Charles Patricius

[Apollymi]

Setting trends apparently, wasn't something Miko could deny legally according to Takao. She scoffed at his words, "Of course I am allowed to say that. I'm not culpable for what others do based on the music I make. They've never even seen me," Miko countered. She understood enough of herself to know, that she should be no one's role-model in her own opinion she was just a fully neurotic teen trying to get over her problems. "Also the blushing thing doesn't change for me regardless of what I'm doing. I'm just easily flustered, even when I'm in complete control of a situation. Stage fright still present... baby steps," Miko confirmed. This of course, completely ignored the fact that she had been dancing and singing on a roulette table a couple of nights before now... but again, that was different. She'd been drunk and no one was here to call her own that. Moving on from that, Takao seemed to lose his filter for words between sentences. He was still staring at Miko and wondering over the state of her body. He'd been very direct in his assessment of her body the previous day when she'd seen him as well. A flustered little gasp escaped her lips before she started a tirade. "Waaah~♪!~ You're the words guy who's had a crying following of girls for his entire pubescent life, shouldn't you be more sensitive to girl issues!?" she questioned immediately arguing back. Of course, she'd grown this body in even less time than he thought but it wasn't completely abnormal. "My body is mine. I grew it myself and it isn't off very much at all from the norms established. My new aunt is my mother's sister and according to her... we're small until we're not... she claimed to have also been pretty insignificant until she was seventeen or so, Nara Rita is her name..." Miko mentioned phone slipped out of her pocket to pull up a picture which contained, herself, between her mother and aunt, showing the three stages of life her face seemed to be capable of reaching. She had her big brown eyes seemingly alight from within, her mother and her green eyes and fullest figure, and her aunt who had shorter hair, but bright magenta eyes and a bit more edginess to her general look.

The conversation happening between the ladies had reached an appropriate lull. The arrival of their host for the evening with extra drinks only seemed to spur it in a slightly different direction. The trouble was apparently what Rita was meant to be and the man jokingly mentioned that he shouldn't have given her a triple then. "Sugei!~ I'll behave a bit then huh? I haven't been that kind of trouble in ages. Though if you change your mind about that kind of trouble, you know where to find me~" Rita also flirted with the man before the revelation of Nozomi's brought another wave of disapproval from the table. "Knocking out two guys in one week... it's not even my birthday~" Saori chimed trying to lighten the mood, which of course, earned her a giggle from Nozomi. "You know what I'd allow it at this point because I'm so done," Nozomi, mentioned. That triple she was sipping on now, became something she had her hand around holding her to the world while the other women waited to hear out how heinously she was treated. "So, like a month ago, Yuki, brings up the idea of an open-relationship, but he doesn't just bring it up. He's converted an extra bedroom in our house for this. He literally made a love nest in our house, claiming that it was better than spending money on love hotels and the like for his little hook-ups. Now, I agreed because we all know who I am and I pointed out that the term open meant for me too, and he claimed this was fine. Not even a whole twenty-four hours later this man had some girl, he was fucking in our spare bedroom," Nozomi mentioned while scoffing. "Alright, fine, it's not that big a deal right? I go on a date or two, set myself up on tender, and well...I get a date. I bring him home the next day, and this heathen hasn't even cleaned up the room. He's yelling from our master suite that he got tired and I'd have to clean it up first... be supportive and all..." Nozomi explained of the situation. "So my date for the night, thought it was too weird, walking into discarded condoms, messy sheets and the like... I don't blame him but like why did you do this. Not only did you essentially cuck me by brining home this woman to fuck in my house. You aren't eve respecting the boundaries of openness. I also know you started this thing with this bitch before you brought it up, but I digress..." Nozomi mentioned. She was pouring out her soul as she sipped her drink. "Guys... I came in from a run and workout all normal stuff, and this little heifer was in my bathroom, using my bodywash, like we're running an AirBnB," Nozomi claimed. "You mean that cruelty free stuff that costs like half a life to get?" Rangiku claimed. She could imagine that being the straw... "Yep, so I'm going to divorce him, but before then... I really want to stick it to him. I have all the evidence I need to say it started under questionable territory. I technically recorded the conversation since I was posting a video at the time. And I checked the ring camera and found him sneaking this girl in multiple days before that conversation. I could have just divorced him but I thought he'd be a bit more reasonable about it... but I really want him to understand what he got himself into... besides that he cock-blocked me and I don't appreciate it. Open means open, goddamnit!" she claimed her hands up in the air.

[Bloodedge]

Takao waved a nonchalant, yet dismissive hand in the air as Miko defended herself. He and everyone else knew how easily flustered she was, and most considered it a charm point. Still, Takao believed she'd perform exceptionally on stage... but would he ever truly recommend her doing it? That was a tough question. On one hand, Takao wouldn't wish his lifestyle on anyone who enjoyed their own downtime. On the other hand, however, if they performed together... the crowd wouldn't matter. Flashing lights were only obtrusive in the dark. "Baby steps. That's how we get to collecting bestie selfies, right?" he asked cheekily. Moving on from there, Miko took some issue with his lack of tact about her physical developments. Takao shrugged without a second thought. "Are they issues? I figured you were fresh out of issues by now," he quipped. "Well except for being hit on left and right. I guess that one's popped up by now, huh?" A bit of casual musing aside, it seemed these developments were as natural as one could be on the maternal side of her family. Upon making the claim, Miko even showed a picture of herself, her very familiar mother, and... and unknown copy of her mother: the aunt in question. "I said it before, and I'll say it again. This is one of those 'what they would look like now' pictures. Looking at the pattern... do you need security? I think you might need security detail in about... yesterday."

