Who ⬤ Azem + FOLKS What ⬤ Catch-all for July, various dates and stuff When ⬤ shortly after Ember 2.0 launch Where ⬤ Around the city Content Warnings ⬤ will update as needed
[ After being told when to drop by and getting directions to Gojyo's apartment, Azem prepared. They have some other stuff to get through first and when they arrive they completely forget they're still using their masculine form. This form looks identical to their feminine form only they're less curvy.
Perhaps they should have mentioned this particular ability to him before now, though it's much too late now.
They ring the bell (or know, whichever is available to announce their arrival) and wait. ]
[At this point the amount of Tamamo Clan Members he had snuck into the Shuten dorms for a hang out date had been laughable. The security staff probably thought something fowl of him as well.
And although some of it was legit, most of the time it was just to chill and have fun. Not his fault that a lot of the Tamamo members knew how to have enjoy themselves more than those of his own group.
But at this point he knew the protocol, making sure to tell Azem to act as sultry as possible and say she was coming in for a 'client' in order to get past staff.
Yeah, security definitely thought the worst of him.
Nonetheless he was more than ready to answer the door when she knocked. Having even gone so far as to have cleaned up his place a little so that it was actually presentable.
So what he wasn't expecting when he opened the door was to see Azem... Not quite looking like Azem?
Well... It looked like Azem. But that frame... And the cut of their jaw... That was a dude... Right?
He knew a dude when he spotted one. His excited expression immediately dropping and replaced with one of cautious confusion.]
[ Sure Azem could have seduced their way in, but they have other ways of sneaking into places. So it wasn't hard for them to just move right past any security without being detected so long as they had someone to tail that could open doors for them. Its a tactic that might have taken a little longer to get up to Gojyo's room, but it did the trick. ]
Huh? [ Azme tilts their head a little, blinding up at him. Their voice is a few octaves deeper in this form, to name another difference. ]
[Oh yeah. He was definitely being fucked with right now. Nice try Azem. He isn't quite sure what you did to pull this off. How you manage to find someone who looked just like you or used some sort of magic or had a secret identical twin who also ended up here or something but he wasn't falling for it.
Wait.... Magic.
There was no way. Was there?
His confused expression only seems to grow more dramatic by the second.]
[ Just the slowest of blinks up at him, confusion clearly etched on Azem's face. ]
What do you mean is it really me? Of course, it is!
[ They motion down to themselves as they glance down and realize what's going on. ]
Oh! Oh, right. [ They laugh and then suddenly their form changes, curves filling out as would be expected of the form he'd met Azem in previously. It happens so quickly it could be missed if he blinked. ]
There, how's that? [ Their voice a few octaves higher than just a moment ago. ]
[Yeah-- That-- That got to him. It didn't matter how used to magic he was, that was not something he had ever run into before and seeing her change right there in front of him just-- Well he was stunned!]
Dude. You can just do that?
[Absolutely stunned.]
Wait. Have you always been able to do that?
[And how many times in his life is he going to end up in a situation that flips his inherent belief of gender on its head? He couldn't take his brain 404-ing this many times over.]
[ Azem bursts into a fit of laughter at his response. It takes her a moment to regain her composure and catch her breath. ]
Haah... Yeah. [ She nods, grinning up at him. ]
It's something I was always able to do back home. It was limited for a little bit, but not I can change whenever and however many times I want. Now if I can just get my other form back.
[ She motions for him to move aside so she can come in. ]
[It was almost immediately that he perked up, quickly stepping to the side to allow them into his little hole-in-the-wall apartment.
It wasn't bad compared to some of the other situations he had heard described. A rolled up futon in the corner of the room, a mini-kitchen with a mini-fridge next to it. Two doors seeming to lead to other rooms, and a window door leading out to a small balcony space. There were also scattered stacks of magazines and a large staff with a blade on each end leaning up with the futon.
But was most important at the moment was the kotatsu in the middle of the room. A deck of cards already sitting face down in the center.]
But seriously, it was really always like that huh? And another form at that...
[Growing up in a world of youkai and magic, he was not unaware of the ability to show alternate, even more powerful forms. In fact that part he was quite used to. It was simply the free changing gender thing that threw him off.]
Oy yeah, you want a drink or something? Got a few snacks from the corner store too if you want that.
[ She chuckles as she moves past him once he steps aside.
She takes a few steps in, leaving enough room for him to shut the door and move past her. It's hard to judge the size of these places, but she feels like he might have got himself more room than she did.
