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 Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:19 am
This is a re-write of an old roleplay between Nalira and Chailyn.
No one knew where Nalira was; indeed, questions of her would go in passing, but anything else would die on the air.
The easiest thing for the young girl to do was to run, just as the easiest thing to do was to hide. Surely she knew just how little harm they meant her? -- to the extent that it made no difference whether or not she was found? Afterall, it was inevitable that she would be eventually, that this vulgar little street on which she resided would not forever be called home; awfully kind friends who were naive, but nice, by all accounts, would offer her a place to stay.
Yet the strangest thing of all for Nalira was perhaps the uplifted assurance of indifference they seemed to have in finding her, to which she could simply come to the particular bland conclusion that no one indeed did want to find her. It was so little her fault, so very little indeed, this oddity that happened to her many years ago, that to accept it without question might as well be admitting defeat. Surely her actions were justified; though she asked herself why, inconceivably, she had succumb to such undeniable rage, but the question was always pushed aside for another day. The truth was that she did know, on the spot and with sharpness, exactly why she had done what she had -- but it really wasn't her fault, not really
The long afternoon light lingered on a mischief of rats, the patches of old colour unbecoming to their tousled fur as they scattered into nooks and open vats. Nalira leant back with an air of ambivalence and acknowledged the cool mid-evening breeze; the unraveling overcoat and knitted gloves she attired were so sparse and thin in areas that they could only be classified as such on the loosest terms. Re-adjusting the poise of her gloves, Nalira covered her gaunt frame with her arms and listened to the unharmonious passer-bys.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:48 am
Anemone was lost, having rushed off from the main pathway in a mix of fear thinking she'd seen one she probably hadn't. Now she was walking grungy, dirty paths littered with trash and rags and worse. Her surroundings made her feel a little sick and she tried hard not to pay attention to anyone or anything- trying hard to guess which way might get her out of here.
She'd taken too many turns to know which way the main road was. Under no circumstances had she ever been down this way but she pretended that she knew where she was going. Or at least she tried to, but she was sure no one was falling for it.
Taking yet another turn, she continued walking. She snuggled into her coat, her hands hiding in pockets as she looked straight ahead. Every now and then her blue eyes caught sight of something- which turned out to be nothing. Yet the longer she found herself down this way, the more she began to look at the people.
One in particular caught her eye and she stopped dead in her tracks. Her mothering nature snapped out immediately, "Nalira!" she snapped out. It was rather unlike her to snap or yell but she somehow found it indignant for the girl to be here. Then again she shouldn't judge without knowing why she was here first. She cleared her throat, moving forward and squatting down, "Nalira? Is that you?" she tried softly.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:02 am
"What?" It had a sound of impatience, as if it had been a challenge. She looked up to the figure standing above her, seriously doubting the woman was here to help, but rather expecting the onslaught complaints of ignorant youth. Nalira fixed her with wary eyes, and found herself suddenly sunk in something quite intimate and humble. There was a moment in which there was a familiarity between the pair, a strange soft energy; it drew from her a vague, peculiar sound, not wholly distinct from a grunt.
Across the road, at a distance, an old woman began to shout. Though sudden, Nalira did not flinch; the evening had begun to settle and the shadows had begun to gather; the day had danced its dance, and its story had been told -- the air seemed to stale, a thing of blurred pictures and mixed echoes. The night was vastly different from the day, an impression Nalira had gathered quickly from living amidst the darkness. A sigh broke through Nalira's tightened lips, bringing her back to the woman before her. Considering her words carefully, she said, with a great sense of calm:
"Who are you?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:19 am
"You don't remember me? I'm Anemone, Chailyn's mother. We met awhile ago, you were at my house, remember?" she tried to gently nudge Nalira's memory. She stared at the girl, jumping as profanities were shouted across the road. She even turned, shooting a glare though the old woman probably didn't notice.
She gave a huff, almost muttering that people shouldn't use such language around children. It was fairly obvious Anemone didn't like her surroundings but she tried to calm herself. "Nalira, what are you doing here?" she asked.
She titled her head, watching the tale and then began to unbutton her jacket. She shivered as the cold air wilted through her jacket as she began to pull it from her body. Thankfully the sweater she wore was thick and kept her warm enough for now- not that she didn't feel the cold but it was better than nothing.
Her hands moved towards Nalira, slowly enveloping the child in her coat. She buttoned the coat, staring into the blank eyes of the tale before pulling back. As much as it was apparent that she was afraid of her surroundings, Ane was not about to move an inch away from Nalira. Fear was overlapped with her mothering instinct.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:53 am
Nalira met her gaze now without a thought of anything than what was spoken. In prompt accordance with what had "passed" between them, Nalira looked proportionally confused. She told herself, on this, that it had to be the truth; she had, after all, known her name. It was almost as if, in the moments that had passed, her acquaintance with her had somehow increased and her own knowledge in particular received mysterious additions -- Chailyn. She struck herself as aware, aware as she had never been, of knowing this name. It didn't take much understanding, but she nevertheless had to think a moment, conscious of the question asked.
