once upon a time...

...there lived a m o n s t e r in the forest who was never really a monster at all. and there was a boy who found her. Affiliated with Citta-Alveare. Mary Kozakura. Rank: Citizen First Joined: 5/8/2015 Rejoined:

[firstbornmatsu]

Ok, he hadn’t really expected such a large reaction. Osomatsu looked on with an expression that was equal parts surprised and amused as the girl stood up, seemingly finding it difficult to meet his eyes as she spoke. She certainly acted and sounded more lost than she claimed to be; Osomatsu held back a teasing remark. She wasn’t one of his brothers, after all, and if someone striking up a casual conversation with her was enough to make her spontaneously trip over her feet, who knows what she might do in response to even the most lighthearted attempts at ribbing?

“Oh, I’m not really headed anywhere in particular right now,” he responded to her question instead, “I actually just woke up here a few hours ago.” Giving a jovial shrug that suggested absolutely no sign of being troubled by such a fact, he continued. “I guess I’m looking for some people, but–”

“Ah.” Osomatsu stopped mid-sentence and turned towards the light as it flashed to green once more. “If you’re planning to cross, we can go now.” As unusual a place this was, it seemed the traffic signals still worked the same way they did back home, and perhaps the girl would be able to brave the traffic with someone walking by her side. “Do you know where you’re trying to get to?” Even if she was ‘a little lost,’ any information would probably be better than the nothing he was currently going off of.

[eyesbehind]

He’s so calm, and Mary’s still a mess, frazzled but gradually getting her bearings thanks to the fact that he’s not making fun of her. She can totally take being made fun of--Kano, Ene, and Seto do it all the time, in different ways--it’s just she can’t take it from strangers.

...And he’s really, really calm when he casually notes he’s a complete newcomer here, which leads to Mary gawking at him even as they both cross the street; she’s darting along like a very antsy bird, all abrupt movements, and there’s maybe something less-than-human about that...

“Um, I was going to see a shop in Sector Four, and um...this is Sector One...I think if I circle backwards through Six and Five, i-it’d be faster than the train, because the train only runs clockwise...!”

Mary flutters her hands as she speaks, eventually realizing--oh. They’re across.

She takes one of his hands in both of hers and bows low in gratitude.

“A-Ah, thank you for the help, sir!! I’d be happy to help you too, if you need it!”

[astralmagicking-deactivated2023]

“Of course i am fine. SURE Hive no cake walk but i made new friends here you know?  This “corrupt” hive is starting to feel just like home. You don’t have to apologize for anything.that not your fault. Beside your back in time for the winter ball!”

[eyesbehind]

“That’s good at least...ehehe, I’m glad you’re doing all right, Arata!” Mary’s relieved smile soon gives way to confusion at his words.

“...There’s a ball going on? Y-You mean like in storybooks? Where Cinderella loses her glass slipper?”

[firstbornmatsu]

Aside from the confusing infrastructure, it seemed this place was a city with a reasonably normal populace - or not, Osomatsu thought, as another android-looking creature passed by him. Yeah… coupled with the walking goat he’d seen a while back, this place definitely wasn’t normal. As the hours ticked by, however, what little initial trepidation he had was replaced by a growing sense of curiosity about his surroundings. Though… “Where are they?” Osomatsu sighed as he wandered along the sidewalk. With nothing else really coming to mind, his current ‘plan’ was pretty much to walk around until he either found one of his siblings, or met someone who would confuse him with one of his siblings. Either or.

He raised his eyes towards the crosswalk ahead as the signal turned green. Knowing he wasn’t going to make it from this distance anyway, Osomatsu didn’t bother to increase his pace, but something soon caught his notice. A girl, standing on the edge of that crosswalk, seemed hesitant to make her way forward, unlike the rest of the crowd around her. It didn’t seem like she was planning to make it across anytime soon, as the lights began flashing again a few seconds later. His interest piqued, Osomatsu walked up until he was just a few steps away from her, peering at her profile.

