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 Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 12:10 pm
It was a pleasant evening. The weather was warm, birds were chirping in the distance, a wonderful breeze was blowing and the remaining sunrays created various shapes as they pierced through the leafy coats the trees were wearing. All was well and nice and...
No, no, not again! For the love of God, please! he exaggerated in his mind. As impossible as it was, this might have been the thousandth time it was happening in a matter of the three days he spent exploring the woods. It was at times like these were he thought that he should either rid himself of his hair -thus risking angering the Kami- or commit seppuku and be through with it once and for all, but no, he hadn't gone all that way just to die in the hands of the forest. And how.
Ashura knew mighty well that struggling would only get him tangled even worse in the ivy, so he simply proceeded to sit down and started trying to untangle ebony strands of hair as carefully as he could from the tenacious plant. "Why do you have to be so persistent?" he sighed in a quiet whisper. By the looks of it, it was going to take a while. He promised to himself that he would really have to avoid forests starting next time, no matter how they appeared to be so appealing and mysterious and just begging to be explored. That was the price he was paying for being a traveller, he decided.
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 1:13 pm
 Scirocco hoisted his pack a little, shifting its weight on his back. Lemon had packed who knows what, and Scir hadn't really had time to check it. For a while, Scirocco had been staying with his brother, but it really was time to leave. He had made the mistake of leaving his travel pack by the door, which meant Lemon had stuffed it with whatever he deemed useful. Useful, or heavy enough to make his brother turn around and come home. Scirocco sighed. There was no helping it. He swung his pack off, trying to find a dry spot to put it down. The forest was a little damp for this, but it would be quite some time before he broke out of the trees.
He opened the pack, and right there on the top was a cow made of metal. Scirocco sighed and frowned, pulled the cow out and put it on the pile of leaves next to his bag. "Lemon... if you did not want me to abandon this by the side of the road, you should not have put it in my pack." He'd been walking with that thing for hours courtesy of his brother. This time, when Scirocco went to swing the pack back on, it was significantly lighter. In the movement, though, he thought he caught something out of the corner of his eye.
He listened carefully, without moving; yes, there was definitely someone over there. He reached into his satchel and took out a vial of purple powder, uncorking it lightly, using his aura to hold the powder inside the vial. If it was dangerous, he would simply sedate it.
It turned out to be a constellation, though, with the silkiest and longest hair he had ever seen. Scirocco raised a mental eyebrow at his observation. Since when did he admire the hair of Constellations? This one must be a strange exception. He hoped he wasn't turning into his brother.
"Pardon me, neighbour, but I fear you are in quite a snare... I hope you don't mind if I assist you?..." Gently, sublty, Scirocco used his free hand to direct the wind, almost as if conducting music, to begin freeing the constellation's hair. The movements were gentle, almost tender. He used every ounce of his patience, a soft smile playing across his lips. He had short hair for a reason. It was easier to keep clean, less work, got in the way less, and kept him cool in his summer travels. The winds that whirled around him were warm, scented lightly of cinnamon. He wondered who this stranger was, and what he was doing out in the forest.
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Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 6:30 am
Ashura had just finished untangling a lock of hair from the plant, being as careful as he could not to damage it in any way -the poor ivy never did anything to him -apart from getting tangled up in his hair, but that was partially his own fault- when he felt -rather than saw- the presence of someone else nearby. To add to that, the stranger was quite close too. Being occupied with the tedious task his hair provided he appeared to have completely lost contact with everything besides himself for a while. Even so, he didn't as much enter a state of alertness just yet. It was almost meaningless to always assume the worst in any and all situations.
Turning to look, his eyes met the sight of another Constellation, dressed in garments the color of earth and sand and who's eyes were the softest amber he had yet come to witness in another constellation so far. Before he could reply to whether or not he needed help -although his answer would have obviously been yes, the other proceeded to help him out of the ivy's grasp by means of a soft wind he appeared to be quite adept in manipulating. Quite a wonderful ability, as far as Ashura was concerned. The inhabitants of this world were truly blessed with some wonderful unique abilities.
He carefully stood up, fixed his clothing a little and then pushed his hair back from his face, taking a deep breath, of relief -and to determine the lingering scent of a spice that distantly reminded him of his home- although he was unsure of its origin and name at that point. "I can't begin to describe just how thankful I am, young lord." he sighed, focusing his attention on the Constellation as an awkward smile curved his lips. "Though I hadn't thought I would meet somebody else as deep in the forest." unbeknownst to him, he was having the exact same questioning thought as the stranger constellation. He didn't know of many people that travelled; although the case might have been that there was simply a settlement nearby. Back in his home -and in most places he had been ever since- most people preferred to stick with what they were more familiar with than seek new sights. He felt it was worth it a try to ask anyway. "Could you, mayhap, be a traveler, young lord?" he asked, bowing his head a little, in respect.
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Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 3:51 pm
Once the Constellation had risen to his feet, Scirocco got a much better look at him. He seemed noble, and he was extremely well-dressed. Scir thought of his own attire and wondered at the differences between them: his clothing was functional and free-flowing, but not warm enough to survive winter travel. Ashura almost seemed like he'd be warm wherever he went, but his garments were much more complicated. Scir imagined trying to wear them, but he just couldn't fully picture a situation where he would dress that well. Scir tilted his head, smiling warmly still, a little like feeling the sun shine down. It was rare to encounter someone, much less another Constellation who appeared to be quite well-mannered and capable of some kind of conversation. He sighed internally, silently, with relief; too many Twilifs had been out and about lately, with the maturity of children. He was grateful for company he could potentially enjoy on a different level, however short their time together might be.
