Nanba Prison (Nanbaka RP Group) discussion

(view spoiler)[ Disclaimer: Written by Ilsa (hide spoiler)]
This is a basic breakfast/lunch/dining area. The chef is a strict, tough guy that you better stay on the good side of or risk eating all the foods you hate. Despite, the food served here is top notch. The prisoners dine on one of about two dozen assorted tables and chairs that are all bolted to the floor.

Qi realized they had not coordinated the exact location where they would meet at 1. She couldn't sit around and wait to see if they would come to her cell. Thus, once she was ready, she began making her way to the cafeteria. Dressed in a sleek red kimono decorated with black and flamed flowers. With her hands held within the opposite's sleeve, resting at her abdomen, she glided along the floor. She'd informed the guard stationed outside her door where she was headed and noting the cameras that followed her movement as she passed, she knew was being watched. She kept her gaze downcasted, her long black hair hiding her expression. Soon, she entered the cafeteria and went over to the area that was connected to the kitchen. However, without a guard accompanying her, she was not allowed to enter the area that held all sorts of viable weapons. Thus, she took a seat on a nearby chair and waiting for the Katsuro brothers.

Kiun was in the kitchen by the time Qi had approached, perfectly on time. He flashed her a welcoming smile and lead her inside the kitchen after greeting her. He had clearly made sure to pack away most of the knives and cutlery away, leaving just enough for Qi and Atsushi to use if they needed them, but not enough to raise any concerns. He had done it rather thoroughly as well.

Atsushi strolled leisurely into the kitchen a few minutes afterwards, having just gotten off his shift. Already he began rolling the sleeves of his uniform up, moving to stand next to Qi. With the both of them standing side by side, their glaringly obvious height difference stood out even more than usual. Kiun was shorter than Atsushi, but even he stood significantly taller than Qi.

"So, what are you two making?" Kiun asked curiously from his place by the wall, steering clear out both Qi and Atsushi's ways. He'd hate to get in the way.

Qi greeted Kiun when he came out of the kitchen to fetch her. A greeting that involved a polite bow and smile. Once she was inside the kitchen, she took note of the layout and even more so towards Kiun's careful preparations for today. An amused smile lit her lips briefly. "Well prepared, Kiun," she praised, her eyes looking shut once more. She moved over to the counters, investigating the kitchen space. She was about to ask Kiun if he knew where they kept certain tools when Atsushi walked in.
Her hands remained in her sleeves while she turned her head, opening her eyes fully to note he looked almost ready to begin to bake. He clearly had no intention to change. She wondered why he had not said a different time to allow him a moment to change. Nonetheless, she didn't look up at him. Feeling no need to meet his eyes as she greeted him with a slight nod.
Her focus did change to Kiun who had moved far off in the room. "I was thinking a chocolate cake or Green Tea cookies," she voiced, "I have prepared my recipes for both," she said and tilted her head up to finally look Atsushi in the eye. "Which would you prefer?" she asked, pulling two rolled sheets out of her sleeves and placed them onto the counter before them.

Kiun smiled lightly when faced with Qi's praise, never once breaking his amiable demeanor. "It is standard procedure here. I hope you will not take offense." He requested politely.

Atsushi's eyes glossed over the two recipes, and he replied decidedly, "Let's go with the cookies." He believed he had made them once or twice before, so he was confident he could fair well on this challenge. He then, surprisingly enough, turned to Qi with a lidded smile on his face. "Good luck to us both then, Miss Aglæca," he remarked coolly before turning his attention to grabbing a mixing bowl and the ingredients he would need. He laid everything out in front of him on the counter then began measuring them out into the bowl. He didn't use the most accurate measurements; usually he did everything by eye alone. It was more unconventional but it fit his style better, and normally yielded him better results too.

Kiun made himself comfortable near the back, watching the two quietly without disturbing either of them.

Qi shook her head, "of course not," she replied with ease, returning his politeness with her own. "It is to be expected. It is much better to be safe than to be sorry... as the saying goes," she mused softly.

She then waited for his decision and nodded once it was confirmed. "Excellent choice. I do much rather a pleasant cookie over a cake," she replied. She tucked the other recipe away so it wouldn't take up any counter space they would need. However, she was mildly amused when she received a half-decent smile from the man. She couldn't help but give him a polite, close-eyed smile in return. "Let fate dictate the victor, Mr Katsuro," she countered with a velvety tone. Once said, she gently pulled back her sleeves and got to work. She collected what she needed but soon turned to Kiun, "where is it that I can procure smaller bowls? I presume a kitchen of this calibre would possess some for holding small servings of ingredients?" Qi was not going to be swayed by making this competition time oriented over patience for quality. Not that she believed Atsushi to be swayed into it either. However, it was human nature to increase the speed when the pressure was high. Unlike Atsushi though, Qi was more meticulous about her measurements. She was a detail-oriented individual thus, she made sure to prepare all the ingredients in said small bowls and laid them out before she proceeded to combine them. Sifting, mixing and beating before she had the dough made and rolled up. 'Cutting' it in half before she slickly rolled it into a cylinder. She was selective with the length and width of the dough and once content, she wrapped it up. She collected the pan that was placed out but stopped to look at Kiun, "unfortunately, I shall be needing some rice as well. I apologize for the additional work," she told him.
Only after she had the rice placed in the pan and the two wrapped cylinders, she moved them into the fridge to chill. Unfortunately, it was now a waiting game for a couple hours. "Should I make us a light snack?" Qi inquired. She then paused, since she was thinking of some light sandwiches that would require her to use cutlery. "I guess that would be requiring too much from you both." It was already difficult enough to complete the cookies without the use of utensils. Being under such restrictions was indeed taxing and irritating. However, it was quite some time since she had the chance to bake and cook for others. It was quite a nostalgic feeling and a pleasant one at that.

Kiun smiled gladly in return, seemingly relieved by her agreement. "Yes, that is true." He agreed. He pointed out where the ingredients were for Qi each time she asked, vaguely remembering them from his earlier sweep of the place and those that were harder for her to reach he handed to her himself. The rice he brought for her as well, assuring her it was no problem at all as he did so.

Atsushi only smiled evenly at Qi's counter, nodding before turning to focus on the things before him. He was rather carefree with his work, eyeing measurements and increasing or decreasing ingredient amounts as he saw fit for his taste. He worked rather quickly, but enjoyed it as well. He had a pleasant smile on his face the whole while, even occasionally humming a small tune. Baking was one of the few genuine passions he had.
By the time he'd finished making the dough, the recipe differed quite a bit from the original one Qi had shown him. He'd made it a little sweeter by adding white chocolate to the mix, as well as slightly increased the bitterness from the green tea to balance the flavor. He'd also tweaked the texture to resemble a chocolate chip cookie more, so he wasn't overly concerned with how the dough looked. He used a similar method to Qi's to keep the dough's shape though, placing it in a pan filled with rice before leaving it in the fridge to firm up.
He leaned back on the counter, his gaze shifting to Qi when she voiced a suggestion. He glanced at Kiun from the corner of his eyes and guessed from the expression on his face that he was about to agree with Qi that it was asking for a bit much and refuse the idea. But before he could, Atsushi had pushed himself off the counter and moved to the cabinet to grab the cutlery he knew she would probably need from reading between the lines of her words, sliding them across the counter to her. He figured the ingredients she'd need were accessible to her, so let her get those herself. "Go ahead," he allowed.

Kiun raised an eyebrow in astonishment at Atsushi's response. He was the last person Kiun would have ever expected to give Qi the benefit of trusting her; not even Kiun had been willing to give her that much freedom. He shot his brother a doubtful look, but Atsushi only gave him a lazy wave of hand and an easy grin, mouthing; "Don't worry, I can handle it if anything happens."

((Literal screams))

Qi would have to admit, having the two brothers made the experience much more... pleasant than baking usually meant for her. She had only learned because she was forced to know. A skill a perfect housewife and female should know. Even if she would likely never need to touch the kitchen. It was a womanly skill to know thus whenever she was in the kitchen, it was often an ulterior motive to it. However, with Kiun's kind assistance and the most shocking was Atsushi's genuine enjoyment joined with humming. It was a lively time, even if she didn't add to it. Qi would have to keep in mind that he enjoyed baking... as well as what his procedure said about his personality.

Upon addressing her request, she could see Kiun was about to agree with her. Knowing that it wouldn't be possible. An unfortunate occurrence but something she saw coming. However, if what occurred next was to get some sort of reaction from Qi. Atsushi definitively achieved that. The woman's eyes were wide as she watched the man grab the cutlery she'd need and gave her verbal permission. She was genuinely shocked he, out of the two, would allow her access to sharp objects. Qi's crimson gaze shifted to the knife then back at Atsushi. Her eyes slipped closed and she presented him with a smile. Alas, it was small but sincere. She was impressed. He had that amount of confidence in himself. She didn't know whether to think he was overestimating himself or her- in the terms of her facade.
"Thank you," she said, giving a short bow before she got to work. Making a small collection of three different types of sandwiches. The first being a normal meat and lettuce sandwich, then cucumber sandwiches with the final collection being some egg sandwiches. She set them on three separate plates, handing out an addition empty three along with cups. "Tea?" she asked the kettle already on to boil. Qi worked efficiently and quietly. It was a bit haunting watching her and she made no sign of doing anything other than preparing food. A wonderful host to her quests. Though, she did plan on doing the dishes sometime soon. They'd accumulated quite the amount. She just wasn't looking forward to requiring a stool to be able to achieve the task.

