Seeking the Surprise Emperor

[totallysane]

Tokyo V is a strange sort of place, named for nostalgia and whimsy but feeling strangely flimsy, unable to live up to any one piece of its supposed cultural heritage. The spaceport seems to mostly do business in short-range pleasure trips, opportunities to "see the stars" and pretend to be a "citizen of the galaxy" without ever having to actually go anywhere. A massive medical research facility sits opposite several tech compounds, and the apartments and shops built up between them seem almost an afterthought, riddled with strange pop culture references from a variety of cultures and time periods and planets, never forming any kind of cohesive whole.

This seems like a strange place to go looking for the leader of "The Dollars", a massive organization that seems to have spread out across the galaxy, boasting government officials, gangs, and corporate leaders as members. Crimes committed in the name of the group, rebellions led by them, the rise and fall of entire worlds attributed to them... and this is where the hunt for the person or persons responsible has led.

There are a number of specific suspects: a young woman who leads the company who owns the medical facility, a young man who is an infamous information broker, a variety of different creatures who may be aliens or faeries or monsters of one kind or another, a gang leader who shakes down every ship that comes into the station...

All of the suspects seem to have one thing in common, hanging out at one particular tiny dining spot dotted among the pleasure-ride businesses, in the area of the docks. "Russian Sushi." Such a silly name, and there's nothing special about the place itself; it serves sushi, sometimes with rather strange ingredients, but the large black man who walks the docks advertising the place does claim that it never contains human!

The suspected Dollars leaders all pass through this place, often meeting in various configurations, and several openly admit to being members of the organization. There's nothing, however, that pegs any one of them as the actual leader, and they often seem to be more interested in conversations happening on communications devices than the ones happening out loud in the room.

There's one boy, however, who is not and has never been a suspect.

He spends a lot of time here, in this little restaurant full of notable figures. He plays with what looks almost like an old-fashioned cell phone, wears plain old jeans and t-shirt, red sneakers. He gets teased quite a lot for being a bumpkin, and anyone paying enough attention to his conversations with people - though who would? - seems to know that he's from some farming backwater, that he came here to get out, that he's never quite gotten the hang of life around here.

Those things might be true, but what is also true is that... absolutely everyone speaks to him. Every single one of the suspected Dollars leaders or members, but also businessmen, gangsters, the hobbyists who go in and out between mini space cruises, the sexy hosts of the cruises, small children, old men, everyone in between.

Right now, though, he's sitting alone, and instead of playing with his cell phone or looking around for someone to talk to, he's looking at a stranger he's seen poking around a bit already.

There's a flush on his cheeks as he waves, and he looks very young and wide-eyed indeed as he says nervously, "Can I buy you a drink?"

Comments

[chasefigure]

((OOC: Haven't decided on an account name yet, but wanted to go ahead and play so I'll switch at some point.))

Adair grins as the young man waves at him and heads over to him immediately, expression warm and welcoming. His entire look is this weird tension between completely flamboyant and vastly understated. Most of the people around here wear strange fabrics or textures or have complicated patterns in their clothing. His clothing is very simply, though stylishly cut, but it's pretty much just a pair of black, well-cut suit pants and a stunningly yellow, billowy sort of shirt in a buttery material. His long, red hair is equally clearly deliberately styled, but without any adornments, straight and full and like it's begging to have hands in it. He's slender and attractive in an unusual, almost elfin way--all eyes and sharply defined features, not the easily forgettableness of most information brokers but, then again, he didn't get his information in anywhere nearing the same way. He also certainly hasn't been being subtle about coming around a lot. It serves his purposes to be seen-- after all, he's not doing anything sneaky or underhanded. He's just on this station and likes this bar, that's all.

"Isn't that my line?" he says with a grin, slinging an arm around the young man's shoulders as he comes up. He's got a hint of an accent, difficult to place, exotic and while it's not an affectation, he definitely plays it up a little bit, here.

He's seen this young man here, while he's been gathering information and trying to figure out the lay of this land (literally, pun intended) and who best to lean on a bit to find the leader of the Dollars, who he is certain is here. He's pretty sure this kid knows everyone here, so, even though he's maybe a little younger and scrawnier than Adair's personal preference, he's not about to be picky. He's been looking for an opportunity and it's walked right over to him.

"But I'm not about to refuse you, though I warn you, if you're thinking of besmirching my virtue, I'll need at least three," he grins. He has no idea if the young man is thinking more business or pleasure, but he knows which he would prefer and he's not at all shy about it.

(Both. It's always both.)

[totallysane]

If someone asked Mikado what kind of man he liked, they would likely just get a lot of spluttering, and even if he could stop to think about, vague gesturing toward a close friend would be the closest he'd get. But there is something about this stranger that appeals, the particular mix of simplicity and brightness that draws Mikado's eyes back to him, makes them linger.

He blushes at the overt teasing about "besmirching", and if the stranger is looking closely, he probably sees the "WHAT HAVE I DONE???" thoughts flashing right in Mikado's eyes. Still, the young man tries his best not to become entirely flustered. "I prefer to exchange names before I make any plans for... that... but I'll keep it in mind. It might take something a little stronger than the beer I've been drinking..."

He isn't much for drinking, has been sitting and nursing the same beer for quite some time, but that's beside the point. "We don't get new people who stick around more than a day or so often, so I thought... you might be looking for a friend. I'm Mikado."

For all that he's a little blushy, there's nothing in his posture or his smile that seems to imply thinking little of himself or minding his own scrawniness or baby face.

[chasefigure]

"Well, in that case, I'm Adair," he says, grinning. He's very clearly flirting, but he's also not as touchy-feely as a lot of the people who ended up in here who thought they could just do as they please. It's a nice contrast.

"Looking for a friend, hm? Something like that, I suppose," he shrugs, "This is a good place to look for a lot of things." It's not innuendo, though if someone were to think it was, he wouldn't mind. It is one of those places where you can get most anything, after all.

[totallysane]

"That it is," Mikado agrees. The ease with which Adair has put his arm around him reminds him of a long-lost friend, makes him smile, the difference between comfortable touch and overt pushy sexuality. Mikado leans on Adair slightly as a response to the flirting, trying gamely to return it.

"It is easier if you know what you're looking for, I've discovered. Otherwise it can be quite overwhelming, too many things at once. My first day here I found myself pressed upon to buy a great many items and services I had no idea even existed." He tilts his head, blue eyes scrutinizing Adair's face. "I am quite possibly the only person around here not selling anything, so keep that in mind."

[chasefigure]

"Do I look like a man who doesn't know what he's looking for?" he queries and it's half serious, half flirting. He does take another look around at the crowd,

"I don't know if I believe that. In a crowd of people selling, there must also be people buying, or they wouldn't be here to sell," he tilts his head to the side, "Unless you want to get into the philosophical debates about whether we do anything at all without benefit to ourselves, or help anyone unless we're 'selling' something-- but I feel like, while interesting, that can also get rather pedantic for a first conversation." There's another grin, and he arches an eyebrow, clearly teasing,

"Unless you were fishing for what it is I'm looking to find. In which case I think this is the point where I flutter my eyelashes and look deep into your eyes and say," he does so, his voice dropping to overtly sexual, over the top, clearly teasing... except he's also good at it, "Maybe I've found it."

[totallysane]

Mikado's laugh is bright, playful, young. He raises his hands as if to defend himself, though whether from the sexy tone or the philosophical debate, it isn't clear. The movement takes him slightly farther into the recesses of the booth, out of direct contact from Adair, a slight squirming motion.

"Enough, enough! I take your point." He takes a sip of his beer, as if to cool himself off after that little bit of warmth, and grins. "In that case, I am absolutely not going to be the one buying you any drinks, because you're definitely at an advantage here, and I'm going to be the one finding myself talked out of anything I've got in my pockets."

Yet... when someone walking toward the table glances over, Mikado waves them away with a subtle gesture, an exchange that could be easily missed if his new friend weren't terribly observant.

[chasefigure]

Adair laughs at that and lets him scoot back. There's no need to overdo it, after all. He's here for the long con, not something he's going to be able to necessarily accomplish in a night-- though if he can secure his place in this young man's bed before the end of it, he won't be sorry about it.

