115 Posts
5 EP
EXP
Total
21 Years
Male
"Serperior"
Rookie-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Mikhail Orlov on Nov 26, 2019 16:45:52 GMT -4
 It was hard to look properly indignant when you were red-faced and sweating. Mikhail was fairly certain heâd properly embarrassed himself enough tonight, so rather than giving a direct reply, he waved at the counter to take advantage of Elenaâs suggestion.
âSoy milk? Yes, vanilla is--ha--fine!â He gasped, fanning himself. âI just grabbed what was on hand!â
Perhaps he was also playing for time again. It wasnât that he wanted to doubt his new friend, but her claim of being able to defend herself raised an eyebrow. Honestly, some people just couldnât keep a realistic assessment of their own skill. It was rather charming, though.
âAlright, alright.â He deferred, waving his hand as though to concede the point. Calling Elena on her boast would just be crass. He stabbed at his dish again, trying to get a good bite of everything, and immediately chased it with the fresh glass of milk that had appeared on the bar.
âShibuyaâs cute. Much nicer than Kabuchiko--it sounds...ah...cosey!â He elaborated, trying to imagine what it was like. It wasnât the first time Mikhail had dreamed of having a little apartment, somewhere in the deep heart of the city, where he could immerse himself in the lives of Tokyoâs masses. He didnât truly want to give up his fame, but...maybe for a while....
As if he could be mistaken for anyone else.
He grinned at the thought of trying to disguise himself, shaking his head.
âSo thatâs the story, then? Student in Tokyo patching together jobs, paying her debts, saving heroes on the side? Common, perhaps, but I think you have to be *somewhat* remarkable.â He grinned, trying to make sure it sounded like a compliment, not an insult. âYouâve certainly livened up my evening.â
His plate was starting to get empty, and he took a few more quick bites, still sweating, but dammit, he wasnât going to refuse to finish it. Besides, the flush of heat was certainly better than the cold. He felt fully warmed up now, quick and sprightly.
âAre you walking home after this? What time are classes for you?â
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236 Posts
1 EP
EXP
Total
19 Years
Female
"Blue Blitz"
Watchdog-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Elena Strike on Nov 27, 2019 15:04:09 GMT -4
- BEautiful People Don't Need Coats -
Puedo sentir el ojos en mĂ. ÂżPiensa que no puedo defenderme?
Elena didn't press the matter despite doubting he believed her. Let him; she'd show she was more than capable if something happened, and if not it was probably for the best that he didn't think she was a danger. Too competent and he might wonder why she was so good at fighting. That wasn't a conversation she wanted to have with a hero. Nope. Bad. She focused on eating more of the noodles, trying to have a taste of everything individually as well as together, and judging it all. She couldn't help it.
It was good but she could totally do better, if she really wanted to.
"You can say 'cramped', I'm not going to get mad," she sighed again, but she was still smiling a little, "I'm sure it's a shoe-box compared to nicer places but, hey, it's home."
She took a small sip of her own soy milk and could taste the faint similarity between it and the tofu that likely came from the same beans it did. Neat. Mikhail's summary of her "life" fit closer to Tetsuya's than her own, since he was the student and she was the bread-winner--or, well, the one paying for her half of the rent, when could probably cover it just fine without her. She didn't mind, she was the one staying in his home in secret after all. "The 'saving heroes' thing is new, but otherwise..." Elena trailed off at that last part of his summary. Remarkable? Her? Well, she wanted to be that someday as a hero but right now was there anything about her that...was?
Her cheeks literally glowed a faint blue, and she tried to hide it with her hands, but neither could really contain the wide, bright, proud grin that spread over her face.
"Yo no soy ese ti...I mean, uh...w-well, thanks, if you say so." Dammit, the heat was making it harder for her to keep herself cool--literally. Elena drank most of her milk to try to drown it, which worked a little, but what helped most was the next question. Ugh, should she lie and say she was the student, or admit it was her roommate? She hated lying so blatantly, and couldn't this get her in trouble if when she did become a hero he found out she'd lied to him? Not legally, probably, but...still. She bit her lip.
"I mean, I'm not the student. My roommate is. I work full-time. And I work at night anyway so it's not like I'm going to be too tired for my shift if I'm out right now..."
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115 Posts
5 EP
EXP
Total
21 Years
Male
"Serperior"
Rookie-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Mikhail Orlov on Jan 16, 2020 23:29:35 GMT -4
Oh dear. Her blush was really very cute, Mikhail realized. Heâd been busy being suave and charming, and sheâd been playing it cool enough he was utterly caught off guard by her sudden bout of awkwardness.
His charming smile slipped into an awkward, but far more genuine smile, and he swallowed, feeling himself flush as well.
Heâd lost track of the conversation entirely.
âOh. Um. I see.â Mikhail replied, still staring at the blushing woman, grinning like a loon.
Wait. Shit. He sounded judgemental. Or like he hadn't been paying attention.
âRather, I mean, I admire yourâŚâ He added, holding up both hands to cut himself off, trying to quickly salvage it. âWork ethic?â
No!
