Flip of the Coin (For Mistral, closed)

[250]

"My darling girl," a gentle voice called "I'm off to work now."

Without looking up, (the halfling is short) you met gaze with a fatherly face "yes pa, anything else?"

The fatherly face turned into stoic and stonecold for a split second "If that Rusty trys to follow you again, like last time, tell him I will be looking for him." Looking at your fair elvish face and black hair that reflects sunlight, the icy face quickly melted and once again a tender expression. "Alright, be careful, and say hi to old Whinnie when you go to hre house."

The nick name Whinnie is called by your halfling father Eri only, because he thought of her high pitched voice sounded like some kinda complain or protest in a childish fashion.

After patting your face once, the old halfling walked out the house.

Mistral's reply

quote:

---

As Pa shuffles his way out, Svetlana's leaf green eyes scan across this private
world she has known almost all her life. It is heartwrenching, the way Pa is
working himself to support the both of them. At the thought, she swallows the
lump
in her throat and blinks twice ~ Nothing could ever make me leave this
wonderful
place. Not for long, anyway. ~ A quick glance out of the window confirms
the
arrival of the new day. Time to leave for Aunt Wennie's.

With one graceful movement, she swings her lithe legs around and sits herself on
the
bed. Her pointed ears strain to listen to the familiar sounds outside. ~
That
would be Thunderous Tom hammering away, forging his weapons?Bad-breath Betsy
screaming, peddling her wares?and Rusty?as usual, hollering away.

Emitting a subconscious sigh, Svetlana stands up and begins to tidy the room.
When
all is done, her deft fingers grab the tattered shawl neatly folded and placed
on
the seat of the rocking chair. Draping it across her pale shoulders, she hugs
herself tightly and takes a deep breath before emerging from the dear little
cottage. Mechanically inserting the key into the hole, she soon locks up the
house.

Inhaling deeply once again, she now begins on her leisurely stroll towards Aunt
Wennie's shop.

---

[250]

The morning breeze is refreshing, if not exciting in the dump and durty district. You heard kids screaming at each other down the way to Wennie's house.

"Rusty would be there." with a subconcious shivering, you sighed, "should I take a longer route?"

You looked to the other side, the abondoned small temple waved alluringly to you. "Hmmm, the herbs" you remembered, Wennie asked you to use some of the space in the god-foresaken place to grow some what-ya-call-it, Artemisia and Papaver. One is for sleeping and another for diseases, you forgot which one is which, but it doesn't really matter. After all, you are not the midwife.

"Well" putting your thought back to reality "Which way do I take?"

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

A sickening feeling hits Svetlana in the stomach ~ No?I'm not ready to face
them ~ Instinctively, she darts a furtive glance about herself ~ Coast
is
clear for now ~ Hurriedly now, she dashes in the right direction, towards
Thundering Tom's store. Ignoring the shouts and cries echoing in her ears, she
makes another right turn and heads for the abandoned temple. Sprinting into its
open jaws, she stops to catch her breath only when she has ascertained that she
is
quite, quite alone.

Examining the grounds, she notes the wild plants growing on the fertile soil and
bends down to sniff the flowers. The fragrance lifts her spirits and she closes
her
eyes, listening to the silence of the surroundings. A piteous purr catches her
attention and she reopens her eyes to see the lone kitten shivering against a
cracked pillar of the temple.

"Oh, the poor little mite?quot; ~ She tiptoes towards the kitten, crouching down to
croon at it ~ "Are you abandoned, little one?" ~ Reaching out, she begins to
stroke
its luxuriant fur ~ "I wonder if Pa would let me keep you?quot; ~ Then bites her
lips,
knowing that this is quite impossible ~ It's too much to ask of Pa. hmm,
perhaps
Aunt Wennie wouldn't mind ~ At the thought, she jolts back to reality ~
Darn! I haven't the seeds of the Artemisia and Papaver plants! I'll have to
go
to Aunt Wennie's right now, after all

As if sensing her thoughts, the kitten mews sadly. The knot in Svetlana's heart
tightens ~ "Well, I can't just leave you here to rot?not until I've exhausted
the
possibilities, anyway." ~ Cradling the kitten in her arms, she now ventures off
again, taking another long route (round the empty house) towards Aunt Wennie's
shop.

