[ You know, this whole party idea might not be such a bad thing after all. The bassy thrum of music reverberating in her chest was admittedly somewhat grating at first - and don't even get her started on trying to skirt all the puddles of water being left everywhere - but after tentative nibbling on some of the food and beverages, she's feeling much more relaxed. The bodies, the laughter, the mellow mood - she could get used to this. It's just A Good Time, you know?
Well. Sort of. Dunking herself in the lazy river seems to be the one obstacle Hide's balking at, however, eyeing the cool blue water with some trepidation. Floating around is fine and all if you can swim. Which she can't. Sinking like an anchor would put a real damper (ha ha) on what would otherwise be a perfectly pleasant experience.
Maybe getting another drink will firm up her nerves a little first... ]
👹The Long Night
[ Partying was the worst idea. Hide's rather regretting letting her inhibitions loosen so much now. With a pounding headache, chronic dry mouth, and a strange, pervading numbness growing outwards from her spine, there's not much she really wants to do other than get home and sleep off the first real bender she's had in thirty years.
The problem is, how the hell does anyone know where they are if all the buildings look the same in the dark?! Even worse, being somewhat shorter than average means she's been run into more times than she can count, further stoking the low, simmering annoyance bubbling in her chest. She'd wring that little shit Malachite's neck here and now if she had the chance. ]
Move it. You're in the way.
👹Wild Thing, You Make My Heart Sing
[ See, the problem with allowing already shady corners deepen into pitch blackness is sooner or later something will come wandering along and take a liking to that particular spot. Little things, usually. Insects, mice, that sort of thing. It would certainly seem that this particular block has been long abandoned - all broken concrete and exposed steel struts corroding by inches, the distant lonely echo of dripping water, a perfect home for a tiny ecosystem all in itself.
And webs. So many webs. Tiny, delicate webs; old, dusty webs; big, silvery webs with the occasional fat spider sitting patiently in the middle, waiting for a meal... and, should someone make the very foolish decision to push further inside, shimmering golden threads that stick tenaciously to clothing, skin, and hair. One or two might be a nuisance, but ten? Twenty? Sooner or later, tugging on all that spider silk while trying to get it off is going to get the attention of something rather larger than just a small insect minding its own business. ]
My, my. What have we here..?
[ The nice thing about this hidey hole is the acoustics making it very difficult indeed to pinpoint where exactly she's lurking. Rest assured - it's close. Very close. ]
It's rude to barge in on someone's house without invitation, you know. I hope you brought a gift.
[ Being aware of the possibility of his body betraying him at some nebulous point in the future and actually undergoing that change are two vastly different things, and Eustace is woefully unprepared when his usually tight emotions start spiraling out of his control.
He's always been moody but it's worse now, accompanied by the urge to prowl around and bare his fangs at any stranger unlucky enough to walk too near him. (Also the strange desire to howl at the moon? He manages to repress that urge though.) Fortunately, he has enough sense of mind to usher himself out of the most crowded parts of the city and to someplace more abandoned. Unfortunately for him, he is apparently not alone here, the thick strands of webbing clinging to his clothes and limbs plenty indication of another creature loitering around these parts.
The voice, when it comes, has him stiffening and scowling, head twisting and lifting as he tries to catch sight of where it might be coming from. ]
I don't see anything marking this place as yours.
[ Sure, there's the annoying webs scattered all over the place (and him), but as far as he's concerned, that's merely decoration and nothing more. ]
[ As before, the echoing space has the confusing effect of dissipating the source of the question in several different directions even though she isn't speaking much louder than a casual conversational tone. To less keen senses, the subtle thrum of taut wire would go entirely unnoticed. But adlets have great hearing, right? Which means Eustace should have just enough time to register how that sound comes from slightly behind and above him, where she's sneakily descending on a single strand of silk - clearly planning to pounce the moment she gets within range. ]
After all, you seem to be wearing plenty of my hard work.
[ His ears - a product of his natural self rather than any machinations of his particular Gembond - swivel to and fro, flattening and lifting as they work to sift through the confusing mess of noise. They aren't the only things at work: his hands, too, are tugging away at the strands of silk looped around him, elongated nails doing their best to try and slice through the webbing (with little success). ]
It's not my fault you've chosen to display it in a poor place.
[ It is his fault that bits and pieces of it are being ruined, but he sees nothing wrong with that. And though he's never been particular loose of tongue, he seems to have no problem being mouthy at her. ]
I'd prefer to wear something else, given the choice.
[ Finally, his ears pinpoint the correct source of the voice but by then it's already too late; by the time he turns, she's already there in front of him. ]
[ Whatever semi-predatory approach that had been in progress gets pulled up short - a grasping hand abruptly changing course to pluck one of the flyaway silk strands from his clothing, all neighbourly concern. Entirely harmless. Certainly wasn't going to do anything untoward, no sir. Ha ha ha...
In fact, Hide looks surprisingly normal despite the suspicious environment. No hideous chelicerae or overtly creepy crawly qualities out in the open, which in itself might be some cause for concern. After all she's still slowly inching closer as she talks. ]
Glibness is unbecoming of a house guest. And you haven't bought a gift for disturbing me, I see.
[ About the time she gets close enough to verge on uncomfortable, the unbroken webbing stuck to Eustace's clothes starts to constrict, bit by bit, inch by inch, mostly concentrated around the legs first. It wouldn't do for her newfound company to get away, now would it?
