Less Than Sober (Open)

[Sima Oratio]

The day casually made it's way to an end. The last bits of sunlight fading away as the sun dropped from the sky. The blue turned a deep black. The night's sky so clear, full of many stars, wonders, planets. When Sima gazed up he couldn't help but wonder if his planet, his world, was staring back at him. How did all of this happen? Perhaps his home wasn't in this space, but another space entirely, another dimension. It was a little confusing to think about, so Sima tried to forget his past life. The wind slowly picked up. It whisked around the edges of the buildings making a whistling noise that made the night, which otherwise would be quite beautiful, have an eerie tone.

Sima sat outside, alone for the moment. He wasn't quite sure where Lilith went today, and he refrained from going to see. Sima wore his casual attire, brown pants, a white under shirt, and his light blue jacket. His long hair was pushed along by the wind, and irritated, he pushed the hair from his face. "What am I going to do?" He thought aloud, realizing that without Lilith around he felt rather depressed. She was more or less the only person he felt attached to on this world, other than the acquaintance he held with Aria, and Rivers.

When Sima became depressed it often hit him hard, and he wanted nothing more than to lose the feeling. He was not a drunk, not by any means, however alcohol has never had more appeal to him than when he was depressed, and alone. He decided to take a walk to the Tavern, at least there would be people to socialize with. He slowly entered the Tavern and sat down at the closest available spot. Not paying much attention to the goings on of the other patrons. 

"I'd like a bottle of Hadobiru please." Sima stated this as if it was something that would easily be recognized. However, this was not a drink from Nova, but a drink from Sima's world. He looked up at the bartender and notices his eyes full of confusion. "Just get me the strongest drink you have..." He said with a slight tone of embarrassment. Sima had never been drunk before, at least not in Nova, so he wasn't quite sure what to expect from the alcohol here, in fact he had always avoided drinking before, so why was it that he changed his mind today? 

It seemed that minutes later without question Sima had a drink in his hands. The cup was quite large, and the drink smelled slightly foul. The lighting in the room, which now became apparent, was brighter than Sima had expected. The sounds of the rest of the customers became much louder as he began to take in his surroundings. Sima abruptly was pushed, his drink however was completely intact. The person who had pushed him was slightly out of sight slipped onto the ground. Sima had turned over to see who exactly had pushed him, taking a big gulp of his so called 'strong drink'. "You okay?" He asked curiously with wide open blue eyes. 

He took a few more chugs of the drink, the person who brushed aside him taking a long time to respond, and in this time he realized the drink was much stronger than he had assumed. 

[Serenity Caine]

Serenity stood back up, brushed herself off. That man had some nerve, just bumping into her like that. She turned her head to tell him so, but was stopped. The drink he had was supposed to knock someone on their ass. No wonder. Perfectly fine Sir. Thank you. She spoke coldly, and took her seat, stuck next to this man, as the rest at the bar were taken. She ordered her own drink, far less potent than his, and glanced over at the man.

Her shimmering red hair was curly and bouncing around her, framing her perfectly pale skin. She was dressed in a dark green gown, laced in the back, her sleeved ending just before the wrists, while the hem went down to her ankles. It fit her quite well, forming to her figure. Her hazel eyes moved from the man next to her, down to her drink. She took a sip, and turned her head to face him. Something about him seemed familiar. She wasn't sure she'd met him before, but there was just something about him that she knew.

Do I know you?

[Sima Oratio]

Sima wasn't exactly sure what stood off on this womans scent, but something clung to her skin that reminded him of back home. That was technically impossible right? There would be no way she could have had contact with anything from his world, so perhaps she simply had a common scent, or looked like someone from his home land, maybe pulling back past memories. That seemed to make a lot more sense. 

"Do I know you?" 

Sima raised an eyebrow at her question. It made him think more curiously raising the question that she could be someone from his home world. Of course this could have been the influence of alcohol as well. "Who exactly are you?" Sima leaned towards her a raised eyebrow curiously looking at her eyes. "You don't smell like anyone I've met before.. But then again there is something familiar with your scent..." Sima quickly realized what he had said afterwards. This alcohol was quite stronger than he expected, in fact he hadn't gotten drunk on pretty much anything in his world, perhaps it was because of something else it was having such a strong affect on him.

