2025-08-19: An Exchange of Information
- Log: An Exchange of Information
- Cast: Shinjiro Aragaki, Ichika Kawase, Tsubasa Seki
- Where: Port Island Station back alleys, Tatsumi Port Island
- OOC Date: August 19, 2025
- IC Date: June 28, 2012
- Summary: Ichika and Tsubasa bring Shinjiro information about the Joker Killer. He ends up becoming an ally to the Ogre's plans in return.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Shinjiro Aragaki has made it back from Tokyo in one piece yesterday. While he slept at the Hirasaka safehouse, he took the morning to get to Port Island, where he's hanging out in his usual space on the crate by the staircase. Trying to move forward despite his condition, huh...
"Shit. How do I even do that?" he mutters to himself. At the least, he found the crucial piece in the Joker Killer investigation: he can teleport. That puts everything together for him, and confirms in his mind without a doubt that he has the right suspect.
Two toughs, one male, one female, stand a bit out of talking distance, watching the alleys and smoking. It turns out a *lot* of Gekkoukan students have been coming back here to talk to Shinjiro, and they want to make sure no one else who doesn't 'fit the vibe' comes in without getting roughed up a bit. They have street cred to keep! This can't become a high school hangout!
Even so, one can easily find Shinjiro. People talk, especially if you fit the vibe, and especially if you don't hit them with a metal briefcase first to get the information out of them.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika Kawase does go to the Port Island area fairly often. ...Not usually during the week, but much more often than the average Cuss High student. But she doesn't actually usually intrude on the toughs' space out here. If she wants to hang out with punks, she doesn't have to leave Hirasaka. ...She still knows the language. When Ichika shows up, she's in the right clothes, and she has the right swagger. Her demeanor is serious--she's in a skull-patterned crop top in black, green cargo pants, and some beat-up sneakers. Her long, bleached-blonde hair is down. And...
She towers over most of the other punks.
"Hey," Ichika says to the first. "Looking for a guy. Tall, beanie. Dresses like it's winter."
"Not usually here," she says, "So I'm offering a gift."
A beat, "You don't give me trouble, and my friend doesn't punch you."
She holds that for a minute--and then laughs.
"But seriously I do want the info. We can hang out and make cool about it, or not."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Ichika isn't alone, either. Dressed in a tank top which both doesn't entirely cover up the bandages around their chest (they're still working up the courage to go see Tsumugi), let alone their midriff, their board shorts are strangely ruffled -- as if they might have been a skirt, once upon a time, though they're definitely shorts now. They're in outrageous, confrontational street-fashion colours -- particularly their hair, bleached white and dyed with cyan and magenta and yellow.
They also have the world's deepest fake tan. They're practically orange. ... look a little closer, and there's a lot of concealer on the right side of their body, covering up texture there.
They're either tall for a girl or short for a boy, though they slouch forward a bit either way, hands shoved in their pockets. When Ichika mentions her friend, they straighten up, rubbing the back of their neck with a hand as they look out over the punks of Port Island.
"Tch," is what they have to say about it.
And then -- laughter, and a shrug from Tsubasa, as they fold their arms loosely across their chest.
What? You want dialogue? Go talk to the Boss.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
The toughs straighten when someone's coming. Luckily for Ichika and Tsubasa, they pretty much fit the 'vibe', but for a moment, there's tension over Ichika's question and way it's phrased. But in the end, the guy relents, not wanting to pick a fight with people who can probably return violence, and points down the correct alleyway. The two can head towards Shinjiro. They might hear a 'fuck Aragaki' muttered as they leave, though.
Shinjiro, for his part, turns the minute he hears footsteps down his alley, very alert. He's absolutely clad in winter clothes... a normal person could be at risk of heat stroke in what he's wearing. The second the two approach, he's standing, allowing himself to come to full height. Feels more respectful around people who actually walk the walk.
"You're far from home," is how he greet Ichika, recognizing her distinct style. He appraises Tsubasa next, having never met them. He seems to like their own style, giving them a single firm nod. In the end, he loosens his tension to a safe amount, though he's not off-guard.
"What's up?"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika expected a little tension; she could've been nicer about this... But she didn't really want to be, after hearing the rumors how they hit Minato's friend. The Gekkoukan kids may not belong here, but she likes them. Well, some of them. Not as much Takeba. ...But it's fine.
Anyway, they get their info, and Ichika hears it. "I'll think about it," she counters over her shoulder, and then looks over Shinjiro at his full height.
"That's true," she says. "This is Tsubasa Seki. Not sure you've met. They're the most reliable on my crew."
"...A few things. But first, i wanted to tell you: we ran into your Joker Killer. He about killed the Death Boss, and did his level best with the rest of us."
