THE ENDS ⧹ THE MEANS

@codename-freya ／ unprompted ／ always accepting.

It was almost as if the girl had been spying on him... No remark's given (though, it would've been more than warranted. deserved, practically... an obligation, almost.) upon the potential-- at the very least, one of a verbal nature. In its place, however, remained an expression that did most of the legwork otherwise.

To say that it hosted "disbelief" might've been mere hyperbole. On the other hand (for most people, anyway. mayuri understood not everyone had more than, at minimum, four hands to spare.), however? This wasn't a look that gave off what most might've come to expect when presenting a gift: appreciation. It's in somewhat of a limbo state, instead; it's left him incapable of settling on "how" he should "feel" currently.

Gifts had never been part of the "mission statement" within his division-- this wasn't to say it was prohibited (as long as it didn't distract his subordinates then he couldn't care any less.) but, rather, Mayuri was more than content to be excluded. This was done on purpose, it being a necessity almost to repeat every year once the calendars were flipped to December.

As such, to "receive" and to "give" were things Kurotsuchi Mayuri never found... imperative to study.

One, low hum's eventually returned towards the gesture. Head tilted, eyes panning down at the offered item (common sense informs him she spent... money? on him. how odd.) before slowly extending one of his hands. With its palm facing skywards, he's silent in his demand -- requests were simply not part of the Twelfth's modus operandi -- for her to hand the box just so.

"That I do," he confirmed after a few more seconds of silence, fingers bending and snaking their way over the package's edges to ensure a secure grip. "It's almost... creepy, wouldn't you "say", how fast--"

Eyes jerked away with the immediate pause in his speech. Lips thinned, forming a small but straight line. Thoughts circled and circled (not a rumor. not a piece of gossip. not an urban legend.) before coming to a sudden stop, allowing for him to return his gaze back unto her. Another hum to denote his mild amusement in regards to the situation touched the open air.

"--word travels. Not that I'm particularly offended."

A shrug's offered -- not quite helpless, not quite exasperated -- in line with his statement.

Bringing the box of candy (his nose picks up a few familiar scents.) closer to his face, his head cants once more. It's a steeper tilt, eyes going half-lidded for a split second only to blink out of it. A corner of his lip twitched, unsure whether to frown nor to smile. As far as he was aware, he's feeling no different than what he was before she's so bravely interrupted him, but... he supposed there was no exact reason, either, to stick to his strict schedule day after day.

Variety was the spice of life, after all.

"Nonetheless, this "gesture" has been..." eyes rolled, first up at the ceiling then flicking down to Kaisa, "...duly noted."

Mayuri remained still for a few, idle seconds. His gaze's since averted, adjusting its attention back onto the present. Head tilted opposite of its previous direction (he thinks about bowing his head as... that was the appropriate form of gratitude. however, he was a superior above all else.) right as he turned his back to her. Opening the box first -- she absolutely didn't need to see him "enjoy" his gift, now did she? -- and plucking one of the delicacies out, he gave her a halfhearted wave.

If Kaisa were to, perhaps, squint, there might've been a small, pre-packaged (now that he thinks about it... the lack of supposed effort was slightly comical.) mint pinched betwixt index finger and thumb. She would've had to be quick, however, as it's already gone. Plastic's been disposed of to... somewhere. Most likely. Popped into his mouth with an unceremonious crunch, the sweet's disappeared into the metaphorical aether.

"Perhaps, I should follow in your "footsteps"... and share with my fellow man, heh," he offered in a slightly jovial voice, lowering his arm in the midst of his pondering. "It'll be fascinating to see their "reactions" to their captain "suddenly" displaying goodwill. A most fascinating experiment, inde~eeed..."

❝ What is it? What do yer googly eyes see? ❞

"..."

Momentary silence that which then allowed for him to pass on a look of incredulity (why, oh why must he always be stuck to work with such... imbeciles? these are the sort that were the so-called "class clown" and, thus, peaked in high school.) before blinking away. Now, his eyes popped open big and wide, disregarding Hirako with the utmost impertinence yet pulling a veil over itself all the same.

