мarιanna "мonтѕ" мedιna (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nerine) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
jigokulogs2022-04-03 07:49 pm
nerine) wrote in jigokulogs2022-04-03 07:49 pm
semi-open 👹 beauty of the night
Who ⬤ Monts and Various
What ⬤ Night Parade activities and April catchall.
When ⬤ During the Night Parade and rest of the month.
Where ⬤ Here and there in Jigokucho.
Content Warnings ⬤ Mentions of sex toys and NSFWish related things, but it'll be PG-13 at most.
Notes ⬤ Prompts in the comments, some closed ones as well.
"Despite the forecast, live like it's spring."
- Lilly Pulitzer.
What ⬤ Night Parade activities and April catchall.
When ⬤ During the Night Parade and rest of the month.
Where ⬤ Here and there in Jigokucho.
Content Warnings ⬤ Mentions of sex toys and NSFWish related things, but it'll be PG-13 at most.
Notes ⬤ Prompts in the comments, some closed ones as well.
"Despite the forecast, live like it's spring."
- Lilly Pulitzer.
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... 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.
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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.
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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.
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[ 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.
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[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.
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[ 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.
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[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.
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[ 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.
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[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.
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[ 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.
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[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.
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[ 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.
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[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.]
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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. ]
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[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...
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[ 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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I know, right? It's so... You know...??
[Though her circumstances that led up to why she's like this is very out there. Not of the world. But that's enough from her for now.]
... And thank you.
[Her arms squeeze him from behind; it's a hug, an embrace of gratefulness.]
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[ He can imagine it is frightening, but also believe that she slowly grew accustomed to the strangeness of it all. His chin gives another small nod; he can understand a little. ]
You're welcome.
[ His smile finds its way into his voice. ] You can come to me whenever you worry about your body. I'll make sure that even if you can't feel it, all your hurts will not be ignored.
no subject
[There's a short hum before she casually replies in a joking manner.]
Well, I hope you don't say that to every injured woman you meet.
[She can't help herself, okay?]
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Why? Do you think it'll make me popular?
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[Levity is good. It lightens that burden in her mind or at least kicks away a pebble of it.]
Soon, I'll be waiting at the end of the line and it'll take forever for you to do a checkup for me.
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[ Artemy laughs at the idea that women would swoon over him. His mug is one that tends to make people pale and turn their eyes away; it's due to the resting bitch face that he has and he looks seconds away from tearing off someone's head. ]
How is that? Another good line to make them all swoon, hm?
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[She closes her eyes and lets the thought of all the violence that had just happened fall behind them. It really was a shame that a night of celebration and bonding had to end so shockingly with the death of a leader that he was affected by.
And yet he's helping her in the here and now. It occurs to Marianna that she didn't have people like him before, not until she met Iona and Oren.]
... After you drop me off, make sure to get some shuteye yourself okay? And after that, what you do from there...
[His choice. It goes unsaid, but Artemy had made it clear he was determined to avenge the Daitengu. She's of the Tamamo Clan and it was most likely, she'll have to be embroiled in her leader's scheming after an incident like this. At least her ankle will keep her out of the action for however long.]
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[ It is a promise that he feels he can uphold. His heart sinks; he had wanted to share these feelings with all the youkai, all the Lost Souls. This night would have been where they were all as one rather than apart. Why is it so difficult for everyone to live together? Why is it so hard for them to live with one another?
His steps feel a little heavier, but he lifts his head to keep his pace even and steady. ]
... I'll see if I can do that, but I don't know if I can keep that promise to you, Monts.
[ Their tone of voice become a little more serious, but his gaze remains ahead of them. That is what is most important; the movement forward. ]
Whatever comes to pass, we will not be enemies. [ That is something that he can promise. It is what he chooses to do from here on with her. He will not see her as an enemy even if she might have to view him as one. ]
no subject
... Hey. Artemy?
[She rests her head against the nook of his shoulder and neck again. Tired yet her body won't tell her directly.]
What was the place you were from like? You don't have to tell me a long story. Give me the short version. Then I'll talk about mine.
[A distraction. A way for her to learn about people who would live so far away, an ocean of stars and galaxies away even.]
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