There Is No Satisfaction In Anything That You Can Get

[8chohakkai8]

WHO: Cho Hakkai & YOU
WHAT: Exploring Elipsa, specifically Nightwake City! Being amazed by all the future-tech, bar hopping, and checking out some fan merch!
WHEN: Any time in January!
WHERE: The streets of Nightwake City, a dive bar in the red light sub-district, and in the Otherworlder Fan-Merch Store!
WARNINGS: Hakkai is an alcoholic and refuses to admit it, also a suggestive body pillow, but besides that, all is good! Will update of needed otherwise.



I. A Flying Car Would Have Made His Journey Back Home So Much Easier

After ten weeks in Ellipsa, Cho Hakkai felt reasonably settled. He had a small circle of friends, a homey apartment in Nightwake, and a steady job in Frostreign. Yet, a nagging sense of emptiness remained. An emptiness ​that manifested as insomnia.

Accustomed to a more chaotic past, the sterile safety of his room left Hakkai fidgety. To cope, he took to wandering the streets, marveling at the futuristic city lights and the artificial climate. ​His awe peaked as a high-tech bus soared overhead. Struck by a sudden whim to experience the flight, he realized he had no idea how the transit system worked.

Spotting a passerby in the late-night quiet, Hakai approached tentatively. ​“Um, excuse me.”

Hakkai pointed toward the vehicle as it disappeared behind a skyscraper. “I’m still fairly new here. Those are buses, right? Do you know how one goes about boarding them, or where I might find a stop?”

II. It's Not Alcoholism If You Don't Get Drunk

The red light district bustled with those living ‘not-so-decent’ second lives. Hakkai, though too insecure for the area's typical vices, sought refuge in his own familiar crutch: the dive bar. He found comfort in the dim lighting and slow atmosphere, a perfect setting for a reserved man. And while a high tolerance meant the whiskey was more for flavor than inebriation, his current state suggested otherwise.

Slumped at the bar, Hakkai sat surrounded by empty bottles and scattered pamphlets. Ignoring his glass, he held one of the booklets close to his face, muttering, “I see… So that's how it works…”

​As Hakkai focused, the air shifted. His shawl swayed, and his bangs fluttered as a gentle breeze—impossible for an indoor setting—began to swirl. The regulars recognized the mark of a seasonal power holder and kept their distance until the wind surged. The gust sent the empty bottles toppling, including the one full glass, which poured directly onto his neighbor’s lap. ​“Ah! Oh no! I am so sorry!”

Hakkai stammered, horrified. “I didn't realize it would get that strong!”

​Perhaps the alcohol was affecting him after all.

III. Hakkai Wishes To Speak To A Manager

It is in the morning that Hakkai can be found in a more peculiar place. He had heard word of it through one of his new friends over the network, back when the lawubus were being circulated by the faeries, and it had been morbidly haunting his curiosity ever since. And so he decided to bite the bullet and finally go!

Oh, and what a spectacle the Otherworlder Fan-Merch store was! Various toys, figures, and gadgets of all shapes and sizes depicting different people. Some Hakkai knew, and many he didn't. And then a little something surreal caught his attention.

It was a tiny little space, barely existing among the clutter of shelves. But sure enough, there it was, a peculiar little spot with Hakkai’s own likeness staring right back at him. In fact, his attention seemed to focus on one display of what appeared to be a double-sided daimakura image of him, splayed out and in a pseudo-state of undress.

…Huh.

“I can't be the only one who is thrown off by this place, right? I mean, the least they could do is compensate us for selling things in our likeness."

IV. Wildcard!

((OOC: Questions? Comments? Or do you have another idea for a thread with Hakkai? Feel free to message me or contact me on chohakkaifan to plot! Or simply feel free to leave a top-level, and I will gladly respond!))

Comments

1, a day or two after she wakes up on the 7th

[roundandaround]

[The passerby wheels around with a bit of difficulty in her hospital-loaned wheelchair. It's Rinku! She smiles and waves as if nothing happened.]

Oh, Hakkai-san! Yeah, you can just wait at the bus stop and they'll come down. Where did you wanna get to?

[8chohakkai8]

[When he approached the wheelchaired resident, the absolute last person he was expecting it to be was Rinku! A familiar face perhaps, but of all people, to be in this situation--]

Goodness, what happened!?

[Everything about flying busses had immediately left Hakkai's mind as he now finds himself kneeling down in front of Rinku's chair to get on eye level with her.]

Are you all right?

