hauntedking | [KENOS] IC Inbox

[Kiritsubo would be amused if she knew what sort of preparations had gone into her visit. But as it was... she was amused either way, in the manner in which fishermen tended to feel when they tried a new method of bait fishing that was doing particularly well.

The door opens... and Kiritsubo's chin tips up to view her host. This shape was only a few inches taller than her "natural" one, and the blonde king towers over her... not that she seems intimidated at all, despite being a Zenite supposedly on enemy territory, entering the home of a man who had actually exploded a man during the last Oracle trial. (Technically.) It's all smiles.]

That I am~

[She even gives a little curtsy, though it lacks the gravitas one would normally require from meeting royalty.]

I'd love a tea actually, thank you.

[Brushing some of her heavy hair back over her shoulder, she freely waltzes about his home once shown inside, fingers brushing over the back of a chair, examining the decor, already seeming to make herself comfortable (or perhaps check for traps?).]

[ Fortunately, Dimitri is not the type to lull someone into a false sense of security and then try to murder them in his own home. So he's exactly as he appears, even if he's a little surprised at how fast this is starting to go. He nods and gestures for her to sit as he starts to putter around the small kitchen. There's already water on to boil and so it won't take him more than a few minutes to have something ready. ]

Please, make yourself comfortable. This shouldn't be more than a few minutes. I hope no one gave you too much trouble on your way here?

[Obligingly, Kiritsubo eventually stops her little exploration and takes a seat, near enough to the hall that she can still engage him from a distance, hear him well from the kitchen and watch him putter. How strange- a king, puttering. The king of the demon world certainly didn't do such things...

But it's fun to watch. Had Kenos done that to him, or... ?]

It's kind of you to ask...

[Though she often dressed quite provocatively, she had come rather modestly clad today, all for the effect of what she planned to later do. Long skirts and sleeves flutter as she shifts and crosses a leg on her seat, checking her nails briefly while he works on the tea.]

I've just been keeping my head down...

[By, you know, changing her entire shape and avoiding those that had been ruined by the unexpected broadcast, but. She doesn't say that. She doesn't know if this fellow read the papers.]

Thankfully, the people of Springstar seem willing enough to tolerate me as long as I stick to my work. I suppose not raising a hand against any Meridians during the trial also helped...

[ He's always been a bit of a putterer when it comes to domesticity. Or gardens. He prefers to work and he likes helping people, so... it comes a little naturally. He turns back to her, bringing along a steaming teapot and a couple of cups for them to use. He sets the tray on the table and then slides a chair out for himself to use. ]

I suppose it would help, yes, although quite a lot of them seem hostile to most Zenith, regardless. I'm sure I wouldn't find a warm welcome in Highstorm these days.

[ He looks a touch sheepish. ]

I may have gone slightly overboard.

[ Well. The less said about that the better. ]

[His house guest welcomes him back with a smile, brushing a bit of imaginary dust off the table for him to place the tea upon. It smelled nice and fragrant- a good choice. Another surprising thing from a King. Interesting, interesting...]

Is it really "overboard" if you are fighting desperately for a cause... ?

[She had not been doing that, and she had no intention of pretending otherwise. If the citizens of Highstorm wanted to resent her for her casual seeming approach to the faction conflict, they were free to.]

The more explosive outcome, well. That sounded like an accident to me.

[She read the papers, which had made quite a fuss over that one, but...]

Are you alright, after that?

[She sounds genuinely interested, perhaps even concerned.]

Sort of. I didn't realize that the idol would do... that.

[ He sighs and pours them both a cup as he considers, glancing up with a little frown and a shake of his head. His speech comes after a moment, a little halting. ]

...well. I've experience with bloodshed and wars. I'm managing. It's not the first terrible thing I've seen and I'm sure it won't be the last. I think I'll be alright. Thank you for asking, though.

I believe hardly anyone would.

[So, an "accident". Even her own eyes, which could see the 「truth」of things... likely would not have been able to「see」something so specific as the outcome of a person coming into contact with an effigy. Perhaps she would have been able to sense it would not be a good outcome by any means, but.

The specifics of a gory explosion? No. But she keeps her expression a sympathetic one, the blue eyes of her transformation soft.]

I have seen war, too, but, still...

[She lets the comment trail away, just implication, before she smiles ever so slightly and gestures to the tea he has brought.]

Here we are, to have tea and discuss my work, despite the fact that we are supposedly at war ourselves.

[Was that not laudable, in some way? Some proof that peace could be had?]

[ He'd known it wouldn't be good. But he'd done it anyway.

