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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 6, 2013 4:18:47 GMT -8
|  EXAMPLE CAPTION YO | | katsuri katashi And I heard as it were... the noise of thunder... | | Only underhanded tricks? Barker? Of course.. he also had raw numbers in his favor thus far. The size of ones army was often the determining factor in war. Especially now that the world may as well have been reduced to medieval fighting tactics. Barker could fall, as all great empires had in the past, it was not as easy as amassing a army, however.
Contingencies were often the sign of a coward, but they were also the sign of a tactician, and for every ounce of cowardice Barker was equal parts strategist. Katsuri knew this and did not delude himself with different notions.
The war was forgotten though, at least for the moment, as Maddie was back to the forefront. A mention of lemons at a market and of course what he assumed was some form of nickname for Maddie. Then he was put in a position he had known many a time before.. he merely shrugged shoulders at Olesya.
"I see no harm in going to the market with you and Maddie. Leon is not just going to disappear."
It had been a few years since he had seen Leon anyhow, it was not like such things could not wait until he was on his own. A smile had returned to his face, and those large paws of his had been sunk into his suit pants, thumb exposed and hooked on the hem of each pocket. | |
One of the four beasts sang come and see... and I saw. |
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 6, 2013 5:35:49 GMT -8
Olesya shrugged in response to his acceptance, not wanting to have dragged him along at a child's whim, but not minding if he did. Katsuri was neutral territory, if it were a Friend/Foe gauge bar like in Dragon Age 2, it'd be right in the middle...maybe a tick or two in the direction of 'Friend' due to their common enemy and the fact that he was affectionate to her ward.
"Sure, you can see the civilian side of the territory. Not everything is barracks and armories."
In fact, Maddie wasn't allowed anywhere near that side. There were a couple offices that were in public domain, but any deeper into the business side of the territory required additional clearance. Maddie's gray civilian armband acknowledged that she was a citizen of the territory with a right to be there, Olesya's colorful armband with the wide V beneath it granted her significantly more access. No armband meant you were more likely to be stopped and questioned by patrols, especially since they were hunting down the wayward assassin in their midst. However, if Katsuri was in the company of Olesya or another citizen or officer (or Dragon like Leon), they wouldn't stop him.
Olesya grabbed two reusable shopping bags from the cupboard, handing one to her young ward who accepted it with a bright expression. They were a bit worn, having a Trader Joe's and Stop & Shop logos on them from shopping centers that were long since abandoned or destroyed, but they still did the job.
She finished the rest of her lemonade, setting the glass in the sink before gesturing for her little caravan to get going. (Little, haha, get it) Walking out the front door, she'd wait for maddie and Katsuri to exit before closing and locking the door, clipping the key on a carabiner in her pocket. The soldier had resumed post outside their home, and Les saluted him with her right fist to her chest, and he returned the gesture.
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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 6, 2013 8:25:34 GMT -8
|  EXAMPLE CAPTION YO | | katsuri katashi | | "Sounds lovely, and what better company than two beautiful young ladies." That smile there as he nodded to her once more. Armories and barracks, a necessity in this day and age, something he had thought the world was slowly dwindling away from before the bombs fell. Violence seemed to drop more and more. Not that it would have seemed like that in the halls of the local high school.
Overall, however, crime rates had dropped significantly and continued to do so.. and now survival was paramount, which meant that it was life-threatening every day just to eat. Still. Humans were resilient, they would survive just as they always had.
What better way to show such a thing than a market? Crowded with people, all trying to offer services and wares, showing that even in the face of certain doom people had enough to share with others. A beautiful sentiment for sure.. not necessarily the whole truth of the matter, greed was certainly a trait spread around, but one he would rather use none the less.
He followed behind Olesya and Maddie, the last to leave the house, his body needing to contort once more to get out, sideways and hunched over before he was free to stand out in that yard as she locked up. Maddie? Well. The big man would have scooped the child up and given her probably a better view than most buildings around this place could offer. His shoulders.