He took another gulp from the drink, raising the glass quickly, not realizing he was bringing it only inches from her face, it threatening to hit her in the nose, he then brought it down, glaring at her, trying to ignore the fact he just spoke about her scent rather than her appearance, but in fact, the smell of someone was very important, at least for Sima. "I'm sorry, I'm not making any sense.. I believe this drink was much stronger than I thought.." Sima tried to cover up his blunders with the last bit of intelligence that remained in his body. 

[Serenity Caine]

Serenity arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at the strange man, and shook her head. My name is Serenity Caine. And I smell perfectly fine, thank you. She turned her head from him, furrowing her eyebrows for a moment in confusion. Either this man was some type on animal hybrid - which she had to admit wasn't uncommon here, or he was simply weird.

When she turned her head back to him she was almost met with a glass in the face, and she flinched back in reflex, glaring at the man. Her hazel eyes met his for the first time. A piercing bright blue... Why did that seem so familiar?

That drink is basically supposed to knock you on your ass, so yea, anybody would be well, knocked on their asses by it. She felt no need to be abundantly formal as she usually was, in that moment. The man was clearly drunk, and wouldn't notice even if she was.

[Sima Oratio]

"Serenity? Well my name is Sima, Sima Oratio, nice to meet you." Sima took another gulp of his drink ignoring the part about how it was supposed to knock him on his ass. Sima reached his free hand towards Serenity's to shake hers for a more formal meeting. He took another gulp from the drink finishing it off finally, setting the glass down on the bar. The point of tongiht was to get get knocked off his ass. In fact, Sima was pretty depressed when Lilith wasn't around. She was like a blocker for most of his horrible memories, and when he was left alone he was stuck reminded of them. It wasn't to say he was always thinking negatively, but when your pulled from your own home world to a new one it was hard not to stay focused on the interview. 

"Where are you from anyways?" Sima looked at her with a raised brow yet again. "Your not a bad person are you?"     

[Serenity Caine]

Serenity's body froze over. No wonder his appearance seemed familiar- though she'd never actually seen it, he had been described to her. Serenity shook his hand stiffly, and looked at him curiously. She remembered hearing his name once before, at a separate time, the Matchmaker festival. She wondered if she should find some way to contact Kuro- but changed her mind as soon as she thought it. He'd abandoned her months ago. If he wanted her help, well it was to late.

Pleasure to meet you as well... But trust me, I am not the bad person you should be worried about. Mind you, I'm no saint, but regardless, I'm not your biggest problem. I'm Fated by the way. She spoke quickly, the effects of her own drink sinking in. Serenity had starting drinking long before she came in contact with Sima. She wasn't sure she was speaking the wisest of words at the moment, but she did feel like ruining Kuro's plans, so why not?

[Sima Oratio]

"Fated? What does that have to do with me?" Despite Sima being drunk his priority to keep himself hidden was still apparent. He had dug enough in his head to at least be able to play dumb. However it was easy to note some changes in his body posture. "As long as you are not going to cause any trouble I'm sure we will get a long fine." Sima was quite happy with the way the night was progressing. He wasn't worried to talk to this woman because of the alcohol, all his worries about being found out faded away, despite the chance being higher than usual. Sima was really hoping to make a friend, nothing more, just another friend. He loved having people to rely on, but never really gave most people the chance. Perhaps he was confident tonight, but the way she was talking made him have an eerie feeling.

"Can I get another drink please?" The more Sima worried the more he wanted to be on his ass, and the way she was talking made it sound like she knew something. Sima wasn't about to let a lot slip. Better to be knocked off his ass then to be saying something he shouldn't be. "Same thing as last time.." Sima was beginning to feel a bit woozy, knowing for sure if he finished the next he may as well pass out. He didn't want to stay out too long anyways, he felt confident in Lilith's house, and he felt that it was empty and less safe without him, but more so than anything he loved to cook in that tiny kitchen for reasons he couldn't really explain. 

