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 probably should have been a bit more curious about the ease with which that French name slipped from Eden's lips, the confidence in the pronunciation rather contradictory to the timid and uncertain way he spoke the rest of the sentence. Unfortunately--or perhaps fortunately--Koto was thoroughly distracted by just how nice the words sounded slipping from those pink lips and for a moment had little more he was capable of contemplating than how nice it would be to hear his name tumbling from-- [break][break] Fucking hell, man, calm down, he silently chided, forcing his mind to focus on literally anything except that particular train of thought. It was bad enough he'd let himself whisk Eden away like this; that type of scenario was completely out of the question, even just in his head. Their following conversation, at least, was a good distraction from those dangerous contemplations, though Koto had to stifle a scoff at his companion's demure refusal of the ginger's offer to pay. [break][break] He may have actually pressed the issue had that slip of the tongue not occurred, the mortification driving him to silence until that endearing giggle filled the air. There was visible relief in the way the tension left his shoulders as Eden agreed with him, grateful he hadn't offended the guy. Wonder why he's here with him if he feels like that... he quietly contemplated before turning his attention to the barkeep. [break][break] "The Hibiki 35," he ordered easily enough, the particular brand his favorite since he'd taken his first sip years prior. "Double. Neat." [break][break] A curt nod and both men were turning to Eden expectantly. While the bartender listened to the order, Koto's brows furrowed at the sight of that retrieved wallet. Even the way that title lilted from Eden's lips again wasn't enough to deter the frustration. [break][break] "Oh please," he grumbled sarcastically, snatching up that wallet before Eden even had a chance to open it up, holding the thing away from the smaller man with a comically frumpy expression. "It's one thing to let Nobuhisa pay since he invited you; it's another to have you pay yourself. Not happening." He glanced at the bartender, waiting for the pair's payment decision. "Put them both on my tab." [break][break] A humored expression on the barkeep's face, he glanced between the two before nodding and heading off to prepare their drinks. Left alone once more, Koto turned back to Eden and handed over the wallet, the slightest humorous glint to his gaze. [break][break] "Trying to make me look bad, I see," he teased, cheeks pinking faintly at the unexpected confidence in his flirtatious tone. "Make it seem like the host isn't willing to buy his guest a drink. Try that again and I might just have to buy your drinks for the rest of the night."
It irked Koto beyond reason, that flash of tears. Even if the misunderstanding was... debatably understandable, it still bothered him that, as usual, he'd messed up enough to cause some modicum of distress. He tried not to show how troubled he was over the brimming tears, but he'd never been the best at masking his emotions, gaze trained on the other as he wiped them away, mouth pressed into some sheepish line like a child caught misbehaving; certainly not the most appropriate expression for an Assistant CEO and elitist heir to brandish. [break][break] "I'd... I'd love to still..." [break][break] Oh, well there was good enough reason for that pout of an expression to shift to something a bit more friendly, the faintest, sheepish smile finding its way to Koto's features. He simply nodded in response, not trusting his voice to remain steady with that cocktail of embarrassment and relief and nervousness roiling in his gut. He waited for Eden to begin walking again, making sure to match his step, careful not to walk too close, trying desperately to keep his mind away from the idea of pressing his palm to the other's lower back and guiding their trek. Even if the guy passed for a girl, he was still not his in that moment, Koto casting the briefest of glances back towards Nobuhisa and Sudohara before the two slipped back into the building. [break][break] "Thank you...by the way." [break][break] Dangerous, how easily his attention was able to be caught by that little vixen, Koto's gaze quickly flitting to Eden's form at that gentle coo. He lifted his free hand to his lips, some futile attempt to cover the pleased little smile gracing his features at the sight of his companion tugging that jacket tighter around him. He perhaps could have actually handled the endearing display without malfunctioning had Eden not followed it up with that flirtatious, complimentary comment. [break][break] Cheeks alighting in that familiar deep crimson, ginger brows rising in surprise, Koto quickly glanced away, clearing his throat in an attempt to cover the sudden misstep of an embarrassed show. He'd never been good at receiving compliments--he hardly had experience with them in the first place--and that anxiety was increased tenfold by the fact that it was slipping from the lips of this dangerously endearing little creature at his side. [break][break] "It was nothing," he replied, perhaps a bit too gruffly, still refusing to make eye contact, fist pressed to his lips in what was surely an obvious-as-hell declaration of his conflicted reaction to the compliment. "And why would I mind? You're a grown man; you can say whatever the hell you want." [break][break] Smooth. Very smooth. He silently kicked himself, mind posing a quick comparison to that boorish date back on the balcony. He grimaced, running an aggravated hand through his hair once more, a habitual sign of some self-deprecating stress. They, thankfully, reached the bar a moment later, Koto using it as a distraction from his flustering, gesturing for Eden to join him against the counter's railing. He stood perhaps a bit too close, though maintaining just enough space for it to be appropriate, glancing behind him as if the woman standing five feet away was necessitating that particular nearness. [break][break] "What uh-- What're you drinking?" he asked, nodding at the glass in Eden's hand as he set his whiskey tumbler on the counter. Gods, he looks good in that coat... [break][break] He cleared his throat again, trying to distract himself from the traitorous thought, and turned his attention to flagging down the bartender. There was no one around to hear, right? And that handsome comment surely was a sign of at least some interest, right? So it was okay to be a bit flirtatious in response, right? [break][break] "I'm sure Nobuhisa is paying for your drinks tonight," he noted, chancing a side-glance as he waited for the barkeep to arrive, "but I'd be happy to get you whatever you'd like; my treat." He released a short scoff of a laugh. "I assume you'd need something strong, spending the evening at his side." [break][break] Fuck, he shouldn't have said that. He knew immediately that he'd fucked up, his tongue, loosened for flirtation, sharpening into that bitter comment. The briefest panic flashed behind his gaze, checking for Eden's reaction, reminding himself that he had, quite literally, no idea what the hell his relationship with the older man was. He opened his mouth to stumbled out a hasty apology, some futile back-peddle, when the bartender slipped over to the other side of the counter and respectfully asked for their order.
