❅ HAILSTORM.

the snowfall gave rise to a hailstorm

[suishoi]

h - hewwo

          “ahaha yes.... someone named ‘ lon’qu ’ -- ?                                                   i never knew a man by that name.”

[suishoi]

tugs @ his sleeve

          “yes -- seii-chan ?”                    he calls out lovingly to his younger brother and yet --                               when he turns around, there he is...                                                              fast asleep. 

[suishoi]

: D

: D

[suishoi]

lotusunder.

          ❛  I’M  NOT  joking  …  ❜  THERE  WAS  NO  sense  in  drawing  his  blade,  for  the  glare  set  upon  his  features  was  nearly  as  sharp.  he  yielded  to  the  boy’s  observation,  but  yet  was  still  all  the  more  determined  to  continue  on  alone.  with  no  further  words,  he  moved  into  the  quest  acceptance  area,  only  to  receive  a  warning  notification:  THIS  QUEST  REQUIRES  A  PARTY  OF  MINIMUM  2  PLAYERS.  ❛  CHE  …  ❜

          “What did I tell you.” Already moving ( conveniently ignoring an ill will towards himself ), he tapped against the menu, quickly sending an invitation for a party request. “I won’t drag you down, and gear can be divided with best fit or lottery -- not a bad deal, isn’t it --?”

[suishoi]

colpograzia.

            a n d  h e r e  he’d been thinking that this établissement was more on the docile side; dark but cozy, too orderly to be accused of shady business while graciously avoiding a plunge into chichi or a sense of welcoming foremost a private clientele of a particular kind. Nothing against the infamous cabarets of Chicago’s Levee District or some less bonafide pubs Lower Manhattan’s more dubious streets had to offer. “Ah. You don’t say.” He settled the glass back down on the counter; gave the half-empty negroni a wary look as though the prospect of charity was far more threatening than the sound of a dozen guns being unsheathed could ever be. “And you don’t happen to be in on this, do you — ?” His frame hardly left its unwound state as his one hand bolted back to his hip, calloused knuckles easing down the trigger firm and confident. 

       0.3 seconds,                                      three shots,                                                                  and the sound of three men cursing across the room as their weapons were hurled out their hands and slithered ‘cross the floor, away to ill-lit places. “‘I’m having none of this today’, I said! Gimme a break!”

           His fingers fumbled with a latch under the counter ( as with any good bar, a hidden exit was a requirement ) before shoving aside a carpet, unveiling a conveniently placed trapdoor. Admittedly, he was already impressed by the gunman’s sure shot, though more so with the relaxed attitude, as if this were a daily occurrence for him. ( Still, given these parts of town, gunfights were a part of everyday life, so maybe he shouldn’t be too impressed. ) “No, not at all. I’m just as lost in the dark as you are... assuming -- that you’re just as lost as I am.” Though Ayato personally never saw many as his enemy, there was no doubt that there were certain groups who thought him better off dead. With them or against them -- at least, that was how they justified it. In any case, he certainly knew they weren’t here for drinks and laughs. 

          “This way--” He waved his hand, refraining from grabbing the suit in front of him ‘lest the other was a bit too trigger happy-- the last thing he wanted was a bullet in his head. “--if they have the property surrounded, this way out is our best bet.”

[suishoi]

muyuun.

sacrumflorem.

[suishoi]

lotusunder.

          NOT  ONLY  THEN  did  he  notice  another  presence,  but  merely  thought  nothing  of  it  as  he  searched  for  another  quest  to  take  on.  yet  for  as  far  out  as  he’d  gone  from  the  server’s  main  town,  he  didn’t  except  his  follower  to  hang  back  for  that  long.  ❛  YOU  AGAIN  …  ??  i  thought  i  told  you  to  get  lost  …  ❜  @suishoi.

          “c’mon, do better if you’re trying to joke around -- !” hands out, palms open, posturing himself that displayed nothing but friendliness ( as if innocent gazes held nothing underneath ), he smiled against the swordsman’s piercing glare. “you see, there’s no one but you and me who’s free, and...” he paused, spreading out his arms as if for dramatic effect. “it’s a limited time quest.”

[suishoi]

[suishoi]

colpograzia.

          “Pfeh! That doesn’t even cut it — .” f r u s t r a t i o n seeping past an otherwise restrained veneer made his prompt reach for the smartly dressed liquor be like an act of ( poorly executed ) self-care instead of modest enjoyment. Coping. It is not until he’d emptied half its contents in one single long sip that his shoulders eased up and bent forward for his head to find repose on his knuckles. “The only trouble I’m getting into is the one I’m getting dragged into.” Or so he says, gravely, though not grim enough to stop his other hand from absently toying with the citrus decoration. “ — and I’m having none of that, this time around.”

          “oh, is that so --? A bar does seem like a perfect refuge for times as chaotic as these...” He picked up a glass ( a small clink as it tapped against the edge ) and with slow steady movements, wiped away remaining droplets of water. Though a smile lit his features, his eyes were sharp, gaze darting between the door and the strange shuffling that occurred within the muted discussions scattered throughout the room ( suspicious behavior, almost as if they were plotting ... ah ). “...although, unfortunately I think you’ve already been dragged in.” Apology clouded his features with his furrowed brows and half turned smile. Almost ignoring the crowding around them, he set down the glass, free of any stains. “ah, and you can that one on the house.”

[suishoi]

> feels bad if tao goes away crying > feels regret if tao comes back laughing

[suishoi]

[suishoi]

sacrumflorem replied to your post

ilu?

me too ??!?!?!?!

[suishoi]

lotusunder replied to your post

come back,

[suishoi]

[suishoi]

colpograzia.

         “Wh- where’re you going? Hey!!” T h e r e  i s  nothing but the beeping of an abandoned call that answers him, prompting his fingers to tighten ever the bit round the rugged Ravine flip phone before placing it down on the bar table in defeat. Hung up. Unbelievable. He heaves a sigh. ( … should he try calling again…? … ᶰᵒ⋅ He’s had it. ) “Aaah… Sorry ‘bout that, Mr. Bartender. Please get me something that makes you forget about all the idiots in your life.” / @suishoi

          “Rough night --?” He asked a question more rhetorical than anything else as he poured liquor over ice: gin, campari, and of course, sweet vermouth ( an italian classic ). The bar was relatively quiet, save for the hushed conversations resting on the even quieter jazz. It was while stirring the glass Ayato took a closer look at the ( unfamiliar ) man before him, one that could easily blend into a crowd, and just as easily stand out. A sparkle of amusement lit his eyes as he slid forward a classic negroni, a ( blood ) red drink lit up with an orange half wheel. “Well, what kind of trouble are you getting into tonight --?”

[suishoi]

muyuun.

          he takes a … respectful step back. Much like             a gazelle scenting impending doom. “ —hold on.             What about you… — ?”

          with a matching step forward, he dangles the brush,           ( almost menacingly ) between his fingers.           “oh, hoho, are you worried about me?                    But no need, since I brush my hair daily.”

[suishoi]

      Detangler? Comb? Brush?                     check. check. check.

            “seii-chan, it’s been a while, hasn’t it.”

@muyuun