| Welcome to The Collective Isles, a play-by-post roleplaying forum in a growing multiverse. We hope you enjoy your visit! You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. While you can view posts freely and introduce yourself in the general discussion forum as a guest, you will be unable to submit a character or world application until you register as a member. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you have any questions, check out the Newcomer's Guide. Feel free to ask us anything here or in our IRC channel. If you're already a member, please log in to your account. You won't be able to participate in roleplay threads as a guest. |
| Summer Savings | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 31 2012, 06:07 PM (1,308 Views) | |
| Saya Sil Rumore | Aug 31 2012, 06:07 PM Post #1 |
|
Redwood Hermit
|
Today marked the fourteenth day of Saya Sil's work as a live model. The renowned artist, Lou Frank, paid her well for the time she spent lying motionless beneath a particular tree in the Red Woodlands. At a rate of twenty ticks per hour, she soon accumulated her first thousand. For lack of a better place, she stowed this ripe sum in a hollowed tree two miles from the village. Anywhere closer put her savings at risk of theft, and because she spent so much time close to the village borders, she preferred not to stow it farther. The short girl stood on the toes of one leg as she reached into this wooden cavity to deposit another stack of silver and gold coins. Her tattered clothing poorly represented this newly discovered source of income; save for the white fur coat draped over her shoulders, most of it hadn't been replaced in three years. The black shirt beneath her coat left her stomach, the small of her back, and her shoulders bare. Her faded shorts barely reached mid-thigh, so as she stretched her arm into the tree, her slender legs were in full view. Fortunately, she doubted anyone would wander this far into the forest at sunset. Her mismatched horns nearly brushed the upper lip of the tree's opening, particularly the longer one on her right side. Saya Sil had to lean to one side to prevent the uncomfortable sensation of jabbing into old wood with her bone-like horn. The collection of coins poured noisily from the cloth pouch in her hand. Once her day's wages were stored, Saya Sil laid a thin, wool blanket over the appreciable mound of coins. She hoped this would prevent them from catching light and attracting a greedy human's eyes. So far, it seemed to have worked. When she lowered herself into a sitting position at the base of the elderly redwood tree, the curtains that were Saya Sil's thick, white hair curled in the grasses underfoot. She allowed her head to rest against the trunk and her eyes to close after hours spent resisting the urge to blink. Soon, she would have enough money for a home - one to replace the forest abode from which the humans chased her. If Saya Sil possessed the skills, she would almost certainly prefer to construct it herself without contacting anyone, but unfortunately, her skill set was limited mostly to cowering in fear and walking long distances without complaint. She hardly recognized a hammer by name, let alone how to use one. After relaxing in the shade for a few minutes, Saya Sil's awareness began to drift. She had definitely earned a nap, even if it meant a restless night would follow. |
![]() Please, don't come any closer. | |
![]() |
|
| Obsidian | Aug 31 2012, 08:07 PM Post #2 |
|
Dynamite
|
In the woods, near that same tree, Bryar had been wandering alone and was starting to get tired. He walked a great deal for what he normally walked in a day and was in desperate need of a town or at least a bed. And the starting to get uncomfortably heavy bag he was carrying didn't help him at all either. He adjusted it more across his shoulders so the strap wasn't digging into one arm anymore and carried on. He thought he heard a familiar sound through the thick trees and stopped, immediately at attention. Coins? he thought, Money? That was the one sound in the world the thief Bryar knew better than anything. He licked his lips, liking what he was hearing. He just hoped he wasn't just getting tired and imagining the noise. But that DID seem like the best way to think. Why would there ever be money randomly in the middle of nowhere? He shrugged off that particular thought and hurried through the trees with his thief-like silence. He set down his bag once he thought close enough to the sound and peeked around a huge tree. He soon spotted the source of the