Drinks were served again for two of five ladies, but the bartender wouldn't be leaving right away. No, Rita gave reason to pause and observe a bit of banter. She hadn't been the openly flirty sort in the first few moments, but a single drink had her taking the most forward approach thus far. Interesting, he thought. Apparently, she had every ability to be the 'bar-wrecking' kind of trouble. Maybe if things were as normal as they seemed thus far, he had an opportunity to acquire something absent in his life and career. "Hm. There's some contention about that here, isn't there? Wouldn't want to cause a fight," he claimed after hearing the flirtatious remarks of multiple women in this group. "I'll be right back with your food," he said immediately afterwards. His departure led him directly to the kitchen, where fried foods were ready to pull. There were only a few things to gather in preparation, but he rather easily collected a cart to use. The only thing he had missing was sashimi... but he did have the fish and a couple of knives ready.

[Apollymi]

Baby steps were indeed how Miko got around to taking Bestie Selfies as she called them. They were a variety of new thing she'd been doing for a little while yet. No matter, the cheekiness and initial dismissive wave were going to make her argue a little. "Bestie Selfies, running for Student Council President, skinship... I think they are some pretty good baby steps. Small ways of putting myself out there," Miko mentioned still seeming sheepish. Still, there was a wonder past this point, her 'girl issues' were still issues to her... but she was still living with them, in more ways than could be explained. "Definitely not out of issues..." Miko uttered. She had quite a few, like her developing appetites, figuring out her own presence, and then there was the magical world thing that she wouldn't even be bringing up. As for men hitting on her, "People do now hit on me. It's weird, because I wouldn't have taken those words that way before, it's really surprising to realize someone is flirting with me... It's still weird. Also speaking of things I understand, your nickname for me is mean, Takushi!" she said immediately pouting and poking the man in his forehead. It took her forever to realize how he got to that nickname choice and now that she understood it was commentary on her social blindness she felt indignant. Beyond this point when seeing her aunt a more normal comment was made about their likeness. She flipped her phone back around and she supposed she could see it, "Hm, I guess we do look like an age progression minus our differences," Miko addressed directly. "I don't think I need security. I can't imagine forcing someone to follow around my neurotic easily distracted self. I don't think I am in that much danger and as I am usually not alone in outside spaces I think it will be fine... probably," Her words belied the truth that she may not have believed she was completely safe, but she was surprisingly calm in stressful situations and good at defending herself in combat so she'd worry little about it, even as a human.

Speaking of Miko's aunt, Nara Rita was being a bit more directly flirty with one drink in her system. The bartender for his point in this seemed to be quite good at reading the room, he claimed some contention between the friends and thus thought such discussions best put off for another time. Rita smirked, "It's hardly that... we're friends, the worst that will happen is deciding who goes first~" she pointed out, their ability to share amongst themselves was legendary and most all participated, Saori herself aside for reasons that wouldn't be coming to light immediately. While he left to prepare their meals, they got back to the discussion at hand. Rangiku had something to say as she sipped her own drink. "It took a lot longer for him to try something like that than i thought it would. He definitely sent me an unsolicited dick pic when we were still rooming together... but I figured if a threesome was an idea it would have come from you," she stated. "What? He did that and you didn't mention before we got married?" Nozomi exclaimed. "Do you know how many times dudes try me? It's pretty normal, but as I pointed out to him, he didn't have the sort of dick he should be trying to share," Rangiku added. "You're not wrong. He was passed out after him and his little girl... like if you're going to be that kind of person you should be ready for your actual wife, otherwise what are you even trying to have more for? It's not vegan!" she claimed. Finding that to be the sort of greed which led to the cruelty to animals and other creatures in this world. She was very against everything currently. "Well, it isn't good to practice an open relationship selfishly, that's for sure. Girl, you should go back to the first Nono... show him what wild really is and the reason you ended up with that nickname from me~" Reina encouraged. "Hai hai, because before it was men an Ran-chan, it was you two right?" Rita encouraged.

[Bloodedge]

"Skinship?" was the one thing Takao decided to question from Miko's list. She did have a reasonable set of steps taken toward opening up, but he viewed the matter as overall irrelevant. At this point, Takao was chattering for the sake of doing so. When it came to the topic of Miko receiving the advances of others lately, however, he considered things more seriously. She claimed to have an understanding of people's flirts now. Did she? One might wonder. Ah, but the brunette did understand something; she'd come to realize the meaning behind his nickname for her. Mean, she called it. From Takao's perspective, it was no such thing. "Is it mean? I think it's accurate, and you're not even arguing that it isn't," he stated. "And you probably don't actually need security, but... you never know. People are crazy. Look at Mitchel; he's missing a whole damn bus!"

The bartender separated himself from the group for a few moments, but he did catch Rita's final words about friends deciding who was first. Preparation involved a lot of thought with that in mind. He could possibly find something necessary to his lifestyle this night. Given the group dynamic, that number could be anywhere between zero and five. Surely though, there was no reason to take an absolute loss. Even if zero was the number destiny chose, he could have a bit of fun for himself. This recent week, he managed to enjoy a bit more freedom than normal. Why not? Why shouldn't he get some enjoyment out of the night and see where things went from there? When the teal-haired man finally returned, he did so wheeling a full cart of food. He began sliding trays onto the table immediately while speaking over Rita's shoulder. "If what you said earlier is the worst outcome, that's probably something you should work out amongst yourselves," he said. "Food is served, ladies. For anyone who wants the sashimi, take an empty plate from the middle. I'll be slicing fresh tableside as a special favor."

