|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 2:13 am
  This is a private roleplay between Sakngea [lungrot] and Xiu [Honeybii].
Setting:
Somewhere in the woods
Xiu stumbles on some strange guy punching trees and Sakngea is interrupted.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 2:32 am
There was only one problem. Xiu was lost.
The youth had thought to cut through the woods instead of taking the winding main road, but now all the trees looked the same, the thick canopy above blocking out the waning sun. Xiu had no idea which direction he should go and huffed in annoyance at his inability to properly navigate his way through a small patch of forest.
Thoroughly put out, Xiu turned around, intent on just backtracking his footsteps and start all over again on the more traveled road. However, a peculiar noise hit his ears, making his blue fins twitch curiously. Figuring he couldn’t come upon a lager set back than being lost, he followed the thunking sound. And was that…grunting as well? He couldn’t be sure as he clambered through some bushes to a small clearing.
The sight he was met with was enough to stop Xiu in his tracks. Some boy was smacking a tree! Or, more accurately was punching , but Xiu didn’t care to note the difference. All he saw was some crazy guy bashing against a tree.
“What in the world are you doing?!” Xiu blurted loudly, not sure why anyone would attack a defenseless tree.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:30 am
Today was Sakn's day.
His mother was out shopping with her friends, his father was busy with paperwork and Bora (old, mad geezer that she was) had given the fisherboy the whole day to 'meditate and practice his breathing'. And he had tried (for like, five minutes) meditating, but the warm sun and soft hiss of wind through the grass had made him antsy. So, instead of meditating, Sakn decided to do some training.
Because, what Gramma Bora didn't know wouldn't hurt her, right?
Hands wrapped in thick leather strips and his braids pulled back and tied behind his head, the redhead quickly went to work on his punches. First it was swift jabs that tapped the bark lightly, then he moved into heavy swings. Slowly he fell into a rythme, and without even knowing it, Sakn drifted into a much more meditative state then he did when he was actually trying.
Breath in, pull back, breath out, punch. Rinse and repeat.
Quickly he lost track of time, eyes focused on the spot where his fists had knocked off the outer bark, muscles tensing and releasing; his movements fluid, each swing made with ease, each step made without pause.
"What in the world are you doing?!"
A swing that should have connected solidly with the make-shift punching bag instead cracked harshly and awkwardly, sending alarming stings of pain up Sakngea's bare arms, and he blinked out of his state of nothingness as the pain brought him back to.
He jerked his head to the left. He jerked his head to the right. Up, down, and then he spun around. At first the tall lunarian didn't notice the smaller boy at the edge of the clearing, near the bushes, but when he finally noticed him, his face fell into a slightly annoyed scowl.
"I'm trainin', whut does it look like'm doing?" the bumpkin boy grouched, turning now to fully face the other boy, arms crossed. And while his voice said he was frustrated, his body language was far from upset. He was, in reality, slightly curious of this boy. How could he be so shocked by what Sakn had been doing? Didn't all young men go out and practice their fighting skills?
Then again, the new guy was kinda scrawny. Maybe he couldn't fight.
That made sense.
Sakn nodded his head to himself, certain that that had to be the only explanation.
"Y'ur kinda scrawny, kid."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:50 am
He met the boy’s scowl ten fold, hands on his hips as he craned his neck. Damn it. Another tall person he had to deal with. It wasn’t too off putting though since Xiu had gotten more than used to Bataar and his hulking frame. At least this kid was slightly less daunting.
“Training?” Xiu asked curiously, head cocked as he looked the redhead over, trying to understand how punching a tree was training. Slightly mollified from being almost ignored earlier, Xiu approached the weirdo further.
Then the bomb was dropped.
Scrawny. The word echoed in Xiu’s head like the sound of a gong. He froze, a storm of emotion racing across his face as his cheeks burned red. For a moment, words were lost to him. Who was this…this nobody to call him scrawny? Sure, he was short but he could pull his weight just like anyone else!
