[ultimateropebunny]

Why, hello there. Welcome to my low effort introductory post~

literate multi para danganronpa roleplayer with 11 years of writing experience

mun is 28 and writes korekiyo so it goes without saying.. minors DNI!!

yes i know my url is silly but everything related to ultimate anthropologist was taken

open to crossovers, AUs, shipping, smut and writing with OCs

i LOVE angst mixed with a little fluff to even things out

i am extremely down for fucked up, toxic ships. BUT i draw the line at incest (hahahahaha yeah i know), huge age gaps, teacher/student or other things along those lines, and shipping kids with literally anyone.

i don't have many triggers but if our rp heavily involves drugs or addiction i may need to take breaks

if i find out you lied to me about your age i will block AND warn other roleplayers about you

this is a sideblog. i follow from @facingthetruth

please do not harass me for replies, i promise i will get back to you eventually. however, feel free to reach out if its been more than a day or two with no warning, as i sometimes miss notifications.

if our writing styles don't mesh well or i get bored, i will let you know and i hope you will extend me the same courtesy.

[ultimateropebunny]

Walking weird?

This girl must have spent the majority of her life apologizing for absolutely everything. It made him pity her, like she was some sort of vulnerable creature left to fend for herself in the wilderness. But maybe that was just a part of that lurking predatory nature he had sensed earlier.. making herself seem small and needy to get closer to her prey. But really.. what could she do to him? He, who had a good foot on her in height. Probably natural masculine strength that could overpower her easily. He would be fine.

Korekiyo did his best to avert his eyes from the graveyard as they passed by it, but his heart seemed to stop for just a moment. It wasn't until the cemetery was behind them that he realized he had been holding his breath. It was hard to remember how to breathe normally for a second or two.

"I must ask you.." He smiled beneath his mask. "What is your preferred cuisine? I can take you anywhere you like. My treat." Truthfully, he was not short on money. He had inherited some from the family when.. she died. And he made a decent amount of income from his work in anthropology. A lot of his trips were paid for.

[heraid]

a   lot   of   emotions.   more   than   she   could   detail   or   describe   or   even   attribute   meaning   to   /   coursing   through   her   beneath   the   thin   veneer   of   a   pleasant,   soft   -   faced   demeanor.   indescribable   heaviness   in   her   chest,   as   though   she   knows   what   impends,   same   end   to   the   story   she'd   seen   through   to   completion   tenfold.   what   could   he   do   to   her   ?   she,   in   her   ideological   schema   of   fragility,   side   by   side   with   a   man   that   could   be   too   many   parts   no   good,   gentle   cruelty   beneath   a   mask   (   figurative   /   literal   )   of   pleasantry.

a   smile.   she'd   never   been   taken   out   to   eat   before.   ❝   a-   ah   !   i   .   .   .   hmm.   ❞   some   parts,   machinations   of   she,   whirring   together   into   an   intensive   thought   process.   ❝   i   like   h-   healthy   things   .   .   .   but   i'll   eat   anything   !   even   if   your   food   falls   on   the   floor,   i   c-   can   feast   on   that   !   i'd   hate   for   any   food   to   go   to   waste   !   ❞   strange   flush   -   faced   desperation   for   something   so   degrading.   vile   girl.   ❝   so   .   .   .   we   can   go   anywhere   you   want   to   !   ❞   altruism   or   a   weak   ploy   at   gauging   more   of   korekiyo,   his   likes,   dislikes,   things   of   which   brought   him   pleasure   or   joy   ?

her   behavior   remained   soft,   pleasant,   slight   skewing   of   her   head   as   though   she   were   an   inquisitive   pup.   mikan   felt   no   shame   at   the   incessancy   of   her   babbling.   it   felt   like   the   most   divine   of   blessings   to   have   her   words   be   heard,   understood,   valued   by   someone   like   him.

[ultimateropebunny]

"Of course." His eyes were full of respect. "A preference for healthy foods reflects your skill as a nurse. After all, how could you take care of the health of others if you are not nourishing yourself properly? As expected of a medical professional of your caliber."

These sorts of conversations were easy for him to engage in. He could get a good read on someone's personality and worldview just by learning small pieces of information about them such as which foods they most enjoyed or what authors they were most often reading.

It was another story when she started offering to eat food off of the floor to make him happy. This piqued his interest immensely, stirring his own inner darkness. He could feel it rising within him like a venomous snake, eager to bite.

No. No, not again. Leave that lifestyle behind. You will only get hurt. You will only hurt others. Nobody will ever love you the same way that you love. It is impossible. Most humans are simply incapable of that sort of devotion. It's not their fault. Don't go there. Not with her.

"You've no need to do something like that." He chuckled, trying to sound as normal as possible so she wouldn't know that something so taboo had just flustered him. "We will go somewhere with enough plates for the both of us. Actually.." His eyes narrowed as he contemplated. "We're rather close to my place. I could make you something for dinner, if you like."

[ultimateropebunny]

"Please, it's no trouble. I don't have anything to do tonight, anyway." He smirked a bit under his mask, raising a palm to rest on the side of his face. "Though.. I would understand if you opted to reject my offer. We may be former classmates, but I am essentially just a strange man who asked you out for a date. I could be a serial killer, for all you know." His tone was playful, but part of him still hoped that maybe she would be put off by him enough to just leave him be so he could back out now before he got in too deep with this girl.

Still.. The mere idea of it all lifted his spirits. He was doing something for a change. Not just something. He was going out with a woman. A woman who wasn't her. Oh, how she would forbid it. Even if they were just going out as friends. It was an act of rebellion he would never have dared commit if she were still alive. Even now, he almost feared he would be haunted by her ghost. That somehow she would still manage to ruin his evening from her grave.

[heraid]

what's   the   worst   that   can   happen   to   a   girl   who's   already   hurt   ?   a   dismissive   head   shake   is   offered   to   his   words.   ❝   it-   it's   okay,   ❞   said   mikan,   focused   in   her   lumbering   walk   by   korekiyo's   side.   ❝   but   .   .   .   i'll   h-   have   to   ask   for   your   forgiveness   if   i'm   walking   weird.   i've   .   .   .   n-   never   walked   with   anyone   like   this   before.   ❞   she's   used   to   being   relegated   to   some   sort   of   mutt,   left   to   trail   behind   the   group,   always   the   odd   one   out.

though   this   .   .   .   felt   different.   this   was   not   abject   terror   consoled   by   the   means   of   engaging   with   a   stranger.   all   terror   had   melted   away   as   the   two   had   their   voyage   pass   the   graveyard,   no   longer   prey   to   the   hairs   standing   on   end   at   her   nape,   no   unease   compressing   her   chest.   comfort,   comfort,   comfort.   comfort   that   impales   its   hooks   into   all   that   she   can   manage   in   the   name   of   obsession   —   the   simplest   of   kindnesses   spared   to   her   being   the   onset   of   the   most   depraved   of   infatuations.

for   now,   all   she   can   do   is   offer   a   weak   smile.

[ultimateropebunny]

Walking weird?

This girl must have spent the majority of her life apologizing for absolutely everything. It made him pity her, like she was some sort of vulnerable creature left to fend for herself in the wilderness. But maybe that was just a part of that lurking predatory nature he had sensed earlier.. making herself seem small and needy to get closer to her prey. But really.. what could she do to him? He, who had a good foot on her in height. Probably natural masculine strength that could overpower her easily. He would be fine.

Korekiyo did his best to avert his eyes from the graveyard as they passed by it, but his heart seemed to stop for just a moment. It wasn't until the cemetery was behind them that he realized he had been holding his breath. It was hard to remember how to breathe normally for a second or two.

"I must ask you.." He smiled beneath his mask. "What is your preferred cuisine? I can take you anywhere you like. My treat." Truthfully, he was not short on money. He had inherited some from the family when.. she died. And he made a decent amount of income from his work in anthropology. A lot of his trips were paid for.

[ultimateropebunny]

"Is that so?" He questioned with a tilt of his head. When he thought about it, it wasn't all that surprising. He had done his fair share of research and exploration of the extremely varied medical practices around the world. It would make sense that someone who specialized in the medical field would also take in interest in that area of anthropology. How was he to know that wasn't what she was referring to?

"If you think about it, there really is something in anthropology for everyone. Everything we do as humans is anthropological by nature. Medical procedures, language, food, music, folklore.. simply existing." This is just another reason he enjoys it so much. If he keeps talking about this, he might not stop.

Maybe spending time with someone else in a casual manner would be good for him.. maybe it would be a terrible mistake. But you never know if you don't try, right?

"Come, I'll treat you to dinner. We have much to discuss if we plan to get to know each other, yes? I should probably eat something with substance anyhow." He beckoned for her to walk with him. What was he thinking? He had no idea. This was certainly bound to end in chaos, like everything else in his life. But oh, how he longed to feel alive again. And to walk in the opposite direction of the cemetery ahead..

[heraid]

mikan   felt   a   warm   radiance   ripple   throughout   her   as   she   took   in   korekiyo's   words   ;   it   was   nice   to   hear   him   talk   so   much.   most   of   his   responses   to   her   prattling   had   been   minimal   at   best,   and   there   was   a   refined   nature   to   his   speech   that   she   found   herself   engrossed   by.   it   felt   like   a   reward   for   the   expenditure   of   all   her   learned   behaviors   in   interacting   with   people   :   congratulations,   you   won   !   you've   made   the   right   choices   in   this   interaction   !

❝   d-   dinner   ?!   ❞   she   repeated,   a   sudden   shyness   washing   over   her.   pickiness   and   intricacies   within   mikan's   diet   left   her   fearful   of   food   -   related   gatherings,   but   if   it   was   dinner   he   wanted,   dinner   was   what   they   would   have.   licking   at   her   lips   to   regain   some   semblance   of   confidence,   mikan   then   offered   an   enthusiastic   nod.

