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 Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:10 pm
"My roommate and I had one delivered to our apartment anonymously, and we have been at a loss as to what to do with it ourselves," the man explains, then laughs once and gestures as though waving the topic away. "Never mind."
With a mental squeal of happiness, Xiao Huo comes splashing down the street back towards the house, making sure he hits every puddle he can along the way. A few strides from Setsushi's table, one of his dolls slips from his hand, though, and lands face-down on the wet pavement. The child skids to a halt and retrieves the toy, holding it between two fingers...
... and informs the other dolls that their friend has drowned. gonk
The High Priest follows behind Xiao Huo, having considerably less energy, but still seeming to be in a relatively good mood. He moves as carefully as possible, trying to avoid getting his feet wet, though the wet spots on his pants below his knees seem to indicate that the little boy already took care of getting Kouyo damp instead.
He glances up from skirting puddles to project a greeting to Setsushi, and notices Akram there with the Knight. Somewhat surprised to see him, the priest formally greets the merchant, too.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:15 pm
... Setsushi can't even imagine why someone might deliver a cabbage to someone's house anonymously, but at the human's prompting, lets the topic go.
Instead he sends a warm greeting to Kouyo and tender thoughts to Xiao Huo and his family. He rises from his seat and moves over to the tiny boy, kneeling to examine the casualty -- or is he a casualty?? Between the two Water men, perhaps they can resuscitate the doll.
Would Xiao Huo like some juice and sweets while Setsushi treats the poor soldier? And what about Kouyo?
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:13 pm
The merchant-prince looks a bit surprised to see Kouyo as well, and smiles when the red-haired Porcelain greets him. "Hello," he says, then glances over to get a better look at the wet doll and the unfamiliar child carrying it.
"I was not aware little bird Kouyo lived here as well." If the priest had mentioned it at their last meeting, Akram had since forgotten. He looks between the two Porcelain men, as though trying to find resemblance in their features. "You are... brothers? Forgive me if my guess is wrong."
Kouyo steps up behind Setsushi and touches the Knight's shoulder lightly with his fingertips as he leans down to peer at the doll. Then, holding both hands out for the doll, he tells Setsushi that the High Priest can start working on caring for the fallen soldier while the Dragon Knight fetches supplies for the survivors.
After consulting with the other two warriors, Xiao Huo decides that this sounds good. Oh, and they request extra sweets, too. Big battle. The boy nods. All provisions are delivered to the general, of course.
... Xiao Huo then looks up at the strange human and edges away, somewhat worried and suspicious.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:20 pm
Setsushi holds himself back from rolling his eyes at that phrase, 'little bird' -- instead, a moment later, jerking his head towards the human, surprised at Akram's guess. He then looks down at tiny, red-haired Kouyo, suppressing a laugh, and explains, "No, Kouyo is my friend." They are only sharing the house temporarily, along with Dame Tenkyuu, Kouyo's aunt and Setsushi's superior.
Setsushi nods to both Kouyo and Xiao Huo. Setsushi understands well that an army runs on grain! He rising to go fetch a snack for the child, plus another cup for Kouyo.
And asks Kouyo, privately but casually, how long the little one is staying. Will they be having dinner together?
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:44 pm
Akram nods, really noticing the difference in size between the two men when Setsushi stands to head back into the house. Though... his own youngest sibling is nearly twenty years his junior, so he still does not think it unreasonable for the Knight and the priest to be brothers.
Kouyo works on pulling the water from the fabric of the doll, doing his best to try to get rid of the dirt with it. He gently assures Xiao Huo that Master Mercier is a friend, then moves around the table to sit down as well.
The priest privately replies to Setsushi's question, telling him that Kumoru said the boy can stay however long they want him to. The necromancer thought Xiao Huo was growing lonely without Jilan around. So, however long Setsushi is okay with having him, Kouyo supposes. Less privately, he adds that he is finding it an interesting experience, having the little one around.
He keeps his eyes on the doll, gathering the water together into a round liquid bubble in the air.
Xiao Huo climbs into the last chair at the table beside Kouyo, and watches the priest work his magic with obvious amazement.
Once the doll is dry and more or less clean again, Kouyo returns the bubble of water slowly to the ground at his feet, and hands the soldier to Xiao Huo again with a small smile.
Then, taking note of the trio of bottles on the table, Kouyo studies them for a moment before reaching for the dark glass one.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:51 pm
Setsushi's note of surprise is loud enough to escape the private channel -- but it is not an unpleasant surprise. Setsushi tells Kouyo that Setsushi just thought it was going to be more of an afternoon-visit sort of thing. If Xiao Huo is to stay with them for the long term, Setsushi certainly won't be upset, but...
