[ when kangai is leaving work at his coffee shop one day, he'll be approached by a messenger who is not shigure! a friendly older woman will appear and tell him to visit the xian le temple at his convenience this evening- xie lian wishes to see him.
gonna go involve yourself in mafia dealings kangai? it's unusual, but if it makes him feel better, there are plenty of people around the xian le temple, praying, leaving offerings - all in all, a normal business operation! xie lian himself is not in his office, but rather, seated cross legged on the altar, reading a book. he looks absolutely nothing like a mob boss. ]
[this is it. this is when he dies. goodbye, world.
... though logically, they're probably not going to kill him in a temple? like, he's pretty sure that's blasphemous, or something. also holy shit, it's this guy. he remembers him. what was a mafia boss doing in a grocery store??]
Yes! [ surprise IT WAS HIM ALL ALONG. xie lian's still as sharply dressed as he was that first day, though decidedly not covered in banana mush. he hops up to his feet and offers kangai his hand to shake. ] I apologize for not telling you the full truth when we first met. Sometimes, it's a bit easier to talk to people that way.
[ in other words, xie lian is called "boss" so many times a day that he's starting to feel more like "boss" and less like "xie lian"....anyway. his purpose makes itself known quickly, and he does his best to soothe any worries this poor boy might have. ] Don't worry, don't worry, you're not in trouble! In fact, it's the opposite. Let's see... you work in that little coffee shop in Middleton. Do you like it there? Do they pay you well?
xie lian is going to just kindness his way into a good relationship. he nods. ] I was thinking about our conversation the other day, and I looked a bit into it, I hope you don't mind. There's a shop across the street from yours that's owned by a few members of my family. It's new, but they put out good products, and it's starting to do well--I'm a fan of their teas, especially.
I think I might have a solution for some of your worries. [ smiling!! ] I'd like to offer you a job with the Xian Le shop - it's called Taizi. In exchange, I wouldn't ask for your alliance or membership or anything of the sort, so you don't have to worry about that. The tax percentage we take from the shop is small, and only from the overall profits, not your wages. I spoke with the owners, and they'd be willing to take in another employee--I can promise the pay will be better, too.
Of course, being a shop owned by my family, you would be offered protection from anyone who might come around...ah, looking for you. Let's say it like that. [ listen, he had to do a 1920s background check. sorry, you poor ou man. ] You don't have to say yes, of course, but I thought it might be nice. What do you think?
[oh, kangai knows very well about that coffee shop. haha!
but he's not going to say that. or that he's more afraid of the xian le family than the mori family right now. anyhow, he's pretty sure you don't really say no to mafia heads, so.]
... Sure, I'll accept. Who can say no to better pay?
[ Sometime during the week after Kangai gets out of work— like, right when he gets out of work, because Kano's waiting for him out there, crouched across the street with his hands propping up his chin watching the door until Kangai steps out to be intercepted. ]
Hey~a! Good work today! ...Did you do good work? Guess I shouldn't just say it unless you deserve it, huh?
Aw, I can't come hang out with my bestest best friend in the entire world who would never turn me away for anything?
[ He hopes Kangai worked a long and exhausting shift so he can't run away that easily. They're just going to continue down the street, wherever Kangai's heading, let's not loiter in front of the shop. ]
I'm here to check up on you! Make sure you have all your fingers and toes and all that!
[ ...He glances over at Kangai's hands. And then looks down at his feet. ]
[ Seeing all those fingers attached is a relief, although toes are still up in the air. ]
Aw, sometimes people want to hang out to know each other better, y'know? No need to be so suspicious~
[ But yeah, Kano is not that person, so he'll get right to that ulterior motive. ]
Anyways, you seem like the sort to want to stay outta trouble, so I was just wonderin' why you jumped ship to this place all of the sudden? Whatcha poking your nose into that's got one o' those guys riled up so much? Coworker, the short one. Hates your guts. Says your feet stink.
[ Kano claps Kangai on the shoulder with his good hand. ]
If people are sayin' it behind your back, I dunno what to tell ya.
