Ryugexu
Accomplished Bobbyer
Without Fear... I step forward.
Posts: 192
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Post by Ryugexu on Mar 25, 2009 11:23:04 GMT -6
Today is a beautiful day. Today there are buses in the streets, out-of-country tourists being led by guides, and plenty of teenagers from the local highschool on afterschool shopping trips giggling and laughing with their closest friends. We are in Kyoto, near the shopping district. Kyoto the Old Capital has always been known for it's superstition, its magic, and most of all, the cherry blossoms! Sadly, the blooms had mostly fallen from the trees and are only causing a mess in the streets and sidewalks. The weather is getting a bit warmer, however summer had not yet fully arrived.
A short distance from the shopping center, there was a lovely shrine up the hillside that the tourists would probably visit, however it was well hidden and one could only find it if by a lucky chance.
Here in this shrine, a sixteen year old boy wearing a white yakama-styled shirt was practicing swordplay with a beautiful Masamune-signed katana.
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Post by Netreemic on Mar 29, 2009 21:51:06 GMT -6
[well...if it's not what you want to rp with, feel free to shoo us away ^-^....lordie...here be 32 *shakes fist hopelessly*]
Jö paused to straighten her wobbly heels, cell phone buried in dangly things falling out of a pocket. How does anything fit in these snug little pants? Slim fingers adorned with glossy nails reached out to pluck the garish object back up. She flipped the stupid thing into the nearest garbage can, startling the sparrows. Noticing something on the back of her hand, she drew it close to her face. She spat on the spot, rubbing vigorously with her opposite hand until realizing the blemish was not being removed. Mole. That’s a distracting thing to have on your hand. Or maybe it’s an early sign of skin cancer. Bugger…looks like I’ll be switching again soon. Strawberry Sweet Sparkle lips pursing, she flicked her eyes over the surrounding meat-sacks. Seating herself on a bench, Jö took a moment to prepare, crossing her legs (whilst struggling against the barely stretchy confines of her slacks) to appear casual.
“Hey hot-stu-” Pink bottle of…some sort of beauty care product was instantly wedged up the man’s nose, changing his bad pick-up line into a couple gurgles. She pulled his hat to rest over his face as his head fell back, thinking about how much his neck would hurt if he were to awake from that position. Good thing he’d never have to worry about that. Arms resting on the back of the bench, she refocused and eyeballed the nearest possibilities.
Old dude. Ugh no. His osteoporosis was not appealing in the least bit. Too much upkeep would be needed just to get through the day. Looked like he was about to kick the bucket.
Forty-some year old dame. She wrinkled her nose, picking up on the cigarette smell from ten yards. No.
Twelve year old kid. Promising…uh…maybe not. Black eyes glared at the father lifting the rugrat onto his shoulders. If it had been a younger kid, it could have been possible, but twelve year olds generally had enough personality specifically known to their parents. It wouldn’t be worth trying to fake it. Clipping a loose strand of hair back into its plastic restraint, she turned a contemplative eye on the sparrows. It really wasn’t that desperate yet but…birds were always a hoot. Or she could just wander back into the shopping zone. Lots of choices.
Then a wide smile stretched her glittering lips. Tourist at five o’clock. Lone, backpacking tourist…delightful. Hopping off her wooden perch, she clicked across the paved path, black ponytail bobbing merrily. “Mr. Tourist-san~!” She called out, waving excitedly as she bound up to him. “Excuse me, but picture?” Silver camera was quickly extracted from her bag of goodies and waved for emphasis. The blonde man smiled in a mixture of embarrassment and pleasure, replying “Mo ii yo…did I say that right?” Laughter bubbled from both as she slid an arm around him, camera raised high. “Good. Good. Say CHIII-ZUUUU~!”
Blinking the flash out of his eyes, Jören glanced down at the body slumped in his arms and the broken camera littering the ground. He lowered the woman to rest beneath the nearest barren tree, pulling a small book out of her bag and placing it on her lap. To the rest of the world, she was simply taking a break from some boring school reading. He straightened, grunting under the weight of the backpack. He scoured the man’s brain, curious what had drawn the foreigner to this spot. Shrine up the rest of the hill, eh? Why not? Nothing better to do~ Laughing to himself, he hefted his bag and took a moment to appreciate the better choice in footwear. Well worn sandals, nothing better in the ‘verse.
