Correct. [ Or it would be if she entirely understood what "having game" is. ]
À bientôt.
[ With that, she's just going strip off, hang out and wait.
Except she most definitely isn't going to do that first part and instead she's going to fetch her coat like a completely normal person about to leave their-house-but-not-really-their-house. ]
[fuck your French?? Anyway, sure enough, it doesn't take him long to get to the house-- what's become their weird little home in this place. He doesn't bother knocking (as he gave her the warning so she wouldn't be NAKED), and at least looks half-amused.]
So what'd this guy do: try to get into the women's baths?
[ No, Shinjiro, it does not mean that. But alas Mitsuru doesn't feel inclined to text back with clarification for once. She has to mentally prepare herself for gift shopping for a perverted idiot and that's quite enough.
Also hi to you too, Shinjiro. ]
There was no try about it. It was one hot spring, set separate times for men and women to use it.
[ She takes a moment to fasten her coat before heading out of the front door. ]
He, Akihiko, Iori and Arisato claimed to have forgotten the time of the switch over.
[ Her expression confirms two things, 1. she didn't believe them for a single second and 2. there were consequences. Dire consequences. ]
[So: Shinjiro is usually really good at showing minimal expression. He's just not the sort of guy who makes it easy to read or reacts loudly or dramatically usually.
But the inclusion of Akihiko in that list has him bark out a laugh that has him choking on his own spot and turning into a gnarly coughing/laughing attack.]
Oh, shi- [Wait give him a second. he still can't breath, he's gotta choke a little more and try and cough out that dumb sensations before finally getting that back under control.]
Aki?? That idiot's more likely to punch a tit than stare at one. Did he even know what he was looking at?
[ So they're outside. He's apparently hacking up a lung but more crucially he just said punch a tit in a very much not an outside voice and there's a elderly looking local woman passing by whom Mitsuru gives a deeply apologetic look. Although it probably doesn't change anything seeing as the locals don't like them anyway, but still! ]
Aragaki-
[ Yes, we're back on a formal surname basis because she absolutely does not know you right now. She speaks in a distinctly lower voice. ]
Yes, well... I do not care to understand what his motives in particular were for being there. Regardless, they were all still there when we entered the baths and thought they could hide somehow.
[listen: they're elderly. They've probably seen more tits and done more things to tits than both of them combined. He doesn't give a fuck. Finding out that Akihiko got roped into being a stupid voyeur is the funniest shit he's heard inba long time.]
He's so stupid.... [It's affectionately said at least. Iori and this Mochizuki dude- he could see if from them. Arisato's a weirdo who does whatever he wants so sure. But Aki?]
Where the hell are you gonna hide in a bath... no wonder Mochizuki wouldn't shut up about uow much he loved hot springs when I met him.
[he almost feels bad for messing with mitsuru earlier because now she has to deal with this. But whatever. At least they are on their way now that he's done nearly dying again.]
Maybe someone in town makes little fountains that looks like an onsen for him. Let him daydream by himself.
[ Mitsuru's expression does momentarily (very momentarily) soften for a moment at that. He might be calling him stupid, but she recognises it for what it really is. Once more, there's that unwelcome pang of nostalgia.
But she doesn't allow herself to dwell on it for too long. ]
There were rocks, shrubs... I'm not going to claim to know what any of them were thinking. If they were thinking at all.
[ And as for that gift suggestion... ]
And I'm not sure anyone should be encouraging his... [ ew ] fantasies.
[Alright, maybe learning about things that happened after he died isn't so bad. At least this one. It's dumb and kind of funny and ultimately meaningless, unlike... basically everything else in their lives.
But yeah, no egging on the little pervert, got it.]
Yeah, true. Guess we don't gotta encourage any more of that.
[What the hell do normal people give each other...? He got an engraved fruit knife once and really liked it. But maybe that's not really normal??]
Hell... I dunno, think he needs anything here? Decent kettle or something? [that's something he wouldn't mind, at least.]
Or could just see what weird local art they've got...? [help he's clueless.]
...I am not sure I want to be seen purchasing the kind of art he probably prefers.
[ She can't imagine it being tasteful nudes put it that way.
If they can't find anything else then a kettle might be it. ]
Let's just see what the market has to offer first. We might find something unusual for him.
Although you might consider a gift that teaches him some degree of responsibility.
