Yes. The mixture includes licorice and chasteberry.
[So: medicinal while also minty, peppery, spice-like and lemony. Includes white waterlily and common rue as well. Each ingredient handled carefully because many can be poisonous (cause gastrointestinal distress) in the wrong doses.]
[ fortunately for... both of them, probably, he'll swallow anything, and isn't deterred by the possibility of getting poisoned. he'll be fiiiiine. when the elevator dings on the eighth floor, he steps out with the intention of following the room numbers... but once the doors open, the smell that comes through is strong. how's she not getting security or at least housekeeping called on her? ]
[The reason he wasn't called until mid afternoon is because she was dealing with house keeping. Having to play up the part of a well-ranked guest that just happens to have ~eccentricity~. Being weird is okay if you have enough status, after all. And while Rank 8 may not be nice enough to have a kitchen, she sure is high enough for a little hamming it up to pass.
By the time he arrives all the "cooking" will have been done anyway. The herbal medicine of anaphrodisiacs mixed with other ingredients in an attempt to make it potent but tolerable. People don't need it to taste like candy, but they at least need the tradeoff to be worth it. She'll wait for his knock at the door. Or text. She's done fiddling with her watch (she hates it) until he arrives.]
[ He arrives soon after that message. In front of her room the smell is definitely the strongest, a pungent odor that isn't really stomach-churning, just a bitterly herbal aroma of the sort that hangs in the air in any traditional medicine store. It's nothing that elicits even a pang of dread or regret as he knocks on her door, which she'll open to find him just as dressed down as in their first meeting. The man seemingly owns nothing but simple black shirts and athletic pants of slight variation.
Having been to the eighth floor already, he'll scan the room's set-up with slight interest. The most curious part of this is the difference in interior design; granted, Twice had a great deal more mess going on in general, but his decoration and furniture were nowhere near as elaborate. Is each room on the upper floors tailored to the inhabitant's taste? Well—maybe, maybe not. He can't imagine what Dabi wants out of his straight-up decadent Tens room.
Brief study concluded, he returns his gaze to Tohsaka and whatever she's concocted. He remains standing, or at most wanders over to whatever ingredients she's left out in the open, hands in his pockets, relaxed and casual. ]
[He'll find that while not in use her cauldron is tucked away in a corner in an attempt to have it take up less space. There is a set of seating furniture — a coffee table, a couch, and some chairs on the opposite side. Laid out on the table is one of the erotic pastries from Great Tit. A cock-shaped donut covered in delicate pink icing filled with vanilla-bourbon fluff which leaks a bit from the tip.
Beside that is a glass of water and a dose of powder. The color is a sickly green with unwelcoming flecks of indigo.]
You'll eat the aphrodisiac donut, and once you start feeling its influence you'll mix the powder with the drink and ingest that. You shouldn't take it right away, because we'll want to mimic the scenario of not being aware that you've been dosed before you take the medicine.
[Today Tohsaka is dressed plainly as well. A simple miniskirt, a buttoned blouse, and an apron. The apron is actually longer than her skirt, so sometimes it may look like she just has the apron and top on. Oh, and her signature thigh highs. Those are a must. Rin takes a seat near the coffee table. She'll want to monitor any side effects and determine whether the dose should be stronger or weaker.]
[ However she'd made the concoction, it seems she's already cleaned up from it. A bit of a shame, if only for his curiosity, but nevermind. He'll lean over the coffee table to see what she's prepared then, studying the gimmicky pastry and what he presumes is meant to be the dose of medicine. He doesn't have to wait long to have his suspicions confirmed on how this will go. Makes sense. ]
Got it.
[ Without waiting for further instructions, he leans down and takes the donut. While there's a quiet sigh, huffed through his nose, at the unfortunate shape (this place really has nothing else going for it, does it?), he doesn't complain; instead, he shoves it into his mouth without hesitation. It's rather... accurate to life, as much as a baked good can be, so the pastry is lengthy enough to squish up against his throat and cheeks in an explosion of cream and sugar. It's sweet, overly so all at once, but his expression is bland as he barely chews and rather swallows most of it intact.
He doesn't know nor really care if Tohsaka had chosen that particular confection for her own amusement, but she'd gotten some kind of show out of it, crude as it may have been. Well, Tomura doesn't really care about table manners either, as he licks the rest of the cream from around his lips. He's not sure he catches all of it—his mouth mostly feels like a sticky mess of sugar and dough, so although it isn't its intended purpose, he reaches for the glass of water to wash it down. Surely getting more water, out of all elements here, wouldn't be a problem. ]
So, now we wait, [ he says, once his tongue is less of a syrupy-sweet wasteland. His eyes turn to Tohsaka, finger jutted at the dish of powder. ] Should I put someone on standby? In case that doesn't work.
[Tohsaka is plenty caught off guard when Tomura downs that donut in one go. Making his cheeks puff out, smearing a mess of creamy white fluff against his lips, and... well... her eyes certainly are drawn to the way his neck muscles stretch and flex to accommodate swallowing the treat. A little color rises to her cheeks as she watches his tongue drag across his lips to clean them. A bit remains at the corner, and — well, the fact that she's a Clubs is of no surprise when a little daydream of him being covered in something less sweet than donut filling briefly pops into her head. Even without the suit, Rin has an overactive imagination.]
[—Ah. He speaks up, and she's pulled out of her thoughts. Thankfully (hopefully) before he notices anything. Rin stands, and swipes the glass so that she may fill it with water again. What's left isn't enough to dissolve the powder.]
Unless you have a problem with me taking care of it, then no. It's my work, so it should be my responsibility.
[Though Tohsaka is acutely aware she doesn't meet a variety of preferences simply by trying her luck around the resort, so she won't be offended if he accesses his watch and needs to call another.]
[ He's sharp in some ways, not so much in others. When the intent isn't downright hostile, he has a way of missing it, as he does with Tohsaka's momentary distraction. If she seems to take a split second to focus, it's quickly written off as she stands to refill the glass with water. In the meantime, he sets the pastry dish back on the coffee table and drops onto her couch, uninvited and making himself comfortable anyway.
Her answer, however—he can't say he had any specific expectations, one way or another, so it's not exactly a surprise. From their exchanges, it had been made clear to him that she isn't wholly opposed to working with the mechanics of the hotel, despite that honors student look and way of acting. Taking the "responsibility" of banging him, huh? That's a funny way of putting it. His own answer to her is an easy one: they're both opportunists, in this regard. ]
I don't. Guess I'll be in your care.
[ His tone is easy and unconcerned. If he would sleep with someone he hates, then he doesn't see why not with someone who has, from his perspective, been comparatively inoffensive. It's not like Tohsaka is hard on the eyes either, though his tastes aren't particularly reliant on looks. No, he's simply curious about her. His eyelids droop, narrowing his gaze as the corners of his mouth tug into a slight grin. ]
Even if it works, would you still want it? My card.
[Now that's an interesting question. Either way, she'd want the payout. After her little kerfuffle of trying scam people and it backfiring on herself... she's in desperate need of the money, and not willing to take chances gambling it at the casino. Tohsaka assumes that as far as the more lucid guests go, she only appeals to a small niche. Even if she wasn't an opportunist, she's not quite able to be picky. Yet there is something she'll want to know before agreeing.]
I suppose that depends, [she replies in a measured voice. Softer than her regular tone as Rin places the now-full glass of water upon returning.]
What's your rank and suit?
[While waiting for his reply she doesn't sit. Instead she stays leaned into his space after putting the glass down, and uses her thumb to swipe up the last bit of cream on his face. Rin brings it to her mouth, and sticks out her tongue to openly taste it while watching his eyes the entire time.
After all, if it works she can have some herself. If it doesn't? The little kick-start of arousal won't be unwelcome if she is to "take care of him".]
[ She'd offered to take responsibility if the anaphrodisiac went wrong, so it isn't his first instinct to assume appearances factor into her "depends." The tone she adopts, however, is calculating, and that makes him inquisitive. He waits—waits for her to divulge what she wants, or what she expects from a tryst between them. For starters, his card, as he offered— ]
Three of hearts.
[ He says it drily, wry grin not at all reaching his eyes. He doesn't even know if the suit designations mean anything at all, and yet he can't help but feel like it's some kind of bad, tasteless joke. A "heart" is the furthest thing he could be—any of the others would've been more appropriate, if only for their lack of common symbology. At least the designation has had no impact, as far as he can tell, and so it simply remains, a thoughtless symbol imprinted on his tongue.
His eyes flicker to follow Tohsaka's movement as she leans in. A diversion to the side that doesn't let him see anyway when her thumb presses against the skin just beneath his lips. She would find him rough, uncared for, but that's how it's always been with him; it doesn't even cross his mind to worry about it as his eyes follow that finger back to her mouth. He hadn't even noticed he'd missed a spot.
It's hard to say if it's just him or if it's the aphrodisiac when some warmth leaks back into his grin. He can't say he's found an opinion of Tohsaka that he's held steady: she seems talented, knowledgeable in the ways of magic (or at least she can talk like it—what does a normie know?), but definitely sometimes foolish and hotheaded in her dealings with her fellow guests at large. Is it something he can really criticize? Maybe, maybe not. It doesn't matter right now anyway, because all of that aside, here is something of hers Tomura can appreciate.
The daring. The certainty of knowing what she wants and the conviction to take it. Perhaps Tohsaka will turn out to be one of those people who's fun to challenge—but whether or not she wants it is all in her hands now. ]
[Boldly she drops herself down into the seat next to him. Close enough that their legs and arms brush. Especially so when she starts squirming about to undo her apron and toss it over the back of the couch.]
I wouldn't mind adding that to my deck, so consider yourself blessed to add this eight of clubs to yours.
[He's right on all accounts. No matter how careful she is, she's still more reckless than she'd like to admit. Most of her failings actually line up quite nicely with the Clubs suit, so unless it's especially heavy in its implimentation... she'd probably not recognize its influence as foreign. Self aware of her own faults but too proud to do much about them. Continually the subject of her own demise.
Either way, she reaches over into his space again. This time grabbing the powder and a stirring spoon so that she may show him how to create the medicine. She mixes it in two spoonfuls at a time. Careful not to add too much should the power clump and form a hydrophobic surface tension that would make it hard to properly mix.]
[ When she drops in, she comes in close. Despite everything that's happened in this place, from the sex to the rare moments of affection, having someone simply sit down next to him, close enough to touch, is still unusual. Before this resort, he may have found it weird and off-putting from someone he barely knows, but now it's perhaps more of a peculiarity. Not that he particularly prefers it even now, but at least he doesn't edge away from Tohsaka—or rather, only slightly as she wriggles the apron off of herself. ]
"Blessed," huh? [ he repeats back to her, eying her with a wry grin. ] I didn't think you were so selective.
[ Maybe he's teasing her... In the end, it's not like he thinks opportunism is a bad thing. It's the practical way to be, when dealing with this kind of game, and from the way she's talked he assumes she intends to win it.
Maybe he'll ask about that later. It could be beneficial to both of them if their goals aligned in that arena. For now, however, he watches as she reaches over him for medicine and begins to prepare it, a process which he mostly only half-registers. It definitely doesn't occur to him that paying attention is important, and that she's taking it slow for a reason; turns out he's the type who rarely takes medicine and more commonly has it forced down his throat by someone else. ]
[Tohsaka views the idea of personal space just another thing to be controlled. When she was still in school she had created this air about her — a notion of being untouchable. People gave her space, and that's exactly what she needed from them. If any common folk were to learn about magecraft it would be her responsibility to eliminate the threat that someone might reveal the truth. And so when someone takes the initiative and invades her space first, she views herself on the backfoot. However when she initiates, Rin finds herself bolder and more confident.
When the mixture is completely dissolved into the water she relaxes into the seat. Her shoulders and head resting against the back of the sofa and sinking into its cushion.]
Well, that's all done. When you start to feel it, take a drink. If your arousal doesn't dissipate I'll handle it.
Around fifteen minutes, right? I don't feel anything yet.
[ Even if there's any hint of heat, it's too subtle to pick up. Looks like they'll be in for a wait, so he might as well settle in. As comfortable as if the place were his own, he slouches into the couch, crossing an ankle over his knee, and throwing an arm casually over the back. While they might have to wait, there's no shortage of things to discuss, and he speaks to the first point on his mind: ]
And if it works, how long will the medicine effect take to go away?
[ Seems like he should know, if "trading cards" is on the table. ]
[Nothing yet? Hm, maybe he needs a kick-start? No, she can't risk ruining the test. So instead of reaching between his legs, like she had a brief inclination to, Rin simply stretches out like a cat getting comfortable before settling in to rest.]
Five minutes. I've added a bit of caffeine to the mix to encourage its circulation throughout the system so it could be as fast-acting as possible.
[This time she settles in more purposefully to be flush against him - side-to-side. Just short of leaning on him. Casually making herself more comfortable with his body as she may need to become intimately familiar with it later.]
Maybe if I had a more dedicated workshop I could test what specifically they're using as an aphrodisiac to create a neutralizing solution you take prior to a meal, or a more targeted anaphrodisiac. Though The House would probably find me in contempt.
[ If the caffeine is present only in the medicine, the aphrodisiac itself will take a bit longer to circulate. In that case, all they can do is wait, especially if they're not meant to interfere with its effects. ]
So it can kill the aphro effect and let someone get it up again within five? Naturally, I mean.
[ Not that he knows why anyone would take this just to deliberately get themselves horny again. The only reason he considers it at all is in the event they try perform the card swap soon after; most other customers probably wouldn't care at all unless the anaphrodisiac effect lasted some ridiculous length of time. And while he questions on the specifics of snuffing out libido, Tohsaka scoots in close and presses flush against him.
Even being here for several months, this is still territory he finds unfamiliar. Scratch even the idea of high school experimentation and cozying up against a crush; he's pretty sure the amount of non-negative physical contact he's had here vastly exceeds what he's had in his entire life before this. Against a girl he knows (barely), without sex factoring into the equation (yet)? Yeah, he doesn't really know how to respond to that, doesn't wrap an arm around her to invite her in, or settle a hand on her knee as a forward expression of interest. It would defeat the purpose anyway if it'll be interrupted when he takes the medicine, wouldn't it?
It's a logical train of thought in these types of situations that don't always welcome logic. As much as he doesn't push her away nor tense up against her, the vacillation, the questioning can probably be felt in the tilt of his head, the acknowledgment of her presence, but which isn't followed with any significant gesture. Though at least verbally, he replies. ]
If it does, it'd really be backing out of the gambling spirit, wouldn't it? Then again, the House doesn't always take action on the usual things you'd expect.
Well, I suppose that's true. I did hear ab— Oh! Oh, that reminds me!
[Perking up from her relaxed state, Rin animatedly pats his thigh a few times. Not to initiate anything. More as a gesture to get his attention. It seems like the more time she spends with him the more comfortable she is breaking away from her strict image of perfection.]
Next time we chat ask me about what powers this resort. I think I'm getting closer to the answer. After what J said to me and seeing those pods in the maintenance levels I am pretty sure I'm right!
[And look at her now. Puffing out her chest a bit like a proud bird who just finished preening and now looks their absolute best. It seems Tohsaka is quite confident in her hunch, and the level of boasting seems to imply that she didn't have to deviate far from her original assumption.]
[ The excited little pat to his thigh is unexpected, coming from someone who seems so often to favor detachment (or at least feigns at it). With the aphrodisiac making its way into his system, it's inevitable that his body reacts, an ember of arousal simmering away in the pit of his stomach. It doesn't seem like Tohsaka had intended it—really, in the moment she resembles nothing more than a girl excited to share her discoveries. That too is a bit unexpected, in a way that amuses him. She'd turned him down so firmly when he'd offered his company initially, but it seems at least part of that decision has flipped now. He doesn't intend to let the opportunity slip. ]
Why wait? [ Even with the inklings of it making itself known, the aphrodisiac isn't going to kick in sooner no matter the topic of conversation. So, wrily, he adds, ] We can talk business and see if that gets me horny any faster.
[ He has his own share of information as well, and he wouldn't be against trading it up if she decides to play. ]
[The idea that business talk could get someone aroused seems silly, but the thought of making things move along fast does spark a small bit of excitement in her. The hand that had patted his thigh gives a brief squeeze before she shifts in place. Tohsaka will place her hands on his shoulders before swinging her leg around. Properly straddling his lap like mounting the back of a horse.]
Because I don't have confirmation yet, but I'm fairly sure I'll get proof soon. You see... it has a lot to do with the things I was talking about with J when you first reached out to me. There were pods in the maintenance levels, and maybe before our time people were kept in them like batteries. Like that one movie about a simulated universe created so robots could harvest humans.
[She won't actually name drop "The Matrix," but she comes from 2004. Even if she hadn't seen the movie herself she heard about it.]
[ She surprises him again when she takes that half-facetious suggestion to heart. Given their whole experiment, he would've thought they'd let the aphrodisiac do all of the work, but he's not exactly going to complain about it when she throws a leg over his thighs. Especially not when the aphrodisiac is too doing its work. And since this is as clear an invitation as any, short of verbal permission, he follows his inclinations, raising his right hand to the edge of her stockings, a couple of his fingers resting on skin, the rest pressing into silky cloth. For now, his other arm remains draped over the back of the couch, and his eyes on her. They only briefly swing away as he tries to recall any such movie. ]
Maybe I know a movie like that. It's old though.
[ Says a guy who comes from at least a couple hundred years past the 2000s. Then, back on topic, his gaze finds her face again. ]
You said magic is... like an energy or a life force. So the resort uses that to power itself? It takes energy and turns it into... all the stuff that sustains this place?
[ The water, the electricity, the shit that's holding back his Quirk, and the shit that makes repairs whenever he feels like putting a hole through the wall. ]
[With Rin raised up on her knees she gently towers over him. A few locks of her hair falling forward over her shoulder as a hand lifts from Tomura to push away a few locks of messy hair from his face. He's not exactly pretty, but it makes him more acceptable in Rin's eyes. She doesn't deserve anything soft or lovely. No, he's fine just the way he is.]
That energy is probably being funneled first to whatever gathered us here, and only a portion allotted to our "cage". There must be some gain that our captors get out of it. Otherwise there would be no point to keeping us here.
[A thumb is brushed gently over Tomura's lip. Any normal girl might develop callouses and rough hands from the way she devours books or flies through pages of notebooks to keep focus. Not Rin, though. She allows no evidence of her toiling or hobbies to leave their mark on her body (well, aside from the rune she placed on herself). He'll find her in steep contrast to himself: soft and unblemished. By design.]
[ He finds it to be a strange gesture, her fingers brushing the hair out of his face. It's one of those affectionate things that's weird coming from her, and he isn't sure why she would want to see more, anyway. At most, it brings his eyes out from shadow, red and bright, ringed by the weathered, irritated skin that has plagued him since childhood. It's not much to look at—or maybe it's too much. Whether there's criticism or approval in her mind, however, he cares not a lick—if he cared at all about the opinions of others, he never would've done anything he has. He doesn't linger on it. ]
There are enough possibilities that guessing's pretty much a shot in the dark. [ Off the top of his head, he can already name a number of possible pop cultural references, ranging from "this is actually a fucked up reality TV show" to "we need your life force to survive." ] And you also haveo to consider the irrational explanations, like "this is just tradition" or whatever.
[ He finishes his words on an exhale. The aphrodisiac and her actions are getting to him. The feeling of her thumb over his lips is soft and smooth, in contrast to his own skin, cracked and uncared for, thickened around the slash of a vertical scar. Does he enjoy the feeling? Uncertain, but the aphrodisiac doesn't care much about that; it's unquestionably taken by the weight and warmth of another body hovering close to his, by skin contact, building every second. In another few minutes, it'll be more than just an insistent nudge at the corner of his attention, but not quite yet. He'll push a little longer, put Tohsaka's medicine to a real challenge. ]
Almost every tradition had a practical element to them when they started. Both explanations could be true.
[Rin's self-loathing nature makes his haggard appearance all that more appealing. The scar on Tomura's lip catches her attention so thoroughly that before Tohsaka has a chance to think better of it, she kisses him there. Taking his lips in a lopsided embrace as she yearns to take it all his roughness and imperfections and draw them against her. Like accepting a punishment or self inflicting karma that is past its due.
It's brief, however. Because she can't shut up, or because she doesn't want to be tempted to use him like a weapon against herself when there is a specific goal in mind for this encounter? Either option could be the truth.]
What do you like? As your host I'm feeling... generous with my hospitality, should you need it.
[More like she'd rather show off and please her partner than focus on her own desires.]
[ He won't argue with that, though he finds the practicality of some traditions to be flimsy, at best, and worse than useless, at worst. Still, he's nowhere near close enough to "the truth" of the Golden Peacock to retort with any substantial argument, so it's easier to let the doubt roll off his back. For the most part. What he can't restrain is a quiet exhale—almost a scoff, if he were any more forceful with it. It's hard enough to believe that a hotel suffering from terminal cumbrain offers enough value to the multiverse that anyone would bother to sustain it.
But even if he'd wanted to say anything, perhaps it would've been cut short. They're this far now—it's not like her intentions are subtle, and any refusal he could mount has been nonexistent. Then it's no shock that she leans in and presses a kiss to his lips, over the vertical scar that runs across them, quick and chaste, too brief for him to think about responding before she pulls away. There's amusement when he huffs, the corner of his lips quirked into a smirk. ]
I thought I was supposed to be testing your drug. The experiment isn't gonna hold up if you interfere.
[ He wouldn't have a problem pitching her off his lap if he were so committed to the integrity of the test, but verbal is as far as his opposition gets. At least it can't be questioned that the aphrodisiac is doing its job. ]
[As if seeking to answer her own question, Rin rolls her hips against him. Purposefully indulging in the friction between them as she drags herself against the evidence of his interest. However she quickly dismounts. Pulling herself off his lap and settling beside him once more to make sure the 'medicine' is completely prepared for him to take.
It's a shame to have to retreat, but even if her heart beats a little faster she knows they've already agreed to swap. The thrill she seeks is sure to come in time.]
[ For her efforts, Tohsaka earns a deep inhale pulled through his nose. It's not at the point of painful, but it's uncomfortable nevertheless, the quick pressure against his groin before she pulls off completely, leaving him now cold and weightless. Mostly, it's just annoying, and the twist in his lips conveys it; expected as this outcome was, given their little experiment, he remains liable to getting huffy at an instance of teasing.
But ultimately, he's agreed to come for a specific purpose, so he doesn't fight it. He scoots forward on the couch and leans in, taking the glass between four fingers, pinky lifted yet again. For as fussy as the gesture seems, he doesn't flinch at the murky appearance of the mixture; he swirls it around once, twice, then raises it to his lips and throws it back as though it were a beer he was meant to chug.
The medicine is bitter. The taste of it is harsh going down his tongue, so in that sense, probably better to have it done quickly. His throat bobs with the large gulps he takes, draining the glass clean within a couple of swallows. When it clatters back onto the coffee table, there's only a thin rim of powder left coating the bottom edge. Though Tomura doesn't complain verbally, he sticks his tongue out as a signal of distaste. He's mostly forgotten about the print of a heart now stamped onto it, just red enough to stand out against the flesh; currently, he's just more concerned that his mouth feels gritty. ]
[It makes her stomach flip, knowing that even just seeing his tongue at this point is getting her pulse to quicken. Frustrated at how susceptible she is, but unable to fight it. After all, that's the point. Isn't it? She purposefully took some of that airy frosting off his face so she'd be ready. But it was only a little bit, so why is she so captivated by his tongue?
Maybe it's the way his suit mark catches her eye, or the soft pink contrasting against the rough features of his face? Rin's hands rest on her lap, and her fingers curl and grip at the fabric of her skirt to keep herself from ruining the illusion of patience.]
Perhaps... I should grind the powder finer next time.
