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 Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:35 pm
Yossarian had to say, he much preferred the little group as it had been, rather than it was now: a quartet instead of a sex... tet... thanks to some very unwelcome cling-ons.
Of course the whole vacation had gotten off to a pretty rocky start, what with all the seals and strandings and drugged beverages and (literally) screwy intimacy-- but after all of that bad air had been cleared out, things had actually been going more-or-less smoothly. He'd managed to teach Aster a fair chunk of swimming basics, learned to build sand-castles, successfully evaded crabs, and even tried spear-fishing on one day when the water seemed particularly clear.
Granted that he didn't actually catch much of anything, but it was an interesting learning experience none the less.
Even the others had eventually lightened up, he'd noted, with Shae frequenting the sands more often and even swimming one night before total darkness, off in the far distance, to go and 'relax' her sore muscles. She'd been sick for several days beforehand, but as always, just seemed to quietly survive through it until the feverish misery ebbed-- and for one who'd had that kind of incident happen so recently, she actually seemed to be in high spirits.
Hell, had he not known what happened firsthand, he probably couldn't have told that anything was new or different about her at all.
But that was neither here nor there in his book, and the dark male hadn't payed too much attention to the other duo's personal matters during their stay... sans a few inexplicable and frustrating pangs of inferiority. Over what? Hell if he knew. They were just there and obnoxious, period.
Days passed, peacefully, and before he knew it, nearly two weeks were behind them. Alas, it was finally time to return to the world of daily work and uncertain futures...
Until that letter came one morning.
In retrospect, he really should've been more suspicious of the therapist and her bespectacled friend-- neither of whom had been especially active in their emotional tampering lately despite remaining a constant presence-- but no, it took him by surprise like a brick to the head, thinking no ill when Hanna came jogging down the beach with that envelope she claimed "some poor, overheated soul in military garb" had delivered... and it was only when the little group received an invite back to that house that things began to click.
Even Shae, usually so astute when it came to trouble brewing, was only vaguely suspicious until that point... but what could she do about it? Perhaps the two older Koshka were simply wanting to express their farewell sentiments before parting?
... Yeah, as if that was going to happen. (It didn't.)
This was Jade they were talking about. And Hanna. Nothing good ever came of Jade and Hanna.
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:55 pm
Aster had been... as snuggly as she had been previously, purring and all the more affectionate, but she had also been a good girl and submitted herself back to the 'lessons' she'd pined at Yossarian to start to begin with -- such as snuggling in at night to get some more reading done (they'd made painfully slow progress, and she found herself getting frustrated over her lack of ability at times... but she could at least pick up the most commonly reoccuring words without a problem now), and swimming (with less flailing than previously) a little more successfully.
However, that didn't mean that Shae hadn't earned a bit of envy from the fold-ear.. OR that she didn't...er.... yeaaah.
She'd dropped very special hints (in the form of puzzled questions) at her other half for a while, though it seemed to please Jade and the other's more than anybody else involved.
The rest was just awwwwkward. Which was all Aster sensed coming their way when Jade had gotten the letter.
A letter that he read while making the most suspicious sounding of 'HMMMM'ing noises while he looked it over.
Was he being purposely cruel? Possibly. However, it seemed that he soon had to sigh and turn his attention to his current company: Namely Hanna and Langston. "How unfortunate! They're sending an old man like me out to investigate the new land that was opened up recently!"
ALAS.
Kanda didn't exactly feel all that...er... 'secure' in the fact that Jade was actually... 'complaining' (more or less) in their general direction. What in the HELL did that all mean?
Not to mention this complaint was being aimed at Langston, which prompted him to look to Shae and frown -- he was sure she could read his mind: "DO NOT WANT".
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:30 pm
Of all all the times for his father to be present, surely, undoubtedly, this was the worst. Poor Yossarian could only stand in the back ranks of the small cluster and wonder idly just why in hell they were there to begin with... and of course, if something in the room might be handy to smother his dearest father with, too, but that was just a given.
"Really, now?" And of course said father played right into Jade's hands by prompting him further, looking terribly curious, and perhaps even a touch distraught.
"... Funny to commission a 'military ambassador' no longer enlisted," Hanna couldn't help but comment in his wake, and sighed, lightly, to herself. "Well... I think it'd be a fine personal research opportunity--"
"But that seems like a rather overwhelming responsibility for one gent to shoulder," asked Langston, now most certainly concerned. "Are you certain you're up to such a grande feat?--"
Shae knew where this was going. She knew where this was going already and she did not like it one bit. Oh, damn her inability to speak up in the midst of conversation...