❝   y-   you   don't   have   to   treat   me   .   .   .   i   w-   would   hate   to   be   a   burden   on   you   when   i'm   the   one   that   wanted   to   be   friends   !   ❞   a   sad   truth   to   admit   no   one   had   ever   treated   her   to   dinner   ?   and,   in   fact,   no   one   had   ever   taken   her   to   dinner   without   the   expectation   that   she   would   pay   for   it   all   ?

but,   putting   all   uncertainty   and   fearfulness   aside,   she   walked   at   his   side.

[ultimateropebunny]

"Please, it's no trouble. I don't have anything to do tonight, anyway." He smirked a bit under his mask, raising a palm to rest on the side of his face. "Though.. I would understand if you opted to reject my offer. We may be former classmates, but I am essentially just a strange man who asked you out for a date. I could be a serial killer, for all you know." His tone was playful, but part of him still hoped that maybe she would be put off by him enough to just leave him be so he could back out now before he got in too deep with this girl.

Still.. The mere idea of it all lifted his spirits. He was doing something for a change. Not just something. He was going out with a woman. A woman who wasn't her. Oh, how she would forbid it. Even if they were just going out as friends. It was an act of rebellion he would never have dared commit if she were still alive. Even now, he almost feared he would be haunted by her ghost. That somehow she would still manage to ruin his evening from her grave.

[ultimateropebunny]

This was so.. odd.

Even with her declarations of merely wanting something as innocent as friendship, Korekiyo could not help but feel perturbed.

She resembled his lover abuser so much, it gave him the creeps. Maybe he was simply projecting his trauma onto this girl who had nothing to do with it whatsoever, which was completely unfair to her. But it wasn't his fault either. It wasn't his fault that his undeniable attraction to her made his stomach turn. And here he thought he was getting better..

However.. maybe in the end it really was for the best that she had been waiting for him here. He was going to give in today. For the first time in months, he had made the decision to visit her grave again. Like an addict who had failed to quit cold turkey, going back to his drug of choice again and again.

So in reality, maybe Mikan was his savior.

He certainly wouldn't be going there now, after this haunting meeting.

"And what, pray tell, do you suggest we do together? Perhaps we should just talk sometime. See if we have anything in common." He half hoped she would just ask for his number so he could give her a fake one and then never leave his apartment again.

[heraid]

friends.   people   that   touch   you   and   keep   touching   you,   right   ?   her   mind   raced   with   thoughts   of   how   best   to   offer   herself   to   him,   only   finally   dropping   off   at   the   conclusion   that   she'd   wait   for   somewhere   more   than   .   .   .   the   graveyard   up   ahead.   yeesh.   but,   even   so,   what   was   it   that   friends   did   ?   mikan's   typically   able   to   discern   when   she's   being   lied   to   :   it   becomes   a   matter   of   if   she   cares.   so   perhaps   now   she's   bereft   of   an   answer,   only   thing   her   mind   can   muster   is   that   she   knows   it   is   only   a   matter   of   time   before   she   has   to   give   it   up.   for   friendship,   right   ?   to   be   a   good   friend   ?

❝   o-   oh,   well,   actually   !   ❞   mauve   hues   lighting   up   as   though   she   had   been   waiting   for   him   to   say   such   a   thing.   ❝   you   said   you   were   the   ultimate   anthropologist   .   .   .   i   u-   used   to   read   a   lot   of   books   about   social   sciences   when   i   was   younger   !   s-   so   i'm   actually   interested   in   anthropology   .   .   .   wouldn't   you   say   that's   something   in   common   ?   ❞

it   feels   too   convenient,   but   an   honesty   nonetheless.   mikan   would   read   near   all   the   non   -   fiction   at   her   disposal   in   the   library,   and   had   an   increased   interest   in   the   social   sciences   :   learning   why   people   were   mean   to   her   was   very   fascinating,   even   if   she   remained   helpless   from   their   torment   at   the   end   of   the   day.

[ultimateropebunny]

"Is that so?" He questioned with a tilt of his head. When he thought about it, it wasn't all that surprising. He had done his fair share of research and exploration of the extremely varied medical practices around the world. It would make sense that someone who specialized in the medical field would also take in interest in that area of anthropology. How was he to know that wasn't what she was referring to?

"If you think about it, there really is something in anthropology for everyone. Everything we do as humans is anthropological by nature. Medical procedures, language, food, music, folklore.. simply existing." This is just another reason he enjoys it so much. If he keeps talking about this, he might not stop.

Maybe spending time with someone else in a casual manner would be good for him.. maybe it would be a terrible mistake. But you never know if you don't try, right?

"Come, I'll treat you to dinner. We have much to discuss if we plan to get to know each other, yes? I should probably eat something with substance anyhow." He beckoned for her to walk with him. What was he thinking? He had no idea. This was certainly bound to end in chaos, like everything else in his life. But oh, how he longed to feel alive again. And to walk in the opposite direction of the cemetery ahead..