[ She probably just means like a house plant or something where it doesn't particularly matter if he fails and neglects it. But feel free to interpret that however you see fit, Shinjiro. ]
[That is a terrible surprise gift. He shakes his head as if to rid the thought. Not fair to the guys not fair to the dog, to spring something like that in him.]
Or did you mean like... a planner? [DO PEOPLE GIVE EACH OTHER THESE THINGS?? He's seen Minato with book covers and all the shit he ordered from that home shopping show for people. So: possible.]
Ugh, I hate this shit... Hell maybe just a box of snacks or something.
Honestly, I think even a goldfish might be too much.
[ Not that they can probably get a Normal Goldfish here anyway.
Really, Shinjiro, you know this one would be delighted with a planner. She is not the person to ask. She almost looks way too enthused at this idea... ]
It isn't an unusual thing to gift someone a planner or a diary at this time of year, is it? I would be pleased with that. Especially as I keep several at once for different th-
[ Yeah, okay, she's cutting that one off before she starts getting into how they're all colour coded... ]
I wonder if he's much of a reader... [ Doubtful. Unless there are breasts in it. ]
Otherwise, yes, if all else fails and we don't find something suitable, I don't think one can go too far wrong with food. I ended up baking a gift for mine.
Yeah, you would like that... [it's not a dig, but also... groan. Why did he think Mitsuru would be helpful here.]
Alright, maybe just a couple little things instead of a big gift. He's gotta like at least one of them, right? I can throw in a notebook planner or something with it. Maybe a nice pen or something with it.
[You know, to mark her contributiony. And so she doesn't feel weird for enjoying that as a gift.]
Oh yeah, I saw all that in the fridge. It looked like it came out pretty good. [Look at him, being a respectful roommate and not eating her pile of desserts. Also they looked a little too sweet for him to enjoy.] Some kinda baked good ain't a bad idea, either... I think there's a place that makes little packages or cookies and shit.
[ Maybe...? Who knows? This whole gift giving business without being able to just spend money on a magnum of champagne or something seems to be incredibly complicated... ]
Thank you. I'm not sure how much of a sweet tooth Mochizuki has but you're welcome to take a few of them as part of your gift if we fail to find this place that does cookies... and things.
[ There's enough of them. Strictly to help him out of course and not because she has in any way forgiven Ryoji for his antics.
And yeah, she's not going to say "shit". ]
...
I must say, if those toads creatures haven't gone from the town and we find ourselves in that... situation again, I will not be the one divulging a secret this time.
[ Because she's had quite enough of the ramifications of that thanks very much. ]
Alright we can start looking at that kind of thing. Besides, how the hell can anyone complain about free stuff?
[Good decision. It doesn't matter. As long as he doesn't fuck it up completely, it should be great, right? Right. He didn't even sign up for this anyway.
Though when Mitsuru brings up the toads, he can't help but curse under his breath. That's.... True. They are definitely still around.]
Don't remind me of those things... I had to figure out how to kiss some crazy guy with Knife-hands earlier.
[He glances over with the deadest state, knowing that this is probably hilarious.]
Then he said his name was Knives. He was completely serious about it, too.
[ Mitsuru stares at him as they walk. What does she even say to that, Shinjiro? She'd had... a time too, but so far no guys with knives for hands. ]
How very... literal of him.
Is that not the plot of a film...?
[ No Mitsuru... that's scissors for hands. ]
Admittedly I do find myself questioning why we decided to leave the house today.
[ Why isn't mail ordering stuff a thing here? Then again, even if it was he's left it too late for that. But it'll be fine... no toads, no... Scis- Knives guy. ]
I don't run, especially not from any of the strange people you've apparently been locking lips with.
[ Although... really she's still going to keep an eye out for any freaks with knives for hands. So much so that she's kind of forgotten about being on the alert for any of those pesky amphibians who might still be around. She's already making in the direction of the market when they reach an intersection. ]
We should complete our task first, reward afterwards.
[ Did you really expect any other answer, Shinjiro? That smile on her face says you shouldn't. ]
[Listen. She can execute as many toads as she wants, and there will always be more. You can escape them, for a time. But eventually...
But okay. Task first. Time to peruse all the little shops and stalls amongst the market: the local crafts, clothes, knock-knacks and the occasional alleged cure-all. And it goes fine for a short time! All until those damn toads act again, having been hiding up in the nook of an awning ready to throw their notes and spit their sticky entrapment.