"I live here," she returned. "You seem uncomfortable, Anemone. Would you like me to escort you out?" She took the coat gratefully, ever so pleasantly, for what it was worth; the gratitude went unsaid, but was evident through her tone. It was obvious, in its degree, that there was nothing she wouldn't do for the woman she had so recently met, for her thankfulness was said not with words, but actions; but it also seemed highly and agreeably unlikely that she should have to do anything at all.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:08 am
"I live here," it stunned Anemone. How, or more why was Nalira living here? In an alleyway of litter, with people shouting and probably much worse lurking in any and every corner. She was so stunned, it took her a moment to notice that Nalira had said anything else. She turned her head back to the tale and started to nod.
"Why don't you come home with me, Nalira? I know Chailyn would love to see you," she said as best she could without blurting it out. Of course it was better than taking a scolding tone and asking her what she was doing here. She reached out her hand, standing up and offering to help Nalira without a word. A smile graced her lips, trying desperately to convey warmth to the girl.
Yes she was uncomfortable here- but she hoped it was clear that had nothing to do with Nalira. She couldn't help being naive about what it was like being here, she'd be too fortunate when arriving in Gaia to have found a home. The thought of a home turned her mind, where was Nalira's mother?
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:06 am
Nalira literally felt, in this first homely gesture, that her company, present all around her but formidably impersonal, had disappeared at this very moment, fading into the grey immensity of the streets. This grey immensity had somehow become her element; grey immensity was, she thought, her only friend -- it furnished her world. Nalira took the hand in hers without weakness and, moving into a standing position, readjusted her rucksack. She was glad to finally not be alone, for nobody had ever treated her in such a way that Anemone had in this very short time.
"Thank you, I won't take up your presence for long." She said almost gaily, yet she was truthful. She had, unbeknownst to Anemone, been creating a home for herself deep beneath the city, but that was neither here nor there. She placed a small hand to Anemone's back, and began to pass along unknown streets; over dirty, littered ways, between long rows of houses not touched by the dimming evening light. There were moments at corners where she stopped and would have to choose her direction, in which she quite lived up to having called the streets her home.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:55 am
Anemone was about to tell Nalira that the tale wasn't taking up her presence, as she put it. That was far from the case, since she had no reason to not want Nalira to be around. Still she said nothing at first, not because she didn't want to change Nalira's mind but more so because her eyes were drinking in the filth around them. Every step hardened her resolve, she would find some way to take the tale home.
The silence between tale and author, though neither belonging to the other, made the latter feel cut off and less in control of helping the tale than she liked. "I really do insist you come with me, Nalira," she said rather suddenly. It sounded maybe a touch like the beginnings of a lecture but the warmth and silkiness of her voice made it quite obvious that no lecture was in sight.
Thoughts of Chailyn's face filled her mind, the little one would be heartbroken to hear Anemone had seen Nalira and not brought her home. Just the way Nalira had seemed to recognize Chailyn's name made the woman open her mouth, "You would want to see Chailyn, wouldn't you?" It sounded much more sugary than she'd intended almost like she wanted to guilt trip the older tale into saying yes.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:02 pm
As she travelled with the author, it was almost as if she saw the reflection of her appearance in the blank faces surrounding her. She found herself moving, at times, in regions that were visibly inhabited by odd-looking civilians from the city, scantily clad, haughtily draped, all but discordantly déclassé and gazing about them with a hard sadness. In the side-streets peopled with alley cats and grimy children, which she wondered whether were slums, Nalira turned with an apprehensive glance at Anemone; the right thing was to be away from the stained roads and, instead, well within the stretches of neatly maintained grass.
Here were benches and picnic tables; here were idle children at games of ball, with their happy cries carried through the air; here were gallivanters tired and sore from work; here were hundreds of others in the same mind. The mind; common dreams and fears in the grim breathing-space that is life. Nalira's gaze lingered on the author for a moment, and almost before she knew it she was answering, and answering beautifully with no consciousness of deceit.
"It has been a long time. I do not believe in coincidences, Anemone, only the illusion of coincidence. My memory is," she paused, smiling, "vague. But I would like to see Chailyn. Tell me, do you like music?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:20 pm
She let out a sigh of relief, inwardly once they stepped out onto the grass. It was hard for her not to feel a cloud of depression trying to descend on her when her surroundings were gloomy. Now that she was standing in sunlight, the cloud vanished and she felt able to breathe.
As she opened her mouth to speak- she heard Nalira and stared. She didn't know Nalira well, barely at all but she sounded so eloquent in her speach that she wondered how such an obviously intelligent child could be forced to live in such horrendous conditions.
"I do like music," she started, rather tentatively. She loved music to be honest though lately she was confused about it. It was not like it used to be, her siren's voice seemed to have become tamed and no longer enchanted anyone though it was still quite beautiful. "I rather love music. It's different now though," she added with a touch of longing but relief was much more apparent.
She gave a smile, "Are you interested in music?" she asked though it seemed a rather stupid question.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:57 pm
Nalira nodded, with which she felt herself so delicately embraced by the thought; not with familiarity, but with ceremonially remembering the countless nights she spent listening to and composing music -- like a dove that could perch on a finger, it was second nature. She met Anemone's gaze on the instant she revealed her thoughts; it lighted up the strange dusk in which they were walking. When Nalira spoke, it was in a tone of fond indulgence -- almost that of a cooing dove -- expressed as if the very words were a fire on a cold winter night.
