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 Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 3:25 pm
  This is Private RP between Van (Kurama no Koishi) & SiMa Li [Chrystali].
Setting
Van and Li bump into each other at a tea cart, striking up conversation.
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Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 3:33 pm
They were out of her favorite tea.
It was hearsay, really, but not all that unusual given the state of how things had been in Lunaria: she shouldn't have been surprised that the tea crops were affected as well. As such, the pale-haired Lunarian found herself staring in silent contemplation at what was offered, not entirely familiar with the combinations in the least. She generally favored chamomile and failing that, a sweet peppermint or peach oolong, but the season was not proper for the latter and she wasn't quite craving the former. It's not a huge life decision, Li chastised herself gently. It's just tea. Make up your mind!
But her mind had been fully distracted as of late. Still healing from her near fatal run-in on the mission with Huang, she wasn't certain what opinion to hold of what had befallen the Emperor and consequently, their city. Further divided with a new faction on hand, she would have joined the Neutral Guard if not for the fact she did not trust them. It was one thing to claim a side but to claim neither and make a stance of it was either ballsy and without merit or under the sway of one of the defining factions. Li would bet on the latter. Someone was playing a cruel game, murdering Nobles and declaring the Emperor dead without means, and to think that there would actually be enough Lunarians to support the anti-war effort...
...tea. Right. Drawing in a small breath, Li forced herself to look over the innocent wares again, so much more simple and refreshing beneath the afternoon sun.
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Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:24 pm
With the Cherry Tree gone, Van had lost one of the constants that she had grown to rely on. Part of her still very much mourned the loss of the grand monument, but she couldn’t dwell on it for too long. There were much greater things to worry about, and greater losses to mourn. Today, she was taking a brief tea break between missions. The Legion, at least, had upped the amount of reconnaissance missions since the Emperor’s death, leading the fighter to believe that the world really was at a loss as far as what was happening.
Before she could run out and attempt to save the world, though, she first had to get her tea. It was one of the smaller pleasures in life, one which Sara had introduced her to several weeks before. With all of the chaos and uncertainties racking Lunaria at present, it was all anyone could do to cling to the little things in order to stay sane.
If only this girl ahead of her would make up her mind. Van couldn’t see her face, and from what she could see of the girl’s backside, it was apparent that she was a student. Glancing back, she saw that the line was beginning to grow rather long for such a modest tea cart, and so Van decided to make a move.
Being careful to be gentle, so as not to startle her, Van placed one hand on the girl’s shoulder and murmured quietly into her ear, “The rose tea here is really quite good. At least, that is what I plan on getting.” A tiny smile played on her glossed lips as she pulled back now, having made her suggestion.
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:54 am
The touch against her shoulder made her physically jump. Li was not used to being touched at all, let alone in public by a tea stall; given that most touch lead to battle, she couldn't help but be startled by something so simple. Turning with only a minor jerk of her head, the sudden tension in her body eased away when she heard the words whispered to her. The position of her eyes also let her see the line behind her, immediately prompting a soft brush of pink to color her dark cheeks. It was unlike her to get so lost in her own musings - in her own world - to forget those around her. If anything, it was a testament of the times and she was ashamed for what was otherwise a simple error.
"Thank you--" she murmured with earnest intent to the Lunarian behind her, both for drawing her out of her reverie and giving her something to order that wasn't scrambling without a brain between her ear-fins. Hastily placing the order for two rose teas, she stepped to the side as her order was tended to. Motioning to the sweet-scented liquid that was being poured, she offered by means of apology to the Lunarian who had grounded her, "My thanks, my Lady. Your tea is on me."
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 3:13 pm
“Sorry,” Van said automatically after she noticed that the younger woman had been a bit startled despite her best efforts. Her touch did not linger, instead was withdrawn quickly as Van flashed the insides of her hands, showing that she had nothing concealed. The fighter wasn’t entirely weaponless, of course, for the two butterfly swords sheathed at her hip were forever there, but she wasn’t planning on using them. With the way things were now, no one was stupid enough to start a fight in broad daylight.
