ALIAS
GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
OCCUPATION
BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
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QUIRK
XILLIONS
Archived
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Jun 28, 2023 22:53:11 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 28, 2023 22:53:11 GMT
 CULINARY ROYALE
A Food Competition for the Ages
One of the many highlights of the Ikigai Haru Matsuri is the food. Restaurants and shops from all over Tokyo offer special meals on this day, taking the opportunity to show off their cuisine. Not to mention all the delicious street foods to be had. However, for those that really wish to flaunt their skills, there's the Culinary Royale.
A new event hosted by the Barkeep of Noyote, this competition pits those from all across Tokyo and beyond with a passion for cooking against each other to see who can create a culinary masterpiece—something that truly embodies the meaning of "ikigai."
The winners of this competition have been promised to have their winning dishes added to a special menu for several of Tokyo's food establishments.
Culinary Royale Rules:Contestants (up to two people can participate as a team, NPC or otherwise) in this competition are given six hours to prepare three courses that will be presented to the event judges. The competition will start some time in the morning and end in the afternoon. Participants will have access to a fully stocked kitchen with a vast spectrum of foods to utilize.
The three courses are:
- Appetizer: Must be served within the first 20 minutes.
- Entrée: Must be served within the first 3 hours.
- Dessert: Must be served by the final countdown.
While preparing a high-end course is tough enough, this is not the only challenge presented to the contestants. The special rule for this event is that all contestants must utilize their quirk in some fashion when creating all three dishes. If the contestant doesn't have a quirk then they must utilize some sort of gimmick instead.
When presenting a dish, the contestant must describe it and explain how it correlates to their personal sense of ikigai.
To participate in this event, simply have the tags [ikigai][cr] in the title and let me know when you've finished. Personally, I would suggest making each course its own post. Though that decision is up to you.
Culinary Royale Judging:
As with any proper competition, there will be a select number of judges who will taste the food prepared and offer their insight. They will operate off of the following criteria and score the overall meal accordingly.
- Taste (10): Fairly self-explanatory. Naturally, in a cooking competition the food should taste good.
- Theme (10): How well does this meal embody the them of ikigai? Does it give a good understanding of the contestant's "reason for living?"
- Creativity (5): Fairly self-explanatory. What sort of cooking techniques did they use? How did they utilize their quirk or gimmick? How original were their dishes?
- Presentation (5): Fairly self-explanatory. You're in a competition, and presentation does a lot to affect how food tastes. So be sure to make it look good.
Once you have finished making your meals the judges will post in your thread with their scores. At the end of the event, the scores will be tallied and a winner will be announced.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
I love cooking competition shows. So this is 1000% just an excuse to get people to RP cooking. Lol. I want to see you all going full Iron Chef/Food Wars in this competition. The more creative you are with your process the better you will perform.
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ALIAS
GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
OCCUPATION
BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
XILLIONS
Archived
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Jun 28, 2023 22:50:41 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 28, 2023 22:50:41 GMT
 🌸 IKIGAI HARU MATSURI 🌸
Spring Festival of Life
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being". The word refers to having a direction or purpose in life, that which makes one's life worthwhile, and towards which an individual takes spontaneous and willing actions giving them satisfaction and a sense of meaning to life. So, with that in mind, this spring festival is a celebration of everything that makes life worth living. It’s a time where people get to show the world their passions and give praise to the things they adore. Like many spring festivals, the Ikigai Haru Matsuri includes a wide variety of events available for all to participate in. There will be copious amounts of food stands, game booths, floats and parades, exhibitions, karaoke, musical performances, fireworks, and even some sporting events for people to watch.Overall, this Tokyo-based event is a way to showcase the many talents of the city's denizens and remind people of what they truly love about life.
Pop-Up Event Structure:I'm going to call this a "pop-up" event. Just a simple down to earth event that anyone can participate in or choose to ignore. There's no real benefit in this other than to have your characters interact in different and new ways. In any case, let's get to the nitty gritty of it all.
This is an all day, one-day, IC event that will have events throughout the various wards within Tokyo. So you're not limited to only being in one area. It's a yearly event so people in the area should be familiar with the festival.
There are a couple different ways to participate in this pop-up event. The first would be to host an activity for other people. This could range from making a musical performance that people can attend and react too or having a food competition. Alternatively, you can just make a thread saying that you're attending the festival and go off on your own little adventure.