The gut-wrenching anxiety of letting that flirtatious compliment fly was all worth it just for that wide-eyed expression. Koto would have repeated it a million times over just to see those baby blues broaden like that. And paired with that soft smile quick glance away, the entire visage was a recipe for Masakoto-themed disaster. [break][break] It was a little preposterous, he thought as they began their brief but exhilarating journey to the bar, that she was so surprised by the pretty comment, that embarrassed flush and shy response endearing if not a tad unbelievable. Did people that attractive really not realize how good looking they were? Most of the people he met at these damnable affairs knew all too well how pretty they could make themselves with those deep pockets and endless resources; the ones who acted like they didn't were just trying to make a show, to grab attention by playing at some shy disposition. He glanced at Eden as the thought crossed his mind, trying to imagine her having that same sort of ulterior motive, not quite managing to make that puzzle piece fit into the aesthetic he saw pooling around her. [break][break] Not that you would know; you hardly know anything about her, his mind chided, an annoying fact that was made all the more apparent at that next, stuttered, quiet line. [break][break] "I-I think you should know that... I'm a man." [break][break] What? [break][break] "I-I'm sorry if I deceived you. It truly wasn't my intention I just... thought you knew." [break][break] What? [break][break] "I hadn't planned on wearing a dress but Nobuhisa... he made me so..." [break][break] WHAT?! [break][break] In a matter of seconds, as his footsteps came to a slow halt, all of the color drained from Masakoto's features, only for the mortified expression to be replaced with a rush of perhaps the darkest crimson he'd bore all evening. He stared, dumbfounded, at the other, trying to piece together like some damnable detective what the hell Eden was saying. [break][break] A man. [break][break] He was a man. [break][break] Eden was a man. [break][break] He could practically hear the taunting voices of his siblings, of Shiro especially, jeering about how even his subconscious couldn't stay away from pretty young men. He glanced around like some lost puppy, as if everyone else at the party were going to erupt in laughter at the foolish Ito bastard who'd been fooled by an elegant gown and a pretty face. [break][break] Gods, he has a pretty face... [break][break] The thought was traitorous, but oh so honest, Koto's indigo gaze finding the contours of that particularly pleasant visage and holding for a long, silent moment. It was obvious, now that it was out there, and Koto screamed at his heart to stop beating so goddamn quickly. It wasn't allowed. Liking this wasn't allowed. The fact that Nobuhisa was allowed to walk around flaunting some beautiful young man at his hip was exactly why Koto had joined this damnable escapade, why he stuck around in this culture he hated, why he was trying so desperately to climb the ranks and follow in his father's footsteps; freedom was a luxury of the powerful. [break][break] "I-I'm sorry again." [break][break] "Why are you apologizing?" [break][break] In another moment, his tone may have been harsh, gruff, even bitter; now, it was as quiet as Eden's, as soft, almost forlorn, their own little quiet conversation amidst the hustle and bustle of that crowded events center. Intimate, even when so public. There was a part of him, perhaps the rational part, that begged him to leave, to return to Sudohara's side, to just abandon Eden standing there in the dust, any what-ifs left for those restless nights when he couldn't sleep and his mind wandered. [break][break] But Koto had never been good at following the rules. He had never been good enough before; why was this moment going to be any different? [break][break] "You didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who fucked up..." He glanced away, red as that blazer draped across Eden's shoulders. He wanted to fix this, wanted to stop being so goddamn ruinous; fuck, he wanted Eden to join him for a drink. "I uh... I'm sorry..." A pause, awkward and poignant, an embarrassed pout unintentionally drifting to his features before he finally murmured, "I'm sure a pretty boy at my side would make the drinks just as sweet..." He glanced nervously back to that pretty countenance. "If uh... If you still want to join me..."
