Decisions For the Best [Mao]

The warmth of Jinki was tempting, his cheek burning up beneath Mao's touch. Yes it was only a faint blush, but to the vampire's cold skin, it was far warmer than to any other. He really had to pull himself away from the phoenix. It would definitely be in bad taste to suddenly feed from the other, even if his actual taste would be delicious. No, Mao could wait until the evening and feed properly.

"You may do whatever you like here. There is no food, but there are plenty of books and other things if you get bored," Mao headed towards his bedroom, loosening his tie and shirt on the way.

He blinked at the mention of books. He wasn't afraid to admit that he absolutely loved to read, especially when he had the privilege of reading from someone else's collection. Jinki smiled, nodding. "Okay...thank you, Mao-san," he said, turning and going to search for the aforementioned books to read. As soon as he found them, he picked out a small stack, made himself comfortable back in the main room of the apartment, and curled up with the book on the top of the stack.

Mao knew that his library would keep any avid reader busy for hours. His collection was filled with old books on every subject, many were single additions that were written centuries ago and he just picked them up. But with Jinki now busy, he stripped himself of his confining clothing and crawled into his bed. He hoped that no one would bother him until he woke up, it wouldn't be in their best interest with him hungry.

It was still early when Jinki finished the first book, and he knew Mao was for certain asleep. He uncurled himself, setting the book aside and getting up, quickly locating the key to Mao's apartment. He let himself out silently, locking the door behind himself, and made his way back down to the first floor. Jinki knew for a fact that Mao was probably ravenous, so he quietly made arrangements for someone to pick up 'food' for the vampire, since he didn't know his way around yet. Half an hour later, he made his way back upstairs, carrying a medium-sized brown paper bag, and let himself back in.

The vampire had fallen asleep rather quickly in the warmth of his sheets. Though once he heard the door of his home click closed, he woke from his dreamless state, eyes glowing a crimson red as they opened quickly. He was very sure he locked that door. Still in only his pajama bottoms he used his speed he left his bed and was in the hallway before he realized it was Jinki. A small smirk played on his lips when he looked the phoenix over. He didn't know what was in the bag, or why the other would go out alone, but was curious. Suddenly, he made himself appear behind the other man before he could notice him in the hallway. "What's that?" his voice was quiet and a little husky. He didn't even realize his eyes were still their deep red color.

He flinched in surprise, not having expected to have woken Mao up when he came back, let alone drawn the vampire out from his room. Jinki frowned inwardly; he hadn't been quiet enough. But he turned around, shyly offering Mao the paper bag and staring at the floor. "...y-your dinner, Mao-san..." he answered softly, not daring to look up at him for fear the older was angry with him for sneaking out, aside from borrowing his apartment key to do so.

"Dinner?" Mao looked at the paper bag a little confused at first. Normally when someone surprised him with dinner, it was still alive. Though, he figured that would be way too much for the younger man to handle, Especially since he was such a good little bird. He took the offered bag and looked inside finding prepared packs of blood for him and smiled just faintly. His eyes shifted back to their golden hue. The vampire raised Jinki's face by his chin to look at him. "Thank you Jinki-san. I only ask that you return my keys, and I'll give you a spare so you may come and go as you please," his facial expression was gentle, but had no sign of a smile or frown on it.

He relaxed a little when Mao didn't yell at him, smiling slightly at him. "...you're welcome...I'm sorry...I would've used the window, but...you said it wasn't safe..." he said in a near whisper, holding the key out for Mao to take back. Jinki was hoping at the very least he had done something right, guessing from the neutral but gentle expression on Mao's face that there was something he wasn't happy about.

"It probably isn't completely safe either way. Though I am glad to know you seem to be able to handle things on your own despite being treated as a slave all these years," Mao took the keys from the other before walking into the kitchen and setting both them and the bag down. He fished out one of the pouches and tore a hole in it's corner. Normally he would have used a glass, but he had just woken up and wasn't feeling up to being so refined in his pajamas. Besides, it was much easier this way. He then went to one of the drawers as he drank the warm liquid, pulling out a small keychain and holding it out to Jinki. There was only one key on it that had a childish case on the end that was in the shape of a cat face. "This is the spare key, you can use this as long as you are staying here."