Take this as an opportunity to flaunt your character's talents by performing at the talent show. Participate in the parades and musical events. Go on dates. Eat all the festive cuisines. Dress up in kimono and yukata and dance. Now is the time to show off your creativity for all to see.
The only requirements I have for this are:
- Include [ikigai] in the title of the thread.
- If you are hosting an event, please post a description of it below with a link to the thread so that people can join up for it.
The scale of the event will be based purely off of member participation.Pop-Up Event Rewards:
We're sponsored. Staff has got your backs on this (be sure to thank them properly). 1000 EXP will be awarded for participating in a thread for this event (make sure it's tagged).
This reward can only be applied to a character once, and the thread cannot be a mission.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
This is a scaled down version of the same event from the old site. As with the original event, this is just supposed to be a fun way for characters to chill and interact with one another.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to hit me up on DIscord (@livenspirals).
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GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
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BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
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Jun 27, 2023 20:18:29 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 27, 2023 20:18:29 GMT
 Unfortunately, it was the observant types that often missed things the most—casting aside the obvious in search of the greater truth. Ignoring subtleties and focusing on the wrong things. Then again, when you alway perceive the world moving at such a slow pace how could you truly appreciate the nuances around you?
"You really don't know, do you?" Zazie questioned, legitimately surprised by Farrin's last statements. In a way, she kind of felt bad for him. Somebody had set him up for failure. Or maybe they were just woefully optimistic. In either case, the poor bastard clearly had not done his research if he didn't even know about Kh'mir.
She let out a heavy sigh and shook her head. Zazie opened her mouth to say something, but shook her head again and took another big bite from one of her cakes.
"Listen," she said after finishing her mouthful. "I told you. You're wasting your time if you're chasing after Tanuki. He died the same night that—"
"That is enough, Starlight," Shu interrupted. His tone was stern, a nerve clearly stepped upon. He had just returned from the kitchen with a plate in tow. While it was a simple order, the tanuki had the cooks in the back do a little extra. Something that he might find a bit familiar.
"We don't do black pudding here," he said as he placed the Irish homage in front of Farrin, "but hopefully this will suffice."
The tanuki took one step back and gave the time turner another once over. What amusement Shu had with riling the young man up had waned. Not to mention it had pushed Zazie to tread too closely to mentioning the incident and that was not an argument meant for the public.
"As I said before, in the walls of Noyote, I am the Barkeep. Outside of its walls I am simply that pain in the ass's father," Shu explained as he thumbed over at Zazie—who mouthed 'wow' under her breath at the insult. "You will not find Tanuki here or anywhere else for that matter. Your agency has wasted both of our time, Oberon."
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Nam mauris lacus, faucibus quis lectus eu, varius consectetur justo. Pellentesque aliquam velit a nulla lobortis condimentum. Integer ut lectus sit amet justo faucibus luctus et sed eros. Nulla facilisi. Morbi ac
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Jun 27, 2023 17:43:37 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 27, 2023 17:43:37 GMT
The tanuki poured his own glass of wine with a slight sense of amusement, the smirk dangling on his lips countering her icy visage. Letting out a relaxed sigh he picked up the glass and took a sip, taking a moment to savor the flavors. Full bodied. A dry red. Aged in French oak with notes of leather and dark fruit. While it was not the wine that Kioko typically ordered—that one just happened to be on back order—it was an option that Shu felt was close enough to suit her tastes. Perhaps she would even enjoy it enough to oblige a little bit of conversation.
"The open tab under your name would imply otherwise," Shu said simply as he looked out towards the other tables and booths, giving her the courtesy at the moment to not give her his full attention. Kioko had always been a private person and his eyes were quick to perceive what people wished to keep hidden. The limp she tried to hide and the bruises she attempted to conceal were proof that something was going on. But if he was going to get what he wanted from her then that something would need to remain a mystery.
For now, anyway. And so he would take another sip before setting the glass down on the table.
"Besides, you're a business woman," Shu said as his focus shifted to Kioko. Golden eyes meeting with her mercurial glare. "Is it so strange to wine and dine one of your most esteemed benefactors from time to time?"
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Nam mauris lacus, faucibus quis lectus eu, varius consectetur justo. Pellentesque aliquam velit a nulla lobortis condimentum. Integer ut lectus sit amet justo faucibus luctus et sed eros. Nulla facilisi. Morbi ac
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GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
OCCUPATION
BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
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XILLIONS
Archived
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Jun 23, 2023 17:53:20 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 23, 2023 17:53:20 GMT
Tonight was as standard of a night as one could expect at Noyote. The usual evening crowd had gathered, taking up residency in their favorite spots. There were a handful of newcomers—a mix of those that wandered in from the street and those brought by frequent patrons. For all intents and purposes, business was good.
