Kyung should have explained to Bataar about his ability to talk to the dead in order to avoid misunderstandings, there was also the notion that Kyung would never see Bataar again after this. So... all in all, there was no real reason why he was obligated to tell Bataar so much about himself.
When Bataar entered the restaurant, Kyung slid out of the brawny Lunarian's arms with ease. With long graceful steps, he approached one of the empty tables and took a seat. Kyung straightened out the edges of his robe and motioned for one of the serving girls to come. He wanted some ice for his wrist and possibly even order something for Bataar to eat as well. Watching as one of the girls grabbed a menu, Kyung motioned with a wavy of his unharmed hand for Bataar to take a seat beside him.
"You must be hungry. Come take a seat and order something. It is the least I can do for you carrying me this far."
Taking the menus from the serving maid, Kyung gave the violet Lunarian a smile. The other blushed and immediately scurried back into the kitchen, most likely to gossip to the other staff about a handsome blue Lunarian. He flipped through the menu before passing it to Bataar. Only to remember last second that it would be of little use to the Mongol.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:14 pm
Bataar looked startled as Kyung slid out of his arms and was momentarily left to stand there dumbfounded. He trotted over the the blue Lunarian when he was motioned for and sat himself down, still appearing to be rather bewildered. He'd never eaten in a restaurant, after all. Bat was unaccustomed to not hunting for his food; it was another reason he so disliked the city. All they had around here were rodents and, while filling, they were hardly appealing.
Still, Bat liked to uphold his barbaric traditions. He took the menu, acting like he was reading it for about five seconds and then set it down, shrugging, his expression nonchalant. "That's okay. I can catch my own." It wasn't that he particularly wanted to feast on another barbequed rat or anything; it was simply that Bataar didn't know how to read and he wasn't about to make a show about it in front of Kyung.
The Mongol refused to endure the humiliation of the situation and was therefore now throwing stealthy glances around the restaurant. A soft clicking of claws, a rustling noise, and an obscure movement in the corner indicated his prey. Bat darted out of his seat and caught the rat-- with his own bare hands, he was proud to say. He sighed and cast a sympathetic glance towards the squirming creature in his hand.
"You're almost too cute to eat." Bat mumbled to the creature guiltily, patting it on the head.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:22 pm
The line of Kyung's eyebrow arched with amusement as Bataar flipped through the menu as well. However, what the maroon Lunarian said next had him confused. At least, until Bataar got up and darted out of his seat to the corner of the restaurant. Kyung blanched at what he saw next. Bataar holding a rat and petting it on the head like it was a cat or something. While Kyung was speechless, that was not the general reaction of the others inside the restaurant.
Patrons and staff alike gave a shriek as they ran out. How disgusting! A rat in a restaurant! And then for a Lunarian to catch it with his bare hands as if were nothing? It was simply unheard of! How... unrefined! How savage! Barbaric! The Lunarians standing outside the restaurant filled the air with babble. The patrons were not pleased. However, the droning slowly gave away as the crowd parted to form a pathway. Eyes wide with stupor, they watched silently as a crimson Lunarian dressed in rich silk robes of gold entered the humble building.
As soon as the figure disappeared inside the building, even more people gathered around the shop. Questions rang through out the air that no one knew the answer to. Why was there a noble here? An such a high ranking one at that? Didn't he know that this was territory belonging to the Legion?
Feeling his stomach churn, the blue Lunarian closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. He had a feeling that this was not the first time Bataar had caught a rat and that itself implied a little something else that Kyung would prefer not to think of. Resting his forehead on the cool table, the blue Lunarian refrained from looking at Bataar and the rat lest he throw up everywhere. Never in his life had he regretted sneaking out the estate as he did today. He would gladly take any punishment his father handed out to him. If only his father would show up soon.
Inden looked at Kyung with a worried expression. Bataar was doing a wonderful job of traumatizing the young noble in such a short time. Orbiting his master, the dead scholar stopped when he saw the figure at the door and greeted him humbly.
"My lord, I apologize for having Tian Bao lead you to such a place."
