Inbox | jigokucho 👹📨

[nerine]

"Hey, it's Monts. Just leave me a message or a text and I'll get back to you ASAP."

VOICE | TEXT | AUDIO

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[nerine]

After we get pastries young man 😏
I need to pick up some sliced bread too.

[invinciblemikey]

ok ok

gimme the address

[nerine]

[She forwards him the address and just imagine a Paris Baguette type of place, but in Jigokucho and adorable bread and pastries that are shaped after yokai.]

See you soon? I'm slower at choosing so I'll try to be done by the time you arrive.

[invinciblemikey]

(if it's her treat, he'll eat so much. unfortunately, that means he'll nap right then and there, but that's an issue for later. he's not in gang leader attire today, muchmore casual than their previous encounter.

and he makes it, his dead eyes might even sparkle at the sight of all that sugar.)

Holy shit-- Tamamo sure has the best shit, huh?

[nerine]

[Thank god she's an officer, she can afford to buy the extra snacks, especially for a growing boy. When Mikey catches up to her, Monts is waiting inside the bakery dressed in one of her casual getups. She kind of stands out but at the same time, she looks as if she's blended into the background of Jigokucho rather well.

She's all ready for Mikey and holds up a tray and tongs.. ]

I think the other places have their charms when it comes to going out to eat, but this one definitely has some of those beat.

But yeah, let's grab a lot! They'll pack it in boxes for us when I pay up.

[invinciblemikey]

... You're really paying? You sure?

(he will not argue for long, though. she'll notice soon enough that, as long as it has red bean paste written, he doesn't even think about putting it on his plate. it'll be most of the sweets he picks, along with chocolate and strawberry pastries.)

And where are we going?

[nerine]

I'm sure. I don't spend money on others all that often.

[The tray is already full with their selections (mostly his, she always eats less than others) and they're quick to get to the cashier. She'll even get two slices of strawberry and cream cake for good measure.]

We can stop by my apartment. I've been practicing making drinks there now that I have an actual kitchen. You can test out the milk tea since that matches best with the baked goods.

[invinciblemikey]

Good, because my apartment isn't good for visits. It's a mess, my bed broke, and it's a shithole. I'm moving out soon, anyway. Just trying to find a house that will fit all of us and ain't breaking the bank.

(and she's free to lead, even if his eyes aren't leaving the container - he has to protect the sweets, after all.)

[nerine]

[Mikey's description of his current place makes her laugh.]

That sounds like just a normal teen boy's room. But yeah, the starting housing isn't great at all.

[Exiting the bakery, she takes out one of the red bean pastries from the box she's carrying and holds it out to Mikey.]

You're working hard already. That's good. You and your friends are really resilient.

[kids today man... (monts is only 21 goodness)]

[invinciblemikey]

You met the others?

(the speed he takes it into his hands. it's his! it goes straight to his face, no hands, he'll just munch on it like this.)

[nerine]

I haven't yet actually, but I'm just guessing from the way you talk about them and how you sounded like you were going to stick together.

[She's met Takemitchy, but hasn't made the connection between them yet.]

I'm not as great at keeping friend, so it's nice to see it with other people, looking on the outside at least.

[invinciblemikey]

Some of us have pulled each other's baby teeth. Some have matching tattoos. There's no way we wouldn't.

(there's even a sweet smile on his lips as he says it, and he shakes his head at her statement.)

You're doing just fine by me.

[nerine]

Heh. I hope so! I'm not doing too badly after six months here after all.

[After all, Mikey's basically a friend now right? It's kind of nice how fast these things can happen, Monts thinks to herself.

As they walk down the street, there is a group of yokai (some obvious, others more humanoid looking wearing masks) hanging out in front of the convenience store, looking at acting like tough guys. They see her first and wolf-whistle at her.]

"Heeeeey, Onee-san! Ditch that shortie and hang with us, why don'tcha? You look like you know how to have a good time! Or pull your top up even higher!"

...

[Monts doesn't look behind her and she says nothing to Mikey as she silently holds up one hand... To give the gang the middle finger.

And then starts walking swiftly as they start shouting obscenities at her.]

Bad idea. I know!

[invinciblemikey]

For fuck's sake, Monts.

(you know. when you have a little sister who's as pretty as emma is, you hear these sorts of stories. when he is near her, they never happen, and after a while, they stopped happening altogether unless emma instigated it herself. may it be the same for monts - because the yokai follow, and mikey can only roll his eyes as he halts.

it's almost a flash, his foot lifting from the ground and all his strength applied on it as it lands on the yokai's temple - nevermind the fact that he almost became a 180 angle for it, counting the height difference. the others get kicks as well, but tamer, and in the end, they become nothing but a pile under the empty-eyed boy's feet. nonchalantly, he just grips on monts arm so they can get going.

if they were stronger, he'd be fucked, most likely. he got lucky.)

Don't fucking do that.

[nerine]

Whoa.

[Mikey's small and young, but he's strong. For Monts who has unnatural strength (yet to be regained), there's a difference between that and someone who can weaponize all that they have which the younger boy handily demonstrates when he lands the kick. Luckily for them, the yokai are unskilled ruffians and quick to fall.]

... Yeah, I could have done without, huh?

[She sighs but what's done is done.]

Thanks though. You're definitely earning that milk tea— Huh?

[(after)life comes at one fast.

That "huh" comes as a result of an oni yokai, with particularly sharp nails grabbing her by the wrist. The sudden action and the oni yelling at her for messing with his gang, knocks Monts off balance and some of the content of their bakery box spills out.

