synflux | head above water

[ surprisingly, choso turns down the convenience of yuji's bag in favour of storing both his chocolate gift and soap in his own pockets; safe and secure storage where he can also curl his hands around them later, like little charms, these first gifts received. but later. for now, he produces from a different pocket (sweater, this time) an only slightly battered box of chocolates.

with the formality of a man handing out a business card, choso offers it to marcille. dozo. ]

If he does not get rid of it on his own, there is a strange man about who will take it all off him anyway. [ like talking about the weather, or the mayoral electoral candidates for the next term, or the cleaning bots' schedules. there is a janitor bot that cleans up spills. there is a gojo satoru that scams you for chocolate. don't worry about it. ]

And if that does not work, I can take them all.

Strange man... Do you mean Gojo-sensei...?

[ That might be a fair enough assessment of his teacher, but Yuji still feels the urge to defend him all the same, instinctive, burned into him by the nature of his education and dedication to his sensei. Shaking his head, he fights the urge to protest, and looks back over at their new friend with a smile.

Choso is Choso, and sensei is sensei, so as long as they don't kill each other he's happy. ]

I've handed out most of mine, so don't worry. I did a lot on Valentine's Day so I think they're talking it easy on me for White Day.

[ Simple as that! Beaming, he looks between them before he tilts his head. ]

Say, nii-san, did you still want to go to see the cats?

[ Choso... moe 🥺

Marcille takes the chocolate box, and while she notices the little bits of damage, she pays them no mind. She beams again— ] Thank you! [ —and slides the box into her bag.

A lot of words crop up at once that she doesn't know what to make of. She looks between them both. ]

Cats...? [ She hasn't seen any cats around. The instant her mind conjures the image of one, it transforms into something, someone else—half-beast, half-human. She swallows down a wave of sadness, instead tightening her grip on her staff and looking at Yuji. ]

And who's Gojo-sensei?

A swindler. [ with a sharp tch of tongue on teeth. that half empty box... ]

[ no, no! he will not sully this meeting with that bean pod! choso must physically shake it off, hair tufts-- buns?- a-flapping as if to cast away the veil of that accursed long man.

collect yourself!!! ]

There is a cat onsen. Which is to say, an onsen with real cats. You are welcome to join us on this venture if you so wished.

He's my teacher at school, not... That...

[ He's not a swindler! Don't be so rude, big brother, that's Yuji's precious teacher...

At least he can focus a little more on something nice, which is the cat onsen. He went there on a date, so he can speak for how nice it is, even if it had been a little embarrassing. ]

It's just outside of the main city, run by this old couple, and there's a colony of cats there! They're nice, despite being wild.

[ A teacher and a swindler.... Concerning... Does Marcille believe Choso, an ex-criminal who probably has a good eye for evildoers, or Yuji, who seems very sweet and upbeat and maybe more susceptible to swindling?

She'll have to meet Gojo and form her own opinion. Right now, they're talking about cats. Memories of Izutsumi flood her consciousness, twisting her heart. She still wants to go with them, of course, not only because she's always liked cats, but also because she's reaching for what's familiar, even if it hurts.

An important question needs answering. ]

Y-Yeah, I can come with you guys, but... what's an "onsen?"

[ choso has no awareness at all of how he looks when he rounds on marcille, eyes a little wide for the surge of warm anticipation that mention of the trip has summoned. ]

A bathhouse.

[ Yuji looks up at his brother, then looks over at Marcille, and shakes his head. ]

It's a hot spring that's been turned into a bathhouse, but I think my brother was more interested in the cats. There's separate bathing rooms, don't worry!

[ Seeing as Choso looks super intense about it... ]

We can go and just see the cats if you wanted to.

[ CHOSO WHAT IS THAT LOOK? HELLO? She leans back and gives him A Look before Yuji speaks up and saves his reputation.

A bathhouse! Marcille actually isn't averse to the idea. ]

If the bathing rooms are separate, it should be fine... I haven't had a nice bath in a really long time.

[ She touches her chin. ]

Someone else told me about a bathhouse being in the city. He didn't mention any cats though... His name was Nanami.

[ ignorance truly is bliss, for choso closes his eyes and spares marcille the meteoric weight of his full attention while he thinks about cats and steam. ]

Either it’s a different, inferior bathhouse or Nanami does not care for feline company.

Ah, Nanamin! I think he probably didn't know about the one outside of town, since Raidou and I found that on our adventure.

[ Yuji leans into Choso a little. Pay attention... It's almost time to go... ]

I'm glad you've been able to meet Nanamin, though. He's a really good guy!

Oh, so you know him. [ She nods. ] He offered to help me a few times already. Although he seems to have a grudge against the head of the simulation room...

[ Those text messages from him were nothing short of aggressive. What did Seok Dang do to him...

Marcille can ask who Raidou is on their way to the onsen, she decides. ]

Were the two of you about to leave? I'll go, but I'd also like to get some clean clothes from my room to change into. I'll be quick!

I don’t mind waiting. [ see, he’s paying attention, eyes cracking open to blink lazily at marcille before a revelation has him turning that blink onto yuji. ]

Should we bring our own things? [ or mooch off the cats? ]

I already brought stuff from our room, since the plan was to go there anyway, don't worry.

[ Leaning around Choso, he nods at Marcille. ]

Yeah, he was pretty mad after the guy accidentally locked us in the sim room. Go ahead and get your stuff, we can wait here!

I will!

[ A bath!!!! Excuse her while runs off to get her things. (Lmk when/if I should hop back in!) ]

So prepared. As expected. [ sasuga yuji. he sort of clenches a fist in a sort of celebration, and somewhere in there decides to utilize the motion to its fullest by flicking his thumb up for marcille as she takes off. go, little elf, go.

naturally, he doesn't wait until she's out of earshot before he turns to yuji again. ]

... She is good.

[ Bro… You’ll embarrass her…

Either way, Yuji is nodding. His delight is obvious, his darling brother making a friend, and he hums softly. ]

She’s nice! I think she seems like a good friend to have.

We must cure the soap properly, as perfectly-timed as it would be to use it at the onsen. [ elf soap will be a Reward. ]

Is this what makes a friend? [ he uses that word like it's something new, some funky loanword newly slotted into the vocabulary. ]

Yeah, that's fine, there's other soap at the onsen, so...

[ Glancing up at his brother, he smiles softly. ]

Yeah, I think so! Hanging out, exchanging gifts... That seems like friendship to me.

Hn. I should have made chocolates, too.

[ even if it made more of mess that day. ]

Can elves eat chocolate? [ is it like cats? will it fuck them up??? this is the first time he's gotten to consider cross-species logistics that isn't his own, how exciting. ]

Next time, okay?

[ Pat pat. Keep it together, big bro, don't let her see you cry... ]

Ask her when she's back.

Next time. [ siiiiighed. chocolate-making did seem very labour-intensive, but so did soap-making. it would have to be an undertaking to meet the quality of gift received. time to start another list. ]

[ Marcille catches those little words before they're out of earshot. She is good. And it's said so plainly, like it wouldn't matter if she heard it because Choso believes it to be true. But he doesn't really know her that well, does he?

Her eyes sting as her feet pull to a stop. She presses her lips together in a crooked line, chin rumpling, and manages not to cry as her nails bite into her palms.

Then she breaks into a run down the halls, hair whipping behind her. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

2/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject