[meta] How does your character feel about the supernatural?
[OOC] Hideki has a deep respect for the supernatural, as well as an absolute fascination. His entire apartment is filled with books and general research on supernatural creatures. No creature is too small! He is the kind of man who will literally stay up for days when he dives down a rabbit hole for research. I always joke that his veins are pure caffeine. As a result of his fascination, he doesnât fear them the way that he should. He is willing to blindly go after a creature he has never seen in real life without any regard for his personal safety. As far as company goes, Hideki would almost always choose the company of the supernatural over a human. His world is too wrapped up in the study of the supernatural for him to have someone unexposed to remain unexposed. He would likely be willing to teach/answer any questions a human would have about the supernatural instead of keeping it secret.Â
Meteor showers? Thatâs kinda cool! Itâs a school night, though, so I probably shouldnât⊠But, it sounds like it would be a lot of fun to see.
[pm]A cup of coffee and slight grogginess seems a cheap price to pay to witness the wonders of nature! Your company would be greatly enjoyed as always, Skye!Â
[pm]IÂ was considering setting out a blanket at the park if you still feel you can take the risk!
[pm] Think Iâll take a pass on that one for now. Heads up, though, do me a favor and avoid the beach.
[pm] A shame! Though, it may well be for the best. I imagine a professor and student should not be found drinking in one anotherâs company. I quite like my position, as of late.
The High Arcana I drew for you was the two-souled being Jurojin, the Fukujin of the pole star who ceaselessly records the lives of mortals. Like you perhaps, Jurojin is a being that's seen tides of joy and suffering wrack the world, and endures them as a witness that preserves memory through the ages. Ebony antlers and guiding lights ask whether it's better to forget and retreat above all the pain and hate. Is there yet a higher purpose for recording life that makes remembering worth the curse?
âTo have received Jurojin is a great honor. His spirit and story is one that has motivated me since I first heard its telling. As for your question, there is no easy answer. It is my duty to record. It is what is expected of my people, and there is no greater honor than to use the gift of my longevity to bear witness to history for centuries to come. It is always worth remembering - not for myself, but for the generations that come after me.
There were stories even my great grandfather could not bear to utter aloud, but the ink he placed on paper could always share its secrets. I must do the same.â
No matter how old a person was, there was always room for growth. Even Carrington, at nearly 420, knew there were things about himself that could be improved upon. So he didnât hold Hidekiâs outburst against him, especially in the face of such emotional turmoil. He simply waited patiently for the other man to speak again.Â
When he did, Carrington nodded slowly. âI do.â He kept his eyes on Hideki, wondering what thoughts filled the kitsuneâs mind. His question, however, had Carrington looking away at the sea again. How to answer? In part, it was because of Carringtonâs own guilt at not finishing them off all those years ago. A task incomplete. A mission unfulfilled. That was the selfish side of it. But it was also because it was the right thing to do. Hidekiâs family - their spirits - should have their vengeance.Â
And more importantly, Hideki himself should be granted vengeance.Â
After some thought, Carrington sighed quietly. There was no one answer. So he settled on, âBecause it is whatâs right.â It was the truth, and covered all the bases. Hopefully, it wouldnât seem like a cop out to the kitsune.Â
As for forgiveness, it was much, much harder than vengeance. Especially for oneself. Carrington turned his head to watch the dark strands of Hidekiâs hair flutter with his movement. A different shade of black than the night that surrounded, it was an easy path to follow, and Carrington watched until it settled again. He gave Hideki another slow nod.
âIt will come when youâre ready. Even if you donât know you are.âÂ
There was a bit of silence after that, before Carrington slipped his hands back into his pockets. âMay I interest you in a drink? I think we could both use one.âÂ
Hidekiâs eyes lifted to Carringtonâs face for the first time, scrutinizing. His logic was simple: it was what was right. His family deserved vengeance because that was the moral high ground? Or because Carrington also felt guilty for being incapable of stopping the hunters? Or because Hideki felt his loss so deeply that Carrington was compelled to ease it in some way?Â
Did he need to deliberate it so? What was that English phrase? Do not look a gift horse in the mouth.
Even so, he felt questions bubbling up in the back of his throat. He clenched his fists, crumpling the fabric of his pants as he lowered his head again, willing himself to nod his acceptance of that response, lest he somehow ruins this moment, too.Â
As for forgiveness, he had no room in his heart for that. The thought of forgiving the hunters made another shudder run through the kitsuneâs body as he restrained his response yet again. The veins of his wrists grew more prominent still as he gripped the fabric.
The offer of drinks was a welcome release. His shoulders sagged and he nodded again, the movement much more natural this time. âYou have no idea...â his last word was swallowed up by the quiet, nervous laughter of a man piecing himself back together again. He took the lead to get back up to his feet and he extended a hand down to the vampire to assist him up. âI recall that there is a bar only a short walk from here. The owner is kind and the drinks are cold; what more could a man ask for in life?â The simpler conversation allowed Hideki to sink back into his more usually charismatic nature. Â
Does anyone else intend to go stargazing tomorrow night? There are reports of a meteor shower heading our way. I should very much like to get a group together and would be happy to supply the spirits should you care to join.
