Suzaku Kururugi (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
swordofzero) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thenearshore2018-06-04 07:59 am
swordofzero) wrote in thenearshore2018-06-04 07:59 am
Entry tags:
Practical Concerns
Who: Suzaku, Adrien, Marinette and Snake
When: 30th November
Where: Fortuna's temple.
What: Suzaku discovers his goddess is gone and arranges emergency kitten care
It was with almost numb shock that Suzaku returned to the heavens late in the evening with the first group back after investigating the cultists. It hadn't taken long for him to figure out what it meant when his borderlines had stopped working. When ayakashi had started veering towards him, more often than they had before.
His name had vanished from his hand. Lady Grell was gone. Despite the fact that everyone he had met when he first arrived warning him that this would probably happen, that it happened all the time, it was still a shock. He had seen her just that morning, when he had asked if he could go help with the investigation.
He shouldn't have gone. He should have stayed and then maybe she wouldn't have vanished. He had been told also that if this happened it was not his fault. But he still felt he should have done better, done more to protect her.
The temple was gone, reduced to just a pile of rubble. Seeing it made him pause, made it real. She really was gone... Kali's temple had always been a strange place but it had been the only place he knew. There were no signs of the tiger or the jaquals and he could only hope they didn't cause much trouble, wherever they had ran off to. He worried that Kotetsu had also ran off, gotten lost in the heavens to be hurt by some bigger animal or starve. But he found the kitten nestled between two of the slabs of rubble, unharmed but mewling pitifully.
His hands and arms still have speckles of blight after his fights with the ayakashi. He has no idea if blight can spread to kittens but he is taking no risks. He took off his jacket and wrapped Kotetsu in it.
He had tried to contact Mr. Spears and had been unable to connect, so it was no surprise when he walked to where the temple of Ma'at had been to find that gone as well. Both of them...
It was a difficult night. It was cold and Kotetsu wouldn't settle. Suzaku drifted off a couple of times but was awoken by sounds or the kitten trying to escape from his arms. In the end he wandered, trying to focus on practical things to stop his mind straying into the territory of the fact he should have protected Lady Grell better.
He couldn't keep Kotetsu, by morning that was apparent. It was unfair on the kitten, who hadn't stopped mewling sadly since Suzaku had found him. He hadn't been able to protect a god never mind a tiny kitten who depended on him. He waited, still wandering until it was a respectable time and then sent a message to Adrien.
He had met quite a few people but Adrien was someone he knew liked animals and hopefully wouldn't mind looking after Kotetsu for a while, at least until Suzaku came up with a better solution. It didn't take him long to find Fortuna's temple and he knocked on the door. He looks a mess, he's still fairly covered in mud from the trek through the mountains, he hasn't slept, his arms are speckled with blight. But his posture is one of a soldier, formal, ready for anything.
When: 30th November
Where: Fortuna's temple.
What: Suzaku discovers his goddess is gone and arranges emergency kitten care
It was with almost numb shock that Suzaku returned to the heavens late in the evening with the first group back after investigating the cultists. It hadn't taken long for him to figure out what it meant when his borderlines had stopped working. When ayakashi had started veering towards him, more often than they had before.
His name had vanished from his hand. Lady Grell was gone. Despite the fact that everyone he had met when he first arrived warning him that this would probably happen, that it happened all the time, it was still a shock. He had seen her just that morning, when he had asked if he could go help with the investigation.
He shouldn't have gone. He should have stayed and then maybe she wouldn't have vanished. He had been told also that if this happened it was not his fault. But he still felt he should have done better, done more to protect her.
The temple was gone, reduced to just a pile of rubble. Seeing it made him pause, made it real. She really was gone... Kali's temple had always been a strange place but it had been the only place he knew. There were no signs of the tiger or the jaquals and he could only hope they didn't cause much trouble, wherever they had ran off to. He worried that Kotetsu had also ran off, gotten lost in the heavens to be hurt by some bigger animal or starve. But he found the kitten nestled between two of the slabs of rubble, unharmed but mewling pitifully.
His hands and arms still have speckles of blight after his fights with the ayakashi. He has no idea if blight can spread to kittens but he is taking no risks. He took off his jacket and wrapped Kotetsu in it.
