New Drabbles [Jing Themes #35, #48]
Again after a huge hiatus, more Jing drabbles! I hope to get the rest of them finished by the end of the year, but we'll see how it goes! ♥
Community: 50_themes
Characters: Jing + Kir (friendship category)
Fandom: King of Bandits Jing
Full list of themes can be found HERE. X-posted to 50_themes, ankhutenshi, kingofbandit
*
Title: With Good Intentions
Theme: #35 - "Why me...?"
Notes: 1918 words, finished Nov 13/07.
"You what??"
Kir shuffled on the tabletop, but had yet to acquire the grace to look sheepish. If anything, the gleam in his eye looked too much like triumph for the thief to believe the contrite expression. "C'mon, it's not like you're doing anything else tonight! You said we couldn't swipe that painting until tomorrow anyway!"
"That's not the point, Kir! You set me up!"
"On a date, Jing!" The avian heaved a theatric sigh of sufferance, as though putting up with his companion's reaction was merely part of a long, tedious routine. "You make it sound like I organized an ambush or something!"
"It practically is!" Jing threw his arms in the air, then dropped his head to the table with a thunk. There was no use arguing with Kir, especially when it came to interactions with the opposite sex. Reason tended to fly out the window in such cases.
"It's not a double date if only one of us shows up! What was I supposed to do about the other sister?"
"Date them both at the same time like you normally do!" The youth raised his head slightly to stick his tongue out in a display of childish ire, fingers drumming on the tabletop. Still, his natural curiosity got the better of him in the end. "What did you tell her, anyway?"
Kir laughed, having known he would win. "I didn't tell them anything specific, wise guy, just that we'd be happy to take them to the carnival that's in town."
Jing raised a skeptical eyebrow. "And they said yes?"
"Well..." Kir lifted his wings in a shrug, "I might have told her you were a nice guy, single... pretty cute." When the thief spluttered and flushed red, Kir added helpfully, "Well, you are kind of cute."
"KIR!"
"Not really my type, though -- whoops!" He leapt into the air to dodge as Jing made a grab for the albatross, his face flaming in embarrassment. "Hahaha, too slow!" Hovering just above the young man's reach, he smirked. "What's the matter, Jing? Can't keep up wi-- UPMH!!"
A throw pillow struck him with uncanny accuracy, hard enough to knock him backwards out of the air. Yet the albatross didn't flail, and a second later bounced safely onto the bed. Even though the slightest mistake on Jing's part could have sent him to the floor or the wall and potentially caused harm, he never worried about it. That was just the way things were with them.
From under the pillow still atop him, Kir felt the bed dip as Jing lay down next to him. The albatross kicked the cushion away, looking hopefully up at the young man. "Why do you want me to go?" Jing asked, stretching out with a lazy roll of his shoulders.
"I told you already! Those girls wanted someone to go with them to the carnival."
"Why do you want me to go?"
Kir paused, then gave a wry chuckle. Jing often acted like a child but thought like someone far older than his years, and it peeked out in times like this. "'Cause I want you to have some fun, that's all. You work too hard," he teased, which made them both laugh because they loved what they did.
"Okay, partner," the grey-eyed youth answered, both agreeing and giving in to the bird's plan, and Kir was glad.
---
The Aperitif Carnival was a travelling circus, moving through Aquavitae year round, stopping at locales both common and exotic. Jing had been there once before as a child, having stumbled across it after getting lost while returning from a childish heist (upon remembrance, he wasn't sure he could really call them such). It was through the Aperitif that he'd heard rumours of many treasures, and in later years with Kir had even tracked some of them down. To see the familiar white and rainbow tents and flags brought back memories of kind strangers with their booming laughter and songs in a language he didn't know but tried to sing along with. They were nomads, these people, like the Sambuca dancers of Advocaat and the Shiwala people who'd come from beyond Aquavitae's eastern border generations ago.
"So how are we supposed to find them?" Jing inquired, as they climbed the hill up to the plateau. The carnival always set up outside of town, in a field or open space.
"They said they were gonna meet us at the front gate -- I see them!" Kir crowed happily, spreading his wings and swooping off Jing's shoulder. There were indeed two female figures waiting next to the entry arch. One of them spotted Kir and waved in greeting. This is just for fun, the thief reminded himself. So have fun, a good day for all of us.
