LJF’s Comments (group member since Apr 24, 2016)

LJF’s comments from the The Palace of the Cursed group.

"Of course," Ora smirked. "Hopefully we aren't kept in the dark too long."

She and Kit walked down the halls to go find some snacks, talking all the way, and by the time dinner rolled around, they'd become fast friends.

END OF ROLEPLAY


((is that alright?))

It had been a while since Ora had met another Cursed-- She didn't remember the whether it was rude to ask someone who their guardian was.
"Well, I wouldn't be surprised if there already is some sort of underground group-- some of us are definitely clever enough to hide it."

"They're scared," Ora said dryly, "They want us as calm and complacent as possible because they know if we all ganged up against them, we'd do some serious damage."

"Yeah, I saw a little girl with blue wings watering the flowers yesterday-- wonder if be interested in the class." Ora picture the little brunette-- she was probably even younger than Kit.
"I will say though, that the food has been a welcome surprise," she told Kit, "Out on the ocean, you take what you can get. Most of our diet is hard biscuits, dried meat, and carefully stored citrus. It's hard to find food, and not too many people wanted to trade with us."
People generally didn't like dealing with pirates, so then had to make do.
There had been that one merchant who'd always been willing to trade with them when they found him. Tani, she thought his name was.

OOOOOH! I like!
It's also convenient to help young Cursed who've been abandoned in the wild and would die out there on their own.

"Plants? I don't really know.....I do like plants, though. I notice we have gorgeous gardens-- do you know who takes care of them?"

Interesting theory....I never thought about that! Any thoughts, Heather?

"Well, there are a lot more people," Ora said, thinking. "Also plants."

"I grew up on a boat," Ora simplifued, "I just got here recently. Still getting my landlegs, as they say."

"He laughed and told me it made him look smarter." Ora giggled at the memory. "Did you grow up here?"

Ora gasped when the girl touched her chin. Then she laughed.
"My father used to do that a lot," she explained, ""Whenever he was thinking hard about something. I asked him once if it made him think better."

(No problem. Real life problems come first. That sounds so hard-- I feel for all of you. Wishing you all the best!)

(Sorry I took so long! I'm a little stuck-- any ideas?)

LJF wrote: ""And what if there were others, with a plan? Would you be willing to work as part of a group, planning a coup, even though it might be a long, hard, uphill battle? Even if it takes years?""

(We going to continue?)

(alright, done with this.)

((It's only because I love him so much that I do this to him. Really.))

Nam sighed as he climbed into bed at the local in. He rarely frequented such places, preferring the freedom of his (free!) tent. But he felt guilty for being so late. He was the only merchant who traveled this far into this part of the mountains, and the villagers had been so happy when his carriage had pulled in, early a month late.
He could only stay one more day, rather than the week he usually did, so it wasn't to pricey to stay at an inn just for one night.
Nam pulled out the mail sack he'd picked up earlier on his trip. He was in charge of bringing it to this region, but he hadn't actually looked inside until he dropped the mail off at the inn's tavern (where people usually picked up their mail). He'd sorted through the mail, figuring out what went here and what was to be delivered to other nearby villages. He hadn't expected to see a letter for himself in there-- who would be writing to him?
He opened the envelope, eyes widening in shock.

Nam,
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I haven't been fair to you at all-- I promised we could stay friends, and yet I've been avoiding seeing you. I didn't think I could stand to see you again.
Now, there's a chance I never will.
They've found me, Nam. I could only I hide for so long. I'm sorry I never got the chance to say goodbye.
Hey, it won't be all bad, right? I'll get to meet lots of new people-- even your daughter.
I love you, and I always will,
Lo

In that moment, something inside of him broke. He felt a tear slip down his face. It was quickly joined by another, and then another. Before he realized it, he was sobbing, tears dripping onto the letter he was clinging to-- his last remnant of her.
Lo-- his Lo-- was gone, and he might never see her again.
He'd never see see her smile again. Never hear her laugh or gasp of wonder at some new thing she'd just discover. Never get to tell her--
Tell her what? That he was sorry? She knew that. That he missed her? She knew that, too. That she was his best friend and that, other than Leah, there was no one he trusted or cared about more?
I'll never get to tell her how much I love her.
It was only now that he realized it. He loved Lo. So much. He probably always had.
He'd known for years that if he was going to fall for anyone, it would be her. He'd been planning on telling her, but...