Koto could have kicked himself for the gruff response he'd had to that shiver, Eden's nervous explanation fueling that fire of embarrassment and bitterness. The idea of Nobuhisa forcing that revealing outfit on his date was all too aggravating, his mind quickly flitting to traitorous comparisons to how he'd treat someone who agree to come to one of these stuffy parties with him. I'd let them wear whatever they wanted... his mind bitterly lamented, though a glance at what he could see of Eden's skin and he was relenting that he, perhaps, understood Nobuhisa's interest in the gown. If nothing else, it showed off that lingering flush from Eden's skin particularly well, a flush that was all-too dangerous for Koto's resolve to behave himself. [break][break] You're not going to fuck this deal up just because you haven't gotten laid lately, he chided, the comment, even mental, doing enough to get him to lean back away from the raven-haired vixen at his side, feigning the need of a drink as his excuse to move to a more appropriate distance. [break][break] He was sipping at that whiskey, trying to figure out if it would be too obvious for him to take a physical step away from his companion, when Eden spoke. [break][break] “Chiyohime must’ve been very lucky, to have a father who cherished her so much." [break][break] A bitterness broke through Koto's countenance, one that only arose when Daichi Ito came to mind, his father's shadow constantly looming at the edges of his consciousness. He threw back the rest of his whiskey before he had a chance to realize he was doing it, brows knitting as he stared down at the suddenly empty glass. He hardly even heard Eden's follow-up comments, Koto's gaze only returning to that alluring form as those final softspoken words slipped from her lips. He opened his mouth to release some of that bitterness in his companion's direction, but managed to catch himself just before, lips pursing as he whipped his head away, clear aggravation in the tenseness of his shoulders. [break][break] Don't. You'll just end up proving him right. You can do this. Just breathe. No lashing out, especially at Nobuhisa's... whatever she is. [break][break] "I uh... I need another drink..." he murmured, ignoring Eden's comment, kicking himself for not being able to just go with the conversation, grabbing a whiskey his equivalent of grabbing a spot of air. [break][break] He stood straight, even took a step towards the door, before guilt wracked him enough that he stopped and glanced back at that form at the railing. He'd have to return to get his coat back anyway... and he'd have to speak with Nobuhisa again at some point before the end of the evening... so he could just leave her be for now, right? He didn't need to linger at Eden's side, risking everything just because he found someone attractive. He had more goddamn self-control than that... [break][break] Gods, it'd probably be a hell of a lot easier of an evening if he could convince himself of that. [break][break] "Do you uh..." he glanced at her glass, not quite empty yet, and then over to where Nobuhisa and Sudohara chatted away at the other end of the balcony. It was just a trip to the bar; it wasn't anything scandalous, right? Nothing Nobuhisa could get mad about, right? "Do you want to come with me?" He glanced away, sheepishness clear in his expression as a far-too-flirtatious-for-his-liking follow-up comment slipped from his lips. "Sudohara always says a pretty girl at your side makes the drinks taste sweeter."
Koto was half-worried the trembling thing was going to drop that offered wine glass, a part of him hesitating to actually release his hold on it, though he eventually allowed her to take it. There was a strange dichotomy within him, some empathetic understanding of where she was coming from with the nerves paired with some wholly-unwanted snobbish hypocrisy about how he had gotten through this same sort of thing and she should just get stronger. [break][break] Don't be an asshole, he warned himself, calming the tension running rampant in his system with another long sip of scotch. He could almost imagine how much he must have looked like his father, nursing that amber drink like some exhausted elder. [break][break] "Th-Thank you... I'm fine..." [break][break] Koto's attention was caught, interrupting his quiet musings, by that shaky voice, his brows rising in surprise at the sound. He, honestly, hadn't really expected her to respond, half convinced that she'd just choke on her words the moment she tried to speak. He winced at the follow-up, that too-easily-spilled apology. She did turn his way, which was something, Koto offering her the same respect as he finally darted his indigo gaze back to her nervous form. [break][break] "Gods, stop apologizing," he sighed, running a hand through his pale ginger locks, face briefly annoyed before he managed to calm the expression and instead send her some look that was at the midpoint of exasperated and worried. "You don't need to apologize for everything. That guy was being a creep; you shouldn't be apologizing for that. And if you're nervous, apologizing isn't going to make it easier. It'll probably just make you more nervous. Everyone is nervous at these things, even if you can't tell." And he subtly gestured at a crowd of young individuals standing near a bay window across the room. "All of them? They've grown up going to these types of things and they still crowd together like lost gazelles because they can't handle being alone. And the creep hitting on you? He's terrified that he's not going to get a wife and his fortune is going to get split between his bastard brothers when he dies. Not that that excuses him being a fucking creep, but still..." [break][break] He grumbled that last bit, his lips hovering at the curve of his glass. For a moment, he was lost in that bitterness, his disdain for these damnable events and the damnable people that made them unbearable overtaking his system. He took another drink, though, and sighed another calming breath, reminding himself that he was trying to make this girl feel better, not rant at her about the shit society she'd just been thrust into. He glanced at her, half an apology in his gaze. [break][break] "Look, it's okay to be nervous, that's all I'm saying," he tried again, his voice a bit softer. "You're not alone. Hell, I was so terrified during my first event that I threw a drink at my older brother and jumped out a window to avoid the embarrassment." The faintest of amused smiles crested his features, remembering Shiro's face when that grape juice stained the bastard's new suit. He used that humored energy to flash her--what he hoped was--a quick encouraging smile. "You haven't done that yet, so you're already leagues above my performance."
