jigokulogs | May 2022 IC Mingle

May 2022 IC Mingle

1. WELCOMING COMMITTEE

The influx of fresh Lost Souls means the factions need to have a little welcoming party for them. The leaders realize things have been chaotic in the city. So some recreational activities are in order. All Lost Souls will receive a message from their respective faction leaders with orders to go have some fun.

The Shuten Clan are given an advance on their first paycheck and told to go to the Celestial Phoenix Casino. A big sign on the half boarded up door proudly proclaims UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT. What happened to the old management? It doesn't matter and stop asking questions! The important part is that all games and machines are half-price and there are special prizes available in exchange for your chips and tokens. Games range from the traditional Western style (poker, roulette, slots) to Japanese favorites (cee-lo, koi koi, cho-han).

As for prizes, they have a selection of designer goods, including some particularly nice bracelets, necklaces, and watches!

The Tamamo Clan are given a considerable number of drink vouchers for Crimson Moon Karaoke, where they can sing their hearts out and while absolutely smashed. Private rooms are cheap to rent and they even offer a special discount for groups of two or more. The karaoke machines have any songs you could possibly want, which is a little suspicious, but don't question it! Just get drunk and have fun. By all means, extend your time as you wish and drink up to get in the proper mood. This is an important bonding opportunity.

Oh yeah, as an important note: the rooms are soundproof. You can get as loud as you like, be it with singing or... something else. Don’t do anything Tenko-hime wouldn’t do!

Members of The Sutoku Alliance are given tickets to Fiance of the Funeral Procession at the Pluto Theatre and Cafe. The tickets include free food at the cafe, including beer. Sure, the star may not be a Sutoku member but that doesn't matter too much: getting butts into seats at Sutoku-owned theaters is what’s important. The Daitengu rented the theater out for the day, so there is plenty of time to mill around both before and after the show.

Make a day, or night, of it!

A funeral-based romantic comedy melodrama as the viewing fare is probably a tasteless joke on the Daitengu's part. But hey, y'all aren't still mad that they crashed their own funeral and then took off laughing, right?

Right?

The Department of the Enma members are told that they're going to be doing a team-building exercise. What exactly does that mean? That's right, it's community cleanup time! You get to clean up cans and trash in the street! You get the honor of using a department-issued bike with an attached cart to wheel around the city and pick up trash! How exciting! Teamwork is encouraged, of course. Teams that collect enough garbage will get one (1) voucher for mini-golf.

Please be aware of the local homeless population as you work, they won’t be happy to see you. They normally collect the cans in the mornings as a meager source of income that you’ll be dipping into. They're probably just not happy with Enma officials in general though. Sorry!

2. IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING...

By the time you're done with your faction-sponsored fun, the sky has decided to open up. Hope you brought your umbrella! The rain is bad enough that walking home might not be an option right now. So take refuge in one of the many nearby nightlife spots.

Not in your faction's home territory? Doesn't matter! Make some friends outside your group or maybe get into a fight and cause some trouble. There's always the third option of ignoring everyone and drinking yourself silly instead! The rain has to let up eventually… right?

Hopefully you aren't caught near one of the cursed Haniwa figures that have been popping up around town. Their aura really dampens the mood and may even start to cause some dramatic and frightening hallucinations if you and your rain-stranded friends stay near them for too long. But remember! Do not break the figurine. Just try to move it somewhere else? And hopefully not get drenched in the process.

Welcome to the IC mingle!

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Yeah that's right. Just be quiet. Don't say anything else, shit nerd. Katsuki is trying to change the flow of things between them. Maybe not entirely, but at least in the sense that he doesn't really consider the guy "a Deku" any longer. Give him the acknowledgement and the respect that should be there.
]

Instead of throwing stupid welcome parties, maybe they should be taking people on tours or some shit.

[ Alliance territory, huh... Well he should probably try to learn how the different factions play into one another... But then Izuku is asking a question and of course Bakugou is going to respond. ]

Enma. Not that it matters.

[The fact that Katsuki (and the rest of his class) came for him in the first place is still very fresh in Izuku's mind. He's barely had the chance to take a deep breath and sleep for a few days before all of this happened. Being on the run, trying to hunt down and lure out All For One on his own... Only to be worn out and beaten down to the point of collapse... Then Katsuki apologizing to him for everything in the past. It's a lot to process.

Even now he stands here and looks at Katsuki with a bit of an unsure look. How to proceed from here is new to him too. He wants to say something. But.

He nods.]

This place is so different from Musutafu. It might be better if we keep our heads above water for now, isn't it?

