08-05-2013, 05:03 PM
You're wondering what this is. Well, basically this is going to be a co-written story by myself and River involving a couple of our potential characters in the universe of Mesalia. Specifically, this story will take place in the Twin Rivers setting, the far eastern island nations of warriors.
This is somewhat of an RP, but myself and River do talk together to help guide the plotline and it's direction, mostly an exercise for us to give depth to our character ideas and flesh out their personalities.
Also, we hope this to be an entertaining read for you all. My parts will be in blue, her parts will be in red.
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This is somewhat of an RP, but myself and River do talk together to help guide the plotline and it's direction, mostly an exercise for us to give depth to our character ideas and flesh out their personalities.
Also, we hope this to be an entertaining read for you all. My parts will be in blue, her parts will be in red.
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![[+]](/images/collapse_collapsed.png "[+]")
Chapter One, A Chance MeetingThe carriage traveled with bold speed through the back roads cutting through the foreign country. As the two women traveled past rice fields and bamboo thickets and forests, Joanne couldn't help but break a slightest of smiles at all the scenery as she guided the horses.. But Lady Oliver only offered impatience. "Can't you go any faster? I want to get to the cherry blossom garden already."
Joanne frowned some as she picked up the speed with a flick of the whip near the horse's ears.. And before long one of the wheels of the carraige gave way with a crash against a small rock.
"Apologies, my lady. I will fit the spare wheel at once." was all Joanne offered Lady Oliver as she stepped down from her place at the reigns to inspect the broken wheel. "You had better! How could you have been such a reckless driver!"
--
Zatoshi yawned contentedly as he let his horse lope along at an easy walking pace lazily. The spring weather was wonderful, and all the life of the Sagaru country side was ripe with beauty. He tipped the old straw hat off his head to hang it on his back by it's cloth chin strap with a toss of his head in a playful mood with a soft smile of content happiness, letting his upper body sway back a bit with each step the horse took, with a lazy attitude, even resting his hands on the sheathed sword that was laid horizontally across his lap with no thought of even holding the reins.
Yes, he was in a good mood, and soon.. A curious one, as he rounded the gently curving country side road to get a look at a peculiar looking carriage by the side of the road. He knew immediately it was foreign, which only peaked his curiosity even more, especially since it had no guards. What in the world would foreigners be doing in Sagaru with the power struggle between the remaining generals going on? The roads weren't exactly safe with how many brigands and outlaws had cropped up with all of the former emperor's vassals trying to tear each other's throats out, they were too occupied with their greed to see what it was doing to their own people.
Perhaps he should stop?
--
In front of the young man is a lone woman who looks to have seen about thirty seasons. She is dressed in the well maintained black tailcoat and dark polished shoes of her position and a simple but expensive saber rests elegantly at her hip. She stands straight with perfect posture even as she retrieves a spare wheel from the back of the carraige paying Zatoshi no mind yet. The sun bounces across dark red curly hair pinned neatly behind her head with only a few stray strands from a long day of travel. She has a full figure and the look of someone well aquainted with hard work.. But she is certainly no sort of warrior.
--
Joanne might notice on her trip to replace the wheel a tall, lanky man in his early twenties it seems, riding a black mare rather gently towards the carraige. He wears black, robe like clothes, but instead of the more common trousers of the average peasant, he wears wide leggings that are somewhat distinctive of the warrior-class on the twin rives.. Additionally those black robes' sleeves are ended a short distance above the young man's elbows, his forearms covered by black, cloth wrist guards that weren't really there for anything but a thin layer of padding, more of tight fitting sleeves that only reached his elbows.
The man's appearance itself is clearly somewhat handsome, having medium length hair that's drawn back in a slight pony tail, and a youthful and not unpleasant face that's cleanly shaven, although he has two scars, one over his right eye vertically, and another under his left eye that seems fairly fresh, that follows the curve of his cheekbone a bit.
His eyes, are what's truly captivating about him. A blue-grey sheen, like polished steel, or the sky after it rains.
Additionally.. She -juuuust- might notice the five and a half foot long sword laying across his lap, just long enough that it might seem like it might be more use as a pole used to carry water from a well than it is to fight with, almost being the lenth of a full grown man.
Zatoshi glances down at Joanne curiously, a small smile forming on his face. She was.. Cute. No, that wasn't the right word. Cute was for girls who were all smiles and crushes. Beautiful, maybe. Even if she did have some age on him.
"Uhh.. Konnichiwa.." (Hello) He greets her casually with an upbeat tone, as he gently siezed the reigns of the horse to guide it to a stop beside the carraige.
His eyes tear away from Joanne for just a moment to look at the wheel in her hands.
"I see you are having some wheel troubles?" He asks in the common Mesalian language, giving her a playful smile.
--
She sets down the wheel and places a hand over her heart while bowing slightly. A standard greeting from a servant whose place in society was lower then even standard commoners. She returned the greeting in the language he first used. She was not at all fluent but she pulled off the simple phrase with grace. "Konnichiwa, young sir." she said in a clear voice with the slight formal frown always held by a servant. She had learned by now to not care for the appearance of men no matter how fetching and his gaze did nothing to break the eerily strict composure of the cross dressing servant. She switched back to the trade language for the rest of the conversation. "One who can not handle this much, is not fit to serve the Darkwood house-" She was cut off by a flirty voice from the carraige. "Joanne?~ Who is distracting you from your tasks?"
--
Zatoshi almost rolls his eyes at the voice coming from the carriage. Some floaty noble, he instantly knew. He loathed their type, even though he was cut from the same cloth, he had actually done something with his life, rather than sipped tea, or saki, while being pleasantly mannered and pulling strings in politics.
Almost. Zatoshi was also very good at acting by now, as it was how he kept in good fortunes by conning and stealing from people who.. Had just a bit more wealth than they deserved.
His eyes brighten however at her bow. The hand over the heart was so very close to the bow of a warrior of these lands that he was very intriqued by the mannerism.
"Just a former vassal of the late Emperor, set adrift by the fighting that plagues my beloved homeland." He says, perhaps noticably to Joanne going straight from casual and nice to.. Almost an exaggerated over-confidence. Clearly with some contempt to how nobles tended to speak of themselves highly, but yet the phrase was so close to the truth that even though to Joanne it would seem it was a hidden poke at Nobles.. He did seem quite noble-like, suddenly. Which might be all the more suspiscious from his sudden change in attitudes.
--
Joanne felt something was off about him as soon as he changed tone but she kept her constant slight frown and bored expression as Lady Oliver handled the reply. "Oh how interesting, do you know the way to Lord Geruka's estates?" It would not be so obvious to Zatoshi but thanks to the years of service Joanne knew exactly what Lady Oliver was doing.. Playing with her food.
