Whiskey, Laughter, and Fate [Ryoichi/Amelia]

Amelia looked horrified and she felt a heat rise within her at the idea of a child being sold by their parents. Eyes wide, jaw dropped, she stared at Ryoichi, “She… sold her?” After getting a confirmation, Amelia listened quietly to the rest of Ryoichi’s explanation. She prayed this rumor he heard would come through for him.

‘What kind of heartless bitch sells her child while her father is in a fucking coma?’ Amelia thought, her own mind filling the silence after Ryoichi stopped talking. She didn’t dare speak so callously out loud, especially to a man going through so much as it was. She wasn't aware she was staring though. ‘If I met a woman like that, I would actually have to fight for once. There isn’t a bouncer in this world that could keep me from clawing her eyes out. What a worthless excuse of a mother.’

Realizing she was quiet and sort of just staring at this man, she straightened up suddenly and gestured for to the barkeeper, “Another, please…” ‘Yes, maybe six more for my friend here…’ she thought. “I am so sorry… You didn’t have to share something so deep with me, but I appreciate the trust in a stranger…”

The two sat in an awkward silence, Ryoichi unaware of how violent Amelia's mind was at the moment. Frankly, his was little better. He didn't like admitting it, but, he was glad that his now ex-wife was dead -- because, had she been alive and told him everything that she had in the letter, there was a pretty high chance that he'd have done it himself. But, he drowned out the thoughts with more alcohol, taking a large swig as the next glass came around.

"Honestly...kinda feels good to talk about it. Plus, more people can be on the lookout for her. Let...let her know that daddy's out there still."

Even if the leads didn't bring him anywhere, it wouldn't stop him. If his little girl was alive, he wanted to at least let her know that he was there...and that he'd never leave her again. He offered a warm smile as he looked to the bartender, unaware that he'd gone back to idly writing down notes and details on this conversation.

"Barkeep. Put her's on my bill. It's the least I can do for givin' you one hell of a sob story like that. Let's not sit here all sad and shit. Tell me more 'bout you."

“Offering to pay for my drinks in exchange for listening to your ‘sob story,’ doesn’t work if I immediately tell you mine,” Amelia said, smiling as a new pair of their drinks were brought. She took a decent drink and set the glass down. “I’m… a middle school teacher, I take care of my brother and grandmother, my parents died when I was really young, and it has really just been us for a while.”

“Let’s talk about something more fun; sad pasts are not what I want to dive into for long…” Amelia said, feeling that warmth and welcomed lightheadedness finally hitting like she wanted. “So, anything more fun you wanna talk about? Or do?”

As the new glasses were brought, Ryoichi couldn't help but chuckle at her insistence on telling her own 'sob story.' He took a drink along with her, setting it down as he smiled, letting out a sharp exhale as he felt the warmth and lightheadedness begin to take him as well.

"Tryin' to get even already, huh?"

Hers wasn't much of a sob story, hell it was a lot more upbeat and noble than his, but, he wasn't about to tell her that, especially not when she insisted on talking about something more fun. So, taking another drink, Ryoichi made a light gesture with his fingers, and the ice in their glasses rattled lightly, before being lifted from their places.

If they were to do something more fun, why not show off a little? A teasing smirk spread onto his features as the cubes floated around the two, one of them quickly, briefly, grazing the back of Amelia's neck, before finally coming back to rest into their original places. He wanted to try it with the drinks themselves, but with the buzz he'd been working up, he didn't want to risk making a mess. There was at least that level of logic that he still had, even as the rest of his inhibitions were fading.

"How 'bout...you?"

Resting his cheek against a fist, he gave a sly smirk. With a woman like her right in front of him, and the day the two of them had, what was the harm in some more intimate fun between adults to make it better?

Amelia shivered as the cold ice traced along the back of her neck. She shot Ryoichi a lustful, knowing glance. "If I didn’t know any better," she teased, her voice layered with playful intent, "I’d say you were flirting with me, Ryoichi."

Amelia took a looong drink, downing the entire glass before setting it down on the bar. “Your daughter,” she brought up, probably not thinking clearly thanks to the liquor. “I might know someone who can help if China doesn’t work out, buuuuuut.... I don't think I should tell you unless I get something fun in return.”

That smirk grew a little wider as he saw that glance, her light teasing and playfulness only given a wink in response. He lifted his glass slightly, before joining her in draining it, finishing it a little bit before her, taking in a deep breath, getting air back into him. He turned to face her again at the mention of his daughter, the sly smile fading into a serious one for a moment...only to return as she mentioned her condition. So, Ryoichi leaned forward, his arm moving to rest in his lap as the other hand gently reached to touch her chin.

"Well now, I ain't above lettin' a lady have some fun, especially a fine-lookin' one like you offerin' me a rather good deal. Got any ideas?"