It felt like a lifetime of silence, Koto's mind reeling simultaneously with ideas on how to start up a conversation and a plethora of reasons why that was absolutely out of the question. You'll either make a fool of yourself, come off too strong, or just scare the poor thing, he chided himself, allowing the glass of whiskey to work as some distraction for his lips. She already looks like she's about to blow over at the next burst of wind; you'll probably just give her a goddamn heart attack... [break][break] It was true, too; Eden was playing that timidity perfectly, the quiet, reserved nature far too endearing for the poor redhead to ignore. The idea of someone like that stuck on the arm of some boorish pig like Nobuhisa was... aggravating to say the least. Not that Koto could see himself doing or being much better, but he at least had enough self-respect to consider himself a better date than--NO. Stop. There was no use following that train of thought because the concept of him bringing a date to an event like this was absolutely preposterous to begin with. Why the hell would he want to subject anyone he actually liked to some tortuous evening like-- [break][break] "I'm surprised to find someone so close to my age here... I thought it would only be older men... I hope you don't mind me saying that." [break][break] Koto's rambling thoughts were cut off by the return of that lilting voice. His eyes immediately darted back to that black-clad form, brows raising in surprise firstly at the fact that she was speaking to him and secondly at the graceful movements that positioned her beside him at that railing. There was a part of him, that part that had been replaying that lingering, exploratory stare since he'd first spotted Eden splayed out on the couch, that got a bit excited at the closeness, pulling his glass from his lips and actually forcing his body to turn and fully face her, one elbow resting on that railing and holding him up. Too casual a stance, perhaps, for a first meeting, but on close inspection far too stiff a show to betray any hidden interests. A careful balance... [break][break] His gaze followed Eden's up to that curvature of architecture, some traitorous excitement at the idea of anyone being interested in that quiet passion of his. He actually, without thinking, began to open his mouth to fill her in on some of the history of the old place, though he paused upon seeing her reaction to that gust of sudden wind, his expression scrunching into some visage of annoyance. [break][break] "Don't know what possessed you to wear something like that in this weather," he murmured, sighing like some bitter old man, more speaking to himself than anything, though it was certainly loud enough for Eden to hear. He neglected to think on how effective the gown had been in drawing his own eye. "You're so thin; you'll end up freezing to death, idiot." [break][break] Despite his words, Koto without question started to strip off that coat of his, his whiskey precariously perched on that balcony railing. His stepmother would have lost her mind seeing him place that designer suit jacket around some strangers shoulders--god forbid she found out it was an escort's shoulders, and a male one at that--but as with most things when Koto was annoyed, he didn't quite give a damn. Cheeks alight with some traitorous crimson, he muttered, "Wear a fucking coat next time..." as he made sure it was secure around Eden's shoulders. [break][break] He pulled back quickly after that, not wanting his touch to linger too long so close to the other's form, knowing all too well how the gossip worked in these places. Still, the moment of nearness was... pleasant. How long had it been since he'd done something like that? And he'd be lying if he didn't like the look of her draped in his own fineries. That's creepy as hell... he chided himself, lithe fingers working to roll up and cuff his sleeves now that he was left in that dress shirt and vest. In some futile attempt to move away from that particularly unwanted train of thought, his gaze purposefully trained on the way his digits fumbled nervously with his fabrics, he began to finally speak on the building. [break][break] "You uh... asked about the building. It was built in 1637 by Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. A gift; it was a home for his firstborn, a daughter named Chiyohime," he explained, countenance visibly losing a bit of that ever-present tension as he let himself recall all of those silly little facts he'd devoured in his undergraduate years. The smallest hint of a smile even played at the corner of his lips. "She was the daughter of his concubine, Ofuri no Kata, so she didn't, by societal standards, deserve such a grand place, but Iemitsu loved her a lot. He even went so far as to personalize the place for her. Look," and without thinking he leaned in just a little closer, pointing up at the curve of roof right at the corner of the building. "If you look close enough you can see that the lip of the roof at the corners is designed to look like crashing waves." His smile softened, some ghost of his past lingering in that gentle curvature. "Iemitsu had met Chiyohime's mother at the beach and she'd always loved the ocean; there are quite a few references to sea creatures littered throughout the traditional structure." Another pause, Koto leaning back with a sigh, running his hand through and tousling that fluff of pale ginger. "He built this place as a reminder for Chiyohime of his love for her and her mother."