The frog-stick catches him on the hand this time, plastering it to the side of the building they'd been walking by, much to the merriment of the impertenant amphibians.]
Are you-- you damn bastards. [It only takes him a moment to figure out what just happened, what with him being stuck to the damn wall-- and looking around for wherever they're hiding just gets him the standard note, crunches up and thrown.
Perhaps Mitsuru had been a little less cautious about running into them than she normally would have. Partly because she’s well and truly weary of them at this point and partly because she’d frozen alive a good portion of them and with little chance of them thawing out for a while in this cold weather. Then there is also the fact that she and Aragaki had already been caught by them before, surely they’d get no entertainment from targeting the same two people a second time… especially after what she’d already been forced to admit aloud the first time.
Apparently she’d been incorrect in that assumption. Now Shinjiro is stuck to a building by his hand with their goo. ]
I thought I’d executed enough of them.
[ Not nearly enough apparently. Something she’s making a careful mental note of for when she’s free - she had been ready to make an attempt at a dodge once they’d gotten Shinjiro, but the bastards are quick and now one of her feet is firmly stuck to the floor.
She still has enough manoeuvrability to move to catch the thrown scrunched up piece of paper, already knowing full well what their three options are going to be here. But which one… ]
If you think I’m going to confess anything else then you can think again.
[ It’s Shinjiro’s turn if that’s what they’re faced with. Not that Mitsuru wants to get into this at all. So… maybe it’s a good thing that the toads’ note isn’t ordering them to “talk”…
She gives no indication of her thoughts are on what she just read. Instead, she silently presses the note into his non-stuck hand for him to read for himself, folding her arms as she does so. ]
[A grouchy aside as he tries to move so that he's standing less awkwardly, what with a hand caught to the side of a building-- though he does reach out at her offering of the note, taking it and fumbling it with one hand to get it turned the right way to be able to read.
And really, he shouldn't have been making jokes about it earlier. Maybe that's why they toads had targeted them again, or suggested this. Maybe they had decided that Shinjiro hadn't had to deal with enough careful, dangerous situations. Because apparently the guy with knife-hands stabbing at the ground and snarling like a feral creature hadn't been dangerous enough, now he's faced with the ultimate challenge. Something far more threatening than that, or Dara's lashing, flailing against her restraints and shrieks of retribution, or the fight they had him start with some dude--
Kiss Mitsuru Kirijo.
He balls up the paper and throws it back at the toads. It misses, sure, but whatever. He'd demand a do-over from them, but then again, that might be seen as a slight against her. Though if she were insulted by that, he could just lie and say he's gay? She might not buy it, but she probably wouldn't pursue it. There's so many avoidance tactics rolling through his head right now, even though he fully knows that it's the toads, not hew or Mitsuru, that must be satisfied for them to be free.
He closes his eyes and give a long exhale. Okay. This is not the time to be a fucking coward, Aragaki.]
....So you wanna start from the bottom with little hand kissing stuff until it works, or go right for it?
Do you honestly think these things would have released us if I'd said something even slightly less shocking? Revealing that exam result I had didn't work.
[ Yes, Mitsuru. Because nobody else thinks getting an A- is that awful or newsworthy. There was a huge escalation there!
If she had the slightest inkling as to what he's comparing her to right now, that in his head she's more threatening and dangerous than all of those things then she sure as hell would have something to say about it... Instead, apparently she's got a decision to make.
The arms stay folded, the way they always do when she's deliberating something. And maybe when she's feeling just a little defensive.
Thinking over all of her encounters with the toads there had been zero logic to any of their decisions. Zero. None. Sometimes a hand kiss or a peck on the cheek had been perfectly acceptable, other times they had expected something slightly more... involved. She frowns. ]
Their decisions have been totally and utterly arbitrary each time.
[ Of course, she wants to say start small, see how things go with their toady nuisances, but who's to say it would get even more awkward with them having to stand around even longer trying all of these various kisses out until something makes the little bastards things happy? They've both got stuff to do, she hasn't even had that tea yet...
Her exhale isn't as long as his is, but that's definitely an exasperated sigh. This nonsense again. ]
...Let's just- [ "Go right for it?" Ugh. She doesn't want to use that phrase. It sounds far too much like she's about to pounce or something. ] do it properly.
