Whip is back baybeee.

If whip is a clone she's probably not actually 16. Her mental age/bodily maturity be that, but the years she spent on planet Earth is likely closer to... 7.

careful brocky

D-does he know… should I just run?

Shermie's warning tumbled around his head as he stared at the clothes he'd laid out on the bed and pondered whether he should put them on or not. About ten minutes ago, Iori had called his phone and he - like an idiot - had picked up.

Rock had been doing his best to avoid his employer ever since he became privy to some very dangerous information (if Shermie was to believed). Of course, Shermie wasn't the most trustworthy source - but if his life was one the line, Rock wasn't taking any chances.

Anyhow, after the concert, he left for his hotel room as soon as he was allowed and holed up. Shermie and Yashiro rode the taxi with him, and the whole while they kept glancing at him. Shermie was sniggering, and Yashiro just looked worried. That was the worst combination of signals he could possibly be receiving, and that put him even more on edge than he already was. By the time he locked himself in the bathroom, his mind had already cast him into the pit of 'worst case scenarios'.

So he really shouldn't have picked up his phone when he saw 'Iori Band' as the caller ID. It was already 9:50, and he could probably make the excuse he had fallen asleep. At least he could get murdered after getting well rested.

It's not too late to run...

But - perhaps it was force of habit - he picked up the phone, and immediately regretted his entire existence. Iori sounded pretty annoyed, perhaps even murderous?, and demanded they meet one on one in the hotel lobby.

I mean, it's in public… I don't think anything will happen? Dammit Rocky… why are you so indecisive! You should have run hours ago! Now what!... ugh, what should I do… I need a bodyguard…

… a bodyguard? Not a bad idea.

Is Whip around?

It was now 9:55, and Rock had exactly five minutes to procure some sort of defense against his maniac boss - who was a serial killer, a mafia leader, a war criminal, and who knows what the heck else. At this point, Rock wouldn't be surprised to learn Iori was an alien as well.

Look… maybe you're overreacting? I mean, Shermie likes to mess around… she could just have made all of this up… stop it Rocky. Just call Seirah. She has a gun, so at least she can threaten Boss if he goes nuts.

Rock shook himself to attention and quickly dialed Whip whilst getting dressed as quickly as he could. He had spent the past three hours in a cold sweat, and his previous change of clothes had become quite disgusting. If he was going to die, or… have any human interaction whatsoever, he probably needed to not smell like a trash heap.

*Brrrr-*

*Rock?*

Seirah sounded a bit confused. She had every right to be, since Rock had been giving her a bit of a cold shoulder. He had made it pretty clear he didn't appreciate her presence, and it seemed like she was slowly getting the hint. But now, Rock needed her, and he desperately hoped she still retained some affection for him. At least enough for him to get through tonight alive.

"Hi, Seirah… uh I need a favour."

*Favour? You don't get anything for free, Rock. You've got to do something for me fir-*

Rock interrupted her. Perhaps she heard the panic in his voice and allowed it.

"Seirah - please. I'll pay it forward. Whatever you want. But right now I think Iori might kill me, and I need your help."

A long - incredulous pause. The clock ticked over to 9:57.

*What do you mean. Why would he kill you?*

The very fact her reply wasn't 'don't be stupid. Iori won't kill anyone' was confirming all of Rock's terrified assumptions. At this point, he wasn't above begging.

"I can't tell you! If I say it, it'll be even worse! Please Seirah! I'm just asking you to come to the lobby with me. You don't even have to do anything! If he gets aggressive, then just pull your gun and I'll run. Then w-"

*Alright, hold on. First answer this - did you try to kill Yagami or any of the sacred treasures recently?*

"What? No. Of course not."

*Then I'll help you. But let's get this straight. The only reason I've agreed to this is because I know you're getting scared of nothing. I don't know what sort of thing you think you've gotten into, but I'd be surprised if Yagami has even noticed, much less cares enough to do anything about it.*

Rock took a deep breath and finished buckling his belt. Somehow Seirah's condescending rant was calming him down. She was a little bit pushy, and could be quite annoying, but right now Rock was immensely glad to have her companionship in this little venture. He breathed a premature sigh of relief. Her next line was in no way reassuring.

*Secondly, I can't actually take on Iori in combat, so in the future, don't expect me to. Hardly anyone can deal with that bastard. If you wanted to actually fight him - you're better off calling that Athena woman, or Kusanagi. Understood?*

"Uh… wait."

*Right. Meet me at the elevators. What time do you need to be down there?*

Rock glanced at his watch.

"Like, now."

*Then let's hurry. You don't want to make him cranky.*

Rock was both relieved and embarrassed when he stepped out of the elevator into the lobby and caught sight of Iori. Embarrassed with all of his whining, and relieved because his boss - and potential murderer - was sleeping quite harmlessly one of the couches scattered across the foyer.

Whip chucked and elbowed him affectionately before going to sit somewhere out of earshot. She positioned herself where she could peek over her… Japanese comic book? and winked at him. During the elevator ride, she had made all sorts of demands concerning dinner and gifts and favours. Rock had nervously agreed to them all. Now - looking at the situation, it seemed like she was going to get a whole pile of favors for a whole lotta nothing.

But Rock wasn't mad. He was still thankful for her presence.

His sneakers squeaked against the polished marbled floor as he made his way across the lobby. The place was lighted relatively dimly, and there were those fake electric candles everywhere. There were patterned cloth panels lining the walls, and beaded curtains seperated the furniture suites from each other. Classical piano was playing over the speakers. All of this made for an an uncomfortably romantic atmosphere.

As he approached, the fans who were gingerly taking photos with Iori snapped wildly and dispersed. There was an expresso shot sitting on the coffee table beside the couch. Evidently the order had come too late, and the hostess had just dropped the drink off without waking the red-haired man. He was slumped over the armrest, soundly unconscious. The pile of sheet music which was stacked in his lap had begin to slip onto the floor and his makeup had smeared quite badly over the course of eight hours. The longer Rock looked at his face, the more comical it appeared. It was obvious that this man wasn't about to kill anyone. All in all, he looked pretty wrecked.

Guess Seirah was right… I'm glad she was. I wonder what Iori wants then? Welp.

"Hey Boss?"

…

Rock gingerly shook him by the shoulder.

"Boss. Uh… hey wake up."

No response.

Another shake.

…

He could see Whip chucking from across the lobby. Rock rolled his eyes and continued his attempt. He was shaking quite violently at this point, but it seemed to have no effect whatsoever. Rock never understood how Iori managed to sleep through everything. It really was incredible.

I hope he didn't take his sleeping pills… he sounded ok on the phone.

"Hello!? Come on man! I thought you wanted to talk! Iori! -woah!"

Papers went a fluttering. The coffee spilled. Iori woke suddenly and grabbed him by the wrist. He seemed equal parts startled and bewildered and just looked around for several seconds. Rock watched him with a bored expression. This was so much less terrifying then he had imagined that it was becoming almost comical.

Iori blinked at him.

"Oh...Howard?"

Iori furrowed his brow, then glanced down at the watch on Rock's wrist - which he was still holding in a vice grip. There was a moment of silence.

"Howard, it's 10:05. You're late."

It was Rock's turn to sputter.

"Are you kidding me?!"

Terrible boss 100 lmao.

SLAP LIKE NOW