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Legend of Lunaria Captain
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 Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:58 pm
 xxxxxIn the West Farmlands, the city gives way to sprawling wilderness and the sparsity of rustic villages. City life, city quarrels, have no place in the calm and expansive wildlands, cultivated only in places for food. After all, there is a certain amount of cultivation: Rice, which is a staple of the Lunarian diet, grows in the Rice Paddies of the West Farmlands. Wander far from the Paddies and villages, however, and the Marshlands loom on the edges: bamboo stalks which rise from the earth and block easy passage, creatures and monsters rumoured to stalk the limited space within. Ghosts would even live here, it is so unforgiving and unfriendly.xxxxxSo the Rice Paddies are all that most need to know about: after all, a source of food is incredibly important to a thriving nation, however divided it may be. And the divide does not necessarily need to reach this far out, save an enthusiastic farm-raised child who wishes to fight their part in the war now and again. Whatever sinister force has taken hold of Lunaria, however, has seeped even this far.xxxxxPeace is impossible; everyone will be made to take a side in the coming war.
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:00 pm
Rules
❀ You may be only be in one thread at one time.
❀ You must actively converse with the other characters.
❀ Please do not be exclusive; this is a time for all characters to interact.
❀ This will go in stages. Right now it is Stage One.
❀ If you have any questions, please quote me in the main thread.
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Legend of Lunaria Captain
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Legend of Lunaria Captain
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:01 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:12 am
 Bad news. Kotone had a hunch there was more today. Actually, despite how always unwelcome and unfortunate, bad news had come to be nearly a common, even daily occurrence and happening upon them was becoming less shocking. However, the contents of bad news happened upon always had a way of each one being uniquely saddening. And in addition to this miserable thought, Kotone felt the familiar nagging opinion that it seemed to her she was always behind, among the last, at hearing of news in general. Lately such depressing feelings were frequenting their visiting her more and more often. That she was being protected, she understood to some extent. But, still, she also understood that being protected this way should be lessened in degree if she is to progress further in the path she's on. This protection, she was of the mind to think, can be lessened not just by the protectors but also by the protectee. And being said protectee, she would attempt this endeavor. Kotone's gaze was stern as she walked purposefully to her destination. It was not so long after she'd departed from home that she had reached the border of the city and entered the expanse of rice paddies. As she walked the route she'd been taught to get to the place for fulfilling this familiar errand, her mind recalled the events right before her departure. There was something again that was being withheld from her. Everyone was acting normally. This was routine. Whether something was the matter or not, the household had a mentality to carry on with day to day tasks. Kotone had come to get a better feel of distinguishing between when there was or wasn't something bothering everyone and consequently she'd progressed in distinguishing between when she was being let in on dire concerns or not. Very often these dire concerns pertained to the war at hand, she'd also come to know, after she reckoned being the last in the entire estate to be informed of what had transpired or been discussed such and such time ago. In the further past it would be days after and in more recent times it has come to be hours after or sometimes even minutes after, at which at one such time, she'd exited the secretive atmosphere of the estate for a run and overheard that day's headline concern from random exchanges she'd passed about the mystery of the just past night. It was in these such times that she felt like the lone, fragile glass item in the estate. It suddenly struck her to wonder how closely she was being tailed by her bodyguards right now and in all such occasions that have taken place, likely countless. She didn't bother to look around to check for their presence. Whenever she did she saw nothing, even now she sensed nothing to give her a clue of their proximity. Only her knowledge of them being there has been fortified as a fact through their swift and timely appearance whenever they'd 'save' her. She recognized her guardians' abilities, however she held fast to her goal that she will reach the point of being able to sense such masking of presence with relative ease with more practice and training. Yes, she was annoyed, as is always the case when she knew she wasn't being confided or spoken to about urgent matters. Will it ever be deemed appropriate to discuss all matters with her in a fashion that was unlike sheltering a helpless babe? What's more, Kotone had come across a number events serving as reminders of the fact that she had so much untraveled road before her in terms of knowledge and wisdom. So what was she to do exactly?! A kaleidoscope of emotions, impatience and confusion being among them, was playing in her mind as she moved only minimally