jigokulogs | [ open ] all hands on deck

Entry tags:

[ open ] all hands on deck

Who ⬤ sakamoto ryouma (rider) + other sutoku alliance lost souls
What ⬤ post-event emergency meeting
When ⬤ several hours after the assassination
Where ⬤ konoha — vip area
Content Warnings ⬤ none right now but will update as needed!

[ once the dust (steam?) has settled, an sms goes out to fellow sutoku alliance contacts. some might recognise the username rider more than others and know the man it's attached to but in any case, everyone who shows up will know him soon enough anyway. ]

Hello!

There's a lot of confusion right now, but what's important is to stay calm and not do anything hasty. I'll be organising a meeting tonight at Konoha. Let's exchange what we know and discuss next steps. You're going to have to pay for your own refreshments though, sorry! Space is on me though! (*_ _)人

Don't be discouraged! We're only getting started. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

If you think there are any other Sutoku who haven't gotten this, pass the message along, ok?

— Rider

[ ~~someone has to keep the spirit of the daitengu alive, okay??~~ the message also comes attached with a calendar invite. ]

[ later, anyone arriving for the meeting will be directed to the club's VIP area and encouraged to place food and drink orders as desired. this has definitely set ryouma back, but under the present circumstances, there's no better time than this to spare no expense, right? ]

☆ ooc; this is a mingle in addition to a general sort of information sharing prompt so feel free to throw your own top levels up and thread amongst yourselves! i give everyone free rein to threadjack as you see fit — just check with other individual players if you have any questions!
☆ i left the exact time of the meeting sort of open, but assume it's sometime within the next half-day or so after the assassination to account for people needing to finish up investigations, potentially heal up a little after fighting, time for him to book the club, etc. feel free to have characters wander in late too!
☆ i also provided the option for characters to phone in (since it was mentioned to me on the ooc post), so if they can't make it in person they can still be in the loop!
☆ any non-Sutoku tag-a-longs are assumed to be showing up late so as not to be sitting in on private discussions earlier in the night.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Well, Ryoma's come to the right place, because these two youngsters are ... not as somber as they should be, given the circumstances. Neither of them misunderstand the weight of the turmoil brought on the coattails of the night parade—but they're also seventeen year old boys. There's only so much seriousness they can take. ]

Chicken nuggets? ... Don't you mean golden fried chicken? Or maybe a sweet madame?

[ Yes, yes that does sound like "sweet madame," as in, a lovely woman, and not a honey glazed chicken. But it is a honey glazed chicken. It is! ]

Ah, thanks for having me ... I hope I'm not overstepping too much by coming by.

"Sweet madame"?

[ eheh. he's just immature enough to laugh a little. ]

Ah... is that the name of a dish you know? Chicken nuggets are these very good little chunks of chicken rolled in some kind of crispy stuff outside and fried, I guess? [ bold of anyone to assume he knows how anything is made. ] So maybe golden fried chicken is similar?

[ oh, right. this isn't just for drinking and eating. ]

But your timing is perfect! A few of us were already discussing reaching out to people in other factions anyway since this affects all of us.

Maybe so. A sweet madame is a full roast chicken slathered with honey and other herbs. You're guaranteed to feel great after eating the whole thing. Golden fried chicken might be closer...

[ Ah, but, really. This isn't the time or place to be salivating over a sweet madame! Though now he really wants one. It does hit the spot when you kinda feel like shit. ]

—yes, you're right. It might not be a bad idea to convene altogether at some point. I imagine there could be a good exchange of information as well.

[ ... Though he isn't so naive to think that they all won't be on guard around each other. Too much has happened, and trust had been thin to begin with. Once the clan leaders snap their fingers—it's likely they won't be able to be so friendly.

It's too bad. If he had the time, he'd make Ryouma a sweet madame. ]

Ohhhh, that sounds really good! [ it's times like these when he almost, almost catches on to the fact that he should do things like stop and eat something. ] There's a certain dish where I'm from that I haven't had in a long time, so I might have to go looking for some, but hotpot is one of those things you should always eat with other people.