She blinked a few times in mild surprise when she realized that the student had ordered two teas instead of just one. When she finally put the pieces together, it was too late to protest. Instead of making a scene, Van merely smiled graciously, reaching out for one of the freshly brewed rose teas sitting on the counter. A moment was spared to breathe in the floral aroma before the woman took a cautious sip of the hot beverage, letting its flavor roll over her tongue before she swallowed.
Were students always so polite? Van hid another smile when the purple-clad girl thanked her again. It was all very flattering, but Van would not have any of it. In her eyes, titles and formalities were associated with very stiff people (see: Huang), and Van was not one of these. “No thanks are necessary,” she said then, waving it off gently with her free hand, “If anything, I should be thanking you! Please, just call me Van.”
Full lips formed into a small o as the fighter blew over the top of her cup, hoping to cool the drink before she could continue to drink it. She regarded the other woman as she did so, smiling again when she caught her eye. If looks were any indication, Van could grow to like this girl. She was wearing her favorite color, after all.
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:00 pm
"Van," she repeated the other woman's name with a degree of warmth and continued gratitude, "as you please. And might I return your words to you: no thanks are necessary! The least I can do is offer a lovely lady some tea." The way Li spoke was very matter-of-fact and rather absent of any indication of flirting or suggestion: it was the truth, if not in a rather brazen manner. She was not one to pull the punches or dance around the bush and if saying something clearly and concise meant being forward, so be it!
The Legionnaire took a small draught of her tea, enjoying the strange mixture of floral taste and sweet aroma, quite an opposite sensation but one that was not unwelcome. With a soft hum of appreciation, she curved her fingers around the heated container, fixing Van with a smile that was a little less harried and somewhat more at ease. "My name is Li, and I must thank you for your brilliant suggestion." Lifting the tea as a means of indication, she lowered it again so as to not jostle the hot liquid within. "It's delicious. More fragrant than I was anticipating but really lovely." She hoped she didn't come off sounding like a tea snob, but she really was appreciative of the subtlety of it: strong flavors weren't her cup of tea, pun wholly intended.
Turning her amethyst eyes around the cart and the immediate surroundings, she was somewhat warmed by the atmosphere. It was less the frightened mass of the days succeeding the death of the Emperor and the fallen Lunarians, and more a ghost of how the days used to be: calm, but busy, the air filled with idle gossip and the bark of vendors for their wares. For a moment - and only just - Li could almost pretend the last two years never came to pass. The darkness of knowledge would always be there, and unlike the majority of those who went about their daily business, she could not run away from what was in front of her. With a quiet sigh that heralded the passing of such juvenile hopes, she took another consoling sip of tea.
"It's a beautiful day," she commented, more as an observation than idle chit-chat. "Almost a shame I couldn't get to the docks today, but the shelves do not grow food and the tea does not cultivate itself." Offering a brief smile to Van, she wasn't sure if their moment had passed and if they'd go their own ways or settle in for some banter. It wasn't like she was used to the latter, at least, not with someone that appeared as collected as the woman before her.
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 1:26 am
The fighter had begun to turn her attention elsewhere, when the other girl’s rather matter-of-fact tone pulled her back into the conversation. A brief smile flashed across Van’s face in a show of genuine appreciation at the offhand compliment. It wasn’t as if she was unused to hearing these things, more that she rarely heard them without an undercurrent of hostility or ill-concealed wistfulness. From this particular student, though, it was easy to see that she was merely being straightforward. It was, in a word, refreshing.
“Li, then,” the Legionnaire answered smoothly, also lifting her cup of tea in acknowledgement of the other, “I am glad to hear that.” How embarrassing it would have been if the younger woman hadn’t liked her suggestion! Van liked to believe that she had impeccable taste in just about everything, but she was learning day by day that there could be times when she was... less correct. The rose tea was not one of those instances, all things considered. These thoughts she kept in her head as she took another sip of the fragrant tea, and, finding that it was a bit cooler now, she continued to drink in a brief moment to herself.
