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 Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 12:10 am
Beside the mighty and beautiful Abriene Castle, rests the humble, yet busy little village, Abriene Town. It is known for its markets and friendly citizens who are willing to help out any weary traveler who might stumble into their bustling city. The town is always alive with shops and places to go. In the middle of the main plaza rests a beautiful little fountain, dedicated to the first Queen of Pasaid.
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Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:55 pm
Shoshanna LorannexxxxThe Crowned Jewel of PasaidWe Live For Our p e o p l exxxx. . . But When Do We Live For o u r s e l v e s ?Currently in Athraigh: Abreine Castle TownComing From: Abriene Castle
With a light sigh, Shoshanna got up and brushed off her average, every-day gown, pulling her hood up in one quick motion. She looked to the left, then the right, and immediately dove behind a tree rather ungracefully. A guard, dressed in his finest uniform, patrolled the outside walls with pride. Dang...
Quickly she stood straight, wrapping her cloak tighter around her and promptly walked the other direction, her back turned to the guard. He didn't seem to notice. Not this time. Shoshanna counted that as a fluke; one that might not happen again. She approached the cliff side. It was a fifteen foot drop, but luckily there was a thick, sturdy wall of ivy she could climb down from. Time couldn't be wasted. Shoshanna began clambering down it without hesitation.
"Hey, what are you doing?! She heard a voice call, followed by footsteps coming closer.
Busted... Shoshanna thought. As she turned around to give in, she froze, then bounded down the hillside, refusing to show her face. The guard ran after her, footsteps getting closer and closer until he was practically an arm's length away. At this rate, he could catch her at any moment. She had to act fast.
Shoshanna did the first thing that popped into her head. She threw her arm back, and the guard slammed into a near-invisible forcefield. The only trace of the wall she made was a filmy, faded shine with the colors of the rainbow in the upper left hand corner. It melted away quickly, leaving the guard dumbfounded.
Despite the absence of the sound of booted feet chasing after her, Shoshanna ran as fast as she could down the hill, the town coming into view. She breathed a sigh of relief, slipping through an alleyway into town.
Today was busy. Couples danced in the square, people played music at the corners of cobblestone streets, hats turned upside down in front of them so passerby's could toss coins inside. Each coin thrown in was just a small leap to amateur living for them.
Shoshanna felt a little bad, and tossed a large, golden coin into a violinist's open purse.
She approached the main fountain in the central square and sat on the edge, cupping her chin in her hands with her elbows resting on her knees. Sho had come for a purpose, but where could she begin looking to fulfill her goal?
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If I make a move,
I could destroy it all.
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 11:37 am
Coming from: Abriene Castle
Out of breath and gear full of mud, Dirk walked into town as people stared. Then more troops -even more about of breath- started walking into town. People smiled watching their loyal protectors drag their heavy, muddy gear along the road towards the fountain. Kids started yelling for their friends, and they started gathering around the fountain with buckets. Dirk stopped and stretched his arms out, "Ballistas arm yourselves!" He yelled. The kids all laughed and filled their buckets. "Fire!" All the children threw buckets of water at Dirk, enough to make him have to take a step back from all the water hitting him at once. The worst of the mud had been taken off him. The kids continued to load their buckets and splash the rest of the soldiers that arrived.
Dirk had a couple more splashes on him, then he unlatched his sheath and cleaned it out.
The kids were having a lot of fun soaking the grown men with water. It was always a win win situation.
Dirk then cleaned his hair out in the fountain, "Thanks kids, I'm all clean now." Dirk then focused on his element. He warmed up his body gradually until steam appeared to be coming from under his clothes and armor. He was satisfied when the steam lessened and his clothes were somewhat dry.
Then he grabbed his hair and slid his hand through it. More steam appeared, drying his hair.
The soldiers looked at him him in envy, knowing they'll take awhile before their gear dries. "See, that's why he doesn't care about the mud runs." One stated.
Dirk bent over the fountain next to a girl in a cloak and cupped some water, it bubbled in his hand for a second, then he drank it.
He looked at her, noticing her face hidden by the cloak.
