thought; consideration; thinking

The nickname was something she’d grown accustomed to since being in Shigure’s presence and Shigure’s presence alone. It was, after all, the most foreign of ways she’d found herself addressed after moving overseas. There was a certain touch to how familiarly he’d twisted her last name which was usually reserved for the most formal of referrals. Perhaps, she could only assume, that’s just how he wanted it. Exclusively informally formal. Only a little grammatically boggling. 

“You can’t be mad.” The girl reasoned as she attempted to stifle her amusement by popping a square of chocolate in her mouth. “I warned you. Besides, dark chocolate is better for you anyway. Maybe you could stand for your tastebuds to shift a little.” Tohru had mentioned a share of what the house was like before she blessed the Sohmas with her cooking and cleaning expertise. It sounded as if Shigure ate like the garbage he lived in. Though she’d enjoyed enough of how dramatically he’d handled the surprisingly sour taste of bitter chocolate in his mouth --- maybe she should offer up some of what he actually payed her for. 

“If you want, I’ll make some tea --- it’ll get that taste out of your mouth.” 

gaze flashes upwards as she mentions a promotion, entire frame stiffening between the moment she mentioned it until she assured him she’d turned it down. it takes everything in him not to deflate in relief, instead he sighs into his drink with a smile he only hoped she’d misinterpret as amusement. if it had come down to it - he’d pay her whatever she wanted to keep her from stepping out from behind the bar onto the floor.

               ‘ if he’s not paying you enough, just let me know. ‘it’s said in jest, but he still fixes her with a rather serious look. shigure wasn’t known for mistreating any of his girls, but kureno had heard some less than savory stories from the girls themselves about some ‘gross’ clients. ‘ i’ll tell him that you deserve a raise - not sure he’d listen to me anyway. ‘

It’s much easier said than done to chat and joke about ‘the man who would come along, sweep her off of her feet and pay all of her bills.’ Like a modern fairy tale for the tired, working girl living paycheck to paycheck. But for someone to actually come along and inquire about her wages within a circle he may hold a hair of influence --- it’s absurd. 

“Wha--” She almost doesn’t know what to say, a flattered flush washing over her features before initial surprise sputtered off into a nervous laugh. “That’s so nice of you to say, but what can I argue? I work in a place called ‘The Dog House’. I make what I make serving drinks, I can’t exactly complain. But....thank you. That’s really sweet of you.” 

‘ perhaps, though i don’t think akito would be too pleased about an outsider knowing all the sohma family business. ‘it’s a kind way of telling her that akito would rather shave off her own skin rather than trust anyone outside the inner circle, much less if that person was a cute girl. he knows the rage that the head of the family holds within, and is both relieved and worried that hitomi is blissfully unaware of it. she was getting herself quite tangled up indeed.

              ‘ he’s been like that for a while, since we were kids. but you know, there’s some admiration to be had for a man who - ‘ a pause, a man who what? left the main estate ( was kicked out ) or who does whatever or whoever ( ren ) that he wants? the auburn haired man thinks for a moment. ‘ a man who values himself so highly, you know? ‘

The comment was meant to be no more than a lighthearted toss, though his response made her a touch worried that she shouldn’t have pressed the concept at all. This strictness within the house of Sohma was nothing she’d ever prepared herself to experience. She can appreciate Kureno’s comment as no more than a precaution, carefully electing to leave the issue be. 

It was interesting to hear him speak of Shigure, especially from a standpoint that was so positive compared to what she was used to. Akito seemed to hold nothing but poison for him. And, well, as her employer it was easy to see the man as obnoxious or entitled. Though, the pause Kureno took before completing his thought only makes her smile. “You seem to be reaching a bit for a compliment there.” She teased, lightly. “But it’s endearing --- to hear you say something so positive. I think it’s cute that you look up to him. He certainly seems to have no shortage of self-confidence. And that can be hard to come by.” 

Mooch. Sometimes he really reminded her of something….like a dog begging for table scraps. She could already here the bullshit — ‘employer’s tax’ or some other entitled ruse he was far too good at making convincing. The talents of a writer. And so Hitomi felt it easier to give in than to play the card of stubborn. Maybe it would get his begging to stop before it ever began. She’d make a terrible pet owner. 

“Here.” With a clean ‘snap’ she broke him a square of her chocolate and handed it over. “Careful, it’s bitter.” 

This spun her imagination into conjuring up a never-ending line of twenty somethings who he’d either turned away or chased out. With the way he treated poor Mitchan the latter wouldn’t be a complete surprise. 

She tried to take it as a compliment, though his phrasing implied the lowest of expectations she’d either exceeded or he pitifully excused. 

“I guess I’m just a dedicated employee.” Or a really desperate one. 

❝  Every family has like, someone who FALLS. Who doesn’t make the grade, who stumbles, who life trips up. Maybe I’m the faller.  ❞

Hitomi Nakamura; 

college flunk out extraordinaire & personal assistant to Shigure Sohma. 

LIKE or REBLOG if you're interested in interacting with a girl who’s just trying her best!

She’d buy them for herself. 

She’d think they’re absolutely hilarious, and if one of her friends wanted to get one and didn’t understand it, she’d probably educate them on what it really said rather than watch them wear a shirt they thought said something else. She wouldn’t get much out of someone else’s misunderstanding, her sense of humor and amusement just aren’t really like that. 

But yeah, she’d get an absolute kick out of them. And buy them for the complete irony of it. 

“Where else am I going to find a shirt that says ‘money is like much not not?’ Or a tie dyed pajama tee that says ‘chocolate fucking jesus’ on it?”