[Mask or not, Kisuke had a good impression of just how Gin looked just by catching her eyes and the wild way they danced when he had her off guard.
Smirking with confidence he usually shunted aside with ease, Kisuke offered her a shrug.]
I'm very good at adapting on the fly. You'd be surprised how many ways we could make that work to our favor but... I suppose it couldn't hurt to spare you a little.
[Just as she patted his cheek, he left himself up for even more punishment. He watched as a car came down the street for them, leaving him a few precious moments to catch her off guard before he had to actually play to his role properly.]
I guess I can settle for an overprotective and aggressive boyfriend angle. It's been a while.
Oh you can't be—[ serious; gin doesn't even get a chance to reply to that final statement, not wanting to give away anything to their driver. that could be dangerous.
and there is was, even though gin turned away quickly, the tell-tale sign of embarrassment visible in the way the tip of her ears reddened before she climbed onto the back of the car.
the driver had been contracted and paid for by her boss. though now that they're on the way she wonders if this is such a good idea. she casts a look at urahara, searching for any hesitation on his part.
but it's too late now, technically, the drive isn't even long and the venue-some casino with patrons richer than god-is the scene of tonight's job. normally, she'd have hirotsu or tachihara at her side but they were back in yokohama. this was a gamble, but gin felt quite certain that in a pinch, urahara would be perfectly suitable a replacement for her usual work partners. ]
You should take advantage of the drinks. [ gin offers, a neutral enough statement. ]
[He left Gin with one little smile before the car pulled up and he put on a face that was considerably more appropriate. Given the respect she showed him and the crush she never could conceal, he went with something that fit him a few hundred years ago. Seamlessly, he took in a breath and sighed, the lively and friendly look in his eyes disappearing completely. He slouched once more and looked away from her, expression drifting into something distant and hollow.
With her profession in mind, maybe an older and meaner contractor hired on the side would be more appropriate. It would fit any explanation as to why he was likely unheard of and not surprise anyone who might have seen him in passing.]
Mm. [He waited for the driver to open the door for him, lowering his voice to a point.]
The sooner this is over, the better. You owe me, Akutagawa.
[ at least... crushes are simple. they don't get in the way of work as far as gin is concerned, and -she thinks that- as long as she's aware of it, in control then this is fine. everything is just fine, even if her eyes do linger on him now and again. though, quite frankly, gin isn't sure if she's staring now because of a childish crush or because he had-
-changed. seamless transition from who gin had become familiar with to this. beneath her mask, the way her mouth parts in surprise is concealed. trust is such a difficult thing and still, when push has come to shove she has been able to trust urahara. (in her humble opinion though, he is still trouble.)
gin follows, dipping her head in acknowledgement of those words. if this is the mask he's picking for tonight, gin will follow the act. ] Just add it to my tab.[ her voice is still sweet but lacks the warmth and softness of before.
inside the lavishly decorated hall are distinct representatives from several of the yakuza families, not only from this area but further up north. this hadn't been in the dossier she'd been given—is this a test from mori?
ah... let's just hope she does not have to kill anyone tonight. that would not be ideal because of her current companion (little does she know...)
instead, she plucks two champagne flutes from a tray when a waiter stops by and she offers one to urahara. ]
[The drive had been quiet. In his youth, he had always been precisely that. Schemers enjoyed silence to let their thoughts process. To run through scenarios. To be ready for anything. In his case, he enjoyed it so that it would help him still his body. He could calm his racing heart with silence. Lately? Silence had been a nightmare for him. Uncertainty filled the gaps.
He had his moments to consider what Gin would think of such a mask. She wouldn't be pleased to see a face she was likely used to seeing regularly on others--save for him. Either way, he had planned on doing her a favor. Following through would be his way of being appreciative but he'd still feel guilty over treating her the way he did--even if it were the result they were looking for.
Following her like a bored hound, Kisuke said nothing and exchanged dry looks with other guests. Colleagues who would undoubtedly share none of her charm or kindness. Maybe a fraction of her wit. What they would share with her would be a professional air and that subtle presence of seriousness that came out when she was ready to work. He had only seen a little of it but it did the trick. He understood what she could endeavor to do.]
Hm? [He pretended to not notice the waiter at first, glancing around at faces as if paranoid. It certainly helped that he always was. When he took his drink from the waiter and uttered no thanks at all, he took a moment to sniff it at the rim and downed it with practiced efficiency. The same man who would blow incessantly on his tea while they chatted had no problems at all playing the part of a ruffian. In that span of time, he caught Gin's expression. Something was off and she probably needed his eyes to be better trained.]
Akutagawa. Who's staring at me right now? Don't recognize them.
[Making an offer. Pretend you're holding my leash.]
[ the problem in this entire scenario is rather simple: gin has absolutely no idea why that man (and her brain is cataloguing through the dossiers she had read before coming here) is looking at urahara in such an intense manner. it's unsettling, and she has no idea why this could be.
as far as she knows of urahara kisuke- shop owner, shinigami, a little weird, and full of secrets but not actually involved in gin's world. the yakuza, the port mafia, all the underworld feuding that really didn't intersect most of the time with the shinigami things. or so, that is gin's understanding of things (which may be, unfortunately, lacking).
she lowers her voice, ] That is the right-hand man of Fukuchi. He used to be military.
[ what she's not asking with words is why- why is he staring at you like that? ]
[The sentiment might have been shared but it could have been a number of things. Gin's world had been one he rarely dipped his toes in--at least amongst people in the physical world. In the spiritual world, Fukuchi's hand was a familiar sight. Even so, the bleak-looking man with a faded crew-cut staring at him from a number of tables over wore an old scar by his temple that looked as if it had healed quite incorrectly. Puffing at a cigar, he'd occasionally mutter something to a young woman at his side. She would listen, nod, and tap away at her phone.
It could have meant a great number of things. Kisuke decided not to test it and simply huddled a little closer to Gin, shoulders hunched. A little hushed--]
If you want to be simplistic about it. [ gin knows fukuchi to be highly dangerous, despite having a small operation. he has contacts in the government and abroad, and after retiring from the military had remained highly respected and sought-out. not to mention the sword he had been gifted, a sword that was said to be able to pierce into the future.
whether it can or cannot is not on gin's notes but she does have a list of many dead people who had pissed fukuchi or one of his men off. she doesn't exactly want that to be her fate (urahara will be fine, she's pretty sure nothing remotely human could even scratch him). ]
In any case let's try to be out of his line of sight.
[ that suggestion is laughable, and instead, gin in a moment of utterly forgetting that she has a crush on this man and he has seen her bleed, puke, have her soul leave her body literally and replies, drily: ] And... I think you're more his type.
[There was absolutely a ticket list somewhere of people who wanted a piece of him in one way or another. He could play modest with his looks or intellect but after Aizen's capture? His name might have risen up in a few Womens' association polls. While he still thought it was a trick played on him by the new head...
Well, one more admirer/nemesis wouldn't change much.]
Nothing's more suspicious than hiding. Just pretend to be upset with me.
[Almost without a care in the world, he demonstrated by reaching up to adjust Gin's clothes. Publically.]
[ something goes flat and hostile in gin's eyes at the touch. day-to-day when she visited his shop or pestered him for a walk it was different—no one who saw them knew who she was and she did. the warmth that was real, the flustered faces and the teasing-all of it real but here in an environment gin knows to be unforgiving with weakness she can't be that gin.
give someone an inch and they'll take a mile. there's no hesitation or pretence as she hits his hands getting him to not touch her vest. after all, she can't look weak here as a representative of the port mafia, much less too cosy with a man who fukuchi's second is eyeing like he wants him dead. or something else. she's not going to think too hard about it. ] Last time, [ her voice is annoyed, unusual for that to be directed at urahara but here it is ] my boss thought it'd be a great idea to send me and my partner to assassinate someone at a strip club.
[ you fill in the blanks.
the experience had been mortifying on so many levels.
then without waiting for urahara gin turns, heading in the direction opposite from fukuchi's faction, in a very real, very not-fake irritated manner. ]
Sheesh. [He rubbed the back of his hand, feigning surprise when Gin turned to head off. He followed along in his shambling way, trying to imitate the age-old image of a lush who just put down several flutes of champagne without consulting his handler. He would have separated from her if he knew the crowd better but sticking close was still almost mandatory.
So, when they got a bit further away, Kisuke sighed and began walking alongside Gin, throwing her a low whisper he assumed she'd hear.]
Very sorry. I'll make it up to you sometime after if you want.