There wasn't much worse ways to spend an evening, Koto reckoned, than standing around in that stuffy ballroom surrounded by socialites with too much money and too little sense to know what to do with it. He'd been to what felt like a million of these functions, his father and stepmother tugging him along since he was young, and yet they never seemed to get any easier. His nerves were fringing, not leastwise because of how distracted his mentor, Sudohara, was with all of his socializing, leaving Koto lingering at the bar, nursing a scotch on the rocks and hoping no one would approach him. [break][break] The only positive about these types of events--besides the obvious monetary benefits of meeting new clients and investors--was the ability for Koto to people-watch, his azure gaze flitting around the room as some silent, cynical observer. He recognized quite a few faces from his time back in Osaka, though he was slowly becoming accustomed to the visages of the Tokyo elites. [break][break] One face was particularly unfamiliar; a young girl in a pretty pink dress, looking like she belonged anywhere but in that throng of people. Koto's attention only briefly fell on her, sitting alone at that table, before drifting off to others in the room, though it returned to her petite figure when he noticed an older man slip in beside her. Hideoki, he believed his name was, though he couldn't be sure. Though he was minutely concerned, he forced his attention elsewhere, assuming that it was just another one of those casual--if not creepy--instances of socialite courting. He'd certainly had plenty of old men approach him over the years, throwing him at their daughters, not to mention the widowers and older businesswomen who'd constantly fawned over that unique head of ginger locks. Par for the course... [break][break] Oh...? [break][break] Koto's gut flipped as he saw the young woman jump to her feet, his gaze following her form as she sped away, brows arching in some halfway point between surprise and concern. Stop. She's not your problem, the rational side of his brain tried to convince him, but he couldn't pull his eyes from that shaking form in the corner, some guilt roiling in his gut even though he'd certainly done nothing wrong. You weren't the one inappropriately hitting on her... [break][break] Still, he felt the need to check on her, remembering all the times he himself had raced off, mortified, terrified, during one of these big events. She was young; this could potentially be her first big event. There wasn't really enough resolve in his being to keep him tethered to that bar. [break][break] He didn't know if she was old enough to drink, but he snatched up a glass of white wine from a passing waiter as he moved across the room. There were a few lingering gazes on the girl, but most seemed to brush off her existence now that she was tucked away. Suited Koto perfectly fine; he hated that center-of-attention bullshit. [break][break] "Hey, you okay?" he asked, stepping up beside her, careful not to get too close; he didn't want to come off as just another creep. He held out the wine glass to her, brows raising in question with the offer as he sipped at that scotch in his other hand. His gaze flitted back towards Hideoki, those brows furrowing in annoyance and some bitter purse reaching his lips. "Ignore him. He's a lecherous old creep, but he's harmless." He wasn't sure if the words were true or not, but he figured they might help. Without looking at her, a bit uncomfortable with the fact that he was even doing this, he simply introduced him, "Ito Masakoto."