Jinki blinked, not sure if Mao was just pointing something out or complimenting him. But he followed the vampire into the kitchen, smiling when the spare key was held up for him. He took it, turning it over a few times, amused by the case. "Thank you, Mao-san," he said quietly, carefully putting it away in his pocket so it wouldn't get lost. Jinki did have a tendency to lose things, but was going to make sure he didn't lose track of the key; Mao would probably be livid if he did, that much was for sure.

Mao could sense the amusement from the way Jinki was smiling at his key. The elder had to admit he was glad that the other didn't say anything about his choice in casing for it. He wouldn't admit, but he actually did take time picking it out. Even if he wasn't using that key, he wanted to put something on it to make it easier to find. And having a liking for cute things, he chose that particular case. "Don't lose it, or you won't be able to come back here," his tone was somewhat flat, but he smiled nonetheless. "I have to do some cleanup work this evening, so I'll be out. You are free to do whatever you want, unless you want to come with me."

"I won't lose it, I promise," he said, looking at the older. He definitely wasn't going to lose it no matter what. Jinki blinked, a little confused. "...can I ask what you mean when you say 'cleanup work'...?" He spoke quietly, biting his lip slightly. He really could only hope that Mao was okay with him asking questions about what he did.

At Jinki's question the vampire looked up just putting another pack between his lips. He pulled it from his mouth with a smile that was a little darker than any of the others he had given the Phoenix during any of their meetings, a small amount of the blood being left on his lower lip. "Do you really think that the Gods know everything that we do?"

Jinki tilted his head a little. Did they know? Absolutely not. "Half of them are incompetent asses, so I highly doubt they do," he answered, smirking ever-so-slightly. He was realizing that here, it was somewhat okay to speak badly about certain people. He wouldn't admit it, but he did like being able to say what was on his mind; maybe it was the fact that he was free from the Gods now.

"Exactly," Mao kept his dark grin. "And we use their incompetence to make them think they have us in a corner." Over the years Mao and many of the other monsters had banned together to use the greatest weakness of the Gods against them, and so far it was working. "Many of them are too high on their pedastool to realize what we do. But we clean up after mishaps just to stay on the safe side."

Mao was certainly right; some of the Gods didn't even bother to think things through, let alone make sure that things were being done the way they should be. It was a system of idiots, so to speak. "...may I come along with you, then, Mao-san?" he asked, a slight edge to his voice. Sure, Jinki was indeed a gentle and loving person, but he truly wanted the people that had wronged him and many others to end up paying for their misdeeds.

Mao was a bit intrigued that the Phoenix actually wanted to come along. "That depends, do you have a strong stomach?" Mao knew that the clean up he was called to take care of wasn't going to be pretty. His part of the heirarchy wasn't anything like paperwork. He volunteered for his position actually. Assassination and clean up were his specialties, and he instructed his men to take care of such things well. He even emailed in doing some of the work himself, much like this night. Personally, he wasn't sure it would be something that Jinki would want to see, even if he was now against those he previously worked for.

"...blood and gore doesn't bother me, actually...." he answered, offering a small smile. He'd gotten used to it, being the only one in the entire hotel who knew exactly how to get to the hospital when fights broke out. He'd seen people lose body parts before, seen people die, and some other things that he wouldn't readily talk about. Jinki didn't mind it, since he was used to cleaning up, too. As if anyone else in the entire building wanted to clean up someone else's blood or lost metaphorical cookies.

"If you think you can handle it, then you are welcome to come along. I only suggest that you don't interfere at all," Mao was skeptical of Jinki tagging along, but he wouldn't stop him from it. If he truly wanted to be on the opposite side, he should know what really goes on. "I have to get properly dressed, then we can move to meet the others," he cleaned the mess he had made with his dinner and headed to his room to find some clothing.

