jigokulogs | 🌸 two | i drank every scar that i could.

H-hey! Hold on!

[Of course Cloud was going to come with, but that means the cars simply honk louder as he has to chase after Aerith en route to the brothel. Truthfully, he'd take most options to get away from the shirime, given its, well, appearance, the wheezing noise rattling in Cloud's mind as he crosses the street alongside Aerith.]

[It doesn't take him too long to catch up after that as she explains.] A new face? You think this person has some idea of the vending machine that... guy is looking for?

[There is, you know, a small bit of embarrassment he's hiding at going to a brothel of all places. But they made it through Wall Market, it's probably not going to be nearly as bad as that...]

[ Arriving in Tamamo had been less of a culture shock for her, with Wall Market's ostentatious, rambunctious nature fresh on her heels. Cloud hides his embarrassment as well as Aerith wears her comfort in entering a brothel. She waits for him to cross as angry drivers shout at them for jaywalking, disregarding it as little more than white noise. Then, hands laced in front of her, she cocks her head up at the place. It's a big, traditional looking building, with eastern looking awnings and a golden sign. ]

Here we are. Jack In The Fox. Not very subtle, huh? [ With a shrug, she moves forward to the doors. ] She might, or she might not. But so what? You start somewhere.

[ Turning back to him, she raises her brows. Though Aerith's hands are on the doors, she doesn't open them. A sweet smell oozes from within— no doubt, it's probably drugs. ] Ready?

[It takes a moment for Cloud to look up at the sign as Aerith introduces him. He produces that oft-cited little 'Huh.' of equal parts bewilderment and understanding that so often punctuates their conversations. She's right, it's not subtle. At all. Even the Honeybee Inn had at least a bit more subtlety about their... services. In some ways it was a good thing Sutoku had scooped Cloud up instead - this would have been a lot for him to take in right away.]

I- [He was going to reply to Aerith regarding it being a place to start, but she, and the obvious smell coming out of the brothel, catch him off guard. He stops for just a moment, deer in the headlights, as it kind of hits him, then and there, that Aerith is cheerfully walking him into a brothel of all places. It takes a moment for him to recalibrate.]

Y...yeah. Let's go. [He's suddenly, perhaps, a bit more nervous than he was a moment ago. Who could say why?]

[ There's a tangible pause in how Aerith stares up at him. She mulls over his reaction, picking up just enough to think something is off. He says let's go, but something seems to be holding him back. ]

Cloud?

[ Maybe she's gotten used to the way Tamamo operates. While brothels are one form of entertainment in this district, and they've technically been inside the Honeybee Inn together, it had been a wholly different affair. A massage parlor is one thing, she knows; this is another. ]

You look pretty spooked. You can take a break and wait for me here, if you want.

[ Really, she's in and out of establishments like this often enough alone— if he finds it disagreeable, she's capable of handling it by herself. ]

I- that's not-

[Caught in the moment of hesitation, Cloud doesn't know how to respond in any way that doesn't involve tripping over his words. They had been through Madam M's massage parlor and the Honeybee Inn, but- an out and out brothel was a bit different.]

No, I'm fine. [It comes out defensively - as Aerith would probably expect. While there was some embarrassment on his face - and she might even catch the hint of a blush, he breaks eye contact for just long enough to compose himself.] Let's go. Going to have to get used to this sooner or later, right?

[Which is his way of admitting that maybe he is a touch embarrassed, but he's going to resignedly push through that. Besides, if he found this disagreeable, he was in for a whole other world of culture shock the longer he stayed here.]

[ Preparing yourself for the first step into Tamamo's entertainment is always way harder than the actual dip into it. Aerith waits a moment more, mulling over her own experience back at her first night as a certified Tamamo Clan Member— she lost interest in the whole ordeal quickly. ]

Keep it together, okay? It's not really what you think, anyway. Promise!

[ Swinging the doors open, the pair enter.

...Into a lobby. An upscale lobby for an upscale brothel. A single concierge desk sits in the corner, guarding the hallway. Behind the many armed employee is keys upon keys upon keys, all of them lining the wall. Many are missing, presumably in use. On the opposite side is a beaded curtain, where laughter can be heard. It's where the sweet smell of drugs is coming from. She's not sure what it is, but she's seen the effects enough to know it's also a powerful pain killer. ]

Welcome, welcome... Is that you, Aerith? And you brought a guest. [ The elderly looking youkai rubs at his face with one of his hands. He seems to be part-way between a spider and... something else. It's hard to tell. Aerith never asked, in any case. ] Good looking pair of lovebirds, huh... We can rent you a room, but no discount. Gonna cost you the same as getting time with one of our employees.

That's not necessary, sorry. We were actually hoping to find someone.

That so? Well, who is it? A lady for the man?

[ Aerith waves her hand, as if physically brushing off the comment. Responding quickly, she presses on while sparing a glance at Cloud. Is he good? ] A new girl. She's got a lot of hair. Have you seen her?

Have I ever... [ The elderly youkai gestures to the curtain. A gentle thrum of music is coming from within; someone has picked up the shamisen. ] Not a very popular one, I noticed... The company'll do her gloomy face good. Go on, then.

[ Turning back to Cloud, she waits for his confirmation. After all, he was the one embarrassed to walk in. ] After you!

Uh. Right. [Well, now Cloud is embarrassed for a whole host of different reasons. He gives Aerith a look, which is simultaneously maybe a little pleading while still not really willing to give an inch. If she's waiting for him to buck first, he'll be, as she expects, as stubborn as ever.] Such is the beating heart of the Tamamo sector.

[Despite how it may sound, and while he's certainly a little out of his comfort zone, he does appear to be... well, sizing it up for what it is. It's got a completely different vibe to the areas under the Daitengu's control - which of course it would. It's not like Sector 5's slums and Sector 7's were all that similar. He's taking it all in at face value as he walks forward. Moving towards the curtain and the music. He wants, almost, to ask about this 'gloomy one' - and the question is very plain on his face, to Aerith. But he isn't sure that's, well, a thing to be bringing up in polite company.]

[Which in a way does show the gains Cloud has made since their first meeting - despite how standoffish he's come off, he's clearly engaging from an angle of earnestness.]

This person came in pretty recently, then?

[ The old concierge pauses, raising one of his many arms to scratch at a bald spot that rests on the crown of his head. He mutters something, as if it were a spell to remember his bearings. Eventually, the answer comes. ]

Mmm...Yes... Yes, she did. Came through town asking for a job. We don't turn away people looking for a job out here. Economy is good enough to afford it. She's always mumbling something about some... man or other.

[ Aerith looks to Cloud for a moment, tilting her head. He might be as easy to read as a book for her, but sometimes, she wonders how others will take it. ]

You sure you don't want a room rental?

[ This time, she'll let him answer. Looks like the old coot is determined to try and get money out of them, speaking of the economy. ]

Uh-

[Cloud isn't expecting to be addressed specifically - part of him admittedly figured Aerith's rebuttal would have done enough. He pauses - just a beat in-between breaths, longer than someone who was immediately going to reject the idea - before he responds.]

No, that's not necessary. We just wanted to talk to her for a bit, right?

[He looks to Aerith for confirmation, before turning back.]

Sorry. [There's a small impulse to say something like 'maybe another time', but he wouldn't say that unless he meant it.] We won't take long, we promise.

Edited 2022-05-28 07:24 (UTC)

—Cloud!

[ Is she offended by his refusal or the fact he seems to have entertained it at all? The old man scratches his chin in confusion. He really thought he had a sale for a moment there...

Then, with one of his many free hands, he gestures for the pair to go on. His nose goes back into a grand book— a calendar, maybe?

Aerith immediately peals out past the beaded curtain, waiting no longer than necessary for Cloud. Her braid swings behind her; was she even really offended? Inside, however, is a room drenched in ambient lighting, purple and pink dripping across furniture and along the walls. There's music playing still, the twinkling twang of the shamisen being played by a catwoman in a decadent looking kimono, and hung thickly in the air is the scent of debauchery. Drugs and alcohol, for sure. Plumes of smoke twist silver and white even against the lights.

Aerith looks to Cloud with raised brows as the occupants of the room notice them with little more than disinterested glances before returning back to the party. She shrugs. ]

Guess they don't mind an uninvited guest or two that much... Kind of hard to see in this lighting though.

[ Not that she's described this particular working girl to Cloud much, but he'll probably know exactly who she and the old spiderman meant out in the lobby. There's a woman— a kejourou, if he's done his homework— with long, dark and matted hair like seaweed. In her hands is a pipe, and her face is concealed by her hair. She seems largely shunned by the party, forgotten in a corner... but every once in a while, one of the men will look at her with great longing before turning back to the other girl he's spending time with.

