synflux | [closed] april showers bring may showers

[ Kaito and his goose head nod in tandem. ]

Sound idea. And the best part is that we won't have to stick out carrying a bunch of bags.

[ Kaito squeezes Malkuth's hand. ]

...Let's look for other fun things before we check out, yeah?

[ what, like the snowglobes featuring everything from hotels in days gone by to scantily dressed women clothed in nothing but feathers?

yeah, she's toddling them over to look at the more building orientated ones. they light up... and play show tunes befitting the gilded age. there's also funny novelties like mugs that say "for earnings" and shirts that claim "came to vegas to win it all, left only with this shirt on my back", but

there's a lot of fun stuff. ]

I want to take it apart.

[ fun for her, stuff. ]

[ While Malkuth marvels over the other souvenirs, Kaito quietly slinks his way over to a slender cardboard box. Swift sneaking takes him to the counter, where he purchases the 'mystery item' and stuffs it into his Domain.

He returns just in time to catch her comment. Several large empty plastic bags flutter in his grasp. ]

All of it? No reason you can't grab one of everything that looks interesting.

I went to the front counter to purchase our goose hats. Shall we pack 'em up before continuing?

[ Rustle rustle. ]

The snowglobes, mostly... I want to see what makes them tick. Mostly since I'm trying to study mechanics a little more.

[ so like, literally what makes them tick.

but she'll turn her attention to the bags and grin, going back to the hats to slide an armful off the shelf. ]

Whatever I get is on me from hereon, okay? You can pay for these [ wiggles her armful ] but I am not letting you spoil me rotten.

[ even if. it's not a bad thought. ]

Your loss.

[ Kaito starts opening bags. She can grab and dump, that's fair enough since he bought the whole shelf out.

It only takes a few moments, and Kaito proceeds to sweep all the bags up and into the Domain in one fell swoop. It is fortunately late enough that they're the only ones inside save for the cashier who looks far too underpaid to pay attention to the oddity of nearly a dozen shopping bags vanishing over the course of seconds. ]

You should look for a music box too, if you're studying gearwork. Pretty sure I saw one at the register.

Where do you wanna go when we're done, by the way? Tired of walking yet?

[ a music box... she'll have to pick it up. along with the shirt, for izou. at least three snowglobes, a music box, the shirt... hmmm. the hat that says "babygirl" in rhinestone pink. yeah. this'll do. she'll figure out matching gifts for her and her coworkers at some point. ]

I feel like I could walk all night as long as I'm with you, honestly. Maybe we can grab some overpriced snacks and take the long way back? I'd love some popcorn.

[ Kaito makes a beeline for a plain black baseball cap with ツンデレ printed boldly on the front. This'll be good for Verg. A kaleidoscope catches his eye; he grabs two.

That'll do for tonight's shopping. Kaito slinks his way to the counter to reunite with Malkuth. ]

You're gonna make me blush again. [ The goose head nods. He still. Hasn't taken the cap off. ] I'm down for popcorn and drinks and taking it slow. Maybe a pizza, too...

I like making you blush, so that's really not discouraging me any! And it sounds like it'd be a good night in if we had movies to go to, but I don't think there's a theater that still shows things on a screen. Everything I've ever found was just in our implants.

[ fomo for something she's never experienced... malkuth makes sure to take one of the music boxes kaito had suggested, its gilded edges sparkling in the shop's light, before she pays and has a few bags of her own. ]

The selection hasn't been lacking, though! I've learned a lot through them.

[ which is

a totally flawless place to learn about the world!!!!!! ]

No?

[ Beaming, Kaito settles his scarred hand on her shoulder. Squeezes. Maybe that's the most forward he's been tonight. In sing-song, he adds: ]

Best mind the consequences, then.

[ Once they're done with their final purchases, he hooks Malkuth's arm and snags her hand again. While they make their way to the nearest snack shop, Kaito rubs the pad of his thumb in her palm, seemingly in an idling motion while his eyes scour the streets. ]

Maybe we can buy a television or something when we get back to base. Make our own theater room. Or... find one in Tokyo or Kyoto and see about restoring it?

[ Kaito sends a photo through the implant. It's of the hot springs area; there's a lot of lumber and cats laying on said lumber. ]

This project's been slow going. I plan on picking things up again when we get back.