Cresting the hill, a wide smile lit his face. Awesome! It looked exactly like the shrine in…Oh, which one was it? Yojimbo? Tsking at his faulty memory of classic Japanese cinema, he plodded happily around the shrine, touristing his borrowed heart out. Then he saw the young man. Heart speeding up, he looked around for the cameramen, roped off “We Be Filming Here” notices, anything. Something like this certainly could only happen in a movie. Hazel eyes kept being drawn back to the shimmering blade, mesmerized as it arched, sliced, plunged through well-practiced movements. Beautiful.
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Ryugexu
Accomplished Bobbyer
Without Fear... I step forward.
Posts: 192
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Post by Ryugexu on Mar 29, 2009 23:35:38 GMT -6
Yushira was certainly an expert and 'one with' his sword. He was precise, controlled, and most of all at peace. Though his movements were so powerful his face was almost relaxed.
At the end of a large combination of moves, he stopped suddenly and then placed the sword back in it's scabbard. He used his sleeve to wipe a bit of sweat and messy brown hair off of his forehead and smiled to himself.
He seemed to be alone, certainly, as he had no friends nearby whom he turned to talk to or whatnot. Alone Yushira sat on the steps and drank water from a bottle. He had a bad feeling about today, but it didn't show at all in his calm demeanor.
After all, as he himself weren't entirely alive, he had some benefits that human's didn't. This included minor foresight and 'sencing' things that are incorrect. He could smell in the air that two people had just been killed -or something similar- not too far away and it was disturbing. However, Yushira was one whom wasn't about to show his uneasiness until he was certain there is reason for it.
He softly closed his green eyes and muttered a mantra to himself, "do not fear the dark if you know what exsists in the light."
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Post by Netreemic on Mar 30, 2009 22:52:19 GMT -6
[sorry, short. Wedged in before more school work *darts off*]
Jören kept an eye on the man as his exercise came to a halt, slightly distracted by the taste in the air. It wasn’t quite moldy…but there was certainly a mustiness, a sense of age floating about. He shrugged, writing it off as the temple vibe. It truly was old and exquisite. They knew how to build back then, working with the natural materials to recreate the strength and spirit of the trees they came from. He ran pale (whoa geez, was this one pale) fingers along the intricate woodwork, considering the nicks time had inflicted. With a slight grin, he turned his attention back to the man, not surprised to see him resting after his workout.
The blonde quickly assessed the seated man’s blind spot and sidled forward, hand reaching into the large travel sack strapped to his back. Shoving the Swiss army knife aside, he snagged a pair of granola bars. He clamped one between his teeth, wrapper crinkling slightly in its pearly cage, and plopped himself down on the stairs…carefully out of sword reach.
“Said dat right,” he slurred around his still wrapped granola bar, “shum creapeh shhtuff in daahdime. Makessh shadows cubddly in compahrason.” He stretched his legs down the steps, crossed at the ankles, and offered his second bar. “Shhhome fuuudeh to go wid agua?” He pulled the bar out of his mouth and considered the label. “Uh…wild berry surprise…” Hazel eyes blinked, features scrunching in consternation at the vague threat, before flicking back to the brunette. “so…uh….hello.” His lips drew back in a smile, fingers drumming against his long jean shorts. “Come here often?”
Hmmm….maybe that was wrong…
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Ryugexu
Accomplished Bobbyer
Without Fear... I step forward.
