The first rule of fight club

[yourotherleft]

Who: Zoro yourotherleft & OPEN!
When: IC 5/4-5/5
Where: various places in the Pleasure District
What: In the process of becoming a bounty hunter, Zoro is about to stumble on something even more curious in the "underground" where criminals in the colony play.
Rating/Warning: none but lmk if that changes

[One doesn't have to hang around in the alley outside Novus/Replea to hear about the criminal underground of the Cerealia colony, but it helps. A chance encounter elsewhere has already turned Zoro on to the existence of alien criminal factions and their need to put prices on the heads of their rivals, but this is his first night actively haunting the dark side looking for someone to nab. His luck is unusually good tonight, he's already spotted someone whose photo he scored from a rough customer inside the club, now to trail him and see where he goes just in case he leads the hunter to even more high-priced bounties.

He has no idea where he is at any given time anyway, so tracking his quarry all the way from the entertainment district to the pleasure district doesn't faze him, it only results in a change of scenery. But the deeper he goes, stealthily following his bounty, the more Zoro uncovers.]

Scene I. Pleasure district, bars

[He's not at all interested in company, clothed or unclothed, living or robot, but the sake is pretty damn good down here. The alien with reward money on his head apparently likes the host clubs, though, so Zoro can be found parked on a bar stool in one, waving off the hosts and hostesses while running up a hell of a tab. The more he drinks, the more personable he is if anyone wants to strike up a conversation.

What they don't know is, he has no intention of paying that tab. But can he get out without causing a riot and tipping off his target? You, hey, you there - come here, let him talk to you so he can watch the bounty over your shoulder.[]

Do you work here? Hang on, that's not what I meant! I just wanna know where the back door is.

[what do you mean that is the worst question you can ask in a place like this?!]

Scene II. Pleasure district, brothel

[Well, shit, his target went upstairs, so how is a bounty hunter supposed to pass the time when he himself is entirely uninterested in what this place has to offer? But wait, there's a hell of a lot of noise coming from the next level down...

There isn't a stairwell leading down inside the building, but around back, there's definitely a side door and a set of steps, with two rather hulking thugs standing guard on either side of the door. Zoro isn't at all put off by their presence, but walking straight up to them doesn't seem to make them move to let him through. He can hear what plainly sounds like fighting and cheering, and can sense a lot of strong people down there. But he'll need a hand to get down there to see it for himself. What do you think, can you A, talk their way in, or is it better to B, fight your way in?

Spoilers, there's a fight club downstairs, and if you can get in, you might find yourself joining that club. Zoro's joining it, no matter what.]

Scene III. Pleasure district, spa

[The bounty money is good and all, and most of it is going to go toward food and booze, but as long as he's in the area, Zoro is up for checking out the bathhouse in the spa. Not for shenanigans, for a bath! It's a good place to meet people, they say, so who knows? Maybe he'll make a new friend, or find a potential sparring partner. Or, on the other hand, he might come to realize why bathing with others is not as much fun as it sounds on paper.]

Comments

ii of course....

[sayonaradumbass]

[how about neither. how about, having heard the sounds of a fight, after somehow sneaking his way in and situating himself next to a nice pair.....of clients, Kaneda has found the uh, backdoor....

And he's currently being held by his collar, feet dangling in the air, by thug A.]

You can't keep payin' customers from your full service! That's a fuckin' outrage, I'm gonna call the union.

[did you say: distraction]

XD

[yourotherleft]

[Wow, this guy. Zoro can't help but smirk a bit at his predicament, since Thug A clearly isn't impressed.]

What, you really wasted money on this place? Sucks to be you.

[buuuut then again, this guy's got a point. The thugs don't seem to be letting them in no matter whether anyone's paid. Zoro's quite fine with forcing their way in. So, hey, Kaneda...]

You. You know how to use your fists?

[sayonaradumbass]

[he realizes he's being talked to, so Kaneda peers up, mouth pulled into a scowl]

Know how? I'm the leader of the Capsules, man! I could take this bozo out if he wasn't so big.

[yourotherleft]

Yeah, that means jack and shit to me. [digging a finger in one ear.] So I guess you're gonna have to prove it.

[Thug B turns to look at him, wondering if that was a threat, so Zoro answers with his own fist. Not his swords, yet - those stay sheathed at his hip. But there's a gleam of black along his arm as he throws his punch straight into the guy's gut, doubling him over.]

[sayonaradumbass]

[Kaneda opens his mouth to bitch, but the other male has already started without him. A grin curls across his mouth and he leaps into the fray with a foot aimed at Thug A's stomach.]

You started without me! Rude.

[yourotherleft]

I ain't sending engraved invitations to this party. Keep up!

[as he faces down the thug who is slowly and painfully picking himself up. One punch definitely wasn't enough to take him down, so Zoro readies himself for a real fight. He's fought bigger. This guy's no amateur, though, and he moves a lot faster than someone that size ought to. In no time it's all wrestling and throwing and fists everywhere.]

