thenearshore | Good Food

Entry tags:

Good Food

Who: Mikoto and Open
What: Food Times
When: Throughout December
Where: Everywhere
Summary: Mikoto needs a few square meals, company doesn't matter.

i. The Lunch Rush

[ The lunch rush at a local restaurant tends to leave tables in scarcity. The foods great, drinks even better which is what brings the Red King in that day. However, there's not enough tables for everyone, so single tables are frowned upon and two will have to share. Doesn't matter who had the table first, the waiter puts you together and now your meal/drink of one, becomes two. Alternatively, for those 21+ you'll be sitting at the bar. The waiter hands you the menu and off he goes leaving you two alone. ]

ii. Dinner Rolls in

[ This time dinner is at an open bar near the docks. Mikoto likes it for the fresh air and alcohol. Feel free to slide in next to him at the bar. Later, as the evening draws later, he'll take a walk down by the water. If you spot him from afar you'll see him stop. He doesn't seem to move for a bit, but if you've got the right angle you might spot a black cat in his way. Is he superstitous? The answer becomes obvious if you draw closer. That's not just any black cat, that's an ayakashi and the god isn't doing anything to purify it. ]

iii. Wildcard

[ ooc; make up your own scenerio. I'll go with it. ]

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[Well, this is a familiar face. And hair. Can't really ever forget someone with red hair like that. Seeing him at the open bar, he moves over to sit down beside him, grabbing a drink.]

Well. It's been a while since I've last seen you.

[If he even remembers him.]

[ There's a drink nestled between his ring-covered fingers, balanced by his palm when movement at his peripheral catches his attention, shifting gold eyes his way. ]

.....

[ He watches him in silence as he slides into the empty seat beside him, shrugging at his comment. It's been a while, but who's keeping count? He's lost count of days months ago and the way things have been going lately, that's not something that will change anytime soon. ]

...The silent treatment?

[He lets out a chuckle, leaning forward on his hand to look towards him.]

Something on your mind or am I bothering?

[Not that he'd stop.]

[ A shift in balance and the amber liquid gently swirls in the glass catching the dim light. Suoh waits until it settles before raising it to his lips and taking a sturdy drink. He gestures to the bartender who slides over with a bottle of whiskey he's already bought and tops him off. ]

Friend joining you?

[ The man asks and Suoh shrugs and takes another drink. ]

Alright.

[ He turns to Niles and places a glass in front of him and pours him a generous amount from the bottle. ]

The first round's on him.

[ Is all he says before setting the bottle down and moving on to his next customer, preparing the ice for a long island. Suoh, says nothing. ]

[Niles thanks the waiter before taking a sip of the drink, looking back over to Mikoto.]

Did something bad happen?

[He teased Mikoto before, and now it's all quiet.]

Hn.

[ He takes a sip of his drink. ]

What are you doing here?

Looking for something to do.

[He shrugs his shoulders.]

Is that a problem?

[ooc: let me know if this is ok or if you'd like me to change anything! ]

[ This was the first Christmas Alex realized that she could actually get presents for people. She had people she could gifts too. However, it's been ages since she's last gone Christmas shopping, and even then it was just for her dad and her brother. She had to try, and so she found herself walking through the shops, peeking through store windows and checking out what other people got. The sun was starting to set, and Alex remained empty handed.

There was too much uncertainty as to what to get. She just barely managed to get some people thank you presents. What more for an actual holiday? As she's brooding over what to do, something black running behind a corner catches her eye, its tail disappearing behind it.

Betty, was the name that came up in her mind. Obviously it couldn't be, the cat was back in Ergastulum. It's not as if this world didn't have black cats of its own. Still, Alex found herself following it, something nostalgic washing over her. It turned another corner, then dashed down an alley, continuing to move as Alex pursued it. She started to hear the sound of water. Lots of water, and a salty scent in the air. Next thing she knew, the pavement stopped, sand covering the rest of the way. Waves, those were waves rolling onto the shore.

