open 🌙 july catchall

[nerine]

Who ⬤ Monts and Various
What ⬤ July Sub-stories and Catchall
When ⬤ Throughout July.
Where ⬤ Here and there in Jigokucho, mostly in Tamamo Territory.
Content Warnings ⬤ The Amazing Mr. Libido and perhaps some sauciness because of Stardust. Will be added as needed.

Notes ⬤ Prompts in the comments!



"Meet me like I'm midnight."

Comments

[nerine]

[Well, he didn't take that long to work. It feels like she barely blinked before Bishop moved to grab the pervert by the neck. ]

O-Oh. Um. Just throw him out in the back?

[Bishop is definitely strong. It hadn't even occurred to her that he had physical prowess, but that's just her overlooking details.]

Just surrender him to the bouncers, they'll know what to do with him. Try not to block his air passage though. I don't think we want to deal with a corpse.

[getting_better]

[ He sighs, easing up on his grip just enough for the pervert to gasp for air....Which means Bishop was completely denying him air earlier. ]

Fine, fine. Hey you two, clear the way.

[ He says to the two oni who does as he says, but he also makes his way past the bouncers and...doesn't deposit the cuplrit. Instead he walks right out to the middle of the street, feels for the wind, then turns towards the general direction of the river, and does a few...practice throws? Oh dear. He does as one might expect from observing him and throws the pervert a good distance towards the river. If you listen carefully, or maybe you stood nearby to watch, you'd actually see him fall and create a large spalsh. ]

Not bad if do say so myself. I could have been an Yankee.

[nerine]

[Does Mr. Libido swim?? A terrifying thought, but she hopes that'll keep him away from the club for now. She sighs heavily after Bishop does his heavy work and gestures to a server to bring over some drinks, light snacks, and some hot towels.

To Bishop, she says:]

You have a pretty good throwing arm for someone who looks like they had an all-night bender.

[getting_better]

[ He doesn't even know how to counter that one. He simply sighs and walks in, stopping by the two onis and glaring at them before sighing loudly. ]

Get in there, you knuckleheads. I'll cover you guys for tonight.

[ The two onis cheered and rushed in, leaving Bishop to whip out a clip of cash and start counting and putting aside some bills to pay for everything. ]

Is that how you talk to paying customers, or am I getting special treatment?

[ He asks as he return to the booth. ]

[nerine]

[Monts seats herself at the booth and smiles up at Bishop.]

I love giving everyone I like special treatment. That's just the kind of person I am!

[Smooth. That said, one could make the argument she likes her customers that give her tips too so.]

Seems like you're ranked in your group now? I wasn't aware you were leading other group members.

[getting_better]

Uhuh.

[ He should have expected as much honestly. ]

I have been for a while, I just don't feel the need to tell anyone.

[ Mostly because those in the clan know what's up. For all his initial spite for the yakuza, he has to admit that they do operate in a way he can appreciate. ]

...Monts, h-

[ There's a question in his throat but...He stares at her for a minute then sighs. ]

Nevermind. You enjoying doing this kind of thing?

[ He says taking a glass and a sip. ]

[nerine]

[When he pauses, Monts looks at him quizzically.]

Hm?

[But when he doesn't complete his sentence, Monts decides not to pursue it. She'll answer his other question instead.]

Oh, are you asking about this job? Well, I can't say I'm enamored with it but it's more interesting than not.

[She shrugs.]

I'm suited for it at least. I may not be making coffee, but being a welcoming presence and lending an ear isn't far removed from being a barista. I just have to wear fancier clothes and my customers will either have several limbs, not look humanoid at all, or even have faces.

... Which again, probably not too different from the cafe I worked at. Mostly.

[getting_better]

Speaking of coffee, you owe me a cup. Now more than before seeing as I got rid of the unwelcomed riff-raff.

[ Then he glanced at the two onis again, both them looking like school boys in the presence of the other hostesses. An image that unfortunately will disgust him forever. ]

Mmmmost of the riff-raff, at least.

[nerine]

Well, maybe after our time's up here, I'll get one of the cafes nearby to let me borrow their machines.

[The hostesses serving his oni subordinates are certainly flirting it up, already sidling next to them and working their charms. Monts muffles a giggle.]

They're better than this at me, so I think they'll do a good job keeping them tamed. Anyway, as for the coffee, do you like it sweet or unsweetened? Roasty or more floral and fruity? Iced or hot?

[getting_better]

[ Monts has no idea how tempted Bishop is to make a bad BAD joke here about coffee preferences. ]

I like my coffee the same way I like my women, dark, bittersweeet, and rich.

[ He's also failed to resist that temptation. Hungover, after all. ]

In all seriousness though, if you can make a good cup of coffee, you wouldn't really need much of anything else. But, for what it's worth, I think you're doing a pretty good job here. I noticed you coming out of here once with a new bag, gift from a customer I imagine?

[ He's passed by, never said hello or anything and mostly just kept to himself, but that doesn't mean he dosen't quietly check in on her. Although he ]

[nerine]

Haha! Oh, Bishop, you!

[Her laughter at his reply his merry, but the light in her eyes is not.]

Don't say such things if you're not ready to get charged exorbitantly for your next drink!

