Stealth Mission (Locked to minipancake)

[undyingcrow]

It was embarrassing, the way that multiple children embarrassed Karasu when he declared his challenge. In hindsight, he should have expected it. It was a public challenge, where everyone could see it. He did so specifically to make his intentions clear and to make an impact.

Which he did, obviously. Just not the impact he desired.

Goro Akechi has endured more defeats than he'd care to admit, and some damning ones, at that. Pancakes, spicy takoyaki... yet somehow, being verbally pummeled by a thirteen year old ranks above all the rest.

But it is what it is, and he can do little but move forward, anticipating his next move. His first stop? Daidara Metalworks, naturally. Untouchable's wares are useful enough in the Metaverse, but why pass up the opportunity to test a real saber? As he steps inside, he examines the various swords and katana with one hand beneath his chin.

He hears the door subtly shut behind him, but initially pays it no mind. Still, he'd be a fool to completely lower his guard, so he's listening all the same.

Comments

[minipancake]

Wagtail is stealthy. No, seriously, he can be quiet and unseen as hell. Having survived what he has, it would be a miracle if he was otherwise. That said, the door of the metalworks shuts with more of a click than he expects.

He ducks smoothly into the shadows, into a crouch behind some shelves, instinctively lowering his head. He will see what this "Karasu" is trying to get over on Crow and Joker, and he will tell Magpie.

[undyingcrow]

One katana in particular catches his eye, demonic in its design. It lacks the serrated edges of his typical swords, and the striking colors, but as he lifts it in his hand and gives it a gentle swing, he can feel the weight behind it.

It's a strong blade, most certainly.

However, another catches its eye, elegant in its appearance. Its of a similar weight, though feels slightly less powerful.

But only slightly.

Heh. He can admire the craftsmanship either way.

[minipancake]

Lifting his chin a little to peek through his hair, Wagtail narrows his eyes as Karasu tries the swords. They both look pretty nasty to him—and, knowing little about swords as he does, he prefers the red, cool-looking one. Crow must have a sword just as good, right? This would certainly be worthwhile intel.

He tucks himself deeper into the shadows. Maybe swords are a bit obvious, though. Karasu is smart; he'll want an edge. And not one he can get from a sword.

[undyingcrow]

Hmm... The more demonic one will do.

Karasu sheathes it, then picks it up off the shelf. No sense in paying, of course, and his armor and accessories still ought to serve him well. Really, it's just about making an impression. Taking a blade from Crow's territory seems like a good start, and...

Hmm. There are some fine looking daggers over on that other shelf. The Kashin Koji especially catch his eye. Kunai may be a bit different from the western style daggers that Ren often uses, but they might make an appealing gift.

He'll grab those as well, stealthily, and tuck them into his pocket for now.

[minipancake]

Damn it; he chose the cool one. Wagtail doesn't want to have any sympathies with Karasu; he doesn't want to like him.... wait, what's that he's looking at, glinting gold? Some kind of a dagger?

It occurs to him, not for the first time, that a dagger would be a fine thing to carry, considering his size. He'd need somebody to teach him. Figuring Karasu will head down the aisle, he shuffles a little closer to the edge, to keep watching.

There may, to a very acute ear, be the smallest of sounds.

[undyingcrow]

Heh. Oh, he hears that sound, and he even starts to turn his head, as if following the sound...

And then he stops, snorts, and turns the other way.

Time to leave for now, though, so he'll make his way back to the door. Wagtail will want to hide very carefully to avoid detection, but after that, well...

He heads down the street.

"If I'm to know my enemy, I suppose I should engross myself in the local culture..."

[minipancake]

Shit, he's coming this way! And there's nowhere to hide. After a split second, he curls into a gap on one of the shelves, tucking his head and hands away, almost silently.

His heart pounds in his chest.

[undyingcrow]

On his way out the door, he glances at that shelf, then snorts and continues on his way. His next destination? Chinese diner Aiya.

He takes a seat at the bar, hands folded on the table. "I'll have a rainy day special." It isn't raining, but the cognition complies.

This may be a terrible decision, but he must immerse himself in the life of an Inaba Wild Card.

[minipancake]

From his shelf, Wagtail looks up, cheeks burning. The piece of shit saw him, didn't he? And he just laughed and moved on, like Wagtail is nothing. Damn him to hell.

Well, if that's how he wants to play it. He heads out, keeping a safe distance—but not too safe—ducking behind walls and fenceposts to keep Karasu in his line of sight. At the restaurant, he sighs; the place smells so good. But it will not deter him from his mission. He settles down to watch and, importantly, listen.

[undyingcrow]

The beef bowl arrives, and Karasu stares down at the frightening amount of meet in the bowl. It smells delicious, of course, but this rivals the Big Bang Burger in its absurdity...

