Feels like a normal day (OPEN)

[Rukan of Pearlmouth]

i n c o m p l e t e | c o m p l e t e<--
[tops]:[pants]:[boots]:[sword]:[hidden daggers and arm bracers]<--
The coloured part of the arm bracers is actually RED like her blouse<--

Rukan walked into the training area, her specialized sword on her belt, the one she'd gotten after her first fight at the border from her Knight Master. She wore a red blouse, that went tight at the wrists. Though you didn't see much of the blouse as there was a black corset over top. And on top of that was a black vest/jacket, that stopped just past her elbows, flaring out. Her pants were more forgiving, black and loose. Her boots nearly went to her knees, and were useful when she had to walk over mud and other such substances, since she was able to tuck her pants in. Under the tight sleeves of her blouse was an arm bracer, one on each arm, that hid one dagger each. When she was at the border, you always wanted to have more than one way to protect yourself, and such habits are hard to let go of and forget. She'd almost worn them to the ball, but had decided against it.

Some had commented that her clothing was meant to be provocative and had looked down on her. But honest to the Gods, she wore what she did because it was easy to fight in. No one had commented at the border. But she supposed it was because away from the border people tended to be more conservative.

She drew her sword, and looked at it for a few moments, before closing her eyes, calming herself and preparing to go through a few katas. She opened her eyes, and moved her sword to the beginning posture of any kata, holding it with both hands. In a quick decision she decided that she would start with 'Phoenix Spreading Both Wings', she honestly thought that the people, mostly Shang, who'd named these moves were odd.

She started to move to the right and then turned her body toward that of where her opponent would have been should she have been fighting someone, her sword moved, so that it would have cut the opponents' ear off. Not extremely helpful in a fight, but a good warming up exercise.

[Annie of Conté]

Annie was wearing her training clothes and a sword buckled to her belt. As she walked through the halls most nobles lowered the heads in disgust, and some of the young mens jaws dropped, which surprised Annie. Inn her opinion she was far from beautiful and what was wrong with being a princess and a squire? She just ignored the looks she got.

When she got to the training grounds she was surprised to see Rukan. What annoyed her most was that Rukan was female, yet she was respected and treated like all the other young men. "Her Rukan," she called out as she approached the girl.


((writers block, BLAH!))

[Rukan of Pearlmouth]

Rukan started to go through some free form drills and movements that she'd learned on the border, ones that were more practical and useful in real fights. She grinned as she moved her sword, this was real, this was fun. It wasn't so fun when she was actually at the border fighting real people, but right now when it all seemed sort of sureal, she was able to enjoy herself again.

Rukan stopped midswing when she heard her name called out, surprised, she'd expected it to be a fairly dead early in the morning. She smiled at Annie, "Hello." It had been a while since she'd been able to one of her few female year mates.

She lowered her sword, then sheathed it. She could unsheath it later, but now she was ready to talk. "How are you doing?"

The petite brunnette was glad, but a little apprehensive, about seeing Annie. Yes, Rukan liked the princess, but Rukan always felt a bit awkward around her, due to her knowledge of Edward's love for Annie and Rukan's own crush on Edward.

[Annie of Conté]

Annie was amazed by some of the movements Rukan could do. She bit her bottom lip, wondering is she should say what was really on her mind. No doubt Rukan might tell Edward,but none the less. "Not good," she admitted to the other girl. "To tellyou the truth I'm angry and scared," she shared. "My dad isn't letting me go into battle and I'm scared for Edward, if something happens to him would never forgive myslef," she confided.

[Rukan of Pearlmouth]

As soon as Annie said 'not good', Rukan plopped down onto the ground, patting the ground beside her. It was going to be a serious, girl-to-girl talk. As soon as Annie said that she was angry and scared, Rukan knew that this wasn't just because some small thing had happened that had ruined the Princess' day. No, this was big.

She frowned slightly, at hearing that King J wouldn't be allowing Annie to go into battle, wasn't he being a hypocrite? Didn't the Queen and him go into battle? As soon as Annie mentioned Edward Rukan shook her head, "He'll be fine Annie. He won't be alone out there, he'll have people watching his back." She couldn't believe how close this was to the conversation with Edward, but it had been Rukan worrying about them.

"I doubt he'd want you to blame yourself, as you're not why he's going, right." Rukan paused, "Are you allowed going to the border at least?"

[Annie of Conté]

Annie sat next to Rukan, using grace that surprised herself. Maybe those lessons were paying off, because usually Annie was the one that feel over when she tried to be graceful. A single tear rolled down Annie's cheek, and she quickly wiped it away, furious at herself. She couldn't let people see how this was affecting her, and just how much Edward leaving and the stupid was making her feel useless and weak.

The Princess wanted to do anything in her power to stop him. The only problem was, she couldn't change it. For once she was helpless in somthing. Oh, believe me, ANnie had already tried to talk to her father, she had partially begged him when she found out. Seeing his girl in tears had been a reality check, and he nearly broke down to see her like that. She had a bad feeling about this war, and she didn't like it. "I'm under strict orders, know going anywhere near where I could hurt myself," she said and sighed.

