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tampered2008-03-17 01:51 am
ginocidal.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2008-03-17 01:51 am
log: ongoing.
When; March 16th.
Rating; PG-13 (in allowance for dirty mouths or thoughts).
Characters; Ichimaru Gin [![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ginocidal], Ukitake Jyuushirou [floating_bamboo], and other employees of the Tea Shop.
Summary; Gin shakes things up for a poor consumptive Ukitake-taichou.
Log;
Most people weren't too terribly keen on walking into the metaphorical belly of the beast. Ichimaru Gin had never been most people. Somehow, the idea of entering a place where he was neither welcome nor wanted didn't bother him in the least. The fact that some of his most powerful enemies would be there wasn't a large concern either, though perhaps it would have been to a lesser man.
There was no hurry or anxiety in his step as he approached the small tea shop. In fact, he approached it slowly, making a rather big show of appreciating the door and its lovely accrouments. He had always enjoyed Ukitake's tastes - much warmer and obviously much cozier than Aizen's, if Las Noches was any indication. He wondered, for a moment, who all had taken occupation at this particular establishment and hoped for a surprise. Gin had learned of the place through Kiyone's frantic entry on an earlier curse day. There was a bit of minimal research on Gin's part to find the exact location. Really, if Ukitake didn't want certain customers, he really should have put a muzzle on his employees.
He could almost feel the tension resonating from the store. It was silent inside - a quiet sort of 'keep away' sign. But of course, Gin cared little for restrictions. Pressing buttons, invading personal space, causing havoc. Bread and butter to the former shinigami captain.
Smile in place, Gin opened the door to the small tea shop and entered, fully expecting a full-on assault. Or just rudeness.
Rating; PG-13 (in allowance for dirty mouths or thoughts).
Characters; Ichimaru Gin [
ginocidal], Ukitake Jyuushirou [floating_bamboo], and other employees of the Tea Shop.Summary; Gin shakes things up for a poor consumptive Ukitake-taichou.
Log;
Most people weren't too terribly keen on walking into the metaphorical belly of the beast. Ichimaru Gin had never been most people. Somehow, the idea of entering a place where he was neither welcome nor wanted didn't bother him in the least. The fact that some of his most powerful enemies would be there wasn't a large concern either, though perhaps it would have been to a lesser man.
There was no hurry or anxiety in his step as he approached the small tea shop. In fact, he approached it slowly, making a rather big show of appreciating the door and its lovely accrouments. He had always enjoyed Ukitake's tastes - much warmer and obviously much cozier than Aizen's, if Las Noches was any indication. He wondered, for a moment, who all had taken occupation at this particular establishment and hoped for a surprise. Gin had learned of the place through Kiyone's frantic entry on an earlier curse day. There was a bit of minimal research on Gin's part to find the exact location. Really, if Ukitake didn't want certain customers, he really should have put a muzzle on his employees.
He could almost feel the tension resonating from the store. It was silent inside - a quiet sort of 'keep away' sign. But of course, Gin cared little for restrictions. Pressing buttons, invading personal space, causing havoc. Bread and butter to the former shinigami captain.
Smile in place, Gin opened the door to the small tea shop and entered, fully expecting a full-on assault. Or just rudeness.
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Nothing quite screamed red flag like Ichimaru Gin walking into the tea shop, however, and nothing Rukia's gut instinct was telling her was particularly useful as her gaze snapped from one place to another in the shop, assessing the customers, the space, and the potential...conflict.
She remembered also, however, calming herself with a tight frown, that Ukitake's instructions when asked had been to serve him as any customer and more importantly, to not provoke him.
Still, she did not rush to him.
There were a few things Kuchiki Rukia would like to do to Ichimaru Gin.
Help or serve him was not high on the list, if at all.
But then, those were orders and she wasn't really one to disobey if she could help it. The last thing she needed or wanted to do was further worry Ukitake.
Gin was a bastard, the thought was not the first time in occurring, and she bit her lip thoughtfully as she managed to shift her weight in place, watching him silently, willing him to just leave, and knowing that was a rather pointless wish.
