TTT

[Kurenai Yumi]

Was it strange? maybe to some it would be, to find the oh so heartless and stoic women known as Kurenai dressed up in a fine clothing but that was just the tip. In addition to the neat Yukata styled outfit the battle hardened warrior also wore a slight smile across her face, another thing most people considered to be impossible. Still, all that paled in to the act she was currently undertaking, serving tea for people at a small shop with her name in the title. Yes the senior Obsidian Knight, known for being able to break someone in half with her bare hands, to crush walkers with a single frock grab was politely serving tea to many different people.

Despite her very brash nature in combat and less then sympathetic nature when called for Kurenai could be very respectful, it was the heart of Atrisian culture. Outside of war the navy blue haired women adhered to such cultural norms, being quite the master of a traditional tea ceremony and proper catering. It also didn't hurt to have connection with a certain Jedi master who had access to all sort of exotic leaves on could use to brew.

At the moment the short was still largely empty, having only been set up in the last week or so, plenty of chair and table free to new customers to take seat.

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

So he was encountering an acquaintance today from his former faction. He wouldn't know about all that though due to the memory wipe he decided to get. Something familiar drew him to Miss Yumi's shop however. Maybe it was her presence itself or it could've simply been thirst. Anything was possible. Akabane didn't spend too much time with her during his Confederate days but he knew some things about her. Not now but before the good ol psychic helped him out. He would recognize her despite having no recollection of Kurenai, most likely sending him into endless confusion. It'd be interesting in the least.

Mr Akabane stepped inside of the building and searched the room. It was large but empty, and a lone female sat beautifully clothed. He made his way toward her and he felt slightly dizzy. The reason for that was unknown to him and to be honest, he was scared. Something weird was going on with him. "I take it this is your shop, Miss?"

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Kurenai sensed the man entering long before her sight caught hold, it was somewhat a familiar though she could not really put a name to the sensation. Coming into view her mind shifted a name from the dusty records, a man called [member="Akabane"]. or as he insisted 'Baby Daddy'. She never understood the meaning behind such a title, nor why he wanted her of all people to call him that. In some truth he was a baby, from a vampires age, many a mortal living but a gimps of her childhood, the daddy part, well she never was able to make heads or tales of it.

"Good day sir, yes this establishment is mine, i own and run it... your name, it is Akabane is it not"? The man seemed unsure of himself from what Kurenai could tell, it was a strange feeling she got, gut instict telling her the man wasn't the same. Wouldn't be the first time such had happened an old.... acquaintance.

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

She was right to think he had changed in some sort of way. The man had lost all knowledge of his former organization and the people involved. Some things didn't change though, like his joyous part of the personality he possessed. She'd recognize that most likely. Akabane also didn't recall the request he made to her to be called 'Baby Daddy'. Oh how funny it would've been if she used the nickname. He would react by laughing so there'd be no harm in it. Knowing the vampy lady, he wouldn't expect her to use it even when he knew of her. A respectable and fierce woman, she could be.

When she said his name Akabane stopped walking suddenly, standing in the middle of the room looking like an idiot. "Yes, it is I." He said that to give him a moment to think. Who was this woman? She knew him, so he should know her. Except he had no recollection of who she might be. Perhaps a spy? No, he wasn't that important as far as he knew. Akabane tried to gather himself and not look suspicious. He continued walking over to her table and chose a seat with some distance. The young man had to be careful in this situation.

"So you work at a shop now?" Collection information was now his next step. Maybe he'd get something out of their conversation about their past. For now though, he didn't know anything about her.

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Her hypothesis that the man was not fully right in the head was only reinforced by their sudden and strange reaction to her knowing his name. Certainly rose a few questions but she would not say anything just yet, walking over to Akabane as he sat down, the awkwardness still notable to Kurenai and at least 1 customer watching the new arrival come in.

She slowly followed him over to the table, remaining standing as he continued to talk. "Work, and own, started the business some time ago back on Atrisia, but my time in the CIS meant I wasn't able to be there often". "Just made sense to take the store here, even if my regular customers back home are a little sad about the move". Some of the more loyal patrons had actually taken time to travel to the CIS worlds just to drink her tea once again, even if it could only be a monthly thing. "How have you been, I've not seen you for a while, did you leave military service"? She knew that not everyone was an almost immortal regenerative being, seeing old soldiers retire from combat was something Kurenai was able to accept easily.