Something about it is gloomy, for sure. ]

[While he was initially taken aback by Aerith's outburst, Cloud could only give a small little chuckle - no, not even a chuckle, a largely muffled singular 'heh' as Aerith brushed past him into the room beyond. If he was more poetic about it, he might think she was a whirlwind all her own, and it took all of him to stay upright in the storm that blew his way.]

I'm... guessing that's more of a feature than a problem. [Dim lights, heavy smoke, the scent of debauchery on the air? It was the perfect mood lighting - they both knew that much.]

[Cloud has done enough homework to know there are plenty of types of yokai - but he's still learning new things every day. The woman Aerith points out to him certainly looks the part - the way her hair covers her face and, indeed, she seems gloomy even in this pleasure den.]

[Cloud looks at the men giving her looks, before looking back to Aerith. Something certainly seems... confusing about this, to him. But he's also not been one to shy away from a problem. Brutally direct and to the heart of the matter, without any thought for dancing around.]

[Which is why he sees no other reason but to approach the kejourou, crossing the room, without any sort of regard for any nuances that might be at play.]

...Hey there. Do you... have a minute to talk? [Despite this, he does think far enough ahead to phrase it as something more courteous and less implicitly, well... rude.]

[ Cloud approaches without any pre-amble, rolling right up to the woman. Aerith follows closely, shimmy sideways to avoid the tiny tables. His voice gets the yokai to raise her head, and she raises her pipe in a lazy, dull sort of greeting. Crossing her legs, she seems to raise her head, slowly, towards him. His companion for the evening, the local florist, offers Cloud a look of encouragement. He takes the lead. ]

Maybe. [ Her voice possesses a light fray to it, like the smoke has gotten to it, or maybe she's spent months in the depths of a depressed stupor. She is the mystery of Jack in the Fox, all silken hair and elegant kimono. Her robes are are expensive looking. A gift, thinks Aerith to herself. She is a woman who enjoys the luxuries that belong to others. ]

Aerith. [ Her head turns, tilting to the young woman she's named. Aerith straightens her back a bit, thinking that she can't remember this woman's name for the life of her. She smiles, tight and puckered, as if in apology. ] I know you get busy. But he's right, it will only take a minute.

[ The kejourou, in all her mysteriousness, only hums thoughtfully. ] So he's your guy, huh...? Handsome fella. Call for me some time, if you get bored, big boy.

Umm... Cloud? [ Might as well ask, she guesses. ] Think she doesn't mind talking to you, at least...

[He's admittedly taken aback at the way she talks. The way she sizes up him and Aerith in equal measure - he wants to clear the misconception - it's not like that - but it would only distract from the conversation, he thinks. There's definitely no other reason he would stall on directly refuting her conception of Aerith and Cloud as - well, as an item.]

[She does certainly seem... well, she knows she has an allure, and she uses it to her advantage. Cloud feels a bit like he's stepped in the lion's den - and Aerith can see that nervousness on him, even as he nods back to Aerith's assertation that he take the lead.]

...You seem like you're the kind of woman who knows everything about what's going on. [It's flattery, but it's also Cloud's honest assessment - Madame M comes to mind immediately, in his mind's eye.] We're... looking for a certain vending machine. Rumor going around is, it's got a specific code associated with it. [His voice has dropped low - so that it's harder for the other patrons to get a bead on their conversation. A conspiratorial vibe.]

I take it you might know what we're talking about? And what vending machine we're looking for?

[Once again, Cloud's way to the heart is by being a straight shot - he figures a woman like this doesn't like someone who dances around the point, and it's never been Cloud's style to be indirect.]

[ He isn't wrong. The lion's den has eyes all on Cloud Strife, for daring to walk up to this woman and talk to her like he owns the place. Did he even pay for it?

She laughs, all groaning little huffs and a sense of dazed disinterest. She smokes, taking a long inhale from within the ocean of black hair. The smokes blooms from all around her, as if exhaled from every pore on her body. ]

I was wondering what brought you to my neck of the woods... I see Aerith around enough to know her, but you're a new face. I like you, Cloud. I can tell you're from Sutoku. You don't have that big dick energy Shutens have, even when they're meek bastards, and you're not looking to get broken like Enma's workers usually are. I'll teach you a little bit about this place.... Tamamo is like a tea ceremony.

[ From his side, Aerith's hand twitches. She thinks better of it, of holding onto him, for fear of losing him to the lonely, desperate way the working woman speaks. Still, she looks askance to him, brows knitted. Is he alright? ]

And everyone has full teapots, but empty cups. You need to help fill the cups around you, so everyone will benefit, including you. It's not just the brothels. It's the restaurants... the massage parlors, the bars... The delivery girls.

