Lost Cause [Event Topic :: Afternoon]

Touko would wonder as she scanned her immediate periphery for the telltale sign of cat ears. It was an utter shame that she couldn't light a single cancer stick right now. The Research and Development Park was open and still full of people. She doubted that smoking wouldn't be allowed here, perhaps out of her own wishful thinking. So far, she has yet to see any 'no-smoking' signs or at least she has told herself to believe. But, she wasn't going to risk doing that right now. It would be an utter shame if she had to miss out on the show just because she started smoking.

The former Velvet Attendant would look around and hope to see if she could locate and identify her desired target.

After her meeting with her two friends, Akira had started to slowly make her way back to where the car would be parked, Of course she could get carried by anyone working for her, but where was the independence in that? It just made her feel like a child, so she tended to avoid it at all costs. While walking at her steady pace, she looked up at the sky, taking in the rays of the sun as it seemed to start towards the horizon. It seemed that there were only a few guards following her at the time, which was an improvement from the fifteen that had seemed to tail her all day. Either way, she was going to try and get to the car before nightfall, wanting to get home so she could prepare for the work she'd have to be doing tomorrow. It took a lot to convince her parents to let her out of the house for one night, and she wasn't ready to make them regret it.

Just as Touko was looking around, she did notice many people's attention were focused on something. Instinctively, she also followed their gaze to finally spy upon that one little guy she was looking for. The woman finally smiled and then wondered to herself where he was going. But most importantly, why is everyone able to see him now? With a few preliminary footsteps made towards him, Touko would soon follow him. He was clearly headed towards a girl and what seemed to be her guardian? Or butler? Whatever the case, this boy had an interest in both of them for a reason.


She stood behind the feline-eared individual with a smile on her face with her suitcase hanging loosely in her grip. Clearly the child lacked some manners and there was something comical about it. But, there was definitely more to him than being a flippant fun-loving boy.

"Meeting your new friends, dear?" she asked the boy and then looked back at both Shiina and her butler, "Tea? It's very nice on a great day like this. I'm Touko and you two are?"

Akira had stopped walking when she took note of the cat boy, moving towards two people just ahead of her. He sat down next to them and started to speak, but they were all out of range for her to hear anything. One of the people on the bench didn't look too happy about the new arrival, so she decided to intervene; it's not like she'd ever see these people again so she wouldn't be embarrassing herself. She made her way towards them slowly, trying to be cautious with every step. Once she got close enough, she would speak, her voice was very weak, but probably noticeable. "Is everything alright here?" She'd take a look at everyone around, it seemed another person had approached as well. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a man in a suit staring at her. She avoided eye contact with him, hoping that nobody would come in and rush her to get home. Though she knew they would pick her up rather than make her run, so maybe being carried home would be nice. But she wasn't a child, so why would she let anyone do that to her?

Touko blinked at the Tsurinai surname. It was the one that popped up quite commonly back in her recent travels. There had been members that were involved with the unnatural. Out of those she had seen, a certain swordsman of their clan had caught her eye a couple of times. And to think she'd find another one here so soon. This was certainly an interesting turn of events. She had wondered what the Tsurinais were doing here.


"A pleasure to meet you two, indeed," her lips slowly curved into a modest smile as she slightly bowed down her head in greeting, "Did you two just come here to enjoy what this facility had to offer in display?"

She had little doubt that if they came here for abnormal reasons, it would be obfuscated with pleasantries and insignificant details. But it was best to size those two up to get some idea what they were here for. But to send someone this young? Then again, it wasn't like some of the Persona Users facing their own trials were all adults in the first place when they first made use of their powers and the Tsurinai's weren't a normal family either.

She noticed that the boy pouring in an unhealthy amount of sugar into his drink. By the time he drunk it, Touko was still holding up her eyebrow at what had transpired. Cute things liked sweet things, go figure. After traveling and seeing people for a while, that somehow seemed to be the norm. There were definitely sweet-tooth's out there that didn't have an appearance that would make people get diabetes by just looking at them, but it was this combination that kept showing up to her. There must be something in the universe that kept equating sweet things with cute people, even boys. But honestly, she wondered how these people never got Type 2 - Diabetes in their lifetime. Ok, maybe except for one person. But he wasn't exactly the type you wouldn't call cute.

It felt like this boy was forgetting what he had promised her earlier. While this may have been some cause of irritation, Touko took it easy with what was obviously a mock pout, pretending to be hurt of having another girl chosen over her as she sniffed. "Perhaps. Unless you prefer to have your ears scratched again like last morning. But I suppose you will have that girl over there do it for you. And here I thought you liked me, is it because you like them young?"

There was a slight teasing lilt at the end, but nevertheless she remained in her faux offended pout. Touko wondered how long she would have to play this charade, but patience would be key here. There was no need to screw it up right now. She winked at the newcomer and then gestured her to do what the boy bid her to do. So he wants the attention? Then he will have it.

Strengths:

Well that felt extremely awkward, at least three of the people hadn't even looked at her, and the fourth just asked to be scratched behind the ear. Maybe it was her own fault for approaching people when she didn't understand the situation, but it had seemed like two men approaching two women on a bench, so she assumed they were flirting. But upon closer inspection, she had deduced that at least 'one' of the men was actually a woman; at least she thought. She couldn't be sure, but then again, who really cared about strangers? Nodding at the only one who had even acknowledged her presence, she'd smile a bit and walk away from the group. There was really no point in sticking around when you were being ignored. But she was used to it, since she wasn't really someone who stood out. Either way, she would make her way to the car and head home for the night, since there wasn't really a reason to stay there anymore. Plus it was almost curfew anyways, wouldn't want to make her mother angry.

[Exit]

She continued to look hurt, but still playing along either way. Though it wouldn't be for long when she noticed the boy seemingly 'teleported' right behind Touko out of surprise. So was the woman in that manner, it was very sudden and very fast. Her heart almost stopped for that single moment until she breathed again. It was just nothing. Perhaps some violation of personal boundaries according to the boy. On the other hand, the Tsurinai didn't seem likely to want to reveal her intentions. Or perhaps she was just here like she claimed to be?

Touko regarded her with an "I see" and a smile. She wouldn't broach any further on the topic. Demons was the now the thing around here, according to this feline-like boy. Her smile seemed to grow slightly wider at the information he was starting to freely give.

"My, isn't that impressive? That's quite interesting. I do believe people have their own personal demons. But if you mean flesh and blood otherworldly creatures, I suppose I have seen a couple in my lifetime..." she replied and trailed off into some thought before ignoring the looks that she would likely be getting from Shiina and Jakob.

In her travels there were otherworldly beings that didn't exactly quite fit in with the status quo of human civilization. But that was a gross understatement as to what she had seen so far. Other than that, the 'King of All Demons', right? What an interesting title. There were a couple of demons that came to Touko's mind. But one stood out the most. It's funny, who would've thought THAT ONE was a cat person?


"A silly observation of mine, but I suppose that makes you a demon as well?" she asked the boy with a twinkle in her eye as she started to take off her glasses. If his master was the 'King of Demons', logic comes to mind that this boy would likely be one.