The girls were clearly sisters, brunettes and with open, friendly smiles. He guessed there were a few years between them, although not many. They both wore pretty cotton sundresses and the younger one had her hair up in pigtails. Kir seemed more than willing to take care of the introductions. "Jing, this is Desiree and her big sister, Cielo. Ladies, this is my partner I was tellin' you about, Jing... and you remember my name, right?"
The younger of the two, Desiree, giggled. "Of course! How could we forget, Kir? It's nice to meet you, Jing!" she chirped brightly, and he found himself smiling almost immediately.
Cielo added politely, "It's nice of you both to join us. Sister and I usually have to go by ourselves, and that's just not as fun."
"We're happy to," Jing responded, the words coming with surprising ease. They didn't feel like lies or even stretched truths. As if somehow sensing that, Kir looked over and gave him a big grin.
"Shall we?"
---
Kir and Desiree kept up an animated conversation as they entered the carnival grounds and stopped to buy tickets. Although the girls protested shyly, the costs were easily taken from Jing's knapsack without a second thought by the thief.
"Thank you," Cielo said modestly. In contrast with her sister, currently laughing at some joke Kir was telling (Jing prayed it wasn't a dirty one) she seemed more subdued.
"It's really no problem," he assured her, wondering if that was the cause of her quietude. Truthfully, he would have felt far more awkward if they'd tried to pay for themselves, if only because he was certain they had jobs and he came by his funds by less than honourable means.
"So what brings you to Perroquet, Jing?" she inquired, sidestepping a trio of hyper children beelining for the cotton candy stand. "You're not from around here, are you?"
I came to steal a priceless painting of the Patatús, Jing thought. But it can only be revealed during a full moon, and that's not until tomorrow night. Somehow he doubted that would go over well, so he settled with an ambiguous, "Kir and I just travel a lot, and decided to take a break for a few days. And no, we're not from around here."
She studied him for a moment. "You have a bit of an accent," she admitted. "East of here?"
"Amarcord," he confirmed.
Cielo's forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. "Amarcord?" After a moment she seemed to place the name and her confusion deepened. "I thought only pumpkins came out of Amarcord?"
Jing laughed, unexpectedly. The silly little colloqulism apparently wasn't just a regional thing. "Pumpkins and the occasional person," he chuckled. Cielo seemed startled at first by his reaction, and then she too began to laugh, until the pair of them had to stop walking before they couldn't see for the mirth.
"Oy," Kir called back, looking confused himself. "What's so funny?"
"What's so funny, Sister?" Desiree asked at the same time, and after a startled moment, they too began to laugh together.
---
"I'm sorry I was so reserved earlier," Cielo apologized. Kir and Desiree had wandered off by themselves, intending (as Kir had claimed) to win one of every prize in the midway. "It's just that I don't know you, and I always need to look out for my sister. Sometimes her judgement worries me, although she's a lot better than she used to be."
"Don't worry about it," Jing answered. "And as for your sister, Kir's harmless, I swear."
"You both seem like good people," she agreed. "Are you planning on staying in the area for much longer? Maybe we could... meet up again, for ice cream or something..."
She seemed suddenly shy, and Jing wanted to say yes. But by this time tomorrow, he'd be on the run again, treasure in hand, and depending on the details of the heist he might not be able to return to the area until memory of the Bandit King faded a bit. "I... don't think that would work out very well," he said slowly. At her embarrassed look, he was quick to clarify, "But it has nothing to do with you or your sister! It's just... we're unpredictable, Kir and I. And we're not very reliable to anyone besides each other. So I don't want to say yes and then not follow through, you know?"
"So why can't you say yes and then follow through?"
It was Jing's turn to look away, unsure of what he could say that would sound both truthful and yet not reveal anything incriminating. "Because I haven't figured out how to make it work like that. Sorry, Cielo."
She looked taken aback by the sudden end of the conversation, and for a moment he wondered if he'd been to abrupt. He was just about to apologize when she seemed to shake it off, flashing him another smile (slightly less enthusiastic, but not seeming offended. "It's all right. I shouldn't have pried about it. Let's just forget it, okay? Want to try one of these midway games?"
"Sure," he said, glad for the change of topic. "I'll win you a bear, if you want."
"Make it an orange one and it's a deal."
---
At the end of the night, the four of them took a seat on the grassy hill, listening to the music played by the carnival masters and watching the fireworks display in the sky. Brightly clad dancers clapped and sang along with the colourful explosions, making it into a story with hundred-foot visual effects. When it was over, they all clapped their appreciation.
