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 Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 4:38 am
✘ mango tree
Nalira sat beside a weathering mango tree in the backyard, every so often raising a hand to sip at her apple juice or take a bite out of a newly picked mango. It was an unusually warm day; the afternoon light blanketed their neatly maintained grass in a golden yellow and the air was sweet and crisp. Nalira took a bite out of her quickly disappearing mango, wiping at the juice that ran down her chin with the back of her sleeve.
"I see your etiquette is as poor as ever."
Nalira raised her head quickly and squinted against the glaring sun, her hands falling to her lap. Lenore, who had folded her arms over her chest, wore an expression of scrutiny and contempt.
"We wipe out mouths with tissues, not our sleeves."
Nalira pulled a tissue quickly from beneath her sleeve and dabbed it against her mouth, smiling apologetically at her mother. Lenore made a noise in the back of her throat and turned on her heel, waving a dismissive hand at the girl and moving towards her recliner chair. Nalira placed the rest of her mango on the ground beside her, her appetite very suddenly having disappeared and her mood significantly deflated. Ignoring the uncomfortable jarring of the bark against her back, Nalira fell backwards with a sigh -- it was so common for her mother to scold her that she had almost forgotten the meaning of commendation. She didn't resent her for it however, after all it was likely that she deserved it, why else would it be such a common occurrence? Still, she couldn't help but wonder if she was destined to to be a constant, unyielding disappointment to her mother. Curling her feet to rest underneath her thighs, Nalira glanced over to the sunbathing Lenore and felt an overwhelming shame before closing her eyes against the sun's warmth.
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Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:03 am
✘ un-anesthetize
Nalira sifted through her wardrobe haphazardly, every so often throwing a sock or a pair of underwear over her shoulder. Late in the night she had awoken to the thought of colour coordinating all of her belongings, and as she couldn't fall back to sleep she had decided to get a head start. So there she sat, a white sock in one hand and a blue sock in the other, piling her undergarments on top of one another in correlative order. With a yawn, Nalira placed all of her green underwear in the farthest corner of her drawer and threw a red sock over her shoulder, starting when it hit the ground with a thunk. The Tale frowned -- surely that wasn't normal? Craning her neck around, Nalira leant forward to grasp the rolled sock in her hand, her eyes narrowed. She felt around the sock cautiously, stopping when she came across a significantly hard lump near the middle of the folds. Unrolling the sock clumsily, a small vial connected to an elegant gold chain fell to the ground, tumbling over itself before coming to a sudden halt at the base of her foot. The young girl grasped the vial carefully between her thumb and index finger, turning it over in her hands and watching as the thick red liquid inside ran up and down the edges.
"Is that," she began, pressing her nose against the glass surface before letting out a horrified gasp. While she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud, it was suddenly apparent that the liquid inside was undeniably, irrefutably blood. Extending her arm as if it were contaminated, Nalira made an odd noise in the back of her throat and placed the vial on the ground, scrunching her nose as the liquid moved thickly inside of its container.
~
"Don't be shy, beautiful," came an unpleasant voice that reminded Nalira greatly of soot and gravel, her hands clenched against the cement beneath her in fear. She let out an ungainly grunt as her back collided against the wall behind her, tearing the skin from her elbows.
"Hold her down," came another voice, hoarse and scratching as her wrist was pulled forward by calloused hands. She let out a muffled cry as a sharp edge ran against the skin of her arm, jarring and ripping against muscle. A thin glass vial was placed quickly beneath the train of blood running down her arm, rapidly filling the fragile glass container until it was pulled hastily away and stoppered. Nalira let out a sudden, guttural groan as a yellowed bandage was placed against her wound, her vision skewed and clouded as she attempted to blink away the tears from her eyes.
"Stay still, beautiful," came the first unpleasant voice, all gravel and malice as one hand traveled up the inside of her thigh and another began wrapping the bandage uncouthly around her arm.
~
Nalira stared at the vial laying inoffensively against the grey carpet of her bedroom, her eyes glazed and her mouth slack-jawed. She reached forward uncertainly, her fingers hovering above the small glass vessel before hesitantly pulling it into her trembling hand. She raised her arms to work the chain over her neck, the vial settling limply against the finespun chain against the middle of her chest. Nalira puled, her throat constricting and her heart beating painfully against her chest.
What had just happened?