Summary: What was meant to be a brief battle of the wits morphed into a karkinoid cook-off, the likes of which Coffee Plus shall never witness again. ft. an interesting jacket, an overpriced cardigan, soft boi Hideki, and spicy girl Nell. Oh, and glass. Lots of glass.Â
It had been a moment since Penelope has come to a Coffee Plus since it was fairly close to campus, and she didnât really have a reason to be near the campus in the first place. But sometimes she just really wanted the chocolate muffins they had here in particular, even if their desserts werenât as popular as their beverages. Nevertheless, she was hunkered down over her muffin and mocha, all too eager to dig in when she saw a familiar face pop into the shop. Damn it, she really should have left her Amphisbaena jacket at home today, especially after it had struck Hidekiâs interest the last time he saw it. But with all these karkinoids roaming around and...raining fish- sheâd figured it was best to be protected.Â
The cold had never bothered Hideki much. What did bother him was the slush that just loved appearing to ruin his favorite shoes after the snow melted a little. He knew he should have just worn his snow boots to work today. He sighed as he tugged the door open to Coffee Plus a little stronger than he needed to. The baristas took one look at him and immediately started making his usual drink - proof that he came far too often. He went through the motions of paying for his drink and making small talk, but didnât bother to address the feeling that someone was watching him until his americano was solidly in-hand. When he realized it was Penelope staring at him, though, he suddenly felt a surge of energy that could only come from the need to antagonize the poor soul in front of him. âAfternoon, Penelope.â He said her name with an unnecessary amount of entertainment as he slid into the seat across from her without permission. He raised a meticulously groomed eyebrow at the spread in front of her. âI never imagined youâd be one for sweets.â Hideki reached across and plucked the muffin from in front of her, though he took care to keep his fingers on the muffin liner so as not to dirty his fingers with the sweet. âTell me⊠how does a girl like you get a jacket like that?â
Nell nearly groaned as Hideki slid into the chair across from her, her eyes narrowing in his direction. Though...it was mostly all in good fun. After all, it was amusing to try and ruffle his feathers in return whenever he decided to make his attempts to prey on her. âOld man, Hideki,â she commented back in as neutral a tone as possible, as if greeting an age old, but respected adversary. âWhy not?â she asked, figuring there was no other choice but to take that bait if it was indeed bait. But the moment he took her muffin her eyes bugged out. Normally- she managed to pretend like she wasnât as bothered by him, but this was crossing a line. Messing with Penelope was one thing, but messing with her food? Unacceptable. âGet your own muffin. Thatâs a great way to lose a finger,â she said gruffly as she reached across the table to make her attempt to snatch her muffin back. âA girl like me?â she replied indignantly. âWhatâs that supposed to mean? Howâs an old man like you get out of bed every morning to terrorize the youth of this coffee shop? Donât your bones creak? Nearly break when you force their tired selves out into the world?â
The girlâs ceaseless teasing had always been a bit of a treat for Hideki. He looked to be in his early thirties at the latest, but only he knew he had lived long enough for the average human lifespan already. He chuckled and let her snatch the muffin from his clutch. He rubbed the pads of his fingers with his thumb, trying to remove any remaining crumbs before crossing his arms and resting them on the table, leaning into her onslaught of questions with a perfectly amicable smile. âWith such a fiery personality, I always assumed you wouldnât have much of a sweet tooth,â he admitted with a slight shrug. âBut you are absolutely correct, Penelope. My bones nearly break with every step I take in this harsh, cold world. The only warmth and joy I can ever find in my boring old man life is to steal nourishment from youths such as yourselves in this very coffee shop. Itâs your own fault, really. You should have known better than to come to my hunting grounds.âÂ
Obviously Nell knew Hideki couldnât be much older than Bea at most, but stillâ it was amusing to make fun of the way he acted like he was an old man in a younger oneâs body, saying the strangest things and proving himself time and time again to only have more traits sheâd expect of someone much older. But as she regained her muffin she hummed pleasantly, easily placated by the re-acquirement of the little pastry. But her lips pursed in the slightest at the mention of fiery. It seemed her personality was the only part of her familyâs legacy sheâd inherited. Though sheâd made a name for herself without the connecting link to their fire elemental tendencies, it still wasnât exactly fun to be the odd one out. âYeah well- human beings are very complex creatures, Hideki,â she said with the element of a tease back in her tone. Despite her attempts to always seem unamused by him, her lips still tilted up at the corners in a small grin. âI canât imagine how hard that must be for you. Maybe you should just spare us all, and stop hunting for the sake of your rapidly decaying body.â But she snickered at the mention of hunting grounds. âNot a very good hunter when you return the food.â
Hideki snorted and leaned back in the seat of the booth, finally letting himself take the first sip of his americano. It had been far too long since heâd last had an adequate amount of caffeine coursing through his veins so it took a shameful amount of self-restraint to keep himself from downing the entire thing in front of⊠present company. âYou have no idea how complexâŠâ he muttered around the rim of his cup, eyes glittering with entertainment. He would always wonder at how rash young humans could be despite how delicate they were. Although, he still questioned what the woman sitting in front of him was. His eyes shamelessly scanned the details of her jacket, his recent obsession. âWell, thatâs quite a good proposition to make. Perhaps, since you like bantering so much, you might be inclined to study political science at the local college. Our debate team is quite good from what I hear. Iâm sure youâd have a great deal of fun as a lawyer.â
A little frown crossed over Nellâs lips, never sure what Hideki meant when he said such cryptid things. Maybe he was just being weird. Who knew? Nevertheless, she fixed him with a disapproving look as she noticed him focus in on her jacket, and she subconsciously gripped the edges of it, pulling it closer to her body in a somewhat defensive maneuver. How could he know what it was made of? Heâd have to be supernatural himself. Or perhaps a Scribe? A Scribe seemed more likely, and much more Hidekiâs speed. âMmm you know itâs funny you mention that. I have considered applying recently.â She dangled the carrot for a moment, wondering if he would bite. âWould you like to know why?â
Hideki couldnât help but lean forward on his elbows a bit, eager to hear whatever tale the young lady had decided to weave up for him this time. âOh, please do enlighten me.â He had to resist being sarcastic, just in case she was genuine, even for a single second. That secondâs pause was interrupted by the sound of shattering glass. Hideki cursed in Japanese under his breath and dove under the booth table to shield himself. He tugged not-so-gently on Nellâs arm to try and drag her under the makeshift barrier with him. âWhat in Godâs nameâŠ?â he hissed, eyes going wide as the tiled restaurant floor echoed with the sound of strange clicks that could be heard around the other patronsâ panicked whispers.
