Tatsuo

I'm just passin through. Ya can just over look me.

[missing-nijiku]

Just an ordinary old man. Nothin' to see here. Ya should just head on you're way.

Tatsuo is an older man who claims to just be walking through town. A sword for hire if needed but otherwise no one of note.

(Under construction)

[stoic-nijiku]

Tatsuo is taking a moment to get snacks for the kids he's guarding. He pauses as he sees a familiar sword on someones hilt. He blinked as he realizes the young man also looks startlingly familiar. "Well wouldn't ya know it." He says softly as he holds his own sword's hilt.

@missing-nijiku

Goka turned to look at an older man. He was staring, more specifically at his katanas... But he looked unnervingly like someone. This was odd. Did he say something? No, that would be weird... Awkward...

[missing-nijiku]

The man pauses as he realizes that he's being looked at. He smiles politely. "Apologies. Yer swords are nice. I should probably get back to ma job. See ya around." He says before turning to go.

[stoic-nijiku]

"Alright... Uhm, thank you Sir." Goka said quietly.

[stoic-nijiku]

Tatsuo is taking a moment to get snacks for the kids he's guarding. He pauses as he sees a familiar sword on someones hilt. He blinked as he realizes the young man also looks startlingly familiar. "Well wouldn't ya know it." He says softly as he holds his own sword's hilt.

@missing-nijiku

Goka turned to look at an older man. He was staring, more specifically at his katanas... But he looked unnervingly like someone. This was odd. Did he say something? No, that would be weird... Awkward...

[missing-nijiku]

The man pauses as he realizes that he's being looked at. He smiles politely. "Apologies. Yer swords are nice. I should probably get back to ma job. See ya around." He says before turning to go.

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Mei, I got somethin I need to report. It ain't good." Tay says as he heads over to Keir.

@missing-nijiku

"What, you and the former emperor have become friends and started gossiping whilst braiding each other’s hair? Sounds like my worst nightmare."

She sighs, though gestures for Sword to continue

[missing-nijiku]

"I wish it were that simple. But nah. Found poison in a tea pot. A light poison but a poison nonetheless. And 'm pretty sure it wasn't meant for our favorite stick in the ass."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Mhm…?" Meilan wasn’t surprised to hear this, though the idea of it not being for her older brother was something she didn’t like. "We think this why? I assume you already have an idea of who was targeted?"

[missing-nijiku]

"I did the basic information gathering. An extra unknown person touched the pot before the tea was ever brewed to put the poison in the pot itself. The pot was one that Xingzhi wouldn't usually use. It was a replacement bought for Yafen... The effects on the usual person is simply basic sickness. A fever for a weekend at worst. But for a pregnant woman. Miscarriage would have been a likely outcome. The finger prints were faded in a way indicating the poison was added preemptively."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Meaning that this was most likely a targeted attack on Yafen." Mei nodded, pulling out a pocketbook and noting down this information. Considering the prior events with Yafen or her children, it was beginning to be seen as a bigger problem.

"Has an investigation on the owner of the fingerprints been started?"

[missing-nijiku]

"I've started ma own investigation. Got a few suspects but nothin concrete. The finger prints were old so an exact match has been difficult to locate."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"I see." Meilan noted this down, deciding she’d need to do her own investigation of the situation and pocketing her notebook again.

"I’ll head back to the Pavillion then. You wouldn’t mind replacing the angry old man for a younger, pregnant, woman, no?"

[missing-nijiku]

Tay shrugs. "I can manage. Hold a fer a second." He pulls out a small bag. "Here we got all the evidence I've collected so far. The prints, the list of folks it couldn't have been, the whole shebang." He says as he passes over the bag.

[kingdomofprosperity]

Mei nods and takes the bag, briefly looking over its contents before confirming that this wasn’t some bs. "You do good work." She compliments genuinely, zipping the bag back up and placing it in her own satchel.

"Why not get a position as a knight or a guard? I’m sure you’d get a lot more money there."

