Hah! Shitty cliches don't work on girls back home.
[He likes her bite, to be fair. Sakamoto's always looking for trouble, even when he doesn't intend on finding it. While the demure women of fairytales and old world sensibilities are beautiful in their own right, he far prefers the feistier sort.
Still, her smile is beautiful. Sakamoto feels joy even when greeting strangers passing by, people who just seem happy, even if he doesn't know the reason why.]
They're all about the money! Which I used to have, but I'm fuckin' broke right about now. That's okay, okay! I'll reign in a hot deal tonight.
They obviously don't work here, either, but you tried.
[ Her smile turns mildly sardonic at that, but she finds herself leaning against the counter. It's been a while since she's had an honest to goodness conversation with someone outside of Anteiku's inner circle, and it feels... nice. There's none of that overly-polite and bubbly customer service bullshit that she needs to pull during this exchange. She doesn't have to talk about ghouls, or Doves, or anything like that here. She almost feels like a normal girl.
Ayato probably would have scoffed at that. But he wasn't here, and he couldn't read minds.
She listens to him speak, and she can't help it: she laughs. ]
I meant your name, but okay. Good luck on that "hot deal," I guess.
[He raises a brow at that. Kids these days are so informal.]
Tatsuma, then. Just so ya know! There's only two guys who call me by my first name, and uh. They ain't the polite sort.
[They're monsters, is what he's trying to say.]
So! Touka. -San.
[He leans back as well, drawing the cup of coffee to his lips and taking a sip. It's clear from his manner that he frequents bars quite often, used to drinking and speaking casually.]
You like this job of yours? You look bored as all hell. Like you're thinkin' about someone! Or... Something.
[ There it is, that laugh again. God, does it feel good to laugh. Something about him makes her feel at ease, and her duties to the cafe are momentarily forgotten the more their conversation wears on. ]
It's a job. It keeps me busy when I'm not in school, so there's that.
[ At the last half of his sentence, she scoffs. ]
That so? Guess I have to try harder at pretending to be content with customer service, then.
Yeah, you definitely fit the ungrateful bill. Fuck you, what do you know about smiles?
[ Again with the harsh words, though her expression remains soft, almost fond. She hadn't known the man more than half an hour, but she was enjoying herself.
He was more perceptive than he let on, though. It was intriguing, and a little bit annoying. ]
Again with the shitty cliches. If you hadn't said you were a merchant, I'd have thought you were a poet. Or a pickup artist.
I know a whole damn lot about smiles! Hell, I smile all the time.
[He flashes one at her, deceiving to the untrained eye. From a distance, it looks like an overcompensating grin, but...
Up close? It seems dangerous.]
Ah, sorry, that's my old learnin'- Didn't go to a school like yours, is all I'll say. Everything I learned, I learned on the job!
You've gotta sweet talk folks. That's how they'll give you all their dough, anyway. You know! Hell, you work at a fuckin' cafe. Ever flirt with a guy so he'd give you his extra change? Fuck! I've done it.
[Old businessmen are scum to any kind of youth, am I right?]
[ Those teeth looked like those of a predator. She would know, being a ghoul and all. She rests her elbows on the table behind her, assuming a more relaxed position. ]
You've flirted with men to take their money.
[ She shakes her head. ]
If I did that it'd send the wrong signal. The idea with men is to get them to get the hell out as soon as possible.
[ Old man Yoshimura likely would have boxed her ears for that one. ]
Besides. The only ones who leave their extra change are dirty old salarymen who don't know any better.
[ That smile of his is doing things to her, but like hell was she going to admit to that. It reminded her so much of him, and it felt like a spear going through her heart.
Instead, she returns the smile, knowing full well that he's going to see the hint of sadness that tinges it. She doesn't bother concealing it. ]
At least you understand that, I guess. Most men are too wrapped up in their fragile egos to give a fuck.
[ She snorts. ] Yeah, well. Not everybody thinks that way. [ Which is a damn shame. ]
I've never seen you around here before. Did you just drop in to try and hit on me, or are you here on merchant business?
[ Loath as she is to admit it, she's a little sad at the prospect of him leaving. It's no skin off her back, or anything, but the cafe will probably feel just a little less bright without him in it. ]
[ The answer is "yes." Yes, please. Don't leave her alone.
Touka was the furthest from someone who would rely on a complete stranger, but the days have been getting longer. Waiting around was getting a bit difficult, and some days she wanted to tear her own skin off out of sheer desperation. Of course, there were also days that were easier than others; those usually entailed a neverending rush of customers, which provided an adequate distraction. ]
[ She closes her eyes and shakes her head. There's an edge of bitterness in her voice when she speaks again, but she still keeps a small smile affixed to her lips. ]
There's nobody I'm waiting for. [ A lie. ] I was just curious, is all. We don't get your type around the cafe very often.