Though her attention is quickly drawn to the weapon. She lets out a soft "ooo"ing sound as she makes her way over to it. Forget cards, tell her about this weapon. ]
Yup. [ She's mildly distracted because oooo shiny sharp weapon. ] My other form is quite handy, you could say.
That sounds good. [ She finally takes her eyes off the weapon and turns back to him. ] So is this what you use?
[Gojyo had already made his way to the fridge to grab two cans of beer when he heard them ask about him 'using' something. His head lifted as he caught them casually hovering around his monks spade with eager curiosity.
It was kind of cute.
He chuckled out with that. Walking over beside Azem as he looked his old friend over alongside them.]
Do you mean Shakujo? Mn, I use her. Not as often these days as I used to. But I guess that's cause I haven't needed to in a place like this.
[As dangerous as Jigoku-Cho could be, it was nothing compared to his previous worlds.]
Shakujo, what a nice name. [ She thinks, anyway. She has no idea what it's supposed to mean. ] I never did name any of my weapons.
[ But her weapons also didn't stick around for long. She always returned them to aether when she was done using them. That's not the case anymore so maybe she should start naming them. ]
Weapons are really interesting, don't you think? They say a lot about the person that uses them. For example, my go-to is a really big axe. [ She motions with her hands to give him an idea of the size. That is a weapon that is nearly as large as herself. ]
Really? An axe huh? Didn't think you to be the type to use such heavy weapons.
[Azem had a fighters build to be certain.
But considering how she had described her world and work he never imagined her to be an active warrior. Was her utopia really in need of people with such skills?]
Nah, used to fight with just my fists for a good long while. But I got her about... I guess four, almost five years ago now? And pretty much stuck with her ever since.
[Not that he could give her up even if he tried. At least, that's how it used to be. It's been different ever since he started world hopping. And yet here he was, still carrying her around.]
You ever consider getting it back? Your axe?
Edited (Azem cronked and can crush him with her thighs (good)) 2022-07-22 20:47 (UTC)
[ She bobs her head in a nod. ] Axe, daggers, and occasionally a cane or, um, staff I suppose. Still, nothing like your Shakujo.
[ She did mention she traveled around to help deal with people's problems, didn't she? Sometimes problems include monsters going on rampages. ]
Ah, fists. A good weapon when lacking others.
[ Though it wasn't until now that she had a reason to be without her trusty weapons. ]
My axe is always with me. [ She grins. ] So long as I have a few items to transform into it. Though back home I used to be able to just draw it from the aether.
[Sure, that may have come off as a sleight out of context. But truthfully, Gojyo was more or less amused by how Azem described it. It was because it felt like they once more shared some strange eerie similarities with how certain things worked between their worlds.
His gaze settled upon the weapon against the wall. His heart dropping with the empty feeling he felt from it.]
I used to be able to do something like that with Shakujo. Our spirits were entwined, so I could call her when I needed it. These days don't feel much of anything, though.
[They used to call it a curse when it first happened. Now life without his extension just felt kind of lonely.]
You created your weapons with the same stuff that pretty much everything in your world was made from, huh?
[He replied, offering one of his signature coy smiles as he held out the beer that he had previously gotten for her.]
First rule of the game. Drink and refreshments ain't mandatory, but they certainly make it all the better.
[With that he turned away, making his way over to the small table and plopping himself down on the floor heavily. Pulling out a carton of cigarettes from his pocket be fore looking up at Azem.]
You mind if I smoke? Know some people are pretty adverse to it.
[ She takes the beer, popping it open before taking a sip. Cans were a mystery to her when she first arrived. She was rather pleased with herself when she figured out the mechanics of it. After which she takes a seat across from him. ]
I see.
[ She would rather prefer that drinks and treats were part of the game. ]
Um, go ahead. [ She's still not used to cigarettes. The smell of them is awful but this is his home, he makes the rules. ]
[Sadly addiction would forever keep its deathly grips upon him. Truthfully, he didn't prefer it any other way. Most of the time he never even bothered to ask people before he lit up. But since he actually wanted Azem to stay around for long enough that he'd manage to teach them a thing or two he thought he'd make an exception. Pulling the zippo lighter and flicking the flint until he managed to get a few good puffs in before starting to deal his hand.]
So poker's one of those games where, the more people you have the better. But it can still absolutely be played between two people. In fact, this may even teach you a few things about dealing and not just playing. ♥
[With that he began to deal five cards face down to both himself and Azem. Smiling as he nodded towards them.]
That'll be your hand. And this--
[He picked up his own hand. Giving a satisfied smile as he looked then over.]
