❤︎⁠‎ — believe.

❤︎⁠‎⎯ 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 .ᐟ

indeed  shinjiro  is  not  long  at  all.  it's  a  habit  pounded  into  him  from  every  living  circumstance  he's  ever  had  -  neither  orphanages  nor  dormitories  nor  the  streets  spare  much  time  for  bathing.  he  knows  how  to  get  in  and  get  out  as  quickly  as  necessary,  and  he  does  so  even  here.  it's  no  more  than  10  minutes  before  he's  exiting  the  bathroom  in  borrowed  clothes  (  but  still  his  hat  -  he  never  gave  that  up  )  ,  glancing  up  and  down  the  hall  with  a  leery  gaze.  his  eyes,  inevitably,  meet  those  of  the  maid's. 

his  discomfort  is  evident.  perhaps  even  moreso  than  hers.

🍒  favorite sodapop?

🌻  favorite flower?

🎱  do you have any/want any tattoos?

🔮  do you have any paranormal experiences?

✨  do you believe in magic?

💘  do you believe in true love?

🦋  is there anybody you idolize?

🌙   do you enjoy going on walks?

💐  do you like your name?

💝  what are your favorite cities?

🍯  do enjoy watching films?

🍓 is there a piece of art (music, book, painting) that always inspires you?

🌈  do you enjoy thunderstorms?

🌴  what is your astrological sign?

🌹 have you always lived where you do now?

💕  what does love feel like to you?

⭐️  have you ever snuck out?

💋  what is your dream?

💖  are there any words that you live by?

if  shinjiro  has  learned  anything  in  his  life,  it's  that  it  doesn't  matter  what  it  seems  like.  he  can  be  trouble  even  if  it  seems  like  no  one  minds.  he  can  be  trouble  even  if  they  fail  to  realize  it.  resources  are  resources,  and  using  them  unnecessarily  is  trouble  whether  maledictus  wants  to  admit  that  or  not.

but  it's  fine.  shinji  said  he'd  stay  out  of  their  hair,  and  he  meant  it.  he's  smart  enough  to  spare  them,  even  if  they're  not  smart  enough  to  spare  themselves.

“  whatever.  ”  he  turns  towards  the  stairs.  “  stop  callin'  me  boy.  ”

they lifted the dripping coat the boy had surrendered moments before , handing it over to her. ❝ see that it is washed and dried before dawn. ❞ the young woman held it as if it were a dead rat , wrinkling her nose. " . . . it smells dreadful. " no response. it was not like they could smell it anyway , so it HARDLY mattered. ( & even if they could , they did not have to deal with it. ) as they began to walk away , the maid began to follow them. " forgive me for speaking out of turn , my lord , but bringing a stranger in from the streets ? it is rather reckless. we know nothing about him. " is that not the BEST part ? the learning ?

" there are charities for men like him. " ❝ indeed. ❞ " shelters , even. " ❝ mm. ❞ " anywhere but here ? " they only smile , turning their head to stare down at her — like she was nothing more but a WORTHLESS ant they could just crush under their heel. ❝ a starving wolf that walks into one's garden is hardly returned to the forest without first being observed. ❞

he  glares,  as  usual.  it  seems  to  be  shinjiro's  natural  state,  especially  when  sheltering  in  the  mansions  of  rich  people  he  doesn't  know  all  that  well  -  and  even  moreso  when  those  rich  people  are  trying  to  take  care  of  him,  even  though  being  housed  by  them  is  mortifying  enough  on  its  own.  unfortunately,  he  has  no  option  to  decline,  because  he  really  will  track  water  all  through  this  lavish  manor  if  he  keeps  his  coat  on,  and  that  would  be  incredibly  fucked  up. 

with  a  great  deal  of  reluctance,  he  sheds  his  coat  and  holds  it  out  to  maledictus.  pay  no  mind  to  the  shiver  that  immediately  courses  through  him.  a  hot  shower  will  help,  at  least  a  little.

time never waits. it delivers all equally to the same end. you, who wish to safeguard the future, however limited it may be, you will be given one year; go forth without falter, with your heart as your guide.   / private & mutuals only, crossover & oc friendly. org est. 2k14, rebooted 2k23. evoked by modorelin farllee. NON-RP BLOGS DNI.

watching  the  maid  (  the  fucking  maid  )  relieve  maledictus  of  their  coat  makes  shinjiro  suddenly  viscerally  aware  of  the  waterlogged  weight  still  resting  on  his  shoulders  and  back.  especially  now  that  they're  indoors,  he  feels  the  chill  being  soaked  through  -  he  only  keeps  himself  from  shivering  through  sheer  will.  yet  he  doesn't  make  any  moves  to  relieve  himself.  even  that,  somehow,  feels  like  showing  too  much.  (  despite  agreeing  to  come  here,  his  trepidation  hasn't  lessened  in  the  slightest.  )