[starlightacademia]

"I am afraid of you.

In loving me, you hold a knife at my throat.

In loving you, I tell you exactly where to cut.

We are two against the world, yet I still do not trust your hand in mine.

This is new and I am terrified."

– a.j; vulnerability (via demonbrothers)

[ultimateropebunny]

"F-Friends?" He stammered, very much unlike himself. He couldn't help it. Nobody had ever just outright asked him to be their friend before, much less someone he had interacted with three or four times at most.

Calm down. Don't let her see how lonely and pathetic you've been lately.

"I suppose that would be alright, though I'm not quite sure what that would entail." He mused, lifting a finger to his chin. "Do you intend to spend time with me? Talk on the phone? I'm not all that accustomed to doing such things. Most of my time revolves around my interest in anthropology."

It made him feel a bit narcissistic, but he wondered if perhaps she was looking for something.. else. Maybe she was just too afraid to say it outright. He wasn't stupid. He knew he was fairly good looking. He had been with a few people in the past that had told him so, through singular short-lived encounters after meeting in online forums. He wasn't about to ask, though.

[heraid]

always   you   came   trustingly   to   all   that   is   terrible   /   a   quotation   that   sat   poignantly   in   the   back   of   her   mind,   preened   carefully   from   the   troves   of   some   nietzsche   book   mikan   found   herself   enthralled   in   the   clutches   of   during   her   brief   stints   of   respite   in   her   school   libraries.   but   why   was   such   giving   her   unstable   flashes   of   deja   -   vu   as   she   stood   before   korekiyo,   sweet   -   faced   and   somewhat   starry   -   eyed   ?

it   is   briefly   pondered   if   it   was   worth   her   denoting   that   she   wasn't   entirely   sure   what   it   was   that   friends   did,   either   :   would   she   read   as   too   pathetic,   too   needy   ?   to   seek   out   something   she   wasn't   sure   the   connotations   of   ?   there   is   a   brief   moment   of   silence   on   mikan's   end,   her   only   chewing   at   a   loose   bit   of   dried   skin   on   her   lip.

❝   y-   yeah   .   .   .   that's   what   friends   do   !   spent   time   together   !   ❞   she   fumbled   through   the   words   almost   as   though   she   were   attempting   to   convince   herself   as   much   as   she   was   korekiyo.   that   was   what   she   wanted,   wasn't   it   ?   to   spend   time   with   him   ?   to   be   noticed   by   someone   of   his   nature   ?

her   attraction   to   him   was   palpable.   the   dilation   of   her   pupils,   the   puffing   of   her   chest,   the   fluttering   of   her   belly.   but,   pertaining   to   such,   she   remained   tight   -   lipped,   convincing   herself   that   a   friendship   was   all   that   she   sought.

[ultimateropebunny]

This was so.. odd.

Even with her declarations of merely wanting something as innocent as friendship, Korekiyo could not help but feel perturbed.

She resembled his lover abuser so much, it gave him the creeps. Maybe he was simply projecting his trauma onto this girl who had nothing to do with it whatsoever, which was completely unfair to her. But it wasn't his fault either. It wasn't his fault that his undeniable attraction to her made his stomach turn. And here he thought he was getting better..

However.. maybe in the end it really was for the best that she had been waiting for him here. He was going to give in today. For the first time in months, he had made the decision to visit her grave again. Like an addict who had failed to quit cold turkey, going back to his drug of choice again and again.

So in reality, maybe Mikan was his savior.

He certainly wouldn't be going there now, after this haunting meeting.

"And what, pray tell, do you suggest we do together? Perhaps we should just talk sometime. See if we have anything in common." He half hoped she would just ask for his number so he could give her a fake one and then never leave his apartment again.

[ultimateropebunny]

"I'm terribly sorry." He put a hand to his chest. "I suppose I simply misunderstood. You see, not many people go out of their way to approach me. If I'm being completely honest, its been a while since I've interacted with anyone outside of work." He admitted, truly feeling guilty now. "I couldn't imagine someone like you would bother speaking to me after all these years without some sort of ulterior motive."

Still, he wished to leave this place and be on his way. He was starting to connect the dots now. A beautiful dark haired older woman with something malicious stirring just under the surface, seemingly fixated on him.

She reminded him of her.

Why? Why did he have to bump into her? Why was he so nice?

"I only hope you can forgive my rudeness. I did not mean to make you upset."

Please just leave. Please just go.

[heraid]

it   was   working.   finally,   something,   anything   she   attempted   :   it   was   working   !   to   that,   all   she   can   do   is   offer   a   wavering,   shaky   smile,   a   smile   that   of   course   would   seem   more   in   causation   from   his   apologies   and   not   from   the   applicability   of   her   tact.

