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Post by Shen Rui on Aug 10, 2006 3:36:45 GMT -5
(It's late, I am bored. Shen hasn't been around. --; Here's your chance, anyone is welcome to join! )
There was a 'valid' reason as to why Shen never really appeared in the camp's main area. He was usually dealing with the same group of men who always disrupted every order given. The four men gave him blank stares at often times, and he ended up doing the work for them. If they weren't off being dead weight, they could usually be found fighting with each other. Shen would end up yelling, preaching and doing various punishments but nothing seemed to work. After hauling the crates into the group's tents, he glanced up to see the men's back facing him. He had lined them up like children, to stare at the tent in silence. Just like a time-out. If they were going to act like children, then why the hell not treat them like one?
Furrowing his brows together in frustration, he shook his head and spoke up, "you're all dismissed to accompany the rest of the men in training." Finally, the men turned and lined up, heading out to the training area. Once he was alone, his eyes looked over the tent. Everything was out of order and miss constructed. Obviously they didn't listen or care about maintaining organization, when it was very important to have in this situation. Shaking his head he left their tent to look around the camp. Everyone was off being busy, although he noticed some faces with frantic expressions. It was hard to keep a secret from a group, especially one that dealt with their new prisoner.
Glancing down he noticed two discarded blades in their sheaths. Bending down he picked them up and walked down the rows of tents before dropping the blades into the pile with other miscellaneous weapons. Although he noticed he was in one of the more desolated areas of the camp, next to a lining of smaller trees and a patch of grass. He decided upon taking a break. Sighing, he moved to sit down in the grass area. He moved his knees to his chest and crossed his arms over his knees before resting his forehead down onto his right-forearm. Then he closed his eyes, listening to the silence around him and catching smaller noises of the camp in the background.
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Post by Su Tanrui on Aug 10, 2006 4:15:08 GMT -5
It took Tanrui quite a while to notice that he was beginning to lose the feeling in his right leg; bookworm that he was, this happened quite a bit, and when he noticed upon shifting his weight that everything below the knee was numb, he thought it a good idea to get a walk in before returning to his study. The book was shut with care, for it was rather old - yet another discussion of the body's energy channels; every author seemed to have his own ideas about how they worked, and there seemed to Tanrui to be no harm in learning as many theories as possible - and emerged into the bright sunlight. He shielded his eyes with one hand while they adjusted to the stark glow of the sky, noting that most of the soldiers who had been patrolling seemed to be elsewhere. Could they be training already? He must have been reading for much longer than he'd thought. No wonder the pins-and-needles of the blood returning to his foot came with such alacrity.
He turned away from the mass of tents, following the edge of the camp. There were trees, mostly small and scattered, and grass more or less untrampled by a great many brash feet. He could walk more peacefully there, without the tents and without soldiers scurrying about...
Just in time to avoid stepping on the young man that he hadn't noticed in his reverie, Tanrui stepped to the side. It didn't take long at all to recognize him; he identified the garb of a lieutenant general, and those decorated scabbards were hard to mistake.
He couldn't quite tell, though, if the young lieutenant general was sleeping or otherwise loathe to be disturbed. Tanrui paused, peering at him to see if he'd noticed the near-disruption of his repose. Of course, an apology would be in order if he was conscious; otherwise, perhaps it would be best to keep walking.
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Post by Shen Rui on Aug 10, 2006 14:01:42 GMT -5
Shen had wanted to sleep for a very long time, but he had disciplined himself to the point where if you slept you became useless. So, he remained conscious and his eyes opened to stare down at the darkness he had set with his crossed arms. It took him awhile to notice the shadowing that appeared next to him, even the foot-steps were hard to detect. When he knew there was another presence his head raised to stare up at Tanrui in confusion. He was really good with faces and names, but for some reason he couldn't identify the figure. Suddenly, his hands pressed into the ground and he moved himself up into a stand.
