Charles Patricius

Esil's approach could be considered cute, he supposed. Yugi did rather enjoy how very 'small' she made herself seem around him, whether naturally or intentionally. He didn't have much else to say about that, however. Ah, but there was a certain interest found in Kimiko's mention of 'bumping heads' with Chizuru and her forms for thousands of years. He had a similar relationship with Akira, and could thus assume where she was going mentally with that speech. "If she caves, she knows what'll happen," was all he said. With that, Yugi was right back to it, working his way around the whole toe-end of Kimiko's foot. He could see the possibility of there being a Singularity in this era, but only because there were no other viable explanations in mind presently. What could have caused one, though? Options were both plentiful and scarce. They'd absolutely have to hang around for a bit longer to check things out. "Agreed," Yugi said, seeming a bit excited under the surface. "I forgot to do a few things anyway. But once that's out of the way... Puzzle Time!" he exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Hiruko and Miko were being interrupted, but at least one of them didn't mind. In fact, Hiruko hadn't seen this particular girl in quite some time ─ not since they'd last worked together. While Miko was freaking out over being caught with her tongue in someone's mouth, Hiruko was scanning Shutara... who allegedly had all the practice she needed when it came to watching. "Not like practice could hurt either. Hisashiburi, Taracchi♥~" he greeted. Hiruko still made no moves to separate himself from Miko. Based on the few interactions he had with Miko and her 'friend' group, he figured there were no real issues. Still, he'd leave them to their conversation ─ albeit with a few brief words of his own for Shutara. "I guess a good amount of that old gang is here, huh? Maybe we should call some of the others up and have a party?" he asked jokingly... Well, sort of jokingly.

A conversation about Esil was always fun. If asked her opinion, Kimiko would have said the girl shrinking in the face of Yugi was a natural reaction one, she wasn't necessarily in control of past her instincts. There were far too many willing to bend or be broken by him for it not to simply be fate in some way. Even Kimiko herself was such an individual recognizing and bending long before the others popped up. Moving on from that, apparently if Chizuru caved to some form of Kimiko's interrogation something would be happening. "Eh? That sounds so threatening. You know she's probably into that~" claimed Kimiko with some reasonable space to draw conclusions from. Even as they moved on from that part of the conversation. And even as all her toes got more and more attention... it would seem that they were in for a longer haul than they intended. "Well, a few extra errands aren't a big deal. I have a couple of promises to fulfill as well~" she claimed. "Besides I can't really turn down the chance to watch yuo work when you sound like that~" she said while finally withdrawing her foot as she aimed to place herself directly against his fore floating in front of him. "Wanna work out that remaining tension, I could go for you cutting loose before we do something else~" she claimed. While innocently making what some would call the blowjob gesture with a cheeky wink thrown in.

One might have thought that Miko had some very open relationships with her friends, but this set wasn't that kind of open. Oh well, she had no issues with Shutara and she did have it in mind to have a real conversation with Takao, now that she'd fully actualized him flirting with her. There was just something flustering about being caught in such a way. Still, Hiruko being so smooth and unbothered had the small brunette feeling comfortable enough to keep mostly hiding in front of him. "Hai hai, good to see ya', Hiru-aniki~" Shutara said as relaxed as ever. "Sou ka, you know each other already..." Miko was getting her breathing under control, well as under control as she could manage while still squirming in Hiruko's arms. Since he hadn't moved she was allowed a moment to study his face that little bit of drool accumulating in the corner of her mouth. "A few are around, there's a con, and you know how that goes... but I'm booked for most of it~" she claimed easily as it went. Meanwhile, Shutara's explanation of her ability to sneak up on Miko made the light in her eyes flash, if only for a second. Perhaps Shutara not registering to her as a threat was the issue of why she didn't immediately sense her presence, especially when combined with the absolute distraction of Hiruko. Well, she wouldn't ever not devote her full attention to the man she liked in front of her... even if there were multiples they deserved her attention. "You aren't betting on me too are you, Shu-nee? Also did I miss something, why ask about Air Gear?" Miko asked genuinely curious. Shutara peeked around Hiruko, looking into Miko's face and wondering several things, "Well, you're dressed a bit like the Air Gear style punk... a pair of headphones or one of those freaky halos and you'd look like a Tuner..." Shutara stated. "Also, he's definitely the inspiration of the Flame King... I thought you would have noticed the whole Emperor Eye thing, you said you were reading it, not most recently but last time we talked..." Shutara mentioned just as casually. "Also I wasn't betting on you... it's been a bit of a curiosity where you fall on the scales. We're your friends we want you to be happy and after meeting your other friends and the stuff from yesterday... I figured you might have fallen on the lesbian side of things... even with that post on Instagram~" she chattered like they were old friends. Miko processed that information and had her eyes widen. She looked back at Hiruko and her brows furrowed. She did like his eyes. and all but that was an odd realization.

