thenearshore | [Semi-Closed] Heads I Win, Tales You Lose

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[Semi-Closed] Heads I Win, Tales You Lose

Who: Schwarz and business acquaintances
What: Meeting Loki's OG Boss
When: June 12
Where: Loki's Hollow
Warnings: General meeting of broken moral compass gods and the poor not-as-bad people who got bonded to them

The icy cavern outside of Loki's Hollow is a fair deterrent to standing around outside of the alcove entrance for very long. If you do know where to find the latch on the little table, it's no trouble at all. It pops the turning door when touched, which leads into the main living space. That much is communal.

Unlike many other temples, Schuldig's isn't very large. Perhaps that's because he has the full expanse of the exterior cavern and a hallway leading into it that he gets to 'guard' as part of his temple. In the warm space, there's really only the two bedrooms and a guest bathroom plus Schuldig's master suite. It's a luxury hotel space tucked away in a mountain, the likes of which have become popular in Europe of late, the kind of place Schuldig spends very little time in unless he's sleeping. That's why it's not an ideal meeting space... unless you want that meeting to be as clandestine as possible in the Far Shore. And today, introducing his shinki to the newly-arrived boss and meeting his shinki in turn, that's about all the temple needs to be used for. At least the entryway-plus-living room is quite large. Maybe they can be convinced to play some cards.

[[OOC: If Schuldig or Crawford hasn't told your character the location of Loki's Hollow, or your character's power doesn't allow them to spy, please ask about finding Schuldig's temple.]]

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Schuldig gestures behind himself. "Oh I'm sure the boss man will be around shortly. He probably just got a little bored waiting for what your decision would be." He waves at Chikusa. "I'll see if he's on the pot or something. If not, I think I'll use it myself. Hang tight." Of course, all of it said quite sarcastically and flippantly, but hey, his job's done. It's his temple, but Crawford asked for the kid after all.

Well. He guesses he shouldn't expect much with something like that. If that's how it is, then he'll at least get a look of where he's at, and who else is here, if only so he doesn't get caught off-guard. So, keeping one eye on Schuldig just in case- teleportation is such a troublesome thing- he starts to shuffle off.

If Crawford really wants to talk to him, well, he won't be hard to find.

It's the luxury of precogs to always be able to make an entrance. The moment Schuldig disappeared, Crawford is able to appear as if he was summoned. He doesn't need to know exactly what Schuldig said to the boy, they've worked long enough together that he can guess. He approaches with the same casual attitude Chikusa is displaying.

"I'm glad you came."

Speak of the devil. Chikusa pauses in his shuffling, glancing over Crawford. Still the same as when they’d met at the beach fire… and still looking as if he’s in perfect control. It’s enough to set something in the back of his mind on edge, as someone who very much is out of his depth with no idea how deep things can go right now.

“Your friend rushed the decision….” A slow shrug. “What do you want?” There’s no point in playing coy, as far as he’s concerned.

Right to the point. He can respect that. Crawford returns Chikusa's shrug with one of his own, then a shake of his head as if to say 'it can't be helped.'

"He's not known for his...tact..."

That's the understatement of the century, but Crawford simply continues:

"But you seem like the type to appreciate bluntness, so I'll get to the point: what I want is for us to be able to work together. In what capacity, is somewhat up to you."

Up to him, huh? It's a good reassurance if it's true, something Chikusa has yet to puzzle out. For now, he just considers it.

"For what... exactly? That can mean a lot of things..."

"It can," Crawford smiles, an expression that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "but what I'm specifically interested in has to do with your skill set. I hear your fond of chemistry..."

And that suddenly has his attention sharpening, much like hi gaze.

He doesn't recall talking to anyone about anything like that.

Chikusa knows what his ability is for his god and, through it, part of his own knowledge. Poisons, anti-venoms, medical chemicals, some other things... They're all things he knows, although the reasoning for this is something he knows he'll likely never figure out. However, only two people know that about him- Axel, of course, and Zero, although Chikusa isn't sure how much the hunter knows is from him and what's from his god.

Briefly, he tries to go through whatever he's said on the BBS, but, no- he's not talked about it on there.

So how....

"It's not something I generally talk about," he finally says slowly, the question beneath his words clear: how the hell do you know?

"I don't think you've ever talked about it," Crawford confirms with an even stare.

This isn't his first time having such a conversation. The problem with working with other people is that they always need some sort of reassurance; a collateral if you will, that they're not the only one vulnerable in their partnership. Luckily, it's no great sacrifice for Crawford to share. Not to this teen, at least.

"Do you think you're the only one here with talents?"

He shakes his head with a 'tsk.'

"My god can set an entire festival on fire," he says matter-of-factly; Axel demonstrated such talents on his own in public so there's no need to hide it. "But a talent like that... isn't really something anyone would expect." In fact, whatever 'that' is, it's making him start to feel a little tense, and he wonders if maybe this was a mistake.

Well. Too early to say.

Still, he does move to lean against one wall, fishing out one of his yoyos to start toying with like an idle bored teen. If he knows about Chikusa's "hobbies", then it's likely that he knows this isn't just an ordinary toy, but it makes him feel better to have it out regardless. "What about it, then?"