"Well he won't necessarily be alone," the therapist went on. "I'd be happy to go too, you know; research opportunities like this don't exactly present themselves every day, although..."
Yep, Shae definitely didn't like this, and she could sense the impending doom.
"I can't say I'm much good for protection," the therapist admitted woefully, "which might be a problem, considering how little is currently known about the territory right now..."
Okay, now that? That had been the switch-flipping trigger in Yossarian's brain, and now he was frowning GRAVELY.
Surely, that couldn't... but he didn't... NO.
NO NO NO THEY WERE MOST CERTAINLY NOT FALLING FOR THIS.
He absolutely REFUSED!
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:59 pm
Jade chuckled at the commentary he was receiving in return. Ohh yes, he was far too old and retired (not even 40, the whore) to be doing any of that silly 'ambassador' stuff! What with his military connections and all that good stuff, he may actually propose a CONVENIENT job opportunity!
Now why on earth would he have wanted to do such a thing as that?
"Oh yes, there's always a matter of all of those rogues, now isn't there?" he 'hmmed', placing his hand on his chin to ponder over this silly little thought. HmmmmMmmmm.
Aster winced at the sudden mention of 'considerations', looking to Yossarian and frowning, then peering back to the gossiping...older-adults. Nnnnngh.
"I..don't like where this is going.." she mumbled, frowning a bit.
Yeah. She definitely didn't approve either, unfortunately. Then again, her opinion was starting to ...lose it's 'power' in what it was their little troupe did. Eeeeeek! But yes.
SHE REFUSED TOO!
Kanda's ears flicked back at the sudden mention of 'protection'. Ohhh no.
"Jade's perfectly capable of protecting himself." he grumbled.
This caused Jade to frown.
"I'd break something!"
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:41 pm
At that moment it seemed like everyone except Langston understood their fates. Shae knew it. Yossarian knew it. Hanna knew it-- and Jade? Jade knew it better than all the rest of them combined! That spectacled devil had planned this, somehow... or at least, that was what one dark male had convinced himself of, inwardly seething and glowering.
"He'll survive well enough I'm sure," he practically snapped, ears turned back, tail prickling at the time. "We've no business--"
"Oh! That gives me an idea!"
... God dammit, his father. Of all the times to burst out with some ludicrous delayed epiphany--
"Yossarian, dear!" And adding insult to injury, he had to refer to his darling son with that name, slinging a cheerful arm around the younger male's shoulder, "aren't you and your friends still pursuing odd jobs of that sort? Jade-- " And before Yossarian could splutter out a protest, the attention on him was lost in favor of the mastermind. "Perhaps you could hire my son's company to aid you?"
"I'd rather n--"
"They're just wonderfully capable, too!"
"......."
Shae, too, had said nothing up to that point-- but the small halfbreed's frown told all of her wary disapproval. Breaking something? Ha! Now that was a joke! Jade was probably still strong enough to drag a concrete block with one hand, and she... she could barely keep herself from getting ill half the time, let alone pay bodyguard! This wasn't a good idea AT ALL.
"Ah... I don't think I'm very well suited to--" she'd started to choke out, but alas, it was never meant to be as Langston burst in cheerfully once more.
"So, what do you say?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:48 pm
Ohhh whiiiiiine! No really, the only thing that Aster was inclined to do after Langston opened his mouth was WHIMPER and possibly go and run for the hills. Noooo! Why was he volunteering theeeeeem? The butterfur's tail puffed up quite a bit when Jade actually seemed to be CONSIDERING it, looking over the quartet.
afjdsfk;sajfkfhas;fdajlf.
OKAY, DISCREET BUT DESPERATE GRABBING AT HER MAN'S HAND. NEED SQUEEZE, HAAAALP. fjadls;fhasdfjksl. No really, she just knew that with their luck, that would be exactly what would happen.
No bueno.
Jade indeed 'hmm'ed aloud at the suggestion, looking over the quartet with an almost... devious look in his eyes.... or evil glint to his glasses. Whatever it was that would actually work in this case. Hmmm.
Well..
...
"It would be quite the experience for the kids, I would imagine - and I could certainly pay them enough to make it worth their while."
fjsdalfdshfladsf.
"No." Kanda flat-out REFUSED. He wasn't just going to silently 'dajsl' about this whole thing, he was going to put his foot DOWN.
Jade just smiled back at the flat-out-refusal of his proposal. Oh really?
