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[Silent Poet]

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“The sun had hidden it’s healing rays from the lands. Once again I was in the dark, my love. I could not see your beacon of heartfire, yet I am stretched across your grave.”

“Poet-san, you must come with us. They winter is full upon us” Tai Kwan says standing there in his ceremonial silks.

Poet thinks to himself, "he stands there, hardly taller than a dwarf. His very presence at rest and prepared at the same time. Tai's dedication is like none I have ever seen. He is our only weapon against Fortunato."

“Fek ye an’ ye soddin’ weather reports. Tis her fekkin’ birthday” Poet says struggling to spread a picnic blanket in the falling snow.

“I worry for him. There is so much Po and I hid from him. When he learns the extent, he may take my head, too.”

“Poet-san, my old friend, come in to the warmth of the fire in our Yurt” Tai says kneeling to his friend’s eye level.

“His very stance is an equal balance of calm and readiness. With a simple kick he could crush my skull. Yet, at the same time he stands there open with actual concern. This could work to my advantage.”

“What do ye in yuir lofty tower o’ celibacy know o’ love. Stand down o’ I wi’ level this land wi’ a plague ye hae only soiled yuirself in yuir sleep aboot” the lanky man stood shaking out his long hair and was wearing only his ceremonial kilt. His body began to glow a pale green.

“His only perceptible response is that his eyes dilate momentarily. The rest of him slowly adjusts his posture for total battle. Po and I may have made a mistake with this one.”

“Wordsmith-sama, I will give you another candlemark here, then I will take measures to subdue you and bring you in from the cold” Tai bows and steps back and with his actions several seeming drunken peasants stood and backed up.

“He has given me but a moment, my love. As it is your birthday, I have written a song in your honor. It is very raw and new. I hope you are pleased by it.”

He clears his voice by sipping from several flasks.

Makin’ me way downtown
Walkin’ fast
Faces pass
An’ I'm home bound

Starin’ blankly ahead
Just makin’ me way
Makin’ a way
Through tha’ crowd

An’ I need ye
An’ I miss ye
An’ now I wonder....

If I could fall
Int’ tha’ sky
Do ye think time
Would pass me by
'Cause ye know I'd walk
A thousand miles
If I could
Just see ye
Tonight

Tis always times like these
When I think o’ ye
An’ I wonder
If ye e’er
Think o’ me

'Cause everythin's so wrong
An’ I dinna belong
Livin’ in your
Precious memories

'Cause I need ye
An’ I miss ye
An’ now I wonder....

If I could fall
Inta’ tha’ sky
Do ye think time
Would pass me by
'Cause ye know I'd walk
A thousand miles
If I could
Just see ye
Tonight

An’ I, … * I *
Dinna want ta’ let ye know
I, … * I *
Drown in your memory
I, … * I *
Dinna want ta’ let this go
I, … * I *
Dinna....

Makin’ me way downtown
Walkin’ fast
Faces pass
An’ I'm home bound

Starin’ blankly ahead
Just makin’ me way
Making a way
Through tha’ crowd

An’ I still need ye
An’ I still miss ye
An; now I wonder....

If I could fall
Inta’ tha’ sky
Do ye think time
Would pass us by
'Cause ye know I'd walk
A thousand miles
If I could
Just see ye...

Just hold ye
Tonight

I miss ye love …

“He is dragging me inside to the fire, but my fingers left gouges in the land as he drug me kicking, snarling, and screaming back to the fire. I allow him because it is damned cold and he snuck up on me. This might have been a bad idea.”
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"When he spoke, what tender words he used! So softly, that like flakes of feathered snow, They melted as they fell." - John Dryden

[Starfire]

---

Belladonna stood there in the darkness listening to Poet. It nearly crushed her to hear him wail so. When she faked her death centuries ago, she thought she could just walk away from the pair of them, he two men she loved dearly in all the world. Tai with his honor and humility blazing like a sun for all to see. Yet, he himself never saw. How could one not love such a man. And Poet, oh Lord love the man, so much life and spirit in him, even if a bit of a rascal. He could make the coldest heart smile, the stoutest warrior fall down laughing.

