synflux | [closed] we shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us

I can feed myself, you know!

[ but it's said with a laugh, messing with her hair for a moment before letting it come down with a short exhale. she has to fix it somehow... it'd come terribly loose in all the movement, but now malkuth pauses in trying to figure out what to do with it... soon enough just dropping her arms back down in quick defeat without a helper.

... well. she's going to slip her arm into his, play gentleman for your lady friend. don't mind that she seems to be using you for a kind of support. she is totally fine, yup. absolutely. ]

Wanna get a drink? We can go to that bar I talked about before before heading back.

[ Play gentleman, he can do. He notices the brief struggle with her hair (how could he not?), but he can address it in a moment. For now, enjoy the feeling of your friend leaning on you as you walk out of the building. ]

We can, but not before fixing your hair. I wouldn't want it to get in the way if we end up dancing again.

[ What is that, foreshadowing? ]

[ sounds like foreshadowing. he may also notice they aren't going to be walking as fast as they might normally match, but it's fine. she's surely just enjoying herself and perhaps is a little tired from lessons. which wouldn't be a lie if she spoke it. ]

So those magic hands of yours can do more than just blow up?

[ please ]

[ His gaze darkens, exaggerated-like. ]

You wanna find out the hard way?

[ SpoooooOooOOOOOOoooky. ]

[ brightly no fear this chick can withstand the glare of a color what does she have to be afraid of with her demigod dragonic friend: ]

Lay it on me!

Okay.

Time to go!

[ And so, without any further fanfare, Kaito proceeds to sweep the Librarian off her feet and march on over to one of the dressing rooms.

In full view of the rest of the class. This is normal. ]

[ wow

she's gonna kill him, actually, little yelp in surprise and tense otherwise. help. help. where is march. bestie come save her. ]

I thought you were just gonna fix my hair, jerk! You have to warn someone before doing that!

[ also they'll be mostly alone... she is trying not to think about that in conjuction with the satiated longing to be closer. ugh. maybe she can sit down at least, it'll be nice to get off her ankle for a moment... ]

[ Hey, she provoked (demi)god. Laughing all the way, Kaito doesn't stop until he's (carefully) deposited Malkuth down on one of the high-backed chairs. Another is dragged behind her so he can sit down. ]

Pass me a brush, will you? Hairbands and clips optional but appreciated.

[ She's just lucky that he isn't also thinking about the implications of being alone in a room with Malkuth. For now, he's purely in Mischievous Deity Mode. ]

Edited 2024-04-09 13:04 (UTC)

[ they've been alone before. it was fine. malkuth prefers one on one time anyway, compared to larger sorties... but it's still a little different, though she sighs as irritated as she might usually be and hands back a brush before throwing her long hair back for him. and a moment later, the clips she'd been using to try and keep it up. ]

March is gonna hate you for this. She's been sighing since we went out shopping that she couldn't play with my hair because of her busted arm.

[ it's been super cute... she loves her. very gently... and casually... stretching her foot. hooo. whooo. oooh. she really will be feeling that in the morning. ]

Were you okay after? Sorry I didn't check in sooner -- it was rough with the headache and all.

[ Kaito accepts both, though he quietly deposits all the clips into one of his pockets. He starts smoothing the brush through her hair, and Malkuth will probably notice warmth and dampness—because he's cheating and using his magic to make the process of straightening her hair out much more streamlined. ]

That's okay. She can be jealous. [ Kaito's practically preening at this point. But her question prompts a small frown that he hides behind her face so that the mirror across from them doesn't pick it up. Get to work.

The brunette's hair is split into three strands, and he sets about deftly braiding them together. He talks while he works—but by the kami, he's working fast. ]

Actually, I've been in a lot of pain since the mission. The electricity wasn't good for me. [ Oh. Terrible. He hasn't shown a single flash of discomfort or vulnerability all day, and it's been a good while since the kaiju fight. But he's smiling all the while, taking the lengthy braid he's woven and carefully arranging it into a large bun against the back of her head. ]

I wouldn't miss this for the world, though, [ he adds, smiling fondly as a flash of yellow pops up in the mirror. Where'd he get that yellow ribbon? Trade secret. It's being used to decorate the braid bun and distract from the dang size of it. Malkuth, you have so much hair. ] So I took some painkillers. I'll be okay for the rest of the day.

