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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 22, 2006 0:39:56 GMT
A dark realization hit Gdosimirj. "I was the first who left. All of it is my fault. They followed my example, and our way of life came to an end..." She closed her eyes. Ladjinne shook his head furiously.
"No, Gdosimirj. You dare not think that way. You were young and rebellious, but the others who left... some of them were just bad people. They gathered in the dark and spoke about the decisions of the council amongst themselves. They knew what they were doing, and would have left whether you did or not. You were just a restless bird who escaped her cage." He smiled, looking slightly embarassed. "You did not know about them meeting... I did because I was one of them in the beginning. But when they spoke of leaving, I stopped meeting with them. This is my secret with you."
Gdosimirj frowned. "I've done some horrible things out there, Ladjinne. You being part of an activist group does not compare... nonetheless, I will not betray your honor."
She glanced at the sun. "It is almost Walltouch, my friend. We should eat." They went to the fire canopy.
Hanging over an enormous fire pit was a greyish-brown canvas of special material which was meant to gather and trap smoke so as not to give away the location of the village. The fire was roaring, and several grills had meat roasting on them. She went to the Trapper and offered him several gil. "A whole side of meat for myself and my friends."
He grinned broadly. "It is good to see you back, Gdosimirj." He pressed his thumb into her forehead, and took half of the gil she offered. "Half price for the returning lady!" He winked. "It is a bountiful season, m'padi." He then went to retrieve one of the huge slabs of meat and set it on a wooden tray, giving it to her.
"Thank you, my friend! Makaijd ali'i!"
They returned to where Ami's family, calling over Ami and Lana and the others. "Everyone, this is Ladjinne, an old friend of mine..." She realized something was missing. "Where are Reno and Rude?" She sighed. "The traders' hut..."
She left the meat with Ladjinne and went to the hut to seek them out. "Dinner is served, Reno, Rude! Come along, the feast is grand!"
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 22, 2006 2:14:55 GMT
Reno looked over his shoulder towards the door at Sunset's call. He didn't understand why it would not hold still. "Hey, whosh the wise guy keepsh moiving that thing, yo..."
Rude stood up and steered him out. "The brew is some potent s**t..." Reno slurred happily...
****
Ami heard the call and reluctantly headed for the firepit. She did not relish facing her family again...
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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Oct 22, 2006 2:25:23 GMT
(since i've missed so much and yeah... lets just like um... >< never mind.)
nikky was talking with kamen... or at least trying to. he had been getting more and more silent. he didn't even make eye contact with her anymore. his eyes were almost always glewed to the ground. but nikky still tried....
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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 22, 2006 2:26:19 GMT
Gdosimirj facepalmed herself. "Reno, try to hold it together. Being drunk will not make the best impression on the village... or the council... oh, dear. Maybe you shouldn't come to the meeting. We'll say you weren't feeling well... oh, dear... Look, I'll bring you some dinner and I'll be right back."
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 22, 2006 2:32:28 GMT
Reno's eyes kept crossing. "Whatevah worksh for you, Sunny..." He tripped over nothing, and Rude dragged him up again. "Where do we stow him until after?"
****
Ami's family gathered around, bunching at one end of the firepit hesitantly, afraid to offend their hosts. Ami joined Sunset at the other end of the pit, trying to avoid making eye contact with her adopted kin... Boys, if only you were here. I could really use some backup. "If we wait for them to serve themselves, they'll starve," Ami griped quietly. "They're too d**n well-bred to think for themselves in terms of basic survival skills." The old genetic resentment was showing through again...
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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Oct 22, 2006 2:36:32 GMT
nikky sat near ami and grinned. ''hey ami...'' she said quietly.
kamen was sulking silently.
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 22, 2006 2:43:49 GMT
Ami smiled back, but her expression was shallow... she was still too preoccupied by her parents. "Hi, Nikky. What's up?"
Reno looked up at Nikky and gave her a sappy grin. "Hey, babe..." He got out a half-pouch of ale he'd saved. "Thirsty?"
Ami batted at him. "Reno, put that away before someone sees!"
"Awright awready..." he pouted. "I'm free, white, an' twenty-one... whazz the problem?"
Ami rolled her eyes. "Reno, shut up before I knock you out."