"I'm not that kind of thief," he quips, setting up the absolutely terrible, "I prefer hearts." It's clearly joking, though, more meant to dispel any heaviness of atmosphere than lay it on thicker. A moment later, he looks wounded, though, "Wait, am I to hear that I have talked myself out of a free drink? That's probably a first."

Adair is an information broker and he definitely doesn't miss the little exchange, though he's not poised to see who or what Mikado is waving away. Perhaps to some people, that might be unsettling, but instead, Adair feels like it's more than a good sign. The young man wants him there, then, and if this is some kind of a trap, well, Adair's secure enough in his own abilities and how little of a trail he's ever left to be easy "prey" for one, just to see what it tells him.

[totallysane]

"That just makes it even better," Mikado responds, mischief in his eyes. "I get to make it absolutely clear that I am not the sort of person you normally deal with."

He goes one step further in isolating them in their little booth though: one hand goes to the old-fashioned cell phone, and he pushes a button on the side, holds it. The notification light on the charm dangling from it - a rather feminine touch, that, a cute little mushroom - goes black.

"It's all right, isn't it? Surely a handsome fellow like yourself has plenty of other hearts willing to spot for him. Besides..." he adds conspiratorially, his voice lowering. "Not selling anything has left me a little broke. Inviting you for a drink was... a bit of a splurge."

[chasefigure]

"Oh, that much was clear already," it's honest. Mikado is kind of... mousey isn't quite the word he wants here, but he doesn't seem like the sort to start picking up strange men in bars. And yet, it seems like that's almost exactly what he's doing.

It makes Adair a little bit suspicious, actually, more curious what he's being set up for, as he's becoming more and more aware that this has, if not the facts of it, all of the trappings of a set up.

"And perhaps I do, but I would find that a bit gauche, wouldn't you, to go out laying it on thick around the bar just to come back and take a seat here with my ill-gotten alcohol." It makes it clear that he's already decided where he's spending his time and who he's spending it with. "I don't believe that for a moment," he adds, though whether it's to the not selling anything or the being broke, he doesn't say, "But if you tell me what you're drinking, I'll bring one back for you."

[totallysane]

"I'd like that... quite a bit," Mikado says, in lieu of attempting more flirting. He gives the name of the beer he's drinking, which is in fact rather a rather cheap local brand.

"I don't actually know the rules," he adds, an afterthought. "What is or isn't gauche, I mean. I'm not sure my mentors about this place are exactly the politest bunch."

There's a slight bit of hesitation, and then he reaches for Adair's hand, giving it a strangely warm squeeze. It's hardly proper flirting, more as if he just wants to steal a touch. "Thank you."

If Adair stands to get the drinks, he'll see Mikado attempting to steel his nerves by downing the one currently in front of him.

[chasefigure]

"I don't know whether I'm intrigued or offended, that you wouldn't be upset if I went around flirting with other people for drinks while we're so clearly trying to get in each other's pants," he's not actually sure that Mikado is trying to get in his pants, or just making him think that he is, but it's got the easy air of a joke anyway, and also a little like he's daring Mikado to deny it.

He stays long enough for whatever the reply is, and then to see that nervous bit of drinking, but he's a man on a mission and that mission is something like a Tequila Sunrise for himself and a beer for Mikado. He's an easy drunk, actually, doesn't need a lot to feel loose limbed and more jovial, but he's also got an iron lock on all of his secrets even while he's drunk enough to slur and stumble, so he's not worried about drinking something a bit stronger.

[totallysane]

"If it's my pants and not theirs you're getting into..." Mikado says, almost defensively, but then it doesn't matter much anyway.

He takes the moment that Adair is away from the table to take a deep breath, once he's finished his drink, and watches his make his way through the room for a moment. He's doing well enough, he thinks? But then he doesn't have anything to go off, other than behavior he's seen from other people and movies.

This is his first attempt at such a thing, after all. Why this man? He doesn't know exactly, except that he'd cut just the right figure, and he's not one of the regular crowd around here, which is... safer, Mikado believes.

Of course, he's still flirting with a man in public, but that's less scary than flirting with men he knows in public.

He waves to a young man with a smile sharper than any knife, blushes and turns his head away when the man laughs at him, and fidgets a little with this cell phone charm as he waits for Adair.