He had tried to contact Mr. Spears and had been unable to connect, so it was no surprise when he walked to where the temple of Ma'at had been to find that gone as well. Both of them...
It was a difficult night. It was cold and Kotetsu wouldn't settle. Suzaku drifted off a couple of times but was awoken by sounds or the kitten trying to escape from his arms. In the end he wandered, trying to focus on practical things to stop his mind straying into the territory of the fact he should have protected Lady Grell better.
He couldn't keep Kotetsu, by morning that was apparent. It was unfair on the kitten, who hadn't stopped mewling sadly since Suzaku had found him. He hadn't been able to protect a god never mind a tiny kitten who depended on him. He waited, still wandering until it was a respectable time and then sent a message to Adrien.
He had met quite a few people but Adrien was someone he knew liked animals and hopefully wouldn't mind looking after Kotetsu for a while, at least until Suzaku came up with a better solution. It didn't take him long to find Fortuna's temple and he knocked on the door. He looks a mess, he's still fairly covered in mud from the trek through the mountains, he hasn't slept, his arms are speckled with blight. But his posture is one of a soldier, formal, ready for anything.
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And maybe that's what made her a good hero - a good Ladybug. Adrien sat his phone aside and yawned. He'd fed the kittens - all six of them. Marinette usually cooked breakfast so he'd leave that to her even if he's sure she's going to make enough for at least six people since she knows Suzaku was coming. Setting his phone aside at the knock on the door the blond is moving down the stairs to the lobby level of the temple, When Adrien draws the door open he's standing there in shock at the state of his friend. Stepping back he's ushering him inside.
"Come in. Let's get you cleaned up and both of you fed. You've had a trying night.. day?" When had Grell gone missing? He had scrolled his phone and made note of missing names. Mister Spears was gone too which was sad but maybe they left together? It kept it from being a truly saddening thought even if Suzaku was left behind. Adrien tended to latch on to the positives of anything bad - it was like it was a driving need he had. And Suzaku, regardless of if he knew it or not wasn't alone. Unwittingly since befriending Adrien, even briefly, he had something like a family 6 kittens, a ball python snake named Ayn, Adrien, Marinette, & Snake.
And the instant he crosses that threshold he's home. If only for the moment.
"Mari! We're going to need some holy water. He's got the blight it doesn't look too bad though," Adrien calls up the stairs, gently ushering the other inside. "I know you said you don't want to stay with us but at least let us help with the blight, take a shower and give you some clean clothes. Maybe breakfast, too?"
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"Please don't trouble yourself." He could cope with this, people shouldn't have to feel like they needed to help him. He was fine. Even if he felt like everything was crumbling around him and the urge to reach out and take the helping hand that Adrien was extending was...
He should sort the blight out at least, he shouldn't leave it. Yamanbagiri had given him some holy water on the mountain, but there had been more ayakashi, it wasn't too bad but dealing with injuries was just sensible. There was a part of him that wished to just hand over the kitten and leave, flee Adrien's concern. It wasn't like he couldn't take care of himself.
Kotetsu had no such concerns of course. He had nosed out of the bundle of coat he was in and when discovering that he was somewhere warm had wriggled his head out, looking around at this exciting new place.
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She'd been making breakfast when Adrien called out to her. It wasn't anything terribly fancy, but there'd probably be enough for the four of them and then some. It was just easier to cook for large groups. Or at least that's what she's going to go with when Adrien inevitably asks her about it later.
But the food was at a point now where she could walk away and not have to worry about coming back to a burnt mess. The croissants and croquettes were cooling, the coffee and cocoa were resting, the bacon and eggs were being dished up at this very moment and set off to the side as well - mainly because she wasn't entirely sure what Suzaku liked to eat and she didn't want him to feel excluded.
Once all that was out of the way, she's rushing to go fill a couple of bottles with blessed water and then scurrying down the stairs. "Sorry! I was finishing up breakfast," she announced, coming into the room and handing off the water to Adrien. She was honestly torn between wanting to fuss over him and trying to resist the urge to do so in an effort not to smother him the second he came through the door.
