New Island Breezes RPG Story Thread

[Foxee]

California, Germany, London! Tai had so many questions for the two men that he couldn’t decide what to ask first as he slathered a muffin with peanut butter.

"What about you Tai? where are you from?" Adiel asked.


“Me? I was born here,” Tai replied. He lifted the muffin to take a bite just as Blake stuck his head into the kitchen. Tai raised a plate of fruit with an inquiring look but Blake just waved it off and disappeared.

“Do you like to surf in California?” Tai asked Chad eagerly.

He was interrupted by the arrival of Marissa and Maria at almost the same moment. The teakettle began to whistle and Tai left his muffin lying on the table as he hustled to turn it off.

"Tai, is there something I can help with?" It was the nice woman who got hurt in the library the night before. Tai gestured to the long table.

“It's all ready. Go ahead and help yourself,” Tai told her with a smile, “Jean-Marie will be down-

“Jean-Marie is down,” said the small chef as she allowed the door to the back stairs to click shut behind her. She wore a simple soft-blue shirt and pants and her short hair was neat. She gave off a very faint scent of soap and tiny stud earrings gleamed in her earlobes.

“Good morning,” Jean-Marie greeted those in the kitchen, slipping into a starched white jacket, “Tai, run out and hunt eggs. And comb your hair.”

Tai grabbed his muffin with one hand and gave his hair a combination finger-combing and brain massage, and kissed Jean-Marie’s cheek as he disappeared out the door.

Jean-Marie produced a tray of bread rolls from the refrigerator and set them out to rise.

“Did everyone have a good night?” she asked.

[Darn Dame]

“Good morning” greeted Jean-Marie.

“Good morning, Miss Jean-Marie” said Marissa amongst the other greetings.

“Tai, run out and hunt eggs. And comb your hair.” Tai simultaneously grabbed his peanut butter smothered biscuit and ran his free hand through his hair.

Hunt eggs!

Marissa remembered gathering eggs at her grandparent’s house when she was a child. If she brought back enough eggs, she was allowed to spoon as much powdered chocolate flavoring in her milk for that morning’s breakfast, much to the consternation of her mother. There were many mornings when Marissa had eaten fried eggs and bacon and drunk a thick chocolate syrup that would almost make her sick.

“Did everyone have a good night?” Jean-Marie asked as she set out biscuits to rise.

“Miss Marie-Jean, may I help Tai gather eggs?” Marissa asked in a voice filled with childlike anticipation. Her head tilted forward and her brows rose a notch.

[alanmt]

Chad offered a quick "Hey" of welcome to the newcomers.

With the arrival of Marissa, Maria and Jean-Marie at almost the same moment, the kitchen became a hive of activity. Before Chad had an opportunity to answer Tai's question in the affirmative, the boy was gone, running after eggs. And Marissa was asking permission to give the kid a hand.

First Adam, now Marissa. Chad did not consider himself a slouch, but everyone sure was anxious to begin working early around here! Was it enthusiasm or "brown-nosing"?

No doubt everyone is anxious to make a good impression, Chad concluded, buttering his muffin.

[seigfried007]

After an astoundingly heavy two hours of sleep, Adam woke naked under a twisted cotton sheet, his dark eyes burning but his mind wriggling like a wet miniature poodle after a thorough shaving, unable to still or silence itself. He switched the alarm off and slid from the tangled covers to make the bed in the violet hues before a violent dawn that seeped like an evil spirit through the slats of bolted shutters.

The house was quiet. No water ran through the pipes like ghosts in the walls.

To his surprise, the clothes he had hand-washed in the bathtub had dried over the backs of chairs, bedposts, and over the shower and towel rods. He plucked the crispest pair of briefs, his khaki cargo shorts and a white button-down to wear for later and dressed in a grass-stained pair of shorts and white undershirt for a morning run.

He had to.

Just for a moment.

Sock-footed, he ghosted the stairs like a fog and stole from the doors, pausing only to slip his decaying sneakers from the doorway.

He didn't mean to wander, certainly. There was no marked line for what was acceptable and what was not, and Adam knew that he may well be trussed and cast onto jagged rocks for such a trespass though he was not specifically prohibited from running (Surely servants should be kept in working condition? Surely his stamina shouldn't suffer for so much time spent in a metaphorical closet, gathering dust?)

