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Post by seraaches on Aug 25, 2007 9:26:37 GMT -5
 She padded slowly through town on silent feet, worrying through her mind more than paying attention to where she was going. The slate-toned skunk slunk more than walked, her carriage nearly subservient. She was a Diamond and, more than that, she was a Nine. A Nine of Diamonds. How often had her mother thrown that into her face? A NINE and wot had she done with such a nice starting point? Absolutely nothing. She was sitting on her tail trying to find books to hide behind rather than out in the world and Becoming Something Better. A sound to her left, and the striped creature skitted to the right; away from... nothing. She blinked mid-toned slate eyes, proceeding to dart her gaze from one side to the next, checking to be sure there was nothing here and nothing after her. Why was she so paranoid? The oft-wondered thought flitted briefly through her mind yet again. She had no reason to be, but... well, there it was. Nothing untoward had ever happened to her, but she was still just so afraid that it -would-! Why couldn't she have been born a little lower? Not too much lower, but just enough that ambition wasn't so expected of her. |
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Post by Kari Muffin on Aug 26, 2007 9:28:49 GMT -5
Just because Theofilus was on a business trip didn't mean he couldn't take a break and explore the town. It was only natural that he was curious of an ever changing city. It was quite different than being back at his slow paced home. This was his chance to meet new and interesting potential costumers. Or this could just give him an excuse to do what he felt like for once. He could write everything off as a business expense and his boss would be none the wiser. He eyed the crowd from a perch on some steps. Quite a few interesting characters, almost all of them where cheery as they skittered passed each other. One softly colored lady, he assumed it was a skunk and a she, caught his eye. She looked interesting enough in her slinking, he was surprised to notice her at all. Of course, by the time he had contemplated all of this she was almost out of his sight. "Excuse me, Miss?" He fluttered to catch up to her. "I couldn't help but notice that you seem a little down."( Because to Theofilus harassing random strangers is perfectly acceptable no matter how intimidated of their dealers I am. ) |
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Post by seraaches on Aug 26, 2007 22:29:14 GMT -5
(( 1. He's GORGEOUS. 2. Who are you intimidated of? 3. KARI MUFFIN! *glomps* i remember you! xD; ))
The blue creature tucked tail and gave a forward leap when she was addressed, very nearly running into a dog and his cart. She received a dark glare as she half-muttered an apology that he didn't hear. Her head sunk lower as she and the bird beside her caught the loud and angry mutterings against Diamonds and their uppity arrogance. It wasn't arrogance, she wanted to explain as the dog stalked away; she'd only been surprised.
She gave a brief sigh as she sat suddenly then realized they were right in the middle of the street. Oh, fudgemuffins. She skitted back upright and to the side of the street, hopefully bringing her would-be companion with her.
Dark-ringed lighter blue eyes flicked swiftly over the bird beside her but the sight of him surprised her enough that she paused for a longer look. He was beautiful. That was the only word she could think of and...!! He was also a Nine of Diamonds! Fortuitous luck! Immediately she was awash with curiousity regarding the stranger.
"H-h-hello," she finally stuttered out, then hesitated again for a very long moment. Wot should she say? "Are you ambitious?" As soon as the question slipped out she flushed and looked away again. That's not how you were supposed to start conversations.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Aug 27, 2007 17:28:39 GMT -5
( 1. X3 Your lovely lady is stunning herself 2. Oh about half the people on this board, maybe more I lack confidence 3. XD HEHE! I remember you too! >_> I lack internet by the way, I'm currently stealing it.)
She certainly was a jumpy creature. It was a surprise, usually other diamonds were as stuck up as the rude dog had said. But who was he to promote stereotypes? He had learned there were always exceptions to the rules, even if they were hard to find.
He followed her, and took a perch slightly in front of her, so he could inspect her properly. She was indeed a diamond, and amazingly enough she was a nine as well! It was nice to see that a vacation could yield something so splendid.
She asked him an interesting question after a simple greeting. Obviously she had something on her mind. It had obviously caused all of her slinking and low but graceful stance. He kept his poker face though, and mulled over the question for a while.
Then he remembered where he was, and figured this would be an awkward silence anywhere but home. "Ambition? We all have that, even if it is the tiniest wish of greater good. I think most people call it hoping for a better tomorrow..."
He smiled, "Perhaps we should discuss such trying matters in a comfortable environment, or maybe we should properly introduce ourselves. My name is Theofilus. And your name would be, what my lovely lady?"
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Post by seraaches on Aug 27, 2007 21:30:32 GMT -5
Ambition aimed towards greater good? Now that was interesting concept... Her head tilted to the side, though her gaze was still aimed at the ground. Had she ever hoped for tomorrow? No, in all honesty she couldn't say that she had; she'd always aimed to simply stay out of sight.
"Oh,", the skunk exclaimed faintly. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Theofilus." She just hoped she would remember his name later. How she could remember skads of books and not someone's name had long baffled her mother. "I am Kelasia. Do you think we're in the way?" Her other major concern; she hated to be underfoot, as her mother always said she was. Not that she'd even be able to suggest somewhere else to go; she was here because her mother had sent her away in hopes of some sort of contact or commission or something to make her less 'useless'. Her tail drooped again at that thought.
