Charles Patricius

While the song was winding down, Miko's concern seemed to be growing. Just the same though, she was apparently hearing the Air Gear reference back-to-back in just a few minutes. It came as no surprise that Shutara would reach the same conclusion he did ─ especially after hearing the tirade of her friend after that last concert. She apparently hadn't finished reading the series, though. "It'd normally surprise me to hear you got past Volume 1," he mused. As for the dark theme of the ending track, Takao couldn't truly say that was the worst thing written today. "In a direct sense, yeah... but not really." With that said, he cut the recording and switched the intercom to address Mitchel. "One take and done. Ready to come out? Your─" Takao had been preparing to comment on the drug acquisition, but Michel was already shaking his head. "Roll into the next one," he said, much to Takao's surprise. Still... he didn't exactly have much choice. "... Sure," Takao spoke through a sigh. And so began another track, albeit without the common saxophone.

All the while, that bar soon to be the meeting place of a full group had a singular bartender floating about: a tall and muscular young man with yellow eyes and long teal hair pulled back into a ponytail. The trio of unfamiliar women sitting at a table would be visited by the male as they chatted. "Good evening, ladies," he asked with a gentle bow. "I'll be your host and mixer tonight. Is there anything I can get you started with?" he asked. The man notably had no pad on which to take orders, but he seemed completely unconcerned with carrying one around.

Miko and Takao were having a more casual discussion. And as the song progressed to its natural end, that tightness in Miko's chest lessened. She was finally able to stop rubbing her chest for a few seconds. As for her attire and the connection to Air Gear, it would seem that Takao had a pretty good idea of how a normal Miko did work. "Should have bet on it... I didn't get past volume one. Not in the official release anyway..." Miko mentioned sheepishly now rubbing the back of her own head. Of course, it didn't help that she had a copy of that first volume as well... in the bag she'd just placed down beside him. Still, it seemed that Mitchel wasn't quite ready for a break yet and wanted to roll to the next one. "Okay, I can handle that. Probably..." Miko said, now having a good idea of what was coming, she could temper herself a bit... well, not really but having experienced some of the worst she could likely lighten her own emotional burden at least a little. Hopefully... but as a song started without those background saxophones. That didn't bode well.

At the same time, ladies night was starting but it would be a few minutes before their extra friends showed up. Before that happened though, the thicker blonde with her blue eyes and hair tied up in a bun looked over to the waiter and became a different sort of person immediately. "There's something you can give me~" she flirted shamelessly. "We literally just arrived, Rita isn't even here... can you calm down!" the dark haired woman said. As if she wasn't dressed to kill. Dark lip stick and light blush making her eyes pop along with a cute party dress and high heels showing off a slim and toned figure. "You've been off the market for more than a decade, do you even remember how to flirt? You should be thanking me for ice breaking~" the blonde prodded. Still the other one would be the one to have a more regular conversation. "Forgive my friends... they misbehave when they get together. We're still waiting on two more, but could you bring us five beers to start off, we'll figure out the specialties when everyone else arrives~" the tanned one said politely willing to give the man an out to the catty behavior of a large group of horny adult women. Speaking of, by the time that man left the table, Saori and Rita would be pushing open the door already looking for the table with their friends.

According to Miko, she actually hadn't gone past Air Gear's first volume. That information was shocking in the strangest way. He figured she would have at least skipped ahead to a relevant arc, or perhaps taken a peek at the separated version of the series. "You what? So you haven't even seen my character yet? No anime either? Well there goes our friendship!" he said, turning up his nose and looking away. The mood was lightening in general ─ in Takao's case simply because there was an answer to Mitchel's situation. Alas, the next song wasn't much of an improvement over the last... if it could be called one at all.

