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The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 10:55 am
by SALSAlys
Less than a quarter hour remained until the hour of the Rat.

In the crowded streets of Peking, men, women, and children sang bright, cheerful songs in musical Chinese. Almost all were decked out with red in at least some form on them, and no white could be seen anywhere.

Vendors hawking chilled drinks, small bowls of jai, tangerines, oranges, lucky sayings, carved rat statues, and all other festive items of interest were crying out, voices shrill and pitched to carry across the noise of thousands of people, competing with the beating of small tin pots carried by some merchants solely for the purpose of attracting customers. All combined to make a truly enormous din.

"HAAAAAOOOO! Bets on Lang Mao!" squalled a bookie, his frogged tunic a truly eye-smarting shade of red, with black trousers that had intricately knotted buttons running up the side.

Two sword dancers were pressed against a wall, in an area cleared just for the purpose. As it was New Year's, neither were carrying real swords, for fear that any blood spilled would influence their luck for the year. Instead, they both used wooden ones, intricately carved and with bright ribbons fluttering from the hilt. The contrasting beats of the drummers created a stirring, bold rhythm, almost drunken in its robustness, like it was carrying the two dancers with it.

Lang Mao, or "Pretty Cat", was living up to her name, moving gracefully and lithely. Her slender form didn't seem muscular enough for this dangerous sport, but her agility more than compensated, making her one of the more famed sword dancers in China. She was wearing loose red trousers, which billowed slightly before tying about her ankles with black ribbon, and her feet were bare. Her wrapped shirt, like the upper portion of a kimono, was also red, although a slightly duller shade, and was held in place with a belt of boiled leather with copper studs. Not much could be seen of her features, as she was moving too quickly, but her hair was upheld in what seemed to be a classical Nesting Lark style, and was remarkably well done, as it wasn't loosening.

Her drummer was a large, brawny man with peasant written all over his flat features, although his hands slapped the drum well enough. His massive shoulders supported almost equally massive arms, and the rest of his body was muscled similarly. His hair was simply cut short, save for a small braid at the nape of his neck, and he bit his lip, shaking his head to keep sweat from running into his eye as he pounded the beat for his companion.

Lang Mao's opponent was a tall man with a lean build, wearing a costume similar to Mao's, but in green with red trim. His hair was long, held back in a tail which swished wildly behind him, and his moustache trailed to just below his chin. His drummer was a frog-faced man with bulging eyes, but with a remarkable facility for the drums.

In the midst of the usual crowd of bystanders was a tall, muscular man with dark skin, though still quite recognizable as being Chinese. His long black hair ended about the middle of his back, tied into place with a thin red cord. He wore padded orange leggings and a thick red shirt which was embroidered with snarling tigers. What made him stand out, other than his height and confident stance, were his eyes— a bright and vivid green, evidence of some foreign blood in him.

"AAAAIYAAAH! Children, come spread ears like elephant, hear story of the great race for the Zodiac!" called wizened women selling candied fruits.

"BET ONE BET TWO MONEY MONEY MONEY!"

Thus is the busy city of Peking on Chinese New Year's.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 11:54 am
by Blaze Yamato Spirit
'I will bet fourteen on Mao.' The soft and aristocratic, northern voice of Jia Li reached the bookie. She stood before him, dressed in a plain blue, almost modest kimono, and holding in her hand the coins she intended to bet. 'She is, after all, the best in China, so I do not believe that it will be money badly spent.'

The girl turned so that she might keep the bookie in her field of vision and yet still witness the two sword dancers, finding it as she did a source of great inspiration. As a sword dancer herself, she always studied the matches of her peers.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 6:25 pm
by NebulaQueen
Jun smiled to herself, as she walked amidst the crowds. For once, she had some money on her person. It had been rough, but she had managed to scrape together a meager amount for the night's festivities. While it was not much, it was more than she was used to.

Holding a battered looking coin purse tightly, she surveyed the vendors, looking for someone specialising in food. As she was about to make her way towards them go get a closer look, she then heard something that caught her attention.

"HAAAAAOOOO! Bets on Lang Mao!"

