avalononline | video; un: rokumon

Entry tags:

video; un: rokumon

[ The video begins and Baiken sets the camera down on a steady surface before shuffling her way in front of it and taking a nice long gulp from her sake jug before grabbing something from off camera and dangling it in front of the lens...

A necklace with a tigers' eye gem. ]

Got one of these awhile back from a different job, and well since somebody said I should diversify my work if I want to not live in poverty all the damn time, I guess I'll take the job related to this too.

If you know what I'm talking about, you know what I'm talking about.

[ You know. That job. ]

I gotta partner up someone [ or someones ] to get this payday, so consider this an offer. Make it worth my while, though. I have a right to be picky.

[ You gotta admit, it's better than making a living killing things! Probably. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A job's a job... I ain't gonna get picky about it. [ Another swig. ]

I suppose if you need money badly, and my brother would agree with you... but I might disagree. Sometimes being picky does pay off.

If you don't enjoy the job then, well there's no point to it. Money comes and goes. But if you actually enjoy yourself, and the work, then it means a bit more when you get your check. You would make more too.

[ Baiken groaned again, taking a much longer drink. ]

Do I look like the kind of person who needs this kind of lecture? Save it for the young and dumb, lady, I don't give a shit.

[To be fair, most of everyone here is young to Anri. For her part anyway, she gives the other woman a soft smile in return. She seems to have recovered from that earlier glare!]

Mm, perhaps not a lecture... and you are a grown woman, more than capable of making decisions for yourself. And might not care about what I'm saying. But sometimes reminders and encouragement are needed. No matter how old you are.

[ Baiken rolled her eye, taking another swig and pausing a moment before... ]

So are you offering or what?

[She thinks about that for a moment. Kind of surprised Baiken didn't just hang up on her, instead she asked that question. There was a momentary pause from her own end.]

Well... Do you like beer? If so... then sure.

I'm not picky so long as it's strong.

[ She got the impression the woman didn't expect Baiken to proposition her, but given she didn't freak out and turn into a blushing mess, that was points in her favor. ]

You got a name?

That seems to an unfortunate opinion that a lot of people hold. I'll bring some bottles then.

[Given who her neighbors are she wasn't about to melt down into a blushing stuttering mess like that. She could but not this time around. Much as she wasn't expecting it, having originally commented out of potential worry for the other woman and curiosity.]

My name is Bel-- Anri. You can call me Anri.

[She caught herself. Not because she wasn't against people knowing of her being the personification of a nation-state, let alone someone who probably never heard of it. But because it made things less awkward if they do. And things already felt awkward.]

How about you?

You can call it unfortunate all you like, but it's just not something that concerns me. I find the flavor is in the sensation of drinking itself, and what company one keeps. Even good sake can be spoiled by shitty people being around you.

[ She set her jug aside, pulling out her pipe. The process of her stuffing and lighting the pipe with a single hand was practiced and quick. A few starting puffs and... ]

Call me Baiken.

[Missing an eye and an arm then, an enjoyment of not necessarily the entirety of the drink itself, but the elation that comes with it. België nodded her head at the words. She thinks she might get it now, even with the woman being a stranger.]

Hm, that's true. Poor conversation and bad company can make drinks taste sour and food terrible.

[Ah-- that pipe. Those words... a bit of familiarity hit her in the stomach painfully and shone in her green eyes. One that she quickly shook off. It was gone in a flash replaced with that soft smile again.]

Baiken then. Where and when would you like to meet?

[ Whether she realizes it or not, Anri was passing whatever filtering process Baiken was setting up. Maybe it didn't qualify as "make it worth her while", but it at least seemed it wouldn't be an unpleasant experience. ]

At the forest side of the bridge, near the main path through the woods.

Got it.

[Whatever process she'd setup to filter out others replying, or what she considered was worth her while was all up to Baiken. The woman held the ultimate final say and decision. Anri wasn't entirely expecting things to go this way, that much was obvious. She wasn't entirely certain why she was agreeing to this beyond the growing need to smell tobacco smoke. For something familiar and a little pleasing. But maybe this wouldn't turn out all that bad.]

I'll be there in a few then.

[She would be there punctually, beer in hand, seemingly lost in her thoughts, and breath coming out in slow, visible puffs in the cold air. It was a bit of a walk for her!]

[ Baiken was a hard to miss, even in the dim light of the evening. Even if she lacked such vibrant hair, her features made her impossible to not pick out. Scars, facial tattoo, and the pipe situated in her lips, with sweet smelling smoke slowly drifting into the cold air...

She turned to Anri, giving a small nod, but otherwise saying nothing, just gesturing for her to follow as Baiken pushed herself away from the tree she'd been leaning against, wandering deeper into the wood... ]

[Ah-- the woman of the hour! She looks quite a bit more intimidating in person than over the camera. The obvious violent type, probably with a slight temper was the first impression she had.

She still doesn't seem like a bad person outright? Straightforward and to the point. Things that, mixed with the tobacco smoke, brought the pangs of familiarity back.

...She steps forward, going to lock step next to Baiken and peering at her through the smoke of her own breath and that of the pipe. A small frown on her lips. Anri was nervous of doing this with a complete stranger!

But she was curious, and a bit fearless in her own right when the chips finally fell.]

[ By the time Baiken found a clearing she liked, kneeling to check if the grass was of a soft quality, that there was nothing around that'd make the experience especially uncomfortable, she finally eased herself down to sit. She motioned for Anri to do the same, and to hand her one of those beers. ]

[She blinked as Baiken settled down. Here huh? Without a word she drew out one of the bottles. Popping the cap off and handing it to the woman.

