[ 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- ]
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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- ]