Crawford's gaze tracks down to the yoyo then back to Chikusa's face, neutral expression never wavering. The threat has been noted.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of."

In fact, Crawford's always been in the camp of being proud of one's talents, zealously so.

"...though you're probably wiser than your god not to broadcast it."

Pyrokinetics could be so stereotypically hotheaded.

So he definitely knows that, then. Good to know.

"No one really needs to know about them," is Chikusa's simple answer, shrugging even as the yoyo continues to whir through the air. He neglects to say that it's because he'd rather have the drop on them; that should be a given.

"So. Why chemistry...?" A slow raise of his eyebrow. "...Drugs?" He's not sure why that's the first thing to come to mind, but whatever.

"Drugs," he repeats with a shake of his head. "No. That'd be rather mundane, don't you think?"

Drugs he could get in a myriad of places, should he care to obtain them. He has no interest in going down that route though, not when there's so many more intriguing interests to pursue.

Crawford gives Chikusa a glimpse of his true smile.

"I'm more interested in this poison you've been working on."

The same poison he'd been thinking about as he'd been roaming the Far Shore in search of somewhere more deserted to work? Yeah- Chikusa can put two and two together. However, with the resulting answer...

His expression remains the same, but the the speed of his yoyo seems to slow, a steadier pattern like the tick of a clock. "I'm sure a lot of people would be," he says, watching Crawford carefully. He's suddenly realized just how much of a viper's den he's stepped into. "But I don't see what your interest has to do with me."

In other words- he'll need a reason to talk about anything of his work.

It's annoying to have to resort to honesty already, but maybe with what Chikusa has to offer, he's can be affronted a little truth. Crawford takes a step back and looks just past Chikusa, focusing on something unseen.

"There are moments in time when your actions become like skipping stones, and while it's true you can control how hard and how far you throw, the ripples you create, and what you disturb under the water, become the inevitable consequences of your choices."

He gaze slides slowly back to Chikusa. He now seems hyper-focused on the teen.

"If you accomplish what you've been thinking about, you have the opportunity to create all sorts of ripples around here. Some of them, I don't care for. My interest is to make sure you throw in the right direction. Your benefit is that some of your options don't end so well for you either."

After blinking twice, he gives Chikusa a raise of one brow.

"Does that make things a little clearer?"

The second he'd decided to begin crafting a poison from the blight, Chikusa had known that it could change a lot of things. He had even acknowledged the fact that, if the Heavens found out, there was a considerable chance they would put him to death- much like his god had been forced to die once as an ayakashi because no one had decided to say anything about the limits of shinki. And that was, in a way, a best case scenario, assuming that he would only die and his work be forgotten instead of being stolen by the very ones who had prompted its use.

So this isn't new information, exactly, but the way Crawford talks about it is. Like he's seeing a much larger picture than anyone else might consider.

Snapping his yoyo back into his hand, he lets it rest there for the time being, and considers his options. "So... A say in how it's used, or use of it for yourself...?"

"Both," Crawford says plainly, going back to a casual demeanor. "I can't really tolerate such a thing being used against me or my own..."

(Which lucky for Chikusa is a relatively small list.)

"...and I'm afraid I'm not the type of person who can know about such an advantage and not want to use it for myself..."

That should come to no surprise to anybody.

"...but since I have the feeling you're not particularly held down by the law, I don't think my demands will be too unreasonable."

There’s no point in denying that when it’s so blatantly true; anyone who’s been around for the last few weeks would probably be able to point that out, with Zero’s stunt on the BBS if nothing else. Considering Crawford and his shift in demeanor, Chikusa finally offers, “I don’t care for it to be used on me or mine either…”

Which, fortunately, is just as small a list as Crawford’s.

“...But… That could be manageable, maybe… Although I’m still working on it.” The yoyo finally gets tucked back into his pocket, although Chikusa doesn’t let go of it. “There’s no telling how long it will take to complete it into something worthwhile…”

"You'll find I'm rather patient."

His dry tone is absolutely in reference to his comrades. One did not survive Schwarz without a bit of tolerance for quirks.

...Never mind, his abilities had already given him enough insight on Chikusa's timeline to be comfortable waiting.

After a quick glance down the hall where the others would be waiting, Crawford turns to Chikusa with a regained polite professionalism.

"Now, were you planning on joining us? No hard feelings if you wish to leave. We'll see each other again soon enough."

There are more than a few sayings, he's fairly sure, about knowledge and when to keep people close. Something is going on, and if he just turns a blind eye towards people who clearly know about things he hasn't bothered...

Chikusa knows he's bad at dealing with regular people, and emotions... but he knows threats when he sees them. And he'd have to be blind to miss the potential with this one.

So after a second, both hands in his pockets now, he shrugs and starts to shuffle in the direction of the hall although he won't try to move past Crawford. The message isn't exactly clear, but he'll go along with this.

[With a small, private smirk, he turns to lead, knowing Chikusa will follow.]

Very well then.

[All according to plan...]

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[Semi-Closed] Heads I Win, Tales You Lose

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Probably End?