(open.) goldenseal

[medicative]

Who ⬤ Emily and open!
What ⬤ Monthly catchall - substories, life, etc.
When ⬤ Over March
Where ⬤ Across the city.
Content Warnings ⬤ TBA if needed


sprout. - post mingle

[it's not her scene at all. already on edge, Emily had kept it together long enough to get her pay advance, thanked people kindly, and then bolted. overwhelming, bad for her senses, and so she had gone to the roof, stretched her wings, and flown away. immediately, she had started feeling better, the relief that comes from exercise and movement and being out of an environment that puts her ill at ease.

where she lands, it's away from the nightclub, but she carefully wanders, trying to get her bearings. it's much harder than it appears, in the dimmer light, even with things illuminated by electricity and the life that still thrums through the place. and unfortunately for a person that looks lost, it's all too easy to get spotted by those who might be drunk, might not be, but see virtue in calling out on the street to try to get one more person to join them for fun.]

No thank you, I'm not-

[they don't seem to be willing to accept the first no for an answer. alternatively, you've arrived later, and someone has Emily slung over their shoulder. despite the awkward state of affairs, she is very clearly trying to squirm out of their grasp, more annoyed than anything else about being swept away, and the youkai holding her seems ignorant to how she's trying to get out. or maybe just used to it. ugh. she's not giving up yet though.]

growth. - night parade

[decorating is an important part of being ready for the parade, Emily knows, and for this, she can put her full energy behind it. after failing so miserably at socializing earlier, she's doing her best to remain dutiful here. that means fetching what she's been told to, assisting those who might have shakier footing, or giving gentle but honest advice about what looks best. and of course, for those harder to reach spots, it does help when you can fly up and hover some to affix it in the best spot. this might be why she keeps getting assigned to the trickier bits.

of course, no one can keep being full of steam all the time, and so it is that on break, she's found a good spot to sit down - right on a wooden box, slumped over and clutching onto a water bottle as if it will save her. but hearing any footsteps, she sits up, the flush of exertion in her face still evident.]

Has it been twenty minutes already? Goodness.

[self defense training or not, it's like running a marathon...]

bloom. - work

[she bows her head and accepts the sneers thrown her ways from the other girls - they don't understand why an uptight member of the Sutoku would seek a steadier job with the club that falls under more of the Tamamo purview, but the manager accepts it with a grunt and lets Emily have her work. employment is employment, and she needs funds if she's going to get anywhere, so she'll sell what's most useful right now - her voice. Hotaru is the stage name she chooses for herself, and she does her best to ingratiate herself with the others, learning what the band would prefer to play and what songs they can collaborate on. really, she closes her ears to anything else, keeps to herself - even the most sharp eyed can't find fault with her attitude off stage, and so she'll gain her money carefully.

so, perhaps you've come in to enjoy a leisurely night at a slower pace, and she's in the midst of her set, singing and making the right kind of eye contact with customers. maybe it's earlier, and you work there, early enough to hear the sounds of a minor scuffle in the back that ends with a door slammed and Emily stumbling out of that direction, a bundle in her arms. or maybe it's later, and you're at the bar, and a soft voice comes from your side.]

I wouldn't, if I were you.

[it's the careful grind, after all. there's the idea of quitting and finding a different place, and she has the number of a different club in another district, but...she wants her first paycheck at least.]

wildcard.

[for custom prompts and new ideas and the like. ooc intro if you'd like to plot something specific, or hit me up via PM!]

Comments

[medicative]

I-I'm sorry. I've been overheated. It's fogged the mind.

[it's the best excuse she has, when sense grips her by the throat and says to not tell him everything. to just be glad of a familiar face, and to accept it.

instead of anything else, she pours some of her water on her wrists, dabbing it on her neck - pulse points, it'll cool one faster than just waiting for drinking water to work, and sells her reason.]

It's a surprise to see you, that's all, since I don't recall catching sight of you during the initial gathering.

[heretic_blade]

[ Izō sits in silence and just listens for once in his life instead of interjecting. What's contained in the confession is not the important part, more than she feels comfortable enough to open up to them. It's a lot to be trusted with. ]

Well...That don't change nothin'.

