“I think just Tali is just fine.” Osora said, shrugging a shoulder as she followed him into the alleyway. No hesitance in her step. She knew these streets. “You came here to find someone? And let me guess, all you’ve been finding is…gods, the best term I can think of is ‘fuckbuddies’.” Granted, she didn’t know a whole lot about sex, having never really cared much about it. Even as an adult, she didn’t care.
I don’t know what I’m doing but I wanna use this character (OxO| Closed)
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He nodded gently, looking back at her and shrugging. “Something along those lines. It’s frustrating you know. Sure it’s nice to have so many pinning after you, but I’d rather just have one person I can love and hold. Hell, I don’t care if I have to wander until I’m almost dead.” He pouted, holding his face in his hands. “Hmph… I even like guys too and I haven’t been able to find anyone.” He grumbled under his breath for a moment before he turned and opened a rather dirty door with a key he pulled from his pocket. The inside room was just as dirty, with a small mat in the corner for him to sleep on and a single door leading to a bathroom that didn’t look too sanitary. A single, handheld stove sat on the ground in the middle of the room along with a singular mat to sit on. “Mm good riddance to this place.” He scowled at the state of it. “It’s what I get for choosing to have a discount from an old man. I just didn’t want to spend money.”
“Shady decisions beget shady repercussions.” Osora said, stepping into the small apartment and looking around. His words hit her, and she mulled them over in her mind thoughtfully. “You’re not going to like this. But honestly, the best way to find someone who loves you, is to be you. Otherwise, they tend to only be set on the idea of you.” She said, pulling out her phone as it went off to alert her of a text. Not a ding or buzz, but the sound of a clock chime. She tucked her hair behind her ear, responding to the all caps-locked texts from her best friend, who somehow always knew about anything that happened to her. Which meant Tali was today’s subject.
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Tali’s eyes narrowed menacingly at her words. She was too carefree… she spoke too lightly of things she didn’t understand. He remained silent, letting her deal with whoever had text her.
He instead went scurrying around to find his talisman. What a bother… he should have just worn it. He peeled up a floorboard and removed the black ring from its place, slipping it onto his right ring finger. A sigh of relief left his throat.
Osora sighed, lifting her phone and raising an eyebrow at Tali. “I’ve been quite literally ordered to take a picture of you. Is that alright?” She had taken the earlier one without permission, but that had just been for her phone, an image she didn’t plan on sending to anyone else. But Reeha wanted a picture, chances were to see if it matched any mugshots in existence. On occasion, the overprotectiveness was a bit much, but Osora couldn’t really blame her friend. Not after everything that had happened, everything she’d been through, that they’d been through together.
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The skin-stealer turned around, making a face at her. “Another photo? What’s your fascination with me?” He asked with a soft snicker, smiling brightly. “Ok, go ahead. One more photo. But in this dirty place? I won’t look as good.” He pouted but that didn’t last long before he was smiling again, humming.
“Is this a human friend of yours?”
“Human is a term that can only loosely be applied to Reeha.” Osora said, taking the picture quickly and sending it to Reeha. “But yeah. She wants to ‘see the face of the man I’m letting into my home’.”
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He laughed, playing with his talisman and rolling his eyes. “I’m trustworthy, right?” He asked as he grabbed a suitcase from a corner, wheeling it around to pick up his things. He was extremely neat and orderly, there wasn’t a single item of his that wasn’t straight or folded. “Did you tell her what I am?” He asked suddenly, turning to look at her. “Who I am?”
“Trustworthy to me, but she has yet to meet you.” Osora said, glancing up occasionally as he gathered his things. Her eyes stayed up when he asked her the question, her brows furrowing slightly. “That’s not my secret to tell. I’ll warn you now, she will likely figure it out herself, but no. I have not told her, and will not, unless you tell me to.”
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“Mm good. I’m trustworthy to you.” He smiled sweetly, but there was something almost sinister about his next words. “Mm that’s a first, Toki. I’m glad you think that way.” He grinned devilishly, his eyes dark. “I’m afraid too many have found out about me already. It’s not very fun getting rid of them.”
And then Tali was smiling happily again, taking his phone from where he had set it on the ground and standing straight. “Right, Let’s head off shall we? Curry sounds damn good right now.”
Osora hummed in agreement, still eyeing him before leading the way to the door. She wasn’t sure how to take that any way but a threat, and maybe that meant it was. In which case, keeping him close and keeping an eye on him would be a good idea. “The next train leaves in ten, and it’ll take us about five minutes to get there from here, without extra stops.” She said, tucking away her phone and ignoring it as it chimed a few more times before going quiet.
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“Mm not far at all.” He commented, muttering something in Korean before he pulled out his phone and sighed. The only contact he had was Toki. He didn’t expect there to be a message and yet he still checked, a glum expression falling over his face.
“Something spicy sounds extremely good right now. Is the curry there spicy?” He asked her with a soft sigh, tilting his head as he glanced over at her.
"You can get spicy, or you can get mild. Satou makes great curry whether it's hot enough to taste like the pits of hell, or as mild as boxed." She said, tracing the handprint on her arm with one finger. She didn't seem to notice, but occasionally she would shiver, thanks to the sensitivity of the skin there. "Spicy does sound good though." She agreed, glancing over at him.
