jigokulogs | ( OPEN ) this is where it starts

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Dazai is leaning against the nearest flat surface, lazily following the fight.]

Not today.

[He wouldn't mind gambling at all - and he'd probably make some money off it, too - but everything here is still new to him, and he's not taking any chances just yet. An advance on their pay, indeed... That's just a debt by another name, isn't it?

Belatedly, he turns to look at Samatoki.]

Yourself? [Here to gamble, or -... Well, the man does look like another oni.] Or are you next in line to fight?

( There's a story there, one he doesn't pry on.

But at his question, Samatoki's lips quirk up in a grin. )

Thinking about fighting more than gambling. I'll probably be more game after a few drinks.

Better not make it so many that you'll be game over.

[Dazai says it for the joke value, really. He honestly doesn't care too much if this gentleman wants to get himself killed, after all. But between the joke and the necessity to forge connections, which at this point he stands the best chance of doing by acting friendly, he couldn't resist.]

Good one.

( It gets a genuine laugh. )

I got more sense than that.

( ... Said as he snatches a drink off a passing oni girl's drink tray. )

In that case, maybe I'll have to gamble on your fight, after all.

[Possibly even in Samatoki's favor! ... But also possibly against him, depending on how this conversation goes.]

I'm Dazai Osamu. May I have your name so I know who to bet on?

Samatoki Aohitsugi. Good to meetcha.

( He takes a deep drink, feeling warmer and more loose already.

Then the oni in his head laughs, ever amused at his host's antics; the laugh is broadcasted to Dazai as well, of course. )

... Man. Shut up, Genkei.

[Of... course. Don't we all have an oni living in our head that broadcasts laughter on a daily basis?

Orrrr not really. Not Dazai, anyway.]

Beg pardon?

Ah. You heard him too?

( Sometimes he can't tell when it's broadcasted out to others, or when it's solely meant for him. )

Fuck. I probably sound fuckin' batshit.

[Well, that is one way to put it. And, frankly, a very accurate way to put it, too.

But telling semi-stranger they're batshit isn't normally the way to build connections - at least: not positive ones - and so Dazai will politely refrain.]

If you are, then clearly so am I, since I heard him as well.

[And Dazai is many things, but batshit isn't one of them. (... Not everyone might agree with that, but whatever.)]

Out of curiosity: who is "he"?

Ehh ... Long story. He's an Oni who lives in my head.

( He chimes in again: I'll never tire of you explaining this. Go on.

Samatoki pulls a face, but continues anyway. )

Name's Genkei. He's a douchebag. Found him in my head in the last joint I got displaced at.

For a long story, you're putting it very succinctly.

[And Dazai appreciates that. It's a fairly crazy story, after all: may as well start with the mere skeleton of an explanation, and build from there.

Especially when there is a lot more being said here than "just" an extreme and possibly supernatural case of multiple identities.]

You've been displaced like this before?

Eh, yeah. Once.

( Which was enough.

Then he laughs wryly. It's a bitter sound. )

Listen to me ... I probably already said way too much, hah.

[Once is certainly enough. Every world you see, every life you live, is one too many, in Dazai's opinion - or it would be for himself. Others do tend to take these things more lightly.]

No... I wouldn't call it "too much".

[In some ways it's not enough, even, and yet Dazai feels reluctant to push for more. Maybe it's because he does think one life in one world is more than enough. Maybe he just needs more time to figure out what he'd even ask about, if he were to start asking questions.]

I suppose we should be glad, then! At least: I haven't yet heard of a lost soul here who gained a bonus youkai upon arrival.

Glad? Maybe for you; you don't have a bonus youkai.

( Watch it, boy. )

Wonder if there's any more'a us here. I can't be the only one ...

And you had one from the start. [By some definition of "start"...] If getting a youkai familiar doesn't happen when you go to hell, I don't see how I'm luckier or less lucky than the next man to end up here.

["Familiar" is definitely not the right word for it, but sue him. It's a funny mental image.]

That said, it's interesting that your oni hitched a ride all the way here...

( You watch it too. Kids these days.

That one's for Dazai; Samatoki barks out a laugh. )

He, ah. ... Has nowhere else. Guess we gotta stick with each other for now, heh.

I hope he at least pays rent.

[Definitely the only problem with having someone live in your head: them not paying you for it.]

If by rent you mean belittling me and commentary on anything I do, sure.

( OPEN ) this is where it starts

i. ) • ARENA.

ii. ) • RAISE SOME HELL.

iii. ) • SWEET JACKET.

iv. ) • NIGHT PARADE.

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