Which is why the tanuki decided to take a step back—calling in one of his younger staff that was asking for more hours to cover his shift at the bar. Instead he opted mess around with an old model of the omnitool that Shahar had made for him back in the day. It was the last iteration that utilized the watch design before Shahar shifted to the implant. Listlessly he tapped away at the hard light interface, shuffling and adjusting different settings.
All of it was to no avail. While Shu was far from being technologically inept, understanding the inner machinations of things was not one of his strengths. He always claimed that's why he married Shahar—to handle all of the complicated tech stuff. But he no longer had Shahar. All that remained of his beloved was Zazie's smile and the numerous devices that occupied her home lab.
The tanuki sucked his teeth and the screen displayed yet another error message. He groaned mentally as he leaned back in his booth near the bar—"supervising" as he told his staff. The thought of contacting the Heroes Association crossed his mind briefly. Surely they had the resources to get the device operational. And surely they would want something from him in return. They had accepted that he'd retired, but that didn't keep them from showing up at his door to ask for favors. Can you provide support for this mission? Can you teach at U.A.U.? Can you train this random kid to be the next Symbol of Strength? It was annoying, so just as quickly as the idea rose up it faded.
That's when he heard the chime of the door as a cloaked figured entered. There was an air of familiarity to them. Tall. Feminine. The gait of someone who felt above the world. Though there was something off about the walk—something disingenuous. Everything became clear when the figure took a seat at a particular booth. The usual spot for a band of simpletons that frequented Noyote since they were children. Yet, this time she was alone.
The tanuki smirked to himself as a devious plot entered his mind.
Rising up from his booth, Shu stepped behind the bar and grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses. When questioned about it he simply stated that it was for business and refused to elaborate.
"Family reunion?" Shu asked with a bit of dark humor as he set the two glasses down on the table and poured.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Nam mauris lacus, faucibus quis lectus eu, varius consectetur justo. Pellentesque aliquam velit a nulla lobortis condimentum. Integer ut lectus sit amet justo faucibus luctus et sed eros. Nulla facilisi. Morbi ac
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ALIAS
GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
OCCUPATION
BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
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XILLIONS
Archived
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Post by shu on Jun 23, 2023 5:01:22 GMT
There was the slightest hint of a smirk forming on the tanuki's face as processed his response. He was a man on a mission. Impatient. Ready to move to the next part. The perfect prey to make this rainy afternoon a little more entertaining. The same seemed to be true for the walking philosopher's stone that was his daughter. Clearly the apple didn't fall far from the tree in this regard.
"Sausage and eggs, comin' right up," he said with a slight nod and headed over to his computer to punch in the order for the kitchen. For now, he didn't have much more to say to the impetuous hero.
So, after filling up a glass of water for Farrin, the tanuki set it down in front of him and returned his focus on the other Noyote patrons. However, while he may have lost Shu's attention, Zazie seemed intent to keep the time-turner occupied—if only for a little bit.
"This picture is from 2085," Zazie explained as she examined the image on the phone thoroughly. "Oh!" She started tapping the table as she tried to connect the pieces in her mind. "This is from the fight with Krakoa. That's the fight that solidified him as the Symbol of Strength," Zazie stated though it was clear that she was holding herself back. Her golden eyes honed in on Farrin, daring him to ask her more about the event.
But it was very clear that Farrin had his own topics he wanted to discuss.
"Tanuki's brother looks nothing like him though," Zazie corrected as she offered Farrin back his phone. In return, she offered him hers. On the screen was a selfie she took with an older man with salt and pepper hair. Both of them were posed in front of a villain that they had taken down. "War Dog has way more gray hair," she said as her focus shifted to her father, "and he can actually grow a beard. Though if you're going off the secret twin angle then you've definitely stumbled on the evil one."
"Those cakes are coming out of your allowance," Shu announced from across the bar.
Once again, Zazie looked aghast at his words before returning her attention to Farrin.
"Eeeeevil~," she teasingly whispered before letting out a heavy sigh. Her mood seemed to take a complete 180 as she took another bite cake. The fun of this little game having run dry. "Look, kid," Zazie said despite being the only child in this conversation. "The man you're looking for," she started while pointing at Farrin's phone. "You're wasting your time. Tanuki is long dead."