For the time being, it seems like she's being successful in that endeavor as she's hanging back a little, though she's close by in case she's needed. "I'm sure Adrien's already told you, but you're welcome to stay here for as long as you need to," Mari told him. "There's plenty of room, and it wouldn't be any inconvenience. I'm sure Kotetsu would feel better having you here, too." Okay, so maybe that last bit was a bit much, but she couldn't bring herself to care all that much just now.
As if on cue, Kotetsu had poked his head out of his hidey spot and Marinette was just smiling down at the kitten. "What do you think, kitten? Should we all stay here together for a while?"
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He follows Marinette down the stairs, staying just a step behind her.
Of everyone's greeting, Snake's would most likely put him the most at ease. He doesn't say a word, but gives a solemn nod while Ayn offers a wave with her tail.
He nods when Marinette offers for Suzaku to stay, "'We would all be very happy if you stayed with us. It would be very warm,'says Ayn." Of course, he's referencing their sleep habits. In his opinion it is the best sleeping habit.
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He had been afraid at first having a third join them but now? Now they're perfectly fine - just as much as a team as Marinette and Adrien had been before but with an extra pair of hands. "Why don't you give your adorable little kitten to Marinette? They'll get him food and give him pets. I'll show you to the bathroom and help you treat your blight - if you need. Then you can come down for breakfast."
Adrien is hoping that maybe by the time he's tended and taken care of he'll change his mind. Kairi and Wendy had told him about the dangers of being godless and alone. That you can't effectively fight ayakashi that you're in danger of being over taken by them then becoming one yourself. That's not the kind of fate that Adrien can easily let a friend walk into. Part of why he's hoping Suzaku would change his mind on his own or be convinced by good food and company to stay with them until he gets reassigned. Surely he would see that it made the most sense.
God bless Marinette. She understands Adrien's worries and fears and it seems that she's trying to help him get Suzaku to stay already. Maybe if he seems how warm, welcoming and big the temple is it will help. If the other shinki sees that he truly won't be putting anyone out if he stays. Once Kotetsu is handed off he's leading the way to the bath room. When they step inside there's already clothes laying on the counter along with wash cloths and towels; even some that they use just for blight that can be thrown away.
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"I... Thank you." He's not sure how to answer any of the offers being thrown at him. The urge to just turn and leave is still strong but it would be rude when they are all being so nice. He doesn't have any reasons he can give for why he wants to turn and run, just an overwhelming feeling that he does not deserve this. Doesn't deserve people like Adrien. But as he has no reasons, nothing but an urge to leave he can't argue.
Adrien giving instructions helps. He can follow instructions. He hands Kotetsu to Marinette so he can follow Adrien to the bathroom.
The kitten is definitely happy about being in this warm new place full of soft voices and interesting smells. He rubs his cheak along Marinette's hand.
Fortuna's temple is very different to Kali's. Softer, more colourful. Suzaku's posture is still very formal as he follows Adrien, but he does note that. Whereas Kali's temple was opulance, cavernous halls and ornate furnishings this is warm colours and feels more open, more welcoming. "Thank you." He manages a tight, tired smile at Adrien as he went over to the sink and began splashing the holy water on his arms.
The relief in instant, the water soothing the blight and making it vanish. One thing at a time. At least he has no doubt that Kotetsu will be cared for here.
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Adrien is moving to help him wash away the blight. He's not entirely sure what they'll need to do with Suzaku's things - if he'll be able to keep them or not. But he won't bring that up right now. For mow the biggest thing is getting that hideous bruise like purple off of his friend's skin. His face is serious and he's careful not to get any of it on himself not wanting to get blighted through the contact.
"Once we're done with the blight I'm going to step out and let you have a shower." He's glancing at the other shinki's things. "I don't recall if you can simply wash them and they'll be fine or not. They may have to be washed in holy water as well. I suppose it depends on if it soaked through or not." There's confusion in those bright green eyes. "I'll have Snake go ask or something. How did you get blighted anyway? Were you fighting on your own or?"
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He took off his shirt, there were some patches of blight on his side as well. Not as much as there would have been if people hadn't helped him the day before. He thinks that's all of it, he had gotten pretty lucky. "Because I was relying on my borderlines to keep it back from me I was overwhelmed quickly. Luckily there were others nearby." His voice is steady though it is very much a report of what happened, spoken without emotion.
