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 Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 2:56 pm
  This is a private roleplay between Jianyu [Kuro-Mizuki] and Yue Lao [Face Your Demons].
Setting:
Yue's place.
Yue teaches Jianyu the art of wine making.
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Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 4:40 pm
Three weeks after Yue had come to the Qian House in search of her best friend, Jianyu found himself doing quite the opposite, making his way across Lunaria towards where Yue's home was. She had invited him over in order to teach him the secrets of her wine making, which Jianyu found quite interesting, although he was not exactly a good cook, persay (he had discovered this during that incident with Miao and the cake). However, Yue's enthusiasm for the art made it more intriguing, so here he was, crossing Main Street to get to Yue's home.
Turning down a small side road, Jianyu glanced down at the torn paper in his hand. Yue had hastily scribbled directions on it in typical Yue fashion - somewhat disorganized and loopy, with lots of tangents. But it was legible enough to be read relatively clearly, and Jianyu made another turn, ending up at what he hoped was his destination. Yue Lao's house was far from large; his own home was several times larger; but from the outside at least, it was comfortable and quiet, with a gentle and non-intimidating front.
Jianyu stepped up to the front door, hesitantly raising a hand to knock on the paper and wood. His fingers tightened slightly around the bag in his hand (his mother had told him never to go anywhere without bringing a gift, after all) and Jianyu called out softly "Yue?" in the hopes that he was, in fact, at the right home and not one of a stranger.
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Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 10:34 pm
Jianyu had no sooner knocked on the door than Yue came barelling towards him and slid the shoji barrier aside, latching on in a fit of excited giggling. "Yu! Welcome to my hallowed ground," she said, gasping for air. Something had clearly just made her laugh, though it wasn't really evident what exactly had sparked her fit of laughter. Even Yue didn't know, precisely; maybe the giddy joy of inviting someone in to her home was just too much for her.
"Come inside!..." Yue said, letting go and stepping inside, beckoning, her eyes bright. The house was one main room, with a corridor on the right, a kitchen and sitting area with a hearth of sorts, and a ladder to the left of the kitchen. Between the kitchen and ladder there as another door and a narrow corridor. She stood there, a little nervous about his first visit. She couldn't decide whether it was better or worse that her first visitor was Yu; she was happy, because it was significant, but... at the same time, if he didn't approve of her family, if he didn't approve of her home, it would devastate her. Caring about someone was difficult, and Yue was not used to it yet. "Chichi! Yowai! Please, could you come meet my guest?"
"Yue Lao... you think that's prudent?" A voice, warm and sensuous, called from behind the door next to the ladder. It slid open, and a woman in a deep red over robe walked in, her black hair coiled on top of her head, a few strands which had fallen loose brushing against her neck and cheek. "Ah... This is your guest? For all you talk about him, he may as well be family," she said, an amused smile quirking her lips. She looked at Yue quickly, as if trying to communicate some silent question. Yue nodded, her lips pursed, and eyes sharp with determination. "Well, Yue seems to trust you. I am Yowai Hone, Yue's--"
"--Othermother," Yue interrupted. She looked terrified, and nervous, and excited all at once. She had never told anyone, and yet, here was Yowai, her arms crossed, smiling at Yue and Jianyu. Yue stepped over to Jianyu and leaned her head against his side. "I call her my other mother. I've known her since I can even remember. She's the one that taught me how to brew," Yue said.
"If I recall correctly, Yue, you stole that knowledge by sneaking around," Yowai said, resting her chin in one hand, her arm against her chest. Yue blushed, and rubbed the back of her neck, about to protest. She was interrupted by a third voice calling from the corridor to the right of the kitchen.
"My little moon girl, is that company I hear?" This voice was sweeter, thinner; almost like a reed instrument, or a flute. The woman that walked out from the corridor looked more tired than Yowai, but also more like Yue: she had the same colour hair, though hers was in long curls to her knees, and her eyes were half-closed, the same colour of pink. She had swept some of it up into a clip, but they were tumbling out, despite her best efforts. "Oh!... Yowai, is it..." safe? The last word died on her lips, and she covered her mouth with her hand.
"Chichi, mom, this is Yu. I mean, Jianyu," she said, standing close to Jianyu, as if she was afraid he might bolt for the door.
