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.

voice;

[payback]

Just like a man.

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.]

[sacrificar]

And yet you were still able to.

( 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;

[onemoredeath]

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

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?

[onemoredeath]

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

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.

[payback]

[Now that makes her curious, dude.]

What happened?

[onemoredeath]

At the wrong place at the wrong time. I was sure that I was to die when I came to here.

[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.

[onemoredeath]

More stories? More speaking? [ He wasn't sure exactly what she was asking for here. ]

[allsongs]

[her eyes squint a little, catching more in the questions. perhaps she isn't using the word right.

she taps her throat with a couple fingers, nodding twice.] More.

[onemoredeath]

[ Huh, she wanted to hear him speak more was it? Takegami thought about what for a moment then decided on a poem in his native tongue. ]

nemuranakute sabishisa ga kesenai yoru ni
kimi no koe ga kikoeta ki ga shita
toozakaru te wo furu kimi ga chisaku natte
ano toki no setsunasa ga yomigaeru

hanarete hajimete wakaru taisetsu na koto
miageta yozora ni te wo nobashiteta

kono yozora ni negai wo kakeru no nara
kimi no basho made todoke

[payback]

Ah... [She can't pry too much into that. It would be so rude! Though she doesn't sound surprised by the idea that he was stolen right out from under death's nose.] How unfortunate. So it's like a second chance?

[allsongs]

[a slow smile traces across her face as he speaks, and her eyes close again to better listen. those words are different than the others — she likes that, more's the mystery. she hums the cadence of the last couple lines in the silence, opening her eyes again and regarding the image on the screen with a greater fondness.]

[onemoredeath]

I view it at such. I believe that if I ever do return, I will end up exactly right where I was so I might as well seize this chance to live.

[onemoredeath]

It seems... You like the sounds it makes, yes? A moment, I may be able to give you something worth listening to than my poor poetry.

[allsongs]

[she murmurs something, some other language. poor little translator doesn't know what to make of it and lets it remain the musical string it happens to be.

still, there's an awareness laced into it by her own will to assert her feelings. interest, appreciation.]

[payback]

That's fair enough.

[... She really has nothing else she wants to ask him at the moment.]

[onemoredeath]

[ A little shuffling around and the netbook is moved so that there's a view of him sitting at a piano. He runs through the scales to make sure it was in tune and then he plays and sings this song. ]