jigokulogs | [closed] blue sea moon / july catchall

I happen to have the same orders.

[ There is one piece of glittering stardust and two of them on a street somewhere between Sutoku and Shuten turf, which is how this little staredown started. Yuri stands in Felix's way, an arm resting on the hilt of his sword. Yes, he's carrying it around again after the cursed night necessitated it, and because he knows this stretch of town is especially dangerous. ]

We could roll a dice, how about that?

Of course you do.

[ Felix has complained and mentioned the fact that he hardly cares about the demons here, for certain indicating his lack of like for being roped into the situation in such a rude manner. But the fact of the matter is that Felix has something to gain in giving his best effort in the missions.

And that is something he has never forgotten. His eyes are constantly on the prize—a ticket out of here, along with what he is looking to claim in the end. ]

Hmph. Do you really think rolling some dice will be something I'd consider satisfactory?

...Face me down in a bout for it, Yuri. That is, if you're no coward.

[ His hand rests on the hilt of his blade, tilting his head in challenge towards the other man, ostensibly ready to go. ]

[ Yuri doesn't see anything not to be satisfied about with a dice toss. It's quicker, painless, and he has two loaded dice that can roll low or high. He knows how stubborn Felix can be, though. ]

Everything's a fight with you. Fine, fine.

[ So he acquiesces with a drawn-out sigh, making a show of unsheathing his sword lazily only to dart forward with surprising speed, going not for Felix but to snatch up the stardust first. No one said it had to be an honorable bout. ]

[ An amused scoff escapes Felix when Yuri concedes, or perhaps that is him on his way to being emotionally geared up for the fight. Either way, he's watching the man closely, not the type to easily let his guard down...more thanks to how this place gets.

He will also not underestimate any opponent he so happens to be facing. Which turns out to be the right choice, given the fact the other male attempts to pull a fast one on him. But, in a flash, he's unsheathed his blade, stepping forward to not only intercept Yuri's attempt at grabbing up the stardust by bodily blocking it, but also bringing up his sword in a swing towards the other male's front all the while.

A potential dangerous blow, but Felix anticipates Yuri has the skill to face him properly, so... ]

Heh! Trust you to try to pull something so underhanded. You're going to need to think twice if you believe I'll allow you to do what you please so easily.

[ ...And he really does want this fight.

It will definitely be over far sooner if Yuri snatches up the stardust! ]

[ So much for snatching the stardust quickly. Because Yuri is not eager to impale himself on Felix's blade, he digs his soles in to slow his momentum, bringing his own sword up to receive the blow and even using the force of his charge to try and push Felix back. He had been counting on the element of surprise, because he's certain in a straight-up sword fight, Felix is the better trained of the two of them. ]

Sorry to say this won't be one of your knightly duels.

[ His leg sweeps out attempting to trip the other swordsman. ]

[ In a sketchier corner of town where gangs loiter, the sounds of a scuffle can be heard. Shouting, then clanging, then grunts of pain and more shouting. Yuri comes darting out of an alleyway with a pouch that glitters when the light catches it at an angle. In typical Jigoku-cho fashion, a dispute over the stardust had come down to throwing hands.

Glancing around for a hiding place to shake off his pursuers, he finds he's not alone on the street. ]

If anyone asks, you didn't see me.

[ He tells the woman, crouching down to pull open the lid of a manhole cover and intending to slip underground. ]

[ Felix, in the meanwhile, is more than glad enough to see that the other has more than a passing skill in the blade and that him wearing it truly isn't for show. Though, he shifts his weight, holding on his own so he isn't easily pushed back. ]

As if I care for a duel being overly knightly—

[ The leg sweep comes his way, causing him to go down—but briefly—and he kicks his legs out before leaping back to his feet, hoping to either get Yuri to leap back or knock him off-balance in return. ]

Pffft, that's right, how could I forget. You do so love to be contrarian, Felix Fraldarius.

[ No courtesies, no making nice, not a courtly bone in his body for the son of a knight. Honestly, Felix is like no noble Yuri has dealt with before.

Yuri manages to step back to avoid being kicked, and now he's going to...be annoying and continue playing a little game of dodge in trying to sidestep Felix's next attacks. ]

[All she wanted to do was explore her new founded setting. She wasn't used to this place at all, so she doesn't realize that she's in a sketchy part of town. That is, until she hears a commotion adjacent to her, and it catches her attention. Her eyes catching wind of the boy who runs just beside her.