--
Zatoshi tapped the corner of his mouth thoughtfully. Lord Geruka.. He thought he remembered a Lord Geruka.. A southern lord.. And if his memory served him, one that presided over the town not two miles to his back. A sleazy little man, too. Not the best of generals.
"Ah.. Well if you continue following this road you will be at his provinces in very short time." He says astitutely, straightening his back a little. "His Manor is the castle that overlooks the village to the west, it is very hard to miss.." He says, acting almost as if distracted. As if he were so confident, the noble woman in the carriage simply couldn't hold his attention. Something that he was sure from experience with other nobles would just draw her in.. And perhaps, Zatoshi hoped, he would not go by this empty handedly.
--
Joanne kept at her duties working on changing the wheel. Despite her care to not dirty the men's clothes provided for her by the noble house she worked quickly. The door to the carraige opened revealing a very luxery interior and a young blonde woman with bright blue eyes wearing a fine silk made blue evening gown. Her fair pale skin hinted at most of her time spent in shade and thin limbs indicated her only work was amusing sword practice. A very elegant noble saber rested on the seat next to her just outside of her reach and in the seat across from her was a small open box with a white well cut gem waiting to be gifted to another noble.. It was all too easy.. Alarms might go off in Zatoshi's head as the noble woman motions for him to come closer. "You are fetching for such high office, you are familiar with these roads then?" she said while smiling in an almost predatory way.
--
Zatoshi puts on his best false grin.. Which wasn't -extremely- hard. Although she was a pompous noble, she was pretty. He just had to let go of the desire to roll his eyes and mock her.
He slips off his horse, grasping that magnificient sword from his lap as he does, holding it by it's scabbard just under it's intricate circular crossguard, using it as one might a walking stick, a bit boastfully. Foreigners might not understand that the sword was generally looked at as an oversized weapon for unskilled swordsman to be cannon fodder with the desire of killing calvalry. He suspected that she might be impressed by it, although Joanne might notice, that curiously a white cloth was slipped through a space in the crossguard and looped down, tied through a loop in the scabbard and intricately knotted. Such a tie clearly wouldn't allow the giant sword to be removed from it's sheath even an inch. Why someone would want make it difficult to draw their sword might be a mystery to her just as it was often a mystery to even people of his own nationality.
"I have travelled all around this country, from it's heights to it's lows.." He said, before venturing casually. "And it is curious that you mention me to be fetching, my lady, unless my eyes lie to me I could say the same to you." He says, giving her a toothy grin. This was going to give him a headache, he could already tell.. But that gem in the carriage.. If he could be invited inside things could go... Much better than planned.
--
Joanne noticed every detail as she stood by waiting for her next task.. But she did not so much as flinch protest. Her Lady knew exactly what she was doing. Lady Oliver would seem to fawn some at his smooth words as she waved casually for him to enter the carraige. "How flattering! What can you tell me about this region then? Where should I visit during my stay?" She asked in a seemingly excited voice.. She still had her predatory gaze on him. Joanne knew what Lady Oliver was doing and was mentally preparing for the worse.
--
Zatoshi wandered up towards the carriage with that false smile. "Well, the Emperor's palace used to have the finest gardens... But, you might understand that that place is a bit dangerous right now." He says smoothly as he ducks his head into the carriage. "Perhaps you would do me the honor of allowing me to learn your name?" He asks with a confident smirk.
--
"I ask forgiveness for not introducing my lady. You speak to Lady Oliver of the honorable house Darkwood." Joanne said in her standard clear voice from just outside of the door. Oliver expected this much and did not have to say a word. "And yours, fair vassal?" She was not very familiar with recent events or customs of this land.. She had Joanne for all the learning.
--
Zatoshi glanced towards Joanne thoughtfully as he gently sat down on the luxurious plush seating, looking apologetic. "Oh, but I wish I would have a fair answer to you, Lady Oliver. I fear that I have abandoned my name, for the shame of failing to protect my master and Emperor." He says softly. It was once again, so close to the truth that it might have seemed quite true. Just the details..
"I am not but a humble, nameless wanderer now, for I still seek the chance to die." He says a tone that might have been a tad sad.
--
"Tempting." Oliver said in a teasing voice with.. A hint of honesty.. "So how far does a failed servant wander from his duty? Is he permitted a life of freedom on these roads for his failure or does he seek to pay pentance for his sins?" A few steps could be heard from outside the carraige. Joanne was apparently checking the wheels and giving the two their privacy? If she was not guarding Oliver then who was?
--
Tempting.. That didn't seem... Quite right. Alarm bells ringing off a bit, in Zatoshi's head as he tried to answer her question. "A true warrior is only servant to the goodness in his heart, and the innocence of his people, My lady.." He says, a tad nervous at this point. "I seek a new cause to die for, as I have been denied the opportunity for an honorable death in service before, I seek a new one.." He says, almost as if reciting these words by now. He knew it was exactly what a warrior who truly followed the Warrior's code would say and do.. Only he didn't exactly follow that too much anymore, not considering himself a warrior any longer.
--
"Goodness? Innocence..? How noble. Come on, there must be more to you then that?" She said with her predatory grin while leaning some more into the seat and watching him.. She would seem nothing but vulnerable.. And it would appear Joanne was not even listening.. Any theif would feel this was all too easy.. But Oliver did have the appearance of not being the brightest noble woman around.. Maybe she was only interested in enjoying herself with cute boys?
--
Zatoshi laughs softly. "Well.. Perhaps I have my weaknesses.. And some harmless vices, but don't we all?" He asks, before casually glancing out of the open carraige door as he notices a hare dart along side the road along the bamboo thicket.
"Oh, look at that, a spring hare.." He murmurs, and at the moment if she looked away out the door he would casually swipe the gem from it's open case, tucking it into one of his wrist guards.. Essentially making it, dissappear and quickly shutting the gem case gently, all within the space of a few moments.
"Do you know what a hare symbolizes in my country, Lady Oliver?"
--
She pretends to fall for it.. But she knew exactly what happened. She had been using peripheral vision to watch cute boys since she was a child. And it wasn't hard to guess. "No, would a gentleman such as yourself care to enlighten me?"
--
Zatoshi gives her a winning smirk. "Happiness, and good fortune."
--
"I see.. Well I believe that is all I need from you for now. Thank you for your time." She said with the predatory look growing into a grin as she waved farewell. Joanne was already waiting just outside the carraige with the same bored eyes as before.
--
Zatoshi smiles a bit nervously. "Perhaps we will meet again, some day sometime.." He said quietly with a tiny bow, as he steps out of the carriage, the saying was a rather polite Twin Rivers way of saying 'Never', just stepping along towards his horse with his prize safely up his sleeve, giving Joanne a glance.. And then a small, genuinely friendly smile.