Reno blinked. "Whazz wid the attitude, Two-Tone..."
"I said shut it," she snapped.
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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Oct 22, 2006 2:46:29 GMT
nikky smiled. ''nothing really....'' she smiled and laughed slightly at reno before falling silent to duck amis radar.
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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 22, 2006 2:53:11 GMT
The trader came out of his hut and observed the situation approaching. "We can keep him in my hut. This sort of thing happens on occasion..." Gdosimirj could tell instantly that this man was somewhat more shrewd and cynical than the rest of the villagers, and that he wouldn't judge Reno by his drunken state. Gdosimirj pointed her finger at him.
"Don't let him have any more puggi, alright? NONE of it. He needs to sober up a little."
The trader gave a sweeping bow. "You have my word, m'lady." He escorted Reno back to his place.
****
Gdosimirj arrived back at the pit to find an awkward situation. She grinned and grabbed a pair of delicately carved wooden tongs. She then peeled a decently sized hank of meat away from the slab and called over Ladjinne. She addressed the visitors. "This is how you eat the meat." Ladjinne put his hand out, palm down, and she placed the meat on the back of his hand. Ladjinne raised the meat for everyone to see, and then comically but expertly took a bite out of the meat without touching it with his fingers. Some of the nearby villagers burst into laughter and applause at his parodical show. Gdosimirj giggled as Ladjinne bowed, and then she pulled off two more and handed them to Rude to take back to the trader's hut. "Show Reno how, or people will laugh at you when you eat later."
She then approached Ami with the next hank of meat. "Wanna try it?"
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 22, 2006 2:59:43 GMT
Ami was a bit hesitant, but she had her family to set an example for... She held out her hand palm down and waited. The others shuffled closer, not sure what to do next.
****
Rude took the meat back to the trader's hut. He stopped at the door and turned back towards Nikky. "Coming?" I'll see those two start socializing like normal people if it kills me. "Get your share and come back here." He disappeared inside.
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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Oct 22, 2006 3:04:52 GMT
nikky stared at him before shrugging. she got her meat and followed. she watched kamen as he silently sulked in his own misery. she sighed and followed rude.
kamen was more silent than the dead as he stared at the ground.
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 22, 2006 3:15:24 GMT
Ami felt clumsy trying to eat her meat properly, but at least it gave her an excuse to avoid talking to or even looking at her father. She took a bite.
Lana looked up at Sunset, having been spared the drama of the confrontation. "This is tasty... what is this?" Maybe I can get her mind off her mom...
****
Reno was way too sozzled to eat his meat properly. Rude had to settle for him eating at all, hoping that would help him sober up. "I'll teach you the right way later."
He munched his meat as Nikky joined them. "You boyfriend's table manners are abominable," he observed.
Reno made a face. "Who asked you, yo?" he objected with a full mouth.
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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 22, 2006 3:20:02 GMT
She had placed the meat on Lana's hand, then noticed everyone gawking at her as if it were some sort of gruesome show. Ladjinne laughed. "This is no funeral! Come, get some meat! It is good." He got a pair of tongs and whipped off some meat, then approached Ami's mother. "You do not know what animal this is?"
Gdosimirj scolded him playfully. "Don't tease them, just tell them if you're going to tell them!" She went back and pulled some more meat off, then went to Kamen. "They say it has healing power. It is why we live so long. It is why the karoid becomes so powerful, living off of it."
Ladjinne grinned evilly. "They call it Perfectly Normal Beast..." Gdosimirj neary choked at his response. "You can't tell them that it's called that!" A twinkle was in her eye- she was playing along. There was a certain impenetrable joviality in the air, a feeling of festivity...
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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Oct 22, 2006 3:23:19 GMT
nikky laughed. ''oh well... you can't be perfect at everything.'' she grinned as she took a bite.
kamen stared at her, his appitite lost. he swallowed slightly before speaking quietly. ''i'm not so sure i'm hungry...'' he looked like it, his body thinning slightly.
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 22, 2006 3:24:24 GMT
Lana laughed... she liked this Ladjinne boy. He reminded her of how Ami and her brothers USED to be... "Perfectly Normal Beast? Why's it called that?"
****
Ami watched and allowed herself to be amused, tilting her head at Ladjinne's antics, trying to forget her troubles.
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