all_that_glimmers | Pssst didja hear? [Sound test]

Who: Yuuko+Mineto
Where: After game start
What: Gossip swap~

When most people talk to their plants they don't expect the plants to talk back, let alone lean into water like a cat looking for attention. It had been a hot day and humans and youkai weren't the only ones feeling too hot. One of these days Yuuko would remember to install air conditioning in the shop but her water magic was keeping her cool for now. Other people in the shop would be less fortunate.

"Have you heard the news?" Yuuko asked lighty as she fussed over the plant.

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"Since you offered, anyone else you wish to refer to me for my work would be lovely," Yuuko said, with a sort of smile and look that speaks of inside jokes or secrets.

"Just two shoplifters and a few more rude visitors calling about the usual. Would you call it brave or stupid to pick fight with the wood mage in her wooden shop while she has access to all these?" She played with the dark blue vial, and it glowed intermittently.

Mineto had heard of something like that. He recalled it had been a few nights ago.

He began ponderously to think about the right words. "I would call it the foolish prank of little hobgoblins with narrow minds."

"Is that what they call it now?" Yuuko laughed. "If I'd known then I would have reacted with less prejudice or laughed a little more!"

Yuuko cut off the glow of the vial and neatly placed it into a slot labeled 'OCEAN'S KISS-WARNING INGESTION MAY LEAD TO INTERNAL FLOODING'.

"I doubt that particular group will be back for a round two though. Too bad."

A small evil grin curled the corners of Mineto's mouth. "Really?" he said. "How nice."

Then he began thinking of the shop itself. He simply could not imagine it ever going ignored as long as it kept bottled power on the high shelf. He was ashamed of those who bought power when they had the power to obtain it themselves. If you asked him, it was weak.

"None of them are as powerful as they make themselves out to be, you know; their infectious criminality is like a disease. They're also quite mad."

Edited Date: 2013-05-20 10:01 am (UTC)

"You're powerful. The daiyoukai are powerful. The love god is powerful. They're mosquitoes," Yuuko said with a shrug. "Obnoxious, loud, and buzzing around your face until something comes to squish them into a bloody, inconvenient mess." Sigh. "I'll never be able to look at one of my favorite blouses again. But they make for good mulch so there's some use there - and so continues one of the many circles of life."

Mineto returned his attention to the flier and ran his gaze down the list of names. There were three on the top, each bold and red. His mouth settled itself into a thinly-pressed line at the note under one. He hurriedly skimmed the rest.

"I heard something of this," he said, flicking the paper. "Karma. How long is it before kids are even trained, these days?"

"So you've heard that too then. The demons are quick to snap up new clients too," Yuuko said with a sniff. Picking at her nails, she continued, "These days? A few months to several become adequately proficient if they have a teacher and survive the introduction phase. If there's talent, a little ambition, and opportunity maybe sooner. Without those you could be looking at years to about never.

"However." She laced her fingers with a cat's smile - the one you would expect from one leisurely deciding how best to dissemble its new, potentially living toy. "These are promising."

Edited Date: 2013-05-24 03:14 pm (UTC)

Mineto considered these names and other matters for a short while. He did not like the speed with which these people had all come out the woodwork. That would be where his suspicions set in. He folded the paper neatly and put it inside his jacket, while he wandered away from the counter and gazed at the closest shelf.

"In that case you should line the walls with candy," he said. "For certainly I doubt all human beings will react to pretty lights or your charms."

Edited Date: 2013-05-24 03:21 pm (UTC)

"I can't do that. Those who offer sweet temptations are frankly flying their death flags high and proud. And I'll be the one to end up with cavities," Yuuko replied blithely.

"You underestimate how many charms I have. My favorite ones I like to save for older men though."

Mineto shot her a sour look.

"Now you're just being blatant not charming," he said. "It's unflattering."

"About you?" Yuuko let out of melodramatic gasp. She made a mannerism and expression of blushy coyness known only to shojos and harems. "I-it's not like I like you or s-something, s-senpai. Baka!"

Edited Date: 2013-05-24 04:08 pm (UTC)

Mineto looked at Yuuto properly then. There was incredulity in his eyes. It was as if he was mildly curious as to what she was doing.

"Do you really think you're the first one who's tried?" he said. "I don't think you're very good."

"Tried what?" Yuuko sighed melodramatically and dropped the moeness. "I enjoy all sorts of charms whether they're good or not - for all I knew you secretly had a thing for kawaii eyes and blushes. Now there's more I could do if I truly wanted to try something but it'd most likely be lost on you."

Looking genuinely curious, "Has anyone actually tried and succeeded?"

Hovering around the shelves hid his amused expression; he seemed to know exactly what she was implying. Did he wish to talk about his past? He stirred, and gave off an air of annoyance instead.

"Not with those eyes, but I've experimented before." He sighed. "Are you asking me this for a reason? Or are you just searching?"

"I'm just trying to pin you down," Yuuko said. "You might've experimented but was there ever anyone in the past that pulled a reaction out of you? Or did you just shun would-be suitors with your cold indifference until you felt you wanted something?

"Actually, what sort of things would an old sword spirit even be into that way?"

Edited Date: 2013-05-28 10:23 pm (UTC)

There had been a gallery of interesting people in Mineto's life. He had been used by conquerors from time to time, or put them to the sword. You did not find them far off without his presence. He had searching for quite a long time, for others who could match the people they had been.

"Things with a bit of a double-edge," he replied, with his voice dropping to a wicked tone.

"So sharp and complex-like people? People who have a little more sides to them?" Yuuko asked. She sounded serious for a moment, but then she smirked, "Or maybe I'm thinking into it too deeply and you just like things like blood-play."

In an amused, happy sort of way Mineto chuckled to himself. "Now why doesn't that surprise me? How did you know?"

"It seems like you," Yuuko replied with her own laugh. "Sword spirit thing aside.

"So the guy or gal you experimented with was this sort of double-edged sir or lady?"

The conversation was going along at a crackling pace. Mineto looked like he was thoroughly enjoying it. He was smiling, which was how Yuuko could be sure.

"Not exactly. She was his wife."

Yuuko whistled. "So you 'experimented' with the wife of your boss? I think there's some netorare doujin that follow that idea.

"What was she like then, if she wasn't the double-edged type then?"

Edited Date: 2013-05-29 12:33 am (UTC)

Mineto shrugged. His arms crossed over his chest and he bowed his head. He knew what he'd done, but her description just wasn't coming to mind.

"I don't really remember," he said. "It was a long time ago. Over a thousand years."

"There has to be something about her." Yuuko pushed off the counter and approached. "Given your ridiculously high standards, she must have hit something on the list. Was she pretty? Had a sharp tongue? Really quiet? Have talented fingers? Had a certain scent to her? Allergic to flowers? Anything?"

The air was thin. And the silence that descended was cold and heavy. But only then.

"Doubtless what you think our relationship may be, this isn't something I wish to discuss," Mineto said, and it was probably the most unfriendly he had ever been.

As flippant as Yuuko was, she knew on a personal level, if not survival level, that pressing this would probably reverse some cosmic relationship bar. So she backed off, figuratively and literally. She stepped back and instead brushed her fingers across the plant again.

"I'd tell you about my romantic entanglements but they'd be sooo boring. Even when you date a youkai they're just like human guys, but with more restrictions and worries they may try throwing a curse at you for breaking up with them."