[Apollymi]

Of the things Miko mentioned as part of her baby steps, 'skinship' was questioned by Takao. Miko paused, three blinks taking place as she processed the most clinical way to explain what skinship was to someone. Such mannerisms from her were quite normal when she was caught off guard, and only after she was certain of her word choice would she open her mouth to speak, "Skinship, is gender neutral group bathing with friends for bonding purposes. Moving on." she said with no extra details and no real explanation of how she got to the point of doing such a thing. She'd have expected the term to be more familiar but she supposed if nothing else, this was proof that Shutara kept her weirdness mostly secret. Beyond this point, Miko was poking him as he pointed out the accuracy of his nickname choice and her lack of argument against it. "Well, I don't tell lies and I am the first to admit that I am absolutely socially inept," she started. "But yes it's still mean, you didn't have to call me out like that... I'm trying to get myself together and you're picking on me and have been for ages! it's treasonous at best!" Miko claimed while still managing to look pouty, she answered to that name. And felt like the butt of a joke this man was having with himself. Beyond this there was the matter of crazy people. According to Takao, she probably didn't need security but people were crazy... "Fair enough... maybe I'll look into it. But I don't think Mitchel losing a tour bus sits on the other person is crazy boat specifically," she said carefully. Like it could have been an invitation, she could have invited people into odd situations. And now that she was pouting directly at Takao, she really looked at him. She looked over his physical form broad shoulders, decent chest, voice she loved and she noted those baggy pants with the knowledge of why they might be necessary. She was almost clinical in studying his person...

Meanwhile, ladies night at the bar, became an active revenge plotting time. Nozomi wanted to stick it to her husband and there was a massive plan putting it together. While the bartender was off getting food, Rita had something to say... "Obviously, sticking it to him, starts with the fun. He hasn't said anything yet... let's flood Instagram with ladies night first~" Rita offered the best solution. Everyone produced phones and images began being taken. Drinks, friends faces and poses were all par for the course as the food showed up. By the time the bartender came back, a claim was made, that the group should be deciding what was going on between themselves. As heard by Rita she could only chuckle, she looked to the rest of the group. "That was the flirt back right? Volunteer not victim?" she asked of the table in a manner which implied her own special form of danger. "Heheha~ Yeah, something like that Ri... you sure you don't want to pass that drink along~" claimed Rangiku as she watched. Apparently with food being served more pictures of platters and plates would be snapped and uploaded for the sake of fun. Though apparently Sashimi was being cut tableside. All eyes shifted to the man of the hour without fail. "Well, I do like Sashimi~" Saori claimed. The other women also took plates but Nozomi looked for quite a few seconds. She'd not had fish in ages... she loved sushi and sashimi and hadn't had it in ages. "Quick question... do you guys deal with local fisherman? I'm trying to make a good choice," Nozomi admitted. She could go for some fish... "Oya? Back on board like that... we haven't gotten you light proteins since our first year of college! You know Mr. Bartender, if she tries the meat, she'll try other type of meat too~" claimed Rangiku who was obviously excited to see her friend return to her best form.

[Bloodedge]

Miko hesitated for only a few moments before explaining the meaning of 'skinship', but she got around to it nonetheless. It didn't sound like anything that should be so brazenly mentioned as a 'stepping stone' toward socialization. Whatever the case, it wasn't simply something to move on from. "Naked in a room with others of no specific gender, fine. On stage for karaoke, not fine. I've never been invited to that, or any of these other bonding activities you're talking about. Hell of a friendship, isn't it?" he asked in the end. The true depths of Miko's social ineptitude would be in question if Takao didn't know any better from personal experience. Alas, he did know... and it was all part of that nickname Miko complained about while continuously poking his forehead ─ something she did until his brow started twitching. "Oi, quit it!" he demanded. Calling the name an act of treason was downright ridiculous, Takao thought. So, as he pushed against Miko's finger with the weight of his own head, he did what came natural: he applied a bit of snark. "Treason huh? Ah, gomen! I swear I didn't mean to go against her majesty! It was only a loaf of bread; have mercy!" he pleaded jokingly in an overexaggerated manner. As for Mitchel's tour bus situation, maybe it didn't speak to the involved parties' craziness... but it didn't speak against that either. "If you ask me... No matter which way you slice it, somebody had to be pretty out there to snatch a whole bus. Mitchel's sober, but he's not an idiot."

When the bartender returned with a few words for Rita, she consulted the others right away. All context said he was due for an interesting night, leaving only one curiosity: what would the end result be? "Gotta disappoint you if a victim's what you were looking for. I haven't been equipped for that kind of life for many years. And yes, it was," he claimed. During that exchange, Rangiku asked about Rita passing her drink along. The bartender happened to have enough left in that shaker for a few more glasses of the normal size. "If you want one as well, you'll have to finish what you started. I have more here, but I didn't come back with extra glasses. Sumanai," the man answered in Rita's place. While he straightened his knife blade with unnecessary amounts of flair, the vegan of this group asked something very questionable for one of her ilk. Was she taking an interest in the sashimi? It seemed so, but he hardly had an answer for her. "Farmed. From what I understand, there was an argument for wild salmon, but farmed is easier to manage for consumer health. I can look for tuna if you'd like; that should be wild," he said. When Rangiku added her piece, he had an easy route to response. "I'm sure tuna might not be the 'other meat' we're talking about here, but that seems more like something you two are interested in," he said, looking between Rangiku and Rita. "Guess the jury's still out on that decision though, hm?"

