BZPRPG: Ga-Wahi

IC:"Skyra, if you haven't worked it out by now, you're more thickheaded than I ever imagined." The response was tinged with a familiar amusement, and the slight eye roll that accompanied it was unmistakable. "Three months in Le-Koro, and look what happens."

IC: Skyra

 

"I knew it was you." I responded as I looked up at her from where I sat. "I just didn't want to presume." That was more or less true.

 

My serious expression slowly turned into an amused smile. "You've changed a lot."

IC:There was a momentary pause, before the Le-Toa shrugged. "Four months is a lot of time for thought. And it's not like I've had much to do except think. Well, aside from talk to myself, but really, that's the same thing."

IC: Skyra

 

I nodded. "Four months is a lot of time. I've been doing a lot of thinking myself, and adjusting..." I bit my lip. "Yeah, lots of adjusting."

 

I cleared my throat. "So, what else have you been doing? Doctor....stuff?"

IC:"Got a house. Set up a clinic. Developed a fondness for coffee. Not much, it's all been rather dull." The response was almost automatic, and as vague as possibly could be. "Ga-Koro has been dull, with no one around."

IC: Skyra

 

"Well, we're all here now, and I know for a fact that we're anything but dull." I gave a rather mischievous grin.

IC:Liara smiled back, but it lacked much of the energy that her grins usually possessed. Overall, her demeanor was somehow less vibrant, like Skyra wasn't talking to her, rather some shadowy after-image left behind.

 

"Believe me, I know."

IC: Skyra

 

Yes, she had changed a lot, enough that I hadn't recognized her when I had seen her earlier. She didn't seem quite as...vibrant as she used to be.

 

Then again, it might have just been my imagination. "I have an idea! Hari wanted to go shopping, or something girly like that, you should come with us." Did I want to go shopping? Not really. But Hari had seemed excited about the idea, plus now we could take Liara with us.

IC:"Maybe I will. Depends on if I end up with someone wandering into my clinic bleeding to death, or covered in infected scars. The former happens fairly often, the latter only once, but either way..."

IC: Skyra

 

"Mata Nui...is everyone as reckless as I am? What are these people doing to be bleeding all the time?" I sighed dramatically. "Anyway, they could always go to some other doctor, take the day off."

IC:"Skyra, out of everyone here, you would know the best that the hospital here sucks."

IC: Skyra

 

"Oh right..." I frowned. "They let practically anyone work there..." I decided to think no further of that ###### who was responsible for my current...body.

 

"But I'm sure they'd survive one day there, I mean how many evil doctors could they possibly have? We already rooted out...one."

IC: Naona

 

"What."

IC: Skyra

 

I turned to look at the Toa of Stone. Naona was being...well herself, not unexpected. "Long story."

 

"You're coming shopping with the rest of us Naona, right?"

IC: Naona

 

Shopping.

 

Had she ever been shopping?

 

Naona didn't actually know.

 

"Uhm ..."

IC: Skyra

 

I couldn't believe it, I'd left Naona speechless! Apparently she didn't know what shopping was.

 

Well, in that case... "If I have to go shopping, so do you. It's not hard or anything, I think."

IC: Naona

 

"We need to take care of Hari first," she said quickly. "Shopping. Not important."

IC: Skyra

 

"Well of course. We can't go without Hari anyway, it's her idea."

IC: Naona

 

"..."

 

"Tillian, help me get Hari to somewhere that isn't the ground."

IC:

 

Reordin blinked as Leah chuckled, the sound clear and fresh, like glacier-water jumping downstream over rocks, beaming her smile at him.

 

"The sun sky-rises to greet-embrace the clear-blue skies of Ga-Koro, sleepyhead." she said cheerfully.

 

"Hmm...?" he hummed, almost drifting off again as he put his head back down on the pillow. Leah poked him softly once more, then let her finger wander up his torso and neck, before hooking it under his chin and gently pulling it in her direction so they were facing each other. "It's morning, Reo. Time to get up and do that Toa-hero thing we do."

 

---------------------------

 

Rhow caught the gun underneath her foot, then hooked one of her claws under the barrel and tossed the weapon upward, catching it with one hand. She gave it a once-over, then grumbled: "Nice toy."

 

"Now, back on topic: Nex. Tell us what you know."

IC: Komae

 

In a boat in the ocean there lived a Matoran. Well, two Matoran. And they weren't really living there, they were just traveling. And, see, it wasn't much of a boat, either. "Really big canoe" was probably a better descriptor. Forget the boat.

 

Komae and Beosach had left Po-Koro a few hours earlier, and spending most of that swinging a paddle back and forth had done much to make the merchant offer up thanks yet again that he was a Po-Matoran. I can't imagine having to row like this all the time, he thought. Though that's a Ga-Matoran for you - tough as nails, in tune with the sea...

 

The handle of his paddle smacked against his Calix, and he blinked. Okay, maybe a little more focus, Komae. His left hand was beginning to ache from being pressed against the paddle for so long, and though he had hardly noticed it, he was paddling a fair deal slower than when they'd started out.

 

He glanced over at Beosach, who seemed to be handling the voyage much better than he was. "So," he called out cheerfully. "Know any good rowing songs to pass the time?"

IC-Beosach:

 

"I generally just watch the sea birds."

IC:Kitane

I waited patiently in line for the expedition. I was good at waiting.