[ Truthfully, to be interacting neutrally with so many new people, forced to make connections, is a relative oddity to him. His upbringing with All For One had been secluded, the pawns turned over to his hands relegated firmly behind the lines of division and hierarchy (at least as much of a hierarchy as an unleashed mob could be said to have). His steadiest companions—the ones that lasted more than a month or so—were only a handful. Used to fleeting connections, or ones that have already grown familiar, he doesn't have the habit of observing people too closely. Rin could be glad that her observation and her tension go unnoticed. ]
It's fine.
[ He says this, but his nose wrinkles. He takes the glass and reaches for the water jug for a refill. ]
It's medicine.
[ It's supposed to be unpleasant. And even if it weren't, the pleasantry wouldn't change the effectiveness, the intended purpose of the drug. They weren't children anymore, needing the bitterness to be tempered by the syrupy sweet; they couldn't expect for every hardship to be cushioned, couldn't expect to get far in life by taking a smooth path. If the medicine works just as well in its current form, why go out of the way?
If it works. He washes down the remaining grit in his mouth, then slouches back on the couch to wait. ]
[Will she be able to last that long? Even if Tomura isn't "conventionally" attractive, she still finds herself drawn to him. Hungry for his warmth, and dying to explore his skin. It may be rough, riddled with scar tissue, and some parts may look worn like untreated leather. Yet he still appeals to her. Tomura reminds her of a large predator — strong muscle and probably the intent to back it up, but lazy. Unmoved and unbothered by anyone who isn't a current meal or threat to his territory.
It makes a small girl like her want to push him down and keep him that way. Carefully underneath her thumb like a collared beast. It would be a false sense of triumph and security to be sure, but it would satiate her need.]
A minute, [ he repeats. Sure, not that painful. He rolls his head, then sits back to wait, arms crossed, one leg thrown over the other. His eyes close, and he doesn't say anything, instead attentive to the functions of his body, waiting for a sign that the anaphrodisiac is taking effect. The baseline seems the same as his condition before he ingested the medicine: he feels warmer than usual, and certain parts of his body feel hypersensitive, like they're simply waiting for a touch.
He gives it maybe two minutes before he speaks up. ]
Am I supposed to feel it working by now?
[ His tone comes out tight and gruff, and his posture—initially patient and waiting—reflects the new attitude. While he hasn't changed the way he's sitting at all, his fists are now clenched and a tension runs through his legs—wholly unlike someone who's found relief in her cure. ]
Ideally, [she responds as a defeated sigh that falls from her lips.]
Better luck next time, I guess. I should make it more potent.
[Tohsaka reaches out to him. Her soft hand resting on one of his balled fists. Her fingers brush against the lines of his knuckles and feel at the tension he holds in himself. She'll make the first move, she'll start advancing. This is her responsibility, and it would be cruel of Rin to make him stew in it any longer than necessary.
After all, she's warm too. Her blood running hot in her veins as she dares not take her eyes off him. Blue gaze fixes on the way his body is tight. Strong with defined muscle and visible strength. She wants to feel it, too — that strength. To know what she's up against and to contemplate the ways she might subdue him should they ever disagree on something worth applying strength over.
Would most conventional girls cringe at him and shy away? Probably, but she's intrigued. Like a cat whose curiosity gets the best of them.]
Do you want a kiss, or would you rather I speed this up?
[ That most "conventional girls" would shy away from him is something he suspects, and he chalks it up to that for why he lacks cards from women. Whether it's a true or false assumption doesn't concern him much—while he doesn't often reject advances, he doesn't involve himself on the side of seduction and courtship, finding only distaste in the ritual of trying to make oneself appealing to others. If they happened to be the right people to play the game, then the time might eventually come around—like now.
He registers the brush of her fingers against his hands, though he doesn't unfurl to receive her just yet. The repression of arousal leaves him tensed and avoidant, his attention devoted to restraint like the dams holding back a flood. He sucks in a breath through his nose. ]
You didn't do it on purpose, did ya?
[ He sounds neutral, if gruff in his distraction: it might be half a joke, half suspicion. Maybe Tohsaka would be the type to try something like that, but even if it were intentional, he wouldn't find himself overly bothered. Such is life in the Golden Peacock, playing their hedonist game. And since the answer doesn't truly matter, he finally moves, a twist of his wrists ending with hers held firmly in his grasp. His index remains lifted on his right hand—the side which still has that finger—as though in habit, despite the casual certainty in his strength. ]
Get on with it, then.
[ There's a strain to the thin curl of his lips—the challenge it should bear wavers, thanks to the sense of urgency. No qualms with letting his partner lead, as long as the stakes aren't high. Perhaps it might telegraph reservation and modesty in some, but for him, Tohsaka's earlier read would be correct—the kind of nonchalance yielded by a particular mix of laziness and unwavering self-assurance. ]
I think if I wanted to just sleep with you, I probably could have found an easier way.
[Tohsaka knows she's not ugly. Her petite body has its assets even if she's a bit of a disappointment up top. Her image wasn't crafted for a place like this — instead she grew up modest and alluring. Something ideal and up on a pedestal without being too raunchy or base. She was desirable in the way one might want to covet a jewel rather than lusted after like one might crave an unhealthy food. She's quite certain if he's willing then she could have just asked.
Only on her end she cannot just ask. Everything must be a game or a challenge or some kind of transaction. The trade of one thing for another. In a contest of mental gymnastics, Rin would probably be considered an Olympian.]
You know, that's an awfully accusatory thing to say to someone who finds it easy to work with you.
[Hell, maybe in time she'll be able to say she enjoys working with him. As is, he has her wrist firmly in the grip of his hand. It makes Rin uses her free one to hold his cheek and guide his face. Angling him in a way she can easily lean in and press a kiss just off from his lips. The small beauty mark just above his jaw serves as a target of her physical advance so she can slowly pepper her way to the corner of Shigaraki's mouth.
Meanwhile her free hand falls from his face (because she's allowing him to keep the wrist he had claimed) and Rin reaches down to his waistband. Gentle fingers exploring what obstacles she may have to tackle before they're able to free him from the tension straining Tomura's muscles.]
[ "Easier," huh? It's highly possible. Not that Tomura is particularly easy pickings, but sex here is nothing more than a transaction, a card swap, one more tic mark for a ticket home. Perhaps they're alike, in that sense: a willing party is a willing party. Do taste and preference even really matter, in a place like this? There's no point in denying it, when he's agreed to play the resort's game their way—for now. ]
Just checking—
[ His mild response to her offense, not that it seems very deep-seated at all. He wouldn't have particularly cared, in any case; call it a fucked up sense of adaptation, but getting dosed feels par of the course for life here, regardless of how it might be taken elsewhere. The result is the same anyway: that familiar pull of arousal, drawing him toward the warm body leaning in, cascading perfumed fragrance.
Though she hadn't asked for it, she kisses him anyway. Surprising. In contrast to her smooth, fair skin, she would find his lips scarred and chapped—not that it's ever stopped him before, nor certain partners of his. He simply wouldn't have expected it to come from the lady of the house. Still somewhat at a loss (and no doubt making some assumptions as to how a woman would prefer to fuck), he lets her take the lead, to take the kiss as far as she wants. It's soft, a little tentative for his preference in this state, the impatience simmering below his skin finding the touch at his waistband more welcome. In turn, Tohsaka would find little impediment in her way, just a simple pair of drawstring sweatpants and plain briefs beneath that. He'll release her wrist to make it easier on her, and his hands will instead find purchase on her hips—not yet pulling, but the grip of his fingers firm and tense, the one current point of contact where he can externalize some of the building pressure within his body. ]
[The silent intensity in how he grips her is not lost in Rin. The way his fingers curl into the fabric and through it her flesh — he's strained. Holding back and eager for something more, even if his voice and expression don't quite match the building need his body presents.
Rin bites at his bottom lip — rolls the chapped skin between her teeth before taking him suddenly. Locked briefly, passionately, as she swipes a taste and small moment of stolen time exploring his mouth. After that sudden confirmation of her own interest, Rin pulls away. Just enough so that her hands can ease away his bottoms to leave him bare assed on her couch. Just enough so that she can shed any remaining clothes on herself other than the miniskirt fluttering about the tops of her thighs.]
Just relax. I said I'd take care of it.
[Before advancing any further her eyes fall to his lap. Gauging how ready he is, because Tohsaka already knows she can probably "get right to it" with just a little bit more effort. The heat and yearning pool in her gut just aching to be quenched. Meanwhile she shifts her weight — preparing herself to mount him properly soon.]
[ Being taken in for a proper kiss isn't what he expected, but it's no unpleasant surprise: the sudden nip of her teeth, the heat of her lips and tongue. It lasts only for a brief moment, a passionate flare, before she withdraws, denying him the opportunity to properly respond. It takes considerable willpower not to pursue her, though the temptation is at least tempered by a sense of pride and an uncertainty in the preferred approach to engage her. It helps that the distance is clearly necessary and calculated, as Tohsaka strips out of her clothing, leaving only the skirt. Drawn by curiosity and arousal, Tomura's eyes trace the contours of skin and muscle exposed: the modest swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist, softer and more delicate than any other form he's held thus far, but plenty enticing in its own respect.
He exhales harshly through his nose, before raising his hips and assisting her in getting his pants off. Then he's left with his bottom half bare, uncovering a dusting of white hair and his erection, hard and ready, already spurred to full interest with the aid of the aphrodisiac coursing through his veins. Again, with some willpower, he sinks back into the couch, legs spread, unashamed of his exposure. He'll keep his hands to himself for now, while he waits to see what she has planned, letting one arm fall over the chair back while the other drops to his side. It's only his eyes that don't rest, as they rake over her body and follow her movements, before finally landing on her face. ]
Then show me.
[ It's a command, to match her own suggestions. Tomura's not the type to beg, so the impatience manifests as challenge instead, to goad her on rather than to ask her for release. ]
[The command encourages her advance. She's eager and ready to draw him to completion, and while she doesn't thing she can promise anything special or memorable... Rin is certain she can at least "do the job". One hand rests on his shoulder for balancce while the other wraps around the shaft of his cock. Soft hands feeling the heat of Tomura's interest as she holds him steady to lower herself. Rin's hiked up skirt doesn't give him much to watch — leaving plenty to surprise and imagination until his tip brushes against the soft, hairless skin of her slit.
Hair traps scent, after all, as so she always makes certain she's as smooth as possible. He'll feel the way she changes the angle of her hips so that his tip glides along her folds. Picking up the slick fluid that serves as evidence of her own arousal. After giving him a few passes, Rin aims Tomura's erection at her core, and begins to lower herself down so that he sinks into her.]
Just don't expect anything too special.
[It takes her a few moments to adjust having him inside her, but after the walls of her cunt relax around his dick Rin begins to ride him. The hand that kept his cock steady now takes hold of his other shoulder as she uses the strength in her legs and abs to find herself a steady rhythm. Rin expects nothing of him — but not as an insult! The failure of her mixture is not a burden he should have to bear, so Rin intends to let him luxuriate.]
Unless you're the kind of guy who likes to make requests?
[If not, well... she'll make sure to explore him a little more once she finds a solid pace.]
[ It might all be going a bit quick, but the aphrodisiac has sped things up quite a bit on his end. He's hard and flushed already, reactive to touch, a wave of tension traveling through his legs and hips as her fingers wrap around his length. He doesn't quite move into her grasp—but the thought, the temptation, is there. Instead, he releases an impatient breath, his jaw clenching—and then his hands do too, curling into fists as she guides him beneath her and presses him into her hot folds.
She's wet, the slickness easing the glide of his tip against her slit, setting his already-sensitive nerves alight. With a breath hissed through clenched teeth, his hands come up to her once more, slipping under her skirt and gripping her thighs; she'll feel the strange points of his two remaining digits on his maimed left hand, but even his uninjured right grasps at her with only four fingers, the middle having been lifted away out of long-impressed habit. There's enough bruising force between them, nevertheless, and the bite of his nails, almost-but-not-quite dragging her down as she sinks over his cock, enveloping him in wet heat that makes his blood hum.
He doesn't rush her while she presumably adjusts (do girls need that?), but his hips shift again, restless and impatient. It's more so because he doesn't know what to expect that he makes no moves of his own—between his inexperience with women and being on this end of the act, it's not so easy to predict what to actually do to get the most out of this position. What doesn't currently really factor in is his partner's enjoyment of the act; unfortunately, he just isn't yet at the point of caring very much how this experience plays out for Rin.
So, even if she asks that, there isn't a good reply for him to give. Just a huffed breath in amusement, before her movements cue him to the option of pushing a little more. His grip on her thighs tightens briefly as he rolls his hips into her momentum; though this may be a relative unknown to him, the instinctual desire to chase a pace that's harder and rougher isn't lost on him, further incited by the aphro coursing through his body. The steady rhythm she builds only lasts for a bit; once he's settled with the knowledge that Tohsaka isn't voicing any complaints, that the glide of his length against her walls meets with no resistance, his hands slip up to grip her ass and anchor her position before he pistons his hips into hers, setting a brutal pace for (he hopes) a much quicker payoff. ]
text ↪ torontonian (backdated a wee bit idk what is time)
it was the horny maiden portrait. the other dude u were with that broke the elevator, i ran into him later and got the story out of him. next time i took an elevator i razzed her abt it and she got me too.
（ that's... a reasonably truthful approximation of what happened, actually. ）
i feel like i need to be very, very clear when i say: for legal purposes that was a joke
please do not try to set the portrait on fire im p sure ppl with less restraint and more firepower than me would've tried already w/what is clearly no luck
i mean, if some random 'npc if u bought 'em on wish' motherfucker can cause that much ruckus... kinda makes sense why there's a bunch of ppl who've been trapped here for an indefinite amount of time.
either that or we get brainwashed directly proportionate to how many hot beef injections we get ourselves while we're here
i'd say smth crude abt pussy too but there's like 2 adult women here that i've seen so im like, fuck if i know man, guess i'm dudes only by design now???
see: but it'd be easier to do that bc then i just wouldn't make a point of remembering who tf you are and eventually that'd just (yeet) outta my brain.
it's more useful to have connections in this place, esp if last time's bs is gonna be a repeating theme
but let me make it clear I don't want to get to know you or you get to know me I don't want """"friendly checkins"""" I don't give a fuck about whatever it is you're trying to do we can play the game or whatever but stay out of my life
（ god he feels every one of those long, impossible years just about now. but there's a time to push, and there's a time to concede, so tomura just gets what is, perhaps, the shortest text reply he's ever sent in his godfucked life — ）
Hello there! ✨👋☺️✨ It's @ eve from that network post! I have a few things I'd like to discuss.
First off, you were right. About the owner of the Red Cardinal, that is. It's the very same woman from that diary entry. I asked what she meant by that thing she said to Victoria, but she wasn't willing to answer because she doesn't know me yet, so now we're in the "getting to know each other" stage.
She also gave me a quest, but thankfully it wasn't a "go fetch me a tree trunk made of a real gold!" type of deal. All she asked for was memories!
Basically, I have to ask 3 people to go into detail about some memory from their past, and then report everything back to her. Simple, right? And since it is simple, I was thinking you could help!
I'll tell you whatever she says afterwards, of course. It's the least I could do, since you're the one who pointed me to her in the first place.
[ Ah... He hadn't thought it would go so smoothly. As he'd said, referencing the Red Cardinal had been nothing more than a guess, based off a description that could probably fit any number of the bars littered across the hotel, not to mention his hopes for Tomoe's success were—exceedingly cautious. With this task though, it can't be said that they've met with a resounding success, just that his guess had paid off somewhat.
As it is... Tomoe says this is simple, but—what kind of memory can Tomura even share, here? No way is he going to discuss the villain world with the resort's resident self-absorbed shiny idol, not to mention something like that has the potential to become much too identifiable. Maybe he could share something from his civilian past, but those memories are distant and sketchy. He could elect to share nothing at all, but that would probably come off a bit suspect, or he could even lie. It could be risky though. ]
did she say anything about the length or amount of detail? i don't have a habit of telling detailed stories.
Nope! Just "a memory of their past in detail." And she didn't say anything about whether it had to be a good memory, a bad memory, a childhood memory or what-have-you, either. So I guess anything goes, more or less.
I'd just try to choose something interesting, rather than something utterly mundane. So no "The time I ate meat skewers" or "The time I was late to school" or something like that. Then she might just get bored and ask me to redo it!
[ It feels like a tall task, though in no short part from the limitations he'd placed on himself, rather than the actual letter of the instruction. Again he considers lying, making something up, but again he considers that it might backfire on him (or both of them) if the proprietress has a way to tell. What does he say, then? What can he recount that would neither reveal himself nor be "utterly mundane"? ]
[ It takes some time before he makes a decision, and then he spends some more time typing and retyping the message. ]
my father was pretty strict when i was growing up. there are cops where you come from, right? or some kind of law enforcement? that's the kind of job i wanted to do as a kid, and my father hated it. i'd get scolded whenever i talked about it, or he'd send me out of the house. stuff like that. i didn't really get it when i was that age, why the things i wanted were so wrong and why he was always unhappy with me.
the first time i figured there might be something more to the story was when my sister snuck us into his study. she said she had something to show me. in my father's desk drawer, at the very bottom, there was a photo. it was some woman and a kid i had never met. the way i remember it, they were almost hugging, and they looked happy, but what really caught my attention was that she was in uniform.
according to my sister, that was our grandma, so the kid must've been our father. i guess that should've raised more questions, but back then i was just ecstatic that my grandma had done the same thing i wanted to do. if she did it, it felt like there was hope for me too. my sister said she'd support me, and that's probably why she wanted to show me the picture. it was going to be some kind of secret pact between us to pursue our dreams.
thanks to her, that was the first time i learned anything about our grandma. my father never talked about her or about his childhood, so i had a lot of pieces to put together from then on.
[ That's... enough, right? It's short, but she hadn't imposed a length, and it has all the plot twists and mystery that people love within one small snapshot of his life. He can even end it on a good note. ]
[Well, there's the detail he asked for (or the proprietress asked for, rather). It takes him a minute to read and process all that. The image he conjures in his head of a little boy tiptoeing into his father's study may not be very accurate; he's never met the sender in-person before. One thing's for sure, though: most everyone here had a more difficult childhood than he did.
He's curious to know what came next in the tale. But for a couple of reasons, he doesn't ask. One, the quest specified a "memory," not a life story. And two, he doesn't know this person! Which means he probably shouldn't nose into things.]
Thanks. That should be enough detail.
I said I don't know what she's looking for, but if I had to guess, I assume she's trying to find out what people consider important. A memory could be anything, but most of us would choose something we found significant. "What kind of lives did the 'guests' here lead? What were their formative experiences? And what did they consider precious enough to remember years after the fact?" Those are probably the things she's wondering.
Though that *is* just a guess.
Anyway, that should cover it. I'll leave you alone and report back later. But before I go, mind giving me a name? Otherwise I'll have to say "The Network user whose username is P-Zero-Nine told me this!" and that'll sound clunky. If you're shy, you can give me a nickname or an alias!
[ He'd thought there might be the possibility of follow-up questions and had prepared for it, answers of which some might be vague or dismissive or coy. Turns out he doesn't need to say anything at all, because Tomoe doesn't push it. It's more than he expected from someone boldly announcing how they're a shining light or whatever.
As for the rest, he lets the theories simmer for now—neither of them have anything much better than a guess. ]
it stands for player 9.
[ That's good enough for a name, right? Tomoe might even happen to find the same alias on a couple high score screens in the arcade, tell-tale of his mystery interlocutor's interests. ]
You're not the same "Player" that one girl's been looking for unsuccessfully, are you?
[Monika. He means Monika. But anyway,]
That's good enough, I guess. If her goal is just to learn more about us, then your choice of alias ought to tell her something. "Some people here like games, and they consider themselves 'players'!" That's another interesting fact she can add to her collection 😊
I have one more to gather after this. That one I'll get from my partner, so it shouldn't take too long. The most time-consuming part is eating her dishes for the rest of the month, since she asked me to do that too! But by the end, I should have some info to share. And then we'll hopefully be 1 step closer to getting home to our families and careers.
[That's the closest he'll come to referencing Tomura's memory.]
no. from the sounds of it, she's looking for a "player one," isn't she? regardless, i've never heard of the game she keeps talking about.
[ He's fine revealing this much; after all, this is the account he'd used to talk to Monika when she first appeared on the network. ]
now that just sounds like she wants someone to appreciate her hard work. guess the task could be worse. at least the food there is usually safe. i hope this info turns out to be as useful as you think it'll be.
I'm not sure anyone has, from the sound of it. Which points to one of two things: the game's really obscure, or else it doesn't exist!
[Aka she made the whole thing up. Though he is aware that different worlds have different famous figures, famous scriptures, different media and so on.
But enough about Monika.]
Yep! She seems like the no-nonsense sort who doesn't want people fooling around in her bar. Which is a breath of fresh air if you ask me. All the food I've had there has been perfectly nice - nothing gourmet, but they do listen to special requests, even if you're not a "royalty card."
And I do think her quest could've been worse. Rather than some long-lost treasure or impossible feat, she simply asked for memories. Which might suggest she's more interested in people rather than things. That's something we have in common. Though I do like shopping for pretty things, too, of course! 😊🛍️
[ This truly is so many words. For the most part he's very #okay about this all (did anyone ask about your shopping preferences, please...), so in complete contrast he's just gonna— ]
( is it worth it? does it matter? is it just a report? is it to make up for not saying anything about hawks, the first time? does it matter if tomura is angry with him? does it matter if he isn't? does it matter to tomura if he's out of his goddamn mind here, if he doesn't know what to do?
a report. just a report. just league bullshit. just what he's supposed to do. feelings don't matter. )
endeavor's here.
missing an arm. healthy otherwise.
no sign of any other heroes. no sign of number two, either.
[ of course he's known that anyone can show up here. he should be mindful of it, prepared for it, but he hadn't quite anticipated that a piece of this news would eventually make him sit bolt upright.
he's not worried about endeavor himself. that man hadn't taken anything from them in the same way hawks had, and what's more, the current no. 1 seems hardly like the type that could scheme to do them damage. what makes his heartbeat quicken is dabi. how dabi is taking this. as fuzzy and blurred as his memories are, he remembers enough, he remembers dabi's frenzied battle against the family he'd never once mentioned.
what would dabi want him to say here, do here? should he stay out of it, again, still, like he did always in their original world? in the months they've spent here, have they moved past the point for him to ask, to even be... concerned? he's terrible at this. with something this... personal dredged up, he finds that he can't see where the boundaries lie, the line in the sand washed out by the number of times they've run up against it, walked around it, smeared its impression.
like dipping a toe in the water, he starts small, or at least what he feels is small, and safe. the rest can wait. ]
( fucking coward couldn't even look him in the face any other time, there's no way he'd see him and come running--like always, he had to put himself in front of him, and even then, he couldn't get anywhere. )
the war must still be going. he didn't tell me anything useful.
( it's shaky, a struggle: trying so hard to compartmentalize it. as if it helps. )
[ there's a small lapse in time as he tries to figure what to say, whether he should say anything at all. maybe he should just let it lie, the way dabi wanted in their own world. not to interfere, not to pry. but they're not in their own world now, haven't been for about half a year, and things are different—the rules, the impossibilities, what they can and can't do. even so, it's not without significant doubt, significant awareness that he might just get shot down when he edges closer to that line in the sand. ]
will you tell me what you're thinking or what you want
even here you're my ally so I'll back you, you know whatever you wanna do
[ being stuck in a cage with someone you hate, where no amount of damage would erase their presence? nowhere to go to never see them again? it's the kind of thing that makes him eager to bring the roof down over the heads of the House yet again, and—
it's funny. every inch of him is screaming to do something, to make someone pay for this, and he's just sitting here, tapping away on a holographic keyboard. ]
[ that's what he says, at first. isn't it better for both of them this way, the meaning of it left in the air between them, to be interpreted however dabi wants. tomura still doubts that dabi likes being chased, likes being reachable. that's the opposite of how things always went, isn't it? not answering his phone, going off on his own, pursuing his own goals, that's how dabi liked it—maybe even now—the rest of them relegated to whatever spare room was left over.
tomura had accepted that's how things were going to be, but he doesn't know anymore. does dabi want his attention, or does he hate it even now? even though dabi had always maintained that firm boundary wall between them, it feels like there's something unpleasant and bitter about it, when tomura himself retreats behind it. his fingers hesitate on the keypad, but if he's going to waste time like this, he'd rather get moving instead. second-guessing is worse than useless. ]
( the last time this happened--well, it didn't work out all that great, and that had been mostly due to his own attitude. so why does he feel so hopeful? why does it feel good, to have tomura wanting to come to him again, like this?
he hates leaning on people. doesn't trust anyone. but tomura-- )
promise i won't lay on the floor til you get here.
