Collab with [@Delta44]

[hider=Offer Accepted]“Hmm…” Ryoki seems thoughtful for a moment, as she contemplates the offer. “I honestly thought you wanted to take me [i]in[/i] instead, but of course, I’ve no problems with letting such a gentlemanly fellow such as yourself take me out. I suppose there’s room for that later.” Ryoki giggles at her vague sexual references, nodding at Yutaro. “Well, tomorrow I’m completely stacked against the wall with deadlines, and the day after I need to do a few more things as well.” She wasn’t going to go into detail on how those [i]things[/i] were just excuses to read her newly acquired manga, though she’d been working herself dangerously close to deadlines, lately. The raven believed she deserved some kind of break as a reward, if only for a day.

“So how does Wednesday night sound to you? Anything past the first two days is OK in my book, since I’m sure the release of a new song and it’s debut at Mochavine can surely be adjusted to fit… well, [i]whatever feels best for you, hun[/i]~...!” 

Yutaro immediately exclaimed with joy when Ryoki accepted, the momentary break in his composure evidence of just how head-over-heels he was for her right now. “Alright! I mean... “ he cleared his throat. “Wednesday’s fine for me. I only work nights on the weekend. I’ll make a reservation for 7:00 and send you the address.”

With her flirting done and dusted, she gives the man a quick blow kiss before walking away slowly. “I better get back to serving customers… Don’t worry, I’ll come back to talk to you, my dear Yutaro~! Teehee!” 

Yutaro made a show of catching the kiss mid-air and rubbing it on his cheek. Then he held one hand up like a cat claw and let out a “Nya~” only to immediately bust out laughing. “Sorry, I can [i]not[/i] do that with a straight face. Haha! I’ll see you later Ryoki.”

And with that, the femme fatale of Shine City mingled back into the casino’s populace, grinning to herself as she began to serve those whom requested her services.

[i]’Heh. I’m looking forward to how you treat a woman, Mister Otamura… Ehehehe!’[/i][/hider]

[hider=At Lennoci’s][b]Wednesday, 6:45 PM[/b] 

Yutaro stood outside Lennocci’s Italian Restaurant wearing his [hider=sharpest suit.][img]http://i01.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/019/478/110/110478019_204.jpg[/img][/hider]. He always made it a point to show up at least fifteen minutes early for a date, as he couldn’t stand the idea of keeping a lady waiting; he had arrived thirty minutes early for [i]this[/i] date because he especially couldn’t stand the idea of keeping Ryoki waiting. 

The restaurant was one of the more upscale ones in Shine City, and required reservations well in advance. Yutaro had made theirs on Monday and had just managed to get them a table. The reviews for the place were mostly five-star, with just a few pedestrian restaurant-goers complaining about the dress code. Likewise, the prices were far too high to make Lennocci’s a regular spot for him, but when he really wanted to impress a girl he knew no better place.

Yutaro checked his watch regularly knowing full-well that doing so would somehow affect general relativity and literally make time move slower. He rocked back and forth on his heels with his hands in his pockets, eagerly anticipating his date and trying to imagine what Ryoki would decide to wear. Surely her dress attire wouldn’t be as provocative as that bunny suit, but somehow he didn’t expect her to show up dressed modestly either. He checked his watch again. The second hand had crawled halfway across the face of the watch since the last time he checked. Although it didn’t show on his cool exterior, his pulse began to quicken as he wound himself up.

Ryoki hadn’t arrived until the clock had wound three minutes past the allocated time, the ticking likely driving the young man mad with anticipation. Her arrival, abrupt and sudden, didn’t deter from her beauty, though.

“Ah! Sorry I’m late! It was a pain trying to get this thing on… and going down hills on Upscale Heights really is annoying with a dress like [url=http://images6.fanpop.com/image/forum/211000/211153_1435948740215_full.png]this.[/url]

The poor lady was panting for breath, apparently exhausted, having ran half the way in order to make good time. “I’ve watched enough Date Alive to know that most people try to arrive early to their dates, so I’m really sorry if I made you wait too long! And don’t say you just arrived, because I know that’s a lie!” Despite the tone of voice, Ryoki was smiling, and soon her expression softens as she looks over Yutaro’s attire. “Nice clothes. I guess we’re a matching pair then, huh?” She asks, looking over her own dress. “This is just something I had in case there was some sort of fancy thing I need to attend… Now was as good a time to wear it as ever. I’ll also be wearing it to the ball. Have you heard of that, by the way?”

Like Gandalf the White riding towards the armies of Helms Deep, Ryoki arrived just as Yutaro’s hope began to waver. He knew that three minutes wasn’t that long to wait, but it still felt like three long lifetimes to the eager bachelor. But it was worth the wait seeing that beautiful woman running down the street all for his sake. Even though she was late, her effort put a smile on his face. “Hey, don’t worry about it. It’s only bad if the lady has to wait. We guys just love the suspense. Besides, I can’t really complain if you’re taking the time to put on such a gorgeous dress for me. It looks great on you!” [i]It’d look even better off of you,[/i] he thought. 