"Red pill, help me get my words out♪
Blue pill, won't you help me calm down?♪
The green pill doesn't really do shit!♪
It barely gets me higher than this music!♪
New pills color of my Off-White♪
You still think about those old times♪
I've been sober 48 hours♪~
I don't feel euphoria ─ no, I feel empty♫~

New house, new car,
I feel empty♫
You win, gold star,
I feel empty♫
No lungs, no heart,
I feel empty♫~"

While that song began, a very abnormal bartender was seeking a very normal order. Alas, he would get no such thing initially. Two of the three women at this table were blonde, and the one without a tan decided to take... a very forward approach that didn't involve an order at all. His only response initially was a quirked brow. "Is that so?" he questioned. There were already a few curiosities crossing the man's mind, but they may or may not have been entirely what this woman was planning. One of her friends spoke immediately, urging her to be calm. The other, who would have been the more expected open flirt, spoke most calmly to make an actual request. What an interesting group this was... but what were they doing here? One might wonder. Either way, a request for five beers was unusual for the start of their night. "Hm. It is Ladies' Night. You shouldn't start with beers," he said before stepping away from the table. Without seeking any further opinions, he intended to mix a set of cocktails upon reaching the bar. Only when he had the shaker in hand did he take note of the other pair entering the establishment. Based on the general demographic... those two had to belong with the unfamiliar group he was dealing with. 'Four...'

Miko didn't get through Air Gear, she had intended to skip to a better part, but she'd not gotten a chance to ask Ai where to pick up. Still, the ridiculousness of Takao had him upset that she'd not even seen his character. Miko scoffed at his words as he threw away their friendship over something so simple. "I said I didn't get off Volume One... " she commented. "Still, I didn't say I'd never seen your character, or that I didn't understand the story progression. I played the standard release of Regalia of Fate," Miko mentioned. Actually that particular one got quite a few hours out of her... she'd even eventually let her aunt upgrade it to the mature version so she could open up the harem ending and new clothes, not that she'd be mentioning that part now. Still there was the matter of this new song, which wasn't much better than the pervious one, but only caused a different type of feeling. "That one's tragic too... who let him be sober for 48 hours?" she questioned as if it was the problem here. It was, though without touching him she could only speculate about his wellness. Well, that wasn't entirely true... as far as the sounds his body made, he seemed a bit distorted in a different way... much like the words of his song implied.

While one spoke of emptiness someone else spoke of absolute flirtation. This was an odd friend group already, but that didn't seem that this mattered much to the bartender in question. He seemed fine with the playfulness of the group and perhaps he was quite used to it, given his job description. He walked away and the tanned blonde had every idea that the man wouldn't be bringing them the beers they'd asked for. "Ri-chan look!~" squealed Rita as she approached. Fresh hair cut and little dress ready for the fun. "Woah, even Rei-chan made it..." Saori said waiving an arm and unconsciously taking note of everyone in this bar even the bartender... well especially the bartender. Her eyes narrowed but she didn't say much else. she simply allowed Rita to slide into the booth and she took the open side facing the door. "Rei-chan I didn't know you were in town, I'm more surprised that Nozo is here~" claimed Rita. "My little sister is attending the con, I'm chaperoning. But tonight's a free night and she's busy playing her games and pigging out in the hotel~" Reina complained of her sister. "And Saorin, I'm glad you're here... I don't like being the responsible one~" she added jokingly. The dark haired one who apparently answered to 'Nozo' scoffed. "Well, I'm here for a reason but we're here for you... you look happier than the last time I saw you..." said Nozomi as she leaned forward on her elbows. "Damn right I am!~" Rita commented happily. Meanwhile the lighter complexioned blonde was busy... "Oh, you wanna go like old times... the bartender is hot~" claimed Rangiku. Rita spent some time looking at the bartender while Saoir casually looked at everyone present feeling odd about this group after spending so much time with the younger generation in the previous days. Maybe they really weren't that far flung.

Miko had some fight to give after Takao's most recent outburst. She hadn't gone past the first volume, but she had played the otome game... which probably meant she had its entire story and all extras. "I'd call that heavy spoiler territory, but that one's an alternate universe. I still get the occasional call for voice acting in that one, whenever they do their seasonal event and my character appears," he explained. Just then, Hiruko chimed in. "Same. They work me to the bone over Yoichi," the blonde stated. All the while, song two was starting, its recording in full effect. Miko made a comment during the first verse. For that, there was much context Takao could give. "He was going through the usual motions at first. Normally, he'll just relapse at random whenever the mood strikes. But this time... no tour bus, no drug," Takao explained while Mitchel carried into the hook.

