𐌌𐌉𐌔𐌕𐌋𐌄𐌕Ꝋ𐌄, 𐌌𐌉𐌔𐌕𐌋𐌄𐌕Ꝋ𐌄, 𐌌𐌉𐌔𐌕𐌋𐌄𐌕Ꝋ𐌄

But The Fire Is So (Not) Delightful

"Okay,"

 Chuuya Nakahara, Port Mafia Executive and idol among mafiosos, said in his velvety drawl, tone all gravel on gravel as his blue eyes flicked up past the brim of his hat, 

"Let's see what we've got."

He was perched on a chair at the head of a long table. Perched, because he was gay and did not sit on things correctly. The executive's attention was fixed straight ahead, to where the other end of the table vanished into an inky blot of shadow that the flickering orange candles failed to illuminate. 

The mafioso grunt standing to Chuuya's right dutifully dipped his head, touching the side of his earpiece to convey the message.

At once, a steel briefcase came sliding out of the shadows. It lilted briefly, then spiraled to a stop in front of the mafia executive. It was fairly impressive, as impressive as a briefcase could be, with its silverly sheen and onyx clasps.

"Hah," Chuuya exhaled, satisfied by the quality, "Y'all really spared no expense, huh?"

Grinning, he glanced up at the mafioso beside him, "Whaddya think?"

The mafioso turned away and coughed quietly into his hand. Chuuya's smirk fell. He really had no idea why most of the grunts under his command got all flustered when he spoke directly to them. All he knew was that it was starting to get on his damn nerves.  

Chuuya sighed, leaning back. He rose his voice to a shout, "Oh come on, I know we have an 'aesthetic' going on here but can you all like, come out and tell me what's in this thing?"

Hesitantly, two figures emerged from the shadowed half of the room. The Black Lizard members Tachihara and Gin. 

"So," Tachihara said, nervous voice echoing off the walls of the wide room as he scratched the back of his neck, "Thing is, I sorta just pitched in with the cash. Don't remember what's in the thing."

"Thats fine," Chuuya hmphed, "I did the same. Gin?"

"Er, she forgot her notepad."

Gin, who was perfectly capable of speech but just really shy, nodded guilty. 

And because Chuuya was a mafioso and not a monster, he made a brisk gesture with his hand and said, "Well? Higuchi?"

"I should know," the blonde mafioso said, walking in broad strides out of the shadows, one finger at her lip, "I mean, I mostly handled transporting it in here without getting noticed. Sorry, but since I was so preoccupied with that, I guess I must have forgot."

"Understandable, how about you then?"

A shape in the shadows stirred but did not emerge. "...I have no desire to participate in this 'shared gifting'."

Chuuya frowned, more confused than angry, "Then the hell are you here for, Akutagawa?"

Akutagawa did not respond.

"Wait," Chuuya said, glancing around, "So unless there's more of you hiding in conveniently placed shadows, does that mean no one knows what's in the damn briefacse?!"

"I mean, it's the Boss' Christmas gift, right?" Tachihara said with a little laugh.

"Yeah, " Chuuya growled, "but what the hell did we get him?"

The five mafiosos and the one grunt who was only there for the 'aesthetic' stood around in silence for a solid minute. 

"Well...lets think rationally about this." Higuchi said slowly, "We said we wanted to get him something expensive right?"