Then Ryoki brought up the subject of the ball. “Yea, the boss had a few invitations and he gave one to me. It sounded like fun so I want to go. I haven’t decided what I’ll wear to it though. Maybe just a tuxedo with a mask… or something. But anyway, let’s not miss our reservation. Shall we?” Yutaro offered Ryoki his arm before leading her into the restaurant. The decor inside featured landscape painting of the Italian countryside and candle-lit lamps offering just enough light to create a romantic atmosphere. Italian opera was playing in the background while many of the city’s wealthiest dined with their business partners, or celebrated their anniversaries. 

Yutaro went up to the greeter. “Otamura, reservation for two.” They were promptly escorted by a gentleman wearing a suit even nicer than his own and white gloves to a table in the back of the restaurant. Above them was a picture of a quaint Italian house, and the music could be heard faintly on the other side of the restaurant. The waiter handed them the menus, which were completely in Italian of course, and asked if they would like to start with a drink. “Well,” Yutaro said, “If it’s alright with my date, I’d like to pick our meals first so I can choose the right wine to go with them.” The waiter nodded and listed the specials, then gave them a few minutes to decide.

Yutaro smiled at Ryoki. “So, do you need any help reading it? I studied a bit of Italian at the university so I know what most of it says.”

“Uhh… Yeah, I think I could use a bit of help.” Ryoki looked a little lost. The only italian meals she’d had were the simple stuff you could easily make at home and whatnot, though reading some of the dishes her made it clear they weren’t the same thing. “Damn, you really went all out on this, huh…? Well, if worst comes to worse, I can always just pick something at random and hope for the best! Oh, uh, but I’ll listen to your suggestions first, ehehe!” 

The raven sets her purse by her chair as she sat, admiring the restaurant and it’s fanciness. Though she had been in many similar restaurants as a child, either of traditional or western style, she’d never been to an Italian place. Not to mention she hadn’t seen the likes of a restaurant in quite awhile, at least not an especially fancy one, unless you could call some of the places they had down near Shine Junction ‘fancy’. [i]’This must’ve been a fortune…’[/i] She thought to herself. [i]’I think I found myself a sugar da- no! Don’t even go there! Not yet, at least… No, that’s still wrong! Ugh! Why are you so dirty…? I need to douse my brain in holy water…’[/i]

Yutaro grinned as he leaned over the table with his menu to explain some of it to Ryoki, perhaps a bit too eager to show off. “So, you see here up top where it says ‘antipasti?’ Those are the appetizers. And ‘insalata,’ that’s salad. ‘Vitello’ is veal…” He went on to describe the major components of the menu so that Ryoki would at least be able to pick a meat she liked, and described to her a few of the different sauces they used. He tried to put an Italian spin on the foreign words, but he still pronounced them with a pretty heavy Japanese accent… although nobody but the waiter was likely to know. “If you still need help, just tell me what you like and I can make a recommendation. Your enjoyment is my number one concern tonight.” He gave a little laugh as he waited for her to pick. He wanted Ryoki to choose first so that he could order the same kind of meat and get a wine that complimented both of their dishes.

Ryoki mulled it over, nodding and mumbling to herself about what she wanted. She was a fan of meat, but didn’t [i]really[/i] want to make herself out to be some kind of carnivore on the first date. Salads and stuff were a reasonable choice, but alas she didn’t want to seem like a total bore, either. Well, it was unlikely she would be, given her rather distinct “personality” and “traits”, but it still bothered her. “I’m thinking either the special or what you recommend, because trying out new things is good and all… If you get what I mean, hehe!” She giggles a little and winks; once again she picked up on the fact that she thought choosing a salad was ‘boring’ and therefore ‘weird’, yet flirting with someone you barely know and making sexual advances towards them at work was perfectly fine. [i]’See? This is why you can’t talk to people.’[/i] She humours herself, though gives her full attention to Yutaro as he spoke of what he recommended. 

“Well, this certainly seems like a ‘special’ kind of night, so why don’t we go with that.” They would be getting a shrimp risotto for the appetizer, and the entree would be a specialty chicken dish served with a salad on the side. “So, that just leaves the wine. Since we’re getting white meat and seafood, a white wine would go best. Is [i]Pinot Griggio[/i] fine with you?” Yutaro takes a look at the wine list. “Ooo, I’ve had that vintage before, we should definitely go with that.” 

The waiter came and took their orders, not by writing it on a pad, but by simply listening and memorizing them. Now, with the food decided, they could move on to more normal conversations… or as normal as a conversation with Ryoki could get. “So, have you spoken to the boss yet about getting a gig at the casino?”

Ryoki shook her head. “Nope. Haven’t had the chance to yet, but I should be able to on my next shift. He seems like a nice enough guy to work for, though, so I’m sure it could be arranged. And even if he doesn’t agree, I’m sure a little [i]persuasion[/i] could change his mind fairly quickly. I don’t plan on getting up there straight away, though. Maybe once I’ve gotten used to working here. You know, to help get some more future fans and all that?” Ryoki smirks, staring into Yutaro’s eyes with an almost natural softness that he may not have witnessed before. She was actually rather calm tonight, though of course that could change at any moment. “Speaking of music, I’ll be releasing my next song on the web tomorrow. I could send you a link with your number, if you so wish.”

