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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." |
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Post by Moriko Byrne on Oct 30, 2018 5:15:33 GMT -5
Moriko is in her element. The end of summer draws near, but the days are still hot, so she wears a light blue tank top and dark brown cargo shorts. Hardy hiking boots and a large, over stuffed backpack strapped to her back completes the ensemble. Moriko is in her element. Her steps are sure and her balance is true. Her movement throws up puffs of dirt as she travels up the dusty mountain trail. Loose leaves, twigs, rocks and tree roots mar the path, but they do nothing to deter the short girl. Her stride does not falter. Moriko is in her element. The trail is narrow, just wide enough for two people to walk side by side, but just barely. The trees curve over the path, hiding the robin's egg blue of a cloudless sky. Sunlight drips through the gaps in the leaves and branches, bright splotches splashing across the trail. But most of the light filters through the leaves, inundating the air with a green glow and throwing the rest of the world into shifting shadows. It's a climbing, twisting tunnel, verdant and alive, open yet somehow intimately closed. This is what she's been missing. This is where she belongs. Surrounded by the forest and wild animals. Exploring and experiencing nature. Moving. Breathing. Living. Scrambling up a pile of stones jutting out of the side of the path, Moriko closes her eyes and tilts her head back. Taking a deep breath, she pauses to soak it all in. A consistent wind rustles and whispers through the leaves. It tugs at her hair and clothes, teasing her usual bedhead into an even more unruly mess. Through an opening in the branches, sunlight spills down, drifting over her and the rock-pile like a veil. The warmth on her upturned face is a welcome caress. She can feel the last of her anxiety bleed out of her. Her form is relaxed, completely free from the tension of earlier. A tension that had pulled her muscles taut like a harp's stings on the edge of snapping.
But that was then and this is now.
Letting out her breath in a long sigh of contentment, she opens her eyes. Her breathing is slow and even. Her heartbeat is strong and steady. Despite the fact that she's been hiking up this trail for the better part of the morning, only a thin sheen of sweat has risen to the surface of her skin. She's not tired in the least. Energy suffuses her body. She feels as if she can keep going forever.
Outside of the wind, the cries of many birds and the chirr of many insects are the the only other sounds in the forest. Well, that's not entirely true. The heavy, uneven tread of footsteps thumps out behind her. Harsh, ragged gasps and wheezing accompanies them. An irregular cacophony that almost drowns out the forest's song.
Turning around to face back from where she'd come, Moriko peers down the path. There, a little ways back, is her hiking partner Fue. Moriko had heard about a cool lake that's supposed to have a lot of different wildlife and hiking trails around it and she'd really wanted to go. But the location is far enough away from the school that she'd have to take a train to get to it. And that's where she'd run into difficulties. So, she'd asked Fue if she would help her out and join her in a visit. It'd taken a little bit of cajoling, but she'd finally agreed to go with her!
She's been careful not to get too far ahead of Fue, making sure that the other girl is always within hearing and sight. They're moving at a slower pace than what Moriko would have taken herself, but she's not upset or worried about it. All that it means is that they'll reach the lake at a later time than what she'd predicted. More around noon than late morning. She's very glad that Fue is here with her, to share in the experience!
Grinning cheerfully at Fue, Moriko waves a hand and calls out, her words carrying easily through the tranquility.
"You all right Fue? Need a break?"
Her voice, void of it's usual nervous waver, is filled with a relaxed confidence.
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Post by Fue Shi-Su on Oct 30, 2018 11:00:07 GMT -5
Fue did not hike. She walked most everywhere and, back home, would occasionally bike. But back home her family had been blessed enough to own a car, it was a van more than a car but it was required for Mama's job. So when they did decide to go on the more scenic trips, her family would often take the car out into the countryside. It was with that in mind that Fue had allowed herself to be talked into a day trip. Moriko had gone on about a lake she wanted to see one evening over dinner and Fue listened politely as she struggled with her food.
The problem of getting there had presented itself when Moriko revealed it would require a train ride. Fue knew that her friend had trouble with crowds and other city trappings, but the trains in Japan could be even worse as they could turn into sardine cans at a moment's notice. Even Fue wasn't entirely comfortable with them, but that was just how it was sometimes and she just put up with it. But Moriko couldn't do that, and Fue wanted to be supportive. So planning the travel arrangements was the least she could do to help.
In the planning, Fue had seen a great number of pictures of the lake and the surrounding area. It was gorgeous, very photogenic. It piqued her interest, while her photography focused on food, she was supposed to branch out and try other things. Nature always seemed like a simple and natural option. It was more artsy than her commercial style. Plus, the merging of the two would be a possible gold mine of inspiration. So, after a bit more nudging from Moriko, Fue had agreed to go on the trip.
The train ride hadn't been so bad, there were people but it wasn't packed. Though that seemed to still be a lot for Moriko so Fue had tried holding her hand reassuringly. Things improved once they finally made it to the station and set off to the trail. Fue had looked at a few guidebooks and the trip seemed nice enough, the weather was going to be clear and it should all be pretty. So she'd packed a lot of easily portable food in her pack, planning to surprise Moriko with a picnic by the lake. She hadn't expected the weight to become a factor, and it would be gone on the walk back.
Unfortunately, the walk was not a walk. It had become a hike and Fue was not the least bit prepared for a hike. She had, perhaps, overloaded herself. The picnic stuff in her bag, a bit of extra camera equipment, though not her full kit, thank goodness, it all added up to a slog. She might have had to take a break or two on a serene walk along a flat garden path, the hike was killing her. Moriko, even with her things, was not having any amount of trouble. Fue just kept falling behind.
The change in Moriko was astounding, the usually shy and quiet girl was radiating with confidence and strength. Something Fue might have appreciated more if she had the energy. The map had shown the lake was barely any distance at all from the main trail. And it hadn't indicated anything about it being uphill. It was aggravating, and embarrassing, Fue felt bad about dragging Moriko down, holding her back. She looked up at Moriko as the nature girl called down from further along the trail.
"No, it's fine. I'm catching up." Fue replied as she continued her trudge along. If she stopped now, Fue was starting to feel like she might not be able to work up the strength to get up again. She had heard about all sorts of nature and animals that might have been great photo opportunities, but she hadn't been able to think about that at all, mostly she'd been staring at the ground and thinking exclusively about putting one foot ahead of the other. Maybe the picnic was not a good idea. At least, not as she had planned it the night before. Certainly it seemed like the weight of it had doubled since then.
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure we'll be there any minute now."
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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." |
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Post by Moriko Byrne on Oct 30, 2018 22:29:38 GMT -5
Moriko can see that Fue is struggling to keep up. Even though she's been trying to make sure not to push her too hard, it still seems like she's done just that. Frowning, her gaze lands onto the two packs that the the other girl is carrying. It looks to be rather heavy with the both of them together. She'd not paid it much mind, since her own pack was rather full, but now that she thinks of it, she wouldn't have expected Fue to carry as much as she herself was. Maybe a small to medium pack for her camera equipment and some snacks. But not the two backpacks she had brought instead. And it had completely slipped her mind when they'd boarded the train, for Moriko had been rather overwhelmed by the station and the amount of people there. She'd been grateful when Fue had held her hand in reassurance. Though then she'd been worried about squeezing the other girl's hand too tight. She'd also been unable to hide the small tremors that had taken hold of her. But, with Fue's presence, she'd eventually calmed down enough for them to stop. But now, here she is, standing farther up the trail, gazing down at her struggling companion. This wouldn't do! Hopping down from the pile of rocks, she makes her way over to Fue. The other girl's gaze seems to be firmly locked onto the ground beneath her. Slipping to the left of Fue, Moriko leans down and peers up at her friend's face. She keeps easy pace with Fue, despite the awkward angle she holds herself.
