thenearshore | A prayer for payout

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A prayer for payout

Who: Suzaku Kururugi and Edge
When: December 6th
Where: An casino in Tokyo
What: Edge and Suzaku go to answer a prayer.

Suzaku stood at the side of the street waiting for Edge watching the people pass by. No one noticed him of course and he was glad about that. It was something he had found from his first day, that he felt relieved that he was was unnoticed and easily forgettable on the Near Shore. He kept his eye out for Edge though he was a little early, the place had been easier to find than he had thought.

He and Edge were going to answer a prayer. Suzaku had never done such a thing before but he had agreed readily when Edge had asked him. He had been trying to find as much to do as possible this last week, feeling strange and out of place. Lady Marinette had been very kind, as had Adrien and Snake but it didn't stop him feeling slightly lost, purposless. So an opportunity to get out and do something was something he was grateful for.

Even better if that something was helping someone. He looked around again, sure that Edge would be here soon.

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Suzaku nodded, being noticed was... uncomfortable but he could do it. He would have to for the plan to work.

He set off towards the door, trusting Edge to follow him.

A few people glanced his way when the door opened but their gazes quickly slipped away, back to what they were doing. He would have to try harder to be noticed and stay noticed, even if it went against his instincts.

There were tables set up for pairs of people to sit at and Suzaku went towards one that only had one occupant. He's not sure who their person was but it would look more real if he played a bit before making a beeline for that one gambler. Also it would give him the chance to understand the game.

He sat down and made sure to look the man in the eyes before greeting him. The man greets him back before Suzaku realises the real flaw in this plan. He has no money, nothing to bet with.

"Look tough," Edge murmured from behind him, utterly unnoticed by the crowd. "Not like you're aggressive, but like you'd break anyone in half who crossed you as just a business thing." That seemed to be the proper attitude, and definitely the most intimidating one. Professional sociopathy was far more difficult to placate than hot emotion and quick tempers.

Continuing with his plan of doing grossly unethical things in the service of good and virtue, he casually plucked a stack of bills from the establishment's take and passed them into Suzaku's hand from behind. It's not like this was a up-and-up establishment anyway!

It is a realy good job that Suzaku has no god to sting right now. He pauses for a second, taking in Edge's words. His eyes harden, his posture, though not bad to begin with, straightens. It makes him look older, probably a good thing as this wasn't a place full of people who would take any notice of a teenager.

He took the money feeling a burst of guilt as he did so, this was all wrong and they should be finding a better way. But Edge seemed to know what he was doing.

He focussed, worrying would just show and that wouldn't help them at all. But the shift in posture seemed to work, the opposite him was all of a sudden paying a bit more attention. He brought his fist up to the table, Suzaku copied, looking like he knew what he was doing even if he really didn't.

Boy does Suzaku need to lighten up, Edge figured! "I'll find our guy," he murmured, trusting his prayer partner to put on a good show while he poked through the crowd.

Suzaku nodded at Edge and focussed on the man in front of him as Edge moved off.

He quickly learned how this game went, betting was fast and games were played in rounds of three. He won a few and lost a few, it was a game based on pure luck after all.

After a few rounds he nodded at his oponent and they parted, he strode off, a bit more confident in his role, towards the next person. He wondered if Edge had had any luck yet.

As soon as he spotted Suzaku leaving, Edge lifted a hand to call his attention to a different table. This one was more crowded, a group of observers watching what appeared to be a high-stakes game between a tall, broad-shouldered man with eyes so narrow they were barely visible, and a portly gentleman already nervously dabbing at his forehead with a handkerchief as he set out several bills.

Suzaku had been aware of where Edge was, though he had been outwardly focussed on the game. At Edge's gesture he went over, looking interested in what was going on. He's not the only one so hopefully his less than stellar acting went unnoticed.

He stood near Edge, though he didn't look at him, trying not to draw attention to him at all.

One. Two. Three.

The tough man threw paper, the portly man threw rock. Around them the crowd burst into cheers; no one seemed on the loser's side, and little wonder, as he presented an uninspiring sight. His opponent seemed to agree, as he took the money off the table and then rose with only a contemptuous glance for the other man, off to find more entertaining prey.

Edge started to think that maybe he wouldn't have to work too hard to help this man lose.

No. Suzaku had found that he had been alright at the game but not brilliant, but he had a feeling that it would not be difficult to win against this man.

It was also obvious why he needed help. Suzaku felt another stab of guilt as he walked towards the table, but he kept his head up high as he sat down opposite him.

"Ready to go again?" The man startled, as if he were just noticing Suzaku, which was probably the case. It was difficult to maintain a strong enough presence to be notice. The man nodded and Suzaku's eyes flickered to Edge for the briefest second to check he was ready.

"Shall we play for the best of five?"

Edge nodded over the man's shoulder, lifting a fist to indicate Suzaku should throw rock, even as their opponent nodded. He reached into his pocket -- then froze, a look of alarm on his face as he pulled out fewer bills than he expected. Edge's plan was in full effect.

Suzaku put money on the table himself, his face serious and ready even if the look on the mans face as he pulled out his money sent another stab of guilt through him.

But it didn't stop him, they counted down. "Three, two, one."

Suzaku threw rock, the man threw scissors going even paler as he did so. Suzaku glanced at Edge again and brought out another bill, upping the stakes. The man fumbled in his pocket, bringing out another note.