Whoa, she’s kind of cute! Osomatsu thought to himself for a moment, but stopped before his thought process could go any further. Nah, she was definitely still a kid. Not someone a twenty-something should be having those kinds of thoughts about. Still, she did look like she needed some help, if her reaction to the cars on the street were anything to go by.

He took another step closer just as the light turned red again. “Kind of a weird place here, isn’t it?” he said conversationally, giving the girl a light grin as he spoke, “Are you lost too?”

[eyesbehind]

Mary makes a tiny squeaking sound and promptly hits the ground as her feet slide out from under her in a spectacularly clumsy dive. How? It doesn’t matter. She’s Mary Kozakura and she will find a way to trip over thin air if the fates have deigned it to be so.

Whatever the case, she picks herself off the ground in embarrassment, realizing that the guy had only been asking her a simple question or two...Ooh this is why she’s always so mortified--why she’d rather stay inside most of the time!

“A-A bit? I mean...” She pressed two fingers together, staring at her feet. “I-It’s really weird here, but I’m only a little lost! I mostly know where I am...”

She watches the ebb and flow of traffic for a second, the light still blood-red, and she clenches her jaw. Right, she promised Haruka she’d be a bit more outgoing.

“U-Um, thank you for asking...! Are you going this way too?”

[desesverain-blog]

( @eyesbehind )

Aside from effortlessly conveying a  sense of urgency, frantically spoken  phrases accomplish nothing at all as they hold no significance whatsoever. How exceedingly fragile and fleeting  is the bittersweet existence of one  belonging to mankind. Why waste time on negligible issues when there is always an abundance of pleasurable experiences to be pursued? Instead  of bothering to feign concern as an impish puppeteer - one accustomed  to mercilessly toying with the strings of humanity - would surely do, he simply challenges her intellect. 

             ❝  Does it really matter? ❞

[eyesbehind]

Something sparks hard from within, and Mary, she is not like her friends--in more ways than one. Far, far more.

She has two separate serpents. They coil in her chest, one she was born with, and the other is a gift from her infamous grandmother; both react to the careless voice addressing her, a silent shuffling of spirit that leaves her feeling a bit sick.

Mary only frowns at his question.

“Does...Does what matter?”

[astralmagicking-deactivated2023]

“Oh no what? Look glad to see you to. I miss you ever since you disappear on me a couple of month back. How you been short stuff?”

Glad to see a familiar face.

[eyesbehind]

“’Oh no’ that you’re still here! I-I’m sorry...I wish you could’ve been able to go home...” Mary bites her lip briefly. “I...I’ll be okay, but what about you? Are you okay?”

[eyesbehind]

astralmagicking 

“A-Arata?! You’re still here?”

Mary’s pink eyes go all wide like dinner plates, hands clasping against her chest. “Oh noooo...I-I mean I’m happy to see you, but oh noooo...!!”

[eyesbehind]

firstbornmatsu

There’s a girl who looks awfully intimidated by the traffic in Sector One...

Every time the light changes, she looks like she’s considering crossing the road, but doesn’t do it even as other people cross on over without incident. She’s got the look of a very timid albino rabbit, all trembling eyes and fidgety movements as cars and God knows what else rumbles on by.

Mary doesn’t like big cities much. They’re fun with friends who will keep you close while they make a path for you down the crowded sidewalks. Not so much on your own.

Mary sighs and presses a hand to her mouth, biting back a frown.

“I-It’s not that hard...” she murmurs to herself, but she doesn’t sound very confident, and the screeching of a truck makes her jump.

[eyesbehind]

((Hello! I’m back to play my favorite 1/4th monster child and I hope you’ll all love her. B)

I’m putting out an itty-bitty starter to help me get back into the swing of things! Like for a starter, cap is 2 for now!))

