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 Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 8:48 pm
It's unbearable.
(with guest writer Hydelloon) Minutes always seemed like hours, and hours like days, when one was anticipating something exciting to occur. In order to release the tension she was feeling, Hyde had begun the process of baking. First it started with some simple cookies; some nice checkerboard ones. When that didn't do enough, she moved on to pastries. Here she just let her mind wander as various shells were filled with chocolate or fruit. Despite her destructive nature, he many millennia and love for sweets showed she could handle the finer crafts. She just happened to be surrounded by those that drew out the more destructive impulses that did not warrant the reward of delicious homemade treats!
The crisis of boredom was completely averted just as the last batch was coming out of the oven, the home having been fully filled with the smells of warm sweets, when the sound of the master of the house returning caused the elf's ears to perk. The next sounds were the thundering of feet as Hyde projected herself towards the absolutely suspecting arrival. "Ama-cha~! You're back! How was it? Did you want a snack? Some tea? I didn't make any tea yet but I did make plenty of treats! You should have some. Come come, this way! Now tell me: was it full of nuts and berries? Deer carcasses? Honey?!?"
The presence of interrobangs was enough to unsettle anyone that'd been expected by such a person. The aura of Keebler elf helped little. Shrugging it off with a simple request would have to do. "Coffee, black." The task had been completed, but the lack of forthcoming details indicated more had happened than the usual unusual fridge raid.
"Coffee, yes yes yes, will do. But but but?" This was not anything new and she had fully expected the catty behavior. That did not necessarily lessen the anticipation, but it helped her to handle it a little more. "Did you run into bear-cop-man?" The brewer was always ready to go in this household, but one could not rush the brewing process. There would still be a few minutes until coffee and treats could be served. Somehow she expected to have to wait until then.
Still not willing to so easily divulge the information she'd been sent for, she provided some sass instead. "And if I did?" Just what the murder elf's interest in the bear man was was anyone's guess. So her guess seemed as fair as any other. "In case you were unaware, I think bears go south to mate with sharks." Totally legitimate scientific knowledge!
Something about what was said had struck a chord, but what was it… "Don't sharks explode when they want attention?" Someone had said that before. Whether it was right or not was rendered moot by the fact that they exploded. But all of that was beside the point. Kinda. "Does he loaf around his home in bear form? Would he be his own rug at that point? 'What is that bear doing?' is what I'm getting at."
"With any luck, not what he does in the woods." It was a good of time as any to present what had been requested, while continuing to be unhelpful. A handful of instant photos clattered against the nearest table, having lazily been thrown there. While some were too out of focus or dark to show anything useful, others detailed the inside of a relatively normal middle-aged man's refrigerator. "Why couldn't you have just done this yourself anyway? You're rather chummy with him, aren't you?"
"In case you hadn't noticed I have all the subtlety of a midnight freight train driving through a glass high rise." Her commentary was delivered as she perused the pictures as though on a search for some specific item. Like a puzzle. "'Chummy' is a bit of a strong term. I'd prefer 'casual harasser'. After all, most interactions brief and the conversation is half negative terminology." A particularly dark photograph was held under close scrutiny. "Besides, wouldn't you like an excuse to go into the home of someone who is kinda jerky to a certain someone… and be able to claim another reason that would be true?"
"I haven't the slightest idea of what you're talking about." Vagueness just made things all the more easier to discard and ignore. Though expressing her own displeasure was always fair game. "Do you know what he did? He threatened to go all bear mode and started to speak Japanese for some reason. Just for being in his refrigerator!" It was totally unfair treatment as far as she was concerned, for all of being an unwelcome guest in the home of a tangential enemy.
That was enough to cause a short pause as she was getting up to pour the coffee. "...What?" came her voice in a much higher tone than normal. Then the words began to sink in and she started to laugh. "Wait-wait-wait… what?! Since when did he start speaking Japanese of all languages?" Bear mode was set aside for later; this was hilarious. "Now I wonder if he is hiding a Meitantei Conan collection somewhere."
"There are people you could pay for that information, surely." People that Hyde wanted to squash like bugs, but still. It was a simple enough mention, as she casually snagged a cookie. "Or you could just ask him." But what was the fun in that? "And other information… well. It's very much out there, isn't it? That guy you tried to kill over the summer." That could be anyone! "Let's just say it's not the seediest of sad sacks he's been rubbing up against." Though that bear man was pretty seedy as far as she was concerned.
"And you're right here with that information." Two saucers with two cups of black coffee and a massive platter of treats were now officially served. She had to mentally note officially since the obligatory sneak treat was already snuck. "You mean the as-of-now-Japanese-speaking-bear-man-cop is not a straight-laced, hard-boiled, Camus-drinking gumshoe like one would think? Some guy… over the summer… not the saddest... “ That still left so many possibilities. She could mull on it over a croissant.
"Not why he speaks Japanese, I'm not." It was just the thing to do, looking impertinent while sipping coffee. "Nor why he's acting… like that." Continuously blushing like a schoolgirl was weird, even for a bear man. The possibilities were disturbing and endlessly so. "What if he's in love?" Leaning in to the much taller elf to drive her point across was easier to do when she was sitting on the table itself. "What if it's you?" Which made it the perfect time to dispense 'helpful' device. "Why don't you just work things out with the bear man like you did with Godzilla?"
