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"I've had it in every way imaginable; raw, cooked, seasoned, plain, I've even eaten just the organs inside. They're too fatty for my taste though so I tend to avoid them." He chuckled softly, tilting his head. A restaurant that served venison sounded rather amazing.
He stared intently at her as he waited for the rest of her sentence. "It might be a good idea. But are you sure you're in the right mind space to do so? You seem a little distracted."
"Hm? Oh, yeah, no, it's a great idea. Sorry, I was just…thinking about something." It was obvious she was lying, not even bothering to hide it, but she didn't seem upset. Not like she had been earlier, when they'd tried walking past the living room. "Anyway, I think it's the best idea I've had since I got drunk and decided to down an entire tray of cocktail shrimp, which we have covered that I am allergic to, and then get married to a stranger. Luckily the last one didn't happen." Mitsu rambled, jumping up from the chair to start finishing up the cupcake things she could. Anything else would be finished later. And Cole and Shihiro had been right. The break had been good, however short. Good enough for her to not shake as she cleaned up. "And we're gonna do it like, tonight. You ready to break into a crime scene with me?"
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“Mhm. I think it’s a good idea too.” He replied quietly, thinking about his financial situation at the moment. He could afford a small dinner if they went to a restaurant beforehand but he’d be behind on his rent.
“Maybe avoid the shrimp and seafood this time, alright?” He added absentmindedly, watching her carefully. “I am. I have nothing better to do. Mind as well use my time doing something productive.”
"Yeah, yeah, no seafood. Nothing alcoholic, either, because I'm prone to trying to eat it while drunk." She snorted, tossing a wink over her shoulder at him. "This'll be my treat, tonight. A thanks for helping me out, and sticking around to catch this guy. Even with a scatterbrained partner." Done with what she had to say, she began humming as she finished up, setting all the cupcakes that she finished aside on various dessert pyramids. They were decorated in an entire rainbow of colors, the sugar pearls on some of them scattered about.
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“Alcohol doesn’t effect me as bad. Dragons have special drinks made for our systems.” He admitted. “I don’t drink often though.” Cole looked away, blushing at the wink. He didn’t get many of those. His resting expression scared away others. “I don’t mind. I’d rather be safe. Besides, talking to someone is nice.” He smiled weakly at her, moving to stand next to the cupcakes and admire them.
"It is, especially when you basically live alone." Mitsune wasn't supposed to live alone. Her brother was never here though, and her dad was obviously…gone. Which was no good for someone who needed social contact to survive. "You don't drink often? What's your favorite specially made dragon drink, then?"
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“It is nice to speak with someone who isn’t attached to me like a parasite.” He mused, blocking out Shihiro’s angry complaints. “I don’t drink often. I haven’t had many alcoholic drinks from the dragons either.” He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “There’s one that doesn’t have a name in human but it’s a mix of heavy fermented berries and quite a lot of magic.”
"Sounds kind of like wine, but like….advanced." She commented, handing him a plate of cupcakes as she moved to cleaning up only. "I was never a fan of wine. Just really fruity drinks. What's the drunkest you've been before? And funniest bad decision made while drunk."
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“It is, basically, except it’s the strongest drink for us.” He chuckled lightly, tilting his head as Shihiro reminded him of his own drunken adventures.
“The first time was my most drunk. I was around fifteen? Maybe fourteen? It was Shihiro who told me how to make a good alcohol. It was a little too strong for me. Funniest thing to happen while I was drunk…. Well, I tried to seduce a sea dragon who happened to just want to eat my eyeballs. That was fun.” He chuckled at the memory. At the time it was a terrifying experience but now he found it funny.
“You don’t understand the significance of her wanting my eyeballs though. Not until you learn this basic principle: any Lesser Soul is bound to a host through something the host could never give up and holds close. For some dragons it’s a valuable stone, for other’s rings and jewelry. For me, it’s my eyes. We call them Binds. If my eyes are taken from me and destroyed, Shihiro can be Unbound from me. This particular sea dragon ate the Lesser Souls of the Elite and found Shihiro rather appealing. But she couldn’t take him from me unless she ate my Bind, my eyes.” He explained, feeling awkward that he had shared so much already
"Damn." Mitsune said, arching a brow at him as she washed dishes. That way beat out any of hers, for sure. Well, maybe not a couple, but to be fair, it was hard to beat getting kicked out of the Museum of Natural History and banned for life. "So your eyes are a big thing. Good to know, if we ever get caught fighting for our lives. Somebody's gotta protect 'em." She joked, moving past him to load the dishwasher. "Sucks that that means you didn't seduce her. Woulda made a funny story hilarious."
