|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 4:45 pm
Moving slowly, as to not startle the somewhat distracted Frei, Rong Wei tapped a hand before moving it into her own and giving it a good look over. Delia's fingers didn't look so bad as her human counterparts, maybe just a little touching up in her opinion, so much of the steps could be skipped over. Taking a small file in her hand she started on a nail, softly.
"I speak Mandarin Chinese, it's my first language. When I was born it was all my parents would speak to me so I had to learn English from my uncle and the kids in my class. Ripley learned - well, is still learning - English from me and those he meets, and soon he'll learn Chinese. Everyone in this family has to speak Chinese or they can't talk with each other."
Rong Wei smirked at Ripley's almost appalled expression, knowing that the Frei would not willingly learn that language. He'd called it 'vulgar' before to her, in passing, but she also knew he didn't have a choice. She'd find a way for him to learn it, she just didn't know how just yet.
"There are members of my family who don't speak English. My mother and father don't speak a single word of it, so my brothers and I act as their translators. Eventually Ripley will need to talk to them even if he doesn't want to."
There - a hint of warning in her voice. Rong Wei's mood still was quite sour from being hit and the bruise still hurt like hell, but hey. She was who she was and she'd be damned if things didn't end up going her way. Ripley likely understood her but didn't care, the hum of the gloves and the warmth on his hands rather nice.
"I'd rather be learning to speak snake like Delia can, rather than Chinese. Seems far more useful and interesting."
"Hush."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 4:02 pm
"Mandarin Chinese..." Cordelia murmured slowly to herself, drawing out each syllable to ensure she'd pronounced it the same way Rong Wei had, the tip of a finger from her other hand lightly tapping her dark lips. She'd never heard of it, never even knew or dreamed there was such a language. Then again she'd merely assumed that all humans (or anything humanoid for that matter) spoke English. Sure some had funny words added in here or there she didn't understand or unusual accents like her Ebby, but for there to be a whole sub-world of language within a race...well that was simply mind-boggling! But it made some sense she supposed, since other animals communicated to one another in ways she couldn't decipher like she could the snakes. It made her more curious as to what other languages were spoken within the human society.
Her scales wrinkled in delight hearing that Ripley thought something she did so naturally wasn't boring, but rather interesting. Oh and how the girl wished she could teach him her language, yet Delia hadn't a clue how she learned. Perhaps the snake ought to invest some time into finding a way to help others learn her language? Meanwhile, Cordelia leaned in closer to Rong Wei and with those pleading eyes asked, "Can I hear? I want to hear what your ta- your language sounds like. Please?" How could the woman refuse? The basilisk had shared hers after all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:19 pm
If she weren't being paid for a service she was rendering, if she wasn't being kept safe by the company of the woman and the female Raeven who's hand she was working on, Rong Wei would have likely balked at such a request and told the person asking to go ******** themselves (or something along those lines). It was simply because she was doing all of those things that she gave a haggard sigh before she searched for something to say
"Wo shi Hu Rong Wei."
The Chinese woman spoke the easiest thing to say ever, one that would have to make her stress out a bit too much, but she figured knowing the snake-thing before her and the skeptical look from Ripley (he understood some of what she was saying) she likely would need to say a bit more in order to appease this Raeven.
"Jian dao ni wo hen gao xing."
"From what I can understand she said her name, and then something about meeting you."
Rong Wei raised an eyebrow at Ripley's explanation and was pleased to find that he was more on the dot than he'd probably want to admit. Despite how much he was saying he hated Chinese he sure was learning it quickly - must have been the Sphinx in him. She didn't say anything else, wanting to hear what the female Raeven had to say, instead moving on to work on her next hand.
(( * apologies to any native Chinese speaker, I hope this is correct! My research can only go so far ))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 4:58 pm
As Rong Wei continued to work the girl's nails, Cordelia waited as patiently as was possible for the excitable serpent who was likely to start bouncing in her seat soon if the anticipation kept. Yet they were all spared that accident waiting to happen as soon as the manicurist opened her mouth.
"Wo shi Hu Rong Wei."
Was that it? Her anticipated face of delight began to deflate at this simple, yet far too short example in the other human's native tongue. Delia barely got a feel for the tones of it in her ears. Thus Rong Wei was correct in assuming she would not be appeased by that single serving, not to mention stopped a pouting session before it got started.
Silver eyes sparkling with wonder and joy, the snake would have gladly clapped if she could. Smiling towards her male counter, Cordelia opened her mouth to reciprocate when the crisp accent of her guardian clipped in to stop the girl's train of thought.
"How's it going over here?" Ebony said calmly as she moved to stand next to the others. A slight journey of her gaze came to Ripley then, but only for a moment before it came to rest on Cordelia.
Delia, oblivious as always, merely amped up her happiness towards the sudden reappearance of her woman. "Ebby! Look! See how pretty the color! And! And! She has another talk too! Just like me!" she bit her bottom lip, thinking of what she forgot to say. "Oh! And Rip is learning it too, but he says he'd rather talk like me." Delia giggled before turning back to the Egyptian with a sweet smile, "Right?"
Ebony smiled softly. Despite her slight mistrust of this Ripley, she had to be grateful to him and his guardian for helping to get the basilisk out of her horrible foul mood of earlier. Faining interest, the British woman exaggerated her expressions as she gushed, "Ohhhh, yes I see, very pretty Cordelia. See I told you it wouldn't be so bad. Even learned a few things in the process." She wouldn't get into the whole language discussion, not wanting to bring about questions of the girl's mysterious bilingual nature. "So, almost done?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:49 am
"Of course. Being able to speak with snakes sound far more useful in the long run then being able to speak with Rong Wei's family. Her family doesn't even like me."
