03-31-2016, 03:17 PM
That girl, that princess was a strange one. Her child-like proportions hid a veritable force of nature. A younger Renji would have drawn his sword against her to feel the heat of battle. But with the demon's absence he no longer held that same fire. Without Kuzuru his blood lust was absent, and in the power vacuum left thousands of souls silently battling for dominance. Guu had offered him a quiet life in Ambrosia, she had offered him like amongst them as if he had always lived there. Ironically enough the monstrous girl and otherworldy citizen's offered a stunning bastion of normalcy and safety. Despite his lack of propinquity with the other denizens he would be lying if he said that he didn't feel a sense of endearment towards the ambrosians.
"They'll be coming any time now," Wanda spoke, "I can sense them."
"Wanda," Renji began, taking a slight pause before continuing, "try to keep your antics to a minimum."
The translucent ghost girl giggled, "I can't promise anything, especially since you all are such easy targets."
The evening rush came in short spurts of strange and curious characters. Exotic drinks and brews were mixed and imbibed, filling Renji's patrons with mirth and intoxication. The swordsman trhived within the fast-paced occupation. His hands worked as fast as his legs carried him, little flourishes cemented his expertise in the mind of the ambrosians. The ageless man worked as if he had been a bartender for hundreds of years, and yet he had learned all of this within a day. Knowledge was simply the natural culmination of memories, and despite the memories being owned by others Renji found comfort in his proficiency. Life had simply been one conquest after another, one skill perfected over the course of centuries. Pride was to be found within any skill, even if it was of little use in battle.
Late into the night Renji worked, spreading merriment and speaking with the charisma of a seasoned salesman. Many names were learned and remembered, but there was one patron who stood out above all others. An older european man with greying hair and a sword strapped to his hip. He walked with the gentle swagger of a man confident in his abilities, but with nothing to prove. Chad Millwell, the first swordsman that Renji had met in the Omniverse. Their first duel was cut short by a bounty hunter, looking to claim the old man's head. Slowly and deliberatly the man walked towards the bar and sat in front of the counter, offering a kind smile to the bartender.
"My my, I had no idea you were a bartender Renji," Chad spoke with a measured kindness, but his steel-cold eyes pierced through the smokey haze present within the bar.
Someone was tap-dancing upon Renji's grave, his spine filled with ice-water as his eyes met Chad's. There was a hidden lethality about the man, something that one could only sense through experience. When they had sparred the old swordsman was holding back, Renji was sure of it. Even with his demonic speed and enhanced reflexes Chad was able to keep up with him easily. This challenge manifested itself as an itch deep within Renji's abdomen. The need for improvement, the need to press blade against blade, body against body, blood spilling blood.
Sweet delicious blood.
"Well, you know what they say," Renji responded, polishing a glass, "any port in a storm, I needed a job and they offered. What'll you have friend?"
"Black Beetle Brew, please" Chad answered.
"Seems to be a favorite around here," Renji offered idle small talk.
Chad shrugged and smiled, "well, most of the alchohol from my home universe is unknown here, so I've had to adapt."
"So what happened with that bounty hunter?"
"Hmmm?" Chad asked as if he had never been hunted before in his life.
"Talos, the purple guy," Renji paused for a moment before handing the old man his drink.
"Oh him," the old man took a drink from his glass and smiled knowingly, "well after your little distraction, he lost track of me. Afterwards I stumbled upon this little village, and I've been wandering in and out of here for the past week or so. Though, it is odd I haven't seen you around here before now."
"Yeah, I usually keep to myself," Renji responded, sliding a glass of liquor down the bar table to another patron, "this whole 'bartender' thing is outside of my comfort zone."
"Strange that someone as talented as you would keep to themselves," Chad finished his brink and glanced behind him, "don't you know? Life is best spent in the warm company of others."
"My own company is more than enough for me," Renji glanced over at his sword resting underneath the bar counter, "though I must admit that socializing like this is a nice change of pace."
Both warriors spoke to each other as old friends would do. The only break in their conversation was the occasional order of booze, which Renji would quickly mix up and send out. Most of the patrons had filtered out, leaving behind a smoldering crowd of drunkards and pool sharks. Millwell had drank his fair share of booze, but seemed wholly unaffected except for a red flushing of his flesh. Last call echoed across the barroom as Renji glanced at the racing clock. Outside a few curious flecks of snow dashed themselves against the window, melting into rain drops. Asides from the occasional spilled glass or wobbly chair ghost-girl's antics were strangely absent. After what seemed to be an eternity of friendly banter Chad stood and adjusted his sword, making sure it was tight against his body.
