logs | (catch-all/open) hold up, i'm invincible

[ Maybe they're just "fated to run into each other." Or maybe not, since fate seems to have a way of being a dire asshole to her. Either way, Hibiki won't complain at least, because despite being open about his crimes, there is a person who cares deeply somewhere inside there. She engaged him because of his ties to the yakuza; and she stays because there's much more to him than that. ]

Yes and no. [ She shrugs. He's not wrong. ] But sometimes I just wanna listen to people talk.

[ She knows that look, can smell the herb in the smoke billowing from his lips like some lazy dragon. Man's high as a kite. Draping her arms over the back of the chair, her drink held between Mikey and his overzealous couch mate (yep, still water in that glass), the other blonde grins. ]

Mm, never had it before, not sure what it'll do to me. I can hang out and get a drink though. This seat taken?

[ Is she seriously trying to muscle in between him and his unnamed companion? ]

... Cockblock.

(he mumbles as she sits, putting distance between him and the man he had been flirting with - goddamnit, hibi. he sighs, putting the bong down and stretching his arms above his head.

it goes around her on the top of the couch though, as if he's stating she's with him - no one look!!! no one hit on!!! hiss!! hiss!!!)

So? Did it work? You got yourself a Koi now?

(because that's truthfully the only way he'll remember kaito's name. by not calling him by name at all.)

Hm, did you say something?

[ Does he know that she has incredibly good hearing? The music is overpowering, but judging from the cute smile Hibiki gives him as she sits, a little bird might have heard his grousing. Sorry not sorry.

Catching the movement out of the corner of her eye, Hibiki leans back into the seat--not quite against his arm, but very close. The question catches her off-guard, and she has to think about what he means. Koi, Koi...

Oh. Aha. She grins like an idiot, a bit of color tinting her cheeks. ]

You didn't have to message him, you know. We probably could've figured it out eventually.

[ Yeah right, someone needs to wield the clue-by-four, and thank god Mikey's got that covered. ]

Cockblock.

(it's fine, he'll repeat it for her. there's something about being held, being taken care of even if on a superficial level, that does well with him. and!!! he hasn't had that!!! in months!!!)

Oh, please. You two were more lost than-- I forgot my comparison. No-- yeah, no, it was fun and productive.

[ Nope, she's definitely not sorry. She continues to grin brightly, shrugging her shoulder vaguely. ]

You're not mad, are you? What if I buy you a drink?

[ She doesn't know that he's craving physical attention, but Hibiki isn't necessarily the most perceptive when it comes to that sort of thing. He's charming and charismatic, he can find another boy to take care of his needs without much difficulty.

Plus, she hasn't said thank you to him yet. ]

Okay, but I have a great sense of direction. Ask anybody. [ Is there really anyone here that would vouch? Hmm. ] And I guess I'm glad you enjoy making me squirm? Can't say I'd complain about the end result though.

Nope. But I'll remember this.

(bullshit, we know he won't. still, he shrugs, reaching for the whiskey on the table to sip and deal with his dry mouth.)

See? I'm a genius with this shit. You're a girlfriend now. I think.

That I owe you a drink, or that I cockblocked you?

[ Hibiki!! He doesn't seem too upset about it at least, which is why she feels comfortable making that comment. ]

Yeah, you're a genius meddler. And here I thought you didn't really like me, but instead you go out and get me a boyfriend. [ Man, that still feels weird to say. It's only been a couple days... ]

Hm, maybe I should be the one getting a drink to celebrate. It's been a long time.

Both.

(and well, the words do hit him. he closes his eyes, downs his drink, feels the alcohol meddle with the grass. oh, yeah. he's properly suppressed. all good here.)

... It's not that I don't like you. It's more that being around me ain't very good. I told you, didn't I? I could kill you and not even notice. For sure that went great for Takemitchy. That's why you, miss thing-- should not get too comfortable.

(he even points and circles his index finger to make his point.)

I told him, Baji, beat the shit out of him and everything, Kazu, you, and I don't think anyone's really listening.

Edited 2022-11-21 17:19 (UTC)

Guess I'll just have to have something good ready next time I see you!