[ Beaming and absolutely not taking any criticism for his decisions, Kaito taps behind his ear and opens a video feed, sending it to the brunette so she can see the results of his handiwork. ]

Thoughts?

That you're a total idiot and I'm glad not to be the only one dosing on painkillers.

[ but she turns her head this way and that, pleased at the braid before turning to the side to lift her leg a little. don't be scandalized, she's showing the minor bruising at her ankle. ]

I'm recovering from a sprain, but I couldn't afford to miss this class. [ it's nonrefundable. sunk cost fallacy sank in. ] Thanks for the braid, Kaito. It looks good.

[ there. she's happy with it, and happy she won't be scolded for coming anyway. ☆ hypocrites that they are. ]

Thanks, Kettle. I'm glad you like it.

[ She makes it way too easy to smile, even as she shows off her bruise. Kaito moves his chair next to hers and plops down. His left hand extends, palm up. ]

Now give me your ankle. We're going to nip this in the bud before it gets in the way of our date.

[ She was only asking him out for drinks. When did it officially become a date? ...When he said so, of course. Either way, he's smiling expectantly at her. ]

It's fine, Kaito. I just need a little rest before we go on.

[ she doesn't want him touching her ankle. it'll be like verg and the wrist all over again. she just knows it. can feel it. ]

And I'm not planning on really doing anything tomorrow, [ this is a lie she has hot springs to go to, ] so I'll be posted up in bed all day. Keep your hands to yourself.

[ besides. she doesn't want to owe him more than she already does, even if they aren't owing each other anything. ]

What date are we on, by the way? I need to start thinking about your collar.

I won't touch it, then. Now hand it over. I'm helping you because I'm your friend, so you won't owe me anything.

[ The quick-drying cement, the cinderblocks... They're steadily being chipped away. So he has a pretty good hunch that she doesn't want him to touch it because it'll affect the both of them...

But he also doesn't care. At the very least, he can respect the desire. But he's not letting her screw her ankle up any further. ]

I'm not sure about the dates, by the way. I think this is number two? You'd better hope it's not the third. This would be a really awkward time for me to start talking with my hands.

[ He looks up, gaze level. There's a brief flash of a smirk, but he's otherwise (trying his best to be) serious. ]

Don't do some... fancy magic thing for it either. Okay? I'm serious, I'll kick you. It feels fine.

[ heal it and she'll end his life, is what she's saying. she's fine. one day of dancing isn't going to kill her. massaging it would be okay though, and after a reluctant moment she'll lean back in her seat and prop her ankle up. ]

How so?

Kick me, then. I acknowledge the consequences of my care.

[ He's lying TWICE OVER, gasp! He's gonna touch and heal, though the latter won't be apparent until much later. Kaito makes sure his gloves are on for this... if only because he's not sure how either of them are going to react to skin-to-skin contact.

Fingertips carefully brush against the bruised, swollen skin. He's clearly got some experience traipsing around injuries, because while the contact is initially quite uncomfortable, his fingers work quick to soothe through massaging.

...And at the same time, a faint energy flows through his fingertips, into her skin. He doesn't dare make eye contact while working. ]

It doesn't matter if it feels fine. You're still putting heavy stress on it. At the very least, I can counteract that strain and help it heal over smoother. I don't have direct healing capabilities through my magic anyway.

[ That's going to change tomorrow. Kaito finally musters the nerve to look up at her—and Malkuth is treated to a first-time sight. Flecks of blue spot his golden irises, but neither color is dominant quite yet. ]

I don't know. That's the scary part. Maybe I'll get too touchy feely. Maybe you'll get too touchy feely. Isn't that a scarily exciting idea?