[He didn't assume she'd be happy to hear it so he didn't elaborate on why it was his choice of venues. If she was ticked off, then that was the long and short of it.]
Yet, unfortunately, he still sent someone to follow.
[Some brick-top in an old suit had been pretending to follow them around to order a drink somewhere else. Even though his table was right next to his boss' and they had plenty of waiters around to ask. So, it wasn't as simple as a crush. Not unless that ex-military fellow was particularly ambitious.]
[ she did hear; eyes turning to him with something akin to understanding—annoyed as she may be it served a purpose too. gin has to trust him here, especially since they have gone from 'casual reunion of mobsters' to 'urahara-san is someone someone here wants dead'. how they went from a to f gin is still trying to figure out, and once they've finished she's going to question how urahara even crossed paths with fukuchi's group. ]
We should try not to make a scene.
[ she takes another turn, down towards what leads to a service corridor and then stops. ] Urahara Kisuke, just who are you really? [ but she doesn't get an answer as the man sent after them appears at the other end, walking with a steady stride she is familiar with. she knows this walk very well, the intention to kill.
a hand is already on the hilt of her preferred weapon of choice: knives, long and pointy. ]
[He wasn't keeping the option off the table. His was a table with room for just about every option--which was certainly a problem unto itself. Smiling graciously as Gin made an effort to focus on the task at hand, Kisuke followed along. He hadn't readied himself a weapon at all, seeing plenty on the empty tables they were passing on their way to the back. Snatching a cutlery knife with a ring built into the handle, he tucked it into his breast pocket, flat with the blade facing away from him. Not because it was safer but because it was quicker to use that way.]
Hm? [Her question caught him off guard though only just a bit. Appropriate as it was, it was still strange to hear in that context.
Well. He had promised he'd be more honest with her if she was inclined to ever ask.]
A soul reaper. One who ferries the dead to the afterlife. Not fully practicing, I suppose, but you really never stop being one.
[Clearing his throat, he shrugged as he laid his eyes on the sharp knife she was preparing herself to draw.]
That aside, I genuinely have no idea why we're being chased. Please, consider me clueless.
Not at this moment or any moment after, I am here representing my boss, I don't want to get fired. [ which, of course means finding oneself at the bottom of yokohama's port with concrete feet or worse.
she notes with approval that he has armed himself though she has a feeling that blades and swords and maybe even bullets wouldn't hurt a shinigami that badly. would it? time to table that question for later, once they've solved this tiny problem.
no lie in his answer though gin has never held any doubts towards urahara, his words had always been taken as truth when presented. moments like this, she wonders if she's just simply not asking the right sort of questions. in this place, however, he is her responsibility, gin had asked for his company-wanted it, in that short-sighted way some people with feelings do things. ]
Alright. Let's see if I can find out.
[ she steps forward towards their unwanted visitor, the knife visible in her hand--the second knife not yet so. ]
Port Mafia stand aside, my business is with that escort you brought.
[ oh dear. gin hates speaking in these types of situations. ]
He's here with me, you're going to have to settle your grievances elsewhere.
Ha? You sound like a little girl. Who knew the Port Mafia would use little girls for important business.
[ gin is only partially offended, obviously this man had never had to face izumi kyoka who was younger than gin, cuter and had pretty high kill count but... ]
The Boss has important dealings with Fukuchi-sama, let's keep this civil.
Which is why I'll just have a quick minute or two with your companion here. He ought to know better than to show his bitch face where we could find him.
[Once their guest had caught up, Kisuke drew back his mask and began stretching his arms over his head. All the slouching and scowling did a number on him in short time. Well. Slouching and scowling more than usual, anyway. The suit who chased after them had been older than the rest. The chances of him having met him in the past and going forgotten had increased.]
Mmm.
[Had he been alone, he would have happily gone along and played that game until it was over. With Gin there, they had even more of a problem.
Well. Going through the list of options and possibilities, he smiled and allowed Gin the chance to speak on his behalf. Except, right towards the end.]
I can see this isn't going to end peacefully. Gin?
[Plucking the knife from his jacket, Kisuke began taking it off and setting it between his teeth, proceeding to slowly and carefully roll up his sleeves. Pretend as he might to not be annoyed with the comments earlier, well...]
Do you know how many exits there are to this place? The first floor is fairly large, so I expect anyone jumping from the second floor would hurt themselves trying to get out.