Yet the dew and lingering rain on hibiscus were beautiful for the soul, the breeze invigorating but thoughtful and quiet as the sun crested a choppy horizon--murderous in its pursuit of fleeing shadows as the salty, flower-scented winds blew his hair from such a comforting place on his neck and against his face and made it whip about his eyes and ears.

He paused to pull such wet strands of mutinous hair from his eyes and regard the sun that turned all the gray violet world to blood and gold before running to the building he ought to think of as home for a spitefully fast shower lest the coursing water in the walls wake his neighbors or steal hot water best put to more noble uses.

The towel was oddly soft, but his hair was a mess to comb as usual. He ironed the more worthy shorts and shirt as others woke to the call of dawn, and dressed as they strode past his door and down the steps to no doubt from wherever those aching scents of breakfast rose.

Adiel (the 'falling' man of pink-and-green luggage who had seemed rather clingy with the golden lady), Marissa (who had seemed rather catty in her attention-mongering the previous night but was now desperate to aid the cook and servant boy despite work not officially starting for some time yet) Chad (pleasant enough but probably in line to receive an uncomfortable amount of attention from Adiel and Marissa if not others as judged by the bee-line glances to his buttocks and chest), and Maria all busied themselves with breakfast as Tai left to find eggs.

Attempting to draw as little attention as possible to himself, Adam lightly buttered two slices of toast and assumed a spot along the wall near a doorway so as not to take up room at the table.

[Aurasheild]

“Me? I was born here,” Tai replied. Cheerfully, he seemed to sense Blakes presence at the door. He poked his head in, and then left again, politely refusing any fruit that Tai had offered.

That man really needs someone to dress him right.... that age! Those Shorts! Urgh!

Taking another sip of his coffee, Adiel was taken by surprize as a few more joined the breakfast club. Each one seemed to be more cheerful then the next.

Good morning.” Marissa beamed at them.

“Tai, is there something I can help with?”

Weren't you then one, that had cuts on your hands and legs last night. I don't think you should risk another accident. Adiel thought, he didn't understand why she wanted to attract more attention to herself.

Tai gestured to the long table.

“It's all ready. Go ahead and help yourself,” Tai had replied with that customary smile. “Jean-Marie will be down-

“Jean-Marie is down,”

Sassy.

Smiling, Adiel kept quiet, watching as the door closed behind her.

“Good morning,” Jean-Marie greeted everyone together. She elegantly slipped into a white jacket, that did nothing for her appearance, but then again was it meant to?

Her work clothes.

“Tai, run out and hunt eggs. And comb your hair.” Her voice seemed to be motherly.

Tai grabbed his muffin with one hand and gave his hair a combination finger-combing and brain massage, and kissed Jean-Marie’s cheek as he disappeared out the door.

Adiel wasn't very sure, if the chief was his mother, or was it a relationship that had formed over time.
Jean-Marie produced a tray of bread rolls from the refrigerator and set them out to rise.

“Did everyone have a good night?” she asked.

Adiel nodded, taking another sip of his coffee.

“Miss Marie-Jean, may I help Tai gather eggs?” Marissa asked in a voice filled with childlike anticipation. Her head tilted forward and her brows rose a notch.

"Suck up!" Adiel seemed to say aloud, however he was drinking at the time, and he began coughing.

After he cleared his throat. He noticed several people looking at him. He wasn't sure if anyone had heard his remark, or turned because of his uncontrolled coughing.

"Sorry, my head was away with the birds. Sorry." He quickly remarked, and turned his gaze towards the floor.

[Foxee]

“Miss Marie-Jean, may I help Tai gather eggs?”

Jean-Marie nodded toward the door, startled a little by the childlike plea.

"I don't see why not if you really want to," she told Marissa, "just out that door and follow Tai. The coop is just down over the hill to the left."

She smiled wryly at the others and wiped her hands, pouring two cups of coffee.

"Desmond complains about having to care for the birds but he does enjoy the fresh eggs."

She added cream to her coffee and sugar to her husband's in anticipation of his arrival, noting as she did so that Adam stood by the doorway.

"Sit down." She told him, nodding toward the table, "Plenty of time to be on your feet later."