"Oh! Is that who? He's just as handsome as he sounded," Chishio said, "I'm Chishio, Yue's mother. A pleasure to finally meet you." Chishio bowed low, respectfully, a gesture which Yowai had not offered, though she had inclined her head in greeting. It wasn't that she didn't respect Jianyu; more accurately, she was wary of Yue's decision to trust another person. Yowai, herself, had hidden the relationship from even Yue until she had figured it out on her own.
"You two are out to sabotage me!" Yue laughed, and stepped away from Jianyu to embrace her mother, rocking her back and forth. "So I heard you two were, you know, leaving?" Yue said, raising her eyebrows and pointing to the picnic all packed on the counter.
"If I knew that you would turn into such a good cook over Jianyu, I would have invited him to visit a long time ago," Yowai said. Although she was not biologically related, Yue Lao's predatory smile clearly came from years of living with Yowai. They shared the same half-drunken look of amusement. Yue picked up the parcel herself, and shooed them towards the door.
"It was nice meeting you, Jianyu--!" Chishio said, as she was ushered out by not only Yue, but also Yowai. They didn't feel the need to chaperone them; Yue, they knew, would do what she wanted with or without their instructions. Yowai and Chishio had also been hearing a lot about Jianyu, and by this point, having met him, they mostly felt relief that the first visit was over with. Yue turned towards Jianyu, after she had slid the shoji door behind her. She sighed heavily, and offered him a stressed smile.
"After that meeting, wine will look like the easiest thing in the world?" Yue shook her head, a wry smile across her lips. "Or, if you've been terrified by them, I guess I should stop blocking your only known exit," Yue grinned and stepped aside, gesturing to the door with a flourish. "Though if you leave now, you'll miss the part where I get disgustingly covered in grape juice. Tempting, I know."
She was busy hoping, with every ounce of her being, that he wouldn't take her up on the offer to leave.
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Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 3:31 pm
Jianyu was slightly startled by Yue sliding the door open so suddenly, her face flushed and a bubbly laughter spilling from her lips. She seemed to be giggling at something that had happened before she had opened the door, though Jianyu did not know exactly what. But he smiled at her enthusiastic greeting and stepped inside, glancing around with interest. Yue's home was small, not at all like his own, but it was pleasant and warm inside, a sense of comfort and well-use clearly evident. He found he liked it quite a bit, and was about to open his mouth and say so when Yue called out to someone. She seemed, although smiling, quite on edge, which made him worry somewhat.
The woman who came through the door was tall, with a slender body and dark hair that curled about her neck and face. She was quite beautiful, with a low, husky voice and eyes that had seen much. Jianyu bowed his head in a gesture of respect, keeping his eyes lowered. He raised them a moment later when Yue's voice cut into Yowai's.
Other mother..? he thought, his eyes drawing together slightly in confusion. What...
Another voice, this one softer, sweeter came wafting around the corner as a second woman walked into view. For a second Jianyu was slightly taken aback at the similarities between her and Yue. Her hair was longer, her face more lined, but this woman was obviously Yue Lao's biological mother. So the other woman...
Oh, Jianyu thought as the pieces slowly clicked together and realization dawned in his mind. Ah. I get it.
The fact that Yue had two mothers in that sort of relationship surprisingly made Jianyu feel slightly more relaxed rather than uncomfortable. If anything, it reassured him that his own relationship with another man had not been so out of the ordinary, especially if two people could manage to live together for so long and still feel so happy. Yue ushered her two parents out of the door and turned back to him, her grin looking rather forced. Jianyu felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth, and he leaned down, brushing his lips against Yue's cheek in a brief, friendly kiss before pulling back, his eyes twinkling.
"I rather would see the grape juice, actually." he said, laughing lightly. "Your family is quite lovely. I am very happy to have met them, and I look forward to seeing them again.
"And here," Jianyu added, holding up the bag he had in his hand. "My mother sends her regards. These are some fruit that she has gardened as of late."