[missing-nijiku]

Tay shrugs. "Too much control. A personal guard position? Sure! Got a lot of freedoms there. However I couldn' be put in a guard unit. I don't take orders well. Can't tell my commanding officer he's a shit heal."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Mei, I got somethin I need to report. It ain't good." Tay says as he heads over to Keir.

@missing-nijiku

"What, you and the former emperor have become friends and started gossiping whilst braiding each other’s hair? Sounds like my worst nightmare."

She sighs, though gestures for Sword to continue

[missing-nijiku]

"I wish it were that simple. But nah. Found poison in a tea pot. A light poison but a poison nonetheless. And 'm pretty sure it wasn't meant for our favorite stick in the ass."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Mhm…?" Meilan wasn’t surprised to hear this, though the idea of it not being for her older brother was something she didn’t like. "We think this why? I assume you already have an idea of who was targeted?"

[missing-nijiku]

"I did the basic information gathering. An extra unknown person touched the pot before the tea was ever brewed to put the poison in the pot itself. The pot was one that Xingzhi wouldn't usually use. It was a replacement bought for Yafen... The effects on the usual person is simply basic sickness. A fever for a weekend at worst. But for a pregnant woman. Miscarriage would have been a likely outcome. The finger prints were faded in a way indicating the poison was added preemptively."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Meaning that this was most likely a targeted attack on Yafen." Mei nodded, pulling out a pocketbook and noting down this information. Considering the prior events with Yafen or her children, it was beginning to be seen as a bigger problem.

"Has an investigation on the owner of the fingerprints been started?"

[missing-nijiku]

"I've started ma own investigation. Got a few suspects but nothin concrete. The finger prints were old so an exact match has been difficult to locate."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"I see." Meilan noted this down, deciding she’d need to do her own investigation of the situation and pocketing her notebook again.

"I’ll head back to the Pavillion then. You wouldn’t mind replacing the angry old man for a younger, pregnant, woman, no?"

[missing-nijiku]

Tay shrugs. "I can manage. Hold a fer a second." He pulls out a small bag. "Here we got all the evidence I've collected so far. The prints, the list of folks it couldn't have been, the whole shebang." He says as he passes over the bag.

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Mei, I got somethin I need to report. It ain't good." Tay says as he heads over to Keir.

@missing-nijiku

"What, you and the former emperor have become friends and started gossiping whilst braiding each other’s hair? Sounds like my worst nightmare."

She sighs, though gestures for Sword to continue

[missing-nijiku]

"I wish it were that simple. But nah. Found poison in a tea pot. A light poison but a poison nonetheless. And 'm pretty sure it wasn't meant for our favorite stick in the ass."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Mhm…?" Meilan wasn’t surprised to hear this, though the idea of it not being for her older brother was something she didn’t like. "We think this why? I assume you already have an idea of who was targeted?"

[missing-nijiku]

"I did the basic information gathering. An extra unknown person touched the pot before the tea was ever brewed to put the poison in the pot itself. The pot was one that Xingzhi wouldn't usually use. It was a replacement bought for Yafen... The effects on the usual person is simply basic sickness. A fever for a weekend at worst. But for a pregnant woman. Miscarriage would have been a likely outcome. The finger prints were faded in a way indicating the poison was added preemptively."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Meaning that this was most likely a targeted attack on Yafen." Mei nodded, pulling out a pocketbook and noting down this information. Considering the prior events with Yafen or her children, it was beginning to be seen as a bigger problem.

"Has an investigation on the owner of the fingerprints been started?"

[missing-nijiku]

"I've started ma own investigation. Got a few suspects but nothin concrete. The finger prints were old so an exact match has been difficult to locate."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Mei, I got somethin I need to report. It ain't good." Tay says as he heads over to Keir.

@missing-nijiku

"What, you and the former emperor have become friends and started gossiping whilst braiding each other’s hair? Sounds like my worst nightmare."

