synflux | ( open ) unfortunately, about me

Entry tags:

( open ) unfortunately, about me

WHO: Anyone and everyone.
WHAT: Izou being Izou.
WHERE: The busy streets of Shinjuku, what's left of the Nishimuki Tenjinsha shrine in Shinjuku, a run-down looking 7-10, etc.

WHEN: Sometime near the tail-end of the first week.
WARNINGS: Mild violence (right now), severe intoxication.

█ 001, "some people make us feel more human". —

Gerroffa me, you—!

( the sounds of a struggle ensue, and suddenly a couple well-dressed gentlemen are shoving the offender out the club's door. it's pretty obvious he's a bit far-gone with the way he stumbles backwards, arms raises as if to protect himself or perhaps start throwing a mean punch. he doesn't get very far with the idea though, a quick swing of his arm completely missing its target to the irritation of the bouncers who were holding back as best they could. )

T-Try'na... laugh at me. I'll show ya... I'll show ya ALL! I don't forget anyhone... anyone who, crosses my...

( izou quickly discovers how difficult it is to move his mouth properly, visibly flabbergasted at how rapidly his words are starting to slur despite how often he's been through this song-and-dance. it's a familiar strangeness, a something he might find easier to digest as a problem if he weren't so horribly far-gone by most people's standards while a majority of those passing by opt to ignore his cursing and outbursts at the door. gradually, slowly, the chatty drunk realizes that no one's paying him any mind, and, with a couple exaggerated movements, places himself closer to the side of the street against a cold street-light. anything to keep the world from turning for a minute. anything to give him a little comfort.

he'll just... totally get up and leave, any minute now. with a groan, his head starts drooping against the steel that is clearly not designed to be a pillow, hands crawling clumsily up it for support. he's absolutely about to fall asleep in the middle of the city. )

█ 002, "and some people make us feel less human". —

( here, the ever present hum of the city was more faint, and the historic and solemn stone entryway of the temple, adorned with carved pillars and cracks, seemed all the more impressive in the darkness. in fact, one would even call it serene when compared to the hustle and bustle of neo-tokyo, so much so that it's a wonder a spot like this hasn't been entirely torn apart given its proximity to such ruin on the outskirts of shinjuku. tall stalks of grass blow delicately in a breeze, the inherent sensuality of their presence enough to beguile any visitor into venturing up the short steps and into the sacred.

it was easier to breathe here, and those with the courage to approach further into the center of the complex this late at night would see the triumphant emergence of greenery amidst the prayer chambers—new life among wood stained by time and rain. scenery worth committing to memory for anyone who might be losing hope. a glimpse into a world full of air for all who were suffocating.

yes... the perfect spot for some respite, if only a certain man hadn't been tailing behind whatever stranger came here for some peace of mind.

for izou, the night is far from suffocating—it's pleasant, full of sheltered places covered in withered leaves and welcoming to the quick manner his feet move familiarly on the ground without making a sound. a man in his element, aided by an abnormal adeptness in concealing his presence, listening carefully for the slightest shift in movement, the gentle smack of nervous lips. if he weren't so hungry, a cold reminder of how flippantly he tossed his cash around already, the thrill of stalking would bring an even bigger grin to his face... but whatever.

moments later, the soft clink of a blade being unsheathed could be heard as he raised it towards the back of his prey. )

Better start walkin' with a friend at night. Now, take out your valuables.

* alternatively, for those who aren't okay with being surprised and/or more than capable of noticing him following you despite the reduced effectiveness of his presence concealment skill: just assume you caught him before this.

█ 003, "and that is a fact as much as gravity is a fact". —

( it's a convenience store. you know. sickeningly bright, and with the same song looping for the past hour or so. it's the witching hour, and whoever shuffled in was probably just hungry... or bored.

a scrunkly-looking gentleman in an apron at the counter watches whoever's browsing with an impatient expression, a clock in the far-corner wall ticking needlessly the only other sound aside from the shop jingle. after a good ten minutes he smacks a hand down on the counter, shattering the banal background noise with his scratchy voice. )

I'm sick of ya criss-crossin' between shelves like a chicken with it's head chopped off. Buy somethin' or leave.

( my smoke break... )

* Anyone from Brimstone, feel free to recognize Izou from his loud demeanor around their commons.

Threaded | Flat

[ Kamakura gave her an appreciation for shrines. They're quiet, isolated, peaceful despite the din of civilization just down the steps or across the street. She didn't check the name of this temple before coming in. She didn't feel the need. For one who's never really given much thought to the relationship between the sacred and the profane, these grounds are just a nice place to appreciate a rare moment of quiet.

Except, she never takes the night air as inherently peaceful. There has never been a night where she felt at peace, calm, safe. It proves to be a boon tonight with a blade unsheathing behind her. How long was she aware of him? This stranger in the dark. Truthfully, she hadn't expected him to come so close, but as long as he's outside two meters, he's safe. That's what she tells herself as she sighs, silent. ]

Don't get close to me. It's not wise.

(His footsteps are quiet but not in a suspicious or ulterior sort of way; he's just naturally light on his feet and the rubber soles of these new, modern shoes are much softer than the solid, and heavy lacquer of his typical wear.

The man that approaches Izou is tall and cleanly dressed— a fresh pair of shoes, neat jeans, a large puffy white sweater, and a bright red scarf wrapped stylishly around his neck. Really, each item isn't special on its own given how basic LILITH had been in treating them but he's somehow managed to put everything together in a way that just looks... better. In the dark, he just seems bright with how white and light his clothes are.