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 3:31 pm
Yue was watching Jianyu's face carefully, for signs of what he was feeling about Yowai and Chishio. It was a well-kept secret, one of many Yue never told, and to share it with another was difficult to swallow. If she was going to share it with anyone, though, it would have to be her closest friend. She trusted Jianyu. The moment of realization when he figured out their living arrangements was probably the point where Yue was certain she would stop breathing indefinitely.
Except the moment passed, and if anything, Jianyu seemed to relax instead of bolt. After she had shooed her parents outside, and Jianyu brushed her cheek with a kiss, she relaxed, too. She laughed, and winked at him. "If that didn't put me at ease, nothing will," she said, smiling comfortably up at Jianyu. The twinkle of his eyes was so unlike that first day she had met him. Perhaps that was what had initially made Yue care so much for him: although he had been serious and tired, she could see a willingness, if not a desire, to joke around and basically enjoy himself. Yue wasn't very good at worrying for long, or over much, so knowing that Jianyu had this flexible nature made her like him even more.
"I'm glad, because after this, the next time I'm sure they'll ask you a hundred questions and basically not leave you alone for a second. Chishio is Yowai's voice, in a way; Yowai always has questions, and she always wants answers, but only Chichi is socially awkward enough to ask them all. Like me!" Yue grinned, "I got both traits. Curiosity and awkward, wild, invasive questions. Aren't you lucky? I'm a two-for-one deal," Yue blew him a kiss and laughed.
When Jianyu offered her the bag he had brought with him, she was surprised, though she accepted it with gratitude. "My thanks to your mother, for her kindness, and to you for your diligent effort to carry this parcel all the way here," she said. "Maybe we can mix some of this in...!" And her eyes almost seemed to glaze over, half shut, her lips pursed: she was thinking and planning about measurements and amounts and recipes. If there was a will, there was a way, as far as Yue was concerned. And she would most certainly use all the fruits that Jianyu had brought her. It would take time, but when the drinks had been prepared properly and were ready to age in the bottles, she could send one home as a gift with Jianyu. She took the fruit to the counter and set it down, next to dishes with prepared ingredients.
"Someday, you can come pick grapes with me," Yue said, "but they had to be dry for us to make wine, so I couldn't risk the dew-covered ones," Yue smiled and plucked a grape from the bunch, offering it in the palm of her hand. Yue waited to see if he would take it, and afterwards she turned back to the counter, "So! Today we're going to crush the grapes, and sort for stems and such, " Yue said, "and then... normally the step tages four days, so... Gotta seal the mash inside one of our barrels! I borrowed one from Othermother. Don't ask me how I managed to carry it home. That was an adventure." Yue walked over to the cask she had obtained. Next to it was another one, though it had a bottle sitting on top of it. "Basically! I made some ahead, so if you want to do the steps after right away, we can. Otherwise, guess who's coming back in four days? The answer isn't me!" Yue grinned and patted the cask nearest her on the top almost affectionately.
"For the first step, though... I'd roll my sleeves up," she said, laughing, "and I only have one of these, so I'll be wandering around in my usual fashion." Yue shimmied out of the over robe; it wasn't a big deal. It was just Jianyu in the house with her, and she was wearing her white shirt and pants underneath it; the over robe was mostly a formality for walking around in public. It was a pretty thing, something her mother had made for her. The white clothing she had one was not entirely white; it was pretty clear that although it had started out white, she had subsequently gotten a lot of brewing stuff all over her. Purple and red blotches mottled the edges, and there was one large splash on the right of her ribs, as if something had tipped over onto her. She folded her over robe up with tenderness, placing it safely away from their work area. "Now, for the grapes!" Yue tipped her head to the side and looked at Jianyu, her eyes glittering. She was thrilled, really, to share her favourite activity with her closest friend. She picked up a bunch of grapes and checked it for quality, then dropped it into what seemed to be a wooden tub with a wide mouth.
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 8:31 pm
As usual, Jianyu felt himself grow more relaxed around Yue. Her mere presence, her smile that was constantly full of life and laughter, with a warmth that was like a calming effect. It was really very successful, though Jianyu was not quite certain as to the direct reason why he felt so comfortable beside a girl several years his junior, someone who was so opposite of his own personality that it was almost startling. He was certain that they got many strange looks when they were out together, but it was not as if he particularly cared about the opinions or feelings of the more simple-minded and closed-hearted citizens of Lunaria. He had never been one to care much about appearances, nor did he think that he should act a certain way just to please those who might agree with him. After all, he had been in a relationship with a male, and a Noble at that, and he had not let that get in the way of his profession, nor had he felt the need to hide it (except from his own parents, but that was a different story). He had never been ashamed of his own life.