Posts: 192
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Post by Ryugexu on Mar 31, 2009 23:48:13 GMT -6
The young man was surprised by his sudden visitor, though at the same time didn't seem too suspicious of the guest. After all- a temple is considered public ground even for strange looking foreigners. Then again, Yushira realised, who was he to judge a 'foreigner'- though he had the heart of his samurai heritage he himself had foreign green eyes. Politely Yushira gave a timid smile at the strange man, "No thanks. I find that if I eat after training I get dizzy." All though the statement was false, Yushira figured it was a good enough excuse. Everyone has strange eating habits after working-out for a verity of odd reasons after all. After hearing the final question, he felt as though perhaps the man was hitting on him and gave the man a tilt of his head. "Um, well.. Yeah I come here on Tuesdays. Sometimes I visit other temples in the area... Really they are all different even though most people say that the temples all look the same." Yushira commented as he adjusted the scabbard to a better position for sitting. "So, what brings you to the Land of the Rising Sun?" ((OOC- it's ok btw what I called Japan right there is a nickname that the Japanese gave it, based off of their flag's image. Also Tuesdays... xD! theres a comic strip I watch where EVERYTHING of interest happens on Tuesday))
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Post by Netreemic on Apr 1, 2009 18:58:13 GMT -6
He drew the granola bar back with a slight shrug, hiding his frown. He quirked an eyebrow at the dizzy statement, not sure how to take that piece of information. What kind of person just blathers out weaknesses like that? Though, he had to admit, not many probably would wait around to stuff food down their adversary’s throat to gain an advantage. But it would certainly be hilarious. Bagels would probably be a good choice, very filling, but…might be too difficult to jam down quickly. Cupcakes perhaps?
Jören cast a nervous glance at the sheathed blade as the young man shifted it around, chewing slowly on his berry surprising bar. He heard vague comments about Tuesdays and something or other, but that sword was starting to set him on edge. Before he had found it inspiring and reminiscent of all those old flicks, but then the guy turned down his food offering. Peace offering shot down, could they be anything but enemies? The brunette was probably contemplating fifty different ways to separate his fluffy blonde head from his shoulders. Especially that way the young man had tilted his head…something conniving was clearly going on behind those green eyes.
Swallowing thickly, he took a moment to consider the question, eyes gazing forward. “The people.” A small, devious smile sparked onto his face. “I’ve been traveling the world, but I kinda started missing this place. Lot more people than I remember last time. So, suppose people watching would be my reason. And the food.” He cast a sideways semi-glare as he drew out the last word. “All these nice folk keep welcoming me into their homes…sharing their meals.” His eyes shifted forward once more, tracing the tree line. “You don’t get that everywhere. But hey, suppose I’m just an oddity they find momentarily amusing.” He bit down on his words, annoyed that they were just falling out. He stuffed the second bar back into his bag, considering the Swiss army knife as his hand rubbed against it on its way out. His fingers jittered erratically and he drew his legs up a couple steps, hunching forward to cross his arms across bent knees. “So…you in some sort of kendo club or something?” Why no, random stranger, I happen to belong to an elite group known for eliminating tourists and other oddities. He ground his teeth at the stupid thoughts he brain barfed up. And the fact that he was actually worried it could be true. Maybe there was a cupcake in the big backpack too.
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Ryugexu
Accomplished Bobbyer
Without Fear... I step forward.
Posts: 192
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Post by Ryugexu on Apr 15, 2009 1:52:12 GMT -6
Yushira enjoyed what he believed as small talk.
"Well perhaps. People anywhere can be generous if you look in the right places. I believe that it's no way a momentary thing." Yushira smiled a bit as though a fond memory passed behind his eyes. "If a real person noticed one in need of friendship, than there is nothing small or momentary about it."
Some sound in Yushira's mind was resonating an unusual vibe. Perhaps, he attempted to shrug it off, it was human paranoia.
"There are clubs? Really?" Yushira smiled, "My father taught me how to use it a long time ago. He told me... to use the sword to honor my loved ones and the country, so long as my loved ones and the country would remain honorable."
That noise... Is it a warning from the shrine spirits? I wonder if he hears it, but perhaps it's best I don't mention it...
"Well anyways. What's your name? You can call me Yushira."
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Post by Netreemic on Apr 16, 2009 21:26:48 GMT -6
Jören struggled to make sense of the young man’s words. Especially when the brunette got to the honor part. It was like when people describe a word…using the word. It was working his poor gray matter into circles of confusion, phrases like ‘Does not compute’ floating to the top of his overtaxed brain. That word…that idea…was like a blank spot. Was he talking about nationalism or something? As long as his homeland does things he likes…he’d be its muscle? Did that mean the second they disagreed, the swordslinger would bring his wrath down upon the leaders and bring it back to the right path? Besides…how many kids talked like that? His eyes narrowed. Long time ago? What was he? 16? Sixteen year olds don’t refer to things as ‘long time ago.’ They’d say ‘When I was younger/little/a kid’ or some variation. Or if they said it, they didn’t mean it with such sincerity as the young man did. ‘Long time ago’ was for those old geezers who played chess in the park while swapping war stories. He’d been one of those once, when he just needed to get WWI off his chest. It had been…nice. This boy would have been fit there, reminiscing with the old men. But why?