The figure waved his hand as he dismissed the scholar's comment. With regal steps that were oddly reminiscent of Kyung's own graceful ones. He walked past Bataar without so much as a blink and took a seat beside Kyung. Though their faces shared no resemblance, there was no denying that their aura of the sublime was identical.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:09 pm
Bataar's love of animals was certainly intervening with his dining, as was rather obvious when he scratched the filthy little rat behind its ears. He coddled the animal, ignoring the shock and horror of the patrons and even failing to really note the presence of Kyung's father. He was currently waging a small war in his undersized(?) brain. "I don't think I can do it." Bat declared, choked up as he turned to Kyung, placing the rat gently on his shoulder where it scampered up to burrow into the hollow of his neck, apparently aware that the maroon Lunarian wasn't planning on having any Mongolian barbeque today.
Upon noting the elegant man now seated beside a sickly-looking Kyung, the youth blinked. "Hello." He offered a small wave before coming into some realization about his place on the social ladder, looking uncomfortable. He was a commoner and this man was clearly... not. Besides that, he had an undeniable air of importance about him, although Bat wasn't sharp enough to identify his similarity to the blue Lunarian beside him.
"Are you sick, Kyung?" Bataar's subject change was clearly contrived, although he was faintly worried about the blue Lunarian right now. He certainly didn't look well; maybe his wrist was getting to him? The Mongol didn't realize that the rat resting on his shoulder was the cause of much of the fuss around him as well as how sick Kyung appeared.
The brawny Lunarian shifted uncomfortably, his green eyes flicking around the restaurant as he tried to figure out what next to do. He couldn't even find it in him to begin cursing; Bat was, for once, absolutely petrified. Stupid, stupid cities. Too many people; too many eyes.
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Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 9:31 pm
The crimson Lunarian looked up at Bataar's greeting and gave a slight nod. Then, he raised a finger up to his lips for a sign of silence. He would take care of Kyung first, and address the maroon Lunarian. Tian Bao had made her standing clear with the commoner, yet Gaero's own observations told him otherwise. Bataar was not the beast that Tian Bao had made him out to be. His rapid attachment to the rat told of a side of warmth in the commoner and his physique was certainly top notch. Turning his attention back to Kyung, Gaero, leaned close to his son's ear and whispered softly.
"The plum blossom resists the bite of the wind
Only to fall from the tree and cover the ground."
Kyung stiffened at his father's poem. A rather cruel jab at that. Feeling the effects of the day's adventure, the blue Lunarian simply stayed as he was. His head resting on the table and clutching one arm, Kyung glared at his father, only to turn and look at Bataar after hearing his question. He momentarily cringed at the sight of the filthy creature sitting on the crook of Bataar's neck before responding.
"I am fine."
Pulling back, the regal Lunarian pat the top of his son's head before calling for a few of his attendants. They worked with great speed and efficiency as they applied a splint to Kyung's wrist, wrapped with a bandage and almost immediately had him out the restaurant on one of the retainer's backs.
Once Kyung was out of the restaurant, only Gaero and Bataar were left. Giving Bataar, a warm, oddly paternal smile, Gaero spoke.
"Thank you for helping my son. It's not often a stranger helps another. I am, Tae Gaero, may I have the honor of knowing the name of the young man who helped my son?"
Continuing to stare at Bataar, Gaero couldn't help but think that this man was fitting all of the criteria that he had set last month in order to find Kyung a guard and companion of sorts. The maroon Lunarian was fit, well built, the perfect opposite to Kyung's own frail one.
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Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 2:54 am
Bataar was wise enough to obey the elegant noble in remaining silent and only watched with faint curiosity as Kyung and his father communicated. The Mongol looked faintly offended after the blue Lunarian looked over to him and cringed, completely unaware that it was the rat that had produced the reaction coming from the delicate one. His love of small, furry creatures would probably prevent him from ever seeing other people's disgust with rodents.
Bat nodded, looking thoroughly unconvinced by Kyung's reply but also feeling unable to dispute it here. Besides that, the maroon Lunarian had gotten caught up in watching the attendants do their magic. Of course, applying a splint hardly seemed like magic to most people but the barbarian was fascinated; once they were finished he ruled it out as something beyond his own ability, however.
The Mongol looked faintly taken aback when Kyung's father actually offered him a smile. "I'm Bataar." He declared after a long pause, reaching to pat the rat who was seated comfortably on his shoulder, its beady eyes smug.
"And it was nothing." Bat added quickly, feeling more and more out of place. Of course it'd been nothing. He'd practically kidnapped Kyung and then had been responsible for the blue one's broken wrist. He only hoped he wasn't in any sort of trouble at this point.