"Uh, tell me why the fuck I feel so empty?♪
This might be the reason that she left me!♫
Mama, what's the reason I feel empty?♪
I might pop another, please don't tempt me!♫
Tell me why the fuck I feel so empty♪~

I... feel... empty♪~
I... feel... empty♪~
I... feel... empty♪~"

All the while, that bartender was scooping ice into a mixing cup with one hand, using the other to collect a series of bottles. From there, he began pouring a new variation on this establishment's house cocktail. Three parts vodka, one part elderflower liqueur, one part Aperol, lime juice and simple syrup. He shook the mix with a series of flourishes before straining it into five chilled glasses and topped each glass with a splash of sparkling wine. Those glowing coral/pinkish-red drinks would be sweet, floral, fizzy, yet stronger than their taste implied. He garnished each glass with blood orange slices before placing the lot on a tray. Flawlessly did he carry that tray to the table now seating five women. "Ladies. Velvet Noose," he said, placing the first drink in front of the flirtier of two blondes. From there, he'd be moving counterclockwise around the table to deliver glasses to each patron. "Bartender's special, on the house. Please enjoy."

Heavy spoiler territory, was what her otome gaming habit was called. It was an AU but that didn't mean she couldn't appreciate it and fully understand the character personalities from the things she saw. A minor complaint was issued about the calls for seasonal events and Miko could only chuckle. "I guess you do pop up for both Halloween and Valentine's Day. I live for the Halloween events~" Miko chirped happily. That game was still one of her favorites. "Yoichi's a fan favorite... medium difficulty... ah, I can hear it now," she murmured about that voice. She'd thought something about Otome games when she first met Hiruko and now she could definitely see why he'd have been chosen. Beyond these points of Miko's gaming habit which helped her work around her 'second hand embarrassment'l. What couldn't help her though were the lyrics and feelings of Mitchel's singing. There weren't any moments of happiness in these songs he was singing. It was depression and loneliness pure and simple. "It's hardly a relapse... I don't know how to feel about understanding these emotions so well..." Miko murmured. Those words Mitchel sang were still drowning all happiness.

What wasn't drowning happiness was the group of women sitting at a table for ladies night in a bar. All of them were having a good time smiling and the like catching up for light things before the first round arrived and they got to more serious topics. Ah, but that wasn't the only thing occurring presently. No, a bartender was mixing up drinks and pouring them. The small talk had lowered itself to a mere bit of of chattering though the blonde who'd been so forward was now speaking again, "Eyes up, Rita... I can still pick can't I?" she asked as if her taste was ever in question. "Absolutely!~" Rita mentioned. "You two are hopeless, arigatou..." Saori said watching as the drinks were left. She looked at this cocktail and back at the bartender, and she was sizing him up... one fighter to another she was sure of one thing, bartending wasn't his only profession. Whatever the case, she wouldn't be pushing that but she would be staring for quite a few moments. "Eh? Is that interest from you Saorin?" Reina asked seemingly genuinely curious. That one didn't offer more than a passing glance. "Thanks~" the dark haired woman said as well, the chorus of words would be ending the group seemingly not thinking too much of being offered free drinks. All were aware of base attractiveness at least. "Interest from me is found in different ways, anyway are we toasting?" she asked looking at the glass finally. "Yep! To FREEDOM!~" Rita chimed. "Freedom!~" the other women all said at the same time. Each would be tasting this 'Velvet Noose' and finding its light and bubbly texture covered a floral and distinct flavor which packed white a punch. "This is great!" Rita mentioned. "You're right.." Rangiku mentioned. "Even I like this..." Nozomi mentioned as all the women settled in for a night of girl based gossip and spilling their guts to each other.

"Yeah, but they make it easy at least. Most times they send the stuff, I record it, job's done," Takao explained briefly. Hiruko nodded along silently, but kept an eye trained on Mitchel in the booth. A hand was fishing around in his pocket for a couple of packets he had for the person needing a fix. Indeed, Mitchel wasn't to be trusted waiting beyond the recording. "You should feel concerned. That's what the brink looks like. If this'll actually help, I've got it covered," he claimed. The song's second verse wasn't disproving Hiruko's thoughts at all when it began either...

