的場静司 | Matoba Seiji (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
worldbent) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
jigokulogs2022-04-18 06:17 pm
worldbent) wrote in jigokulogs2022-04-18 06:17 pm
OPEN ➸ Two ⦿ Circles
Who ⬤ Matoba Seiji and you! with mixed OTA/limited prompts
What ⬤ The first attack of the Matoba curse, selling charms, and various business™
When ⬤ Between the 2nd and 3rd weeks of April, roughly (more than a week after Night Parade, before the Daitengu's funeral, basically)
Where ⬤ Sutoku territory
Content Warnings ⬤ Violence/blood likely from first prompt, will warn for anything specific in tag headers!
A1 ➸ FIRST STRIKE - limited to the first 3 tag-ins, new CR for now please!
[(OOC; Before tagging in to these prompts, please read through this information and feel free to ask questions there or via PM! I will be NPCing the attacker for these threads.)]
[Despite the Daitengu's untimely demise and the uncertainty surrounding the Alliance, Sutoku territory was back to business as usual for the most part by the week after the Night Parade. The streets are bustling with shoppers and workers like nothing untoward had even occurred, and although everyone remains suspicious behind closed doors, few seem to be on much of a high alert.]
[...Which is likely why none of the youkai around you blink an eye at the stumbling, muttering Kawatengu pushing past people on the sidewalk and menacingly growling. He's probably just had too much to drink- that's the most likely excuse, right? Even though it's the middle of the afternoon, but in big cities like this you learn to keep to yourself and not worry much about weirdos on the street around you.]
[Except that if you look at him closely, his right eye is blotted out as if possessed by something, and if you have any supernatural senses at all you can just barely feel something awful and malicious emanating from him. Too late, it becomes obvious that he's not just shambling about randomly- he has a target, and the black-haired man walking a few paces in front of you both seems to have no idea what's coming when the Tengu lunges forward with a nasty hiss--]
RiGHt...EYe......
A2 ➸ What the hell was THAT - OTA!
[After the sudden scuffle that erupts in the middle of the street, something black and hideous like a huge mass of sludge erupted out from the mouth of a Tengu and lashed itself away through the street, scrambling up the side of a brick building and slithering off to parts unknown. Whatever that thing was, it just attacked a man on the street in broad daylight, and to the spiritually sensitive had an oppressively awful, malicious aura that may be unlike anything you've felt. Youkai are left knocked back on the sidewalk in the wake of its escape, and some were sent scrambling to get away.]
[The man who was attacked, however, seems more calm than anyone. He ignores the panic of the youkai around him, and even the Tengu that's now left knocked out cold on the sidewalk. Instead, he seems to take notice your stare first and simply smiles- wiping away whatever blood was drawn from him in the scuffle with little concern.]
I do apologize for the commotion. It's probably not used to big cities like this.
--
B1 ➸ Souvenir Shop - OTA!
[With great power came great... opportunities. Or so he'd been told by the Tengu Elders upon being granted back both his spiritual senses, and his ability to create protective charms. Opportunities, in this case, meant a job offer to help mass-produce the tacky little souvenir good-luck charms sold at the gates of the Tengu Temple for any desperate enough for luck that they would even buy a trinket for their troubles.]
[Well, far be it for Matoba to judge a good scam. It was excellent business and a good dog and pony show for the weak and Sightless, both in the human realm and this one.]
[Since the Night Parade had just gone by and no-doubt plenty of festival goers had drawn bad to terrible luck in the Hadaka, there was plenty of business, which meant that Matoba had plenty to do as he sat manning a stall, carefully inking charms on strips of paper to go in the bright little pouches lining the counter. When he notices his new customer, he glances up, and flashes you a bright and cheerful smile.]
In need of a bit of luck?
B2 ➸ Protection Racket - Open to Sutoku Alliance and those with Spiritual Senses
[If he recognizes you as an ally, or if you're the spiritually sensitive sort, he might notice that you're unlikely to be tricked by these useless little trinkets- but that just meant that he had an opportunity to do a little... under the table business. His eye will then sharpen on you, and he gestures you away from the pouches.]
Not those ones. I have something else for you.
--
[ooc; questions/plotting/etc! Hit me up via PM or![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
kitsoru!]
