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Help me how? Are you going to stomp on my shoulders so I don't become a beanpole?
(not humor, he just doesn't know what she means by helping him. shin's fine. he's not perfect, not by a long shot, but he doesn't know what she means. no drugs cause him addiction, he's not for sale. there's no ryoko, or reira, only the scars they've left.)
(not humor, he just doesn't know what she means by helping him. shin's fine. he's not perfect, not by a long shot, but he doesn't know what she means. no drugs cause him addiction, he's not for sale. there's no ryoko, or reira, only the scars they've left.)
No.
( Does she even know what she means? Not really. They're both such tangled messes of hurt and scarring that help could mean a million things.
Kate's hands reach out, threading into both of Shin's, squeezing each gently. )
I don't know. ... I think that's up to you.
( Her thumbs stroke slow circles against the backs of his hands. )
Can't promise it'll be good help. ... Unless y'need me to punch someone. But you're th' first real friend I've had in a while, so...
( God she's so bad at this. How do you say "I don't want you to feel like you're alone"? )
( Does she even know what she means? Not really. They're both such tangled messes of hurt and scarring that help could mean a million things.
Kate's hands reach out, threading into both of Shin's, squeezing each gently. )
I don't know. ... I think that's up to you.
( Her thumbs stroke slow circles against the backs of his hands. )
Can't promise it'll be good help. ... Unless y'need me to punch someone. But you're th' first real friend I've had in a while, so...
( God she's so bad at this. How do you say "I don't want you to feel like you're alone"? )
... Don't worry, Katie. You take care of me enough.
(she doesn't have to worry. she loves him, and he feels it with each and every word, each and every caress. he feels it most at night, when she finds a position against him and snuggles just the tiniest bit, sighing before she is lulled to sleep.)
I'm difficult, but all in all, I'm fine. I notice the things you do for me, and I appreciate it.
(she doesn't have to worry. she loves him, and he feels it with each and every word, each and every caress. he feels it most at night, when she finds a position against him and snuggles just the tiniest bit, sighing before she is lulled to sleep.)
I'm difficult, but all in all, I'm fine. I notice the things you do for me, and I appreciate it.
( She does, even if she can't put the words to it. Talking to Shin is comfortable in a way Kate hasn't felt in a long time, his presence near instantaneously becoming so enmeshed in her own life here in Jigokucho that the only comparison she has for it is family.
And even that isn't quite right, but for the intensity with which she feels the need to do something for him.
She doesn't feel like she does that enough, even if he says otherwise. )
... I need a drink.
( This conversation has been a lot. )
And even that isn't quite right, but for the intensity with which she feels the need to do something for him.
She doesn't feel like she does that enough, even if he says otherwise. )
... I need a drink.
( This conversation has been a lot. )
Weren't you going out?
(well, she can get her drink if she wants. he's much better with a joint, and it doesn't get him so woozy. alas, he's not engaging. there has been too much crap in his body - a breather would do him good.)
(well, she can get her drink if she wants. he's much better with a joint, and it doesn't get him so woozy. alas, he's not engaging. there has been too much crap in his body - a breather would do him good.)
Not tonight.
( She probably could go out, get drinks in some shitty bar, make mistakes, but she's made enough of those in her life, and they're all hovering at the surface after talking like this.
She's tired, and instead of restlessness, it weighs heavily on her, beckoning her to stay somewhere safe for once.
So, a beer and the couch sounds good enough. )
( She probably could go out, get drinks in some shitty bar, make mistakes, but she's made enough of those in her life, and they're all hovering at the surface after talking like this.
She's tired, and instead of restlessness, it weighs heavily on her, beckoning her to stay somewhere safe for once.
So, a beer and the couch sounds good enough. )
I'm off tonight, too. I play tomorrow, so I was just going to read and play. Maybe we could fool around? I don't know.
(ah, yes, the way of the romantic.
he just also feels like he isn't home enough, that's not something nice when you share a space.)
(ah, yes, the way of the romantic.
he just also feels like he isn't home enough, that's not something nice when you share a space.)
( See Kate. See Kate raise her brow. )
Not in the mood.
( Weirdly, talking about your sexual trauma is not all that conducive to wanting to fool around. It is conducive to pouring yourself a shot of tequila and knocking it back immediately, though! )
Not in the mood.
( Weirdly, talking about your sexual trauma is not all that conducive to wanting to fool around. It is conducive to pouring yourself a shot of tequila and knocking it back immediately, though! )
( And, as promised, tomorrow evening, Kate makes her way to the gym, dressed in leggings and a hoodie, a bag slung over her shoulder. She's running later than she would have liked, but she left work desperate to wash the smell of garlic shrimp out of her pores. Garlic and seafood scented sweat is not something anyone wants to smell, after all. )
Hey.