"Hey Fue, let met take one of your backpacks," she offers, her voice soft and questioning. Gesturing to the sunny rock-pile, she points out a trail marker. "We're not too far from the lake now. Ten minuets, tops. I can hold it for that long." Smiling quietly, she nods her head over to the larger of the two packs. "And don't say no, 'kay? You came with me, helped me with the train and travel plans and stuff. This is the least I can do for you." She gazes up at Fue, her teals filled with a hopeful determination.
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Post by Fue Shi-Su on Oct 31, 2018 14:13:31 GMT -5
The map had been so small, just a short distance, Theora had expected to be able to see the lake from the start of the path. That hadn't been the case but still, why weren't they there yet? They couldn't have gotten lost, not following a simple pre-made trail. She noticed that Moriko was moving back towards her and that doubled her self-consciousness. Fue hiked up her bags and tried to walk a little bit faster, though that was easier thought than done. She forced a smile on as Moriko leaned in, despite her own considerable talent for faking it, this one was obviously pained.
"I don't know." she replied. It was her own fault, her decision to pack all this extra stuff. It was supposed to be a surprise and making Moriko carry stuff for her own little surprise seemed wrong. But, on the other hand, it was getting to be far too much for her to do herself. Fue's cheeks went red as Moriko prompted and insisted on helping. "Ok, just until the lake though." She couldn't say no, her legs might never forgive her.
Fue stepped off to the side of the trail with a sigh and began unclipping her bag and slowly let the pair slide off her back and down to the ground. Suddenly, she felt free again, she stood up straight and just took a few seconds to bend backwards and work out any spinal compression she felt had been inflicted on her. Maybe she ought to have worn a better backpack, not that she had one, or at least adjusted the backpack to wear more properly. School books and other things were a lot different than hiking stuff.
Back feeling liberated, she knelt down, suppressing the groan that came from the tightness in her back and began unclipping the two bags apart from each other. The food was the larger bag, mostly due to the extra bits and bobs in it, like a cloth, some utensils, and cups. All the things Fue thought belonged in the perfect picnic scene. Even if Moriko might not be the type to use them all, rustic as her friend seemed to act, they would be good for pictures.
"Thank you, Moriko. I'm sorry to do this to you." She apologised and picked up her bag of camera equipment. Her shoulders were not appreciative of any weight coming back onto them, but it was a lot better than both bags.
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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." |
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Post by Moriko Byrne on Nov 2, 2018 0:13:57 GMT -5
Moriko can't help the relief that sparks through her when Fue agrees to her suggestion. She'd been worried that the other girl would refuse. In which case, she might have had to of been a bit more insistent. But, thankfully, that hadn't been the case. Fue does see quite weighed down by what she's carrying and Moriko really wants to help her out. Besides, they've yet to reach the lake! It'd be no good if Fue runs out of energy before then!
Straightening up from her slight stoop, Moriko quietly watches as Fue steps to the side of the trail. When she slides them to the ground, it's clear how much they'd been dragging the other girl down. Moriko only tilts her head slightly as she patiently watches Fue stretch out her back. She's actually a little higher than Fue, the part of the trail she's standing on a bit farther up than the spot that the other girl had stopped on. This gives her a good, clear view of Fue's head as she bends backwards. She can practically hear the other girl's back popping.
Fue's hair is what catches her attention the most. The green of the tunnel mutes most of the rusty color of the other girl's hair. But the spots where the sunlight falls onto it are the most striking. They blaze with a brilliant coppery sheen in the forest's gloom and seems to shift at Fue's movements. It reminds Moriko of the darting form of a red fox vanishing in the brush. She finds herself mesmerized by that shifting sheen, until Fue bends forward and drops back down into the shadows.
Blinking, Moriko breaks out of her stupor. Shaking her head, she distractedly runs her fingers through her hair as she watches Fue unclip the two backpacks. Gah, what's wrong with me?? she wonders worriedly. It's not unusual for her to get distracted by sounds and movements when she's in the wilderness. But that's because she's usually trying to keep an eye out for trouble. It is odd that she'd gotten so absorbed by a person she doesn't consider a threat. Embarrassed by the thought, she glances around, her cheeks feeling a bit warmer than usual. Absently, she pulls out a metal, light blue water bottle from the side of her daypack and takes a long swig of water from it.
But her attention immediately returns to Fue when the other girl thanks and apologizes to her in the same breath. Stepping closer to Fue, Moriko crouches down and snags the backpack left for her. It's smaller than the one she's got, and not as heavy either. But it is still has a bit of surprising heft to it. Setting her water bottle on the ground next to her, Moriko unzips a side-pocket on her daypack and pulls out a few extra hiking straps. She ties the top straps of the bag together and then pulls them over her shoulders. This lets the smaller bag rest on her front. Using a few more of the extra straps, she wraps them around Fue's bag until it's secured firmly to her. It's a trick she picked up throughout her years of hiking and camping. It helps keep the weight of what you're carrying more evenly distributed around your body, as long as the bag on the front isn't too large. And Fue's backpack is just the right size. Rising quickly, Moriko picks up her water bottle and faces Fue.
"Of course!" she exclaims, flashing Fue a bright smile. Her teals gleam in the dimness. "No problem!" Her energy and enthusiasm are hard to miss. There's not a sign of disappointment or irritation in her. Just an overabundance of happiness and anticipation.
"We're almost there." Glancing down at the water bottle still in her hands, she suddenly holds it out to Fue.
"Want some?" she offers, the smile still on her face.
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Post by Fue Shi-Su on Nov 2, 2018 22:17:52 GMT -5
Moriko was such a bundle of energy deep down underneath the jittery nervous girl who was afraid of crowds. Fue envied her in that more superficial way. Having that much energy was probably how the girl could stay so skinny despite eating like a vacuum cleaner. She watched as Moriko pulled out a few more extra straps. Of course, Fue's bags were set up to connect, but Moriko hadn't expected to be forced to carry Fue's burdens. But there she was, prepared and ready to help. Seeing that, Fue's cheeks reddened a little further, though now it was out of deeper embarrassment rather than exertion.
There was a little confusion, too, as Moriko strapped the backpack to her front and let the bag sit there. "Oh, Ohhh, that's really clever." she said as she figured it out. It was still weight on the shoulders but it wasn't all pulling backwards. That probably made it a lot less cumbersome and wouldn't leave a person all stooped over under the heavy load. It was just another sign that her partner was far more experienced out on the hiking trail. She'd have to try that on the way back down.
"Umm, Moriko." Fue started hesitantly but it really had to be said, if for her own sanity and self worth. "I'll carry it back down, don't worry." It would be lighter after they ate, sure, but even if it wasn't, she couldn't let her friend shoulder all of the burden. "So don't, like, resent it or anything." Even if Moriko seemed outwardly fine with it, Fue doubted. She couldn't always read what people were feeling deep down and she really didn't want to foster any dislike on this journey.