“Hey, now, don’t ‘persuade’ him too much or I might get jealous,” Yutaro said, giving Ryoki a playful smirk. But then he noticed something different in her eyes. They weren’t sultry or seductive as they usually were. He didn’t feel like she was trying to pull him in with some well-laid trap. Her eyes were simply there, and they were beautiful. “Sure, send me the link. I’ll go ahead and check it out.” He found himself almost entranced by that calm, natural look she was giving him, and was only saved from being caught staring by the waiter arriving with their wine. He popped the cork and filled both of their glasses. “So, it’s our first toast. What should we drink to?”

“The moment?” She asks with a smile. “That’s a fallback plan, hehe!” Ryoki then gave a thoughtful look as she pondered what they could toast to. “The casino? Eh, sounds a little weird… Ooh, how about the new year? It doesn’t hurt to toast it a little early, right?” Ryoki nods to herself in a somewhat comical, self-entitled way, as though she’d just thought of the perfect idea. “Or perhaps… our little date with destiny?”

Yutaro chuckled at her indecisiveness. “That sounds like a lot of complicated ways of saying, ‘To us.’” He raised his glass and wore a warm smile. The date had only just begun and he was already enjoying these few personal moments with Ryoki, and he hoped that they could enjoy many more. “To us,” was certainly a fitting toast in his mind.

“Hmm… Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” She smiles and holds up her wine to clink. “To us,” she grins as she spoke those words, “and to whatever else we probably should be toasting to, but don’t remember.” [/hider]

[hider=Dinner Is Served]Their glasses clinked, accompanying Yutaro’s happy laughter. And at that, their appetizer arrived, a savory shrimp risotto delicately seasoned with fresh cheese and spices. Yutaro took one fork full and was immediately in heaven. “Mmm, I forgot how good the food here tasted. The only downside is that it makes me feel bad about my own cooking.” The rice was cooked perfectly, the shrimp was soft and tender, and the whole bite just melted in his mouth turning flavor into a high art. 

For Ryoki, the taste was very much the same - euphoric and delicious. “Mmm! I see what you mean!” She speaks with some food in her mouth, quickly excusing her bad manners. “Oh, that’s right, fancy restaurant. Ehe, sorry.” She then continues eating at a healthy pace, relishing her every bite and taste of the food. “This is amazing! You’re right about the cooking thing, though… I wonder if they make coffee half as good as they make appetizers, though.” The Raven grins. Tonight was turning out to be a good night so far. “Which reminds me: I didn’t know you can cook. I always thought most guys survived off microwave food, though I can understand the need of cooking well enough. All it takes is one look at some of the girls partying in Club LUSH and you know they couldn’t cook to save a life! In fact, they’d probably be the ones taking them!”

“Wow, you sure take your coffee seriously if you’re willing to buy it from a place like this,” Yutaro teased. “But yea, I made it a point to learn some basic cooking. I’m no chef by any means, but you can always make something more nutritious and less expensive by buying the ingredients and cooking it yourself.” The risotto went down easy and all too soon his plate was empty. “So, when you’re not making music or being a sexy bunny, what do you do for fun?”

Ryoki looks at him, surprised. “Who’s to say music isn’t fun?” She asks, before chuckling. “Don’t worry, I get what you mean. Well… Let’s see…” She looks thoughtful for a moment, interrupting her silence with a sip of wine. “Well… Uh… I like watching anime, and playing games. And reading manga… Uh…”

[i]’Oh god… This isn’t going well…’[/i]

Yutaro was surprised to see this small bout of awkwardness come from the woman who was always able to one-up him in their banter. Was she actually getting nervous, or was she embarrassed in saying that her primary interests were anime and manga, as if their was something inherently unappealing in them. Yutaro wasn’t much of a fan himself, but he had dabbled a bit in the horror genre and he certainly wouldn’t mind giving it a shot if that’s what Ryoki was into. But for now…

“I’m actually a bit of a gamer myself,” Yutaro said, latching on to the common interest, hoping to pull Ryoki out of her fit of awkwardness. “It’s actually why I decided to get into the casino business. I’ve always loved playing games of all kinds, so the prospect of actually making a career around games was too good to resist. If you’ve ever seen the name ‘LuckyFlush21’ online, then we’ve met.” He gave a little laugh. “Subtle name, I know.”

“Neither is ‘LadyoftheMoon4’, but hey, at least I know you play games now! Ehehe! If you've got a ‘Fog’ account, we could be friends n’ stuff!” She smiles, letting her guard down for the moment, snapping into a state of excitement - it would evolve more-so if the conversation continued this way. “I play a lot of games myself, but I fail to see the link between casinos and- oh, wait, never mind, I just got it.” 

She grins a little sheepishly. “Sorry, at home there's not much that I do outside of those things… I'm a bit of an… well… An otaku.” Ah, so that was it. Ryoki’s one flaw in her bundle of perfect, if one could consider it a ‘flaw’. “I can get a little obsessive over things too. It's a dangerous habit, and I really should stop. And the occasional roller coaster mood when I'm alone. Aside from that I'm not a bad person, though, I swear!” 

[i]’I’m also obsessive over Kao- stop it! And Iruka- no!’[/i] She mentally slapped herself, smiling unknowingly to herself. 