[Apollymi]

Miko's hesitation before explanation was pretty normal. Giving a general explanation for her 'skinship' routines was fine. It did actually mostly include girls but as she didn't want to lie, she specified the lack of gender mattering for the purpose of skinship. Had a lot of her skinship lately, been post coitus? Yes. Did that matter as it was simply a step towards her being more comfortable in general? No. "It isn't like that, and you know it. Stage fright works differently, and I did try going to karaoke. You probably spend more one on one time with me than most other people... and I can't always invite you places. Though I am planning to invite you somewhere... but you need a bit more background before I do that and it's a lot for right just now..." Miko stated honestly. Takao was too magically inclined to not be stopped before a potential happening which would leave her without him. Miko decided after getting back and her discussions with Kazuhiko that there were at least a few people she refused to live without, and though he didn't know it, Takao made that list. The speech between these two people always evolved and devolved just as quickly as time passed. In this case, she was tapping his forehead and he wanted her to stop. "I should poke you for every time you've called me that! And I know how many times it's been..." she said her face deadpan though her finger did still as he put his weight against it. She called his name calling treasonous and that wasn't the word she would have gone for normally. "Fuck... that was the wrong word, though treachery is also not really.. right," she said with a headshake. "It doesn't help that I'm still mildly intoxicated, party foul... that one works better. It's a party foul! No more of your jokes Mister!" she said poking him one more time. Beyond that was the issue of Mitchel's missing tour bus... which seemed to have been taken during his sober window. "Yeah, that definitely sounds crazy. Maybe he needs security?" she offered. Miko had never lost anything that big before.

When the bartender returned, it seemed that he had words to share with a now reasonably flirtier Rita. He wasn't a victim according to his own words. He also claimed that his words were indeed flirts. "Hm, that's pretty straight-forward. I like that~" claimed Rita. The other women just giggled and Saori could only shake her head of course she would like a volunteer over a victim. Moving past this Rangiku was told that there were more drinks but she had to finish hers because he'd not brought more glasses. "Oh? Well aren't you prepared... I guess I'll stop nursing it then~" she said teasingly. Meanwhile, Reina had been quiet for a bit, and was mostly watching this man move around casually. For Nozomi he had an answer, the salmon was farmed but some wild tuna could be found, "Oh? Actually that one is fine... salmon farms around here are humane. I won't put you out today~" she added picking up a plate too. "The about that is very specific, we have a normal rotation because all of us are different kinds of wild. So if more than one of us want to do something then there is an order to be taken..." claimed Reina. "Yeah, but can I even be included... I'm not trying to have to record a sex tape to make my point. It won't be pointed enough. I want to feel good about his suffering. I wouldn't mind saying though I'd definitely take a turn~" Nozomi mentioned flirting properly. "If that's something you really want... I might have an option for you. But you have to really mean it..." Saori said. She wouldn't risk ruining her friend's marriage if it wasn't really what she wanted. "Nono is being Nono... and Saorin is being ominous... does that mean you've tried something new? That's pretty out of the norm for you... you're our youngest most mature~" Reina said teasingly.

[Bloodedge]

Stage fright and group nudity couldn't be compared. In a way, Takao believed that... but the detail about it being a gender-neutral scenario was questionable at best. The Iino Miko he'd known for years couldn't handle a joking approach, but he supposed what he was now looking at... couldn't be the same person anymore. Whether that was for better or worse, Takao didn't have a clue. It felt strange to process, though. Moreover, Miko was talking about inviting him somewhere he needed background information for beforehand. Considering the fact that she had connections to Daikichi Hiruko of all people, that line was also strange. "Sou ka..." he said as if acknowledging a relative stranger. Shortly afterwards, the poking ceased, if only temporarily. Miko remained a bit snippy over the form of address chosen for her, but there was nothing to be done about her own strange word choice. Ah, but she didn't much appreciate his joking rebuttal. Another poke to the forehead had Takao swatting at her hand. "Intoxicated? You sure you didn't sample the party favors? Because you have to be high!" he argued, sliding back in his chair again. This one had to have some recent, outlandish experiences; he could think of no other reason for these massive behavioral shifts. Maybe Shutara had been right, and Miko had always been a lesbian without coming to realize it until recently.

Speaking of lesbians, a group that would have been perceived as such in any normal outing was involved with a rather interesting exchange with their night's host. Nothing wholesome would come out of this night; of that he was sure. It seemed most of the five women were interested parties, at least to some extent. Nara Rita was quickly making herself the most accessible, but one other didn't let herself fall behind. The host reached down onto the cart to retrieve his mixer, still mostly filled with that triple-dose cocktail. He'd pop its cap and offer any necessary refills, then place it atop the table and don a pair of gloves. Since the vegan of their group had no problem with the current salmon selection, there was no need for further hesitation. "How kind. I'll serve you first then," he said after her willingness to settle. While some of the women continued speaking, he donned a pair of gloves, picking up his knife with one hand and a fillet of salmon with the other. His knife hand spun the tool around a couple of fingers, seemingly unnecessarily but to the effect of ensuring stability through tight latex. All the while, he was placing salmon onto a cutting board... and hearing more about the ladies' strange group dynamic. "Sou. I don't know how wild you all might be, but it's interesting. I could also handle a group if you're into that. Been around the block a few times," he claimed. Even while casually upholding conversation, the man's knife was swiftly sweeping through the air. Actually, it was shaving off the thinnest possible slices of salmon from the fillet with machine precision. His wrist moved in such a way as to flip translucent meat shavings onto Nozomi's plate, as if tossing ribbons into a tapering stack. Nozomi questioned her own inclusion, citing the need to make a point to her husband. Would he bother addressing that matter? Well... yes, sort of. "If you want to feel good about something, how you do that is up to you. If you're talking about a turn... hm. I'd take anyone here. Everyone, even. Do with that what you will."

