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Sensible Cricket
Proud RolePlay Addict
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11-22-2009, 03:51 AM
Mm, so he was sharper than he first appeared, if he made a dig at her species to try and rile her up. She smiled a little bit. But she would trade in her curiosity in exchange for protecting her secrets, and she didn't particularly care if he found that natural or unusual. "You can show me this charm of yours when you return, then. Far be it for me to detain you from the necessary tasks of collecting supplies."
In the mean time, she could work on cleaning out some of the castle where it definitely needed her -personal- attention before she could let him loose within it. There were rooms that had been sealed since -she- had been a kit, and she didn't want to chance what might have been in any of them.
"I will....see you again soon enough, then." Normally she would have just stonily watched him leave...so why was it important to her that he returned?
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TeeJayeDee
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11-23-2009, 04:55 AM
"Of course. A promise is a promise, first and foremost, and why would I risk your ire for reneging? Besides, there's far too much I find useful and interesting here..." at the word 'interesting' Elo had his eyes solidly focused on hers.
He nodded briefly, cast his flight spell and sped from the castle noiselessly, leaving a dust trail practically everywhere he went since it had been so many years since either a stiff breeze or gods forbid, a broom, had touched the hallways of this ancient castle.
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Sensible Cricket
Proud RolePlay Addict
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11-25-2009, 04:40 AM
Leiko stayed busy the entire time he was gone, flitting around the castle and attending to things that needed her direct attention. Rooms that had not been opened in centuries had the windows thrown open, and anything truly sentimental to her was gathered together and taken into her room. With the exception of the rack of burned scrolls--it stayed in its usual place of honour in the library.
She was sitting there, studying one of them at the goban in the library when he returned, utterly oblivious to his arrival in the face of her game.
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TeeJayeDee
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11-25-2009, 04:59 AM
Elo did indeed only spend two days in the little village before returning, though his return was far less noiseless than his departure. He had used a mystic steed spell so that he didn't have to buy a horse for the cart full of items he had brought back from town, including a cage with a brace of rabbits and a large fowl that the locals had called a turkey but looked a bit more like a vulture. They insisted it was a local delicacy and he took them at their word. He hung the cage with the "turkey" in it from a hook near the front door and placed the rabbits on a table near a window on the second floor. He shoved a few more carrots through the bars of their small cage. May as well have them have one more good meal before their slaughter, the warlock thought.
He then got to work using invisible servant spells unloading the stone, mortar, wooden beams and various paraphernalia he needed to repair the castle.
Then Elo glided down to the library, finding Leiko still studying her game board. "That game must really be important to you, M'lady Leiko. You can't seem to get enough of it..."
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Sensible Cricket
Proud RolePlay Addict
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11-25-2009, 08:25 AM
Leiko looked up from her studies only when Elo came back into the library. She was again holding one of the burned scrolls. From the look of the damage to it, it was likely the one that had been initially ignited, though the main bulk of the writing had been preserved. She seemed to be trying out different attacks against the recorded opponent, and from the look on her face, it seemed that the opponent recorded on the fine paper was quite a strong one. The scroll itself was ancient--whomever she was studying to beat was either immortal or long dead.
"I...am studying in search of the Kami no Itte. God's Hand and the Divine Move will allow me to entirely master the game. I...believe I am close." She rolled up the scroll and returned it to the rack of other burned scrolls, looking down at the goban and sighing softly, sorting out the stones and returning them to their bowls.
"I smell game...how much did you -bring-?"
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TeeJayeDee
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11-26-2009, 05:48 AM
"Well, there are a brace of rabbits in a small cage on the balcony, and what the locals call a turkey in a cage by the front door. But it looks far more like some sort of vulture to me..." He shrugged.
"We all have our obsessions, M'lady. You wish to master your game, I wish to master my appearance. I brought enough materials to get the essentials braced up, and from there I shall look at more cosmetic issues." Elo paused and strode over to the goban.
"I learned this game a while ago, and I was fairly decent at it. I am not sure I have the focus to be a true master at it... Fascinating game though." Elo looked over the board with some curiosity.
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Sensible Cricket
Proud RolePlay Addict
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11-26-2009, 06:24 AM
Leiko was already separating out the stones and putting them away. But the places she had not gotten to yet showed a very vibrant picture of the game. It had been a battle of titans, two masters clashing head on. Whomever had been playing had been amazing. But...neither side played with a documented style. The scroll Leiko had was holding lost knowledge, a game between two masters that history had never recorded.
Much of her library was like that, but of everything within it, she was fiercely protective of her collection of Go scrolls. Interesting, then, that those were the ones that had taken the brunt of the fire damage. Fire damage that seemed to have been deliberate against the scrolls, as none of the room bore any damage at all.
