( open )

[baguablade]

Who: Cain (baguablade) & you!
What: event catch-all - investigating, hunting down bad guys, making (bad) medicinal soup, whatever
When: post attack
Where: Olympia
Warning(s): none

( a : no hunting like the hunting of man )

[ The group gathered in the market is strangely subdued, even for the wariness that's fallen over the place after the attack. There's something going around, glazed-over eyes and jerky movements, oddly shuffling feet as the group makes its way through the district. Some of the men and women bump into things and seem not to notice; others are laughing and chatting far too loudly, stilted — an obvious act.

At the center of the group is a man, bright-eyed and alert, the only one looking anything resembling normal. His sleeves are pulled down, but as he turns, one rides up, revealing a large "M" on his wrist.

One of the Shady Man's associates — and while the group hasn't noticed yet, sharp-eyed individuals might pick out Cain following along behind the group, taking a meandering path through the market as he trails their steps. He seems relaxed and at ease, but his gaze is sharp, watching the man, and his hand never strays far from the hilt of his sword.

Whether you're just passing by, doing your own shopping, or whether you're hunting the tattooed man, too, straying too close to the group has Cain abruptly stepping up behind you, grabbing your arm, and pulling you back into the shadows of an alley. ]

Hey. [ Low, hissed with urgency. ] Don't get near them, or you'll get caught, too.

( b : painted full of tongues )

[ It's not exactly the nicest of bars in town, paint peeling, tables uneven, the lighting dim and flickering, suspicious stains on the floor. But it is exactly the sort of bar that men who've recently helped set off a virus-laden bomb in the center of the city might frequent, an establishment where the drink is cheap, the customers are unfriendly, and no one asks too many questions.

Cain, of course, has come here to ask far too many questions.

He's nursing a drink (untouched, he keeps pouring a little bit of it out when it seems like no one's watching) and listening to the very interesting conversation going on nearby — the conversation between two women with "M" tattoos on their wrists.

Meet his eyes, catch onto what he's doing — if you approach him, he'll smile at you like an old friend. ]

There you are. What do you want to drink?

( c : toil and trouble )

[ The soup Cain's cooking can't exactly be called soup when it's neon-blue and roiling, letting off faintly pinkish steam. With the large cast-iron stewpot he's making it in, it looks more like a witch's brew in a cauldron than soup. Also it somehow smells like both fresh laundry and wet dog. Mysterious, but hopefully something to help with the equally mysterious illness going around after the market attack — the large chunk of also mysterious sea creature tooth that he's ground a bit of and used as seasoning might help, considering its medicinal properties. Or it might not, but either way, Cain stripped down to pants, undershirt, and under-gauntlets and wielding a wooden stirring spoon over the cheerfully bubbling not-soup is certainly a sight.

And hard to ignore, since he's cooking it in the kitchen of his apartment with the windows thrown wide open. Anyone passing by could easily catch sight of the cloud of pink vapors, catch a whiff of the (very strong) smell, or even hear Cain talking to himself. ]

It's probably not enough to reanimate the dead...

[ You might even pass by just in time to hear the loud roar of something combusting. Cain's startled yelp and the gooey blue soup going everywhere is pretty hard to miss. ]

( d : wildcard )

( If there's anything else you'd like to plot out with me, I'm available at idelva or through PMs! )

Comments

[shikomizue]

[Takasugi's lips twitch, Cain's glance treated to something almost gloating, rather than the muted polite smile from moments before. He's not trying to make the other's life harder.

That's just a bonus.

With a quiet laugh that still shakes his shoulders, Takasugi watches as Cain lets the women in on their 'secret'. And he's still watching as they sit up, making his eavesdropping known.

Which only continues to amuse their 'new friends'.] Aa, I couldn't let him pass up such an opportunity. It's rare he takes a liking to someone so quickly.

[Some flattery, for good measure.] But it was him who ultimately made the choice. Be it bravery or stupidity, I'd toast to it. [And he raises his drink to do just that, the women quick to join him.

Drink up, Cain.]

[baguablade]

[ Bravery or stupidity... well, that's certainly the choice, isn't it, what this whole endeavor with his "good friend" really is. Bravery or stupidity, and Cain's not quite sure which of the two it is. "Tani" really isn't someone he can trust at his back, and yet here he is, leaving it to him, hoping that the drink he's raising isn't going to be toasting his own bad decisions in not slipping away as soon as Takasugi showed up. ]

I'd rather go with bravery. [ He laughs, loud and friendly, boisterous and sounding quite drunk. Bravado, more than anything else, the type that comes from being deep in his cups. ] Getting to spend time with friends and such charming new acquaintances couldn't ever be stupidity, right?

[shikomizue]

[His laugh is nothing like his usual sharp, wry chuckle; it's deep and quiet enough to be swept away in the tittering of the women raising their glasses to toast.] Of course you'd say that.

If only they knew of the true depths of your stupidity. [Takasugi drinks to that, downing his liquor before audibly setting his glass on the table.

One woman asks if there's a story to the stupidity, and the other watches in anticipation.] Heh. I could keep you here all night with stories about his... ah, 'bravery', was it? [Amusing.

He's ready to spin a tale, unless Cain wants to interrupt and spin one for himself.]

[baguablade]

[ The women buy the act, but Cain's on edge, wary of the malice lying beneath the surface of Takasugi's geniality. But really, what can Takasugi do to him here, surrounded by so many people, sharing a cover with him that puts them both in danger if it's blown? A lot more than most people, Cain suspects, and yet he can't help but be curious. "Tani" is still an unknown quantity, someone he doesn't fully have the measure of. This is as safe an opportunity as he can get to see what Takasugi's capable of.