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Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:05 am
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Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:06 am
✘ gravity eyelids ✘ andrael + naliraQuote:
Arri had this set up perfectly. It was pretty much a "drop a coin on a number of pictures, and see which one it falls on" type of invite - since Andrael didn't really know that many people. But he wanted this to be perfect. Andi didn't appear to really care how his first meeting with another Tale went. He was content merely chewing on the lantern, and waiting for whoever he was going to meet - or so Arrikanez surmised. While his parent was busy rushing around, gathering things and make the place neat, Andi was out of the way, watching with a less-than-interested expression.
Quote:
Lenore stepped up to the Arrikanez residence, glancing down at the folded paper in her hand to assure that she indeed had the correct address. Once convinced she tapped her knuckles once, twice, three times against the wooden frame before grasping the door-handle and allowing herself entrance. She looked to the bundled child in her arms, a rare smile gracing her customarily cold expression before turning to look curiously around the small, but by all means quaint dwelling. After a few moments of taking in her surroundings Lenore crouched down and placed Nalira on the floor.
"Oh, good evening," she said with a controlled smile, straightening and waving a hand to the man residing in the kitchen.
Nalira let out a sharp noise of surprise as she fell ungracefully to the ground with a soft thump, rubbing at her eyes. She fidgeted uncomfortably at having been rudely awakened, her nose scrunched and her eyes narrowed at the glaring light that felt to her just centimeters away. She placed a flattened palm to her forehead, looking irritatingly towards the lantern held securely in the hand of a long-haired Tale she did not recognize. With a tired grumble, Nalira reached a thin hand forward to bat obnoxiously at the lantern.
Quote:
Arrikanez waved, and took the rest of the bread out of the oven. He set it on the cooling rack, and stood up, whacking his head hard against the cabinet. One could just see the restraint he was using not to burst into a swearing fit.
Andrael looked up from his lantern, and saw Nalira. He actually smiled - a first for him - and started to crawl over, dragging his lamp with him.
Quote:
"Good gracious," Lenore moved at a sprint towards the cursing man, taking him carefully by the shoulders and looking at him seriously. She inspected his forehead carefully, a motherly gesture, then leant back slowly with a wry smile.
"Are you quite alright? You knocked your forehead quite hard."
Nalira smiled carefully, so careful and slight that her face scarcely changed, her vile swinging precariously from her neck as she leant forward. Still batting at his glaring lantern, though perhaps a little less seriously, Nalira flinched at the objectionably loud noises and curses coming from the kitchen, the skin around her eyes tightening.
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"I'm alright -- the cabinet's what I'm worried about. I think that's the seventh time today that I've hit the thing." He gave a sheepish smile and reached up to "pat" the cabinet.
Andrael offered forward the lantern for her to touch - but he wouldn't let her take it. No -- it was his, and would stay his. But yes, she could be allowed to touch it.
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Lenore forced a smile and nodded, moving to sit against a nearby chair before suddenly letting out a sharp breath and wrapping her arms around her chest. She closed her eyes and curled her fingers against her palms, her face pulled into an expression of concealed pain.
Nalira blinked curiously at Andrael, her mouth twisting into an amused smile. He thought she wanted to touch it? Not wanting to offend the boy, Nalira placed her fingers against the warm glass and tapped them against it gently. Laughing mostly to herself, she removed her hand from the lantern and shifted to sit in front of Andrael, placing her index finger to her chest.
"I'm Nalira, what's your name?" she asked, retracting her finger from her chest and moving it forward to hover in front of his chest.
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Arri looked a little concerned and went to help support Lenore.
"What's wrong? What's acting up? I'll see what I can do, if anything."
Andrael giggled, and grinned a bit, reached forward to pat Nalira's hand.
"Andrael."
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Lenore shook her head but didn't open her eyes, her arms tightening around her mid-section.
"Don't worry yourself, it's quite normal for my body to complain -- I believe it comes with age. Thank you all the same," she said, flicking a lofty but not altogether arrogant hand at him before placing it palm-down against her chest.
"Nalira and Andrael," she repeated, nodding her head towards him before pulling her hand back. It was a pleasant feeling knowing that you were connecting with someone in a friendly manner -- and, perhaps, even making a new friend.
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Arri nodded, but nonetheless went to make some tea for Lenore in the kitchen.
Andi grinned, and nodded.
