Welcome to Tokyo, Japan. January, 1991. The world has entered the technology era, portable phones, home computers, internet, video games. Japan quickly became the epicenter of the latest and greatest. Companies and factories flourished. Where money was, people followed. And while many rose to live a comfortable, happy, and delightful life from this new found money... Others did not. You see, money has this effect on people that can't be outdone. People will do anything for it. And when it starts slipping into the wrong hands, it's impossible to stop. Benethe the day time laborers and the double-shift workers, a seedy underbelly of syndicates exists. Narctics, black market, organized crime, money laundering, you name it and it's been growing as fast as the upper world economy. While many do it just to stay alive, there's those who make it their posh lifestyle. Either way, there's only one question. What would you do if the money was good enough?
JAN 29 2021: Welcome!! ƎLEMENT has been open for two weeks now and we're so happy to see such a bright beginning! If you're new feel free to drop into the discord and say hi before joining.
[attr="class","ayab-m-text"] The Invasion[break][break][break][break]
It’s two am. Oto left the club and heard that some guys were talkin’ shit about him. So, he did what any man would do and settled it on the spot, straight blitzkrieg. He got the drop on ‘em in a back alley starting off with DROP KICK to one mans chest before pummeling the rest in a display of fierce brutality and skill when his pager started going off. [break] “Shit… alright.” [break] It was a call he had to make. The arcade owner had a job for him. Most of the time home invasions were just an easy way to… connect with people. Of course, ‘connect’ is used loosely here, but Oto would enter a home, get some free food and if he was discovered the next morning he’d help out the folks whose food he just ate. He was real keen on making friends and establishing connections. But tonight was going to be different…?[break][break]
Or would it? Oto approached a pay phone, slipped in a couple of yen and waited. He waited. Hung up, got his money back and tried again. Old man wasn’t answering so he must’ve got distracted by TV. Well… damn. That’s all that ran through Oto’s mind as he walked back to the club to figure out where he had left his motorcycle and from there it was off into the night to get some grub. Free, of course. It was back to that area where he had met the busty woman. If there were more homes like hers then at some point he’s gonna come across an empty one just waiting to be taken. Time to hit up another penthouse and on the road he went, the motorcycle roaring down the near vacant streets. He had been invited to some drift racing again, but he had passed once more. Those guys talkin’ shit had left a foul taste in his mouth and he wanted to clear it out with some high quality food, all the seasonings and the fixins’.[break][break]
He followed the same protocol, but this time he left the bike nearby in case things went south. He befriended the guard, his charm with the working class was overpowering and he ascended to the penthouse he had spotted outside. Oto picked the lock silently and swiftly, closing the door behind him as if he were a cat on the prowl; where he stood briefly to adjust to the dark. And after taking a glance around he tip toed his way through the place, cautiously looking around and working his way to the kitchen. Everything was quiet, it seemed vacant, but it was almost too quiet. He had some knives lined at the back of his belt, dressed in all black as usual. He slid his left arm behind him and gripped on a knife handle in case something happened. All he wanted was a high-class meal before he crept back to the ole dragon cave and slept atop his hoard of treasures; mostly stolen treasures, the rest gifts and a few things he actually paid for.[break][break][break][break]
It had been one hell of a long week for the self-declared vigilante. Too many handsy bastards out on the street acting like they were entitled to whatever kind of entertainment they so desired; no regard for the people that they dragged into their stupid shenanigans. Nothing was more satisfying than taking some slick Aijiwau suits down a peg or two. Felt real nice to be the one who spoiled their little secret-keeping way of life while getting to slam his knuckle-dusters into an ugly mug or two. [break][break]
But all that 'fun' takes its toll on a guy; bloodied bandages wrapped around his fists as he wandered about his friend's vacant apartment. That damnable throbbing keeping him from really getting any sleep. His room mate apparently had another late night; the pager on the table alerting him to a simple message; "Won't be home." Of course you won't... Seiya thought while letting out a quiet sigh and rolling his eyes--honestly a bit worried for the guy. He wasn't sure when his old friend ever slept; seemed like he never stopped working. [break][break]
Well; there wasn't any point in worrying; Haru could take care of himself. Hell; he couldn't really throw any stones. It wasn't like Sei was sleeping either; pacing around like a man possessed. The silence of the penthouse was only broken by the monstrous roar of his stomach. If he wasn't going to sleep; he might as well fill his stomach; maybe put on a pot of coffee and actually use the time he had to himself to do something useful. Shuffling his way to the kitchen; he dug through the fridge--far too lazy to prepare a proper meal. Of course; Hotaru mostly had ingredients on-hand. Seiya had already gone through all of the instant meals. With a shrug he settled on a tomato and cucumber; sounded refreshing enough in the moment and it'd be enough to shut up that rumbling in his gut. [break][break]
Only thing was... When he shut the fridge door--he could have sworn he heard another door shut. Gotta be imaginin' shit, he managed to convince himself. Not giving it much of another thought. Maybe he should have been worried; there had been break-ins in the area after-all. Seiya probably should have felt and thought a lot of things that he just... didn't. A bit of an airhead at times; he simply continued to prep his coffee; his movements absurdly quiet from years of having to conduct himself in secrecy. He'd avoided disturbing dogs and human guards alike like an art form that was now simply ingrained in how he moved about at night. It wasn't until he glanced up at the archway into the kitchen that he spotted an unfamiliar face. [break][break]
That list of should-haves kept piling up. The guy in front of him dressed in dark clothes; clearly reaching for a weapon. Perhaps, normally, Seiya would have sprung into action--no stranger to unexpected brawls. But the guy had just taken a big bit out of the tomato like it was an apple--about to do the same to that cucumber; seeds running down his chin like some unkempt child. His crimson eyes slowly taking in the form before him; nothing but a tired, moderately irate--or, more accurately, disinterested expression painted across his features. [break][break]
The hunched-over man slowly brandished his cucumber; eyes slowly starting to widen as he processed the scenario at-hand. "FRIEND OR FOE?!"
[attr="class","ayab-m-text"] [break][break] “Err… FRIEND OR FOE!? You robbing this expensive place for food too!?” Oto stopped in his tracks, a mix of shock, surprise and amazement was painted across his face, but it was more or less an act. However, he genuinely did think this guy was here for free food too. “Had the same thoughts? Fancy place, gotta have a decked out kitchen with ramen and pork belly, right? Right? Right!? Seems you’ve already gotten a head start!” Oto moved his hand away from his back where the knives were and walked on over to the fridge, popped it open and pulled out a soda. Was he trusting? Nah. But quite ashamed someone else beat him to the punch for free food. His mind was in the process of figuring out how they could work together, but from the looks of it, this guy didn’t know jack shit about cooking so Oto figured he’d have to be the one pulling all the dead weight around here.[break][break]
“Yo, who eats a tomato and cucumber raw like that? You don’t know how to took?” He took a sip of the soda and played it nonchalantly since he had just launched a flurry of questions at the guy, giving him no time to really process what was going on as Oto did his own thing. Worst-case scenario he’d have to split and let the starving wolf devour the kitchen leaving him to order take-out for the night. Not a bad thing, mind you, but it cost money versus the free food that was literally a foot from him. Oto leaned on the fridge door with his right shoulder, sipping the soda from his right with his left hand on his hip, which was just a way to look disarming while at the ready to draw a knife. Oto was humorous and aloof outwardly, but a demon when it came to brawling. Speaking of which, this guys hands were wrapped and bloody. Obviously this man was an intruder too. No way the resident of this place would look this barbaric. Or maybe this guy was like Frankenstein’s monster, question is though, where’s Frankenstein…?[break][break]