Cain leans back in his chair and kicks his legs up on Takasugi's, boots brushing against Takasugi's thigh. It's the picture of camaraderie, familiarity between them that must have existed for years for them to be so comfortable in each other's space, and Cain smiles, easy and loose, and sells the lie. ]

Don't be too hard on me, Tani. [ He lifts his mug, mocks up a toast. A go ahead, he'll leave Takasugi to spin whatever tale he has in mind, no matter how dire. What he says should at least give Cain some insight to Takasugi's intentions. ] You know you'd miss my bravery if I wasn't around.

[shikomizue]

[His intentions aren't so far departed from Cain's, this time - a stake out for information on the attacks widened into something more interesting. The quality of his companion, a man who risked himself to pick apart a fighting ring for no immediate profit.

A man foolish enough to be coerced into whatever role Takasugi wants him in, time and time again, yet discerning enough to keep his true aim obscured under a polite, friendly jib.

Annoying. But not someone he can leave to themselves.] Aa, it would be boring without you.

[The closest to a true statement he's made all night.

Boots on his thighs don't even elicit a glance downwards, the weight a familiar gesture even if it's been over a decade since such casual camaraderie has been levied up on him. He remembers how to return it, leaning back in his chair to give Cain more space to spread as he wishes.] Well, he seems confident enough I'll be gentle, so... how about this-

Once, perusing the market on an early morning together, something quite unusual caught his fancy. A gleaming ring, not on display but worn by a beauty tending to her booth. He asked her for the price, which of course surprised her, since something that personal usually isn't for sale.

But she agreed to give it up - seems she was in some dire need of a few things.

He won't admit it, of course, but I think it was her he was interested in, and he was just using the ring as an excuse to try and woo her.

And the lengths he went to would have swept many women off their feet, I think. First she asked for a rare flower, only found in the mountains. So on a journey he went, dragging me along of course, to pick the perfect blossom. A few wolf attacks later, he returned with the gift.

Then she asked for water from a remote spring; we ruined our boots getting it. And then she fancied a pet bird from the seaside - it took him days to catch, you should have heard him trying to imitate its little peeping. It was so pathetic it was almost cute.

After that was a blanket, and then a goblet, and then finally a necklace imbued with magic for protection. Once the final gift was given - and he was glowing when he handed it over - she thanked him and told him to meet her there that night.

When he showed up, the whole booth was gone.

We haven't seen her since. [He shrugs, shaking his head with a depreciating smile.] It's all too easy to get away with anything in this city, huh?

Or maybe he's just a special kind of idiot.

[baguablade]

But your special idiot, right?

[ Cain listens to the story, acting out all the right sort of embarrassed, ducking his head and waving his hands. It paints a foolish picture, but it also serves another purpose, making him harmless, a fool, someone easily manipulated.

Even if "Tani" hasn't intended that, it works well enough for Cain's purposes that he's happy to let it lie.

Well, almost.

He does knock his boot against Takasugi's thigh again and puts a hand to his chest, over his heart. ]

But if I'd been able to get that ring... the woman I was courting would have loved it. If I'd been able to offer it to her, I'm sure she'd have gone out with me.

[shikomizue]

[With a stare that lingers just a little too long, Takasugi turns his gaze to Cain as his story wraps up. The onus now given to his special idiot (a palatable nickname for this guy), he leans forward in his seat, fingers tapping lightly on the side of his glass.

His laugh is sharp, brief; it sounds more fake than it is. The little jab under the table is enough of a reaction for him, the story's twofold purpose - disarm the women and take the piss out of Cain - accomplished.]

He's quite the charmer. I'm sure you both can agree.

[They nod and coo that they do, actually, agree.]

Who knows, maybe some day he'll drag me up a mountain for one of your sakes. [He shrugs, and, after a beat, leans further in, one elbow perched on the table. He speaks to the women with his back shifted towards Cain, as if whispering a secret.]

Though, if you've heard anything of the woman who got away, I'd love to hear. Any tales of deceit or cunning escape floating around?

[baguablade]

She didn't flee into the night from me or anything. It wasn't a cunning escape!

[ Cain's laughing protest is counterpoint to Takasugi's too-pointed question, calculated to make sure that the women don't become suspicious — a possibility, despite their ease, when they're wanted fugitives in the city. Luckily, both of them just laugh at Cain, making sympathetic noises. If "Tani" wants to embarrass him a bit, it's fine, a small price to pay for whatever information they might be able to glean.

He lets his voice go lower, turn a little wistful, as though remembering this woman who got away. ]

But if you've heard anything of her, I really would appreciate it... She said she was going to join up with some people from Wyver, and that we'd meet before she left. Then I never heard from her again...

idr what ur rumor was so just gently..sets up for it I HOPE

[shikomizue]

[True, it wouldn't take cunning to escape from the man painted in Takasugi's story. Just a white lie and a decently organized plan. But there's no reason to further deride his 'friend', so the retort is only a fleeting thought.

One that leaves an impassible smile on his face.

The women look to each other, a bit blatant in their exchange of uncertainty thanks to the alcohol tinting their expressions. Takasugi takes the moment they share to glance to Cain - take this and run with it for information.

After one shrugs and the other retreats to her drink, they say they know some others heading to Wyver, at least, but seem reluctant to continue.] Oh, don't get him started again.

He won't let me rest if he gets his hopes up. [Keep things casual, and they'll keep talking.]