The Omotesando

[eyrei]

Black_Hole doesnt like the drunk man under his table, so he shakes his shoulder, expecting a thank-you for getting him up when....

Hideyoshi moves with amazing agility considering his size and stupor, trying to tackle the man who just woke him...unfortunately, he initially goes in the wrong direction, knocks over Immo who happened to be walking by, mumbles an apology, and then lunges at Black_Hole, bringing both of them to the floor in a heap. He then proceeds to try and punch him, relishing his chance to finally stick it to one of those annoying gremlins that plague his existence.

 

[Black_Hole]

BH(Black_Hole) draws a pointed stick to defend himself, hes had enough of this drunk old man. BH prepares to spear when Ichi, the waitress, gets in the middle of the fight and yells "Stop it!", BH dives around here and smacks the drunk man a few times with the non-pointed end, so not to hurt him too much.

 

[eyrei]

BH(Black_Hole) draws a pointed stick to defend himself, hes had enough of this drunk old man. BH prepares to spear when Jennifer, the waitress, gets in the middle of the fight and yells "Stop it!", BH dives around here and smacks the drunk man a few times with the non-pointed end, so not to hurt him too much.

Not even noticing the stick that wacked him, Hideyoshi grins at the waitress: "Pretty lady want a present? I'll be right back." He then stumbles back to the door, managing to get it open on his second try this time. He bows to the waitress, nearly falling over forward, and then leaves...

 

[Cyc]

"You're not planning of putting that thing into me, are you?" Riko teased, looking both to the knife and Asano's naked body. "I'm here for business, not for entertainment... yet ... I've got knowledge that will interest you"

Asano closes his eyes briefly, finishing his prayer and thinking, "There is a God..."

"Speak woman. The hour is late, and I am interested", Asano states as he leans to pick up a towel. "Here, you look like you need this more than I do." He also slides the lamp closer to her and backs away. Reluctantly, he throws on a tunic.

"Well?..."

EDIT: Put in a parenthesis mark.

 

[Chieftess]

Moderator Action: Let's just try to stay away from the hentai scenes, ok?

 

[Rik Meleet]

Looking so enjoying and cheerfully, Riko's mind was working on top-level. Her concentration focussed to the maximum. She heard some stumbling and cheers from the bar. -good, no they won't be hearing us.

She noticed the quick closing of Asano's eyes. The bait Riko gave him was being tried. Now only a small nibble and he'd been hooked.

"I overheard you talking to the inn-keeper..." she started, "you seem to desire to settle down. All those talks of land, nobles, stables, houses, ... You seem eager to settle in Fanatikku."

Asano's pupils widened, displaying unintentionally his interest. Encouraged by this involuntary sign, she continued:

"I can help you. Soon there will be plenty of homes for all worthy. It will take time, but you can help us, and yourself, to speed this process up."

Asano sighed. Why do they always make promisses they can't keep?
"What process ?" Asano asked.

Riko gave Asano a quick smile -the bait was being swallowed.

"When you walked through town, did you sense anything ?"
"Yes, people are afraid, dissatisfied even. As if they want something they're not getting"
"And what do you think they want ?"
"I'm not sure" Asano replied; "but the unhappyness is spread out wide".

Riko was considering if this was the moment to tell of the riotting and the rebellion. It seemed so. Asano was showing more interest so early than she and her Chieff had anticipated. This could be both good and bad. Good if he was sincere, bad if he was a double-crosser.

Riko had to decide now whether she should tell him of the plan or not. Could he be trusted ?

 

[Cyc]

"For you to have spent the night making your own small window in my wall, what you have to say must be very important. But before you go any farther, let me say that I am not interested in settling in Fanatikku. I am planning on staying here in Immo for a while." Asano watched as she stripped and dried herself off, wrapping her hair in the towel. Riko dried her clothes the best she could and lay them next to the lamp. Asano was sitting on the tatami, back to the wall. Riko came and sat at the corner of the mat. "I have hopes of business here and have many plans already," Asano continued. He sensed that she was part of a liberation movement, one that was making plans on a large scale. "Some times ignorance of certain subjects is a great part of wisdom, my friend. Be sure you want to tell me of your process. There was a government man at the bar tonight. How do you know I am not with him?"