[ When he makes his way to the Gilded Cage, it isn't without some trepidation. He's well aware of his limitations when it comes to people—he brings with him an inflexible sense of ego and an inclination towards honesty that can be as scathing as it is clueless. He's clueless: there are too many thought processes he doesn't understand and can't work out on the spot, and they turn him confused instead, defensive instead, pissed off instead. The last time he'd found Dabi drinking, he became imbued with a painful awareness how unsuited he is for this, as much as he tries otherwise. There's nothing short of a dozen ways this could go wrong, that he could say the wrong thing in ways he can't even predict, and those possibilities circle his mind as relentless buzzards as he steps onto the floor housing the restaurant.
The only thing he has going for him is that he's not easily turned away from what he's already decided he has to do. He has no idea of where to start or what he might say once they begin talking (if they even will); he can only hope they won't start off poorly again, that he can play this by ear well enough to... give Dabi what he needs. Whatever he needs. Easier said than done, when it sounded Dabi himself probably didn't even know.
Once inside the lavish surroundings of the Gilded Cage, he Searches Dabi out from the crowd gathered for the high-flying guest's extravagance. Once he's locked on to his target, he moves in, pushing through bodies to slot himself right between two bar stools carrying Dabi and another guest. It doesn't matter to Tomura if they were talking or not—whenever he sees Dabi, he wants to take up his attention as wholly as he can. Tomura sighs, a small breath of air that puffs through his nose. ]
Drinking by yourself? Handsome.
[ It doesn't sound flirtatious coming from him. It sounds monotonous, but it might do the trick anyway. ]
( it's almost like some poor, cheap mimicry of the last time they'd been like this: he's still in a sweatshirt, the hood pulled up over his dark hair, and he's still sulking at the bar, hunkered down against it as though he could rightfully disappear. but there's no blood, this time, no mug full of saliva-slicked petals; instead, there's a couple empty shot glasses, a glass of half-drunken beer, and an ashtray, the butts of at least four or five cigarettes smudged down into the dirty bottom. there's a girl about four seats down who's cheerfully declaring another round for everyone! in a voice that seems to betray just how drunk she is--all the syllables slur together, and the laughter of the guests that have gathered around her are noisy enough that it feels like a warm blanket over his nerves. he's by himself, but not by himself, really: there's life around him, even if he feels like he's achingly hollow.
tomura's there, he knows, by the heat that slides into the stool beside him. his own arms are folded, his head pillowed down into them, and when he lifts, it's just his eyes, at first, rimmed with a little dried blood, that watch warily, as though to ensure it's really tomura. funny, that a compliment like that makes him want to smile; his cheeks shift, but the sight of the smile is hidden by his sleeve. )
Here for a date? ( as if they're roleplaying something; he finally lifts his chin, pinning it against his arm. ) Might have better luck with one of those hot guys down the bar.
( the bartender sweeps by, taking up his empty shot glasses, placing two each in front of himself and tomura. hazy, he pushes himself to sit up fully; his eyes are glassy, and it takes a moment to focus on the drinks through the alcohol-laden blur. )
[ To his eyes, Dabi looks more miserable than the last time. At least then, he'd kept himself upright; now, Tomura finds him slumped over the top of the bar counter with his head tucked in his arms. He can't tell if that's just the calling of Dabi's mood or he's already that fucked up on drinks; he might have underestimated the amount of alcohol the other had from how coherent his texts read.
A peek of a blue eye greets him when he settles in, a little wary, a little tentative. It's the kind of look that makes Tomura want to reach out a hand, to stroke and caress until Dabi opens himself fully and leans into the touch, but Tomura restrains himself. Here it's too noisy, too public, and he doesn't know if his touch would be welcomed anyway, so he slides himself in the next seat over. For his own part, he tucks his chin into his hand, propped up against the counter, gaze focused unwaveringly on Dabi all the while. There's not so much as an inclination to look around him at all the other supposedly eligible guests around them, regardless of what Dabi suggests. ]
I want the hot guy in front of me right now.
[ The edge in his eyes softens a touch, his lips slightly curling. He only glances away to see what drink has been set beside them, but his attention returns to Dabi again when the man finally sits up. Tomura can finally study him better like this, noting the daze in his eyes, the slower reaction speed. Dabi might not be a mess yet, but it sure seems he's on his way there. ]
As much as you want. As long as you don't throw up.
[ He's not one to restrict what Dabi does or preach about finding healthy coping mechanisms. It's just that battling an alcoholic nausea the rest of the night sounds like a recipe to make an already miserable situation worse. ]
( there's at least some measure of humor forced into his voice, even if it's just by instinct; it's a shitty joke, a shitty pun, and they both know it, by the slight graze of tomura's mouth up into a smile. there's something to be said for finding comfort in the familiar, where he's been a person that's never really had anything familiar to lean on in his life; having tomura here next to him, acting just the same as always, helps settle him a little, grounding him in the moment. he'd never thought he'd have anything close to full trust in the guy, during their first meeting: but they've been through hell and back, and tomura is much more of a leader than he often gives him credit for.
at the very least, he's willing to sit with him and mooch off free drinks, and he likes that about him, even if he won't say it out loud. misery loves company, and even if tomura isn't quite as miserable as he is, at least he's here to help make it less of an overwhelming weight on his shoulders.
with a long breath, he pushes his elbows into the bar so that he can sit up, properly. it won't be good if he takes a shot and spills it all over himself; long fingers reach for the glass, holding it up to eye level to ascertain the contents. )
If we're sticking with this stuff, I got...what, another three shots in me before I puke.
( a drawling estimate, which maybe betrays how much he's had to drink already: even sitting up for this long is making him want to slump back to the bar. )
A toast, yeah? To stupid fucking heroes sticking their fucking noses everywhere they shouldn't.
( a little jingle of his glass in the air in indication, before he tips his head back and swallows the shot--immediately sliding the glass back onto the bar top. at this point, it doesn't matter how nasty it tastes. )
Can't believe I'm stuck seeing him fucking--walking around--everywhere. ( the words blur together in disgust, anger, a little excitement. ) Just wanna kill everyone he touches.
[ It's a shitty pun, but there's more to it—more meaning, more truth. He lets Dabi have the joke though, doesn't insist on whatever authenticity might lay behind it—insisting makes too big a deal of it, and, again, it's not why he's here. He quietly settles in beside Dabi and takes the shot, holding some kind of alcohol he can't identify. It seems Dabi's already had plenty, if he can make a call on how much more drunk this shit's gonna get him, but whether or not this drink is the primary culprit, there's excess to be seen. Even without alcohol coursing through his system, Dabi's mind is clearly elsewhere; it feels safe to observe, watching with the thoughtful intensity of someone trying to appropriately decipher the mess they're in—the way Dabi lifts his head like it's heavy, the long, dragging manner in how he reaches for the shot glass.
Tomura's going to consider veto-ing that last shot, if they get there. They're not there yet though, so he obligingly raises his glass in a mockery of celebration, downing it when Dabi does. It goes down harsh and burning, the kind that he can almost feel fizzling through his nose, but he lacks the sensitivity toward this kind of thing that might trigger a gag reflex; at most, the drink gets a wrinkled nose in protest of its taste before he too slides the empty shot glass back across the counter. Then, his eyes are back on Dabi—observing mostly, and evaluating partially, trying to determine if he should predict Dabi taking to a frenzy that would unleash all his temper and flames. ]
You could, if you wanted to. It wouldn't take, but it still feels like something.
[ He knows that much. He can't kill, but he can hurt, he can threaten, he can maim—sometimes it scratches the itch, even if he knows his opponent could come back around afterward. There's no principled opposition for him to take against Dabi's inclinations, and they know what they are, both of them. People who've killed, without second thoughts, without remorse. It doesn't make much sense to drag him back from those impulses now, but it... doesn't feel quite right. Doesn't feel quite right to let Dabi barrel headlong into reckless self-destruction when there's no war to be fought, when he's right within reach.
It's funny. It's when Tomura thinks about trying to play it safe with his ally's well-being that his words fail him. He's never protected a single thing in his life. ]
Not tonight. You're drinking with me.
[ It's weak, but it's the only thing he can spit out in the moment. ]
I could, but you and I both know it won't mean shit.
( a low mumble, as he settles for folding his arms on the bar, pillowing his chin down against them. if he were younger, more naive, a little more innocent, he might look like a sulking child, someone that's been told they're wrong or that they can't have what they want. but those are years and experiences that have been mostly robbed from them both; hell, he spent three years in a coma, and he can only imagine what tomura must have experienced growing up with that guy, there.
it's frustrating. back home it's easy to justify: a kill is another strike against endeavor's perfect little record, another travesty caused by the domino effect of his actions. does he fully believe it? no matter what he'd said, showing the public some kind of demure side to his poor insanity, a part of him knows that a lot of that had been false. killing had felt like winning something back, in a way, something he doesn't know how to identify. but killing someone here will just bring them back again, and bring them back wrong. and then what? the resort can label him some kind of ruthless murderer? even if he is.
a soft breath, amused, into his arms. )
Doesn't it fucking drive you crazy? I bet it does. There's no fucking point to this place, no point in being here other than to fuck our lives away while we wait to go back to the most important thing we've ever done. Some free fucking vacation.
( his eyes close, but he's still talking. )
If you're gonna stay with me tonight, you're gonna have to catch up. Do about three or four of those in a row and then we can say we're drinking together, leader.
[ His eyelids droop, falling into some ambiguous, somber gaze cast down at the man half-sprawled against the bartop. His fingers twitch and clench—he wants to reach out, to reach for Dabi's arm, his shoulder, his face, to wipe that discontent from his features. He hates feeling helpless. He usually isn't. There's usually something he can do to get rid of the feeling—something to break, a plan to advance, a direction to give. It wouldn't mean shit? He would've been content to keep Endeavor locked up in the basement, bound up like a punching bag, like an animal carcass, if that's what Dabi wanted.
But it isn't. He doesn't know what he wants, and that's a problem. What can Tomura do for someone who doesn't even know what he wants? All he can think of is himself—how he's the one who wants to draw the conflict out of Dabi's mind, to coax him back into that casual, languid mood they shared before it all went to shit. As much as anything can go more to shit beyond being trapped in this nonsensical place. How selfish is that? ]
You know it does.
[ Drives him crazy. Like he hadn't done his time ranting in Dabi's room when he heard about it, that piece of shit no. 2 showing up. It's salt in the wound not to be able to get rid of him here, secure the proper send-off for Twice, hoping it might lighten their load in the original world if they could pick off the pros here, one by one. Instead of doing any of that, by all accounts there's nothing to do but sit and twiddle their thumbs. Even if there are ways around it—around the death and revival mechanic—it's difficult to make a move himself, without the involvement of the others. When Dabi had explicitly ruled it out himself.
What a joke. To only be good as a drinking companion, and not even really that. ]
No way the bartend's gonna let me put that on her tab. Remember what rank I am?
[ Tomura doesn't often play by the rules, but there's a time and a place for a commotion and a fight. Sure, maybe Dabi would feel better, torching the whole bar, but maybe he might just puke in the middle of it. ]
( it's said with a bitter swallow, muffled into the sleeve of his sweatshirt as his head twists, there, as he shakes his head. another stupid, pointless feature of this place, another dumb thing that doesn't make any sense, that sets them worlds apart when the whole point is that they're supposed to be together. tomura in the basement, compress somewhere arbitrarily in the middle, and his own sorry ass shoved up to some 'important' rank as though it could matter at all. as though being a former todoroki meant something here. as if the resort's trying to tell him where he does and doesn't belong.
and he hates it. he hates the implication, hates that they're all cast out to sea, here, left treading water for little purpose other than to bide their time past one more day. and then another day, and another--and what's the point? if there's nothing to burn, nothing to destroy, nothing to cut into pieces, why are they here? it's like the resort should have spat them back out the moment it swallowed them down. bad apples, or something of the sort.
with a slow breath through his nose, steadying the lurch of his stomach, he pushes to sit up again. he doesn't mind the offer. it's almost like a oar stuck out to save him as he's drowning; his suite is dark, his suite has a bed, has all those pretty bottles they can drink until tomura's as far gone as he is. if tomura's there with him, then he doesn't mind being there--it's not the opening maw of silence, even loneliness, if tomura is there. )
Well that's fuckin' forward. ( a drawling tease, exhausted--but the slight smile on his lips, even forced, feels genuine. ) Inviting yourself back to my bed and all.
( it's not forward: not with who they are, not with what they've done. he just wants to see that disgusted little wrinkle of tomura's nose at the words. )
Let me close this out. ( his hand lifts, a tap of his watch to the bartender for the rest of the drinks; the woman down the bar has started sobbing, as though laughter easily bleeds into tears, as though happiness is some small, fleeting thing that can't be found at the bottom of some glasses. once the bill is paid, he pushes back to slide off the stool--and immediately latches an arm out to grab for tomura, steadying himself. )
[ If he just wants to see Tomura pout, he turns out successful. Tomura's lips curl and his chin raises, a prideful little tilt, as though taking offense to the concept of needing an invitation. He hadn't even said anything about the bed specifically. He huffs, pushing his own glass away and sliding off the bar stool, giving him elsewhere to look as he makes the off-handed remark: ]
You should invite me first, next time.
[ Not that he's particularly fussy about being invited. Tomura goes anywhere with the attitude of someone who has the right to be wherever he wants to be, whether it's incognito in a crowd or lounging in a mansion of conquered goods—or intruding into someone else's private quarters. It's not the permission he cares for, it's the desire—the desire to be with him, the desire of thinking about him when he's not there—but he thinks expecting that much is like pining after a mere daydream. Just as the thought of getting intimate used to be, he refuses to waste time on wistful fantasies that don't bear fruit. It's too pathetic, too useless for someone like him, whose sole quest lies in destruction and violence. The enormity of it crushes anything else. And for all he knows, that casual remark will be forgotten by Dabi in the morning, maybe in those more clear-headed hours—or maybe struck out by the liquor's vengeance.
Perhaps the latter being more likely, as Dabi stands—and slumps. Tomura doesn't evade the hand that reaches for him, allowing the steadying grip, accepting the weight Dabi wants to lean into him. These days, he could easily wrap Dabi into his hold, bundle him up like a futon to carry back to the room, but Dabi's probably not that far gone yet. Instead, he'll offer an arm, a shoulder, whatever Dabi would rather take on their journey out of the restaurant as Tomura leads again, weaving them through waiters and guests. At least it would be an improvement, if this time they could make their exit slightly intertwined in each other. ]
@ eve | text | sent to @p09 again and backdated to 7/6
I'm sorry about the delay, but I have some info now. It's sort of a lot to untangle and I'm not sure how helpful it all will be, but here goes!
[If Tomura thought the last text he sent was overly long, whoo boy.]
First, you should know I was only given three questions I could ask. One for each memory! I tried to get as much information out of her as I could, but she wasn't very forthcoming about certain things. Or she said it was only a guess, and she didn't know truly know the answer.
Anyway, for my first question, I asked if she ever got a better sense of what the resort takes from us and why some guests are considered more valuable. I said there was a theory going around that our intimacy is what powers the resort, but she said it's not just that. She said, "What the resort takes from us is our fate. There are those who are meant to play a greater role in life, and they offer more for the resort to sustain itself on." Then she asked me to consider the difference between an emperor who commands a powerful nation, and a servant who's destined to die young.
I couldn't really tell if she was saying the "emperor" is more valuable because he's fated to accomplish more in life, or what. But when I asked her to elaborate, she said her theory is that "playing the game changes our fate" by making us "have such an intimate encounter with someone we never would've met before coming here."
Next question! For my second question, I asked what happens to guests who don't provide enough energy, and if there's any truth to the rumor that the ones who don't sleep around much get turned to stone. She said "some people do indeed turn to stone." But then she said "whether it happens to every guest, I don't know" and "it didn't happen to me even after I lost my usefulness because of a deal I made."
Then for my third question, I asked why she was still here if the resort supposedly lets everyone go home once they've filled their so-called deck. She said that she did win her game, and that she could have used her wish to go home, but she used it to save her daughter's life instead. Her daughter was born with a heart defect. Apparently you only get one wish, and if you use it to save someone else you're just stuck here forever.
I told her I'd come back with double the memories if she let me ask three more questions, but she didn't seem interested, so that's it for now. Any thoughts on all this?
[ He'll deal with the length being for the sake of information this time... ]
the 2nd and 3rd points basically jive with what i've heard before. there are guests who've been here for a long time. i don't know about all of them, but she's the 2nd person i've heard of who's completed the game. the 1st one's j, who also insists that people can leave using their wish, but i'm pretty sure he spent his on something else. i don't know what the exact status of the petrification thing is for them, but maybe the length of their stay or the completion of their deck means they don't have to play anymore. or maybe it not mattering anymore has something to do with their fate.
but that 1st theory is a new one i haven't heard of before, so i also can't say for sure. if anything, i guess it shows that the house probably can't pick and choose who gets in, otherwise it'd be more efficient to spend its energy sucking up presidents and kings. [ Maybe even a younger Symbol of Peace or his own Sensei. ] but as far as i can tell, someone's value doesn't have much to do with how they're treated here. i don't think they're wining and dining their most "valuable" guests.
[ Which would totally include him, thank you... ]
but rather than who's valuable, i would wanna know why and how. does it count if they make us experience an intense emotion we otherwise wouldn't? or does it all hinge on us changing our fates by choosing to stay here?
not that i believe this concept of fate, but i guess i admit i'd be doing something else if i didn't have to be here.
I heard the same thing about J. I do think it's awfully convenient that everyone says they could've gone home if they wanted, but we don't know of anyone who actually *has* left. I guess if they had, we wouldn't still be seeing them around, but there's no proof yet.
She also didn't say whether she had proof her daughter was doing well - whether her daughter ever sent postcards, or if the House ever gave her proof she was still alive. I don't mean to assume the worst, but I want to consider all possibilities.
She said she thought she understood the House pretty well, though, for whatever that's worth.
If they can't pick and choose, I'm not sure how we're getting in. Not voluntarily, that's for sure!
And it seems to me they've done a pretty good job of collecting bigwigs. I've met 2 princes, 2 high-ranking government officials, a lord, an immortal ghost king, 2 idols, 2 other celebrities, some nobles, some powerful mages, and a god since coming here. That's not exactly what you'd call a normal sample of people, is it?
You're right about our treatment, though. Having high status in the real world doesn't mean you'll have high status here. I've met royals who were given low ranks.
Anyway, I'm not really sure what counts. I know my fate in the real world was forever changed by some of the people I met, but I wouldn't say the same thing's happened here. And just going to bed with someone certainly isn't "fate-changing." If anything, the way they've set up that game seems counterproductive, since the act would start to lose all intimacy thanks to repetition. Both parties don't even have to enjoy themselves, let alone share an emotional moment.
So, if you ask me, this whole place is set up rather poorly! Not that *that's* news.
there's virtually no way to know for sure. doesn't look like there's any way to leave and come back and leave again. there's no communication here with the outside, or if there is, no one's found out how to do it. but that's the only way we can have proof, isn't it? you'd also have to trust that the other person isn't lying to you or some made up projection. you'd get stuck with a million hypotheticals.
maybe if someone can 100% figure out the house's power, there'd be a way to engineer a confirmation. but even if what happens is they send check outs to the incinerator, i'd rather find out for myself than stick around here waiting for perfect proof.
you've met a lot of people, huh? sure you're not just chumming it up with the bigwigs?
[ maybe it's his own fault for assuming most people are Just Some Guys though. ]
the whole concept of this place is bullshit, but there's enough morons buying into it anyway to keep it running. there are already people who seem happy enough being here.
I do know someone who's used magic to dig into how things work around here. He's one of the other people I collected a memory from. He's figured some stuff out, but apparently it causes him head problems and makes his nose bleed whenever he uses it to investigate. Still, if anyone's going to crack the code 100%, my bet's on him!
Or on Loki, since he's a god and he can shapeshift!
And I did make that Magic Showcase post, so I guess that would explain why I've heard from a lot of powerful magic users. But I'm not purposefully seeking out bigwigs. Both times I ran into a prince, for example, it was a chance encounter.
True! I always assumed the long-term guests had been brainwashed. But some people come from rough backgrounds, or they come from a world that's been torn apart by war or other such things. Compared to the life they led before, this place must seem like a land of plenty. Which is exactly what the House wants us to think, of course.
But I'll never see things their way. We're in agreement about this place being bullshit!
[Now for a pause.]
I don't normally use language like that, just so you know. But I figure it's alright when the situation truly warrants it. Still, don't tell any of my fans, OK?
so that's an option, huh? it's not surprising that the house has defenses up, if it keeps dragging in these supposed powerful magic users and vips. did he find out anything useful?
it's just how people are. some of them will choose a comfortable cage if it benefits them. if they want to stay, they can.
[ Not that he doesn't understand it, somewhat. He's wondered, once or twice, whether there weren't people who would be better off here. Better off here than dead. ]
i don't think there's anyone here who would be bothered by you throwing little swear words around. at least try on an f bomb for size.
1. The resort is made of energy, both "positive and negative." He detected more negative energy last time he looked.
2. Some guests are basically ghosts, or "lost souls" as he called them. He said they're "a blend of living and nonliving," whatever that means. He can't tell what the staff are, but it seems they're not ordinary humans either. And the ones in the casino are sucking up people's energy, supposedly.
3. The thing that replenishes energy the most is sex. That goes for the resort's energy, as well as our energy.
4. Guests who had sex frequently had the most energy, and the ones who'd been intimate with the largest number of people left the "strongest impression." The ones who hadn't slept around as much had "weaker souls."
Which sounds absolutely preposterous, and I'm still not sure how he was able to sense these things without peeking into people's bedrooms, but there you go.
It's a lot for me to swallow. I'm not sure how much you got out of that either, since I forget whether or not your world has magic in it. Do phrases like "positive and negative energy" mean anything to you?
there's no magic in my world, so none of this stuff is really my area.
[ Irritatingly. ]
at most, i can see it jives with what the bar owner said, if encountering other people and fucking is a way to "change fate" or whatever. all of this just points to us being batteries for this place, doesn't it? we can conveniently recharge ourselves and it along with us.
i guess batteries need both positive and negative ends for energy to flow, but that's the only sense it makes to me. you should've had him elaborate.
What do you want him to elaborate on? I could still ask. Or better yet, you could ask, since I'd rather be a songbird than a carrier pigeon! But here are some more things he said, in case any of these are illuminating. I'll just copy & paste them!
"My opinion continued is that sex is vital, is key, but that this flow of energy may not be the only reason we are here. A method for battery, certainly, but a battery is not the main show of any technology, is it? The question "what does this flow of energy do for the House" is what interests me."
"Energy seems to be stolen most often on the casino floor, by those dealers. Energy is replaced by sex of any form, but those who have it more often and with more people seem more robust with it."
"In any case, the suits seem to be in constant conflict already, fluctuating by the day and hour. The last I checked, clubs had a lead of sorts, so those sort of incidents may just be culminations of collected energy from the struggles?"
By "those sort of incidents," he was talking about that business the other month where Clubs took over those few areas.
didn't you wanna know what "positive and negative energy" meant? better question to ask him than me.
the most obvious answer would be that "batteries power the resort," no? electricity isn't free and neither is running water or temperature control. from what i know, neither is magic. there are plenty of all those things here.
thanks for the info though. any more speculating probably won't be that useful, but i'll contact you if i learn anything new. obviously i'd prefer it if you could do the same.