Nonetheless, he takes his chopsticks and takes a few bites, before casting a glance around the restaurant.

No sign of his little follower, so perhaps...

A few moments later, Wagtail receives a text message:



A growing boy should eat plenty of protein.

[minipancake]

The nerve of it. Feeling the vibration—as if he wouldn't keep his phone muted, come on—he crossly texts back.

Not that much. That much food is only for old men.

[undyingcrow]

Are you saying that Raven doesn't enjoy the "Mega Beef Bowl?" I would expect him to enjoy the challenge.

Funnily, his intuition is correct here. Raven has tried many times to conquer the Mega Beef Bowl, while Crow devours it effortlessly.

Not that Karasu knows this.

[minipancake]

I'm not saying I wouldn't eat part of it.

Trying to come between him and Raven, now? Or get him to insult him? Karasu may be a skilled opponent, but Wagtail sees through him.

[undyingcrow]

Aiya's Chinese Diner

It has a quaint atmosphere, which evokes the feeling of a storied history. Oddly elegant, the scents from the kitchen waft through the air, beckoning patrons to empty their wallets and fill their stomachs.

Not that wallets have any particular meaning here, but a print ad suggests that ordinarily, the rainy day special is 3000 yen, unless you can eat it in a single sitting. A clever scheme to draw in those bold (or perhaps foolish) enough to gamble at the cost of their health.

Yet no one can deny that it's lovingly prepared. Even if you can't finish the meal, there are plenty of leftovers.

So, to those standing outside, torn on whether or not to indulge themselves, I give this venue a recommendation.

This is incredibly silly. The food blog was so fake, but if it lures him in, then it'll get the job done.

How long can he stick to the shadows?

[minipancake]

"I know Aiya's already. I live here." Idiot, adds the kid's tone from behind, having come in on silent feet.

He hops up onto a seat at the counter. "One rainy day special, please. And seven to go."

Take that, so-called "Karasu". Honestly. Ugh.

[undyingcrow]

Oho. Now they're both seated at the counter.

Chuckling, Karasu resumes eating this monster of a bowl. "Seven? My, that's quite a hefty load to carry."

It almost feels like a bit of competitive showmanship. Very Akechi of him, really.

[minipancake]

"Oh, there's always someone around to help," he says, folding his small hands neatly on the counter with an answering smirk. "You won't say no, I hope."

Competitive? Sure. But he can manage a couple of bags of takeout on his own, worst case. If not, he'll just text Raven.

[undyingcrow]

"It would be rather inconsiderate of me." Heh. Time for another bite. Perhaps if he paces himself, he won't make himself sick. "So, you were spying on me. How curious."

[minipancake]

This is the moment the cognition chooses to place Wagtail's beef bowl in front of him. It smells as incredible as ever; he picks up his chopsticks, and dives in.

When he comes up for air, he offers Karasu another smirk, more self-satisfied if anything. "I wouldn't call it spying. We have so little to do, you know. It's educational!"

[undyingcrow]

It takes Karasu a moment to respond, even if he paces himself more carefully. He even blots his face with a napkin before speaking.

"Yet you stuck to the shadows. Then again, I suppose that's a wise decision. Many of us are... dangerous."

[minipancake]

Wagtail stares sideways for a moment, chopsticks still in his mouth, before he digs back into the beef and onion. "Are you dangerous?"

[undyingcrow]

Karasu hums, taking his own piece of beef and onion and placing them in his mouth. "I wasn't as fortunate as Crow. Not that it justifies anything, really, but it did lead me down a path I wouldn't recommend."

[minipancake]

Mmm, beef bowl. He swallows tidily. "Doesn't sound like you're dangerous to me. That's important. Plus, you're smart, so you know if you did anything to me, everyone else here would kill you."

A path he wouldn't recommend, though. That's got to be the Magpie murder thing. About which he's only heard second-hand, and not much at that.

[undyingcrow]

"Only because I wouldn't stoop to the level of harming children." Not by choice, anyway, though that goes unsaid. Not to mention, it's only half true. Call Ren a child, and Karasu was more than prepared to eliminate him.

The one time he's grateful he failed...

"If I had reason to do harm, I would. And I certainly could. It's what I'm most adept at."

[minipancake]

Interesting. Wagtail is still watching him meditatively, as he eats his beef bowl. This is what he could have grown up to be. It makes even more sense of why Magpie is like he is, closed-off and scary—though, truthfully, Wagtail thinks he understood that from the start.

"That must be a good thing to know." There are, after all, enough people in the world he's wanted to hurt. And, both here and back home, there are still enough threats, as he's heard about from Ken.