So far, so good. "Rock," Edge murmured beneath his breath close to the man, the mask over his mouth keeping even the exhalation of breath in the word from tickling his ear. At the same time, he lifted his hand flat to signal Suzaku.

So far so good even if this was wrong, cheating. Suzaku threw paper and the man threw rock. Suzaku looked at the man impassively, wondering if he would up the bet or not. After all Suzaku only had to win one more throw and it was all over.

But gambling had deep claws it seemed for the man reached into his pocket again and pulled out what seemed to be his last few notes, his face was a sickly colour.

Suzaku's face was set, no mercy was coming from him. He pulled out another couple of notes himself accepting and matching the mans bet. His eyes flickered to Edge.

Good. This seemed to be having the desired effect; their 'victim' certainly looked like he was questioning his life choices right about now. "Rock," murmured Edge into the man's ear, even as he held up a hand for paper again.

Honestly, being a shinki almost made stealth too easy.

Paper. Suzaku closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening his hand flat as the man kept his closed in a fist. Paper wraps rock. Suzaku had won. The man went even paler, shook his head as if he he could not believe that such a thing would happen.

He put his hand in his pocket as if hoping there was more money there and then looked up to glare at Suzaku.

Suzaku just stared back, feeling awful. But this was the plan, he had lost everything and now they just had to... turn that into something positive. Suzaku, who never hesitated in a fight looked like he was frozen in place.

What do you say to a man who you have just led to believe they had lost everything?

Luckily, the crowd did what Suzaku couldn't -- and laughed, pointing at the fool without sympathy or slapping Suzaku on the back and crowing at how he'd taken that fool for all he had. Their victim slapped at his pockets, desperately searching for the more money he knew he had to have, even as he scrambled up to his feet.

Edge trailed out after him as he ran for the door, trusting Suzaku would free himself from the crowd easily enough.

Slipping away was a relief. He disliked having so much attention on him and even though he knew it was just an act, it still felt wrong to have people congratulate him for ruining this man.

Luckily it didn't take much for them to be drawn to other entertainment and for Suzaku blend into the background. Once he thought it was safe, when people had stopped noticing him he exited through the door where Edge and the man had gone.

He looked around, to see if he could spot them. Hopefully they hadn't gone far.

Not far. Just outside, where the man was desperately patting himself down again, questioning in a muttered voice they could both easily overhear how he could have spent all his money and lost so badly, how he was in such deep trouble, how it could have gotten this bad.

Behind him, Edge rifles through a fan of bills, waiting for a moment in the chaos to slip them back into the guy's pocket.

Suzaku makes his way to Edge, handing over the money he had won from the man, to add to Edge's pile. Edge was definitely the sneakier of the two and the one better for this part of the task.

The moment came relatively quickly, two men exiting, a snide comment. Their guy turned to them angrily, "You got something to say to me?"

The men laughed, unkindly and for a moment it seemed like they would say something. Like a punch might be thrown from any direction.

The tension didn't even last a minute, but Suzaku knew Edge was quick.

Uh-oh. This was not an expected twist, though Edge realized he should maybe have seen it coming. He shot a quick glance to Suzaku, hoping the other man understood his plea to keep this from coming to violence.

Then he was in motion, brushing past their victim with a deft step that probably wouldn't have seemed like the breeze even if Edge weren't of the Far Shore and thus a world apart. The man never felt the bills enter his pocket.

Suzaku nodded, understanding exactly Edge's thoughts as they mirrored his own. They were not there for a fight and hopefully this would not lead to violence. He stepped closer, ready to intervene if anything happened but luckily the men just laughed again before turning away, leaving the beaten gambler stood looking dejected.

He shrugged, as if trying to convince himself that it didn't matter and shoved his hands in his pockets. A moment later he brought his hand out, eyes wide at the money that was now in his hands.

"How?"

This moment was critical. Edge took a step back, waiting and watching like a man about to leap into combat. If their mark turned and went back in, or if he showed anything but relief... then they'd blown it, and had to reconsider in a hurry.

But if he praised the gods for a second chance...

He shot a sidelong glance at Suzaku. Be ready for anything.

Suzaku met Edge's gaze for a brief moment before returning his attention to the man.

"How can this be? I checked..." He looked around and Suzaku stood very still, making himself as unnoticable as he could. Luckiy whatever heavenly beings the man was imagining the source of his miracle he was not expecting two shinki loitering in an alley. They went unseen.

"I can't believe it..." His eyes had filled with tears, "A miracle... It has to be..."

He was muttering to himself, looking at the money, then at the door of the gambling den and then out, to the street beyond.

Okay. Maybe a nudge.

Edge stepped forward, keeping himself behind the guy to minimize any idea of being seen. "Second chances," he murmured, low and quiet, "only come once."

"Second chances only come once..." The man hadn't seemed to notice Edge at all but the words had registered. He looked at the money in his hands again and then with a look of great determination put the money in his pocket and with a last glance at the gambling den he stepped towards the alley.

"Kasume did mention that field trip she wanted to go on, she will be so happy..." He continued murmering to himself as he walked away.

Once he was out of sight Suzaku turned to Edge and nodded. "Well done, that was a good plan."

A prayer for payout

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Aannd scene

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