It's Go Time [Joint Training: Shizuka & Leon]

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

"Oh. Well, I am not..

"His name is Leon. And she is not someone you need to worry about for now."

A familiar voice. Had Shizuka even really heard it before? Maybe something about the way her tone sounded compared to giggles earlier struck something in the Fullbringer's mind. She could already tell by looking at the pair that they belonged together, and not romantically. This girl was his Doll. How fascinating! Shizuka followed Leon's gaze down to his Doll and smiled. It was always fun meeting the sentient powers. The blonde's guns were definitely not quite this exciting in the least, and they didn't have minds of their own. Dolls were so different.

"If she wanted to hurt you, then she would have done it."

"Ha! Well, that's the truth. Only my Soul Command is subtle and that's not enough to hurt you. I'm not really looking to turn heads like that," Shizuka finished with a slight laugh. "So do ya mind answering for yourself? No need to be reserved."

"I'm Leon Strife. Some people go with Leonardo, Leo, sometimes 'Cloud', which I don't know why. But Leon is fine."

He was sweet. He didn't have the same dangerous aura that Shizuka was so used to feeling from people every single day. Either they wanted to kill her or wanted something else from her, be it money or whatever, and she grew sick of it all. Finally, she was able to meet up with someone of another breed and actually enjoy talking to them. Even with Hebika and Luke, it wasn't at all this casual. It wasn't easy for her to make friends. So could Leon actually be someone the Fullbringer considered a friend? Was this something she cared about?

"It's a pleasure to meet you, and I can see that you knew what I was despite the little runt here."

"Likewise! It's not every day I get to enjoy the presence of someone so calm. Believe me, most people I encounter are not the friendliest!"

"But, if you would like to talk, then I think we should go for a walk while we do that. Since you know what I am called, then I can assume that you, or your Xcution group, is aware of all of this trippy spirit stuff going on around here?"

Shizuka twirled her hair between her fingers and played with the ends before giving it a gentle toss back behind her. "Thanks to our research division, I know a good bit. I'm not fond of reading but we keep tabs on every spiritual person we come into contact with."

"I'm asking this because I really don't know much as to what is going on here let alone what I really am. I wasn't really aware until she popped out of no where and started filling me in on some things. Started off with some whispers in my head up back in the U.S up until I came here to see that she is now outside and talking to me now. But, seeing that you know what I am you must have had your own encounters with um.... people like me."

Shizuka glanced down at the Doll, smiled, grabbed Leon's hand, and led him away from the crowds of people. She looked behind herself for a moment to make sure Leon's friends weren't following them, and from what she could tell, they didn't have any interest. Typical men. They were probably cheering him on from wherever it was they were seated. Leon got to walk off with a sporty blonde. Isn't that like a dream or something? Some type of goal dudes have? Anyway, didn't matter. Her only priority was to get him away and be able to chat.

"I know a lot about Bount-kind. I know a decent amount about your powers, types of abilities you can learn, the biting..." Shizuka trailed off and started blushing, but then quickly snapped back into reality. "Um, uh, what I mean to say is that you guys have a technique you can use that, um... Well, you know, there's a reason why you're compared to vampires."

That was close. Being near Leon was bringing back rather painful memories. Shizuka didn't like thinking about Luke anymore. He had left her and never gave her an explanation. When she'd gone to find out why, it seemed as if they could patch things up but it never worked out. That was the part that sucked the most. Her high hopes had vanished instantly when she knew there was nothing she could do to fix everything. There was no reason to fix it, either. He didn't care. She learned soon enough that no one really did.

"Anywhoozles, I guess it'd be easier for me to respond to legitimate questions rather than rattle on about absolutely nothing but stupid stuff from my past, right?"