---

[ 01-24-2002: Message edited by: 250 ]

[250]

"whoz it?" answered a high pitched voice as you knocked on the door two short times "hmm... must bee ter lidou one" You bite back a chuclk as you remembered the nick name "Old Whinnie" then answered warmly "It is me, Aunty Wennie."

"Ahhhhh..." the questioning tone turned into one of delight, "come in, come in. You come juzt in time. How iz pa? good? aye, hez a tough, lidou one, and a gentle one too. Why, I might marry him if hez not a halfling, too bad. tsk tsk tsk..."

You waited patiently for her, who didn't seem to be in the mood to stop

"yez yez, I just might, but you never know. I mean, I used to help raije a boy ... go-j by... hmmm... what waz his name? anyway, a half-elf. sigh, a fine boy he was, except tuu strongheaded." She pointed to her head once, gave you a serious look, then turned back to mix her potions. "where was I? yes, strongheaded. he went off on his own, looking for 'himself'. I mean, can one be more foolish than jat? now remember jis, girl, the plash where you look for yeself is not out there! you look, and look, for many yearz, you travel, zen you ended up finding you know yourself all jese yearz, juzt jat you never really know..."

You went to the shelf and started cleaning numerous items as you listened the routine rantings. Finally, you found a chance to ask "Aunty Wennie, I need some of the Artemisia and Papavar seeds."

"Right! I almost forgot" she knocked her forehead loudly "must be of old age" Mumbling and venting, she went into the back room, and came out with a small black bag. She gentely placed the bag into your hand, and folded your palm close. "Now go and grow them, it will be very pretty plantz, az pretty az you." She nagged your cheek once, you can feel her wrinlked finger caressing against your smooth skin, almost ichy, but you didn't laugh.

"It only takes about two weeks to grow. I won't be needing you until then, lidou one. Take care ya Pa, he lovez ye." Bent low, she placed a kiss on your forehead. "Now go"

As you were ready to leave, Old Wennie called you "Wait, take this to old Brigg, this is the list he asked couple days' back." She handed you a piece of paper.

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

Svetlana pocketed the seeds before reaching out for the paper once more.

"Umm, Aunty Wennie? Which would be a safe way for me to reach Briggs? Without
bumping into another of the... erm... other little ones like myself?" ~ She
stammered, all the while trying to sneak a peep at the note.

---

[ 01-24-2002: Message edited by: 250 ]

[250]

"Oh yeah" Aunty Wennie replied "poor lidou one, still doesnt get along with the kids? sigh. alright, to the backyard of the little temple, there is a secret door concealed in one corner behidn the bushs. I know it beause I used to work for the temple, the day was good when the priests of Istar were around."

Thanking her, you ran to the little temple as fast as you could. This place is going to be your second home for the next two weeks, if things go smoothly. You were so happy to have discovered a secret passage where no one else could follow you. You no longer needed to fear the annoying little kids now!

You reached the temple and headed straight for the backyard, you heart were beating rapidly when you reached that place, the deafening volumn were so lound you didn't even notice the rattling sound made by the broken door of the little temple.

"Heh, look what I found here."

You were startled by the unexpected voice, "Ru..Ru.. Rusty!"

You can use the secret passage way, and perhaps you can get away this time, but what about next? and surely Rusty and everyone else would know this passage way, it would no longer be a secret.

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

No time to hide! ~ The inner voice orders her to get a grip on herself.
She
turns, giving a bashful smile to Rusty and trying to ignore his filth-streaked
cheeks, the muddy clothes and the glint in his eyes. Inch by inch, she moves
away
from the bushes, her heart thundering in her ears and her eyes glittering in the
sunlight.

"Good morning, Rusty." ~ Struggling to keep her voice calm, she hides her hands
behind her back while her feet drag unwillingly towards him and the broken door
~
"Lovely day, isn't it?"