It was one of her stronger brews. A nice, dark stout with a pleasant scent and... no, Baiken said she didn't care for such things. A bit of waste, but they would probably do the trick she was looking for... Anri goes ahead and sits next to her, breaking open a bottle for herself and downing it with a sigh and a shiver from the cold grass.]

...I've got six, so help yourself.

[ Baiken puffed on her pipe one last time before taking it from her lips, setting it aside and carefully balancing it on the knot of a root, freeing up her hand to take the beer. She set it in her lap, at first, before quickly snapping her bracer over the cap, knocking it off and taking it back up for a long, multi gulp swig.

A sigh, and... ]

You're right... this tastes pretty good.

[That got a small smile from her. Appreciation was always nice to hear, whether the person meant it or not.]

Thank you, I'm glad you like it.

[The tone in her voice sounds like Anri means it... She goes ahead and slips off her own wool gloves and coat, placing it on the ground as a makeshift blanket, bottle off to the side. Leaving her in her form-fitting thermal shirt. Things were still cold though, and the loss of layer gets a shudder from her.

Anri still kept the warm smile though!]

[ Baiken only really had to throw her head back one more time before she drained the entire bottle, setting the empty glass aside before taking her pipe back up again and drawing in a few puffs before letting out another sigh of almost cherry-like smoke, in its scent, wafting through the cold air...

At Anri's shiver, Baiken sidled herself closer, her good arm between them, offering the pipe silently. ]

[She doesn't mind that much as she watched Baiken down it all in a breath. Instead she simply sets out the rest of the bottles next to them and sipped on her own. Taking her time to enjoy the quiet of the woods.

Baiken pressing in next to her was rather cute in its own way, Anri thought. Leaning into the shared body warmth soft body pressing against the more hardened one. Her own heat radiating to join the swordwoman's. At the offered pipe... she hesitated again. Before lithe fingers moved to take it. Painted red lips gently wrapping around it to take a drag and let out a puff. There was that smell again, the taste now on her lips; she took her time with it. There was one more puff before she goes to hand it back.]

...You have good tastes.

... Gonna be awhile before I can get something of this quality again... with Celliwig gone.

[ The words are... strangely softer, than the tone she'd been using in their previous conversation. She took back the pipe, taking one last pull of it herself, before dashing it against her ankle and expelling the contents, snuffing it out the back end of her hand. The smoke lingers in the air between them for a moment before she finally spoke again. ]

... Are you sure you wanna do this?

[Celliwig again. She supposed that would remain on everyone's thoughts for a good while. It was normal, she knew. Even when she felt she should be celebrating the coming holidays.

Her eyes drew themselves to the falling embers before the cold killed them leaving the puffs of smoke. She takes another drink. Polishing off her bottle.]

To be honest... I haven't felt certain about most things since I got here. [Certain or quite right beyond a few moments with her newfound loved ones... she goes ahead and leans in to give Baiken a kiss on the cheek. Sweet and soft and held for a second or two. Not quick, not lingering.]

...Thank you, for asking... it's sweet of you. [Another pause.] Are you sure you're fine with this?

[ Sweet, and... warm. She felt the lingering heat of Anri's lips on her cheek, something she hadn't really... expected. By nature, her usual intimate company didn't give kisses like that. It really had been... a long time for her, hadn't it? ]

Of all the things I've collected a paycheck for... this is the one I'm least likely to feel any regrets over...

[ Using that hand of hers to give someone company... rather than draw blood... She could imagine Anji, or even Claude, being amused by the poetry of it.

She turned her face fully towards Anri, eye slipping closed, and sought the warmth of those lips once more, this time with her own, the taste of both the beer and her smoke still lingering, bitter and sweet... ]

Then... I'll do my best so you can enjoy your check.

[Anri leaned back into Baiken, green eyes, reflecting the soft lights from the moon and remaining embers, looked back into the woman's. Before sliding themselves shut as lips pressed against lips. Comforting and welcoming without rushing. The bittersweet taste of alcohol and tobacco was fine by her. More than fine, as it mixed with her own. Hers held something similar, if not more smooth.

Like chocolate, sweet, but bitter. Smooth but addictive in its flavor as it melded with the beer and smoke. A smell of tulips and poppies permeating from her, something that follows her naturally. All promising the night to be slow, to be sweet in the cold winter air and freezing ground. Take Baiken away from whatever had been troubling her; even if just for a moment with a stranger.

A hand placed itself on the side of Baiken's cheek gently, over the spot she kissed. The thumb gently running itself along part of a scar. No regrets then... no uncertainty. ]

[ Baiken had been prepared for things to go differently. For Anri to back down, or to be more ravenous than she seemed, but this tenderness was...

It wasn't unwelcome, but it was probably the possibility she'd thought the least about. It was something she was so unused to. Her thoughts drifted to a similar winter night, though it had been spent within a room of the dojo she'd been living at, indulging herself in intimacy for the first time, virginal only really in body, with a girl who'd been sweet on her in school...

Anri... vaguely smelled the same, even if not exactly. A girl whose name she could no longer remember, pushed long into the void of the past, along with any other aspects of a "normal" life she never fit into. Things forgotten, for the sake of looking ever ahead with a blood-stained gaze...

... For a moment, she could be that person again... just for a moment, with a stranger so sweet as this...

Her arm wedged itself behind Anri, tugging her close, practically into Baiken's lap, as she let that kiss linger, let it deepen as her tongue sought out a more keen flavor, past Anri's lips. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject