Fragments of Skies and Rivers (CLOSED/ @Bochi@Silver)
After a satisfying dinner and the subsequent washing up, Elaine dragged out a hammock and stuck it between two pillars of the courtyard, and proceeded to make herself comfortable. She took out the letter from the guild and gave it a casual read---was the initial plan. As the letter progressed, the sheer absurdity of the contents made the Sefirot sit up and pay extreme attention, afraid that she'd miss something.
"Wait, wait, wait. This is the correct letter, right? But the contents---ha! It's impossible even for me. What's the guildmaster thinking?"
"Mhm? Care to elaborate?"
With a lazy pass, the letter changed hands to Yato's Miko, who similarly had a difficult look on her face after finishing. Elaine accepted the folded letter back and started fanning herself with it.
"What do you think, Sora? Regarding the contents?"
"...It's difficult to say."
"Then, say it as Sora, and not as the Shrine Miko. The only adventurer here is sleeping."
"In that case...it's ridiculous. Forget the Shogun, I wouldn't accept the terms either. What gives him the right to list such conditions? Does he think the denizens of Fuyu Machi are a bunch of pushovers? Huh?"
"Whoa, whoa, calm down a little. I'm not the Guildmaster, okay? Don't vent at me."
Sora blushed as she was made to lie on the hammock as well. It was a big one, but not big enough for two people to lie side by side, so Elaine ended up at the bottom; Sora was lying on her belly, clinging to the Sefirot to avoid falling off. Although her grip seemed to be slightly more than necessary.
"So what do you plan to do?"
"Well, the letter's meant for the sleeper. Gotta wake her up and get her opinion first, else it'll be a theft of identity."
"Aren't you already stealing her identity?"
"Shhh! That's different. This one's official business, so I can't do what I usually do. Wait a bit, I'll be back with news."
As the Sefirot relaxed and dozed off lightly, the Miko ended up huddling closer for warmth as well---the chilly night was already starting.
*****
Here you go.
Hmm? This letter is...?
Official adventurer's guild business, it seems. Just look at that seal. It's from a big shot, that's for sure. Moving up in the world, are we?
Vicious rolled her eyes as she torn the guildmaster's letter open from the top, leaving the seal in the centre completely intact whilst ripping up the top. This elicited a shocked gasp from the onlooking Sefirot.
That method of opening the letter! You're a deviant! Here, gimme!
Snatching over the partially-opened envelope, Elaine elegantly tugged on the corners, tracing the edges of the flap, and then tore it open on one end.
That's no better, moron! Give it back!
Snorting as she reclaimed the somehow still-intact but slightly crumpled letter, Vicious started going through it. Like the Sefirot before her, the Liberi's eyebrows rose higher and higher as the lines went lower and lower; it was promptly crushed and tossed aside when she was done.
...Seriously?
Right? I'm glad it wasn't just me who had that reaction.
I don't think anyone would have any other reactions, to be honest...wait, you've already gone through the letter?
Uh, yeah? If I didn't go through it once first, it wouldn't have been able to show up here. But once I went through it once, I can make several copies here---see?
She was waving a whole stack of them in one hand like how a rich person would wave paper bills. With the giggle the letters were tossed aside and vanished into nothingness.
That aside, how do you plan to reply?
How else can I reply? It's an impossible request! It'll take more than myself alone to carry out the reasonable parts of the letter. Nevermind the unreasonable parts; Kirin will lynch me if I dared to raise these suggestions to her.
I could ask on your behalf.
You're asking while in my body! That makes no difference! Get real!
True...well, I take it that you're not a supporter of this letter's demands.
Of course not. This is plain bullying. I won't stand for it.
The Sefirot smiled widely.
Fantastic. I was waiting for you to say that. In that case, I'll send a letter back to make it clear. Mind if I borrowed Sanguine to be my messenger pigeon?
Vicious was already on her way back to bed. She waved a lazy hand of approval.
As long as he agrees out of his own volition, go for it.
Alright. I'll see you later then.
*****
Elaine opened her eyes to a darkened courtyard and a snoring bundle on top of her. Her arms and legs were unintentionally rendered immobile.
"Sora."
"...Mhm...?"
"Wake up. I can't move properly like this."
"...Mhmm...five more minutes..."
"You're getting drool all over me! Sheesh! Oi, don't go back to sleep! You'll catch a cold if you sleep out here, and so will I! Oi! Wake up!..."
. . . . . .
The next morning, an extremely stiff Sefirot sat at the breakfast table, drafting up a letter which she rolled up into a tube, and tied it to Sanguine's leg. With a whistle the falcon took off, disappearing quickly in the direction of Scribel City.
"Time for...*yawn*...me to catch up on lost sleep."
Elaine slammed her head into the desk and went right into dreamland.
'The letter has reached my hands safely, and I pray that this reply will share the same fate upon it's ultimate arrival on your desk. Sanguine will stay around until you've finished writing the reply, so just leave it in the tube on his leg when you're done, and he will deliver it back to me.
Now, regarding the negotiations...
I have gone through it's contents carefully and consulted with the Winter City's top echelons regarding it's contents, and the decision was unanimous. Most of the conditions stated have been rejected outright. The Shogun has agreed to sponsor the building costs and foot the bill for any request made by a citizen of Fuyu Machi, but that's the extent she's presently willing to go. The letter has also left most of them in a...disagreeable mood.
I find myself agreeing with their sentiment. The contents of the letter speaks for itself, and the Shogun's already made several concessions on the less dubious conditions. But the remaining ones will garner no traction here, and paints the guild in a rather poor light.
Understand that while my current loyalties are to the Adventurer's Guild, I cannot in good faith overlook the blatantly unreasonable conditions listed in your earlier letter. It is natural to want to garner as much benefits for one's own side in negotiation, this I can understand and accept. This amount of blatant exploitation, however, I cannot. Fuyu Machi is just as important to us as we are to them; without this city to hold the Oni's attention, they'll turn their attention to Scribel City, and I'm sure that's not the outcome anyone wants. No amount of walls will impede a rampaging Oni.
Finally, if I'm to say it frankly...
It's ridiculous. With all the things that's going on right now, earning money should be the last of our objectives. Money won't matter much if people are too dead to spend it, and that'll be what happens if the external issues aren't taken care of. The teeth will freeze if the lips are gone, and the news from the east are alarming as is. We cannot afford to drag this out.
For everyone's benefit---please do not send back a treaty that's reworded but actually has the same meanings. I sincerely hope you will be able to see reason, and await your reply, my slightly disappointing Guildmaster.'
I don't think anyone talked anything about the emperor yet? We still have the chance to do it! \(^^)/
And even if someone already said something, we can always play the card of "He has many names, some call him Your Majesty, the Holy Emperor, others call him God-Emperor of Mankind... And others call him Bob... Never call him Bob."
And even if someone already said something, we can always play the card of "He has many names, some call him Your Majesty, the Holy Emperor, others call him God-Emperor of Mankind... And others call him Bob... Never call him Bob."
And just to be clear, the talking to fruit came from an RNG of 100 side effects that could have been ANYTHING, and I had no control of Bochi's Bacon RNG.
SO I did not choose the food magic life for Zorion, the food magic life choose him!
And just to be clear, the talking to fruit came from an RNG of 100 side effects that could have been ANYTHING, and I had no control of Bochi's Bacon RNG.
SO I did not choose the food magic life for Zorion, the food magic life choose him!
And just to be clear, the talking to fruit came from an RNG of 100 side effects that could have been ANYTHING, and I had no control of Bochi's Bacon RNG.
SO I did not choose the food magic life for Zorion, the food magic life choose him!
