Chapter 14: Balisier
*it is a clear, sunny day in the city of Balisier, the streets are filled with moving trolleys, busy people and shops of every different kind, a little ways away from the main city, three mysterious travelers appear out of thin air in the woods*
Aiden: *falls out of a glowing purple vortex and right into a bush* FUUUCK! Shit, that--*looks at his hands, then his body* Oh God, I forgot I was this scrawny! *holds throat* My voice! I haven't reached puberty! *flails around in his 10-year old body*
Jillian: *points and laughs at Aiden* And you were so anxious to see what Garnet looked like! *blinks* Hey, how old are you?
Jack: *carefully stands, adjusting his bag* *looks around* I think we should use a cover. *looks at the other two* I think we could pass as brothers and sister, with me bringing you to see the town.
Aiden: I WAS 23, but now I'm clearly 10. *pokes his scrawny legs* Aw, man... *turns attention to Jack then suddenly pounces on Jillian and starts fake-beating her up* ALRIGHT, LITTLE SIS!
Jillian: Ack! *wrestles with him* Get off of me, you big jerk! *tries to push him away*
Aiden: *puts her in a choke-hold* How old are you anyway? Like, 5? You're so little! *play punches her head*
Jillian: Owww, heyy!! *squirms away from him* I'm 7, thank you! *stands back and firmly puts her hands on her hips* It's not my fault I was always little! *pouts*
Jack: Hey, enough guys. Let's find Garnet and get that gemstone. *takes Jillian's hand and begins walking towards the town, motioning Aiden to follow*
Aiden: *walks beside the two as they enter town* *does his best not to get run over* Holy shi--er... *to himself* Maybe I should talk like a 10 year old... Golly gee, this place is great! Look at everyone! There's so many people! *more softer, to Jack and Jillian* How the hell are we supposed to find a little girl in this huge town?
Jillian: *looks at him* Well, she said she worked in a hat shop, right? So we just need to find one of those.. *looks down the street to see several hat shops* *sighs and whines a little*
Jack: *suddenly sees the woman from the picture leaving a hat shop, with the hat on her head* Found it. Let's go. *begins moving quickly down the street*
Jillian: *has to run just to keep up* Jack, slow down! I can't run that fast!
Aiden: *picks Jillian up and puts her on his back* We're going to get so lost... *gets pushed around by the moving people* Er-uh-hold on!
Jillian: *wraps arms around his neck and holds on tight*
Jack: *leads them to the door outside a hat shop* This is the shop.. *waits a moment before walking inside*
Aiden: *clings to the wall* Oh geez, how did Garnet live in this town? It's crazy! *looks up to see a sign that says Jade's Hats*
Jillian: *slides down off of Aiden's back* I don't think I'd ever survive here.
Jack: *kneels down in front of the other two* *glances up at the people walking by, then back to the others* Mother really wants a new hat for her birthday next week. Let's go find her one. *stands and opens the door, allowing the other two to enter before him*
Aiden: *moves into the hat shop and immediately starts trying on every hat he sees* Jaaaaack, buy me a hat, too! *looks at himself in a mirror then frowns* I think this one would look better on you. *hands Jack a cowboy hat*
*an old woman behind the counter smiles as she finishes waiting on a customer, looks at the trio that just entered with familiar green eyes*
Old Woman: Hello there, is there something in particular you are looking for today? *folds up a piece of paper and puts it under the counter*
Jack: *smiles a little, gazing at the hat, before putting it back on the rack* *looks up at the woman* We're here looking for a hat for our mother.. it's her birthday next week.
Jillian: *slips behind a rack and out of sight* *begins quietly crawling around to look for Garnet*
Old Woman: *walks out from behind the counter* If you don't see a hat you like out here, I can take a custom order for you. What is her favorite color?
Aiden: *continues looking at hats, spies freshly baked cookies on the counter* *slinks over...*
Old Woman: Oh, would you like a cookie, young sir? My grandaughter and I made them last night. *takes the plate and offers Aiden one*
Aiden: *takes one and eats it happily*
Jack: Pinks and reds are her favorites.. she likes green, too, but not as much. *looks around, picking up a nearby hat* Maybe this one..
Old Woman: *sets the plate of cookies back on the counter and moves back over to Jack* Oh, that's a lovely one! We also have that hat in a deeper red. *moves around a stand and picks it up* Here it is!
