[closed] blue sea moon / july catchall

[playfoul]

Who ⬤ Yuri + You
What ⬤ Starcatching and other activities
When ⬤ July
Where ⬤ Around town
Content Warnings ⬤ FEW3H spoilers in Robin's thread I forgot to tag I goofed


[ Feel free to add me on plurk at ahlyo for plotting! I'm writing closed starters for now but will probably add some open prompts later this month as plot progresses. ]

Comments

[playfoul]

[ Fine, if she wants him to move he'll begin walking...only he has no intentions of leading her back to where he lives. She seems to have confused him for one of her students, and he can do without the earful should she discover that he's been sleeping anywhere but proper housing. ]

This is ridiculous. First, quit calling me kid. I'm twenty-four. [ He figures he can push his age without it coming across as a lie. He hasn't lost all the boyish traces of his face, but his makeup surely adds a few years. ]

[adversus]

Twenty-four, hm?

[As they begin to walk, her eyes trail over to Yuri with curiosity. Her eyes giving him a once over, before stopping at his face. Quietly noting that he might be lying about his age, given how young he looks underneath the light and all. But... Even if he is lying, she isn't one to judge.

She's certainly lied through her teeth before, when she had to work espionage when she was younger, and even now, working recon. It brings back memories, for sure.]

My mistake. I sometimes forget that people are older than they look... Or younger than they look. Working in espionage and recon can kind of skew my perception at times.

[There's that friendly smile again. She crosses her arms, though, and hums to herself.]

So, a name? I'm Marie, by the way.

[playfoul]

You doubt me, don't you? I know what you're thinking. You're not the first to find me suspect.

[ He doesn't believe she's convinced. He realizes how shifty he comes off as, and he won't pretend otherwise if he's to sell the lie. ]

Believe what you will but spare me the coddling. I know a different way out that won't put us in their line of sight.

[ That said, Yuri heads further into the sewers rather than climb above ground. The waterways are all connected if one doesn't mind getting their boots dirty. He's half-hoping she'll give up her pursuit. As for the matter of his name, he's going to dodge the question. ]

If you're a spy, you should know a name is the easiest thing to lie about.

[adversus]

[Even if she does doubt him, all she does is. Well. Shrug. She's sure that he has his reasons to lie, if he was lying. She wouldn't judge him for that, because she's certainly done her fair share of lying.]

Don't worry. I might be an old woman, but I don't judge. After all, I've done my fair share of lying, so I'm probably the last person that will judge, or coddle you about it.

[Marie follows right behind him, arms still crossed in her usual, relaxing manner. This was honestly nothing to her, having gotten her hands way dirtier than this. So, she'll just follow, with an utterly amused look on her face.]

That is true, but my brother is the better spy. I'm too famous in my world now, so I can't even lie through my teeth anymore. I get found out way too easily, so I guess that's why I work recon more often. It's really hard to hide your identity when you look like this, work as a headmistress of the school and wield a big ass scythe.

[She's. Very forthcoming about herself. And it's a wonder why her brother is better at espionage than her --]

That, and I like working with the kids I rescue. It's hard when they don't have families to support them, after such a bad experience.

[She's realizes that she's talking his ear off at this point, and she can't help but laugh to herself.]

Oops. Forgive this old woman and her rambling.

[playfoul]

[ That's quite the background she's got there (so thinks Yuri who has a similarly haphazard history). He lets the woman chatter on without interruption, her voice echoing in the tunnels along with their footsteps sloshing in the sewer water as they travel deeper.

Her students must be in for an earful if she's their professor, with a scythe hanging over them to boot. But it does interest Yuri to hear that she has experience with wayward youth, and her passion, while overbearing, seems genuine...

It gets the wheels in his mind turning for how to spin this encounter towards his own purposes. ]

What if these children are difficult? The pay low? An esteemed headmistress like you would work a thankless job like that?

[ Because he knows just the place for her skills, but he has to be certain before he trusts her with the information. ]

[adversus]

[It's a bit of a surprise that Yuri is listening to her in the first place, after he wanted to get away from her, but she is grateful that he is listening. Even if just a little. It cheers this old woman up, and she can't help but flash that friendly smile toward him. Her hand brushing back some of her hair, as a gust of wind passes by them.]

If they're difficult, then I spend extra time with them to help them adjust through that tough period. They get set up with housing, an education, food... All that good stuff. It comes out of my personal funds at times, which I don't mind. I'm content to see them happy.

[There's not a single bit of hesitation in her words at her next bit. A genuinely passionate smile appearing on her expression. Simply shaking her head at the thought of it ever being thankless. It wasn't like that.]

It's not thankless to me. It might be to other people, but not to me. Every kid deserves a chance, you know? If I can provide that, then... That's more than enough.

[playfoul]

[ Yuri stops in his tracks and goes silent, running a hand down the side of his face as he debates whether getting her involved will be more trouble than it's worth. The homeless shelter is always short-staffed, and persistent volunteers hard to come by. Heaving a sigh, he finally looks at her. ]

I don't know why you'd go the lengths, but if you feel so strongly about teaching, I...know a place in need of more hands for the kids you're describing.

Got a phone with you? I'll leave you the address. Then we can each be on our way.

[adversus]

[Just like him, Marie stops in her tracks. Attention turned toward him, as she tilts her head to the side in curiosity. Worried that there might be something wrong with him, and the words nearly slip out. But they trail off as soon as he speaks -- blinking a few times in surprise.]

Yeah, I got one.

[She's not going to question anything else. She knew that she was good at her job, that much was certain, and she can't help but smile as she opens up her notepad.]

I'm ready, but I hope to see you again. Even if I might get on your nerves.

[Look at that shit eating grin on her face.]

[playfoul]

Yeah, yeah. Don't count on it.

[ He'll be there despite what he says. He lists off the address and phone number for the headmistress to take down. Before he departs (alone, thank you), he has one last piece to add. ]

Just tell the youkai in charge 'Yuri' sent you. They won't ask too many questions.

[ So there she has it. His name given willingly if a bit reluctantly. Yuri is turning away even before he finishes the sentence. He doesn't want to see that grin of hers grow any wider. ]