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

Akabane squinted his eyes as apart of his reaction to the naming of a faction. He heard of them but nothing about being in that organization rang a bell. It was a truly frustrating situation since he subconsciously felt something for the CIS. He tried to act normal despite being struck by confusion. She explained everything on her end, saying that she moved shop to work for the Confederacy. That made sense and he could see her reasoning for it.

Miss Yumi approached his table and remained on her feet as they conversed. The woman asked about his well being and wondered if he'd retired from being a servant. Akabane found himself in more confusion, apparently he was a soldier fighting for the Confederate Military. Everything felt strange but familiar. It was interesting too, having no memory of something but being credited for it. There were only a few options now. Either act like he knows of what she was speaking on and play the role, or being honest. Lying was no good in his eyes, especially to a woman.

He sighed, about to fess up. "I have to be honest with you, love. I'm not so great in the memory department I'm afraid." Akabane looked to the side because he felt bad. "So I was in the military? I presume you were there too?" His crimson eyes located Miss Yumi's and locked on, curiosity flowing through them.

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

So, he decided to speak the truth, well at least the truth she had come to the conclusion of too but at the same time she had to feel a little sorry for the man. Memory lose was never a good thing to go through, it was taxing mentally and physically on a person brain, hard to fix, even with the force and advanced medicine. She could only hope no event happened to her, she had centuries of memories and didn't want to lose any, even if most were not the most pleasant.

She took this chance to sit down, waving a droid over in the process, hands neatly folded in her lap as the machine arranged some traditional tea making utensils. "I understand, you are not among the first, I hear one of the CIDS Viceroys lost their memory along with deWinters, though I am not to certain on the details". Her hands moving around the different wooden devices, scouping up some leaves and placing them into a small bowl, crushing them into a fine powder. "You were in the military, among the CIS own force order, the Obsiden Knights, I am still a member, even if I've been demoted due to silly reasons".

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

The lady, who he possibly had memory of at another time understood his struggling in remembering her and the organization he clung too. Akabane was unsure of how he lost access to those memories of them but he doubted it happened during the event that she mentioned. The name though... it was frustrating. He felt like too many things and people were familiar. However at the same time he couldn't explain how or why he felt this way, despite not knowing any of these people personally. He was confused. Akabane continued acting calm through it all.

Every movement she made appeared elegant. Akabane expected something different for reasons he couldn't voice. In the end he was only watching and drinking tea so it mattered not how he thought someone would act. She spoke, saying they were both actively in the military. In the force order more specifically. The name of it brought on more confusion, starting to give him a headache. Akabane wouldn't show his pain for now due to it not hurting so much, but he had a feeling it'd only get worse. He continued on with the conversation and attempted to explain himself. "Thank you for filling me in. I'm sorry for forgetting you too. You seem like a wonderful person so I feel bad." Akabane meant that, he felt really bad for not remembering such a respectable lady.

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Kuernai did not show much outward emotions she as she poured the hot water into the bowl like cup, string the mixture a bit with a wooden stick like implement before placing it down on the table. With it she planted down two small cake looking items, no bigger then a few inches, easily something to be eaten in one bite. It was easy to see then mans metal pain in his face and through the force, her hand sliding the tea forward along with one of the cakes. "Here, drink, if it proves to bitter eat this, it will balance things out".

She perfomred the same action for herself, soon the two individuals having each a cup of soothing green tea in front of them. Kurenai slowly sipping the rich liquid while Akabane continued to talk. "You need not apologize, in all honesty we were not very close, maybe did a few missions together but this conversation here right now it probably the most we have ever talked". "In a sense this is not you meeting an old friend your forgot, but a chance to actually meet someone you did not in your past life".

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

The whole atmosphere was calm and relaxing in this place she owned. It wasn't an atmosphere he favored, particularly because he enjoyed going out and causing a stir. At a bar maybe. However it was nice in it's own way. Never had he enjoyed a tea shop this much before. Perhaps the subconscious reunion played a part in it. Either way he would continue the conversation and have a taste of her tea, along with the treat she offered.