Leaning in close only got her friend a proffered cookie against her nose. "Then he's in for heartbreak. I'm not really interested in most anyone. Particularly one that young. Besides, I don't think he understands thrown rocks in the same way? I suppose you need a nearby cliff to make that work." The odds of her finding anyone that could give her a similar feeling to how her friend felt about her icebox boyfriend-thingie were very slim even in the multiverses she could cross. It did make her slightly envious. Slightly. "Besides, it is far more entertaining to just prod him endlessly with questions about his furry side. It's not a form of lycanthropy and he's not storing nuts and berries… It's just a point of interest from an otherwise bland police officer."
Hyde's field notes on the behavior of the bear man went unnoticed by the redhead on the table, still stuck upon what'd bothered her in the first place. Though not enough to snatch the cookie away from the elf. "That someone who so easily judges others rubs elbows with criminals as he pleases. I don't like it." Hypocritical. But as it was, there wasn't a thing she could do about it. Mostly. "Would you believe I left my contact information with that little cousin of his?" And looking entirely too pleased over something so simple. Setting herself up for being a possible customer for cookie sales and the like. Utterly diabolical!
That was also something unexpected. Certainly, sending her friend to go do some digging proved to be far more informative - and less destructive - than if she herself had gone to pry. "Ho~ Is he on the take? Perhaps I'll have to have a 'chat' with the shrimp-man and see if he knows what is up. Such a shame when someone who is supposed to be enforcing the law can't be bothered to follow them themselves." A few cookies disappeared along with a sip of coffee. "That's why I don't bother with any. It makes things more simple." Perhaps any future interactions would require more fire than they have previously. Fire didn't care about the law, either.
Making trouble for both the bear man and the dutiful little brother in one fell swoop. It was the sort of efficiency she could pride herself on, looking quite self-satisfied as she enjoyed her coffee. They both deserved it, as far as she was concerned. That the both of them were messing with the same man and would end up with repercussions for it was little of her concern. "Assuredly they'll both receive you with open arms." Provided neither of them ended up losing them to fire. "I'll leave that to you, then. Please do enjoy yourself."
"Oh Ama-cha~ You know by now that anyone willingly welcoming me is planning something that will only end up in ruin for them." After a point, when one would be rated as a force of nature instead of a more mundane villain, you learned to enjoy inspiring the 'friend' or 'flop' response in people. Whether it made them more cooperative or not was completely moot. It all just gave her excuses to do the things she liked to do. "Yes, I think I've got a deity to go terrorize for a time before I ask him anything," she said sitting up and finishing her coffee. "Then… Then I think I'll go test my nails on some fiberglass."
Laughing into her coffee was certainly the most mature thing for her to be doing. "It's going to be a rough midlife crisis for him if he can't pick up hot blondes in his convertible." Or whatever it was that he happened to drive. Cheerfully waving off her friend towards the chaos and fiery destruction of several men was definitely the best and most appropriate way to spend a beautiful afternoon.
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Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 8:50 pm
 Many party returns.
The place at which she'd arrived hadn't changed much since she'd last been there. There hadn't been any particular reason not to go. Circumstances changed, and schedules shifted. And it was far more simple to forget one's strife and woes while working instead of playing hard. Still, that tough-yet-tender disposition that forgot no one hadn't forgotten that place either, nor the rough and rowdy lot that met there as a matter of bonds and tradition.
Though time had slipped a little and left others unaware, as an individual unfamiliar to that small but distinct figure made his move. "Hey baby, wanna go home with me?" Initially that gaze remained just past him, thoughts clearly elsewhere as she smoked a cigarette and carried her shinai. But in time that head tilted to acknowledge that who had approached her, the same steely look staying steady in that eye. And so it remained, leaving little indication that the arm holding that shinai close would in one violent moment move to strike that unfamiliar face with massive force directly in line with his neck. Only to withdraw it in the next moment, clearly very unbothered about such a man's future chiropractic appointments as she continued smoking her cigarette with a bored sigh.
There was decidedly some panic amongst the newer individuals of the group. 'Holy s**t!' 'Did she just break his neck?' 'Who the hell is that?' The senior members that'd stood back to avoid interfering, however, decided their impromptu smoke break was finally over. Though the display of the leather-bound and regent-clad officers of the organization boisterously regarding that small figure on their knees and with outstretched arms was nearly as much of a shock as someone suddenly showing up and almost killing one of them. "Aneki!"
It was difficult for that stony expression of decided indifference to stand up to such forthright praise, with a clever grin finally surfacing upon that satisfactorily uptilted face. "Good man, good man." The quickly muttered and sincere apologies helped things along beautifully, as well as leather upon leather shoulder slaps exchanged to affirm their bond. The nearest high ground was a bench, but it'd have to do for addressing everyone. "You've done well. It's been too long." But lest they have a chance to get misty on her, they'd find that shinai pointed right at them. "Are you ready guys? Put ya guns on!" The enthusiasm was contagious, despite there being no actual guns involved in any part of the process. "Let's party!" The revving engines and rowdy cheers that followed indicated that the readiness and not-actually-guns to come would indeed be a party.