Now the Tsuchigumo hints start to emerge. Long, slender shadows silently unfurling from her back, poised in the deep darkness to strike at the most opportune moment. ]
But if it's new clothing you desire, that can be arranged.
[ He stiffens at her approach, ears tipping forward even as he bares his teeth - fangs, the transformation lengthening his canines - at her. His muscles tense, the urge to fight rising quick despite the way his fists stay at his sides. ]
I don't have anything on me. [ And he's certainly not about to offer himself up. ] If I'm so rude, you should just let me go.
[ It's a false hope more than anything, the evergrowing pressure of the silk strands around him turning more palpable by the second. The pressure of her presence grows too, his eyes following the murky movements of dark shapes - legs? spikes? - behind her. Difficult to move with the way she's holding him down, but he's not about to sit around and let her possibly skewer him either. ]
[ Her tone should say volumes about what she thinks of that particular idea. Whyever would he suggest such a thing? No, no, certainly not. Would you let a vandal-maybe-burglar go just because they asked nicely after being caught red-handed? Point being, she sounds very much like he's just suggested something tremendously foolish, which he kind of has. At least from where she's standing.
The threads start to tighten further up now, creeping slowly but steadily from knees to chest as those long, spindly shadows grow more and more solid with proximity, curling far up and over her shoulders like a hydra's heads. Pitch black spider legs, of course, banded with the same unearthly gold as the silk draped over much of the building's interior. ]
Come now, don't be uncouth. I only seek restitution and nothing more. [ She shrugs, and the spider appendages echo the motion. ] You'll simply have to stay until we reach an accord.
[ Abruptly, the passively looming spider leggies come racing down from above like spears, each coming to a wickedly sharp point... connected to multiple strands of spider silk. It's not the Tsuchigumo limbs he should've been worried about, but the webs wound around his legs. After all, getting hoisted upside-down makes it somewhat difficult to escape depending on how much mobility he has left. ]
[ On the ground, he knows how to move. Knows what to do and what tell-tale signs to look out for. Up in the air, though? It's a whole different story.
After so long spent as part of a skyfaring crew he doesn't fear heights, but the sudden upwards jolt still drags a startled grunt out of him, his fingers stretching out and curling as he jerks and does his best to wriggle out of the tangle he's found himself in. There's not much to hold onto out here except spidersilk, most of which cuts clean as his claws swipe though them, but he manages to fold and swing himself up enough to grap hold of one leg, using it as leverage while his other hand does its best at clawing through the webbing around his legs. ]
I don't do accords anymore.
[ At least, not any that aren't on his terms. The blood is pumping quick through his veins now, irritation twisting into anticipation at the prospect of maybe tearing a few of those legs off. ]
But if you want me to stay, I don't mind. Just make sure you don't regret it.
[ The last few words are punctuated with a sharp tug of her leg, a move to get her closer and within reach. ]
[ Though one leg is held captive (and the pulling does get her a little closer), Hide seems more amused by his struggling than anything else. All three of her other Tsuchigumo limbs are more than enough to hoist her up, bringing her eye-level with Eustace once she perches comfortably on a couple strands of silk just out of reach.
Slowly, mockingly, the spider leg in his grasp sways from side to side, likely making his efforts to escape just that little bit harder than it needs to be if he insists on holding on to it. ]
I rarely regret anything.
[ While Eustace struggles to cut himself free, Hide watches how his claws cut through each layer of silk with a great deal of academic interest. This is the first time she's caught something of his size instead of a rabbit or smaller prey.. it's only good sense to observe what he's capable of for future reference.
Of course that doesn't stop her from using another spider limb to start poking and prodding at the various belts and bobs he has on his person out of curiosity. give her your lunch money, dork ]
Besides, I doubt meeting an oddly talkative okuri inu will be one of them.
[ Alas, no lunch money, but there are a number of belts slung across his waist. And a small knife in a sheath that drops and clatters to the ground at her incessant prodding (unless she catches it first, of course).
Though she shakes him slighly from side to side, he doesn't sense any malicious intent emanating from her just yet. A sense of mischief certainly, since he's no better than a mouse being toyed with a cat right now, but he doesn't seem to be in any danger. He still has no desire to be tangled up in her webbing but the urgency in the hand still shredding through the silk is tempered somewhat.
His voice, however, is still steeped full of annoyance. ]
I'm not an [ what did she call it again ] 'okuri inu.' I'm an Erune.
[ Please get your facts straight, ma'am!! ]
So what, am I expected to hang here and hold a pleasant conversation with you over teatime until you're satisfied? Is that the reparation you're seeking?
[ The knife goes clattering away into the dark below, getting an inquisitive glance from Hide and the mental note to go looking for it later - not that she really needs any more additions to her excessively pointy object collection, but free loot is free loot. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ]
Your company isn't that valuable, inu yokai or not. But talk as much as you want, and I'll decide what I'll take from you in return for your vandalism.
[ Technically he did say he wasn't open to negotiating, so it's not like she has any other choice but to make the decision herself. Rip in pasta.