Spotting the cat again, Alex is once more distracted, stepping onto the sand and finding out that it wasn't the easiest terrain to walk on, each step had her foot sinking and wobbling awkwardly. Thankfully the cat stops, staring up at something. Or apparently, someone. She comes to a stop a short distance from the two, unsure whether approaching would make either one of them leave. ]

...You look better. [ Compared to when she last saw him at the forest, anyway. He still managed to elude her when she would drop food off every now and then. ]

[ Mikoto stands at the shoreline, his back to the world as he watches the waves come in wondering how far he can swim before his arms wouldn't move anymore. A grin, it'd be a cold death. Maybe it'd cool him down for a while, maybe the ocean was enough to cool the magma stirring deep inside.

Probably not.

He pulls a cigarette from his mouth, blowing out a stream of smoke as he taps the end. The ash hits the ground and something pulls at his pant-leg. ]

....?

[ The Red King looks down, finding a small cat playing perched up against him, its claws digging through his jeans as it used him as a scratching pole. ]

.......

[ He frowns, but doesn't push it off, merely watches as it tries to climb higher, it's claws digging into his skin now. And now, now he's had enough. He bends down to pick it up by the scruff of its neck when he hears a familiar voice and turns, cat and all. ]

.....................

....................

[ .....He wasn't walking away, so that was a good sign..right? Her gaze shifts to the cat that was being held up in the air before quickly returning to Mikoto. ]

I was following..the cat... [ She points at it for a second, but starts to lower her hand slowly. Maybe that sounded like an excuse, but the last time they met before the whole forest thing didn't go so well. The last thing she wanted was him thinking she was trying to keep tabs on him under someone's orders like back then.

Though now that she said that out loud, that probably sounded more ridiculous, even if it was the truth.

With her gaze lowered, the sight of water almost hitting her feet has her taking a few steps to the side in surprise, watching it pull away again. ]

[ Suoh shifts his attention to the animal in his grip, turning it to better see it before offering it back to her.

Here. You can have it. ]

[ But she steps back instead, surprise coloring her face. His brows crease and he looks down, watching the water retreat back into the ocean. Was she... Suoh looks back at her, an arm curling around the now struggling cat as he lets the question hang between them. ]

[ She looks up to see him watching her. Somehow, his silent question was heard. She tucks some hair behind her ear, looking back down at the water as the wave returned. ]

It's..my first time seeing it. The ocean..that is.

[ That's what it was, right? Not some giant lake? The place she was from was landlocked, so she hadn't seen this much water before. Then again, there wasn't much too see with how dark it was, only the moon giving light to the water.

Like most things she was new to, she had her apprehensions, but she also couldn't help but start to admire it as well; the sights, the sounds, the smell. What else had she been missing out on? ]

[ She gets a raised brow at that. He's quiet for a moment, his thoughts turning slowly and moments later, he responds by leaning down to set the kitten down. It tries struggling in his hold but it's powerless to affect its own fate and soon its feet land on the sandy beach while the man rises to his full height. He watches her behind gold eyes, turning something in his mind before he extends a hand out to her. ]

Come on.

[ She hears the kitten scramble away from the water. Settling in the drier sand and licking at its paw. A hand is being held out to her, and now it’s her turn to raise a brow. After a moment of looking back at him, she reaches out and takes hold of his hand.

It was still as warm as she remembered. ]

Are we going somewhere?

[ Because that didn’t really explain why she had to hold his hand. ]

[ A small twitch of his lips as he nods toward the water. 'Where do you think?' ]

........

[ Alex looks at the water, then back and Mikoto. ]

...To...the water...?

[ She wasn’t seeing a boat or anything. Surely he didn’t mean..]

[ Her grabs her hand and tugs her forward. ]

The water.

