|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 4:52 pm
It's been a while since Setsushi and Kouyo visited the little pancake house a few blocks from the udon-ya, but little has changed at the slow-paced establishment. An astute waitress, though, might notice that the taller of the two men has cut his hair and that, a few months after their secretive conversation at a corner table, the couple seem to have acquired a small child, and smile at them kindly.
Setsushi, for his part, wouldn't notice, for he pores desperately over the menu. The huge Knight is so famished he is not sure even a large-portioned Gaian meal will satisfy him... gonk
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:58 pm
Kouyo would be happy to share some of his meal with the Knight if he finds he needs more. Though the High Priest is hungry enough himself to handle two blueberry pancakes and some fruit, the meal he is looking at comes with three pancakes and a side of sausage. So, if Setsushi likes, he is welcome to at least the extra pancake, plus all the sausage.
Then the High Priest glances over at Xiao Huo and wonders if the child has found anything he likes on the kids' menu?
The boy points to one of the pictures on his menu, and insists that he wants the smiley-face pancakes. Is he allowed to have smiley-face pancakes?
And now that he has picked something out, Xiao Huo grabs the crayons he had been given at the door and starts drawing on his paper place mat. Agents One, Two, and Three are seated propped up against the napkin holder to observe.
As long as they get the pancakes with just banana slices and not the whipped cream, Xiao Huo should be fine.... Kouyo rests his chin on his hand and his elbow on the table, smiling tiredly and watching the boy draw.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:11 pm
... Are they certain that will be safe? Setsushi asks Kouyo privately, not looking at Xiao Huo -- he feels that this way, they won't cause the happy child any unnecessary anxiety -- aren't the cakes themselves made with some milk? Not enough to upset the relatively sensitive Setsushi, but he was led to believe even trace amounts could be dangerous to Xiao Huo?
... They could always ask the chef to substitute something? Milk of soybean?? ... It would be shame to deny the child what he wants.
Opening his thoughts up a little, he thinks he will have to get the special with... extra toast, hashed potatos, and a boiled egg. ... Two? ... Probably not, if he'll be sharing with Kouyo.
... And what is the little one drawing? he wonders, leaning over to get a better look.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:34 pm
Kouyo has heard that there are some in Gaia who do not eat anything that comes from an animal - much like some of the sects of priests back home, though he is not sure all of the Gaians who stick to this diet do so for religious reasons. And so he thinks it likely that the restaurant will have some alternative method of preparation that does not involve the milk... and thanks Setsushi for reminding him of that. The priest at least did not neglect to bring the child's medication with him.
... Has Setsushi ever tried coffee before? He has seen Jilan drink it once, and it smelled very strange; Kouyo is curious, but is also not sure if he will like it.
The boy is going to draw brave Knights fighting a scary spirit, but he needs scenery first. With great concentration, he crayons simple buildings - Toukoku-style ones rather than Gaian ones - onto the page as he plots the excitement and action at the same time.
Dragon Knight Setsushi has fought spirits, right? he asks after a few moments, looking up at the Knight across the table.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:44 pm
Setsushi will be sure to ask the server about it, then.
Setsushi ponders Kouyo's question about coffee before answering that he has tried it and it tasted very strange, not to his taste but not entirely unpleasant. On the other hand, if it was so strong on Setsushi's numb tongue, it might be a kick in the face for Kouyo, so he is not sure he should recommend the priest try it. sweatdrop
Setsushi studies the drawing... not quite grasping the scene Xiao Huo is composing but still giving off feelings of slight curiosity and affirmation. But when the boy asks about spirits, he leans back in his chair, wearing a weird, awkward smile. Well, sort of, Setsushi has fought off spirits -- but more fended them off than engaged them directly. They are powerful, yes, frightening and sometimes violent, but they can be made to stand down by intimidation, just like Porcelain. Setsushi has often wondered if they have their own cities and families in the Silver World... ... ...
... And he brings a hand to his chin, brooding slightly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:42 pm
Though he is considerably less skittish than the last time he had pancakes here, Kouyo is quite content to allow Setsushi to take care of the talking to the server. And... he will avoid the coffee this time, then sweatdrop Perhaps the next time he is out with Jilan, he will see if the young scholar can spare him a taste.