She sighs, though gestures for Sword to continue

[missing-nijiku]

"I wish it were that simple. But nah. Found poison in a tea pot. A light poison but a poison nonetheless. And 'm pretty sure it wasn't meant for our favorite stick in the ass."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Mhm…?" Meilan wasn’t surprised to hear this, though the idea of it not being for her older brother was something she didn’t like. "We think this why? I assume you already have an idea of who was targeted?"

[missing-nijiku]

"I did the basic information gathering. An extra unknown person touched the pot before the tea was ever brewed to put the poison in the pot itself. The pot was one that Xingzhi wouldn't usually use. It was a replacement bought for Yafen... The effects on the usual person is simply basic sickness. A fever for a weekend at worst. But for a pregnant woman. Miscarriage would have been a likely outcome. The finger prints were faded in a way indicating the poison was added preemptively."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Mei, I got somethin I need to report. It ain't good." Tay says as he heads over to Keir.

@missing-nijiku

"What, you and the former emperor have become friends and started gossiping whilst braiding each other’s hair? Sounds like my worst nightmare."

She sighs, though gestures for Sword to continue

[missing-nijiku]

"I wish it were that simple. But nah. Found poison in a tea pot. A light poison but a poison nonetheless. And 'm pretty sure it wasn't meant for our favorite stick in the ass."

[transstuffandmore]

Please Reblog is Your Blog is Safe for Non-Binary People.

[bees-and-voids-deactivated20210]

If my mutuals can’t rb this then we can’t be mutuals

[drax-the-vampire-king]

Ive said it before and ill say it again all kind people are welcome here.

[mimosa-sexypeople-contests-2026]

If you don’t support nonbinary people, then get the fuck away from my blog

[mimosa-sexypeople-contests-2026]

Besides it’d be really weird if I didn’t support nonbinary people considering that I’m agender

[kingdomofprosperity]

Tatsuo is quietly sipping tea as he sits outside with Xingzhi before speaking right before the previous emperor can take a single sip. "I wouldn' recommend drinkin that. The pot is poisoned." He says casually as he just takes another sip.

@missing-nijiku

Xingzhi spits the tea out, dropping the cup and looking at the pot in surprise.

"Wh— How do you know!? You can taste it!?"

He looks for a linger of a taste in his mouth, finding that he wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t been told (albeit quite late)

[missing-nijiku]

Tatsuo laughs when Xingzhi spits out the tea. "Yup! Known how to identify poisons sense I was about ten." He shuffles through his back and pulls out a bottle. "Ya on any meds? If no take one of these. Charcoal pills. It'll basically neutralize everythin in yer system."

[kingdomofprosperity]

The former emperor doesn’t take them, on several medications for his abundant of health problems. Though, he was interested. Still, he didn’t take them and just inspected them out of Tatsuo’s hand.

"… Why didn’t you say something earlier?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Because ya started drinking before I could warn ya? It's not a deadly poison and at worst you'll be in bed with a fever for a weekend." Tay says not full understanding the question.

[kingdomofprosperity]

"You didn’t want to say anything as I poured the tea?" He deadpanned, looking at Tay in annoyance but not surprised. What was this quack that Keir had hired?

"How was it poisoned in the first place?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Most likely in the kitchen itself. Or it was passed off to a servant and they did it. It's tea to the previous emperor so it probably passed through three people. Give me a second. Don't touch the pot again. I'm gonna go get some flour."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Oh, good. You aren’t crazy enough to poison yourself or me." He was almost relieved by that, staying where he was and letting him do what he wanted. Xhingzhi doubted he could stop Tay anyways.

[missing-nijiku]

Tay returns soon with a bit of flour and a soft brush. He very carefully uses the brush to flick flour onto the pot. "And theres the culprit! A fourth set of prints. Along the rim. Probably to hold it still while they added the poison." Tays says with a triumphant grin. "Ya got a poisoner in the pavilion. Not one of yer direct servants or the person in charge of makin the tea. A separate agent."