She smiled softly to herself thinking of all she had watched in hiding, cheering when he finally settled down and married another, and crying bitter tears at her faithlessness. She knew she could mend him with a word but then there would be so many explanations.

Belladonna thought back over time, back to when she was with Poet.....

It was a night much like this one, snowing, cold. She and Poet were trying to have a child, just one was all she asked for from the gods. Poet loved the trying, god save her, he insisted often. Laughing to herself, she admitted she loved him trying too. He chased the cold from the night and warmed her from head to toe. She knew she would not likely get with child but didn't want to tell him. It would crush his spirit some. Tai kept insisting she tell him why she was not likely to get with child. Bless his heart, he meant well. But she just couldn't tell Poet.

She remembered Poet wanting to know if she was gravid yet. Belladonna knew then she would have to fade from his life. He wanted a child so badly and she would not likely ever have one. Oh, god, the thought of never seeing him again, laying together, twined limbs. And to leave Poet would also mean never seeing Tai either.

Lord what a mess she had become. In love with both, unable to choose where her heart truely lay. The two were such complete opposites and yet so very similar. Belladonna decided she would have to go talk to Tai, ask for guidance. She snuggled back down with Poet, dreaming.....

The following day she had gone in search of Tai. She knew what he would counsel but she had to hear it anyway. She bundled up warmly and traipsed outside to find him. She stumbled down the walk, covered in snow, careful of her steps. Belladonna looked up suddenly at the sounds, startled to see Tai, stripped to the waist, wading in frigid water, catching fish. The peasants on the beach were scrambling to gather them quickly before they could wiggle their way back into the water. The winter had been harsh and many of the peasants were gaunt. It was then she was truely struck by Tai's appearance. At first, she had ignored it, thinking it light reflected from the water........
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aka: Tatiana Thorn nee Alexi; Summer Kane; Ivory Skyfire; and others

[Tai Kwan Leap]

---

The noon sun burned it’s way across the hidden pond, but the embrace of winter ignored the sun’s caress. There in the center stood Tai Kwan, the Silver Lotus monk. A large section in the center having been cleared of the layer of ice. His eyes were closed and his hands moved slowly gently lifting fish from the pond and tossing them to the gaunt villagers on the shore.

“Belladonna is here. I must bring my breathing and energy into alignment.”

“Sensei Tai, is that you there” her voice so full of energy and spirit. The Lady Belladonna stood on the bank of the pond in formal attire.

“I am stilled by the very sound of her voice. The feelings and desire her presence stir in me are so foreign. I must remember my training.”

“Hai, Lady Belladonna it is I. If you could but turn the other way as I leave the pond I will be ready for you” the young monk says kneeling in the water still.

“My body is covered in markings that few have seen. The curse of the “Painted Monk” is that I cannot see the images on my body.”

“You are so mysterious, Sensei Tai. I see you watching me. Why do you stare at me so” she pauses and stamps her foot.

“We are friends, and friends have no secrets. Come out and get you robe. I will not turn my head” she says somewhat petulantly.

“I find I cannot disobey her commands. As I stand the water falls from my body revealing my curse.”

The short man kneeling in the pond moves from kneeling to standing position with lack of motion that made it appear instantaneous. As the water splashes down his body, many glowing markings on his upper torso become evident. He shakes out his topknot and the eight bells in them jingle softly; the midday sun makes them sparkle as they jingle.

“Her eyes travel my body and my markings. I may be making an horrible mistake, but I cannot control myself.”

Belladonna’s eyes do attempt to take in all the markings on his body. She notices the ritual branding and scarring, and called him closer.

“Sensei Tai, I have never seen such extensive … body modification … Poet has a few, but nothing like this. May I be allowed to examine them closer?”

Tai Kwan bows to a precise 90 degrees and then meets her eyes.

“If you ask it, I must obey” he says as he walks towards her from the center of the pond.

“My actions are of a foreign nature. I do not know what I do.”

She watched as the young monk walked towards her. The pulsing scar across his chest was spilling dangerous energy. Across the top of it was a cobalt blue dragon. It spread from the center of his chest and down his right arm. His right hand being the head and mouth of the dragon. The eyes of the dragon centered over the back of his palm glowed softly, while his fingers were the teeth of the dragon and twitched slightly.

Her eyes travel his body. So many scars and so many painted images. In her life she had been given nothing to prepare her for this.

The odd short man paused at the edge of the water and kneeled, and though his eyes were downcast she knew he waited for her to speak.

“I can do nothing other than be what I am. Her very presence challenges all that I believe to be my path.”
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"He's been fired from the Shrimp Boat?" -- Charlaine Harris "Living Dead In Dallas."

[Silent Poet]

---

“There I was juggling torches like usual, and there she stood watching me”

A gaunt and wiry man was juggling five lit torches and telling jokes as he did so.

“Oy, wha’ is tha’ difference betwixt tha’ Queen o’ Britain an’ a privy” He does a quick toss and four of the five seem to hover above his head so quickly his hands move. “A privy doesna follow ye aboot a fortnight after ye use it.”

“Her dark fiery eyes watch my hands and try to follow my every movement. I feel a fire in my soul I thought long dead as she stares at me.”

“Notice at no time do me fingers e’er leave me body” he chuckles gaily as he works his magic and amazes the crowd.

She walks forward full of spirit and energy. His breath catches in his gaunt chest as he closes his eyes and sees her through his third eye. Her heartfire glowed like a beacon, and he was amazed that not all could see its beauty.

“I have a 100 British sovereigns that says you cannot keep all five aloft and pledge your heart” she sets down a pouch of money at his feet.

“She is so succulent. I want to eat her all up. It has been centuries since I saw devotion and pure decadence in the same body. Lady Belladonna wants a show, and a show she will get.”

He rolls his shoulders and then stands erect taking advantage of his natural six foot six height. Winking his right eye he tosses the fifth torch up into the mixture of the other four.

“Well me love, ye asked for pomp an’ circumstance when I proposed. I hired this lot ta’ witness me greatest fete” He says winking and tossing all five from under his lifted left leg.

“Belladonna seems so indifferent to my best efforts, I suppose it is time to pull out all stops.”

“I do not believe I asked you for any of the kind, Sir Poet” she says her voice a dusky fog of crimson velvet.

The jesting juggler simply smiles his best roguish smile, and then extinguishes the torches under his armpit as fast as he can catch them.

“Bloody ‘ell tha’ stings” he says dropping the last spent torch to the ground.

“Now or never, old sod.”

“Tis, show time me, love. All o’ this is ta’ impress ye enow ta’ say aye” he bows low and the fireworks explode to show the small valley had been turned into a massive carnival atmosphere.

“Now, love … pray heed me lyrics. Perhaps ye wi’ understand wha’ I am sayin’” he sweepingly bows majestically, his long red hair almost touching the floor.

* taps foot *

You wi’ remember me when tha’ west wind moves
Upon tha’ fields o’ barley
You wi’ forget tha’ sun in his jealous sky
As we walk in tha’ fields o’ gold

So she took her love
For ta’ gaze awhile
Upon tha’ fields o’ barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among tha’ fields o’ gold

Will you stay wi’ me, will you be me love
Among tha’ fields o’ barley
We wi’ forget tha’ sun in his jealous sky
As we lie in tha’ fields o’ gold

See tha’ west wind move like a lover so
Upon tha’ fields o’ barley
Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth
Among tha’ fields of gold

I ne’er made promises lightly
An’ there hae been some tha’ I hae broken
But I swear in tha days still left
We wi’ walk in tha’ fields o’ gold

Many years hae passed since those summer days
Among tha’ fields o’ barley
See tha’ children run as tha’ sun goes down
Among tha’ fields o’ gold
You wi’ remember me when tha’ west wind moves
Upon tha’ fields o’ barley
You can tell tha’ sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in tha’ fields o’ gold

He bows low, his hair again almost touching the ground.