"R-Rosair Eden. It's nice to meet you..." [break][break] Koto had to force his gaze away, that honeysuckle lilt to his companion's voice particularly endearing. He tried to place the accent, tried to recall all of those foreign diplomats and businessmen his father had welcomed into the Ito estate during his childhood, but his attention was far too preoccupied with avoiding those pretty blues. [break][break] Be just your luck to mess up this deal by gawking at the bastard's date, he mused, gaze on Nobuhisa as he prattled on, Koto's lips finding the rim of his glass once more. He shot a quick, traitorous look at Eden as she was tugged to the boar's side, some twinge of bitterness at the roughness behind that meaty hold. Don't fuck this up. It's not your place... he silently chided as the group began their journey to the balcony. Quietly, Koto slipped to the back of the group, Nobuhisa and Sudohara chattering away about the evening's affairs--the guest list, the service, the expert pianist positioned in the corner of the room. Koto had learned to appreciate Sudohara's ability to carry a conversation, not the leastwise because of its ability to allow him some reprieve from the interactions. [break][break] The balcony was as garishly decorated as the ballroom, lights and ferns positioned around its edges, waiters at the ready to take empty glasses and provide hors d'oeuvres. Set in the heart of downtown, the cityscape was beautifully available as a backdrop to the scene, though Koto's eyes lingered instead on the structural makeup of the building itself. It was a historical landmark, some old estate from the Edo era reworked into an events center for the rich and famous, its architecture still holding quite a bit of that traditional beauty. [break][break] "Enjoying the view, Ito-sama?" Nobuhisa chortled, Koto's gaze quickly flitting over to the man, a small smile spreading across his lips as he nodded. [break][break] "Just admiring the history in her structure," he replied, wishing that he could talk to literally anyone else about this. As if on instinct, those rebellious azures found their way to Eden's form. Nobuhisa was, thankfully, distracted by looking up at the building where Koto had just been eyeing, not catching the way the young man's gaze lingered for perhaps a moment too long on the woman at his side. [break][break] Koto was not so lucky when it came to Sudohara. [break][break] The moment he noticed the older man's raised brows, Koto glanced away, returning to his whiskey as if that would justify the pink tint to his cheeks. Too late. A broad, knowing, entertained smile had spread across his mentor's face, the man glancing between the two younger guests. [break][break] "Ohno-sama, I believe that's Gyoza Keichi over there. You're good friends, are you not? Would you mind introducing me? I've been wanting to ask him about his recent acquisition of that land up north. We can leave the young folk to gab about history." [break][break] Koto all but choked on his drink, the sudden sting of whiskey in his sinuses bringing tears to his eyes. He coughed, clearing away that pain as he shot Sudohara a panicked, bitter look. The older man was already guiding Nobuhisa away, though, one hand on his shoulder and turning him towards the opposite side of the balcony. He flashed Koto an encouraging wink before turning his attention back to the distraction tactics at work. [break][break] Luckily--or unluckily, depending on your point of view--Nobuhisa had released Eden's waistline, chuckling as he began chatting with Sudohara about the "frivolous youth." Koto, finally righting himself after the little choking incident, changed a glanced in her direction, cheeks never lessening in their scarlet shade. Say something, idiot! his mind cried, though words were at a loss in that moment, Koto just praying she hadn't picked up on that not-so-subtle implications of Sudohara's little ploy. [break][break] And so instead of saying anything, looking like some 15-year-old at a school dance, too nervous to ask his crush to join him, he leaned against the nearby balcony railing and pursed his lips in some embarrassed, probably-inappropriate-for-the-setting pout and took another long sip of whiskey.
Koto hated these damnable, elitist events. He'd spent the majority of the time thus far nursing a tumbler of whiskey, putting on a poorly-designed, false visage of friendliness any time he was joined by a guest or business partner. You'd think with how many years he'd spent forced into these types of situations he'd actually be good at this sort of pathetic shmoozing. [break][break] Not so. [break][break] "You're going to have to loosen up Ito-kun," Sudohara noted, chuckling as he walked up to his stiff companion. Masakoto shot a perturbed grimace at his mentor before stubbornly glancing away as returning to the sipping of that expensive liquor. Another hearty laugh escaped the older man, a broad hand finding Koto's shoulder blades. "Come on, it's not so bad, is it? A young thing like you; probably have your pick of the litter when it comes to these high-society broads." [break][break] "Broads?" Koto noted with a humorless snort. "Pretty archaic of you, Sudohara-san." [break][break] The retort elicited another hefty guffaw from the man, Koto having to catch his balance before dropping his drink as that palm found his back once more. [break][break] "So sassy tonight!" Sudohara teased, sipping at his own drink. "Better get all of that out before meeting Ohno-san. He's not a fan of back-talkers." [break][break] Koto winced at the mention of their evening's target. Nobuhisa Ohno was a notorious sleazebag, but a damn wealthy one. They were hoping for a generous donation that would, if all went correctly, create a future partnership between his business and the Ito empire. The idea of shmoozing up to a pig like that was... less than pleasing. Koto finished off the last of his whiskey. [break][break] "Well, I'm not a fan of elitist assholes," he shot back with a disgruntled sigh, staring down at his empty glass. "Let me grab a fresh drink and we can get this over with." [break][break] Sudohara's attention was, thankfully, caught by some old friend he recognized in the crowd, his response