Igraine Member
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- Old Guild Username: Igraine
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Awwww... So much love and happiness and cookie satisfaction! Wonderful post, Justric
Wonderful posts, MelonHead and Mokley - so much dread and such (and hilarious drunkenness), and love how you've both maintained the feeling of confused terror! And though it's a small thing, Vasily actually lifted Nadeen in his arms to carry her. But if need be, perhaps the door to Nadeen's home has not been barred yet? As you will of course though!
And though it's a small thing, Vasily actually lifted Nadeen in his arms to carry her. But if need be, perhaps the door to Nadeen's home has not been barred yet? As you will of course though!Souma and his Fist were in hiding.
No mention of Takahiro Raigo, or Ai, or even Souma's Voice, Goemon, but Galina knew better than to humiliate Hakesura Soshitsu entirely and drag anymore out of him. And so she did not gloat, and there was no smugness in her smile or voice for her titular victory as she quickly and courteously arranged for the monies to be turned over to the broker, pending only her signature the following morning.
This last caveat had not pleased Soshitsu in the least who, in all likelihood, erred on the side of caution and calculated the woman would not emerge alive from this meeting with Souma. But Galina had been immoveable on the point, not trusting the plump, balding and fearful little man as far as she could throw him, to reneg on their deal the moment her money was in his proverbially - and literally - sweaty palms.
And though Soshitsu was almost superstitiously fearful of telling her where Souma was at this moment, Galina was not about to allow his manservant Naoki the luxury of that timidity. The young man, dressed in his Western-style best, gave up the goods easily enough with only the mildest of explanations, that she must of course be prepared for this meeting. He did not even argue when she insisted on returning to her hotel room, to change before they left.
The famous Ponto-chō district was revered throughout the city for its geisha houses and for its various entertainments: visual, theatrical and carnal. It was also not much more than a very narrow and well-traveled street and, if this was where Souma and Daisuke had chosen to hide? Well, she could only surmise Souma had good reason for keeping his survival and location secret, and she would be foolish to bring attention to their tea room sanctuary.
When Galina emerged once more, she far more resembled the Shizuka she had once been, garbed in a deep blue silk kimono wrapped with an obi dyed in a paler shade, her hair loosened and then rearranged with a simple cherry blossom kazanshi, that was, in truth, merely a hair ornament this time. Anatoly remained in the hotel's stable, and the shashka in her locked trunk as well.
Though certainly nobody would fault her, for the kindjal neatly ensconced in her obi, or for the Colt .45 revolver strapped beneath those flowing silks in a hip holster.
Naoki proved to be magnificently competent, likely the reason Soshitsu trusted him with this information and destination in the first place. He arranged for a rickshaw to carry them to the Ponto-chō district, and depositing them both at the end of the long, narrow street. Galina’s arm neatly tucked into Naoki’s, there was precious little to draw too much attention to the Western-dressed Japanese man and the young, kimono-clad lady at his side. And Galina’s natural coloring, the dark brown hair and eyes and pale skin, did not draw any particular gaze her way, particularly not in a place where the matchless, spectacular geisha resided.
The geisha house where Naoki brought her was very like the dozen others along the district's narrow streets: two stories with a balcony along the top story, side-by-side like the British brownstone homes, though these homes were bright painted, festooned with gaily colored lanterns and banners around the masterfully crafted arched entrance. But for all the brilliance and beauty of the geisha house, the first thing to strike Galina when she walked inside was the mouthwatering scent of… Ramen. That simply had to be ramen, pork if she was to guess, and it was a dish Galina had become inordinately fond of this past year. Her belly rumbled, not loud enough to catch anyone’s attention though her cheeks colored nonetheless
Only a few steps within, Naoki nodded to her left with a sly smile, toward the undeniably familiar hulk of a man seated in a room off the way. Chopsticks lifted to his lips, full of noodle and what looked to be a luscious piece of shining meat, Daisuke the Fist was an absolutely unforgettable sight…
Swiftly, Naoki took Galina’s hand, bringing her fingers to his lips for a playful kiss, and then disappeared back out to the street. Galina could only laugh before she turned her attention to Daisuke who, unsurprisingly, did not look the least pleased to be interrupted at his meal – or perhaps the scowl had far more to do with Galina simply being… Well… Galina? She bowed her head to the Fist, her smile wide and so incredibly pleased. Naoki, it seemed, had left something of his playfulness behind with him, and she simply could not help the grin.
