Apples and Oranges [Open]

[Lyle]

Bright and beautiful, Shou Chun sat humbly in her valley, waiting long still for her lover to return- to bring her back to the life she once had. The sort that was, though full of its own turmoil, beyond any scribe's pen or even too high a key for the King's pipers. Such a life that we all seek.

Lu Meng, covered in robes, swiveled his way around the square; he was performing some kind of dreary, half awake dance. In truth, there was something here still to be found, so he hadn't yet awoken from his slumber in Shou Chun just yet. Accordingly, the townsfolk thought him a mysterious bear, here and there now, gone the next, always careful to mind its bear-y business and retreat shortly back to its cave. Meng's cave in fact was a small bed above the tavern just shy of the square, where he slept with a few chickens and enjoyed the stars at night. The rent was cheap, infact it was free; but food was another thing, so he was sloshing around the square and scavenging among the colorful stands.

"Ahh Mr Bear how are you today?"

Lu Meng nodded firmly and peered from behind his scarf at the fresh apples beneath, one eye closed still. A muffled voice came from within his robes- somewhere.

"Ah yes these apples are very ripe, picked just last night."

"Mmmfffumm", came again, and the shopkeeper, an old widow of many years, frowned.

"Mr Bear you've been coming here for sometime, yet you still have yet to appear with any coin!"

It was true, he hadn't decided to go about his way being dragged down by a heavy pouch. He just wasn't the type, least he thought. But even still, the kindness of a few souls had kept him along well.

Whimsically, "Muhhhumm."

"Oh..." the townslady looked down at the apples and took a few in her hands, "you are too smart to come my way each morning." She handed him the apples, and Lu Meng graciously departed, still half awake. His cloaked figure departed down the streets, in search of nothing more than gobbling down the apples he'd procured. Needless to say, he was hardy paying attention to where his feet were taking him.

[Gong]

The mountains carried the hopes and dreams of all below, those who wished mere solitude from the chaotic life that began to drain the realm of all its natural wealth. From droughts, famine and to plague; all of which, signs that the Heavens were displeased with the occurances the mortal world believed to be of virtue and a rare justice. Winds carried unspeakable truths, whispers of dread and pain that began to slowly serge from the skies and rushed from foe to ally. Yet, further South seemed a happiness detatched from the dark clouds covering the North; how strange they are blind to view the arising dangers? Or, perhaps, were they simply ignorent of their own fate that they believed their lives to be secure?..

From the peaks of the Mountains, far beyond the borders of the once profound Kingdom, journeyed a soul that was no longer among that of the living. From the City of Ji came a meager carriage being pulled by a horse that was a reminder of its former self; once a strong thoroughbred, now a wince of pain and tiresome nature that forced it limp and pathetic. The carriage lay in tatters, the once clean cloth of a spectacular white was now a husk hanging upon the wooden frame for dear life; its colourings now that of the durt it travelled through. Within the wooden construction a lone figure, whose eyes transfixed upon the path that seemed never ending..winding from left to right and a cycle of towns, villages and insignificant figures. White robed, the purity of the flashing colour resonated from the dreary hues of the carriage. As if the ghost of a widow had risen to wreak its own havoc upon this world; from the North she came, carried by the winds that contained the ghosts of her someone elses making..

The frail hands clutched upon the reigns, kneeling and swaying to keep balance upon the vehicle that would no doubt collapse with another bump in the road; the maiden's hair loose and flowing in the wind as the carriage caught speed. Pale complection with hazel eyes haunted, simply staring forwards...at nothing...

Her eyes did not view the nonchalant being that moved to-and-fro, seemingly munching on the ripened fruit of the local market; strange, for it would be the first thing to view out of this day..a being seemingly intoxicated by the air that surrounded him; though fatigue was not the first thought. The youthful maiden, of ghostly disposition, was ignorent to who she could colide with placing all trust in the beast that was holding onto its own life, simply to transport the woman to safety. However, it startled and buckled at the sight of the 'bear' like man whose robes hide the complexion of his face. It swerved in hopes that the carriage would follow suite, indeed perhaps it would have, if it were one freshly made of able materials...but, this one was not. It toppled to the right, so far that the axel holding the wheel crushed under the weight and finally gave way; collapsing to the ground and propelling anything within to the ground.