[Serenity Caine]

Serenity let out a small laugh and drank from her own cup. This Sima was already that drunk was he? Clearly paranoid, but about the wrong things. She shook her head and stood up. It was nice to meet you, but I'll be on my way now. She turned to walk away and muttered to herself: What could Kuro possibly want with that guy? She didn't see how he was a threat, how he could do anything that the man had said he could. She shook her head and headed outside the tavern, stopping at the door to chug the rest of her drink, leaving the cup on a near by table.

[Sima Oratio]

At the mention of Kuro Sima's eyes widened. He watched as Serenity walked out the door. "Kuro?" He muttered to himself. That was when her scent clicked in his mind. He stood, stumbling only slightly. He spilled his drink all over the floor but keeping hold of the mug,  he had such a determination in his new goal, his body only seemed to hinder him. He began walking much more fluidly as he followed her scent outside. He followed her enough to leave the sight of the bar, assuming that she continued to move. "Did you say Kuro?" He asked, eyes filled with a new look. His eyes which often looked pure and harmless now seemed to scream of someone who was not afraid to do anything, the eyes of someone not bound by the law, the eyes of someone who could end a life. 

His anger for Kuro swelled up inside him, and reminded him of the things he had done to his family. "Take me to him!" Sima gripped his hand angrily. "I won't let him take them again!" He threw the mug in his hand at Serenity, not to hit her, but to simply get her attention. Sima was under the influence of alcohol, and so he wasn't very rational. Sima knew how Kuro worked, and immediately knew if she knew his name, and was around him long enough to still bare a scent, than Kuro would have manipulated her, or she would have agreed, or been killed. 

Sima was having a hard time holding back tears now, his anger replaced with sadness. Hotaru, Reimi, Kai, they were all gone, mostly in part to Kuro. 

[Serenity Caine]

Serenity jumped and let out a small yell as a glass shattered not to far from where she stood. Was this man crazy? She turned to look at him and saw someone completely different than the depressed man that had been sitting next to her. She felt her heart speed up in her chest, and her breathing quickened. She stumbled back a few steps wanting to keep distance between her and him, having no way to defend herself against him.

Yes, I did say Kuro.. it seems I was correct in assuming you were the same man he spoke about. Please, believe me when I say i haven't a clue where he is anymore! I worked with him for a very, very short time, then he severely injured me, so much so that I couldn't walk for weeks, left me drugged in a motel, and hasn't spoken to me since! So has to prove her story true, she lifted the back of her dress and turned around, exposing the backs of her knees to him. Two large, zagged scars stood out brightly against her pale complexion.

I'm lucky to still be walking. She muttered, lowering her skirt.

[Sima Oratio]

Sima watched curiously and made out the details he could. "Kuro is like me, only in human form" Sima grunted angrily. "Everything is a tool to him, and he uses those tools meth.. meth.. methodically." Sima stood, his height now quite visible as he stretched his chest out. In his state he assumed that Kuro could be nearby, and although this stance was quite primal, to a drunken demon it was quite a nice choice. "He will come back for those legs of yours, if he truly desires them, or has a use for them, and then he will find me, and he better not find me.." Sima, realizing that Kuro was not around, relaxed his body. "I.." Sima gripped his hands tightly. "I don't want to fight anymore.. I don't want to kill.." He breather heavily. "If Kuro comes into my life he will expose me, and take the only thing I hold dear.. That could be on your head, I don't know what type of person you are, but if you were with Kuro I have reason enough to suspect you as a threat, this could easily be the first stage.." 

The alcohol, that was affecting him quite heavily,  didn't affect him from understanding what he thought was important. Protecting his family. 

[Serenity Caine]

Serenity stood straight, the fear slowly leaving her face. This man wasn’t going to harm her, at least not yet. He was worried, in fear of Kuro. She watched him stutter over words, trying to get his point across. He was holding a post of strength, only relaxing a bit when he realized Kuro was not around.