focused on the well-consolidated directions she was taking as she traversed more ground. She had gradually registered this observation though: there was quite a flow of villagers returning from the city to their homes. At this thought registering in her mind, she halted in her steps. However, her abrupt stop coincided with the unhindered passing of and in turn her being overtaken from the right side by a fellow Lunarian currently taking the same route. And so, she promptly moved herself off the path and with furrowed brows began to think through mental queries as she stared at nothing in particular in the direction of the city. The path she'd taken was a route that passed neutral territory, she mused. No one told her this. However, upon taking this path time and time again, she remembered that often when very alarming events transpired a night or two ago, this route was quiet and hushed and buildings' doors and windows were tightly shut in contrast to the bolder areas she'd pass that remained relatively unchanged out of or around the time of aforementioned alarming events. Thus, this likely explained why she heard nothing about the possible event(s) that prompted the relative silence she walked through so far. The fact that her father taught her a neutral route to travel through should not be an unexpected realization, however it was in fact an unexpected realization for Kotone now that she'd considered it for the first time right at this short period of time. What really struck her was how this path, this whole situation links in more depth to the situation earlier this morning. She's lost track of how often her elders' cunning minds have gotten the best of her. Her mother had stopped her from leaving the estate initially. However, Kotone's interruption and offer to be the one to fetch a chicken from the farm rather than the errand being assigned to another individual had received consent. Recently, her mother had been more hesitant to permit her with this task since she'd fail to remember to take a chicken home a number of times. The unusual way that the change of mind had taken place and the seemingly forgetting of her previous slip-ups in carrying out this errand had puzzled Kotone. What had happened in the city that has villagers seemingly returning home hastily when they may have gone there to sell their wares or for other duties? What was responsible for the grave, tearful, fearful expressions of those coming from where she'd just come? Why didn't she herself know?! The tight feeling had returned to her being. It was the feeling that kept her on the path to this errand. Somehow the day carried an air of seriousness that convinced her not to escape from her words that she'd been inclined before on a number of occasions to use as excuses to head elsewhere. Also, part of her didn't want to rush to hear more of the devastating events had happened again and so she'd complied to the errand in part for this reason as well. However, today was different, something different happened today. Something big. Something bad. Something she should know about. She clenched her jaw in anger as anger too directed her steps to resume towards the farm she'd said she'd go to for the errand she now suspected she wasn't expected to fulfill. But still she headed there, in its direction, the farm she was now also considering might be closed like other places were along the way. So they wanted me guarded and far away from something in the city, did they? she fumed internally. But really, her insecurity was also taking the opportunity to mock her feeling of incompetence and uncertainty in what actions to take in these circumstances. For now, she was acting on impulse and impulse was currently still bringing her toward the farm to check whether it was open or closed and whether it was open or closed, she decidedly was in no mood to and would not fetch a chicken.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:21 am
It had been growing for a while now - the hatred, the violence, the tenseness that seemed to sweep across the fields and streets and shops like a brush fire, consuming anything and everything in its path. There was no stopping it - things had grown worse in Lunaria.
It had not always been this bad; for a time, things had seemed to settle into a stalemate of sorts, with the two sides coming to a gradual "We'll leave you on your side and you can leave us on our side" agreement. Granted, it had been unspoken, but it had been there nonetheless - and for several months, it seemed, the "truce" had been unbroken.
Until now.
He had heard of the hangings, of course, but Qian Jianyu did not know if he could bring himself to the one place in all of Lunaria that he had felt the safest, the place that he revered and respected.
He did not know if he could handle seeing it.
And then there were the burnings - there had been rumors of more deaths, more attacks, this time in daylight, without bothering to wait for the cover of night. Bodies were being left across the streets, uncaring of who saw them - or rather, wanting the citizens of Lunaria to see them. It was a bold statement, a declaration of anger and hatred among those who did not wish to see peace.
The darkness of Lunaria was growing, in both the hearts and minds of the people.
It was, surprisingly, up at the rice paddies that Jianyu found the most quiet. Main Street was horribly busy, and he could not bear to go to Cherry Tree Hill yet. But the rice paddies, where Jianyu had taken Yue to get food for their small home beside the sea, had not yet seen the death and destruction of the rest of the city.
