"Ta-daaaa." Marin spun in a perfect pirouette, 'Jump back, it's pretty hot!" she sniffed , holding her fingers out in a V sign. Sajuna AKA Juju and her sister shinju were awestruck "kuki from genshin impact?!
"Hellz yeah and she fits like a glove. Kensei offered to cosplay arattaki for me too!" She clasped her hands together over her mouth in excitement.
"Do youMind?" juju asked. "no Go right ahead!" She boasted hands on her hips, as they inspected the fabric and the material, "marin I'm impressed, seems you've learned alot from goj– ahem"But Marins smile didn't falter, "it's OK juju, and you're right I have come a long way, but I didn't do it alone."
"mariiiiiiin,"Rune and Daia called from the couch, "kensei said he's gonna be here in about 15! So we need to get started on food prep!"
"holy crap! I forgot!" She looked at her phone, "We knoooow!" the girls said in unison, startling her "uh ok…? guys, can you please food prep without me so the inuis can help with the makeup?"
"We know marin!" they all repeated again in unison. She grumbled, "ok know-it-alls" about to walk off when then the doorbell rings, "oh, that must be daki!" marin skips to the front door.
"Hey duckie–huh? Nowa?"marin couldnt believe it.
"H-hey Mar-" she says sheepishly rubbing her arm, "I'm real sorry about before I didnt-"marin hugs her tightly,"shh forget about it. I'm happy you made it" Nowa slowly returns the hug.
she looked over her shoulder at jim in the truck, "he's not coming is he?"
"no said he had work to do so he's dropping me off," marin pulls back from the embrace, "well i love your yelan outfit!"
"thanks! kensei told me youi guys were doing Avatar and genshin impact so I jumped on!"both girls held eachothers hands and jumped up and down with excitement. "Come on, lets do our makeup before kensei shows up!" She grabs nowas hand to run upstairs the inuis following not too far behind. rune and Daia head to the kitchen.
"I love the way it looks on you nowa, even without her wig you look perfect!" shinju says getting her makeup kit out, "thanks but yours is cuter marin!" nowa gleams
"Thanks, gyu helped me!" thats when the room went quiet, "huh, you guys all right?"
"So what gives, marin? You dont share any pics of him, and i cant find any on dakis soc either. Is he like a celebrity? sounds like it by the way you describes him." Juju asks eyebrows furrowed, "i was thinking the same thing too," nowa confesses, marin scoffs in response "gyutaro? Psh… in his dreams maybe."
"that was..harsh" sajuna reproaches taking a few practice photos with her camera to make sure the settings are correct, "well its true, he doesnt have any friends, I'll bet he's never had a girlfriend either" marin says making the thoughtless remark while crossing her arms,. Now it was nowas turn to scoff, "whatre you saying, hes a virgin?"
Silence. Awkward Silence.
nowa tossed her phone in disbelief. "Are you serious!? Doesnt his sister literally sells sex for a living?"
Only then did marin start sweating visibly when she realized her folly. "Oh w-well… I didnt mean he…" She furrowed her brows in thought, Was he? Now, she felt bad. Not because there was anything wrong with virginity but because she thought of how lonely it must be to not have anybody at all, no friends, lovers or even proper family other than daki, she just realized she still doesn't know alot about him ... What does he even do in his free time?
marin looked to juju with a 'help me' face She understood her silent cry for help, "hes a unicorn then." she flopped on the bed with a shrug. Shinju stuttered "H-hey i dont think its right to make fun of him."
"Im not making fun of him, I'm being serious, his sister must be more important than his own needs, he's exactly like you and me, shinju." She clarifies as her baby sister coos with unshed tears, "OHHH Sajuna! Is that why you're a virgin too? For me?" She smacked her sister hard in the arm when she said that making her cry out.
But Marin jumps in quickly, "yeah thats why im always saying hes special. in fact I'm happy for him, means when he finally finds that special someone, it'll be a magical experience." juju deadpans before shaking her head at marins innocence, "well Im looking forward to meeting his sister, as long as shes not a whiny brat working together should be interesting." Marin tried hard not to let her face reveal the truth, but sajuna was smart and noticed right away asshe eyes marin, "you did tell her, right?"
