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| | (2 recommendations so far) | Message 1 of 37 in Discussion |
| From:  Baby_Leaf1 (Original Message) | Sent: 2/14/2003 5:44 PM |
Keiko took a small step into the tavern. She looked around, her almond shaped eyes taking in all that surrounded her. She smiled, thinking that it was about time she got to the famous Elmshade. She walked in and went to the bar. Keiko Lynn Mioka stood at 5'4". Her long , waist length black hair flowed soft as silk around her. Her eye were dark like the night, yet they seemed to radiate a specail light from them. Her ears gave her away to be elven and her light step could tell you she was a martial artist. She wore tight leather pants, and a loose white lace up blouse. Taking a seat at the bar, she smiled and ordered a cider for herself, not accustomed to drinking heavy liquor. After paying for the drink, she turned around on her barstool and faced the tavern, looking at all those that were in it. She smiled to herself. I've finally made it. Father would be so proud. And mother... Keiko's thoughts trailed off. Her eyes got a distant look in them, as she sipped her cider. Life was truly different from what she remembered it to be. She hoped that coming here would give her a new start, and maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't have to run anymore. (FYI: yes, if you haven't figured it out, she is asian. Does the name not tell you anything? DUH!!   And Az, here's your cue. LOL) |
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Keiko let the water pass through her fingers and she smiled towards Andreus. "Mother used to tell me a story about the stars. There was one in particular that I love so dearly, and I hold it close, for hopes that the same thing has happened to my own dear mother." Keiko brought her hand out of the water, the water slipping through her fingers making ripples upon the water. "It was told that in the time before the dynasties, the gods were joyful, and they felt that their creations were everything that they wanted them to be. One of the gods had looked down to the earth and saw beauty, but most of all he saw something very special, a woman he favored and the man she loved. This god wanted to make the woman happy, and he wished to make her life one of joy and pure love, and he saw that her being with that man would bring her these things. So he blessed their union and made them fruitful. But there was something the god could not prevent, and that was the death of this woman, or that of her husband. So the god went and pleaded with the faits, begging them to be merciful with her, and to let her have the ability to give her love and warmth for all eternity. The Faits consented. When she died, she was buried, and where she was buried, little white flowers grew on the grave. Each flower was shaped with five petals, each petals point poited to the poles of the earth, and one pointed towards heaven. And where ever one flower grew, in the heavens a star appeared, and the multiplied, and the brightest star was the woman's soul, looking down to her loved ones, sending warmth and love to all the generations that followed." Keiko smiled, looking up into the sky, looking to the brightest star in the sky. "I believe that my mother became the star next to the brightest, for that is that star that has always been, and the one next to it, well, I've looked up before, and never noticed it. So maybe it is my mother." Keiko stood from her spot and walked over to a rock that had a flat top. She took a seat, crossing her legs and looking once again up into the sky. "And I dream that every night, she comes from her star and watches over me. And that when the sun comes up, it is a morning for her to rest, until she comes to watch over me once again." Keiko smiled to Andreus then looked up once again. Her face was turned from him, but if he had looked closely, he would have a seen tears coming from her dark eyes. Keiko wiped her eyes, and looked up to the sky once again, completely immersed in gazing up at the stars. |
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| | | From: Edwikk | Sent: 3/19/2003 9:25 PM |
Silently, Andreus studies Keiko from his vantage point sitting on the ground. She seems to have gone through some hard times...He looks away for a moment, thinking. And she winds up here, all alone. Far away from her home...Being rather soft-hearted, his heart melts at the sight of the tears and Andreus quickly comes to a conclusion. "That's really nice of her. To come and watch over you, that is.." He struggles to find proper words of comfort..."..But you know what? *hesitates* I--I think you're prettier than the stars." He smiles, the childlike portion of his mind satisfied with such a response. However, the more adult side mentally slaps him for saying such things. Come on now! Think!! "That is...I'm sure your mother is very proud of you." He looks around, as though working up the nerve to speak again. "So..Do you plan on staying here? If not, then..then you're welcome to tag along with me. I'd be glad for the company." His smile returns, but he does not get his hopes up. "It's real fun! Searching for lost artifacts, finding a new culture...heck, we might even run into some bad guys along the way." He winks in a playful manner, his cheerful nature practically tugging at the edges of Keiko's lips, searching for a smile. |