Positive is positive, negative is negative! You know, like happiness particles versus sadness particles!
[(There is no such thing.)]
Honestly, despite being a genius-type, I'm afraid the explanation might not make much sense to me. My world just doesn't have magic. But very well, I'll ask!
And that's what I thought, but he seems to think there's something more to it than that. I guess there's always the question of why exactly they're powering the resort in the first place. It can't be money, since they aren't making any of that from us guests. And this place is way too fancy to just be a holding ground for ghosts and lost souls. It might help if we could figure that out somehow.
Not that I really care what this place is for as long as we can leave. But it *is* an unsolved mystery.
It'd also be nice to shut it down forever so no one else ever has to go through what we've gone through, but that might be asking for too much even with justice on our side.
And yep, sure thing! I'm happy to have what they call a business relationship 😊🤝😊 Talk to you next time I find something!
is there a reason he thinks there's more to it? maybe there is, but even animals will eat just to hunt the next day. wanting to preserve someone or something can be as simple as that, even if the thing they're preserving isn't even useful.
i agree as far as saying this place should be shut down though.
[ Even if "shut down" is probably nicer than what he has in mind!!! ]
Based on his experience with magic, I guess. I'm not too sure though. Once again, you'd have to ask him!
And that's true enough, I suppose. The resort is allegedly old, and old traditions die hard. Which means it might just be up to the younger generation to shake things up and carve the path to a shining future! ✨✨✨✨
The younger generation is us in this case! Though I'm not sure how old you are.
And I'm open to other options besides a peaceful shutdown. I'd just like to avoid an all-out war, is all. I don't want to be caught in the crossfire!
sure. tell me the contact of your sorcerer friend then.
[ Not that he guarantees he'll follow it up, necessarily, but it can't hurt to know?
Also: don't talk like that... But this time he refrains from picking a fight when Tomoe starts going off on all the shining light stuff. ]
i'm not as old as this place. not even close. [ Narrows it down a lot! 👍 ] it'll all depend on whether they're willing to shut down without a fight. places that kidnap you probably won't.
His full name's really long and hard to remember, but his username is Wildflower!
And good to know you're not an old man. I thought Edelstein was an old man based on her typing style, but it turned out I was wrong! I won't be making that mistake again.
And yep, it's unfortunate, but somebody will have to do something!
Or multiple somebodies. I do wonder what would happen if all the powerful magic users and such all banded together to fight their way out of here. You know, just as an example.
But cooperation is hard without a strong leader to rally the troops, and I'm no military general. I'm just an idol~✨
[ Oooh... That guy. He'll tuck that piece of information away just... for reference? Otherwise, not the first person he'd hit up to chat..! ]
that scenario is a fun little thought experiment, but the chances of winning are low if we can't rely on someone who's figured out the magic system in this place. who's to say they wouldn't just zap everyone with an uncontrollable urge to fuck.
[ Just sayin'... It seems like the resort's preferred way of dealing with things? ]
dunno. these guys don't really seem like they give a shit about "crime," but maybe they'd take it more seriously if people gave breaking out a shot and really busted up the place.
all i'm saying is if someone wants to mastermind a jailbreak we gotta have a lot more information than we do now.
True! Unlike you and your grandmother, they don't care about following the law here, since I can already think of 25 different things I'd like to sue them over!
I know others who can do magic, but I'm not sure who else has been using it to figure out how the place runs. So until we find another helper, I guess we'll have to keep relying on that same person I mentioned. I'll make sure to tell him that everyone's counting on him!
That's the funny thing. He said he didn't exactly care to. But he also said he likes practicing his magic and learning new things with it.
Which sounds like a lot of effort for little gain, if you ask me. But I guess it's sort of like being a detective. Some detectives have personal motivations, like "justice" or "revenge," while others simply love to solve a good mystery.
what's important is whether he'll be reliable, when it comes down to it. like i said, there are already people who want to stay. they'll be against it, if your plan is to shut this place down or deal a big blow to it.
Fine, maybe we don't have to blow up the whole place! We could just make it so that everyone who wants to leave can leave!
Though is there any rule saying you have to go home to your *own* world? If we shut the place down, perhaps those who don't have a good home to go back to can hitch a ride with someone who does! That's where all these "intimate connections" we've forged could come in handy.
I wouldn't mind letting people come back to my world. They could get jobs, rent apartments, buy my CDs and go to my concerts! Or hop on a plane and fly elsewhere! Whichever!
Yep, on second thought, getting rid of this place is just fine~
[ Well, he can see why Tomoe sticks to the idol thing and not the military strategist thing. ]
dunno if there's a rule for it. all i'm saying is you better keep your magic guy on your side. it would suck if he jumps ship because he decided he likes this place better.
I know it's not the kind of intimacy they're looking for, but I think friendships can be just as "fate-changing" as that other sort of bond. In fact, I know so!
The same goes for family, partnerships, and so on. Their view of intimate connections is too narrow if you ask me.
[He just doesn't realize Esikko is one of them. He can sense a buried spitefulness, one that reminds him of a certain "friend" back home. But as far as he knows, the most dangerous thing about Prince Esikko Blum Whatever is his willingness to hurt himself in pursuit of his own goals.]
The power of friendship alone won't save us. That can help heroes defeat villains in the movies, but it won't take care of everything in the real world.
Still, even if he decides something silly like "I don't need friends!", his love for magical research should help us through. He sounds like he'd rather do that than sit in the spa or gamble in the casino all day.
[ He's not wholly convinced—as far as he's concerned, Those Types seem prone to pushing boundaries in the name of knowledge—but he's fine with letting Tomoe handle that part of it for now. For however long his idolness is able to keep their objectives aligned, whether it's for the near or far future, it benefits them to have more people puzzling over the resort, not less. ]
well, as long as he's working with you now, there's no reason to cut him off.
[ He hadn't thought there would be actual affront here. If Tomoe wants more friends or whatever, he's sure there are plenty of friendly, thirsty people out there who would be more than happy. Why set his sights on some random burner account? ]
[ Okay you know what, it is time for a private bitching session, if only because he no longer trusts the public network enough to say anything even remotely personal out there. But now that he's in Tomura's private messages: ]
what the hell's your fucking problem with me do you seriously think it's that funny picking fights with me grow up already
[ This is extremely rich coming from him ... ]
thought i'd try to be civil with you like you're supposed to be with your friend's coworkers but maybe that's a waste of effort on you
[ Why does he start shit with Kajiyama... Well, his reasoning is buried there, under the smarmy responses. At first, Kajiyama had given his unsolicited opinion and gotten frustrated when he answered in kind, and then every moment after that, it had been so easy to upset him—actually, it's more like it's easier to upset him than it is to make him let a comment slide. The kind of person that digs his own grave because he needs prove everyone wrong on this weddit thread. Prodding at him just feels like a second nature from the days of being Too Online, and the Golden Peacock makes it all too easy by having precisely nothing useful to do in its bowels.
None of this is actually going to transfer to text. Even if Tomura were inclined to be "helpful," it would probably lead to another argument loop. So what he ends up focusing on is something that holds at least a bit of interest to him. "Friend" and "coworker"... That's a choice™ to describe them. ]
so you're friends now, huh? are you trying to get along with me for his sake?
[ That gives him pause, if only because he wonders if that's, like, bad for Dabi? Does it not fall in line with whatever cringe edgelord villain image they have to upkeep? Is he not supposed to say they're friends? (Ugh, he's kind of regretting his word choice now. It feels stupid even writing the F-word, like he's some kindergartner at the playground.)
Like hell he's going to back off an inch, though. Time to forge on, like he isn't at all embarrassed by Tomura putting it in such blunt terms. ]
i'm not the one picking fights for no reason you don't get to talk shit at my manners why the hell would i keep trying when you seem to have some problem with me
oh fuck off you think you're being so cute and clever with this shit when the hell did i say i want praise you think i'd be talking about any of this if you weren't constantly being an ass at me? don't act like i'm any worse than you when you don't even get the concept of trying to get along with people because it's the right thing to do "i'm not his gatekeeper" give me a break no wonder you don't have any friends
[ ... oh, it's actually kind of jarring when this guy's suddenly not being a roundabout jackass. There's a notable pause before Fuuta's response pings through. ]
if you actually believe any of the things you say, then why don't you act like it? trying to give someone life advice? civility? that's a load of horseshit. you say whatever you want and you cover it up with excuses like "it's normal" or "you're taking it the wrong way" or "i'm just trying to help." you think someone's gonna go "wow jeez thanks"? yeah right. if you wanna be a jackass then stand by the shit you talk. then at least you'd have something going for you.
take it or leave it. it doesn't matter to me if you accept my reasons or not. that's the difference between us.
[ The answer, of course, is that sincerity is cringe. Being honest is the same as being vulnerable. If he acted how he really believed and then was rejected for it, it'd hurt exponentially more; better to put up walls first and act abrasively, so it doesn't sting when people inevitably give him shit for it, because he expected it in the first place.
Too bad he's too dumb and cowardly to verbalize any of that himself! ]
go fuck yourself you don't get to decide what i do and don't believe in you try to make it sound like you're so much better but there's nothing admirable about being a jackass on purpose you're not any better than me you're just more smug about it
I'm only an 8 and I use my chips pretty regularly, so I can't fund you a gilded three piece, but if a little help will convince you?
Sure. I don't think I get along with most people who RSVP'd so it'd be nice to see an agreeable face even if we only chat here and there.
[After all she doesn't expect it to be a date, or even for them to spend most of their time with each other. She just wants... familiarity. A little comfort to see him across the room as she flits about like a social butterfly trying to take advantage of every drunk and naive person she can set her sights on.]
1. headless horseman [ how serious is he... maybe more than one would expect. ] 2. a drink and shit-talk about all those people you don't get along with
1. Too easy. Imagine how many "giving you head" jokes you'll get
2. You set the bar pretty low, how can I decline? I'll allow you one extra request when you see what they have available. After that I hope to fleece some drunk idiots if you don't mind.
1. Don't you think that if you hear that too many times through the night it'll get boring? Especially if they're just mocking and not actually interested.
2. If I'm going to drag you to a party I might as well make sure get something out of it. It's my responsibility to make sure it breaks even.
You won't be riding a horse to the party either, unless you've got a friend into pony play. Why not do something that shows off your body?
Just make note of what you see when you get there and tell me if it interests you! Maybe you'll want to play the games, or see if you like the Haunted House, or maybe we can even scare a few people together. If it still isn't enough just consider it on a tab and cash in later. You know how to find me.
Isn't it obvious? You could go as a white feathered harpy or even a mothman with that hair of yours. You even have enough upper body strength to make wings believable.
I'm assuming that the answer is "no" and this headless horseman costume is just a pipedream.
Don't you dare get your head lopped off right before I take you to a party. How the hell do you expect to share a drink and talk gossip if you're in two pieces? Or worse! In the infirmary as they try to bring you back to life - unable to attend the party at all!
That depends on if you're after momentary frights or a long term fear. Before coming here I was in a competition with six other mages in a fight to the death for a wish-granting vessel.
A bit of dismemberment is something I've already seen with my own two eyes.
Good, I'll count on you to be there. If you want any extra costume help (THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE LOSS OF BODY PIECES) let me know. I've already lent my services to others so they're open to you too.
She hates me. I took everything from her. If I say I intend to win for her, well
She would probably hate that too. Imagine the person who ruined your life deciding to take some twisted pity on you, but it was too late. You're already messed up, and hold it against them.
aren't you doing this all for your own sake? you don't actually want to understand me, you just want to fix things according to your own ideas because it'll soothe your guilty conscience. why would I want the help of someone who runs away instead of facing me?
[That first bit feels... visceral. Real. Like getting shot and having the shaft of the arrow twisted so that the head does more damage. Yet with Rin's struggle between her "duty" and her "wish" the mention of guilt is so heavy that she can't quite tell if Tomura is speaking from experience or not.]
Right. And she'd be entitled to it. That anger and hatred. I don't think she's in the wrong for it.
[But I can't turn back now. Yes you can. It's gone too far. It's too late. Is it really? We can never be sisters again.]
What would you do if they did face you? If they embraced you?
[Perhaps anyone else may find that tactless, but... Tohsaka is actually a bit grateful for the pivot from "talking about feelings" to "the logistics of dying".]
Actually, I think she might be able to. I just won't stay dead is how it works if I heard right.
Because! It's a stupid move! Even if I'd stick around to make sure you'd get help if you needed it, I still think risking that is beyond a brain donor decision!
[Oh god. Good thing he didn't comment on any of that but the subject. Phew.]
The world works in equivalent exchanges, and the proprietress seemed to imply this resort also works based on giving up a "price". So there would, logically, be a "price" for you to pay to be brought back if you didn't survive being decapitated.
NO THAT'S NOT IT! If she kills me then she kills me! I probably deserve it! I'm worried about **YOU** dying from a stupid decision because you figure it doesn't matter!
I did, but if she's able to outmatch me, then I deserve it.
Fine. Just make sure to tell me if you're going to kick the bucket so I can prepare for a new partner. It's possible you might no longer be a viable candidate after.
[He didn't even address the second half... whatever! It's fine! That means she doesn't have to change anything and she doesn't need to address what that might mean. For the best!]
I wouldn't call severing your own head for a party "necessary risk". I'm not saying you can't get into trouble. You're not my responsibility.
Just forget about it. You're an adult, you can do whatever you want.
[ he got as far as "I don't get why she's picking that thing specifically?" and "it's easy to start with another person though" before deciding he didn't need to understand it. ]
This is a formal invitation from Tohsaka Rin. This invitation is extended to you for an early dinner on December 25th at Tohsaka's Rank 9 suite. You will not be expected to provide anything or required to adhere to a certain dress code. You are, however, welcome to bring along a +1 to accompany you as the host will need to split her time between the guests.
(ooc: If you're interested in a quick action spam/dialogue party scene feel free to →head this way! This was a spur-of-the-moment thing, so please do not feel obligated if you are busy with other obligations/are on hiatus. I thank each and every one of you for your time and patience with Rin during her stay at GP! I hope all of you have a wonderful time as this year comes to a close.)
Edited (the gif was broken so i gave up and used a still) 2024-12-24 15:47 (UTC)
[ on the morning of december 25, which hua cheng has come to understand is christmas day, a knock on the door will herald the arrival of a gift. it's nestled in a box and wrapped in paper of his signature crimson and tied with a gold ribbon, both very auspicious colors for such an auspicious(?) holiday!
the box contains eight paper talismans imbued with various magic effects, which are described on the piece of paper wrapped around them. five of them are the cum cleanup spell, but the other three have other uses: one will repair a space, such as a bed or a wall; one will turn the subject into a daruma doll for 2 hours; and one i'm going to leave up to you to pick something fun and short-term that tomura would enjoy being able to do with hua cheng's magic lol.
also included in the box is a pair of red die with gold pips, which have been imbued with a little bit of hua cheng's overwhelming good luck—they will win exactly the number of times that won't draw any negative attention tomura's way, no matter how long he plays for in the casino.
along with the talismans and the dice is a brief note from hua cheng, in his neatest and most legible handwriting. ]
Tomura —
For enjoyment and for practicality, and a little bit for luck.
No, I've seen what you can really do. But I also saw some brutes out there that might have been able to give you a run for your money. And I know a death here can "change" a person, so I just wanted to check in.
Mostly the same, I guess? The "doctor" said some ridiculous stuff about messing with my ability to lie? And then drained all the chips out of my account for "life saving treatment".
The staff pretend like you didn't actually die, but I know that's not the case. Why would there be a price to pay if it's just something like a repair?
Something about "instead of getting our 'life saving tools' we accidentally grabbed our 'fixing a filthy liar tools'! Sorry about that, but you should be otherwise right as rain."
Idiot implied I might feel some sort of side-effect from lying.
I'm not sure how severe the "side-effect" will be, but whatever it is I'm betting it'll be something that makes a person more inclined to staying here or being involved in their games.
[ he doesn't know if this is something to be worried about yet: the hotel has fucked with them plenty, but the weirdness usually comes and goes—minus the suits. still. ]
[No, it's more like she'll remember he'd want to be treated out of nowhere. He'd like to have a surprise. He'd like to be pampered for no other reason than just that someone was thinking of him... That's how she takes it.]
[ She's not wrong: what he would value most is having his needs and comfort being anticipated and met without needing to be said. Not exactly to be waited on hand-and-foot, but the mythical condition of so-called "having someone look out for you."
In any case, as arranged, they'll be wandering into Early Bird Hall at around the designated time. Tomura is dressed as usual, hair loose, black-on-black athleisure wear—the comfortable and baggy sort, unlike the skin-tight clothing offered during Sports Week. ]
What do you want to eat?
[ Being dinnertime, they've found themselves in a small rush of guests; maybe he should've pushed it later, but he doesn't know if Tohsaka is the type to eat on schedule. At the very least, it means virtually no shop would be closed at this time, leaving a vast swathe of bustling option sprawling out before them. ]
[Tohsaka arrives in a black top, red shorts, and semi-sheer tights. On her left wrist is a cinnabar bracelet given to her by Marco, while her hair is tied up in a bun adorned by the hairpin she received from an anonymous gifter. The perfume she wears this time is different from her usual. Its earthy sandalwood base blends in with her natural scent while the floral mid-and-top notes bring to mind her usual fair. However with its different profile it brings forth more of the herbal patchouli she usually attempts to mask.
All the accessories, even the perfume, are things someone else gave her. An item that someone else must have picked up because it reminded them of her. She wears them as often as she can.]
A parfait, but we should probably have something more sensible for dinner. Something with protein.
[After all, she shouldn't do her nightly blood draw if she's low on iron.]
[ Tohsaka is well-dressed, even for a very casual dinner at the food hall; this may be typical for her, but to Tomura, it's unusual enough to be notable. Even when he could afford it back home, he didn't have much of an expansive wardrobe, so perhaps her fastidiousness seems fairly remarkable. She's even wearing her hair up with a familiar pin, though he keeps a perfect poker face regarding his recognition of it.
A parfait... He realizes now that he doesn't know much about Tohsaka's tastes. Does she have a sweet tooth? Is this her usual choice of indulgence? But if she says it can wait— ]
Sure. We could grab burgers. Or donburi... I'm fine with anything though.
[ As they maneuver through the somewhat crowded Early Bird Hall, they'll pass by any manner of protein-filled affairs: sandwiches, tacos, skewers, stirfry... He's content to keep her company until she fins a stall that catches her eye. ]
[To Tohsaka her looks are just another avenue in which she can seek to hold power over another. It worked back in Homurahara high, and there are a small handful of instances in where it's worked in the Golden Peacock, too. Though with her being able to not play the polite and distanced popular girl she's had to find other ways to gain appeal.
Tohsaka leads them around, seemingly indecisive, until she settles on a cart selling samosas. Little fried dough triangles packed a variety of fillings and spices. While Rin loves indulging in tasty food, her death has her criticizing... well, a lot about herself. So something that comes in individual pieces that she can tell herself, "stop eating after this much" is ideal. Her choice will lean toward meat and veggies, and not toward the traditional potatoes.]
These should be good.
[If he's agreeable, they can probably find some place to sit and eat with the cafeteria style seating arrangements.]
[ He'll follow Tohsaka in her search for something—other than parfait—that she wants to eat. Rather than scanning for his own dinner, however, he watches her studiously as she walks, searching for... Well, he doesn't know, really, but maybe just anything off. A limp, or a sign of pain or weakness—anything that would indicate that Tohsaka had died and come back to life. But, same as with Twice, there doesn't seem to be any such thing. As far as Tomura can tell, it all appears normal: her gait, her movements, any little remarks she makes. Even Search tells him this is the same girl who's accompanied him, all this time. All of it so eerily, impossibly normal he'd almost think she was lying about the whole "dying" thing if she hadn't tried so hard to keep from saying it earlier.
He's forced to leave such contemplations aside when Tohsaka finally settles on a stall. Not being particularly picky, he gives his assent with a silent nod, and orders three lamb samosas for himself; unlike her, however, he has no reason to restrain his appetite. Even if his chips run low, he'll just make up for the difference somewhere else. He winds up staring at the cart's chalkboard menu, featuring a short list of curries alongside the samosas. None of them sound familiar though; Tomura would have a hard enough time trying to decide with traditional Indian curries, nevermind whatever Golden Peacock fusion has been incorporated into these ones. He stares at them a little longer before looking over at Tohsaka for help.
Order for him... Then he'll pay and they can go sit down. ]
[Tohsaka, being a certified "he asked for no pickles," bitch, accepts his look pleading for her help without a second thought. In fact she might be overeager to do what is silently asked of her. Though in the end she simply gets a large order for them to split rather than grabbing something different for him. She'll even ask for a huge drink with two straws! Typically she's the type to dig deep into someone else's pocket, but despite the fact she's chipless, Tomura is still many, many ranks below her.
When they have their order and settle on a seat, she starts portioning out her small handful and leaves him the rest.]
[ He trusts her taste in food, so she'll receive no complaints over the items she's selected. The drink, however, earns somewhat of a doubtful stare, mostly for the intertwined, heart-shaped bendy straws that get stuck into the large plastic cup. Perhaps a slightly more understandable assumption from the workers than usual, given that Tohsaka only places a single, large order aside from the samosas; he's curious about it too, until they settle and she starts portioning out her food. It's difficult for him to tell whether it's more or less than her usual, as he's mostly seen her eating snacking portions.
Well, they can always get something else if what's in front of them isn't enough. His bank account may not be as bottomless as royalty, but he knows how to pinch pennies when it gets dire. He can afford a bigger expense every so often.
He digs in, tearing apart one of the samosas to let the center cool while he eats in from the edges. ]
Gonna tell me what exactly happened with you?
[ In the fight ring, that is. It feels like he should know the "who" and "what" and "why" of the events—not to mention they're supposed to figure out what happens if she lies. This line of questioning just might trigger it? ]
[Tohsaka allows the food to cool without tearing into it. At least for now. Instead she ventures a sip from that cutesy straw before twirling a lock of hair around her finger as she thinks back on the incident.]
I was fighting this guy who didn't really seem into the fight. I wanted to put him down quick because I was starting to get exhausted from the back-to-back matches. I guess I went a little too hard, and cracked something enough to pierce his organs. He died. Only for a moment, though. He got up pretty quickly, and I tried to fend him off. It wasn't enough, and he must have snapped my neck or crushed my windpipe...
[She huffs a sigh before taking another sip of the drink. Allowing a pause in her recap for any questions if Tomura has them. Her eyes strayed away from his gaze during her explanation, but they come back to his after. Is she searching for something? Forgiveness, maybe? For worrying him. Or maybe for burdening him with spotting her this meal.]
[ When she glances back at him, Tohsaka won't find any blame—nor forgiveness—in his eyes. Well, he doesn't think she has anything to apologize for, not to him—maybe to the man she'd killed. It's not that Tomura thinks anything of it, ethically, that she had committed a murder—moreover a murder that wouldn't even stick—but Tohsaka isn't the same kind as him. Rules or no, he doesn't think she would've taken it lightly if she'd ended that man's life for good, and that means her kill had been careless, a miscalculation, something that might warrant regret. That means it's luck—the twisted luck of their imprisonment in a world that defies nature—that an unintended death wouldn't dog her footsteps into the future.
He won't point it out. Far be it from him to kick her while she's down, whether she has realized her own mistake or just wishes to lick her wounds from defeat. In any case, this time her victim has taken his own eye for an eye. Tomura's only question is whether it had truly been only the luck of the Peacock's interference... ]
He got back up—without being taken away or removing his bracelet?
That's right, [she huffs, and immediately starts chewing on the straw of their shared drink like gnashing her teeth on it will fix anything.]
It must be something naturally occurring with his body that they felt no need to stop. Stupid— the power for my magecraft occurs naturally in my body too! Just because I need to conscious activate it doesn't mean it should have been barred... My crest, too. If it was working he probably would have had to try a lot harder to kill me.