Not yet, at least. And despite the silence, the rice paddies seemed almost unnaturally quiet, the tenseness in the air stiff and unyielding.
"It's like walking into a graveyard," Jianyu murmured to his wife, holding Yue's hand as they passed through the fields, towards the building that held their already prepared packages of rice. "This place is yet untouched."
There was a note of bitter sorrow in his voice; it would be obvious to the woman beside him that he would not be forgiving to whoever had so blatantly dishonored the beloved Cherry Tree.
A young woman was already there when they reached the paddies - she looked mildly familiar, though Jianyu could not place her. However, he greeted her with a polite "Good morning," anyway and a small smile.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:06 pm
It was open. She'd been staring at the farm's entrance as she stood before it as though at a crossroads and it was when the lady of the establishment addressed her that she was pulled out of her temporarily statue-like state. "Oh, hello, what brings you here so early in the day?" Kotone was asked and the loop-ponytailed Lunarian took note of the seemingly, mostly forced bit of cheeriness and nervousness that encompassed the greeting and question. "G-greetings, ma'am," Kotone replied in kind, sensing a similarity in their feelings, "I..came to see how things were going beyond the borders of the city.."The lady smiled in response, this small smile a bit brighter than the previous and Kotone interpreted it to tacitly comment something akin to: you're such an odd girl as usual. Then, a motherly concerned look came to the lady's features as she firmly voiced with still a gentle politeness that addressed her as one of the farm's patrons, "Really now, don't you know it's no longer safe even in broad daylight. Please be very careful. Wandering on your own is dangerous, especially as of late. Though the city indeed isn't a very comfortable place these times. And..- Oh, I'm sorry for suddenly rambling and taking up your time. Well, please do take care now." "It's really fine, thank you, ma'am," Kotone gave a smile mirroring the other she'd been given with the advice, "Please take care as well."They exchanged waves but still after the lady ventured further back into the establishment, Kotone stood there a while longer with scanning eyes that may be her subconsciously checking that this well-known place to her was alright. It was then that she was greeted by another individual and she shifted to see who was addressing her. Her eyes widened slightly upon finding familiarity of the two individuals. "Ah, it's been quite some time, hello," again Kotone's voice started in a whisper but quickly shifted to an audible enough clarity after the first uttered syllable though retaining the soft quality of her tone. Her mind was pulling at past memories--of a food fight and meeting Huang-Fu's mentor--and two names surfaced before Kotone added prefixes to them, relieved that she managed to somehow remember their names; well, she diffidently hoped she had remembered correctly, "Lady Yue Lao, Sir Jianyu." The food fight in particular was a fun memory and slightly widened the little smile that accompanied her polite and moderately bright greeting. However, it was difficult for her to keep a smile on her lips for very long today and again worry was hinted in her features. The next consideration that ran through her mind was that Sir Jianyu was a fighter when they'd first encountered one another in addition to learning the link between him and Huang-Fu. Lady Yue Lao, too, in the brief time of their first meeting, showed remarkable ability fit for fighters and though she had never inquired, was perhaps at the Academy also on the fighter's path and possibly had graduated already as well. And again the stray thought that her knowledge of members of the Legion forces was poor laughed at her; however said stray thought was pushed past for more mental organizing. Perhaps she could try to query them about today's exigent event? And try she did, "Lady Yue Lao, Sir Jianyu, what has happened in the city that's responsible for the tears and grim expressions of today?" She then, in a much quieter voice, added shamefully while averting her gaze to one side as she said this addition, "I am still unaware and would like to rectify my lack of information."It's true that she wasn't always very observant. However, today, Kotone was having a hard time taking in her surroundings to a more detailed degree that she would have preferred in comparison to her current state. She still hasn't seen that they were both holding hands. If she had, interrupting the two would likely have kept her from asking her question and taking up their time. But, admittedly, she was being overcome with a feeling of desperation. She was feeling desperate to do something--something relevant, pertinent--amidst the mess her mind was making of the sights and deductions starting to swirl from seemingly everywhere to mesh with her troubled thoughts. She was sorely tempted, however she resisted the urge to bring a palm up to nurse her forehead in agitation.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 11:12 pm
 The Mere days had passed since his return to the Imperial City, yet Kyung found himself more anxious than ever.
