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 Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:04 am
The little herald giggled at the compliment, darting after Rand with reckless abandon. The flickering lights that hung about his wings seemed to have trouble keeping up with their host, and Nikolai flapping his little wings didn't help any.
Once they were outside, Nikolai grasped Rand's sleeve to pull him towards the ocean with a hopeful grin. The thought of playing in the water and enjoying the sea air thrilled him. It was so different than the woods back home!
What trouble could they possibley get into? Jade thought to herself, hoping Nikolai knew right from wrong well enough to keep out of trouble on his own.
"I'm sure there's plenty enough people who come from the mainland with the same problem, right?" She tried to cheer herself up. With it being an island town, Jade didn't think many people at all did in truth; the locals would be used to aquatic travel, surely.
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:06 pm
"Most of the visitors we get come on foot, from further in on the island..." Owle answered, stepping out of the kitchen with a brimming tea cup in her hand. "Visitors to the Gambino marketplace, or just people wandering around on foot. We cater to adventurers, mostly, though more sensible types come in now and again."
She hadn't actually had any visitors complain to her of seasickness before, though once a whole lot of sailors had landed beside the ruins of the previous Firebrand, long ago.
"I hope this helps," she said, setting the cup down in front of Jade. The liquid within smelled strongly of peppermint, with just a hint of raspberry. "It's supposed to settle a stomach, but I've never tried curing seasickness before."
Rand happily got dragged along, his eyes scanning the ocean for any signs of driftwood or seaweed. "There's all sorts of neat stuff in the water," he boasted. "Once, I even found a crab!"
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:32 pm
Jade looked to the drink a moment before taking it and sipping the drink calmly. After a few sips, the woman didn't look that much better- in fact, she almost looked to be worse. Setting down the cup, Jade held her stomach more tightly with her hand.
"I-I don't think it took..."
When they were near enough to the ocean it was a short sprint away, Nikolai let go of Rand's hand to jump into the water. He didn't bother to take off his shoes, and stomped about in the waves sending large splashes everywhere.
He looked happy to be able to play, and turned to look at Rand with a grin. If he could speak, Nikolai probably wouldn't have managed to word his joy. Stepping out of the water, he pulled off his shoes- now quite soggy and full of sand- before going to chase minnows just out of reach at the shoreline.
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Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:39 pm
"I'm sorry," Owle apologized instantly, mortified. "Is there anything I can get you that might help?"
Her face tightened in concern, and her hands were starting to fidget in her apparent helplessness to aid this friend.
Rand laughed, kicking off his shoes and, after a moment's thought, shedding his shirt as well.
"KOWABUNGA!"
And with that shout, he belly-flopped straight into the waves, scattering the little see creatures every which way.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:18 am
"No, no, I'm sorry to be such trouble. Maybe if I could just lay down...?" Jade asked hopefully, thinking how a nice nap might be just the thing for her stomach.
nikolai shouted wordlessly when he was splashed, and tried to follow suit to remove his shirt. Unfortunately, the shirt was caught on his wings, and his arms were sticking straight up- hiding his face in the upside-down shirt. "Nnnnnn!" He whined, walking blindly in drunken-looking circles.
Unable or unwilling to speak, he waited for Rand to come help him with his plight.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:56 pm
"Of course," Owle answered quickly. "There are empty beds upstairs...I can take you to one."
There was also a comfy looking couch against one wall, which could comfortably fit one sleeping adult.
Rand floundered up out of the water, spitting seaweed out of his mouth, and saw what looked to be a vicious fabric monster coming at him!
Oh noes!
When Rand realized what was actually going on, he had to resist the temptation to laugh at Nikolai's plight. "C'mere, silly, you won't get anywhere like that..."
Splashing carelessly through the waves, Rand would seize Nikolai's shirt and start tugging and wiggling it over his wings.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:37 pm
Staning slowly, Jade covered her mouth when she saw the ocean out the window and closed her eyes. Her feet carried her as far as the couch where Jade lay down, and covered her eyes.
"I'm sorry to be so much trouble..." She said appologetically, not knowing how to make this up to Owle. Hopefully Rand and Nikolai were having more fun.
Nikolai splashed into the water when he popped out of the shirt like a cork-gun. Sitting on his bum with water up to his chest, the lad's ruffled feathers and equally ruffled hair seemed to speak for itself. Then again, Nikolai's look of surprise on his face was priceless.
The twinkles flickered violently around his wings, looking as if they were angered by being forced out of the shirt in such a manner.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:04 pm
"No, please, don't worry about it," Owle said quickly, feeling horrible about what was happening to her guest. "Can I get you a blanket, or a pillow or something? Anything?"
