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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[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.
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[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. ]
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... 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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[ There is a softer smile that wraps around his words, giving each one a warm embrace; one that he would probably give the person on his back if he were not carrying her. ]
The place where I am from... [ His lips press together, as he thinks of it. ] ... it is a place that is healing and moving forward. One where it will do so hand-in-hand with the culture they do not fully understand and the future that they don't yet know.
[ Or so he hopes. ] A poor description, but it is short. [ He chuckles, but the sound is weary, tired; he wants to believe the place he is from will heal and will keep going on. ] What about where you come from?
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[She closes her eyes, thinking, trying to overwrite their current scenery for the one she's lived in all her life.]
Where I'm from... It's dry and sunny. When the temperature is just right, the sky is wonderfully clear and blue. Other days, the haze from the city kind of ruins everything else.
[Yeah, so Los Angeles. But on the other hand...]
Sometimes, when non-locals think of my home, they think of self-absorbed wealthy people who live in the hills. When I think of it, I see a dirty, colorful city. It's an unusual blend of tall buildings and then when you go out a little further, you find small corners where you discover something you've never noticed before.
Oh yeah. And awful, awful, traffic.
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[ He offers a sigh. ]
They don't know the beauty of the people, of the city, of each stone or brick. They can't hear the voice that is within the place. All they hear is noise or see it as a barbaric place where no one should be living. [ Artemy can't help but sound a little snide as he thinks of a certain person who constantly talked a lot of shit about his town. ]
But that is all right. You know the beauty and its culture. You know how it speaks to you... it holds a place in your heart and I hope that the way it holds you is equally as gentle and as caring.
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Oh, I don't know. I've been through the wringer and tossed back and forth by it. It's probably on me though, not necessarily the location.
[She didn't keep good company before anyway.]
Do you know what I do miss? The food. Or at least my grandma's cooking.
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[ That is what he believes, anyway. ]
Could you learn to make some of it here? [ A beat. ] A poor substitute to what is missed, but I believe like your story of where you come from... it would be good to share with others.
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[Her brow wrinkles.]
Not too sure about getting the exact ingredients. Ugh, I also would have to depend on my memory for certain recipes, but most of them are kind of hard without a guide. I really should have paid more attention...
[Abuela was more about directing Monts on taking care of a few steps and then fulfilling the rest herself.]
Hm. I guess I could try baking conchas?
[Another resigned sigh.] I'd have to figure out how to make those shapes...
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[ He hears what he thinks is pain in her voice, and can only attempt to do what he can to help her. Certainly, he slips into calling her family yet again, but they have grown quite close in this short time, so how could he not think this way? ]
We are among yokai and those with powers far beyond ourselves.
[ His tone tries to be helpful. ]
They may be able to pull those memories for you and give you better instructions. You know the way; you watched and you remember. It is time for your present self to know the same.
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[She concedes that it isn't impossible, but it wouldn't be the same. Listening to him speak, it occurs to Monts that his use of language is... Well, 'flowery' wouldn't be accurate. The contrast of his speech versus her casual airy words is kind of funny to her though.]
If I made you something, would you taste it?
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