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
As far as Zazie is concerned, Tanuki died alongside her mother and grandfather when Pride attacked. Even though Shu survived, he's a shell of his former self and seems to be simply coasting through life in order to take care of her. At least, that's her opinion on the matter.
In the time that's passed since his father died, Shu's adoptive brother Kh'mir has taken up the hero name War Dog.
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ALIAS
GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
OCCUPATION
BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
XILLIONS
Archived
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Jun 22, 2023 18:52:00 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 22, 2023 18:52:00 GMT
"Ooooh. He doesn't know~," Zazie mused quietly under her breath, but just loud enough for Farrin to hear. Cutting off a piece of the strawberry cream cake with her fork she quickly stuffed the bite into her mouth before she could say more. Choosing to savor the incoming display. A sweet treat and a show. What more could she ask for?
The answer was a lot, but this would suffice.
Alongside the young heroine's bemusement a few of the patrons had—not so—subtly turned their attention towards Farrin. It was a bit of an unspoken rule to not pester Shu about his past as a hero, unless he brought up the topic himself. To break that rule was tantamount to rolling a luck die and hoping the tanuki was in an amenable mood.
| Initially, Shu didn't have much of a response. If anything, it might have appeared as though the tanuki was outright ignoring the man. As Farrin made his inquiries, Shu simply continued on with his business. Mixing together a cup of coffee and setting it on a tray alongside some snacks. Once he was done, the tray lifted itself in the air and floated across the building to an elderly couple that was working on a crossword puzzle. | |
Finally, the pair of golden eyes made their way to the time turner.
Shu had clocked him as a hero from the moment he stepped foot in the establishment. His stance, his build, his mannerisms, and more all gave it away. Not that Farrin seemed to even be hiding those aspects of himself. It also didn't help that a hero agency known as Above and Beyond had contacted him recently. They sought him out for the same reason that most heroes did. If he refused to come out of retirement then he could at least help train them to take the mantle he'd left behind.
"Nah," the tanuki responded, giving Farrin the same answer as he'd given to his agency. "People here just call me Barkeep. You can do the same," he explained and slid a menu towards him. He made a gesture towards a bar and then out at the other booths, signaling for him to take a seat anywhere his heart desired.
"You got a picture?" Zazie chimed in with a devious grin. "I'm like his #1 fangirl," she flashed the back of her phone case which had an embossed Tanuki logo on it.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Noyote has a very eclectic spread, containing dishes from Japan, the USA, and even some African options. Though it mostly caters towards Japanese tastes it's not shy about it's more international options.
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GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
OCCUPATION
BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
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Jun 21, 2023 20:34:12 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 21, 2023 20:34:12 GMT
Shu had just about made it back to the bar when the chime of the door opening again caused him to pause. There were really only two likelihoods as to what would happen next.
The first, most likely, option was that Zen would prove to be the exact time to entitled dickhead that Shu couldn't stand. He would barge in making demands and proclaiming his self-importance. Coming face to face, possibly for the first time, that actions had consequences and his money meant nothing.
Or—and Shu had very little reason to believe it even a viable option—he could simply apologize and try to do better.
So, when Zenkai did just that, the tanuki was a little taken aback. Turning around slowly, Shu couldn't help but raise a brow when he saw the little idiot bowing so deeply. That was probably from the monks, he decided to himself. The anger and annoyance that had been brewing within him just moments ago flushed away. The kid had done what he asked. There was no need to carry on any further.
"Fine," he said with a sigh. He truly must be in a generous mood.
Once again, the chair came to life and scooped up Zen. Except, instead of chucking him out of the establishment, this time it gently set him down at the table he had been at previously.
"Telekinesis is a decent guess, but it's not nearly so broad," Shu stated in English as he approached the table once more. He extended a hand out and black granules began to rise up from it. They listlessly floated upwards before they all converged together and merged to create a black sphere the size of a baseball. Shu then made a few subtle nods to all the black metallic furnishings throughout the building—the legs of the chairs, the door, window panels, table legs, and so much more. "I don't just own Noyote," Shu claimed. "I control it too."
He then took this moment to turn Zen's attention to the menu. It was a very eclectic spread, containing dishes from Japan, the USA, and even some African options. The variety was also one of the many charms that Noyote had to offer. However, Shu made sure to point out something very specific: The Tanukitsuki Special.
