dec and jan catch all [closed]

[shikomizue]

Who: Takasugi Shinsuke (shikomizue) & various
What: Catch-all for December / January
When: Throughout December / January
Where: Thesa, will edit as necessary
Warning(s): Alcohol use, Drug use, probably some PTSD/vivid war flashbacks, graphic violence

[Individual starters in the comments!]

Comments

[maipokerface]

[... What a weird guy. Both of them. She cocks a brow at Takasugi, looks down at the pastry in her hand and sort of awkwardly looks around for a hand to shove it into. She's still peering around when the argument starts - she herself has just come out of the back room and so catches more of the finely dressed older man's back than anything.

The whole mess is right where she has to walk too to get to the front door. She's a little more used to bar room brawls by now, having worked in Shades Darker for a number of months. It never got that rowdy in there beyond a few guys who couldn't take a hint that not everyone was a worker but it was still a learning experience.

She continues advancing after the brief pause, tossing the pastry idly in her hand. Once she gets to where the pair is blocking traffic, she states with a bland expression:]

If the two of you are going to argue, do it outside. You're in my way.

[The older gentleman almost looks grateful for the interruption but boy the younger man doesn't. He swears a bit, still as incensed as before, and tells Mai to mind her own business. She gives him a tighter look in reply.]

I would if you weren't standing in my way.

[shikomizue]

[Usually, Takasugi watches rowdy disagreements perched on a bar stool, well aside from the action. That this confrontation is in his way doesn't necessarily require much of a change in his habits. He's content to stand and watch, lingering near the archway between rooms.

Seems like he's going to be alone in his aloof approach.

A three-way fight?

He chuckles to himself, not unnoticed by the bartender, who had nearly interceded himself, stopping the moment he was spared his task.

The enraged man isn't swayed by a stern look - it only upsets him more. With a more pointed swear, he kicks a chair towards her. His 'attack' does more damage to his foot than the chair.

Mr. Well-To-Do manages to slip aside and out the door, parting with a sympathetic yet thankful to the heroine who spared him a rough encounter.

'Don't think you're going to get away with talking to me like that!', the disheveled youth wears a sheen of sweat, hair a quickly clumping mess. And on the table left unflipped, a box of pastries remains half-eaten.]

[maipokerface]

[Okay, so not everyone who eats those chills out. Or maybe this guy hadn't at all. Whichever it is, the chair isn't much a slight sidestep won't solve, given the kick.]

You may want to start running after your guy there.

[Apparently the well-to-do guy doesn't matter so much anymore now that this guy has a new object for his angry. His kick as bad enough and Mai decides he must be more than a little drunk as well. Was he stiffed for a job or something? The well-to-do guy isn't a totally innocent party she imagines but her aim isn't exactly to go around solving mysteries.

He finally goes to throw a punch and Mai ducks. It's not as if the punch would have done much good, the man far too inebriated for that. He's close though thanks to stumbling forward and Mai takes the time to pop back up and shove that pastry in her hand into his gaping, yelling mouth.

It makes for an appropriate moment of stunned silence. Mai herself looks more annoyed than upset or anything else.]

[shikomizue]

[Whether the well-off man has gotten away with a con, or skirted the consequences of a conversation peppered with annoyances and nothing more, he's gone by now. Takasugi glances to the door, but there's nothing there but a dumbfounded customer, just entered to witness the brawl.

A few heads poke out behind Takasugi as well, familiar faces from the den in the back. They heard the crashing, though, they're either satisfied or bored, as they don't linger long.

Takasugi doubts they'll be here much longer, either. Mai has taken care of the raving idiot with efficiency. Maybe that bite will help him calm down.

The angry man stumbles back, trying to yell only to choke, his aggression impeded for the moment.] Ready to go? [Obstruction removed, Takasugi heads to the door.

Maybe it'd be a favor to the bartender to throw this guy out entirely, but Takasugi didn't come here to do a public service. He's seen what he wanted - watching the woman handle the situation with measured force.]

[maipokerface]

Yes. Definitely.

[And it seems Mai doesn't care enough either to help throw him out of anything. Instead she skirts around the choking man, rolling her shoulders as she blows out a breath once she exits out the front door.]

What a mess.

[shikomizue]

What part of it?

[Once they've exited, leaving the sputtering man behind to his incomprehensible cursing, Takasugi falls in step at Mai's side.

He'd given up the rest of his product at the bar, so there's nothing left but idle chatter keeping them together.

Which suits him well enough, for now.]

[maipokerface]

[Mai turns a deadpan look on the man.]

What do you mean 'what part'.

[shikomizue]

The bartender. The pathetic excuse for secrecy. The group of people yammering on and on.

[He reaches into his yukata to fetch his pipe, going about the process of lighting it - pausing his list only to place the mouthpiece between his lips.]

The man who didn't seem too happy about his snack.

[It was all a mess, to him.]

[maipokerface]

All of them. The whole thing.

[She says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world.]

[shikomizue]

Heh.

[A fair appraisal.]

Worth the money?

[For him it is, benefit reaped not only in silver but in information. About the darker economy of the city, and about the refugees he cohabits it with.]

[maipokerface]

... I guess. It was an easy enough job anyhow.

[shikomizue]

Easy enough to come back for more...

I'll see you around, then.

[In the Guilded Cage, or in the city streets. Though he's not likely to approach her in the later.

As for the former, Takasugi would work with the woman again.

His path splits from hers, a half-hearted wave all the goodbye he gives.]