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 Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 8:52 am
Greg could hear Dante and Herei talking about Kenth and, personally, he didn’t think that Kenth was off pitying or hating himself. He was pretty sure that Kenth was off coming up with something to do. After all it wasn’t like there was an easy answer or hand book for what was happening now. He doubted that the ‘when you’re lost in china and have crazy people out to get you and might all die and have just lost people now what for dummies’ would sell very well.
He was sure that Kenth was just coming up with what they were going to do next. Although even if he didn’t say anything he was a little hungry… He wondered if Dante had more crackers…
“Do we have more of those?” he asked Herei more than Dante.
-=+=-
Irame had been passing Lina, going back towards the group when she saw the woman lurch a bit. She stopped next to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
“Are you alright, Lina?” she asked, resisting the urge to simply channel a healing spell into the touch without asking Lina first. “Do you need anything?”
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:33 pm
Dante looked up at Greg, blinking and glaring a bit. "So when I offer you some tea you ignore me but now that you're hungry, it seems perfectly fine? You'll forgive me, Professor, but I'm failing to see the logic in that." Despite his best attempts he sounded miffed.
But he still broke off half of what was left and held it out for Greg. "Don't waste it because you're miffed at me--we need our strength, as teachers."
Lina gave an uneasy smile, eyes glazed and dull. "I...food. I'm hungry but...I...I want...goddammit, I shoulda brought my bag with me."
She bowed her head.
"....Damn morning sickness...." she whispered to herself, not thinking a moment. Then she stood and went over to join Ruizhi.
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 9:14 pm
It wasn't long before that temple did indeed find them...glowing in all its eerie brilliance, and Far smiled wearily. "Mmmnngh. Let's catch a few winks, Ka...you c'n use my lap for a pillow if you need to, don't want to risk putting weight on that hand."
Finding the least creepy-looking tree in the area, Far sat down, propping his back against it and smiling faintly...looking incredibly weary now that they'd actually stopped moving and he had a chance to relax. "Here..."
Gesturing, he invited the other close. He would...enjoy the contact, if nothing else...it wasn't quite what he'd imagined...in sharing a closeness with his friend, but...it would do. It made him feel better anyway, and he was really hoping that the other didn't turn him down.
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:32 pm
At the mention of any sort of sleep, Ka actually yawned, nodding at the same time. "You don't have to ... mm ... offer your lap to me," he murmured then - interrupted in the middle by another yawn. Y-ea ... it had most decidedly been a long day. Or couple of days - as they had walked the night through without knowing it.
When Far sat down though, Ka did too, and moved in close enough to lean against the other, being careful of his injured wrist. The contact helped to reassure him as well - letting him know his friend was there. And somehow, it made him feel a little safer in this place.
Within a matter of moments after settling there, Ka's eyes lidded and he fell asleep rather quickly, clearly exhausted.
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 5:12 pm
RuiZhi motioned for Sable to sit with more enthusiasim than any child should have in the current predicament. "Let's eat!" He systematically opened the containers and bags, setting his canteen in his lap for easy access. The boy would let his friends eat all they wanted; even if he ran out, he knew this area and what was safe for consumption. The virus shouldn't be a problem in certain areas, but even if it were, the tonic would counter it. It was a little disturbing in his mind that he was considering such options, but he wanted his new friends to be happy and healthy. For once, the young Chinese boy was not planning for the future, content to accept the joys he had right now.
Herei hadn't even bothered to answer the poor red-headed man, almost able to see the sparks snap around Dante as he turned to address Greg. His smile was light, trembling on the verge of a grin as he watched the two. The man could see a strange type of relationship between the two, although it seemed a little grudgingly on Dante's part; even so, the elven man showed his rational and strength of character by suggesting that such things be set aside for the greater good. The Advisor was very glad that Dante was with them.
He snapped his cracker in half, but did not hand it to Greg; there was another teacher who may be needing it when he came to his senses and joined the rest of them. Herei said nothing as he finished his portion of his meal, allowing his gaze to wander over the gathered while he continued to turn possibilities in his mind.
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:59 am
He was awake, wide awake. After all, how could he NOT be awake with all the noise going on? But for one of the few times in his life, he didn't feel like getting up. So instead he lingered, laid on his side with his face away from everyone else, and stared blankly ahead. His mind trying desperately to focus, but only found itself grasping at the empty air that surrounded him. Either that, or his thoughts were re-directed back to the night when he was fleeing the darkenss in the forest, the anxiousy seized him like a serpent that twisted around his neck. He mentally choked at his own thoughts, and found his body paralyzed with fear. An empty fear...not of death, but rather of something far more pathetic, something selfish that only he could find reason in it. That was something he was not willing to share with anyone else.
The landscape was quiet, and the group seemed to be the only ones there. The natives were no where near sight, and Kenth wasn't sure if he should be relieved by it. No one being here meant that they had to persue further down the horrible path which already lost three people. How many more people will be lost if they went on? Kenth was convienced that he was not a good leader to begin with, and perhaps this was too bold even on his part.
And that was another thing that made him afraid. Since when did he begin to doubt himself? Since when did he feared so much? He could have sworn that he had not felt such before the meeting, before coming to this place. Perhaps like many people have said, this place did bring out the worst of them. The worst of Kenth, then, would be a coward who feared at his own expense? That was very much unlike him! It was...almost exactly opposite of him. Even if this side of Kenth existed, he shouldn't have been brought out in the faces of so many people! How would he stand up to these people now? How could he still keep his reputation as a good doctor?
He realized that perfection was impossible to achieve, but he never thought he could be so far away...so flawed....
