Just as Zakki had realized his error in ignoring Yumi and James, being that they were from Cerberus’ Fukushima branch, he found himself being grabbed and pulled back towards the bar by the young woman who’d entered with Ewan. He felt powerless to resist as she compelled him towards the bar. He said, “Well of course...Alicia, wasn’t it? What can I do for you?”
There had been something in her gaze that made him realize he might be in for a bollocking of some sort. He was hoping that she wasn’t going to start tearing a strip off of him or something. It really wasn’t what he relished in a party situation but when one was in his position, he expected anything and everything. He wasn’t sure if this was just Ewan related or part of something bigger. He’d shortly find out. Richard meanwhile was engaged in conversation with the heavyset German gentleman who had plunked himself down next to him. The aristocratic British youth let himself take in the man and try to form some impression of him. He seemed to be out of place here for some reason. Putting on his best host ‘face’ Richard nodded and stepped around behind the bar. Selecting a brandy glass, he poured himself a decent measure of XO brandy and enjoyed the warm aromas wafting up to his nose. He returned to sit next to Joachim Eberhardt and said, “I don’t believe we’ve met before. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve even seen you around Cerberus before. Where do you work?”
There was a secondary reason that Zakki had made sure that Richard was at the party. He’d been fairly sure that there were people who’d be there worthy of gaining more information about and the redheaded teacher was especially astute when it came to judging people and gaining their confidence. He’d be able to tell the Chairman all about what he’d learned and this would help him to understand the dynamics of the people around him.
A low laugh rocked the broad-shouldered German once. "Perhaps you ought look a little harder, little one."
Taking a generous amount of his unknown drink, he licked his lips and stared blankly at the wall. Finally, he introduced himself. "Akim Eberhardt. Assistant Director of Contracting."
He offered no more, content with his drink. His eyes shifted to Yumi, and the Orpheus agent she stood astride.
The woman brushed back a lock of hair, laughing lightly - to herself or Ewan, it was unclear - as she answered. "Yumi Hikuze. A tad rude, might I add, to ask a lady her name without introducing yourself."
Casting a sly look to Alicia as she all but dragged Zakki to the bar, a tic worked into her jaw. Jabbing a slender finger at Ewan with a coy smile, she continued. "Your lady friend would appreciate it, methinks."
Across the bar, Tougen regarded the newcomer with a wide smile. "Ah, another comes to our quaint little corner. She another of yours, Shukumei? This gets more interesting by the minute!"
Laughing aloud, he quickly poured another pair of shots for him and his fellow Vizard, slamming back the horrifyingly strong drink in a single gulp. The red on his face intensified, but his throat was too numb to burn by now.
Offering an adjacent seat to the young woman, he briefly considered whether she was old enough to be legally drinking. He quickly shrugged it off. Centuries wore on one's ability to perceive age. The smooth, slow lounge music of the party kept his senses in a lull, but his eyes were as active as ever.
Tokiwa seemed to be making herself towards them, but Tougen had one more question to ask of Shukumei first. "Now say, you wouldn't happen to be interested in a sort of employment opportunity, would you?"
"Yare yare, what is this? Some sort of mini party inside the party?" Toki asked taking the seat next to Shukumei and staring down Tougen through half lidded, unamused eyes. She still wasn't too sure of this man, he hadn't properly introduced himself and then he had just whisked her companion away to do shots from what she could tell. Alright I suppose they were talking before hand.
This man appeared to know Shukumei well enough, but she still couldn't tell how well Shuku knew him. Until she could confirm that everything was as fine as they were made to seem she wasn't going to apologize for being stand-offish around the new comer. It wasn't too bad of a habit for a group of beings that were hunted from almost all sides, at least thats how she justified it in her mind.
Quickly, she chugged down the rest of her umeshu before sliding her bottle down the length of the bar the way she had seen it done in an old western movie a few nights before.
With newcomers arriving every few minutes, the party definitely seemed to be livening up and his compatriot's comment seemed pretty relevant, describing a party within a party. Shukumei didn't even need to turn around and see her face to know how skeptical she was - her voice was more than enough to prove that. When she cam and sat next to him, he placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly and leaned his head closer to hers.
"Take it easy, Toki," he said in a relaxed tone. Even his eyes were at ease, well, about as much at ease as he could be knowing that there could have been enemies around any corner. His grin twisted into a mischievous smirk. "I mean, around this guy, not the alcohol. You can drink as much of that as you like."
His characteristic chuckle followed and he went back to whatever this baijiu was. The vizard was certain that it was going to take the edge of the cold winter winds. He passed a firm glance at another guest to enter the party, a short woman who seemed somewhat lost but came and joined them near the bar anyway. She seemed quiet and he didn't blame her at all. Shukumei could have wagered that his little group would have been out-laughing the rest of the party in under an hour.
“Er, Ewan, Ewan Phillips,” the Welshman replied, a bit embarrassed by Yumi’s criticism of his greeting, “And I doubt she’d be bothered by that, she can be worse than I am sometimes.” He sighed and shot a glance over to the bar where Alicia was talking with Zakki.