[ Addiction is not something Azem has experience with so she probably wouldn't fully understand it. While they have alcohol and possibly smoke various things back home, it doesn't seem to be the kind of thing that people end up addicted to. ]
Hmmn, I see. [ She can imagine a lot of games like this would probably be more fun with more people. Getting rowdy with food and drink while playing with the cards.
She watches the way he deals out the cards and then picks up his own, keeping them hidden. She does the same as she picks her own cards up, though she has no idea what each is supposed to mean in the case of this game. ]
Okay. [ Her attention is fully focused on him, ready to learn, once she's taken a good look at her cards. ]
All right. So starting off simply, the rule of the game is that you want to have as many of a "kind" as you can. So for example, say you have two twos, or three fours, or four sevens. The more you have of that kind the more points its worth. Also the higher the number it is the more its worth. So say I have two nines.
[With that he placed down two nines on the table before her.]
You would need three of a kind or higher or a pair higher than the nuber nine to beat me.
That makes sense so far?
[Patience. Best not to overwhelm her while introducing her. Soon they'll get to the juicy bits.]
There are a few rounds where you can trade any of the cards in your hand for cards on top of the deck in hopes that you can get something better. And then if you feel like there's no way you're going to win you can always fold early between rounds to cut your loses. Or-
[With that he smirks, tilting his head to the side. Pointing his finger upwards in dramatic explanation.]
If you're feeling that secure that the people that you're playing against aren't doing well either you could always lie in hopes to make them fold instead. Or as we who enjoy the sport like to call it, 'Bluffing'.
Most games have it so that you can draw one card each turn for up to three rounds, but that can also change up depending on the players involved and how they want to play it.
But! Since we're learning the basics here we're gonna keep things nice and simple and keep it to that.
Now, since you're familiar with the base combinations, there are more complicated sets that you can get in your hand that aren't just pairing things up. But those are much harder to get and thus worth even more points. Like, for example, leys say you get a two,three,four,five, and six all in your hand. That's called a straight. That's worth more than a pair, two pairs, or a three of a kind. A flush is the next step higher where all the cards are the same type, like all hearts or all spades. More than that is a full house, where you get both a pair and a three of a kind in one hand. Four of a kind, which is just as it sounds, beats all that. Second highest you can get is a straight flush which is all cards in a row and all the same type to boot. And the grandaddy of them all, the highest ranking set, is the royal flush: where you get a ten, jack, queen, king, and ace all of the same type in the same hand.
[He paused, doing everything he could to keep from smirking at the sudden influx of information. There was always something fun about dumping info about all the different types of hands onto newbies.]
That the pictured cards that look like royalty and the card that has a letter "A" on it.
So.... You got all that? Or do ya want me to write ya up a guide for these first few rounds so you remember?
Edited (Forgot some useful words) 2022-08-16 23:44 (UTC)
[ That is a lot to take in all at once. Azem listens closely, trying to absorb it all. More questions pop up in their mind. ]
So is three of a kind are worth more than two?
[ They squint down at their cards, still trying to parse all of the information. They definitely don't have any of those other combinations he rattled off. ]
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for Sha Gojyo
Perhaps they should have mentioned this particular ability to him before now, though it's much too late now.
They ring the bell (or know, whichever is available to announce their arrival) and wait. ]
no subject
And although some of it was legit, most of the time it was just to chill and have fun. Not his fault that a lot of the Tamamo members knew how to have enjoy themselves more than those of his own group.
But at this point he knew the protocol, making sure to tell Azem to act as sultry as possible and say she was coming in for a 'client' in order to get past staff.
Yeah, security definitely thought the worst of him.
Nonetheless he was more than ready to answer the door when she knocked. Having even gone so far as to have cleaned up his place a little so that it was actually presentable.
So what he wasn't expecting when he opened the door was to see Azem... Not quite looking like Azem?
Well... It looked like Azem. But that frame... And the cut of their jaw... That was a dude... Right?
He knew a dude when he spotted one. His excited expression immediately dropping and replaced with one of cautious confusion.]
Eh?
[.... Was this some sort of practical joke?]
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Huh? [ Azme tilts their head a little, blinding up at him. Their voice is a few octaves deeper in this form, to name another difference. ]
Did you change your mind about inviting me over?
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[Oh yeah. He was definitely being fucked with right now. Nice try Azem. He isn't quite sure what you did to pull this off. How you manage to find someone who looked just like you or used some sort of magic or had a secret identical twin who also ended up here or something but he wasn't falling for it.
Wait.... Magic.
There was no way. Was there?
His confused expression only seems to grow more dramatic by the second.]
.... Azem?
That's really you?
