Kissing is like drinking tea through a tea-strainer;

[sakura_sheath]

WHO: Oriya Mibu and Wanajima Kaito.
WHAT: Conducting an interview, meeting for the first time.
WHERE: The Fullmoon Maple Teahouse.
WHEN: Evening, Day 76

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[sakura_sheath]

Oriya turned at the voice, though he had senses Kaito before the young man had spoken. He didn't have magical abilities like others in Rivelata, and wasn't particularly immortal or inhuman. The best word to describe him was spiritual- He had a deep connection to the worlds of the living and dead. Oriya simply saw and felt things that most people were ignorant to, spiritually blind.

He gave the young man a smile, and didn't hide the rather discerning gaze that moved up and down Kaito's body. Kaito had a good build, a nice face and certainly an appeal that would work for a social environment. Oriya was a good judge of what impressed and attracted, considering his roots in the 'entertainment and hospitality' field.

The pipe left his lips a moment "You must be Kaito." He didn't bow, merely inclined his head before taking another draw of sweet opium. Oriya himself was quite tall, his build strong and face fox-likely attractive. If there was a picture in the dictionary beside 'Traditional Japanese Aesthetic', he was it.

"Sit down" A gesture to a chair nearby, near a small fountain. "Relax."

[kwanijima]

Didn't they look a sight? Kaito thought he took the seat he was gestured to, resting his elbow on his knee and propping his chin up with a hand, the very posture of relaxed and interested.

Two very tall men, one dark haired and built, another with silver haired and slender. While Oriya looked traditionally Japanese, there was almost nothing oriental about Kaito's features outside of his jaw line, given his hair color and ice blue eyes.

[sakura_sheath]

Oriya found Kaito attractive. The young man closely resembled Muraki, whom Oriya thought to be the most perfect man in the world. It was like looking at his friend when they had gone to college together, albeit Kaito's hair was longer and Muraki had been broader.

"You have a good look. I can see you becoming a popular host." His voice was very deep, very throaty. Then again, Oriya always had the feel of a man who was merely feet away from the bedroom. A casual elegance and sexuality that came naturally. "So tell me, what experience do you have to offer? You have an air of sophistication that I like- have you worked anywhere before?"

[kwanijima]

At that question, Kaito frowned. "Well, I was a cop back home. But before that I did take up quite a few odd jobs to support my brother and myself." With his free hand, the silver haired man uncurled each finger as he listed off from memory, chronologically from when he ran away from home with Lind. "Waiter, bartender, art model, car mechanic..."

[sakura_sheath]

Oriya had to smirk at the idea of a cop working in one of his establishments. Oriya was a notorious crimelord, though his rank was far too high for the police to ever touch him or his restaurant. He held the prime-minister of Japan in the palm of his hand, and had enough blackmail on most of the members of parliament to do pretty much whatever he wished.
They were lucky he was content to simply run his business, and continue his rather sheltered existence as a modern day samurai and national treasure.

"Bartender and waiter are definitely useful. You don't look the clumsy type." Another puff on his pipe, and he pushed back a thick wave of dark hair from his face. "Tell me a bit about yourself, and why you want to work in my Teahouse. Is there any particular reason, or are you simply bored?"

[kwanijima]

The real reason was of course, anything but boredom. Jade had not mentioned in their pact which rebellion group he was supposed to be spying on, but on the rebellion in general. Which means Kaito needed to provide him with more information than what they could both read off the journals. Lurking at an establishment where plots and schemes tend to slip subtly into the common smalltalk would make his life easier.

"Just something to do," Kaito shrugged. "Don't really like the idea of sitting on my ass all day doing nothing."

[sakura_sheath]

"I hear you on that. I've spent too much time doing nothing. It's not like we're on a vacation, and we can actually enjoy our time sitting around." A light yawn, and a real smile towards the young man. Oriya was a friendly enough man if you didn't give him attitude, or reason to be rude. He could be temperamental when he was stressed, but who wasn't?

"If you're comfortable, I would like to put you in charge of the bar tending. This isn't a European establishment, so it will be mostly pouring wines and spirits for the customers. Nothing terribly fancy. I don't want someone young handling the liquor, it requires a mature hand."