Jack: *looks at it* Ohh, that's almost the color of her hair! That'll be perfect!
Old Woman: Oh well, maybe you would want to get a more contrasting color? Perhaps in white? We don't have this particular hat in white, but there are others similar...
Jack: Oh.. maybe. What hats do you have in white? She's very picky about what she likes.
Aiden: *sneaks more cookies and eats them*
Jillian: *sees a staircase in the corner, begins moving towards it, looking back every so often to make sure no one sees her*
Little Garnet: *spies a little girl snooping around the shop* *suddenly pounces on the little girl and pins her down* PINNED YA!
Jillian: *yelps a little* Hey! *pushes the little Garnet off of her* *sits up* What do you think you're doing? *pouts*
*a slightly dumpy, 7-year old Garnet stands before Jillian, with her hair in very high blonde pink-ribboned pigtails she wears ridiculous-looking pink overalls with pink ducks all over them and a white t-shirt underneath, little pink sandals are on her feet, she is missing one of her center teeth*
Little Garnet: *chomps on a cookie* What do ya think yer doin' sneakin' around Grandma Jade's shop? Huh? Huh huh huh?
Jillian: I was just.. trying to find a hat for my mom. And I thought there might be more back here. *thinks to self - I'll have to make fun of Garnet for the pink ducks later..* What are you doing? And where did you get the cookie? *eyes it up*
Little Garnet: *eats the rest of the cookie* *speaks with mouth still full* They're my grandma's cookies... and youuuu can't have one! *skips out into the main shop* Grandma Jaaaaaaaaade! *points back towards Jillian* There's someone sneakin' 'round yer shop!
Jillian: *ducks behind a rack as Garnet skips away*
Grandma Jade: Now Garnet, you know not to bother me when I have a customer. Go play. *scoots her away* *turns back to Jack* I'm sorry about that. She's my grandaughter. *laughs* We have a variety of white hats on the center stand. *motions towards it*
Jack: *smiles* That's quite alright.. my sister is the same age as her. *begins to move over towards the center stand*
Jillian: *peeks out from behind the rack, sticking her tongue out at Garnet*
Little Garnet: *goes to grab another cookie but grabs a hand instead* *looks up at Aiden*
Aiden: *blinks a few times at little Garnet, suddenly throws his head back in laughter*
Little Garnet: HEY WHATCHA LAUGHIN' AT?! *crosses arms*
Aiden: I--can't--breathe... *laughs harder* Ohhh DUCKS! *points at Garnet and laughs*
Little Garnet: *kicks Aiden in the balls and runs upstairs*
Aiden: Auuuggghh! *falls over in pain*
Jillian: *scurries after Garnet upstairs* Hey! You can't beat up my brother like that!
Jack: *glances over at Aiden* Eheh.. sorry about my brother and sister. They've been antsy all morning..
Aiden: *wobbles up* Ohh... she's still the same Garnet... *reaches for another cookie*
Grandma Jade: It's quite alright. I know how it can be. *smiles at Jack*
Garnet: *runs into her apartment upstairs, moves through the living room and into her room* *jumps onto her bed and hides under a large pillow*
Jillian: *runs following Garnet into her room and jumps on top of her on the bed* Hey! *stops a second and looks around* You had a cool room. *climbs off the bed and goes over to the window to see the sea* And an awesome view!
Little Garnet: *sits up in bed* You're weird!! Why are you following me?! *hugs the pillow*
Jillian: *turns to her and blinks* Because I'm tired of walking around all day with Jackie-boy. I wanted to do something fun! Hey, do you see any pirate ships out there? *points out the window*
Little Garnet: *eyes lighten up* Oh yeah, I do!! *jumps off the bed and runs to the window* I always see their flags from a distance, and then I draw them! I even made a book!! *crawls under her bed and grabs a book, flips through it revealing drawings of pirate ships and their flags* Someday I'm goin' to be the biggest, baddest pirate out there!! I'll be captain and everyone will fear me!! *lets out an evil laugh*
Aiden: *leaning in the doorway* Somehow I think you'll just end up being a lacky to a bumbling Seeq captain...
Little Garnet: *glares at Aiden as he walks in* Get outta here! No boys!!
Jillian: Yeah, get out of here! *runs over and pushes him out the door, whispers softly enough so Garnet can't hear* I got it under control. *closes the door on him*
Aiden: *blinks as the door gets shut in his face* *huffs and walks back downstairs*
Jillian: *goes over and looks at the book* Being a pirate would be so cool! You could get treasure and gold and things like diamonds and rubies!
