The Night Is Ours [ Social / Closed]

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

What sounded like Luke getting ready to say something important was immediately cut off by the waiter. A small eye roll followed his request for their orders, though she was careful to make sure he didn't see it. It wasn't his fault. He was just doing his job, but she and Luke were so involved in the conversation that she realized she wasn't the only one who completely ignored the menu. He did, too. With a soft smile in his direction, she allowed him to order first, then turned her attention back towards the waiter. She had requested a salad with salmon as the protein and a simple caesar dressing. And, of course, a strawberry daiquiri.

”Y’know, I realized recently that I’m actually not bad at Japanese. Writing it is still a little tough at times but I have no problem speaking it. I sometimes think that if my life was normal I’d make it pretty far as a translator. It’s certainly a career in demand.”

Shizuka blinked, snorted, and smiled. "Okay, Luke 'I'm not actually bad at Japanese' Clyburn. I don't know who lied to you about being good at it because I've been gathering what you're talking about based on context clues this whole time. Why do you think we speak English with each other most often?"

Shizuka was fluent in several languages. In fact, the last she counted she was at five. English and Japanese were only two of them, but she knew Spanish, French, and Italian. Those three typically went hand-in-hand in some way or another since Spanish and Italian were so similar, and she picked up French while she was in college and never stopped learning it. Shizuka giggled and bit her lower lip as she smiled playfully at Luke, growing more aware of the lack of focus her eyes had. It had been forever since she drank anything and she forgot that she really didn't have much of a tolerance at all. She was too picky with her alcohol to properly enjoy it, so she was pretty much solely a social drinker.

”What about you? Have you ever thought about what your life would be like if you were like them? Or if you ever wanted a quieter life?”

"Oh, yeah. For sure." Shizuka reached her hands out across the table. She wasn't looking for Luke to take them. She was just incredibly fidgety and needed to keep her body moving in order to ignore the dizziness. "Did you know I've always wanted to design cars? Don't laugh. I'm serious! I love sports cars. I've always wanted to work with designers. I think I'd make them look super cool!"

Sounding like a giddy child, Shizuka could barely contain her excitement. She'd started working for Xcution when she was about sixteen, so her college years were practically a formality at that point. Still, she went to school for engineering with the intention of leaving the organization one day and trying to land a job as a car designer. Since that didn't go exactly as planned, she rose to the top of the ranks and became the company's CEO. It was a fine alternative, and she certainly made a lot of money, but there was a part of her who desperately wondered what her life would be like if she was a regular human. She remembered her days when she was that way, but it had been a very long time.

Her daiquiri was the first thing to come out from the order she'd made. The straw that was placed in the drink was a bright green, and Shizuka grabbed onto the tip of it so she could use it to stir everything together. It smelled amazing, and after taking a sip, Shizuka found it tasted much sweeter than she was expecting. They did a good job at this place. She was going to have to remember that she liked it and come back whenever she was craving a fruity beverage. Luke really knew her better than she thought he did, though she doubted he thought this far ahead. This place was probably just one that had been on his radar.

"I don't think I'd give any of this up, though. I wouldn't change a thing. Everything that I am is because of what I experienced throughout my life, and these experiences made me a better person. I see normal humans struggle all the time. I see them wish they had lives like mine. Who am I to be ungrateful for such a thing? I don't have to read comics to pretend. I'm the type of person they write stuff about. So even if sometimes I imagine what life could be like if I had none of this, I am so incredibly happy that I have all of it. Especially since it means that I was able to meet you."

[Luke Clyburn]

”You’re so funny.”

Luke replied with a laugh, rolling his eyes in response to Shizuka’s oh so insanely kind remark about his language skills. He would sit back in his chair before he wound up laughing more than he wanted to. When was the last time he actually laughed? Resting his knuckles on the space between his lips and nose, Luke would just look at Shizuka with utter enjoyment and love in his eyes. Looking at the silly expression she made, listening to her giggle, and all he could think about was how much he loved this woman. It was so hard to believe that she was a professional assassin. That she was a god walking amongst men. The leader of Xcution. This small, beautiful woman was the top of the world. It was hard to believe at times.

Still though, Luke found it interesting that what her dream would have been if she had never awakened to being a Fullbringer, or becoming an assassin, was to design cars. Luke blinked. Resting his cheek in his hand he just watched her, listening, and digested the information he was being given. It made him think back to when he was younger. Back when he was rasher and angrier. Back when he didn’t have the control over his life he had now. Luke would have wound up a mechanic at a shop, or a construction worker, living out a small and meager life. Not like he had any particular issue with that. He wasn’t someone who needed to live extravagantly. So long as his basic needs were met he was content. He was a frugal man.

