2025-07-10: Lettin' Your Soul Out
- Log: Lettin' Your Soul Out
- Cast: Tsubasa Seki, Masao Inaba, everyone's best friend Lance the dog
- Where: Hirasakan Streets
- OOC Date: 2025-07-10
- IC Date: Thursday, July 07 2012
- Summary: Tsubasa tags the streets, late at night, after Ichika calls it quits. Masao finds them, and makes FRIENDS WITH A DOG, though making friends with the troubled youth takes a little more work. Tsubasa was impressed with Mark's work, though -- and Masao, in turn, enjoys theirs.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
This late at night, the Boss has gone home; for some reason, she doesn't like being out closer to twelve. That's fine. Probably nightmares, or some shit. Tsubasa, on the other hand, doesn't want to go to sleep, because going to sleep means getting closer to the day they have to have a really boring conversation, and...
Well, that's probably why they grabbed a couple spare cans of spray paint from Ichika's bag before she left. A bit of time to carve some stencils out of cardboard, and they're out on the town again, way past curfew.
Using their stencils, they fashion roses across Hirasaka -- the calling card of their Boss, and so, the best way to extend their gang's influence. They're very fashionable roses, too; they've carved out multiple cardboard stencils to guide their green, red, and black spray cans, creating layered images which actually look quite pretty as far as petty vandalism goes.
They also have a dog with them, while they work, protecting them from any miscreants who might bother them when they're out this late. She's a scarred Tosa Inu -- though kind of a scrawny one -- and she's already been reassured that the hissing cats mean her no harm, and so she no longer growls or barks at the -psssshhhhhhh- of the cans.
<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
It's late! Grown-ass (but short) adult, Masao Inaba, is exercising Grown-Up Privilege to wander off to some convenience store or another for odds and ends after a long... debatably productive... day. It has absolutely nothing to do with family whining about the need for SOMEONE to go get something or another. Oh well, that's just the lot in life right now while trying to get the college situation fully sorted out.
He's allowing himself a scenic route. Hirasaka's rough, sure, but it's nostalgic from his own troublemaking days, and it's got a lot of color and soul - as he'd put it.
His shadow darkens the nearby light for one brief moment, a moment that lasts longer than 'a guy walking past.'
The span of time of which would be synonymous with 'caught.'
A low whistle fills the space.
"Lettin' out what's in your soul at this time of night, huh?" He asks, from a respectable distance as he sizes up one such instance of the layered rose graffiti.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
The shadows shift. Tsubasa's head snaps up, with the exact kind of speed one expects from someone used to running from the cops. (One cop isn't so bad, but this is totally not her usual beat, and even if that was Reiko Tsubasa still wouldn't wanna get caught.) That Tosa Inu turns towards the intruder too --
Only to hear a whistle?! Her head cants, to the side, as she says a soft 'aroo'. She's being called?? By a stranger???
"It's okay, Lance," Tsubasa assures her, lowering their stencil and can as they turn towards Masao. "Seems like he's cool. You cool?"
What are they going to do if he isn't cool, lob a can at his head and run?
Uh, yeah, probably.
<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
"Haha, yeah, it's cool. I'm cool," the Sudden Adult Presence raises and waves a hand. He looks over his shoulder, just in case, because he knows all the carefree days of having to look out for patrolling police officers.
"Not like I'm gonna tell another artist to stop doin' their thing, yeah?" A smile, a wide one, a warm one, as if he hasn't fully outgrown the spark of adolescent mischief just yet. "You mind if I take a closer look? I, uh, don't want to upset your friend there either," he broadly gestures over to the scarred-looking dog.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
He is an adult. But he says he's cool... and, well, adults lie all the time, but this adult doesn't seem to be carrying himself like a liar. So after a long, assessing moment, Tsubasa nods.
"Aight. ... don't worry 'bout the dog. Lance is friendlier than she looks." Hearing the word 'friend', Lance's tail starts wagging up a storm. And, indeed, if Masao makes any friendly overtures when he gets closer, she'll amble over to make friends!
