jigokulogs | semi-open 👹 beauty of the night

[ The panic eats at him as he rushes through the noise. His leader -- his parent -- was murdered. Of course, the first thought that hits him is vengeance. It is why he tries to first chase after the ones that caused it.

But he stops his running as soon as he catches the sight of someone limping. His whole body stops as he takes in the scene before him. Treat each other as family. It is close to what was asked of him. Artemy knows he is scrambling up the message in his mind, but he shifts to leaves vengeance for others.

It is without thinking that he grabs a fallen trashcan off the ground. Hoisting it up over his head, he chucks the heavy object at the oni. Artemy does not wait to see if it collided or not, but it should be enough to break their stride and movements. Please, please, please, let it be enough!

He hurries down the same alleyway, chasing after his "cousin" to make sure that she is all right. When he catches sight of her, he picks up his pace -- ignoring how his chest is starting to ache from all his running. He sprints forward so that he can try to pick her up so that the two of them can run to some safety in all the chaos.

But he should say something before trying to grab someone, right? Right. ]

Cousin, I have you.

[ Yeah, that works. ]

[She swears in Spanish.

Well, that comes later after Artemy throws the trashcan at the oni and it serves as a painful and effective distraction to the oni who were about to gang up on her. After moving a safe distance away, when her savior catches up to her and sprints towards her, she feels her heart flip thinking she's still being chased (and that's where the swearing comes in).

It's a false alarm and she releases a heavy breath before letting Artemy take a hold of her.]

Cousin. Okay. Right. Weird, but I'll take that over being called a bitch right now.

[Monts glances behind them while pulling her kimono sleeve over her shoulder, grimacing before looking at Artemy.]

Thanks though. You ok though?

[Asks the one with a swollen ankle.]

I don't know what clan you're from, but I don't think that matters right now. Let's catch our breath some place safer.

[ He offers a quick nod in turn; his pace picking up. Even as he feels the exhaustion start to hit him, he keeps pushing forward. ]

Difficult [ Huff. ] to [ Wheeze. ] Answer.

[ Artemy meant more that he wasn't sure if he was okay or not; rather than it was difficult for him to answer purely because they were running for their lives at the moment. ]

Right. Cousin.

[ That much he can say. His steps sound heavy on the street; it's drowned out by the chaos that is going on around them. Their pursuers most likely got swept up in some other crowd that is rushing elsewhere. He lets out a wet heaving sigh as he locates a spot that seems relatively safe -- out of the scrambling flood of people anyway.

Only when they are there does he let her down. ]

[She'll save the quips for when they reach a safe spot. But just a brief once-over of Artemy gives Monts a good idea that he's probably worse for wear and just helping her out is draining.

When they are finally allowed to pause away from the chaos of the night, Monts turns to him, putting her hands on his shoulders.]

Okay. What's your damage right now? Forget about me for a second since I'm not the one who's breathing funny.

[ Artemy can't help but give her an upset look at the idea that he should ignore her for his own lamentations. The hands on his shoulders and the look that she gives him, however; it tells him that no matter what he says next that if it is not an explanation that he is going to get an earful.

He pauses until his breathing gets a little closer to normal; his hands lift to rest on top of hers. ]

My dear cousin ... I could not kill the people that murdered the Daitengu.

[Artemy's response catches Monts off guard. She... Never thought about having actual loyalty to her own clan leader. She never even thought about how the other Souls regarded them, the four, now three, figures who kept their contracts bound to Hell. But wasn't it just obvious that if your leader was killed, anyone with a shred of loyalty and duty would want to have revenge?

But his answer sounded sincere even when she was thinking of external injuries, not internal hurt. Her grip on his shoulders lightens and she shakes her head.]

I'm... Never mind. I get it. I'm not going to argue against that, only that right now it's going to be difficult to even find out who did that to the Daitengu.

Did you get hurt anywhere though? I just got pushed around and fell, but I don't hurt.

[Not, "I'm not hurt," just, "I don't hurt." Slight difference there.]

It will be.

[ Yet there is a promise in his words. Even if it will be difficult, he will find them. He will drag them to justice with his bare hands if he must, but they will face justice for what they have done.