It wasn’t until meeting Shizuka that he actually wanted to start spending money. Taking her out on dates, buying her nice gifts, that sort of thing. Spending money on other people felt much better to him than spending it on himself. Hell, Luke used to be so cheap that he would plan his grocery shopping around the sales at the local mart. Which, while most considered that smart, Luke was obsessive about it. He’d have been so embarrassed if Shizuka had seen the apartment he used to live in. ”Does that mean you’d go see a Daytona race with me?” Luke asked almost sarcastically as he listened.

She sounded so happy and excited. Her excitability was infectious. Being around her was so relaxing. It caused each and every anxiety Luke had on a daily basis to wash away. But she finally got to answering the question that Luke had given her. Her answer was interesting. Luke was quiet, watching her with those amber eyes of his, taking in everything she said. His ears drinking her words like a drink. His sixth sense feeling the sensation of her reiatsu. Luke was fully and totally paying attention to her and only her.

She wouldn’t give any of it up.

Luke didn’t expect anything else. Nor was he really looking for any other answer. Maybe, well, maybe a part of him was. He’d be lying if he ever said that he didn’t sometimes think about what life would be like if he wasn’t who he was. If he wasn’t Luke Clyburn the Bount, but Luke Clyburn the man. There were certainly instances of his life that wouldn’t have occurred if that had been the case. But could he actually give up the relationships he had made if it meant undoing everything and getting a second chance to just be normal? No. He was in the same boat in that regard as Shizuka. While he had regrets, and he certainly had regrets, Luke wouldn’t give it up either.

”Especially since it means that I was able to meet you."

Luke blinked. He suddenly felt his cheeks and ears go hot. His blush was visible on his face as Luke looked away from Shizuka, extending his fingers across his face to hide it. The way she said that, the sincerity, and after what they had confessed to each other suddenly had Luke feeling like he was a young man talking to his crush. She managed to get him when his armor was down. He could handle Shizuka when she was feeling rambunctious, no problem there, but this sweet and genuine version of her could still get to him sometimes. ”I feel the same way. I was able to meet you.” He’d comment, moving his hand away from mouth and just smiling at her. If only they weren’t in a public place.

Taking a drink from his refilled glass, Luke looked down at the brown liquid and swished it about in circles for a moment. ”Tonight I’m an open book.” Luke would suddenly say, looking back up at her and leaning his head to the side a little. ”I promised you I’d be more open and honest about myself with you, right? So ask me anything you want to know.” Luke invited. If he kept asking her questions all night he was going to leave her throat sore in a way he wasn’t intending. As much as Luke wanted to get to know Shizuka more and more, he needed to be fair and extend that same openness she was sharing with him to her. Especially when he had alcohol in his system. He was willingly lowering his own guard.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Shizuka had never seen Luke so casual with her before. Well, she had, but not like this. He really was making an effort to be forthcoming, and she couldn't help but appreciate it. She had already decided she wasn't going to hide anything from him anymore, and really made an effort to not do that in the first place, but she acknowledged how difficult that could be given her profession and all. Still, he was trying. She loved that, and loved him. And she loved how embarrassed he'd get when she said something nice, blushing like a school boy talking to his crush. She adored him. She just absolutely adored him.

As the Bount extended his offer for Shizuka to ask him anything she wanted, she had to think about that for a moment. While she did, the waiter came back with a couple of plates of food that smelled entirely too good. She stared enviously at the eel filet that the man across from her had ordered, but was excited to have her salad, regardless. The salmon was grilled to perfection and smelled incredibly enticing. Mouth watering already, Shizuka picked up her fork and thanked the waiter after he had placed her daiquiri, as well. It didn't come out until then, so she'd had to wait, but she took a sip and smiled. She was in heaven.

"You'll let me ask anything, huh?" Shizuka cut off a small piece of salmon, stuck it on her fork, then speared a few small pieces of lettuce before taking the bite. Throughout their conversation, she'd repeat this while she wasn't talking. "Alright, then."

It took her a little while to think, but she had time to eat while she came up with a few ideas. Truthfully, she'd thought a lot about things over the years. Luke didn't share much about his childhood, so that was certainly an area of curiosity. He didn't like talking about that one time he killed a bunch of people, so she wasn't going to bring it up again. She liked hearing about it for reasons he didn't need to know, but she was going to respect his dislike of past deeds. Even though she was proud of them. And thought it was funny. He just didn't have to be informed of any of that, so it was easier for her to keep it to herself.