[ That doesn't sound any better either does it? At least she trusts Shinjiro - well, except for when it comes to looking after himself, but still. ]
[Mitsuru, he doesn't even know where to begin with your insistence that sub-par test score could ever be considered scandalous, and so he'll just let that one go. But she makes an excellent point on the toads and their inconsistent demands. Every time, the biggest headache seems to come from trying to figure out at what point they'll be appeased- does it have to do with the discomfort of the two stuck? Surely not, because Mitsuru is still hung up on the test score not having been enough.
Well. he's not likely to understand it now or ever. The best thing they can do is get this out of the way so they can continue on with their business. As though it would lighten things, he offers dryly:]
If it helps, I brushed my teeth this morning.
[Which... he usually does, honestly, but there's a certain sort of comfortable distance to be found in the grimy-alleytrash facade. Something to make this all a stupid joke instead of the aggravating, likely-mortifying scene it probably feels like.
It's fine, they can be cool and professional about this. Just like any other kiss they've been forced to have with anyone else. Since his feet aren't stuck, he steps in to close the distance-- which does result in his arm awkwardly angled back to where it's stuck, but they're just gonna do the best they can here.]
Alright. Here-- [Carefully, he leans in to simply press his lips to hers. Close-mouthed, trying not to breathe on her too hard, and lingering as long as feels appropriate, before pulling back. Sorry, his lips probably aren't as warm as others might be-- but he doesn't smell like wet dog right now, so that's a plus!]
[ It is indeed a plus that he doesn't smell like wet dog right now, as is the fact that he decided to brush his teeth apparently. As if there's ever a choice in the matter in Mitsuru's view.
They can absolutely be cool and professional about this - with their limbs stuck to surfaces via goo glue and a bunch of probably perverse amphibians staring at them. She's known him off and on since junior high/their first year of high school when the three of them were arguably even more awkward than they are now, when she still wore a sweater vest and a headband and thought that was acceptable for a bit there... That makes it a bit weird but nothing they can't handle. Now they just hide their awkwardness better. Usually.
Just like they're doing now, with this very close-mouthed kiss which Mitsuru returns in much the same sort of fashion: trying very hard not to breathe on him, or move her mouth or somehow accidentally let out any unexpected, weird noises that might give him a certain kind of impression. What if he thinks she's moaning or something? That won't make breakfast tomorrow really awkward anything.
But there is no moaning and it's all incredibly chill.
When Shinjiro pulls back, she stares. ]
...Are there mornings where you don't brush your teeth?
[ Logically, yes, there probably would be. Given his circumstances. But while he's here- there's really no excuse.
And this is all to say that it is totally easier to focus on nitpicking him over his possible lack of oral hygiene than the fact that her foot isn't entirely unstuck... Perhaps there's just a delay? The toads are just taking their time- ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Well he certainly seemed to have a great deal of trouble understanding the rules of male and female segregated bathing.
Razorfins.
[ Is anyone surprised that she researches the names of all these monsters?
The mention of tea certainly makes this errand for an idiot's gift more appealing. ]
I'll be ready to leave as soon as you get back.
no subject
[god, even SHINJI knows that's what the internet is for?? You don't have to snoop it's 2009 and jpegs and mp4s exist.]
ok so on top of being an awkward idiot he's got no respect and no game. Great.
See you in a few.
no subject
À bientôt.
[ With that, she's just going strip off, hang out and wait.
Except she most definitely isn't going to do that first part and instead she's going to fetch her coat like a completely normal person about to leave their-house-but-not-really-their-house. ]
—> Action!
[fuck your French?? Anyway, sure enough, it doesn't take him long to get to the house-- what's become their weird little home in this place. He doesn't bother knocking (as he gave her the warning so she wouldn't be NAKED), and at least looks half-amused.]
So what'd this guy do: try to get into the women's baths?
no subject
Also hi to you too, Shinjiro. ]
There was no try about it. It was one hot spring, set separate times for men and women to use it.
[ She takes a moment to fasten her coat before heading out of the front door. ]
He, Akihiko, Iori and Arisato claimed to have forgotten the time of the switch over.
[ Her expression confirms two things, 1. she didn't believe them for a single second and 2. there were consequences. Dire consequences. ]
no subject
But the inclusion of Akihiko in that list has him bark out a laugh that has him choking on his own spot and turning into a gnarly coughing/laughing attack.]
