289/Hey Diddle Diddle, the Cat and the Fiddle

Hey Diddle Diddle, the Cat and the Fiddle
Date of Scene:	13 August 2015
Location:	Pikarigaoka - Clover Street - North
Synopsis:	Still worried about Tadase, Ikuto camps out on a building where he can see Iris's office. But not close enough that Tadase would hear him playing his violin. However, Tuxedo Kamen does hear him. And the masked man asks Ikuto some hard questions.
Cast of Characters:	Mamoru Chiba, Ikuto Tsukiyomi

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Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
On a day like this Ikuto would normally be sleeping on the roof, or on the grass somewhere where it's sunny. And today Ikuto is definitely on a roof. But he's not sleeping. No, in fact he's a few roofs over from where Tadase was, as far as he knew, still resting from whatever had happened to him.

He's not idle, either. He's doing what he usually does when he's worried. He's playing his violin. It's not close enough to Iris's place for it to be heard by the people inside it though. No, he knows what Tadase thinks regarding the last time he played his violin for someone who wasn't well. Poor Betty...

It's not the usual sad and weepy stuff Ikuto normally plays though, otherwise Yoru would be long gone. He doesn't like it when Ikuto's sad. This is something sounds as though there is a lot of unresolved tension in it. And so Yoru is, in fact, sprawled out on the roof nearby, half-snoozing and half-listening to Ikuto play. Yes, Yoru does indeed snore.

Anyway, it looks like this activity is taking up the vast majority of Ikuto's concentration at the moment, given his eyes remain closed.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Impossibly lightly for someone so tall and overdressed, Tuxedo Kamen lands on the roof near the violinist and the half-sleeping Yoru, then crouches by the little Guardian. He holds one white-gloved finger to his lips, and the other reaches down completely unapologetically to scritch, if in fact allowed.

He'll wait until the song is over to speak up unless Yoru tells on him; if Yoru does not, then when Ikuto's done for the moment, there'll be a boy keeping him company up there, maybe a little older. Cape, mask, white tie and tails, dress shoes, no hat -- windblown hair is the order of the day.

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Oh hey, scritches! Yoru has no objections to this. And so he does not call out when Tuxedo Kamen asks for quiet. Anybody who gives scritches can't be a bad person, right? Yoru and Ikuto don't share the same link that a mage and a familiar might, so Ikuto's not alerted. For his part Yoru just emits a pleased and sleepy "Nyaaaannnn~" and leans into the scritches. Then goes right back to sleep.

When the song is finished, Ikuto turns... and then pauses when he sees the young fellow in a tuxedo there. He doesn't say anything for a moment, just regards him impassively, thoughtfully. Then he goes to put his violin away. The case is pure white, and there's a crystalline key on a golden chain wrapped around the handle.

He hasn't said anything yet, but there's no tension, or any sense that he might be trying to actually ignore Tuxedo Kamen. It's more like the blue-haired boy just doesn't say much and hasn't found a good conversation topic yet.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
When the playing stops, the finely-dressed boy in the mask glances back at Ikuto, crooked little smile on his face. He seems to have an overwhelming compulsion to keep paying absent attention to Yoru, but it doesn't interfere with his conversation capabilities.

"Yo," he greets the catboy amiably. And then, without preamble, he just goes right into it. "Why do they give you such a hard time? I meant to ask the kid, but I keep getting my ass kicked and haven't had time. So I'll ask him later."

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Right into the crux of the matter then? Ikuto can respect that. He smirks a little when the question's asked, but it doesn't last long. He turns to look at the building Iris's office is in, and stays silent for a long moment. Probably long enough to make Tuxedo Kamen think he isn't going to answer.

"They have their reasons. All of them valid. Because I'm evil," Ikuto finally says, quietly. There isn't much fire behind it, or conviction. It's almost like he's telling himself that more than he's telling Tuxedo Kamen that. "Tadase and I have... a past. It's not pleasant. Koi Girl and Wolf Girl have seen me at my worst," he says simply.

He may say he's evil, but his actions at the hospital, when the Witch attacked, speak counter to that. He protected Sayaka and then covered Kyouko while she got Sayaka out of danger. And took several needles from the Witch, needles that were meant for Kyouko and Sayaka-- and kept fighting until the chemicals took him down-- in the process. And last night he came to see Tadase, and brought stuff for him, even if it was all store-bought stuff. And Tuxedo Kamen would really have kittens if he found out Ikuto slid an envelope under Iris's door containing an ambiguous four-figure sum of money in it, wouldn't he?

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
If Tuxedo Kamen found that out, he'd be pretty pleased because it'd be one more bill he didn't feel obligated to cover. But that's neither here nor there. What's here is that he turns a little and sits tailor style, elbows on his knees and chin in one palm, watching Ikuto.

"Okay," he says easily, tilting his head. "Given how he and his friend yell when you show up, even though it's obvious you have no real beef with him, he'll probably go into detail when I ask him. So you might want to elucidate a little more than that."

He scritches between Yoru's ears again with his free hand. "And, for the record, I don't care if you're evil-- I'll just pick a fight with you and call a lot of backup if you try it in front of me. So. Thanks for looking out for Red and Blue back there in the hospital, I had my hands full with Pink."

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
"If you intend to ask him anyway, why are you asking me?" Ikuto inquires easily. "He'll tell you... what you need to hear." The phrasing here is particular after the hesitation. And it's true. Tadase will probably tell Tuxedo Mask all about how horrible Ikuto is, how he killed Tadase's dog with his violin music and all that. It won't help his image if Wolf Girl and Koi girl get into the act, either; their stories aren't likely to inspire confidence.

