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.
"Damn, that was pretty good actually." [break][break] Right? I told you they weren't bad!" [break][break] "For sure. Though I feel like some of the lyrics were a bit off. Like... didn't make any sense. And the singer was a bit uh... much." [break][break] Sachi, who'd previously been enraptured by the nearby conversation, happily sipping on her tropical treat of a drink, furrowed her brows in consternation at the most recent comment, lips pursing around her straw. The show had just ended a few minutes prior, the band slipping off stage after a rousing success of a gig, and as much as she knew everyone was entitled to their opinions, Sachi couldn't help the spark of protective bitterness that flashed through her system as she continued listening in. [break][break] "What do you mean? He was just having a good time. It's cool that he had so much energy." [break][break] "Eh, I don't know. He was getting annoying there at the end. Talented kid, but he could use some mellowing out..." [break][break] The grumpiness in Sachi's countenance was getting worse by the minute, her emeralds now openly trained on the pair chatting nearby at the bar. She was, perhaps, already a bit drunk, probably the catalyst for that particularly obvious bit of eavesdropping. [break][break] "... I mean, it was just a bit wild for me-- uh..." [break][break] "Is uh... Is there something you need, miss?" [break][break] Shit. [break][break] "Actually, yeah, there is." [break][break] Shit shit shit. The rational, still sober side of Sachi's mind begged her to calm down, to not get into a fight with some guy just because he wasn't the biggest fan of her friend's work. [break][break] "I just think it's a bit cheap that you-- Lee!" [break][break] Sachi's countenance changed in an instant. What had in one moment been a radiating energy of stubborn bitterness immediately faded into a bright-eyed, bubbly enthusiasm. Hopping off her barstool, the previous conversation already all but forgotten, at least for her, she skipped over towards the familiar head of blonde. [break][break] "The king of rock and roll graces us with his presence!" she theatrically cooed, giving a little twirl before stepping up beside her friend, vibrant grin spread across her features. Her free hand dramatically flourished, some mock act of fainting. "We are not worthy!"
The thrill of performance always makes Lee feel like he is floating twelve feet off the ground. The adoring eyes of the people had brought him to the gates of his own personal nirvana, while the way the band seamlessly made the songs flow - his songs - created a euphoria beaten by no drug (and trust that he's done a variety before tonight. It isn't their biggest, most bombastic show they've ever played by any means, but each venue brings certain crowds, and these intimate shows of only a few hundred had already started to become fewer and father between. [break][break] Soon, they would be signed, their name displayed amongst the Top 100. Or, that remained Lee's fantasy. Always hungry to be something, to be better than the day before, to be bigger than life itself. [break][break] But for as hard as he's worked to get here, Lee also remains humble enough to remember his friends that helped make his achievements mean anything. Without them, all of what he had would feel a lot emptier, probably. Or, at least, he liked to think so. [break][break] His eyes scanned the dispersing crowd after he left the stage, hoping to catch a glimpse of pink hair amongst a sea of people. He's grateful Sachi stands out in a crowd, not only because of the distinct hair dye, but also because of the way her voice carries when she gets pissed off about something. Despite the bassy tones of the music coming through the speakers and the dull roar of conversation all around him, Lee know's he's not mistaken. [break][break] She spots him before he spots her, though, running up to greet him with her usual contagious enthusiasm. A sneer works its way onto his face at her words, "Kneel before my great musical prowess!" He strikes a pose that can't possibly be played off as serious, but holds it for a significant enough amount of time for others to roll their eyes before finally breaking it, laughter overtaking him. "Sachi! It's been a minute," he finally greets back. "Lookin' hot as usual."
Ah, the rush of good company, an all too familiar and beloved sensation. Lee had always been a fan favorite of the younger Morita, that creative range and those chaotic undertones an enticing combination. Standing in that after-show glow, playing alone with her little bout of theatrics, she was once again reminded of how charming his presence was. [break][break] "Of course, my liege!" she cooed back, that same dramatic tone laced with her building laughter as she very briefly popped down on one knee. [break][break] Those floors were certainly not the cleanest, though, and Sachi was up in a flash, airy giggles lilting from her and mixing with Lee's in the space between them. As he spoke, she retrieved her drink, left discarded momentarily at the nearby bar. With little to no regard for the potential of something slipped in it--it was a decent-enough place and it had only been a second, right?--she wrapped her lips around the end of her straw and took a long sip of that tropical concoction. [break][break] "Of course I am," she replied easily enough to the compliment, shimmying her hips a bit, skirt flaring on one side and then the other. "What about you Mr. Sweaty-Rockstar-Mess?" she teased, smile arching around her straw as she gestured to that rough-and-tumble, after-show look he bore. "You're making the temperature rise by at least a few degrees, I'm sure." [break][break] She shot him a playful wink before reaching forward and snatching up his wrist, tugging him back towards the bar with her. The men she'd been prepared to snip at were all but forgotten, at least to Sachi, but their confused gazes still followed her form until she and Lee were at that countertop together, some form of dawning realization overcoming their features. [break][break] "Come on, let me buy you a drink," she cooed, finishing off the last bit of tropical paradise and sliding it to the inner curvature of the bar. A teasing nudge reached his side as she added, "Unless Mr. Bigshot over here is getting free drinks from the venue? There's another group coming on, right? Or do you want to go somewhere else for a bit?" [break][break] She was talking at a mile a minute, happily chattering along, all too enthusiastic about a night celebrating and partying and maybe getting into a bit of trouble with that dear man.
And this, this was why Lee enjoyed seeing Sachi so much. His grin probably couldn't get much wider, the way she always took his joking demeanor and ran with it. He loved it. The two of them could probably go on like that all night, if they weren't also planning on getting so blasted neither one of them could stand. [break][break] Or, rather, that was at least what Lee was planning to do. He had a good feeling Sachi wouldn't choose to be a designated driver, though. That was what cabs were for. [break][break] He accepted the returned compliment with just as little humbleness as one might expect, "I do wear the sweaty-disheveled look pretty fucking well don't I?" He looks thoughtful for a moment, a mischievous look darkening his smile. "Think I'm the hottest one here?" [break][break] When she offers him a drink, Lee doesn't think twice to accept the offer, "Sadly, I'm not that much of a bigshot yet, but I promise that when I'm the biggest thing since sliced bread that I'll get you as many complimentary drinks as you want. I'll even autograph your forehead." Or anywhere else she asked, to be fair. "There should be another group coming up, yeah. If you're game to stick it out I am. We can always hit another bar once the show's over, too."
