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.
Koto entered Asakusa Park early in the morning, a cup off coffee in hand, satchel with sketching supplies hooked over his shoulder. The morning still offered little reprieve from the chill of the winter day, Koto housed in a thick petticoat and scarf ensemble, hair lightly dusted with a bit of snow that had drifted down during his walk. [break][break] A soft chorus of waking birds followed Koto through the serene landscape, joined only by the gentle crunch of his boots along the park trail. His destination was a beloved spot he'd frequented back in college, the outcropping of boulders at the top of a particularly tall incline providing a perfect view of not only the park's bell tower and 5-story pagoda, but also the classic architecture of the surrounding district. He hadn't been back since returning to Tokyo, and it sounded like the perfect spot to spend his day off, business meetings and events both placated for the day. [break][break] The trip wasn't a tough one, though Koto kept getting distracted by the ways that traditional park had changed, stopping to take pictures of particularly interesting adjustments, logging them away for future reference use. Eventually he came upon that familiar staggering of rocks. It took him a few tries, but he eventually managed to climb up to the tallest of them, revealing that beautiful scene he'd so thoroughly missed. [break][break] "Ah, jeez," Koto breathed out happily, the words accompanied by a puff of visible air as his eyes surveyed the area. Damn, he had expected to just spend a few hours here, but with all that he was seeing, he might be distracted for longer than anticipated, lost in the nostalgia and beauty of the place. [break][break] Oh well. [break][break] Plopping himself down on the highest rock, Koto took a sip of his coffee while he started emptying his bag, grabbing out his sketchpad and a collection of drawing pencils. He started with the treeline, filling page after page of different renditions of the lovely greenery, before moving over to the neighborhood skyline just beyond the edge of the park. Asakusa looked breathtaking from this angle, the sun glinting off of her curves and edges like she was some trophy. [break][break] It was while he worked on getting the angle of a particularly stunning clock tower just right that he heard the sound of footsteps coming up on his sketching spot. Jumping at the sound, not expecting anyone to stumble upon him in this weather this early in the morning, Koto let out a disheartened sound as his sketchpad slipped from his hand, tumbling to the ground and awaiting snow at the bottom of the rock formation. Gritting his teeth in anger, he turned to see who the hell had come and interrupted the quiet serenity of the place.
It had been an excruciatingly long night; Emile long since adapted to his nocturnal schedule. He had only recently gotten back into the swing of work; needing a few months to fully pack away all of the dark memories lurking in his recent past. He hadn't thought about what he'd do when he arrived wherever he ended up... Hadn't had half a clue he'd ship himself off to Japan of all places; never would've guessed he'd get picked up by some yakuza group and tossed back into the only lifestyle that made any sense to him at that point. [break][break]
But, here he was. Finally clean of every foreign particle on or within him. When he laid down to rest, though... he found that his mind was unwilling to shut down. The aching muscles and gentle burning that caressed his most sensitive pieces always stirred memories of what had sent him on that plan to 'anywhere in the world but here.'[break][break]
He shot out of bed and let out a loud groan of frustration. That meager expression of displeasure already draining him. His chest tight as a pair of golden eyes lingered in the back of his head. No, no, no. I'm not dealing with this now. Not tonight! His hands curling into fists as he stood; quickly white-knuckling himself before he began to rapidly open and close them in succession; some nervous tick that he had never noticed until he arrived in the land of the rising sun; something he'd surely picked up during his time in that damnable room back in the states.[break][break]
Within minutes he was dressed; a simple tie-dyed tunic and harem pants tucked into a pair of worn black combat boots. He couldn't stay in that room; the scent of vanilla and jasmine couldn't cover up the lingering scents of his clients--something he simply couldn't stand while his mind was rebelling against him; threatening to send him back into the past. The boy threw open the window so that it would have a chance to air out. He wasn't staying in that damn cage for another minute.[break][break]
In a rush; he snatched up the backpack that held his sketchbook and some essentials. He tugged his current favorite walkman; a metallic blue CD player that held the design of Hokusai's great wave; and his best headphones to drown out every second of silence with blaring music. The coat he dawned; the one his beloved Sorrel had gifted him their first year of college together; eight years prior.[break][break]
The garment was clearly once beautiful and warm; but after four particularly rough years of use; it had been deteriorated to almost nothing. The wool had been worn down to half its original thickness, the lining completely rotted away, a zipper that had bent teeth; causing the damn thing to stick only part way up his chest. The coat was covered in stains of various forms and littered with holes.[break][break]
