Igraine

Masques and Daggers (Derren Krenshaw & Igraine)

"If you say a thing Raigo-sama, it must be so," Shizuka replied softly, a respectful bow of her head and shoulders to the regal elder who sat across from her. Her dark eyes peered up to Raigo, ivory-skined face framed in waves chestnut hair pulled back behind her head, knotted and left to fall down her back. Only the elegant cherry blossom-shaped bira-bira kanzashi seated in the crown of her hair tinkled sweet metallic laughter as she moved. Beyond the honorific, she spoke entirely in English, a concession to allow her host an opportunity to practice this new language as much as possible before his much-loved son returned from America.

The young woman kept her words to an absolute minimum as she continued through the small deft movements that made even the wiping of a cup, or the pouring of the water, an act of profound beauty and meditation. Even so, she did not hide the small, tender smile from this kind man, that said she truly appreciated both his sincere compliments, and his reassurances that she was doing well - or at least well enough for a Western woman.

Though she had her own quite natural grace, she held no illusions that she was near so adequate at the ceremony as so many who had spent years learning this deceptively simple-seeming art. And even though she practiced the bonryaku temae, the simplest of all the ceremonies she had worked faithfully for some months now, she still did not feel perfectly adequate to either the task or the honor the patriarch of the Takahiro clan bestowed on her.

This was no small thing to Galina, that she should serve Raigo Takahiro's son upon his return from America after nigh on a year now. Even if she did have her very own reasons of course.

The chakin was put back into the cleaned bowl, and then the chasen wisk, the natsume returned to the right side of the tray and the chakashu spoon cleaned. Thoughtfully, mindfully, she ceremonially folded the plain vermillion fukusa cloth and placed it back into the side of her ivory obi, bowing low once more where she knelt to Raigo.

She let her eyes rove over his face for the thousandth time, and wondered at the resemblance between father and son. Of course there was often a resemblance between parent and sibling, but to Galina the likeness was near uncanny, all the way down to the smile she remembered from the Winchester Mansion. That smile no longer had the power it once would have over her - not even the ability to make her cringe with shame, at the memory or the humiliation. But that did not mean she could not appreciate the genuine warmth she found there, the easy good humor she first noticed during a broken conversation about artwork and architecture.

"I am pleased you would indulge my poor attempts at the bonryaku temae when your son returns," she said softly, her melodic voice as lovely and pleasant to the ear as the song of the mejiro. "You are very kind Raigo-sama."

And Galina did not lie. There was no need. The patronage of the nobility here, and then the kind host of the Takahiro clan, had opened doors to Shizuka that she likely would have never pried open without them. The network she laid within and without these walls was as strong as an iron web, its weaver, the lady spider, lying in wait within, as calmly as her moniker in either language.

The Last Kings of Orion

Oh no Kuro! D: Don't worry though, there is help out there!

And yes, feel free to post - just perhaps not take things too awful far? I'm sure Heroes will be joining us very soon ;)

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Name: Pauline Bethany Weber

Age: 20

Occupation/Position: College student/Civilian

Description: 5'6" tall, with long, strawberry blonde hair and pale blue eyes, ivory skin and a very light smattering of freckles over her cheeks and nose. She has no tattoos or major scars.

Biography:

Pauline was born into a devoutly Catholic family, the middle child of three children, sandwiched between both an older sister, Eva (26, not aboard the Copernicus) and a younger brother Seth (17 and aboard the Copernicus). Pauline grew up in Rock Springs, Wyoming, the closest "major city" to The Mountain and where Pauline's mother, Ilona, insisted on living as close as she could get to something vaguely resembling civilization. Her father Jack is a particle physicist scheduled to wake during the Tenth Shift and, to keep his wife happy during their years on Earth, commuted to The Mountain every Monday, and back to Rock Springs every Friday night.

Pauline lived most all her life in Rock Springs, and was in no hurry to leave her tight-knit family in that tiny town. And though she had her father's genius set nicely behind her mother's good looks, Pauline chose to get an AAS in Mechanical Engineering at Western Wyoming Community College before looking to complete her Bachelor's degree, and then her graduate work.

She had only just graduated from WWCC when the blazingly fast and last phase of The Change occurred, and the Weber family - along with a goodly portion of their congregation and neighborhood - fled to The Mountain. Though Pauline had the AAS under her belt, she did not have the specialized training or experience that would have been useful during the 15-year sojourn to Canaan. Hence along with the remainder of the civilians, Pauline was set to be in cryo for the entirety of the trip. Unfortunately, that was not to be so.