[ Her gaze shifts, falling upon Aerith again. Somehow, that much is clear. ]

You know, she'll want a better job eventually. You can't life off scraps, not here. Especially if you want your own teapot. When that happens, make sure she doesn't end up like me, if she's really your girl. Or not. I don't know what you're up to, but I can tell you I'm thirsty, and my cup needs filling.

[ In other words, she wants a favor. Aerith lets him take the lead still, but if he senses a flash of upset at his side, it's probably expected. ]

Here. [ From the chest of her luxurious kimono, the kejourou pulls a black business card with a watery design. Summer is showing itself, and it seems everyone is moving onto their next seasonal set of cards. Upon the cardstock is readable, plain typing; a name and a business. Nothing else. ] Fill my cup for me, will you? I just want a picture of him, and I'll give you the information you want.

...Cloud?

[ Aerith's hands come to rest on his arm. ] He's the best mercenary in the business, and he loves helping out the community. So, whaddya say?

[Cloud might seem inattentive, and in many ways, you wouldn't be incorrect for thinkig that, but he's always been a bit more observant than others might give him credit for. Maybe that's why he ended up in Sutoku, after all - he's able to pick up on tiny things in the moment.]

[Like the way Aerith bristles as the woman talks - the little hand twitch as she talks about her - about them, as one item. How she refers to Aerith as 'his girl'. He shares the sidelong glance with Aerith - he's composed, but also, perhaps, a bit unsure. It's more like asking the question right back at her - is she okay?]

[And then she puts her hands on him, and in more than one way he knows she wants this interaction to end as quickly as possible. His look at her is only a brief moment before he looks back at the kejourou, stoic and serious.]

...Thanks for the advice. And- consider it done. [He'll take the card, flipping it over, taking time to memorize the name and the business. Sure, he could look it up in his phone - but Cloud is old-school about this.] We'll get that photo, and come straight here when we do.

Unless there's anything else to add... we'll let you get on with your day. [He figures if she has any last remarks, she can deliver them and the two of them can mosey, but he wants to make sure they have all the information they need.]

[ There is, if nothing else, an immediate understanding from the pair of them that she kejourou picks up on. They're close, and have each other's back. She'll gossip about it later, surely, but she only raises her pipe in a farewell, and pulls her legs up onto the chair with her. Her kimono opens just enough that, on someone else, her legs would be on display. For her, however, it is simply just more hair. Cousin It has never looked better. ]

See you later... Cloud, Aerith. [ At his side, Aerith gives a shaky smile as her parting gift. ]

Let's mosey, shall we? [ And eagerly begins the trek out of the party den, where it smells like alcohol and drugs and something else, too, and where the men are all looking at her and Cloud like they're intruders on something personal.

Outside, in the lobby, the concierge thumbs through the appointment book, glasses fogged over. ]

Phew. Glad that's over. She's always like that.

I bet. [ Beat. ] You sure didn't seem to be her biggest fan. [ He gives a small little look at her as they make our way out, past the concierge - he gives a wave as thanks. ] You sure you're okay, over here?

[ Aerith has no doubt fended off the question before, but it's probably not surprising to her she's picked up Cloud's attention on how uncomfortable she was during that conversation. He's turning the card over as they walk. Held out so the two of them can look at it. ]

I know there's no changing it now, but- [ In other words, its an offer to help - Cloud's trying to be reliable, if nothing else. ]

[ A noise of acknowledgement leaves her before Aerith knows she's responding. It's both disarming that Cloud noticed, and comforting that he did. For a moment, she's content to sit silently in that knowledge, as if the weight of it could settle between the two of them as warmly as a wool blanket. ]

Yeah, I'm alright. [ It's genuine. He'll know— Cloud is right to know that she can handle herself, but he doesn't ask to belittle her. He asks because... they're friends. She looks up at him. ] It's not my favorite place to go, but... [ Part of her wonders if Cloud knows what she had meant— and worse, she wonders if the kejourou already knows there's little difference between herself and Aerith. All those people around her, and still... ]

She knows almost everyone in Tamamo, and even more people outside of it, I think. So... But, hey, what about you? She's not exactly easy on the nerves. [ Kinda gives Aerith the willies, truthfully. ]

[ Yeah, if Aerith says she's fine, he trusts her. She can handle herself, and if she needs help - well, he's here, and she knows how to reach him. That's enough, for him. ]

Uh- [ The counter-question catches him off-guard, at least a little bit, as he gives a sort of... awkward smile. Which, admittedly, most of Cloud's smiles are awkward, but this one? Especially so. ] She's... interesting. Definitely harsher than anyone we met in Wall Market. ...Even Madame M.

