Ninth Truth [Video]

[tadanokusuriuri]

[The Medicine Seller has lost his outermost robe, his obi, his headscarf, and one geta. His hair is disheveled, and there are smudges of ink and paint on his hands, arms, and face.]

[But, somehow, incredibly, he still manages to look as unruffled as if it was all just part of his plan. His posture is casually dignified, his expression neutral, his

Comments

[video]

[defiant_eye]

[ Meet Elle, post party; black-eyed, split-lipped, cut and bruised and potentially interested in those goods. ]

Like what?

[video]

[tadanokusuriuri]

[Selling medicines is just his cover job, but he's good enough at it; he's got his little spiels like any salesman, and he bows politely to her through the cameras.]

I specialize in Chinese medicines. In this case... [He takes out four brightly-colored jars, showing the inside of each briefly.] To dull the pain; a mild stimulant; to allow the body to absorb water more efficiently and speed recovery from exhaustion; and to harmonize the overall effect.

[Beat.]

I could also offer a salve for bruises and cuts, in your case.

[video]

[defiant_eye]

[ She's interested, but- ]

I'm interested.

[ -she's also piss broke. ]

How much?

[video]

[tadanokusuriuri]

[Well, since there's no universal currency here, the MS has just been operating on a rough barter system.]

...What sounds fair?

[video]

[defiant_eye]

[ Every now and then she considers "getting to keep your -insert body parts of choice here-" a viable offer, but under the circumstances that sort of thing would just be plain terrible etiquette.

Instead she recalls something else that might be of interest to people, or... at least she hopes that this is the case. ]

How do you feel about a unique work of art?

[ She turns the screen so that it shows a small collection of paintings and sketches she raided from Cohen's room. They are bloody, bizarre and why yes, occasionally pornographic. ]

[video]

[tadanokusuriuri]

...Acceptable.

[video]

[defiant_eye]

Where do I go?

[ She would ask where his shop is, but he doesn't seem like the shopkeeping type to her. ]

[video]

[tadanokusuriuri]

[No, keeping a shop would interfere with his ability to use peddling as an excuse to be where the supernatural action is.]

I can... come to you.

Or you can come here.

[Nods to the sake-bottle strewn wreckage of the zen garden.]

[video]

[defiant_eye]

On my way.

[ The sake bottles make it look especially peaceful. *nods encouragingly* ]

[Action?]

[tadanokusuriuri]

[Honestly, the most peaceful-looking part of it right now is the MS, sitting these without his outer robe or headscarf and with one shoe set down beside him so he doesn't lose it, just smiling calmly.]

[Action! \o/]

[defiant_eye]

[ Soon after Elle arrives with three paintings and a packet of sketches, looking for a place to put the goods. ]

Where do you want them?

[Action!]

[tadanokusuriuri]

...It's unimportant.

[He has a drawstring pouch in his hand, drawn shut.]

[Action!]

[defiant_eye]

[ She shrugs and puts the paintings on the ground where she stands, sketch packet on top. Then she nods towards the pouch. ]

That it?

[Action!]

[tadanokusuriuri]

[He holds it up, with a slight nod.]

[Action]

[defiant_eye]

By the way...

[ She holds out her hands, ready to catch the pouch if he throws it or to just plain reach forward if he doesn't. ]

...any chance you remember anything about that mansion party everyone's got an invite to?

[ She's been going through the network and is starting to doubt that anyone has more than zero recollection, but hey, since she's already here she might as well ask. ]

[Action]

[tadanokusuriuri]

...Nothing.