Pub Crawling

[von_strahl]

Balthier had had enough of ex-Dalmascan soldiers who really ought to be dead but were some how up and walking and having little lovers' tiffs all over the place. It was time for ale, wenches and cheesy biscuits- standard fare for any pirate. The only pub he knew of nearby was the ignominiously named Red LobsterHe was alone when he started to head

Comments

[areallperfect]

Katsumoto had chosen to wear his own clothing in lieu of what Jordan could provide: dark-hued hakama and winter weight kimonos, tabi and waraji, with his daishō tucked through the obi and worn at his hip. His appearance and manner of attire wasn't so different from that of people from the East, so he had the benefit of looking like a foreigner rather than someone from an entirely different world.

Regardless of what we wore, he carried himself in the same way always - proudly, as someone rightly expecting deference. It was this bearing, perhaps even more than the swords he wore, that had people in the streets letting him pass by unhindered and unquestioningly, with only the occasional comment on his appearance. With his white tiger daemon to one side and Tony on the other, Katsumoto slowed his stride at times to ensure the other man didn't fall behind as they walked. His unfailing sense of propriety demanded no less; only servants and those of lesser rank walked behind.

"Do you know where it is you wish to go?" Katsumoto asked, curiously glancing at the buildings now and then as they passed them.

[cheftonyb]

"I met this guy when I got here," Tony replied hitching up the pants one of the porters had supplied him. They were both too short and too big in the waist and he'd rolled them up to his knees and settled for yanking them up every few steps.

"He told me there was a Red Lobster. The food probably won't be very good, but it'll be something to eat at any rate."

[areallperfect]

The constant fussing Tony had to do to keep his pants up earned him more than one amused look from Katsumoto, but he politely refrained from commenting. If he'd had anything on hand that could serve as a belt, he'd have offered it.

"And the college pays for this?" That was what the porter had led him to believe.

[cheftonyb]

"They'd better, I don't exactly have any money." He'd rescued his wallet from his shorts, but all he had was $5, a few receipts and a credit card he carried for emergencies.

[areallperfect]

"Nor do I." Because he'd hardly intended to pay the Imperial army to leave his province. Tempered steel was far more effective. "Perhaps they will allow labour in exchange for a meal, if necessary. You were a chef," he added thoughtfully.

[cheftonyb]

"Did I also mention that I haven't been a chef for ten years?" Tony yanked up his pants. "I suppose you never really forget... you've never done any cooking? I bet your knife skills are amazing."

[areallperfect]

Katsumoto shook his head in response to the questions. His life had been devoted to the dual path of samurai and Buddhist priest, neither of which required him to be proficient at meal preparations. "I am a student of war. I can throw a knife, wound with one, kill with one..."

He smiled as he looked at Tony. "Only you can create with one, Tony-san. It is an admirable skill."

[cheftonyb]

Tony blushed a bit and grinned goofily in spite of himself. "But you... you're so... you're you."

He stopped himself from babbling stupidly, but he wasn't sure how to explain to Katsumoto. He wished he could be half that zen, able to calmly slice a man in half without breaking a sweat. Not so much that he'd give up being able to cook, but to have such wonderfully sharp knives at his disposal at all times. He wondered if Katsumoto would let him borrow the little one to cut tomatoes or... whatever they had here.

[areallperfect]

((Lulz. Totes have Tony ask to borrow the short sword.))

"Indeed." Katsumoto's smile grew, not out of amusement, but genuine appreciation. 'You're you.' It was an the unexpectedly (and likely unintentionally) profound statement, one he'd have to think more on later. They were nearly at their destination - he could see the sign for the Red Lobster in the distance.

"Have you ever taught?" he asked after a short pause.

[cheftonyb]

"Not in any official capacity," Tony replied. "But I'm always happy to demonstrate a trick or two." He paused thoughtfully. "Any chance you could let me borrow that short sword? I understand that Japanese blades are the best in the world."

[areallperfect]

"Wakizashi," he said, hand on its hilt. While the katana was believed to be the soul of a samurai, the wakizashi held its own significance - it was kept on or near his person at all times, even while sleeping. It was also the blade used to commit seppuku with.

Katsumoto stopped walking and turned toward Tony, suddenly serious. Pulling the short sword from its sheath, he supported the hilt with one hand and the flat of the blade with the other, bowing slightly as he offered it. He returned to their previous line of conversation. "Perhaps you would... demonstrate for me one day?"

[cheftonyb]

Tony gaped at him. "I can't... I..." he didn't know what to say, obviously the weapon was very important to Katsumoto, Tony hadn't seen it leave his sight the entire time they'd been together. "I only wanted to borrow it... I don't wish to be insulting, but this is too much."

[areallperfect]

"You may take it," Katsumoto gently insisted, still offering his wakizashi. He'd trusted Tony with his body; the blade was almost an extension of that. "It isn't delicate, but it is very sharp."

The blade had to be sturdy, since it was frequently used to pierce and cut through bone. He wasn't overly concerned about the possibility of Tony damaging it.

[cheftonyb]

Tony carefully accepted the blade, examined the hilt, tried to wiggle the blade, it wouldn't budge.

"Full tang," he muttered thoughtfully. He could see the marks of forging on the blade, and there wasn't a single nick or spot of rust on it anywhere. The blade didn't have much give and when he ran his thumb over the blade it sliced into the soft pad like a hot knife through butter. He put his thumb in his mouth and offered the sword back to Katsumoto.

"That is a well cared for blade, my friend. I should be so lucky to have something like that in my kitchen."

[areallperfect]

He hadn't predicted Tony testing the blade on his own hand, and openly stared as he put his injured thumb to his mouth, inadvertently reminded of what they'd done prior to leaving Jordan. Katsumoto took the sword and sheathed it.

"You did not answer my question," he said, looking away as he resumed walking. "Do you no longer enjoy cooking?"

[cheftonyb]

"It isn't that," Tony said. "I became a chef on purpose, and a writer by accident. Cooking was my entire life. But... I did a lot of things in the name of my cooking, I heaped a lot of abuse on myself. And I guess what it boils down to is that I'm old. I'm 51, my body can't go for 12 straight hours anymore."