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 Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 4:37 am
Enlei had meant to move forward when one of the people in the group called out to her. They looked friendly enough, laughing and talking to each other- especially the tall girl with the long braid who'd first addressed her. It made her slightly envious; she didn't know anyone other than her relatives and a neighbour or two. Since her enrolment into the academy Enlei had been looking forward to meeting people and making friends, she couldn't wait for lessons to start. Perhaps these people were students as well- they looked like they were around the same age, if a little older. It would be nice to get to know them, she thought, before she started at the school officially.
And so she had meant to just walk over, tap the woman on the shoulder and say "Hello, I think you dropped this..."
At least, until she heard the brown-haired man speak; "Noble assault ....I was blinded in my efforts to save my men."
Legions. The word sent a chill down her spine, and she took a step back, her eyes darting from the tall red-head to a quiet man with spiky blue hair- to another girl with pale hair. Were they all legions, then? Ordinarily she would not have minded them, but in such a large group? And that man with the brown hair, kind-looking as he was, who'd had his eye taken out by a group of nobles- he would have a cause for revenge. She could not imagine them bearing her any goodwill, even though it was not likely that they knew her alliance- should they happen to ask, in any case, it was not something that she would hide. If need be she would stand and fight.
How ironic it would be, though, to lose one's life on the Festival of Spirits. At least the death would be celebrated, not mourned, from the start. Her heart ached a little, thinking of Ruishan alone out there somewhere. They might be sitting in a shop, happily enjoying some deliciously cold dessert, if not for this silly ribbon. And naturally, the silly person who'd dropped the silly ribbon.
When he spoke again, she looked up at him, somewhat defiantly, her bright green eyes flashing- though it was difficult to be intimidating, when you were staring up at the other party.
"My brother found this on the ground," she said, pursing her lips as she held the ribbon out. "I think you really ought to be more careful with things like these."
Enlei aimed pointed look at the lady who'd dropped the ribbon, hoping she looked disapproving enough. And wondered what in Lunaria she was getting herself into, trying to pick a fight with a bunch of Legions.
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:40 am
To Shin's credit her legs were a bit longer then Cais'. It made keeping up with his quickened pace easy. And beyond all else, she was a young lady of nobility, and she had learned early to keep her grace through nearly all things. Lessons of etiquette and poise drilled into her from an early age by the few living teachers she'd had, and then further by Rong, the elderly ghost of a nanny that had taken it upon herself to raise and protect Shin, when her parents had no time for it.
His gentle cough pulled her attention to him, and brows rose a little curiously as he glanced away, then back again. "Relatively close, yes. At the rear of the noble estates, at the end of the path that snakes up into the mountains." It was one of the biggest estates within the whole of the city. Nestled between a gentle dip in the protective mountains and surrounded by a stone gate.
"How about you, do you live within the noble estates?" She spared a glance to those walking around them. searching faces for any glimmer of familiarity. She wasn't looking for friends, for she couldn't claim many of those. But there were certainly a handful of individuals she was hoping not to run into.
She was determined not to dwell on those unhappy memories, and carefully avoiding the ones responsible seemed a fairly good means of doing so. A certain young legionaire with burgundy eyes in particular she hoped to avoid.
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 10:34 am
Huojin's pant leg was squeaking.
At first he had hoped that he was imagining things, but as he had to stride faster to keep up with his long legged father, he began to notice that it was very definitely chittering every time he set it on the ground. Huojin was used to things like this happening, when one kept mice, birds, and rats in their workshop, they were bound to try to escape. The birds and rats were easy to stop but the mice weren't, especially now they had figured out they'd be less noticeable if they hitched a ride on Huojin.
But did one really have to try to get out today? Discreetly, Huojin tried to lean over and pluck it out, but as he did so, it ran through his fingers. "You can't do that, it's the Festival of Spirits, you can't cause a ruckus!" he hissed at it, causing a bit of a ruckus himself as he chased after the rodent. He grabbed at it once- "Gotch- no, come back here!" twice- "There will be consequences!" three times- "Aha!" and looked up, squirming mouse in hand, to find himself completely apart from his family, lost in who knew where.