Now that he was closer to Tanrui's sight, the man could tell that he had dark circles under his eyes. It was very common among the men, but because of his pale flesh it seemed to stand out a little more. Yet he started to feel guilted because he was caught not doing anything, he must've seemed useless. "May I help you?" he asked quietly while his dark eyes rose to meet Tanrui's face. It was hard to tell if Shen was disturbed or upset by the other's presence considering his face usually remained blank. While he waited for the other man's response, his right hand lifted to slowly move the long dark bangs from his face.
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Post by Su Tanrui on Aug 10, 2006 15:54:07 GMT -5
The young man looked up; it appeared that he didn't recognize Tanrui, which didn't surprise the physician. Tanrui was newly assigned to this group, after all. He noticed as Shen got to his feet that the lieutenant general looked quite weary, almost haggard; this did surprise him, though he had only seen the young man from a distance, and most anyone looks in good health when they're ten meters away in bright sunlight.
The physician bowed his head, somewhat awkwardly due to his height. "I'm afraid I've disturbed your rest while walking," he intoned. "I apologize." A thought; well, it was best to make sure, wasn't it? "You are Lieutenant General Shen, correct?"
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Post by Shen Rui on Aug 10, 2006 16:06:08 GMT -5
Shen gave the man a timid smile, he had known his name. Perhaps someone from the camp sent for him? "No worries, it's selfish to take time to myself, anyways," he was speaking with honesty. "However, that's correct. I believe .. I don't know who you are, I apologize. Your name, sir?" Shen really had no idea what the other man's status was to the military, but to be on the safe side he wasn't going to be cold about their meeting. Although he noticed the bow and in return he bowed his head gracefully before lifting it again, upholding eye contact.
He started to observe the stranger - the other was tall and would stick out. Maybe he was one of the first in the roll call and he had stepped in a bit later and missed his name?
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Post by Su Tanrui on Aug 11, 2006 3:57:21 GMT -5
"Not at all," Tanrui replied as his eyebrows drew together in a half-smile, echoing that of the lieutenant general. "Your health is of great importance to us all." The young man seemed to be looking him over quite curiously; Tanrui knew he was rather difficult to mistake, as tall and lanky as he was, and it often made him feel awkward around superiors. Not looking physically down at them (and thereby feeling insubordinate, whether or not he was at fault) was difficult indeed.
"Su Tanrui. I am a surgeon," he added, noting the subsequent questions forming in Shen's weary eyes. "I have been transfered to this camp as of yesterday."
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Post by Shen Rui on Aug 11, 2006 17:11:20 GMT -5
Shen wanted to wince when Tanrui mentioned he was a surgeon, meaning now that they had one they would most likely be on their way. Although he still hoped a battle would be avoided, accidents could still happen. Hiding his worries in a gentler smile, he nodded his head to acknowledge the other's words. "Glad you could join us," he said half heartedly while his eyes slowly left the man, only to gaze upon the camp. Shen was thinking about what could happen next, he didn't really know because he hadn't seen or spoken to anyone in awhile. Finally, he broke out of his drifting and focused his attention back on Tanrui.
"Were you about to head somewhere?" he finally asked, though his voice didn't sound curious. Shen didn't have any real suspicions, even though he should after their prisoner incident.
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Post by Su Tanrui on Aug 17, 2006 1:35:06 GMT -5
Tanrui followed the younger man's gaze, looking out into the canvas sea. His eyes took on a somber look for a moment; he didn't look forward to stitching up all those broken bodies that would be brought in droves to his tent, where the sick and injured would lie in pain and where there were never enough supplies or hands to care for everyone. They were all cannon fodder - and the physician wasn't much more useful to the powers that were. Too many of those young men would return to camp beyond repair.
"I am pleased to be in your service," he replied with a gentle smile. "I was just out for a walk beyond the tents, in search of fresh air... or something like that." He chuckled softly. "If you wish, I can leave you to your thoughts and return to mine."
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