jigokulogs | [open] Tamamo Meeting Minglelog

Entry tags:

[open] Tamamo Meeting Minglelog

Who ⬤ Tamamo Clan members
What ⬤ Faction meeting to discuss the latest events!
When ⬤ ~~15 minutes later than the other faction meetings, with starbucks~~ Early April
Where ⬤ The Scarlet Lotus; restaurant in Tamamo territory
Content Warnings ⬤ Discussions of violence, will update as needed

[Tamamo Clan members will receive a message asking for a meeting at the Scarlet Lotus, a classy restaurant-and-bar in the heart of Tamamo territory. Injured members can phone in via videocall. Try not to be late, there’s much to discuss.]

[On arrival, members will be shown to a private dining room. You’ll have to pay for your own meal, but their hand-towels are complimentary!]

ooc:
♥ this is a mingle, so feel free to post your own toplevels and threadjack around!
♥ There’s a “Handwaved” section below so your character can still contribute to the discussion / vote on ideas if you can’t take on more threads right now (like me).
♥ OOC Information
♥ Tenkohime’s Orders: tl;dr - She wants the Tamamo rookies to claim the Underground sewer system, competing with the Shuten rookies who also have similar orders from Toraguma.

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[ shylock is pretty okay with spice himself, so he's cool with whichever the restaurant provides for them... though the chopsticks are an entirely different matter. he'd seen the sage use them before back in his world, but he hadn't had the chance to use them himself--

ah, but he's interrupted before he can think more on it. he tilts his head at the untouched plate that was being offered to him, however. ]

Do you not like the meal? I could order something else for you, if you like.

I'm sure it's very good. I just can't—... I'm not good with spice.

[ Not good is quite the understatement, and the pops of red in the dish are too much for Chongyun to just pick out like he normally might. The spiciness... it's surely rubbed all over the vegetables by now, contact too high to avoid it. But it would be a shame for it to go to waste! Someone did take the time to cook this, after all. ]

I'm okay. [ it seems rude to just... get something else, when he should have been more careful to begin with, ] This is fine for me.

[ As he takes his glass of water and chews on one of the ice cubes, pretending like his stomach hasn't just growled in a move of utter betrayal. ]

[ is he really going to be happy with just ice cubes...? that's rather unbecoming of a growing boy, isn't it? and judging from how his stomach is complaining anyway, it doesn't seem like he'd be satisfied with this outcome either.

so shylock will just call in a waiter! no problem. ]

Pardon me. Would you mind serving something that is less hot on the tongue?

[ the waiter readily nods! and goes off to get the menu once more. go on, what would chongyun really want to eat? ]

[ Well alright. He certainly can't argue with someone so decisive. Hell, he's too hungry to try, anyway! Normally the young exorcist is quite used to waiting around after everyone else has eaten for the sake of his food going cold, so waiting isn't a problem... but the earlier fight and lingering wounds have cut into his restraint. ]

Then... cold soba noodles would be great. [ he nods his head politely to the waiter and his fellow Tamamo clansman both, ] Thank you.

[ Ah, this really is someone he hasn't met before. Networking is an essential part of being an exorcist—so once the waiter takes his order off he regards Shylock with a small smile. ]

My name is Chongyun. It's a pleasure to meet your distinguished self.

[ Truly! Else he'd have just gotten hangry and eaten a bunch of ice cream later, without proper dinner. ]

[ cold noodles? shylock's eyes glint in interest. he didn't know that they can be served cold here as well?

and the young boy is rather polite too. this wizard really can't help but return his smile with one of his. ]

Likewise. My name is Shylock Bennett.

[ he picks up his chopsticks, does the tiniest bit of magic so that the food will attach to their ends as he picks up a dumpling and dips it in a sweet chili sauce. one day he'll learn how to properly use these but now's not the time. ]

Not a fan of spicy food, are you?

Haha... yes, you can say that.

[ Sweet chili sauce... even that's dangerous. Chongyun will stay over here with his ice water. While waiting for his cold noodles, he continues to crunch on ice cubes—delightfully cold! ]

I actually take all my meals cold. Even if this had been without chilis, I would have at least waited for it to go cold. Or perhaps dipped it into ice water. [ it's fine, he's just going to casually talk about a very strange food habit like it isn't strange at all, ] Do you enjoy spice?