At the offering of water, Fue looked at it just a little hesitantly. She hadn't expected the hike to be, well, a hike, so while she had brought water, it was packed up with the rest of the picnic stuff. That was just another mistake she'd made today. "Umm, yeah, ok." She reached out and took the water bottle.She was feeling thirsty. She brough it to her lips and drank a few mouthfuls. "Thank you, Moriko." she said as she handed the bottle back. "Sorry I've turned into a bit of dead wait. I'll make it up to you when we get to the lake though, I promise."
She bit her tongue at that, she'd almost given away the surprise. But she was going to make it up to her friend, they were going to have the best picnic ever. "Let's get going." Fue said quickly, changing the subject with as much tact as she could force in and she began walking onward again. This time she was able to move a lot faster with the added weight gone, though, with her map skills obviously flawed, she found herself slowing down and moving behind to follow Moriko. It wouldn't do if Fue accidentally wandered off the path and into a thicket or a ravine or something equally embarrassing.
Almost there obviously meant something different to Moriko than Fue, it was ten minutes before she even saw a glint that they were getting closer to the lake, and that was just a possible spot of blue through the trees from the top of a hill. It was another ten before she heard water. But the forest finally parted, revealing the reflective lake to the weary hiker. Fue breathed a sigh of relief. Her feet were killing her and she just wanted to get them out of the boot sand maybe soak them in the water.
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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." |
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Post by Moriko Byrne on Nov 4, 2018 3:31:08 GMT -5
At Fue's thanks for the water, Moriko gives a reassuring nod and hands over the water bottle. She really doesn't mind, and the other girl looks like she's thirsty. Glancing away, she peers up the path at the trail marker near the rock-pile. Squinting at the sign, she double checks the time she had in her head and frowns in thought. Might be a bit longer than 10 minuets, depending on how slow we go... She hopes it's not too much longer than that. She'd feel bad if her prediction turns out to be wrong. That would mean that she'd told Fue a falsehood. She really doesn't like lying to people. Especially to a person who she considers a friend. Returning her attention back to Fue, Moriko takes back the water bottle and stows it away in it's spot on the side of her day pack. Softening her smile, she shakes her head at Fue's words. "You're not a dead weight, Fue. We're not in a hurry. We'll get there when we get there." Moriko doesn't even mention the comment about making it up to her. It's not something that needs mentioning. She doesn't feel like anything inconvenient has happened, so to her, there's nothing to make up.
She doesn't understand why the other girl seems so insistent on moving quickly. Or why she seems to feel so bad about being slow. If anything, Moriko feels bad that she's been pushing Fue so hard. She hadn't realized that she'd been doing so. Only when the other girl had started breathing so heavily and started really falling behind had it dawned on her that perhaps she'd been going too quickly. That's when she'd started to try and slow down, but apparently she'd noticed Fue's struggle a bit too late.
Nodding at Fue's prompt to continue, this time Moriko makes sure that she's not going too fast. Besides, with the extra weight she's carrying, it's better for her to go slow. Properly pacing oneself is at the heart of hiking, after all.
Fue seems content to walk behind her. She feels bad that Fue seems to be having such a rough time. She'd been hoping to share in the experience. For the both of them to find it enjoyable. But so far, it seems like she's the only one doing so. It'll get better once we get to the lake, she thinks in determination.
So they walk, the path ever rising and twisting. Moriko moves at an even, leisurely pace. Sometimes, when the trail opens up a bit more, Moriko walks beside Fue. Never much of a talker, she doesn't say much. But she does glance at Fue from time to time, offering her smiles of encouragement and a helping hand where it's needed. She tries her best to let her companion know that she's not upset. Moriko has since come to understand that Fue often internalizes her worries, and doesn't want her to think she's unhappy with her. For she's not.
It takes almost twice as long as she'd thought it would, but at last they've reached the lake!
Halting in place, Moriko pauses to simply take in the view. They stand at the top of a small ridge. The path that they've been hiking winds down the ridge, where it eventually fades away into a grassy slope. At the base of the slope is a small strip of dark sand. And from there sits the lake. With hills and ridges all around it, the lake looks as if it's being cradled in the lush arms of the forest. As if a sleepy giant has hugged it close as it fell asleep. The water sparkles in the sunlight, waves rippling with the gentle push of the wind. The lake is large enough for the shore on the other side to seem faded with the distance.
Clusters of stones lie scattered along the slope and beach, their shadows pooling at their bases. The sun sits high in the bright sky, it's burning gaze unfazed by the world below. The few clouds that can be seen are high up and far away. Their wispy whiteness feathers across the mountain peaks rising all around them. The calls of all kinds of wildlife rings out through the air, filled with a vibrancy not found back at Seicho.
Tilting her head back, Moriko spreads her arms out and takes in a deep breath, her back arcing slightly. Holding it in for a moment, she lets it out with a loud whoosh. They still stand at the tunnel exit, on the edge of twilight and the full blown day. She's just barely crossed the threshold, with half her body in shade and the other half in the sunlight. Excitement rushing through her, she turns to Fue, her teals sparkling. A wide smile gleams in the half light, her whole body filled with energy.
"We're here!" she exclaims proudly. "We made it!"
Leaning forward, she clasps both of Fue's hands in her own and gives them a little shake.
"We made it!" she says again, her smile not faltering, her eyes gazing directly into Fue's own.
She's just so happy!
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Post by Fue Shi-Su on Nov 10, 2018 9:50:19 GMT -5
Fue glanced at Moriko, maybe it would have been a quicker journey without bringing Fue along but Moriko didn't seem bothered, in fact, she seemed to be more excited than Fue was to find the lake. "Yeah," Fue replied and smiled at Moriko, "it's beautiful here." But beauty would be better appreciated from comfort. "You can just drop my bag over here." She let go of Moriko's hands and stepped to the edge of the treeline and shrugged off her pack, setting it against a tree. More liberation, but even better than before because she wouldn't have to put it back on for hours. She rolled her shoulders back and leaned from side to side to stretch out her back and then leaned way back to try and pop it.
Once she was satisfied with her upper half, she plopped down and began unlacing her hiking boots, this did not give her the same instant comfort that taking off her backpack had. Instead the stinging and light throb became even more pronounced. She winced as she slid each boot off and then rolled her socks down and off. There was quite a bit of red down there, she'd have to apply blister cream when she got home. But now, feet freshly freed, she walked gingerly to the water's edge and stepped in, just enough fro it to cover her toes.
The cold made her whole body shiver, it was such a nice change, better than an ice pack, a wave of relief filled her up. She'd be happy just spending the rest of the day right here, but Moriko might not, her friend might want to hike around or do other things. And that might be more convenient too, the surprise might really be a surprise then. But Fue wasn't sure how to say that maybe Moriko should be out of sight for a little while. And frankly, Fue just wanted to bask in the moment of cool relief for her aching feet.
As she stood there, eyes closed, savoring the moment, an idea popped into her head that might solve all her problems and not be mean or unduly rude to Moriko. "I think I'm going to stay here for a bit, then I'll start setting up all my camera equipment to snap some good pictures of the area. So don't worry if you wanted to check out some of the other spots or trails we might have passed on the way in. Don't worry about me, I'll be satisfied right here."
