picky: (pic#17115765)

🥺🥺🥺

[personal profile] picky 2025-10-14 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ marcille has dealt with her fair share of creeps in her lifetime, whether they've targeted her or other women. most of the time, these incidents could be resolved verbally—that is, by yelling and/or threatening to call law enforcement. if the altercations became physical, her magic would be able to control the situation until help arrived.

in this bar where marcille had been told to search for an information broker, she can't risk using her magic in front of the locals. when a group of half-drunken men in the same bar center their attention on her, she pointedly keeps her back to them, hoping to avert their gazes elsewhere as she waits for the bartender to return.

today, there's a silken, green ribbon tied to the loose ponytail over her shoulder. having been politely rebuffed by tobari at the market, marcille deliberately kept the ribbon hidden away, folded in a compartment of her jewelry chest. the embarrassment was still too fresh, and therefore she resolved to only wear it on days when she didn't plan to see him.

it's this ribbon that one of the inebriated strangers fixates on. when he reaches her, he takes and rubs it between his fingers, almost loosening it from her hair. he catches her hand when she attempts to shove him away, and he compliments the ribbon's quality before acknowledging the quality of the woman wearing it, making the bile rise into marcille's throat.

the moment she decides to shout and cause a scene, the stranger gets yanked back, nearly taking her ribbon with him as he's launched away from her. terror strikes up marcille's body before she instantly recognizes her savior by voice alone. his name drops out of her mouth as her green eyes go wide. ]


Tobari?

[ she's walked back against the nearest wall, obliging him even as heat rushes to her head. the back of her head leans against the wall with a light thump as tobari bridges over her. his shadow nearly covers her, but the yellow-green of his eyes almost glows as he looks at the crowd behind him. marcille wordlessly opens her mouth and just stares, her hands curled in front of her chest. the bar might be full of people looking directly at them, but her eyes are fixed on tobari.

that was incredibly hot. there's no other way to describe it.

it takes effort to force a sound from her mouth, let alone form it into words. ]


I'm— I'm fine. Nothing happened!

[ something absolutely happened and is still happening. stupidly: ]

What are you doing here?
picky: (pic#17115707)

[personal profile] picky 2025-10-14 04:03 am (UTC)(link)
[ my god. the protectiveness. he really is a guard dog. her heartbeat is hammering, dropping, starting again, heating her whole body. as soon as he brings those shining eyes over her, she has to look down. ]

No! I heard I might find someone here. Someone who can help. [ unsaid: help their situation here, in this world. ] But I don't think I want to find out.

[ other than her mouth moving, she feels frozen in place. one part of her wants to insist that things are all right, maybe take a step away from him only to prove it. another part of her wants to throw her arms around his neck and tell him she wants to leave and maybe kiss him. this is the wrong place with all the worst timing. ]

No one did anything to me. If they did, believe me, I would tell you. [ and it would be obvious. ]
picky: (pic#17115749)

[personal profile] picky 2025-10-14 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
[ marcille's skin prickles where his fingers touch the back of her hand. her hand is loose only a moment before she reaffirms her grip, solidly holding it before he guides them out. it's reassuring, maybe hopeful in a painful way before she lets it fizzle out.

she comes back into the present moment, aware of the few pairs of eyes that dart and follow them out the door. tobari would probably be able to come back in a few days; seedier bars probably have altercations like this often.

in all honesty, marcille would have found a way to be fine in that bar, even if she had to cause a scene to do it. instead, it's tobari who came to her rescue, and while she had been able to temper her affections for the sake of their friendship, a few moments together had reduced those efforts to nothing.

the breeze outside is cool against her cheeks. relief sinks over her body like a wave of water. ]


Tobari... Thank you.
picky: (pic#17115759)

[personal profile] picky 2025-10-14 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ marcille won't be pulling her hand away. it's reassuring, even in an empty alleyway where it's only the two of them. there's a little bit of breathlessness, being hidden and this close, but it's outweighed by his care and concern. it's so sweet of him, as always, no matter if it's simply how he is, if he would act that way towards anyone else. it isn't specially towards her, which makes him an even better person in her eyes.

anyway, the ribbon is next to falling out from her hair. the man who approached her had pulled on it when tobari grabbed him. she was too stunned and tobari's actions too quick for her to notice. she nods at him, and it only makes it even more loose. ]


I'm fine. Maybe I can figure out where else to meet them.

