ᴏᴘᴇɴ ▸ out of the deep waters and all its intricacies.

[wray]

Who ⬤ Six & you.
What ⬤ The Kappa Round-up, as per the Enma's orders.
When ⬤ After the Night Parade; soon after the Enma's order goes out.
Where ⬤ Around the city.
Content Warnings ⬤ Violence, most likely.

i. cyberkinetic
( OPEN TO OTHER ENMA MEMBERS )

[ six thinks that it was only a matter of time before such an order was issued.

things have been going well. too well, in fact, with hardly any hiccups in between. the night parade almost felt like a complete lie, a fabricated scenario meant to reassure everyone involved that there was nothing wrong. not even his experience with the strange drug from that bunny doctor can match up with how everything is right now — a complete mess in every sense of the world.

not only did early preparations do nothing to prevent the tragedy from happening, but now the department of enma has been deployed to do clean-up of the unsavoury kind. while six himself has reservations about the order, he knows that it's barely worth the effort of going against it. if he doesn't help with rounding up the kappa and everyone else involved with them, he knows that the enma can just as well send someone much worse to do the job itself.

he'd rather avoid that, if he can. ]

OPTION A - ASSIST.

[ it's almost funny how quickly he has to play the part of a loyal lapdog, the way he doesn't bother asking any questions and instead just focuses on getting the job done. he stalks along the streets of jigokucho in search for any kappa that are hiding or are currently on the run. he's quick and efficient when it comes to rounding them up, knocking the ones he caught unconscious rather than causing them too much harm.

it's a different story when it comes to the ones who do struggle against his attempts though. he doesn't even bother holding back.

if you happen to pass his way, he might gesture for you to come closer with a jerk of his head. ]

... There are some hiding over here. [ this building, this particular alleyway, or anywhere else. ] Mind giving me a hand?

OPTION B - HINDER.

[ of course, not everyone has to agree with what's happening. six knows this. he understands. it's never going to be easy for everyone to harm someone who is just trying to run away, but that's exactly why he has to be the one who does it. if it isn't going to be easy for others, the least he can do is be the bad guy so no one gets in trouble for the lack of action.

he can always worry about the consequences later.

or you can make it his problem now, by confronting him and standing in his way just before he grabs another kappa to knock out along with the rest. ]

Don't get in my way. You either help or stay out of this.

ii. fireflies
( OPEN TO ALL )

[ it doesn't surprise him that there are those outside of his faction attempting to help the kappa too.

if he happens to find you hiding the kappa at your place or catch you in the middle of the act of letting them escape, he'll attempt to put himself in between you and the way out. he assumes an offensive stance, claws out and ready to strike if he must. ]

... Don't be stupid.

[ a warning, a threat, and everything else it could in between. his voice is low and even, but if one pays close enough attention, it almost sounds like he's struggling to remain neutral. after all, despite admitting that he'll do what must be done, it doesn't mean he has to like it.

this is one of those moments where that's practically obvious.

the last thing he wants to do is to hurt someone who is only trying to do good things. ]

If you hand them over, no one will know you were ever involved.

iii. reconfigure
( OPEN TO ALL )

[ once all is said and done, six doesn't immediately retreat to his assigned quarters. he roams around the neon-lit city streets with no rhyme nor reason instead. he didn't come out of that scuffle completely intact (shallow cuts and purple bruises), but the physical aches hardly compare to the mental ones. his exhaustion runs bone-deep, even more so now that he's been all over the place without giving himself any respite.

somehow, it almost seems as though he's punishing himself. not only for what he just did, but perhaps for other unknown reasons that he keeps close to his heart. when his body leans against the closest thing — a wall, a street light, a random object — keen ears would hear him mutter quietly to himself. ]

Is this enough, I wonder... How do I make up for what I've done?

[ even if you try to catch his attention now, it doesn't seem like he's going to notice. it might take a few attempts, given just how absentminded he is right now. ]

iv. wildcard me, baby

( ooc. sometimes i forget six is a chuuni edgelord. but let me know if you need something specific from me!

in terms of specifics, six can be found stalking the streets of the city in search of the kappa or anyone attempting to help them. he is fully decked out in his eternals uniform plus the weapons he has on his person. i'm happy to write custom starters if none of the ones above ping you so pls feel free to pm me. 💜 )

Comments

ASSIST.