less touch-oriented as he grunted his approval and headed off. Koto shot his superior another bemused expression, never quite sure where the man got his energy from, and began his solo trek to the bar. There wasn't much to look at as he waited for his refill... or so he thought. Leaning back against the counter, slender fingers tugging at his collar, Koto's gaze fell on a particularly eye-catching form lounging on a nearby chaise longue. [break][break] Koto didn't immediately recognize them, though he'd really only just recently returned to the Tokyo scene, but he caught that lingering stare, caught the way those sapphires drifted across his form before darting away. [break][break] Oh. [break][break] Not usually his favorite scene to find people he was authentically attracted to, Koto couldn't help the faint brush of scarlet that danced across his features. His gaze remained on the other, half due to his misunderstanding of the appropriate amount of gazing and half due to his lack of giving a shit about it. Pretty. Very pretty, the curve of that exposed calf a particularly enticing sight. For a moment, Sudohara's words echoed in his mind, the idea of walking up to this new interest coming to mind right up until-- [break][break] "Your whiskey, sir." [break][break] "O-Oh, thank you," Koto stumbled back, flustering for a moment like he'd been caught doing something particularly devious. [break][break] New glass in hand, Koto almost on instinct turned back to that lounging form, some part of him actually brave enough to take a few steps towards her. He froze, though, as he caught sight of the man drifting to her side. [break][break] Oh. [break][break] "Oh, Ito-san, perfect timing!" Nobuhisa Ohno greeted, Koto trapped there as the boorish man tugged his... date?... up from the couch. "I was just about to take a walk on the balcony. Join us; we can talk business." [break][break] Going for a late-night stroll with this pig and his date who Koto had just been walking over to--as ridiculous as it sounded--potentially attempt to hit on was... not the most ideal course of action. He tried for a smile, simultaneously trying to avoid gazing too closely at the form at Nobuhisa's side, and began, "Sounds great, Ohno-san, but I should really find Sudoha-" [break][break] "Ito-kun, there you are! Trying to start discussions without me, I see!" [break][break] Well, there went that escape route. That uncomfortable smile still split across his features, Koto all too theatrically glanced at his incoming partner. He shot him a quick, frantically disconcerted expression while Nobuhisa was unable to see it, before turning back to the wealthy kingpin and that standing-far-too-close-to-Koto for his comfort vixen at his side. [break][break] "Sudohara! Good to see you!" Nobuhisa blubbered, one of those meaty hands finding its way around the other's waist. "This is-- What was your name again, beautiful?" And he ushered for the woman to introduce herself. [break][break] Finally stuck in a position where he absolutely couldn't avoid taking a glance, Koto let his gaze flit across that visage. Gods, she's pretty... he silently mused, his cheeks alighting just slightly, trying to cover up the way his gaze wandered with a slow sip from his glass as greetings and introductions were traded. [break][break] "Ito Masakoto," he introduced when it was finally his turn, nodding instead of reaching for her hand, terrified of how red he'd turn if he actually touched her, the gesture perhaps coming off a bit unintentionally brutish. "Pleasure."
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 never gets easier, but maybe that's the point...
PERSONALITY [break] Koto doesn't really know how to "people." Or, at the very least, he's not the best at it. Growing up the youngest of nine children, he was never going to be enough, and even though he knew he was always the smartest, the cleverest, the most hard-working, he was always second place in comparison to at least one of his siblings. It didn't help that he was one of the illegitimates, a son that came from one of his father's numerous extramarital affairs. In his youth, before his father actually took notice of his intelligent youngest son, feeling like he didn't have a place in the Ito empire where he would be appreciated, Koto made a splash in the family the only way he could: by rebelling. And while those anti-establishment, ornery tendencies have faded quite a bit now that he's in his twenties and out on his own, he still doesn't quite know what it's like to interact with people without trying to establish himself as a detached asshole who they can't hurt. [break][break] After all, if he acts like their opinions don't matter, they don't, right? [break][break] And thus Koto often comes off far less likable than he would necessarily want. He gets flustered easily, lashing out verbally when he feels the twinge of embarrassment, and he has a bad tendency of coming off a bit pretentious and egotistical. It's not his fault that he's the smartest in the room half the time, though. Everyone else just needs to catch up. [break][break] And of course, as is almost always the case, this hard outer shell is just that: a shell. The side of him that rarely shows is the Masakoto who spends hours sitting around Tokyo sketching passersby because he finds the day-to-day beautiful, the Masakoto who slips out of his apartment at night to feed the alley cats because he doesn't like thinking about them going hungry, the Masakoto that could never hate his siblings no matter how much hell they put him through. That's the Masakoto that chose to move out of the Ito estate at 18, the Masakoto who chose to attend Tokyo University not for its good business school but for the prestigious art academy, who fell in love with a man he would never be allowed to be with, who spent three and a half years learning how to be a better version of himself. [break][break] Unfortunately, that's also the Masakoto who jumped at the first opportunity to impress his father, who left Tokyo early, broken-hearted, and complacent. It's the Masakoto that is terrified of the power his father wields over his life in the same moment that he admires it, yearns for it, doing his damnedest to get