|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 9:58 am
 Ness rolled around in her bean bag chair before trying to come to a decision. She had a few fun excursions the last few days. While the moments had been enjoyable and satisfying, Ness found herself still craving to do something a little out of the ordinary. She thought to herself that perhaps she just wasn't spending enough time outdoors.
She got up and left the house with that thought on her mind. She went off away from town and headed more into the forest towards the big meadow. As she took a walk with the occassional flutter up to look at something. she tried to think about why it was that she wasn't really out here very often. She didn't hate or dislike the outdoors. She wasn't fond of bugs, but that wasn't really having anything to do with it.
If she was really honest, she'd know that all the time she spent playing video games and singing and dancing in her house and friends' homes. well, that just didn't leave time to get out doors. Then, a familiar thought she'd started to have often lately that motivated her to decide whether to do this or that. Her parents never thought that girls should be out roughhousing in the outdoors. They thought that outdoors were the place for males to do big strong acts while females were supposed to always be handling the tender and emotional great acts. Ness never liked having to be just one certain thing just because she was a girl or just because she was an angelic.
Then, as she passed another great tree; her eye caught the glimpse of something shiny. What would be so shiny among such foliage? Was it a rock? Maybe a gem? Her curiosity was going to see to it that she discovered what it was... or rather.. who it was. as she got closer, she spied a noodle bigger than herself with little shiny trinkets upon it. she only just barely managed an admirable whisper of "pretty..."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 5:36 pm
 The forest flourished around him, a mile or so from town along a nearly-forgotten trail on the way to Lark's Meadow. Of course it flourished--he was there, though Ranger preferred to pretend that he had nothing to do with that. I am a large, winged noodle enjoying the warmth and green air of the forest in mid summer. Nothing more. Nothing less, he told himself. He was spread out on the limb of a great oak tree, the morning sunlight glinting off of the jewels on his head. A squirrel chittered at him from a tree; a crow landed nearby and cawed loudly its curiosity at this strange presence in the tree. Ranger smiled and cawed back. Satisfied, the bird flew away.
He felt himself close his eyes. On days like this, he could almost sleep. He was fairly certain it was sleep--or was it lethargy? The urge to stay in one place while every part of his body was warmed up, and the wilds around him soaked up the invisible power to grow and thrive that he radiated from himself. Lethargy, perhaps. Not tiredness--that would imply that his duty took effort. But it didn't. It wasn't what he did, really--it was what he was.
And what he was was sprawled out in a tree while a mor--an angelic murmured at him from below in a soft voice. He opened his eyes to see a pretty angelic on the ground below patterned like she could have blended in with icy rocks. Ranger sat up and smiled, stretching his wings wide to brush the branches on either side of him. "Hello, there," he called. "What brings you here?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 5:53 pm
As the green noodle sat up and spread his wings. Ness's eyes followed their expanse. She gasped with awe. She had never come face to face with any sort of god or goddess before, so she understandably didn't really fully take in what she was seeing. Her sapphire stoned eyes ran back and forth along his wings. After a few minutes, she did know that at very least; his were far bigger than her own. They were wider tip to tip than she had personally seen.
Her eyes ten took in the other gems. the perfect blend of sunrays bouncing off each gem and the shade of the tree's leaves casting and dancing back and forth. After taking all this in, she looked up into his face. Something about him made her feel a little nervous to speak at first, but seeing all the little animals around him, she figured if they felt good about him. There would be no reason for her to worry. Little animals always seemed to have good sense in those regards.
She then decided to put on her best smile. She sat her tail down and blinked. "I thought maybe going outdoors would be good for me. I spend a lot of my time indoors, but I felt in the mood to do something out of the ordinary." Ordinary.. As she rolled that word around in her mind, she was feeling that somehow.. there was something not quite so ordinary about this noodle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:19 pm
((Heheh, "doing something out of the ordinary." That has been your childish repeat of double entendres for the evening... [Shot]))
Ranger frowned at the young lady's words. His tail twitched ever so slightly in annoyance as the squirrel that had been on the branch above him skittered away. He had to force his ears not to lay back as they twitched in that direction. No, she had probably not meant it. But it was a sad indication of the times. And aren't I silly and immature for thinking that? All things change. There will always be wild places. The current attitude will change and once more, the wilderness will reign supreme. I should enjoy this life and these mortals while they're still here to enjoy.
