(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

⚔️ kazuma (gaa2 spoilers)

[softshoes]

[Shuten's Celestial Phoenix, as always, bustles with activity, light, and noise. Much as the sights and sounds of a modern-day casino are new to Mikotoba, the type of clientele this place sees-- high-rollers, criminals, thugs-- isn't. It's nostalgic, actually: all those years at Sholmes' heels, tailing and tracking London's worst, rise to the forefront of his mind as he slips through the establishment's doors.

It's in the imagined shoes of his ten-years-younger self, then, that Mikotoba makes his way through the Phoenix. The man, in a sharp modern suit borrowed from the Sutoku closet, looks just like any another gambler with deep pockets... though his wallet's thinner than it's been in years. The look, at least, is utterly effective. With enough carefully-placed laughter and small talk, it even lands him entrance to a VIP area. One with booths. Booths potentially occupied by people looking for yet another hit of Stardust.

Mikotoba should be worried about how easy this has been. He's spent less than 5000 yen simply throwing games and flattering the correct people; he's even scored a free drink from a flirty bakeneko woman, which he's nursing in a lowball glass at the VIP bar. At this very moment, though, he's just a little buzzed-- on the whisky and the thrill of actually doing something right. (Maybe he's cut out for Sutoku intelligence work after all: who'd've thought?)

Behind him, a small group of youkai settle into one of the booths. They're just a little too far from the bar for him to make out; he's got to get closer. And find an excuse to be closer, too. With a sidelong glance over his shoulder, Mikotoba polishes off his glass, nods to the bartender, and stands, plotting his next move.]

[karumic]

[Kazuma is not exactly VIP status himself, but as a member of the Shuten clan he's at least able to come and go in their own casinos, even if he's only a "trainee" bouncer. For the most part, he doesn't care what the patrons are up to. He finds the whole operation rather distasteful, really, but there's that saying about desperate times, and he needs to work with the Shuten if he wants to pay off his contract. So work with him he does.

If it were any other person he'd recognized as belonging to another faction, Kazuma might simply let them be, to whatever unfortunate end they'd take themselves to. He isn't loyal to the Shuten and nobody can prove he'd seen anything untoward. But this one, Kazuma owes, and he's playing a very dangerous game.

He slides into the seat next to Mikotoba before the man can get up and make his presence a little more conspicuous.]

Mikotoba-san. [Whatever their relationship had been before, this manner of address seems appropriate now. Kazuma's tone of voice certainly conveys he's not here for a friendly chat.]

What are you doing here?