For a moment, Nell felt the smallest bit guilty about possibly teasing Hideki. It really did seem that he was at least partially genuinely excited at the prospect of her going to college. And she didnât need to disappoint more people in her life. So she hesitated, that pause made longer by the sudden outburst of the broken windows, and a clicking sound she thought was vaguely familiar, but couldnât quite place. âHey!â she exclaimed as Hideki tugged her downwards, hiding certainly never being her first instinct when it came to danger. Though...she supposed it was nice of Hideki to think of her. Still, she wasted no time in straightening herself to sneak a peek over the top of the table, a rather passionate curse of, âFuck, god dammit,â falling from her lips as she recognized the karkinoids. âItâs the kar- the giant lobsters.â Fiddling with her clothes, she pulled out a dagger from who knew where, readying herself to fight. âUh- just- stay here,â she told Hideki, not wanting him to get hurt.
Hideki felt his hands starting to shake despite his best attempts to keep calm. He was not ready for this. The thought that there were other people - that Nell was there - was a good reminder that he needed to figure out how to handle the situation. At least, that was what he had been telling himself until he realized that Nell had pulled out a dagger. âWoah!â He grabbed her shoulder to stop her, only just then realizing she had almost said the word âkarkinoidâ. âWhat the hell are you doing?â He hissed, cautiously leaning his head around the booth. âThereâs⊠at least six of thoseâŠâ He paused, scanning her expression and only found reassurance that she knew exactly what she was doing, so he resigned himself to slipping out of his guise. âThereâs six karkinoids. Whatever experience you may have, youâll need some back up.âÂ
Nell frowned at being pulled back by Hideki, though she should be very used to people holding her back when she was constantly attempting to dive head first into situations. âIâm gonna kick their ass!â she said restlessly, annoyance coloring her words that she was having to wait to make sure these little shits didnât hurt anyone in the shop. But then he uttered the word karkinoid, the very one sheâd done her best not to say, and she the small suspicions sheâd had were at least somewhat confirmed. Unless...Hideki was simply very into the mythology he was responsible for teaching. But he didnât seem unfazed that apparent mythology could come to life. Her pride made her say, âYou donât know how capable I am or not.â But now wasnât the time for pride. âThe longer I wait, the more likely people are going to get hurt! So unless you have a bazooka hiding under that cardigan-â She let her words cut off, her impatient look cutting into him.
The kitsune sighed as she argued with him. Though, she was right; he had no idea what she was. For all he knew, she was a 600 year-old-vampire who just liked acting like an absolute child at the most inopportune moments⊠He doubted it. Hideki grumbled under his breath as he pulled off the aforementioned cardigan to protect it; it was $300 dollars. And really soft. âAlright, kid. Letâs see what you can do.â He tossed a smile her way and slid out from beneath the table, just in time to see a karkinoid descending on one of the baristas whoâd been brave enough to try to fight them off with a broom. With a flick of his wrist, a carefully aimed burst of fire engulfed the creature. Thank God the windows were broken, though. The stench...
Nellâs impatience turned momentarily to confusion as she watched him take the cardigan off. What the fuck was he doing? But her confusion quickly turned to intrigue as he seemingly put out a challenge. He was...encouraging her now? The surprise one her face only grew as she watched him throw himself into the battle, and fire sprouted from his hand in a similar fashion to the methods her family of fire elementals had used all their lives. But...she didnât feel any magic in the air as he did it. Nevertheless, she let out a delighted bark of a laugh as he torched the karkinoid, her hands flying straight into the air in triumphant fists. âHaha! Yes, old man! Yes!!â And then she wasted no more time in launching herself into the fray, grabbing the brave barista by the arm, tossing her towards the door, and telling her to âGet the hell out of here!â And then relaying it to anyone else who was in the shop by yelling it over the mess of a shop. In another moment, she was jumping onto the counter, overlooking the field as the karkinoids went in search of whatever food they were trying to find. Picking the first overgrown lobster she saw, she dove from the top of the counter onto itâs back, quickly pinning itâs fatal claws to the floor as she grabbed one of itâs legs nearest itâs middle and yanked it off. âHideki, I got us dinner!â she yelled after tossing the leg aside. Then she promptly drove her knife into the weak spot sheâd created, and the thingâs struggles began to wan.Â
Hideki rolled his eyes at her encouragement, but was unable to deny the genuine smile that was creeping onto his face. It had been a long time since heâd felt so excited. Hideki was quick to spring to action though as patrons began flooding out of their hiding spaces to run. âGo through the backdoor! Quick!â He shouted, holding open the kitchen door as he ushered everyone to safety. When he turned around to see Nell practically tackle a Karkinoid, it was all he could do to keep from laughing. âDinner, you say?â He caught the leg and set it ablaze. âSeems as though weâll be having fire roasted lobster tonight.â He chuckled, but only then realized his mistake in getting distracted. A Karkinoid was coming to the aid of its friend and was dangerously close to Nell. Fearing he might burn her if he were to use his fire, he quickly unbuttoned his pants and shifted. With a vicious snarl, the kitsune tackled the bottom feeder, fangs ripping deep into its exoskeleton.
Another bright laugh fell from her as he âpreparedâ their dinner, and she finished off her first karkinoid, driving the knife into the weak bit of flesh sheâd created again and again. âIâll have to pick up some butter on the way home.â The hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood on end, battle instinct kicking in as she whipped her head around and saw another karkinoid coming her way. Magic gathered at her fingertips as she got ready to blast it into oblivion, but instead out of the corner of her eye she saw Hideki...taking off his pants? What the fuck. But it all became clear as he shifted, and she barely even blinked as he took out the karkinoid. âAre you shitting me?! A fucking kitsune?!â It was a mix of shock and excitement. Sheâd met a few of them when sheâd been travelling in Japan during her five-year-long attempt to see the world and all it had to hold. âYouâve been holding out on me, jerk!â Then she joked once more in the midst of battle. âAlso rude of you to take the one I wanted.â Speaking of ones she wanted it seemed that the rest of the karkinoids were quickly pegging Nell and Hideki as the threats to be most worried about at the moment, and were gathering their forces as the advanced on the pair. In a flash, sheâd run her knife down the side of her arm, letting that glorious river of red blood run free as she felt its power flow through her veins, and she dropped it onto a bit of glass on the floor. In another moment, the glass that had shattered in perfectly sharpened bits began to hover in place. Normally, they wouldnât be enough to make a karkinoid flinch, but if she summoned them to her all in conjunction, and with a lot of muscle behind them. Well...theyâd see whether it worked or not. The only problem was at the center of this circle was Nell and Hideki. âWhen I say jump- jump. After three.â Then she began the countdown. â1...2âŠ3...Jump!â The glass shot inwards as her feet left the ground, doing its best to imaple anything that was in its path.
