synflux | ( closed ) what sends them to this backwood

( that gets her a familiar scrunch of the nose in distaste, some obvious irritation over the scrutiny and affectionate (?) teasing. who're you callin' cute... )

Well you better start, 'cause I meant what I said.

( there's a worn bench nearby, and he takes a defiant seat, arms folded across his chest. like they're gonna do this here, and now, and then they'll never speak of it again. maybe. at this point it's become more of a challenge for him than a help for her, or at least it is in that noggin of his. )

[ very much affectionate teasing. but

here and now? in this place? malkuth glances around, hum unimpressed, before she studies him and steps closer, thinking of the similarities between herself and march, how she had thought about kaito's teasing as much as march had with izou's hand against her shoulder, and wonders if she could even sink back into that persona she'd had working at l corp.

well. no time like the present! it isn't quite the same, her encouragement despite the bad business being the main point of her apparent sadistic streak, but...

her hand comes to rest against izou's cheek, though only for now, and while malkuth's smile may be bright her eyes are a little less so; disappointed, maybe, or pitying. she knows he hates it. when she speaks, there's a sort of evenness to her tone, almost coaxing to keep his attention. ]

Back at my old place of work, I was the Sephirah of the Control Team. [ fingers ghost down his jawline, catch on the stubble of his cheek, before they come to gently cup his chin.

look at her. malkuth won't let him see anything else, leaning closer. ] If someone like you had been part of it...

[ a purposefully pinch of her fingers, voice dropping lower despite its friendliness. a whispered secret, just for them. ]

... I wouldn't have hesitated to kill you. Not because you'd given up, but because your single-mindedness would have gotten you killed anyway. [ a giggle. ] Honestly, I'm surprised it hasn't now. Does a man like you have anything but booze and blood rattling around in that thick skull of yours? Do you think it makes your life worth anything? A dog that only knows how to bite gets put down, Izou.

( izou certainly thought he'd steeled himself for this.

or maybe it's just that he was underestimating her a tad, when combined with his already stated repulsion to the sort of power play that might be involved in her latest undertaking.

in any case, izou handles the gentle cup of his chin like a champ, clinging to every scrap of dignity he has left with how he manages to keep his gaze level with hers through it, albeit narrow-eyed and with a flutter he can't help in his chest. the forceful movement gets a rise out of him briefly, and maybe she's actually about to say something that'll cause his cheeks to flush, much to his surprise—

but what follows next transforms that flutter into a pang, makes his stomach sink almost instantaneously. he doesn't even have time to reflect on it properly, and why should he? not when it's the truth. words that might've been savory in all their pain for someone else instead cut like a knife, taking him back briefly to those uncomfortable nights spent sitting seiza in the corner of a room, trying not to fidget as he wracked his brain for some way to be useful. any way to be useful, hands almost trembling as they gripped his knees.

here, his hands simply clench tighter to his arms, izou looking far younger than usual as he sits frozen in place. )

[ ... she hadn't wanted to be too harsh for a reason, but it seems even that's struck a chord. malkuth presses her lips together briefly, rubbing his with her thumb. ]

But you're still young. [ gentle, encouraging. ] I'm sure you're open to learning a few new tricks, aren't you?

[ it's not so bad, she'd told her employees. you've lost your arm, but you're still alive, aren't you? that means you're more capable than the person who lost their head!

such days are behind her, but they still have their apparent use. her other hand runs through his hair a little, nails scratching at his scalp. like he's a good boy for not snapping at her. ]

I did well at my job, Izou. I wouldn't have an issue handling a hellhound like you -- always getting the short end of the stick, when you deserved to be rewarded for your efforts. You'd take whatever I put you through like a champ, wouldn't you? Just [ a tap of her thumb ] like [ with every word ] now.

[ pressing a bit in between them, as if daring him to bite her and find out, daring him to be good and see what he gets. ]

H-Huh? I—

( but before he can stammer out more, a thumb is parting the thin crease of his lip ever so slightly. it's all part of the show, just some icing on the cake of malkuth's attempt to shock him into admitting some part of him is getting tangled up in the fantasy, and... well. it's the vague praise that has a shiver running up his spine more than the touch, the

and that's about when his temper begins to flare, where he reaches a hand up to swat malkuth's away. he's never been good, and he isn't about to start now. not when she's on the precipice of discovering something potentially revealing about him, in this SITUATION HE AGREED TO...

there's a dusting of pink high on his cheeks, the lingering sensation of essentially being patted like someone's pet making it so he can't form a proper sentence )

Alright. Enough of that crap already. I got an ample feel for yer talent.

[ her hand moves immediately and she plops down beside him on the bench, kicking her feet slightly. it seems like it was... okay, went wellish... but... ]

Well? What do you think?

[ assessment time...! like she hadn't on the verge of something more with him, though her cheeks are a little warm too. ]

I think... ( and he drops his hand as he leans back against the bench, unable to make eye contact—) whatever you were on in the second half, was better than the first.

But don't go tryin' to categorize me based on that. I already told ya I'm not into that stuff.

[ with a laugh: ]

I know, I know! Thanks for indulging me anyway, Izou, I liked the second half more too. I thought for sure you'd bite my head off, but you did really well with, well, not that.

