#apparihtion

[osaumu]

the first words spoken in the hours they had spent seemingly spent trapped with one another. the door leading from the infirmary to the freedom of the outside world was unlocked, of course, and either of them were free to leave at any moment, but the task had been given for dazai to watch izanami. that was it. to use his ability to stop them if she made any further moves to attack another innocent civilian. he assumed it was as boring for them as he found it, and he'd taken to lounging in one of the chairs next to the bed, legs propped up against the footboard. the complete suicide open in his lap, but words had ceased to make sense around the sixth hour, instead dazai found looking at the diagrams most intriguing.

@apparihtion : okay , i'm sensing some major hostility here .

“ whaaaat? nooooo. ” words spoken with a gentle frown, tone low in his throat, mordacity dripping. “ only, while i drew the short straw in babysitting you, you've interfered with my plans. there's a mysterious and beautiful woman somewhere out there, waiting, wondering, about to realise she's been stood up! ” oh, the tragedy of it! of course, the option existed for dazai to contact her and, you know — tell her something had come up. nah, she'd get it. she thought his nudge towards the prospect of an elegant and soul - binding double suicide had been a joke, so maybe she wasn't the one, after all. even so. he slumped further into his chair, words forming around a juvenile pout. “ the one time i am here, you don't do anything interesting. did kunikida put you up to this? no, he wouldn't even get to see the pay - off . . . ugghhhh. ”

[chuyua]

manipulation and mind games were not chuuya's forte, much less something he genuinely wanted to dedicate his craft to. he wasn't recruited for his intellect — not that he was lacking, but his strengths rested in his literal powers, his ability to use force as needed. the pretty words and fancy language just simply came second, the strategizing a part of his methodology but what more did he need when he held the world in his fingertips if he really wanted to ? he wasn't rough on the edges as much as that reputation had built around him, at least not in the manner most would have assumed. he was knowledgeable about the stupid, tiny utensils on the table before him and the precise name and age of the wine they'd poured for them. the quiet elegance of the restaurant posed a different environment than he'd typically carry out his tasks in.

@apparihtion : ❛  maybe  it’s  not …  ACTUALLY  all  that  bad .  ❜

gloved hand swirling the wine with practiced ease, brought to his face just to embrace its aroma. oceans flickered towards her with mirth, brow quirked, “ it's pretty fuckin' bad, not gonna lie to ya. ” glass brought to his lips, he took a sip before placing it down on the table, nudging the edge of his hat with his knuckles to allow for more space. “ your predicament, i mean. actually workin' with us won't be because you'll be one of our own, but. ” tongue clicked over the roof of his mouth. “ that's assumin' you join us. otherwise y'got every organization out here gunnin' for ya. i'm here as a courtesy. could be much more violent than this but i didn't wanna miss the grand opening. ” head nodded in their direction. “ how's the bread ? ”

[punchlien]

i would kill myself before helping in such a task .

" okay, dramatic, jeez. " the dark haired girl widened her eyes for emphasis before she jumped off her perch on the window sill and landed smoothly in front of the other. she bounced in her spot, all pent up energy and no where to release it except on unwilling civilians like the woman she had cornered in the alley. " all i said was maybe you can help me distract old baldy over there while i sneak into his store. and maaaaaybe i put it out there that you could flash him some skin to get his attention, but i think that was a solid plan ! " she shrugged as if the suggestion were as simple as stealing candy from a baby.

" not to be cliche or anything, but you've kinda left me no choice. " in quick succession she slipped twin daggers out of their holsters. " should've just killed yourself. " she whispered wryly under her breathe before thrusting a dagger into the girl's thigh. as quick as she had revealed her weapons, she hid the spare one. her cruel features morphed into innocent doe eyes and panic as she screamed toward's the shop owner still on his smoke break. " help ! help ! oh my god, she needs help ! "

[chioso]

‘actually, I’m feeling fine. better than. I feel wonderful. I feel like roses and sunshine and glitter.’