After inspecting the scene that surrounded the bookie, Jun changed her plans regarding the food, and joined the spectators around the sword dancers. While food was nothing to be sniffed at, the sparring match was something she had not seen before-something new and exotic.

Clutching together a worn looking jacket to protect against the cold, Jun began to watch the two, nearly entranced by the beats of the drums and the motions on the stage.

Perhaps tonight would go well after all.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 7:18 pm
by Uncle Pervy
There was a dirty, filthy man making his way up the way. His clothing was ragged, his hair was unkempt, and without a doubt, his face had been without any form a razor for some time. In one hand, he holds a walking stick. Atop his head is a wide-brimmed hat that managed to obscure his eyes quite nicely. However, he

The sights and sounds of the festival were at once glorious and heartbreaking to Lo Pan. On one hand, he had never seen a festival a large and as active as this. The sights and sounds were nothing like what he had seen back home in his small village. The music, the crowds, everything was more than he could have imagined.

If only he could have come before he had taken his vows.

Perhaps this was not how a follower of the tao should have been thinking, But Lo Pan could not help it every time the smell of some exotic rich food came to him. He refused to curse his vows now, so he let himself be happy on cursing his tardiness in coming.

As he passes by the woman calling for bets on Lang Mao, he shakes his head. That was an easy temptation to pass, at least. Rich foods, especially after a long journey, may be hard to turn down, but gambling when one has no money is quite easy to avoid. Though it would be nice to have a place to stay...

Musing on this, and pondering how comfortable the side of a shop would be compared to the woods, Lo Pan passes the bet lady without a second thought toward her.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 8:25 pm
by JoshuaDurron
Aristocratically dressed in a deep green robe that fell almost all the way to the ground and was trimmed with red with twisting red dragons brocaded into the fabric of the garment, Mu-Li, at first glance, was an impressive figure. More so if one took into account his braided, shoulder length, glossy black hair, tied with a red ribbon, and his long, drooping mustache and well trimmed beard. However, one could not help but look at Mu-Li for more than one or two seconds before one noticed the single aspect of him that completely destroyed the effects of his neat grooming and impressive garments (incidentally, one of the few outfits he had been able to take with him when he had been thrown out of his house.) This was, of course, the fact that he was visibly drunk.

And not just a little drunk, oh no. Mu-Li was a leaning-on-a-stranger's-shoulder-laughing-like-a-fool-shouting-at-the-top-of-your-lungs drunk. And currently, he was shouting, "Ayah! Go, me preetty lady! Shwenty cash to yah if yah win! Haah! Lang Mao!" A small purse, hefted high in the air, contained the promissed money.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:16 am
by Shinigori V2
He walked admist the commotion, one task in mind- What task? That was for him to know, and no-one else. Hell, he wasn't even sure if he still knew. He needed...Something. He wasn't quite sure what. 'He' was a tall, pale man. Not pale due to sickness. Pale due to simply having a lighter skin color then most. His clothes where english- A brown vest over a white shirt, tucked into brown pants. Even with the vest, it was easy to tell this man wasn't the most well built around- He had muscle, but not very much of it. A hand darted up to his chin, and scratched it through a bit of blonde facial hair. The facial hair was complimented by a head of equally blonde hair, just about shoulder length in the back, and ending well above his deep blue eyes in the front. He muttered something to himself in a language many in the country probably wouldn't know, his native English, cursing his bad memory, and cursing again at the particular holiday which he's found himself dropped into the middle of the celebration for.

Quickly looking around for something to get his attention for a moment or two so he could have an excuse for forgetting why he ventured out in the first place, he quickly spotted the sword dancers, and forced his way through the crowd to watch a little, though chuckling to himself that the Chinese could only watch and weep as what he saw as their immitation of traditional fencing crashed and burned with so much other activity going on around it- Along with the drunkards who were taken in by it.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 3:06 am
by SALSAlys
Mao seemed to serenely ignore the drunk as well as she ignored the call of other observers, and leapt into the air. Her swords blurred, the ribbons snapping an intricate pattern as she completed an elaborate movement, the swords lightly grazing the soles of her feet and her sides, then flicking out in a light, playful movement which would have neatly trimmed her opponent's eyebrows if the swords were real. All this was done before her toes touched the ground.