Oh, shi- [Wait give him a second. he still can't breath, he's gotta choke a little more and try and cough out that dumb sensations before finally getting that back under control.]
Aki?? That idiot's more likely to punch a tit than stare at one. Did he even know what he was looking at?
no subject
Aragaki-
[ Yes, we're back on a formal surname basis because she absolutely does not know you right now. She speaks in a distinctly lower voice. ]
Yes, well... I do not care to understand what his motives in particular were for being there. Regardless, they were all still there when we entered the baths and thought they could hide somehow.
[ Spoiler alert: they failed. ]
no subject
He's so stupid.... [It's affectionately said at least. Iori and this Mochizuki dude- he could see if from them. Arisato's a weirdo who does whatever he wants so sure. But Aki?]
Where the hell are you gonna hide in a bath... no wonder Mochizuki wouldn't shut up about uow much he loved hot springs when I met him.
[he almost feels bad for messing with mitsuru earlier because now she has to deal with this. But whatever. At least they are on their way now that he's done nearly dying again.]
Maybe someone in town makes little fountains that looks like an onsen for him. Let him daydream by himself.
no subject
But she doesn't allow herself to dwell on it for too long. ]
There were rocks, shrubs... I'm not going to claim to know what any of them were thinking. If they were thinking at all.
[ And as for that gift suggestion... ]
And I'm not sure anyone should be encouraging his... [ ew ] fantasies.
no subject
[Alright, maybe learning about things that happened after he died isn't so bad. At least this one. It's dumb and kind of funny and ultimately meaningless, unlike... basically everything else in their lives.
But yeah, no egging on the little pervert, got it.]
Yeah, true. Guess we don't gotta encourage any more of that.
[What the hell do normal people give each other...? He got an engraved fruit knife once and really liked it. But maybe that's not really normal??]
Hell... I dunno, think he needs anything here? Decent kettle or something? [that's something he wouldn't mind, at least.]
Or could just see what weird local art they've got...? [help he's clueless.]
no subject
[ She can't imagine it being tasteful nudes put it that way.
If they can't find anything else then a kettle might be it. ]
Let's just see what the market has to offer first. We might find something unusual for him.
Although you might consider a gift that teaches him some degree of responsibility.
[ She probably just means like a house plant or something where it doesn't particularly matter if he fails and neglects it. But feel free to interpret that however you see fit, Shinjiro. ]
no subject
What, like a dog?
[That is a terrible surprise gift. He shakes his head as if to rid the thought. Not fair to the guys not fair to the dog, to spring something like that in him.]
Or did you mean like... a planner? [DO PEOPLE GIVE EACH OTHER THESE THINGS?? He's seen Minato with book covers and all the shit he ordered from that home shopping show for people. So: possible.]
Ugh, I hate this shit... Hell maybe just a box of snacks or something.
no subject
[ Not that they can probably get a Normal Goldfish here anyway.
Really, Shinjiro, you know this one would be delighted with a planner. She is not the person to ask. She almost looks way too enthused at this idea... ]
It isn't an unusual thing to gift someone a planner or a diary at this time of year, is it? I would be pleased with that. Especially as I keep several at once for different th-
[ Yeah, okay, she's cutting that one off before she starts getting into how they're all colour coded... ]
I wonder if he's much of a reader... [ Doubtful. Unless there are breasts in it. ]
Otherwise, yes, if all else fails and we don't find something suitable, I don't think one can go too far wrong with food. I ended up baking a gift for mine.
no subject
Alright, maybe just a couple little things instead of a big gift. He's gotta like at least one of them, right? I can throw in a notebook planner or something with it. Maybe a nice pen or something with it.
[You know, to mark her contributiony. And so she doesn't feel weird for enjoying that as a gift.]
Oh yeah, I saw all that in the fridge. It looked like it came out pretty good. [Look at him, being a respectful roommate and not eating her pile of desserts. Also they looked a little too sweet for him to enjoy.] Some kinda baked good ain't a bad idea, either... I think there's a place that makes little packages or cookies and shit.
no subject
[ Maybe...? Who knows? This whole gift giving business without being able to just spend money on a magnum of champagne or something seems to be incredibly complicated... ]
Thank you. I'm not sure how much of a sweet tooth Mochizuki has but you're welcome to take a few of them as part of your gift if we fail to find this place that does cookies... and things.