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Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 9:00 pm
 Business protection.
"I bet I offend you by existing! Just look at you, all offended there!" Just who that poorly dressed and mistaken man could be, she couldn't say. But perhaps the dog could. "Who is that? Reginald, do you know this weirdo?" Which prompted a quick and brisk denial from the canine, unsettling dog headshake and all. "I bet I bother you, dog! All here and stuff, my dude!"
It was entirely too difficult to focus on delicious food and delightful delights other forms of not-businessing with someone's failed idea of challenging social norms buzzing about the pair unimportantly. And a few blank stares later while the chattering continued, a telling shrug went from coffee cat to sunglasses dog to be on their way. "Ahaha. It's a waste of time, but you're wasting my time. So move." Though the stranger thought himself very clever to be well prepared for any strikes, the step and lunge forward only served for those nimble fingers to carefully flip the book's pages open just enough. And just enough it was, as with great bewilderment and edginess, he was sucked inside said book. Much to the nonchalance of the travelers, who immediately resumed their lackadaisical moseying without so much as a second thought. "Korokke, korokke~ Oh, and all the beer!" When it came to the safety and welfare of their business trips, they always had a plan B.
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Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 6:00 am
 Have fix, will travel.
So while the dapper dog dozily dreamed of dewdrop-dappled days, there was specialized work to be done. Whether the wardrobe change that followed was necessary was debatable. But there'd be no arguing the so-called utility of it with the gifted individual in question. Every bit of exposed skin had its purpose, with the appeal of everyone sans one with a complete lack of consideration. Those who'd hired her felt similarly, ignoring the showy upstart's fashion dos and don'ts as she was led through ancient structures and columns to the situation in question.
"Oh~" Being an ancient piece of work herself didn't leave her with any less awe regarding the craftsmanship and handiwork of those long since passed. The pièce de résistance was yet to come, however, as the warm glints of metal in a shadowed corned couldn't be hidden away from that sharp eye. The exuberant way in which she broke away to make a beeline straight for it unsettled her sponsors some, though the bright response that followed put everything in order straight away. "I can't believe it! It really is. Orichalcum!" Showing some amusement at that unadulterated joy probably wouldn't be rude, though politeness made the laughter muffled regardless. "And this is..." As that eye came into focus within the dim light, the further details of the unlikely reality she'd been brought to became clarified. "Are you kidding me? It's an automaton!" And a well-maintained one at that, as the curvature of every shiny plate bore no effects of the passage of time in spite of its surroundings.
"So what's the problem here?" It was a question that bore asking, being that she hadn't cared about the details so much prior to that point. "Fixing it up went just fine, as you can see. But..." The man's hair accumulated more messiness, as with a hand at hand to anxiously muss it, he continued. "The old timer's circuitry looks fine, but hell if we know how to make it active again." He shrugged to the woman beside him, who elaborated further. "It took some doing, but we thought we'd finally found the person to call. But unfortunately..." She looked to the man with some trepidation, before addressing the redhead warily. "Calling that person was much more difficult than we'd expected."
Just who that individual was required no further details, being that they were speaking to his daughter. Though she took it with a certain amount of humility, digging through her gear and pulling out a certain wrench before bothering to comment on him in passing. "Couldn't find the old man, eh." That she hadn't been the first choice mattered little, being that her skills were less known and still paled in comparison to his. And, improbably spinning the wrench on the tip of a finger, she could hardly be discouraged by it. His loss! "Let's take a look, shall we~?" Raising up the spinning wrench as if a magical transformation were to follow was unlikely to be encouraging for her audience. Though the bright sigils that lit up underneath her alongside similar markings upon her body and wrench illuminating was quite the show in itself. The scattered neon lights enveloped the specialist and her patient, as apparently the wrench wasn't entirely necessary as she leaned in with both hands to examine that 'sleeping face.' No words were spoken, but a certain reverberation could be both sensed and felt. 'Conversation' seemed to be going over well, as the smile deepened upon that cat-like face while the lights continued to radiate and chase. And with both a mechanical shudder and breath the automaton seemed to awaken, frame lifting itself out of its long-standing slumber as it stood up once again.
Once the mechanical light show faded out, its originator was happy to amusedly fill in the details. "He was more than happy to continue eternities in slumber and dreams." Looking over her sheepishly shrugging shoulder to make 'eye contact' seemed to elicit a reaction. The facial plates of said robot may have shifted just then anyway, if robots like that could even pout in the first place. "But!" She had to point, to further her further point. There was always more, when it came to pesky lazy robots and their pesky lazy awakeners. "He is both honored to make your acquaintance, and to assist you as necessary, especially when it comes to the harvest of sweet potatoes! Very good, Gon-chan." Did they even have any sweet potatoes? Very specific offer of assistance aside the robot seemed to agree, raising both arms while releasing some steam. The conversation maintained its gracious and light-hearted nature as all returned to town, the robot's constant and assuredly specific dinner requests notwithstanding.
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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 11:30 pm
 Do you dance?
