(open) you're the best, i love you the most

[socute]

Who ⬤ Totoko & you!
What ⬤ catch all for the month, substories, etc
When ⬤ July!
Where ⬤ places that become 100% cuter once totoko shows up
Content Warnings ⬤ mr. libido is his own warning (also currently references to drug usage, most likely)


let's be cool for the summer

totoko yowai catch-all for july
open/closed prompts, event stuff, personalized ic mingle threads?
cr meme comment here
if you have any potential ideas feel free to TL, i'll match prose or [ brackets ]
let's get it, totoko-chan

Comments

[ganashara]

Surprisingly? Not at all. If you know where to look, you can find a lot of otherwise good bikes that just need some TLC to get back into running shape, and they're dirt cheap.

[ It was how he got buy in his own time, before he learned to build his own with his flame constructs. It wasn't like money came easily to a burnish runaway... ]

So there's a ton of bars in this district. I figure you could roll the die and pick whichever has a sign you like most.

[socute]

Wow, dashing and frugal!

[ It fooled her! You have to treat every penny as if it's a dollar, even though she'd rather be spending 20s as if they're nickels. Duality. ]

Hmmm... oh, this one?

[ There's one with a more flowery and pink sign, it looks run of the mill otherwise? ]

It might be cute.

[ganashara]

"Hell Angel"... Sounds like it could be rough, despite the cute font.

[ He had no clue. ]

Just stick with me if it looks rough, alright?

[ He was the first to open the door and... found himself immediately realizing something as he stepped in.

The bartender, the "mama", was... The hostess was, too. The few other customers... ]

Ah. We'll probably be fine, actually.

[socute]

[ ...huh?

Totoko had already decided to latch onto Lio's waist before she got her own glance at the bar itself. Looking from all of the patrons to those working... ]

Wow.

[ A moment passes... and she lets go. ]

It's a... lot more different than I thought it'd be. [ A small pause... ] Oh, not that it's bad?

[ganashara]

"Lesbians?" [ The hostess murmured, quickly corrected by the mama. ]

"The blonde is obviously a guy, honey, don't be rude. Come on in, honeys, what can I getcha?"

[ Lio made his way to the bar, sliding into a seat and feeling just a bit out of his element. He'd... never actually been in a bar like this. It was interesting, to say the least. ]

Wild turkey, on the rocks.

And I'll pay for whatever she's having.

[socute]

[ "Lesbians", she says! Maybe that's just evidence of how cute her date for the night is. Though Mama's correct in this case...

This really was her chance to order something she'd never had before, and will probably never have again... he was paying, so she could ask for anything, right?

... ]

Kinkuro, please.

[ Maybe next time. ]

[ganashara]

[ Lio fortunately didn't know enouch about sochu to know just what she'd ordered. The Mama, of course, only barely chuckled before just nodding and turning to get their drinks ready. Saved by one's ignorance and another's discretion, Totoko. ]

So tell me a bit about yourself. You said you're with the Alliance, right?

[socute]

[ Phew. He didn't comment on it-- so far, so good. Sighing, she lightly swirls her finger at the counter. ]

Mm. I don't really get it, but it sounds like I'm supposed to just listen in on everyone. Which is fine, but I don't know what's super important right now to listen for. I didn't do anything like this back home, I was just a cute girl trying to make it in the world.

[ganashara]

The Alliance, as far as I know, holds their position not through strength or cunning, but just playing good tactics.

[ The Mama, serving their drinks, nods in agreement. ]

"Back when this was a Shuten Bar, we had better protection, but the business wasn't growing. An Alliance officer helped us get into flyers for the local queer community."

[ Lio took his drink, humming as he had a sip. ]

I may be with the Shuten Clan, but even I'll admit our methods are more of a blunt instrument than anything with precision, like that...

[socute]

Oh, that makes sense! I mean... you could muscle in on other bars to shut them down, but then that'd just cause a lot of problems.