Strangely though, as the oni squeezes her wrist even harder, enough to draw blood, Monts only looks annoyed, as if he's a mosquito, and tugs to no avail.]

[invinciblemikey]

(here's the thing. mikey's give-a-fuck-meter is very, very limited. if this wasn't someone he's creating a bond to, he wouldn't protect out of principle. perhaps simply because he could, to show off his skill, or anything else. he wouldn't give a murderous glare towards the oni that inflicts damage on his friend. the neutral aura he gives off changes, and there's much more intent on the kick he's sending towards the yokai. little does he care that monts doesn't seem all that afraid - it'll sink in much later, when he thinks about the scene.

while the impact doesn't render the oni unconscious, to mikey's surprise, it's enough to throw him off balance. next, it's a punch in mikey's direction, which, in all honesty, he could have dodged - but he chose not to. it's a technique to measure strength. he can't truly level, but it's good to have an idea of what an average oni can do, and he's sure something inside him is going to be aching later.

a series of similar kicks do it, and confusion turns into openings, and openings make more kicks. mikey spits blood on the floor once his done, clapping to the people who gathered.)

Go the fuck home. Show's over.

[nerine]

[No yelps, only mild protesting, mild irritation, and when Mikey goes in for the metaphorical kill, Monts can only watch with slightly widened eyes. His fighting skill is one thing, but the capacity for violence in this small boy was... Perhaps not normal. Whether the oni deserved that level of pummeling or not, well, Monts is no saint.

She's selfish and preferential and she'll save her tenderhearted tendencies to those she likes.

When Mikey's done she shoos away the bystanders, flashing her Tamamo clan badge she keeps inside her jacket, and then goes to check on him. ]

Okay, face-check. [She's squatting down slightly to be face level with him.]

Too bad my doctor's not here anymore, but... Hm.

[There's blood on her sleeve where the oni grabbed her, staining the sleeve of her jacket and drying around her fingers, but nothing more.

She blithely remarks:]

You're a natural hellraiser alright.

[invinciblemikey]

Doctor?! I let him hit me, I'm fine, I was prepared for the impact, Monts!

(oh, what a loud, thundering laugh from such a boyish voice. he'll be alright at the end of the day. his side will bruise, he's not super like that, after all, but he's gotten worse than just that. most importantly, there's her wound-- it's not bad, so after a glance, it's not like he pays that much attention to it.

she'll live.

and he realizes all his candy and sweets are now on the floor, and that does grant the poor oni another kick to the rib.)

Fucker, this shit is expensive, are you trying to rip off my friend?

[nerine]

Okay, okay, that's enough.

[Monts gives Mikey a light tug on the back of his collar, away from the twitching oni laying on the ground.]

I can excuse beating the crap out of someone, but draw the line of kicking them while they're down.

[what monts... Thankfully a lot of the bread is already wrapped in plastic packaging, but the cakes are a no-go.]

We'll just salvage these. I think I can make a sweet toast out of the sliced bread if that interests you.

[and part of her is grateful that he's too engrossed in what he's doing to notice anything]

[invinciblemikey]

He's lucky I didn't break anything. You're hurt, Monts. I'm not happy about that.

(maybe it's projection. mikey doesn't have a lot of girls in his life, even here, but monts-- she's cute, excited, and fun, it's hard not to think about emma when he looks at her, considering how much he misses his little sister.

no one's said he's sane.)

Fine, fine. I'll drop it, for now.

[nerine]

I'm—...

["I'm not hurt."

So automatic, so much easier to say and push aside anything that's happened to her person. Because where else is the proof besides what was seen with the eyes and the blood spilled?

But she stops, lets out a soft sigh, and smiles at Mikey. Marianna lets go of his collar and kneels down to sweep the packaged bread back into the box.]

I'll get better.

[Box under her arm, she takes out a slightly squished, but still cute red bean taiyaki to hand tp the small delinquent.]

Thanks. I do owe you one for that at least.

[invinciblemikey]

You don't, you do enough.

(like, you know, buy him sweets and give him exposition about things he wouldn't know otherwise. he takes the offering, trashing the package and keeping it in between his teeth as he speaks.

he'll eat it like a hands-free hamster, or so help him god.)

You're just like Takemitchy's girlfriend. You have to be careful who you flip the fuck off, Monts.

[nerine]

[Takemitchy... Oh, she remembers the name from her post on the network. She'll file that away for later.]

I really should, shouldn't I? I'm usually not that reckless...

[... Usually.]

But I'll be more equipped next time I feel like being saucy. Sounds like you've been acquainted with some tough girls before.

[invinciblemikey]

I don't know many girls, to be honest, but the ones I do know are tough as nails. I have a younger sister, there's Takemitchy's girlfriend, one of our member's sister, and a childhood friend of mine. That's the entire list.

(and, well, mitsuya's sisters, but they're babies. there are also the ladies in the brothel draken lives - he'd spend hours and hours playing cards with them when he paid his visits.

but, close to him like that? only the four.)

My sister says I'm not good with girls.

[nerine]

[She laughs at that last statement, shaking her head.]

Is anyone any good with girls?

[She loves them, treating them in a starkly different manner compared to guys.]

But I'm glad you're fine with me. I think I've always had a mixed friend group growing up. And as for my family, I lived with my grandparents. My dad and older brother were probably doing just fine minding their own business.