A bit presumptuous, but given the distinct lack of fear the child seemed to have for him despite gargantuan size, he suspected it would have been just fine. Barring he be careful of course. Had to be careful. Which he was. You did not get to be as big as he was without knowing how to work with and around those smaller than you, children in particular. This considering one hand was larger than Maddie's head or all children her size for that matter. | |
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 6, 2013 19:01:16 GMT -8
Maddie squealed in delight as she was scooped up off the ground and onto the giants shoulders. She clung to the top of his head, small fingers grabbing his hair like a mane briefly until she steadied herself and opened her palms flat on the top of his head. The reusable shopping back would have flopped in the movement, smacking him in the face if he wasn't careful enough. "I'm a tall as a mountain!"She shrieked, throwing her hands up for emphasis before folding them back on his head to balance herself up so high. The bag came up and down once more, before the older of the two 'beautiful ladies' reached up and took the bag from her young ward. "I'll take that while you're up there. You can have it back when your feet are on the ground"Olesya was surprised how well Katsuri took to Maddie, and visa versa. It was almost one of those kindred spirits kinda things, polar opposites. Big, strong, and serious next to small, kind, and bubbly. It was rather amusing to watch the interaction between these two, Olesya noted silently. Another thing was that Katsuri seemed to assimilate fairly easy, fitting in as if he'd been there all along. Les hadn't had that kind of charisma since high school, in which she could assimilate into just about any social situation. It was one of the things that had made her a great pillar. Somewhere along the line, she'd lost that ability, now needing to analyze people a situations at length before feeling like she fit in. Like now, it was...comfortable. Was that the word? But she felt like she was still observing from the outside as opposed to melding into the situation. She felt like she was her own puppeteer, watching from above as she moved and interacted as opposed to being in the action. The market had begun as a square surruonding the Peace Cafe in Dragon Territory, slowly expanding until it trailed through most of the residential area. The shops and tents around the Peace Cafe sold mostly luxury items and artisan crafts while the main line sold fruits and vegetables and other foods and handy items for day to day life. Olesya would lead the trio North to where the street they lived on met with the market. A couple of the run-down buildings had been renovated to house actual stores, while some people stuck to canopy-covered tables on the streets. Some had signs, other banners, others just showed their goods in baskets and tubs for all to purvey. The myriad of colors and shapes and sounds was invigorating. The market was truly the center of the city that had pulled together in the wake of Fate. |
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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 7, 2013 8:04:24 GMT -8
| EXAMPLE CAPTION YO | | katsuri katashi | | The squeal was a little loud, but that was what children were. Loud and cute. His stride was nice and slow to make sure there was no chance of Maddie falling, thankfully for her guardian his stride was almost twice that of a normal person so it did not seem nearly as bad.
"I'll let you be as tall as a mountain whenever you want." Said with a soft chuckle, demeanor a lot more relaxed and carefree now that they had gotten away from conversations or war and cowards. As far as Maddie riding on his shoulders went? He was perfectly fine with making good on such a promise, she weighed virtually nothing when you considered his size so it was probably less annoying than even having a backpack on, and it made her squeal which was beyond cute.
As for becoming part of the BORG collective, Katsuri did not really assimilate any better than other people. The difference between him and most is he just did not give a shit what other people thought. He did his own thing, and it was glorious for the leviathan. You do you, Imma do me. That sort of thing.
They were just a hop, skip, and jump away from the market though. Olesya had just barely led them to the end of the street and the sound of bustling people and merchants hawking their wares to anyone within ear shot were filling the air. Did not have much to barter though, so it was doubtful the big lug would be doing any shopping himself, maybe if he ever came back.
"This place seems like it is booming." Said, of course, as he continued to follow Olesya, making sure he was a few steps away from her at all times, not only was she protective, but the giant had a sneaking suspicion if he did not stay close to someone whom was a known local he'd be liable to get some grief.. grief he did not want to deal with honestly. Blood stains were a nightmare to get out now a days.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 7, 2013 10:19:15 GMT -8
Seeing Maddie so happy made the corners of Olesya's mouth turn upward slightly. Olesya felt less like she had saved maddie from the orphanage, and more like Maddie had saved her from herself. If the responsibilty hadn't been thrust upon her, Les probably would have wandered around much like a neutral renegade, never staying one place for too long, never finishing her treatment to rid her system of the chemicals that addled her brain, never growing up and becoming the woman she was today. Maddie was her core, and seeing her happy brought a deep feeling of happiness to the young woman.
"It started pretty small, but yeah...it's definitely taken off. The monetary system here is...well, for lack of a better word, mixed. Money is still good, mostly coins, but people also barter in goods and services too."
They walked past a stall where a vendor was weaving bags made out of old plastic bags, like the ones you saw in the grocery stores when they were still around. Some people had set up rooftop gardens and were selling their in-season fruits and vegetables.
