[RP]Obake Blade

[Quist]

Maggie arched an eyebrow at her friend as she poured water into a number of cups. "I'll not argue with you there," she said, still feeling the sting in her backside from her impact to the floor. She strode over to the table with the tray of cups and set them down on the table. The morning light from the open window glinted off the metal pitcher and blinded her for a moment. She stood there, blinking the spots out of her eyes, then moved off to the window. Peering outside, her eyes alighted on a familiar sight. The reflection pool was really the centerpiece of all the monastery's fine works of art and it only made sense to have quite a few windows open into the pool courtyard.

 

She squinted as she observed a figure reclining on one of the benches around the pool. "Who's that...?" she asked aloud. It wasn't any one of the monks; she knew all their looks too well.

[JasraLantill]

"Who's who?" Aya craned her neck over Maggie's shoulder to see what she was looking at. She immediate recognised Carwyn's lithe, relaxed form reclining on the bench in the garden, and she grinned.

 

"That's Carwyn," she said, moving closer to the window now. "Although I'm not quite sure what he's doing...." She gave Maggie a quizzical look. "Meditating?" Then her grin widened. "Or maybe he's... sunbathing." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Either way, once he gets a whiff of toasted raisin bread, I'll bet he'll find us in short order." She glanced over her shoulder at Kyo, then lowered her voice. "And then we'll each have a 'date' for breakfast," she whispered.

[Rexraptor2000]

Toa had gone back to sleep after the Spirit Monk had gotten him some steaming hot tea, as the monk had said that tea would help the headache better than water. The headache was gone now that it was morning, but now Toa felt robbed of most of his energy oddly, which made getting out of bed painful. He sat on the edge of his bed now, rubbing his eyes in an attempt to rid the look of drowsiness rather unsuccessfully.

 

That’s what you get for reading evil scrolls, moron. Mom would have your head on a platter if she saw you were stupid enough to do that, Toa thought to himself with a slight hint of shame. Sure, he had done some stupid things before, but they were never really dangerous to him. From what the monk had told him however, this one took the cake.

 

“Well, I won’t get any more awake just sitting here.” Toa spoke aloud to himself as he stood up from his bed, exited the room, and just started walking. It was only after ten minutes of walking through the ancient stone hallways that he realized he had absolutely no idea where he was going or what he wanted to do at the moment. Which was not so good, because now it seemed like this place was a maze rigged against him.

[Quist]

Maggie caught the mischievous glint in Aya's eyes and answered with one of her own. Their breakfast date had quickly turned into something quite different with the appearance of Kyo and the sighting of Carwyn. The quiet warrior and the cheery ranger were, in their own unique ways, the most charming of the group that Aya had brought to the monastery. Kyo was the more reserved and studious of the two, but he was also the undisputed leader and commanded quite a bit of respect. He had also demonstrated an academic flair and Maggie could tell it was something he approached with passion. Carwyn embodied an entirely different spirit altogether. Ever cheerful and always ready with a brilliant smile, it was easy to like the effervescent ranger. He seemed completely honest, with nothing to hide. He also seemed to be in love with Aya. She'd never seen her childhood friend so happy before and stealing a glimpse of their passionate kiss in the hallway had only cemented Maggie's opinion of Carwyn.

 

She took a last glance at Carwyn's reclining frame, taking note of how the bright morning sunlight glinted off his broad, lithe shoulders. Turning her attentions back to the kitchen, she observed Kyo, noticing for the first time his broad, muscular chest and strong, sinewy arms now that they weren't covered by concealing leather armor. His intense blue eyes did not seem as tired as when she saw them last and his handsome features held a look of amusement and gaiety. She sighed, shaking her head slightly. Aya certainly did know how to pick traveling companions.

 

Maggie grabbed another plate and cup and set them on the table, then went to help Aya with the toast. She inhaled the sweet scent of the bread as it was warmed. "I do so love Brother Damian's cooking," she said. "I just hope Master Stormchild gets up here quickly, else I don't think I'll be able to help myself."