[ Her eyes fall on the door. Usually people would start filtering in for the lunch rush around this time, but the door remained mercifully shut. ]
No, you're not. [ She's not bragging. It's true. Most of them were boring and completely transparent. Not so with Sakamoto, though, and it hits her somewhere south of her throat. His smile is devastating her, but she can't help but be drawn to it, just like a moth to a flame.
"You're just the only one I've cared to talk back to." ]
No. It's fine, leave it. [ Though it wasn't too good for business, she silently prays that no customers enter the cafe, lest their presences shatters the small solace Tatsuma's company provides. ] It's just a really slow day today. I wonder if something's going on in town.
Yeah, there's a shindig at this seedy bar tonight. A bunch of loan sharks are comin' in to take advantage of the stupid folk who wander in. They're bad blood, though! A lotta folks don't like 'em, so they're stayin' inside.
[Yakuza types, and all that.
She's so tragically beautiful. Like a rose preserved in a vase of ample water, destined to wither and rot despite the efforts to keep it fresh.
Has she been saving herself for someone? He wonders.
I take it that that's where you're gonna be, then.
[ A statement of fact, one that snaps her back to reality. As to whether she's saving herself, well... Unwittingly, she probably is. Hard-working and diligent as she is, however, she's mortal. She will die, and she's prone to having faults.
She can't wait forever, and while she knows that, it won't stop her from trying.
Straightening herself, she wipes her hands on the front of her apron. ]
[ The more he talks, the more embarrassed she feels. What was she even doing, relying on this stranger for company? She knows he's just being kind, and it makes her skin crawl.
She feels like a complete idiot, and she swallows hard. Pity's the last thing she wants. ]
No, it's fine. I should probably finish cleaning, anyway. [ Never mind the fact that the entirety of the cafe is pristine as hell. ]
He's out, but he should be back soon. He's my older brother [ Also a lie. ], though, so it's not like he'll write me up or anything.
[ As if on cue, the bell above the cafe door rings, signaling the arrival of a customer. Grateful for this, Touka springs into action, grabbing a menu and her clipboard. ]
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[He likes her bite, to be fair. Sakamoto's always looking for trouble, even when he doesn't intend on finding it. While the demure women of fairytales and old world sensibilities are beautiful in their own right, he far prefers the feistier sort.
Still, her smile is beautiful. Sakamoto feels joy even when greeting strangers passing by, people who just seem happy, even if he doesn't know the reason why.]
They're all about the money! Which I used to have, but I'm fuckin' broke right about now. That's okay, okay! I'll reign in a hot deal tonight.
Me? I'm a merchant.
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[ Her smile turns mildly sardonic at that, but she finds herself leaning against the counter. It's been a while since she's had an honest to goodness conversation with someone outside of Anteiku's inner circle, and it feels... nice. There's none of that overly-polite and bubbly customer service bullshit that she needs to pull during this exchange. She doesn't have to talk about ghouls, or Doves, or anything like that here. She almost feels like a normal girl.
Ayato probably would have scoffed at that. But he wasn't here, and he couldn't read minds.
She listens to him speak, and she can't help it: she laughs. ]
I meant your name, but okay. Good luck on that "hot deal," I guess.
[ Yeah. She's convinced he's a drug dealer. ]
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[He's testing her, slightly.]
You want my name? Oh, well! I'm all about fair trade.
I'll give ya mine if you tell me yours, how 'bout that?
[To be fair... He's deals are definitely just as shady. And often illegal.]
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[ Touka can't really tell, but she plays along anyway. ]
Your turn.
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[He raises a brow at that. Kids these days are so informal.]
Tatsuma, then. Just so ya know! There's only two guys who call me by my first name, and uh. They ain't the polite sort.
[They're monsters, is what he's trying to say.]
So! Touka. -San.
[He leans back as well, drawing the cup of coffee to his lips and taking a sip. It's clear from his manner that he frequents bars quite often, used to drinking and speaking casually.]
You like this job of yours? You look bored as all hell. Like you're thinkin' about someone! Or... Something.
[Brow bounce.]
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[ There it is, that laugh again. God, does it feel good to laugh. Something about him makes her feel at ease, and her duties to the cafe are momentarily forgotten the more their conversation wears on. ]
It's a job. It keeps me busy when I'm not in school, so there's that.
[ At the last half of his sentence, she scoffs. ]
That so? Guess I have to try harder at pretending to be content with customer service, then.
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Nah, I haven't met a single girl who's happy with pleasin' customers, I'll tell ya that. They're pretty ungrateful.
[He's taking about brothel women but... If the shoe fits.]
You're smile's all fucked up. Ah, I don't mean no harm by that- I meant the way you greeted me at the counter. The one I mentioned? That one was cute.
I'm no amateur, though.
A girl's got a lotta smiles! Mmmm. But some of them break my heart.
[Like hers.
Seeing her trapped her, like a bird in a cage. How awful. Does she want to see the world?]
