spikedwings-blog

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“Right,” she murmured, their small talk all but ended by the reminder that they were on a mission, and that their objective was at hand. The girl’s lips pursed as one last glance of soft brown told her that they had not drawn attention yet.

Her head tilted forward, eyes closing tightly-- having to focus so carefully on hearing every bit of information drew sharply on her abilities, sometimes to the point her kakugan would activate. She’d keep them closed, but it meant that she wouldn’t be able to see any approach. It was easy enough to pretend to have a headache, tilting slightly in Ayato’s direction as she lifted one hand to cover her expression from her forehead. A trained investigator could see the rise of the veins from her dark eyes even when closed, and rather than cup her ears to focus her hearing, she’d have to simply hide her face. “...Two people discussing the island base.” Her tone was low, hushed in a murmur as she struggled through the dull roar of the city around her to close in on the conversation she sought out, muffled not by the noise around it, but by the thick walls meant to block from most eavesdroppers.

“I’m sure I can afford that.” He responded, her small and slightly uneasy smile was infectious, causing him to follow suite. His lips curled slightly to end his reply. “Thanks, Hina.”

Hinami had changed in physicalities, but her morals and personality stayed relatively the same…Ayato however had changed drastically. A couple of years ago, if he was asked to guard and protect Hinami he would have immaturely refused, or ditched her as soon as they arrived. But getting through his last teenage years with her and being trained by a strict teacher, had calmed him significantly. The young man was now more understanding, collected and became a firm and respected leader. He cared about his team, Hinami especially. He often spoke to her, almost counselling her and giving her a chance to let out emotions she may otherwise bottle up. He knew she wouldn’t tell him everything, and that was fine, so long as she found some solace in his words…

His smile faded a little and he looked ahead at the building. “Okay, I got your back, try focusing on them…”

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Death, familiar and casual to the half-human as morning air. Had she more introspection, and an open heart, she may have been touched by the gentle ghoul’s earnestness and character.

But Hairu was a woman groomed to feel nothing at the thought of death, and with her own life so short, what was the point in putting emphasis open that? Her sole purpose was to kill what she had been told to kill, and the investigator would not abandon that.

Hairu would not disappoint Arima.

“That makes it more fun. Come on, then!”

Hairu jumped towards Hinami, swinging her Quinque towards the Aogiri member. She wasted no time with playing around; she was striking to kill.

The tips of her kagune were the only things she intended on using for this battle. It would not be in effort to strike out, no. In a real battle, she was fully aware she stood precious little chance against a Dove with the skill and speed the other woman displayed from the moment she jumped-- at least, little chance considering her intent with Hairu in this battle was not to kill. In the last few years, Hinami had learned to hold her own.  But direct confrontation while not wanting to actively face the investigator, the best option was to keep moving. Lashing out, her natural physical weapon embedded into the brick stone of the alleyway, hoisting the small ghoul up to the air with force of momentum. She was not aiming at Hairu, rather, she was dodging her. With the intent to continuing to do so, until she was clear to flee herself, or she tired the investigator out.  Through the slits of her mask, she made sure to not lose sight of the dove, keeping a far distance and using the spikes of her kagune to lift her to a new area out of reach each time, using her kagune to embed into walls and lift her weight from the fire escape, to the ground, to the window sills... wherever she could reach from one moment or another. . 

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“I see.” Her gaze lowers to the book she takes from the bags, and the single pen that she removes from the little pack. It was the same one she’d offered him earlier, but it would go to the same use she’d intended then as well. Even if he couldn’t pick it up at first, she had a feeling she’d spend a lot of time listening to him list off those names, an adapting them to whatever kanji she could.  “I feel it would have probably been more useful if I’d have known how to punch and kick things when I was younger too, though.” Instead of knowing how to read a newspaper. A little smile lingers on her features though, knowing that the compliment was a rare blessing from Miza herself. She’d take it to heart.  Her entire form seems to shake a bit when the hand caps down on her shoulders, just a little wobble-- it isn’t a jump, moreso the fact that even after all this time, Hinami was still pretty small. A strong wind would have blown her over if she had been a human, “We all have things we’re good at though. That’s why it’s up to us to each other people the things that we’re good at, and always keep an open mind that we can still learn, right?” Her smile broadens, and she shakes off the lingering doubts that grasp at her like cobwebs. “Do you want to get started?” She lifts the book finally, with a step to the door. 