[stubboarn]

[ dimitri follows his glance to a convenience store, and nods. ]

It shouldn't be so difficult to persuade the owner to give them up ... It's likely that they will try to divide our attention if they don't intend to cooperate, and we need to prevent the kappa's chances of escaping.

We can go together in the front, or one of us keeps an eye on the exit and catches them there - how do you prefer to do it? [ said casually as he walks with him towards the building. people are glancing at them with unmitigated dislike; he supposes that's unavoidable given the nature of their job. ]

[wray]

[ the convenience store... less than convenient now, given the rows of products and small space. they were given permission to use whatever means necessary to get the job done but six doesn't want to cause too much collateral damage if they can help it. ]

I'll guard the rear exit. We can limit their escape routes this way.

[ he steals one glance at the crowd of onlookers, not at all surprised with how they're reacting. it wouldn't be the first time he's been met with unrestrained disapproval. ]

Call my name if you need help.

[ that's all he says before he starts down the narrow alleyway next to the building, leading him towards the back area. ]

[stubboarn]

I shall.

[ he waits for six to disappear round a corner before entering the store and introducing himself to the manager. he explains, rather brusquely, what he was there for, and although the manager tries to distract him by selling him things, dimitri is concerned about how the store looks and whether something is amiss.

when it's clear that the manager wasn't about to let someone from the department of enma get their way, dimitri marches right to the room behind the counter as the man tries to stop him. he twists his arm and brings him down painfully to the floor, and the manager reveals quite easily that he was hiding three kappa, after calling him names. most insults dimitri didn't really recognize, and didn't care about, and he lets them slide. he's been called worse.

in the back room, he hears rustling, and dimitri manages to catch one, who was yelling at the manager and calling him a coward. the other two slip his grasp, and dimitri yells - ]

Six, two escaped!

[wray]

[ six keeps himself busy as soon as he gets to the back area of the store. there are piles of beaten-down crates, the trusty dumpster bin, and piles of trash. every nook and cranny is looked over twice, checked to make sure that nothing is hidden where they can't be seen. the alley next to here leads to a dead-end so there aren't many options for any wayward kappa trying to escape.

he abandons his observation duty when he hears the scuffle from inside. dimitri shouts, and it's enough to alert him to the two kappa incoming. there's hardly enough time for him to bridge the distance but his speed has always been on his side. the door slams open but six is ready for the first one who comes out, striking from the back to knock him right out. the other kappa manages to wiggle his way through by vaulting over his fallen comrade and six has to cut him off by blocking the path leading to the main street.

there's a brief exchange of words: You don't have to make this harder on yourself versus Piss off, Enma scum—

it's over before it can get any worse. soon, six is dragging the two unconscious kappa by the scuff into the store to meet up with dimitri. he spares a glance at the terrified store owner but doesn't bother addressing him. ]

The shopkeep isn't hiding any more of them, right?

[ business first. just in case. ]

[stubboarn]

As far as I can tell, no, but it doesn't hurt to do a second sweep.

[ the kappa in his hand is restrained, and dimitri, in the meantime, chains him to the window bars so he's unable to move. the kappa doesn't seem too intent on fighting him because he's afraid of what six has done to the kappa in his arms. the shopkeep is more subdued, rubbing an arm as he lets dimitri pass. he does a sweep. nothing else is seen but some possessions which the kappa were holding in a satchel; he takes it out and checks the contents onto the counter. finding nothing incriminating, he puts the items back into the bag, and keeps it in his hand as he searches the rest of the store, every nook and cranny for possible hideouts, strange indentations in walls and floors for certain alterations in the structure where hidden passages or vaults might be possible. in castles, there were often such things to account for ways to help squirrel the royal family should there be a siege; dimitri searches around thoroughly.

when satisfied that there was nothing to be concerned about anymore, he returns to six and takes his kappa for custody. ]

Nothing more left. We should go.