Cities and families? The spirits? Xiao Huo gapes as he tries to wrap his brain around this idea, which had clearly never occurred to him before. ... Sort of like... how his Chaos has a Human Sorcerer for a father? ... Except Kumoru is not a spirit.
He stares off into space, all sorts of ideas swirling in his mind, for a long moment before he exchanges his current crayon for one of the other colors, and starts going over some of the lines of the buildings he has already drawn in orange instead, and starts adding other things. Maybe he can make a picture of a spirit city instead....
Kouyo sends the child a gentle, encouraging feeling - the priest is most certainly curious to see what sorts of structures Xiao Huo thinks the spirits build.
And then he turns his attention back to Setsushi, privately inquiring if he is alright?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:50 pm
Setsushi believes Rika was participating in a committee of Imperial Scholars investigating the nature of spirits and the Silver World... He will see if he can remember anything she told him to tell Xiao Huo in turn, but truthfully it is all very fuzzy in his brain at the moment.
In response to Kouyo, Setsushi quickly assures him that he is fine -- then, even more carefully and privately, he tells him he was just thinking about that place that they have so far been calling the 'Silver World.' Setsushi spoke to the Celestial Oracle of Gaia, and it seems that... well, it may be something else entirely.
Does Kouyo know about this already, or should he relate it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:38 pm
The priest shakes his head - Jilan had mentioned something about pastries relating somehow to the Silver World, but had not really elaborated, so Kouyo was not sure at all what he had meant. ... If the pastries are at all related to what Setsushi has learned from the Oracle? sweatdrop
He is most curious, though, because well... the High Priest has been recently toying with the idea of asking Xiao Huo to spend a bit of time there as his adopted brother Jilan already has, in order to advance his education. He cannot not allow the child's mind to stagnate here in Gaia if there is an opportunity for him to learn while living with many other Porcelain.
And... more quietly, shyly, Kouyo adds that he has found himself desiring to flutter away to that place for perhaps a year or so as well. He wishes to see the place for himself, and if he can pass a year there and return to Gaia only days or weeks later, then perhaps he should - to strengthen his wings.
Hesitantly, the red-haired Porcelain raises his eyes to look at Setsushi again. Then he leans past Xiao Huo to grab the little box full of sugar packets and starts worriedly sorting them, white, blue, pink, and yellow.
Xiao Huo seems not to hear Setsushi's remarks on the Imperial Princess's research, as his mind bubbles with speculations of his own. Most of the spirits he imagines seem to be shaped kind of like Lucretia, or at least like Porcelain with no bottoms. Lost in his own little world as he constructs it, the boy draws houses and buildings and then adds in the half-people spirits themselves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:51 pm
Well... the Celestial Oracle used some sort of food metaphor Setsushi didn't quite follow. But the thrust of his vision seems to have been that --
Ah, yes. "Pancake breakfast with sausage, a breakfast special with an extra... wheat toast, hashed browns, and egg -- boiled -- and... ah... May we request happy-cakes without dairy...?"
... ... ... The server dealt with, Setsushi returns to the vision. Boyan described the Golden World and Silver World as two sides of toast -- hah, toast sweatdrop -- whereas the place they have been calling the 'Silver World' is some entirely different kind of food. Furthermore, something -- or some force, or someone -- has possibly set up that place and is repairing or revising it whenever they leave.
Setsushi pauses a moment, watching Xiao Huo draw.
... For that reason, Setsushi is rather afraid to let Kouyo go, he continues quietly. Never mind that Setsushi worries whether Kouyo will be safe among strangers who may not understand or help him when he is ill, but there may be some sort of conspiracy or dark underpinnings to this place... If Kouyo became injured, trapped, or... worse, it would be a great loss for the Porcelain people and a great loss for Setsushi, to be separated from his dear friend.