[kingdomofprosperity]

Xingzhi just let the man drawl on, listening to what he was saying but honestly wishing he would cut to the point.

"And so… do you or do you not know how to find this person?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Ta be honest I don't think you were the intended target. Ya see how the prints on the rim are smudged? Someone put the poison in a while before the others touched it. Do you usually use this pot or is it the preferred tea pot of someone else?" Tay asks as he looks at the pot curiously. "Figuring out the intended target should at least narrow down the suspect pool."

[kingdomofprosperity]

He thought for a moment, looking at the pot before shaking his head. "I haven’t seen it before. We got a new shipment of utensils and I do believe Yafen had mentioned something about her favourite pot having been smashed." To be honest, he didn’t pay much mind to his siblings lives.

"Something about the pot being old, I’m not sure. No one else influential is here, though."

[missing-nijiku]

Tay stares at the pot with a new concern. "Yafen's new pot... Yafen who is pregnant and a poison that would have definitely caused a miscarriage if it were her who drank it instead of a man... is there anyone you know of with frustrations towards Yafen? Jealous maids? Anything?"

[kingdomofprosperity]

Xingzhi took this more seriously, realising that if Zanka hadn’t insisted for them to go out then Yafen could’ve possibly had a miscarriage or gotten her or the baby sick.

"Er… not that I know of, she’s unmarried and has plenty of kids already. I don’t see why this one would be of any importance."

[missing-nijiku]

Tay immediately looks at Xingzhi a bit harshly. "Children are all precious and deserving of respect. If this is a child she wants then it is deserving of that love and care." It seems Xingzhi has unintentionally his a nerve as Tay takes a minute to collect himself. "I'm going to inform Keir of the situation and ask that she warn Yafen of the situation."

[kingdomofprosperity]

Tatsuo is quietly sipping tea as he sits outside with Xingzhi before speaking right before the previous emperor can take a single sip. "I wouldn' recommend drinkin that. The pot is poisoned." He says casually as he just takes another sip.

@missing-nijiku

Xingzhi spits the tea out, dropping the cup and looking at the pot in surprise.

"Wh— How do you know!? You can taste it!?"

He looks for a linger of a taste in his mouth, finding that he wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t been told (albeit quite late)

[missing-nijiku]

Tatsuo laughs when Xingzhi spits out the tea. "Yup! Known how to identify poisons sense I was about ten." He shuffles through his back and pulls out a bottle. "Ya on any meds? If no take one of these. Charcoal pills. It'll basically neutralize everythin in yer system."

[kingdomofprosperity]

The former emperor doesn’t take them, on several medications for his abundant of health problems. Though, he was interested. Still, he didn’t take them and just inspected them out of Tatsuo’s hand.

"… Why didn’t you say something earlier?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Because ya started drinking before I could warn ya? It's not a deadly poison and at worst you'll be in bed with a fever for a weekend." Tay says not full understanding the question.

[kingdomofprosperity]

"You didn’t want to say anything as I poured the tea?" He deadpanned, looking at Tay in annoyance but not surprised. What was this quack that Keir had hired?

"How was it poisoned in the first place?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Most likely in the kitchen itself. Or it was passed off to a servant and they did it. It's tea to the previous emperor so it probably passed through three people. Give me a second. Don't touch the pot again. I'm gonna go get some flour."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Oh, good. You aren’t crazy enough to poison yourself or me." He was almost relieved by that, staying where he was and letting him do what he wanted. Xhingzhi doubted he could stop Tay anyways.

[missing-nijiku]

Tay returns soon with a bit of flour and a soft brush. He very carefully uses the brush to flick flour onto the pot. "And theres the culprit! A fourth set of prints. Along the rim. Probably to hold it still while they added the poison." Tays says with a triumphant grin. "Ya got a poisoner in the pavilion. Not one of yer direct servants or the person in charge of makin the tea. A separate agent."