( A wave as she approaches the entrance, spying Haru as she crosses the road to reach her. )
Hey.
( A wave as she approaches the entrance, spying Haru as she crosses the road to reach her. )
[ Haru's got on a tank top, a loose jacket, and shorts, along with athletic shoes. Her curly hair's been pulled back into a ponytail and she beams to see Kate, waving enthusiastically. ]
Kate-san, hello! Thank you again for meeting with me!
Kate-san, hello! Thank you again for meeting with me!
( Kate snorts, a faint smile playing at the corner of her mouth as she looks up from what she's doing. )
Don't wanna be here that long.
( And if all goes right, she will have a much more interesting career waiting for her back home. One she's always wanted to do. )
Don't wanna be here that long.
( And if all goes right, she will have a much more interesting career waiting for her back home. One she's always wanted to do. )
( Oh. There's those arms she couldn't see at Tanabata. Nice. She can see that girl who wanted to start running as soon as she made her wish, and she likes it. )
Don't mention it.
( It'll be nice to work out with someone her own age for a change. Adults are a good challenge but, y'know. Variety. Spice of life.
Her own hair is still damp, tied up into a knot on top of her head. It... doesn't do much to give the illusion she's any taller than she is, but at least it's out of the way. )
How've you been?
( It's small talk as she leads them upstairs to the gym, using her phone to get them through the doors which open to reveal a wide, clean space with a variety of equipment. Goodbye yen, it was nice to know ye. )
Don't mention it.
( It'll be nice to work out with someone her own age for a change. Adults are a good challenge but, y'know. Variety. Spice of life.
Her own hair is still damp, tied up into a knot on top of her head. It... doesn't do much to give the illusion she's any taller than she is, but at least it's out of the way. )
How've you been?
( It's small talk as she leads them upstairs to the gym, using her phone to get them through the doors which open to reveal a wide, clean space with a variety of equipment. Goodbye yen, it was nice to know ye. )
Well, my roommate moved out, so I've been adjusting to that, but I'm getting used to it. And I was offered a job at a flower shop, so that's been interesting!
[ Haru's honestly alight with the delight of also being able to chat with someone in her age group. The problem with being 18 is you're not quite considered a teenager anymore, but you're also not technically as adult as anyone in the 21+ category. ]
What about you, Kate-san? [ as she takes in the area with fascination. ] Has everything been all right, all things considered?
[ Haru's honestly alight with the delight of also being able to chat with someone in her age group. The problem with being 18 is you're not quite considered a teenager anymore, but you're also not technically as adult as anyone in the 21+ category. ]
What about you, Kate-san? [ as she takes in the area with fascination. ] Has everything been all right, all things considered?
[ That's fair, and she's sure it's true. With a laugh, though, she replies in kind. ]
Me neither, I guess, but I'll miss you. I'm sure I will.
Me neither, I guess, but I'll miss you. I'm sure I will.
That's fair.
(because, duh. he knows.
but he'll reach for his guitar, tunes starting to fill the room with a joyous rhythm. should get the mood a little better, and hopefully, it'll make kate drink a little less.
thanks, power.)
(because, duh. he knows.
but he'll reach for his guitar, tunes starting to fill the room with a joyous rhythm. should get the mood a little better, and hopefully, it'll make kate drink a little less.
thanks, power.)
( Roomate? Hm... That sounds familiar, but there are just enough moving parts in Jigokucho that Kate doesn't think to question it just yet.
The flower shop, though; ) Aerith's place?
( It's asked as they bypass most of the equipment and Kate pushes open a door on the left which leads to a plain, open room with nothing but a mirror wall there. Perhaps more for dancing, but it'll serve the same purpose here. )
...Aye. ( Her nose wrinkles a little as she considers everything that's happened in the last month. Birthday, tattoo, promotion, new place, new job... Uh. Let's just say; ) Been a bit busy. In th' good way.
The flower shop, though; ) Aerith's place?
( It's asked as they bypass most of the equipment and Kate pushes open a door on the left which leads to a plain, open room with nothing but a mirror wall there. Perhaps more for dancing, but it'll serve the same purpose here. )
...Aye. ( Her nose wrinkles a little as she considers everything that's happened in the last month. Birthday, tattoo, promotion, new place, new job... Uh. Let's just say; ) Been a bit busy. In th' good way.
