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Characters: Death the Kid and Clare Edwards
Location: Corpse Bros to Casualty
Rating: Clare's got a dirty mind so PG-13
Time: Febuary 15th, a little after midnight.
Description: Clare's not sold on walking home alone with the effects of Excalibur's gift still in play, so she calls in someone gallant to walk her home.

Clare waited patiently in the shadows of the entrance of the Cinema. There was a street lamp right nearby but she felt that a bit too close to being a spotlight for her taste. She'd be able to spot Kid when he arrived, but is out of sight of anyone with... less than honorable intent.

She stared up at the moon, not much else to stare at right now. It was... still really creepy and unsettling. She thought after enough time it would stop being that, but it was still the most unnerving thing she'd ever considered. The poetry and mystery of it gone here, it was just... cruel looking. Plus she didn't want to consider that far far away every star in the sky looked like the Sun. Really? Who had the bright idea in this Earth to invent a sun that drools blood.

She figured Kid wouldn't leave her waiting long, but it was still long enough for her to get lost in her own thoughts.

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If there was anyone to ask to be an escort or bodyguard, who better than the leader of Death City himself? With or without his weapons, he was certainly a force to be reckoned with. However, he highly doubted there would be much of a threat that night. Though he had been surprised by how late Clare's text for help had been, and sensing the urgency he decided to hasten his arrival by using his skateboard.

Or well, flying skateboard in this case. It was much easier to fly over the city before landing to cruise through the streets and then rolling to a silent stop as he approached the Cinema. Beezlebub disappearing into his hand, he looked around. The girl was not in sight but he could sense her soul was nearby.

Well, not wanting to attract anymore attention than he might have already (then again, there weren't a lot of people out so there probably hadn't been much) and not wanting to surprise, he waited right outside, hands shoved into his jacket pockets. It was definitely a brisk night out.

"Kid," Clare smiled as she stepped out of the shadows, bundled up in her coat and a knit hat which kept most of her hair from sight (but it was clear her hair was a mess of wavy asymmetry, even as she did her best to hide that). She smiled, half-relief, half apology as she walked up and pulled Kid into a hug.

"Another aspect of the chocolates, all I could do was make the hug more symmetrical," ...Sure enough, instead of warping her arms around Kid like a normal person, she had her palms on his shoulder blades, arms mirrored to each other without crossing his back. It was a bit weird, but Clare was always creative when it came to things. Of course she did have to turn her head in one direction, but ignore that.

"They ran an extra showing, and I had to stay to put away the reels," Clare tried her best to explain how she ended up out here this late. The hiding place of the projection booth was more than welcomed, it kept her clear of the insanity that was the City for a large chunk of the evening. "Valentine's Day apparently exists to taunt me."

Kid turned when she called out to him, but he was not expecting a hug that quickly. So this would be one young shinigami feeling a little flustered from the hug. He had been warned and he probably should have been prepared, but it was a little awkward for him nonetheless. In the end he just stiffened and stood still, barely even noticing that she had attempted to make it symmetrical (though there was a part of him that was grateful). Well he already had Soul hug him earlier today, so at least this was marginally more tolerable. Marginally.

"Er, I don't think this particular Valentine's Day will be remembered too fondly by a lot of people," Kid managed to say when she finally pulled away. It was certainly one he was going to try and forget at least. "However, I would have thought the effects would have worn off by now. Hopefully it will have by the morning."

Otherwise he really would have to seek out that stupid sword.

"But for now, let's get you back to your apartment," he then said as he turned toward that direction and hoped that she wouldn't be compelled to hug him again.

It was nothing against Clare. Just...well. He would feel awkward regardless who it was, except for perhaps his Weapons. But that was only because he was used to Patty jumping on him all the time.

Clare wasn't all that surprised Kid handled the hug poorly, but at least she warned him. She had no worry he might react as badly as he did on the network, but it would have been rude to not warn him. Once the hug was out of her system she gave him his personal space back. She did look apologetic over the hug still. "I know you have some issues, but you should lighten up about hugs. They are harmless."

"Sorry! I did mean that but I normally wouldn't say anything," Clare adjusted her hat and tried to keep her mind away from unruly topics. She fell into step a little behind Kid because he was faster than her, and she wasn't trying to keep up for the moment. Hands slipping into her pockets as she glanced over occasionally.

Clare decided they should walk in silence, if she didn't talk she couldn't say anything problematic. Yes, best way to go about things. No worry what she might reveal about herself, what she might say to Kid, all in all a nice quiet walk in the night, "You know that order is pretty unreachable, it isn't healthy to get so focused on it."

Clare will just facepalm now.

Kid just sighed. "It's fine. But I don't have a problem with hugs, it's just..."