"I'll inspect the livestock later...if this 'turkey' is edible, that will be fine for the moment. Tend to the rabbits and see to it that they'll amuse themselves for the next couple of days." She'd only wanted a treat, hadn't planned on stocking up. But with the chance right there, she couldn't help but admit it sounded like a nice idea. "See if you can settle them in a hutch in the courtyard...if we can keep them going, it will be nice to not need to run down to the village..." And it would be nice to have some variety from fish.
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TeeJayeDee
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12-08-2009, 08:19 PM
"Of course. I wasn't sure exactly what you wanted, but it does make sense in the long run. I'll be able to begin work tomorrow. I think I shall start at the center of the castle, as a majority of the weight that might be poorly distributed would have the most effect there. I'll effect temporary repairs to relieve the stress, so that I can work on the rest of the place in safety and with the least amount of disturbance to you." That last was said trailing off, as for a moment he tried visualizing her eating habits. Finally he shrugged. To each their own, he figured.
With that, he left and began doing as he was told, getting the rabbits comfortable wouldn't be as hard as it would appear initially, because he brought both some vegetables and some seedlings for planting for his own eating. Elo figured he might as well share.
It didn't take him long to set up a makeshift hutch that looked fairly decent. There was an unused aviary along one of the castle walls, and he spent a couple of hours converting that into the equivalent of a rabbit mansion for the two bunnies. "You don't know how lucky you are." He told them. They just wiggled their ears in response and bounded off towards the scattered vegetables he had placed in their bowl.
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Sensible Cricket
Proud RolePlay Addict
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12-12-2009, 03:52 PM
{{I'm gonna do a bit of a time skip, otherwise Leiko will just keep being stand-offish and anti-social for a long time. >_> I hope this is okay?}}
Leiko stayed out of Elo's way for the most part, letting him do the restorations without her hindrance. She stayed mostly in the library, so when he came there of a night to do his research, she was there. Mostly, she tried to ignore him and pretend he wasn't there. She had eaten the turkey in the night the first night it had been there, and the courtyard looked like precisely the scene of a fox attack that one would be expecting to find. She left the rabbits alone, however, staying far clear of them and waiting on them to settle in. If she gave them enough time, she might just never have to -hunt- rabbits again.
The repairs were going well, it looked like they would be done in a few more weeks. And unfortunately that was precisely why she needed to talk to Elo. She waited in the library for him, figuring he would come eventually. He usually did--she had even...gotten used to his being there. She would even...miss him a little bit when he left. Which, with winter coming, would either be very soon, or quite a ways away. It wouldn't be fair to him to not warn him that he could get snowed into the castle.
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TeeJayeDee
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12-22-2009, 02:40 AM
Elo entered the library and cleared his throat. "I've an announcement for you. All the repairs, structurally, are pretty well done. And what is not done can be done by an unseen servant spell I could teach you. But... I have yet to see any hint of my promised payment. If it is your destiny to betray our bargain, now would be the time to do so..." He said, half-jokingly and leaned against the door sill.
He looked for all the world as casual as if he were a servant awaiting a small gratuity for carrying a traveler's bags to their room, but underneath, he was prepared for an attack, his mind going over half a dozen defensive and movement enhancing spells that he could use if confronted by her. The Warlock's arms were crossed in front of him, his hands not visible beneath his ample sleeves. Elo cocked his head and smiled as he awaited her response.
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Sensible Cricket
Proud RolePlay Addict
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12-22-2009, 01:57 PM
Leiko looked up when he made his 'announcement', but she frowned deeply when he spoke of wanting payment. "Your payment was to be access to my library...I have never hindered you in that." She stood, retreating to the window while keeping her eyes on him. She didn't know what else he thought he was entitled to, but she figured she ought to be prepared for an attack on her that he might try and get it.
Shame on her...she'd gotten so used to having him around, she had forgotten that he was still a stranger. She had started to appreciate the company, started to be grateful to him for the break in her loneliness...and this was how she was repaid... Her nose twitched a little bit, and she reached into her sleeve. It wasn't anything magical she was drawing out, though she cultivated the image that it was. It was a paper fan, decorated with elegant ribbons, and she snapped it open in front of her face, leaving only her eyes visible.
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TeeJayeDee
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12-22-2009, 06:10 PM
"So... there is nothing in your library that can help my quest?" He seemed suddenly to relax, and for the first time his feet actually touched the floor of her castle. The warlock's gaze now was solidly fixed upon the floor. "I suppose it was a bit much to expect. I do not fit in among youkai such as yourself, and I do not fit in among the mortals. Really, that is all that I wanted." Elo paused, drawing in a deep sigh.