(( Mood ))

Atsushi had no idea whatever had sparked the sudden instinct to trust Qi just this once. Maybe because he was in a good mood he was feeling more lenient. He could think of no other explanation. Neither could Qi, he guessed, judging by the sheer shock in her expression, which did not come as a surprise to Atsushi at all to be honest. He was sure he would've had the same reaction had it been the other way around. He didn't even feel particularly smug about it either, although he had technically gotten something out of her. He shrugged it off for the time being; better not to dwell on it.

Kiun reached for an egg sandwich once Qi offered them to him, flashing her a smile. "Thank you." He nodded yes to her question, watching as she moved on to begin preparing the tea. "It was very kind of you to indulge us today. I apologize for the trouble we've caused you."

Atsushi soon shuffled towards them to reach over Qi and grab a meat and lettuce sandwich, devouring half of it in the first bite, only to voice a muffled 'thanks' as he walked away. He relaxed back in his seat afterwards, stretching out his arms comfortably.

It was noticeable that both boys had begun lowering their guard ever so slightly around Qi, Atsushi more than Kiun. Perhaps because the two of them were so alike; Atsushi didn't see her a threat any greater than himself. He acknowledged that she could be dangerous, but for now, he let himself enjoy their time in kitchen with just the three of them. It was nice to have someone other than just him and Kiun for a change, even if that someone happened to be an inmate as doubtful as Qi. He vaguely wondered what she could have done to land herself in a maximum prison like this.

((Right xD))

Qi bowed her head in response to Kiun's gratitude, "thank you," she retorted softly as she began preparing their tea. Something fitting to go with their sandwiches. She began pouring the boiled water while she replied to Kiun. "Not at all. It was a pleasure. Much more entertaining than how I tend to spend my afternoon," she informed the guard. When she was stuck being challenged by prisoners who didn't realize they were far outmatched wasn't an overly splendid way to spend one's days. However, it was better than wasting away as she waited for her charges to be cleared.

She finished with the tea and stiffened when Atsushi reached over her to grab some food. His mouthful spoken thanks was the least of her concerns at that moment. Fortunately for him. She slid him a glance before she cast her attention elsewhere.
"How do you tend to spend your free time?" she engaged curiously. Making conversation to fill the time as they waited for their dough to settle. She did turn away to hunt down a stool before she began preparing the sinks for the dishes to be washed. Fixing her clothes so they wouldn't get soaked. She did pause for a moment once the sinks were filled to look at Atsushi. Her expressionless face and large eyes caught. Once achieved, she held out a dry towel for him, a silent request for his assistance to dry the dishes she washed. He did help with accumulating the dishes after all.

Kiun smiled a small but understanding smile hearing Qi's reply. "I imagine so," he agreed politely. Anything would be more entertaining than spending hours in a prison cell. He watched closely as she prepared the tea. Atsushi was leisurely snacking on his sandwich, so it appeared he was not doing much watching himself and leaving it to Kiun, but Kiun knew better. Atsushi was the sort to look carefree doing anything, when in fact, he was usually the one most on guard. He was sure that was the case now.

He accepted tea gratefully, returning to seat afterwards. "Well, we don't tend to have too much of it," he responded with a short laugh, "but, I quite enjoy reading. Painting is an enjoyable hobby, too." He paused, and when it was clear Atsushi had no interest in contributing to their chat, carried on for him. It was rather unusual of his typical behaviour but Kiun didn't question it. Atsushi had made it plainly obvious from the first meeting that he was not overly fond of Qi, though Kiun had no idea why. If she were any other lady, Atsushi would have jumped at the idea of charming her.
"My brother like challenges and baking, as you know. Mostly he spends his free time training." He then turned the question over to Qi.

Atsushi stared at Qi's outstretched hand silently before reaching out to grab the towel from her. For someone else, he probably would have offered to do them alone. The idea of helping Qi though ground on his gears slightly (which was an improvement, compared to earlier meetings) so he decided against it.

Qi nodded, not surprised about that. The facility was an enormous place and sure there was a lot of staff but there were even more inmates. It was a demanding job. She hummed, "painting is a good hobby," she replied, "do you have a preferred paint?" she inquired, recognizing that Atsushi had logged off and was just waiting for the result of their competition. She wasn't going to complain if he wasn't going to start anything. It had progressed to the point where he was trying to bit her head off at a moment's notice. "Is there something you refuse to paint?" she additionally asked, curious to learn. The more you knew about someone, the easier it was to persuade and interact with them.

She smirked a bit, a small twitch of her lips and nodded. "I have discovered," she agreed with a small chuckle. She had to keep her lips shut from saying something she knew would provoke Atsushi. Especially since she wished for him to assist her with the dishes. She couldn't have him causing a fuss.
Thus, after he took the cloth, she returned to cleaning and answered. "I'm a bit of a workaholic myself," she began. Any skills or hobbies she usually picked up was in order to deceive the people around her or use that knowledge gained for business. She rarely did much thoughtlessly- not like here where she had nothing to do other than to partake in thoughtlessness. "I do enjoy games and occasionally sketching. Have yet to find any calling for such, alas," she playful joked, "but I will often bake and accepting challenges are enjoyable pastimes."

Qi soon finished up the dishes and would have put them away if she had known where they belonged and was allowed to. Unfortunately, she did not. She could only either leave it for Atsushi to handle or left it neatly stacked on the side. However, with that task done, she sat down at the counter to have a sandwich herself.

"I tend to prefer acrylic paint," Kiun answered with a small smile. Her next question touched his guard a bit. It sounded innocent enough, but based on his reply, he imagined she could probably gain some advantageous information, such as a weakness. There wasn't much he was against painting, honestly, but still, better safe than sorry. He chose his next words carefully, but maintained the same pleasant smile. "I mostly paint just scenery. I'm afraid I'm not quite experienced enough to venture to other subjects."

Oddly enough, today Atsushi felt calmer than usual around Qi. He didn't realize it himself, but being able to do something he enjoyed like baking was rare nowadays, and had him in a fairly good mood. Although, that wasn't to say he wouldn't lose it with comments from Qi. He was still not used to her.
He listened absently to her and Kiun's conversation, finding nothing of particular importance to note. Though the sketching part was a surprise. He couldn't imagine someone as devious as Qi partaking in such a peaceful activity, though that was probably because of his own biased view of her.
Once Qi had moved away to sit, Atsushi began putting away the dishes. It wasn't a commonly known fact, but Atsushi was a bit of a clean freak. Growing up having to care for his brother caused it to become a habit.

"You could always do some sketching in the library," Kiun suggested brightly. "It's fairly relaxing too. I imagine that would help in a place like this."

Qi nodded, a common type she noted. It was seemingly a favourite of many and easier to play with depending on what you wished to do with it. However, the slight hesitance in answering her next question caught her attention. His guard was up, more than usual of course. She'd noted that Kiun kept a fair distance from himself and her but there was still a softness to it. This time, however, he was cautious. It piqued her interest and had her playing careful mind to what he said. She smiled a bit, "a favourite," she mused, "dabbling- I found painting people to be a challenging task despite sought. Do you have much experience?" she inquired.

Qi was bemused to notice how silent and even compliant Atsushi was being. A glance towards him in the corner of her eye as she washed to read anything from him. He looked much calmer than when they first interact with each other- though she was unsure how to take it. Did he not find her as much as a threat? Or was it temporary calmness fitted with a nice meal and activity?
Once she had moved to sit, returning the step stool she'd used to reach the sink properly, she faced Kiun. She had glimpsed Atsushi's mild surprise when she mentioned she did some sketching. She internally grinned at the thought of his expression if she were to reveal she also knew how to knit or fence. She'd have her moment to pick at Atsushi, she assured herself.

Qi tilted her head, her face as mildly expressionless as always. "What an idea," she mused thoughtfully, "do they happen to have good scenery in their windows?" she inquired curiously. Her eyes slipped closed with the soft smile on her face, "I happen to enjoy scenery as well." If she sketched a person they usually turned out to be nothing like what they looked. Instead, they often came out as how she saw them. It wasn't often a lovely image.

(( Sorry I took forever, final exams ;-; ))

"Not much," Kiun responded. "Only a few attempts here and there. It's not a favorite of mine with its difficulty." He smiled when Qi seemed to be showing interest in pursuing her hobby, and was happy to help. "They do, actually. The scenery is ideal if you like the ocean mostly. But there's the surrounding scenery too. The stars are especially visible here at night. The sky is a pretty sight then."