Hideki only rolled his eyes as the woman cursed at him. Well, at the very least she seemed to know her stuff. At this point heâd believe she was a hunter with the way that she handled that dagger⊠which was a terrifying thought he didnât dare to think that much harder on; the massive lobster in his mouth did not want to die. He was forced to let go of the creature as a massive claw clamped down where he had been standing on it just a second ago. Instead, he took a few paces back as the side of it that was the furthest from Nell burst into flames. Just in time for him to see her rip into her own arm. He let out at alarmed yip and ran towards her. Had the girl lost her mind? Things were dire, but not that dire! He was about to try and pull the dagger from her when he realized the glass was floating. Magic? Well⊠he had asked to see what she could do. Still, his ears pressed nervously to the back of his head as he circled anxiously, waiting on her count. On her command, he leaped, delicately tucking his tail to avoid any injury as the glass rushed forward. All he knew was that he did not want to be those karkinoids at the moment.Â
Generally, Nell wouldnât have resorted to magic if she could help it when in public, and in front of a man she didnât know all that wellâ but heâd shown his so it didnât seem all that bad to show herâs. Besides, she knew he wasnât a witch hunter...right? Sheâd never heard of a shifter being a witch-hunter. Well- it was too late now. This was much faster than dispatching them individually, anyway. She jumped on her own command along with Hideki, and the glass pieces impaled anything in their path, driving deep into the karkinoids. Her feet touched ground once more as the pieces of glass came to settle, the ones that hadnât come into contact with anything crunching under her shoes. The karkinoids had been considerably slowed, some of them dead in their tracks, though a couple still managed to crawl towards her and Hideki. âOne last one for you, and one for me?â she asked, a blood-thirsty grin on her face as she looked at the carnage of the overgrown lobsters theyâd wrought, and delicious adrenaline pumped through her veins.Â
Hideki landed delicately on his feet, doing his best to ignore the small shards of glass piercing his paws. The small pads on his feet had grown rough from long summer adventures in the mountains where heâd grown up in, but glass was a new sensation that he didnât ever want to experience again. Still, there were karkinoids to be grilled. He let out a tiny huff in response to her proposition. He took a step forward as though to launch himself at the remaining karkinoid heâd chosen, but let out a small whine as more glass stood in his way. He growled in indignation and set the whole damn creature on fire - perhaps a bit hotter than heâd intended. Still, the sound of sizzling karkinoid was confirmation enough that his part of the job was accomplished.
It took a moment for Nell to realize what was desparinging Hideki, but a little flash of guilt ran through her as she realized the problem. His paws. Sure, she had shoes to protect her feet, but he was working with just the skin of his feet. But it had occurred to her too late, and he was already dispatching his karkinoid, glass be damned. Meanwhile, she approached her own opponent. It had a couple shards of glass sticking out of its shell, but still seemed determined to fight until its last breath. Or at least...get to whatever food it had come here for to begin with. It was easy enough to dispatch the thing, and she did so by magicking one of the heavy looking trash cans over to it, before unceremoniously dropping it on top of the overgrown lobster with a loud crunch. âWell...I guess we canât eat that one.â Finally- there was silence in the shop, and she remembered Hidekiâs dilemma. âAre your um- feet alright? Sorry.â
Hideki jumped a little as the sound of the trash can landing on the karkinoid echoed around the once packed coffee shop. He sighed as he picked his way through the glass and back towards his discarded pants. He dragged them behind the counter, where he could shift without âinjuring her delicate natureâ. He slid his pants on with a quiet grunt, ignoring his bare chest for the time being as he pulled himself onto the coffee counter to examine his feet. âItâs alright. Considering how dangerous karkinoids can be, a little glass means nothing.â He tried to give her a reassuring smile but was keenly aware of the blood dripping from his hands and feet. âDo you ah⊠Would you please get me some paper towels? And a first aid kit? They must have one here somewhere.â
Nell was going to tell him to stay put, and to just let her clear the glass before he went wading through it, but it seemed she was too late as he disappeared behind the counter, and for a moment there was confusion on her face. Was he....hiding? But his emergence along with the pants made it easy enough to put two and two together. Still- perhaps it would have been better if she hadnât been staring when he came out from where heâd gone. She might call him old man but...lack of shirt consideredâ Hideki was decidedly...not old. In a moment she looked away, a bit embarrassed simply because she felt intrusive when he obviously hadnât meant to end up shirtless in a coffee shop. But her frown came back once more when he answered her, and she didnât hesitate to step closer, holding out an open and upturned palm that was demanding his hand. âLet me see. Iâm not the best healer, but I can get by usually. At least make it stop bleeding and keep you from dying of infection.â
The Kitsune blinked at her outstretched hand. He supposed after what theyâd just been through, a little truce was more than due. He placed his hand in hers, allowing her to examine at will with a soft smile on his face. âThat is⊠a relief. Most of my family were healers. It had become a bit of a tradition, so everyone was rather surprised when I was useless when it came to injuries. The fire comes in handy though.â He chuckled a little and nodded towards the burnt husks of the karkinoids. He was silent a moment as he deliberated. âPenelope⊠What was that back there?â
Nell knew that this was a bit...out of the ordinary for them, and it was rather strange to think that not fifteen minutes ago sheâd just thought of Hideki as some stuffy, college professor who lived to shame her about college and steal her muffins. But her brow furrowed as she worked, not in the nature of letting people suffer around her unless they deserved it as her small hands traced the air above his injuries. It was true what sheâd said about healing, and her work was slow as she did her best to patch up his hands. Though at the same time...blood injuries had always behaved well for her, it being easier for her to will the red droplets to cease, and bring those platelets together to scab over. The part that consisted of turning those scabs into new flesh was where she often ran into trouble. She couldnât help but pick up on his phrasing, and asked before she could think not to. âWere healers?â Nevertheless, the corner of her mouth turned upwards, certainly being able to relate to not holding up family traditions. âMy familyâs just the opposite. A bunch of fire elementals and I canât even make a puff of smoke.â She looked up from her paused work when she heard her name, even if she was still a little thrown that he tended to use her full one. âWhat was...what? The karkinoids? You said their name?â Heâd known what they were, hadnât he?