[ she trusts him but gin still feels apprehensive watching urahara roll his sleeves up; she moves aside, however, electing to allow him free reign in this situation. trust— gin isn't used to relying on someone for her missions, for her daily life. even her brother had his own life aside from spending time with her and they had defined boundaries. gin needs to be strong to be able to stay in the port mafia where her brother is.
but that's not the point right now. she flicks dark eyes to urahara and answers:] Two main ones on the first floor, three service exits. No quick way off the second floor unless you use the fire-escape or service elevator, but elevators are notoriously fickle in older buildings like this.
[ if you want to run you don't want to go up where you can get trapped unless you're fast enough to reach the rooftops and know how to move from one to the other. this man doesn't seem like the type. he's burly and tall, brute force rather than stealth and agility. ]
[Their assailant hadn't been particularly fond of the way he'd been dismissed and looked upon as an annoyance. Really, the disrespect to his boss had been the last straw but he worked on his sharpened brass knuckles, more than ready to present Kisuke in one piece, albeit relieved of a few key pieces.]
I'll have to put a stop to your chit-chat. Come along and--
[The fellow in the ill-fitting suit suddenly saw darkness. With a flick of his elbow, Kisuke snapped his hand out and flicked his carotid. Any trained fighter would be ready for it but Kisuke? He was ready for the slightest provocation. The moment the man's hand reached into his jacket for his brass knuckles, Kisuke had already begun making his move. It looked more like a gentle swipe to clear the air of a fly, concluded as the big lug toppled over onto his side. Kisuke held his hand out to catch him by his collar, slowly lowering him to the floor.
He slipped the knife from his teeth and looked back to Gin, smiling pleasantly. One thing he already quickly grew to admire about her had been that complete and utter willingness to follow her impulses. If she were ready then he had no reason to worry if she'd be able to follow him.]
Ahhh. So, no clean escape at all. Well, that'll give us plenty of room to work with.
[ this is more impressive than when she'd caught urahara out dealing with a hollow. gin's mouth beneath the mask is shaped in a neat little 'o' and oh no, that was incredibly competent and hot. not that she's ever been one to find competence attractive or not (one would argue that dazai's competence was a hit or miss that looked like incompetence in all but few cases until the results came in).
the corners of her eyes crinkle, betraying her smile.
on the floor the man is giving a groan of pain but he's been all but put down and gin doesn't even want to think how much pain he must be under that one blow. it had been clean and effective and ready. the reflexes of someone who is always ready. again, gin is torn between being worried that her mission has gone so awry and just sheer respect for how effective he was in dealing with the problem.
terrible, this man is going to be terrible for her—and gin has always had a weakness for that type. ]
No, no clean exit but probably the rooftop. [ the service corridors had no cctv and she wants to get out of here before someone can pin this on her and the port mafia. the boss was going to be furious. ]
[With her mask on, Gin was afforded a few levels of protection from him but he had been watching her as he made that fancy little move happen. The slightest crease in her expression wouldn't go unnoticed.
Well, not that he even needed to see that. Gin was clearly a fan of operators. Once he stood up straight, he offered her a cute little wink and stepped over the then-unconscious lieutenant so he could reach into his pocket for his phone. From his own pocket, he found a little sim card to replace the lieutenant's with.]
Very good to know. Do you know who would cause the most uproar if I were to take them hostage, by the way?
Take them— [ gin falls silent and considers the question. well, technically fukuchi's group would be the most upset if one of their men went missing but if mori found out, he'd really... well, mori wasn't known for being kind to subordinates who broke the rules.
she watches him, curious and nervous, not obvious to most; except gin might as well be an open book to urahara with the way her fingers and expressions give away her thoughts.] Probably my own boss, why? Unless no one finds out it was you and by extension me... then it'd just mean Fukuchi's group would be upset.
Seriously? That's almost a little too clean for an event like this.
[He fished around his pockets for his phone, speaking with the knife still between his teeth.]
I even went through the trouble of disabling cell signals when we came in, so it's really just going to be a bit of a fight.
[When was it ever so simple? Well. Not that he wouldn't be ready. If any of them possessed abilities at all like Gin's brother, then he'd have an excuse to use his knife. Taking it from between his teeth, Kisuke continued. Gin had been so attentive and trusting with him that he couldn't quite resist giving her something interesting to work with.]
