#kojiscorner

It happens so quickly, Cherry doesn't have time to flinch. She recognizes the blur coming in from her peripheral vision as Bayor—and how couldn't she? They'd just been talking. If it were any newcomer to their party, he might have said something before she noticed, and if it were any threat, Nikita would have overridden the body, perhaps only an arm, just enough to block the would-be attacker. But no, this is Bayor, coming in close.

They don't connect for long before she staggers back, clumsy and confused, and nearly falls on her rear. Her brows knit, and her eyes are so wide they form almost cartoonish circles. Slowly, the tips of her fingers raise to ghost along her lips. "Dude, what the hell. A little warning next time? I could've decked you!" But she didn't.

She searches his face for some silent explanation his words aren't providing. When it doesn't arrive, she asks. "Um. You good, bro? This isn't...like you."

                   Unremarkable,  that was the word of the day,  her jacket's hood pulled far forward as she strode briskly across dusk shadowed flagstones,  wishing to appear as if she were any local hurrying home before the military curfew laid upon the city.      But the presence,  murky and yet not dark,  called to her from across the square.     Not literally,  but it was as if the Force demanded her attention to it.    It could be a trap,  but the thought only sat for a moment on the top of her mind before Jaina carefully altered her path.

                   Barely two minutes passed before she knew she was drawing near, stepping into an alleyway,  dim even for her excellent eyesight in the surging night.     There,  ahead,  was the figure of a man,  and before she could truly think about it,  she heard her voice calling out,     ❝  Who are you?  ❞

For a split second, his brain shuts off and he lets his body do what he fails to find the words for and reaches out a shaky hand to rest upon her cheek. Before his thoughts can return to dwell on his actions and leans forward to press his lips against hers. The contact is brief; a chaste gesture as though he's new to the motion. He pulls away and as his eyes meet hers they are searching for signs. He fears not reprisal; only rejection.

Needle delving in and out of deer hide; barely tanned and freshly soft, little hairs tickling against her too-pale skin. Jono catches her by surprise only for the first handful of breaths that he stands before her, and she pauses, but does not look up to him.

Whatever he might need, he'd better find the tongue to ask for it. Her kindness is short-lived, and he has found shelter in her home long enough to know what is desired must be obtained by one's own means. Too long has she held his hand through the process of acclimating -- if Jono cannot stand by his own needs, then..

Warm hand against her cold flesh, and she freezes like the tulips in a false spring, spine ramrod. The contact gives her an instant headache, like walking out of a warm house into a blizzard. Her teeth chatter once, swamp green eyes sharply cutting up to look towards her ward with suspicion and outrage.

He kisses her.

Jono's affectionate is a slow, careful thing. Others might consider it lazy, but Rabbit sees it as almost insidious, the way he balances on the edge of action. Deliberately creeping along, growing growing GROWING in the dark corners of her life, collecting dust and dirt and dingy pieces of magic otherwise disposed of. Over and done with before she knows what to make of it.

"Again."

Her voice is quiet, but demanding. She leaves no room for refusal.

ben tells people he loves them on his birthday

Koji, you have been there for literally everything! I appreciate how creative you are -- feels like every time we talk, you have created a whole new universe with completely new ocs, fully fleshed out, and not a repeat among them! I struggle so much with these things, and they come so easy to you. Even your canons are perfect, though I know you feel as though it's harder for you.

You're such a perfect roleplay partner, because you can bend to almost anything, adapt muses to fit against anyone. You have always been the champion for my own creativity, too, encouraging me by giving me feedback on ocs and always, always receiving them eagerly (I have not forgotten your drive behind Thilo, even if I'm so reluctant to write him again)