He would not have come if he just intended to leave after all. That much, was obvious.
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The first person he saw was Rukia, hostile (oh, was she really still mad about that?) and tense. Possibly avoiding him as he stood at the front of the shop, rolling back and forth from the balls of his feet to his toes. His hands were placed behind his back and possibly in a show of peace, his zanpakutou was nowhere to be seen. Then again, with the way his robes billowed, who was to say it wasn't tucked away somewhere?
Kotsubaki was there as well. As soon as he'd entered, the man had ducked low, presumably to hide. Gin had always rather liked him, finding the man to be hilarious, even if his awkward behaviour was unintentional. Of course, Kotsubaki had no idea of Gin's warmth toward him. He wasn't much of a laughing man - just a smiling one.
Patiently, he awaited Rukia's attention. Or Ukitake's. He didn't sense the Captain's reiatsu, which was a touch bothersome. Gin had hoped to catch up, but he surmised that Ukitake would arrive soon enough. Perhaps with friends? Reinforcements? It flattered him that so many of his esteemed peers were falling all over themselves just to see him: a harmless little traitor.
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It did not help that he was one of the few people she also could not hide her own fear from. Something about him had always made her uneasy. It still did.
She noted Sentarou and his actions, glad he had thought to send for further instruction, though she personally would rather they did not have to contact Ukitake.
He had enough on his mind of late...
But it was not her call of course.
Arms crossed, she recalled her directions...and could not bring herself to complete them by even beginning to verbally acknowledge his presence.
Instead she looked away, thinking, what is he up to anyway...?
Another glance at Sentarou told her very little except that the man was veritably freaking out, but that was expected. On the inside, Rukia was little better, if in a more forcibly calmed state than his.
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Kotsubaki Sentarou was a good worker. A hard worker. He wouldn’t let the shop burn down on his watch. No sir, nothing bad would happen while he was looking after…
…is that who I think it is?
Sentarou froze behind the register. It couldn’t be anyone but. The chilling reiatsu, the sly grin...
What do I do... What do I do... What do I do?!…
Noticing that Kuchiki was still out in the main part of the store, he resisted the urge to tell her to run. He had to think. He was the higher ranked officer, he was in charge… but he was never any good at making these sorts of decisions. That’s what Kiyone was for; the complicated situations. Battles against hollows he could handle, that was routine after all. Right now he didn’t want to be the one giving orders.
Orders!
Yes, orders would make this whole situation better. Quickly pulling out his computer and trying not to be noticed by squatting down next to the register, he typed an entry frantically, not even knowing what to say at first.
Orders…orders…If I could get some orders…
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Now it slapped him in the face again, and Jyuushirou knew he had to stand up and face it, as always. After the bitter conversation with Aizen over the network - how did he know? - he had noticed Ichimaru's entry. He was going to visit the tea shop, and there was just Rukia and Sentarou present right now. Jyuushirou had decided to stay home in the temple today, thanks to a sudden bout of fever, but no illness in the world could hold him back when it came to family.
After trying to calm Sentarou down via the network, he took a shunpo step from the temple room towards the City, ignoring the fact that shunpo was not the best thing to use while feverish. It took him a couple of steps to reach the tea shop, and even though he was sweating slightly from the exertion and the fever, and he was not wearing his shihakushou but his private clothes, he still managed an aura of dignity and pride while stepping inside. His dark brows furrowed slightly at the sight of the former 3rd Division captain, but his face was otherwise blank - the worry held inside for now.
His head was spinning and Sougyo no Kotowari hung loose in it's saya by his side, but he gave Ichimaru a cold look and then walked up to the cash register, gently putting a hand on Rukia's shoulder and smiling softly to make her move. The smile disappeared just as quickly, no matter how genuine it had been.
"Well," he started, brown eyes once again fixed on the traitor in his shop. "What can we get you?"
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"Don' treat me like a stranger, Ukitake-taichou!" Gin exclaimed, cheerful as usual in the face of caution. "You're lookin' a li'l' green 'round the gills. You sure you should be here today?"