Scirocco corked the vial of sleeping powder and put it back in his satchel: a sign of trust, though Ashura would not likely recognize it as one. "I am grateful you didn't feel threatened by my presence," Scirocco answered, reaching out to the Constellation, offering a hand to clasp in greeting. "I thought much the same; seeing another out here is rather... rare. Typically those out here are up to no good," Scirocco said. His laughter echoed up into the canopy, rich and warm. It almost gave the sensation that although he was warm and friendly, there was a heat behind that which could scorch, some strong capacity for emotion. "I'm not much of a lord, though I suppose it may be a common term where you are from?... I do not recognize the style of your clothing," Scirocco mused, partly to himself. He regarded Ashura with his head tilted to the side. "Ah! Please forgive me my bad manners; I was surprised to find another Constellation this far in the woods. I am, indeed, a traveller: Scirocco of the Jade Wind," Scir apologized, his smile a little embarassed. "May our meeting be one which strikes a positive chord in our lives," Scirocco added, a blessing for their meeting, inspired by his musical backing.
He adjusted his satchel on his hip, and shifted the weight of his pack again. Lemon's scheming had worked, just not fast enough. Scirocco was beginning to grow tired from his long walk, and the evening would soon grow into night. Scirocco was familiar with the route, but the nearest inn was a little further away than he would have liked. He wondered if his new acquaintance was headed in a similar direction, or if they might walk together for a while. Scir eased his wind aura away from his face, using the cool night air to revive himself a little, before returning his own gentle, sweeping breezes. They kept him immaculately clean.
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Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 1:07 pm
Ashura took a few more seconds to study the other. He wonder where he came from, where he was going. He knew so much yet so little about this place -about its inhabitants- still. He feared his foreign antics might scare them off, although the constellation standing there didn't look the part, nor the kind of person to be scared of something like that. Anyhow, his train of thought was going overboard in a manner that not even himself was able to follow. He was at least glad enough the stranger wasn't hostile or anything. He didn't feel comfortable with drawing his sword even if it was required for self-defense.
Before the Constellation spoke, Ashura noticed that he placed a vial of some sort back into his bag. He wondered what it could be used for, or why he had it out in the first place but thought he would ask later if the opportunity presented itself. Recognizing the handshake as a form of greeting he held out his own hand to complete the short ritual, a fleeting smile playing on his lips which lingered on his eyes for longer, as he listened to Scirocco speak then laugh warmly. "I make it a habit not to judge people as enemies." he noted raising his shoulders slightly in a shrug. "And calling someone else a lord is a sign of respect. You helped me out of that ivy, therefor I am indebted to you." Ashura went on to explain what it all meant.
And oh... was the other asking about his home? Well, that was some trip down the memory lane, and normally he would have declined, but being all sullen about it was a thing of the past now as well. "The fact doesn't quite surprise me." he chuckled. "I come from really far away, a place so far away that no regular traveller can travel to. My home country is the eastern kingdom, the Empire of Zippangu..." he paused. He could tell Scirocco about how Zippangu was in another world but he sincerely doubted he would believe him. So, in fear of being ridiculed like that, he decided to leave that 'little detail' unsaid for now. "It is nice meeting you Scirocco of the Jade Wind" he nodded. "I am Ashura, currently also a traveller... and first prince of Shimaguni Zippangu Teikoku, as much weight this hold nowadays anyway." he hid an awkward smile and preferred to turn his attention to the Constellation's following words instead.
"I certainly wish that myself." he agreed. Receiving a blessing like this was uncommon, and he certainly hoped it would be for the better. Maybe this time he wouldn't have to leave everything behind to move to another world. And if it was thanks to a fellow traveller's blessing he would simply end up indebted to him for the rest of his life -even though it was still rather early to be jumping into any sort of conclusions...
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:28 am
This traveller was from somewhere Scirocco had never been, then, as unlikely as it seemed. Scirocco had traipsed through all but the coldest corners of their world. But a place where no normal travellers could go...? Scirocco was far from normal, but he suspected that his new aquaintance meant something more profound. "Empire of Zippangu? Hmm..." Scirocco looked out into the forest again, lost in his thoughts. He wondered why Ashura's garb had looked so different from anything he had seen. Lemon and himself looked so plain compared to Ashura's elegant robes and his soft hair. Scirocco sighed gently, a warm wind which swirled around him.
"You're hardly indebted to me, though," Scirocco finally added, "It took no effort, and I was already travelling this way. I'm honoured to be in the presence of a prince, Ashura, even if it was your title in your old home," Scirocco said. A title which would not hold very much weight on their plane, since many others had been something before their manifestation as moonfolk. Scirocco wondered, though. If Ashura remembered where he had come from, had he been born in the typical fashion of their twilif, attracted by the scent of a candle? Or had he come to their plane another way?
Ashura's hidden smile, which Scirocco barely caught, was somehow endearing. Each little smile was significant, because Scir felt as though Ashura was a little serious. It matched Scirocco, to be certain, but as a preformer, Scirocco loved working the crowd, entertaining. He wondered if Ashura would warm up in time. In time? What if they parted ways, and Scirocco did not see Ashura again? The thought made him frown, which he tried to hide by looking back down the path. At least with Lemon, he knew where to find him. With another traveller, if they parted ways now, chances were they would never cross paths again. Scirocco was tired of losing friends to his wandering spirit.
"It's growing dark rather quickly... Were you headed somewhere in particular? I don't want--" Scirocco cut himself off. He was going to say I don't want to keep you from your destination, but the sentiment was wrong. Scirocco wanted to walk with Ashura for at least a little longer. It was nice to have company at night, wandering. Although he loved to travel, it didn't mean he loved being lonely. The nights were cold and music and food were better when shared with others.
"What I meant to ask was, if it's not out of your way, if you'd like to walk with me for a while? The inn is just down the path, but it's a longer walk than I'd like to make alone. Any time I could spend in your company would be time well spent," Scir said, smiling and making sure his satchel's tie was looped shut and secure, then checking the straps of his pack. He was all ready to leave.
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Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:23 am
Ashura smiled softly. Reminiscing about home usually wasn't very good or pleasant but right now he felt like it wasn't so bad. He did miss Zippangu, that was the only thing he was entirely sure of. He missed the open plains, the scorching heat of midsummer's sun, the wide blue sea that was always at the edge of your vision almost wherever you might be... his family as well, always there to welcome him home after his long travels. But all of this was gone now, never to come back, and he wouldn't be able to set foot in that blessed land ever again, so he had to live with that memory. He felt like heaving a soft sigh but then he'd let his bitter feelings show, and he didn't feel like troubling Scirocco with his own problems when they had just met. After all there were so many other things to talk about. Such an unpleasant subject was not needed.
