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Post by Marshmallow on Nov 22, 2020 21:31:58 GMT -6
Okay, so maybe the moan had been a little much. Unsettling his mugger was good fun despite the risk - or maybe because of it. There wasn’t much the man could do to Nagi that would be worse than past experience, after all. But he did worry for his familiar.
Nagi gave a theatrical sigh. “Aw, is Mr. Tough Guy losing his patience with his helpless captive?” He took the chance for one last sassy shot, even patted the arm that had him pinned to the wall as though to comfort the man. Then he let both hands fall to his sides.
“Yeah, I get the message. Keep your panties on,” he groused, though he wasn’t exactly in a hurry to reach for his pockets. What exactly did he have to give? A stolen credit card wouldn’t be worth the plastic it was printed on as soon as Nagi was free. His cell phone was an older model made for accessibility, hardly worth pawning. There was only his necklace…
“Just… Look,” he started, tone light and conversational. “Not trying to disappoint you, but really? The most valuable thing I got on me is this fine ass. I don’t have any money. American cash isn’t really designed with the blind in mind.” He spared a little chuckle at his own alliterative joke. “So unless it’s a lay you’re after, I’ve got nothing to offer.”
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Post by qhostqrowls on Nov 25, 2020 2:37:38 GMT -6
Kail glowered as the innuendos continued, his grip tightening fractionally around Okudo as Nagi's hand brushed against his arm. This was not how a mugging was supposed to go. If he beat him up or hurt the bird his victim would doubtlessly be more compliant, but beneath his disgruntled shock there was a begrudging respect for Nagi. There had been many stronger, bigger victims that hadn't had half his attitude.
"Stay still." Kail said roughly, lifting his hand from Nagi's chest to rifle through his pockets. The kirin proved to be true to his word - the brief search turned up only a handful of coins, an old phone and a credit card. There wasn't even any gold jewelry he could steal for Sjira. With an inward sigh the wendigo pocketed the coins, irritated at himself with his choice of victim.
"Fuckin hell, ya really don't have anything." He growled, but the heat had left his voice. He hesitated as he considered the man. There was a long stretch of tense silence.
Uncermoniously, Nagi would find his phone and wallet shoved back into his hands. He felt the looming presence step back a pace, and the icy temperature subsided somewhat as Kail moved away.
"I was gonna eat ya, but you'd turn that into a joke somehow." He said, trying to sound nonchalant.
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Post by Marshmallow on Feb 5, 2021 19:22:43 GMT -6
In the silence, Nagi could almost hear his own heartbeat pounding away in his ears. He spared a thought, and a little inner laugh, that his last act in this world could very well be unsettling a straight guy in an alley. At the very least, he could go out knowing his murderer wouldn’t soon forget him.
Abruptly, his meagre belongings were shoved back into his hands. Nagi stood for a few seconds. He had been expecting those claws to shred through his neck at any second. Yet, the other’s looming presence backed down. The unearthly chill retreated, and Nagi let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.
“Damn right I would,” Nagi smirked as he pocketed his phone and wallet. Adrenaline was still pumping at the near-miss this encounter had become, and he couldn’t quite help himself. “Yeah, rough luck for you, I guess. I’m kinda into this shit.” He grinned and poked out his tongue. “I’ll take the compliment though! And hey, I sure as shit can’t say I’ve ever had this much fun being mugged before, so you’ve got that going for you!”
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Post by qhostqrowls on Mar 7, 2021 23:05:07 GMT -6
"Yeah yeah, fun wasn't really what I was going for." Kail groused, glancing out onto the street. It had been overly ambitious of him to think he'd manage a murder at this time of the day, but the meagre pickings from the mugging were still disappointing. He looked down at the bird still within his grasp as Nagi spoke, sighing a little. No, eating the bird wouldn't be worth the fuss his master would most certainly kick up, and it looked like it was mostly feathers, anyway.
"What species are ya?" He demanded, wanting to change the subject. Okudo stayed firmly within his grasp as he scrutinized the kirin. The flowery scent wasn't anything he'd encountered before, even with dryads and other nature spirits. "You registered or what?"
Prey species usually were - a blind one surely would be.
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Post by Marshmallow on Sept 23, 2021 20:53:03 GMT -6
"Sorry to have put a kink in your plans." Nagi slid in one last sassy pun as the threatening atmosphere dissipated. His heart was still racing though, fight or flight reflexes primed, and the little, tittering laugh that followed was more in the manner to relieve stress than to mock his would-be killer. He stayed where Kajika had pinned him, leaning against the wall for support until his nerves could settle.
In short order they had transitioned from casual conversation, to mugging and threats of violence, to flirting and flustered remarks, to... Well, they'd come full circle it seemed.
"Kirin," Nagi replied easily, speaking softly out of habit despite their relative seclusion. He lifted a hand to his face, brushing aside snow-white bangs to reveal the star-shaped mark on his forehead, where his horn would be in another form. "And yes. What about you?"
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Post by qhostqrowls on Oct 17, 2021 21:14:48 GMT -6
Kail huffed out a breath at the final innuendo. The sense of embarrassment was fading alongside the aggression - but the kirin was lucky they were alone. A slight like that in front of packmates or other predatory supers would have left the man with another set of clawed scars and a dead familiar. But as it were, he decided to focus on the others pluck rather than his own fumble.