          “ Mm… ” Though careful to mimic her for fear of somehow befouling the simplest of tasks, still the ghoul appears somewhat distracted  — attention wasted on watching the blood come flowing back to whitened fingers. 

          “ I didn’t get it at first, but… ” Again, he finds himself cursing his big mouth. Even if it is the set up to a contradiction, it’s one of those things you’re not supposed to say, isn’t it? “ I’ve never been any good at that kinda stuff though! Only ever been good at like… straight up kickin’ the shit outta things! But… somethin’ like that is real useful, right? Like just knowin’ all that shit… probably means a lot less guys die that otherwise! ” He’s babbling again, he can tell this time — feel himself tripping and stumbling about with his sentences, and if Naki’s all too aware of his own incoherence, what hope does she have of deciphering words that feel heavy even to his own tongue? “ — ‘sides, she’s always kinda grumpy! So when she says nice shit like that, y’know she means it! ”

          There’s perhaps a little too much enthusiasm, abruptness in the way his hand claps down on her shoulder, but with the onset of such a sudden, intrusive thought, it strikes him as the best course of action. It hardly seems in-keeping with her nature to throw herself on the front lines, and two years ago, he’s quite certain he felt something incredibly similar; inadequate and desperately out of place. “ Ah! But even if goin’ out there’s not your thing, bein’ able to read and write ‘ still a hell of a lot more than most guys round here can do! ”

[spikedwings-blog]

NA-GACHIIKA SAID: YOUR HINAMI IS SO CUTE???? [ ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) the day hinami stops being the most precious character in tokyo ghoul is the day i stop reading the series tbh ]

[spikedwings-blog]

“Mm, I’ve cut hair once or twice, so I guess I’ve got a little experience with it,” She conceded. True, eventually after cutting Kaneki’s hair she’d managed to give him a trim that didn’t look like he’d shoved his head into a wood chipper. The thought tugged at nostalgia in the back of her mind, but she forsook it in favor of not only the mission, but her current conversation with the other ghoul. 

“If you’d like, I can cut it when we get back?” Back from the mission, back to the base, back to safety where they wouldn’t have to be on edge, considering every few minutes an investigator left the building and passed them by. It was hiding in plain sight, and she could understand Ayato’s tenseness as much as her own. Nervously, as if showing any sign of happiness would draw attention from the people who hated their kind so much, she offered him a smile. “And I won’t charge you anything except a ‘thank you,’ so how does that sound?” 

Ayato stayed standing by the benches edge for the first few minutes of their mission location. He was clearly on edge and borderline weary. He wanted to be prepared, ready for any possible attacks. Eventually, he realized this probably looked more suspicious if anyone was to glance out of the window. If he sat next to her, it would look much more casual… Just two teenagers resting for a moment.

He leaned back on the bench, his hood pulled up. Luckily the poor weather had allowed him to get away with hiding his features from sight without seeming out-of-the-ordinary. Even with this shroud his hair still protruded and fell around his face, fringe growing past his eyes and sides coming cose to his chin. “Hm?” He focused on her conversation, too used to the silence. He tugged on a lock from his side and glanced at the ends. “Yeah I guess it has been a while…” He felt weird going into the city for haircuts. Back in Anteiku his sister had done it, he once let Nico give it a go but his mannerisms quickly put Ayato off going back there…so he had to go to a regular hairdressers. It was strange for him. “Just wish I could do it myself…it’s such a waste of money getting it done…” He paused for a moment. “Are you any good with hair?”