“It has been far too long, Daisuke,” she purred softly, every word a warm, impishly mischievous musical note. “And… I do not suppose there is more of that ramen to be found? This day has been long, tiring, and decidedly without sustenance I am afraid.”
No mention of Takahiro Raigo, or Ai, or even Souma's Voice, Goemon, but Galina knew better than to humiliate Hakesura Soshitsu entirely and drag anymore out of him. And so she did not gloat, and there was no smugness in her smile or voice for her titular victory as she quickly and courteously arranged for the monies to be turned over to the broker, pending only her signature the following morning.
This last caveat had not pleased Soshitsu in the least who, in all likelihood, erred on the side of caution and calculated the woman would not emerge alive from this meeting with Souma. But Galina had been immoveable on the point, not trusting the plump, balding and fearful little man as far as she could throw him, to reneg on their deal the moment her money was in his proverbially - and literally - sweaty palms.
And though Soshitsu was almost superstitiously fearful of telling her where Souma was at this moment, Galina was not about to allow his manservant Naoki the luxury of that timidity. The young man, dressed in his Western-style best, gave up the goods easily enough with only the mildest of explanations, that she must of course be prepared for this meeting. He did not even argue when she insisted on returning to her hotel room, to change before they left.
The famous Ponto-chō district was revered throughout the city for its geisha houses and for its various entertainments: visual, theatrical and carnal. It was also not much more than a very narrow and well-traveled street and, if this was where Souma and Daisuke had chosen to hide? Well, she could only surmise Souma had good reason for keeping his survival and location secret, and she would be foolish to bring attention to their tea room sanctuary.
When Galina emerged once more, she far more resembled the Shizuka she had once been, garbed in a deep blue silk kimono wrapped with an obi dyed in a paler shade, her hair loosened and then rearranged with a simple cherry blossom kazanshi, that was, in truth, merely a hair ornament this time. Anatoly remained in the hotel's stable, and the shashka in her locked trunk as well.
Though certainly nobody would fault her, for the kindjal neatly ensconced in her obi, or for the Colt .45 revolver strapped beneath those flowing silks in a hip holster.
Naoki proved to be magnificently competent, likely the reason Soshitsu trusted him with this information and destination in the first place. He arranged for a rickshaw to carry them to the Ponto-chō district, and depositing them both at the end of the long, narrow street. Galina’s arm neatly tucked into Naoki’s, there was precious little to draw too much attention to the Western-dressed Japanese man and the young, kimono-clad lady at his side. And Galina’s natural coloring, the dark brown hair and eyes and pale skin, did not draw any particular gaze her way, particularly not in a place where the matchless, spectacular geisha resided.
The geisha house where Naoki brought her was very like the dozen others along the district's narrow streets: two stories with a balcony along the top story, side-by-side like the British brownstone homes, though these homes were bright painted, festooned with gaily colored lanterns and banners around the masterfully crafted arched entrance. But for all the brilliance and beauty of the geisha house, the first thing to strike Galina when she walked inside was the mouthwatering scent of… Ramen. That simply had to be ramen, pork if she was to guess, and it was a dish Galina had become inordinately fond of this past year. Her belly rumbled, not loud enough to catch anyone’s attention though her cheeks colored nonetheless
Only a few steps within, Naoki nodded to her left with a sly smile, toward the undeniably familiar hulk of a man seated in a room off the way. Chopsticks lifted to his lips, full of noodle and what looked to be a luscious piece of shining meat, Daisuke the Fist was an absolutely unforgettable sight…
Swiftly, Naoki took Galina’s hand, bringing her fingers to his lips for a playful kiss, and then disappeared back out to the street. Galina could only laugh before she turned her attention to Daisuke who, unsurprisingly, did not look the least pleased to be interrupted at his meal – or perhaps the scowl had far more to do with Galina simply being… Well… Galina? She bowed her head to the Fist, her smile wide and so incredibly pleased. Naoki, it seemed, had left something of his playfulness behind with him, and she simply could not help the grin.