[eyesbehind]

shooterisms:

There’s a gentleness in the way that Mato approaches, a meekness– she’s still scared of this city, as if the people inside of it are any different than her. But while she’s timid, she still can’t help but approach; she’s been admiring from afar the girl’s pale blue dress, her pink ribbon and the way that her soft hair falls in waves down her back. Everything about her is just so… so soft. It’s enough to convince Mato that maybe, just maybe, this girl is harmless. 

With quiet steps she walks behind the seated stranger, gingerly extending a hand to touch her shoulder. Her voice trembles at first, but she gains courage as she starts to speak up. 

❝ Um… ❞

❝ I really like your outfit…! It’s really cute! ❞

Mary’s burrowed deep in a book, her brows furrowed as she takes in far-off realms and distant battles that revolve brilliantly in her mind’s eye. She tends to get easily lost in the material, since books were her only companions for so long, and thus it’s unsurprising that she doesn’t hear the other’s approach until she’s actually addressed.

She promptly jumps a foot in the air and squeaks, a waterfall of white hair falling on top of her as she hits the ground.

“H-Huh?! Oh...” Mary blinks and sits up quickly, embarrassed. “Th-Thank you! I didn’t mean--”

The book then cascades down and hits her on the cranium, sending the girl flat on her face in an instant.

[hansei-hansui-deactivated201609]

未

[hansei-hansui-deactivated201609]

Ah.

That’s what this is.

While Haruka’s not too sure to say – because not even he can find all the right words – it’s that stray thought of Mary’s that helps him figure it out. He touches the pencil to the edge of his lips, painting silence with the tip. Is that something she needs to apologise for? No.

Is it better if she does? 

　　　　　　　　　　Maybe.

‘… I’m just glad we’re here,’ he admits, in the same tone of voice he’d say I’m glad it’s over. He is, in a sense. And in a sense, he’s not. ‘It’s – better for me that it happened, I think, so…

‘I don’t mind.’

Without all the events that had piled up at their feet, he wouldn’t know Mary. He wouldn’t know any of them. His story would’ve ended in that hospital bed, like it should’ve.

He’d accepted dying during the course of everything, but he’s glad it’s over. He’s happy to be alive, and not so much a burden. He’s glad they’re here.

Haruka leans forward to take a look at Mary’s handiwork, tonguing the inside of his cheek.

‘Huh? Um… Mary… that’s supposed to be blue, not pink…’

[eyesbehind]

She’s glad too.

Mary smiles at him--beams, more like, practically radiating happiness--gathering up the material in her arms as she does so. It’s only when he points out that she’s started the trimming all wrong that she squeaks out an apology.

“Oh nooo...I’m sorry! Um, I, I think it’s still not too bad...!”

She sounds frantic and certainly looks the part, but the panic doesn’t touch her eyes. Mary’s reasonably confident in her ability to sew and she’s able to fix matters in record time; her enthusiasm leads to a few pricked fingers, though.

She smiles sheepishly.

“Um...” 

The conversation should continue, she thinks, and she’d feel more self-conscious if Haruka was a more high energy guy. But he doesn’t fluster her like Kano does, or Ene, so she just picks a topic at random, ever sincere.

“D-Do you...have a favorite animal? I’ve always liked birds.”

“I think being able to fly would be really lovely! I used to think about that a lot...”

There’s a pause, but she’s musing on clouds, not anything depressing. She wonders if any of her grandmother’s snakes could cause flight? Within moments, she’s daydreaming, half in and half out.

[eyesbehind]

green growing things.

[dancapa]

Kido let out a content sigh, arms crossed in front of her chest. She didn’t expect those flowers to survive the heat either, thought they’d die after a day or two, despite constantly getting water. Mary really cherished her little garden, thus Kido was happy to see the flowers still do well.

   "Well, they take after you, I suppose“, Kido said, smiling gently. "Honestly, I am surprised myself, though, it’s been so hot these days…” A quiet groan followed, but Kido was quick to smile again.

