sicklysweet | •ic inbox (jigoku)

Oi... 'ts still my boss, alright? [New boss, new rules, new things to agonize over, etc etc.... but he wasn't about to trash talk his own faction this soon into joining.] What do they have you guys doin' in Tamomo that's any better...

[This city is weird.]

...Mn. I'm not leavin'. It's okay.

[He'll leave voice on in case, but the little dive bar he's tucked himself into is a quieter place. There's still far too much advertisement plastered onto everything, as is the Sutoku way, and the connecting pachinko parlor is loud as hell, but Otegine seems to have tucked himself back in the far end of the bar with a glass and a small jar of sake, chin held up against one hand as he stares a new groove into the wood of the table.

jiiiiii

It's fine he's just a little grumpy.]

We hit each other with pillows and watched a… “movie”.

[So now he kind of knows what a movie is, so there’s that.

Owen tries to keep his approach quiet, but it’s not as easy to conceal his presence without his magic so Otegine might notice him coming. Or he might not realize until there are fingers brushing up the back of his neck, through his hair, before tweaking the tip of his ear.]

You look well.

[Otegine's lowest stats are stealth and reconnaissance, so congratulations Owen! You have successfully made Otegine jump hard enough in his seat that he bangs his knees on the bottom of the table.

Ow.

He chokes on a swear, hand immediately slapping up to cover his ear. His face is slightly flushed when he swings back to throw a disbelieving look at Owen, but it's hard to tell if it's from the alcohol or the shame.]

Ghhh-- Seriously???

[At least he doesn’t laugh at the way Otegine jumps, but it’s a near thing and it’s obvious on his face.

He slides into the seat next to Otegine, grinning.]

I had to get your attention some way, didn’t I?

A "hello" would've been fine...!

[Ow his legs. >(

He scoots over a little to give him room, sliding over a second cup he'd already waved down and pouring out a small amount for Owen, before topping his own back off.]

...Ah. Thanks for comin'. Didn't know if you were gonna take that seriously or not.

[Nah.]

I wasn’t sure it was a serious offer, so I had to come check.

[Owen also scoots over, invading Otegine’s space.

He toys with the cup, raising it up to sniff it curiously. He doesn’t take a sip, yet.]

Where’s the… dango?

I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't serious.

[It's spoken plainly.

The scent is mild, almost like grain, a smooth scent with just enough of a kick to the back of the nose to tell it's alcoholic.]

Mn. Not here. Skylark's been showing me yakitori stands, though, 'n I know one of em around here sold dango, too.

[He gently picks up the bowl-like cup in the crook between his thumb and fingers, going to raise it... before realizing that Owen had scooted closer once again.

Ah. Just. Switching hands for a sec.]

Wanted to finish off what I bought first. You shouldn't waste sake.

Cheers. [A gentle lift of his cup, before bringing it back to his lips with a hand thats growing only slightly unsteady.]

Plenty of people ask for things they don’t want just to be polite.

[Deeming the sake acceptable enough to take a sip, and frowning at Otegine’s salute, he still ends up making a bit of a face at the taste.

It’s not his preference, but it’s not as bad as some alcohol he’s had.]

How much of this have you had already?

[He doesn’t seem completely gone, but… Still.]

[He exhales with satisfaction. Ahhhh sake.]

C'mon, Owen. Why would I ask for something I didn't care about when I'm already irritated?

[He settles the cup between his hands, leaning his elbows against the table and cocking his head towards Owen with a look that goes amusingly deadpan.]

This? Not a lot. Three or four cups, maybe.

Can't tell you how much the Daitengu gave us all earlier, though. [Can you hear the utter lack of enthusiasm in his voice. It would better if it didn't all taste like plastic!! And so much of it was strong...]

Maybe you're a masochist, or you're looking for some sort of justifiable outlet for your... "irritation".

[Totally normal things to assume about someone, probably. Otegine inviting Owen out while he's angry so he could beat up the wizard makes a lot more sense then inviting him out because he enjoys Owen's company..........

He finishes off his sake, grimacing before squinting at Otegine. It's stupid, but he's leaning into the spear's side, leering up at him.]

Is that what you want, Otegine? An outlet because you're so frustrated with how the Alliance is wasting your time?

O-oi, don't put words into my mouth. And I'm no masochist...!

[Owen gets a hand pressed directly against his forehead, holding him at arm's length in a weak shove attempt as Otegine finishes his own glass.]

Just 'cause I wanna be used different doesn't mean I'm gonna be going and taking that out on you. Why would I wanna do that?