"Perfect," he said flatly, looking at the mouse that had caused this mess wriggling in his hands. He looked around for someone to ask for directions, pursing his lips at the hassle. "I'll have you know that if the spirits never forgive me, it's all your fault."
The mouse squeaked pathetically, pawing at Huojin's fingers.
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 4:27 pm
"Ah well..." Huang brushed his hand through his hair at Lady Li and smiled at her. She was quite the mature one indeed. It was rare for him to find somebody with maturity and actual maturity eeking from everything she did. "You said it much better than I." He cocked his head at her before his attention turned to Yue would admittedly enough was making him uncomfortable. Not like, I don't like you uncomfortable, no no, more like a awkward, Hey this person is bright and cheery and I am kinda of quiet and Stoic awkward uncomfortable.
He turned to smart a word at Jianyu when interrupted by a loud female voice, Something he had been coming accustomed to do since he was beginning to relax with his master before quieting down and turned to see what caused such a loud voice. Jianyu was obviously occupied by a very beautiful dancer like Lunarian. Indeed she was a beauty among beauties but in truth Huang had yet to find a Ugly Lunarian anywhere. Especially with new faces, All the Lunarians present were of Beauty. A gift...or curse among his people. Leaving his master be, Huang turned his head back to give Yue his full attention.
"Ah I would prefer that you keep talking Lady Yue," He smiled, "You say Odd but interesting things, It is never a bore when you have something to say." He chuckled before quieting down again. Gah, what a unsocial Cad he must seem like. It wasn't often that Huang had to partake in such a social like event and in truth he was a tad bit awkward without Jianyu...or Xiao doing most of the talking.
"Well, I uh-" Huang blushed at the term of being called handsome, He knew Yue was just speaking her mind but he was still not so accustomed to it, "I am a bit thirsty." He said weakly as if he couldn't really reply right that second before shooting a glance at Jianyu who was indeed having a personal moment.
Catching Yue's quick eye movement, He came to flank her side before turning to SiMa Li, "Would you like a drink? I hear it is tradition to have one drink and meal for the dead, and leave one drink and meal for the dead themselves." Huang wasn't sure which tradition that may have been, It might've come for Xiao's Wife to be family since Huang, Shu and Xiao were the only ones of their family to still celebrate the festival.
As the headed out, Huang caught a glimpse of pale pink hair in the crowd and tried to focus. Shin-Mu was all he could think, One of the prettiest Lunarians and a Noble. Why Huang was growing more accustomed to a new neutrality with the nobles in his heart, Hers one that had cut him to the core. Shame, Anger and a tad bit of Malice came when he thought of her. But not only that, a deep sadness and uncontrollably ache for her companionship. It played duels in his heart where he wished nothing yet to push her out.
Yeah, He needed that drink and good companionship of the group now. Not only would he be celebrating the ones that were dead, But the feelings and friendships he had that had come to rest. Speaking of Friendships, His eyes went back to wandering wary for the Pale pink Noble when he was sure...No maybe not...Did he hear a cat meow? Maybe it was his imagination as he thought of the only Lunarian who owned a Cat. Eiji.
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 5:39 pm
What a difference these months had made in their lives---and yet he still managed to retain that...quality.
The one that made Ishtar want to both scream and kiss him, that absurd way that he worded his thoughts that made Ish doubt her sanity.
Unpredictable as ever, Jianyu had surprised Ishtar yet again.
"A Noble assault? What on earth have you gotten yourself into, Jianyu?" Of course. Ishtar had seen the determination and readiness Jianyu had held before; it would only be natural he had risen yet again in power among the Legions.
"But you're a Captain now, aren't you?" The attire, the followers, the eyepatch. It all made sense now. In the months since their meeting, Ishtar had been wasting her life away---skipping classes and drinking her soul away at parties, all in the name of Nilgun Raad. Meanwhile, he had been training and fighting for the better cause. The Legion's cause, the one that Ishtar had promised herself she would fight for as well, but had been...distracted along the way.