Meanwhile, the bookie that Jia Li had intercepted gave a slightly yellowing grin at her. Barely a moment of rapid mental calculation passed before he slapped her coins into some corner of his clothing.

"Bet fourteen, get nineteen!" he replied before raising his voice again.

"Haaaoooo....!"

Incidentally, Mu-Li Chen was starting to get a prickling suspicion that he was being watched, and not in a friendly way.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 4:15 am
by Uncle Pervy
Seeking a spot to sit not too far from the sword dancers, Lo Pan waits for the crowds to let up a little, then helps himself to a seat on the ground. Leaning back against a building, he settles down and arranges his legs so he isn't likely to trip anyone.

His stomach rumbles a bit, forcing him to ponder what he'll do for food tonight. If worse comes to worse, he can forage. It's usually worked in the past. Still...to come all this way, and not have something from the festival seems such a waste. Maybe the Gods wouldn't be too unhapp if he could find some rice and vegetables, or maybe a nice stuffed bun, with no meat of course.

A pork bun would be so nice right about now...

No! Lo Pan shakes his head. One mustn't think like that. It would be impure to dine upon the flesh of a fellow animal. However tasty and greasy and mouthwatering and... NO!

In hopes of diverting his thoughts from such things, Lo Pan looks up toward the sword dancers for some distration. Surely, there is no harm in just watching.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:58 am
by SALSAlys
Lo Pan felt an odd twinge, as though he were being scrutinized, then sensed rather than saw a small figure moving gracefully through the crowded street, with people almost instinctively flowing away from his path in order to make way.

The small figure coalesced within his vision as being a short, scholarly-looking man wearing a flat black cap with red tassels, small green jade pendants dangling from the corners. His venerable face was a maze of wrinkles, although he walked with a straight back and seemed to exude an unconcious arrogance, acting rather like an important Mandarin.

He nodded briefly, as if to himself, before speaking. His crisp, cleanly spoken Chinese indicated a high education, and was oddly pitched so that without having to shout, he still made himself heard to Lo Pan.

"Greetings, and a festive New Year to you."


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 3:04 pm
by Uncle Pervy
The young mystic smiled under his hat; clearly visible to this man if he chose to look. This was a confusing situation, this man seemed to be one of some rank; his instincts tell him it is proper to defer and grovel. At the same time, the Tao teaches that man's troubles come from ignoring the natural order for a false one and thus the false one should be ignored for the real one. Thus, this man is just a man and shold be treated as one.

Lo Pan hoped that is wasn't his time to be a martyr yet.

"Greetings and Festive New Year to you, as well. Is the music not lovely?"


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:28 pm
by SALSAlys
"Quite."

The scholarly man's eyes flicked from Lo Pan to the sword dancers, then his lips creased into a faint smile.

"You are a traveller, I take it?"


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:01 pm
by Uncle Pervy
"I am, yes. A bit new to it, but I manage."

So far, so good...


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:57 pm
by SALSAlys
"Any idea of where your path will take you?" the man continued. His glittering eyes were fixed upon Lo Pan like twin chips of obsidian; a rather unsettling expression despite the slight smile he had.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:48 pm
by Uncle Pervy
"The destination is important, but rather the trip itself," says Lo Pan with a grin, trying to ignore the feeling this man is giving him. "I'll decide when I set down the path next."


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:03 pm
by SALSAlys
"...lovely philosophy," the man commented. His gaze flicked towards Lang Mao, and Lo Pan could feel some of the tension release before the glittering eyes focused on him again.

"Forgive me though; I have neglected my manners. I never was fond of all the sickening neo-Confucian platitudes which are so popular in court, but they do serve the purpose of introductions. I am Chien Hou." That said, he made the briefest of token genuflections; not even bowing his head, he pressed his hands together, tilting his fingers towards Lo Pan.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:08 pm
by Uncle Pervy
"I am Lo Pan," answers the Mystic with a nod. A nod shouldn't be too much of a give-in to the social order. Well, he hoped not.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:21 pm
by SALSAlys
Chien Hou smiled.

