high_seas | Masquerade Ball - Totally not an ambush

[Kodachi made it a point of letting out a large, theatrical sigh before pulling her hand back.]

Is there anything that you do, aside from grump at everyone and everything?

[He didn't like balls, he didn't like clothes, he didn't like dancing, and he didn't like her company. So what did he like? Kodachi couldn't imagine how bland his life was.]

[He likes udon.]

I don't grump! [If this was a sitcom, a laughing track would go here without any doubt.] 'Sides, I do plenty of things. Like... [Pause. What does he do with his life, anyway? Or better said, what does he do that he'd be willing to share with the girl...] Like travel around.

[It's probably not the right time and place to say it's mostly to destroy the branches of his world's equivalent of the Navy, so Ragna will keep that part to himself for now.]

[She was willing to bet that if something was different about said udon, he wouldn't like it anymore.]

Do you like traveling and find it enjoyable?

[Kodachi raised a brow and looked at him expectantly.]

I─

[He stops as a sudden realization strikes him─ he's never considered that. It's simply something he has to do: his goal is to destroy the Novus Orbis Librarium, which of course can't be achieved by sitting on his ass, so traveling is a necessity. Not to mention he normally can't stay around other humans too long, or else his Grimoire would absorb their souls... It's obvious he would travel under those circumstances, and he doesn't really mind it too much if it helps his purpose.

But does he actually enjoy it?]

... I never thought about that. I guess it's not too bad...?

[Kodachi watched him quietly. Her life had been quite "boring" (as boring as a life could be in Nerima) before she came to this place, but at least she had things that she liked - she enjoyed her martial arts and liked cooking, music, dance, and other things feminine and girlish. She couldn't imagine living a life without any sort of joy, whether it was in the small things, like a batch of perfectly baked cookies.]

I see.

Is there a place you really want to go?

Yeah.

[Though it's not for its touristic values, that's for sure. Ragna's not even sure what exactly he's looking for in Ikaruga, or if it's there at all, but that's the only clue he has for the location of Kushinada's Lynchpin─ and if there's even the slimmest chance that could help him deal with the Imperator and Terumi, he'll search high and low for it.]

... I was on the way there before I ended up here.

[Wait a moment, why is he even telling her all of this?]

─What's with all the questions, anyway?

That's unfortunate.

[She paused, thinking about the last thing she remembered upon leaving Nerima.]

I was on my way to hopefully get married.

[Her face fell, but she waved the gloominess away before staring up at Ragna.]

We're not dancing, so there must be something else that we could do.

I never asked.

[The man snaps at her in response almost on instinct, and immediately regrets it when he catches a glimpse of her expression. He recalls how she reacted when he carelessly suggested she'd never get married─ and for some reason Ragna cannot fathom, that apparently holds great meaning to the girl. Better leave that subject alone.]

... I dunno what people do during crap like this. You tell me.

People usually dance, eat, drink, mingle, chat, and have fun.

[Kodachi eyed him.]

I'm not certain if any of those things are desirable to you.

[Yes, she did insinuate - or blatantly state - that he probably didn't like having fun. It was probably an alien concept to him.]

[A thought occurred to her.]

Why do you dislike people so much?

Why the hell not? I'm starving. Sure wouldn't mind grabbing some grub.

[... So at least there's that. Her assumption isn't exactly correct─ sure, Ragna likes having fun as much as the next guy. It's more that ever since the incident eight years ago, he pretty much lost the ability to for most part.]

... Don't be stupid. I don't "dislike" people. [That's a strong word, one that suggests their very existence annoys him. Which... isn't necessarily true. Despite the pure disdain he's showing others, his crew included, the Grim Reaper doesn't actually mind most of them all that much.] I just don't like it when they stick their noses into my business.

Come on, then.

[Kodachi nodded to him and headed in the direction of the banquet tables, where, incidentally, she'd knocked out a lecherous Navy officer and hid him under the tablecloths.]

[She took a plate and peered at the delicious choices.]

Hmm . . . I suppose anyone would dislike that.

[She put a sliver of baked salmon and some capers onto her plate.]

It seems a bit lonely, though.

[Ragna follows her silently, scanning the table once they get there. He has to admit it's rather impressive─ the man barely ever manages to dine at smaller restaurants in more shady areas of Hierarchical Cities without getting jumped by a bunch of vigilantes back in his world, so this sort of rich cuisine and wide variety of choices is new to him.

The Grim Reaper grabs a plate and puts whatever is the closest dish on it without much consideration.]

That so? [He's perfectly aware of it, yes. But he also doesn't see why this should be an issue. His Master and the Rabbit warned him multiple times that the path he'd decided to walk would be a painful one, but he'd already lost everything and everyone he loved and cared for. What else is there left to hurt him?] ... Whatever. It's the choice I've made.

[Kodachi watched him curiously. She would've pointed out what food complimented what, but then, he was a big boy and he could figure that out himself. It was strange how she felt, at times, that she was the older one between the both of them, but in truth they were simply naive about the other's world.]

Do you ever wonder what'll happen when . . . well, it's all over?

[She nibbled on her food thoughtfully, looking up at him.]

When you get what you want, do you know what you'll be doing next?

[While Ragna's probably never seen most of these dishes in his life, he can tell what's what. Perhaps even try making some of them in the ship's kitchen if he feels like it. Hell, he'd probably get irritated if she tried lecturing him─ he's aware they have completely different backgrounds, and he's not exactly interested in learning more about hers.

The Grim Reaper doesn't answer immediately, looking away from Kodachi. This isn't something he thinks about a lot, being far more focused on his goal rather than the aftermath.]

... More or less.