Whatever the cause behind the strange events in this space and time, they would be sure to find out eventually. Yugi was very excited to unravel a mystery ─ especially one from a time prior to their relevance as a pair in this world. Their past selves definitely had nothing to do with a rift in this area, so the culprit was sure to be an exciting discovery... for better or for worse. With an agreement reached between them, Yugi had the girl's foot removed from his mouth. Why? Another offer was made instead, with a gesture of fellatio added. Just then, he had the widest of grins appear on his face. "Hell yeah. I think I've got another millennium or six of excess to burn off," he agreed. As always, the pair would be diving headlong into lifetimes of deviance as if it were a spontaneous decision for the evening. It wasn't like time had been a factor for them for the longest time anyway. . .

Speaking of time, Hiruko continued making the most of his. That wandering hand was still getting a proper feel of Miko's rear, even as he split his attention between her and Shutara. Miko was only just realizing that they knew one another. He didn't find that too strange, but... he would soon. First though, there was the apparent busy status of Shutara in the coming days. What a shame, he thought. At the height of that series, they never had much chance to do a cross-generational event as 'coworkers'. "Busy girl, I get it. It's not too big a deal, but you're all grown-up now. Give a holler every now and then~" he suggested before the strangeness of Miko was revealed. She didn't know he and Shutara knew each other, but she did follow the series Air Gear, at least to some extent. His character's appearance in that series was relatively early, but now... she was staring at him like he'd grown a second head. Hiruko finally released her, stood straight, and sighed. "You really missed it, huh? The Aeons really latched on to this little mutation of mine, so they made it relevant. There were a few changes made, and something else that I can't tell you in the works, but that was my teenage face in that series," he explained of the character in question. Regarding Shutara's assumption about Miko's sexuality, he had multiple relevant observations... but it clearly wasn't his place to say one way or another. Shutara's curiosity produced questions in its own right, though. "Hmm. I wonder why you'd be so invested in knowing the answer, Taracchi~"

While time was of no object to the black haired pair, who'd run off to exploit the laws of space and time for eternities spent in coitus. Others found themselves wrapped up in moments and dealing with it after the fact. In one such instance, the girl known as Senjumaru Shutara, was watching as what she considered to be the youngest of her friend group, proved her youth and a blindness they all knew her to have. Regardless a busy Shutara wouldn't really have time to break away, not for a bit... "Hai hai, if I manage some free time~" she said in her usual noncommittal way. It was par for the course for any who dealt with Hiruko in any fashion to come to understand his flirtatious and it seemed little Miko was no exception. As for the things she'd missed and her words in response to Shutara, Miko would give them while addressing all of the oddities surrounding herself. "Full disclosure... I kind of gave myself second hand embarrassment trying to read Air Gear and I got busy enough that I didn't get a chance to ask Ai-sen where to pick up the story part," she mentioned, while her index fingers were tapping together in front of her in that nervous gesture she did so often. "Though I've always been familiar with certain aspects... just not that character. Still, they definitely should have latched on to you. I did, those eyes are awesome and even if you were characterized with more than a few exaggerations you'd definitely be a fan favorite. You're definitely one of my favorites already!♪~" Miko clarified, inserting a minor tirade the likes of which she normally reserved for a special few. Perhaps she'd realize that eventually.. "That still happens..." Shutara uttered, remembering some rather interesting times of catching Miko trying to read and then just closing a light novel or manga and avoiding eye contact for 15 minutes afterwards, while refusing to answer questions. "I mean, I could probably do it now... I've been getting over... that sort of thing recently," Miko managed, as if her being held and groped in front of someone else wasn't proof enough of this. "I'm glad, seems like you're getting over a lot lately~" Shutara mentioned as if properly happy for the younger lass. While that thought passed Shutara Miko was looking at Hiruko and could see the face he resembled in that first scene she couldn't quite get through in the newer iteration of Air Gear. "Ai-sen's going to have a fit when she finds out I found another one..." Miko muttered, thinking it over. She already intended to introduce Hiruko to the rest of her friends. Now it seemed he'd have an easy in with one of the more reclusive ones.