He peered round to Rukia and offered her a personal smile. Lascivious intent licked at its edges and though there wasn't much change in his expression, there was still a more sinister note to this special grin. When he turned his attention back to Ukitake, his smile eased into the one of false pleasantry typical to him.
"I'm not sure what I want. See, I was thinkin' green tea 'cause you can never go wrong with green tea, but I'm feelin' sorta adventurous. You got any recommendations?" He looked past him to Rukia. "Or you, Kuchiki-san?" And then to Sentarou. "How 'bout you, Kotsubaki-san?"
A pause.
"I like to explore my options." He almost laughed at his own double entendre. It took a special sort of man to joke about his own treachery.
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The words loathing and dismissal came to mind but then, that was expected.
Her eyes glued themselves to Ukitake's shoulder nearest to her, watching his outward strength, and finding only that she was upset by it. He was ill, she knew. Everyone knew. But today was one of those days...at another point perhaps, when Sentarou and Kiyone would have taken care of everything.
Or...Kaien-dono would have.
A long time ago.
Glancing quickly at her feet and then back up to break her own train of thought and brooding, Rukia was caught off guard when she looked up only to see Gin, peering around at her. His smile made her feel smothered, like so many long fingered hands reaching out to choke something unpleasant out of her. Inadvertently she flashed to that encounter on the bridge and grew cold.
Some people...
It wasn't a long look though it felt like it still had a hold on her once he turned his attention away from her. Truth be known of course, she wasn't that fond of Ukitake being his focus either. She wanted to tell him he could leave, that they could handle it...that she was worried.
But after all this time she knew he would not listen because he was a 'good' captain, and moreover, she still, for all his kindness and all the gentleness of her superior, felt like it would never be her place to offer such advice to him. Still, she watched carefully, protective of her captain...her family.
She didn't need to look over at Sentarou to know he was probably just as concerned and attentive.
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It was a relief to see him, and Sentarou felt the burden being lifted off his shoulders immediately. At the same time, however, he knew that that burden was not gone, but only shifted to his Captain. He felt guilty for that, and glanced nervously from Ichimaru to Ukitake, wondering if the ill man had the strength enough to take care of things if things got bad.
Sentarou clenched his fists and bit his lip, hearing the traitor refer to Ukitake’s state. It was a jab at his pride, and Ichimaru knew it. There was no doubt in Sentarou’s mind that the former captain didn’t really care about Ukitake’s health at all.
Stupid…mean…traitor…GO AWAY.
If that wasn’t bad enough, his anger increased and he nearly jumped in front of Kuchiki when the silver-haired man gave her that creepy grin of his. His protective, almost brotherly instincts very nearly taking over. If there was anything Sentarou truly understood well, it was that the Thirteenth Division was family, and family looked out for each other.
His anger faded and he froze again at being addressed. He was asking for tea? Was he serious?
“Uh…” He started, ever so eloquently, “…uh…I make earl gray tea all the time for work…”
That sounded really dumb…
He could kick himself.
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So he smiled.
He smiled, even though it hurt his pride terribly, even though it made him feel ridiculous and weak - but he smiled. Anything to prevent trouble, anything to prevent endangering the two other people in the shop.
"My apologies," he said, looking at Ichimaru. "...but you know just as well as I that you truly are a stranger these days."
He glanced at Sentarou as the man moved, and then continued. "As for my health, I'm afraid it's none of your concern."
There was a brief pause, and he casually brushed some of his silver-white hair of a shoulder, still standing straight and proud though his face was undeniably pale and his breath just a little strained. He looked towards the fully-stacked shelves in the shop.
"If you feel like 'exploring your options', there's black tea, red tea and much more to chose from." He turned his attention back at the fox. "Perhaps a set with a little bit of everything?"
Logic told him it was most likely Ichimaru was just here to shake them up a bit, but even so, he was not taking any chances. He hoped his mere presence acted as a protective shield between the traitor and his subordinates.
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Gin met Ukitake's smile with the widening of his own. Obviously, Ukitake wasn't quite as talented at the art of fake expression. He was straining himself by simply being there and had Gin been one inclined to mercy, he would have felt a twinge of sympathy for the captain. Instead, Gin found it all very amusing.