He frowned at the mention of the clothes. He hadn't known that. He hadn't thought about blight being passed on through clothing. "If that's true we will have to check Kotetsu, I wrapped him in my coat so that I didn't touch him with my arms."
He's worried now that in doing so he might have exposed the kitten to blight.
Guess who flaked on this. Sorry guys <3
The confusion was written all over Suzaku's face, and she didn't want to add to that anymore than she had to. She didn't want him to get overwhelmed and decide to just leave. They'd never met before now, she was pretty sure, but this was one of Adrien's friends and she owed it to him to try and help. More than that, she wanted to help. It was pretty common knowledge that a shinki without a god was weaker than they'd ever be otherwise, and she didn't want anything to happen to Suzaku.
"You don't have to thank us for that," Marinette told him. "Any friend of Adrien's is welcome here. I mean it. You're welcome to stay here until you figure out what you want to do next. There's also a shelter for shinki whose gods have disappeared that I could take you to, if you'd rather," she explained.
She's more than happy to take the kitten when he offered, and she's tucking the sweet little thing into her arms while she watches Adrien lead the other boy off to the bathroom. After they've gone, she's taking a seat on a chaise and shifting Kotetsu a little to look him over. She couldn't remember everything they'd said about blight simply because it had been a while ago, and she'd never sat through a shinki training, but she wanted to make sure the kitten hadn't gotten any residual blight somehow. Washing it off a shinki would be a good deal simpler than trying to convince a kitten to cooperate, so it was better to be sure. "It's okay, minou. Nobody's going to hurt you. And your papa will be back very soon."
<3
He was quiet, there to support Adrien. He thought about the question, trying to remember what had been said at the training day. Still uncertain he instead decides to gather the potentially blighted things into a wash basin and start washing them himself in the spring water, just in case.
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But he doesn't know the other shinki at all and he doesn't want to insult him by asking that he remove the snake. So he just stood still, bottle of holy water in one hand. Perhaps it would be best to just continue clensing the blight but pet or not he's not sure the snake will take kindly to having water splashed on it.
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"Not to worry. Marinette will look him over. She's amazingly good with cats." His voice is warm and soothing, He hadn't meant to cause Suzaku more concern it was just a thought. Surely animals couldn't be too adversely effected by a weak exposure such as a blood dampened coat or something. Right? Either way, They'll take care of it."
He blinks watching Martin then laughs. "Martin,..." He can see the way he tenses and clears his throat. "He's harmless. That is to say he won't hurt you. He's one of the family. Neither of them will hurt you. Martin just knows you're stressed and need something to help you relax. He's trying to give you a massage. If you'd like one of us to remove him we can. Water won't bother the snakes in the least."
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At some point, Fleur had come into the room and decided that people weren't paying enough attention to her, so she proceeded to hop right up onto the chaise beside Marinette and butt right into the middle of whatever was going on with Marinette and Kotetsu. Which, of course, translated into her trying to casually flop over on top of the kitten in an effort to steal away her human's attention. In response, Marinette casually picked Fleur up and set her on the floor with a chuckle. "No. Go bother someone else for right now~"
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Martin tilts his head a little, "'If you'd rather, I can leave you alone, but Adrien and Snake say I'm quite good at giving shoulder rubs,' says Martin."
Snake does look up to see if it would be better for him to go pick up Martin or not.
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The blond hummed cleaning along Suzaku's side and even over some places he can't see any blight. Some part of him wants to tell him that he should have called them for help but he doesn't Suzaku seems to feel bad enough as it is. There's not need to make it any worse - So he won't.
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"Thank you." He's talking to them all and he splashes some more water on his arms before lifting them up to inspect them. "I think it's all gone."
It definitely feels better, the burning sensation eased from his skin. He smiles at Snake, a shaky smile but a smile nontheless. "Thank you for washing those."
They are all being exceptionally kind.
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Kotetsu, in the meantime, had decided that he wasn't getting enough attention and was now casually batting at her hands and generally acting adorable. "It's okay. Fleur was just jealous because she's an attention hog," she explained, because it was obviously important for the kitten to know these things.
