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 Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:46 pm
((Self-explainatory I hope. Open RP, I know the town may be pretty big, but try to include everyone in the action.
Keep to the appropriate setting, and avoid using characters that you don't own yet.)) The winter season has officially arrived.
It was obvious now. Wherever you looked, the buildings, the shrubbery, the roads, the waters; from the light layer of snow covering everything, to the trees and their winter finery (or lack thereof). Everything seemed to say, "Winter is here."
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:47 pm
"Ah-achoo!"
Hu Muoh Li shivered from his lookout inside the pharmacy, wrapped up in a thick fur coat. It was times like these that he lamented the relatively fur-less skin of humans. He was sitting as close as possible to the medicine stove, trying to absorb as much heat as he possibly could from the glowing embers. Reading quietly in a chair up against the wall was Lien Si, appearing to be in his twenties.
Muoh Li glanced at him now, a bit of resentment in the doctor's eyes. Lien Si was in his usual robe when he's in his older form. In other words, it was the exact same robe he wears in the summer. And spring. And autumn. How is he not cold?! He just sits there with his book (MuohLi's book really), flipping a page every few minutes. Muoh Li wasn't even sure if Lien Si was really reading, his eyes looked unfocused at times. The doctor had asked him earlier why he was in his older form today. Lien Si only looked up at the doctor for a brief moment before returning his gaze to the book, then answered in a calm, almost monotone voice, "Surface to mass ratio, adults retain heat better."
A cold wind swept into the pharmacy as MuohLi's assistant returned from his errands, causing MuohLi to shudder uncontrolably. Lien Si, on the hand, did not even bat an eye.
That does it.
The doctor stood up and marched into the back room, returning with a second, fur-lined coat which he promptly threw onto Lien Si, surprising the man out of his dazed state.
"Put that on!"
"Huh?"
"Even if you're not cold, just looking at you makes other people feel cold, so put. it. on."
"..."
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 4:38 pm
Oh my, it certainly was a terribly cold day. MeiLin huddled as best she could in her coat as she made her way down the snow covered street. She rubbed her nose, which had turned a cute shade of pink, taking in the beauty of winter while silently wishing that maybe it could be beautiful... and not quite so cold. The young woman readjusted the small packages she was holding close to her chest.
She had tried to convince Ce to come along with her; but he was curled up under five layers of blankets and not willing to venture out just to give people gifts. With a blanket of snow underfoot, MeiLin was always amazed by how silent the world became. Everything was still and waiting.
“Good day!” MeiLin called out as she reached the pharmacy, cracking the door open a bit to smile inside. “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:05 pm
Under MuohLi's watchful eye, Lien Si had just finished putting on the coat when MeiLin entered.
"Why, isn't it MeiLin!" MuohLi answered, moving toward the door. "Oh my, you must be freezing in this weather, come on in and warm up a bit." The young doctor ushered MeiLin into the pharmacy and quickly shut the cold back out. "What brings you here to my humble pharmacy in this cold today?"
Lien Si, in the meantime, was examining the coat. To be specific, it was warm, soft, and a bit too long. Lien Si looked at the fringe of the coat that was dragging slightly on the floor. Noticing his gaze, the doctor looked down as well, and couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment to know that he was taller.
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:44 pm
MeiLin blushed as she was ushered in. She dipped her head to Lien Si politely, not recognizing him from the quiet child she had met before. He certainly looked familiar, but the connection wasn’t made in her mind as she took a set near the little stove.
“Winter is well and truly here.” She said with a soft laugh. She began to unravel the sash wrapped bundle she had been holding; to reveal two small boxes. “In the spirit of... oh what was it, Kris-mass? I would like to give you some gifts.” She gave MuohLi a warm smile. “If that’s okay...?”
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 7:41 pm
"Oh! Wow! That's really kind of you... oh hm... wait right here, I'll be right back." MuohLi hurried into the back room, calling out instructions to his assistant to bring in some hot, body-warming tea for the guests.
After completing adjustments to the length of the coat by tucking a few folds into the sash, Lien Si sat back down and got comfortable again. Barely bothering to look at the page numbers, he flipped open his book and resumed staring at it's pages.
It didn't take long before MuohLi came bustling out from the back room, though it was enough time for MuohLi's assistant to come by with a pot of tea (which he set on the small stove to keep warm) and cups. The assistant nodded politely at MeiLin, and set a steaming cup down on the small table beside Lien Si before retreating to his station a few shelves down where he was inventorying herbs.
"Sorry for the wait, I didn't have anything prepared for Christmas, but I hope this will suffice." He held out one hand, holding a small oval broach of carved ivory. "I couldn't even find a proper case to put it in." He added regretfully.
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 7:58 pm
As soon as MeiLin has learnt about Christmas (at least the present giving part), she had been entranced by the idea. Giving things to those you cared about had always been a joy for her; now she had even a bigger excuse!
