Within Kusari space, Nina Rodriguez met a freelancer running under the code name Manticore. No matter the questions asked, the corsair got few answers. She does not know the name of the freelancer. Both had a talk and after some moments later, the freelancer asked to Nina if she was willing to help to hunt some golden chrysanthemums. The corsair accepted it but wanted to know the name of the freelancer. But the freelancer said that he will think about it.
Luck was not there. They went to Shikoku because accordingly to someone that 'Manticore' knew, the chrysanthemums were mainly in Shikoku. After they patrol for some hours, they arrived at Noshima Freeport and gave rendez-vous at the bar. Both docked on the station. On her side, Nina docked after the the freelancer. But their ships were not in the same hangar. Impossible to see who was the pilot of the ship. When the engines were off, the corsair got out of her ship and walked within the hangar heading to a door.
Nina Rodriguez was wearing a black coat. It was always open letting people see her red short t-shirt who was revealing her belly. Her pants were black and her boots brown. She was not armed because she let her weapon inside of her Titan. Her eyes were red and her long hair as well. The corsair was walking for some long minutes and finally arrive at the bar. However, she stayed at the entrance of it waiting the freelancer.
She was tired.
Last days were pretty exhausting for her, so a pause did come in handy.
What she did not expect, is to have it with a Corsair. She didn't meet one in person in a long time. Since her time on Crete.
But she wanted to think less of that, and more about the sake on Noshima.
She met this Corsair, which had an identical lastname as Valentina, in New Tokyo, while Valentina went out for the completion of one of the contracts. So she wanted to see how the Corsair would react, so asked her to accompany her in her search of some Golden Chrysanthemums. As the search was not fruitful, they then decided to get drinks.
Valentina landed her ship, and she quickly went in the back of the ship to change her attire, from a combat suit, to her casual suit. Leather jacket, dark red top, jeans and a pair of plain black boots. She also brought along her utility belt, with her two pistols attached to it. She took it as a safety measure.
After she adjusted her hair and makeup, she started to walk towards the bar.
As she arrived at the bar, Valentina noticed somebody by the bar's entrance. Let me guess...So she started to approach the woman there.As she was walking, she started to chuckle.Your curiosity could not be tamed, couldn't it?
It took some minutes and after those, Nina heard a voice. She looked at the direction of it and she saw a woman. She never saw her before so the corsair was on her guards. Nina Rodriguez looked the woman from the head to the feet and from feet to the head. The face of the corsair showed neutrality and from the physic of Nina, we could tell she was young. Within the twenties. ''To who I have the pleasure to talk, hermana?'' Said the corsair.
''In any case, I am Nina Rodriguez. Centurion and member of The Brotherhood.''
She noticed Nina was startled. She then came closer to her to shake her hand. I'm Manticore. But for the moment, Valentina should suffice.
The bar was not too crowded; you could notice all the types of underworlds there, but for some reason they were not shooting at eachoter.
She was set to find the most quiet table at the bar, so she looked all around it, till she found the perfect place. A small table in the back of the bar, where there would be no interruptions. I hope you don't mind, but I like the more quiet sides of those bars. She then pointed to the table. What do you think?
A slight smile started to appear on Valentina's face, almost as she was set to actually enjoy a night out.
Valentina sounded Cretan to Nina. Maybe that Valentina was from there. She putted the question on the side of her mind and shaked her hand.
She listened to Valentina and agreed for a quiet place. When they were at the place and when they both sat in front of each other, Nina Rodriguez observed the woman. After some seconds of uncomfortable silence, she opened her mouth. ''Valentina... It is a good name but if I can ask, is your origin from Crete?'' Asked Nina curious.
After a while, a server arrived to take their order. Nina asked for a bottle of whiskey. She always loved that alcohol. Then, the server waited for Valentina's order.
Well, that's a good question.And suddenly she starts laughing. Valentina always kept information about her or her past, to herself. So she tried to avoid the question.
The waiter came just in time to avoid the awkward silence, and after Nina got her order, Valentina looked him with a slight smile on her face. Just keep the sake coming.
Then she looked at Nina.So, it seems the Brotherhood sent an ambassador in Kusari.Then she chuckled.Don't tell me you're trying to be a lawful organisation here.
Nina smirked. And she also noticed that Valentina avoided her question so she decided to play at her little game. ''Hermana, The Brotherhood's business with Kusari is not of your concerns. You didn't answer my question so why will I answer?'' Simply replied Nina. Both were stubborn. Both wanted to know more the others but both were avoiding questions or just answer vaguely.
When her order arrived, Nina opened the bottle and took some sips of her whisky. Then, she looked at Valentina and smiled to her.
She started to laugh. Then took the bottle of sake and started pouring in her glass some. Now,now.She rose her glass towards Nina.To new friends. Cheers!And she finished all the sake in the glass with one sip.
Then she looked at Nina.So, let me make an assumption here.She cleared her voice and poured more sake.Alone in Kusari,on behalf of The Brotherhood. So, they trust you. As a diplomat, Correct me if I'm wrong.She chuckled. This is the time where I actually enjoy doing my job. And she again drinks all the sake in her glass.
The corsair rose her bottle when Valentina said her toast and took some sips of her whiskey. She liked the whiskey. ''Good assumption.'' Said the corsair. She nodded and took some sips again.
She looked at the woman and was curious about something she mentioned. ''Why it's the time you enjoy to do your job? I don't really follow you there.'' The centurion wished that the woman will say a bit more about herself. She was just mysterious to Nina and she wanted to know more about Valentina. Is she someone trustable? Or Is she the type to put a knife in the back? Nothing was really certain.