[Factions...]

I don't like that we're in different factions.

[ This is new to the both of them. They've been a lot... Best friends. Bully and victim. Rivals. Classmates. Now they are in this new territory of something between friends and rivals. Something that doesn't really have a definition.

And Katsuki knows there's something the shitty nerd wants to say. However there's no pushing right now. Nothing to make Bakugou snap and demand he spits out whatever. ]

...With this fucking rain it's going to be hard to do that.

[ Dismissive, but with the way his jaw is set? Katsuki feels it too. Then snorts when Izuku makes a comment about being in different factions. ]

I don't care about all that. Ain't gonna matter to me what faction you're in, got that? Managed to get your ass back to school and I ain't about to chase you down again.

[ So that means that Izuku's faction and his own doesn't matter when it comes to them. He'll disobey or whatever if he has to. ]

[He blinks at Katsuki with wide eyes. It's weirdly a comfort that Katsuki says that. It's not that he's worried that they will be in trouble or anything, he is very sure they should be able to take care of themselves in this sort of situation. But he is worried about what sort of repercussions might come out of that if they do tend to "not care about all of that."

The raid is pattering down around them and Izuku has to reach up to brush some wet hair from his brow quickly so his hair doesn't get in his eyes. They're going to get soaked out here.]

Kacchan. I know...! If anything I want to make sure we work together as much as we can.

[He wants to talk more about how Katsuki got him back to the school but he feels like this isn't the right time. He wants to say so much more. But would it be awkward? Can he even bring it up??]

But... Didn't they tell you about a contract? If you work for your faction and stay loyal then you might be rewarded for that?

[What was Katsuki's contract...?]

[ In truth, Bakugou doesn't care. He won't care what the repercussions are if it comes down to choosing faction or someone like Izuku. Katsuki knows himself and in that moment? He'll chase after Izuku without hesitation. So there's really no need to sit there and wonder whether or not there will be a consequence. He'll do it anyway. ]

Obviously. And yeah I know about the contract. But there's some shit I ain't gonna sacrifice in the process. This is just one of those things. Take it or leave it.

[ End discussion on whether or not he's concerned about loyalty. He'll do what he needs to, sure, as long as it aligns with his own morals. As long as it doesn't cross any lines that he can't hop back over. Bakugou's done a lot of things that he regrets. He doesn't want to be the type of person that continues to do things that he will regret. ]

I've got my priorities, Izuku. That's all.

Kacchan...

[It's like they're standing there opposite each other again with Izuku covered in sweat and muck (thank god he's not anymore) and Katsuki is bowing his head as he tells Izuku his truth. Somehow, Izuku thinks he should have expected an answer like this. But he doesn't.

They haven't had a chance to meet since even before Izuku left U.A. And everything that happened afterwards... Knowing how hurt Katsuki was. Knowing how he came after Izuku anyway.

He can't help the way he puts his hand on his chest and grabs his shirt like his heart is hurting. He doesn't think Katsuki would appreciate a thank you, not when this sort of stuff is on the line. Not when Katsuki's convictions are out in the open like this.]

R-right. In the end, it doesn't matter. What we have to do... I- I don't want to do it alone anymore.

[ And Katsuki just looks at him. Not the gremlin look or the irritated one. Not the shouty glance with the big open mouth and deflecting or redirecting. It's the serious one he has when he's really committed to something. Focused. Serious.

Because yeah they really haven't had the chance to talk since Izuku left. Since Katsuki and the others brought him back. Not one on one after that apology. ]

So far there's no reason to think that we have to.

[ He doesn't need a thank you. Honestly it's not because he hates that soft crap. It's because he's not sure that he'd deserve one. Not from Izuku anyway. ]

[He has seen that focused and serious look on Katsuki's face before. But somehow when it's directed right at him Izuku feels some sort of way. Like he's not entirely sure how to deal with it. Like it makes this bubble in his chest? It's such an intense look that isn't violent or aggressive towards him and-

Izuku can't keep looking at him, even though the rain, so he glances off to the side. Trying to ignore the little prickle of heat he can feel.]

But that still means we should be careful when we can be, Kacchan. Don't draw in any unnecessary trouble, okay...?

Are you sure you're not getting the two of us confused? Since when do I draw in "unnecessary trouble?" I ain't like you, Izuku.

[ A snort. ]

If anyone is going to be drawing them in? It's you.

Well... That's debatable, Kacchan.

[Look, he can count many times that Katsuki has caused trouble! Absolutely not in the same way that Izuku does- but a Bakugou Katsuki kind of trouble. Katsuki is loud, abrasive, opinionated! Who knows how they'll translate in a place like this!]

