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(Bar) The Blue Lantern Bar
| > Today's Speicals Glows over head above a ridiculously comprehensive list of drinks and Japanese foods. :
Today's Specials Are...
____The Orochi Sushi Platter
____Zen Nara Style Sake ( Neutral/Cold)
____Sesshouseki Blackened Rice Balls ( Steak Filled )
| >A guy walks into the bar.He is dressed in a special operator outfit,he stare through his one hole balaclava to the menu
"I want one Orochi Sushi Platter and Zen Nara Style Sake"
| >>423537 >Kyogoku grinned and nodded.
"As you wish. Just a moment!"
> First Kyogoku opens a fridge underneath the bar after putting in a passcode. He unleashes a metal canister that he then unlocks and uses to pour into a ceramic sake bowl. The chill off of it rises like vapor. Awaiting is a calming, honeyed taste that has just the right alcohol content to slap the edge off of a poor mood. It's also refreshingly cold, with a even fragrance that lures into whimsical contemplation.
| >>423537
Shigeru returns with a plate that's covered with eight different kinds of sushi all in a perfect square arrangement. Kyogoku recommends starting from left to right. If done as told each sushi's flavor builds on the other until by the time one finishes it they feel as if they've exercised every taste-bud they've had...and their palate is even cleansed after the fact!
|
| >Arable walks in with a large brief case, waiting for someone.
| >A metallic figure slowly walks into the bar. It's almost like its legs are too long for it despite seemingly being proportional to the constructed body. Still, they seem excited to be here and it seems like they'd run around the establishment if they had a shred less of composure.
>Sheepishly takes a seat not too far from the balaclava'd guy, but not too close either. Looks over the menu, pondering.
Just a nice night out...maybe this time no passing out from spice!
| >He take a look at the plate
"Thats neat"
>He take a bite of his sushi platter,following Kyogoku's recommendation
"I like that"
>He continue eating
| >A tall young man with long tied up hair walks into the bar, scratching an unruly beard
"Eh, so they have places like these too, havent seen anything like it since I left"
>He takes a seat and starts to look at the menu, wondering what to have
| >>423912 >He turns to the man, smiling faceplate concealing his expression and scratching the back of his head.
"You left this scraphole and came back?
| >>423686 >>423693 >>423912 "Aaaah...Welcome! Seems the customers awaited us! What shall you have, friends?"
> Kyogoku perked up seeing people ease their way in. He nodded toward one of the waitresses and a kimono clad cat boomer saw extended menus into the hands of those who didn't want to just stare up at the massive menu overhead.
>>423723 >>423742
"Glad you enjoy it, My friend. Do you desire anything more?"
| >>423966 "Huh. Why come back? Something that special about this city?"
>He puts a finger to the side of his face.
"Seems like everything blows up and changes so much here that change is routine. I meeeaaan, just from a quick look at Glitch City's history. This group folds, this district gets shut down for bombing #45465...Do you actually miss anything?"
>>423940 "Oi! One Infernal Mapo Tofu please! I know what happened last time but don't go easy!"
| >>423983 "N-No..!" "YEESSSss..!" "...Noooo..." "YESSSS! AHAHAHAHAHAH!"
> Kyogoku's cackling fills the bar as he raises his hands in triumph! People were ASKING for his masterpiece! Shigeru in contrast groans and puts the gasmask on while looking toward the other patrons. Kyogoku disappears into the kitchen and immediately the sound of the ovens being turn on can be heard.
"Right...One...Inferno Mapo Tofu...Coming right up.", Shigeru groaned," Does anyone want anything else?"
| >>423983
"I actually came back for work, nothing really special"
>The man says, simply
"And you're definitely right, some things never change, but sometimes you end up in a small restaurant like this, and its a pleasant break from the ordinary you know?"
| >>423998 >He joins Kyogoku in his gleeful cackling, steepling his hands. Right now, the impish smile on his faceplate is likely extremely accurate to the one on his real face. Once his shoulders stop shaking, he turns back to >>1e4455
"Oh maaaaaaan I don't know if that will ever stop being GOLD! Hehe. Yeah, work. Plenty of that to go around here for certain types!"
