|
Post by Shizukiri Naia on Jul 22, 2006 23:35:39 GMT -5
Naia delayed straightening his back so he could hide the smile on his face at hearing Xue's nickname. Chickadee boy, huh? Best not to make a habit of calling him that, I see... and Sze Kamlong... Sze... the emperor's son? Not in line for the throne, or he wouldn't be out here, but still... with relatives in the court, that'd be an ambitious man.
He was really starting to regret missing the first day. He didn't know this woman's name, only that she was a general. Politely and discretely, Naia looked her over. They don't make 'em like that back home, that's for sure... though I definitely don't want to mess with her. If she's gotten to be a general, she's probably better than most of the men.
|
|
Kwok Yulin
Full Member
General
Manlier Than You [China]
Posts: 148
|
Post by Kwok Yulin on Jul 22, 2006 23:44:15 GMT -5
"Oh, how cute!" she teased, running a finger down the side of his face until she reached his jaw. Lifting his chin, she inspected it in jest. "Hmm, not bad, but you're a little too cute for me. Shen-shen might have to watch out, haha! As for you, good sir..." She turned to the other soldier present. She smiled carefully. "Ah, I didn't see you during roll call, soldier."
|
|
|
Post by Zhong Xue on Jul 22, 2006 23:49:57 GMT -5
Xue tensed. Did Shen have some sort of problem with him that he didn't know about? Maybe his superior was offended by his conduct on the first day, and had decided he didn't like Xue... but what did his looks have to do with anything?
"I-I definitely won't do anything to inconvenience Lieutenant General Shen, sir," he stuttered. "Uh... that is... ma'am."
|
|
|
Post by Shizukiri Naia on Jul 23, 2006 0:00:18 GMT -5
Lieutenant General Shen... there's another face I'll need to find. Though if she can get away with calling him Shen-shen, maybe he's not as terrifying as she is. He had to admit that this woman definitely had an air about her, the kind that made sure it was known that no matter how alluring or cheerful she acted, she could still beat the living daylights out of you and give you a charming smile when she was done.
"I was delayed by a storm and was unable to make up the time I lost," Naia explained evenly, looking politely to the ground. "I regret that I could not arrive in a more timely fashion. I've been placed under General Rie."
|
|
Kwok Yulin
Full Member
General
Manlier Than You [China]
Posts: 148
|
Post by Kwok Yulin on Jul 23, 2006 0:07:23 GMT -5
"Have you?" she said, more as a pleasantry than an actual question. She took a step back, leaning her weight on one foot and examined him from head to toe, making no excuse or belying action to hide the appraising nature of the look. "Poor thing, then, General Rie likes to work his soldiers bare to the bone. Don't let him ruin your pretty face now!" Somewhere, in that deep, dark, rarely visited place where her nagging sense of protocol rested, a voice told her that she really shouldn't be spreading exaggerated rumours.
But it was easily ignored.
"I guess he should've told you everything you need to know, in that case. You know who I am, then?"
|
|
|
Post by Zhong Xue on Jul 23, 2006 0:13:19 GMT -5
Xue took a few steps back, watching the conversation closely. Yulin had been at this much longer than Xiao, or him, and she was obviously great at what she did... maybe he could gauge her reaction to Naia, and the way he handled her. Fixing a polite smile on his face, he waited for Naia's answer.
|
|
|
Post by Shizukiri Naia on Jul 23, 2006 0:28:22 GMT -5
Asking if she was kidding would definitely not go over well, so Naia contented himself with a quick, polite laugh. "Oh, my. I will try my best to avoid such a fate, then."
She has to ask, doesn't she... Obviously, bluffing was out. Best to be honest, then, and save trouble. "I'm afraid I haven't yet learned your name, General."
|
|
Kwok Yulin
Full Member
General
Manlier Than You [China]
Posts: 148
|
Post by Kwok Yulin on Jul 23, 2006 0:39:53 GMT -5
"Aaaah, that General Rie, always forgetting to tell his men anything of real importance!" she complained, a whining lilt to her voice, without even missing a beat. "Really, I guess he's too busy barking orders around as soon as he can to scare off the shy ones. Nevermind that, then. I am General Kwok. The prettiest general of the three, obviously," she joked. "And the most modest, too."