Is there anyone in the crowd you'd like a bit of petty revenge on, by the way? Anyone who might have bugged you recently?
This is an important event but it's not the main act. Why would they send someone like me to that? I'm just here to cover the lower side of things. [ more or less. gin doesn't have the skills some of her other co-workers who rise through the ranks do: you know like her brother who turns his coat into a raging stabby monster of death.
the question catches her off-guard, but even as she hesitates the answer is obviously yes. ] Urahara-san, are you planning something devious because you are bored tonight? [ a hint of teasing there, a certain appreciative warmth solely for him to see in private. ]
A few people in the main room are ability users, how well do Soul Reapers hold against that type?
[He'd say nothing of how her spirit could have affected her body since she could see through the veil of death. In a sense, though, she was right. She'd really need a little training to be just that dangerous to go shoulder-to-shoulder with monsters like that.
Even with that in mind, he smiled quite happily and offered Gin a wide shrug.]
Would you say I look bored? It's time spent with you at a nicer party! If I add my personal flavor to it then I'd rather call that enhancement.
[With that, a tiny bit of honesty. Gin, trusting him and knowing him a bit better than she should have for the sake of her sanity, likely understood he would be fine by the end of the evening no matter what.]
As for myself, you don't need to worry. In a worst-case scenario, I could always just brute-force things and knock everyone out in the building but I wouldn't want to overwhelm your senses quite so. Instead, I think I'd just like to use the chance to field-test a few experiments of mine.
Enhancement. [ gin echoes looking at urahara like he's suddenly started speaking a foreign language. she's torn between amusement, an uncertain fondness and concern for doing her job. ] I certainly can't stop you from doing anything.[ practical to the last and gin isn't even going to tell him no, because ultimately, she trusts him. there is no reason not to; he's done everything so far, in gin's perception, to be trustworthy without intending to. from helping her when injured to agreeing to attend this party.
she does not touch him though she's tempted to tug at his suit, to smooth it out once more before whatever else he wants to test out happens. ]
I do want to know how it is that he seems to recognise you but you can tell me after. [ a pause ] Not that I wish to pry into your business.
[Allowing Gin her chance to give him a little subtle attention, even if just watching him carefully, Kisuke picked through one of his pockets to find a little metal canister. It looked something like a smoke bomb and he slid one finger into the pin, ready to pull it.]
Not that it would surprise me if they're someone I've irritated in passing. Even if I were a more agreeable person, I suppose that would just be the inevitability of life.
[Smiling a little wider, he thought aloud.]
The next time we do a date, we should go somewhere nicer, by the way.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
y'know what fine /cries
Smirking with confidence he usually shunted aside with ease, Kisuke offered her a shrug.]
I'm very good at adapting on the fly. You'd be surprised how many ways we could make that work to our favor but... I suppose it couldn't hurt to spare you a little.
[Just as she patted his cheek, he left himself up for even more punishment. He watched as a car came down the street for them, leaving him a few precious moments to catch her off guard before he had to actually play to his role properly.]
I guess I can settle for an overprotective and aggressive boyfriend angle. It's been a while.
no subject
and there is was, even though gin turned away quickly, the tell-tale sign of embarrassment visible in the way the tip of her ears reddened before she climbed onto the back of the car.
the driver had been contracted and paid for by her boss. though now that they're on the way she wonders if this is such a good idea. she casts a look at urahara, searching for any hesitation on his part.
but it's too late now, technically, the drive isn't even long and the venue-some casino with patrons richer than god-is the scene of tonight's job. normally, she'd have hirotsu or tachihara at her side but they were back in yokohama. this was a gamble, but gin felt quite certain that in a pinch, urahara would be perfectly suitable a replacement for her usual work partners. ]
You should take advantage of the drinks. [ gin offers, a neutral enough statement. ]
no subject
With her profession in mind, maybe an older and meaner contractor hired on the side would be more appropriate. It would fit any explanation as to why he was likely unheard of and not surprise anyone who might have seen him in passing.]
Mm. [He waited for the driver to open the door for him, lowering his voice to a point.]