"Yeah, that's definitely going to be something... she was having a full fan girl meltdown while you were on your...da... hangout with Seiya-chan yesterday~" Shutara corrected herself quickly but Miko still heard it, still she'd come back to it. "I'm not a lesbian Shu-nee," Miko stated seemingly huffy about it. "I don't think parts matter for what I do and don't like... not as far as gender is concerned anyway," Miko clarified for her elder sister type figure just to not leave her feeling the need to ponder the information too much. Of course, Shutara would take the time to artfully dodge one question and find herself on a landmine of another... "I've been watching for a long time," she said in answer to her investment. The truth of the matter was a complexity of their friendship which was likely obvious if one considered the tour bus they were in and the depth of the relationship which both had with a certain male singer. The truth was, Shutara would consider Miko her favorite female singer and would also watch all her performances, if she ever decided to go with that wave. But without knowing who Miko had revealed herself to, she wouldn't be outing her on purpose...

"Bet~" said Hiruko. He'd be banking on Shutara's acquisition of some free time. It was no matter of utmost importance, but he did recall enjoying their chats during those old working days of... a more legal variety than his normal schtick. As for Miko, she'd surprisingly failed to read Air Gear for its more mature segments, which defined most of his character's appearances. The reason why was stranger than anything Hiruko heard all day, including the magical parts. "Second-hand embarrassment? I somehow find that surprising," he claimed. Hiruko could see the link between that reaction and Miko's general state of fluster, but it was also very odd to visualize after hearing most things that had come from her mouth. It was like hearing about someone he'd recently become intimate with, but a decade or more in their past. Well... he supposed that was likely the truth of the matter in this case. "Got it. I see how we got here. Make sure you go back and check those scenes now. If I remember correctly, they were pretty good... and pretty accurate~" he explained briefly.

Now that he thought about it, that particular Aeons project gathered all types of people to form its roster. A few people who were to be considered his comrades were involved ─ as were a few proper musicians, and many other sorts of people. He could only wonder what their other projects were like, considering how well-known they were for turning people into characters. Whatever the case, Hiruko prepared himself to move on while Miko explained her flexible sexuality to... what Hiruko only assumed was another mutual target to some extent. "Doesn't look like anybody needs a wingman here, but I'm in an odd spot otherwise. If you two are planning on making out, let me know before I make myself scarce to allow a friendly catch-up~" he said half-jokingly.

"Mm-hm... Nice to know some things don't change~" she mused about Hiruko in general. The casual flirting happening between Shutara and Hiruko, let Miko know her younger self had been more reserved than she needed to be. "I've definitely been misinterpreting that sort of thing..." she observed of herself. It mattered very little now, given her own understanding of things, but... it was still interesting to know she'd done such a thing so purposefully. 'Told ya' we could fuck 'em all!~' were the words she heard in her head from her darker side, which showed in the briefest moment of a golden pupil with a dark iris so fast it could have just been a trick of the light. "Things spiraled for me pretty quickly..." Miko uttered earnestly. She'd been very honest with Hiruko when she'd first met him about her lack of understanding and experience with social things. Her social ineptitude seemed to be something understood though... With the knowledge of her second life even without all of the details, Hiruko could understand her quite a bit. What was more he claimed she should give the series a more earnest read given its accuracy and her current developments. "I'll definitely do that,Or I could get you to read it to me instead... that would also work♪~" Miko chirped that flirty little suggestion slipping out even in present company.

Shutara for her part in this saw the changes in Miko even from just the previous day. "Sou, you do actually understand that sort of thing now...Haha~ Miko-chan's all grown-up~" the bunned girl mused seeming to think something interesting was on the horizon. Maybe, she wouldn't be an old woman when she finally saw the show she'd been waiting for. Before that though, Hiruko spoke of potential makeouts and making himself scarce before anything like that happened. Apparently he didn't think either needed a wingman, and in processing those words, Shutara laugh but Miko managed to look shocked as it seemed that Hiruko was separating from her. "I mean I'd never turn down a wingman.... Wait, there's a make-out option?" she uttered quickly causing Shutara to gasp before the brunette realized what she'd said. "Oops that... slipped out... but like I meant it. It's just my inside voice has been so loud recently. And these lines for friendship are getting really blurry lately," Miko admitted. Shutara only shook her head... "I do have to wonder how you met, but don't worry about that sort of thing, no need to be in a tough spot, you could carry on. Iia, Miko-chan, if you think that... you really were a bit naïve all those girls only skinship baths and random sleep groping are where this whole option came from~" Shutara teased the young girl making her face puff up. "I meant that platonically at the time... well, maybe not the sleep thing, though I do that to anyone I am willing to sleep around so...." Miko tried but failed to properly defend herself. "Uh-huh... well you never seemed that platonic. But that doesn't change much anyway... any other revelations you're working on? I figured you're here because of that clusterfuck of emotional baggage that is a sober Mitchel. And before you ask... I can't deal with him when he's like that, besides I'm still waiting on my hotel room and I have to work early tomorrow. I don't need that much down in my life," Shutara mentioned knowing from experience that Miko needed to be kept on track. And it wasn't that she wouldn't make out with the girl, she just also knew the depth of another person's temperament and didn't want to throw the girl under the bus with him either. They argued enough as it was... no need to stoke that particular flame.