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“Really big thing. It was Shihrio’s idea.” He replied, tilting his head ad he watched her move. “She was gorgeous. There’s something about the dragons of the sea kingdoms that is alluring. They flow and move like no other… but they don’t like us surface dwellers too much. Besides, I’m stuck in between species. I’ll probably never get a mate or a date or any of the sort.” He laughed, shaking his head. “I’m a cursed breed.”
"If it makes you feel any better," She said, moving with a sort of bounce in her step that belied the happy song stuck in her head. "You're not the only one. I'm not full Kitsune." Mitsune huffed a laugh, shrugging a shoulder. "Though sea dragons sound incredible, and very good looking, at least know that there are a couple other Halfas out there. And pure blooded creatures willing to at least date." On a trip back from the dishwasher, she stuck her little finger into a bowl of frosting, tongue darting out to catch the sweet and sugary snack before she could think twice. You're going to hate yourself for that. She already did. But at least she had a distraction for a bit. "I've been on a date or two."
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“Are you hunted by your own kind too?” He asked curiously, hope igniting in his chest. “Dates? What if they find out what I am?” He asked right after, tilting his head and looking over her shoulder again. The dragon was quite curious especially when it came to the female in front of him. He watched the water with another tilt of his head. “Are other Halfa’s getting together?”
"In Japan, we're the equivalent of witches during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Europe." Mitsu said, leaving that as it was. "That's why we moved, when I was about one. As for dating, well, some people don't mind. Some do, yeah, but there are a couple good eggs out there." She huffed a soft laugh, shifting so that he had a clearer view of the dishes she was cleaning. "There are things, yeah. Forums online and even support groups in major cities. A lot more underground things, since those of them hiding their blood status don't want to be found out. I went to a group, once…." She trailed off, arms slowing their movements as she frowned at the water. "Somebody in the group had spilled, though. It uh, didn't end well, since a group of…extremists heard about it."
She was quiet for a moment, before shaking her head. It was over now. She had done what she could to get as many people out and safe. She was safe now. "They don't usually go wrong, though. Most of them never get found out. That's why you don't hear about them."
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“I didn’t know that…” he admitted, falling silent once more. He didn’t seem as cold towards her now, his body language much more relaxed.
“I’ve never seen any other halfas like me. I thought they were all killed. Maybe there’s more of my dragon kind?” He mused, moving to lay himself onto a clear patch of counter. He looked up at her face and smiled. “I’m glad I met you, though. Having a conversation like this feels good, you know. I don’t have to worry about spilling too much information or worry about my scales being hidden.”
“There might be, somewhere.” Mitsune said, nodding as she finished up with the dishes. After starting the dishwasher, she moved over to lean against the counter near him, lips flickering into a smile as she rubbed the back of her neck slightly. “I’m glad you feel comfortable around me. I’ll have you know, I’m not usually this nice. But you’re chill.”
She twisted her ring around her finger, tilting her head. “I think your scales are pretty, actually. They’re like…little jewels, just on your skin.”
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Cole offered a smile in return, stretching out his fingers before relaxing again. “I’m not usually this chill.” He flashed a playful grin and chuckled lightly.
His hand automatically jumped to his scales at the mention of them, fingertips brushing against the rough textured armor. “Ah… thanks… they’re a hassle. You could have one if you’d like. They’ve got magical properties and it’s nearly molting season anyways.”
Mitsu's eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and what might have been excitement. She loved shiny things with all her heart. "Really? I would love one! I can add it to my box!" She said, eyes flickering to two different spots on the counter, as something like a plotting look flickered across her face for a moment. "I can get them being a hassle though. How do you clean them? I knew a Siren who used a toothbrush to get under scale edges."
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He chuckled at her excitement, tilting his head to give her more of a view of the ruby scales that disappeared into the collar of his shirt. They ended near his collarbones and shoulder blades, the ridges of a few of them just barely noticeable.
“I have one of those water pressure flossers or whatever they’re called. It gets things out better than anything else.” He admitted, glancing at the counter. “You can touch them if you’d like,” Cole offered to her, reaching up to feel along them. “I’ll find a loose one to give you.”
Mistune moved closer to look, her eyes sparkling at the sight of the scales that clearly. "That makes sense. Getting under them seems like a hard thing to do without some help." She blinked when he offered to let her feel them, bouncing slightly on her feet. "Can I? I've always wanted to see what they feel like." All of the people she'd known who had them, though, wouldn't let her. Which she was entirely okay with, because they'd made it obvious that their scales were sensitive. Sirens were different from Dragons, though.
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He nodded very carefully, watching her with an amused smile. She looked happy to be able to. "Of course you can. Stick to the ones on my neck though, they start to get more sensitive as you go down." He admitted with a blush, tilting his head more to expose the shining scales to her. "They're nothing too special, just a little rough."