In his absence, the city had suddenly plunged into chaos. Or perhaps, it was more accurate to say that order was crumbling faster than expected. Only months before, it was rare to see a dead body in the morning. It had always been the accepted and unsaid rule that even if a war was going on between two political factions, it only really happened at night. During the day, Lunaria was supposed to be okay except for severe political tension. However, these days it seemed every morning, he woke to hear his father talking about the increasing number of dead bodies being found in various public areas as warnings for everyone about the escalating violence and lack of security. Children, women, men, families and even the elderly weren't safe from the tension welling in the city.
Unable to handle the growing unease in his heart, the soul conduit had taken a walk to the rice paddies just outside the city. This place was still safe. The war had not laid waste to it yet, but there was no doubt in his mind that these field would remain for much longer. Already, many of the younger Lunarians who had used to tend to these fields were gone, leaving only the very young and elderly to take care of it now.
No doubt, they were also caught in the war fever. Picking sides on ideals they didn't even completely comprehend.
Dragging his feet in the dusty path, it wasn't long before he eventually came upon a group of Lunarians. It seemed as though they had also taken a trip outside the city to get a peace of mind. As his eyes lingered from figure to figure, he found himself calling out a name he had not said in a while.
"Jianyu! Is that you?"
The Lunarian he was seeing was certainly taller and older than what he remembered of his friend from the Academy, but war changed people. In fact, even he himself was a prime example of this. Despite his distate for war, he suddenly found himself being his father's confidant. He found himself offering his services for the noble alliance for the sake of his father. He was no longer a child, a student at the academy but an adult.
All that aside, he couldn't help but hope for it to be his old time friend. In war, one found solace in meeting a friend regardless of being on different sides. Death was prevalent, seeing someone alive was a reason to rejoice. It certainly seemed like Jianyu, that peculiar coloring.
Walking towards the three Lunarians, he found himself smiling faintly. It was indeed the Legionnaire from his Academy days. The youth was gone, and standing in front of him was a man. A married man, with his wife from the intimacy they shared. But, other young woman was a mystery. Perhaps an acquaintance?
"Hello my old friend."
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 1:21 am
Almost immediately after asking the question plaguing her, another voice sounded. It was addressing Jianyu as well and Kotone's gazed turned to whom the voice belonged and transitioned to watching the sight of the greeting of one to the other unfold. Doing so brought a smile back to her features. Hello. Friend. These two words soothed her to hear them. She reckoned they had some sort of magical hold on her when she hears them in such instances. In these warring days, optimism, positiveness, and happiness were a challenge to maintain. Yet, she was thankful for the reminders that do exist and that she'd come across both spontaneously and not spontaneously, come to experience, come to witness. These reminders say that good still shines brightly among the chaos in Lunaria. And still, amidst the turmoil, there was resistance and striving against succumbing to defeat at the hands of the oppressing bleakness of these times. Her emotions were out of sorts. A jaw clenched with anger, a concerned tone, a glad smile, and now she felt like crying because of a blending of the pain of mayhem and the joy of hope. It was such an oddity of hers such as this, her fluctuating state of being, she considered, that might in fact contribute to incredibility--such as her mother's--in her capability to live as a fighter. Again her diffidence surfaced through this thought, but she quickly subdued it for her want not to let it succeed in this attempt to further dampen and cancel out the lift in her mood, wanting it to last as long as it may. After all, she recalled her grandfather, who's a fighter himself, tell her that it's worthwhile to treasure each cheer found in living. She lifted one hand and brushed the length of its index against her right eye's bottom lashes and cheek as she watched quietly. Thank goodness, she found moisture absent.
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 2:44 pm
Yue Lao had seen the tree, but she had not gone up to it. Some part of her twisted in disgust and grief to think someone had burned down the place where she had first found out that Jianyu loved her. And it wasn't just that: the tree was a symbol of peace to all Lunaria. It marked the transition, perhaps, into a time of turmoil and pain. This was surely what they were entering.
