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Post by Chani {♥} on Sept 21, 2009 1:01:34 GMT -5
"The Crystal Dragon, perhaps?" Gastón suggested. "Though, it may be another inn. The Ri Yanese do seem to have a thing for naming their inns after dragons. I think there's an Iron Dragon in Nanjing, too, but I doubt it's the one you're talking about. It happens to be the sleaziest tavern in Nanjing, or possibly all of Ri Yan." He smiled. "I've stayed at the Crystal Dragon a time or two before, it's rather nice. Clean tables, good service... steep prices." He shrugged. Kyra seemed to like conversation, most people did, so he tried to keep one up with her as he followed, hands in his pockets. "And yes, I'm just arriving. I come here every so often to visit the library. How long have you been staying in Nanjing?"
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Post by Angel ♥ on Sept 21, 2009 6:18:29 GMT -5
"The Crystal Dragon..." She repeated slowly, as though to test how the word sounded. "Yes, that sounds right." She confirmed with a nod, pausing now for just a second to allow him to catch up with her before falling into step beside him. "The Iron Dragon, ah yes, I have heard of that. I must say that I don't think that it's my kind of place. The company isn't to my liking." At that she wrinkled her nose up rather adorably. What could be worse than a room full of rowdy, dirty men who had no manners, no morals, and certainly no money? It was her idea of a nightmare!
"I arrived this morning, I haven't had much of a chance to explore yet. I like to travel, you see. I plan on seeing the whole world, though I do worry that by the time I have made my way around once, everything that I saw at the beginning will have changed." Well, she planned on seeing everything that was reasonably close to the sea, she couldn't venture inland, but traveling the coast was enough. Costal towns were usualy the busiest anyway, due to their ports and trading, and what better place was there to go unnoticed?
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Post by Chani {♥} on Nov 20, 2009 19:17:47 GMT -5
"Yes, the Iron Dragon is rather nasty," Gastón commented. He nodded."But that's the glory in the wanderer's lifestyle, right? By the time you return here, it will have changed. It would become boring rather swiftly returning to the same place again and again." He smiled as he walked alongside her. "You know, man's greatest fear, I think, is death. We don't want to think about what Syrunn will look like in two hundred years, because then we'll have to accept that we will likely be dead by then and won't ever see it. Men don't like change, either. They like consistency. Men fear what they don't know. It's all about power and control, and it's entirely foolish." He ducked under a low branch as he continued to walk. "What of you, Kyra? Do you fear death, or change?"
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Post by Angel ♥ on Nov 20, 2009 19:32:58 GMT -5
"I have seen much change in my life, and I dare say that I will see more before my death. It is inevitable, why fear the inevitable?" She tilted her head, glancing up at him as she spoke, secret knowledge dancing behind her eyes. She was old, by all rights she should have been on her death bed, and yet she was still filled with youth and beauty. Such was the nature of her curse, not that she viewed it as a bad thing. If there was one thing that Kyra feared then I would be physically aging, losing her looks, it would kill her. Her vainity wouldn't be able to take it. "And you, Gaston? Do you fear death or change, or the two?"
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Post by Chani {♥} on Nov 21, 2009 1:44:44 GMT -5
"I embrace change," Gastón responded. "I fear dying, but not because I'm afraid of death. I fear dying, because I've still a lot to accomplish. Neither the pain of death nor the question of where I will go after I'm dead worry me. As long as I've made certain achievements in my life, the end of it does not scare me a bit." He kept his hands in his pockets as he continued to walk alongside Kyra. "I do not fear Heaven or Hell. It's my belief that, after we die, our souls fade and our bodies are decomposed, and that is all." He looked pensive for a moment before he set his eyes on hers. "Are you religious, Kyra?"
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Post by Angel ♥ on Nov 21, 2009 9:13:07 GMT -5
"Religious?" She asked, amusement dancing in her eyes, a musical laugh slipping from between her lips. The only God that Kyra worshipped was the one that appeared in the mirror, and the moon. The moon was the one thing that held sway over her life, demanding a certain ceremony when it was full, reminding her of obligations which were forged long before she could even remember. "If Gods exist, then it is only in the minds of those who believe in them. I believe in neither Heaven nor Hell, it is impossible to take a persons life and weigh up whether they have been 'good' or 'bad'. They are principals which are far too subjective for anyone to be able to agree on such a thing. I would have to side with you. When we die our bodies decompose, and our souls, if there are such things, are extinguished."
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Post by Chani {♥} on Mar 16, 2010 7:10:06 GMT -5
Gastón listened to her. The fact that she was not religious was almost irritating, as it did not assist in resolving what she was at all. Scholarly as he was, he had studied many faiths and religions as well as their respective demographics. If she had admitted to worshiping a god, pantheon, or even an array of specific beliefs, he might have come closer to a solution. As it was, Kyra's race remained shrouded in mystery. Still, he remained patient with a practiced effortlessness awarded by years of persistent puzzle-solving. They were closing in on Nanjing now, anyway. By his calculation, they would be seated at the Crystal Dragon within the hour.
"Mm," he murmured in response to her comments. "I concur. Religions and gods, with their rules and vindication. It's idealistic. People sleep better at night, that's all, and renouncing their beliefs would mean that they'd have no choice but to accept there is no life after death, no great reward for living their lives a certain way, no eternal resting place for their departed loved ones. It's cowardice at its finest."
As Gastón looked up, he realized they were coming upon Nanjing's gates. It was still night, so the gates would be closed and the nocturnal guard would demand an explanation for wanderers who traveled upon their gates at this late hour. He looked to Kyra pointedly. She seemed to like having control, so he would first give her the option of plotting their entrance.
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Post by Angel ♥ on Mar 22, 2010 13:42:55 GMT -5
All this guessing, how disappointed Gaston would be when he found out that she wasn't quite sure what she was. He would be better asking one of her sisters, and she had no idea where either of those were, they had disappeared a long time ago. On the other hand, perhaps he would decide that he wanted to solve her puzzle for her. Cursed mortal, siren, slave of a Goddess, or something else entierly? If he wanted, he could put it all together for her and she would tell him everything that she knew, but not until he had proven himself worthy. It wouldn't as as though she was revealing all of her cards, she would still retain an air of mystery due to the simple fact that she herself had no idea exactly what she was.
"You really think that I would be out here at this time with no way to get back inside?" She questioned, a lightly teasing tone to her voice as she glanced to him. Ha, he should know not to underestimate her. Kyra always got what she wanted, no if's, buts or exceptions.
She glanced down at herself as they approached the gates, plucking at the wet dress, a look of distaste in her eyes. That was the only problem with the sea, it took far too long to dry off after you had been in it. She had ruined this dress, the delicate silks weren't meant for the harsh salt water. Oh well, what a shame, she would have to have someone buy her another. She would have had to worry about explaining this convincingly if she hadn't come to an agreement with one of the guards. He didn't question her in exchange for her company.
It took a flutter of her eyelashes and a lame excuse about falling in the water and Gaston saving her for the guard to open the gates and let them through, Kyra flashing Gaston a dazzling smile as she swept through the gate and into the city, pausing to wait for him. "I can't remember the way to the inn, I am afraid that you are going to have to be my guide."
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