"Now let's see if you're really willing to put that appetite," a slight smirk tugged at the edge of his lips, "and that card to good use."
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
The Tanukitsuki Special: Named after the effects of "tanuki possession," this specialty menu item is for the truly insatiable. The customer will provide the kitchen with any health restrictions and they will create a personalized dish—pricing will vary from order to order.
This menu item was established back when Shu was a child. |
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ALIAS
GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
OCCUPATION
BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
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QUIRK
XILLIONS
Archived
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Jun 21, 2023 17:35:41 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 21, 2023 17:35:41 GMT
From a booth near the back of the bar the clanking of glasses could be heard over the ambient ♪ ♬ music ♬ ♪. Cheerful murmurs followed suit as the trio celebrated the occasion. The man on the left slapping the one in the middle with drunken enthusiasm—a large grin spread across his face.
"Raise a glass to freedom," he said with a jubilant laugh. "Something you will never see again," the man added as he grabbed his friend's hand, allowing the wedding ring to shimmer in the amber light.
And such seemed to be the mood of Noyote this evening. There were a handful of malcontents, drowning their woes in alcohol, but on the whole people seemed to be in very bright moods. Even the tanuki seemed to be caught up in the overall mirth of the night, offering customers a rare smile here and there and he mixed their drinks.
Which is probably why Sebastian was still alive after kicking in the door. The boisterous entrance causing taking everyone aback. Though they quickly resumed their merriment.
"Oi!" Shu barked from behind the counter and turned to see who had the audacity to be so obnoxi—oh. Sebastian. The tanuki's mood seemed to deflate the moment he laid eyes on the silver haired leech. He waited a moment, looking out for his usual compatriots, but neither seemed to be in tow. With a roll of his eyes, Shu simply gestured for Sebastian to take a seat at his usual spot. "Shinjiro, man the deck for a bit," Shu said to the other man behind the bar.
| He then proceeded to drop some ice in a whiskey glass and quickly mixed a rail drink before making his way over to the booth in the corner right by the picture wall. As he stepped up to the booth, Shu gave the kid a quick once over. It had been a minute since he last slinked into Noyote, and he looked like absolute dog shit at the time. Now, not so much.
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"What have I told you about kicking my door," Shu queried with an annoyed glare as he set the glass down on the table and slid it towards Sebastian. Though it faded quickly enough. "Where are the other two? Or do I have the unique privilege of dealing with you on my own tonight?"
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Nam mauris lacus, faucibus quis lectus eu, varius consectetur justo. Pellentesque aliquam velit a nulla lobortis condimentum. Integer ut lectus sit amet justo faucibus luctus et sed eros. Nulla facilisi. Morbi ac
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ALIAS
GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
OCCUPATION
BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
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XILLIONS
Archived
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Jun 20, 2023 19:45:53 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 20, 2023 19:45:53 GMT
As dreary as the outside might appear, stepping foot into Noyote would wash away the gloom almost entirely. The aroma of freshly brewed coffees and teas intermingled with the scents of baked goods, creating a feeling of warmth for those that came by on this weekend afternoon. Even with the incoming storm business was booming—though it wasn't chaotic or rambunctious. Quite the opposite, in fact. The "quiet crowd"—the group of regulars that came through during the down time— decided to stick around for the afternoon rush so that they could enjoy being in the cafe during the rain.
After all, what could be better than a peaceful atmosphere, a warm drink, some chill music, and a good book?
Sitting at the bar with an assortment of sweet treats before her was a girl eagerly snapping pictures with her phone. She grinned hungrily at the images on her screen as she continued to take more pictures from various different angles.
"You'd better eat all of that," the man behind the bar stated as he approached the girl, his caramel complexion matching that of the girls, and setting down the cup he had just finished cleaning. "Or I will."
The girl set down her phone. Her mouth agape with faux disbelief. For added measure she even clutched for her non-existent pearls.
"Uyafuna?!" Zazie proclaimed with a playful sternness.
"Ndiyazama," Shu answered with a devious smirk.
And in an instant, the tanuki snatched one of the finger cakes from the plates and popped it in his mouth. Zazie gasped as her father walked away to resume prepping drinks for his customers.
"Villain," she called after him with a frown. He simply responded with an appropriately villainous laugh. "Never get to have anything nice," the young heroine grumbled to herself.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
"Uyafuna" is a Xhosa word that, in this context, roughly translates to "you dare." The response "ndiyazama" in this context means "I dare."