His vengeful thoughts calm at her questions. He stands a little straighter when she mentioned her fall. ]

I thought before -- [ Her movements were enough to catch his attention. ] -- you looked like you were limping. [ Another pause; he pushes aside his thoughts of revenge. ] Cousin, please sit down and let me look you over.

[There are many ways she could have responded to the conviction behind his words, but the Daitengu is his to avenge, not hers to talk down to or protest against. As far as she can tell anyways, the other clans are now pointing fingers at one another and even if she can cover her ears and obscure her presence, it doesn't mean she isn't involved to some degree.

Such is the game they've all found themselves in.

Artemy's observation gets Monts to focus again and she carefully inhales and exhales. And then she nods.]

I sprained my ankle.

[She sits down on the edge o the sidewalk, moving the hem of her kimono aside for him to see the redness and swelling that has developed.]

Like I said though, it doesn't bother me, but it's keeping me from walking effectively.

[ He gives a small nod, seemingly pleased to hear that it isn't anything more serious. Kneeling down, he still decides to give a good look over the ankle.

Frowning, he gently touches the ankle -- frowning at the redness and swelling. ]

It will.

[ Artemy already thinking that she'll need to rest it; icing it would be ideal, too, along with bandaging. But acquiring ice won't be an easy task. Bandaging might be the best that they can do. But also, how is she to get away? ]

Right. Vengeance will come later, cousin.

[ He pats his own shoulders. ] For now, I'll carry you out of here.

[When Artemy offers to carry her, she purses her lips at first, but then nods.]

... Before you do that though... Can I ask you something?

[She brushes some of her hair behind her ear before standing up to let herself be carried.]

Why are you calling me, "Cousin?" And I guess this would be the best time to ask you what your name is too.

[ He tilts his head in response, indicating he is fine with answering her question.

And he can't keep the confusion off his face. ]

I am Artemy Burakh of the Sutoku Alliance. [ He starts at the end of her questions. ] During this Night Parade, all the groups are as one. While you are not one of us, you are as a cousin for this night alone.

You are as family and so I shall keep you safe.

[Her own confusion mirrors his. Monts isn't entirely certain how he came to those conclusions so easily (or rather, maybe she's just the type of person to drag her feet when it comes to interpersonal relationships, who knows), but this Artemy Burakh seems to err on the side of wanting to maintain positive relations.]

Alright. Artemy.

[She points to herself.]

I'm Monts. I won't stop you from calling me 'cousin' but I'm kind of weirded out by that. No offense. You're helping me after all.

Weirded out.

[ He repeats the words back to her; he understands what she means. There were others even in his own faction that felt confused by his immediate acceptance of being part of the youkai and willingness to call those of it his family. ]

There's no offense to be taken to it. [ A pause. ] I am -- [ He thinks of how he can explain, but decides against it. Instead, he already is getting down so that she can climb on his back so that he can get them away from the present danger. ]

Despite me helping you, that doesn't mean you should allow me every courtesy, Monts.

Trust me, I'll let you know when you're blocked off from a courtesy.

[Despite that, she does place herself to climb on his back, gently wrapping her arms around his shoulders.]

Hope I feel light to you. Back where I'm from, my grandmother always tried to make me eat more than I could handle.

Fair enough, cousin.

[ Since he is allowed, he will take the offered courtesy with gratitude. ]

You feel light. [ Artemy reassures. He realizes that this situation has made both their nerves fraught and so attempts to ease her mind with some jokes. ] Though, I will be honest --

[ He tucks his arms behind his back so she has a good "shelf" to be sitting on as they go. ]

-- even if you weren't, I know better than to say that you are heavy. [ A beat. ] I don't quite have a death wish yet.

Don't worry about it.

[Her tone is light, airier than before now that they're out of the thick of the crowds and riled up youkai.]

I've threatened others for less.

[She didn't have to accept his offer, but Monts thinks she can afford it. It was either that or she'd ruin her ankle even more after leaving Artemy behind and then who knows how long it would take to recover?]

... Are you some kind of medic Artemy? Not that it wasn't obvious that I was injured, but I'm kind of surprised you noticed with everything going on around us.