"It was definitely a slow start, rough living. People aren' used to having to provide for themselves. The rooftop gardens are only just becoming popular. It was either that or starve, and thankfully humans are ingenuitive and resourceful creatures."
Her kaleidoscope gaze flicked over the tables and baskets, not really decidingon anything in particular.
"Maddie, what do you want for dinner?"
She asked, tilting her head up to look at her young ward, who was mesmerized by seeing the market so high off the ground. It took her a moment to register that Les was speaking to her, before turning her bright gaze downward.
"Mmmm...pasketti."
Olesya had an inlking that Maddie had Apraxia as a young child, mixing up her words even though she knew how they were supposed to sound. She'd seen it a lot when she and Jon had babysat Maddie years and years ago. It had mostly righted itself around, but there were still certain words nad sounds she got mixed up. It wasn't too big of a deal, David's doctor had offered to work with her once a week on her speech to completely correct it.
"We'll see if they've got spaghetti for sale today."
She agreed, gently correcting her without bringing negative attention to her error. That was the thing about the market though, you never knew what supply and demand was going to be. These weren't stable times, you had to take what you got and work with it.
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Post by David B. on Jun 7, 2013 10:50:52 GMT -8
David brought the fruit up to his nose, taking a small sniff of the cantaloupe with the intent to test it's ripeness. Squeezing it a little in his left hand, he shook his head and smiled at the lady.
"They look great, Sarah. Glad you guys were able to get them here so quick. Make sure to give my compliments to your husband. He works hard."
He set the fruit back down on the table, the woman smiling and giving a small bow, with a "Thank you, Elder" before David turned to look back at the men standing behind him, jerking his head to signal them to keep moving. There were five in all, two covered in dirt, two a little bruised and one beat up pretty good. David seemed fine, though a little dirty himself, and all six of them were extremely tired. He had been gone for about two days, Working up north on a special operation known only to a handful of people. Mostly this group, Olesya and Leon. They had completed the mission, of course, but got a little battered.
No mission is ever a perfect success.
His eyes scanned the crowd, keeping a lookout, when around a corner he saw a man walking. A large man. His eyes narrowed slightly. Katashi...? He remembered the Behemoth from 259. They never really got along, but weren't enemies either. Just two people with differing ideas about how the world is and should be. And on his shoulders was a small child...the man was too far away for him to tell...He was almost ready to use his Qi when his hand was taken by a woman, who shook it vigorously. His eyes turned to her, and he smiled, shaking her hand in hello. It wasn't long before a small crowd started to gather to say hello, and to welcome him back, so his thoughts were distracted for a moment from the large male in their midst.
OOC: Hope you don't mind me blitzing in.
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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 7, 2013 18:10:20 GMT -8
| EXAMPLE CAPTION YO | | katsuri katashi | | The reaction he got from Maddie was worth it, it was doubtful in this state, that the glaring from more than a thousand people could dilute that feeling. It helped of course when the glaring really did not affect you much anyhow.. but in those numbers it could be nasty.
A nod of his head was his initial reply to Olesya before the thought crossed him that just nodding probably did not say much besides yes, yes, "I can certainly tell the difference between the two territories.. people working together with one another to try and survive.. versus Barkers territory where its more..." He had to think of the proper words, what with a small child on his shoulders.
"Animalistic. I suppose thats a good definition for it." Although he would much rather put it as the strong devouring the weak and crushing them until they had nothing left.. and when they reached that state they were used for entertainment or disappeared without so much as a peep. Some got away sure.. but it was certainly a far cry different from what he had seen thus far here.
The exchange between Maddie and Olesya, however, was only looked on from the outside, a smile on his lips, no mind paid to the pronounciation of spagheti, after all, it was not exactly a common word and Maddie was still a child, he figured it natural.
There was bustling from the crowd behind them, but he paid it no heed. Used to it.. well, at least he had been before the bombs fell. Now a days a lot less people to oogle and ogle. | |
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 8, 2013 20:38:49 GMT -8
"I wouldn't doubt it. I'm glad the people here understand the virtue of civility. We have a long way to go, but we've done well for ourselves."
Olesya paused to check out a basket of apples. She picked on up and weighed it in her hand. They were a bit on the small side, but the coloring was nice enough. The vendor finished with their customer and came over to them. She was an older woman, probably mid-forties, her graying hair pulled back into a loose french knot.
"They're the first harvest we've gotten from our saplings. I bit tart, but they finish sweet."
"How much?"
"What've you got to trade?"