"I'll be fine," he said, "and I won't get in the way. You'll hardly know I'm even there." It was true, too. Night was beginning to set in, and Jinki was still dressed in black. If he stayed to the shadows at least, then the only way anyone would know he was there was through smell. He nodded slightly, waiting patiently for Mao to prepare before they left.

Mao got himself together rather quickly and emerged from his room with a much cleaner appearance than before. His light auburn hair was brushed and neatly placed. The clothing he wore was of a formal style as usual, though instead of a blazer,his jacket was more of a military styling, all in black except for the pastel blue waistcoat over his dress shirt. A single silver chained necklace being his only jewelry. When he walked out of his room, he was fixing his collar and looked up to Jinki. "Are you ready? We are going to Adytum, then getting direction from there," Mao grabbed his keys from where he placed them earlier as he spoke before facing his guest again.

Jinki gave another nod. "Of course...lead the way, Mao-san," he said softly, looking the vampire over. He was always so...professional, or so Jinki thought. Then again, Mao had always been clean-cut and professional from the first time Jinki had met him. Jinki waited for Mao to leave the apartment, following him out when he did.

Mao headed out of the apartment with out hesitating, going out of the building and straight to the restaurant. When they arrived, Mao lead them in through the back. By now, the place was starting to get much of it's business. Demons of all kinds lined the tables and bar, talking amongst themselves and eating strange foods that you would never see any human eat. The vampire noticed that a few of them began to eye Jinki as the phoenix walked behind him and smiled just faintly. He slowed his pace so he was walking side by side with the other and put his hand gently around his waist. He hadn't officially laid claim to Jinki with a bite, so this was really the best he could do to show his patrons that he was off limits for anyone.

He guided Jinki through the small crowd and to a private room. Once inside, he sealed it off so the sounds from outside wouldn't be able to get in, and vise-versa. There was one man inside already. He was tall, with medium length black hair and his clothing just as nice and expensive looking as Mao's own wardrobe. He looked up from his glass as the two entered the room, his eyes darting to the phoenix through his black framed glasses.

"Jinki, this is Shinji. He's a Black Dragon," Mao smiled softly as he introduced Jinki to the other man in the room.

He follows closely behind Mao the whole way, biting his lip in discomfort from the stares he gets once they enter the restaurant. He immediately walked closer to the vampire when he slipped his arm around Jinki's waist, some of that discomfort fading. The phoenix wasn't really sure why he felt so safe with the elder, but somehow, he just did. Once they had entered the smaller room, and once the busy noises of Adytum had faded, Jinki found himself somewhat unable to take another step further into the room from where he stood.

He bowed deeply to Shinji, hiding how uncomfortable the Dragon made him feel, and murmured quietly. "...annyeong...Jinki imnida..."

Mao admired how nervous the phoenix seemed as he bowed. He almost let a chuckle slip out, but decided to hold it in instead. Though, he was amused at the effect Shinji had on some people. He assumed that he did as well when he wanted it. But he had known the dragon for centuries, meaning he knew his real behavior, and watching his 'tough guy' act was funny to him.

"Now Shinji, stop scaring my new pet," his voice held the amused tone he didn't display in laughter. He lightly pet Jinki's hair before going and taking a seat at the table next to his friend.
"My apologies Mao, I just wasn't quite expecting you to bring someone along, especially him," Shinji spoke sweetly, his expression changing into a smile to match it. "Either way, shall we get ready?"

The two began their meeting on what they were to be doing that evening. As the conversation began, Mao spoke to Jinki in his mind, saying that he has no reason to be tense here, and he may sit next to him and ask any questions he liked. Their main objective of the night was assassination. The two of them were to each take out a head member of the servants of the Gods. Mao was to go after the owner of the hotel that Jinki used to run, and Shinji was to take care of the owner of the nightclub headquarters. Two others would finish off the other two that needed to be taken down. All happening within the same time frame.