[ He confirms, back to her as he leads her toward the waves. ]

Wha—

[ Alex lurches forward as she’s tugged towards the water. Suddenly those waves sound a lot louder. ]

But our clothes—a-and I don’t know how to swim..!

[ She jumps when the water hits her boots, squeezing his hand tighter. ]

You don't need too.

[ Red starts to form around them, the red aura forming an impenetrable shield of pure power much the same as the one he used to protect Anna and Totsuka during his fight with the Blue and Gold Clans. The waves come crashing into it but don't penetrate as he steps into the water, the shield cutting through the water. ]

[ One moment the water is approaching them again, and the next it’s going around them. Alex hadn’t even considered that he could do that even here. She walks a little faster to catch up to him, staying just a step behind him. Her eyes stays on the water, watching it touch the shield of flames higher and higher. ]

Um..how far are we going...?

[ The shield is difficult to maintain and by all accounts a waste of his energy but Mikoto has never been one to temper his usage of power. It's his trademark, the reckless use of his powers. He does so now, using the red aura not to burn but to shield. There are no flames simply a warm flow of power dyed in red.

He moves further into the ocean, the thought of challenging mother nature to a contest of strength has crossed his mind more than once but in the end, he simply didn't care enough to do it. He cared here. He'll give Alex a taste of the ocean without needing to fear the powerful waves that keep pounding the shield as he draws them down further until the water skims the height of his shoulders. ]

[ Except his shoulders were about where her head reached. If he let the shield go, there was no doubt she'd be completely submerged. Some of the waves were tall enough to roll over them, and even if they were safe within, Alex couldn't help but duck as it passed.

There was something terrifying yet absolutely fascinating about this experience. She could see little shadows swimming around them, moving away from the intruders.

If she reached out, would she be able to touch the water? Her hand was already stretching towards it, but she stops herself. ]

[ Her hands will come across the shield and be stopped. The power holding it together meant to keep everything out and in order for that to happen, he needed to keep everything inside which means the air inside is all the oxygen they'll get unless he wants to open up the top. He did so early but once the waves started crashing down over them, he closed it off. ]

Do you want to go in?

[ He has no desires here and takes his cues from her. If she wanted too, he'd push the ocean as far back as he could or let the shield drop, letting water overrun them. Either way, it didn't matter to him. ]

[ It was like touching a wall. Just how much power did he have to use to make this..? She's about to ask when he speaks first. ]

Eh? This..this might be too deep--[ There's also the fact that their clothes would get wet, and it's winter, and did he forget the part where she said she can't swim? She shakes her head, remembering her earlier, more pressing concern. ]

Hang on, is it okay for you to be using this much power? [ Wasn't that something they were worried about not too long ago? Plus, even if it was a while back there was still the whole forest incident. ]

[ In answer, he lets the top open bringing in new air and a wave of water that comes crashing down on them. ]

Want me to stop using it?

[ His eyes glow red. He'll do it. ]

[ Alex yelps when the water suddenly pours down on them. Freezing water. ]

COLD--!!

Edited 2018-07-01 07:28 (UTC)

[ She looks up at him then, her now dripping face a mix of disbelief and horror.

He wouldn't. ]

[ Wanna bet on it?

He smirks and the top comes down again, and another wave comes skimming over drenching them in salt water. Suoh barely blinks, unbothered. ]

[ The next downpour startles her again, pushing her head down and drenching her even more. Her body was starting to shake as the cold seeped through her clothes, or maybe it was trembling from frustration at how absurd he was being.

Her head snaps up, her tone snapping as well. ]

You--At this point you might as well!!

Edited 2018-07-01 07:50 (UTC)

[ His smirk widens and the the waves come crashing in. ]

[ In an instant, Suoh moves wrap an arm around her waist to haul her up like he'd done with Anna on many occasions. ]

[ While he does lift her up, the water still manages to hit more than half of her body, although it didn't matter since she was wet from head to toe anyway. Her fingers grip his shoulders, feeling the force of the water still push against her, despite his hold. That, and now it was even colder. ]

You..you really did it....