"But she won't bother you much. I hope."
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With the clothes washed well in the holy water, Snake gently squeezes out some of the water before moving to carry the clothes to the dryer. As he leaves he nods to Suzaku and says "'You would fit in my clothes, if you want' says Martin." They're both decently tall, and have a similar kind of build. Not too broad across the back, but decently thick chests. Adrien is a similar height, but isn't quite as thick chested as Snake.
Snake nods to Marinette as he passes her, "'Want Ayn to watch the kittens?' says Ayn?"
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"I'll show him were your things are. We'll get you something clean from one of the closets then you can go eat breakfast." And because he knows it's coming... "Because I know you likely haven't ate in a while," Even if they didn't exactly need to it still gave everything a feeling of normal and it might help him regain some energy since he'd been doing all that fighting on his own. At least that's Adrien's line of thinking.
He's handing him a dry fluffy towel and a dark bathrobe form the back of the door - it's a riot of colors guess who's that is. "In case you're feeling a bit modest. I'll go down ahead of you and look over Kotetsu - make sure he's okay. Come down when you're ready." A smile tugged at his lips as he paused in the doorway. "Don't feel bad about this or anything - we're friends. Friends look out for each other."
Then he's hurrying down the steps to where Marinette is. "Did you look him over? No signs of blight right?" Reaching he's rubbing behind the kitten's ears as he leans in closer to get a better look. The blond's fingers carding lightly through the kitten's fur; bright green eyes trained on his coat and the skin beneath it.
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He was hungry, he had mostly been ignoring it because he always felt a bit hungry and he had put that down to just part of being a shinki. But he hadn't eaten since before going into the forest. So he didn't argue, even if he still felt they were all doing too much.
Perhaps he had been foolish to think Adrien would let him just drop Kotetsu off and leave.
He showers quickly, glad to wash the mud off and is soon heading downstairs himself, feeling incredibly awkward in the bath robe, he pauses at the door.
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Before she could say anything further, Adrien had returned as well, and she's shooting him a smile too. "Of course I looked him over," she assured him, even though she knew for a fact that Adrien would do the same. She couldn't blame him for that, either. "Don't worry. I didn't see anything." And it was a good thing, because the prospect of trying to bathe the kitten was not a pleasant one.
"How is he?" Mari asked, finally turning her attention to her shinki. She had to guess it wasn't too horrible since both Snake and Adrien had come back this way instead of sticking with him.
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Snake nods to Mari, letting her take Ayn, who is more than happy to start teasing the kitten with her tail. She did hiss ad coil back if the kitten got too rough, sometimes even smacking them with her tail, but by now she'd been around the other kittens that Marinette would be used to it. Snake had even kindly explained for Ayn that she was makings sure the kittens also learned manners, assuring Marinette she wouldn't let them get hurt. Considering that Martin played with the same way, even letting them be a little rougher than Ayn would tolerate, it did just seem it was a natural part of play and teaching the babies where there were boundaries.
Snake comes up behind Suzaku with a pile of clothes in his hands. A simple striped tee shirt made from some incredibly smooth fabric that didn't seem to catch easily, and some slightly elastic faux-leather leggings, clearly chosen for maneuverability, even if the stitching has a bit of a suggestion of leather armor. They both stretched a bit, though they probably wouldn't really need to to fit Suzaku well. He holds them up and out to him as he clears his throat, figuring that he might be more comfortable in some clothes before he joined them at breakfast.
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He's looking up at Marinette. "I think... he'll be okay but he's going through a lot. He also seems to be a bit stubborn about accepting help but I think he's caving little by little. He likely won't accept you naming him - because I know that that is something you'll likely offer - but he'll at least stay for a little bit. Hopefully anyway. I think Snake is letting him borrow some of his things - but I'll go with him to get something later a bit more like his old clothes. Because if he's sleeping over he might want some PJ's and he can take my room since I'm almost always curled up with you and Snake. It'll be fine."
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He returned downstairs, following voices again until he found where everyone was. Once again he stood in the doorway, feeling uncertain. He was staying for now though. It had definitely passed the point where it would be rude just to leave.
