jigokulogs | But When We Start Making Fires (open)

(You mean it's not normal for someone's eyes to not have any light? Like he's just a dead soul walking?)

Someone got them all together and told them what to do. (So, yes, he does think they were hired. Or at the very least, rallied by someone.) You'd need a lot of money to hire that many guys.

(He speaks flatly, almost like he's just... tired which wouldn't be too strange. Most people would be exhausted after the adrenaline of the attack wore off. He looks over towards Dante. He's seen him around. It's not like anyone in the clan to avoid a fight but he has to ask,)

... Did you fight any of them?

[It’s not right. It’s not right at all. Dante has seen that haunted look throughout his entire life, mainly from his brother. He can’t help but stare for a moment as he watches the boy. While the young man can’t be any older than eighteen or so, he can tell that this kid lived a rough damn life.]

You need more than just money to keep guys like these on the payroll. [He comments while glancing around in hopes of finding another lead.] You also need conviction to pull something like this off.

If you lack that, then a scheme like this falls completely apart at the seams.

[Especially since the men in question are contending against the fucking yakuza. Your average hitman isn’t going to want to do that for just a few measly bucks. There has to be something sweeter in the deal for their mysterious ninjas to put themselves in the crosshairs. Dante just doesn’t know what it could be.]

I did. [He gives the injured youth another glance.] I tried to shoot the bastards down but they were too fast.

I’m guessing you met with the sharp end of a sword or two.

(That's right. You'd need to have a good reason to get a bunch of guys together to take out such an important target. It had to be--)

Something that makes everything worth it.

(It looks like they're on the same page here and it makes Hizen wonder what sort of experience this guy has. He doesn't feel like an assassin to him. The way he's snooping around to... is he, maybe... smart? Hm. He doesn't know. Hizen's never been much good at thinking if he's honest with himself but that last observation makes him laugh.)

Hah. (And though there's no joy, he holds his head up high and stands a little straighter, even if it makes him wince. His hand moves to the side of his stomach where, underneath his clothes, he's been neatly bandaged. It's fine. He might not have much spirit but he's proud of one thing, ) If it was a sword, I would have won.

(Instead, he reaches into his pocket and digs for something.)

Went chasing after one of 'em. Tried to find out where they were going but they went invisible.

(When he holds out his hand, he uncurls his fist to reveal... a bullet. Yes, he'd been scuffed in the chaos but the heaviest injury had been from the gunshot.)

And they left me this.

[Dante is smarter than he looks. Don't be fooled by the shaggy overgrown hair or light stubble, he's pretty damn intelligent when he's not fooling around. While his silly antics certainly garner attention, he's definitely in a league of his own.]

So someone bust a cap in your ass, huh? [He questions with a slightly amused grin.] It certainly sounded like gunshots to me but I can't find any casings anywhere.

[Maybe the weaponry used in this assault is native to Jigoku-cho itself? That seems to be the case but Dante isn't certain. However, once the kid shows off his find--Dante can't help but scoff.]

So it wasn't magic after all. [He mutters as he leans forward to take the bullet.] I knew they were using some sort of firearm.

[And judging from the odd indentation on the side, there was some sort of symbol or emblem there. Most bullets do have serial numbers on them but this one has a weird symbol instead.]

(Dante looks amused but Hizen just looks down at the bullet in his palm. It's clear he doesn't find anything about this funny.

He frowns, thinking about what Dante just said. It wasn't magic...)

... Didn't sense anything different from them. (But there's a catch and he mumbles,) Haven't been able to sense much here, though...

(Would he have felt it? He isn't sure. )

Feels more like tech to me but I'm not an expert or nothing.

(Really, he's bad at thinking.)

[A thoughtful hum escapes Dante as he takes the bullet from Hizen. The evidence in question must've came from a high velocity rifle, one meant for more tactical combat rather than your average Glocks. That makes more sense since the frequency of the shoots seemed much faster than normal. Dante spent his entire life around firearms, so he knows how to identify them but something about this whole scenario doesn't sit well with him.]

No, you're right. This definitely looks like modern tech to me. [A little too modern for his liking, especially since Jigoku-cho in general gives him the late 80s vibes.] This is the kind of bullet you would see nowadays, not in a spot like Jigoku-cho.

It also be rather expensive.

[This whole incident wasn't carried out by some ragtag team of mercenaries. That much is apparent but who has the funds for something like this? Dante can't help but wonder.]

Rumor has it that the Kappa are ingenious crafters and all, but this looks to be beyond their scope of expertise.

Edited 2022-04-05 14:25 (UTC)

(He lets Dante take the bullet. He wouldn't have offered it out in the first place if he didn't mean for him to look at it. As far as he's concerned, it's best that someone who knows more about these things gets a closer look.

He's quiet, listening to Dante and making a note of his observations. He isn't familiar with firearms. He isn't even familiar with anything close to whatever time period Jigoku-cho resembles. His work has never really taken him beyond the early Meiji and he's never left the contained areas of the ministry hall or the citadel which use a completely different type of technology than what he's really seen here.)

But it's here. (The bullet and all of the weird stuff the attackers used before,) Unless ya think people are time traveling or something, it came from somewhere here.

(He reaches out to point at the bullet now in Dante's hand-- at a place where something once was but is no longer legible,)

What d'ya think about this?

(He's not an expert but even he can tell it looks... weird.)

I wouldn't rule out time-traveling here but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

[If time-traveling really is involved, then Dante's at a loss for words. He wouldn't know what to do about all that. He's used to fighting demons, not time-traveling. That's above his pay grade and he's long overdue for a bonus.]

