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 Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:51 am
"Khali." Raiden's voice came out calm, something that took a lot of hidden effort. So he had been right. This was the inn. Someone above must be playing with them for leading him right here so easily. Really playing around with them.
Raiden's gaze narrowed as he noticed Aaron's arms crossing. That gaze went to Tzeitel next, full of curiosity. Don't tell me... Raiden sighed as he shook his head. Had his sister won over the other female?
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:04 am
Khalidah settled into an easy grin and leaned against the doorway, looking up at Aaron. "I didn't know you were looking for me." Switching to her brother, she cocked up an eyebrow. "I knew you were."
The teenager stepped back to allow the adult to pass by before taking full scope of everyone. Taking a deep breath she looked at Raiden. "I'm leaving now for my journey and Tzeitel was kind enough to come with me." She looked back at the woman for confirmation, her eyes wide and eager. "Right? Tell them."
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:30 am
Tzeitel smiled at Khalidah, placing her hand on the teen's shoulder before turning to the males with a much more somber face. She had promised and the conditions had been met. She wasn't going to run now. "After her refusal to reconsider staying, I accepted her offer to let me go with her on her travels." She took in a deep breath, set her jaw, and waited for the expected storm from Raiden, and, quite possibly Aaron, from the look on his face.
Aaron's eyes widened as the girls talked, his neck and shoulder muscles tensing. What was that?! Since when was travel on Tzeitel's agenda? "You-" She was going to let the girl leave her family, and she was going too?!! He had thought maybe Tzeitel had given the girl her money to get or own place, or had offered his money, or even got the girl to move in with her at the least, but this?
He put a hand over his eyes, trying to keep his voice calm. "Tzei, you don't have any money." Seeing her simple shrug between his fingers, knowing she was thinking to sell her product as they went, he closed them again. "You know, this is kinda the opposite of what you were supposed to do..." Gosh, if Raiden hadn't hated them before, he was probably going to now. The thought made him cringe inwardly.
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:45 am
Ah. Not only had Khalidah completely won over Tzeitel she had grabbed her as that long sought traveling companion. Joy. Raiden's fingers clenched into fists as he just stared at the females. Seriously?!
"How much?" His voice came out as shaky, but not loud. Scary actually how quiet he was speaking at the moment. "How much did you pay her, Khali?" Raiden's gaze went straight to his sister. What in the world could have possessed this centauress to agree with this?
He didn't wait for an answer before looking to Tzeitel. "You know - you don't have to risk your life like this. Especially if you're going along with her just for gold." Raiden was completely serious. How often had he secretly dreamed of adventure as well? Too much for he knew about the magical happenings that weren't contained like they were in Haven Tree.
Not just magic, but hunters and wariors too! The list of danger could just keep going. Wasn't two females traveling alone just a recipe for disaster? Even if both of them were tough (he realized females could take care of themselves after all) - it was still risky.
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:53 am
Khalidah's nerves steeled themselves at Tzeitel's touch, her hands going to her hips in a proud stance. Seeing the exchange between the adults she piped in, "She doesn't have to worry about that. I've got enough money to last us for a while." Most of it was stolen from the swear jar in the kitchen, but really, with as much as her parents talked it would fill up just as quickly on it's own.
Her ears flipped back and it took everything in her not to rise to Raiden's silent challenge. She wanted to yell at him, to rage and rail until he understood her, but that wouldn't help anything. Instead, she responded gruffly, "She wouldn't expect my gold so keep your damn trap shut, Raiden. We're going on this trip as equals." With a snort, she crossed her arms over her chest. "Why can't you just leave me be? In a little while I'll be grown anyway and then I'll leave. This way I'll just have a head start."
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:25 pm
Tzeitel met Raiden's gaze, seeing him as the adult that he almost was. He was managing to not shout, so he deserved an even level. "Khali's right. I would not take her money. I am on this trip as a companion." She glanced at Aaron. "True, I don't have much, but you know I'm good with a needle, plus my experience with all my siblings. I can help others and gain money that way."