--
Joanne did not return the smile. She simply stepped between him and the horse and held out a polite hand for the bait with the same bored eyes and emotionless frown. She had played this game too many times for it to be anything but another tedious day for her. Perhaps it was Lady Oliver's personal method to torment her?
--
Zatoshi looks lightly confused. Surely she didn't know? "Excuse me, but I should probably be on my way now." He says simply, the false confident nobility gone from his voice, just casual and friendly talk, not letting his worry surface.
--
"I apologize, but I believe something of value to my lady has accidently come into your possession." She said in the same clear and polite voice she had been using before. She knew exactly what was going on.. Which meant either she was watching.. Or Oliver planned this.
--
Zatoshi blinked, before just smiling and rubbing the back of his neck for a moment with a playful laugh, before removing the gem from his sleeve to drop it in her hand. "You've got me." He says with a small laugh.
"But I really must be going now. Terribly sorry."
--
She nodded simply. "Then be on your way. Good evening to you, sir." She said in a simple farewell with the same voice while dropping the gem into a pocket on her tailcoat. "Joanne, don't just let him leave! That rabble needs to be taught a lesson!" Oliver called out playfully while watching from the carraige door. "Ugly up that pretty face of his a little."
"Yes, My Lady." Joanne said as if Oliver had just ordered tea.
--
Zatoshi frowns softly. "I hate to dissappoint, but I have already gotten more involved here than I would have liked.." He says, readying himself for violence but.. Not making any motion to untie the cloth keeping his sword sheathed.
--
Joanne calmly draws her saber and takes a simple and ellegant combat stance between him and the horse. She gave him the slightest barely noticable apologetic look but she was a loyal dog after all.
--
Zatoshi didn't draw his sword, still, frowning softly. "I won't fight you." He says quietly, but he knew that if she attacked, he would protect himself quite readily.
--
Joanne tilted her head towards Oliver over Zatoshi's shoulder. "Do you expect me to repeat my order?" The lady said with excitement in her voice. "Understood, my lady." She said before focusing her gaze on the man. "Then this will be quick." She said in the same dull clear voice before raising her saber to his chin. She had the perfect battle strategy: Picture Zatoshi is actually Oliver.
--
Zatoshi steps back away from the point of her saber with a soft frown. "Please.. Don't make me hurt you." He says quietly, pleadingly, as his grip tightens on the behemoth sheathed sword.
--
Joanne really feels for the guy. She does. But she is bound by an entire life of service to this one noble woman's command. It would have been so much more simple had Zatoshi figured out another way to entertain Lady Oliver.. Oh well. It could not be avoided. "I am bound to my lady's command." She suddenly lunged forward with careful balance to keep an abilty to defend while still moving forward with the blade pointed towards one of the man's arms. The game was clear: Hurt and ugly him up some.. Don't kill.
--
Zatoshi would quickly and skillfully turn her sword thrust with the sheathed sword as if it were a staff, going to step into her motion as he pushes it to the side to swipe a grab at the wrist of her sword arm with his free hand, but still trying to avoid hurting her at this point. "What should you care what some bratty Noble wants?" He asks sharply.
Most likely very suddenly giving Joanne the idea that he was probably a very skilled opponent, more so than he had been leading on up until this point.
--
She was not so open as she seemed and quickly leaned back from the thrust as it failed before he could grab her wrist. It was clear she was a very skilled opponent as well.. Being the noble woman's sword was likely more or less her purpose in life. She does not answer the question and maintains her bored gaze and small frown.. It was clear she simply does not make any other expression. Ever.
--
Zatoshi huffed a bit in frustration. He didn't want this.. She had to see that he didn't want this. "I refuse to hurt you.." He says with a frustrated frown, still making no motion to undo the cloth that ties his sword closed to it's sheath.
--
"Though appreciated, the restraint is not mutual." She took a careful sideways slash towards his left shoulder. Not aimed to take his arm off or even really incapacitate him.. But only to bleed a little.. That is all Lady Oliver wanted after all. A show.
--
Zatoshi continued his dance back, trying to keep out of her sword's reach, with admirable footwork with a hard frown. She had to know he had much longer reach than her, probably able to cut her from over six or seven feet away if he drew his sword, and that such a large sword could cause grevious injury. Why wouldn't she just leave him alone?
--
She was well aware that she could not allow him to gain distance. She kept up the graceful slashes as she continued to move forward after him. The slashes were acurate but had the weakness given them by both a will to maintain the ability to break off from an attack and defend.. And a will to not seriously hurt her target.
--
Zatoshi would suddenly with frustration, aim a hard thrust with the end of his sheathed sword at one of her thighs, if nothing else to slow her down with the motion it would take to dodge the sword.
--
She jumped skillfully to the side away from the thrust but this left him an opening to move further away from her. All a while she had been driving him away from the carriage with her slashes.
--
Zatoshi takes the opportunity for space with a tired sigh, beginning to realize that he couldn't really hold her off with the extra weight of his scabbard slowing down his movements. He wanted to get her sword away from her though, and subdue her somehow with his hands.. But she didn't seem too keen on that idea at the moment.
--
Lady Oliver seems to be really enjoying the show but a look on her face clearly says she wants to see Joanne get hurt. It wasn't Zatoshi's face she wanted ugly.. It was Joanne's. After all these years she still envied her and after all these fights Joanne was still beautiful and full of grace.
Joanne gave Zatoshi a polite moment to gather himself as if this was a friendly spar and held her saber in a defensive stance. Her expression was still exactly the same.
--
Zatoshi frowned softly. He didn't want to hurt anyone. He just.. Wanted to figure out what was left in his life. Just wanted to figure out why the world was so fucked up, and if he could ever.. Be the same again. He wanted no part in any of this, and it showed in his mournful expression.
"Please... I do not want this.." He says, still thinking he can somehow reason with her.
--
"Neither do I." She said simply with a single moment of failure in her expression where she geniunly looked sorry for continuing to drag the theif into this.. He was just some theif. Not a toy. She was born and raised the noble woman's play thing.. But this man had no such misfortune. She stepped forward with her blade in front of her calmly.. Just wanting to get this fight over with.
--
Zatoshi quietly sighed softly, raising his sword to his mouth to tear the knot on the cloth with his teeth with a grimace, before baring the massive blade smoothly from it's scabbard, slowly taking a stance that was likely somewhat unfamiliar to her, as there's not really an equivelant of it in saber fighting.