"That was wonderful," Desiree said, getting to her feet and stretching. Kir, who had been sitting rather comfortably in her lap, pouted and shifted over to Jing's shoulder, who hadn't realized he'd missed such a familiar thing until then.
"Yes, thank you," Cielo affirmed with a smile.
"It was our pleasure," Kir crooned, mostly at Desiree, causing her to blush and giggle again.
They walked the girls to the gate, where Cielo neatly intercepted Kir's attempt at kissing Desiree goodnight with the stuffed orange bear. He managed not to spit out a mouthful of fur until after the girls had disappeared over the hill.
"Ugh," he groaned. "With the bear, no less. Couldn't she have used something else?" He glanced at Jing, who was absently reading the carnival's posted schedule for the coming few months. "Well?"
"Well?" Jing echoed.
"Did you have fun?"
The thief chewed his lower lip thoughtfully, a gesture which didn't bode well. But then he smiled and replied, "Sure, Kir. I had fun."
---
The painting of Patatús was not stolen the following night.
---
Notes:
Cielo Ingredients: 1 1/4 oz Vodka (Skyy), 3/4 oz Creme de Cassis, 2 dashes Peychaud bitters, Juice of 1/2 Lime, Ginger ale Mixing instructions: Build in an ice-filled collins glass. Top with ginger ale. Garnish with a wedge of lime. Created by Tony Abou-Ganim of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.
Desiree Ingredients: 5 oz Creme de Cassis, 1 oz Stoli Vodka Mixing instructions: Serve on the rocks. Optional garnish: lemon or lime twist. Great alternative to a Martini.
Patatús Ingredients: 1/2 jigger Amaretto, 1/2 jigger Curacao, 2 jiggers Añejo rum, 6 oz Orange juice, 1 splash Grenadine. Mixing instructions: Blend Amaretto, Rum and Curacao then pour in a glass with ice. Add orange juice, then splash with grenadine.
Perroquet Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz Pernod, 1 dash Mint syrup, Water Mixing instructions: Pour over ice cubes in a highball glass. Fill with cold water and stir well.
Title: Desideratum
Theme: #48 - "Say something!"
Notes: 903 words, finished Nov 13/07.
"We'll talk later."
There was, Kir had decided, no positive way to take that, no slim hope that it would pass without notice. As they'd walked away from the White Night Desert, away from Sugar and Grenadine and the treasures of the Millennium Stew, the thief had remained silent, leaving Kir to fly along a half-length behind him, wincing at the unspoken barrier between them.
Six hours later, Jing still hadn't said a word, and the longer the silence dragged on, the worse Kir felt.
His decision, to leave Jing and go after Sugar, had been made in the heat of the moment. Looking back, he realized it was stupid to think that Jing would've cared more about the treasure than the sisters they were helping, and for the life of him, the albatross couldn't understand why he'd thought otherwise. Nothing he knew about Jing -- and he liked to think he knew the youth better than anyone -- would suggest that he'd do such a callous thing as leave a girl to die.
But Sugar had made things different. Because he'd liked Sugar, differently than the girls they met up with, different even than Fino and Mimosa.
That didn't change the fact that he'd run out on his partner when he'd been needed, and the stony silence between them now was proof of that. Several times Kir had tried to speak up; to apologize, to offer reasons, to say anything to bridge the sudden gap. Each time the words had gotten stuck in his throat, leaving him unable to say a single thing.
Jing must be furious at him, he thought bleakly. Kir hadn't meant to abandon him, that was the last thing he'd wanted--
"Was it what you wanted?"
The thief's voice nearly dropped him out of the air in shock and Kir wondered, aghast, when Jing had acquired the ability to read minds. Then he realized that the thief wasn't even looking at him, no longer walking but still facing away, as though he'd reached a point on the grassy path that said, 'Stop here and discuss'.
"W-what?" the albatross stammered slightly.
"Sugar," Jing said slowly. "Was she, what it is you've wanted all this time?"
Kir floundered for an answer, unsure of what line of questioning Jing was actually pursuing. Wanted what? Wanted how? What answer was Jing looking for? On the spot and confused, he could only attempt clarification. "Jing, I... I ain't sure what..."