But fun wasn't allowed, as least according to some random guy that had crawled out of someone's floor somehow. "Hey! You're the one that beat up my friend when you were offended by him saying you were offended when he was trying to offend people!" It made as much sense as anything else. Which was to say, not at all. But as helpfully as always, she was again willing to entertain the nonsensical request.
"Often imitated, never replicated." It was more than likely that the hands upon the hips conveyed that confidence quite well, but the head that tilted to the side didn't need two eyes to stare daggers. "You'll be keeping the business of this visit brief, as I am in no mood. You don't want to see me angry, do you? You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." Just how possible it was for someone so slight of stature to lean into and look down upon someone taller than her was anyone's guess. Still. If anyone could do such an improbable thing, it was the person attempting it at that moment.
Bland self insert man was unamused by anyone showing personality or trying to have any kind of fun he didn't personally approve of. "Real funny! Just what's a cake topper gonna do anyway?" The impracticably dressed bakery decoration minded the comparison little. Perhaps she was a strawberry cake. Maybe even a mont blanc one. Regardless, it only served to sweeten that sinister saccharine smile. "So~ You're wanting to see, then. Savor it, perhaps?" It'd be far too simple to just shove him in an oven or anything similar. Making things unnecessarily complicated was simply what was called for, in each and every case.
Sweeping one lavishly-sleeved arm forward didn't seem to do much of anything, especially with the moment of quiet concentration that followed. "See, nothing but a--" That was, until passers-by in the immediate area stopped moving, only to face the scene and do the same. It was distracting enough that he hadn't managed to notice that he too had raised his arm. "What the?!" With growing terror, his shaky gaze eventually returned to that ever-sunny smile.
"Oh, but what's wrong? You look as if you've never danced with a girl before." He hadn't a choice at that point, as he followed her elegant arm moves, same as all the others. Which were followed by steps, which were followed by sways. Eventually the entire lot of them were dancing, choreographed on the spot by their cheerful leader. And joyously so, including the bothersome man she hadn't bothered to identify.
"What was the matter with him~?" mused Arancini, watching on as Dolci delighted in the ongoings.
"What do you mean? He was always meant to be this way!" And so it was.
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 7:30 pm
 Factor that in.
But with improbable peace came the expected interlopers. Yet there was no mind to be paid, not so much as a single red cent, to so much as even a single one of them. For no amount of egg dishes and sumptuous cakes would she be plied from her crop of oversized tomatoes. If the wish for the company of whom she longed to see could not be granted, the company of the monstrous bees wasn't a replacement but was welcome more than anyone seeking hers. Stories of requests fulfilled and building kitchens might as well have been whispers upon the wind.
Though even the most blitheful personalities and nimble fingers eventually took a rest from meaningful work. To which they both tasked themselves upon the very important task of fashioning a flower crown for her canine companion. Much to his and soon to be her discontent, as with a gruff shake the crown soon became a collar. "That regal of a name and you can't even bother to be crowned? Tch~" But the wary bark and growl that followed were not directed at her fancy intentions, but a whisper that'd sooner become a shout.
"Hey lady! Hey lady! Look at all this pudding that I have! You should marry me!" Which revealed the racket just previous to have been out of surprise, as upon judging the man to not be a threat the dog was immediately asleep amongst the dirt and sunny plants. That singular eye slid towards her basket that'd been temporarily discarded. But more importantly, the nata lying beside it.
"You're on my property." The blunt response received instead of a knife to the face was presented primly, without so much as any acknowledgement or greeting towards whoever it happened to be at that time. Trying to fix her flower crown was exceedingly more important. Though the piping up of crows in the background lent itself well to the ever-increasing tension set upon the scene.
"C'mon lady! Why don't you just settle like everyone else?" It was tough to be bothered by the words of something who knew nothing whilst giving a corgi a belly rub on a perfectly sunny day. But the universal sign of a cross-popped vein upon her temple showed that he was getting there. Only for him in the next moment to notice his own generic qualities compared to every bit of his surroundings. "Just... what are you doing here, exactly?" A cautious and especially featureless hand reached for a tomato that was bigger than his head, while the antennae of many a gigantic bee perked whilst simultaneously maintaining the unsettling background humming.
"Don't--" What could've been a psyche-shattering moment was quickly and completely reversed by entirely too many animals. What had been conditioned to placid behavior took no prisoners upon an enemy soaked and splattered with tomato fruit. And so the interloper went off, screaming well into the day, chased and menaced and attacked by not only a murder of crows but also enough massive bees to cause traffic problems in not only the tri-city but also the bi-county area.
And what chaos brought forth a blank-eyed stare in one, brought forth a bored dog yawn from another.
"That's one way to learn about the birds and the bees."
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 3:00 am
 Was the customer ever right?
"What do you mean the humans are threatening themselves as a species? That's so bad for business!" And though her business partners were more than used to her mercurial moods, her day seemed to be going a little off the rails even beyond that. She'd worn one of her best uniforms and everything! Who were they to suggest conservative spending due to market research in a fragile economy?
Only to be called over by her rather frantic manager, seemingly having a problem at the counter. "What is it?" It wasn't like her ever-responsible and loyal manager to have any issues. "This man, he wants--" Palms open and face showing defeat, it's impossible to explain the ordeal she's been put through while still in front of said customer. And so with quiet diligence, she took the place of her beloved employee.
