son of nyx

ken matsui | vampire lawyer by day, lawyer by night

[kenxmatsui]

BASICS:

Name: Kenji “Ken” Matsui

Age: 30 37

Occupation: Lawyer

Species: Vampire

About Page: click here // Full Bio: click here

PERSONALITY:

Positive: Determined, Competitive, Protective 

Negative: Blunt, Apathetic, Callous

[yasinlunar]

Location ➠ Happy Scoops Status ➠ Closed to Ken (@kenxmatsui)

Silly rabbit, Yasin mused, studying the line winding down the block, Trix are for everyone.

Under the sun and the blistering heat, it really did seem as if every resident of Lunar Cove was occupying Sunny Harbor in search of something sweet. Newly among them, Yasin watched customer after customer as they left, waiting as patiently as he could for his turn (which was not very much at all). His quest to try every eatery once was still ongoing.

At the register, Yasin was at last able to place his order with the harassed looking cashier, only to find some competition standing just behind him, who appeared just as impatient as he did to make off with a treat. "Sorry," said Yasin, when the owner meekly suggested splitting the last of the cardamom pistachio between them. "Not in the mood to share."

[kenxmatsui]

Ken looked from the nearly empty tub of cardamom pistachio to the man in front of him, then back again with a frown. He'd waited in line, suffered the heat, and endured listening to the family behind him spend five minutes debating sprinkles. He wasn't about to split the only flavour he actually wanted. "Neither am I," he said simply, as his attention shifted back to the cashier. "I'll take the full scoop." There wasn't any negotiation in the statement, just a certainty in announcing the obvious conclusion to a discussion that never should have existed in the first place. "You can order something else," he told the man without as much as an apology or remorse. "Or come back some other time."

[cantfightmoonlight]

"As a costume not as a crowning achievement!" She huffed. Her eyes narrowed over at him as she continued to pout. But when he shook his head in disbelief, she couldn't hide that bright smile of hers for any longer. "You're talking to the girl who robbed you blind when we first met. I think we both know the answer to that question," She teased, lifting herself up to her tiptoes so that she could press her lips against his cheek. "Deal! So then you'll actually dress up next year maybe?" Her eyes lit up at the thought, about to start planning their halloween costumes now in the middle of July if that was the cast.

"Sure? Why not?" Leyla blinked over at him, fighting back a giggle as she watched him curse under his breath and move to try to open the package. She remained very still, but couldn't help but laugh as he laid part of the mask on top of her eyelid. Reaching up to her face, she straightened it for him before smiling far too brightly for her own good. "Yes, people do these themselves. They feel good, don't they? And they're great for your skin. So, what do you think? Do I look cute or serial killer adjacent?" She teased, knowing most face masks always made people look somewhat like Hannibal Lecter, but she was hoping the animal-faced ones looked a little less creepy.

[kenxmatsui]

"That is different. Extreme and terrible still, maybe even worse that you'd picture me as such now." He made a dramatic show of crossing his hands over his chest with a huff, but that all melted as she drew closer. "Yes, fine. Don't start thinking from now, though. There's plenty of time still. Though, something tells me that won't stop you." Ken shook his head, unimpressed by it all. "It feels strange, but I suppose I have to get used to it. Good, at least there's a benefit." He looked at her, a smile kicking back up on its own. "Even if you tired to not, you'd still look cute," he stated. "That's a fact really."

[cantfightmoonlight]

@kenxmatsui

"Welcome to the Pie Hole, as in shut your-" Her entire body stiffened as she watched her friend wander into the Pie Hole. Typically, she'd be happy to see him, but he had been sick, at home on bed rest, and as far as she was aware, he might still very well be contagious. Not to mention, what if he had been too sick to prepare their typical list of topics of conversation? "You're not still sick, are you? I don't need to make a mad dash for the disinfectant spray?" While Gigi was well aware by now that the chances of a fae actually getting sick were slim to none, she still didn't want to take any chances. Especially, seeing that the chances of a vampire suddenly taking on human characteristics and getting sick himself already seemed slim to none. "Because if not, then welcome! Should I get you your usual? But, if so, I'm going to need you to respectfully take a few steps back from the counter so that we're precisely six feet apart."