"Pleasure to meet you. Do you intend to stay for the length of the celebrations?"

* * *

Meanwhile, Jun could feel a slight tug at her sleeve, and then a small, cheap cup of a warm red bean drink pressed into her hands. The sweet, slightly earthy scent rising from the cup hinted that this must be a small taste of paradise.

"Wei, little one. Merry New Year to you," said a warm, feminine voice just out of her field of vision. "A gift for you; just return the cup in the restaurant district, at the Wheel."

The peasant lass just had time to turn and see a slightly plump woman balancing a tray of cups making her way through the crowd before the people surged back in, blocking her vision.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:34 pm
by Uncle Pervy
"Most likely, I do." Lo Pan answers. In his mind, he is being the picture of a mystic.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:51 pm
by NebulaQueen
Jun was pleasantly surprised at the turn of events. She turned around to show her gratitude to the generous stranger, only to find that she had dissapeared.

Despite this, she shouted out to the croud. "Thanks!" she explained, while waving one hand.

After that was accomplished, she took to sipping her soup contentedly. Even Heaven can smile upon the most unfortunate of wretches, so there was some hope for her yet.

I'll have to pass along the favor, somehow... she thought to herself, as she watched the sword dancers engage in "combat".

Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=nebulaqueen>NebulaQueen</A] at: 9/1/04 10:55 pm

Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 11:36 pm
by SALSAlys
Chien Hou raised an eyebrow. In his mind, Lo Pan was being the picture of a slightly sunstruck victim.

"Not fond of straight answers, are you?"


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 12:39 am
by Uncle Pervy
"I have no problem with a straight answer, but I don't always have them to give. Besides, the direct route isn't always the most enlightening."


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:10 am
by Blaze Yamato Spirit
Jia Li returned to watching the match, feeling sure that she had just won herself a bit of extra spending money.

Edited by: Blaze Yamato Spirit at: 9/2/04 11:14 am

Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 11:05 am
by SALSAlys
Chien Hou shook his head as if in annoyance, but then flashed his teeth in a smile. They were perfectly white, though somewhat small.

"You should make sayings for those odd biscuits the gwailo seem to enjoy," he commented somewhat flippantly, using the somewhat derogatory term for non-Chinese which literally translated as 'devil man'.

He might have added more, but one of the judges for the sword dancers hollered "FIFTEEN!", meaning fifteen counts until the sand ran out of a small hourglass, which would end the match.

Spurred on by the call, both drummers bent to their drums with renewed fury, and one of the ribbons around Hsieng's ankles loosened, falling to the ground as he frantically began trying to perform more skilled movements. His sword clipped his shoulder slightly, making him stumble, and a few groans could be heard from the men who had bet on him; that would definitely count against him.

Then Mao finished a maneuver, and then her swords snaked out, a rapid succession of barely-pulled strikes and slashes which ended abruptly as soon as all three judges yelled "TIME!"

Mao and Hsieng both stepped back from eachother. Although Hsieng was breathing with difficulty, shoulders heaving, Mao seemed composed. Only a few tendrils of hair were out of place from her ribbon-laced bun, and her face, with its large, slanted eyes and high cheekbones, definitely suited her name. While lovely, she didn't look quite 'real'; a remarkable contrast from her peasant drummer as she stood by his large form.

The judges conferred for a few moments, then unanimously pointed to Mao, who raised her swords to the crowd, bowing deeply before placing them in their cases. Coins were tossed at her feet, and she scooped them up in her hands, pressing a double handful to Hsieng's sweating palms.

Her drummer, meanwhile, was gathering the money, and was assembling all their gear into a truly impressive pack which he hefted onto his back with ease, taking Mao's wooden swords. She stood completely still, lips lightly pressed together as the light from red lanterns flickered off her porcelain skin. Instead of being the lively woman who had danced with swords, she seemed utterly fragile and delicate at the moment, seeming lost and somewhat distant.

* * *

Jia Li found nineteen coins being tossed at her by the yellow-toothed bookie, who then began scurrying about to deal with other business.

* * *

The crowd watching the sword dancers began to disperse, and Lawrence felt himself being crushed in the press of bodies before being pushed roughly by someone, and sent stumbling into the green-eyed Chinese man wearing the tiger-embroidered shirt.

Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=salsalys>SALSAlys</A] at: 9/2/04 6:16 pm

Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 2:57 pm
by Uncle Pervy
Lo Pan watched the sword dancers, letting Hou's statement hang in the air. It was an interesting match, to be sure. Mao certainly knew what she was doing, if nothing else.

Looking back to Chien Hou, Lo Pan asks, "What brings one as high as yourself to one so unworthy of such attention as I? I am grateful for the company, of course, but I don't think it the habit of those from the palace to mix with the destitute. Should I have heard wrongly, it would be a most marvelous surprise, I should think."


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 3:39 pm
by Blaze Yamato Spirit
'That was as excellent match, Lang Mao.'

Somehow Jia Li had managed to fight against the crowd, or perhaps weave through it and was now standing by her fellow sword dancer.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 4:11 pm
by Shinigori V2
Lawrence had tried to get around the spectators as best he could. He really had- He hated it when one of the 'savaged' so much as touched him for any reason beyond exchanging coins. Thus, when he hit the man; it was obviously the man's fault, not his. Lawrence turned to him and backpedaled slightly. "Watch where you're going, brute! I'll have you know that you've just run into Lawrence Falconer, and I won't take being run into like that!"


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 6:24 pm
by JoshuaDurron
Having already thrown his promised money to Mao, Mu-Li was now staggering along with the crowd, whatever stranger he had been using to support himself now far gone. About this time, he blearily heard someone by the name of Lawrence Falconer talking loudly. Exactly what Lawrence was saying was lost on the somewhat tipsy doctor, as evidenced by the way, a moment later, the drunk man had appeared from nowhere and tossed an arm over his shoulder. "Nooow, nooow," he slurred, "no need to be angry. We'rrrre allll friends here, right?"

Quite obviously, at the moment, comprehending the situation was something the doctor was not capable of...


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 6:38 pm
by SALSAlys
Chien Hou chuckled, and his eyes seemed to momentarily harden.

"I'm rather out of favor for selling shares in a mustard mine to a certain noble," he said lightly. "I was testing the intelligence of the man in question, and while I won a bet, it did distress his family.

"But rather more to the point... I was meeting my companions, and then noticed you," he continued, gesturing towards Mao and her drummer with a slight shrug of his shoulder. "You have a rather unique chi signature to those who can read such things."

* * *

Mao blinked, her eyes refocusing before she turned to Jia Li, lips curving upward in a smile. Her eyes were dark blue, a surprising contrast with her features.

"Ah, thank you... Have you enjoyed the other festivities in Peking?" she asked in a soft voice.

* * *

The man looked down, green eyes narrowing slightly before he noticed the tipsy doctor.

"I'd rather not argue," he said, somewhat wearily.

Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=salsalys>SALSAlys</A] at: 9/2/04 6:42 pm

Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 7:48 pm
by Uncle Pervy
"I've not quite gotten the feel for seeing such things," Lo Pan says, while mulling over the man's earlier statement. Did he scam that noble, or did the noble just squander the wealth? It would be exceedingly impolite to ask about that, it was none of his business.

"How does my chi look you?"


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 3:05 am
by Shinigori V2
Lawrence looked to the doctor, than decided it best for everyone's health to simply ignore him. "You should appologise, brute! One should always beg for forgiveness when wronging one superior to yourself; as I am!" Lawrence commenced to cross his arms, half hoping that the strange drunkard had wandered off somewhere when he found he wasn't getting any attention.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 10:02 am
by Blaze Yamato Spirit
'Very much so.' Jia Li replied, stepping closer to Lang Mao as someone behind threatened to bump into her, then moving back into that space.

'If you don't mind me mentioning it, you seem a bit out of sorts. May I ask what is wrong?'


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 11:01 am
by SALSAlys
Lang Mao shrugged delicately.

"I suppose it's just all the people. We're all together, occupying the same space in the city, but when the festival is over, we all separate and go our own ways. Nothing really keeps us bound to one another."

She sighed, then forced a gentle curve to her mouth; some approximation of a smile.