“I…you…!” Xiu sputtered for words, hands turning into fists. “I am NOT scrawny!” He finally shrieked ear fins bristling. “Just cause I’m not a giant like you doesn’t mean you gotta call me names!” He needed to throw something. The urge to bash the redhead’s face in was great. With nothing else within grabbing distance, Xiu reached into his pocket and pulled out the firm packet of ginseng and chucked it at the idiot's head in a thoughtless rage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 1:13 am
Sakn had, in his life as a countrybred child, seen many wild animals. He had seen wild animals searching for food, caring for babes, looking for mates, and he had seen them when they were rabid.
For some reason, why the little manchild before him got upset, it was like watching a small, rabid, wild creature. Arms waving, face turning red, the spree of emotions that rushed across his face. The way Xiu's voice rose as he spoke. For a moment (just a tiny, like, tinytiny moment!) Sakngea actually felt afraid. Little things could cause serious damage (he had learned that the hard way with his neighbors cat).
Sakn quickly waved his arms in retaliation, as if this would appease the boy. "Woah! Woah, I didn' mea--"
Thunk!
The package, which Sakn hadn't even noticed before!, hit solidly right beneath his left eye, and for a moment, all he could see was bright white lights.
"THE 'ELL! Y'URR MAD! Y'NEARLY GOT MY EYE!" Sakn (notscream) howled, stumbling back and covering his eye, which felt like it was pulsing heavily underneath his hand. And as the pulsing increased, so did his embarrassment (which lead to anger, usually), and in two quick steps, the red head grabbed the younger boys arm, stopping him from throwing anything else he could possibly have on him.
"For a scrawny little thing, y'can damn well throw," he grumped, now relaxing since he was almost certain he was safe from danger now. He then punched the boy roughly in the shoulder, solid leather connecting with soft skin, a 'gentle' warning for later, "But next time, I won' think twice to crack y'ur face in," Sakn warned, scowling down at Xiu. Well, kinda scowling. Seeing as one eye was covered by his hand, and the other was attempting to not well up with tears from the sharp pain resonating from his cheek.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:04 pm
When he threw the packet of tea at the stranger, he hadn’t exactly meant to hit anywhere worth noting. That is, he thought that the other would have dodged it or something. Xiu didn’t think himself exceptionally quick so he was utterly shocked when his shot actually hit its target! He was pleased beyond belief and would have smiled if his opponent hadn’t started yelling.
“What? I didn’t hit your eye!” Xiu shrieked back, appalled at the suggestion. “And you’re the one who’s crazy! Hey, let me GO!” If possible, the youth wailed louder as he was suddenly grabbed, unable to jerk away. The pain that came next was unexpected. Dumbfounded, he just stood there, listening to the idiot’s threats as his shoulder throbbed painfully. When the realization that he’d just been hit dawned on him, Xiu’s eyes filled with tears and his lower lip trembled.
“Y-you…HIT ME!” He accused. “You big jerk!” With a huff, Xiu’s slammed on the boy’s instep and spun away. “And for the last time, I AM NOT SCRAWNY!” Eyes still red and angry with tears, Xiu stomped to the place where the tea packet had fallen and stooped to pick it up. He turned to face the other boy again and stuck out his tongue childishly after a loud sniff. Of course, it hadn’t occurred to him that the stranger had been hurt as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 1:46 am
W-what?
Sakn was severely confused now, and it was obvious, what with the horribly bewildered look upon his red-speckled face. Never in his eighteen years of -manly- life, had the young fisher boy seen such a sight. First the little (not scrawny, seein’ as ‘scrawny’ is what got him all tangled up in this mess!) pipsqueak huffed, just like a little girl. This utterly bamboozled poor Sakngea, who’s mind reeled, attempting to come up with something to respond with.
Yet, before the poor bumpkin boy could do much of anything, Xiu stomped on his foot. His poor, bare, unprotected foot; skin pinched between hard shoe and hard ground. The pain crawled, shot, and spiked through out Sakn’s body all at once. Alarms screamed in his head and he leapt back (almost comically), eyes wide and angry and in pain and so many other things. The tears that had welled up in his blurry green eyes now rolled down his cheeks as he gave a howl of pain.