[ She's feeling pretty cozy herself, even if she doesn't have the full effect or the mix of that and alcohol swirling in her system. Smiling brightly at him, it somehow doesn't dim as he tries to place some heavy facts squarely on her shoulders. It doesn't really mean much with his arm draped behind her like that. ]

I'm not worried. [ "I'm not afraid of dying." ] And joke's on you, I'm already plenty comfy. I'm pretty stubborn, you know, so no threat of death is gonna change that. And they don't listen 'cause they care about you. They're your people, right? You can push all you want, but if somebody cares about you, they're gonna push back no matter what.

[ The distinction between 'his people' and people who care about him is very specific. She knows what camp she sits in. ]

Yeah, I think I want something. What's good here?

Caring about me gets people killed. Y'all might not care, but I do. I'm not really into hurting the people I care about, you know.

(unbearable, but at least with how loose he is, he might find some release in saying things openly like this. if pushing isn't working, beating isn't working, might as well be upfront... and regret later, probably, when he's home and with a banging hangover.)

... You know, I have no idea. I just went with the first thing I saw. Get a... Fireball or something.

[ Wow, she never thought she'd see the day. He cares about her, huh? She figured, given some of his actions (especially when imprisoned together), but hearing him all but say it feels good. Hibiki smirks at him. ]

I mean technically we're already dead, so it's probably fine. [ And in case that joke falls flat. ] I get why you're worried, though, and I appreciate it. But I'm gonna keep coming back no matter how hard you push, because I care about you, whether you like it or not.

[ And that's all she has to say on the matter. Leaning forward and thumbing through the touchpad menu at the table, she finds something interesting (two shots? well it's probably not that bad, and she's intrigued) and orders it before leaning back. ]

But this is nice. Which is weird, cause this totally isn't my scene.

You barely know me, you know. I get why the others are attached - Baji's been my friend since we were four or five, my first boyfriend and everything, Kazu's a long story - although he did seem to say it out loud on the Internet, Takemitchy's a long story too. Why are you?

(considering kazutora's been so honest regarding his status as a murderer.

but, even so, he thinks she's insane. he barely knows her and he thinks he's shown her nothing but reasons to stay away.

and yet, here she is.)

Did you know - a lot goes down in places like this. Movies always make it seem like deals and whatnot happen in junkyards, or in the middle of nowhere, but really, clubs, malls, food stalls... It's homely to me.

Because I know a lonely person when I see one.

[ Her smile tempers into something more quiet, introspective. After making sure she's given him some modicum of space this whole time, saying that is what it takes for her to cross over that line, as she leans the back of her head into his arm. ]

It's different for everyone, but I know what loneliness feels like. I still struggle with it, even surrounded by who care about me, and I couldn't even begin to tell you why. Maybe because I'm worried about the same thing that you are, to a lesser degree. Losing them. [ A beat. ] So when I see somebody struggling with that loneliness, I can't help it. I wanna be there for them, no matter what.

[ Not wanting to dwell on the deep stuff, desperate to not have this conversation flipped on her, Hibiki happily goes along with the change of subject, glad that Mikey takes that bread crumb. ]

Oh, I know that much. I've never been a part of them myself obviously, but I've been around certain circles enough to know about that. So I get why you like it. I just hope I don't have a headache in the morning from the speakers.

[ Oh, that won't be the reason why you have a headache, Hibiki. ]

(he refuses to dwell into it either, even if there are things that he could definitely dispute - he's not lonely, he's fine. he's not afraid of losing them, he's not struggling with loneliness, it's much more about struggling with himself. he knows there was a time where his smile could brighten up a district, and now, he struggles to not shoot someone, not even in anger, but instead, in lack of contempt control.

so, conversation shifts, his face doesn't. it's like she never even got through to him, not a shred of emotion or reaction when he jumps onto the second part.)

You think-- you serious? The speakers? Really? We're going to drink silly, and prank call your boyfriend. You're getting a hangover.

[ He can dead fish eye her all she wants, she is going to continue to make ~~anime as fuck~~ quiet speeches at him until she finally lands a hit. There's a caring person in there, and she wants to know how someone like that ended up like the man here next to her.

Later. After they get their drank on. Hibiki blinks owlishly at him. ]

Prank calls, seriously? What are we, twelve? And my ears are really sensitive, you know! It doesn't take much to give me a headache!

[ And right on cue, one of the bar staff brings over two, dark colored shot glasses and puts them down on the table. Hey look, something to give her a headache! ]

Edited 2022-11-23 22:15 (UTC)

Let me live, Hibi.