Well, Hideki had always admired Nell for her quick wit, though this was one of the few times he wished she hadnât caught on so easily to his slipping up. He continued to stare at her hands as she worked - it was a good distraction from the memories and emotions bubbling up. âWere healers,â was his simple response. He hoped that was enough to satisfy her and, thankfully, her slight joke was quick to bring his smile back, even if it was only a small one. âNo, not the karkinoids. Your abilities. I hate to assume things, but you are quite skilled and most certainly not a regular human. Call it⊠an old manâs curiosity.â
For the moment, it seemed that Nell had forgotten her own arm that sheâd cut open during the fight for her magical purposes, rather intent on fixing Hideki. Besides, she was used to parts of her bleeding, and as far as injuries went it wasnât that bad. But Nell knew a dismissal when she heard one, or ratherâ the shutting of a book Hideki didnât necessarily want her reading when it came to his family. She was curious, but she wouldn't pry at the moment. It was probably easier, anyway. Nell didnât think she was particularly good at helping people sort through emotions. âOh-â Despite herself, her pride granted her a bit of a smile as he called her skilled, and that grin widened as he took it upon himself to claim his âold manâ title. âIâm a witch,â she shrugged, as if it was everyday news. âA spellcaster, if thatâs easier for an old man to grasp. And youâre...a kitsune?â
âA witch?â Hideki echoed, gears turning in his mind. That made the most sense, but he was admittedly still wary of her. What kind of witch had knife skills like that? And blood magic? Clearly, its healing abilities had done him some good, but, as far as he understood it, blood magic was generally⊠disapproved of. Heâd need to do more research on the subject to be sure. Most concerning of all, was that he wasnât entirely convinced she wasnât a hunter. He did his best to keep his face calm as he weighed his options but mainly kept his gaze downcast. âA+, little witch,â the subtle insult made him chuckle as he finally met her eyes, his own glittering mischievously. âI am what is known as a Kasai - or Fire - Kitsune.â His Japanese accent slipped a little as the words from his native tongue rolled past his lips.Â
Nell wasnât sure what to make of his tone, feeling like something was shifting back into the territory they normally inhabited of tit for tat, and sizing one another up. Perhaps their momentary little truce was over? âYep,â she simply said, confused what other answer he might be looking for. âBlack cat and all. Pointy little hat for sure.â Well...the black cat comment wasnât entirely wrong. And then she was back to her impassioned outbursts as he hit just the right button. âWell we canât all be freakish giants!â But then she was coming down a little once more. âAnd your A+ isnât going to get me to enroll.â Kasai, she knew sheâd heard the word before when sheâd been talking with her kitsune friends sheâd met in Japan, but she hadnât stayed long enough to know all the types of kitsune and their names. âFunnily enough- I might have guessed the fire bit from the whole barbecue shrimp act. At least weâll eat well tonight, right?â Sheâd finished with his hands, and pointed to a nearby counter, indicating he should sit on it. âAlright, feet.â
Getting the desired rise out of her made him laugh. It wasnât his fault he was over a foot taller than her. Hideki shrugged his shoulders as she refused to enroll yet again. âPerhaps one day you will change your mind and prove to the rest of the professors that you could be a fantastic student.â He wiggled his eyebrows at her, knowing full well how âcringeyâ it may be. His students taught him that word the other day. He nodded, in agreement and slowly shifted a long leg up on the counter so she could have better access. âWe might as well open up a seafood restaurant. A one night, lobster-only buffet. It could be quite profitable if we play our cards right.â
Nellâs nose scrunched in her disapproval as she pushed out a hand to shove him lightly in the shoulder. âStop laughing! Short is normal!â But her face quickly shifted to entirely nonplussed, looking mildly concerned and perhaps disturbed at such movement of his eyebrows. âWhat was that?â But then her next reaction was to laugh a bit. âThat was terrifying. You should have done that at the karkinoids!â Her amusement was kindled by talk of a restaurant as she bent a bit to begin work on his feet. âOne-night while supplies last. We could be rich. Weâve already got the place and the health code...grade thingy,â she finished while pointing towards the window where the paper was posted.Â
âOh yes, Iâm quite certain my eyebrows would have stopped the karkinoids in their tracks,â Hideki mused, as he leaned back a bit, examining their surroundings. âI suppose⊠we really should donate any profits to the owners, though,â he said with a soft sigh. âI do hope the repairs to this building donât take too terribly long.â Hidekiâs apartment was only two blocks away and he stopped into Coffee Plus on his walks to school each morning. He knew he was fully capable of making his own coffee, but the mere thought of such inconvenience. Which reminded him⊠âWhatever happened to your muffin?â
âYou never know. Have you tried it?â As he leaned back her gaze shifted upwards for a moment to make sure he wasnât falling or something, and she was once again reminded of his lack of shirt. In a moment, she was floating his discarded cardigan towards them, it landing just beside him on the counter. âYeah...probably. This kind of thing isnât exactly uncommon here, though- you know?â Now that she thought about it, she realized she hadnât the faintest idea how long Hideki had lived in White Crest. âAre you upset for the owner, or your loss of coffee?â she teased. But at the very mention of her muffin, her eyes widened in the slightest, her lips uttering a mournful cry of, âMy muffin.â She didnât spare a second to summon that too, though her pout only strengthened as it came into view. It was in miserable shape, and was there a....bit of karkinoid shell sticking out of it? âMy muffin,â she repeated again, this time it being more of an acceptance of the poor thingâs fate. âI guess...would you like a bit of it now? I might be able to share.â