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She took a breath, and held it briefly, the woman’s smile both unnerving and unappreciated at the same time. It reminded her of other investigators who had cut down friend and foe without a question to the lives that were taken, and for a moment, Hinami felt a flash of frustration and anxiety clench at her heart.  Hinami had only pulled forth two of her Rinkaku limbs; it was only recently that she’d been able to use four, but in the thin alleyway, less was more. Only if she needed to take to the rooftops and escape would she use the other two, and only if completely necessary would she use the Koukaku. 

“I’m sorry, but I can’t allow that.”  It was surprisingly enough, a genuine apology. While Hinami had come into age knowing that there were only some ghouls who could survive in this world, as long as she watched over them, she would try to ensure that her squad wer among them. While she did not intend to kill Hairu by any means, she would not allow her to pursue the fledgling Tree members who’d put their faith in her. However, this time, she waited for the attack, prepared to defend where need be until she’d deemed them out of the alleyways and safe.

Now, it was always funny when prey tried to be polite; almost like it would strike something in Hairu, and make her consider mercy. With this ghoul’s sweet voice and delicate air, Hairu might have felt a hint of pity, or kinship at the creature so close to her age.

Unluckily for her opponents, Hairu had learned in her earliest lessons how to separate herself from the battle, and cut off the emotions that might bring hesitation into her blows.

To her, an opponent was always dead by the time they entered the battlefield.

A smile, nauseatingly sweet, spread on Hairu’s pale lips. It was only her, but that was fine. A one-woman army, Hairu was all Hairu needed.

“Happily. I’ll cut you down nice and quick, and move on to the other little ghouls.” The investigator swept out her beloved Aus, brandishing the massive blade with astounding ease. “Let’s begin, shall we?”

[spikedwings-blog]

@blushxhime

Fighting was not her focus, but when investigators had showed up to the most recent mission, ‘Yotsume’ became much more aware of the need to protect those who had come to work under her on this operation. They were all new, youngblood ghouls who had no other option but to turn to the Aogiri Tree for food and protection--not unlike she had, only in the last year or so. When an investigator had tracked them down to the narrow network of alleyways between buildings in a district far from the fancy, new buildings of the business areas, she whirled on her heels and sent the newbies running for safety. 

Through the slits of her mask, she could only see one Dove, but there were always more out of sight, rejoining the flock. She could only hope they hadn’t gone ahead to cut her group off. With a deep breath, her kakugan slipped from her back, cutting through the skin there an lingering in the tight alleyway behind her. The woman she faced...couldn’t be much older than herself. She could make an effort, at least, though she’d only delay the ghoul until she felt confident her group had made it far enough away to escape. 

“I will be your opponent. Please stop trying to pursue the others.”

[spikedwings-blog]

[This is my temporary starter call! Like this for a starter of varying length across any timeframe!]

[spikedwings-blog]

@jet-black-rabbit It was a low scale, easy mission at best. Recon, really, though Ayato had been sent with her as a somewhat guard considering the recon was scoping out the CCG Building itself. It was rare that they, or any of the Aogiri to be honest, dared to be that brave...though information was necessary, and it was her job to see if she could pick up any traces of missions being discussed, or information deemed beneficial to the Tree. 

Regardless, from where she’d taken her seat at a park bench not far from the building, she couldn’t help but glance over, eyes passing for just a moment at the spikes of the other’s hair hanging low. “It’s been a while since you’ve hair a haircut, hasn’t it? If you let it grow out more, I bet you could fit in in a ponytail.” The tone of conversation is light; she hadn’t begun to listen for information yet, and some might even say she was teasing him. 

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@na-gachiika

While it was altogether a bit dangerous for Hinami to be seen out and about, she still didn’t want to sit around the Anteiku in the off hours and do nothing to help the people who ha not only given her a new place to stay, but all of a new family as well. It started as little things, once the store was closed; she could not easily show her face in the city with it being on higher alert to a child ghoul, the Daughter ghoul whose clothing (yet not face) had been hung on every CCG signboard from here to the Dove Headquarters as well.  