[ the hand on her shoulder and the sing-song of his warning makes her laugh, and malkuth doesn't shy from his arm nor hand when it comes to clasp hers. it sort of reminds her of how she and march walk sometimes, though not half as entwined -- it's just the same sort of comfort, her head coming to lean on his arm as they walk. the goose head unfortunately pecks his cheek.

so this is him being comfortable around her? affection enabled, without worry? it's nice, it's the closest she's felt to him in a while, and it's a relief. the idle motion isn't anything weighty, isn't expectant, just nice. ]

If you'd like a hand, just say so! Even if it's just painting once you're all done. And honestly, restoring something sounds really fun... I feel like I could probably learn a lot from the way things were -- I did when I studied the costal buildings by the beaches Marmar and I helped clean, a whole different geographical history would be something else!

[ because there was a lot of history there -- history izou had lived himself, for what it had been worth, and she wouldn't want to turn it into something that was too far gone from his memory...

... even if a theater would be, she could at least style it to be a little older... hmmm. that'd be fun, she'd have to get his weigh in... ]

[ Maybe it's comfortable, maybe it's bravely trying to be comfortable. Either way, it's nice. Best not to think to hard about it—because the worry is still there, Kaito's just ignoring it for as long as he can. ]

I'll put out a wanted ad when we get back. With how much of Tokyo and Kyoto that are abandoned, I'm sure we can stake our claim to a building or two and make a project out of it...

[ The closest eatery is just a few shops down, and they're... rather robustly stocked. Pizza, burgers, popcorn, scorpion...

Kaito does a double take once he's finished his first read of the menu. A bead of sweat rolls down his temple. ]

I... think I'll pass on the Scorpion Meal. Just popcorn and a drink. What about you, Malkuth?

[ Scorpion isn't the strangest item on the menu, either. Lots of lizards and other reptiles are up for dining, and the only salad item features cactus leaves... ]

Scorpion. And a cactus salad.

[ immediate. ]

I don't know if I'll like either, but I can't not try it! It might become my go-to.

[ and it's new! novel! her favorite traits!!! ]

Unsurprising.

[ Kaito huffs a laugh before leading them to the register and making their order.

As it turned out, the scorpions came out on skewers, while the salad was chock full of spicy peppers, avocados, and the nopales themselves, cut in chunks. Both would be easy to eat on the go.

Kaito came out of the exchange with a tub of popcorn the size of his chest and a pitcher-like container of soda that could probably induce Type 2 diabetes on consumption. ]

...Ah, America. The portion sizes here remain ridiculous...

I think this is great! And for such a deal, too...

[ well. comparatively. malkuth studies her scorpions, taking pictures of it and her salad to send to march later. she'll hate this. ]

You wouldn't even get sizes like this in the Nests, I think... District 23, maybe, they're famed for their food. Unusual as some of them are.

[ Kaito gently taps her cheek with the back end of a chopstick. Wait, that didn't come with the food— ]

The look on your face is telling me 'unusual' might be putting it nicely.

[ And back on the street they go! ]

Tell me more about the food. What kinda weird stuff do they cook?

[ it sure didn't, and she sticks her tongue out at him as she holds up her salad. try some, she's gonna take a piece of scorpion and crunch it.

her face lights up, pleased with her choice. also to... stall on the answer a little, focusing on the world around them. ]

... They're always trying to elevate their cuisine, and have for ages. The most fervent of these were the Eight Chefs, but in general those that follow the culinary path in the Backstreets there have found that to excel further in their field, they have to use ingredients the normal mind wouldn't see as potential main dish material.

Like humans, for example. The more alive the better -- they found that certain um, proteins and stuff broke down after death and could change the flavor they were seeking.

[ Kaito sticks his tongue out in turn as his eyes flash blue. From behind Malkuth, a clone sweeps around, forks up a bite, and chomps. He makes a very pleased expression before returning to the dragon, who's munching on some more popcorn. ]

That's good. Tangy, a little sweet, and just the right amount of heat. [ Munch, munch.

His crunching comes to a slow pause as Malkuth explains a little further. Kaito makes a face as they walk. ]

Wow. I can't say I don't see the vision—I've eaten with many peoples who consume human meat. We cook many animals alive for our own dishes. But to dine on your own...

I hope that's not the future for me, hah.

[ maybe she should set him up for childrens' birthday parties. they'd think it's a neat trick too. ]

It won't be if you don't want it to be, Kaito. They aren't people who'll be missed -- in fact, I'm sure the longer someone's lived, the more "flavor" their life has had, the better the ingredient. All it takes is the right chef to bring it out.

[ munch... she is going to make scorpion her new go-to. her salad will be tasted when she's done. ]

I won't lie, I kinda wanna try it at least once! They're famous and infamous for their dishes, and I'm sure it tastes way different when done by a pro.

[ dwbi ]

But they're still people.

[ It's not sharp, but it's still an objection. Kaito munches on a few more chopfuls of popcorn before saying anything else. His eyes drift to the road. ]

I'm past the point of finding the mere thought of it disturbing, but I don't think I'm quite ready to take that kind of step in my culinary journey yet.

