originally posted in:The New Dojo
[b][i]The Water Rose[/i][/b]
[b][u]Dojoville[/u][/b]
[b]The sodden feet lay barefoot against the hard tile of the stone road, the rain soaking the skin thoroughly.[/b]
[b]She walked with no real goal, headed in no particular direction, exhaustion burdening her like her hunger... But that was no concern now.[/b]
[b]Her large umbrella covered her from the torrent's onslaught, and the long black veil that hung from the sides hid her from view.[/b]
[b]And just as it seemed that she would fall from exhaustion, she found slight relief in a bench. It had no cover, but she didn't mind. It was minor solace in a maelstrom.[/b]
[b]Her chest heaved slightly, her long breaths accompanied by the distant crack of thunder, and a spiderweb of lightning... So far from home. She wasn't sure where she was... All she knew is that she needed to keep going. A refugee...[/b]
//
[b]Time seemed to pass, as she had seemingly drifted off into sleep, and as she awoke she realized that the storm had given way to a clear sky. Stars sparkled above and she let out a sigh of relief.[/b]
[b]With a click, she twisted her umbrella handle the veil around her raising up and vanishing inside the contraption, the umbrella folding away a moment later.[/b]
[b]And there sat the newest member of the dojo... A strikingly beautiful woman, of strange origin. She had light blue, almost pale skin like a ghost, dotted with black. And along her legs and arms were glowing lines, turquoise in hue. Then there was her hair... Oh her hair... Sunset red, like the falling leaves in autumn. The hair perfectly accompanied her eyes that shimmered like powerful fires, warm and kind. Her face was delicate and gentle, radiating life and joy. She wore a long black dress with a hood, which her hair was neatly folded into, as was a custom of her exotic species. Lastly, there was her crest, hung right above her forehead... Held in place by a metal rod, which also held her hair in place. Signaling her status in her society... Royalty... The rarest blossom of her kind.[/b]
[spoiler]https://i.imgur.com/A099tv7.jpg[/spoiler]
[b]But such radiance was diminished by her tired eyes and aching feet. She never wore shoes... So the hard trail had hurt them severely... But the rain had eased away the trial of blood.[/b]
[b]It was clear she was no fighter, her exposing attire and soft features making it very apparent... But she was no push over. For such a gentle disposition, she held a kind of strength, a raw passion... [/b]
[b]She was lost, she was tired... And maybe even a little hungry... But she didn't dare move. Yet, despite her exhaustion, she felt sleep elude her. She knew she needed some help.[/b]
[b]And so she sat, quiet on the bench, her hands folded neatly over her exposed stomach, watching the fireflies dance and parade as they celebrated the new fresh night... And the luminous maze of stars above.[/b]
[spoiler]Open! She could use some info for just a talk.[/spoiler]
English
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[b]She looked at him quietly, no words passing her lips, her curiosity piqued, but her exhaustion wearing down her voice.[/b]
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[b]He didn't say anything either, simply sat there. He took off his helmet, showing a old face. Wrinkles and scars all over it as he looked at the girl. He smiled a toothy grin and one would immediately notice his missing front tooth. He looked forward, keeping the stupid grin [/b]
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[b]She returned the smile, enjoying the silent company. The man was unorthodox, but she preferred that... She was too...[/b] [b]For some time she said nothing, only the chiropractor big of crickets breaking the silence, but eventually she found the strength to talk.[/b] [i]"I-Its a nice n-night tonight."[/i] [b]She stuttered, her weariness still shaking her voice.[/b]
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[b]The man looked up at the sky, taking in the night. [/b] "Very much so."
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[i]"D-Do you have a-a n-name?"[/i] [b]She asked, her lyrical voice carried only so softly on the air. She wasn't a loquacious person to begin with, but her current state wasn't helping.[/b]
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[b]He actually sighs at the question.[/b] "When you're old like me dear, names don't matter."
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[b]She merely nodded in acceptance. Who was she to disagree?[/b] [i]"T-Then something t-to call you?"[/i]
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"Varan. It's what I was called... Many years ago." [b]He looks down at the ground then up again [/b] "And yours?"
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[i]"Chloephina..."[/i] [b]She muses, her eyes trailing back to the fireflies.[/b] [i]"C-Chloe works too."[/i]
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"Beautiful name." [b]He looked up once more, eyeing the stars [/b]
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[i]"T-Thank you."[/i] [b]She whispered, her head hanging, eyes blinking slowly.[/b]
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"You're welcome." [b]After that he fell silent, simply thinking [/b]
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[b]She wanted to ask more, but she found her questions lost in the back of her mind... Which didn't bother her. His company was nice... And a friendly face was always welcomed.[/b]
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[b]The man's thoughts were all over the place, he couldn't really focus on anything. He was to old to care at this point. He loved the silence. There wasn't much of it recently. [/b]
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[b]She looked at him for a moment, thinking of where he could be from... Humans were mostly new to her. Her species was... Buried in solitude.[/b]
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[b]The man didn't have any distinguishing features to tell where he was from. But gave am answer as if he knew [/b] "Ohru."
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[b]She merely nodded, understanding him completely. The simple minds were often the best.[/b] [i]"Elunove."[/i] [b]She responded.[/b]
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[b]He nodded as well, not wanting to ask more. He had heard stories though most were just that, stories [/b]
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[i]"H-How old are you...?"[/i] [b]She asked abruptly, not meaning to be rude, rather she was just very curious.[/b]
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"By human age, I amount to around sixty-six."
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[i]"That's still young..."[/i] [b]She mused, knowing the human capacity to live, and incredible will power was able to sustain a life for many years... Desmond had shown such.[/b]
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"I said by human age. My Ohru age, I'm about 178. With some of the longest living only reaching 180 at most."
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[b]She blinked in surprise and gave him a worried look. He was nice, and the thought of death always scared her.[/b] [i]"You must b-be special then."[/i]
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"Special? Far from it. Strong willed? Maybe... But the war did this to me."
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[i]"Well... I think you are nice... You don't deserve war."[/i] [b]She remarked, the slight rest giving her enough time to recover her voice fully.[/b] [b]She looked upon the man fondly, his company doing a great deal to ease her mind.[/b]