When the blinds were drawn, she would help sweep, and eventually it moved up to helping take out the trash to the back of the store, dumping the bags with no small effort into the trash cans there. Even on this afternoon she was careful, though it seemed she hadn’t been quite cautious enough, considering she caught sight of someone waiting in the alleyway. At least, it seemed like he was waiting, and there’s a little frown that crosses her features as she tried to place where his face seemed familiar from.  “...Ah, sir, are you waiting for one of our employees...?” 

[spikedwings-blog]

[This is my temporary starter call! Like this for a starter of varying length across any timeframe!]

[spikedwings-blog]

She peered up to him, eyes focusing on the taller ghoul with a quirk to her brow as he seems to pick up on invisible grey hairs, and one eye closes slightly as her head is rocked by his ruffling fingers. It’s a small flinch, but not out of pain, moreso to keep falling strands from poking her in the eye where they fell from his tousles.  “You say that, but if I have any gray hairs, it’s because I’m worrying about you too much.” Hinami gives him a knowing, almost firm glance. For someone who looked equally young despite years of strife and turmoil, she’d become nearly motherly herself. Something she’d undoubtedly picked up from Touka, those quiet, scolding ways. 

It’s lighthearted though--she doesn’t want to scold him too much. If he was staying up all night, he undoubtedly already had quite a lot on his mind, and she didn’t want to stress him further than she was already sure he was. In the end, she purses her lips before setting her own cup of coffee down, turning off the hotpot before she wound up forgetting to do so. Ghouls had very little use for the kitchen and all of its utensils, and neglect of a stove or oven was not uncommon. The other resident of the house got more use out of it than she or Shuu could.  “I bet that’s how you stay young, isn’t it? You drive all the younger people you know completely mad, so we get your wrinkles an gray hairs for you. That’s why you’re keeping me around.” It was more complicated than that, and they both knew it, but she wriggled her fingers at him, in the old indicator of an evil witch. “At least let me pass my exams before you drain away my youth.”

           Those years were never welcomed by sleep either, but he wouldn’t correct Hinami over those details. She had been protected, sheltered from many thing during that time. More by Kaneki’s choice to preserve whatever innocence the little girl still possessed back then, but many of them knew she had already seen how cruel the world had could be. Most ghoul children had learned that lesson very well, knowing what evil lurked within dark alleyways or on their very doorstep outside the front door. Tsukiyama wasn’t well acquainted with such things at her age, already having made an infamous name for himself, striking fear into both ghouls and humans alike. Funny, how circumstances and time can change someone.

           With quiet gratitude, Tsukiyama accepted the cup of coffee and took a small sip, humming pleasantly from the taste. “My sanity level is not defined by how many hours of sleep I get,” he corrected, trying to steer their topic of conversation away from how much, or how little he slept. Her concern came from a good place, always had been and always would be, but there were moments where he couldn’t keep his promises as much as he would have liked. As much as his former self would have never cared about these matters, preferring to keep ghouls at the top of the food chain, instilling fright into the hearts of humans, the man Tsukiyama had become wished for a better future. Coexisting. If not for himself, for those like Hinami that didn’t get a chance for a better life…

           Upon hearing the small jest, Tsukiyama couldn’t help the small grin from etching up to his lips as he peered over the edge of his mug. “Honestly, mademoiselle,” he spoke dramatically, adding that extra bit of flare he once used in his speech, “Radiance does not wither or wrinkle from those as beautiful as myself. I am an example of eternal youth.” Although, he had spotted a few lines under his eyes the night before… Curse the signs of aging. Thankfully, he could pass for younger these days. He would appreciate it for however long it lasted.