Moriko seemed to really enjoy hiking and what she got with Fue was probably pretty tame compared to whatever the girl did back at home. Plus, there was all this forest to see and a whole lake to circle around. Moriko might really be a fan of exploring and finding wildlife or something. As neat as it might be to find a newborn deer or whatever things were out there at this time of year, Fue couldn't work up the excitement to leave this very lovely but most of all cold lake. Then, while Moriko was out enjoying herself, Fue could set up the picnic, maybe take a few pictures with the lake as a lovely background, and Moriko would come back to a lunchtime spread. She'd be so surprised, maybe Fue would take a picture of her face. That could be funny too.
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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." |
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Post by Moriko Byrne on Dec 3, 2018 1:26:05 GMT -5
She likes it! Moriko's smile widens a bit more when Fue says how beautiful the lake is. It's already getting better!
Fue lets go of her hands and indicates where she wants them to drop the bags. Undoing the extra straps, she lets Fue's bag slide down next to the camera bag. Shrugging out of her own daypack, she thumps it down next to the other two bags. Rising up, she gives a soft sigh of relief. They'd been hiking for quite some time now, and even though she's built up stamina and strength for this kind of thing, it's still a bit of a strain to go so long without decent breaks. Granted, most of that had been her own fault. She'd just been so excited to get to the lake that she'd not wanted to take too many breaks.
Stretching out her back and arms, Moriko glances over at Fue to see that she's just finished doing her own set. A grin takes hold of her when Fue sits down in the grass and begins to take off her boots.
"Great idea!" she exclaims as she does the same. Yanking off her hiking boots, she places them next to her bag. Stretching the socks out, she lays them over the boots to let them dry. Normally, when the weather is as nice out as it is today, she'd be barefoot. Even when hiking with a pack. But she didn't know the particular trail that they'd be walking. The kinds of obstacles they'd cross, and the trail conditions, had been unknown. So she'd worn her hiking boots just in case. If one were to look closely at her feet, though, they'd notice how thick the soles are. A testament to her barefoot lifestyle.
Since she's already sitting down, Moriko decides to do a few leg stretches for good measure. She watches as Fue makes her way over to the lake. A small frown takes hold of her, for she notices the slight hobble in the other girl's step. Her feet must be hurting her... she concludes, her concerned gaze taking in the way Fue holds herself as she stands in the lake water. The other's shiver doesn't go unnoticed. Neither does the way Fue's whole body relaxes after a few moments. As if something uncomfortable has been soothed.
Glancing down at her ankles, she circles them around, switching directions as she limbers them up. The muscles in her well developed calves flex with the movement. Finishing up her stretches, she reaches over to her pack, snags her water bottle and takes a long swig. It's coolness slips down her throat, both refreshing and reinvigorating.
Finally feeling like she's ready to get moving again, Moriko once again finds her gaze drawn towards Fue. The other girl stands very still. Her head is tilted slightly back, her eyes closed. The sun strikes all the shadows aside, drenching the whole lake area. It leaps off the water in a dazzling brilliance that sparks through Fue's rusty locks like fireflies in a thicket. Moriko once again finds herself mesmerized.
Suddenly, Fue turns back to her and speaks.
Blinking, Moriko shakes herself out of the moment. Annoyance, at herself, flickers through her. She's not sure what's wrong with her, but something must be! Moments like that have been happening more frequently as of late. It's very unlike her to space out like this!
Nodding at Fue's words, Moriko stands up abruptly. "Okay Fue." Turning to her pack, she opens it up and rustles through it. Finding what she's searching for, she pulls out a short coil of rope and a small plastic jar. The jar is cylindrical in shape and clear with a black screw-on lid. Holes have been drilled in the top of the lid. Tossing the rope over herself like a sash, she tucks the container under one arm. Turning back to Fue, she grins at the other girl.
"I'm gonna explore the area a bit. See what kinds of animals are here." Indicating the lid, she adds, "And see if I can catch something."
She starts to head to the left, towards a large pile of rocks that cuts into the little beach and juts directly out from the forest. Pausing for a moment, she turns back to Fue and gives her a little wave.
"See you in a bit!" she calls out cheerfully, before continuing on her way.
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Post by Fue Shi-Su on Dec 7, 2018 19:28:05 GMT -5
Fue's brilliant improvisational idea had worked like a charm. But she would have to give it a few extra minutes so that Moriko could get out of sight, it was for the surprise to stay a surprise and not at all because she wanted to keep her feet in the cold water for awhile longer. She smiled as Moriko fussed about with her own pack, but the smalle faded when she saw Moriko pull out a container. "Ehh? Catch something?" She looked at the small box. That wasn't big enough to hold a pet or something.
Even stray animals made Fue nervous, A lost dog might be friendly but it could bite, nothing good was going to come out of that container. Fue had to hope that her friend wasn't going to bring back some massive bug like a cicada or, even worse, some kind of snake. Did they even have snakes in this country? She looked around the water at her feet nervously. But snakes were cold blooded so they didn't like cold things and this water was pretty cold, but she had read about snakes that liked water so maybe there were exceptions. Perhaps it was better not to chance it. Who knew how long it would take to get medical help out here if one of them was hurt. She looked at Moriko who was waving goodbye. "Be careful." She called and waved back.
With one extra glance around to make sure she wasn't going to be disturbing any snakes, Fue stepped back onto dry land and gingerly walked to her backpacks. She knelt down next to her pack holding her basic camera equipment, setting all this up would give Moriko even more time to get out of sight. She unzipped the bag and set out a cloth, then she started setting different pieces and parts down onto it. When she got to. The lens case, she popped it open and started going through them, holding them up to the light and looking all around through to decide which one gave the best effect. Finally choosing, she put that one on the cloth and moved on. Eventually, she had a full disassembled camera laid out before her.
Fue turned to look out over the lake, it really was beautiful out here. A different sort of beauty than the city. It was things like this that made the human heart want to hold a memory forever. She looked down at her camera and picked up the body of it. Such a powerful invention, locking a moment or experience in time, she'd need to take lots of pictures of today, Oh the lake, the food, and Moriko. Fue smiled to herself and began assembling it all together. She wanted to get a picture of Moriko smiling, without any of the tension that crowded places like the school or towns seemed to foster. Just the perfectly relaxed and off guard Moriko, that would be a moment to hold on to.
It took hardly any time at all to put the camera together a and she took a few practice shots of the lake, the forest, and the sky. She fiddled with a few adjustments and tested it again. Eventually she was satisfied and she got up, stretched out her back and then moved on to her other pack. This was the food and the part she had been looking forward to. Probably what Moriko would have been looking forward to as well, had she known. But first, she had to set up the sitting arrangements.
Fue pulled out a large blanket and spread it across the ground near the edge of the lake. She'd have to be careful stepping around it to avoid tracking any dirt onto the blanket before she'd taken the pictures, afterwards it was fair game. Carefully, she smoothed it out, patting down any lumps on the ground. Then, she pulled out several face masks, as useful as they were to avoid the flu, Fue had a different use for them, she pulled them up her legs and around her knees to keep for tracking any dirt from her knees as she shuffled around on the blanket. Then, she started pulling out the food.
In the center of the blanket went the main course, on a platter were a selection of sandwiches. They were mostly assembled, though she had to finish them together by adding the cucumber to the cucumber sandwiches and the tomatoes to the caprese. The smell was intocicating. She wished she could have brought along a full roast chicken but this was more of a picnic tea than picnic lunch in style. Beside that, a green salad with chunks of chilled chicken. A small container of vinaigrette was placed beside that after a vigorous shake. For afters, she'd decided on apple slices and a selection of cheese cubes of varying types. Hopefully Moriko would find one she liked, Fue wasn't sure on anything exact so she'd gone with ones that she liked with apples, mostly cheddars.
