Olivia gave the man a small smile, apology for interrupting him in what he'd been doing. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you."
She was still getting used to things, walking the island and putting images to the names on the map she'd looked at in the council office. People lived their lives here, as if being trapped didn't matter anymore, as if the strangeness of living on an island with dinosaurs, fictional characters and various random events didn't bother them anymore. Stranger still was having to get used to walking around in the lightest slacks she could find, and a tank top (day two was as far as she'd gone before she realized not even t-shirts would do, if she was going to be walking for miles). Sweat made the shirt cling to her lower back, and she could feel her ponytail swing against her shoulders. The only thing that made any sense and kept her from feeling too exposed was her gun, settled on her belt as it always was.
When I studied the Ketan, I knew that an exception was being made for me; I knew that I wasn't of the Ademre, and I was learning their secrets anyway. It didn't seem appropriate for me to give it up now, just because I was in a world where nobody knew my name.
"You didn't disturb me," I said, with a little nod of my head, and unconciously, I sketched the sign for quiet reassurance at my side. "Just stretches."
It was a good a time as any to rest for a few moments, at least, and let the redness of her cheeks fade. "They looked impressive," she said, stepping into the shade of a near tree. "I've never had the time or patience for that sort of work out."
"I've had a long time to practise," I told her, and I thought of Vashtet with a pang; I miss her a lot, even though I never miss the bruises. I tilted my head, watching her.
"Does the sun bother you?" I've always been uncurably nosey.
It was a joy to stand and watch her; I've always enjoyed a skill. I stood with my hands on her hips and wathced her. But just because I was impressed doesn't mean that I was willing to give away the guarded secrets of the Ademre.
It is Miranda who looks startled. It feels as if she has been caught, which is the reality of what has just occurred. Even now, months after she first arrived here she finds herself forgetting that she can be observed just as she observes others. Starting is not polite, yet it is something that she still catches herself doing.
Taking an involuntary step backwards, eyes wide she prides herself on going no further. Retreat is not an option befitting a daughter of Prospera. Caught she may be, but she shall not hide from it. "Hello," she replies, having hesitated a moment too long. "What was it that you were doing just now?"
There was something about her that reminded me of a deer on the hunt, realising that there was an arrow trained on it's heart. Instinctively, I put up my hands in surrender.
"Just stretches," I said, keeping the Ketan close to my chest. "Nothing that couldn't wait."
His sign of surrender surprises her. Despite staring as she had been, she is not aware that he had been doing anything worth surrendering over. Perhaps it is just a cultural thing, something that time and space changes the meaning of.
"Oh, do not let me interrupt thee," she says with a hasty smile. Running a hand through the mussed curls of her hair, she shakes her head slightly. "I did not mean to stare. Twas something that I have simply never seen the likes of before."
"It's nothing that could not stand to be interrupted," I said, safe in the knowledge that the Lethani is everywhere, in all thigns, and not just in the Ketan. I gave her a little bow, the kind of thing which I perfected in Vint but which, I think, I always knew.
"I think there are many things like that in this place."
The good thing about polishing boots was that after awhile, it became so mechanical that one could easily multi task with if they knew how. The chore itself was something Sonya usually did outside anyway, as the smell of homemade polish would've given her one hell of a headache otherwise.
This afternoon, it wasn't so much another task, but rather her just obsersing a young man go through the motions of what clearly was some sort of fighting style, though she couldn't put her finger any name.
She nearly chided herself when he addressed her, feeling that she'd interupted him.
"Hi," She said, stopping a moment in her task. "Don't mind me, just never saw that style before." And she'd seen a lot of fighting styles, enough so that she could see the differences in each.
There was a particular dread that came with the thought of letting the secrets of the Ademre be known. I took my promises to them seriously. I took the weight of it. I assumed the most innocent stance that I could; I do a fine line in innocence.
"Just stretches," I said, shrugging. "Nothing special."
They didn't really look like stretches to her, but then a lot of societies were dead serious about keeping things secret. Even Hanzo only let her in on some things from his clan because she was family-which was the only legitimate reason for doing so outside of being in the clan.
"I've too much experience to tell what looks like a 'stretch' and what doesn't." She lifted a hand up in 'mock surrender', her voice good natured enough. "But if you want to call it that, it's your business."
She went back to polishing her boots, putting in a little more elbow grease. Relaxing as it was, it was still a chore, and she was irritated at herself for letting them get in the state that they were currently in.
"If it's my business then surely it would be fitting for you to mind it."
Bast would have chided me for being sharp but I have never appreciated somebody who pries too deeply into my business; I've kept my secrets, and I've kept them close. And maybe it's in the blood...Maybe the Edema Ruh never truly welcome anybody who isn't of the blood.
Comments 39
She was still getting used to things, walking the island and putting images to the names on the map she'd looked at in the council office. People lived their lives here, as if being trapped didn't matter anymore, as if the strangeness of living on an island with dinosaurs, fictional characters and various random events didn't bother them anymore. Stranger still was having to get used to walking around in the lightest slacks she could find, and a tank top (day two was as far as she'd gone before she realized not even t-shirts would do, if she was going to be walking for miles). Sweat made the shirt cling to her lower back, and she could feel her ponytail swing against her shoulders. The only thing that made any sense and kept her from feeling too exposed was her gun, settled on her belt as it always was.
"Do you mind if I ask what you were doing?"
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"You didn't disturb me," I said, with a little nod of my head, and unconciously, I sketched the sign for quiet reassurance at my side. "Just stretches."
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She was a runner, in more ways than one.
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"Does the sun bother you?"
I've always been uncurably nosey.
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(The comment has been removed)
I affected a casual shrug.
"Just stretches. Helena, right?"
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(The comment has been removed)
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Taking an involuntary step backwards, eyes wide she prides herself on going no further. Retreat is not an option befitting a daughter of Prospera. Caught she may be, but she shall not hide from it. "Hello," she replies, having hesitated a moment too long. "What was it that you were doing just now?"
Reply
"Just stretches," I said, keeping the Ketan close to my chest. "Nothing that couldn't wait."
Reply
"Oh, do not let me interrupt thee," she says with a hasty smile. Running a hand through the mussed curls of her hair, she shakes her head slightly. "I did not mean to stare. Twas something that I have simply never seen the likes of before."
Reply
"I think there are many things like that in this place."
Reply
This afternoon, it wasn't so much another task, but rather her just obsersing a young man go through the motions of what clearly was some sort of fighting style, though she couldn't put her finger any name.
She nearly chided herself when he addressed her, feeling that she'd interupted him.
"Hi," She said, stopping a moment in her task. "Don't mind me, just never saw that style before." And she'd seen a lot of fighting styles, enough so that she could see the differences in each.
Reply
"Just stretches," I said, shrugging. "Nothing special."
Reply
"I've too much experience to tell what looks like a 'stretch' and what doesn't." She lifted a hand up in 'mock surrender', her voice good natured enough. "But if you want to call it that, it's your business."
She went back to polishing her boots, putting in a little more elbow grease. Relaxing as it was, it was still a chore, and she was irritated at herself for letting them get in the state that they were currently in.
Reply
Bast would have chided me for being sharp but I have never appreciated somebody who pries too deeply into my business; I've kept my secrets, and I've kept them close. And maybe it's in the blood...Maybe the Edema Ruh never truly welcome anybody who isn't of the blood.
Or maybe I had just grown cold in my old age.
Reply
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