[D3EN] Honorable Company

[Usagi Rei]

The Golden Frog was never empty, but it was especially busy at the moment, as people who'd watched the fireworks display wanted to keep the festive air going. Muttered conversation could be heard throughout, as a new band was setting up on stage.

Craning his neck, Rei saw a couple at his favorite table pay their tab and leave, standing a bit closer together than was entirely appropriate. Rei flashed them a wry wave, and then checked the time with a frown. In fact, he'd gotten here early; it was perhaps two minutes before they agreed to meet.

Rei relaxed. Knowing who he was meeting, she would be here in two minutes.

[Akodo Reki]

The Lion gunso had mulled over the situation for a fairly long while before settling on something that was fancish...without being uncomfortable. Clubbing attire, she thought it was called? She had even conceded to wearing a skirt, which was not her usual preference.

Passing through the front door, Reki took a moment to take the whole scene in. Her eyes quickly fell on the Usagi and she made her way over.

"Usagi-san," She nodded, "Seems everyone is still in a party mood?"

[Usagi Rei]

Rei spotted her instantly, of course, as usual, his eyebrows going up in pleased surprise. He'd half-expected a complete military uniform, and one-quarter expected some sort of spiky armor. "Akodo-sama. Goodness. You look lovely tonight." Rei said, bowing. It was flattery, but it was true, and the smile he gave her reflected both.

"Seems so. It makes sense; I can feel a bit of that myself. But we're in luck. My favorite table just opened up. Here..." He lead the way over to a table by the window, with an excellent view of the city below."

Rei would wait to sit until she did. "So, as per the terms of our wager, I owe you a drink." He flashed a grin at her. "What'll you have?"

[Akodo Reki]

Reki raised her eyebrows at that, "Thank you Usagi-san," She returned the bow and followed him over to the table. "I assumed you were expecting a full uniform. The Lion's reputation proceeds me I am sure."

The Akodo paused to look out at the city below, noting that there were still a few flashes of fireworks. "Is every night a party here?" She remarks, before shifting back to the Hare.

"Hmm...well I suppose I will give you the burden of choice for the drink." She leans on the table, "I am curious to see what you come up with."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei chuckled. "I was, in fact. I'm pleased to be wrong." Up on the stage, the band began to play, another cover of a popular song. Rei eyed them with disinterest.

He followed her gaze out the window. "This bar, or the planet generally? Either way, yes." He chuckled softly. "There's some irony in calling a place that never sleeps the World of Dreams... or maybe there's just no difference between waking and sleeping here."

Fortunately, Rei was distracted from his strangely poetic mood by the challenge. "Hmmm..." Rei smiled appreciation at her. "I bet I could get it in two guesses, but I'll take one." He keyed in an order on the table console. "Cherry Blossom Snow. It's an ancient sake blend. Subtle, traditional, just a hint of sweetness from the cherry. Barley shochu, two cubes for myself."

He looked at her, eyebrows raised.

[Akodo Reki]

Reki chuckled at that, "Ah...so you fall back on the tastes of tradition." She smiled wryly, "Your compatriots jump from orbit, a mad exercise of courage and boldness. If it goes wrong there are no lines to regroup and strike again. Win or lose in one play. I wouldn't have expected such caution."

She shook her head before he can respond, "The drink is fine...good in fact."

Her eyes slip back to the window, "I suppose a waking dream is what our hosts are trying to create. For their guests at least. I'm afraid my own experiences still have a hard line between dream and reality."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei's lips quirked. "I see. Well, perhaps at the end of our evening, I'll be able to make a better guess. Even the Hare Drop Troops depend on good intel."

He tilted his head, smiling at her. "Although if you're suggesting that I be more bold, well, that I can manage."

But not yet, apparently. "Oh?" He hesitated a moment. "Are those experiences something you want to talk about?"

[Akodo Reki]

"I see," Reki smirks at his first comment.

The Lion leaned on the table, "There are still risks, Usagi-san, to boldness. And I did also admit you went against my expectations as well."

Reki leaned back and looked back out to the window. "...it's complicated. I mean, some of it is just disappointment. The place does have a reputation after all. Maybe I just expected to have forg....I mean to have been well, amazed by it all. But really it's just a city of distractions."

[Usagi Rei]

"I see." Rei echoed as she leaned on the table, smirking to match her. "Well, I suppose one can only truly know how a strategy will fare once it has played out."

As Reki looked out the window, Rei kept his eyes on her. She was pretty, to be sure, but both her banter and her manner suggested depths... He spread a hand. "It's reputation is well-earned. Anything that you can imagine being acquired, tangible goods or experience, can be acquired here."

A brief pause, as their drinks arrived, a nearly silent waiter setting them down, bowing, and retreating. Rei lifted his, but paused. "But at the same time, you're right. All this flashiness can distract, but it won't make you forget." His expression was gentle as he watched her reactions, pale eyes on her features.

[Akodo Reki]

Reki looked back to the Usagi with a small frown, then back out the window. Her eyes followed the movements of vehicles and people, flowing around the building.