"How may I help you." Though the counter had been built with her height in mind, leaning over it like the punk she is still could look more than a little awkward. Though curmudgeonly customer minded little it seemed, repeating himself without hesitation. "I said, I wanted to see my drink being made, and that I wanted an egg, and that I wanted soy sauce, and that I'd wanted another egg, and--"
"Kindness," the frilly boss said, leaning in without fear. "Kindness towards my employees and your fellow man. It is a must." Pulling a very old and certainly intimidating book out from seemingly nowhere, that eyelid receded too much with a smile that was a little too unnatural. "We've some excellent reading material on the subject if you're interested, dear customer."
It was difficult to say which came first, the tilt of her head or the would-be customer's disappearance into the next area code.
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 1:45 am
 Wait, bears?
Much to his dismay. "Arf." It was bad enough that she was once again prioritizing her own enjoyment over any regard for safety. But the food she'd packed had been all of one thing. "You will eat the egg sandwiches and like them." Apropos of beets, there weren't any. "Besides. I've brought the caffé agnelli. What else could you ask for?" Other than a respite in the furiously spirited basket swings, anyway.
Finding the perfect place to lunch in the most perfectly resplendent and glistening field only came naturally to such a charismatic pair of friends. However that happened to work, as she did her best to disperse some of the shimmering magnificence away in order for them to eat. Only to hear the rustling of the nearby grasses, as entirely too majestic as they were.
"Who's that trying to sneak up on me~" Whoever it was, she hoped they had cookies or were a genius. But no such luck, as what popped up entirely too conveniently and entirely too in sync was a group of bears, making a ridiculously fake bear sound and all. "Gah, bears! Wait, bears?" The completely conspicuous zippers were enough to clue even her in that their costumes weren't beary good. And, bearing that in mind, her hands clasped together in what could easily be understood as a hand seal. "Ninpou: make their clothes go the hell away!" Receiving what was very clearly a dirty look from the dog, she shrugged. It worked, anyway, with the 'bears' left to their bare necessities before very understandably panicking over their exploded clothes and running off.
After a short silence, there was only one thing that could be said. "Arf." To which there was a reply, unclear as it was. "Don't ask me. I just work here." Free of those who would abscond with their pic-a-nic basket, she leaned back on their blanket with a further lack of clarity. "What else were we going to do today? Find the one piece? Well, then~" This and that and whatever strange bears the world seemed to want to throw at them mattered little when together with friends. And so, bearing a warm smile, she took the thermos out and poured out a little dish of caffé agnelli for said friend. Much to his dancy panting corgi delight.
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Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2020 8:20 pm
 No rocks, only pugil sticks.
Having all of one eye made her no less critical over the deliberate but subtle efforts of her tiny managers. Trying to add more color to her gear, while showing a little less skin? "Can't say I know about this." It was barely different enough to be called an image change. But the originators seemed excited about it enough, chittering between themselves over what they saw as a brilliant effort. With a shrug and cheerful eyeroll, she decided there'd be no harm in humoring them. The new equipment she'd been provided certainly looked fun enough to let it slide.
Bathed in camera flashes and feeling bolstered by what was probably entirely too many smoke machines, for once arriving to an audience felt exhilarating. It was too fun to bask in that attention, not giving a single thought to any entrance music that might've played long after she'd arrived. Was someone yelling at her? Well. With a lackadaisical tilt of her head, she still refused to actually acknowledge them. Closing any throat cut off an air supply, regardless of what face it was attached to. Joints strained even better not knowing who was supported by them, in fact. With the beauty of suplexes hitting just as good regardless of no matter who it was. Once the fun was over one decisive strike always felt like the best way to send her opponent to the sweetest of their dreams. Whether or not that blow needed to be applied with a kanabou never seemed to be a point of contention.
There was clarification necessary, however, as to the purpose of the prize she'd been awarded for her efforts. "What was this belt for, again?" A brightly-issued question that was patiently and quietly answered by the referee, in spite of his exasperation. "Oh~ How about that, huh." Kanabou returned to its sling and arms crossed with great satisfaction, she had to admit that she'd fallen considerably short of her goal. "And here I was out to give the American Gladiators what for." An effort decades late was no less of a valiant one.
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Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2020 8:25 pm
 Sea Me
But not without a critical eye or two for each other, as two unnatural eyes met a masked one with mutual disdain. The pale figure shifted his weight from heel to heel, the rustle of black leather the perfect accompaniment for his sharp smile and insouciance. "Ha. Is all the asanawa really necessary?" The veiled woman paid him no mind, focus too tightly upon the task at hand to be bothered by something made familiar to her by many a year. Though not lacking in a few words of her own, and dismissive ones at that. "Surely no one asked you to show up as a leather bar's idea of a witch, either." He's too easily provoked, as her chosen expressions are as astringent as ever. "Did you not want me to--" With a sigh, he knows it's a battle that he's lost before even having waged it. That falsely grey eye only focuses upon sights in the great distance before and beyond them, upon places it couldn't see or even know. "I'll open the path, so... don't cry, all right?" An idea that even he's aware is ridiculous, but it's enough to snap from that wistful face into the sullen one he'd held with some reverence. From time to time, anyway.