"..."
>mutters under breath
"OhgodIhopethatdidn'ttranslateasplskillmyfaceandharvestmyorgans"
| >>424035 >points up at the Today's Specials board
"Y-your call, muchacho. You wanna join me on the spice hell though?"
| >>424053
"Hmn"
>The man shows a tired grin before turning around
>>424055
"I think I'll try that Inferno thing?"
| >>424055 >>424187
>Suddenly several cooks come rushing out of the door with great blasts of heat and spice chasing after them like invisible waves of flame. The cackling of Kyogoku echoes as well as long dark shadows of him gleefully waving his arms about as he cooks. You can see him making movements as if he's adding a dish of this & that...Eventually the doors close and all goes silent. Eventually he exits with a satisfied smile on his lips...
| >>424053 >>424432
> He walks to the two with two bowls of his infamous Inferno Mapo Tofu resting on a tray on one of his arms. The air about them twists and distorts from the heat raising from them and their crimson color makes one think of lava flows. He gleefully serves the two with a big smile.
"Inferno Mapo Tofu! For the two whom understand perfection!"
>Shigeru is facepalming himself through his gasmask.
>The spice is enough to make one's eyes water in proximity.
| >>424035 Kyogoku and Shigeru look to Arable. Kyogoku smiles as he...remarkably returns to being normal and mild-mannered.
"Oh. Of course! Zen Nara Style Sake and Orochi Sushi platter?"
| > A tired looking woman in a black and purple junihitoe wanders down a set of blue hard-light stairs that manifest with each of her steps. Her long raven black hair trails after her like the train of a dress. She pauses about midway over the patrons and glances over them carefully...searching.
| >The operator guy finish his platter and put on his balaclava
"Thanks for the meal"
>He left some credits on the counter and leave the bar
| >Clad in the same as ever, toxic yellow business suit, a young, blond teenager steps through the main entrance, avoiding the operator. With short, spiky hair and cold blue eyes you wouldn't give him more than 16 years, tops. He took a still lit cigarette out of his mouth and, lazily looking around the bar, put it away into a small metal box. Said box soon vanished within his chest pocket, and he began to make his way towards the stairs to the VIP loft, as if something natural.
| >>424916
>The exhausted looking woman slowed in her step and watched the boy pass. She gazed at him through her untamed, willowy, bangs and struggled to piece together who he was.
"...Oh...Aaah...I can't remember who you are...Apologies. I'm so exhausted...ID, please?"
| >>424935
>Teenager stopped, with eyebrow raised, but after taking a second look around the bar shrugged and took out the ID along with a visit card from the same chest pocket as before.
>Visit card read: "K-TRAN Conglomerate, CEO. Richard King Dragonheart. Phn.: X-XXX-XXX-XXX"
>ID card contained the same name and smug face on the photo. According to it, King was 21 year old.
"Tough night?" >Teenager asked with an understanding look on his face.
| >>424947
> The woman smiled sheepishly, but made no comment. She leaned in slowly to read over the card. She seemed so tired it must have taken a bit longer to fully comprehend what she was reading.
"...Ah. K-TRAN...Kyogoku...Shigeru is taking a break to serve...ahhh...Mister Dragonheart personally..."
> The willowy japanese woman mumbled, and yet Kyogoku and Shigeru both bolted straight at the command. Shigeru quickly rushed up to meet them and offered to take the teenager's coat
| >>424951
>King smiled to Shigeru, but raised his hand in a stopping gesture, proceeding to take it off himself. Not before extracting a small, black pack of cigarettes from it's seemingly bottomless chest pocket, however.
"I'm still young enough to be able to do this much myself." >He commented in a soft voice.
"Do you have any seats for smokers?"
| >>424958
"You can join me...when...I return. My...personal booth is nano-filtered."
> The woman stated tiredly. Shigeru of course watched with concern...and finally spoke.
"...Kuroishi-dono, should you be walking all the way down here? We can bring whatever you need upstairs."
>The woman paused and gazed at Shigeru quietly for a moment and sighed softly. She turned and looked to King.
