Flint approached the meeting spot dressed casually. He didn't need to work today (or at all but he did try to do a good job of improving his company) and hummed. He was wearing an Haurchefant memorial shirt if only in protest of the in-game Moonfire Faire of his MMO and he was in shorts and military-style boots, black, kicking rocks. He actually wanted to meet his allies as a civilian because he wanted them... Well he'd never admit wanting to look after them. Gods knew he made enough money. And while Exekiel was comfortable Flint was wealthy, and he was planning to take the man to Japan to actually see the things he fanboyed over. So when he'd proposed a hidden part of the part, part of his motives was to assess, learn, appraise, and caregive if needed. And for safety, he'd brought Ezekiel.
Ezekiel was larger than Flint at six foot, his own swimmer's build muscle enough. and he worked out and generally trained anyhow. Zyne would never let him not, so as the man followed Flint's idea, he's opted to flex a bit. This senshi had seen more combat than both of them and while she was no fainting violewt she needed to work on her fighting, despite esperience. Zeke approached foillowing Flint, wearing a skin-tight tank toip and shorts, his own sneakers red like his tank top, which sported a Berzerk!! print. He wasn't exactly paying much attention until they approached, raising a brow at the woman waiting with a smirk.
"s**t," Zeke murmured. "If I'd known, I'd have worn a chocobo shirt." The man quipped. Though he did play games, he ewasn't as big a gamer as FDlinty.
Flint paused as they approached, head tilting. Had he seen her before?
Siv looked over at Flint, blinkingf before both of her eyebrows shotr up in absolute surprise, recognition flashing across her face, but she did recall the code phrase. It was intended to sound so idiotic unless someone was expecting it. She DID however, appreciate the reference.
"It's a beautiful day today. Birds are singing. On days like this..."
"Kids like you should be burning in hell." Flint finished. He sputtered a moment, however. "You're one of the Courcels?"
"You're Flint Roland?!" Siv sputtered.
"Well ytou two rtich boizos are gonna be interesting to watch already." Zeke snickered. He offered a handshake, Siv awkwardly shaking his hand as Zeke intropduced himself.
"Ezekiel tucana. Nice to meet yopu." He drawled. "And yeah this nerd is Flint. Nice to meet you." Ezekiel drawled. Siv nodded patiently, and grinned.
"Pleasure. Huh. The fashion store owner. Damn." Siv hummed, then she noticed Flint's shirt and suddenly spat profanity. It wasn't Englisdh however - she was swearing in JHapoanese for a minute, Ezekiel's eyes widening iun surprise. Flint stared and smirked.
"Ah." He noted. "You understand." Flint pat his Huarchefant shirt pleasantly. "I'm still pissed off they replayed it in Shadowbringers. Ever go to the Eorzeqa Cafe? I'm ttrying to parse the reservations--"
"Oh. Oh yewah, once? I made my sister join me though. It's tasty though. And there's a gift shop, aaahhh.... There's the souvenirs..." Siv motioned. Flint and Zekje were silent before Zeke motioned.
"So you speak Japanese. You've been to the ho-- Japan." Zeke finally said. He stared with intensity, reading Siv like a book. Surporisingly, Siv was unfaltering, blinking a few moments.
"Aaahhh,. My family's half Jsapanese. I'm the adiopted once. Grww up half in Japan--" Sive yelped as Zeke lifted her, shaking the woman.
"Tell me everything! I need to know everything you know! TEACH ME SENPAI!" Zeke begged, shaking her a bit. He was... A little desperate, sure, but he'd never met someone so immersed and Siv yelped.
"NOT M
"Ah... I plan toi take him to Japoan actually." Flint admitted. He nmotioned. "I fiugure a run into Tokyo might get him some exposure at least. I want ro visit Harajuku and maybe Ginza for some fashion inspiration myself." Flint admitted. "Maybe a bit of Akihibara. I'm still looking toi get to the Square store and Eiorzea Cafe but Google Translate sucks and IU... Er..."
"You speak no Hapanese and he speeks what he learned in-"
"Anime." Zeke flinched at Siv. Siv nodded and motiuoned.
"Fair enough faiur enough." Siv smirked slightly. "I get it. I was little when I was adopted and had toi learn Japanese for extended family. Although Tokyo is kind of big tourism. There's a lot of stuff to see in Kyoto, but Kyoto has a lot closed to tourism. Although there's other areas of Japan too." Siv motioned.
"I mean yeah but why?" Flint asked. "We don't speak Japanese, and we don't wqant toi offend anybody." Flint sighed. "Plus I mean. Would it be worth it in a business sense to look into? I run hiugh end fashion not.,... Well... anything else yet." Flint admitted. It was a hard trutgh - Flint wanted to do more. Run more. He wanted to expand, maybe offer goods and services he could take more interest and knowledge is. Siv stared, then motioned.
"Jaopan is near Korea. South Korea." Siv noted. "KJorean fashion is very trending right now. Very, very hot I heard." Siv motioned, and after a moment, Ezekiel paused.,
"Do we know anyone who speaks Korean?" ERzekiel asked. He was... Intrigued, at the very least."
