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 Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 5:45 pm
Nika wandered inside, clutching two boxes that had been carefully wrapped in purple paper. He was quite calm as he quickly placed the boxes on the closest counter.
Nika suspected that the calm, relaxed feeling he was experiencing would dissapear the moment he saw Shi. They had been alone together many times before but this time it was slightly different.
It was Shi's birthday.
...He had gifts... He had cooked the food on his own and had managed to do a fair job of it, of course, there had been much anwanted coaching from Gee... and he was dressed for the occasion...
It was simple, really, but quite obvious that he had put effort into choosing his outfit. His pants were long and black and his dark blue button-up shirt was tucked in.
As if suddenly remembering, Nika sniffed his collar. He smelled good... and Shi was due to be there any moment.
Nika rushed to work; he brought the food in from Gee's car and set the table.
Finally, Nika paused and double checked everything.
A white table-cloth covered a table that was set for two people in the middle of the room, a steaming bowl of spaghetti sat in the centre of the table and next to it was a bowl of spaghetti sauce.
Nika tilted his head to the side and sighed. It looked like he was going to be learning a lot soon. Training classes with Shi and possible cooking classes with Gee.
Pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind, Nika nervously gathered Shi's gifts and placed them underneath the table.
Everything was ready...
If only he could stay calm.
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 10:45 pm
She read quietly the words...simply written in a neat, ornate flourish that was instantly recognizable as belonging to Nika.
There was a slight smile in her eyes as she contemplated them. Perhaps a bit of relief in an otherwise taxing day.
It had started out well enough. A boquet of flowers laid out in front of her door when she woke. But when she had realized that Chae had opened their doors to the Rade cub, her day was shattered. Anger, recriminations, tears had followed. But Chae had been unmoved by her passion.
The cub stayed.
So Shiva left. But not before finding the card. Pushing her wayward guardian from her mind. She prepared carefully. Her uncle Shem had given her some nice clothing to wear, so she donned it. Armor was well and good, but certainly not needed for dinner.
One would hope.
Pulling back her hair, she ran her fingers through it a few times and then twirled it upward, pinning it back and off her neck. Her fingers trailed the edge of her mask and she frowned.
Io had been freed. What of the rest of them?
More worries for another time. For once, she just wanted to forget. Really forget. And do more than watch from the sidelines.
Tucking a slip of paper in her slacks, she adjusted her pale sweater and walked out into the gathering moonlight.
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 2:57 pm
Sound had never completely been seperate from his thoughts since he'd first remembered her. In fact, the memories that had once been unclear and buzzy making it impossible to recall much of anything were now sharp, particularly the ones he had of her face.
Nika shifted his weight nervously from one foot to the other as he stood beside the door, anxiously awaiting Shi's arrival.
How lucky he was to have been cared for so passionately by two women.
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 5:29 pm
There was a light rain falling. A misty sort that wafted like soft petals, kissing with a warm and shy touch against the objects in its descent. Small droplets beaded in her hair, shimmering there softly as any jewel or precious thing. In her light ensemble, she could almost be a thing of rain and mist herself. A wraith or phantasm that was at play amongst the grays and muffled hues. A playful spirit that leapt amongst the clouds and fog.
The walk was not long. She dallied a bit, taking in the outside as she liked to do. But she did not want to be late.
Turning her head away from the falling skies, she walked the rest of the way to the house, and knocked gently.
The rain had barely penetrated, so light it was. It clung to her as a halo or a shroud.
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 7:18 pm
Would she have dressed up? He fidgeted with his clothing, wondering if it was a little too much. Should he change? What if he did change and she actually was dressed up?
The knock on the door brought a thankful distraction to the worries scrambling around in his head.
He took a deep breath and opened the door. Nika's eyes crinkled into a pleased smile when he saw her, just standing there. Glowing. Nika unintentionally let a few moments pass by as he just stared at her.
It was raining, he realized suddenly. Nika stepped away from the door and gestured for Shi to come inside.
'You look beautiful, Shi.'
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 8:45 pm
She touched her hand to her hair nervously. *Thank you, I think. When it rains like this, everything shimmers so. It's more beautiful than we.* Her eyes crinkled briefly, as she looked about, taking in the pristine table, food, and low lighting. *Was this why you wanted to see me?*
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 9:03 pm
Nika shut the door behind her and nervously glanced at the food. His culinary skills were lacking and he could feel the blush rise into his cheeks.
