Let's try that again...

[evillurks]

Now that he's growing accustomed to having her as a true agent again, Myra's recovery in her own world puts The Shadow slightly short-handed. He finds his own wheezing a severe liability whenever stealth is needed, forcing him to rely on other agents for quiet investigations. The alternate solution, and one he struggles to uphold, is to be supremely diligent in taking care of himself except when he truly needs to take to the streets firsthand. The restriction grates on his nerves, and coordinating agents to do some of the footwork takes up more time.
He is careful, following the unexpected incident in ancient Japan, and he is also busy. The drug market has gone fairly quiet, but there is a definite gradual increase in violent crime. Arresting the individuals involved seems to have no impact on this slow crescendo. The network is spread wide and thin, scratching the ground for clues. After a matter of days, The Shadow has done all he can do about the matter. Once again he must wait, sift the city through his agents, and hope some vital puzzle piece comes to light. On this break from work he recalls a social obligation. A morning outing has him arriving at the Rettigue apartment with sake and scotch. The place has been abandoned the past few days, but that means there's no paperwork to tidy. The grand spaces and spartan furnishings should make it a comfortable place for a blind man to visit.

When the sake is warm and the cups set out, he sends off an invitation, and then laughs quietly at his own unfamiliar attempt at hospitality.

Comments

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

On the one hand, he'd like to be ready and alert should anything come up in his work, but on the other hand it's been a very long time since he had friendly drinks with anyone. Decades, in fact. He leans forward and finds his abandoned sake cup. "You're a bad influence." His voice carries a smirk.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"So I'm told." Ichi gives a hearty laugh as he pours enough to fill half of The Shadow's cup, and then finishes the rest by tipping it into his own. He raises it, and nods to The Shadow. "Heh, bottoms up." He raises the cup and drinks down the sake, savoring it as he smiles, leaning his head back so he faces the ceiling. Without the adrenaline to offset the alcohol now, he appears mildly inebriated, and rather pleased at the fact. "That's damn good sake."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

A constitution that has handled various poisons and other drugs is not easily swayed by mere alcohol, but The Shadow's head is swimming slightly. He takes slightly longer to finish his drink, sipping it, but is amused by Ichi's current state. "I hope you have a short walk to a bed, wherever you're PINpointing back to." At the very least he'll have a cane to guide him there and steady his walking.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

Not depending on sight, makes for a significant lack of 'beer goggles'. And the cane definitely helps.

"I was on my way out of town. There's a nice little temple I can spend the night at, not far from where I was. Am, uh, will be." He seems amused at the uncertainty with which he finds the terms. With a grin, he pulls out his cloth purse and rummages in it, finding the PINpoint and plunking it onto the table as he ties the cloth back up. "Enjoy yourself, Shadow-san. It's a good night to relax."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

"Good. And... thank you. I'm not used to relaxing. I'm no good at it." He is amused, but the combination of sake and scotch has him feeling very comfortable just sitting down, watching nothing in particular. It's a rare moment his mind is not humming with things to do.

"Keep safe." He means it, but he does not doubt Ichi's skill with the blade, even slightly potted.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"I'm happy to work on that too, you know." He gives a quick laugh and then quiets, to an honest, kindly tone.

"Keep safe." Ichi stands in his bow-legged posture, and gives a proper parting bow, before he picks up the PINpoint. "Go." He speaks at it while holding down one of the only buttons on the face, and disappears.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The Shadow rolls his eyes, bemused, but he's not looking to make this sort of relaxation a habit. His work demands he keep sharp as much of the time as is humanly possible. Sometimes it even demands the superhuman, and he does his best to live up to it.

He watches Ichi go with a nod, and gazes thoughtfully at the space he has vacated for some time. Washing the cups can wait for later. For the moment, he is content to relish the unfamiliar sensation of being truly relaxed.