A high-guard, with his dominant hand holding just under the crossguard, his left on almost the very bottom of the hilt, holding the sword up next to the side of his face completely vertically. The stance would allow him to be defensive.. But mostly it's purpose with the Odachi was to accelerate downward, sweeping slashes. With such a long sword, with a good bit of weight to it, gravity would make such an attack a ridiculous amount of lethal.
--
She is holding her ground and watching him for even a moment of weakness.. Her advantage was she could hold her light saber all day. She wondered how long he could hold up that massive thing..? Then again.. Lady Oliver would soon grow bored..
--
She was right about that. Even with the years of training, conditioning and experience with the Odachi, Zatoshi's strong suit was not in endurance. Rather most all of his fights, even with multiple people end in a matter of a few minutes, after finding themselves both unable to match his skill, and simply overpowered and outreached by the ridiculous weapon he wielded... That was how he killed his best friend, as well...
Zatoshi steeled himself with a soft frown, before taking a lunge forward, bobbing the sword up to the sky in a short motion before, leading with his hands brings the thing down diagonally at her left shoulder swiftly in a very long and powerful swordstroke, that was surprisingly quick for such a large blade, but it's disadvantage was not the speed of it's swings, but rather somewhat moreso the speed at which one swing could flow into the next, or one swing could return to guard with.
Needless to say, Joanne could try and capitalize on this, but coming within range of her sword meant that she wasn't going to be dodging back out if her attack failed and his next strike came. To be aggressive with him it would seem, would be a very dangerous game of having the correct timing, because it was likely one slash from the thing could end her... But Zatoshi's heart was not in this fight. Just like it wasn't in any other fight. That slash came, but it was more to keep her away from him... She might very well get the idea that he might not try to kill her, even if she did mess up her timing and leave herself vulnerable.
--
She took the full oppurtunity of the awkward weight of the thing and moved forward. She deflected the massive sword to her left with a forward slash against it.. Under the massive force she had to place her other hand along the blunt back of the saber blade and push with a large amount of her strength to redirect the energy. The elegant white gloves she wore were probably going to need to be replaced now.. Sigh.
If this works and she is left an opening she would follow it up with a overly neat kick aimed at his abdomen. It is quick and balanced but has weakness in being overly predictable. Her outfit did not allow for a more flexable kick.
--
She is indeed left with an opening, but unluckily is not informed of Zatoshi's respectable training in a traditional hand-to-hand martial art that the noble-class warriors were privy to, known as Ken-tou-ryu. Seeing this as an opportunity to de-escalate this fight from being lethal into something he might be able to fight back a bit without seriously hurting her, he reacts quickly, trapping her leg with his left arm as he saw the kick coming, before pulling her by her ankle towards him as he moved foward, letting go of his sword as he attempted to slide his right leg behind the leg that was currently bearing most, if not all of her weight, and sweep backwards as he pushed himself on top of her, if successful, most likely ending up with pinned to the ground beneath him in a quick and powerful manuever.
--
Martial arts were new to her and she gasped some as she was pinned.. Under him.. But quickly returned to her solid expression.. The same slight frown and bored eyes.. She did not let go of her saber after all. Before she could react Oliver was clapping.. So she sighed some and allowed herself a break to think and plan her next move provided he didn't do anything else. Another polite pause to a friendly spar.
--
Zatoshi frowned unhappily with soft concern. "Give her a show if you want.. Or.. Hurt me... But I don't think I can do the same to you.." He whispers down to her, in hopes that she'd take it easy on him a bit, and Oliver wouldn't hear him. The young man really was quite odd... He was obviously good at this.. But he had just confessed to her that he wouldn't -actually- fight her anymore. At the risk of letting her hurt.. Or even kill him. Perhaps he was starting to slip.. To give up on the life that had been so cruel to him. To bet all his chips on the table at once... But the young man just looked.. Tired. No happiness in his blue-grey steely eyes...
Lady Oliver claps slowly with a giggle. "My, my Joanne... Here I thought you were better than this.. He's so much younger than you.. I bet you let him do that on purpose. Enjoying the view?" She cooed at her gloatingly, savoring the opportunity to tease the servant she envied so much.
--
The slightest twitch in the farthest corner of her right eye is the only indication of her annoyance. She swings a punch with the hand guard of her saber at the man just to get him off before Oliver could order her to do anything severely inappropriate.
--
Zatoshi was serious about not wanting to fight anymore, getting clocked cleanly with the hand guard, his black hair falls over his face as he's forced to inhale sharply from pain, trying to stand up a bit, but stumbling to fall on his ass, dazed from her hard punch with the steel guard, a small trickle of blood running down the side of his face.
"Oh, I think I've struck a nerve.. Or maybe he did the striking?" Lady Oliver asks tauntingly, absolutely enjoying herself.
--
Joanne rises neatly to her feet and pats off some dirt from her tailcoat before retrieving a small clean rag from her pocket and wiping down the saber. She sheathes the weapon and neatly returns the rag to her pocket before holding a hand politely to the man to help him up. "I assume you are satisfied, my lady?" she asks in a voice more towards a knowing statement then a question.
--
Zatoshi looks still dizzied from her blow, and so painfully tired. It wasn't his fault, but he would take the punishment for it. Literally his entire life story summed up in a sentence.. He took Joanne's hand for assistance, wobbling to his feet and looking unsteady.
"Aww, you've hurt him!" She says in mock concern for the boy.. Who she could really care less about, but Joanne didn't seem like him too much already, and the fact that he pinned her to the ground in such a deliciously teasable way was more than enough reason for her to want to keep him around. "Tell you what... No-name," He says in a sing song voice, for lack of a better term to call him. "If you be my escort around this country for my visit here, I'll reward you with much more than that pretty gem." She says, flashing a predatory, hawk-like smile. "Since you are such a better bodyguard than Joanne, maybe I will even let you spend a night with her." She says teasingly, perhaps completely serious or only agitating Joanne further.
--
Another slightest twitch in the farthest corner of her right eye.. She had to remind herself to not speak out of turn as she walked over to the carraige driver's seat (might need to find out what it is called..) and waited for her next order.. The best defiance is to complete her duty exactly as was expected of her and nothing more..
--
"N-no need for something like that.." Zatoshi murmured, frowning as his head was throbbing with pain. He didn't think he would survive a night with Joanne if she didn't like him this much, let alone enjoy one. "Just an escort then?" He asks after a moment.
She giggles. "Suit yourself, but yes. Just an escort, and maybe a guide. Joanne's not very fluent in this country's locale, so she's utterly useless in that regard." She said with an overdramatic roll of her eyes and a flutter of her eyelashes, overplaying Joanne's inability to speak RibÄsu as some huge deal.. When most of those who lived in the Twin Rivers could speak Mesalian just as well.
