Mahogany desk
Birch walls
Futons left around the sides, with paintings of many birds within the trees. The small hum of light up above shadowed the man's face, making the giant more intimidating by accident. As the two sat down, Koina waited on the walls, crossing her own legs and regaining her breath, letting her other senses be keen whilst she'd null down her touch. A ceremony was being hosted, the Violinist batching a few leaves, pounding them in a mortar with a pestle. Small, sudden shifts in movement to signal the direction of any wooden utensils, a small heat smelt across, the herbs from such a drink enveloping her senses.
It was like heaven to Koina. He was doing a whole tea ceremony to introduce the Sniper.
"Never thought I'd see anyone other than King to do these type of ceremonies." Bronx mumbled, letting Volvo finish up as he served the result between both participants. The tea entered in his throat like a warm flood, his tongue slightly burnt, requiring an open mouth to cool, but it flowed naturally and beautifully when it came down. Volvo noticed the quickness he did, taking his own time in blowing his drink, sipping it in small doses, letting him ease himself into the concoction first.
"Ever since his Majesty recollected the famous Teamaker's documents and records, it has been quickly taught in my family as a personal past time. I never thought he'd do such ceremonies himself, though. Why the occasion with him?" Volvo asked, able to pick up the Sniper's words while setting down his cup.
"Confidential information."
"Is it?" A small smirk was visible in the shaded darkness, a sigh escaping from Bronx, his head tilting back as he looked up to the birch atop of him.
"Fine... He used it to act as a ritual for the Sons of Man. Calls it a 'personal viewpoint' in our mind. Allegedly he was able to tell exactly what the person is based on the ceremony itself."
"So like the figure who entered my shop earlier?" A small chuckle, a quick joke at first, but the sudden shift in expression with Bronx made Volvo elaborate further. "A man in wrapping came by earlier. He bought himself a cello, 16 feet, silk string. He was cloaked, but I was still able to see the bandages in his body, head to toe. Before I even raised a finger, he was able to guess my magic on sheer appearance alone."
"HE'S HERE!?"
"Let's not raise our voice here. But, if what you're thinking is what you're assuming, then yes." The shopkeeper noticed the quick grab and pull from Bronx's sniper, a easy read of a trigger happy hunter. His heart was in the right place, but his patience isn't. "Tell me, what brings you here, anyway? It isn't anything too worrying, is it?" Bronx's expression went somber as he asked such a question. He remained quiet, contemplating. In the end, he was quick to pull the piece of parchment, showing Volvo's name, birth and death, age, and his style of magic in one. "So that's why you're rushing..."
"You can see that?" The Sniper couldn't believe the man was reading him. The Gentle Giant nodded his head as he continued.
"When you drank your tea, you went too fast. You're supposed to take it small. You wouldn't want to burn your throat by accident. You're scared. You don't want to face what's coming, yet you still have a need to go along with it. You went along with the ceremony, but you wanted it to be finished early. You don't want to take my life, do you?"
Bronx nodded, as he'd look down at his finished cup. "...The Devil has made me do all sorts of things. It's taking a toll out of me, and I can't do anything to stop it."
"The Devil takes many things, Hero. It is understandable that you are not in control. There is no fault in what will happen next. If you don't mind my asking... how did he took you?"
"...by force. When I was at Death's door." As Bronx confessed, Koina made a quick note with him, etching the words across her body, letting the robes conceal the message. She'd wince at having to make due with her weapon, but by having such markings left behind, she can be able to relay the information without telling others directly. A way to convey without needing to bring the subject. A loophole around the seal for Envy to use. "I apologize for what I must do. I know you won't forgive me-"
"Nonsense! So long as my children are not involved or harmed, I will gladly offer my life to your barrel. Not to say I won't go down easily..."
"...You really mean that?" Bronx was stunned, watching the Gentle Giant drink another sip, finishing his own cup, as he'd stand up once more, the shade now gone, his face lit up with the light.
"My heart has already forgiven you, Hero. If I were to take your life, I will dedicate a ceremony every day with the people, in your honor. Now... let's go outside and settle this, hmm?"
"...If you die, I will make sure King offers both compensation and a personal tutelage to your children so they can keep your tradition alive."
"I would be grateful if you did that." The two would be quick on leaving the area, the cores acting vibrantly once more, visible on his arms. Koina kept herself hidden in the dark as she watched the two make their way out of the area. She'd never thought such a residence like Calibren, one under such care as King's, would be this forgiving over what's essentially an assassination. Her skin began to de-age itself, her disguise faltering, as she'd follow back, seeing an exit away from them so she can keep watching, letting herself scale up to the rooftop of his shop again if needed. She already has all the information and the method to carry it out, but a small part of her wishes to linger. A small part wishes to see what that level of strength and tenacity looked in person.
A root in her stomach, a chance to mimic what she saw, a chance to let her grow and be at the same league as those that threw her out of Orochi. A selfish act, yet an act she wishes to carry by virtue of wanting more.