[ ... and even if he might not appreciate it so much, or maybe overappreciate it, she'll bump her shoulder against him. ]

Are you okay?

( the bump... is strange.

or rather this whole afternoon has been strange, and personal, and izou has never been quite good at processing what he's feeling. his heart is still thumping in his chest a little as his brows furrow at the affectionate action, like a "what was that for?" )

Nothin' Okada Izou can't handle.

( "are you okay," ... like he's something fragile. ryouma used to ask the same, when he was the one on the verge of tears. and maybe izou was a little shaken momentarily there by some unfortunate memories, but he'll handle it like he did everything else.

by avoiding the thought of it. )

So. Who exactly are you tryin' to avoid catchin' on to this new venture of yours?

[ if you're sure, she wants to say, but she trusts him. if he says he's fine, he's fine... even if she knows how to say the same when she's not. malkuth thinks she's pressed too far today. he can have this. ]

I'd like it to stay a secret from everyone I know, really... not because I'm necessarily concerned about my image or anything, but-- I don't know, I guess it'd be weird. Don't you think?

[ ... well. she does. want to be open about her relationship, so... izou really a good place to start. ]

Though... some of the last people I'd want to find out might be my coworkers-- my friends, um, Yesod and Netzach. [ and despite the apparent awkwardness of naming them, there's nothing but affection in her voice. ] Have you met them? Nice guys, even if one's a little straitlaced and the other's way too apathetic. You'd get on with them well, I think. Honesty and compassion are their best traits.

( everyone... duly noted.

surely izou won't blab to anyone about this. SURELY... I MEAN, ... maybe. )

Nah. If I were you, I wouldn't tell no one. But Netzach? Sounds familiar. Ain't that a guy with long, girlish hair? Says he's made a' metal and all that?

( not that he's seen it himself and is just taking his word for it. )

He ain't half bad. Can really pound 'em back with the rest where I like to frequent.

[ please.................. she's trusting you, loose lips. ]

Yeah, that's him. We've worked together for a long time now... but it's not the same amount to him. LILITH brought him in from earlier than I am.

[ a wave of her hand. time stuff. ]

I can't stop him from drinking himself silly, but can you keep an eye on him? Alcohol really runs through him -- he mostly just dozes it off, easy way to numb off thoughts and all, but I still worry. He's serious about the metal stuff, by the way. Long story.

Only if I ain't too far-gone myself. Though I doubt he could ever drink me under the table.

( izou's usually the one that needs a lift home... and now that the conversation's calmed down a good bit, he glances up at the worn red of the gate. tries to recall exactly how it felt to last pass through it and who he was with, planting both hands on his knees.

but it's not that important of a memory, and izou dashes it away as he rises to his feet off the bench, stretching an arm out behind him. )

Anything else you wanna know 'bout this place, or are we good to go?

[ she doesn't know if he'll be able to answer it, but there's always more writing on the opposite page. malkuth remains seated, staring at her hands and then up at the gate in thought. ]

How was it for the other side? The people you paid.

[ no service comes without consequence, and it's important to remember every living being. to her, anyway. ]

How was it for them...

( he pauses mid-stretch. )

You better not be askin' me how well I performed. We ain't that close.

[ wh

her cheeks flare and she hits his back. ]

And we're never getting that close, Izou! I meant living conditions! I'm not naive enough to think that a pleasure district would've been someone's first choice for a job, at least not in my world it wouldn't be.

[ with all the love in her heart....... definitely a backstreet boy. ]

So? I don't think I have to worry about you treating them disrespectfully, since you're rude and uncouth but a nice guy, but were they treated well?

( ow?!

he follows-up that up with the disgruntled scowl of a scolded child, rubbing a hand along his back. that shit better not happen again. )

They had food and a place to stay. Some of 'em even had it better than me, I'd say, long as their rank was high. 'Specially the tayu—you'd better be out the way when they come down the street, petals bein' scattered everywhere.

( his mouth sets in a thin line. )

But yer right. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it none—most of those girls were sold into the role and had to put up with a buncha crap, I'm sure.

[ don't assume she wants to hear about your sex life and it won't. for different reasons than march, nothing izou could do would scare her.

but she'll stand now, brushing off her backside. ]

I figured as much. But food and a roof over their head is more than enough for some people, even if that's less "living" and more "surviving"... not that I would know much about it myself.

[ that much she can admit, even for the more middle class life she'd lived. not as bad off as lisa and enoch, but nowhere close to daniel. she fiddles with her camera. ]

Where to next?

Fair enough.

( he can't lie and say he gave it too much thought back then. the women there comforted him, listened to him—but at the end of the day, it was all a transaction, regardless of whether he bed them or not.

he gestures with a tilt of the head past the gate, at the winding street and its ancient, abandoned bicycles and homes. )

Down wherever. Can't say much of this place looks familiar past here. Maybe we'll spot something I remember before it starts to pour.

[ a glance up... it really does look it, huh.

but she'll take a picture of the road ahead first before starting off that way. ]

I haven't been caught in the rain before, so if we are I don't really mind! It'll be fun to experience at least once.

( closed ) what sends them to this backwood

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