Atsushi finished putting the dishes away and silently moved to sit next to Kiun and Qi, grabbing another sandwich before he did. He listened briefly to the conversation going on, but soon concluded it was rather dull and dissociated himself from it. He didn't know how Qi had the patience to sit down in front of a piece of paper for so long at a time to sketch something decent. He found the whole process boring, but seeing the result was interesting. Probably explained why his drawing skills were on par with a 2 years old's. Unless he was looking to impress. Then he tried a bit harder.
He wondered for a brief, curious moment what other hobbies she might enjoy, but all he could imagine was her messing with people, which he credited to her aura of mystery. But then again, she seemed like the sort of person that was full of surprises. Thinking wasn't going to get him anywhere if she really was. He finished up his sandwich and washed it down with the tea before standing up and moving to the fridge to take out the cookie dough, which he reckoned would be ready by now.

He carried it to the counter and set out a baking tray, which he lined with parchment. He took one glance back to see what Qi was up to.

((no worries. Hope it went well))

Qi nodded as she sipped her tea, giving him a small, closed-eyed smile, "we can agree with that then," she said softly, pointing out the fact they were on the same page in those terms. Despite the reasons likely being very alternate though coming to the same conclusion. "Sounds very pleasant. I'll have to look into it. It will help pass the time," she murmured softly and thought about it. "Ideal for stargazing, perhaps?" She'd done a lot of things in her life, but stargazing was never a pastime she indulged. Definitely wouldn't have thought it was a possibility in a prison.

Qi chuckled to herself quietly, her hand raised in front of her mouth. A sound that was as delicate looking as her body as it continued until a tear slipped down her cheek. "I apologize," she said after a moment, her chuckles having almost died. She was here actually enjoying herself. Sure, she was still being cautious with Atsushi but she felt relatively calm. Without worries and finding that it was somewhere like this place that she was able to freely try new things without having ulterior motives for learning or experiencing it. The irony had truly bloomed on her and it was quite an amusing thought. She swiped the tear away and looked over at Atsushi, her crimson gaze intensely blank.
Here she was, with these two brothers baking cookies to prove and gain nothing. It was something she had never felt before. She was always striving to survive by any means necessary. Everything she did and said was done to enforce her power and status to ensure she could not be crossed. She was married to her work and ambitions that she didn't give herself breathers like this. Apparently, a bit of time in prison was all she ever needed. Something that was not easily done without the assistance of the authoritative force in this place. She'd be too busy making sure none of the other inmates tried anything especially since by her estimation, there should be about 13% that was negatively affected by her or her family that would seek retribution.

Qi smiled at Atsushi, "ready for baking then." A rhetorical question as she put her cup down before she got up and headed over to do the last step. Once she had her tray ready, the cookies evenly cut and spaced, she was tucking it into the preheated oven. She set the timer and watched it for a moment. "Thank you for this," she said, her head tilting to the side and up at Atsushi, "both of you. But my cookies will be better, I'm afraid," she gently insisted.

(( Thank you <3 ))

"Indeed," Kiun agreed with a light laugh. "And yes, it is quite ideal. I don't spend much time stargazing, but I can appreciate the view." He assured her. He would be happy if Qi actually took him up on his suggestions, as he was sure she could find them worthwhile in a place like this. Not to mention far too little prisoners took interests in such mundane and simple hobbies, preferring the chaotic entertainments of the prison instead. Kiun didn't think he'd ever understand what they found so enjoyable about gruesome pastimes.

Both the brothers' attention zeroed in on Qi when she burst into laughter, both maintaining relatively stoic faces, but really feeling astonished. Especially Atsushi, who shared a lot more of Qi's personality than Kiun. He knew better than anyone how rarely she showed her true emotions, or any emotions at all actually. Kiun was only mildly startled by her beginning to let her guard down and just enjoy time with the brothers. He responded by giving her a bright grin, whereas Atsushi simply stared. He wasn't sure what to think. Was it a moment of vulnerability, or perhaps her way of ending their little challenge? He wanted to believe it was the latter, but if it wasn't, he would be at a loss.

He snapped out of his thoughts when he noticed her approaching the counter, going back to his cookies. He sliced them into equal sizes and set them onto the sheet. As a finishing touch, he added a few white chocolate chips to the top of each cookie, before sliding the tray into the oven. He leaned back against the counter as he waited till he heard Qi's voice speak up from his side, and turned to look at her. After that earlier rather abrupt change in her personality, he had no idea if she was still putting on the act to beat Atsushi, or genuinely meant her thanks. He supposed he could go with a neutral response. He offered a small, lidded smile, identical to his brother's, who reacted the same way in response to her words. "You're welcome. I'm sorry to say you'll be quite disappointed when I come out on top." He added passive aggressively, his competitive side kicking back in.

Qi complacently smiled, "me as well," she relayed, "for both," she added with a slight nod. It would be a suggestion she'd have to take him upon. It was definitely a better alternative to entertaining those posh gamblers who ended up weeping or attempting to assault her for losing. If not only providing something more flavourful to do while also likely annoying Atsushi. Hopefully to an amusing degree. She couldn't do much else in this place, aside from exploring other hobbies and pastimes until she could return to her work. The most she could do is find some talented individuals that she could sway and bring out eventually to work for her. A far and few ideal considering much of the criminal database being kept here.

She had to admit, seeing their similar stony expression was equally amusing and she could see their sibling relation with it. It was purely their reaction to her chuckles that had it lasted long enough to cause a tear. She never laughed legitimately for any fair period of time so her body was definitely not used to it. She glanced at Kiun, noting his near blinding smile in his later response and glimpsed at Atsushi. Seeing his straight expression but his stare bore into her, demanding questions that didn't reveal themselves on his face. It had her lip quirking up in amusement.

Qi kept her further amusement of Atsushi hastily turning his attention back to the cookies to herself. She turned her own attention to it, enjoy the soft sounds and rekindled the competitive ember. After taking her own cookies out, preparing the oven sheet and beginning to cut them in precise inches before laying them down. Once he had put his tray into the oven, she was a little behind him before tucking it in and closing it up. She was setting up the timer when he responded.
She glanced at him over her shoulder briefly before she finished it up and stepped back before turning to face him. She raised her head to meet his gaze momentarily. Her eyes slipped closed and she gave him a smile that itched more like a smirk. "Would it be a disappointment if I've eaten something to such a high standard that it somehow bested my own?" she mused. She had deliberately wanted to spark his spark since the result would be much more enjoyable when he lost. The look on her face was innocent in nature. Though, she did want to tease him more especially how confused he was earlier. It was simply adorable. She doubted she could ever get bored when she had someone like Atsushi to play with.

Kiun was pleased to see her interest in the topics, and that much was clear in his smile. "If you'd ever like me or Atsushi to accompany you, please feel free to let us know and-"

"Don't ask me," Atsushi cut in bluntly.

"... or just me." Kiun amended, his smile tight. "I'd be happy to help in any way that I can."

Almost as soon as he'd finished saying this, the sounds of Atsushi's knife slamming the cutting board as he sliced the cookies seemed to multiply in volume. His expression darkened but he stubbornly refused to look at or say anything to the pair at the table, studiously ignoring them as he glared at his cookies. Not that he needed to, the waves of annoyance wafting from him were probably enough on their own.

By the time Qi was near his side and finishing up her own cookies though, he was back to his usual apathetic self around her. He stared her down as she spoke for several seconds, before a fake, sweet smile plastered itself onto his lips. "Of course not, but, since you do seem to be rather desperate to win this little baking challenge, I imagine the loss would be quite a shock for you." His tone was pleasant, but there was a slight edge to it as well, as if he knew he could provoke her.

Kiun watched their exchange suspiciously; they appeared kind enough to one another, but he felt an underlying tension for some reason. He hadn't the slightest clue why they were taking a small challenge of baking some cookies so seriously; maybe an ego conflict? He could simply be imagining things, but it felt strong enough that he spoke up. "I was thinking," he began loudly. "as a judge, I should be fair. However, I've always grown up with Atsushi's food, so I'm afraid there will likely be some bias in my judgement. Perhaps we should appoint a second judge?" He suggested brightly.

Qi held a hand up to her mouth, hiding her twitching lips, amused from Atsushi's intervention and clear wish to not be dragged into such affairs. She bowed her head, "that would be most pleasant," she lifted her head, glancing at Atsushi who was having a mild fit evident with the noise he created. "I would be most gracious to take you up on that offer." Her gaze back on Kiun at this point, half her face still hidden, "such activities would be most enjoyed by two parties that would enjoy it," she humbly commented. She deliberately pointed out that fact it would simply be the two of them doing such activities, alone. It had worked to stir him up before, she would be most interested to see if this proved to fluster him further. Though, if she needed a guard to practice such hobbies, Kiun would likely be the ideal escort though not her only option. The other guard she could arrange- she would prefer not to spend lengths of time with. Entertaining him was absolutely exhausting.