just a bit of that residual, trickle-down success and the freedom that comes with it. [break][break] And now he has that power, at least some of it, and the freedom that accompanies it. He's not a huge fan of the business-oriented work he's been assigned, but if he does it and he does it well, he'll be in a position where even Papa Ito can't tell him what to do. And so he's working hard, a nasty habit of his, going above and beyond for a company he despises, spending his off-time drowning in his passions--art, cooking, architecture--, and doing his damnedest to find that better version of himself once more. [break][break] And it's working... sort of. He's better, nicer, shows a little more vulnerability, but he still has a long way to go. He still blushes easily, still gets flustered at the mere mention of some sort of personal inadequacy or tease or flirtation. He still keeps people at arms length until they try to get too close and he has to push them away. He's still the Masakoto that stood in a room full of his siblings and had to take the belittling, diminishing words of his stepmother without making a sound. He's still the Masakoto who deserted the first tender, non-familial hand that reached out to him. And he's still the Masakoto who sits at home wishing he was anyone else, born to any other family. [break][break] But he's getting better. [break][break] LOOKS[break] All of the Itos have black hair; all of them except Koto. Koto's light locks are a surefire sign of his illegitimacy, the same shade as his mother's, something he once resented but now appreciates; another thing to make him stand out in the Ito crowd. His eyes, though, are pure Ito, the brilliant, piercing blues of the elite clan. Koto stands at 5'11", is of medium build, and even when not working is always clad in the latest impressive fashions. Ultimately it's not surprising, really, the amount of socialite bachelorettes whose mothers send them in his direction, especially after falling into the good graces of his father. [break][break] HISTORY[break] Masakoto is the ninth son of Daichi Ito, a successful entrepreneur with his hand in just about every market in Japan. Like three of his eight siblings, Koto is a product of one of Daichi's affairs, something Koto's stepmother Yuiu never let him forget. In fact, she never shied away from an opportunity to remind him that he was an "other," that he was lesser than his purebred siblings. It didn't help that he, unlike the other three illegitimates, didn't take after his father as much as his mother. Oh, the features are there--his eyes, mouth, face shape--but that hair sets him very much apart from his dark-haired siblings and father. Koto posits that he, above all the rest, was a constant reminder of her husband's infidelity. [break][break] That, though, didn't keep Koto out of the family. Daichi was powerful enough that he didn't need to hide his affairs, was prideful enough that he refused to abandon any of his heirs. And so Koto was raised in the Ito house in Osaka, barely seeing his mother who lived in a small apartment on the outskirts of the port city, paid for by his father. [break][break] Koto's early years in the Ito household were rocky to say the least. Besides the constant sneers and belittling from his stepmother, Koto dealt with a looming feeling of inadequacy, of being the least liked off all nine children, most of which were already in college by the time he was moving through middle school. And so he picked up bad habits, rebelling via petty crimes and misdemeanors, going out and spending his allowance on poor decisions and poor publicity for the Ito name. Daichi was less than pleased, Yui even more so. He was supposed to be an heir to the Ito family, a beacon of society even if he was some smear on the family's good name. [break][break] But, finally, a reprieve. At 18, Koto was allowed to leave, university an excuse to escape the confines of his childhood home. While he had to go to school for something business-related in order to maintain Daichi's financial support, Koto was finally able to explore his own passions, his own insecurities and flaws. And, slowly but surely, he was able try to start fixing himself. He decided to pick up a second major in architectural design. He let himself discover what his passions were. [break][break] He met Miki Hideaki. [break][break] It was rocky as first--Koto's relationships always are--but gods was it worth it. Best friends silently pining for one another for three and a half years, living together in quiet unspoken domestic bliss. [break][break] No... blissful is too minuscule a word for that time. [break][break] But then Koto was called away, his business degree completed a semester early, his father insisting he return to Osaka to start integrating himself in the family business. Big plans for him, Daichi had said; he had big plans for him. How could Koto refuse? How could Koto protest? He knew how powerful his father was, knew how much his stepmother would just love to sink her fangs into someone he loved, Miki just some nobody artist on top of being a man. [break][break] And so he left. [break][break] And he spent the next four years grieving that decision, even as he tried to move past it, even as he tried to move on, to move up. He worked for his father, impressed his father, managed to prove himself a worthy heir and a damn useful one at that. And so he was given an offer: go back to Tokyo, an untouched market, and work under one of the family's dearest friends, learning the trade from the best of the best. Once he'd done that, he would finally get that power, that freedom, he'd been craving. [break][break] And so Koto is back in Tokyo, the city where he first found passion and love and all the heartbreak that can come from both, ready to make amends if he's able, ready to regain that better version of himself he lost along the way. [break][break] Siblings [break] - Daichi "Dai" (♂ - 41 - legitimate)[break] - Tamako (♂ - 40 - legitimate)[break] - Isamaki (♂ - deceased (would be 38) - legitimate)[break] - Yuu (♂ - 36 - illegitimate)[break] - Risa (♀ - 32 - legitimate)[break] - Shiori and Shiro (♀ and ♂ - twins, 30 - illegitimate)[break] - Haru (♂ - 28 - legitimate)
