Welcome to Gaia! ::

((No apologies, it's difficult to name a story that hasn't yet begun, and roleplays are the same thing. I have my own apology to offer (again) for taking so long to respond. As I said over PMs, I will almost definitely be online daily until the 13th, and after that, hopefully. It's a long story. (Feel free to lose your patience with me. smile ) I like the quote from Dune you've got in your sig. I just started reading Dune. I'm having trouble getting into it... but I've heard that it's amazing, so I'm pushing through it. I'm gonna steal a bit from the training part at the beginning. razz ))

Calaman was tall for the fourteen years he'd been alive, and his limbs were lean and sinewy, but he was a skinny child nonetheless. His teacher had been pleased with his growth under training. That same teacher had been more than a little amused when new pupils assumed Calaman was weak because of his small stature, and earned themselves black eyes and bruises because of their cockiness.

Calaman kept his eyes on a constant swivel as he traversed the crowded courtyard; not out of any real expectation of danger, but to keep his instincts honed. If he let his guard down, even in a place like Bevelle, he was inviting disaster.

"Your task is to be prepared to defend. You knew that when you accepted my training. Fighting is not something that you can have a 'mood' for. If your summoner is attacked and you are not in the 'mood' to fight, your summoner will die."

True, he didn't have a summoner yet, but that didn't mean he had to let himself slip into a bad habit.

Still, the sight was exhilerating. With so many here, how was he going to choose someone to serve? For that matter, how would he make himself stand out enough to make someone choose him?

As he walked, a glint caught Calaman's eye. He glanced up - priests atop the cathedral, going about some rite or another.

Damn it! The frustrated curse ran through his mind before he even realized he'd walked into someone. As always happened when he needed to move quickly, he felt himself sliding into his warrior mindset. His teacher had always chided him for having that 'mindset': "There should be no 'transition'. You must always be in a warrior's mindset." Time seemed to slow as he watched the woman, facing away from him and falling forward. In one fluid movement, he knelt slightly, swung around her, caught her in one arm, turned just enough to redirect the momentum, and with one hand on her shoulder, moved her back into a standing position.

Still full of that bizarre adrenaline, he knelt without even looking at her face or registering much about her appearance beyond that she was female, and far too well-dressed to be a mere commoner. Still being carried by his momentum, the short sword at his side slapped heavily against his thigh, causing him to grit his teeth as it settled. He would probably have a bruise there. At least it wasn't in a place that would restrict movement or cause a muscle to freeze when he needed to move.

"I am terribly sorry, Lady," he said breathlessly, mentally cursing himself for dropping his concentration, even for that one stupid, stupid instant. "I was distracted. You have my sincerest apologies."

Still cursing himself, he wondered how she would react. The garments she wore were similar to what he'd been told to expect of a summoner. Perhaps she was, in fact, a summoner? He allowed himself a small smile as he resolved himself: If she decided to curse him for his stupidity as he had cursed himself, he would accept the reprimand and be on his way. If she accepted the apology gracefully... Well, perhaps he had just found his summoner.

((I've an idea for a 'rival' summoner and guardian, but I'll wait for now. Partly because I want to introduce them at one of the cloisters, and I don't remember any of the details on the cloisters.))

((I think they were roughly the same... My paragraphs were shorter on average. However, I have to say, even this early, it's refreshing to roleplay with someone who is (apparently) as a**l about grammer as I am. (I start getting irritable when people write in grammar so bad you can barely understand what they are trying to say... >.<;; )

Anyway, I'll do a little background research, but for now, I'll just stick to the one character. But on the note of multiple characters, I think I've changed my mind on who to use for the rivals... I've got a trio of characters that turns up a lot in my writing, and I think I'll just use them--gratuitously modified, of course. The original characters were a man with dragon wings, a wolf-man, and a being made of sentient shadows... But I was thinking more along the lines of their names and personalities anyway. xd

And on the subject of Dune: Yeah, I've noticed that Dune is really quotable. I like the Harkonnen dude. He's so gross. Such a scumbag. I love it.))

A little taken aback and more than a little stunned by the sudden change in circumstance, Calaman was forced to reevaluate his course of action. After all, she had neither accepted his apology nor thrown it back in his face: she had demanded that he prove his sincerity.

More or less.

So what did that mean?

Well, he decided as she dragged him into a bar, at least she didn't seem to be an empty-headed milksop like many of the young women he'd known. And she didn't... quite... seem to be a domineering hag. At least, he was reasonably sure she wasn't a hag, but he wasn't sure if...

Well. He dug into the pouch at his waist, wondering how much this 'apology' was going to cost him, but determined to see it through. He pulled out a handful of gil, and when she finally stopped long enough for him to catch his breath, he gave her a polite, if bewildered, "As you wish, Lady." He turned toward the bar, to see that the tender was standing ready. He tried to tell himself that didn't mean anything, but couldn't help suspecting that she was a frequenter.