IC: Komae

 

"The sea birds, huh?" He looked up to where a few flapped overhead and listened closely for a few moments.

 

HAWNK-CRONK-WHA-HAWNK-HAWNK

 

"...I see why you focus on the 'looking' part."

IC: Aar"Please, take me somewhere less bright," the Ussalmatoran politely asked his Ga-Matoran escort. "Maybe somewhere to get a drink." He was led to The Great Takea. The inside was about as bright as a hut in Onu-Koro, a lighting he was familiar enough with to be comfortable in. "Thank you. You don't need to worry about me anymore." The Marine gave him a nod and headed outside to whatever duties awaited her. The Onu-Matoran ordered a light drink and some Bula to replenish his energy. The air pressure here was uncomfortable too. He never had any reason to come to the surface. Now he somewhat wished he still didn't. This was most certain not his element. But he gave none of his thoughts away as he drank and ate. He was in the Ussalry now, the toughest sons-of-kavinika on Mata Nui were his comrades. A pox on him if he let a day on the surface get him off his A-game. IC: Shadd"I'm nothing special in combat. A so-so shot with a disk, though I can hold my own reasonably with a spear or other melee weapon. I usually rely on others for protection while at work, see. As for a reward, we'll have to discuss that once we see what we've found. I may want to bring some of the spoils back for placement in a museum in Ko or Onu-Koro. Any payment you offer on top of that would be welcome. You're men and women of honest work, so I trust you'll give a fair price."

IC(Daylaria-Interviews)"Well placed trust," she smiled, "you're free to come with us- we can use your knowledge."

IC: Shadd

"Absolutely! Is this all you need to know?"

IC-Beosach:

 

"If I was mean and wanted to take the risk, you might see why I focus on the 'staying out from under them' part, as well," the weaponsmith joked. Ga-Wahi was still a short ways away, though at most it would take a few minutes to paddle over there.

 

"So, Komae, ever met a Ga-Matoran, or were you too focused on those Ta-Matoran traders we used to see to ever notice one?"

IC: Komae

The whoosh of the jibe going over Komae's head could be heard up to fifty bio away. "Well, of course!" he replied cheerfully. "It's been a while since I've been in Ga-Koro, of course, but I remember they were usually very pleasant. Although I hear lately they aren't quite as kind and trusting as they used to be. Something to do with some Toa betrayal, or something like that...?" He sighed. "It's a shame. But still, it'll be nice to meet some new faces!"

IC-Beosach:

 

"Komae, have you ever realized that you're more innocent than a Kavinika puppy?" Beosach asked the Matoran sitting in front of him, raising an eyebrow.

IC: Komae

 

"I'll take that as a good thing," he replied with a smile. "So, how about you? Any Ga-Matoran acquaintances you're thinking of visiting or anything like that?"

IC-Beosach:

 

"No, but I might make a few. After all, unlike you, I prefer the Ga-Matoran to the Ta-Matoran."

IC: Komae

 

This one went slightly to the left of his head and eventually smacked into a bird some ways above, much to its confusion. "Well, I wouldn't say I prefer either! The Ga-Matoran are kind and friendly, and the Ta-Matoran are at times a bit hot-headed, but very loyal. Either way, they're quite splendid!"

IC-Beosach:

 

"Sounds to me like you love both," the weaponsmith placidly responded. "Why don't you try getting a couple of them together with you at the same time?"

IC: Komae

 

At this point the missed jibes had reached critical mass and were now crashing into each other in the air around, above, and behind Komae's head, causing anyone who passed through that space to develop a mild cough. "Well, I mean, I guess if the opportunity came up, I'd be happy to work out a business deal with a Ga-Matoran and a Ta-Matoran. But I'm really not that special a trader, you know? I can't imagine me getting into that kind of a situation. And that's just business - if you mean something like one of the stories, where a whole bunch of Matoran from all the different villages got together and set off on a quest, well," he chuckled. "Do I look like an adventurer to you?"

IC-Beosach:

 

"You certainly paint yourself as an adventurous fellow, you do," the Po-Matoran growled good-naturedly, attempting to break through the shield of unnoticed jibes and jabs fleeting about Komae's airspace.

IC: Komae

 

It would take a lot more than a few jabs to break through Komae's worldview. "Really? I don't think I do. I mean, I'm just a plain Matoran trader. And I'm happy with that! After all, that's what Matoran ought to be, don't you think? We've all got jobs to do. If all of us went clambering into quests and denouncing evil in the hopes of finding a Toa Stone lying around or something like that, the whole island'd fall apart."

IC-Beosach:

 

"Komae, if my guesses are right, you're going to be doing a good bit of trading once your eyes open up a bit."

IC: Komae

 

"Once my eyes open up a bit, huh?" he chortled. "Ah, don't worry, Beosach. My eyes are wide open - I think they're just a little kinder than most people's. I do realize the villages are at practically at each other's throats, you know. We can thank the Akiri for that. Still, I guess there are worse times to be a trader, and hey, at least things are changing up from the past however many years of running from Makuta's Rahi."

IC-Beosach:

 

"Keep telling yourself that, sport," Beosach replied, rolling his eyes. The stonecarver just didn't get it, did he?

 

After a moment the canoe bumped up against the side of the docks, a rope already out in Beosach's hand to secure the little boat.