   "They’re really pretty, I’m sure he will be happy to see them, too. You’ve been taking good care of them.“

Kido would’ve patted Mary’s head was she next to her, instead she settled on taking a closer look at the flowers.

   ”I especially like how they’re arranged! But don’t forget to not only water the flowers but drink lots yourself, too, okay? I’d rather not find you collapsed between all those flowers.“

[eyesbehind]

Mary blinks, casting Kido this amused, slightly worried glance. Summer’s both the dan’s favorite time of year and...not; it’s really complicated you know! Hot, blue days like this make up a good part of Mary’s favorite memories.

And these flowers add color, too.

“Ahh, thank you! I’ve had a lot of practice...” If it made anyone in their home happy, that’s good enough for her. She’s already watering the flowers by the time Kido speaks again, and she turns quickly to answer her--

Only to stumble and trip over the tubing of the hose, quite literally spraying herself in the face with water. The way the coils quickly end up entangled around her, she might as well have been wrestling a snake.

She’s making these...quiet, distressed, squeaking noises that are rising in both intensity and pitch. There’s water going everywhere, and she supposes she’s not so hot anymore, on the bright side.

[eyesbehind]

green growing things.

“Oh! Kido! Look at the flowers!” Mary claps her hands together happily, surveying the little garden she has growing in the dan’s backyard. “I-I wasn’t expecting them to take to the heat this well, but they’re stronger than I thought...”

There’s a collection of colorful plants practically blossoming all along the walls, circling the perimeter in a technicolor, fireworks explosion - minus the fire, of course! She starts pacing amongst them, her hood pulled up, and she seems to be trying her best to avoid getting sunburned. Her skin’s not made for this sort of weather!

Though the heat felt nice, she has to admit.

“Seto brought them back from his job, s-so I promised him I’d grow some...What do you think?”

[hansei-hansui-deactivated201609]

未

[hansei-hansui-deactivated201609]

He’s focused on her words, not so much her face or what she’s doing – but when Mary leans forward, he notices. Haruka shifts closer to see what progress she’s made, eyes following loose thread to try and find his design. It looks… he’s not sure how it looks.

But he likes it. He does. He hums a note of recognition that makes clear his approval.

‘Yeah. I did.’ His answer comes right after; it’s not something he needs to think about. He settles back into place, but he doesn’t pick up his own work, not yet. ‘For a really… really… really long time. I know what it’s like.’ And coming to tie everything up is this quiet laugh, a sound that’s not racked with guilt at all. It’s just something you accept. It just is.

And he is just a little different, just a little different from Mary, and that’s how it is.

‘But I wasn’t waiting for anyone. I think? I was waiting for myself.’

His voice promises her way is okay, too. The spin of his pencil echoes the very same.

‘When it stops, it’s a little scary. But I think in the end, you’re – happier. 

‘It was worth it.’

[eyesbehind]

Mary tilts her head, confused, but in a good way, a curious way. His approval prompts a smile to cross her face, and she resumes her task, expression shifting to something thoughtful.

She could just ask what he means, but maybe she’ll think on it herself.

“You were waiting for yourself...”

She sighs, eyes slipping closed, but it’s only a temporary lapse.

“Do you mean...the isolation? Or the selfishness?”

She thinks her latter is tied to her former, though Mary doesn’t confess to being an expert on either, despite a century and more of experience.

“I think it’s worth it too.” She nods, not sure which he means if any, but she agree nonetheless--Haruka seems like a pretty sensible person, between Ene’s impishness and Shintaro’s wry complaints. It’s not hard to believe. And his quirks, well...they’re all a little strange.

“Oh. But. Um. I’m sorry you got pulled into all of this...!” Mary grimaces. “It’s sort of...it’s not my fault but it kind of is? Even if. It’s okay.”

