Some time in the wild

[incubi_abel]

Who: Abel Nightroad and [Open]
Where: The border along Rain and Fire
When: All week, April 14-20
Notes: Just out patrolling the border. Feel free to say 'hi'.

It was one of the few days where water wasn't falling from the sky. Abel was rather grateful for that, even if it did mean that the border between the Lands of Rain and Fire were muggy. He honestly didn't mind the humidity too much, having grown use to the nearly constant rain in Amegakure. Right now, he was simply enjoying the chance to get out and explore the border while keeping an eye out for others who might be trying to cross into the Land of Rain. The borders weren't closed any more, but it was always nice to know who was coming for a visit or simply passing through. Most of the time, the God of Ame already knew what was going on, but occasionally, his shinobi were sent out to patrol the borders.

The week long assignment gave Abel a chance to get out and stretch his legs and skills. He took weapons and basic supplies with him, preferring to live off the land when he went on these patrols. It always was interesting what he might find on such trips, either among the flora and fauna or in a more talkative version of a person. He wondered what he might find this week.

Comments

[incubi_abel]

Abel glanced up at the flower in question before returning his attention to the young woman.

"Only for one unable to climb the tree," he remarked, dropping down out of his perch to walk over to the other tree. "What do you require of the plant? The petals? The leaves? The entire plant?" It was a rather lovely flower, and he thought he might take a cutting for his own greenhouse.

[sekihan]

"I forgot my ties back at the inn, so it's a little hard to ruck up my skirts and do so now, yes." And it was probably telling, just how unbothered she seemed to be about climbing a tree—she may have been dressed lavishly, but she was first and foremost a servant. A wrinkled yukata was a cheap price for a job well-done, especially when she knew how to undo the damage.

"Preferably the whole plant, down to the roots." Tsutaki would want it potted, if it all possible. "But if it's too much of a hassle, the most matured flower should be enough. And some of the leaves as well." It was always so hard to tell when a foreign plant bore seeds, after all.

[incubi_abel]

Humming, Abel eyed the trees before quickly scaling the upright tree to where the apex was. He perched there for a few minutes as he carefully extracted the flowering plants - to his surprise and delight, there were two of them growing out of the rotting wood. Then, he carefully climbed back down, offering her one of the plants. The other was carefully tucked into an empty bento box for his own greenhouse later.

"There you are, Miss..." he trailed off, hoping for a name, even a fake one,to attach to the young woman. She looked like a noble but was either very down to earth or it was an act. He wasn't sure yet.

[sekihan]

"Kuzuryu Ashiko, at your service," she said, carefully cradling the crumbling, mulchy soil as she drew out a temporary container for the plant—a squat glass jar with a wide mouth and a heavily punctured lid. Her name wasn't famous, and only linked with nobility if one was aware of the fact that her clan had faithfully served the daimyo of a certain country for years, before the commoners revolted against their ruler and most of her relatives were killed just shy of two decades ago.

"Thank you very much for your help, sir," she said, bowing low once the plant was safely stowed away. "You have excellent timing." She beamed at him, bright and sweet.

[incubi_abel]

"Abel of Ame," he corrected. "Not 'sir'." He offered her a bright smile. "I'm hardly a noble that has to be 'sir'-ed all the time."

He filed her name away for further research. If he could find out anything about her. "Do you have more plants that you are searching for?"

He was willing to offer his assistance if only to get an idea of what she was after as well as any other motives. He wasn't paranoid. He was a jounin.

[sekihan]

"As far as I know, nobles aren't the only people entitled to common decency and merited respect." She laughed a little, raising one large sleeve to hide her mouth demurely. "But I'll settle for 'Abel-san' if it makes you more comfortable."

At his offer, she visibly perked up and tugged her little notebook out of her obi once more. She braced her umbrella between her neck and shoulder so she could flip through it for the right page. "A few, yes! Less than ten, really, and for two I just need the leaves, rather than the full plant. Would you mind telling me if you've seen any of them recently? I'm running errands for my Danna-sama, and he heard some interesting things about the properties of plant breeds in this region."

[incubi_abel]

"Is Danna-sama your master?" he inquired politely as he cautiously moved over to look at her book. He had seen many plants but for specific plants, he would have to see what she was hunting for.