Ish thought she had lost her past, and Jianyu had lost an eye.
It was funny how life could turn out.
"Ever the defender, aren't you? Tell me, did you win or lose that battle?"
Bitter, probing words that would probably confuse Jianyu even more, but Ishtar wasn't angry at him---more at herself. Feeling a surge of protectiveness towards him, she was infuriated at the way she had wasted these past few months. Who knew? Maybe if she hadn't spent the past months sulking, she could have trained. Maybe she could have been promoted. Maybe she could have fought alongside Jianyu...Maybe they would've pushed back the Nobles, and he would've kept his vision.
"But don't worry. Your vision---it doesn't matter. There's nothing much to see here anyways."
This world isn't nearly as beautiful as I thought it once was, Ishtar wanted to add. Yet she couldn't bring the words to her lips. A lingering vision of bubblegum pink hair and glittering black eyes seemed to flicker on the edge of her vision.
Her own personal poltergeist. It didn't matter that Ish wasn't a Soul Conduit--the mirage following her was just that, a mirage. An illusion that neither acted nor spoke what it was supposed to, only reminding Ishtar of how gullible she could be at times.
Friends can turn into enemies ever so quickly---and an enemy can just as quickly turn out to be a friend.
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing to me?" Laughing softly, Ishtar replied, half mocking and half weary. "You were right after all, Jianyu. Love itself means nothing, it is quite ill-defined like you said. I'm not sure if it exists anymore, actually. And remember that night where I said we lived like fire? I've stopped being so naive. Really, Lunarians are not so much fire as trees. We live until we are burnt to cinders, or at least chopped down."Chopped down in this disastrous war. Chopped down by our best friends and family.
"...I believe an acquaintance of mine is missing hers."
He's as courteous as ever. Smiling faintly, Ishtar turned towards a surprised-looking young Lunarian standing across from them. The young girl had the most refreshing green eyes, bright and alert, which were the color of young bamboo shoots or cool mountain springs. Right now, however, she just looked disapproving.
"I think you really ought to be more careful with things like these."
Well, that was to be expected. Ishtar smelled faintly of wine, and she was missing the most important part of the Festival---the scarlet ribbon. Still, it didn't mean Ish had to take that anyone's sass, much less a little girl's.
"Excuse me, darling, I was about to go back and pick it up as soon I was done talking to my friend here." That was a completely fabricated lie. Ishtar would have continued on her way, forgetting about the ribbon. But the distaste the green-eyed Lunarian girl held towards her and Jianyu was really quite uncalled for.
Grabbing the ribbon, Ishtar smirked. She had changed over the months, but her ferocity hadn't. Turning back to Jianyu, she noticed the magenta-haired girl and the navy-haired young man. The girl looked somewhat familiar, but Ishtar couldn't place exactly where she'd seen her before. The way the two Lunarians positioned themselves around Jianyu---slightly possessive and defensive, as if he was theirs and theirs alone, almost worshiplike, annoyed Ishtar.
Especially the girl. She seemed much too familiar with Jianyu.
Is this---am I actually JEALOUS? Ishtar asked herself, disbelief rising up again.
"So, Jianyu, who are your dear companions?"
she asked, at the same time asking herself if her own demons were rising up again.
I don't want to show my ugly side. Not now. Not here.
{{OOC: Ahhh, sorry it's so long. "^^}}
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:08 pm
“Hatshoo!!”
“Somebody must be talking about you.” Junichi added after the sudden sneeze from his brother. Eiji rubbed the tip of his nose with the side of his finger and turned towards Junichi, ”What?” As both stopped walking Sumu took the opportunity to jump up to Eiji’s shoulder; stretching out from one shoulder to the other, wrapping around the back of his neck. “You are not ill are you?” Junichi questioned, getting a simple No in return. “They say that if you sneeze it’s because someone is talking about you.” Finding that highly illogical Eiji shrugged it off. ”Yeah I sure I’m one to be the subject of someone else's conversation.” he sarcastically added. “Think what you like. We must be on our way now. Come on.”