---

[250]

"Where do you want to go?" the filthy boy stepped between you and the door. "I just want to talk, why are you ignoring me all these days?"

You looked at him, trying to make a relaxed smile, but you find it hard to concentrate.

"Well, Svetlana. I spoke to Zag Felchinburg yesterday."

oh God, what is he doing with Zag? the infamous local gangster's ill reputation sent a wave of current up your spine. You stiffened and the hand stroking the kitten stopped in its back.

"And guess what?" he said with light sparkling in his eyes, as if it is some kinda proud thing "he said to consider me joining his gangs! Mr. Felchinburg thinks I am an exerllent young man, and he said I can be a good hitman some day."

why is he telling me this? you became unease, is he threatening me?

As he spoke, you noticed his new pair of red skinned boots. You know Rusty's family is as poor as yours, if not worse. Where does he get the new pair of boots? You vaguely remember seeing the same kind in Uncle Briggs's shop last week, perhaps you can ask him.

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

"I... I'm sure that's... nice... as are your boots." ~ She replies cautiously,
hiding her trembling fingers in the fur of the kitten ~ "And, well, I've been
kind
of busy... we all have." ~ Deliberately ignoring the door but inching her way
towards it, she begins to feel a little faint as she catches Rusty's beady eyes.

Once more does she make the attempt ~ "Well, it's been good meeting you, Rusty,
but
I have to go." ~ Plastering a weak smile on her pale and taut face, she gives a
feeble girlish laugh ~ "We'll be in touch again..." ~

With that, she takes off for the streets in a frenzy, praying that the kitten
will
remain in one piece and hoping to bump into some God-sent saviour ~ "Pa!
Thunderous
Tom! I've news for you!" ~ Her musical voice now rises to a crescendo as
desperation holds her in a death grip.

---

[ 01-24-2002: Message edited by: 250 ]

[250]

With a cold and somewhat hurt tone, the boy mumbled something behind you. Your elven kin ear caught it clearly "Don't think you can get away that easy." Spat to the floor, the boy left unwillingly.

He is stalking you, you realized, and especially now he knows where you go. You have to find a way to protect yourself. You thought about telling pa or maybe Tom, then you cursed yourself lightly "Do you want to live like this forever? Com'on! Think! There gota be a way out!"

Luckily, Rusty didn't follow you. The thought of him made you unease, almost want to cry. A tinge of tears wandered at the edge of your eyelid, swallowing hard, you forced them back. This world is a dark place, you have to learn how to survive on your own, eventually.

Hastily, you reached Uncle Briggs' shop. The mid aged fat merchant looked at you above the grey edge of his glasses, his little brown eyes measured you up and down. "Well, a lovely day to see you here, my dear." His sheepish smile made you uncomfortable, as usual, especially the way he is looking at you.

Ignoring him, you scanned over the shelf, and where there used to place a pair of red skinned boots now sat empty. The whole thing became so clear to you all of a sudden, it was either stolen or bought by Rusty, and mostly likely the former. But you need to confirm your suspicion first, and you mustn't let this secret be broken if you want to use it to your advantage.

Yes, secret, you thought of the hidden passage way back in the little temple. You smiled inwardly, my advantages.

"My dear?" the fat mancalled you again "what can I do for you?"

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

Svetlana slowly retreats towards the entrance of the shop, all the while fixing
her
half-frightened eyes on Uncle Briggs and that strange smile on his plump face.
The
way he licks his lips is, well, almost repulsive, and the air seems to be
screaming
with danger. Yet he makes no significant motion towards her.

Now standing at the doorway, the rhythm of her heartbeat becomes more regular as
she
feigns an air of innocence ~ "I remember those lovely red boots you had
displayed
over there." ~ Points at the empty shelf with a slender finger ~ "I recall that
it
cost a bomb, and how sad I was that I would never be able to get Pa a pair...
~ Her right hand subconsciously rises to tuck her raven black hair behind a
pointed
ear ~ "Would you be so kind as to let me know who bought it?" ~ Trying hard to
sound
gay, her hands fold behind her back, her feet poised to leave the room at the
slightest sign of danger.