[Leon Strife]

Genuinely, there was more to the girl than he had first realized. The idea that he had was that of a flirtatious and goddy blonde that was merely going to lead him on, the pull away. Some common traits seen when he had first dated back in the states that caused a few problems of its own, aside from what he did with the gang. Something like "birds of a flock fly together" saying immediately popped into his head. An image that was going to expand more so when he was going to allow his thoughts run with the idea. In actuality, it didn't. Leon became so use to the livelyhood of hood carried with it on how people portrayed themeselves to be, what they had set as their priorities to be that he did forget that he was entirely somewhere else. The people around him now are nothing to how the people back then. They were entirely different atmospheres, far apart from one another, and while there may be people like that in Karakura; at least here, no. Being led by the hand took the Bount out of his familiarity.

"I know a lot about Bount-kind. I know a decent amount about your powers, types of abilities you can learn, the biting...uh, what I mean to say is that you guys have a technique you can use that, um... Well, you know, there's a reason why you're compared to vampires." He had to admit that while he was paying attention to what was going on, his mind was wandering a bit at the warmth of the woman's hand. It was...foreign to him. The gesture of doing what Shizuka had done so openly wasn't something that he expected, or how open that she was despite being in an open place. Just as the woman flared red within her cheeks, the Bount couldn't help but feel a bit flustered himself. The situation that he was in was pushing his mind else where, as though he were dreaming a bit.

"You are starting to look stupid, you know." Of course the runt had to speak up when he was starting to get back into the rythem of speaking to a women again. Well, not in this particular situation in the very least. "Oh, yeah, sorry." he immediately apologized as he was knocked back into reality, "Oh, no you are good Shizuka. I got the gist of how some of our...how the 'Bounts' work. So long as we are nothing like those in Twilight, Queen of the Damned, or in Van Helsing, I think I can manage." he laughed, but honestly cringing at the thought of being somewhat related to some of those pop-culture references.

It took Leon some time to realize that the crowd began to dwindle as the two of them walked along the sidewalk. The hot sand that led to the ope sea to their right, and rustling people coming and going with their vehicles to the left. What was happening now was definitely.... a change in pace that he didn't know that he needed. The Bount wasn't emotionally integrated with the people yet. He lacked the empathy that other Humans did with one another as each of them were more than capable of caring for each other. Obviously, the Japanese were very considerate, and helpful when he first arrived. The culture was shocking enough that it did leave a mark on him as a breath of fresh air, to start again anew. But, that was what made the difference between himself and the others as well. Everyone looked the same, spoke the same, and knew how to act. Sort of like a shared mindset. This was what Leon truly feel like a needle in a haystack.

Marcus was the first that approached him who made him feel like he wasn't alone. Helping the lost Bount in a foreign land to meet new people, with an environment that he knew some things about; familiarity. That concept took Leon quite a bit a ways to find some level of comfort here. Shizuka here.....the familiarity was there a bit. "Sorry, but I really wouldn't know what to ask about, or even where to start." the Bount stated. "I'm actually a bit lost on the whole thing myself. I just want to learn what I can do, so I won't make any mistakes...or at least help some people when I am able to." His sandals clapped against his heels with each step taken down the walkway. The restlessness of the current predicament caused Leon to keep his hands in his pockets, not knowing what to do with them. "But, I think it is fine to talk a bit about yourself. Seeing what you can do I can guess you got a lot to tell heh. I'll more than likely find my questions with a bit of small talk, you know?"

Leon laughed. The Doll sighed. "If you two are going to do it, then just do it already. I don't want to have to listen to his dirty mind later on after leaving this place." the rogue Doll chimed in again, with a visibly flustered Bount. "You little shit. I am not thinking anything dirty and you know it. But now thanks to that I probably will later on." he grumbled, palming the midsection of his face with utter embarassment.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Shizuka giggled as Leon mentioned vampires from popular media from a few years back. She remembered those days. She had actually stayed up until the midnight release of several of the Twilight movies because she was a huge fan of Jacob Black. Watching them now made her realize a few things. The first was that the series was overrated but still fun. The second was that Bella looked way better as a vampire. The third was that Jacob Black and long hair did not mix, but evidently, that was a thing for the author.

"No, no! Don't worry. You guys are nothing like that. Ha, thank goodness."