[donttouchmybathroom]

❤ } “This heat is unbearable! My hair is frizzing and im sweating like a filthy pig.” Cry more Howl, heat was never beautiful. “No woman would appreciate a man who looks like a complete and utter mess.”

[eyesbehind]

“Um...well...I don’t think you look bad...? If you smiled, it might help? A bit. I-I think.”

[uiscifola-blog-deactivated20200]

     “Man, yer tiny. Everyone around here is so short.” No, Lack, you’re just six foot nine. You’re too damn tall. “…Hey, that’s not a bad thing; at least yer cute though?”

[eyesbehind]

“H-Huh?” Mary feels a blush sweep up to the tips of her ears, taken off-guard. “I’m not that short...or um, c-cute, but thank you?” She’s embarrassed and mortified and she’s going to hide her face now.

[kamiina]

Disney princess （*＾ワ＾*）

[chikattafuri]

kano plans his returns in that window gap where everybody has cleared out… everybody had left that morning, at separate times. 

somewhere in the backroom the hatch closed, loudly with no one in the house. curious enough, if everyone had set out like they planned …that would mean a thief be in the house. 

like any smart upstanding no. 3 holding down the house - kano takes a bat with him, trudging quietly down the hall. worst comes to worst, he can ask someone to do the reprimanding of the whole household for him. he doesn’t make those kinds of speeches, and no one will listen because it’s kano. 

–he can always explain later.

tapping the bat on his shoulder, kano gives it a test swing, landing without a sound in his open hand. another thump, another crash. kano taps at the door’s frame impatiently, ready to jump the burglar in mind when –adding to the racket, a sweep of what sounds like immediate downpour,

hundreds of …beads?…  rolling across the floor, passing his feet. 

kano peeks in. sure enough, the craft department pillaged, china cabinet ravished, and… from the telltale corner comes a peep, two …distinct brown boots… waving in the air, huge, full skirts wedged inside a storage chest of what would have otherwise been a spotless getaway.

just –what is she doing?– 

…kano sighs, dragging the wooden bat along on the floor, tracing his path to her. she’s almost got her way out of it, and he lets her because it’s …it’s a common, marry thing, but - kind of a rare sight for him to see. 

it takes forever, but she manages to wriggle herself out the hatch. kano gives her time to sit up, –and not much more. the instant she gathers her bearings, “boo.” 

he sprinkles invisible “dust” in her face, –sending her back, showing off all fingers as he’s got nothing to hide from her. 

“how long’ve you been in there?” he jeers at her, and he would continue to if he could, –but the surprise sent her tipping back. “– n- now, now. don’t have such a scare.”

“it looks like? –just you and me.”

captivelines ✧

“what’cha up to, marry? something more exciting me.” 

[eyesbehind]

She supposes she was born with extraordinary clumsiness for a reason, but she’s yet to figure out why, if there’s to be an answer to such a question at all. Marry’s a bit too distracted by the fact that her hair’s caught on something in this chest and her skirt’s end is tangled on something on the wooden frame to realize that someone’s behind her.

At least, until he speaks, and makes himself known.

Marry’s barely pried herself from the interior before she’s spooked into tripping backwards and falling, once more, into it. She makes this long uneasy sound and thinks about turtles caught on their backs--

She’s back on her feet after a while, fixing the culprit with a mild glare and puffed out cheeks; that’s right, she’s going to huff at him, because he probably did it on purpose!

(Maybe, anyway, she’s not very suspicious of people.)

“K-Kano...! You startled me...” Marry smooths down her dress and her hair and she gives him a pouting glare, but it doesn’t last long. “I-I’ve been awake since Seto left for work. B-But not caught in there! I mean...”

She means she doesn’t know how long it’s been, at all.

“I was...” She looks back at the chest, at the untidy supply closet. “I was looking for things to sew with? Haruka and I are making a quilt...!”

It’s a tangled thing in her room, a growing collection of meaningful patches.