[Apollymi]

Stage fright and nudity were very different. For Miko they were so different that she could definitely do one in the right circumstances but still hadn't yet made peace with the other... not while sober anyway. That shift in tone that she heard from Takao made her face shift, she pouted more and managed only a huff. She didn't like what she was seeing in his face right at the moment. Perhaps she'd just have to figure it out? "Don't sound like that it isn't anything bad... just a lot, it also involves me introducing you to the rest of my friends," she said without explaining anything really. While she'd changed quite a bit, and it was jarring even to her... she was still herself. Beyond that point a snippy little conversation had grown quite a bit, such things tended to happen between them quite often. By the time he was swatting at her hand she was cocking her head to the side holding back a reflex that would have made her move a bit too quickly for her norm as he slouched quite a bit. That little flicker in her eye occurred for just a second as she studied him seated back in his chair again. The assumption that she had to be high wasn't going to be allowed to stand as it was. "I didn't sample the party favors. I might have quite a bit of alcohol in me though," she explained the situation with vague terms. "I promise I'll actually explain everything and answer your questions in a bit," Miko offered about as freely as she did anything. But why the pause, because she could hear the approach of footsteps she looked to the booth holding up two fingers to alert Hiruko to his incoming extras. As it so happened, Kyoka the green haired lass and Kama were walking down the hall towards the booth, one of them with a duffle bag in hand while the other seemed to be staring off into space. She wasn't of course, but simply looking at something she couldn't see, "Special Delivery~" was the announcement of the woman in white, who had both bag and fob for Hiruko's vehicle in hand. While Kama looked aound the room. "Hmmm... I have questions," Kama stated, whatever was going on here magically wasn't something she could identify and that was itself intriguing.

Meanwhile, the group at the bar was becoming livelier by the second and the bartender was feeding into their nonsense. The group was able to take refills and as such there were three empty cups before the man awaiting refills by the time he was ready to offer them. Once that set had their second round as well... Nozomi was being placated by virtue of her particular brand of kindness. She was going to be served first. And all would be watching the hand movements and knife work of this particular man very closely. "I didn't think I'd see dexterity like that from anyone but me~" Reina mentioned. "You don't get knife skills like that from cooking, Rei..." ehse were the words of Saori who seemed to be very certain. "You really sound like you watch way too many of those old Samurai Movies. Gotta give up being a chuuni sometime~" claimed Rangiku as she watched Saori shake her head. "You wish I was being a chuuni," she said almost petulantly. "Skill is skill, masterful fingers are for the team guys~" Rita commented she'd had quite a bit of fun with the dexterous lately. "Well he just offered to take the whole team, we should take it... it'd probably be considered a gauntlet to get through all of us~" Rangiku claimed smirk on her face. She wouldn't be one to turn him down. "Bartender skills are definitely something... for my next act of kindness, can we get your name? We wouldn't want to discuss a man like he's just a piece of meat~" Nozomi mentioned a smile on her face as sashimi reached her plate masterfully sliced. "Seriously, though..." Nozomi said looking at the meat on her plate. It was definitely something she'd be having as she picked up a pair of chopsticks. "Are we just moving past the implication that Saorin tested someone and they aren't broken because I feel like this is worth more acknowledgement than its getting..." Reina chimed in as she waited for her food as well.

[Bloodedge]

Beyond the other oddities, Takao apparently had to be introduced to even more of Miko's friends. Everything was so weird. Form, demeanor and friends were coming out of nowhere after a three-month hiatus, and he had little choice but to meet it all like it was just another day. At this point, Takao would rather step into the booth himself. Things were normal there, when all he had to concern himself with was the music. At least the implication of meeting other friends meant he wouldn't be in total isolation at some point. Should he lament what the changes could mean, or welcome a hopeful future? Time would tell. "I'm not even sure I─" Just then, there was an announcement of 'special delivery' from a very unknown voice. Two young women had entered the studio, both looking like the sort that would be found in Hiruko's presence. Takao shifted his gaze toward the door and sighed. "Friends?" he asked. It would be Hiruko who answered that question first, as he returned from the booth and reclaimed his fob from Kyoka. "The best sort of friends, eh Kyoppi? I'll run you back when this is over," he said. Ah, but there was one more interruption ─ this one through the intercom from Mitchel, who could no longer be considered sober. "Yo, are those bloody groupies? We hittin’ record again?" he asked with a smile on his face. Once again, Takao sighed. "Welcome back to life. No recording, but let's run a few from Phases. Any requests?"