Believe me, if I ever see him again it will be to soon. he can come back all he wants, I’ll take that sword and drive it through his chest before he can do anything. Serenity grumbled, a feeling of distant in her gut at the thought of the mans face.

When Sima spoke again, of not fighting, not killing, Serenity felt her heart ache for him, if only in that moment. She hadn’t a clue about this man, aside from the information Kuro supplied her with, but it was clear that he had a demon side, even if it wasn’t physically visible to her yet.
That woman… You’re talking about the woman with purple eyes, yes? Serenity looked curious, remembering a time when a barkeep told her that Sima had been there recently, with a woman who had long platinum hair, and stunning purple eyes.

Sima, was it? Sima, I am not a threat to you, not of my choosing. You could be correct, Kuro could come back for me some day, but I would never lead him to you— out of spite of course. I don’t want him to get what he wants. She saw clearly that he would protect that woman with his life.

[Sima Oratio]

Sima didn't really know how could he trust her, perhaps he could not, perhaps he could. He felt the alcohol leaving his system rather quickly to be honest, perhaps it was due to his own high metabolism. "Well, perhaps I have bad judgement then.." This was Sima admitting that perhaps he was wrong about her. "So if you are not one of Kuro's.. individuals.. Then who exactly are you? What do you do?" Perhaps this was Sima being far too curious, but to be honest now he was intrigued with this woman. These questions dug at his mind. The wind slightly picked up, and his whipped his fair in his face. He groaned in a slight anger hating the annoyance about having long hair. He used his hand to move it away, revealing his blue eyes that softly reflecting what light remained around them. These eyes, they could kiss, on the hunt, they would create fear, and alone, they create water. 

"My name is Sima, I'm a demon slayer..." This what how Sima used to introduce himself, or at least what he used to call himself, back in the days where he lived on his own world. He was technically a demon slayer, he was raised as one, however he soon realized that this description didn't really fit him the best, plus it was kind of comical. 

[Serenity Caine]

Serenity noticed his avoidance of answered her question on the woman. Was he hiding her? She supposed she shouldn’t be surprised— keep your loved ones safe and all.

I told you, I am Serenity Caine. Fated from Earth 1854. I am… Well, I don’t do anything as of yet. I’m still learning the ways of this world. Not long after I first arrived her, Kuro appeared before me, claiming he could help me live in this world. He used me to learn more about you, had me kill. Used me sexually, then disappeared. At the first sign of disobedience… Well you saw my legs… I do not have a title, not in this world. She curtsied lightly. Pleased to meet you.

She looked at him curiously, looking into his eyes, and his hair in the wind. Odd man he was.

[Sima Oratio]

Sima looked at Serenity curiously. "So, your not of this world." Sima scratched his head, his blue eyes gazing at her with curiosity. "Tell you what, as a way of an apology, for assuming you to be so bad, I can give you something else!" Sima smiled widely clearly loving where his idea is going. "Why don't I make you a dinner? Nothing romantic! I think you already know I have someone I love..." Sima added at the end rather frantic, he did not want her to get the wrong idea about his idea. "I am a chef, cooking is one of my favorite things to do! So, I can make you a dinner as a way of an apology!" Sima's emotions seemed to switch rather rampantly, and although Sima knew why, he hoped that Serenity did not catch onto it. "I could make you a dish from here, or one from my home world, it can be simple, complex, whatever your heart desires!" Sima jumped so quickly on the idea of cooking her a dinner simply because it was what he loved to do. He wanted to see the look on her face when she bit into something she truly enjoyed. It was much better than striking terror, or the blank stare of someone who had just died. It was what Sima believed his calling was, and he would always jump on the chance to improve someone's day. Perhaps this was not the correct time for dinner, but Sima regardless through the idea of him cooking something for her. 

"Well Serenity, what do you think? Would you like to be.." Sima lowed his voice down clearly not feeling comfortable saying this. "Would you like to be served food from a demon?......" He knew she knew, and he was trying to make a joke, but it was coming clamy and sucking anything that could possible be funny out of it, but his awkward tone could be laughed at.