"Anything you are hoping to forget? You have been among the distractions a lot longer then I." A weary smile made a brief appearance.

Whatever might have been troubling her...she was not going to speak out first it seemed....

[Usagi Rei]

Sitting back, Rei lifted his drink. But he did not sample it, not yet. "Yes." He said, still smiling, although there was a wry edge now. "Sometimes I did it by coming here, sitting at this table, looking out the window." He smiled at her. "Sometimes bringing a date. Ironically enough." The irony wasn't entirely clear yet, though.

Now he did take a slow sip of his drink, the two ice cubes clinking in the glass. "But it hasn't helped so far, not really. I won't say I don't enjoy myself. Otherwise, why not leave? I could transfer away..." Rei shrugged, sighing.

He looked down at his glass, frowning, clearly struggling. "That wouldn't help though. I'd still be married, albeit only technically speaking." The words came a bit awkwardly, as did the smile he flashed Reki after the admission.

[Akodo Reki]

Reki frowned and looked back to Rei, "I take it...your marriage is not going so well." She took a long breath, "If you are seeking the company of others to forget it. Or, it sounds, letting the city here get its hooks in you."

She took a sip of her own drink, though it did little to remove the frown. "I hope that is not what you are expecting tonight. I am...was happy with my partner."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei laughed softly, definitely with an edge. "Yes. And yes." Damnit, why was he unloading on this random Lion, even if she was a pretty face. Well... that might have something to do with it. "There's more to it than that, though."

Gently, he nodded. "I am here to share a drink. And some conversation." He smiled. "I won't pretend I don't think you're attractive, but I'll respect your boundaries."

His fingers were cold. Rei set down his glass. "What was her name?" He asked softly.

[Akodo Reki]

Reki was silent for a while, watching the surface of her drink move with the music of the bar. Rei might very well begin to wonder if he was going to get an answer.

"Naomi, formerly of Shinjo." The Lion turns her drink a fraction, her voice was dead as she had said the words. A wall had erected to keep something out...or perhaps something in... Slowly the glass came up and she took a sip.

"Dead. Not so long ago."

[Usagi Rei]

Slowly, Rei nodded. He'd gathered as much. "I'm sorry." He said, real feeling evident in his measured tones. For a time, he was silent too, the sound of the band and the various muffled conversations providing atmosphere but little meaning.

Then he took a breath. "What was she like?" A gentle smile. Were there happy memories, behind that wall? Or just pain? Rei studied her features again, watching microexpressions.

[Akodo Reki]

Reki frowned, "What does it matter to...." Her words were harsh, but she had stopped herself. Anger masking sadness.

She closes her eyes and breaths out slowly. "She was...more then I had ever imagined. More then both of us did I think. It was an arranged marriage, but Benten smiled on it."

The Akodo leans back, "We had much in common, and what we didn't...well it almost complimented our failings. Like two halves of a whole person reunited. She was a Paragon of Compassion, a true child of the Shinjo."

Her eyes shift to the window, a wistful distant smile on her face, "She would have loved this I think...would have dragged me out day one."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei listened, his smile gentle. His eyes serious. At the end, he had to look away. Too much raw emotion for him.

Taking a breath, he looked back at her. "It sounds like you were fortunate to have each other, Akodo-sama." He said gently. Her pain was... different from his. Greater? Probably. Maybe. He didn't know.

He took another deep breath, then smiled gently again. "What would you have seen, do you think?"

[Akodo Reki]

"Who knows..." Reki smiled as she watched the mulling crowds, "She would pick a direction and start walking. I would follow." The glass turns in her hand, "The stoic and the avid. That eagerness of hers could be infectious."

She closes her eyes and then sighs, taking a long drink. "It wouldn't have mattered, what would have mattered was we were here. Together."

Her eyes open on the Usagi. "...you have had some similar experience."

[Usagi Rei]

"Oh." Rei's face fell. Of course. While the planet might have all sorts of activities she may have done with her wife, the one thing it didn't have was, well, her wife.

"Ummm..." Rei spread his free hand. "Not exactly." He grit his teeth, his jaw clenching noticeably. Silence went on.

"My wife vanished, seemingly of her own accord, the night after we were married." He said, smiling strangely. "It sounds strange when you say it out loud, doesn't it." This time, it was Rei's turn to take a long drink.

[Akodo Reki]

A lot of emotions were rolling through the Akodo's head. Her memories of her wife. The memories that would never be made. That one of the finest drinks in the Empire tasted like stale water at this particular moment.

And of course that she had opened up to a mostly complete stranger.

Then he teased out a bit of his own story, her more analytical side attempted to take charge. Then her empathy. What should she say? He had tried to comfort her. She knew she should say something to comfort him.

Taking another drink she sat the glass back down and said the first thing that came to her mind.

"That's rough buddy."

The words would have been rather cruel and dismissive were it not for the complete sincerity, confusion, and sadness on Reki's face as she said it.