坂本龍馬 sakamoto ryouma (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kaientai) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
jigokulogs2022-06-14 06:09 pm
kaientai) wrote in jigokulogs2022-06-14 06:09 pm
[ closed ] 夜明け前 「 before the dawn 」
Who ⬤ ryouma, majima, and musashi
What ⬤ meeting to negotiate important business
When ⬤ after things get back to something like normal
Where ⬤ the hyacinth hotel
Content Warnings ⬤ none expected but will add if anything comes up!
[ it took some time and effort, but ryouma finally got the venue for this very important shindig squared away. it's not easy to find a location that checks so many boxes — unaffiliated, secure, windowless — and still maintain a suitable level of quality, but it's a big city and ryouma is nothing if not determined.
per majima's suggestion, he left the matter of formal invitations to the daitengu where the other leaders are concerned. he thinks only of what he needs to do, confident that if he does his job well the rest will fall into place. now more than ever solidarity will be important. recent events should, ideally, emphasise the need for everyone to pull together. ever the opportunist, ryouma's sense of the times tells him the time is ripe to take this last step.
though arranged in one of the smaller rooms, its usual decor has been replaced with a single round table and three chairs, which makes the space appear larger. it's all been set up like a proper business meeting — a little self-serve water, coffee, and tea. some notepads and pens to write with. ashtrays for the smokers. nothing too fancy.
ryouma actually dressed up for this. he might've preferred to do things his way and prioritise comfort or at least familiarity, but it's a gesture. he's taking things seriously.plus it just looks good. he may not be wearing a uniform but he's still paired gloves with his suit — he's still healing and bandages just project a weakness — but at least his colour's improved.
he's done everything he could do — now he waits for his guests to arrive. ]
What ⬤ meeting to negotiate important business
When ⬤ after things get back to something like normal
Where ⬤ the hyacinth hotel
Content Warnings ⬤ none expected but will add if anything comes up!
[ it took some time and effort, but ryouma finally got the venue for this very important shindig squared away. it's not easy to find a location that checks so many boxes — unaffiliated, secure, windowless — and still maintain a suitable level of quality, but it's a big city and ryouma is nothing if not determined.
per majima's suggestion, he left the matter of formal invitations to the daitengu where the other leaders are concerned. he thinks only of what he needs to do, confident that if he does his job well the rest will fall into place. now more than ever solidarity will be important. recent events should, ideally, emphasise the need for everyone to pull together. ever the opportunist, ryouma's sense of the times tells him the time is ripe to take this last step.
though arranged in one of the smaller rooms, its usual decor has been replaced with a single round table and three chairs, which makes the space appear larger. it's all been set up like a proper business meeting — a little self-serve water, coffee, and tea. some notepads and pens to write with. ashtrays for the smokers. nothing too fancy.
ryouma actually dressed up for this. he might've preferred to do things his way and prioritise comfort or at least familiarity, but it's a gesture. he's taking things seriously.
he's done everything he could do — now he waits for his guests to arrive. ]
breaking tag order, ryouma is free to immediately respond after this
His meaty hand points a determined finger right at Ryouma's very soul, and when he speaks, his anger feels like blistering flames. ]
Listen here you little shit, I never ever wanna hear you use Strife's name as fucking leverage ever fucking again, do you understand me? You don't get tell me shit about what went down that night because I was fucking there. That kid fought and bled with me, Majima has fought and bled with me, as much as I hate admittin' it fuckin' Tenkohime has fought and bled with me.
You? You ain't done shit. So don't you ever fucking say that name again or I will personally rip your tongue out with my own fuckin' claws and pour boiling lead down your throat.
Do you understand me?!
he's probably lucky he got this far without that happening tbh
[ this is more than a little intense and it takes him a few seconds to remember to breathe again properly. a preview of what he has to look forward to if he fucks this up, surely. it's fine. ]
I apologise. My mentioning it wasn't to be used as leverage, just an example. I meant no disrespect and have no intention of letting any of that enter into this. I only meant that our people are just as committed as yours and I have complete confidence in them to deliver.
Won't happen again.
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Could have been worse. She shoots Ryouma a "what the hell were you thinking?!" look before quickly regaining some of her composure and trying to get the meeting back to where it was. ]
Alright, so. that's 15% from both Tamamo and Shuten operations that will be built Underground, and Tamamo workers will be allowed to work the service sector of the casinos, and we'll take less space for our brothel.
Sakamoto-san will lead up efforts to close gaps in our trade lines to lessen the amount of profits stolen by black marketeers. [ On pain of death. ]
The Kappa will go back to work, and we'll start construction as soon as all groups are ready.
Does that sound amicable to everyone?
