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

( not to worry.

literally who else would be waving at him so enthusiastically among a crowd of folks just minding their own business. not many, that's who, the only other potential candidate not being who he's meeting right now.

his attire is fairly casual in contrast ( thank you 500 collabs ), the jacket a welcome addition when considering april's leftover chill.

anyhow, he gives her an unamused lookover. )

Do I even wanna ask? Look. I'm not draggin' you into the belly of the beast or whatever. We're just getting a drink.

[ what... he's so nice looking in casual. she drops her gaze to herself, taking off her sunglasses after a moment. ]

That's kinda disappointing, you know. I thought you'd hang out someplace super dangerous.

[ which she would then want to go to???? get with the program. this is a pretty good time to mess with the style upgrade she finally managed to download all the way she guesses, looking through some options. ]

What sort of place is it then?

Gyoza place 'round the corner. A real hole-in-the-wall. We're lucky this side 'a town is still mostly in-tact.

( what with how busted some of these shops are as they've had to accommodate and allow for altercations to be made in-case of a future monster attack. )

Keep rollin' with whatever you had planned if you want. Ain't like I'm your boss.

( he'll lead them with hands in his pockets to a place nestled within an alley, one that curls with smoke and has a pretty lively mahjong corner even at this time of day. it doesn't seem shady to izou... just affordable, and staffed with people who're keen on buying a round for everyone when things get rowdy.

common courtesy would be to pull out her seat and let her sit first, but izou plops down opposite of her, arms crossed. )

So. This is really just you wantin' to get to know me?

[ oh... well, she'll keep on theme then, though the sunglasses stay off and tucked into her hoodie pocket.

the place is interesting too. the smoke curls high and she scrunches her nose, unused to it after a few months apart from her resident smoker (gebura), but she will take her own seat with no complaints at all. ]

You're so suspicious of me. Yes, Izou, it's just to get to know you. Why is that hard to believe?

Usually folks have a reason for requesting each other's company beyond just "hanging out", but.

( ugh. he could go for a smoke, but he's just gonna refrain.

a drink with a long, lingering aftertaste will have to do. )

Guess you could say I'm just not used to... people bein' so interested in me in general, despite all your questions.

Even though March is the same way?

[ yeah, get that drink with the long aftertaste. make it strong. ]

A lot of people are, I think. It's not like you've got people lined up at your door for a good time.

[ .............. ]

Do you?

[ omg... ]

( the mention of march has him choking on his first glass, because what the— )

Khgack, hahh. Th-That's...

( wait. what. )

Wait just a... Don't you got any shame, asking someone that outright?! Though the answer's NO.

[ oh this is so fun. this is so interesting and fun. let her take a sip of hers. ]

So don't act like I'm out to get you somehow. Your name was pretty popular at the hot springs, though, so I really wouldn't have been surprised.

[ mmm. alcohol ]

( fair point, but he's still gonna...

—and that's when it dawns on him. )

... That why I got some strange text earlier? Something 'bout bein' the "hottest bachelor" in Neo Tokyo?

( sip. his gaze levels with her, though now it's... unsure. a little timid, always so easy to confuse.

the hot springs were divided, which meant... a ton of women were talking behind his back, and the thought of his popularity blowing up out of nowhere in a Certain Way is enough to make his heart thump a little faster. )

Should I ask who's got my name in their mouth, or...

You and Wriothesley both, but he didn't want the title. I got something for you though...

[ hold on... she's taking out a little wooden crow, a bit shoddily made but definitely a try. putting it on his side. congratulations. ]

And you can if you want. My memory isn't the best of that night -- when I drink too much, I forget whatever happens after a point -- so I might not get all the names... I know I put you in my top five.

( he lowers a hand clenched around a glass, and the surprise fades into a solemn stare. )

You're... I snap at you, tell you I cut my own friends down, and now you're presentin' me with a gift. What makes you think I deserve any of that? Is it 'cause I... told you all that stuff 'bout how I grew up? To the point you're willin' to risk a night out alone with me again?

( as if he's going to do anything, but. that one, honey-gold eye flits down and back. )

O-Or is this 'cause you... you like me, or somethin'?

( YOUR TOP FIVE? )

[ ... there is something about you brimstone men-- ]

Does it matter what you deserve if you want something? In general, not just... companionship or anything. I don't really deserve to live a life as freely as I do right now myself, but I want to, so I'm still gonna.

[ even if it nets her criticism. even if it only spills bad blood. it sucks, but she gets her boss now: she wants to live, even if others might not think she deserves to live how she'd like. ]

Secondly, yes. Do you think I shouldn't too?

[ you BRIMSTONE MEN......... ]

( i know... i know. if you're out there vergilius... don't look at me. )

"Too"?

( and he listens, fitting his chin on a palm in a way that's a little sheepish. frustrated. )

You got a smarter head on your shoulders than I do. You, and March, just decidin' you want out of people and doing it. ... Anyway, feel how you want.

Vergilius is the same way. It's an uphill battle with your sort, but I do understand.

[ feel how she wants... she will. it's not like anyone can stop her, and she can't stop herself; she couldn't in any life she lived. ]

March and I are like that for different reasons, but they're sort of similar too, I guess... Neither of us are really good at letting things go. Or people. Hers is because of her memory, I think, but mine is just because...

... because I'm still trying to fill an emptiness inside of me, probably.

[ well. she can confess it to one person, maybe. drinking. ]

Vergilius?