... where is the poor child going to sleep? sweatdrop
In any case, he returns with a cup for Kouyo's share of tea and some candied fruits and juice for Xiao Huo. When he emerges, he raises an eye at Kouyo, and gently teases him, amazed that slender Kouyo deems himself able to handle alcohol.
"Kouyo could perhaps teach Master Akram more about our culture than I can," he says towards the human. Setsushi is, after all, an unrefined Knight, with little understanding of the great philosophical and moral issues that scholars and priests grapple with daily.
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:08 am
The three warriors are left forgotten on the table for the time being while Xiao Huo leads a lone charge against his sweets!!1 blaugh
Kouyo blushes and puts the bottle back. The High Priest should not drink alcohol at all. He was just curious what was inside the bottle. All he could see was where it said "chocolate" on the label until he picked it up....
Then he tells Setsushi privately that Kumoru seemed to expect him to at least keep the boy for one night. Perhaps tomorrow when he is at work, he can attempt to set up a more definite schedule with the necromancer?
Then he turns his attention to Akram, fidgeting shyly as he says that he will try to teach their human friend what he can.
Akram laughs. "Alright, thank you. Though, I must play the role of unrefined Knight for my family on occasions, so I am curious about your Knights as well."
He remembers his tea and takes the little cup, blowing on it lightly before taking a sip.
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:20 am
Setsushi cautious Xiao Huo not to eat too fast -- nevermind the risk of accidentally breathing a candy, the faster he finishes them, the faster they will all be gone.
Setsushi chuckles a little at Kouyo, but after a moment, very privately tells him that he honestly wishes Kouyo could, because Setsushi is not certain what he's ever going to do with this volume, and he lets out a little sigh.
His interest returns to Akram when he calls himself a Knight. "Does Master do so?" he asks, communicating his surprise; he had been under the impression that Master was a merchant by profession?
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:43 am
Xiao Huo stops stuffing candy into his mouth for a moment, considering Setsushi's words. Then he resumes chewing the ones already in his mouth and tries to slow down. They are very tasty, though, and he is kind of hungry.
The boy thanks Setsushi quickly for the sweets, then eats a few more.
... The High Priest admits that he is quite curious about the bottle of chocolate alcohol - he did not even consider that such a thing might be possible - but he really must abstain. Keep his mind as unclouded as possible.
Kouyo does think the bottles are nicely-shaped, though. Might he be able to keep them when Setsushi is finished drinking the liquor inside?
"My homeland is not in the habit of making war, as our gods advise us to avoid it, but there are still matters of honor between families and between men," Akram says, one hand straying to his face as he speaks. "So I know how to ride and to fight, to defend my family.
"Though, I much prefer to be a merchant, and that is why I am living in Gaia right now."
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 1:07 am
Setsushi smiles at Xiao Huo, answering his thanks with a feeling of gentle indulgence, and then returns his attention to the other two men.
Again privately, Setsushi asks Kouyo, his tone impish, if it is not true that as the High Priest, and not only the High Priest but the only priest in Gaia, that he could amend the laws to allow himself a little taste? If it makes him flush, then never again.
Once again settling into his seat, Setsushi tells Akram, "The Porcelain, too, despise war -- it goes against reason, empathy, and nature."
... And then he laughs ruefully, as if those words are but words, his hand resting on his left hip.
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:34 am
The grown-up talk is not about him, so for the moment, Xiao Huo mostly ignores the others at the table in favor of acting out some little battle or something between the remaining pieces of candied fruit.
The High Priest glances over at Setsushi, mildly shocked at his suggestion - the Knight is joking, yes? - but not offended or upset. Well, Kouyo supposes he is in a position where he can dictate his own codes of conduct as a priest, but... he feels he has been regaining his wits and Lucid mental fortitude again, and wishes to enjoy being himself again.
... Unless Setsushi somehow thinks this experiment might be helpful to the High Priest's recovery? Kouyo wonders, though also seems to doubt it.
He projects gentle curiosity with regards to Akram's gods, and their names and natures and such, but remains quiet for now, to allow the two Knights to finish their talk of warfare first.
Akram glances between Kouyo and Setsushi, then leans back in his chair a little and gets comfortable that way. He might even seem to shy away from the priest very subtly. But otherwise his manner does not change as he continues to converse with the Porcelain Knight.
"I have only fought duels and a skirmish or two. I have not had to fight in any wars, fortunately, and hone my skills as a merchant so that I will hopefully never have to." He takes another sip of tea, and then inquires casually, "What weapons do you study, to make your unnatural war?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:37 pm
Setsushi quickly tells Kouyo that yes, he was joking -- though if he does decide he wants some, Setsushi certainly wouldn't mind the help. ... But yes, Kouyo is perhaps sensible in thinking that now would not be a good time to experiment with drugs.