What ⬤ The first attack of the Matoba curse, selling charms, and various business™
When ⬤ Between the 2nd and 3rd weeks of April, roughly (more than a week after Night Parade, before the Daitengu's funeral, basically)
Where ⬤ Sutoku territory
Content Warnings ⬤ Violence/blood likely from first prompt, will warn for anything specific in tag headers!
A1 ➸ FIRST STRIKE - limited to the first 3 tag-ins, new CR for now please!
[(OOC; Before tagging in to these prompts, please read through this information and feel free to ask questions there or via PM! I will be NPCing the attacker for these threads.)]
[Despite the Daitengu's untimely demise and the uncertainty surrounding the Alliance, Sutoku territory was back to business as usual for the most part by the week after the Night Parade. The streets are bustling with shoppers and workers like nothing untoward had even occurred, and although everyone remains suspicious behind closed doors, few seem to be on much of a high alert.]
[...Which is likely why none of the youkai around you blink an eye at the stumbling, muttering Kawatengu pushing past people on the sidewalk and menacingly growling. He's probably just had too much to drink- that's the most likely excuse, right? Even though it's the middle of the afternoon, but in big cities like this you learn to keep to yourself and not worry much about weirdos on the street around you.]
[Except that if you look at him closely, his right eye is blotted out as if possessed by something, and if you have any supernatural senses at all you can just barely feel something awful and malicious emanating from him. Too late, it becomes obvious that he's not just shambling about randomly- he has a target, and the black-haired man walking a few paces in front of you both seems to have no idea what's coming when the Tengu lunges forward with a nasty hiss--]
RiGHt...EYe......
A2 ➸ What the hell was THAT - OTA!
[After the sudden scuffle that erupts in the middle of the street, something black and hideous like a huge mass of sludge erupted out from the mouth of a Tengu and lashed itself away through the street, scrambling up the side of a brick building and slithering off to parts unknown. Whatever that thing was, it just attacked a man on the street in broad daylight, and to the spiritually sensitive had an oppressively awful, malicious aura that may be unlike anything you've felt. Youkai are left knocked back on the sidewalk in the wake of its escape, and some were sent scrambling to get away.]
[The man who was attacked, however, seems more calm than anyone. He ignores the panic of the youkai around him, and even the Tengu that's now left knocked out cold on the sidewalk. Instead, he seems to take notice your stare first and simply smiles- wiping away whatever blood was drawn from him in the scuffle with little concern.]
I do apologize for the commotion. It's probably not used to big cities like this.
--
B1 ➸ Souvenir Shop - OTA!
[With great power came great... opportunities. Or so he'd been told by the Tengu Elders upon being granted back both his spiritual senses, and his ability to create protective charms. Opportunities, in this case, meant a job offer to help mass-produce the tacky little souvenir good-luck charms sold at the gates of the Tengu Temple for any desperate enough for luck that they would even buy a trinket for their troubles.]
[Well, far be it for Matoba to judge a good scam. It was excellent business and a good dog and pony show for the weak and Sightless, both in the human realm and this one.]
[Since the Night Parade had just gone by and no-doubt plenty of festival goers had drawn bad to terrible luck in the Hadaka, there was plenty of business, which meant that Matoba had plenty to do as he sat manning a stall, carefully inking charms on strips of paper to go in the bright little pouches lining the counter. When he notices his new customer, he glances up, and flashes you a bright and cheerful smile.]
In need of a bit of luck?
B2 ➸ Protection Racket - Open to Sutoku Alliance and those with Spiritual Senses
[If he recognizes you as an ally, or if you're the spiritually sensitive sort, he might notice that you're unlikely to be tricked by these useless little trinkets- but that just meant that he had an opportunity to do a little... under the table business. His eye will then sharpen on you, and he gestures you away from the pouches.]
Not those ones. I have something else for you.
--
[ooc; questions/plotting/etc! Hit me up via PM or
no subject
[ he says, like he doesn't just hang around with them anyway. He could literally just leave and nobody could stop him And Yet. ]
I have a feeling that if I continue to make your acquaintance, I will learn well what kind of sweets you most prefer. [ He says it in a matter of fact sort of way, as if those details are already set in stone for the future. He doesn't dislike Matoba. He also has plenty of reasons to keep him at arm's length. Those two facts do not in any way contradict his continued interactions with him. ] I will procure something, then.