The bartender's knife skills were addressed as they had been many, many times in his career. Most interesting was Saori's observation, and the man's knowledge that she didn't get it from watching media at all. No, he knew she possessed a particular set of skills as well. People like him, people like her ─ they learned from their own actions and for their own goals. Perhaps she'd be one he made more discoveries about later. First came the distribution of sashimi starting with Nozomi's plate. When she had a fair number of slices equaling a fifth of the fillet's mass, he addressed her curiosity as well as Rangiku's statement for the group. Oddly though, there was the shortest hesitation before he spoke... but surely no normal person would notice that. "... Ohara Jin. 30, free, and I have plenty of experience going through gauntlets of all sorts," he said casually while slices were flipped onto the four remaining plates ─ one after another like cards dealt at a table. "Forgot to mention. Drink bill's off for your table tonight. Part of the kindness for the nice young lady here," he said with a casual, yet distant knife-waving gesture toward Rita ─ one that accompanied a slice flipping onto her plate.

[Apollymi]

Takao seemed to be processing the idea that his friend had changed quite a bit. Miko for her part spoke of introducing him to her friends and inviting him along on something which was likely a lot. And for his part in it, he didn't seem too excited. That was to be expected, especially with the amount of skepticism he was showing her. She supposed she'd earned it to a certain extent, from his perspective she'd withdrawn from their closeness and disappeared for quite a while, and with that parting come back a very different person. "A friend and a friend of a friend... I wouldn't impose..." Miko said not wanting to overstep some invisible boundary with someone she had the feeling could be considered unstable. "This might be weird or fun for you... depending," Miko said not sure of the reaction that Takao would be giving in this particular moment. "I'll answer your questions Saku-chan, but keep them relatively light for now, yeah? Did you enjoy your joy-ride?" Miko asked the girl with the white hair in the little Chinese dress. "Hai, I did very much. She drives like a maniac but is quite fun to be around," Kama stated almost like it was a casual observation. "It feels odd in here, I'd describe it as empty but that is probably odd to say. Is that normal? Also is this your friend?" Kama asked leaving out just enough detail for Miko to piece together what was going on. "Sou ka, music where you're front won't feel like this... it's special. That feeling is Mitchel's lingering emotional void..." Miko answered honestly. "And yes, this is my friend, Mikami Takao, he has the stage name Dreameater," Miko explained the general things to the lad. "Sou ka, nice to meet you... " Sakura got out before the outburst of Mitchel. "Welcome back, Mitchel..." Miko said a small upturn of her lips occurring before Sakura spoke again. "I have... another question..." Kama said after looking at Mitchel more directly. "A groupie is... it's a person, in this case a woman who follows around a band, listens to their music, and throws panties at them on stage. No, I don't understand that last part..." Miko added just because she knew what Sakura was like. When asked about requests from Phases, it would be Kyoka to answer. "Oh! That ones my favorite I want to hear Her~ Also, Nii-san..." she looked expectantly at Hiruko hoping to find and meet Museion as well as get her autograph. Meanwhile, Miko moved closer to Takao mostly because she fully intended to zone in. "I've never heard any of either of your music so I don't have a request to make. Sthill this is very interesting..." Kama said as a matter of fact, those red eyes of hers were looking between this group and fixing themselves on several individuals for different reasons. She noted magical differences unseen before and now felt it necessary to witness a group in their proper element as a case study. There was also a couple of those strings present from Miko in this room connected to certain individuals that needed monitoring.

At the same time, a certain amount of understanding was happening at the bar. Whether the other women knew it or not, Saori had pegged their bartender for what he was and maybe her previous self would have felt threatened. But how she was currently, didn't peg him as an immediate threat to her or those she cared for. Still, that wouldn't keep her from noticing skills the likes of which didn't belong in t his world. And it seemed that she was noticed in kind. Still, it would be tha moment of hesitation that caused her brow to raise. It was almost imperceptable... but she knew what it was. It was a pause caused before someone made something up. He gave a fake name... well that much was to be expected. She wouldn't even call him on it, though that didn't stop her brow from rising. "Decent age, willing to run the gauntlet, pure skill... oh~" Reina couldn't help but be amued. At the same time Rangiku couldn't help but chuckle... "Noz, you going first then? And maybe prodding Ri about her mystery for your revenge ploy?" Rangiku finished. Menawhile drinks were apparently free tonight and all the women, even Saori seemed pleased about it. "Wooh, drinks are free~ Great night to be single, again. Nara Rita, 30, ready to party! Though probably going fourth that seems right~" Rita introduced herself as it was kind. "Matsumoto Rangiku... 32 probably going second~" she claimed as if it was amusing. "Kitagawa Reina, 30 probably third," she mentioned as if it was amusing. "Nozomi Yamino... 30 and I'm definitely taking firsts~" she claimed as if proud of herself at this point. "Also still need to talk to Ri about whatever she's got going on," she uttered. "Hayami Saori, 27 and if I go... it'll definitely be last. Yoroshiku, Jin-san~" she said with just a hint of knowing in the way she said his name.

[Bloodedge]

The newcomers didn't classify as Miko's friends ─ at least not both of them. She called one a friend, and the other... must have been a friend of Hiruko's based on the immediate approach. What could be either weird or fun about this meeting though? He'd find out soon enough. The white-haired girl asked Miko if he was her friend. That was normal enough, but there was a distinct lack of familiarity in her question. Upon getting the answer, she introduced herself and... Takao stared, blinking repeatedly in absolute disbelief. "... Hai. Mikami Takao. Yoroshi...ku..." he muttered. Where the hell was that girl from? He could assume she came from China based on her state of dress, but he was very popular there as well. Finding someone who didn't recognize him immediately was nearly impossible. "Uh...?" Still, he couldn't fathom what just happened.

