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 Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 4:41 pm
Lost In Translation
Solo or RP Format
Counts as 5 RP growth Points
Solo word minimum is 750, RP post minimum is 7
Tendaji is a rich and diverse land filled with many different cultures and languages. While most travelers are fortunate enough to speak a common language, sometimes one might find themselves in a village where they can't communicate with the local population. How do you manage? Do you find someone to translate, or fumble along?
[ Tendaji has many different languages that the locals speak, and sometimes you might find yourself in a village or town where no one is speaking your language. Use this prompt to explore that miscommunication - maybe thinking about how hard it is to get your message across. Or connecting with a stranger who is helping you translate so you can make that purchase you need. What happens when everything is lost in translation? ]
Eliazer lifted up and dropped the wet mop back onto the deck of the ship. Ever since they'd been found out the pair had been tasked with various tasks around the ship. Most of it was cleaning and maintaining supplies, though Honi's chores these days mainly revolved around kinfa care. In truth Eli didn't know if he was jealous of her or glad it wasn't him. At least she had a family history of creature knowledge to fall back on. Every time the beast so much as turned it's head his way he felt an uneasy shiver go down his spine.
He'd already gone over most of the ship and all that was left was the area around said kinfa. It wasn't as if the creature was standoffish; actually, now that it was being properly cared for it was downright friendly. Too friendly, in his opinion. As soon as it saw either of them it would come right over and he didn't know how to handle a giant bird that wanted cuddles.
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2023 3:57 pm
As tough as the work was, Honi was feeling better than she had since that day at the market. It felt like ages ago at this point, and she had plenty of work to distract herself with as well as watching the kinfa's condition improve. Even if the idea was silly, it allowed her to feel like she had been meant to come here and be on this ship right then. Hopefully, the rest of the trip would turn out just as successful and worthwhile... The kinfa had one wound that was being difficult though. Honi was trying to change the bandage on its leg, but now the huge bird was scooting away as she cleansed the wound. This was turning into a two man job... Ah-ha! Perfect timing! Honi stepped away to give the bird a break from her fussing and waved to get Eli's attention. She could have shouted across the deck, but she needed the opportunity to practice signing! She was feeling pretty good with the basics and small statements, and chances to practice together on the ship were mostly limited to before sleeping. 'I need your help with the bird's bandages.' At least, that was what she thought she was signing. In her attempt to hurry it along in order to wrap the wound sooner, Eli would see something more along the lines of 'You should hide your dumb bird face.'
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 11:41 am
While he wasn't quick to catch on, when Eli did turn back to Honi he gratefully set his mop back into the bucket and leaned it against the mast. Whatever it was she had in mind had to be better than cleaning, even if it was their fault for stowing away.
He made it halfway to her before Eli's steps came to a confused halt. My dumb bird face...? Was she trying to be playful? Honi had never outright insulted him before, but it wasn't too bad he could only assume...
So, instead of questioning it, he signed back; "Birds eat fish so you should hide those ears. It might take a bite."
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 3:37 pm
Honi cocked her head slightly when Eli paused. Was he that reluctant to help with the kinfa? She was prepared to pout out her lip, but her expression quickly turned surprised. The bird would eat fish in her ears? Had.. she read that correctly? 'I don't have fish. You know it wouldn't bite me.' What her hasty scribing turned into was, 'I don't wear fish. You bite me."
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2023 12:18 pm
"...I could bite you. If you wanted?" Even though Eliazer had certainly thought about kissing her in the past, he had yet to act on those feelings and was generally just happy in her presence. if she was trying to be forward and losing a few words in translation well...
His ears were burning with heat and even his signing had an embarrassed sort of twitch to them. Did she really mean it? Looking over his shoulder, Eliazer made sure they weren't being watched before turning to Honi. If he could speak he would have been tongue tied, but as it was Eli's hands just remained stagnant.
What was he supposed to sign to that?!
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2023 2:55 pm
Honi blinked a couple times. Had he just offered to bite the bird? His signing suddenly didn't look as smooth as usual. She must have read that wrong. She looked up at the bird curiously, as though it might have an answer for her. Eating fish and now biting? Maybe Eli was just hungry? The thought that she was signing wrong tickled the back of her mind, but she ignored it for a little longer. Surely Eli would be able to tell if she wasn't doing it right and would let her know! She made one more attempt to sign to him. 'Just come help with the bandages first. We can eat later.' Of course, the mistakes only spiraled further into the abyss. 'Come here to cover first before we taste.'
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 1:21 pm
Taking a few more glances over his shoulders, Eliazer cautiously started to approach the pair. The kinfa was passively preening it's feathers, thus far unaware of just how conflicted the Geian before it was. Should he....touch her hand first? Or did he just...