[ or she can give tobari information and have him meet with them, but she won't burden him with that unless there aren't any other options. ]

I'm sorry about your drink.
picky: (pic#17115708)

[personal profile] picky 2025-10-14 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ marcille had completely forgotten about the ribbon. as soon as he reaches and takes it with his free hand, her gaze follows it, and her stomach immediately drops.

he's seeing it when she's tried to keep it from him. she swallows hard and looks up at him. finally, she retracts her hand. ]


Wait, are you sure?

[ she says softly. I can fix it myself is on the tip of her tongue, but she can't bring herself to say it. because she wants him to.

so nevermind her question. she faces away and slowly turns around. ]


Okay. You... do this for your sister often?
picky: (pic#17115694)

[personal profile] picky 2025-10-14 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ he's so gentle. he just threw a man in the middle of a bar and right against a table for her, but now he's slowly and carefully working his fingers through every tangle in her hair, gently grazing his fingertips against her head and neck. why? he's so careful and protective, kind and generous. why couldn't he just be someone she can't stand?

her hair is long, so it takes time. for mages, the act of doing one's own hair is a meditative process in itself meant to facilitate the cycling of mana in the body, but this feels just the same. it's almost hypnotic enough to make her drowsy. she closes her eyes. it's been a long time since someone else combed her hair for her, let alone braided it.

then she notices it. she opens her eyes, her cheeks prickling with heat. he can likely see it coloring the tips of her ears. ]


Are you... putting the ribbon in it?
picky: (pic#17076326)

[personal profile] picky 2025-10-14 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
No! I am!

[ immediately. thank god he can't see her face. ]

I really love it. [ her heart twists. ] I just wanted to keep it for special occasions.

[ she tucks a stray, shorter piece of hair behind her ear, for lack of anything better to do with her hands. ]

But I felt like wearing it today. I was starting to regret it, but... this makes me feel better about it.
picky: (pic#17115761)

[personal profile] picky 2025-10-14 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
[ that gets her to briefly pout. ]

Retaliate how? You misunderstood! That's not my fault.

[ she's harmless.

now that bun is being pulled up and pinned. she keeps still, unsure of where he found the bobby pins but knowing they've been slipped into her hair. the bun is secure, the ribbon neatly latticed with her hair. it doesn't hurt or ache at all.

when he says he's finished, she hesitates before turning to look at him over her shoulder. a faint smile creeps onto her mouth. ]


Thank you. [ genuinely. ] Um... Could you take a photo of it and send it to me?

[ since they have phones... ]
picky: (pic#17076313)

[personal profile] picky 2025-10-14 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
[ marcille only wanted a photo so she could keep it forever. she'll never have a view of her elegantly crafted hair if not for this.

so when she receives it, she steps aside to face him as she opens it. she smiles with sheer delight, at first covering her mouth with her hand before pressing it to her cheek. ]


It's beautiful. Really. I'm just sad that I can't wear it like this forever.

[ whether for mage purposes or otherwise. she can't help smiling warmly at it, and then at him. i don't have an icon for it but it's here. ]

Thank you. I really love this too.
picky: (pic#17076311)

[personal profile] picky 2025-10-14 06:00 am (UTC)(link)
[ for a moment she's too surprised to say anything, but in the next she's smiling again at him, tilting her head as she pockets her phone. her cheeks are still warm.

he is so... handsome..... if it's lopsided, it's even more charming. ]


Then I will. [ ... ] I don't see you smile that much. You should try it more often.
picky: (pic#17115772)

[personal profile] picky 2025-10-14 06:10 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. Is it related to your job? You don't have to tell me.

[ scowling to protect others and for business reasons, she can understand. but if she hears what his brother said she will get mad... ]

For what it's worth, I think it really suits you.

[ she definitely likes it. although maybe she's biased since that smile was for her. she does hope to see them more. ]

So... thank you again. I really owe you. Is there something I can do for you?
picky: (pic#17115689)

[personal profile] picky 2025-10-14 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
[ tobari is tobari-ing again. marcille's face falls and she sighs. ]

There's nothing wrong with being grateful when no one else would help...

[ if he doesn't want repayment, though, she won't give it to him. she's surprised at the offer for drinks. ]

You want me to come with you?

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