[ it's sweet, not hot! maybe chongyun just can't stand red-colored food, for all they know. ]

I do enjoy a bit of spice in my life. [ he chuckles. ] But yes, I do. It may be challenging to eat at first, but you get used to it. And over time, it may even leave you wanting more.

[ like how some spice addicts like to up the ante and just eat things that would potentially sear their tongue off. but apparently that might be too much for the young man here. ]

Truth be told, I have not heard of noodles being served cold before. Then again, I have been recently reacquainted with these. [ taps his chopsticks together. ] Is there a difference in flavor and texture when compared to hot noodles?

[ Red is a danger color and ice cubes are safe to monch!! ]

Is that so? You should definitely give them a try, because cold noodles are delicious. [ it's the best 🎵🎵 ] Especially those imported from Inazuma—they have a light flavor. They're more ... refreshing? I don't normally eat hot noodles but that's what I'd say. Cold raw fish is also very delicious when prepared the Inazuman way. Cold rice, seaweed, crab and roe... it's my favorite.

[ As for those chopsticks—... Chongyun watches Shylock handle them, and though it doesn't look like his grip is quite right, he's picking up the food well enough. ]

Really? I wouldn't have guessed. You look like you're handling them well enough.

[ The important thing is that you can get food in your mouth. If you can, that's success! ]

[ look into shylock's wine-red eyes and tell him that he is dangerous........ because he kiiiiind of is, but shush. ]

It's almost akin to Northern cuisine. I'm no food aficionado, but hearing about food being served in other temperatures sounds like a delight. I'd love to try a bowl after...

[ gestures at all the hot stuff in front of him ]

And, well, I've had some practice in. I'm more accustomed to the usual fork and knife, but eating with chopsticks can be fun in its own way. For example, your other hand is free to do whatever you like.

[ usually. he's aware that he still has to follow proper etiquette, and so far he's been behaving. ]

I'd be happy to share.

[ Speak of the devil—the waiter returns with his plate of cold soba noodles and places the tray down in front of him. The setup is a bit different from the bowls of hot noodles and chilis; the plating is square, and there are a few cold sauces to pick from. Sesame, soy, spring onions, ginger, and ... wasabi, which he nudges away. Nope. Everything else can stay though.

Chongyun looks very happy indeed, plucking up his own pair of chopsticks and taking an empty small plate to share some of the noodles. He offers it to Shylock, ]

All of the sauces are good. Please, try some.

[ Just don't do the thing everyone does if they've never had wasabi before and eat the whole glob in one bite.... ]

[ it does look different from all the hot dishes around them. shylock, eternally curious as ever, takes up on chongyun's offer with a slight bow and a couple of taps with his chopsticks.

let's see here. he's taken a peek at how soba noodles are eaten from the next table over, so he's going mix some spring onions and a teeny bit of wasabi into the sauce, pick up some noodles and dip them there before bringing them up this lips... ]

...!

[ ohh, that flavor. the springiness of the cold noodles. the spice from the wasabi...! shylock slurps it all up, as it is custom, and grins happily at chongyun. ]

That's wonderful. I love how there's no need to blow off the heat from the noodles as you dig in.

[ How can he not smile back? It's very satisfying, watching someone enjoy something on your recommendation. A momentary blip of dopamine in the midst of all the weight and seriousness of the evening. ]

Right? Even the texture is different. It's chewier.

[ He digs in as well, having a few mouthfuls of noodles while chomping happily. Omf, omf, omf, then he helps himself to a glass of water before patting his lips with a napkin. ]

Shylock, did you get caught up in the affair during the fireworks too?

[ give him a moment to indulge in this noodles some more too, before putting the empty bowl aside to resume nomming on his spicy dumplings. the iciness of the noodles followed by steaming, flaming-hot potstickers... now that's more like it. ]

Oh, yes. Luckily I had managed to get myself somewhere safe. Though I cannot say the same to the poor Sutoku and their leader...

[ that was super rough. he shakes his head solemnly. ]

Which is why it is rather surprising to hear this turn of events from milady herself. Strike while the iron is hot, I suppose. [ give him a moment to sip some water. ] Regardless, we must always prepare for the worst. Especially if it involves raiding the sewers.

[ seriously, why the sewers............. ]

Right.

[ The sewers. He had thought this before, when he had tried to enter them but had ended up blocked by Sutoku guards—that really is where the all plumbing goes, right? Sure, it's a good thing to get a grip on if you're looking for more power, but he really doesn't relish wandering around in defecation. He doesn't really relish any of this, actually, but a job is a job. A stinky job. ]

I wonder how she'll react if we don't succeed ...

