synflux | [closed] april showers bring may showers

[ 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?

[ it's only natural to connect the two. it's how the city worked too -- the stronger you were, the more control you seemed to have over yourself, your circumstances, your fate... even if it wasn't true at all. she points her skewer at him. ]

Careful you don't tunnel yourself, Kaito. "Doing right" has its own set of consequences, and people won't always appreciate or understand it. Take it from someone who died under that banner.

[ but it's not scolding. it's not sharp, it's not anything put against the ideology he's so carefully displayed; it's simply a soft, gentle warning and reminder. malkuth wiggles the half-scorpion with a fond smile. ]

But you're not wrong for thinking that way. A lot of things come down to "am I strong enough to change?", just remember it isn't always a matter of power. Sometimes it's a matter of will and other times bonds. As long as you want to do right by the people around you, and you listen to them instead of assuming you know best -- my own mistake -- then I know you'll be fine. There's nothing naive about hope.

[ even if some might say there is. it's naive to assume everything will go your way, that the world will unfold just because you ask -- that things will change without you lifting a finger, or just because you'd like it to. ]

And you'll make people mad no matter what, so just make sure you're make the right people mad.

[ Kaito slows to a stop while she talks. They've wandered into the middle of an empty street. It's dark, save for the street lamps. Everything here is closed or permanently shut down.

Here, he listens, staring intently as Malkuth explains. It's a different kind of fixation, but not too different. She talks, he marvels.

And she has good things to say. He wasn't scolding earlier—his own way of showing his respect for her mindset. Now she's showing hers with a little wisdom. Their walks of life don't run very parallel, but many of their tendencies do.

In the pursuit of power, of doing what's "right," it's easy to lock yourself into an echo chamber of your own thoughts.

When she finishes, Kaito lifts a hand to her face—but instead of poking her cheek or maybe even holding it, he steals an auburn lock and carefully runs it between thumb and index. His gaze and smile soften, baring that familiar fondness. ]

I suppose I'd better apologize to you in advance, then, [ he remarks, snickering. ] Just in case.

[ malkuth giggles, shaking her head gently to not dislodge his hold. ]

Apologize to me when it happens, and only if you mean it. I won't hear you out otherwise.

[ in case there's something she can't forgive, or even accept an apology for. rare as it could be. it isn't impossible, after all -- but it certainly will be rare.

her hands are full. she shifts her skewer to her other hand with care, and rests the freed one on his. ]

... I don't want you to run away just because I might have stern words for you, Kaito. Promise you'll apologize as yourself, and don't leave it to one of your clones. We're playing on even ground then.

Ugh. Apologize in the moment? And without clones? And without feeling your emotions?

[ The pitch of Kaito's reply rises by the second, growing with his smile. He flips his hand to hold hers up to his cheek. Nuzzle nuzzle. ]

It's almost as if you want me to be normal... Scandalous.

But amenable. I'll never run away from a tongue lashing, anyway. Only before the opportunity to mess up can occur.

[ Self-awareness, huh. He sticks his tongue out. ]

[ and she's pinching his cheek for it too, tugging at it painlessly before patting his face instead. good kaito. she appreciates it. ]

Thank you for trusting me tonight, by the way. Don't think I haven't noticed -- you're really obvious when you read me, and you've... been listening to what I want to say and how I want to say it this time.

[ rather than her emotions, which are often volatile and require more than a moment to process -- for herself, much less anyone else around her. it means a lot. ]

Is it scary?

Bweeeeehhhhh. Don't make me bite you. [ Am empty threat. It might even be an invitation. He even plays at snapping his teeth towards her hand. dwbi

The admission and following question prompt a pause. A chuckle passes, sheepish. ]

Yeah, well. ...You're welcome. You're the only one who gets this treatment. [ 'You're the only one I trust to be this vulnerable around.' ]

[ Golds eventually focus. ]

Yes and no. The implications of turning off my sixth sense are... well, you know. Trust, and all that.

But in a literal sense, it feels like stuffing my brainspace with cotton. Or covering my eyes, or physically inhibiting one of my senses.

I'm still not used to it.

[closed] april showers bring may showers

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

minor cannibalism mention

[vine boom noise]

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)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)