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[ Again with the harsh words, though her expression remains soft, almost fond. She hadn't known the man more than half an hour, but she was enjoying herself.
He was more perceptive than he let on, though. It was intriguing, and a little bit annoying. ]
Again with the shitty cliches. If you hadn't said you were a merchant, I'd have thought you were a poet. Or a pickup artist.
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[He flashes one at her, deceiving to the untrained eye. From a distance, it looks like an overcompensating grin, but...
Up close? It seems dangerous.]
Ah, sorry, that's my old learnin'- Didn't go to a school like yours, is all I'll say. Everything I learned, I learned on the job!
You've gotta sweet talk folks. That's how they'll give you all their dough, anyway. You know! Hell, you work at a fuckin' cafe. Ever flirt with a guy so he'd give you his extra change? Fuck! I've done it.
[Old businessmen are scum to any kind of youth, am I right?]
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You've flirted with men to take their money.
[ She shakes her head. ]
If I did that it'd send the wrong signal. The idea with men is to get them to get the hell out as soon as possible.
[ Old man Yoshimura likely would have boxed her ears for that one. ]
Besides. The only ones who leave their extra change are dirty old salarymen who don't know any better.
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Ah, they know what they're doin'- It's good you know better, though. Hell! Most girls do. Men are idiots.
[He looks her in the eye, smiling.]
We don't give credit where credit's due, sometimes.
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Instead, she returns the smile, knowing full well that he's going to see the hint of sadness that tinges it. She doesn't bother concealing it. ]
At least you understand that, I guess. Most men are too wrapped up in their fragile egos to give a fuck.
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[He nods in Touka's direction.]
How else is a guy supposed to improve! Geez.
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I've never seen you around here before. Did you just drop in to try and hit on me, or are you here on merchant business?
[ Loath as she is to admit it, she's a little sad at the prospect of him leaving. It's no skin off her back, or anything, but the cafe will probably feel just a little less bright without him in it. ]
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[He catches that tone in her voice, mistaking it for something else.
Nothing romantic or attraction-oriented, just... A sign of kinship. A need for a friend her age. He understands.]
Why? Are you hopin' ta see me again?
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[ The answer is "yes." Yes, please. Don't leave her alone.
Touka was the furthest from someone who would rely on a complete stranger, but the days have been getting longer. Waiting around was getting a bit difficult, and some days she wanted to tear her own skin off out of sheer desperation. Of course, there were also days that were easier than others; those usually entailed a neverending rush of customers, which provided an adequate distraction. ]
How long is a while, then? Not that it matters.
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[He eyes her curiously. She looks starved, desperate for something.
Whether it's love or companionship, he can't tell.]
You look like you've been waitin' on someone a long time. I don't wanna make ya wait any longer.
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[ She closes her eyes and shakes her head. There's an edge of bitterness in her voice when she speaks again, but she still keeps a small smile affixed to her lips. ]
There's nobody I'm waiting for. [ A lie. ] I was just curious, is all. We don't get your type around the cafe very often.
[ Her eyes fall on the door. Usually people would start filtering in for the lunch rush around this time, but the door remained mercifully shut. ]
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I couldn't help but walk in. I'm sure I'm not the first customers who walked in and bought somethin' just 'cause he wanted to speak to you.
[She's gorgeous, like. Come on.]
What's up? Gotta open that? I can get it for ya.
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"You're just the only one I've cared to talk back to." ]
No. It's fine, leave it. [ Though it wasn't too good for business, she silently prays that no customers enter the cafe, lest their presences shatters the small solace Tatsuma's company provides. ] It's just a really slow day today. I wonder if something's going on in town.
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[Yakuza types, and all that.
She's so tragically beautiful. Like a rose preserved in a vase of ample water, destined to wither and rot despite the efforts to keep it fresh.
Has she been saving herself for someone? He wonders.
What a waste, honestly.]
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[ A statement of fact, one that snaps her back to reality. As to whether she's saving herself, well... Unwittingly, she probably is. Hard-working and diligent as she is, however, she's mortal. She will die, and she's prone to having faults.
She can't wait forever, and while she knows that, it won't stop her from trying.
Straightening herself, she wipes her hands on the front of her apron. ]
Don't let me keep you. Thanks for stopping by.
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[He tilts his head to the side.]
You're not keepin' me. I wanna stay. Is your boss around?
[Quiet concern turns to worry. She doesn't sound alright.]
I can talk with ya until some folks come in, if you'd like.
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She feels like a complete idiot, and she swallows hard. Pity's the last thing she wants. ]
No, it's fine. I should probably finish cleaning, anyway. [ Never mind the fact that the entirety of the cafe is pristine as hell. ]
He's out, but he should be back soon. He's my older brother [ Also a lie. ], though, so it's not like he'll write me up or anything.
[ As if on cue, the bell above the cafe door rings, signaling the arrival of a customer. Grateful for this, Touka springs into action, grabbing a menu and her clipboard. ]
Ah, welcome!