Then, there was the finale, three pieces of a lemon yoghurt cake that had been soaked in syrup. Fue had given up on the portable whipped cream idea and gone the easy route of the stuff out of a can. Hopefully Moriko wouldn't mind too much. Setting this all up had taken a bit of time, but Fue wasn't worried about holding things back when Moriko came back. She'd already taken a picture of everything and saved them to her book before she packed it away this morning so there was nothing left but to eat it. Well, there was one thing left, hence the third piece of cake. She set it on a small paper plate and carefully, ever so carefully, added the whipped cream. Perfect on the first try. She felt just a little bit smug. Digging into the bag, she then pulled out two fancy looking glasses, though they were actually plastic, and two thermoses.
She poured a bit of the thermos into each glass where it fizzed merrily. Non-alcoholic cordial, but it still looked the part and it would add what she considered that mature edge to her pictures. All that complete, Fue took off her knee masks and began to photograph the picnic area, keeping the lake as background as she could. She wanted to get as many pictures as she could before Moriko got back and it was time to eat.
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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Fae
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Post by Moriko Byrne on Dec 26, 2018 1:52:43 GMT -5
Moriko's feet sink slightly into the damp dirt and sand of the small beach. The feel of it between her toes sends a small shiver of delight through her. It's been so long since she's been out and about like this! And in a place with so few people!
Smiling to herself, Moriko makes her way over to the pile of boulders. She walks right at the water's edge, sometimes stepping into the water, and at other times keeping to the sandy areas. Her gait has a bit of bounce to it, the rope across her chest rising and falling with her movement. It takes no time at all for her to reach the rocks. Pausing at their base, she raises a hand to shade her eyes. Tilting her head back, she scans the obstacle before her, searching out the best route to take. Satisfied with the course she's picked out, Moriko secures the plastic jar with her rope, hanging it at her hip. Smiling in anticipation, she begins climbing up the boulders.
Her goal is a large crack that runs through one of the largest boulders near the top. Brush, moss, and other plant life springs up from patches of soil and the many niches that pit the rocks. Climbing steadily, she pulls herself up over the final ledge and finds herself standing right in front of the large crack. Pausing, she peers back the way she'd come. A distance away she can see Fue crouched near their bags. She can't see what the other girl is doing, but she can guess it has something to do with her camera. Grinning at the thought, Moriko turns to face the broken stone before her.
The crack runs from the top of the rock all the way down to it's base. It's narrow near the top, but it widens the farther down it goes. An adult could easily fit inside the opening. The split in the stone disappears underneath the rock she's standing on. A strong breeze tugs at her, as if a gentle vacuum is sucking her towards the darkness. Ever curious, Moriko slips into the crack, taking care to watch out for snakes and other possibly harmful animals.
Inside of the crack is cool and damp. Moss grows along the sides and floor, making the going a little slick. Stepping carefully, Moriko finds herself moving downwards. Running her hands against the chilly rock, she keeps her eyes peeled for any animals. Small shadowy figures dart about in the gloom, but they're much too quick for her to follow them. Shrugging, she decides to head as far into the crack as it will allow.
Looking up she can see the fissure reaching upwards to eventually disappear into the darkness of solid stone. The wind is constant through the hole she's entered. It whistles in her ears, whispering to her of another entrance somewhere. The farther down she goes, the stronger the scent of wet green and lake water grows. Eventually, a faint light shines ahead of her. Excitedly, Moriko makes her way to it.
It's a small diagonal opening in between two rocks, just large enough for a small person to fit through. Shrugging off her rope and jar, she shoves them through first. Listening intently, it doesn't take long for her to hear a soft thud. Bracing herself against the stone, Moriko shimmies in sideways and scoots herself to the edge of the opening. Peaking her head out of the gap, she glances down to find a small sandy alcove below her. It's not too much of a drop, so she slips out of the opening and falls the short distance to the sand.
Landing with bent knees, Moriko falls into a roll which leaves her sprawled on her back. Catching her breath for a moment, she finds her gaze following the line of stones as they rise above her. Sunlight beams down through various gaps in between the rocks that rise up all around her. It's just enough light to let her see the area she's in, but not enough to completely drive back the gloom. It looks like she's found a hidden space in between all the boulders!
Sitting up excitedly, Moriko looks all around her, taking it all in. The area she's in is in the shape of a rough circle. Half of it seems to be more of the beach. The other half is the lake! At the water's edge and hugging the rocks are tall reeds and grasses. The perfect place to find some interesting critters! Shaking sand out of her hair, she snags the rope and jar and makes her way to the thickest part of the reeds. Unscrewing the lid of the jar, she scoops up some damp soil and grasses and drops them into the container. Breaking off some reeds, and snapping them into shorter sizes, she also places those in the jar. Nodding to herself in satisfaction, she begins her hunt!
After a bit of trial and error, and a bit of patience, Moriko has managed to catch several things. Screwing the lid back on, she wipes at her brow in satisfaction. She's covered in dirt, moss, sand and mud, but she's finally gotten what she's searching for! Glancing upwards again, she notices that the light has shifted a bit. At this realization, her stomach gives a low rumble. She brought trail food for the trip, but if worse comes to worse she can always hunt or fish for their food.
Seems like she's been gone a good while longer than she'd expected, though. Time to get back, she decides.
Now, just gotta get out of here, she thinks to herself as she slings the rope back over her shoulders. Filled jar resting at her hip, she looks all around the enclosed space and contemplates how to do just that. Glancing at the water of the lake, she crouches down and stares intently at where the rocks and the water meets. Eyes lighting up, she can't help the grin that takes hold of her. Perfect! Patting the jar resting at her hip, she gives a determined nod and proceeds to escape the hidden patch.
Entire body dripping wet, Moriko drops down from the last bit of rock, onto the side of the beach she'd started on. Out of breath and a little shaky, she still decides to run towards the trees where she'd last seen Fue. She grips the jar close to her, trying not to jostle it any more than necessary. Rounding a small corner, she skids to a halt as their temporary resting site comes into view.
Gasping for breath after her hard sprint, she let's the jar hang loose as she bends forward. Resting both her hands on her bent knees, it's all she can do to stare at the lavish spread laying before her. Eyes wide with surprise, she straightens up and walks slowly towards the picnic. Gaze darting towards Fue, Moriko opens and closes her mouth a few times before she can get her words out.
"Wh-what's all this?" she asks, still breathless. Awe fills her words, even as her stomach gives forth another rumble.
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Post by Fue Shi-Su on Jan 2, 2019 23:17:01 GMT -5
The pictures were coming out beautifully. After so many hardships, after the pain in the feet, the seemingly endless trail, and the long slog to get everything made and photographed beforehand so Fue's neurosis wouldn't intrude when they finally sat down to eat, this was making it all worth it. These were going into her portfolio, capturing the light off the water, drawing the reflections of the trees in the sky, the occasional drifting leaf along the lake. Yes, these were going to be her star portfolio pieces, right up front for the first and last thing anyone would see. The highest of high notes, maybe she could even sell these to a travel magazine or something. It would be her first, real, paid and published piece in an actual magazine. Her parents would be over the moon, heck, she would be too.