---

[250]

Your words seem to sting the old fat man. The smile disappeared, instead an angry expression seized his face. "Who bought those boots? Why! The filthy thieves! Those dogs! I am telling you girl, if I ever catch them, they will be dead!"

It was no surprise, in fact, you almost congratulated yourself. However, you summoned up a sorry-expression, it wasn't too hard for you to do, because partly you do feel sorry for the old man. Life is not easy. The longwaged street war had disrupted this part of the City's economy badly, and it still suffers through the occasional free-gangs raid.

"I so am sorry to hear that, when did it happen, good Uncle?"

The man seemed frustrated "When? just a couple days ago! What in God's name is this? Cannot the dirty lazy rats leave an honest businessman alone?!"

Maybe it is your time to take the leave. You quietly walked out of the store. Breathing some fresh air, a smile climbed on your face "wow, this might work!" You no longer needs pa to take care of you! You don't need to be scared of him for at least a long time now!

Your smiled disappear almost at the same instance as the reality settles in. The thought of going back to confront Rusty is not a pleasing one. Who knows what actions to expect from him? From the Rusty?

Sighing, you walked back slowly. Rusty can be found in front of his house near the broken foutain.

OOC: good job, I am impressed!

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

Svetlana trudges her way cautiously along the streets, her instinct keeping her
away
from Rusty ~ No point confronting him just yet... I'm not ready. ~ Her
skirts
swivel softly about her dainty feet ~ And no point returning to Aunt
Wennie... I
couldn't really put up with any conversation right now. ~ The tiny mew below
reminds her of the little kitten, which has miraculously followed her amblings ~
"Oh, you poor dear! I almost forgot about you..." ~ She reaches down to cuddle
the
kitten into her arms ~ "I think I'll call you... hmm... Tatiana."

Suddenly, the wave of heat sweeping across her insides nearly knocks her
unconscious
~ Gods, what's happening to me?! ~ Gasping, she staggers wildly towards
her
home, beads of perspiration forming on the temples of her forehead ~ Please,
let
me get in... before I collapse... ~ Shaky hands fiddle with the key and the
heavens are merciful; the door swings open and she stumbles inside.

Slamming the door shut after Tatiana has entered, she locks the door and leans
against it, her pale face now ashen. Panting, she lifts her delicate hands
which
seem possessed and begin to move in a sinuous motion.

"Meeta...cris...ohmen..." ~ Her lips mumble involuntarily, her body trembling
with
the surge of energy ~ "...alio... paeya..." ~ To her horror, a flash of bright
light
blinds her momentarily. On reopening her eyes, she now finds the room filled
with
choking, colourful fumes.

What the... ~ She stares confusedly at the terrified Tatiana which paws
gently at her feet ~ "What's going on?" ~ She asks aloud, very much troubled.

---

[250]

The colorful vapor gradually vanished, leaving a strange burnt odor. You blinked twice, unsure about what just happened, was it hallucination? Tatiana faintly meowed. You looked down at the tiny creature and asked "what just happened?" The only answer you had was a little kitten stroking her furry face against your feet affectionately.

This is indeed strange. Perhaps Aunty Wennie will have an answer for this? Oh talk about Aunty Wennie, you almost forgot about the seeds. Reaching down your pocket, you felt the soft skin of the bag and the small seeds inside. Assured, you breathed a little easier.

There will be half a day before pa gets home, you will have plenty of time to decide what to do.

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

Well, the day had started normally enough... ~ She muses, lowering
herself to
sit on the cold floor ~ But it's quite clear that I've been most unproductive
so
far... and now I find myself in a half-crazed state, chanting and performing
some
strange rite. ~ Running her fingers through Tatiana's fur proves a pleasant
distraction ~ Should I tell Pa what has happened? ~ And she frowns,
shaking
her head slightly ~ He has enough troubles... it is time I took care of
myself
and lightened his burdens.