Lightly pushing through the crowd the brothers passed more and more groups of families and friends. The aura of the festival brought a smile to Junichi’s face. Turning towards his still rather sour brother Junichi let out a light sigh. “Are you sure you’re alright?” he questioned in concern. ”Yes I’m fine.” Eiji bluntly replied, bending up an arm against itself to his chest to play with Sumu’s tail that was twitching as he walked. Eiji’s focus was off of his brother and his questions as he looked around at all that were gathering. Damn.. there’s a sure lot of lunarians here.. He always had problems wrapping his mind around the idea of death; the context it was being expressed in did not matter. Festival or not he just didn’t understand, mostly, why people made a big deal over something he’d thing should be private.
Sumu’s ears perked up and his body stiffened. The sound of squeaking echoed in his ears. With wide eyes he stood, arched, on Eiji’s right shoulder, as if to pounce off any second, as he stared into the crowd. “Sumu?” Eiji rhetorically questioned as he felt the readjustment his feline shoulder companion made. With a deep bellied meow emerald eyes caught glimpse of something skittering around and between the feet of a passing lunarians in the distance. It was but a mouse and it was calling Sumu's name; but before getting a chance to strike he saw said mouse get scooped up by what could be assumed as his owner. A bit disappointed in losing his prey he lowered his butt back down on Eiji’s shoulder, eyes still fixated on the mouse and now its owner. ”Hm?” Eiji watched Sumu's movements and looked off into the direction his cat was looking in but saw nothing of interest but other lunarians. ”Hmmm.... ah well.”
“Is something the matter?” Junichi questioned, watching the entire happenings with Sumu. ”Something seemed to have caught his attention.” The mouse squeaked again and Sumu let out a bit louder meow.
Suddenly Eiji sneezed again, “Hatshoo!!"
Junichi instantly replied with a smile of amusement, "I'm telling you. You're on someone's mind."
"God damn it! Stop that would you!”
((Lmao my awesome sneezing research and real life demos let me type it that way. ;D *is proud to not use the typical achoo*)))
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:20 pm
There was entirely too much going on around the one-eyed Lunarian; he kept attracting more and more attention, making Li feel weary. Even Yue's pleasing banter and Huang's kind words did little to abate the feeling of unease she felt, especially when a new female all but marked her territory on Jianyu. Careful to keep her expression as neutral as she knew how, she gave a polite shake of her head to the two heading towards the drinks - not because she wasn't thirsty, but because she wasn't really comfortable coming back to a cat-fight waiting to happen.
"Excuse me," she murmured, keeping her voice low so as not to attract attention as she excused herself from the group, drawing in a deep breath and exhaling slowly. "Lunaria's grace," she mumbled under her breath, shaking her head to herself and turning her purple eyes skybound for a moment. It was so suffocating, the malice born between the title of Legion and Noble. Sighing, she wove through the ambling Lunarians like water, slipping through groups without so much as a brush of her ribbon in passing. She'd be much more careful this time, as she'd not expect her luck to be so grand a second time. Besides, she had to find her family and pay her respects--
A loud noise caught her attention, speaking out loud before she even thought about it. "Bless you," she commented to a male Lunarian with a cat, looking a bit surprised at the feline once she realized it was real. "Someone must be speaking of you. I hope it's in good faith," Li commented with a small smile, unwittingly echoing Junichi's words.
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 10:52 pm
Jianyu tilted his head at the young girl, arching one dark eyebrow. "An interesting response, especially coming from someone of your stature," he said, feeling a small smile tug at the corners of his lips. "However, you are quite right. These things should be treated with respect, should they not?"