Asano quickly ran through the events of the night, from returning from the stables, dinner, the government man (later finding out he was called Noldodan), the eventual rowdiness of the bar, and the desire to return to this room. There were a couple of ripples, like the woman with the cat, but pretty much everything checked out.

He had pulled some dried fruit from his bag and was eating it when he returned his sleepy gaze to Riko. "Would you like some?" he asked. She graciously accepted and started to eat as Asano wrapped the blanet around her.

"Does this have anything to do with your Babylonian descent?" Asano asked as he leaned back against the wall.

 

[MSTK]

From the worn-out doorway the small tavern contrasted its peaceful aura that Myein observed from the fringes of Immo Town. The secret stories told of this place truely matched its face. With difficulty, Myein dodged through a diverse crowd (That even contained someone who seemed to be Babylonian) and went up to the attender.

"Miso," Myein requested as the server beckoned an order. (( OOC: Am I allowed to control Immo to this extent? Or is this too much control? ))

 

[superpelon]

Something WAS going on in here. It could be as simple as a prostitution ring, or a opium deal going down, or someone smuggling out Japanatican dissenters from Fanatikku.

But.

There was the mixed-blood. The Babylonian girl. She had matured very nicely, her Mesopotamian blood only served to enhace the beauty of the Japanatican women she was. She was the only thing that made Pelon think twice about the whole scene he had just seen.

Riko. That was her name... Riko.

The young Japanatican woman had tried to sit down next to Riko, but for some reason Riko pretended not to recognize her childhood friend. Strange. Why?? They knew each other, but the way Riko ignored her friend made it seem as if she DIDNT WANT her to sit with her.

Lord Sarevok had warned his officers at the Ministry to be on the lookout for any strange or suspicious activity by foreign nationals, with an emphisis being made on the Babylonians. Pelon had heard soldiers and officers alike talk of "fightin off them Babylonians" at the Ministry. Talk of such fighting did not please Pelon, but there was little Pelon could do. In any case, Pelon had become a little more paranoid and observant since Sarevok had given his order.

Pelons sake cup was empty. Not good.

"Honorable Immo-san!!, another cup of sake, if you please" Pelon told the bartender. He needed to talk to Immo. Immo knew people. He might be of asistance.

Riko was standing up, and walking towards the rear of the Omo. To the bedrooms. Was some lucky Japanatican about to get lucky? Maybe.

Pelon looked around the room again, looking for anyone to talk to. Wait. Was it... yes it was. CivGeneral was in the Omo. How interesting. Japanaticas top soldier. He might be good conversation. Pelon almost never got a chance to talk to him at the Ministry, and any conversation with such a great warrior was bound to be interesting. And with his contacts in Military Intel, he might know where Comnenus was, or who was the man Riko kept on pretending not to look at.

Rikos friend left. Another bar fight broke out.

"Maybe I should go and talk to CivGeneral"

Pelon stood up...

 

[Noldodan]

Pelon stood up...

...and was accosted by Noldodan, who almost had to knock Pelon down to get him to sit back down.

"Who do you think you are? I'm here on the authority of the Lord Sarevok himself and-" He cuts off as Noldodan shoves his badge into Pelon's face. "Well then. In that case... What do you want to talk about? Make it quick though, I have people to talk to."

"I'm just offering a warning, or rather a few. If you have time...?" Pelon nods for him to go on. "I saw you considering the bartender, and you're wrong about him. He's thick with the rebels, giving them information, helping them with whatever they need. Major deals have gone down lately here in Immo, and he's been in all of them. And stay away from Riko. You're wary of her already, and that's good, but believe me, she's very dangerous."

"But you're part of Internal Security. You can kill her, no questions asked, nothing."

"I could, yes. But what would happen then? A band of rebels, bent on revenge in my sleep? A rebel uprising even? No, she's very dangerous alive, but she's even more dangerous dead."

"Interesting observations... Are you sure you aren't on assignment from Lord Sarevok?"

"Hah! I've never even seen him. Why do you ask?"