He's not sure what that says about him. He doesn't know if he likes it. But for the moment, he's trying to brush past it with a wry smile and he picks his teacup up with a little sigh. ]

Yes, exactly. I'm sorry about that - so please, tell me about your work. You said that the tattoos you do matter to people - have you done any on yourself? Would you mind sharing some of that personal meaning...?

There is no need to be sorry.

[... About what part? She does not say, as if it should simply be obvious what she is referring to. But since he seems to wish to move on... Well, she is not opposed to that, when the topic changes to one of the things she is most proud of in this world. Or any world.]

Of course. It is difficult, and it requires quite a few mirrors, but I have done most of my own work...

[Not ready to shock him, not that quickly, she first rolls up her sleeves, revealing that on her upper arms are matching tattoos of a turtle and a crane, swimming and flying over abstract swirls of blue that must represent water and clouds.]

Do these animals mean anything in particular, in your lands... ?

[ He leans forward to examine the tattoos with an expression of wonder on his face. He appreciates the artistry, clearly - and learning about it, too. ]

That must have taken a great deal of time...!

[ His eye sparkles and he glances up with a little shake of his head. ]

To the best of my knowledge, no. They're animals, of course, but they don't symbolize much in my particular region. Although... it's quite cold, so we don't really have many turtles in Faerghus. And cranes only at certain times of the year, in certain places. What do they mean to you?

[Though she occasionally did more Western-style or tribal tattoos, learning new skills as she traveled the world over the centuries and adapting the shapes to suit the sense of her clients, Kiritsubo was first and foremost a master of traditional Japanese irezumi, and the turtle and crane are done in that semi-realistic style.]

Indeed, they did.

[Her fingers trace gently over the shell of the turtle, the feathers of the crane.]

Where I hail from, it is said a sacred crane lives for one thousand years, and the turtle for ten thousand. Together, they are a prayer for long life... and, they represent lovers, as well, the only ones who can understand each others sense of time.

...that seems quite romantic, honestly. The latter one, anyway. Which meaning did you think of when you put it on yourself? If that... isn't too personal of a question, anyway.

[ He's being very polite about it. The best he can, anyway. ]

It can be. But... it is still a bit tragic, don't you think? Even if they will have one thousand years together... the turtle will still be alone for nine.

[She had been "alone" for five hundred years... and how it ached. Nine thousand? It would be too painful to bear. So she had simply taken steps to assure she would not need to.

Though the king apologizes for potentially asking too personal a question, Kiritsubo does not seem bothered. She simply answers, letting her sleeves fall back down,]

Myself... I was thinking of both. A long life with the person that I love in my orbit.

[Perhaps it is indicative, that she does not say "with" them, or "at their side"... ?]

To just be close to them? Not necessarily even... with them?

[ That jumps out at him and then he blanches a little, realizing he is prying perhaps a little too closely. ]

Forgive me; I don't mean to bring up anything painful or to ask anything... overly personal.

[ It does strike a chord with him, though. Perhaps not quite in the romantic sense (or maybe it is), but it reminds him of a person he knew once. ]

No… It’s alright.

[The smile that Kiritsubo gives, then, more to the air than to the man in front of her… it’s bittersweet. But she doesn’t shake her head or demure from answering the question. The answer may be vague, but she gives one.]

If what you love about someone is their free spirit, you cannot expect them to do anything like stay, no matter how you long for it.

[And gods, but that man…

Still wearing that soft, bittersweet expression… She begins to slowly, almost sensually unbutton her blouse.]

That's certainly true...

[ He agrees a bit wistfully - and then his face flushes as she starts to unbutton her blouse. He sits up a bit straighter, blinking. ]

Er, miss, are you sure you want to...?

[ Forgive him, he really is a gentleman. ]

[It's true. Trust her.

But when he questions what she's doing (or rather, if she is sure she wishes to), she blinks at him as if she is genuinely confused as to why he might be asking.]

You wished to see my tattoos, did you not... ?

[Finally, the cloth she is peeling away begins to show ink and not just the tempting line of her collarbone or the flawless swell of bosom, revealing geometric tiles of honeycomb dripping down her left breast, a bee (or was it a hornet?) crawling across the "surface".]

I did-

[ He clears his throat, perhaps realizing that he's being treated to said tattoos here. He settles in his chair, feeling his ears burn. ]

I'm... very impressed you did all of this to yourself. It's masterful. Thank you for being willing to indulge my curiosity.

[How cute, those little red ears of his. Despite his obvious, physical strength, his status as a king... Oh, she's had an emperor or two, a baron, a duke, a shah, several princes, and a queen, but. Never a king. Maybe it was time to start changing that... ? She was curious.]