[Oh dear. But she'll move on as if she didn't sound sweetly threatening just now.]

Mm? Oh, no I got that bag for myself. I trust my own taste more than others.

[And perhaps to start collecting Stardust and all that.]

[getting_better]

[ It would not be the first time his big mouth got him in trouble, probably won't be the last. ]

Sorry. It was a low hanging fruit, and I'm hungover.

[ He is not actually sorry and will make thay joke again if given the opportunity. ]

Oh really? And what are your tastes in that regard?

[nerine]

Do you need an actual coffee to deal with that? Or maybe coconut water?

[Monts is a little concerned... But she can kind of tell that Bishop doesn't talk that easily about himself. He hasn't pried too much in regards to her even with her lack of pain so she owes him that much to not probe any further.]

Me? I like things that remind me of plants and some flowers. I also like practical things and nothing too flashy unless I'm intentional about it.

[Outside of the cabaret, Monts' usual mode of dress is in fact very low-key.]

[getting_better]

I found that the best rememdy is a shot of espresso and two shots of a clear spirit, little bit of creme, but that's probably just me.

[ Because of course an alcoholics cure for a hangover is to drink more. ]

Oh really? Never pegged you for the kind of girl who likes flowers and such. I honestly thought you'd be more of the exotic animal patterns.

[nerine]

Well... I'll make that one next time when your alcohol levels aren't concerning.

[Calling him out on it...]

Is that the kind of girl you peg me for? Flashy and bombastic?

[getting_better]

[ The only thing about alcohol levels that concern him are how low they are. ]

No, I meant something like what my little sister had. She had this purse, dark teal that had a sparrow stitching on the corner. I meant something like that. Not too eyecatching, but not something that blends into the crowd.

[ A beat. ]

But what do I know? My only reference for your tastes up to the bag was that kimono you wore.

[nerine]

Oh, you're an older sibling?

[She tries not to think about her older brother. They treated each other like strangers.]

I see what you mean. It does sound like that would be kind of my style... [She taps her cheek, thinking.]

Outside of this kind of work, I like some bright colors, but my clothing style is fairly low-key. The only thing that makes me stand out in a crowd would be my eyes, I think.

[getting_better]

[ Adopted, picked up like a cat off the street, but he doesn't comment any further save his usual smile. ]

You do have pretty eyes.

[ He does say matter-of-factly. ]

So you're the kind that doesn't wamt to stand out too much, huh? Kinda similar to my sister then, though she's a bit nicer to me.

[ Subtle implication? No, not subtle at all. ]

[nerine]

Thank you! [And she'll take the compliment as is. And she'll ignore that last remark about his sister being nicer, just FILE THAT AWAY]

I don't know if it's about not wanting to stand out since I like attention a normal amount. It might be more that I just naturally decide to fade into the scenery.

You see, I grew up with my grandparents. So even though I was definitely rebellious and misbehaved a lot, being around them made me calmer than not.

[getting_better]

Grandparents, huh? Jealous, I never met mine.

[ Nor has he ever heard much about them save the occasional story. ]

Sounds like they're quite the disciplinarians. Would you say you're grandma's or grandpa's girl?

[nerine]

I'd say my grandmother is more of a strict disciplinarian... Well, she tries anyway. A lot of what she tries to get me to do bounces off of me and she's learned to just roll with it.

[Monts tries to make up for it by being very helpful around the household and taking care of matters that her grandparents can't necessarily take care of themselves due to cultural and language barriers.]

My grandpa looks tough, but he's a gentle old soul. I think he went through the most trouble trying to get through to me when I was younger.

[getting_better]

Hmmmm, is that right?

[ Bishop's features soften as memories start to come forth. Warm but there was pain in every slide and smile in his head. ]

So is you're grandpa the type to chase aways guys who try to court you? I bet he is, isn't he? Then grandma would have to come out and scold him, take him away even - maybe by force, right? I'm right.

[nerine]

Haha, oh no! Abuelo knows I'm good at chasing off men by myself. My grandma scolds him for not scolding me enough!

[They're an odd pair really. Her grandfather had a solemn, but serene air to him while her grandmother had a fiery and stubborn temper that was channeled into housework and her part-time job. Both regarded their granddaughter with a unique kind of love that was shaped differently based on how inhuman she was.]

They know I can take care of myself and I prefer for them to not interfere with my affairs, whatever they may be. Lately, though, I've been helping them out since I was busy as a barista so there's not a lot to lecture me about aside from usual future discussions.

[getting_better]

Ah, damn and I thought I had that down.

[ Every scolding he's seen or heard was done by a woman and it was always over something stupid. How he let himself get dragged into it, he'll never understand. ]

Future discussions? [ A beat. ] Ah, like finding a husband or some such thing?

[ Another memory comes up, one that gets him to laugh a bit as it plays in his head for a short time. ]

[nerine]

[She nods in confirmation.]

Yes, that one you're right about. Outside of them, I don't have anyone else I care about as much in my family.

[Again, she thinks about her father and brother and how little they want to do with her.]

The job I had at the time paid me decently, even for a barista. But to be fair, I was working for a witch so she needs to compensate me well for me to stick around. I guess I'd have to think about another long-term career if I want to take care of my grandparents until their time comes.