[ Munch, munch. He's ready to ask for more City tidbits, but Hibiki's question chooses an interesting time to float to the top of his thoughts.

A glance askance returns his gaze to Malkuth. ]

Do you ever think about why LILITH chose you?

[ they are. it isn't sharp, but it still feels like a scold to her; she hums softly and lets the topic go. they are people, and malkuth would ask their name and history -- the chefs keep all kinds of things on record, to best show off the flavor they were working with. she wouldn't forget. ]

Not really. It's pretty obvious to me why they might -- the kaiju aren't particularly different than the Abnormalities I've worked with and suppressed before, and I'm used to working within organizations like this too. If anything, I'm an ideal candidate...

[ it's something she came to acknowledge fairly soon into their first foray, and she tilts her head up at him. ]

Why? Have you?

[ Kaito's come up with a fairly similar assessment of the brunette, both from fighting alongside her and learning about her and her world.

He doesn't answer right away, opting to just eat, take a sip, and let his gaze flit between her and the sidewalk. It almost seems like he's lost in thought; he nearly walks into a bus stop.

But after twirling around the object, he ends up in front of Malkuth, walking backwards so he can face her. ]

No, then yes. A woman I met insisted that there has to be an underlying reason why each Outsider has was welected to fight for LILITH. I didn't believe her. I still don't.

For me, it doesn't matter. This isn't the first world I've been told to 'save'.

I just... Don't see why they'd choose me, personally.

... There was a woman we booked back in the Library called the Purple Tear. She was a Color just like Vergilius is, as you can tell by the name. She got it because she could tear time and space and "warp" where and when she pleased -- though in her book, she said it was more like she was traversing different spaces, different possibilities. Wherever she ended up, she ended up. But she doesn't seem like she's able to choose where she lands.

[ going by how the possibility she wants to reach is just out of reach... malkuth's heart aches for her, even if vergilius has a problem with her. even if she's caused trouble for the library in the future with vergilius and others. ]

I think it might just be like that for LILITH. It isn't that they're choosing people in particular, even if they claim that's the case... otherwise, there's no way they would have chosen Netzach and Yesod as they are, and they would've picked Gebura -- my coworker, who is way more used to fighting than me -- before I was a viable option. They're choosing worlds that have the highest chance of someone useful for their endeavors and whoever they manage to copy is who they get.

[ something like that, maybe. it makes sense to her. ]

So it isn't that you and I are special or chosen in particular, it's just that we were the ones who ended up working out.

[ Something about this Purple Tear strikes a chord with him. Her story sounds familiar, in a sense. There are two different types of warps that Kaito's beholden to. He can control one of them. The other inevitably throws him into worlds like these. Maybe LILITH didn't choose him all. Maybe it was 'that'. Or maybe LILITH found the 'client' operating that gate and had them send him here.

In the end, Kaito nods and takes another bite of popcorn. The giant bucket is tilted Malkuth's way to offer her some. ]

If I have to have a reason, that one wouldn't be bad. Makes more sense than actively choosing someone who hates killing.

[ A new tidbit. Or maybe not so new, if Verg's mentioned Kaito's merciful style of fighting people in conversation. ]

[ it's new. malkuth doesn't tend to bring up either of them in the company of the other, subconsciously as it is. but it isn't surprising to hear at the same time, and she takes some popcorn to chew on with a smile. it really does hit the spot... ]

Netzach hates it too. He always had, and... made some fairly unreasonable at the time demands of our Manager at L Corp. because of that. Unreasonable to the me at that point, because you can't protect everyone from dying.

[ particularly the weak or unwilling to do what they must. she doesn't say this though, lips pressing tight. ]

It's necessary. But that doesn't mean I like it -- I just understand that there's not a second option. If there is, it's one I can't accept... because if I have to kill someone to save a dozen other lives, then I will. That sort of thinking.

You can't. [ Kaito nods his agreement, leaning into her a little more firmly. ]

You can try, but it'll inevitably bring you to that conundrum. The one or the many?

[ A beat. Breaking for popcorn. ]

When I was younger, I always thought that I'd make my own third option. I craved power because I sought control. [ Golds flit to stare at her. ] I still do, even now, even when I fail to wrest control over hopeless situations.

I don't know what's objectively correct. But I don't think I want to be right anymore. I want to do right.

[ Lips quirk in a soft smile. Just a little tense. She's one of the only people in this world he feels comfortable enough exposing his ideology to.

More playfully, he asks: ]

It's only naive until I'm strong enough to dictate the terms, right?

[closed] april showers bring may showers

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minor cannibalism mention

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