[X] Ask about her Personal History. What did she and Hiroko do before recent events?
"Hmm," you hum as you think of your question, before it comes to you, "Ah! What did you and Hiroko do before we met each other?"
[Read The Room]
You feel the general mood of the conversation shift. And not in a good way.
"Oh, that," Yameko's voice has lost some of its playfulness. She lets out a sad sigh, "That is a rather...difficult question to answer, Hayato."
You can hear the sorrow in her voice as you continue your push-ups. You turn to look at her as best you can, seeing her eyes gazing off into the distance. Atop her head you can see her fox-like ears drooping to either side. Her face has lost its usual confidence. In its place is a frown with eyes that suddenly seem really tired.
You can tell you've asked for something that she'd rather not talk about. You make it clear that she doesn't have to answer if she doesn't want to. Her response is to shake her head then look you in the eye, "No, no. You have been open with me when it comes to your life, Hayato. It is only right that I do the same with my own. But...please don't think less of me if I do not tell the whole story."
[Motives: 33]
"I wouldn't think of less of you for that. You've got your own reasons for not wanting to talk about it. Not my place to judge you for that," you do your best to shrug from your position. Then you go back to doing your push ups while waiting for Yameko to speak.
"You are too kind, Hayato," she says. She's silent for five whole minutes. Then she sighs again before looking up at the ceiling. Her tone is both wistful yet sad as she speaks, "We were both running. Running from things that we agreed we'd face together. And we did face them. We overcame them. But not without leaving destruction and pain behind us wherever we went. We moved from place to place, usually sticking to the countryside. It's a bit easier for beings such as us to live out there. Not everyone out there has forgotten when man and monster used to live side by side. Many a couple, young and old, would allow us to stay and dine with them in exchange for a fortune or two."
"You can tell fortunes?"
Yameko shakes her head, "Not really. Divination is only open to the divine and the mad who dare try to tread that path. We were just really good at watching humans and reading how they felt about each other. Sometimes we were thanked and rewarded. Sometimes we were called charlatans and forced out. I remember this one couple who got really upset at what Hiroko said to them. They chased us all the way to a bus station before giving up. And that was only because we became foxes and hitched a ride on the bus! And the man still tried to throw his shoe at us!"
She bursts into full blown laughter. It is a lilting, melodious sound that is rather nice on the ears.
"Huh, sounds like an interesting story. I'd love to hear the rest of it sometime," you say, mind already coming up with possible acts Hiroko could've done to piss someone off that much. You don't know the kumiho that well, so it's pretty slim pickings. But it's still fun to think about.
"Indeed it is," Yameko calms herself down. She clears her throat, "But I digress. You asked about Hiroko and I, yet here I am regaling you with tales of others. Now, where was I?"
"You were talking about the two of you running from something?"
"Oh, then I was close to finishing. You see, some time after we met the couple I just mentioned, the two of us ended up in this city. We managed to make it on our own for a time...but it wasn't easy. We had to hide more often. People weren't as welcoming to foxes or strange women appearing on their doorsteps and asking for shelter or food. At least...not without asking for something in return."
For a moment, anger flashes through her eyes, her hands balling into fists for a scant few seconds. Then, as soon as it came, it vanishes and she continues on, "But I didn't mind. No matter the hardship that came our way, no matter how many nights we went hungry, no matter how many times we had to fight our way out of a tough spot, I stayed by Hiroko. Even when she kept telling me that I could leave her behind, I didn't. I refused to. I swore that I would be with her through thick and thin. And I meant it."
You nod in understanding. You've said the same thing to Yamato more times than you can count.
"But," her head and shoulders slump as she shakes her head, "It appears that wasn't the case in her mind. We had fallen asleep in a quiet, dark alley we had found. She wasn't there when I woke up. I looked all over for her. For three days and three nights. But...I couldn't find her. She was just gone."
"And you found us sometime after that?"
She smiles then looks down at you, "Yes, indeed I did. And thanks to you, I managed to reunite with Hiroko."
"No problem," you're about to go back to your push ups when you remember something, "Wait...you never said what you were running from. What was it?"
She wags a finger through the air, "Ah, ah, aaaahhh~, Lord Hayato. It's my turn to ask a question."
You're about to protest but something about the look in her eye makes you think twice. Guess she's not ready to explain that part of her history yet. You nod then say she can continue. Hopefully, you'll get her to open up a bit more.
Yameko SL Rank Up! +2 Starting RP! 2/3 Obtained!