As the pain subsided, Sakn felt anger bubbling in his stomach, but it was quelled by his sense of man-pride for the squirt who was now picking up his packet-turned-projectile. While he didn’t much act like a man, he wasn’t afraid. Sakn could respect that.
Though when Xiu turned back and stuck out his tongue, the red-head broke into laughter, hard, harsh laughter that came right from the gut. The boy before him reminded Sakn intensely of the little boys in his village. The ones who would follow him around like lost puppies, at least up until recently. Now with his spiritual training, he rarely got to see his ‘little brothers’, who feared Bora (not that Sakn could blame them, she was a mean ol’ witch!). He couldn’t help but laugh and smile at this kids way of acting.
“Y-y'ur one brave kid!” he managed to gasp between laughs, and even offered a hand for shaking.
“Sakngea,” another chuckle as he slowly attempted to reel himself in, “y-you?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:15 am
Wait, the strange boy was crying now? In pain? Xiu’s anger fled, replaced by curiosity and remorse. HE made someone ELSE cry. It was a rather heady thing to wrap his mind around. How could someone so manly be made to show tears like that? Xiu smiled secretly to himself, his confidence boosting a little at his own rare show of strength.
The boy, Sakngea, was now laughing though and this didn’t put Xiu into a forgiving mood. He was just gathering himself up for round two of the yelling match when Sakngea said he was brave.
“Brave?” Xiu asked in a small voice, head cocked and anger derailed again. “I mean, of course I’m brave!” He preened suddenly, puffing out his chest rather comically as he took Sakn’s offered hand tentatively. He shook the calloused appendage and offered a smile that dimpled his cheeks simply because Sakngea‘s laugh was so infectious. “And my name’s Xiu.”
Xiu shifted awkwardly then, glancing down at the foot he’d stomped on, not having realized it was without a shoe. Once again he’d done something in a fit of temper without thinking. He should have just walked away, but no, he had to just let his anger run away from him. He wasn’t so pigheaded now that he couldn’t apologize.
“Is…your foot okay?” The student asked rather lamely. “I’m sorry I stomped it.” He turned his eyes to look up, up, up at Sakngea, hoping that the boy wasn’t permanently injured or something horrific like that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 3:04 pm
He grinned madly at the way the boy preened, puffing out like a happy little bird. He was so much like the little village boys, just a little boy.
Even his laugh was young, childish. It was rather interesting, and Sakn quickly decided he liked this kid (even if he cried like a girl and stomped on Sakn’s foot). He grasped the boys hand in his, inwardly snorting at how small the other boys hand was in comparison, before releasing and staking a small step back.
Xiu. A nice name, definitely different from the names Sakngea was used to at home. He had met very few people from the big city, and most of them had very interesting names, like Xiu’s.
The fisher boy barely noticed the way Xiu scuffled awkwardly, or the way his new found friend (oh, how quick Sakn is to adopt others!) looked down at his bare feet. He didn’t even catch the upset look that shown on Xiu’s face. He was too busy thinking of the strange names ‘city-folk’ always gave their children, and the interesting sounds of them. Much fancier, and too frou-frou for Sakn’s taste.
But when Xiu spoke again, his mind toppled back down to earth, and he grinned widely. “Don’cha worry ‘bout it, Xiu,” he tried the name out for the first time, and decided that while he liked this kid, his name was still rather funny to say (he looked utterly ridiculous when he said it, awkward pursed lips and all), “Y’didn’ really get me that hard!” he laughed again then, attempting to act like he totally hadn’t screamed, cried or looked at all pained barely five minutes before, “Y’just scared me wus all.”
He swung his arm out then, stepped into position at Xiu’s side, and hardily patted Xiu on the back before looking down at the boy.
“You know what, Xiu,” for a moment, it seemed he almost stopped to consider what he was about to say, and then, “You got a really gir--strange name.”
At least he tried, right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 8:53 pm
If Xiu had any idea that Sakngea was silently thinking of him as he a little kid, he would have kicked him in the nuts. As it was though, the student was blissfully ignorant as he tried to calm himself. He looked at Sakgnea, going over the boy’s strange looks and lack of shoes. Who went without shoes anyways? Xiu wondered if it was a religious thing or just some silly action of acting out on Sakgnea’s part.