[ in his personal opinion, this is just the thing to do. ]

It makes me wonder how others would respond to the idea. I have a feeling the other Lost Souls might be receptive, but the faction leaders less so. Can't really blame them, all things considered — everyone has their own interests to protect in this — but I'm sure Toraguma and Tenkohime have to realise that it can happen to anyone so long as we don't know who was behind this.

[ he doesn't mention the enma, but that's on purpose. the enma is undoubtedly a much harder target, for one, and secondly... he's not entirely sure the enma isn't the problem here but he's not volunteering all that right away, at least. ]

[ Chongyun notices the exclusion but doesn't feel any particular way about it—the Enma strikes him more as a military leader or a political figure or some such, while Tenkohime and Toraguma feel less ... official? Which may not necessarily be the case, but considering how most of the Department feels very much like public servants in Liyue, it just ended up that way. The neglect to mention makes sense, in that view.

No, instead his focus is definitely more on hotpot now that it's been brought up ... it's something he has to take a lot of care to eat. It has to be a non-spicy broth, and then he has to dip whatever he's boiled into ice water before eating it. A method he's thought much about, tested and tried with various outcomes, and now he's thinking about how delicious that is. ]

You're right. Do you think ... we could, perhaps, have an exchange of information over hotpot? [ priorities. ] It would put everyone in a good mood, wouldn't it?

[ What's more important here, the info or the food? It's probably obvious which with how his eyes brighten, ]

With ice cream as dessert ... ice cream and cake.

What an idea!

[ this kid is really going places. ]

It's worth floating, maybe asking around on the network. Wouldn't even need to say that's what it's for. We've had some time to get to know each other and we all worked on getting ready for the Parade, but all of us Lost Souls have more in common with each other than we necessarily do with any of the respective factions. There's strength in that kind of unity, at least in helping to open up the channels of communication and it would be irresponsible not to maintain those connections since loyalties to everyone's individual factions are likely to deepen anyway.

[ it's a very good idea. and a good opportunity to patronise local businesses other than konoha, which is obviously doing well for itself. something a little more traditional might be nice, compared to their present atmosphere...

needless to say, ryouma's mind is working. ]

Do you have friends in the other factions, too? The leaders might be even more receptive to the idea if we generate some profits for everyone for all of this. Money talks in ways words alone can't in this world like any other.

I do. [ a nod, ] Many of us got to know each other before officially getting sorted into clans, didn't we? On that fifteen hour line during processing. Those first few days...

[ He isn't actually sure if it had ended up being fifteen hours in the end, or even just a few days until he got himself on his feet, but it had certainly felt like it. How many times had his ticket been stolen? How many people had cut the line? It's all a blur now, time spent in that building marked mostly by the people he had met while waiting to meet with one of the processing workers. A camaraderie had been born through similar circumstances.

They're fledgling relationships that Chongyun's reluctant to let go of. He's never been the best at being social—though, in his heart, he wants to get along with everyone ... both his condition and single-minded focus on his job have made it difficult. The opportunity to spend time with everyone he's gotten to know over the past few weeks—the thought alone makes his chest fuzzy. In a good way. ]

I don't know about profits, but ... I would like that very much. [ he smiles, a small uptick at the corners of his mouth—he feels a little shy admitting this, but, ] If possible... I would like to hold on to our relationship as fellow Lost Souls. I've liked spending time with everyone. [ but that smile fades, softening into a sigh instead, ] Of course, I understand it's becoming more complicated—but even so...

( me also walking into this meeting late with starbucks,

but Ritsu's been just listening the whole time, not as battered as some other people in the Alliance because his first instinct when shit hits the fan is to find a safe place—fallback and regroup as it were, though all that is going to go out the window in the following days. Nevertheless, he really can't help but speak up at this, he loves teasing people— )

Aw, Chokkun~... I didn't think you liked me that much ♪ ( a little wave, hii~ii. ) I'm thinkin' you two are on the right track though, with all that loyalty talk... but you've gotta think about one real important thing, too.

