harimaya | Jigoku: inbox

[ it's yuuji.

of course he's in a shady shop. duh. ]

Yes! I want your honest opinion before I buy it.
Yay or Nay?

GO HOME ITS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

I will!

... Should I buy it or not? This guy is getting impatient with me :\

(God damnit he's grabbing his keys and putting on his shoes,)

How much is he asking?
Who's the smith?
When was it made?

[ he gets another picture of the price— which is crazy money if it's a fake deal. ]

I don't know the answer for the other questions :(
BUT-

It looks so cool ✨

If they can't tell you shit it isn't worth shit!

(He knows the general area he should be heading in but--)

Where the hell are you

Aww, really?
Damn. I kinda liked this sword.

[ blinks. ]

Wait. How come you're out in this late hour? :\

Really!
Then get it if you like it so much.

ANSWER THE QUESTION

(WHERE ARE YOU, YUUJI.)

[ HE'S UNSURE ABOUT THIS ... but, he ends up sending his location. ]

Be careful. It's 'that' part of the city.

You're the one there first.

(But okay! He knows the area and it doesn't bother him. He's used to hanging around in sketchy areas. It doesn't take him long to show up, though! Imagine the normal amount of time it would have taken someone but a little less because he hurried over. Clearly agitated and looking like he just rolled out of his apartment to do a late night konbini run or something--)

Oi.

[ by the time hizen spots him, he will find yuuji at another nearby shop, abandoning the previous one with its owner still cussing him out in the distance— totally ignoring him while inspecting another sword. the spirit that owned the shop kept on complimenting his choice in weaponry. spoilers: another scam at work.

he perked up at the other, waving a hand casually. yuuji looked like he'd been running on a 5:00 am shift and hasn't taken a break yet, and that's totally what's happening here. it's amazing how he still had enough stamina to do some late shopping. ]

Yo! [ he holds the sword up while striking a pose. ] How about this one?!

(The spirit is praising Yuuji for his good eye and Hizen is glaring daggers as he makes his way over to see what this sword is. The spirit begins to babble something about a buy one, get one free deal for the two of them if they're interested.)

They're not gonna show you the good stuff up front. (The spirit begins to complain something about Hizen has no idea what he's talking about and he grabs his own sword. Still sheathed, he points it at the owner,) Stop wasting time.

(And to Yuuji,)

D'ya even know what you're looking for?

[ it's a good thing hizen entered the scene because that deal sounded amazing to yuuji, and he was about to fall into it. until— the real expert shined a light on what's happening here, urging the sorcerer to drop that smile, slowly lowering the cheap sword down to his side.

he watched the owner stutter in his words, trying to reassure them both that he hasn't done anything wrong, and this weapon is worth its price. ]

I just need ... a good sword for a friend. So he can defend himself.

[ jokes aside, it is a pressing mission. he felt megumi is helpless from day one, and if his friend couldn't afford a weapon right now— why couldn't he gift him one? ]

These're throwaways.

(Which clearly means something to Hizen,)

Swords you're s'posed to use and get rid of fast. (After doing a hit, you can just scrap it and melt it down, destroying the evidence. Or they're meant to be impulse purchases someone can grab quickly if they suddenly need a weapon their way out on an assignment. They'll last long enough for a few jobs but--) They're cheap 'cause they're gonna break.

(He lowers his sword, returning it to his side and raises one hand to pinch between his eyes. It isn't fair to expect an ordinary person to know what exactly to look for, especially ones from more recent periods in history. )

How tall is your friend?

(He's helping.........)

[ 'a what?' — yuuji muttered under his breath, confused. whatever it may be, he knew he harassed the right guy for the job. hizen knows his swords, a true expert in the field, and he will help him pick the finest one. after all, he didn't want megumi to end up in an awkward position with a cheap blade.

the owner sighs in relief, glad there isn't anyone pointing a weapon in his direction, yet more than willing to bargain with his customers again.

when hizen drops that question, yuuji didn't bother to ask 'why?' — instead he had a smile on his face; happy. ]

5'9!

(He glances over at the seller. Did he hear that? Of course he did and it'll help him make some selections from the back. While the owner goes to get those, Hizen will focus on Yuuji, )

A good one isn't gonna be cheap, y'know.

(It's definitely going ot be more expensive than the ones he was shown earlier.)

I don't mind. I've been saving up for a while! Plus, he's a friend from back home. It's just— uh ...

[ he breathes out a soft chuckle, trying to shake it off with a shrug. god, he can't say he's doing this out of guilt because megumi died so young. it just sounds so sad. let's focus on it being a fun gift instead. ]

It's important! It's not safe here, and our powers barely exist so he'll need something to swing at his enemies! That's why- [ he whispers the following words to hizen, so the scammer wouldn't hear. ] I don't care about the price. So long it's a good one.

(He waits for an explanation. He's a friend back home and? ... He feels like there's something more there but he doesn't have the skills to read into it or the desire to really care. The answer he receives is acceptable for Hizen's standards, at least.)

...

(He sighs. With a good enough reason, Hizen can tolerate more. Quietly, tiredly,)

... Fine.

(And louder, not speaking to Yuuji but just calling out to the back,)

And ya better not waste my time!

(There's a clatter in the back like something being dropped followed by more clamouring noises which seems to satisfy Hizen so he can turn back his attention to Yuuji,)

You owe me.

(He has not gotten a single snack out of Yuuji since they met!!!)

[ thank god he didn't push for more details. yuuji relaxed his shoulders, tucking his hands inside his pockets and smiling brightly. he's more than happy to let hizen take the lead here and show that spirit not to mess with them. as they wait for the new set of weapons for display, he turns to face the other; nodding. ]

Yup. I owe you!