On the other hand Setsushi does not wish to control Kouyo... If there were some way that Kouyo could be sure would safely and reliably bring him back to Gaia and return him to the Silver World, Setsushi would not be so worried, as he could come rest in Setsushi's house whenever a threat appeared or bubbled up within him -- but they understand so little of how time flows in the two places...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:42 am
Toast!?1 Xiao Huo perks up briefly, looking to Setsushi... then shrugs a little and goes back to his drawing. Grown-up talk, probably, which he is used to.
It does make him a little nervous, though; the boy wonders if they are talking about him, but settles on just continuing to draw for the moment.
The High Priest is silent for a long moment, brow furrowing as he considers this information. He had had his doubts as to whether the place that called it self the Silver World truly was, but it had seemed so far like there was no particular reason to worry. Jilan had come and returned, seeming very much himself as well as Kouyo knew him. No one had yet been trapped there. Setsushi had been able to make very brief visits and return with ease.
Did the Oracle know if the false Silver World's creator had any sort of ill intent? The High Priest considers now going to speak with the Celestial Oracle himself.... Er, if the Chaos Sorcerer will want to meet with the Sorcerer of Name? Setsushi seems to know the man at least a little bit - would the Oracle mind?
Kouyo then becomes very intent on the packets of sweetener then, counting all of the white ones several times as he seems to mentally retreat for a moment. He apparently considers something troubling, by his fidgeting and the momentary look in his eyes, but it passes and he smiles faintly again.
Again extending his thoughts to Setsushi alone, the High Priest then wonders what sorts of people Setsushi has met on his trips to the false Silver World? Jilan has some friends there as well, no? He wonders if the Knight is more reluctant to entrust Kouyo to the place itself, or to the people in it. The priest at least would like to think that he can handle himself if the people themselves are good people and only the place is suspicious.
... But Setsushi's doubts fuel Kouyo's regardless, and he falls quiet again as he focuses on counting the pink packages of sugar. Why does Gaia have so many kinds of sugar?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:32 am
Setsushi smiles at Xiao Huo when he looks at him, but then resumes conferring with Kouyo.
It is true that the place may be entirely benign, but... given that they know so little about its properties, its purpose, and so forth, it would seem foolish to assume that because no one has been hurt yet, the place is harmless. Setsushi feels they must do further research -- and, in fact, that Kouyo would be the best among them to do such research, given his magical abilities.
However, the year Kouyo proposes is an awfully long time compared to the brief visits made by Setsushi. And Kouyo will not be able to come back and rest in Setsushi's house without bringing Xiao Huo back with him, as the time in that place seems to irregularly jump forward. Arranging housing, contacts, food... It all seems like it would be very difficult to arrange neatly.
On the other hand, it is true that there have been no losses or injuries among the Gaian Porcelain visiting that place. And the people seem, for the most part, to be peaceful and to mind their own business in a way Setsushi finds incredibly creepy and uncanny, but... ... Though there has been at least one incident in which someone tried to kill someone else, according to (the questionably reliable) Shuuken, but he does not know the details.
... Well, Setsushi thinks it would be indeed a good idea for Kouyo to meet Boyan. He is an... extremely eccentric man, extremely unpredictable, but also very kind and loath to hurt anyone, so Setsushi feels Kouyo will be safe with him. ... Though the Oracle's ability to See might...
... ... ... There was something else Setsushi wanted to consult Kouyo about, but...
How has the priest been feeling these days?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:31 pm
Kouyo tells the Knight that he had been planning to do what research he could there, too. Though... he cannot help but wonder quietly if Setsushi does not trust him to defend himself if he does encounter some malicious foe. He swears he will do his best to remain safe; the thought of dying in such a place, where the mysterious creator may not permit his soul to go to the true Silver World, and where Setsushi, Dame Chourou, his aunt Dame Tenkyuu, Jilan, even Master Akram may not know that he is even gone... it hurts and troubles the priest. He would do his best to prevent such a thing from happening to him.
Faintly worried, he counts the pink sugar packets again and then sorts them into stacks.
