worldbent | GOLDEN PEACOCK: INBOX+OVERFLOW

I don't know any—augh?

[ He doesn't know any Buddhists. Before he can defend his pride of being a Yaksha, a war daemon and certainly not a benevolent force with the way malevolence drips out of every pore, Matoba has the continued audacity to tap his forehead. Rokurou's mouth drops open in surprise before another flash of indignation has him do something stupid—snapping a hand up, he grabs Matoba's wrist and lurches forward to bite that finger.

It isn't a genuine bite. A snap of teeth, nothing more. He offers a resentful look while doing it, spitting the digit out of his mouth a moment later before slamming the side of his head back down onto Matoba's lap. He turns on his side so that he can look out into the vale and not at Matoba's stupid face.

He may be annoyed but he paid for this pillow, thank you very much. ]

I'm malevolent.

[ Harumph. ]

[How strange.]

[Matoba's hand nearly jerks away as it's grabbed, but confusion strikes him lame as teeth close down upon it in the gentlest pinch he thinks he's received from the man yet.]

[It leaves him baffled, watching the man drop back into his lap in a sulk, processing. Well. He certainly doesn't disagree with that assessment; yaksha he may be, but what benevolence had the man bestowed upon him so far?]

Yes, I suppose you are a little, [He agrees, placid, false flattery to soothe an aching ego. Just why the man held ego for something so hateful, he could only guess from his own experiences.]

[And, if it was anything like his... It was necessity. From what did the Rangetsu distance themselves, he wonders?]

[After a few moments of Rokurou being mercifully left to sulk, fingers trail in his hair again, soft. They're more idle than before, but if he bothers to glance up, Matoba is watching the birds again with a small, content smile.]

[ With absolutely no idea how one sets up a date even when not in a weird porn resort, Kai had left the planning up to his supposed wingman with just a touch of apprehension. Sure the entire profile thing had been awkward at best, but when he's still trying to find his way around how bad could it be? Besides, if it's something neither of them pick then it's one less thing for Matoba to be smug at him about. Hopefully.

So Kai slowly approaches the door he's been directed to, he's got absolutely no idea what he's going to find on the other side. And finds himself staring nonplussed as he steps inside to find a number of feline eyes suddenly fixed on him. A cat cafe. Hilarious.

A few of the cats in residence pause to give him the narrow-eyed look of judging a newcomer onto their territory but when Kai just eyes them back they return to whatever they were doing without much issue. Regular cats do tend to find him a little strange sometimes, but the ones here seem largely unimpressed with his presence. Maybe they're used to weird.

So he has no problem picking his way over to an unoccupied table and dropping himself into one of the seats to wait for Matoba. And definitely not worrying about the next issue--namely that he still doesn't have a lot in the way of money. He can just deal with that problem as it comes. ]

[There is one benefit to these troublesome phantom strings that have suddenly begun to sprout from Matoba's fingertips, and it's that they only seem to be perceived by him. Otherwise, having a long trailing yarn thread attached to your finger could end up quite disastrous in an establishment full of kitty-cats. At least the bright red of the string currently trailing along his path to the meeting location wouldn't be visible to their little hunting eyes, so long as he keeps it still....]

[...Scratch that, he thinks, when he arrives to the cafe to find that the string leads right up to his unfortunate "date". He pauses for a moment with a raised eyebrow, raising his hand up to be sure that it's his own string, really, and then meets Kai's stare, which could give any of the other unimpressed felines a run for their money.]

I am not going to squeeze those beans, [He declares resolutely, with no sense of public-facing shame. The couple other patrons and staff in the cafe glance over, but mostly they're ignored in favor of the fuzzy friends throughout.]

[It takes exactly three seconds for this resolve to falter, as he considers the cuteness of Kai's feline form, and adds,] ...However, should you wish to dedicate yourself to becoming my servant, I will see to it that you are fed three square meals and receive an adequate amount of treats and toys for exercise. Ah, and I suppose you would require more space than my current suite. I will have to see about my accommodations...........

[This is. a sort of 'confession', Hearts. It's the best you're going to get?]

[ The unexpected speech is met by a long moment of absolute baffled silence, during which Kai is so still he doesn't even seem to be breathing. After a good few seconds of this, he finally breaks into motion with a single blink. ]

Ah. No...thank you?

[ Putting everything else to the side, agreeing to become the 'servant' of someone who has been extremely vocal about hating spirits seems like nobody's idea of a good time. Which is why the whole thing is even more puzzling.