[ People tend to think they're better than they are, that's normal. He can believe Xie Lian's just a nice guy who wanted to offer Kangai a better job, but Kangai taking that at face value leaves him unsatistied. ]
You're in a hot spot for listenin' in on something good, so maybe I can hire you to pass on word of anything interesting? Those guys prolly won't kill you or anything if they catch you, but, like, maybe keep your head down in there.
I'm not really interested in people dying when there's a prime opportunity to do something about it. This is sorta like... standing quietly in the corner! Yeah!
[ Not exactly laying low, but still nondescript and out of the way. ]
[ Maybe a dog kicked Kangai and hurt its foot in the process and now there's some mobster after Kangai's life. ]
Never mind. The point is, that's some sorta shady establishment and Xie Lian planted you there for a reason, so don't go wasting the opportunity, yeah?
Hm? Isn't it 'cause you're the new kid? Gotta dunk on the new kid~ Plus, you were scheduled for the day- you shoulda seen the guy's face, how quickly he bailed just 'cause it's you and him!
[ It's
bullying, maybe, but it could also be more than that and so Kano came to Kangai to be nosy about it ]
Umm... hm... Indecent exposure? Counterfeit bills? Sometimes these things sorta just happen, you know?
[ Kano should be banned from more establishments than he is, but surprisingly he's not. It's not important. It's fine. They can talk about something else. ]
Maybe someone's trying to sabotage the new shop, burn their rep to the ground or something~ A rival store? Your old store? Maybe they're exacting revenge on your behalf so they can snatch you back~
[ Maybe Kangai really is an exemplary employee and all this is an elaborate scheme to force him to return. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week of 1/27
gonna go involve yourself in mafia dealings kangai? it's unusual, but if it makes him feel better, there are plenty of people around the xian le temple, praying, leaving offerings - all in all, a normal business operation! xie lian himself is not in his office, but rather, seated cross legged on the altar, reading a book. he looks absolutely nothing like a mob boss. ]
no subject
... though logically, they're probably not going to kill him in a temple? like, he's pretty sure that's blasphemous, or something. also holy shit, it's this guy. he remembers him. what was a mafia boss doing in a grocery store??]
... You wanted to see me, sir?
no subject
[ in other words, xie lian is called "boss" so many times a day that he's starting to feel more like "boss" and less like "xie lian"....anyway. his purpose makes itself known quickly, and he does his best to soothe any worries this poor boy might have. ] Don't worry, don't worry, you're not in trouble! In fact, it's the opposite. Let's see... you work in that little coffee shop in Middleton. Do you like it there? Do they pay you well?
no subject
he shakes xie lian's hand, but.]
Uh?
[eloquent. he takes a moment to regain his bearings, because oh god how does one talk to a mafia boss.]
It's okay, I guess...
no subject
xie lian is going to just kindness his way into a good relationship. he nods. ] I was thinking about our conversation the other day, and I looked a bit into it, I hope you don't mind. There's a shop across the street from yours that's owned by a few members of my family. It's new, but they put out good products, and it's starting to do well--I'm a fan of their teas, especially.
I think I might have a solution for some of your worries. [ smiling!! ] I'd like to offer you a job with the Xian Le shop - it's called Taizi. In exchange, I wouldn't ask for your alliance or membership or anything of the sort, so you don't have to worry about that. The tax percentage we take from the shop is small, and only from the overall profits, not your wages. I spoke with the owners, and they'd be willing to take in another employee--I can promise the pay will be better, too.
Of course, being a shop owned by my family, you would be offered protection from anyone who might come around...ah, looking for you. Let's say it like that. [ listen, he had to do a 1920s background check. sorry, you poor ou man. ] You don't have to say yes, of course, but I thought it might be nice. What do you think?
no subject
but he's not going to say that. or that he's more afraid of the xian le family than the mori family right now. anyhow, he's pretty sure you don't really say no to mafia heads, so.]