[chasefigure]

Adair does laugh at that, merrily, before he saunters away, a bit more all-ass about it than if the response had been less favorable. The dress pants are cut to cling in all the right places, so he knows it's a good view, if Mikado is the kind of person to appreciate it.

He comes back with their drinks and maybe sits down a little bit too close, but it's another place where it's more making his intentions very, very obvious than actually being pushy about it. He raises his own glass in a toast,

"To new acquaintances," he says, and then adds, cheekily, "and to finding out if they know how to cook breakfast."

[totallysane]

"To new acquaintances, who hopefully enjoy eggs," Mikado replies, grinning and gingerly clinking glasses with Adair. He doesn't move away this time, rather enjoying the closeness and feeling bolder because of it: there's no doubt this man has already made his decision, and that makes the whole transaction feel a little less risky.

Why is a question that Mikado doesn't particularly feel like asking. He knows that he isn't exactly the sexiest guy on the planet. He's doubly aware that the kind of guy who actually hits on him - if they know or suspect he's interested in men - is usually not anything like Adair, physically.

But questioning this can happen later, after he's enjoyed it, he figures.

"New acquaintances to provide a show with the drinks," he adds, trying to match Adair's level of boldness, even though it's a bit of a stretch. He even goes as far as brushing a hand against the man's leg, under the table, though he pulls the hand back quickly to rest in his own lap.

[chasefigure]

Adair laughs at the return banter,

"I'm more of a bacon man, but I'll eat anything," is that another innuendo? It's hard to tell. Also, technically, he would claim Mikado hit on him first-- he was just receptive ground to it and, when his own return volley was well-met, has already made his decision.

Truthfully, even without wanting to get into someone in this room's bed eventually, it's unlikely Adair would have turned him down. He's smart enough there are plenty of other ways to find out the information he needs (and good enough with guns that down a barrel is an option)-- this is just the one he happens to like the best. Everyone lives, he gets to have sex. He doesn't see a downside.

He chuckles again to Mikado's teasing words and the touch to go with it, reaching down and catching his fingers to return them to where they were. If Mikado doesn't seem like he's going to be particularly jumpy about that, he returns the favor with a mirroring touch,

"I put a lot of work into that show," he means both the price of the pants and the workouts he's had to do to keep his ass looking good in them, "You're allowed to enjoy it." Granted, that's with the eyes, not the hands, but the young man seems to like clever wordplay so he'll run with it.

[totallysane]

Mikado reacts to his hand being caught with a slight blush, but doesn't pull it away again. He lets it rest without moving for a moment though, taking a long drink of his beer as if he can't grope-and-drink at once.

"I bet you did," he agrees, the tone almost too serious for the playfulness of the moment. "It must be very hard work, being so gorgeous."

He splays his fingers against Adair's leg, rubs his thumb toward the crease of his thigh, more as if massaging than doing something sexual. "It's such a stereotypical line, but I really can't help but wonder what you're doing in a place like this?"

[chasefigure]

"It can be," he's both teasing and not. He's been blessed with some good genes, but genes aren't everything, not by a long shot. His eyes go beautifully heavy lidded when Mikado's thumb moves across his thigh, his own following suit like a little mirror image.

"Where else would I be?" he turns the question around, "Holed up in some pretty mansion somewhere, wasting the day away as some billionaire's pet? I like my freedom more than that. Going where you please and doing what you want to," he gestures out one of the windows, which doesn't really have a very impressive view, but makes his point, "Else what's a heaven for. If we weren't meant to have wings, why would we ever have gone into space?"

[totallysane]

"That's it!"

Mikado's hand squeezes at Adair's leg as he suddenly shifts forward, distracted from the flirting by the excitement of hearing some of his own thoughts spoken in another's voice. He beams at his companion.

"That's exactly how I feel about it, about space! No one understood when I left my own planet, or the one after that, or the one after that, or even when I wound up here! But that's exactly it! How can it all be out there for nothing!?"

[chasefigure]

It seems like a perfect time to kiss him, that moment of synchronicity, so he does, simple as that. It's not a long kiss, barely one at all, but it's bright, and hints that sex with him definitely isn't just going to be porn, for all it looks like he could star in one. It's intensely human. And then he grins back at Mikado, like somehow between what they've just said and the kiss, it explains everything.

