RuneScape Forum Archive | Gielinor and Darsys

Roshinda

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The manager clutched a thick file to his chest, which he briefly referred to before barking: "You! #256, a word with you in my office. Now!"
All moisture was instantly evaporated out of Ebony's mouth. A lead ball sank heavily in the pit of her stomach as she turned off her machine and crawled over her seat mate to reach the aisle. She nearly had to run to keep up with the burly manager's long stride, passing many covered heads bent over the bobbing machines still droning in unaffected song. No one noticed her pass. No one cared.
She entered the manager's office with timid anxiety and sweaty palms. She was certain she was about to be punished for Ava's absence. Unless there was already word on her sister's whereabouts, and she was in more trouble than with the factory director. Ebony gulped and faced the manger. He was already standing behind his long wooden desk with a long cane in his hand which he twirled between his fingers as he paced back and forth. It was an intimidating scene, and Ebony trembled noticeably.
"How long have you worked here?" he asked, not waiting for a reply, but glancing at the now open file on his desk. "Three years, almost four," he answered his own question, "sent here from Inaril Academy it says. Good school." He nodded his approval. "You were assigned a sister, were you not?" He leaned over his folder, "Ava Olohand," then peered at Ebony with his small beady eyes.
"Yes sir," she nodded, barely forcing the words through the lump in her throat.
"For how long?"
Ebony swallowed. "Since we have come here, Sir."
The manager straightened and took two large strides towards Ebony. "Then, I assume, you are aware of your sisterly obligations: to keep one another on course, to share in your work, pleasure, and unfortunately, punishment."

02-Sep-2008 03:38:48 - Last edited on 20-Jun-2010 04:44:39 by Roshinda

Roshinda

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Ebony didn't bother to answer, for what he said was a true element of their society and had been ingrained into her thinking since her time at the Academy. Though the justice of the matter was somewhat debatable, it could not be denied. She bowed her head, waiting to hear her punishment for her sister's negligence.
"Good," the manager's face twitched into a smile, "I'm glad we are in agreement. Should your sister be dutifully back in her place tomorrow morning, there will be no unnecessary consequences to yourself. As you are a hard worker, we shall let it pass this time."
Ebony sighed visibly with relief and turned to leave. "Oh, and one more thing," the manager's lips formed a parallel line with his stern eyebrows, "officer's shirts have eight buttons. And only eight buttons."
'He doesn't miss a thing,' Ebony thought as she marched back to her place. 'But he did miss his calling in life; he would have made a great General.'
“And so there was quite the search out last night,”one of Ebony's gossipy neighbors was saying as she resumed her seat. “seven patrols went through my town alone.”
“And three mine.” The other woman confirmed with a nod as she leaned closer. Her hot rancid breath hovered on Ebony's arm. “And do you really think there could have been a Rift last night?” she whispered with wide eyes.
“Well what else could result in such mayhem? They were obviously searching for someone. Or something.” Both women nodded.
“And do you think someone got through.”
“Maybe.”
“There hasn't been a Rift in years.”
“They say that there used to be many.... had something to do with the stars.”
“No the planets.”
“Either way, anyway it's the one thing the Officials fear might upset their system, though who can tell.”
“Seems awful mysterious.” Both women glanced around anxiously.

02-Sep-2008 03:38:55 - Last edited on 08-Sep-2008 04:03:02 by Roshinda

Roshinda

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“There were patrols posted on the roads here, though I didn't speak to anyone directly but Maybelle says that her Uncle's Aunt......” Suddenly she stopped and looked at Ebony, who was quietly stitching a collar. It was as though she had just noticed her for the first time. Her eyes widened. “Well, I'll tell you the details later.” She threw a distrustful glare at Ebony.
Ebony smiled. “You ladies needn't worry. If a Rift did occur and the trespasser actually survived they will be turned in within a day or two, and the whole thing will be over.”
“But what if...”
Ebony rolled her eyes 'Boy, they love a juicy story,' she thought to herself. She didn't know much about past Rifts as they had only ever been documented in the hill country, and never the city so any truth to the reports were subject to opinion, but the women were right. They were greatly feared. The thought of someone from another world suddenly passing through into hers was fairly unnerving even to Ebony.
The reports indicated that any beings were always found dead, lying in their strange clothes high up on the hillside. Their instant death had something to do with clashing energy fields, and the public was assured that there could never be a surviver. But there were stories....
Ebony's thoughts were immediately altered by the lunch bell, and she hurried outside with the other women who lined up for their ordinary rations of bread and stew. While the women ate in a crowded cluster, an officer in Darsian uniform pounded on the manager's office door, and was let in with all due civility. After several minutes the officer exited without even turning to glance in the women's direction. He held a thin black brief case that swished against his trousers as he marched away.