[kingdomofprosperity]

Xingzhi just let the man drawl on, listening to what he was saying but honestly wishing he would cut to the point.

"And so… do you or do you not know how to find this person?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Ta be honest I don't think you were the intended target. Ya see how the prints on the rim are smudged? Someone put the poison in a while before the others touched it. Do you usually use this pot or is it the preferred tea pot of someone else?" Tay asks as he looks at the pot curiously. "Figuring out the intended target should at least narrow down the suspect pool."

[kingdomofprosperity]

He thought for a moment, looking at the pot before shaking his head. "I haven’t seen it before. We got a new shipment of utensils and I do believe Yafen had mentioned something about her favourite pot having been smashed." To be honest, he didn’t pay much mind to his siblings lives.

"Something about the pot being old, I’m not sure. No one else influential is here, though."

[missing-nijiku]

Tay stares at the pot with a new concern. "Yafen's new pot... Yafen who is pregnant and a poison that would have definitely caused a miscarriage if it were her who drank it instead of a man... is there anyone you know of with frustrations towards Yafen? Jealous maids? Anything?"

[kingdomofprosperity]

Tatsuo is quietly sipping tea as he sits outside with Xingzhi before speaking right before the previous emperor can take a single sip. "I wouldn' recommend drinkin that. The pot is poisoned." He says casually as he just takes another sip.

@missing-nijiku

Xingzhi spits the tea out, dropping the cup and looking at the pot in surprise.

"Wh— How do you know!? You can taste it!?"

He looks for a linger of a taste in his mouth, finding that he wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t been told (albeit quite late)

[missing-nijiku]

Tatsuo laughs when Xingzhi spits out the tea. "Yup! Known how to identify poisons sense I was about ten." He shuffles through his back and pulls out a bottle. "Ya on any meds? If no take one of these. Charcoal pills. It'll basically neutralize everythin in yer system."

[kingdomofprosperity]

The former emperor doesn’t take them, on several medications for his abundant of health problems. Though, he was interested. Still, he didn’t take them and just inspected them out of Tatsuo’s hand.

"… Why didn’t you say something earlier?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Because ya started drinking before I could warn ya? It's not a deadly poison and at worst you'll be in bed with a fever for a weekend." Tay says not full understanding the question.

[kingdomofprosperity]

"You didn’t want to say anything as I poured the tea?" He deadpanned, looking at Tay in annoyance but not surprised. What was this quack that Keir had hired?

"How was it poisoned in the first place?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Most likely in the kitchen itself. Or it was passed off to a servant and they did it. It's tea to the previous emperor so it probably passed through three people. Give me a second. Don't touch the pot again. I'm gonna go get some flour."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Oh, good. You aren’t crazy enough to poison yourself or me." He was almost relieved by that, staying where he was and letting him do what he wanted. Xhingzhi doubted he could stop Tay anyways.

[missing-nijiku]

Tay returns soon with a bit of flour and a soft brush. He very carefully uses the brush to flick flour onto the pot. "And theres the culprit! A fourth set of prints. Along the rim. Probably to hold it still while they added the poison." Tays says with a triumphant grin. "Ya got a poisoner in the pavilion. Not one of yer direct servants or the person in charge of makin the tea. A separate agent."

[kingdomofprosperity]

Xingzhi just let the man drawl on, listening to what he was saying but honestly wishing he would cut to the point.

"And so… do you or do you not know how to find this person?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Ta be honest I don't think you were the intended target. Ya see how the prints on the rim are smudged? Someone put the poison in a while before the others touched it. Do you usually use this pot or is it the preferred tea pot of someone else?" Tay asks as he looks at the pot curiously. "Figuring out the intended target should at least narrow down the suspect pool."

[kingdomofprosperity]

Tatsuo is quietly sipping tea as he sits outside with Xingzhi before speaking right before the previous emperor can take a single sip. "I wouldn' recommend drinkin that. The pot is poisoned." He says casually as he just takes another sip.