( Ritsu stretches from one of the couches, face screwing up with a yawn before he settles back down. )

Our contracts. Someone might not like their faction all that much, but dependin' on what they're getting in return... ( He props his cheek up in his palm. ) ...They might consider whatever loyalty they might breed with other people to be less than what they're being promised.

Ha?

[ WOW... showed up exactly in time for Chongyun's soft boy moment to tease him about it, he's embarrassed!! Which is why his face turns red, flustering a little. Where did you come from, Ritsu?? To attack him personally???? And yet this seems right on track for everything he knows about the other boy. Can't he use his powers for good, and not evil?

And he comes in with ... a pretty valid point. Ignoring the red that still blots his cheeks, Chongyun blinks, and quiets for a moment. It's true; they each have their own contracts, and despite all of the rumors and information exchanged, he's never once heard the details of someone's contract. If there's something everyone protects, it seems to be that. Even his own—it is something he wants. He'd be willing to do a lot for it. ]

... You're right. [ he rubs the back of his head, ] I didn't think about that.

( No, he's a mean wittle vampire, he can ONLY use his powers of coming out of nowhere for evil... Ritsu smiles, de light ed at the red, but he knows this is a meeting and we should be productive and yada yada, he's not keen on getting scolded by anyone he doesn't like; he doesn't even like that from the people he does like. )

No shame in it, Chokkun. It's easy to forget about it when every day is... ( ...he makes a gesture with his free hand, they're in hell, you know how it is in hell. ) I'm sure there's some level of information people'll be willing to give up despite their contract, but if it's somethin' that might get them kicked out of their faction, or put it at stake... They're not gonna spill it, even if it's to their best friend in the entire world.

( He glances momentarily at Xinqiu—him and Chongyun seem close, after all, though they've been dumped into different factions—but his gaze doesn't linger. )

Unless their friend's goal is the same as their's, but there's no way to verify that without asking~... ( ... ) Sorry to bring the mood down, though.

( Even if it was important to point out. )

[ Sorry, but he kind of left the conversation a little while ago, sure he has no means by which to physically escape this realm but mentally... At some point or another, the notepad on his lap was replaced by a book in which he seems to be completely invested. Anyway, it seems Chokkun (whoever that was) had gone about to get himself plenty acquainted with people within the Sutoku Alliance. That wasn't what he expected, but, maybe he shouldn't be surprised?

In any case, he isn't going to look up from the page his eyes are scanning, even if he feels for a brief instant he was being watched.

Chongyun, you're on your own here. There is much enjoyment to be had contained within the text before him, the loss of nature and desire, now what could that lead to. Of course, duty is important and that should not waver, but the lady within the pages is a whole different person as opposed to the creature of myth she was before. But he will take a pause before the adventurers are led by the clues of a cat. ]

You're bringing the mood down? No, please don't mind me, continue. [ Bye then, he has to follow the heroes as they delve further into the villain's lair, to find the beastly apparition leashed by the tyrant king to do his bidding. ]

[ Wow... dragging him here to be arm candy and then abandoning him when other people start chewing on him. We see how it is!! Chongyun just sends his friend a look—like, really?—but Xingqiu does seem invested in his book. Honestly, that tracks.

Whatever. Chongyun sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. ]

Even so ... that doesn't mean we can't still have a decent relationship, right? And a hotpot dinner never hurt anyone. [ look, he really wants to eat hotpot with people he's friendly with, why must his dream be killed? ] Even if it's mostly business, as fellow lost souls, I don't think it's a bad idea to try to stay on good terms.

[ Ritsu is absolutely right, of course. Who knows when someone will decide to go feral and sell someone else out for what is, objectively, important to them? This will involve finding some sense of balance‐Hell or not, isn't that how business works anyway? ]

As for the matter of the contracts ... there's really nothing we can do about that.