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Jun 20, 2023 17:02:22 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 20, 2023 17:02:22 GMT
There is a palpable tension in the air when Fuyuko makes her appearance and a very evident sense of strained hesitation. Every instinct in the tanuki's body—honed from years of combat training—roared for him to strike. But the cries of those instincts was muted by the seething raged that boiled within the man. Anger from being startled. Frustration from allowing himself to be caught off-guard. Annoyed by the gall to disregard him. There would be no doubt that Fuyuko could feel the golden daggers being glared at her as she walked past him.
That said, knowing the nature of her soon-to-be husband, Shahar interceded.
"It's our pleasure to meet you Watcher," Shahar greeted in an even keeled tone, a staple of her diplomatic nature. "The Warbound is enthusiastic to have the opportunity to work alongside Watchtower in this joint operation."
Shu offered no words. He simply followed behind Fuyuko, observing her movements as they made their way to the rendezvous point. Tempermental as the young tanuki might be, as the face and leader of the Warbound's Japanese branch he couldn't afford to jeopardize the relationship between the agencies—yet. The old man was still giving him grief for cutting ties with that Rokuhane bastard.
Discreetly the pair arrived at a seemingly abandoned warehouse in the area near the port. Fuyuko lead Shu to the upper levels and escorted him to what could only be described as a typical stakeout room. From an initial assessment, Shu would have assumed the room to be empty. However, once the two were completely inside the door shut behind them. Once again, the tanuki was taken off guard and as he whirled around to see who had done it a blade forged from his black sand was already in hand ready to strike.
And once again, he forced himself to hesitate.
Standing behind them was a massive man, dressed in some kind of stealth suit, who looked as if he'd rather be anywhere else but at this location seemed to melt from the shadows. On his shoulder was the icon for Watchtower, clearly one of Fuyuko's sidekicks.
"Can't any of you people approach people normally?" Shu grumbled. He glared at the man, annoyed that yet another person was able to slip past his guard. He had been clearly distracted when Fuyuko appeared—which was the story he was sticking to and the hill he would die on. But he had been on full alert ever since he followed Fuyuko.
"Ah...," the man started nervously, shifting his eyes to avoid the glare and rubbing the back of his head. "S-sorry about that." A nervous chuckle escaped him. "The agency said you were on the way, but you can never be too careful. I'm, uh, In-n-Out. Same name as my quick," the timid hero offered as a greeting. "Cause it helps me get...in and out of places without people noticing me."
"Tanuki," Shu curtly replied. "Like the tanuki."
"R-right." Meekly the man walked over to the table he had set up and placed down the laptop he had been concealing. Upon opening it up an image appeared immediately on the screen.
"T-this photo was taken less than thirty minutes ago. Asano Kakuji, accompanied by his bodyguard, Rokuguri Shin, was seen leaving the Gold Dragon Gentlemen's Club," In-n-Out explained. "We could not get eyes on what happened inside of the club, but based on the intel received from the Warbound's interrogation it's believed that final arrangements for tonight's deal was settled there. Which means he should be in-route to oversee the transaction now." With the press of a button a new visual appeared on the screen. The mild-mannered hero then pointed to the telescope which would show a row of warehouses across the port. "The Inagawa-kai has men stationed in no less than ten of those warehouses."
"A smokescreen," Shu chimed in as he peeked through the lens. Even from this distance he could see a few shadowed movements around the structures. "Even they probably don't know where the deal will happen exactly."
"C-correct," In-n-Out stated, not having been prepared to be cut off like that. "There is a secret entrance in each of the warehouses that they will use to facilitate the deal, ensuring that prying eyes won't see Asano or the dealer. T-that's where you two come in," he continued. "Infiltrating and monitoring multiple warehouses will be simple for the two of you. Once Asano shows up then we can get clear documentation of his illegal dealings and hopefully take him down for good."
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
The Warbound is the hero agency created by the American top hero War Dog, Shu's adoptive father. When Shu started to work internationally between Japan and the USA he opened up a new branch of the agency. It still operated under the same name, but Shu was the head of the organization. Following War Dog's death and Shu's retirement, the Warbound disbanded.
