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Post by Fulong|Clara on Jun 11, 2009 23:45:58 GMT -5
It wasn't often Fulong went anywhere in town that wasn't his apartment or the clinic where he worked. Living alone in the wild for three years hadn't exactly done wonders for his social skills. Besides, he preferred the peace and quiet of his own company to that of others. It wasn't that he was adamantly antisocial as much as it was the simple fact that he preferred to be a listener and not a talker. People tended to reveal more than they would otherwise when they thought they were alone.
But three weeks into his stay at Noatak, and he was beginning to realize he'd lost the battle with his clothing. His extended trips into the forest outside town meant he saved a fortune in food costs, but having to hike out there and back also meant wear and tear on his shirts and trousers. And if there was one thing he cared about in human form, it was looking vaguely presentable.
Which was why he was here, rifling through racks of clothing at Marcy's All-Round Market like they were files to be sorted at work. With luck, he'd find what he needed quickly, and for a suitably low price.
"Do you need any help, sir?" This from the altogether far too peppy young employee who had been circling him like a hawk ever since he'd set foot in the store.
A slight widening of his perpetual smile and a gracious incline of his head. "No, miss, but thank you for asking all the same."
And who knew? He wasn't the only person looking for something in here. Maybe someone might want to make friends. It was high time he learned more about just what the situation was in this little town.
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Jun 12, 2009 4:09:34 GMT -5
Struggling with a couple of rather ungainly boxes, a small Chinese woman staggered across the market, muttering some phrases that were probably best left unheard. One might have pointed out that a shopping cart would have helped, but she would have snapped something about some moron who took the last one, and if you had nothing useful to say could you kindly go waste space somewhere else? She would have then left, griping about the poor arrangement of items, with the heavy appliances in the corner furthest away from the check-out lanes.
It was in this manner that Ofelia made her way across the store. She was a reptile, not a pack animal, for heaven's sake; someone with her build really shouldn't carry anything larger or heavier than a stack of textbooks. Pride dictated that she ask no-one for help. She would have, however, gladly accepted help from one of those useless employees who had passed her by without a second glance--or from anyone else, for that matter.
Inadvertently bumping into someone browsing the clothing section, Ofelia was about to act as if he didn't exist when she caught a brief glimpse of his face. Instead of brushing by as she had planned, she balked.
There really were a disproportionate number of Asians in this town. And for some reason, new ones kept popping up in the last month or two. Aurelia, Caleb, Reyes, and now this guy... Ofelia could have sworn they had planned an invasion and neglected to tell her. At this rate, it would only take a few years before they made up the majority of Noatak's population.
She hardly realized that she was staring, her expression an odd mixture of amusement and disbelief.
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Post by Fulong|Clara on Jun 12, 2009 13:05:34 GMT -5
Fulong had just been about to select a pair of jeans that looked like they might withstand a good amount of wear and tear when someone bumped them from his grasp. The hanger clattered noisily back onto the rack as he turned.
Growing up in Vancouver had several advantages, one of which was learning how to tell who was Chinese and who wasn't. And this was a girl about his age, maybe a little older, carrying several heavy boxes -- and very definitely Chinese to boot.
"Excuse me," he said, smile never faltering, "I didn't see you there."
He was about to turn back to the admittedly minimal selection of trousers the store offered when he realized the girl, who hadn't said anything to begin with, had instead stopped and was staring at him as if he had two heads. Automatically he ran through the faces in his mind - perhaps an acquaintance from college or high school? - but came up with no matches. He wasn't the sort to forget a face. No, he'd never seen her before.
But wondering who she was didn't change the fact that she was still a short girl carrying quite a lot of boxes.
"Let me help you with those," he said smoothly, reaching out. Just because he was built like a bird didn't mean he couldn't be a gentleman. "I'm sorry, do I know you from somewhere?"
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Jun 12, 2009 19:07:31 GMT -5
Instead of telling her off rolling his eyes as Ofelia expected, the Chinese man smiled and graciously offered his help. She was more than happy to accept his assistance. As he relieved her of what was likely a toaster oven, the fact that she had been staring finally registered in her mind. How unlike her, her Talisman remarked; she was usually more discreet than that.
"I'm sorry, do I know you from somewhere?"
If she had any doubt about how obvious her gaping had been, the young man readily dispelled them with his question. She shook her head, both to break her stare and to answer his question. "No. I just don't see many new faces in town. Especially from my lăo jiā." She had slipped into her mother tongue once again, but she didn't think it was going to be much of an issue with this guy.
Though she didn't make it a point to be particularly courteous, Ofelia suddenly remembered her manners. After all, he had lent a hand when everyone else here seemed all too willing to let her stagger her own way to the door. "Thank you...?" She trailed off expectantly, waiting for a name.
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Post by Fulong|Clara on Jun 12, 2009 20:13:05 GMT -5
She seemed obliging enough for the moment, mused Fulong as he settled the toaster oven onto his shoulder. Always good to have a familiar face around here, regardless of her allegiance.
