Taking over a ship, one cook at a time. [Closed // Complete]

[inyourmidst]

Characters: Gin Ichimaru and Shinjiro Aragaki
Content: Gin's contacts have given him some insight into Aragaki's recent strange behavior, and as a kind and caring crew mate he goes to comfort him. Or not.
Setting: Shinjiro's room - Silvana
Time: While docked in Melior
Warnings: Scheming by Gin, swearing by Shinjiro

Comments

[adiosasshole]

Shinji's feelings on having Gin in his room again were mixed to say the least. Last time his crew-mate had come in they had talked circles around each other, a game he felt Gin had eventually won. Ichimaru made his nervous. He knew guys like him on the street. Guys that got by on their silver words and over-reaching plots. Guys like that were great to have on your side... but having them pointed against you? Not so much

[inyourmidst]

The enthusiasm of the reception was somewhat unexpected, but Gin refrained from outright smirking at Aragaki; keeping instead to the more pleasant smile he used when he was attempting to be friendly.

"One would think that you're almost happy to see me," he said, chiding himself lightly a moment later for letting a hint of sarcasm into his tone, but he couldn't resist. Baiting everyone, and Aragaki in particular, was a deeply ingrained habit. "Or perhaps you're just happy to see these."

He held up a folded piece of paper which, as promised, held the names, dates and times of a few of the pirated screenings of the dramas that Aragaki was oddly fond of. Gin had plenty more than what was on this small list, but those would be dolled out later - like dog treats, whenever he thought Aragaki could use something to look forward to.

[adiosasshole]

"Tch." Shinjiro snorted, glaring at Gin. "Not hardly." And he WASN'T happy to see Gin, not really. In fact he was quickly starting to outright HATE Gin over the last few days. Everything about the man rubbed him funny. But he WAS happy to see THOSE.

He reached out for the paper, his eyes showing off a a strange gleam. A little hint of the kid he used to be before reality broken something down deep inside.

[inyourmidst]

Uninvited, Gin took a seat on Aragaki's bed. It put him at a lower, inoffensive height to contrast with the bombshell he was about to drop.

"I'm glad you approve," he said cheerfully as Aragaki unfolded the paper, carefully watching the rare look of delight on the cook's face. It probably wouldn't last more than a few seconds. "I do enjoy learning more about my fellow crew mates. It puts me in a better position to help them. You see, I have this friend over in the Kropmork Mages Guild who I was telling all about my new friends here, and was very surprised when she actually recognised your name."

[adiosasshole]

Shinjiro kept up his glare as Gin sat on his bed, but didn't say anything. It was just a bed, after all.

Then Gin began to speak, and it was like his guts had just decided to re-locate to his ankles. His face paled and sweat broke out on his face. His eyes went wide and shocky, and a nervous tic started over his right eye. He stepped back without really thinking about it.

"Oh really..." He said, his words much calmer then his voice.

[inyourmidst]

"Oh yes," Gin said, acting as though he hadn't noticed Aragaki's abrupt, very gratifying reaction. "Actually, she told me a fair bit about you. I hope you don't mind, but I was very curious to hear about this...condition of yours."

A snake-like leer settled on his face, his eyes barely visible through lowered lashes. "Seems your secrets were quite dangerous after all, Aragaki. Does the Captain know?"

[adiosasshole]

Shinjiro hissed under his breath, and his head suddenly started to pound. He just stood there for a long moment, considering attacking Gin. His axe was in easy reach, and if he moved fast enough maybe he could manage before-

Castor whinnied in the back of his head, and the air around him warbled for just a second. He screwed his eyes shut, fighting it down. If he got started, angry and panicked like this, he wouldn't be able to stop. And he wouldn't let that happen again.

Gin expression proved how much shit he had gotten into, how easily he had fallen into this trap. He had suspected it, oh he had. But he hadn't listened to his gut, now he was paying for it.

'Listen to what he has to say. If you don't like it, kill him.' He thought, and couldn't help a small thrill from that place in his brain Castor hid at the idea.

The terror slipped from his face, replaced with that slightly pissy bored expression once again.

"Maybe he does. What does it matter to you?"

[inyourmidst]

Gin hadn't moved at all despite the expression on Aragaki's face that had promised death only moments before. Gin was quite used to getting that reaction from people, especially in the beginning. Although he had Shinsō tucked into his belt, he had no intention of drawing it.

"I think he doesn't," Gin observed blandly. "Because you're a risk, Aragaki, and Captain Rowe can't afford those kinds of risks. The rest of us, however, can choose our own destinies."

He examined his nails, looking almost bored. "I know the drugs won't work for you much longer, and I know someone who can help."

[adiosasshole]

The expression that clearly stated intended murder came back when Gin brought up Captain Rowe once again, and Shinjiro bared his teeth, his hand already starting to move up to his temple.

But when he brought up the pills he paused, looked sideways at Gin, all suspicious and and paranoid.

"What do you know about the pills?" He whispered, the look of interest starting to peek though. "And what do you mean 'help'?"

[inyourmidst]

"My friend in the Mages Guild managed to get a look at the files they had on you there. She was a little worried about me, you see." Gin put a hand over his heart, though really he didn't much care if Aragaki believed him on this point or not. The rest would probably distract his attention. "I used to be fairly highly placed in the Ivonian Military, and I happen to know someone in the Department of Magical Research and Development who owes me a favour."

He liked to remind Kurotsuchi about it every chance he got, too, though he'd never expected to call it in quite like this.

"He's quite the genius," Gin said. "And he was very interested to hear about your case. I asked him if maybe with a month or two of study he could find some sort of alternate solution for you. He said it would take a week."

Gin looked thoughtfully to the side. "That was two days ago."

[adiosasshole]

Shinjiro lowered his hand the rest of the way, the almost heat-wave like warble to the air dissipating fully.

"Glad to see you were concerned enough to dig shit up on me" He hissed, his face drawn. But that other emotion was still very visible. Hope. A tiny, timid broken hope.

God, if only Aki could see him now.

"An alternate solution... If you're fucking with me Gin..." He let every ounce of threat into those words. And he meant every one. "Why would you help me? Why would you care?"

[inyourmidst]

"Would you believe it's self-preservation?" Gin asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't exactly want to be stuck on a ship with someone whose powers are due to go out of control."

He adjusted himself more comfortably on the bed, flashing a short smile at Aragaki. "Besides, I've gotten used to having you around. You entertain me, and good cooks are so hard to find."

There was just a tiny hint of fondness in his tone, and a grain of truth to both these excuses. It didn't measure up to his real reasons, but Shinjiro didn't need to know that.

He stood up suddenly, brushing out his robe. “As for whether I’m fucking with you, well.” He held up his hand each finger spread straight. “Five days. Then we’ll see, won’t we?”

[adiosasshole]

Oh... Gin knew where to hit, and he hit hard. Shinjiro twitched a little at the "self-preservation" line, his face crackling a little. He thought of Amada's mother, of that collapsed building, and everything after. Not to mention if he lost control... he wouldn't have Kirijo to cover it up. Rowe would have him killed. And there was only one person allowed to kill him.

And those little grains of truth were like salt in the wounds that were supposed to be nice and scared over by now.

"Yeah... I guess we will, won't we." he husked out, looking at his hands.

[inyourmidst]

Gin patted him on the shoulder as he walked past - a gesture that looked comforting on the surface but under the insidious aura of pleasentry that Gin exuded it was claiming. Hook, line and sinker he knew he had Aragaki, just so long as Kurotsuchi didn't let him down (and the man never had before).

Dangling hope was so easy. Now he had only to find out how high Aragaki would jump to catch it.

"I'll let you know when I have some news," he said, heading for the door. "Take good care of yourself, Aragaki-kun."

[adiosasshole]

"Yeah. You do that." He said, glaring at Gin's back, but without much in the way of venom. He just couldn't manage it right now. He was too tired.

That hand on his shoulder... it was like a cell door slamming shut. Gin HAD him. He had all the ammo he would ever need. And Shinjiro knew that he was the type of man to use it.

As soon as Gin was gone he collapsed on his bed, wanting nothing more then to sleep, for a long time.