[ he looks at the shopkeep who doesn't want to look at him, his face an image of frustration and hate, but he holds his tongue. all dimitri says to him is, ] We apologize for the mess. Thank you for your cooperation.

[ easy enough to leave after even if the manager now despises them. ]

☆ RECONFIGURE

[ahost]

[ so absentminded— he didn't notice the boy sitting down on the sidewalk, back pressed against the rusty base of the streetlight; the same one six has (subconsciously) leaned on. the sorcerer was taking a quick break after spending hours hunting down the kappas, and while he didn't know how to handle the mental exhaustion it left him with, he settled by attending to what's easier: his growling stomach. he would be seen savoring a humble midnight meal; a store-bought sandwich and soda on the side, nothing too fancy and totally fitted for his tight budget. he's halfway through it by the time he turned his attention to the newcomer, watching quietly, still unsure whether it's an enemy or a friend. the dim lighting offers little help, but soon after-

he mutters a soft 'oh!'. another enma. he had seen that man in their headquarters before.

if it was any other night, any other situation, itadori would've greeted his fellow associate better. however, given the circumstances and the difficult orders they've been given by their leader, he knew neither one of them had the energy for an introductory small-talk. they could use a break, a moment of silence— maybe they didn't need to talk at all. itadori kept an eye on him regardless, that's when an awful thought came in mind. why is he reassured by the dishearten glum on six's features? ah, maybe in a fucked-up sense it felt less lonely to see someone else is struggling with those orders too. guess he's not the only one who's hating tonight. ]

... Hey.

[ he allows six a moment. then, once again- ]

You wanna' sit down for a bit?

yuuji is best boy

[wray]

[ it takes a moment for six to realize that someone has noticed his presence. at first, it's because his mind is already down that cyclical ride filled with guilt and regret, wondering if he should have handled tonight any differently even when he knows he is powerless to put a stop to it. it's difficult to make him snap out of his mess but it seems the sharp smell of half-eaten food and weary exhaustion is enough for tonight.

his ears perk up, and then his body turns to face the one who spoke to him. there is a split-second where recognition colours the rest of his features. yuuji? he must have said that out loud too, disbelieving the fact that the other may truly be here. it wouldn't be the first time the other has caught him during a vulnerable moment, but—

he knows how this works by now. different worlds, different timelines... no less confusing but still a grounding reality. he can't expect this one to know who he is. ]

I... I can go elsewhere if this spot is already taken. [ even if the last thing he needs is to be alone with spiraling thoughts. ] I apologize for intruding.

[ there's an attempt made to push himself from the streetlight, but it seems his body has other ideas. his balance sways for one second and then he's back to supporting himself against the pole.

he sighs quietly. ]

... Maybe for a moment then.

[ it's all he says before settling down on the ground, head bowed low. ]

You should head back to your place. It's not safe out here, after all.

sjhsdf; lowkey feels bad he doesn't know six

[ahost]

[ oh, he knows his name? with a slow blink, itadori attempts to reminisce if they met before in the headquarters— maybe a quick exchange during one of those boring conferences? could be. it's strange that he can't remember him. six had such unique features, someone who's hard to dismiss. however, he did say 'yuuji'. that's quite ... intimate.

he was ready to force that boy into taking a break if he had to, only relaxing when six gave in to their reality and settled down. they are exhausted, drained, and just so out of it. itadori couldn't imagine going for another shift after tonight's events, already dreading the long trip to his apartment. with a weary smile, he watched the guy join him, side by side. that's much better. ]

You almost made me drop my cheap sandwich.

[ -said with a lighthearted chuckle; desperate to change the vibe of this gloomy night into something less bitter. soon after, he offers six the untouched soda, didn't bother to wait for his consent, instead nudging the cold beverage against his hand to take. ]

I'll go home after you finish your drink. For now, I could use some good company, especially from someone who's comfortable calling me by my first name.

