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Post by Jaydee on Jun 16, 2009 16:03:02 GMT -5
Makena's question had not been asked out of curiosity, but he bit his tongue and chose not to correct the newcomer on it. Most people didn't seem to like that. He couldn't imagine why... wasn't it good that someone cared enough to point out what you were doing wrong? What was wrong with a little self-improvement? Maybe he would ask Hitojita later. She knew about that sort of thing.
Veering his attention to the topic at hand, Makena finally took a moment to take in the appearance of the boy in front of them. He was not happy. You could tell from the look of a person when they were not happy, not just in an annoyed-at-something-little kind of way, but in a lonely kind of way. Makena saw them all the time. He himself was one of them, sometimes, but it came and went in surges, unlike what he saw in other people. This one seemed steady... but he hadn't been around him long enough to tell. Maybe they could be friendly, but the current mood told him it did not seem likely. He glanced between Hitojita and the boy as she spoke, content to remain silent for the time being.
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Post by Kitten King on Jul 14, 2009 1:09:44 GMT -5
Who are you? The question brought back memories, memories that chilled her. Her mind raced back years, to a pair of reflective circles gazing at her though chains and bars. 'Who are you?' They'd repeated that over and over to her, and she had never once given them an answer. She'd remained a nameless face in their twisted place, and she could never escape that. That's what she was still, after all... She shook it off, letting the low growl in her throat turn over and rumble.
"Hmph. How blunt of you. Better than 'what are you?', at least." She got that one enough upon meeting others - it usually meant she was facing a fight in the coming time. 'Who', though... she wasn't sure what it meant, this girl asking 'who' she was instead of 'what'. Maybe it was a good sign... no. Surely, it had to make things worse. She paused for a moment, letting silence hang as she battled in her mind once more. There were many ways to answer this question, some of which told much - others none. "... If you mean a name, I have none." she answered finally, looking them over again with sharp eyes. "Other than that - I am myself. That's all you need to know."
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Kiroi
Moderator-In-Training
Posts: 49
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Post by Kiroi on Jul 17, 2009 21:49:19 GMT -5
Hitojita watched the stranger think for a bit, then they spoke again after letting out a low growl. They said something she thought was a bit strange. 'Better that 'what are you'?' What did that mean? Well, perhaps that might be a question they got asked often, but it would not a good one to ask unless you wanted to pick a fight. She did not. And they didn't have a name? That was a bit strange. How could they have no name? There was much more to this stranger than they were telling. Of course, she wasn't much different most of the time when talking to those she didn't know.
"Oh. Well, my name is Hitojita. If you don't mind me asking, why are you out here traveling alone?" Hitojita asked, trying to remain calm. Something about this nameless stranger kept her on guard. Or perhaps it was that she thought she sensed the presence of them nearby. It was still a bit confusing.
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Post by Jaydee on Jul 17, 2009 22:05:02 GMT -5
'I am myself'--Makena couldn't help but giggle at that line. Of course you were yourself, did it really need to be said? He was meeting all sorts of strange people today.
"Oh, oh," he piped up, quickly shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his hands clasped in front of his chest once more. "If you do not have a name, may I call you Joseph?"
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Post by Kitten King on Jul 17, 2009 23:18:14 GMT -5
They were both curious little beings, weren't they? It was a little distasteful, and would no doubt lead to trouble. She edged back a step, unnerved, and a gentle rumbling came from her - not quite a growl, just a sound of unease and indecision. Part of her wanted to run, or fight, or do anything that would allow her to escape those who asked questions like this. She didn't want to be asked about who she was, or her reasons, or anything even like that. Quite frankly, she thought herself content to be left alone, away from all of this... at least, half of her believed that much. There was still part of her that tugged her forward, yearned to be with others. She fought with it as much as she could... but today, at least, it was winning.
"...I don't fit anywhere, and I am unlike anyone. To travel alone is, it seems, my only option. As for what you had to say," her tone changed to a snide, degrading sort of form. "I'd rather not be called that, not at all."
