|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 1:34 pm
 
This is a private RP between Miao yin [Venexia] and Van [Kurama no Koishi].
Setting :
North of the Imperial City
Miao, and his aunts pay a visit to their jungle friends.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 1:35 pm
In theory you would never find “grown man” of eighteen being dragged along like a dog by his two aunts – in theory. However, time and time again Miao found himself captive in the perfectly painted and neatly clipped nails of his aunties. It was an odd situation, as the two groups – aunts and boy – loathed each other, purely and simply. There were few complexities in their relationship; only their mutual hate and mutual love for the theatre bound them. But oh, how it bound them. It was odd how these small details could act like knots – thick and tight – and try as he might, Miao scrawny hands always slipped when he tried to untie the knots. Make no mistake; the youth tried his hardest, what Miao wouldn’t give to live in an auntie free world. Still, no amount of force, mental or physical, ever overcame the glue that stitched the three together; and thus Miao found himself being forcefully ushered along once more. Oh joy.
”Sit up straight! One develops a hunch with posture like that!”
”Ai yah! What is that on your face! Thu Nguyet will turn us away with a face like that! Let me!”
”To think we have to drag around this brat, sister! He is the largest thorn a side can possibly contain!”
”It is a heinous crime indeed, sister dear! Hmph!”
Flanking him on either side, Miao did all he could to stifle a groan as his oh-so lovable aunts fussed over him. Why did the trip have to be so long? However, it was only this stretch of land that would contain the pain. Once the trio actually arrived, well, that would be a different story. At least the boy had a friend to look forward too, his one ally in the swarm of squawking ladies and venomous glares. Miao was sure that, if he had been left friendless, he would’ve died long ago in the jungle abode.
In fact, if he closed his eyes he could see it: Ning Jing and Qing Ling dragging his body out into the bush, daintily coering his face with dirt, and leaving him here – for the bugs and birds to gnaw away at. Miao shuddered slightly, he wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if his aunts got to him before the war did.
”Aiii! Straighten your coat! We are here!”
”You are the only boy who could make the jungle look good! This filthy place! Thank goodness they have a pool!”
”Shhht!”
As they stepped out into the wilderness (for Miao’s family at least) the aunts instantly became quiet and pale, fleshing out smiles on their aging faces. The sisters would’ve blended in with the jungle’s wild creatures – their bright and extravagant faces signalling their poison. Perhaps they were descendants of the darkest, murkiest corners of this strange land… Perhaps.
Their strides brisk, the two ladies cut in front of Miao hurrying to the door. This was an all too familiar moment for Miao, but Van – a not only familiar but also a pleasant face – was inside (at this point she could’ve passed for a holy saint in Miao’s eyes) and so the boy figured he could stomach his the antics of his crazed aunts for a little while longer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 5:30 pm
The Au were expecting guests today, and for Van, that meant a number of things.
First, a change of clothes. Van sat on her bed, tugging uncomfortably at her long silk pants—so different from the shorts she typically wore. How could she ever forget the time she had accidentally walked in on her mother's tea party in normal attire, to be scolded and publicly humiliated and called a slut? Her mother had done it for the shock factor, in order that Van would never make the same mistake of interrupting a gaggle of old ladies in clothes that were obviously too racy for their tickers. It worked, and Van had been a good girl ever since.
Her bare feet made a distinct tapping sound on the wooden floors as she made her way to the door to greet their guests. Thu Nguyet was still holed up in some godforsaken corner of their quaint house, likely primping or doing somesuch womanly thing, so Van took it upon herself to face her teatime menace. Small, white hands easily slid open the wooden door to reveal three faces, only one of which was welcomed.
"Good afternoon, Aunt Ning Jing, Aunt Qing Ling... Miaoyin. Please come in; my mother should be downstairs in just a moment." Her voice was stiffly formal, not unlike the tone she took to give a presentation in class. It left no room for criticism, though with these two, one could never tell. She inclined her head respectfully as they ushered past, but as soon as they could not see her anymore, she turned around with one hand on her hip, making a bit of a face at their retreating backs.
Having these aunties (Thu Nguyet insisted that she call all of her family friends aunt and uncle) over wasn't all bad, though. It meant that she also got to see her friend, Miaoyin. She regarded him now, her eyes oddly warm in contrast with her earlier, icy demeanor. "Hey," she began, dropping all formalities, "the usual?" The question was a reference to the two women they called aunts. It was easy to see, from Miao's mildly traumatized expression, that it had not been a smooth trek up.
The Lunarian idly recalled the first time she'd met Miao—the Au family had just settled in after a large move down the mountain, and these three had come bearing pastries and teas in a housewarming effort. Miao and Van had been ten or eleven then, still childlike, still innocent. As these teatime visits became more frequent, the two had to find some way to pass the time together, often playing cards, hide and seek, doctor, eventually to end in simple conversation. They'd suffered through squawking ladies, domineering mothers, and even the awkward process of puberty, together... it was only logical that they'd become friends.
The academy had put a bit of a bump in their friendship, though—school and the work associated with it took up nearly all of their free time, and they saw each other less and less. Even so, Van was still pleased to see her childhood friend again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:50 am
Miao’s aunts took every moment of their time to perfect the shameful boy they were forced to lug around. Miao had often wondered what his aunties saw him as – an old bag? Was he one that was ripped and torn with no use but to help the owner lose face? Or perhaps he was a bag covered in dust and webs, and – horror upon horrors – in last season’s colour! He could’ve scoffed at that. His aunts were much too into this whole “fashion” thing (Miao couldn’t tell why, their faces were so speckled with age that not even the prettiest dress would’ve distracted from it). How many nights had they screamed that their performing cheongsams were in the wrong colour? That it “would bring out the red in their face” – paying no heed to the fact that their faces would be covered in rich powders and paints. Or perhaps the neckline would make they look like a turtle, or the cut was just unflattering in general. And how many times had Miao – grudgingly diligent – marched back and forth to the tailor to place or pick up a new order, or have these twin cheongsams trimmed. Too many times was the proper answer.
But now, as the trio took at the Au’s doorway, the fuss was no longer about the aunties, instead the focus was still on Miao. After all, the aunties had spent long morning hours preparing their faces. The ungrateful brat? He had not spent a waking minute! Like monkeys the two women groomed and preened him. Ning Jing’s hands plucked and straightened Miao’s hair, while Qing Ling straightened his jacket. Thank the spirits Miao was even wearing a jacket! No one, especially not the Au family Miao suspected, had forgotten the day that Van and her mother had come to their house for tea. While pouring out the lovely liquid with the utmost care, Miaoyin had marched in – in full theatre gear. At that age his parents had still insisted he try on the feminine roles of the opera. And so, Miao – hair pinned back in two small, girlish pig tails, face dappled with pink, and a dress fitting his body snuggly – had been the unwanted centerpiece of the night. His aunties had never lived that night down (nor had Miao, for he had quickly burst into tears of embarrassment), and tea was never served at the Chen household again.
So, like the restless old birds they were, the aunts could not restrain themselves from “fixing” Miao. These moments were subtle and quick, hands flying in mere seconds to adjust something small or fix something horrid before returning back to their perfect place lest the door slide open.
But finally, finally the door opened.
There was such a wash of relief on Miao’s face, not even the most skilled actor could hide such an expressions – the aunts were just too beastly for that. Even his smile seemed shaky and fragmented as he respectfully greeted Van, but anyone could see the eagerness behind it. Van was a good friend, a friend he had sourly missed between his classes at the academy. Nevertheless, they had time to kill now, and Miao would make the most of it.
His aunts, however, seemed to have a different opinion of Van. Like vultures they looked her over, offering only a scowl. They were almost disappointed, it would seem, that Van was not dressed in her more casual clothing. It would certainly be a reason for them to appear superior this afternoon. And how, oh how, the aunties loved to be higher than the normal man.
His face returning to its usual state as he watched his aunties disappear into the house, he could only offer Van a nod at her question. Miao suffered the usual every day of his life, and it was a wonder he was not insane.
“So,” he said, breathing in the Au house’s strange air. Jungle air was different that city air, Miao had decided long ago. It was more… exotic, more alive – if that was possible. “You look different.” Maybe it was the clothes, maybe it was her age, maybe it was something different entirely, but Miao thought it had to be said. Well, in truth he thought that it had to be thought, he had just ended up blurting it out. It was hard to figure out just what needed to be said in a situation like that. “But, uh, anyways – how’s life been?” Maybe they needed to play a little catch up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:12 pm
Van had also taken the time to surreptitiously look her friend up and down from under her fringe of dark lashes. Had it really been so long since the last time they’d seen each other? Another glance—one that Miao hopefully didn’t catch—and the girl decided that they’d both changed markedly since the start of the academic year. She had yet to figure out how, though; change was expected over any prolonged period of time, but this change left these two childhood friends a little awkward, perhaps even at a loss for words. This had to be remedied.
"So do you," Van answered automatically, before thinking about her words. Now what was she supposed to say? No—how was he supposed to respond to that? In the pregnant silence that followed, the girl realized that they desperately needed to catch up. She’d be lying if she claimed that she never once thought about her friend in all the days she’d spent studying, or training, but it wasn’t too far from the truth to say that old friendships had been pushed to the back of her mind. For this, Van was immediately remorseful.
Allowing herself a laugh to break the silence, she stuck her arm out to grasp Miao’s wrist, a gesture not unlike that which eleven-year-old Van would have made. Tugging gently, she spoke again. "It’s been too long," she said, beginning to walk to the center of her house, "We can talk by the pool, yeah?"
Everything was simply a replay of the times they used to enjoy together. When the Chens arrived, they’d always split up into two groups: loud women, and Miao and Van. The latter, unbeknownst to their elders, had always held their own version of a tea party. Only, the “tea” was fruit juice and the pastries were cakes that Van picked up after school. Playtime always came after.
Today, though, Van was serving real tea. The cheap cakes had upgraded into real pastries from a local bakery. And probably what was most indicative of change was that they planned to talk like mature Lunarians before doing anything else.
Swinging her legs over the pool’s edge as she poured the hot beverage for her companion, Van looked up and smiled genuinely.
"Miao! It sucks that we don’t have any classes together!"
At least the way she talked hadn’t changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
