Me: Ok, so during my class yesterday morning, I began brainstorming about things to talk about/do.
Sage: ...During class? You were supposed to be paying attention.
Me: Before class.
Sage: *skeptical* Sure...
Me: *ignores Sage* So I came up with a number of topics and for awhile I couldn't decide on a specific one, but then I came up with the idea of writing a short story together.
Drel: You mean like that game that they played in Little Women?
Sage: ...you've read Little Women?
Drel: No...I was in the room when Nessa was listening to the audio book.
Sage: Ooohhh, ok. I was a little concerned there. ;)
Drel: *rolls eyes*
Me: Yes, it is like that game they played, Drel. Pretty much the exact same, but each person only gets a few sentences.
Drel: I see...
Me: And no messing it up.
Drel: *smirks slightly but puts on an fake innocent look* Why would I do something like that?
Me: *sighs* You're impossible.
Drel: You say that a lot.
Me: Because it's true...
Ilus: *chuckles* You two always fight, don't you?
Drel: *eyes narrow darkly* Why are you here?
Sage: *crosses arms glaring at Ilus* Let me guess, you're bored.
Ilus: Mildly, but you would be correct.
Me: If you keep showing up, I might have to make a small profile for you.
Drel: That would only encourage him to come more often.
Me: True...
Ilus: *smirks* It might...but it could also change nothing at all.
Me: ...oh cut it out! I hate it when you start making me question what I think.
Sage: ...so are we going to play the game while he's here?
Me: Well it seems we will...
Ilus: A game? Can I play?
Drel: No.
Me: ...umm...well...I don't know.
Ilus: Oh come now. I have nothing else to do and I'll just cause problems if you say no.
Me: ...you're so manipulative... *sighs* Fine...just don't cause any trouble.
Drel: *rolls eyes* You have no backbone Silver.
Me: Yeah, I know...
Ilus: I suppose I should know what the game is.
Me: It's just a game where each person helps come up with a story by giving a few sentences.
Ilus: Definitely sounds like the kind of game you would play.
Me: Whatever...so we need a setting.
Daisuke: Japan.
Me: Ok. Whoa! Dai, when did you get here?
Daisuke: Just now.
Sage: ...wow, everyone is showing up, aren't they?
Me: Wait, now do I have to come up with a profile for him?
Drel: Just say that he's the person you made the papercraft chibi person of.
Daisuke: ...umm...I don't understand.
Drel: *says something in Japanese*
Daisuke: sou ka. (I see.)
Me: ...anyways. Daisuke speaks Japanese and is from Japan but he speaks English pretty well so he should probably understand what's going on. If not, Drel can play interpreter.
Drel: ...wait, what?
Me: *chuckles* You want to play the game too Daisuke?
Daisuke: *shrugs* Sure.
Me: Alright then. So the setting is in Japan and we'll come up with the characters as we go along.
Sage: I'm assuming you're going to start.
Me: Yes. Just let me though for a moment
Ilus: *lounges in chair*
Me: Ok. *pauses* Once there was a boy named...Akito and he lived in a large mansion that was located in the middle of no where. Due to his fragile health, he was kept in doors and rarely left the house. Even the windows were kept shut.
Drel: You enjoy depressing beginnings don't you?
Me: Shush.
Sage: *thinks for a moment* When Akito reached the age of fifteen, he made up his mind to escape the house and strike out on his own in the outside world. His mother and the servants that stayed at the mansion would tell him stories to scare him enough to stay inside but he was old enough to figure out what they were doing. Akito slipped away just at the break of dawn while everyone was still asleep.
Daisuke: He took a path that lead north and entered a vast forest that stretched on for many miles. Akito did not know how big the forest was. He grew frightened as the hours passed because he didn't reach any towns but he could not turn back because he was already lost.
Drel: Akito's mind was clouded by fear and he was not aware that the path he had been following had vanished. Having nothing more to do, he sat beneath a large oak and stared hopelessly at the jumble of woods around him, wishing that he had just stayed in the mansion.
Me: This story is getting depressing...
Drel: You started it off that way so we just helped it along.
Me: True. Ilus I believe it's your turn. But before you do anything, you're not allowed to kill Akito.
Ilus: *sighs* Very well. Midday arrived and Akito was so delirious with hunger and exhaustion that his vision began to play tricks on him...or so he thought. He was unable to determine if he was hallucinating as a white snake slithered up before him. It's eyes were a pearly blue and a string purple diamonds cascaded down it's smooth scaled back.
Me: ...did not see that one coming.
Slade: Oh! Can I play? I got an idea.
Me: Sure. Go for it. We'll just let anyone go when they want to.
Slade: The mysterious snake rose up slightly and met Akito's eyes but did not appeared a threat. Akito watched the snake curiously before finally speaking. His voice was small and a little crackly from lack of water. "What are you?" He asked, forgetting his fear.
Sage: To Akito's surprise, the snake replied with a smooth voice that had a slight feminine tone to it. "I am merely a friend to those who need one." It said softly. Akito looked around the forest remembering his predicament. "Can you help me get out of here?" He asked with a small whimper.
Me: The snake nodded without a word and slithered up Akito's arm until it rested on his shoulder. "I can guide you to shelter." It said. Encouraged, Akito rose to his feet and followed the snake's directions. The journey was not an easy one but after a little over an hour, Akito stumbled upon a house sitting by a small brook.
Daisuke: For some reason, I'm thinking of the anime Fruits Basket.