“ okay. ” this person is strange. that is the first thing that came to mind upon being in their presence, their existence so peculiar to him that he wasn't sure what to say or do most times. he wasn't oblivious though, having caught onto the energy that exuded from her like identifying a kindred spirit. not quite the same, but not quite so different. he could see how the others looked at them, how they seemed to dance along a shaky tight - rope. he'd yet to discern it a factor of fear or something else entirely, the same way one would treat nearly discovered weapon unchaperoned. and he'd still yet to understand whatever gravitational pull he'd felt towards her. he hadn't felt something like it before. had to have been a warning sign, but he wouldn't act on his offenses just yet. kitchen cabinet closes with a natural thud, the single overhead light illuminating their silhouettes in the night. he was pouring himself a bowl of cereal, milk in a separate glass. he heard it made a simple, easy snack. the random sensation had struck him as he attempted to sleep — hunger, he learned. how interesting. brows furrowed as he revisited her response. “ you weren't being serious. ” a question veiled as a statement. “ you don't look like someone who'd feel like ... roses and sunshine and glitter. ”

[chioso]

‘it’s all a matter of perspective.’

before him laid a graveyard that expanded so far beyond his imagination, building lights flickering and trembling with aftershocks, the flames still burning despite the hours passing. it was louder now, different than the screams of terror but rather screams of horror and grief, confusion among sorcerers and non - sorcerers alike. it echoed in his mind, reminiscent of the ache that swelled within him over the loss of his brothers, a phantom pain that had yet to dissipate. cursed spirit or human ? what part of his nature was driving such cruel suffering in the form of emotions ? “ what other perspective would that be ? ” perhaps he knew what she'd say, what they'd suggest. but he had no space for it. digits clung to the side of the thick material clothed over this vessel, this body — though, it was his now, wasn't it ? dark gaze fixed upon her, stepping over what must have been a pile of ashes. “ the order was already set. i won't let them execute my younger brother. ”

[kasumies]

i'm going back for them. you stay here.

bitter weakness plagues the tongue that should know better than to speak back to her superiors... it is an age old story: there has never been another way of telling it, not when it was written in flesh about girls like her (not when it always had been and always would be a story of obedience). miwa knows her place well. she knows the strength of the blade and the weakness of her body. she knows the strength of listening and the weakness of disobeying. she knows the strength of others-- when she is told to stay, she yields like a good dog [ or perhaps today has been enough: blood - soaked, crime - soaked, murder - soaked . . . even well - trained pups must sometimes bite the hand that tries to protect them ].

' i won't hold you back. ' her tongue knows those words better than her own name: it is too easy to apologise for her lack. she wonders, as she often does, if today will be the day she dies. she hopes that her friends attend her funeral, but that they don't let mourning consume them (she has picked out the dress she will be buried in-- it doesn't hurt to be prepared . . . and what a burden it would be if her mother had to decide these things for her after her only daughter had passed). ' but my friends are in there. todo - kun is in there. he wouldn't leave me to die. ' her nod is determined: if no one else will take off her muzzle, perhaps she shall learn to do so herself. but first she must ask permission. ' please, let me come with you. '

[1sugnru]

‘fine, yeah, it’s stupid, right? you caught me.’

suguru had heard about her, the entire school vibrating with the anticipation of their arrival. he had been one of few who didn't crowd the gates and the halls just to catch a glimpse of them. he had read enough books littered with with the visage of the lowly regarded curse user that he was sure, if the rumours were true, he wouldn't need to confirm it for himself. it wasn't until he wandered the halls in search of shoko that he saw izanami for the first time, nose almost pressed against the mirror and the door to her room wide open. she saw him and bristled, their question pointed. it caused him to tip his head in answer, lips down - turned and shoulders lifting in nonchalant reply. “ you're wondering if you truly share a resemblance to them. ” it wasn't a question — children would be told they resembled their parents with a gentle fondness, words warm and well - meaning. suguru imagined being told you bore a striking resemblance to a figure that sorcerers had damned for centuries left only silence and bitterness in its wake. “ it's not stupid to wonder. i can only imagine there's little flattery to be taken in being told who you look like. ”