@missing-nijiku

Xingzhi spits the tea out, dropping the cup and looking at the pot in surprise.

"Wh— How do you know!? You can taste it!?"

He looks for a linger of a taste in his mouth, finding that he wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t been told (albeit quite late)

[missing-nijiku]

Tatsuo laughs when Xingzhi spits out the tea. "Yup! Known how to identify poisons sense I was about ten." He shuffles through his back and pulls out a bottle. "Ya on any meds? If no take one of these. Charcoal pills. It'll basically neutralize everythin in yer system."

[kingdomofprosperity]

The former emperor doesn’t take them, on several medications for his abundant of health problems. Though, he was interested. Still, he didn’t take them and just inspected them out of Tatsuo’s hand.

"… Why didn’t you say something earlier?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Because ya started drinking before I could warn ya? It's not a deadly poison and at worst you'll be in bed with a fever for a weekend." Tay says not full understanding the question.

[kingdomofprosperity]

"You didn’t want to say anything as I poured the tea?" He deadpanned, looking at Tay in annoyance but not surprised. What was this quack that Keir had hired?

"How was it poisoned in the first place?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Most likely in the kitchen itself. Or it was passed off to a servant and they did it. It's tea to the previous emperor so it probably passed through three people. Give me a second. Don't touch the pot again. I'm gonna go get some flour."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Oh, good. You aren’t crazy enough to poison yourself or me." He was almost relieved by that, staying where he was and letting him do what he wanted. Xhingzhi doubted he could stop Tay anyways.

[missing-nijiku]

Tay returns soon with a bit of flour and a soft brush. He very carefully uses the brush to flick flour onto the pot. "And theres the culprit! A fourth set of prints. Along the rim. Probably to hold it still while they added the poison." Tays says with a triumphant grin. "Ya got a poisoner in the pavilion. Not one of yer direct servants or the person in charge of makin the tea. A separate agent."

[kingdomofprosperity]

Tatsuo is quietly sipping tea as he sits outside with Xingzhi before speaking right before the previous emperor can take a single sip. "I wouldn' recommend drinkin that. The pot is poisoned." He says casually as he just takes another sip.

@missing-nijiku

Xingzhi spits the tea out, dropping the cup and looking at the pot in surprise.

"Wh— How do you know!? You can taste it!?"

He looks for a linger of a taste in his mouth, finding that he wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t been told (albeit quite late)

[missing-nijiku]

Tatsuo laughs when Xingzhi spits out the tea. "Yup! Known how to identify poisons sense I was about ten." He shuffles through his back and pulls out a bottle. "Ya on any meds? If no take one of these. Charcoal pills. It'll basically neutralize everythin in yer system."

[kingdomofprosperity]

The former emperor doesn’t take them, on several medications for his abundant of health problems. Though, he was interested. Still, he didn’t take them and just inspected them out of Tatsuo’s hand.

"… Why didn’t you say something earlier?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Because ya started drinking before I could warn ya? It's not a deadly poison and at worst you'll be in bed with a fever for a weekend." Tay says not full understanding the question.

[kingdomofprosperity]

"You didn’t want to say anything as I poured the tea?" He deadpanned, looking at Tay in annoyance but not surprised. What was this quack that Keir had hired?

"How was it poisoned in the first place?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Most likely in the kitchen itself. Or it was passed off to a servant and they did it. It's tea to the previous emperor so it probably passed through three people. Give me a second. Don't touch the pot again. I'm gonna go get some flour."

[kingdomofprosperity]

Tatsuo is quietly sipping tea as he sits outside with Xingzhi before speaking right before the previous emperor can take a single sip. "I wouldn' recommend drinkin that. The pot is poisoned." He says casually as he just takes another sip.

@missing-nijiku

Xingzhi spits the tea out, dropping the cup and looking at the pot in surprise.

"Wh— How do you know!? You can taste it!?"