           “Do mine eyes deceive me though?” Placing his cup down on the counter, he towered over the shorter young woman, peering down at the top of her head. “Are those grey hairs?” Both hands ruffled and mussed brown locks, stopping once he felt satisfied enough by her ruffled state. “Ah – It must have been my imagination.”  

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“Oh-- okay, I understand!” 

“--Space tricks. I’ll remember that one!” She accepts his explanation with unfaltering conviction, placing belief in his words without question otherwise. Even if space tricks had been a phrased unfamiliar before, it would undoubtedly be added to her repertoire of vocabulary, to be used to confuse a third party at a later date. She didn’t know any better.  At any rate, she was glad their conversation had managed to perk the other up a bit from his earlier tears. As they finally approached the building of the compound where she’d been instructed to drop off the supplies. Opening the door with her spare hand, she moved to push it and drop her own bags off on the table nearby, fishing the few odd yen and change to place it next to it. There’s a little pause though, and a humble flush of pink brushes at her cheeks.  “She said that? ...I just want to be useful,” She admitted with a somewhat nervous laugh, a shake of her tone under her breath. It was flattering, still, to be acknowledged as ‘good’ at something in an organization of people who were almost terrifyingly powerful. It firms up into a convinced smile, and with the little book in hand, her gaze lifts to him with determination. “I’ll do my best! By the time you can read off the first page of names I’ll write down, I’ll learn how to throw a good punch.”

          “ Yeah… I don’t think big bro read all that much — Ah! He could draw real good though! Guess there’s just different places you pick that shit up from!  ” Subtle though it may be, his weary eyes still detect the swelling of pride within her chest — even if Naki is theatrical, over zealous in his displays, undoubtedly, it’s still the same indefatigable admiration that sits, scorched into their very bones. And who would he be if elation didn’t play out upon his features upon such an observation…

          “ Mm… ” Not that lasts. Capricious as ever, in a single heartbeat, the space of one mishap — his lower lip is now once more held captive between tortuously sharp teeth — and it ought to have been such a simple thing to say too! How like him to fuck it all up! “ Y’know it’s like the uh… the little things that are like… the ins and outs’a somethin’ — the space tricks! ”

             Ah, but perhaps he can still hope to tip-toe around it! He’s sheep in wolf’s clothing — fangs bared in a grin that seeks only to dispel any notion that the weight of his own mistake has descended upon him. “ Anyway, anyway! There’s always breakin’ arms then! That’s always fun! I dunno much about that sensing shit! Never been good at listenin’ I guess, ah… but Miza says it’s real rare to be as good as you are at it! So… it’s important Hinami learns to defend herself, right?! ”

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“M-hm.” She answers his question with a firm little nod; an unwavering conviction even after Kaneki’s ‘disappearance.’ “He could learn almost anything from a book, I think. He’s the smartest person I’ve ever me, pretty much.” The girl fluffs a bit, like a bird; it’s a subtle movement, her shoulders rising with pride for all but a few seconds. Hinami pardons his long pause–and secretly, she’s grateful that he’d picked and chosen his words carefully to avoid an uncomfortable topic.  There’s a moment’s pause of her own as she glances down to her own knuckles: pale skin, unbruised and unbroken, bloodless with how tight she gripped the bags he hadn’t managed to lift off of her. She wondered if they’d come out unscathed from the lessons the other planned.  “I’ll…probably avoid breaking legs.” She admitted with a laugh that seems more nervous than anticipating. It wasn’t her intention to be able to brawl as well as Naki, though she was sure it was a viable skill to have in instances where her kagune was not an option to use in combat. Throwing a punch would be useful, but… she’d leave the rest of that to the White Suits, she was sure. “…space tricks?” 