His smile has a chill run down her spine despite the internal amusement she was experiencing. It was exhilarating for someone to give her exactly what she gave. He was a rather good looking man in any case so it wasn't like his smile was unpleasant but knowing the intent... She matched his smile, eyes becoming lidded with a hand raised up to her chin. "Desperate?" she inquired, her expression portraying mildly surprised, "I just wish to see what we're both capable of. Especially since you are someone who enjoys baking as well," she said, "though, I cannot deter that I wouldn't be shocked. I have made such treats for a great number of people after all," she said, her voice just a pleasant, "I would be most embarrassed if it hadn't been up to expectations."

Qi was ready to continue their bickering when Kiun cut in, rather loudly. She glanced over at him, tilting her head minutely, all of which caused her silky locks to slip around her shoulders. "You do have an excellent point, Kiun," she mused. "We definitely desire for this to be as fair as possible. However, a second judge has a higher chance of resulting in a tie... we would need a third as well..." she pointed out, "do you have potential individuals to appoint?"

As soon as the words "two parties" left Qi's lips, Atsushi's knife stabbed into the cutting board, the sound echoing in the now silent room. Suddenly he was once again invested in their conversation. "On second thought," he began, turning to face the pair. There was a sweet, brotherly smile on his face, but the tone of his voice as he spoke was anything but that: strained and clearly irritated. "It would be best if you were accompanied by a reliable guard. I'm afraid fighting is not Kiun's greatest strength, and I would hate if either of you were put in a vulnerable situation. Thus, I shall accompany you for safety reasons." He concluded matter-of-factly.

Kiun raised an eyebrow at this doubtful declaration; he could read Atsushi like an open book. But having his company was reassuring nonetheless, so he sent a kind smile his brother's way. Pleased with this response, Atsushi dropped the act and returned his attention back to one-upping Qi, now much more cheerful. "Well, then, I can only hope you meet your own expectations. Those are the most important after all," he reflected, his voice identical to Qi's.

Kiun was relieved to hear Qi's agreement with his suggestion, and the mutual pause in their verbal fight. He already had someone in mind for a second judge. She was one of the few inmates in this place that he could have a pleasant conversation with, and he imagined she would be thrilled to be invited to a pastime like this. Her other side, well... that was a different story.
It was a third judge he was stuck on. Many of his friends or colleagues would be busy with shifts at the moment, he knew. The few that weren't would hardly be interested in joining based on what he know of their personalities.
"I'll find suitable people, don't worry," he assured Qi confidently.

((yooou have no idea how much I love this xD it's so funny and fuuun ahhhh))

Atsushi never disappointed, never. Hearing the loud thud of the knife being stabbed into the cutting board was almost as satisfying as seeing her father's dying face. It was a good thing she had her hanging sleeved kimono covering the lower portion of her face. She couldn't contain the smile on her face while she was able to stop her desire to snicker hidden. She glanced at Atsushi when he began to speak, shocked with herself how hard it was to compose herself. On the exterior, she looked innocently curious in what he had to say but internally she was laughing at his every word. His expression was so different than his tone and his drastic change of decision was piling hilarity on top of the other. It was fully in the qualms of her expectations but he was absolutely masterful.
Once she was internally calm, she lowered her covered hand to speak. "You may be very correct. A reliable guard would be appreciated. A fight would be least prefered," she mused, her tone much more gracious than what was evident in her eyes. Her gaze was rather blank, aside from the sparkle of amusement within their depths. "But I wouldn't want to trouble you. If you could suggest a reliable guard in your stead? I don't want to force you to babysit us after all." She only said it to get some reaction out of him or good retort. She personally would prefer the brothers over some of the guards in this place. They were too entertaining.

Qi had to applaud Atsushi, his words were meant to sting. They were well done and she couldn't help but praise that. He gave many in her line of work a run for their money. Their wit was quite lacking, or she was simply prejudiced. "I hope I can only be up to par. My expectations only exist because I wish to give others the best. Please don't misunderstand." Her voice was soft and elegant, a delicate sobering with the way in which she painted her words.

Qi hummed, watching Kiun carefully as she moved away from the ovens to take a seat once more. "They are best just after cooling. So they will need to be found in____[however minutes that is cause I'm dummmb and lazzzy]," she calmly reminded. She was fairly curious about who he would decide. Those people called friends often said, at least, something about their personality.

Though, as if by a stroke of divine luck, the kitchen door clicked open and in came a tall individual. He didn't necessarily look like one of the guards, maybe a staff or inmate rather. He took brief note of the individuals in the place before he walked closer. It wasn't him that drew anyone's attention though, it was the human sack dangling from their arm. Qi instinctively was on her feet, pulling out a chair for the other man. She received a nod of gratitude as he manoeuvred the black-haired boy onto the seat so he wouldn't fall over. Without another word, the deliverer exited just as quickly as he'd arrived, leaving the trio with the other one.

A frail-looking boy who was incredibly pale and wore what vaguely resembled the supposed guard uniform of the prison. However, it was missing a lot of pieces of the uniform, it was sloppily buttoned up and that wasn't the most concerning thing. With a slight remnant of bedhead, the sleeping guard's eyes slipped lazily open, though only half-way. A pair of very dull and blank black eyes peered at them, shifting slowly to each one before landing on Qi- since she was the closet. He then seemed to sniff the air which had his eyes widening a bit. "Cookies?" he said, his voice very soft and quiet, as delicate as his frame while being pitifully groggy from sleep.

Qi glanced at Kiun, wondering if he knew who this lacklustre of a man was. He was more like a sloth than a human.

(( Sameee, I understand completely XD

That first comparison though... whoa O.O That took a turn XD ))

As soon as Qi opened her mouth, Atsushi recalled clearly why he hated her so much. Sometimes, such as this very instant, she said the most disadvantageous but intelligent things. It was not easy countering her when her words were so precisely chosen to stab at all of his weak points. He wanted to strangle her.
Instead, he managed to keep the same lidded, fake smile frozen on his face (with much effort), and keep the knife on the cutting board, not Qi's neck. That was the hardest part.
"It's no trouble at all!" He began all too kindly, his aura almost prince-like. "I'm always willing to make time for my baby brother and a troubled young lady in need. Besides, I'm sure we could arrange to do it during a time where I am not on duty." He finished, obviously pleased with himself.

Kiun, a 19 year old grown man - on the other hand- was not pleased by this description of himself. He couldn't imagine Qi being particularly happy with her description either, though Kiun had a feeling that was deliberate on Atsushi's side. Protesting would not do him any good however, and moreover, Atsushi was already moving on to respond to Qi's next witty comeback, so he reluctantly let it go.

If Qi had shown any signs that Atsushi's words had an affect on her, no doubt he would be celebrating smugly. Unfortunately for him, Qi was just as good at concealing her true feelings. "Of course," he said, his tone careful to sound empathetic. "I only saw it in the best light."

Hearing her calculate the exact time, Kiun prepared himself to at least just go get the second judge, but was interrupted when the door opened. He didn't recognize the face he saw, but he did easily recognize the weight under his arm. One idea popped into his head: last judge located. Kiun watched as the stranger set him down a chair, and thanked him as he left. He then turned his attention to one of the few close friends he had, now awake and inquiring about cookies. A warm smile played on his lips. "Morning, Tatsuya." He greeted. Now Kiun knew him well enough to know he wouldn't be crazy about judging, but he also knew him well enough to easily bribe. "I have one little favor to ask. Don't worry, it's simple. All you have to do is pick a favorite cookie. That's it. Do that and you'll get free cookies, which will definitely give you more energy to take a nice, long nap after this. What do you say?" He asked sweetly.

Atsushi watched this exchange with his eyebrows raised very high. Kiun's tone and expression were kind, but somehow his very precise and seemingly effective bribery bordered on very peaceful evil genius. It had him convinced his brother would make the perfect diabolic mastermind. Fortunately, Kiun was as close to angelic as people got.
Atsushi himself was pretty familiar with Ki-te, since he was fairly close with his brother. He hadn't needed to do much research to find out the guy was completely and utterly harmless. If he even considered him a person, that is. Atsushi preferred to think of him as a lazy house cat.

((Such joooy xD crying. Atsushi is so great.
damn straight. There are few things she finds satisfying. xD
btw pm isn't working right noooow so that's why I haven't replied yet >~<))

Qi's gaze remained on him as if daring him to try. To try and counter him or do something with that knife. Continuing to provoke and prod at him even when her words weren't. How she did it behind such a poker face? Who knew. It was titillating. Especially when he kept that expression frozen on his face, the strain unnoticeable with the common eye but her eyes were anything but common. She chuckled softly, having risen her sleeve to politely muffle the sound. "What a gentleman," she praised, sounding sincere in the most inaudibly mocking way. This princely persona he seemed to adopt only further amused her but it was quite effective in design. She noticed Kiun stirred at his choice of words but didn't verbalize anything in retort. Qi was curious about Kiun's decision against doing it. Was it due to their brotherly relationship and understanding or was it because she was here...? What was holding him back? It was a very tempting line of thought because she wondered how the other brother would react to a successful provocation. However, she didn't entertain that thought too much.
"A young lady?" she mused in mild, fabricated surprise, "you flatter me, Mr Katsuro," she drawled. She bowed her head minutely, "I'm sure that could be easily arranged. I won't be preoccupied. I'm sure."