As for Sayaka and Kyouko? Ikuto gives an affirmative grunt. "...That white talking catsquirrel with the red ring on his back was trying to get Sayaka to make a wish. He brought her there to show her what would happen to people if she didn't." Ikuto frowns, his brow knitting. "He's pushing harder than a used car salesman."

He falls silent again, but doesn't leave yet. And then he speaks up again. "...So what will you do when you go and ask him, and he tells you it's true?" Referring to Tadase. To assist with this determination, as he says 'ask him', he tilts his head in the direction of Iris's building.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Because there are lots of ways to misunderstand someone, especially if you're being lied to or led on, and there are lots of reasons to lie," Tuxedo Kamen says, eyebrows lifting over his mask. "He won't tell me what I need to hear. He'll tell me what he thinks. I won't do anything, I'll just have more information."

Then he stands up, unfolding gracefully, and the wind gusts and kicks up his hair and his cape briefly. The latter flaps around like a broad, wide pennant before drifting down and falling around his ankles; he's talking again. "So whatever it is that's making you not fight a bad rep-- I hope it doesn't kill you first. You seem decent. And I like your punchy cat."

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto is silent at the first bit. It's true. He /is/ leading them on. Lots of people, actually. But there's really no other choice. The only real choice is this-- hurt them himself and keep them safe, or let them get hurt because they care? Tuxedo Kamen may see the slump of Ikuto's shoulders, the way he tilts his head down in defeat-- just for a moment. Then he pulls himself together, squaring his shoulders-- physically and mentally.

He smirks slightly when Tuxedo Kamen mentions Yoru. And then he looks in the sleeping cat-Character's direction. He is still sprawled out on the roof, happy little nose bubble and all. The sight of Yoru sleeping sets Ikuto just a little off-kilter, it seems. Because he lets something slip that he wouldn't ordinarily, if he'd been thinking more clearly. He mutters it under his breath.

"...Better me than them."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Silence from the tall and slender gentleman thief, just for a moment. And then, softly, "I can respect that." Maybe identify with it a little too much, in fact.

Tuxedo Kamen steps closer, but it's only to bend down slightly and offer a slip of paper with a mobile number on it. "I can get in touch with a lot of firepower in a hurry. It would be convenient if you could fill me in on whatever it is ahead of time, but-- I can also understand secrets. And I can tell you care. I won't break your rep, don't worry."

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto's eyes go a bit wide and he makes a strangled sound as he realizes his mistake. He frowns, and turns his head the other way. "...Forget I said that." Break in composure! That can't be allowed, get it together, stupid!

And then suddenly there's a slip of paper. Ikuto blinks, and accepts the paper, more out of surprise than anything else. He looks at the number, then at Tuxedo Kamen. "...You won't once Tadase tells you his story," he says quietly.

He pauses, and then smirks, holding holds the paper he'd just been given back out to him. It's a quick mood change. "Are you /sure/ you want to give me this? Are you sure you want to offer me help? After what Tadase has to say you might regret it."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Well I'm not going to help you trip little old ladies as they cross the street," says the older boy, straightening up and stepping back, rolling his eyes and flipping his cape out. "But if you're getting stomped, even if it's the good guys stomping you, I'll come haul you out and make sure you don't die. Because if you're a stopgap, no matter what it is you're doing, it benefits kids like him if you're alive, doesn't it? If you're gone, there's no one to stand in the way. So--"

All this coolly reasonable explanation and analysis, and how Tuxedo Kamen ends it is, "--shut up and put it in your phone and call it if you need med evac. Or an army."

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto emits a scoff at the mention of tripping old ladies. though the smirk fades when the mention of a stopgap comes up. It's true, as long as he's there, even in Easter, then whatever Tadase has to deal with isn't nearly as bas as what he'd have to deal with if Ikuto /wasn't/ in the way. No telling what Easter would do. They might even utilize the rest of Eclipse...

At this thought, Ikuto frowns. He needs to find the Embryo, and /fast/!

Though when suggested he should put the number in his phone, he huffs a quiet laugh. And does exactly that. Though in the same breath, he notes, "You can find me easily if you change your mind." He frequents roofs a lot, after all.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"I can find you easily even if I don't," Tuxedo Kamen says cheerfully, flipping his hand out from behind his back in a smooth motion, then wrist-rolling a top hat that wasn't there a second ago. He sweeps it to his chest and bows, then steps off the roof, drops, and vanishes.

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto frowns a bit as the man in the Tuxedo-- and now a top hat-- disappears. He's not worried about the stepping off the roof. He assumes the guy wouldn't step off a roof if he didn't have a way to keep himself from going splat on the sidewalk. He looks back, at the number in his phone. Part of him wonders if he's just made a huge mistake.

What draws him from his reverie is yoru rolling over onto his stomach, yawning hugely, and getting his oversized paws under him to stretch his back. "NYAAAAAAHN~..." Yoru yawns. Then sighs, and takes to the air to float over Ikuto's shoulder, rubbing an eye. "...You gonna call him if you get messed up again-nya?"

Ikuto doesn't speak for a moment. "...Maybe," he mutters. Pause. "You didn't tell me he was there." He reaches up and gently flicks Yoru's nose, earning a surprised 'nya!'. "Warn me next time."

"But he was petting me-nya!" Yoru protests, holding his nose. Ikuto didn't hurt him, no. It was just the /indignity/ of being noseflicked!

Ikuto sighs. "...Come on. Let's get back before we're missed." Cat ears and a tail appear, and Ikuto leaps to another roof, heading away in the opposite direction Tuxedo Kamen disappeared in.