( he makes a face, like dabbing citrus under a dog's nose. like he'd forget the name of a guy who put him in his place. )

I'm nothin' like that asshole.

( but also, wow. what is it with cute girls and dropping the weight of their burdens on him like this out of nowhere.

it works, though, because of course it does. )

... Look. I don't get what part 'a you you think is so empty. Not when you've been full of life since the moment we were handin' out chocolates together, just tryin' to get a straight answer out of me. Tryin' to keep me included, no matter how hard I pushed the door shut on ya.

( he lifts up the wooden crow, turning it over in a rough hand. )

And this, ... bird. Is a product of your hard work, yeah? So. I'll take it.

[ ... wow. what a reaction. no, he definitely is like vergilius, this is a charm point too. a hefty charm point that makes her grin a little softer. ]

It is. Crows kind of remind me of you, and not just because their flocks are called murders.

[ haha, ]

I've read that they're really smart and clever, and they never forget who's kind to them and who isn't! They pay back both ways -- revenge and gifts, see. I don't know if you're like that, but it was the first animal I thought of.

... And thanks. For saying all that. You're a really sweet guy.

( ... okay. embarrassing.

who the hell's she calling sweet... and his grip tightens a little on the wooden ornament, her forwardness, once again, taking him aback. )

... So. What sorta "top five" are we talkin' about here? Top Five Most Handsome? Top Five Most Skilled With The Sword?

( like the confession of a supposed tier list was going to leave his mind anytime soon. )

Looks... but also charm. It was mostly the latter for me, since it's still the first thing that comes to mind even now. People's merits, the impressions they leave, how much I'd like to see them again... stuff like that goes into it. For me.

[ mmm. gyoza. she chews it thoughtfully, turning her head to watch the rest of the customers. ]

I kinda wish I did top ten... I missed some people.

( huh. it must be some funny coincidence, how dry his mouth suddenly is.

he was just throwing that out there, you know... the handsome thing, based on a previous comment of hers, and some weird sense of pride swells in his chest in awkward harmony with his alarm. )

Y-Yeah, well. I can see there not being as many as ch... — charming as me on base. Obviously.

( then, freeze-frame. they discussed that in the bath? him? maybe others, but mostly him, in his eyes? simple simple izou and his helpless curiosity and hapless imagination. )

If that was for you, then who're the ones singlin' me out by my looks?

[ and he says he isn't cute. look at that. his attitude is so cute. it makes her want to compliment him more. ]

Let's see... There was Ishmael, Rodya, me, and... March who spoke up.

[ though she sort of forced march to make a choice, ]

( cute in how he's mentally jumping over their table and out a window over these answers,

ishmael... that's not why she saw him fit to go in her room, right? no. it was just a casual chat between comrades, and that's how things would stay between them, surely. the others come to mind when mentioned, and something tugs uncomfortable in his chest. the anxiety of being PERCEIVED, I GUESS. )

All that... sounds like it shoulda stayed hush. Why're you so quick to tell me what I wanna know?

( his drink, starting to go untouched. a rarity. )

Oh, I have my reasons!

[ a sip. she rests forward on the table. malkuth is not truly a sneaky person. she is notably guileless. what you see, generally, is what you get; she will be upfront when asked.

like, unfortunately. hushed hushed voice. ]

You guys talked about stuff like that too, right? I wanna who's into who. Consider this an information exhange between the two of us.

[ with a wink to boot.... she is Shady today, izou!!!! ]

Come to think, we did.

( the man goss... though most of what he recalls is faces through narrowed eyes, the spilling of cups against tile and of his own mouth locked tight around a certain older gentleman's. not that he's going to tell malkuth any of that. he'd rather die. again.

the following day had been stars bursting behind his eyelids and a pulse thrumming heavy in his ear, but he... —wait. he does remember a couple of things, and he's careful.

as careful as a guy can be while trying not to fumble his words, or mention a certain thing or two he might've said, gaze occasionally flitting away from their table to stare out the window. )

There was a lotta heavy drinking ( JUST BY HIM? ), and... don't think I can remember who said what, but what was said was mostly about Ish. Ishmael. You, too. A good handful 'a times.

[ ...

well, that is what she wanted to know specifically, but was too shy to ask; it's her turn to fumble, gaze dropping to her drink and seeing her warming cheeks in what's left of it, uncertain and pleased all the same. her? ishmael, sure-- she can understand that, even if they don't really get along that well... but her?

malkuth's quiet, unresponsive in reply, playing with the strings of her hoodie before she rests her burning cheek in her hand and watches the people again. is he just playing with her? there's simply no way. for all that march calls her pretty, for all kaito might call her cute...

... a good handful? ]

She is pretty gorgeous, [ malkuth finally says, reluctant as she is to speak in general. ] As far as girls go, she's someone I think is pretty attractive, too.

[ objectively. her freckles are adorable, and her hair is so nice. the sound of her voice isn't unpleasant, and the smile she has for anyone but malkuth makes her wish they could be friendlier. but malkuth is impatient, and it feels... it's nothing to get into now, her own mind wrapping around itself. ]

( the relief in malkuth not pressing him to be more specific...

but it's also not like her to clam up, as far as izou has gotten to know her with all his griping and complaining in response, and as he leans back with arms folded in his seat he regards her with a furrowed brow. )

That not what you wanted to hear?

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

ohhh, i see her game

thanks

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