(let him be childish and do shit. it's hard to do these things when you're the boss of the yakuza and you have no soul. baji's existence around him soothes the dark impulses, brings a slight level of relief.

fingertips touch glass, and down his throat it goes.

it's spicy, and it doesn't sit so well with his sweet-preferred palate. his face is priceless, and every hair in his body stands, and that glass? far, far, far, as he reaches for a cigarette.)

Fuck. Fuck, I hate this!! I hate it!!!

(not even aggressive, it's more a tantrum than anything.)

You can prank call 'Koi-kun' all you want, he's gonna know it's me if I do.

[ Sorry Kaito, this is what he gets for binding himself to an absolute gremlin. And speaking of which...

Hibiki gawks as Mikey grabs one of the shot glass and knocks it back, making a strangled noise that translates to "That was mine!!" until he makes a face. A girlish grin spreads on her lips as she claps her hands together, tilting her head cutely. lol bitch that's what you get. ]

You were the one who decided to drink it, Mikey-san~

[ Although she has some concerns, she's going to push those away as she takes the other shot, downs it, then sits there for a moment... Her eyes start to water as she stares into the distance, her lips pressed together, stuck in that awful grin.

OH GOD IT'S LIKE DRINKING SPICY TOOTHPASTE WHY. ]

(as he dies of burn, he holds a finger up, desperately trying to light the cigarette between his lips to aleviate the burn and the taste of spice and mint and EW - he thought it was an offering, excuse him for thinking he is hot shit.

he sucks into the stick so hard that his lungs are filled, and he breathes out the smoke.)

Hah!! Serves you right for making that face!!! Haha!!!

You knew it was gonna burn, you jerk.

[ She's still desperately trying to not give in and make the face she wants to. He brought it upon himself, that's what he gets for trying to take her down.

He does at least get a pouting face from him as spicy cold still manages to be kind of warm. Weird. Anyway. ]

Next one we're getting the same thing. No tricking me twice. If I go down, we both go down.

... Fine, get us a piña colada with the little umbrellas. Don't. Forget. The umbrellas.

(it'll make his mood back to better, from dying to appeased and less hissy over the taste that still permeates in his tongue, even with the layer of nicotine.)

I'm like, 80% there, though. I ain't got no pride on that. I just smoked a bowl and drank. You get on my level. We can share the same sidewalk for the night's sleep.

Edited 2022-11-23 23:15 (UTC)

[ Oh my god this guy is actually a little kid. She's seen glimmers of it, but wow that's hard to ignore now. Hibiki leans forward to start tapping on the touchscreen. ]

Should we ask them to bring some extra for later?

[ aka he wants umbrellas in all their drinks tonight, right? ]

Hey, I plan on sleeping in my bed, thank you very much. I'm a delicate flower, you know. [ Bullshit. ]

... Yes. I'll drink whiskey with the umbrellas. Festive as fuck.

(does he look like he's joking he's absolutely not joking.)

Yeah, right, so am I, look at my face, size and height.

[ Oh, she knows he's 100% serious and will absolutely encourage this ridiculousness. ]

So whiskey after this, got it. [ Tap. ] Aaaand order sent. We'll figure out how to get you home later.

I'll-- call Baji, I guess. Probably. Don't let me forget.

(and man, the groan that leaves him once he slumps over the chair. he's definitely feeling it.)

The strangest fucking thing is being 30 with your ex-boyfriend who you've dated your teen years being fifteen. Man, Takemitchy looks 17 even if he's like, as old as me. And Kazutora is-- a prison bird!! Again!! He just got released!!! That ain't fair to me. Their backs don't hurt.

Edited 2022-11-25 00:52 (UTC)

[ Hibiki reaches for a coaster before fishing around in her purse. She flips the coaster to the blank side, writing "Call Baji" on it before putting his shot glass on top of that. ]

There! Once you get to the bottom of a couple of drinks you'll see that. Just a little trick I picked up playing bars.

[ It's a good thing that was only her first drink, or she wouldn't have the brain to be able to remember something like that. Returning to her spot leaned up against his arm, Hibiki lets out a long, impressed hum. ]

Oh man, coming from all different times has gotta be weird. Takemitchy too? I just thought he looked really good for his age. You two've obvious got something going on.

You mean they don't hurt cause they're young? Ugh, I hope mine doesn't hurt when I'm 30...

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