"Well... it just seems like we're here for the same thing. Perhaps you'd consider joining forces?"

There is a long silence, while Noldodan considers the offer. Then... "Come to my tent tonight. I can guarantee I've got a better one than you do, and it's going to rain tonight. I'm in a tent in the forest, on top of the little hill, you can't miss it." Rising, he gestures goodbye to Pelon. "Go on, talk to CivGeneral. We were friends, once. But now I'm here serving the despot, and he's a warrior of fame and fortune. Oh, how times change... Anyway, goodbye, Pelon. Until tonight." And with that, he sets out into the windy evening, leaving a thoughtful Pelon behind.

 

[Immortal]

"Its always nice to have a few pretty girls watching your back" Immo thought to himself as his dancing beauty told him of the internal security guards discussion with one of the customer.

"HAH! Rebellion, Im no revolutionary, my father is the Judge Advocate of Japanatica, maybe one day when the despot is weakened I'll support the peasentry, until then, I know what side has the swords. Isn't that right my Roman beauty?" Immo cupped the face of his dancer, Diana she prefered to be called.

She was new to Japanatica, Immo had come across her walking to the store one night, she was tall, with red-brown hair and green eyes, something no other woman could boast of in Immo, except that one who came in earlier, but she no doubt lacked the artistic skills of Diana. She had fled barbarians when her family was killed by them, somehow she had ended up on the streets, before she had resorted to prostitution Immo had found her. She was slowly learning the language, and her educated mind began to emerge, she was clearly no peasent girl.

"When will it be....safe again?" she asked slowly, analyzing each word before she said it.

"Safety is relative, nothing is a problem for now, go take a nap, you look tired." Immo said with a smile as Diana retreated to the off-limits bed's behind the tarp directly behind the bar. Immo's part time home and office.

 

[Immortal]

Immo had been waiting all day at the local barter-house for the labourers to finish remodelling the Omo, it was being completely redone from top to bottom. Mud had been replaced with brick, the tarps had been taken down and replaced with walls, sturdy and hard, capable of withstanding great pressures against them before collapsing. It was now a legitimate place of business. Moderately lit, warm and inviting, and above all, clean.

"Maybe father will respect my wishes not to become a magistrate as he did" Immo thought hard, mother would surely have cried at the prospect of her son being a peddler in drinks, among other things.

"Maybe I should clean up the Omo's less favourable characters now as well, the clean torches and tables would match with the patrons for once." Immo decided to hold off and wait for a while, once Asano had the information he wanted, Immo promised himself to focus on more honorable endeavours, but for now, he needed his cut...

As an added affect he had also added his housing area, and a second floor to the Omo, making it now a two leveled building.

"Its all ready sir, we think youll be pleasently surprised with the changes" the foreman called out.

"good" Immo thought as he headed back to reopen the bar after it being closed.

OOC: The Omo is now remodelled, the front door opens into a vestibule which has a beautiful rug on the floor, and warrior shields and swords (dulled of course). It opens into the main room which is now modelled in typical pub style, a more modern loooking bar along the rear wall with a marble bar-top and an actual area to serve drinks and sit, even barstools! Tables made of wood still in the middle, with the dancers now having an elevated area to dance upon and a live band playing! And booths booths booths!

behind the bar is the door into Immo's private office and his living area. To the rear of the bar is stairs which lead to beds that can be rented for a price (simulated).

Heres a rough outline:

 

[superpelon]

"And the plot thickens..." Pelon thought, as he walked back to his stool at the end of the bar. Thankfully, that end of the bar, darker that the rest of the Omo, was almost always empty. Pelon could think in peace. "Internal Security at Omos... saying saying Immo cant be trusted. Little Riko, a revolutionary. Internal Security at Omos. The last time I was them for the apointment of Lord Sarevok as War Minister..."

Pelon was deep in his thoughts. His conversation with Noldodan had unsettled him. He had known Immo for some time, ever since this glorifed pig sty had been renamed and opened for buisness. They where not friends, but Pelon prided himself on his observational skills, and has always thought a Immo as a loyal and trustworthy individual.