And what should he do now? Here he was, laying on the ground, unable to gather up the little courage that was left in him to stand up and talk to those people. What was he afraid of really? Kenth wasn't even sure about it himself. To say that he was afraid of Herei was far too extreme, but...
He wondered if the three people were still alive.
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:13 am
Dante turned to face where Kenth was, listening to the man shift on his bed of leaves uncomfortably. He made a face as he continued to nibble on his cracker; for a moment something like pain was writ across his face, a sad emotion, a memory.
His home.
....Perhaps he did understand Kenth better than he thought.
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:39 am
Herei turned his attention back to the two teachers with him in time to catch Dante's look. His eyes followed the elven man's, lighting on the withdrawn figure of Kenth. The man sighed through his nose, casting another glance to the sky; it seemed to be an hour or two passed noon now, and time certainly wasn't going to stop. "Excuse me a moment gentlemen," he smiled as he pushed himself up, idly brushing off his garments.
The Advisor walked behind Greg and Dante, moving slowly as he thought of something to say. Was there anything to say, really? Not a one of them could claim to know what was going on through the young man's mind - not even his brother - so what was the point in offering words that may be little more than fluff? Herei could appreciate a well intended sentiment, but he wasn't very good at giving them himself.
He eventually rounded towards Kenth, approaching him from the other's feet so that the man would know that someone was coming. For a moment, he paused there, looking off in the distance as if he could see where Kenth's blank stare was fixated; Herei sincerely doubted that he could see anything that the doctor could. With a smile that replaced any words he could have come up with, the man kneeled down, extending the portion of cracker he had saved for the doctor.
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:55 pm
Sable smiled a little. Unable to resist RuiZhi's offer now that his friend had okayed it, the lab tech seated himself on the opposite side of Rui. He watched the student open the bags, finally realizing that he was indeed a bit hungry. His stomach rumbled, confirming that. He blushed bright red, flashing the pair of boys a very sheepish smile. "Sorry," he mumbled. "Haven't eaten much recently," he tried to explain. You know, travel, stress. All that. It was no wonder he was a skinny fellow to start with, meals usually slipped his mind. He reached over and took the baggy of trail mix, pouring a small amount into his other hand before putting the bag back. He popped a few nuts into his mouth. "Thanks, RuiZhi."
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:57 pm
“Well it would seem a little less acceptable if I had been talking to you.” Greg replied looking rather ‘miffed’ himself. “As you answered anyway, thank you.” He said shortly, taking the food anyway. When an emotion that he wasn’t used to seeing on Dante’s face flickered on there for a moment, Greg felt bad. He was sure that what he had said wasn’t the reason for how Dante looked, but still… He felt bad.
“Thanks for the food.” He said blandly, watching as Herei went over to Kenth. That wasn’t making him feel any better either.
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:22 pm
Elijah gave a simple chuckle when Sable's stomach growled, but he didn't do it to be rude or anything of the sort. He understood exactly why it was he hadn't eaten much, after all Elijah supposed most people here had done the same. He had himself, only munching on a few things since the plane trip here.
"Thanks Rui," he said again as he reached over and took in his hand a bag of chips and lightly opened it. He sat it in the middle so that everyone could pull some out after he grabbed a handful himself.
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:36 pm
Kenth's nose mechanically sniffed at the cracker. His body, however, didn't bother to move. With a slow motion he extended one arm to reach out for the food. And absent-mindedly he murmured, more to himself than to Herei.
"What is it?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:19 pm
"You're welcome, guys," the boy said bashfully, feeling a little giddy at all the praise. He was just doing what he wanted really, by making his friends happy and content, sharing their time together. Who knows if they'd see each other after all this? "Eat up! With any luck, we'll never be in this position again." RuiZhi smiled a little at that, also taking a little of the trail mix. He glanced behind himself, smiling further as he saw Lina approaching. "Would you like to join us? We'll have a nice picnic." The thought was absurd, and it made him giggle a little.
Herei smiled, bemused. "It's a cracker. It'll help give you your strength back." He continued to remain in his kneeling position, observing the doctor and his lack of life. The Advisor almost preferred the cold, calculating doctor than the man he was now, a silent and shameful echo of what he was. He turned his cool gaze over the distance once more, silent for a moment before inquiring, "How are you feeling, doctor?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:34 pm
"I know it's a cracker, I meant what are you doing here with me?" Kenth sighed and replied with his usual tone, only softer this time. He didn't feel like answering Herei's next question however, and the doctor buried his head even further in his arms, not willing to look at the advisor in the face. There he stayed silent, unable to think of anything in particular. He knew Herei would not let this go easily, and he wasn't expecting the man to just walk away. Yet Kenth could not find the strength to talk to the man. Somehow, he felt as if he was the child ten years ago. Expect that now...he'd rather fade back into the backround than being singled out like this.
Annoyed by his discouraging thoughts, Kenth shuffled a little and cleared his throat.
"What are we going to do now?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:53 pm
Herei couldn't help but chuckle at the doctor's cross remark. It was true, he may have been toying with the man a little, but he was just trying to lighten the mood. Kenth, however, may have never seen the light to know what such a mood was like to begin with. The Advisor continued to smile, keen gaze upon the doctor and his unwillingness to look at him. He would make this brief, then, for both their sakes.
"We should wait," he said simply, crossing his arms over his knees, "and see. I give them one day after this at best. Unless you have a suggestion." Herei didn't want to take charge, but he didn't want to force and unwilling subject into the position of leader; it would only lead to their downfall later on. Right now, he was advising Kenth as best he could, but it was ultimately the young man's decisions that would dicate their path.
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