Huang had stepped towards Li now, smiling as he spoke to her, but Jianyu stayed where he was, scrutinizing the young girl. She was much shorter than he was - a good few inches, with bright green eyes that held a surprisingly strong gaze. He was not certain as to which alliance she was situated with, but either way, the will in her voice was unexpected, though not unpleasant.
Ishtar's heated response drew his attention away from the newcomer, and Jianyu stepped towards her, frowning. He reached out, gently taking the dirty ribbon from Ishtar's fingers. Smoothing it out carefully, his thumb brushed away some of the dirt.
"Enough," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper, but with enough strength to be firm. "Not today, Ishtar."
Raising his hands, Jianyu wound the ribbon around her upper arm, his fingers moving deftly to knot it neatly. "It depends on how you look at it," he said, in answer to her earlier question. "I lost the external war, but won the internal battle."
Finishing his work, Jianyu let his hands drop, folding them into his sleeves. He stepped back, towards the others.
"This is my close friend, Yue Lao." he said, inclining his head towards her. "And the departing dark haired young man is my student and friend, Huang-Fu Lee." Jianyu turned towards the younger girl, the one with the pale hair and green eyes who had picked up Ishtar's ribbon. "And I am afraid I have not had the pleasure of meeting this young lady here..?
Off in the distance a cat meowed somewhere, and there was a scurrying of footsteps as someone darted through the crowds. Laughter mingled with loud, cheerful voices, and Jianyu turned his gaze back to Ishtar, standing a few feet away.
"It does exist, you know." he said. "Love, I mean."
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 4:45 pm
"That sounds nice." Cais replied, moving a hand to trace along a short stone wall beside him. " I live a few streets over from Main Street, in the direction of Artisan's Path. My family and I both live there and run a glass shop there." He surveyed the nearby area, feeling a sense that he might run into some certain people. The idea of running into certain Legionnaires caused his eyebrows to furrow while his eyes darted the path before him to the various Lunarians before him. The mere thought of running across any of them on Festival day annoyed him, adding a sense of urgency to his pace while he continued to walk with Shin.
A greater task hung heavy over him which also added to his quickly souring mood. The graveyard was in sight, the place to go to through the stones and pay tribute to the departed. Cais had not been near it since the previous Festival and showed his hesitance by slowing his pace. I have to find her grave. He thought, clenching a fist at the remembered thought of why he had even come.
He shot a glance back to Shin, whose mere presence and demeanor calmed him back down, though failed to diminish the worry hanging off of his shoulders. He felt nauseous and looked back to the path. "Forgive me if this question sound presuming in some way but... do you know your way around the graveyard?" There was a knot tightening in his stomach while he spoke, but the plain truth of it was that he had no idea where his destination actually was. He hoped Shin would not pick up on the awkwardness, but he assumed she was far too intelligent to not sense it.
He bit his lip in anticipation.
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 5:13 pm
Shin nodded at his comment, smiling rather proudly, arrogant though it may be. She quite liked her home, her wealth. She was, by nature, a greedy individual. She was just quite well at hiding the fact under a guise of benign elegance. Mention of the Artisan's Path piqued her interest, and wondered if perhaps she knew of the shop he spoke. "Like blown glass?" If yes, she'd been to the shop before, they made lovely little perfume bottles.
She kept a polite distance between them as they neared the graveyard, but at his hesitance she moved a little closer. Not quite touching, but close enough to perhaps reassure him she was there, and had no intention of leaving his side. She regarded the tombstones with mild interest, reading names and food messages as they moved. She didn't know anyone buried here, so her searching eyes moved out of curiosity rather then purpose.
"Hmm?" She blinked pale eyes at him at his question. "I've been here before, so I'm not a stranger to the layout." A gentle smile was taking over the smile that'd been so prominent before. Pale brows descending. He looked unwell, stressed. "Who are you looking for, I'll help you find their grave," she tried for reassuring, but she wasn't sure what was causing him such distress. She thought perhaps it was lose of whomever it was he was honoring, but she couldn't say for sure.
She wasn't a very touchy/feely lunarian, least not at first, but when he bit his lip she reached out to him, resting a hand on his arm.
