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 Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:12 pm
  This is a private roleplay between Cais [Never Crazy] and Yue Lao [Face Your Demons].
Setting:
The vineyard where Yue works.
After many months and many changes, Cais grudgingly accepts the job of delivering the order for Yue Lao after completion.
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Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:32 pm
Cais had been dreading this day.
Months had passed since a single business transaction had led Cais to be left injured in an abandoned field. Months since he had felt the stinging humiliation which came with that defeat. And now after those many months the new Fighter looked at the crates set atop the cart, finally ready to be moved to their permanent home and far from the darkened eyes of their creator who, though reluctantly, had finished the task with painstaking perfection to their original design. Wiping his brow of sweat he took a step back from the cart, folding his arms over his chest and frowning.
"Shouldn't you be on your way? The sun won't wait for you." A rough voice said from the nearby workshop doorway, the tall and rugged visage of his father at work leaning on the sturdy wooden frame. "Months of work to deliver these bottles into hands of those kind, I can't say I'm exactly leaping with joy over it." Cais muttered back, turning his bright eyes to face him, though he was already well aware of the look he'd receive - and there it was. Dinh glared at his boy, his jaw rigid as the stern look remained stoic, his calloused hand gripping tightly to the frame.
"I suggest letting comments of that nature go, you'll do better by it." He said in the way of a demand, walking from the frame a few feet to peer down at his son. Cais knew better than to speak, but stood tall against the expression, watching his father carefully. He felt the corner of his mouth twitch as words swirled through his mind, none of which sounding good against the demanding presence of his father's words. "Even if it were the Emperor himself, you will abide by contracts you agree to, especially in work, do you understand?"
"I finished the work, I said nothing about the delivery." He retorted back, looking back to the crates with disdain. He felt his father's looming presence over him as a rough hand touched his shoulder. "We finish what we start Cais, that's how we are, as artists, as Nobles..." He paused. "As fighters. Now finish what you've started, and don't be reckless with it." Dinh said, turning back to the workshop with a deep huff off of his chest.
Standing in place for a moment after Cais grunted and took both hands to the cart, sliding underneath and pushing against it's wooden rail to get it going. There was nothing he could do to argue, since it had been all on him. The initial contract, the negotiating and now finally the end result of the delivery. Still, he felt bitter against the entire ordeal and gnashed his teeth as he rounded the corner of his home to begin his long trek.
Perhaps his nerves would be soothed after he caught sight of the vineyard, but something in him warned him better. "And it starts." He muttered, pushing along quickly.
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:23 am
It was hot out. Unbearably hot. Yue Lao pushed the barrel into place in the workroom and swiped sweat off her forehead, rolling her arms. It wasn't hard labour any more, like it had been once, but it was certainly exhausting in the heat. "Master Yowaiiiii," Yue called into the shop proper, grinning from ear to ear, "I have moved all your stock to the appropriate places." Yowai appeared through the door Yue stares at, as if it wasn't hot at all. She still wore her full outer robes, but her skin was soft and matte. Not a hair was out of place. Yet again, Yue admired her othermother's grace and strength. No wonder Chishio loved her. Yue beamed, proud of her lineage, and Yowai arched one sculpted brow.
"Thank you, Yue Lao. Would you please mind the store now? I must check on the grapes." Yowai nodded at Yue, though her eyes glinted and betrayed her affection for the fighter. Of course, Yowai had to appear strict, especially at work; no one could know of the mothers' relationship. It could be dangerous for Yowai's business and Chishio's well-being.
Yue sauntered into the shop and sat down behind the counter, playing with some sample bottles to the side. Yet again, she was reminded of the glass bottles they would be receiving soon. Yowai would be bottling her best wine in those, and selling them at a mint. They would be a prize for any wealthy family. Yue laughed to herself; that was nothing like her family. They were well off, but not rich. As she had realized when she was younger, Yowai's profits went into improving her shop and her stock, so that she was constantly able to market her goods to higher classes.
Yue Lao began to hum off-key, pushed herself off the seat and went to open the door; maybe she could let some cooler air in. No such luck. It was disgusting out. Yue fanned herself and squinted off into the distance. Was that... Cais?
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:02 am
Cais was already used to the cart's weight long before he hit the uphill turn towards the vineyard. That didn't make the uphill ride any easier, but he made the trip quickly enough, occasionally wiping his brow of sweat, each step bringing more muttered cursed under his breath. Yes, he had taken his father's advice and yes, he did agree that he had a job to finish, but those thoughts did little to silence the raging bitterness from deep within.
The fight they had still burned in his mind. He had learned a lot from it and since, skills and tips for fighting he wouldn't have realized without having the experience. The knowledge of his loss kept those thought at bay, however, and he found himself still fuming over it on lonely nights where his mind would go back to that day. The cursing continued as he mulled it over. "Better to get it out now." He said as the vineyard came into sight. "Professional business, professional business." He repeated. It was going to take a lot of patience, which he was sure he lacked, to get through the delivery without incident. Putting on his best face as he rounded to the front, he stopped the cart.
Moving from behind the bar he wiped his sweaty hands on his work apron. With a deep sigh he looked back to the carefully packaged crates, moving quickly to pick one up, sliding it on his shoulder. It didn't weigh too much and he moved with ease towards the door with a brisk pace. Stopping at the door he knocked on the frame with vigor, taking a few deep breaths to regain his composure.
Nestled inside the shimmering glass of the crate was the delivery slip waiting for a signature. He eyed it through the crate with a hopeful gaze. Cais would only need a signature then leave the crates, then he could return home before nightfall. Apprehension was building as he tapped a foot impatiently, his gut churning. Things aren't ever that easy. He thought, clearing his throat. "Hello?" he called out.
