001. every reunion is a type of heaven // open post.

[kawaakari]

Take a prompt, take your time, post whatever you like.

Comments

doh!

[atlas_shrugged]

[ He already expects her to be stunning, and already expects his expressions to give him away. He could have opted to lock his face into a certain expression with Autonomic Control before walking in here again.

But he doesn't really see the point. He's not playing any games. Just here to enjoy her company ]

Makes me wonder if they let Prometheans into the Stormguard. [ Brigade passes his phone, it's open on a picture of him, Taning and Brianna wearing the Stormguard armor ] It's not really my style but I have to admit it'd go well with my Demon Mask.

[ Goddamn she's pretty. He keeps his eyes locked above her neck though, never straying downward. He's also gotten used to the fact that when she dresses down, she dresses down ] That and I don't think I could get used to the Storm Queen constantly reading my mind. [ He makes a mental note to find mental shields in the Vice Armory or a way to block his mind with transmutations ]

[kawaakari]

[Looking down at the picture with open amusement. She makes sure, though, to have her gaze linger on him.]

As things stand, a man like yourself will, no doubt, find Shin Yamatai rather boring. The real fight lies beyond its shores.

WHAT IS THIS BAIT YOU HAVE DANGLED!?? WHAT IS THIS FIGHTEY-FIGHTEY!

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brigade looks at her face, then her eyes. This woman. ] I actually found it really nice, Ma'am. [ He wasn't lying ] Particularly the Shinta home.

[ But the words "real fight", as expected, pique his interest ] "Real fight", Ma'am?

LOL

[kawaakari]

[Now she'll just send you one last smile from over her shoulder as she's moving away, towards their usual spot outside.]

Shall we?

THIS WOMAN -____-

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brigade lets out a sigh and picks up the unopened bottles and the prepared cups. He follows her and re-sets the arrangement. He pops open the bottle and pours Arashi Sake into both cups, just like she'd taught him the two previous nights they drank. He waits for her to continue, taking a sip of the sake. Damn, it's good. ]

[kawaakari]

[Looking on with approval and just a tinge of (practiced) excitement as she takes her seat.]

You didn't have to buy that.

[She knows how expensive it is. The Stormguard brew the drink personally.]

[atlas_shrugged]

It was a want, really. Not a need. [ Brig never really purchased anything for himself in the past. There was just never enough money. He gave everything to M, then to M and J, then to J, and then to J and K. He could do without any little pleasures. He was happy that they had everything they needed. ]

But things have been looking up recently. I've found that... well [ He pauses and has a half-smile ] since I joined Netsach, and now Methuselah and Zangyaku, I'm actually allowed to spend on a bit of luxury for myself. [ It's a nice feeling. ]

[ He takes a drag from his cigarette and blows out the smoke, before he glances her way ] And I thought it would be nice to share some with you. [ He glances away, his head tilted to one side. ] It's the best sake I've tasted so far, and even my relatively untrained tongue can tell that.

[kawaakari]

[Putting on a pleased smile, and ducking her gaze, just so. Pushing the hair back from one ear as well. Typical signs of embarrassment, of a woman surprised and touched by a kind gesture of someone whom they may be intrigued by.]

Thank you. It is one of my favorite brands of sake. I rarely get to go to Shin Yamatai and purchase it for myself, so I truly appreciate this.

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brigade smiles at her ] I'm sorry, I guess I should've bought more, for the next few nights. [ He's thinking of ways to purchase more for the rest of the stay in Seigi. So far, he's thinking of just going around the city to find if any stores carry the stuff, even under the counter ] If I'd known I'd have gotten more.

[ He glances away and takes a drag of his cigarette. Well, at least tonight he's done something more than be a bother to her with his presence ] Busy schedule? Or... busy schedule? [ He laughs softly, remembering the files on her desk the first night. And tonight her taking off of her armor when he arrived. She must've been on a sortie. ]

[kawaakari]

The latter.

[Shifting about, to sit with one leg drawn up and her back against the wooden pillar behind her. Pulling her pipe out of her sleeve, along with the pack of tobacco and cloves that she wishes to pack into it.]

Someone that required my personal touch.

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brigade looks at her, trying to read her mood ] May I ask what happened tonight? What your mission was? [ He remembers she is the Lady of the Night ] If it's not classified. Or if it is, I promise to keep it classified.

[kawaakari]

I prefer not to spoil my drink with talk of work, Brig-san.

[No, she wasn't going to tell him anything. Zangyaku was mostly an open book. The Whisperers were the one exception to the rule.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brig nods his head in acquiescence ] Apologies. [ He takes a sip of his sake ] So the "real fight" you mentioned earlier, is it work related to? Cause if it is, let's talk about something else. [ He smiles ]

[kawaakari]

It's simple, really. We are barely three years into peace time. It has been hard on everyone, friends and enemies alike.