Aaron kept his hand on his face for a while, thinking. He had known that one day Tzeitel was going to get him into something. He couldn't let her go on such an uncertain income, and the girl probably hadn't enough to last two taur very long. He groaned softly. He had been saving... Was going to buy a prebuilt house... He hadn't bought it yet.
"Fine. Tzeitel, you're a barrel of trouble." He snorted, letting his hand drop. "You know darn well I can't let you run off like this, just the two of you. Let me get my things and I'll come too. -And don't give me that look!" He crossed his arms again, staring back as Tzeitel gapped at him. He looked at Khalidah and shook his head, though his voice was gentler. "I don't expect any arguement from you either. I'm coming, and that's that."
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:23 pm
Grown that was a key word. Raiden was tempted to point that out to his sister, but wisely decided to keep his mouth shut. No way was he going to humiliate himself with another public shouting match. "Head start to- " He just shook his head and pointedly turned away from his sibling.
She didn't take any gold? "I see." He studied Tzeitel silently. Who was this centauress to willingly go with his sister for free? Raiden was actually quite amazed. So far all the taurs he had run away from Khalidah had ulterior motives that weren't for the good of others. Why had a trusting soul come along now? Perhaps it really was a sign that Khali should be allowed- No! The teen shook his head. Just because things were coming together for his sister didn't mean that he agreed with them.
Then for a brilliant second Aaron gave them hope. He wasn't going to let them run off? Raiden's gaze flickered over to the other male and then just as quickly fell. Of course.
It seemed like his sister was going to win this round. Raiden sighed heavily and just raised a hand before turning away from all of them. "Fine. Have at your adventures." His ears flattened against his head as he waved without turning around, "Hope you have lots of fun."
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Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:56 pm
Khalidah mirrored Tzeitel's look and snapped to attention when he got onto her, only to think she was off the hook when she wasn't. "If you insist." The teenager puffed up her chest proudly, though her smile wasn't planning to hide. "Be quick about it. I don't want you to slow us down." He seemed in every way very much against this journey, but at least Aaron was listening to reason and willing to help. For that she respected him.
Raiden, on the other hand, was a different matter. His silence scared her. In her mind she counted the seconds as they ticked off before he left. "Wait!" It was out of impulse that she followed him, still like the child who feared being left out, except now she was an adult. Khali stopped at the door with her hand on the frame. "No- don't. Go! I was a fool to believe my own brother would understand." She turned her back to him, walking stiffly back to the adults, rubbing her arm with the opposite hand.
Khali took a deep breath. "Alright. Let's do this."
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 9:48 am
Tzeitel watched the males a careful moment. Once she was sure Aaron wasn’t teasing and that Raiden wasn't going to yell at her, she smiled at the two of them. She looked at Khali, giving her shoulder a squeeze. It wasn't as bad as the girl had thought.
Watching Raiden turn, she suddenly got a mischievous glint in her eyes. Plus, there was Khali’s initial reaction to the young man leaving. Maybe... She called to him. "So, you've never desired for a bit of adventure yourself?"
Aaron cocked a brow, at one moment wanting to scold Khali for trying to order him around, but he couldn’t resist being an antagonist a little. “Pft. Let’s see if you can keep up with me.”
He looked up at Raiden, ears flipping back. He knew he should have been on Raiden’s side. He felt he should be locking both girls away until one had grown up and the other, well, maybe she needed to grow a bit as well. He turned his head away, feeling rather silly about the whole thing. He listened to Tzeitel, ever the peacemaker. He didn’t think Raiden would come along as simple as that, but he seemed to have many layers… He cleared his throat, speaking to Khali, voice soft as he half-listened for Raiden's possible reply. “So, do you have much you need to pack from your room up there?”