Any kind of response was lost on him as his precious cardigan came floating into view. Sure, he was rather accustomed to magic considering his upbringing, but making things float was not something his family members were generally capable of. He watched like a fascinated child until it finally came to land beside him. âThank you,â he muttered as he pulled his sweater back on. Hideki purposefully refused to answer her question, though; he was definitely only upset about the coffee, but he wasnât about to genuinely admit that. The muffin floating still surprised him and he watched as she examined it. âShare?â Bewildered, he stared at her for a moment before laughing. âNo, I think we should leave it as inspiration for our dessert menu instead.â With his hands and feet nearly cared for, he finally stopped joking around and leaned forward. âHowever, I think we should focus our priorities on your arm instead of our faux restaurant. Are you⊠able to heal yourself? Would you like me to fetch you some bandages?â
Nell watched with some amusement as he seemed to be all too eager to have his cardigan back, though she did not more than shrug in response to his thanks. A small, non-verbal motion that simply meant âdonât mention itâ. But she also wasnât going to let him get away that easy with avoiding her teasing question. âHmm, your silence is awfully telling. Donât you think?â She wouldnât judge though. At least not right now. Her own chuckle peppered through the air as he seemed mystified by the muffin. âOh- come on. Iâm being so generous, and this is the thanks I get?â As he shifted his posture, again she looked up, surprised to find that he was closer than before. âI- what?â Oh her arm. âOh, donât worry about it. It kinda comes with the territory.â Nevertheless, this time a small pile of bandages appeared from seemingly thin air on the counter, Nell having magicked them here from home. Suddenly, she was hit with a small wave of fatigue. Perhaps sheâd done one too many spells in quick succession after the glass stunt, but she brushed it off. After all, healing generally took more out of her than other magics. âIâll just put them on in a bit. Magical healing isnât always as prudent for me.â Sheâd healed her sacrificial wounds before, the ones she made in exchange for power, but sometimes doing so had...unexpected consequences. It seemed that something in magic didnât always approve of healing something that was meant to be freely given in exchange for power so quickly. Perhaps it felt cheated. âThank you, though,â she said, remembering her manners at the last moment. After all, it was nice of him to ask.
âWhen you get to be my age, you learn quickly where your loyalties lie. Mine just so happen to belong to a caffeine addiction,â Hideki finally admitted with a quiet but knowing laugh. Nell was right in that things like this just⊠happened in White Crest. Heâd been there about a year and a half and had learned that lesson quite quickly. The sudden appearance of the bandages on the counter startled him, making him jump. He scrutinized them as though they might come alive, and then he scrutinized her calm demeanor. She wasnât acting as though anything were out of place⊠so it mustâve been her doing. He relaxed and turned his gaze to his palms, where he experimentally made a fist. The scabbing would restrict a bit of his movements, but he figured his fine motor skills werenât too impaired. âCome now, little witch. No need to be stubborn over a simple fix.â He leaned forward - proving himself to be quite flexible - as he gently took her by the elbow of the injured arm and led her towards him for better access. He examined the gash and plucked the bandages off the counter. âI may not have the magical ability to heal, but Iâve cleaned my fair share of wounds.â
Nellâs head tilted to the side, realizing that along with him being a kitsune, she really didnât know how old he was. âAre you admitting to being an old man, in the same breath as being willing to do anything for coffee?â She was teasing, but also genuinely curious about an answer to her first question. Trying to remember back to the rush of the fight...she couldnât recall staring at any tails he may or may not have, but she didnât think thereâd been a plethora. Nell shouldnât have been amused by startling him with the bandages, but another small grin slipped over her lips nonetheless. Sheâd have to warn him next time. âHowâs it feel?â she asked, craning her head a bit to try and get a look at his hands. Be careful though, I donât want you to open up the scabs.â She grumbled a bit over her apparent new nickname that heâd settled on. Apparently he was determined to make it stick. But her barbs were lowered for a moment when she realized what he was doing, and let herself be brought closer. Still, she was uncertain, mind still decently confused about how theyâd gotten from swiping muffins to this. âI- um- alright.â Perhaps the first time she hadnât fought him on something. âThanks.â
Hideki made a soft humming sound as he contemplated his answer. âBy human standards, I am very much an âold manâ, but, in the eyes of the ancient ones, I am still a baby.â He winked knowingly and set about the task of cleaning and bandaging up her arm. His touch was gentle, but a bit clumsy with how he couldnât fully bend his fingers. It didnât help that his hands were shaking again. He frowned as he realized he hadnât eaten anything⊠again. When was his last meal? Heâd had⊠a bowl of rice for dinner two nights ago? No wonder. His brow furrowed as he concentrated, willing his muscles to comply until he could scavenge something up. âTheyâre a little stiff, but I should be just fine, thank you.â Despite his shaking fingers, he tied off the bandages with a practiced ease. With his immediate concern appropriately addressed, he finally noticed the scarring that undoubtedly came from her magic. He made a mental note but decided it would be best if he simply⊠didnât ask. âNow then⊠I vote we find my shoes and get out of here,â he muttered as he wiggled his feet, testing their new flexibility too.