... Sure, I'll accept. Who can say no to better pay?
no subject
Hey~a! Good work today! ...Did you do good work? Guess I shouldn't just say it unless you deserve it, huh?
no subject
... What do you want?
no subject
[ He hopes Kangai worked a long and exhausting shift so he can't run away that easily. They're just going to continue down the street, wherever Kangai's heading, let's not loiter in front of the shop. ]
I'm here to check up on you! Make sure you have all your fingers and toes and all that!
[ ...He glances over at Kangai's hands. And then looks down at his feet. ]
no subject
he has all of his digits, though.]
There's no way you don't have an ulterior motive. So, spit it out already.
no subject
Aw, sometimes people want to hang out to know each other better, y'know? No need to be so suspicious~
[ But yeah, Kano is not that person, so he'll get right to that ulterior motive. ]
Anyways, you seem like the sort to want to stay outta trouble, so I was just wonderin' why you jumped ship to this place all of the sudden? Whatcha poking your nose into that's got one o' those guys riled up so much? Coworker, the short one. Hates your guts. Says your feet stink.
no subject
I'm not poking my nose into anything. The head of Xian Le offered me a job and it paid more than my last gig, so I took it.
[also, when the head of a mafia family asks you to do something, you should probably say yes out of self-preservation.]
If someone hates me, I have no idea why. I haven't done anything.
no subject
[ Maybe Kangai is an amazing employee, who knows, but there's at least one other guys working at the same shop who's got beef with him. ]
no subject
Why are you so concerned about this, anyway?
no subject
If people are sayin' it behind your back, I dunno what to tell ya.
[ People tend to think they're better than they are, that's normal. He can believe Xie Lian's just a nice guy who wanted to offer Kangai a better job, but Kangai taking that at face value leaves him unsatistied. ]
You're in a hot spot for listenin' in on something good, so maybe I can hire you to pass on word of anything interesting? Those guys prolly won't kill you or anything if they catch you, but, like, maybe keep your head down in there.
no subject
I'm not really interested in being an informant. Isn't that the opposite of laying low?
no subject
[ Not exactly laying low, but still nondescript and out of the way. ]
no subject
no subject
[ You live in a mobster town, Kangai, people will murder for less. ]
no subject
[please, kangai is a twink who is far more likely to be kicked by someone's dog than the other way around.]
no subject
[ Maybe a dog kicked Kangai and hurt its foot in the process and now there's some mobster after Kangai's life. ]
Never mind. The point is, that's some sorta shady establishment and Xie Lian planted you there for a reason, so don't go wasting the opportunity, yeah?
no subject
no subject
[ It's
bullying, maybe, but it could also be more than that and so Kano came to Kangai to be nosy about it ]
no subject
no subject
[ It's relative, Kangai. Relative. ]
How's the shop doing, anyways? I sorta got banned from it, so I can't go in and see.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
[ Kano should be banned from more establishments than he is, but surprisingly he's not. It's not important. It's fine. They can talk about something else. ]
no subject
no subject
[ Yep ]
So, how's the shop doing?
no subject
no subject
[ The people in the best position to do something like that wouldn't be Kano, but somebody who actually works there. Kangai. ]
no subject
no subject
Maybe someone's trying to sabotage the new shop, burn their rep to the ground or something~ A rival store? Your old store? Maybe they're exacting revenge on your behalf so they can snatch you back~
[ Maybe Kangai really is an exemplary employee and all this is an elaborate scheme to force him to return. ]
no subject
no subject
no subject
[that or xie lian is playing mind games with him.]
no subject
[ A generous family head. Not really the sort you'd think of to be a mafia boss, hence the rumors he's not cut out for the job, Kano thinks. ]
I once poured ice cubes on his face when he had a nosebleed... How do you think he'd repay me?
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
[ Chuuya really really hates it, and didn't even want Kano to work at the Fight Club, a sort of fake neutral zone. ]
But that's just fine, isn't it? Xie Lian's fun, and it's not like we talk business or anything like that- the guy knows better than that.