[Then, softly:]

There are only too many broken houses to fix, and only too many fires to put out.

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brigade measures the meaning behind the words ] There's some unrest and lingering ill-feelings in Shin Yamatai?

[ Brig has never known peace time. He fights for it, always has, but has never been one to enjoy it. Only recently in his new Conspiracies has he found semblance of it. ] War is ever-present on all types of battlefronts. [ Brig knows he hasn't been trying to control his expressions since he first felt relaxed speaking to Kasumi on their first night. He hasn't bothered keeping his guard up. ]

[kawaakari]

Shin Yamatai is as peaceful as it could possibly be. Many other places are not.

[A light shrug as she's taking another drag from her pipe.]

Nevertheless, all things considered, it could be much worse.

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brigade thinks of Task Force: VALKYRIE and the United States. He thinks of the other areas of unrest. He thinks of Russia and Grendal ] Yeah, the world's got a long way to go, and it's been fifty years from the Darkest Vigil.

I'm glad though, that I can be of help to the bigger picture now. Hopefully I'll get clearance to help with Grendal as well after my work on Task Force: VALKYRIE.

[ He empties his cup and pours another ] I've read enough, Ma'am, to know you're very right on that point.

[kawaakari]

I would like to think that I am good at my job, yes.

[And good at keeping a close eye on the movements of her (former) son. Hikaru Shinta was a brilliant man, and a few steps away from being a god in his own right. People like him saw things, even before they understood what they were.]

[atlas_shrugged]

I don't think anyone doubts that, Ma'am. Your reputation precedes you as silently as your title.

[ She seems so distant tonight. He feels concerned. ] Is there... anything bothering you tonight, Ma'am? Is there something wrong?

[kawaakari]

I'm just a little tired. Don't worry, I'll be better soon enough.

[Smiling. If for anything, it's the truth. As exciting as the engagement was, it had been a challenge for the likes of her.

She wouldn't have it any other way, though. Rare are the times that she gets to go out on the field.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brigade tries to smiles at that, although the concern doesn't leave his face. He opts not to speak for a while. She'll speak again when she's ready. If not, then he'll be content to just drink in the quiet of the evening with her. It must have been something pretty heavy to tire someone of her caliber.

He really does hope she's okay.

Brig lights up a new cigarette after taking a sip of sake, leans back on both hands and looks up at the night sky. This spot of her's really is very calming. ]

[kawaakari]

[Watching him, letting her amusement join a perfectly crafted look of pleasure and pride on her face.]

You really like it here, don't you?

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brigade keeps his eyes looking at the sky as he speaks ] Surprisingly, Ma'am, I do. Although, truthfully, I've never really been fond of sitting around and just talking. [ He recalls that day at the Golden Dawn office with An'yu-sama, when he was told by his sensei that maybe he should make time. ] Some people have told me that maybe I should learn to like it. Can't say I have. [ He remembers Baguio where he found himself running to and hermiting in Sagada to train. He'd just felt so trapped into being forced to stay at home, no matter how much he loved J and Kitty. ]

It's nice here, I admit. [ He looks back at Kasumi with pure honesty in his eyes. ] But I think only really like it because of these conversations with you.

[kawaakari]

[She lets surprise show on her features, and averts her gaze for a turn, as though it was both pleasant and embarrassing to hear such a thing from a man.]

I am glad that you have. One must be a good host in one's own home, yes?

[atlas_shrugged]

[ It's so naturally done that it seems so real. So perfect, her reaction. It's impossible to tell whether she's being genuine or just courteous.

But patterns are things Brigade works with and he can't help but notice that it sounds so familiar. "One must be a good hostess, right?". Something she'd said the first day they drank. His eyes sag at the side even though he tries to smile. ]

I really do mean it, Ma'am. It's not flattery. [ Cause it really isn't ] Not trying to curry favor or get on your good side or anything from you. [ He turns his head away and looks to the ground on his side opposite of Kasumi. His brow furrows, thinking. ] I'm sorry. Maybe I'm doing something wrong.

[ For the first time since their first drink, he has this urge to just run. Not away. But just run. Do Brig things for the night; situations he knows he has general idea over? He doesn't want to. It just clicks somewhere in his stomach. He wants to stay. He's not sure if he's nervous, worried, or... well, he's not sure what he's feeling. ] I was thinking about you last night. I hadn't expected we were spending the night in Shin Yamatai. I was looking forward to drinking with you. [ He'd thought it was just going to be a daytrip. There was some disappointment when he'd found out it wasn't. ]