Tsubasa is less openly friendly, but they're at least not unfriendly. They finish up their black detailing on their latest rose -- without any kind of defence against particulates, which might explain why their voice sounds like it's been dragged through gravel -- before they stash both can and stencil back in their messenger bag. They're silent, for a moment, letting Masao take a look. Finally: "You tag?"
They heard him say 'another' artist, back there.
<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
"Cool. Hey, Lance, c'mere," he offers a friendly gesture to let his hand be sniffed, kneeling to be on the level and let her acclimate to his presence. As the pleasantries between Dog and Human pass, he stands back up and nods his head.
"Heck yeah, I do!" A fist pump. "The size of the canvas ain't as all-encompassing for me these days," a fancy way to say he can't just scribble on every wall he sees and mostly get off with being yelled at by his parents and police alike, "but I'm in college for fine arts."
"...Still... that's some good stencil work here. You've really layered the colors well. A lot of depth... I imagine it's gonna look even better in the sunlight tomorrow morning."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Sniff sniff sniff... bork! With a happy bark, Lance proceeds to lick Masao's hand oh no.
Masao has made A DOG FRIEND.
It's Tsubasa's turn to head-tilt at him when Masao talks about his canvas shrinking -- it's kind of harder to tell when they're sceptical, given they don't have eyebrows, but the makeup at their brow mostly conveys the emotion. It's cool, though. They put it together a second later. "Oh, yeah. Sure. ... didn't reckon they got courses for taggin'." Unless they do???
Man. What are they gonna do in a few years when they turn twenty. It's not like they're gonna get into university. Uh. Get a car, maybe? Upgrade their getaway? Ugh, maybe this is just the kinda thing they'll have to hang up when they can go to real prison.
... even if they're still doing 'this kinda thing', it'd be stupid to give the cops an easy excuse to book them, right?
Tsubasa's brief troubling thoughts over their own foreshortened future are cut short, though, by Masao complimenting their work. They reach back to rub at their neck -- not burying their hand in their multicoloured hair, he might note -- and as their elbow drops, their shoulders shrug up. "You reckon? Just some shit I pass the time with... uh, it's my Boss's signature, tells everyone we're not sleepin' on the job." Well, of course they're part of a youth gang. Why wouldn't they be. That's part of the troubled youth starter pack.
They take a second longer to think about how Masao is complimenting their work, though, and double-take. "Wait a sec," they say, hand dropping down to point at him. "Are you that guy who made that shit for the festival? Mark?" They must have seen his work before it got taken down!
<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
"Haha, well, there's a lot of stuff about art history, big names throughout history, learning a bunch of drawing techniques and theories and... yeah, I could go on and on about it," Masao nearly does, putting a hand on his hip as he sizes up all the stenciled roses.
"'Just some shit' you pass the time with? Aw, c'mon, nobody who takes this level of care with how they layer the colors is doin' it 'just because.'" He shakes his head. "That... or you got a real cool Boss. I had something like that growing up too, the Tailors. We messed stuff up!" Nostalgia, enthusiasm, pride, and maybe a reminder he hasn't gotten that deep into adulthood yet.
'Wait a sec,' he looks from the latest look-over of one of the stenciled roses as the finger pointing begins. Is he that guy...
"Haha, yeah, you got me! That's me, all right." His night brightens considerably more. "Wasn't just me, they really pulled together some of the best in the city for it... but yeah, sounds like you got an eye for other artists too! What'd you think of it?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Cool," Tsubasa nods, when Masao talks about what goes on in his degree. It is kinda cool. History isn't their first interest, but it's not like it isn't interesting. Without knowing what went on before, how are they supposed to know what's happening now?
They shrug, again, when Masao insists it's more than nothing to them -- though they do grin, for a second, when he brings up his own crew. "Cool. Yeah, the Boss is great. Don't mind puttin' effort in for her." That's easier than admitting they have talent, anyway.