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What do you mean is it really me? Of course, it is!
[ They motion down to themselves as they glance down and realize what's going on. ]
Oh! Oh, right. [ They laugh and then suddenly their form changes, curves filling out as would be expected of the form he'd met Azem in previously. It happens so quickly it could be missed if he blinked. ]
There, how's that? [ Their voice a few octaves higher than just a moment ago. ]
no subject
EEeeeehhHHH!?!
[Yeah-- That-- That got to him. It didn't matter how used to magic he was, that was not something he had ever run into before and seeing her change right there in front of him just-- Well he was stunned!]
Dude. You can just do that?
[Absolutely stunned.]
Wait. Have you always been able to do that?
[And how many times in his life is he going to end up in a situation that flips his inherent belief of gender on its head? He couldn't take his brain 404-ing this many times over.]
no subject
Haah... Yeah. [ She nods, grinning up at him. ]
It's something I was always able to do back home. It was limited for a little bit, but not I can change whenever and however many times I want. Now if I can just get my other form back.
[ She motions for him to move aside so she can come in. ]
Am I to just stay in the hall all day?
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[It was almost immediately that he perked up, quickly stepping to the side to allow them into his little hole-in-the-wall apartment.
It wasn't bad compared to some of the other situations he had heard described. A rolled up futon in the corner of the room, a mini-kitchen with a mini-fridge next to it. Two doors seeming to lead to other rooms, and a window door leading out to a small balcony space. There were also scattered stacks of magazines and a large staff with a blade on each end leaning up with the futon.
But was most important at the moment was the kotatsu in the middle of the room. A deck of cards already sitting face down in the center.]
But seriously, it was really always like that huh? And another form at that...
[Growing up in a world of youkai and magic, he was not unaware of the ability to show alternate, even more powerful forms. In fact that part he was quite used to. It was simply the free changing gender thing that threw him off.]
Oy yeah, you want a drink or something? Got a few snacks from the corner store too if you want that.
no subject
She takes a few steps in, leaving enough room for him to shut the door and move past her. It's hard to judge the size of these places, but she feels like he might have got himself more room than she did.
Though her attention is quickly drawn to the weapon. She lets out a soft "ooo"ing sound as she makes her way over to it. Forget cards, tell her about this weapon. ]
Yup. [ She's mildly distracted because oooo shiny sharp weapon. ] My other form is quite handy, you could say.
That sounds good. [ She finally takes her eyes off the weapon and turns back to him. ] So is this what you use?
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[Gojyo had already made his way to the fridge to grab two cans of beer when he heard them ask about him 'using' something. His head lifted as he caught them casually hovering around his monks spade with eager curiosity.
It was kind of cute.
He chuckled out with that. Walking over beside Azem as he looked his old friend over alongside them.]
Do you mean Shakujo? Mn, I use her. Not as often these days as I used to. But I guess that's cause I haven't needed to in a place like this.
[As dangerous as Jigoku-Cho could be, it was nothing compared to his previous worlds.]
Why? Are you interested in these sorts of things?
no subject
[ But her weapons also didn't stick around for long. She always returned them to aether when she was done using them. That's not the case anymore so maybe she should start naming them. ]
Weapons are really interesting, don't you think? They say a lot about the person that uses them. For example, my go-to is a really big axe. [ She motions with her hands to give him an idea of the size. That is a weapon that is nearly as large as herself. ]
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[Azem had a fighters build to be certain.
But considering how she had described her world and work he never imagined her to be an active warrior. Was her utopia really in need of people with such skills?]
Nah, used to fight with just my fists for a good long while. But I got her about... I guess four, almost five years ago now? And pretty much stuck with her ever since.
[Not that he could give her up even if he tried. At least, that's how it used to be. It's been different ever since he started world hopping. And yet here he was, still carrying her around.]
You ever consider getting it back? Your axe?
no subject
[ She did mention she traveled around to help deal with people's problems, didn't she? Sometimes problems include monsters going on rampages. ]
Ah, fists. A good weapon when lacking others.
[ Though it wasn't until now that she had a reason to be without her trusty weapons. ]
My axe is always with me. [ She grins. ] So long as I have a few items to transform into it. Though back home I used to be able to just draw it from the aether.
no subject
[Sure, that may have come off as a sleight out of context. But truthfully, Gojyo was more or less amused by how Azem described it. It was because it felt like they once more shared some strange eerie similarities with how certain things worked between their worlds.
His gaze settled upon the weapon against the wall. His heart dropping with the empty feeling he felt from it.]
I used to be able to do something like that with Shakujo. Our spirits were entwined, so I could call her when I needed it. These days don't feel much of anything, though.