He took a few more notes on Scirocco's strange ability to control wind. It almost seemed as it followed his moods, soft or strong. He wondered if it was an inherited ability running in his bloodline or something inhabitants of this world could somehow learn how to do. If he had to take a guess he'd assume the first one, however.
And there, he couldn't but admire the fact that this fellow traveller was also so modest on top of having helped him. There was a saying back in some land he passed through once that became imprinted in his memory. "Every favor must be returned in twice its weight. This way people continue helping one another until in the end helping becomes something of a natural reflex." Ashura pointed out. Back when he had first heard this he was still getting used at moving between worlds and therefor was quite suspicious of people he ran across, but in that one place being suspicious was a thing that simply didn't exist as people seemed to be open for everything and all they had, this way everybody was equal. "And please, don't treat me differently than you would any other. Titles are just ink on paper, after all."
He was suddenly barely able to feel the other's mood shift. He wasn't entirely sure to what -empathy wasn't really in his field of abilities- but quite certainly, his voice and the way he phrased things included a hint of indecision and possibly something else he couldn't as much as discern yet. "I always walk where my feet may take me. And I usually lack a destination, so no way is out of my way, so to speak." And now, he was also quite sure that there was another quality he admired about the other Constellation, he was honest and clear about his intentions. This meant Ashura could trust him and let's not lie, it's always better when there is someone -anyone- you can trust at a place where you know nobody.
"I would love to walk with you for as much as you like." he smiled, tilting his head lightly to one side to watch the other. Any time he could spend with a companion would be time counting against the endless time of solitude he spent. It was always something most welcomed and highly valued. Making sure everything was in place, namely what little belongings he kept and his trusted katana which had never left his side ever since he started travelling, he made his way over to Scirocco. "I have no knowledge of the area, so I'm afraid you'll have to be the one to lead the way, my friend..." he mused. He just didn't seem to be able to help coming off as helpless in situations like this, not that it was something to feel bad about in the first place.
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Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:24 am
Something about the way Ashura regarded him so carefully made him feel a little embarrassed, and a little shy. He would have blushed, had it been in his nature. Scirocco was so concerned with his travels and studies that he seldom had time to be embarrassed, much less knew anyone who could embarrass him. "I like that saying," Scirocco finally responded, with a warm smile. "Well, if you intend to walk with me, consider my favour returned in twice its weight; your company is more than recompense," Scirocco said, his voice low and soft. He bowed with a small flourish of his hand, looking up at Ashura to smile again. "I treat everyone as equals, and with respect," Scirocco said. Unless they had proven themselves unworthy of that, which was rare.
Lemon meant well, but often made others uncomfortable. Scirocco, being his older brother, was charming in was Lemon couldn't quite manage. It probably stemmed from his desire to bring only beauty into the world, and take nothing from it. Scirocco found that good things often happened to him when he was just taking it easy, creating things of beauty and asking for nothing, so that what returned to him was three times as sublime as whatever he had gifted. Ashura, for example, seemed like the epitome of that philosophy: Scirocco was on his way to play music at the construction near the inn, and here was Ashura, as if some force was rewarding him. Of course, Scirocco hadn't thought that much about it, just yet. He was quite tired and couldn't help but yawn, covering his mouth with the back of his hand and looking away briefly. When he turned back, he had to voice his support for Ashura's travelling.
"Very little brings me so much joy as a new sight, new faces, new music. Always with your feet, though, and never your heart?" Scirocco couldn't help but tease him gently. "You would walk with me as much as I like...? Well, I won't hold you to that; I'm not sure you would want to follow me all over," Scir said. He laughed, but there was a flicker of hope across his eyes. A kind of longing, for that offer to be held up.
Scirocco didn't expect Ashura to know the way, so he simply nodded and began to head out of the forest, turning back to make sure Ashura was alright, and to add, "I will gladly lead wherever you will follow." Scirocco ran the distances, time it would take, and possible hour through his brain, doing mental calculations. "From here, the opening in the forest that we need to make it to the inn is actually quite a short distance. It's down this path here, until it breaks out of the trees. Then there is a dirt road, and that narrow road would take us all the way to the village, or the inn. However," Scirocco said, "The inn is rather far to travel in one sitting... We can still try, but I don't know how far we'll get."
Scirocco led Ashura through the forest, though it was not difficult. He maintained a soft aura of warmth around them, to keep Ashura at a pleasant temperature, even in the chill of the forest. Every now and again, Scir would look behind his shoulder, to make sure Ashura was still there and unharmed. He dropped back, a little, suddenly, longing to be a little nearer. He walked at Ashura's side, now; equals. "This trip would probably be less of a strain on both of us if I hurried less and socialized more," Scirocco said, with a wry smile, "I'm so unused to having company on my journeys... I trust you can forgive me?" Scirocco asked Ashura. Scir really did feel bad for having walked ahead of him for so long. He had stumbled over himself a couple times, recovering smoothly; he was so tired that he was having trouble picking his feet up.
As soon as they broke through the trees, they would see Lemon's wind-instrument construction in the distance, the three-quarter point until the inn. Hopefully, that would fuel Scir to keep moving.
He looked at Ashura again, and, unwittingly, heard Lemon's voice in his head, telling him to hold Ashura's hand. The faintest trace of blush lit Scirocco's face; he really was getting as bad as his brother! That thought terrified him, and he kept sternly to himself, rather than bother Ashura.
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:31 am
Ashura almost felt like laughing. To have his mere company thought so highly of... he felt like blushing, almost, even though it wasn't really in his character to blush or be embarrassed in general. Now that he thought of it, it had been a long time ever since he had last felt anything remotely close to embarrassment for a reason such as that. He usually preferred not to meddle with people or their affairs, just observe, which made it somewhat hard to get the opportunity to feel like this. And even though he didn't expect it, even though this was coming as the most sudden thing of all, he felt like -maybe- this time he didn't mind the confusion, or the borderline embarrassment he felt. After all, Scirocco appeared to be so much like him, in the end. As a person, and in his view of people. It was going to be okay, at least he hoped it would.
To top it off, the other seemed to be so full of so many interesting qualities. Ashura almost wanted to draw closer and examine him as much as possible, know what made him tick -so to speak-. He really- wait, no, that only made it sound more wrong. He had to bring his train of thought in an abrupt halt just so his thoughts wouldn't run haywire and force him to think strange things. "So, you're not only a traveller but musician, too?" he managed to ask, just before Scirocco's following words delivered a clean strike to his most vulnerable weak point.
Yet, although it hurt to have another point it out as bluntly, he couldn't but admit that if there was one thing he was genuinely surprised about in Scirocco was how the Constellation seemed to be almost subconsciously aware of his hidden feelings and unspoken thoughts. Yes, he always walked with his feet. He never went where his heart wanted to go merely because he had lost touch with it eventually and all his heart had ever truly desired before was retribution. Yet the God of Death had even refused his only dream. Ever since then he never had to go anywhere in particular, no cause to drive his explorations, no home to go back to, yet he kept on moving, in hopes that someday, someplace he could finally rest. Whether resting meant he'd have to settle down, settle with someone or eventually meet his death either in the hands of some creature, natural disaster or the unforgiving grasp of time it didn't matter all that much. Or maybe he lied about that.
Trying hard not to lose grasp of his previous rather good mood he looked away, thoughtfully. He and Scirocco really were two of a kind, after all. He could tell as much from the underlying hope he could sense in the Constellation's words. People who were always alone deserved to desire someone as alone as them to appear, did they not? And maybe then... neither would have to be as alone anymore. Trying to sound serious, not to make his declaration any more awkward or ridiculous than what he thought it would sound like he returned his gaze at Scirocco and sighed. "Then I'll follow you forever, wherever you may lead me." and then he realized that had probably sounded bad and actually did turn a bright color of crimson, dropping his head to hide underneath a flurry of raven black hair. He had never really said anything like that before, although he certainly had many a time apologized in behalf of his sisters saying things like that. And truth be said, now that he did, he really hoped he hadn't done so.
Making one desperate attempt to switch the subject to something he could actually talk about without wanting to die, he preferred to focus on the distance they'd have to walk to set his thoughts straight. "I'd suggest we go to the inn, but seeing as I'm clueless about the actual distance and since you're saying it is far to walk there at this time, I'd gladly stay anywhere you think of as a good enough place to stay?"
He was glad about the short period of silence that followed. That way he wouldn't have to say anything that would make him come off as an even stranger person. And when Scirocco apologized even for letting him dwell in that silence for as long he couldn't help but think how strangely ironic it was. "Please, by all means, don't apologize." he spoke in a soft, quiet tone of voice. "It is late and you are tired, which is perfectly understandable as you must have been travelling all day." he paused and let an awkward smile curve his lips ever so slightly. "I used to always travel alone up to now. What I want to say is... feel free to talk as little or as much you like." he paused and nervously tugged at his own clothes a little, as if to adjust them better. "After all..." he mumbled. "You can always talk to me more after we have properly rested. You look almost too tired for words right now.".
He was tired himself, but Scirocco looked rather more fatigued than he did. Why, Ashura would have offered to carry him if he was sure he could, but still avoided offering just in case his recklessness ended damaging both of them.
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:41 pm
It felt a lot like being inebriated. Scirocco was not in the habit of drinking, so when he did, it would go straight to his head; that dizzyness was, in part, what it felt like to talk with Ashura. Scirocco had to breathe deeply and even, taking in the night air, dropping his aura for a little to try and wake himself up. It hardly helped. As he walked, he would sneak glances of Ashura, especially whenever he caught a glimpse of Ashura's long hair in the night breezes. He couldn't remember being so tired in a long time. Silently, he cursed Lemon with each breath, and forgave him every time he saw the musical construction looming in the distance. He normally kept silent on long walks, but he kept drifting off to sleep on his feet. He would have to talk, in order to stay awake.
It was a shame, too, because Scir was absorbed in his new friend, fascinated by him, longing for the stories he knew Ashura had to tell. But he couldn't bring himself to ask for a story, either. Something seemed to trouble Ashura. Scir was grateful for conversation, answering Ashura's questions readily, "I am a traveller, a musician, a messenger, a story-teller, a magician; all of these things," Scir said, laughing.
However, his happiness was suspended, as Ashura looked away. Scirocco worried for him; the thing that was troubling him, that ate at him inside, seemed so pervasive. Was there a way to ease his suffering? Scirocco couldn't think of one. He simply used his wind aura to keep the dust and dirt of travel off of Ashura, as he would normally do for himself. He didn't have the energy to keep both of them nice and clean. Scirocco looked forward to bathing at the inn, whenever he managed to arrive there. It would surely not be before he had slept, however briefly. Scirocco looked up, surprised at Ashura's declaration. "If you'll follow where I'll lead, I promise I'll try to keep us out of harm's way," Scirocco said, with a tired smile, sleep creasing his eyes.
"I had hoped to make it to the inn... the accomodations would be much better there. However... in my current state, thanks to the actions of my brother," Scir took the opportunity to flash a wry smile crossed with a grimace, "I don't think I can make it. He weighed my pack with a rather heavy ornament," Scirocco finished. He shook his head and adjusted his pack again. Thinking about the ornament drew his attention to the weight of what he carried. "Taking that into consideration, I'm hoping to make it to the musical construction up there. The large wooden pipes."
If they made it to the construction, Scir had a plan. He had just enough energy saved to make camp and then... he had a surprise for Ashura. Something little. "Thank you for easing my worries," Scirocco said. He was grateful for Ashura understanding his exhaustion. He really didn't know why he was so tired. It was his first night from home, he met a fascinating new friend, and Lemon had weighed his pack. Perhaps those things alone amounted to enough to exhaust Scirocco. Still, he had marched through blizzards, climbed mountains with poor trails, gone through forests for days on end. Scir shook his head at himself.
"To be completely honest with you, Ashura, talking helps me stay awake. This is my first night from home... I live near the Lost Village with my younger brother. He is... exhausting. Energetic. A flirt."