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:16 pm
He had chided her as if she were a immature young child. Ishtar bristled with resentment at the firm way Jianyu had ordered her to hold back. Since when did he have the authority to do so?
Since he's become a captain of the Legionnaires, the gentle, analytical side of her replied. His authority counts as much as anyone's.
Ishtar relaxed slightly, biting back the sharp words in response to Jianyu's whisper. It was a festival, after all. No need to create such drama and antagonism, especially with complete strangers around. Strangers who were as surprised as she was when Jianyu calmly took the crimson ribbon from Ishtar's loose fingers and tied it around her forearm.
She wasn't surprised at all that Jianyu's light touch sent shivers up her spine. How familiar he seemed to act with her. It was almost as if the distance between them had dissolved in a span of seconds after the apologies. What magic a few soft-spoken words could make.
"Thank you," she murmured just as quietly. "I guess I should warn you that my temper today is a bit..." her words trailed off as Jianyu's next words met her ears.
"It does exist."
Just not between us, Ishtar wanted to retort. No matter how much I want to change it, the events that had happened before have made any chance of love, in any form, between us impossible. It didn't matter how many times Jianyu smiled or helped her tie ribbons, Ishtar knew with weary acceptance that he would never really feel anything more than warm friendship towards her. He had made that quite clear.
And even the 'friend' title was iffy.
Ish noticed the way Jianyu looked towards the electric-rose scaled girl---Yue---, as well as the way he mentioned the word 'close'. Looking over slowly at Yue, Ishtar assessed the female Lunarian. There was something sweet and stubborn about her; Ishtar noticed a sort of openness that reminded her much of her own self. There was obviously something going on between Yue and Jianyu---what, Ish couldn't exactly place. And the other Lunarian, Jianyu's student, seemed ready to defend Jianyu at any moment. Ishtar was amused at Huang-fu's expression as he regarded her. It was a mixture between awe and outright shock as his eyes traveled down her figure. Crossing her arms over her chest, Ishtar nodded to Huang and Yue.
"Pleased to meet you, Yue and Lee," Ishtar smiled a bit, hiding the restlessness in her voice. "I'm an old...acquaintance...of Captain here. I'm glad to see he's managed to replace me with two fine Lunarians as yourselves."
Ish froze inside, horrified at herself. No, she had not meant to say the word replace. It was a crude word---but one that obviously spoke the truth, especially in Yue's case.
Keeping her eyes slighly hooded and her face a serene mask, she added, "But in a completely non-bitter way, of course."
It was after she had said that when Ishtar realized she had completely forgotten to reply to Jianyu's words about the so-called "existence" of love.
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:46 am
"someone of your stature," he had said.
"someone of your stature." She glared at him, as if she could make him burst into flames; at least, that intensity might scare him a little. Enlei did not take kindly to comments about her height; it was taking all she could to refrain from stomping hard on his foot or kicking him. After all, small people couldn't help attacking low, could they? Yet she couldn't completely be angry at him; there was a little bit of pity, perhaps even guilt, for this man's lost eye.
So instead she settled for a retort. "Forgive me for being short," the girl scowled, "but at least I'm still growing, unlike you."
Then Ishtar cut in with a snide remark. Saying she had planned to go back and get the ribbon? As if, Enlei scoffed. If she hadn't even bothered to tie it nicely on her arm; perhaps after all, it hadn't been so important. She was half-regretting the whole thing now, but she couldn't just stop here.
"I'm not your darling," Enlei snapped back, slightly taken aback by Ishtar just grabbing the ribbon from her. No thank-yous, nothing- were the legions all this impolite? Enlei frowned, narrowing her eyes as she watched Jianyu tie the ribbon back on the woman's arm. Then as he introduced his friend and student. She did not pay much attention to the two, but Ishtar seemed to be looking at them somewhat appraisingly, at the same time clearly radiating an aura of jealousy; Enlei smirked at the word 'replace'. Captain-had she heard right? Captain Jianyu, Mr Popular; she'd have to make a note in case she ran into him again someday.