In response, Qi only bowed, echoing his 'of course' with a sweetly gentle smile. As if she never doubted him in the first place. She let that thread drop with the change of focus to their competition and the deliberation of additional judges.
It took her a moment to realize that Kiun was planning on leaving her and Atsushi alone... in the kitchen which held sharp weapons and no one to ensure they didn't kill each other. It was quite an entertaining thought. However, due to the unexpected arrival that she assisted, that thought was cut short.
Once he spoke, Qi took once glance at Kiun and then returned to her seat, taking a small sip from her cup of tea. They'd found their last judge, as evident by Kiun's expression. They both looked to have recognized the guard as soon as his face was visible. It was reassuring and looking over 'Tatsuya' she immediately deemed him as someone she wouldn't need to worry about. He was far too lethargic to be of concern and as Kiun continued to talk with him, it only proved her assumption true. Considering that Kiun was gently manipulating him into helping him.

Tatsuya, or as most of the prison staff and inmates have deemed him: Ki-te, shifted his gaze to Kiun. With eyes looking like they could slip back shut at any moment, he minutely nodded his head in response to his greeting. "Morn," he murmured just as groggily as before, the word soft and slurred. He knew Kiun, he was a nice guard that hadn't been overly annoying like some of the people in this place. Anyone that wasn't annoying and allowed him to sleep in peace was good in his books. He was a nice soothing presence. The type of presence that sleep was better achieved around. His brother on the other hand... not the same presence but he didn't bother Ki-te at all after the first time so it was fine.

As soon as Ki-te heard the word favour, his brow rose cautiously and he looked a little more awake and aware. "Hm?" he mused and silently listened to his proposal. H was silently for a few moments after Kiun finished speaking. Thinking about it. His gaze lazily shifting to Qi, Atsushi and then to the oven. It was incredibly tempting and all he had to do was really eat more of the cookie he liked better. "Okay," he agreed, raising a hand to rub his eyes. It wasn't a bother and Kiun wouldn't be asking him if he didn't need him to. His gaze returned to Kiun then. "Can I sleep until the cookies are ready?" he asked. He didn't think it would be a problem and he won't get upset if they wake him up.
Rationally, Ki-te should be more concerned about the unknown woman he had never seen. Even more so the slight tension in the room that he took notice of after opening his eyes. However, he didn't care and frankly never did. He was a shotty excuse of a guard. A lazy house cat indeed.

Qi smiled, "wonderful. Now it is just the last one..." she glanced at Kiun. She assumed that Tatsuya had not been the one he was planning on collecting and thus would still need to go out and bring them. She noted that he simply didn't request or call for them which alluded to her that they were not staff. That would suggest he was planning on bringing another inmate as a judge. Not a huge matter since there was technically three guards now supervising but it meant he was close to another inmate. Atsushi truly had his work cut out for him with Kiun befriending criminals left and right.

(( As is Qi XD
I can see why she is so feared O.o
No worries, hope it's fixed soon ^^ I've got to go out so sorry I'm not replying to all of them, I'll do so later <3 ))

Atsushi would've loved to take Qi up on the silent dare she presented, but as he preferred being out of the jail cells than inside them, he would refrain for today. Perhaps someday the opportunity would present itself.
It took him no effort to notice the mockery behind Qi's complimentary words, being far too experienced with doing the same thing himself. He certainly wasn't experienced with having it turned back at him, though. It was infuriating and thrilling. Like finally finding a worthy opponent in something one has mastered.
"Why, thank you," he said with a warm smile, his tone beneath it fairly bitter. "I don't believe I do," he added, in response to Qi's reaction to his "flattery."
"I dare say you're around the same age as Kiun? He's 19." This little bit was not mocking; Atsushi genuinely had no idea what her age was, he now realized, and was rather curious. She looked young, so he assumed maybe 18-19. Interestingly enough, Atsushi was well aware asking a lady her age was generally considered rude. If it were any other female, Atsushi would not have let his curiosity best him. But he saw Qi as more of a rival than anything, even a woman, so he really took no heed if he offended her. In fact, he'd be glad if he did. Something to gloat about.

Kiun smiled appreciatively when Ki-te agreed, thanking him. "Of course," he responded to his question, knowing sleep was the equivalent of breathing to Ki-te. "I'll wake you up when it's time." He then stood up. "I'll get the last judge. Take care of things here, Atsushi." He didn't want to wake up Ki-te when it wasn't necessary- just friendly consideration. He could feel at ease knowing Atsushi would be just fine; he'd dealt with larger and more dangerous groups alone. Qi was not someone to be underestimated or trifled with, that much Kiun was well aware of. But in terms of brute strength and abilities, Atsushi had her beat. Qi's mind games were something of concern, but as were Atsushi's illusions. Now that he was listing them like this, Kiun noted they were actually quite similar in a lot of ways. Yet somehow they were still so hostile to each other. Some sort of self-hate thing? He couldn't tell just yet.
Regardless, he focused on the task at hand. Even if something did happen, he would be back shortly and could break it up.

Atsushi took one look at his brother and knew who he was going to fetch, evident by how he narrowed his eyes in distaste. Apparently, the girl was fine, as Kiun assured him multiple times, but he wouldn't trust her other side. They didn't exactly have stellar first impressions. He'd have to keep his guard up even more. Why Kiun insisted on befriending everyone, including dangerous criminals, was beyond him. Qi was right in thinking Atsushi had his work cut out for him; he never got a break from his brother throwing himself in potentially dangerous situations. He rolled his eyes and waved him off with a flick off his wrist. Kiun smiled and took off.

Once he was gone, Atsushi turned his attention to the other two in room with him. He was pretty sure Ki-te had gone back to sleep. How he had ever managed to get a job here was beyond Atsushi. Atsushi was willing to bet he'd fallen asleep during his interview at some point. Guy must have some serious charisma.
He then glanced at Qi. Ideally, this would be the perfect opportunity for him to go off on her, with Kiun gone. However, as one would have it, Atsushi cared about his reputation, and had one even in front of Ki-te: the super reliable and nice older brother. He did not gamble with such risks. He simply flashed that smile he so often seemed to use with her instead. "Shall we take them out? I believe they're done." He inquired, pointing to the oven.

((;P Yes indeed. xD It was! Thank god.
Also, we don't necessarily have to rp Kiun getting Ayeka. She'll of course agree so we could wait a few posts and just have Kiun enter and Ayeka behind him if that works best))

Qi couldn't stifle the small giggle that escaped her when Atsushi guessed her age. It was hilarious to her for a few reasons. Aside from being splendidly well off, which wasn't a surprise to her since no one has ever guessed her age correctly, but his confident deduction on it was amusing. To have her around Kiun's age, he was very kind to think of her as that young and especially taking her as seriously as he did. He was not someone who messed around, clearly. However, what really broke the seal that had her eyes slipping close to minutely hide behind her sleeve, was the fact he had no qualms about targetting her age. She had no doubt he knew how to properly avoid asking a woman's name and followed it purely to keep up his good brother facade for his brother. For him to completely bypass that, was entirely too funny to her despite the fact it should be insulting. He was just so indirectly direct about it that it was something truly new to her.
"Oh but Mr Katsuro, you do," she replied, slipping her crimson gaze open to piercing him with her gaze. "You are off some years," she practically purred. "I am glad to learn you respect me enough not to look into my files," she added, knowing it would be a subtle dig at him. She didn't want to reveal her age however, the mystery of it was too amusing. Though, it would be quite the shame to miss his reaction on finding out.

As soon as Ki-te got the okay and had assured he'd be woken up when he could have snacks, he'd minutely adjusted the seating and laid down on the chairs and was out like a light in a few seconds flat. He wasted no time and was eager to not be awake to be left alone with the two causing the tension in the room.

Qi looked at Kiun and bid him a polite farewell and watched as he left the room. She wasn't entirely concerned with Atsushi showing his true colours. If he did or not didn't matter to her all that much. She has had to go up against people much stronger and combatively skilled than her. She won by any means necessary. However, she had no inclination to actually fight Atsushi. Their verbal bickering was entirely too amusing and satisfying for that. To be at a more even playing field with someone was quite a delight. Most either were quite transparent and horrid with it or didn't even bother with it. Even Tanoshi was too fickle of an individual to provide her with anything. The man only ever did what amused him, something she could currently comprehend. Though, she was approached with someone of a similar calibre...