Jianyu felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth as Yue blew him a kiss, a low laugh escaping his lips as he shook his head. "I most definitely am the fortunate one." he said, reaching up and poking Yue's forehead playfully. "However, your curiosity, your wildness, your invasive questioning is all what makes you interesting, so it is all of no consequence to me."
"And your mothers are free to ask me as many questions as they wish to," he added with some amusement, folding his arms across his chest after Yue took the bag from him. "However, I cannot promise that my answers will be to her satisfaction, since it seems I am gaining a bit of sarcasm from spending time with a certain young lady."
His eyes twinkling, Jianyu followed Yue to the counter, taking the proffered seat beside her. He watched with some fascination as she began the process, removing her robe carefully, and then taking a handful of grapes in her hands, moving them through her fingers before dropping them into a wide-mouthed wooden tub. Jianyu arched one dark eyebrow, looking at her curiously.
"I'd like to see what to do after the grapes have sat for four days, actually." he said. He stood up, removing the armor he normally wore, and set it aside, along with his bow and quiver of arrows and then stripped his hands of the gloves he wore, stacking them on top of his armor. He sat back down next to Yue and picked up a cluster of the grapes, feeling the cool, soft feeling of the fruit under his work-roughened fingertips. It was an oddly satisfying feeling, and Jianyu plucked one for himself, popping it into his mouth tasting the sweetness of the juice on his tongue.
"These are very good." he said, smiling. "But after these are crushed and have sat for four days, then what?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:08 pm
Yue squinted and laughed, pretending to fall backwards from the poke. "I don't know, I guess I'm pretty lucky, too!... that you didn't just smite me with your awesome strength from a single poke," Yue said, giggling. She was comforted by Jianyu, and by his ability to see her for what she was... and still want to be around her. Jianyu made her content, which made her sincere. She played games with him for enjoyment, instead of some kind of gathering purpose. She didn't want to take things from him, she wanted to experience them with him.
Having put the bag down, Yue crossed her arms over her chest and stood with her feet wide apart, as if trying to represent the more masculine Jianyu and his pose. "What a lucky lady, spending time with you. I should go talk to her, glean her methods, train to become more like her, so that you might grace me with your presence," Yue said, her eyes glittering, her mouth tugged into a wolfish grin. Something about Jianyu saying 'your mothers' without accusation nor distress made Yue feel even more endeared to him. He wasn't scared of her family, and he even accepted them the way they were. It wasn't as though she had expected any less of her dear friend, but... to hope, hoping had been strenuous. Now that strain was lifted, she was able to enjoy his company immensely. No one had really been in her home before, like that; in total comfort, welcomed by all members of her family. That was significant, to Yue. It was a step towards being the person she was beyond her careful observations, the person she was in truth. Of course, if anyone saw that side of her, it was Jianyu.
She watched him with a similar fascination that he had demonstrated while watching her prepare for wine brewing. Jianyu without his armour, in her home. She couldn't help but smile, and occupied herself with the grapes, while Jianyu tasted a grape. "Grown with all the love in the world," Yue laughed, "which is probably why I'm not allowed to grow them." Yowai grew all the grapes. They were hers, her love for wine extending even to the careful growing of such luscious fruit. Yue had plants in the back, of course, but they were a little chaotic. Her garden essentially grew itself, tangled and chaotic. It was, in Yowai's opinion, a miracle the girl managed to get anything out of it at all. And somehow, Yue always knew where to look for the fruits of her labour: which leaves to turn, which vines to root around.
"Not so fast! I have to crush these regardless, and you think you're going to get away with skipping this step?" She laughed, and shook her head. "Not a chance, Yu!" The way she used his name, it sounded like a term of endearment in and of itself. Like someone might say dear, or my sweet. She sorted through the rest of the grapes with a learned hand and eye, dropping the good grapes in. "The grapes which have dried, or shrank, make the wine sweeter and more flavourful; they reduce the amount of wine produced, but improve the flavour. Yowai is always very careful to include these grapes."
