2 Themes (#5 - Rumors, #7 - Reunion)
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 and ankhutenshi
*
Title: Ambience
Theme: #5 - Rumors
Notes: 460 words, finished Oct 21/06
“Oy, Jing,” Kir said one day, as they sauntered down a street in the city of Curacao. “How come you always know so much about all the treasure we steal?”
“Would you rather be unprepared, Kir?” Jing chuckled.
“You know what I mean!” The albatross huffed. “You know stuff that I’ve never even heard of. Does this come in a book somewhere?”
“Nope,” the Bandit King smiled. “You just need to listen more, partner.” He waved a hand at the busy plaza around them. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
He wove his way through the crowd to the fountain, and jumped up onto the narrow stone ledge surrounding it. People gave him curious glances, but most went about their business as though it was nothing unusual. His arm lifted in a way that Kir recognized as a silent invitation, and the bird alighted on the offered perch.
“What do you hear?” Jing asked.
“People,” Kir answered flatly. “Lots of people, yappin’ away.”
The boy’s laugh was kind. “You’re not listening close enough. Every word is part of a story, Kir, and stories exist to be told… they want to be shared.”
“You’re a strange human, you know that.”
“Maybe,” Jing twirled in a circle, keeping his balance on the stone rail with ease. “Listen, and tell me what you hear.”
With a sigh, the bird decided to humour his companion, although he wasn’t sure what this had to do with any treasure. He closed his eyes and tried to distinguish anything useful from the chatter surrounding them.
"... yesterday the baker's goods were burnt..."
"... heard a noise in the parlour..."
"... can't find my pet, looked everywhere..."
"They're just talkin', Jing," Kir said, exasperated. "Normal stuff. Not a thing about anything important!"
The Bandit King grabbed the albatross out of the air, ignoring the squawk, and clasped the bird against his chest. Kir struggled a bit, simply out of indignation, but fell quiet and sighed, listening to Jing's heartbeat.
"You see, Kir, they're telling you so much... they're nervous and edgy... they want to know what's going on. Something's got them very distracted."
"... claw marks in my flower bed..."
"... like something was watching me yesterday..."
"... my laundry shredded in the yard..."
"A creature?" Kir said hesitantly, and then his eyes lit up. "Oy! The riddle you mentioned earlier! The beast with ruby eyes and diamond teeth!"
"There you go," Jing said, eyes still closed; he jumped from the stone fountain without opening them, moving back through the crowd by instinct alone. It wasn't until they'd reached an alley that he released his feathered companion.
"For a human, you sure are a birdbrain," Kir said, shaking his head. "But I'm glad you are. Are we going?"
"Let's go!"
Title: Hollow Comfort
Theme: #7 - Reunion
Notes: 339 words, finished Oct 21/06
Some nights, when Jing thought that Kir was asleep, he would slip away to sit in the moonlight and look at the green-faceted gem that, all other times, remained safely hidden in the pockets of his yellow coat. Sometimes he would talk to the jewel, in a low voice that didn't carry to the ear of his companion, but most nights he just sat quietly.
To Kir's knowledge, the gem never talked back.
The albatross knew that the sleeping woman's face inside the jewel was Jing's mother, but despite having been at Jing's side for nearly a decade, he knew little else about her. On the rare occasions when the Bandit King let slip a piece of information, it was in a moment when his guard was lowered.
Kir knew, for example, that she had liked apples, which made sense for explaining Jing's love of the fruit. She also had grown roses, which he thought was natural for any lovely lady, and filed the tidbit away. But he had no critical information; he knew neither her name nor how she'd died, leaving Jing alone at the age of five.
He didn't pry, and for that, Jing would return from such nightly vigils and wrap his arms around the bird, seeking comfort until he fell asleep.
Jing might have treasured that green jewel, but Kir resented it. Not because of the attention it received, but because one day, it would do the impossible: steal away the Bandit King himself.
It had come close once before, the day Kir had hatched. He knew it was a stupid thing to feel hostile over, and tried not to let his human companion know his true feelings. Some nights it was harder, like tonight.
"I miss her," Jing said, the simple sentence almost lost beneath the crisp stars.
"I know," Kir answered, "You'll see her again one day."
And even though that promised reunion made Jing smile as he drifted off to sleep, Kir couldn't help but wish it never came to pass.