But, I'm not trying to cause trouble either. The clans all have these interworking politics that I don't even understand yet.

[He presses his lips together in a thoughtful frown.]

The hell you mean by that?

[ Look, look. You get kidnapped one time and are a loudmouth and apparently that means you are the problem child. Maybe they don't know how it will all translate here, no, but Deku has that personality that can't leave things be! ]

Neither one of us do. So even though you hate sitting on your hands, you probably should.

[ Which goes for himself as well. He huffs, looking up at the rain. It still isn't letting up. ]

What is your clan like anyway.

Edited (wrong thread!) 2022-05-24 21:50 (UTC)

You know what I mean, Kacchan...! J-Just try to keep the peace for a little while on your end! I- I will to!

[They're both problem children in their own ways.

Okay. Now that they have (sort of) agreed to keep things on the down-low (for now) Izuku sighs and nods.]

The Sutoku Alliance... It's run by the Daitengu. Erm... Tengu spirits, I think. They control a lot of the businesses in the area. It seems like they care a lot about... to put it simply- hoarding information?

What do you think they're about over with the Enma, hah? Everything is about maintaining order.

[ Which, when one puts it like that, no wonder why Katsuki was probably selected by them. Yeah, the blonde goes off and does his own thing, but at the end of the day all he really wants is to keep people safe and for chaos to be contained. ]

Information is a business so none of that is hardly surprising.

Edited 2022-05-25 00:11 (UTC)

Eh...

[Izuku gulps a little and nods.]

... Honestly, now that I'm thinking about it I think both our factions might suit us in certain ways. But I'll admit, I wish I was in Enma with you.

[ Gonna give Izuku a slap upside the head. Huff a bit because yeah. Yeah honestly he kind of wishes that too but - ]

It's better this way.

Ach- Kacchan?!

[Ow???]

Why...?

[ Look. He has to do something or he'll get an emotion. Do we really need for Bakugou to get an emotion? ]

Can trade info better this way, nerd.

But it's not that...! I don't like the idea that we have to work separately...! I think we'd do better if we could. And I would feel better about it.

[Well, Izuku certainly isn't holding back his emotion on this.]

We're not exactly working separately. Still collaborating and shit.

[ Wow. He really isn't holding back. Bakugou is a little surprised. The blonde rubs at the back of his neck.

Is there... A reason that Izuku is getting so emotional? ]

I know that, but there's still the fact that... You-!

[He is feeling emotional about it because the truth is he's a little frustrated. Having to do all of this separate from Katsuki and his other friends... After everything they went through...

His voice might crack a little as he looks away.]

You went through all of that to help find me... So I thought...

[ Uh oh. Katsuki is reaching out. Snatching Izuku up by the arm and yanking him closer. Kind of gruff. More aggressive, but forcing the guy to look him in the eyes. ]

It ain't the same thing. You're not running off on your own. Not trying to carry the burden alone. Even in splitting up, we're all working together. That's teamwork.

[ They aren't really alone. ]

I already said I ain't about to lose your ass again.

[He makes a small startled noise when Katsuki yanks him. His eyes going wide and him almost ready to push back and even grabs Katsuki's wrist but he stands there and stares at Katsuki.

It's not just that. He knows all of that. He knows.

Izuku clenches his teeth.]

It's- ... Right, I know. It's not the same as that.

[This isn't really satisfying Izuku's frustration but it will have to do for now.

[ It's just Bakugou being who he is. He can't just calmly ask Izuku what the problem is. Katsuki has to be aggressive about it. Every single time. Even when he tells himself to calm down and be reasonable. ]

Then... What? Explain?

[ Because he can tell that Izuku is frustrated. But he's not doing a good job of really getting down to what the issue is. ]

[He's not doing a good job because despite how he's feeling he's struggling with saying it. How can he say it without being annoying about it? After everything that's happened and not being able to just talk to Katsuki normally after wanting to so badly...?!

He'd almost prefer if Katsuki just yell at him for being a gross nerd, honestly.]

I just- I want-

[.... GHHH.]

I want to be where... Kacchan is.

[ Is it really better that way? Bakugou can definitely still call him gross. Because Izuku is kind of a nerd yeah. But really isn't Katsuki too.

He's... Kind of alarmed by the admission, sure. Surprised, but also not? This guy has been following him for years. Years. ]

Then we'll make it work.

[ But Katsuki isn't going to refuse Izuku's outstretched hand. It's just not... He had once. Not again. ]

Fucking gross though.

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