012 | Video

[onemoredeath]

[ It has been a while or maybe not, but when the feed clicks on - and it's never an accident with this man - what comes up is a close-up of a cup with a milky liquid and a couple of rolls. The rolls look fresh, the liquid looks sort of like skim milk. Some where in the background, Takegami sighs and there's his hand in view, picking up the cup out of camera range. ]

Sake wa hyakuyaku no cho...

[ The cup reappears and is refilled. Takegami toys with the cup and then starts speaking in English. ]

They say that sake was first made when a warrior tried to save his bride from a dragon. In order to lure him away, the warrior took rice and fresh spring water and boiled it together until sake was made. The dragon grew intrigued by the smell and came to sip the brew. While the dragon drank his fill, the warrior and bride were reunited. The dragon was so sated by the sake that he did not give them chase and the couple was able to live peacefully for all their lives.

[ Again the cup disappears as there is a pause in the narrative. The cup is set down with a sharp click and is refilled, and again a pause in-between cupfuls. Takegami's fingers are covered with half-healed scratches, his nails cut short, and the rings on each finger twisted into fine knots. ]

It is the drink of new beginnings and of fond farewells. We drink it under the cherry trees in spring, we bring the finest brew for the newly weds to drink on their first night, and we drink it for births and to celebrate those that had passed before us. There are holidays where we would crack open the barrels it seeps in, there are holidays where we toast the new-born sun. Some medicines are made more potent by soaking in it, and it always with good cheer we raise a cup to each other over our evening meals.

[ The cup is raised out of sight once more and he sighs softly. ]

A pity it is so hard to find here.



[ooc; Japanese proverb is 'Sake is the best of all medicines' ]

Comments

( Video )

[septim]

[ It is a beautiful story, but... ] ...why is it always dragons?

( Video )

[onemoredeath]

Why? Ah, there is a difference in culture that might need explaining. A dragon to us is a creature of royalty and nature. At one time, dragons were said to walk among humans, marrying maidens of noble families and guarding over the lands they were married to. I think that in the story, the dragon had ignored a polite request and acted on his own assumptions.

( Video )

[septim]

I see. I've never heard of rice wine before. I'd love to try it.

In Tamriel, dragons are associated with royalty too, as we are ruled by the Dragonborn Emperors. But they were also ruthless, power-hungry creatures, who demanded tribute and enslaved humans.

The Empire's chief deity is Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time. No matter what, dragons are always associated with power and ruling.

( Video )

[onemoredeath]

I have found a small case if you wish to join me.

We have a tale concerning that as well. There are many tales about dragons and spirits in Asia. As a race, we had always viewed them as forces of nature that must be held with respect.

voice;

[payback]

Just like a man.

voice;

[onemoredeath]

[ His voice is teasing with his reply. ] Just like a woman.

voice forever;

[payback]

[She sounds - well, deadpan. Not precisely teasing, not offended.]

You've got really used to it here, hm?

voice forever and ever

[onemoredeath]

My time was almost up back home. [ No, he won't go into it because that would be explaining too much of the game to someone not even a part of it. ]

I am enjoying the amount of extra time this place is giving me while I may.

video

[allsongs]

[somewhere in the midst of all that, Simmaeri tunes in — and stays tuned in, but it's a lot less for the content than the delivery itself. a low-key, musical voice...she is very interested in this. her eyes close to give her ears the front seat to it.

there's a silent sigh on her end at the end of it, when she's sure that's the end of it, opening her eyes at last and scanning the screen, wondering if it's blacked out like it does for others who speak. weird little thing.]

video

[onemoredeath]

[ This was a new face and handle. Takegami checked his netbook files, in the tiny corner of the screen while watching her in the second window. ]

Ah, hello there. Is there something you wish to ask?

[allsongs]

[her mouth purses, considering his inflections. there's a bit of silence after the question, and then, worried she's losing her chance, she speaks up in a purr of a sound:]

More. [her head tilts down and leans forward a little.] Go.

[sacrificar]

And yet you were still able to.

[onemoredeath]

It took me a search of nearly five months to find it.

[sacrificar]

Why today?

Video;

[musclebeast]

[He's staring, and listening as he speaks. Equius seems to be enjoying how this 'sake' is being presented. It's in a rather formal, story telling manner and quite pleasing to listen to- respectable. So he lets him finish before he needs to ask-]

What exactly is sake?

[Because all the flavor text is fine and dandy, and he's definitely interested now, but that doesn't exactly tell him what it is... It looks like something dairy, maybe, but he doubts it. Especially since the term 'brew' is there.]

Video;

[onemoredeath]

An alcoholic beverage made from rice. I would think that trolls had alcohol; most cultures do.

Video;

[musclebeast]

Perhaps we have some beverages that poison us in some ways, but nothing like 'sake'. I've never heard of such a thing. And the way you speak about it makes it seem to have some other type of appeal.

[whatsupcroc]

Alcohol's that great, huh?

[onemoredeath]

You can say that I am rather use to drinking alcohol on a daily basis.

[whatsupcroc]

Not as much as Haymitch does, I'm guessing. Don't tell me you drink alone!

video;

[retroactively]

I'm not sure getting your bad guy drunk is going to work. That is the point of the story, isn't it?

video;

[onemoredeath]

No, it is not. I am reflecting on the loss of a culture to this world, and the stories we used to tell. Remembering the dead, so to speak.

[video]

[chisonooggi]

I really like that story. Happy endings are always the best. [She tilts her head slightly.]

Why is it so hard to find here?

[video]

[onemoredeath]

Happy endings are good endings.

My country doesn't exist any more.

[video]

[chisonooggi]

...Was your world destroyed?