02-Sep-2008 03:39:02 - Last edited on 07-Sep-2008 02:49:54 by Roshinda

Roshinda

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Ebony made her weary way home as the sun slipped silently behind the hills. To her relief, a thin whisp of smoke trailed from their small cabin that was nestled in the midst of a cluster of farm buildings. She slipped quietly inside and glared at Ava's back as she stood leaning over a
pot on the stove.
"Well, I hope you have a jolly good explanation for where you've been all day." Ebony's voice was icy but controlled.
Ava spun around with a startled, wide-eyed expression. She laughed nervously, " Well, its a long story. Why don't you come eat something before I get into it."
"Your rations have been cut for the week," Ebony spoke from the doorway, her tone still frigid, "I suppose you find that amusing too?"
"No!" Ava almost shouted in response, "I won't miss again. I'll be at work tomorrow, I promise. Just replax and let me explain."
"Relax you say?" Ebony stepped inside and threw her veil on the chair as she untied her kerchief, "How typical Ava. You don't care one iota what you drag me through. You never have; you've only ever cared about Ava. They told me at the school that they'd assigned me a handful, hoping I'd
rub off on you. But you're more than a handful; you're the most self-centred, irresponsible sister one could have!" Ebony pounded her small fist on the table with such force the tin cups wobbled and tipped over, rolling onto the floor with a clatter.
Ava jumped and her wide hazel eyes welled with tears. "No Eb, you don't understand."
"Careless, irresponsile. You don't consider the concequences."
"No Ebony. Listen to me, please!"
"I don't care to hear anything you have to say. I know you lack a love for the System."
"That's not true!" Ava began to protest before being cut off again. She watched with her mouth agape as her usually meek tempered sister paced about the room flailing her arms and all but shouting.

02-Sep-2008 03:39:09 - Last edited on 15-Jun-2010 04:00:01 by Roshinda

Roshinda

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"Ava," Ebony stopped pacing and grabbed the back of one of the two chairs. She closed her eyes
inhaled a deep, steadying breath, leaning on the chair for support, "I know your thoughts, and I
could have reported you many times. Somehow I thought I could make you change, help you see..."
Her voice was calmer, but her white knuckles gripping the chair betrayed her anger.
"And you can Ebony," Ava cried, brushing aside the tears welling in her brown eyes, "you have.
I won't make you ashamed again." She turned to the stove and sighed, "It's just... things have
gotten really complicated."
"Complicated?" Ebony spat, "Our easy life is too much for you I suppose? Your independent spirit
can't handle the responsibility? Ava don't you see it's what we were made for? Everyone has a
purpose. All the we have to do is respect the System and do our job. No one has missed work for
years, and there I am, in the manager's office being told you're my problem."
"Ebony!"
"Well the System might say you're my problem, but I can't deal with it tonight. I'm going to bed."
"No soup?"
Ebony didn't respond but stormed by Ava into the bedroom and slammed the door dividing the house
into two. She laid down on the edge of the bed and began to shake. "I shouldn't have yelled," she
whispered into the darkness, "but I've been too leniant with her. They say parentage doesn't matter, that it's all about training. But if we were brought up the same, why then are we so different? Maybe they're wrong then; maybe parentage does matter." She curled up under the blanket and tried to ignore the sick, hollow feeling in her stomach.
She heard the creak of old hinges as the front door opened and closed, and Ebony knew her sister had gone outside. She hoped Ava would be gone a while, and yet couldn't close her eyes until the groaning door announced she had returned safely about an hour later. Ava quietly tiptoed into the
room and cautiously turned down the beadclothes.

02-Sep-2008 03:39:56 - Last edited on 15-Jun-2010 04:14:47 by Roshinda

Roshinda

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"Ava," Ebony suddenly called out, and both girls jumped at the sound.
"You're still awake."
"I couldn't sleep. I'm sorry for yelling, and I'm not angry any more. Okay?"
"Thanks," Ava sighed.
"Just make me one promise. Please never forget your duty again."
There was a long pause, and then Ava whispered, "I promise." Ebony noticed the tremor in her voice.

02-Sep-2008 03:40:02 - Last edited on 15-Jun-2010 04:14:26 by Roshinda