[sayonaradumbass]

[once he's on his feet, he barrels into thug A while he's still winded, laughing as his arms encircle the other and his head thuds against the wall behind them]

Not even something in cursive? Cheap ass!

iii!

[adornmental]

[WELL HELLO, STRANGER. Public bathing and spa houses may not be everyone's thing, but considering Kashuu comes from a place where 50+ men have to crowd into one bathhouse together, he's definitely not off-put by them...

Even if he's also wrapped in a towel like he's got a chest to cover up, for some reason?!]

Oh— Hey! Wow, I totally didn't take you for the kinda guy who'd come to places like this without someone having to like, drag you.

[Probably because Kashuu thinks of manipedis, facials and hair treatment when he thinks of spas, and not just baths or Shenanigans™.]

[yourotherleft]

Huh? Oh. Kashuu.

[don't mind him, he doesn't mean to loom over you with just the tiny towel around his waist. It's pretty obvious he's sporting a couple of very fresh bruises along his ribcage and one shoulder.]

What, are you saying I don't bathe?

[teasing! except he really doesn't]

[adornmental]

[UGH, THE LOOMING. Good thing Kashuu's relatively used to that, too. The downside of being one of the tiniest non-tantou swords in the army...]

There's no way I'd hang out with another guy who couldn't even bathe himself.

[Waving that comment off, joke or otherwise... Don't be Yamato, Zoro!! Anyway, he'll pat the edge of the pool that he's sitting near, inviting this punk over.]

Here, here.

[yourotherleft]

Heh! Don't worry, I do.

[once a week.

BUT REALLY he takes the invitation, happily, baths are always more fun with someone to hang out with. Especially someone he likes. Zoro steps past him and into the water to have a good soak to loosen up his fighting muscles.]

I didn't know they had one like this here. It's good every once in a while - we've got a bath like this on our ship and I didn't even think how much I missed it until just now.

[adornmental]

Right? [A beaming smile! Kashuu's always more at ease with company, and it's no exception in this case. He chats along merrily, like he'd just been waiting for someone else to show up so he could have a conversation partner. LORD.]

Modern showers are nice and convenient, but they're really no good at all when you just wanna rest. Ooh, but some of the shower designs are really pretty!

[yourotherleft]

[looks up at him. Kashuu, really?]

I wouldn't know about that, a shower's a shower as far as I know. Unless you're looking for ideas to remodel your apartments, I guess.

i

[playboyknight]

[Angelo was taking a break from host duties to get a few drinks and enjoy some alone time, but then Zoro started talking to him after he sat down.]

The back door huh? What type of back door are you talking about?

[He's being a cheeky douchebag right now, don't mind him.]

[yourotherleft]

The one you go in and out of, what other kind of back door is there?

[that really didn't help, did it?]

[playboyknight]

Oh that back door. Okay, unfortunately for you, our back door is for employees only. I can however escort you elsewhere if you'd like.

[He's partly lying just to see how the guy reacts and is half tempted to escort him to a different place entirely.]

[yourotherleft]

I don't need an escort, I'm trying to keep a low profile and might need to slip out the back. [with a conveniently-timed glance toward the person he's been following all night, over there laughing it up with a table full of hosts]

[playboyknight]

[He quirks another eyebrow.]

So are you following that person or is it the other way around?

[yourotherleft]

[Zoro really needs to learn to be less obvious. A ninja, he is not.]

I'm following him. And that's all I'm gonna say.

[he tosses back what's left of his drink and waves to the bartender to fill it up again. Just keeps racking up that tab...]

II

[om_nom_namur]

Well, well, if it ain't the Plecobait!

[Namur's gait is a little more lopsided than usual. He's favoring his right leg, but only people who know what to look for would notice... and that's pretty much everyone here. He stalks up and drops his long arm over Zoro's shoulders, leaning heavily.]

'S alright boys, smolt's with me.

[Neither thug moves, except for one that nods his head to the side, motioning toward the door.]

Fightin' tonight?

[Namur shakes his head, pushing Zoro forward.]

ViViD's bein' a ass 'bout givin' me shit t' Draw from, so I gotta heal the ol' fashioned way. Smolt here might be worth chuckin' a few creds at, though. Roronoa Zoro, aye?

[And then Namur's attention is back on Zoro.]

Or was y' jus' gonna watch this time 'round?

[yourotherleft]

[Well hey Namur, fancy meeting you here. Zoro misses pretty much all of that conversation except the words fighting tonight, at which point he squints from the door-warden to the fishman]

Huh, what? What about me? Namur...

[om_nom_namur]

Shit, y' wasn't here for a girl, was y'?

[Awkwaaaard.]

[yourotherleft]

Of course not! [arglbargl!] Do I look like a fancy-pants cook with an obsession for skirt-chasing?

...what do you know about this place?

[om_nom_namur]

[Namur scratches his head.]

Dudes, then?

[He won't judge!]

Look, y' wanna go downstairs or no?

[yourotherleft]

No! [smack in the arm!] I just wanted to know what's down there. It sounds like fighting.