Laughing, Rand tossed the shirt aside, landing it just barely outside of the reach of the waves. Saying nothing (he was too busy chuckling at the look on Nikolai's face to form any coherent words), he reached a hand down to help the other boy up.
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:13 am
"A cold compress, please." Wanting something to put on her head, Jade tried to think of Terra firma. Unfortunately, the sound of gulls and waves outside didn't do anything to help.
Taking his hand, Nikolai pulled himself to stand and flapped his wings to try and straighten them a little bit. He certainly couldn't reach them on his own, and even Jade had to clean his wings for him at bath time.
Spotting something in the water, Nikolai reached down to pull out a fairly large crab. Smiling brightly at his find, and holding it by the rear; unconscious of the knowledge it couldn't pinch him from that hold. The bright red beastie burbled it's displeasure, making bubbles as it wiggled to get free.
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:47 pm
"Certainly." Owle whisked back off into the kitchen, and soaked a towel in cold water. This she promptly squeezed the excess water from and returned to Jade, laying it across the older woman's forehead.
"Wow!" Rand exclaimed. "I've never seen one blow bubbles before! Just look at it!"
And he reached out one hand and poked at the crab.
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:11 pm
Jade pulled the cloth over her eyes as she lay on the couch and tried to relax. "I'm sorry for all the trouble so soon..." She murmured, offering a sheepish smile. "I should be all right after resting a bit."
Nikolai watched with curiousity as the creature wiggled and moved, but dropped the little beastie as soon as it clamped onto Rand's finger. The boy gaped, surprised at what the little crab had done. Whining quietly and dancing about nervously in place, the lad grasped hold of the crab and tried to pull it off.
The crab had a firm grip, and while it was being pulled on, grabbed hold with it's other pincer. This little crab certainly wasn't going to let the boys forget that crabs hurt!
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:22 am
"No, it's alright!" Owle protested immediately, shaking her head. "I feel bad...I invite you over and the travel gets you seasick. It's my fault you're not feeling well in the first place."
"Yeow!" Rand yelped, leaping back and away from where the crab had been. This only dragged the crab with him, putting even more pressure on his poor finger. Rand stared at it, then shook his hand, trying to get the little creature off.
When Nikolai seized it, Rand started walking backwards, trying to slide his captive finger out of the crab's grip. "Let go!" he exclaimed, then gave another startled yelp as the crab clamped on with a second claw.
This was, of course, exactly the kind of situation Owle had foreseen when she'd told Rand not to get into any trouble.
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 7:58 am
"Please don't worry about me." Jade offered a small smile, albeit feeble, though did try to feel a little better as she rested against the cushions. If the sloshing of the ocean and gulls could be blotted out, perhaps the woman would feel a little better.
Nikolai whined in worry, looking towards the tavern and pointed. If anyone could save Rand's finger, surely his mother could! Letting go of the crab, Nikolai grasped Rand's arm at the elbow- well away from the angry crab- and tugged his friend to follow him.
The little crab seemed to have other ideas, pinching Rand's finger before letting go with one of it's claws as if to try and get hold of Nikolai as well. Not that the little boy allowed the bubbling and fizzing creature to do so.
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Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:01 am
Rand hesitated for a moment. Mom would be real mad at him, and if he could get the crab off himself...
But ouch! It hurt! And he wasn't sure what else to try, so maybe it would be worth seeing mom angry if it meant he could get his finger back. After all, he couldn't climb with a crab clamped on his hand.
So he went along with Nikolai's plan, half running toward the tavern, still shaking his free arm madly to try and get rid of the crab.
Owle was about to reply to Jade when the boys burst in.
"Rand!" Owle exclaimed, watching him hold up the critter on the end of his finger. "Wait right there! Don't move!"
She took off at a run for the kitchen, and soon the sound of running water could be heard.
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Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:20 am
"Nikki?" Sitting up with a start- which didn't help her head any- and stood shakily to go to her son. "What on earth happened to you boys?" She looked to the crab in dismay, not knowing how to help a situation like this.
The little crab flailed it's legs, and managed to catch hold of one of Rand's other fingers. Now becoming a living handcuff for the poor little Herald. It continued to bubble and fizz, making an odd noise as it made it's displeasure clear.
Whining quietly, Nikolai didn't know what to do. When the crab's pincers were distracted handcuffing Rand, he grasped hold of the little creature again and tried to pull it off. Unfortunately- for both the crab and the woman in the room- Nikolai pulled the crab off it's pincers, and imediately dropped the clawless wonder.
Jade screamed, jumping onto the couch and kept well out of the way. "Owle! Quick! Catch it!"
(( xd I think they found dinner for tonight!))
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