Instead of reading through the series herself, it seemed Miko liked the idea of Hiruko reading it to her. The actual conceptualization of reading a manga to someone was strange, he did catch the flirt and manage to roll with it easily enough. "You'd miss the visuals if I did that. Maybe a live reenactment would be a better option," he claimed. As Shutara said, it did seem Miko was developing the ability to perceive and react to flirty conversation. From Hiruko's perspective, that growth had all happened in the past two days. Things weren't as they seemed on the surface though, he knew.

Moving on to the matter of Miko and Shutara potentially making out, the former expressed surprise at the option's existence. "Like I said: it's pretty accurate," he mentioned in passing. The openness of characters' dealings with each other in that series was quite true to reality, at least in his experience thus far. Miko didn't mean to vocalize that question, but there was nothing to be done about it... and it was an honest utterance either way. Hiruko would let the pair of girls reach whatever conclusion they came to in conversation, adding just a little note about how he and Miko met when Shutara expressed her curiosity. "Lucky strike," he called the situation. As the pair carried on with their conversation, he prepared to make an exit. It was seeming more and more like the aforementioned make-out session wasn't going to happen, at least not presently. Before he passed Miko by, however, he leaned in to deliver a simple piece of advice. "In horse racing, you have to put your chips down before the race starts," he said, and that was all. Hiruko would henceforth be moving toward the door.

Miko's flirt was one which was rolled with, but someone like Shutara fully understood the way Miko would go about being read to in that situation even without knowing of her oral fixation directly. Small as she was, the girl was prone to lap sitting when she was younger... she imagined that such behavior made a resurgence as she grew in maturity. Still, how would Miko be reacting to that mention from Hiruko with a smile, "I wouldn't miss the visuals, but I'll take that too♪~" she chirped. Well, that was odd to hear about not food, for Shutara but it also fit the way Miko was in general. "This is great~" Shutara mentioned, it really was like watching someone take their first steps, which in the case of this particular individual was even better considering she'd started withdrawing before this point.

There was accuracy in the 'open relationship' status of Air Gear face claims, from Hiruko's perspective. Miko only had surface level understanding but that sort of thing was crazy, well not really considering what she'd done to her own friend group technically. As their conversation progressed Miko was realizing that she really had just been missing things. She wouldn't take to heart not realizing the girl based thing simply because of the way girls were in general. A lucky strike had been the note made about the meeting between Hiruko and Miko... and Shutara looked at the brunette and shook her head, "Accident?" she posed that question almost rhetorically. "I tripped..." Miko mentioned sheepishly. A shake of Shutara's head occurred as she imagined such a meeting and had several options none of which she was willing to confirm at present. But before he slipped away Hiruko did have something to offer, something about putting chips down on horses before the races started. Gambling was this man's bread and butter, so Miko gained understanding of his advice with that as context. "Sou ka..." Miko gave her understanding, but how would she be behaving about it? Well, the answer would come as she addressed the rest of Shutara's clauses. "Yeah, I am here for that... I've never seen Mitchel sober, so I don't have much comment on that, but I also haven't heard any of his newer music. On purpose because I'd rather hear him perform it..." she said. "And yeah, I realized... that nickname of his for me is mean. Also I'm being brave so, can we keep this between the two of us for a while?" she added pouting just a smidge as she took out her phone. "Picture? I forgot to get one yesterday♪~" Miko uttered. Shutara moved forward coming off the wall, with nothing resembling wariness even after what she'd seen of the girl's activities. "Yes on both accounts. And your nickname is accurate and in fairness you changed his first~" Shutara mentioned making Miko pause slightly. She'd done that... she realized while she was withdrawing from her misunderstood oddities, the realization hit and Miko nodded her understanding. Surely she couldn't go back to that though... "Your secrets are safe with me, always~" Shutara mentioned as she draped herself over the smaller girl's shoulders. bending to accommodate a together selfie. A few were taken with various poses mentioned, so that Miko could add Shutara to her list of surprised targets. At an innocuous moment she'd peck the other girl's cheek, causing a look of surprise and a cheeky side eye before it was returned. That shouldn't have surprised Miko but it did... "You can't go looking surprised when you're being like that~" Shutara mentioned. as she stood up straighter. When she did that Miko noted that her midriff was within strike range so she'd be 'placing a bet' and outing herself a bit. So smoothly did she turn and strike slipping her tongue over smooth but slightly present girl abs before looking up into Shutara's actually shocked face. "If I lick it, it belongs to me♪~" Miko chirped triumphantly. Straight to extremes did that one go... well, at least this was in the right direction. Ah, well... even though she was keeping secrets, Shutara would still be rubbing something in... as Miko dropped her bag to exit the tour bus... she'd be sending a short text with light amusement to Mikami Takao... "I got a bestie selfie set today~" she teased.