[ there's no offense to it. if anything— the tone of his voice is full of warmth. ]

it's okay yuuji!! he still cares for you-

[wray]

[ there it is. the lack of recognition in yuuji's eyes is enough to tell six everything he needs to know. he doesn't mind it. pretty much expected it, really, but why does his head hurt just thinking about it—

something cold is pressed against his hand. blinking, he glances down at the cold beverage that yuuji has now offered him without any option to refuse. his shoulders deflate before they even have the chance to tense up. he's way too tired to say no so he just accepts it quietly, bringing the soda close to his chest. it gives little comfort but it's something else to hold onto, at the very least. ]

Sorry. It's hard to explain how I know, [ alternate worlds will never stop being so confusing ] but thank you for the drink.

[ he pops it open since yuuji has decided the terms. he'll go home once six is done drinking this so the erune intends on making that happen. he brings it close to his lips so he can take a sip but then stops short. ]

... I don't know if I'll make for good company though. Not after tonight.

[ he'd rather crawl somewhere and forget about what happened, but that would be running away from what he did. it wouldn't feel right if that's what he did.

it wouldn't feel like he'd suffered enough. ]

;; <3

[ahost]

Ah ... [ he shifts his gaze to the side- ] Okay, but you'll have to explain it to me someday. For now, please take it easy and rest.

[ even if the curiosity is fated to keep him up at night, itadori knew when to pick his battles, and now is not the right time to push for it. after being forced to terrorize and manhandle what he knew are innocent individuals, he's more committed to taking care of the one person he might be able to help tonight. he's glad there are no protests over his offer, so now itadori returns his attention back to his half-eaten sandwich.

he takes in those words and the subtle hint of remorse behind them with a knowing nod. ]

I'm not looking for someone to joke and laugh with. I need someone who understands how I feel right now, and you do. Which makes you a good company.

[ again, the thought of being soothed by shared misery is sickening, even in hell. it made him feel a bit guilty, but he shakes it off; taking another bite, contemplating recent events and the heavy burden they left on their shoulders. he wondered if it's only the beginning of something far more sinister. ]

... You wanna' talk about it?

[ he wipes his mouth clean with the back of his fingers, peering over the other from the corner of his eye. ]

reconfigure

[sweetsong]

Hm?

[ whoever that is... are they speaking to him? no, no. probably not. robin's done his best to be as inconspicuous as possible. the last thing he wants right now is to draw any attention to himself, especially to his arm. his jacket can only provide so much cover, so to speak.

but he's not going to ignore six leaning up against that wall, the wall of one of his favorite bakeries, a place that he knows he'll be welcome with a warm smile and greeting from a youkai who doesn't mind having the support of a tamamo clan member. ]

Oh! Are you okay? Um...

[ he smells like blood. robin's just not sure if it's his own or someone else's. ]

[wray]

[ the blood on the erune definitely doesn't belong to him, that's for sure.

when he realizes that someone has noticed him, he takes a moment to acknowledge the other person, too focused on what's keeping his gaze straight and unwavering. he turns slightly over to see who is trying to talk to him before looking down at the street. ]

... I'm fine. [ a cursory response, not at all helpful in any sense. ] Don't worry about me.

[ yet another thing someone says when they're anything but fine. it doesn't seem like six is going to change his answer though. ]

Am I getting in your way?

[sweetsong]

Hey, you can't decide that for me.

[ said with an easy smile as he continues to look six over. they're about the same height, though robin is pretty sure that six is a lot firmer in terms of build. he wouldn't call himself soft per se but when you're mostly accustomed to singing and dancing and not like, fighting off monsters or youkai or... ]

No. You're not, but you said something just now. What did you do in the first place?

[ to make him feel like he had to repent? ]

[wray]

[ he really needs to stop betraying himself like this, giving away what he's thinking without meaning to. the question asked is difficult to answer since it's not worth bothering someone else about it. ]

I did a lot of things... [ not just tonight. he's been trying to atone for things he's done in the past too— ] But it's not worth the trouble.

[ there he goes again, deflecting. ]

You should head home. It's not safe here.

[sweetsong]

In general? Or do you mean not safe with you?

[ robin quietly joins six in leaning, his head turned so that he can keep an eye on six. not out of fear that he might be attacked by his furry-eared conversation partner, but because if he's in worse shape than he's letting on...

he's not the strongest but he'll do what's needed to help someone in distress. ]

I'll only head home if you promise to let me go with you to yours. That way, I'll know you'll be fine.