He looks for a linger of a taste in his mouth, finding that he wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t been told (albeit quite late)

[missing-nijiku]

Tatsuo laughs when Xingzhi spits out the tea. "Yup! Known how to identify poisons sense I was about ten." He shuffles through his back and pulls out a bottle. "Ya on any meds? If no take one of these. Charcoal pills. It'll basically neutralize everythin in yer system."

[kingdomofprosperity]

The former emperor doesn’t take them, on several medications for his abundant of health problems. Though, he was interested. Still, he didn’t take them and just inspected them out of Tatsuo’s hand.

"… Why didn’t you say something earlier?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Because ya started drinking before I could warn ya? It's not a deadly poison and at worst you'll be in bed with a fever for a weekend." Tay says not full understanding the question.

[kingdomofprosperity]

Tatsuo is quietly sipping tea as he sits outside with Xingzhi before speaking right before the previous emperor can take a single sip. "I wouldn' recommend drinkin that. The pot is poisoned." He says casually as he just takes another sip.

@missing-nijiku

Xingzhi spits the tea out, dropping the cup and looking at the pot in surprise.

"Wh— How do you know!? You can taste it!?"

He looks for a linger of a taste in his mouth, finding that he wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t been told (albeit quite late)

[missing-nijiku]

Tatsuo laughs when Xingzhi spits out the tea. "Yup! Known how to identify poisons sense I was about ten." He shuffles through his back and pulls out a bottle. "Ya on any meds? If no take one of these. Charcoal pills. It'll basically neutralize everythin in yer system."

[missing-nijiku]

"You’re the bodyguard looking for a job?" A deep voice spoke, presumably by the person who had asked to meet up in the first place. The Tian Pavillion sigil on her armour glistened in the candle light of whatever public place they were currently meeting, neither of them yet trusting each other not to skin the other to kill them. As if they could anyways.

"I’m willing to pay good money if you actually plan to do a good job."

— Keir.

"I don't halfass my work." Tatsuo says calmly as he stands straight. "My only requirement is that I don't want to guard someone who'll try to talk down to me. I can but I've long sense stopped takin such jobs. Beneath my skill set to follow around someone as another man servant."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Until someone is able to vouch for your permission to be here, then you’re not to enter the pavilion walls." The younger guard spoke with certainty and annoyance of this seemingly random man trying to get into the pavilion.

"And especially not with that weapon. You are not to carry a weapon when meeting with a Tian, this is basic knowledge."

[missing-nijiku]

"And I don't expect ya ta let me in until that. But pokin at me won't do anything but make ya look foolish in the long run." He grins a bit as his sword is mentioned. "As for the sword. I'll bring her wherever I please. If my employer has an issue with it than we'll talk. But thats above your paygrade."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Her…?" The guard’s mouth went agape, putting the pieces together quickly. This was a Giver. Whilst most of the town was okay with the updated laws from the new Empress, guards stationed near the Pavillion walls knew that the old emperor still held a grudge against them. This new guy wouldn’t survive.

The Guard immediately changed his pace and contacted someone to open the gate from the inside, the doors slowly opening before them.

"My apologies, please. Right this way."

[missing-nijiku]

Tatsuo raises an eyebrow. "This seems like an unnecessary change in behavior. Would ya mind explaining before I go anywhere?"

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Oh, we just… don’t get a lot of Givers." The Guard shook his head. "I can get one of the servants to show you around if you wish?"

[missing-nijiku]

Tatsuo seems to realize whats happening. "You're hiding me cause 'm a dependent." He concludes. "Someone here is gonna be pissy about it."

[kingdomofprosperity]

The Guard tried to smile despite being caught. "You have a job, don’t you? Don’t you wanna’ come meet your ‘job’ anyways?"

[missing-nijiku]

"Seein as I did ma research after being offered the job. I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to be playing guard the person yer hidin me from. I'll play along for now but 'm gonna laugh when I meet the heel in person."