His face became carefully shuttered when the name question was asked. Why did all these humans cling to that so much? Did they really believe if you knew someone’s name, you’d know them? It was a sad delusion, the power of the name. He’d read something about True Names once and the power it holds, but these humans…they ripped through life so fast, throwing around lies, fake facades, smoke and mirrors. They never were the same person day to day. What point did they have to naming themselves other than governments wanting a way to file its citizens? Because when someone called out a series of syllables and grunts they were happier to respond than if they were 59021483? Sure, he perhaps was the worst, but then he never asked names or gave his out first. Was Jören what he was? Most certainly not, whatever one of those was. Just like the man sharing the step with him most certainly was not only Yushira. He was something else. As far as the bodysnatcher was concerned, that ‘something else’ was growing more troubling.
He stared at the young man for an extended pause. He could just shove the guy out and root around to discover the truth, quell the nagging sensation. But then anxiety piped up, warning that the so-called Yushira could be something from long time ago, something more than able to deal with intruders. Traveling the world through the decades had turned up enough of those that he knew to listen to his paranoid little voice. The first and only time he ignored it resulted in his mauled consciousness recovering in a pigeon for five years. It had been the most terrifying time in his life, weakened and unable to jump into a different body, he scrabbled to survive, death looming like it never had before. It had been a long, hard recovery once he got wrapped in a mansuit again. Quivers ran down his spine at the thought, granola wrapper crackling in his shaking grasp. Why did I have to think of that?!? His stolen body started pumping adrenaline, nerves detecting and interpreting his fear, limbs twitching in the need to run. Flee.
No, part of him whispered. You run, he will pursue. You are alone. No flock to hide in if you run, too easy to be picked off. Still. Be still. Blend in.
“Jö-oe.” It came out a little strangled. Clearing his throat he continued, “Joe Collins. All the way from a little town in Idaho.” Yes, good. Play up the tourist, think American. “Grangeville…doubt you’ve ever heard of it. Nice place…filled with farms and such, just about the exact opposite of here.” He dashed another smile on, absently rubbing his sweaty palms against his shorts. When the shingle from the shrine hit his head, he screamed like a little girl and exploded off the step.
Hey, the guy was on edge. Give him a break.
And cursed the shrine gods in every language he knew when his eyes found the shattered ceramic tile. To say the least, he covered a wide ground of profanity. Clutching his head, he remained crouched on the ground, convinced something had thrown the roofing, glare burning across the roof searching for a shadow, a haze, anything. He had slipped out of the backpack in his panic, which increased his mobility…but removed the Swiss army knife (and whatever else in the bag) from easy reach. His brain took that moment to re-notice Yushira, to whom he probably looked like a raving lunatic. A hysterical laugh tittered out as he said, “The sky is falling~”
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Ryugexu
Accomplished Bobbyer
Without Fear... I step forward.
Posts: 192
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Post by Ryugexu on Apr 18, 2009 15:03:57 GMT -6
What an unusual guy!! Yushira thought, doing his best not to snicker at the scream.
"Are you okay, Joe Collins?" Yushira asked, being able to perfectly pronounce the name unlike many of the people around here.
Maybe he feels that energy too. Maybe there's a demon or something not too far away, and we are meant to fight it together! That's great! A new ally! Yushira stared at Joe. He's... a bit incompetent though. He shook off such thoughts- after all, Yushira knew he was among mixed company.
"What are you so worked up about?" Yushira casually asked. "Are you being followed?"
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Post by Netreemic on Apr 18, 2009 21:42:24 GMT -6
Okay? Heh. Something decided it no longer appreciated his presence. Like he had said, his oddness only won him momentary welcome. Little spirits flinging little things at first, warnings always came first. Sure, he was okay. Nothing more than a thudding heart, a dull throb, and a lingering head rush. That was, until they really got angry. Or if Yushira got the hint. Guy’s a bit thick. Maybe they’ll progress to whole segments of roofing until he got it. Unless…maybe the young man would be the next target of tiles. Maybe he was on the in~ but, most likely not. Not with what convoluted speech was alluding at. That had been more of the common hero speech.