[ and he can be stubborn too. ]

fireflies;

[breweries]

[ --ah. it seems that shylock has lowered his guard a little too much. but taking a kappa back to his place would prove more trouble than it's worth (mostly because his roommate is part of the alliance itself), so the least shylock would do is take the poor thing to the back of the bar for at least one night before figuring out where to go from here...

but now, all he can do is give six a sardonic smile. ]

I suppose you won't make the same offer to my little friend here?

[ the kappa cower behind shylock, visibly trembling and tired. it's been a long, long day, but of course law does not rest. ]

[wray]

[ there's barely any rest for the weary and wicked. members of the enma department have been on the clock since the parade has been in full swing, and of course they'd be all over the place after the daitengu's assassination. what six wouldn't do to just call it a day and look the other way, but he has a job to do.

(that, and he doesn't want to find out what's going to happen if he messes this up. there's too much at stake for him.) ]

It doesn't work like that.

[ six's steely gaze is locked on the trembling kappa, but he isn't making a move just yet. his voice betrays a tiny bit of exhaustion, however, as if he's said this line too many times today. ]

We were asked to bring all Kappa Tribe members in for questioning. You don't have to get involved.

[breweries]

I don't intend to. I was merely going to give this poor kappa a single drink before I... well.

[ never mind that. truth be told, he doesn't know where he'll take the kappa after that. bringing them back to his place is just asking for trouble, but surrendering them to the kappa doesn't seem right either. ]

Are they only to be brought in for questioning, or is there a harsher punishment awaiting them?

[ the enma can be rather stifling (read: utter killjoys) at times. still, he has to make sure that proper justice is being served nonetheless. ]

[wray]

[ when asked about a harsher punishment, six couldn't hide his hesitation — the way he briefly looks at the ground before steeling his resolve once more. ]

Questioning and interment. Those are what was specified in the Enma's orders. As far as I'm aware, harsher punishment shouldn't be on the table.

[ they were granted permission to use any force necessary to accomplish the task, but he's already holding back on that much. he can't say the same for other members of the department, however... ]

Are you really going to hand the kappa over after giving them a drink?

[breweries]

Somehow I doubt that.

[ even with the mask on, it's hard to miss the beat of hesitation from the younger man. it surprises shylock, to be honest; he'd thought that the department is composed of stuffy old officials who wouldn't know what fun is if it were dangled in front of them, and even now he still has that impression of them. the fact that they're able to have a civil conversation at all is...

well. he can't help but smile a little. even in times of duress, there's always something interesting around the corner. ]

I wonder. Let me ask my friend here.

[ he turns to the kappa and asks, and they vigorously shake their head. reluctant six may seem, but the mask and claws doesn't make him look less intimidating at all. ]

It seems that I shouldn't let them go. What a conundrum I've found myself in. [ and yet he sounds too casual about it... that's a western wizard for you. ] Well, then. Maybe some alcohol will help give them the courage they need.

[ then he turns to six with a smile, ] And you're welcome to join us, of course. In case you have no trust in me at all.

FIREFLIES

[strikingchords]

[Lan Wangji measures the distance between himself and the other man. the scene has been set, the pieces locking inescapably into place as events unfolded: several members of Enma bursting into an apartment complex in the Sutoku Alliance territory near where Lan Wangji happened to be walking home for the day. a room-to-room search, with much banging of doors and loud voices, shocked residents flinching away from the invaders. "friendly" interrogations on where a suspected fugitive might be hiding in the building, if the Enma had reason to believe one might be there.

and, finally -- unnoticed to anyone but Lan Wangji and a single Enma who happened to be looking out the window from two floors above...

...a lone Kappa fearfully descending the creaking fire escape, trying hard to make themself invisible against the rough concrete of the building's exterior.

the Kappa made it as far as the alley behind the building before finding their path forward cut off. the instant reactions of the two witnesses have inevitably led to Lan Wangji standing halfway down the alley, facing the street and protecting the dead end and its cowering occupant. he looks like nothing so much as a fiercely glaring white ray of light, dropped into the dimness between the buildings in some vengeful guardian myth. and Six, with his outstretched claws, is between both of them and the exit.