The casual tone that she poses the next series of questions with definitely don't jive with the subject matter, or the intent stare she levels him with; Tsuchigumo limbs shifting from rifling through his belongings to gently prodding Eustace himself. Fortunately she's taking deliberate care not to go accidentally sinking those sharp ends into any soft spots. ]
Shall I take an arm? [ Poke poke - ] Or perhaps a leg? What do you think, Erune?
[ Now, is she being serious or just messing with him? Maybe a bit of both. ]
[ Haha, very funny. He levels another annoyed stare at her - or tries to, it's kind of hard when she's up and he's still kind of hanging down awkwardly - and gives her limb another tug. ]
You have plenty of legs already.
[ And no, that's not an invitation to gently rip off one of his arms, he needs those, thank you very much!
He takes a break from his dedicated silk-slicing to slap at one of the many limbs poking at his torso. It does little, considering that he only has one free hand and she has many legs, but it's the principle of the thing. Eustace is not a man who enjoys the invasion of his personal space and right now his space is being extremely invaded. ]
Why not take an ear? You seem to be hard of hearing, considering how many times I've told you I don't have anything.
[ That's a joke. Don't actually take his ears, he needs those too. ]
[ Hide takes the irritated swatting at her spider appendages with good humour, though she does make a point to lean forward and jab him in the chest with just a touch more gusto than necessary. That's a silent "sass me again and see what happens" warning, all right. ]
I could settle for taking your tongue as collateral. No doubt your future hosts would thank me for it.
[ After all, he has "nothing" he wants taken from him, which is very different from having nothing at all to contribute period. There's a difference!
Buuuuuuuuuuuut if there's really no physical objects worth taking on his person, she can compromise. The next question gets posed in the same casual tone as before - though there's a certain sharpness in Hide's eyes, as if planning on weighing his words very carefully indeed. A relaxed chat could escalate from 0-100 with little to no warning if she finds the answer unsatisfactory. After all, each of those spider legs has silently come to rest on particularly vulnerable parts of Eustace's body. ]
Tell me, why did you come here? Nobody wanders so far off the beaten path unless they're searching for something.
Addled by his gem though he is, there's enough sense rattling around in his head that he takes her jab for the warning it is. His body stills its annoyed twitching, though the put-out expression on his face stays right where it is. He has a lot of personal wishes he'd like to see fulfilled but a death wish isn't one of them. ]
I don't make myself a guest often enough for anyone to thank you for it.
[ Something something lone wolf something something.
It's true enough in any case; he's not a man that particularly enjoys company save for in a few select cases, but none of the people involved in those scenarios are present here in the city. Which leaves him back at square one, alone and broody 99% of the time.
Which is partial explanation for why he's out here, away from the main hustle and bustle of the city. He looks at her best he can, eyes still partly lidded. ]
You don't get the urge to go out and explore? To find someplace where you belong better than the place you are currently?
[ That's maybe a bit more truthful of an answer than he'd like, but blame that on his gem too. ]
[ ...ah. So that's how it is? It's subtle, but his open honesty takes the wind out of her sails much more effectively than if he had put up a fight from the start; each of those Tsuchigumo legs silently recoil back into the dark, neatly draping over her shoulders like a spindly shawl. The answering silence deepens almost to the point of awkwardness before she finally recites: ]
In the groves of young broad-leaved bamboo Dewdrops on the leaf-tips Resemble jewels; Through mountains with no rocks I feel as if I travel...
[ Translation: yes, she certainly does know what he's talking about. Which is probably what she meant by the spontaneous poetry (thanks Saigyo), but being cryptic has always been her lot instead of outright agreement. At least his admission has driven home the point that Eustace is clearly a harmless lost soul and not the common thief she'd taken him as. How embarrassing. ]
Here or there, it's all the same. There is no "better" home if you don't know what you're looking for in the first place.
[ The sudden outburst of poetry after ever increasing silence throws him off-guard, and leaves him no more enlightened than before. He's not really a man deeply appreciative of the fine arts and thus most of the imagery embedded in her words drifts in one ear and back out the other. He supposes he can appreciate the sentiment behind her words, even if he's more appreciative of the way the pointy ends of her limbs stop jabbing into the softer parts of his body.
He still feels uneasy in his skin and not altogether convinced that the worst of the threat posed by this spiderlike creature is gone, but she hasn't seen fit to injure him yet. His hold on her leg loosens ever so slightly, an annoyed sigh escaping his lips. ]
I know what I'm looking for. It's just not here. [ That's the problem when the place where he belongs is tied to a person and ship thousands of miles away. ] I'll have to figure out something else in the meantime.
[ So he doesn't wander into someone's home, apparently, and get his limbs ripped off as punishment. ]
[ Neither approval nor disapproval, really, but conceding he has a point in her own way. It's not her place to decide such a thing for him.
Since it seems he's calmed down and Hide herself has no motivation to keep interrogating him over this clusterfuck of a misunderstanding, she gently pulls the leg he's still loosely grasping out of his hand, using it to start delicately manipulating the silk strands wrapped around him. It'd be easier to simply rip the threads off, but something tells her Eustace would be mildly inconvenienced if half of his clothing came off with them.
Hang in there, buddy. She'll get him untangled in due time. ]
That honour belongs to a far more eminent wordsmith than myself.