[After all... the crest is a double edged sword. An organ that rejects her body and causes her pain, yet also like a parasite that needs its host. Something that would reforge and remake her piece by piece if she was channeling enough power through it. It once did just that — allowing her to recover in a matter of 24hrs what would have taken anyone else years to bounce back from.]
What's that look for? Know a couple people who have a knack for returning from the grave?
[ Being deliberately obtuse about her particular choice of phrasing... And then maybe that would be the time to take a cool and unbothered sip of juice, if Tohsaka hasn't taken custody of it to use as a chew toy. ]
You should've known some powers weren't blocked after you fought me. [ While he hadn't tried to go too hard against her, some of his opponents afterwards may have gotten their feet put to the fire, in a way that evidenced his strength was nowhere near natural. ] But, yes. There was someone I faced later on who could heal by himself.
One: no, it doesn't include me. I didn't come back by natural means. Two: I had no reason in the moment to think he had anything of the sort. Three: was it a tall guy with dark hair?
[Rin abandons the drink and decides to dig into her own food finally. Forcing herself to give Tomura a chance to reply before she goes into trying to defend her position or complain about how "unfair" it all was.]
[ ... No comment on her first and second points. He'll let her have the final say, if only for his own peace and quiet; he'd rather eat than debate the finer points of her untimely demise and unnatural revival. ]
Mhm, yeah, [ he mumbles around a mouthful of samosa. ] Fits th' d'scr'ption.
—So what? Do you think it might have been the same guy?
[Did they lose track of the point? No, it's only a detour to get the facts settled before testing things out. After all, Rin is curious to know more about the man who... well, they're even. Almost. She may hassle him to cough up some chips for a meal since his version of killing her was more expensive than her version of killing him.]
[ He swallows and takes a sip of the drink before answering. ]
Might be. The guy I fought was called Blade.
[ He remembers it because it's edgy... Also because the guy had that regeneration ability. Although the physical description may not be too out of the ordinary, it was pretty unique for someone to retain a power like that while wearing the bracelet. Odds are it's her guy. ]
[He wasn't a cheater, but she believes he is! Wholeheartedly! Well, perhaps not wholeheartedly. Rin is salty over what happened, but she logically knows she can't begrudge him. And that if it wasn't a quick death that it's likely something like her family crest would have started kicking in to prevent her from dying. It's just he had the better ace up his sleeve.]
[ Tomura stares blankly while she makes her accusation. Big if true... ]
How'd he cheat? By beating you?
[ It's not like he intends to defend Blade's integrity or anything (hell, he barely even knows the guy), but he does know that Tohsaka is a sore loser, thanks to the game Jin Mingming started on the network... ]
[Because she didn't exactly expect to get called on that, Rin recoils and sputters immediately. Her body language is clear in the way she rears back against the backrest of her seat and her spine goes ramrod straight.]
No! That's not it at all! I overpowered him first. If he wasn't some kind of weirdo I would have won!
[And be saddled with near-eternal guilt. Though the denial is partially a lie, so it begins. It starts as something small. A tiny urge akin to an itch. For now she ignores it.]
to be specific, I pretty much won all of my cage matches but they blocked external abilities, so it's safe to say not all of my opponents were at full power. I could tell you who seems strong, but most of them probably wouldn't target you without a reason. I haven't fought anyone who was using magic yet either. there was [ ugh. ] one guy who knocked me out before but he's not here anymore. [ didn't even get to pay him back for that, tch. ]
probably I guess there's always the chance someone will lose their mind cuz of the hotel or something else otherwise things are stupidly peaceful wtf were people like in your world?
and yeah I'm confident but I'm still stuck here so so much for those abilities.
well you bust down one of the walls in this place and the next morning it's patched up all nice and normal you watch any of those cage fights a few months ago? well they let you kill your opponents then the next day those losing dead guys were still walking around like nothing happened
I'll give you another tip since it sounds like you're interested in all that stuff the whole raise the dead schtick isn't just for people who die here. you might run into someone you thought was dead and gone in your world so you probably can't rest too easy if there are some dead people who'd wanna come for a pound of flesh.
they can't kill you here either though, so maybe it's all the same.
so hm is there anyone you sure as hell don't wanna meet here?
[ ...huh. very, very good to know. does this mean they're currently in some sort of purgatory? if that even exists. ishmael doesn't really remember anything in the gap between dying and resurrecting, so maybe that isn't it...
she takes a while to respond again after thinking it over some more. okay, she'll definitely need to talk to gregor about this soon. as for that question: ]
Easy. My bosses, new and old. I don't need to explain why that's going to be awkward as hell.
Yeah, we do. We work under Offices, which are under Associations. There's an entire flowchart about these things that will take us an entire day if you let me go off about them.
I guess they'd count as corporate. My current manager, I mean. My old boss was a ship captain.
[ That's not exactly what he meant. And Till won't correct him. Instead, he will run away with the idea that this guy is just taking pictures of random people's feet to complete the dare. However, another point is brought up. ]
just like that? so even if you hadn't done it but said you did he would believe you?
[ This only makes him further doubt Rokurou's intelligence. ]
i only know him a little. but he knew too much about some stuff and seemed eager to talk about it
[ Annoying thing? The watch itself is kind of annoying. However, another individual wasn't content with something in particular. A new feature. He gets it now. ]
chirpy that thing. it's never bothered me.
i guess i haven't been here a long time.
that was confusing. annoying. and except for that last part. normal. whatever process they use to transport people here is efficient.
[ There is a lot more he can say about the whole thing, but he doesn't feel like sharing. ]
[hands were out all the time! unless this mystery babe always wore gloves in which case then, yea, the lipstick against bare skin was way more erotic!]
that question feels kind ominous dude like you make me admit it then it shows up smashed the next day
[Although that's less of an issue- the fact or thing wasn't exactly something that could be smashed. The people and things he was close to here didn't feel like secrets. And maybe he's finally starting to ease into the fact that, despite how he looked and his gameplan back in his own world, Tomura wasn't going to do something just to make Aak miserable.]
there's this guy from my home he's like a real goody-goody he rescued me after a gang fight and begged his boss to give me a place to stay sometimes he really pisses me off but he's way kinder than me so even though it'd be really funny for a righteous guy like that to get stuck in a place like this if he ever showed up i would help him sincerely he'd probably be super shocked at the idea i'd be the one keeping him out of trouble! mouth hangin open and everythin!
[ well he definitely hadn't been planning on asking someone to remove something for him to kiss, so, tough!
and while tomura won't bother to confirm nor deny that assumption, the truth is that the people who would find their precious things smashed are usually very aware of that oncoming predicament... aak would cease to worry if he ever gets to see tomura in a room with someone he actually hates. ]
what a guy you sound like you'd look forward to it too schooling him on what to do
[Aak expects most people to be as scheming as he can be- and that meant smiling to people's faces before doing unforgivable things. There's something charming about the direct method, though.]
it'd probably be easier to just let someone else do it but i'm used to him anyways
[And the bonus secret that he would struggle to just let Hung go off and have sex with whoever. Theoretically it would be ideal if Hung went off and liked someone the same way Aak did with Rin. Aak is allowed to do that to Hung but if Hung did it to him? He wouldn't be able to handle it.]
i bet he'd constantly be stopping to check if stuff was okay that sorta thing kills the mood!
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@edelstein | text
You know where to find me, don't you?
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you haven't given your room number though
[ he could just Search her... but he prefers not to involve it/answer questions about it for something so mundane. ]
no subject
[She includes her number for him.]
It won't be terribly pleasant, but I assure you it could be worse.
no subject
[ while he's on the way. ]
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[So: medicinal while also minty, peppery, spice-like and lemony. Includes white waterlily and common rue as well. Each ingredient handled carefully because many can be poisonous (cause gastrointestinal distress) in the wrong doses.]
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or drink it
[ fortunately for... both of them, probably, he'll swallow anything, and isn't deterred by the possibility of getting poisoned. he'll be fiiiiine. when the elevator dings on the eighth floor, he steps out with the intention of following the room numbers... but once the doors open, the smell that comes through is strong. how's she not getting security or at least housekeeping called on her? ]
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By the time he arrives all the "cooking" will have been done anyway. The herbal medicine of anaphrodisiacs mixed with other ingredients in an attempt to make it potent but tolerable. People don't need it to taste like candy, but they at least need the tradeoff to be worth it. She'll wait for his knock at the door. Or text. She's done fiddling with her watch (she hates it) until he arrives.]
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Having been to the eighth floor already, he'll scan the room's set-up with slight interest. The most curious part of this is the difference in interior design; granted, Twice had a great deal more mess going on in general, but his decoration and furniture were nowhere near as elaborate. Is each room on the upper floors tailored to the inhabitant's taste? Well—maybe, maybe not. He can't imagine what Dabi wants out of his straight-up decadent Tens room.
Brief study concluded, he returns his gaze to Tohsaka and whatever she's concocted. He remains standing, or at most wanders over to whatever ingredients she's left out in the open, hands in his pockets, relaxed and casual. ]
So, how's this gonna be done?
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Beside that is a glass of water and a dose of powder. The color is a sickly green with unwelcoming flecks of indigo.]
You'll eat the aphrodisiac donut, and once you start feeling its influence you'll mix the powder with the drink and ingest that. You shouldn't take it right away, because we'll want to mimic the scenario of not being aware that you've been dosed before you take the medicine.
[Today Tohsaka is dressed plainly as well. A simple miniskirt, a buttoned blouse, and an apron. The apron is actually longer than her skirt, so sometimes it may look like she just has the apron and top on. Oh, and her signature thigh highs. Those are a must. Rin takes a seat near the coffee table. She'll want to monitor any side effects and determine whether the dose should be stronger or weaker.]
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Got it.
[ Without waiting for further instructions, he leans down and takes the donut. While there's a quiet sigh, huffed through his nose, at the unfortunate shape (this place really has nothing else going for it, does it?), he doesn't complain; instead, he shoves it into his mouth without hesitation. It's rather... accurate to life, as much as a baked good can be, so the pastry is lengthy enough to squish up against his throat and cheeks in an explosion of cream and sugar. It's sweet, overly so all at once, but his expression is bland as he barely chews and rather swallows most of it intact.
He doesn't know nor really care if Tohsaka had chosen that particular confection for her own amusement, but she'd gotten some kind of show out of it, crude as it may have been. Well, Tomura doesn't really care about table manners either, as he licks the rest of the cream from around his lips. He's not sure he catches all of it—his mouth mostly feels like a sticky mess of sugar and dough, so although it isn't its intended purpose, he reaches for the glass of water to wash it down. Surely getting more water, out of all elements here, wouldn't be a problem. ]
So, now we wait, [ he says, once his tongue is less of a syrupy-sweet wasteland. His eyes turn to Tohsaka, finger jutted at the dish of powder. ] Should I put someone on standby? In case that doesn't work.
1/2
2/2
Unless you have a problem with me taking care of it, then no. It's my work, so it should be my responsibility.
[Though Tohsaka is acutely aware she doesn't meet a variety of preferences simply by trying her luck around the resort, so she won't be offended if he accesses his watch and needs to call another.]
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Her answer, however—he can't say he had any specific expectations, one way or another, so it's not exactly a surprise. From their exchanges, it had been made clear to him that she isn't wholly opposed to working with the mechanics of the hotel, despite that honors student look and way of acting. Taking the "responsibility" of banging him, huh? That's a funny way of putting it. His own answer to her is an easy one: they're both opportunists, in this regard. ]
I don't. Guess I'll be in your care.
[ His tone is easy and unconcerned. If he would sleep with someone he hates, then he doesn't see why not with someone who has, from his perspective, been comparatively inoffensive. It's not like Tohsaka is hard on the eyes either, though his tastes aren't particularly reliant on looks. No, he's simply curious about her. His eyelids droop, narrowing his gaze as the corners of his mouth tug into a slight grin. ]
Even if it works, would you still want it? My card.
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I suppose that depends, [she replies in a measured voice. Softer than her regular tone as Rin places the now-full glass of water upon returning.]
What's your rank and suit?
[While waiting for his reply she doesn't sit. Instead she stays leaned into his space after putting the glass down, and uses her thumb to swipe up the last bit of cream on his face. Rin brings it to her mouth, and sticks out her tongue to openly taste it while watching his eyes the entire time.
After all, if it works she can have some herself. If it doesn't? The little kick-start of arousal won't be unwelcome if she is to "take care of him".]
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Three of hearts.
[ He says it drily, wry grin not at all reaching his eyes. He doesn't even know if the suit designations mean anything at all, and yet he can't help but feel like it's some kind of bad, tasteless joke. A "heart" is the furthest thing he could be—any of the others would've been more appropriate, if only for their lack of common symbology. At least the designation has had no impact, as far as he can tell, and so it simply remains, a thoughtless symbol imprinted on his tongue.
His eyes flicker to follow Tohsaka's movement as she leans in. A diversion to the side that doesn't let him see anyway when her thumb presses against the skin just beneath his lips. She would find him rough, uncared for, but that's how it's always been with him; it doesn't even cross his mind to worry about it as his eyes follow that finger back to her mouth. He hadn't even noticed he'd missed a spot.
It's hard to say if it's just him or if it's the aphrodisiac when some warmth leaks back into his grin. He can't say he's found an opinion of Tohsaka that he's held steady: she seems talented, knowledgeable in the ways of magic (or at least she can talk like it—what does a normie know?), but definitely sometimes foolish and hotheaded in her dealings with her fellow guests at large. Is it something he can really criticize? Maybe, maybe not. It doesn't matter right now anyway, because all of that aside, here is something of hers Tomura can appreciate.
The daring. The certainty of knowing what she wants and the conviction to take it. Perhaps Tohsaka will turn out to be one of those people who's fun to challenge—but whether or not she wants it is all in her hands now. ]
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[Boldly she drops herself down into the seat next to him. Close enough that their legs and arms brush. Especially so when she starts squirming about to undo her apron and toss it over the back of the couch.]
I wouldn't mind adding that to my deck, so consider yourself blessed to add this eight of clubs to yours.
[He's right on all accounts. No matter how careful she is, she's still more reckless than she'd like to admit. Most of her failings actually line up quite nicely with the Clubs suit, so unless it's especially heavy in its implimentation... she'd probably not recognize its influence as foreign. Self aware of her own faults but too proud to do much about them. Continually the subject of her own demise.
Either way, she reaches over into his space again. This time grabbing the powder and a stirring spoon so that she may show him how to create the medicine. She mixes it in two spoonfuls at a time. Careful not to add too much should the power clump and form a hydrophobic surface tension that would make it hard to properly mix.]
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"Blessed," huh? [ he repeats back to her, eying her with a wry grin. ] I didn't think you were so selective.
[ Maybe he's teasing her... In the end, it's not like he thinks opportunism is a bad thing. It's the practical way to be, when dealing with this kind of game, and from the way she's talked he assumes she intends to win it.
Maybe he'll ask about that later. It could be beneficial to both of them if their goals aligned in that arena. For now, however, he watches as she reaches over him for medicine and begins to prepare it, a process which he mostly only half-registers. It definitely doesn't occur to him that paying attention is important, and that she's taking it slow for a reason; turns out he's the type who rarely takes medicine and more commonly has it forced down his throat by someone else. ]
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When the mixture is completely dissolved into the water she relaxes into the seat. Her shoulders and head resting against the back of the sofa and sinking into its cushion.]
Well, that's all done. When you start to feel it, take a drink. If your arousal doesn't dissipate I'll handle it.
sorry for the delay, rl kicked my ass
[ Even if there's any hint of heat, it's too subtle to pick up. Looks like they'll be in for a wait, so he might as well settle in. As comfortable as if the place were his own, he slouches into the couch, crossing an ankle over his knee, and throwing an arm casually over the back. While they might have to wait, there's no shortage of things to discuss, and he speaks to the first point on his mind: ]
And if it works, how long will the medicine effect take to go away?
[ Seems like he should know, if "trading cards" is on the table. ]
it's ok, happens to us all u_u
Five minutes. I've added a bit of caffeine to the mix to encourage its circulation throughout the system so it could be as fast-acting as possible.
[This time she settles in more purposefully to be flush against him - side-to-side. Just short of leaning on him. Casually making herself more comfortable with his body as she may need to become intimately familiar with it later.]
Maybe if I had a more dedicated workshop I could test what specifically they're using as an aphrodisiac to create a neutralizing solution you take prior to a meal, or a more targeted anaphrodisiac. Though The House would probably find me in contempt.
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So it can kill the aphro effect and let someone get it up again within five? Naturally, I mean.
[ Not that he knows why anyone would take this just to deliberately get themselves horny again. The only reason he considers it at all is in the event they try perform the card swap soon after; most other customers probably wouldn't care at all unless the anaphrodisiac effect lasted some ridiculous length of time. And while he questions on the specifics of snuffing out libido, Tohsaka scoots in close and presses flush against him.
Even being here for several months, this is still territory he finds unfamiliar. Scratch even the idea of high school experimentation and cozying up against a crush; he's pretty sure the amount of non-negative physical contact he's had here vastly exceeds what he's had in his entire life before this. Against a girl he knows (barely), without sex factoring into the equation (yet)? Yeah, he doesn't really know how to respond to that, doesn't wrap an arm around her to invite her in, or settle a hand on her knee as a forward expression of interest. It would defeat the purpose anyway if it'll be interrupted when he takes the medicine, wouldn't it?
It's a logical train of thought in these types of situations that don't always welcome logic. As much as he doesn't push her away nor tense up against her, the vacillation, the questioning can probably be felt in the tilt of his head, the acknowledgment of her presence, but which isn't followed with any significant gesture. Though at least verbally, he replies. ]
If it does, it'd really be backing out of the gambling spirit, wouldn't it? Then again, the House doesn't always take action on the usual things you'd expect.
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[Perking up from her relaxed state, Rin animatedly pats his thigh a few times. Not to initiate anything. More as a gesture to get his attention. It seems like the more time she spends with him the more comfortable she is breaking away from her strict image of perfection.]
Next time we chat ask me about what powers this resort. I think I'm getting closer to the answer. After what J said to me and seeing those pods in the maintenance levels I am pretty sure I'm right!
[And look at her now. Puffing out her chest a bit like a proud bird who just finished preening and now looks their absolute best. It seems Tohsaka is quite confident in her hunch, and the level of boasting seems to imply that she didn't have to deviate far from her original assumption.]
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Why wait? [ Even with the inklings of it making itself known, the aphrodisiac isn't going to kick in sooner no matter the topic of conversation. So, wrily, he adds, ] We can talk business and see if that gets me horny any faster.
[ He has his own share of information as well, and he wouldn't be against trading it up if she decides to play. ]
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Because I don't have confirmation yet, but I'm fairly sure I'll get proof soon. You see... it has a lot to do with the things I was talking about with J when you first reached out to me. There were pods in the maintenance levels, and maybe before our time people were kept in them like batteries. Like that one movie about a simulated universe created so robots could harvest humans.
[She won't actually name drop "The Matrix," but she comes from 2004. Even if she hadn't seen the movie herself she heard about it.]
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Maybe I know a movie like that. It's old though.
[ Says a guy who comes from at least a couple hundred years past the 2000s. Then, back on topic, his gaze finds her face again. ]
You said magic is... like an energy or a life force. So the resort uses that to power itself? It takes energy and turns it into... all the stuff that sustains this place?
[ The water, the electricity, the shit that's holding back his Quirk, and the shit that makes repairs whenever he feels like putting a hole through the wall. ]
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[With Rin raised up on her knees she gently towers over him. A few locks of her hair falling forward over her shoulder as a hand lifts from Tomura to push away a few locks of messy hair from his face. He's not exactly pretty, but it makes him more acceptable in Rin's eyes. She doesn't deserve anything soft or lovely. No, he's fine just the way he is.]
That energy is probably being funneled first to whatever gathered us here, and only a portion allotted to our "cage". There must be some gain that our captors get out of it. Otherwise there would be no point to keeping us here.
[A thumb is brushed gently over Tomura's lip. Any normal girl might develop callouses and rough hands from the way she devours books or flies through pages of notebooks to keep focus. Not Rin, though. She allows no evidence of her toiling or hobbies to leave their mark on her body (well, aside from the rune she placed on herself). He'll find her in steep contrast to himself: soft and unblemished. By design.]
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There are enough possibilities that guessing's pretty much a shot in the dark. [ Off the top of his head, he can already name a number of possible pop cultural references, ranging from "this is actually a fucked up reality TV show" to "we need your life force to survive." ] And you also haveo to consider the irrational explanations, like "this is just tradition" or whatever.
[ He finishes his words on an exhale. The aphrodisiac and her actions are getting to him. The feeling of her thumb over his lips is soft and smooth, in contrast to his own skin, cracked and uncared for, thickened around the slash of a vertical scar. Does he enjoy the feeling? Uncertain, but the aphrodisiac doesn't care much about that; it's unquestionably taken by the weight and warmth of another body hovering close to his, by skin contact, building every second. In another few minutes, it'll be more than just an insistent nudge at the corner of his attention, but not quite yet. He'll push a little longer, put Tohsaka's medicine to a real challenge. ]
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[Rin's self-loathing nature makes his haggard appearance all that more appealing. The scar on Tomura's lip catches her attention so thoroughly that before Tohsaka has a chance to think better of it, she kisses him there. Taking his lips in a lopsided embrace as she yearns to take it all his roughness and imperfections and draw them against her. Like accepting a punishment or self inflicting karma that is past its due.
It's brief, however. Because she can't shut up, or because she doesn't want to be tempted to use him like a weapon against herself when there is a specific goal in mind for this encounter? Either option could be the truth.]
What do you like? As your host I'm feeling... generous with my hospitality, should you need it.
[More like she'd rather show off and please her partner than focus on her own desires.]
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But even if he'd wanted to say anything, perhaps it would've been cut short. They're this far now—it's not like her intentions are subtle, and any refusal he could mount has been nonexistent. Then it's no shock that she leans in and presses a kiss to his lips, over the vertical scar that runs across them, quick and chaste, too brief for him to think about responding before she pulls away. There's amusement when he huffs, the corner of his lips quirked into a smirk. ]
I thought I was supposed to be testing your drug. The experiment isn't gonna hold up if you interfere.
[ He wouldn't have a problem pitching her off his lap if he were so committed to the integrity of the test, but verbal is as far as his opposition gets. At least it can't be questioned that the aphrodisiac is doing its job. ]
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[As if seeking to answer her own question, Rin rolls her hips against him. Purposefully indulging in the friction between them as she drags herself against the evidence of his interest. However she quickly dismounts. Pulling herself off his lap and settling beside him once more to make sure the 'medicine' is completely prepared for him to take.
It's a shame to have to retreat, but even if her heart beats a little faster she knows they've already agreed to swap. The thrill she seeks is sure to come in time.]
Drink up.
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But ultimately, he's agreed to come for a specific purpose, so he doesn't fight it. He scoots forward on the couch and leans in, taking the glass between four fingers, pinky lifted yet again. For as fussy as the gesture seems, he doesn't flinch at the murky appearance of the mixture; he swirls it around once, twice, then raises it to his lips and throws it back as though it were a beer he was meant to chug.
The medicine is bitter. The taste of it is harsh going down his tongue, so in that sense, probably better to have it done quickly. His throat bobs with the large gulps he takes, draining the glass clean within a couple of swallows. When it clatters back onto the coffee table, there's only a thin rim of powder left coating the bottom edge. Though Tomura doesn't complain verbally, he sticks his tongue out as a signal of distaste. He's mostly forgotten about the print of a heart now stamped onto it, just red enough to stand out against the flesh; currently, he's just more concerned that his mouth feels gritty. ]
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Maybe it's the way his suit mark catches her eye, or the soft pink contrasting against the rough features of his face? Rin's hands rest on her lap, and her fingers curl and grip at the fabric of her skirt to keep herself from ruining the illusion of patience.]
Perhaps... I should grind the powder finer next time.
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It's fine.
[ He says this, but his nose wrinkles. He takes the glass and reaches for the water jug for a refill. ]
It's medicine.
