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Post by Zhong Xue on Jul 22, 2006 21:28:37 GMT -5
Xue didn't actually think it was possible to sleep standing up, but he was dancing dangerously close to it. Not only had he been stuck on the night watch last night, but the whole time, he kept hearing rustling all around him, as if someone was out running around, but he never found anything. It must have been animals... that, or the other recruits were throwing rocks.
Hearing someone call his name, he jerked his head upwards, trying to appear awake, and he felt a jolt of nervousness as he saw the recruit he'd met the other day, Xie Jun, approaching him.
It wasn't as if he was a bad guy, at least, Xue didn't think so, but Xiao seemed to be violently opposed to his friend talking with the man. He had to find a way to excuse himself, before--
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Post by Shizukiri Naia on Jul 22, 2006 21:40:12 GMT -5
Naia brushed the last grains of dirt and clay from his hands, even checking under his nails to make sure there was no sign he'd been digging. Of course, he'd covered the spot where he'd buried his dagger very carefully, and marked the tree with just the slightest nick on one branch so he could tell where to look, should he need it. All was looking well; he hadn't even been seen by anyone so far...
Well, look who's on watch. Zhong Xue, was that the name? Naia wasn't sure whether to be worried or relieved; it'd be easier to get quickly past someone he didn't know, but at least it was polite-and-oblivious Xue instead of someone like the other fellow, whatever his name was... these Chinese names didn't stick well in his memory.
"Xue," Naia greeted as he passed, smiling. "Good morning. How's watch going?"
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Post by Zhong Xue on Jul 22, 2006 21:44:31 GMT -5
"J-J-J-Jun!" Xue laughed nervously, twisting the fabric of his uniform. "It w-went well... a few people out of their tents, but n-nothing serious... I think Xiao wanted me at the tent, so if you'll excuse me..."
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Post by Shizukiri Naia on Jul 22, 2006 21:56:28 GMT -5
"Nothing serious?" Naia pursed his lips in a most concerned fashion. "You look like you've just seen a demon. I sure hope there aren't any of those around, of course," he added with a nervous grin. "Sure there's nothing I can help with?"
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Post by Zhong Xue on Jul 22, 2006 22:01:20 GMT -5
"N-No, nothing at all," Xue laughed, pressing himself against the wall as Naia took a step closer. "It's just that Xiao really needs me, so..." He stopped, frowning. "What're you doing up so early? Were you on watch, too?"
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Post by Shizukiri Naia on Jul 22, 2006 22:21:14 GMT -5
"Oh. Well," Naia replied with another grin. "Nature calls, as they say." Xue was squirming a bit, he noticed; well, it wouldn't do to make him too uncomfortable. He still needed to be on good terms, and somehow he doubted Xiao would help. "Does he? Still not getting along with your other tentmate, is he?" He tilted his head slightly, looking curious.
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Post by Zhong Xue on Jul 22, 2006 22:24:44 GMT -5
"Yeah, well... he's just concerned, is all," Xue muttered to the ground, sliding over on the wall a bit as if ready to make a break for it and run past Naia. "He doesn't think I should go off on my own so much... you know how the other recruits get sometimes, right?"
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Post by Shizukiri Naia on Jul 22, 2006 22:32:04 GMT -5
Can't really say I do, but here's to a wild guess. Naia nodded quickly, giving Xue a concerned look. "I guess it's natural that he'd be concerned. I mean, surrounded by other soldiers that you don't know? It has its dangers." He chuckled sheepishly, looking up to meet the kid's eyes again. "Though, you look like you could defend yourself pretty well."
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Post by Zhong Xue on Jul 22, 2006 22:43:13 GMT -5
Xue perked up a little at that. While one part of his brain told him it was empty flattery, he couldn't help but puff out his chest a bit at the compliment. "Well, I do what I can," he said, kicking around the dirt a bit. "But from the rumors I've heard, I'll probably need a lot more work before I'm any good."
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Post by Shizukiri Naia on Jul 22, 2006 22:55:29 GMT -5
Naia grinned at the kid's reaction. That was a good sign; looked like he'd figured something out about how to get closer to him. "Well, I haven't seen you fight," he continued, casually nudging Xue's shoulder with a closed fist, "but I'll bet you can take out one of those Japanese with one arm, right? Speaking of which, when do you think we'll actually be deployed, anyway?"
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Kwok Yulin
Full Member
General
Manlier Than You [China]
Posts: 148
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Post by Kwok Yulin on Jul 22, 2006 23:03:45 GMT -5
Yulin frowned in irritation. Where had Kamlong run off to anyway? She had something of real importance to discuss with him this time, too! None of the soldiers she had asked knew where their general had gone; he had only been present during the early morning to give orders (train and carry out your daily duties), before disappearing completely. Normally, she would've gone to Shen Rui as a last resort, because the boy always knew where his superior was, but even he was escaping her grasp.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted movement, and she turned to find two new recruits conversing nearby. "Ah," she said to herself, wondering if Fortune would finally cut her some slack. "You two, there!" she said, quickly approaching and clamping a hand down on either shoulder. "And what is happening here?" she asked, smiling.
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Post by Zhong Xue on Jul 22, 2006 23:08:38 GMT -5
"... G-General!" Paling almost instantly, Xue bowed so low that he might've snapped in half, stuttering so badly for a few moments that neither person could understand him. "I'm s-so sorry... I just finished with my watch, and Jun stopped to say hello... I'll g-get to work immediately..."
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Post by Shizukiri Naia on Jul 22, 2006 23:20:53 GMT -5
Naia jumped more at the voice than at the hand falling onto his shoulder, but fortunately was saved the giveaway that stopping to identify this woman would have been. As soon as Xue bowed, Naia followed suit, bending at his waist and speaking very clearly to the ground.
"My apologies, General!" An appropriately formal euphemism for using the bushes didn't come to him, so he decided to just continue the apology and only elaborate if asked. "I will return to my duties."
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Kwok Yulin
Full Member
General
Manlier Than You [China]
Posts: 148
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Post by Kwok Yulin on Jul 22, 2006 23:23:46 GMT -5
Yulin nodded in satisfaction, though secretly more at the surprise on their faces than their promises to return to work. "Ah!" she said, suddenly recognizing a familiar face. "Wait a minute!" She tapped her chin, scrutinizing the two of them with narrowed eyes. "You. I remember you. You're the chickadee boy, aren't you? In Kamlong's charge."
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Post by Zhong Xue on Jul 22, 2006 23:27:05 GMT -5
"Huh?" Xue snapped to attention at the nickname, trying to laugh. "Y-Yes, I serve under General Sze... ah, that's right, you saw me the other day, right? I'm sorry about all the trouble with the tents."
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