"Since you said it was personal... I want to give you the info I can."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa probably couldn't have been nicer about it.
... honestly, Ichika was probably, like, ten times more delicate than they woulda been. See? That's why she's the Boss.
(They deliberately don't really have much of an opinion on Gekkoukan, themself -- Kiyoshi's graduated by now, what with how he was always a grade above them, but it's hard to get over that need to keep a respectful distance.)
They do snrk when Ichika throws her counter over her shoulder, though. And then -- there's the boy of the hour.
Tsubasa returns his nod with their own stern nod, arms still folded. "Yo," they say, and their voice sounds like it's been dragged through gravel, scratchy and gutteral. Perhaps they're a smoker... is what someone might think, if they didn't know Kasugayama's laws.
They let the Boss finish talking, before they add -- "Yeah. And he ain't alone. Runs with this whole crew. Reckon one of 'em's called Suou-san, his getup was motorcycle leathers... there's this gothic lolita from hell, too, never caught her name. A chick dressed up like a fuckin' cat, and... I heard some talk like there were more of 'em we didn't see, neither." They pause. "There was this one chick in a whole getup who weren't runnin' with 'em, though," they add. "The one what was dressed up like an Ogre ran in to fuck the Joker Killer up... like how there were these adults seein' the explosions and pilin' in to fight 'em, I guess."
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Ichika introduces the two. "Shinjiro Aragaki," he introduces himself to Tsubasa. His own voice is a little rough, but not on the level of theirs... Seki, huh? Sounds familiar, but he can't immediately place it while thinking about what Ichika says next.
"At the school, right? They're calling it a gang attack, covering up the Joker Killer part," he says, confirming that he's *very* well-informed. "Is Mishina okay? What about you two?" is his first question, hiding the outright worry but still showing concern nonetheless. The Joker Killer doesn't fuck around.
His second... "Tch, Suou-san? Motorcycle leathers? You're *certain*?" He might know them. "I know a few of the people who went in to intervene. None of them have told me much yet, though, so I'll take any information you got. I'm very close." To a breakthrough? What is this kid on?
Though, the part about an Ogre gets an eyebrow raise. Not because it sounds unbelievable... but because there's another factor. He wishes he was there, suddenly. Also the part about the gothic lolita... was Strega there? They *are* working with the killer, so... that explains the landmines.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika's very nice! ...Maybe too nice, sometimes.
"Right," Ichika confirms, at the school. "They are. It's bullshit. They weren't any gang I recognize." A pause. "He's cool. And we didn't take anything that won't heal." She doesn't call Tsubasa out, but she does like that they're both already fine either. But the crew Tsubasa mentions... Hmm. "Yeah, there were..."
She glances at Tsubasa, and back to Shinjiro. "Demons. And the Joker Killer has a power called 'Persona'." Ichika doesn't seem to, if Shinjiro has any talent for resonance, and yet she knows about them. "...Yeah. The Ogre. I can vouch for her. I get the info, she does the action."
But he's got a breakthrough...
"That's the big one--his 'power'. And the fact that he just... disappeared."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Coverup's pretty thorough. Even got doctors sayin' it." Tsubasa doesn't really want to get into the specifics of their doctor here, but... it's important background.
They shrug, when Shinjiro asks if they're okay; they'll let the Boss speak for them, there.
But Ichika talks about Demons, and Persona, and Tsubasa shifts from foot to foot as their arms tighten a little across their chest. ... feels like they just bit into fuckin' aluminium foil, man. "Pretty sure," they answer Shinjiro, instead of telling Ichika to cut it out with that shit. "Couldn't, like... see too clearly, uh... they were throwin' Molotovs and shit, had smoke in my eyes," that's a plausible explanation, "but it was definitely that kid. Like -- tryin' to touch Jun-kun's face, and -- just from that, he was screamin' like he was dyin', man. Kicked him, but it didn't do shit, didn't even... a minute later he was runnin' to him like he was worried, it was some sick shit."
Tsubasa scowls, drumming their fingers against the crook of their elbow. "... yeah," they settle on focusing on, a moment later. "Ogre's legit."
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
As Ichika confirms Shinjiro's hunch, he nods. But when she mentions demons... it might be surprising that Shinjiro barely flinches. As if... he already knew and believed this.
"Doctors... that makes sense with what I know. Conspiracy goes up to the government." It sounds insane... but it's real.
The power of Persona gets an eyebrow raise, but not because of him possessing it. He already knew that... but did this Ogre tell these two about it? And they believed her? Tsubasa clearly believes it less, but either way. Ogre's legit, huh... and Jun-kun... so many familiar names being threatened lately, since that must be that Kashihara he met.