The idea of a revolution was not new to Pelons ears. Discussions on the tyrannical and despotic rulers of Japanatica where very common in the inner circle of The Zenedoshou. Ideas on a less rigid and just government had been commented in these discussions, but that was just talk. Talk between loyal sons of Japanatica.

This was new. Babylonian mixed bloods, Japanatican bartenders... this unnerved Pelon. This wasnt revolution. It was a revolt. Treason.

Pelon narrowed his eyes and took a sip of his sake.

What was the deal with Immo??
Who is this Asano person??
Internal Security at Omos??

Pelon stared at himself in the reflection of his sake cup.

He would go to see Noldodan tonight. But he would not go alone.

A hand touched his shoulder. It was Seizo Fukumoto, his aide from the Ministry, and one of Zenedoshous first members. Mute and older than Pelon, Seizo was a master swordsman and served as Pelons bodyguard as well as his advisor. He was a great listener.

"What is it Seizo?" Pelon asked.

Seizo looked at Immo and shook his head once, then raised his left hand.

"Immo is dangerous? You think so?? But perhaps he is but a pawn... or maybe he really is dangerous. I dont know. Please Seizo, sit down.

Seizo looked around, then took a seat next to the wall. His eyes never stopped scanning the room.

"I need to ask a favor of you. I need someone to watch my back tonight. Im meeting with Internal Security."

Seizo suddenly looked at Pelon, and placed his hand on his sword. He frowned.

"I know... Internal Security gives me the creeps too. But I must go. It is my duty, as it is yours. I will explain more later. Meet me outside the Zenedo house tonight, at midnight. Bring your sword."

Seizo nodded, stood up, glared at everyone and walked out... after finishing off his sake, Pelon stood up, looked for CivGeneral and walked to him.

"I must speak with you later, sir. Nothing urgent, yet. But a matter of importance may reveal itself later on tonight." Pelons said in a low voice.

Pelon walked out of the Omo into the darkening night.

 

[Immortal]

"Miso," Myein requested as the server beckoned an order. (( OOC: Am I allowed to control Immo to this extent? Or is this too much control? ))

YOu can hold a conversation with him, and he can do things you control. As long as he doesnt get hurt or killed.

 

[Rik Meleet]

"Does this have anything to do with your Babylonian descent?" Asano asked as he leaned back against the wall.

Riko gave him her biggest smile and amused look. She started to laugh. But her eyes didn't laugh. This stranger knew her biggest secret. Well ... 2nd biggest secret.

"Babylonian descent? So is that what you've been thinking? And why is that?"
Instinctively she tried to move away, but Asano's strong hands were holding her.

"Well, for several reasons; I saw you moving to the Babylonian representative earlier this night when I walked back from the stables, Your eyes are a bit widened; Babylonian style, you use words that sound Japanatican, but are only used when talking to slaves and you taste like one"

Asano's last words were muffled by his mouth on hers. He started to kiss her. She didn't kiss him back. Riko frantically tried to fight him off, but his grasp was too firm. She panicked. But in all her fear and anger, a small part of her enjoyed his firm arms and his sweet mouth.

Asano ended the kiss as abruptly as he started it. She stared at him furiously, panting and with the eyes of a cornered animal. For seconds they just stood there. She looking furiously at him, he smiling back.

"Yes I am partly Babylonian, so what ??" she shrieked, "Does that make me a lesser human being? Am I an animal because of it? Am I just to be used because of it? I am a human being just like anyone else here!!!!"
Tears of sadness and rage ran down her cheeks. Asano was just standing there with a little smile around his mouth enraged her even more.

"No it doesn't" Asano said softly, "I am also not fully Japanatican".

He walked to her, hugging her. She put her crying face on his shoulder. She felt she needed his protection. They hugged for minutes, Riko crying, Asano holding her. Finally she looked up to him.

"Aren't you? really? Tell me you were telling the truth!"
Asano nodded. And smiled inside himself. He had tamed her.

"Riko, it's up to you now; I'm tired, I'm going to bed. If you want you can stay. If you do, we'll talk business in the morning."

 

[superpelon]

Pelon silently when over the event of the day as he undressed in the Zenedoshou House. What had started out as a typical day in Immo had become a potential nightmare.