He shook his head and forced a smile on his face. He pulled his wings in. "Yes, the wilderness is certainly a fascinating place. The outdoors can do wonders that nothing else can do for anyone. It is best to get some fresh, green air every day." He chuckled as his own words ringed in his ears. "Well, that's what my nephew always says," he added with a wry smile. "But I can't really say that the wilderness is 'out of the ordinary.' A little unusual for one who lives in the city, certainly, but the world is full of many wild places yet. My name is Ranger--what name are you called by?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:25 am
Ness gnawed ever so lightly on her bottom lip. She listened and watched him. she wondered if she said something wrong without knowing it. It was a relief to see he was still going to talk to her. She really didn't like it when she put people off for reasons that were unbeknownst to her. She at least liked to know what she was doing wrong.
"I'm Ness." She offered back with a sincere smile. She considered what he said. "Hmm... well... I suppose that is probably true for anyone who spends most of their time outdoors. If you spend majority of your time outside, then the outdoors would be your ordinary. Spending half your day inside would probably feel out of the ordinary for you. Even though... I can imagine maybe someone used to roaming the forest and meadows all day might find being indoors a little claustrophobic."
then, she started to mentally chew over the idea of somehow fitting into her day a little time outside. Maybe a walk every day...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:37 pm
Ranger bit back a bitter response. "You're right," he said. "I suppose I am so connected with the wild world that I often forget that it can be a wonderful and terrible place to those who...spend their lives indoors." He had almost said trapped. And that wasn't fair--she was probably raised to prefer in the indoors to the outdoors. So many these days were.
To shake off the resentment, he leaped down from the tree, wings extending to slow his fall to the ground. Once there, he laid down so that his massive head was closer to Ness's. His eyes were still far above her own eye level, but it was a lot closer. At least now he wouldn't strain her neck quite so badly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ness," he murmured. "I hope you enjoy your time out here--I'd love to meet more people wandering through the woods. It's nice to know that some people could still be enchanted by the wilderness."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:02 pm
Normally, when most noodles admitted she was right, she would feel haughty or puffed up at least a little. She'd feel like she finally got something she had been waiting on a long time, but his admission of her being right didn't feel right. It didn't feel very good to her, and she blushed feeling a little embarrassed. This was making her feel a little more disconcerted about his being polite about it. She couldn't help but feel she was saying or doing something wrong though she felt unsure about why she was getting that feeling. She didn't want to intentionally hurt or offend anyone.
When he came down to her level, she took a quick breath. She had assumed he seemed bigger than her from far away from simply not being able to see all of him. When he was right next to her, she realized how much bigger than her he was. She hadn't met a noodle so big before. Her eyes followed his every movement. Somethin about him exuded grace. enchanted... was that the word he just said.
enchanted perhaps she was. she was feeling immensely humble before him just then. The feeling only grew in earnest. She looked up at him and stayed sitting but turned to face him with her whole body. "Thank you for saying so and being so nice but... I just can't help but feel like... I ... did or said something wrong. I didn't hurt your feelings or offend you did I? sometimes, I say and so stupid things. I just have no idea. Please tell me if I do something wrong."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 12:36 pm
Ranger was starting to get the impression that he had done something wrong to make Ness nervous or unsettled. What had he done wrong? She had gasped when he dropped down. Why did she--oh, right, I'm a god. You'd think I would have remembered what I am and what effect that has on people. I suppose I've been living with atheists and non-Goddess worshipers for so long that I've forgotten what it's like to meet someone who has no qualms with my deitude. He wished he could turn it off, but he had never been sure how not to be...imposing. If I were inside, that might be a different matter, but...
He shook his head. "You didn't offend me that greatly. I have...Um...a great connection to the wilderness. There's so much of it, though there's less of it than there used to be." He gave what he hoped was a disarmingly wry smile. "I just get annoyed sometimes when something reminds me of how much of the wilds have been lost. It's okay, my feelings are not that badly damaged."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 2:10 pm
His reassurances were not lost on her. Not one bit. She exhaled a sigh of great relief. She almost plopped on the ground beside him. She tried to behave a little more gracefully. She had never met a noodle yet with so much grace, but then again, it wasn't like she was a social butterfly meeting lots of noodles. She had lately, but that was all together new.
She smiled at him and tried not to be too nervous and make eye contact. she was always doing that since she felt it was more earnest and honest. She was always doing lots of little things like that to reach out to others and try to make connections. His note about connected to the wilderness.
"That must feel amazing to feel connected to nature. I never feel connected to anything." she wanted to add or a connection to anyone. Still, that was her own private business, and surely this stranger wouldn't want to be bothered with her own petty loneliness. "I guess that's kind of what's had me out looking for stuff to do lately. I recently listening to some music. When i started to think about music i listen to... how they are always telling a tale of relationships between people .. for good or bad.. and I realize that.. all the time I spend indoors by myself. I Just... really isolate myself. why do i do that?"
then, she stopped herself. She wanted to face-palm right then and there. She just told herself NOT TO DO THAT. How embarrassing.... Her cheeks flushed with overflowing bashfulness. she covered her mouth at least with both paws. "I'm so sorry. I don't know why I let my mouth run away like that." She then started to avert her eyes trying to think how to save herself from herself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 3:50 pm
The way she shifted was making Ranger feel a little uncomfortable. He wasn't a stuffy god--he liked to think of himself as a more...personable god. It was more interesting that way. His natural grace did much to disguise his unease, though. It was a fine thing to have, but sometimes he wished he didn't.