"I've got coin today, though if you'd like something specific or a service I can do that too."
"Coin is fine. Dozen for a dollar?"
"Deal."
Olesya put twelve of the small apples into her bag, fishing out four quarters and giving them to the lady. The woman smiled and pocketed the coins before moving on to a man who was inspecting some chives. Les took an apple from her bag and held it up for Maddie to take before they moved on.
"I'm guessing you're not looking to stick around for any amount of time, are you?"
She asked, directing her question to Katsuri.
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Post by David B. on Jun 8, 2013 21:11:32 GMT -8
David smiled at the people, taking off his camelback and handing it to one of the troops. He looked the man in the eye.
"Find Les, take this to her and let her know I'm in the marketplace. Do not let this pack out of your sight, or I'll have your head, got me?"
The man clapped a fist to his heart.
He turned back to the civilians who were pulling him by the arm, bringing him over to their stands to show him what they had harvested and grown. For a society during war and post-apocalypse, they were well off when compared with some of Barkers territory, or the neutral zones. They were working with running water, their own food and plenty of medicine. The people were happy and healthy.... He hadn't much to complain about, except being dead tired and just wanting some time alone with Les and Maddie.
The soldier took off at a jog, heading in the opposite direction as Katsuri and Olesya, toward one of the guards standing off to the side watching over the market.
"Have you seen the Storm Dragons Voice?"
The man nodded and pointed across the square, at the extremely large male who had a child on his shoulders. The man with the pack frowned at being given so easy a hunt, but then realized that David must not know she was there. Regardless, he sighed and took to the air, flying over everyone's heads and landing next to the walking tank and the white haired voice.
"Ma'am- David wanted me to give this to you. I think he thought you were at home or the Cafe, as he's standing like, right over there."
He pointed toward the gathering at a veggie stand about half a block behind them.
In the pack, if she opened it, was a folder covered in mud and filled with papers.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 9, 2013 15:20:57 GMT -8
Alright, well, apples weren't exactly on the list for dinner but they made an excellent snack and were healthy, so Olesya didn't feel bad buying them. Also, they were a great price, even for being so small. The trio moved on, checking out another stand as a soldier landed next to them, handing her a muddy camelback. The sudden appearance from the air startled a couple people, but Olesya was more or less used to it at this point. David was very involved with the Skyforce, constantly flying around like...well...the Storm Dragon. She looked at the pack, it looked incredibly familiar, didn't David own one?
"Ma'am- David wanted me to give this to you. I think he thought you were at home or the Cafe, as he's standing like, right over there."
"Uh, thank you...Jones. As you were."
She dismissed the soldier, who saluted before taking flight again, disappearing from the marketplace. He had been dirty and tired-looking, he was probably returning to the barracks to shower and sleep. Les turned to the bag in her hands...David wanted her to have this? Wait- David was here? Les unzipped the pocket, fingering through the muddy paperwork briefly before zippering it shut again. Shifting things in her hands, she slung the camelback over her shoulders, looking up to Maddie who had heard the news and had begun to flail madly.
"David David David! Put me down put me doooown!"
She begged/asked the mountain man as nicely as she could being all wound up with excitement as any ten year old would at hearing that her father-figure had returned from being away. Once he did so (because, let's be honest, who would want to keep a flailing child on their shoulders?), she'd zip off into the crowd toward David, throwing herself at him with her arms open and a shriek of joy that could be heard over the crowd.
"Well, so much for the element of surprise."
Olesya watched her ward go, chuckling slightly to herself. She was glad that Maddie and David had such a special bond, because even though neither of them were her actual parents, they'd melded into a family unit long before either of them even realized what was happening. It warmed her heart, healing her soul in ways all the medicine in the world never could. Breaking her train of thought, she looked to the tall man, gesturing toward the reunion.
"Care to see the Storm Dragon?"
She asked, though knowing he was one of the people Katsuri had mentioned wanting to speak with. And on that note, they'd go to join Maddie and David...though with less childlike frantic enthusiasm.
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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 9, 2013 15:48:00 GMT -8
| EXAMPLE CAPTION YO | | katsuri katashi | | "I do not know rather I would call it a virtue, but it is nice to see none the less."
The little old lady with apples, that got a brow raise, as a dozen for a dollar was certainly outrageously cheap, at least if one considered the abundance of coin their should have been for people no hoarding. The only thing his head could have done was, not bad. Nod and all.
The second question though, caught the big man a little off guard. Would have shown in the way he sort of paused, deer in head lights, before a shrug rolled through him.
"Not sure to be honest. I plan to be in California for a long period of time... also plan on at some point taking care of Barker, however, given it is just me, Ghost, and Grey Wind, I am not sure how long it will be until I can even attempt such a thing."
The sound of Maddie going crazy though, as a soldier walked up to them, had him setting the child down gently before he continued,
"I am not sure where I belong yet though, if that is what you meant."
Focus would have then shifted to the fact that David was there, which was the entire reason for Maddie going ballistic and bolting off towards him. Olesya only got a nod in reply though, after her shift in the direction of David, following a long behind her. Now that his hands were free to their own devices, however, they'd have taken up residence in his pockets, thumbs the only thing hanging out as the rested against the hem.
He certainly wanted to talk to David, not necessarily in the same manner as Leon, but David he imagined could answer his questions just the same. 3 months was plenty of time to gather intel.. unfortunately all he knew were general bits of information. The gang make up of this town being one of them, and the fact that Barker had seemed to stagnate, letting them run wild to a degree.
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Post by David B. on Jun 10, 2013 15:17:53 GMT -8
David turned, having only just let the soldier go, and yelped in half surprise and half excitement as the child leapt through the air and wrapped around him, spider-monkey style, causing him to stumble back a step. He laughed, bringing his hands around to give her a small hug as smiles went all around. As he noticed Olesya- beside the walking human frieght train- walking his way, he looked to his second in command.
"You and your men are dismissed for the day. Get some rest."
They clapped fists to their hearts and took to the sky, flying off over the heads of the people who watched with mixed reactions of awe and excitement. He would move maddie around to his back, so she could sit there like a pack-rat, before glancing up at the big man. He said nothing at first, opting to give Olesya a hug so he could whisper in her ear.
"That was fast...and I see you brought company..."
Not that he was complaining- he didn't want it to seem like he was jealous, as he wasn't. Just tired. He would give her a small smile before turning his eyes up to Katashi and letting out a sigh.
"Mr.Katashi. I think the last time I saw you we were shoulder checking each other through walls....glad to see that style of greeting wasn't...implemented today."
Another small, reserved smile- not like the big guy would, in a square filled with people. Still, he extended his hand for a shake- one of the few times in his life his hand would be dwarfed by someone elses.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 10, 2013 17:10:14 GMT -8
"I'm not sure what the virtues are, 'cept patience, but if I could I'd consider it one."
Olesya mused, watching the reunion between Maddie and David. The two of them warmed her heart, the corners of her mouth twitching upward slightly at the sight.
[color-white]"It's never a bad thing to keep your options open. You need to look out for yourself first and foremost. I'd be in the same boat if I didn't have..."
Baggage? No, that was a terrible word for it. Obligations? Again, not a good word, it sounded like she was forced to take Maddie in when in all actuality, she wouldn't have it any other way.
"Responsibilities."
She decided on, though the reluctant smile still tugged at her lips. As the approached David, he swung Maddie onto his back and wrapped Olesya in a hug. She returned the gesture, hoping her cheeks didn't glow too brightly.
"Bmyo hela."
She'd step back, letting the two men interact as they'd clearly met before. She grabbed an apple from the bag and bit into it. Tangy and sweet, a bit under-ripe but not bad.
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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 11, 2013 4:48:05 GMT -8
| EXAMPLE CAPTION YO | | katsuri katashi | | Katsuri was passive in the gathering of Olesya, Maddie, and David, having followed Olesya over here. There was a relaxed look to his face as he watched the girl spider monkey about him, and his grunts took flight away getting him to look up as they went. Odd, but not unheard of, especially now a days when experimentation had basically skewed the remaining population, let alone QI wielders pre-Barker.
It seemed though that David even recalled their last run in, not that Kasturi himself was easy to forget after all. Still. Katsuri remembered David just the same, and the mention of one of the kool-aid man incidents only got a soft chuckle from the giant.
"Too many innocent people littered around for that, besides, I tend to reserve that sort of greeting for Barkers riff-raff now a days.. although significantly less friendly."
As Davids hand came out though, he looked at it for a moment before glancing up at him with a smile. His own came free from his pocket and clasped around the smaller mans hand, not trying to break him, simply giving a light shake before letting his own fall back to his side.
The glance to Olesya though meant his attention was still passive to the conversation, letting the two do their own thing, he had all the time in the world.
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