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 6:31 pm
He heard her cry, but he had to keep moving. If he stopped now...Raiden feared that all reason would be lost. If he even spotted her face any resolution would crumble away. Khali was his sister after all - his precious little sister.
His ears blocked out the sound of Tzeitel's question as he focused on the murmur of the crowd now surrounding him. He had no answer for that! At least not one that he could say out loud.
I've always desired for adventure.
But not yet. Raiden swore as he moved off towards the smithery, towards his home. That would soon be empty save for his parents. His very unhappy parents. Maybe he could tell Storm, but Bryanni - just the idea terrified him. Raiden sighed before disappearing around the corner.
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Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 5:28 pm
Khalidah looked over her shoulder to see his reaction at adult's teasing, then turned back with a agitated frown. "He's too much of a wuss to do anything without mom or dad." She waved her hand in the air loftily. Of course, it might have been fun to have him come along, considering he removed the stick out of his a** first.
She turned to Aaron and stuck her tongue out at him. "Your on, big boy." Turning around so that her side was visible, Khali tapped her full saddlebags. "Nope. I told the inn keeper earlier that if I left and didn't come back when the sun set that he could give the rest of it to his son. It's all Raiden's things, anyway." She grinned, pleased that all of her things were tucked away and safe at home.
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Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:25 pm
Tzeitel frowned when Raiden vanished, also disapproving of Khali's carelessness of her brother's property, but smirked and shook her head. "I don't know. Something about him is interesting. He's got secrets too." She turned and patted Aaron's shoulder, snickering and using Khali's name on him. "Well, come on big boy. We have to stop at your place, and then mine before we can go. Then if Khali needs to stop anywhere too."
Aaron stuck his own tongue out in reply, then turned it on Tzeitel. "Do not expect that name to stick." He grumbled, turning to Khali and bowing slightly. "For your information, my name is Aaron. Is Khali your full name?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:58 am
It was oddly quiet. Raiden frowned as he made his way home. Normally someone would be here wanting something from either of his parents - an order, a pick up, a visitor, anything. He frowned. Maybe both of his parents were out on business?
That would be luck. It would give him some more time to settle...things. Raiden sighed as his fist punched into the stone wall. Then as he found his room, some laughter even came from him as he realized most of whose things were missing in the stead of his sister's. His.
Great. Just great.
With thoughtful movements the teen began his own work, not even stopping for a moment to wonder about his sister - well maybe a bit. Not like he would admit to worrying about her.
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:59 pm
Khalidah rolled her eyes. "Ya, like where he hides the juiciest apples." The teen smoothed down her sweater, catching her finger in a formerly unknown hole as she giggled. "No, no, I'm fine. Got all I need right here."
When she looked up, her cheeks darkened, her body stiffening. She hadn't noticed when he moved, and like most teenage girls, she got flustered when a man's attention was solely on her. Calming down, she grinned and curtsied. "It's Khalidah. Mom says it'll protect me, since it means 'immortal'."
Since Raiden was gone and she didn't have to worry about him popping out around a doorway, she walked out into the cold. Her legs instantly closed up. "C-c-come on, it's c-co-cold!"
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 3:11 pm
Tzeitel smirked. Siblings often underestimated each others abilities. She turned quickly, smothering a laugh at Khali's reaction. If she had lived in a town, would she have reacted the same way to male attention as a teen?
With the formalities over with, she took her new blanket and slung it around Khali's shoulders. "When we get to Aaron's hut we'll find an extra hat for you. Maybe some tea."
Aaron was busy bowing and, luckily for Khali, had missed the darkened cheeks, his eyes only catching the curtsy, which he grinned approvingly at. "A fine name."
He flicked his tail, shaking his head at Tzeitel. "Oh, I don't know if we'll have time for tea, Tzei. I think Miss Khalidah is in a hurry to get going. Though, it would give me a bit more time to collect my things." Also, he hoped it would give Khali's brother more time to find a good excuse to keep the girl home and find them, but that he kept to himself.
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