--
"My apologies, my lady. We should continue our journey soon if we hope to reach the garden in time for sunset." Joanne said simply. If she could express emotion she would be intensily relieved that the boy didn't seem to want to take advantage of Lady Oliver's offer for that night..
--
Needless to say, Zatoshi wasn't keen on being punched in the head again.
"Twenty gold ryon and it's a deal." Zatoshi said, not really expecting such a ridiculous sum. A small house could be bought with a payment like that, but Lady Oliver simply smiled.
"Done."
--
Joanne waited.. She felt sorry for the man before.. Now she REALLY felt sorry for him.
Joanne frowned some as she picked up the speed with a flick of the whip near the horse's ears.. And before long one of the wheels of the carraige gave way with a crash against a small rock.
"Apologies, my lady. I will fit the spare wheel at once." was all Joanne offered Lady Oliver as she stepped down from her place at the reigns to inspect the broken wheel. "You had better! How could you have been such a reckless driver!"
--
Zatoshi yawned contentedly as he let his horse lope along at an easy walking pace lazily. The spring weather was wonderful, and all the life of the Sagaru country side was ripe with beauty. He tipped the old straw hat off his head to hang it on his back by it's cloth chin strap with a toss of his head in a playful mood with a soft smile of content happiness, letting his upper body sway back a bit with each step the horse took, with a lazy attitude, even resting his hands on the sheathed sword that was laid horizontally across his lap with no thought of even holding the reins.
Yes, he was in a good mood, and soon.. A curious one, as he rounded the gently curving country side road to get a look at a peculiar looking carriage by the side of the road. He knew immediately it was foreign, which only peaked his curiosity even more, especially since it had no guards. What in the world would foreigners be doing in Sagaru with the power struggle between the remaining generals going on? The roads weren't exactly safe with how many brigands and outlaws had cropped up with all of the former emperor's vassals trying to tear each other's throats out, they were too occupied with their greed to see what it was doing to their own people.
Perhaps he should stop?
--
In front of the young man is a lone woman who looks to have seen about thirty seasons. She is dressed in the well maintained black tailcoat and dark polished shoes of her position and a simple but expensive saber rests elegantly at her hip. She stands straight with perfect posture even as she retrieves a spare wheel from the back of the carraige paying Zatoshi no mind yet. The sun bounces across dark red curly hair pinned neatly behind her head with only a few stray strands from a long day of travel. She has a full figure and the look of someone well aquainted with hard work.. But she is certainly no sort of warrior.
--
Joanne might notice on her trip to replace the wheel a tall, lanky man in his early twenties it seems, riding a black mare rather gently towards the carraige. He wears black, robe like clothes, but instead of the more common trousers of the average peasant, he wears wide leggings that are somewhat distinctive of the warrior-class on the twin rives.. Additionally those black robes' sleeves are ended a short distance above the young man's elbows, his forearms covered by black, cloth wrist guards that weren't really there for anything but a thin layer of padding, more of tight fitting sleeves that only reached his elbows.
The man's appearance itself is clearly somewhat handsome, having medium length hair that's drawn back in a slight pony tail, and a youthful and not unpleasant face that's cleanly shaven, although he has two scars, one over his right eye vertically, and another under his left eye that seems fairly fresh, that follows the curve of his cheekbone a bit.
His eyes, are what's truly captivating about him. A blue-grey sheen, like polished steel, or the sky after it rains.
Additionally.. She -juuuust- might notice the five and a half foot long sword laying across his lap, just long enough that it might seem like it might be more use as a pole used to carry water from a well than it is to fight with, almost being the lenth of a full grown man.
Zatoshi glances down at Joanne curiously, a small smile forming on his face. She was.. Cute. No, that wasn't the right word. Cute was for girls who were all smiles and crushes. Beautiful, maybe. Even if she did have some age on him.
"Uhh.. Konnichiwa.." (Hello) He greets her casually with an upbeat tone, as he gently siezed the reigns of the horse to guide it to a stop beside the carraige.
His eyes tear away from Joanne for just a moment to look at the wheel in her hands.
"I see you are having some wheel troubles?" He asks in the common Mesalian language, giving her a playful smile.
--
She sets down the wheel and places a hand over her heart while bowing slightly. A standard greeting from a servant whose place in society was lower then even standard commoners. She returned the greeting in the language he first used. She was not at all fluent but she pulled off the simple phrase with grace. "Konnichiwa, young sir." she said in a clear voice with the slight formal frown always held by a servant. She had learned by now to not care for the appearance of men no matter how fetching and his gaze did nothing to break the eerily strict composure of the cross dressing servant. She switched back to the trade language for the rest of the conversation. "One who can not handle this much, is not fit to serve the Darkwood house-" She was cut off by a flirty voice from the carraige. "Joanne?~ Who is distracting you from your tasks?"
--
Zatoshi almost rolls his eyes at the voice coming from the carriage. Some floaty noble, he instantly knew. He loathed their type, even though he was cut from the same cloth, he had actually done something with his life, rather than sipped tea, or saki, while being pleasantly mannered and pulling strings in politics.
Almost. Zatoshi was also very good at acting by now, as it was how he kept in good fortunes by conning and stealing from people who.. Had just a bit more wealth than they deserved.
His eyes brighten however at her bow. The hand over the heart was so very close to the bow of a warrior of these lands that he was very intriqued by the mannerism.
"Just a former vassal of the late Emperor, set adrift by the fighting that plagues my beloved homeland." He says, perhaps noticably to Joanne going straight from casual and nice to.. Almost an exaggerated over-confidence. Clearly with some contempt to how nobles tended to speak of themselves highly, but yet the phrase was so close to the truth that even though to Joanne it would seem it was a hidden poke at Nobles.. He did seem quite noble-like, suddenly. Which might be all the more suspiscious from his sudden change in attitudes.
--
Joanne felt something was off about him as soon as he changed tone but she kept her constant slight frown and bored expression as Lady Oliver handled the reply. "Oh how interesting, do you know the way to Lord Geruka's estates?" It would not be so obvious to Zatoshi but thanks to the years of service Joanne knew exactly what Lady Oliver was doing.. Playing with her food.
--
Zatoshi tapped the corner of his mouth thoughtfully. Lord Geruka.. He thought he remembered a Lord Geruka.. A southern lord.. And if his memory served him, one that presided over the town not two miles to his back. A sleazy little man, too. Not the best of generals.
"Ah.. Well if you continue following this road you will be at his provinces in very short time." He says astitutely, straightening his back a little. "His Manor is the castle that overlooks the village to the west, it is very hard to miss.." He says, acting almost as if distracted. As if he were so confident, the noble woman in the carriage simply couldn't hold his attention. Something that he was sure from experience with other nobles would just draw her in.. And perhaps, Zatoshi hoped, he would not go by this empty handedly.