[JasraLantill]

Aya had put the bread inside the toaster basket and was holding it close to the fire in the kitchen. The spices and raisins gently warming created an amazing smell.

 

"I do so love Brother Damian's cooking," she said. "I just hope Master Stormchild gets up here quickly, else I don't think I'll be able to help myself."

 

Aya's eyes sparked. She looked at the open window once more, then handed the toaster basket to Maggie. "Here, hold this for a sec."

 

She sidled over to the window, then cleared her throat. "Yes, Maggie, you are right, it does smell good." she said in a slightly amplified tone, obviously hoping that her voice would drift through to the garden along with the scent of fresh raisin bread toast. "But if no one else shows up to share the scrumptously delicious fresh raisin bread toast served with sweet clotted cream with us, I suppose we can have it all to ourselves."

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn had just laid he head back and closed his eyes when he heard a most unmistakable voice.

 

"Yes, Maggie, you are right, it does smell good."

 

Twisting his head around, he tried to ascertain where Aya's voice had come from. His keen ranger eyes soon spotted her rosy visage, framed by her long brown tresses, leaning out of a window on the second floor of the monastery.

 

"But if no one else shows up to share the scrumptously delicious fresh raisin bread toast served with sweet clotted cream with us, I suppose we can have it all to ourselves," she continued, speaking loud enough that Carwyn could tell it was on purpose. And sure enough, his nostrils were soon filled with the sweet smell of toasted bread, with just a hint of raisin-y sweetness.

 

He grinned. Could she have made it a little more obvious? he thought to himself as he found his way to the door, slipping his arms into the sleeves of his tunic, but not bothering to button it up. Now back in the corridor, he still wasn't really sure where to go, but at least now, he had a scent to follow. Thus, finding the kitchen door was far easier than he remembered it. Pushing the heavy wooden door open with his shoulder, he let himself into the kitchen.

 

****

 

Tellis clambered up the rocky footpath into the hills surrounding the monastery, her purloined apron full of fruits and vegetables making traveling a bit awkward. She'd gotten up extra early and raided the kitchen of some of its fresh produce to bring to Kai. She'd miscalculated how heavy it would be, however, so it had taken her quite a bit of time to travel to Kai's encampment.

 

Hoisting herself gingerly over the ridge, she walked carefully over to where Kai had made camp.

[Rexraptor2000]

The smell. It was so sweet. Toa had been lost in these hallways, although he'd gotten a better bearing when he'd found the inner windows, but now he smelled the sweet scent of warm food that made his empty stomach rumble. He wasn't an expert of smell, but this was a bit different for some reason, and it was like a beacon leading him on.

 

It was quite funny if you watched him actually, because his nose was raised slightly and he was walking as if in a daze towards the kitchen from which the smell was coming from. So one had every reason to laugh when he walked into the kitchen, from the opposite direction of Carwyn, and then snapped out of it when he realized there were people in there.

 

He blushed for a moment as he asked "Umm... Is there any breakfast?" Then his stomach growled aloud again.

[JasraLantill]

The doors at either end of the kitchen opened simultaneously, and in walked Carwyn and Toa.

 

"Umm... Is there any breakfast?" Toa asked. Then his stomach growled.

 

Aya looked down at the raisin toast, then grinned. "Wow," she said under her breath. "This scent really attracts people...." She sniffed the air, taking in the scent. "Wonder if I could bottle it?"

 

Turning to Toa, she answered his question. "Breakfast? Indeed!" She smiled at him and motioned to the table. "Have a seat." Then she turned to Carwyn. "You, too," she said, and she pointed to one particular seat--the one next to the one she was planning to sit at. "You look like a man in need of something warm and sweet."

[Rexraptor2000]

Toa chuckled as he took a seat at the table and said "Right, so when you're done giving him his warm and sweetness dose for the morning we can have breakfast. By the way, what is that stuff? I've never seen, or smelled, it before."

[Rogue Nine]

"Right, so when you're done giving him his warm and sweetness dose for the morning we can have breakfast."

 

Carwyn froze momentarily as he was lowering himself into the seat Aya had indicated. He hadn't commented on Aya's 'something warm and sweet' statement because he didn't want to embarrass her so early in the morning. Obviously Toa had no such pretensions. Carwyn shot a glance at Aya to gauge her reaction. Sure enough, she'd turned that charming shade of crimson and was biting her lip as she came over with a plate full of raisin toast.

 

Thinking quickly, he took the plate of toast from her, giving her fingers a small squeeze of encouragement as he did so. Setting it down on the table, he picked two slices and placed them on his own plate. "Thanks for the warm and sweetness, Aya," he said, smiling easily at her. Picking up one of the slices, he took a bite out of it and sighed. "This," he said, speaking to Toa, "is raisin bread. One of the gods' greatest inventions." He pushed the plate towards the pyromancer. "Go on, try some."

[ForceFightWMe12]

"It's even better, I might add..." Kyo said, coming back over to the table from the sentry he had taken near a window - he had felt so clueless and helpless as the women had been preparing breakfast that he simply stood off to the side, out of the way - and took the seat across from Carwyn, "When it has cinnamon sugar baked right in. Now that is surely the gods' ambrosia."

 

He hadn't missed the small pun of 'warm sweet things' that had been played off between Carwyn and Aya, but for now he chose to ignore it. His countenance still completely unaltered, he looked up to the two women with a grateful smile.

 

"Thank you for the breakfast," he said, nodding, "It smells delicious."

[Rexraptor2000]

Toa grabbed one of the toasts, but before he ate it he took out his Insanity Spice and sprinkled some on. Good it may be, but spice always made things taste better and spicier. Except for Lava stew. Put the Insanity Spice in Lava Stew and you'd drain an ocean, even if you were a Pyromacer. He took a bite out of the toast, and a big grin slowly formed on his face.

 

"Well, except for Magma Honey, this is just about the best thing I ever tasted!" Toa exclaimed as he took another bite.

[Rogue Nine]

"There's some clotted cream here too," Carwyn said, reaching over for the small pot. Spreading some of it on his toast, he took a bite and closed his eyes. "Mmm, I haven't had clotted cream in so long," he sighed. "I could seriously think about moving in here."

 

Realizing something, he opened his eyes and looked around. "Hey, where's Brother Hanzo and the rest of the monks? Did they not want to join us for breakfast?"

[Quist]

It was Maggie's turn to speak up. "Ah no, not quite," she told Carwyn as she took the seat next to Kyo. "Aya and I were just going to have a bit of an early breakfast, just like old times." She smiled at her friend. "But we probably should have expected to have guests along as well."

 

She poured out another cup of water for Toa and set it next to his plate. She was glad that the pyromancer seemed better today, since he looked near death the previous night. But thanks to Brother Kitanga and Aya, whatever seemed to be ailing him was gone for the moment.

 

A cool breeze blew through the window and over the table, causing Maggie to shiver slightly. Looking out into the bright morning sky, she could tell it was going to be a good day. She turned to Kyo, who was helping himself to more raisin toast. "So m'lord, what will you be doing today?" Did you find what you were looking for last night in the library?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

"Probably some more research - and that, in itself, should answer your second question. There is quite a lot of information stored in the library you have here, but unfortunately, not much of it is truly pertinent to what I'm searching for. Quite interesting, yes, and good to know, but not entirely important."

 

Pulling the peice of toast he had grabbed back towards him, he gave her a side-long gaze and said, "I also, do believe, that I've requested that you call me Kyo."

[Quist]

Maggie couldn't help blushing. "Er, my apologies, m'l--er, Kyo," she stammered, testing his name out again. She gave him a small shrug. "You know how it is. 'Tis only proper that I address you as such, being a guest of the monastery and all." Inwardly, she was happy that he'd asked her to call him by his name, as it demonstrated casualness and familiarity, which were both important things, as Maggie couldn't help but be attracted to him. Truth be told, both he and Carwyn were quite attractive to her, but in very different ways. Of course, it didn't help any that she had lived most of her life at the monastery and wasn't quite sure how to handle such feelings just yet. "Old habits die hard, I guess," she finished up weakly.

