ᴊɪɴɢʟᴇ ʙᴇʟʟ ʀᴏᴄᴋ

[formidable]

Let's celebrate. Just a catchall for self-indulgent holiday-themed stuff.➤ Happy holidays! ➢ "Obligatory Christmas Music".

Comments

[nerine]

Oooh?

[Bad move En, her voice takes on an even more teasing tone if possible.]

If you think you're going to be disappointed, then does that mean you've actually been thinking about it?

[crafting]

[ Oh, now he's really puffing. Red around the tips of his ears, bristling subtly like a cat who's had its tail stepped on. ]

Maybe?

You're pretty. 'm not blind.

[ He's strangely honest about this, even if he's not quite sure what the implications behind his words are. All he knows is that he feels what he feels. ]

Does it matter? You think I'm a kid. A big dumb yokai.

[nerine]

[Her features soften upon hearing his sincere response. There's a strange, but not an unpleasant sensation that envelopes her insides as Monts takes in his words and his expressions and it only takes her a second to recognize it as fondness. She's so fond of him, she wonders if it's safe for either of them.

There's a short exhale as Monts runs one hand through her hair.]

Well... I'll cut to the chase.

[She points at the mistletoe.]

There's a western Christmas tradition involving mistletoe. The long and short of it is that if two people find themselves standing underneath it, they're supposed to kiss.

[A shrug.]

And usually, it's not magic, so you have a choice whether to follow through or not. But you know... I wouldn't mind it.

[Another short pause before she asks with a surprising amount of hesitation.]

Would you?

[crafting]

[ En is never sure what to make of Monts. He's not sure if she just wants to rattle his cage, if she wants to be kind or if she's afraid of letting herself be kind because of what she houses in her human frame. He knows about her 'monster', knows what it does to her, and he wonders sometimes when he thinks about her if she's afraid of it.

He's concluded that she's probably more afraid of it than he is of her. Which is to say, he's not afraid of her at all— he's more annoyed, really, when she does this to him. Makes him uncertain, that is.

So he pouts again. Looks to the side, like a dog that's had its food bowl taken away.

It only lasts for a second, before he's pulling his lips into a wide grin. ]

Nn.

[ 'No', in a single hum. ]

Teach me.

[ Again, blunt and honest. ]

[nerine]

[For Monts, above her hidden fears about herself and what it means to be synthesized with a creature of unknown origins, when it comes to people she cares about, people he loves... They are few and far between. Over time, En had become one of those people. There was something about him she didn't want to tarnish even with her coquettish ways.

When he openly puts himself out there for her and gives her nothing short of honesty, there's a sigh of relief. Her squatting position shifts so that she can sit on her knees instead.]

Alright, alright.

[One hand reaches out to cup his face and her thumb strokes his cheekbone affectionately.]

If you want me to stop, let me know okay?

[crafting]

[ Too many years spent being formless and alone have made him just as curious about touch as he is about speech. He reacts to the fingers along his skin with just the slightest hint of a shiver, a careful narrow of his eyes, but ultimately? He adjusts.

It's true— he wants Monts to teach him, but he didn't think about how all of this would necessitate them being so close. He feels his cheeks warm under her touch, but he doesn't pull away. ]

'Kay.

[ A low mumble, and he scoots closer. He can't seem to decide what he wants to do with his hands, so he puts one on Monts' knee before looking uncertain. Is this... fine...??? ]

...You have nice eyes. [ awkward ]

[nerine]

[She's heard that line before. It's given to her almost thoughtlessly by people who pass through the cafe and people she's been on dates with who have seen only her surface but are unsuccessful at finding a way to reach her heart. They'll give her pretty words sometimes even out of discomfort because they can't place what is wrong with her. But Monts knows that with En, it's none of those things. He's blunt and childish, but ultimately, his words are the real thing.

The hand on her knee makes her blink, but she doesn't have an issue with it. She smiles reassuringly at En and her other hand reaches over to ruffle his pale hair.]

And you have a nice voice.

[In another context, that might have been an ironic jab. But here...]

Because when you say things like that, I want to spoil you.

[And then she angles her head and moves in. From a certain perspective, it looks like she's giving him a proper kiss. Marianna knows better than to move that fast, but then again...

She's kissing him, not on the cheek, or nose, but at the very corner of his mouth. A little too close, still far, but it speaks volumes about how she feels about the Mononoke who stumbled into her life.]

[crafting]

[ He almost wants to grimace when she mentions his voice, because he knows that there's nothing nice about it. As much as she worries about her personhood, he has his moments of knowing that he's a creature very commonly known as culturally malevolent. A manifestation of fear and paranoia, a chimera brought to life due to human uncertainty.

But Monts follows it up with something sweet, something sure. He feels his cheeks redden even more, flushed red-hot and burning, and then—

—and then. There's soft pressure against his skin, the tickle of Monts' breath along the seam of his mouth.

He feels like he's going to evaporate. His shoulders hike up, and he tries not to think about how good she makes him feel— how special he feels around her.

Hmm. ]

'm supposed to. Do it back. [ Mumble mumble. ]

[nerine]

[Monts doesn't pull away completely after her chaste kiss, opting to stay close to him instead. Her blue-green eyes are twinkling, taking in every little reaction, both the subtle and unsubtle.

She replies airily to him as her hand moves to his forehead.]

You're burning up. Are you sure you can do it?

[But she'll throw him a bone and be encouraging. Mari knows she should acknowledge that this is probably some of the many firsts for a creature like En.]

Take your time, En. I'll be happy with whatever you'd like to do with me.

... I mean, within reason.