[ Don't let the disinterested tone fool you. She's got stacks and stacks of the stuff jealously hidden away like a dragon's hoard - doubly so with new and unprecedented access to a technologically advanced culture. Not that she'll ever admit it out loud of course. Some hobbies aren't meant to be shared off the cuff with just anyone. ]
If there's one good thing about this place, it's the size of the libraries.
[After the week Anna had, there was part of her that almost skipped the festivities. Between the club and being asked to play street lamp she had a lot of long, well longer nights, than usual. Though things had settled down and she decided to see what this particular shindig was about. Besides, free food and booze where attractive on their own right.
Dressed in shorts, sandals, and a white long sleeved linen shirt which hinted at a bikini tap Anna was leaned against a bar of one of the drink stands talking animatedly with the bartender.] No, still not right. It's missin' something and I'm not sure what.
[The girl's lips twisted to the side and she quickly scanned the crowd around her, looking for a familiar face and finding none. Though she did spot a fellow Gembonded.] Hey mind giving me a hand here? I'm trying to teach this guy how to make a real margarita. [Offering the woman her glass.] Could you tell me what is missing?
Edited (i can write brackets) 2021-07-13 01:24 (UTC)
[ At first, Hide doesn't register the question as directed at her. It's only after glancing between the drink, the bartender, and Anna, that it finally sinks in, and even then she's somewhat at a loss to answer. Firstly, what is a margarita? Not a clue. Hide's feudal experience offers exactly zero insight if it isn't sake or some other period specific moonshine.
So after a short, thoughtful pause as Hide considers the glass Anna's graciously offering, she finally answers: ]
Context, I'd say.
[ What, you expected a helpful response? At least there's a spark of genuine curiosity as she studies the pinkish beverage with all the seriousness of a biochemist. ]
What goes into a "real" margarita in your opinion?
[The initial response gets a blink, a pause, then a laugh. She deserved that.]
Tequila and love of course. There is something real close to the former, and I'm trying to get him to show some of the latter. [Giving the bartender a glance over her shoulder, then back at Hide.] But seriously, tequila, lime juice or limeade, salt on the rim, and something else. Something...citrusy but just a little sweet.
[She paused, glass still offered.] You've never had one before have you?
[ Of all the ingredients on that list, she's tasted exactly one. It's likely why she only now accepts the glass - the concept of a blended ice drink is pretty damn wild as is. ]
Ah. Was I that obvious?
[ It smells nice, at least. A bit like yuzu, but with more bite. ]
I'll admit, much of this is new to me. I'm used to enjoying sake on rare occasions.
Just a bit. [Gesturing at the glass.] You have to make sure to get some salt to when you take a drink, it changes it a lot. So like it, or does it need something?
[A bit of a laugh as she turned and ordered another but with a little bit of the orange liqueur this time.]
I think this[Gesturing around them.] is new to everyone. Though they do have sake, unless you want to expand your horizons a little. It is a party after all.
[ Once Anna's back is turned, Hide takes the opportunity to sneak a suspicious sip of the drink. It's... sweet. Almost too much. Judging from Hide's expression (or half of it at least, she's a pro at sneaking food with a mask on by now) she's not sure what she thinks of it yet. ]
I'm sure I don't know. Tastes vary by region.
[ Which is just a polite way of saying "the palette profile here makes no goddamn sense" to anyone that can read between the lines. Typical Hide. ]
Sweet things aren't my personal preference, generally. Expanding horizons in that direction would be counter-intuitive.
Ugh. [A bit of frustration in the opinion. Telling the bartender to go heavier on the booze.]
It isn't supposed to be sweet, sweet just hair. [Getting a flash of inspiration and ordering two shots of the tequila with some salt and a sliced up lime. As well as some sake for her new companion of the moment.]
It really depends for me, but this will let you taste what we're trying to build around. [Anna slid one shot glass a bit to the side, obviously meant for Hide, licked where her finger and thumb met before sprinkling the course salt on the wet skin. With the same hand the girl picked up her own glass and wedge of lime, raised it in salute before tossing it back. Her tongue cleaned off the salt and the wedge she sucked on for a moment before banging the shot glass on the bar then stuffing the lime into it. A bit of a grin as the warmth of the drink hit her stomach.]
[ If he hadn't known before, tonight's basically confirmed it for him: Sanemi does not like wild parties.
Unsurprising—and maybe inevitable given that he elects not to drink. A buzz can kill your senses enough to leave you completely defenseless, so while others revel, he keeps to the walls. It isn't as though he hates socializing—but given who he is and what he must do, isolation is the better answer. Protecting is what he reverts to, scanning the crowds for demons or otherwise unsavory types; if nothing else for a warrior ever-longing to return back to where he's needed, there's at least this.
Night dispenses and he treads with the crowd... stops when someone bumps into him, gaze narrowing onto a familiar figure. Their fight in the underground has hardly been forgotten; it isn't often he allows prey to escape. ]
There's no mistaking that shock of white hair and excess of scars - and the incredibly abrasive personality tacked on to said qualities, of course. Nevertheless, Hide keeps all the nasty thoughts to herself... even if the icy look he gets in return brims with her own fair share of disdain. That's big talk for some rude-ass ronin. >:T Clearly she didn't hit him hard enough the first time if he's lucid enough to sass her like this!!!! ]
Oh. You again.
[ Monotone af. It's fair to say they're equally enthusiastic about seeing each other alive and well. ]
Vastly overestimating your capabilities as usual, I see. Hope will get you nowhere.