Nobody would dare accuse the Twelfth of something so callous, after all, if he simply didn't speak his thoughts out loud.

"Oh, are one of "those" pesky things out of sorts again? How inconvenient."

One hand raised up, flattening itself and baring the entirety of its palm towards the other. Priming itself a few inches away from the back of his head, Mayuri proceeded from where he last left off before being so rudely interrupted.

"I see~eee... a lot of nonsense-- there is nonstop "chatter" about, ahhh... fornication of all things."

Bop goes the hand against his head, causing for it to bob forward with both of his eyes (clearly, he just doesn't know what he's talking about.) suddenly rolling opposite of one another's direction. If one were to try and lean ever so closer, they might've been able to hear the familiar -- or unfamiliar... he doesn't know nor care for what "others" do in their spare time -- sound of marbles rolling on cold, hard metal.

One slow rise of head later, and Mayuri's completely frozen in place. Mouth was drawn out in an open frown, all teeth and no gum. His eyes continued to roll "in place", almost looking as if they were attempting to sync up to little to no avail.

Then he blinks, and the noises stop. Wait-- what noises? Huh?

Lowering his hand to lay its arm limp at his side, Mayuri averts his gaze to lock on Shinji and no one but him.

@humificates ／ unprompted ／ always accepting.

Right before Noboru managed to lay the "finishing" (the worst it'd do was leave a mark, maybe making more of a mess than what he'd originally intended.) blow, an arm's snapping back -- it seizes at first, hand initially unsure of its trajectory with fingers snapping in and out of place -- unnaturally with all five digits immediately clawing within the man's hair. Whilst keeping his entire "person" faced towards (henceforth away from him-- he knows, he knows... it's a tragedy.) the horizon line, Mayuri merely canted his head slightly to the right.

Eyes rolled, panning skywards in what could've been contemplative thought. A smile played at his lips, not quite committing yet not fully against the idea; after all, from where else would the Twelfth experience such glee?

Oshino Noboru was an odd one... not that Kurotsuchi Mayuri was complaining.

"You're awfully desperate today," came the casual retort, honeyed hues continuing to gaze out into the distance with an expression that gradually shifted. No longer was he bold enough to smile but, rather, settled for something closer to a "gawk".

A sliver of teeth were exposed, both from the top row, as the corners of his mouth were deepening to form makeshift dimples. Without relinquishing his grip (apparently, noboru likes it when he's rough, a little forward... something with a bit more initiative.) and a shred of discomfort, Mayuri's yanking down the bigger man to his level. It's tried and tried, pulling and pulling, tugging and tugging until he felt the vague thump of the other male's chin bumping (and, soon, digging in because that's where he's going to stay. heel, boy-- sit.) against the bone of his shoulder.

When he's able to spy Noboru from his peripherals, that's when a grin of acknowledgement's offered towards him. A low chuckle gurgled within the depths of his mouth, not yet strong enough to erupt forth but persistent all the same to no longer go unheard. Coincidentally, too, that's when he's decided to lessen his grip-- it's not by much, but beggars needn't dare be choosers!

"I should pull your teeth "out"-- one by one... I do wonder if that wouldn't be something you'd find "pleasure" in."

It's then that he turned around, spinning on the heel of one of his feet without a single disturbance (the elbow bobs out of place but was quick to reintegrate, a ripping sound akin to torn paper the one telltale sign.) done to his arm. No warning was given as unoccupied hand (but not for long.) was immediately reaching, grasping at the taller's groin with a vicelike grip.

If Noboru's bold enough to "start" something then, well... it's only fair that he be around to "finish" it. That's what Mayuri thinks, anyway, with a gentle fondle (is he already hard? incredible.) to coax Noboru closer.

All the while, he's still wearing the same grin from before. Although, it does seemed to have grown twice in size.

"Tsk... tsk, tsk! You are such a "strange" man--"

whatever for , what effect does it have on him … elaborate I’m curious 👀