The young man turned to face him, grey eyes filled with sorrow despite the thin mask of defiance trying to cover it. "A girl like Sugar," he said. "You always flirt with any girls we meet, Kir, but this wasn't like those times. You weren't acting like you usually do. So I'm asking if all this time, you've been looking for someone like her to stay with because that's what you want. And if it is, then just say so. Then I'll know that's what you're looking for, and what'll happen when you find it. If you're going to leave, I want to at least be ready for it. As your partner, I... I think I've earned that much."
Kir stared, feeling oddly like the world had just fallen out from under him. This wasn't what he'd expected. A few harsh words, a cutting remark or two, even disappointment he could understand. This was something else entirely, and the albatross was beginning to realize he'd screwed up on a level he hadn't even imagined. "Jing... no, that ain't... it's not like... but Sugar needed me--"
"I needed you!" Jing shouted, unrestrained emotion roughening his voice, making Kir flinch. "And if that's not enough, then... then..." His voice dropped to a hollow echo of its former volume. "Then I just need to know. You were there one minute and the next you were gone! I didn't even get a chance to..."
The albatross hadn't seen Jing look so upset in a long time as the youth finished, "It was just like with her, Kir. I never got to say goodbye to her either."
Your mother, Kir finished silently, feeling more awful than he'd ever felt. All this time he'd thought Jing was angry at him, using silence and distance to punish his flighty loyalty. When in truth, he'd been hurt... believing that Kir had indeed chosen Sugar over his partner, with no intention to return. It seemed doubly cruel because Kir knew that was Jing's great fear... to be left alone again.
Was it what you wanted?
And yet Kir didn't know how to answer. He couldn't deny that Sugar had been different. Why did he write Fino in Pompier, looking forward to the next time they'd be that far north? Why did he keep Mimosa's castanets in Jing's knapsack, wondering if the Ocarina of the Moon really kept two people together? What was he looking for?
Jing was watching him silently, wrapping the last remnants of strength around him like a protective shield. Yet Kir saw how fragile that shield was, and had no desire to break through it. Not now, or ever.
"You need me," Kir echoed softly. "That's enough. That's enough, Jing."
The thief's stance softened, all acts forgiven in an instant, and Kir took his usual perch on the youth's shoulder. He wished he could shake the feeling of uncertainty that followed him for the rest of the day.
Community: 50_themes
Characters: Jing + Kir (friendship category)
Fandom: King of Bandits Jing
Full list of themes can be found HERE. X-posted to 50_themes, ankhutenshi, kingofbandit
*
Title: With Good Intentions
Theme: #35 - "Why me...?"
Notes: 1918 words, finished Nov 13/07.
"You what??"
Kir shuffled on the tabletop, but had yet to acquire the grace to look sheepish. If anything, the gleam in his eye looked too much like triumph for the thief to believe the contrite expression. "C'mon, it's not like you're doing anything else tonight! You said we couldn't swipe that painting until tomorrow anyway!"
"That's not the point, Kir! You set me up!"
"On a date, Jing!" The avian heaved a theatric sigh of sufferance, as though putting up with his companion's reaction was merely part of a long, tedious routine. "You make it sound like I organized an ambush or something!"
"It practically is!" Jing threw his arms in the air, then dropped his head to the table with a thunk. There was no use arguing with Kir, especially when it came to interactions with the opposite sex. Reason tended to fly out the window in such cases.
"It's not a double date if only one of us shows up! What was I supposed to do about the other sister?"
"Date them both at the same time like you normally do!" The youth raised his head slightly to stick his tongue out in a display of childish ire, fingers drumming on the tabletop. Still, his natural curiosity got the better of him in the end. "What did you tell her, anyway?"
Kir laughed, having known he would win. "I didn't tell them anything specific, wise guy, just that we'd be happy to take them to the carnival that's in town."
Jing raised a skeptical eyebrow. "And they said yes?"
"Well..." Kir lifted his wings in a shrug, "I might have told her you were a nice guy, single... pretty cute." When the thief spluttered and flushed red, Kir added helpfully, "Well, you are kind of cute."
"KIR!"
"Not really my type, though -- whoops!" He leapt into the air to dodge as Jing made a grab for the albatross, his face flaming in embarrassment. "Hahaha, too slow!" Hovering just above the young man's reach, he smirked. "What's the matter, Jing? Can't keep up wi-- UPMH!!"