To be brutally honest, I think our little ninja friends are packing enough hardware to do us all in if they choose. [He admits before tossing the bullet back towards the kid.] However, we're not the intended targets. The Big Four are, or rather the Big Three now.

[The assassins were content enough to leave the Lost Souls alone at first. That is until Dante and several others decided to jump into the fray. Had none of them interfered, he assumes the assassins would've never attacked them. However, that's a big assumption on his part.]

Expect a repeat of today's episode, kid. We're in hot water now.

(Say sike right now.

Don't mention time travel to Hizen who immediately ages 500 years back into the Heian era over that.)

No one cares for a bunch of nobodies.

(The Lost Souls. He means them. No one is going to care about anyone at the bottom of the food chain unless they can be used. That seems obvious to Hizen.

He holds out his hand. He'd like his bullet back, Dante. He's more focused on immediate things than things in the future. Being warned to expect more of this to come though? He lets out a sound that is something like a groan and a sigh,)

What a pain. (And he really does sound tired.) ... Can't even get hot water at home.

(Is that......... a joke........... it's hard to tell when he's completely deadpan in his delivery.)

Edited 2022-04-07 14:49 (UTC)

If we're nothing but nobodies, then why did the four clans go out of their way to recruit us?

[Good question, right? It's clear that the Lost Souls have some sort of value but not in terms of this incident.]

Geez, talk about being down bad. [He comments with a lighthearted chuckle.] I don't think I caught your name, kiddo.

[To be fair, introductions always seem to come last for Dante. He never been a stickler for manners and he never will.]

I'm Dante and you are?

Because nobodies can be useful, too.

(The glass isn't just half empty with him; it's totally empty. There's not an ounce of optimism here.

There are plenty of nobodies and they can all be replaced with more nobodies once they've served their purpose. He doesn't think they're special. He just thinks they're easy.)

... Hizen.

(And he's not a kiddo but he doesn't feel like explaining this.)

[If Dante is going to be floored whenever he learns of Hizen's age. That is if that ever happens. No one can really fault him for thinking Hizen is that young. He certainly looks the part of a moody teenager even if he doesn't really act like one.]

Nice to meetcha but I wish it was under better conditions.

[He states with a cheerful little grin. Dante is friendly to a fault sometimes. This is in direct contrast to his domineering brother but thankfully Vergil isn't here.]

Tell me, what do you know the leaders besides Toraguma? Has there been any interesting rumors about them? I know the blue boss man really hates the sexy fox lady.

(On one hand, it isn't a secret that he's trying to keep. On the other... no one has asked.

Dante smile sand Hizen just looks at him. Expression flat, eyes dark, and there's just no real expression.)

Get the feeling she doesn't like him much either. (He shrugs,) They seem like opposites.

(And you know. Oil and water.)

[Geez, this guy must be real fun at parties. Dante can't help but shake his head a little at this awkward fella. Hizen seems decent enough but the man has the personality of a wet noodle. The kid is almost as wobbly as one. All skin and bones with lanky limbs.]

They seem like "evil exes" if you ask me.

[He mutters as he recalls all the times Toraguma referred to Tenkohime as a "bitch". If this became a drinking game, Dante would actually die from liquor poisoning.]

I'm not sure if they dated or not but they give off that impression. Toraguma is always ranting and hollering about the sexy fox lady.

Edited 2022-04-10 21:41 (UTC)

(The secret is he's actually fun at parties because everyone TEASES HIM FOR FUN. )

...

(Wait. He's quiet, eyes going wide with surprise because what is that supposed to mean. Evil exes? He thinks about Toraguma and Tenkohime...

TORAGUMA AND TENKOHIME?

Like that?

Is that what they're like? Is that how they act? He's never going to look at the two of them talking about each other same way ever again.)

You think they're like that? (He sounds caught off guard by all of this. He's confused,) I thought they just hated each other!

There's a thin line between love and hate.

[Dante laughs as he gives Hizen a playful wink. No one really knows what's the deal between Toraguma and Tenkohime but he thinks they act like scorned lovers than just mere rivals/]

Think about it! The old blue boy looks like he's around the fox babe's age and neither of them is ugly.

[Toraguma is pretty "hot" for an Oni. Most of the blue dudes have a face only a mother could love but not Toraguma.]

Besides, there's far too much animosity between them just for this to be some boring ass rivalry.

(He scowls. Don't laugh at him. Don't wink at him. Everything is a personal offense.)

No thanks.

(He will not think about how hot Toraguma and Tenkohime are, thank you very much.)

They're just youkai. It doesn't gotta be that deep. Spirits and demons don't need reasons to be weird or petty.

(There are a bunch of stories of youkai just doing things for the heck of it. Hell, he lives with some back home. Tsurumaru Kuninaga and his obnoxious love of pranks for the hell of it.)

And even if it was true, it wouldn't matter anyway! None of that's got anything to do with this.

On the contrary, I think it is that deep.

[Youkai or not, they're still individuals in his eyes. Then again, Dante has a rather unique perception in all this, especially since he's a half-demon. While there's some truth in Hizen's assessment of the two leaders, he really thinks something major happened between them. Let's just say it's a gut feeling.]

But whatever, I'm just speculating~ [Judging from his light and airy tone, he's just fooling around.] But in any case, prepare for the second act of this epic shit storm we're in.

I'm expecting Tora-daddy to put us to work soon.

(Tora-daddy....................)

Don't ever say that ever again.

(Fuck, he wishes he could unhear that?)

But When We Start Making Fires (open)

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