"his sister is super adorbs juju im sure she'll love your proposal! And she's totally not a whiny brat, not at all!" she claps instead ignoring her question. Juju looked like she wanted to punch her out, "Ugh! shouldve known with you Marin... just remember im doing this as a favor. You know I prefer to work solo so she better be worth it." juju squinted her eyes as she scrolled through dakis gram, "though i dont understand. How she can be this cute and sexy at the same time " she slumped her shoulders, staring at her flat chest with disdain "oh sis, I think you're sexy and cute!" Her well-endowed baby sitser chimed
"Not helping, shinju."
"There you are! How dare you keep me wait–ah! what the fuck?!" Daki jumps back when kensei opens the door in full cosplay, he gushes immediately, "It's her! It's warabihime," he falls to his knees sputtering the same thing over and over like his brain broke-only for the side of Daias fist to smash him on the head, "shut up, come on in daki, ignore him. He and marin are flexing their genshin impact cosplays"
"Their… fucking What?" she asks as they both step over his body. Daki could only stare at the flashy clothes, the ridiculously stylized wig, "I thought we were just eating and watching Avatar, no one told me this would be a house party for weirdos...and what are you?" she glances Daia up and down.
"ty lee" she said simply. The costume wasnt anything special, just pink long sleeve crop top and pink harem pants with a large red belt, in fact if it wasnt for the wig daki mightve missed that she was cosplaying at all.
"I thought you werent into this kind of thing"
"not at all. But i do it for marin it makes her happy. Besides, today is..." she gets closer to daki holding her hand over her mouth whispering "… a special occasion."
Daki wanted to ask but figured if it was important she'll find out later instead she turns her attention to kensei "and what the hell are you supposed to be?" he recovers, flashing a huge grin, "I'm arattak-" but Daia cuts him off, "its probably better you let marin explain, theyre upstairs doing makeup".
Kensei visibly deflates right there on the spot, but daki grins "well atleast he's not ugly" hearing that he swells up with pride again clutching his chest as if struck by cupid's arrow. she rolls her eyes at the dramatic gesture. Daia hands daki a golden chinese style hair ornament, "it was a gift, but she says youd look better with it, she'll get excited if she sees you playing along" she inspects the fire nation hair piece in her hands feigning annoyance, "I guess it's not gawdy" she shrugs fastening the hairpiece, "we'll think of something simple for your brother, uhm, where is he?"
" running late,"she said, picking her long stiletto nails. Daia's face drops a little, "is he… not coming again?" daki turns to face her, "no, he'll definitely be here." The look she gave Daia was so knowing she instantly relaxed on the spot, sighing a breath of relief, "thank goodness."
—-
" Your queen has arrived! Bow down bitches!" Daia announces pushing the door open wide with daki in tow,"Duckie!" Marin rushes to hug her, "The hairpiece is perfect on you!" but daki could not take her eyes off marins costume, "you like it?" she gestures, "Gyu helped me with it, his measurements were spot on!"
She looked up"gyu did? My brother..?" as if she had another brother somewhere. if daki was feigning ignorance she was very good because marin was positive gyutaro told her everything.
"Also dont forget mar, you promised to set us up" Daia winks, "wh-wha? You're still interested in him?"
"Sure am! He sounds really cool, plus its not like youre dating him." Marin swallowed hard before giving off the weirdest laugh ever, "haha-ho-ho'yeah! Yes of course, I can set you two up. But fair warning he's a big jerk… no offense, daki." She says giving her a quick apologetic look, "And he misses nothing, so don't lie to him unless you wanna be skewered…" she puts a hand to her chin looking up "also don't be scared of him, he likes that and will eat you alive, and don't pity him either, he hates that and will curse you out in front of everyone like he does me…"
Shinju looked like she wanted to cry, "he sounds scary,"
"I'll say," her sister agreed, "no, no!, he's really cool. He's amazing actually, like check this out" she grabs the plastic balisong and begins doing knife tricks, much to everyone- except dakis, amazement," he taught you that?"