 

She put her thoughts aside for the moment and willed her face back to its proper color, which wasn't easy, given her proximity to Kyo and his casual, but warm statement. Taking another glance out the window, an idea struck her. "It looks to be a beautiful day outside, Kyo," she said, meeting his intense green eyes again. "After breakfast, why don't you take your research materials from the library outside to the garden and do your work there? I'm sure the fresh air and warm surroundings would be most conducive to your research."

[ForceFightWMe12]

"That could be quite delightful," he said, giving her a smile before following her gaze outside. "Although...there are quite a few books, and I would be loathe to have them ruined outside..."

 

He had seen the glow that had come to Maggie's eyes when he had requested the use of his name, and knew that the gesture had pleased her. He was glad that she had taken his request as it was meant to be taken - it wasn't often that he bothered to request anyone to use his name. They either did on their own or they weren't worth asking. Of course, he was associating with others much more often lately than he had since...well, since he was a young boy, to be honest.

 

((Eh. Sorry for the crap-tastic-ness >.< The exams are eating my brain!))

[Quist]

"That's all right, I'll help you take them outside," Maggie said brightly. "Brother Hanzo likes to study outside when it's nice as well. He says it helps him think." She cast another glance at the brightening day outside the window. "And it's not like the garden is at all far from the library." She smiled at him again. "So what say you, Kyo?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

"I say that that would be wonderful." he answered, smiling at her. "Thank you, Miss Roche."

 

Kyo took the peice of toast and put it to his lips, taking a bite and chewing it thoughtfully as he looked out the window again. The sun was now almost entirely above the monastery's outer wall, its golden light spilling over the ancient battlements and lighting the reflecting pool with thousands of glittering sparkles, as if the surface were made of hundreds of thousands of diamonds. Strange...the monks should have been up by now...

 

"What time does the Father Abbott and the other monks usually rise?" he asked Maggie, still watching the sunrise, "Or do they just not eat breakfast?"

[Quist]

"Call me Maggie," she said, giving him a playful smirk. Taking a bite out of her toast, she chewed thoughtfully, then swallowed before answering his question. "I actually don't know where they are. I know Brother Hanzo doesn't usually eat breakfast, but Father Abbott likes to make his own special omelette in the morning." She pursed her lips. "Then again, he was up pretty late last night..." She waggled her eyebrows at him and Aya and Carwyn.

 

"It probably would be best if we finished up here and made off before they get here. I know Brother Damien, loveable as he is, can be a little cranky in the morning."

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn observed the exchange between Maggie and Kyo in between mouthfuls of raisin bread toast and clotted cream. The two of them seemed to be getting friendlier, and Carwyn was going to have to pull Kyo up about his 'magnetic personality' again when he next had the chance to. Grinning slightly, he nudged Aya gently with his knee and when she looked over at him, winked and motioned ever so subtly with his head towards Kyo and Maggie.

[JasraLantill]

Aya swallowed the bit of toast in her mouth, then gave Carwyn a secretive sort of grin. "Hey, I know what we could do outside," she said. "We could spar." She held back a grin. "Well...not me, because I'm not really the sparring type, but...." She nudged Carwyn's leg with hers. "Maggie's a good spar-er." She frowed a bit. "Spar-er... is that a real word?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo smiled. "It is now, Miss Aya." he said before glancing at Maggie. "So...Miss Magdelena can fight?" he said, "That's a bit of a surprise, if I do say so myself."

 

((laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame *eyetwitch*))

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn raised an eyebrow. "Not really," he said, stuffing his mouth with another piece of creamy toast. "Arn't monksh shtupposed to be gud marshul artisths?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

"Many monasteries have one or two combat specialists in the event of an attack. I simply found it interesting that the brothers here had taught Miss Maggie." Picking up a napkin, Kyo tossed it to Carwyn. "Don't eat with your mouth full; it's rude."