By Yevon, I hope she isn't a drunk, he thought sourly as he ordered a cup of sake. The bartender nodded to show that he'd heard, but for a moment, didn't move.

Obviously, the tender knew the sake was for the woman - and was waiting for Calaman himself to order something.

"I don't drink," he said a little stiffly, affronted by the very suggestion - even if it was an unspoken one. With a knowing smile, the tender shuffled off to fetch the drink.

On another impulse, Calaman turned back to the summoner and knelt, though this time it was more dignified, since this time, it was not in apology.

"Lady," he said loudly, to be heard over the din of the bar, "I am called Calaman." He didn't ask her name. Now that he was reasonably sure she was a summoner, bits and pieces of social protocol kept filtering through his mind. One of the things he remembered was that if a summoner wished herself to remain nameless, then nameless she would remain, as far as a lowly sellsword was concerned.

"Your sake?" the tender said. Startled and frustrated at his own odd behavior, Calaman straightened, pushed the cup a little toward the summoner, and looked inquiringly at the tender.

"Twelve gil," the tender said obligingly. Calaman dropped fifteen on the bartop and turned back to the summoner, wondering what in Spira could possibly come next.

((I just remembered that the world is called Spira. xd Poor me.))

((EDIT: It also occurs to me that the sake probably would have cost significantly more... Feh. I've gotten used to Robert Jordan books, where a single gold mark will buy you a warm bed for the night, a hot meal, and a place for your horse. Stupid monetary conversions.))

((Yes, it's very refreshing to roleplay with someone who is capable with the English language. I find it appalling how much the our language has deteriorated, especially in online circles. I like your rival trio; they seem interesting. I've got my own ideas for rival characters, but I think I'll introduce them later, maybe on Besaid or something. What about a summoner-guardian duo that we each control a character for? My ideas for summoner-guardian groups are a husband and wife, or two brothers. If you want, you could commandeer one of the characters in one of those groups, or not if you'd rather.

And you read Robert Jordan too?! eek We must like the same kind of fantasy! (Or did you say that before, and I've just forgotten? redface ) I've read the first three Wheel of Time books, and his writing is very good - if rather hopeless sometimes whee

And as for the money...who knows how much one gil is worth in terms of other currencies. And who cares, really.))

Overall, Eddora was a happy woman as her fingers curled around the bowl-like cup, her other hand closing about the full bottle the tender set down beside it. Ignoring the tender's gaze, she looked at the boy and tilted her head to an empty table. "This way."

Knowing he would follow, Eddora marched sharply over to the table and sat down in the chair that had its back against the wall, providing her with a clear view of the door. The cushioned chairs were comfortable - soft enough that one could sit in them for hours without growing uncomfortable, but not so soft that one was in danger of sinking down half a foot into it. That was one of the main reasons Eddora liked this place so much. Yes, she sighed to herself. This place is perfect to spend hour after hour in.

While Calaman was still sitting down, Eddora swiftly poured herself some sake and drained the cup in one gulp. Then she refilled the cup and sat back, surveying the boy before her. She ran her tongue around her mouth, savoring the tang of the alcohol and feeling it ooze its warm way into her stomach. How ironic that fermented rice could taste so wonderful. She smiled inwardly, but on the outside all she did was reach for her cup and take a sip. Over the rim of the cup, she watched the boy with sharp dark eyes not yet dulled by alcohol.

"So your name's Calaman, eh?" she said finally. "I'm Eddora, pleased to meet you, whatever." She waved a nonchalant hand and finished off her second cup, pouring a third and setting it down. "As you've obviously guessed, I'm a summoner. And as you've also noticed (unless you're blind, of course), I have no guardian as of yet. Can't exactly start the pilgrimage without one, can I?"

Abruptly, she changed tack. "So what's your area of expertise, other than catching people you so rudely bump into?" After running her eyes up and down his youthful face again, she added, "And how old are you?" She gulped down the rest of the cup and refilled it yet again, briefly noting that more than half of the bottle was now gone.

((I've long wondered what sake tastes like, so I totally had to make that up based on my experience with grape wine. Also, I've noticed from anime that sake is usually served in a bottle, which is then poured into a bowl-like dish. I felt like I needed to explain the bottle sweatdrop ))

((BUMPING back to the top. Just making sure you didn't lose it. smile ))

((Oh, wow, you just reminded me of that quote, "Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than a mountain." I loved that quote, and I just realized that I haven't heard (read?) it in a long time. I don't remember when they stopped saying it... Sad sad ))

Calaman felt a sudden urge to get up and stalk around the perimeter of the bar and ensure the security of the place, but wasn't sure exactly why. Probably to quell the warmth bubbling up in his stomach.

A warrior in a pleasant mood, Althemen had said many a time, is a warrior who isn't paying enough attention to his duties.

After a moment, though, that feeling subsided, to be replaced by curiosity--Lady Eddora didn't seem all that eager to accept a fourteen-year-old as a guardian. So, he phrased his acceptance accordingly.

