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 Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:50 am
Ina had decided against opening up her ship for merchant sales immediately. She'd have to start establishing business contacts and stuff first. And really, she didn't have much to work with just yet. Her parents had given her money to start her own merchant business with, but she didn't know what to do with it.
So, she remained on her parents' ship. She rather liked it here anyhow. She wasn't sure if she was ready to go off on her own just yet. They were returning to their home dock soon, and she'd see the ship again then. That would be nice. She'd need staff...
She shook the ideas out of her head. She didn't want to worry about that now. She wanted to enjoy being young for as long as she could. She leaned over the side of the ship, watching the way it tore through the water. This had been her home for so long...
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Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 12:42 pm
"It's not as hard as you think."
The strange, fierce air nomad had been with them for a while now, paying her way in both copper and services. Two ports ago the ship had been attacked, looters seeking their merchandise, and Dao Rui had easily stopped them, proving herself just as Fire Nation as Air Temple in the way she'd incapacitated her enemies without remorse. Her fighting style was a combination of Fire Nation and Air Temple, which made her bending far more offensive than the typical nomad.
She wasn't the talkative type though, and her silent approach often startled members of the crew. Face blank, Dao folded her arms across chest, blue eyes locked on Ina's frame. Her looks, too, were Air and Fire. Dark hair, and those bright eyes.
"I left the temple at fifteen." She'd been a mercenary ever since.
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Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 12:58 pm
Ina blinked. She'd heard the approach of the girl-- after years of being on the ship she knew its every creak and therefore could separate the movements of people from those of the ship rather easily. She hadn't known it was this particular person, though, who was approaching.
Ina herself had helped out during the attack, of course. Her skills, however, were lacking. She had very little proper training because she moved around so much. There simply wasn't much opportunity to perfect her art.
She wondered, though, how the other girl knew what she was thinking?
"Did you?" she didn't know what to make of this other girl. She'd seen how she fought, and she didn't seem like any Air bender she'd ever met before. She seemed almost more like the Sailors on her parents' ship, though significantly more deadly.
"Why?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:54 pm
There was a long pause before she spoke again in her low voice, and when she did, it was curt.
"It was time."
Still, she smiled slightly and chose to elaborate, for Ina's sake.
"My father is a firebending mercenary, and became injured. I had completed my mastery of airbending and chose to seek him out, returning him to the home of my Aunt, Khutulan, who I also return to on this journey."
It had been the first time she'd seen her father since she was three, and was also the last time she had seen him. He had died shortly thereafter, with her mother. Her shaven head had begun to grow out since beginning to work as a mercenary herself, revealing her Fire Nation lineage of black hair.
"I will also be seeing my younger cousin, Tsai Shen."
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Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:03 pm
Ina smiled,
"Well, that will be nice, I guess, seeing your family again."
Then she blinked, "Oh! I've met someone named Tsai Shen. He had some very interesting stories to tell."
She should have to see him again sometime-- certainly she hadn't heard all of his stories yet, and if she were going to collect all of the best stories, she'd have to get some more from him, undoubtedly.
"I'm not certain it's time for me to leave my parents, though," she offered. The girl had told her story, it was only fair to let her in on Ina's.
"I will have to find sailors to help maintain my ship, and establish contacts to trade with..."
Not to mention her dreams. She'd have to establish some regular trades before she'd have enough money to go venturing about as she pleased, though. Still, one day she'd manage it!
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Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:06 pm
The corner of Dao's mouth lifted in a smile. That sounded like Tsai Shen, telling stories to pretty girls. Of course, 'nice' wasn't the term she'd use to describe her family. Except her silly cousin. It would be good to see her aunt. Her guardian.
"Was he quite pretty?" That would be the confirmation. He was also rather swishy. Dao knew he'd shown interest in other males as a child. Such things were acceptable for the wealthy. Changing the subject as she followed Ina's elaboration, her smile faded and she raised a dark, arched eyebrow.