Little Garnet: *face drops a little, looks slightly nervous* *eyes shift towards her pillow* Yeah, treasure! Aheh... *gets quiet*
Jillian: *peers at her, then suddenly jumps back on the bed towards the pillow* You have treasure under here, I know you do! *throws the pillow over her head and onto the floor behind her*
Little Garnet: *quickly snatches up a green velvet pouch from under the pillow and holds it to her chest, backs away from Jillian* Get away, it's mine!
Jillian: I just want to see it! *moves towards her* What is it? It's it a gemstone?
Little Garnet: *looks at her with surprise then with suspicion* *backs away some more* You're gonna tell my grandmother, aren't you?!
Jillian: I might if you don't show me what it is! *moves closer again* Lemme see!
Little Garnet: *peers at her* You have to promise not tell anyone you saw it. I MEAN IT!!
Jillian: Okay, okay, I promise! *holds out pinky finger* I pinky swear!
Little Garnet: *bats away her hand* That's not good enough! *spits on her own palm and offers it to Jillian*
Jillian: *thinks to herself - That's disgusting!* *spits on her hand and shakes* Okay, now let me see!
Little Garnet: Okay! *empties pouch onto hand to reveal an oval-shaped, yellow gem* *holds it up to the light as it shimmers* Isn't it pretty?
Jillian: *stares at it* Oooohh... It's beautiful!
Jack: *yells from downstairs* Jillian! We need to leave now!
Jillian: *pouts* That's my stupid brother! I don't want to go yet! I hate my brothers sometimes.. Aiden tackles me all the time, it hurts! *frowns*
Little Garnet: *quickly puts gem back into pouch* Can you play tomorrow?!
Jillian: Yeah! I'll have to throw a tantrum to have Jack let me, but he'll say yes! I know he will!
Little Garnet: *slips pouch into her desk drawer* C'mon let's go downstairs and ask!! *grabs Jillian's hand and runs downstairs*
Jillian: *runs downstairs and towards Jack, jumping up on him* Jackjackjackjackjackjack!!! Can I come back to play tomorrow! Please?
Jack: Ah! *holds Jillian up* Well.. *looks over at Garnet's grandmother* As long as it's okay with Mrs. Jade, it's alright with me.
Grandma Jade: Of course it's alright! *smiles*
Aiden: *chomping on another cookie* *flicks one of Little Garnet's pigtails*
Little Garnet: *moves away quickly* Stop it! *kicks him*
Grandma Jade: Garnet, behave! Or else you can't play tomorrow!
Little Garnet: *grumbles and looks down, glances back up at Aiden...*
Jack: We'll see you tomorrow then. *shifts Jillian so she is on his back* C'mon, Aiden, let's go. *starts walking out the door*
Jillian: *turns back and waves at Little Garnet* See you tomorrow!
Little Garnet: *perks up and waves goodbye*
Aiden: *quickly exits the hat shop and bursts into laughter* Oh my God! Garnet's so gonna hear it when we get back!
Jillian: *kicks his arm from her high position on Jack's back* Hey, we have more important stuff to talk about! I saw the gemstone. I couldn't get it though, she practically doesn't let it out of her sight.
Jack: Well, we don't need to get it from her, we just need to get it once she buries it. So, Jillian, as long as you can keep track of it while we're here, I think we will still be okay.
Jillian: *nods*
Aiden: How long are we supposed to stay here? She could be burying it now for all we know... and I doubt she'll bury it in front of Jillian. *crosses arms* I want my adult body back.
Jillian: *slides down off of Jack's back* Why would she show me the gem and then ask me to play tomorrow if she didn't want me to atleast see something else about it? I don't think she'll bury it in front of me either, but we have to try.
Jack: *walks up to an inn* We can stay here tonight and argue about it in the morning.
Jillian: Can we get some food? *whines and fidgets a little* I'm hungry!
Aiden: Yeah, big bro, get us some grub! *playfully punches Jack*
Jack: *suddenly grabs Aiden under his arm and russles up his hair* Alright, alright, I'll get us a room here and then we can go get food. *lets him go and looks at both him and Jillian* Stay here, I'll be back. *turns and walks inside*
This chat was completed on Saturday, September 8, 2007.