Pelon looked over his small wardrobe, looking for something fitting for his meeting with Noldodan. The bloodred uniform of the Japanatican Army was to conspicious, as was the white and blue robe of Zenedoshou. That left a couple exercise gis, the cloak and the black...

NO. Not the black. That was in his past. Never again.

It was beacuse of that black past that he was going to see Noldodan tonight, and would make a small detour beforehand. He owed it to Okakura Sakamiya.

After putting on his loose fitting gi and the dark grey cloak, Pelon walked to the door...

A flash of pain hit his right knee. It had never healed, and started acting up whenever it felt like it. Pelon picked up a handbo from the closet before stepping outside.

Seizo was already there, dressed in black carrying his sword. He nodded at Pelon, looked at the sky, then at the walking stick.

"Yeah yeah Im late. Sorry. The handbo is because my knee is hurting again. If we get into trouble I wont stand in your way. Dont worry" Pelon said.

Pelon started walking down the street, Seizo fell in behind him, his eyes alert.

"Look Seizo, we are going to stop at the Shinto Shrine before meeting Noldodan..."

Seizo stopped walking, then started walking again.

"Its complicated, youll understand later... ok? Just follow my lead and cover my back."

They arrived at the Shrine and walked in. It was deserted, but a soft light glowed in the bamboo garden. Michiko was there, tending some bonsai. Pelon ans Seizo slowly and silently walked into the garden, where Pelon suddenly rapped his handbo against a wooden bench.

"Who are y--" Michiko asked

"You know who I am... but that is not important. Michiko!! Listen to me. Stay way from Riko. Stay away from her. She is dangerous and will get you into trouble. If you are smart you will not speak to her ever again. Be careful, Internal Security is already tracking you and your friends down..."

Before Michiko could say anything, Pelon and Seizo walked out of the garden and off the Shrine grounds.

"I owe a debt to the Sakamiyas I had not been be able to repay, Seizo. Perhaps today I can start to repay that debt." Pelon said softly.

They walked quickly to the camp site Noldodan had told them. A small fire burned next to a tent under a tall tree. Noldodan sat there. He sensed Pelon and Seizo and looked up.

"Good, you came. And you brought some protection. Thats an even better idea Pelon. I underestimated you." Noldodan said as he stood up.

"Ive decided to join you Noldodan. But we are going to do this my way."

Noldodan smiled and let out a small laugh "Ok, lets hear it"

"This rebellion has two sides, Noldodan. There is the Babylonian connection and the Japanatican faction. That much Ive figured out. Im thinking that you cant cover both sides, since you seem to be working alone."

Noldodan nodded, but remained silent.

"I dont know why you want my help, but Im thinking that Seizo and I are the only allies you have in this Godforsaken town. So this is what we are going to do...I warned Michiko" Pelon said in a low voice. Noldodans eyes narrowed and his hand fell on the hilt of his sword.

Seizo started to move but Pelon raised his hand, showing it was open and he was unarmed. "I owe a debt to her grandfather, and I have never had the chance to repay him. I plan to start repaying tonight. Seizo and I will track down the Japanatican side of this rebellion. You will track down Riko and her Babylonian allies. I dont care what you do to them, but you will not interfere with Michiko, Immo or any other Japanatican citizen. I will take care of those. As for the Babylonians and Riko... I dont care. Kill them, throw them in prison or send them to the mines of Furuyama. I dont care."

Noldodan looked at Pelon, then at Seizo, then exhaled loudly.

"You are right my dear Pelon... Im alone. Internal Security thought Riko was just a opium smuggler." Noldodan smiled. "I still have resources though..."

"We will follow your plan. You cover the Japanaticans, Ill track down the Babylonians."

Pelon felt a great deal of relief. He might save a few lives.

"I will meet you at the Omo tomorrow. Bring proof that Immo is a traitor. I need to see such thing with my own eyes... and be careful around the waitresses. They are Immos eyes and ears."

Pelon and Seizo walked away into the night.