She was silent after Kiun left, glancing over at the slightly hidden, unconscious man. Tatsuya was just an unusual blimp. She couldn't believe someone like that and so harmless, was a guard. She suspected some strings being pulled but she frankly didn't care all too much. Someone like him wouldn't have any authority so using him would practically be useless, even with a supposed connection. She had no doubt that the person that had brought him in was also an inmate instead of a guard. In itself was absolutely fascinating. It was a minutely good thing she was backstabbed and put in this place. She wouldn't have believed it existed otherwise.

Qi returned her attention to Atsushi when he addressed her. She was mildly intrigued that he didn't bother snapping at her and instead continued with the facade. She glanced at Tatsuya for the cause before she was nodding. "May you grab a fork?" she requested as she stood up and moved back over to the oven. She slid an oven mitt on before lowering the door and after receiving the fork, she checked the cookies to ensure they were both cooked through before placing it back down. She slipped on the second mitt and grabbed both trays, one in each hand and skillfully pulled them out of the oven and manoeuvred around Atsushi to place the hot trays onto the cutting boards to cool.
As Qi was delicately pulling off the mitts, looking and inhaling the scents of their different creations, she spoke. "You were off by a decade and 3 years," she voiced, glancing over and up at him. She watched with a blank expression, her eyes like a hawk while she waited for his reaction once he did the math. A small smile nudged her lips, "I've been told I age well."

(( That's great X)
Yeah that works :3 ))

Atsushi raised an eyebrow at the giggle, clearly inquiring as to what she found funny. His eyes widened in surprise when she mentioned he was off by some years. His first train of thought was that she was even younger, a teenager. Which didn't shock him, she could easily pass for one by appearance, but it did confuse him. Could a teenager really be as cunning and mentally manipulative as Qi? Plus, she seemed to have a lot of experience. She was somehow able to hold her own in a place as dangerous as Nanba. He couldn't imagine a a 15 or 16 year old kid having that much knowledge. Perhaps she was lying? But what reason could she possibly have for lying? She already had the upper hand with Atsushi not knowing her age, as she so irritably pointed out when she mentioned her files. He mentally cursed himself for not thinking of that earlier. That would definitely give him a huge advantage, since there was no way she, an inmate, could do the same to him, a guard. He couldn't think of any other reason. If he didn't feel the need to lie about his age, he doubted she would either. Despite their differences, they had a lot of their responses in common.

The more he thought about it, the more befuddled he became, as was evident in his expression. He was so invested in figuring out this "impossible problem," that he was caught off guard when Qi addressed him again. He cleared his throat and tried to play it cool, calmly grabbing a fork and handing it to her, careful to keep his guard up in case of any mishaps. He watched her as she took out the cookies and set them down to cool off, glancing at her peculiarly when she spoke.

Neither his expression nor posture changed as he processed this information. A decade back would be 9 years old, 3 years even further back...
"6 years old?" He mumbled aloud, so lost in thought he hadn't even noticed he'd started voicing them. He considered this for an instant: impossible. There was absolutely no way. He wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but even he wouldn't entertain such a ridiculous notion that it was unbelievably hilarious. It had to be the other way around then. He hadn't once considered that she might be older than his guess, he now realized. He did the math once more. A decade more was 29, and 3 years later was 32. This is the moment when his brain stopped working. He froze, as perfectly as a statue would, not even his stance moving. He repeated this information to himself, over and over, taking several moments to process.

Finally, it sank in. She was 8 years older than him. This girl, who was two full feet shorter than him, and looked about 18, was in some way, 8 years older than him. He didn't even bother with controlling his facial expressions as he normally took such careful measures to do. His jaw dropped and his face was so clearly one of absolute shock. "Thirty two?!" he exclaimed, taking a step back. He then narrowed his eyes at her, trying to decipher if she could possibly be lying. But then again, she didn't have any reason to do so. Which meant it was true. Atsushi just stared at her, his expression stoic again, but visibly dumbfounded as well. He was also at a loss for words. It was at times like this he wished Kiun were here, so he could make sense of reality.

((Sick))

Qi minutely leaned against the counter, the scent of their cookies washing over her as she waited patiently for Atsushi to figure it out. When he mumbled some of his thoughts out loud, specifically wondering backyards in years instead of forwards... Qi gently bit her bottom lip to contain the sudden bubble of giggles that had wanted to escape. She had not expected to hear that come out of his mouth and it apparently had just tickled her. He immediately started calculations backwards, assuming she was younger. She felt incredibly praised. He definitely held nothing back on making it very apparent he didn't like nor trust her but it was very obvious that he at least was impressed with her. Though her appearance never did have quite such an effect on someone, they would chalk her up to at least 16 and she'd have to term them as a paedophile.

Since it seemed to be taking him a bit, she glanced at their cookies to check on them, noting the little bit Atsushi added on top was an interesting addition. Since she had watched him make it from scratch, she had no qualms and truly desired to just try it as quickly as possible. She wasn't a sweets kind of person, however, but she was the only judge she accepted the opinion of.

Qi's crimson gaze slid back over to Atsushi just when he'd added up the math and began processing the information she had just shared with him. Watching the flurry of emotion cross rapidly across his face was the highlight and expectation of the revelation. The normally composed and even seconds prior, a statue of a man, was gone in his disbelief.
Much as he dropped his facial control, she loosened her own. She was a relative fair woman-- when it suited her. She rested her head against her hand which rested just on the countertop. She gave him a smile, a larger one than she usually displayed. Qi did not hide the sparkling amusement in her usually dull eyes nor the wide, toothy grin of satisfaction from getting the very reaction she wished to get out of him. She nodded, thoroughly amused as he tried to decipher whether she was pulling his leg or not. "I would not joke about something like my age. Nor is it something concerning enough to hide. What have I to fear with the knowledge of how old I am?" she mused with a light chuckle. She straightened up and took a step forward to make up for the step back he took earlier. Qi's hands were held behind her back, her own poker face returning aside from the light sparkle in her eyes. "Though, I would claim I've only been truly living for... 8 years now.
So 6 was not too far off," she practically purred before she turned to test the heat of the cookies.

Seeing Qi smile - which would probably be pretty shocking and humbling for some- put Atsushi off. He didn't like it one bit, as he felt it was amusement at his expense. His eyes narrowed at her suspiciously as she spoke. He did believe her, at least. Revealing her age didn't give her any sort of advantage over him really, so there was no benefit in lying about it. Not that it made the revelation any easier to accept. He was impressed, to be honest. She looked dang good for her age. As much as he disliked her, he had to admit she was pretty close to perfect.

He was still silently scrutinizing her when he heard the door slide open and Kiun walk inside with a girl behind him. Immediately, he slung his arm around his shoulder and pulled him close, effectively locking him in place. He pointed at Qi, whispering harshly: "how old does she look?" Kiun gave him a concerned expression which Atsushi waved off hastily. He sighed and glanced at Qi, shrugging faintly. "26?" He guessed.
Atsushi stared at him wide-eyed. "She's smaller than a 10 year old." He did not bother lowering his volume for this specific comment so as to avoid Qi hearing him.
Kiun shrugged again. "Based on her intellect."
Atsushi snorted and let go of him, stepping away. "She's 32." He grumbled.
A flash of surprise crossed Kiun's face, but soon he was smiling apologetically. "Sorry if he offended you in any way. I don't believe he had any ill intentions. I'm assuming Atsushi didn't return the favor; he's 24 if you were wondering." He finished politely. Atsushi rolled his eyes but said nothing.

"Anyways," Kiun redirected, and moved to gesture at the girl standing behind him that he'd brought along. Atsushi, being too preoccupied with Qi, hadn't even noticed, but now that he did, his eyes instantly narrowed in hostility. He knew Kiun was going to pick her anyways but it didn't make the confrontation any easier. He was well aware of her condition, and had even promised Kiun to be at least somewhat polite to the nice one (only because Kiun insisted, not because he trusted her) but there was no way he was showing the other one an ounce of mercy. Atsushi carefully positioned the earlier knife next to him, just in case he needed to stab someone in particular. He was silently hoping the opportunity would present itself.

"This is Miss Malayeka," Kiun introduced, speaking mostly to Qi. "She's offered to be our final judge. Miss Malayeka, this is Miss Aglaeca, a fellow inmate. You've met Atsushi; the sleeping guard over there is Tatsuya, but you can call him Ki-te. Let's all get along," he concluded optimistically.

Qi could feel the heat of Atsushi's stare on her. It was minutely disconcerting if she wasn't so amused with their clear intent. He was such a distrusting fellow. She met many of those types in her line of work. However, most of them were shrivelling, meek boys that had yet to stop sipping from their mother's breast. Based on their comprehensive capabilities of course. Qi tested the cookies, feeling the warmth heat the pad of her thumb but it was dismissable. They should be ready to eat with some tea now so as soon as Kiun arrived with their last judge- they'd be on their way.