[ The slayer clicks his tongue, short huff of a humorless laugh trailing off the cuff of that exhale. True enough, hope will get you nowhere, she's right about that. He should have made sure to finish the job. ]
You're mouthy for someone who fled like a roach.
[ And excuse you, ronin? He has a master and a cause he's very dedicated to, thanks much. Which is why he's already resting a hand on the hilt of his sword, motion habitual as his eyes remain set on her. Knowing how quick she is, it would be unwise to glance away for even a second. Fool me once, shame on you, but fool me twice... ]
Picking your dinner out from the crowd?
[ Because his assumption, of course, is that she's here to eat some innocent civilians. What else could a nasty demon want? ]
You'd prefer I waste time scything through chaff just to deal with one pest?
[ It could have been much worse and he knows it. Don't tempt her.
Hide doesn't answer his question right away, busy taking in the very human appearance of something she thought was another run-of-the-mill yokai with a chip on his shoulder trying to edge in on her territory. Still all rough edges, hard muscle, and attitude, still laden with the same coiled potential as a looming storm front. Still toting around that cursed sword of his too, much to her annoyance.
So, naturally, it's the perfect time to play coy. Just to rub it in a little. ]
...you could say that. [ Like she'd bother with the crumbs of sustenance humans could provide. Hardly worth the effort. ] It's been so very long since I've enjoyed a rare delicacy.
[ BOY HOWDY she sure is staring straight at him and no-one else for that pointed remark! Intentional? Absolutely. For the reason he probably assumes? No. Not that she has any plans to explain herself to him of all people. Tough. ]
[ Very human indeed. Outside of the days when the draw of the gem force changes upon him, there's nothing supernatural about him whatsoever. A human man through and through—proudly so. And though he isn't friendly, his temper isn't quite as sour as it was the day they met... but can he really be blamed for that? A demon slayer becoming the very thing he so despises, in the first throes of dramatic change. To say it had been a relief when they reverted would be a vast understatement.
Which is why, right now, he actually laughs at her pointed look and comment. It's a sharp sound, more like pennies loose in a tin can, hollow of any real warmth. If he had been uncertain about whether or not she was under similar circumstances at the time, those are now assuaged. Demon woman. ]
Oh? [ the stretch of his mouth is both manic and mocking, eyes wide with long lashes fluttering on a blink— ] I'd love for you to try to come take a bite. Every demon before you ended up headless before getting a good taste.
[ He taps his arm, over one of the scars that stretch across his body. Nope, he's no stranger to getting attacked for the sake of being someone's lunch, if the jaw of what could have been teeth are any indication. ]
[ The impressive scar he's showing off does get a brief glance, albeit with Hide's characteristic poker face. Sanemi's a reckless son of a bitch, but it's that same recklessness that makes him a legitimate threat, especially if whatever demon responsible for that scar expected him to roll over and die like 99% of other humans.
Big mistake.
Just saying. Catching a nichirin blade in the side? A uniquely painful - and educational - experience. Which just makes what she's about to do kind of suspect even if she doesn't think of herself as a sucker for punishment. ]
Big talk. [ She only has one blade of the three on her today, but-- ] Will you fight me again, swordsman?
[ He said it himself after all: "This isn't over." What better time to settle the score than a city-wide blackout in a nice, secluded alley somewhere? At least she's being polite about it. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
July
👹The Long Night
👹Wild Thing, You Make My Heart Sing
👹Wildcard
wild thing
He's always been moody but it's worse now, accompanied by the urge to prowl around and bare his fangs at any stranger unlucky enough to walk too near him. (Also the strange desire to howl at the moon? He manages to repress that urge though.) Fortunately, he has enough sense of mind to usher himself out of the most crowded parts of the city and to someplace more abandoned. Unfortunately for him, he is apparently not alone here, the thick strands of webbing clinging to his clothes and limbs plenty indication of another creature loitering around these parts.
The voice, when it comes, has him stiffening and scowling, head twisting and lifting as he tries to catch sight of where it might be coming from. ]
I don't see anything marking this place as yours.
[ Sure, there's the annoying webs scattered all over the place (and him), but as far as he's concerned, that's merely decoration and nothing more. ]
ʕง•ᴥ•ʔง It's go time
[ As before, the echoing space has the confusing effect of dissipating the source of the question in several different directions even though she isn't speaking much louder than a casual conversational tone. To less keen senses, the subtle thrum of taut wire would go entirely unnoticed. But adlets have great hearing, right?
Which means Eustace should have just enough time to register how that sound comes from slightly behind and above him, where she's sneakily descending on a single strand of silk - clearly planning to pounce the moment she gets within range. ]
After all, you seem to be wearing plenty of my hard work.
Q(｀⌒´Q)
It's not my fault you've chosen to display it in a poor place.
[ It is his fault that bits and pieces of it are being ruined, but he sees nothing wrong with that. And though he's never been particular loose of tongue, he seems to have no problem being mouthy at her. ]
I'd prefer to wear something else, given the choice.
[ Finally, his ears pinpoint the correct source of the voice but by then it's already too late; by the time he turns, she's already there in front of him. ]
no subject
In fact, Hide looks surprisingly normal despite the suspicious environment. No hideous chelicerae or overtly creepy crawly qualities out in the open, which in itself might be some cause for concern. After all she's still slowly inching closer as she talks. ]
Glibness is unbecoming of a house guest. And you haven't bought a gift for disturbing me, I see.