[ she. will kick him after this, since she doesn't want to jostle his work and it does feel quite nice; counteracting is... okay, that makes sense, it's just a new experience to heal from injuries that she doesn't want to waste it. a little of a funny reason, perhaps, but she thanked someone for letting her feel complete hopelessness one time so ykyk.

still. his eyes are really beautiful right now, and malkuth can't stop her hand from reaching out to touch just under on his cheek. oooh. hold still let her look at them peepers. ]

We can be that way without a date, though. I don't see what's embarrassing about it.

[ Kaito smiles warmly under her touch. Malkuth gets what Malkuth wants, at least when it comes to his eyes.

Then she opens her big idiot mouth and his ears are on fire again. ]

I know the answer is yes, but do you really ever think before you speak? Idiot.

[ He's smiling like an idiot, though. Kaito gives Malkuth's ankle a gentle squeeze before returning her leg to her. Time to change the topic before she asks too many questions that he isn't ready to answer. ]

I think I made another friend from the City.

[ he is being sooooooo cute. malkuth rolls her ankle a little, slowly and carefully, before resting it back onto the ground. and then kicking him with her other foot. she said she'd do it, it isn't hard though. ]

Oh yeah? Ishmael said you texted her super early one morning, but I'm guessing it's someone else. There's only a couple of us here that I haven't asked you to keep an eye on.

[ so it's rodya or verg... rodya would have fun with him she thinks. ]

—Oof. [ Back to grinning. ]

I like Ishmael. I think she thinks I'm annoying. But maybe that's just going to be how most Brimstone folks see me.

[ He's none too eager to get out of his chair right away, so Kaito just kinda sliiides down a bit so he can recline a bit (less) more comfortably. Don't mind him veering to the left in a bid to bonk his head against her arm. ]

Vergilius. He definitely thinks I'm annoying, but I think we bonded enough during the mission that I can assume a one-sided friendship.

[ getting him a cat plush was a good idea. nts remember to have her drop it off. would he like it if she scratched his head like she did rumba. ]

Oh, Vergilius! He's sweet, right? We go out drinking together sometimes, it's fun. How'd you meet?

I'm not surprised you two are already acquainted. [ Though it leaves an inexplicable feeling in his throat. ]

I tried pranking him with white chocolates last month. He didn't take kindly to it. But we made up in the haunted mansion. He seems tired. I saw something familiar in him that made me want to get to know him.

[ pranking... a guy with dark hair and a smug face... ]

Oh, you're his least favorite.

[ hahahahaha ]

Yeah, I get what you mean. To be honest, he's one of the reasons I don't feel so alone here -- we're both travelers, and... we've a number of similar, if different tragedies in our time. Just don't mess with him too much, okay? He's like me, except he really will drop you if you annoy him too much.

Did he really say that I'm his least favorite! Hah!

[ They share a laugh, but past it Kaito continues to etch her words into his mind. He's taking notes. He's. Not sure why he's so intent on taking these notes. Kaito realizes he was drawn to Verg because of what he perceived as a bond of many shared traits just waiting to be unearthed. That's been partially true so far.

But these two also have a candid connection, and that's. It's.

—That's good. It's good for Malkuth, who needs the camaraderie most. Who doesn't deserve to feel so lonely.

Yeah. Kaito's eyes have glazed a bit through that stint of deep thought. He shakes the fog out. ]

I think I'm finding a balance. Our first meeting should have ended in disaster, but our second was more than half-decent. I think I can at the very least earn his friendship before things get to dicey. Or icy.

He likes direct, honest words and appreciates a good cup of black coffee. Won't turn down a free meal either, and...

[ hmmm. what else can she say. resting back in her chair... ]

I think as long as you keep at it, as slowly and as patiently as you were with me... then he'll at least give you the time of day. Vergilius doesn't put up a fuss about us going out anymore, anyway. I consider that a win.

[ and it's obvious she's fairly fond of the old geezer too, even beyond the advice she gives -- her tone's a little affectionate, amused at the way vergilius is. ]

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