[kenxmatsui]

"Shut your what?" Ken questioned. It was hardly the first time he'd heard the greeting, yet asking had become something of a habit. "Do I look sick?" It wasn't really a question. He had spent the better part of a week confined to bed and had no intention of repeating the experience if he could help it. "And do you honestly think I'd step outside my house if I still was?" Catching a cold in the first place was offensive enough, but feeling worse than death because of something as mundane as a virus had been an indignity, something he had no desire to experience again, and was immensely grateful that particular chapter seemed to be behind him. "Don't ask stupid questions." She should've known better. If he was still contagious, he'd be staying much farther away than six feet. "I want my usual table too."

[rohanxpersaudx]

"It's a flag, Ken. You wave it. Like this." Rohan smiled, bringing up his own small flag and shaking it back and forth so that its colors flapped easily in the breeze. And in truth, he was grateful for that breeze, as meager as it was. The day was proving to be another in a never-ending series of scorchers, but he was still enjoying the festivities and getting to celebrate with his friends.

"Are you having a nice time? It's fun, right? I know this isn't your usual sort of scene, but I'm glad you're here." He gave a soft hum, taking a moment to look around at the crowds. "We can find you a bi pride flag if you want. Oh! Or we could see if that face painter is still around." He had a rainbow on his own cheek.

"Or...we could see if the ice cream line isn't too long. It's warm, right? I feel like I run hotter now. Ever since I became a werewolf. Probably not. But it's the heightened senses, you know? Everything is so much everywhere." He waved his hands around his face. "Your the fashion expert. What does one wear that's cool and stylish for June on fire?"

[kenxmatsui]

"Yes, I know, but why was I given it?" But a moment later, he answered it himself. "I guess that's the nature of this parade, isn't it." It felt silly for a second, but Ken did as told and waved the flag about, joining in on the celebrations around them. It was good in a way, fun was still up for debate but he did smile. "No, not my usual, but first time for everything I suppose. It is nice. Yes, well, having you here helps considerably to not feel out of place. I can hold another flag, sure, but, that's it, alright? No one is putting paint on my face. You can get another one on my behalf," he flashed Rohan a smile.

"No, you do. That's a fact. Everything is so much everywhere," he agreed. "Even more so since my enhanced senses are returning." It was a strange limbo, having to get used to everything again was rather irritating. Giving Rohan a look up and down, he hummed in thought. "Well. If you want cool in this heat, then ice. If you want stylish overall, then, a suit." Ken laughed. "An ice suit. You can pull off an igloo, can't you?" At the mention of ice cream, however, the decision was made. "Yes." He gave Rohan's sleeve a small tug in the direction of the stand. "Ice cream. If the line's too long, I'll complain about it until it magically becomes shorter. What are they going to do? Tell me no?" he scoffed.

[faerietothe-otherside]

"Piss off," Rangi snapped back, smacking his hand away from her face. She swayed in her spot, grabbing the nearest solid object to keep from falling forward. "Like you cared whether I was awake last time or not." She remembered how uncaring he'd been about her confusion and disorientation. And sure, maybe he'd been dealing with his own bullshit, but a little empathy went a long way. She'd tried to be nice, in the moment. But she'd also been fresh off the one year anniversary of the loss of her best friend. Sue her for being a little out of it.

And fuck him for always being such an asshole. She would never forget the thing he'd said to her. Whether he meant it or not, he'd threatened to kill her. Back then, she'd wanted him to. Now, well, if she did want to die, she certainly didn't want it to be by his hand. She crossed her arms over her chest and stood her ground. "Sucks to suck, I guess," she grumbled at him.