The sooner this is over, the better. You owe me, Akutagawa.
no subject
-changed. seamless transition from who gin had become familiar with to this. beneath her mask, the way her mouth parts in surprise is concealed. trust is such a difficult thing and still, when push has come to shove she has been able to trust urahara. (in her humble opinion though, he is still trouble.)
gin follows, dipping her head in acknowledgement of those words. if this is the mask he's picking for tonight, gin will follow the act. ] Just add it to my tab.[ her voice is still sweet but lacks the warmth and softness of before.
inside the lavishly decorated hall are distinct representatives from several of the yakuza families, not only from this area but further up north. this hadn't been in the dossier she'd been given—is this a test from mori?
ah... let's just hope she does not have to kill anyone tonight. that would not be ideal because of her current companion (little does she know...)
instead, she plucks two champagne flutes from a tray when a waiter stops by and she offers one to urahara. ]
no subject
He had his moments to consider what Gin would think of such a mask. She wouldn't be pleased to see a face she was likely used to seeing regularly on others--save for him. Either way, he had planned on doing her a favor. Following through would be his way of being appreciative but he'd still feel guilty over treating her the way he did--even if it were the result they were looking for.
Following her like a bored hound, Kisuke said nothing and exchanged dry looks with other guests. Colleagues who would undoubtedly share none of her charm or kindness. Maybe a fraction of her wit. What they would share with her would be a professional air and that subtle presence of seriousness that came out when she was ready to work. He had only seen a little of it but it did the trick. He understood what she could endeavor to do.]
Hm? [He pretended to not notice the waiter at first, glancing around at faces as if paranoid. It certainly helped that he always was. When he took his drink from the waiter and uttered no thanks at all, he took a moment to sniff it at the rim and downed it with practiced efficiency. The same man who would blow incessantly on his tea while they chatted had no problems at all playing the part of a ruffian. In that span of time, he caught Gin's expression. Something was off and she probably needed his eyes to be better trained.]
Akutagawa. Who's staring at me right now? Don't recognize them.
[Making an offer. Pretend you're holding my leash.]
no subject
as far as she knows of urahara kisuke- shop owner, shinigami, a little weird, and full of secrets but not actually involved in gin's world. the yakuza, the port mafia, all the underworld feuding that really didn't intersect most of the time with the shinigami things. or so, that is gin's understanding of things (which may be, unfortunately, lacking).
she lowers her voice, ] That is the right-hand man of Fukuchi. He used to be military.
[ what she's not asking with words is why- why is he staring at you like that? ]
no subject
[The sentiment might have been shared but it could have been a number of things. Gin's world had been one he rarely dipped his toes in--at least amongst people in the physical world. In the spiritual world, Fukuchi's hand was a familiar sight. Even so, the bleak-looking man with a faded crew-cut staring at him from a number of tables over wore an old scar by his temple that looked as if it had healed quite incorrectly. Puffing at a cigar, he'd occasionally mutter something to a young woman at his side. She would listen, nod, and tap away at her phone.
It could have meant a great number of things. Kisuke decided not to test it and simply huddled a little closer to Gin, shoulders hunched. A little hushed--]
You think he's envious that I came here with you?
no subject
whether it can or cannot is not on gin's notes but she does have a list of many dead people who had pissed fukuchi or one of his men off. she doesn't exactly want that to be her fate (urahara will be fine, she's pretty sure nothing remotely human could even scratch him). ]
In any case let's try to be out of his line of sight.
[ that suggestion is laughable, and instead, gin in a moment of utterly forgetting that she has a crush on this man and he has seen her bleed, puke, have her soul leave her body literally and replies, drily: ] And... I think you're more his type.
no subject
Well, one more admirer/nemesis wouldn't change much.]
Nothing's more suspicious than hiding. Just pretend to be upset with me.
[Almost without a care in the world, he demonstrated by reaching up to adjust Gin's clothes. Publically.]
You don't do things like this very often, do you?
no subject
give someone an inch and they'll take a mile. there's no hesitation or pretence as she hits his hands getting him to not touch her vest. after all, she can't look weak here as a representative of the port mafia, much less too cosy with a man who fukuchi's second is eyeing like he wants him dead. or something else. she's not going to think too hard about it. ] Last time, [ her voice is annoyed, unusual for that to be directed at urahara but here it is ] my boss thought it'd be a great idea to send me and my partner to assassinate someone at a strip club.
[ you fill in the blanks.
the experience had been mortifying on so many levels.
then without waiting for urahara gin turns, heading in the direction opposite from fukuchi's faction, in a very real, very not-fake irritated manner. ]
no subject
So, when they got a bit further away, Kisuke sighed and began walking alongside Gin, throwing her a low whisper he assumed she'd hear.]