"Do you have something else lined up?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:12 pm
For the record, that whining didn't help Yossarian's mood in the slightest and, had he not already been so distracted by Jade's antics and his own internal woe, the dark male could've easily snapped at her to cease, dammit, that's obviously not doing us any good right now!
But he didn't, which was probably for the better, turning on his father and looking QUITE READY to make a protest of his own on the other swordsman's heels...
"Do you have something else lined up?"
DAMMIT, that had him at a catch-22 and he knew it, too.
"We don't, but!--" he started, but before even LANGSTON could open his mouth, Hanna decided it best to chime in, beaming sweetly, cheerfully, oh-so-innocently innocently behind her shiny frames.
"There'll be a nice military stipend in it for you, I bet," she teased, "wouldn't that help you all in getting by?"
Even Shae couldn't argue with that point (as much as she wanted to), knowing full well that, alas, their reserve funds were already more or less drained from recent expenses... and soon they'd be having to return to work anyway. Still, that didn't mean THIS was right!...
But it was the most convenient (and STABLE) option that had presented itself and... no! NO!
"... Be that as it may," Yossarian mumbled with as much composure as he could muster (which didn't equate to very much), "I don't believe the four of us--" Yes, he'd decided to throw all their opinions into the fray. "-- Would like to risk our necks for the sake of some ludicrous southbound venture."
"Really?" Langston sure seemed crushed by that, and Hanna was more than willing to back him up.
"On top of the paycheck, you can be guaranteed warmer weather, I'd add... " Oooh, that was a cruel ploy directed right at Shae, and the girl herself knew it, too. But the worst part? It was actually a hard offer to resist. "Just think it over, won't you? And who knows; maybe the dramatic change is exactly what you need, hmm?"
"........." Neither Shae nor Yossarian said anything right then, the former passing up an opportunity to argue that, hey, THEY'D ALREADY HAD ENOUGH DRAMATIC CHANGES LATELY and the latter just too disgruntled to say anything.
Sigh.
They were really screwed into this pretty good, huh?...
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:03 pm
She wasn't WHINING, she was groping-for-handing! Srsly! She wasn't ...well, she WAS TECHNICALLY a little nasally 'eeeeeek'ing, but it wasn't nearly as bad as her 'doomeeeee' whines. She'd hope. She certainly wasn't trying to lure the prettyboi back to their room for some bedding time.
But alas, it seemed they were being given some 'think it over time', which allowed Aster to... to..
.... do absolutely nothing, actually. She just grabbed onto Yossarian's hand and squeezed. So, were they going to head out with them?
Or something like that? She just didn't know. Alas.
Kanda's tail prickled up at the supposed 'benefits' of their heading out with Jade (which was the general problem), which also meant that it was also nicely set up for them to look INSANE if they didn't take up this 'oh so generous' offer, his hand automatically going to his temples to massage at the throbbing pain in them.
asdfakl;.
No really, he was NOT enjoying himself in the least. Alas.
It was only at the 'think about it' that he actually took his leave of the room to sit down in the next one over.
Alas. "What to do...what to do..."
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:51 pm
He gave up that hand for clinging, too, but only squeezed back in any semblance of 'comfort' once a whole other room had been placed between themselves and the opposition, perching himself on the first piece of permitting furniture (one of the living room's smaller chairs) and slouching into a brooding pose.
He didn't want to do this at ALL, but somehow... it didn't feel like they even had a choice.
And on the upside, it DID promise them a supposedly steady paycheck, didn't it? That was always a bonus. And the traveling might keep them entertained with new cities and discoveries and climate-- ... wait, why was he even CONSIDERING the positives now!? That made no sense! Advocating the possibility was a BAD thing!
(It was only then, when he looked up to address the other swordsman, that he noticed they were one short of their usual four.)
"What do you think of all this?" he asked lamely, feeling a headache of his own coming on. Sure, he could've asked Aster, but... well, she wouldn't be the one dealing with most danger at the front lines, now, would she? "Is it worth it? Do we even consider trusting that man's mad whim?..."
But where was Shae? As it had turned out, the little halfbreed, for some god-awful masochistic reason, had chosen to stay behind-- a thing that Hanna had to quirk a brow over in particular. Something on her mind, perhaps?
"What do you need, Miss Shae?" she prompted in a kind tone, politely restraining Langston with a mutter of could you kindly go put some water on the boil for me? so he'd have something to stay occupied.
"... Is it just convenience, or is there a particular reason you're requesting our company?"