"C'mon, Ukitake-taichou. Don' tell me that me leavin' was such a huge surprise. I'm a suspicious guy. Hitsugaya-taichou can tell ya as much."
He looked past the captain and his employees to peruse the shelves with slitted eyes.
"Could I maybe get a sample of some things? Like the red an' black tea? An' the Earl Grey, of course. I trust Kotsubaki-san's judgment."
Gin was drawing out his stay and no doubt the others would catch on. He was having far too much fun to leave just yet.
[[ooc: Sorry for the lateness! Passed out yesterday before I could post when I got back from the dentist.]]
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She wanted to spit on him, something she had not done to anyone since her very early days in the 78th district of Rukongai...maybe not even then. A certain sense of self propriety was bred into her, even before the Kuchiki household. Such a loathsome being as the man before them however begged something equally as disdainful, and for some reason, spitting seemed like it would be terribly gratifying, if not nearly what he deserved.
Rukia would never really want to play roles of judge or jury, much less both, but there were exceptions to every rule, especially one of personal justices.
The way he spoke to Ukitake...unacceptable. Hearing his request for a sample, Rukia had a very brisk internal battle between pretending she wasn't listening and simply doing what he wanted to get him out of the way.
A look at her captain and she moved, with a graceful sort of begrudging to collect the sample sized packets of the requested kinds of tea, careful to not look at the person they had to serve as she placed them in one of the small shop bags.
Just get out, she thought as she put the bag of samples on the counter, eyes flitting up to Gin's face just for an instant, enough to regret it anyway. If she glared, it was only with her eyes, her mouth in a stubborn line of unreadable quality.
Looking over at Sentarou, Rukia felt a fraction relieved that it was not just her with Ukitake. She felt inadequate to protect him, for a number of reasons, and while Sentarou could be...well, he could be very Sentarou, he had not reached his position by lacking in the necessary skills.
She could feel herself want to fidget in place but settled for letting her eyes move restlessly, eventually turning her face to the side, as if fascinated by something on the wall, arms folding across her chest absently as she did her best impression of now ignoring Gin, even though that was the opposite of what she was doing.
Pins and needles would not have been an accurate enough description, but they came close.
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If Ukitake-taichou wasn’t wearing tell-tale signs of fever, and if he was wearing a shihakushou and haori…he would probably feel more confident.
He’s…actually ordering some tea? What the hell?!
Ichimaru had to be the most confusing person Sentarou ever knew. The man made no sense.
He wondered if they were going to charge him for the tea, or if the man expected it as some sort of bribe to keep his zanpakutou sheathed. That’s how some places worked in the rukongai. That’s what it reminded him of. Burley men, pushing their weight around, threatening innocent shop keepers…
Hearing the sly man’s words, he let out a low growl out of instinct, but quickly quieted himself. All stray dogs knew it was a threatening response.
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"There's a difference between being an eccentric person and pulling something like that." He said softly, as if he was speaking to someone very young. His voice revealed some of his tiredness; had he been feeling well, this would not have been a problem.
He glanced over at Rukia as the woman gathered the sample packs, and he nodded slightly. Just act normally for now, no matter how much it must hurt and infuriate you. Know your battle. Know the difference - this was not a fight for pride, it was a fight for life.
Even he, the captain known for his pride and honor, would give it up to save those lives.
Part of him wanted to send them out of the shop - to the storage room, perhaps, or just out of there. He knew that Shunsui had said he was on his way, and he hoped he would arrive soon. Together, they were the oldest and strongest captains in Soul Society. Together, they stood a chance.
...or was he just telling himself that, these days?
Hearing the sound from Sentarou, he reached up a hand and put it on his shoulder - an easy, familiar gesture, but the grip was sturdy and warning. A small cough penetrated impassive shell of dignity and strength he tried to put up, and he cursed inwardly. Not now.
Looking back at Ichimaru again, he tried to smile once again. "Anything else?"