"See, you understand. That's what I'm doing here." And maybe why I chose you-- he hints at, since he keeps almost hearing Mikado wonder about that. "There's so much out here. Why settle down on a boring little planet somewhere?"

[totallysane]

Mikado reacts to the kiss rather comfortably, despite the suddenness of it, feeling connected and happy and not at all nervous in that moment. He beams afterward, nodding his head and squeezing at Adair's leg still.

"Exactly! I couldn't imagine it! I like this one well enough - I have things I'm working on here! - but I won't be here forever either. There's so much out there to do and see!"

He realizes how much he's squeezing suddenly and pats at the leg under his hand almost apologetically for a second.

[chasefigure]

"Hey, never apologize for enthusiasm," he says, to the apologetic pat to his leg. The previous motions have brought them a lot physically closer together and he leans into that-- figuratively and literally-- coiling an arm low around Mikado's waist instead of mirroring the touches anymore, pulling the two of them close. They're practically in each other's laps at this point, but that's just where Adair wants to be.

"But, yes, that's my thoughts exactly. I want to see and do everything."

He deliberately leaves the opening there, if Mikado wants to tease him, but if not, he'll just drink his drink.

[totallysane]

"Everything, huh?"

The increased closeness gives Mikado a heady feeling that has nothing to do with his light drinking. He shifts into the touch, then slips his hand a bit further, actually moving from Adair's leg to his crotch for the first time. The touch is still a bit hesitant - a brush, not a squeeze or a grab - but it's definitely there.

"Does that mean... do you..." Mikado tries to think of the words, but while he knows what he's trying to ask, his experiences being best-friend-only and not-talked-about leave him a little short. "Both ways?"

[chasefigure]

He almost purrs to the touch, even though it's a bit lighter than maybe would normally warrant it. He is a businessman first and everything else second, but dammed if he doesn't like knowing he's definitely not sleeping alone tonight, nerves already humming in anticipation. He laughs at that, warm and rich and not at all making fun of Mikado,

"All ways," he corrects, his lips curling into a grin, "I haven't met something I didn't like yet," the smile goes even more sly, "But you're welcome to try to find something."

[totallysane]

Mikado's swallow - he refuses to believe it is quite a gulp - is disturbingly audible to himself. He firms his touch, squeezes down gently, trying to match the boldness of a man he is fairly sure he is not a match for.

"That... gives us a lot of options." His gaze slides away from Adair for a second, around the room, the familiar setting of many different meetings and negotiations for him since he's come to this place. There are many familiar faces, and there is something particularly thrilling about touching a man in front of all of them.

This might be the kind of place where people make various kinds of deals, or even pick each other up, but it's not any kind of sex club. He's definitely doing something taboo, or at least, he is too naive to realize other people touch each other this way in public.

"What if I'm too impatient and want to find out what's under here before I take you to my place?" He offers his place on instinct, not really thinking much of it other than he lives close.

[chasefigure]

Adair doesn't stop his eyes from slipping closed or the little gasp that bubbles out of him when Mikado touches him more firmly. It's maybe a little showy, but it's genuine-- the showiness is more just that he doesn't try to hold back at all.

"I'm not quiet," he warns, which isn't entirely true. He can be absolutely silent, if he wants. What he can't be is subtle. If Mikado wants to toy with him right here, there's no way someone looking over here isn't going to know exactly what they're doing. His lips quirk, "But I'm also not complaining." He shifts his weight so he can push back against Mikado's hand, letting his mouth fall open on another small noise as he does so. The sounds are easy to slide under the noise of the club, but he's expressions...

[totallysane]

Mikado has lived this long largely because he sneaks under a lot of radars: he's simply not important enough to look at or consider for long, to most people. He's small and unimpressive and really not that interesting.

He can't afford to make himself more interesting.

But.

Even with his face going slightly red, he can't help himself. He licks his lips, his eyes widening almost as if he's the one being surprised somehow here... and moves his hand.

For all his awkwardness elsewhere, the way he works his hand into Adair's pants is not itself awkward. The fingers that wrap around Adair's dick are much more confident than the young man's expression at this point, as well.

"I said find out, not finish..." he mutters, but it almost seems like an admonishment to himself more than Adair.