"Hey ma'am, are you alright?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 2:57 pm
Shoshanna LorannexxxxThe Crowned Jewel of PasaidWe Live For Our p e o p l exxxx. . . But When Do We Live For o u r s e l v e s ?Currently in Athraigh: Abreine Castle Town
Oh no... Dirk! Immediately poor Shoshanna recognized the soldiers, and had attempted to inch away from them before being soaked herself by the water the kids had hurled at them. Unfortunately for her, the general struck up conversation, which was something she really didn't want to have. Of course, she couldn't simply walk away; that'd be rude, and it might raise some suspicion and curiosity in Dirk.
She tucked a loose wet strand of white-blonde hair behind her ear, facing forward. The general was beside her, he could only see her cloak. Without turning her head, Shoshanna spoke, putting on a lilting and higher accent to her voice to conceal her soft and airy one. "I am right as rain, thank you. Listen, I would love to stay and chat, but I'm currently waiting for someo- oh! There she is over there." Sho stood up and pointed to a girl in a blue dress in the distance. Really, the Princess didn't know who the woman was, but she was an excuse to leave. "Well sir, I bid you adieu. Everyone in Pasaid salutes you and your troop. Keep up the wonderful work Dirk, goodbye!" She stood up and hurriedly rushed in the direction of where the woman was.
"Excuse me, ma'am, could you possibly tell me where Nolan's Bakery is?"
"Why sure! I'll take you there." The girl smiled and nodded, and the two turned a corner. Shoshanna breathed a sigh of relief. Whew. This way it'll actually seem like we're going somewhere together. Yet again I managed to dodge another one.
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If I make a move,
I could destroy it all.
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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 7:12 pm
Clearly this girl was faking her accent. It was definitely amusing to him. He smiled when she pointed to Yaris, owner of the town's "Lovely Clothing."
Dirk had been trained to suspect the most misleading assassins and spies, so changing the tone of her voice wasn't a very good tactic. Dirk walked up to a lady whom Yaris was speaking to.
"Oh hello Dirk! You got the kids all riled up again!"
Dirk looked over his shoulder. "Yes, it appears I have. Say, did you hear where that girl wanted to go, the one who asked Yaris?"
The lady smiled. "I believe she wanted to know where Nolan's Bakery was. How come? Is she wanted? Come to think of it she seemed awfully familiar."
"Uhm no, I believe I found her quite intriguing and it peaked my social interests. Excuse me ma'am." Dirk quickly bowed and spun around then ran off.
He rushed past people, and even went through a small butcher shop to get to the Bakery before the girl had.
He picked up a white coat when he got there. "Hello Nolan, mind if I help you with this uhh, item?" Dirk said, breathing heavier from the run.
"Oh Mr. Phoenix! By all means, you always enjoy firing up my danishes don't you!"
Dirk laughed, "Well Nolan, I believe if using my element saves a few minutes cooking this food, I'm making a small improvement on our economy in Pasaid."
Dirk picked up a platter of danishes which were conveniently waiting for the oven to clear up, and lifted them upon his finger tips just over his head.
"How long again?"
"About 10 minutes on a 3 log fire in my oven."
"So 3 minutes of a whatever amount if my fingertips."
Dirks arm enflamed and begun cooking the Danishes. People watched in amusement; their Royal General had time to do such minor tasks with the civilians. Most people hardly believe he does any work at all for the King, though the stories keep his reputation.
"And that's about it!" Dirk placed the pan back onto the table.
The crowd full of smiling people began to buy the Danishes, "Well there you go Yaris." Dirk said accompanying with a small laugh.
"Thank you General, your always welcome here sir! Take a Danish with you!"
The crowd began to clear up and there was the girl with Yaris.
"How is it everytime I meet you, you're wearing a dress I've seen nowhere in the lands, and you manage to pull it off beautifully?" Dirk bowed to her, and kissed her hand. As Dirk bent down for the hand kiss he realized it was the princess at once, they've met once before during a ceremony. Any other time was a glimpse or walking by, but Dirk trained himself about everything that could help him find any royalty member if they were to be captured, or any other scenario. He felt a little bit like a stalker or like a creep doing it, but to him it was necessary.
"Oh it appears we meet again, Miss?"
He pretended not to realize her identity, he was curious what she was doing out here, especially without her mother giving her a bodyguard. The Queen seemed to have the upper hand these days in small argument quarrels between her and the King...