[ He can't say what it means that she entrusted them with this information, but the least he can say is what is doesn't do. It's just a part of who she is; they're all messy people with problems and emotional damage. ]

[bristle]

( hmm... acceptable excuse, he supposes. exactly the reason why he refuses to overexert himself in any sense of the word, sticking to what he's good for even in a place like this. speaking of which: )

If you mean that sorry excuse for a welcome, I saw no reason to attend. They wanted to send us all to some brothel and, as you can imagine, I care little and less for such base amusements as they seem so inclined.

( so she can probably guess which faction he's ended up in. )

[medicative]

Oh goodness...I'm terribly sorry.

[whether for the brothel or for the clan that's claimed him, she won't clarify.]

But that would explain much. My...patrons weren't so crude, though they do differ from yours. Still, should you need it, my door is always open to you, Mr. Valden.

[she knows him. and she knows this world is liable to violence sooner rather than later.]

[bristle]

What, you've been enlisted by those indolent bureaucrats, have you? Because I can't imagine that the other "factions", as they call them, have shown much more tact than my own.

( not from his impressions of them and their territories, at least. but her offer does give him pause. he hesitates only momentarily before offering a wave his hand — a dismissive gesture. )

In any case, I suppose I'll remember that, though I don't see much need for it.

( ...the respect for the skills that she offers is implied, at least, through the fact that the words aren't an outright rejection of the offer. )

[no_kyouken]

[ Majima pushes up off the table he's leaning on, moving over to Emily to put his arms around her. It's nothing he thinks about, they've almost died together, of course he feels perfectly fine extending the gesture. ]

That ya even feel guilty 'bout it tells us plenty, Em.

[ Maybe she's right and she does deserve some time in Hell for what she's done, but that doesn't really change who she is to them. Even that story tells them she's strong inside, that she'd tried her hardest even if it had gone all wrong. Majima knows that feeling, he'd been there on the edge. If he'd come across anyone other than Makoto... he probably would have killed them.

Emily and Makoto have a lot in common. Caring but haunted, still trying with all their might but sometimes it's just not enough to assuage what hurts them. All he wants to help with that, take a little of the weight. He puts his cheek on her hair. ]

[medicative]

Give them a week or so to repent, and then return to see if they've mended their ways. That should be enough time to turn around if sincere, and enough time to leave if they haven't.

[everyone deserves a second chance. a third? only if you're a friend.]

[medicative]

[she knows him well enough to read the value in his words, even if he's acting above it all. if he didn't know her, didn't value what she can do and the promise to take care of him as she has before, he would have been much more dismissive.]

May you not see need for it.

[may he stay safe from harm or illness alike.]

But I'm not enlisted among the government ranks. It's the Sutoku Alliance that decided to take an interest in me.

[medicative]

[here, there, and everywhere. really, there's something that says she should protest, but after just taking a fall, she's in no mind to.]

All of that's more easily said than done...but please don't blame yourself for my carelessness...

[she feels rather like a sheep being herded around, but at least she's not in the club, and of the two, she'd rather be pushed along into new places. somewhere to relax, was it? well, she'll certainly move along.]

[medicative]

[it's the utter lack of judgement that still sweeps her feet from under her. perhaps she was just expecting something along the lines of what she tells herself, that the person who bore that name was a failure, unfit for her work, that it was bound to happen if one's pride got too big - heaven always intervened. she knows that too intimately bears the scars of another time that her ego got bigger than her skill - only then it was her own life in the balance.

but it doesn't change their opinion. it doesn't mean she can't be held, and she turns to hide his face in Majima's chest, breathing slow to keep herself steady. Emily is so, so tired of running, of being afraid someone will find out - and now they know, and extend grace. there are no words to express that level of gratitude, so she can't bother trying.

what's unspoken is still known. they can ask about things, and she'll answer. she will give Izo and Majima the truth, because that's how much she trusts, cares. embedded in her heart and staying if they so choose.

messy, scarred, but still drawing breath. give her a minute, just like this.

yet, something's still missing. pulling a little back from Majima, she doesn't entirely let go, but looks Izo's way, and gestures. she wants him there as well.]

[everblooms]

Oh, I'd ask you to help me again. [ Make no mistake about it. ] But we all have limits, Emily.

