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 Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:29 am
Rou was rather glad for Master Boyan and Lady Tsubame's kindness in allowing him to stay at their home, though they were probably already figuring out that it was hard to get him to stay in their home. He did not appreciate the even, square shapes of most homes, and sleeping into one seemed downright impossible for one who was not used to it. So he had spent most of his days outside, and slept either on the roof or in the backyard, nested in between two large trees.
At least he was not taking up space better suited for Master Boyan's granddaughters, yes ?
This day had lead him outside in exploration - already he'd learned the way from Barton's marketplace back to Master Boyan's house - and it would do him well to truly find his way around this urban jungle, even if his stay was to be limited as he hoped it would.
He turned to take the street leading to the Udon-Ya, no longer the panicked young boy he had been a few days ago, but a shy child, sliding past people without them even noticing. Odd, perhaps, for a boy his age to go around on his own, unattended.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:02 am
Ruokei didn't actually look down at the small zurui kit trotting along beside him. He didn't particularly need to, honestly. He could 'feel' it, knew they were linked in some way that he didn't particularly understand, and didn't really care to. All he knew was, he could be himself around Sailien, and Sailien wouldn't pester him to be like anyone else.
It was a good thing.
So when Sailien wanted to go walking, Ruokei padded alongside him, silent and content, eyes drifting through the crowds of people as they slipped between them, here and there, through wide spaces and twisting their bodies to slip past narrow spaces. Ruokei was almost dreaming as his eyes flicked here and there, not really looking at any specific person.
So he almost didn't notice when Sailien suddenly twisted, catching Rou's hem in sharp teeth and holding tight.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:09 am
Likewise, the sudden resistance was what stopped Rou in his tracks, tilting his head to see some sort of gaian animal gnawing at the hem of his robes. Most would have been rather annoyed, perhaps, but the dark-skinned boy, only smiled, vocalizing a small laugh as well as some click-like sounds the dragon-cats in the woods he had lived before had always seemed to enjoy.
Surely there are much tastier things than robe hem for little kits like you, he projected faintly, amusement and shyness accompanying the thought.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:14 am
Sailien looked up at Rou, eyes the color of black cherries seeming to size him up for a moment before he let go, twitching his head toward Ruokei. Ruokei blinked, staring at the exchange for a moment before he seemed to realize just what Sailien wanted. He blushed brightly, ducking his head as he moved forward.
Sailien wants us to meet, he said, his voice soft and hesitant.
Sailien, for his part, watched the exchange for a moment before his eyes crinkled a bit in a zurui smirk. He knew best, after all.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:19 am
AAaahhhh... Rou is, indeed, also toward the shyer end of the spectrum, it would seem, though not as much as his new found companion.
He would be happy to do so then, he says, with a nod of the head and a bright smile. Where was this one headed ? Rou had no end destination in mind beyond getting to know these very new surroundings, he admit.
His name is Rou, he finally projects. And this one would be... ?
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:29 am
Ruokei is... Ruokei, came the awkward response, as Ruokei glanced down at Sailien. 'Where were they heading'? How could he answer something he didn't know the answer to? This walk had, after all, been all Sailien's fault.
Sailien, sensing his upset, came to his rescue. Something about the zurui spoke of wisdom, despite his age.
Sailien thinks that we should go somewhere like a park, where Sailien can run and play, and Rou and Ruokei can sit, the zurui suggested to them, relying on his bond with Ruokei to speak to them.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:33 am
That does seem like a very good idea, Rou agrees. And he could remember passing one on his way here, if Ruokei wanted to continue in the direction he had been headed ? He had wanted to visit it on his way back, at any rate.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:36 am
Ruokei found himself nodding at the suggestion, hesitating a moment before moving to stand beside Rou.
Ruokei would like to see the park, he agreed. He thinks it will be a nice place, if it's not too loud, and Sailien likes to run.
At that, Sailien offered a yip for them both, bouncing a bit in the direction of the park. Someone, at least, was excited about the idea.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:50 am
It looked empty when he had passed by, and that had seemed odd to him, since it was such a nice day outside. There were business around them, of course, constant movement in the busy streets, but none of them took the time to just stop and enjoy the nice day out.
Which is rather strange to Rou, he admits. Gaia is really a very different place, from what little he could tell of the cities of the Golden World. Porcelain seemed to always be a bit more relaxed than the mix of different races that were darting all around them.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:53 am
Someone else not from Gaia? Ruokei looked over at Rou curiously, studying the boy's profile for a moment before he looked down at the ground as they walked.
Ruokei has never seen the Golden World, he said, the thought soft, and maybe even a little sad. Ruokei wasn't quite sure how he felt about the idea. Ruokei heard of it once, but he's never been there, and he's curious. He wonders what the Golden World is like.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:00 pm
Rou is not from here, he confirm. He felt though a portal and wound up here. He figured there were worse places to be in, once the initial shock had passed.
There are enough familiarities for Rou not to feel completely lost, but enough difference to make Rou a little confused. Though he has to admit he does not know much about the cities of the Golden World - he had always lived in the woods, far from them, with his father, or his master, for as long as he could remember. But he could tell the people inhabiting them were very different. No one was looking at him funny here, and he liked that.
Ruokei is not from the Golden World ? Where does he come from, then, he wonders, with a similar curiosity than the other boy had showed moments before. The Silver World ? Those where the only place he knew where there were Porcelain.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:03 pm
The Silver World? That was a new concept for Ruokei, and he walked in silence for a few moments, wondering at the words. It sounded pretty, like the Golden World did, and he suspected that it would be nice to visit those places... if he ever could.
Ruokei has never seen the Silver World, he finally allowed, half-shrugging. He remembers arriving in Gaia, but he can't remember where he was before. He just knows that it felt... unhappy. He wonders if Rou's ever seen the Silver World?
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:14 pm
Ah, so Ruokei does not remember ? Rou is sorry - he had not wished to stir any unpleasant memories for the younger boy. He has never seen the Silver World, he admit, but he had heard of it a few time from his beloved master. It is the counterpart of the Golden World, so he would assume they are most likely similar.
Rou would take him to visit these places, if he ever could, if Ruokei would like ? He knows the isle of Kokoku (that is where he lived before, he adds for clarification) like pretty much no one else did, and could show Ruokei and Sailien all the best places to be.
It was not too long before the two came in view of the park Rou had mentioned earlier and it seemed, just as the older boy had said, mostly empty and peaceful.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:18 pm
The sight of the empty park soothed Ruokei a bit, and he relaxed ever so slightly. And, too, Rou's gentle attitude gave Ruokei himself a bit more confidence. So when Sailien saw the park and leapt forward, twisting a bit to get out of the way of one last sidewalk-goer, Ruokei let forth a small giggle, smiling as he watched Sailien stretch his small legs.
Ruokei would like to visit these words, he decided, looking at Rou with a shy smile. He believes that it would be a very nice thing if Rou could show him around, and teach him the ways of the forest. Does Rou know if Sailien could join them?
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:25 pm
Rou doesn't see any reason why he would not be able to - just what is Sailien, anyway ? He could not recall seeing anything quite like the little ball of fluff before. They would only need to make sure he doesn't dart off in the forest and get lost, or it could take them days to find him again !
Carefully side-stepping one last sidewalk-goer himself, the brown-haired boy headed toward the park, steps in tune with Ruokei's. Where does Ruokei stays, he wonder ? Rou is staying with Master Boyan and Lady Tsubame, who have been very kind to allow him to do such until he found his way back home. They seem to actually be from Gaia, which had surprised him a little.
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