Yue Lao stood on one side of this fight, but at least she could stand beside her husband. What of her friends, however? Her half-brother, Kiran? Even Cais, who she had come to terms with, even bonded with over their potential tempers. She couldn't afford to lose these Lunarians, but what could she do to prevent fighting against them in the war which was surely rising?
She was not someone who was made to fight in the hopes of killing. Yue, while chaotic in nature, didn't mean to hurt anyone. She always wanted to expose their true selves. Living a falsehood was poisonous, in her opinion: it ruined who you were, who you loved, what you were meant to be. So she would nettle, until someone exposed their true self. That was not what these battles would be about.
Her eyes scanned the rice paddies, a significant portion of her mind expecting flames to rise, smoke to curl into the sky. War-banners, battle-cries. Nightmares, not realities. Would they remain as such? Yue Lao tapped her fingers against Jianyu's palm, as she held it. "At least a graveyard could see the dead at peace," she replied, pulling the furred material which acted as a sort of shoulder shrug closer to her skin, trying to fix a chill inside her.
As obvious as it was to Yue that Jianyu was extremely upset about the Cherry Tree, she was clearly mourning its loss as well. Although the light in her eyes remained, because she was still with the one she loved, her jaw was clenched, mouth shut in a tight line. Every so often, she'd realize she was frowning or scowling, and relax her face, with a quiet sigh. She adjusted her meteor hammer around her shoulder where it was coiled, with her free hand, before nodding her head at the female Lunarian whom Jianyu had addressed. "Morning," she managed. And a tentative smile, because she did recognize her, after all. She hadn't seen Kotone in a long time, however.
"Mm..." Yue didn't answer Kotone directly, but glanced at her husband. Her throat had constricted, at the thought of the life lost, the Cherry Tree, the rising tide of war. "Probably won't be long till it's here, too. Don't want to be happy while you still can?" she asked Kotone, with a smile that, when it reached her eyes, seemed heavy and sad.
It wasn't peaceful, Yue's reply to hearing the footsteps on the ground. She whipped her head around, her free hand going for the laces on her meteor hammer, before she realized that the expression of the young man approaching was surely not unfriendly. She relaxed, letting go of a heavy breath she had been holding. "A friend of yours, I take it?" she asked her husband, smiling ruefully, a bit of her natural self showing through. Why was it that in these times, reunions were so joyous and plentiful? It helped ease the unbearable sting of war and death, perhaps. Helped them make it through the darkest days.
Speaking of friends.. where was Biki? Her mothers? Her brother, her friends. Everyone.. she hoped they were safe. They had to be, right? None of them would ever go down without a fight.
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 3:07 pm
It took Jianyu a moment to work out in his mind how the young woman knew his name. Her face, of course, was familiar, but for the life of him, he could not seem to place it.
Then it hit him.
"Kotone," he said warmly, pleased that he had finally distinguished this particular Lunarian from the rest. She was one of the students he had met so long before, but it had been quite a bit of time in between that meeting and this particular one. "I am glad to see that you are doing well."
The smile on his face faltered, however, and Jianyu pressed his lips together in a thin, tense line, revealing quite obviously his feelings on the matter. Kotone's question made him remember, unintentionally, the horrid scene at the top of Cherry Tree Hill that he had so far refrained himself from going to see. Or, rather, that he did not even want to face - it would not do to put it off for too long, but for now...
A voice pulled him away from answering Kotone's question, however - a familiar voice, dragged from the dregs of time - for it indeed had been a very long time since he had seen the young man making his way towards him.
"Kyung!" Jianyu said in surprise, his eyes widening. The Lunaria looked older, his hair cut short now, but there was no mistaking who it was.
This is Huang's.... the thought trailed off, Jianyu uncertain as to what exactly to refer to the young man as. His closest friend had told him what Kyung meant to him, but Jianyu was not entirely sure how Kyung felt.
So he said nothing on the matter, instead stepping forward to grasp Kyung's hand in his, gripping the other's wrist.
"It's been a while," said Jianyu, leading the young man forward. "I'm not sure if you've met my wife, Yue? And this other young woman is Kotone."
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Legend of Lunaria Captain
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 6:41 pm
A lone figure strode up to the rice paddies. He said nothing, but the look on his face was angry - clearly not one to be toyed with.