[kenxmatsui]

His first instinct when she smacked his hand away was to tell her not to touch him. The words made it as far as his lips before escaping as a scoff as she swayed. His gaze lingered for a moment, watching as she nearly fell over. He never understood the appeal of voluntarily surrendering control like that. It was pathetic.

The mention of their last encounter drew another huff. It hadn't been one of his better moments, but then again, she hadn't exactly left the slate clean herself. "You seem to be remembering that conversation rather selectively," he said, tone flat. If empathy had been absent then, it certainly wasn't making an appearance tonight.

"What does that even mean?" Ken rolled his eyes at the nonsensical. "I'll pretend you making so little sense is because you're drunk, and not because you're actually this stupid. Doing you a kindness with that really." Feeling his temper scrape a little thinner, Ken knew he should walk away but his feet, however, stayed exactly where they were. "Last chance. Before I stop asking."

[lireos]

Andrew Koji as Ah Sahm Warrior 1.03 | “John Chinaman”

[kenxmatsui]

for: @rohanxpersaudx location: Pride Parade

The heat was no more forgiving than it had been the past few weeks, the sun hanging stubbornly overhead as if determined to make everyone equally miserable. Ordinarily, it would've been enough to sour his mood before he'd even left his house but somehow though, this felt... tolerable. Perhaps Rohan was to thank for that.

The streets had transformed into a riot of colour. Music rolled through the air alongside laughter and applause, people draped in every variation of flag imaginable as they danced and celebrated with an openness Ken found quietly fascinating. He understood it, of course, his bisexuality had never been a secret but it had it never been much of a conversation point. There just wasn't much of a reason to hide it nor celebrate it.

Along the route, someone stepped in front of him with an impossibly bright smile, wishing him a happy pride and pressed a small rainbow flag into his hand before disappearing into the crowd, hardly giving him time to process it. "Uh...?" Ken turned it over between his fingers and glanced at Rohan. "...What am I meant to do with this?"

[kenxmatsui]

for: @sunriserecords location: Banner N' Blade

Ken wondered, not for the first time, how he'd been convinced to come. He already hated this. The noise. The crowd. The temperature. Together, they made for an experience he could only describe as hell with themed entertainment, which to say was a worse hell. Heightened senses had only recently returned, and his ears picked apart every sound until it became impossible to ignore. Cheers crashed together, chairs scraped against the floor, children shrieked somewhere behind him, and the heat only sharpened his temper further, leaving him with the distinct impression that every person in attendance had collectively decided to annoy him personally.

Ken barely took a step away before someone clipped his shoulder in passing. It was nothing. An accident. The sort of thing that happened when too many people insisted on occupying the same space. "Seriously?" The word came out sharper than he had intended to. "Is there a reason you thought walking through me was the quickest route?"

[faerietothe-otherside]

It was, luckily, not sleepwalking this time that brought Rangi into Ken's path, but, instead, a drunken stumble as she left the bar. (She didn't even know what bar it was, if she was being honest, and she had to always be honest). Sure, she'd told Charlie she'd go to an AA meeting, but until then, well, she didn't see the harm in having a drink or two or seven on her night off. Sure, maybe she had work in the morning and this would probably give her a killer hangover, but she'd worked under worse circumstances before. (And there was a bottle of whiskey hidden in her desk, if she really needed it to take the edge off).

So, bar. Drinking. Street. Ken.

Her face pinched up, souring her expression. "Then go around," she scoffed, motioning to the curb. "I was here first." It probably wasn't true objectively, but it was true to Rangi because she hadn't noticed him until his cheese grater voice sounded and she turned to face him.

[kenxmatsui]

Ken stared at her for a long, unimpressed moment, as though giving her ample opportunity to realise the stupidity of what she'd just said. Naturally, she didn't.

Before responding, he lifted a hand and snapped his fingers twice in front of her face. "Are you awake this time?" The gesture might have seemed uncalled for to most people, but the question was entirely genuine. The last time she'd crossed his path in the middle of the night she'd been wandering around in her sleep and, frankly, he wasn't particularly interested in repeating the experience. Satisfied enough by the immediate scoff that followed, he let his hand fall with a quiet huff. "Good. You are. Then you can move."