Nell let out a hum of amusement before she simply said, âBaby, old man,â still having no qualms with poking some fun at him. âThat explains a decent amount, though.â Like why he literally sounded like heâd come out of a different century at times. But she stilled as he went about his work, watching curiously as he did what he promised. She couldnât...entirely remember the last time sheâd let someone help this way. It seemed different than letting the healers at the Ring heal her, and she didnât even always let them do their work. Her frown joined his as she watched his hands tremor, and she didnât waste time to ask, âYouâre sure youâre alright?â Yes, shoes would be a good idea. Despite her wave of fatigue earlier, she didnât hesitate to call the shoes to them, as she was fairly certain she could at least handle this one other thing for the moment. âShould we see if it fits, Cinderella?â she asked, presenting them to him.Â
The Kitsune only nodded in response to her question, not wanting to have her worry over him. While he undoubtedly enjoyed her presence, there were some things he still needed to work out about her - such as whether or not she might be a genuine threat. He was slowly getting accustomed to things just floating towards him, but it didnât stop his eyes from going wide as he watched. âAh yes, my good prince. Let us see,â he laughed and held up his foot, but the laughter died in his throat as the sound of distant sirens started getting closer. Hideki paled as he looked around the destroyed coffee shop. Of course, the police would be on their way. His eyes met Nellâs for a beat and he opened his mouth, but the words refused to come out. All he could communicate was panic. He snatched the shoes and slid across the counter, bolting through the kitchen door and out of the emergency exit as fast as his legs could carry him. He didnât even bother to pull his hair from his face as he sprinted down the block, completely bypassing his apartment and heading for the woods. For familiar territory. For safety.Â
Hm. Nell wasnât sure how satisfied she was with his nod, but sheâd have to take it for now. They needed to get out of this mess. She laughed before leaning over to help him get his shoes on, but it seemed she wouldnât get the chance to see if the slipper fit. In another moment, sheâd heard the sirens as well, and cursed lightly. âShit.â She doubted the police would blame them for this, but you never knew who might become the scapegoat in a town such as White Crest. But Hidekiâs panic held her captive for a moment, making her want to reach out and take the reins when it came to getting out of this. No sooner had she thought such a thing was he bolting for the door in a way that only raised more questions for her. Nell ran after him for a moment, but didnât get all that far from the shop before she stumbled onto the pavement her shaky legs giving out for a moment as the cost of her magic left her less coordinated than usual. And by the time she looked up he was long gone, nothing but a single shoe left in his wake.
[pm] Good afternoon, Ms. Harlow. I am sorry to bother you but I should very much like to clear up any misunderstandings that may have occurred between us. Are there any particular offerings you enjoy? Thank you.
@hidekikitsune
[pm] Well, from my observations, all I saw was murderer. How was I supposed to know it was a load of poo, dear. But, as the children say these days, âMy Badâ.Â
I apologize for trying to make Blanche drop your class, you know, she quite enjoys it.Â
Oh! Offerings. Thatâs sweet. Give my granddaughter the grade she deserves, and Iâll be satisfied.Â
[pm] I appreciate your apology, madam. I admit I was quite distressed - she is one of my favorite students and is a true pleasure to teach.
There is no need to worry over that. With how brilliant she is, I am sure her grades will remain at the top of the class. I am still happy to set a fresh bowl of rice aside for you. Does incense bring you joy? I could burn some for you as well.Â
   I thought you mightâŠenjoy this. (: For obvious reasons. Go have fun and do something I would do. You deserve it after our coffee shop outing.Â
Ever since Hideki first discovered The Archive, he had become addicted to the little shop. He was the annoying customer who insisted on thumbing through the copy to ensure that it was in good enough condition for his standards. He ended up blowing a couple of paychecksâ worth of money the first few times he had entered so, he had forced himself to start budgeting for his visits. He allowed himself $500 a month to spend on his arcane books... else he might get in trouble with his landlords again.
The young kitsune was scouring the bookshelf in front of him, his hands running over their spines carefully. He could have sworn he had spotted a copy of a limited-edition text on the alchemical usage of herbs native to the North Eastern United States last month, but it hadnât been a priority just then. He was going to be terribly disappointed if someone had gotten to it before him. He muttered under his breath as he pulled out yet another copy that he already owned. His poor apartment was more of a library than a living space at this point.Â
The past could never be changed. Carrington knew that better than he knew his own name. And he also knew that some things could never be forgiven. Or left behind. And while Carrington didnât believe that Hideki needed to ask forgiveness for anything, he would never stop the other man - or anyone - from seeking it if they felt the need. For someone as proud as the kitsune, Carrington knew it wasnât a decision made lightly.Â
Neither was his own, as he sank to his knees before Hideki. He should have done more. He should have pushed harder. Been more insistent. Been faster, more efficient in killing the hunters. But he hadnât been. The numbers heâd taken down were staggering, but he had been strong and well-fed that day. And more than determined to see every single hunter die at the end of his blade or at his hand.Â
When Hideki sat up, Carrington did as well, but whatever he had expected to see in the otherâs man expression, it wasnât what he found. Tears born from a fiercely burning anger and pain so deep that Carrington could feel it vibrating in the air between them, streamed down Hidekiâs cheeks. It struck Carrington into silence, and the words that followed kept him there. His questions were answered without being asked. And for a moment, Carrington wished they hadnât been. Not simply because everything he had done all those years ago had meant nothing. Or even because innocent men, women, and children had suffered and died because of it. That was his failure. And it always would be. In some way at least.Â
But all that paled in comparison - perhaps through Carringtonâs time and distance from them - to what had happened to the man knelt before him. How must he feelâŠÂ
âThen I will never ask for it again,â Carrington said gently of forgiveness. âBut I will make you a promise, if youâll allow it. I know it will not bring your grandfather back, or your people, and it may not bring you any peace at all, but one day I promise IÂ will go back there, and every Saito that still lives will wish they did not.â He reached out slowly, fingertips brushing Hidekiâs arm in a touch too feather-light to be human.Â
âYour heart deserves peace as well, little fox. Though perhapsâŠâ Carrington blinked and looked back to the sand, to the dual impressions their hands had left. âPerhaps we must first forgive ourselvesâŠâÂ
 Â
Hideki didnât dare meet the other manâs gaze after his outburst. He trembled in the night air, feeling much like a child still. He had always been the baby of the family. Despite being over seventy years old, he knew he still had much growing to do. He was far from growing a second tail. Despite that, he knew that he should be more mature; to lose his temper like this in front of a practical stranger...