[ About the time she gets close enough to verge on uncomfortable, the unbroken webbing stuck to Eustace's clothes starts to constrict, bit by bit, inch by inch, mostly concentrated around the legs first. It wouldn't do for her newfound company to get away, now would it?
Now the Tsuchigumo hints start to emerge. Long, slender shadows silently unfurling from her back, poised in the deep darkness to strike at the most opportune moment. ]
But if it's new clothing you desire, that can be arranged.
oof i am so sorry for the delay
I don't have anything on me. [ And he's certainly not about to offer himself up. ] If I'm so rude, you should just let me go.
[ It's a false hope more than anything, the evergrowing pressure of the silk strands around him turning more palpable by the second. The pressure of her presence grows too, his eyes following the murky movements of dark shapes - legs? spikes? - behind her. Difficult to move with the way she's holding him down, but he's not about to sit around and let her possibly skewer him either. ]
Are you going to use me as a pincushion?
No worries! Never in a rush. c:
[ Her tone should say volumes about what she thinks of that particular idea. Whyever would he suggest such a thing? No, no, certainly not. Would you let a vandal-maybe-burglar go just because they asked nicely after being caught red-handed?
Point being, she sounds very much like he's just suggested something tremendously foolish, which he kind of has. At least from where she's standing.
The threads start to tighten further up now, creeping slowly but steadily from knees to chest as those long, spindly shadows grow more and more solid with proximity, curling far up and over her shoulders like a hydra's heads.
Pitch black spider legs, of course, banded with the same unearthly gold as the silk draped over much of the building's interior. ]
Come now, don't be uncouth. I only seek restitution and nothing more. [ She shrugs, and the spider appendages echo the motion. ] You'll simply have to stay until we reach an accord.
[ Abruptly, the passively looming spider leggies come racing down from above like spears, each coming to a wickedly sharp point... connected to multiple strands of spider silk.
It's not the Tsuchigumo limbs he should've been worried about, but the webs wound around his legs. After all, getting hoisted upside-down makes it somewhat difficult to escape depending on how much mobility he has left. ]
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After so long spent as part of a skyfaring crew he doesn't fear heights, but the sudden upwards jolt still drags a startled grunt out of him, his fingers stretching out and curling as he jerks and does his best to wriggle out of the tangle he's found himself in. There's not much to hold onto out here except spidersilk, most of which cuts clean as his claws swipe though them, but he manages to fold and swing himself up enough to grap hold of one leg, using it as leverage while his other hand does its best at clawing through the webbing around his legs. ]
I don't do accords anymore.
[ At least, not any that aren't on his terms. The blood is pumping quick through his veins now, irritation twisting into anticipation at the prospect of maybe tearing a few of those legs off. ]
But if you want me to stay, I don't mind. Just make sure you don't regret it.
[ The last few words are punctuated with a sharp tug of her leg, a move to get her closer and within reach. ]
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Slowly, mockingly, the spider leg in his grasp sways from side to side, likely making his efforts to escape just that little bit harder than it needs to be if he insists on holding on to it. ]
I rarely regret anything.
[ While Eustace struggles to cut himself free, Hide watches how his claws cut through each layer of silk with a great deal of academic interest. This is the first time she's caught something of his size instead of a rabbit or smaller prey.. it's only good sense to observe what he's capable of for future reference.
Of course that doesn't stop her from using another spider limb to start poking and prodding at the various belts and bobs he has on his person out of curiosity.
give her your lunch money, dork]Besides, I doubt meeting an oddly talkative okuri inu will be one of them.
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Though she shakes him slighly from side to side, he doesn't sense any malicious intent emanating from her just yet. A sense of mischief certainly, since he's no better than a mouse being toyed with a cat right now, but he doesn't seem to be in any danger. He still has no desire to be tangled up in her webbing but the urgency in the hand still shredding through the silk is tempered somewhat.
His voice, however, is still steeped full of annoyance. ]
I'm not an [ what did she call it again ] 'okuri inu.' I'm an Erune.
[ Please get your facts straight, ma'am!! ]
So what, am I expected to hang here and hold a pleasant conversation with you over teatime until you're satisfied? Is that the reparation you're seeking?
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Your company isn't that valuable, inu yokai or not. But talk as much as you want, and I'll decide what I'll take from you in return for your vandalism.
[ Technically he did say he wasn't open to negotiating, so it's not like she has any other choice but to make the decision herself. Rip in pasta.
The casual tone that she poses the next series of questions with definitely don't jive with the subject matter, or the intent stare she levels him with; Tsuchigumo limbs shifting from rifling through his belongings to gently prodding Eustace himself. Fortunately she's taking deliberate care not to go accidentally sinking those sharp ends into any soft spots. ]
Shall I take an arm? [ Poke poke - ] Or perhaps a leg? What do you think, Erune?
[ Now, is she being serious or just messing with him? Maybe a bit of both. ]
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You have plenty of legs already.
[ And no, that's not an invitation to gently rip off one of his arms, he needs those, thank you very much!