The rays of the afternoon sun beam into the snug little room. Her flitting
glance
ends on the window ledge, where a solitary elongated pot stands piteously. As
th
idea strikes her, the frown turns into a tiny smile and she pushes herself off
the
ground with both hands.

Grasping the sides of the basin with both hands, she lifts it painstakingly from
the
oak table and hauls it over to the pot. Then pours some water into it before
poking
into the moist earth with her fingers ~ This should do the trick! ~ She
smiles as she plants the seeds of both plants apart in the pot, after having
cleaned
her hands (Pa would be so upset it if I dirtied my dress).

Beaming satisfactorily, she murmurs to herself ~ "Maybe I won't need to go to
the
temple so often now... though I probably should explore that secret door one
day." ~
EYes twinkling at Tatiana ~ "And wouldn't you like to join me then?"

---

[ 01-24-2002: Message edited by: 250 ]

[250]

The new found friend Tatiana was already a faithful companian. She curls
herself
lovingly against the elf girl's leg, rolled towards her and bared her white
fured
stomach, meowing silliy all the while.

You looked at the pot and congratulated yourself. It will be a while before I
need to transplant them to a bigger places. You thought. The idea of
exploring
the secret door sounded very alluring. You looked out the window, no one was
around
the empty street.

"Hmm, I don't have anything to do now anyway." You decided it perhaps good to
give
it a go.

You grabbed the kitten in your arms, and felt its warm fur. Then quietly opened
the
door, you sneaked a peak once more, making sure no annoying people were around.
"Good," you thought, then you quickly came out, locked the door and ran to the
little temple.

Now you are in the backyard of the abandoned temple. It is an open room of 15' X
15'. The two corners you are facing are covered by green bushs and leaves,
moss grew in the cracks on the walls around the yard. The yard is
full of weeds as high as your knee.

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

Feeling the weeds tickling her knees, Svetlana gingerly strives to steer herself
clear of them (if at all possible). She takes a moment to study the backyard of
the
abandoned temple. ~ Corners covered by green leaves and bushes… moss
like
plants brewding the cracks of walls around the yard…. weeds as high as her
knees….
~ There suddenly seemed to be an air of foreboding about the place. Either
that, or… I'm too paranoid… ~ She licks her lips as she bends down to
pick up
a handful of pebbles and stones.

Glancing round to ensure that the place continues to be unnoticed by others, she
hurls a pebble at the left corner, towards the tenacles and bushes. Then
follows up
by another stone at the right corner. That done, she aims the next two pebbles
at
the plants. As she continues to stand there, she becomes increasingly aware of
her
wobbly knees and drying mouth…

---

[250]

The backyard's stonewall is tall, no one from outside can look inside. You threw the rocks at the corners, there is no respond.

You noticed a strange design behind the bush covered corners on the left. You wouldn't have noticed it if you dont look carefully. You decided to check it out. After clearing the bushs, you uncovered a mechanical device on the wall a little bit above your eyelevel.

The device is a rectangle shaped pannel. In each corner, there is a button you can press. Each corner is marked as the following: "World", "Others", "Self" and "Consistency"

And there is a fifth unmarked button.

You tried to press the buttons and get the following result:

Each button can be either "pressed" or "released". Each time you press a button, it changes its state. (if you press a "released" button, it becomes "pressed")

If you press "World", then "Others" and "Self" change their states.

If you press "Self", then "Others" changes its state.

If you press "Consistency", then "Self" changes its state.

If you press "Others", then "World" changes its state.

If you press the unmarked button, all the buttons reset to "released" states.

Perhaps a concealed door will open if you put all buttons in "pressed" states.

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

Svetlana examines the buttons, poking at each in turn to study its effects on
the
remaining ones. Picking a twig from the ground, she begins to carve out her
findings and try to reason what would be a possible way of opening the door...

At long last, she blinks, half in exhaustion. Gritting her teeth, she raises
her
left hand and points her forefinger towards the array of buttons ~ Here goes
nothing...or, well, something... hopefully... ~ Slightly trembling, she
presses
the "Consistency" button, followed by the "Others" button.

---

[ 01-25-2002: Message edited by: 250 ]