Fifteen hours? Ah—... right! Something like that, give or take.

[ if only. ryouma had traded in his ticket quite voluntarily a few times in the interest of waiting on someone. eventually, he'd figured out that that might not happen or at the very least that time down here doesn't necessarily work like he expects it to so he might as well do the waiting in the city. ]

The contracts really don't matter at all. [ so there's that. ] It's no different than saying anyone can act on their own interests whenever they feel like it. I don't intend to appeal to anyone's goodwill. Like I said, it comes down to money. Politics don't even matter when there's money to be made. Anything you want to do around here, I bet if you have the cash you can make it happen.

[ maybe it sounds greedy, but he isn't in it for himself. it's just a vehicle for the real work and he's figured that out by now. ]

The best thing we can do is remain on good terms as Lost Souls. We're all going to have work to do around here one way or another. Some people are going to gain favour with the leadership and that's a good thing. You'll need those kinds of connections. When I was trying to get things moving a long time ago the best thing I had was a lot of people with many different talents.

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[ Welcome Ryoma to teen shenanigans, the show on display tonight is an attempt to flee the friendzone. Chongyun will get it one day, hopefully before they're sixty, but Xingqiu is patient if not loyal. He considers the suggestion, not entirely unheard of but that's merely due to passing through the many local chains. He hasn't bothered to actually make an order. ]

No, he does mean chicken nuggets, I have seen them listed on some menus. Although if I were to compare them to anything, I'd say they appear in some way to resemble golden fried chicken closely. It may be the same general concept?

[ Maybe. Sort of. It's their KFC okay. As for Chongyun's polite manners and show of gratitude, that gets Xingqiu to glance over at him, a smile slowly forming. Really, he knows he should be the one extending thanks, even apologizing. ]

Oh ... do you think they'd be any good cold?

[ He actually does like golden fried chicken—left to cool to room temperature, of course—so it actually does sound appetizing. Simple, quick, and satisfying. Chongyun hums and ponders on it for a moment, wondering what the differences would be if there are any. Broadening your horizons in a new place includes food, right? As long as they aren't spicy. ]

I wouldn't mind doing something like that, then. And then have some ice cream afterwards.

[ Dessert: always a priority. ]

[ ryouma is only too familiar with people who don't catch on to things like feelings, so if he knew he would sympathise. but since he doesn't, ryouma is just here to enjoy this pleasant, youthful energy where stuff doesn't feel sad or heavy right now. thank god for the youth? ]

I don't see why not. A lot of things are good cold! I saw a few places around that sell cold noodles too; I bet those'll be especially good when it starts feeling like summer, but you definitely can't go wrong finishing up with ice cream!

[ fast food is a wonderful invention, so live your bliss. he also has no idea how seasons operate in this place, but he assumes if they can make it feel like spring it won't be hard to make it feel festively summer-ish as well. ]

Sounds like you have a lot of interesting things to eat where you come from though, or at least chicken dishes. [ he might be a fan. ] You can order something if you're hungry, they just couldn't manage to have this whole thing catered on short notice.

[ that and he used up his savings just setting this up, but no one has to know that. he'll find out that someone else generously contributed later on, but for now he still assumes he's going to be scraping through the rest of the month. ]

[ When it comes to fast food, honestly, most of it he would have to pass. Marinated in grease, it almost makes him queasy, so really while he may be familiar with that big golden finger-lickin' chicken, he's a mild child, at least according to a friend back in Liyue. The most he has delved into when it comes to quick and economic meals is baked goods. Even then...

The reality is, he isn't certain of the assessment made of partaking in those nuggets cold. Is he going to voice his negative opinion? No, let others have their fun. ]

Those noodles wouldn't be bad, and as you said, there really is no going wrong with ice cream. But ultimately, it is up to Chongyun what our final meal for the night will be. [ He even motions towards his friend with his hand. ]

As for the cuisine found in Liyue, those two dishes do not originate from our homeland, traditionally two major culinary arts are recognized. I can assure you that they don't all involve fowl, that is if you're looking for some variety.

