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Post by Trinity d'Vistato Armone on Sept 30, 2011 13:34:39 GMT -5
This city, it only reminded me of how much I despise the current face of the world, these meager people, lost and stranded in the darkness of the glory amongst them. I am sure I realized that I might be the cause of it, and that I could surely help, maybe I can help in some way. My servants believe I’m helping enough, helping the generations of the young with places to live and feed. Where they get work and money and do not have to live like filth. Even here in this city, I must spread out to grant the orphaned lost children guidance into the open light around them.
My steps were carefully placed, surrounding me were several servants, all of which were ready for my call. Eyes peering back and forth in the dirty air of the Doorstep, I peered with a general distaste at my surroundings, but, looking for something. And finally, my gaze settled; by a small adobe structure stood children, all of which seemed to be trying to scrounge up what little change they had. When I stopped, notably gaining their attention, I could see that look in their eyes; yes… that look of starvation, of wanting… the first look Olivia gave me….
“Caprice, Lillian,” I called out in my monotonous and dark tone. The two stepped in front of me, wearing their usual maid-like attire. Yes, milady.” they both answered in unison, bowing their heads respectfully. “Gather them; don’t be too upfront, these children are most likely very mistrusting of the people around them.” I gave as an order and as a bit of advice. “Marcus,” I motioned to a male servant behind me, “Check that alleyway.”
He nodded, and then jogged off.
“The rest of you, come with me.” I watched as the two female maids approached the children with smiles. Lillian was good with children, if anyone could convince them, it was her. I entered the center of the small market place around here, all these people trying to reach ends meet, barely surviving. Sometimes I wish I was a queen, the prosperity I would try to bring down amongst these poor people, at least food and what’s needed to survive. I laughed to myself, my remaining servants staring at me with odd gazes. I’m such a philanthropist…
I wondered if that was a bad thing…
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Post by Sayuri Ai on Sept 30, 2011 21:19:41 GMT -5
There was a dictonomy within this strange city these days. With foes outside of the gates surrounding this place there was no way in or out for food or people, not a safe one, but still there was very little panic. Perhaps they had as much faith in their boy-ruler with his concubine as they would have their king and queen, or perhaps they were simply too blind to think their land could ever really be taken. That arrogance was a usual thing here. They were the children of the gods and their gods would protect them.
Maybe they were too much like children to believe that there were prices the gods asked. At least they did in Ch'n.
This time I wore a hanfu of dark blue with green underneath, light yellow flowers embroidered over the surface of the indigo gauze, and I had beaded bracelets around my wrists to offer as wares. My memories of the boy-man with the hard smile kept me watchful, but his money had gone so quickly with food and lodgings and clothing that he'd torn so much it needed replacing that I still had to find income. Next time I would make him pay double. No, no, I didn't want that again, I must not think that way. I was a general's daughter, a lady in Ch'n if not here. All I had now was myself and my dignity.
As I walked toward the market there was a stir in the streets as playing children gathered in a circle, with beggars hovering nearby. A well-made gown on a very tall woman caught my eye moreso though and I slowed to take it in. She was flanked by a man who looked around almost as carefully as I did, and while I didn't step over to her like the others did, only to be rebuffed, I furrowed my brow slightly and took her in. There was something of my people in her face, though the lines spoke of these people. It was disorienting, and for a moment I simply pinned her with my stare. Did she know about the other land where the ancestors mattered as much as the living? Maybe she'd see that in me.
Or at least it might draw her attention so I could try to sell her some beads. Money was almost as important as blood in this land.
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Post by Trinity d'Vistato Armone on Sept 30, 2011 22:02:18 GMT -5
Have I ever had a vast connection with my second race? I know I was of the blood, but I never paid much to my Ch’n side, I learned the languages from mother, studied a couple books on the subject. In fact, I don’t think mother knew much about her heritage of the Ch’n either. That was odd to me, how my own mother didn’t know the land she came from, was she truly Ch’n? Why were these thoughts even circulating on me right now? Well, as I peered through the market place, my eyes settled on woman in the distance. She was showing her most likely handcrafted ornamental beads to the centre.
I saw that face and instantly knew we shared the same blood.