"I figured." She said, nodding as she leaned over. Her fingers brushed lightly over the scales, eyes on them with a sort of fascination as she did. Her touch was gentle, careful. "They're gorgeous. All I've got are ears, and a tail that's constantly in the way. You get these pretty scales…You're kinda lucky in that."
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Despite the gentleness of her touch, a shudder ran through Cole’s body. He wasn’t quite expecting for it to feel like that when she touched them. It tingled a little. “Mm they’re not all lucky, Mitsune. They itch like crazy sometimes and I have to always keep them covered so they only itch more and then there’s molting season. God I hate molting season. My scales fall off and the skin underneath is really tender for weeks and sometimes it’ll even bleed because I itch off the ones that aren’t ready to come off yet.” He pouted, looking more like a little kid than a grown dragon. It was a little cute on his face. “But I guess they are kinda pretty.”
"They're very pretty. Even with their problems, they are incredibly pretty." Mitsune said, eyes flickering to his. The smile on his face made her heart flip a bit, her chest warming at the sight of such a wholesome look. It fit him, weirdly. Even if she wasn't used to it. "I might know a way to help with the tender skin, and bleeding. A friend of mine has scales too, and she says she never has to deal with that issue. I'll ask her what she does later." Her fingers lightly danced along his scales, not straying too far down, but looping somewhat. It was a weird sort of dance, lines and dashes and dots, all connecting somewhat. Like she was tracing letters, or symbols, into his scales.
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(Hi! Long time no see! How are you fairing with this pandemic and everything? Do you need anything?)
Cole’s smile only grew at her compliments. He chuckled lightly and shrugged. “Thank you. I’m glad they’re pretty to someone.” He mused.
The dragon rumbled in delight, melting under the loops and lines and dots and dashes. This must be why dogs like getting pet so much… He thought to himself, letting his amber eyes slip closed. “That would be amazing… I’m dying to fix my molting issues because they’re annoying.”
Cole shifted a little, leaning into her touch without really meaning too. “You’re probably the first person other than my mom and I to ever touch my scales. I didn’t know it felt good to even have them touched… but it feels good.”
((it has been a while! i'm so sorry, school just started kicking my ass, and my mental health went 'bitch you thought'. the pandemic hasn't affected me too much yet, other than causing me to go crazy from cabin fever, and im a bit worried for my grandmother. im good tho! how about you? are you doing alright?))
Mitsune let out a small giggle at his rumble, her eyes scrunching with the smile that graced her features, face brightening an incredible amount. "Then I'll absolutely help you as much as I can. Does it really feel that good?" That made some sense, actually. Once, her brother had jokingly started scratching behind her ears, and she'd practically melted on the spot. It was such a nice feeling. And had started a sort of competition between the two, to see who could mess up the other's daily life the most by doing that. She had won. "If you want me to stop, just say so."
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(Oh you don’t have to apologize! I understand that completely! I’m sorry life hasn’t seemed to be going your way but remember: the more enemies and the more difficult they are, the closer you are to the end game and it’s rewards! I’ve been alright myself. I too am going crazy with cabin fever and the lack of social interaction had quite literally thrown me into a spiral but I’m alright now. I climbed back out.)
Cole stared at her, blushing lightly. She was really pretty when she smiled. “Y-yeah… it feels really good. I kinda think this is what a dog feels when we pet them.” He joked with her, tilting his head up so he could look at her better.
“Honestly, it feels good enough i might never want you to stop.” He flashed her a teasing grin. “You can stop whenever you’d like to. Or whenever you have to.” His eyes wandered momentarily to the cupcakes as he paused to think for a moment.
“I know I’m here for the case but would you want to hang out after this is all done? I like your company. It feels really good to have another magical person to talk to.”
((that's good! i'm proud of you for making your way out! once you hit rock bottom, the only way left to go is up, and you did just that!))
It shouldn't have been possible, but she managed to brighten more. Now, she was positively glowing, her eyes sparkling happily, despite the light tinge to her cheeks from his teasing. "I would love to. Even if you're probably only actually here for the cupcakes. That's the real goal, isn't it." She joked, arching a brow playfully at him. She wasn't sure why he looked like he'd been blushing. But that was something to worry about later. Or ignore. Which was the more likely option.
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(Haha, you are absolutely true!! Thank you: make sure you are safe!)
He gasped in a fake offense, letting out a soft giggle. “I would never! Sure your cupcakes are good but they’re only food.” Cole elbowed her lightly, and hummed.
"Mhm." Mitsune hummed with faux-disbelief, placing her free hand to her chest dramatically as she continued to trace her symbols. "And how am I supposed to believe that? I can't exactly take your word for it, now can I?"