"From Vancouver?" he supplied teasingly, one corner of his smile turning further upward. "I expect that's not what you meant. I'm afraid I haven't been abroad all that often."
He hadn't missed the short pause that preceded her 'thank you' - not that he minded, but it certainly told him something about her. Not used to thanks out of a sense of pride, or something else...? Interesting, in any case. Besides, it wasn't as if she was the only one forgetting her manners right now.
"Ah, my apologies. I ought to have introduced myself." He dipped his head in a half-bow, keeping a firm grip on the toaster oven. "Li Fulong."
It was his turn to wait expectantly now, both for her name and for any signs of recognition. But, as usual, none of that anticipation showed on his face.
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Jun 12, 2009 23:07:23 GMT -5
Fulong. Hidden dragon. How... quaint. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Had he chosen the name himself? Not that she was one to talk, because her name was a lot less subtle than his (in a predominantly English-speaking town, at any rate). "Ofelia Qian. I'd shake your hand at this point, but..." She shifted the box in her arms and gave Fulong a resigned look.
Now that her field of vision wasn't interrupted by a chunk of corrugated cardboard, she could get a better look at Fulong. Like Reyes, he towered over her, but his slight build made him rather less intimidating. His untidy black hair contributed to his general disheveled appearance, yet he didn't seem like the careless, scatterbrained sort. Above all, he possessed an air of quiet composure, even with an unwieldy box balanced on one shoulder.
Fulong kept pace at her side as she continued to navigate her way toward the check-out lanes. "How long have you been here? In Noatak, I mean," Ofelia added, remembering his remark about Vancouver.
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Post by Fulong|Clara on Jun 12, 2009 23:38:46 GMT -5
Ah, there was the smile. Perhaps it wasn't a particularly inconspicuous name, but it was easy for him to feign ignorance. He was Canadian-born, after all; surely that suggested to her that he might very well be unaware of its origins.
"No offense taken, Miss Qian," he said lightly. "The situation's less than ideal, I'm sure."
She was looking at him, so he returned the look, one eyebrow raised. Granted, what was there was mostly hidden by cardboard boxes. She didn't seem to be a native, which was obvious enough, but, ethnicity aside, there was some unmistakable intelligence in her face that didn't quite mesh with what he'd seen of the other townspeople. Probably not one to rely on strength, he decided, and smiled inwardly. That only made things more interesting.
"I've only been here a few weeks. Not long enough to see too much of the town." He inclined his head at her as he set the toaster oven on the conveyor belt of the nearest unoccupied lane. "And you?"
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Jun 14, 2009 0:19:29 GMT -5
Qian xiāo jiĕ? No-one had ever attached a 'miss' to her name unless they were conducting business of some sort. Then again, pretty much no-one these days bothered with formality or politeness, but Fulong somehow seemed the type who would. "'Ofelia' will do," she said, giving him an odd look.
He had caught her staring again, but she merely returned his questioning look with one of her own. He looked astute enough; surely he realized that he stood out in a place like Noatak, no matter how hard he tried not to draw attention to himself. Not that he seemed like he was trying very hard. There was something almost frustratingly effortless about his actions and attitude, as if every movement were planned and every word exactly what he meant to say.
"Trust me, there isn't much to see," Ofelia scoffed as she slid the box in her hands onto the conveyor belt. Noatak was the epitome of a quiet little middle-of-nowhere town--at least, that was the projected facade. He might not have been talking about the sights, but she didn't feel up to making this conversation more complicated than necessary.
"I've been here for a while. Moved away for a few of years, then came back a couple of years ago." Having paid for her items, she glanced about for an shopping cart not currently in use, but to no avail. She turned back to Fulong. "You wouldn't mind helping me carry these to my car, would you?"
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Post by Fulong|Clara on Jun 14, 2009 0:34:53 GMT -5
"Ofelia it is, then." He made a mental note to tone down the formality. Neither Aurelia nor Ofelia had thought it normal. As much as he liked being polite, there was a line between that and arousing suspicion. "It's a nice town, though, even if it hasn't got much to see. I quite like the peace; it's different from Vancouver that way."
Clothes could always wait, given a chance to meet someone new. "I wouldn't mind at all."
It was interesting that the town had apparently drawn her back, though; was it merely sentimental value, or was she involved in the blood feud as well? Hopefully it was the latter; that would make things much more interesting. Perhaps she knew Aurelia; perhaps they were on the same side. Fulong shouldered the toaster oven again, mild curiosity on his features. "You don't sound very fond of this place. May I ask why you came back?"
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Jun 14, 2009 15:49:12 GMT -5
This was the second time he had mentioned Vancouver. Ofelia tried to remember what she could from her visit many years ago. She and her family had only stayed for a few days, and the most overwhelming impression she had of the city was that it was full of good Chinese food at very reasonable prices. How Fulong could possibly adjust from busy city life to this was beyond her; wasn't he liable to get bored?