[ There's a tone of sympathy woven into her voice, and as she leads Emily to a bench made from bamboo, she makes sure to take it at an easy pace. By the time they make it there, Emily will find herself being seated onto that bench, underneath the long, twisting branches of a replanted pine tree. ]

One second.

[ Aerith disappears for no more than a minute, returning from a vending machine across the way with a bottle of fancy water. Tamamo really spares no expense. ]

This is nice, huh?

[bristle]

( acceptable answer. nothing to pick at in that, so he takes up the topic of their assignments. )

The gossips, then. I hadn't taken you for the type, but I suppose you have my condolences. All money and secrets—not a scrap of dignity among those ones.

( from what he could tell from a brief introduction to what the different factions do. the tamamo are clumsy in their attempts, yes, and he would hardly consider anything they produce on their own as true art, but there's at least an attempt at respect for the arts among them. that's not to mention the legitimate power that backs their claims. it's a different beast from the others, and in edgar's opinion, it's better for the fact, so it would seem that he has little shame in the alignment itself. )

[heretic_blade]

[ Izō still has trouble accepting what he's a part of. Seeing them hug makes his face flush for reasons he can't quite put into words. It's fine, they can have that little moment -- they deserve it. He doesn't feel like he's allowed to be a part of it, like he hasn't earned it despite being allowed in.

He can't just ignore that little request, though. It's not like he doesn't want to be a part of this and reassure Emily beyond just his words. His feelings aren't really what matter here, at least not to him. He gets up and puts his arms around the both of them.

A warm, reassuring sandwich with an Emily filling. He could get used to this. ]

[wray]

[ when her expression shifts, six tries not to let concern bleed all over everything he does. the smallest hint of this mostly shows in the descending slant of his ears.

he doesn't need her to explain it further. things could be much better, he knows. ]

I understand. [ at least she'll know he gets what she's trying to say. ] The same can be said for me.

[ the basics are all covered. there's shelter, enough food to eat, coworkers he can probably get along with, but who knows when the other shoe will drop. ]

I'll try not to get into too much trouble.

[apathie]

That entirely depends on the status of this little one in the future. [and by "that", he means his continued patronage of the store.]

I need to make sure it doesn't have parasites, or if it suffered from poor conditions while growing.

[because naturally, disreputable vendors don't like to announce that, for fear of losing out on a sale.]

[baofeng]

[This city is too similar to his own, Miss. He has no illusions that its core could be any less rotten.

His eyes flicker back to Emily as she speaks, widening slightly in surprise- he didn't expect the offer to come from her. He’s usually the one making it. Is she better at politics than he thought? Is this- can someone have this kind of delicate tongue without the moral corruption that comes so often with it? He doesn’t know, he’s too deep into it himself. Zetian isn’t here to set him straight.]

Oh- you’re right. It slipped right through my mind too! [Yizhi brings his arms in front of him and folds one hand over the other; a proper greeting salute.] Gao Yizhi. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well. And I think…

[After almost hurting Zetian with his actions, he’s unsure about starting this kind of talk with someone else. But there’s no escaping transactionality, Yizhi guesses, not since humans built their first settlements and made manpower into a resource. He will just have to hope neither of them botches it. Miss Dryer seems nice; he doesn’t want to use her.]

… that you are completely right. We have more in common than the factions want us to believe, and we might get out sooner if we all work together. Is there anything I could help you with right now?

…other than your share of parade prep. Finishing mine’s going to wipe me out, I’m afraid.

[no_kyouken]

[ He shifts his shoulder so that he can also encapsulate Izo. Honestly, it does remind him of when it was him and Yasuko and Saejima. He'd been alone out on the street before he found them. Emily is strong like Yasuko too. He finds himself strangely in Saejima's role, with Izo much more like who he used to be... But that's fine. There's a solid balance there. His face dips down, emotional.

Ah shit. A couple tears drip down his cheek and he blinks at them rapidly, lips pursed. They all feel it in their own way: that they don't deserve anything good and they deserve some time in Hell. It hits him hot in the chest how much he's letting down everyone he's left behind, but he'll have to do his best to take care of these two instead. ]

[medicative]

[it's...well, it's no forest, but call her easily placated when the tree's scent is fresh and the bench is welcome. by the time Aerith returns, she's looking up at it, smiling in a way that's less done for politeness and more simply because she feels it. her approach means Emily looks down, half turns that smile on her.]