Speaking of which... Qi looked over when Kiun returned. Though her gaze slid past when Atsushi fell upon his brother. She blatantly stared at the girl Kiun had brought. As soon as Ayeka's gaze accidentally met Qi's, her entire body stiffed. She could feel Ketsu on the edges of her consciousness, a comforting weight. She had been nervous when Kiun asked if she could help judge some cookies. She didn't feel comfortable around people anymore. However, she didn't want to turn him down when he'd already been so kind to her. Ayeka's head snapped down and her gaze stayed glued to the floor. Her plan was to keep close to Kiun- something that was shot the moment Atsushi swept over to his brother. She shuffled away, holding her hands in front of her hard enough that somehow, the skin grew even whiter.

Qi only looked away when she heard the conversation they were having. Her gaze shifted to them to watch the interaction. Her eyebrow raised when Atsushi called out her height, having the childish desire to retort his provocation but pleasantly didn't need to. Kiun seemed to have the better head on him, even if Atsushi's was clouded by prejudice.
Ayeka's reaction, though hidden, was similar behind her bangs. That doll looking girl was 32?
Qi lowered her head to acknowledge Kiun's apology, "I could not hold his ignorance against him. My appearance does little to assist," she replied. Qi looked back up and briefly, glanced at Atsushi. "Quite young. I am humbled by the youth gracing my presence today," she mused. Meanwhile, Qi transferred the cookies onto a plate and was bringing it over to the table.

Qi had then placed when Kiun began the introductions which lead to Qi coming towards the small group. The first thing she noticed was the girl's submissiveness, then the scar on her face. Shifting glances at the boys, she noted Atsushi's unease around the woman leading her to assume that there was something amiss about her. Something that wasn't a surprise but considering he seemed ready to grab a weapon, she was a potential threat. Oh how well this day was going for poor Atsushi.

Qi politely bowed to the younger woman, "it is a pleasure to meet you Miss Malayeka. I appreciate you coming all this way to assist us," she greeted before straightening up. Qi glanced back over at the slumbering guard. Ayeka, already feeling uneasy from hearing her speak the first time, was bowing when Qi addressed her.
It shocked her how soft her words were which had the tension in Ayeka's muscles to ease and she straightened up to glance at her.
"You as well. I'm grateful for the invitation."

"It is time to wake him up now then," she added and was already gracefully heading there. She stopped beside the chairs he was using and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "We're eating the cookies now, Ki-te," she told him in her soft, soothing voice.

Ki-te, shockingly, woke up. It was a slow and minimum process. First, his breathing changed and soon he began to rise up so he was leaning on the table. Droopy eyes scanned the area until they stopped at the cookies, placed on two separate plates. He then continued after a good moment to the small crowd near the door. Seeing there was someone new, he looked at them then away. He rested his head on his arms, murmuring, "thanks."
It was better than how Tano often woke him up, much better.

With Ki-te now up, Qi went around the table, making sure the chairs were pulled out enough for them to sit down in before going over to handle the tea situation. It was a very important step for their taste testing.

Kiun smiled gratefully after hearing Qi's response, assured by her understanding. He lowered his head in return, a silent expression of thanks. With a warning look in Atsushi's direction, he turned his focus back to their guest as the introductions proceeded.

Atsushi was fuming for 2 reasons. One, he did not like being called ignorant. He preferred to think of himself as a fairly intelligent individual, and hence, this was particularly insulting. Two, her remark made it seem as if she were calling him childish. As a man who took pride in his ability to manipulate the hearts of most people he met, this was even more offensive than the last insult. Showing such emotions, however, would be the same as admitting defeat, so he turned on his most charming smile, and responded in a polite voice that perfectly hid the seething fury behind it.
"Thank you, I am most flattered. I must, however, apologize for my earlier tone of speaking. It is only right to respect one's elders, after all."

Kiun shot his brother an incredulous look; Qi hardly even qualified as an "elder", she was still young. Not that Atsushi seemed to care; he saw an opportunity for a retort and took it. Kiun released a quiet sigh, yet another of their petty fights it would seem. He was tempted to intervene, but he didn't want to cause Ayeka any worry, especially when he could see she was already a fair bit worried. He chose to stay out of it, then, silently hoping they'd end it on their own, but that was unlikely to happen. At least their bickering was subtle enough that he could have faith Ayeka and Ki-te wouldn't notice.

Qi and Ayeka seemed to get along, which Kiun was pleased to see. He led Ayeka to the table and gestured for her to take a seat, taking the chair just between hers and Ki-te's in hopes that his familiarity with both might make them more comfortable.

While Qi prepared the tea, Atsushi headed to the table to find a seat. He was unbothered as he walk up to it, but then it slowly dawned on him that he now had no choice but to sit next to Qi. He felt a chill of irritation. The one person he wanted to be nowhere near. Well, counting Ketsu, that made two but he was hopeful it would just be Ayeka today, he could handle her. He took a deep breath to calm himself; he'd sat next to a million different girls before, even if it was Qi, it couldn't be much different. He smiled with newfound confidence now as he took his seat, as if inviting Qi to try and top him in this situation. He was positive his experience gave him the advantage.

Qi was just waiting to see how Atsushi would react because she knew without a doubt that he would. She was expecting him to subtly blowup, which would have been graciously amusing. However, he gave her something else entirely that she wasn't expecting.
She was retorted with an elegant smile befitting a charming man shielding the seething rage she knew was behind it. His words bit but due to her experience in being called far worse than the elder, all she did in response was a small smile. "I appreciate that you've seen the errors of your ways. I hope you attempt to respect this elder. Maybe you will manage to learn from my experience," she drawled. Her eyes slipped close and tilted her head slightly. "Many youths tend to bury themselves with their pride. I wouldn't wish to see you burdened for all your indiscretions."

Ayeka was tense as she stuck close to Kiun. They may not be outwardly violent but she knew from hard experience to read the atmosphere of a people. She had instinctively learned how to tune into it so that her body could usually prepare to get hit. She gratefully followed Kiun to the table. Murmuring a small thanks but didn't take a seat until Kiun himself had already sat down. She kept her hands clasped in her lap and couldn't find it in herself to look anywhere but the table. Which evidently drew her attention to the cookies that were sitting there. They looked absolutely scrumptious.

Qi arrived at the table with the tea, pouring it elegantly despite her height disadvantage. Once everyone had a cup of tea, she placed the teapot down in the centre of the table and took her seat beside Atsushi. She lowered her head towards their judges and gracefully gestured to the plates of cookies. "Please enjoy." She straightened her posture and glanced at Atsushi in the corner of her eye. Noting his shift in attitude from his earlier fury and lifted a hand to block an intentional quiet giggle, just barely loud enough for it to grace his ears.

Ki-te was the first to grab a cookie, leisurely reaching out and plucking one from the pile before pulling it back for him to eat. He quietly munched on it, resting his head against his hand.

Qi picked up one of Atsushi's cookie, taking a small bite and taking a sip of tea after swallowing it. Repeating this action until she finished it. She took another slow sip of her tea before resting it on her hand. "It is very good," Qi compliment, glancing at Atsushi. "I can tell you've spent your efforts well."

Atsushi may have apologized, but he hadn't meant a word of it. It was just a convenient way to throw his retort out there. He was sure Qi knew that perfectly well, so to hear her accept his "apology" was infuriating, to say the least. She was mocking him without a doubt. He wanted to take it back but that would equal a loss for him. He bit back the desire though, just barely managing to keep on his smile as he responded.

"I hate to say this for fear of offending you, but unfortunately, I do not believe most here would agree with learning from the experience of a criminal. That's just how things are here, not to imply that I agree with them. I appreciate your concern, though. I will be sure to keep it in mind." He did not hold back saying this, delivering it with every intention to injure. He also didn't care if the other inmate in the room overheard the comment; he wasn't any more fond of her, even if he did appear to be courteous towards her. Regardless of whether it was actually her or her other side, he would not so easily forgive someone who'd tried raising a hand against his family.

His thoughts were cut off when he heard a quiet giggle from the seat right next to him. He should be concerned, and likely irritated as well, but he could not hide the momentary surprise that flashed across his expression. He was sure Qi only humored his witty remarks out of ego, but sometimes, such as this moment, it felt like she might actually be enjoying her interactions with him. It was so rare to hear her laugh, after all, even if it was at his expense. It caught him off guard honestly; he wasn't sure how to react. Of course, he didn't want her to know that, so he hastily turned to look back ahead, avoiding her gaze.

He stared at the cookies in front of him. Curiosity bested him and he reached for one of Qi's, silently trying it. As he expected, they were good, annoyingly so. He turned to glance at her as she spoke, a small, but genuine smile gracing his lips as she complimented him. "Yours too," he replied. "It's more homestyle than I imagined."

Kiun picked up one of the cookies, then held out another to Ayeka with a smile, since she looked nervous. If he could make her feel even a little more comfortable, he was hoping she could enjoy this time out of the cells.