noise and grinned. A lonely, random girl was stashing money. Though Bryar wasn't the type to harm innocent ladies for coin, he couldn't help but desire that lovely money she had. Maybe he could take some? He crept a bit closer, hiding in the shadows as she sat down against the tree. Finally he was ready and hopped out. "Excuse me, miss!" he exclaimed, grinning almost evilly, "I couldn't help but notice you had some coin hidden there... Mind if I-" he was going to finish with 'take it all' while drawing his dagger... but then he realized he didn't have his dagger. It was back in the bag he dropped a few trees away. And he had no other weapon. And you couldn't really threaten somebody without a weapon now could you? Crap. "Uhh..." he patted his clothes to be sure. Nope. The dagger was DEFINATELY still in his bag. Okay, he thought, new approach.. "Sorry," he cleared his throat, "Can I retry that? Uh.. hello, miss... My name's Bryar..." Idiot, he cursed himself, Plan failed. |
![]() |
|
| Saya Sil Rumore | Aug 31 2012, 11:10 PM Post #3 |
|
Redwood Hermit
|
In return, the horned girl presented Bryar with a paralytic gaze like that of an animal backed into a corner. Her red eyes danced to the tune of fear this human orchestrated. The courage Saya Sil thought she had accumulated these past two weeks vanished in an instant, leaving her no better than in months prior. The color drained from her cheeks and lips as her irregular heartbeat accelerated. Every hair on her body seemed to stand on end. Finally, unable to form an intelligible reply, the sheridan stumbled backward on her hands and knees. Her mind couldn't have fled farther from the useless coins gathered in the hollow part of the thick redwood tree. Those coins would not protect her from whatever ill will this stranger had in mind. "Stay away!" she pleaded. Saya Sil only managed a few more seconds of unsteady eye contact before her throat tightened. She hopped to her feet, turned tail, and retreated into the safety of the forested depths where most rarely followed. Once again, the humans would take everything away - the fruits of her efforts, the home in her dreams, and even her fleeting peace of mind. She made it only a few dozen feet before her trembling legs gave way. Saya Sil spilled forward into a bed of grasses with a shriek. When she landed, some clarity of mind was restored. The white-haired woman stared back at the stranger called Bryar in wonder. Perhaps this distance was sufficient for her safety. |
![]() Please, don't come any closer. | |
![]() |
|
| Obsidian | Sep 1 2012, 11:20 AM Post #4 |
|
Dynamite
|
Bryar didn't mean to scare the strange girl as badly as he had. Or maybe he did. After all he DID attempt to pull a dagger on her. And that thought scared HIM. Usually he was so nice. When she staggered back, turned, and ran, he tried to follow, to reach out for her. "W-Wait!" he called. She stumbled and fell and Bryar took this as a good chance to try and redeem himself. What a jerk he was, he thought about himself, So desperate for money that he'd scare just an odd and cute looking girl. He ran up to her as she fell and reached out to grab her arm. "Hey," he said gently, "I.. I'm sorry I scared you.. Let me help you up.. I don't know what I was thinking." |
![]() |
|
| Saya Sil Rumore | Sep 1 2012, 03:47 PM Post #5 |
|
Redwood Hermit
|
Saya Sil lowered her head as though preparing to skewer Bryar with her horns if he misspoke. The more the distance between them shrunk, the less confident she became in her security. Unbeknownst to Saya Sil, even her shadow seemed to cower behind her body, though the direction of the three luminous balls setting together on the horizon shouldn't have allowed it to bend at such an angle. She grabbed her knee-length hair in a hand so that she wouldn't trip if she elected to attempt escape once again. Avoiding the outstretched hand and bringing herself a step further back, Saya Sil rose in one motion. "I prefer to be alone," she replied in a breathy, frail tone. "If you touch me, I'll run." The corners of her lips tightened, bringing out a pair of dimples in her cheeks. She tightened her hold on the handful of tangled hair as she sought every possible means of escape. She most certainly could not carry her savings all at once; if she abandoned it here, Saya Sil would need to return later to collect her earnings - but now that a human had discovered her hiding place, she doubted there would be a single coin to return to. |
![]() Please, don't come any closer. | |
![]() |
|
| Obsidian | Sep 1 2012, 04:00 PM Post #6 |
|