Indeed this was the fate of the passenger, the haunted Maiden was thrown to the ground and the horse joined her some way from her..it would be too late for the horse to be rescued, it could sense its time upon this realm was overdue and no doubt that someone would come to rescue the dear woman he had spent so long trying to protect... Some way from the man winding round the market taking easy picking of the available produce, the maiden remained still. In a small pile of white cloth the dainty figure was hidden and the blake hair landed gently to cover the visage from passersby. Infront was the very hand that grasped the reigns so tightly, visable markings of the leather straps that dug slightly into the skin; still soft and delicate to the touch...

[Lyle]

Just up ahead appeared the creaky carriage, and though appearing deaf, Lu Meng avoided its strokes. 'Never trust faulty wood, especially if its moving.'

"Neeeieiiigghhhttttt," cried the torn beast- that might have been a horse, which was dragging the slow cart. Meng's eye peered over to the disturbance and wasn't all that surprised that both beast and invention had fallen apart at their seems. Why not just ride the horse?

A furry of dust, perhaps from the traveling companions, kicked up in the air and the ruckus was complete. Luckily a few townsfolk, who'd been waiting for the the carriage's inevitable demise, rushed over and pulled from its ruins a small figure. All the while the bear looked on, chewing his apple. Inwardly, he thought, 'I'm tired of apples.'

A hand took the dainty fingers of the girl and she seemed to appear alive, at long last. Someone shouted loudly she was alive and then yelled for water; the village went to work.

Further up ahead, Lu Meng shuffled along.

'I want an orange.'

[Sun Quan]

The commotion on the road would draw many gawkers, many to admire the carelessness of others, the expenditure of their dignity for the collective embarrassment for the victim of their own stupidity.

Amongst the rubbernecked was Deng Mao, a beast of a man, hulking refuge of pure unadulterated power. He exuded strength, a bulwark strength keeping those around him away from contact. He moved forward and grasped the carriage, pulling it's wrecked wood into the street, seeing it's deplorable condition would be about as useful as the now mortally wounded horse. Deng Mao walked over with his sword and beheaded the creature, lest it continue to suffer on any more from it's grievous injuries.

"Deng... Mao."

His eyes shut as if they were heavy blankets falling to the ground. They covered eyes that bulged slightly from the head, a man forever changed by a case of friendly fire, his ability to speak erased by that fateful day. Dreadful. He sometimes dreamed of the falling ground crashing into the ground around him like some sort of tidal wave, or hurricane of debris.

He looked towards the bear man, who complained about fruit. He took one meaty finger and pointed at his chest.

'Deng Mao. Deng. Mao."

[Lyle]

(disregard that other person's post Justin, they have left)

Of a most familiar sort, this one. Vernacular, weird. Image, cushy. Soul, yet to be determined. More details about the curious individual slowly pooled in the clerky man's mind and their direction was clear; this man was an orange!

Tall and rough, he is the type who always was that which he is now; himself. An orange, is [orange]an orange.[/orange] For fulfilling the beast, he is sweet, a detail hidden behind the slouch of the warrior. And, to finish his persona, he is round; life is Deng Mao and nothing more, now. Never before has there been a more perfect sphere.

Both of Lu Meng's harried eyes were cast open now as he stared upon the man. He looked so delicious. No.

Walking up to the figure, Meng realized he'd seemed taller in the north. "Mmmmf," darn scarf, "Good morning, fine of you to save that thing. I'm Lu Meng. You look like the type of person I have been searching for."

Lu Meng, whom was still quite wrapped up in his cloak like he was hiding, smiled and offered his hand.

[Sun Quan]

Deng Mao grasped the smaller man's hand deftly, his paw encompassing the protruded extremity entirely. He shook vigorously, pistons in his arms pumping with ferocity.

"Deng Mao. Deng! Mao."

He let go of the man and settled into stool, sighing heavily. Not much weighed on his mind at face value, but deep inside a very intelligent individual yearned to break free. He considered things on other levels, but on the surface bubbled only the slightest indications if life.

He scratched at his face idly.

[Lyle]

A gracious creature; perhaps the true bear was Deng Mao. He did seem rather aloof- perhaps this was why he and Lu Meng had found eachother so.

"Deng Mao it is," Lu Meng smiled, realizing though his speech was limited, his new momentary companion fathomed the depths of the deepest waters. One could not simply keeping saying Deng Mao over and over again if this was not true.

Immediately, a plan was formulated.

Grasping a small stick from the ground, Lu Meng began carving something into the dusty earth. "This path which has been destroyed so by the feet of busy men, will lead to a new reign."

The stick went to and fro, spending an equal amount of time with each curve and crevice of the formula it was building. Carefully yet quickly it slashed through the sandy dirty; bringing an uneasy change to miniscule pebbles that scurried away at this disturbance. What, what could it be?

[orange]"An orange,"[/orange] Meng stepped back and continued, "to achieve ones goal, the skin must be peeled first."

The young mind stood up and faced the sky, he smiled, finally. "You and me Deng Mao, we will peel back this earth's crust to find the sweetness under it. We will share this with them all..."

Turning around quickly, still smiling, Meng thrust the stick off down the street, aiming it toward the palace. "We will start there," he finished before waltzing down the street and effectively returning to his previous image.

[Sun Quan]

Deng Mao watched with rapt attention as the man spoke, allegories comparing the world and fruit, commands that gave way to smarter and subtler messages of a more violent resolution to this conflicted world.

Mao's head shook slowly, a low growl escaping from his throat. He grabbed the sword that he had embedded in the ground, lifting it's heft with ease. He leaned up on, one giant meaty fist gripping to ring at the top and using it to balance himself.

He watched as Meng pointed towards the city's palace. He knew immediately what was to happen; his large sword would be used to crush puny heads. It was the only thing anyone thought Mao useful of.

Thank god he was okay with doing just that. Who needed to know about the complex man underneath the hard outer shell?

"Deng Mao."

[Cheng Pu (Demou)]

Cheng Pu made the short journey northwards by way of the road through He Fei to Shou Chun. He dressed himself casually. Thankfully, Lu Meng resided on the out skirts of Shou Chun and Yuan Shu knew of Cheng Pu's wanderlust ways. He was attired in his armor and carried his spear along side him. With haft in one hand and rein in the other he trotted atop his horse through the city. Given that Sun Ce had publicly pledged loyalty to Yuan Shu for the time being and the latter had come to found the Cheng dynasty, Demou was hardly questioned for his visit. The guards allowed him into the city walls with hardly a fuss, on the contrary, a few greeted him with smiles. His reputation put him in their good graces, but besides that, his strength and skill in battle had instilled in those who knew of him an animal-like fear. Though Demou had no intent of killing today, he found it necessary to carry his spear with him. These trying times had taught him the value of being prepared. After all, had Sun Jian been prepared for Huang Zu's ambush... perhaps that should be left for another accenting episode of Demou's sage-like character.

As he rode toward the market square he took note of a rather large fool, whom spoke only a name in repeat.

Deng Mao? Wait a second, was that not the name of a Scarves' commander? What is a brigand like him doing in a place like this? And whom is he with?

He thought, taking note of the unlikely pair of people, one dressed from head to toe in cloth, and the other dressed in a scraggly assortment of armor pieces.

He made his way up to them and spoke from atop his horse; "My fine fellows, what is it that brings two of your stature to this city? Certainly, you both look to be from elsewhere, though, it would seem you both have purpose in being here. Would you both mind telling me what that is, just curious, y'know," he pointed towards the little drawing Lu Meng had made in the sand.