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 Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 6:44 pm
"I'm sure you will, Lai! You're such a nice person."
She crawled slightly closer, and reached out to feel the fabric Lai had set aside. "It feels like Pima cotton. Good choice."
She clasped her hands together and rocked back and forth a few times, pondering his question. "I'm not sure. It's hard to decide, with so many possible things to be. What do you think I should be?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 6:52 pm
"Thank you Shee." He looked back over for a moment with a pleased look on his face. "That is nice to hear."
Lai kept going through the material, looking at the things. At the sight of lace he gingerly moved it off to the side. No lace.
After moving the frilly material he put his hand to his chin, thinking over Shee's question.
"Well, since I do not know very much about this holiday I do not know if I could be much help. Hm...Maybe go as someone else? Like a LOTUS member I mean." He put on a teasing tone. "Go as your brother!"
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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:49 pm
Giggling, Shee replied, "I would, but I'm afraid I wouldn't do a very good job. He's so... imposing. And tall. That's a hard one to fake." Shee mimicked Lai's gesture, and thought herself. "But, that's a pretty interesting idea. Maybe Midori and I could switch! I could go as a geisha or something, with a pretty kimono, and she... well, she could wear something Indian. That would be fun!" Shee paused again. "And I think you should go as Einar then, if we're all switching. You'd look so funny with an eyepatch!" Shee laughed lightly, punctuating her last sentence.
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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:56 pm
"Ah, well, I think it would be a riot. Though he would probably have to ask you where you got that idea." Lai thought about the consequence that would befall him if and when Shee would tell her brother how she got the idea if she chose to copy him for Halloween. At her idea of switching with Midori he nodded but at her mention of going as Einar his face erupted in red.
"Ah...Ah..." He shook his head and regained control of his voice. "I think that would be impolite Miss Shee. Though it may be funny to you, it probably would not be as such to Einar and I would very much like not to offend him."
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:21 pm
Shee tilted her head, thinking. "He probably would. Although that makes it seem worthwhile... I don't know. I'll be something."
Frowning at Lai's reply, the emotion fought with amusement over the control of her features. Apparently, Lai's relationship with Einar was... interesting. She made a mental note to find out what exactly it was that could cause Lai to blush like that later.
"Oh, Einar's not that bad. I'm not so sure he'd take it badly. Maybe he would-- I don't know with him, but... I don't know."
Or maybe she'd try to find out now? It wasn't as if they had anything else to talk about, having exhausted the topic of Halloween.
"So, what did Einar do to you last time you guys met? I mean, to make you not want to offend him and all. Something violent?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:47 pm
"I am sure you will find something Shee." Lai didn't add the 'Miss' this time around. "And it will be a good costume, I am certain." He nodded, sure of this like a fact before pulling more cloth from the chest, examining it, then putting it back. Shee had a nice assortment of colorful fabric, but Lai still figured he would write home for some. Just so he wouldn't have to trouble Shee for any when he ran out.
Lai's face was still quite red even after regaining his voice and he was cursing himself mentally at turning such a color like that. Quickly he side glanced to the right, stopping when the white of the bandage showed up in his vision. He might take it off soon, air would help it heal. At the question Shee posed he again went red, though only for the first part of the question. At that moment images of what happened that day came flooding up and select ones were in vivid detail. The Russian cleared his throat and shook his head again.
"Oh no, n-nothing violent." Exactly the opposite... "Well...That is not entirely true. Um..." He turned his face so the right side with the gauze beneath his eye was fully visible to Shee. Lai laid a hand on the white packing before biting his lip and tearing it off his face. He winced as the medical tape holding it down tugged his skin but only for an instance.
Underneath the gauze and just below his right eye was a two inch long, yet extremely thin, wound that was in the process of scaring over. Surrounding it was a fading bruise that was more yellow than black-purple. Lai was quiet for a moment before finally speaking.
"I had a little accident the last time I was with Einar. He did not cause it, but he...He cleaned me up a bit, let us just say that." He did more than that...But Miss Shee would probably not understand...I barely understand... "He was quite helpful when I was hurt, so you see why I would not like to offend him."