He fingered the back of his skull, searching for any wetness. The impact really hadn’t been so painful, more surprising. The shingle had been old and decaying, more of a loosely packed snowball than the ice balls that were normally thrown. Leave now…please. It was always so strange how they went about it, polite until the last moment. He caught a movement out of the corner of his eye, one of the carvings…crawled back into position. He was suddenly aware of dozens of wooden gazes. Thank goodness it was such a small temple. Among his acquaintances, there were terrible stories of larger than life carved warriors defending their temples from nearby…intruders. Took the monks weeks to scour the blood and gore out of all the cracks. Decreased the number of his acquaintances too.
Still crouched, part of his balance now resting on the knuckles of one hand, Jören tilted his head slightly to keep the carvings and Yushira both within sight. Being followed? Always. A shrink told him he was a paranoid schizophrenic and he should work to ignore what they told him. The shrink did not know his world. Here, it was important to take help from whomever you could. Especially when death was your tracker. He frowned at the young man’s flippant tone, especially his belief that he should be privy to anything. The silence after the last question left much for his brain to fill in…You know, those frightening TOUR GUIDES~ Wooooooooooooo~ Who would follow you? Or simply, What are you on? His annoyance cast his earlier fear aside, fingers digging into the dirt. No matter which circle this boy played in, certain protocol was to be followed. And really, he was just too old to deal with the lip, as well disguised as it was.
“Do you really want to know?” he murmured in reply. “It could be over your head, little man.”
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Ryugexu
Accomplished Bobbyer
Without Fear... I step forward.
Posts: 192
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Post by Ryugexu on Apr 18, 2009 21:56:23 GMT -6
Yushira was concerned at his new friend's change in demeanor. From casually offering Yushira a snack, the once relaxed man now seemed haunted... or rather, hunted certainly.
"Get him away from here!" Yushira heard a voice in his mind- an unfamiliar voice from the hidden plane of existence. After all, all though one such as himself can walk both worlds, there must always be a door for him to go through. Here, Yushira was sensing creatures within the hidden realm and hearing things from it while walking among the living- it was a bit confusing.
Yushira stared at Joe's face with surprising courage considering the unusual situation.
It seemed his desire to be fearless led him to say his next phrase, which he knew he could not back out of.
"There is no truth that can frighten me."
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Post by Netreemic on Apr 21, 2009 14:22:31 GMT -6
Jeez good golly gosh. This one could be handy. Courage, self-assurance, a blind spot for what he was talking with~ Jören smothered a grin, sparkling hazel eyes now focused entirely on Yushira. Often enough, his reaper wasn’t the only thing Jören found himself running from. Who knows, there could be a branch of the usual unfriendlies here. Scratch that, there definitely was. Yeah, thinking about it, a week ago, that big guy, he had certainly looked strangely familiar. Smelt even more familiar. Lots of the extermination group stood out just a little bit, given a lot of them were mixes of something or half-turned monsters with big grudges and righteous causes. He hadn’t seen the guy since then, but members of that group always had this thing for never giving up. Maybe if he played it right, Yushira could…
“Oh really~?” Maybe little white lies and bending the facts would be fine, because that smell was back. Seemed his switch hadn’t dropped the tracker. “The truth then. I named him Llug,” he whispered conspiratorially. In the back of his mind, part of him gleefully chortled, Not a woman? NOT A WOMAN?!?! while his heart started thundering again. Now to see if it’d be two on one, in his own favor. “Meet Llug.” He lunged out of the way as the giant fist, followed by a trollish man, swung to miss the back of his head with a roar. The momentum kept the man going, smashing the bag on the stairwell instead. The man flung it aside in rage, scattering its contents. The recesses of Jören’s mind was doing a victory dance, he finally got to use the Madmartigan line! He’d always wanted to be Madmartigan, the greatest swordsman ever~ Muahahaaaa! But Yushira’s the one with the sword, he sighed as made a bee-line for cover. Oh well, a guy can dream.
