nexus_sages | On Traditions

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On Traditions

There's something new in the forum of the Nexus. A few small bamboo--about average person in height-- have been placed in a corner of the forum in large pots. Sitting between the two plants is a small wooden box with several little tied and rolled papers tucked neatly into the little cubbies.

The Nexus' resident police officer is adjusting the display, intent on making it look just right. When he's got everything set up, he gives a satisfied nod.

"With the winter solstice, Christmas, and the New Year approaching, I thought it would be the best time to bring a bit of my home's celebrations here. You may hang wishes for the new year on the bamboo, or draw fortunes from the area here. What awaits you for the new year?"

((OOC: Nothing from Sumaru is what it seems. If your character believes in superstition and magic, they may find that their fortunes will have a real impact on their luck! Feel free to choose what luck your character gets, or to let me roll a random number to draw one for them. If your character doesn't believe in that sort of thing, they're still free to hang their resolutions on the bamboo. Happy Holidays folks!))

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"Sumaru. It's from my version of Japan. Samurai, geisha, that sort of thing." Stereotypes to be sure, but not everyone is from Earth, much less similar versions of it. Katsuya has learned to be vague.

Since Jesse is already smoking, Katsuya will pull a Chinese brand of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket and give a snap of his wrist--just enough of a flame from his Persona to get the smoke lit. He'll tip the now lit cigarette Jesse's way as he breathes in.

"Certainly. I'd refrain from drawing fortunes on their behalf though. No one wants to explain to a loved one that they accidentally drew 'poor financial luck' for another person." He chuckles, and it is a joke, but this is the guy that lives in a world of magic and demons. He may be speaking truth and not even know it.

"Oh! Japan! Yeah, that's where them swords are from. Kay-tanas. Got a guy who's bugfuck for 'em. He's real handy with 'em though, so more power to 'im. Just don't start talkin' about swords vs. guns or he'll never shut up." Given how Jesse pronounced 'katana', going with stereotypes maybe was the best way to go.

The trick with getting the cig lit with little more than a gesture gets a furtive darting of the eyes, from Katsuya's fingers to his face. It takes a few moments before the tension leaves his shoulders properly.

"That makes sense. And ain't like I can peek and cheat at this, cuz I can't read none of yer fancy script. Lessee. So I just pick one out and y'all can tell me what it says?" He starts visually skimming those fortunes, wondering which to grab!

"My brother would get along with him." Katsuya observes, a wry smile around his cigarette. Huh. Maybe that's why Baofu always looked so smug. It's kind of hard not to while keeping one of these in place. "We had the same arguments a lot during our adventures. He favors swords as well."

He doesn't say 'katana' because he doesn't want to seem like he's correcting Jesse. The guy's got the idea, no sense being picky about it.

The little plain bookmarks here are for writing down wishes, and tying onto the bamboo. The scripts inside ar ehte luck fortunes. Two different things, so you can feel free to do one for yourself and the other for your loved ones."

"Awrite. Well, gimme a sec. Does it count if I just do a catch-all? Cuz I feel like I'd use up all yer tags if I went and did one for every single cowpoke in my posse."

Jesse pulls one free and pops the cap off an ink pen, already mulling over what to write. "Do I gotta be specific even? I just want 'em to have a better year than this one, is all. Hope things go better for us now that we got the Nexus an' all."

"It's whatever you'd like. There are no rules. I'm sure they'll be grateful to know you're thinking about them." Katsuya gives the zed a big smile.

"You don't have to be specific. It's the thought that counts, right?"

"Right! Okay, I got it." He scribbles something on the paper and then hurries to hang it up. Written in his janky handwriting, it reads:

Heres hopin The Rotten have themselves a year of less shootin more laughs & many more friends!! 2016 YEAR OF THE NEXUS!!!

He looks to Katsuya for approval, hoping he did this right. He hates the idea of messing up things from other cultures.

"...That's charming." Katsuya doesn't even try to hide his grin. Jesse couldn't have written a more touching hope for the New Year. It's selfless and very sweet.

"I don't think anyone's going to be able to beat that." He means it too. "They're lucky to have you for a leader."

With his New Year's wish hung, Katsuya gestures toward the box.

"Care to try for something for yourself?"