Van reached one gloved hand behind her head now, adjusting the ponytail from which her dark waves cascaded, before lowering it to circle the half-empty teacup once again. It was something of an absent movement, one that the fighter often made while deep in thought. She was, like her companion, peering surreptitiously around the street, though her perspective was markedly different from Li’s. Noticing the hustle and bustle of the streets meant noticing how far removed she was from this world, now. The days had long passed since Van was simply another one of the villagers, where all she had to worry about were her grades and whether that dress would fit just right over her curves.
She turned her deep violet gaze over to the light-haired Lunarian standing next to her, barely concealing the wistful glance with a polite smile as Li smiled at her. Van did not fail to notice the comparatively warmer tones of the girl’s coloring, and wondered briefly whether this said something about her outlook on life. Certainly, this fighter was feeling colder as a result of the recent events. “Perhaps if you hurry, you might have a few minutes to spare by the end of the day,” Van said idly, looking skyward purposefully to indicate the rising sun, “Such a day shouldn’t be wasted doing chores… though I’ve a few training sessions to attend today, myself.”
A question occurred to her now. Her eyes fixed on the student’s calloused hands briefly, before rising, amethyst gaze meeting amethyst gaze. “Pardon me if I am wrong, but you are going to be a fighter, yes?”
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:25 pm
The student smiled behind her cup of tea, her expression relaxed for the time being. "That would be a good idea, but I am not very well versed in such things." Li chuckled a little, lowering the steaming brew to look at Van with a complacent gaze. "I'm of the mind that I'd rather do one thing well for the day than rush and potentially make a mistake. It's hard to enjoy anything with a time constraint hanging over your head." Glancing down to the soft, muted colors of the tea, she had the grace to look somewhat embarrassed. "And the last time I went sailing against my better judgement, I almost hit a swimmer." Poor Cais. She felt no less worse about it, even knowing he was a Noble.
The sudden question was not unwelcome, but rather abrupt to the Lunarian, prompting her brows to lift and her amethyst eyes to find Van's inquisitive look. Li supposed she shouldn't have been so surprised: with the war escalating, these things became more obvious. "I am," she confirmed with a demure bow of her head. "Once the dust settles and the ceremonies begin again..." Purposely remaining vague, she didn't want to claim allegiance so brazenly. It was less that she was afraid of judgement and more that she didn't really feel she had a hold on the Legion's ideals, instead straddling a middle ground that felt more dangerous than blind loyalty.
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:14 am
Van said nothing for a moment after Li acknowledged her words, thinking on the stark differences in their perspectives. As soon as she’d graduated from the Academy, any free time in her schedule had quickly been swallowed up with the demands of the Legion. Whether this was implicit with the new rank or whether it was due to the drastic changes in Van’s family life, she couldn’t be sure. She did find herself envying the younger girl’s apparent ability to take things one at a time, however. A smile widened across her face briefly as Li mentioned her near-accident. “Ah, perhaps it is better for you that way, then,” she said, sounding a bit sheepish in her amusement.
With the girl’s next words came the potential for an awkward silence, though it was not in Van’s nature to allow such a silence to linger. She did not miss the fact that Li had not declared her allegiance to her, though of course, the fighter had not inquired. Lunarians had become more suspicious of each other since the Emperor’s death—why ruin a perfectly friendly chat by trying to make sure they were on the same side? “I wish you the best in your future endeavors then, Li,” she said gently, offering the girl another smile. Her statement was mostly sincere, for she would have said the same thing regardless of the girl’s allegiance. She simply would have meant it less, had Li been a Noble. The Retainers had wronged her and her family, but in Van’s eyes, this did not mean that every last Noble was guilty.
“Though,” Van began again, almost as an afterthought, “I should tell you to enjoy your time as a student while you still can. It’s… much busier, after you graduate.” The woman peered into her cup, noting that she was nearing the bottom of her fragrant tea, and possibly the end of their shared moment. Had it really been years since her own commencement? The thought was sobering, and Van lifted her eyes to the student once again, hoping that Li would heed her advice well.
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 1:21 pm
"It's unlike me to be so careless," she murmured softly with embarrassment, rubbing her thumbs over the cup with a self-deprecating expression. Cais may have forgiven her, but Li expected better of herself. If no one else would hold her to the highest standard, she still had herself to impress and she was undoubtedly her hardest critic. Van's smile and the sudden words of encouragement made her amethyst eyes return to the woman's face, something like bafflement briefly flickering over her features before settling into warm consideration. "...my thanks." Li laughed a little, still abashed. "In times of turmoil like this, all you hear is -- is such negative, horrible things." Feeling her youth more poignantly, she bowed her head politely. "Your kindness and well wishes will be kept with fondness, Van."
Watching Van's facial features shift so subtle was fascinating to the student. It was like she was watching the Fighter's inner thoughts without hearing them or really gleaning an inkling of what they could be, but the somber look was fairly telling. "So I've seen," she remarked with a distant smile, thinking of Huang and all his 'serious business.' "Would it be strange if I said I look forward to that?" Cocking her head to the side, she couldn't help but grin very slightly, barely a show of teeth between her lips. "I can't do much as I am now, but once that 'busy' part kicks in...then maybe I can do something worthwhile." Glancing down to her empty cup, she carefully put it aside where designated and gave Van another almost sheepish look. It was very odd to be so candid with what was such a perfect stranger, but she had to learn the value of being open to receive the same.
"Maybe it's a student empathy, but I want to make a difference. I would see this war end, and I would do everything I could to clean the streets of blood." There was a subtle darkness in her eyes, but her smile remained, almost automatic in its execution. Maybe if she could do more than just be some student, she could actually contribute to the war effort rather than just being a patient bystander. Then again, her aim was to end things, not to win for her side. She'd always be walking a line of war, no matter her position in the army. "I would hope after sharing tea that I might be able to see you again," she offered suddenly, chasing the darkness from her gaze, "I've not yet met such pleasant company in the war effort. It's refreshing...and gives me hope." It was, if nothing else, a warm reminder of what she was fighting for.
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Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 3:02 am
Van was silent for another moment as she listened to the younger girl speak, finding that their perspectives differed once again, but even so, she couldn’t scorn Li for this reason alone. Tilting her head back to peer slightly skyward, the fighter reflected briefly on the many negative ideas and thoughts that surrounded them. It was true—their lives were inundated with news of the bad things, and Van herself had become used to the criticism from her family, which, though sometimes warranted, did little to brighten her world view. Yet, here she found herself being thanked for such things as kindness and well-wishes. The irony of the whole situation was amusing to the Legionnaire, and she couldn’t help but smile to herself.
“It isn’t strange,” she answered gently as she returned to the conversation at hand, her expression still a bit dazed from being lost in her thoughts. “We all fight for what we believe in, after all.” Van finished the last of her tea in one swallow, before following Li to replace the now-empty cup. Smiling in response to Li’s own, the expression a bit fixed on her pale face, the fighter was pleasantly surprised to hear the other girl’s beliefs so candidly. Her smile widened, and the dark-haired woman nodded briefly in acknowledgment.
Most students just out of the Academy were radical about their beliefs, regardless of whether they swung toward the Nobles or toward the Legion. Van had not been one of those, instead reconciling herself with her faction as she’d grown as a fighter, and she was pleased to see that Li was not the blind sort that she so detested. This, above all else, would make it possible for them to meet again somewhere down the line. “I’m certain that we will run into each other again,” was the smooth reply as Van tipped her head again, this time in goodbye. “Hold onto that hope, and we surely will. I’ll see you around, Li.” In a profession where one saw little more than blood and war, it was all anyone could do not to let the rage and resentment darken them. If Li didn’t know this now, Van was optimistic that she wouldn’t let the darkness of the war dim her light. This, though she hadn’t said it aloud, gave her hope.
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