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 Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:42 pm
Tree bark grumbled at her skin, snagging the soft silks. Fingernails bit in to the arms hugging her knees to her chest. Raeith paid no attention and glared straight ahead. She watched the wrapped hilt wave in the breeze, serene, glittering in the rays of the sun.
Like a petulant child, she bit her lip and furrowed her brows into a cross expression.
Rae hadn't meant to snap at the shopkeeper, who in all his politeness in helping her had been rather taken aback by her tone. That she had been rude worried away at the edge of her subconscious and fed her irritation. Red eyes continued their baleful gaze.
The katana hilt swayed, ever peaceful.
Damn.
If she was ever going to make peace with it, she needed to pull it out of the earth into which she had plunged it so deeply.
If.
Damn, damn, damn.
How she hated weapons...
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:11 pm
It has started as a simple blissful walk near the woods in some random location on a nice crispy still turning to spring day. Dressed in a part of simple dark blue jeans, her usual black boots, a black shirt and black over coat - missing her katana for once, making her feel a little naked - Rei soon found herself actually in the woods following a feeling. One of those feelings, like a beacon.. one of those Fa'e beacons that were hard to ignore. She was near one and she was ever curious who it could be, it didn't seem familiar.. though perhaps a little more than she imagined. An older soul it seemed.
Rei shoved her hands into the pockets of her coat as she trudged on, her wings rustling and shifting as she lowered her head before it smacked right into a low branch. And continued, her eyes glancing around to figure out where this person possibly was and then settled on what looked like two shimmering objects in the distance. She could only figure there were two as how the sun hitting each gave off a different shine, one gold and silver, and as she grew closer to the clearing her assumptions could only be proven correct.
The angel blinked once, looking at the woman sitting on the ground, "Hello?," she greeted softly, gentleness in her voice as she stepped a little closer to the golden Fa'e. Her red eyes glanced briefly to the odd blade on the ground, a silent wondering passing through her mind to which what it had done to make the other female so angry with it.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:29 pm
Silk robes around the golden Fa'e seemed an odd contrast to the steel in the ground. Even so, it wasn't until Rei spoke that Rae even registered the presence of another, let alone another Fa'e. Her irritation chafed up a little higher, centered around her own shortcomings and the fact her legs seemed too annoyed to allow her to rise to bow and properly greet the newcomer.
"Hello, " Rae returned, loosening her death grip on her legs long enough to turn at the waist and bow from the ground. Despite her usual placid nature, her face struggled to remain peaceful.
Rae attempted valiantly to stuff the irritation at the world down long enough to get out an introduction. "I don't believe we've ever formally met. I'm Raeith."
After all, it wasn't this Fa'e's fault.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:36 pm
"I don't believe we have," Rei smiled as she too bowed her head in greeting, not bothered lack of standing from the other. How they must have missed one another was a little of a wonder, what with the brilliant gold of Raeith's skin. But, she had been away for so long and new Fa'e were popping out from anywhere it seemed and old friends were changing. "My name is Rei, it's a pleasure to meet you Raeith-san."
She shifted her feet a little, her head finally tilting to the side in curiosity. There seemed to be something wrong, as much as the other tried to hide it. And with a sword in the ground, where one was not meant to be unless with a body between in, there was probably some frustration. But, guessing wasn't going to get her anywhere really. Rei pulled a hand out of her pocket to brush a few strands of her black hair out of her eyes, "Is something troubling you?" She simply asked, best to be blunt and to the point perhaps.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:45 pm
"You can call me Rae, if you wish..." Raeith trailed off. "It my pleasure as well, Rei." She left the words "though you've caught me at a bad time" out, though they hung around her in a dark, grumpy cloud. Rei's arrival was both an intrusion and a relief, further conflicting Rae's mood.
"Ah..." the gold fa'e choked on a blush, allowing a brief irritated shadow across her face. What did it matter if the other saw her aggravation? Wasn't she allowed to be angry? Wasn't she allowed to have her own issues with life? Why did it bother her so much to be found with such a dark storm of energy piled around her?
Damn it.
"As with all things Fa'e... it's complicated, " Raeith massaged the bridge of her nose with her forefinger and thumb, then gestured to the sword needlessly. "I don't like it."