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ALIAS
GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
OCCUPATION
BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
XILLIONS
Archived
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Jun 18, 2023 21:03:34 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 18, 2023 21:03:34 GMT
There were those that often asked Shu why he chose to be a barkeep after retiring from being a pro-hero. That if his only stipulations were not doing field work then he could have simply shifted to teaching—passing on his skills and knowledge to the next generation. Surely with his reputation he could have easily secured a position at U.A. University. Shu never really gave a proper answer to the question. At best, he would give a disgruntled groan and hand wave the entire conversation off.
The reason he never considered teaching at an institution like U.A.U. was actually very simple. And it happened to be sitting right in front of him at his bar.
Listening to Miroru go on only really sparked one thought in his mind—That bastard really did a number on her. The lack of self-esteem. The dismissal of her own potential. The self-doubt dripped from every sentence that she uttered. Perhaps it was his paternal nature kicking in, but the whole thing really started to piss him off. Shu would never admit to being a great father, but he was confident that he had raised a young woman that was fully confident in capabilities. Which was the crux of the issue. Shu didn't have the capacity to be a parent for anyone other than Zazie. He didn't have the capacity to tackle the trauma instilled on all of the up-and-coming generation of pro-heroes.
Letting out a light sigh, Shu grabbed a glass and walked over to the closest sink and turned on the faucet.
This really wasn't his responsibility to fix. Especially not for a kid of an asshole that he absolutely could not stand. The tanuki took two large gulps of the water, leaving it half full and set it back on the counter. He then extracted a slip of paper from one of the drawers behind the bar and set it down in front of Miroru.
"I'll say this and leave it at that," he inititated and held up one finger. "One, we are sitting in the beating heart of a metropolis." He held up a second finger. "Two, support gear exists for a reason."
That was all the advice he was willing to give—for free—before walking off to do the rounds with the quiet crowd. The slip of paper that Shu had set down was a very vibrantly designed sign up sheet. There were a handful of names on it already, having filled out the simple terms of name and contact information. At the very top of it was an artsy interpretation of the tanuki next to the words BARKEEP BOOTCAMP. In the description it described a one-day bootcamp with pro-heroes to help every day civilians learn how to protect themselves better in this chaotic world.
And in the fine print at the very bottom it read:
Disclaimer: Sessions were held at the discretion of the event host. They will contact you with the time and the place prior to the event. The event host is none other than Tanuki (though we're not supposed to advertise that part).
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Shocking reveal. Zazie made the flyer and snuck in the disclaimer after he reviewed and approved of the design.
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ALIAS
GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
OCCUPATION
BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
XILLIONS
Archived
|
Jun 16, 2023 19:26:58 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 16, 2023 19:26:58 GMT
Truthfully, it never took much to sour Shu's mood. From a young age he had always possessed a volatile temper, which lead to a lot of conflict and acts of aggression from the tanuki. But with age came wisdom—or, at least, the wisdom to know how to stay out of jail—and control.
An eyebrow raised when Zen opted to speak in English and slid a black card on the table with a shit eating grin. Shu groaned mentally as he swiftly sized up the kid. Old money. He knew the type all too well. Being the adoptive son of an American top hero it was impossible to escape that sphere of privilege. He generally found them to be insufferable. So far, Zen wasn't doing anything to change his opinion.
And just like so many of those self-absorbed shitheads, Zen didn't know what to say out of his mouth.
This was hardly the first time someone had shit to say about his heritage and his complexion—in Japan or even in the States. It came in various levels, but whether it was being viewed as a hāfu or a minority it all boiled down to the same thing. He was viewed as an other. Even in this era of quirks, it seemed like the focus on such differences was just as prominent as ever. And Shu honestly had no tolerance for it.
"I'm in a generous mood," Shu stated in Japanese, though his tone implied he was feeling anything but generosity. Golden eyes glared down upon the so-called titan in the way a predator eyed its potential lunch. In that moment, the chair that Zen had been sitting in lifted up, spun him around, and raced towards the door. In pure Fantasia fashion the door would open just in time for the chair to fling Zen out of the establishment.
Back in the day, a much younger tanuki would have simply kicked Zen's teeth in and fed him his breakfast through a straw. But again, jail was not a viable option at the moment. So kicking him out of Noyote would suffice for now.
"Try it again," Shu instructed in fluent English as he walked up to Zen. He then flicked the black card that Zen had pulled out to the ground as if it were discarded trash. "And leave your bullshit," he mimed the same vague gesture that Zen had done moments ago, "on the street."