It was only then that the smell reached him. His gaze flicked briefly toward the bar she'd emerged from before returning to her, the slight sway in her posture confirming what the scent already had. "You've been drinking. A lot." It was a feat in itself for a fae to have consumed enough to be drunk, and that somehow, flattened his expression even further. "Fantastic," he muttered, "you're intoxicated and in my way. I don't have the patience to deal with this."

[cantfightmoonlight]

"Wha-" Lennon's mouth dropped open momentarily before being replaced by an amused smirk. "Leyla finally showed you Beetlejuice, huh? Oh look at that. Three times. Can't wait for the devil to finally come."

"What kind of friend would I be if I didn't support your business? People like me help keep that pretty roof over your head, there buddy," She teased, despite them both knowing that she hardly had enough money to actually afford him. "I know you don't. You're in it for the adrenaline and the pain. But if you could do me a favor and try to not end any of your fights too soon, that would be great. It'll help if you guys really give it a show."

[kenxmatsui]

"I know about Beetlejuice," he said with an eye roll at her shocked reaction. "Indeed. Here I am." He scoffed again, "You're calling it supporting business? How kind." He really didn't need help on that front, especially not from her not when Lunar Cove's wealthy were his clients. "Maybe I should let Lupe discover your little operation," he added on, attempting to joke. "She's been struggling for work." Of course, he'd never let Lupe have that, or any kind, of win. "Huh? No. I'm in it because it's fun. The fuck would I be in this for the pain?I'm not a masochist. And if I wanted adrenaline I'd go for a run." He rolled his eyes again. "Not doing this for your entertainment either, Lennon. Ask someone else." But with his stamina returning, he knew he'd last a while in the ring anyway, he just didn't want to give her the satisfaction of a show. "I think it's about to start. I better not catch you again."

[cantfightmoonlight]

"Oh," She gave him a small nod before giving his hand another small tug forward. "I know that?" Her brows, however, creased as she slowed as they reached the car. "I wasn't saying that you were? I just don't really have an opinion one way or another," She admitted, giving his arm a slight tug this time so that he was closer to her side from where they stood beside the passenger door. "I never thought I'd even get married, let alone live this long, so I've never really thought about it either, but I suppose I'd be happy either way? I mean, birth itself sounds kind of scary, but less so with you, and I don't know. I think maybe let's just go get the test and then depending on the answer and our reactions to it, then maybe then we'll know?" She posed, giving his hand a quick squeeze before moving to climb into the passenger seat. "So, do we need anything else from the pharmacy while we're there? Like are we out of bandaids or sunscreen or ice cream?" She began to rack her brain for a possible shopping list as they drove, not wanting to sit in silence and, while she'd normally be singing along to the radio, even with her turning up the music, she couldn't shake her nerves enough to sing.

[kenxmatsui]

"Okay, good. I thought something I said upset you," he admitted. The way he came across to others and how he was around Leyla was vastly different, but even so, on occasion he did have to pause and analyse how he sounded, what he said out of habit. "No, me neither." That was a shared story and shared sentiment too, never thought about the future when he never anticipated to live long. And, now, an eternity stretched before him bringing so much more things to think about. "Okay, we'll do that first and think on things later." Only if his mind took that into consideration. It fired off into scenarios, there was only two answers the test would say, yet he thought through every branching possibility from that. There was that worry of course, that spiked at each point; what if he was like his parents? No. he couldn't let that ever happen.

Prying his focus out of his head and back to her, Ken nodded. "Actually yes. Renzo was feeling sick and... I'm sure it's nothing but I've sneezed about five times today and felt a bit off at work. Could you pick up every sanitiser the pharmacy has? Maybe cold and flu medication and face masks. We are out of ice cream, but I probably should steer clear of that, right?" His expression pulled to a slight frown. "I cannot get sick."

