(semi-open) hello stranger

[softshoes]

Who ⬤ Yujin Mikotoba & friends, old and new
What ⬤ Closed & open substory, mingle, & mini-event prompts
When ⬤ July
Where ⬤ Around Jigoku-cho
Content Warnings ⬤ n/a for now
Notes ⬤ spoilers marked, please see Mikotoba's spoiler opt-out; if you'd like a custom starter / want to wildcard hmu via PM or at smithsyndicate!

Comments

[softshoes]

Oh!

[He's surprised by Cain, but manages to pull back the shock enough to not make a strong movement. Undisturbed, the magpies simply ruffle their feathers and continue strolling through a large flower box. If the birds realize they've got company, the earrings and Mikotoba's tie clip will be lost.]

Yes. They do seem to have an affinity for... shiny things.

[He turns his eyes meaningfully towards the birds. The one with Cain's earrings in its beak stretches its wings, perched right beside the one hanging onto Mikotoba's tie clip.]

How are your reflexes, man?

[himbosupreme]

[It seems they were united in their quest. The birds just sat there peacefully, unaware of Cain's intense stare.]

It's a bit more tricky without my magic, but I'd say I got really good reflexes.

[The sword on his belt said it all-and he wasn't even a defense lawyer.]

You think we should jump them?

[softshoes]

[Another magician, eh? He's beginning to think he's the only normal human being in hell. But more importantly: the birds.]

Jump them?

[Oh dear. He catches sight of the sword and frowns slightly.]

Are you planning to just grab them with your bare hands? Or to attack them? It might be a good idea to avoid the latter.

[Or both of them, actually. He can't see grabbing a magpie out of the air ending well either.]

[himbosupreme]

[He probably was, though Cain didn't really care about any of that in the moment. Earrings first, then talking to nice humans. However, he's glancing over at Yujin, confused.]

Attack them? No, I mean I was just gonna try and sneak up and you know-

[Cain makes a grabbing gesture. It wasn't...an amazing plan, but they didn't cover thieving birds in military strategy.]

[softshoes]

[It's not like they've got anything to catch the magpies in, either. Mikotoba makes a slightly bleak face, then shakes his head.]

I suppose we haven't got a choice.

[So here they are, ready to literally go grab a couple of birds off the street. One of the magpies-- the one holding Cain's earrings-- turns in his direction, cocking its head inquisitively.]

We'll have to do it at the same time, lest we scare the other man's prey away. On three?

[himbosupreme]

[It's fine. It's surely no less ridiculous than some of Herlock's shenanigans throughout their storied career. But Cain nodded-they would have to strike as one. He was good at teamwork-what could go wrong?]

Yeah. Okay so just a moment....three, two, one, go!!

[Cain himself shot out at the speed of a highly trained soldier, pouncing on the bird and grabbing it by its fat body. Almost immediately the thing started screeched and hitting him with its wings, causing him to almost lose grip and fall backwards.

He wasn't going to let the bastard get away with this, though. Even with the thing scratching up his face, Cain held on until the earrings were dropped on top of him, and he let the bird go. Hopefully Yujin fared better...]

[softshoes]

Wait, wait, a slower count, please--

[WELP, Cain is already going, so Mikotoba's hand is forced too. Although he's slower than Cain, he's just a bit more balanced on the landing-- unfortunately, all that flapping and screeching from its companion has already alerted the other pigeon to the ambush. It squawks and flutters away into a nearby tree, Mikotoba's tie clip still in tow.]

Oh, dear.

[But that can wait for another second. Poor Cain's gotten his earrings back, but at what cost... with one concerned glance over his shoulder at the bird, he turns his attentions back to the other man.]

Are you quite all right? That magpie wasn't very pleased with your handling.

[himbosupreme]

[Oh...well now he felt rather silly and mean, seeing the other man's bird up in the tree. The slices on his face stung, but it was nothing more than distracting, so he nodded.]

Yeah, I'm fine. That bird was a little more aggressive than I took it credit for. But-oh, I'm sorry...that one in the tree still has your clip, doesn't it?

[He's getting up off the ground and brushing himself off, now racking his 0 brain cells for a solution.]

We gotta get it out of the tree, or it can just easily fly away.