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Keiko looked over at Andreus. No one has ever told me I was prettier than the stars. As a matter of fact I dont' think I've ever heard that said of me at all. The darkness of the night hid the colors, for if Andreus were to have seen Keiko in the light, he would have noticed a deep crimson crossing her cheeks, as she took in the compliment. A smiled graced Keiko's lips for a split second. She then turned her gaze back to the stars. She smiled softly. "Yes, I suppose mother is proud of me. I try my hardest to bring honor to her name, and to my father's name. " Keiko looked over at Andreus and smiled truly. Here was someone who was truly wanting to know her for her, not because she was the daughter of a wealthy lord, and not because she would make a wonderful wife. She laughed at his comment about maybe going with him on his expeditions. " Going and finding about another nation, well that sounds like fun. I went on an excavation once, with my brother. He showed me some interesting things..." Keiko's voice trailed off as she spoke of her brother. She smiled softly. " You and Dawei would get along well I can tell." She ran a hand through her hair, the strands flowing in the wind. She smiled at Andreus, her smiled warming him on what had become slightly chilly night. Her eyes glistened in the moon light, and as she looked back up to the stars, her sillouette was almost like a painting. Beautiful and graceful, and she touched his heart. |
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| | | From: Edwikk | Sent: 3/23/2003 1:48 AM |
"Well actually, we wouldn't be finding out about other nations mainly because they don't exist anymore." He goes on to explain. "Ancient civilizations, yes, and..." Andreus trails off, realizing he's lecturing to Keiko the boring little details of archeology. "Ehh, well it's more fun than it sounds." His eyes fall on the silhouetted elf before him. She's so...so...great! Wait...stay calm, don't bore her...After a few moments of deep, boyishly-orientated thought; Andreus comes to a conclusion. He digs into a pouch located on his belt occupied by various archeological tools until he eventually pulls out a near-forgotten slice of cheese. However, upon closer examination, he finds the cheese is rather..aged..and he reluctantly tosses it into the stream. So much for snacks...He looks again to Keiko, feeling his curiosity surge forth in a quick flurry of questions. "So Dawei must be your brother, right? I wish I had some brothers or sisters...*looks up and smiles*..so what's he like?" |
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Keiko laughs at her mistake. "Of course not new nations. Lost civilizations. I always made that mistake when I was talking to Dawei about his archeology." She smiled and turned towards Andreus. Her dark eyes looked at him, the moon elluminating his handsome, yet youth-like face. Oh wow. He's so handsome, and those eyes. Why they are like the windows to his soul. Calm down, you know better than to look at a man in such a way. You were not taught to be that way, so calm yourself. Keiko smiled softly her eyes searching the skies for some sort of calm. Upon hearing the question of Dawei, Keiko smiled brightly. "Oh, you and Dawei would have gotten on very well. He would have loved having a younger brother, but no he got me. But he and I were close even with our gender difference and how our parents wanted us to be. He was your typical archeologist. He was wide eyed and full of hope. He always looked for the next idea, and when he found it, he couldn't wait to share it with everyone. And he was so passionate about his work. He went all over China digging and searching, finding beautiful artifacts and learning about the past. He took me to a dig once, and well, I believe I've never had more fun in my life." Keiko smiled, her eyes wide with delight. She seemed so excited about all of what she had just spoken. "And I'm sure that if he had been able to meet you, you two would have hit it off wonderfully. He loved to meet new people, and he loved to be near me. I miss him greatly. Just to see him again, I would return home without doing what I set out to do." Keiko smiled to Andreus. She then suddenly walked over to him, sitting down on the ground. She grabbed his hand and pulled him down to sitting with her. "You know what? I've spent this entire time talking and I don't know very much about you. Tell me about Andreus. Tell me what you want. I want to know everything I can." Keiko smiled sweetly, and rested her chin in her hands and waited patiently, smiling ever so sweetly. |
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| | | From: Edwikk | Sent: 3/25/2003 10:28 PM |
"Me?" For once, Andreus feels at a loss for words. "Well there's not much to talk about..." He looks down, feeling reluctant to speak of his family. His fingers pick at the grass while he wonders where to begin..."My father was always travelling, so I didn't see him much when I was little. Then, one day, he didn't come home." His soft grey eyes wince as though remembering the pain, having always preferred to imagine himself growing up in other people's lives rather than his own. "I missed him growing up, but me and mom got by. We lived in a small elvish village, it was like having a big family all the time." He smiles. "By then I had developed a taste for archeology, I loved to explore anything and everything that look old or mysterious. That's when she got sick..." By the rather long pause in speech, it can be assumed he speaks of his mother. His hands splay across the cool, soft patch of grass upon which he sits. "Everyone tried to help, but...It wasn't good enough." Andreus makes an inconspicuous attempt to rub his eyes. "She passed away one day, just never woke up. After that I realized I couldn't stay in that village anymore, it hurt too much." He begins to toy with a small pouch on his belt, as though avoiding Keiko's gaze. "Ever since then I've done what I love, I'm an archeologist." The gentle smile returns as he finally looks back up to Keiko. "I just wander from place to place in search of adventure. It's been a little lonely, but hey, the hours are flexible and I cand go to bed when I feel like it." The humorous tone of his voice covers the pain quite well, but his eyes do nothing to hide his feelings. |