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Kiroi
Moderator-In-Training
Posts: 49
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Post by Kiroi on Jul 17, 2009 23:39:14 GMT -5
Hitojita was somewhat amused by Makena's suggestion. Then watched the stranger edge back a bit with a low rumble coming from them. They were debating again. Then they said they did not belong anywhere and they thought they could only travel alone. Then they discouraged Makena's name suggestion. Hitojita's expression was blank, confusion swirling in here eyes with a bit curiosity too.
"Well, you could travel with us if you want. We don't really fit anywhere either." Hitojita replied. 'At least, I don't belong anywhere now...ever since....then...' She thought and then shook her head slightly to get rid of it. She didn't want to remember that part of her past, the reason she was the was she was now. She didn't want to remember him.
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Post by Jaydee on Jul 18, 2009 0:08:16 GMT -5
"It's true! I'm a certified freak," He added with a blissfully unassuming smile. That was what some of the older children in the town before last had called him, anyway. All he had been able to find out about the word 'freak' was that it meant one was unlike other people and did not fit in any one place, and that sounded just like him, so who cared if it was used as an insult? The words of others meant nothing to him unless he could learn something from them. It felt like he was supposed to care about those things, but another part of him just believed that it was a waste of his time.
Though I've no shortage of time, he thought, without realizing what was passing through his mind at all.
Makena blinked and rubbed at his eyes, quick to shrug the strangeness off. He'd gotten used to those thoughts.
"If you don't fit anywhere, maybe you'll fit with us," he said, absently playing with the fabric of his cloak.
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Post by Kitten King on Jul 18, 2009 0:22:20 GMT -5
What logic was this? She gave a faint hiss, almost too quiet to hear, and gave them both a strange look. If she did not fit, how could she fit with them? If three pieces of a puzzle did not fit anywhere, then surely they could not fit together! It made no sense to her. Since when have you let logic rule you? Go with them! It's what you've wanted, isn't it? That voice again. She squeezed her eyes shut, mind clouded. No.. no she didn't want that! She wanted to be alone, she wanted these people to leave! She - she wanted to leave! How could she stay with them? She'd never been with the same person for more than a couple of seconds, if she could help it. She just... it wasn't right. She didn't belong. She could never belong. She'd always known that much.
Forget what was, and embrace what is! This is your chance, you fool, now chase it! She hesitated, unsure. Part of her really did yearn for it - to have company, to no longer be alone. Two years was how long she'd scrounged in the wilds now... two years was an awful long time to live alone when you'd had less than a decade to begin with. She fought against it, tried not to say it, but... she had to know. "...why would you want me with you?" She just... didn't understand.
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Kiroi
Moderator-In-Training
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Post by Kiroi on Jul 18, 2009 0:54:03 GMT -5
"Because you're alone. If you joined us you wouldn't be. There's also strength in numbers. You never know what's lurking around here." Hitojita replied simply. She sensed that this stranger somewhat wanted company. She was still a bit cautious, but if they wanted to come with them she would let them. All three of them were quite different, but if they traveled together maybe they would all fit in this group somehow.
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Post by Jaydee on Jul 18, 2009 1:01:25 GMT -5
"Yeah, why not, right? Three is better than two! Or one," said Makena. It was understandable that someone might not like people, of course, but everybody wanted companionship sometimes. He knew that much. "We still must think of a name for you, though."
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Post by Kitten King on Jul 25, 2009 19:26:16 GMT -5
She snorted softly - there was nothing lurking around here but her. She had good enough senses to tell that herself, thank you. She'd evaded detection this long, she could manage it still. Wait... something in her hesitated. Could she? If she was found, could she flee fast enough, fight strong enough? She wasn't sure... if she moved in a group, she would have a better chance. Hmph... if all else failed, she supposed they could be a good diversion for a getaway. You'd be a fool to think that's the only reason you're joining them, that voice warned her again. She shook it off with a toss of her head. It was the only reason - and a good enough one to justify, she thought.
