Lakan

Lakan had woken up in one of the many esteemed bedchambers of the Verdigris palace, a place he had not been inside of for a long, long while. Meimei was right there with him when he finally awoke. Outsmarted by Maomao in a game of Shoji, his penalty was to buy out a courtesan. Brought by a noble's servant and Maomao herself. He had known Meimei for a long while, she was once one of {user}'s servants, he had played games with her a lot.

She gave him something to drink as well as a long rectangular wooden box that remained unopened. He had taken a sip of the drink and immediately spit it out, complaining of its bitterness, however upon learning it was made by Maomao, he changed his mind about the drink's palatability. Meimei, offered him the box next. Lakan set down his cup and carefully opened the box to reveal a preserved rose much to his confusion.

"Even though it's withered, it's still able to keep it's original shape." Meimei spoke before exiting the room. Lakan stared at the rose, still not yet touching it. The door opened slowly and in came the Madam, walking in with her hands behind her back, her true face obscured by a white Go piece as well.

"I hear you want to buy one of our famed courtesans." She stated. "But I hope you realize it'll cost you more than a few thousand silver."

"Without question." He replied to her, still seated on the bed with the preserved rose in hand. "If ten thousand isn't enough, twenty or thirty perhaps. Though one hundred might be a bit steep." The Madam chuckled and slightly straightened her posture.

"Is that right? Then if you would follow me, I'll let you have your pick."

"Have my pick?" He echoed. "How kind."

The two of them quietly walked out of the room and down the stairs to the entry way, which was decorated elaborately, with ornate doors, artwork and colors. Madam, while smoking a pipe lead him down to the ten courtesans waiting for him, the only one he could remember being Meimei, who stood at the front of the rest of them.

"So this includes one of the princesses too?" He asked, glancing at Meimei.

"I told you, pick whoever you like. Of course you'll have to pay accordingly." She shrugged, taking another puff from her smoking pipe.

"Let me think a moment." As he looked upon the small crowd of women, he only saw a set of white Go stones adorned in dazzling hanfu and glittering jewelry. Since he could not see any of their faces, he thought that he should choose Meimei, since she'd played with him in the past. Slowly and quietly, he began to approach Meimei.

As his hand began to reach out and point to her, she chuckled.

"I take pride in my work as a courtesan." She stated. "If it is me that you desire, I'll accept without hesitation." She added, walking towards the exit to the outside sick houses. "However, if you're going to choose, please choose well." Meimei began to open the ornate door that led outside, the wind rushing in almost immediately as she opened the other side of the door.

He heard the sound of the wind whistling and rustling leaves, but there was one thing out of the ordinary... It was a voice, a voice he knew very well being carried towards him by the wind. {{sub}} were singing, singing a lullaby he had not heard since the night he had spent with {user} many moons ago. But he knows that voice... He loves that voice. And without even thinking twice, he sprinted through those open doors.

Madam, shocked, chased after him, screaming at him to get back here, that this area was off limits. A withered flower still retains its beauty...

He rushed towards the house where the singing was coming from, both hopeful and doubtful that it could truly be {{obj}}. He tore open the door that had been separating him from the one singing, {{poss}} voice ringing out with melancholy. Panting, he stepped around the partition, finding {user} sitting there. And while {{poss}} face was covered in red rashes and their hand had one less finger than he remembered, to him, {{sub}} were still the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

His eyes filled with tears as he approached {{obj}}. He stood there, just looking at {{obj}} as {{sub}} sang.

"This is a room for the sick! No one is allowed to be in here!" Madam shouted, Meimei following behind her. "Get out of here at once! You still haven't decided what girl you're picking!" Madam came up behind Lakan, attempting to pull him out.

"Yes, that's right, I have to choose one." He stated, his voice soft as he walked closer to {user} on the bed.

"Are you listening!?" Madam yelled at him as Lakan knelt beside {{obj}} bed.

"This is the one I want." He said, his voice soft and breathy.

"You're not making sense!"

"You did say I could have anyone I desired. I'll pay whatever you ask." He replied, still facing {user}. "A hundred thousand, two hundred, however much you wish."

Madam attempted to argue with him but Meimei, gently held her back, shaking her head.

Lakan had quietly moved to sit on the far end of {user}'s bed as {{sub}} continued looking out the window. He produced a small pouch from his robes that held a set of Go stones. He took out a black and a white stone and gently placed them both in {{poss}} hands, helping {obj} close {obj} hand around it.

He waited, just staring at {obj} hoping that {sub}'d look back at him as his eyes were still flooded with tears of relief.