Perhaps an interesting reading session was in the cards for Hiruko's future. Well, something noteworthy was always ahead; this was no exception to the rule of thumb. He had little more to say beyond advice given to Miko, but much more observing to do. The two girls ahead of Hiruko made an interesting pair to watch. He had no issue visualizing multiple continuations of their meeting, but more importantly... a spark of pride struck Hiruko when Miko's advancements became the obvious route. A would-be innocent peck on the cheek occurred during a would-be friendly photoshoot, only to be returned in a seemingly teasing manner. It almost seemed like Miko would collapse under the pressure of returned gestures, but then... she struck the killing blow by licking the other girl's abdomen and making one hell of a declaration. She took ownership of whatever she licked, did she? How interesting. "There are a lot of things to be said about that line y'know?" he interjected. With that, though, it seemed they were ready to head into the studio. "Save some for me though, Taracchi. Ja~" he bid while stepping out of the bus.

Meanwhile, Mikami Takao was sitting in the control room just outside the booth a certain Michel Cave would be recording in. "Alright, if you're sure you're ready to lay it down... I'll mix," he said to the other male who was already making his way in. Takao's phone buzzed, however, taking his attention for a moment. "Oh, hang on. Your fix might be here," he interrupted. Ah, but seeing that message had Takao's brow furrowing lightly. "Bestie selfie set? The hell does that have to do with anything?" he wondered aloud. In text, he seemed a bit rushed. "Are you here yet? Hurry up or you'll miss it." That message was sent while Mitchel, or rather the artist Chase, slipped a pair of headphones on in front of the recording microphone. "You right to fire it up mate?" Mitchel asked from within, his voice sounding devoid of joy. "Yeah... yeah, just give me twenty seconds," Takao answered.

Interesting reading sessions were indeed in the works for Hiruko's future. Miko wouldn't forget the desire, even if it was put aside for some other time. Shutara on the other hand, wouldn't be forgetting a moment of absolute degeneracy which came along with a sentence she'd only ever heard from the girl in relationship to food before this point. She didn't collapse or fall to a bit of teasing, no... she retaliated. "I wasn't expecting that... full of surprises, Miko-chan~" Shutara mentioned. Having sent a text message to Takao, she was sure one of them would be receiving a reply. The words of Hiruko about that statement were also worthy of note, first from Miko herself, "Right... you didn't know about that yet..." Miko mentioned of Hiruko. Actually, now that she was thinking about it, she'd never claimed a bit of Hiruko either. That was definitely in her to do list. "I'd only ever heard it about food before..." Shutara mentioned casually. Perhaps one day she'd realize that the meaning hadn't changed at all, but that would take a crash course in magic which Miko wasn't ready to give just yet, well except for the slip, "It's still about food, Shu-nee♪~" Miko said her eyes narrowing slightly, that little hint of dominating deviance peeking through an otherwise docile girl. "I think that line is for her... and I, am more shocked..." Shutara said with her hands up, about saving something for Hiruko. "Ja ne... Hiru-aniki, Miko-chan~" she stated as both were preparing to head off.

Of course, before she could fully slip that phone back into her pocket Miko received a text. She read it quickly her eyes sparkling with particular light that Shutara recognized, "First floor booth down the main hall to the left~" Shutara said. "Music♪!~" Miko turned excitedly. She wouldn't want to miss a track recorded by Mitchel at all, even if he was in less than his most reasonable state. Actually with her magical knowhow she was sure that she could help him at least a little. At the very least she'd end up trying. "Come on, Hiru-nii♪!~" Miko had gone into hyperdrive, sending a quick message in return. "OMW :3" that was all as she sped towards the direction given, figuring that Hiruko would catch up or... be right beside her, whichever worked better for him. She'd be busting into that door company or not, in exactly 15 seconds after leaving the tour bus.