Wow, I don’t know who I want to win more, he thought, before adding, but I should want her to lose less. “So then,” he continued, turning back to Yumi, “You mentioned Fukushima, does Cerberus have a branch over there as well?”
Over at the bar Alicia smiled back at Ewan, he seemed to be as uncomfortable at Zakki seemed now, maybe more so.
“Oh relax, Shihara-san or can I just go with Zakki?” she asked, picking up glass of wine, “I’m only here to thank you. It is somewhat thanks to you that that idiot finally started talking to me again. Apparently you and he have had some little adventures of your own, from what he tells me.”
The lean young man's trademark wry smile spread over his androgynous features. This was going to be a most interesting conversation. Ewan had always played his cards a bit close to the chest so it would be nice to actually learn more about him from a source that knew him well. Zakki said, "Oh we've had one or two adventures alright. Still that doesn't totally explain how you two met? I bet there's a tale there."
As he settled back in, he looked over the bar at Richard who was engaging a large, powerfully build man in what looked like a somewhat abortive conversation. Still anything he could gain after talking to the various people around the party would come back to Zakki and prove to be useful. He turned his attention back to Alicia and waited to see what insights she'd be providing about his Welsh friend.
Contracting was a part of Cerberus that had always unsettled Richard. He wasn't sure exactly what they did but the rumours were not exactly confidence inspiring. In fact many of them painted that division in a definitely unflattering light. Maybe he'd see if there was anything he could gain without seeming too prying. This Akim seemed to be a pretty canny sort and anything too intrusive would just get him stonewalled. He said, "And how's contracting these days? It must be an interesting place to work, to say the least."
“Actually, the story of our meeting is actually the most boring one and something of a coincidence. I was something of an amateur Hollow hunter in my younger days and I’d followed a trail across the US and the Pacific to Japan due to... certain reasons,” Alicia explained, casting an eye toward Ewan. It was probably best if she left out the whole memory thing. That was a can of worms she’d rather not open right now.
“Anyway, while I was here I heard about the rumours of a school for people like me. It took a while but I managed to charm my way into a job there as a teaching assistant.” That part was mostly true. Mostly. “It was actually my first class on my first day where I encountered him. Weird right? I knew what he was right away and he was less than pleased when I was the first person to see his powers. And of course I have shot him several dozen times.” Alicia turned her head back to Ewan who was still talking to that woman, doing his best not to look completely annoyed. It was an expression she knew well as it had often appeared when they were talking in the early days.
“Your turn now. Is it really true that you simply walked into TNK one day and found him around the first corner?”
Yumi muffled her smile behind her hand, answering slyly. "We have a lot of branches, Mister Phillips. Unless, of course, you've forgotten Cerberus is an international corporation?"
Snickering lightly, she elaborated upon his deadpan. "Cerberus Fukushima houses the Contracting and Secure Operations facility. You may know our Director, but he would probably rather us not mention him by name. As I understand he's something of a controversial figure.
"What of Orpheus, Mister Phillips?" She questioned, "is there naught but Tokyo to cover in your jurisdiction?"
At the bar, Tougen gave a coy grin to Tokiwa. "A party is a party, my friend. No matter how many people are involved."
Offering a small shot of the liquor to the woman as well, he slammed back a third and then turned the glass upside-down. No need to get out of hand, after all. Leaning back in his seat, he cast a brief look to the still silent woman who had sidled up to their end of the bar.
Then, he turned back to Shukumei once more. "I suppose you've had all sorts of adventures since Adachi let you run amok, then?"
Any answer was cut short by the bark of pent-up laughter that Akim Eberhardt let loose. Casting an amused glance to Richard, the Vice-Director gave a short reply. "Couldn't you say the same of any branch?"
Chuckling to himself once more, the man sipped liberally from his drink.
The horned vizard had seen enough people do shots before to know you had to do it quickly, that was the part that made it a shot. She also knew that if the others were taking part in it then she didn't want to be left out. With a nod at the stranger she took the small glass and downed the contents quickly, the alcohol burning all the way down. Toki let out a few coughs against her fist while laughing a bit out of surprise at the burn.
"Woah! I was not expecting anything like that." She said with a smile as she set the shot glass on the bar turned over. A few more of those and she'd have a repeat of a few nights ago. This party wasn't something she was willing to forget anytime soon, it wasn't like she attended one every month.
These guys seem interesting, maybe I'll share a drink with them. Choko smiled softly and bowed, her long fine blue hair falling around her shoulders and her short bangs hung loose, "Konichiwa, I'm Choko." She rose and looked at the larger man who had watched her arrive, Is this the Zakki I'm looking for? She wondered as she turned towards him, with her hands folded neatly across her middle, "Would you mind if I joined you all?"
She smiled charmingly with her bright scarlet eyes and smiled, her bag hanging loosely on her shoulder with her "stolen zanpakutou" hidden in a thick roll of newspaper bound with rainbow colored rubber bands. "I don't really know anyone here, and was hoping to meet some new people." The slender woman hinted hopefully.