I will not be too humble... I was renowned in my world for what I do, but. I still appreciate the words. Thank you.

[To indulge, as he said, she leans forward a little, purely clinically, of course, to show off the left interior curve of her large breast, pointing out little details on the tattoo.]

The wings, in particular, were quite tricky, since they needed to be made see-though over the honeycomb beneath... then, of course, there was the issue of the flesh beneath... I do not know if you are aware, Your Highness, but a woman sometimes changes size, so to account for--

[If he doesn't stop her...]

[ Oh. She's still going. He's honestly not sure how he feels about it - it's a mixed bag of emotions. There's a rather genuine curiosity and fascination with the artwork and the skill it must have taken for her to apply all of this to her own body, but also an uncomfortable mix of embarrassment awkwardness, and physical arousal that comes from a very attractive woman being willing to show off her body to him. It grinds against his own sense of propriety and he has to sit up a little straighter, his gaze not quite sure where to land. Her face? The tattoo? The exposed curve of her breast?

It's a lot and he has rather invited it on himself. ]

Er. I am aware that bodies change and grow throughout our lives, but, uh, I did not realize that such... growth... would need to be accommodated in your particular line of work, although of course that makes complete sense. You need not go into too much detail if you don't wish, I wouldn't want to impose any...sort of impropriety.

[ He is trying to find a polite way to not simply shut her down in what he is sure would be a very rude manner. ]

I... must say seeing this body art extend past a simple design in the hand or shoulder is very - very educational.

Oh, yes. Throughout one's life, of course, but what I mean is more the matter of if a woman should choose to bear a child then her bosom will grow accordingly, if she loses or gains weight, too, so one must attempt to design in a way that the key angles of the lines will not be affected by stretching...

[As if she truly did not notice, she continues on in response to his words just a bit more... Before flawlessly faking her way to realization, blinking... and then looking up at his face and breaking into an "awkward" little smile.]

Ah... Forgive me. It is my passion, and I get a little carried away... and I have never been the shy sort.

[Carefully, she leans back, readjusting her clothing and beginning to button back up.]

I forget too soon that you are a king. You must be used to... more modest women.

[ He is quietly relieved and also a touch guilty for feeling a twinge of disappointment. Then again, he's not quite the young man he was five years ago, so he's not as bad as all that. ]

No, no. I think... it may be a question of culture? My own people find nudity and... baring of one's self like that to be a rather private affair. Personal modesty doesn't enter into, I'm sure.

[ He gestures, trying to find the right words. ]

I do have ant to learn more about your art. I just... need to get used to your methods, eventually. Especially if you don't find it particularly improper.

[What a delicate way to phrase it... a "question of culture". But that must be the speech a King must be expected to be able to master. Unless he is a tyrant, of course. And oh, she can「see」violence on this man's skin, but tyranny was different.]

Well... We are in private, Your Highness.

[Said with a tiny hint of a tease, but a considerate amount that she does not dwell on, merely providing a little promise that she surely does not plan to advertise they have met like this, and perhaps a reminder that no one else has seen them. All fine, then, yes?]

... For the record, though, I would not tattoo your chest. As handsome a canvas as it must be.

[She reaches out, just as casually and sensually as she did anything... and her hand alights upon his arm, sliding up from forearm to bicep to-]

For you... I think the shoulder is best.

[ Honestly, Dimitri hadn't quite considered the conversation would tack toward something more... intimate than discussion of artwork. Or at least it feels like it's leaned that way. He tries to clear his head - the implication is not lost on him. And truthfully, he cannot help but feel his pulse race a little faster as she leans in a little and reaches out to draw fingers against his arm. ]

Ah-

[ There's a little shiver in his spine. ]

I hadn't considered getting any just yet, but... is there a particular reason why you would choose shoulder over the chest?

[ He is acutely aware of the hand resting on his arm and he tries not to focus too much attention on it. ]

[Whether he has considered it or not… It seems Kiritsubo certainly has. And she took stock of things she「saw」very quickly… even if now, in this borrowed form with blue eyes, her gaze of natural black so dark it seemed to reflect everything back upon her companions was hidden.]

You wield some sort of polearm, correct… ? Your posture and your musculature tell me so.

[That, and she read the papers after the Oracle rather extensively. Her fingers give a gentle squeeze on his shoulder and bicep, as if thanking them for being so talkative.]

When you thrust your weapon forward… I would want my work to be part of that.

[But before he can think “part of violence?”,]

Part of someone fighting for what the believe in. Even if it is not the same thing I do.

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