â...That was terrible!â Mikhail groaned aloud, slapping himself on the forehead to try to recover from his bout of tongue-tiedness. âIâm sorry. Let me try that again--â
He swallowed, taking a small bite of food, and another sip of soy milk, and a deep breath, trying to steady his thoughts, wincing at his own stupidity.
âThatâs still admirable! Iâm still getting used to the nightlife myself, since I work double shifts, but get afternoons off. I'm exhausted when class starts every morning, though! If you've got a trick, you have to tell me.â He chirped brightly, digging deep for his standard charm. He forced the foolish grin off his face, though he felt the urge linger. âHopefully your roommate wonât mind me keeping you out this late.â
Nailed it.
Mikhail clasped his hands together, and mock-bowed, handing the conversation back to her with a flourish, and then took a few more bites of food. It had been a while since heâd gotten tongue-tied like that. This girl really brought out of the worst of him. He scratched the back of his head.
Maybe walking her home was a bad idea.
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236 Posts
1 EP
EXP
Total
19 Years
Female
"Blue Blitz"
Watchdog-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Elena Strike on Jan 18, 2020 19:05:34 GMT -4
- BEautiful People Don't Need Coats -
Elena was still trying to hide the bright blue burning in her cheeks so much that she almost didn't notice the response her flustered face got out of him. Almost. Her hands moved from her cheeks to try to hide her mouth with her fingers. Oh. Whoa. Mikhail was already really, really pretty, and he'd already been flushed from the cold, but that tiny little smile and the sudden awkward rambling and blushing was...just...
Oh no. Ăl es lindo.
She probably didn't help his flailing for a proper sentence by staring at him the whole time, but she couldn't help it. By the time he'd stopped himself long enough to get a handle on things, Elena was grinning at him again, flush subsided, with her eyes (somewhat literally) aglow. "I mean, you didn't have to get all flustered trying to explain yourself. Though that was really cute. I can't say I have much of a trick past making up my lost sleep whenever I can?" She pressed the tips of her chopsticks against her lower lip, partially in thought, but...partially as an unconscious gesture. "And don't worry about it. He and I, uh, kind of got in a fight over scheduling, so if I'm out all night then he gets to sleep uninterrupted, which is what he wanted..."
There was a little pout in her words at that last sentence. She hadn't meant for it to turn into a fight, but both of them could be so goddamn hot-headed--especially when he was sleep-deprived. But they were still friends. Should she apologize to him for the times she'd been out all night and woken him up?...yeah, that was the mature thing to do, but it also meant admitting she was wrong...so...urgh. She hated that.
"I think I'd prefer a ferret to him, like, ninety-percent of the time." Elena sighed, but her smile eased back onto her face. Huh, he was almost done with his noodle soup. She was, too, but she was still a little hungry. She blamed her body being literally made to burn calories. "Ah, but then I'd have nobody to cook for but myself."
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115 Posts
5 EP
EXP
Total
21 Years
Male
"Serperior"
Rookie-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Mikhail Orlov on Mar 19, 2020 22:57:56 GMT -4
Given how tongue tied heâd just gotten, Mikky felt like he probably should have been feeling more cautious than he felt. This was more like the old him--the Mikhail Orlov whoâd hosted parties, raced his car, and tried any drink that got pressed into his hands. The old him was pretty stupid. But there wasnât anything dangerous here? Anything more than a pretty girl, at least?
And heâd just finished his last bite of Tofu, and theyâd have to leave soon.
He grinned, looking down at his plate, setting his chopsticks across the bowl, and took a final drink of soy milk, lips still pleasantly burning. Heâd made it through dinner at least, even if he had embarrassed himself a little. Not a bad showing of a mixed-race Japanese guy against a Spanish girl. (Or was she Latina? He hadnât asked.)
âThat...was very nice.â Mikky said, scrunching his face a little, still working out the tingles. âAnd exactly what I needed.â
He took another sip of the milk, but this one was for courage, and as the owner took their plates, grabbed his copy of the receipt, and the pen.
âHey, just in case...would you mind letting me write down your number?â Mikky said, reaching up to push back a strand of green hair back from his eyes. Goddammit. He felt like a teenager alright, his heart was fluttering stupidly. Could he pretend that he was just that tempted by the offer of her cooking?
I mean, he was, but that wasnât all of it.
âThereâs always the chance they got worried my phone was a tracking device, after all...or theyâve sold it as exclusive merchandise.â Mikky said, still trying to sound light. âAnd Iâd...well, I think itâd be a shame if this was a one time thing. I had fun.â
âFun.â No. That sounded to casual, almost demeaning! Terrible! And what was he doing, trying to pass it all off lightly? What if she thought he was only being polite.