As they walked, she couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable Leon looked. It wasn't generously so, but she could just see something off about him. She looked towards Leon, then changed her gaze to be right out in front of them as she enjoyed the heat and the smaller volume of humans. It had been so long since she spent this kind of time with someone, especially given how dreadfully busy she had become with paperwork and a whole lot of nonsense that she didn't want to deal with. She was forced to handle many responsibilities that made her want to pull her blonde hair out.

"Sorry, but I really wouldn't know what to ask about, or even where to start. I'm actually a bit lost on the whole thing myself. I just want to learn what I can do, so I won't make any mistakes...or at least help some people when I am able to." Shizuka's eyes met again with Leon's face. "But, I think it is fine to talk a bit about yourself. Seeing what you can do I can guess you got a lot to tell heh. I'll more than likely find my questions with a bit of small talk, you know?"

"If you two are going to do it, then just do it already. I don't want to have to listen to his dirty mind later on after leaving this place."

Shizuka blushed and pressed her fingers against her mouth in a mildly shocked manner. She tried to keep herself from laughing, utterly forgetting that the Doll was still here. It's not as if she were easy to forget, but Shizuka was already so focused on the conversation and Leon that she just didn't think. Noticing how embarrassed the poor guy was, Shizuka smiled and patted his shoulder. She didn't want him to think that's the only thing Shizuka was interested in, although... it has been a while. Ugh, no! She shook herself mentally. She was not going to do this to herself again.

"Well, I can do small talk! Let's see... I was born a while ago to a super normal family, had a super normal childhood until I was like fifteen or sixteen, and then I developed these abilities. I was recruited into Xcution basically immediately by the guy I was dating at the time and my aunt who works for them, but then he was murdered... So I decided it was time for me to get even with the very beings that cause me pain countless times each day!"

Despite her happy demeanor, Shizuka realized she probably sounded insane and had to figure out a way to backtrack quickly. "Oh, I mean, they're just Shinigami. And sometimes it's really morally confusing. Like, I've met some who are super young or know nothing about my whole vendetta against Taiho and all this other random stuff, so..." She flipped her hair. "So that's me! What about you?"

[Leon Strife]

What came next was a bit more than what he was originally expecting. An ideal conversation of what would help him to really open the lid on his questions, and hopefully bring them out in no time. Aside from Eris and Aura had told him about their race, it did match up with what Shizuka descibed them to be, along with some other details that he was thankful for clearing up. There was more to them than what he realized, even after what the two veteran Bounts mentioned before. But, in some way he was greatful that the conversation went as it did. Despite what the topic was about what the pair had going was actually close in being "normal." Just a man and a woman talking, enjoying themselves, and walking along their merry way with a great scene around them. What more could have made the time now more memorable? Oh, yeah.

His Doll had to open her big fat mouth and made things for him a bit awkward. Leon was not someone who had a difficult time conversing with women, even after an unhealthy extended period of time away from them, what troubled him the most was how to actually start. The Bount was never particularly one to start conversations, but thankfully he did not have to as the two had a mutual interest, and being as extroverted as she was, Shizuka approached him. Thus, they began and ran along with it until the momentary lapse in judgement from his Doll came around. The man had to focus to actually throw his own influence over the noisy brat to get her to keep quiet. While Shizuka shared the details about herself, and that of her life, the Bount had to suppress the Doll with a portion of himself to keep her quiet.

Leon's eyes snapped back to Shizuka as the mention of her aunt's murder. A knot formed that came along to twist the inside of his gut, with a bit of regret, guilt that strung him along. "That must have really sucked. Losing people like that, who you were close to. Just leaves that gap doesn't it?" he found himself saying, a bit sympathetic, understanding what it meant to lose people like them. Even if they weren't family. The two continued to walk along the path with a bit more information thrown towards the Bount. Both stretched and concise, narrowing to what he would assume that Shizuka bookmarked as the most important events in her life, the Fullbringer shared openly without hesitation. "Oh, I mean, they're just Shinigami. And sometimes it's really morally confusing. Like, I've met some who are super young or know nothing about my whole vendetta against Taiho and all this other random stuff, so..." Shizuka flipped her hair. "So that's me! What about you?"

