quest, a smooth criminal [OTSUKISENSEI/OPEN]

" The attention to detail is very impressive, isn't it? " he posed, failing to notice his partner had already set course for a nearby NPC. His focus was fully centered on the structure of the wall beside him, a hand raised to set its palm against the heated surface of the bricks warmed by the afternoon sun. That lack of an answer hardly concerned him, it was usual after all, and so his eyes continued to let their gaze wander about the architecture of the town, following the edges of the shape of each building carefully as he withdrew his hand from the building wall.

"We'll take it." The sound of Jirokichi's voice easily peeled his eyes from the townscape, red gaze drawing slowly to settle itself on his partner's form.

His withdrawn hand found itself at the hilt of the blade sheathed at his hip as he started forward, closing the distance between them once more.

" Oh? " he called toward the man, the edges of his lips picking up in his anticipation. The smile, of course, only gained strength as Goryo turned around, spreading further across his lips as he continued at his leisurely pace.

The smile softened as he drew nearer to the pair, eyes shifting to give the elderly npc a once over before centering themselves once more on the stern-faced man before him. Once again the NPC opened his mouth to relate the quest, this time to Arata, but he hardly paid the computer any mind.

" What are we taking? " he asked cheerfully, an excitement comparable to that of an eager child leaking into his tone.

It was only then he noticed his inventory blinking in the corner of his vision. The smile on his face disappeared in an instant as dark brows coiled over his gaze, a confused frown settling on his lips as he blinked a few times, as if the image would go away.

Struggling for a moment to navigate the UI, a trembling hand finally found its way to tapping open his inventory - revealing a very unexciting stack of posters.

" Posters? " His brows knit further, the edge of his mouth drooping into a lopsided frown as he summoned the stack of papers to his hand. It was then that the old man finally had his attention - and as his eyes trailed to meet with a pair of bushy white brows his shoulders fell.

" Not very heroic, is it? " he lamented, frowning pitifully toward Goryo. " Surely there must be some way to make it a bit more exciting- "

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boondock of ww

Easy money. Arata's sour expression eased itself away, but he couldn't help but purse his lips slightly as he glanced in Jirokichi's direction, watching him place the first poster in the most obvious spot possible. He shrugged his shoulders lightly as the other man glanced back toward him.

" I suppose you have a point, " he replied, taking the first poster in the stack carefully between his fingertips and pulling it from the pile, holding it up to examine it.

"I almost feel sorry for this girl."  Came a voice from behind him. Why? Was the first thing to come to mind, the edges of his lips quirking downward as he lowered the poster from his eye level, turning slightly in his place to turn his bored gaze toward the woman musing aloud. "Are you two going along with this too? Or have you finished up?"

The edge of his lip pulled into a mild sneer, eyes narrowing to glare daggers in hopes of fending the strange woman off. He didn't intend to spend his first few hours in game with- "Grab some posters," came his partner's voice. Immediately the glare was directed elsewhere, the irritable draw of his mouth wavering and falling into a discouraged frown.

The frown was quickly corrected of course, as Jirokichi caught his attention by trying apply a poster to his person. His lips curled easily into a playful smirk, a light chuckle rattling in his chest. He opened his mouth to respond, but quickly found his thoughts being cut off by a voice that seemed far too familiar. "Sorry to disturb you." His countenance paled.

Thin brows knit themselves over his eyes as he just barely turned his head, gaze cast to one side as he filed through his thoughts quickly, managing somehow to maintain his lax posture. "I was wondering if it would be alright to join your questing party." He remained still, drawing his eyes to meet Jirokichi's timidly, wincing slightly.

His eyes screwed shut as he swallowed down his anxiety, a hand raising to rest itself on Jirokichi's wrist as he struggled to keep his expression from twisting into a grimace.

His mouth didn't move to speak, lips sealed shut as he trained his expression to one more collected, his brows evening over his eyes as the downturn of his lips drew to become more mild. Slowly his red eyes drew downward, staring dimly toward the ground. He could scarcely make out the words as the familiar voice continued on.

" I'm sure there's room for another, " he answered clearly, though he failed to turn around. His hand dropped away from his partner's wrist as he moved to the wall, drawing his chin upward once more as he began putting one of his up own posters up.

" Goryo is party leader, " he informed the pair of newcomers, his voice just a bit more even than he had intended.

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boondock of ww

His melancholy air lifted just the slightest bit at the notification that he could not join a party unless he first left the one he was in. The corner of his lips curled upward slyly as his brows lifted over his eyes, gaze turning toward the corner of his eye to glance toward " Goryo " as he worked at his menu.

" Mynx. " His voice was sudden and sharp, no doubt a byproduct of having to quickly grab a student's attention. It actually failed to cross his mind that his name would be hovering over his head should she have player names turned on, so he wasn't very much bothered by the question. " I'm Otsuki. "

He took a step back from the wall, turning his attention in the direction opposite " Diz " in search of another nearby surface to apply the next poster too. "Let's see who can place posters the highest."

The promise of competition immediately stole the entirety of Otsuki's attention, eyes flitting to lock themselves on Jirokichi as he got a head start and jumped for the wall across from them. Jumped?

No, that wasn't like Kichi at all. Such a mild little hop for a man who usually leaped like a tiger - what was happening? It took a moment for the answer to click, and at the realization he could help but give a soft laugh, a mild smile playing at his lips. " The game is holding you back, isn't it? "

"How many have you put up so far?" Arata's smile wavered at the sound of the man's voice, though it continued to rest weakly in its place.

" That would make three, " he started, taking note of the newly posted flyer near - Near who? Somehow he was able to process his thoughts well enough to speak, even with his eyes set directly on the man who certainly seemed to be Toshiro. " With yours, we're at four, " he finished easily.

" Not interested in some friendly competition? " His lips curved into a cheerful smile as he took another poster into his grip, sliding it from its place in the stack to present it to the man who had neglected to give his all in putting up the previous flyer. His focus shifted to the corner of his eyes to watch Mynx, curious if she too was going to get involved in their little contest.

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boondock of ww