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When Adrien spoke up, she just nodded. She could remember how he'd been when they'd gotten the kittens, and honestly it was adorable. He was actually really good with them, and part of her wondered if that was because he was Chat Noir or not. Maybe she'd ask him about it someday. "He can wait until we feed the others," she told him, not wanting to show Kotetsu any special treatment, mostly because Fleur would take offense.
Marinette nodded at that. She couldn't ever understand what it was like for a shinki to lose their god, but if it was anything like watching Adrien die before, she could empathize. "It's understandable. Some people might not be used to having others try to help them. I think if we give him some time, it'll be okay." Or as okay as it could be, given the circumstances. "If he isn't ready to be named again right away, I won't push the issue. He can stay here for as long as he likes, or there's always the shelter that Wendy started up a while ago. I need to take some more things over there in the next couple of days anyway," she told him.
By that point, Suzaku had returned, and she glanced up at him too. "I looked Kotetsu over and then Adrien did the same, and I'm happy to tell you that he's completely blight-free," she announced. "And he seems to like Ayn."
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It's not much, but he's not sure how else to try to help more, and he's sure that Marinette and Adrien could recognize one of his jokes, even if they were a little rare.
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Adrien shrugged. Adrien gently shook his head with a little laugh. "That's Ayn trying to joke. They're really harmless though and they've been told that the kittens aren't food and are friends. Theren't nothing you need to worry about from the snakes - Snake is the only one that has venom and that's only as a vessel." He's gently ruffling Snake's hair.
"Let's go get some breakfast." He's moving to go step into his room after handing Susaku his kitten. "Plagg, c'mon buddy. Breakfast. I bet Mari has some of those cheesy macaroni things you liked left over.
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Kotetsu jumped into his arms happily and immidiately sunk his teeth into Suzaku's hand making him wince. He's gotten used to it though, the kitten is so effectionate towards others so he doesn't worry about his behaviour. Cats just hate him.
He smiles again and moves to follow everyone, still feeling awkward but it seems he is not going to be allowed to just leave. Kotetsu at least seemed to be settling, moving between gnawing at Suzaku's hand to looking around with kitten excitement at new smells.
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Marinette giggled a little at Snake's comment, despite her shinki's lack of expression. "And we won't be biting anyone, right Ayn?" she sing-songed, though her tone was teasing because she knew there was no actual danger there.
She was content to take up the rear as everyone else decided to go for breakfast. "What macaroni things?" she called out as she made her way into the kitchen. Because she definitely needed him to be a little more specific.
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Snake moves to the table, pulling out a chair for their guest, offering it to him. It might not be a smile, but the expression is gentle, and there's a look to his eyes that's bright. No, he'd not just be allowed to leave.
He looks to Marinette, "'I don't think he would be upset with any of them,' says Martin." It's hard to tell if it's Snake or Martin teasing this time.
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Plagg groans but he's zooming out to perch on Adrien's shoulder. 'Why does she want to eat me exactly? I'm not food.' Then he's peering at Marinette. 'The things from last night when you guys watched the movie.'
Adrien nods. "The mac and cheese croquettes. Remember you were trying to convince me that almost anything would be good as a Croquette and I told you No?" Adrien rolled his eyes. "Also as long as there's cheese he will eat anything don't let him ever make you think otherwise." He's moving around the counter, fixing a plate for Plagg putting it on the table.
"What kind of breakfast do you want?"
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He followed everyone, not speaking himself just letting Kotetsu chew on his hand as he looked around the kitchen letting the talk of everyone wash over. Listening to them talking and teasing each other put him at ease at all. It was a reasurance that he wasn't inconveniencing them too much.
His eyes flickered from person to person, watching them as he stood stiff and still, Kotetsu in his arms.
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She just shrugged at Plagg. "Who knows. Ayn is an enigma," she murmured. And then she chuckled at Plagg's answer. "Oh. Yea. There are still a few left. Help yourself~"
The mac and cheese croquettes hadn't been as successful an experiment as she'd hoped. But Plagg was welcome to them. As the last one into the kitchen, she might've been the first one to notice the way Suzaku was just sort of standing there, and so she went over to him and carefully untangled the kitten. "Why don't you go help yourself to breakfast? I'll take care of this little guy." If anything, she could eat a little later.