[ Which is truthfully, a tactic she'd have used. Screw them, crush everyone in your way to get your way... but, it wasn't that simple with gangs. Totoko glances down at her drink before taking a sip--

...not bad! ]

Mm, and since this bar's kind of niche... flyers and word of mouth would've been the way to go. The problem with something small's that if no one knows that it's there, then no one'll go to see it, right?

[ ...okay, so that second sip may be a bit longer than the first. ]

[ganashara]

[ Yeah, he definitely didn't miss the way she put that... ]

You have experience, with running small businesses?

[socute]

Hm? Oh, no no, nothing like that... I uh... work in entertainment. I'm an underground idol.

[ Very, very, underground. ]

[ganashara]

[ The host, the Mama, and Lio all leaned in at that, curious look on all of their faces. ]

What's an underground idol?

[socute]

[ Totoko freezes for a second with an "eh?"

...this was way too much power for her to wield. ]

Oh, so... there are idols who are signed to major labels and get to be a part of the corporate idol scene, right? Like, they're put in a band or a unit and have to travel around and everything?

An underground idol is kind of like that, but not signed yet. They're trying to make it by getting noticed! So that's where I am right now, haha...

[ Close, but she doesn't need to bring up the fact that she's... wildly unpopular. ]

[ganashara]

"An independent idol, huh?"

[ The mama let out a thoughtful hum, rubbing at their chin. Lio, of course, was completely sincere in what he said next... ]

That must mean you have to work a lot harder, without all of the usual support networks in place...

[socute]

Yeah... sometimes, way too hard.

[ She goes right ahead and... finishes her glass. Sighing. ]

Actually, recently... I formed a unit with a f... rival of mine. She's a little younger than me, but she's already further ahead than I am. I've been trying to catch up to her for a little bit, but then I wound up here... so, I guess I have to work harder here too.

[ganashara]

"Oh honey, don't I know all about that. Here, consider your drink on the house."

[ But not Lio's. He was pretty, but not near pitiful enough. Just his luck, but it was fine. Honestly, he was smiling, giving Totoko a gentle pat on the back. ]

Hey, willingness to work with a rival just shows you're resiliant. You'll do fine here, I'm sure. And you'll catch up to them once your contract's up.

[socute]

Mm. Thank you.

[ If she can milk it, she will... even if it's closer to the truth than she'd care to admit. The patting was nice though... leading to her to lean on him just slightly. ]

If I can't, I don't know what I'll do. Will I have to work for this Alliance forever?

[ganashara]

The Alliance has a lot of music clubs and theatres, right? Maybe you could get work as a performer. That way you won't lose step with what you intend to do back home.

[ That made sense to Lio, at least. In truth, it all seemed so much smaller than what he was facing back home, but he couldn't let himself get stuck on just that. Maybe it was small to him, but it was obvious from Totoko's tone, her posture, that her success as an idol meant the world to her.

At least that's what it seemed like. ]

[socute]

...Do they even let humans on stage around here?

[ Ah, she bows her head. ]

Sorry, I mean... is it common for humans to be on stage here?

[ Probably shouldn't say "they" as if there weren't youkai in earshot. ]

[ganashara]

[ The Mama chuckled, shaking their head. ]

"Honey, trust me, in the Alliance, eve humans have a place. I dated a human, ages back."

[ Huh... Humans besides Lost Souls existed in the city, then? Lio had to admit, he'd largely been assuming things on his part. But since visually not all youkai looked any different from humans, that assumption felt a bit silly on his part, in retrospect... ]

I guess that answers that... in the Shuten Clan, we humans have to work a little harder to get respect...

[socute]

Hmmm... that doesn't seem fair. Is that because humans aren't as strong as oni? They seem like they really like strong folks.

[ But, that's rare? Totoko could probably punch a demon, but that's more context sensitive than anything. ]

Well, you can have mine. I'm not a bigwig yet... but when I make it big, I'll be sure to remember you!