--
Joanne kept at her duties working on changing the wheel. Despite her care to not dirty the men's clothes provided for her by the noble house she worked quickly. The door to the carraige opened revealing a very luxery interior and a young blonde woman with bright blue eyes wearing a fine silk made blue evening gown. Her fair pale skin hinted at most of her time spent in shade and thin limbs indicated her only work was amusing sword practice. A very elegant noble saber rested on the seat next to her just outside of her reach and in the seat across from her was a small open box with a white well cut gem waiting to be gifted to another noble.. It was all too easy.. Alarms might go off in Zatoshi's head as the noble woman motions for him to come closer. "You are fetching for such high office, you are familiar with these roads then?" she said while smiling in an almost predatory way.
--
Zatoshi puts on his best false grin.. Which wasn't -extremely- hard. Although she was a pompous noble, she was pretty. He just had to let go of the desire to roll his eyes and mock her.
He slips off his horse, grasping that magnificient sword from his lap as he does, holding it by it's scabbard just under it's intricate circular crossguard, using it as one might a walking stick, a bit boastfully. Foreigners might not understand that the sword was generally looked at as an oversized weapon for unskilled swordsman to be cannon fodder with the desire of killing calvalry. He suspected that she might be impressed by it, although Joanne might notice, that curiously a white cloth was slipped through a space in the crossguard and looped down, tied through a loop in the scabbard and intricately knotted. Such a tie clearly wouldn't allow the giant sword to be removed from it's sheath even an inch. Why someone would want make it difficult to draw their sword might be a mystery to her just as it was often a mystery to even people of his own nationality.
"I have travelled all around this country, from it's heights to it's lows.." He said, before venturing casually. "And it is curious that you mention me to be fetching, my lady, unless my eyes lie to me I could say the same to you." He says, giving her a toothy grin. This was going to give him a headache, he could already tell.. But that gem in the carriage.. If he could be invited inside things could go... Much better than planned.
--
Joanne noticed every detail as she stood by waiting for her next task.. But she did not so much as flinch protest. Her Lady knew exactly what she was doing. Lady Oliver would seem to fawn some at his smooth words as she waved casually for him to enter the carraige. "How flattering! What can you tell me about this region then? Where should I visit during my stay?" She asked in a seemingly excited voice.. She still had her predatory gaze on him. Joanne knew what Lady Oliver was doing and was mentally preparing for the worse.
--
Zatoshi wandered up towards the carriage with that false smile. "Well, the Emperor's palace used to have the finest gardens... But, you might understand that that place is a bit dangerous right now." He says smoothly as he ducks his head into the carriage. "Perhaps you would do me the honor of allowing me to learn your name?" He asks with a confident smirk.
--
"I ask forgiveness for not introducing my lady. You speak to Lady Oliver of the honorable house Darkwood." Joanne said in her standard clear voice from just outside of the door. Oliver expected this much and did not have to say a word. "And yours, fair vassal?" She was not very familiar with recent events or customs of this land.. She had Joanne for all the learning.
--
Zatoshi glanced towards Joanne thoughtfully as he gently sat down on the luxurious plush seating, looking apologetic. "Oh, but I wish I would have a fair answer to you, Lady Oliver. I fear that I have abandoned my name, for the shame of failing to protect my master and Emperor." He says softly. It was once again, so close to the truth that it might have seemed quite true. Just the details..
"I am not but a humble, nameless wanderer now, for I still seek the chance to die." He says a tone that might have been a tad sad.
--
"Tempting." Oliver said in a teasing voice with.. A hint of honesty.. "So how far does a failed servant wander from his duty? Is he permitted a life of freedom on these roads for his failure or does he seek to pay pentance for his sins?" A few steps could be heard from outside the carraige. Joanne was apparently checking the wheels and giving the two their privacy? If she was not guarding Oliver then who was?
--
Tempting.. That didn't seem... Quite right. Alarm bells ringing off a bit, in Zatoshi's head as he tried to answer her question. "A true warrior is only servant to the goodness in his heart, and the innocence of his people, My lady.." He says, a tad nervous at this point. "I seek a new cause to die for, as I have been denied the opportunity for an honorable death in service before, I seek a new one.." He says, almost as if reciting these words by now. He knew it was exactly what a warrior who truly followed the Warrior's code would say and do.. Only he didn't exactly follow that too much anymore, not considering himself a warrior any longer.
--
"Goodness? Innocence..? How noble. Come on, there must be more to you then that?" She said with her predatory grin while leaning some more into the seat and watching him.. She would seem nothing but vulnerable.. And it would appear Joanne was not even listening.. Any theif would feel this was all too easy.. But Oliver did have the appearance of not being the brightest noble woman around.. Maybe she was only interested in enjoying herself with cute boys?
--
Zatoshi laughs softly. "Well.. Perhaps I have my weaknesses.. And some harmless vices, but don't we all?" He asks, before casually glancing out of the open carraige door as he notices a hare dart along side the road along the bamboo thicket.
"Oh, look at that, a spring hare.." He murmurs, and at the moment if she looked away out the door he would casually swipe the gem from it's open case, tucking it into one of his wrist guards.. Essentially making it, dissappear and quickly shutting the gem case gently, all within the space of a few moments.
"Do you know what a hare symbolizes in my country, Lady Oliver?"
--
She pretends to fall for it.. But she knew exactly what happened. She had been using peripheral vision to watch cute boys since she was a child. And it wasn't hard to guess. "No, would a gentleman such as yourself care to enlighten me?"
--
Zatoshi gives her a winning smirk. "Happiness, and good fortune."
--
"I see.. Well I believe that is all I need from you for now. Thank you for your time." She said with the predatory look growing into a grin as she waved farewell. Joanne was already waiting just outside the carraige with the same bored eyes as before.
--
Zatoshi smiles a bit nervously. "Perhaps we will meet again, some day sometime.." He said quietly with a tiny bow, as he steps out of the carriage, the saying was a rather polite Twin Rivers way of saying 'Never', just stepping along towards his horse with his prize safely up his sleeve, giving Joanne a glance.. And then a small, genuinely friendly smile.
--
Joanne did not return the smile. She simply stepped between him and the horse and held out a polite hand for the bait with the same bored eyes and emotionless frown. She had played this game too many times for it to be anything but another tedious day for her. Perhaps it was Lady Oliver's personal method to torment her?
--
Zatoshi looks lightly confused. Surely she didn't know? "Excuse me, but I should probably be on my way now." He says simply, the false confident nobility gone from his voice, just casual and friendly talk, not letting his worry surface.