With that last comment, Scir's smile broke out and he shook his head again, but this time it was in amusement. Lemon was so ridiculous it almost helped distract him from his exhaustion, even though it was just memories that fed Scirocco's image of Lemon. "I often spend the warm months on the road, and then we're reunited in the winter..."
"Do you prefer certain types of weather, Ashura?" Weather types, he knew, could be more or less common in different areas. He wondered if Ashura was more familiar with a certain kind of season. His garb looked too heavy to be made for a people used to summer months, but perhaps that was a mark of his nobility, and not the weather patterns. Scirocco resolved himself to tell Ashura about the seasonal priests, perhaps, if Ashura had not already heard of them.
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 11:45 am
To Ashura, most of this came along like a fresh, entirely new experience. You'd think he was through with 'new' by this time; and yet he couldn't help but feel as if he was almost walking through a dream in but a half-awakened state. Why, he even paused to think back into any signs it might have really been a dream instead of reality, yet managed to find none, other than this mystifying rush of emotions inside of him. He usually just embraced feelings, knowing that his rarely were genuine and authentic, save for the times he had managed to stay long enough someplace. That aside, speaking of dreaming, he wondered how long it would take for him to actually feel tired and fall asleep. Actually, he was already confused about how he was supposed to feel tired in the first place, not really knowing the limits of his current physical reality. At least, so long, and judging by Scirocco the inhabitants of this plane seemed to work in the usual time schedules. And speaking of schedules, Scirocco really looked tired right now. Yet he kept on answering his questions, to the point it made him feel bad for asking.
"A-All of it?" he exclaimed, surprised before he could contain himself. It was rare to simply bump into someone as skilled and multifaceted even though he had travelled so far and wide. Of course, he was quite versed in a few arts himself, all members of the noble family were required to undertake such lessons ever since they were quite young; but to actually do so many things... Ashura's curiosity was irreversibly sparked and he really wanted to ask Scirocco to show him -only that the other Constellation seemed on the verge of collapsing so he couldn't bring himself to actually do so. "Maybe you could show me your art, sometime." he added with a smile to save himself. "To tell you the truth, it's quite rare to meet someone who knows so many things as you. Most people tend to be single minded about their lives." he couldn't help but comment, after all. His new companion was quite exceptional like that, after all.
Because that was what Scirocco was now; after their mutual agreement, however spontaneous that was, Ashura was determined to walk with him wherever he would go. That way not only would he find out more about this new world, but he was somewhat hoping to learn more about Scirocco also. There was something that was compelling him to, as if it was the most important thing he had to do in that place. Who could know for sure that this wasn't all a game of the kami? Maybe fate had something to do with all of it in the end. And who was he to look away from fate, in the end?
"How inconsiderate..." he mumbled in regards to Scirocco's brother's actions. While he could certainly understand that his sibling would want to keep him near, playing a prank like that could prove dangerous in another situation. Being weighed down could result in being slower to react in a fight or even eliminate one's chances of running away from one. Given the situation he made a vague note of that behaviour in the back of his mind and let it rest. "It's times like these when I hope my horse could travel with me." he noted. "We could ride up to there in a moment's notice if I had Shirogane with me." he mumbled on, reminiscing. Of course, having to ride with someone would be rather awkward, but it would certainly help with Scirocco's current weary state and he'd be happy to help anytime.
Studying ahead of them, his gaze lingered at the construction the Constellation had pointed out. It was definitely interesting to know it was related to music. It had a strange shape, and he would have figured it was some sort of artifact sooner or later as it was certainly a man-made object, but it's use... Well, he could only wonder. He wondered how exactly it was used to produce music. "So this is used for music. I was rather... curious about it." he admitted. "There's so many things I need to know about your world. You'll have to teach me, but I learn fast, so hopefully I'm not going to burden you too much." he said in a barely audible tone, eyes staring almost blankly in the distance.
He dedicated himself to hearing the other for a while, and walking, feeling slightly tired himself now -if that's what being tired felt- and it was nice to simply have nothing to say but having to listen instead. "He sounds like he's amusing." he finally said after Scirocco described his brother laughing a little. Really, everyone had complaints to make about their siblings. Even he, himself, could go on and on for hours about how his sisters were also a burden, -loud, clingy, and constantly dragging him around in their games then getting in trouble for it- but deep down he knew he loved them, and the same was probably true for Scirocco also judging by the way he talked about him.
And then the talk was about weather. Weather, hmm? Well, he certainly preferred the most mild temperatures. Not too warm, not too cold, in such a manner that he could manage to keep feeling pleasant by adding or removing just a few clothes. However, as long as he could recall Zippangu hated him in that. The summer months went from warm to scorching then temperature dropped easily bellow desired levels during the autumn and winter months. And cold was the one kind of weather he couldn't take. He preferred to spend those months curled up underneath the kotatsu in his sleepwear with oranges and books for company rather than do the smallest effort of getting up and getting dressed to do anything productive. "To be honest, I prefer mild weather, although it's mostly rather cold where I'm from and when it does get warm it does so in really, unbearable degree." he sighed due to pure frustration. What crazy weather indeed. "What kind of weather do you prefer, Scirocco?" he asked. If he had to guess, he'd guess warm weather, however. He seemed to be dressed lightly enough for that. Then again, maybe it was so because he disliked being warm and preferred to keep rather cool instead.
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 5:08 am
Not too long, now. Scirocco was so close to his familiar friend, to the wind construction which would allow him to play his music across the plains, that he felt a rush of energy. Just enough to pick his step up and ease his eyes open. He had been trying not to let them close, but they had been steadily drooping lower.
On his trips, when Scirocco felt lonely, he could shape voices in the wind. It was a new trick, one he had been learning how to do for a while, but it was still rough. Using this technique, he could make it as if the air around him was speaking. He had to run it through something, though; as if lips were shaping the words. It was extremely difficult, and he had to keep working at it. Listening to Ashura speak, then, was like tapping into some kind of dream. One where he didn't have to conjure a voice to hear speech. Scirocco didn't much like being in silence for too long; he was a musician, after all, and a performer. It was hard to stand in silence, away from everything he loved.