❝   m-   maybe   it's   more   of   my   fault,   ❞   mikan   concluded,   microdosing   brief   instances   of   eye   contact   before   retracting   her   gaze   back   -   and   -   forth   between   him   and   the   sidewalk   below   her   feet.   ❝   i've   always   been   so   emotional   .   .   .   a-   almost   anything   can   bring   me   to   tears   !   ❞   which   was   also   true.

she   brought   a   shy   finger   to   her   temple,   shoulders   tensing   with   a   bit   of   apprehension.   ❝   i   .   .   .   i   was   j-   just   hoping   that   maybe   we   could   be   friends.   ❞   the   word   felt   heavy   rolling   off   her   tongue.   she   was   not   as   acquainted   as   she   should   have   been   with   the   notion   of   friends   :   even   her   younger   years   in   the   clutches   of   that   damned   dancer   were   tumultuous   at   best.   but,   as   she   stood   before   him,   with   her   chest   puffed   out   as   much   as   she   could   manage   with   the   intensity   of   her   breath,   mikan   felt   the   smallest   inkling   of   hope   swell   through   her.

[ultimateropebunny]

"F-Friends?" He stammered, very much unlike himself. He couldn't help it. Nobody had ever just outright asked him to be their friend before, much less someone he had interacted with three or four times at most.

Calm down. Don't let her see how lonely and pathetic you've been lately.

"I suppose that would be alright, though I'm not quite sure what that would entail." He mused, lifting a finger to his chin. "Do you intend to spend time with me? Talk on the phone? I'm not all that accustomed to doing such things. Most of my time revolves around my interest in anthropology."

It made him feel a bit narcissistic, but he wondered if perhaps she was looking for something.. else. Maybe she was just too afraid to say it outright. He wasn't stupid. He knew he was fairly good looking. He had been with a few people in the past that had told him so, through singular short-lived encounters after meeting in online forums. He wasn't about to ask, though.

[ultimateropebunny]

(chest)

(chest) - for your muse to press a hand against my muse’s chest

This sudden bold move took Korekiyo by surprise, eyes narrowing down at the small, delicate hand touching him.

This touch.. so foreign. So strange. So.. gentle.

"Yes?" He asked, but it came out more like a low, nervous breath. He wasn't even sure he needed or wanted an answer.

The tall man tentatively raised a hand to place it on top of hers, just holding it there.

[rp-memes-atyourservice]

Symbol meme starters.

Send one for my muse’s reaction! Feel free to alter context, switch muse’s positions, etc, as necessary. Contains some mild NSFW.

(chest) - for your muse to press a hand against my muse’s chest (hair) - for your muse to bury their face in my muse’s hair (backhand) - for your muse to backhand my muse (jaw) - for your muse to grip my muse’s jaw in one hand (lap) - for your muse to sit in my muse’s lap (whisper) - for your muse to whisper in my muse’s ear (bottom) - for your muse to rest a hand on my muse’s ass (or slap it) (undress) - for your muse to undress mine (may not be nsfw!) (pin) - for your muse to pin mine to a specified surface  (yank) - for your muse to yank mine out of the way of danger (bite) - for your muse to bite mine (palm) - for your muse to clap a hand over my muse’s mouth (throw) - for your muse to physically throw mine (piggyback) - for your muse to leap onto my muse’s back for a piggyback ride (nourish) - for your muse to provide my muse with food or drink (secret) - for your muse to reveal a secret to mine (specify the secret!) (discover) - for your muse to discover information about mine that they shouldn’t know (rescue) - for your muse to rescue mine from danger (promise) - for your muse to make mine a promise, whether they intend to keep it or not (lie) - for your muse to lie to mine (specify the lie) (confess) - for your muse to make a confession of truth to mine (command) - for your muse to give my muse an order or instruction, which may or may not be followed (hide) - for your muse to hide somewhere with my muse (sleep) - for your muse to fall asleep on mine (misc) - create your own/sender specifies! useful if something here gives you an idea that isn’t otherwise written.

[ultimateropebunny]

This change in demeanor pulled him in, made her much more interesting to him. She seemed to be a lot more genuine in this moment, though there was still a strange dullness behind her eyes that made him shiver.

What was she?

He was genuinely starting to question whether she was some sort of spirit, or maybe a succubus that he was immune to the charms of. Did he really believe in those things? He wasn't entirely sure. But there was something mystical about Mikan Tsumiki.

Maybe she was still pretending, attempting to manipulate him in some other way since the previous tactics hadn't worked. This was a game to her, he could tell. But was he willing to play?

"Cool?" Was all he managed to say for a moment.

That wasn't a word anybody had used to describe him before. 'Weird', sure. But 'cool'?

Thankfully he recovered from his bout of surprise quickly enough to maintain his calm and collected composure.

"Come now, Tsumiki-san.." His eyes were still kind, but there was a dark glint in them too. As if to let her know he has played similar games before, and is up to the challenge. "What could a beautiful, talented young woman such as yourself want from a man who was merely an underclassman a few years ago?" He smiled beneath his mask. "You clearly had some sort of intention, waiting for me here, no? Or was this really just a coincidental meeting?"