However, it had been going on awhile, and while Fue could lose herself in photography, just trying to get it all immaculate, she could definitely tell that her intended picnic partner hadn't returned on account of there was not any hovering of the food or excited noises interrupting the photography. Fue pulled out her phone and checked it but there were no messages left there so it didn't seem like there were any issues. She raised it high a over her head and she was definitely getting a signal. Well, perhaps Moriko had lost track of time doing...whatever it was she was doing with that jar. Fue shuddered at the thought.
Best to ignore that and focus on the food, though, there wasn't much left to focus on. She'd gotten the pictures she'd wanted and any more would only be worth taking at sunset. The food wasn't going to keep that long and neither was she. She wanted to be nearly back at the dorm by the time sunset creeped over the mountains. Who knew what sort of creatures might come out of the woods at night. Or in the day actually. She glanced around nervously. Moriko would know. Moriko knew all about this outdoors nature stuff. Fue thought she heard something moving off in the woods behind her. She turned around quickly but didn't see anyone or anything. Was it her imagination? She glanced around some more. She was alone out here, what if a bear smelled the food and came to steal it? Were there bears in the area? There were bears in the woods and this was the woods so there had to be bears around, that was just common sense.
She needed to stop thinking about this, a distraction was what she needed, something to keep her mind on anything that wasn't hungry bears that would try and eat her or her picnic. So, instead, she tried to focus on cleaning up and packing away her camera back into the bag. It wasn't working, even when she got down to cleaning the individual lenses. Mostly all that changed was she nearly dropped a few in her shaking hands. The camera, now as clean and packed away as she could get it, could no longer distract her and so she focused on getting rid of the masks that she'd been using as pads to keep things clean. This took almost no time at all and continued to do little except make her even more sure that out in the woods, just out of sight, was a bear waiting to spring an ambush on her at any moment.
Then she heard the sound of more rustling in the distance and Fue completely froze. It had circled around her, it was coming and she couldn't move a muscle. But then, in a surprising twist, it was Moriko who came out of the greenery. The terror melted away from Fue's body and she sighed in relief. And then she gasped as she realized that she was looking at an entirely sopping and messy Moriko. "Oh my gosh, are you ok?" Fue asked and covered her mouth in shock. She turned around in almost a panic and looked at the picnic, there was nothing to be done about it. With incredible haste, she grabbed everything off of it and swept up the large blanket that had served to keep things off the dirt. She ran over to the slower moving Moriko and wrapped the blanket tightly around her, hugging it tightly as she could. "What happened? Are you hurt? Do you need me to call somebody?" She asked in rapid fire as she tried to hold the blanket around her friend, alternating between trying to squeeze her dry and checking for torn clothing or scrapes or worse.
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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Fae
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Post by Moriko Byrne on Jan 6, 2019 4:05:58 GMT -5
For a brief flash, Moriko sees fear on Fue's face. But it's quickly replaced by relief, which is in turn replaced by shock. The swift shift in emotions throws her off, for it's completely unexpected. As it is, Moriko is most focused on her hunger. Getting out of that hidden place had been a bit more energy sapping than she'd expected. Hence the slightly wobbly state she's found herself, after pushing herself so hard physically. She probably shouldn't have run back to their resting place, but she'd wanted to tell Fue all about what she'd found! When Fue asks if she's all right, Moriko opens her mouth to answer, but before she can the other girl's already turned away. Blinking in confusion, she watches as Fue starts grabbing all the food and setting it aside. Even more confused, Moriko steps closer to Fue. Wanting to ask what the other girl is doing, she's taken completely by surprise when Fue whirls around and drapes the picnic blanket over her. Giving a start, Moriko freezes in place. She's been completely bundled up in the cloth! Eyes wide, she stares in bemusement as Fue holds her close and gives off a rapid fire of questions. It takes her a moment for the other's words to sink in, but when they do, she can't help but smile. Fue fusses over her, alternating with trying to keep the picnic blanket over her and checking her exposed skin for injuries. Yes, she does have some scrapes and bruises, but that's par for the course when exploring. At least, it is with her. Especially when climbing is involved. But Fue probably doesn't know that, Moriko belatedly realizes. Squirming under the blanket, Moriko manages to free her left arm. Gently snagging one of Fue's arms, she pulls the other girl close to her in an attempt to still her shuffling of the blanket. Her hand is chilly to the touch, but her grip is firm. Speaking of the blanket, it has fallen over her head and rests over the whole of her body. Being positioned slightly lower than the other girl, Moriko peers up out of the impromptu hood and directs a bright grin Fue's way. Her teals twinkle with her happiness. After all, people only put up a fuss like this when they care about you! "I'm all right, Fue," she says, her tone soft and calming. It's nice to know that she cares, but Moriko doesn't want Fue to worry overly much about her. She's been through worse conditions, after all. Leaning in closer to Fue's face, she lowers her voice even more, but this time it's an excited whisper. "I found this really awesome place! I wanted to tell you so much about it that I ran back!" Their foreheads are almost touching now, Moriko's eyes shimmering with her enthusiasm. Strands of her wet hair sticks to her face, framing her cheeks and the soft curve of her jawline. "I managed to catch a few things, too!" she adds, her joy in this addition hard to miss. Moriko feels her cheeks heat up when she suddenly realizes exactly how close she's gotten to the other girl. Then her stomach gives forth a rather loud gurgle. Embarrassment burning through her, she draws back and sinks down closer to the ground. As she does so, she releases her hold on Fue's arm and wraps her free arm around her midsection. The blanket drapes around her in a pool of cloth, the only part of her body visible is her face. It peeks out of the shadow of the hood, pale and drawn.
"Ah man, am I hungry," she mutters, even as she directs a sheepish smile up at Fue.
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Post by Fue Shi-Su on Jan 7, 2019 19:21:17 GMT -5
Fue fussed over Moriko who was squirming worse than a fish on a slab. But Fue wasn't letting up until Moriko's hand grabbed her and pulled her in. Her hand was so cold and then suddenly, the pair were within inches of each other. Fue shivered a bit, Moriko was still wet and the whole of her was cold. Though Moriko said she was ok, Fue couldn't help but protest. "But you're so cold..." She said weakly. She stared into her friend's eyes, they seemed to sparkle and the excitement in them just radiated outward, Fue felt her own heart start to beat a little faster.
There was something infectious about Moriko's excitement. And seeing her here, fully relaxed, without a care in the world, that was really nice to see and Fue didn't want that smile to disappear. On the other hand, maybe Moriko should have a few more cares in the world right now and no infection was strong enough to stand against the shudder of repulsion Fue felt at the idea of any creepy-craw lies that Moriko might have collected in that glass jar of hers. That was definitely a had pass on Fue's internal radar. Fortunately, Fue was saved from any further explanation by Moriko's rather vocal stomach.
"I think any explanation is going to have to wait." Fue said with a giggle. Moriko pulled away and, for a moment, Fue tightened her grip on her friend to keep her close. It was small, but it caught her off guard. But that would have to be unpacked later as Moriko put her arm around Fue's waist and they turned toward the food. It wasn't much of a picnic now that it had been shoved all together in something like a pile. "I thought you might get hungry." Fue said quickly. "So I thought I'd try and surprise you with an outdoor picnic like what we had back home in France, though with a little more nature, I guess." She blushed and turned away with a little bit of embarrassment, "Sorry I had to have you carry some of it up. I kind of packed a lot and I wasn't I wasn't really prepared for a hike like I thought I was."