"Damn girl, looks like you got me beat in the life experience department haha." the Bount let out a small laugh, grazing the buzzed cut style along his tanned scalp. Another mental push to keep his Doll in check as he felt another eruption of her thoughts that wanted to be exposed out in the open. Looking back, Leon had to focus on the girl for the moment before he could turn back to answer Shizuka freely, "Well, when you live in the ass of community in the U.S it can get pretty hard to get out of it. No parents to look after you. What to say 'Yes' or 'No' to makes for an open interpretation as to what is right and wrong. So naturally you have to learn quick on how to handle yourself, and who to stick with if you want to survive." he first began.

Seemingly, the days back in the ghettos felt as though they were like a dream at first. The two scenes, one of a dank, dirty streeth neighborhood felt completely foreign to the ocean side view of the beach here. Both atmospheres were entirely different from one another that almost didn't seem real. "Like you in a sense, had some capabilities that were different from everyone else around that could make me some money, and a few friends to watch my back. Used them, made thousands, hommies came and went like dollar bills until you find out that you are too dangerous even among your own crew. So, had to get out before things got sour..." he added on, pausing for a moment as the memories of her surfacecd, "....lost...two people that were special....probably be...celebrating her first Birthday right around this time." Leon had to pause again, letting out a deep sigh as the emotions were beginning to bubble up his throat. But, he marched onward, "Buried that group before leaving, and now here I am.... Just..looking for a fresh start...to be honest with you." he smirked at the girl.

For the first time they were together, his Doll refused to say a word. She was silent, and not much as a Prune as before but mellow. Leon could tell by glancing back down to her, what she felt; a similiar sting that was present in him right now. As quiet as she was the Doll slowly melded with the Bount's shadow, drowning her small figure into the void of rest to best remove herself from that emotion, regardless of how fuitile it was. "Heh, morally right or not, it just comes back down to that old saying, 'An eye for a eye,' right? I am not one to judge. I mean, you are talking to someone who is wanted on the West side of the U.S after all." The Bount's soft chuckle was a bit forced, perhaps an attempt to move things along with their conversation, and maybe to push past what he felt. "Though, if this Taiho guy is someone that you want to curb stomp, then why not? Give him Hell. I'm not someone who is gonna knock ya' for it. I don't have the right to do so anyways. Just for me...I just want to bring in some right with the world, instead of putting in more bad."

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

It shouldn't have come as quite the same kind of surprise as it did. Shizuka listened to Leon's story and her face quickly turned from entirely interested to impossibly sad for him. She tried to hide her emotional change as much as she could, but she knew some would leak out. How could it not? She heard life stories like this way too often. People had their own struggles and everything was different. Shizuka didn't have the same struggles growing up and only experienced pain once she was an adult, but not everyone is so lucky. Leon certainly wasn't.

Hearing about his time in the ghetto made her second-guess herself. Nothing was really normal anymore, especially not after entering the spiritual world. He must have been so confused when he was younger and from the sounds of it, he never had a normal family. And even when he tried... Shizuka cringed. She didn't want to think of who Leon was talking about since she died at such a young age. All of the thoughts that erupted within her mind caused way too much anguish. She didn't even want to consider for a moment the kind of depression Leon suffered from.

"Buried that group before leaving, and now here I am.... Just..looking for a fresh start...to be honest with you."

The blonde returned a smile. "You have no idea just how resilient you truly are and I admire you for that. In fact, you're more resilient than I could ever hope to be."

"Heh, morally right or not, it just comes back down to that old saying, 'An eye for a eye,' right? I am not one to judge. I mean, you are talking to someone who is wanted on the West side of the U.S after all."

"Ha! And you're talking to the CEO of a well-known assassination group under the guise of a regular Japanese conglomerate."

"Though, if this Taiho guy is someone that you want to curb stomp, then why not? Give him Hell. I'm not someone who is gonna knock ya' for it. I don't have the right to do so anyways. Just for me...I just want to bring in some right with the world, instead of putting in more bad."