[heraid]

❝   y-   yes   .   .   .   cool   ?   ❞

she   wasn't   too   sure   if   what   she   said   was   correct   or   incorrect,   peering   up   at   korekiyo's   crack   in   demeanor   —   all   things   considered,   he   did   have   nearly   a   foot   on   her   in   height   difference   —   with   her   own   slightly   -   perturbed   expression.   though   .   .   .   perhaps   it   was   she   who   was   due   for   an   even   greater   shift   in   demeanor,   slight   perturbation   elevating   into   a   feeling   of   complete   bafflement.

❝   i   d-   don't   really   think   i'm   all   that   talented   !   ❞   let   alone   the   word   beautiful   she   could   not   fathom   a   reaction   to.   ❝   a-   anyone   can   do   what   i   do   if   they   study   enough   .   .   .   ❞   which   was   maybe   true,   but   those   able   to   develop   a   proclivity   for   medical   work   were   often   much   older   than   mikan   was   when   she   discovered   her   own   adeptness.

did   she   have   an   intention   ?   any   sort   of   intention   ?   or   had   she   really   chased   him   down   like   an   absolute   madwoman   for   the   prospect   of   saying   hello   ?   she   glanced   up   briefly   at   his   eyes   (   and   quickly   realized   how   alluring   and   unnerving   they   were,   just   as   abruptly   averting   her   gaze   ),   lips   quirking   slightly   askew   as   she   attempted   a   response.

❝   i-   i-   i   just   wanted   to   talk   to   you,   ❞   she   stammered,   swiping   her   thumb   back   -   and   -   forth   over   her   other   hand   for   comfort,   ❝   s-   so   i'm   sorry   if   you're   n-   not   up   to   it   and   i'm   sorry   if   i'm   bothering   you   !   ❞

[ultimateropebunny]

"I'm terribly sorry." He put a hand to his chest. "I suppose I simply misunderstood. You see, not many people go out of their way to approach me. If I'm being completely honest, its been a while since I've interacted with anyone outside of work." He admitted, truly feeling guilty now. "I couldn't imagine someone like you would bother speaking to me after all these years without some sort of ulterior motive."

Still, he wished to leave this place and be on his way. He was starting to connect the dots now. A beautiful dark haired older woman with something malicious stirring just under the surface, seemingly fixated on him.

She reminded him of her.

Why? Why did he have to bump into her? Why was he so nice?

"I only hope you can forgive my rudeness. I did not mean to make you upset."

Please just leave. Please just go.

[letsbelonelytogetherr]

Do not fall in love with people like me. I will take you to museums, and parks and monuments, and kiss you in every beautiful place, so that you can never go back to them without tasting me like blood in your mouth. I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible. And when I leave, you will finally understand, why storms are named after people.

— Caitlyn Siehl

[ultimateropebunny]

@heraid this just feels like mikan and korekiyo to me ok ;-;

[ultimateropebunny]

She was already difficult to understand, but this sudden display took him completely by surprise.

"What? No." He replied, sounding genuinely taken aback for once. Korekiyo had no idea how to react. It was not his responsibility to comfort this girl, nor was it his fault she was so clearly unstable. "No, no.. I simply have places to be and things to do." His eyes narrowed, not maliciously, just as though he were trying to read her like a book and failing to understand the language. It frustrated him for some reason.

"Please, do get a hold of yourself." People were starting to stare, looking at him as if he were an abusive boyfriend or something. "There is no need for tears. I'm terribly sorry if I gave you that impression."

He hardly knew this woman and she had him reeling, completely at a loss after just a couple of interactions. He just wanted to go home. Maybe he would avoid this place for a while. The thought pained him. This little bakery was his only solace on dark days. Maybe he could get them to deliver. Sure, it would take away from the actual experience and atmosphere he enjoyed so much, but at least he would not be subjected to.. this any longer.

For some reason, though he was fully aware he owed her nothing, he found himself frozen here. Like he had some sort of moral obligation to make this right even though he had done nothing to her. Considering Korekiyo's morals, most of which were various shades of grey, he was even more entranced by her power. Her clear attempts to manipulate for.. some reason. But why? What did she want from him?

[heraid]

maybe   it   wasn't   working.   maybe   she   was   bested   at   her   own   game,   her   own   game   of   bunny   -   gentle   neediness   and   tenderness.   did   she   feel   scorned   ?   she   couldn't   tell.   it   wasn't   his   fault   for   not   falling   for   her   script   of   learned   helplessness.   hence,   she   steadied   her   breathing,   quivering   slightly   as   her   gaze   darted   around   their   surroundings,   suddenly   unwilling   to   meet   with   his   eyes.

