Chimper #873
There’s a saying in the lower alleys: “The Emperor’s gold buys silence, but a warm fire buys a story.” Kumayoshi subscribes to this, though they would add that a well-cooked river fish buys an audience. They sit in the shadow of the grand palace of The Teikodian Empire, sharing their catch with two other forgotten souls. Their combat pole, nicked and worn, is currently being used to poke at the embers, coaxing a little more life from the flames. The warmth is a small rebellion against the city’s indifferent grandeur. A passing guard might see only a ragged jumper and a tired face, but the others see the calm grin that rarely fades. It's the look of someone who learned long ago the difference between surviving and living, and has chosen the latter.