“It has been far too long, Daisuke,” she purred softly, every word a warm, impishly mischievous musical note. “And… I do not suppose there is more of that ramen to be found? This day has been long, tiring, and decidedly without sustenance I am afraid.”
It pleases me to no end Lil, that I have chalked up a whole two of your characters now, from a most gruesome fate...
DOT! *hugs tight real quick before you get away* So good to hear from you, and sorry life has just been eaten away with work and such. Cannot wait to have you back though!, when you can!
Kuro, there isn't a thing in the world wrong with your post! It's perfectly all right not to write a chapter for a novel in each, and sometimes shorter posts just fit! I know I'm probably too late here, but honestly, your post was wonderful!
This was the very first year she was allowed to carry a flame of her very own for Midwinter to welcome back the sun, and little Antonina Vukašina could not be prouder. It was a great responsibility, to bear one of the candles that would help light the spice-festooned midwinter log at her Nana and Poppop's home. And it took not a single jot of her joy away, that she was actually bundled head to toe, hiked up in her Papa's arms. And it mattered not in the least to the little girl, that her candle was actually safely ensconced from chubby little mittened fingers and the wind alike in a small, cleverly built lantern that fit just rightly in her hand. Tonight she was a big girl - well, she was going to be 4-years old in the Spring after all - carrying the flaming invitation to the sun for her little family tonight.
Vasily smiled tenderly as he looked down to his little girl, her sweet round face framed in a grey fur-lined hood, rosy cheeks illuminated by the candle lantern she held so carefully. It was a rare smile, a bright bit of sunshine in the night reserved almost entirely for Antonina. It was a smile that wordlessly told his sweet girl she was doing a wonderful job of carrying their family's light, a perfect job, a job like none other he'd ever seen accomplished better in all his life.
Tonight he was taking Antonina to the cozy home of his in-laws, Nadejda and Sergei, to celebrate the Midwinter Solstice and the return of the sun after the longest night of the year. Petya had been invited as well of course, but for the moment he was not entirely sure where his little brother had gotten off to. Vasily sighed and shrugged it off, lifting his daughter in his arms just enough to make her giggle and look to him curiously, wondering if Papa was playing some game or other.
This was not a night to be particular about timing or lateness, though Vasily had to admit to himself he was a touched irked. But no, no matter. Not really. Vasily was often a touch irked with his brother who, it seemed, either deliberately nursed ways to get under his older brother's skin or simply did not care that he did so. Besides, Nadejda and Sergei were beautiful people, warm and decent, and any night they could have their granddaughter about? That was a full and happy night regardless.
He pulled up before his in-laws cabin closer to the center of the village, pulling the glove off one hand with his teeth and rapping against the solid wood door. "Merry Solstice wishes, Nana and Poppop!" Vasily called out, "We have brought the light in the darkness tonight!"
The door opened in an instant, the laughing faces of Nadejda , with Sergei right behind his wife, there to grab up their granddaughter in loving arms, and welcome the young man they truly had come to love as the son they never had.
"Nana! I carried the light!" Antonina beamed as the savory, luscious scent of Nadejda's cooking wafted through the doorway. No doubt there would be venison stew and herbed potatoes, fresh bread and pies baked up especially with some of the last of the year's fruits.
"Oh my goodness! Well you are so grown up, Nina!" Nadejda crooned lovingly, reaching to take the little girl from Vasily's arms.