How does one politely say that it was hugs from 1) people who are being idiots (Re: Soul) and 2) people he still doesn't know well (Re: everyone else including Clare) that "bothered" him. Though "bothered" was not quite the right term, it did make him uncomfortable. He was just more reserved and "stiff" in a way.

"There's a time, place, and circumstance for such things," he finally said. "Let's put it that way."

He did slow his pace a bit, however, so that she was not as far behind, glancing back only to make sure she was all right. Otherwise perhaps it was better this way—for her, at least. With her condition, it might be better to not be too close so as to "trigger" an effect, so to speak. So falling into a comfortable silence was probably best.

...And then she made the remark about his order complex. It was one he heard often and one he would hear for the rest of his life, so in truth he paid little mind to it.

"As a shinigami, order is what I stand for and it is my duty to maintain it. My goal is to create a perfect world of order and equilibrium, but I know that not everything can be symmetrical." It was a bit aggravating in some respects, but he had long learned to accept some things, at least. The human body for one, and there was nothing he would want to change about the basic structure of it. "But regardless, that is just a part of who I am and there's nothing that will change it."

Clare couldn't guess why Kid might object to hugs from others, but she could guess for herself, "I grow comfortable around people so long as its a safe distance, you're not like that. I'm not comfortable for you yet." There wasn't much doubt or question in her words. Clare knew she was all sorts of messed up, everything today just further proved it. She said things about herself that she couldn't ignore, not today.

"It's not a big deal. I know I have issues, lots of them," her smile was knowing, a shocking serene given her words, "But I'm not that fragile on this subject."

"I guess if this is specifically a Shinigami thing, I should butt out because I know nothing to go on. Humans, we change all the time. Weapons moreso but that's just some fun wordplay and not the point. I'm not who I was before I started dating, and I'm not who I was before coming here," It was weird to admit another truth of herself she hadn't faced directly. Not change, but how much she's changed, and how much of her life has directed and shaped her. The little nerd in a school uniform she once was died when K.C. kissed her. That lovestruck fool faded when Jenna stole K.C. away, and the innocent girl without desires was gone after setting eyes on Declan.

"You grow, you learn and change? You'll eventually get used to me, right?"

He was going to interject, but two things stopped him. One—she was right. Two, she was still talking. And while it was definitely more than he ever imagined of learning—particularly when they've only interacted a few times—it was something he felt he should listen and let her speak without interruption.

So Kid waited until she was done before he let out a small breath. Not quite a sigh, but almost.

"I am actually hoping that I will change a little, believe it or not," he said. "I know my condition has its flaws, and right now it's actually hindering my ability to perform my role as the current...as a Shinigami."

He then glanced at her. "But I'm not uncomfortable around you, nor do I need to 'get used to' you."

"I... wish you luck with changing, you'll find a way. I believe that you can," Clare wasn't lying, but she was still very optimistic in a lot of ways. What she knew here didn't include any evidence Kid couldn't change, so to her that meant he could. Which was a simple concise thing that only works from how few interactions they have had.

"I like hugs, I like physical contact, romantic, sexual, platonic... it's part of who I am. While the first two don't come up much due to how afraid I am, platonic affection is something I do enjoy. You don't want such affection and barring magic chocolate I respect that," Clare sighed, that was a lot of things she didn't need to tell him mixed in with what she wanted to say. "I have no romantic or sexual interest in you, but eventually if I'm here long enough and don't screw up our... good terms, I'd like you to be comfortable with my hugs."

Clare didn't want to presume and call it friendship, that is a statement confirmed by both sides. Kid did not seem to be there as readily as she was, maybe he wasn't as afraid of being alone as she was. Or he wasn't afraid of pushing people away like she was. She was ready to trust him as a fried, he wasn't there yet, it was just an issue of timing. ...honest talk are a lot harder when you must be completely honest. "Why do you think I keep doing symmetrical things, I want you to like me."

If only Clare could see Kid's face. He was eternally grateful that he was walking in front so that she could only see his back. He was also grateful for the collar of his jacket which would hide any other indication of his flustered state upon hearing her, once again, "more than need to know" statements—like the sudden heat that he felt rise up the back of his neck. Really, Clare? Really? How was he supposed to respond to that?

"Clare, if you want us to be friends, that's perfectly fine," he finally said with a sigh. "And you don't have to try so hard with the symmetrical things," he added as he half turned to look at her. "I've noticed and I appreciate it, but it's not necessary."

Whatever happened to this just being a simple escort mission to her apartment?

Probably best Clare couldn't see that, she'd try to apologize and it would all go wrong. All attempts to clarify anything today have been met with disaster. It just doesn't work to clarify something without more information coming out, and none of it is good information.

Clare grinned, not about the friends part but the second half of his statement. She hurried up so she was even paced with Kid, "I know it isn't necessary, but it's kinda fun. I don't normally bother to dress up or put that much detail into my appearance. Although getting my hair to do anything like symmetry takes a lot of work."