[ It's a low comment, almost like he hadn't really meant to say it out loud—but he doesn't take it back, either. Then, he sighs, mimicking Shylock and taking a sip of water. ]

Well, I will do my best.

Oh, she'll be very, very cross with us.

[ he chirps rather cheerily. ]

To be honest, I am not so certain about her plans. We Tamamos should be making our name above ground, not under it. And even if she has the means to renovate the place...

[ even when he makes a face he still looks elegant about it somehow. he sighs, before taking up another dumpling. ]

Well, we shall cross that bridge when we get there. Let's do our best from here on, hm?

[ he extends a dumpling to chongyun, indicating that they should toast on it. don't worry, this piece isn't spicy. ]

That's right.

[ To toast on food... how strange. But if it's something that Shylock's people do, he shouldn't not do it. So, Chongyun does the same, gently touching their not-spicy dumplings together. No one needs whiplash food violence right now. ]

If you ever need assistance, please let me know. I'm an exorcist, so hopefully some of my tools and training will be of use. For defensive purposes, if nothing else.

[ He did say he was going to do his best, but really. Do they have to get really beat up over some sewers? Let's avoid that. ]

An exorcist...

[ reflexively he snatches a glances at natori, whatever he's doing right now. ]

Our fellow Tamamo member, Mr. Natori, is also one. Might you know of his other companion?

[ you know, the one with the eye and the terrible vibes. ]

[ He does indeed know of the one with the eye and the terrible vibes. While Chongyun doesn't know the depth of the connection between the two, he's been able to figure out that there is one, if only because the two of them are the only ones who classify all spirits as ayakashi. Even a gullible guy like him can notice something that blatant. ]

Master Natori has many companions, I expect. But if it's another exorcist, I probably I know the person you're referring to. I've tried to network while here. [ he tilts his head. ] There are quite a few of us.

[ he nods. master, eh? ]

It comes with the territory, doesn't it? Since exorcists and these ayakashi must work together... or something of the sort.

[ just making himself heard within natori's earshot. yeah continue eating your soup there, pretty boy. ]

I suppose it does. But to be clear, I don't quite use the same methods or terminology as Master Natori or several of the other exorcists. I focus more on martial arts and thaumaturgy.

[ As for ayakashi ... also not his word, though he does understand the intention behind it. "Spirits" suffices as an umbrella as far as Chongyun's concerned. ]

It sounds like you like them quite a bit.

[ Does he have to clarify who "them" is? Innocently, he takes another sip of his water. ]

[ ohh, so there are different terms. natori did explain that "ayakashi" and "youkai" basically mean the same thing, with the former being a more archaic term... interesting. ]

A martial artist, at that. We do need more firepower in our ranks; most of us in our faction tend to use their cunning more than their brawn, but having a bit of both will go a long way.

[ most of them don't wanna break their nails when fighting, y'know?

that comment, though. shylock can only smile. ]

They're... interesting. I'll give them that.

[ he likes them enough, but they have a rather passive-aggressive mindset when dealing with nonhumans like him, so he'll maintain a friendly, professional distance. ]

They are.

[ He'll nod to that—all of the exorcists he's met have been very interesting, in different ways. Chongyun's become fond of them all, though he wouldn't say so out loud. He'll just also glance at Natori before looking back at Shylock with a little smile. ]

What do you do, Shylock?

I work as a bartender in various Tamamo bars. I dream of owning my own establishment here as well, since I dearly miss my own bar back home.

[ it's been his thing for the past seven hundred years and counting, and he has no plans of making a job change anytime soon. ]

If you like, I could whip up something for you if you happen to chance upon me. I can make non-alcoholic drinks as well, in case you're not the type to drink just yet.

[ That would explain why he hasn’t just chanced upon Shylock before. He’s been in bars around Tamamo grounds but it’s mostly been in passing. ]

Thank you, I’d like that. I don’t drink, so something non-alcoholic would be great.

[ Even ignoring how alcohol is pure yang, a few sips when he first got here had put him right under the table. It’s a vice he’ll likely never get to enjoy … but considering the headache after he woke up, that seems fine. ]

It doesn’t agree with me. [ with that understatement left on the table, ] What was your bar like? Where you’re from?

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[open] Tamamo Meeting Minglelog

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