Oriya himself was in his late thirties, his face showed the refinement of age- but not the wrinkles and lines. Keeping far away from the bustle of busy modern life had probably aided in his graceful aging.

"Of course you'll still host, I like an assistant while entertaining larger groups. I think the two of us would look good together, enough for the gifts to be worth the effort at least. Of course you'll receive a cut."

[kwanijima]

Vacation? When was the last time he had taken one of those? Kaito returned the smile. "Bar tending I can do," he assured confidently. After all, he did have almost a year's experience with that (Kaito got along much better with the drunk patrons when he had the bar counter between himself and them). And being twenty-two (twenty-four on his identification card), Kaito was more than legal enough to handle a bit of alcohol.

"You would have to guide me along with the hosting bit though," the younger man replied modestly. "That's something I'm afraid I don't have experience in."

[sakura_sheath]

"Hosting is half confidence, half faking it." Oriya felt like he could talk to Kaito on a man-to-man level. There wasn't a really a point in bullshitting the other man, he seemed intelligent enough. Oriya's job was to read men and play them for all they were worth, he had a knack for being able to read between the lines. For the most part he didn't care about what was there, as long as it didn't affect him negatively.

"There are a few skills you need to know, especially since this is a traditional setting. Once you learn those, it'll come easy. If you learn as quickly as you say, you'll have no problem. If you don't, then we'll just sit you with the deaf old men who won't be able to tell the difference anyway."

[kwanijima]

Kaito chuckled at the idea of being left dealing with a bunch of senior citizens, who would most likely not be in any rebellion groups. "Well, so long as they learn to keep their hands to themselves..."

[sakura_sheath]

"I wouldn't worry about that. I'm very protective over my employees, I consider them part of my establishment. Disrespect my staff, and your disrespecting my teahouse. Disrespect my teahouse and you're disrespecting Me." There was something in his voice that told of what might happen to those unlucky enough to earn his anger.

"You'll be working closely with me, and I don't think anyone is going to try anything. If they do, I will deal with them personally." He glanced to the workers clearing rubbish away from the front of the Teahouse, mostly wood chips and brick from the construction. "Are there any other questions or concerns you have? Oh, and you're hired."

[kwanijima]

Fantastic. Kaito would not want to be fired from his job because he 'accidentally' broke the wrist of some old pervert who didn't know where to keep his hands. So long as Oriya and him had come to terms with this issue.

"You mentioned uniforms and working hours?"

[sakura_sheath]

"Right. I almost forgot, it's been a long day." He had been watching the men work since the early morning, and running between sources of wine and food making preparations and closing deals.

"Everyone is getting a kimono, I'm picking the colour if you don't mind. You have really cool tones, maybe pink." He tapped the pipe against his full lips in thought. "I normally wear deep, rich colours. I would prefer those around me to be in dark neutrals and light pastels. As for hours, the Teahouse will open at 5:00pm.. Closing will be around 2am."

[kwanijima]

Oh God, PINK?! Kaito could already see a certain bastardly necromancer laughing at him about it already. Still, he forced a smile to his face and nodded. "Well, I'll leave it up to you to decide then," he replied agreeably and got up. "And I'll perhaps leave you to your work?"

[sakura_sheath]

"Don't worry, I wouldn't do wrong by you. It's in my best interests for you to be looking good. This is a high-class Teahouse, not a dragshow." Oriya himself wore kimono that were certainly not masculine in style, the sleeves long and sweeping- the layers multiple. They were almost always open to the obi, displaying his muscular chest and defined collarbone- he wore them better then most women over could. There was a meaning behind them, deep-rooted Japanese tradition. Not that he cared to explain.

"I'm going to head out myself, I'll be here all week if you have any more questions. It was nice to meet you, and I'm looking forward to working together."

[kwanijima]

Kaito nodded again. It had been years since he last had to wear a kimono. He wasn't even sure if he could remember how to tie the damn thing anymore.

Standing up, he gave his new employer a polite bow. "I'll get going then," he said. "Please take care of me from now on, Oriya-san."

Fuck, he really had got to get used to this manners shit again.