When he turned back to her for a moment, addressing her, Enlei hesitated a little. She didn't feel like giving her name, not here.
"No," she said, smiling at him as brightly as she could. "No, I don't think we've had the.. pleasure of meeting." Abruptly Enlei turned away, trying to walk as fast as she could while hopefully still appearing graceful. She was glad, now, for the crowds, as she wound her way through them. They would hide her from that crowd of legions, and hopefully she wouldn't see them again for the rest of the day.
Now... she would wait a little while, at least until she was out of their hearing range, before she started yelling for Ruishan. On this day, looking for him might be like looking for a needle in a haystack, but on the bright side it was a needle you could call for.
On the.. dark side, it was also a needle that was probably moving around.
Wait for me, Shan, she thought, whispered a quick prayer to the Goddess. Please be okay wherever you are.
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 10:44 pm
It was difficult, even for Yue, to keep track of all that was going on. In fact, she found herself focusing mostly on Huang, to keep herself oriented. "I don't think I hear that request often," Yue laughed, "but if you want me to keep talking, that's easy enough! Though it may get increasingly more strange, until you just don't know what's here or there," Yue finished, her grin nearly predatory again. Huang was level in a way that she, herself, was not; in that regard, she enjoyed his company now. He provided a kind of stability against which she knew she could be as chaotic as she desired... and never ruin the balance. He also seemed so sincere in a way, it was endearing.
Yue Lao was trying firmly to give Jianyu space with Ishtar; despite wanting to reply to many things Ishtar said, Yue was observing, listening, gathering what subtle information she could. Everything had a new context. She had known Jianyu, Ishtar and Huang from the Academy incident; one of them was now her dearest friend, one a budding friendship if she had any say in the matter, and now a third who knew her dear friend. Who else would she see on a day meant to honour and celebrate the dead?
Before Yue was even able to say goodbye to Li, she had excused herself. It seemed that she was a little overwhelmed, too. In truth, Yue was unaccustomed to meeting with Jianyu in such busy occasions. She often saw him alone, or with their families, so it was a new sensation to bow out and occupy herself while many who knew him, or were meeting him for the first time, appeared.
Yue heard Ishtar ask her name, and Jianyu offer it. Close friend, he said. Yue smiled to herself. Following which she heard him assure her that love exists. Yue, her face turned away from them, smiled more gently, and her face softened. Of course it did. Even she knew that. But she closed her eyes and when she opened them the same intelligent, observant sparkle lit her eyes up, instead of the gentle softness moments before. It wouldn't do to give in to things like love. But there were the red threads, and even she could see that others were tied together. Finally, Ishtar broke Yue's concentration, and she turned to respond.
"Nothing but joy to meet a sensational Lunarian like yourself," Yue said to Ishtar, approaching a little closer and blowing the Lunarian a kiss. "Even if this is a second meeting!" Yue's eyes glittered. She pursed her lips, paused, looked up at Jianyu, back at Ishtar and... after much deliberation with herself, she corrected Ishtar. "Now why would you say a thing like that? Well, because you felt it, I suppose. But no; others can't be replaced, Ishtar. On a festival day like today, that should be pretty apparent. There's one of you, one of me, one Huang, one Jianyu... and we're all our own selves. So calling us replacements is like saying Yu only has room for Ishtar in his close proximity," she said, smiling the whole time, her speech rhythmic, metered. "I am Yue Lao, and this is Huang-Fu. I'm pleased to meet you, Ishtar, of whom there is only one," Yue finished, as if she was reintroducing herself and Huang, indicating that she was by no means to be a replacement for anyone. Having said her peace, Yue winked at Ishtar and flipped her braid back behind her shoulder again.