She walked together with Moriko to the food and, with a bit of reluctance, let go. There was that weird feeling again, but it would have to stay suppressed until after food was eaten. "But feel free to tuck in, umm, it's all good I hope. I made it and don't worry about me, I already did all my picture stuff so we could eat together. No distractions." She stepped over to her bag, pulled out the paper plates and then sat beside Moriko, holding out one for her to take.
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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Fae
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Post by Moriko Byrne on Jan 10, 2019 2:11:12 GMT -5
"Are you kidding me?" Moriko exclaims at Fue's apology. "I'm even more happy that I got to carry the pack now. That means I helped out in bringing the food here too!" Directing a sideways smile at Fue, she shrugs out of the picnic blanket. Snapping it out a few times, she lays it on the ground right in front of the food. The blanket's a bit wrinkled and damp in spots, but she's not too terribly concerned about that. It'll do better than sitting on the bare ground. Especially since she's also still a bit damp herself. Pulling the wet rope over her shoulders, she sets the plastic jar full of critters to the side and crouches down. "I only brought trail food. Beef jerky, nuts, dehydrated meal packs, the like," she continues as she begins shifting the food from the ground back onto the blanket. She's not super finicky about where she puts them, so everything ends up being placed at odd distances from each other. But it's all back on the blanket, which is what she was going for in the first place.
This is a picnic, after all. The food has ended up all on one side of the blanket, leaving the other side free for the two girls to sit next to each other. Plopping down onto the blanket, Moirko crosses her legs and then looks up at Fue. She can't help the earnest smile that she aims the other girl's way. "This is so much better than what I brought. It's the best surprise ever!" she proclaims, emphasizing her words with energetic gesturing of her hands. "Not only is there good food to eat, but it all looks and smells awesome! And it's food made by you, Fue. That means I get to try your cooking!" Her bright teals meet Fue's dark depths. They practically dance with her anticipation. Patting the empty space next to her on the blanket, Moriko continues grinning up at her companion. "C'mon Fue, take a seat. Let's dig in!"
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Post by Fue Shi-Su on Jan 11, 2019 20:02:05 GMT -5
Well, at least Moriko didn't resent having to carry the pack, though Fue was pretty sure that Moriko was unlikely to resent anything that led to getting food. Moriko took the blanket off and Fue had to bite back a protest. Obviously her friend wasn't cold but she needed to dry off or else she could get cold and then she would get sick and that would be really bad. Well, maybe it wouldn't turn out so bad, she wasn't Moriko's mother, Fue was just being too fussy. Moriko had to know what she was on about, after all, the nature world was her wheelhouse and Fue was just along for the ride.
Fue averted her eyes and quickly walked to the other side of Moriko when she pulled out that jar of creepy-craw lies. Out of sight, out of mind. Well, one of the two, hopefully the second would happen sooner rather than later. As Moriko haphazardly set things back on the blanket, Fue couldn't help herself but rearrange the food back to where it was before she'd moved it off of the blanket. It was something to keep her mind off the creatures in a jar less than two feet away from her. Hopefully Moriko had the lid on tight, the alternative didn't bear thinking about. But she did anyway.
"It's not all that special." Fue answered, her mind still a little stuck between the two thoughts. "It's a bunch of really simple stuff, and some of it is just store bought. I'm not that good of a cook. I just hang out with a lot of cooks and chefs." And when you watched them closely and photographed them a lot, eventually you picked up a few pointers. Mostly her skill involved making food look good, not taste good. But she really did hope that Moriko would enjoy the work she put in to making this stuff. At least, more than Moriko normally enjoyed food. It was a silly worry, Moriko was bound to prefer it to just plain jerky or nuts, but, just like the insects, Fue couldn't get the worry out of her head.
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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
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Post by Moriko Byrne on Jan 14, 2019 1:06:11 GMT -5
"Well, I bet it still tastes great!" Moriko says to Fue's modest words. She watches in quiet amusement when the other girl begins to rearrange the food. It's just one of those things that Fue does that she's come to accept. It's not a bad trait, to be organized, but Moriko's not ever met anyone who takes it quite to the level that Fue does. But, if it makes the other girl feel better, then who is she to deny her? "I mean, the only stuff I know how to cook is trail food and wild game," she adds, shrugging. "If you eat that often enough, you kinda start craving something different." Not that she dislikes those kinds of foods. In fact, she usually enjoys it quite a bit. It's just, when rations are limited to what you brought with you and can scrounge up in the wild, it can get a bit tiresome. You start to eat out of pure need. Which is just a sad state to be eating food in. For to Moriko, food is not just a necessity, it should also be a pleasure.
The meal laid out before her now looks to be most promising in the pleasure department. When she'd been placing the food back onto the picnic blanket, Moriko had taken the paper plates Fue had held out to her. She'd laid them down next to her to finish moving the food, but when Fue had started rearranging the food, she'd picked one up. Patiently, she waits for the other girl to finish. Her stomach rumbles again as she watches the platters of food be shifted about. But she doesn't rush Fue. It isn't going anywhere, after all. Well, at least not yet. Due to her fixation, Moriko doesn't notice how uncomfortable Fue is. She's hungry and just assumes that Fue is just as hungry as she is. So when the other girl finishes up, the shorter girl doesn't hesitate. Snagging several sandwiches, she fills the rest of the plate with a good portion of the caprese. She's careful about making sure that she doesn't drop anything. Placing that plate to the side, she picks up another plate and fills it with just the chicken salad. Which she promptly douses with a liberal amount of the vinaigrette. Setting the second plate next to her first one, she stares down at them. The bright colors really entices the eyes, but it's the scents wafting up from the food that's got her giddy. Saliva has built in her mouth, to the point where she needs to swallow before it leaks out. Without further ado, she begins eating the sandwiches. The softness of the bread is pleasantly set-off by the crunch of the cucumbers. The flavor is light and refreshing. The perfect fare after hard physical exertion. It's only a matter of moments before she polishes them off. Already the worst edge of her hunger has been diminished. Moving on to the caprese, she picks up the cheese side first, making sure to balance the tomatoes and other ingredients properly. These she eats more slowly. The better to savor the flavors and textures. Soon enough, they too are gone. Looking up from the empty first plate, Moriko peers admiringly at Fue. She can't help the wide grin that takes hold of her. She's never had this kind of food before, but it's absolutely wonderful! And it sure beats trail food. On all counts! A quiet laugh bubbles out of her, carefree and light. It's not often that Moriko smiles, and even less often that she laughs. Most of the time, she has a tense or somber atmosphere about her. But in this moment, she's at the most relaxed and happy she's felt in a long, long time. Especially around another person. Leaning to the side, Moriko gently presses her shoulder into Fue's own. Bright teals dancing with delight, she gazes earnestly at Fue. Her joy clear as a bell, she declares, voice soft but intense, "Fue, you're the best!"
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Post by Fue Shi-Su on Jan 18, 2019 23:11:55 GMT -5
"I think I might like to try your cooking sometime. I've never had real wild game. I mean, apart from things like duck or pheasant and stuff. And that's just really fancy restaurant stuff. I bet your cooking is really special too." Did that come off like an insult? Fue tried to smile to show she was trying to compliment Moriko. "I know what you mean, though. Sometimes the same meal gets really boring, but also, it's nice to have something you can count on every day." Fue thought about her own lunches. They tended to be simple, easily photographed things. When she went out for food, it was almost always somewhere she had been before and ordering something she'd ordered in the past as well.