How frightening.

[ His own voice is just as light as hers. ]

Ah... yes. I'm a surgeon, actually. [ But he has learned how to read the Lines. ] I've become sensitive to noticing the sick and injured while there is a lot going on.

[ If he could face her, he might have given a weak smile. It's a poor joke, and he isn't even sure if it is a joke. ] But that became your benefit for today.

That explains it then.

[Back home, Monts didn't visit doctors regularly as time passed on. It would be too easy for them to notice skin seamlessly melding back together and bruises fade away as if time reversed. Getting a shot or blood drawn was safe as long as they gave her a bandaid which she would throw away when no one was looking.

Only one doctor put a name to one of her conditions and after that, she kept her distance. After all, everything else is too complicated.]

Well, it was gonna be you or somebody else who would notice.

[She sighs, reaching up to brush her hair out of her eyes.]

I mean, I noticed, but... [A pause. Saying she would have kept going would get a response she may not like.]

Never mind.

Edited 2022-04-25 03:26 (UTC)

Does it?

[ He pauses to look over his shoulder, confused by her statement. ]

I would hope that you would have noticed. [ Artemy can't help but throw down his joke; he frowns a little as he remembers that she ran on it before. ] You must have been really scared before.

[ That is how he understood what happened. His shoulders tense up as he wonders if talking about this is "right" but decides it is best to say it. ]

Don't worry. I would have not let harm come to you, cousin.

... Yeah. I was scared.

[Scared that her body would refuse to move, scared that if she didn't run she'd only find more trouble, scared that even if she did run she'd just break herself further. No matter what she did, something or someone would break her if she didn't do it herself first.

Without thinking about it, Monts rests her forehead against the back of Artemy's neck and she murmurs mostly to herself though he should be able to hear it, what with her being so close.]

I still wish I had better alarms in my head though.

Edited 2022-04-25 04:18 (UTC)

Better alarms?

[ Again, he turns his head slightly at her comment. ]

Just what are you blaming yourself for, Monts?

[ He felt a wave of protectiveness hit him. Breathing in deep, he starts to pick up his pace; he'll get them somewhere safe. He'll find some store to put ice on her ankle and -- his mind tells him what he needs to do for her as his mouth begins to run. ]

There was no way to know about this attack... or that those oni would believe that you were the cause of what happened.

...

[There are no words from her for a minute or two. The ambient noises of the roaring youkai in the distance and the low buzz of the neon lights glaring down at them fill in the silence between them before she finally decides to talk again.]

If you're a surgeon... Then can I trust you to keep this between you and me? Not as 'cousins' or anything okay?

[She lifts her head up.]

Doctor and patient confidentiality. Can you do that?

[For now, she'll be truthful. She'll allow this one weakness (and sometimes strength; it's a matter of perspective) to be known slowly. Having to keep it to herself was more painful than not.]

[ His eyebrows furrow at her request. It seems like whatever that she wishes to share with him is a deep secret, and so, he can only nod. ]

I swear as a doctor, as a surgeon, I will keep what you say between us.

[ Artemy does nearly add his other title, but that has no meaning in this place. But he says it to himself all the same. As a menkhu, I will tell your secrets to no one. ]

Thank you.

[As long as she's the only one who can choose who and when to tell this to, it should be fine. And making a promise even if it's just a verbal exchange adds some layer of security to her heart.

Time to get it over with. Her next sentence comes out in a rush, hurried and urgent, wanting to just pass it off as a simple fact, but unaccustomed to letting someone know so soon even with their fantastical and unusual circumstances surrounding them.]

I don't feel physical pain. I can tell if I'm injured and my remaining senses are functioning, but it's just...

What.

[ The question comes out stupidly.

His eyes dart up to the sky; he's already going through how her ankle felt when he looked it over. If she can't feel pain, if she ran on it, he worries that it might have been worse. But the feeling of it beneath his hands, he knew that it was just a sprain. His shoulders lower, relax, not realizing that they had started to rise out of panic for wanting to check over her injuries a second time.

He breathes out slow; she shared something important and something she wanted to keep hidden. Artemy doesn't know why it may be but can only nod. ]

... It will stay between us.

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