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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 7:41 pm
Shoshanna LorannexxxxThe Crowned Jewel of PasaidWe Live For Our p e o p l exxxx. . . But When Do We Live For o u r s e l v e s ?Currently in Athraigh: Abreine Castle Town
While Shoshanna had not originally planned to go to the bakery, the one named Yaris had led her there and she couldn't simply tell her she wasn't originally going to Nolan's, turn on her heel and leave. That'd be rude. A danish sounded nice anyway, so she wasn't too unhappy.
At least, not until she saw Dirk already there.
Her widened ice blue eyes watched him approach the two, completely bewildered as he kissed her hand. "Indeed." She put the accent back on, straining to change her tone to a higher pitch. "Good sir, I must inquire: shouldn't you be back with your men? I'm sure they are all confused as to why you left them behind, because I did not see them outside the bakery, and I do not see them here." Shoshanna had to find some way to make him leave; that was the first excuse she could come up with.
She brought the hand Dirk kissed back to her side promptly, using the other to tighten her hood around her. "I'm also curious as to why you are wearing a baker's apron... I do not think that's a soldier's usual style of dress, hm?"
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If I make a move,
I could destroy it all.
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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 10:14 pm
When she returned her hand to her side, Dirk straightened back up, "Ah yes, a familiar question." Dirk spoke without any distaste of such a repetitive question, "As they are my fellow soldiers, they are not in my command, and I was only accompanying them on their training. I only possess the responsibility of commanding units when I decide so unless told otherwise by a higher ranking officer or the King." Dirk untied his apron and folded it nicely. "I'm wearing an apron because Nolan had taught me so, ever since I was a child. It's in my job description about how much the citizens matter, and I take it literally." Dirk stood up straight and formally.
"My turn. Why is such a beautiful girl not accompanied by a gentleman which should match such stature?" Dirk asked. He was already enjoying this too much, and intended to continue.
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 4:46 pm
Shoshanna LorannexxxxThe Crowned Jewel of PasaidWe Live For Our p e o p l exxxx. . . But When Do We Live For o u r s e l v e s ?Currently in Athraigh: Abreine Castle Town
"I see, I see. Understandable." Shoshanna listened to his words and nodded. He had a point; Dirk was not the head of the group this time around, just another soldier in the cluster.
She stiffened at his next question, then sucked in a deep breath. "I thank you for the compliment, sir. But I am independent; I do not need a gentleman by my side to roam my streets freely. I am certainly old enough to find my way around my own town without getting lost." Sho snapped, forgetting to use the high-pitched accent. She'd found herself venting to the general. How lovely. She sighed, then realized her slip-up. Perhaps she should leave before people raised eyebrows at the sudden change in her voice. She had to find an excuse to leave, quickly. "Hm. Nolan, do you know what time it is?" Shoshanna called to the baker in the back.
"Well, it's around 11:30, miss."
"Oh goodness! Eleven-thirty? How could I let time slip away from me? I wanted to pick up a couple pastries but I'm afraid there's no time for that. I have to get back to my mother's cottage, quickly. It was nice to meet you all, I'll be going now. Goodbye!" She explained to Yaris and Dirk, turning on her heel and promptly leaving the bakery behind, blending in quickly with the crowd.
She assumed he was following, someone like Dirk wouldn't simply let her go. Quickly, Sho turned sharply to the left, squeezing through an alleyway and ending up in the back streets of the Castle Town. As she walked, a silhouetted figure appeared, looming over her like a predator approaching its prey.
"Well aren't you a pretty thing." The voice was gruff, thick with a cockney accent. The stench of rum wafted off of him, practically making Shoshanna gag. She took a few steps back, knowing what was on the man's mind, then stood her ground. Showing weakness wouldn't do any good.
"Don't even try. I know what you are thinking, and you're messing with the wrong person to do so. I suggest you turn around now and leave." She spat, voice trembling slightly.
"Honey, that's not going to fight me off so easily." He took a step out from the shadows and grinned, revealing a gap in his teeth. The man looked strong, fit, even handsome if he cleaned up a little. Yet the 5 o'clock shadow and the grease-stained shirt, along with the stringy black locks plastered to his sweaty forehead did nothing good for his appearance. "I like you. I think you're going to stay around for a little bit."
Nervously, she took a few steps back. "You are not going to get away with this." She glared, walking backward a little with her hands balled up into fists.
"Says who?" He emitted a low, guttural chuckle before his laugh grew louder. Slowly he moved closer and closer, until Sho could smell the alcohol on him again. "There's no one to save you this time, girl."
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If I make a move,
I could destroy it all.