[roundandaround]

[Rinku being Rinku, she isn't even offended. She seems more surprised than anything.]

Yeah, I'm okay! You know the Music Club New Year's live? I know there were a bunch of people in the audience, and this year it was on TV too... Something kinda went wrong at the end of it. It's a long story, it was the same reason everyone was singing all last week. Or at least I heard they were. I was kinda in the hospital. But I'm out now! I just need this until I get far enough in my physical therapy that I can walk normally again! That's all!

[8chohakkai8]

I remember seeing the advertisements for it. Although I've been so caught up in studying the seasonal powers, I sadly missed viewing it this time around.

[The sympathy and concern on Hakkai's face were apparent.]

You say you can't walk? Are your legs injured?

[roundandaround]

Hm... not injured, just it's hard to get used to walking again. I feel like I've been walking all week 'cause my soul was, but my body was in a coma, so it's taking a while to do things. But I'm getting better already!

[8chohakkai8]

I see, so it's nothing physical precisely, but more spiritual.

[Hakkai can't help but look down at her legs with concern.]

... Would you mind if I tried something? I'm not entirely sure if it would work, but I have a few ideas that can be explored.

[roundandaround]

Eh? Sure. I think I'm doing pretty well with my physical therapy, I just gotta make myself get back to walking like I was before.

[8chohakkai8]

Of course, physical therapy is essential. But if it's something spiritual...

[Hakkai pauses with that, his thoughts wandering as he reaches out his hands, hovering them over Rinku's legs. It was then that a faint yellow glow began to emanate from his hands, subtle at first but slowly growing. Raw, warm energy seemed to emanate from them, reaching out and spreading up Rinku's legs, infusing them with spiritual energy.]

[roundandaround]

[Rinku squeaks a little. She twitches and tries to flex her legs in response.]

Is that supposed to make them stronger, Hakkai-san? That's cool!

[8chohakkai8]

It should, hopefully.

[He speaks softly, his concentration seeming to be focused on her legs.]

I'm trying to expedite the healing process by transferring some of my spiritual energy into your body. If we are lucky, it should attach itself to your Qi flow and strengthen your own spirit.

Can you try to move your legs a little more?

[roundandaround]

Like this?

[Rinku wiggles her legs a little. She makes an excited little noise.]

Wow, they already feel a bit stronger! Thanks a lot, Hakkai-san! So this is a spirit kinda healing thing?

[permboy]

A couple of days into the new year, Gintoki gives Hakkai a call about meeting for training. It's unusually proactive of him, really, but he can commit when he's set his mind on something. It's simple, really; he doesn't want to end up in another situation where he just gets shoved to the sidelines because the monster is too strong without the magic abilities to deal with it.

Even though he's the one to call, he still arrives at the Spring Guild after Hakkai. Definitely at least a few minutes past the agreed time, and definitely completely unapologetic about it, considering how slowly he's walking and how lazy his wave is.

"Yo."

[8chohakkai8]

Whether or not Cho Hakkai seemed to mind Gintoki's lack of timeliness, he didn't seem to show it. Instead, suddenly looking up from the computer he seemed to be sitting at while researching. He had been meaning to visit the Spring Guild ever since her heard Rinku mention it, and he was glad Gintoki was willing to meet up and train in a place like this. It's two things off his bucket list with one go!

How lucky!

"Ah, hello, Mr. Gintoki," Hakkai could only lightly smile in response as he looked up at the other man from his seat, the monitor's screen reflecting off the single monocle that hung over his right eye. It seems he was reviewing world history when Gintoki came in. "I hope it wasn't too much trouble to get here. I know how, even though we may both be Spring users, that doesn't necessarily mean either of us may be living close to here."

[permboy]

It was a logical choice, really. Although he isn't a member and he doesn't visit the guilds much, he knows they're built for practicing magic. He's not in a great hurry, though, and goes to peer curiously over Hakkai's shoulder.

"Nah, I live in Sunwaning. It's a spring district. Whatcha reading?"

[8chohakkai8]

"Oh, this?" Hakkai turns back to look at the computer screen. "It's a brief historical summary on why they brought otherworlders here. I didn't realize that before they started taking us, most of the natives of this world commonly had access to seasonal powers, just as we do now. And then suddenly, out of the blue, it just stopped."

And then things started getting dangerous....

Hakkai reached for the mouse, clicking around a little.

"Actually, before this, I was looking up what information they had on file for spring power users. Did you know that most seasonal powers are driven by emotion?"