paixaorpg | A Working Cat [Active]

Entry tags:

A Working Cat [Active]

Character(s): Naja, Kenshin
Content: Scowling angrily about the recent kidnap, Naja sits at a table with a drink, compiling paperwork.
Setting: The Cheap Prayer [F5]
Time: Afternoon
Warnings: Possible swearing, ect.

The place itself wasn't exactly up to her standards, but she had learned that the food was some of the better sorts that the city had to offer. Naja sat, perched on the arm of a chair, paperwork strewn across the table, including old contracts from the empire, pamphlets of Paixao (her own, and the city-made ones), scrawled letters, rumpled balls, and even the sheet which had Sara Sidle's name signed at the bottom. And across many of the sheets, rested her 'spiky friend', Morgenstern.

She scowled to herself, tapping a finger against her chin, looking over a sheet in her hand that had a list of names. A long list of names, some of which were crossed out, or had unapproving words marked besides them. She reached out for the second sheet, her hand coming in contact instead with the glass that was her drink, and chose to draw that up instead.

Lazily she sunk to the side, slipping into the proper place to sit of the chair, legs now hanging over an arm, her tail dusting the floor. She took a small sip, and was pleased that it wasn't anything too strong - it was the afternoon, after all! There was work that needed doing! If she had gone back to Carta Para Ti, she would've been out cold in just a few drinks.

Naja placed the drink back down, grabbed for a book that she had casually ~~stole~~ brought with her from the library, a new sheet of paper, a pen, and went to writing a new list of names, looking quite thoughtful.

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Was it really afternoon? It didn't really feel like it. Kenshin was tired. He'd spent some time attempting to track down Jintetsu. He'd spoken to so many of the city-folk, but nothing. No one ever left the city or knew anything about the church outside.

Kenshin was rather at a loss. He'd finally stopped here, and at first had only ordered something to fill a gap in his stomach, but soon gave in to asking for some sake. He didn't drink often, much less in the afternoon. It was more something his Shisho would do. Perhaps that's why he decided to. It made him think of things back home.

Perched on a seat towards the back, he mostly was keeping to himself. Being the afternoon the place was mostly quiet, although he couldn't help but notice the cat lady. That was really his best description of her. He'd seen a great many strange things since arriving here, so wasn't exactly surprised by it, but still, it amazed him.

She seemed agitated and restless. And he couldn't help but notice her rather interesting choice of weapon. However, Kenshin kept to himself, quietly drinking his sake.

Naja's eyes glanced towards the new arrival the moment he stepped in. He did not go unnoticed, but after he sat down her eyes slid back to her work. She didn't recognize the redhead; he certainly wasn't on any of her lists. It didn't take long before curiosity won out and she leaned back in her chair, rubbing at her chin and tapping a finger on the table besides the paperwork.

"You there," she called out. She didn't dance circles around him, she went straight to the point. "What sort of competence are you? Or are you just another useless speck to this city?"

Kenshin had certainly not expected to be so suddenly addressed. He paused half holding his cup in the air to take a sip, with a surprised expression. That had been rather... straight forward. This was already reminding him of his previous encounter, although this...woman? didn't exactly remind him of Yuuko. He'd only just managed Yuuko a few days before, he was a little wary to get dragged into anything else.

"E-eh? Ah... Sessha is not from here, de gozaru," he answered, some what cautiously, but also not sure how to exactly respond to the first of her questions.

An outsider. Good. Those were, generally speaking, a bit more usefully. Generally. There were always exceptions. Pesky exceptions. The city would become filled to the brim one day and what use would they be? ... okay, maybe it wouldn't ever be completely filled. People disappeared. People like them would return, disappear again. Disappearances were different than kidnappings.

The thought made her grit her teeth. Damn kidnappings. She should have been able to stop it -

"'Sessha' your name then?" she commented in response. She could live without a response to her other question; she was capable of judging a person without a direct answer. He had a sword at his side, and she assumed that it wasn't just for show. A Samurai, perhaps? Those had their uses...

She seemed rather... riled up. Something seemed to be annoying her, if Kenshin was one to guess, although he wasn't really. It was none of his business of course, but it didn't mean he didn't notice.

"Ah, no no, sessha is Kenshin," he quickly corrected, it hadn't been the first time he'd had to do so. "Himura Kenshin."

The cat lady was already making Kenshin a bit nervous. Perhaps it was just because of his dealings with Yuuko, but still, there was something about her.

Oh, she was riled up alright. Her entire appearance was on edge, and it was probably a fact that if anyone walked in that she ruled as useless, she would probably beat them to a pulp. It'd do the city a favor, she thought.

The 'sessha' thing was a bit annoying, but there were worst things in the world. Worst things to worry about. She shifted in her seat again and grinned, very slightly. "Himura Kenshin. Not a bad ring you have there. Himurrra. Hm. Not bad at all." She rubbed a finger at her chin and stared at him through a lidded gaze. "And how, from one to ten would you rate yourself as a skilled person, Himura?"

Kenshin wasn't sure he liked the way she was looking at him, and even more so how she, apparently, liked his name. She was making him even more nervous now, though he hid it well.

How would he rate himself? That was not a question he was used to being asked, nor very comfortable with answering. Now, Shishou, if asked that question, would be quick to say ten, but there were also few more arrogant than Hiko Sejirou. The techniques and speed of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu made Kenshin top notch; he knew that. There was a reason he was the Battousai - One who has mastered battoujutsu. Still, it was Kenshin's way to be humble. Not to mention he wasn't sure yet exactly why he was being asked that. What did she want from him?