Once they were all sorted, Yue pumped her fist in the air and said, "Alright! Let's do this, Yu." She reached in and started to grind the flesh down. She used her hands, kneading and pumping, almost as if she was picking a fight with the grapes. The sweet juice was all up and down her arms. Her hands were stained bright purple, and her skin was flushed with excitement. Brewing really did involve her, mind and body. She looked up at Jianyu with a huge smile stretched across her face, her eyes barely open with contentment. She looked like she had found the sun, and was shining from the inside out. And yet she was also covered in purple juice. It was quite the contrast. She raised her hands out of the mash and wiggled her fingers in Jianyu's direction. "I sense someone needs to get dirty!" Yue cackled and reached up to her own cheek, drawing a spiral on it in juice. She removed a couple of the stems from inside the tub, dropping them in a bowl to the side, then returned her attention solely to Jianyu.
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:30 pm
"You know," said Jianyu, somewhat thoughtfully sticking another grape in his mouth and chewing slowly, his hands carefully moving across the small, fragile fruits to find the good ones. "You have a nickname for me, but I have yet to find a nickname for you."
He studied Yue Lao as he ate, watching her cautiously pick the ripe grapes to throw into the vat, sticking the rotten ones in a small jar on the table. Her eyes were light, her face relaxed as she moved, and Jianyu smiled.
"I will have to think of one for you today." he said. Yue, finished with the grapes now, pushed her hands into the bucket of fresh grapes, her fingers squeezing and squishing the soft fruit. Within a few moments her arms were streaked with a dark purple liquid, small smears cris-crossing her face. She was extremely animated, but in an endearing way, and the excitement in her eyes was contagious. Jianyu had never seen Yue Lao so happy before; it seemed as if this really were her favorite thing to, especially judging from the way that she reached up, drawing on her face with lines of purple.
Jianyu let out a laugh, reaching into the bucket with his own hands. The grapes felt cold and slushy to his calloused palms, rough from years of training and archery. It was actually, surprisingly soothing to be doing something so completely out of the ordinary of his normal routine, and Jianyu felt, for the first time, a sense of complete relaxation and even happiness.
"Mmm." he said, raising an eyebrow. "Needs a little something, I think."
With a quick swipe of his hand, Jianyu painted a smear of purple liquid down the side of Yue's face, leaving lines from his fingers. He gave her a completely innocent looking smile, reaching up, he brought his finger to his lips, sucking on some of the juice.
"That's what it needs, I believe."
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:52 pm
The care he used to sort the grapes made Yue smile. Of course, she had just been sorting through the grapes roughly, dropping them in without much ceremony. Jianyu's slow and careful movements made her content, at their differences. The fact that they got along so well, and yet were fundamentally so different, never ceased to amaze her. "A nickname for me? Oh?" Yue laughed. She was curious as to what he might name her. She had made a kind of hobby out of nicknaming others; she nearly always assigned them some name which was a translation of the habits they displayed. Jianyu was an exception. Although she did call him her fierce warrior in her mind, she called him Yu aloud. Her mother called her little moon girl sometimes, and Yue was definitely accustomed to being insulted or called by derogatory terms, but she had never received a real nickname. The idea piqued her curiosity more and more.
Yue felt a sense of unity for a moment, when Jianyu tried to mush the grapes as well. His hands looked so much greater than hers, displaying the battles they had seen. Since Yue was still an Academy student, she had been in far fewer scuffles than him, and no genuine fights. Something inside her tugged; it was as if there was a thread looped around her heart, and every thought pulled at that string. Where did it lead? Its presence was new and fascinating. She had always assumed she would never have any threads of her own, and yet... the feeling in her chest made her believe that perhaps it wasn't true. Could a thread be woven, or did it exist continuously from the point of birth? Yue wanted to believe that threads could be woven, because it would mean that the bonds people shared really did depend on their actions. However, she had always believed that the threads existed with or without prompting, that it was only what one did with the threads which affected the journey.