Dynamite
|
Bryar listened to her say she wanted to be alone and sighed a little, "O-Oh.. I am sorry.. I shouldn't have scared you as I did." What was I thinking? he asked himself, I'm supposed to be a BAD guy. He scratched his head and stepped back, trying to think of something else he could say to amend himself. Was there ANYTHING he could do? Nah, probably not. He sighed and shrugged saying again, "I'm sorry. I really shouldn't let the thought of money take over me like that." He turned to face away from her, about to head back to grab his bag and be off, "See.. money's so hard for someone like me to come by and I've gotten REEAAALLLY good at get quite a lot of it in anyway possible." He gave a soft chuckle, "I promise not to touch yours, miss. On my honor." |
![]() |
|
| Saya Sil Rumore | Sep 1 2012, 04:19 PM Post #7 |
|
Redwood Hermit
|
Saya Sil's eyes fidgeted as she stared at the man's back. Based on his fine clothing, she imagined Bryar must be fairly successful at whatever trade he chose. If she took his word at face value, at least one thing was certain: Bryar was not a thief. "Wait," she called with the force of a summer breeze. "If you build me a house, you can have it all." In truth, the sum she'd collected in two weeks could scarcely begin to match a house's value - even the lackluster sort of shack Saya Sil had in mind - but the sheridan girl had no appreciation of the coins' value other than the time she invested to earn them. By her account, she deserved a house for her efforts any day now. She tensed as she awaited the inevitable reply. If he declined, whether for lack of skill or better understanding of the cost, she would spend another night without hope, reflecting on the faraway forest hut she once called home. If he accepted, perhaps that would be even worse; she would have to interact with an extra person on a day-to-day basis as long as their destinies connected. The offer struck Saya Sil as more ridiculous the longer she considered it. Who would build a home for a complete stranger here in the depths of the woodlands, promised nothing more than two weeks' pay? Even the shack itself would take two weeks to build, ignoring the supplies. She hung her head in silent dismay. |
![]() Please, don't come any closer. | |
![]() |
|
| Obsidian | Sep 1 2012, 05:39 PM Post #8 |
|
Dynamite
|
Bryar had to take a moment to be shocked and confused at her proposal. A house?! How did he know the first thing about building a house?! Did he LOOK like the house building type? Then again.. he was as skinny as a twig so he could probably use the workout.. Whoa! he stopped himself, Did he seriously just consider that?! "A house?" he asked, "I.. don't really know quite how to go about building a house. I'm sorry." He thought and scratched his head, "Ah um... but I.. I could TRY?" After all.. How could he refuse a lonely girl? |
![]() |
|
| Saya Sil Rumore | Sep 1 2012, 06:25 PM Post #9 |
|
Redwood Hermit
|
Saya Sil's disappointment turned to muted wonder. She reappraised the stranger after this attempt at resolving that poor first impression. "Really...?" she asked again for confirmation. The girl pulled nervously at her hair, no longer capable of eye contact. For whatever reason, her recent encounters with humans had gone uncharacteristically well. The suspicious Bryar answered her foolish request with sincere kindness. Saya Sil couldn't understand why she feared people with such gentle hearts. The cruel emissaries of Svalbard were the real threat, not the common people. Still, her hammering heart refused to accept Bryar that easily. It could all turn out to be a simple ruse. |
![]() Please, don't come any closer. | |
![]() |
|
| Obsidian | Sep 1 2012, 09:30 PM Post #10 |
|
Dynamite
|
Bryar smiled at the girl happily. In his wanderings he had seen so many strange creatures and so many more beautiful and sometimes deadly beings. And this girl was one of the most lovely things he could remember ever seeing. It sure made up for him being just a boring human. Though he was a rather handsome looking human if he may think so. A bit girly looking, but handsome no less. But this girl.... She was a cute little thing, he though. And how could he ever possibly leave someone like alone without a house. He smiled and nodded, looking around. "Okay," he said to no one in particular, "How..... do you start building a house exactly?" |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Red Woodlands · Next Topic » |
| Track Topic · E-mail Topic |
7:30 PM Jul 10
|
Hosted for free by ZetaBoards · Privacy Policy






7:30 PM Jul 10