( OPEN ) this is where it starts

[deathrespect]

Who ⬤ Samatoki Aohitsugi deathrespect & open
What ⬤ Substories & mingle prompts
When ⬤ 3.5 and on
Where ⬤ Shuten territory, Night Parade area; all over otherwise
Content Warnings ⬤ Drinking, aphros, missing persons trauma, violence and blood

NOTE: Samatoki is a CRAU from Slumscape and is housing his Oni, Genkei; more info can be found HERE, and his permissions are HERE.

i. ) • ARENA.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

( Nemu doesn't seem to be here, either, and that twists him right up.

Samatoki feels Genkei in the back of his mind; he's watching, the way he always does, feeling like a coiled spring. There's that, at least. The last thing he remembers from before is a full merging, confusion. The rain had stopped, but —

No use in dwelling, Samatoki. Genkei tells him. Get in there.

Samatoki hates feeling like he's obeying Genkei. It's more often than not simply an agreement, but trudging off towards the rest of the party and the fights still feels like he's trotting off to be a good boy.

He's found a drink, at least, keeping an eye on the fights towards the center. )

Fuck, what a match up. That kid's gonna get stomped.

( He'd bet on it, but he has more sense than to bet right now. Blood spills and he can smell it immediately, like incense to herald an offering.

The fighters in the center sure are good at putting on a show, even if the smaller of the oni is getting wrecked. Doesn't know when to quit, looks like. Someone near him, a little close; he regards them carefully. )

You a gambler or something?

ii. ) • RAISE SOME HELL.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

( He's had some drinks. Nothing Tamamo, but their spirits look pretty good compared to the Shuten fare, if he's being honest. Once he gets one of those in his hand, he finds he's liking it more than he thought he would.

So he sucks don one and then another, watching all the revelry around him carefully. Genkei's terribly quiet the more he drinks, which is ... odd, given how much he likes drinking.

He starts to feel a little fuzzy; dumb, eventually. Something's off here, but he doesn't mind it much. Maybe in the morning. He stumbles slightly, bodily into someone close. )

Ah — sorry, you okay?

( He sounds a bit too concerned. )

I didn't step on you, did I? This drink's ... stronger than I thought it'd be.

( But he's upright, still. No swaying or anything, not even slurring his speech. )

iii. ) • SWEET JACKET.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// closed to shuten comrades.

( Hungover; head pounding, mouth dry. Samatoki sucks down water this time, nudging gently the person beside him who's on the same job. The guy with the jacket ahead of them, peacocking a bit with that obnoxious jacket. )

Something's up with this.

iv. ) • NIGHT PARADE.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// closed to hizen.

( Samatoki and Hizen haven't said a word to one another, but they're working in tandem; the oni at the taiyaki stand seems to be content to let the two youngbloods do all the work.

Once they're all done helping with some signage, their payment is a few taiyaki. He burns his mouth on it, swearing: )

Fuck. Why do I always do that.

Comments

[littleshield]

[ Well, that is true. He feels he did get some kind of warm-up in there so he can't disagree. But, Felix does pause when he realizes that, yes, the other man has definitely scampered off to who knows where. ]

Seriously? After all of that trouble, and he still runs off...

[ Honestly! ]

That fool isn't going to get far acting like a coward in a place like this.

[deathrespect]

Takes all sorts, I guess.

( Although it can be hard to find your way being a sneaky coward.

He flexes his claws, shakes them out, looks over the scene. )

Probably best to get outta here too.

[littleshield]

Fine.

I wouldn't want to deal with anymore of those pathetic creatures.

[ Because that's what they are. Pathetic.

Well, whatever. It's all over and done with, which is what matters in the end. ]

I'm going to grab something to eat.

[deathrespect]

Mind if I tag along?

( Said so casually. Even if he feels awkward asking, he knows the value of making connections in a place like this. )

[littleshield]

Fine. I won't stop you.

[ Felix doesn't care much about making connections, but he also doesn't care whether someone decides to come with him. It's not like the man he has been fighting with had acted as a nuisance. ]

Maybe there will be something that isn't trash around here.

[deathrespect]

( Real friendly, huh. Just as well.

Samatoki follows Felix at the same clip, pulling out a cigarette and sticking it between his lips to light. Hopefully he doesn't mind. )

You explore much around here already or nah?

[littleshield]

[ The friendliest guy around! ]

I have, but not everywhere. And you?

[ They're in luck, at least. There's a stall which is nearby so Felix will start heading there as well. And as long as the smoke doesn't fly in his face Felix doesn't care, though he does throw him a brief look to examine the lighter because they don't have that on Fodlan. ]

[deathrespect]

Feels like I've been out more than I've been at housing. But it's a massive place, so I think we're in the same boat.

( He shakes the soft pack at Felix; an offering. He has no idea if this guy smokes or not, or even if they have similar smokeables where he comes from.

All the same, he takes a seat at the stall. The idea of ramen makes him feel a little ill, and for a moment he considers skipping out on it. The last place he was displaced at had a ramen stand with ... questionable meat.

He asks for takoyaki and tries to keep his face straight. )