[ Cloud may have nerves of steel in some respects, but even he was a little taken aback. ]

But I guess it can't exactly be easy, in a room like that...

[ Looked at, but never approached unless it was for someone else's pleasure, never talked to... Deliberately isolated. No better than ornamentation in the room. Even Cloud's got a heart for a story like that. ]

[ He's always like this, straight forward and heartfelt even through the awkward smile. Along the street, they walk, and Aerith's gaze falls onto the business card as he turns it. The back is decorative, with the business name emblazoned on it even bolder. They know they're looking for someone working in a particular host club now. ]

Yeah, Tamamo is pretty different even if the surface paint is similar. People come here to blow off steam, but the people are... different. [ She imagines it has to do with the fact Tenkohime is different from Corneo— but that's a conversation you probably shouldn't have in her territory. Fox ears are surprisingly astute. ]

It sounds awful lonely, but... all she wants is a picture. [ Somehow, ... she understands. ]

Speaking of... I don't have a camera.

[ This was not well thought out, in retrospect. ]

Guess whoever this is means a lot to her. [ That's the only thing Cloud can think of. Sure, maybe this person is working at the host club... but it might be she has some sentimental attachment. It was amusing, at least - Cloud would have never thought about the stories under his feet until he had met Aerith. So even the words out of his mouth are a surprise - and he quickly tries to break glance when he realizes it. ]

[ But he can only nod at Aerith's assessment of Tamamo. Even being one of the slimiest people the two of them have ever met, it was ironic to think that 'the esteemed Don Corneo' certainly would have a harder time in Hell than either of them were having. ]

[ ...Though when Aerith confesses she doesn't have a camera, Cloud realizes - well, neither does he. He stops for a moment before he fumbles for a solution- ] There's some convenience stores in the Sutoku areas that sell disposable ones. Maybe we can swing by and grab one of those?

[ She agrees with him, makes it known through a thoughtful hum. This person, whoever they are, is a source of comfort for the woman in Jack in the Fox. They both know it, and identify it easily. Momentarily, she wonders if Cloud is speaking from experience— but sweeps the thought away easily. ]

Okay. Guess the tour resumes, I know where the biggest one in Tamamo is! Hmm, it'd be nice if we could visit Kim, but that's a longer walk... Well, let's go!

[ They're off to the races, Aerith leading the way eagerly. Move over, Tamamo, the Dynamic Duo has arrived. ]

...Someone bought them all??

[ Fastcut to a 7-11. Inside are shelves— empty. They should be blessed with rows and rows of cheap, disposable cameras, but they were barren. Employees were unhelpful, and just as lost as she seems to be. The youkai behind the counter, standing in front of a wall stuffed with smokes and questionable gas station pills of all sorts, looks tired. There is no amount that a gas station pays for someone to put up with this. ]

Now what?

Great.

[ Cloud's face at the fact that there's not a single camera left in stock is one that's both crestfallen and frustrated. He looks at Aerith, only to look at the attendant at the counter. ]

[ Cloud is starting to get a shape of what's going on here, and judging by the way his gaze seems to sourly look off towards nowhere in particular, he clearly doesn't want to voice it. ]

[ This was gonna take a while, wasn't it? ]

Hey! [ He comes onto the counter attendant strong because, well, of course he does, he quickly reels it back. ] I mean, uh - sorry to bother you. Do you know where we can get a camera on short notice? Any camera at all. We're - it's a long story.

[ there's an edge to Cloud's words, an implicit understanding that he's pretty sure how this next part is going to go... ]

[ Cats have a time limit. This is just simple fact, and something Aerith has come to know from growing up with cats roaming the streets of the slums. Cloud, just like a cat, also has a time limit. ]

It'll be fiiiine. Look, we'll just ask around until someone finds one for us. It can't be that hard, right? Tamamo might have the red light distract down, but it's also a center for the arts.

[ The underpaid employee must be used to outbursts, because they just keep chewing their gum, bored and glum. ]

Sorry to bother you. [ With an inclination of her head, Aerith begins the trek out of the store. Maybe there's another one near by...? ]

🌸 two | i drank every scar that i could.

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