#arcanascompendium

Part of him was questioning if that heater in the stairwell behind them might do the trick a bit more, it's tacked on as an idle thought.

Right now, Haru found herself carrying all of the current.

In fact there was something endearing in the ways her words fumbled, bowling over like some poor sap before an entryway stuffed with shoes. The atmosphere she carries just never damn failed in keeping things lighthearted, keeping them peaceful in a way he appreciates, leaving him entirely off guard the instant her hard working fingers begin to reveal his complexion underneath the shirt, just enough to make a mild rise of gooseflesh fleck over his skin.

Despite making the offer with a head full of heart and no mind, the tension experienced is by no means painful, rather, that excitable, lively awareness found itself burning vibrantly wherever the mildly ticklish trail her fingers left. Warmth found itself brewing within his face, stalled from growing the instant he catches that momentary fluster melting down to that genuine concern that captured his eyes from the very start.

Even the flora laden rooftops of Shujin found themselves erased from mind, concentrating Haru's reaction in particular.

"Medals, huh? Heheh, hopefully not something I'll get first place in anytime soon." He's not ignorant to how morbid that sounds, but, it certainly did draw a smile on his face.

"I can save the full package for when I'm a touch more dried up, but this one was during the time in Futaba's heart. Lookin' out for the guy's per usual, really scraped by the skin of our teeth."

"So y'know, I got a good idea on what'cha mean by that.." Knowing that the days ahead aren't promised, once upon a time, it made a shamefully more egotistical side of him become.. entitled, a time he's never been more happy to be torn away from due to harsh lessons.

Now, if only those thoughts could persist, everything found itself being swept from underneath his feet the instant those soft, strong hands sought his in a measure of support. The squeezing immediately cause his fingers to return the gesture regardless of the way his heart began to hammer. Her thoughts on the matter caused a boisterous laugh to immediately rise.

"Hell, please? I don't mind being a soppin' wet mess during the summer, but anything else and it really would kick my ass. C'mon, I got some spare stuff I can kick on 'round the lockers." He doesn't miss a beat in whisking her along, a touch too stubborn to end how their hands joined as he begins to lead her through the stairwell.

That said, he sure gave one of those melting-ly pleasant sighs feeling the currents of heat humming through the radiators.

"Iiiiiii.. Think I could get a lil use to this. Never knew this was how good the plants have it while in your care, almost makes a guy a lil jealous." With how content his voice sounds, it's clear the bliss of not just the warmth-- but holding hands with her was working its magic.

“I’m cool with one, cause I think I’m gonna need it.” Marie says as she stares at all the utensils and ingredients. “Gonna confess, first time I’ve baked, so I’m just following your lead here.” 

“So one set of chocolate, one set of sugar. Which one do you want to tackle first?”

Despite his makeshift apologies, the last thing he had wanted to do was rise, that simply felt like an obligation after letting his weariness.. No, a light dance between that and her comfort get the better of him.

Not that he held a single complaint on such things.

Even in his wake there was sparks of a sleepy joy roused in him while seeing her face. Seeing how that floofed up hair frame her features, how she beams like a bastion of sunlight against the dreary gray skies were centered in the tall windows of the building. Haru’s shoulder simply felt like the definition of a sanctuary. When their eyes locked, there went that snap of a spark in his veins, a primal shot of elation courses within his body as contentment tied with an anxious excitement settles deep within. A feeling cradled and further kindled by the tender hand placed upon his cheek within that moment. That color only finds itself more refined while he internally clambers to gain those bearings.

What would be more shameless is how he chased that feeling. How allowing a small tilt of the face, to savory the mesh of skin to skin while he edges out a soft sigh, leaving him to bask in what could be considered a high luxury. “I.. heheh, Jeeze..” He softly murmurs, a farcry form the tone that exemplifies a roguish pirate aiming to tackle the everyday by the horns. Hints of that earthy scent imbued with light perfume managed to strike his senses, definitely due to their closeness, how part of the day contently melted down with their solitude together.

“Way to tongue tie a guy. Appreciate it though, if I rest more like this.. I’ma be hitting back the top places in Track before I know it.”

With open offers and a playful addition to his line of thought, he’s finally prompted, pressing against the posh material of this ivory-beige couch in order to rise up a bit better, grunting softly as he wounds his shoulders... Only for that to pause, especially with the things she says.

”Hell yeah.” Certain, steadfast, a kick of energy kindles within his heart at just how right that sounds to him. “S’our thing, y’know?” And naturally courage follows with that.

“A one of a kind deal only we can kick up with each other. ..! Oh, I mean ya wouldn’t mind? I mean- s’not like I have to go anywhere and all.. If you’re cool with it! Gettin’ some more of those fancy finger sandwiches sounds like a blast. Dude, a touch of your veggies had been workin’ miracles in those.”

“Oh! Speaking of, I said I was gonna show up some of those mangas to ya, yeah?  I think I found that one with your old fav hero you’ve mentioned before. Had got kinda motivated to look for it.”