Clare held up a strand of wavy unruly hair as evidence. Wavy hair does not like symmetry, not exact symmetry. It does close enough symmetry and symmetricalish. "I know I rush into being comfortable, but you're very predictable. It makes it easier for me, I don't have to worry as much about screwing things up. Like I keep doing, and often without the help of honest chocolate."

Hopefully Kid has learned his lesson and that honest Clare is an oversharing Clare, and won't attempt to ask about that last statement. But sadly Clare can't warn without causing the warning to be meaningless.

No need. Kid was actually trying to think of ways to prevent Clare from saying more than necessary with his own responses. Though it was proving to be rather difficult. It seemed that there was a potential flood gate no matter what he said.

Though was he really that predictable?

"It's all right," he simply answered as he glanced at her now walking beside him.

Though he did hope she would not suddenly be compelled to hug him again.

Clare looked at kid few moments, studying his expression and his posture. Of course she spotted something and Kid's being very orderly and predictable came into play. Clare threw her arms up, took a step forward, and made like she was about to hug him. She stopped, stuck her tongue out at him and then skipped a few steps ahead.

"You were worried I was going to hug you, well you're safe. It only happens once per person. At least as far as my day showed me," Clare hadn't been very... joking, since everything happened. It felt nice to not be the mopey serious Clare she's been acting like for the past few weeks. Not as far back s to become Madness Clare, but enough to not make light of things.

Alternatively she was blowing off steam after an impossibly stressful day. To prevent herself from having a psychotic break after everything. The day wasn't all bad, just several things could have gone better.

Kid did stiffen when he saw those arms go up, bracing himself, but he stood there a little stunned when the "feared hug" did not arrive. He relaxed in some relief before frowning as he walked again to catch up to her.

"You could have told me that from the beginning," he said, his tone a little dry.

Clare was still smirking when Kid caught up to her, "At first I thought you knew, and you were apprehensive over something else. When I figured it out... it seemed more fun that way, at least I didn't sing to you while you were on the network?"

Her face did soften as her words continued, realizing maybe she shouldn't be poking at Kid too much when he's helping her out. Good thing he wasn't armed and that as an escort mission, it would be foolish to shoot who you're escorting. "I figured given all that was going on you would have cataloged the effects of what Excalibur did."

Kid only continued to shoot her a look before rolling his eyes.

"I'd rather not record all that useless nonsense, and I doubt it would be of any use since the effects are only temporary. I have more important things to concern myself with."

"I meant if we were attacked it would be good to know what handicaps we were under," Clare figured Excalibur was a touchy subject given he was a factor outside of Kid's control and defiant against order. "While not as nefarious or planned as the Witches poisoning the water supply, if the Witches caught wind of our current state it couldn't go well. I don't know anything of value, but if any of Shinbusen's trusted members share my condition it would be a problem." To say the least.

"I'm sure once this wears off everyone will want to forget it, except I probably won't and a lot of what I said will haunt me for years," Clare's version of that sentence went in a different direction before the honest kicked in.

Funny, Tsubaki actually mentioned something like that.

"Then it's only more fortunate that nothing like that did occur," he sighed. "But I'm sure we would have been able to do something. If not I would have sent Excalibur out himself as punishment."

Punishment for Excalibur or the witches—that could be debatable but it was more likely the latter. In fact dropping him in in their base could prove highly effective. Or even hand the witches chocolate. What a fine Valentine's Day gift that would have been.

"But regardless, if you want to reduce any further damage it may be more prudent if we cease the conversation," he said before realizing the negative implications and quickly added, "Not that I mind, of course."

"They couldn't exactly plan on Excalibur doing this, could they?" They would be in trouble if the Witches realized how detrimental the Holy Sword was to the city. Clare hadn't met Excalibur so she didn't have the full impact of the sword's... nature. But given right now, she did not ever want to meet this person.

Clare saw past the negative aspect of the statement, "Probably best to be quiet for a little while. A lot of what I said today I didn't realize was there till after I said it." Clare let the silence fill the air a moment before getting an idea... and matching her steps to Kid's so she was a mirror of his motions.

Hard to tell if mocking, or being cute. This being Clare, it might actually be both.

"Highly unlikely. In fact they probably want to have little to do with him." Well that was one way to torture a witch. Stick Excalibur at her. Would that be considered as cruel and unusual punishment?

But idle thoughts aside, he just glanced at her, noting her mimicry. He had to refrain himself from commenting so he just gave her a dry "Really?" sort of look.

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...what is that rating FFF

Every chance Clare will say something regrettable. Covering my bases.

XD

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LOL NEVERMIND IT ACTUALLY CAME UP IN THE POST JUST NOW XD

HEE Continuity!

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