He hummed and used a senbon to point at a couple of the plants. "These, you're going to find growing out of the cliffs where the soil gathers in crevices," he said, not wanting to touch her book and smear dirt on the pages, which is why he was using a senbon. "And these three are in opposite corners of the land. You have quite a ways to travel to collect them."

[sekihan]

"He is," she agreed. "Funny, it's always the shinobi who draw that conclusion. Other civilians always assume he's my husband, first." It was an idle bit of chitchat, but it had served as an ice-breaker in the past and often helped her switch tracks and avoid properly naming her master. Orochimaru valued his anonymity, after all.

"Well, I have plenty of time to put in some leg work," she mused, rubbing her lip thoughtfully as she stared at the singled-out plants. "But the cliffs could pose a pretty big issue. Climbing trees is one thing, but if I tumble down a cliff then Danna-sama will be most displeased. I don't suppose you have any recommendations for how I should proceed?"

[incubi_abel]

"Forgive me, but I have never heard of a husband being addressed as 'sama', which is why I made the guess that he was your master," Abel said with a shrug. "And 'Danna', is that his clan or his name?"

He hummed and tilted his head. "I would definitely return for your ties or if you are wearing pants underneath your outfit, forego the top layer all together as you climb. Unless you wished to hire someone to gather the plants for you." That just meant a trip to Ame itself and the hiring of a shinobi team, not that difficult to do.

[sekihan]

"'Danna' is part of a slightly antiquated title," Ashiko explained. "It can mean 'master' or 'husband', but the latter is...not as frequently used as it once was. I come from a long line of servants, so the habit stuck over time."

"I'm not, as it happens." Ashiko didn't actually own pants. She couldn't remember ever owning any, actually, and wondered briefly if she should finally breakdown and acquire some. "But hiring...can you really hire a ninja to do something like that?" In Otogakure, the missions she knew of were slightly more...useful to the village as a whole, so her curiosity was genuine. She peered up at him. "How much do I owe you then, Abel-san?"

[incubi_abel]

"Does he have another name then?" Abel inquired, now highly curious about this master.

"And yes. It's not unusual for people to hire shinobi for all sorts of jobs," he said before chuckling. "Well, if you wish to hire my services to help collect your flowers, then I believe..." He named a price that seemed about average for what she was requesting based off of D-rank missions he had done in the past.

[sekihan]

"He does," she affirmed. "But he's a very private individual by nature, so I'm not permitted to spread it around as freely as I do my own."

Ashiko thought for a long moment; she had the funds, but she had never directly engaged another country's shinobi services before. After a moment of deliberation, she decided that it was very probably not an issue, and nodded. "I would like to engage your services, Abel-san. If I'm not taking you away from anything more important, at least."

[incubi_abel]

He inclined his head, accepting that information while making a mental note to report all of this to his lord.

Pulling out a scroll, he quickly wrote a note on it before nodding at the response he received. He had permission from the shinobi on duty at the mission table to help Ashiko in retrieving a few of her flowers. "I can help you retrieve the flowers in the cliff, but if you wish help gathering the rest of your plants, I would suggest stopping at Ame and hiring a team."

[sekihan]

"As I said, I don't mind covering distance at all; I enjoy traveling, really." That was almost the truth, but it was a lie of politeness more than anything. Ashiko was happier at her master's side, but seeing the world wasn't too much of a chore. Aside from the occasional unscrupulous man that tried to waylay her, but she was armed with several potent poisons for just such an occasion.

"Would you let me treat you to lunch as a thanks for the favor you paid me earlier?" He hadn't needed to get that flower for her before, when missions hadn't even been mentioned yet.

[incubi_abel]

"That would be appreciated, but I'm afraid that after I help you gather your plants, I must continue on my way," he apologized with a slight shrug. He only had a little time before he had to resume his patrol.

He smiled at her. "Perhaps another time I might take you up on that offer of lunch."

[sekihan]

"Fair enough," Ashiko allowed, mentally resolving to remember his face so that she could offer him a proper meal the next time their paths crossed. Or at the very least, a boxed lunch of some sort. It was only fair after all.

"So, should I pay now, or after the plants are found?" She had her purse with her, at least, so she wouldn't have to waste time doubling back to the hotel.

[incubi_abel]

"After then plants are found," he replied. "Shinobi are only paid once the job has been completed. That keeps everyone honest."

He offered her a smile. "I'm not sure how it works in Ame should you hire a team to help you with the rest of your plants as I've never hired any of our teams before, but whomever is on duty will help you."