Well. That sure cleared things right up.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:03 pm
"Rae-san, it is then," Rei nodded, feeling a little odd as their names sounded pretty much the same. It brought a low chuckle from her as she stepped a little closer and knelled down on the ground. It felt even more odd for her to be the only one on her feet after all, and having been walking so long, it was nice to take a short rest.
The 'dark storm' unnoticed, Rei continued with pleasantries, perhaps to lighten the mood or perhaps to aid in her fellow Fa'e troubles. She wasn't nosy but, she did like to help in any way she could after all... and what better way to connect back to her kin? "Well," She began, resting her hands upon her lap, "Aren't most things Fa'e complicated?" She smiled, laughing slightly. Their lives were often messes, what with rebirth and having to be at terms with their past lives and all; just when they had finally escaped all that trouble. Though, this time, for Rae it seemed to be concentrated on one certain aspect.
Rei's eyes traveled to where the golden Fa'e pointed, that sword. Well, obviously. Again, in the ground. "You don't like it?" She held back her obvious how could you NOT like a sword? and turned back to Rae, "Then why are you with it?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:21 pm
"Altogether too complicated most of the time, " Rae agreed, allowing a small, tired smile to light her features. Usually she sat on the other side of the frustration, though. A small puff of air from pursed lips blew a stray strand of flaxen hair from her eyes.
"I... should learn to use it, " she managed, the words apparently having some distaste.
Her mouth twisted a few times as she mulled over the situation. Another sigh, and suddenly she seemed to deflate, looking more tired and anxious than angry. "I do not like weapons. I do not like violence. So many Fa'e seem to find weapon wielding natural and graceful." Rae's eyes seemed sad as she looked at the blade again. "I find these turn my stomach.
"Weapons allow for hate to wound, for anger to cause suffering and loss. They bring death and blood and tragedy. It is not my way to wish injury upon someone for whatever cause."
The tassel at the sword's hilt fluttered. "Someone once told me it was alright to think such thoughts, to be a wave of peace in the chaotic tide." Those sad eyes again, unfocused. "But what good am I if I cannot protect the ones I love?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:47 pm
Rei was silent as the golden female told her of her distress, her red eyes every once and a while drifting back to the blade, watching it as well as the wind picked up the tassel than hung from the hilt of the sword. Her own smile falling a little, from its polite and supportive and wide to something more of sympathetic and understanding.
Her fingers twisted in her lap, her black wings flexing a little as a short silence surrounded them. Rei collected her thoughts and turned her attention back to Rae, "Protection doesn't always means the need to carry a weapon of some sort," Her reassuring smile apread back across her features as a hand drifted carefully to rest on the other's shoulder, "Protection can come in many forms, such as magic in offense but even simply being there through times of struggle with a smile or healing them when they are wounded." Even though she was one that needed a blade herself, she did know of others who were supportive in other matters after all.
But even with this, the ideas of the blade did need to be explained to this poor girl, "But," Her voice a little less soft and gentle, "Swords aren't just for killing and death. Those are only if one misuses them or unaware of the beauty that they possess, the dance they allow one to perform or how they are an extension of one's self and soul. They are not just used to killing, they don't always kill." Rei nodded, matter of factly. After all, she sometimes wielded a sword that had a reverse blade, one that was unable to kill or shed a drop of blood.
She paused again, head tilting again and looked Rae in the eyes as best she could. "I apologize for repeating myself, but if you don't like the idea of holding a sword, why do you still see the need to learn it? Why not try something else?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 9:10 pm
Truth be told, it was hard for Rae to say. Not because she didn't know, but because facing her own shortcomings pierced her as if she were staring into the blinding noonday sun. "I am vulnerable because of my lack of weapons knowledge." Her jaw set, giving her an uncharacteristically hardened look. "By being vulnerable when Legion attacks - or any other ill wishing force - I endanger my friends.
"A loving smile or warm embrace does nothing to assist in these matters. I am useless to those that matter in times when it is critical that I be of some assistance."
Light flickered off of the golden scales as she shifted and glanced at her palms and the gentle fingers splayed outwards in thought. "My aura has grown stronger with meditation, but the energy level it takes to sustain it makes it unreliable." Shaking her head, Rae lowered her hands to her knees.
Her gaze centered on that blade, pensive. "Perhaps I am afraid. Perhaps to face my fear I need to learn the art of the warrior to embolden my peaceful soul." Eyes searched above, in the branches of the trees before settling back on Rei.