Characters: Jing + Kir (friendship category)
Fandom: King of Bandits Jing
Full list of themes can be found HERE. X-posted to 50_themes and ankhutenshi
*
Title: Ambience
Theme: #5 - Rumors
Notes: 460 words, finished Oct 21/06
“Oy, Jing,” Kir said one day, as they sauntered down a street in the city of Curacao. “How come you always know so much about all the treasure we steal?”
“Would you rather be unprepared, Kir?” Jing chuckled.
“You know what I mean!” The albatross huffed. “You know stuff that I’ve never even heard of. Does this come in a book somewhere?”
“Nope,” the Bandit King smiled. “You just need to listen more, partner.” He waved a hand at the busy plaza around them. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
He wove his way through the crowd to the fountain, and jumped up onto the narrow stone ledge surrounding it. People gave him curious glances, but most went about their business as though it was nothing unusual. His arm lifted in a way that Kir recognized as a silent invitation, and the bird alighted on the offered perch.
“What do you hear?” Jing asked.
“People,” Kir answered flatly. “Lots of people, yappin’ away.”
The boy’s laugh was kind. “You’re not listening close enough. Every word is part of a story, Kir, and stories exist to be told… they want to be shared.”
“You’re a strange human, you know that.”
“Maybe,” Jing twirled in a circle, keeping his balance on the stone rail with ease. “Listen, and tell me what you hear.”
With a sigh, the bird decided to humour his companion, although he wasn’t sure what this had to do with any treasure. He closed his eyes and tried to distinguish anything useful from the chatter surrounding them.
"... yesterday the baker's goods were burnt..."
"... heard a noise in the parlour..."
"... can't find my pet, looked everywhere..."
"They're just talkin', Jing," Kir said, exasperated. "Normal stuff. Not a thing about anything important!"
The Bandit King grabbed the albatross out of the air, ignoring the squawk, and clasped the bird against his chest. Kir struggled a bit, simply out of indignation, but fell quiet and sighed, listening to Jing's heartbeat.
"You see, Kir, they're telling you so much... they're nervous and edgy... they want to know what's going on. Something's got them very distracted."
"... claw marks in my flower bed..."
"... like something was watching me yesterday..."
"... my laundry shredded in the yard..."
"A creature?" Kir said hesitantly, and then his eyes lit up. "Oy! The riddle you mentioned earlier! The beast with ruby eyes and diamond teeth!"
"There you go," Jing said, eyes still closed; he jumped from the stone fountain without opening them, moving back through the crowd by instinct alone. It wasn't until they'd reached an alley that he released his feathered companion.
"For a human, you sure are a birdbrain," Kir said, shaking his head. "But I'm glad you are. Are we going?"
"Let's go!"
Title: Hollow Comfort
Theme: #7 - Reunion
Notes: 339 words, finished Oct 21/06
Some nights, when Jing thought that Kir was asleep, he would slip away to sit in the moonlight and look at the green-faceted gem that, all other times, remained safely hidden in the pockets of his yellow coat. Sometimes he would talk to the jewel, in a low voice that didn't carry to the ear of his companion, but most nights he just sat quietly.
To Kir's knowledge, the gem never talked back.
The albatross knew that the sleeping woman's face inside the jewel was Jing's mother, but despite having been at Jing's side for nearly a decade, he knew little else about her. On the rare occasions when the Bandit King let slip a piece of information, it was in a moment when his guard was lowered.
Kir knew, for example, that she had liked apples, which made sense for explaining Jing's love of the fruit. She also had grown roses, which he thought was natural for any lovely lady, and filed the tidbit away. But he had no critical information; he knew neither her name nor how she'd died, leaving Jing alone at the age of five.
He didn't pry, and for that, Jing would return from such nightly vigils and wrap his arms around the bird, seeking comfort until he fell asleep.
Jing might have treasured that green jewel, but Kir resented it. Not because of the attention it received, but because one day, it would do the impossible: steal away the Bandit King himself.
It had come close once before, the day Kir had hatched. He knew it was a stupid thing to feel hostile over, and tried not to let his human companion know his true feelings. Some nights it was harder, like tonight.
"I miss her," Jing said, the simple sentence almost lost beneath the crisp stars.
"I know," Kir answered, "You'll see her again one day."
And even though that promised reunion made Jing smile as he drifted off to sleep, Kir couldn't help but wish it never came to pass.