Day 3: Talentswap (Celeste x Sayaka)
"Here's your tea, miss.", the waiter told the customer, as he placed a cup of dark red tea onto the table. Looking up from her magazine, the customer took a look at the liquid, her right eye fully focused on the elegant cup and nice shape, along with the fluid in the cup itself. With a smile, she adjusted her eye patch and turned to the waiter gently.
"Thank you.", she told him. "I love Roiboos tea."
The waiter nodded and then walked off, as the girl began to grab the handle and blow off some of the steam.
Her appearance was unique to say the least. A neat white suit with dark red accents contained a slim woman with wide shoulders and blue hair, along a pair of white gloves. Her eyes had a soft touch and yet the eagle-eyed viewer would notice that said eye contained something like a storm.
If she saw guilt in you, the storm would ravage. If not, it would rest. Calm, like the sea.
This was Sayaka Maizono, a famous detective and one who struck fear in the hearts of any criminal that she crossed paths with. Known in the underworld as The Demon Detective due to her ruthless and cold pursuit of crime, most tried to avoid her. Lest they'd face the punishment for their crimes.
But right now, Sayaka was off-duty. It was a sunny day in Bristol and she had decided to drink some hot beverage, in order to relax and to start the day off with a smile. After all, being a detective was no easy feat and she always appreciated whenever she was able to take a day off.
She took a sniff off the tea.
"Mhm....Roiboos...", she said to herself happily. "I wonder if it tastes as good, as the one in Groningen? Only one way to find out."
She grabbed the handle and took a sip of it, smiling happily and humming in delight.
Sayaka stopped and turned her attention to one of the other tables. A woman was sitting there, roughly around her age and smiling sweetly at her nearby. Her appearance was interesting to say the least.
Black hair with two massive pigtails, a black jacket with a chess-pattern. Her eyes and lips were as red as roses and her skin was uncharacteristically white and her jawline was rather angular, which contrasted with her rather feminine appearance.
Sayaka nodded and smiled sweetly.
"It is.", she answered content. "I like the temperature. It's not hot enough to burn my tongue yet not cold enough to taste gross."
"Indeed. The Cafe here is known for their exquisite tea. Especially if you add some milk to it."
"You can add milk to tea?", Sayaka asked surprised and rhe stranger nodded elegantly.
"Indeed. There are so many variations, on how one can drink tea. Whether it'd be with candy sticks, sugar cubes or milk. The variations are endless."
"I see... I didn't know that.", Sayaka replied and smiled. "Are you a tea expert by any chance?"
"Well....thank you for the compliment.", Celeste replied and then shook her head. "But my actual ability belies in something more sophisticated."
"Oh really? Like being a skilled actress?", Sayaka asked, to which the stranger tilted her head.
"Yes. That's a very convincing french accent if I've ever heard one before.", the detective explained and smiled.
"Convincing? Why of course. I am french after all. The name is Celestia Ludenberg. But you can call me Celeste.", Celeste introduced herself and Sayaka smiled warmly.
"A pretty name. And i am-"
"Sayaka Maizono.", Celeste replied and smirked. "You are quite the celebrity after all."
"Celebrity?", Sayaka asked, as her cheeks reddened while giggling along. "You're such a charmer. I'm just a detective."
"A detective that brought a corrupt Dutch politician to justice.", Celeste answered with a smirk. Sayaka giggled.
"It seems my reputation precedes me. You are a fan of me or what?", she teased, hoping to get some reaction from Celeste. But the latter played it cool.
"Well I have been interested in your career. You seem pretty smart, you know. And I respect smart people. And....."
"Test, you say? With what?", Sayaka asked curiously and eyed the faux french-woman
Her accent was almost convincing. Almost. But Sayaka could tell that it was forced.
After all, no french person would pronounce their last name in an english way.
Celeste grinned and took something out from behind. And it was a chessboard. One that seemed very antique and made out of wood, the figures all being in proper place. Rook, knight, pawn, the full package.
"Chess, huh.", Sayaka realised and smiled. "So this is your forte?"
"Oui. I'm a very skilled chess player and am passionate for the sport. And I always appreciate a good battle of wits, so....Care for a game?"
"Hmm...", Sayaka mumbled to herself and eyed the girl for a brief moment, before getting up and smiling. "Sure. On the condition that I get to play as black."
"That can be arranged.", Celeste replied with a smirk and then Sayaka sat down, while the chess player grabbed the pawn with a swift motion and placed it forward.
What followed next, was a fierce yet silent battle. Celeste went immediately on the offensive and Sayaka lost most of her pawns at first and yet she kept up and studied her opponent. Her mentor always taught her to remain calm and composed and to always wait and see.
Which is why Sayaka took her time, before taking out her opponent's pawns, going on the offense. With a sweet smile, both contestants swapped pieces with one another, until....
"Hm.", Celeste noted, as Sayaka took out her last pawn. Only one pawn and king each remained, a clear draw. "So.....a draw. Interesting."
"Yeah.... you're quite good.", Sayaka admitted sheepishly. "I really shouldn't have given up my knight this early..."
"And i should have noticed the trap you laid for my queen.", Celeste replied and giggled. "I had fun nevertheless though. You are a skilled and smart woman Sayaka."
"Thank you. I can say the same about you as well, Celeste.", Sayaka said and smiled. "How about we have some dinner later? So we can get to know each other more. My treat."
"Of course.", Celeste answered and returned a charming smile. "Just tell me when and I shall come."
So, the two agreed on a time and they eventually went separate ways, neither of them leaving each other's heads.
Sayaka wanted to learn more about the woman, who pretended to be french.
And Celeste wanted to learn more about the demon detective and the rumors.
What both knew in the end though, was that this was going to be the beginning of something.... wonderful.