"..." he pauses for a long moment. Ichika might feel his resonance - it's softer and more caring than you'd expect from such a rough guy. "I'll tell you upfront. This guy's dangerous, but not in a way normal people can handle. Only those with that power of Persona you mentioned can deal with him." A pause. "Unless you shoot him in the face somehow, but that's not an option here."
"I learned the other day from another victim that he can *teleport*. That confirms the disappearing... with you backing that up, I'm one hundred percent certain I have the right lead."
Wait, does Shinjiro... know who the Joker Killer is?
"If the Ogre does the action... does she have any plans to deal with him?" He's not sure he's gonna trust *any* of them, even if he's giving some info back as fair trade. He just needs to know if she's gonna be an obstacle, an ally, or someone not at all involved.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
It's interesting that Shinjiro already knows. ...Ichika knows Tsubasa doesn't quite believe in this stuff, but it's relevant to her--if Shinjiro has that power, he might actually be able to fight the Joker Killer. And the coverup, well... "Conspiracy, huh?" Ichika wonders. She's not sure whether she believes that one. Still...
"I didn't see as much," Ichika says when Tsubasa mentions Suou. But she isn't that inclined to think about Suou anyway--she hears he's a Sevens guy, and...
"I don't think I'm shooting anybody in the face," Ichika says, and it's technically true. But, "And I'm not going near him without the Ogre if I can help it."
Teleport. That confirms it. "...What are you going to do about teleporting?" Ichika wonders. "Not exactly something you can pin down that way."
But action... "No," Ichika says. "He's not her priority. If she runs into him she'll help fight him off, but that's about it."
"...She's working on a different asshole. In something called a 'Palace'."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa's frown deepens. "...", their lips part, and at first they say nothing at all.
"I'd tell you to follow the money," they settle on, darkly, less sceptical than their Boss, "but you'll live longer if you don't."
It doesn't sound insane to Tsubasa.
Or, rather, the attempt to make it so has been unseated as of late.
They have no Resonance, but they can at least understand what he must mean by normal people. (... people like Tsubasa.) The 'power of Persona' is a conceit that unsettles them, but it's hard to put a pin in precisely why. "I get it," they say, more sullen, more closed off. "Me and the Boss can't step to that shit." Half of that statement is true, at least, and it lends credence to the other.
"... can't afford a gun, anyway."
W--were they thinking about it...?!
They puff out air through their teeth, tch. "What, he a fuckin' phone ghost?" If he can teleport...
And a 'Palace', of course. Tsubasa remarks bitterly, to themself, about this entire language that apparently exists beyond their notice. ... they'll try not to feel too bitter about not stepping to it, anyway.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
"Yeah," is all Shinjiro says about the conspiracy. Instead... he focuses on the thing about a gun, for a second. "Good. Killing people... it's not a road anyone should go down."
Though, about the teleporting, they both react in a way that gets another tch from him. "Haven't figured that out yet, but he's not a phone ghost, just a human. My own... talents can't do anything about him teleporting, so I'll need to find someone who can." He's dancing around it, even if they can probably *guess* he has it.
When the Palace is mentioned, though... "I'm familiar. Saw my first recently, probably not the same." Okay, so he stopped dancing, it seems. "It's not something one can tackle alone. A crew from Hirasaka went to save a shop from some yakuza with one and we nearly got our asses handed to us. I don't know this Ogre or her plans, but I'd at least advise caution, get some people together if she isn't already."
Why is he being so candid? Because it's honestly novel that a bunch of normal people are talking to him on the same level...
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Killing people... "Not currently planning on it," Ichika says distantly. It doesn't sound insane, following the money, to Ichika either--she looks at her friend for a moment, and nods. "Yeah..."
"I guess you could just try to fight him quick? They weren't expecting him back at the school, so they were at a disadvantage. If you knew you were up against him, maybe that would help."
A pause. "Yeah?" Ichika asks. There is indeed a language...but while it's rough to subject Tsubasa to stuff they don't know, Ichika wants them to know she's relying on them here, too. It's better not to go alone with something like this.
...Maybe better not to go alone in general.
"That's her plan. I'm helping her gather people up. ...Was gonna ask if you wanted in. The one she's after..."
Her eyes go distant. "He's killed before. Even if it's not the 'real' him, I need--"
"...Someone needs to do something."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Shinjiro doesn't ask, and Tsubasa doesn't tell, though Ichika might note their dark expression as she looks to them.
... it's healthier for him if he doesn't know these things, they think.
"Ain't how we do shit," is what they say, instead, on the topic of killing.