"I do understand, " she acquiesced to the other woman. "But all of the blades I have known meant to kill, to wound." Her hand twitched involuntarily. "With the exception of the Fa'e."
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:23 pm
"It is only if you wish it to kill, but it is more there to defend and protect," The angel tried to reassure the golden Fa'e, the hand resting on her shoulder tightened a little in reassurance. Her eyes closed for a moment, a pause in her thoughts and her remaining hand fiddled a little with the hem of her coat.
"You would be surprised of the wonders a smile could truly be but if you feel that taking up a weapon is what you need to do, then you need to go about it the right way perhaps." She looked at the sword for a moment and turned back to Rae. Another pause and she nodded, gently using the other female as leverage to push herself up from her sitting position and walked towards the embedded blade. In a fluid motion she pulled it out and swung the sword around in a graceful swoop so the tip was high in the air, her eyes traveling down the edge to inspect it.
"It's a fine sword you have here, and something to rightfully fear," Her eyes fell on the sitting Rae, expression set and determined, "Truthfully, there is no shame of fearing a weapon as it is a sign you able to truly wield it. But you must also push past it if you wish to protect those you love." Her red eyes softened as she lowered the blade, leveled it to the ground and held it up by a finger where the hilt met the sword, checking the balance.
"Would you like me to teach you how to wield such a weapon, so you can use the fear or push past it?" The offer had come out before she knew it, not stopping herself once she felt the words escape her lips. Perhaps thing would be a good thing, she figured, lowing the blade to her side.
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 6:55 pm
"Perhaps..." A hint of the old wistfulness crept across her features, and Rae released it off of herself like the lift of a butterfly from a petal. She stood and straightened to her usual level of composed grace.
"I will not doubt my inner strength, whether it is through gentleness and love or if I need to be able to roar in defense of the ones I hold dear." The qilin Fa'e nodded to Rei as the confidence in purpose resettled around her.
"But to prove to myself, I believe I need to learn at least the basics of handling a weapon other than a staff. Even if it is never required of me." Ruby eyes slid sideways to the sword. She still didn't like it. "I would like very much to learn from your guidance, if you would allow."
A thought flickered across her mind that brought the sparkle of glee back into her eyes; Heavens help her if Astaroth ever saw her fighting with a sword. He'd likely find it hilarious.
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:14 pm
Rei nodded softly, her eyes closed in an understanding way. Red eyes opened slightly to look at the long blade that was still in her hands. If the qilin Fa'e was so sure of wanting this, she would have to do this all the right way. And perhaps the way she was taught and the way that it was meant to be learned. The angel raised her head back to Rae and took one graceful step forward, raising her hand with the hilt up and towards the golden female, offering her back the weapon.
"I would be more than happy to teach you the basics, as I was taught many years ago." So long ago indeed when David had first come to her and her mother and taught her the skills she practiced and honed. Such memories, and now something perhaps she could pass on to someone willing, "the first step is wanting to, and from there we can help you gain the understanding you need."
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Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 5:11 pm
"Right. I seek understanding, if not competence." A soft smile, gentle like the Fa'e herself.
Raeith inhaled slowly and brought herself to a standing position in a single fluid motion. Shoulders straightened as she mentally realigned herself, bringing everything back into a state of calm. "I will follow your lead then, Lady Rei."
She reached out to grasp the hilt of the sword as Rei offered it. It promptly tumbled through her fingers and clattered to the ground.
"Er." Hand shooting out like lightning she snatched it from the ground. Confident. Yeah. Confident.
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:33 pm
"Aa...." Rei's expression stilled in slight horror watching the blade slip from the golden Fa'e grasp. It clanged painfully at their feet, the metal wobbling before it settled thankfully unscathed. Still, her outreached hand twitched before she crouched down to retrieve the blade herself.
"I'm sure with time you will be able to handle this blade, and perhaps others," Rei chuckled, standing herself up straight again, blade in hand. Her left hand ran smooth across the broad side of the blade, making sure it was still intact. Yes, with time Rae would hopefully be able to work with this blade. But for now, a boken was perhaps more in the more timid Fa'e... less chance of hurting herself or others.
"How would you like to go about your training, perhaps Rae-san?" The angel smiled, held tilting to the side in inquiry.
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