" Apologies...Could you...assist me back to the top...?"
| >The door opens again, and a ridiculous-looking woman steps through- There's a huge heart-shaped ahoge on her head, for a start. Her suit- bubblegum pink, with silvery-blue/periwinkle hearts on her the shoulders and knees -looks to be made of some sort of silk. As in, actual silk. A pin is on the lapel, reading "クレイジー・ダイヤモンド". She observes the situation with King, Kuroishi and Shigeru with vague interest, then looks up at the menu.
| >>424963
>King bowed gallantly, and offered his free hand.
"Oh, but of course, milady."
>He said. Unfortunately, the clearly ironic tone of his voice completely ruined the beauty of the gesture.
| "Hem-hem." >Crazy Diamond clears her throat to signify her presence here, too. Her hand drifts to her lapel, and starts to fiddle with the pin on it.
| >>424974 >>424970 >>424974
> 'Kuroishi-dono' half-smiled tiredly at the gesture. She accepted his hand and Shigeru who was cowed by the exchange, just kind of shifted awkwardly and followed like a lost little boy. As the willowy junihitoe clad woman walked she turned to gaze down toward the woman in the bubblegum pink suit. Her eyes hidden by her raven strands cascading past.
>While watching the three go up to the VIP floor, Kyogoku slipped his attention to the new comer.
| >>424980 "Hm-hm~! So then you have an order, Madam?"
> Kyogoku questioned with a smile, as always.
>Meanwhile Kuroishi, once at the top of the stairs bowed in thanks to King and practically collapsed into a floating chaise. Upon doing so she reached outward and a hard-light ashtray appeared before materializing a kiseru of the same material. Shigeru was quick to see that it was prepped for smoking.
"...See to it...that King-san gets what he desires. He must be rewarded."
| >>424987
"Yes, actually." >Crazy Diamond gives her tie a quick tug and bows. She's speaking Japanese right now.
"I'd like an Orochi Sushi Platter and cold Zen Nara Sake, please."
| >>424989
>Kyogoku's smile brightens a little...and he listens with an expression glowing with nostalgia. He turns and quietly moves to draw the stainless still canister for the cold Zen Nara Sake. The bowl for it is swiftly chilled by its contents. That goes in front of the lady first. Then he goes on to begin working on the Orochi Sushi Platter.
> In Japanese he speaks, -"Ahhh...Someone from home. Welcome, welcome."-
| "Hello." >Crazy Diamond smiles, taking a sip from the bowl.
"Yeah, I'm from Diamond Records. The main branch, mind, not Heritage for the Future. Name's Crazy Diamond- yours?"
| >>424995
"Kyogoku of the Blue Lantern."
>He replied simply and nodded slowly.
"Diamond Records...I am not familiar."
>The man rolls up his kimono sleeves while tossing around a cutting knife. He eventually makes quick work of the sushi ingredients on a cooking area built into the bar. His graceful but precise movements are clearly beyond just professional...but he carries on like he's barely focusing on it.
| >>424996
>Crazy Diamond's ahoge jumps as she hears Kyogoku's name.
"I've heard of you; you're the inferno tofu guy, aren't you?"
>She watches Kyogoku make the sushi, her ahoge slowly bending, relaxing from a straight line to its original heart shape.
| >>424987
>"Desires a many, resources a few." — popped up in King's mind, but he kept it to himself, as he looked around the loft in search of a place to land himself. While at it, he took a quick, almost impossible to notice, glance at his wristwatch. No business partner ever would enjoy such a gesture in the middle of a meeting, but King knew that a man in control of the time is the man in control of the world, and honed this particular trick to perfection.
| >>424997
>Kyogoku's knive suddenly strikes deep into the metal of his sizzling cooking space. His eyes gleam with interest and his muscles strain under the suppression of his Yukata.
"...'Inferno Tofu guy?...Could it be that my masterwork...The Inferno Mapo Tofu has reached your ears and drawn your interest?"
| >>424999
> Of course Kuroishi didn't notice. She was already reclined so that her right arm, in all its paleness, was visible due to her ungracefully draping her forearm over her tired eyes. She looked positively ill in her exhaustion.