Ripley pulled his hand back and out of the mitt as the heat got to be a bit too much, his patience at having to keep them still inside these odd gloves wearing thin. It wasn't that he was getting irritated with the whole process, no, it was just that he didn't like the warmth as much as he had when it was first put on his hands. Surely he'd kept them in there long enough anyway, and he started to peel the plastic off just in time for Rong Wei to reach over and yank the rest off. She balled the baggy and tossed it down into an unseen trashcan, her face set in a deeper frown than before.
"As if you've even given them the time of day without trying to terrify the old man into an early grave. I'm not ready to take over this entire operation just yet, so I'll thank you to remember to leave them alone."
Rong Wei skipped a few other steps in regards to the female Frei's nails, considering they weren't that bad to begin with and she doubted that Delia would willingly put her hand into something unknown, and she gave a slight squeeze on the offered hand in an attempt to keep it still while she plied the color on. It did look good, Rong Wei had to admit it was a suiting color for someone so darkly hued, and she moved along nail after nail with a single coat, followed quickly by a second one.
"We're almost done here, Delia has been really patient. I'm rather impressed at how brave she's been, it makes me admire her more for being willing to try new things. Even I'm uneasy about it sometimes."
If it was a compliment or a stab it was very much hard to tell, though Ripley's expression didn't give any assistance in that case either. He had that same smile, the one that made it hard to read, plastered on his lips. Rong Wei only shook her head as she finished up the last nail on Cordelia's hands, motioning for the Frei to place her fingers in front of the fan or to go and sit under the light as she'd instructed Ebony to do. The human woman likely didn't want to have to do Ripley now, but since Cordelia might say something if she noticed her "friend" wasn't being done, Rong Wei didn't want to take that chance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:33 pm
Ebony's slender brow lifted ever so lightly in question to the duo's semi-private conversation. What exactly was Ripley doing to scare Rong Wei's father? Was it just that her parents were afraid of the somewhat alien appearance of the Raevans? No, she could feel it had to be something in particular that the Egyptian was doing. He seemed far too intelligent for his own good. At least with Cordelia, people were only afraid initially before melting under that childish charm of hers.
Try as she might, Delia couldn't help fidgeting some now. They'd been sitting here for a long time and for such an energetic Frei, that didn't bode well. Though the basilisk stopped when the Chinese woman gripped her hand tighter, trying to put the pretty green color on without flaws. Oh and how lovely it looked against all that black of the snake! It was just what she needed, a little pop of color to offset the monotonous drab of her everyday color scheme.
Though still trying to be as still as possible for Rong Wei, the smoke girl couldn't help, but puff a tad in pride at the woman's admiration. If there was one thing Delia loved more than green, it was being showered with praise and/or gifts.
When she was finally set free, Cordelia didn't venture far, only to the fan that Rong Wei had indicated to dry her hands. She didn't want to be left out of the conversation just because she was too far away!
"Thank you." Whether Ebony meant for the compliment or for helping her drag the snake out of her funk, the Brit didn't elaborate. Taking note that her charge was drying her hands via the fan instead, Ebony nearly wanted to sigh out loud. She wanted to leave now, there was just too much tension in the air and Ripley had that damn weird smile on that was sort of creeping the violet haired woman out. "Cordelia, as soon as your hands are dry we'll be leaving. You'd better start your goodbyes."
The snake pouted, "But Ebby..."
"Cordelia." replied the woman sternly as she stared the girl down.
Cordelia sighed, but nodded her head in understanding. "Okay." After she was certain her nails were dry, the serpentine Frei floated back over to Ripley and wrapped her arms around his neck in a gentle hug. "Bye Rip! Hope to see you again soon!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 1:46 pm
It wasn't Ripley who tensed up as the female Frei moved in for a hug, but rather it was Rong Wei. Ripley remained as relaxed as ever, his hand not even moving as Rong Wei plied another coat of color over his nails, despite the clear jarring motion that having another being of slight weight crashing into them would cause. The Chinese woman was tensing up because hugs and good-byes meant she would soon be left alone with Ripley, a thought she did not relish in the slightest, but it also meant that the rest of the day would likely be uneventful too. The sky was growing darker with each passing cloud and storms always kept people indoors, so not only would she be alone - she'd likely be alone until closing time.
"You're most welcome, and either of you are free to come back any time you'd like to get your nails done - free of charge. I figure Raevens and their owners are fairly rare enough that I can offer such things without breaking the bank, and I know I don't mind the company."
It's a hella lot better then being trapped in here alone with him.
"I wouldn't mind it either, as it were. Delia is good company, I like talking with her."
The hug was responded to with Ripley's free hand patting Delia's shoulder, more of a smile on his face than before. He was still keeping still lest his fingers be ruined, but overall he was probably indifferent to the pair of women leaving or staying. He could feel the slight trembling of Rong Wei's hand however to let him know how she was feeling over all of it, but that was just more fun to be had.
"Come back soon, okay? We can get our nails done again."
The Frei waved as he watched the other two leave the building, and his gaze once again turned to the one-eyed woman who was steadily painting his nails that sickening shade of orange. He frowned and was about to yank his hand away when he noticed she was adding little lightning bolts as decorations, and he relaxed as he watched.
Ripley approved of lightning bolts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