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Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:24 pm
"No, it will be a GREAT costume," Shee corrected.
Shee's eyes widened as Lai's bandage came off in his hand, revealing the healing skin surrounding the hair-thin wound under his eye. "Oh! That doesn't look so good. But much better, I imagine, than if Einar hadn't done anything." Shee was curious now, as to extent of Einar's knowledge of treating and dressing wounds and such. He had done a passable job with Lai. Maybe she'd go bother him again about that when there was time.
"You don't want to offend him so that you'll prevent him not helping you again? That seems... complicated. So, tell me how Einar managed to clean you up. Looks like he did a fair job of it."
Shee resisted the urge to say she would have done a better one. She had to save that one for Einar.
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Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:14 pm
"I think it will leave a scar." Lai stated this in a matter-of-fact tone. "But I think it will only be noticeable if one is very close to my face or if they are indeed looking for it."
He wrapped his hand around the removed dressing, planning to throw it away as soon as he could. His face was still red, though none of it from the bandage being taken off. At Shee's question he shook his head, indicating nothing of that sort. He did not understand it himself, but he knew his desire to not offend Einar had nothing to do with being aided again. He knew he couldn't lie to Shee. Firstly because he was so bad at it and secondly because he wasn't one for lying.
Lai turned his head back so both eyes were on Shee again. He bit his bottom lip a couple of times as though struggling how to form his answer. His mouth opened and shut once before giving her a pleading look.
"I cannot lie Shee. For one I am very bad at it and for another I do not like it much. I just ask you, even though all of this will sound extremely...Out of the ordinary..., to remember it was a very fast accident and neither of us had any time to think about how to...Eh...Properly clean me up." He paused for a breath then started to talk.
"What happened was I went to the Training Facility for a little ride around my bicycle. Well it so happened that someone had left hand weights out and as I was riding around my wheel got caught up in one and I flew over the handlebars and onto my back. Einar was there already and so he came over and helped me up, while making sure I was okay." Another pause, recollecting what then happened.
"So we got to talking a bit and he noticed my still tipped over bicycle after I mentioned it. He asked me some questions about it, I take it he never saw one before odd as it sounds, and after I explained some more about it I asked him if he wanted to learn to ride it. He got really excited about that and I figured it would be a proper 'thank you' for helping me when I was on my back. So I taught him how to get on it and peddle, all the basics." Lai turned his left hand over, inspecting some almost gone cuts on his palm. "So we got the ball rolling, as the saying goes, and as soon as I got him to pick up some speed, something happened with the brakes and he fell. I fell too because I have this sort of "put other people before yourself" ideal and scraped up my palm."
He held his hand out to her, pointing with his right index finger where the scabbing had just about gone. Returning his hands to his lap he went on.
"Einar got a bit mad at me for falling with him like that but when he saw my palm...It was not bleeding much at all though...He took my hand in his and he...He..." Another wave of redness. "He licked the blood from my hand and spit it out." He looked away from Shee, clearing his throat. "After that we both agreed on putting aside the bicycle lessons for the day. Einar said he was originally practicing archery, and invited me to come watch him make a few rounds and teach me to shoot. I knew a bit about it from my cousin though, but I agreed to tag along.
"So we went over there, Einar shot off a few rounds; he is quite a spectacular shot." Lai's praise rang through wholly, he was impressed with Einar's skill with a bow. "And we talked a bit, then after he was done he said it was my turn. So I got to try. My first couple of shots missed, but the third one hit the target. I was happy, Einar seemed happy I think, so I drew back another arrow. Once I got the arrow up to my cheek like you are supposed to, the bowstring snapped." A wince as he remembered. "It cut my face and I stumbled back and cried out in pain. Einar rushed to my side and was telling me to move my hand away from my face so he could see. I did and all this blood came cascading down the side of my face. Einar took his shirt sleeve and wiped most of it away so he could get a good look at how bad the injury was. It really hurt and made my eyes water so that made it worse."
Lai looked back, inhaled another breath and went on. "He knew I did not know where the medical facility was and he did not either and he knew he had to clean the cut up. So...He did what I believe was the only option in that situation, Einar...He...Used his tongue to clean my wound out."