"I'm a musician, of sorts. I've composed music," she gestured to her rucksack, "Sometimes from the music I hear, sometimes from nothing at all. I play the piano -- it's some-what a talent of mine. Oscar Wilde once said that music is the art which is most nigh to tears and memory. When words leave off, music begins."
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:07 pm
"I can't play any instruments and I've never written anything. I enjoy listening to music and sing from time to time when no one is listening. It's an old habit of mine, something from before I came to Gaia that I haven't yet let go of," Anemone replied giving a soft laugh. It seemed to so silly that she still wouldn't sing for anyone given that her voice no longer enchanted anyone. Old habits were hard to break though.
She was silent for a moment, thinking over things. She wondered if Kali could conjure up a piano for Nalira or if it'd be too much for the young witch. "We'll have to see if Chailyn's sister Kali can conjure up a piano for you to play," she murmured, almost extending an invitation to Nalira to stay longer than just the night. "Though I must warn you, it can take some time to settle everyone down. There are nine of them, counting Chailyn. I hope you don't mind groups of people," she added.
Her mind counted over her children once more, were there really nine of them? How had she managed to adopt so many? The sea broke her train of thought as they near the coast and her house loomed into view.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:52 pm
Nalira took it in -- took in, that is, everything that Anemone had just said; and the result for some seconds was nothing more than to make their eyes meet in silence. Nalira continued at a steady pace, very poised and upright, the dark framing of her eyes forming in a highly favourable way with her simplicities of dress. Nalira thought of the chaos -- so many children -- and a sudden point of apprehension dawned. She just caught her breath, and instead smiled warmly; she felt, out of fifteen possible responses, this was the one that would best serve her.
"I imagine they can be difficult to maintain," She said lightly, looking to the ocean in its less than graceful extravagance, crashing onto the shore in ravenous waves. Strange indeed -- if not unnatural -- that, late in the evening, she was traveling with an unfamiliar, though overly kind by all acounts, mother of nine who she had, apparantly, previously encountered. A vague memory was admittedly an understatement. Really, at last, it had all become too much to comprehend at once; and, with a last feeble attempt at an unsurfacing memory, she began to hum with a strange mixture of deliberation and fondness.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:09 pm
Anemone's eyes focused on the sea her normal longing to go for a nighttime swim distracted by taking Nalira to safety. She turned back to the tale, pondering her reply. True children were difficult to maintain but it didn't seem like the right word, nor did it seem like a one word response was enough. "They can be hard to manage at times, being a single mother and it doesn't leave much room for friends but I wouldn't have it any other way. I find that children suit me, much better than most other things. If I ever need to get away, I relax in the water. It's like a second home," she joked gently.
The closer they got the more it seemed everyone in the household was awake doing something. It seemed every light on the second floor was on, at least half of the lights on the first floor yet it made the empty third floor seem all the more peaceful. She could hear radios blaring and what sounded like yelling, which she was sure was simply someone playing.
It seemed the more she thought, the faster they arrived. She automatically took Nalira's hand in a comforting way. Her brood could be a little hard to take at first, so many at once all converging to one point in a flurry of shouts. And though she meant to say something the pounding of Cillian's heavy metal music drowned her thoughts out not that the pop music from one of the girls wasn't as loud.
Almost as soon as the door opened and Anemone lead Nalira inside, the brood was apparent. A child with fox ears and tail in a Zorro hat, mask, and cape was slashing at another fox child- who was laughing as she tried to cut Chailyn off from doing anything. The latter was bouncing up and down trying to do everything to get away from her sister as she was desperate not to be the damsel.
Chailyn's purple eyes flashed as she opened her mouth- "Nala!" she shouted happily. She bounced up and down, pushing passed Rosalind and right up to the older tale before throwing herself at the girl. She grinned, holding tightly Nalira.
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:33 am
Nalira's expression, while affronted at first, had now quite let itself go. She had to make an effort to reach a point in which she could smile at the immediate noise; it was amusing, to say the least, watching the reenactment of "Zorro". At the sudden yell of her title, Nalira had braced herself; it was a moment where, if in a different circumstance, she would have swiftly retreated. However, out of a high compassion and gratitude for Anemone, she allowed Chailyn's embrace. She was struggling -- struggling in all her nature against the urge to push her away, which in itself, given her nature, could only end badly on both behalves. Wonderful and beautiful it was that this expression could instantly calm Nalira who, to all appearances, had been condemned to an awkward, stiff arm on the other Tale's back.
She held the other as if to console her for an unnamed woe rather than in greeting, but with as much tenderness as she could permit. She did not greet her, however; she did not ask her how she was, she did not speak of their memories together, for there were none she could remember. Instead, she ran a hand through the younger girl's hair affectionately, before slowly pulling away. It was for the moment a particularly warm sensation she did not recognize. She stood there, her legs apart, not unlike a picturesque portrait.
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