Be more like your brother, her mother always said. Even though he was only a Six, he was "going places". Though he never seemed to quite make it upwards. Gellie has vision. Gellie has style. Gellie is going to make it to the top! Sometimes Kelasia almost thought she could hate her older brother.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Aug 28, 2007 9:08:11 GMT -5
"I don't think we're in the way, Kelasia," Theo shrugged, "I just personally think it's uncomfortable to speak in a place where there are so many people running around just waiting to run into us."
He looked around the surrounding area. The path was extremely busy and people were randomly popping in and out of their street side homes--he supposed this was what capital city was like all the time. He was happy it was only a place to do business and not his home.
There was a forum around the corner, or so he had been told, that they could probably find a place to sit and chat without being bothered. That was assuming Kelasia was willing to walk that far.
"If you're comfortable here, we can just stay here. If you want a place where you'll be completely out of the way we can go to the forum, and I'm sure we could sit near the fountain." He paused and studied her cart, "You've come to Capital City searching for employment?"
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Post by seraaches on Aug 28, 2007 9:25:47 GMT -5
Kelasia shifted uneasily as she glanced around again, hoping that they really -weren't- in the way even as they stood here and discussed it. It was unlikely that she'd turn down any offer that would be certain to take her out of others' way.
"A forum, alright." She tilted her head slightly, glancing towards the beautiful bird again then looking away. He seemed so very confident; she almost felt jealous of him. "Employment? Well..." She almost said no, but her mother's voice echoed suddenly through her mind in that hard, condescending tone.
-Gellie- is getting in on the ground floor of a new business. -Gellie- is going straight to the top! Why can't you be more like your brother?
"Oh, uhm... I didn't come specifically to find work, but I'm not really opposed to it...?" It came out almost like a question rather than a statement of fact. She wanted to ask why he asked, but this didn't really seem the place to do so. "Where did you want to go?"
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Post by Kari Muffin on Aug 28, 2007 11:05:49 GMT -5
"The forum, let's talk and walk, shall we?" Theo smiled. It was more of a smirk, but a smile none the less. He fluttered off of his perch and began walking in the general direction of the forum.
"If you are looking for a job, there are plenty of them through out the Capital, and my office might actually might have a job open for a secretary if you're interested."
The forum wasn't a long way off. It should be a fifteen minute walk from here. He should keep the conversation going so he didn't lose Kelasia. He couldn't think of anything to say though. She seemed so distracted by something. He wondered why someone with a high rank like hers so depressed? Was that even the right word for it? That awkward silence was building again, at least the chatter of the streets was covering it up.
He took a deep breathe. "Since you asked about ambition. Might I ask why you would bring such a question up?"
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Post by seraaches on Aug 28, 2007 21:24:44 GMT -5
Silences didn't bother the skunk; pretty well her entire life had been one long awkward silence after another. She was thinking as they walked so it didn't occur to her that Theofilus might feel uncomfortable by her lack of dialogue and, even if it had occurred to her, her guilt and unease would have still caused her to keep quiet.
When the bird spoke, she jumped again, sending him a swift, apologetic look; it wasn't that he was frightening, simply that she was overly jumpy. She tried to think of how to explain, how to let him know without saying something stupid.
"My mother says that I am a waste of a Nine; my brother should have been the Nine and I should have been the Six," Kelasia abruptly blurted out. "It's like I was just born without ambition at all because I really don't care all that much about the ranks. But my mother says that isn't right, nor is it natural. So if other creatures have ambition then she's right. And I do want to make her happy. For once."
Not all of that likely made perfect sense; it had come out in a bit of a rush and followed the hopping of her unhappy mind rather than a logical order. Kelasia gave another sigh, this one bitter. And now Theofilus would think she was a failure as well. It wasn't so much that she cared if others viewed her that way and more that she wished she could just stay hidden away so no one would -have- to view her at all.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Aug 28, 2007 22:49:35 GMT -5
Theo couldn't help but laugh. He quickly corrected himself, so she wouldn't think that he was laughing at her. By far he was laughing at the notion that someone could be a waste of space. It was a silly notion that the higher ranks had. Everyone had a use, no matter who or what rank they were.
"I'm not laughing at you!" He defended himself, and hoped that he wouldn't make her jump again. She was the jumpy type. "I just think there's no such thing as a waste. Your mother is overreacting a tad. There are plenty of diamond nines who haven't the slightest notion to move up in the world. There's nothing wrong with middle class."
They were already at the forum. It was quite large, with shops around the perimeter. The square was completely empty while people lingered in front of a few shops. This was apparently "off the beaten path." He looked around eying the square and the small fountain in the center of it. Every forum must have had one--even the smaller ones.
"My parents have no "ambition." They're perfectly fine the way they are, and they love to give back to the community. Rank to them is nothing, what they do to better people is more important than life itself."
He winked, "I'm sure you have something you're fantastic at."
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