"Do you have a favorite color? What about a favorite animal? Do you have any fears that would be considered traditionally human? Y'know, like the dark, heights, spiders, some fourth thing I'm forgetting. You also never talk about your parents! What were they like? Are they still around? Do you have any relationship with them? Would you ever consider having a pet? Have you ever had a pet? How did you get so tall? Why are you so against the idea of me pegging you? Do you ever think about what the world would be like if none of our powers ever existed? Have you ever thought about death? Aaaaaaand...." As if she had any breath left, she asked one more question. "What do you want for yourself in the future?"

Sure, most of them were a bit silly. But this opened up a waterfall of opportunity. Depending on how he answered would determine how deep she'd go into this hole. She had a lot of things she wondered about this guy, but she didn't know exactly how to ask those things. So maybe a mixture of serious and very not serious questions would help ease her into asking the more important things, like how he feels about everything since waking up, and maybe how he'd feel about their relationship. Well, however it's defined. Shizuka figured she could just start here and get into the tough questions later. So after she finally finished talking, she matched her gaze with his and simply took a few sips of her drink.

[Luke Clyburn]

Looks like she was going to take the hook he was dangling and the whole rod with it. Offering to open himself up to Shizuka and answer any question she had about it worked like a charm. Shizuka was more than happy to accept that offer. But what surprised Luke was just how many questions she suddenly had for him. Well, in the meantime while she thought about what questions to ask him, their food had arrived. Luke looked down at what he had ordered in a split second. An eel filet put in a decently sized bowl laid on top of a bed of white rice. It smelled wonderful. Cooked to an inviting brown color. Picking up his fork and knife Luke cut a piece of the eel and picked it up with his fork, making sure to get a good bit of rice along with the meat. Plopping it into his mouth, he smiled as the sweet taste of eel meat slid across his tongue. He wasn’t sure if it was the sauce or the meat itself, but eel tasted sweet which was different for a meat.

Enjoying his dinner a bit, hungrier than he realized though that might have been because of the alcohol, Luke looked up at Shizuka as he cut another slice of meat as she began to ask him her questions. ”It’s blue. Wolves are cool. I think it’d have to be snakes.” but the stream of his answers would pause when she suddenly brought up his parents. Luke would blink, not answering that right away, but he didn’t really have time to formulate a response as Shizuka continued to launch her machine gun fire of questions about him. ”I had a cat once named Gracie, but, I don’t know what happened these last few years. I’m choosing to believe she has a new home now. Genetics. Stop asking that. I do sometimes. I have I came very close to it.” Luke would answer rather quickly, though when a certain question came up he gave her a stink eye.

But her last question caught him by surprise a bit. Enough so that it gave the Bount pause and caused him to blink at her. ”Hmm.” he muttered, resting the back of his fingers against his chin as he turned his gaze from her to look at something random. He didn’t have an immediate answer. In fact, Luke was also rather surprised by how difficult it was to pull out an answer for that question. ”What do I want for the future huh?” Luke repeated back, lowering his eyes gaze alongside his eyelids. ”When you say the future what do you mean? In five years? Ten? Twenty? Or a hundred?” Luke would ask back at her, returning the gaze of those amber orbs to meet hers before removing his hand from his chin.

Placing another helping of eel into his mouth, Luke would chew and swallow before continuing. ”I’m a Bount. The question of future is difficult to answer. Because, unless something were to happen, it’s very well possible I’ll be around forever. I don’t age, remember? There’s no foreseeable end to the road. But… even with that… I’m finding it hard to answer the question. Because, when I think about how to answer, all I can think of what is going on now.” Luke would respond.

”It’s hard to think about the future when there’s so much to do now. I know I don’t want to live a life under the rules of Shinigami who would police or kill me for what I am. Or with the constant looming threat of the Vandenreich. How can I think of the future when I’m not free of the enemies who would oppress me?” Luke would suddenly answer with a rather serious tone. But it wasn’t directed at Shizuka. No. ”Until our enemies are gone and can no longer harass us, I’m not sure I can think about the future. But-” Luke would add, pausing, to look at Shizuka. ”I know I want a quieter life, and one that can be spent alongside the person who is most special to me. Just like I am now.”

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Shizuka's barrage of questions were no match for Luke's quick-witted answers. She should have known she wouldn't be able to sneak the pegging question in there without a look from him, but she snickered nonetheless and continued to take small, delicate bites of her food while he spoke. She loved his voice. She adored how he looked when he had to think about something. She even thought he was cute when he used his eyes to not-so-subtly tell her that she struck a nerve, even if it was in a joking way. Her smile kept spreading across her face as she held back her laughter, trying to take him seriously as he answered.

What she didn't expect was what had made him pause. He didn't think much about his future? So then what was he living for? Shizuka had it all planned out. World domination, making Xcution great again, maybe reversing that order... But she had big dreams that required a lot of work. Luke was a massive stepping stone in all of that because of his strength and personability. Shizuka was absolutely wanting this man in her life for the sake of the feelings she had for him, but she wanted him in her organization because of how unbeatable he could be. She had experienced it herself years ago. And she knew he held back.

