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Questionable Conversationalist
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 Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:03 am
Rory shrugged.
"Something happened last summer while we were on holiday." He explained, and Alex nodded, remembering the trip north when he saw snow with glee.
"-It was really fun, we made snowmen and snow ladies and threw clumps of snow at each other and stood on them long stick things and went sliding-" He babbled, but Rory cut him off by sticking his hand over the young kids mouth.
"--aaaaanyway, some forest manipulators used this area as a training ground and everything got screwed up. The apprentice and master didn't think how it would effect all of us if the apprentice failed the tests." He gave a sad sigh.
"She did. Or at least, they didn't finish what they started."
Alex detached his mouth and ran off into the corn, splashing water willy-nilly in the field.
"The forest suddenly seemed to have a vicious life of its own, and sucked up all the nutrients we used to use for our crops. Finally, the paths got grown over nearly as soon as we got back. It became battling against nature instead of working with it. Its all their fault, it was never that way before...." He explained, clenching his fists. It was a topic he had heard a lot about of locals and felt strongly about.
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:23 pm
Rey bit her lip. "Sounds rough. I'd be mad too. But that explains the complexity of the disease. Normally, a field of plants wouldn't all become sick just because of one tree." she shrugged, not wanting to talk about it any more. "Ah well. Forest manipulators messed it up, now they've sent me to fix it." She smiled proudly, "So I guess you're even... right?"
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Questionable Conversationalist
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:40 am
Rory shook his head.
"Its made rather a bad impression on everyone and the crops and money in the town and stuff..... and they've probably only sent you out of guilt, or...maybe you're an apprentice in training as well and they're still using this as a training ground?" He asked Rey with a sideways look and a raised eyebrow. He had hit the nail on the head and he suspected it was true.
He looked at the ground for a few seconds then brightened up again.
"But, you're alright, aren't you? You came because you wanted to, right? You seem so nice, I can barely see you being forced into this. Or doing it to pass some stupid test, or whatever." He asked her with a smile while his green eyes innocently looked into hers.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:23 pm
Rey looked away from him guiltily, "I came of my own accord." she said softly. It was the truth, but not the whole truth. She wouldn't dare include that she had only wanted to come because Piopi told her to. After a few moments of silence, when she could bear to make eye contact with Rory again, she smiled weakly. "Im glad I came." Her pale cheeks were tinted with red. They felt warm, and so did the back of her neck.
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Questionable Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 3:09 am
Rory nodded and gave her a thankful look.
"So am I!" He said completely sincerely, but maybe not for the same reasons as it sounded. He looked over at the field which was getting watered by Alex accidentally, then looked up at the sky, shading his face with his hand.
"Looks to be about late morning. We have been working for a while now, how about we go back and get something to eat?" He suggested, noticing she was slightly redder than normal and wanting to get her out of the sun without making a fuss about her.
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 2:04 pm
Rey grinned thankfully. "Sure, lets go. What do you eat for lunch?" She crossed her fingers behind her back, inwardly hoping it wasn't hot cereal again. Walking ahead, eager to get into the shade, she brushed her arm against his and felt a shiver running down her back. It was a good feeling, though, so she didn't move away.
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Questionable Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 4:49 am
Rory just laughed at Reys question.
"Food! Does it matter? I'm starving!" he told her in typical hungry teenage boy style, and as her arm brushed his he had the urge to grab it. He went with it, holding her hand firmly and looking her in the eyes for a split second before looking away, trying not to make a big deal of it.
Luckily his brother was on the other side and he grabbed Rory's hand too, breaking into a happy run which Rory caught onto quickly and so Alex ran for the sake of beating his older brother, tugging the older boy along.
The three of them got into town quickly and Rory directed them towards the general store.
"Did you want to get some supplies here? I'll go in and get them with some food if you like.." He offered and let go of her hand, not wanting her to go into the shop, in case she didn't have a happy reception.
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:40 am
Rey grinned blissfully as the three of them ran toward the store. It was a pity when she had to let go of his hand, she thought. Holding it was even more magical than she had expected, but it seemed only logical that she should wait outside the store. "Okay," she replied half-heartedly, "I need some toothpaste, a brush, and maybe a change of clothes..." The corset-clad girl racked her brain for something else she might need during her stay in this small town.
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Questionable Conversationalist
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 3:50 am
Rory raised an eyebrow at her strange requests.
"Um I dont know if they will have those things..." He told her uncertainly, digging in his pockets for some coin. He managed to produce two coppers and a silver, and poked it around in his hand, counting it up.
He looked up at the shop window and saw the shopkeeper leering out at Rey, he shifted to the side to block her from view and the curtain was twitched back across. The man wasn't giving her a very nice look, and he was even more glad she agreed not to go into the shop for the things he might do.