But as far as his talent --
"Man, Mark-san, you oughta said somethin'!" Tsubasa exclaims, as Lance barks, wagging her tail at the sudden exclamation. Everyone is excited! She's talking too!! Bork! Tsubasa, at least, reigns in their excitement pretty quickly, even as Lance trots around in a happy pup circle around them. "Your shit was sweet as. Cool work, man."
<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
"Haha, yeah, maybe I should've said somethin'," Mark's got the hand on his hip again as joyous behavior fills a space where it is too late at night for any sort of youthful revelry to be taking place. But, this time of night - even now, with some darker contexts as to what will encroach - remains a nostalgic reminder of when one was young enough to Get Away With This Shit.
"Thanks, I'm glad it ignited somethin'." He exhales. "You wouldn't believe how down to the wire we were to even get that done. Shit, the city council nearly stonewalled us out of it..."
"...Mm. So, hey. What's your name? I'm not gonna leave without knowing another future artist's name, yeah? And... one other thing."
He takes the bag off his back, a bright yellow thing, opening it up. "You got any favorite colors?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Don't worry 'bout it," Tsubasa shakes their head. "You gotta watch your back, too." What if they were a cop?! An undercover crime cop?!
(Nah. Not the profesion for them.)
"Tch, bet they did. Bastards." They blow their cheeks out, 'pfffft', when they hear about the Council. Their one true foe!
But it's only fair for Masao to have some leverage over Tsubasa, too, now they've recognised him. "Tsubasa," they introduce themself, stepping forward to extend their hand to shake. "Tsubasa Seki." Masao might feel some scars, on that hand, though -- and close up, it's clearer that their skin isn't quite even, from one side to the other. It's been covered up by all that fake tan and concealer, but...
Tsubasa steps back. That's enough physical contact.
"I mean, I like all the colours. But orange is cool." Is that why they are orange?! What an awful fake tan...
<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
"Tsubasa Seki... all right." He sees the invitation by hand, and he takes it. He's on the shorter side among adults, but there's a firm strength in his grip. It's not the kind that relishes in 'power moves.' It's just the handshake of a guy who knows who he is and what he wants out of life.
He can feel the texture of the scars there. There's a story...
"Masao Inaba," he adds. He may be a grown-up, but there is a genuine respect being given to a budding artist here who is already seeing the seeds of something more. Something he'll mull upon, but for now, they're meeting as fellow artists. He disengages as they find it comfortable and appropriate to do so, at which point he digs into his bag and produces...
"Ta-da! Lucky day, I had an extra of one of these," he hands over the spraypaint can - of the aforementioned cool orange - should Tsubasa be willing to accept it. It's a higher-end brand, even - far more resistant to UV rays and ambient humidity, allowing the vibrant color to stay that way for longer.
"Tell you what, I'd like to see you do up your own thing with it. It's clear you got an artist's soul that's got somethin' to say, so... get out there and make your own 'mark' another night, yeah?"
He slumps a bit. "Pro'lly for the best to call it a night soon. I gotta hurry along on an errand before my ass gets kicked at home, heh."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa is a flat five-foot-five, which is either kinda tall for a woman or kinda short for a man, and their appearance honestly doesn't give a solid answer which way they're going for.
Masao has a gift, though, and Tsubasa reaches out cautiously to take it, turning it over in their hands. "Huh," they say, examining the brand and the advertised qualities. "You sure?"
Masao encourages them to mark the world, though, and they give him a lopsided grin. "Sure," they accept his logic, strangely feeling encouraged of all things. How weird is that? "Thanks, man."
Their smile drops when Masao talks about his home life, though. "Oh, yeah," they say, a touch more pressed. "Didn't know it was like that. See you later, Mark-san." Before they can distract him any longer, and make things even worse when he gets home, they turn and start loping off in the opposite direction.
...
Why did they think he was really going to get his ass kicked...?