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Keiko looks into Andreus's eyes; those grey eyes that now held pain. Her eyes saw the pain, and her heart reached out to him. She reached out a hand, and tentatively took his. "I understand how you feel. Losing a loved one can change your perspective on life. And it hurts even more when you lose someone that was so very close. But losing someone that never seemed to be there can make you bitter. I know that feeling, and I wish that I could find the way to get back to that..." Keiko stopped speaking. She looked down to their hands, which hand become intertwined as she had spoken to him. She looked down, not being able to discern where her hand ended and his began. She smiled softly, and with a bit of embarrassment, she let Andreus's hand go. She looked down to the grass, and began to play with the blades of green. She the pushed her hair behind one of her long elven ears and looked up to Andreus. She smiled. "Do you really enjoy being alone so often? I mean I can understand that being alone sometimes can be a great thing, and the fact that you dont' have someone nagging you the entire time to do something or other can be helpful in your line of work, but don't you miss being with others? I know that I would. Why, I'm not sure I could have handled this traveling I've been doing if it hadn't been for stopping in different towns along the way." Keiko looked down to the grass once again, and took three blades, carefully tying them together with intricate knots, forming a small ring of grass. She looked at the ring, and then blew through it. As her breath touched the ring, it suddenly turned a golden color and solified. She smiled and handed it to Andreus. "Here. Have it. It was the one gift I received from my mother. I can make something real, and preserve it. So these blades of grass will be a solid ring forever. And just in case we depart soon, it's a way for you to remember me." Keiko looked up into Andreus's eyes and smiled, a smile that Andreus could carry with him for a lifetime. |
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| | | From: Edwikk | Sent: 3/27/2003 1:59 AM |
Andreus accepts the ring gratefully, studying the intricate design on the gold left by the grass. He looks back to Keiko and smiles. "It is magnificent. You know..." His hand finds hers again, finding comfort in such simple physical contact. "..It must be a gift; to turn that which is plain into something almost as beautiful as you, merely by touch." With his free hand, he slips the ring into a pouch located on his belt for safe keeping. I'm a fool, I know. But...He steals a glance at the elven lady, radiating as though she possessed the light of the moon itself. But I may never get this chance again...Finding the courage amidst his childishly shy mind, he asks a simple question. "umm...If...if you don't mind..." Kindly grey eyes look to the ground as he draws his hand back into his lap apologetically. "That is, if you wanted...Maybe we could get to know each other better? Travel together for a while, share stories..." Well that's all I can do. If she says no, then at least I asked...He toys with his boot as purple and pink streaks in the sky herald the coming of the sun. |
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Keiko smiled softly. She looked up into the sky, the sky that told her a new day had begun. She then turned her attention back to Andreus. She smiled once again and once more took his hand, this time more boldly than before. " If getting to know me better is what you truly want, I'd love to travel with you for a while. But there is one thing that you have to promise me. Promise me that you will talk just as much as I do." Keiko's smile turned into a ressonant laughter that seemed to welcome the morning and all things that would be brought on that new day. "So how about it? We will travel together and learn about each other and learn from each other and then see where all of it takes us." Keiko let go of his hand and stood. She looked around her, the beauty that had only been paled slightly during the night now radiating in the morning's glory. She smiled to herself and walked over to the fall. It was so lovely during the day, even more beautiful than she could have imagined. She bent down near the water's edge and picked up a flower that was growing near. She lifted it to her nose, taking in its scent. She smiled to herself thinking: A new day has begun. I have made a new friend, and will soon start a new adventure. Momma I hope you are proud of me, and papa I will return to you, and when I do, I will have brought honor to your name. I promise you this. |
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| | | From: Edwikk | Sent: 4/2/2003 1:34 AM |