It's lovely. A small moment of calm in the middle of how hectic everything can be.

Sprout; It's about time these two cross paths again~

[pervy_kappa]

[Gojyo had been enjoying his night as best he could. Patrolling the streets for any trouble as any thug signed into the Shuten Clan would. He was protecting the turf- freaking lackey work at best. But he was new and didn't have much say, so what else was he to do?

Truthfully, unlike Emily, he had at least seemed to take to the atmosphere of Jigoku-Cho like a fish to water. (A horrible pun, but it would do.) His weapon still slung over his back, cigarette dangling from his lips, and thumbs hanging off his belt, he gave off every possible air he could of a guy you didn't want to piss off. Taking heavy steps down the center of the sidewalk as he looked over each passing face with interest.

What he did not expect to find, though, was someone familiar.]

-- Eh?

[He had heard the drunken jeering before he had managed to process what exactly was going down. His eyes glanced towards the nearby alley only to see some guy skeeving up on a cute girl. A cute girl with light brown hair and a naturally gentle expression.]

Well shit.

[Of course, he knew Emily was more than capable of handling herself if she needed to. But he also knew she was far too nice of a person than she should be in a city like this. And hell, he hated seeing her limits being pushed in such away.

And so it was with little hesitation that he made his way over. Lifting his leg high before playfully kicking the strange youkai in the back, sending him fumbling past Emily.]

Oooooy! Can't you see the lady's tryin' a get past?

[Hi Emily. ♥]

[medicative]

Though none of it is by choice, it's not much different than the society I am accustomed to navigating - that is the one saving grace.

[her tone says she'd rather have been left well alone, a civilian instead of caught up in these factions and their struggles. but what hangs over her head is greater than herself, and so she finds herself complying. still, she cannot call them her clan. "patrons" feels like a better word - ones she is indebted to work for, in exchange for thei support.]

We've endured less ideal circumstances, after all.

[medicative]

Trying is all I'll ever ask. But if you do find yourself in trouble, I should give you the number to call me on my phone.

[he knows she'll come running, after all.

and speaking of things arriving, the server comes with a tray, setting their tea down as well as two cups. they'll take it upon themselves to pour for each of them, bowing their head and murmuring if they need anything else, just raise their hand.

also, leaving a folded card on the table as they depart. opening it reveals a simple menu of lighter fare to accompany the tea - snacks, really, and not the main focus of the place, but some things pair well.]

[medicative]

[he's invited, and both of them are moving to accommodate him, a very necessary part of this equation, so that they can all be wrapped up in warm arms and an embrace. they shoulder all of this together - physically and as much emotionally as they'll all allow. she needs them, both of them, and like this, everything that clings onto her back feels like it's a little farther away. just enough room to breathe.]

...thank you.

[for listening. for being here. for knowing her in the first place, and not looking away now. for letting her reach out to take their hands metaphorically, and even if they stumble, screw up and fall down...it's not the end. for now, the people she has to look out for the most are right next to her. the rest will somehow reveal itself.]

[medicative]

Forgive me for my forwardness, but if you do find that it is suffering, then I might know someone who could assist in bringing it back to health. My own skills are more bent towards the recovery of fauna, but she might have a trick or two to set it back to rights.

[she doesn't think she'll mind, if it brings her business. it's the least she can do to repay such a kind woman.]

[medicative]

At the moment, no, but I just had an idea that might leave us both a little less wiped out at the end of the day.

[Mr. Gao, for his kind words, looks like he's in the same boat as her when it comes to physical labor. the last time she did anything intensive, she had the benefit of needing to work out a lot of frustration, and it had resulted in collapsing on the floor for an hour afterwards.]

We can go back to the organizers and say we've decided to team up - then they might give us an assignment that could be shared, and so it might be less taxing.

[apathie]

No, it's fine. [even as he speaks to reassure her that he actually knows what he's doing... he's already wondering who that would be. his clues are that this person is a woman, and that she knows how to care for plants-- there's only one person nehan knows, so far, who fits the bill.

and honestly? absolutely not. he refuses to deal with her.]

I know how to care for plants, myself. Botany is my one specialty in life.