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Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 1:00 pm
Assuming that the sun had made her hallucinate, Yue Lao had retreated back into the store to clean and mostly be lazy. Not so much lazy, though; she pretended to be idle whenever she could, but for the most part, Yue Lao worked hard, because it was something she was passionate about.
In truth, Yue Lao didn't have much of a memory for grudges. She had kept on behaving as she normally would. It was mostly within herself her conflict stemmed, or between battles with faceless enemies who seemed to attack not because of her personality or history but merely because she was Legion. And as such, she disliked the Noble fighters on principal, but she didn't hold grudges against one in particular. The only one that had really made her uncomfortable was Shin Mu.
Yue Lao heard a voice at the door, though, and although she thought she had been seeing things, it sounded just like Cais. "The door is--" Yue Lao was bounding over to the shop door, and as she opened it, finished her sentence, "--already open! Unlocked, I mean-- oh, hey there." Yue smiled as best as she could manage, though she felt like he would be unhappy to see her. "I guess that's the order? My boss would come deal with you herself, but she's busy, so you're stuck with me," Yue finished.
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Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:18 pm
The sound of her voice unnerved him and he stood silent for a moment, listening to her footsteps while she moved to the door, opening it wide. He had heard she had recently graduated, not unlike himself, but had yet to see her as a "fighter". And now here she was. She did seem older to him with a hint of fierce air about her. A fighter for sure, though he wasn't sure that thought was a good one to dwell on, given the situation. Swallowing his sour mood his expression remained stoic. "Hey." He started casually. "Yup, I've got it all here." He said, motioning his head back to the cart behind him. So far so good. he thought, staring back at her.
Clearing his throat he stepped into the storefront with caution, eying the establishment carefully before setting the crate on the nearest surface. Without looking back at her he grabbed one of the bottles with both hands, turning it over in his hands. Turning back to her he held it up. "All to specification too." he put simply, meeting her eyes with his own proud stare. Into the hands of a Legionnaire or not, it was a fine piece of work - one he had spent many hours on through all emotions. At the thought his gaze seemed to shift, staring back at the bottle as a finger traced down the side of it. Though he didn't get along with her, or rather chose not to get along with her, she had been the one to give him such a design to work on, one he admired and had poured sweat and tears into. For that his was grateful for her, but for that reason alone.
Taking a step closer to her he held out the bottle eagerly so she might take it for inspection. He figured she would merely echo his words and it would all be set. "If you'd like a look at the detail." He said with a nod. If she hadn't been eager to start something then he refused to stray from the topic to make sure he didn't either. Business after all, was business.
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:42 pm
Yue Lao was surprised to see the changes in Cais. He looked much older, more respectable. "You climbed up in rank, huh?" she asked, beaming, as if it was a good thing. To her, it apparently was; she had fought him, so for her opponent to graduate as she did meant they could fight again and he may be stronger. She would likely find out for herself, sooner or later, given his clear displeasure at seeing her.
She opened the crate to look at the glasswork. It was, indeed, perfect. As perfect as hand-crafted pieces were, after all; each one would have slight variations, which was what made them so perfect for her Othermother's business. The variations made it clear that each bottle was hand-crafted. "Hone boss-woman will be pretty glad to see these," Yue said, grinning. She set the bottle back down gently, and closed the box back up. "Looks like I was right to put my faith in your skills, oh angry one," she finished.
If Yue Lao was the kind of Lunarian who avoided conflict (because she was, in fact, observant enough to know what would cause it) she would let the old matters which had bothered them lie dormant. However, he had grown; she wondered if his disposition had changed, if he still maintained the same values. If he was so vehement about drunkards.
"So, do I still remind you of drunks? I seem to remember you liked them, right?" Yue Lao asked, casually, leaning against the counter of her othermother's shop. She smiled, as if what she was saying meant absolutely nothing. Yue Lao was not to be confused with someone nice; even if she was loyal to her friends, she hardly acted in the interests of others. She had grown up, become less selfish, but her mannerisms still remained largely intact, apparently.
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 7:36 pm
Cais nodded. "I see you did too." He said, glancing back to her. It was hard to read her even still, she seemed even more skilled in making herself unreadable. Such skills were not something to underestimate, he'd learned it the hard way. Once things were settled he vowed to never do that again. He watched her with interest for the time being, fighting the urge to tap a foot impatiently.
He was glad that she was genuinely interested in the bottles at least, though she was still just the same in how she spoke. He rolled it off with a shrug. "It's an act of passion, anger being only part of it. Some of the best skills come out of raw emotion." He put simply, grabbing at the rolled up delivery slip. Deep inside he could already feel it at the pit of his stomach, quelling it by biting as his tongue a bit.
Damn she was smooth - he wasn't sure if he was being baited or not but wouldn't be one to outright lie, regardless of the situation. "Well, I can't say you don't. Can't quite tell where your head is from here." He said quietly, tilting his head to look her in the eyes. It was the same look she always had, looking somewhat aloof though now he knew better. A small snort let out. "I prefer to avoid them if I can. No telling what idiotic situations they'll get themselves in, and naturally probably not remember any of it the next day."
He was obviously annoyed, that much he couldn't help as he felt his brows furrow tightly. Shaking his head he righted his expression again and held out the scroll to her. "I'll go outside with you to check over the number and make sure it all got here." He said tersely. "Then we can sign some papers and get this all squared away, hm?" He said, walking back outside. He turned back to and motioned her on silently.
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