And that was when Blind Nadeen's screams reverberated through Adishi, the harbinger of a blackness like none of them had ever known or imagined could exist.
Antonia startled in her Papa's arms, bright blue eyes wide with surprise as the candle lantern slipped from her fingers to fall at the threshold and wink out its light. Wide, shocked eyes darted from Miss Nadeen and the blackness that swallowed them all, and then to the fallen candle. Instantly she burst into great tears, wailing inconsolably as she buried her face in her father's warm coat. The terrors in that blackness were too much for her young mind to understand, and all the little girl could grasp was the least horror of them all. "Papa!" she wept miserably, "The candle! I dropped the candle!"
Vasily was no less horrified, no less frightened than his daughter, but he was a grown man and all he knew was that his beloved home and all its people, were suddenly engulfed in a supernatural, seething darkness. "No, no Antonina, it's all right, it wasn't your fault sweet girl." Vasily's heart broke for his daughter, and yet he whispered swiftly, kissing the top of her fur hood lovingly, hugging her to him fiercely for a moment longer before he turned to the pale, stunned faces of his in-laws.
"Nadejda, Sergei, take Antonina. Bolt the door. I will return, as swiftly as I can." Whether they protested his departure or not, Vasily would never know. All that mattered was his precious girl was safe in her Nana's arms, behind solid walls and a thick door in this unnaturally black night.
'Petya... ' That one name reverberated through his thoughts, even as he sprinted to where Nadeen stood in her nightgown, a beacon in the miasma of that had fallen over Adishi like a vile blanket of filth. "It is me, Nadeen. Vasily," he said swiftly as he lifted the rail thin woman into his arms, holding her gently but close. Whatever in this world that had just descended on their little village, this was no place for a frail and blind elderly woman dressed only in her nightgown to be wandering.
He heard the screams of men and women and animals alike in the unnatural darkness, and was both relieved and terrified that he had not, as yet, heard Petya's voice. By memory alone, Vasily made his way toward Nadeen's cottage, sick to his stomach with the knowledge he may have already failed their father, and his one dying wish.
'Protect your brother, Vasily. Watch over him, just as I would, and let no harm come against him... '
Vasily smiled tenderly as he looked down to his little girl, her sweet round face framed in a grey fur-lined hood, rosy cheeks illuminated by the candle lantern she held so carefully. It was a rare smile, a bright bit of sunshine in the night reserved almost entirely for Antonina. It was a smile that wordlessly told his sweet girl she was doing a wonderful job of carrying their family's light, a perfect job, a job like none other he'd ever seen accomplished better in all his life.
Tonight he was taking Antonina to the cozy home of his in-laws, Nadejda and Sergei, to celebrate the Midwinter Solstice and the return of the sun after the longest night of the year. Petya had been invited as well of course, but for the moment he was not entirely sure where his little brother had gotten off to. Vasily sighed and shrugged it off, lifting his daughter in his arms just enough to make her giggle and look to him curiously, wondering if Papa was playing some game or other.
This was not a night to be particular about timing or lateness, though Vasily had to admit to himself he was a touched irked. But no, no matter. Not really. Vasily was often a touch irked with his brother who, it seemed, either deliberately nursed ways to get under his older brother's skin or simply did not care that he did so. Besides, Nadejda and Sergei were beautiful people, warm and decent, and any night they could have their granddaughter about? That was a full and happy night regardless.
He pulled up before his in-laws cabin closer to the center of the village, pulling the glove off one hand with his teeth and rapping against the solid wood door. "Merry Solstice wishes, Nana and Poppop!" Vasily called out, "We have brought the light in the darkness tonight!"
The door opened in an instant, the laughing faces of Nadejda , with Sergei right behind his wife, there to grab up their granddaughter in loving arms, and welcome the young man they truly had come to love as the son they never had.