A throw pillow struck him with uncanny accuracy, hard enough to knock him backwards out of the air. Yet the albatross didn't flail, and a second later bounced safely onto the bed. Even though the slightest mistake on Jing's part could have sent him to the floor or the wall and potentially caused harm, he never worried about it. That was just the way things were with them.
From under the pillow still atop him, Kir felt the bed dip as Jing lay down next to him. The albatross kicked the cushion away, looking hopefully up at the young man. "Why do you want me to go?" Jing asked, stretching out with a lazy roll of his shoulders.
"I told you already! Those girls wanted someone to go with them to the carnival."
"Why do you want me to go?"
Kir paused, then gave a wry chuckle. Jing often acted like a child but thought like someone far older than his years, and it peeked out in times like this. "'Cause I want you to have some fun, that's all. You work too hard," he teased, which made them both laugh because they loved what they did.
"Okay, partner," the grey-eyed youth answered, both agreeing and giving in to the bird's plan, and Kir was glad.
---
The Aperitif Carnival was a travelling circus, moving through Aquavitae year round, stopping at locales both common and exotic. Jing had been there once before as a child, having stumbled across it after getting lost while returning from a childish heist (upon remembrance, he wasn't sure he could really call them such). It was through the Aperitif that he'd heard rumours of many treasures, and in later years with Kir had even tracked some of them down. To see the familiar white and rainbow tents and flags brought back memories of kind strangers with their booming laughter and songs in a language he didn't know but tried to sing along with. They were nomads, these people, like the Sambuca dancers of Advocaat and the Shiwala people who'd come from beyond Aquavitae's eastern border generations ago.
"So how are we supposed to find them?" Jing inquired, as they climbed the hill up to the plateau. The carnival always set up outside of town, in a field or open space.
"They said they were gonna meet us at the front gate -- I see them!" Kir crowed happily, spreading his wings and swooping off Jing's shoulder. There were indeed two female figures waiting next to the entry arch. One of them spotted Kir and waved in greeting. This is just for fun, the thief reminded himself. So have fun, a good day for all of us.
The girls were clearly sisters, brunettes and with open, friendly smiles. He guessed there were a few years between them, although not many. They both wore pretty cotton sundresses and the younger one had her hair up in pigtails. Kir seemed more than willing to take care of the introductions. "Jing, this is Desiree and her big sister, Cielo. Ladies, this is my partner I was tellin' you about, Jing... and you remember my name, right?"
The younger of the two, Desiree, giggled. "Of course! How could we forget, Kir? It's nice to meet you, Jing!" she chirped brightly, and he found himself smiling almost immediately.
Cielo added politely, "It's nice of you both to join us. Sister and I usually have to go by ourselves, and that's just not as fun."
"We're happy to," Jing responded, the words coming with surprising ease. They didn't feel like lies or even stretched truths. As if somehow sensing that, Kir looked over and gave him a big grin.
"Shall we?"
---
Kir and Desiree kept up an animated conversation as they entered the carnival grounds and stopped to buy tickets. Although the girls protested shyly, the costs were easily taken from Jing's knapsack without a second thought by the thief.
"Thank you," Cielo said modestly. In contrast with her sister, currently laughing at some joke Kir was telling (Jing prayed it wasn't a dirty one) she seemed more subdued.
"It's really no problem," he assured her, wondering if that was the cause of her quietude. Truthfully, he would have felt far more awkward if they'd tried to pay for themselves, if only because he was certain they had jobs and he came by his funds by less than honourable means.
"So what brings you to Perroquet, Jing?" she inquired, sidestepping a trio of hyper children beelining for the cotton candy stand. "You're not from around here, are you?"
I came to steal a priceless painting of the Patatús, Jing thought. But it can only be revealed during a full moon, and that's not until tomorrow night. Somehow he doubted that would go over well, so he settled with an ambiguous, "Kir and I just travel a lot, and decided to take a break for a few days. And no, we're not from around here."
She studied him for a moment. "You have a bit of an accent," she admitted. "East of here?"
"Amarcord," he confirmed.
Cielo's forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. "Amarcord?" After a moment she seemed to place the name and her confusion deepened. "I thought only pumpkins came out of Amarcord?"
Jing laughed, unexpectedly. The silly little colloqulism apparently wasn't just a regional thing. "Pumpkins and the occasional person," he chuckled. Cielo seemed startled at first by his reaction, and then she too began to laugh, until the pair of them had to stop walking before they couldn't see for the mirth.