Me: Haha, me too. :)
Ilus: Upon approaching the small house, the snake slithered back to the ground and lead the way to the door. Akito timidly followed the snake but hesitated when the snake slide the door back and went inside. The realization that he was now alone, lead him to enter the house. However, once Akito was inside he noticed a white wolf standing just on the other side of the room.
Drel: The wolf did not make any threatening movements towards Akito but it's gaze was watchful and alert. Akito was so startled by the wolf, he did not notice that there was another figure in the room. It was a young girl with pure white hair. The snake that had guided Akito here was curled gently around her wrist and she stroked it tenderly like it was her pet.
Sage: Akito remained motionless, still staring at the wolf. Only when the young girl stood and walked over to the wolf, did he notice her. Touching the wolf's shoulder gently, the girl looked up at Akito. Her eyes were an unnatural yellow but Akito found that there was a calm and harmless look in them. Without speaking, the little girl, motioned Akito to sit at a table that had a small bowl of rice waiting there.
Me: Akito gratefully did as he was told and consumed the rice hungrily. The wolf seemed to be assured that Akito posed no danger and laid down on the matted floor. "Asame has told me that you were lost in the forest." The young girl said, filling a small cup of tea and handing it to Akito.
Daisuke: Akito burned his tongue on the tea by drinking it to fast and set the cup on the table to wait for it to cool. "Who are you?" He asked, wondering why this young girl was in the middle of a forest. The little girl lowered her hand to the ground and the snake, Asame, smoothly slide from her arm. "My name is Maeko." She said quietly.
Sage: *chuckles* Ah, I see what you did there. Maeko means 'truthful child' doesn't it?
Daisuke: *nods with with a smile*
Ilus: As Akito's gaze searched around, he became aware that the snake and the wolf weren't the only creature lingering in the room: a white doe was curled up in a corner, while a white raccoon watched him from under a blanket. "You live here with these animals?" He asked, taking the bowl of soup that Maeko offered him.
Me: Maeko nodded and sat down across from Akito, picking up a white squirrel that was hiding under the table. "I have made this a refuge for them." She said. "The villages and people the live around here think that white animals carry a curse and have sought to kill them." Maeko stroked the squirrel's fluffy tail and looked thoughtful for a few moments. "I myself have been hunted because of my unnatural appearance." She said, not seeming to be too bothered by it.
Drel: Akito did not understand why anyone would do anything like that, having been sheltered from the evil things of the world and people's odd superstitions. He was beginning to question if leaving his mansion of safety had been a good idea. Maeko inquired about what Akito was doing in this part of the forest and he briefly shared his story.
Slade: Still wondering about the strange snake, Asame, Akito thought for a moment before asking a question. "Do all these animals talk like Asame?" He asked curiously. Maeko blinked and looked over at the snake that was curled up a short ways away. "No. Asame and Juya are the only two creatures that can talk and even then, they don't usually talk to anyone besides me."
Sage: "Who is Juya?" Akito asked, glancing around at the other animals in the room. Maeko smiled for the first time. It was a small and soft smile that was completely innocent. "He's my guardian. A white dragon." She said, getting up and walking over to the back door. Sliding the paper door back she sung a high note into the air.
Ilus: Akito walked over to the door and a rush of wind greeted him as a white dragon descended from the sky. Juya was a pearl white Japanese dragon with jade eyes that shown like gems. The sight of a majestic and frightening beast caused Akito to stumble back inside the house but Maeko walked fearlessly over to the large creature and rested her hand on it's smooth muzzle.
Daisuke: "Come Akito, he's really very gentle." She said, urging Akito to meet her guardian. Akito remained unsure until Juya laid down on the grass. Slowly, he walked towards the dragon and stood beside Maeko. Taking his hand, she guided it to the dragon's sleek snout and smiled at him.
Me: We should probably start wrapping this up. It's getting rather long. :) Akito stared in awe into the dragon's eyes. He had never known that dragons actually existed but soon a bright smile lit his face. "He's amazing." He said softly. Maeko watched with a smile on her face. "We can take you back home, Akito." Akito took a step back, removing his hand from the dragon. "But I don't want to go back." He said quickly. "Your family is worried." Juya said, in a soft voice that sounded almost like liquid.
Drel: Akito felt a little bad for leaving without telling them but he still did not wish to return. Maeko touched his hand lightly and looked into his eyes with a pitying expression. "I know you don't like it there. But they are keeping you safe. Maybe if you talk to them about letting you go outside, they will let you." She said. "Please Akito, you need to return home." Akito could not help but give in to her pleading expression.
Sage: Akito agreed reluctantly and Maeko lead him over to Juya's side. "We can ride Juya to you house." She said, skillfully climbing onto the dragon's back. Akito felt a shiver of excitement run through him as he mounted the dragon. Juya gently launched into the air and soared off into the sky.
Me: Flying by dragon took a lot shorter than it did on foot and they soon landed in the yard of Akito's house. Maeko walked with Akito to the door and knocked. Akito's family was overjoyed to have him back but where shocked to find a white dragon and a strange girl with him. Maeko politely asked if they would let Akito outside occasionally and they agreed. Akito didn't try to sneak out of the house and was lead to wander around outside as long as he didn't head to far into the forest. Maeko came to visit frequently and they both became good friends. The end.
Ilus: That was usually enjoyable.
Sage: See? You don't always have to do something violent to enjoy yourself...
Me: Well I should go now. Hope you all enjoyed that fun little story. Sorry the post is a day late. :) Until next time!
~N~