Yutaro gave her a compassionate smile when Ryoki confessed her embarrassing hobby. It was kind of cute seeing her plead for his acceptance, but at the same time he felt honored that she trusted him enough to open up to him like that. “I don’t see that as anything to be ashamed of,” he said at last in a matter-of-fact voice. “I mean, sports fanatics start fires in the streets and flip busses over and stuff. When’s the last time you’ve heard an otaku do something like that?” He gave a light-hearted laugh to try to help her relax. “I know a bit about obsessive behavior, and trust me, I can tell you’ve got it under control. Hell, maybe you can find some shows that we both like. If your dvd collection is as big as you’re making it out to be, then there’s got to be [i]something[/i] I can get into.”

At that their dinner came: a succulent chicken cutlet over pasta cooked in a specialty house sauce. The waiter filled up their glasses again and they continued their conversation. Since Ryoki had opened up to him like that, Yutaro decided it was only fair that he shared a little something in return. “If you want a little something to make fun of me for, there [i]is[/i] a little project I’ve been doing on the side since high school. It’s a… err… card game. You know, like Wizardry. When I’m done with it I want to send the idea to Inland Sorcerers and see if they’ll bite.” Yutaro rubbed the back of his head, blushing a bit in embarrassment himself this time. “I know, fat chance. But that’s why I’ve got the casino gig going.” He smiled, waiting for her to tease him about his long-shot idea, but he’d rather be embarrassed himself than see her ashamed of her own interests.

Ryoki was especially invested in the conversation after hearing him mention her [i]collection[/i], though was also interested in the topic of his developing card game. “What's the game like?” She asks, curious to know what it was about. It interested her, and she wished to know more - it explained why he was so good with cards, after all. 

Yutaro certainly hadn’t expected Ryoki to be interested in his game. In fact, most of the girls he dated never even ended up finding out about it. But if her interest was piqued, he had no problem delving into it. “Well, you know how in Wizadry the goal is basically just to beat the snot out of the other person? Well, I’m working on a system where each player has three separate strongholds and the idea is to take over all of them. I’m worried that it’s a little complex and I’m trying to simplify the rules a bit, but I think the concept works. The biggest hurdle, though, is going to be finding an artist. I suck at drawing, and I need to at least get some concept art before they’ll even look at the idea.” Yutaro shrugged. “But, hey, I’ve got plenty of time for that. Like I said, it’s just a side project.”

“So it’s like a conquest or domination type game in cards? Sounds pretty cool - you’ll have to teach me some time and we can have a game, and perhaps I can help you work on it till then.” She smiles at his mention of a concept artist; Ryoki knew of someone who might be able to help, though she wasn’t quite sure of his skills. “I might just know a guy who can help with that - your artist problem, that is… Well, I’m not sure if his skills are very great yet, but in his free time I’ve caught him sketching and stuff, and I’ve always looked to him to help me find art for the covers of my albums and whatnot. If he can’t do it, then he’ll know someone who can, probably.” 

Frankly, Yutaro was stunned that Ryoki was so receptive to the idea. Had he seriously found a girl that had offered to sit down and play a children’s card game with him? [i]You better not screw this one up, Yutaro.[/i] “You have no idea how helpful that would be. The art doesn’t have to be perfect, because they’ll hire a team of artists if they decide to print the cards, but I’ll need to have some good concept art to show them. And of course, you’re always welcome to play with me.” The flirtatious tone filled his voice once again. Maybe it was the wine, but after a productive conversation like that he was ready to just goof around with her again, a battle of wits where they were both in their element.

Ryoki took a sip of wine and felt it begin to flow through her, like she could feel it in her blood. It was strange, for alcohol seemed to affect people differently, and for her she was fully aware of where it was in her system. She felt a little heavier, but didn’t let this show nor affect her posture, as she quickly proceeds into the chicken and pasta - the main course special they had ordered. 

And oh boy, was it [i]gooooooood…![/i]

“So,” she begins after swallowing a mouthful of pasta, “how much did this cost you, honestly? I feel like I should pay you back, but I don’t think you’d accept charity.” She giggles as she gently brushes away a strand of hair, adding in a devious tone: “Though I’m [i]sure[/i] you’d accept other services, right~...?”

[i]You don’t want to know how much this cost,[/i] Yutaro thought, somewhat relieved that she recognized this as extravagant and not the norm for him. However, he was more than happy to meet her with a retort. “Well, you’ve certainly racked up quite a bill, but I’m certain we can work out some kind of payment plan after I walk you home.” As he said that, he gave her his signature grin, his cheeks lightly flushed from the alcohol. Part of him hoped that her advances would amount to more than an enjoyable tease this time around.

“Is that all? I imagined you’d want to do a little more than walk me home~!” The Raven winks, before bursting into a fit of childish giggling. “S-sorry, hehehehe! I just feel pretty giggly right now! Ehehe!” 

Yutaro leaned forward, chuckling back, Ryoki’s laughter a bit contagious. “Well I did say [i]after[/i] didn’t I? You wanted to play cards, so how about we play a little game of poker. Only problem is I’m out of money to bet with, but I do have quite a bit [i]on[/i] me…” It was a brazen move, even for Yutaro, but given Ryoki’s personality it would be easy enough to play off as a joke if she refused. If she accepted, though, well… that would just make his night.