[ He stops speaking then, looking about them. It's a detail he missed, something is suddenly dawning on him. ] It was very kind that we were allowed the use of his hall for a meeting...

[ Don't mind Chongyun, he's just going to stand here in deep thought about cold chicken nuggets versus cold noodles. Because, cold noodles? He loves those. Inazuman cuisine is his favorite—ingredients imported, of course. Cold noodles, cold fish, cold drinks... is there anything better? As renowned as Liyue is for cuisine, he really can't help being partial to other styles.

Chicken...noodle....chicken....noodle.... ]

Ah, yes. [ he nods, agreeing with his friend, ] It's a very nice space.

[ Xingqiu has a dawning, Chongyun does not. But it really is a nice space? And it doesn't seem like a big deal if there's no catering. ]

Why not put the nuggets with the noodles and eat them together?

[ ryouma: willing to be a big advocate of "why not both?" in this situation. ]

Ah, well, it's easy to make people agreeable to things last minute if you're paying them. But it's for the good of everyone, so it was more than worth it.

[ he might be officially attached to the sutoku alliance, but in all things like this ryouma doesn't take sides when it comes to working for other people's happiness. ]

Why not—?

[ Cold chicken nuggets with cold noodles? The young exorcist's face twitches as he pictures that combination. Even though he loves cold noodles, he's not sure that they would be good in combination with cold greasy chicken nugs. Maybe even an unholy combination? ]

... because that sounds bad. [ hold on, before he insults Ryouma's taste some more, ] Wait, you didn't pay for all of this yourself, did you?

[ How will Ryouma afford his disgusting stirred cold nuggets and noodles now? ]

[ Don't you even take that into consideration Chongyun, he will veto that idea, or leave you to face a future stomachache all on your own. That's why his attention has left Ryouma, as he waits to hear what Chongyun finally decides on.

Good. That's right. It's a terrible idea.

Of course, he wouldn't have gone about it that way and bluntly pointed it out to the older man. Actually, he wouldn't have said anything about poor taste at all. It seems Chongyun's honesty doesn't spare feelings. The good thing is that the conversation has been steered away from poor dietary choices. And it seems Chongyun caught on. ]

That's what I was wondering.

I suppose I imagined the nuggets might be warmer than the noodles themselves, but you really like everything cold, don't you?

[ this is what he's gathered from the fact that they've been talking about cold food this long. ]

Only some of it! Not to worry! It's much better than everyone being much more disorganised because we didn't have this time to sit down together.

[ but this is typical ryouma downplaying things. he definitely had some help he's quite grateful for but paid for quite a bit out of pocket, too but has never been the type to go around looking to take credit for anything. ]

Maybe so ... but it still seems like a lot.

[ His clan has rented out restaurants before. Even if the food is "pay for your own", it sounds expensive to coordinate all this, and on short notice. Chongyun doesn't say anything, just glances at Xingqiu for a second before looking back at the older man. It isn't his business, not even his clan, so he won't say anything more about it. ]

Next time you can cater chicken nuggets, since you like them so much.

[ Except that. That's all he's going to say about it. ]

[ ~~So that's where that stench of debt was coming from!~~

It doesn't just sound expensive to Xingqiu, he is actually aware that quite a bit of money must have been exchanged to get a hold of this place. It was short of notice too, which must have added to the cost. Back in Liyue, he could have easily afforded something like this, a few times over and more. But even if he had access to his funds, there was a difference in currency.

Maybe if costs were divided. ]

Well, if you're already... are you planning to visit the casinos next?

The casinos? Ahaha, that won't be necessary. I've been worse off than this! The Alliance keeps a roof over my head which is all I need.

[ other than his stipend from the alliance itself he's been picking up jobs here and there on top of the steady music job he's been doing on the side. it was a neat little nest egg which he's now exhausted all in one night. ]

Not that it's that bad anyway!