            “ So this big bro’a yours, he’s like—  ” Gone now? He falls just short of letting that slip, and oh, how he inwardly curses himself for it! What a fucking stupid avenue for him to stumble into, to know how deep a gash can run and still shift to prise apart the stitches. Of course, she’ll have noticed the prolonged pause — Hinami’s observant like that, he thinks… oh, but he hopes his folly will be chalked up to an entirely different brand of ‘being a blithering idiot’. “ Uh… he’s like the guy that taught you everythin’ y’know too, huh? ” 

And perhaps, the enthusiasm that comes bubbling to the surface upon her agreement is quite the unbecoming thing. But violence is the only thing his memory allows to remain of a time in his past which predates Yamori — he’s always been that way; balled fists and white knuckles, aggression draped across his shoulders in the same way any other child would parade a security blanket around. He takes only the utmost pride in brutality, because without it, what is he?

“ Yeah, yeah, yeah! Sure thing! ” It would seem his demeanour has made quite the shift, a wide, unerring grin now plastered upon his features a spring in his step which prompts some anxiety as to how long the content of her bags will remain in tact. “ Shouldn’t take too much hard work, yeah? Like, you’ve probably got all the basic space tricks of it down already, huh? Just leave it all up t’ me, and you’ll be breakin’ legs in no time! ”

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“...I bet that’s true.” Her smile lingers, but there’s a moderately stifle of it, and for a moment, Hinami finds herself in the same quiet contemplation. She had not intended, after all, to bring Kaneki up.  There was only so much she could genuinely reference from the last few years that didn’t, in some core way, involve the one-eyed ghoul. “I think big brothers exist to be smart.” And without them, they were left to grow up and do it themselves, but that was hardly motivational for Naki’s cause.  There’s a little pause when the other specifies that it was a useful skill, and she lifts her free hand to ball it into a fist. It’s small, still-- she’d never been a girl of impressive statue, but... she hadn’t considered the importance of being able to physically fight. She was reliant her kagune, for such things.  “...Can you teach me that, then?” She questioned with a little glance to the other, lifting her fist just a bit. “I’m bad at hitting things.” She wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to go around breaking jaws but, maybe, just maybe, she’d learn to throw a punch as well as she knew Touka could. It wasn’t exactly as if she could go learn such a thing from the woman now, in the situation of her working for the tree. She would be fine with Naki being a stand in for such lessons. 

           Few and far between are the occasions when he finds himself cajoled into a state of quiet contemplation but the mention of big brother draws that out of him, prompts his brows to furrow over the attempted recollection of that something, someone in her history that had been the source of great disquietude — indignation even, for him when first she joined… But he’ll be damned if he can remember! Like so many things, it’s rattled free of the confines of his memory and no amount of introspection hopes to lure it back. 

“ Yeah…my big bro was really smart too! ‘Guess it’s just like… a thing, y’know? ” And like that, with but a faint shake of his head what intent he had to question her is gone; out of sight, out of mind…

” I can do that! I dunno if it’ll be like, smart stuff… but! ” Indeed, whatever he manages to construe, is likely to come out in the form of inane prattle… and with this favour leaving him so very indebted to her, can he really call utter drivel sufficient repayment? “ You sure though? Like, it’s always… ah, useful to know how to punch a guy and break his jaw! ”  

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“...I’m sorry, that depends on the person you’re looking for.” Hinami wasn’t foolish by any stretch, and the vagueness of his words sends off a little, subtle alert in the back of her mind. If he spoke of searching for one of the “higher up” members of the Tree, she’d be hard pressed to avoid the subject. Leaky faucets were the ones that could be cut off the most effectively, at a moment’s notice. Giving excess information that was not hers to give was not the way to survive properly in this world. The subtle squelch of the ghoul in the outpost behind her broke the somewhat awkward silence, though the girl still stood guarded, watching the other from the slits behind her mask. If he thought she was anything important with the Aogiri that she could help with much...well, he’d probably be disappointed.  “You’ll have to be a bit more clear,.” 