"Old friends turning into strangers♪
Newer friends, they're becoming dangerous♪
Her friends never really liked me♪
They'll do anything they can to spite me♪
Five friends, count 'em on my left!♪
Knife end, walking like a dead man♪
I've been sober 48 hours!♪
I don't feel euphoria now♪~

I feel empty♫~
New house, new car,
I feel empty♫
You win, gold star,
I feel empty♫
No love, no heart,
I feel empty♫~"

At the bar, drinks were successfully mixed and delivered to the table of five ─ though not without a few obvious comments about the bartender himself. The man had no qualms with anyone he was seeing at this table... apart from the peculiar gaze he got from one. The 'interest' her companion spoke of was certainly not for the same reason; he knew as much. A quick glance in Saori's direction resulted in a certain understanding. They were both monsters, both responsible for many mournings. Whether she was a threat or a potential ally, he didn't know... but now was not the time to do anything beyond observation. Whatever the case, he took that empty tray under one arm and lingered during the group toast. As a bartender, there was an expected amount of engagement he'd hold himself to. Beyond that, as someone observing this unfamiliar group... he had a bit of prying to do. "Better than beers, right? You all seem new to the area. Is there anything else I can bring you all? We have a good selection of foods that pair well with the cocktail."

Apparently, Takao's participation in the Otome Game events was down to just reading lines and turning them in afterwards. That was good, if it wasn't too much of a problem then he'd continue to put in on such things, which meant that Miko could continue to enjoy them. "Well, it's good that it's an easy thing for you," she commented almost absently. Of course, there were words still being sung and all but she could note something of interest. Very few people were capable of interfering with her concentration when music was on... Takao and a few of her close friends could speak but most wouldn't get direct answers from her. She'd find Hiruko on that same list with a voice she could hear as well. He claimed that she should feel concerned after her observation that this was what a person on the brink looked like. The sounds coming from his body and hands said he had a few things on him to give to the man before the bigger delivery arrived through hands not his own. "I was concerned to begin with... it definitely feels dangerous. If relapse is part of his normal... then I can't say it would do anything but bring him closer to even. I've personally never seen him sober before this moment..." she explained of her own understanding with the most abject medical advice she could give without being able to actually touch the other male. Healing for her, was a more intimate experience... and even she wasn't entirely sure she could help him detox in a way that wouldn't lead to his death in this world. All the while those words of his made her feel strangely, was music prophetic?

Beyond the prophetic nature of music, a bartender and a purple haired woman made eye contact for a brief moment and came to an understanding about their natures. It wasn't exactly something either would share, but neither saw the other as an immediate danger. No, instead there was a partying atmosphere and drinks being shared. As the bartender questioned it he'd get a few resounding cheers about the drinks being better than beers. "I tend to love a good beer, but this is very good." Rita commented now staring at the bartender directly, and remembering that she was here to hang out with her friends, not have sex with a bartender. "Drinks and fried foods would be delicious!~" claimed Reina who seemed the most interested in just snacking. "I hate to be that person right now but do you have any vegetarian options?" asked Nozomi. A few brows went up. Rangiku was ready to light into the other girl but... "Vegetarian... weeren't you vegan last time we all hung out? Did something happen?" she prodded as if amused. "Not now..." Nozomi uttered "I'm not terribly picky but I'd prefer some protein... I did eat like three slices of cake earlier," Saori mentioned. "Oi, you made cake, Ritan?!" Reina complained looking towards Rita who shrugged. "Yeah, I mean I have some more at my apartment. I've been giving it away..." she said shrugging. "Don't mind them, what do you recommend with our varied tastes in mind?"