Ranger stretched his wings a little, laying them out on the ground, where his pale brown wings stirred up little clouds of dust. The leaves from yesteryear stuck in his feathers. That made him feel a little better. A little less elegant. A little more real, more wild. It made him feel better that she avoided eye contact with him. In wild animals, that was a sign of respect. No, not respect--obedience. Submission. I don't ask for submission.
"I don't know how to help you with relationships," he murmured. "But the way I see it, isolation from other people is acceptable so long as there is no isolation from the outside world. That is where the grounding, where the roots are." He didn't answer her question. That was the sort of question for someone else. Noodles were not his domain. "It's alright," he added. "You can let your mouth 'run away.' It feels good to express yourself, doesn't it?" And now I sound like my father. Great.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 3:27 pm
she sat and waited. She listened to him. while listening, she watched some blades of grass dance in the soft breezes that came tumbling through. She then looked off to watch a bird or two chase each other around the treetops. She flipped her tail here and there as she took in more of hte unmasked sights and sounds of being out there.
She then glanced back at him. "Well.. thanks anyways. And.. I am much more composed now. Not sure what came over me... I guess I just need to work on finding some balance for myself. I can enjoy my solitude.. and find ways to share what i like to do at home with others. but.. i suppose those sorts of things take time and finding other noodles with common enough interests that they'll stand to wanna be around me."
Then, she smiled with a self depreciating humorous grin. She then decided she wanted to get away from thinking about herself. "well.. hey.. is there anything I can do to help you? or service you somehow? since.. I totally up and disturbed your day? I love to help... I mean.. I really have like.. zero obligations to prevent from being able to help you out if you needed anything."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:10 pm
Ranger smiled as he listened to Ness. It was comforting to hear someone else's voice, he realized. It grounded him. And I need grounding the same as anyone else. As he listened to her, he listened also to the rustling of the grass as the breeze blew through it and tiny animals foraged through it. Birds above the trees called insults and crooned love songs to each other. Life. What a beautiful thing.
"Balance...balance is good," he said lamely. Considering her reactions, she might not notice the lameness in that statement, though. "I can't see why anyone wouldn't want to stay around you," he added. "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with you. You seem to be a perfectly nice person. As for what you can do for me?" he shrugged and looked around. "You didn't really interrupt me all that much, but I would appreciate it if you did a big favor for me."
He paused--admittedly for dramatic effect--and waited for her reaction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:37 pm
Ness's first reaction to his statement was a scooting closer to him, but it wasn't the kind of movement requirign getting up. Nor was it the type of movement that could hardly been seen. It was like almost as if she merely glided upon the top of the grass; it was like almost as if the blades of grass were carrying her across out of rockstar fandom. So in the blink of an eye, she was right up in front of him. Her eyes blazed with eagerness and earnest intent. Her body poised to get ready to do whatever it was. Of course, though, she couldn't really perceive at all what it would have been. If she only had the wisdom of not just blindly agreeing to anything someone mighth ask of her. Still, she felt rather compelled to help. Such was both her strength and her fault. A willingness to serve others... even sometimes to a point where it trapped her. though.. it had been such a very long time since anything like that had occurred. It had been so long; she forgot all about that.
She reached out with paw almost to take his except not doing so out of courtesy in case he was one of those noodles who disliked being touched, moreso by a noodle who was yet a stranger. Pausing in that motion, her eyes looked up at him. "Yes.. Please.. if i can be of help... I'd sure like to at least try." Her angelic wings spreading as her eagerness nearly consumed her. Her other paw touching back close to her shoulder bone. "I love helping. It could be possibly the thing I am best at." She smiled hopeful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:19 pm
Ranger was gratified to see that she didn't shrink back from his important-sounding words. She moved closer, her entire body language screaming of attentiveness and hanging on his every word. Was this what it was like to be one of the more pompous gods who demanded worshippers? They're small gods, ones with bigger attitudes than anything else. I'm not like that. I think. He shivered with that power. He wasn't used to it. He wasn't sure he liked it.
"I'm sure you'll be very good at it," he murmured. "Ness, what I'd like you to do is...spend more time outdoors. In the sunlight, in the woods, in the fields." It did sound rather silly, didn't it? He almost expected to hear some sort of dopey soundtrack in the background. "It would be good to get some fresh air," he explained lamely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