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"You thought o' me as jus' eccentric? Guess I'm flattered." He drawled pleasantly. Ukitake had always been one of the kinder captains, and Gin supposed that he had once liked him in his own perverse way.
At Kotsubaki's growl, he looked up, head quirked to the side.
"Sounds like ya have somethin' in your throat. Maybe you need some tea, too?"
At the cough: "And you, Taichou."
Gin paused for a moment before eyeing Rukia. She was resolutely pretending he didn't exist. Not everyone could pretend at coldness, even Seireitei's ice queen. It was a pleasure, knowing that he inspired such emotion within her that she couldn't quite hide it.
"Could I get some boilin' water to try some of these?"
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...it was so very Gin.
The nerve of him still struck her, but on the heels of her disdain came a resignation to the fact that this man would always choose to do that which most upset any situation he deemed worthy to entertain him. That's all this was for him, Rukia was certain.
A way to pass the time.
"Could I get some boilin' water to try some of these?"
The automatic refusal on the tip of her tongue smoldered and then died out before she gathered her wits about her to refuse him in a more acceptable way, a way that not considering their positions, could be taken as polite.
It was the best she could do.
"Customarily, unless we have samples prepared, we do not serve tea. It is a shop to purchase that which you need to make and prepare tea," she said, a level stare at him, jaw clenched a bit too tightly perhaps. Standing beside Ukitake, she glanced at the door briefly. No new customers, no new trouble, but also no help.
Gaze locked onto the problem, she failed to hide a slight frown of disapproval. To be fair, it was nothing compared to the scowl of utter hate that she was inclined to give to him.
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He’s in there…I can feel it.
It put him a bit on edge, but he had a good feeling that Ichimaru was just being…well…Ichimaru Gin, and shaking things up a bit. Even then, you couldn’t be too careful…if he saw the situation was just too good to pass up, maybe he would…
No…not when he’s outnumbered. I don’t think…
Taking a deep breath, he put on his best smile, and starting humming a little ditty he learned back in the Heian period, before walking around the corner and heading for the door. The soft clap of the bamboo chimes rang out as he entered, and Shunsui did his best to appear relaxed. He was fairly certain the fox-like man just wanted to create a scene and cause a little panic.
Juushirou was behind the register, his hand on his third seat’s shoulder. Seeing his face Shunsui knew he was right to come.
“Well well… what do we have here?” he asked, strolling up to the counter. He paused for a moment, picking up a tea cup with a rose petal design from the counter. “These look new…when did you get these in?”
I don’t think you’ll start anything, but just in case…
“You know what, I think I’ll buy it! Here, Rukia-chan…will you take this and wrap it for me in the back?” He looked over at Sentarou. “Why don’t you go help her, hmm?”
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Ichimaru's request made him blink in surprise and he did not answer at first. While they sometimes had tea samples in cups for people, this was not the time for that. The sooner this man got out of his shop, the better. Right now, preferably.
Before he had a chance to reply, Rukia did, and Jyuushirou could not hide a small smile. Her words were true, and almost polite, but there was way to mistake her feelings at the moment. Part of him was proud of her, the other part still worried.
Too focused on what was going on in the tea shop, he did not even notice the arrival of the more-then-familiar reiatsu before it was compressed, and he was slightly startled when the chime sounded. For a brief second, he feared that an innocent customer somehow would be stuck in all of this, but then he recognized his lover... and he could have shouted of relief. Finally. Just when he was worrying he would not be able to stand much longer.
Fortunately, the only change in his expression was a genuine smile. "Hello there. They're lovely, are they not?" He took his eyes fully off Ichimaru for the first time since the traitor entered the store, his guard dropping slightly.
He looked to his two subordinates, and nodded in reply to his new 'customer's' request. Good idea, Shun. "Please, go wrap it in."
Get out of here. Go, hide, be safe. Please.
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"Ah, I see. Then I s'ppose I could jus' take these samples home and brew 'em there so I can make an informed decision? I don't wanna get anythin' I'm not gonna drink. When I decide what I like, I could just come back!" Gin mused, the volume of his voice raising just a smidge with his suggestion that he return at another time.
His pout lifted when he sensed a very familiar reiatsu - a floral reiatsu, if he were to give it a description. The cup Kyoraku selected was indeed lovely and the small conversation the captains shared seemed to calm him. Sending the peons to the back. What a nice touch.
"Oh, Kyoraku-taichou! Nice t'see your smilin' face. Mind suggestin' a tea for me to sample?"
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To leave Ukitake anywhere near Gin felt horrible, even if it was exactly what he wanted, what he had asked, what he and Kyoraku had directed she and Sentarou to do. It wasn't in her to move wordlessly and immediately to follow orders and she hesitated, obvious struggle in her facial expressions before she shot Gin a warning look--not that he would ever acknowledge her as a threat or even remotely on the same ground, but she could at least let him know she saw him. It was very quick, and he would have to be watching her to catch it, but it was more for her own peace of mind than anything else.
It was her way of convincing herself, however ineffectually and temporarily, they could do something if they needed to, against this man, against all of them.
If.
"Of course, Ukitake taichou, Kyoraku taichou," she inclined her head slightly, reminiscent of a quiet bow and turned to go to the back, though perhaps much more slowly than she should have.
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Sentarou was entirely relieved to see the other captain arrive. Two captains…the oldest most experienced captains, must be enough against Ichimaru, right?
Part of him doubted…part of him wanted to stay in case Ukitake-taichou needed someone to help him…he didn’t look well today. However, he couldn’t disobey orders, and he couldn’t ignore the look his captain gave him.
Right. To the back then…
He followed after Rukia, hoping that whatever happened, Kyouraku-taichou could handle it.
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“Hmm?” Shunsui raised an eyebrow at Ichimaru’s question. “Saa…any tea is good really, as long as you put some sake in it, of course.”
He took a moment to pat his sake jug by his waist, as usual placed beside the purple hilts of his double zanpakutou.
With one eye on Ichimaru and the other watching as Rukia hesitantly left the scene with Sentarou close behind, he gave Juu another concerned look, this time only half acting.
“Ukitake, you know you shouldn’t work on days like this,” he began, hoping that he would be forgiven later; life over pride right now. “Why don’t you let your last customer pay and close up for the day?”
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Return? Don't come back again. Leave the kids alone.
"Hai, that's what the samples are for. If you find anything you like I'm sure we can deliver it." He said to the fox-faced traitor as he made sure his subordinates moved out back in to the storage room.
Anything, just get out of my store right now.
The fever made his head throb painfully and he could almost hear his own pulse beat inside. Even though his face was ash-gray and he was sweating, he stood straight and watched Ichimaru, as he had since the man first entered the store. He somehow still managed to be a captain in appearance, at least.
That's why Shunsui's words made him cringe slightly, that pride of his taking a hard blow. While it was perhaps a good distraction to end this ridiculous game, the least he wanted right now was to look weak in front of Ichimaru Gin.
His jaw clenched slightly and he forced himself to nod. "Perhaps." Jyuushirou said, the tone of his voice normal but with a somewhat bitter background.
"Was that all?" He then continued, no longer smiling at Ichimaru. "That would be one yellow and three reds for the samples."
exuent gin.
"Yeah, ya don' look too good. I'll go ahead an' get outta your hair." He might have sounded considerate if mockery hadn't whispered through his conversational tone.
He reached into his billowing coat, reaching around until he pulled out a pouch of money. Since he had arrived, Gin had never lacked money, though it was unsure to all parties exactly how he obtained his funds.
"Ahh...I still don't understand this money system." He murmured, shuffling around in his bag for much longer than necessary. "S'ppose I couldn' use the indigo..." After a moment, he withdrew the asked for coins and flicked them onto the table.
"There ya go! I'll contact ya when I'm ready to get my teas." He turned to each Captain with his sunny smile. "It was such a pleasure t'see both of ya today. Though I don' think your employees were as courteous as y'all were. You might wanna talk to them 'bout workin' under pressure. I'll be goin' now!"
Whistling merrily, he tucked his new purchases away along with his pouch and wandered out, drawing a pale hand along the shelves on his way.