The woman's ears perked up. "Oh! Well, you are so right and I totally would, but, um... Yeah, she isn't exactly alive right now. I don't know where she is. I had spoken with a Rogue Shinigami a good while back now about a possible plan of attack against her entire Squad, but I needed an army for that. And I'm building one."

The last thing she ever wanted to do was scare this poor boy off, especially since he seemed to be extremely genuine with her. There were things that mattered to her human life, including friendships and other such personal interactions, so Leon being the first friend she's made in a seriously long time was special for her. But she also didn't want to lead him astray. Her job, her true role in this world, were such important characteristics of who she was, who she'd been for eleven years now. There was a reason why she was good at her job.

The Fullbringer took a seat on a bench that overlooked the ocean as the waves gracefully flowed inwards and outwards again. She admired the pure beauty in this side of nature, silently promising herself that she'd visit more often as a means to destress. She squinted as she glanced upwards in Leon's direction and patted the area next to her, inviting him to sit down. They walked about a half of a mile away from where his friends had been, but when Shizuka looked back over to inspect, she noticed they were sitting and relaxing on the sand. At least they were occupied.

"You have extravagant abilities. You can seduce people, control them, bend their wills, sense their desires, all of these things that make you special. But you can also be real and kind and very, very talented when it comes to fighting your own battles. And, of course, you make great pet owners. That's not just a jab at the fact that you guys have Dolls, but it helps. Bounts are special. You have limitless possibilities to explore and just need the time to do so. Perhaps also a guide, but time is an important detail. Have you ever thought of working with someone to unlock your potential?"

[Leon Strife]

Leon, in all honesty, practically forgot about keeping what he was a secret. The fact was provided to him that the Bount race was on the verge of extinction, at least from what he was told, which was currently being hunted by a number of groups. Both Aura and Eris repeated a number of times the reasons as to why their existence in Karakura had to remain as quiet as possible due to those fears. The gathering of their kind was a slow, and begrudgingly painful process. Gathering and spreading what information they could while keeping any unintended listeners from running amok, the Bounts continued to stream bits of information into the outside world. The existence of the Covenant had to remain as it is now until the time was right, and here Leon was, currently admitting to the continued residence of the Bount. At least he was only providing that he resided in Karakura. The others could not be as ferious with him with that knowledge getting out.

The exchange between the Fullbringer and the Bount seemed...normal. Organic. From what Shizuka filled Leon in about in regards to her situation, with the Shinigami and that of her own secret Organization, the norm was relaitively present. There were no attacks by the Hollows. No secret agendas. No organization looking to lopp off the head of another faction's out in the open as some news went on record to be dressed as Disasters. What was occurring now was simply a man and a woman expressing themselves, and conversing. Leon did not know Shizuka well enough to be weary of her. The man lived a life with keeping an eye over his shoulder for far too long to notice when someone was beginning to play him. Too many scenarios and sublte notions that gave away a persons intention after a few hours of talking. Shizuka appeared to be genuine. Either that, or Leon was simply fatigued with all the cloak and dagger mischief to honestly care. Leon simply listened, and answered back what he felt was right, and honest.

The walk was something that Leon did not know that he needed. While still in public, in a decent sized crowd, the world around the pair seemed to have narrowed considerably when locked into the conversation. Bathing in the light of a near setting Sun, the two came to over look the beach and the dancing waves, by a small bench in which Shizuka gestured to her side. The stubs of hair that prinkled his scratching fingertips made the embarassment less when it happened, honestly too taken for words to come to mind let alone spoken. He accepted the invite. "You have extravagant abilities. You can seduce people, control them, bend their wills, sense their desires, all of these things that make you special. But you can also be real and kind and very, very talented when it comes to fighting your own battles. And, of course, you make great pet owners. That's not just a jab at the fact that you guys have Dolls, but it helps. Bounts are special. You have limitless possibilities to explore and just need the time to do so. Perhaps also a guide, but time is an important detail. Have you ever thought of working with someone to unlock your potential?"