She was tugged out of her contemplation when Jianyu spoke about needing something. She wasn't sure what he was talking about, until he smeared grape juice all over her cheek. She squeaked in surprise, and then burst into laughter. "No, that's not quite all, I think you forgot..." Yue dipped her hand in the grapes again, and, dripping grape juice all down her pants and the counter, reached up to caress his cheek lovingly. Then she drew little hearts on his cheek, dotting his nose. "That, definitely that! You got me, but this is an informed fight now! Don't think you'll sneak up on me again!" Yue laughed, covered in grape juice. She swiped off some of what Jianyu had wiped on her, which actually just smeared more on her face, and licked the back of her hand. She watched him, grinning, waiting. The juice was sweet, and she felt light headed; giddy with excitement and the adrenaline of what she considered might turn into a full-out grape war.
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 11:10 pm
Jianyu attempted to pull away when Yue reached towards, but there was only so far he could go without falling off of the wine barrel he was sitting on, so he could only halfheartedly twist his his face away from her hands. She still managed to paint several lines across his cheek, draw what felt like a few hearts on his cheek, and then dot his nose with the tip of her finger. He resisted the urge to laugh as she reached up to wipe her face, only succeeding to smear the grape juice further across her cheek.
"Oh, is that right?" he said, arching one dark eyebrow in amusement. "I doubt that you could win against me, little girl"
With a mischievous grin, Jianyu flung the handful of half-mashed grapes he had in his hands towards her, letting out a shout of laughter as they cascaded down her front, spilling across her arms, face and hair. He hastily stood up, grabbing an empty jar from the countertop, and scooped up a good portion of the half-done grapes, backtracking to stand a few feet away. He held the the jar in front of him like some sort of demented weapon, ready and waiting for anything she might have to offer him.
It had been a long time since Jianyu had felt this..elated, dared he say it. His heart had been shrouded in darkness for too long, his mind convoluted in the memories of his previous relationship, of his life before then, even. But here, now, with Yue, he was beginning to feel more at ease, like he had as a child, almost, and the relief that he did not have to work at something to spend time with her, that he could just relax and that she would not judge him, that she would not fault him for what he was like, for who he was was really very...liberating. Jianyu gave Yue a large smile, reaching up to slidee his finger down the side of his face, bringing it to his lips as he licked off the cool juice.
"Bring it on, you!" he mocked teasingly.
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 8:48 am
Yue was surprised she had managed to complete all her little doodles on Jianyu's face, but she realized that their perches were rather difficult to manoeuvre on, and she figured a little of it was just his grace in letting her draw on him.
"I may be short, but I'm not little!" Yue laughed, and stuck the tip of her tongue out at Jianyu. She wasn't offended, but found it amusing. She was quite short, but she was only a few years his junior; for Lunarians, whose lives were seemingly so long, it felt like such a small difference. Regardless of what his challenge meant, Yue suppressed the urge to giggle further, and instead set her jaw, trying as best as she could to look serious.
It wasn't very effective; her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright, as if the laughter was building in pressure and would soon explode forth. "Victory will be even sweeter, when I defeat you, fierce warrior!" Yue took an exaggerated pose of battle, still sitting on the cask.
Then the first blow: Jianyu threw the mashed grapes at Yue, and her laughter cascaded out. She had grapes everywhere; she was pretty sure some had gotten down her shirt. She shielded her eyes with one forearm, giggling madly. When he stood up, she fell off the back of her cask, giggling madly and holding her sides. So much for being a fierce warrior, herself; she recovered and planted her hands on her hips, grinning.
He licked the juice off his finger, and it seemed almost like a taunt. She pointed at him, "Yu... you are so, so in trouble," Yue reached into the grapes she had already mushed, grabbed two handfuls of the goo, and raced around the counter with a battle cry, diving at him. "Feel my wrath, you scoundrel!" Yue's right hand flung open, as she darted towards him, the grape mush flying everywhere. It even went in a couple angles that seemed highly unlikely, if not impossible.
She could barely feel the sticky juices in her hair and all over her skin and clothes, her own elation obscuring her discomfort. There was definitely some of the grape mash down her shirt, though, and it dripped across her belly uncomfortably, as if someone was tracing their damp finger down. She pretended not to feel it, laughing, trying to make out who had been hit and what had happened in the assault. It was a good thing she had prepared the next step ahead, though she hadn't really thought of whether or not they could just sit back down and return to business all covered in grape juices.