[ he reassures him, not bothered at all. if anything, yuuji knew exactly what to do to repay his kindness. ah, but perhaps not tonight— hizen is probably too exhausted for further socializing, already burdened to join this unplanned shopping spree when he's supposed to be resting home. he will leave it to another day. however, for now— ]

Hizen~

[ oh god, yuuji don't. but, he couldn't help it— he's too happy. ]

Thank you for being here. I didn't mean to make you worry.

(Damn right he's tired. After this he's getting a konbini fried chicken and he's going to eat it on his way home and go the heck to sleep.

He raises a brow. He doesn't like that tone one bit. It reminds him entirely too much of that guy who always called him when he wanted to say or do something stupid. It feels entirely too familiar and he's ready to shut it down when--)

...

(It really is like that guy.)

Shut up. I'm not worried.

(The owner comes out! He has a few swords in his arms and he lays them all out on the counter. They're mostly a nice standard length but some are on the shorter side. As the owner sets them in a certain order, Hizen will point and explain about swords.)

The shorter ones are better for tough places. Inside buildings and alleys and stuff. But these-- (The longer ones,) 're gonna do more damage. Gonna hit more things and ya don't gotta get so close.

Not really gonna change the price for these. Different swords got a different purpose.

(They are, in fact, about the same price regardless of the differences in their size. The last point he's really going to make is the general shape and he traces a few of the swords with his finger to show what he's talking about as he explains,)

Straight swords are harder to draw. If you want something fast and easy, you wanna curve.

[ ah, rejected. it didn't discourage yuuji at all, and he kept a smile on his face; listening as the other explained how the sword should complement its owner, the type of blade for each fighting style, what is easier, and for now he understood why megumi's height is relevant. hizen is really good at this, as expected.

he stands beside him, peering over the display of blades before them. the majority are katanas — until he notices the one on the far right. ]

His old sword isn't a 'straight' one. A bit big, heavy and long. Kinda like this one- [ he points at the one that captured his attention. it was too similar to megumi's old cursed weapon, and he knew he just found what he was looking for. however, there is one minor difference.

with that, he looks up at the owner and asks. ]

Can I have the same style ... but with a black blade?

[ yuuji is really pushing to make this purchase even more expensive, huh. ]

(A non-traditional sword then... That narrows down the options quite a bit. Based on the height of this unknown friend, a longer and heavier blade certainly makes sense, too which narrows it down even more. Yuuji picks the one that Hizen is thinking of.

The owner balks and Hizen closes his eyes. A custom order? The owner scoffs. A custom sword isn't going to be cheap. It'll be more expensive than these already made ones! He gives a price range and begins to list some different types of metal. Hizen has never even heard of some of these? It must be some hell specific ore or something. Regardless, it's all quite expensive! And it'll take time to make a sword, too.

Furthermore... he ain't making special deals for someone outside the clan. He doesn't know who Yuuji works for but it sure as hell ain't Toraguma.)

'S not asking for anything special. (Hizen groans and pinches between his eyes again,) Don't gotta get all fancy.

(The owner scoffs at Hizen. Custom orders are special and even regular members of the clan can't get them! Well, it isn't like Hizen's mentioned his own rank or anything. He dislikes bringing it up though. It reminds him of those bastards back in Tosa that used their ranks to get their way. As far as he's concerned, he didn't really do anything serious to earn the rank either but...

He looks over at Yuuji and sighs,)

Your friend. (Whoever the hell they are that's worth coming out to some sketchy shop in the middle of the night in Shuten territory--) Is he gonna take care of it? If he's gonna get it broke or thrown away, just get this one.

(The one that's already made.)

[ while he didn't understand a lot about swords, he knew his request will spike up the price— and it's fine! even if he's getting the impression an outsider isn't privileged enough for this service; the owner almost mocks him for going that far. perhaps it had to do with yuuji's specific faction, his low rank— whatever it may be, it only made the sorcerer commit to what he asked for.

he glanced over at hizen, nodding slowly. ]

He will take care of it. Not only because he needs it, but because it's a gift as well. He's that type of guy. However ... I don't know much about the sort of metal it needs. Something that won't break easily?

[ as for the money, well— he doesn't have the whole amount right now, but surely by the time this custom sword is ready for collection, yuuji will be able to take all the extra jobs/shifts he can to pay up for it. who needs sleep anyway, huh?

he pressed his hands together, silently begging hizen to hussle for a lower price! shuten to shuten! ]

...

(A loud, tired sigh and he turns to the owner,)

Hizen Tadahiro. Look it up later. I'm making a request...

(And he goes over the details with the owner. It's basically what Yuuji has described and wanted but Hizen adds a few more details-- discussing options for the metal and how to keep the balance of the sword right after the changes are made.

The owner takes the notes down and gives an estimated quote. It might change later after he speaks to the smith and there's a fee for handling the commissioning and the sale... it all adds up. There's also an approximate amount of time it'll take to make the sword, of course, paying more could get it done faster... Even negotiating doesn't bring it down by much more than what it already is. Hizen's rank isn't high enough to bring it any lower.

It looks like the commission is going to eat a significant portion of Yuuji's paycheck at nibble into the next if he wants to have enough to live.)

Oi. (He doesn't look at Yuuji. He's busy glaring the owner down to make sure he doesn't get any crazy extra ideas,) Sound good?

(With Yuuji's approval, the deal goes through. They'll make their first payment and then pay the second half upon completion.)

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