( It's a sweet sentiment, but it stings. Miss her? Aerith barely knows her. )
... I doubt that.
( People who've known her longer were happy to forget her existence as soon as she wasn't useful to them any more. Why should she expect people here to be any different?
Clearing her throat, Kate quickly shifts subjects back to the immediate; )
Where are we doing this?
... I doubt that.
( People who've known her longer were happy to forget her existence as soon as she wasn't useful to them any more. Why should she expect people here to be any different?
Clearing her throat, Kate quickly shifts subjects back to the immediate; )
Where are we doing this?
Yes, that's right. She asked... well, that's not quite right. I somehow found myself being included among her employees before I realized it.
[ There was no asking, though she says it with a fair bit of cheer, so clearly it doesn't bother her. She's curiously glancing around as Kate leads her on, pausing only to set down her bag close to the mirror wall. ]
... I'm glad, though. That everything was good. Though I also hope you can get a chance to relax sooner rather than later.
[ There was no asking, though she says it with a fair bit of cheer, so clearly it doesn't bother her. She's curiously glancing around as Kate leads her on, pausing only to set down her bag close to the mirror wall. ]
... I'm glad, though. That everything was good. Though I also hope you can get a chance to relax sooner rather than later.
[ Though Kate's remark does not sting Aerith, she thinks that it says a great deal about Kate. Briefly, Aerith considers asking Kate if she would miss her, but she thinks better of it. Perhaps that's a little too forward, and she's not quite high up on the friendship ladder enough for it. Instead, she just tilts her head, inquisitive and smiling before she replies. ]
Why, you don't want an audience?
Why, you don't want an audience?
( Despite herself, Kate snorts as she sets her own things down near Haru's. )
Aye. She tried tha' with me, too.
( And she did promise to swing by when she had time, but between Nero's new restaurant and her promotion in Tamamo ranks, on top of all the training and trying to gather contacts from other factions... It might be a tight squeeze.
With her bag set down, Kate shifts to stretching out her limbs, feeling the pleasant pull of muscle as she pulls her foot up behind her. )
This is pretty relaxing.
( It's not running, or parkour, but physical activity is the refuge Kate knows best. )
Aye. She tried tha' with me, too.
( And she did promise to swing by when she had time, but between Nero's new restaurant and her promotion in Tamamo ranks, on top of all the training and trying to gather contacts from other factions... It might be a tight squeeze.
With her bag set down, Kate shifts to stretching out her limbs, feeling the pleasant pull of muscle as she pulls her foot up behind her. )
This is pretty relaxing.
( It's not running, or parkour, but physical activity is the refuge Kate knows best. )
( Kate would lie anyway. )
I mean where on your body.
( It's not the first or last time, Kate is sure, that someone has misunderstood her. )
I mean where on your body.
( It's not the first or last time, Kate is sure, that someone has misunderstood her. )
[ Goodness! She should probably be embarrassed, but. ]
Hmm...
[ She can't muster up to care much, honestly. After a bit of thinking, she settles. ]
Artist's choice? Long as it's not my face...
[ She thinks that'll hurt too bad, but also, she doubts Kate's going to crack a joke about putting it on her ass, so no need to cover that. ]
Hmm...
[ She can't muster up to care much, honestly. After a bit of thinking, she settles. ]
Artist's choice? Long as it's not my face...
[ She thinks that'll hurt too bad, but also, she doubts Kate's going to crack a joke about putting it on her ass, so no need to cover that. ]
... Boob?
( She flashes a half-grin.
No, but seriously; ) Give me your right arm.
( She flashes a half-grin.
No, but seriously; ) Give me your right arm.
Is it? Ah, you mean the satisfaction of exercising and moving your body?
[ She's not quite at that stage yet, but it is nice to work up a sweat... in her case it was usually after pursuing enemies in a world generated from society's perceptions, but that was still exercise!
She joins Kate in stretching, though, even though she starts out on the floor and reaches out to grasp a foot. ]
[ She's not quite at that stage yet, but it is nice to work up a sweat... in her case it was usually after pursuing enemies in a world generated from society's perceptions, but that was still exercise!
She joins Kate in stretching, though, even though she starts out on the floor and reaches out to grasp a foot. ]
( She nods, catching Haru's eyes through the reflection in the mirror, slowly working from legs upwards until her muscles feel loose and warmed up enough that she's confident she won't do any damage to herself during this. )
Outdoin' your personal bests. Seein' your progress. It's good.
( Someone had one interest and one interest only growing up. )
Outdoin' your personal bests. Seein' your progress. It's good.
( Someone had one interest and one interest only growing up. )
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