She kept her tongue sealed firmly behind her teeth, witnessing all that went on between the unfamiliar Lunarian girl, who seemed to be almost a child, Ishtar and Jianyu. The discarded ribbon was returned, though the girl seemed to be acting with hostility. It was cute, in a sort of childish way, for her to be so openly hostile towards a group of obviously older Lunarians, especially ones whose allegiance, though perhaps the girl didn't know that, matched. Yue would do whatever she could to diffuse the situation if it came to that, but she hardly felt like the girl was a threat. Trying to make Yue angry was a little like trying to light wet wood on fire. It didn't come easily, and it would take a lot of accelerant to ever catch fire. Yue definitely didn't mind that the child wandered off, though she hoped the girl wouldn't start any trouble.
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 10:47 am
"Ishtar!" Jianyu said, his voice carrying a note of warning in it. Her expression had gone from submissive, like a wounded child, to confident, to snide all within a few moments. It seemed as if she did not have quite the control over her emotions that she wished to, since after those came a look of very slight panic before she let a calm smile cross her slender face.
Certainly the same Ishtar, Jianyu thought to himself, turning his gaze away from her briefly to glance over at the younger girl, raising an eyebrow. "No," he said, his tone light despite his firmness from earlier. "I suppose I have finished growing, haven't I?"
He looked down at himself, as if gauging just how much he had grown, and then looked back up at her, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Before he could say anything, however, the girl turned away, moving fast. Jianyu watched her go, reaching a hand up to tap his chin in thought.
An interesting young lady... he mused to himself. Despite her...somewhat stunted stature, she is confident. That is refreshing, at the very least.
Yue's voice brought him back to reality, and Jianyu rubbed a hand over his face before turning back to the two beside him. He offered a polite, somewhat tight-lipped smile to Yue and said "Stargazer, would you mind getting me a drink? I'd like to speak to Ishtar for a moment."
Jianyu hoped he wasn't sounding abrupt; it wasn't that he didn't want Yue's company, but he was feeling a more pressing need to speak to Ishtar before things got further out of hand. Giving a nod to his best friend, Jianyu took ahold of Ishtar's upper arm and pulled her a few steps to the side, away from the eyes of the others. Then he stopped, moving to stand in front of her.
"Ishtar," he said. "You need to calm down. Today is not the day to create tension among others. We are meant to celebrate today, be relaxed and feel safe.
"Besides," he added, folding his arms together. "You're not exactly like everyone else; you'er irreplaceable. So don't go off thinking I've 'replaced' you with anyone."[[ OOC :: DAY ONE WILL END TONIGHT, SO GET YOUR POSTS IN! Things will be happening this weekend UHUHUHU ]]
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:02 pm
Huang head swam from the energy that was being swept off all parties involved. Even now he fidgeted with uncomfortableness as the younger girl's open hostility and then at Ishtar's obvious if not a little bit of dislike for himself and Yue Lao.
Turning back to Yue Lao he focused on her as she spoke and regained his calm, it was odd to him but she made it easy to be himself even if it was his polite stodgy self. He enjoyed that about her because not many enjoyed Huang himself.
"Ah I am sure I will be able to follow, and even if it gets strange I am sure you will be quick to explain to me." Huang tilted his head curiously, what strange things would she talk about? He was almost curious as the night went on. Though his head snapped back to Ishtar's hostile but not really offensive tone.
"I am sorry but I have replaced no one. I am merely a student and friend of master Jianyu." Huang gave her a very stoic expression and tone of voice, he wasn't really offended but while the girl was beautiful, "Besides not pretty enough to replace..." Huang mumbled as Jianyu pulled himself and Ishtar away. Shrugging he looked to Yue who Jianyu had called Stargazer and smiled, "Ah If we should....Maybe we should get him and ourselves a Drin-" Huang's voice died down as he heard the faint sound of a sneeze and a loud voice boom over the crowd.
"Excuse me a second." Huang patted Yue on the head before following the sound and noticed the familiar Orange haired and Black cat from the academy.
"Eiji!" Huang came from an almost roundabout way and didn't notice SiMa Li there as well. His gaze was intently focused on the male Lunarian, though not sure why.
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