Ryoki smirks and mulls the idea over. She knew that one day something like this was bound to happen, and she knew she’d regret acting the way she did. Which she does. Right now. But then again, if it only stayed a fun little game for them both, then maybe, just maybe, she could get out of doing something she’d barely done before. 

“Poker sounds like fun; is this the kind where we bet cotton instead of coin?” She asks straightforwardly, as though the idea hadn't fazed her in the slightest. She’d have to keep an eye on how much she drank, if she was going to go through with it. Didn't want to make any bad decisions, now, would she? 

She smirks at Yutaro. “So long as we keep within the boundaries of the game, I think a little friendly match could be arranged.” She swallows down her pride and musters up her courage, before adding, leaning in slightly over the table: “Perhaps even a little touching, if the bet is high enough. A little skin-to-skin bonding time never hurt anyone, right~? Ehehe!” 

A gleeful grin swept across Yutaro’s face as Ryoki so forwardly accepted his offer. He didn’t care what boundaries she set; strip poker after a first date was a freaking win! “I’ll be betting silk myself,” he said, tugging lightly on the sleeve of his suit and giving a small laugh, “but you’re free to bet whatever you’re willing to lose… or give.” He gave her a wink and another flirtatious laugh. He was taken slightly aback, though, when she mentioned “skin-to-skin bonding time,” and blushed much like when she had offered him her phone. “Well I certainly don’t see any harm in it, especially if it comes at the request of a beautiful woman.” He finished the last bite of his chicken, savoring its flavor, but wondering if he would savor what was yet to come even more.

Ryoki laughs. “You're such an innocent lil’ charmer!” Whether he took that as some kind of compliment or teasing was up to him, but Ryoki seemed happy. She always enjoyed seeing men blush and wriggle in their seat from the nerves - evil, yes, but fun. She dips her head as she slurps up the remainder of her pasta, having finished the meal in short bursts, patting her lips with a napkin to clean off any residue. “Ah, that was amazing…! Remind me to come here again. Maybe next time, I'll invite you?” She asks with a playful grin, as a stray lock of hair falls down her face, resting itself to one side of her nose. 

Yutaro smiled back. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m sure I can set aside chivalry for another visit to a place like this.” Indeed, it would be a while before he could afford to come to Lennocci’s again, especially with Christmas so close, but if that offer meant that Ryoki would foot the bill -- and it was actually kind of impressive that she could -- there would be no complaint on his end.

“Ah, but as for our little game…” Ryoki continued. “Well, don't expect to do much more than looking, though if you really want I'll let you touch, just once. Just try and keep it above the belt, m’kay darling~?” With a satisfied look on her face, the Raven pours herself a glass of water, gulping the contents down all at once to rehydrate herself. 

Yutaro replied, “Sure thing sweetheart. One needn’t touch the art at the museum to appreciate its beauty. Plus, there’s plenty for me to enjoy above the belt. However... “ He gave Ryoki a lusty grin. “I never did get a chance to take out your phone. It’s been killing me all week wondering what I missed out on…” Then his smile turned friendly again and he leaned back and laughed. For all of Ryoki’s flirtation, Yutaro was getting the feeling that she liked to take things slow, and he was perfectly ok with that. Just spending time with her had already made this one of the best nights he’d had in a long time. [/hider]

[hider=After Dinner]So, they finished the meal and when the bill came, Yutaro snuck his money into the little black folder without letting Ryoki see any of the numbers or answering any of her inquiries to the amount. With that, he put on his coat, thanked the waiter with a quick, “Grazie,” and began to walk Ryoki home. 

As they walked, Yutaro took her arm in his and dared to hold her hand, letting their fingers interlock. Suffice it to say, he was in high spirits and chatted happily about what games he had on his Fog account, and asked Ryoki what anime she would recommend if he were to start getting into it. He laughed regularly, keeping the conversation light-hearted and fun, and they eventually arrived at Ryoki’s front door. 

“Ryoki, before we start misbehaving, I just want to tell you something real quick…” Yutaro stopped, took both of her hands in his and looked her straight in the eye, his expression gentle, but serious. He didn’t want to taint what he was about to say with ulterior motives. “Tonight has easily been the best night of the year for me, and the meal wasn’t even the best part. If I can be blunt for a moment, I think you’re amazing Ryoki. You’re kind, you’re smart, you know how to have fun, and you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of taking out. I’ve been with a lot of girls, but this one feels different to me, and no, that’s [i]not[/i] a line that I tell every girl I date.” There was nothing but honesty in his eyes as he said this. “What I really want to say is, I hope this lasts…” He smiled, reaching up to tuck a lock of Ryoki’s raven hair behind her ear, and then leaned in to plant a soft kiss on her lips.

[i]’It begins like a fairy tail…’[/i]

That thought rung through Ryoki’s mind as their lips made contact, her own having that soft, almost squishy texture to them - gentle, by the very definition of the word. Ryoki allowed her body to work on it’s own as she wraps an arm up and around his shoulder, the other resting brazenly on his chest. The contact may have been short; nothing more than a few seconds, Ryoki knew, but it felt like an eternity had just passed. No, not quite an eternity. More like a new age - a brand new chapter to a story; the next level. Things felt like they… progressed quickly, and yet, the moment lingered, as time found itself working in a variety of different ways.