"Yes, all of it, but many of them are just part of the same path," Scir said. It was true; being a messenger was no great feat. He would simply carry letters from one destination to his next one, not like he had to go out of his way. He wouldn't accept any deliveries to a place he wasn't already headed. Many of his other talents fell under the musical and preforming category, so those also seemed to be tied together. "It's not a lot, once you take the time to consider it. Do you have any hobbies, Ashura?" Scirocco took the opportunity to look at his new friend and smile. "I would be glad to show you what I can do, if given the chance... Perhaps I am quite single-minded, though; I have only a mind for that which I enjoy, truly." Scirocco didn't concern himself with anything he disliked. The only exception was his separation from his brother. He did not enjoy that, but he was driven in the search for that which could channel the voices of spirits who were yet to manifest. He wanted to tune in to those cosmic voices, the distant songs.
Scirocco wanted to trade with his friend: stories, information, songs, lore. He wanted to know what Ashura had seen and felt, heard and smelled. He wanted to know all these things, and he was prepared to offer a gift of whatever he, himself, knew. However, he was willing to wait, to see what would unfold naturally. A story was always best told when the teller had a reason for sharing it. Better gifted than requested, in his opinion.
"My brother has never been very...considerate," Scirocco said, wincing at the memories he kept of Lemon's flamboyant behaviour. Scirocco was in no real danger from something like that, though, since he didn't fight physically. There was no reason to when the wind was his to twist and tug. It was pretty much the opposite of Lemon: Lemon loved to brawl, and he was best with his fists. Scirocco, on the other hand, had an elemental gift which made his fighting style different. Lemon had no magic to speak of. Although his brother seemed kind of flaky and shallow, he was actually just as intelligent. Lemon had an extremely sharp mind-- if you could pique his interest. That was the tricky part. Scirocco, on the other hand, was generally quite considerate and observant. His friends would want for nothing if it was within his power.
"Your... horse?" Scirocco asked, puzzled. "Excuse my ignorance, but what is a horse? If you ride it, perhaps... well, we have the beastkind, and I have heard of forest children riding the Susikoira... and perhaps a Holy Beast could be persuaded as a mount... But I have never seen a 'horse'." He pronounced the word a little strangely, as if using it tenderly. Afraid it might break or shy from him. "In any case, if your horse could render this distance much simpler, then it would be useful indeed. You sound as though perhaps you miss it, this Shirogane?" Scirocco regarded Ashura with curiosity and a kind of intense consideration. As if Scirocco was trying to unravel him, though tenderly.
The construction Lemon had built was a series of upright wooden tubes, propped up on blocks of wood so that their hollowed inside was free at the top and bottom ends of the tube. Almost as if the tubes were resting. This allowed scirocco to play them as though they were very large flutes, tugging the wind through, swinging cork stoppers into the holes if he wanted to change the note. It wasn't very difficult, really. It did look rather strange, though. "It is made for music, though not many on our plane know that, either. Lemon, my brother, builds these on his own. Wherever there is one of these constructions, we travelled together, once," Scirocco said. Seeing them on his travels made him remember those times. In the end, Lemon had stopped travelling with him. They had both acknowledged that Lemon was meant to stay at home, and Scir couldn't help his wandering feet. "I will share any information I have, and I doubt you will ever be a burden," Scirocco answered. Speaking quietly wasn't a good idea with Scirocco; it mattered very little. His breezes carried all whispers to him. It was wonderful what the wind could carry. Ashura would quickly learn that if he didn't want Scirocco to hear something, whispering was not a good tactic.
"He does have his amusing moments," Scirocco agreed. "You can probably tell I do not make a lot of significant friends, by the frequency I speak of Lemon. Please forgive me for that. It's hard to talk about much else when I've only just left him, and I know I will be gone until the seasons change." Normally, Scirocco would be much sadder than this. He wouldn't consider speaking to another for weeks, only playing his music and travelling on. Barely resting. Ashura had cured him of this, though he was still upset. It wasn't a crushing weight, but rather a sensation that he was forgetting something. The lessening of that pain was not something Scirocco would begin to take for granted.
"Mild weather is preferable, surely. The seasons are quite rhythmic here, though that may have something to do with our seasonal priests," Scirocco nodded. "Ah, I loathe the cold," Scirocco said, laughing at himself for a moment, "In fact, that is why I was out tonight; I have to make the most of the warm months. Once winter strikes, I can hardly motivate myself to leave the house. So I don't. I can't stand the chill of winter, nor the cold winter winds. Much better to deal in the soft breezes of the summer, in my opinion." Scir found himself talking a great deal with Ashura, things which he would normally find much too personal. Almost everything was much too personal for Scir; he preferred to steer conversations back to whoever was accompanying him. With Ashura, he relished the exchange. There was something deeply comforting about confiding in Ashura.
By the time they had conversed about all of this, they had reached the wind construction. It was even more imrpessive close up. The grain of the wood was soft and glazed; Lemon had taken great care in preparing the instruments. Even though no one was ever to touch them, and they were made purely for music, he had polished, sanded, glazed every pipe. They were beautiful and the glaze served to protect them in the harsher months. Scirocco, a little more revived by being in this familiar place, set his pack down briefly on his feet and pulled out a hide that Lemon had sewn a fibrous cloth to. Scirocco placed the hide on the grass, cloth facing upwards, and put his still-dry pack on the corner. "Would you care to sit with me?" Scirocco asked, "Now that we've arrived." Scirocco prepared his sleeping area on one side of the tarp, and considered digging his tent out. It was a plain thing, and very light. He had a series of wood segments that Lemon had carved so that they could be pulled apart for travel and then put back together again. They had iron tips which could pierce the ground, and they were used to suspend his small tent. In all, a very useful invention, but also very light. Scir decided he would dig the tent out afterwards. For the time being, he sat cross-legged on the cloth and tilted his head slightly to the side, regarding Ashura with a tired smile. Sitting down made his exhaustion rush back. However, he was determined to give his new friend a gift, even if it was a fleeting one. Closing his eyes, Scir listened to the wind around them. It was a nice night breeze, but it wasn't strong enough to play all the pipes, and he didn't have enough energy to summon his own winds or pull ones from higher up. Instead, he chose two of his favourite pipes: a nice, deep, rich one and a mid-range one. Together, they could play very mellow music. With an inhale, he gathered the wind at the peak of the pipe. He exhaled, and the wind rushed through the tubes, playing two even, solid notes. "Perhaps a lullaby would be appropriate?..." Scir asked Ashura, a soft smile lingering across his face.