With that, the door shut and Shu returned to work with the chair floating back to its table.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
I think that this is about as well as this could play out. Being racist in his establishment gets you kicked out. But, hey, if he can fix himself then Shu will happily take his money.
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ALIAS
GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
OCCUPATION
BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
XILLIONS
Archived
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Jun 15, 2023 16:22:13 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 15, 2023 16:22:13 GMT
Rokuhane Kentaro, otherwise known as Incapacitor, was a man that grew mass popularity around the same time that Shu began his international heroics. In fact, Incapacitor was one of the very first heroes that Shu worked alongside as he ventured into the Japanese hero market. Understandably, his support team thought that the two would make for a powerful combination—on the field and in marketing. Both heroes yielded undeniable levels of power and took every opportunity to remind the world of it. Both were vicious in the battlefield and capable of ending threats almost as quickly as they started. In fact, one of their greatest team up moments was when Shu captured a villain in a tower of black sand and let Incapacitor use it as a lighting rod to direct his full might into.
Yet, Shu couldn't stand his ass. It only took a few interactions for the tanuki to see past the veil and see the truth of the man—the antithesis of everything Shu believed how the strong should be. So, as Shu continued to rise in fame throughout Japan, ultimately becoming the "Symbol of Strength," he openly refused to work alongside Rokuhane ever again.
"I suppose even he's capable doing something right every once and a while," Shu said as the iciness melted in his tone. From this short interaction, he was able to tell that she was in no way a reflection of her father. Which, while a low bar, was not a bad starting point. Though he had to pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration at the thought of his other offspring. From the sound of it they were just as obnoxious as he would have imagined.
Not wanting to dwell on the asshole any longer, Shu decided to shift the focus a bit.
"And you need to stop downplaying your quirk." Shu would have added something about her needing to stop downplaying herself as well, but he felt himself reaching his "nice" limit. "You electromagnetic emitter types have always been a pain in the ass to deal with in my book."
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Nam mauris lacus, faucibus quis lectus eu, varius consectetur justo. Pellentesque aliquam velit a nulla lobortis condimentum. Integer ut lectus sit amet justo faucibus luctus et sed eros. Nulla facilisi. Morbi ac
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ALIAS
GOD OF THE BLACK SAND
OCCUPATION
BARKEEP
EVENT TOKENS
0
QUIRK
XILLIONS
Archived
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Jun 14, 2023 21:22:57 GMT
Post by shu on Jun 14, 2023 21:22:57 GMT
Today had been proving to be a fairly normal day at Noyote. They had successfully managed to stave off the morning rush, leaving the usual suspects—otherwise known as the "quiet crowd"—to linger peacefully. The tranquility of this time period was honestly what made most people return. It had a warm and cozy atmosphere, but despite its appearance was quite roomy.
During this bit of downtime, Shu decided to head into the kitchen to check on their inventory. Normally, he liked to keep the business stocked with a week's worth of food for both the day and night shifts—this meant that the food was always relatively fresh. However, that didn't appear to be the case for today.
"Which one of you put in the food order for this week?" Golden eyes scanned through the refrigerated room, noting a far greater abundance than the norm.
"Takeda-kun," one of the cooks, Yukami, stated as he continued to prepare one of the meals ordered. "He's been saying he wants to do more around here, so I let him place the order," the cook continued though the pace of his chopping got noticeably quicker, clearly nervous at the line of questioning.
"And did you check his numbers?" Shu emerged from from the fridge, annoyance plain to see on his face.
"Well, remember that eating contest Mari-chan proposed? The one you said was a good idea?" Yukami let out a nervous laugh. "He thought that meant you gave the go ahead for it."
With an exasperated sigh, Shu simply left the kitchen without another word. Though the look he gave the cook said it all—"fix this shit." As he stepped back to the front of the establishment the door chimed as a new customer arrived. They plopped themselves down at the closest available seat and requested his pantry's entire stock of eggs and bacon.
How...serendipitous.
"I doubt you could afford it," Shu stated rather simply as he approached the table. Nevertheless, the tanuki was more than happy to oblige. After all, he possessed a similar appetite, so the request wasn't too foreign to him. But there was always a price to be paid, and so Shu slid a menu in front of the silver haired glutton. It was already open to the breakfast menu. "Feel free to prove me wrong though."
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Funnily enough, I had been thinking of what Shu would do if he ever had too much inventory. Perhaps one of these days I'll do an eating contest thread or something.
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