"I...I...I don't know what to say." He cared about her, he liked, her, but love?
"Whatever you want. I'm not expecting anything, I just wanted you to know."
"Lo, I... I'm so sorry. I can't-"
"I know. You don't feel the same. It's okay." -return your feelings just yet.
"But Lo, I... I'm not-" He trued to figure out how to say it
"You can't see anyone else. Fine. But Nam..... don't spend the rest of your life in mourning. Find someone. Your wife would want to be happy."
"But Lo, I...." I know that. I Care about you so much, and I think I might be falling for you too.
She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Goodbye, Nam. Be happy. I love you." She darted off into the woods.
"Lo! Wait!" Will you wait for me? But she was gone before he could tell her the truth

And now it was too late. Too late to tell her how he felt, too late to hold her tight and never, never let her go, too late for anything but regret.
They'd taken her from him, just like they stolen his daughter.
"I swear," he whispers through the tears, "I won't rest until I have you two back. And then I won't ever let you leave."
it would be a few more days before the bird would find him, further into the mountains, and deliver Leah's letter.
It would be weeks before the rebellion plans would be finalized, and months before the mass breakout that would free most of the Cursed.
It would be nearly a year before he would see Lo again.
But for right now, Nam needed to roll over and cry himself to sleep.

Papa,
Zibiah misses her old friends-- she hasn't heard from Tonise, so chances are he's not here. I didn't tell he was missing.
We have another new resident-- you know her, she's got pink hair and she's charming. I saw that she had Mama's necklace-- I was so glad to see it again. I told her its history, which she hadn't heard. I can't believe you've never told me about her.
Do you love her?
Leah
(PS You really out to reconsider your stance on remarrying. I know you loved Mama, but I think it's time to move on.)

My dearest daughter,
After receiving your last letter I knew I had to travel north.
The matriarch told me thought that her granddaughter had left with the man I've named in the acrostic (Tonise). Did that mean that the matriarch thought they had eloped? The phrasing was a bit tricky to decipher. She couldn't believe it when I told her the truth.
She also agreed to host any of you who need shelter.
I miss you!
Love,
Papa
(PS:Since you didn't mention him in your last letter, I assume this Tonise fellow didn't come along with Zibiah. Ask her if she knows where he is.)

Leah sighed once more. She'd have to tell Zibiah at some point, but she didn't want to worry her unnecessarily. She obviously really cared about this guy.
Leah put the letter in her pocket and continued cooking with her friends.

What? Lo was standing behind the younger girls, so they didn't notice when she whipped her head around. Someone was watching them.
"Excuse me for a minute, girls." She walked out the of the kitchen as though headed for the privies, but instead turned and grabbed the person who'd been standing by the door and pulled them into the next room and pinned the to the wall.
"Who are you, and why were you spying on us?" She hissed at the figure. She pulled off the hood to reveal a young man no older than twenty. He had white hair, piercing blue eyes, and tanned skin.
He used the hand she hadn't grabbed to point at his ears and shook his head. Was he....deaf?
"Can.....you....write?" she mouthed gesturing as though writing. He nodded.
She pulled a chalkboard out of her knapsack.
Are you.....one of us? He held up his hand and she saw the short claws on the ends of his fingers.
Why were you spying on us? He shook his head.
Okay, if you weren't spying, why were you watching us? The boy sighed.
woried was all he wrote. It was messy and not spelled right-- to be expected. Most people could barely read, let alone write.
About me? I don't even know you!
no, Z-
"Zibiah? Why--" she was so surprised, she spoke allowed. Wait a second, she thought.
What's your name? The boy hesitated.
I won't tell her. I promise.
i'm.......Tonise
Lo sighed.
Why doesn't she know?
didn't want her to know-- blame herself
How'd you even get here?
they take her-- i come. not let her be alon
But she is alone if she doesn't know you're here, boy.
you dont tell-- promised!
Alright, alright, but you can't hide forever. The boy darted out of the room, leaving her alone. She sighed once more and headed back to the kitchen.


Papa,
My southern friend misses her old friends-- she hasn't heard from any of them since she moved here. I told her they miss her and not to worry.
We have another new neighbor-- you'd love her, she's so rosy and charming. She has the most gorgeous necklace-- emeralds are always in fashion. I told her my mother has a similar piece, which was a huge surprise to her. I can't believe you've never met.
Love and kisses,
Your girl
(PS You really out to reconsider your stance on relocating. I know you love the old place, but I think it's time to move on.)

END ROLEPLAY

"Ummm..." Leah loved and trusted Zibiah, but she was hesitant to bring up the rebellion with her.
"Your grandmother has decided that your tribe will open their arms to any of us out in the wild looking for shelter."
That was safe answer, right? She met Lo's eyes, and a message seemed to pass between them. Lo knew. She wondered if her father had told the older woman.

"Ummm.....It just says here that he was worried about you and sends his best."
Zibiah looked visibly relieved at that. Then her cheeks reddened slightly.
Who was this Tonise? Another tribe member? Probably. But Lo knew it had to be more than that.
She didn't remember Zibby having any brothers, and if she does have some younger brother, he was probably too young to understand what was happen.
A lover? Perhaps, but Zibby was acting far too shy for that. A crush, perhaps.
Something about Leah's words didn't sound right, but what reason would Leah have to lie? Lo decided not to say anything-- she didn't want to worry Zibby. And if Leah was hiding something, she must have a reason.
"Sounds like you've got some good friends, Zibby," was all Lo said.