Deep, violet eyes greeted the girl in the shack. He was not surprised that she did not recognize him. It was nothing that he did not expect. It had been a while since he had left the Aogiri and, from his sources, he knew a lot had changed. New recruits, new faces, new plans. Staring in the distance, he reminisced his days beside Yamori, the unusual attraction that had got them together, the ruthlessness of the torturer. It was no use in denying that he missed the now deceased ghoul and that he thought fondly of the time spent with him, even if it all started as a cover. But it was time to come back to the present, to the young girl in front of him. If his intel was correct, her name was Hinami and she had once been part of Kaneki’s group. He had never actually met her or knew her appearance outside of descriptions. A smile lifted the corners of his pink lips.

“Actually, I think you can. I am searching for someone.“

[spikedwings-blog]

Had he even pretended to try and slip into bed and act as if he hadn’t been up at the crack of dawn, she would have probably heard the bed springs creek from however many floors away his suite was from the kitchen as well. There were few things that could be hidden from those hypersensitive ears, and she was more than aware that Tsukiyama knew she was listening for any attempts to be sneaky about it. There was good reason both coffee cups had been pulled from the cabinet. Her coffee would never be quite as good as Touka’s-- it was a fact she didn’t mind, and had accepted rather easily. Primarily Hinami relied on instant coffee lately, or if she had time to wait for the coffee maker before she ducked out of the house for morning classes, a brew from the filter. Never quite as good as that slow poured stuff they’d served at Anteiku, but that was the sort of coffee they’d spend the rest of their lives trying to remember and recreate, until they were as old as the proprietor himself had been. Staring down at the pitch-liquid, she extended him the mug.

“Ah, I do. Those were the years when you slept through the night like a sane person, weren’t they?” If he wanted to lead away from the subject, she’d use it to lead right back into it. She hadn’t quite yet changed out of her sleeping clothes, and had the girl not taken to wearing ear plugs at night, his subtle movements throughout the home would have likely kept her up otherwise. For her to still be lingering at this hour either meant she didn’t have class today, or her morning class had been cancelled-- either way, she’d be here for a while, just enough time to scold him for making poor life decisions and skipping sleep. If she didn’t scold Tsukiyama every now and then, who would? “If you keep staying up so late, you’ll wither, Flower Man. Do I see wrinkles on your forehead?”

@spikedwings

           Newspapers intermingled with his paperwork, surrounding the working space around his laptop. He had pulled an all-nighter once again for the second time that week. It was something he had promised himself and a certain young woman he wouldn’t do again, but as the sun began to rise and light filtered through the curtains, Tsukiyama rubbed wearily at his eyes and glanced away from the obnoxiously bright screen. Coffee was brewing somewhere within the manor; a telltale sign someone other than himself was awake. He needed a distraction for the moment, anything to tear him away from trying to keep track of current events and organizing an adequate presentation for other members of the committee. Persuasion was far more difficult these days; he didn’t have to worry about ethics when he was the Gourmet.

           “Hinami-chan,” he pushed away from his desk and stood up, calling out softly to the other. There were others residing on the estate: a half-ghoul that appreciated her sleep and another ghoul he had known from many years ago. It would be only polite to make certain he didn’t wake either of the two. Hinami had sensitive enough hearing as it was. She probably already knew he was awake from the quiet sound of his pen against paper or the faint ticking of fingers hitting the keyboard. It was a useful trait to have. Not so much when Tsukiyama was trying to work in secret.

           Stepping into the kitchen, he peered over to her, already pouring coffee into two mugs. There were days where this sight was an eerie one, disbelieving that the little girl he once knew had grown up into a bright, intelligent young woman. They had both come so far and still had such a long way to go. His hands smoothed over the front of his suit, one he had worn the day before, before he waltzed further into the kitchen, deciding to rest against the counter. Tsukiyama could sense she may have tried to reprimand him for breaking his promise, but he might try to butter her up with nostalgia. “Do you remember when you used to call me ‘Flower Man’? Ah – those were many years ago. Such a young blossoming bud you were.”