"Nana! I carried the light!" Antonina beamed as the savory, luscious scent of Nadejda's cooking wafted through the doorway. No doubt there would be venison stew and herbed potatoes, fresh bread and pies baked up especially with some of the last of the year's fruits.
"Oh my goodness! Well you are so grown up, Nina!" Nadejda crooned lovingly, reaching to take the little girl from Vasily's arms.
And that was when Blind Nadeen's screams reverberated through Adishi, the harbinger of a blackness like none of them had ever known or imagined could exist.
Antonia startled in her Papa's arms, bright blue eyes wide with surprise as the candle lantern slipped from her fingers to fall at the threshold and wink out its light. Wide, shocked eyes darted from Miss Nadeen and the blackness that swallowed them all, and then to the fallen candle. Instantly she burst into great tears, wailing inconsolably as she buried her face in her father's warm coat. The terrors in that blackness were too much for her young mind to understand, and all the little girl could grasp was the least horror of them all. "Papa!" she wept miserably, "The candle! I dropped the candle!"
Vasily was no less horrified, no less frightened than his daughter, but he was a grown man and all he knew was that his beloved home and all its people, were suddenly engulfed in a supernatural, seething darkness. "No, no Antonina, it's all right, it wasn't your fault sweet girl." Vasily's heart broke for his daughter, and yet he whispered swiftly, kissing the top of her fur hood lovingly, hugging her to him fiercely for a moment longer before he turned to the pale, stunned faces of his in-laws.
"Nadejda, Sergei, take Antonina. Bolt the door. I will return, as swiftly as I can." Whether they protested his departure or not, Vasily would never know. All that mattered was his precious girl was safe in her Nana's arms, behind solid walls and a thick door in this unnaturally black night.
'Petya... ' That one name reverberated through his thoughts, even as he sprinted to where Nadeen stood in her nightgown, a beacon in the miasma of that had fallen over Adishi like a vile blanket of filth. "It is me, Nadeen. Vasily," he said swiftly as he lifted the rail thin woman into his arms, holding her gently but close. Whatever in this world that had just descended on their little village, this was no place for a frail and blind elderly woman dressed only in her nightgown to be wandering.
He heard the screams of men and women and animals alike in the unnatural darkness, and was both relieved and terrified that he had not, as yet, heard Petya's voice. By memory alone, Vasily made his way toward Nadeen's cottage, sick to his stomach with the knowledge he may have already failed their father, and his one dying wish.
'Protect your brother, Vasily. Watch over him, just as I would, and let no harm come against him... '
Welcome back Road and, again, congratulations to your amazing Mom and hope you had a fantastic time home! And it is wonderful to see Bill back as well.
No hurry on a post Jiskastya, I'm not the kind to rush anything. Oh, and I'm also not psychic either no matter the expectations, so no, not mind-reading you there about Ethan, but I'll take your word for it! *grins*
And for what it's worth, if Ethan comes to find her in a few days? Bree will already be in the Boston area with her people, likely including Tanner, with some BS story about a hunch, branching the search out toward the headquarters itself, etc. This might actually turn out to be a rather convenient plot point as well, but ymmv.
And for what it's worth, if Ethan comes to find her in a few days? Bree will already be in the Boston area with her people, likely including Tanner, with some BS story about a hunch, branching the search out toward the headquarters itself, etc. This might actually turn out to be a rather convenient plot point as well, but ymmv.
*ugh* So sorry Lil, I meant to have something up much earlier today, but since last night I've mostly just been lying around, sleeping or staring at the ceiling with a roiling stomach ache (I don't know what bad thing I ate, but it wasn't a very happy thing at all >< ). I already have a post in mind though, incorporating a few "tidbits" I made up on the fly because hell, you said we could! 
But yes, I'll try to finish it up this afternoon, and I apologize for not getting with you sooner. I'm only thanking God I didn't have school today 
But yes, I'll try to finish it up this afternoon, and I apologize for not getting with you sooner. I'm only thanking God I didn't have school today
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