[ There's enough of them. Strictly to help him out of course and not because she has in any way forgiven Ryoji for his antics.
And yeah, she's not going to say "shit". ]
...
I must say, if those toads creatures haven't gone from the town and we find ourselves in that... situation again, I will not be the one divulging a secret this time.
[ Because she's had quite enough of the ramifications of that thanks very much. ]
no subject
[Good decision. It doesn't matter. As long as he doesn't fuck it up completely, it should be great, right? Right. He didn't even sign up for this anyway.
Though when Mitsuru brings up the toads, he can't help but curse under his breath. That's.... True. They are definitely still around.]
Don't remind me of those things... I had to figure out how to kiss some crazy guy with Knife-hands earlier.
[He glances over with the deadest state, knowing that this is probably hilarious.]
Then he said his name was Knives. He was completely serious about it, too.
no subject
How very... literal of him.
Is that not the plot of a film...?
[
No Mitsuru... that's scissors for hands.]Admittedly I do find myself questioning why we decided to leave the house today.
[ Why isn't mail ordering stuff a thing here? Then again, even if it was he's left it too late for that. But it'll be fine... no toads, no... Scis- Knives guy. ]
no subject
Oh, but her second question he knows the answer to:]
'Cause I left shit for the last second, and I bribed you with some of that place's tea? Ain't too late if you want to run, though.
So what do you think: hot drink first, or get the dumb shopping out of the way?
[Spoilers no matter what gets picked they're gonna run into trouble]
no subject
[ Although... really she's still going to keep an eye out for any freaks with knives for hands. So much so that she's kind of forgotten about being on the alert for any of those pesky amphibians who might still be around. She's already making in the direction of the market when they reach an intersection. ]
We should complete our task first, reward afterwards.
[ Did you really expect any other answer, Shinjiro? That smile on her face says you shouldn't. ]
no subject
[Listen. She can execute as many toads as she wants, and there will always be more. You can escape them, for a time. But eventually...
But okay. Task first. Time to peruse all the little shops and stalls amongst the market: the local crafts, clothes, knock-knacks and the occasional alleged cure-all. And it goes fine for a short time! All until those damn toads act again, having been hiding up in the nook of an awning ready to throw their notes and spit their sticky entrapment.
The frog-stick catches him on the hand this time, plastering it to the side of the building they'd been walking by, much to the merriment of the impertenant amphibians.]
Are you-- you damn bastards. [It only takes him a moment to figure out what just happened, what with him being stuck to the damn wall-- and looking around for wherever they're hiding just gets him the standard note, crunches up and thrown.
Honestly? they should have expected this.]
no subject
Perhaps Mitsuru had been a little less cautious about running into them than she normally would have. Partly because she’s well and truly weary of them at this point and partly because she’d frozen alive a good portion of them and with little chance of them thawing out for a while in this cold weather. Then there is also the fact that she and Aragaki had already been caught by them before, surely they’d get no entertainment from targeting the same two people a second time… especially after what she’d already been forced to admit aloud the first time.
Apparently she’d been incorrect in that assumption. Now Shinjiro is stuck to a building by his hand with their goo. ]
I thought I’d executed enough of them.
[ Not nearly enough apparently. Something she’s making a careful mental note of for when she’s free - she had been ready to make an attempt at a dodge once they’d gotten Shinjiro, but the bastards are quick and now one of her feet is firmly stuck to the floor.
She still has enough manoeuvrability to move to catch the thrown scrunched up piece of paper, already knowing full well what their three options are going to be here. But which one… ]
If you think I’m going to confess anything else then you can think again.
[ It’s Shinjiro’s turn if that’s what they’re faced with. Not that Mitsuru wants to get into this at all. So… maybe it’s a good thing that the toads’ note isn’t ordering them to “talk”…
She gives no indication of her thoughts are on what she just read. Instead, she silently presses the note into his non-stuck hand for him to read for himself, folding her arms as she does so. ]
no subject
[A grouchy aside as he tries to move so that he's standing less awkwardly, what with a hand caught to the side of a building-- though he does reach out at her offering of the note, taking it and fumbling it with one hand to get it turned the right way to be able to read.