[cantfightmoonlight]

"I said it counted as a costume and fit with the couples costume vibe, but out of all of the opportunities to dress up, no, that shouldn't get to count as my win! A christmas sweater would be much better, or an actual matching costume for Halloween this year," She pointed out with a small pout. "Then take back that as being my win or I'm going to start imagining you in a garbage bag all the time," She threatened, narrowing her eyes over at him. A smile did, however, crack across her lips as he finished getting changed and settled in next to her. "Okay!" She exclaimed happily as she moved to crawl into his lap, practically straddling him as she undid the packaging of the panda mask. Leaning in she pressed a kiss against his lips before she placed the panda sheet mask over his face. The brightest smile imaginable broke across her own face as she handed her mask over to him. "Your turn."

[kenxmatsui]

"There we go. You said it counted," he replied with a grin. It was teasing, of course, but his brows pulled to a frown at what she said next. It wasn't anything serious, yet his head shook shook with disbelief all the same. "You'd really do that, huh? Threatening me with that treatment? Terrible." Naturally, he conceded without much more of a protest, yet the teasing couldn't be completely removed from his tone. "Alright. Would you like best out of three then, if Bond can't count as the only win? Two more chances."

He steadied her as she climbed onto him, face scrunching slightly as she put the mask on him. The sensation was strange, but it wasn't uncomfortable so he supposed it was fine. "You want me to do it?" he asked slightly puzzled, he wasn't paying attention when Leyla did his. Taking the mask anyway, he brushed stray hairs from her face before opening the mask. "Fuck. Okay. Hold still." Holding it carefully at the edges, Ken slowly placed it on her face, trying to align it so parts of the mask didn't obstruct her vision. "How the hell..." Talking unfortunately seemed difficult too. "...do people do this by themselves?"

[kenxmatsui]

for: @faerietothe-otherside time & location: midnight, somewhere outside

Sleep refused and Ken conceded defeat. Restlessness settled beneath his skin like an itch he couldn't quite reach, refusing to ease no matter how many times he ignored it. The summer heat did little to help. The air felt heavy, warmth clinging to his skin until every minor inconvenience became another excuse for irritation. Once he saw Leyla had fallen asleep, he slipped quietly out the front door, hoping the night air might succeed where sleep had failed.

The streets were quieter at this hour, though hardly silent. Insects droned amongst the trees, music drifted lazily from a bar a few blocks away, broken now and then by bursts of laughter. Ordinarily, it would've faded into the background but with his vampiric nature slowly returning, every sound seemed intent on reminding him just how annoyingly loud things had been.

He walked without purpose, hands buried in his pockets, hoping movement would burn away the restless energy. Instead, it only sharpened as something within him twisted with hunger. His head turned before he consciously meant it to. Across the street, someone laughed after stumbling from a bicycle but the scrape on their arm carried a familiar scent effortlessly through the warm night air.

Ken stopped beneath the glow of a streetlamp as the realisation settled over him with unwelcome certainty. Ten years hadn't been enough to forget the feeling. "Damn it." There was nothing to debate. Human food wasn't going to fix this. Waiting wasn't going to fix it either. He needed blood immediately, before this became somebody else's problem. With a quiet exhale, he turned to head in the opposite direction, already deciding where he could source blood but he barely made it a few steps before another figure wandered into his vision. Ken looked up, recognised her, and felt what little patience remained evaporate. "...You've got to be fucking kidding me." The words escaped with vexation. Of course it had to be her of all people that crossed his path. Again. "You're in my way."

[darkest-andy]

Despite her talk with Meena, it seemed part of town did cater to the nocturnal vampire. Though the markets were obviously open to everyone, and they were definitely busy. Andy was happy simply wandering, not really intent on buying anything in particular. The dark-haired woman didn't want for material items all that often, didn't enjoy accumulating possessions the way some did. Still the markets offered an opportunity to be out doing something.

