monopoisoned --

"cheh! you okay there?"

if they weren't, well. anyone's blood wouldn't automatically fall to childe's hands this time, which is relieving in of itself. honestly, no matter how dire a situation is, the harbinger can't help himself. he moves without hesitation, despite being stripped of resources - this time it was a very close call.

he hadn't batted an eye at his company until ensuring his own miraculous safety. childe approaches them, scuffing both palms together hastily, his smile anything but apologetic. there's a certain twinkle of thrill in his eyes.

"that was a close one! actually... pretty sure whatever that was is still alive." again, he hasn't got much on him. childe is pretty much bare, but, despite how infuriating that is, it adds to the flavour of an improvised fight. "uh, do you know where any shelter is? i think i see something in the distance. better run fast if you don't want to be caught in the claw of that beast. or whatever it was!"

sure, this had to be some sort of joke, or mistake, or hallucination.

but wasn't this a bit too close- isn't the threat on his life just a bit too close?

he had watched this clear stranger take down that- whatever that was- with nothing but bare hands and a cheerful smile. grey eyes meet brilliant blue, and lips flutter trying to find the words and fail.

eventually, mikoto simply blurts out,

"th-that was incredible...!"

okay, fangirling wasn't going to get the two of them anywhere. he pulls himself to his feet and hastily dusts the dirt and sand off of his rear. "i-i'm sorry, are you alright? you saved my ass...!"

how could he even begin to think about shelter when this guy was out here playing hero to begin with? still, the taller man was making a point, and he finally drags his eyes away from the imposing red-haired figure in front of him, the twitching remains of some horrendous grotesque, to the seasalty and hazy horizon.

" sooo, " he begins, "how bad of an idea would be to steal food from the dinosaurs?? "

he's dead serious.

suddenly startles, turning to look at the young man in shock. i mean- was he out of his mind!?

"n-no, you really can't do that!"

"If I knew I would've said right off the bat. But it seems like some island or whatever. Not really my style to figure out these kind of things."

More for the people who actually cared. Besides if it was an island then that meant it was a prime vacation spot. Minus everything that seemed out for them.

"Right! Name's Architect! But you don't need to worry about a thing if we're both together here. Usually I'd leave people like you in the dust BUT that won't help either of us out." One might call it "using bait" but that was a bit harsh.

alright, mikoto. try to calm down and think more rationally. after all, though the woman standing in front of her was certainly real, this entire situation was like something straight out of a movie. it couldn't possibly be reality.

right?

"r-right... my name is mikoto, it's nice to meet you." well, the situation could've been better, but beggars couldn't really be choosers... "the way out? i... i think i remember, but- don't you think it's better to stay here...!? there are all sorts of dangerous things out there, archy!"

He hasn't lost any of his skill that had gotten him far enough to steal his kinjutsu and become the powerhouse he was. Good thing too because this place was awful.

He watches the girl slide down the wall with a tiny, displeased frown. Not someone who could really be of much use here then. Pity.

"Do I look like a freaky monster, un? Really?" Mussed maybe, pants a little more torn and dirty then when he'd started, a smudge of dirt or grime or something under one eye, but not monstrous, surely. Rude.

"i'm- sorry, alright? you're fine, i was just startled."

fighter? it wasn't as if mikoto was unfit- she was sporty, after all, and could definitely handle her own if it came to a fist fight, but against this strange looking guy or hell, whatever was crawling around the abandoned facility the two had found themselves in.

and when it came to cool powers- this wasn't a manga, right...? that sort of thing certainly didn't exist. but if they were in a place where these monsters existed, then...