[kingdomofprosperity]

The guard smiled. "No need to hide, he’s just in the main house. Please, right this way." He gestured for him to follow a servant through the main house, stopping at a set of sliding doors that presumably was his resting space.

"The retired emperor should be just outside, he doesn’t go far." She explained.

[missing-nijiku]

"I see. So I suppose I'm goin to be meeting him?"

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Uh… yes." The servant nodded and swallowed. "If either of you need anything, I won’t be far— Just call out."

[missing-nijiku]

"Alright then. Thanks for showin me the way." With that he heads in without any hesitation. "I believe 'Mei' would have informed you that I was showing up?" Tatsuo asks without any professionalism.

[kingdomofprosperity]

Xingzhi is caught off guard by the lack of professionalism by the stranger, turning to look at him in shock of his audacity.

"Who do you think you are talking to spouting nonsense like that? Do you know who I am? That is no way to greet a former emperor!"

[missing-nijiku]

"You're a one trick pony who ain't even the one payin for me. I'll greet ya however I please." Tatsuo responds feelings incredibly cheerful about this already. "Ya can call me Tay or Sword. Either works. I was hired to play bodyguard for ya. So now ya gotta put up with me!"

[kingdomofprosperity]

Xingzhi scoffed which tapered off in a dry cough. He really wasn’t a healthy man and all he could do to quell that was sip on some hot tea— the bullshit kind that Reina would’ve choked him out for.

"And let me guess… a tall woman with dark hair hired you for this?" He didn’t ask about the alias, didn’t feel like he had to. It wasn’t his business what Keir was doing.

[missing-nijiku]

"Right on the money. Ya also got yer entire staff in knots think yer gonna bite me head off. Pretty amusin all things considered." Tatsuo says casually. "Do ya even leave yer house enough to require a full time guard on yer ass?"

[kingdomofprosperity]

"I should with how disrespectful your attitude is." Xingzhi murmured, though he didn’t move from his spot on the engawa-like flooring that gave an open view of a private garden.

"If you are going to take this job, you should be quiet and alert. Not blabbering such rudeness to the one you are meant to be serving."

[missing-nijiku]

"The day I start fallen all over myself ta appease someone is the day I'm long gone. I ain't gonna lie ta ya about who I am. My skills speak for me. I don't do quiet."

[kingdomofprosperity]

That was respectable. Shamefully so. If they were taught one thing at the Pavillion, it was to always act with confidence.

"I do not require your presence if you don’t plan to do your job properly. You may leave."

[missing-nijiku]

"My job is ta keep you safe. Pretty sure it doesn't require me to sit in a corner quietly. And you ain't the one who hired me so I don't answer to you outside of safety concerns." Tatsuo pauses. "Huh. Last time I had this conversation was when guarding a kid."

[kingdomofprosperity]

Xingzhi turned to look at Tay, glaring and clearly disapproving of his work here.

"What exactly is it that you want? If it is the pay that you are after I will pay you more just to leave now."

[missing-nijiku]

"Not particularly at this point. What's keeping me now is interest in the situation."

[kingdomofprosperity]

He huffed. Of course he couldn’t just bribe the man to give up.

"I’ll remind you that despite not being the head of the pavilion, I can still make the orders to have your head for your attitude now. I was once an emperor in charge, you should show respect in your work."

[missing-nijiku]

Tay just grins. "This is me being respectful. If I were bein rude you would have already gotten pissed instead of just frustrated with me."

[kingdomofprosperity]

"Oh. Of course." He nodded, speaking sarcastically. Just great.

"Very well, then. If you aren’t going to stay quiet you, at the very least, should be able to provide entertainment. This isn’t your first job, yes? I’m sure you must have some interesting experiences."

[missing-nijiku]

Tay nods. "I'd like think a conversation is plenty entertainin. But I'll play along. I do have thirty-five years worth of stories.... I once snuck into a raiders safe house for a week before anyone noticed I was there."