"Sessha would really rather not," he finally replied, his gaze resting back on the cup of sake in his hands.

Naja wrinkled her nose at his response and stood up, away from her table, dragging Morgenstern along with her. She glanced at her work, ears flicking, and slowly approached him. She stopped about a foot from where he sat, cocking her head to one side. On a normal day she may have been pulling off the intimidation look. Today, however, she just looked drained. Like this city was weighing down on her.

"Do you know anything about the kidnapped people?" she asked. It wasn't a demand, just a simple, tired question.

The tiredness was noted, and Kenshin did, very much, sympathize. He was rather tired himself all truth be told. Unfortunately he didn't know much he could really tell her. He knew about as much as everyone else, save the incident at the church.

"Sessha is afraid he knows little more than what most others know, de gozaru," he replied, regretably.

"Sessha has been searching for someone he suspects was also taken, but... where they are being taken, sessha cannot even begin to guess..." Kenshin explained. Finding someone who had utterly vanished was definitely a rather difficult task.

((a;dasoida will have to edit with better icon later. Some time. Hopefully. Haha icons are utterly screwed since his account died and I failed to reorganize his icons, oops. =A=;))

Forget it. He was just wasting her time, really. She had really thought he'd add up to something useful - and normally she had quite a judge of character. Maybe he was hiding something from her. Tch. Whatever. She wasn't playing this game anymore.

With a swift action, she had Morgenstern pointed towards him, her eyes narrowed. Her tiredness seemed to disappear just as quickly. "Then you're just crrrampin' my space! Scrram!"

There was a reason The Cheap Prayer was mostly empty.

Kenshin narrowed his eyes, the mask of the harmless rurouni disappearing as quickly as her tiredness had.

"What if sessha refuses?" he questioned quietly, wondering vaguely how many poor townsfolk had been scared out of the bar by her. This was a public establishment. She had no grounds for taking over.

Naja had been turning away to return to her seat, but drew to a slow halt at his words. Why, this one wanted to play it tough now, did he? She could have just ignored him and sat back down, but that didn't happen. The mithra's eyes glinted as she looked over her shoulder at him, pulling Morgenstern towards her.

"You don't want to be doing that," she told him evenly. Not getting into a meaningless fight would mean she would get some work done.

But Naja could admit: a fight sounded appealing to her.

Kenshin wasn't interested in causing trouble, much less was he looking for a fight. He did get up from his table, pausing to glance towards the kitchen, he could see nervous blond haired staff looking through the doorway. He made no further motions to leave at this point.

"Sessha doubts the owner would appreciate you driving their customers away, de gozaru," Kenshin stated calmly, attempting to reason with her. However, his hand did linger at the hilt of his blade. Despite her words, he could read her quite clearly.

Naja merely grinned, catching notice of his hand near the hilt. Samurais were fun. Possibly a challenge. Too bad this one didn't seem to enjoy the idea of being used. A pawn under a queen. But then... she had weaseled the service of others like him, before. Perhaps it'd be wise to keep an eye on him... heh heh.

"Well, is that so?" She tossed a look over her shoulder towards the owner and chuckled, shaking her head. "I don't rrreally care what 'sessha' thinks. Or, in fact, the owner. 'sides, I'm still paying for my drinks." He still had service. But really. She didn't care. Like he needed the business this particular day.

Despite the sense she might have been interersted in a fight, it did not seem it was tha wanted. Still, he kept up his guard.

"This is the owner's establishment," he corrected her, the cat woman's disgregard for the owner bothering him slightly as he glanced to the bartender and owner, looking to see what his reaction to all this was. The last thing Kenshin wanted to do was cause real trouble, but he also, as always, wished to help those around him.

"Yes, I got that," she easily said. She pressed a hand down onto the surface of a table, idly resting against it. Another tap of Morgenstern. Interesting or not, she just wanted to get rid of the guy. She glanced over at the staff that she had seemingly terrified (although she really didn't get their problem; at least she kept damn quiet the whole time til this Samurai popped his head by).

"You want me gone?" she snapped at them. "You want to be able to get back to 'rrregular' business?" She laughed. "There is no regular business here! This city is a joke! This economy, a joke!" Who made income off leaves?! What kind of nonsense was that?!

And then, much to anyone's surprise - possibly even her own - she stormed towards her table, scooped all her paperwork into a folder, and brought it up to wave threateningly at the Samurai. "Keep livin' like nothing's going on, like the natives here - they ignore the bigger picture. You can all avoid it for so long before it sweeps everrrything and everyone in this damnable city up!"

She turned towards the door, body moving with purpose, slipping the folder into her side bag. Stopping with her hand on the door, she turned sharp eyes towards the other. She spoke with such certainty, like she saw something about Paixao's future that others tried not to think about. "One day, Himura, I'll be using your services. Enjoy your drink."

Then, she was gone.

That... had definitely not been the response Kenshin had expected. Not that he'd been very sure what to expect, but that certainly hadn't been it. And what did she mean she'd be using his services?

He was confused, but glad it was an end, even if it wasn't what he'd expected.

He shook his head a bit, however. Living like nothing was going on? Did she really think he was that naive? Saitou had vanished from right beside him! The room in the church. The creature there. Jintetsu missing. Kenshin was already knee deep in it, really.

But that didn't mean anyone could treat those who lived here poorly. Strange or not, they still did not deserve that.

Returning to his table, he finished the small amount of sake he'd had left, and leaving a couple coins from his wallet, he also parted the bar.

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