[He is absolutely going to refill both glasses, though. Thank goodness it looks like it's running close to empty.]

'Sides, I don't think they're wasting my time. If anything, it's the other way around.

A sadist, then?

[He doesn’t appreciate being pushed around like this!!!]

Yes, yes, I’m sure you’d be much happier if you just got to stab and thrust all day, but talents like that don’t get much use outside of Tamamo businesses.

[His ready for that to sail over Otegine’s head, as he downs his next cup of sake.

Bleh. This doesn’t even taste like anything besides alcohol.]

No.

[The second comment gets him to crumple a bit on the table, the dark cloud over his head practically visible for how sour his expression twists.

He kicks back the entire cup in one swig, and then drops his head against the table with a muffled whine.]

What'm I supposed to DO, then? Daitengu isn't gonna bother to use me for anything they need if I can't prove myself, but how 'm I supposed to do that if they keep asking me to do stuff you don't ask a spear to do!

[He grumbles, his free hand messily tugging on his hair.]

Doesn't make sense.

[Hold on a second.]

…”A” spear?

[Owen lowers his glass, setting it down in front of him. There’s more teasing he could do - Otegine continues to make it too easy - but that phrasing…

It’s too odd to be incidental, and Otegine isn’t drunk enough to start spouting utter nonsense.]

A spear and not a man who wields a spear? You might be less human than I thought, Otegine.

[Shit.

He tenses immediately. Did he seriously just...

Okay. Okay maybe he's had a little too much to drink. Think, Otegine, think, how do we salvage this...]

I... y-yeah, ah...

You know, l-like I said, it's all I'm good at anyway, so... if I get stuck on things, then that means I can't use it like I'm supposed to, and if I can't use it, t-then... I mean, I... uh... I c-can't use it.

Kind of isn't fair to it. The, uh. The spear. Yeah.

[Smooth.]

[He is… just digging himself a deeper hole. Unfortunate.]

The spear that’s… yourself. A spear that’s a man. I imagine a man that’s a spear would have little knowledge of anything besides stabbing, and little desire to do anything but what they were made for.

[Owen might be an idiot, but sometimes he’s not a complete dumbass.]

So you know nothing else about the world, because of this.

[hhhhhhhhh

He's just. Putting his face in his hands. While still face first on the table.]

... sort've...

[He hates this.

The bartender gives them a Look from over the countertops, but just continues cleaning glasses.]

[Heeeeeeeeeehehehehehe.]

Sort of?

[He’s leaning into Otegine’s side again, getting into his space. The bartender gets waved off - he can mind his own business.]

How long have you been a person, Otegine? Not long, right? So you have so many things you can experience in the world…

[He groans into his hands, his response muffled.]

Will you stop with the assumptions, geeze...

[He doesn't push Owen away, at least, but getting peppered like this isn't something he's prepared for. He sighs, long and reluctant, turning his view enough to look at Owen with a thin frown.]

Can't tell you that, anyway.

Why're you askin'???

Because I'm curious.

[Owen rests his cheek against Otegine's shoulder, draping over him. He's comfortable, even if probably feels like having a bag of ice dropped on his side for poor Otegine.]

Are you a... spirit? I know spirits can be drawn to objects, and that magic can give objects their own feelings... Or that objects can house those that have passed on, but I don't think that's true in your case.

[He's probably not a ghost that possessed a spear and then became a living person again. He's confident in that much being impossible.]

Didn't I just--

[UGGGH okay no. He sits up and immediately puts a hand to Owen's mouth to physically stop him from talking so he can wave down the bartender for the check, sideeying the wizard the entire while.]

Not here, okay. Please.

Told you we need to get dango, anyway.

[Owen licks the palm of his hand.

Release him, foul beast. Let the man speak. Otherwise he's just going to find other ways to annoy him while they wait for the bartender.]

[EW?

His eyes narrow, before he proceeds to wipe it on Owen's face and put his hand right back where it was. Jerk.]

Edited 2022-09-26 06:14 (UTC)

[LICKS HIM AGAIN???

He will not back down. He will die on this hill literally, if he has to. Be careful before he starts sucking on fingers to establish dominance or something.]

[It is very clear he hates this, but he's just slightly too tipsy to back down for once.

His hand twitches, but doesn't move, even as the bartender comes over with the check. They don't look amused, but it's fine. It's the principle of the thing.

Yes, he is fishing for his yen with one hand. Yes, it's embarrassing. No, he will not put his hand down from Owen's mouth.]

un: owen

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