Leon merely listened. What Shizuka spoke of when explaining the Bount race matched with what the two Elders had spoken about in detail. The Bount's hand continued to graze the shaven scalp, keen towards the backside down onto the nape of his neck as to provide some level of comfort. The details that the Fullbringer provided, a slide of facial coloring only made Leon felt dirty about the entire thing. The subtle mention of being a pet owner did have Leon mustering a mental back hand to both his Dolls before they chimed in. Some instances of laughter came up with nothing short of a choked chuckle as pictures from Dracula: Dead and Loving It came to mind as well as Johnny Depps Dark Shadows[/i]. Other flicks stirred his thoughts as much as Shizuka's intimate knowledge of his race brought a single question out in the open. "It really does sound like you've had some personal experience with all of these abilities first hand. Ever run into Bradd Pitt or Tom Cruise at some point?" Leon could not help but laugh a bit at the thought.

"But, what you are right about the 'time,' and needing some help with it all." Leon began with. The Bount gazed down at his co-workers for a moment or two, seemingly to watch their antics run wild with the usual gawking at bathing suits, and harmless drinking. Leon laughed, as if to brush away the bit of dirt from his previous imposing question. It was probably too personal for him to ask that to begin with, "I ran into several others, like me, here in Karakura. Probably long gone by now, but did somewhat work with to see what I can do, although not intentional. Either join or be a liability sort of scenario." What Leon said was two parts lie, and one part truth. Running into Eris and Aura, wanting to work with him yet being a bit shamelessly forward in their teaching methods. Their methods of showing what Bounts were capable of, and what was a necessity for them to survive did not sit well with Leon. While the two Elders were correct on what was required to survive, it did impose on what he was striving for himself. He did not take a liking to it. Then, there was the encounter with that large Wolf monster. Although it ended with Leon losing not only the fight, but losing sight of that thing it did bring to his attention of what he can do. Something to be worked on.

"All the more reason to..

Leon silenced the Doll quickly. Leon tightened his mental barriers, keeping their noise back as to keep some level of familiarity on being normal a reality. Leon had to establish control, and muster up the persona of a Master less his Dolls rebel. This was something that Aura and Eris did want Leon to learn quickly as to keep his abilities in check, and his Dolls in line. He did not like the idea of enslaving his Dolls, but could see it as a necessity at times. Right now he did not see that necessity, but a desire to do so for another purpose. "Thanks, Shizuka. For this. Been a while since I had an outing like this, and away from...well.. the noise too.." Leon bobbed his head, gesturing to his distant frolicking co-workers, "...This is a nice change in pace." The ocean's breeze swept inland, basking the beach patrons with a cool wind basked in the light fragrance of the salt water. "If what you said is true about what I am capable of, then I will need to really crack down on how I can get there. Over dinner?" he brought up.

The Bount brought it up plainly without coming to know until a few moments later to what it sounded as. "Wait...oh...OH A cough through a brightened face, as if that would factually rid him of the embarassment. ..No..Nononono. Not like that. It is..um.. damn..Wait..Give me a sec okay." Leon could hear the Dolls mumble to themselves in his head, shamefully at his bumbling rabble ...as thanks I mean." he uttered.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

The fact that he was getting so comfortable with her so quickly was a good sign. Maybe it was the cheeky bottoms of her bikini, or maybe it was how she just wanted to be as down to earth as possible, but Leon seemed to be getting along well with Shizuka. She was admittedly excited. It wasn't every day she was able to carry on conversations with people anymore without it leading into a fight, and this was such a wonderful change of pace. She smiled, enjoying Leon's jokes and curiosity. He was a good man. She wanted to help make him even better.

She thought about things momentarily, remembering how difficult it was when she first started. Shizuka had no idea what Fullbringers were or what powers went along with them. Her support system was small. She needed training. Everything was so overwhelming, and the only benefit Leon had was that he already had some experience. Shizuka sat and stared at him for just a brief second, wondering how she ever made it this far with the limits she had originally, and tried comparing it to the complexity of being a Bount. Did he not think it was impossible, too?

