[ 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. ]
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no subject
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.
no subject
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".]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
[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.]
no subject
"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. ]
no subject
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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