"Oy," Kir called back, looking confused himself. "What's so funny?"
"What's so funny, Sister?" Desiree asked at the same time, and after a startled moment, they too began to laugh together.
---
"I'm sorry I was so reserved earlier," Cielo apologized. Kir and Desiree had wandered off by themselves, intending (as Kir had claimed) to win one of every prize in the midway. "It's just that I don't know you, and I always need to look out for my sister. Sometimes her judgement worries me, although she's a lot better than she used to be."
"Don't worry about it," Jing answered. "And as for your sister, Kir's harmless, I swear."
"You both seem like good people," she agreed. "Are you planning on staying in the area for much longer? Maybe we could... meet up again, for ice cream or something..."
She seemed suddenly shy, and Jing wanted to say yes. But by this time tomorrow, he'd be on the run again, treasure in hand, and depending on the details of the heist he might not be able to return to the area until memory of the Bandit King faded a bit. "I... don't think that would work out very well," he said slowly. At her embarrassed look, he was quick to clarify, "But it has nothing to do with you or your sister! It's just... we're unpredictable, Kir and I. And we're not very reliable to anyone besides each other. So I don't want to say yes and then not follow through, you know?"
"So why can't you say yes and then follow through?"
It was Jing's turn to look away, unsure of what he could say that would sound both truthful and yet not reveal anything incriminating. "Because I haven't figured out how to make it work like that. Sorry, Cielo."
She looked taken aback by the sudden end of the conversation, and for a moment he wondered if he'd been to abrupt. He was just about to apologize when she seemed to shake it off, flashing him another smile (slightly less enthusiastic, but not seeming offended. "It's all right. I shouldn't have pried about it. Let's just forget it, okay? Want to try one of these midway games?"
"Sure," he said, glad for the change of topic. "I'll win you a bear, if you want."
"Make it an orange one and it's a deal."
---
At the end of the night, the four of them took a seat on the grassy hill, listening to the music played by the carnival masters and watching the fireworks display in the sky. Brightly clad dancers clapped and sang along with the colourful explosions, making it into a story with hundred-foot visual effects. When it was over, they all clapped their appreciation.
"That was wonderful," Desiree said, getting to her feet and stretching. Kir, who had been sitting rather comfortably in her lap, pouted and shifted over to Jing's shoulder, who hadn't realized he'd missed such a familiar thing until then.
"Yes, thank you," Cielo affirmed with a smile.
"It was our pleasure," Kir crooned, mostly at Desiree, causing her to blush and giggle again.
They walked the girls to the gate, where Cielo neatly intercepted Kir's attempt at kissing Desiree goodnight with the stuffed orange bear. He managed not to spit out a mouthful of fur until after the girls had disappeared over the hill.
"Ugh," he groaned. "With the bear, no less. Couldn't she have used something else?" He glanced at Jing, who was absently reading the carnival's posted schedule for the coming few months. "Well?"
"Well?" Jing echoed.
"Did you have fun?"
The thief chewed his lower lip thoughtfully, a gesture which didn't bode well. But then he smiled and replied, "Sure, Kir. I had fun."
---
The painting of Patatús was not stolen the following night.
---
Notes:
Cielo Ingredients: 1 1/4 oz Vodka (Skyy), 3/4 oz Creme de Cassis, 2 dashes Peychaud bitters, Juice of 1/2 Lime, Ginger ale Mixing instructions: Build in an ice-filled collins glass. Top with ginger ale. Garnish with a wedge of lime. Created by Tony Abou-Ganim of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.
Desiree Ingredients: 5 oz Creme de Cassis, 1 oz Stoli Vodka Mixing instructions: Serve on the rocks. Optional garnish: lemon or lime twist. Great alternative to a Martini.
Patatús Ingredients: 1/2 jigger Amaretto, 1/2 jigger Curacao, 2 jiggers Añejo rum, 6 oz Orange juice, 1 splash Grenadine. Mixing instructions: Blend Amaretto, Rum and Curacao then pour in a glass with ice. Add orange juice, then splash with grenadine.
Perroquet Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz Pernod, 1 dash Mint syrup, Water Mixing instructions: Pour over ice cubes in a highball glass. Fill with cold water and stir well.
Title: Desideratum
Theme: #48 - "Say something!"