❝   i-   i'm   sorry,   ❞   she   says   after   a   brief   moment   of   nothing   :   the   first   glimpse   into   genuineness   she   had   allowed.   ❝   i-   i   just   .   .   .   ❞   another   pause.   ❝   i   remembered   you   from   h-   hope's   peak,   and   i   always   t-   thought   you   were   really   cool   .   .   .   despite   being   an   underclassman   .   .   .   i   just   wanted   to   talk   to   you,   but   .   .   .   ❞

a   third   pause,   in   which   she   can   feign   normalcy,   at   least   for   a   moment,   control   herself   and   her   rapid   emotions,   swallow   thickly,   breathe   heavily.   ❝   i   d-   don't   know   how   to   really   talk   to   people.   s-   so   i   just   tried   what   always   works   .   .   .   g-   guys   normally   p-   pay   more   attention   to   me   if   i   act   like   that,   even   if   the   attention   doesn't   feel   good.   ❞   shame   burned   through   her   like   a   chemical   fire   ;   was   this   true   ?   she   didn't   know.   she   didn't   care.

❝   i-   i'm   sorry   for   b-   bothering   you   .   .   .   you   can   go.   ❞   sharply,   she   sighed,   head   turning   away   with   an   etching   of   abrasion,   intended   for   herself   and   solely   for   herself.

[ultimateropebunny]

This change in demeanor pulled him in, made her much more interesting to him. She seemed to be a lot more genuine in this moment, though there was still a strange dullness behind her eyes that made him shiver.

What was she?

He was genuinely starting to question whether she was some sort of spirit, or maybe a succubus that he was immune to the charms of. Did he really believe in those things? He wasn't entirely sure. But there was something mystical about Mikan Tsumiki.

Maybe she was still pretending, attempting to manipulate him in some other way since the previous tactics hadn't worked. This was a game to her, he could tell. But was he willing to play?

"Cool?" Was all he managed to say for a moment.

That wasn't a word anybody had used to describe him before. 'Weird', sure. But 'cool'?

Thankfully he recovered from his bout of surprise quickly enough to maintain his calm and collected composure.

"Come now, Tsumiki-san.." His eyes were still kind, but there was a dark glint in them too. As if to let her know he has played similar games before, and is up to the challenge. "What could a beautiful, talented young woman such as yourself want from a man who was merely an underclassman a few years ago?" He smiled beneath his mask. "You clearly had some sort of intention, waiting for me here, no? Or was this really just a coincidental meeting?"

[ultimateropebunny]

What was wrong with this girl?

He just couldn't put his finger on it, but something about her made his skin crawl. And he really couldn't make up his mind about whether he was merely being judgmental or actually picking up on some inner darkness. Either way, Korekiyo did not plan on sticking around to find out. Nothing against her personally, he just had no desire to get attached to other people.

There was a pang of pity for this girl, this unfortunate creature. He felt it in his chest. He knew she wasn't lying about having been mistreated. If this is how she has always behaved, of course some people would take advantage of that. But.. he recalls again the predatory animals and insects he has read about in books. The way some carnivores make themselves look weak or helpless to lull their prey into a false sense of security.

"Well, I assure you.. you need not apologize to me. If I had bothered to speak with you, perhaps you wouldn't have chased after me like this in the first place. I can be quite unsociable." He admitted, kindness never wavering but.. he was guarded, cautious.

"It was nice to see you." He bowed, ready to get the hell out of here.

[heraid]

truthfully,   she   was   running   out   of   options   :   he   was   not   wavering   to   the   will   of   her   self   -   sexualization   nor   to   her   tears.   mikan   could   sense   it,   discerning   every   bit   of   nuance   she   could   from   korekiyo's   countenance   .   .   .   at   least,   the   smidgen   she   could   see.   she's   used   to   reading   people's   eyes,   she   knows   it,   she   knows   when   the   look   of   sympathy   melts   into   one   of   pity,   when   the   look   verges   on   their   desire   to   leave,   leave   her   in   the   dust.

(   she   knows   she   must   put   it   up   to   eleven.   and   that   she   does.   )

as   if   on   cue,   mikan   erupted   into   tears,   face   reddened   and   sticky   with   snot,   tears,   and   saliva   —   she   was   a   mess,   a   disgusting   mess   .   .   .   but   if   he   didn't   pity   her   like   that,   or   at   the   very   least   react,   maybe   the   odd   feeling   in   her   gut   would   dissipate,   let   her   remove   her   sights   from   the   other,   give   up   on   this   newfound   desperation   she   had   to   soak   up   his   presence.   a   shaky   hand   protects   the   right   of   her   jaw,   teeth   gritted   in   a   tenseness   she   can   only   pray   she   portrays   perfectly.

❝   did   .   .   .   did   i   make   y-   you   uncomfortable   ?   ❞   a   question   difficult   to   spit   out   betwixt   her   quickening   breathing   and   sob   -   laden   stammering.   if   god   could   only   grant   her   one   miracle,   she'd   pray   that   it   was   he   would   listen.

[ultimateropebunny]

She was already difficult to understand, but this sudden display took him completely by surprise.