Xiu was literally knocked from his thoughts a moment later when Sakn smacked him companionably on the back. Xiu coughed, stumbled, and then squinted up at the redhead. “Maybe I should remind you how scary I can be.” He threatened, lower lip sticking out as he raised his fist in what he hoped was a manly manner. However, he was glad that Sakngea wasn’t permanently maimed.
“I’ll also have you know that Xiu is a perfectly respectable name.” He sniffed, nose in the air now. He could almost forgive Sakngea for the near girly comment. Almost.
It seemed Sakn WAS forgiven for Xiu was smiling in the next moment, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “And you know what Sakn,” he started, already falling into the nickname, “you kind of have a strange name too.”
Laughing with a shake of his head, Xiu poked Sakn in the tummy before ambling over to where the male had been punching the tree to death. “So, you never quite explained why you were hitting this tree earlier. How could that be training?” He was eager now, his youthful face turned expectantly to his new acquaintance as he waited for an answer. Was this a secret way to becoming manly?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 2:09 am
Huffing in a way that was much more manly then Xiu’s earlier, his brows furrowed in, upset for the barest of moments when Xiu poked fun at his name. “Y’shoul’ know mah name is perfec’ly normal,” he thumped his chest like the man he was. Simply put, he was bragging; putting on a show. He wanted Xiu to look up to him! He would teach the scrawny kid of a boy how to become a man. They would have many an adventure!
Sakn was so wrapped up in his plans of eccentric grandeur that he didn’t expect Xiu to poke him, and the jab to his belly caused him to grunt, a small shocked breath escaping him lips. Another temporary glare flickered onto Sakn’s red-specked face as he rubbed the offended spot on his belly, but as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. Already it was replaced with a prideful grin and a swagger.
But as soon as he came up to Xiu, and as soon as he was expected to explain his actions, Sakn found he couldn’t find a reason for why he was punching the tree. It was simply something he had always done. A suggest made long ago by either one of the villagers, or perhaps by one of the many bodiless voices that pestered him since childhood. So, with Xiu staring at him expectantly, Sakn put on his most serious, most manly face, and explained:
“It’s simply a thing all real men do!”
He almost believed it himself, and nodded proudly, as if he had just solved a difficult puzzle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 3:08 am
A smile of success was plastered to Xiu’s face. He’d managed to surprise Sakn once again with the poke and couldn’t help but think that the boy wasn’t so much older after all. He seemed young as well! Xiu was still expecting as answer despite this revelation, for Sakngea obviously knew a lot of what was required to being manly.
The answer he received was far from satisfying though. Xiu’s face furrowed up in confusion as he looked at his new friend’s freckled face. Well that…couldn’t be all there was to it could there? That just seemed impossible. Xiu had never seen other men do this type of thing. He was quick to point this out to Sakn.
“Well, my friend Bataar doesn’t punch trees!” Xiu exclaimed, hands on his hips. “And he’s the manliest man around.” Which, to him, was true enough. The captain exuded maleness and Xiu couldn’t help but idolize the Mongolian. It didn’t help that he saw Bat as a big brother either.
“What other things do real men do?” The student added imperiously. “And they have to have a reason and make sense otherwise what’s the point of doing it. I wanna learn how to fight Sakn. Will you show me please?” As far as Xiu was concerned, Sakngea had the knowledge to do such a thing. It was a crazy assumption, but Xiu stuck to it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 12:06 pm
Sakn’s face fell and he turned a glare to Xiu when the boy mentioned this ‘Bataar’. He had no idea who the man was, but already he could feel that he didn’t like the guy. No one was manlier then Sakngea (well, perhaps besides the fishermen down in his village, but he was one of them, there fore it was not a problem!), and now that Xiu had questioned his unquestionable logic, Sakn was left to reassert himself. Prove that he was the best to his bright-eyed friend.
“What other things do real men do?” Xiu questioned next, eyes demanding to know more and more. Of course, Sakn had a thousand an’one things he could list off, but before he could open his mouth, Xiu had already leapt onto his next question.
