[open] horsebow moon / catchall

[playfoul]

Who ⬤ Yuri & you
What ⬤ A substory and some gen prompts!
When ⬤ September
Where ⬤ Around town
Content Warnings ⬤ None

I. Bountiful Business

[ As the giant bounty shakes up the weapons market, you'll find Yuri at the shops of arms dealers, examining the heft of a blade or chatting up the shopkeeper with questions that sound less like a customer's and more like a business partner. Perhaps you'll even catch money exchanging hands, a stack of cash tucked away quickly and too thick to be a normal sale.

If he notices you observing him while he's going about his business, he'll smile back disarmingly. ]

Is it my face or is it the weapons you're here to admire?

II. Drifter Grifter

[ Ever the opportunist, the drifter smells generosity and latches on to it. The rugged man can be seen ducking into a homeless shelter in Sutoku to avoid detection after suckering in more bleeding hearts. Anyone here to shake down the scammer or haul him away for arrest will be held off at the entrance by Yuri, questioning the accusations brought against the man. ]

And just what makes you suspicious of him?

[ It's his personal belief to take in anyone down on their luck, no questions asked, which is why he's reluctant to just turn the guy over. ]

III. Muscling Into Sutoku

[ Toraguma's crackdown on youth gangs sent more than a few troublemakers packing with their tail between their legs. The wayward youth now lay low and nurse their wounds...and a few of the delinquents have taken up refuge at the Sutoku shelter rather than return to their troubled homes. ]

[ A. The matron Yuri has put in charge of the establishment is a no-nonsense one-winged youkai, wrangling delinquents with a sharp tongue and efficiently setting volunteers to tasks like collecting bedsheets and packing food. Yuri keeps a low profile for the most part, taking on chores like any other volunteer, but work with him and it'll become apparent he knows the ins and outs of the place. Ask him anything. ]

[ B. Inevitably, the youths fall back on their violent habits. A petty argument escalates into punches being thrown and knives being pulled. A turf fight as if they're on their own stomping grounds. Exasperated, Yuri seizes one of the gang by the wrist in time to prevent a stabbing, but there are more knives being flashed than he has hands for. ]

Wildcard

Open to wildcards! Feel free to hit me up at the CR MEME for a custom prompt or on plurk ahlyo

Comments

[sweetsong]

[ he frowns at the use of 'us', especially when he doesn't want to think about yuri in that way. he's different than the ones the clans have been asking to take care of, the independent and smaller cells of youkai that came into existence once the mentioning of the wastes and the bounty.

because he wants to think... yuri wouldn't be selfish with that money. and if he was, robin couldn't judge him for it. he's only given charity here. right? ]

No.

[ a simple answer in front of complex reasons. ]

What I think is best... is to make sure you'll be safe. Okay?

1/2

[playfoul]

[ He's touched by the sentiment, truly, but he can't agree. None of this gang business is something anyone decent should come close to, Robin especially. Times like these make Yuri despise how the factions will enlist just anybody. ]

2/2

[playfoul]

[ Outwardly, he schools his expression into one that's less conflicted. ]

I'm a tricky one to catch, even trickier to bring down. You don't need to worry about me.

[sweetsong]

Someone has to, and I want to.

[ his nose touches the side of yuri's throat as robin breathes in, before pulling his face away. there's a temptation, albeit small, to follow an instinct. ]

Besides. I might run into you again and I don't... I'm worried that I may have to follow an order or two...

[playfoul]

Then Lady Tenkohime will have wasted your talents. You belong on stage, away from this mess.

[ It's for the best their paths don't cross when things get ugly. Yuri releases Robin somewhat reluctantly and brings his hands behind his back. ]

I've not told you much about my past, have I? I've been part of a gang far longer than we've been here. [ He'll be fine is what he's saying. This is what he's used to. ]

[sweetsong]

[ it's a little too late, isn't it? robin left the stage on his own accord the first time and found another one. now, he's been looking for yet another 'stage' so to speak, and this is why he's here.

it won't stop him from frowning, either. ]

Being on stage won't help you. Or any of my friends, Yuri.

[ rocking back onto his heels, the pink haired boy shrugs. ]

I'm in your gang here. Aren't I? As far as I'm concerned...

[playfoul]

[ Don't. Don't ask him that. Of course Robin is one of his people. Which is precisely why he should stay away. Yuri doesn't have the power to protect those precious to him. Not from Aelfric, and not from the Wasteland threat. Just like Kaberou had been unable to protect Ringo. If Robin continues to associate with him, the risks couldn't be more clear. ]

Don't be stupid. These are trained killers you'll be facing, not to mention every faction will be out there fighting to claim the Iron Bear's head.

[ This must be the first time he's ever been frustrated with Robin. It feels wrong, but so does the thought of Robin marching into the Wastelands. ]

My gang are a bunch of thieves. You're too good for this rotten work.

[sweetsong]

[ he winces. it's like a slap to the face, hearing that from yuri. even though he knows it comes from a good place. that he's concerned, worried, doesn't want robin to face dangers that he probably doesn't deserve to. it's reasonable and right and frankly, robin probably shouldn't be exposed to them. he should be sitting in his office or managing new acts for the tamamo or figuring out certain logistics, or...

...

robin sniffles. ]

Yeah. You're right.

[ but he grabs yuri's hand again, squeezes it, pulls it to his chest. ]

If she asks me to go out there, I can't refuse her. Okay? She trusts me to get things done. If I do... I can... try to stay out of the way...