"You are so sure already that you wish to be a merchant?" Dao Rui had traveled without funds for a while, learning the harder paths of life. It was strange, that this girl was getting her to talk. Not many had that skill. The young airbending master had quite a few stories of her own.
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Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:36 pm
"Oh yes, quite dashing," she laughed. She'd had no interest in that sort of thing at the time, but she did recall thinking he was a bit attractive. Really, she didn't have much more interest just yet.
She beamed,
"Oh yes, quite sure. At least sure that I want to keep my boat and travel the world. Merchant work is a good way to do that and still y'know, have money to eat and all."
Of course, she'd probably do more than just merchant work after she had enough funds to support her ship and pay her crew. She wanted to find new and exciting things!
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Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:59 pm
"Indeed." Dao Rui's smile grew slightly, as she gestured to herself in a rather humorous manner. "As a mercenary, I may have more freedom to travel where I please for a much cheaper cost than a merchant, but you still will own the boat, and plot the course for yourself."
Of course, Dao was far from poor now. She worked almost constantly, like her Aunt, but didn't have much to spend it on. Food, clothing, occasionally shelter. Earning around 2,000 copper a month, not counting special jobs, she'd managed to create quite the nest egg.
"Perhaps," Dao shifted to rest a palm on the side of the ship and glanced out over the water. "Our paths shall cross again." Bright blue eyes narrowing, the nineteen-year-old frowned at the horizon. "I believe we shall be attacked again before we reach mainland, merchant."
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Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:45 pm
Ina shook her head,
"It's not that expensive, except for crew and maintenance costs...well, though, I suppose when you're only looking out for yourself it is pretty inexpensive.."
She looked out at the water. She couldn't imagine being alone all the time, though. She was so used to being surrounded by sailors and other passengers.
"I hope we do meet again," she said, though they weren't quite to port yet and so the words confused her,
"Attacked again? Why do you think that?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:57 pm
Dao Rui, doing something extremely rare for her, touched the girl's shoulder before gently turning her face, guiding her eyes to the right place. Her voice was low, warning. "That spot in the dusk is a ship. It has been tailing us from afar for some time now."
Smoothly rolling her shoulders, the airbender shifted away, gesturing fluidly to the setting sun. "If they choose to do so, they will be upon us before sunrise."
They were not due to reach mainland for another day.
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Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 7:14 pm
The girl tilted her head thoughtfully. She wasn't concerned-- they'd fought their way out of trouble before, though to be attacked twice in one month was incredibly odd.
"I should tell my parents so we can start getting ready," she said softly, "And I need to practice a bit, I think. We've never had this many attacks so close together."
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Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 7:21 pm
"... No need." And this was where Dao's cryptic statement from earlier in the conversation came into play. "When midnight comes and they are closer, I plan to airbend onto their ship." A long pause, and her blue eyes moved to run over the other girl.
"I could use a firebender. Someone light, that I can carry while I use my glider."
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:35 pm
"Well, but I'd still like them to know just so that there's no worrying. We can tell them we've got the situation under control."
Ina blinked at the girl's next words and smiled rather shyly,
"I could...I could help you out, possibly?" she suggested.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:16 pm
"You should not mention the ship's approach." Her voice was low, matter-of-fact and she stepped close to Ina, leaning in until her lips were close to the younger girl's ear. "There is a traitor on board. We do not want them to know that we are aware of enemies nearby."
Dao Rui paused, still close, before turning away, hands gripping one another behind her back as she surveyed the horizon. "Come to me in the night." Ina would meet her, shortly before midnight, in the airbender's room.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 1:43 pm
Ina blinked. A traitor? On her parents' ship? Oh, now, that certainly wouldn't do!
"We have to stop them!" her voice was gallant, but she was still a little uncertain of this whole thing. She knew -about- combat, of course, but they'd hardly ever had to defend themselves this much before, let alone had to worry about having a traitor on the ship.
When the other girl pulled back, she nodded,
"All right. I'll practice 'til then."
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