Whatever the case, the green-haired one had a request for Mitchel, and Hiruko had another matter to address ─ two as of Miko's answer to one of Sakura's questions. First, he produced the Museion CD, already signed. "You just missed her. She was here to add a line in one of Chase's new songs. I got this for you though," he said in absolute honesty. As for Sakura and Miko... "Your innocence is showing, Kocchi. Groupies aren't just fans; they're fans hoping for a bit of intimacy with the celebrity they follow. That's why the panties, by the way; it's a way for groupies to how they're willing to get a bit... closer than normal fans, if you catch my drift~" he explained. Mitchel was adjusting his headphones all the while, hearing only parts of the conversation. "Alright, shock of the day gone... Mitty, let's do Her," Takao said through the intercom. "Which her? Mate, I'll fair dinkum do her, her and her, but who's left for you?" Mitchel asked. Sighing yet again, Takao found and started the instrumental for Mitchel to reach the right mood.

In the meantime, the bartender finally introduced himself. The most suspicious of five women took note of his hesitation and quirked a brow. Interesting... perhaps he should be paying her more attention? Whatever the case, the ladies were establishing an order while Jin cleaned up the cart and removed his gloves. Nozomi, Rangiku, Reina, Rita, Saori ─ that was the order they offered themselves in. He looked at each woman in that particular order to take in their features. It seemed to be partially a matter of desire, partially one of ability. Either way, he had no issue with any particular order. There was a special note to make in Saori's introduction, however he'd address that only with an additional quick glance in her direction. "All five huh? Sounds good. Don't mind any overlap either," he said. Meanwhile, some other customers were assembling at the bar to pay their bills and tabs. "Enjoy your drinks and food for now, ladies. I'll be at the bar for a minute if anyone needs refills, or anything else," he said before shuffling off with that emptied cart.

[Apollymi]

A weird or odd moment was something Miko got to watch with a bit of curiosity. She introduced Takao to Kama and found her to be polite and generally her normal almost alien self and Takao to be somewhat surprised. A small smile crept up onto her face as it became obvious that he realized that Kama had no idea the gravity of his existence. "Can't tell if that was weird or fun... still. I did the thing..." Miko murmured seemingly pleased with being able to introduce the lad to someone somewhat normally. While that happened Miko had explained a few things to Kama who found this differing form of magic, one to be studied. At the same time Kyoka was lamenting having missed Museion, though she had her autograph. Kama heard that story those crimson eyes shifting to Miko and then back to Kyoka who was throwing a tantrum. "How did I miss this? Fucking terrible... I mean the autograph is cool but you didn't warn me!" she exclaimed, taking personal issut with Hiruko for not telling her someone she was a fan of had been in the building. 'Sou ka, hiding in plain sight is an odd skill...' Kama thought as Miko more than minimized herself and managed not to react to the onslaught of words, with even a bit of shifting. At the same time, Miko wondered gently if finding out she'd been holding her hostage and resting her chest atop her head would have made the situation better or worse?

At the same time, Kama was being given a minor tweak to her understand and Miko was having pointed out her innocence. "That's why they do that?" she murmured, shaking away the thought. Lingerie was so expensive, even if she wasn't checking price tags she knew that... weird way to shoot a shot but she wasn't one to judge at all. "Sou, it's an offering," Kama murmured. "Rockstars are the gods of the modern world... celebrities in general~" Miko said as a turn of phrase. Meanwhile having recovered from his shock, Takao mentioned to Mitchel that he wasn't recording but should sing a different song. The one titled 'Her' seemed to gain a different kind of reaction from Mitchel, who claimed the desire to do... every woman in the room. This wasn't particularly surprising to Sakura or Kyoka who both got propositioned on a fairly regular basis, but Miko had known Mitchel for quite a while. Her eyes shifted slightly, as if a gentle consideration was given. "Careful..." Miko said softly, but that was more for her than it was for him. She was silencing her impulses, still as the music started Miko's brain quieted. She'd really never heard this before. As for what was left for Takao, it'd become obvious as a quiet Miko zoned completely in and moved without thinking to sit in his lap.

At the same time, the ladies at the bar introduced themselves properly, and a few shifting moments took place. Saori understood what was happening here and she offered herself as a last possible option. "Four and a possible..." Saori corrected, with a precision. Her standards were high and her desires were already met, though there was a certain amount of respect applied to Jin, she was mostly just hanging around to make sure her friends didn't get themselves murdered as they partied. "Oh, no mind on overlaps, Noz, we can run it like old times~" claimed Rangiku who found it amusing to think about. Nozomi's husband wasn't worth the effort, but she had high expectations given the way this man carried himself. "Yeah, something like that... let's eat and have Saori explain what she's been up to, and why she's been sounding so ominous..." Nozomi said while taking pictures of her food and posting them to her personal Instagram knowing the inclusion of meat would set off her husband. "What? I am just saying that if you want to properly end your marriage and feel good about yourself and raise your standards I know someone. But you have to really be sure, because you accepted a lot to start with that I owuldn't have. And be prepared to maybe throw everything away, and join a harem... it's a life changing experience and you might want to work up to it. Besides that he's like literally the nicest guy so it might not be something you want to walk away from," Saori explained initially which only got the other women giggling as they started in on their food and began draining their cups. Saori's claims had the entire table looking at her and everyone in it, wondering what the hell kind of man could pull that kind of praise from their most aggressive and physically intimidating member.