Muttering a quick "thank you" to Fulong, she considered his question. Depending on whom you asked, the answer was fairly simple: Noatak was Talisman central of North America. But did he know that? He'd only been here a few weeks, he'd said; did that give him enough time to find out? Or perhaps he'd come to Noatak because he knew.
"I'd left in something of a hurry, so I had some unfinished business." She left her statement purposefully vague, and she was almost certain that Fulong knew she had done so intentionally. Tell me more, and I'll do the same. "How about you? Why did you decide to move here--from Vancouver, no less?"
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Post by Fulong|Clara on Jun 14, 2009 19:44:59 GMT -5
Unfinished business. That was what they all said. It was something he had used to say himself. Fulong hid a smile. It did sound as if she ought to this town fairly well, though, and that was something to keep in mind. Regardless of what side she was on, she was bound to be useful, even if he was admittedly a little biased. He hadn't run into too many fellow Chinese since he'd left Vancouver.
It hadn't even occurred to him that she might not have a talisman. Every little town had its requisite too-intelligent-to-actually-belong sorts, but she didn't seem like one of them - or if she was, she didn't seem like just one of them.
He decided to leave her answer unquestioned for the moment. "It's a long story," he said a little apologetically. "Suffice to say there were far too many memories back in Vancouver, and I thought it best to leave them behind for a while." A pause, and then he made an unexpected face. "That sounds a bit overdramatic, doesn't it."
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Jun 14, 2009 21:58:01 GMT -5
As to be expected, his reply was as vague as hers; in fact, she could have used the same exact words to explain why she had left Noatak in the first place. What kind of memories they each had left behind was a different story, and neither of them were particularly willing to share.
"It's as good a reason as any," she said with a shrug, or as close to a shrug as she could get with a kitchen appliance in her arms. She wasn't going to press him for details; that would have lacked a certain touch of subtlety, not to mention tact--not that she cared much for tact.
"You have relatives in Noatak, then? I can't imagine why else you'd have chosen to come here." An innocent question. Well, perhaps not that innocent, especially to those who knew the goings-on in the town, but his reaction would tell her something all the same.
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Post by Fulong|Clara on Jun 14, 2009 23:06:15 GMT -5
"I suppose it is." Fulong glanced around the parking lot. To say it only had a few cars actually parked there would have been far too generous. Ah, town life. "Which of those cars is yours?"
He shifted the box on his shoulder and shook his head at Ofelia's question. "I don't. I didn't really pick a direction when I left Vancouver; I've hopped from town to town in the last few years. I didn't intend to stay in this town when I arrived, either, but I'm not so sure now. There's something odd about this place." It was innocently said, with the well-timed smoothness of one who has spent far too long lying for it to sound false anymore. "I think there's more to the town than meets the eye."
He laughed slightly, sounding awkward for the first time since he'd spoken. "You probably think I've gone mad, don't you."
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Jun 15, 2009 14:46:08 GMT -5
Ofelia nodded towards a silver Toyota that looked like it had seen quite a few years. It was hardly the prettiest thing in the lot - even in the short amount of time she'd spent in Marcy's, she could tell that some bird had seen fit to leave behind a black-and-white splatter on the rear window - and the engine sometimes made an awful racket in cold weather. It got her from place to place, though, and that was what mattered.
"There's something odd about this place. I think there's more to the town than meets the eye."
She raised a questioning eyebrow at his laugh, then shrugged again. "You aren't the first to say that."
Fulong puzzled her. On one hand, his easy manner spoke of intelligence and perceptiveness; on the other hand, he acted as if he were unaware of Noatak's secrets. Still, it was probably safe to assume that he had a Talisman, even if he were indeed unaware of its existence. Inexplicably, animal spirits for miles around were attracted to the town. Perhaps they felt the presence of many fellow spirits and simply gravitated towards those like themselves.
The supernatural aside, her immediate problem was the question of how to get her keys out of her pocket. "Ah--could you help me with this while I find my keys?"
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Post by Fulong|Clara on Jun 15, 2009 21:19:07 GMT -5
"Really?" He let friendly curiosity seep into his voice. "And are they relatively sane? You must tell me if I'm making myself sound like an idiot right now. What are these other people saying?"
He could grow used to this role, really. Playing the naive boy who was new in town suited him just fine. It was just as well that he had to keep playing it until she explained to him what he already knew. The trick was to keep the explanations coming; nobody here wanted to state their allegiances outright, but they would offer slightly different information about the current situation easily enough.
And therein lay the clues to their identities. It wasn't even as simple an answer as "Hunter" or "Innocent"; it was closer than that. Keep an unwitting person talking, and you'd know all about them soon enough, just from the answers they gave.
"Ah--could you help me with this while I find my keys?"
His talisman eyed the rest of the boxes dubiously, but Fulong only smiled and nodded. "Certainly."
His knees bent noticeably under the added weight; Ofelia might have been shorter than he was, but she had more muscle. It evened out in the end. Or rather, she might have been better off carrying the boxes to begin with. Fulong shut his eyes and tried to ignore the precarious wobbling of the box on top.
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