[ Though at this point, she should already know better. ]

[ Her shoulders start to tremble, but not because she was upset or even the temperature of the water (maybe a little because of the latter).

Thinking about this whole thing, she'd just walked through water in some kind of magical shield, giving her an experience she never thought possible. A touching sentiment, and one she appreciated. But in the next second, with blatant disregard for any of her concerns, the man just brought those walls down, submerging them both. From heart warming to cold-hearted, just like that.

It was ridiculous. He was ridiculous.

But she couldn't help but laugh. ]

You are unbelievable.

[ He starts hauling her out, red suddenly seeping from his form. There's heat there now as the red aura envelopes her in its warmth; a respite from the cold as he makes his way back on land. ]

[ Oh, were they heading back already? Then again, she was the one who didn't want to get wet in the first place. But something about it was so refreshing. Whether it was the water or the experience as a whole, she wasn't really sure. Alex looks over his shoulder as he starts bringing them back to land, her hand reaching out to touch the water while she could still reach it.

Once they returned, would he just leave? Would they go back to that routine of avoidance? No, she should focus on the present. Wasn't that what she was always being told? She'll take in the sight of the ocean again, watching the waves rolling over the reflection of the moon. ]

Ah..[ She perks up a little. ] That's what it reminded me of...[ Something had come to her mind earlier on, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. ]

It reminds me of this one song..

[ He reaches land, but he doesn't let go, doesn't stop. Just keeps on walking with her in tow. ]

What song?

[ Hm? He wasn't putting her down yet? The question does distract her for a moment. ]

It's..um..hang on. [ Was it a song they had in this world? Or in Mikoto's? Maybe she could check on her phone---

Her hand pauses over her pocket, realizing how..damp..her clothes were. ]

....crap..

Sing it.

[ Is all he says as the red aura seeps off him and curls around her in gentle waves of warmth. ]

......You mean here?

[ Well, if there was anyone who had heard her sing the most, it probably was Mikoto. Although, he was asleep most of the time, and he wasn't watching her. This felt a little different, and slightly awkward with him just right there..and carrying her. Out in public.]

[ Then again, when did he ever say anything he didn't mean?

She hesitates, her fingers fidgeting on his shoulders starting to relax. The warmth that starts to spread over her does help calm her down. It almost felt like the water, but gentler, enveloping her like a blanket.

Her eyes close, listening to the sound of the waves, the timing of it, the rhythm. ]

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No I won't
be afraid
No I won't
be afraid
Just as long
as you stand,
stand by me

[ Her voice is soft, just loud enough for him to hear the words, the rush of water serving as her background music. ]

Edited 2018-07-04 07:32 (UTC)

[ She pauses there. There was something freeing about singing out in the open.

Alex glances back at him. ]

..That one. Have you heard it?

[ The notes spill into the open echoing less troubled times when Totsuka used to sing for them. A time when HOMRA was still whole, his clansmen still living, before the Colorless King. ]

[ Gold eyes grow dim as the words sink in, digging a hole in his chest. He doesn't know the song, but the meaning is clear enough to disturb his peace. ]

No.

[ Is all he says, the words rattling his cage as it forces him to acknowledge the elephant in the room, something he doesn't appreciate. ]

[If there was an elephant in the room, Alex hadn’t noticed. However, something did feel sightly off. It didn’t seem like he wanted to hear the rest of it. ]

It’s an old one, but a lot of people still like it. It...was one of the songs I’d sing to my brother when he upset.

[ Or at least the one she could remember. ]

It sounds a lot better with the music though. A piano, cello..drums. [ even just one of those would do the trick. ]

It’s more upbeat..and hopeful. [ Alright, she was just going to ask, her fingers a little restless against his shoulders. ] ...Did you not like it?

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Good Food

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