[Bloodedge]

Kyoka took exception to the lack of warning about Museion's departure. While receiving her outburst, Hiruko raised both hands in surrender, smiling and shrugging. "Gomen, gomen. I had to get Chase his fix; I wouldn't have had time to let you know. You saw me leaving the booth just now, right?" he asked as a way of diverting any blame to the situation. As for the finer details of what defined a 'groupie', it seemed to be new knowledge for both Miko and Kama, the latter calling the gesture an offering. "Offering, request, invitation... take your pick. It usually happens onstage for concerts," he explained. Mitchel, still readying himself in the booth, chimed in after hearing through the intercom. "No stage here, but I'll still take the panties! Flashes too!" he announced. With that, Mitchel gave the all-clear for a replay of the music. Takao reached out only to hesitate. Why? Well, Miko was suddenly sliding herself into his lap as if nothing was wrong in the world. Such a random thing that hadn't occurred in ages was... comforting enough that he ignored it when shock retreated. The instrumental restarted, and Mitchel stepped to the microphone.

"Oh... Giuseppe steppin', she ain't moonwalkin'♪
Copped Balenciagas, then we drew on 'em!♫
Molly had her shaking like an asthmatic♪
She told me to take the drugs in public, I ain't backchattin'─

Woah!

She's high fashioned!
Took me to the back room in Chanel so we could smash and♪
Everything is Louis V and Louis V her casket♪
... And she's so good at walking out because her dad did!♫

She says, 'Ooooh~, we could do whatever you waaaant~♪
But boy, don't go falling in loooove~♪
You can't stay with me!
All you'll ever have is one day with me!'♫"

Four and a possible, Saori claimed after Jin's assertion. She was in an interesting position, but Jin was very confident in his ability to do... virtually anything he put effort into. "Five," he stated when leaving. If that one presented herself as a possibility, she'd be watching. If she was to be watching, she'd become interested. That was the sort of confidence Jin brought to his own activities: a full believe in his ability to succeed with even five flawless and ridiculous women like this group. First though, he'd have to go about handling customers who were on their way out. A few checkouts deep, and Jin looked at the clock. Last call was several minutes away. All five of those women had triple cocktails as their second rounds, and their drinks were on the house. Well... surely everything would be fine.

[Apollymi]

Hiruko was right, as he was a out many things so far. His words to Kyoka did calm and distract her, in addition to keeping Miko out of the spotlight for any oddities she possessed. In fact, in the current climate of the room, Kyoka could only have room in her head for thoughts of her own missed timing and the truthfulness of the ideal groupie. "Ugh, fine. At least i got my autograph, can't be that many floating around," she said scoffing. At least she had something interesting to share with a certain other person whenever she went back home. "Sou ka... concerts are temples... musicians are gods... offerings made in exchange for?" Kama's understanding would be expanded and maybe she'd make an offering once she fully understood why she should. And then the song restarted but not before a little hiccup was noticed. Miko slipped into Takao's lap and though he paused he didn't respond like it was completely abnormal. No he relaxed like it was an action he'd missed. Interesting. But beyond her interest in their relationship... there was music. Kama began looking around as the magic of sound began to descend taking up the space and amplifying the emotions present. "I feel it..." Kama murmured as if surprised by the sensation. "Ssssh~ I can hear you... weird as that is," Miko uttered as she took in a new story with all the attention of someone who could experience much more than just the sound. It was happy and light and everyone present who understood could feel it, right up until that last line. "Whaa?~ She'd give that kind of warning, she's a fucking monster..." Miko uttered quietly. The song was happy, the song was sad... this was Mitchel's bread and butter. Kyoka happily listened seemingly pleased and Kama looking around. "Sou ka, he lived it... is living it. It makes him happy and sad... and he's making us feel it too. They don't make music like this back home." Kama uttered with understanding. "No they don't and that's why I wasn't the same without this..." Miko answered Sakura completely tuned in from her favorite seat completely relaxing into Takao's fore as if it was a place she belonged.

While the music took everyone and counted as a new experience someone else was proving confident. "Have to respect the confidence..." Saori said without any further context. "So... you've been watching too many movies, nothing is that amazing," Nozomi pointed out. "Yeah, I'm going to have agree and I've seen some pretty crazy things in the last couple of days," Rita mentioned as she ate and drank more. "Oh? It's your niece and her best friend, who run like these two..." Saori said pointing between Rangiku and Nozomi, "Freshman year, who use words like 'perfect' and 'immaculate' to describe this. And he already has four agreeing to this ridiculousness, which says enough. I don't give idle praise, he earned it. Annoying as it is..." Saori offered. Her friends were now looking at her strangely. "Eh? I think we missed part of Saorin's glow up," Reina said. "It sounds like you should be sharing not just with Noz, but with all of us," Rangiku claimed as she relaxed. "I don't care either way, but the warnings exist for a reason and for all of you. Maybe see how you feel after this before you try something else. But I can say at the very least you will feel good about it afterwards, and if your point is to stick it to your future-ex and make him feel bad, this guy will do that, and i trust him at my back any day so... take that as you will," Saori finished her drink and ate her Sashimi the whole time. She'd move on to her other food and seemingly not care. "Oh, but you'd call what's here a start... for Nono? I know she's out of practice but you're talking like you didn't break him..." Reina mentioned seemingly interested in the story of it more than anything else.