[They used to call it a curse when it first happened. Now life without his extension just felt kind of lonely.]
You created your weapons with the same stuff that pretty much everything in your world was made from, huh?
no subject
Ah, yes I suppose it is similar to that. Though I can't say there was anything to really feel even if the weapon was made from my own aether before.
[ Her attention returns to him once more. ]
Anyroad, I believe you had snacks and drinks and a game to teach me.
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[He replied, offering one of his signature coy smiles as he held out the beer that he had previously gotten for her.]
First rule of the game. Drink and refreshments ain't mandatory, but they certainly make it all the better.
[With that he turned away, making his way over to the small table and plopping himself down on the floor heavily. Pulling out a carton of cigarettes from his pocket be fore looking up at Azem.]
You mind if I smoke? Know some people are pretty adverse to it.
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I see.
[ She would rather prefer that drinks and treats were part of the game. ]
Um, go ahead. [ She's still not used to cigarettes. The smell of them is awful but this is his home, he makes the rules. ]
no subject
[Sadly addiction would forever keep its deathly grips upon him. Truthfully, he didn't prefer it any other way. Most of the time he never even bothered to ask people before he lit up. But since he actually wanted Azem to stay around for long enough that he'd manage to teach them a thing or two he thought he'd make an exception. Pulling the zippo lighter and flicking the flint until he managed to get a few good puffs in before starting to deal his hand.]
So poker's one of those games where, the more people you have the better. But it can still absolutely be played between two people. In fact, this may even teach you a few things about dealing and not just playing. ♥
[With that he began to deal five cards face down to both himself and Azem. Smiling as he nodded towards them.]
That'll be your hand. And this--
[He picked up his own hand. Giving a satisfied smile as he looked then over.]
Will be mine. Feel free to look.
I'll describe what we do after that.
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Hmmn, I see. [ She can imagine a lot of games like this would probably be more fun with more people. Getting rowdy with food and drink while playing with the cards.
She watches the way he deals out the cards and then picks up his own, keeping them hidden. She does the same as she picks her own cards up, though she has no idea what each is supposed to mean in the case of this game. ]
Okay. [ Her attention is fully focused on him, ready to learn, once she's taken a good look at her cards. ]
no subject
[With that he placed down two nines on the table before her.]
You would need three of a kind or higher or a pair higher than the nuber nine to beat me.
That makes sense so far?
[Patience. Best not to overwhelm her while introducing her. Soon they'll get to the juicy bits.]
no subject
I see.
And if I don't have any that match up or are higher than what you put out then I lose?
[ She frowns, brow furrowing a little. ]
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There are a few rounds where you can trade any of the cards in your hand for cards on top of the deck in hopes that you can get something better. And then if you feel like there's no way you're going to win you can always fold early between rounds to cut your loses. Or-
[With that he smirks, tilting his head to the side. Pointing his finger upwards in dramatic explanation.]
If you're feeling that secure that the people that you're playing against aren't doing well either you could always lie in hopes to make them fold instead. Or as we who enjoy the sport like to call it, 'Bluffing'.
no subject
[ This may or may not be similar to a game Azem has played back home. Though they aren't sure how long those similarities will last. ]
Bluffing, huh? That is something I am familiar with, at least.
no subject
But! Since we're learning the basics here we're gonna keep things nice and simple and keep it to that.
Now, since you're familiar with the base combinations, there are more complicated sets that you can get in your hand that aren't just pairing things up. But those are much harder to get and thus worth even more points. Like, for example, leys say you get a two,three,four,five, and six all in your hand. That's called a straight. That's worth more than a pair, two pairs, or a three of a kind. A flush is the next step higher where all the cards are the same type, like all hearts or all spades. More than that is a full house, where you get both a pair and a three of a kind in one hand. Four of a kind, which is just as it sounds, beats all that. Second highest you can get is a straight flush which is all cards in a row and all the same type to boot. And the grandaddy of them all, the highest ranking set, is the royal flush: where you get a ten, jack, queen, king, and ace all of the same type in the same hand.
[He paused, doing everything he could to keep from smirking at the sudden influx of information. There was always something fun about dumping info about all the different types of hands onto newbies.]
That the pictured cards that look like royalty and the card that has a letter "A" on it.
So.... You got all that? Or do ya want me to write ya up a guide for these first few rounds so you remember?
no subject
So is three of a kind are worth more than two?
[ They squint down at their cards, still trying to parse all of the information. They definitely don't have any of those other combinations he rattled off. ]
I might need a guide, yes.
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