Notes: 903 words, finished Nov 13/07.
"We'll talk later."
There was, Kir had decided, no positive way to take that, no slim hope that it would pass without notice. As they'd walked away from the White Night Desert, away from Sugar and Grenadine and the treasures of the Millennium Stew, the thief had remained silent, leaving Kir to fly along a half-length behind him, wincing at the unspoken barrier between them.
Six hours later, Jing still hadn't said a word, and the longer the silence dragged on, the worse Kir felt.
His decision, to leave Jing and go after Sugar, had been made in the heat of the moment. Looking back, he realized it was stupid to think that Jing would've cared more about the treasure than the sisters they were helping, and for the life of him, the albatross couldn't understand why he'd thought otherwise. Nothing he knew about Jing -- and he liked to think he knew the youth better than anyone -- would suggest that he'd do such a callous thing as leave a girl to die.
But Sugar had made things different. Because he'd liked Sugar, differently than the girls they met up with, different even than Fino and Mimosa.
That didn't change the fact that he'd run out on his partner when he'd been needed, and the stony silence between them now was proof of that. Several times Kir had tried to speak up; to apologize, to offer reasons, to say anything to bridge the sudden gap. Each time the words had gotten stuck in his throat, leaving him unable to say a single thing.
Jing must be furious at him, he thought bleakly. Kir hadn't meant to abandon him, that was the last thing he'd wanted--
"Was it what you wanted?"
The thief's voice nearly dropped him out of the air in shock and Kir wondered, aghast, when Jing had acquired the ability to read minds. Then he realized that the thief wasn't even looking at him, no longer walking but still facing away, as though he'd reached a point on the grassy path that said, 'Stop here and discuss'.
"W-what?" the albatross stammered slightly.
"Sugar," Jing said slowly. "Was she, what it is you've wanted all this time?"
Kir floundered for an answer, unsure of what line of questioning Jing was actually pursuing. Wanted what? Wanted how? What answer was Jing looking for? On the spot and confused, he could only attempt clarification. "Jing, I... I ain't sure what..."
The young man turned to face him, grey eyes filled with sorrow despite the thin mask of defiance trying to cover it. "A girl like Sugar," he said. "You always flirt with any girls we meet, Kir, but this wasn't like those times. You weren't acting like you usually do. So I'm asking if all this time, you've been looking for someone like her to stay with because that's what you want. And if it is, then just say so. Then I'll know that's what you're looking for, and what'll happen when you find it. If you're going to leave, I want to at least be ready for it. As your partner, I... I think I've earned that much."
Kir stared, feeling oddly like the world had just fallen out from under him. This wasn't what he'd expected. A few harsh words, a cutting remark or two, even disappointment he could understand. This was something else entirely, and the albatross was beginning to realize he'd screwed up on a level he hadn't even imagined. "Jing... no, that ain't... it's not like... but Sugar needed me--"
"I needed you!" Jing shouted, unrestrained emotion roughening his voice, making Kir flinch. "And if that's not enough, then... then..." His voice dropped to a hollow echo of its former volume. "Then I just need to know. You were there one minute and the next you were gone! I didn't even get a chance to..."
The albatross hadn't seen Jing look so upset in a long time as the youth finished, "It was just like with her, Kir. I never got to say goodbye to her either."
Your mother, Kir finished silently, feeling more awful than he'd ever felt. All this time he'd thought Jing was angry at him, using silence and distance to punish his flighty loyalty. When in truth, he'd been hurt... believing that Kir had indeed chosen Sugar over his partner, with no intention to return. It seemed doubly cruel because Kir knew that was Jing's great fear... to be left alone again.
Was it what you wanted?
And yet Kir didn't know how to answer. He couldn't deny that Sugar had been different. Why did he write Fino in Pompier, looking forward to the next time they'd be that far north? Why did he keep Mimosa's castanets in Jing's knapsack, wondering if the Ocarina of the Moon really kept two people together? What was he looking for?
Jing was watching him silently, wrapping the last remnants of strength around him like a protective shield. Yet Kir saw how fragile that shield was, and had no desire to break through it. Not now, or ever.
"You need me," Kir echoed softly. "That's enough. That's enough, Jing."
The thief's stance softened, all acts forgiven in an instant, and Kir took his usual perch on the youth's shoulder. He wished he could shake the feeling of uncertainty that followed him for the rest of the day.