She sat as well, with the air of a bird lighting briefly on a branch, and began to butter a croissant.

[seigfried007]

Adam nodded and assumed a seat much as he had a spot on the wall--and was just as careful to avoid putting his elbows in high-traffic areas or leave crumbs.

[Suzip]

Kari did a double take when she came face to face with Blake on the other side of the door. He was the last person she expected to be of like minded to her on any aspect. Seeing him in his exercise garb with sweat streaking his face was quite unexpected.

"Don't go too far," he said, nodding to her as he passed.

She just smiled shyly and went on her way.

The heat hit her straight away as did the breeze making its way in from the sea, Don’t want to overdo it this morning she thought. Could be a long strenuous day on the job….if she knew what the job was. So she took a medium pace jog around the grounds, taking pleasure it looking at the trees and the brightly coloured floral areas. She could hear some mechanical device chugging near the roofed patio at the back of the house. She found a path that seemed to go in the direction of the beach and was sorely tempted to investigate, but time was getting on and she needed a quick shower before work.

When Kari made it back in the house she could hear even more of her co-workers in the kitchen chattering away. She sighed. Time for a quick shower before attempting to fit in.

[Darn Dame]

"Suck up!" Sputtering around his coffee the tall man followed with, “Sorry, my head was away with the birds. Sorry."

Being the mother of two pre-teens, Marissa had been the victim of enough backhanded remarks to recognize the cut uttered by the man with the green and pink striped suitcases. His attempts at covering his unkindness had been as impressive as her children’s. Marissa smiled to herself as she turned on her heel and headed out the door.

Nothing’s going to spoil this day.

Marissa began her trek down the well worn path that dipped down a hill. The heat was instant and stifling at first, making Marissa thankful for the breeze that blew a sweet scent around her. Before too long she acclimated. The only wound that consciously bothered her was the one on her bottom. She could feel the tug of the stitches as her muscles worked while she walked or, as she learned this morning, fully bent over.

After only moments, she arrived at the coop.

“Tai?” she called out, neglecting to see the young serving boy about.

[IvanTiger118]

Sleep should have come to him easily, but it didn't. The idea that he would actually miss the noises of the city surprised him. He had laid in bed, listening to the soft mumur of the waves crashing on the beach somewhere off in the distance. It should have calmed him, but it didn't. Instead, an urge that he hadn't had in years seemed to bubble to the surface, rushing adreneline throughout his body, making sleep seem like a distant dream.

He rolled over and flipped the switch on the lamp next to the bed. The room was filled with light. The power must have turned back on in the night, or maybe the power was never out. He remembered after Marissa had had broken the vase, several people had rushed in, flipping the switch, and a light turned on. Almost as if somebody had turned off electricy only in certain parts of the building. But why do that?

The clock read 6:00 am. He had grown accustomed to rising early from his time in the military. Actually 6 was sleeping in. Back when he was in the service, and before his injury, he would go out and run. Since living in New York he hadn't really done that. Then again, there really wasn't a peaceful place to run.

He changed into shorts and a T-shirt and left his room. Went outside and found the path to the beach. He started with a brisk jog, when suddenly a wave of pain rushed from his leg. The muscles in his leg tightened up and it nearly sent him toppling to the ground. He came to a halt and tried to stretch the leg out a bit. Geez, he was so out of shape. This never used to happen.

He walked for a little bit and picked up a little bit of speed again. This time his leg didn't buckle. Good. He took a deep breath of fresh clean air and it seemed to invigerate him just like it used to do in the past.

The urge came over him again. He had no idea if he even had permission to do it, but he didn't care. He found the perfect spot on the beach, one without a bunch of rocks, and took off toward the ocean. A wave washed up toward him, the sand grabbing his feet and trying to pull him into the ocean. He moved forward, and moved further out into the sea, diving into the first wave he saw crashing in front of him.

His head went underwater for a moment, then bobbed up. He felt like a little kid again. "Whooooo!"

A noise came from the beach. He quickly turned, instincts kicking in. Was the enemy here? Was there something or somebody watching him? The only thing he saw was a young girl with black curly hair jogging down the beach. He tried to remebmer her name, but then realized he had never heard it.

Conrad walked out of the surf and back to the sandy beach.