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 8:01 pm
Dirk smiled as he held in a chuckle when he heard the princess's regular voice as she hastily came up with an excuse and scurried off.
Dirk bowed to Yaris, and took off in the same direction. She was trying to lose Dirk but he managed to follow her for a bit. He bumped into a few people, and Dirk took the time to apologize quickly and continue. The children had run by him with their buckets laughing and chasing each other. This is when Dirk lost sight of her.
Dirk started asking people, but nobody knew. He wondered if she went down a back alley, the only back alley in this area. He quickly ran around to see if she had come out the other side, but she was nowhere to be seen in the open.
Perhaps she was still in the alleyway, Dirk thought to himself.
He walked into the weird darkness, it was a near sudden transition and his eyes took a moment to get used to it. The clothing the princess wore stood out behind a man, he was obviously a bum, and by the way he was walking, he was being offensive.
Dirk walked up close to his back silently and pointed his finger towards the mans ankles. The tip of his finger brightened slowly and then what appeared to be a ball of flames shot at his ankle catching his pant leg on fire.
The man jumped in surprised and started dancing around whilst screaming as the flame grew larger, he dropped to the ground and began taking his pants off.
"Damsel in distress? Or love at first sight?" Dirk joked.
Guards ran into the alley way, "Sir!?" One guard yelled in question.
"Arrest that man, for an attempted crime of violence and suspicion to rape. If he's drunk then suspend him from bars on weekdays afterwards for the general amount of time, I'll take care of the lady."
"Yes sir!" The guard saluted and continued to carry out the task.
"Come with me, princess." He said quietly enough for her to hear. He held her hand and walked out into the street, then sat her at a nearby table in front of a restaurant.
"So, before you ask any questions or start blabbering excuses. I must ask you something."
Dirk said as he sat down on the other end of the table and sternly looked her in the eyes.
"Are you allergic to sea food? Because this restaurant has really good fish." A lady handed out menu's with a smile and then continued off with her work. Dirk picked it up and flipped through it.
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 10:12 pm
Shoshanna LorannexxxxThe Crowned Jewel of PasaidWe Live For Our p e o p l exxxx. . . But When Do We Live For o u r s e l v e s ?Currently in Athraigh: Abreine Castle Town
While her identity had been revealed to someone, Shoshanna couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as Dirk guided her to a table and sat her down. What she'd expected was a long rant about how she should have never left the castle, she could've been hurt, killed, etcetera, etcetera. Instead, she was offered food. Food of all things.
Oh well.
"Not at all. I love seafood." With a slight smile on her porcelain face, she loosened her hood a little and thanked the waitress for the menu. Immediately she eyed the maple-glazed salmon, picking that to eat. She set down her menu. "Now, before we eat, we cannot leave the matter of what just happened unattended. First of all, thank you for saving me from that foul smelling man. Did you smell him, or was I the only one that noticed the positively wretched odor of beer?" Shoshanna shuddered, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. It was evident the grease-ball was an alcoholic. "Nasty. Secondly, I sort of had a feeling you recognized me, specifically at the bakery. If I could identify you, you'd likely be able to do the same, no? As my father's trusted employee, I'm assuming your going to say something about me being out here alone, and to be honest I do not blame you. I won't hold anything against you if you do... Though I'd prefer it if you didn't." She said with a laugh. "Either way, you are regarded as nothing but a hero for getting me out of that alley."
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If I make a move,
I could destroy it all.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:46 am
Dirk was trying to pick what to eat this time and decided to just get whatever she ended up getting. He then decided which order he wanted to answer her questions.
"A hero for something that seems very small comparing to what I've been through before, but in this case nobody had died so I actually would rather be called a hero for this than for killing a hundred militia from a neighboring country."
The waiter returned and he waited for Shoshanna to order then he simply asked for the same thing.
"I was going to have some fun and continue to pretend I didn't know you, but I guess thinking about it now, it would be sort of cruel. Besides, I was getting tired of chasing you. Thridly to your firstly, yes he had a bad odor of beer on him."
Dirk then clasped his hands together with his elbows on the table.
"My turn again, I know you don't want me saying anything about you being out here alone, but because of who I am I am going to anyways.
So how does it feel to be able to actually walk around in your own country without the chains huh? I don't know how you scholars and royalists stand sitting inside being rich all day. Uh no offense." Dirk looked back at the kitchen seeing their plates being put on the counter.
"I personally enjoy being able to ride across this beautiful country on the back of a horse, camping every night, hunting, coming across some secrets lost from the old ages every now and then. This country is so full of lost and ancient stuff it's incredible. It seems if you try and look for it though, you never find it.
That's just me saying what my old buddy used to say."
Their plates were placed in front of them and then she placed down the drinks.
"Enjoy!"
The waitress said with a smile.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 4:13 pm
Shoshanna LorannexxxxThe Crowned Jewel of PasaidWe Live For Our p e o p l exxxx. . . But When Do We Live For o u r s e l v e s ?Currently in Athraigh: Abreine Castle Town
"Thank you." Shoshanna smiled brightly at the waitress who gave her the fish. Immediately she reached for her fork and cut a small piece from it, taking a bite. She chewed for a moment, then swallowed and smiled. "It's good. I'm impressed. Anyway, like I said, its understandable for you wanting to speak up about me being here. It'd be a lot of pressure on you to keep the secret from your employers." Shoshanna cupped her chin in her hands, briefly distracted by a hawk, soaring freely throughout the skies, then frowned as it swooped down onto someone's shoulder; most likely its master.
"And walking without chains is liberating. I can't wait to do this without having to sneak around. I hate being cooped up in that castle all the time, though some people tell me I shouldn't complain. It is pretty incredible in size. It's like a bird being trapped in a gilded cage with shiny little objects to distract itself while life moves forward on the outside. I want to experience life outside the cage. If I'm going to be running this country, I should see it first, in my opinion. Goodness, I'm starting on a small rant. Sorry about that." Sho giggled, then took another bite of the salmon.
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If I make a move,
I could destroy it all.
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Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 1:35 pm
Dirk took a favorable bite from his meal and agreed with it's quality.
"Personally I believe if one could simply see the land and what's going on in different parts of this country for oneself, rather than reports, this person could make this country even greater than it already is. It's completely different feeling the country from a personal perspective than reading ones experience through intricate words on a paper."
Dirk cut up another piece and shoved it whole in his mouth. He started wondering if the queen found out she was having lunch with Dirk in the town. If she would assume Dirk and the princess were secretly dating, that would be bad. The queen didn't really like Dirk too much, he never could figure out why. So that would probably be the first thing she would think up.
Even if the princess denied it, and vouched for him the Queen would probably try and get him marooned on the Kaell Grotto or something.
He then started thinking what the Queen would do if the Princess one day simply left the castle and wandered out into the world. Firstly, she would be found, and if not, the country would be in a panic.
Another idea would be if the princess actually requested a tour around her country, with a few guards or something.. No no, that would cause the countrymen to actually go out and try and look for her, unless they never publicized it.
Dirk nodded to himself as he thought in his little hypothetical fantasy world and took another bite of the fish.
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Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:31 pm
Shoshanna LorannexxxxThe Crowned Jewel of PasaidWe Live For Our p e o p l exxxx. . . But When Do We Live For o u r s e l v e s ?Currently in Athraigh: Abreine Castle Town
"Exactly! I feel the same way." Shoshanna sucked in a large breath, then took a bite of her salmon. "I want to see Pasaid for what it is." She sighed. "I will be crowned in the next few years though, and at that point in time I'll be able to roam this country freely. Oh, I cannot wait for that day."
Shoshanna began wondering if he was treating her nicely because she was to be crowned soon. He could be fired easily as soon as she was titled Queen. Of course, Sho isn't that mean. She didn't mind him at all; she'd keep him as one of their generals. Job-wise, Dirk didn't have much to fear.
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If I make a move,
I could destroy it all.
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Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:58 pm
Dirk finished his plate and and placed his fork down, dabbing his lips with a napkin.
"So what were you planning on doing when you got out here, or what do you do?" Dirk said, hoping not to cross her personal boundaries, even though she technically shouldn't have 'personal boundaries' out here in the town. Especially with some boy, which Dirk would probably be forced to make himself turn her in. Which could lead to an interesting turn of events. Dirk's hand swiftly and quickly shot to his swords handle when the waitress got bumped into him and dropped the plates. They shattered on the ground.
The woman who bumped into him apologized and helped clean up the mess.
His head was turned enough to see the ladies, releasing his hand and looking back at Shoshanna. He smiled and nodded as to if say "continue."
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