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bakegarasu

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From:

heavensnight

I'm a stripper, Otoha. Like men haven't called me worse.

[or that she hadn't been treated worse.]

A little punk is just a little punk.

From:

bakegarasu

Just because you have doesn't mean you deserve it. You think I deserved what everyone called me?

[Not that he cared. ... He did, a little bit. But not enough to show it.]

From:

heavensnight

Of course I don't.

But some behaviors and stuff like that come with the job. [she shrugs and takes a sip.]

Being called shit is part of mine. That's all.

From:

bakegarasu

[He frowns, trying to think of a comeback - she's right, but he doesn't like it.]

Well, if anyone calls you that stuff here I'm beating their ass. Just so you know.

From:

heavensnight

[she smirks at him and nudges him with her elbow.]

Protecting my honor?

From:

bakegarasu

If you're not gonna, I will.

[He sips at his drink again. He's not going to let her put herself down.]

... I just want you to be happy. You're... a great person, even if it's hard for you to believe. At least here, in this place... we can have some peace.

From:

heavensnight

[she laughs and then shakes her head.]

I'm not laughing at you. But you're saying how I've felt. I know bad things happen here but this place feels like a chance to me. I don't think anybody else feels the same way.

But I'm going to do the same thing for you. I think you deserve good things.

From:

bakegarasu

... We look out for each other, then. That's what a good partnership is like, yeah?

[He tries to push the memory of Reiji away, but the flicker of sadness appears on his face for a moment. He takes a big drink to push his feelings away.]

It's funny... I never thought I'd be in a situation like this. Just... sitting with someone like you. Not being on guard duty - not even having to worry so much about anyone attacking, even.

From:

heavensnight

[Maria noticed things. it was the only thing she could do because one small detail could change everything for her. she'd learned to study James so well she learned every flicker of any emotion that could be read on his face.

this extended itself to Otoha. simply she found she could understand people well. Maria doesn't know what is the root cause of the sadness but she worries nonetheless.]

A partnership, then. Or I guess that's what they call a friendship? But if we're starting this off right then tell me, what's on your mind? Just how new this all is?

From:

bakegarasu

...

[He sighs and just shakes his head.]

Thought about Reiji for a moment. I didn't... want to make you worry.

From:

heavensnight

Well, don't worry about me. You can talk about him if you like. I don't mind.

[she wanted to help anyway.]

From:

bakegarasu

... I mean... I just realized recently that I had a crush on him. Something I should have known earlier but I was... you know. The people I hung out with didn't really... look well on guys like guys like that. I just... miss having my partner in crime.

[Literal crime, but whatever.]

Kinda bad form to talk about an ex on a date though, from what I know.

From:

heavensnight

[Maria puts her elbows on the bar and her finger goes around the rim of her glass.]

It's our date. We can say what goes. Talk about what we want. [she gives him a sympathetic smile.]

I'm sorry you didn't get to understand your feelings until recently. Do you think you would have acted on it? If you could have?

From:

bakegarasu

... I don't think so. It wasn't exactly a place where you could be open about your feelings. Especially... those kinds of feelings towards other men.

[He looks away - he'd never cared about that stuff, but the other guys seemed to.]

It wasn't the best environment for... a lot of feelings. Or people. Or life in general.

From:

heavensnight

[Maria lets the words sink in and she does realize that it being another man does complicate things.]

And you just realized all of this now, huh? Your feelings. I'm sorry. I'm sorry they weren't something you could act on.

From:

bakegarasu

Recently, yeah. I don't... know where he is now, if anywhere, but I hope he's happy.

[Sure, reincarnation's a neat idea and he knows yokai exist now, but the certainties of what happens after death? No idea.]

[He looks down at his hands and taps his fingers against the table, almost nervously.]

I just... feelings are complicated. When I was little it was best to pretend I didn't have any at all. When I was a teen it was mostly anger. As an adult it was mostly murderous glee if anything. ... But now I'm free to have whatever emotions I want.

From:

heavensnight

[Maria lifts her glass.] To his happiness then. I hope he's happy, too. [she takes a sip and then listens to what he has to say. there's a huff of laughter.]

Feelings are complicated. Especially when it comes to things like love and how you might feel about things. [she puts an elbow up on the bar and smiles at him when she rests her head on her hand.]

You can have whatever feelings you want and some you don't want.

From:

bakegarasu

[He takes a sip too, just sitting in silence for a moment.]

... They are.

[Otoha leans against her gently and closes his eyes.]

You're allowed things like that too. Just so we're clear. ... I want you to be able to be happy. You're important to me, okay? And I'm going to make sure you feel wanted. ... I want to be good to you, because you're good to me.

From:

heavensnight

[Maria doesn't know what she should say or do in this situation. all of her existence has been playing a role and while she has realized that she doesn't have to do that here, it still leaves her at a loss.

she didn't think she'd done anything to stand out to Otoha.]

I don't think I've done anything that's amazing. I've treated you like anybody should be treated. [from what he's said, though, he's never been treated well. neither has she and if she's honest, she doesn't know how to act. what to do. what her own feelings are right now.]

From:

bakegarasu

... It's different, coming from you.

[He listens to her breathing, the movement of her shirt... it's quiet in their little corner aside from the normal bar sounds. ... It's nice.]

You're... you balance being kind and being realistic really well. And you're someone I can trust with... pretty much anything, I think. So... I'm glad you're here.

From:

heavensnight

I'm glad I'm here, too. And I got to meet you.

[it is a quiet moment and she presses a kiss to the side of his head.]

From:

bakegarasu

[His cheeks burn a little bit and he opens his eyes, slipping his arm around her back and holding her close.]

You're amazing, Maria.

... I think I need another drink, though.

[He gestures for the bartender to come over and refill his glass. ... He can feel himself starting to relax a little - something to be careful of, but still.]

From:

heavensnight

[she likes his touch. likes how he holds her close.

and it seems like she has some things to consider herself.]

Mm, liquid courage?

From:

bakegarasu

I don't need liquid courage to talk to you.

[And that's the weird part - she's just so comfortable to talk to. It's so strange.]

In fact, I don't usually drink very much around people I don't trust. ... Paranoia, maybe, but it's not without reason.

From:

heavensnight

[Maria considered part of her purpose to be easy to talk to. James wouldn't agree, he'd probably say Maria made him feel the exact opposite, but she was supposed to be comforting. she'd always tried to be.]

Not a bad motto to live by, you know. People do dumb shit when they're drunk so I don't think it's paranoid of you. Not where you're from anyway.