"yeah he did! And he's really good with cars too, and honestly i dont know how he does it but he can make anything happen, right duckie?"
"...sure.." Daki looked like she was still trying to process whats going on, she didn't recognize any of the girls in here and couldn't understand the costumes either, "Mar, let shinju finish nowas makeup youre needed in the kitchen downstairs anyways" Daia says checking the time, "by the way, Can i smoke this in here?" she asks pulling out a blunt.
"No, Gyutaro isnt allowed to smoke, neither are you take it outside. In fact, I'm pretty sure you left something else last time you slept over," Marin crosses her arms a scowl on her face narrowing her eyes, "i put it in my closet." Daki flinched.
Daia sighs, "Its safer at your place anyways," she shrugs without a care. "Daia don't leave shit like that at my house, the cops came through here remember?"
"Whateveeer," she sighs as they head down the stairs. Marin skips into the kitchen, while Daia digs for her lighter and heads for the door only for the door knob to open from the other side.
"Oh..! Hell..o…" she says awkwardly as he makes eye contact with her entering the house. " gyu is that you?" Marin calls from the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready soon!" Daia snaps back to her senses relaxing, "Oh so you are him. I see. Im Daia by the way" she extends her hand he could react marins voice came from the kitchen again "Gyu dont be fucking weird, introduce yourself! she's a friend!" his face fell into a grimace, Daia simply laughed, "its all right mar. Well i was gonna smoke this" she holds out the blunt, "wanna join me?"
"no…thanks." He strains as she laughs, flicking her braid behind her shoulder, as she brushes past him out the door.
-—-
"All genshin impact cosplays are afusion of eastern and western styles, but for kukis uniform I used black breast plating to keep these babies looking fresh," she squeezed her tits for emphasis, kensei nodded in approval while taking notes, "I was actually inspired by dakis geta sandals so all I had to do was…"
she went on and on explaining the mechanics of the cosplay, the tailor, the material, the designs she used, and how much she paid to have the wig styled, she pulled out the large kunai she made too. "Gyutaro those knife tricks you showed me really came in handy!" she boasted as Shinju takes photographs to upload unto their social media. Even while posing Marin didnt stop talking the entire time.
Gyutaro and daki were kind of repulsed... well on his part anyway. Frankly daki loved the outfit, she was just too proud to admit it… Marin could tell. "Whatever, how dare you rip off my fashion!" She fake-whined.
"So what do you think? Tell me! Is it good? Did I do a good job?" Kensei jumped from his seat "marvelous! Stupendous! fucking amazing marin!" He clapped loudly as all the girls facepalmed except shinju who was clapping like a seal too. "sit down kensei, I was asking him" she waved her hand at gyutaro on the sofa, "oh what the hell, mar!? I don't get any praise? atleast applaud my commitment to the gym so I could do this with you!" He took his fist and pounded his midriff for emphasis, "And dont get me started on the damn hair–"But she ignored him again, "so what do you think, gyu?"
He bit his lip like he wanted to say something but instead he only grimaced disgusted again, "Uh oh, i know that face. where did I lose you?" She stood up straight realizing she did the 'thing' again. He stared at his plate of food, "you really are a fucking child, arent you?" He said it quietly, "Why do you care what I think about your stupid costume?" He sounded like he was talking more to himself than to her.
"Huh!? You were the one who said it was beautiful. Don't you remember?" She tilted her head to the side, "at your place? i was riding the high of your compliment. in fact I was so fired up I couldnt sleep until it was done!" Now his gaze shot up, "My… compliment? You mean that stupid throwaway comment i said?" She nodded fervently with a big grin on her face, "uh-huh", he flushed red at that stupid look "You really that desperate for compliments from a guy like me? Tch… as if pretty women need any more compliments"
Marin didnt skip a beat however, she was beaming putting her hands on her hips still marveling at her work. "I was happy because it came from you. Beautiful was the word you used, You don't give compliments easily right? Which means when you do it actually means something. Reminds me of my boyfriend actually…" she stopped at that realization, chuckling fondly, "thats right….he never called anything beautiful unless it was absolutely perfect in his eyes."