Andreus nods in full agreement, though he feels that he has probably done too much talking on his part. Nevertheless, he is happy to have someone to share his travels with. This is amazing! A girl that really wants to spend time with me! He smiles, suddenly bursting with energy despite his lack of sleep. "Well when would you like to start? I can leave at any time." His smile lessens as he realizes something..."Oh wait, I've kept you up all night! Gah, you're probably dead tired..." He looks at her apologetically, a sheepish grin on his face. "They have rooms back at the tavern if you need to get some rest. I should probably get a little myself." His soft grey eyes focus on the horizon as he stretches, a little stiff from sitting on the ground for so long. She's so great...He steals a glance at her, the elven warrior looking magnificent in the purple and pink rays of the sun. After taking a quick look to see how his funds are holding up, he looks back to Keiko with an uncertain look. "Umm...I could pay for your room, if you'd like. I might just hang around town and get some supplies.." Andreus smiles his usual, friendly smile, and stifles a yawn. |
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Keiko faces Andreus and smiles. Her eyes seem a bit tired, but she seems more alert than any type of tiredness could show. She stood from her position at the waters edge and stretched slightly. "We can get started once we've both rested and taken some time to gather up supplies, just like you've said. And no, you needn't pay for my lodging. I already rented out a room for a bit. So we could get our rest and then get along on our way as soon as we feel ready for the travail of traveling once again. Truly I only need a few hours to replenish myself, but take as much time as you want. I have no rush, and all that is ahead of us is land, and learning, and excitement. And I'm sure I can do what I need to do along the way." Keiko looked at Andreus, his grey eyes so inviting, and making her feel like if she was at home. She smiled softly, then taking a deep, cleansing breath, she looked out from whence they came. She looked back to Andreus and asked: "Shall we be on our way?" |
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Keiko cocks her head slightly listening to Andreus. As he mentions her being a girl she smiles and replies, "Don't worry, the supplies I need for that are taken care of, but I will need to pick up some stuff which won't take long either." She smiled, thinking how boyishly handsome he was, and how much fun a journey with one like him would be. And she wasn't tired in the least, for as it went through her family line, they slept few hours and could be replenished of energy. She smiled and followd Andreus back to the town. She caught up with him and falling into pace with him, the back of her hand softly touched the back of his. She quickly clasped her hands together, her face growing hot, and looking crimson. She looked down to their feet, watching as they walked in tempo with one another. She looked up as they reached the tavern, and smiled. She had already planned out in her head what she needed, and what she would just pack quickly. She turned to Andreus and spoke. "Ok, will only take me about an hour to get what I need, which means packing the necesities, and getting the susplies I need. If you take the same amount of time, we can be on our way by mid-day latest. How does that sound?" She smiled and waited for his answer. |
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| | | From: Edwikk | Sent: 4/5/2003 4:18 AM |
Andreus nods, eager to make preparations for the journey. "My equipment is in my room in the tavern, I'll meet you back here in an hour." He smiles once more and looks into Keiko's eyes, suddenly feeling reluctant to leave her side. C'mon, get it together...Shaking his head out of a daze, his soft grey eyes seem to smile as he mumbles a shy apology and steps into the tavern. Once inside, he immediately moves to the stairs, not losing pace as he ascends the stairs and finds his room. Stepping into the dimly-lit, well-used room, Andreus quickly begins to gather his things. Let's see: pack, tools...hmmm...He double-checks for semi-clean spare clothes, having never been so great at doing laundry. All right, that seems like everything...Hoisting the heavy backpack onto his shoulders, Andreus makes his way nimbly downstairs. "Here you are.." He pays the barkeep for the room and, oblivious to the stares from the tavern occupants, moves easily to the exit, having grown used to the weight of his pack over the years. Outside, he gently sets aside the backpack and his sparce belongings, leaning himself against the wall to wait for Keiko as he hums a merry old elvish tune from his past. |
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Keiko packed her things, making a note that she needed to go into the town to get some other things. She put a rather large traveling bag on her back, and she walked down and out to the tavern below. She also payed the barkeeper for her room, and walked out to meet Andreus. She smiled, seeing him leaing against the wall. "Have you been waiting long? I hope not." She adjusted the pack on her back and began to walk. "I need to pass by the town square before we go. I have a few... necesities, that I need to get. And then as soon as I get them, which will only take a minute or two, we can get on our way." Keiko smiled, reaching up to her hair and picking it up in a loose bun at the top of her head. "So shall we?" |
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