--
"I apologize, but I believe something of value to my lady has accidently come into your possession." She said in the same clear and polite voice she had been using before. She knew exactly what was going on.. Which meant either she was watching.. Or Oliver planned this.
--
Zatoshi blinked, before just smiling and rubbing the back of his neck for a moment with a playful laugh, before removing the gem from his sleeve to drop it in her hand. "You've got me." He says with a small laugh.
"But I really must be going now. Terribly sorry."
--
She nodded simply. "Then be on your way. Good evening to you, sir." She said in a simple farewell with the same voice while dropping the gem into a pocket on her tailcoat. "Joanne, don't just let him leave! That rabble needs to be taught a lesson!" Oliver called out playfully while watching from the carraige door. "Ugly up that pretty face of his a little."
"Yes, My Lady." Joanne said as if Oliver had just ordered tea.
--
Zatoshi frowns softly. "I hate to dissappoint, but I have already gotten more involved here than I would have liked.." He says, readying himself for violence but.. Not making any motion to untie the cloth keeping his sword sheathed.
--
Joanne calmly draws her saber and takes a simple and ellegant combat stance between him and the horse. She gave him the slightest barely noticable apologetic look but she was a loyal dog after all.
--
Zatoshi didn't draw his sword, still, frowning softly. "I won't fight you." He says quietly, but he knew that if she attacked, he would protect himself quite readily.
--
Joanne tilted her head towards Oliver over Zatoshi's shoulder. "Do you expect me to repeat my order?" The lady said with excitement in her voice. "Understood, my lady." She said before focusing her gaze on the man. "Then this will be quick." She said in the same dull clear voice before raising her saber to his chin. She had the perfect battle strategy: Picture Zatoshi is actually Oliver.
--
Zatoshi steps back away from the point of her saber with a soft frown. "Please.. Don't make me hurt you." He says quietly, pleadingly, as his grip tightens on the behemoth sheathed sword.
--
Joanne really feels for the guy. She does. But she is bound by an entire life of service to this one noble woman's command. It would have been so much more simple had Zatoshi figured out another way to entertain Lady Oliver.. Oh well. It could not be avoided. "I am bound to my lady's command." She suddenly lunged forward with careful balance to keep an abilty to defend while still moving forward with the blade pointed towards one of the man's arms. The game was clear: Hurt and ugly him up some.. Don't kill.
--
Zatoshi would quickly and skillfully turn her sword thrust with the sheathed sword as if it were a staff, going to step into her motion as he pushes it to the side to swipe a grab at the wrist of her sword arm with his free hand, but still trying to avoid hurting her at this point. "What should you care what some bratty Noble wants?" He asks sharply.
Most likely very suddenly giving Joanne the idea that he was probably a very skilled opponent, more so than he had been leading on up until this point.
--
She was not so open as she seemed and quickly leaned back from the thrust as it failed before he could grab her wrist. It was clear she was a very skilled opponent as well.. Being the noble woman's sword was likely more or less her purpose in life. She does not answer the question and maintains her bored gaze and small frown.. It was clear she simply does not make any other expression. Ever.
--
Zatoshi huffed a bit in frustration. He didn't want this.. She had to see that he didn't want this. "I refuse to hurt you.." He says with a frustrated frown, still making no motion to undo the cloth that ties his sword closed to it's sheath.
--
"Though appreciated, the restraint is not mutual." She took a careful sideways slash towards his left shoulder. Not aimed to take his arm off or even really incapacitate him.. But only to bleed a little.. That is all Lady Oliver wanted after all. A show.
--
Zatoshi continued his dance back, trying to keep out of her sword's reach, with admirable footwork with a hard frown. She had to know he had much longer reach than her, probably able to cut her from over six or seven feet away if he drew his sword, and that such a large sword could cause grevious injury. Why wouldn't she just leave him alone?
--
She was well aware that she could not allow him to gain distance. She kept up the graceful slashes as she continued to move forward after him. The slashes were acurate but had the weakness given them by both a will to maintain the ability to break off from an attack and defend.. And a will to not seriously hurt her target.
--
Zatoshi would suddenly with frustration, aim a hard thrust with the end of his sheathed sword at one of her thighs, if nothing else to slow her down with the motion it would take to dodge the sword.
--
She jumped skillfully to the side away from the thrust but this left him an opening to move further away from her. All a while she had been driving him away from the carriage with her slashes.
--
Zatoshi takes the opportunity for space with a tired sigh, beginning to realize that he couldn't really hold her off with the extra weight of his scabbard slowing down his movements. He wanted to get her sword away from her though, and subdue her somehow with his hands.. But she didn't seem too keen on that idea at the moment.
--
Lady Oliver seems to be really enjoying the show but a look on her face clearly says she wants to see Joanne get hurt. It wasn't Zatoshi's face she wanted ugly.. It was Joanne's. After all these years she still envied her and after all these fights Joanne was still beautiful and full of grace.
Joanne gave Zatoshi a polite moment to gather himself as if this was a friendly spar and held her saber in a defensive stance. Her expression was still exactly the same.
--
Zatoshi frowned softly. He didn't want to hurt anyone. He just.. Wanted to figure out what was left in his life. Just wanted to figure out why the world was so fucked up, and if he could ever.. Be the same again. He wanted no part in any of this, and it showed in his mournful expression.
"Please... I do not want this.." He says, still thinking he can somehow reason with her.
--
"Neither do I." She said simply with a single moment of failure in her expression where she geniunly looked sorry for continuing to drag the theif into this.. He was just some theif. Not a toy. She was born and raised the noble woman's play thing.. But this man had no such misfortune. She stepped forward with her blade in front of her calmly.. Just wanting to get this fight over with.
--
Zatoshi quietly sighed softly, raising his sword to his mouth to tear the knot on the cloth with his teeth with a grimace, before baring the massive blade smoothly from it's scabbard, slowly taking a stance that was likely somewhat unfamiliar to her, as there's not really an equivelant of it in saber fighting.
A high-guard, with his dominant hand holding just under the crossguard, his left on almost the very bottom of the hilt, holding the sword up next to the side of his face completely vertically. The stance would allow him to be defensive.. But mostly it's purpose with the Odachi was to accelerate downward, sweeping slashes. With such a long sword, with a good bit of weight to it, gravity would make such an attack a ridiculous amount of lethal.
--
She is holding her ground and watching him for even a moment of weakness.. Her advantage was she could hold her light saber all day. She wondered how long he could hold up that massive thing..? Then again.. Lady Oliver would soon grow bored..