 

[Cyc]

The sun was just peeking through the hills as Asano collected his things and left the small stream located behind the Omo. Feeling refreshed by the calm, rural setting he had not experienced in a while, he walked slowly back to his room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

People had just started to stir in the Omo. Tea was on and breakfast was being organized. Softly sliding the doorbar, the door opened to reveal Riko sleeping soundly on the mat that Asano had forfieted earlier in the morning.

Focused once again, the tall lean Asano finished dressing. Recapping the night before brought a smile to his face. Riko had worn herself out digging through the wall. From the looks of her hair and clothes, she had spent some time in the rain awaiting my return. He had figured her to be hungry and offered her dried fruit, which she accepted gladly. What she didn't realize was that he had stuffed a small dose of root in the fruit. The effect of this root had on a person was narcotic in nature, similar to a truth serum. He had seen it take effect almost immediately, and had to put up with her hallucinogenic advances until she fell asleep. But at the same time she was quite talkative about the Chief, a garden, ans the Jungle. She then passed out, as if someone had blown out her candle. Asano had made her comfortable on the mat, then crawled off to sleep on the floor. He had his honor to uphold.

 

[Cyc]

While tying back his hair, Asano heard Riko stir. He could now tell by her breathing she was awake, though she pretended to be asleep. Asano crouched by the mat close to her head. He had not been this close to another (besides normal working conditions with Oishi) for a long time.

"Are you going to lay there all day?"

Riko's eyes opened directly on Asano. "Time to get up. I have a lot to do this day." As Asano stood, Riko closed her eyes again, "If you don't get up now, I'll take your blanket", he said whimsically. Riko lifted the blanket slightly, just enough to see she wasn't wearing anything. She got up promptly, wrapping the blanket around her. "Good Morning", was all she said as she tried to recollect what had happened the night before.

"I'll meet you for breakfast, if you'd like. Otherwise until we meet again, take care. I need to speak with Immo about something and then I'm out of here. Thank you for dropping by." said Asano as he reached for the door with a smile and bag in hand.

Riko stared at the door as it closed, rubbing her forehead, thinking ~ WTH?

 

[Immortal]

Immo hadn't slept a full night for years, not since...well, best not to dwell on it, he thought as he sipped on his tea. Immo sat quietly outside the Omo on his bench watching the sunrise over the desert that surrounded the oasis the town has been built upon. He played his shakuhachi as he watched the birds fly overhead. Diana served breakfast to the patrons inside, while Immo's favourite elderly ladies in the whol world cleaned the emptied rooms and awoke them.

"Thrace-san, the unkempt one has awoken, his wench is still sleeping, he wants to speak with you." Her wrinkled face was exaggerated by her quinting against the bright sun.

"Not a cloud in the sky today, its going to be a hot one! Tell him to come outside, and tell Diana to bring the tea. I have a busy day today, so no further disturbances, Diana will run the bar in my absence.....ANd BTW, please don't refer to my patrons as wenches" Immo called out to her. She shook her head and smiled a fake smile, and went inside.

Diana brought the tea, and some toast with her, she set it on the bench next to Immo and stopped for a moment.

"You look different with your hair tied up, and the tight dress, but why did you cut it so high? It barely touches the top of your knee!" Immo added, laughing while Diana gave him a scowl, a smile, and retreated inside.

He looked to his left and saw the military police march by, he gave them a smile and a wave. One stopped to say hello, then jogging to rejoin the patrol. "I wonder if Asuka is alright" he shrugged and went back to his seat and picked up his shakuhachi.

"Asano! Do you play?" holding up his shakuhachi.

OOC: The shakuhachi is a beautiful Japanese Flute, one of my favourite instruments. Heres a Signature gving you an idea of what ambience it invoked:

http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/flute/shakuhachi/sounds/RLsignature.mp3

 

[Cyc]

Asano once again breathes in the morning air. Bowing slowly towards Immo, he finishes with a business-like look meant to penetrate Immo. "Good morning, Immo. I'm sorry to say my flute playing is no match for yours." He sits in the chair next to Immo's bench, as Immo pours him tea and plates some toast.

"The tea is delicious, you run a good house here, Immo. Shall we discuss business here, or go for a walk?"