He takes a break from his dedicated silk-slicing to slap at one of the many limbs poking at his torso. It does little, considering that he only has one free hand and she has many legs, but it's the principle of the thing. Eustace is not a man who enjoys the invasion of his personal space and right now his space is being extremely invaded. ]
Why not take an ear? You seem to be hard of hearing, considering how many times I've told you I don't have anything.
[ That's a joke. Don't actually take his ears, he needs those too. ]
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That's a silent "sass me again and see what happens" warning, all right. ]
I could settle for taking your tongue as collateral. No doubt your future hosts would thank me for it.
[ After all, he has "nothing" he wants taken from him, which is very different from having nothing at all to contribute period. There's a difference!
Buuuuuuuuuuuut if there's really no physical objects worth taking on his person, she can compromise. The next question gets posed in the same casual tone as before - though there's a certain sharpness in Hide's eyes, as if planning on weighing his words very carefully indeed.
A relaxed chat could escalate from 0-100 with little to no warning if she finds the answer unsatisfactory. After all, each of those spider legs has silently come to rest on particularly vulnerable parts of Eustace's body. ]
Tell me, why did you come here? Nobody wanders so far off the beaten path unless they're searching for something.
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Addled by his gem though he is, there's enough sense rattling around in his head that he takes her jab for the warning it is. His body stills its annoyed twitching, though the put-out expression on his face stays right where it is. He has a lot of personal wishes he'd like to see fulfilled but a death wish isn't one of them. ]
I don't make myself a guest often enough for anyone to thank you for it.
[ Something something lone wolf something something.
It's true enough in any case; he's not a man that particularly enjoys company save for in a few select cases, but none of the people involved in those scenarios are present here in the city. Which leaves him back at square one, alone and broody 99% of the time.
Which is partial explanation for why he's out here, away from the main hustle and bustle of the city. He looks at her best he can, eyes still partly lidded. ]
You don't get the urge to go out and explore? To find someplace where you belong better than the place you are currently?
[ That's maybe a bit more truthful of an answer than he'd like, but blame that on his gem too. ]
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It's subtle, but his open honesty takes the wind out of her sails much more effectively than if he had put up a fight from the start; each of those Tsuchigumo legs silently recoil back into the dark, neatly draping over her shoulders like a spindly shawl.
The answering silence deepens almost to the point of awkwardness before she finally recites: ]
[ Translation: yes, she certainly does know what he's talking about. Which is probably what she meant by the spontaneous poetry (thanks Saigyo), but being cryptic has always been her lot instead of outright agreement.
At least his admission has driven home the point that Eustace is clearly a harmless lost soul and not the common thief she'd taken him as. How embarrassing. ]
Here or there, it's all the same. There is no "better" home if you don't know what you're looking for in the first place.
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He still feels uneasy in his skin and not altogether convinced that the worst of the threat posed by this spiderlike creature is gone, but she hasn't seen fit to injure him yet. His hold on her leg loosens ever so slightly, an annoyed sigh escaping his lips. ]
I know what I'm looking for. It's just not here. [ That's the problem when the place where he belongs is tied to a person and ship thousands of miles away. ] I'll have to figure out something else in the meantime.
[ So he doesn't wander into someone's home, apparently, and get his limbs ripped off as punishment. ]
Did you write that? The poem.
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[ Neither approval nor disapproval, really, but conceding he has a point in her own way. It's not her place to decide such a thing for him.
Since it seems he's calmed down and Hide herself has no motivation to keep interrogating him over this clusterfuck of a misunderstanding, she gently pulls the leg he's still loosely grasping out of his hand, using it to start delicately manipulating the silk strands wrapped around him. It'd be easier to simply rip the threads off, but something tells her Eustace would be mildly inconvenienced if half of his clothing came off with them.
Hang in there, buddy. She'll get him untangled in due time. ]
That honour belongs to a far more eminent wordsmith than myself.
[ Don't let the disinterested tone fool you. She's got stacks and stacks of the stuff jealously hidden away like a dragon's hoard - doubly so with new and unprecedented access to a technologically advanced culture.
Not that she'll ever admit it out loud of course. Some hobbies aren't meant to be shared off the cuff with just anyone. ]
If there's one good thing about this place, it's the size of the libraries.
Pyrotechnics & Piña Coladas
Dressed in shorts, sandals, and a white long sleeved linen shirt which hinted at a bikini tap Anna was leaned against a bar of one of the drink stands talking animatedly with the bartender.] No, still not right. It's missin' something and I'm not sure what.
[The girl's lips twisted to the side and she quickly scanned the crowd around her, looking for a familiar face and finding none. Though she did spot a fellow Gembonded.] Hey mind giving me a hand here? I'm trying to teach this guy how to make a real margarita. [Offering the woman her glass.] Could you tell me what is missing?
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Firstly, what is a margarita? Not a clue. Hide's feudal experience offers exactly zero insight if it isn't sake or some other period specific moonshine.
So after a short, thoughtful pause as Hide considers the glass Anna's graciously offering, she finally answers: ]
Context, I'd say.
[ What, you expected a helpful response? At least there's a spark of genuine curiosity as she studies the pinkish beverage with all the seriousness of a biochemist. ]
What goes into a "real" margarita in your opinion?
