Cool Kids™

“I’m Ainelinn,” she replied, immediately smiling brightly in response and holding out her hand. It was important, after all, to be polite first and foremost. Even if you’d already been judging someone fiercely for seeing something that wasn’t there. “Nice to meet you–do your friends call you Lego or something, or is it just Legolas the whole time?”

She nodded, and something almost like a smile briefly crossed her face. Here was ground that she was familiar with. “Of course. You’d be surprised how much myth is actually science from another perspective. Does she not know which world she came from? There are several already mapped, but I don’t think I’ve heard of anything like her. At least, not yet.”

“With memory gaps taken into account, she can only place herself as far back as the 12th century, but myth suggests she came to our world as early as the Dark Ages.” Shinra shrugged, having accepted the tragic reality of Celty’s unknown origin long ago. “Nothing seems to have stayed with her from the world she came from. She simply cannot remember.” 

“Really? That’s your question? Just because you asked, I’m changing it. Elmo voice only from now on.” 

“Perfect! I was introduced to a nice place up the street a little. The cat found it; I’m surprised they didn’t destroy it, honestly,” he said, as he began to walk. “Apparently, there’s all sorts of flavors they put into the coffee. I’ve been wanting to try one.”

“A cat found it, of course...” he repeated under his breath, not even thinking too hard on that strange tidbit of information because HELLO, cute dude agreeing to coffee!!!!

A cute dude whose name he had never actually gotten...

“Yeah. Well–kinda? I don’t really…remember all the way, but I think it’s both. More crazy and less crazy, I mean.” He shrugged a bit helplessly. “It’s hard to explain…”

“Why is that? I don’t mean to be nosy,” she added in a rush. Jihiko had a lot of secrets and while she wasn’t certain, it seemed as if he might have some as well. The last thing she wanted was to cross the line from general curiosity to prying. 

She took a deep breath. 

“I’m not sure yet. It might be a take a walk sort of night.”

“My job is dangerous,” Mello reiterated. “But I’m my own boss.” Any mention of the mob or his role could compromise his status as their leader, as well as compromise this woman’s safety. But he didn’t really care about that, did he?

Mitch resisted the urge to roll his eyes as the pendulum stilled. “I mean, that’s a yes for someone being willing to give answers. There tend to be spirits of some kind pretty much everywhere, so there’s usually a few hanging around here. If you want to hold that ring out, we can ask about it specifically and see what we get. Don’t worry, it can stay in the bag.”

“Yeeeaaah, I bet that’s really frustrating.“ She didn’t add a for you, but she certainly considered it. “I wouldn’t feel too bad about it. Sometimes things are just tricky. Who are you supposed to be, anyway?”

“That’s a shame.” Of course the club dedicated to cats would be a failure. It was run by humans, after all.

“It sounds good. I like cake and getting petted, as long as people don’t tug my fur. Didn’t you say you might have some treats…?”

“The people in my club are very nice and polite. We’ll look after you.” Honey flashed a thumbs up.

“Yeah, I try.” Out loud, the conversation ended there, but Noah seemed to continue listening as if it continued longer. For him, it sort of did and mostly didn’t, which was enough like his own existence to count. “You don’t have to worry,” he added at last. “About me, I mean. I think you’re cool.”

“Oh!” Had he voiced his thoughts out loud? The conversation’s shift to exactly what Henry had been thinking startled him, but it was pleasant at the same time. 

“Come in then. And close the door. It’s cold.”

Kenma turns, shuffling back towards his bed. His PSP screen can be seen, glowing in the dim light from among the messy bedsheets. 

“Mwahaha!” Kuroo really sells the creepy vampire laugh as he dumps the handful of candy onto Kenma’s bed. With one arm under the costume cloak, he swoops it over the shorter boy’s head. 

the two new characters i’ve added are:

henry chang - the raven cycle

and mirio togata - my hero academia

Kenma shufles to the side a bit, in case Kuroo really does come crashing in from the balcony. He’s not getting squashed. 

“Treat. Does this mean you brought candy?”

“I knew you’d pick treat. You’re in luuuuck.” 

Kuroo wore a stupid, sweet expression as he leaned against the doorway to Kenma’s room. He was awfully pleased with himself, pulling a handful of Halloween edition variety Kit Kats from his pocket.