MeiLin cradled the warm cup of tea, thanking the assistant profusely before he had bustled off back to work. She drank in the scent of the fragrant tea leaves before lifting her head to watch Lien Si curiously.
When MuohLi returned and offered her the oval broach, MeiLin seemed rather stunned. “O-Oh my! Thankyou! I never expected anything in return.” She bushed happily. Putting her tea aside for the moment, MeiLin reached for the brooch. She held it in two hands, admiring it with bright eyes. “It’s so beautiful.” It was soon attached to her coat where it could be shown off proudly.
“Now it’s your turn. I hope you like it.” She handed him one of the small boxes. Inside MuohLi’s box was a small jade Pi Yao statue. “Is Lien Si about today? I have one for him too.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:28 pm
It took almost all of MuohLi's willpower to prevent his smile from cracking, twitching, or twisting in anyway when Meilin asked about Lien Si (younger). A moment ago he was happily setting the small jade figure in a visible spot on the counter, thinking how kind and thoughtful this young lady was when, a moment later she asks him an awkward question. The doctor sneaked a glanced at Lien Si in his chair, and wasn't sure if he was relieved or horrified to see that he had reacted to MeiLin's inquiry.
"Lien Si's here." Lien Si spoke quietly as he usually does, setting the book aside lightly and adjusting his position so he was sitting straight in the chair, allowing him to take a good look at MeiLin. He tilted his head slightly, trying to match up a name with MeiLin's face.
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:09 pm
MeiLin’s head tilted a little to the side like a curious bird; her gaze puzzled. “Sorry... I...” She paused, inspecting Lien Si from across the room. There was a resemblance there certainly. For a moment she suspected that perhaps they were brothers... with the same name.
Rising from her chair MeiLin walked slowly over to where Lien Si was sitting and with gentle hands she reached out, touching his chin with one finger. It seemed impossible. Only a little while ago she had seen him in the streets; young and fragile. Such a beautiful child. How could he have grown so quickly?
But it was him; she could see it in his eyes. “I apologise Lien Si. I didn’t recognize you.” And that was it. MeiLin didn’t doubt it was indeed the child she had known and as crazy as it might be, she simply chose to accept it. Still holding on to the last box, she now handed it to him with a smile. “Happy holidays dear.” Inside was another jade carving; this time one of a rabbit.
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Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:00 pm
Well. That was easy.
MuohLi watched curiously, thoughtfully, as Lien Si accepted the small box from MeiLin and admired the jade rabbit within. Lien Si was wearing his usual faint smile, the one that made it difficult to guess what he was thinking. But he was also chatting with MeiLin, and that in itself was a rare sight indeed.
"I'll put it with the comb, MeiLin nee-san." He said softly as he re-wrapped the box and slipped it into one sleeve. If Lien Si found no need to hide his identity, then MuohLi won't bother doing the work for him. For a split second Lien Si and MuohLi's eyes met, then broke off again.
What an interesting child she is.
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Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:04 pm
Crunch....crunch....crunch...The rose girl seemed fascinated with the crunching ice beneath her feet. She laughed and giggled, looking back at Koji, who was rubbing his arms and blowing into his hands, doing anything to try and stay warm.
"Ani...how do you stay so warm? It's freezing out, and only getting colder...can we please go find a nice tea house?" He asked, pleading as his blue lips trembled.
"But I don't want to Koji!" She said, sounding like a whining child. "I want to stay out...this...snow, is so fun!" She exclaimed, laughing. "Look what I can do!" She said, picking up some snow, forming it into a ball and lobbing it towards him.
Koji's eyes widened and he ducked, coming back up "That's a snowball...and yes, you're supposed to throw them...but not at me!" He said wearily. He knew why she loved the snow so much...She may not remember it now, but Sato and her use to live where it snowed a lot, and they both loved it, nights spent relaxing in a hot springs in the mountains near them, days spent making snow-angels and having snowball fights. He didn't want to bring her away...but it was just so bloody cold!
Ani pouted and crossed her arms. "I'm not going. You go. I'll stay here."
"Ani, you're being ridiculous, I can't leave you here." He returned with a sharp voice.
"...Fine..." She sighed, defeated. She followed Koji, watching his body tremble and quake, as she searched for somewhere that he could indulge is a nice cup of tea.
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Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:55 am
Meanwhile, Wu Yao Tzong was at his usual stand in the marketplace, shivering with each gust of wind. He pulled the cloak of black feathers (which he had spent the last month or so meticulously stitching together) closer around him. For all the warmth that the cloak offered him, it made him look like a giant black feathered creature that was difficult to miss against all the white that was winter.
"ughh, maybe I should just go home... No one's going to be looking to get their fortune told in this weather, aren't they Grandfather-- oh, that's right. The cold weather limits Grandfather's movements..."
And it was true, Yao Tzong's "grandfather" the huge snake was no where to be seen.
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