The therapist couldn't help sighing at that, with a bitter sweet smile to herself. Reasons, reasons, reasons. Always reasons for everything with that girl.
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Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 7:47 am
Well, Aster just settled herself into the closest available seat, frowning and wringing her pants. Okay, so they were going to…discuss all of this silliness from Jade. Not that her opinion really mattered on this front. But she was definitely of the variety of… the menz front. No really, she couldn’t imagine Yossarian allowing her to put herself anywhere near possible harm.
(She hadn’t even brought up the possibility of learning to use the knife on her belt…nngh)
“Well.. I dunno if my opinion really counts here, but objectively it may be a decent job….” Siiiigh “And isn’t there a bandit town further south? Perhaps looking into bounties before heading that direction may be useful?”
fajdfkdslf.
“I dunno..”
Kanda just sighed deeply at Aster’s commentary, before leaning back in the seat of his own choice. “I have to wonder why the military-“ CODEWORD: HIS FATHER “would choose to move in cautiously now.”
Nnngh.
“To be honest, I’m not absolutely sure the trip itself would be an issue – the company is what bothers me.”
Reasons indeed! No matter, Jade had an answer for all of that – “It’s a nice stable and easy job to help you kiddos get back up on your working feet. Besides, don’t you all like adventure?”
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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:43 am
He hadn't really meant to undermine her 'opinion', and hearing that little disclaimer spouted off churned up a pang of guilt in Yossarian's gut, but... again, she wasn't the one who'd be dealing with any danger firsthand (if he had his way) assuming they did go, so hearing the swordsman's take on things took priority.
... Although she did have a very unfortunate point. This could provide them with a pretty decent job opportunity if they chose to accept-- just one probably fraught with all sorts of unknown woe.
Was it worth that risk? That pain? That HUMILIATION of knowing they'd actually be employed under JADE?
"I can't deny the same sentiments," he mumbled with a twinge of pain in his voice, resting his elbows on his knees and his forehead on his knitted fingers. "Although sadly... it may also be the most promising monetary outlet we'll have for a while..."
The more he thought on it all, the more he hated himself for considering it that much further.
"... I see." And meanwhile, Shae was busy confronting the whole issue firsthand-- kind of literally. As for whether or not she'd been expecting that particular answer from Jade's mouth, she didn't signal. It was something she'd probably never tell... but none the less--
"I guess... I can't refuse those motives, then." W-wait, what? Was that resignation? Compliance? Both? Sure, she knew better than to simply take him for his word, and she was probably even a little worried at the future to come, but there was still something there in her that yanked the old string of obedience. "... If the others are in agreement, I'll... volunteer to go as well, Sir."
"Oh, wonderful!" Hanna seemed absolutely thrilled by this, the kindly cheshire smile practically splitting off her face. "I'm sure we'll all have quite the time together! This should be a big adventure for everyone!"
... Sob, they were screwed already.
So very, very screwed.
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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 7:47 pm
Someone ELSE seemed just as delighted to hear that he and Hanna would be having company as well! Indeed, he just smiled in that... suspicious manner of his, before looking to Hanna with a sort of.. sly knowingness. "Well,this is good news. I was wondering if I would have to spend the next week looking for some help."
Week?
RIGHT. Not like he'd just leave on such short notice. "Instead Hanna and I can work on gathering up some supplies to go with us."
Aster had to look away from the duo to hide her frown, placing one hand on Yossarian's shoulder gingerly to try and.. er.. better camoflodge the reasoning behind her turning away to begin with. Ahhh ha ha ha!
YES, SHE WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO HER MAN.
...
..... Which may have been counterproductive with Langston in the general vicinity. Crap.
"So we have a week to wind up and get ready to go?"
Kanda sighed before he leaned back in his seat and reached to... touch Shae's hand. It was a sort of awkward motion, as though he was trying to just.. TRANSFER SOME SORT OF RELIEF.
But was failing. Alas, he failed.
"And what would we be best advised to do with our time?" he inquired, his eyes going from the back of Shae's head to look between the spectacle-twins.
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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:40 pm
Hanna, in turn, had just looked back in that same sly knowing way-- an action that sent some chill of foreboding up Shae's spine, but alas, the girl had already committed and there'd be no backing out of it now. Instead, she merely nodded and finally took her leave from duo in favor of returning to her usual 'party', inwardly torn and not even considering the possibility that they'd been overheard.
... Though then again, it wasn't too surprising that Aster and Yossarian and Kanda would all be paying some kind of attention to their future benefactor's scheming while they brooded over their own fate.