His gloves were much the same; a pair of fine black leather that had begun to flake. Holes and tears littering the damn things. Em should have replaced all of these things long ago--but he had to save his income for health-related emergencies. No one had explained to him just yet how the health care in Japan worked; and he was... still under the impression that he would have to hoard every last yen he earned.[break][break]
When he left the brothel; the sun had yet to rise; darkness engulfed the city. Em had made it a questionable habit of wandering the city streets in the youngest hours of morning; when the last of his clients returned to their homes. He found it difficult to rest; and gods, taking a bodyguard with him for a walk? That just... made him feel weak. He should have known better. He should have learned by now that his... geographically-challenged ways hadn't been left back in America.[break][break]
He wandered out into the cold--no matter how the air hurt his skin or his lungs, no matter how he shivered... it tethered him to the here-and-now. It kept his mid in Japan, right where it belonged. The young man taking on the role of a backpacker; simply hopping on a train and going.[break][break]
He stared out the window absentmindedly; various alternative rock bands blaring in his ears--he'd picked up a slew of CDs that he couldn't read the names of. The singer's voice was drenched in emotion; and there were more than a few moments where the songs broke away into yelling--roaring, even. It was the perfect thing to saturate his mind with; those bulky headphones blocking out the rest of the world as he spaced out.[break][break]
For a time, he actually fell asleep slumped against the window. By the time he awoke; he was pulling into a station surrounded by beautiful greenery; a stunning scene even coated in snow. He couldn't make out the name of the stop, nor could he read the signs to determine where he was. No, he simply departed.[break][break]
His azures were as wide as a child stepping into some fairytale land. He had never left Chicago growing up; never seen any of the world; so a place like Asakusa Park? It was something beyond new to him. Every inch of that place felt new, and fresh... There was a wonder in him as he simply let his feet carry him forward. Lil would have loved to see this... He took a moment in the dark; digging through his backpack to obtain his sketchbook; a small pocket in its cover containing a photograph of his belated younger sister.[break][break]
"Isn't it beautiful, Lil...? We're... We're gonna have a better life here..."[break][break]
He assured her quietly; pulling the picture to his chest; holding tightly a ghost that he sincerely wished could be there at his side. He fought back the mist trying to form as he threw the backpack back over his shoulder; he kept the sketchbook in his hand; and his youngest held against his heart. It was an adventure, truly... While the circumstances that brought him here were less than fantastical; there was a whimsy in him that he hadn't felt in years. A magic in this foreign country that he would soon call home.[break][break]
The snow slowly began to sparkle as the new morning sun rose; his heavy footfalls lightened by his sense of adventure; starting to run along the treeline; taking in every sight he possibly could--the peaceful morning air undisrupted by scurrying strangers for a short time.[break][break]
Little did he realize; a scurrying stranger stealing away tranquility was exactly what he'd become. A large staggering of rocks catching his eye--well, more accurately, the form that sat atop them... There weren't all that many bodies accompanying them this time of morning... and gods, that one certainly stuck out. Slowly, he stumbled to a halt just a few feet short of the stranger; his hair was so pretty... a light shade of pumpkin he simply hadn't seen much of in this country.[break][break]
"Wow..." he whispered quietly. His presence clearly distracted the boy on the rocks--as the book in his hands fell to the ground; pages fluttering as it joined the snow beneath the rocks.[break][break]
Wow was right. The stranger wore an irritated expression; his jaw clenched and eyes piercing--but as he turned to face him; he was so perfectly framed in the first morning's light. Bathed in gold; he held an angelic glow. His perch on the highest rock holding him well above Em; looking like a creature that belonged in the skies above. Sapphire eyes halting his breath as his heart froze for just a moment.[break][break]
"He looks... like a painting..." he whispered in his mother tongue; a thought that was--of course, supposed to stay in his head. It takes him a moment to process anything after ocean and sea meet--but soon enough his eyes widen and he gasps "Oh! I'm-- I'm so sorry! I'll get that for you!" An exclamation in English; still not fully used to speaking in Japanese. He quickly scurries to the fallen sketchbook. His eyes alighted as he realized the other was also intent on drawing. Just barely resisting the urge to flip through his works. Instead, he quickly began dusting the snow off of the edges.[break][break]
He was lucky it hadn't taken any water damage. With a warm, apologetic smile--he offered the book back up to his momentary companion. His own sketchbook and sister's photograph now safely cradled in the crook of his arm. The boy had dawned no makeup for this unexpected excursion; a rather nasty burn scar sweeping across his cheek; and around his neck like a noose. His white curls wholly untamed; flecks of snow blending in with them.[break][break]
"Ahh... Sorry, take!" He cooed in Japanese; though his American accent was still... painfully thick.[break][break]