[After he's finished with the NOL, the Imperator and Terumi, he'll... die, most likely. Though to make that happen, he needs to get the hell out of here first, and fast. And before it all ends... he'd like to settle his score with Jin, too. Who knows, with any luck, it may be his little brother who takes his life.]

[Kodachi watched as his expression shuttered closed. She herself wondered the same thing - though of course, the consequences of her choice were less dire than his. Not marrying the man that you loved did feel like death, but it was a small death compared to everything else he had to go through.]

[She frowned, looking down at her plate, appetite suddenly waning.]

Such grim topics for a party!

[She put a smile upon her face and looked up at him. She was fully aware that she'd started it, because she did like conversation, but she knew that that look in his eyes didn't equate to good things. He didn't have a bright view of his future, that much was certain.]

[The man snaps out of the gloomy thoughts, turning to Kodachi with a blink. Is... Is she trying to cheer him up? It's not like he was in need of that, though... much to his surprise, it's not exactly unwelcome, either. Ragna picks at the food on his plate with a fork for a short moment, uncertain how to respond, before finally letting out a small sigh.]

... Sorry. I'm not good at small talk.

[It seems that he truly means it for once. Sure, the Grim Reaper wasn't the one to start that subject, but he probably wouldn't do much better with any other.]

[Had Kodachi been any less formal of a lady, she would have given him a shrug; as it was, she waved a hand carelessly to dismiss the apology.]

I started it anyway.

[But that wasn't to say that she didn't appreciate it.]

[She stood there in silence for a moment.]

You could ask questions about me too, you know. [An arch of her brow.] I don't think you want to know, but small talk sometimes involves asking questions so that the other person's talking and you don't have to say anything - or listen.

[She quirked a smile.] Be grateful for my sage advice!

I really don't give a shit...

[Which is a great way to start a conversation, I tell you.

Ragna lets his eyes wander around the table in front of him, as if hoping to find a suitable topic for a chit-chat among the dishes. Finally, he grows tired of the awkward silence and lifts his gaze back at the girl.]

... You mentioned getting married, no? Why the hell would you do that? I mean... in the future, sure, but you're what, sixteen? [If he remembers correctly, she mentioned being something around that age.] Shouldn't you be going to school and meeting friends and... do whatever it is that teenage girls do?

[There, that works. Not sure if it's a good one, but he's honestly out of ideas here.]

We already know that.

[Kodachi was getting used to how many times he said that he didn't care about this or that. We know that you don't have any fucks to give, Ragna. We know.]

I do go to school. Well, I was, until I was kidnapped. [She frowned at that.] I was attending school, winning tournaments . . . and now I'm meeting friends.

[She tilted her head to one side.] Why shouldn't I be able to do all of those things when I'm married?

[Perhaps he needs to repeat that every now and then to remind himself of it. Perhaps.]

It's not that you wouldn't be able to... just, marriage is one hell of a serious crap, right? People your age should probably wait a bit before making a decision like that...

[That's what he imagines it to be like, anyway. The Grim Reaper has never been interested in that kind of thing himself.]

Don't tell me your family's okay with this?

[He's having a hard time imagining that. Ragna knows that if it was about his little siblings, he wouldn't allow them to do something as foolish while they're still kids─ for their own good, of course.

... Not that he was there to watch over them when they were her age, unfortunately.]

They are, in fact.

[Her brother had said yes to her and Ranma so that he could, in turn, steal Ranma's fiancee, Akane. It was complicated, alright.]

[As for her father, he never got in the way of Kodachi's wishes - and only hated Ranma because he wanted to give him a bowl cut. As earlier mentioned - complicated.]

Believe it or not, I wouldn't mind waiting to get married. Whether it happens now or later is all the same to me - what's important is being with the person that I love!

[The only reason she's rushed into things was either she saw the golden opportunity to do it or . . . well, she just wanted to make sure that Ranma wouldn't escape her and marry one of his other fiancees.]

Huh.

[Ragna figures it must be one hell of an interesting family. There again, just looking at Kodachi should tell him as much.]

Sounds like you've really fallen head over heels for the poor bastard. [Yes, he's just called him "poor". For a reason, too.] You sure he's the right guy for you?

[Will he treat her right? Protect her? Stand by her side no matter what─ wait a minute, why the hell is he even curious enough to ask about shit like that? It's not like it concerns him in any way. Oh well. Perhaps he's getting better at this small talk thing.]

[Her brother fancied himself a samurai and the Blue Thunder, while her father was a maniac who insisted on giving girls bowl cuts and boys shaved heads. It was strange, though, how he never wanted to cut his precious daughter's hair . . .]

I have, in fact!

[She said that with so much pride.]

I believe that he is. He's kind and compassionate . . . even if he may not seem like it.

[Though, the fact that he loved someone else was a mark down on the "are you sure he's the right guy for you" scale.]

Good for you, I suppose.

[He's still not convinced, but the girl is so honest in expressing her feelings, Ragna simply can't bring himself to dampen her mood. Here's hoping that if the guy turns out to be a jerk (or alternatively, a reasonable human being), it'll be before the wedding so that the whole thing can be canceled painlessly.

Though with that clarified, he can't think of anything else to ask regarding the marriage thing. WELP.]

... So, uh. You mentioned some tournaments...?

[Look, he's trying really hard to keep the conversation going, okay.]

[Kodachi all but beamed at him. He was learning! And being civil! This was amazing. No one on the Katabami would believe her if she'd told them that she'd gotten Ragna to converse with her.]

I did. As you know, I'm a martial artist.

[She smiled mischievously, remembering his astonishment when she'd crept up on him when they were in that creepy island. Whoops.]

I'm quite famous where I come from, as I usually win and I am the captain of my team.

[It was said matter-of-factly, without arrogance. Kodachi simply knew herself to be the best in her school of martial arts.]

Perhaps sometime you'd like to see a demonstration.

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