In silent agreement they took each other's hands, as nothing but a formality of the ceremony they intended to initiate. Eyes closed and free palms open, their focus met the seashore with a spectacular crash of waves of both light and water that actually startled him some. Though unsettled eyes were met with nothing, that eye firmly meeting the show of the sea without fear. He was left feeling humbled, even if he was well aware of the sheer might to be had in his present company. For all the power provided to him by the month's festivities, as she was she exceeded him outright on every level. And waited for him to complete preparations, turning her head to face him with the most impatient of grimaces. To which he hastily complied, with the ocean itself that'd been raised crashing out downwards to reveal a path that sloped downwards. He felt impressed with himself, even if she didn't. The surging of that outright alien power had made what was usually an unwieldy ability completely simple. It's an amazement that she didn't wait around for, steps showing intent as she paced forward and downwards. "Shouldn't we wait for--" He needn't even ask. "No need." It's somewhat unsettling, anyway, having one of those unnaturally sunny smiles directed at him of all people.
Had the path they walked been there before, or had it been pushed up and out due to their efforts? The darkness made it matter little whether they were walking on something that'd surfaced from the bottom of the ocean or just water itself. The illumination from both of their energy signatures swirling through the water provided only enough light to see the path forward, as well lighting up the many moon jellyfish that drifted around them. While he didn't slow in his pace he couldn't help but admire them some, even with their great familiarity to him. The sight alone soothed him, as well as the feeling that set in as they ventured further down the murky decline. The sea loved him, and he it.
Due to that daze setting in, it became impossible to know just how long they'd been walking before the sight she anticipated finally began to come into view. "Finally," she uttered, quickening her steps upon something blurry and blue that glowed softly within what was either open air or just water, at that point. "Oh~" It was almost a little impressive, as she looked up with hushed awe. For a moment, anyway. What she approached the slumbering creature with was all business, face serious and stride confident. "You there. You." It's a lack of providence that gives her companion some pause, looking up at what lie before them with decided uncertainty. Though with the waking breaths and churning waters of the company they sought, they'd been received as anyone else would have been. "Haaaa... aaaaa." Slowly stepping forth on clawed feet, it's only their preparations that keep them from being washed away by the ensuing waves. "Thoooose that keep company with the mortal realm are not welcoooome here." He did his best to pretend the massive breath before them boiling away much of the water wasn't unsettling in the least. She didn't find it troubling, instead stepping to make her point clear to its recepient. "I've come to deal."
The chortle that followed shook the surrounding waters in its deep feeling. "Haaaave you noooow. Hermaaaaeus Moooora, and--" There was no one to hide behind, though he still tried anyway, being looked down upon with reptilian eyes and nostrils full of fire. "The laaaaughing gooood." And while somewhat annoyed with said god trying to hide behind her, she couldn't be discouraged by the fancy fantasy handbag before her, answering the beast with her usual mellifluous tone. "Mm! Indeed, I have. Shall we have a little talk, hnn~?" That lack of fear was a little amusing, at least to someone that'd been sleeping under the waves for time untold. "Soooo weeee shaaaall." That massive head lowered, wishing to look more closely at the first company he'd had in some time. "Whaaaat you waaaant is of liiiittle concernnnn. Just thaaaat, that you waaaant." It's something she could look unimpressed with, as it wasn't exactly something that was difficult to guess. But it's answer enough, as the creature continued. "Youuuu. You are awaaaare, that my powerssss--" It's quite something, to give fellow mythical beings pause. "Resembleeee, your moooother's, liiiittleeee." It was a mention that brought forth ambivalent feelings. "Mm. I'm aware. Even so." It didn't matter. Anything was enough. Anything was still nothing, but nothing was all she had. "So then." Only for the being before her to be tricksy, as they often were. "Nothingggg's been agreeeed to yetttt." But the creature it in turn dealt with was one lacking not only in height but in patience. "Oh~ Is that so. I think you'll find that inadvisable, in your situation. Inadvisable indeed, considering." Timing was everything, and in a perfect strike of luck and convenience, it was on her side just then. As with a bellow that could be heard all throughout the seabed, that before the two was dealt a bad hand.
"Time for go to dinner!"
Concessions tended to come quickly, when impending dinner dates were at stake.
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Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2021 7:45 pm
The turning of one year to the next felt little like it, what with it persisting to happen in the dead of winter. But as one year withered to surrender itself to the next, a certain truth remained. The passage of time mattered little to those who had seen so much of it.
"You're late." A crackle from a voice that was nothing but familiar at that point in his long-lived life didn't sting any less. With dread he looked over and expected the look of damning judgment to be much worse than what'd been voiced. And so it was, even from just one grey eye. A firm stare that put any similarly silver blade to shame with its sharpness. Though he wasn't without his own pride, struggling against the cutting glances he'd almost become accustomed to by then. "It's a lot, to interfere with my other plans, and get like dressed like this, and--" But before that eye gouged itself in more deeply than it already had, he amended his careless words with thoughtful ones. "But completely worth it, to spend time with your brilliant child." While not without exasperation, they were words honest in their respect and tact. Which were accepted, as that glower was disarmed. "Hmph."