"They speak some English I think. Gods know they like Americans." Siv admitted. Flint paused, considering before rubbing his chin.
Flint was thinking. His mind was going over some of the fashiuonds he'd seen, some of the pictures, some of the art, and slowly he hummed. The gears were turning. He knew South Korea was capitalism's new home, but he also knew an opportunity when he heard one. And he was considering popular games and media of late.
"
Yeah... I think I can bring my designers some idewas. Maybe some game inspirations too. Fusion. Asian Fusion." Flint murmured thoughtfully.
Ezekiel looked at Flint, brow raising. He knew that lkook. He'd only known Fliunt a month and he knew that look, motioning quietly. He was trying to warn Siv Flint was up to something really. 0 Zeke never knew how Flint might respond when he finished scheming, and aside her look the lack of reaction still worried him, Ezekiel frowning. Finally he reached, shaking Flint gently, like scruffing a kitten.
"Oi." Ezekiel murmured. "What's ion that little brain now?"
"Asian fuision fqashion. But I need proto types and models." Flint complained. Ezekiel paused.
"My copusins are pretty. Phanny or Yolie can help, if we can get Yolie off work. And I can model, but I'm mnore of a barista and uni student." E#zekiel noted. Siv perked.
"Barista you say, my newest bestest friend?" Siv slid closer to Zeke, Siv flu8ttered her lashes, peering upo with big, hopeful green eyes. Zeke blinked, looking down in surprise.
"Really. You're addicted to coffee." HGe responded. Siv smiled sweetly.
"All hail the holy bean, symbol of our god caffiene." Siv cooed. Zeke slowly arched one brow, staring intently.
"It's a geek themed coffee shop not... Not Starbucks and their... Their..." Zeke couldn't bring himself to say it, his Italian blood raging against the offensive mislabelled coffees. Siv stared.
"Well thank GODS I shoip at the little indie place nearby. See there's this cute Oceaniopgrapher who cisits--" Siv began. Zeke hummed.
"Oh Artemis." Zeke drawled. "Yeah they live on coffee and shark research, right? I know them. I've also watched their daughter have to drag them away from the cafe. Bloody bugger is kind of. Recovering from his wife's death." Zeke shrugged.
"HE WAS MARRIED?! Everything sucks and life is nothing but misery." Siv sulked.
".....You are a DRAMATIC one." Flint noted. He was... Trying not to laugh. But he got it. The possible rejection of a cruish was difficult and Flint pat her head. After a moment he shrugged, armns crossing.
"Yeah men be like that sometimes. You're what, in your twenties? You're fine. you're still pretty. You'll meet someone." Flint nodded.
"Hopefully noty my grandsire HJadrian." Ezekiel groaned. "He3's... I wouldn't be surprised if that old sot still sired offspring at his age. Uuuggghhh." Ezekiel shuiddered. The Tucana patriarch's escapades were more known after he met Song, but the old man seemed to decide being outed meant he could be shameless and Zeke still was... Mortified to see it. Siv blinked, nose wrinkling.
"He sounds kind of not my type." She admitted. "I'm attracted to... Intelligence."
"...Gods help me he's charming, he's intelligent AND stupid as hells. Don't. Don't go for his stupid a**." Zeke assured. He hummed, then, siughing./ "So... We know we all likje...."
"Do ytou not see Flint's shiurt?" Siv motioned. Flint p[uffed in pride, shiurt flexing some as he shifted. Siv motioned.
"He understands. He understands things."
"He's traumatized by the Vault. Personally I'm not over Endwalker." Zeke grumbled. He shrugged a bit. "I just. I mean. Zodiark's fight could've been better."
"No I can't deny that." Flint sighed, nodding. Siv nodded too, sighing.
"I still wish Elidibus was given more in Endwalker and not relegated to patch stories only. It felt so wasteful. He's my favorite." Siv pouted. Flint eyed her before Zeke laughed bitterly.
"Hien." He admitted. Flint sniffed.
"I... I mean I liked Varis. He deserved way better." Flint admitted. Siv nodded, bvut Zeke snorted.,
"Varis? Better?" Zeke hissed. "Really. Varis." Zeke shook his head, before Flint whapped him. Siv shrugged.
"Dunno. I'd be into Varis. I also liked ?Mitron from the Eden raids. And Gaia. I hope someday in-0lore they and Ryne can be happy." Siv admitted. Zeke shuddered.
"Varis nerds. Anyhow are we doing lunch or bullshitting all damn day?" Zeke asked. Flint nodded.
"I can do lunch." He admitted. Siv nodded as well.
"Same."Siv motioned then, thinking. "So there's a steakhouse nearby--"
"DONE. We're doing steak." Ezekiel decided. Flint prepared to coimplain, then sighed as Zeke herded a** three along, allowing Siv to soon begin leadsing the way to the steakhouse. Still... So far... It was a start of friendship.