[chasefigure]

He's got some kind of smart-assed comment about how bad sex would be, if the only noise he felt compelled to make was right at the end, but he just ends up moaning instead, when Mikado just gets his hand in his pants like it's no big deal to do so. It's still low enough to be lost under the noise, but there's definitely no mistaking that expression, or the way he pushes back into the touch, so perhaps that's enough illustration of what he's talking about to not need to make his quip.

Adair's hard, he's been hard through most of this conversation, and is perhaps a bit on the larger side of average-- nothing particularly intimidating, but a nice, heated handful. He lolls his head on the side of the booth, eyes gone heavy lidded and expression soft,

"Mmm... are you wanting me to return the favor or not?" he's certainly not going to protest, if the idea is for Mikado to enjoy a little show, here, to prove that he can get Adair squirming in the booth, but he also doesn't want to ignore him, if he's hoping for something more mutual.

[totallysane]

Mikado squirms in his seat at the question, which throws off the image he's trying to project of confidence here. His touch doesn't change any though, still firm and steady, still squeezing a bit rather than moving much (yet).

"...no, I would rather wait," he says, though there's a hesitation to it. The decision is a practical one, about how much he thinks he can handle in public.

He bites his lip, then gives the hard length in his hand a small stroke, working within the confines of Adair's clothing with a strange carefulness and calculation.

"Ah... I think someone I know is looking," he admits, his eyes darting to a man with a sly smile he'd exchanged a look with earlier. "I've never had anyone look at me like they wanted to be where I was, before."

[chasefigure]

Mikado might not be moving much, but Adair's got no shame in pushing into the touch. The motions are small, they have to be, but it's pretty clear he's got no problem fucking into his hand a little bit right from the get go. The stroke gets a full bodied shudder and another low moan, Adair's back arching a little in the booth.

When Mikado says that someone he knows is watching, Adair rolls his hips a little harder, and if it's possible for him to look more like he's enjoying himself, he does. It's a subtle shift, but it's easy to watch him do it, at least from this close. He's been just being himself with Mikado, even though that's just naturally maybe a little bit more than most people. Now, however, he's projecting just a little bit, making sure his pleasure can not just be read across the room, but it's suddenly obvious from that distance that he's getting the best handjob of his life.

It's instinctive, so if Mikado meant for him to simmer down because they were being watched instead of the opposite, he'll likely want to do something about that.

"I'd think they'd probably rather be me, yes?" it's breathless, maybe a little incoherent, but he can hardly be blamed for that.

[totallysane]

"Maybe you're right," Mikado says, his tone saying that he'd never thought of that. Of course, the person being touched would certainly be in an enviable position, but...

He shakes his head, trying to clear away the strange sidetrack of considering which thing he'd rather do or whether anyone could really envy someone his touch, and choose to focus entirely on the business... at hand.

In his hand, there's a nicely firm cock, after all. And it is attached to a very attractive man who is currently putting on quite a show, for Mikado and for anyone looking.

Rather than try to rein things in a bit, Mikado finds himself leaning closer, pressing his lips against Adair's ear, dropping a very gentle kiss there before speaking. His tone is for Adair only, but there's definitely a measure of showmanship in his choice, as if to make the audience wonder about what is being said.

"Do you want to cum here or save that for somewhere other than inside your pants?"

Not that Adair is anywhere close to that point, probably. But Mikado is curious how far he can push this, and he's experimenting with touch at the moment, giving little squeezes and a gentle twist to make up for the lack of long strokes in the confines of clothing.

[chasefigure]

Adair shivers to the kiss to his ear and gasps a little at the insinuation, makes a low whimpering noise that doesn't carry further than the table but that Mikado can hear loud and clear.

Really, what he wants at this point is to make sure Mikado isn't going to lose interest too quickly, but he's pretty sure that him getting off in the bar isn't going to do that. Mikado doesn't strike him as someone who enjoys a whole lot of overbearing or total dominance, so he doesn't go that route either, tries to play the middle road between being too much of a tease and being too submissive.

"I thought you said 'find out, not finish'," he teases, then stretches into the touch, moans again, and how he chooses to express his pleasure might be calculated but the pleasure itself is genuine, "Dealer's choice. I've walked out of bars with worse, either way... but... keep talking like that and the choice is going to get made for you."