His tone was rushed and almost apologetic, as if he felt like he had done something wrong when he spoke,'I'm afraid I'm not much of a cook. I wanted to do something specail for your brithday... and I just figured that if I cooked... I mean, Gee sure laughed at me... I burnt the first batch of sauce, without meaning to, of couse... and...'
He just shut up. Rambling wasn't something he did often. Nika cleared his throat and ran a nervous hand through his hair. What if she didn't like it?
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 9:27 pm
His sudden awkwardness caused her to laugh. She had never seen him so flustered. Never as she could remember. Crisis and all manner of trials had not caused a hesitation in him. Now to hear the rush in his words and eagerness...
The mirth overflowed and she felt her eyes tearing with joy. *It's lovely. Really. Even if you had served it blackened and crusted. It would still be lovely. But you didn't. We might make a well rounded person of you yet! Fighting, cooking, and diplomacy.
She touched his cheek. *You really are precious.*
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 3:45 pm
'Aww, Shi,' he shrugged, feeling his skin flush when she touched his mask, where his cheek would have been. Briefly, he wandered what it would be like to be able to feel her palm against his face. It had been so long since he'd felt anything but the material of the mask against his face.
'I'm glad you like it. Honestly, I think the sauce might not taste normal-'
Nika paused, noticing the tears in her eyes, 'Shi? Is something wrong?' He sounded concerned.
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 10:57 pm
*Im fine.* she hastened to assure him. *See? Im smiling. I just...I was thinking some thoughts that made me a bit too mirthful to express only one way. Just how lovely you are when you aren't trying to be something else. Withough a mask. However ironical that is.*
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 6:33 pm
Nika sighed with relief. Months ago, he had been unfortunately good at upsetting her, accidentally. Perhaps, he'd finally done something right.
He ran a hand though his blonde hair and chuckled at the rest of Shi's comment.
'I...' his eyes crinkled into a smile, unable to think of what to say. She thought he was lovely?
Suddenly finding his tongue, Nika smirked and playfully nudged her, 'I bet you won't find me lovely once my spaghetti sauce has you sick in bed.'
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 8:42 pm
*No?*She challenged. *It may be the other way around. And I would have to make you play nurse and learn THAT skill in the meantime as I recovered. Or is this your plan to get out of weapons training?* She put her hands on her hips, matching his bantering tone.
*Poison the teacher and get out of class? Have you been hanging out with Ashirra and Fauve again?*
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 10:20 am
'Shi,' he laughed and rolled his eyes, 'If that was my plan, do you think I would have gone through so much trouble to warn you against eating the food? Besides, if I had been with Fauve and Ashy, I think we could of come up with much more creative things to...'
Nika tried the best he could not to laugh as he pulled a chair out from the table and motioned for Shi to sit down on it.
'I mean... ever since the first time I saw the two of them juggle, I've kind of been wanting to learn. Do you think I could talk them into teaching me?'
It was true. He wanted to learn so many things. Now, come to think of it, the nurse idea wasn't too bad of an idea. Although, he was sure that he wouldn't have to poison anybody for his own purposes.
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 10:31 am
She slipped in to the seat he pulled out, glancing at the setting briefly before looking back up.
*Subterfuge.* she answered *Warning me exonerates you of suspicion if the event of poisoning did happen.*her eyes crinkled in amusement *Which I am sure will not be the case.*
He seemed much more at ease, boyishly eager to tackle any and all new things that came his way, and seek out even more. *Juggling now too? Are you planning to run off with them and join a circus?* she smirked a bit at the implication. *Im sure they'd love to teach you. Why wouldn't they?*
Part of her wondered at their banter. Didn't they have more important things to concern themselves with? What about rebuilding? Or starting over? or even the possibility of danger? What about the rade cub that was sitting in her house right now?
No. She wasn't going to think about any of that. Just some quiet for a bit. No angst. No fervor. No panic. She could manage that, couldnt she? Or did she have to keep running from one disaster to the next?
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 10:59 am
Nika took the seat across from her. He was hungry and curious to know what the food would taste like. It was the first meal he had made and Nika couldn't help being proud of it.
He slowly piled some of the noodles into his bowl and covered them in sauce.
'Oh, I would make an excellent clown, wouldn't I?' he grinned at Shi over the steaming bowl of spaghetti, 'I don't think I could run anywhere without you, however.'
He poked cautiously at the spaghetti sauce with his fork and glanced at Shi, 'Would you like to try it first or shall I?'
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