Even so, the vampire knew more about him than most other beings in White Crest. Perhaps that was why he didnât shy away from the otherâs gentle gesture. He swallowed hard, keeping his eyes on the grains of sand in front of him.Â
âYou offer me vengeance?â His voice had returned to its usual soft tones, tears finally beginning to subside. âI have... dreamed of it in moments of weakness.â There were some nights where he could practically hear his great grandfather roaring for vengeance, the old manâs warrior spirit driving him to seek blood, if only for honorâs sake. âTell me, hunter of hunters, why would you offer my family this kindness? What compels you still?â
Hideki was silent a moment as he considered the otherâs proposal. He slowly shook his head ânoâ, his loose hairs fluttering from the soft movement. âI fear... I fear that is something I am not capable of yet. My soul is... still uneasy.â
âPerhaps,â Carrington nodded as the kitsune mentioned luck. He wasnât sure he believed in such notions, but either way the fact remained that Carrington had survived that night, where so many others had not. He had survived, and been forced, once again, to leave a place he had come to love. A place he could have stayed for a long time. But such was his life, and it would always be.Â
As Hideki continued, the vampire was filled with a strange sensation. Not regret, for he never regretted taking the lives of those that harmed the innocent. But more like⊠shame, perhaps? For fleeing as he had. For not stopping more of them before they set fire to the mountainside. Destroying an entire village just to try and find one man. Was Carringtonâs life worth that? Perhaps he shouldâve given himself up. Perhaps then-Â
But no. The past was done. There was no use in thinking in what ifs. At his age, it would quickly drive him mad. Though perhaps he deserved that as well. âYou were a child,â Carrington said quietly. âForced to grow up before your time. Forced to fight a war you never asked to be a part of. A war your people never asked to be a part of.â He turned his eyes back to the other man as he spoke of what the village had become. A huff of disdain echoed in the air at the humans Hideki spoke of. âVultures, the lot. Always ready to make a profit off the suffering of others.âÂ
But Carrington heard the bitterness in Hidekiâs laughter, and felt the sentiment right along with him. He didnât follow as the kitsune stepped away, nor was he surprised. His presence was mostly likely unsettling. Or unwanted. He merely watched the kitsune as he seemed to war with something inside himself. The scattered words gave Carrington an idea of what it might be. And Carrington knew he deserved punishment for what heâd done to the kitsuneâs family. Even if heâd done everything in his limited power to avoid bloodshed.
But what happened next was something that Carrington had not expected. As Hideki went to his knees in the sand, Carrington felt a shuddering tightness in his chest. If his heart was capable of beating, it might very well have stopped right then and there. Never in his life had Carrington expected this. An apology. From a man who had seen the deaths of so many of his people at Carringtonâs hand. A hand that had had no choice, but still the fact remained that the vampire had blood on his hands. Blood of hunters and kitsune alike.Â
And yet here was Hideki, son of Takahiro, prostrating himself at Carringtonâs feet. His first instinct was to pull the man to his feet and tell him there was no need for apology. But that would have been disrespectful in the extreme. Kitsune were proud and honorable creatures, and Carrington knew that. So even if he believed there was no need for an apology from the kitsune, Carrington swallowed his own pride and sank to his knees before Hideki.Â
âI humbly accept the apology of the Inoue, and offer my forgiveness, so that peace may once rest in their hearts.â Simple words, Carrington knew, but he meant every one. He didnât blame the kitsune for that day, but when peaceful people are driven to war, that war is always there, always with them, no matter how many years had passed. Though the same could be said for most whoâd experienced such horrors.Â
But this was about Hideki and his people, brave and proud and as ancient as the world they lived in. So when it was appropriate, Carrington bowed his own head. The sand was cold against his skin as he repeated the humble gesture of the kitsune. âAnd I offer my own apology to you, Hideki, son of Takahiro, and your people. For my failure in saving you from those that would harm you.â Carrigtonâs throat felt tight, but he pushed past the discomfort. âFor my failure in setting you free. I ask forgiveness for the blood I spilled, for the lives I could not save, and for the loss of your home.âÂ
Hideki didnât dare lift his head, even when he saw the other manâs hands touching the sand in front of him. The foreignerâs actions left him stunned; he had never thought someone might return the gesture. Hideki wasnât worthy of it. He gritted his teeth, his forefingers digging deeper into the sand below him.
His great grandfather had always told him that a manâs honor lay in knowing when to admit their wrongdoings, but to always do so with pride. Here he was, knelt in the sand in front of a man who had offered them peace so many decades ago. He should be ashamed, but he desperately clung to the thought that maybe, if they had heeded his warning, everything would be different. He would be home. His great grandfather would have died in peace. Everything would be okay again.
The tears were falling before he could stop them. There was no honor in this. There was only a broken man trying to find some sort of comfort to cling to after years of burying it all under his work. Carrington offered forgiveness. His words ran through Hidekiâs head like a tape loop. âSo that peace may once rest in their heartsâ. Their hearts. Their hearts.
The second Carrington began speaking again, Hideki sat back on his heels as he listened to the immortalâs own offering. âFailure?â He repeated, his voice thick with emotion. âFailure.â The kitsune shook his head, hardly able to process what had just happened. A bitter laugh escaped him before he had the chance to corral it. âI have no forgiveness to offer you, immortal,â he hissed, tears still streaming down his cheeks. âThe fault lies not with you, but with them.â He pointed towards the West, his hand shaking. âThe Saito have taken everything from us. Great grandfather was dying, our numbers were waning, and I had left for America; the Saito slaughtered them. It was not your blade that ripped their pelts from their flesh, nor was it your hand that received payment for their agony.â Hideki paused, screwing his eyes shut, trying to regain what little control he still had. âI... have nothing to offer to a man who rightfully sought to protect himself. You warned us of our alliesâ true nature yet we still hunted you. There is no need to forgive self-defense.âÂ
Has anyone heard any more information on the whole âfish falling from the sky and magic chests are making people cold and how do we stop this nonsenseâ front?Â
I know I rarely leave my house but i think iâm starting to get cabin fever
I have heard nothing, but I desperately wish for it to come to an end. My apartment reeks of fish. No amount of fabric softener will remove the scent from my favorite scarf. Were I not bound by my profession, I would remain home until this insanity blew over.