[ It's supposed to be unpleasant. And even if it weren't, the pleasantry wouldn't change the effectiveness, the intended purpose of the drug. They weren't children anymore, needing the bitterness to be tempered by the syrupy sweet; they couldn't expect for every hardship to be cushioned, couldn't expect to get far in life by taking a smooth path. If the medicine works just as well in its current form, why go out of the way?
If it works. He washes down the remaining grit in his mouth, then slouches back on the couch to wait. ]
How long is it supposed to take?
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[Will she be able to last that long? Even if Tomura isn't "conventionally" attractive, she still finds herself drawn to him. Hungry for his warmth, and dying to explore his skin. It may be rough, riddled with scar tissue, and some parts may look worn like untreated leather. Yet he still appeals to her. Tomura reminds her of a large predator — strong muscle and probably the intent to back it up, but lazy. Unmoved and unbothered by anyone who isn't a current meal or threat to his territory.
It makes a small girl like her want to push him down and keep him that way. Carefully underneath her thumb like a collared beast. It would be a false sense of triumph and security to be sure, but it would satiate her need.]
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He gives it maybe two minutes before he speaks up. ]
Am I supposed to feel it working by now?
[ His tone comes out tight and gruff, and his posture—initially patient and waiting—reflects the new attitude. While he hasn't changed the way he's sitting at all, his fists are now clenched and a tension runs through his legs—wholly unlike someone who's found relief in her cure. ]
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Better luck next time, I guess. I should make it more potent.
[Tohsaka reaches out to him. Her soft hand resting on one of his balled fists. Her fingers brush against the lines of his knuckles and feel at the tension he holds in himself. She'll make the first move, she'll start advancing. This is her responsibility, and it would be cruel of Rin to make him stew in it any longer than necessary.
After all, she's warm too. Her blood running hot in her veins as she dares not take her eyes off him. Blue gaze fixes on the way his body is tight. Strong with defined muscle and visible strength. She wants to feel it, too — that strength. To know what she's up against and to contemplate the ways she might subdue him should they ever disagree on something worth applying strength over.
Would most conventional girls cringe at him and shy away? Probably, but she's intrigued. Like a cat whose curiosity gets the best of them.]
Do you want a kiss, or would you rather I speed this up?
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He registers the brush of her fingers against his hands, though he doesn't unfurl to receive her just yet. The repression of arousal leaves him tensed and avoidant, his attention devoted to restraint like the dams holding back a flood. He sucks in a breath through his nose. ]
You didn't do it on purpose, did ya?
[ He sounds neutral, if gruff in his distraction: it might be half a joke, half suspicion. Maybe Tohsaka would be the type to try something like that, but even if it were intentional, he wouldn't find himself overly bothered. Such is life in the Golden Peacock, playing their hedonist game. And since the answer doesn't truly matter, he finally moves, a twist of his wrists ending with hers held firmly in his grasp. His index remains lifted on his right hand—the side which still has that finger—as though in habit, despite the casual certainty in his strength. ]
Get on with it, then.
[ There's a strain to the thin curl of his lips—the challenge it should bear wavers, thanks to the sense of urgency. No qualms with letting his partner lead, as long as the stakes aren't high. Perhaps it might telegraph reservation and modesty in some, but for him, Tohsaka's earlier read would be correct—the kind of nonchalance yielded by a particular mix of laziness and unwavering self-assurance. ]
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[Tohsaka knows she's not ugly. Her petite body has its assets even if she's a bit of a disappointment up top. Her image wasn't crafted for a place like this — instead she grew up modest and alluring. Something ideal and up on a pedestal without being too raunchy or base. She was desirable in the way one might want to covet a jewel rather than lusted after like one might crave an unhealthy food. She's quite certain if he's willing then she could have just asked.
Only on her end she cannot just ask. Everything must be a game or a challenge or some kind of transaction. The trade of one thing for another. In a contest of mental gymnastics, Rin would probably be considered an Olympian.]
You know, that's an awfully accusatory thing to say to someone who finds it easy to work with you.
[Hell, maybe in time she'll be able to say she enjoys working with him. As is, he has her wrist firmly in the grip of his hand. It makes Rin uses her free one to hold his cheek and guide his face. Angling him in a way she can easily lean in and press a kiss just off from his lips. The small beauty mark just above his jaw serves as a target of her physical advance so she can slowly pepper her way to the corner of Shigaraki's mouth.
Meanwhile her free hand falls from his face (because she's allowing him to keep the wrist he had claimed) and Rin reaches down to his waistband. Gentle fingers exploring what obstacles she may have to tackle before they're able to free him from the tension straining Tomura's muscles.]
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Just checking—
[ His mild response to her offense, not that it seems very deep-seated at all. He wouldn't have particularly cared, in any case; call it a fucked up sense of adaptation, but getting dosed feels par of the course for life here, regardless of how it might be taken elsewhere. The result is the same anyway: that familiar pull of arousal, drawing him toward the warm body leaning in, cascading perfumed fragrance.
Though she hadn't asked for it, she kisses him anyway. Surprising. In contrast to her smooth, fair skin, she would find his lips scarred and chapped—not that it's ever stopped him before, nor certain partners of his. He simply wouldn't have expected it to come from the lady of the house. Still somewhat at a loss (and no doubt making some assumptions as to how a woman would prefer to fuck), he lets her take the lead, to take the kiss as far as she wants. It's soft, a little tentative for his preference in this state, the impatience simmering below his skin finding the touch at his waistband more welcome. In turn, Tohsaka would find little impediment in her way, just a simple pair of drawstring sweatpants and plain briefs beneath that. He'll release her wrist to make it easier on her, and his hands will instead find purchase on her hips—not yet pulling, but the grip of his fingers firm and tense, the one current point of contact where he can externalize some of the building pressure within his body. ]
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Rin bites at his bottom lip — rolls the chapped skin between her teeth before taking him suddenly. Locked briefly, passionately, as she swipes a taste and small moment of stolen time exploring his mouth. After that sudden confirmation of her own interest, Rin pulls away. Just enough so that her hands can ease away his bottoms to leave him bare assed on her couch. Just enough so that she can shed any remaining clothes on herself other than the miniskirt fluttering about the tops of her thighs.]
Just relax. I said I'd take care of it.
[Before advancing any further her eyes fall to his lap. Gauging how ready he is, because Tohsaka already knows she can probably "get right to it" with just a little bit more effort. The heat and yearning pool in her gut just aching to be quenched. Meanwhile she shifts her weight — preparing herself to mount him properly soon.]
And I keep my word.
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He exhales harshly through his nose, before raising his hips and assisting her in getting his pants off. Then he's left with his bottom half bare, uncovering a dusting of white hair and his erection, hard and ready, already spurred to full interest with the aid of the aphrodisiac coursing through his veins. Again, with some willpower, he sinks back into the couch, legs spread, unashamed of his exposure. He'll keep his hands to himself for now, while he waits to see what she has planned, letting one arm fall over the chair back while the other drops to his side. It's only his eyes that don't rest, as they rake over her body and follow her movements, before finally landing on her face. ]
Then show me.
[ It's a command, to match her own suggestions. Tomura's not the type to beg, so the impatience manifests as challenge instead, to goad her on rather than to ask her for release. ]
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Hair traps scent, after all, as so she always makes certain she's as smooth as possible. He'll feel the way she changes the angle of her hips so that his tip glides along her folds. Picking up the slick fluid that serves as evidence of her own arousal. After giving him a few passes, Rin aims Tomura's erection at her core, and begins to lower herself down so that he sinks into her.]
Just don't expect anything too special.
[It takes her a few moments to adjust having him inside her, but after the walls of her cunt relax around his dick Rin begins to ride him. The hand that kept his cock steady now takes hold of his other shoulder as she uses the strength in her legs and abs to find herself a steady rhythm. Rin expects nothing of him — but not as an insult! The failure of her mixture is not a burden he should have to bear, so Rin intends to let him luxuriate.]
Unless you're the kind of guy who likes to make requests?
[If not, well... she'll make sure to explore him a little more once she finds a solid pace.]
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She's wet, the slickness easing the glide of his tip against her slit, setting his already-sensitive nerves alight. With a breath hissed through clenched teeth, his hands come up to her once more, slipping under her skirt and gripping her thighs; she'll feel the strange points of his two remaining digits on his maimed left hand, but even his uninjured right grasps at her with only four fingers, the middle having been lifted away out of long-impressed habit. There's enough bruising force between them, nevertheless, and the bite of his nails, almost-but-not-quite dragging her down as she sinks over his cock, enveloping him in wet heat that makes his blood hum.
He doesn't rush her while she presumably adjusts (do girls need that?), but his hips shift again, restless and impatient. It's more so because he doesn't know what to expect that he makes no moves of his own—between his inexperience with women and being on this end of the act, it's not so easy to predict what to actually do to get the most out of this position. What doesn't currently really factor in is his partner's enjoyment of the act; unfortunately, he just isn't yet at the point of caring very much how this experience plays out for Rin.
So, even if she asks that, there isn't a good reply for him to give. Just a huffed breath in amusement, before her movements cue him to the option of pushing a little more. His grip on her thighs tightens briefly as he rolls his hips into her momentum; though this may be a relative unknown to him, the instinctual desire to chase a pace that's harder and rougher isn't lost on him, further incited by the aphro coursing through his body. The steady rhythm she builds only lasts for a bit; once he's settled with the knowledge that Tohsaka isn't voicing any complaints, that the glide of his length against her walls meets with no resistance, his hands slip up to grip her ass and anchor her position before he pistons his hips into hers, setting a brutal pace for (he hopes) a much quicker payoff. ]
text ↪ torontonian (backdated a wee bit idk what is time)
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tell me if you find out
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but also: are u doing aight
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can always think of a few ways I could be better
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anyway. are u uncursed yet??
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[ *untrue. but the exceptions are so few it may as well not matter. ]
my libido is normal now, if that's what you're asking
[ wym curse? pshhht ]
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ok 👍🏻
i got hit too that shit was not cool, mother of fuck.
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[ SIGHS... only because he thinks curses might be relevant- ]
what do you mean you got hit
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i mean i went and pissed her off too. the Curse of the Unrelenting Hornies came @ me like the wrath of god.
no bueno, ftr.
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what's that gotta do with me
[ aside from the unrelenting hornies perhaps... ]
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i will take it once more from the top:
i wanted to check up on u bc i realized in hindsight that was prob what was going on w/you too
and to commiserate bc it sucked!!
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what's the connection
horny shit happens here all the time
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everything here is fucking cursed
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it was the horny maiden portrait. the other dude u were with that broke the elevator, i ran into him later and got the story out of him. next time i took an elevator i razzed her abt it and she got me too.
（ that's... a reasonably truthful approximation of what happened, actually. ）
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so did it burn?
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please do not try to set the portrait on fire im p sure ppl with less restraint and more firepower than me would've tried already w/what is clearly no luck
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sounds like you could've solved your curse problem sooner
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sure puts some shit abt this place in perspective tho.
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either that or we get brainwashed directly proportionate to how many hot beef injections we get ourselves while we're here
i'd say smth crude abt pussy too but there's like 2 adult women here that i've seen so im like, fuck if i know man, guess i'm dudes only by design now???
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do u like music
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[ this is mr certified "has no likes" on his character profile. ]
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puppies?
setting ppl on fire??
im gonna land on smth eventually
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degas' ballerinas
stargazing
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( yeah he really just has no intention of moving ranks because he does... not care... )
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[ contrarianism at its finest. ]
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but no, realtalk. do you actually want me to leave you alone?
bc i will
but you're mixin' your signals here.
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[ sorry this is not "realtalk" but it also is kind of realtalk... ]
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memory issues, remember?
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see: but it'd be easier to do that bc then i just wouldn't make a point of remembering who tf you are and eventually that'd just (yeet) outta my brain.
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but it's fine just don't talk to me then. im not an effort after foolishness guy.
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it's more useful to have connections in this place, esp if last time's bs is gonna be a repeating theme
but let me make it clear
I don't want to get to know you or you get to know me
I don't want """"friendly checkins""""
I don't give a fuck about whatever it is you're trying to do
we can play the game or whatever but stay out of my life
that real enough for you
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ok 👍🏻
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@eve | text | sent to @p09
First off, you were right. About the owner of the Red Cardinal, that is. It's the very same woman from that diary entry. I asked what she meant by that thing she said to Victoria, but she wasn't willing to answer because she doesn't know me yet, so now we're in the "getting to know each other" stage.
She also gave me a quest, but thankfully it wasn't a "go fetch me a tree trunk made of a real gold!" type of deal. All she asked for was memories!
Basically, I have to ask 3 people to go into detail about some memory from their past, and then report everything back to her. Simple, right? And since it is simple, I was thinking you could help!
I'll tell you whatever she says afterwards, of course. It's the least I could do, since you're the one who pointed me to her in the first place.
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As it is... Tomoe says this is simple, but—what kind of memory can Tomura even share, here? No way is he going to discuss the villain world with the resort's resident
self-absorbedshiny idol, not to mention something like that has the potential to become much too identifiable. Maybe he could share something from his civilian past, but those memories are distant and sketchy. He could elect to share nothing at all, but that would probably come off a bit suspect, or he could even lie. It could be risky though. ]did she say anything about the length or amount of detail?
i don't have a habit of telling detailed stories.
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I'd just try to choose something interesting, rather than something utterly mundane. So no "The time I ate meat skewers" or "The time I was late to school" or something like that. Then she might just get bored and ask me to redo it!
1/2
let me think about it.
2/2
my father was pretty strict when i was growing up. there are cops where you come from, right? or some kind of law enforcement? that's the kind of job i wanted to do as a kid, and my father hated it. i'd get scolded whenever i talked about it, or he'd send me out of the house. stuff like that. i didn't really get it when i was that age, why the things i wanted were so wrong and why he was always unhappy with me.
the first time i figured there might be something more to the story was when my sister snuck us into his study. she said she had something to show me. in my father's desk drawer, at the very bottom, there was a photo. it was some woman and a kid i had never met. the way i remember it, they were almost hugging, and they looked happy, but what really caught my attention was that she was in uniform.
according to my sister, that was our grandma, so the kid must've been our father. i guess that should've raised more questions, but back then i was just ecstatic that my grandma had done the same thing i wanted to do. if she did it, it felt like there was hope for me too. my sister said she'd support me, and that's probably why she wanted to show me the picture. it was going to be some kind of secret pact between us to pursue our dreams.
thanks to her, that was the first time i learned anything about our grandma. my father never talked about her or about his childhood, so i had a lot of pieces to put together from then on.
[ That's... enough, right? It's short, but she hadn't imposed a length, and it has all the plot twists and mystery that people love within one small snapshot of his life. He can even end it on a good note. ]
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He's curious to know what came next in the tale. But for a couple of reasons, he doesn't ask. One, the quest specified a "memory," not a life story. And two, he doesn't know this person! Which means he probably shouldn't nose into things.]
Thanks. That should be enough detail.
I said I don't know what she's looking for, but if I had to guess, I assume she's trying to find out what people consider important. A memory could be anything, but most of us would choose something we found significant. "What kind of lives did the 'guests' here lead? What were their formative experiences? And what did they consider precious enough to remember years after the fact?" Those are probably the things she's wondering.
Though that *is* just a guess.
Anyway, that should cover it. I'll leave you alone and report back later. But before I go, mind giving me a name? Otherwise I'll have to say "The Network user whose username is P-Zero-Nine told me this!" and that'll sound clunky. If you're shy, you can give me a nickname or an alias!
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As for the rest, he lets the theories simmer for now—neither of them have anything much better than a guess. ]
it stands for player 9.
[ That's good enough for a name, right? Tomoe might even happen to find the same alias on a couple high score screens in the arcade, tell-tale of his mystery interlocutor's interests. ]
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You're not the same "Player" that one girl's been looking for unsuccessfully, are you?
[Monika. He means Monika. But anyway,]
That's good enough, I guess. If her goal is just to learn more about us, then your choice of alias ought to tell her something. "Some people here like games, and they consider themselves 'players'!" That's another interesting fact she can add to her collection 😊
I have one more to gather after this. That one I'll get from my partner, so it shouldn't take too long. The most time-consuming part is eating her dishes for the rest of the month, since she asked me to do that too! But by the end, I should have some info to share. And then we'll hopefully be 1 step closer to getting home to our families and careers.
[That's the closest he'll come to referencing Tomura's memory.]
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[ He's fine revealing this much; after all, this is the account he'd used to talk to Monika when she first appeared on the network. ]
now that just sounds like she wants someone to appreciate her hard work. guess the task could be worse. at least the food there is usually safe.
i hope this info turns out to be as useful as you think it'll be.
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[Aka she made the whole thing up. Though he is aware that different worlds have different famous figures, famous scriptures, different media and so on.
But enough about Monika.]
Yep! She seems like the no-nonsense sort who doesn't want people fooling around in her bar. Which is a breath of fresh air if you ask me. All the food I've had there has been perfectly nice - nothing gourmet, but they do listen to special requests, even if you're not a "royalty card."
And I do think her quest could've been worse. Rather than some long-lost treasure or impossible feat, she simply asked for memories. Which might suggest she's more interested in people rather than things. That's something we have in common. Though I do like shopping for pretty things, too, of course! 😊🛍️
Anyway, talk to you soon! 👍🤗✨️
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👋
[ Yep that does it! ]
text; un: dabi
a report. just a report. just league bullshit. just what he's supposed to do. feelings don't matter. )
endeavor's here.
missing an arm.
healthy otherwise.
no sign of any other heroes.
no sign of number two, either.
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he's not worried about endeavor himself. that man hadn't taken anything from them in the same way hawks had, and what's more, the current no. 1 seems hardly like the type that could scheme to do them damage. what makes his heartbeat quicken is dabi. how dabi is taking this. as fuzzy and blurred as his memories are, he remembers enough, he remembers dabi's frenzied battle against the family he'd never once mentioned.
what would dabi want him to say here, do here? should he stay out of it, again, still, like he did always in their original world? in the months they've spent here, have they moved past the point for him to ask, to even be... concerned? he's terrible at this. with something this... personal dredged up, he finds that he can't see where the boundaries lie, the line in the sand washed out by the number of times they've run up against it, walked around it, smeared its impression.
like dipping a toe in the water, he starts small, or at least what he feels is small, and safe. the rest can wait. ]
did he approach you?
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( fucking coward couldn't even look him in the face any other time, there's no way he'd see him and come running--like always, he had to put himself in front of him, and even then, he couldn't get anywhere. )
the war must still be going.
he didn't tell me anything useful.
( it's shaky, a struggle: trying so hard to compartmentalize it. as if it helps. )
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the last time I saw him should've been around the time you did
his arms were intact
[ he lets that stand for a moment, then, against his instincts, tacks on: ]
you're unhurt?
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do you want me to stay away from him?
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could still hurt him
or at least keep him out of our way.
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as long as you're still around to state your wishes.
[ all bets are off if dabi becomes incapacitated or vanishes. ]
I can't promise anything for his friends or lovers.
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he'll wither and die here before he fucks anyone.
he says it's all assault.
fucking rich, coming from him.
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if he can really die like that, it would make some things easier for us
[ would he still be there once they returned to their own world? ]
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he'll just come back.
i fucking hate this place
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"eve"
there was something about turning to stone
maybe that'd be different than dying normally
if he sticks by his convictions
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will you tell me what you're thinking
or what you want
even here you're my ally so I'll back you, you know
whatever you wanna do
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don't know what i think. i can't think. it doesnt make sense
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I think I can get that
[ being stuck in a cage with someone you hate, where no amount of damage would erase their presence? nowhere to go to never see them again? it's the kind of thing that makes him eager to bring the roof down over the heads of the House yet again, and—
it's funny. every inch of him is screaming to do something, to make someone pay for this, and he's just sitting here, tapping away on a holographic keyboard. ]
have you wiped out your minibar yet?
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some idiot is buying rounds at the gilded cage, i'm just taking advantange.
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[ not that it matters what the idiot thinks. tomura would show up anyway. he just wants dabi to know in advance. ]
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she's fucking blasted.
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[ that's what he says, at first. isn't it better for both of them this way, the meaning of it left in the air between them, to be interpreted however dabi wants. tomura still doubts that dabi likes being chased, likes being reachable. that's the opposite of how things always went, isn't it? not answering his phone, going off on his own, pursuing his own goals, that's how dabi liked it—maybe even now—the rest of them relegated to whatever spare room was left over.
tomura had accepted that's how things were going to be, but he doesn't know anymore. does dabi want his attention, or does he hate it even now? even though dabi had always maintained that firm boundary wall between them, it feels like there's something unpleasant and bitter about it, when tomura himself retreats behind it. his fingers hesitate on the keypad, but if he's going to waste time like this, he'd rather get moving instead. second-guessing is worse than useless. ]
just keep your ass in that chair til I get there
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he hates leaning on people. doesn't trust anyone. but tomura-- )
promise i won't lay on the floor til you get here.
text → action
The only thing he has going for him is that he's not easily turned away from what he's already decided he has to do. He has no idea of where to start or what he might say once they begin talking (if they even will); he can only hope they won't start off poorly again, that he can play this by ear well enough to... give Dabi what he needs. Whatever he needs. Easier said than done, when it sounded Dabi himself probably didn't even know.
Once inside the lavish surroundings of the Gilded Cage, he Searches Dabi out from the crowd gathered for the high-flying guest's extravagance. Once he's locked on to his target, he moves in, pushing through bodies to slot himself right between two bar stools carrying Dabi and another guest. It doesn't matter to Tomura if they were talking or not—whenever he sees Dabi, he wants to take up his attention as wholly as he can. Tomura sighs, a small breath of air that puffs through his nose. ]
Drinking by yourself? Handsome.
[ It doesn't sound flirtatious coming from him. It sounds monotonous, but it might do the trick anyway. ]
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tomura's there, he knows, by the heat that slides into the stool beside him. his own arms are folded, his head pillowed down into them, and when he lifts, it's just his eyes, at first, rimmed with a little dried blood, that watch warily, as though to ensure it's really tomura. funny, that a compliment like that makes him want to smile; his cheeks shift, but the sight of the smile is hidden by his sleeve. )
Here for a date? ( as if they're roleplaying something; he finally lifts his chin, pinning it against his arm. ) Might have better luck with one of those hot guys down the bar.
( the bartender sweeps by, taking up his empty shot glasses, placing two each in front of himself and tomura. hazy, he pushes himself to sit up fully; his eyes are glassy, and it takes a moment to focus on the drinks through the alcohol-laden blur. )
How fucked up do you think we should get?
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A peek of a blue eye greets him when he settles in, a little wary, a little tentative. It's the kind of look that makes Tomura want to reach out a hand, to stroke and caress until Dabi opens himself fully and leans into the touch, but Tomura restrains himself. Here it's too noisy, too public, and he doesn't know if his touch would be welcomed anyway, so he slides himself in the next seat over. For his own part, he tucks his chin into his hand, propped up against the counter, gaze focused unwaveringly on Dabi all the while. There's not so much as an inclination to look around him at all the other supposedly eligible guests around them, regardless of what Dabi suggests. ]
I want the hot guy in front of me right now.
[ The edge in his eyes softens a touch, his lips slightly curling. He only glances away to see what drink has been set beside them, but his attention returns to Dabi again when the man finally sits up. Tomura can finally study him better like this, noting the daze in his eyes, the slower reaction speed. Dabi might not be a mess yet, but it sure seems he's on his way there. ]
As much as you want. As long as you don't throw up.