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Tequila and love of course. There is something real close to the former, and I'm trying to get him to show some of the latter. [Giving the bartender a glance over her shoulder, then back at Hide.] But seriously, tequila, lime juice or limeade, salt on the rim, and something else. Something...citrusy but just a little sweet.
[She paused, glass still offered.] You've never had one before have you?
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Ah. Was I that obvious?
[ It smells nice, at least. A bit like yuzu, but with more bite. ]
I'll admit, much of this is new to me. I'm used to enjoying sake on rare occasions.
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[A bit of a laugh as she turned and ordered another but with a little bit of the orange liqueur this time.]
I think this[Gesturing around them.] is new to everyone. Though they do have sake, unless you want to expand your horizons a little. It is a party after all.
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I'm sure I don't know. Tastes vary by region.
[ Which is just a polite way of saying "the palette profile here makes no goddamn sense" to anyone that can read between the lines. Typical Hide. ]
Sweet things aren't my personal preference, generally. Expanding horizons in that direction would be counter-intuitive.
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It isn't supposed to be sweet, sweet just hair. [Getting a flash of inspiration and ordering two shots of the tequila with some salt and a sliced up lime. As well as some sake for her new companion of the moment.]
It really depends for me, but this will let you taste what we're trying to build around. [Anna slid one shot glass a bit to the side, obviously meant for Hide, licked where her finger and thumb met before sprinkling the course salt on the wet skin. With the same hand the girl picked up her own glass and wedge of lime, raised it in salute before tossing it back. Her tongue cleaned off the salt and the wedge she sucked on for a moment before banging the shot glass on the bar then stuffing the lime into it. A bit of a grin as the warmth of the drink hit her stomach.]
Your turn.
the long night
Unsurprising—and maybe inevitable given that he elects not to drink. A buzz can kill your senses enough to leave you completely defenseless, so while others revel, he keeps to the walls. It isn't as though he hates socializing—but given who he is and what he must do, isolation is the better answer. Protecting is what he reverts to, scanning the crowds for demons or otherwise unsavory types; if nothing else for a warrior ever-longing to return back to where he's needed, there's at least this.
Night dispenses and he treads with the crowd... stops when someone bumps into him, gaze narrowing onto a familiar figure. Their fight in the underground has hardly been forgotten; it isn't often he allows prey to escape. ]
—and here I was hoping you crawled off and died.
[ Hi. ]
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There's no mistaking that shock of white hair and excess of scars - and the incredibly abrasive personality tacked on to said qualities, of course. Nevertheless, Hide keeps all the nasty thoughts to herself... even if the icy look he gets in return brims with her own fair share of disdain.
That's big talk for some rude-ass ronin. >:T Clearly she didn't hit him hard enough the first time if he's lucid enough to sass her like this!!!! ]
Oh. You again.
[ Monotone af. It's fair to say they're equally enthusiastic about seeing each other alive and well. ]
Vastly overestimating your capabilities as usual, I see. Hope will get you nowhere.
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You're mouthy for someone who fled like a roach.
[ And excuse you, ronin? He has a master and a cause he's very dedicated to, thanks much. Which is why he's already resting a hand on the hilt of his sword, motion habitual as his eyes remain set on her. Knowing how quick she is, it would be unwise to glance away for even a second. Fool me once, shame on you, but fool me twice... ]
Picking your dinner out from the crowd?
[ Because his assumption, of course, is that she's here to eat some innocent civilians. What else could a nasty demon want? ]
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[ It could have been much worse and he knows it. Don't tempt her.
Hide doesn't answer his question right away, busy taking in the very human appearance of something she thought was another run-of-the-mill yokai with a chip on his shoulder trying to edge in on her territory. Still all rough edges, hard muscle, and attitude, still laden with the same coiled potential as a looming storm front. Still toting around that cursed sword of his too, much to her annoyance.
So, naturally, it's the perfect time to play coy. Just to rub it in a little. ]
...you could say that. [ Like she'd bother with the crumbs of sustenance humans could provide. Hardly worth the effort. ] It's been so very long since I've enjoyed a rare delicacy.
[ BOY HOWDY she sure is staring straight at him and no-one else for that pointed remark! Intentional? Absolutely. For the reason he probably assumes? No.
Not that she has any plans to explain herself to him of all people. Tough. ]
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Which is why, right now, he actually laughs at her pointed look and comment. It's a sharp sound, more like pennies loose in a tin can, hollow of any real warmth. If he had been uncertain about whether or not she was under similar circumstances at the time, those are now assuaged. Demon woman. ]
Oh? [ the stretch of his mouth is both manic and mocking, eyes wide with long lashes fluttering on a blink— ] I'd love for you to try to come take a bite. Every demon before you ended up headless before getting a good taste.
[ He taps his arm, over one of the scars that stretch across his body. Nope, he's no stranger to getting attacked for the sake of being someone's lunch, if the jaw of what could have been teeth are any indication. ]
It's been a while since I sent one rolling.
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Big mistake.
Just saying. Catching a nichirin blade in the side? A uniquely painful - and educational - experience. Which just makes what she's about to do kind of suspect even if she doesn't think of herself as a sucker for punishment. ]
Big talk. [ She only has one blade of the three on her today, but-- ] Will you fight me again, swordsman?
[ He said it himself after all: "This isn't over." What better time to settle the score than a city-wide blackout in a nice, secluded alley somewhere?
At least she's being polite about it. ]