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“Curry is good as long as there is no avocados or pineapple in it.” He smiled brightly and leaned back to look at the door. “Shall we go?” He asked with a small grin, his eyes trailing over her burn scars. He felt somehow guilty of how he had spoken so freely of his troubles when she was going through things on her own. “I’ve bern meaning to ask you this, what do you do with your powers?” He asked softly, leading her to the door. “Do you use them often?”
She followed him out the door, tilting her head just slightly as she considered the best way to answer his questions. For all her preaching honesty, she was used to being vague about her abilities with friends and family who knew, and especially vague about how often she used them. "I use them decently often. It's the best way to keep a good hold on them." She finally said, moving from her burn scars to the freshly made cut along her arm. "As for what I do with them…we all have our secrets, and mine is one most people are better off not being aware of." Honesty.
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He nodded very softly and didn’t pry past that. He would be respectful of her secrets. “Alright. That is understandable. You are respecting my secrets so I’ll respect yours.” He dipped his head low, almost in submission before he straightened back up and hummed, gesturing for her to lead the way.
She took the lead, brushing her hair back from her face and considering tying it up again. Tali's earlier words stopped her, his mention of her hair being 'pretty' when it was down. Confusing. Most of him was. Pretty wasn't a word often associated with her, as she had told him. More 'dangerous' or 'cold', 'emotionless' and 'scary'. Occasionally, graceful, mainly when dancing.
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The skin-stealer seemed lost in his own world at the moment, humming a tune to himself as he wandered just ahead of Toki, pausing when he wasn’t sure what way to turn.
The male was so lost in his own world he hardly noticed when he nearly walked right past the restaurant. He froze, turning around and laughing. “Whoops.”
"If you had kept walking, you wouldn't have gotten your curry." Osora pointed out, amusement lining her voice as she pulled open the door, holding it for Tali to enter. "A tragedy of the worst kind, you know." She placed her free hand on her hip, raising a pale eyebrow at him.
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“Aha I’m sorry, I’m really quite awful at keeping myself in the real world. I blame the way I was raised.” He purred, dipping his head down low and blushing as he entered the place.
The smell of food brought his eyes right back up, a hungry expression filling his face. He could feel his mouth start to water. “Oh Hell Im starved.”
Osora patted his shoulder as she passed him, leading the way towards the counter. A shout drew her attention, her name being called from one of the corner of the restaurant. An old man stood up, making his way towards her.
"Tokino, what a surprise. You're not dead yet, I see." He said, leaning on his cane once he was in front of her. He studied her for a moment, before looking to Tali. "A boy. Good looking enough, I suppose. Hello there, young man." Osora shook her head, continuing to the counter to place their order, and leaving Tali with the old man.
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Tali tilted his head and looked up at the man as he spoke. He smiled softly and laughed at his words. “Thank you sir!” He hummed.
Tali gasped as he was left, looking back at Toki and blushing lightly. “Ah, she left.” He chuckled nervously and glanced back at the man.
"Mm, she knows I prefer conducting introductions on my own." The man said, bowing slightly at the shoulders. "My name is Yamamoto Hizashi. And you are?" After bowing, he held his hand out, grey-green eyes studying Tali.
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He bowed his head respectfully and smiled sweetly, shaking the man’s hand. “Tali. I’m afraid I don’t have a last name for you.” He laughed softly and ran a nervous hand through his hair. “It’s not because I don’t want to give one, it’s because I don’t have one.”
“Just get married, then you can take a last name.” Mr. Yamamoto advised, nodding sagely. “I also happen to know our dear Tokino’s grandmother has been bugging her to get married.” He winked, almost conspiratorially, only to jump as Osora spoke from behind him as she walked up.
“She asked once, you old bat.” Osora said, crossing her arms under her chest and raising an eyebrow. “She knows I’ve too many things to do, things more important than finding any sort of significant other.”
He sighed, waving her off. “Yeah, yeah. How did you manage to surpass me in sneaking up on people? I remember when I was still teaching you how to avoid creaky floorboards.”
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Tali blushed lightly and nodded slowly. “See sir, that is why I came here. I came to find someone to be my wife. I’m rather lonely all by myself.” He explained, smiling sweetly when Toki arrived and spoke. His smile faltered at her words, however. He sighed deeply and shoved his hand s in his pockets.
“Someone to love would still be nice…”
"A pipe dream for someone like me." Osora muttered, her fingers habitually tracing the burned handprints again. "You'll find someone though. You're nice enough, good looking, and tall. Around here, that's like being Superman." She assured, shrugging a shoulder.
Mr. Yamamoto nodded, pointing at Tali. "She has a very good point. I wish I was as tall as you, kid. I got the looks down just fine though."
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Tali laughed softly, shaking his head at the older man. “I’m not anything special Sir. Sure I may be handsome, even I can’t deny that, but I’m afraid people are very shallow nowadays.” He explained, rubbing his palms nervously.
“Very shallow. All they care about is looks and money.”
“Have to agree with you that, somewhat.” Mr. Yamamoto mused, rubbing his chin. “But!” He snapped his fingers, pointing to Osora. “You just have to keep looking, boy. They exist, you’ve got one standing right there. That’s how I met my wife. Just kept looking.”
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“I’ve been pinning after her all day.” He laughed softly, nudging Toki. “She’s wonderful, but I just can’t seem to make her want me…” he pouted, looking over at her and winking.
“I’d love to date her at least once.”