Very sorry. I'll make it up to you sometime after if you want.
[He didn't assume she'd be happy to hear it so he didn't elaborate on why it was his choice of venues. If she was ticked off, then that was the long and short of it.]
Yet, unfortunately, he still sent someone to follow.
[Some brick-top in an old suit had been pretending to follow them around to order a drink somewhere else. Even though his table was right next to his boss' and they had plenty of waiters around to ask. So, it wasn't as simple as a crush. Not unless that ex-military fellow was particularly ambitious.]
no subject
We should try not to make a scene.
[ she takes another turn, down towards what leads to a service corridor and then stops. ] Urahara Kisuke, just who are you really? [ but she doesn't get an answer as the man sent after them appears at the other end, walking with a steady stride she is familiar with. she knows this walk very well, the intention to kill.
a hand is already on the hilt of her preferred weapon of choice: knives, long and pointy. ]
no subject
[He wasn't keeping the option off the table. His was a table with room for just about every option--which was certainly a problem unto itself. Smiling graciously as Gin made an effort to focus on the task at hand, Kisuke followed along. He hadn't readied himself a weapon at all, seeing plenty on the empty tables they were passing on their way to the back. Snatching a cutlery knife with a ring built into the handle, he tucked it into his breast pocket, flat with the blade facing away from him. Not because it was safer but because it was quicker to use that way.]
Hm? [Her question caught him off guard though only just a bit. Appropriate as it was, it was still strange to hear in that context.
Well. He had promised he'd be more honest with her if she was inclined to ever ask.]
A soul reaper. One who ferries the dead to the afterlife. Not fully practicing, I suppose, but you really never stop being one.
[Clearing his throat, he shrugged as he laid his eyes on the sharp knife she was preparing herself to draw.]
That aside, I genuinely have no idea why we're being chased. Please, consider me clueless.
no subject
she notes with approval that he has armed himself though she has a feeling that blades and swords and maybe even bullets wouldn't hurt a shinigami that badly. would it? time to table that question for later, once they've solved this tiny problem.
no lie in his answer though gin has never held any doubts towards urahara, his words had always been taken as truth when presented. moments like this, she wonders if she's just simply not asking the right sort of questions. in this place, however, he is her responsibility, gin had asked for his company-wanted it, in that short-sighted way some people with feelings do things. ]
Alright. Let's see if I can find out.
[ she steps forward towards their unwanted visitor, the knife visible in her hand--the second knife not yet so. ]
Port Mafia stand aside, my business is with that escort you brought.
[ oh dear. gin hates speaking in these types of situations. ]
He's here with me, you're going to have to settle your grievances elsewhere.
Ha? You sound like a little girl. Who knew the Port Mafia would use little girls for important business.
[ gin is only partially offended, obviously this man had never had to face izumi kyoka who was younger than gin, cuter and had pretty high kill count but... ]
The Boss has important dealings with Fukuchi-sama, let's keep this civil.
Which is why I'll just have a quick minute or two with your companion here. He ought to know better than to show his bitch face where we could find him.
[ and this is turning uncivilised very quickly. ]
no subject
Mmm.
[Had he been alone, he would have happily gone along and played that game until it was over. With Gin there, they had even more of a problem.
Well. Going through the list of options and possibilities, he smiled and allowed Gin the chance to speak on his behalf. Except, right towards the end.]
I can see this isn't going to end peacefully. Gin?
[Plucking the knife from his jacket, Kisuke began taking it off and setting it between his teeth, proceeding to slowly and carefully roll up his sleeves. Pretend as he might to not be annoyed with the comments earlier, well...]
Do you know how many exits there are to this place? The first floor is fairly large, so I expect anyone jumping from the second floor would hurt themselves trying to get out.
no subject
but that's not the point right now. she flicks dark eyes to urahara and answers:] Two main ones on the first floor, three service exits. No quick way off the second floor unless you use the fire-escape or service elevator, but elevators are notoriously fickle in older buildings like this.