"Contingent upon your wishes and approval, Lady," he said, making it clear that he would accept only if she wished it, "I accept your offer and the duties carried with it."

Calaman realized, belatedly, that being her guardian gave him certain priveleges regarding his conduct around her. For one, it wasn't quite as important that he prostrate himself every time he addressed her. After all, if an enemy saw that a summoner's guardian was kneeling every time he addressed her, it would become a prime opportunity for attack. Calaman was deadly from any position, but that didn't mean he was equally deadly standing as he was kneeling. She did seem a little eccentric, but then, Calaman, with his obsession with duty and honor and, of course, guardianship, probably seemed more than a little eccentric.

"Perhaps this is a bold statement, Lady," he said then, solemnly, "but you will not regret your choice."

((I think I'm going to intro another character here. I leave it up to you to decide what to do with him. razz ))

"Of course, Lady," Calaman agreed, and made to follow her, a little startled by her decision to wait until now to leave for the ship. That startlement was eclipsed by the bewildered surprise he felt when she chucked the bottle across the bar. He immediately narrowed his eyes, tensing, preparing to move between the Lady and the rest of the bar, feeling almost certain that a textbook tavern brawl was going to erupt as a result... But nothing - much - happened. The bar fell into a surprised silence. Looking bemused and relieved, the bartender signalled a barmaid to clean up the mess, and that was that. The noise returned, and the Lady began to drag him toward the exit. Desperately, he tried to put his thoughts in order, tried to make himself a guardian instead of a bewildered boy, because the most crowded places were the easiest places from which a summoner could receive a poisoned needle or a knife between the ribs. Finally he shook his head violently and quickened his pace to walk beside and slightly behind her, giving the crowd - which promptly parted for them - a hard stare, hand on his weapon. From this position, as long as he kept his eyes on a swivel, he could fairly easily keep a watch on both his summoner and anyone who might try to approach her.

That opportunity didn't waste much time in presenting itself. The ship had been visible for a while now, and the wood beneath his feet told Calaman that they were on the wharf, and therefore, nearly to the ship.

His instincts reacted before his mind did. Althemen would have been proud. He was standing between his summoner and the tall, theatrically-dressed man before he actually realized the man was approaching the Lady. The man had long, raven black hair tied back in a ponytail, and piercing yellow eyes. He was dressed in navy blue garments, elegant, yet almost laughably inadequate as armor. And from the way the man carried himself, he fancied himself a warrior. Or, Calaman thought as he noticed the trademark yellow cap, a mage. In addition, the man's flesh was too pale for him to be anything but a noble.

"And just who are you?" the man said in a deep, cultured voice, looking down his nose at Calaman. Calaman disliked him already.

"I am a - " he paused for the barest of instants - "the guardian of the Lady..." He stopped himself just before divulging her name. A summoner's name was her own to give or hide, as she chose. "Who are you, to so boldly approach her?"

"Eddora?" The man sounded affronted as he stared at the Lady, seemingly ignoring Calaman. His air of familiarity made Calaman bristle. Apparently, though, the Lady had already made the choice to give this man her name. That, Calaman thought darkly, or this man has more interest in the Lady than is healthy... for his sake. "You allow this..." he checked his tongue, and just in time, "...boy to style himself your guardian?" He shook his head. "Never mind that, my dear." Calaman choked. Had he interposed himself between a summoner and her lover? If he had... "The ship is about to leave," the man continued. "Come. We must get aboard quickly."

Well, there was nothing for it. Calaman took a quick and short step to the side, but not so far that the stranger could approach Eddora without going through Calaman, and gave his summoner an inquiring look.

((And there he is. He's Aer d'Mors, a relatively skilled, black mage with his heart in the right place, but a few ill-conceived notions of superiority, due to his noble birth and upbringing. He fancies himself Eddora's guardian, even though she hasn't formally accepted his offer. I'll leave it up to you to determine whether, in the past, she has outright refused that offer. He's too persistent to let the issue drop, in any case. Fun fun. smile ))

Aer's eyes were too fixedly trained on Calaman, else he would have realized how disrespectful he sounded when he said, "For now, perhaps." Then he looked back to Eddora. "I'm sure you will see reason eventually," he sighed wistfully, "but there will be plenty of time for that. Come, we must board the ship!" he said as a horn blew, the sound carrying across most of the wharf. The ship was almost ready to set sail.

Calaman didn't take his eyes off the black mage. "Lady," he said, just loud enough to be heard over the crowd around them, "The choice of action is yours, of course, but the ship is preparing to set sail."

Aer set his jaw, prepared to follow no matter what she decided. Besides, he had already paid the fare for himself and Eddora. He hadn't anticipated the urchin, but surely no one would venture to call himself a guardian without first saving up a fair amount of gil. And if he couldn't pay his way, small loss.

((No worries. Although I'm wondering if I might be playing Aer a little out of character. I did say his heart was 'in the right place', and that doesn't seem to be adding up here...))