She'd returned without a word and not really bothered commenting, seeming to zone out a little while Yossarian brooded more a-- ... oh, something was touching her hand.
(She just quietly returned the gesture, set her ears back, and sighed a long sigh.)
"So... that's it then," the dark male of the group (either not noticing this or simply not caring) hissed, STILL hating himself for the fact that he was going to cave to all of this willingly. "We've conceded to this..."
Abomination, his mind finished for him, though he just grimaced and bit his tongue there.
Meanwhile, Langston had finally puttered back from putting on the tea-water, but Hanna hardly seemed to notice him as she just smiled, serenely, and looked on.
"This will certainly be interesting," she mused softly. "I'm sure we'll have plenty of inspiration to write some new pieces, though."
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 8:45 am
And thus Jade had released the quartet to go and gather up whatever it was they needed to prepare themselves against what would be in the southern territories -- whether it was some of that silly-silly 'bounty hunting' stuff that Aster had mentioned, or just stashing themselves away to get some sweet sweet (hawt) lovings out of the way before their 'privacy' was ripped away from them.
Because yes, Jade would probably loom and make any PDAing awkward.
MWA HA HA.
And Aster had known it too! Though this didn't immediately spring her into a week of trapping Yossarian and wanting to snuggle 24-7. It just meant she was a little more 'prrprrprrr'y when it came to settling in to work on her book and would settle right in against his side.
But outside of that, she was as on-top of all of that silly 'getting ready' stuff as everybody else was, making sure to get everything packed in and even finding that Jade had... 'spoiled' her in a sense in the process.
Yep, nobody knew what was out in those silly Southern territories, so Jade had gotten her DISHES. Straaaange.
Kanda, on the other hand, had found himself suddenly in charge of taking care of their travelling party's newest addition: A horse. Certainly he wasn't expecting everybody to carry all of the CRAP that Jade had pulled out of the woodworks but..
...
........ He just didn't really see how a horse would be practical if where they were going WAS Dangerous like everybody was preparing for. But it was too late now, the Palomino had fallen in love with his head (namely in chewing on that damned ponytail), so...
.....
.... Well, it made the rest of the week special, what with Kanda sometimes escaping inside to just frown massively between horse-stalking and packing up...
But other than the strange quirks, the week had mostly only 'passed by too fast'.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 8:00 pm
Horse stables weren't exactly the first thing most people expected to find on a semi-tropical island, but then again, Hanna Leon certainly wasn't most people, either. Sure enough, she'd known just where to run as soon as the suggestion for a pack animal came up-- more than happy (in fact, bordering giddy) to scamper off and return with the glorious looking (if not slightly chubby) palomino.
"The stablehand told me his name is Fabio," she'd informed the group with utmost cheer. "I think he'll make a fine companion, don't you?"
... Of course dearest Fabio had proceeded to develop a swift romance with Kanda's hair thereafter over the next few days, but she seemed completely unaware of it, lost in the happy bliss of pre-trip preparations.
Yossarian, who'd not really been wanting for any sort of animal luggage to add atop their already OVERWHELMING everyday problems, opted to stay out of caring for the thing and simply... spent his days getting 'ready', as any proper man would. He'd been assured that the travel would be taken care of (how they'd get the horse on a ferry was beyond him), even going to far as to take on a temporary job for three days at some tourist-catering shack down the boardwalk.
He didn't trust Jade to manage their funds and he'd be DAMNED if he was completely monetarily dependent on the man, too.
Head out, come home, pack, 'cuddle'... it was a rather mundane passing of time, but he couldn't complain too much. Hopefully their voyage (military provided, up to the lower sand wastes around Zanadu) would be a relatively peaceful one.
Shae, too, had been busy getting herself 'ready' just like all the others... if not a little more quietly, and behind the scenes. Playing at the beach had long since been forgotten in favor of daily ventures to find proper supplies, mentally preparing for every possible circumstance she could think of happening, tuning up Del as best she could to make sure 'his' frequency worked, dabbling in chess and string... all the normal things.
She couldn't say she still wasn't a bit hesitant, though. The last time she'd been down in the great wastes... well, she nearly hadn't lived to tell the tale.
Not that the halfbreed mentioned any of her insecurities all the while, simply putting on a good stoic face until the time had come to finally move out.
Their carriage arrived in the form of an airship-- some private craft that was disturbingly spacious, if not a little... stiff and radiating all the utilitarian coldness of a starched and pressed army vehicle.
... Which it was, more or less.
But at least the horse would fit?
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