"Nalira an' Andi. Yes." He took his lamp and offered it to her to touch again. He liked this one. Very much so.
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Lenore opened her eyes and watched as Aaron left the room, her gaze careful and calculated.
"And how was your day?" she asked, drumming her fingers against her chest and shifting into a more comfortable position; one leg crossed over the other and her arms folded gently over her stomach.
"Andi then," Nalira smiled, reaching her hand forward once more. Feeling a strange sense of obligation she wrapped the gold chain of her vile around her middle and index fingers, holding it out for Andrael to investigate.
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"Eh, it was a day. Nothing new, nothing exciting." He offered her the tea and shrugged a bit.
Andi nodded and reached forward, grabbing the vile in his hand and smiling at Nalira.
"Liiiira. Andi call Lira."
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"I see. It didn't look like "nothing exciting" when you injured your head on the shelf. Still, what else has been going on in your life?" she queried, taking the tea in two cupped hands.
"Thank you."
"Okay, Andi and Lira is nice," she agreed, rocking backwards and forwards for a moment before allowing herself to fall gently onto her back with an awkward roll to look at the ceiling. She pulled a loose strand of hair from her cheek and tucked it neatly behind her ear before looking over towards Andrael.
"Do you want to look at the ceiling with me?"
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"Er, yeah, I guess. As to what's up? Nothing - got a call from my bill--collector today. I don't have a job, thus, I don't have enough money to pay the companies. They're going to take my house."
He gave a bit of a sheepish grin, and sat to drink coffee with Lenore while she drank the tea.
Andi rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling with Lira. This was nice - Lira was nice.
Quote:
Lenore sipped at her tea, enjoying the bitter taste it left in her mouth and its brilliance in stalling. Placing the tea in her lap, Lenore looked impassively towards Aaron.
"That's unfortunate, I'm sorry to hear that. If I can help in anyway at all," she sipped once more at her tea, running a tongue against her lips and smiling callously at the struggling man. She had no intention of helping him, her invitation to help was in fact as empty as what would soon be her teacup; still, she felt in necessary to offer nonetheless. Pleasantries were fundamental.
Nalira smiled, shuffling closer to the boy Tale. Linking her arm with his and tilting her head to clearly look at the ceiling, she gave a quiet sigh that greatly resembled a gentle exhale; silent, but full of contentment. She leant her head against his shoulder, enjoying the warmth of another human being against her cool body.
"You're very warm," she whispered.
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Arri shrugged, and looked over at Lenore.
"It wouldn't be the first time, and I'm sure it won't be the last. People just don't want to hire a single parent. Let alone one that looks like I do." He offered her a pained smile, and went back to drinking his coffee.
Andi grinned and nodded, scooting closer as well. He was tired. She was soft. Soft was good. He rested his head against her, and closed his eyes, mumuring.
"Andi tired. Lira let sleep on?"
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"I myself don't have a job, but I'm financially stable enough not to need one. I inherited my father's inheritance when he passed away, and I had made a reasonable earning beforehand." Lenore took a sip of her tea, her hands tapping against the china. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"Of course," she replied with a stifled yawn, her hands moving to cover her mouth quickly; Lenore would surely to scold her for not covering her mouth. When she was absolutely certain that her yawn would not return Nalira placed her head back against Andrael's shoulder, her eyes sliding closed and her arms moving up to rest against his closest arm.
Quote:
Arri remained silent - in thought - still drinking his coffee.
Andi nodded a bit, and let out another breath, completely content to just snuggle there and be petted.
"Err, you might want to go home, at least for now -- look at them, cute." Andi murred softly, and gripped his lantern in one hand, and Lira's hand in the other. He smiled, and didn't look like he was going to budge.
Quote:
Lenore nodded curtly and placed her teacup against the dining room table before brushing a hand over her front to smooth out the creased fabric of her attire. Brushing her hair from her face, Lenore bent down and gently pried Andrael's hand from Nalira's, pulling the girl towards her and shrugging her comfortably against her chest.
"Well, thank you for allowing us to visit, it was lovely to meet you," she said with an air of finality, bowing her head politely before turning and moving out the door; had she have thought more of their visit, she likely would have noticed that they didn't even grace each other with their names.
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Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:07 am
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Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 1:09 pm
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Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 1:11 pm
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Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 1:15 pm
[ A personal appreciation. ]
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 2:08 am
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 2:14 am
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 2:52 am
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