"I remember Zhong Xue from his infamous roll call performance, but I'd like to ask your name, soldier." She grinned, patting his shoulder lightly and brushing it down his upper arm. "It's the first step to getting better acquainted, of course."
She was going to talk to Rie Chou after this.
|
|
|
Post by Zhong Xue on Jul 23, 2006 0:49:59 GMT -5
Yulin, the most modest? Xue held back a chuckle, his amusement transforming quickly into embarassment as she continued. Infamous, huh? He couldn't believe he'd made a fool of himself in front of all of the generals like that.
"I'm sorry for my conduct that day, General Kwok," he mumbled, bowing to Yulin for the second time.
|
|
|
Post by Shizukiri Naia on Jul 23, 2006 1:04:09 GMT -5
"Thank you for the time you've spent on us, General Kwok." Naia bowed, wishing that the only talk he'd had with his general hadn't been so brief; he couldn't read this woman at all, couldn't even tell if he'd made a decent impression. "I apologize for occupying so much of it."
Is she usually the affectionate type, or is she trying to make me nervous? It didn't take much effort to call a little color to his cheeks at her touch. "Xie Jun," he answered, bowing again as soon as her hand withdrew, as if to hide the faint blush.
|
|
Kwok Yulin
Full Member
General
Manlier Than You [China]
Posts: 148
|
Post by Kwok Yulin on Jul 23, 2006 12:34:39 GMT -5
Yulin chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "Now there, boys, I'm not nearly so altruistic. I did have something I wanted to do that I needed you for," she said, leaving a suggestive pause at the end of the statement on purpose. The expression that registered on their faces were nothing short of comical, so she had to fight to revert back to a more official tone, signalling the end of her playing around. "I was wondering if any of you had seen General Sze. I've been looking for him."
|
|
|
Post by Zhong Xue on Jul 23, 2006 13:31:53 GMT -5
"G...General Sze?" Xue attempted to let out a long breath and not draw attention to himself at the same time. Of course it wasn't like that; Yulin would never ask him to do something... inappropriate. "He came by here about half an hour ago, t-to make sure I was doing my job, b-but I don't know where he went after that... would you like me to go look for him?"
|
|
|
Post by Shizukiri Naia on Jul 23, 2006 20:34:30 GMT -5
Naia called an appropriately flustered expression to his face; it wasn't difficult, even if logically he knew the general wasn't interested in either of them. That would certainly cause problems.
"I'm afraid I haven't seen him," he replied with a vague shake of his head. Of course, Xue's offer to help find General Sze gave him an idea... though it might be risky, the payoff could make it worthwhile. The closer he could get to any of the generals and the more freely they felt they could talk around him, the better - and two of them together were much more likely to drop something useful. "If you need our help, I'd be honored to assist."
|
|
Kwok Yulin
Full Member
General
Manlier Than You [China]
Posts: 148
|
Post by Kwok Yulin on Jul 23, 2006 20:59:34 GMT -5
"That'd be lovely!" Yulin exclaimed, clapping her hands lightly together while beaming. "I would really appreciate if you could do that. Though, since it's easier to cover more ground separately than in a big group, we should split up. You two," she said, emphasizing each word with a pointed finger, "should stick together, since one soldier wandering around won't look good at all. If anyone asks, tell them I sent you! I'll also continue searching, on my own."
"Thanks, then!" she said, already walking away, throwing a quick wave over her shoulder, accompanied by a blown kiss. "I'll be around if you find him, so just tell him to head on over to my camp!"
|
|
|
Post by Zhong Xue on Jul 23, 2006 21:14:34 GMT -5
"We'll do our best!" Xue bowed low to Yulin, attempting a friendly smile, and motioned for Naia to follow as they turned and walked in the opposite direction from the general.
"I don't know where General Sze's tent is," Xue mumbled as they walked, "but he's probably not there right now, anyway, and General Kwok must've checked already. But he can't be too far from his recruits... ah, you don't know what he looks like, do you? I'll point him out if we see him."
|
|