"...Did you...come for the tofu? It's oddly popular...for how...aaaah...hot it is..."
>King would find himself more then capable of picking from a wealth of amazingly fancy and comfortable oriental seats and couches. Even another floating chaise.
| >Crazy Diamond nods vigorously.
"Y-Yes...! That's why I came here in the first place, actually!" >She seems quite excited. Her ahoge spikes again.
| >>425001
>Being a man who prefers building floating castles to living in them, King ignored the floating chaise in it's entirety, and fell upon the closest couch in a rather ungraceful, childish manner.
"Trying wouldn't hurt," — >King said back, somehow managing to fill the entire couch with just himself, —
"Although I would honestly go for something icy and, if possible, filled with alcohol to the brim. I'm afraid my day wasn't that great either."
>He smiled awkwardly.
| >>425002
> Gazes at Crazy Diamond with amazement. His muscles finally ripple and burst through the confines of his yukata and an aura of manliness overflows his person! He immediately draws his left foot back and leans his torso back as if to flex with pointer fingers aimed directly at her.
"UNDERSTOOD! For you I will summon the fiery wonders of THE EXTRA SPICY INFERNO MAPO TOFU, NEWLY NAMED...INFERNO MAPO TOFU : HELL!"
> Kyogoku then slowly saunters into the kitchen. ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ
| >>425007
"Shigeru-chan...Zen Nara Sake, chilled, please...?"
> Kuroishi ordered barely above the usual mumble. Yet the boy took to the request like it'd been shouted. He bowed repeatedly toward the woman and King before scrambling off to make sure King got his ice cold sake bowl and his own personal canister to keep the extra as cold as possible, if he wanted more.
"...Well...hopefully the morrow...will bring you joy."
> She sighs after even saying it.
"You're welcome...to vent."
| >>425011
>King took out a cigarette from his pack and began chewing on it, without lighting up, in silence. A little while after he ran his hand through his hair.
"You surely know about the, for the lack of a better word... Tricky situation in the Downtown?"
| >>425012
"...Aaah...The...Matter with apparently 'Satan' himself...appearing causing...mass amnesia and combusting people?"
> Kuroishi sighs softly and pulls her forearm away from her eyes just enough to peer tiredly at King from below the sea of raven. She flicked her fingers and the holoscreens surrounding them came alive. Muted news feeds quickly filled the vision of those whom were interested. Kuroishi herself just glanced at it to jog her memory...
| >>425002 >>425008
> The kitchen's heat wafts through the doors once again. This time more intense than ever before! The scent of spices and sensations of intense heat each people on the other side of the room from the kitchen. The interior is lit up with flames...but eventually Kyogoku returns with a single bowl of Mapo Tofu. It bubbles like a lava pit. The meaty but tender cubes of tofu are probably likely to melt in the mouth on contact...assuming the taste buds survive.
| >Crazy Diamond liked that. Like, REALLY liked that. She rifles in her pockets, looking for something. She eventually finds it in her jacket pocket: A piece of paper and a pen with 'Diamond Records' engraved on it. She offers them to Kyogoku.
"...can I have your autograph?"
| >>425014
>King cringed visibly at the mention of Satan. He took a couple quick glances at the feeds to check if there was anything he missed.
"Some of my employees got caught in that... mess. Obviously, I kindly asked our security to ensure those employees are safe and out of there."
>He took a pause.
"Naturally, I can't know everyone working for me personally. Our security, however, is supposed to be risking their lives protecting our employees and property — just for money."
| "Now, you see, when a man fights, or works, just for money he tends to sometimes wonder if the job is worth the paycheck. For that very reason," — >King made a vague gesture in the air, —
"Hired troops morale tends to be lower, than usual. But show the man some appreciation, genuine care for his well-being, personal interest, an ideal – and suddenly money aren't as central to him anymore."
>He paused yet again.
| "So, I make an effort to at least meet with my security personnel whenever possible. Simple stuff, exchange greetings, thank them for their work. You would be surprised how effective it is. It does wonders, really."