They're doing... well, reasonably well with the revelations about a world beyond their ken. There are worse ways one could cope with hearing about this, anyway... and it is nice Ichika isn't locking them out.
It's just, you know, a thing they're rejecting on a deep and foundational level. Call it a survival mechanism, if you like.
Still, they have to ask -- "It's yakuza shit?" -- with a touch of abrupt alarm which might suggest full well to Ichika that they're wondering what Eiji's tied up in.
"Yeah," they shrug, when Ichika says that someone has to do something. "He's a real piece of shit, but we can't touch him out here. Trust me, I tried." There's a lot of the story they're not telling, there, but it's close enough to what happened.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Shinjiro sighs in relief as they confirm they don't kill. They're all keeping secrets from each other even so, but that's a thing to be relieved at.
"I could. Quick... I'll run it past some of my allies," he says, before-
"Junya Kaneshiro is the name. He's trying to steal the Cardboard Dragon. It's a good place..." he says that firmly to Tsubasa. "Myunghon's a good person, so if you ever go, don't worry about their attitude."
Though, the Palace comes back to the main topic. "...sure. You gave me information, so it's the least I can do. Especially if he's hurt people like that." He reaches into his jacket pocket for a pen and piece of paper to write on, scribbling across it real quick.
"My number. Feel free for you or the Ogre to send me the details when it's time."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
It's probably fine to talk about this stuff. Probably. And he's got allies. But yakuza...
Ichika looks back to Tsubasa and shakes her head. "So far as I know, our target isn't involved with anything like that." But the Cardboard Dragon, too. "...I've been meaning to check that place out," Ichika says. "I hear good things."
But the Palace? "...OK," Ichika says. "I'll make sure you get the information." She takes the number, looks at it, and puts it away--like a business card, but a little less formal.
Ichika has not been Rough for most of her life; it shows in little things like that.
"...You should know, if you're going, then."
"...It's about justice, but it's not some kind of abstract justice. It's... really personal."
"...Either way, if I learn more about the Joker, I'll tell you."
She looks at Tsubasa again. "..." She can mention that, in part because Tsubasa's here backing her up. And, well...
"Yeah. Out here he's just... set."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Shinjiro didn't need to introduce the Cardboard Dragon to Tsubasa, as it happens, because their first reaction to hearing Myunghon's troubles is: "Yeo-sama's gettin' stood over by yakuza?!" The alarm in their voice is clear; they didn't know.
Well, maybe that's normal, for them; Tsubasa still knows not to ask too many questions, around there. But --
At least Ichika's got another ally. (... someone who can actually do something about it.) "Cool," Tsubasa says, when Shinjiro hands his details over. And of course they let the Boss handle it; she's the Boss.
"Yeah," Tsubasa nods, to Ichika, in turn. "Guess... we thought there was nothin' could be done before this weird fuckin' shit came up." Well, they say 'we,' but that's really just a smokescreen for Ichika. "But somethin' oughta get done. He's bad news."
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
"Sure," Shinjiro says with the information. But as Ichika explains about personal justice... "I understand. I won't pry, just tell me what's necessary to get the job done and what you need me to do or not do." A pause, before turning to Tsubasa.
"Yeah. But they can handle themselves. We're working on it." A beat. "...It fucking sucks, when you can't do anything the 'normal' way, though, so I get it. It's the whole reason I'm chasing a serial killer. So..."
He looks over them both with a firm nod. "Thanks."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Yeo-same. Myunghon. The Cardboard Dragon. ...What kind of a name is that, anyway? Cardboard.
Still...
But he understands? He at least seems to grasp it. "...Thanks," Ichika says. Then she nods to Tsubasa. "Yeah. We thought... there was nothing to do. But this 'other world' opens up some opportunities. And I'll take a 'maybe' over a 'definitely not'."
"...Sucks though, yeah. The police couldn't or wouldn't do anything. 'Justice' is something we'll have to reach out for for ourselves."
But she nods back. "Likewise. ...I'll let you be. Though..."
She considers, and shakes her head. "Nah. ...C'mon. Let's go."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"... guess so." It makes sense, though, why they'd have been bloodied up that night. Shit, they were dealing with that...
Tsubasa feels a little smaller, in a very big pond.
"Take care of yourself," Tsubasa shrugs, because, like, he's chasing a serial killer. "Later." The Boss says it's time to go, so Tsubasa turns to go.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>Shinjiro nods once more. He doesn't pry on the 'though' she changes her mind on, instead waving a single hand to both of them. "See you around." All the information is in place... he needs to talk to Myunghon again, once the Kaneshiro situation is over. They might be able to formulate a better plan. For now... time to rest.