He looks like he's in trouble, more or less, and she walks toward the area where he's crouch in an attempt to open up the manhole. She can only put two and two together, honestly, given the commotion just minutes ago, as well as what was in his hand. An all too familiar situation for her, given her time with her more... Questionable students.]

Are you in some sort of trouble, kid? I can help you, you know.

[She eyes the pouch that's in his hand, before they trail to Yuri.]

You probably shouldn't steal.

[ He's rude, he's grace, he'll get in everybody's face— ]

There's no point in pretending to be something I'm not.

[ Which seems to indicate he's kind of proud about this. He has no interest in subscribing to the usual expectations of a noble. Some might call it a rebellious stage, but he is who he is for certain reasons, and that is that.

In the meanwhile, Felix is focused even as he talks, letting out an annoyed huff as the other male engages in a little play of dodging. ]

It'd be for the best you don't forget it. Unless you're looking to be caught off-guard at the worst possible moment.

Rest assured, I know better than to underestimate my opponents.

[ He wouldn't have survived this long if he were careless! It helps that his swordsmanship isn't terrible, either. Yuri holds his form even as he dances around Felix. ]

It's a shame, really. You have a striking face. A little charm could win you plenty of battles that you can't win with a blade.

[ He looks at her when she offers to help, a brief, scrutinizing look before his attention snaps back to the ground. ]

Kindly tell them you saw me run the other way, and then I suggest you make yourself scarce on these streets.

[ Getting in trouble with gangs is just a day in the life for him, which is why he doesn't see the need to involve a bystander except to ask for her ignorance. Yuri pries the cover open and slips in to hide.

As for stealing, while he will neither admit to nor reject her claim, his pursuers round the corner with the most awful timing, clamoring about catching a 'thief.' ]

Hmph. And yet, you clearly thought I was about to fall for that trick of yours earlier on. You're fortunate you have adequate skill with a blade.

[ Enough for him to say so, though of course the way he states such a compliment comes off as brusque and rude-sounding, he definitely is acknowledging Yuri's talent in swordplay.

That being said, that sure is a compliment sent his way. He refuses to allow it to fluster him to distraction, focusing on Yuri's stance and form—an idle thought comes along that they've been long overdue for a proper spar seeing how well the other male is carrying himself. ]

As if I need 'a little charm'. I get by just fine without it.

It does help I don't get foolishly distracted by shallow praise.

Here's the deal. We've got a lead on the smugglers the Alliance is chasing down. All it took was dangling some tech useful to their business on the black market to draw them out. Now what we have to do is tail our man, see who he's making contact with, and follow them to their supply line.

[ After introductions are over with, Yuri briefs his fellow Alliance members while they wait for their target who has ducked into a nearby store to purchase a smoke. ]

One more thing. No one likes a gang of Sutoku snooping around. We're on Shuten turf, so let's try to pass as one of them. I've brought local fits.

[ Saying this, he passes Hu Tao a bag. Inside, she'll find animal-print jackets. As for Soundwave... Yuri looks him over, not having accounted for a non-human accomplice. Though it helps he's naturally the toughest looking of the three of them. ]

You, my friend, may have to just act the part.

[Who would've thought that Soundwave would be taking orders from a human and them being his superiors. Thankfully he had already let go of his bias against organics years ago, so he isn't upset about this and was willing to work with them. Plus, he already knew Hu Tao during the festival, so it helped a bit.

He watches Yuri handing the bag over to Hu Tao, before turning his head towards him and giving a nod.]

I can do that. I have observed the Shuten Clan's behavior.

[At least the typical ones. While he doesn't fashioned himself as gaudy, it does help that he's a towering ten foot tall mech with a naturally intimidating appearance.]

[Honestly, she doesn't like the feeling of this, and it's really all too familiar. She doesn't have time to question him, however, when she suddenly hears his pursuers close to them now. Her eyes luckily no where close to the grate that he just escaped from, which made it easier for her to lie.

This was certainly familiar. She had to do this before, to the students who fell into a life of crime. So it was easy, and almost natural to feign ignorance with that all too calm voice.]