"Well Renji, it was a delight talking with you," he smiled sincerely.
"Likewise."
The elder swordsman sniffed the air sharply before turning his back towards Renji, "smells like there will be blood tonight."
I smell it too.
"What do you mean?" Renji asked his newfound friend.
"Oh, nothing really," Chad left for the door, "have a good night Renji."
"They'll be coming any time now," Wanda spoke, "I can sense them."
"Wanda," Renji began, taking a slight pause before continuing, "try to keep your antics to a minimum."
The translucent ghost girl giggled, "I can't promise anything, especially since you all are such easy targets."
The evening rush came in short spurts of strange and curious characters. Exotic drinks and brews were mixed and imbibed, filling Renji's patrons with mirth and intoxication. The swordsman trhived within the fast-paced occupation. His hands worked as fast as his legs carried him, little flourishes cemented his expertise in the mind of the ambrosians. The ageless man worked as if he had been a bartender for hundreds of years, and yet he had learned all of this within a day. Knowledge was simply the natural culmination of memories, and despite the memories being owned by others Renji found comfort in his proficiency. Life had simply been one conquest after another, one skill perfected over the course of centuries. Pride was to be found within any skill, even if it was of little use in battle.
Late into the night Renji worked, spreading merriment and speaking with the charisma of a seasoned salesman. Many names were learned and remembered, but there was one patron who stood out above all others. An older european man with greying hair and a sword strapped to his hip. He walked with the gentle swagger of a man confident in his abilities, but with nothing to prove. Chad Millwell, the first swordsman that Renji had met in the Omniverse. Their first duel was cut short by a bounty hunter, looking to claim the old man's head. Slowly and deliberatly the man walked towards the bar and sat in front of the counter, offering a kind smile to the bartender.
"My my, I had no idea you were a bartender Renji," Chad spoke with a measured kindness, but his steel-cold eyes pierced through the smokey haze present within the bar.
Someone was tap-dancing upon Renji's grave, his spine filled with ice-water as his eyes met Chad's. There was a hidden lethality about the man, something that one could only sense through experience. When they had sparred the old swordsman was holding back, Renji was sure of it. Even with his demonic speed and enhanced reflexes Chad was able to keep up with him easily. This challenge manifested itself as an itch deep within Renji's abdomen. The need for improvement, the need to press blade against blade, body against body, blood spilling blood.
Sweet delicious blood.
"Well, you know what they say," Renji responded, polishing a glass, "any port in a storm, I needed a job and they offered. What'll you have friend?"
"Black Beetle Brew, please" Chad answered.
"Seems to be a favorite around here," Renji offered idle small talk.
Chad shrugged and smiled, "well, most of the alchohol from my home universe is unknown here, so I've had to adapt."
"So what happened with that bounty hunter?"
"Hmmm?" Chad asked as if he had never been hunted before in his life.
"Talos, the purple guy," Renji paused for a moment before handing the old man his drink.
"Oh him," the old man took a drink from his glass and smiled knowingly, "well after your little distraction, he lost track of me. Afterwards I stumbled upon this little village, and I've been wandering in and out of here for the past week or so. Though, it is odd I haven't seen you around here before now."
"Yeah, I usually keep to myself," Renji responded, sliding a glass of liquor down the bar table to another patron, "this whole 'bartender' thing is outside of my comfort zone."
"Strange that someone as talented as you would keep to themselves," Chad finished his brink and glanced behind him, "don't you know? Life is best spent in the warm company of others."
"My own company is more than enough for me," Renji glanced over at his sword resting underneath the bar counter, "though I must admit that socializing like this is a nice change of pace."
Both warriors spoke to each other as old friends would do. The only break in their conversation was the occasional order of booze, which Renji would quickly mix up and send out. Most of the patrons had filtered out, leaving behind a smoldering crowd of drunkards and pool sharks. Millwell had drank his fair share of booze, but seemed wholly unaffected except for a red flushing of his flesh. Last call echoed across the barroom as Renji glanced at the racing clock. Outside a few curious flecks of snow dashed themselves against the window, melting into rain drops. Asides from the occasional spilled glass or wobbly chair ghost-girl's antics were strangely absent. After what seemed to be an eternity of friendly banter Chad stood and adjusted his sword, making sure it was tight against his body.
"Well Renji, it was a delight talking with you," he smiled sincerely.
"Likewise."
The elder swordsman sniffed the air sharply before turning his back towards Renji, "smells like there will be blood tonight."
I smell it too.
"What do you mean?" Renji asked his newfound friend.
"Oh, nothing really," Chad left for the door, "have a good night Renji."