Shukumei turned his away from the bar, sour expression after that last shot, and he narrowed his blue-grey eyes on the newcomer. Choko, she said her name was. With an unreadable look on his face he turned to Tokiwa and then to that mystery-man, and then back to the newcomer. A smile dawned on his face and he grabbed the woman by the shoulder, pulling her into the bar.
"Join us!" he laughed merrily. In truth, his eyes were already starting to feel lazy. Whatever that stuff was, it went straight to his head and he was certain he would feel it in the morning. Fortunately for him, it wasn't quite morning and he still had hours of the party to endure. "Another round!"
As the bartender arrived and poured a new line of shots, that same baijiu that mystery-man ordered, Shukumei found himself letting go of whatever social bonds usually held him. He patted Choko on the shoulder once and placed an arm around Toki for balance as he began to sway a little.
"Help yourself," he said to no-one in particular, and picked up the next shot. The following shudder was akin to the one Tougen gave after his first shot, albeit less graceful. After all of the horrors a vizard was forced to endure, he had truly forgotten what it was like to celebrate, even if he didn't fully understand what it was they were celebrating. He hadn't felt that happy and carefree in months.
"Today is a good time to celebrate, and celebrate we shall!"
So this is going to be chronologically jumping all over the place, bear with me!
Alicia was right even though Zakki had nearly forgotten about the incident. It seemed like another lifetime when he'd wandered through the halls of TNK. Everything had been, oddly, much simpler at that point in time compared to what it was now. The lanky young man laughed.
"Yeah that's basically exactly what happened! I came bumbling around a corner and we smacked into each other. I've really known him on and off since then. I guess that we're friends although it has to be one of the odder friendships I've ever had. It works though. I guess what you two have works for you as well."
The martinis he'd been drinking were finally starting to kick in and he felt a warm glow spreading through him. He felt unaccountably thrilled that Ewan and Alicia were together, that he was with Richard, that Shukumei was here. It was the joy that comes from getting buzzed while at a party with people you care about. Of course there were strangers here too but even they were starting to raise charitable feelings in the Chairman.
A new face, in the form of a girl identifying herself as Choko, wandered up and Zakki met her with a bright smile and a sparkle in his emerald eyes.
"Hello Choko! My name's Zakki. I'm technically throwing this party so welcome! I don't believe we've met before."
Richard was amazed by the power of Akim Eberhardt's chortling laugh. It resonated in his chest and carried with it a certain amount of mirth at his naïve question. The redheaded aristocrat did wonder why Zakki thought he'd be any good at gathering information. Oh sure, he was perceptive but what good did that do when you couldn't actually engage anyone in conversation. He persisted.
"That is true. I guess we all have our different moments of interest. Contracting just seems to be a place that has...specific needs. Maybe there's just a lot of mythology around your division? I certainly hear tales."
The man's sudden show of jubiulance surprised the small girl, and made her jump as he pulled her closer giving her a whiff of his alcohol tinged breath, Okay, really happy drunk guy noted. At least I met somone.
Choko smiled weakly still slightly nervous about being around so many people she didn't know, though strangely she was enjoying herself. Then out of the group of "merry men" another man, much taller than she, regarded her with bright sparkling eyes and greeted her happily, "Hello Choko! My name's Zakki. I'm technically throwing this party so welcome! I don't believe we've met before."
His eyes portrayed unrivaled benevolence and trust, the attractive young lady almost trusted him as well. However she hadn't gotten this far in life by trusting every handsome guy she came across that said hi. No, she'd jump off a cliff before trusting anyone so easily. she held her own dainty hand out to his to shake and smiled charmingly up at him, noting his welcoming emerald green eyes, and met them with her own ruby reds, "Hello, Zakki-sama. You're right I don't believe we've met before, you already heard me introduce myself so rather than go through more formalities, how about you tell me about yourself?" Choko's dark blue hair shifted to the side as she tilted her head and smiled, looking around the room, gesturing to the large grounds around her, "Is this your home?"
With her head laying on the bar, Tokiwa lazily eyed the shot of baijiu that Shukumei had ordered for her as she ran the tip of a finger up and down a horn while in thought. As it was, the apartment already felt like a ship rocking in semi-calm waters, did she really want to rock the boat further? On the other hand she had heard, during her time spent in the Gotei, that turning down a shot was considered to be rude. She let out a deep sigh, there was no way she was going to be rude to the only person that she could relate to. Her blue eyes drifted over to the copper-haired vizard next her, not loosing her almost sleepy-like appearance as she watched him pat the strange, new woman on the shoulder.
Toki sat up as she felt Shuku place his arm around her, red rushed to her face as she felt her heart leap at the contact. Quickly, the small vizard grabbed the glass and threw its contents down her throat, shivering a bit at the alcohol's burn as she held back another cough. At least now the blushing would have looked like it had been caused by the shots.