Annie gulped, knowing Ru wanted her to reply. "Rukan, you of all people know how dangerous it is! I can't..." she trailed off, not wanting to say the words. She'd been trying to stop herself from thinking negative, but sometimes she just couldn't help herself. "I can't loose him Ru," she finally choked out, sobs taking over. She put her head in her hands and shook a little.

if war was like this, she wanted know part of it.

[Rukan of Pearlmouth]

[brown]Rukan looked down, as the tear rolled down Annie's face. She was feeling pretty horrible, being miserable for herself, for not having Edward, but having to be with him for a long time, when Annie was going through so much more than she was. Rukan reached over and put a hand on Annie's knee, a friends hand to show that she wasn't judging or making any assumptions. After all, hadn't Edward seen Rukan cry just the other night? He'd seen her at her worst. Night. That was Rukan's least favorite part of the day.

Rukan let out a dry laugh, "Then what are you doing out here Annie? You could trip on a rock and twist your ankle!" After she said that, she looked down again, it hadn't been said to be mean, but to Rukan that's how it came out. "Sorry. That must be hard." Rukan had basically been at the border a few months after she'd become a squire. She couldn't imagine being forbidden to go to the border.

The minute Annie started to sob, Rukan pulled Annie into her arms, knowing who' he' was. She nodded, she did know how dangerous it was on the border. There were days that it felt as though you weren't going to survive, but you had to ignore that feeling, or you would end up dead. You had to be optimistic.

She forced herself to say the words, though they hurt her as they came out. "You aren't going to loose him Annie! I'll bring him back to you! I'll keep him safe!" She rested her chin on Annie's head and stroked her back. "Everything'll work out."[/brown]

[Annie of Conté]

Annie raised an eyebrow at Ru's comment, it was a little offensive, but she knew Ru had a strange sense of humour, and she hadn't meant it the way it had come out. "It is extremley hard, but I don't think there's anyway i can change the King's choice," she said quietly. "it's not fair, but I guess I'll just have to live with it, and watch everyone else go," Annie added, her eyes stung from holding back the tears.

"I hope it works out Ru. And I'd really appreciate that. It's his first time out there, and it scares me to think he won't have someone he knows out there to look after him," she said quietly. "Thanks so much, I will owe you so much," Annie whispered to her friend, still crying.

[Rukan of Pearlmouth]

[brown]Rukan nodded, thinking. But, she knew that there was no way to get around the King's order, no loophole that she could see. Rukan gave Annie a slightly grim smile, "War isn't what its cracked up to be Annie. Its a lot different that what the textbooks say." She frowned, she didn't like seeing her friend so down. "You'll get your chance Annie, and you'll shine brighter than the rest of us."

"It will Annie. And I'll keep an eye on him. He's my friend as well." Rukan shook her head, forcing any bitterness about how Annie seemed to think that Edward only meant sometihng to her away. "You don't owe me anything. Like I said, he's my friend too." She was glad that Annie couldn't see her face from the way that they were hugging. She knew that there was no bitterness in her voice, but she wasn't sure about her eyes.[/brown]

[Annie of Conté]

Annie smiled grimly. "I don't even think I'd last a day. All the blood would get to me and I'd pass out," she said honestly. Annie smiled properly, a genuine smile, "You really thinks so?" she asked Ru. The Princess was glad she had someone to talk to about all this, because she had just been bottling up all her emotions inside, not daring to open the bottle lid and let them flow out.

"I know he's your friend Ru. And I trust you to look after him, you'll probably do a better job than I ever could," Annie murmured. All this talk of war was depressing her, and she didn't like it. "Oh no, I have another lesson on ediquate soon, great! I get to learn how to walk like a lady, just what I need," she said, using sarcasm. The sobs were dying down now, and she was no longer crying, but her face was now left blotchy.

[Rukan of Pearlmouth]

[brown]Rukan laughed, "Well, I think you'd make it down there at least. Not too much fighting on the road." She smiled and nodded, "Yes, I really think so. You're an excellent sowrdswoman, and you've got the personality that the people around you would love you and gladly fight with you, for you." She shrugged, it was the truth, Annie was brilliant. She'd be a big hit with others, though her weakness for blood could cause some trouble.

Rukan nodded, "Don't put yourself down. But, I will keep our friend safe." She laughed, she'd avoided those classes as best she could when she was younger. "Well, not all of us lead double lives. I think that you'd make a wonderful Queen, if not of Tortall, but of whatever country you end up in." That wasn't said to be mean, but it was common knowledge that the King intended Annie to marry a Prince of another country, where she would one day be queen.

She stood up, stretching. "Well, I suppose that I should let you get back to that, and I should restart these darned exercises." She grinned at Annie, to show that she wasn't saying what she was ti be mean, but because they both had things that they needed to get done.[/brown]

[Annie of Conté]

"Awww, Ru. Thanks for everything. I love being able to talk to another girl around here, who actually understands me," Annie said with a smile. "I gotta run, see ya'" she said, and with that Annie left.

[Artemis Smythesson]

[green]

Done

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