Drawing out of that private conversation to return his attention to Akram, he answers, "The bow, the spear, and the sword are the three tools of the warrior. His three arts are negotiation, intimidation, and death. Though there has not been a war in the Empire -- among Porcelain, at least -- for... 200 years?" He glances at Kouyo, the superior scholar, for confirmation of this number.
"... Only police action," he explains, with a slightly sarcastic sigh.
"I am a swordsman," he continues, "and would show Master Akram the superior blades of Imperial longswords -- but unfortunately, I lost mine when crossing over to Gaia." He laughs, embarrassed. "... Ah, but Dame Tenryuu might have retained hers during the journey." He rubs his chin, pondering something.
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 1:22 pm
"Well, there have been great battles and such in that time, but most histories are hesitant to call them 'wars'," the High Priest clarifies, closing his eyes. "Loss of life is loss of life, though, regardless of how the words are recorded in books, and it happens frequently enough." Gentle Kouyo is saddened by the thoughts of death, especially on a large scale, but as long as there are malicious beings in the world, so must there also be warriors fighting in the name of order to stand against them.
"We usually fight from horseback, which I suppose combines intimidation and death." It had been forever since Akram had been out riding even just for pleasure, and it was something he dearly missed, but it had simply not been feasible to bring a horse to Gaia from home, and then have to find a place to keep him and such. "We are forbidden from carrying large blades, from religious laws created far before my father's time, but of course we have found other ways to kill each other since then. We fight with lances from our horses, or with heavy hammers... or with firearms, since they have come into more widespread use."
Though he is not wearing his usual garb from home, Akram is still carrying his angled knife with him. He squirms a bit in his seat for a moment to take the weapon out and hands the sheathed blade, handle-first, to Setsushi if he wishes to examine it. "This is the closest I have to a sword." The blade is hardly the finest quality, but Akram has an obvious fondness for the knife. "My elder sister forged it for me."
Xiao Huo glances up at the weapon and then at Akram, becoming interested again in this talk of knights and soldiers. Perhaps partly because he is nearly finished with his candies.
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 1:43 pm
"Horseback?" Setsushi asks, while carefully and humbly accepting the knife. The Knights of Toukoku are also trained in riding... though their mounts are quite different from those of humans, it seems. Setsushi would like to learn more about humans' horses, if Akram has any knowledge to pass on.
He unsheathes the weapon very carefully -- not out of fear of hurting himself or the knife but seemingly out of hurting Akram's feelings by treating the item unkindly -- and examines the blade, turning it in the light to study the reflections in it. "Is it enchanted?" he asks, as if enchantments on weapons are usual to him and he is expecting some sort of origin tale.
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:35 pm
Kouyo has seen a few books about horses in the used bookstore where he works?
Xiao Huo wonders what a horse is! ... And he leans towards Setsushi to try to get a better look at the human's knife.
"I will see if I can find any photos of my best horses when I return home, then, and bring them with me when I visit for lunch," he tells Setsushi. "Our native horses are heavy, sturdy creatures, but of course now we have all breeds, with some built more for speed." Akram shrugs a little. "But any horse will outrun a man on foot."
The blade of Akram's knife is angled sightly in the middle rather than smoothly curving, but the inside edge rather than the outside is sharpened. The whole thing seems to be shaped as though to subtly minimize the length of edge that is actually sharp while still yielding a legitimately useful weapon. The handle is relatively simple in design, and perfectly measured to fit Akram's hand.
"No enchantment," he replies, sounding perhaps faintly testy. But he seems to relax again quickly, and figures he can share the story of the weapon anyway, even if there is no magic involved. "One of the first transactions I made after I became patriarch of my family was to loan my elder sister to a blacksmith friend, so she could study his craft and work as his apprentice. Lady smiths are quite uncommon among my people, but my sister is... a sweet young woman, and strong and kind, but not terribly clever. I wanted to be sure she learned a profession that suited her, so that any good man would want her among his wives regardless of what shortcomings she may have."
The merchant closes his eyes, thinking for a moment on how he has not seen his sister in several months, as he had missed her the last time he was home. Then he adds, "She still lives with the blacksmith - the contract lasts another few years - but last year before I moved to Gaia, she forged the knife for me as thanks."
Kouyo nods slowly, trying not to stare at Akram over his teacup as he takes a few moments to try to begin to wrap his mind around the idea of a man loaning away his sister as part of a business transaction. Not to mention the implication that men of Akram's homeland could and did marry multiple women? The High Priest keeps his shock politely hidden, but finds himself quite unsure how to respond. Though... he does make it clear after a moment that he respects Master Mercier's noble intent to support his sibling.
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