"I'm sorry, but the New Year always makes me feel a bit lost."

* * *

The green-eyed man's mouth tightened, his eyes narrowing throughout Lawrence's tirade until finally he growled "Shut UP, gwailo. It was your own damned fault and you know it."

With that, his hands descended, detaching Mu-Li Chen with surprising gentleness before his fists closed about Lawrence's collar, yanking him upward so that his feet dangled several inches above the ground.

"Now, I do not have enough patience for this, so you will kindly go and—"

* * *

Chien Hou shrugged slightly, tracing a graceful, sinouous form in the air before responding.

"There's a rather distinct pattern to it which—"

He broke off, then glared sharply past Lo Pan. If the wandering mystic would turn, he would see that his attention appeared focused on the gwailo dangling from a brawny Chinese man's hand.

"YANG FU!" he shouted, gliding towards them.

* * *

And meanwhile, poor Jun found herself rather rudely shoved from behind, though fortunately after she had finished her bowl of soup. She dropped the bowl though, and had the misfortune of watching it crack slightly and roll into the crowd, lost beneath a swarm of feet.

Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=salsalys>SALSAlys</A] at: 9/3/04 11:04 am

Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:06 pm
by Blaze Yamato Spirit
'That's okay.' Jia Li smiled. 'It is understandable that on a day of ends and beginnings, one might feel lost. Just try to enjoy it, there are few enough chances to really celebrate.'


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 1:19 pm
by JoshuaDurron
"Yes, yes," Mu-Li nodded, patting Lawrence on the shoulder. "See, he appoligish, so we errrr all friends now, hm?" Even though drunk, the doctor was capable of giving Lawrence a very charming smile.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 4:57 pm
by Uncle Pervy
Lo Pan looks toward the fight, as Chein dashes toward it. Arching an eyebrow, he settles down to watch, resting his staff on his shoulder.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 2:11 am
by Shinigori V2
Despite his troubles, Lawrence attempted to keep his air of superiority. Gritting his teeth, he glared at the man who seemed to have little trouble lifting him, while muttering various things in English about the man's mother, father, and relations-

...Though he was really trying not to try to squirm away and run as fast as possible.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 12:35 pm
by SALSAlys
Lang Mao gave a soft, tinkling laugh, like chimes blowing in a breeze.

"I suppose so...." Her eyes scanned the crowd, then she gave a sigh as she noticed Lawrence dangling. "I'm afraid my cousin Fu has already gotten into trouble."

With that, she glided into the crowd, towards the conflict. Her drummer was already pushing through, clearing a way for Jia Li if she chose to take it.

* * *

Chien Hou had made his way to the conflict, and shouted again, giving a harsh clap of his hands.

"YANG FU! Put that man down IMMEDIATELY. We have more important things to do than—"

"Hou, kindly shut your mouth. I am NOT at your, or anybody's, disposal," the man replied, mouth twisting itself into a snarl before he dropped Lawrence with distaste.

"I lost my temper, and for that I apologize, but nothing else," he said formally to the Englishman, though through somewhat clenched teeth. Then he regained his composure, simply looking somewhat tired.

Chien Hou wasn't mollified though, but gave a sharp harumph before glancing at Lawrence. In clear, crisp English with very little accent, he spoke.

"I am not aware of how this came about, but I apologize for this lummox's behavior. Even so, I advise you to stop insulting the ancestry of those you have just met."

* * *

Lo Pan, meanwhile, found that while it was amusing to observe their body language and the argument, he could hear none of the talking.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 1:22 pm
by Blaze Yamato Spirit
Jia Li followed, of course. She had little else pressing to do than join what was fast becoming a veritable gathering.


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 5:39 am
by Shinigori V2
Lawrence glared at the elder man, and held back several more comments. For now, he simply replied in his native tongue. "Just keep your brute away from me- You seem intelegent enough to do that; perhaps there is hope for this country yet."


Re: The Zodiac

Unread postPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 6:04 am
by Uncle Pervy
Lo Pan continues to observe. The odd babble the outlander and Chien share is intriguing, but ultimately seems quite silly.

That mention about chi, though... Lo Pan finds his thoughts slipping back to that.