doublesmall | [PCs] team trust no bitch aka team hat aka chuuya & caren

That might be true, but you just keep moving forward. [And that's what seems important: the act of finding something meaningful, still, even when a certain outcome seems hopefully.

She looks up at Chuuya through her lashes, a little sleepy-eyed.]

You can only punish transgressions, and you haven't accused me of anything, yet. Try again later.

I'm sure I could find something to accuse you of. Taunting me like that, for one thing.

[he's taking her hand and counting things off on her fingers, as he goes.]

Always provoking me into things. Being a tease. Enjoying all of the above, probably.

I don't know what it means to enjoy things.

[She forcefully lowers one of her fingers despite him counting it off.]

Regardless, taunting and teasing are practically the same thing. I thought I had partnered with someone far less sensitive, a real criminal.

No? You sounded like you enjoyed yourself earlier... the other night, too.

[chuuya don't be a little shit.

he shakes his head, laughing under his breath.]

I thought getting rid of two people should be enough to be a 'real criminal', but you've got high standards, don't you.

Was I that convincing? You're certainly easy to please.

[She still hasn't taken her hand back, but Caren closes her eyes, letting her body relax.]

No, I think you are a criminal. And so would most of the people here, if you asked.

[But she is technically the same kind of sinner, now, and his company brings her...some positive feelings, for a chance meeting that will only last a few more weeks.]

Probably, yeah. I know some of them have picked up on it.

[ffffucking izaya. he huffs out a breath, shaking his head as he picks up the song list, careful not to disturb her. they'll get kicked out if they don't keep it up every so often, so he's just idly paging through to find something.]

But that's why I don't really plan on asking any of them what they think of me.

[She really has to commend fuckinnnnng Izaya for being so despicable in his machinations. It’s truly interesting, albeit much better to observe than be a target of. For a while, she doesn’t speak or move or open her eyes, just listening to the turn of the pages and trying to predict which song he’ll land on.]

Even me; I’m sure you’d flinch to know what I really think.

If I said something like, ‘I am glad to have met you,’ you’d probably die of disbelief.

[-well, he doesn't die of disbelief at the implication there, but his eyes do widen a bit as he glances over. she's right; it isn't something he expects from her.

it brings a small, genuinely pleased grin to his face anyway.]

Hah... and if I said that I was too, would you say I'm just lying? I am pretty terrible.

[chuuya tugs her hand a little closer, head tilted to press a little kiss to the back of it.]

Or would you just think I wanted something from you?

Normally, I'd be inclined not to trust a criminal. But as a special favor to you, I'll take your word for it.

[Well, she never said that it was how she really felt, just that it would startle him. Therefore she's absolved of all responsibility for it.

Caren finally lets one eye open, turning just a little bit so the flatness of her voice and gaze had their typical effect.]

It's all right if you do, you know. I've already told you that doesn't matter to me.

Yeah, yeah, I know that.

[he hums to himself for a moment, considering-- then sets the songlist down for a moment.]

I guess there is something I want, though, now that I think about it.

Again already?

Not like that!

[he huffs as he runs his fingers through her hair-- then draws his knife and abruptly cuts off a lock of it. it's at least somewhere easy to cover, and it's not much, but he definitely is just fucking doing it.

and then he's just fiddling with his jacket, checking the ties on it and finally slicing off a thin strip of fabric that's about the same length.

yeah he's just braiding them together after that like nothing happened.]

[And it does end up surprising her, so, strangely enough, they're both even now.

Caren sits up, leaving his shoulder, when she hears the tear of metal through hair, and she watches him cut cloth from his jacket, only raising a single dry question when he starts to weave the two pieces together.]

Do you need some sort of assistance?

I don't need it, no, but if you want to help...

[he wouldn't tell her no, naturally.

he's not exactly the best at this braiding thing.]

That wasn't what I meant. [He probably knows that.

It's much more fun to watch him struggle, anyway, so she doesn't try to stop him fiddling with it.]

Is that all you wanted? I can't say I really understand it.

We've both got the scars, but then you have the necklace too, you know?

[he's not looking up, focusing on his work.]

So now we both have something sort of like that.

[the scar is still the more important symbol, but it's nice to have another physical reminder.]

What a relief. I thought you were going to tell me you needed something to help yourself masturbate.

[This time, she's probably needling to cover up for the sudden burning blush across her upper cheeks, to keep herself from protesting that the necklace is worth much more than a random lock of hair.]

... But it turns out you just wanted some sentimental trinket. Will that really make you feel better?

Wh-- oh, come on, I'm not like that!

[also how fucking weird would it be to get off to that? nah. no thank you.

the sight of that blush makes him laugh quietly, though; it always feels like a bit of a victory to get reactions like that from her, honestly.]

But yeah, I think it will. Guess I'm a little more of the sentimental type after all.

[She chuckles, not even minding so much anymore that he caught her off guard.]

Then you had better take care of it. That's something of mine, after all, quite literally a piece of myself in your hands.

We've been in each others' hands since we showed up here, haven't we?

[it's not the nicest braid, but he finishes tying it off and inspects it before nodding. yeah, this will do, or will at least hold; with that, he tucks it into a pocket.]

I'll take good care of it. Promise.

I'll reclaim it if you don't.

[This is still more difficult than not to process: that he'd want something like that, that he's secretly such a sentimental man, that she's content with his company like this.]

Like you said, I have this necklace already. [Caren touches her chest right over where the chain falls.] I don't think I need to take the same from you.

It's still yours. Reclaim it if you ever feel the need to.

[but he hopes she doesn't ever think she needs to do it.]

Just don't mention it to anyone, alright? I don't usually do this kind of thing, nobody has to hear about it.

You know what kind of a person I am, Chuuya Nakahara. Can you really tell me something intimate like that and hope it won't come back to haunt you?

[She's done being physically affectionate for the time being, and there will be time again later in the night. She leans away from him.]

Regrettably, I just can't take pleasure in it if you know that it's coming.

[PCs] team trust no bitch aka team hat aka chuuya & caren

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cw caren

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