When Setsushi asks how he has been feeling, Kouyo finishes his task then looks up at the Knight again. With a small smile on his lips but not quite in his eyes, the High Priest tells him that he has been feeling pretty good for the most part. The breath of Gaian spring has helped lift his spirits. ... Had Setsushi not noticed?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:34 pm
... To phrase it as a lack of trust makes Setsushi sound hostile, but yes, Setsushi is worried that Kouyo may not be able to defend himself if danger arises. However, he does admit that he may be thinking too cautiously here, worrying too much about his friend and imagining problems where there may be none... Setsushi does not want to trap and control Kouyo... but it is this maiden's nature to overestimate his enemy and prepare too much, perhaps a way of thinking suited to Setsushi's work but not to the task facing Kouyo.
Setsushi too is feeling cheerful now that spring is here, he says lightly, opening up his thoughts a little so this bit of pleasantness can reach Xiao Huo also. But then he very tightly clams up their conversation again, and asks, very seriously, if this means Kouyo is not feeling so ill anymore?
Because... Setsushi may have located a doctor who might be able to help Kouyo or find someone else who can, but he fears that if Kouyo is doing well enough on his own, seeking out the help of such a human may make things worse and not better.
Growing a little anxious himself, he fiddles with his napkin-bundle of utensils, fretting over the questionably-clean silverware.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:00 pm
Kouyo apologizes for putting words in Setsushi's mouth, and makes sure to mention that he is grateful for the Knight's concern. He knows he has obviously been having a difficult time getting used to the lack of safety that goes along with his newfound freedom, but... the priest thinks that he is finally getting accustomed to and better at defending himself. However, dangers in a world populated with Porcelain are ones he must remember, at least, rather than learn anew - so perhaps he could focus a bit less upon worldly worries, leaving his thoughts freer to acertain the nature of whatever unearthly dangers there are in this false Silver World? This last suggestion comes across as a bit short on confidence, however, and a bit long on doubt.
Xiao Huo soaks up the happy thoughts of spring, glancing up from his picture long enough to grin at the Dragon Knight and the High Priest. Then, as though suddenly reminded of something, he continues drawing with renewed vigor, adding in spring trees to the spirits' city.
At the older Porcelain's mention of a human doctor, Kouyo's thoughts trail off into silence for a long moment. His features seem to twist into the beginnings of a look of anger for the briefest of moments before the High Priest's usual contemplative expression returns. He makes one stack of sugar packets for each color.
Finally, the High Priest tells Setsushi softly, calmly, that he is not sure if he is sick or not. But Kouyo hurts deeply, whether he shows it or not, and he doubts it is the sort of pain that any human can understand. He does not wish to burden anyone else.
He wilts a little, slouching as he suddenly seems to lose even the energy to play with the sugar packets. Has Kouyo seemed ill recently to Setsushi, then, even though the priest thought himself to be starting to improve finally?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:25 pm
Setsushi watches Kouyo's face carefully, his own features forming into a slight frown indicating worry and sadness, not irritation. But he inclines his head to Kouyo in a half-nod, affirming what the priest argues. Kouyo may very well be correct on all counts. Setsushi would ask him not to leap into this new endeavor too recklessly, to seize upon a new task and hope without considering the consequences, but -- Kouyo has already had that experience, hasn't he? So it isn't necessary for Setsushi to baby him through he process.
And, actually, Kouyo has not seemed ill to Setsushi. In fact he seems to have dramatically improved; thus Setsushi suggests the doctor only hesitantly and will defer to Kouyo's decision on the matter. But... Kouyo has been surrounded by mild people, the cheering spring weather, all sort of things that are likely to calm him; if Kouyo spends a year in the Silver World the ill weather will come around again, and, even if the people are not hostile, they will at least be strangers. Those are the reasons for Setsushi's worry, though Kouyo is the only one who can weigh them properly against his goals.
All Setsushi asks, really, is that Kouyo think these things over and establish a clear and solid strategy -- whatever it ends up being -- before he departs.
Their dark private conversation is then interrupted by the arrival of steaming plates -- one each for Kouyo and Xiao Huo and several plates and small side dishes for Setsushi. ... But though Setsushi thanks the server and picks up his fork and knife right away, his projected enthusiasm seems to have lost a little steam, as if this has all damanged his appetite. sweatdrop
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