Her heart hadn't been this content in a long time, which was saying a lot for Yue; it was nearly impossible to get her down. In fact, it was nearly impossible to make her feel anything legitimate. Amusement, sure; curiosity, always. Sorrow? Joy? Concern? Almost never. And Jianyu had made her feel all of those things, in the time they had known one another. Yue was beginning more and more to believe that if one did what one loved, embracing it made anything seem possible.
Even grape fights in her kitchen.
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 1:51 pm
Why was it that one person, one event, one day could change another so completely? Jianyu's thoughts, though mostly lighthearted and enthusiastic, turned slightly bemused as he squished a few grapes between his fingers, eyeing Yue suspiciously as she tossed more purple liquid at him. His entire life, Jianyu had been raised a respectable, reserved, somewhat stoic man. For twenty-three years he had followed that same persona, done what was expected of him, though it had always been things he loved doing. But now, here he was, in Yue Lao's kitchen, throwing mashed grapes and a sticky sweet, purple liquid all over the kitchen, his face painted in grape juice. It seemed almost...unbelievable, yet it was real. He was finding it somewhat difficult to grasp.
Jianyu did not manage to duck in time to dodge the handful of smashed grapes flung towards him successfully. As it was, several of them splattered into his hair, making it feel sticky and wet, and something cold slid down the side of his face. He reached up, touching his fingers to his temple and pulled them away sticky with grape juice. Sticking his fingers in his mouth, Jianyu tasted the sweet liquid of the fruits before flashing a mocking smile towards Yue Lao, holding his hands up in a faux innocent gesture.
"I'm not doing anything." he said, and then flung the half-full jar of berries towards her, dropping it once it was empty. He darted around the room and seized Yue by the waist, hauling her up off of the floor and all but throwing her over his shoulder as he spun her around, then tackled her to the ground, his hands sticky and slippery on her arms. Reaching over, Jianyu slid the now only partially filled bucket of grapes over and raised it up, arching one dark eyebrow at Yue as he knelt next to her.
"Any last words, fair maiden?" he said, tipping the bucket dangerously close. "Or shall I just douse you in a color most fitting for one such as yourself?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:07 pm
It was a good thing they had been snacking on the juice and the grapes during the fight, or Yue might feel worse about the grapes being spread all over the room. It was such a small amount, though, and her happiness with Jianyu was enough to burn away any fear or remorse she had. Brewing wine wasn't just about the finished product; that was one reason Yue enjoyed it so much. It was the love that went into every process. And even after the wine was finished, bottled, and ready to drink... it was about the people you drank it with. It was about the gift of offering it to friends or loved ones, and the joy of sharing a drink around a table. The laughter into the night, and the relaxation.
They had all of these things without the wine itself; even grape juice, apparently, could intoxicate Yue Lao, for the results it produced. In that way, the wine was not wasted. She trusted Yowai to understand that, and of course Chichi could never be mad at her. Her mothers weren't due back for hours, though; for all she knew, they may not come home that night. Yowai had kept a small home above the store she sold her beverages from, which was also connected to her brewery. Sometimes, when they wanted time away from everyone, Yowai and Chichi would stay in that apartment. Yue supposed it was a way for them to be together without the worries of the public eye, nor the obligation to be responsible around their daughter.
Yue Lao was excited that she managed to hit her mark, berries splattering into his hair and down his face. She mock-gasped when Jianyu raised his hands up, as if he was innocent. As if he hadn't started the whole mess. She couldn't help but grin again, and snicker, "Nothing? Not even being completely charm--" Yue's compliment, though she was being over the top and silly again, was cut off by the berries flung at her. She caught one in her mouth and spluttered, trying to laugh and cough at the same time. "I just swallowed that!" She was giggling when he scooped her up, which only made her laugh harder, and she flailed half-heartedly. She had to concentrate on breathing for a bit, when he managed to push her to the ground, and the whole thing was such a scene of whirlwind motion that Yue barely had time to register it. Jianyu was strong, which made sense, but Yue was still caught off-guard.