Changing things up was all well and good, but Fue had her little quirk and if she knew a certain place and food was dependably photogenic, it meant she could usually eat her food while it was still hot. Always a plus in a place where microwaving was not readily available. She got a lot more adventurous back home with her parents. Fine dining was more of the natural state of things and her parents were very respectful of her needs when they ate at home. Though, most of the time, it was catered food at job sites which was probably a part of why it always tended to look really nice before everyone started to tear into the food.
She was a bit lost in thought and just rearranging the food out of habit now when she was pulled out of it by the growl of Moriko's tummy. Fue blushed, Moriko didn't seem to care. If Fue's stomached had growled in hunger like that, she'd be mortified, but Moriko was so confident. "Sorry Moriko, go ahead and dig in. I sort of forgot that I already took all my pictures for a minute there." She let out and embrarrassed laugh. While Moriko went straight at the food, Fue took out the thermoses and filled up a cup for herself and Moriko which she set beside the other girl. Rather than going traight for the food, she sipped the cordial and savored it's sweet tang. "Help yourself, Moriko, the more you eat now, the less we have to carry back down." She said before picking up her own plate and serving herself a slightly more reserved amount of food, though that would change when it came to dessert.
"Back home, there's a bit of a pattern to follow. First, the salad and main course, then the cheese and fruit platter. Though I know of a few friends who swear that the cheese comes before the main course. Sometimes you can't help foreign." She pointed at the different plates as she spoke. "The English like to have their cheese after dessert which sounds like insanity but they do." The French side of her was starting to come out. "It's not a proper board, but I like cheddar and the strong stuff makes my nose all tingly and I can't enjoy dessert." She ate slowly, far slower than Moriko but with less food, she finished her first plate at about the same time.
She was sipping her cordial again as Moriko leaned up against her. Meeting the girls eyes, Fue's heart skipped a beat at the compliment and then began to race. Her face reddened and Fue stammered out "Thank you." But a simple thank you didn't feel like enough. "But none of this would have been possible without you, Moriko." Fue said. "Not just carrying this stuff, but coming out here and seeing this lake and getting these pictures. I never would have done this before I met you. You're so special. That's why I did this, I wanted to do something nice for you like how you've been so nice to me."
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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Fae
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Post by Moriko Byrne on Jan 26, 2019 1:29:37 GMT -5
Moriko's eyes had followed the other girl's hands as she pointed to the different foods and explained about the way they eat back where she's from. The thought of having such a specific way to eat, and that other cultures might find the differences odd, is not something she's considered before. When she was younger, her parents had always made her eat her dessert last, for fear of her ruining her appetite. But as she got older, they came to realize that she would eat her whole meal almost every time, regardless of order. Ever since then, Moriko has eaten her meals in whatever order she finds appealing at the time of the meal. Due to this, hearing about Fue's world is fascinating. So, she'd listened and nodded at Fue's words, even as she continued to eat her food.
It's rather nice that Fue has finished her food about the same time she's completed her first plate. So that when she leans against the other girl, she's not interrupting her meal. Still a bit chilly from her dip in the lake, Moriko can feel Fue's body heat seeping into her. It's surprisingly comforting, this simple contact. It's something she's not had much of for quite some time. Even before she came to Fukui Academy. She hadn't realized how much she's missed it.
Fue's eyes meet her own. Those dark eyes, filled with an emotion she can't quite place, holds her captive. She notices the other girl's cheeks redden and the stammer only adds to her appeal. She's so cute!, she can't help but think. But before her thoughts could go any further, Fue continues, proclaiming that the whole trip, and even the picnic, are all thanks to her! About to protest, Moriko's mouth stays open a bit longer than usual as she's rendered speechless when Fue calls her special.
Snapping her mouth back closed, Moriko feels her own face heat up. Eyes widening , she draws slightly away from Fue in her surprise. She thinks I'm special?? The sentiment comes as a bit of a shock. As far as Moriko is concerned, she's not special at all. In fact, she's a bit of failure, really. She can't handle being around strangers and lots of people. Traveling into cities and on public transportation takes A LOT out of her. Just getting her meals is a monumental struggle almost every time. (Though this has been less so since she's started eating with Fue). Things that seem to be easy and common sense to most people confuses and frustrates her.
But here's Fue, who's been kind enough, and patient enough, to stick around with her. To help her out, when she could have just ignored her or thought of her as the strange quiet girl. Like most of the other students at Fukui do. She helped her get away from all of that for a day. Came with her to the lake, let her explore and be herself without pushing her or expecting her to conform to her wants. And on top of all that, she prepared and brought food for a picnic!
All she'd done was express her desire to go to the lake, and carry the food part of the way there. If anyone should be giving thanks, it should be Moriko, not Fue!
Flustered by the praise, and blindsided by Fue's absolutely earnest words, Moriko finds herself scrambling for a reply. She wants to tell Fue the thoughts running through her head, but it seems like her mouth doesn't want to work. Eyes darting around, she notices the glass of water that's still sitting on the blanket. Maybe drinking it will help!
Snatching it up, she tilts her head back and downs half of it in one gulp. Only to realize her mistake as the burn of carbonation hits the back of throat and bubbles up into her nose. Immediately she begins to cough. Bending forward, she manages to at least set the cup down without spilling it, even as a sneeze starts to tickle the inside of her nose.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Sushi-chan
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Post by Fue Shi-Su on Jan 27, 2019 1:02:42 GMT -5
Moriko was cold, mostly because she was wet. So it was hardly the perfect moment as far as Fue was concerned. But apart from that one tiny detail, how could it get any better? Maybe she was cold, maybe it didn't mean anything, but Fue felt happy to lend the warmth, and all the warmth she could at this moment. Moriko really was so special. Fue glanced towards her things, maybe there could be a way to hold onto this moment forever. That thought was interrupted by Moriko failing to drink a glass of cordial.
Fue's eye's widened in surprise at the suddenness of the attack. She reached over and began alternating between patting Moriko's back and rubbing it. "Oh my gosh, are you ok.?" She glanced around, but of course nobody was here if they needed help. Was Moriko choking? Did this mean she had to do the Heimlich maneuver? She'd never done that before, could she do that? It had mouth to mouth right? Oh man, mouth to mouth with Moriko, that would be awkward, maybe it was better that nobody else was around to see that. Not that the idea was off putting, it kind of sounded nice. But not right now, not while her friend was choking. Fue's eyes were wide with panic and her heart sped up like a jackhammer. But it was all for naught, Moriko seemed relatively ok.
Fue breathed a sigh of relief and put her hand to her chest as if to stop it from bursting out. She really was too squirrelly and nervous for the outdoors. And somehow, being with Moriko made her incredibly self conscious about anything that might go wrong. Was this what it felt like to like somebody, and more than that, to like like that somebody? It hadn't happened before, not to Fue. She didn't have any experience or prior knowledge to work from here except the stories her parents had of their time in school. But that wasn't going to help, they had hated each other at the start and fought a lot. Fue didn't want to fight with Moriko, not at all. She was so confused, her head was buzzing with new ideas and her heart was not calming down nearly as fast as she wanted it to. Fue needed some advice but there was no way she was getting it in time for the now. Maybe it was better to suppress the feelings until she could sort them out, just like with the batches of pictures. Then she could separate the good from the bad and act on the best ones.
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