How red is my face?
"Then after he seemed to notice that my right hand was covered in the blood from my face, so he cleaned that too...Same way." Lai's eyes were adverted from Shee, he didn't want to see what her expression was as he spilled all the happenings of that day, everything he had been dwelling of when Einar popped into his head; which was frequently.
"I told him he could get sick, because unlike with my hand he did not spit the blood out. He told me that after all this time I picked a odd time to get bashful. Then he said he had medical cream and gauze in his room so we went up there and he put the dressing on. I had to find a way to thank him, so I proposed I make him dinner sometime. He liked that idea, but then he seemed odd, I do not know why but he seemed odd to me. Soon after he ushered me out of his room. I realized I had not asked him what day and time would be good for dinner and so I turned around. When I did he was right in front of me. He smiled, told me to have a good day, and then he..." A faint smile but it vanished under the weight of Lai trying to get the last part out.
"Einar kissed me. Right there in the hallway!"
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Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 8:53 pm
Shee nodded; Lai was right about that. She had become attuned to the mechanics of wounds, unconsciously, and she held out her hand to Lai. "I can get rid of that for you, if you'd like."
But her arm dropped to her side quickly as she saw Lai fidgeting, finding it hard to speak. What exactly had gone on between the two of them? She was more curious than ever to know, and she leaned towards Lai almost imperceptibly. Her eyebrows came together, and she gave him a confused look as he started. Out of the ordinary? She'd be the judge of that-- weird things tended to happen at LOTUS.
His story started out innocuously (although it did sound rather painful) enough. A little bit of bicycle riding, some routine falls...
She raised her eyebrows as Lai looked away, ruining the effect. "He... licked you? Unconventional."
She winced in unison with Lai. The cut on the face was now explained. She continued to listen to Lai, the only expression on her face one of mild concern. She was slightly afraid Lai might implode right in front of her, from the cycling through shades of red that his face was undergoing. As Lai finished, his last sentence hung in the air as Shee let out a tiny gasp and put both hands to her mouth. Eyes wide, she blinked at Lai, expecting him to continue. When he didn't, she took it upon herself to fill the silence.
"Well, you know what this means then, don't you. Einar totally thinks you're cute! That's why he licked you... I mean, usually people just tear off parts of their clothing... although... nevermind. And why he liked your dinner idea! Oh, it's so romantic, Lai!" Shee almost clapped. First Moira and Shane, and now Lai and Einar. But she was getting ahead of herself. Maybe she could open up a LOTUS matchmaking service. Way ahead of herself.
"So what do think about Einar?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:32 pm
Lai felt ready to curl up in a corner and die. He hadn't mean for him to spill the entire day's events like that. But it had been on his mind lately, especially if he had nothing to do. He had no idea what any of this meant, and was thoroughly confused by the emotions he kept feeling as he dwelled.
The Russian kept his eyes adverted from Shee, assuming at the gasp she must be disgusted in more than ways than one. His face stayed at a constant shade of bright red and he was chewing nervously at his bottom lip. Still, despite his nervous fidgeting he felt like a large weight had been taken off his chest.
The awkward silence after he let loose the biggest part of the tale made him start to shake a bit. Lai let his eyes trail back over but he kept them on his clasped hands in his lap. He was about to open up his mouth to apologize when Shee's voice made him jump.
"C-Cute?" He looked up and couldn't help but stutter. No one ever called or even implied that he was 'cute' before. He was almost certain no one outside of his aunt had ever thought him 'cute'. "Romantic? M-Maybe he was just confused? I know I am right now..." A pause as he absorbed Shee's other words and fixed his sitting position; going from cross legged to wrapping his arms around his knees.
"What do I think of him?" She was good with questions, wasn't she? Lai had to think about this. From that one meeting he figured he had a good impression of the Norwegian. And it wasn't really talking behind his back, he was giving his impression of him. Lai tightened his hold on his legs before starting up.