[ if you want to run you don't want to go up where you can get trapped unless you're fast enough to reach the rooftops and know how to move from one to the other. this man doesn't seem like the type. he's burly and tall, brute force rather than stealth and agility. ]
no subject
I'll have to put a stop to your chit-chat. Come along and--
[The fellow in the ill-fitting suit suddenly saw darkness. With a flick of his elbow, Kisuke snapped his hand out and flicked his carotid. Any trained fighter would be ready for it but Kisuke? He was ready for the slightest provocation. The moment the man's hand reached into his jacket for his brass knuckles, Kisuke had already begun making his move. It looked more like a gentle swipe to clear the air of a fly, concluded as the big lug toppled over onto his side. Kisuke held his hand out to catch him by his collar, slowly lowering him to the floor.
He slipped the knife from his teeth and looked back to Gin, smiling pleasantly. One thing he already quickly grew to admire about her had been that complete and utter willingness to follow her impulses. If she were ready then he had no reason to worry if she'd be able to follow him.]
Ahhh. So, no clean escape at all. Well, that'll give us plenty of room to work with.
no subject
the corners of her eyes crinkle, betraying her smile.
on the floor the man is giving a groan of pain but he's been all but put down and gin doesn't even want to think how much pain he must be under that one blow. it had been clean and effective and ready. the reflexes of someone who is always ready. again, gin is torn between being worried that her mission has gone so awry and just sheer respect for how effective he was in dealing with the problem.
terrible, this man is going to be terrible for her—and gin has always had a weakness for that type. ]
No, no clean exit but probably the rooftop. [ the service corridors had no cctv and she wants to get out of here before someone can pin this on her and the port mafia. the boss was going to be furious. ]
no subject
Well, not that he even needed to see that. Gin was clearly a fan of operators. Once he stood up straight, he offered her a cute little wink and stepped over the then-unconscious lieutenant so he could reach into his pocket for his phone. From his own pocket, he found a little sim card to replace the lieutenant's with.]
Very good to know. Do you know who would cause the most uproar if I were to take them hostage, by the way?
no subject
she watches him, curious and nervous, not obvious to most; except gin might as well be an open book to urahara with the way her fingers and expressions give away her thoughts.] Probably my own boss, why? Unless no one finds out it was you and by extension me... then it'd just mean Fukuchi's group would be upset.
no subject
[He fished around his pockets for his phone, speaking with the knife still between his teeth.]
I even went through the trouble of disabling cell signals when we came in, so it's really just going to be a bit of a fight.
[When was it ever so simple? Well. Not that he wouldn't be ready. If any of them possessed abilities at all like Gin's brother, then he'd have an excuse to use his knife. Taking it from between his teeth, Kisuke continued. Gin had been so attentive and trusting with him that he couldn't quite resist giving her something interesting to work with.]
Is there anyone in the crowd you'd like a bit of petty revenge on, by the way? Anyone who might have bugged you recently?
no subject
the question catches her off-guard, but even as she hesitates the answer is obviously yes. ] Urahara-san, are you planning something devious because you are bored tonight? [ a hint of teasing there, a certain appreciative warmth solely for him to see in private. ]
A few people in the main room are ability users, how well do Soul Reapers hold against that type?
no subject
Even with that in mind, he smiled quite happily and offered Gin a wide shrug.]
Would you say I look bored? It's time spent with you at a nicer party! If I add my personal flavor to it then I'd rather call that enhancement.
[With that, a tiny bit of honesty. Gin, trusting him and knowing him a bit better than she should have for the sake of her sanity, likely understood he would be fine by the end of the evening no matter what.]
As for myself, you don't need to worry. In a worst-case scenario, I could always just brute-force things and knock everyone out in the building but I wouldn't want to overwhelm your senses quite so. Instead, I think I'd just like to use the chance to field-test a few experiments of mine.
no subject
she does not touch him though she's tempted to tug at his suit, to smooth it out once more before whatever else he wants to test out happens. ]
I do want to know how it is that he seems to recognise you but you can tell me after. [ a pause ] Not that I wish to pry into your business.
no subject
[Allowing Gin her chance to give him a little subtle attention, even if just watching him carefully, Kisuke picked through one of his pockets to find a little metal canister. It looked something like a smoke bomb and he slid one finger into the pin, ready to pull it.]
Not that it would surprise me if they're someone I've irritated in passing. Even if I were a more agreeable person, I suppose that would just be the inevitability of life.
[Smiling a little wider, he thought aloud.]
The next time we do a date, we should go somewhere nicer, by the way.
(no subject)
i almost wrote 'thirsty seconds' and thought about keeping it
i mean lol
(no subject)