Tachihara-kun is telling the truth. [ Jouno puts a gloved hand on Tachihara's shoulder, squeezing it for a moment. There's an unsettling smile dancing across his lips as he focuses his attention on Sigma. ]
We simply came for a vacation, so imagine my surprise when I find something like you to be at the head of this all.
[ There's a possibility that Sigma is entirely innocent, and that whoever summoned him had done so with positive intentions, but Jouno is not a trusting man. ]
[ He looks between the two, considering. Tachihara certainly looks like he's being honest, insomuch that he looks confused and frightened about the past few minutes. Slow as he should be to trust, he feels he can make that call for now.
The other man, "Jouno-san" Tachihara had called him, is much harder to read. ]
You said recent happenings made me your concern. What do you mean by "recent happenings"?
[Tachihara knows what that hand on his shoulder means. It's Jouno letting both him and Sigma know who's on charge, and who he belongs to, but Tachihara has always liked the security that brings. His back straightens a little under that familiar weight.]
I was looking into old history and legends for a reason. You haven't heard any rumors about what's been happening recently?
[That seems unlikely, considering how many people you meet at an inn, and how many people like to gossip. He's sure Sigma is just trying to figure out how much they know before admitting anything.]
If you haven't heard, then it isn't any of your concern, but...
[ In charge of such a place, Sigma could be a valuable source of information, assuming Jouno didn't alienate him completely. Jouno can almost feel the phantom tip of Tetchou's sword in his side telling him to behave himself. ]
If you must know, there have been several incidents in the area as of late. Normally, I don't care much for the affairs of humans, but it seems they want to blame us, or at least, creatures like us.
[ A thoughtful hum escapes him, eyes not technically leaving the other man's face but not 100% focused, as if trying to recall something. There's no heartbeat to listen to, not even any breathing to be disrupted, just a quiet tap-tap-tapping of his finger against the desk as he sorts through whatever it is he's thinking. ]
My staff hears more than I do in regards to gossip. I can ask them to keep an ear to the ground for anything suspicious--if it's a threat to creatures like us, then it's a threat to me, and by extension the inn. You'll find we're quite protective of our home here.
[Tachihara tilts his head a little at that. He's so used to trusting Jouno to get the truth out of people, he's not really considering that right now.]
Staff often clams up if their boss asks them about gossip. But I'm pretty good at making friends.
[Because working with Sigma would make this job easier. Right??]
[ Jouno doesn't like this. Sigma lacks all the tells that Jouno normally relies on to interrogate people -- a heartbeat, sweat, the man has none of it. All Jouno can do is listen to the sound of movement and try to determine Sigma's habits. ]
You want to work here? [ The question is to Tachihara, and Jouno doesn't bother to hide the contempt for the plan in his voice. It isn't the worst idea, and perhaps, were things different, Jouno would have thought of it himself. ]
[ Waving a hand dismissively, ] We've a much more comfortable workplace environment than that here.
[ Well, 'comfortable' is a word for it. He runs a tight ship, a fact he's proud of, but he trusts his staff and his staff trusts him. He doesn't doubt they'd tell him whatever he needs if he were to just ask. ]
You're welcome to make as many friends as you like, however.
[Oh, he's heard that one before. Not that he doubts Sigma is friends with the staff - there's a reason Tachihara liked him enough to actually want to make friends with him, while he could have just lied and moved on. But no matter how much you want to change it, your boss is still your boss, in his experience.
He's perking up now.]
Give me half a day, and I'll find out a few secrets you didn't know about.
[ Jouno's hand moves from Tachihara's shoulder to the top of his head, a silent sign that the younger was being too eager. Still, trusting Sigma to share any information that he found out with them seemed unlikely, even if he wasn't the culprit -- a fact that Jouno is still suspicious of by nature. Perhaps Tachihara's idea really was best -- it'd mean Jouno could gain more information and keep an eye on Sigma from a distance. ]
Tachihara-kun is a hard worker. He'd be an asset to your staff.
[He knows he's being too eager, he's just relieved this didn't turn into a fight. Plus, he's hoping his eagerness will convince Sigma to stop seeing him as a potential threat. He does enjoy the hand to his head, though.]
I can't... [And his hair does make him easily recognizable.] But I can come up with a reason. I'm getting work experience here as a favor, before I start applying to jobs in the city.
Hmm, you never were very good at your transformations.
[ It did make things more difficult, but Tachihara's 'excuse' seems like it will work well enough. ]
You'll have to forgive him. Tachihara-kun is only 200-years-old. He's still learning some of our finer arts. I imagined he'd take to it better with me as a mentor, but alas...
There's a quiet shift, a thumb pressing hard against his desk, a sandal staying firmly on the floor as Sigma adjusts his standing position--nothing immediately noticeable to Tachihara as Sigma keeps his otherwise professional appearance, but Jouno might understand the shifting as a silent shock of "what the fuck" from something likely less than a decade old. ]
Alright, I can work with that. For today I'd like to ask you to enjoy your stay as intended, and you can formally begin your investigation tomorrow.
[He hates that disappointment... He wants to make Jouno proud, but this is one area where he hasn't been able to so far. He'll keep working hard for him.]
Yeah, I was really looking forward to it. Thank you, Sigma-san.
[His own smile is genuine, and so is his wave as he follows Jouno out of the room.]
[ The pleasant smile stays with a wave as the two exit, holding for one, two...and dropping. Foxes have good hearing, as far as he knows, so he needs a little more time before doing anything drastic. Calmly taking his seat, sorting through papers on his desk, perfectly normal sounds.
Waiting until the count of fifteen. That should be enough distance.