"What? No." He replied, sounding genuinely taken aback for once. Korekiyo had no idea how to react. It was not his responsibility to comfort this girl, nor was it his fault she was so clearly unstable. "No, no.. I simply have places to be and things to do." His eyes narrowed, not maliciously, just as though he were trying to read her like a book and failing to understand the language. It frustrated him for some reason.

"Please, do get a hold of yourself." People were starting to stare, looking at him as if he were an abusive boyfriend or something. "There is no need for tears. I'm terribly sorry if I gave you that impression."

He hardly knew this woman and she had him reeling, completely at a loss after just a couple of interactions. He just wanted to go home. Maybe he would avoid this place for a while. The thought pained him. This little bakery was his only solace on dark days. Maybe he could get them to deliver. Sure, it would take away from the actual experience and atmosphere he enjoyed so much, but at least he would not be subjected to.. this any longer.

For some reason, though he was fully aware he owed her nothing, he found himself frozen here. Like he had some sort of moral obligation to make this right even though he had done nothing to her. Considering Korekiyo's morals, most of which were various shades of grey, he was even more entranced by her power. Her clear attempts to manipulate for.. some reason. But why? What did she want from him?

[figurecollection]

Miku Hatsune (2022 Chinese New Year Ver.) 1/7 Scale by FuRyu, of Vocaloid

[ultimateropebunny]

She almost seemed manic in her stammering.

Her questioning of his identity caught him off guard and made him worry that maybe he was the stalker-esque of the two for remembering exactly who she was despite their briefest of interactions in school. But it also soothed him a bit. Maybe it really was somehow just a coincidence, meeting her like this again so soon after all.

"Yes." He bowed politely, as he had before. "Korekiyo Shinguuji. I was known as the Ultimate Anthropologist, but I was a couple of years your junior so I wouldn't be surprised if you hadn't heard of me." This was the most he had spoken to anyone in a while. It was making him a bit nervous.

"Is that so?" He questioned her last statement with a tilt of his head. "Do I give off the impression that I would be unkind? Or do people treat you so unkindly, you've come to expect it?" If it was the first, he did want to know so he could fix it. Maybe he was putting some sort of hostile vibe off thanks to his depressive episode. If it were the latter.. that was a whole other can of worms that she should probably see a therapist about.

[heraid]

to   be   seen   through,   lace   up   to   the   light   ;   sweet   girl,   unassuming,   but   a   beast   beneath.   swift   rebuttal   nearly   cutting   off   his   words.   ❝   i   h-   had,   ❞   she   interjected,   perhaps   verging   on   impoliteness,   but   a   desperation   to   clear   the   air   nonetheless.   ❝   b-   but   it's   very   nice   to   bump   into   you   again   .   .   .   a-   almost   literally.   ❞   a   shaky   smile   followed.

.   .   .   though   it   just   as   quickly   faded   at   his   question.   ❝   n-   no   !   ❞   brows   drawing   together,   mikan   leaned   in   slightly   :   her   pulse   was   quickening.   ❝   i'm   s-   sorry   .   .   .   i   didn't   mean   to   insinuate   anything   like   that   .   .   .   ❞   pertaining   to   the   former,   of   course.   she   ponders   briefly   if   it's   even   worth   indulging   him.   of   course   !   of   course   it   was   !   sad,   injured   baby   animal   defense,   flawless   in   her   planning.

❝   uuuu   .   .   .   p-   people   are   normally   so   impatient   with   me   !   ❞   crocodile   tears   ?   not   quite,   not   a   complete   facade   for   sympathy   but   some   enhanced   teary   -   eyedness.   ❝   so   i   just   apologize   first   before   they   g-   get   even   more   mad   !   a-   and   then   maybe   they'd   call   me   stupid   for   tripping   and   falling   .   .   .   ❞   she   wiped   the   straying   teardrops   first   onto   the   heels   of   her   palms   and   then   reflexively   onto   the   pleats   of   her   skirt.   ❝   and   i'm   sorry   a-   again   for   rambling   about   this !   ❞

[ultimateropebunny]

What was wrong with this girl?

He just couldn't put his finger on it, but something about her made his skin crawl. And he really couldn't make up his mind about whether he was merely being judgmental or actually picking up on some inner darkness. Either way, Korekiyo did not plan on sticking around to find out. Nothing against her personally, he just had no desire to get attached to other people.

There was a pang of pity for this girl, this unfortunate creature. He felt it in his chest. He knew she wasn't lying about having been mistreated. If this is how she has always behaved, of course some people would take advantage of that. But.. he recalls again the predatory animals and insects he has read about in books. The way some carnivores make themselves look weak or helpless to lull their prey into a false sense of security.

"Well, I assure you.. you need not apologize to me. If I had bothered to speak with you, perhaps you wouldn't have chased after me like this in the first place. I can be quite unsociable." He admitted, kindness never wavering but.. he was guarded, cautious.

"It was nice to see you." He bowed, ready to get the hell out of here.