[ He's not one to restrict what Dabi does or preach about finding healthy coping mechanisms. It's just that battling an alcoholic nausea the rest of the night sounds like a recipe to make an already miserable situation worse. ]
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( there's at least some measure of humor forced into his voice, even if it's just by instinct; it's a shitty joke, a shitty pun, and they both know it, by the slight graze of tomura's mouth up into a smile. there's something to be said for finding comfort in the familiar, where he's been a person that's never really had anything familiar to lean on in his life; having tomura here next to him, acting just the same as always, helps settle him a little, grounding him in the moment. he'd never thought he'd have anything close to full trust in the guy, during their first meeting: but they've been through hell and back, and tomura is much more of a leader than he often gives him credit for.
at the very least, he's willing to sit with him and mooch off free drinks, and he likes that about him, even if he won't say it out loud. misery loves company, and even if tomura isn't quite as miserable as he is, at least he's here to help make it less of an overwhelming weight on his shoulders.
with a long breath, he pushes his elbows into the bar so that he can sit up, properly. it won't be good if he takes a shot and spills it all over himself; long fingers reach for the glass, holding it up to eye level to ascertain the contents. )
If we're sticking with this stuff, I got...what, another three shots in me before I puke.
( a drawling estimate, which maybe betrays how much he's had to drink already: even sitting up for this long is making him want to slump back to the bar. )
A toast, yeah? To stupid fucking heroes sticking their fucking noses everywhere they shouldn't.
( a little jingle of his glass in the air in indication, before he tips his head back and swallows the shot--immediately sliding the glass back onto the bar top. at this point, it doesn't matter how nasty it tastes. )
Can't believe I'm stuck seeing him fucking--walking around--everywhere. ( the words blur together in disgust, anger, a little excitement. ) Just wanna kill everyone he touches.
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Tomura's going to consider veto-ing that last shot, if they get there. They're not there yet though, so he obligingly raises his glass in a mockery of celebration, downing it when Dabi does. It goes down harsh and burning, the kind that he can almost feel fizzling through his nose, but he lacks the sensitivity toward this kind of thing that might trigger a gag reflex; at most, the drink gets a wrinkled nose in protest of its taste before he too slides the empty shot glass back across the counter. Then, his eyes are back on Dabi—observing mostly, and evaluating partially, trying to determine if he should predict Dabi taking to a frenzy that would unleash all his temper and flames. ]
You could, if you wanted to. It wouldn't take, but it still feels like something.
[ He knows that much. He can't kill, but he can hurt, he can threaten, he can maim—sometimes it scratches the itch, even if he knows his opponent could come back around afterward. There's no principled opposition for him to take against Dabi's inclinations, and they know what they are, both of them. People who've killed, without second thoughts, without remorse. It doesn't make much sense to drag him back from those impulses now, but it... doesn't feel quite right. Doesn't feel quite right to let Dabi barrel headlong into reckless self-destruction when there's no war to be fought, when he's right within reach.
It's funny. It's when Tomura thinks about trying to play it safe with his ally's well-being that his words fail him. He's never protected a single thing in his life. ]
Not tonight. You're drinking with me.
[ It's weak, but it's the only thing he can spit out in the moment. ]
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( a low mumble, as he settles for folding his arms on the bar, pillowing his chin down against them. if he were younger, more naive, a little more innocent, he might look like a sulking child, someone that's been told they're wrong or that they can't have what they want. but those are years and experiences that have been mostly robbed from them both; hell, he spent three years in a coma, and he can only imagine what tomura must have experienced growing up with that guy, there.
it's frustrating. back home it's easy to justify: a kill is another strike against endeavor's perfect little record, another travesty caused by the domino effect of his actions. does he fully believe it? no matter what he'd said, showing the public some kind of demure side to his poor insanity, a part of him knows that a lot of that had been false. killing had felt like winning something back, in a way, something he doesn't know how to identify. but killing someone here will just bring them back again, and bring them back wrong. and then what? the resort can label him some kind of ruthless murderer? even if he is.
a soft breath, amused, into his arms. )
Doesn't it fucking drive you crazy? I bet it does. There's no fucking point to this place, no point in being here other than to fuck our lives away while we wait to go back to the most important thing we've ever done. Some free fucking vacation.
( his eyes close, but he's still talking. )
If you're gonna stay with me tonight, you're gonna have to catch up. Do about three or four of those in a row and then we can say we're drinking together, leader.
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But it isn't. He doesn't know what he wants, and that's a problem. What can Tomura do for someone who doesn't even know what he wants? All he can think of is himself—how he's the one who wants to draw the conflict out of Dabi's mind, to coax him back into that casual, languid mood they shared before it all went to shit. As much as anything can go more to shit beyond being trapped in this nonsensical place. How selfish is that? ]
You know it does.
[ Drives him crazy. Like he hadn't done his time ranting in Dabi's room when he heard about it, that piece of shit no. 2 showing up. It's salt in the wound not to be able to get rid of him here, secure the proper send-off for Twice, hoping it might lighten their load in the original world if they could pick off the pros here, one by one. Instead of doing any of that, by all accounts there's nothing to do but sit and twiddle their thumbs. Even if there are ways around it—around the death and revival mechanic—it's difficult to make a move himself, without the involvement of the others. When Dabi had explicitly ruled it out himself.
What a joke. To only be good as a drinking companion, and not even really that. ]
No way the bartend's gonna let me put that on her tab. Remember what rank I am?
[ Tomura doesn't often play by the rules, but there's a time and a place for a commotion and a fight. Sure, maybe Dabi would feel better, torching the whole bar, but maybe he might just puke in the middle of it. ]
I'll make it up to you. At your place.
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( it's said with a bitter swallow, muffled into the sleeve of his sweatshirt as his head twists, there, as he shakes his head. another stupid, pointless feature of this place, another dumb thing that doesn't make any sense, that sets them worlds apart when the whole point is that they're supposed to be together. tomura in the basement, compress somewhere arbitrarily in the middle, and his own sorry ass shoved up to some 'important' rank as though it could matter at all. as though being a former todoroki meant something here. as if the resort's trying to tell him where he does and doesn't belong.
and he hates it. he hates the implication, hates that they're all cast out to sea, here, left treading water for little purpose other than to bide their time past one more day. and then another day, and another--and what's the point? if there's nothing to burn, nothing to destroy, nothing to cut into pieces, why are they here? it's like the resort should have spat them back out the moment it swallowed them down. bad apples, or something of the sort.
with a slow breath through his nose, steadying the lurch of his stomach, he pushes to sit up again. he doesn't mind the offer. it's almost like a oar stuck out to save him as he's drowning; his suite is dark, his suite has a bed, has all those pretty bottles they can drink until tomura's as far gone as he is. if tomura's there with him, then he doesn't mind being there--it's not the opening maw of silence, even loneliness, if tomura is there. )
Well that's fuckin' forward. ( a drawling tease, exhausted--but the slight smile on his lips, even forced, feels genuine. ) Inviting yourself back to my bed and all.
( it's not forward: not with who they are, not with what they've done. he just wants to see that disgusted little wrinkle of tomura's nose at the words. )
Let me close this out. ( his hand lifts, a tap of his watch to the bartender for the rest of the drinks; the woman down the bar has started sobbing, as though laughter easily bleeds into tears, as though happiness is some small, fleeting thing that can't be found at the bottom of some glasses. once the bill is paid, he pushes back to slide off the stool--and immediately latches an arm out to grab for tomura, steadying himself. )
Yeah. My place. Good idea.
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You should invite me first, next time.
[ Not that he's particularly fussy about being invited. Tomura goes anywhere with the attitude of someone who has the right to be wherever he wants to be, whether it's incognito in a crowd or lounging in a mansion of conquered goods—or intruding into someone else's private quarters. It's not the permission he cares for, it's the desire—the desire to be with him, the desire of thinking about him when he's not there—but he thinks expecting that much is like pining after a mere daydream. Just as the thought of getting intimate used to be, he refuses to waste time on wistful fantasies that don't bear fruit. It's too pathetic, too useless for someone like him, whose sole quest lies in destruction and violence. The enormity of it crushes anything else. And for all he knows, that casual remark will be forgotten by Dabi in the morning, maybe in those more clear-headed hours—or maybe struck out by the liquor's vengeance.
Perhaps the latter being more likely, as Dabi stands—and slumps. Tomura doesn't evade the hand that reaches for him, allowing the steadying grip, accepting the weight Dabi wants to lean into him. These days, he could easily wrap Dabi into his hold, bundle him up like a futon to carry back to the room, but Dabi's probably not that far gone yet. Instead, he'll offer an arm, a shoulder, whatever Dabi would rather take on their journey out of the restaurant as Tomura leads again, weaving them through waiters and guests. At least it would be an improvement, if this time they could make their exit slightly intertwined in each other. ]
@ eve | text | sent to @p09 again and backdated to 7/6
I'm sorry about the delay, but I have some info now. It's sort of a lot to untangle and I'm not sure how helpful it all will be, but here goes!
[If Tomura thought the last text he sent was overly long, whoo boy.]
First, you should know I was only given three questions I could ask. One for each memory! I tried to get as much information out of her as I could, but she wasn't very forthcoming about certain things. Or she said it was only a guess, and she didn't know truly know the answer.
Anyway, for my first question, I asked if she ever got a better sense of what the resort takes from us and why some guests are considered more valuable. I said there was a theory going around that our intimacy is what powers the resort, but she said it's not just that. She said, "What the resort takes from us is our fate. There are those who are meant to play a greater role in life, and they offer more for the resort to sustain itself on." Then she asked me to consider the difference between an emperor who commands a powerful nation, and a servant who's destined to die young.
I couldn't really tell if she was saying the "emperor" is more valuable because he's fated to accomplish more in life, or what. But when I asked her to elaborate, she said her theory is that "playing the game changes our fate" by making us "have such an intimate encounter with someone we never would've met before coming here."
Next question! For my second question, I asked what happens to guests who don't provide enough energy, and if there's any truth to the rumor that the ones who don't sleep around much get turned to stone. She said "some people do indeed turn to stone." But then she said "whether it happens to every guest, I don't know" and "it didn't happen to me even after I lost my usefulness because of a deal I made."
Then for my third question, I asked why she was still here if the resort supposedly lets everyone go home once they've filled their so-called deck. She said that she did win her game, and that she could have used her wish to go home, but she used it to save her daughter's life instead. Her daughter was born with a heart defect. Apparently you only get one wish, and if you use it to save someone else you're just stuck here forever.
I told her I'd come back with double the memories if she let me ask three more questions, but she didn't seem interested, so that's it for now. Any thoughts on all this?
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the 2nd and 3rd points basically jive with what i've heard before. there are guests who've been here for a long time. i don't know about all of them, but she's the 2nd person i've heard of who's completed the game. the 1st one's j, who also insists that people can leave using their wish, but i'm pretty sure he spent his on something else. i don't know what the exact status of the petrification thing is for them, but maybe the length of their stay or the completion of their deck means they don't have to play anymore. or maybe it not mattering anymore has something to do with their fate.
but that 1st theory is a new one i haven't heard of before, so i also can't say for sure. if anything, i guess it shows that the house probably can't pick and choose who gets in, otherwise it'd be more efficient to spend its energy sucking up presidents and kings. [ Maybe even a younger Symbol of Peace or his own Sensei. ] but as far as i can tell, someone's value doesn't have much to do with how they're treated here. i don't think they're wining and dining their most "valuable" guests.
[ Which would totally include him, thank you... ]
but rather than who's valuable, i would wanna know why and how. does it count if they make us experience an intense emotion we otherwise wouldn't? or does it all hinge on us changing our fates by choosing to stay here?
not that i believe this concept of fate, but i guess i admit i'd be doing something else if i didn't have to be here.
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She also didn't say whether she had proof her daughter was doing well - whether her daughter ever sent postcards, or if the House ever gave her proof she was still alive. I don't mean to assume the worst, but I want to consider all possibilities.
She said she thought she understood the House pretty well, though, for whatever that's worth.
If they can't pick and choose, I'm not sure how we're getting in. Not voluntarily, that's for sure!
And it seems to me they've done a pretty good job of collecting bigwigs. I've met 2 princes, 2 high-ranking government officials, a lord, an immortal ghost king, 2 idols, 2 other celebrities, some nobles, some powerful mages, and a god since coming here. That's not exactly what you'd call a normal sample of people, is it?
You're right about our treatment, though. Having high status in the real world doesn't mean you'll have high status here. I've met royals who were given low ranks.
Anyway, I'm not really sure what counts. I know my fate in the real world was forever changed by some of the people I met, but I wouldn't say the same thing's happened here. And just going to bed with someone certainly isn't "fate-changing." If anything, the way they've set up that game seems counterproductive, since the act would start to lose all intimacy thanks to repetition. Both parties don't even have to enjoy themselves, let alone share an emotional moment.
So, if you ask me, this whole place is set up rather poorly! Not that *that's* news.
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maybe if someone can 100% figure out the house's power, there'd be a way to engineer a confirmation. but even if what happens is they send check outs to the incinerator, i'd rather find out for myself than stick around here waiting for perfect proof.
you've met a lot of people, huh? sure you're not just chumming it up with the bigwigs?
[ maybe it's his own fault for assuming most people are Just Some Guys though. ]
the whole concept of this place is bullshit, but there's enough morons buying into it anyway to keep it running. there are already people who seem happy enough being here.
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Or on Loki, since he's a god and he can shapeshift!
And I did make that Magic Showcase post, so I guess that would explain why I've heard from a lot of powerful magic users. But I'm not purposefully seeking out bigwigs. Both times I ran into a prince, for example, it was a chance encounter.
True! I always assumed the long-term guests had been brainwashed. But some people come from rough backgrounds, or they come from a world that's been torn apart by war or other such things. Compared to the life they led before, this place must seem like a land of plenty. Which is exactly what the House wants us to think, of course.
But I'll never see things their way. We're in agreement about this place being bullshit!
[Now for a pause.]
I don't normally use language like that, just so you know. But I figure it's alright when the situation truly warrants it. Still, don't tell any of my fans, OK?
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it's just how people are. some of them will choose a comfortable cage if it benefits them. if they want to stay, they can.
[ Not that he doesn't understand it, somewhat. He's wondered, once or twice, whether there weren't people who would be better off here. Better off here than dead. ]
i don't think there's anyone here who would be bothered by you throwing little swear words around. at least try on an f bomb for size.
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As for what he said, here goes!
[He takes a moment to go back to the message.]
1. The resort is made of energy, both "positive and negative." He detected more negative energy last time he looked.
2. Some guests are basically ghosts, or "lost souls" as he called them. He said they're "a blend of living and nonliving," whatever that means. He can't tell what the staff are, but it seems they're not ordinary humans either. And the ones in the casino are sucking up people's energy, supposedly.
3. The thing that replenishes energy the most is sex. That goes for the resort's energy, as well as our energy.
4. Guests who had sex frequently had the most energy, and the ones who'd been intimate with the largest number of people left the "strongest impression." The ones who hadn't slept around as much had "weaker souls."
Which sounds absolutely preposterous, and I'm still not sure how he was able to sense these things without peeking into people's bedrooms, but there you go.
It's a lot for me to swallow. I'm not sure how much you got out of that either, since I forget whether or not your world has magic in it. Do phrases like "positive and negative energy" mean anything to you?
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[ Irritatingly. ]
at most, i can see it jives with what the bar owner said, if encountering other people and fucking is a way to "change fate" or whatever. all of this just points to us being batteries for this place, doesn't it? we can conveniently recharge ourselves and it along with us.
i guess batteries need both positive and negative ends for energy to flow, but that's the only sense it makes to me. you should've had him elaborate.
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What do you want him to elaborate on? I could still ask. Or better yet, you could ask, since I'd rather be a songbird than a carrier pigeon! But here are some more things he said, in case any of these are illuminating. I'll just copy & paste them!
"My opinion continued is that sex is vital, is key, but that this flow of energy may not be the only reason we are here. A method for battery, certainly, but a battery is not the main show of any technology, is it? The question "what does this flow of energy do for the House" is what interests me."
"Energy seems to be stolen most often on the casino floor, by those dealers. Energy is replaced by sex of any form, but those who have it more often and with more people seem more robust with it."
"In any case, the suits seem to be in constant conflict already, fluctuating by the day and hour. The last I checked, clubs had a lead of sorts, so those sort of incidents may just be culminations of collected energy from the struggles?"
By "those sort of incidents," he was talking about that business the other month where Clubs took over those few areas.
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the most obvious answer would be that "batteries power the resort," no? electricity isn't free and neither is running water or temperature control. from what i know, neither is magic. there are plenty of all those things here.
thanks for the info though. any more speculating probably won't be that useful, but i'll contact you if i learn anything new. obviously i'd prefer it if you could do the same.
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[(There is no such thing.)]
Honestly, despite being a genius-type, I'm afraid the explanation might not make much sense to me. My world just doesn't have magic. But very well, I'll ask!
And that's what I thought, but he seems to think there's something more to it than that. I guess there's always the question of why exactly they're powering the resort in the first place. It can't be money, since they aren't making any of that from us guests. And this place is way too fancy to just be a holding ground for ghosts and lost souls. It might help if we could figure that out somehow.
Not that I really care what this place is for as long as we can leave. But it *is* an unsolved mystery.
It'd also be nice to shut it down forever so no one else ever has to go through what we've gone through, but that might be asking for too much even with justice on our side.
And yep, sure thing! I'm happy to have what they call a business relationship 😊🤝😊 Talk to you next time I find something!
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JesseHiyori what are you talking about... ]is there a reason he thinks there's more to it? maybe there is, but even animals will eat just to hunt the next day. wanting to preserve someone or something can be as simple as that, even if the thing they're preserving isn't even useful.
i agree as far as saying this place should be shut down though.
[ Even if "shut down" is probably nicer than what he has in mind!!! ]
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Based on his experience with magic, I guess. I'm not too sure though. Once again, you'd have to ask him!
And that's true enough, I suppose. The resort is allegedly old, and old traditions die hard. Which means it might just be up to the younger generation to shake things up and carve the path to a shining future! ✨✨✨✨
The younger generation is us in this case! Though I'm not sure how old you are.
And I'm open to other options besides a peaceful shutdown. I'd just like to avoid an all-out war, is all. I don't want to be caught in the crossfire!
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[ Not that he guarantees he'll follow it up, necessarily, but it can't hurt to know?
Also: don't talk like that... But this time he refrains from picking a fight when Tomoe starts going off on all the shining light stuff. ]
i'm not as old as this place. not even close. [ Narrows it down a lot! 👍 ]
it'll all depend on whether they're willing to shut down without a fight. places that kidnap you probably won't.
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And good to know you're not an old man. I thought Edelstein was an old man based on her typing style, but it turned out I was wrong! I won't be making that mistake again.
And yep, it's unfortunate, but somebody will have to do something!
Or multiple somebodies. I do wonder what would happen if all the powerful magic users and such all banded together to fight their way out of here. You know, just as an example.
But cooperation is hard without a strong leader to rally the troops, and I'm no military general. I'm just an idol~✨
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that scenario is a fun little thought experiment, but the chances of winning are low if we can't rely on someone who's figured out the magic system in this place. who's to say they wouldn't just zap everyone with an uncontrollable urge to fuck.
[ Just sayin'... It seems like the resort's preferred way of dealing with things? ]
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[Because he had his partner with him. He doesn't understand just how unbearable that would've been if he was alone. Thank goodness for Jun-kun!]
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all i'm saying is if someone wants to mastermind a jailbreak we gotta have a lot more information than we do now.
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I know others who can do magic, but I'm not sure who else has been using it to figure out how the place runs. So until we find another helper, I guess we'll have to keep relying on that same person I mentioned. I'll make sure to tell him that everyone's counting on him!
[No pressure, Esikko.]
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i'll put them in contact if i find anyone else. but before that, are you sure the guy you've got in mind wants to leave?
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Which sounds like a lot of effort for little gain, if you ask me. But I guess it's sort of like being a detective. Some detectives have personal motivations, like "justice" or "revenge," while others simply love to solve a good mystery.
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Though is there any rule saying you have to go home to your *own* world? If we shut the place down, perhaps those who don't have a good home to go back to can hitch a ride with someone who does! That's where all these "intimate connections" we've forged could come in handy.
I wouldn't mind letting people come back to my world. They could get jobs, rent apartments, buy my CDs and go to my concerts! Or hop on a plane and fly elsewhere! Whichever!
Yep, on second thought, getting rid of this place is just fine~
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dunno if there's a rule for it. all i'm saying is you better keep your magic guy on your side. it would suck if he jumps ship because he decided he likes this place better.
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Also, we're friends!
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well that's probably good enough at this stage
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I know it's not the kind of intimacy they're looking for, but I think friendships can be just as "fate-changing" as that other sort of bond. In fact, I know so!
The same goes for family, partnerships, and so on. Their view of intimate connections is too narrow if you ask me.
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[He just doesn't realize Esikko is one of them. He can sense a buried spitefulness, one that reminds him of a certain "friend" back home. But as far as he knows, the most dangerous thing about Prince Esikko Blum Whatever is his willingness to hurt himself in pursuit of his own goals.]
The power of friendship alone won't save us. That can help heroes defeat villains in the movies, but it won't take care of everything in the real world.
Still, even if he decides something silly like "I don't need friends!", his love for magical research should help us through. He sounds like he'd rather do that than sit in the spa or gamble in the casino all day.
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well, as long as he's working with you now, there's no reason to cut him off.
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Fine, fine! If you love business so much, then business is what you'll get!
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, thirstypeople out there who would be more than happy. Why set his sights on some random burner account? ]nice doing business with ya.
text ; un: pz25948011717
what the hell's your fucking problem with me
do you seriously think it's that funny picking fights with me
grow up already
[ This is extremely rich coming from him ... ]
thought i'd try to be civil with you
like you're supposed to be with your friend's coworkers
but maybe that's a waste of effort on you
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None of this is actually going to transfer to text. Even if Tomura were inclined to be "helpful," it would probably lead to another argument loop. So what he ends up focusing on is something that holds at least a bit of interest to him. "Friend" and "coworker"... That's a choice™ to describe them. ]
so you're friends now, huh?
are you trying to get along with me for his sake?
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Like hell he's going to back off an inch, though. Time to forge on, like he isn't at all embarrassed by Tomura putting it in such blunt terms. ]
what
you gonna start shit with me over that now?
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I'm not his gatekeeper
I don't need to approve of you
whether you're civil or friendly or whatever doesn't really matter
so you can drop it
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you think i'm trying to be civil because i need your permission to be around him
don't be stupid
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what's that have to do with anything
are you trying to be friends
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[ Even in text, there's the implied inflection of 'absolutely not, duh.' ]
but it's normal to try and at least be civil
to the friend of a friend
you get it?
i'm not trying to kiss your ass for permission
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you don't get to talk shit at my manners
why the hell would i keep trying when you seem to have some problem with me
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to be praised for trying?
good boy you're so brave for trying something you don't even want to do
you get 💯 on your social studies test
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you think you're being so cute and clever with this shit
when the hell did i say i want praise
you think i'd be talking about any of this if you weren't constantly being an ass at me?
don't act like i'm any worse than you
when you don't even get the concept of trying to get along with people because it's the right thing to do
"i'm not his gatekeeper" give me a break
no wonder you don't have any friends
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straight answer to what
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what is it
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take it or leave it. it doesn't matter to me if you accept my reasons or not. that's the difference between us.
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Too bad he's too dumb and cowardly to verbalize any of that himself! ]
go fuck yourself
you don't get to decide what i do and don't believe in
you try to make it sound like you're so much better
but there's nothing admirable about being a jackass on purpose
you're not any better than me
you're just more smug about it
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it's normal for someone to talk back when you get all judgmental
stop overreacting
@edelstein | text
[Yeah, he's going. No question.]
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wasn't planning on it
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[ unless she wants Sexy Racecar 420. ]
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Sure. I don't think I get along with most people who RSVP'd so it'd be nice to see an agreeable face even if we only chat here and there.
[After all she doesn't expect it to be a date, or even for them to spend most of their time with each other. She just wants... familiarity. A little comfort to see him across the room as she flits about like a social butterfly trying to take advantage of every drunk and naive person she can set her sights on.]
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[ stealing... he means stealing. ]
isn't that pretty much the same as going alone?
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I want to see you there, not smother you or hang off your arm like a purse. Unless you *want* that from me?
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if I'm getting dressed up to go all the way there I think I deserve at least a warm welcome
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1. What do you WANT to go as?