"...all right. But don't expect me to stay long." It was done. She'd go with them, wherever they went. She had no destination. "...and as I said before," she looked at Makena, ruby eyes annoyed. "I have no name. The only thing I've ever been called by are the numbers 24-8." And more than anything, she hated those damned numbers.
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Post by Jaydee on Jul 25, 2009 20:54:41 GMT -5
Makena grinned and clapped his hands together. The stranger had agreed! The part where he said it would only be for a short while seemed to go in one ear and out the other. All that mattered to the boy was that he had said yes.
"I know that," he said, feigning exasperation. "Which is why I said we must think of one. Unless you'd rather have us call you by a number..." He frowned and folded his arms. Twenty-four eight. What kind of a name was that? It sounded so sterile. If one's name was supposed to be a representation of one's self, then it certainly did not fit this boy. Man? He didn't really seem like either one to Makena. Didn't seem like a male at all, really--something about the way he carried himself. Herself. Itself? No, that was a rude thing to call her. Him. Gah! Gender roles were so confusing. Sometimes even Makena himself could get people mixed up if he tried, and there were times when he didn't have to try at all.
Well, at least Hitojita was definitely female. Somebody had to be the constant in this little group... oh, now he was getting distracted.
"Would you like us to call you that?" He cocked his head to one side, expectant. The stranger sounded awfully distasteful towards a number for a name, but one could never tell...
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Kiroi
Moderator-In-Training
Posts: 49
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Post by Kiroi on Aug 21, 2009 0:42:38 GMT -5
Hitojita smiled a bit when the stranger said they would join them, even if only for a little while. She also noticed that they seemed to dislike the numbers.....24-8 huh? Kind of strange, sounded like a name someone would use for an experiment or something like one. Hm....well, it was a start for a name. Hopefully they would find a better one, one that was not so undesireable to the new member of their group.
"You are welcome to stay with us as long as you like. And yes, would you like to be called that or is there anything else you would be preferred to be called?" Hitojita asked politely. This could trun out to be quite an interesting group.
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Post by Kitten King on Aug 21, 2009 1:51:38 GMT -5
"Never." Her hiss was gentle but vehement, her eyes narrowed. She'd rather die than go by those numbers again... she wished she could remember her old name. If she'd ever even had one. She passed her eyes over them, unsure as ever. A name - so simple, yet so elusive. She'd never needed one, not when she was alone, so she'd never thought of it. Her eyes fell on Makena, his earlier suggestion ringing in her mind. She couldn't go by a name like that and be happy, not with who she was inside. She needed a name that had no ties one way or the other. A name that fit what she was.
"As for the fool's game of names, I-" she'd begun with a growl, before a flutter of wings and raucous call broke her off. Her eyes flicked quickly to the air, and she flinched backwards. The source of the noise, however, was nothing to be a afraid of. A forest crow landed on the crumbling stone beyond them, hopping around with a hunched back. The creature caught her interest, and she watched and listened for a moment longer. ...it was an intriguing notion. The skinny, dull feathered, crook-beaked crow, with its hoarse call and small size making it pale in comparison to all other birds. Yet the crow was clever, so clever, and it could outsmart all the pretty-feathered, plump little songbirds. The crow served its own purposes, even if it meant picking off the work of others for its own progress and survival. Yes... a most intriguing notion.
"...if you must call me something constantly," she said quietly after a few moments, her eyes falling back to them. "I suppose you could call me Crow."
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Post by Jaydee on Aug 21, 2009 21:08:25 GMT -5
Makena smiled again and nodded, mulling the name over in his mind. A crow was a bird. He liked birds. It didn't fit one gender or the other, though, so that issue remained in the air... that was okay, though. It could wait until another time.
"So we shall, 'Crow'! That's a good name." Better than... whatever she'd been called before. He laughed a little, mostly at himself, and linked his hands behind his head. "I already forgot those silly old numbers."
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