Tsurumaru tilts his head curious to one side when he sees Izou fumbling about, eyes bright and curious, behavior almost birdlike as he studies him and lightly speaks, )

My, what a mess.

(He keeps his distance. He doesn't get any closer. He's content to just watch from here, )

You'll catch a cold out here like that.

[ jing yuan doesn't miss the way the other man was shoved out of the establishment, pausing in his tracks on his way back to the base. it doesn't take one to be the divine foresight to know that he's clearly drunk, the stumbling around and the swaying more than enough for him to make that conclusion.

he gives it a moment or two, watching the male lean against the lamppost, stagger around, probably telling himself that he'll get up in one, two—nope, he just falls against the metal pole like a young berrypheasant sireling.

with a chuckle, he peers over him before hands reach out and wrap around his arm, hauling him to his two feet. ]

Haha, up you go. Perhaps you can show them when you've returned to the realm of sobriety.

[ between boredom and hunger— denji is a mix of both dismay, and that's why he's pacing around the local store instead of curling up under the blanket on his bed. it's unlike him to be this indecisive, but he didn't have a lot of cash in his pocket and he's torn between spending it on a nice treat or saving for a rainy day; the struggles of poverty never left him and it followed him to this new city as well.

he didn't pay attention to the staff once stepping in, not until the man started yelling at his direction— in which denji exhaled a tired 'huh?', giving him nothing more than a weary stare. yeah, he's unfazed by the outburst. ]

... what's your problem?

[ last time he checked there is no time limit to shop unless it's closing time, and he's pretty sure this place is supposed to be open 24/7. ]

[ not leona's fault izou wasn't paying attention, and knowing that he's that irritated by someone exploring the aisles of the store? it only fuels the beastman's need to push on the man who looks like he could use more than just a smoke break. he looks like he needs a drink. not that leona would know the feeling, he simply Gets It.

so as he raises his head, only his ears probably pop up above the shelves. ]

I'm lookin' for somethin' specific. Do ya mind?

[ yes. they should both be semi-familiar with each other. probably. ]

[ Except the streetlight he decides to lean against isn't exactly a streetlight.

Ren looks down at the man that is now clinging to him haphazardly, half-considering shaking him off for a split-second before he decides to leave him be. He sighs. It's probably a good thing that he recognizes the other as someone from LILITH's base, what with how hard it is to miss him given how loud he can be. But that's as far as it goes.

He doesn't even know his name since he hasn't bothered to read through the data entries yet. (Note to self: do it later.) ]

Don't fall asleep out here.

[ Says the guy who is now the designated lamp post. ]

But I haven’t found what I’m looking for yet.

[Makima says with a curious expression when she turns back to the loud somewhat recognizable cashier. She might be recognizable too, not only do they share a dorm, but the rooms are right next to each other.]

And I don’t think I would’ve described it that way either…

[Honestly any less than flattering description probably would’ve gotten the same comment from her.]

[ ishmael's never checked out a shrine before. they're usually temples of worship, and unless you belong to some shady cult in the City, there's no reason to visit one and ask for blessings from the gods above. gods, after all, no longer exist where she's from.

but she will admit that the atmosphere around here has been nice. peaceful places like these are uncommon where she's from, and with the wintry night air breezing through the trees, it almost feels like everything is going to be all right.

of course, that feeling is not going to last. she was sure she's on her own when she got here, but the sudden clink of a blade gives her pause before huffing with a irritated tone. ]

...Do I look like I have money on me?

[ now, izou might find her familiar -- if not her sarcastic voice, then her exceptionally long and wavy orange hair might. there's only a handful of women in brimstone, after all. ]

Edited 2023-12-13 05:52 (UTC)

[ Normally, Sunrise would be in bed as per her typical schedule, but tonight she decided to change things up out of curiosity. Back home, you could never be too sure whether or not the gods were listening. It certainly didn't hurt to know at least a few different ones to pray to when you were on the road often enough.

So that's why she's at the shrine, curious to see what sort of gods the locals here believed in. Or...well, honestly, she got the impression that a lot of locals both believed in and simultaneously didn't put much stock in the gods. It seemed that the gods weren't actually real here as far as they were concerned, a notion that was alien to her. When she arrives at the temple, as peaceful as it is, she can't help but wonder if the god it was meant for felt lonely.

Maybe that's why she only notices she's not alone in the temple when she hears the sound of a blade being drawn. By then, it's a little too late to wonder how long he's been there. ]

...But I do not have any valuables.

[ She says this so calmly as if there isn't a blade being pointed at her, but it's true. Anything she had that she considered valuable did not make the trip to Neo-Tokyo with her, and her firearm was left at the base because she felt it was too conspicuous to carry around town until she found a new case for it. ]

Edited 2023-12-13 22:02 (UTC)

[Right about when he's about to pass out, that's when he'll feel a hand on his shoulder.]

Here, let's get you back home.

[It's a normal-looking man, kind of boring actually, wearing a brown suit and round glasses. It would be easy to mistake him for a random nobody from the crowd. He really has no business stopping to help Izou, and yet he is. Nobody wants to sleep on the ground, or so he assumes, and he figures this man is one of the newcomers too. Plus, he's carrying a sword, and it never hurts to help those who know how to fight.]

Threaded | Flat

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hi

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001, semi-wildcard.

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