[Blossom]

Hayley leaned out of her window, revelling in the bright early morning sunshine. The fragrant breeze tugged at her curls, still slightly damp from the quick shower she had taken before falling into bed last night. It was a beautiful morning, almost too perfect to be real – she had forgotten just how breathtaking the island was.

Might as well go down, she thought as she turned back into her room and gave it a last glance over. After making her bed and changing into a pair of loose white trousers and a pastel pink cotton tshirt she had spent some time unpacking, with the result that while her clothes were all neatly put away her dressing table was strewn with make-up, hair ties, and her iPod and phone.

Still, it wasn’t too messy, so she left it and padded downstairs towards the kitchen. She was hoping to have an early breakfast so she could check her lab before going to meet Anya and Blake – something she was intensely curious about, but her only foray into the lab last night had been to clean and dress poor Marissa’s cuts, so she hadn’t had a chance to look around like she wanted.

“Morning,” she smiled cheerily as she entered the kitchen. Jean-Marie was already up, buttering a croissant, and so were Chad and Adiel. The sight of the muffins and croissants had set her stomach to growling, so Hayley sat down and helped herself. “How is everyone?”

[Suzip]

Kari took her shower in record time. She was out of her room in a startling ten minutes, then she made her way down the stairs. She had decided to wear a pair of jeans, another t-shirt and trainers. She had just towel dried her hair letting it hang loosely around her shoulders, hoping it was dry enough and wasn't leaving a wet trail behind her as she went. She always found that no-matter how much she had towel tried her hair it just never seemed enough.

Making her way towards the kitchen she could feel her nerves creeping up her body. Stay calm, she kept telling herself. They don't know you. They don't know what you've done. Its a new start!

Kari stopped just outside the kitchen for a moment taking deep breaths. She forced her full lips into a smile that just didn't feel like it belonged there.

"Morning everyone!" She stepped through the doorway.

[IvanTiger118]

After his swim in the ocean, he went back up to his room, showered, shaved and changed. He looked at his watch and noticed he still had a half hour to kill before he had to show up for work. He might as well go down and get him a cup of coffee, afterall, the smell was just to tempting to resist.

He went down the steps, and followed the aroma into the kitchen where several other employees were standing around, sipping on their drinks and talking amongs themselves.

[Darn Dame]

Marissa carefully propped herself up against the wall as she listened to the chatter in the kitchen. She munched on fresh fruit whilst studying each of the active participants.

"Morning everyone!" Greeted a casually dressed woman as she walked through the doorway. A smile graced her faced but neglected to touch her eyes.

"Good morning." she replied with a smile of her own.

[Cold Twilight]

Jingla had parted from Adiel's curteous escort at the stairs and hurried to her own room. As she slipped through the door, a breath of fresh, rain-wet air hit her, and she sighed with pleasure. Still, it wouldn't do to leave the window open so that the rain could come in. She moved across the room and fitted it back into place, then stretched back and down, rolling onto the floor in one lithe move. Flipping to her feet again, she landed silently on her toes and went into one of her basic stretching routines. It was always good to relax before bed.

Finishing her stretches, Jingla stepped into the bathroom and took a quick sponge bath from the sink before changing into a set of light cotton pajamas and slipping into bed. She fell asleep quickly, lulled by the storm.

******

Jingla woke refreshed, early...very early, the next morning. A quick bit of work remade the bed and set things gleaming again around the room. Smiling, she again went through another routine, keeping herself fit and ready. As she completed her stretching she glanced at the time, hearing people straggling by outside. Almost seven.
She checked for warm water, then took a fast shower and changed into another brown and gold outfit, with the emphasis on the gold accents, but the majority of it dark brown.

A glance in the bathroom mirror affirmed the need for a different hairstyle than rumpled waves, and she turned to work on it, brushing it out slowly and putting two thin braids on either side of her face. Pulling braids and all back, she twisted her hair into a tight bun at the base of her neck and pinned it in place. Another glance at the clock revealed the time to be almost 20 minutes to eight... Well, that was good. She'd probably have enough time to grab a bite to eat before work, and she wouldn't be overly early.

With a last glance around the neat room, she left and made her way down the stairs. Voices in the kitchen guided her there, and she paused in the doorway just behind another of the women who had come to work, smiling at the cheerful greeting.