And really, he shouldn't have been making jokes about it earlier. Maybe that's why they toads had targeted them again, or suggested this. Maybe they had decided that Shinjiro hadn't had to deal with enough careful, dangerous situations. Because apparently the guy with knife-hands stabbing at the ground and snarling like a feral creature hadn't been dangerous enough, now he's faced with the ultimate challenge. Something far more threatening than that, or Dara's lashing, flailing against her restraints and shrieks of retribution, or the fight they had him start with some dude--
Kiss Mitsuru Kirijo.
He balls up the paper and throws it back at the toads. It misses, sure, but whatever. He'd demand a do-over from them, but then again, that might be seen as a slight against her. Though if she were insulted by that, he could just lie and say he's gay? She might not buy it, but she probably wouldn't pursue it. There's so many avoidance tactics rolling through his head right now, even though he fully knows that it's the toads, not hew or Mitsuru, that must be satisfied for them to be free.
He closes his eyes and give a long exhale. Okay. This is not the time to be a fucking coward, Aragaki.]
....So you wanna start from the bottom with little hand kissing stuff until it works, or go right for it?
no subject
[ Yes, Mitsuru. Because nobody else thinks getting an A- is that awful or newsworthy. There was a huge escalation there!
If she had the slightest inkling as to what he's comparing her to right now, that in his head she's more threatening and dangerous than all of those things then she sure as hell would have something to say about it... Instead, apparently she's got a decision to make.
The arms stay folded, the way they always do when she's deliberating something. And maybe when she's feeling just a little defensive.
Thinking over all of her encounters with the toads there had been zero logic to any of their decisions. Zero. None. Sometimes a hand kiss or a peck on the cheek had been perfectly acceptable, other times they had expected something slightly more... involved. She frowns. ]
Their decisions have been totally and utterly arbitrary each time.
[ Of course, she wants to say start small, see how things go with their toady nuisances, but who's to say it would get even more awkward with them having to stand around even longer trying all of these various kisses out until something makes the little
bastardsthings happy? They've both got stuff to do, she hasn't even had that tea yet...Her exhale isn't as long as his is, but that's definitely an exasperated sigh. This nonsense again. ]
...Let's just- [ "Go right for it?" Ugh. She doesn't want to use that phrase. It sounds far too much like she's about to pounce or something. ] do it properly.
[ That doesn't sound any better either does it? At least she trusts Shinjiro - well, except for when it comes to looking after himself, but still. ]
no subject
Well. he's not likely to understand it now or ever. The best thing they can do is get this out of the way so they can continue on with their business. As though it would lighten things, he offers dryly:]
If it helps, I brushed my teeth this morning.
[Which... he usually does, honestly, but there's a certain sort of comfortable distance to be found in the grimy-alleytrash facade. Something to make this all a stupid joke instead of the aggravating, likely-mortifying scene it probably feels like.
It's fine, they can be cool and professional about this. Just like any other kiss they've been forced to have with anyone else. Since his feet aren't stuck, he steps in to close the distance-- which does result in his arm awkwardly angled back to where it's stuck, but they're just gonna do the best they can here.]
Alright. Here-- [Carefully, he leans in to simply press his lips to hers. Close-mouthed, trying not to breathe on her too hard, and lingering as long as feels appropriate, before pulling back. Sorry, his lips probably aren't as warm as others might be-- but he doesn't smell like wet dog right now, so that's a plus!]
no subject
They can absolutely be cool and professional about this - with their limbs stuck to surfaces via goo glue and a bunch of probably perverse amphibians staring at them. She's known him off and on since junior high/their first year of high school when the three of them were arguably even more awkward than they are now, when she still wore a sweater vest and a headband and thought that was acceptable for a bit there... That makes it a bit weird but nothing they can't handle. Now they just hide their awkwardness better. Usually.
Just like they're doing now, with this very close-mouthed kiss which Mitsuru returns in much the same sort of fashion: trying very hard not to breathe on him, or move her mouth or somehow accidentally let out any unexpected, weird noises that might give him a certain kind of impression. What if he thinks she's moaning or something? That won't make breakfast tomorrow really awkward anything.
But there is no moaning and it's all incredibly chill.
When Shinjiro pulls back, she stares. ]
...Are there mornings where you don't brush your teeth?
[ Logically, yes, there probably would be. Given his circumstances. But while he's here- there's really no excuse.
And this is all to say that it is totally easier to focus on nitpicking him over his possible lack of oral hygiene than the fact that her foot isn't entirely unstuck... Perhaps there's just a delay? The toads are just taking their time- ]