"Then youre just stupid seriously, what a pain you are…" he looked like he wanted to sink into the couch, as everyone in the room gawked at the exchange– even his sister, reading the room, elbowed him for which he was almost grateful for because Now he had an excuse to get up and leave.
"Huh? Where are you going?" She follows him but he keeps walking determined to make it to the patio, she grabs his sweatshirt turning him around, he was about to yell but backs away when she shoves her face mere inches from his own, "come on, you didn't tell me what you think!" She's pouts stomping closer and closer as he takes steps back away; he jerks back hitting the wall almost tripping, "oops..You ok–" she reaches to help him but he quickly brushes her arm away, blowing past her to the patio outside.
"Marin, enough! you need to back off!" Juju intersects rather aggressively, "you're too much"
"What?!" She was flabbergasted as if it were a cruel accusation "I am not, this is nothing for him!" She swings her arm at the patio genuinely offended. "Daki, tell them!" But even daki gave her a befuddled look shaking her head agreeing with Juju.
"Mar, he's clearly uncomfortable," rune added softly, "Then WHy doesnt he just say that? He's always in his head like this! And then gets mad I can't read his freakin mind! I don't understand him at all!"
"Mar, not everybody can articulate how they feel they same way you do." but she scoffs giving the most exaggerated air blow ever, "pfffffffffffft, Please, he 'articulates' just fine!" She pouts crossingnher arms, all the girls look at each eachother. "Uhhh what makes you say that?" Kensei speaks on behalf of the group. But she was at a loss, how can she explained she witnessed firsthand how he got jumped, kidnapped, and threatened at gun point by drug addicts and didnt flinch at all? He even had the nerve to rattle off insults! Are they saying he can speak his mind through all that but not give his damn opinion on a cosplay HE helped her make?
"Because he's not afraid of anything! Or anyone!" she yells, "He's always confident and cool even if the entire world hates him," she wiggles her fingers in the most exaggerated way as if she were mocking him, "He's not afraid to tell people to fuck off or tell me I'm stupid in fact he could care less about this entire neighborhood hating him or liking him, he's not afraid of sketchy people or places. And he loves to argue! All he does is argue and piss me off! He 'articulates' himself just fine."
It was quiet in the room for a few minutes, everyone looked at eachother with that knowing look again, "Why are you guys looking around like that?" Again kensei breaks the silence, "soooo…What do you guys… like, argue about, marin?" he asks very slowly; cautiously.
"Everything! Once I asked him to open a jar of relish so I could make potato salad for dinner. He was in the middle of showering when I came over and got mad and yelled at me! How was I supposed to know?!" she crossed her arms again still fuming.
"But… Did he… you know, open the jar?" kensei asked, that smugness never quite leaving his tone, "yeah! And you know what else? he didnt say shit about it at dinner either, so why the fuck was he mad? oh! And then another time I thought I'd be nice and buy some hampers since he and daki suck at laundry." She paused, "no offense" daki merely pouted and crossed her arms and legs on the couch muttering some insult under her breath..
"All I asked was that he say 'thank you'. He told me to fuck off, said I can't demand gratitude from him! Can you believe that?! We argued for 30 minutes before she screamed at both of us!" she pointed to daki again. "can confirm this did happen" daki confesses raising her hand with a smile.
"Yeah, he was so freakin rude!" Rune and Daia looked at eachother, "so… did he end up thanking you?" Daia asked suspiciously, "w-well yeah but that's not the point!" She snapped her fingers, "oh my god! Then this happened: I got fined by HOA about–well that's not important, what's important is when I called Carlos sounded like he had a gun to his head!"