2. How warm?
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2. a drink and shit-talk about all those people you don't get along with
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2. You set the bar pretty low, how can I decline? I'll allow you one extra request when you see what they have available. After that I hope to fleece some drunk idiots if you don't mind.
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aside from putting card swapping on easy mode
2. you wanna get booked for a session of apple bobbing or something
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2. If I'm going to drag you to a party I might as well make sure get something out of it. It's my responsibility to make sure it breaks even.
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but what I'm getting is that you don't like the idea, huh?
2. count the extra toward me paying you off
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2. You've already got an installment plan on that one. After all you have to come up to my room to let me try it out now-and-again, right?
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I don't like parties
dunno what else you think we'll find there to break even
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Just make note of what you see when you get there and tell me if it interests you! Maybe you'll want to play the games, or see if you like the Haunted House, or maybe we can even scare a few people together. If it still isn't enough just consider it on a tab and cash in later. You know how to find me.
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if you're gonna suggest scaring people, shouldn't the costume actually be scary?
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other than that what's your idea for slightly unsettling then?
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like what, a demon?
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[The last thing she needs is for them to show up in matching costumes. She's sure that she wouldn't live it down.]
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[ he's stuck on this. ]
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Better off going for something grotesque if you want scary in this day and age.
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haven't seen him do it though
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[ helpful... ]
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That doesn't explain anything! Can you even control a limb that's been completely severed from your body?!
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Don't you dare get your head lopped off right before I take you to a party. How the hell do you expect to share a drink and talk gossip if you're in two pieces? Or worse! In the infirmary as they try to bring you back to life - unable to attend the party at all!
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[ 🤔 ]
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If you want to experiment then we can do that AFTER.
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You seem confident you'd survive.
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like I said, I haven't had it happen before
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in the spirit of halloween
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Well... nothing can be worse than the basement that held the Matou workshop.]
Sure. That doesn't scare me.
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That depends on if you're after momentary frights or a long term fear. Before coming here I was in a competition with six other mages in a fight to the death for a wish-granting vessel.
A bit of dismemberment is something I've already seen with my own two eyes.
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[She's much like a cat in that she's easily startled if she's not explicitly prepared for something.]
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un: dabi
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for the delight of pumpkin smashing?
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you might have to give up on smashing pumpkins
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at least at a halloween party i'd fit in with the decoration.
i'll be there. if you want to come, we'll have fun. if you don't, you'll regret it anyway. at least have a drink on me.
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gonna keep me company then? or am I just there for moral support or whatever while you go around fitting in with other people?
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can't be me then
I just don't get the point of inviting someone if you wanna be mingling with other people instead
hypothetically
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so if i go to a party i have to choose one person only to spend time with? hypothetically.
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not that I would object, but it sounds like you don't want to
just sayin if you buy me a drink you're gonna drink one with me
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who asks someone to buy a drink for another person?
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you're different
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[ he doesn't remember any kind of drinks when dabi first walked into his bar !!! ]
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if I go it'd be because someone who's worth the effort wants me there
not because I wanna get in with the masses
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do you want me there?
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I should make you read between my lines too
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wear something hot. i'll buy you two drinks.
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I'll pick up this place's hottest sexy building fire costume
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could always go as a firefighter and hose me down.
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long enough to have a few drinks at least
oh yeah? are you going as a sexy building fire?
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what'll you go as instead?
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maybe you should think about going as a sexy priest
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maybe we'll just have to pick something that isn't a cross
@edelstein | text
My sister is here. Declaring my intentions to her would likely put everyone in danger.
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you know that doesn't make sense without context, right
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no
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She would probably hate that too. Imagine the person who ruined your life deciding to take some twisted pity on you, but it was too late. You're already messed up, and hold it against them.
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So far we've been able to remain civil.
[BY THE POWER OF JUST NOT ADDRESSING IT.]
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[ maybe he would want to say that, but how would he know? it's not like anyone's faced him either, in any way other than the physical. ]
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Right. And she'd be entitled to it. That anger and hatred. I don't think she's in the wrong for it.
[But I can't turn back now. Yes you can. It's gone too far. It's too late. Is it really? We can never be sisters again.]
What would you do if they did face you? If they embraced you?
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there isn't an equivalent kind of person for me
[ just many, many people who don't have the right to pretend to know him, who only want to know him for their own sakes. ]
but a long time ago, someone tried to take my side
it made the world feel less lonely for a bit
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Thank you.
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Actually, I think she might be able to. I just won't stay dead is how it works if I heard right.
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it's not like you'll stay dead.
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A price would need to be paid, most likely.
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1/? sorry i'll let you know
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6/6 i guess... thank u for patience
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what makes you think they'd change something?
[ point
him ]
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The world works in equivalent exchanges, and the proprietress seemed to imply this resort also works based on giving up a "price". So there would, logically, be a "price" for you to pay to be brought back if you didn't survive being decapitated.
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but, fine
point taken
you're still worried about dying here
do you need a bodyguard for the times you run into her?
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She admitted she was worried.
Maybe she should actually find Sakura right now and ask to be put out of her misery.]
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you listed dying as one of your concerns.
anyway I won't get myself killed for a stupid reason
but I doubt anyone's gonna get out of here by playing it safe.
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I did, but if she's able to outmatch me, then I deserve it.
Fine. Just make sure to tell me if you're going to kick the bucket so I can prepare for a new partner. It's possible you might no longer be a viable candidate after.
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you really think I'm that incompetent?
and where did this partner thing come from?
[ when did he sign up for that. doesn't she have a bunch of people she's friendly with anyway... ]
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You're my baseline for the anaphrodisiac. I'm not working with anyone else on it. If you don't want me calling you that I won't.
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I'm sure you'd even agree with that
I'm not the person here expecting someone to snap on me anyhow
[ surprisingly. but suppose that's what happens when your enemies hold themselves to concepts like "heroism." ]
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I wouldn't call severing your own head for a party "necessary risk". I'm not saying you can't get into trouble. You're not my responsibility.
Just forget about it. You're an adult, you can do whatever you want.
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you're really hung up on that
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[AKA: "I don't have anything else, but I have a feeling it says a lot about what you MIGHT do."]
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regardless, your concern seems misplaced still
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@edelstein | INCOMING MULTI-MEDIA MESSAGE
YOU'VE BEEN INVITED
This is a formal invitation from Tohsaka Rin. This invitation is extended to you for an early dinner on December 25th at Tohsaka's Rank 9 suite. You will not be expected to provide anything or required to adhere to a certain dress code. You are, however, welcome to bring along a +1 to accompany you as the host will need to split her time between the guests.
(ooc: If you're interested in a quick action spam/dialogue party scene feel free to →head this way! This was a spur-of-the-moment thing, so please do not feel obligated if you are busy with other obligations/are on hiatus. I thank each and every one of you for your time and patience with Rin during her stay at GP! I hope all of you have a wonderful time as this year comes to a close.)
( 12/25 ) — xmas ding dong ditch
the box contains eight paper talismans imbued with various magic effects, which are described on the piece of paper wrapped around them. five of them are the cum cleanup spell, but the other three have other uses: one will repair a space, such as a bed or a wall; one will turn the subject into a daruma doll for 2 hours; and one i'm going to leave up to you to pick something fun and short-term that tomura would enjoy being able to do with hua cheng's magic lol.
also included in the box is a pair of red die with gold pips, which have been imbued with a little bit of hua cheng's overwhelming good luck—they will win exactly the number of times that won't draw any negative attention tomura's way, no matter how long he plays for in the casino.
along with the talismans and the dice is a brief note from hua cheng, in his neatest and most legible handwriting. ]
Tomura —
For enjoyment and for practicality, and a little bit for luck.
— Hua Cheng
text; un: dabi
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[ since when did they even have special days? ]
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[ even if it was close enough to occur to him that it's his, he would probably be evasive. ]
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what do you know about my birthday?
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it's not like I've gotten you anything before.
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if you've decided that birthdays are special and all for whatever reason.
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don't think we'll ever get the chance to do shit like this back home.
so might as well make the most of it, if we're stuck in this shithole.
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aren't you worried I'll want a champagne pyramid and a palanquin escort?
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are you missing sleeping in shitty cramped rooms with me?
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I'll cross that one off if you actually try to carry me though
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I'll allow it if you can actually pull it off
at least take me over the threshold, ok?
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i look hotter than i should
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[ if he's imagined huffing here, that wouldn't be wrong. ]
so which one are you gonna do for me?
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you want a cape and everything, to be extra fancy?
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[ it doesn't scream "sex" enough that he thinks they'd stock it... ]
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pick out something nice for me
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( so, you know, 2pm. )
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@edelstein | text
vague as hell because i'm not that far in my threads yet lmao
worried after I lost to you?
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wasn't that just your theory?
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[Huh wow wonder why her skin is itching...]
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you're probably good at writing those
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did someone give you a run for your money?
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did you get yourself killed?
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how are you now?
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The staff pretend like you didn't actually die, but I know that's not the case. Why would there be a price to pay if it's just something like a repair?
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[ not that he knows, because he's never gone to the clinic. but jokes aside— ]
are you sure you're mostly fine?
and what does it mean that they messed with your ability to lie
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Idiot implied I might feel some sort of side-effect from lying.
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then we should figure out what it does first
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or you can find out on your own if you prefer
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how about dinner
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[ isn't that kind of thing where someone usually says "let's go together~"? ]
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[ unless she's found yet another person who won't sleep around, as he doesn't think she's getting any presents from a certain idol. ]
fine, if you're that committed to spending them on a date.
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We both really aren't in a position to pass up "free" so let's do it.
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I'm not rich, but I have money
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is that something to capslock about?
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[ it'll stretch her non-existent money further? ]
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I'll remember that.
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[ he doesn't think he's ever really suggested otherwise. ]
I'll be at the entrance to the food hall at 7
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Okay, see you there.
→action
In any case, as arranged, they'll be wandering into Early Bird Hall at around the designated time. Tomura is dressed as usual, hair loose, black-on-black athleisure wear—the comfortable and baggy sort, unlike the skin-tight clothing offered during Sports Week. ]
What do you want to eat?
[ Being dinnertime, they've found themselves in a small rush of guests; maybe he should've pushed it later, but he doesn't know if Tohsaka is the type to eat on schedule. At the very least, it means virtually no shop would be closed at this time, leaving a vast swathe of bustling option sprawling out before them. ]
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All the accessories, even the perfume, are things someone else gave her. An item that someone else must have picked up because it reminded them of her. She wears them as often as she can.]
A parfait, but we should probably have something more sensible for dinner. Something with protein.
[After all, she shouldn't do her nightly blood draw if she's low on iron.]
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A parfait... He realizes now that he doesn't know much about Tohsaka's tastes. Does she have a sweet tooth? Is this her usual choice of indulgence? But if she says it can wait— ]
Sure. We could grab burgers. Or donburi... I'm fine with anything though.
[ As they maneuver through the somewhat crowded Early Bird Hall, they'll pass by any manner of protein-filled affairs: sandwiches, tacos, skewers, stirfry... He's content to keep her company until she fins a stall that catches her eye. ]
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Tohsaka leads them around, seemingly indecisive, until she settles on a cart selling samosas. Little fried dough triangles packed a variety of fillings and spices. While Rin loves indulging in tasty food, her death has her criticizing... well, a lot about herself. So something that comes in individual pieces that she can tell herself, "stop eating after this much" is ideal. Her choice will lean toward meat and veggies, and not toward the traditional potatoes.]
These should be good.
[If he's agreeable, they can probably find some place to sit and eat with the cafeteria style seating arrangements.]
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He's forced to leave such contemplations aside when Tohsaka finally settles on a stall. Not being particularly picky, he gives his assent with a silent nod, and orders three lamb samosas for himself; unlike her, however, he has no reason to restrain his appetite. Even if his chips run low, he'll just make up for the difference somewhere else. He winds up staring at the cart's chalkboard menu, featuring a short list of curries alongside the samosas. None of them sound familiar though; Tomura would have a hard enough time trying to decide with traditional Indian curries, nevermind whatever Golden Peacock fusion has been incorporated into these ones. He stares at them a little longer before looking over at Tohsaka for help.
Order for him... Then he'll pay and they can go sit down. ]
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When they have their order and settle on a seat, she starts portioning out her small handful and leaves him the rest.]
These are good, I promise.
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Well, they can always get something else if what's in front of them isn't enough. His bank account may not be as bottomless as royalty, but he knows how to pinch pennies when it gets dire. He can afford a bigger expense every so often.
He digs in, tearing apart one of the samosas to let the center cool while he eats in from the edges. ]
Gonna tell me what exactly happened with you?
[ In the fight ring, that is. It feels like he should know the "who" and "what" and "why" of the events—not to mention they're supposed to figure out what happens if she lies. This line of questioning just might trigger it? ]
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I was fighting this guy who didn't really seem into the fight. I wanted to put him down quick because I was starting to get exhausted from the back-to-back matches. I guess I went a little too hard, and cracked something enough to pierce his organs. He died. Only for a moment, though. He got up pretty quickly, and I tried to fend him off. It wasn't enough, and he must have snapped my neck or crushed my windpipe...
[She huffs a sigh before taking another sip of the drink. Allowing a pause in her recap for any questions if Tomura has them. Her eyes strayed away from his gaze during her explanation, but they come back to his after. Is she searching for something? Forgiveness, maybe? For worrying him. Or maybe for burdening him with spotting her this meal.]
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He won't point it out. Far be it from him to kick her while she's down, whether she has realized her own mistake or just wishes to lick her wounds from defeat. In any case, this time her victim has taken his own eye for an eye. Tomura's only question is whether it had truly been only the luck of the Peacock's interference... ]
He got back up—without being taken away or removing his bracelet?
[ This pattern sounds somewhat familiar. ]
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It must be something naturally occurring with his body that they felt no need to stop. Stupid— the power for my magecraft occurs naturally in my body too! Just because I need to conscious activate it doesn't mean it should have been barred... My crest, too. If it was working he probably would have had to try a lot harder to kill me.
[After all... the crest is a double edged sword. An organ that rejects her body and causes her pain, yet also like a parasite that needs its host. Something that would reforge and remake her piece by piece if she was channeling enough power through it. It once did just that — allowing her to recover in a matter of 24hrs what would have taken anyone else years to bounce back from.]
What's that look for? Know a couple people who have a knack for returning from the grave?
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[ Being deliberately obtuse about her particular choice of phrasing... And then maybe that would be the time to take a cool and unbothered sip of juice, if Tohsaka hasn't taken custody of it to use as a chew toy. ]
You should've known some powers weren't blocked after you fought me. [ While he hadn't tried to go too hard against her, some of his opponents afterwards may have gotten their feet put to the fire, in a way that evidenced his strength was nowhere near natural. ] But, yes. There was someone I faced later on who could heal by himself.
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[Rin abandons the drink and decides to dig into her own food finally. Forcing herself to give Tomura a chance to reply before she goes into trying to defend her position or complain about how "unfair" it all was.]
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Mhm, yeah, [ he mumbles around a mouthful of samosa. ] Fits th' d'scr'ption.
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[Did they lose track of the point? No, it's only a detour to get the facts settled before testing things out. After all, Rin is curious to know more about the man who... well, they're even. Almost. She may hassle him to cough up some chips for a meal since his version of killing her was more expensive than her version of killing him.]
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Might be. The guy I fought was called Blade.
[ He remembers it because it's edgy... Also because the guy had that regeneration ability. Although the physical description may not be too out of the ordinary, it was pretty unique for someone to retain a power like that while wearing the bracelet. Odds are it's her guy. ]
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[He wasn't a cheater, but she believes he is! Wholeheartedly! Well, perhaps not wholeheartedly. Rin is salty over what happened, but she logically knows she can't begrudge him. And that if it wasn't a quick death that it's likely something like her family crest would have started kicking in to prevent her from dying. It's just he had the better ace up his sleeve.]
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How'd he cheat? By beating you?
[ It's not like he intends to defend Blade's integrity or anything (hell, he barely even knows the guy), but he does know that Tohsaka is a sore loser, thanks to the game Jin Mingming started on the network... ]
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No! That's not it at all! I overpowered him first. If he wasn't some kind of weirdo I would have won!
[And be saddled with near-eternal guilt. Though the denial is partially a lie, so it begins. It starts as something small. A tiny urge akin to an itch. For now she ignores it.]
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truth or dare overflow
@lieabilities
ooc: if you don't mind i may defer an in-person encounter onto the upcoming event🙇 ]
is meeting 2 strangers supposed to calm my nerves?
kidding
either way is fine
it's all pretty much business as usual for this place.
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Then we'll arrange for a future engagement. Perhaps meeting the third before then will make things less frightening for you.
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how d'you know if I'm even into them
[ not that he Really Cares as long as a couple specific people are avoided, but maybe he doesn't wanna be easy, huh??? ]
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Well, that would be what our first meeting can confirm.
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how about [ insert date, time and location that don't matter because they'll be cruisin' ]
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Sounds perfect.
@wheft
hm
then I guess it's just me.
to be specific, I pretty much won all of my cage matches but they blocked external abilities, so it's safe to say not all of my opponents were at full power.
I could tell you who seems strong, but most of them probably wouldn't target you without a reason.
I haven't fought anyone who was using magic yet either.
there was [ ugh. ] one guy who knocked me out before but he's not here anymore. [ didn't even get to pay him back for that, tch. ]
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I see. So most people won't kill each other here unless provoked... That's going to take some time getting used to.
But wow, you sure are confident in your abilities if you say you're the strongest around, huh.
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probably
I guess there's always the chance someone will lose their mind cuz of the hotel or something else
otherwise things are stupidly peaceful
wtf were people like in your world?
and yeah I'm confident but I'm still stuck here so
so much for those abilities.
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But... okay, one last question before my turn. Up to you if you wanna answer. Do you ever miss the chaos?
[ i. e. killing people ]
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in a sense
theoretically I could still do most of the things I did in the old place
but it pisses me off that none of the damage sticks
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[ --record scratch ]
What do you mean none of the damage sticks...?
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you watch any of those cage fights a few months ago? well they let you kill your opponents
then the next day those losing dead guys were still walking around like nothing happened
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Then, what about us? What happens if we die? The guests who just manifested here one day?
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nah I offed a couple people myself
think they're still here somewhere, alive and well
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[ interesting... interesting. does she dare experiment with it? she'll have to ask gregor, whenever he's available... hmm. ]
Anyway, I think I'm done with dares for now. Truth.
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the whole raise the dead schtick isn't just for people who die here.
you might run into someone you thought was dead and gone in your world
so you probably can't rest too easy if there are some dead people who'd wanna come for a pound of flesh.
they can't kill you here either though, so maybe it's all the same.
so
hm
is there anyone you sure as hell don't wanna meet here?
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she takes a while to respond again after thinking it over some more. okay, she'll definitely need to talk to gregor about this soon. as for that question: ]
Easy. My bosses, new and old. I don't need to explain why that's going to be awkward as hell.
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mercenaries have bosses?
fixers
are they like a yakuza boss or a corporate boss
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I guess they'd count as corporate. My current manager, I mean. My old boss was a ship captain.
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I guess I can see why you wouldn't want them here.
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You still wanna play? I think I got a better idea of you now.
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[ imagine having your dad here... happened to someone he knew rip homie. ]
I'm good
getting too fucking many notifications rn
@uptill
it's whatever.
I don't want to be in this place either, but I don't get a choice in that.
[ comparatively, feet pics?? no biggie... ]
he already declined because he said it'd be funnier if the pics went to someone else.
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but you don't have to play unless you're also trying to get something
[ That's the reason Till was drawn into the game, anyway, otherwise he may have ignored it. ]
so is it his thing or not?
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I said "might" so obviously I dunno
why don't you go ask him yourself if it's that important
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whose feet are these anyway?
fine. i'll ask him.
who am i asking?
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it takes a second to snap a photo
is it really important for you to know?
@ swords
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it takes less effort than writing a fake confession
did you tell them you took that picture
that person
maybe you are right. he might like it
he might like a lot of odd things
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told'em I did the dare
you know that guy?
it's a reasonable assumption about him isn't it
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just like that?
so even if you hadn't done it but said you did he would believe you?
[ This only makes him further doubt Rokurou's intelligence. ]
i only know him a little.
but he knew too much about some stuff and seemed eager to talk about it
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screenshotting every time is a pain so it's good for me if he just believes me.
that sounds like him.
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i am just surprised that he didn't ask for evidence.
maybe playing with him is the easiest.
he says he was a teacher.
he wants me to call him shifu
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dunno if that'll work on the bird, but whatever it's your choice
do you want to learn from him
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i wasn't going to play with him but he kept whining about it
that guy is eager to talk and some people are not.
it helps when i don't know some stuff
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[ or... does this guy mean he started playing with chirpy... ]
so you're new here huh
how's it feel getting unilaterally sucked into a fuck hotel
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chirpy
that thing. it's never bothered me.
i guess i haven't been here a long time.
that was confusing. annoying. and except for that last part. normal.
whatever process they use to transport people here is efficient.
[ There is a lot more he can say about the whole thing, but he doesn't feel like sharing. ]
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[ that's enough to make him detest it... ]
what part of that was normal?
you used to waking up in bizarro places?
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[ So just keeping playing. ]
not bizarre places. it's mostly predictable. where i end up that is.
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[ they could've at least given him a single-player... ]
hope they were better places than this
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[ Don't do that one. Although having a choice. Two options can be a lot for some people. ]
i get the feeling some people think this place is better for me.
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[ considering what he's doing... ]
do you agree with them?
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do you know if we go back? if we do it doesn't matter.
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no you can stay here
some people're even been talking about going to someone else's world, but that hasn't been tested yet
[ *that he knows of. ]
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forever?
going to someone else's world, not just going to another planet, that sounds crazy.
but we are here. what do you want to do?
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I'm going home asap
@skinstitch
maybe I should do those things more often
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where
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I thought you might say that
but I'll still hang onto it for next time
@cartographie
regroup with my companions and find out what I missed
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like I left my party in the middle of a boss fight
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I was about to hedge my bets on being able to avoid a direct hit
if it paid off it was going to work in my favor
[ and if it didn't, then presumably it'd be game over... ]
anyway my thing [ bird ] finally shut up
did yours?
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@malpwactice
hands aren't sexy??? excuse you??? ]
should've been more specific
what's something so important to you that you kinda wanna keep it secret from everyone?
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that question feels kind ominous dude
like you make me admit it then it shows up smashed the next day
[Although that's less of an issue- the fact or thing wasn't exactly something that could be smashed. The people and things he was close to here didn't feel like secrets. And maybe he's finally starting to ease into the fact that, despite how he looked and his gameplan back in his own world, Tomura wasn't going to do something just to make Aak miserable.]
there's this guy from my home
he's like a real goody-goody he rescued me after a gang fight and begged his boss to give me a place to stay
sometimes he really pisses me off but he's way kinder than me
so even though it'd be really funny for a righteous guy like that to get stuck in a place like this
if he ever showed up i would help him sincerely
he'd probably be super shocked at the idea i'd be the one keeping him out of trouble! mouth hangin open and everythin!
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and while tomura won't bother to confirm nor deny that assumption, the truth is that the people who would find their precious things smashed are usually very aware of that oncoming predicament... aak would cease to worry if he ever gets to see tomura in a room with someone he actually hates. ]
what a guy
you sound like you'd look forward to it too
schooling him on what to do
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it'd probably be easier to just let someone else do it but i'm used to him anyways
[And the bonus secret that he would struggle to just let Hung go off and have sex with whoever. Theoretically it would be ideal if Hung went off and liked someone the same way Aak did with Rin. Aak is allowed to do that to Hung but if Hung did it to him? He wouldn't be able to handle it.]
i bet he'd constantly be stopping to check if stuff was okay
that sorta thing kills the mood!
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isn't that lucky
[ is it really lucky... ]
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i'm pretty troublesome sometimes
i know you were probably thinking i was a super good coworker who earns nothing but gratitude but
i have my dark past
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real cute
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that i'm cute
truth or dare
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fine, last round.
truth
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you know
who are you drafting