--
She was right about that. Even with the years of training, conditioning and experience with the Odachi, Zatoshi's strong suit was not in endurance. Rather most all of his fights, even with multiple people end in a matter of a few minutes, after finding themselves both unable to match his skill, and simply overpowered and outreached by the ridiculous weapon he wielded... That was how he killed his best friend, as well...
Zatoshi steeled himself with a soft frown, before taking a lunge forward, bobbing the sword up to the sky in a short motion before, leading with his hands brings the thing down diagonally at her left shoulder swiftly in a very long and powerful swordstroke, that was surprisingly quick for such a large blade, but it's disadvantage was not the speed of it's swings, but rather somewhat moreso the speed at which one swing could flow into the next, or one swing could return to guard with.
Needless to say, Joanne could try and capitalize on this, but coming within range of her sword meant that she wasn't going to be dodging back out if her attack failed and his next strike came. To be aggressive with him it would seem, would be a very dangerous game of having the correct timing, because it was likely one slash from the thing could end her... But Zatoshi's heart was not in this fight. Just like it wasn't in any other fight. That slash came, but it was more to keep her away from him... She might very well get the idea that he might not try to kill her, even if she did mess up her timing and leave herself vulnerable.
--
She took the full oppurtunity of the awkward weight of the thing and moved forward. She deflected the massive sword to her left with a forward slash against it.. Under the massive force she had to place her other hand along the blunt back of the saber blade and push with a large amount of her strength to redirect the energy. The elegant white gloves she wore were probably going to need to be replaced now.. Sigh.
If this works and she is left an opening she would follow it up with a overly neat kick aimed at his abdomen. It is quick and balanced but has weakness in being overly predictable. Her outfit did not allow for a more flexable kick.
--
She is indeed left with an opening, but unluckily is not informed of Zatoshi's respectable training in a traditional hand-to-hand martial art that the noble-class warriors were privy to, known as Ken-tou-ryu. Seeing this as an opportunity to de-escalate this fight from being lethal into something he might be able to fight back a bit without seriously hurting her, he reacts quickly, trapping her leg with his left arm as he saw the kick coming, before pulling her by her ankle towards him as he moved foward, letting go of his sword as he attempted to slide his right leg behind the leg that was currently bearing most, if not all of her weight, and sweep backwards as he pushed himself on top of her, if successful, most likely ending up with pinned to the ground beneath him in a quick and powerful manuever.
--
Martial arts were new to her and she gasped some as she was pinned.. Under him.. But quickly returned to her solid expression.. The same slight frown and bored eyes.. She did not let go of her saber after all. Before she could react Oliver was clapping.. So she sighed some and allowed herself a break to think and plan her next move provided he didn't do anything else. Another polite pause to a friendly spar.
--
Zatoshi frowned unhappily with soft concern. "Give her a show if you want.. Or.. Hurt me... But I don't think I can do the same to you.." He whispers down to her, in hopes that she'd take it easy on him a bit, and Oliver wouldn't hear him. The young man really was quite odd... He was obviously good at this.. But he had just confessed to her that he wouldn't -actually- fight her anymore. At the risk of letting her hurt.. Or even kill him. Perhaps he was starting to slip.. To give up on the life that had been so cruel to him. To bet all his chips on the table at once... But the young man just looked.. Tired. No happiness in his blue-grey steely eyes...
Lady Oliver claps slowly with a giggle. "My, my Joanne... Here I thought you were better than this.. He's so much younger than you.. I bet you let him do that on purpose. Enjoying the view?" She cooed at her gloatingly, savoring the opportunity to tease the servant she envied so much.
--
The slightest twitch in the farthest corner of her right eye is the only indication of her annoyance. She swings a punch with the hand guard of her saber at the man just to get him off before Oliver could order her to do anything severely inappropriate.
--
Zatoshi was serious about not wanting to fight anymore, getting clocked cleanly with the hand guard, his black hair falls over his face as he's forced to inhale sharply from pain, trying to stand up a bit, but stumbling to fall on his ass, dazed from her hard punch with the steel guard, a small trickle of blood running down the side of his face.
"Oh, I think I've struck a nerve.. Or maybe he did the striking?" Lady Oliver asks tauntingly, absolutely enjoying herself.
--
Joanne rises neatly to her feet and pats off some dirt from her tailcoat before retrieving a small clean rag from her pocket and wiping down the saber. She sheathes the weapon and neatly returns the rag to her pocket before holding a hand politely to the man to help him up. "I assume you are satisfied, my lady?" she asks in a voice more towards a knowing statement then a question.
--
Zatoshi looks still dizzied from her blow, and so painfully tired. It wasn't his fault, but he would take the punishment for it. Literally his entire life story summed up in a sentence.. He took Joanne's hand for assistance, wobbling to his feet and looking unsteady.
"Aww, you've hurt him!" She says in mock concern for the boy.. Who she could really care less about, but Joanne didn't seem like him too much already, and the fact that he pinned her to the ground in such a deliciously teasable way was more than enough reason for her to want to keep him around. "Tell you what... No-name," He says in a sing song voice, for lack of a better term to call him. "If you be my escort around this country for my visit here, I'll reward you with much more than that pretty gem." She says, flashing a predatory, hawk-like smile. "Since you are such a better bodyguard than Joanne, maybe I will even let you spend a night with her." She says teasingly, perhaps completely serious or only agitating Joanne further.
--
Another slightest twitch in the farthest corner of her right eye.. She had to remind herself to not speak out of turn as she walked over to the carraige driver's seat (might need to find out what it is called..) and waited for her next order.. The best defiance is to complete her duty exactly as was expected of her and nothing more..
--
"N-no need for something like that.." Zatoshi murmured, frowning as his head was throbbing with pain. He didn't think he would survive a night with Joanne if she didn't like him this much, let alone enjoy one. "Just an escort then?" He asks after a moment.
She giggles. "Suit yourself, but yes. Just an escort, and maybe a guide. Joanne's not very fluent in this country's locale, so she's utterly useless in that regard." She said with an overdramatic roll of her eyes and a flutter of her eyelashes, overplaying Joanne's inability to speak RibÄsu as some huge deal.. When most of those who lived in the Twin Rivers could speak Mesalian just as well.
--
"My apologies, my lady. We should continue our journey soon if we hope to reach the garden in time for sunset." Joanne said simply. If she could express emotion she would be intensily relieved that the boy didn't seem to want to take advantage of Lady Oliver's offer for that night..
--
Needless to say, Zatoshi wasn't keen on being punched in the head again.
"Twenty gold ryon and it's a deal." Zatoshi said, not really expecting such a ridiculous sum. A small house could be bought with a payment like that, but Lady Oliver simply smiled.
"Done."
--
Joanne waited.. She felt sorry for the man before.. Now she REALLY felt sorry for him.