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Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 3:01 pm
Ashura had so long be rather concerned about the state of his newfound friend's sleepiness, as he appeared to be quite tired, in such a degree that he could barely walk anymore, but seeing him having his strength somewhat renewed he was encouraged to follow along and not bother him about it. Otherwise he would have proposed they set camp then and there. Even if the place was dangerous he could stay awake and watch over him while he would sleep. He wasn't afraid of many things, after all. He just made sure to stick close enough to him so that he could catch him were he to trip sleepy as he was -even though he was probably worrying for nothing. As log as he kept talking he was sure he wasn't about to fall asleep while standing.
"But still, you are involved with so many wonderful things at the same time..." he trailed off, looking ahead of them as he spoke. Artists were wonderful people as far as he was concerned aside from a few odd cases he had stumbled upon in his travels that had grown deranged because of it. And then he was asked for his hobbies. Past-time activities? He had given up on most things he used to do for himself when he left his home world. This was all so nostalgic. "I travel." he simply said, looking away for yet another time. "I simply drift nowadays. I was brought up dancing and singing and playing shamisen, however. I used to love riding too. The wind in your face, the speed... those are all things I enjoyed very much." all of that was of course before all turned into hell itself. He couldn't even remember how long ago that was.
Yet he couldn't possibly, he just couldn't bring himself to burden Scirocco with stories from a place he was never going to return to. He'd rather discuss about Zippangu as it was in her days of glory. Not to mention that not even he, himself, wanted to remember the grey world it became afterwards. So he was simply going to push the subject in a different direction. "I was brought up with a handful of older sisters." he laughed. "They weren't particularly considerate either. I suppose we have more in common than I'd have ever imagined." he noted, looking back in Scirocco's direction. And that was quite true. As he grew up he was tugged and pulled by one and the other, dressed up as a girl, caught in his sisters' pranks many a time, payed for them in their place, got punished because of them, covered them without a second thought on multiple occasions and in the ed he didn't mind because he loved them and they loved him back. And yet there were times he thought he was the only one considerate enough in his family; although he knew this was a lie. In a country where females were the ones who traditionally held most of the magic power, males always ended up serving them. Of course this didn't count for the Emperor and the first Prince but it was all part of the contract which when broken brought ruin upon Zippangu. The Emperor was the Rising Sun, the Prince was the Moon, the Empress was the link that held them both together; married to the sun, mother of the moon, the most sacred of them all. He missed them, missed them all... oh, how he missed them.
"A horse is..." he paused, how should he describe a horse? It was something he had never thought of before. To him it was something obvious. "It's an animal, a four-legged hooved mammal." it was the most basic of information he could give. But he also had a myriad of questions to ask back. The beastkind? Could he be meaning those strange animals he met up to now? Some of them could even talk in speech he was able to understand. And what were the forest children, susikoira and holy beasts? Why were the holy beasts called that? Were they blessed or... "And yes, I do miss him. He was like a dear friend of mine, even though he couldn't talk to me in a language I could understand like many of your animals seem to do here." he said, deciding it wasn't the time to bombard poor Scirocco with all those questions. If they ever ran across something he didn't know about he could simply ask then.
He directed his attention back at the pipes, listening to Scirocco talk about them. "So, your brother builds musical instruments? Or does he make things in general?" he asked. Back in Zippangu there was a specific kind of technician for each and every thing as he could remember, but he had met other people in other worlds that often knew how to make and repair a lot of different things. "Your brother sounds like a good person, though." he noted at Scirocco's mention of talking too much about him. "I do not mind listening about him if you want to talk about him." he shrugged, removing a strand of stray hair from his face. "We all get lonely at times, anyway..." he smiled. And it wasn't as if he could talk about many people in this place, although he certainly met an array of interesting people in his travels before here. So long he had only really known that other strange traveller in this world. He had walked aside the creature for a couple days before the other departed to meet with his companion, a white constellation clad in garments as blue as the evening sky. But thinking about it... what was that four-legged winged creature who called himself a time-traveller? In species, if nothing. The question was soon replaced by another question however, as he was faced with another questionmark before he could satisfy his curiosity about the creature.
"Seasonal Priests?" he merely asked. If they were anything alike like the Priestesses in his country they must have been hailing from a long line of tradition, possibly be of noble blood and be keepers of ancient magical secrets. He just couldn't wait to find out. From what Scirocco said they probably had something to do with the seasons and their changing. "Ah, it seems we really are two of a kind." he laughed at Scir's explanation of how he spent the cold months. "I can't bring myself to move from under the kotatsu during the winter."
When they were finally close to the pipes that were meant for music Scirocco pulled out some sort of hide and invited him to sit with him, which he did without a second thought, finally feeling tired himself. He knelt down close to the other, watching carefully as he seemed to do something with the wind for yet another time. He was almost surprised when he heard the pipes play their music although he should have been expecting as much. The sound they made was exquisite, trully wonderful indeed. It was so completely unlike anything he had heard before. "I would love to hear, would you play for me." he nodded in appreciation as he leaned back to watch Scirocco work his magic.
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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 1:57 pm
"Drift? Drifting can be striking; to allow the currents of life to move you as they may. Ah, a shamisen? I don't think I'm familiar, though I would love dearly to hear you play or sing," Scirocco said, regarding his companion with a soft, sincere smile. Naturally, he would be fascinated and intrigued by anyone who played music. Ashura's comment about the wind made Scirocco's heart soften, even though it was a coincidence. Wind and music, together; Scirocco could enjoy Ashura's company for a long time, he figured. Except the warm softness he felt faded. Ashura used the past tense, and his voice seemed to change in tone. Scirocco noticed the change, though Ashura didn't seem to want to talk about what was hurting him.
Scirocco supposed he was fortunate, remembering pretty much nothing from his life before. He was Lemon's half-brother, that was all he knew, but that was defined by the way their spirits drew together. Matched, complimented one another so that.. even if they had never been brothers of flesh in the other worlds, they were brothers now in the spirit realm.
His laughter filtered up into the night, low and content, as Ashura suggested their familial similarities. "Perhaps we do," he admitted, "though it seems like perhaps having sisters would be... actually, Lemon is quite similar to a sister at times, I imagine," Scirocco finished, with a wry smile. He was about to say having a brother was different, then he realized how flamboyant Lemon was.
"Ah, if that is what a horse is, then yes, very similar to the Holy Beasts I suspect. I will have to find one for you to see, someday." Scirocco was looking off in the distance. He didn't acknowledge it verbally, but by saying that, it was another kind of promise to see Ashura more than the once. He tried not to think of what would happen if they did part ways. How would they ever encounter one another again? But travellers had to travel; it was what he did, and what it seemed Ashura did. It was possible that, one day, they would part ways. "I am sorry your horse was not able to go with you where you may," Scirocco said. Lemon couldn't travel with him, but since he moved within one world... he didn't ever have to truly lose his beloved brother.
Lemon was someone he didn't want to lose, even if he was infuriating, ridiculous, strange. "He's an inventor of all sorts. His favourite hobby is repairing that which is broken, though like my wind instruments, he also creates. His home, as a result, is quite messy," Scirocco said, shaking his head, grinning. He didn't comment on the loneliness. Of course, it was true, but... for a wanderer like Scirocco, he had a choice. He could either be driven by his desire to find this instrument of myth, or he could live a normal life with Lemon in the city. He was illsuited to staying in one place, so he chose the former. His loneliness, he always thought, was the price. It had never occurred to him he might find another wanderer who also wanted the company.
"Yes, the seasonal priests... there is one for each season, they govern the matters of such ceremonies and spells. Each has a different power. Many of them are... well, my brother, being as flamboyant as he is, enjoys nearly all of their company." Scirocco himself, on the other hand, knew only of them through lore.
With Ashura's request, Scirocco smiled and raised his hand. He twisted the wind, his fingers tugging at strands, at the breeze. He still didn't have enough energy for much, but, sleepily, he played Ashura a soft song. It was slow, at first, and calm. It raised, joyous and exhuberant, and Scirocco had to pull more of his energy and the wind for that. It declined, as it must, and grew more sombre. That was not how it ended, however; the song became gentle, seemed to come to terms with all that had passed, and became the lullaby it was always intended to be. Reassuring. Gentle. The music seemed to tell its own story, which felt a lot like a summer day, to Scirocco, which ended in night. Night wasn't always bad. In the song, he felt like night was the promise of another morning, and a chance to try again.
When he had finished, he turned to Ashura, cleared his throat gently and said, "I fear I am rather exhausted, now. Thank you for sharing that song with me."
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 11:18 am
Ashura smiled, although it concealed bitterness at its very core. "It appears to be the only thing I have as of lately..." and even though he didn't mind speaking of what was true, just for once in his life he wished he'd finally find that one place he searched for. Then he nodded his head and went on to explain. It was rather amusing how Scirocco appeared to be just as clueless about his own world as he, himself was for Scirocco's; even if that was to be expected. "A shamisen is an instrument with which you play music." he said. "A lot of women play it in my country, but I suppose I had to take classes myself... not sure why though, it'd probably be some kind of rule, like the one that forbids us to cut our hair, or something..." he had never thought about it, but Zippangu did appear to have a lot of strange rules one had to follow, and somehow, most of them had to do with the royal family too. "As for singing, I could sing you a song when the both of us will be feeling better in the morning." he nodded.
He wondered if Scirocco could read his feelings while he talked. Something about him made him feel that way. Almost as if the other knew what was going on in his head without him having the need to voice it first. How peculiar, that feeling was...
Ashura chuckled at Scirocco's definition of his brother. "So you're having a brother who is also your sister?" he questioned. "Why, he must be quite active to multitask like that!" he joked. Yet he understood what he meant, in a sense. There were some men that were just as efficient playing the role of a woman as much as any real woman would.
"So they look similar to horses... I'd love to see them, though it strikes me as odd you'd consider them holy. Do you know why that might be?" he questioned, head tilted on the side just a little as he tried to figure it out on his own. Of course, every place had its own religious beliefs and it wasn't the first time he heard of animals considered holy, if that was what those Beasts were. He smiled at Scirocco's words about Shirogane. It... was okay, even though they'd certainly miss one another. Someday, someplace, for sure; he was sure he'd meet that valiant spirit again, maybe in a different form, in a different world, but he'd be the same. Spirits that connect once, stay connected always.
As for what he was hearing of Scirocco's brother, he was becoming certain that he might as well as be quite the person! He sounded like such a wonderful individual. "To be able to repair what is broken... that must be a fulfilling occupation." or so he'd say. It had an almost lyrical tinge to it, to be able to mend things that fell apart. He wondered if Lemon was equally adept at mending people's hearts. If he had such an ability it would truly be a wondrous thing. But of course, such things were hard to fix, weren't they?
Hmm... and it would appear that this worlds' seasonal priests were much like the priestesses were back in his homeland. At least, as far as their duties went. "Ah. I believe they might be somewhat alike the Priestesses we used to have back home. I think I understand." he nodded.
And good kami that overlooked this world... was he tired? He felt ready to collapse when Scirocco started playing his quiet melody, yet it was all so beautiful he just couldn't bring his body to relax in order to fall asleep. It would be blasphemy to miss even a single note of it, considering Scirocco appeared to be equally tired. Once the song was finished he sat himself properly on his knees. It really was late.
"You should sleep, Scirocco." he smiled, placing both hands on his lap. "We can always resume the journey to the next town in the morning. Please, don't tire yourself out because of me." and with those words he wondered what tomorrow might bring his way, or rather, their way? Could he consider both of them as a team now or was it too early to? They had only just met after all. It would be rude, wouldn't it?
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