Cover before we what?! Eliazer nearly choked on his spit at that point and that's when he knew something wasn't right. Honi was a very open woman who could take charge if she wanted, but this just didn't seem right. Instead of responding in sign, he dug through his pockets for the journal and chose to write instead.
"You want me to come over and cover up before we taste? Is that really what you meant?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:24 pm
Honi couldn't help feeling a little disappointment when the notepad was pulled out. It was inevitable though. Something wasn't coming across right, and she could feel herself getting anxious. Now they could get the bandage done and she could go get Eli some food. "Cover before.. what?" It took her a moment to work out before she laughed lightly. "Sorry, I guess I'm not as good as I thought I was. I was asking you to help me change the kinfa's bandage, and then we can get dinner. You keep talking about biting things, so I assume your hungry. You aren't really planning to bite the bird, right?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2023 7:34 am
Eliazer's mouth formed an 'o'. He started writing against, this time flipping to a new sheet so he could write out so much more.
"You're doing a good job, it's just that-"
And he wrote out the abbreviated version of their 'conversation'. Now that he knew what she was actually trying to say it made so much more sense than...the...other stuff.
"I thought you were trying to "
He furiously tried to scratch that part out but if she focused enough she could read it. "Do you still need help with the bandage? I can help."
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2023 12:55 pm
The praise pulled Honi's pleased smile back up. The longer Eli wrote though, the more worried she became. Well, and seeing something scribbled over? "I would still like the help.. but what is that about?" She pointed to the scribbles with a firm look at Eli. She could have tried to decipher what the scratches covered, but that.. just felt rude. "'It's just that,' what? Tell me what was said wrong so I can be sure to fix it next time." Now that Eli was closer, the bird gave a light chirrup and took a couple waddling steps forward. With a pleased click of its beak, it stretched down to nudge Eli's arm affectionately.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 12:35 pm
Eliazer pointed above the scribbles to the written text and when that didn't seem to work he flipped to a new page to write it all out again. Instead of the abbreviated version this time, however, he wrote their full conversation. When he was done with the actual signed words themselves he added;
"It came across like you wanted to....get...intimate."
He held the notebook out to her with one hand and the other raised to give the kinfa a few scritches. His cheeks were absolutely burning at that point.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 1:59 pm
A pit of dread started to grow in Honi's stomach. She had never seen such a look on Eli's face before... She nervously read over the words, and her confusion quickly gave way to unbridled horror. She gave an audible shriek and clapped her hands over her mouth. He'd thought-!? "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean-! I was just-!" She spun away and pressed her face into her hands. How embarrassing! She'd certainly considered pursuing Eli eventually, but definitely not like this! And yet.. something tickled at the back of her mind. Slowly, she peeked over her shoulder at him. "You.... offered to bite me." Saying it out loud sounded utterly scandalous! Ah, but the following words would be even more so... "WaitforBelrea," she blurted out. Smothering an embarrassed laugh, she practically dove to hide under the kinfa's wing. Said kinfa had been happily melting under Eli's attention. It twitched with surprise at Honi's sudden move and cracked its eyes open with a curious click of its beak. From the depths of the wing's cover, a shy voice wriggled out, "I still need help with the bandage.."
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 2:11 pm
Yep. Yep. There it was! Her reaction only caused his skin to darken and he couldn't even begin to look at her. Instead of signing, since that's what started this whole mess, he started writing "It's okay" over and over and over because anxiety was pushing him to do it and then she -
Oh he was so dead. He'd been caught; red handed no less! Even if he was under the impression that she...the things he'd signed back...Oh she understood THAT part! For a moment he was paralyzed and simply stared at her in horror before furiously waving his hands in front of his face, jostling the notebook around before he clumsily slid it back into his pocket. This was-
Wait for what now?
WAIT FOR BELREA?!
Taking a hopeless breath, Eli dug out the journal once more, wrote out a note and shoved it at her before walking away. The note read; "I'll help just need a minute first." His minute consisted of walking over to a bucket of rainwater that had collected near the back of the ship and tipping the entire thing over his head without hesitation.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 2:42 pm
Honi could only imagine how silly she looked right then, hiding under the kinfa's wing. Her heart was thudding so hard that her whole body seemed to vibrate. She could only imagine Eli's face now! She squeaked with surprise as the note was thrust toward her. Limbs locked for the moment, she could only watch the paper flutter to the ground and land with the writing face up. Only a minute? Oh, she couldn't bring herself to check what he was doing as his steps faded out of range. If he was further away though.. A high squeal of emotions released the nervous energy that had built up so quickly. This time the kinfa gave a squawk of disapproval and bent to nudge the earthling away.
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