[ PLEASE?! ]
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It's amicable. It's up to Sakamoto... and you... [ He stars at Tenkohime. ]
... to not fuck this up. We've got the least to lose, compared to you both. Remember that.
[ Mostly a bluff. He knew his forces were in shit shape. Hell, one of his liuetenants that had wandered off only recently came back. But that was how oni negotiated; they never left the table weak.
This was, of course, something Tenkohime understood... and had full intention of taking advantage of, as she always had. She leaned to gently empty her pipe into the ashtray, humming as she did so (and giving Toraguma a look down her cleavage, because of course she did). ]
The deal is amicable. We expect our workers to be treated well, Toraguma. You'll know what happens if you don't.
Sakamoto-san, I believe you are the one who will draw up the contracts involved, correct?
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[ ryouma finally lights a cigarette for himself because he fuckin' needs one and he's just going to pretend his hands are shaking because he's been sitting here hurting for one. ahem. ]
That's correct. I'll see that everything's drawn up properly right away!
[ he's sure they have someone on retainer for this because thankfully this place has resources he didn't in the past.
he also just... observes toraguma and tenkohime for a moment. he has no opinion on anything other than he's really tired and he has his work cut out for him. ]
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[ Because there's no weaseling out of it now. Ryouma is going to die a casualty of the inconvenience he has caused, Majima's pretty sure. ]
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[ Musashi let out a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. The only non-smoker in the room, she had basically no outlet. God she... really need a drink. ]
With that settled... Lady Tenkohime and I will be heading back to Mizukume. We've all got clean-up matters to deal with, so I will leave Sakamoto-san to do what he needs to do.
[ God did he need to do it. She felt like both Toraguma AND her own boss were a step away from skinning him alive... ]
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She turned her attention to Toraguma and Majima. ]
My Sword Saint is correct, after all. There is much work to be done and we'd all better get started toward it. I trust your affairs need tidying as well, Toraguma...
[ Toraguma, for his part, mostly just rolled his eyes. He'd already spat fire at Ryouma, he wasn't going to rise to Tenkohime's petty baiting at that point... Even if it made him itch. ]
Majima.
[ Just a word to his own second, standing from his seat again and gesturing to the door. ]
Oh, and one last thing, Sakamoto... Tell your boss to give that Strife kid a raise.
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What the hell was that?!!
1/2
hearing toraguma call his name again makes him freeze for an instant though, but he smiles at the request easily. oh, good. ]
I'll see to it! I couldn't agree more!
[ which is the honest truth. cloud deserves it! surely the boss wouldn't object if they haven't already thought of it themselves... ]
Thank you, everyone! You can count on me.
[ he only leans back and slides down in his seat until he's almost horizontal once toraguma and tenkohime have been seen out of the room. he's fine. ]
2/2
[ he lived? ]
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[ Musashi really REALLY needed a drink. ]
Why did you even do that?! That was totally unnecessary!
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[ oh and the part where he couldn't just keep his mouth shut but whatever!! ]
It all worked out, which is all that matters! I'll be off the hook in two months and then I can relax.
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[ Which she should really feel worse about calling him out when she was Just As Bad, but she also knew that was not a great situation for it... ]
Just... please take this seriously, okay? I definitely won't be able to face Ritsuka-kun if was part of what got you killed in this crazy world...
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[ like thinking several steps ahead seriously even though he'd just told himself he needed a break... ]
I need to report back and see to the contracts. Then... let everyone know. [ that'll go over great. ] Then get to work. And get another job... probably.
[ definitely, considering collections will come due in about a week. look at that, it's a second cigarette kind of mood right now because he sure did smoke the first one too quickly to be remotely helpful. ]
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[ Her loyalty was with Tenkohime, sure, but... it was also with Chaldea. ]
At least to make sure you survive this.
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[ she was also in considerable debt for a minute. ]
Otherwise, I think you've more than earned a break. Might as well enjoy it before we get to work cleaning up the mess out there. At least the fighting's stopped and the Kappa will be able to go home.
[ he looks a little proud of himself. ]
And I didn't even bring that up once, see? I listen.
[ barely. ]
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[ Not that Sakamoto had that same unearthly talent for dodging blows that she did, but... ]
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[ he has the loser version of a servant body right now but that probably still counts for something at least?? ]
I'm planning on starting up my own thing around here like I did before anyway. I work for the Alliance but I also like working for myself. Only that's not exactly gonna turn a profit right away—... [ especially if he has seed money to pay back there too. ] ...—so I just gotta find something to float me until then.
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You make it tough to have faith in you, sometimes, Sakamoto-san.
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[ he might be a complete workaholic but he also knows the value of a good, strong team effort. ]
The rest of this is just personal business I have to take care of.