The child of said praise who finally appeared shortly afterwards, similarly out of breath as if it were to be considered an element of familiar resemblance. "Mother, and--" Those persistently overcast golden eyes brightened as they focused upon what'd been a last minute call of thoughtfulness. "Uncle." What must've been a warm smile upon that exceptionally pale and cold face made all of the fuss and hurry worth it, with a pleasant blush upon that normally proud face showing as much. "Ha. You can always depend on me, of course!" And while the mother remained unimpressed, her tolerance was maintained as she linked arms with the child that had long since become quite the considerate and compassionate adult. Why else would she let such a person near them? "Try to keep up. Lest you find yourself festively crushed or ablaze." A warning taken duly as the two smaller figures strode away, as he heard a recognizably heavy footfall catching up to them. Scarf pulled up with a nervous breath, he was quick to follow as he'd been told. Familiarity was not interchangeable with safety, for certain.
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 7:50 pm
 The blessed and the damned.
While she'd cared enough to answer the frantic call of someone she'd usually pass on any sort of casual discussion with, someone luxuriating within a distant crepuscular paradise cared little for the immediate and acutely panicked concerns of someone that should've known every exacting danger of the task he'd taken on previously. With one hand within her meticulously styled hair and the other maintaining its familiarity with a glass of curaçao, those troubled thoughts that hung in the air via speakerphone served as her entertainment for the night. "You tangled with a creature of mystery and wonder and came away with extra body parts rather than fewer. How could you consider it anything other than fortunate?"
The audible exasperation on the other end of the line was ignored in favor of her own curious observation, as she pulled some of the newly black hair forward to examine it with subdued interest. "Even with what had been said. For such a thing to happen, hnn." With some delighted interest and a long drink from her glass, she tossed the hair back over her shoulder.
"What are you even--" Gingerly retrieving the phone with careful fingertips, the voice upon said phone sounded to be surprised that she'd picked it up and was back to speaking directly into it. "Haty-ek em mi kha. Take it as a blessing, oh fortunate one. Embrace your apparent destiny of a litter of kittens and a house in the countryside with grace, would you? Nefer sedjmek~ Senebty." There was no telling how long the predicament that'd settled in would last for any of the three that'd been so 'blessed.' Though the sheer mortification she could hear prior to ending the call would keep her fed for untold evenings to come.
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Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 9:55 pm
 The arcane art of the barter.
What she did understand, however, was that with every problem came its own bevy of probable solutions. Indeed, clothes that should've been a pain to adorn herself with became all of a second's thought of specialized cells in handling. It was her body, after all, even if some functionality had been lost to what had no better name than that of a "curse." And so, cat ears and tail firmly within her control and tamed to her clothes, the next stage of battle was set upon rocking horse shoes and fusion fashion.
Though not without the kindest of considerations, by arranging meetings and acquiring offerings. While the mental map might've gone unused for time long since forgotten, the path cut within her mind hadn't faded in the least. The sound of a modern age's wooden soles upon ancient slabs was a peculiar sound to fall upon the ears they'd been intended for, expected as they were. The crunch of ancient bones under an occasional step, more so. One cold grey eye met the other, unable to be pried away in spite of how many fragrant blossoms broke and fluttered past in what was an unsettlingly warm wind.
Each found the sight of the other to be satisfactory, however, with tension quickly subsiding with quietly amused laughter. And an exaggerated curtsy from the guest, as she elegantly made her offer. "For you, naturally." Tobacco in itself was hardly an unusual luxury, though the black wrappers and glint of gold showed what was all of cigarettes as anything but average. The informant looked to be pleased enough for certain, eye lidded over and averted as one could almost see a blush upon that already decidedly red face. Hurriedly and gratefully they were snatched upon as a piece of paper was quickly shoved and crumpled into her opposite in hand in exchange. "Don't ask where I got it. Nothing you can't handle, right? Any side effects are your problem, of course. Always a pleasure, doing business and all." And with the attained luxury product secured between teeth and tiny hands set in mirrored victory signs, her contact departed. With an entertained little bit of a smile, careful fingers went about making her prize orderly. A click of her tongue acknowledged either a lapse in what she knew or what actually could have been surprise from someone that wasn't without more than her share of knowledge. "Oh, to think." Folding it neatly and securing upon her person, already her next play upon the board after being cured herself was being considered as each breezy step followed the previous as she took her leave. How to barter with the others, and for what.
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Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 3:15 am
 One potato, kaijuu potato.
Though the agreeable moment between the decidedly not-human friends was interrupted by the ground shaking ominously. But not only a seismic warning, but an aural one as well. "There's only one monster I know that insists on announcing her arrival with that bold brass sound, every time!" Just where a murder elf could think to set up blasting a theme song prior to making a grand appearance every time baffled the likes of even the brightly-adorned individual whose overall annoyance had returned in full force. "And all the strings too! Hydezilla!" Did murder elves travel with a fully decked out orchestra? Before she could really think over the considerations of such a thing, the neon city before her seizing and shaking finally took hold within her mind. "Tch, of all the times." Lizard friend in tow, she was upon her bike and improbably out of the path of destruction just in time. And in a similar, if lateral improbable move, surrendered control and commanded as she saw necessary. "Mzu, you drive!" An order that was taken, even with an annoyed hiss, with those claws somehow expertly steering through debris and utter chaos as the chatter of those who escaped and were escaped from crashed together as the sea did to the shore.