Lan Wangji knows the other man's reflexes are fast and accurate from watching him on the night of the assassination. he can guess that Six is a fighter, but he doesn't know him well enough to guess how far he'll go for this. relaxing his own coiled tension and standing aside to let Enma simply walk away with the terrified Kappa isn't an option.

No one will know you were ever involved, he hears. they're nonsense words to him.]

...

Inaccurate.

[his voice is just as steady as Six's, flat and uncompromising. he, at least, doesn't have to wrestle with conflicting feelings in this.

Lan Wangji would know what happened here.]

rubs hands

[wray]

[ everything is practically routine by this point — you fish out where the kappa are hiding, stop those who are trying to intervene, and move on to the next spot. not that it makes it any easier, the more he has to keep doing this. he's encountered all sorts of people trying to put a stop to what was going on, and honestly, he couldn't really blame them.

still, he has a job to do. it's led him to the stalemate before him now, with lan wangji standing in the way to shield a cowering kappa who is desperate to make the wall they're up against swallow them whole. he doesn't move an inch quite yet, not ready to make the first move if he doesn't have to.

(he'd rather avoid it, if it can be helped at all.) ]

Inaccurate? I only said what's true. It's not as though the Department will care you tried to intervene as long as the Kappa is apprehended.

[ slowly, he adjusts the position of his left foot, leaning forward. the tension is so thick that one could practically taste it. it tastes like irony — how quickly this city can turn you against someone you worked together with to escape a harrowing situation. ]

Stand aside.

[strikingchords]

The Department will not care.

[he doesn't care, either -- at least, he doesn't care whether Six will follow all the implications of that comment. he's pretty sure the Kappa will care, not to mention the rest of the Sutoku Alliance -- it's not like he's taking instructions from them to protect their own, either, but he knows exactly how thrilled everyone isn't with the treatment the Kappa are getting.

most importantly, he cares. and he's not going to suddenly change his mind about that.]

Nor will I desist.

[it's the same cool head and stubborn, unwavering commitment to action that Six saw below in the city sewers. Lan Wangji is as still as stone, his face cold and his affect more that of a statue than of a prepared combatant. but something in the way he's holding himself (that complete of a freeze has to take incredible muscle control, actually) might tip as experienced a fighter as Six off that his motionless state could change at any time.

...but, that doesn't mean he wants to. out of respect, he'll give this a chance to be easy.]

What is your response?

[wray]

[ lan wangji's cool and steady response doesn't come as a surprise to him. after all, this is the same attitude he encountered when they both managed to escape the collapsing underground by the skin of their teeth. on the one hand, he appreciates that someone is at least standing up for the kappa, but on the other... ]

I was hoping we could have avoided this.

[ that's all six has to say on that matter. while he respects the other man's decision, he isn't about the come out of this empty-handed. he's the one who strikes first, already in a position that makes it easy to charge at lan wangji (and he knows that if he hadn't, the other man would have likely beaten him to it). he remains mindful of the kappa when he brings his arm down in a sweeping arc, aiming to claw at lan wangji's chest.

a warning strike, really, as if gauging how he's going to react. ]

[strikingchords]

[Lan Wangji goes to where the chaos is -- he doesn't start it. which means that he usually won't be the first to strike in a fight, but he's always, always prepared to see one start.

when Six lunges out, Lan Wangji is already moving to block the swing, using the force of his own forearm to push Six's to the side and up so the movement will go wild and undirected instead of hitting his target. he'd normally try to stay out of Six's way by redirecting and subtly shifting out of the most straightforward line of attack, making him duck and weave and turn to keep up with the speed of his opponent, but Lan Wangji doesn't have that luxury here. the kappa is behind him, and he doubts Six will be distracted by fighting a defender one on one when he's made it clear that doing the job is his goal.

instead, he needs to be brutally direct in turn to create an opportunity for the kappa to get away. so he follows that warning strike with one of his own -- a swing with one fist at Six's stomach while he's close and his weight is shifted forward. it's an obvious enough move that Six will probably see it coming, and brutally quick enough to show Lan Wangji is serious about standing his ground.]