“Stand and face me vermin! I will CRUSH you for all you have-” Jören sucked in a breath, panic redoubling. If the frigging man fingered him for the bad guy, he could quickly call himself outnumbered. So he threw the first thing he could grab into the man’s gaping maw. Huh. Guess there had been cupcakes. The man’s sentence cut off as he inhaled the sprinkly goodness, giving an explosive cough, bulgy eyes gone...bulgier. Jören peeked over the decorative rock, breath panting out, ready to sprint like there was no tomorrow. “Run, Yushira!” Endear oneself by acting concerned for the other’s well being. Check.
[crap - forgot - attacker guy: green tinge to tanned skin, generaly ugly, tall (but not beyond human norms), thick, prolly wearing normal clothing...feel free to take artistic license - gotta run]
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Ryugexu
Accomplished Bobbyer
Without Fear... I step forward.
Posts: 192
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Post by Ryugexu on Apr 21, 2009 17:40:34 GMT -6
The second that the large human-like creature swung, Yushira had jumped backwards almost seeming more like a slide horizontally across the ground a good ten feet. His hand on the sword sheath did not raise his weapon, but his knuckles turned white from gripping it.
Yushira stared in shock at the large man. "O-oni desu!?"* he shouted, his mind trying to fully comprehend what he was seeing in this ugly giant.
Yushira heard Jören's call, but decided that running in this situation would be a bad idea. After all, what IF the creature decided to follow Yushira? They were in a public district- innocent people could get hurt!
"Who the heck are you!? Why are you chasing Joe Collins??" Yushira shouted, to try to understand the situation a bit more fairly before what he anticipated as an easy slice 'em down sort of fight.
((*= "Oni desu!?" means "it's a ogre?!" ))
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Post by Netreemic on Apr 21, 2009 21:16:54 GMT -6
The man gave a final cough before taking a large step towards Jören’s hidyrock, before starting in surprise at the second voice. Rocky features angled towards the young swordsman, confusion scrunching his thick brows together. “V-vermin has partner?” He spat out the last of the sugar, gaze darkening. Jören chucked a rock at the balding head to further impede the man’s thought processing, except the thick-finger hand snapped up to halt its path. The blonde scrabbled around for another thing to throw, growing more certain he should just bolt. Yushira was asking questions. Never good, even if Llug didn’t look like the brightest crayon in the box, well...guess he wasn't.
Blackened teeth showed as the leveled his glare at the crouching blonde while speaking to Yushira. “I am Kierlam Nieghan.” He caught another desperately thrown rock with a snarl, accent thick. “I hunt Jho Collhens because he is blight to rehmove. I will crush pathetic attempts to ghard him.” A tiny breath wheezed out of the hidden blonde. That hadn’t been overly revealing, just overly frightening. “Do not hinder mine duty, ahnd you will live.” Jören’s breath hitched, hearing the unspoken words: Not so for the pest.
“Look man, I know you’ve been following me the last few days, but what’s this about hunting?! Creepy stalker man with ill intent I can take, but this cannibalism thing is really creepy. Perverts I can handle, you-you just gotta rethink your life style.” His wide eyes peeked over the rock, hair jutting in frazzled directions. “Go, contemplate that somewhere else.” He made frantic shooing motions with his hands.
“Do NOT try to lie to me, scum. I smell the homeland on you. I feel your emptiness pull the life from this land.”
Hazel eyes narrowed. “With a nose like yours, amazed you don’t have eight things dying in there. Do you clean often? Soap and rinse every other day?” More time, need more time. Switched too recently, need to distract, trip him up. Frigging probably faster than me, frigging momentum on downhill dashes.
“Sad tactics for a sad creature. The whorld will be better without you.” Giant knuckles cracked. The man advanced on the rock, rumbling call over his shoulder, “Rehmove yourself, swordsman.”
CrappitycrapcrapCRAP
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Ryugexu
Accomplished Bobbyer
Without Fear... I step forward.
Posts: 192
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Post by Ryugexu on Apr 22, 2009 1:19:18 GMT -6
"What has Joe Collins done worth fighting, K-K-Kierlam Nieghan??" Yushira though strongwilled was a bit frightened. He was nervous that perhaps it wouldn't be best to interfere.
At the same time, he thought, this man may be attacking without reason!
Yushira would not raise his blade until he was sure he would use it. He was afraid of starting a fight he would not want to finish.
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