âUm. I realize I did just offer to walk you home, so thatâs not off either, I justâŚâ He said, reaching for his milk out of instinct. But the owner had taken it. He laughed again. Nervously. At himself. âWell now. Any chance you'd buy me still being slightly concussed?â
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236 Posts
1 EP
EXP
Total
19 Years
Female
"Blue Blitz"
Watchdog-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Elena Strike on Apr 3, 2020 19:29:02 GMT -4
- BEautiful People Don't Need Coats -
With the noodles finished Elena placed her chopsticks in the bowl--though not facing upward, she had enough knowledge to avoid that little cultural misstep--and reached to finish off the rest of her drink while coming up with how she wanted to end this night. Go home, risk waking up her roommate, and have to apologize, or come up with a reason to stay out for the rest of the night. The latter had its charms but she also had a pretty good reason for maybe going home. Namely, the pretty somebody who was offering to walk--slither--her home should she so desire it. And honestly? It was a very tempting offer right now. Was it worth swallowing her pride, though?
"Same here! I'll definitely be coming back to this place sometime, it's really nice." Elena hummed and started adjusting herself to get ready to go; fixing her hair behind her hair clip, checking her lipstick in the reflection of her glass--it was the sort that would take a goddamn power washer (or literal fire) to get off, so it was more out of habit than actual concern--and trying not to look surprised when Mikhail asked her for her number as casually as he'd asked her about, well, everything else tonight.
A momentary thought flitted through her mind that it was too risky to give a hero her information. Even in this totally innocent context, it could lead to him finding out about her, and getting her in trouble or arrested or deported. No matter how charming or sweet or fun he was he was still a hero and she was still a criminal by the law's sense of the word. She wouldn't be forever. Maybe when that day came she could consider being friends with somebody like him. Right now though...
...but another more persistent thought pushed those worries aside. He was fun, and he was charming, and he was sweet. He'd listened to her and smiled and respected her. And he was a hero. That was incredible. Whether she was a vigilante or not she still admired those that actually did have the badge, and Serperior, though young, was no exception. Having a hero as her friend gave her such a rush of excitement that she could forget for a moment how dangerous it was. And, again, he was very sweet.
And cute. Very, very cute.
DĂŠjame elegir al Ăşnico tipo que podrĂa arruinar toda mi vida.
So she answered very quickly, but not too quickly, once he'd finished explaining his own reasons for asking for her number--which earned another little laugh. "SĂ!" And she rattled off the numbers for him, giving quick pause between them for him to write them down. She grinned widely at his nervousness. God, he really was adorable when the act slipped up. This was dangerous. But what was life without danger? "I should warn you now that you've just opened yourself up to being invited out with me when I'm out and about. I mean I have friends besides you, but not a lot of them are on this schedule? So if you're available at this time of night and not getting harassed by baddies, I will absolutely hit you up! Be prepared for that!"
"Just send me a little snake emoji, and I'll know it's you~"
Elena stood back up to her full height, balancing on her heels as she stretched her arms up above her head. His offer to walk her home hung in the air unanswered a moment longer. Apologizing to Tatsuya, or saying goodbye here...were those her choices? Well, obviously, she would go with-- "Well since you had a softer landing I'd hope you weren't concussed. How about you walk me to the station at least, since walking me all the way home will take you out of Kabukicho?" She smiled downward at him, trying her hand at that through-the-lashes look she'd seen in movies for a second before she found it weird and stopped. "And if you get cold out there again you can lean on me? Maybe make sure your robe is snugger, yeah?" She snickered.
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115 Posts
5 EP
EXP
Total
21 Years
Male
"Serperior"
Rookie-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Mikhail Orlov on Apr 6, 2020 23:21:52 GMT -4
Aha! All according to plan!
Mikky was so pleased at having successfully gotten both his charming companionâs number, and permission to walk to her home that he managed to completely miss her offer to lean on her again.
Well, almost completely miss. They were most of the way out of the door, and the cold night air was hitting him like a sledge again, making him wrap himself in his robe and shiver, when he stopped dead, cheeks going pink as he processed it again.
âCheeky!â He said, barely avoiding yelping the word. It still came out a little breathless.
Oh come on! Why so giddy? Youâre making friends, donât trip over your tail in a rush to get ahead of yourself.
Mikky looked away, trying to keep her from seeing his flush--and avoid her distracting eyes, while he held the little scrap of receipt with her name on it like a good-luck charm.
...And...being smooth is fun, but youâve gotten pretty far just by being honest.
It was a little bit a surprise to realize. Usually, when his act slipped, he was at a loss. It was so easy to play a role. Knowing what he wanted to do?
That was frightening.
Mikky frowned, worried he was going to get lost in thought. Moping didnât suit him.
First impulse.
âHow about you hold my arm instead?â He said, soft, earnest, and still obnoxiously pleased with himself. âIt'll keep us both warm, and it's much more stylish."
Mikky grinned, offering his arm with almost over-elaborate politeness to Elena. He very much wanted to do this again.
"And I'd hate to embarrass myself more if we're going to make stuff like this a habit."
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566 Posts
EP
EXP
Total
27 Years
Female
"Quizzity"
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Post by quizzity on Apr 15, 2020 19:58:05 GMT -4
A delightful read! And I'm so glad that I'm the one who got to grade it. :3 Elena Strike earned 60 exp, and had 400 before this thread. Mikhail Orlov earned 49 exp, and had 301 before this thread. |
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