"Oh, y-yeah? th-then what h-happened?"Daias face crunched as she struggled hard not to laugh, rune too, "I fucking drove down there! To see if he was all right and who do I see waltzing out the building?" She pretended to skip in place. At this point it wasn't just Daia and rune, everyone was struggling hard not to laugh, including daki. "So of course we argue right there in the street! Then Carlos runs out the building a sweaty mess, begging me to stop! It was so embarrassing!" She smacked her cheeks as she re-lived the incident in her head. the entire room finally burst into laughter, "what the fuck!? It's not funny!"Rune and Daia couldnt speak at all so juju sputtered the question, "and… did you end up paying the HOA fine?"
"N-no but what does that hav–" even juju couldnt help but laugh at her, she felt bad though since marin seemed genuinely upset to the point of tears.
"oh fuck you guys, im changing!" she stomped up the stairs her sandals clacking loudly with each step.
Once everyone stopped laughing and wiped the tears away Daia offered to make snacks and drinks so they could finally start avatar the last air bender, it was only when she was in the kitchen did she notice the patio door in the back was ajar.
"Aww, i love this part," shinju claps when watching the screen. "Yeah I really shipped Zutara. I wanted so bad for it to be a thing." Juju whined grabbing popcorn from a bowl. "Zutara?" Daki raises an eyebrow, "yeah, its what fans call their relationship what we call "shipping". It's because of their chemistry. You'll see it later on. Just wait till season 3."
"Sounds like you and gyutaro, mar" Daia totes lazily scrolling through her phone in the corner. "What the hell is wrong with you!?" MArin clapped back furious. Shinju put her hands up to calm her "marin,she's joking."
"For real, Relax' daki added flatly. Marin slumped back on the sofa pissed. She knew Daia was high but still. Kensei tried breaking the tension, "well I'm an azula guy myself," he pointed to his bare chest proudly, still in cosplay, "love me a bad bitch." Daki laughs a little too hard at that enough for Gyutaro to look at her strangely…
Weird.. why is he so quiet? no harsh words or insults, not even at Daia's comment opting to be on his phone or go out to smoke in between episodes, she wondered if everything was ok.
Kensei continues breaking her from her thoughts, "FYI whoever cosplays azula for our next group event Ill personally dub best girl!" he pauses, "...er, or boy" he gives a nod to gyutaro which earned him a scowl look in return.
"So who's it gonna be?" Nobody raised their hand, "oh come on!" Kensei pouts Daia looked up from her phone, "Sajuna what do you think?" Juju also put down her phone, "it's pretty obvious to me who should play azula,"
"Yeah me too," rune smiled.
"...Daki..."the entire room said before they looked at eachother like they were telepathic. The siblings had the strangest looks on their faces, almost creeped out. Sure they had their sibling telepathy but for an entire room of strangers to know daki this well… sems she atleast has officially been accepted by the group. His sister stepped up to the challenge however,"I suppose I'll offer you cretins my brilliance. You wanna show? I'll give you a show. you'll seehow much of a bad bitch I can be!" She smirked confidence oozing off just like in her studio.
kensei quickly jumped on it, "y-yeah! Daki you're perfect! You're a total baddie!" His eyes darted around the room to make sure nobody would hit him for saying that. Daia smirks evilly, "so kensei how is your girlfriend doing?" He flushed pink crossing his arms, "I broke up with her you know that," he grumbled, "not that it's any of your business but she was lame"
Marin looked up, "how so? She was so nice."
"Yeah that was the problem, she was all sugar, I need me some spice maaaan… and some salt" he added with a fingerpinch and smirk,"I don't get it." Marin frowned. He sighed folding his arms behind his head leaning back on the couch. "mar, She had no personality. She just mirrored whatever I did– liked whatever i liked– laughed at whatever i laughed– like a chameleon, boooooriiiiiiiiiinnnnnng!" He drawled.
marin furrowed her manicured eyebrows, "But don't guys like nice girls?" Kensei leaned his head to the side, "yeah nice girls not pushovers. Why do you think every guy likes you, mar? you dont kowtow to nobody youre unapologetically… you. Thats the kind of girl i want" she flushed embarrassed, "sh-shut it kensei!" he blushes too, "no! Th-thats not what – oh come on mar, I don't literally want you! I mean a girl like you–" as his voice climbed higher and higher in pitch Daia tries to save him from digging a deeper hole for himself. "Yeah not helping." she says lazily scrolling through her phone again, he got the hint, grabbing hold of the lifeline and abruptly stops talking. At that gyutaro gives what is easily the most put upon sigh of the night and stands up, "where are you going?" Marin asks quickly, He pulls out his cigarette box and gives it a shake stepping out the patio door.