[i]’I hope it never ends…’[/i]

She found herself breaking the engagement on that thought, looking up at the casino dealer with a smile worth a diamond and a face red like cherry. Her eyes glisten with something that is both happiness and, quite strangely, thankfulness, staring the man down for a moment -- though not a fleeting one -- and lets out a faint giggle. “You know, you’re not so bad yourself.” Ryoki winks. “I’ve never had the best of luck when it comes to picking out boyfriends, believe it or not. The few relationships I’ve had were mostly one-sided and generally pretty… well, let’s just say one of us would control the other. But, as you say, this feels different. Call it chemistry, if you will.” The black-haired beauty allows herself another sweet giggle as she looks up at her place. “I enjoyed this, Yutaro Otamura. I enjoyed this night a lot. And I hope the night continues to bring good fortune upon us both…”

Yutaro couldn’t begin to describe the joy that he felt to hear his feelings reciprocated. He wanted to jump for joy and showboat like a football player who had just scored a touchdown. However, if there was one thing the dealer was good at, it was keeping cool. “Ryoki Mochizuki,” he said, “I can promise you one thing right now. This is definitely not going to be one-sided, and if you ever feel like I’m controlling you, I’d be happy to talk about it. Heh, ever since we met, I’ve been telling myself, ‘Don’t screw this up Yutaro.’ I’m glad to see that I didn’t.” His expression once again turned playful. “But, I think that’s enough mushy stuff. We’ve got a game to play!” He stepped back and waited for the princess to invite him into her castle. 

The princess nods and smiles as she opens her castle doors, leading him inside and giving him a basic tour of the apartment building in which she called home. Within a couple of minutes, the two arrive at the front door to her apartment, and Ryoki unlocks the door using her key. “Just so you know, I’m going to get changed into something a little more ‘homely’, unless you want play the game using our current attire. I don’t mind which, honestly.” She smiles and opens the door, taking a step inside and guiding him into her place, closing the door behind them…

“Change into whatever you think will make the game more exciting,” he said, and then added with a little chuckle, “I promise, tempting as it may be, not to peek.”

Inside, Yutaro finds himself presented with a simple yet spacious apartment, at least the main section appears to be. The kitchen and living room were joined together in order to save space, and there were two doors opposite the entrance, both open and revealing that one was her bedroom and the other was the bathroom. In the centre of the living space was a large, comfortable couch, facing a 50 inch plasma screen TV. Both of which looked like they were used regularly. From the entrance, the young casino dealer could make out that Ryoki’s room was somewhat of a mess, and could see that her bed hadn’t been made, there were clothes everywhere, and her computer was still on. Ryoki sighs seeing the state of her room.

“Sorry for the mess. Please, make yourself at home. Would you like anything to drink? I’ve got the best coffee beans in the city, bought straight from Mochavine!”

“Sure, coffee sounds good,” Yutaro said as he took a seat at the table where they would be playing cards. “You know how I like it.” With that he took out a deck of cards from his coat pocket and began shuffling, showing off with a trick shuffle or two when he caught Ryoki looking. He sat at the table with his dealer face on, waiting for his opponent to take her seat whenever she was ready to start.

Ryoki put the kettle on and headed into her room to get changed out of her dress and into something that was a lot more comfortable. She decided on wearing the same outfit she wore when they first met. It was interesting and sexy, at least she thought so. However, she hesitated in taking the scarf. “Screw it, I got this personality from grandma apparently, anyway…”

With a smile, the raven-haired Ryoki exited her room a minute or two later, just in time to catch the boiling kettle. She poured the two a special brew of Mochavine’s famous coffee and soon made her way to the table, sitting opposite him, handing him a mug as she took her seat. “So… Are you ready to begin~?” [/hider]

[hider=Game Time]Without a word, Yutaro took a sip of the coffee and began dealing. “You know how five card draw works, right? You get five to start, discard up to three cards, and draw again trying to get the best hand. Loser has to pay up.” And with that, Yutaro took a look at his hand, his master poker-face not revealing the slightest clue what he had. Even with the rules as luck-based as they were, Yutaro knew all the best moves to make in every situation, but he decided to take it easy on Ryoki. After all, he wanted the game to be fun for both of them. He took the lead in the first couple of hands, but then intentionally slipped up, altering his skill level so that they were roughly even throughout. Off came his shoes, his suit, his tie, and eventually he was left sitting in his pants and undershirt, grinning at the damage he had done to his opponent.

The damage was quite visual. First came the shoes, followed closely by her scarf. After that was her stockings, and then the overalls. There was a pause as Yutaro let up a little in his assault, however it hadn’t lasted very long. Her skirt was lost, and with this latest move, her shirt. Now Ryoki was starting to feel bare, with barely anything left under the waist, and nothing more than her own undershirt and bra left above. The reveal of the black undershirt had been a cruel one indeed, however it wasn’t like she had infinite clothing on - Yutaro could see she was running out of things to bet.