"Uh, tell me why the fuck I feel so empty?♪
This might be the reason that she left me!♫
Mama, what's the reason I feel empty?♪
I might pop another, please don't tempt me!♫
Tell me why the fuck I feel so empty♪~

I... feel... empty♪~
I... feel... empty♪~
I... feel... empty♪~"

Mitchel would cycle through the song's hook a few more times while the others continued discussing different matters. Hiruko took the time to produce a packet of cocaine and step closer to the booth, while Takao focused on the fact that Miko had never seen a sober Mitchel. "He's pretty chill sober. The problem here is the '48 hour' part. Eight to twelve hours is still pretty acceptable," he explained, looking toward the booth again. Inside was a man who didn't even acknowledge the presence of others within the studio ─ something normal for Takao and Miko, but odd to see in this case.

The bartender was content to linger at the table for a while longer. These five women were worth inspection just because of how misplaced they were, and the known connections one of them managed to make with some underground personalities. Moreover, one of them certainly had a number of skeletons in her closet. In keeping with his duty, the man offered food to accompany the ladies' apparently satisfactory drinks. What he received as an answer was... quite mixed. The tanned woman wanted something fried, and the purple-haired one only specified protein. That combination would have been easily found, but... one of them requested something vegetarian, only to have her earlier claims of veganism questioned by the lighter blonde. In the end, it was that same blonde who asked if their differences could be answered with the bartender's recommendation. He needed only a moment of thought, during which a single hand rested on his chin. "If you like fried, you can’t leave Osaka without kushikatsu. Crispy skewers, goes down easy with a drink. Got a vegetarian okonomiyaki I can slice up for the table, or edamame if you want to keep it light. If it’s protein you’re after, yakitori skewers are a solid choice — or I can do wagyu tataki if you want something richer. I can round it out with something fresh — bit of sashimi and pickles to balance all the fried stuff and cover any missing bases for the table.”

Mitchel had questions, is song was one to the universe. Why did he feel so empty? Well... there was a logical answer to that question but it wasn't one that anyone else could currently give him. Miko understood emptiness from her own perspective, and knew it to be something which could be mediated, but feeling it had to do with several things, including your decisions and the decisions of another person. "Empty is always such a terrible feeling... gomen," she mused softly. 'These songs are so depressing but the feel so real... I want him to stop but I want to know how he feels. That's probably weird,' Miko thought looking outwardly pensive. To her Mitchel really did need some coddling but that wasn't something she could offer him currently. Beyond that point, Takao was speaking and it was enough to buffer her against the drowning void created by Mitchel during his spiral. "Hm, that sounds familiar... box it," Miko said. She didn't know why the timing of that seemed so familiar, but at the very least she wouldn't have to worry about Mitchel being completely unreasonable if he came down while she was around. "He's so into it, I don't want him to suffer but I don't think I've ever seen him so into his music... are his live performances normally like this?" Miko couldn't help her curiosity. He often saw this man in the studio, but his choice in venue usually excluded her from her more normal lurking behavior to see his live performances.

While music was discussed in one place, food was being discussed in another. While several were openly flirting with the bartender, Saori sat comfortably at the edge. Still, he was at least familiar enough with his job to want to offer suggestions for their wide range of food choices. A list of foods and their various points. Local specialties, vegetable platters, sashimi and the like were offerings. All the young women looked at each other several giggling. "He's really good at his job," Nozomi observed. "Managed to cover all the bases..." Saori stated a side-eye occurring before she could even do anything else. "We're not thinking about this... we'll have all it of. It's on me!~" Rita claimed as if she was more than a little bemused. She said that while looking directly to the bartender and studying his face, maybe Rangiku was right... he definitely seemed like it'd be worth it. "You know we don't have to spend your money Ri, we're all adults now~" Rangiku mentioned her chin resting on her palm as if she'd had this same discussion several times before. 'Sou ka, that's what that looks like,' Saori thought, remembering that the kids leaving for shopping had been talking about the oddity of Iino Miko paying for a bunch of things, cooking breakfast and the like. "Must run in the family..." she uttered nonchalantly. "I make my own money, I'll spend it how I like!~" Rita confirmed. "Hai hai, thanks for the food then~" claimed Nozomi who wasn't going to argue the point. "Eh? Some things really never change I guess... so what's the occasion?" Reina finally asked as the order was placed. While she'd been in the group chat, the offical reason was only known by Saori who'd been nearby. It didn't seem right to break huge news over a phone call...