She thought of going after him but felt a crushing weight on her lap that broke her out of her thoughts, "im sorry marin, i didnt mean to make you upset." Daia snuggled rubbing her cheek on hers. "why cant you watch the show instead of being antisocial?"
"Sorry but you know i'm not really into this stuff."
"yeah but he sorta is..." she hesitated, atleast she thought he might be, daki certianly was and even though he tagged along on some of their movie nights she got the impression he paid attention to the anime they watched "I think... maybe you should pretend so you can impress him." marin whispers in her ears, completely serious. Daia pulled away almost in disgust, "why would you say that? No sense in pretending, you were the one who said he reads people for filth, didnt you?"
Her face burned in embarrassment from her neck up. Why did I say that? That was easily the worst advice she couldve given. She looked around the room, Daki continued laughing at kensei who was frantically trying to defend himself from Juju lambasting him for his love of azula. Rune was on her phone and so was Nowa. It didn't seem like anyone else heard. "I gotta pee," she says quickly pushing Daia off her lap.
Running to the bathroom staring in the mirror.
Whats wrong with me? She turned on the faucet and splashed her face. When she came out kensei was waiting yanking her to the back out of sight " mar, you dont think he's mad at me do you?"
"Who, gyutaro?" He spun around in a circle- reminded her of a looney tune, actually "Yes! Are there any other guys here?!" he growled harshly
"Why would he be mad?" His eye twitched, "are you fucking dense, mar? For accidentally hitting on you! I didnt mean it, you know that! isn't he like former mafia or something? I don't wanna get beat up for crushing on you, when its his sister i like, man!" She looked at him with a quizzical, yet disturbed look on her face, "fucks sake the guy gives me hella sunny vibes, You remember when sunny tried to–"
"Ohhhhhhhh!" she smacked her face, it finally dawning on her, kensei looked like he wanted to pass out, "Jesus!" he smacks his own face exasperated, "Cant you talk to him and make sure he won't rip my tongue out my throat, please?!" She backed away, "Talk to him yourself! I don't know why you're worried about me, he'd sooner curbstomp you for pursuing daki" she deadpanned crossing her arms.
"Mar, The fuck you talking about? Its so obvious he likes you, he won't kill you for saying the wrong thing, like he will me if i step on his toes!"
She squawked like a bird choking on her words, "no, no! He does not like me, kensei!" She smacked his arm. He stared slack-jawed at her like he was about to stroke out, before takes a deep inhale, then exhale, before speaking slow and deliberately, "Marin, i'm a guy, so trust me, I know. That guy-" he points behind the wall where the patio is, "-is totally into you. He's just keeping his distance, probably because hes afraid …and who can blame him? Women are freakin scary, hes probably worse at this than i am… and I feel like I'm crashing and burning!" She punches him hard in the gut and stomps away, he groans in pain falling to his knees, "why-y-y?" He croaks trying to catch his breath,
"Shut the fuck up kensei, you're wrong, you dont know him like I do!"
"Marin… all guys… a-are… afraid of… g-girls," he gasped with each breath, "even ones as… devilishly handsome as …yours truly," he stumbled to his feet to do a hair swoop in his long wig making her want to vomit. "I mean think about Gojo–oh, fuck, im sorry," He gasped quickly patting her shoulder apologetically, she didnt comment on it though.
"Regular guys are afraid of girls, but Not him, kensei, gyu is…" she slumps her shoulders, "he isn't like wakana at all, they're completely different. He's not afraid of me or being alone… not anything." She wipes her face before walking away, leaving kensei feeling ashamed.
"Real smooth Casanova, real smooth." Daia walks over, scaring the crap out of him, "geez, where the fuck were you hiding!?"