At least until he glances down to find the string of red pulled taught between their hands, at which point several things click rapidly into place. Kai lets out a long breath as something sardonic settles over his expression. ]

At least I know what to expect with you. Usually. [ And that is very much not any kind of romantic anything, but he can try working up to it. In the mean time, he tips his head in the direction of the empty seat across from him, assuming Matoba doesn't decide to just cut his losses now. ]

[Kai's impassive stare is quite impressive. Ah, befitting of a cat-like ayakashi, Matoba muses, in the space of silence. His own stare back is as unblinking and perfectly serious, as though truly awaiting the reply to some extremely important, matter-of-fact declaration.]

[As it happens, Kai is not wrong with this most obvious of estimates. It's simply that even Matoba Seiji has biases.]

Hmmm.

[Is he being rejected right now? He's used to that sort of thing, given his blood, but the context is usually a little... different. No, but really, this wasn't that different at all, was it? A contemplation crosses his face as his mouth turns to a small frown, humming in response to the second assertion.]

[Yes, well. He will admit that much. When it comes to cats, he is predictable.]

[Unperturbed otherwise by the state of things, he meanders to the seat across from Kai and plops himself down into it, drawing his ankles up cross-legged in his sporty sweatpants while slipping off his sneakers to the side. Ideally, this would be getting comfortable and prepared to entertain some kitties, but the moment he entered the cafe, all the cats nearby had suddenly gone hackles-up and wandered to the other side of the room. Except Kai, of course.]

Have you ordered anything yet? Their cakes are quite delicious. [Said knowledgeably; he has... been here.]

[ Well at least this whole thing hasn't crashed and burned before it even started. He can't quite read Matoba's expression, but the fact that he's still here says something, doesn't it? He finds himself absently tracking the man as he makes his way over to get settled, though he can't help but notice the reaction of the other denizens of the room. Before he can focus too much on feline body language, Matoba pulls his attention back. ]

No, I just got here. What do you recommend?

[ It's a sort of rote politeness in acknowledgement of the fact that they're apparently just going to move right on from that declaration, but the moment it's out of his mouth Kai has to pause. Is a suggestion of food enough to count as an offering to his stupid fortune-telling binding? Hopefully not. He doesn't quite make a face at the thought, but the hesitation is probably noticeable anyway.

Oh well. That's what they're here to talk about, right? Maybe he might even get an answer or too in return. Kai's eyes flick towards the pile of cats that has formed as far away from them as possible again before settling back on Matoba and his complete lack of surprise with it. ]

It seems like you know this place pretty well.

[So, does this staring contest count for the Hearts game............ Probably not, but there's surely more staring to be had?? Matoba glances down at the thread hanging from his pinky as he gets settled, contemplative.]

The cheesecakes are good, [He comments, turning his hand over back and forth.] Very sweet. Don't expect much from the tea.

[Matoba glances back up again. His preternatural ability to simply gloss past antisocial behaviors and expectations allowed him to be comfortable in any situation; he folds his arms over his lap and glances past Kai towards the smatterings of cats playing on the cat towers and toys.]

Oh, yes. I have been here a few times already. It's a good space for killing time. Watch some kitty cats roll about, drink mediocre tea.

I'm sure you'll blend right in. [He waves to a staffmember so they can place orders.] Can you speak to them?

The same way you can. [ That is to say, without much hope of getting a direct response.

Which is true in the literal sense, if not the entire truth. The nonverbal cues that make up feline communication he can manage just fine, even if he can't respond the same way in this particular shape. It's nothing so simple as talking to them, but it's not nothing either.

Kai may not be good at these kind of word games, but being able to keep even inconsequential edges on Matoba seems like a good idea. Also he can be petty in his own way, sue him. ]

They don't seem to like you very much.

[ Not hard to miss that one, communication or not. ]

Oh. [Matoba's mouth falls again to a tiny frown.] That is unfortunate.

[He turns as the staffmember approaches and orders himself a strawberry shortcake and a cup of darjeeling tea. He waits for Kai to make an order and for the staffmember to leave again before answering- addressing what is, perhaps, the great elephant crowding the cats in the room.]

Yes. A consequence of my hereditary state. [Matoba's hand raises to the spell covering his right eye- from it, there is always an unsettling vibe, like the thread of something connected to it by fate that could bring ruin at any time.] There's a curse passed down through all heads of my clan. Quite the nasty one at that. Perhaps you will come across it, sometime? It comes to take a swipe at me once a month. Oh, but it has already come this month, so you will have to wait until the next time.

