009 | Voice ---> Video

[onemoredeath]

It's fading. A dream set in stone is not as strong as a dream in mists, both will fade under the careless hands of nature and time. Here it seems I have grown too confined in my solitude. It is hard to remember the sounds and force the letters together.

I should step outside.

But endless streets lay ahead outside, hollow, empty, without any true purpose. I grow tired of such. I want to go back home, to where I can hear the ocean and run along the worn paths tread upon by my ancestors...

[ The feed clicks on to video, Takegami is nursing a cracked lip, a fresh bruise forming on one cheekbone. Despite the obvious signs of having been in a fight and his depressed words, he has an almost maniac cheer about him. He twists his head to one side, then the other and smiled. ]

I really dislike the drinking climate here. No one [ Raises a finger, and yes, his knuckles are bruised ] can throw a decent punch.

Comments

[Video - Private]

[feel_nevermore]

You had forgotten magic existed? You really are very drunk.

[Video - Private]

[onemoredeath]

At least I never get hangovers.

[Video - Private]

[feel_nevermore]

Really now?

[Video - Private]

[onemoredeath]

Honest. Not once.

[Video - Private]

[feel_nevermore]

You get drunk often, then?

[Video - Private]

[onemoredeath]

Being a host meant I had to regularly drink my own weight in alcohol.

[Video - Private]

[feel_nevermore]

Oh. I thought the role of the host was to make his client drink, not to drink that too much himself. But I suppose many clients will refuse to drink if you don't drink with them.

[Video - Private]

[onemoredeath]

Yes and no. The clients are not the ones I am thinking of. Usually the rival hosts like to have contests of a drinking nature.

[Video - Private]

[feel_nevermore]

Do they fight too?

[Video - Private]

[onemoredeath]

All the time.

[Video - Private]

[feel_nevermore]

I didn't imagine hosts to be such... brutes.

[Video - Private]

[onemoredeath]

Selling dreams is a cut throat business, especially when looks and youth is part of that dream.

[Video - Private]

[feel_nevermore]

Black eyes and cut lips tend to ruin that illusion of perfection.

[Video - Private]

[onemoredeath]

A pity that they cannot see me with one, now isn't it?

[Video - Private]

[feel_nevermore]

Your rivals or your clients?

[Video - Private]

[onemoredeath]

Both. The rivals would laugh until the clients started babying me.

[Video - Private]

[feel_nevermore]

Well I suppose I could come and pat you in the back if it would make you feel at home.

[Video - Private]

[onemoredeath]

[ Gives her a blank look and then throws his head back to laugh. ]

No offense, but I think that you rather kick me until I sober up then deal with me drunk.

[Video - Private]

[feel_nevermore]

Quite possibly. Except if you still know how to play chess when you're drunk? [A host should know how to play chess, right?]

[Video - Private]

[onemoredeath]

My chess game is horrible. I', much better at cards. [ nodding, he decides to move away from the bar and head outside. ] Poker. Mainly.

[Video - Private]

[feel_nevermore]

Poker? [A soft snort.] I should have guessed. I trust you're quite good at that game.

[Video - Private]

[onemoredeath]

I did work as a dealer in a casino for a time. [ All sparkling smiles over here. ]

[Video - Private] sorry, late ^^;

[feel_nevermore]

You did? [She looks a bit amused, but giving how expressive she is, you might be imagining it.] I bet you were good at making people lose money at your table.

[Video - Private] no worries :3

[onemoredeath]

[ A drunk Takegami is an amusing one, really. Let him just nod and climb up onto the bar to sit. He seems to be all alone in there. ]

I had been accused of cheating, but I'd never really ran into a true card shark.

[Video - Private] Thanks :D

[feel_nevermore]

[She smirks a bit as she watches him sit onto the bar.] It's for the best, I guess.

Still I wonder how you'd do against someone who can actually tell when you're cheating...