Late Breakfast (Vedrit/Open)

[polean]

Polean smiled at Vedrit. "Said finish I." She pointed south. "Land call Surda. Country in South. Want escape crazy king. People his make me what am I. I little little then. Curse me they did. They want punish my dad. My dad refuse work soldier." A dark fire smoldered in the connection, the earlier smile replaced by a grim frown. "Who there Surda? Don't know I. But follow not crazy king they."

Polean cocked an eyebrow at the newcomer. "Tell me where go you? Is secret that also?"

(OK, for those lurking in the forum, here is the translation from Sign Language Gloss (or english words written in Sign language syntax) to English syntax: "I already said: to a land called Surda. The country in the south. I want to escape the crazy king. His people made me what I am (Implied: what I am now). I was very small then. They cursed me. They wanted to punish my dad because he refused to work as a soldier." "Who is in Surda? I don't know, but they don't follow the crazy King." "Tell me, where you are going, or is that secret too?")

(The work on her dialogue was a bit of an adventure for me to do, since I am not used to writing how I sign. For more on ASL Gloss, check here: www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/gloss.htm, that way you can have an idea where the wierd dialogue is. There went the fourth wall!)

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

"Oh, sorry." He said, "I know where Surda is, and I was heading there myself. You're welcome to accompany me."
'So,' he thought to himself, 'magic-users have to hide their abilities or be forced into the army. Refusers are punished. Disgusting.'

"Not everything about me is a secret." Kel replied, "But my life, and the lives of my people, were saved because of secrets. I've made many mistakes, but sharing certain secrets will not be a mistake I intend to make."

[polean]

Polean looked at Vedrit, an odd look on her face. Something about him seemed similar to her life, but she couldn't really place it. She certainly understood the use secrets had in protecting people. they kept moving the camp every other month. She knew that she would not force him to tell, even if it were possible, and the way he communicated about it said it wasn't, at least not for her. "Then make-mistake not" She smiled at him. "All us full different secrets. You know not mine, I know not yours. "

After a short time in silence, she looked at Vedrit and continued the conversation again, "What know you how to do? Ask where work I would, but we both travellers, and no sense to question."

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

((Just to let ya know, this isnt Vedrit, its Kelran. Rawr made a type when he put Vedrit in the subject))

Kelran nodded his thanks in her understanding. Somepeople, despite having secrets of their own, would try anything to learn other peoples secrets.
Poleans last question made Kel chuckle a bit, though Polean couldnt hear it, "I do many things. Asking what I know how to do is like asking what water can be used for." Kelran said, "Too many things to list."
"Although," he added as an after thought, "There are far fewer things I do well, though I try my best."

[polean]

Polean might not could hear Kelran chuckle, but his face showed it well enough. "Long way we need go." She observed. "But, make it easy can I. What enjoy above all other things do you?" A sort of polite interest accompanied the question.

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

Again, Kelran chuckled, "Above all, I enjoy the art of swordfighting. The graceful arcs, the flash of worked steel, the precision, the dance of two fighters. As beautiful as any poem or picture." he said, unable, nor wanting to, hide his passion of the topic.
"What about you?" He asked, looking over Poleans face, watching for any clues

[polean]

Polean pictured Kelran faced off against the king's soldiers. It brought a smile to her face.

"What about you?" He asked.

She sent a picture of a deer running through the forest, watched from behind. "The hunt." she sent, "Hunter follow prey-target. Target try escape hunter. Hunter find clue, follow target, make find. Capture."

She unconsciously felt the pair of blades on her hips. "Know I how fight swords, but good good I am not."

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

Kel nodded, knowing that some felt the thrill of the hunt and couldnt resist its call.
"Not everyone can be good at everything. If hunting is what you do best, then be proud, as there are some people who dont understand the point of the hunt." he said "And so long as your with me," he winked "You dont need to worry about being good with a sword."

[polean]

Polean looked at him. "That make you what? brave man rescue maiden?" She smiled playfully at him, a face that was as serious as a feather attack. "Maybe later teach me little you can. Practice perfect makes."

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

Kelran burst out laughing, "I guess you could say that." he said, mocking being a super-guardian.
"I could. Its going to be a long walk to Surda, you might become a very talented swordswoman."

[polean]

Polean laughed with Kelran. After so long walking alone, it was a welcome thing to be able to talk with someone, even in this unorthodox way. When she had calmed down a bit, she asked, "Your family, what like? Brothers, sisters, any?"

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

"No brothers or sisters. Just me and my parents." Kel said, as if it were the norm"You?"
Kelran felt somewhat similar to Polean. For most of his wanderings, he had been alone. He had been travelling with Talon for a short while

[polean]

Polean looked off-handedly at him. "You me same. Me alone with with parents and best friend Reneesh."

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

Kel smirked, "Sometimes friends are just like brothers and sisters." he said.
After a pause, Kelran was curious about something, "Polean, excuse my asking, but is there, "he was trying to be gentle, and not seem like he was prying or anything, "is there a love in your live?"
Love was such a strange concept, it seemed almost a waste of time, and yet it was so valuable to so many

[polean]

"Sometimes friends are just like brothers and sisters."

Polean smiled at that, nodding. They walked for a little in her tongue-in-cheek silence--for what is silence called when you don't hear noise--when he spoke up again, "Polean, excuse my asking, but is there, is there a love in your life?"

Polean was caught so off-guard by the question that she stopped walking again. She looked at him for several seconds, not because she was trying to stare the reason for the question out of him, but because she was trying to reorganize the arguing factions in her mind. For a second she had to cut off the flow from her mind as best as she knew how to keep him from perceiving any of her rampant thoughts. Odd question...why does he want to...should I... When she finally calmed her mind down, she walked forward a few steps, then opened the connection back up. "Never I opportunity have for that. People--except dad, Reneesh, and people-few-who saw what Empire did--Treat me not equal. Always dumb is people's thoughts about me. Never they tell my dad. Dad mine was blacksmith. People like not anger blacksmith. He also friend with magician. People especially not want HIM angry. But thoughts theirs shouted that. Hear them think that I. All time when I learn control mind-touch. Let children theirs talk or play with me? Never." The last word was red with anger, even if she did well to hide it under her face of forced serenity.

She calmed down. "Reneesh only person understand me. Teach her sign language did I. Care what other people think, never her."

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

"Sounds like you would have had a nice life had the Empire not cursed you." Kelran observed, "Im glad you had a friend like Reneesh."
Despite the horrors of what the Empire did, there were always things like that, the good friend, that was a beacon of hope in a land of darkness.
"I hope you find a husband that is as accepting as Reneesh."

[polean]

"Dad mine once said, 'Life is not good because of what happens to you. It is good because of what you happen to.'" She smiled at Kelran. "Meet you I would not; if I not 'cursed.' Life of pretty flowers and always laughing, nobody has. Change what I became, I would not, no matter if possible. Deaf I am. Fate has shown. I want no fake friend. I want real friend." She paused, "Friend like you, with true interest about people."

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

Kelran thought about that. He couldnt help but wonder if he truly had genuine interest in people. Some cultures raised their children to aspire for certain traits or characteristics, and to look for certain things in others, and taught that those who lacked something were to be looke down upon. Polean was living proof of the bad end of that stick.
What about the elves? How do they have their young to view others? Kelran tried to view others the same, but was there some template he unknowingly used?
"Maybe..." Kelran said, the thought more to himself than Polean, though it did go across their connection

[polean]

Polean, perplexed by the single word statement, said, "Maybe? What maybe?"

(Sorry for the shortness of the response, I am moving so things are a bit hectic right now.

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

Kelran shook his head "Its nothing." he said and tried to leave the thought behind as they walked.
"So. What takes you to Surda?" He asked