Oh, he has some bite to his words. Targetting the fact that she was a criminal this late in the game was something she was impressed by. Sure he was weary of her because of that fact but he didn't overly address it nor call it out so blatantly until now. He was aiming to injure and Qi couldn't deny that it stung. Minutely. She was well aware of all the atrocities she'd done and she didn't regret any of them for a second. If she had a choice, she would do it all again.

The only sign that his words got to her was the fact that her eyes slipped closed and the small smile she was giving him shifted slightly in intent. It was firmer. An opposite reaction to Ayeka who flinched from Atsushi's words, closing in on herself more and timidly fidgeting. She found herself shifting unconsciously away from Kiun, feeling like she would taint him just by getting too close. She may not recall committing those crimes but the body she inhabits committed them nonetheless. It was a reaction that didn't go unnoticed by Qi's, ironically, observant eyes.

"Wouldn't you think that because I am a criminal I am someone with valuable experience to learn from? Experience doesn't inherently mean good or positive. The experience of failure or what not to do can be considered more substantial than following a path blindly knowing that works whether it is for you or not. Afterall. It's better to know the bottom line then only just one branch for all to take," she addressed, tilting her head to open her crimson eyes to peek up at Atsushi, blinking innocently.
"Nevertheless," she continued, peering away as she took a small, graceful sip of tea, taking her time to swallow before continuing. "I am glad you'll keep it in mind. I would hate for anything to happen due to negligence. I'm sure the prison wouldn't be the only thing suffering." Her gaze flicked briefly to Kiun before taking another sip of her tea.

Qi often used laughter as a tactic to make people soften and underestimate her, an act. There was never any emotion connected to it, just a string laid out to catch her prey. However, she found herself having some when it came to applying it here. A faint enjoyment and eagerness to see how Atsushi would react and he did not disappoint. She caught his momentary surprise in the corner of her eyes, making a tug of regret bloom wishing she'd seen it fully without anything hindering the sight. By the time she turned her gaze to him, he avoiding her entire existence which had her smirking slightly to herself as she took another sip.

After watching as he debated on picking up one of hers, she continued to eat the sweet cookie, enjoying the way it seemed to melt on her tongue. She didn't tend to overly enjoy sweets but once in a while, it was nice. What she hadn't expected was Atsushi turning to her willingly with a genuine, alas small, but genuine smile gracing his lips as he complimented her cookies. She'd expected something more begrudgingly than what she'd gotten and her usual tight expression loosened as her eyes widened in surprise. Big doe eyes looked at him, staring as if they didn't know how to comprehend what they'd heard before she turned away, swallowing the rest of his cookie and took a sip. After a moment and refused to back down. She broke but she was going to play off it. He might not know if it was genuine or not, she was good at playing the innocent card when necessary.

A faint blush then coloured her cheeks as she murmured, "thank you," she said, using her gratitude to her advantage. Fully composed once more, she lifted her head, the blush seeping away, "I was solely raised to be a wife after all," she stated, holding her sleeve up to cover the lower half of her face as she looked at Atsushi. "But defying expectations is what I do best, apparently."


Ayeka looked a little startled when a cookie came into sight. She followed the arm over and up to Kiun's face. Upon seeing his gentle and reassuring smile, she relaxed somewhat, returning the smile and timidly took the cookie from him. "Thank you," she said. She bit her lip as she drew the cookie closer, hesitating for a moment. "Do you enjoy sweets Mr- Kiun," she asked, stammering for a moment before she took a small bite of the cookie.


Ki-te was already working on eating the other cookie, his head still on the table and he did appear to be in serious thought as he compared the cookies. Might as well get it done and over with quickly so he can fill up and clock out.

Atsushi's eyes narrowed keenly on Qi, waiting for a reaction. While it wouldn't be strange to assume that she hadn't reacted based on her body language, Atsushi knew better. The slight tightening of her expression, making her seem more serious, didn't go unnoticed by him, and had his lips moving into a smirk. He didn't injure her like he'd been hoping, but his words did pack enough punch to force her to take him even more seriously. Not a win necessarily, but even a push was cause for celebration when the person you were up against was as cunning as Qi. He was so focused on her, in fact, that he didn't even bother noticing Ayeka's reaction to his words. Not that it would have made a large difference. If anything, he would be pleased to see her putting distance between herself and Kiun. Although the opposite reaction would be true for Kiun.

Atsushi studied Qi attentively as she replied, plastering a charming smile on his face. "You have a point," he agreed in a pleasant tone, expertly hiding his underlying hostility to anyone but Qi. "They do say experience is the best teacher. Depending on how its used, of course." He was already preparing himself to reply to her second comment, until it came at the expense of Kiun. Atsushi's eyes narrowed dangerously, his smile now becoming tight and strained as he reminded himself murder was illegal. "Oh? Is that a threat perhaps, Miss Aglacea?" His voice was sweet, almost friendly, but didn't attempt to hide his obvious contempt or bloodlust from Qi.

If it were not for his current high running emotions, Qi's display of shyness likely would've gotten to him. But rage tended to blind the usually composed (or at least, appearing to be composed) Atsushi, so he was resolved not to test his limits further till he received an answer. He wasn't even sure if that was Qi's true intentions, it was very possible she'd said it just to rile him up. If she had, then she'd certainly succeeded. He was barely managing to restrain himself.

Kiun had hesitated a little when he'd noticed Ayeka shift slightly away from him, worrying Atsushi's impulsive temper may have offended her. Unfortunately, he struggled to come up with a way to comfort her if that were the case, since he couldn't entirely deny his brother's words either. So, when she took the cookie kindly from him, his grin widened considerably. He leaned back in the chair with his own cookie, pleased. He glanced at Ayeka when she addressed him. "I do. Atsushi occasionally makes them for me, so I've grown to like them. I associate them with good memories, I suppose." Smiling, he lowered his voice to a whisper, leaning closer towards Ayeka so she could hear him. "Don't tell him I said that though, wouldn't want to inflate his ego any more than it already is. It'll be our secret." Laughing lightly, he moved back. "What about you? Do you like sweets, Miss Ayeka?"

As he waited on her response, he glanced at Ki-te to see how he was doing, holding back a smile as he watched. He seemed to be judging them so seriously, Kiun couldn't help but find him amusing. "What do you think?" He asked, just as Ki-te finished the other cookie.

Qi waited with anticipation for Atsushi's reply to her carefully crafted words, waiting to see if it would finally crack his mask and melt his facade or if they'd be able to play a little longer. Seeing that plastered smile made her momentarily wonder if it hurt to stretch his face like that, a thought that had the corner of her lip twitch. " I would imagine so, I have been alive longer than you after all. As some of us have learned," she smoothly injected in between his statements, her voice still as soft and smooth as her cookies. "It always depends on how you use it, just like any information anyone has learned... and why some still fall despite having it. But you cannot use anything without having it. What an unfortunate world we live in. To rise you must know what you have to rise from."

It surprised Qi had she had to tamper her expression when Atsushi's composed expression finally cracked with his narrowed and she could feel the murderous intent leaking from him. She couldn't help herself from looking at him with her big red eyes, tilting her head curiously as if she had absolutely no idea what he could possibly be talking about. Eyes wide with seemingly innocence if you weren't looking deep enough in their inky depths with a child-like action that truly seems to contradict her earlier words. "A threat? What grounds would I have to possibly threaten anyone? I only wish to remind you of the many individuals in this place who have experienced much in their lives. It is better to be cautious, wouldn't it? Dangers lurk in every corner, weaknesses are easily exploited. Especially when someone struggles with hiding them. I'd hate to see you suffer from a fate I've seen many experience."


Ayeka seemed to relax when Kiun's smile washed over her, assuring her that she hadn't done anything wrong yet, in contrast to Atsushi's hostility. She nibbled on the cookie, tasting the flavour seriously, not wanting to make the wrong choice because she missed something. She kept the other two in the corner of her gaze while waiting for Kiun's response to her question and was pleased when he did. She couldn't help the soft smile the lifted her lips when Kiun told her his story. She nodded understanding what he meant, "that's very kind of him," she said. Her eyes widened a fraction when he leaned closer, stiffening instinctively before calming her muscles. At his words though, she found herself cracking a smile and lifting her free hand to stifle a small giggle. She nodded fervently as a giggle escaped and she shifted her hand so her fingers locked her lips before crossing them in a silent promise. She ate a little bit more of the cookie and furrowed her brows as she thought about his question. "I... I never really thought about it, to be honest. I'll eat what I'm given... and it's all good so I like it!" Unusually, Ayeka's tone shifted to something that was almost forcefully kind, fearfully so.

Before Ayeka responded, Ki-te lazily glanced at Kiun. His brows still furrowed in deep... or what hopefully could be assumed to be deep concentration. "Sweet," he murmured vaguely pointing to the plate holding Atsushi's cookies without ever lifting his arm from the table before moving it to the other plate, "home. Both... good. Need to decide..." he turned his attention back towards the plates, a pout growing on his lips. "Hard."