"How long do you plan on wearing that?" She grinned ear to ear, "she already saw what you're packing, you can put it away now."
"was i doing too much? Was it too obvious? Are you sure azula is her favorite character?" he panics
She grins, "Hm… I think did fine." But then she eyed him up and down like a worm, "Just please don't be stupid and tell her you subscribed to her onlyfans, now that would ruin all your progress."
"I am not… that desperate, I subscribed to support her, but I swear I didn't look at her content, I'm serious, Daia!"
She stands up and straightens out his wig, "I know you are kensei, but remember what I said, ok? She and her brother have had it rough, you dont build trust by faking or forcing your way in." She patted his shoulders sternly, "remember that."
"Did you go through this with sunny?"
"Yeah, similarly."
"Between you and me, even though Sunny and gyutaro are pretty scary, I like them way more than I ever did jim." Her eyes glinted but her response was simply more shoulder pats, before heading outside to the patio.
Where Gyutaro stood smoking,"You mind?" She asked flashing the blunt to show she came in peace. "Can i call you gyu, too?" He pursed his lips in a straight line blowing a heap of smoke out his nose, resembling a raging bull.
"Stop coaching that loser on how to hit on my sister, I know it's you." She coughed, "h-how?!" but then she burst out laughing holding her stomach until she almost couldn't breathe, "Holy shit! I get what she means! oh my god, nothing gets passed you does it!?" She wheezed, he kept smoking his cigarette looking down at her like she was the most bizarre animal he'd ever seen, but he could tell she wasn't laughing at him per say, so he remained cordial- his version of cordial anyways.
"What do you want?" he sighs smoke blowing out his nose again. "So like are you a hitman? Bodyguard?"
"Wouldn't you like to know" he whined bored, not even bothering to look at her, "Look I'm asking if I can count on you to do a little job for me..."
marin frowned when she saw them outside the patio together talking about… something serious it seemed."Guess she didn't need me afterall"
"mar, im gonna change out of this," kensei calls grabbing his duffel and running to the bathroom.
She monitored everyone else still left in the room, Juju and daki were talking business, the rest were talknig about clothes... and now kensei was off to the bathroom to change. Marin rubbed the mist from her eyes, it's been forever since we've had a get-together like this. It was a bittersweet feeling, she blinked her contact back into place right as the patio door shut and gyutaro walks passed her to the front door, "are you leaving?"she rushes after him.
"Just getting something next door," he said, "I'll be back."
"W-wait" she grabbed his arm, but jerks back "sorry, no touching…" she flexes her finger before she rubs the back of her neck "so uhm… I was wondering uh…what were… you and Daia talking about for so long?" She stared at her bushes like they were the most interesting sight she'd ever seen, He turned his full body around,shifting his feet, hands in his pockets. "we exchanged contacts,"
"Oh, so you have plans with her then?" she perked up but He sounded like he was bothered by her even asking,"Just tell me what you want, Marin."
"What …are you doing tomorrow?" He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, making her sweat again, "Uhh… m-my bad, I should've asked, are you free tomorrow?"
"why?" she stifled a growl at how taciturn he is. Fuck! Why couldn't he just answer like a normal fucking human?
"I-i noticed you've been quiet … made me wonder if youre not…" she took a deep breath, "having fun or s-something? I … feel bad so if you want I'll take you out tomorrow." This is so awkward, why do i sound like im asking him on a date? she internally kicked herself,
"no"She lifted her head, "huh?"
"I said no"
"Why?" her face contorted, all niceties were dropped, "I dont need your stupid pity, marin" his tone was flat, so flat in fact her knee jerk reaction was to deny, "I'm not–"
"–Aren't you?!" he said a bit vicious, narrowing his eyes. She froze and rubbed the contacts in her eyes again, out of nowhere they began irritating her, "argh, whatever," he opened the door to his house and closed it behind him with a slam. She bit her bottom lip as a tear slipped down her quickly wiped it away, No no don't cry MArin dont! He doesnt know…he doesnt" She pinched her cheeks so the pain would override the sorrow when she saw Jim's truck pull up.