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[la_sombra]

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Social Butterfly Effect (with arasakadogs)

[la_sombra]

[Rich people don't know how to party.

It was something Sombra knew when one of her few friends called in a favor. Meet with some old businessman, be his arm candy for a few days - with separate hotel rooms; it was something that should have been light work for the runner.

The catch, as it turned out, was that this whole affair was to happen in Japan, and said 'old businessman' was speedrunning his way through...what appeared to be a bit of a crisis about his age. Lovely.

Fortunately, Sombra's command of Japanese was pretty good and once she figured out ol' Yamada-san could be easily provoked into drinking enough that he needed to sleep it off, she happily made sure that her evenings were free and she was left to her own devices without too much work.

The fun of escaping Yamada wore off quickly, as did clubbing, leaving Sombra all dressed up and nowhere to go, except for the bar of the hotel. Nothing against the place, Arasaka did some preem work and if she'd come under better circumstances she would have likely loved the place.

Homesick for Night City, Sombra took her seat at the bar and nursed a beer, people-watching as the night went on. It went on like this until she spied what looked like a familiar haircut, unusual for the clientele of this hotel.

"There's no way" she muttered to herself, watching this stranger and trying to keep hope under control.]

[arasakadogs]

(oda does not like leaving hanako alone even if she is staying at the arasaka compound surrounded by plenty of other guards. his need for control is not easily relented and yet here he is: stuck on mandatory annual vacation. the hotel is opulent and he has quite a nice suite but oda would confess he finds himself a bit aimless without a schedule.

he is not one to drink but the bar at least offers a change in scenery. oda slides into an empty stool debates an order until something catches his attention.

it cannot be.

but it looks like her. he had not seen or heard from sombra since their successful job for hanako-sama. not to mention the night before...what is she doing here of all places? oda rises, hoping that he can excuse himself unnoticed.)

[la_sombra]

[As soon as he gets up, Sombra knows that it's Oda - no doubt trying to avoid her. She grins as she rises, telling the bartender "I'll be right back" before moving to catch Oda before he's too far gone.]

お久しぶりです、小田さん

[He's quick, but she's quicker - standing at his side before he can get too far.]

[arasakadogs]

(oda freezes wishing he had not been right. it does not help at all to see sombra shockingly in a very nice dress that is rather eye catching.)

What brings you to Japan, Sombra-san? (he asks politely even as he tries to formulate an exit strategy. it is not that he dislikes sombra; quite the contrary. but their one night stand had complicated quite a bit.)

[la_sombra]

[Dressed in what some referred to as a 'virgin killer', Sombra smiled as his gaze flicked over her.]

Here for a gig. Done for the day thankfully.

[His body language is not lost on her and while she hadn't hoped for an immediate rekindling (well, mostly hadn't), she thought that he would be at least a little warmer.]

Should I go? [She quirks an eyebrow, before looking around.] I feel like I'm interrupting something.

[arasakadogs]

It is a very long way to come for just a gig, (he observes. it must be paying well. oda shifts somewhat uncomfortably where he stands, not entirely sure how he should behave.)

You are not. Your presence is just unexpected.

[la_sombra]

Well, I've never been to Japan so it's a nice opportunity.

[ He's not wrong, though Sombra notes his discomfort. She figures he's unaccustomed to the dreaded 'seeing the one night again' situation.]

I see.[She thinks momentarily, peering over at her lonely beer.] Would you like to get a drink?

[arasakadogs]

(he bites his tongue for the temptation to say something disparaging about night city in comparison to the glory of japan, if only that he still finds himself off-kilter. at her offer, though, oda nods.)

A drink, then. (oda follows behind her, graced for the first time by the back of her dress---or lack thereof. it is a lot of skin to show and enough to temporarily short-circuit him with memories of their tryst.

sitting beside sombra, he orders a beer as well.)

You have been well?

[la_sombra]

[Feeling eyes on her, Sombra smirks to herself as she sits down once more. She smiles fully at his question, nodding.]

I have. Hope things are going well for you too.

[She takes a sip of beer. Her gaze flicks over Oda as he sits and she has to admit, she likes seeing him outside of such formal trappings.]

Here for work?

[arasakadogs]

(it is not unlike their first meeting in that restaurant except this time he is indulging in a drink.)

The opposite. A vacation. (it is clear in his tone oda is not happy about it.)

[la_sombra]

[Unlike their first meeting, Sombra laughs at his put-out tone, though she stifles it. Though, this does mean he has little reason to avoid her this time and that she has little reason to behave.]

Do you need help relaxing?

[arasakadogs]

(he delays answering with a slow sip of his beer. if they had not already had crossed that particular bridge oda would balk more at being so readily propositioned. blue eyes cut over to her, the faintest smirk playing on his features.)

I admit that I am not very good at it. (not a "no" but not an undisputed "yes" either.)

[la_sombra]

[She doesn't miss the way he sips his beer to avoid answering or the way he smirks. Sombra smirks, taking her own sip of beer.]

I disagree. [Sombra gives him a knowing look.] I think you're pretty good at it with the right...inspiration.

[arasakadogs]

(he sputters at the mouth of his bottle, averting his gaze.)

I meant at relaxing. Degenerate. (oda huffs, though it is probably clear to sombra he is playing hard to get.)

[la_sombra]

[She laughs before also averting her gaze, still smiling as she sips from her own bottle. Her tone is not apologetic in the slightest.]

My mistake.

[Thinking for a moment, Sombra considers his plight seriously.]

They've got places you can relax here though. Maybe you should hit the spa?

[arasakadogs]

There is an onsen, (he acknowledges, though even in this modern age body art is still frowned upon in such settings. it is less likely to be so here than it would be out in more rural areas.)

Have you ever been to one?

[la_sombra]

[ She shakes her head.While Sombra did like making trouble, she didn't necessarily enjoy ruffling feathers en mass. A foreigner with ink was bound to draw more attention than she wanted while trying to decompress, even if they let her in.]

Nope. Heard they're not fond of ink so, I figured I would skip it.

[arasakadogs]

If you wanted to...I can arrange for privacy to avoid that. (he had not been to one in years himself and there is an appeal.)

[la_sombra]

[She smiles into her beer, entranced by the idea of relaxation and privacy with Oda.]

I would appreciate it if you could.

[arasakadogs]

(it is a perk to his status he feels is wasted if it were just himself but oda would do it for the two of them. his optics glow briefly as he puts in the request: an hour of solitude.)

Everything is arranged, (his optics dim as he confirms it.) Do you wish to go now?

[la_sombra]

[Sombra perks up, looking a little excited. She hadn't expected such an offer.]

Sure.

[arasakadogs]

(he takes a final sip of beer before standing and offering sombra a hand. despite his initial reaction having some company he actually enjoys is something that pleases oda.)

Come, we will walk together.

[la_sombra]

[Finishing her own beer, Sombra takes his hand - cheeks flushing slightly. It at least confirms that Oda truly doesn't mind teasing. At least not from her, anyway.]

Let's be about it then.

[arasakadogs]

(they walk together through the hotel perfectly designed in the arasaka aesthetic of sleek modernity and tradition. the closer they get to the onsen and spa tradition becomes more prominent.)

The changing rooms are separated by gender but we will reconvene.

[la_sombra]

Alright.

[With that they do separate. The staff is kind, at least, and helps Sombra with the 'how' of properly preparing for an onsen. After washing up and wrapping her hair in a bun, she enters the onsen proper. ]

Oda?