A Wholly Unremarkable Meeting

"Our Queen is dying,"


The man appreciated that, the straightforward approach that wasn't tainted by a desire to convey hope or false assurance. It was the type of approach that the man had respect for, and thusly, the woman continued to have his ear. However, his attention would be forcibly ripped away by the emergence of something above. As the sun finally disappeared over the horizon, a stunning view of the twinkling stars would dominate the endless darkness. The sight of it eased the man, his gaze softened and his lips formed into a slight smile. Gripped by the wondrous light, the man would try in vain to listen, managing to grasp her words where he could.

A reward was necessary, and it seemed that the people of this region would indulge him in nearly anything in order to guarantee the health of their queen. Refuge in a place like this already seemed like a strong incentive, if only to behold the night sky. Sights like this always had a particular affect on the man, the power of the stars and moon seeming to ease his otherwise inconsistent and absurdist mindset. 

"Hoshigakure," the man repeated when she was done talking. "Your people are indeed blessed if they have the luxury of sights such as this." 

His voice would now betray a sincerity, and an appreciation of the beauty in this place. The switch from a desolate desert to a picnic under the stars was a drastic one. Perhaps in some small way, this experience had changed his heart. 

The man would wait for a time, coming to lay upon his back with his head resting on his interlocked hands. He stared upwards with a gentle smile, lost in his own world. Finally, unless otherwise interrupted by the woman or asked another question, he would slowly rise and stand to his feet. 

"Akihana of Hoshigakure. If this miracle water exists, the next time we cross paths I will be in possession of it." 

His eyes would gaze down upon her, now not in view of the sky. This witch had surely poisoned him. To trick him into helping her even more evil and horrible queen? Likely a demon queen of the underworld?!? Not on his watch, perhaps now was the moment to strike her down. The man took in a breath, and as he did his gaze fell once again upon the stars. The kindness of this woman would not be forgotten, and the man intended to repay it. Traces of gentle emotion were discernible now, and unless otherwise stopped or addressed, the man would prepare to depart. Perhaps this had turned out to be a slightly remarkable meeting after all.

"Hoshigakure," the man repeated when she was done talking. "Your people are indeed blessed if they have the luxury of sights such as this." ,

"It is beautiful," Akihana agreed, a soft, warm smile lighting up her own features as her golden gaze trailed his to the stars that were rapidly coming out. Though the heavenly lights were never too far off in Hoshi nights, out here in the desert they seemed brighter somehow, more in numbers. Perhaps it was just because out here, there was nothing else of note to look at. Just her, this stranger and the stars above. And they clearly stole the spotlight from everyone and everything else.

The blonde picked up her sandwich once more, out of the need to hold something than to eat it. She watched the young man lie back, transfixed. She didn't blame him, many people had found the stars a sight enchanting enough to die for. Many a traveler had simply lost his life out here distracted by the scenery. A long time ago, her sister had told her beauty always came at a price and as they both agreed, the skies were undoubtedly beautiful this time of night.

"Akihana of Hoshigakure. If this miracle water exists, the next time we cross paths I will be in possession of it."

Words of curtesy and formality bubbled up inside the blonde. There was the usual "Oh no, please don't worry about it" or "It's really no bother" but in the end, all those words melted on her tongue as the desert chill grew around the young woman, making her shudder in her thin cotton dress. There was no need of formality here, she hadn't asked for his help as much as he'd offered it. And after being honest with him, it felt wrong to bring back the veil of formality and duplicity. So in the end, the kunoichi simply answered him as truthfully as she could.

"In that case, I hope we meet again."

As he began to leave and Akihana to gather her picnic things back into her basket, the kunoichi belatedly realized that she had never asked for his name. The wanderer was already on his feet and heading away, not so much as a backward glance when she called out. "Excuse me... I don't know your name." Whether he chose to reply or not would be up to him but should he leave as wordlessly as he had approached, Akihana would let him. After all, this was just an unremarkable man sharing an unremarkable picnic with an unremarkable woman.

Little did she know that years from now, when she looked back over the pile of ashes the world had become, this moment would be the one she identified as the beginning of the end.

(Exit Akihana)

Some part of the man's mind must have been touched, perhaps a part of his heart struck. The words "I hope we meet again" were ones that he didn't recall if they had ever been spoken to him. The woman herself struck him has as so kindhearted and genuine. It was almost sickening to him. Like seeing a single flower in a dark dungeon, or finding an intelligent person who likes Sword Art Online. Incredibly rare, but beautiful in its own unique way. He had been presented with an intriguing opportunity. 

As they began to depart from one another, the man heard her call. 


"Excuse me... I don't know your name"

"Of course you do," the man replied. 

And of course she did. After all, he was a remarkable man sharing an important picnic with a remarkable woman. 

Sayomi knew that years from now, when he looked back at the beautiful world he created, this moment would be the one he identified as the beginning of it all.

(Exit Sayomi)

Approving the trial approval then?

Last I checked Ari had either quit or was trial staff.