"You there - "
He wasted no time in accosting the figures who stood in the rice paddies.
"You're needed."
Clearly this man was one of few words.
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:08 pm
When Jianyu called out his name, his smile broke out into a grin. It was indeed his old friend. "I thought it was you from such exotic scale coloring. I just wasn't certain with such an exquisite lady on your arm." Turning to face Yue Lao this time, he gave the woman an amicable look and a light bow. Certainly she was beautiful, and no doubt she also made a fine wife for his legionnaire friend as well. Judging from her well toned arms, she was no mere housewife but a warrior as well.
"A pleasure to meet you Miss Yue," And at the introduction of the other young woman, he gave her a small bow as well. "and Miss Kotone." There was no doubt that Yue was a legionnaire considering she was married to Jianyu, but what of the other lady? Seeing as to how friendly the three seemed, she was most likely to be a legionnaire as well.
It was odd. Before, he had never put much consideration to a person's alliance and yet, here he was trying to figure who was what.
Kyung was about to say something when suddenly, a gruff voice cut him off.
"You there -"
Like most people, Kyung's immediate reaction was to turn around to see who exactly was addressing him. The person standing in front of him wore a visage of anger.
"You're needed." The man finished, not bothering to elaborate who or for what.
Something about the man made him tense. And, the presence of the ladies did nothing to ease the growing feeling. For now, his bet was to proceed with caution and hope for the best. Sliding his hands inside his sleeve, Kyung stared at the figure for a moment longer before finally speaking. "If I may sir, we can assist you better if you tell us why we're needed." Yet, he had a feeling that perhaps this man wouldn't be as cooperative as he had hoped. The man was clearly angry at something, and angry people were prone to outbursts and reacting badly to even the most simplest things.
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:32 pm
Xiu didn't know why he'd fled to the rice paddie fields, of all places, yet here he was. The murders at the cherry tree had been frightening. Every time he closed his eyes he could see the blank faces of the dead. The city hadn't been any better. It seemed the war had moved closer to home. No more was there the tentative truce along the streets between the faction. All hell was breaking lose for the citizens of Lunaria. And Xiu knew he had to do something. He was an adult now, apart of the war just like his kinsman. He was lost though. The war was an ocean to him and he was slowly drowning.
Plagued by these thoughts, Xiu walked quickly between the fields. His shoes and robes were covered in dirt but he didn't stop. Something had called him out here, an ominous premonition. It reminded him of Sakngea. The redhead lived in these farmlands and he might be needing help. The thought alone was what had Xiu puffing for breath up the road. He would have broken out in a full run had there not been a cluster of people up ahead.
Grinding to a halt, Xiu brusquely pushed his blonde hair out of his face. He recognized some people in the group. Kyung was there, as was Jianyu and his wife Yue. This couldn't be good. The last time he'd run into Yue and Jianyu it had been an all out four man fight, and all because of Sakn. Because of this, Xiu nervously approached the group, coming up behind him. It looked like something had distracted them all. To short to see what had their attention. Passing an unknown girl with black hair, he inclined his head politely to her as he reached for Kyung's sleeve.
"Kyung," Xiu said softly, tugging the male's light sleeve like a child. He peeked around the male's shoulder, looking through the space that Kyung and Jianyu's bodies made. "What's going on?" He could see now that a strange looking man held everyone attention. He looked half manic with anger. Was there was fight to be had or a was this a warning?