Amelia’s smile brightened as she leaned in and ran a finger along his jawline. “Pay the tab and I’ll meet you out front, okay?” She slipped off the barstool and made her way toward the front. She was a little buzzed, having built up a decent tolerance to alcohol. Outside, there was a wonderful breeze and she spread her arms wide to enjoy the cool feel of it while she waited for Ryoichi.

During the short wait, Amelia found herself lost in thought about how to actually help him find his daughter. Let’s face it, the woman had a soft spot for men who either had or wanted families. Seeing a father so desperately trying to find his little girl that he would travel the world on nothing more than a rumor? That was sexy as hell. During these thoughts, she felt a firm tap on her ass.

Amelia jumped and looked back, thinking she would see Ryoichi standing there, but she didn’t. She recognized the man as the parent of one of her students from last year. “W-Wait… Mr. Ackermann?” Amelia stepped away from him and stomped her heel angrily. “How DARE you lay a hand on m-…” “Evenin’ Ms. Brenner… You planning on leaving with that stranger or with a man you know is a good time?”

Ryoichi smirked at the request, chuckling as he gave a light nod. Stretching and getting to his feet, though a tad wobbly, he pulled out his wallet, but, just as he was looking up to see Amelia go, he noticed someone exiting with her. Usually that wasn't an issue, but, something felt off. A soft hum came from the man as he stashed his notebook and pencil away, pulled out a few bills to cover the drinks and a tip, then started to head outside.

Just as he was getting to the door, he heard a muffled conversation through the glass. A name, "Ackermann," and he could also see that Amelia was pretty visibly angry. Though, it was possible that was partly due to the alcohol. Quietly opening the door, a hand lifted from his side, eyes narrowing as the field of Reiryoku manifested from his hand, splitting in two.

One of them created an invisible barrier between Amelia and the man, while the other expertly, yet carefully, brought Amelia backward toward him, and Ryoichi slipped an arm around her waist. Firm, caring, yet defensive all at once. Taking a look at the man talking to her, he was the same one that had tailed her outside. Guy must have been watching her inside. Far be it from him to assume, but that initial precedent didn't bode well.

"Sorry, wanted to make sure the total was right. Everything alright?"

Despite the casual words, Ryoichi kept an eye on the man in case he tried anything. Whoever this guy was to her, she didn't seem too thrilled to see him, and, given that she was intoxicated, he wouldn't feel right in just letting things play out.

Amelia’s face shifted to mild surprise and confusion when she was suddenly drawn back. She ended up at Ryoichi’s side and then smirked like a gremlin, pointing at Mr. Ackermann angrily. “This asshole actually thought it was okay to touch my ass!”

“Aw, come on. I thought you liked me,” Mr. Ackermann said.

“… We went on one date before I found your wife was fine, you worthless piece of shit. Besides, you clearly need a cab and a breath mint. You’re drunk. Go home.”

"Fine, fin-..."

It had a very good cloaking ability. No one would have seen or sensed it coming. So, when a hole and blood appeared through the back of Mr. Ackermann, all Amelia could do was scream. Behind him, a good ten feet away, was a tall, slender, humanoid, hollow with four glowing, green eyes, four arms, and covered in thick chitin-like armor. It had no real face, and it's mask jutted out to the side and top with multiple wicked spikes. At the tip of its pointed tail, green acid dripped.

With a shake of its tail, the body of Mr. Ackermann slipped off, leaving a chain bound soul hanging on, screaming for dear life as it was lured in like a fish on a line. Mr. Ackermann was sucked into the smallest hole, supernaturally crushed as the hollow consumed him quicker than a vacuum sucked up dirt. "Oh god..."

As the conversation went on, Ryoichi stayed silent, staring intensely at Mr, Ackermann, keeping an arm protectively around Amelia. His eyes flicked over to look at Amelia as he heard the comment about Ackermann's wife. Sexual harassment aside, the guy seemed pretty sleazy in the first place to be lying about his wife to get into her pants, no matter how hot she was.

Something nagged at him, though. That protective arm around her slowly started to move in front of her, as if wanting to keep her from moving forward. As the hole and blood suddenly appeared through the back of the man, Ryoichi silently cursed himself. Immediately, he moved his arm to try and keep Amelia behind him. He knew that his hotel wasn't too far away, and he had left the window open, along with being able to sense the distant traces of energy from his constant use of Mediumship in his sword.

He knew that he couldn't save Ackermann, so, right now, he focused on Amelia. That invisible field of energy manifested, split into three, and immediately sped off to his nearby hotel to bring his sword. Until he had it, he wanted to at least keep it busy. So, directing a hand toward Amelia, one of the remaining fields formed a dome-like shield around her, while the other went to the ground, a kinetic blast erupting from below the Hollow to knock it off-balance.

He could sense his sword incoming, he just needed a little bit more time.