The quietness of the Blue Lion surprised Hitomi. After her last visit in a bar, it almost seemed like a spa of some sorts. This time not clad in casual attire, she felt much safer, knowing that her uniform scared away most of the Bretonians, who usually didn't talk much to a Kusarian, especially not one that wore the Obi-Belt that denoted her status as a samurai.
She was completely aware of the effect she had on the war-bitter men and women, so she left the swords at the entrance - a clear gesture of her coming in peace - and stepped to the bartender. She knew that in the rare instance that one of the people here either recognized her or found her interesting enough to instate a conversation, said person would step up and initiate it - and the fact that this was very unlikely made her comfortable enough to sit down at the Bar.
"Scotch. Something old. And leave the bottle, I will be here for the night."
Had been a long time since she last drank a whiskey. She crossed her legs, took a sip and gazed around the bar, hoping not to see down the barrel of a gun. The trouble on Barrier Gate last month had been enough Bar Brawls for her taste.
Miranda was sitting near a corner of the almost empty bar, silently drinking some cheap whiskey. She had just finished an escort duty and she was extremely tired and hoped this drink would help get her some sleep. After her work in Cryer she was suspicious of sleeping pills, in fact of all pills in general. She wouldn't take them if she could do otherwise.
She closed her eyes trying to forget what happened a few hours ago. Her convoy was attacked and one escort was killed before the pirate gang was forced to retreat. She didn't know that ExSec pilot in person but they had worked two or three again in the past. She didn't know which pirate gang was that too. The adrenaline was still in her blood along with some sadness and fury.
Then she saw the Kusarian walk into the quiet bar. Intimidating posture but sexy frame, Miranda noticed, before she finally recognized the Kusarian's attire from her old BAF classes. That was a Kusari Imperial officer uniform. What the hell was she doing here?!
- I didn't know His late Majesty's officers preferred Bretonian alcohol over their own! she didn't need to raise her voice to say that, her slightly teasing words already broke the sleeping silence of the bar.
Hitomi turned around slowly, mustering the girl that just not only broke the silence, but made the whole bar listen to her response. Her gaze was curious, investigating, as if she tried to see right through the facade. It wasn't exactly provoking, but it made everyone meeting her eyes feel uneasy, and she knew how to use this effect, both on her subordinates and strangers.
After almost twenty seconds of silent mustering, she decided that the tease was just the usual bretonian casual attitude, and not meant as an offense. Her muscles relaxed, and her face looked a bit less like it was made out of marble.
"It's not like you'd have said alcohol here, do you", she answered with an almost unnoticeable smirk and a slightly more relaxed tone, almost... Friendly, at least for her standards. Another sip from the tumbler emptied it, and without breaking eye contact, she refilled it - a bit more than the barkeeper would, definetely - and continued:"although I am curious what you mean with... 'late' majesty, miss...?"
- Everyone knows that Jien is gone, my dear. her tone was not exactly cheerful however. Her eyes then shifted to the bartender.
- Hey, do you have any of this Kusarian drink... sake we call it? I want some! the bartender grudgingly nodded and went to the bar before returning with the Kusarian drink. Miranda wasn't sure why she was doing this but she definitely wanted to lash out somewhere.
Hitomis eyes narrowed. Talking about Kogen in her presence had never been a good Idea. Her criticism of the dead emperor had always been very vocal, one of the reasons that Tetsuya had chosen her to be his leading Admiral. She did never like others, especially outsiders, talking about her former master however.
Deciding to not take it as an offense, though, she spoke again, this time a bit more... Friendly.
"Indeed he is. Interesting that you mention it, however. Do you pursue a particular... Intention with that?"
Her tone was as inquisitive as earlier, although the fact that the bretonian had ordered Sake made her think that this girl perhaps didn't look for a fight - and she for sure didn't want a fight with her new allies.
When the bartender was about to bring her order, Miranda stood up and moved to the table next to Hitomi.
- Naaah. It was a simple observation. The world has lots of power-hungry, insane, and ridiculously powerful men... Jien is just one of them. If only we could get rid of them all, the world would be a better place don't you agree? her philophical blabber suddenly stopped when the sake finally arrived.
- So how do we drink this thing? she innocently asked.
She relaxed a bit. Apparently this was not intended as an attack or insult - which eased her mind pretty well.
"Kogen-Heika was a powerhungry man. And yes, the world would indeed be a better place without people like these... but there is no way you can change humanity, is there? Trying would equal trying to relocate a mountain.
About your question - there's no particular way... Try to do it like you'd drink white wine. It comes closest to what you might know."
- Hai! Miranda said in a terribly bad accent. Then she started consuming the alcohol.
- So an Imperial officer says that it is hopeless? Then you may as well just surrender since you are not fighting a war which you have any noteworthy chances to win... Yet you keep on going. So I think you believe in the concept of hope. The sour taste of the sake started settling in Miranda's throat. She wanted to vomit but kept it to herself.
- Also, why did you serve under a power-hungry man, then? That makes no sense.
![[Image: lgx3dPr.png]](http://i.imgur.com/lgx3dPr.png)