"I surrender, fierce warrior! You have bested me in battle!" Yue's hand reached up to her heart, and she fluttered her lashes. "I do have... one last thing to say." Yue had been laying still, and she was completely covered in grape juice. She was sticky, slippery and smelled delicious. She darted up, suddenly, and pulled Jianyu towards her, potentially tipping the bucket in the process. "If I'm going down, Yu, so are you!"
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:36 pm
Jianyu arched an eyebrow at Yue, looking down at her with some amusement. "Oh, you do?" he said. "And what might that be - "
His words were cut off when Yue suddenly jerked upwards, her fingers reaching for the still mostly-filled bucket. With a shout, Jianyu ducked his head, the entire contents of the bin cascading down over his head, shoulders and back like an icy, sticky waterfall. A good portion of it got on Jianyu, but he moved aside quickly, part of it falling atop of Yue as well. Sputtering and gasping, Jianyu reached up, pushing his sopping hair out of his eyes as the tie in it broke from the strain, his dark hair, stained with purple, falling free over his shoulders now. Licking his lips, Jianyu leaned back on his legs, reaching up to wipe off some of the mess from his cheek.
"You," he said, eying the girl next to him with an expression of mixed exasperation and dark humor. "Are one troublesome young lady."
Jianyu glanced around the room, taking in the "wreckage." There were buckets overturned, bottles haphazardly tossed, and grapes smeared everywhere; from the countertops, to the walls, to even a few purple splotches on the ceiling. Jianyu's hair was sticking wetly to his forehead and cheeks, and he raised a hand again, shoving his fingers through his hair to get it out of his face. Letting out a small laugh, he shook his head, moving his legs out from underneath him. He lay on his back on the floor, reaching up to absently tug on Yue's wrist.
"So, I think I might have thought of a nickname for you." he said.
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:16 pm
Yue tried to duck her face away, so most of it ended up all over her hair and the side of her face, coating her neck. And that was just whatever didn't hit Jianyu. She turned onto her back again, standing up, looking Jianyu over to make sure he hadn't been accidentally injured by the tub of grapes. His hair unbound reminded her of the night she had gone to his house, which brought back memories of standing in the garden together. Her face broke into a gentle smile as he leaned back to wipe some of the mess off.
"Troublesome?" Yue Lao grinned. "That sounds about right," she said, winking at him. She splattered herself with grape juice in the process, as she brought her hand up to brush some sticky stray hair away. Her hair, bound in its braid, was nearly saturated. "Better wash your hair out before that stains," Yue mentioned in passing, smiling sheepishly.
She followed his gaze around the room. Well, considering she had just battled with a Fighter using a tub of squashed grapes, the damage could have been much worse. The sitting area had been cleaned away in preparation for the wine-making, so none of the good cloth had gotten damaged on the cushions. Really, it was all things to be righted and wiped off. Then Yue looked at the ceiling over the kitchen: splashes of grapes. Well, that would be a little harder. Of course, nothing had reached her lair, which was too far to the left and up the ladder. Jianyu tugged her wrist, and she grinned. They were both saturated with grapes and grape juice. Her white garments were plastered to her skin and mottled as if she had tried to dye them unsuccessfully. She didn't care, though; as soon as Jianyu tugged her wrist, she lowered herself to the floor and lay next to him, her cheek on his chest. She borrowed one of his hands, tasting the grapes off his palm. "Fierce warrior grapes," Yue said, shaking a little with laughter.
"Oh? What's that? I hope it's not 'disaster'," she replied, drinking in the physical touch. At that moment, there was very little she was craving more than a bath. As soon as she had to move, she would undo her braid; Jianyu would be the first person, apart from Chichi and Yowai, to ever see Yue's hair down. She just didn't like to have it in her way, but she would never cut it off. Yue played idly with a strand of Jianyu's hair. They really were covered in grape juice.
Yue moved, so that she was lying next to him on her side, so she could look up at him. Something similar to the feeling she had, looking at him with his bow in the moonlight: that was what washed over her, until she caught herself staring and moved back again. Her head safely pillowed on his chest, she found his sticky hand and held it in one of her equally sticky hands. She could almost hear the tacky sounds as the skin stuck together.
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