He thought the tea tasted quite well and the cake was delicious. Akabane sat in silence for a moment and savored it all. The cake was gone but he still had some tea. He took a sip and took in a deep breath, soon exhaling afterward. "Both are very good. Thank you." She told him it wasn't his fault for not remembering since they weren't too close in the first place. The lady of fine dress added that this could possibly be a chance to develop a friendship instead of renewing an old one that had been forgotten. Or so he interpreted it that way. Akabane smiled, "You're too kind, Miss. Let's start over then... what shall I call you?"

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Of course her tea was good, the art of properly brewing the drink though starting out as a mere hobby had developed into a passion for Kurenai. She had spent her moments of free time over the last few years mastering the art, working out the right way to crush the leaves, the perfect temperature and amount of water, quality of the leaves and how much to stir before offering. Yes, making tea quite was an art form, those perfecting their form going on to be quite popular in their trade, hence why Kurenai had opened the store up in the first place. After all how many tea makers had centuries of practice, to a certain extent she was the master in the entire galaxy, only to an Anzt Jedi whom she acquired her leaves from. She held her own cup in both hands, looking at [member="Akabane"] woth a sightly cocked head, "when we served I went by the name Kurenai Yumi, legally it is my name, most still call me as such, though when I was brought up to a Dark Jedi master of the order I told the Viclord and other high high up my real birth name". "I believed you would have been apart of those members present, so it is only fair I share it with you, as such you can call me Abigail".

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

Abigail... it was strange. It felt familiar yet not so familiar. With his shaky memory Akabane just tried to overwrite it by having a formal greeting. "Miss, would it be okay to shorten your name down to Abby?" He paused and added on to his question. "I figured we could be more friendly that way. You can even do the same with my own name." Akabane felt bad for the whole thing and this seemed like a proper first step. After that, he took I test in the Vicelord being mentioned.

"This Vicelord was a type of leader, yes?" He assumed that to be their role but he couldn't be sure. Every organization had different rankings and ways of doing things.

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

She had to raise an eyebrow at the concept of a nickname. Sure she had gotten many in the past but rarely had anyone made one from her name, let alone her birth name, it was a strange feeling to be called as such, still no hard. "I don't see why not, sure you may call me Abby... kind of fits a young girl like me". While her age may have been quite ancient compared to humans for her race she was still quite young, treated that way too by her relatives anytime they met as well. "If I am to call you by a nick name, I guess Bane would work, not sure Aka is a fitting one, sound kind of, animal like", at the very least Bane was a proper name though this sort of social interaction was unfamiliar to her. "As for the Viclord, Darth Metus, a Sith if you have guessed, powerful, on the more silent side, powerful and probably much older then he looks, even if you have forgotten about him no doubt just being in CIS space would give you enough time to hear what the people think of him".

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

The way her eyebrow raised as he offered up a nickname for her had Akabane curious. He wondered if the concept of a nickname was known to her. Perhaps he was taking it too far? She gave in and allowed him to call her Abby in the end. The somewhat-confused former Confederate's eyes lit up almost immediately. Being able to call her by a nickname made him feel included in this past life she spoke about. Although he wasn't sure if he wanted to belong there just yet. More had to be discovered by him before he would delve into that world. Miss Yumi gave him a nickname as well. He quite liked it too. "That's perfect. I humbly accept."

Akabane had no recollection of this Vicelord but a feeling resonated simply by mention of his name. So strange... his head hurt so much and not a thing made sense. He was starting to wonder if his past was sealed away for his own protection. That wouldn't be right though, because he didn't feel scared or worried by this dark lord's existence. It was almost as if comfort arose. Even Abby appeared to be comforting. He was interested in this dark figure after that. "Tell me, please... did this person know of me?" He knew of his position in the military as well as his service to a force order, but why did that Darth's name give him a headache?

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]
I'm extremely sorry for the delay!

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Kurenai gave a small shrug at the mans slightly odd response, the whole humbly accept part seemed a little off. Where nicknames so important? Ture in her culture when you talked with someone using their first time is was slightly special but Akabane wasn't Atrisian. She shook her head, not point in thinking to much about it, he accepted that was all that really mattered and proved to be a nice aspect to draw the two old comrades a little closer. She continued to slowly sip from her cup while eyeing Aka up some more, noticing a slight pain through the force making her quirk an eyebrow at the man slightly, did her mention of Darth Metus do something? The mind was always an aspect she could never really get her head around, mental force powers being an area she wasn't very well versed in.

