#godbless itto and his gambling habits

[ocelberich]

.         itto / / @oniblood asked,

[PROSPERITY TOSS]

he's familiar with the custom...ish. has heard about it, knows what to do, and yet itto decides he'll be putting his own spin on it. bright eyes sweep across the room, watching as the other patrons slice crisp vegetables and salmon into delicate ribbons. others layer on crispy crackers and fresh fruit while they voice their wishes for the new year.

itto glances down at his own bowl, which has been filled with various candies. to the side of it sits a towering pile of colorful wrappers, kept there as spoils of war. (he earned these FAIR and SQUARE from the local children, y'know!)

the oni pops one in his mouth and sucks on it contently. mmmm. this one tastes like fresh cream with a hint of vanilla. a solid 7.5/10, he thinks. not bad! he waits for it to dissolve before popping another one — this candy more jelly-like in its consistency. itto smacks his lips and decides that this fruity-flavored treat gets a whooping 9/10. shabam! now they're talking!

itto chews on it contently...until he locks eyes (er...eye?) with an eyepatch-wearing stranger. the oni blinks. huh. hard to tell what the guy's thinking."what? you got a problem?" he calls out in a friendly challenge. "i know what you're thinking. who doesn't want a bowl full of candy? i mean...THIS," itto shakes the bowl for emphasis, "is the stuff of dreams!" a pause. he raises a brow and leans forward. "y'know...i'd be willing to share...for a price. you ever heard of an onikabuto?"

an older lady prepared the cavalry captain's bowl for him, and he'd let her, laughing sweetly as she led him through the restaurant aisles, past families and friends and lovers, held simply by the encouragement in her voice as she gestured between the offered trays and menus. this custom, as generous as it was fulfilling, was foreign to him in execution, but not concept. charity existed in plenty of forms and linking it to the cycle of beginning and ending, whether of life or all held within it, was entertaining to think of.

it was unfortunate, then, that the thought swiftly slipped from his mind at the flicker of attention; gaze drawn toward the brightly-colored, and specifically plucked, choices of treat a stranger decided to feast on. which, in turn, led kaeya's gaze to wander up to the stranger; from dark manicured nails to his muscled biceps; from exposed front to the protruding horns atop his head. not to pry, no, simply to observe.

but it was easy for this peacock's raised feathers to be spotted in the crowd. the older lady bowed her head and, once kaeya returned the gesture, waved a hand to the stranger before turning her back.

what else would be initiative to speak if not the bark of another's friendliness? 

"oh no, no problem here. just curious... hm, what a bowl you have there."

human nature came easy to him; the prospect of the unfamiliar. the man's mere manner of thought inevitably drew him to occupy the seat opposite of him. legs crossed at the ankle, bowl carefully set before him, he leaned against the table to listen, though with how naturally loud the horned-stranger's voice seemed, the bustling of the restaurant could hardly stifle the conversation. a measured nod here, an acknowledging ohh there,

then came the offer, laid at kaeya's feet ever so kindly. though, putting aside his general neutrality to sweets and candies in particular...

"onikabuto? hm, i wonder if i do know of it... but, pray tell," captain leaned back, tilting his head with a countenance of little besides curiosity, "what do they have to do with currency? are we going to trade these 'onikabutos'?"