And so she met the challenge head on, taking the time to smirk and make a smart remark over her shoulder as she stood up upon the back of that bike without the slightest bit of hesitation. "Don't you get it? I'm the hero. The brightly-colored hair and tank top say so." And glowing not only with that confidence but also with a bright viridian luminescence that cemented her status as anything but human, she made her stand. "Gon-chan, go!" While the simple robot claws that caught the elf's strength were simple to the point of almost being primitive, they were no less in might. An automaton whose battle cry, while no less honorable or revered, was as expected. "Satsumaimooooo!" Something that provoked a grumble of concern out of Mzu. Only to be shrugged off, with both words and limbs, by the very person that'd summoned that mechanical hunger. "It's in the budget. We just don't have any pocket money. You see?" Imitating a famous so-and-so was a cool and responsibility-free excuse to sit back down and enjoy her front row seat to the most anticipated potato robot versus giant elf battle of the season.
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 11:55 pm
Familiar familiarity.
(circa early 2019) The keen eyes and ears that'd been finely tuned by lifetime after lifetime of a need to stay out of sight couldn't have expected the resolute footfall of two figures had him as their intended target. Avoiding happenstances of hilariously bad fortune and fire had become commonplace, the sheen of the leather and metal of his usual harness catching the light as he leaned back in his chair with his usual lack of energy and care. "One ristretto, please," was his request, one hand at the back of his neck and one hand seemingly dismissing the wait staff he'd just ordered from. With his phone muted and one hand settling to the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes, he was left utterly unaware to the arrival of what'd completely upend what should've been one of many sleepy afternoons.
"Yo, Kisshou's runt." The familiarity that he took and was given in that voice was enough to freeze him on the spot. Maybe if he didn't open his eyes, she wouldn't actually be there. Though that child's play wasn't attempted for long, still more than certain but still hoping he somehow was wrong. Nope. Reality betrayed his wishes, presenting to him the exact face he expected, taking advantage of the fact that he was seated in order to look down upon him all the better in spite of her short stature.
To which he reacted as maturely as the situation surely required him to. "Heh. Now what business could an exalted prima barista have with the likes of this sainted shade?" Complete with his usual exaggerated hand movements, he couldn't help himself. Her longtime association with his older brother made any opportunity to play the annoying younger brother, even at the maturity of twenty, too much for him to resist.
"Exactly none." Impudence that was ignored with cold efficacy, much to his own annoyance. But before any retort could be uttered, her intentions were laid bare and with quickness. "Your presence was requested." Those crafty hands went up by instinct in declaring their openness, as with pointed words and a sharp eye she leaned in to hammer across her point. "A request you shall fulfill with fealty."
Orders of which he didn't take well or lightly, considering who was issuing them. "What could you possibly--" She said nothing. Only thumbed to her side. To which those goat-like eyes finally connected with the frozen gold eyes of a face that had entirely too much familiarity to it despite him never seeing it before. The realization sunk in quickly, as he found himself short of breath as he asked for confirmation of what had to be the truth of the matter. "You're serious?" She said nothing, the smile upon that smug face curling up a little more tightly. "It's seriously..."
"Uncle." Taking a step forward, the second figure coolly addressed the man with that loaded title with ease. To the point of assuming familiarity without waiting for so much as a word in response, even. "Ebi-oji, if I may."
The child approached him with no malice, no pretense. And, if cautiously, he did the same. "You... you may." To the point of kindly trying to make a joke, to defuse any tension. "How you've grown!" That fell flat exactly as one'd expect, considering the mother and child in question.
The child felt like doing things with precise propriety, after all, offering their business card to the man they'd wanted to meet for some time. "Irazoki Miyabi. Scientist, and..." He already knew, but saying it out loud made all of the assumptions and suspicions concrete. "Your brother's child."
An exchange that wasn't without its awkwardness, as with nervous arms and clumsy hands it was difficult to both find and present his own card to his newly-established relative. "T-Tasokare Ebizome. The pleasure's mine." And with the formalities aside, his gaze and mood of his expression fell as he mumbled what he could assess of the intentions of said meeting. "So, you're here to find out about Nao, or..."
Only to be cut off, with a brightly-stated truth that was very different from what'd he expected. "You. I wanted to know you."
Which was taken exactly as someone used to being in the shadow of both his brother and otherwise would, with a flushed face and sputtered words. "M-me? But..."
Some light seemed to enter those usually overcast golden eyes, but not for any reason one'd want to remember. "We're family, in a tree that's unnaturally small. So..."
A icy cold feeling that was easily picked up upon and emulated by the man that'd been an unwilling participant himself. They knew. And had inherited that same sadness, simply by being born. "All... all right. Miyabi." And with the same sympathy, he gestured for his relative to join him at the table. Though not entirely at ease just yet, due to an undeniable resemblance he couldn't help but joke about. "For starters... you take after your grandmothers entirely too much, you know?" And with one last stab of a glance the mother was off, seemingly assured she'd left her child within oddly capable hands.
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