Curious, I make my way over, keeping my face stoic and strict. Eyeing the beautiful wooden ornaments before me when I got there. Normally, I wouldn’t care to even stare at these shops, but it was odd to see one of my people down here. As I perused, my gaze did occasional flicker back to her. I was hoping to see my people in a much more esteemed and noble way than how it was looking now; maybe we weren’t so great in the first place. I started to wonder if our lands are primitive. My people, hah! Yes the people I barely understood. Odd, she was a pretty one too; I wouldn’t be surprised if a noble tried to buy her out at some time.
Whatever, I found a pair of black and white spheres that caught my eyes; it would go spending with some of my dresses. I pulled out a gold piece, knowing this was much more than what I was paying for. I placed in front of her. “It’s strange to see my people here.” I pulled back and eyed the gold piece, “I don’t like it.” I peered around at some of the other shops around here, customers rarely came, how does one make money in a place like this. I wouldn’t be surprised if that gold piece would be acceptable here… I didn’t like the feeling. I didn’t like place…
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Post by Sayuri Ai on Oct 3, 2011 20:51:14 GMT -5
It wasn't completely unexpected when the lady made her way over, but it could be a sign that there was coin to be made and ever-mindful of my place in the world I cast my eyes respectfully down, my arms somewhat extended with their bracelets, some painted and some stained in various colors, all of them carved carefully. Flowers, animals, koi, birds, figures and dragons, all of them things I knew from my childhood, and even some with the calligraphy characters that seemed to so intrigue the people here. Perhaps thinking that things from other cultures were cute and quaint was a part of their pride, not that I could complain about it.
The silence continued for a few moments as she glanced at the bracelets and then myself, my gaze flickering to her for no more than a half a moment at a time, but then she was speaking and I looked at her more fully. Her people? From the way she spoke she understood that I was from Ch'n, but there was nothing of it in her tone or manner. Perhaps her mother had been bought by a lord here, or had been a refugee concubine, but it would have been impolite to ask- and angering her may make her put that ducat back in her pouch.
It reminded me of when the man-boy had taunted me with coin that at the time I couldn't refuse, which prickled my pride, but I hid the furrowing of my brow with my ducked head and took a quiet breath before I glanced at her more fully. Maybe it was strange to find others from my land here, but I couldn't leave yet so I would stay, whether she liked it or not. That thought stiffened my spine even as I kept my features demurely placid. "Yes, is rare to see Ch'n things here," I replied quietly but firmly. "But means is more precious. Is three ducats for string of beads, carved in fashion of homeland, worn for luck and power."
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Post by Trinity d'Vistato Armone on Oct 3, 2011 22:15:50 GMT -5
Three pieces? Well, that wasn’t much out of my pocket but, I have to say that something irked me almost instantly. It happened right when she opened her mouth, that accent, the flow of her grammar. As a writer and a native, I was pained to hear such words, broken speech wasn’t cute, it only made other’s think you are stupid, only intelligible of your own world. There was a visible distaste on my face, my eyes showing how unamused I was, I could have laughed with her bargaining me, but I was too busy listening to the horrid excuse of vocabulary before me. There was even a bit of silence after she finished.
My stare was unwavering, unblinking, and bitter, ice cold…
I pulled out four more sovereigns; thinking, really I was sure that this woman was only speaking her best, she wasn’t from this country; Trinity, be nice to her. Damn it, no, just because she is a foreigner doesn’t excuse her from speaking like some kind of underling in a non-educated slum fest of a town. Especially not someone of my blood, “Your speech is atrocious.” I spoke out, I was scolding her actually, in more ways than one, but my powerful voice could be heard, and my maids took that as a sign that I wasn’t happy. “I could care less what kind of turmoil or refusal you’ve had coming here.”
I raised the doubloons in front of her, “Bad language represents bad status, and humans base most of their opinions on how we look and how we speak in this world. You could be the smartest being in the world, but if no one can understand you, then it becomes somewhat worthless.” Of course I wasn’t trying to make her angry, (well, kind of), I was only telling the truth; people look down on people who do not speak fluently. It happens every day, people being undermined for their language skills. And for me, words were just amazingly useful for twisting people’s thoughts.
Seriously, the more I sit here the more I feel like I should do something about this, though I may not be of pure blood like herself, we still share the heritage, the history and more. If I ever decide to birth children, I want them to know about that lineage as well…
Its only balance…
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