Untitled Story
4th November 2005

Forward Note: This is a role play Jason and I are
having in real life. I've just finished writing out the
first part in story form.. the hardest part about this
is trying to remember all that was said.

Kuja Terra Fina, with orbs of crystal blue, quietly observed the stranger from the head of the long table. Warm food, the finest of meats, the sweetest of wines all served on silver plates and in crystal glasses by a servant who was polished just as pristine. The servant bowed to the stranger, then to Kuja before leaving the two alone in the candle lit room as the sun slowly started to fade from amidst the tall archaic windows.

“Please… go ahead and eat. It does not look like you have had a decent meal for days.” Kuja said with a friendly smile.

How gracious, the traveller thought, returning a smile and thank you before setting the neatly folded napkin over his lap and picking up the fine silver. It was true. The man could not even remember the last time he had pheasant, let alone this strangely tender thin piece of meat his knife sliced through with ease. Delicious. He could taste the smoke of honey running down and satisfying his stomach. He hoped one day he’d be able to repay the Lord’s kindness as he sipped on a finely aged wine with a bit of a sharp edge. He had spent so many days and nights eating alone, often on a rugged path that he had to quickly correct the mistake of wiping his stubbled chin with his sleeve and replacing it with his napkin. It was not that he felt inadequate; it was a choice of respect for his host.

“A fine feast, fit for kings.” The traveller said, letting his somewhat bloated self rest against the back of the chair. He was a man of medium build, perhaps stronger than he looks underneath a short haired mop of thick brown. Kuja found the other mans eyes most appealing, a gentleness about them, a calmness about them, but most of all those eyes expected nothing. For future or past, this mans eyes told impassiveness.

“Pray tell me, what brings you to these sides of the woods?” Kuja asked.

“I could ask you the same thing, your Lordship.”

The travellers reply made Kuja huff a little laugh, before another belated one as he reregistered the statement. It fell a little silent between the two as each to their own, the traveller drinking his wine as the lord sipped on a glass of brandy. Kuja’s eyes left the scene after a little while, the traveller knew those blue orbs well with how they seemed to focus on nothing. He took another swig of his wine, watching his host with concern before asking if he was alright. This brought a smile upon the lord, a placid smile that seemed more rewarding to the traveller than the first smile he was bestowed on his entrance. Those soft crystal blue eyes that met and held his were disturbingly enchanting that it wasn’t until his brow knitted that he pulled away. The Lord remained smiling, if not a little more as with a languid pace and cat like grace, rose from his chair and walked the way to the other end of the table, where the traveller still sat with his eyes averted.

“Have you ever tried one of these before?” Kuja said, the traveller catching the last glimpse of Kuja combing elegant fingers through his long lavender tresses before he displayed a platter of sweets and deserts. They did look delicious, but he was in no mood for sweets.

“Thank you kindly, your Lordship, but I feel I must be on my way. The sun has just set, a fresh night awaits me.”

“You are most welcome to stay the night here, traveller.” Kuja replied. That original friendliness about his person.

“But I have no money to pay, Lordship.” How the guest felt troubled, half wanting the Lord to send him away and the other half wanting to stay within this lavish palace. A comfortable bed for the night and hopefully one last wonderful meal.

“It has been so long since I have had company here, my servants are already un-dusting and preparing your room. Pray tell me, if I had wanted payment don’t you think I would have made sure you had something to give?”

“Perhaps I could work for you to earn my keep.” He replied a little sternly. He didn’t believe he had nothing and thought his host non the wiser.

“You could do that. But I’d prefer you to remember an enjoyable time. Your stay will never be un-welcomed and you may stay for as long as you like. Maybe you could honour me with a few weeks, until you feel you must travel once more.”

By the fourth day the traveller felt he could not stay any longer. He had not seen his host since the first night he came. He spent the time idly wandering the castle to all its areas that had not been locked. Hall room, ballroom, lounge room after lounge room, the only company being the echo of his footsteps upon marble floors. He did however enjoy perusing the lords library. It was the biggest library he had ever seen, it felt like a mile up to see the rafters. The books were a wide range, however most of them seemed to be stories and plays. He would have stayed longer, finding his company with these books, if it weren’t for the fact that every day he seemed a little more tired.

The time came when he did feel he must travel once more. A still life was not his to lead, he needed the air of the open fields, the wondrous forests to keep him with energy. He wanted to ask the lord if he may borrow a book, but the lord still never showed up and he could not wait any longer.

He left the lord a letter of thanks and promise to one day repay him for his kindness. But as he tried to pull the front door open he found it would not budge. No amount of shaking or shouldering would let this heavy door open. Confused and a little weary he tries a window, before another window and another. His energy was almost completely spent, he did not understand.

Walking back up the pearly stairs, his hand on the railing for a little support, he makes his way back to the dinning room. If he had more energy, he would have been surprised as he found his host sitting at the head of the table, reading over the letter. The traveller frowns at this site, a cynical amusement seemed to spread over the lords thin lips as he continued to read the letter and ignore his guest who was standing fixed at the door.

“What do you want?” The Travellers voice was cold as he stared at the excuse for a man.

Kuja looks up. A look with just eyes, his face unmoving as the malevolence becomes apparent. “I want something of yours.” He places the note down before calmly gazing at the other. The traveller’s brow creased even further.

“You can’t have it.” He replied.

The lord arched a brow. Amused. “It says here, that you promise to repay me. I want that payment now.”

The traveller shifted a little on his spot before asking. “What exactly do you want?”

Once again, that smirk, that seemed to reach and bring a placid happiness to the lord’s eyes.

“I want your heart.”