As they played, Ryoki would engage in conversation and give comments and compliments towards Yutaro in order to make it feel less awkward - silent. Ryoki was pretty much fine in stripping down in front of him, but she wasn’t sure if he felt the same way. Even so, she could see the wolf-like look in his eyes as he stared at her, hidden beneath his calm, dealer’s persona. She had a feeling this was all playing out into his hand, but didn’t want to admit defeat so easily just yet. “Running out of clothes?” She asks with a playful smirk, taking a sip of her coffee. “I hope you’re not feeling too uncomfortable over there, teehee! I might just have to wriggle on over to comfort you~.”

Yutaro laughed at Ryoki’s banter, tugging down on the collar of his undershirt as if adjusting it, but in reality giving her a little preview of what he planned to show her. “I’m more concerned about you. You’ll catch a cold walking around so lightly dressed. I might have to help warm you up.” Despite his confident remarks, he couldn’t help but blush when Ryoki stripped down to her undershirt. While the bunny suit she wore at work was technically more revealing, the excitement of the game, and the fact that he was so close to victory made her look even more alluring. However, fate would not grant him his victory this round. Even though he made the best move, luck gave him the worst cards, and Ryoki proved to have the winning hand. 

“Looks like tonight’s your lucky night,” he said, and then he pulled his shirt up over his head. His body, while not muscular, was definitely in shape, but he wasn’t ready to quit just yet. After all, he was still wearing his pants. “I’ve got one more thing I’m willing to bet. Be an angel and give me one more chance.” 

Yutaro dealt the cards, no longer holding back. He had an ok start, the beginnings of a straight, but it wasn’t ideal. However, when he discarded and drew, the pendulum of luck swung back in his favor. He laid down a straight flush. “Haha! Let’s see you beat that!”

… However, Ryoki looks up at him with a devious smirk. One that almost cried certain victory for his opponent…!

… Well, until she lowered her head down onto the table and showed her hand: three of a kind! But unfortunately, it wouldn’t be enough. Ryoki would have to pay…

...with her shirt. 

However, she didn’t let this get her down, as she raises her head with a smile on her face. “Well, I guess you got the better hand this time, Yutaro.” She smiles, acknowledging his win with a small bow. “And a deal’s a deal. I guess I should show you what’s underneath this shirt, huh?” The Raven already had her hands at the ends of her shirt. Ryoki had lost, fair and square, and thus would put on something of a show for the winner. Just to add a little fun into the mix. It wouldn’t be right to have her straight up remove the shirt, now would it?

However, just as she was about to go through with it, an idea came to mind. “Actually…~” Her voice trails into that oh-so-familiar sexy tone of voice she used almost as often as her common tone. “How about [b]you[/b] take it off for me, hmm~? Consider it a bonus for beating me.” Her stare was compelling; it was almost as though she were daring him to walk over and take the challenge…

Yutaro’s heart began to race as Ryoki teased the bottom of her shirt, his grin growing wider and wider. This was truly a prize to revel in, but then she stopped and offered him something else. He raised his eyebrow, and then let out a delighted chuckle. “Well now, can’t exactly say no to that now can I.” His face the portrait of jubilation, Yutaro walked over and gently grabbed the bottom of Ryoki’s shirt. He peeled it up slowly, enjoying his reward inch by inch. As he pulled her shirt up, his hands lightly brushed against her body, entirely on accident of course! Then finally he gave it one last pull, clearing her substantial bosom and clearing her head. Afterwards, he stood close to her, admiring her gorgeous body, a deep blush filling his cheeks. He could just barely feel her breath on his bare chest. And then he let out a low whistle. “I think that’s the best bet I’ve ever won!”

[hider=The Prize][img]http://40.media.tumblr.com/444086d9e5632dd3a73f63a2fee83af2/tumblr_n7dx9suHta1rxufgfo1_500.jpg[/img][/hider]

Ryoki looks down at herself, catching on to his staring, and chuckles. “I think I’ll take that as a compliment!” She replied cheerfully, admiring his body also. “Despite the loss, I think the experience alone was well worth it. Especially when seeing him without a shirt.” Her eyes flicker, darting all around before finally finding his face again. It was like a maze trying to get there without being distracted, though. “Well, I hope you enjoyed the game, Yutaro. I know I sure did. Perhaps in the future, after a little while, we can play again? Though perhaps when that happens, we’ll be able to delve into the more… [i]advanced[/i] way to play.”

“Ryoki, we can play again anytime, and I’d love to open up the ‘advanced rulebook.’” Yutaro gave a happy laugh. Ryoki was making it clear that this was as far as she was willing to go tonight, but it had still been an amazing night, so Yutaro offered no complaint. He gathered up his clothes and began to dress himself, doing a hasty job but getting every article of clothing back on his body at least. “I’ll call you when I get a chance to listen to that new song of yours.” He walked back over to her and gave her an affectionate look. “Goodnight Ryoki. I’ll see you soon.” He leaned in for one final kiss and then took his leave. 