After listening to Leon speak, Shizuka smiled very sweetly. Maybe it was a bit odd, but she loved this kind of exposure to people. She enjoyed hanging out with anyone and everyone, and talking about all the crazy supernatural nonsense that goes on in the world around them. Obviously her parents and sister wouldn't understand since they're powerless, and having friends like Leon - if she could call him a friend now - meant she had this freedom again. It felt nice. He was very kind to her and she appreciated that more than he'd know.

What she didn't expect was the invitation for a date. "Dinner?" Shizuka blushed and twisted her pony-tailed hair between her fingers.

Despite his stuttering, Shizuka also felt her face continue to warm. She smiled and didn't quite expect her own reaction, but she found that his offer made her happy. Even if everything is just as friends! He seemed to be making it clear that it would only be casual, but... Shizuka mentally slapped herself back into reality and shook her head to bring her mind into the present. Her posture calmed and she was able to get the redness on her cheeks to subside, though it did take a decent minute. No amount of redirecting her gaze was going to hide that from anybody.

"You know what? That would be amazing. I think I'll take you up on that."

[Leon Strife]

Maybe it was the heat from the Sun that caused his vision to redden. The damn annoying glare from the edges of his eyes that narrowed his gaze to shroud what sight he had to keep focused on the Fullbringer in front of him, but perhaps for the moment... "I mean... Are you feeling alright? Feeling dizzy or... "You know what? That would be amazing. I think I'll take you up on that." The man could only blink for the first few moments to take in the answer that he only imagined that would come forward. Could it be that he did imagined it? No you idiot. It is not something that your perverted mind came up with. And stop doubting too. The annoying yammering of the Doll emerged once more, slipping through the mental barrier that Leon had set up, and loosened. So, even with the mental yank in his head did not seem to awaken the stupidified Bount, being the result of setting himself straight.

"Gotcha." Leon quickly responded, chimming with a bit of suprising glee.

Both he and the Dolls within were taken aback from his own demeanor, which said much when comparing to what filled his heart and mind for the past few years let alone months. A new environment. A new sense of atomsphere... A change. His eyes widened with shuttering flashes of light peeking through his shortened eye lashes, briskly taking on the sight around them that appeared to have a new sense of glimmer about it. Like a newly done paint job that was flawless in its shine, and ready to bask in the light of the world for the first time once again, so too did the world appear to be a bit newer to the Bount. "A change...huh." he mumbled. A snarky smile etched itself along a single corner of his lip before glancing back at the woman.

His toes curled, almost fluttering with a bit of actual excitement. A rouse that came often when working on his car when cheery, and now emitted from another source. The Bount was anxious as much as he was gitty from their "get together" as the kids would say now and then. "Then, you pick the day. Not entirely sure when a Big Shot like yourself will have time to herself, especially when it is out of the blue." It was the best choice considering that their outing will be done out of the man's own spontanteious rouse. "Just let me know when and where. I can come and pick you up and we can go from there." adding on, and throwing the ball back into Shizuka's court.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Was this actual excitement? Was Shizuka feeling happy about this exchange or was it fleeting? She didn't expect to be on such good terms with someone so quickly, and over a game of volleyball of all things! She felt kind of bad for leaving his friends in the dust like that, but she didn't think they'd mind since their friend was with a girl. In fact, they would likely tease him later. Isn't that what guys did? Tease each other about girls? Either way, Shizuka wasn't upset about the offer. Actually, she was really looking forward to it. She'd have to think for a moment on what she'd want to do, though.

"Well, maybe we do something a little less sandy. Perhaps indoors next time? I love Italian food, so anywhere with that is nice. And let's do it kind of late. That way you and I both can escape some of the business of the day."

She smiled at Leon, hoping she wouldn't scare him away with how ready she was to go out with him again. Whether for friendship or otherwise, she really liked how they were together. She knew he'd be a good person to associate with, and she hoped he felt similarly. She wasn't always so scary and surrounded by death. In her time with this job, she found that it was difficult to make friends with other spiritual beings because they all knew who she was. Avoiding that was impossible these days and she didn't really know how to make time to get away without threats anymore. This would be a good excuse!

"How about next Saturday? Maybe 9pm?"

[Zeich Yajuu]

By my count, we have 144 paragraphs, so 720 TP to both participants.