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:36 pm
As she watched, Sir Jianyu, Sir Kyung, and Lady Yue Lao, Kotone's thoughts drifted back to Lady Yue Lao's statement and question in response to her question. She hadn't been able to put together a timely answer and was still puzzling over how to piece together a response with the jumble in her head. And when Sir Jianyu spoke his words to her right after Kotone took in the question asked, she only managed to smile as her incomplete reply while her thoughts worked on making an answer to the question, the window to act on her intention to also say the same to Lady Yue Lao and Sir Jianyu closed in her slowness, remaining unspoken as Sir Kyung's call to his friend got her attention. While listening she heard that they're married to each other now. The degree to which Kotone had been caught up in her own war, familial, and academic concerns in the time that has passed struck the loop pony-tailed Lunarian again. And even now, she was admittedly rather shocked at realizing that she was finding her mind thinking about her family in the city with a portion of her focus while interacting with everyone here right now occupied a portion of her focus as well. To smile, to frown, and so on, Kotone was feeling torn between so many reactions that she wasn't sure what expression she was showing; touches of confusion and anxiety and exertion among faint, fleeting but genuine smiles, this was second nature to her when worries were on her mind while in the presence of any extent of pleasantness. Then this thought came to her that she has still a long way to go on the road of maturity as well. She was upset that her elders were so protective of her. But now, with the accumulation of all the sorrowful expressions she's seen today, her childishness was suddenly marked with her recognition. Why did she only now ask herself how her elders would fare today? Is her family safe right now? Are they all at home or elsewhere or not all in one place? Why didn't these explicit queries cross her mind earlier? Why did her irritation easily derail her? Fortunately she was intent on all her focuses and she managed to keep her thoughts on her family from running away with her where she stood and Kotone managed not to add further to her slip-ups currently. "H-hello, Sir Kyung," Kotone reacted with a wave accompanying her greeting and then a bow of her own in kind. Then again her attention was drawn by another, an angry-looking man, his words, and Sir Kyung's response to him. And then when a man inclined his head to her, Kotone, too, inclined hers to him and saw him next move to Sir Kyung. More and more the day's unfolding events confirmed today was definitely unlike any other. The magnitude of the terror that she was certain that she'd inevitably learn, Kotone decidedly braced herself as she felt her body tense at the expected prospect, whenever it may come. And yet her mind held the question directed to this attempt at some preparation: this isn't enough, is it? Kotone also checked the presence of her weapon by sensing for the weight of her staff at her side, hanging via belt in its ring that acts as a sheath. She'd address the hurried-seeming man as well and this time this thought of hers was acted on, the volume and firmness of her characteristically soft voice raised moderately with the urgency implied by the man's tone, managing again to maintain her words' clarity, "Y-yes, I am in agreement with Sir Kyung and would like to please request for some explanation regarding this need, Sir."
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:42 pm
Naturally, Yue Lao let go of her husband's hand so that he could greet Kyung openly. Still, she did not retreat as a reticent housewife, but rather stood smiling at Kyung and Kotone. Truly, in times like this, Yue Lao would take whatever excuse she could in order to be happy. She wasn't the type to sulk. Especially not when she had a home, and two entire families. Speaking of families.. she suddenly worried not only about her own family, but about the Qians. Of course they would be okay, wouldn't they? Her throat tightened again at the thought. Ehuang and Liwei, all Jianyu's siblings... she had grown to love them as much as she loved her husband, or her own family.
She was restless, rolling her weight from one foot to the other, trying to bleed off some anxiety. She didn't know who Kyung was to Huang, but if she had known, doubtless she would have been hovering over the man, trying to find out everything about him, needling him. Happier habits, for happier times? Unlikely; Yue Lao had a habit of setting aside worries to be more like herself again. Only if she was able, only if it was pressing enough.
She flashed a grin at Kyung as Jianyu introduced her, and winked at the elegant Lunarian. "Yue Lao, the one and only," she added, to her husband's introduction. She approached Kyung as her husband led him towards them, and clapped him on the shoulder warmly, before turning to address Kotone.
"I could have sworn you look familiar," Yue told Kotone, pursing her lips, a smile still glinting in her eyes. She didn't waste a lot of time thinking, but walked over to Kotone and attempted to pick her up, squeezing her in a hug before letting her down. "Nice to meet you, of course," she said, "if I really am mistaken."
Without a doubt, however, she recognized Xiu-- wasn't there.. some kind of fight, forever ago? She could hardly remember what had happened, but she recognized the handsome Lunarian. "Have you seen my brother?" she asked him, her voice tense. "I mean, Sakn."
The second the stranger approached, Yue tensed. Except he seemed so familiar, as well. Maybe this was just her day for imagining she'd known everyone. "We help... our allies," she told him, crossing her arms over her chest, attempting a neutral expression. In the end, it came across a little more stern and steadfast.
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