☠ - He could. In a way maybe she did know herself, both of them were well aware of their positions of character from the shaky beginnings to the present day, to surpassing the situation that led them back at her adobe, where her tensed voice exhausts that worry and leaves her tending to his body. No words could be scrounged together as the pain elevated shocked to familiar yet, poorly adjusted highs, an attempted automatic reaction of his body being repressed by sheer will alone. ..Should be feeling shame for what he done?

For wanting to charge against that very fear and prevent it from coming true? Here they were crawling through a realm where Deities and Devils could be conjured through the manifested will of people, the sin bled by desire, through the madness that blooms through exposure and every changing ideas. Those said horrors had raced to in their attempt to bring Noir towards damnation and to hell with it all that he’d ever allow such a thing to happen. Drumming through his heart was a frenzied brand of worry that still hadn’t calmed despite their victory in overcoming.

Smashing through that shadow hadn’t shattered that very overbearing worry spun and threaded by his emotions.

Ryuji’s great strength and highest folly could all be pitted in the idea of emotions. As the pain fizzles down and the visual static dwindles down, he’s back to seeing the contents of dwelling, back to that adorable focused face, rightfully fit with worry, something he does feel guilt over. Driving himself to ensure she didn’t experience something fatal hadn’t required a lick of thought, rather, that body of his moved on it’s own with every intention to protect. “Haru..” Damn it. How does the quiet manage to suffocate louder than any booming noise from the regular racket of a normal day?

Somewhere in the midst of all these thoughts had he reached for once she paused at the cleaning. Paced, trained breathes would heave from his chest, exhaling the weakness and breathing in strength as one of his hands sough the heiress’s. “Ya read my damn mind. Life without you... It’s pretty damn scary.” Raw will made any horrible ideas of aftermath get stubborn dissolved from his mind.

”And I don’t like the idea of things tryin’ to cut that short. Wasn’t my brightest idea..” Despite that, there’s no shame that could be found in that voice. Seeking just a bit more of that touch, his fingers carefully knitted a bit more around her’s, offering a squeeze that’s just as grounding for him than his attempt to offer the same for Haru. “I’m sorry I worried ya..” With how delicate this situation felt, for his natural knack of stuffing his foot in his mouth, there was a crawling fear of allowing a bunch of haphazard emotions translate into words.

Right now he just wanted to do anything he could to bring some ease to the troubled, beautiful face before him.

“You saved me y’know..”

☠ - “Hell I can’t even say it’s just thinkin’. Like really! I’ve went and snuck into Mementos a few times on my own, uh, not like anything crazy like goin’ too deep.”

“But to do some real deal testing! Gotta say it’s gonna be feeling great to give Joker all of people a helluva surprise for a change instead.” There always was that knack of pride to be carried in being his best bud’s right hand. While those inner waves drift within, seeing Haru hold that spark of recognition in those eyes is what catches him off, keeping that attention of his dedicated entirely to her, showing that fact in the face his body shifts, leaning a little closer her way as she begins to speak.

Once she chimes her enjoyment with that saying it gives him a small jolt of the warm and fuzzies as she comes to recognize these terms. Then again, enough time with him, Joker, Ann and Futaba would have anyone in some league of video game know how. “Fun huh..? Might have a point on that.” He murmurs as he brushes the side of his neck, thoughtful. “Would make life feel a bit cooler knowing that we have all these little tips or clues that we’re on the right track. Sure as hell would love some music compared to those annoyin’ ass car horns always ringing in the city.”

Watching her get into the groove sprouts a lively cackle as he pats his hands upon his knees, propping up a bit better. “Sounds about right! Thaa--- at... ah!?” Any forethought found itself toe stubbed as that smooth as butter mention had produced a critical hit. He could feel the flush of heat focused at his face and by no damn means was it letting up. Why did he have to sip up his drink too damn fast!?

“Dashin’ huh..? Oh if you ain’t.. sweet as  all heck.”

*Continued from: https://arcanascompendium.tumblr.com/post/189974317602/sorry-miss-but-i-have-to-ask-why-are-you

“Okumaru? Like the Okumaru family that you exposed for what they did 10 years ago?” Dorothy bluntly asks in an monotone manner as she takes her eyes off of the banana, gripped in one of Haru’s hands, and looks into her eyes. Then, the names ‘Aigis’ and ‘Labrys’ reaches her ears and in the advanced computer in her human-like metallic skull, called an ‘brain’, which is, as far as her master is concerned, is far too advanced for even modern tech. “I am R. Dorothy Wayneright, an assistant of my master, Earl Zolubu, both an BLU X-Hunter and an idol producer for 346 Productions. You might have heard of him, miss Haru.” She greets back with an deep bow, with her hands together and facing downwards.

“That’s not really necessary.” 

Umika felt awful about seeing the twintailed girl running to her rescue. She had the means to fight back but given she was cornered there was very little she could of done.. “H-hey I owe you one.”