Description: During a shopping spree wher debt is increased like leveling up in an rpg, Naerose runs into a specific ninja named Kohaku. Though there is little to say between the two, a short conversation and an understanding is reached. as if it were possible to understand Naerose.
Southtown. Ths mission? Shopping. The means, credit card. Credit limit? Unspecified. Raelly these companies should learn not to give out pre-approvals to people who have negative credit scores. . But then in the age of credit, it seems anyone can get into debt.. and deeper into debt and deeper into debt and deeper into debt. The amount that Naerose owed probably could match some small countries. Or maybe it was an elbaborate scheme to appear undependable. But if they have this red dress in her size.. The witch stares into the window, her own reflection smiling back as she tries to picture herself in that satiny thing. The price tag? Who cares, she's paying with pretend money.
"Visa is a really nice man," Naerose says to herself, then heads to the door.
Credit scores are a mater of public record, and despite the thoughts of many it's easy to obtain a list of someone's purchases and debts. Though this information isn't very useful to the general public, it can be used to track where a person tends to be at a certain time and day. Easy, then, to anticipate the location of someone like Naerose, whose penchant for buying things she can't afford is near legendary.
As she approaches the door she'll find someone holding the door open for her, a man wearing clothing that would suggest he is not an employee of this retail outlet- at least not unless they're having a sale on all things black. "Good afternoon," comes a deep voice.
Unfortunately If Naerose is at all observant about stuff like who works where or what is or is not a uniform then she doesn't show it, cause she just smiles more and walks into the store and tries to buy the dress. Really. there wasn't a lot going on here that was complicated, just one witch, trying to get into one shop, to buy one thing.. A dress.. for free.. or near free? That'd be nice. There was the time spent, trying on and all that and well, technically she owed the money to someone, but it wasn't like she was going to ever pay. She'll pass the man a second time if he's still waiting or maybe she's being followed? He must work here, she decides and goes on shopping. Oh but it would be polite to say,
"Hi!"
Either she has casual contact with Ninja, she's terribly oblivious, or she simply doesn't care how other people are dressed, those are the three options that arise in Kohaku's mind as she passes him by for a second time, giving only a simple response to him. He will hold the door open again, but upon her passing the man falls in step beside the witch, "Naerose Delphine. I have seen accounts of your activities in Thailand, and your exploits in competitive fighting tournaments and competitions are all well known." With running her own 'mini' World Warrior it would be hard to stay out of the public light.
A few moments pass so that she can think on his words, if she's even listening, and he continues. "I don't care what side you fought for, but I find it hard to believe that you would involve yourself in a war for purely selfless reasons. Therefor, I have nearly come to the conclusion that you are a paid mercenary. Is this true?" His voice throughout carries no real tone other than sounding old in a 'no-nonsense' manner.
"Paid?!"
This totally stops Naerose dead in her tracks. "Well..." She begins and considers the man dressed in black, as if this were a perfectly normal converastion no less. She taps her fingers on her broom them smiles some more and gives a reply.
"It depends on what you mean by paid. Why does anyone do anything? Right? you know? I guess we're all paid somehow somewhere with .. well for.. yeah, that's what I mean.. Anyway.." She scratachse her cheek a little more.
"I think I did whatever I was doing because it sounded fun or because someone was nice to me." Perhaps she's telling the truth, perhaps she's lying, or maybe she just doesn't know what she's talking about. you never can be sure
The dark clad man stops when Naerose does and turns to face her, listening to her responses and considering her words before giving a terse nod. "Very well. I don't intend to interfere with any of your business, so long as you don't interfere with mine. If you do accept work for pay than we may eventually compete with one another for limited services." Kohaku turns partially away, and reaches for a pocket, "I doubt this will be the case, though I wouldn't be surprised if we were to run into each other again. As such, here is an offering of goodwill." The ninja has done his research on this Red Witch, and produces a thinly packaged (Ziplock bag) chunk of jerked meat, about eight ounces of venison, to be specific. He tosses the bag in a light underhand motion towards her.
Naturally this is well received and of course met with a bright smile and a "Thank you very muuuwch"
The last word is mangled because she's already gotten into the bag, but then after a momnet or two she manages to spaek again.
"I wouldn't really worry about limited resources for jobs.. The sort of thing you're looking for.. usually the onse who do pay can pay. If anything the demand outweighs the supply. Besides.. I mostly just followed a friend of mine around, I wasn't much for like business and that sort of thing.. Can you imagine me in a suit? Oh no no no, not like, you know those suits for women that are soo unflattering." The witch breaks into bright laughter as though this were a mutually shared joke.
Giving someone something they want is clearly one of the best ways to get something you want in return. Quid Pro Quo, even if it isn't seen as much. "The demand outweighs the supply? Good, then we shouldn't have any problems at all." Exactly the sort of thing he wanted to hear, though he's aware of that- nothing says she wouldn't sugar coat the truth. "I don't believe I've seen a suit of the appropriate hue, so no, I cannot." She clearly wouldn't be caught dead in anything other than red.
A little known fact. It has happened that Naerose has worn things other than red, though it is rare and usually has certain rules accompanied with them. One would have to be an avid Naerose watcher to know this and usually under some sort of disguise where she is most likely wearing red somewhere. Still, she is most likely not going to dress in somethign not red.
"Hey, that's weird, umm, lemme ask you.." She pauses a moment, looks thoguhtful, then continues, "Why are you so concerned with being a mercenary?"
Kohaku's interest in Naerose is a passing one, and his current behavior could easily be considered little more than a threat assessment. Not so much what threat she might represent to himself, but to the business that he is going to attempt to conduct. As such he would know nothing about any incidents where the witch wore anything other than red.
An expected question comes, and he is obliged to answer if he wishes to stay on her good side, or so it would seem to the man. "My task is to find contracts for the rest of my clan," he looks at her sideways, rather than turning his head to face hers, "Ninja without tasks to complete have no purpose."
She can't argue with that, though there is a little bit of an 'o' face. Then she thinsk to be more helpful, all she needs to do is think of something a ninja clan could do. The witch thinks and thinks and thinks, looks blank then finally says,
"You should look into the random attacks around town.. Or that youth place Youth young something f something c.. I dunno. I bet they could use some help against crazy invaders.."
The witch is also getting passing interset, so much to shop for, so little time.
"I'll explore all avenues," he states rather blandly to her suggestion. This wasn't intended to be an extended meet and greet. He got what he wanted, and give appropriate time for any questions she might have. As he sees it there's little reason to stick around any longer. "It's good to know you don't intend to interfere with my activities." She never said as much, did she? Without further comment he simply turns and begins walking away. No reason for theatrics.
Log created on 13:59:11 09/03/2008 by Naerose, and last modified on 15:05:17 09/05/2008.