And once fifteen is hit, he's on the phone. ]
An ammendment needs to be made to room 105...under "Tachihara", yes. Mm, that's the one. Do not, under any circumstances, allow him or his guest into the VIP area. They are law enforcement.
...Yes, every other facility is fine. They may ask unrelated questions as well, cooperate as much as you can. Their investigation has little to do with the inn itself. Mm.
Of course. I'll have an update for everyone in the morning. Thank you.
[ Jouno is silent as they leave the room, listening to the rummaging of papers as Sigma sorts through them. He's just about to speak to Tachihara when Sigma gets on the phone and decides to listen in instead.
He waits until Sigma hangs up to talk: ] It seems your little friend has a secret.
[ From what Jouno can gather, the secret doesn't sound relevant at all to their investigation -- he highly doubts the VIP lounge is connected to the string of murders they're interested in -- but he can't help but be curious. What is so important to need to be protected from law enforcement that the call couldn't have waited any longer?
Licking his lips, Jouno continues on the way to their room. ]
You'll want to break into the VIP lounge when you're able.
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jounosknot2023-05-18 03:27 pm
no subject
We simply came for a vacation, so imagine my surprise when I find something like you to be at the head of this all.
[ There's a possibility that Sigma is entirely innocent, and that whoever summoned him had done so with positive intentions, but Jouno is not a trusting man. ]
no subject
The other man, "Jouno-san" Tachihara had called him, is much harder to read. ]
You said recent happenings made me your concern. What do you mean by "recent happenings"?
no subject
I was looking into old history and legends for a reason. You haven't heard any rumors about what's been happening recently?
[That seems unlikely, considering how many people you meet at an inn, and how many people like to gossip. He's sure Sigma is just trying to figure out how much they know before admitting anything.]
no subject
[ In charge of such a place, Sigma could be a valuable source of information, assuming Jouno didn't alienate him completely. Jouno can almost feel the phantom tip of Tetchou's sword in his side telling him to behave himself. ]
If you must know, there have been several incidents in the area as of late. Normally, I don't care much for the affairs of humans, but it seems they want to blame us, or at least, creatures like us.
no subject
My staff hears more than I do in regards to gossip. I can ask them to keep an ear to the ground for anything suspicious--if it's a threat to creatures like us, then it's a threat to me, and by extension the inn. You'll find we're quite protective of our home here.
no subject
Staff often clams up if their boss asks them about gossip. But I'm pretty good at making friends.
[Because working with Sigma would make this job easier. Right??]
no subject
You want to work here? [ The question is to Tachihara, and Jouno doesn't bother to hide the contempt for the plan in his voice. It isn't the worst idea, and perhaps, were things different, Jouno would have thought of it himself. ]
no subject
[ Well, 'comfortable' is a word for it. He runs a tight ship, a fact he's proud of, but he trusts his staff and his staff trusts him. He doesn't doubt they'd tell him whatever he needs if he were to just ask. ]
You're welcome to make as many friends as you like, however.
no subject
He's perking up now.]
Give me half a day, and I'll find out a few secrets you didn't know about.
no subject
Tachihara-kun is a hard worker. He'd be an asset to your staff.
no subject
Would it be insensitive of me to ask if you're able to not look like a guest the staff has already been informed of...?
[ That same fluffy redhead coming into work the next day would be an even harder sell, after all. ]
no subject
I can't... [And his hair does make him easily recognizable.] But I can come up with a reason. I'm getting work experience here as a favor, before I start applying to jobs in the city.
no subject
[ It did make things more difficult, but Tachihara's 'excuse' seems like it will work well enough. ]
You'll have to forgive him. Tachihara-kun is only 200-years-old. He's still learning some of our finer arts. I imagined he'd take to it better with me as a mentor, but alas...
no subject
There's a quiet shift, a thumb pressing hard against his desk, a sandal staying firmly on the floor as Sigma adjusts his standing position--nothing immediately noticeable to Tachihara as Sigma keeps his otherwise professional appearance, but Jouno might understand the shifting as a silent shock of "what the fuck" from something likely less than a decade old. ]
Alright, I can work with that. For today I'd like to ask you to enjoy your stay as intended, and you can formally begin your investigation tomorrow.
no subject
[Besides, who needs to change their appearance completely?? Usually changing your clothes is enough! But, more importantly --]
So I still get a chance to enjoy the inn?
no subject
[ Is that a hint of disappointment in Jouno's voice? Maybe.
He turns his attention back to their host though and smiles, the lack of warmth from which would make almost anyone uneasy. ]
We appreciate your hospitality.
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Of course. You came here for a vacation, it would be a shame if that were cut short so soon.
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Yeah, I was really looking forward to it. Thank you, Sigma-san.
[His own smile is genuine, and so is his wave as he follows Jouno out of the room.]
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Waiting until the count of fifteen. That should be enough distance.
And once fifteen is hit, he's on the phone. ]
An ammendment needs to be made to room 105...under "Tachihara", yes. Mm, that's the one. Do not, under any circumstances, allow him or his guest into the VIP area. They are law enforcement.
...Yes, every other facility is fine. They may ask unrelated questions as well, cooperate as much as you can. Their investigation has little to do with the inn itself. Mm.
Of course. I'll have an update for everyone in the morning. Thank you.
no subject
He waits until Sigma hangs up to talk: ] It seems your little friend has a secret.
[ From what Jouno can gather, the secret doesn't sound relevant at all to their investigation -- he highly doubts the VIP lounge is connected to the string of murders they're interested in -- but he can't help but be curious. What is so important to need to be protected from law enforcement that the call couldn't have waited any longer?
Licking his lips, Jouno continues on the way to their room. ]
You'll want to break into the VIP lounge when you're able.