Pauline woke to pain and terror, and her first instinct was to fight - and fight hard. Any less, and she might not be here today. But she is - Pauline, and the baby she carries now. Her baby, and no one else's, and an innocent and precious gift from God, a tremendous, incomparable good wrested from evil. She is awake now, with her own room and housed with the other pregnant women. Even so, she can often be found in the nursery, content to wait for her baby to be born and then to spend the next two years until she's ready for cryostasis herself: a little girl who she plans to name Eva Marie, after the older sister lost on Earth.

Personality: Pauline is a gentle young woman, whip smart and quick to laugh. She lives her life just as she does every last thing, with passion and a heart of fire. She is fiercely independent, and refused to see her father woken early, or her mother or brother woken at all before their journey's end, not wanting to worry them unnecessarily. Women have been having babies since the dawn of history, and dear friends like Naomi Ben Zeev are the pillars she holds to, to help see her through.

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That Celtic knotwork is just gorgeous Kuro *big thumbs up with SO much approval!*

vodka and salsa...

You did an amazing job with that dialogue for Ester and Naomi, Idlehands. I'm sorry that you felt the pressure on that one, totally didn't mean to do that to you there! >< Still, a fantastic post, and thank you for wrapping all that in so beautifully!

eta: RoadRash = strangely awesome...

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Oh that is SO COOL Kuro! I don't have a clue what it is, but rocks of all kinds are awesome (big geek who finds going places like this ridiculous fun!) The article - that suit Lil! Stepping into the void of space doesn't have to mean you can't be fashion forward!

eta: sorry, still a little functionally derpy this morning - awesome post Dot! And yes Road, everyone gets a nickname - EVERYONE... But since they're clever and kinda cute, all good!

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The fact you have all these absolutely perfect Firefly .gifs Kuro, is awesome!

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Well now, Hobs is quite dapper, isn't he? Between him and Mike's tailored pinstripe suit, I imagine it's starting to be one of the classiest RPs of all time - in space with a Cantina! Doesn't really get much better ;)

idlehands said
Why mixed? It's great. I love writing with brilliant writers, it pushes me to do better.

^^^ Perfectly said, Idle

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I honestly don't know that there'd be any kind of currency on the ship at the moment. Food and shelter and medicines and medical care and, if needed, clothing as well, are all free here for those who are awake. HOWEVER, that does not mean that there wouldn't be an 'underground economy,' likely based on a barter/trade system. Say, for example, someone wanted to play poker - what to use for chips? Candies perhaps, nuts or packages of small sweet food stuffs (like what would be found in an MRE). People might trade for, say, homemade moonshine or wine or beer, or basically whatever your imaginations can pull together.

eta: any "cantina" would probably be unsanctioned and yet very, very popular, I imagine

Tides of Dusk: A Piratical Tale of Fantasy

Antonia's head twisted over her shoulder as the First Mate strode back into her own quarters. Though the rogue smiled widely as she stood to her full (not considerable) height, she was nevertheless perplexed by Nicolette's lack. Not, of course, that cracking heads together, twisting arms or dropping men to their knees should automatically invite a wide and cheerful smile from anyone. But Antonia sensed there was something else there altogether that... Displeased the First mate - though for all her skills and insight, even she could not read minds.

But Luc did not notice in the least, Nicolette's mood, whether it be foul or fair. He was simply glad for a story, glad for the laughter and images his Tante 'Tonia always brought to his mind's eye with her tales, and the mere presence of that golden, angelic woman. Oh, that sweet wide smile said that much as he slipped from the chair. Without much of a thought, Luc followed after the First Mate to the side board, watching all she did curiously. And when she slipped the small pink and white lozenge toward him, his face positively shown with the light of his simple, uncomplicated joy.

"Thank you Mademoiselle Beauchamp," Luc said, taking the lozenge and placing it on his tongue, savoring the cool, refreshing sweetness of it. He liked the flavor of peppermint and some, like this one, had a little touch of burn to them, and he opened his mouth to innocently enjoy the tingly breath, like a frigid wind, that blew softly over his tongue.

Was Luc's stomach actually flipping over with seasickness? Oh no, not in the least. But he would not turn away any gift from Nicolette Beauchamp, great or small. The boy's dark, amber-lit eyes widened at an idea that skipped through his head, and he grinned. Luc knew Nicolette was the ship's surgeon, and would certainly require no payment for her services, great or small, but he truly wanted to give her even a little something anyway, some token of thanks for her small consideration.

"I'm afraid you missed Tante 'Tonia's story, Mademoiselle Beauchamp. But there is one that I know - well, of course my Tante told me it some time ago - but I could share the story if you like, a fairy tale!

Antonia leaned against the wall of the First Mate's quarters, her arms folded over her chest as her head rested against the planks. She watched the two of them, woman and boy, and simply waited, nothing but the most light-hearted and patient expression on her face, one that promised she was in absolutely no hurry in the least.

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So many amazing posts inside the space of... An hour? Love them all - you all are just spectacular, and cannot wait to see what you have too Dot!