[He glances across the room at the gathering of cats being enjoyed by other attendees.] Cats are but one of the beasts in the world with a heightened sensitivity to the supernatural. It grants them a certain self-preservation instinct. I don't blame them for it one bit.

Although, I wish it weren't so. [He allows himself a tiny sigh. But, there's nothing to be done about it.] I very much like cats. You have taken an excellent form.

Are you still open to additional negotiations?

[ let it never be said tseng doesn't get to the point... ]

Good evening, Tseng-san. I'm amenable to discussion. Last I recall, the current offer was dinner? How is that pasta dish going?

Good evening, Matoba.

I did manage to perfect the recipe. If you're still interested, then I would like to invite you for dinner and drinks.

That's good to hear. Then, dinner and drinks it is. I'll bring along some of those desserts I mentioned. But just that alone wouldn't do, would it? I'm sure we'll find something else to satisfy my end of the exchange. I can find your room among the Jack suites, I presume? I'll be by in about three hours.

[A nice, precise timetable.]

I'm sure we can manage to come to an agreement, certainly.

When the elevator reaches the Jack floor, turn left. My suite is the second door on the right.

I'll see you then.

[ Kai puts in his own order for black tea with the kind of distracted air that says he's not actually paying much attention to whatever it is he's asking for. Food's never been much of a concern, much as he appreciates it from time to time.

Besides, anything else he might have had in mind is very quickly overtaken as Matoba starts talking about curses. Kai's gaze immediately narrows in unblinkingly on Matoba's covered eye, though there's something thoughtful in his expression. Is that what the weird feeling he gets from Matoba comes from? He'd thought it was just an exorcist thing, but what does he know.

It probably says something about his own self-preservation instincts that he's not on the other side of the room with the rest of them, but maybe that's his own misfortune aspect at work. He's been called a curse himself before, hasn't he? And, well. He's already here, and he does owe Matoba something, doesn't he.

With a sigh of his own, he allows his human form to dissolve into smoke, vanishing under the table for a second before his black cat shape pops back up next to Matoba's seat, primly settling within petting range. ]

Thank you. I think. [ Not that he'd exactly chosen this form, but he'll take what compliments he can get. ] Why come here if you know they're going to avoid you?

[A little bit of column A, a little bit of column B.......... Matoba's aura was rife with its own red flags, the dryness and scathing heat of purification, the chilling cut his hatred for ayakashi chief among them. But it and his biases warred with each other.]

[Never is that more apparent than when Kai decides to make the first overtures. Disappearing is abrupt and alarms Matoba initially, raising a sudden and equally alarming spike of his spiritual energy: mistrust, deep and fully rooted in him, is the first instinct. An ayakashi thinking his guard down, and ready to strike. No sooner does Kai climb himself up on the cushy arm of Matoba's comfychair than the exorcist, breath held and at the ready to cast a repelling spell, stares down at gleaming feline eyes with his own hardened and opaque against a perceived threat that never comes.]

[A long moment of silence and an uneasy release comes to that kneejerk aura. It peters out like warm wind, enough to tousle Kai's long fur. He doesn't reach out, not yet, fists balled in his lap. He's still eying the ayakashi as though trying to perceive his intentions, and it takes him a long moment to answer.]

Because I enjoy watching them.

[From afar.... like everything else. He frowns at Kai for another moment.] What are you doing? I'm sure they will see right through you, too.

[ The sudden rush of energy sets his fur on end, but Kai just waits through whatever Matoba's instinctive reaction was going to be, watching with the patience of a creature who's never really had to fear much. Though that might be because he's never really come into contact with exorcists before and doesn't know what he should be afraid of. Disquieting, sure. But if Matoba actually wanted to hurt him, he'd have done it by now. Right?

Either way, it earns a quirk of amusement once the man settles again. ]

I know. [ And it has earned him a few feline side-eyes, though no more than Matoba had already prompted. Kai doesn't seem particularly bothered by it, but his attention is pretty firmly on the man in front of him. ] But we had a deal.

[ Information in exchange for touching toe beans, was it? Kai holds up one paw, flexed to show off the pads, just in case Matoba has somehow forgotten what he bargained for in the first place. ]

[Surely he would have. Right?]

[Well. As far as Matoba is concerned, not without antagonism. If he were to exterminate every ayakashi he came across indiscriminately, even he would tire himself out. There wouldn't be enough hours in the day to accomplish it- not without some benefit, of course.]