"I suppose that I will finish the repairs myself. I can have them done in another couple of weeks, and then leave you to your game." He casually strolled over to the goban and made a move or two for both sides, absently. "I'm sure you have plenty to keep you occupied. I will admit though, that I sincerely thought we were making inroads towards what might be considered friendship. But I suppose, this was another subtle Kitsune trick. Such is life."
Elo turned and began walking out of the room, an unfamiliar sound of footsteops echoing behind him.
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Sensible Cricket
Proud RolePlay Addict
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12-22-2009, 11:34 PM
Leiko relaxed markedly when he relaxed, more comfortable now that she knew he wasn't planning an attack on her. It was unusual to be in the presence of someone so...direct... It was refreshing, really, to not have to stop and think about each and every possible interpretation or permutation of every single word, like she had to with other youkai.
She winced a little bit when his feet touched the ground--it was impolite for one to walk in a Japanese home with one's shoes on, so the echoing footsteps that followed him now were a slight against her and against her home. Not to mention his dig against her for being a Kitsune...it made her blood boil that he would so casually throw her race around like that.
She returned her fan to her sleeve, snarling a little bit and hurrying after him. "How like a half-breed to not appreciate what is put before you!" It was a low blow, but she was angry and hurt by his words, figuring that anything was better than taking it quietly. Maybe a taste of his own medicine would bring him round, maybe even earn her an apology--a childish way of thinking, but the demoness was too used to getting her own way.
"You will float or take your shoes off in my home. You will treat me with respect. And..." Her voice shook, she knew she was being irrational, but she didn't quite know what else to do. "You will appreciate that I'm doing my best to be friendly for being five hundred years a shut-in!"
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TeeJayeDee
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12-24-2009, 06:29 AM
In response to her tirade, Elo first just stopped, then suddenly floated up an inch or two, wheeling slowly towards her to face her. "Finally, an honest response." he said, coolly.
"Leiko, I was beginning to think I could never crack that shell you've armored yourself with all these years. I do appreciate that you've given me access to your library. But either you did not know yourself if you had a suitable spell that would help me, or you did and just used me for the nearly free labor. Either way it does not matter now. Your response to me cements my realization that I cannot fit in among others not of my kind." He paused, before beginning to turn away. "By the way, you might want to look at the moves I made in your precious game. They might be... enlightening."
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Sensible Cricket
Proud RolePlay Addict
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12-24-2009, 02:42 PM
She sighed, folding her arms. Now that he was off the floor and speaking to her respectfully again, she felt a bit of her anger dissipating. "I honestly have no clue what's in my library. If you hadn't noticed, I rarely look at anything other than my kifu."
It was true--Leiko stayed in the corner of the library that had weathered a fire, and rarely left it to look at other things. All of the burned scrolls were about Go, and she never seemed to read anything else.
"But as to fitting in places...there is a secret to it that I don't think you know. And I don't think you ever -will-. I could tell you, give you payment for your work, but...somehow I don't think you'd appreciate it and it would just further this little explosion between the two of us. Just....leave. Before the snow comes and seals off the castle until spring. Or stay and be prepared -to- stay until spring, but stay out of my way until I've calmed down. You will never earn my respect by constantly making comments about my being a kitsune. You will never earn my friendship no matter -how- hard I try to be friendly as long as you insist on acting like you know everything and think you are above everyone else. I've tried your set of moves, and they are as easily defeated as everything else I've come up with."
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TeeJayeDee
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12-24-2009, 04:41 PM
"First of all, please look more closely at those moves and what they set the board up for if your opponent does what have you done with mine and underestimate it as a long term strategy."
He sighed a bit. "Perhaps it is not your perfect move you have been looking for but there is more to what I did than an easily defeated strategy. But, that aside, I admit I am very curious about this method you say I would be angered at. If it is the ritual of undoing, in which I give up my powers and pact to become mortal, I am aware of that one, and yes, stubbornly refuse to do it."
"I have been somewhat disrespectful with you on occasion, and freely admit it is motivated out of jealousy, nothing more. You shall never hear me mention your race in a way that is derogatory from this point forward. If I had anywhere else to go, I would leave right now, but honestly I don't have anywhere to go. Until just now, I did not have a clear idea whether or not you were planning anything... that would be uncomfortable for me or worse. I did indeed provoke you to see what the response was." The warlock paused, then shook his head.
"And the veneer of superiority that I don often, is usually done around mortals to intimidate them or youkai to cause them to wonder about the extent my powers. I'm tired of this. I give up. I'll finish your repairs and meditate about the ritual of undoing, but somehow I think something inside me won't let me abandon my powers so easily." And with that, he turned away and started to head towards what he had commandeered as his room in her castle.
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