At his question she gave a small smirk, "does he? I believe the two of you were reasonably close, first name basis". Then again most high ranking knights in their force order did but if Kurenai had to scale it Akabane was probably a little higher on the 'personal relationship' meter with the dark lord then herself. "If need be I could easily arrange a meeting with him, the man does seem to make time if I need to tell him somthing and if I sent a message saying Akabane was back I'm certain he'd be more then happy to meet".

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

Akabane wasn't sure how to handle the smirk as he hadn't seen much facial expression changes in her. What was even more a mystery was her description of his alleged relationship with the Darth. They were close enough that the two were calling each other by their first names? That was very strange. He should've remembered someone if they were that close to him. Nothing was adding up and his ignorance made it hard to compute any of it. However, he was certain this conversation had significance since the man's mention gave him headaches. Getting down to the bottom of it seemed like the proper thing to do but it was so hard to take this information in. Akabane attempted to continue listening even in his confusion.

Abby was quite kind in this situation. Akabane had no recollection of these memories and she was helping him find his way back to them. Whether they were friends or not, it just seemed as if explaining all that was a lot of work. She went further with it though and offered to set up a meeting if he desired. Adding that the Darth would be more than happy to meet most likely, if she said he was back especially. Akabane appreciated the effort but he wasn't quite convinced in that one. He had no reason to turn it down but he did anyways. "I wouldn't want to hold him up when he's busy so it's okay. One day I might ask though, if I may."

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Perhaps she was pushing a little to far, the responsibility of her position wanting her to do something that would benefit the CIS. Though she had to understand, or at least consider Aka's position, a man without memory of his past life, possibly unable to go back to his old life, even suffering from such a state. "I understand in your own time I suppose, I wouldn't want to force anything upon you without prior consent, but do keep my offer in mind, despite such humble abode and work I do hold significant power within the CIS". Even if it wasn't widly known it still existed and if necessary she could use her authority for quite a number of things, from tkaing contorl of military units to political issues, the latter of which she wasn't the most versed in. "Still if you are not going to be doing anything about your past memories where will you be? I can't simply let you walk around without any purpose, do you even have a place to call your own for the time being"? If Aka didn't remember his old self there was a good chance the man wasn't as strong a fighter anymore. IF that was the case the regular dangers of the galaxy that were but a nuisance to her could very well be life threatening for the amnesiac.

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

She asked for him to keep her offer in mind. He was grateful for the information as well as the opportunity to gain back something he'd lost. Akabane nodded, "Thank you, I'll come back if I ever seek answers." The young man would be lying if he said he'd never felt out of place, or like he should know something. It happened all the time really. He experienced a series of headaches if he thought on some things too long. So there was definitely some benefits that could potentially come from this. However what person would he turn into? Of course he'd be reverting back if she spoke the truth, but was his former self sealed away because of being evil? Or something like that? He feared the outcome.

It seemed as if Abby was trying to take responsibility for his memory loss. She was curious about how he lived without memories. Possibly referring to his financial state. Akabane had been working contracts for quite some time. Money was easy and quick that way. He retained most of his combat abilities learned in that organization but he had no idea how he obtained them. That was a prime example of how he struggled with this memory loss issue. "Well I suppose I just went back to my former life before the Confederacy. Except I feel like I've been doing the same thing this whole time. I remember nothing about that military. I only remember working contracts, ever since I left my home planet."

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

"Working contracts, so as a mercenary I suppose? Force knows there are always a need for men and women in that profession, I've even had a few old contact of mind message me about work despite quieting". Well for the time being anyways, no one could be certain hat the CIS would last forever, a many things could happen resulting in a governmental break down. In such a situation reverting back to her old profession would not be out of the question, though Akabane Jarvik didn't really need to know that. Thinking back she wasn't even sure if the man ever found out about her being a vampire, something most high ranking individuals among the Confederacy ere aware of now. "Well, if you are in need of a place to stay between jobs I won't turn you away, this hop here or my Dojo on Monastery are more then capable of catering to basic needs".