...I am more used to identifying poison and alcohol than these sorts of drinks. [ He's pretty sure that if these exist in Faerun - which, they probably do somewhere - he's never seen them personally. It's just kind of...something he's never thought about? His admittance is mildly stiff, as if it's just a little embarrassing to admit he doesn't really know something.
He...really does not know where to start and that is obvious, so after a moment he takes Matoba's suggestion. Sure, what could possibly go wrong. ]
no subject
Ahaha, that might be so! [Shameless.] Shall I simply tell you to make it easier? ...There's quite a few things I like, though. I'm not too picky.
[Milktea it is, then. As they wait for the drinks, Matoba glances out at the street. It seemed the commotion was starting to spill out a little... Or at least, the crowds were dispersing with some aggression....]
Perhaps humans are more the innovators of sweets. Ayakashi seem to stick to sake...
...Poisons, hm? Are you well-versed in them?
no subject
And here I thought you were the type who would rather play around than give a straight answer. [ He's not gonna say no if Matoba just tells him what he likes, but he was definitely expecting it to be made into a game of figuring things out. ]
You may not be wrong, though every race I've seen, human or not, has some kind of sweet they seem to adore. [ He seems faintly unimpressed by that fact, though. He doesn't particularly like sweets. ]
I am knowledgeable enough. I suspect I will be starting from scratch if I aim to make any myself. Finding suitable substitutes for the ingredients will be a costly journey. [ Still, having some sleep poison on hand wouldn't be a bad idea, especially with his powers so diminished. ]
no subject
[Beat that logic!!! He also isn't denying that he is that type- but taking the direct path seems like the best way, with Kimmuriel. That's been his gathered instinct, so far.] ...Though, if you wanted to be led on another merry chase, today...
[It's not a serious threat, just observing their absurd state of affairs given events in the last ...hour or so. Matoba watches the youkai behind the counter mix the drinks, always wary- speaking of poisons.] I hear that Tamamo territory has a number of apothecary shops of that nature, and a tradition of poisons to boot. Although I'm sure it wouldn't be easy to get a foot in the door, as an outsider...
It's good to know that we have someone knowledgeable on the subject within our clan, though. [Matoba turns back to smile at him,] In case things got nasty.
no subject
That scowl becomes a little more pronounced. Absolutely not, he seems to be saying. ]
Money or favours may open a few doors a little wider. I will have to see. [ He's already thinking about it...never hurts to have more resources.
He's also watching the drinks being mixed, half curious, half as wary as Matoba. His expression is impassive again. ]
I can offer a guarantee only when I am certain I have found something just as effective. [ He's too much of a
no-fun guyprofessional to accept even an implied compliment before he can test it himself. ]no subject
[Which is why he can't fault that tactic, really. Given all their surmising about tests and resources and all that. Favors were certainly an excellent way to make that happen, and Matoba will take the one offered him; given his relations within Tamamo already, he supposes that they would do fairly well if offered across clan lines for something that could be construed as minor... at first.]
[The cats, anyway, seemed open to negotiations.]
Of course. [It was 'good business' to be sure of oneself before making any promises, right?] I have little experience with mixing them myself, but my clan certainly had stores of information on the poisons carried by certain types of ayakashi, and how to counter them. Ah, it would have been convenient if I could still reference that information...
[Too bad he will never be able to regain the like, 12 manor houses worth of books and scrolls his clan owns, the mad lads. He's pulled out of his musing as the drinks are served up, and cheerily reaches to pop his straw into the top of his drink and take a sip.] Ahh, refreshing on a spring afternoon.
no subject
If you wish to learn, I could instruct you on the basics. Once I have something worth a price. [ All strictly transactional, of course, he's not going to do this out of the goodness of his heart. He doesn't have any of that.
This very serious business talk is comically punctuated by the fact that Kimmuriel has taken some umbrage with even the drinks being packaged, who does this, what the hell.
He figures out he has to poke a hole in the lid so that spares him from that embarrassment, but he's clearly annoyed by it first. He stirs up the...orbs?? In the bottom?? With the straw for a little while.
