!T1e/DmU8Jg 2008/09/10 (Wed) 20:28 No. 7557 ▼ File 122110370791.jpg - (433.34KB, 1000x720 , Mokou14.jpg)
"Gotcha. Know a few people like that myself, it's all about learning to chill." You cluck, thumbing at Youmu, and the other two women share a polite chuckle. If Youmu is still awake enough to actually hear you... well, so much the better. You rather hope she can, as it'd really do her a lot of good to just calm down.
"Agreed, agreed. Lean back and go with the flow. That's the key to a good dance and a peaceful life." Iku speaks, and Letty again agrees. The three of you drift into talk of trivialities for a while, passing time laughing and chatting about how nice the cocoa is and what type of snacks you prefer. Well, it's more like Letty starts talking about snacks while you and Iku listen. Or more like Letty talks, Iku listens, and your thoughts wander to...
"Ice cream!" Yes, ice cream. "Banana splits, in particular, are both tasty and fun to eat with company." That they are, that they are. You really must go out to that shop again sometime, and with less awkwardness now. Or maybe even take Youmu there. No, have Letty take Youmu there. Yes, imagine that, her spoon-feeding Youmu in a not-so-traumatic moment...
"Ah, watching you two is so fun!" Idly swirling a finger in her cup, Iku gazes between you and Letty, who's broken into laughter looking at your face. You attempt to stop from turning the color of your dress, with moderate success, and clear your throat. Youmu, now seated at your side, turns her head and softly moans something, and you scoot her cup a little closer to her hand should she want it.
"So, do you work with the Prismrivers often?"
"Yes, are they coming back here, too?" Letty chimes in with you innocently, and Iku giggles.
"I knew the ambition would arise in time! I do not think they would be able to play if they did not truly enjoy their own parties. Never you fear, they will be back in due time."
"Actually, I'm afraid they won't." The door slams open, revealing the singer you saw on stage earlier - Mokou Fujiwara, you suppose. She unconvincingly fakes smiling and tries to act like she swung it that hard accidentally, but her eyes smoulder. "Pleasure to see you, sorry I couldn't come back here earlier, and I'm afraid that there's some private business about to go down so I'm sorry but if you would please clear out that'd be better for all of you, you too Iku, thanks you were great out there now please leave you might want to hurry BYE!"
None of you say anything. Letty blinks, her lashes swaying in the breeze from the door.
"Naw, really. Cmon, kids, I'm warning you here. Ugly stage business. You don't wanna see it. Talk to Merlin if you want your passes refunded, thanks for coming, please attend our next concert, cmon Iku gimme a hand here. What's your names, nice to meet you, Bloody Fairy, Goth Girl and Blanket Lump - oh." Fujiwara pulls back the top of Youmu's blankets to see her face, and stops her hasty handshake cold.
"There you are, Mokou. Sit down, relax. This is Letty Whiterock, and her friends - " Iku attempts to calm her partner down, but in accordance with her warning, Mokou will have none of it.
"Fucking shit. Pardon my language. Yeah, I know HER already. We've met. Too late, huh? Least it'll be quick this time. Kid, you wanna go out back? Hey! Let's go!" She prods at Youmu, who simply burbles in response, still mostly asleep but waking up slowly. You intervene when she starts shaking.
"Hey, cut it out! Mokou, right? She's had a rough time and she's not here for any trouble." The singer's eye falls on you.
"What, you know her? You the one that's got business with me, kid?"
"No, but neither is Youmu, so - "
"Youmu! That her name? Saigyouji's gettin loose on the ends, huh, well you tell me here, she got a pass to be back here?" Iku's head jerks up at the mention of your family's name, and you quite suddenly have to carefully avoid looking in Letty's direction.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Does she have a pass, yes or no?"
"Um. No, I think not." Come to think of it, she has a point. Your passes weren't checked when you followed her, either, and in fact you can't recall seeing any sort of bouncer or anyone else at all backstage - despite Lilith and her boss's heavy security out front...
"Well, then, maybe I oughtaaaaaAY!" Before Mokou can grow any more belligerant, you get up, grab one of her suspender straps and pull her outside the room. Yet another misadventure you'll have to apologize to Letty for. Damn it. Once the door shuts, you growl in her ear, trying to sound like you know what you're talking about.
"Gods, girl, keep it down! Now, look, I think I know what you're meaning, but it's not me and it's definitely not Youmu. She's... off duty. If we had any business with you tonight you'd know. Concern's duly noted, but you might want to get yourself out of here before the real assa- person who has business with you comes knocking, okay?" You don't offer to pull any heroics for her, even if you're right about her not having long to live. The setup's too obvious now. But... not your place. She stares down at you.
"Kid, you think you know what's going on? And it's not your buncha ghosty fuckers?"
"No. Count your blessings."
"How bout counting my money. Listen, I gotta stay alive for the next couple days. You folks can stop death well as you can bring it, right? I've gotten whacked by that Youmu or whoever it is a few too many times to count now, but..."
"I don't have the authority to cut deals like that. Run back to the dance, look for a girl wearing a red and green ribbon and nothing else." Too many times? You revise your mental assessment slightly; she must be a natural spirit like yourself, then.
"Uh, yeah, I know your boss. Everyone who's anyone knows your boss, kid. Crazy for her to show her face in the open like that, wondered why no one said anything, now I know why. She's gone, I checked." Mokou rolls her eyes, and you try to keep up with which of your illusions are being shattered this time. "Does she want Houraisan winning and dominating everyone in the city?"
"She's never 'gone,' and what's that got to do with anything?" Irritated, you glance back at the door. If Letty decides to check on you, now... no, she wouldn't. She, unlike apparently everyone else in the city, respects your privacy.
"Gone, whatever, she's not there anymore. I'm serious here. If Kaguya wins, we are all fucked. You comprehend fucked? Not in the happy fairy in the forest way, in the eternal torment way. She's cheating, she's pulling shit..." Mokou's abrupt begging comes with an extra helping of desperation and anger alongside the lacing of profanity. "Hakurei's not likely to live to Saturday and Moriya's a joke. The Kant shit, I don't know what's with that but it won't stop her either. I know I can do something, if I don't get ganked. PLEASE."
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