Bataar was attempting to look tough and failing miserably at this point. His green eyes were glued to the floor and his well-defined muscles were taut just beneath his tanned skin. His mother would beat him if she found out he was in trouble with a Noble.
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Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 6:14 pm
Gaero was assessing Bataar with keen eyes. He could easily make out the taunt muscles under the teenage Lunarian's tan skin. Perhaps from hard labor or intensive training. Probably the latter, Bataar, despite his unique garb, Gaero couldn't see the male hunched over a potato patch. Furthermore, the look in Bataar's eyes told him that this one was raging with life and spirit. So similar to Kyung's own and yet so different. Perhaps this Bataar was just the Lunarian he had been waiting on to be Kyung's companion.
Smiling at Bataar, Gaero spoke once more.
"Please relax Bataar. I have no intention of harming or intimating the Lunarian who helped my son. Rather, I have a proposition for you... As you know, Kyung is weak. He tires easily and his personality is far from amicable. He is far from being social and lacks the drive you show in your eyes."
Reaching into his pocket, Gaero pulled out a string of bronze coins and held it in front of Bataar. This would be but a small fragment of what the Lunarian would get if he accepted his offer.
"Bataar, I would like for you to be my son's companion. Be a friend for him, a pillar of strength when his own has run out. Protect him from the Legionnaires. Show him things that he has not seen before. Open his eyes for him. If you accept, then you will be paid 500 coins a month and you will be giving a room to stay in Kyung's own house. However, I understand if you decline my offer."
Gaero waited for the others response.
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Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 6:03 am
Upon Gaero's command, the maroon Lunarian relaxed almost immediately. After all, it was easy to assume that the Noble before him was an extremely credible source; Bat knew he wasn't about to be severely punished now despite the fact that he may have deserved it. And so, instead of worrying, Bataar instead listened attentively to Kyung's father, nodding blankly to try and agree with the man despite the fact that he hadn't a clue as to what this was leading up to.
His level of confusion only increased when Gaero took out the bronze coins and he stared awkwardly, not too sure of what to do. Still, the intentions of Kyung's father became increasingly clear as he continued to speak. Well, that certainly didn't seem so hard to do. Never mind that Bataar's main incentive was to earn money in order to buy food so he wouldn't have to devour his furry friends.
It really didn't take much consideration to make a decision here.
"I'll do it!" Bat declared, beginning to look eager. He'd get to spend time with the lady and he'd get paid for it? It took a lot of effort not to yell out derogatory exclamations of joy. But there was still just one problem...
"But I don't want to live in a house. Couldn't I just set up my yurt?" The youth offered Gaero an expression that he believed to be endearing although it looked more as if he were trying to mimick the look of the rat resting on his shoulder from the way it turned out.
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Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 6:02 pm
Gaero's smile became even larger at the enthusiasm in Bataar's response. Yes, this young man, he matched all the traits Gaero had imagined a good companion of Kyung's would require.
When he heard Bataar's question Gaero chuckled. "Yes. That can be arranged. Kyung has a larger that normal courtyard so you should be able to set up your yurt there with plenty of room left over to run around in." Gaero struggled to retain his smile when he saw the expression Bataar made next. It was hard to tell what made him flinch more inwardly, the rat on Bataar's shoulder or how Bat's expression mimicked the rat's so well. Probably a combination of both.
Standing up, Gaero placed his hands inside his sleeve. "Now then... I believe we have no reason to stay inside this.... building any longer. Come Bataar and I will show you my home." With steps just as regal as before, the crimson Lunarian left the restaurant.
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Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:26 pm
Bataar looked extremely pleased when Gaero confirmed that he could indeed set up his yurt conveniently in Kyung's courtyard. Perfect! The maroon Lunarian failed to notice the Noble's disgust at his expression and his rat, although his facial features relaxed into a more natural look once he knew he'd gotten his way.
"Okay!" Bat smiled as eagerly as he ever had as he reached to his shoulder, grabbed the rat and then slipped it into its pocket where it wriggled around for a little bit before apparently growing comfortable with its new situation. He followed the Noble out the door, his green eyes wide with poorly-hidden excitement.
His mother would be proud; he was to be working for a Noble and getting paid at that! Bataar himself was most pleased because he'd get plenty of chances to grope Kyung, too-- he wasn't budging on his notion that the blue Lunarian was a female.
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