“Wha’ do ye say love” he asks her imploringly.
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"When he spoke, what tender words he used! So softly, that like flakes of feathered snow, They melted as they fell." - John Dryden

[Starfire]

---

Belladonna stared into Poet's eyes. So much joy, love of life, so much passion in this man, ready to leap from him and overwhelm all around. She smiled softly at him, thinking. A small noise behind him caught her attention. She glanced up to see Tai, and knew he had heard Poet's question. Tai, her sensai, calm, soothing, yet steady as a rock before a storm. Her heart ached trying to decide and even as she thought it she knew the choice she would make.
Tai would kill any and all who sought to hurt her, and thus protect Poet. Not that Poet could not defend himself but Tai was older and more careful. It nearly broke her having to choose one over the other, but a choice had to be made. Looking at Tai as she spoke, she accepted Poet's offer, a touch of pain in her eyes as she did. Belladonna then forced herself to break eye contact with Tai and looked down at Poet. Without even looking, she knew Tai had faded from the area. Brushing her fingers over Poet's face, she kissed him deeply, then smiled......
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aka: Tatiana Thorn nee Alexi; Summer Kane; Ivory Skyfire; and others

[Tai Kwan Leap]

---

The short stout man leaned over and poured three ladles of water onto the stones in the firepit. He strips to his gold

colared hakama. Slowly, he lights the incense of the four watchtowers.

Tai Kwan Leap, the last of the Silver Lotus clan dances around the room doing various katas with his nunchaku. He pauses

catcing his breath and looks up to see the wife of his best friend. Lady Belladonna, his oldest student.

"Belladonna-sama why are you here so late" Tai Kwan said turning in the middle of his kata.

"She stood there, in all the finery that Poet's money could buy. She says nothing looking to the ground."

"It is hard to talk right now" he says looking around for a towel.

She pulls back the fur lined hood of the finest silk and then holds my towel to her eyes.

"Belladonna-sama why are you crying? Is everything okay" the short man starts strapping his armor on.

"I must whisper because I cannot be loud" she holds one finger to her lips.

Her voice is like a velvet fog. It breaks down all my defenses.

"Poet-san is in the next room" he says looking down but holding his hand out for the towel.

"Sometimes I wish he was you. If you want your towel, come take it from me" her words challenge me.

The air is crisp in this winter month. Ice is slowly forming on my body outside the hot bath.


"I guess you never really moved on" he says standing stark still.

It is really good to hear her voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak

"I hold what you seek. It is your choice if it is the towel or myself" she holds her gaze steadily.

"It is unexpected that you are seeking me tonight" he says trying to decide.

And hai, I have dreamed of you.

She drops a bit of paper into the coals of his sauna.

The bit I catch involves the word infidelity.


"Does he know you are talking to me
Will it start a fight" He asks slowly adjusting the buckles of his armor.

"I do not think she has a clue" she says dropping the towel to the ground with a whispering rose I had once given her atop

it.

It is a test. Somewhere Master Po is watching.

"Poet-san is in the next room" Tai Kwan vaguely points in the direction of his best friend's rooms.

"Sometimes I wish he was you" she softly says as she places a hand on the dragon tatoo across his chest and down his right

arm.

I never want to say goodbye.


"Sensei, you make it hard to be faithful" she said as she pressed her body against the short man.

She kisses me with the lips of a celestial.

"It is really good to hear your voice saying my name. It sounds so sweet. Coming from the lips of a celestial.

Belladonna-sama, why do you seek me so late" he asks leaning in to her kiss.
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"He's been fired from the Shrimp Boat?" -- Charlaine Harris "Living Dead In Dallas."

[Starfire]

---

Ah, beloved sensai, beloved Tai. I did not make my choice lightly. I love him deeply and I love you more.

She drops the towel behind her and puts both hands upon his chest, lightly tracing the tatoo.

Before I head back to his bed, I will have one thing for me, to hold me until eternity.

With that, she leans forward and kisses him lightly, her hands sliding from his chest. As she deepens the kiss, her robe falls to the floor revealing nothing beneath.

I will have one night with you my beloved, Tai.

Her arms slide around him and she presses herself against him, pushing him back towards the mats.

This one night, I need it for me, Tai.......
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aka: Tatiana Thorn nee Alexi; Summer Kane; Ivory Skyfire; and others