Despite not intending to, the vampire somehow seemed to be making enemies everywhere she went, since barely a sidewards glance set off the man passing by. A shrug of shoulders at the annoyed question, Andy not all that interested in picking a fight. "Nothing interesting." Tone was smooth, cold. Whether or not that would aggravate him further or not would wait to be seen.

[kenxmatsui]

Ken held her gaze for another moment, his expression remaining flat even as some of the hostility ebbed away. Rationally, he knew she'd done nothing beyond look in his direction. Unfortunately, rationality had been losing a losing battle to irritation lately. "Good," he said at last, the single word clipped but no longer confrontational. "I'd hate to disappoint."

His gaze drifted past her, toward the stall she'd paused beside as some trinkets caught the light beneath the hanging lanterns and drew his attention. "Anything worth looking at?" he asked after a beat, stepping closer. After several seconds of consideration, he gave a small shake of his head. "No," he concluded. "You're right. Nothing interesting."

[cantfightmoonlight]

"Why are you Beetlejuice? Beelzebub?" She clarified, having a feeling Ken might not actually know who Beetlejuice is. "If I say your name three times, I'll find myself having struck up a deal with a crossroads demon?" She cocked a brow up at him as she collected the cash from the bidder. "Is it?" Len feigned innocence as a knowing smirk toyed at the corner of her lips. "Aw. You gonna bail me out, is that it?" She teased. "Relax. I don't need a lawyer. Yet anyhow." Not that she could afford him if she did. "Oh, I don't know? Why don't you tell me?" She grinned as she pulled out a wad of cash and fanned herself with it before she slipped it back safely away. "Your pot ain't doin' so hot though. Seems like people expect Vivek to win now that you're temporarily powerless and all."

[kenxmatsui]

"You've said it twice already," he shrugged, "third times the charm, or so I've heard." Ken just grumbled at the cash being exchanged hands, but he didn't do anything to actually stop it. It wasn't the first time he had bets on his name, and it certainly didn't feel like the last either. "Why don't you save me the thought and do things that won't get you in trouble?" It was a futile thing, he knew, would be easier to hope the sky turn green than Len stay out of trouble. "Don't care for that," he answered unbothered by the bets and comment, "I'm not really in this to prove anything nor do I rely on my abilities heavily."

[gazingatmestarry-eyed]

Of all the people in the world Renzō thought could use a cheeseburger, his cousin was at the top of the list. "Yeah but... vegetables? When you don't have to?" It didn't make sense to him. "I don't think it's creepy." At least, he didn't think it was creepy when Aurora drank blood.

Peggy's had never given him food poisoning, which made Renzō suspect Ken's beef with Peggy was personal, and he didn't want to ask why. "No, dude. Gas means good? Like... bussin'?" While his cousin wasn't that much older than him, Renzō often thought he acted much older, still.

When Kenji denied him sake it felt like being home with one of his parents. It was sort of uncanny in that moment how much his cousin even sounded like his dad. "Tea?" He sneezed suddenly, too fast for him to cover his nose. "Sorry... uh, yeah.. I guess I could use that? Ever since I crawled in that hay bale I've had the sniffles." Renzō briefly paused before seriously asking, "That's not how you get hay fever, is it?"

[kenxmatsui]

"I fail to see why that's so shocking to you," Ken replied, staring at his cousin. "And how, despite you needing to, you seem to be so against eating healthy." At the answer, Ken let his thoughts run their course and gave Renzō a blank look. "I'm not even going to bother asking you what that means," he said with a shake of his head. "Internet speak isn't really area of expertise." Nor did he care to familiarise himself with such either.

It couldn't be helped the way Ken instantly recoiled when his cousin sneezed, and staggered back a few steps. "For fucks sake, Renzō..." Immediately moving to wipe the counter top, Ken also knew the area needed to be cleaned as well, which he mentally noted down to do late and just washed and sanitised his hands for now. He had refused to partake in that and many more events but it didn't surprise him that Renzō did. "I don't know. But, if you're feeling sick, you cannot be here. I'm susceptible to getting ill now."