“I wanna learn how to fight Sakn. Will you show me please?”
Pride once again was evident on the country boys face, and his lips curled into a smile like none Xiu, at least, had seen before. It was nostalgic, and at the same time, a new experience, being around this boy. Enthusiasm was quick to take over, and with an over-flourished thumbs up and another tough pat on the back, Sakn agreed to help his friend.
“O’course I’ll teach’a how to fight, Xiu. I’ll show you what it means to be a real man!” he grinned down at the boy, figuring he had gained himself a young follow, then moved to stand in front of the tree. “Firs’, y’gotta know,” he mused, punching at the tree lightly as he tried to explain his actions to Xiu, who he figured was soft. He didn’t look like he had fought much in his life, or done much heavy work. (Then again, Sakngea was never good at reading people, really.) “When you fight, it don’ matter if y’learned from some teacher or what ever. You just need to be strong, stronger then the rest!,” his eyes gleamed then, excited by his own words, and jabbed harder at the tree, “And t’get stronger, ya gotta do strong things, like,” he paused for a moment, “work and practice. Dedicate yourself to your work. Sometimes thangs seem poin'less and silly, buh sometimes those things we dun expect to help are the ones that end up being the greatest. Y'gotta use what you got, and make it better!”
For a moment then, he felt intelligent, perhaps a little wiser. He gave Xiu another motivating thumbs up before jabbing at the tree a couple more times. He hadn't always been so strong himself, to be honest. At one point he had been scrawny, awkward and never able to stand up for himself, but he had practiced and learned to use his long arms, tall body and awkwardness to his advantage, and look where that got him!
“Y’might start out weak and scrawny,” a teasing smile, “buh, with my help!, you will get stronger! Just follow me, and practice whad’I show ya, okay?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 1:37 pm
Xiu was left feeling slightly awkward for a moment as he watched the expressions flit across Sakngea’s face. Had his question been too forward? He wasn’t completely sure as Sakn seemed to decided things. And just when Xiu was to give it all up as a bad job, the redhead was smiling that infectious smile of his. It was different this time, but Xiu was grinning back nonetheless, not even losing his smile when Sakn pounded his back.
His attention now thoroughly gained, Xiu listened intently as he watched Sakn seriously, taking in everything the boy had to say. That didn’t seem to hard. And it made sense, which was a surprise. Xiu was certain that the redhead would have given him another silly answer. As it was, the intelligent comment made Xiu’s smile widen in excitement as his green eyes sparkled. He could do this. He could SO do this. Especially if Sakn kept being a good teacher.
“So…you really think I could do it?” Xiu questioned, hope blossoming in his chest at the knowledge that this might be what he needed all along. He even let the scrawny comment go, simply because it was the truth and Sakn was being serious with him. “I will follow you Sakngea!” Xiu finished seriously with a formal bow. “Teach me everything you know. I’m ready.”
Xiu’s stupid grin was testament to his words. He would become strong!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:01 pm
No one, in his whole life (which was a long time, in Sakn’s eyes!), had ever bowed to him. No one had ever treated him like a teacher, an elder. Even the boys at the village had only followed him in play, not because they respected him. Chest swelling with pride, Sakn awkwardly returned the bow with a partial dip of his own.
“I’s gunna be a hard and long road!,” the redhead warned with a waggle of his finger after standing straight again, but there was a smile on his face still and he turned back to the tree, and with his ego now boosted and excited to prove he could teach Xiu to be a man, explaining as he punched at the rough bark how to we trained; when, how long, with what and so on and so forth.
The whole time he had a maddeningly happy grin on his face. He would be the best teacher there ever was! Better then gramma Bora, at least.
And after all was said and done, and the two split ways-Sakn, for his village and Xiu back to where ever it was he had come from-, Sakngea would say that the day had gone completely different from how he had planned, but it all ended well.
He had a new friend, a pupil, and while his foot was sore and bruised, he was certain he could use it as an excuse to get out of doing chores for his mother when he got home.
Maybe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
