Log View

From Exalted MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search


Source Contents
Misa It's not often that a fighter with no wildly magical sword or burning aura manages to do as well in the arena as this Misa woman has. She has no particular talent for showmanship, no great lure with the crowd, yet she consistently defeats opponents with nary a scratch, seeming to slide out of the way of strikes as though it were simply meant to be.

This makes her an interesting, if boring figure at a 'meet the winners' type of event thrown by some wealthy patron of the arena or another. The truth is, Misa doesn't care who, just that she continues to be able to get this work. She's probably robbed the patron at one point or another anyways.

But still, the lure of a taste of her old lifestyle proves strong, and she deigns to arrive at the open event at the appointed time. There's wine, after all, and who says no to free wine and a semblance of a life now out of reach.

But as strong as the pull of an evening of a wealthier lifestyle is, the drive of someone who doesn't particularly like crowds makes one a wallflower indeed. She's easy to pick out to anyone who's seen her fight- she's wearing her usual purple coat after all- but she seems to manage to be a nigh-invisible wallflower of sorts all the same, despite seeing fighters like her being somewhat the point of the affair.

Tolon Tolon seems not to give most of the fighters much attention as he moves through the room. He too is neither interested, nor aware of who is hosting the event. He seems infact to have little interest in most of those present. He is looking for someone. Eventually he begins towards Misa, moving through the crowds with a purpose.
Misa Unarmed, as one usually never sees her in the arena, Misa seems to be fairly absorbed in a painting in the gala room, admiring brush strokes and the like with the eye of someone who doesn't know as much about it as she'd maybe like to.

But armed or no, she's an alert person, and as someone makes a beeline for her she registers it a short moment before she's properly approached. She turns, watching the man come near, ponderous and possibly on edge- at first, anyways. She apparently decides the threat is low, in this context, and relaxes somewhat.

It doesn't make her subsequent, uncertain "Can... I... help you?" any less awkward, though.

Tolon Tolon smiles as he nears Misa. "I am Tolon. I wanted to compliment you. It is rare that I have been fortunate enough to see skill such as yours. While I am more of an archer myself, I have some skill with the sword and as such was... Impressed by such skill." With that said he shrugs his shoulders looking thoughtfully at the crowd. "I do not understand why one would fight in the arena myself, but I am glad of the chance to see such a fighter."
Misa She smiles faintly, offering a slight bow- but there's still a bit of a hand-flourish, reminiscent perhaps of Prasadan gestures to those that might know them (Even if she looks more Lookshyan in the face).

"Well, I appreciate the compliment. But there are people who would use that sword better than me, really. I'm just good at getting out of the way." The 'that sword' phrasing might be a little deliberate, but she's a reasonably subtle woman, even if lacking social confidence. "What, ah... brings you to something like this if you do not care for arenas?"

Tolon Tolon laughs with a shrug. "I don't care for fighting in the arena, I don't feel motivated to fight for the crowd. I have no objection to watching such fights." He then grins brightly. "You win, I was taught that is what matters. You fight and you win, all other considerations are secondary. Anyway, getting out of the way is useful."
Misa Misa bows her head a little again. "Well. For the purposes of making a living here, it's certainly an asset. Should I assume you are from one of the warrior culatures in the Hundred?" she ventures, clearly uncertain- perhaps not from the area. She shrugs a little, sipping at wine for a moment. "I must say I haven't heard the sentiment before. Where I come from honour is a very... large element."
Tolon Tolon pauses a moment. "I am Kete. There is some... Debate as to if we are part of the hundred." He shrugs a shoulder. "Honour is all to my people. Yet we have different values for honour than most. Honour is in keeping your word, in aiding your tribe and your friends. I fail to see how my enemies come into that, if they threaten me, my tribe or my friends then I will do what I must to ensure they are no threat." He sips his own drink. "In that there is honour." He chuckles. "Though I have traveled enough to feel honour is subjective, we form our codes and we live to them or we don't. That is what I feel matters."
Misa Pausing a moment, Misa frowns- much as though she had never particularly even chanced upon the thought of subjective concepts of honour and such. She waves away the look after a moment. "Hm. I suppose. In the places I have been, we are given to give no offense, lest the poor form and attitude reflect poorly on our house and family and infringe upon the grace and graciousness of them all, if that makes any sense?"
Tolon Tolon's face twists into an almost mischivious grin. "It has never been the way of my people to avoid giving offense out of a sense of graciousness. We are a communal people however. I am close to my parents, but our primary tie is the tribe. As for giving offense. Why would what you say infringe on anyone else?" He shrugs. "I would avoid giving offense to those I respect, those I hold in contempt I will offend. Though I don't deny I have not always been deemed... Proper by some of my people."
Misa "There are a variety of social niceties that build up over time, I suppose, in a larger society. I'm not... an expert, by any means. But it's enough that people take care to present themselves in certain ways in the names of propriety and appearances." Misa waves it off, at that, head shaking and eyes turning down a little. "But that is behind me now, I suppose. Promoters here seem to want me to be... crasser."
Tolon Tolon laughs. "The Kete care about how you can ride, shoot and fight. These are the skills most necessary for our survival so they become the greatest measure of standing." He shakes his head with an almost severe frown. "My advice is do as you will, do not let the promoters tell you how you should act. That way lies misery."
Misa She pauses a long moment... then shrugs. "They do have a point. If the crowd was less... of a bother, I would be a better fighter anyways." She waves that off in turn, focusing on the cultural discussion. "I suppose... perhaps, that the places I was before, simple survival was not as in question. Perhaps such is where such customs are given room to grow."
Tolon Tolon shrugs. "When I have fought in arenas, I have found the crowds to be of little consequence. The shouting of others has nothing to do with the opponent across from me. Though perhaps that is simply evidence I shouldn't be in the arena." He sips his wine again, offering an amused grin. "I wouldn't know where customs grow. If I am being honest, I would call such customs... Needless, if I were being blunt, I would call them..." He shakes his head. "Let us just say that I prefer the ways I know, perhaps that is true of most people."
Misa A faint, brief, flashing smile from Misa. "These other ways have their own dangers. Their own ways they can ruin or uplift you, put your to your end. And fate does always love its tricks." She shakes her head slightly. "I suppose I've just never been fond of crowds, be it speaking or fighting or mingling or what have you. But as you say, I focus well enough on what is in front of me."
Tolon Tolon nods. "I am far from a subtle man and so subtlty is foreign and uncomfortable for me. I see no reason I should not share what I feel, be open with intention and opinion. If one does not like it, well then they can tell me so. We will fight if we must, but at least we know where we stand." He shrugs a shoulder. "It is why I am glad to be back among my own people. When I traveled I learned that my ways work poorly in much of the world." He finishes his wine and frowns. "Speaking of which, I am afraid I must be going. I will be needed back at my camp soon." He inclines his head. "I hope we will have the oppertunity to speak again, I have enjoyed this discussion."
Misa Misa bows her head more deeply this time. "Well, let me not keep you overlong. I appreciate your coming to speak, it has been... a refreshing thing to focus on as opposed to the crowd. Perhaps sometime soon, and fare well until then."