Ryoki was willing to give the man what he wanted - to be fair, she wanted it too, as they engaged in one final act of romance: a parting kiss. She musters a soft “goodbye” as he leaves, and simply stands there for a few moments, staring at the doorway, not quite sure what to think…

… before proceeding to giggle like a Japanese schoolgirl, that is. “Ahhhhhhhh! He’s just so freakin’ good! I love it!” She squirms without shame, half naked in her living room of her apartment, humming to herself a simple melody. Grabbing her clothes, she sets them out on the couch, opting to wear them tomorrow, before headed towards her bathroom. “Wow, you really worked up a sweat, Ryoki! Time to have a shower!” She giggles again, practically prancing about as she turned on the steaming hot water. This was the daily life of Ryoki Mochizukki: a woman who would have extreme highs and extreme lows - a rollercoaster of emotion, creation and energy. She was the kind of woman who couldn’t really be described with a single word. She was the kind of person who could come across as hard to read, yet equally friendly and familiar. Such was the nature of Ryoki, and such was the way she lived her life. 

Adjusting the temperature on the shower before she got fully undressed and ready to wash away the day’s troubles, a thought crosses the Raven’s mind.

[i]’You know what…? Today was a good day…!’[/i] [/hider]

[hider=The Following Days (Ryoki)]The remainder of the week was relatively busy for Ryoki. After such an eventful night, the mistress found herself on a tight music schedule as she had finally uploaded that new song of hers. It was something she found inspiration in only recently, basing it around her experiences in Shine City and, more recently, her love life. Thursday was the upload day, and she was pleased to find that her followers took to this new song well. Perhaps even better than some of her other songs. She doubted she’d created a hit, however, it appeared as though Ryoki’s luck had come a day late. As it just so happened, this new song was being made viral at a rate Ryoki hadn’t even witnessed before, though she wouldn’t come to realise how popular the song had become until the following Saturday. After uploading the song, Ryoki had made early preparations for the ball and helped her sister, Mokyu, pick out something nice for the event. It was fun, yet draining, and was the reason she wasn’t able to check her computer…

Friday was a busy day too. Booking an early schedule at Mochavine, Ryoki played almost all day for the coffee shop, making sure to send a text to all whom may be interested to see her perform. Needless to say, playing music all day, although fun, was pretty draining, and so she sent herself to an early night’s sleep for once. Early Saturday came with the shocking revelation that, apparently, one of her songs had become incredibly popular - that being her newest track, of course. Filled with giddy excitement, things were starting to look up for the aspiring musician. 

And so our lady found herself once again at the beginning to a night of wonder and excitement. New Year’s Eve was here, and with it, the ball. She decided on going with the more European vibe, as was the theme and all, with her mask and dress picked out and ready to go. Now all she had to do was wait…[/hider]

[hider=”Fallin’ For You” by Ryoki Mochizukki][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0cfIP9aMlQ[/youtube][/hider]

[hider=The Following Days (Yutaro)]The young dealer’s spirits were noticeably higher after his date with Ryoki. Yumeno at the casino knew Yutaro too well and approached him several times for the “juicy details,” to which Yutaro simply replied, “We just played cards.” However, his giddy smirk revealed that there was more to the story than he was telling. He checked out Ryoki’s new song, as well as some of her others, and sent her some encouraging comments about it. “Love the sax parts,” he said in a text, not realizing that he may have been part of her inspiration for it. He had to admit, she had a beautiful voice and made it a point to see her play at mochavine, but unfortunately she had been too busy for them to spend much time together.

However, his mood began to sour as Christmas approached. A couple of days before he was about to visit his family, his phone rang. It was his mother. “Hey mom… yea I should be able to make it this year… yea, don’t worry, I’ll be there this time…” He frowned and rubbed his temples as she talked. “Yea, I know I haven’t been taking any of his calls… Because I don’t want to talk to him, ok… I won’t bring it up if he doesn’t… yea, I’m writing it now. I’ll stick it in the card so it doesn’t get lost.” Yutaro had his checkbook out in front of him and a check with everything filled out except the amount. “It’s not going to be as much this time… Because I don’t have it… I’m doing fine, I just don’t have as much this time…” Yutaro let out a heavy sigh. “Yea, I know. I’m trying… love you too. See you on Christmas.” 

With a sigh Yutaro hung up the phone, then pulled up Ryoki’s information and decided to give her a call. She was probably busy, since it went to voicemail. “Hey, you’re busy so I’ll make this quick.” His voice didn’t have the usual charm to it, but he didn’t let his stress spill over. “Just wanted to make sure you don’t forget how awesome you are. See you soon.” And that was that. Just a little message to take the bitter taste out of his mouth. 

He showed up at his family’s house for Christmas, ate, exchanged cards, handed over the check, and left. It was a quiet evening, and they managed to get through it without a fight.

For the ball Yutaro had found a new getup that looked fun. He had done a search for “Tuxedo with Mask” and this one was apparently very popular. It was complete with a cape that looked like it would be fun to throw about dramatically, and he could definitely use a bit of silliness. And alcohol. He planned on drinking a lot of alcohol at this party. He and Ryoki had agreed that it would be more fun for them to try to pick each other out from the crowd, and that there would be no hard feelings if they messed up. Before leaving for the party, he sent her a text, “See if you can pick your prince charming out from all the hot guys!” And then he was off to the mansion to totally cut loose. [/hider]