When she sat down and crossed her shapely legs in front of Cologne, the Amazon matriarch merely raised a brow and continued to read her book.
It wasn't like she was the only one to try and come along like this even at that moment.
Once she had finished the passage, Cologne put her book on the table in front of her and closed her eyes in a show of amusement. "To what brings me the honor of these visits?"
"You aren't a stupid woman, Cologne," Perfume, the Elder of the weaponsmiths scoffed in the gruff way that was her 'trademark' in the village. "Please don't pretend to be one now."
"It simply doesn't suit," came the airy tones of the artisan Foam. "Besides, we did come in good faith. Though, you can play all that you want...."
"You really should just come and say what you want yourselves. You did come here out of the blue," Cologne reminded them.
"What? Can't we come and visit the village leader?"
"When it's obvious that you wanted to talk about something?"
"Ahhh...."
Giving the blonde artisan leader a small scowl, Cleanswer turned her attention back to the Matriarch. "You know why we're here."
"I would think so," Cologne admitted.
"Then can we skip the idiocy? We don't need the stress of playing games."
"You never do...."
"Is that a condemnation?"
"Not quite...." the Matriarch replied, and then shook her head. "Now, if we can get to what is bothering you all...."
"It's the boy, the one that is married to your great-granddaughter," Perfume muttered.
"Ah. Him."
"Yes, 'him'. I assume that you think that everything will be fine, and that he'll be giving you great-great-grandbabies soon...."
Cologne snorted. "First, it's never safe to 'assume' so quickly, and second, there's a Healer who has brought up that concept enough for all three of us."
"She's been at it, has she?"
"Yes."
"Ah, but that still doesn't change the fact that you let that fat fool take him," the weaponsmith Elder said flatly.
"I didn't 'let' him. His father may be many things, but a regular long term planner, he is not. Knowing him, he simply panicked, and bolted, taking my great-grandson-in-law with him."
"That's exactly the problem. He is an outsider, and we don't know much about him. Only what we saw."
"You did see how he behaved, correct?"
"What does that small amount have to do with...."
Raising a hand, the Matriarch gave the other Elder a level look. "Humor me. You do remember what he was like, correct."
"The little that I saw of him, yes."
"Then you know him. That boy isn't a particularly savvy individual. He just does things directly, and isn't one to shove at situations."
"That is part of the problem," Foam told her, brushing a hand over her carefully 'laid back' style of clothing. "He is such a grumpy and crass individual, without any... finesse. And as an Outsider male, he might just be looking towards being in charge here, if you ever manage to bring him back."
"You doubt that."
"It is a... possibility. But what about the fact that the males from beyond the village, like him, would have all that 'man in charge' stuff going on?"
"You think that he...." Cologne let out a bark of laughter. "That boy wouldn't want to lead a supply train! Perhaps if there was a mission, or some sort of trip, I could see him taking charge. Or in an emergency. But he had no head for politics, and would likely prefer others to handle that sort of thing."
"He is that irresponsible, you think?"
"Not 'irresponsible'. He is a warrior, through and through, and warriors like him don't have time for the intricate half victories of politics. To him, it is the Art that is important."
"And your great-granddaughter...."
"Is the love of his young life. He cares only about her, the Art, family, friends and honor. His is a simple bunch of priorities, and he could serve us well as even just an ally."
"And you let his moron of a father take him away," Perfume accused, the wrinkled edges of her eyes pinching as she scowled at her fellow Elder.
"Hardly, and I thought that I already explained that the man is an idiot."
"Yet you aren't exactly putting on a real search for your Heir's husband."
"Was I supposed to do my great-granddaughter's work for her?" Cologne asked in mock-surprise.
"No, and you know it."
"Then take it this way. Shampoo can, and will, find her husband. It will only take time, and that will mostly come from her idiot father-in-law running like the coward he is. She will return with him, sooner or later."
"And if she does become enamoured with the Outside world?"
"Let me guess. Gel."
Perfume nodded slightly. "She's not hiding her concern about the influence bringing in an outsider might cause."
"That woman has too little imagination, and not enough foresight. If we close ourselves off from knowing the world around us, we lose the possibility of being able to deal with it. We might not take a role in the outside world, but we should at least be aware of it."
"You may be right. Just keep that in mind," the other Elder suggested as she marched away.
Foam rose with a nimble grace and fixed her clothing to make it look perfect. "I believe that I will leave as well. This may not have been resolved, but at least we have some progress."
"How nice of you to admit that," Cologne murmured and waited for the pair to leave. "What about you? Worried that I might be messing up?"
"You aren't one to 'mess up' so simply," Cleanser answered in an even tone.
"Then why come with them?"
"I came after them. Not 'with'."
That wasn't something that Cologne could, or wanted to, refute. "Ah. A fine distinction. Then your reason for coming."
"I've seen that boy train. He has talent, and he certainly has deep feelings for your great-granddaughter. I don't want to see that wasted by his father's influence."
"I see. But you might be missing one thing."
"And that is...."
"His father is not a master strategist. The concept that Ranma's not so illustrious parent is working on is to make his son the 'best' that he can be. For him, that means just jamming on whatever technique seems best. Had he stopped to try his best, he would be an excellent teacher. As it is, he seems to be merely good, and even that is marred by his inability to realize certain things."
"Like what?"
"'Like' the fact that the boy isn't about to respect his wishes simply because he had them. Wherever that boy is now, I'm certain that he is not about to take his father's words as some sort of 'truth'."
On one side of the room, there was a tea service with those near it sharing a nice and dignified cup of the wonderfully prepared liquid. The other side of the room had people who were drinking sake, playing loud music, and dancing almost totally against the beat. One could almost imagine the positioning of those who were there, and there would be expectations for where the teenagers and adults were.
Genma didn't really think much about that sort of possibility when he passed the sake bottle into Soun's hands as the two of them tried to do a version of the 'Twist' that wouldn't drop them to the floor as 'Electric Slide' played.
"At least they're having fun," Kasumi murmured, more out of an attempt to justify the scene than any actual belief in it.
"I'm sure that they are," Nabiki grumbled. "Especially since they seem to be trying to look dumb."
Ranma looked at his tea as he tried to ignore his father's gyrations. "It's embarrassing. That's what it is...."
"You can say that again," Akane agreed, keeping herself turned away from the silliness in front of them, while:
(Posted Sun, 09 Jul 2006 00:30)
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