>King put both hands behind his head and fell silent, staring at the newsfeeds.
| >>425019
> Kyogoku looked surprised at the request and smiled gently. While accepting the pen and paper, going on to write his name in 'kuzushiji' style. How he did this was a pen wasn't as difficult as you'd think.
"I am unsure why you desire my autograph, but I have no reason not to provide it...More importantly! You will return for the future improvements of my Inferno Mapo Tofu, yes?"
| >>425033 "...No...It makes sense...The people of this bar and other ventures...related to it. They would follow me...to the ends of the universe."
> Kuroishi stated while taking a tired drag from her kiseru.
"People do not...merely seek pay. That...is but the initial condition of seeking work...They seek purpose. They seek a place to belong...and thrive...under their terms."
>She rested her eyes for a moment and allowed her forearm to shade them again.
| "I apologize...that you lost...so many employees. With hope...the situation will be resolved."
> Kuroishi slowly opened her eyes under her forearm with an uncommonly sharp gaze at the ceiling.
"...Or it will....be forced to be resolved."
| >>425143
"No need to apologise."
>King closed his eyes, moving the cigarette in his mouth left to right.
"Besides, it's one of those specific cases where my strategy backfires on me. Human mind is interesting. As long as you haven't seen someone in person, they are mostly numbers in your head. When you hear of a tragedy far away, what's your reaction? Usually, it would be something like 'Ah, how unfortunate'."
| "But meet them in person once–" — >teenager suddenly snapped his fingers,
— "and now it matters. Impact you feel when you read about a man being hit by a truck in the news, and impact you feel when you ask a man for a cigarette, then come home and read about that very man being hit by a truck — it's different. And the more it happens, the more it wears you down. Sometimes I have to use amnestics. And yet it's worth it. Loyalty is hard to come by."
| >>425167 "...Because you...welcomed them...Into your reality. Your world...consisted of *them* instead...of just indications...that they might exist."
> Kuroishi replied while gazing at the newsfeeds; eyes occasionally faltering.
"...But you're right...loyalty is difficult...to obtain any other way. True...loyalty. The kind...that binds. The kind that threatens to twist...even your own perception. Personally...I feel it allows you...to be more strategic also."
| >>425138
"Yeah, absolutely! I absolutely >>>must drag The Hand or King Crimson here at some point! This is great!">It's worth noting that Crazy Diamond is actually saying 'great' as a loanword here- in other words, she's saying 'gureto'.
| >>425238
>Time to cut the theatrics. Crazy Diamond ever so carefully samples one of the tofu cubes...
>Her cheeks turn red. Tears well up in her eyes... And a wide grin spreads across her face.
"YES! YES! YES! OH MY GOD!"
| >>425186
>King remained silent in responce. He slightly opened one eye, looking in the general direction of the screams from downstairs.
"Are you... Putting something in your food?"
| >>425536
"...That's...a little insulting..."
> Kuroishi replied with a tired chuckle.
"No...Kyogoku is just...a really eccentric...but good cook. Sometimes...to the point where...it becomes a problem. We...were fortunate...this time."
| >>425238 >>425511
>Kyogoku looked on with pride as he watched the woman enjoy the Inferno Mapo Tofu. He decided to proactively go ahead and offer carryout. This time it'd be on the house. If it meant more people got to discover the wonders of the Inferno, he'd happily offer it for free----provided the Mistress allowed it.
"Enjoy your food, Crazy Diamond. Should you require more let me know. I will show you the skill of the Blue Lantern!"
| >>425658
"Thank you~!"
>Meanwhile, outside the bar, someone else has noticed Crazy Diamond's cries of delight.
>A woman peeks in. She's wearing a blue suit, and the entirety of her head is obscured by a silver box.
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| >The holograms booted on. The images of floating blue flames filled luxurious ancient Japanese architecture and soon after various pale blue holo-screens littered the room. Modern holovids, system diagnostics, and more impressively hard-light stairs leading up to the upper VIP loft.
>Everything came alive and Kyogoku took his place behind his bar with Shigeru. He cracked his fingers.
"Irasshaimase! Let's begin!"