He's not used to drinks having this kind of inconsistent texture. ]
no subject
[His eye draws towards the drow with interest in the offer, but the wheels are already turning in his head with what the recompense will be for accepting.] That would be a useful subject to know. Hum. [He draws a big slurp in through his straw, going in circles to try and guess the other shoe before it drops.] I am more interested in them for antidote and identification purposes than for use. I have a great many methods already at my disposal for that sort of thing-- [Murder, he means], but I am more likely to need to mitigate the risk, I suppose.
[All this musing and he's watching Kimmuriel struggle with his straw. Ah. Matoba supposes it's not very straightforward when you're faced with the boba lid for the first time, is it? He thinks to help, but that would probably injure his pride; best to just watch him puzzle it out.]
[Kthunk. There it goes- the face with which Kimmuriel stirs up the tapioca pearls is one of mistrust, Matoba thinks, and it makes him smile. Just a little, a curl at the corner of his mouth.] ...Well, what do you think? Are you going to try them? [He slurps at his own drink again.]
no subject
[ He looks at Matoba's face and scowls again before taking a few cautious sips. He assumes that the pearls are part of the drink's experience or whatever so he pretty much does have to give them a try.
He taps one finger against his chin after a moment, clearly in thought, before he offers his verdict. ] The flavour is not bad. I see little purpose for the pearls.
no subject
[Kimmuriel's scowl only causes Matoba's smile to brighten, so as he finally sips at the drink, Matoba is staring expectantly.]
You don't like the texture? Personally, I find it pretty fun to suck them up and have a little something to chew on between sips. [What does that say about Matoba-- no, don't think about it.] Perhaps another filling would be more to your liking, next time.
[Matoba sips at his own drink, filled with little pulp and bits of lychee.] Perhaps jelly?
no subject
If Matoba was like 'wow, sounds like drow suck' Kimmuriel would just kind of agree, to be honest. ] I would think demons need no prompting to create torments on one another, but if I had to guess, it is a result of territorial dispute. Where brute strength does not suffice, subtler methods may achieve the desired result.
[ He's continuing to take sips and cautiously chew on the pearls while they talk. Concentrating perhaps a little too hard. ]
Is fun a necessary part of drinking? [ There's no sarcasm in this question; it is, at least on some level, genuine. ]
no subject
[But he decides not to say it out loud. His earlier comment sorta said it for him.] It isn't that human disputes do not devolve similarly to underhanded tactics, but the potency of the poisons that catch my attention, [He explains instead, stirring up his drink and sipping again.] I suppose it's all dependent on the ingredients at hand, but I've heard some rather nasty things of ayakashi flora... Good thing we are in a city, where we don't have to worry too much about that.
[Were there ayakashi forests, somewhere in this realm? ...Matoba knew they existed, but who could say where...]
It's not necessary. I just like it. [Simple.]
no subject
He taps his finger against his chin again, before lowering his hand. ] That is true. It would be ideal to have samples of the raw ingredients to study whether it is innate or a product of environment, but I imagine that procuring them would be its own battle. [ It's expensive enough just to buy the poison by itself. Black market prices, man. ]
...I cannot argue with that. [ He shrugs, and goes back to sipping his own drink. It's logical enough, even if he doesn't particularly see the point. ]
no subject
[Matoba contemplates that for a moment, all too aware of their surroundings.] ...Perhaps that is something that a bit of digging about and networking can solve. And money, of course.
[He does have a bit more cash flowing in, and his network was ever-growing. If Kimmuriel was offering to pay it forward with know-how, a suitable arrangement could likely be made.]
Do you think you could identify what you need, or will you need to research?
no subject
I suppose I will need to start saving for tools, if we are to make this an actual venture. [ That's going to be his problem - another reason he needs to take another job - but it's also a goal to work towards, which he much appreciates. He never does well with aimlessness. ]
no subject
When you have figured out what it is you will need, feel free to drop me a line, [He smiles, sipping at his drink with a loud slurp of the straw.] I'm rather certain that I can obtain some information from... that clan, if not the resources themselves.
[Hmmm. Who to tap about this? Natori would be useless with apothecary, but he wonders if any of those other magic-users were the sort to mess with botany...]