Maybe try the other way. No one here but little ol' me, and I'm certainly not a thief~

[They take her words to heart, luckily, for both their sakes, and they run off into another direction. Marie watching quietly to ensure they're nowhere near them now. Eyes slowly turning toward the grate on the floor, and walking toward that general direction. Easily lifting it up, and actually following him down below.]

Hey kid. Are you... A student by chance?

[ Underground, Yuri hears the footsteps above come to a halt and the woman saying something, then another storm of footsteps as his pursuers chase the false lead.

He's about to slip away through the sewer when the stranger comes climbing down after him. It's so unexpected that he actually stops in his tracks, turning his head back to regard her with wariness and disbelief. ]

You see any schools around here? [ For youkai, maybe there were, but he's pretty sure every Lost Soul signed a contract about working for a faction. ] If this is about the stardust, it didn't 'belong' to anyone. We had a little dispute over who came across it first, that's all.

[There's a pointed stare at him, but she tries her best not to scare him off, or come off as an enemy. That was the last thing that she wanted, especially because she just wanted to help. That natural instinct to be maternal a bit too strong, but still. He was obviously young, and again, she just wanted to help.]

That's not what I meant. Back home... Are you a student?

[Their voices echo a bit too loudly in the sewer, but she pays no mind as she takes a slow step forward. His pursers were long gone, and even if they heard them, she would defend him, despite. Well. Him being a 'thief'.]

I mean, that's fine if there was a dispute about it and all, you look like you can take care of yourself, but... I guess you just remind me of some of my students. I just want to make sure you're alright.

Oh, I know my way around a sword. You think I could have gotten where I've gotten with looks alone?

[ Good on Felix for staying focused because Yuri was definitely trying to fluster him. Flirting with your opponent is a valid strategy, right? This time, instead of dodging he catches Felix's blade, locking swords and meeting the other's gaze. ]

Mm-hmm, you're certainly 'fine' enough without it.

I doubt it.

[ And so their blades clash! He doesn't look away. Not when they're in battle. But...

His face starts to slowly turn red into what is definitely a full-on blush because apparently he's not immune to Yuri's flirting in entirely even if he refuses to get distracted. ]

It sounds like you're far more focused on stupidly running your mouth than fighting!

[ Felix pulls back briefly before pushing forward with a strong swing—this time putting effort behind an attempt to knock the other male's blade from his hands. ]

I'm fighting with all the means I have.

[ It might seem like he's messing around, but Yuri has taken the spar seriously from the beginning. Maybe Felix doesn't consider words to be a weapon, but Yuri won't rule out anything he can use to his advantage. Though he doesn't even have time to tease Felix for his reaction because here comes a blow that doesn't look fun to be on the receiving end of.

Yuri staggers back from the force, dropping his sword with a clatter, but the next second, he's pulled out a hidden a dagger that he throws at Felix in one fluid motion. Like he's said. Any means necessary. ]

Me. Remind you of your students? Must be one wretched class you're teaching.

[ He might not have set foot in a proper classroom for years now, but he won't pretend any self-respecting student should follow his example. Anyway, his schoolboy days are over. It figures he wouldn't have lasted in that fancy rich kid's academy. ]

If you must know, I'm not a student. So let's spare both of us time and skip the lecture.

[ Because that's what this is about, isn't it? Her offer to help is met with suspicion. ]

[ There's always some sort of ... adrenaline rush whenever he's fighting with someone who holds at least some kind of skill. That remains the case where Yuri is concerned, most definitely.

Though, it's also a good feeling to know when his skill lands as planned in a fight like this, and when the other male drops the sword, Felix finds himself feeling that is going to be that. But, it appears that Yuri has something else up his sleeve—perhaps literally—with the sudden movement. ]

[ Felix reacts quickly, perhaps better than most—and the next moment happens in an instant. He seems to move forward, seeming to maybe evade the dagger entirely that's been flung at him, with some expertly timed footwork.

Though, he points the sword, should he manage to get close enough to Yuri successfully, directly at his throat (but not striking), stating— ]

Hmph. It's time for you to yield, Yuri.

[ —but it should be obvious from one side of his cheek there is a line of red. Not from a mere irritant. It is from the cut borne from the dagger that had been thrown at him, so it's clear he hasn't exactly gotten out of the momentum entirely unscathed. He is just going to ignore the way the bit of blood dribbles down it. ]

[closed] blue sea moon / july catchall

@ felix

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@marie

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@hu tao & soundwave

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