"Now that's where y'all got it wrong. I'm lucky to have them. Ain't a better buncha folks than the ones I run with. I keep tryna introduce more of 'em to the Nexus itself, but they're...shy." Also scared of living people. But he doesn't say that part because he doesn't want anyone feeling inappropriately apologetic or guilty. It just is what it is.

"Fer myself? Shoot, I dunno what t'wish fer! How 'bout we just skip to the fortune?"

"Absolutely." The cowboy is presented with the choice of any of the little rolled up slips he'd like! How nice is that?

There's one in the left corner calling out to him, its fringe just a little bit less neat than the others. Aww, poor paper. No less special just because it don't look as neat as the rest of them. Take it Jesse, you know you want to.

He'll get a good feeling from it almost immediately when he unrolls it. In plain script, in English and easy for Jesse to read:

Best Luck! You will have good fortune in the coming year.

He does indeed go right for that battered little bit of paper; he knows how it feels.

And when Jesse unrolls it, his eyebrows go up and he can't suppress a lopsided smile. "Aw hell! Says here I'm in for some real good stuff this year! How accurate are these things? We talkin' fortune cookies here?"

He can't deny he feels pretty good about it either way! It's nice to hear good predictions, even if it's just for fun.

"Guess you'll just have to see, won't you?" The officer gives a bright smile to the cowboy, and claps him gently on the shoulder.

"If anyone deserves a spot of good luck, it's you and yours." Jesse's good people, and Katsuya firmly believes that.

"To a better year than this one, and to many more happy memories."

"Hey, you too, fancypants. Y'all helpin' with the memorial, trustin' The Rotten with it. Don't think yer good deeds have gone unnoticed. Yer a straightshooter an' I respect that. You 'n me, we gotta go out for drinks sometime. In fact, I'm gonna insist on it! You 'n me an' one of these here bars around this place. Let's get rowdy!"

"I don't intend on 'getting rowdy' but I'll accompany you. Certainly, how could I refuse?" Katsuya does not get rowdy. At least he doesn't get any stiffer though!

The officer chuckles slightly as he turns to put the fortune box back in it's place. Hey, there's something over there on the ground, Jesse. Looks like someone lost a bit of gift paper.

You don't want it to be litter do you? It might besmirch the nice display Katusya's got going on here. Looks like it's caught on something, too. Is...wait a minute, is that a brand new bottle of whiskey? Certainly isn't the good officer's, as it's good ol' Tennesee Jack.

"Yeah, y'all say that now. But y'ain't gone juggin' and jawin' with ole Jesse before! We're gonna paint the town and the front porch! Call in the new year right, y'hear me?" He throws an arm around Katsuya while declaring all this. Right up until that bit of clutter catches his eye.

"Hang on, don't wanna leave yer set-up here lookin' all-...Hm? Well, ain't that just a bucket o' possums! Ain't even open either! Lady luck's already bein' sweet on me. C'mon, fancypants, let's have a slug or two." He cracks open the top and throws back a gulp.

"Hm?" Katsuya turns back, not sure what could have caught the zed's eye. When Jesse produces the bottle, Katsuya can't help the briefest moments of 'what' that cross his face.

Huh. Well, rumors did always have a habit of coming true in Sumaru. Guess this stuff must have been 'changed' before Katsuya brought it here.

"You are incredibly lucky, I must admit." He can't help but to chuckle. "What is it?"

"Some o' the black label. Do they not have Jack in Japan? Hell, c'mon. Wet yer whistle a little." He offers the bottle to Katsuya with a smile. "S'good!"

"Ah, whiskey." Katsuya gives a nod of understanding. "I have a friend who is a bit of a snob about bourbons."

He really doesn't want to drink straight hard liquor. But he doesn't want to hurt Jesse's feelings either. He'll try a little bit---and promptly make a face he's not very proud of being able to not help.

"It's...yes. I believe that is whiskey." Ugh.

Jesse busts up into raucous laughter, slapping a knee before taking the bottle back. "Taste not to yer likin'? I kinda like the burn it's got. Feels like livin', and I'll take as much of that as I kin get!" With that, he slugs down another gulp.

"I don't drink." The officer admits with a little bit of a wince.

"It's certainly not the worst thing I've ingested, however." The officer shrugs once he's able to stop pulling a face.

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On Traditions

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