"Well...Einar is a bit, what is the phrase? 'Rough around the edges', but he is a good person underneath. Sort of sweet in a way." Pause. "He is kind, or at least, he was to me and I can attest he is quite good to have in a tough or nerve racking situation. And I noticed he seems to have two ways of smiling; one is that common, catty, sarcastic grin and the other," A small, shy smile formed on Lai's face and he went a shade darker before resting his chin on top of his knees.
"The other just makes me feel like I was the only other person on the face of the planet."
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Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:50 pm
"Really, Lai, I think you might have some sort of medical condition that causes you to turn unnatural shades of red." She almost wanted to pet him or something, Shee thought, looking at Lai shaking and drawing his knees up to his chest. He looked so... vulnerable. Shee decided that Lai totally liked Einar too.
"No, I don't think Einar really gets confused." Shee nodded as Lai answered her question. "See, I met him too, and he's not like that with everyone." Shee glowered at the thought, and it melted away instantly when Lai spoke.
Oh! It was just perfect! They were complete opposites, Lai and Einar, and it appealed to her romantic side. She smiled coyly at Lai. "So that's how you feel? What are you going to do now?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 10:08 pm
"Unnatural?" He never thought about the shades he turned. His look went from the embarrassed, soft smile to one of confusion at the statement and a bit more so when Shee talked about Einar's expressions with others.
"He is not...?" He wanted to ask why, but he was certain Shee did not know the answer. Lai shook his head at the question, turning to a melancholy and unsure expression.
"I do not know how I feel and I do not know what to do. I know I feel so confused, you see, because I have never felt this way before. I did not even know how, or have time to, react when he kissed me. I ended up staring at the paneling on his door for what felt like ten minutes because I was in a state of shock." He looked straight at her, looking for some sign of knowing. Shee seemed to understand, even accept this strangeness with open arms. "I do know, however, that my heart started pounding the moment he cleaned my palm injury and continued to beat faster and faster as the day went on...And you know what? I noticed that when he looked up after he did that he was starting to blush too."
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Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 11:26 pm
Shee giggled. "Don't worry; I was just kidding. But not about Einar. He was kind of mean to me. This is just more evidence pointing towards the conclusion that Einar likes you!" Shee quieted as Lai continued, and for the first time since she'd learned all of this, looked directly at her. She bit her lip, not really knowing what to do in this situation. People didn't usually come to her for relationship advice; she was more the go-to person when someone was in trouble with Wraith.
Shee looked up thoughtfully. "Why he's different with different people? Well, everyone is. You act differently around people depending on how you feel about them and what roles they play in your life. So, he acts differently around me than he does around you, because we play different roles in his life!"
She moved closer to put a small hand on his shoulder, noting, yet again, that she had to reach and stand on her toes to do so. "It's alright to feel confused. Stuff like this does that to you. Maybe you should... talk with Einar about it?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 11:45 pm
"That does not sound like Einar, being mean to a woman of all people. But I guess you are right about the acting different depending on the person thing." He lifted his head off his knees and nodded, sure of this. He himself would act differently around people.
"I just do not understand why he would like me. I am a man. Back in my time such a thing is taboo; forbidden. I mean, I am not against such a relationship but still it is strange and foreign to me." He rested his chin back on his knees again and a small crease appeared between his eyebrows as he thought the unknown over. He did not see Shee move closer to him but looked back to her as he felt her hand on his shoulder.
"I should, but I worry I will not know what to say or it will all come out wrong. The last thing I want to do is break something before it is even formed."
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Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 11:59 pm
Shee herself didn't know why she was able to accept it so easily. Certainly, she didn't remember anything like this from her past... but then, maybe it was precisely that. She didn't remember anything from her past. She didn't feel particularly like struggling philosophically with herself over the dilemma, so she turned her attention back to Lai.
"Well... maybe it's not in his time. But that shouldn't matter. What matters is how you feel about someone, right?" Something was bothering her, pulling at the back of her mind. It was nagging, and she felt like screaming in frustration. What now? What was she supposed to remember? That she had felt something for somebody once? Couldn't something be specific, instead of torturously vague, just for once?
"You can say what you feel. Being honest is good in these situations, I think. But, you know, I don't think this is something that will break quite so easily."
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