Logs:Vicissitudes of Fame

Vicissitudes of Fame
Dramatis Personae Daiki, Shane	2022-02-23 "{...maybe we can order in?}"
Location <NYC> Lower East Side - Lower East Side
Historically characterized by crime and immigrant families crammed into cramped tenement buildings, the Lower East Side is often identified with its working-class roots. Today, it plays host to many of New York's mutant poor, although even here they are still often forced into hiding. Daiki steps out onto the street, where the day is just as gloriously balmy as it had been before, though it might feel a bit sunnier by contrast with the dimly-lit leasing office of the apartment building now behind them. He's looking well put-together if unassuming in his usual work attire: slim black suit, white broadcloth shirt, skinny blue tie. "Well, then." It is not, perhaps, altogether clear whether there was any more to that thought, but he switches to Vietnamese to say, "{He wasn't even trying for a plausible excuse.}" Beside him like a tiny bright-plumed bird sheltering in the shadow of this willowy tree, Shane is in finely-tailored silver-embroidered blue; vest with elegant vinework, neat slacks, his tie in a perfect trinity knot. "{At least he didn't say the slurs out loud. He was thinking them real clear, though.}" His voice is chipper enough at this latest setback, but there's a noticeable slump to his shoulders as he takes out his phone to check the time. "{Kinda feeling done for the day. There's another place over on Essex but you know it's just gonna be more of the same. Besides,}" he's a little wry with this addition, "{plenty of space over at Ryan's now it's not like he'll kick me out any time soon.}" "Nn." Daiki nods, dropping one hand to squeeze delicately at Shane's shoulder. "{Let's get you something to eat, then.}" He turns his face up to the sun for a moment, then leads the way decisively toward Houston. "{I doubt he would kick you out even if he had -- less space. We can pick this back up when you're good and ready. Besides, it's probably easier on Obie and Sprite if they're not completely relying on Spencer.}" He does not sound as casual here as he is trying to sound, though he would probably fool anyone who knew he less well. "{What would you say to takeout? Bulgogi?}" "{They've got Ryan there, too,}" Shane points out, though there's not a lot of confidence in this assertion. "{He -- might sober up long enough to remember a walk now and then.}" He tags along at Daiki's side, managing somehow to make the several steps he has to take for each one of Daiki's look entirely unlike scurrying. His eyes trace the sidewalk in front of them as he briefly separates from Daiki's side to avoid colliding with a rapidly approaching man in a business suit. "{Bulgogi sounds -- sure,}" sounds decidedly more muted than his previous words. "{Whatever Ryan's substance use habits, I suspect you all have enough on your minds that it's nice to share the load.}" Daiki's voice has regained the full measure of his wonted steadiness. "{Or we could go for some --}" Even with all the space Shane left him, the man in the suit manages to clip Daiki in passing. "Watch where you're going," he snaps, glaring daggers at Daiki before adding, a little clumsily, "mutie-lover." "{Yeah, it's been a lot. I'm trying not to dwell on what if they keep him for --}" Shane cuts himself off when the businessman speaks. His teeth bare, his huge eyes narrowing on the man and claws reflexively lengthening. He glances to Daiki, with an effort biting back some retort to the man who just shouldered him. "I --" The flare of Daiki's anger does not much show in his expression or body language, but the sudden intensifying of his inexorable draw is dramatic in its own right. Other pedestrians are slowing or stopping, many of them to level distinctly hostile stares at Daiki as he struggles to slow his breathing. In a moment his powers settle again, though man in the suit looks almost ready to launch himself at the object of his abrupt unreasoning hatred. "I apologize, Sir." Daiki holds his hands up, a gesture halfway between appeasement and surrender. "I will be more careful in the future. Have a good day." He bows and hastens back to Shane, shepherding him away, his pace belying his apparent calm. Shane's sharptoothed snarl does not soon fade, though he lets himself be led away easily enough. He's cleaving a little closer than before to Daiki's side, small and tense and prickly until some distance is between them and the man who had bumped into Dai. "{That been happening a lot lately?}" He's casting a brief and wary look over his shoulder. "{Don't think fame agrees with you, friend.}" "{Depends on your definition of 'a lot'...}" Daiki's jaw tightens. "{But, yes. I'd expected something like this, but the scale of it...}" He gives a helpless half-shrug. "{It's hard to manage first impressions when everyone already has opinions about me.}" He rallying again, though. "{I'll get used to it, adjust my strategies. I'll be fine. The most important thing right now is to make sure your ba stays in the news. I have faith in Tian-shin, but I don't like leaving anything to chance.}" "{Oh, good, the most important thing is to keep on cementing people's preconceived opinions of you. This sounds very safe.}" There's a very small flutter in the gills along Shane's neck. "{You start needing a security detail, we can probably hook you up. Not that getting escorted around by biker freaks would help people's feelings but it might help you not get stabbed one of these days.}" Daiki heaves a sigh, quiet and shallow. "{You've got enough to worry about without my adding to it. I can foist more of my pieces off on biddable colleagues, and when this dies down -- when we let it die down -- most people will forget about me.}" His smile is a little forced but not insincere. "{But I promise, I'll ask for protection if it starts getting really bad. It beats wearing a paper bag over my head or trying to grow a beard. Though...}" He chews on his lower lip, still scanning the street warily. "{...maybe we can order in?}"