[And luckily for Kai, there has yet to be any benefit to harming him. And if he's smart, in Matoba's eyes, he won't give him one.]

[That is all perhaps the grandstanding of a human. Casting his glance out across the cafe, the cats have mostly relaxed and resumed their normal sleeping and rolling about, content that the two bothersome presences across the way don't seem intent on coming near. When he glances back over, he's being offered toebeans.]

[Oh.] So you remembered my offer. [His smile, thin and mild, considers Kai's beans for a moment. Ah, but he must make sure before he reaches out--] What is it that you wished to know about this place? [His fingertips brush the velvety soft of a footpad. Uwah... lightly, he prods it with his fingertip. Squish squish.]

[ He can't quite help his toes twitching in response to the poking, but Kai just cocks his head and keeps still otherwise. If this is really all Matoba wants, it's not exactly a hardship. ]

I owed you for last time.

[ Which isn't to say that he doesn't still have questions, more Kai isn't quite sure where to start. A lot of the basics have been made much more clear, but from the sound of things most people aren't entirely sure what's happening here. Some seem to have adjusted better than others. ]

I think a lot of it I have to see for myself. [ All the questions in the world won't help if he doesn't understand the answers, and Matoba doesn't exactly seem like the direct type. That's fine, he can work with that.

His eyes do narrow slightly, though. ]

You had questions for me too, didn't you?

[Ohhh, but the twitching is just part of the cuteness...! Matoba, mesmerized, reaches with both hands to take Kai's paws gingerly in his hands, and uses his thumb to lightly stroke and squeeze at the pads of his paws. The squishy palm, the soft toebeans, the fuzzy fur inbetween...!]

[He is certainly much too distracted to be properly listening to Kai the first time around, which results in a good long minute of awkward silence hanging in the span of his question. The man finally realizes after it's been a little while that Kai was staring at him expectantly, and that's when he looks up from his enjoyment to level a surprisingly business-like gaze of his own.]

Oh? Do you mean the, ah, "memes"? [It's said so aloofly that Kai might as well assume he's mocking him. Or just sounds like some out-of-touch oldtimer. But he goes on right away,] Ah yes, I did a little research after you told me, and I think that I have seen something like that when looking at pictures of kitty-cats.

It seems the trendy thing is to put jokes on the pictures of cats. Although I don't quite understand what the connection might be to an ayakashi.

[ The paw petting is tolerated with quiet patience, Kai seeming more amused than anything as Matoba apparently loses himself in it. Who knew all he needed was to let himself be a living stress ball? Honestly he'd be perfectly willing to let Matoba just do what he wanted and not have this conversation at all, which is of course when the man's attention focuses properly again. Figures.

Even still, the idea of cat macros being 'trendy' sparks even more amusement. Though in retrospect, he doesn't actually know when Matoba comes from. Interesting thought. ]

It's not just jokes. Memes can also be...rumors. Ghost stories. Folktales. Call them what you want. [ He won't patronize the exorcist by assuming he doesn't know what stories can do to a spirit. But the sheer scope of it is sometimes hard for even Kai to wrap his head around after years of practice. ] And they get repeated. Over and over. All over the world, sometimes.

[In his rhythmic, calm squeezing, Matoba pauses as Kai's explanation sinks in. He looks up into his little kitty eyes, unafraid as many humans would of staring into an ayakashi's eyes. His own reflect nothing, the opaqueness of a human whose heart has been sealed off of any gaps.]

I see. You are...... a manifestation of those forums and internet postings, are you? Chain letters and message boards and the like are indeed rife with that sort of thing.

[It's thanks to Shinobu that he knows much about that... She had always been more interested in keeping up with what occultists were up to, the fantastical rumors and exaggerations of the Sightless. Collecting and fanaticism both, he supposes, was the prerogative of those that could not Do.]

Modern-day folk pamphlets. Haha, to think that even electronic stories could accomplish it, but then- human hearts have generated them all the same.

[He gently releases Kai's paw, patting the top of it for good measure. So fuzzy.] But that would make you quite the young thing, wouldn't it? Unless, I suppose, you are from very far beyond my era. [His smile tilts up a little.] You don't feel like something that has only just manifested.

Did you order something from the bakery?
It’s a big box…
You can’t be planning to eat this much alone.

Oya? Nothing that I requested to be sent room service. I typically only eat my treats at the cafe. You are certain it is meant for me?

GOLDEN PEACOCK: INBOX+OVERFLOW

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[action] date time!

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@tseng » @matoba

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Text | un: swords -> @matoba

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