"Huh. Ain't met one before. You all this ballsy?" He crossed his lean arms across his chest, Okudo still firmly grasped in one hand. He'd give the bird back in a minute.
"As ya can probably guess, nah. Don't think they're too fond of maneaters." There was a lightly challenging note in his rough voice, and an obvious disdain for the organization. "Ain't like they can offer me anything I can't just get myself, anyway. But I guess someone like you would need that shit."
It wasn't clear if he was referring to Nagi's species, or his blindness, but there was no real heat behind the words.
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Post by Marshmallow on Feb 9, 2024 21:33:22 GMT -6
“Generally speaking, no, not really,” the kirin said. “I think I get it from my dad’s side.”
‘Ballsy’ probably was not how Nagi would have described himself in that moment, but he wasn’t about to contest a compliment - grudging or not - from his assailant. It wasn’t every day a predator would admit their prey got one up on them. Maybe in the future, they could look back on the encounter and have a good laugh about it.
“You might be surprised if you give them a chance. There are a lot of programs and resources to help out predator species,” he continued. “Including the ones who eat humans. You should consider looking into it.”
While he spoke, Nagi carefully stooped and began feeling about for his cane. From Kajika’s hand, the bird croaked something in Japanese. Presumably directions, for Nagi found the cane shortly after.
After he straightened, he held out one hand.
“I don’t suppose you’d be so gracious as to return my familiar? He really wouldn’t make a great snack. He’ll complain the whole way down and give you indigestion out of spite. Absolutely do not recommend.”
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Post by qhostqrowls on Feb 17, 2024 9:22:20 GMT -6
“Yeah, sure.” Kail replied, tone flippant. “Maybe.”
He sounded entirely unconvinced, and took a silent step back as Nagi felt around for his cane. The wendigo shifted his grip on Okudo, staring down at the familiar.
“He does have a mean stink-eye.” He agreed, amused. “He ain’t gonna fly off and cause a ruckus, is he?” He ran a hand across the jays head. His touch was surpassingly gentle - but in the next moment he held the bird aloft by his feet, holding him in front of his face so their eyes met.
“Don’t start yelling for police or nothing.”
His tone was sweet, the implication behind the words anything but. Nagi might have avoided being mugged, but it was a very clear threat to stay quiet. He reached out to place the bird back on the kirins shoulder.
“There ya go.”
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Post by Marshmallow on Feb 28, 2024 23:46:08 GMT -6
If looks could kill, Okudo would have slain the wendigo several times over. The moment he was freed, the jay gave a parting peck at the hand that had restrained him, then fluttered to Nagi’s other shoulder. “Shinjimae,” the bird grumbled.
“Okudo, language!” Nagi scolded. He smoothed a hand over his familiar’s feathers, both to soothe the animal and to shield him from reprisal. “There’s no need to be grumpy. At the end of the day, there’s no real harm done. No one needs to get upset. Okay?” The bird warbled something under its breath but seemed to relent and turned away.
Nagi sighed. He inclined his head toward Kajika. “Thank you. For not, you know…” He made a cutting gesture across his neck and pulled a ‘definitely totally dead’ face. “Yeah. Don’t worry, I won't report this. The worst you gave me is a couple of bruises maybe and a funny story. And maybe I’m a bit of an idiot, but if you’re hungry, I’d be happy to, I don’t know… shout you a burger or something. Just to show there’s no hard feelings.”
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Post by qhostqrowls on Mar 5, 2024 22:23:23 GMT -6
Kail stared hard at the odd duo, hands jammed in his pockets. There was a weight to his gaze, something distinctly predatory, but it seemed to fade away at Nagi’s placations.
“Hey, you’re so welcome.”
He lifted his hand back for a slap-handshake, and then grimaced to himself.
He settled for a heavy pat on his shoulder instead, the motion rough but friendly enough.
“You’re a brave ‘lil dude. I respect that. You gotta be less nice to strangers though, yeah? You’re too trusting.”
He laughed to himself, trying to play it cool.
“Uh. Anyway. This way out.”
He pressed his hand against Nagi’s back in a graceless attempt to guide him out of the narrow alleyway.
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Post by Marshmallow on Mar 18, 2024 19:01:12 GMT -6
Had he been in his natural shape, that hand at his back might have prompted a kick. As it was, he still stiffened, prey instincts expecting a knife or claws to rake through his flesh. But he had nothing to fear. It was just a guiding hand, perhaps a little forceful and awkward, but a kindness all the same. If nothing else, Kajika had proven to be good to his word. Nagi chose to focus on the positives. After all, how often did contact with an unregistered predatory super end with so little violence?
“You’re probably right,” Nagi replied with an easy, airy laugh. Once back on the sidewalk proper, he took a moment to feel the wind and orient himself, with Okudo’s assistance. “But you know what they say about old habits. I just can’t quite help myself.”
He motioned to Kajika, inviting him to follow. “So, Kajika-kun, how about that burger? I know a place with good 'variety' for folks like us,” he said, smiling brightly. “Speaking of… You never did tell me what you are…”
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