"..So do you need anything else?" He asked while looking at the ground, not expecting any money off her to pay for things.
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:46 pm
Rey shook her head no, reaching into her own pocket to pull out a few gold coins. Being someone who could grow enough food for herself, she never really had any use for money, so she had saved it up for times like this. "Just tell me how much I owe you. I mean, if you happen to find what I need." Staring at his alluring green eyes and messy hair, she had the sudden urge to hug him with all her might, and never let go. Still, her feet stayed glued to the ground. It should be a crime, thought Rey, to look so cute and be so utterly oblivious of it.
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Questionable Conversationalist
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:12 am
Rory stared at the gold coins in Reys hand and then up at her. He twitched his head sideways to check if the shopkeeper was watching, then reached out and slowly curled her hand over on the coins with his own, a slightly nervous look on his face.
"Keep that. He won't do a fair deal if money like thats about. Don't go flashing that around." He looked from side to side up and down town casually, and kept his hands over hers as if he was holding her hands.
He lowered his voice.
"This town hasn't seen much money in a long time. People are desperate. Desperate. Around these parts anyway. Don't let people see that. Things could happen..." He trailed off, and let go of her hands, making sure they were shut now. "..I mean, what with you being a forest manipulator and all as well....well they wouldn't hesitate.." He tried to explain the possible danger, his eyes holding hers earnestly, then he walked into the shop with his own money.
Alex trotted up to Rey.
"Can I have a hold of one?" He asked, eyes open wide. He wanted to bite it and check if it was real, always the business-man.
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:03 pm
Rey glanced around to see if anyone was looking. "Fine, but keep it hidden, okay?" she placed a coin discreetly in Alex's hand. "Don't let anybody see, or Rory won't be happy." The coin felt cold against Alex's warm palm. Everyone in this village was so charming. "I could get used to this," the voice in Rey's head said, but it quickly reminded itself of the reason she was here. And once the mission was accomplished, her trip would have to end. Piopi would make sure of that. While her foot drew a heart in the sand, her mind plotted ways to prolong her stay in the peaceful town. Absent-mindedly, her toe drew two R+R inside the heart, but remembering Alex was there, she quickly brushed over the dirt again, covering it up.
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Questionable Conversationalist
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Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 4:24 am
Piopi gave a short laugh and fell out of her tree backwards with a thump. Her brilliant eyesight had picked up the signs Rey had made in the dirt.
"Stupid girl, she should know better than to fall that easily.." She muttered, then remembered her first master Lucian with a stab at her heart, and shoved the thought away quickly, picking herself up and dusting off the dirt a bit. Luckily no-one was around to see her, but her tummy grumbled and she decided she better not test her luck, so she headed off back towards the forest, skirting the town.
Rory emerged from the shop looking triumphant and holding a few things in his arms.
"I got a brush, " He held up a mediocre looking, tough brush which could've been used on horses, "And, toothpaste, or at least thats what he said it was...I don't know, is this right?" He asked, holding up a suspicious looking, unmarked tube of white goop. Little did he know it was a mix of glue (made from animal parts and sap) and ground up teeth to add calcium and colour. The shopkeeper had actually had people ask about toothpaste before so he thought he'd try his hand at making some.
Rory handed these over to and kept grinning "And I got some cloth for mum to make you some more clothes. You didn't seem to pack much...and if you're going to be staying here..." He watched her face for a positive or negative reaction whether she liked the idea or not, and pulled out some light yellowy fabric and dark brown fabric.
Alex gave Rey a grateful grin and kept his hand shut tight, pocketing the coin.
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Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 2:43 pm
Rey grinned at him. "Thats perfect," she said like someone who meant it. The brush would have to do, and the toothpaste looked a bit strange, but at least the cloth was in pretty colors. "I could stay here for an eternity," her cheeks reddened slightly and she quickly added, "You know, for the plants." Keeping an eye on Alex, she turned toward the path to Rory's house and started walking. "Did you buy food? You said you were hungry."
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Questionable Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:45 am
Rory nodded, threw the fabric over his shoulder and pulled a loaf of bread and cheese and some medium looking apples from his pockets.
"Yeah, I've got some here, lets go for a picnic! Take these back Alex." He asked Rey, passing the cloth to Alex.
The little kid gave Rey another cheeky smile before running off towards home with the parcel of cloth, his hand stuck in his pocket, still curled around the coin.
Rory gave Rey a shy grin and looked up towards a field that was used for livestock yet was empty and had a few nice trees.
"Um.. you wanna go up there?" He asked shyly, not looking away from her though he was blushing under his tan.
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