She also kept forgetting about his longevity.

At the mention that he could live for even a hundred years, Shizuka was painfully reminded that there would come a day when she'd die and he would remain. She'd be old and gross by then, though, so maybe he'd find someone else more fitting for him who could live forever. She would never ask him to stay by himself once she was gone, and the only thing that brought her comfort was knowing that the soul cycle existed. Shizuka would die, but she'd come back somehow because her soul would keep going unless it was destroyed. She wouldn't ever let that happen, of course, but it seemed those were the terms. It was scary.

There was no doubt that all of these thoughts would be written all over her face. Worry, concern, fear, anxiety. Sadness. She couldn't hide any of it from him. Shizuka considered speaking up and letting Luke know that she was willing to let him go if it meant he could be happy for all eternity, but something in her throat choked that voice down the second she'd decided to say it. She didn't want that. If she had her way, he'd be obsessed with her until the world ended. He'd find her even after she passed on. He'd be with her forever until nothing mattered anymore except for the two of them. If only it were that easy.

Then it only took Luke mentioning something standing in his way of considering a proper future for Shizuka to hyperfocus on it. He'd said something about them before. She remembered it from prior to his disappearance and again after he came back, but the Vandenreich were a problem. For years, Shizuka's sole purpose in life was to watch Shinigami die by her hand only after begging for her to spare them after everything she'd been taught as a kid. But Shizuka was a dog, and Luke had just thrown a ball. If he wanted that quieter life, the one where he could envision being with her safely and she could enjoy having him for the rest of her days, then she was going to make a very firm offer.

"Luke, I want you to know that my only desire is to make you happy. I may have a lot of things that I do to make me happy, but seeing you smile is enough for me. So take what I'm about to say very seriously, because, as you know, I'm in the business of killing." Shizuka spoke the last part in a hushed tone, avoiding letting those words be said within earshot of anyone besides the Bount. "I'm going to take care of that Quincy group. Not alone... I'm not going to pretend like I can handle that. But I'll send a message to everyone. And, for once, I'm not asking for anything in exchange."

[Luke Clyburn]

After giving her such a heartfelt sentence, Luke looked straight at her with an expression that could only convery how serious he was taking her words. The man sat back in his seat, resting his fork against the edge of his dish, as he stared directly into her two different colored eyes. Those amber hues met her heterochromatic ones unblinking, unflinching, as he listened to what she said. What she said was sweet and confirmed something for him. All she wanted was to make him happy? Luke was spoiled. He didn’t deserve to have someone like her in his life. Especially not after what he had put her through time and time again. But it was the fact that she was still willing to give him her love after all of that that compelled Luke to be the best man he could be for her.

He thought she was sweet. He wished that the table they sat at didn’t separate them as much as it did, or he was sitting next to her, because he wanted to cup her cheek in that moment and kiss her deeply and slowly. But Luke knew she wasn’t finished. The next part of her sentence was to express how serious what she was about to say was. That was why Luke looked at her with a level of seriousness that hadn’t been apparent up until now. Almost like any alcohol in their systems had just been purged. What she said didn’t actually surprise him though. When her hushed words reached his ear, Luke felt the edges of his lips pull into a soft smile. ”I was hoping we would go this night without talking about work.” Luke would comment right after, lifting his right hand back up to grasp his fork and push another helping of rice and eel into his mouth.

Swallowing, Luke lifted his eyes to look at her. ”When I told you that I was ready to join your club-” Luke choosing to not actually name drop their organization ”-that my reason for doing so was because I knew that I, alone, wouldn’t be able to do anything about them. I needed the manpower, resources, and network of a team that could. And despite my… let’s say moral objections to some of what you all do… I also have an unshakeable faith and trust in that clubs leader. Despite all her quirks.” Luke explained, smirking at her for a moment, as he reached his fork outward to stab a piece of pork gyoza. Lifting it up and then dipping it in the provided dipping sauce, Luke took a bite and took the time to chew.

Washing his mouth out with his whiskey, the ice sphere clinking against the glass, Luke let out a grunt from how strong the drink was. ”It isn’t just them though.” Luke would suddenly drop. He’d open his eyes back up from after taking his drink, eyelids listfully half closed, as he looked at a random part of the table. ”Wiping out the Quincy that threaten us is only one step in the plan I have, hun. They’re not our only enemies. But they are the ones that we can eradicate. It’s Soul Society and the Shinigami that are also a problem. But… unlike the Vandenreich… they’re a necessary force in the world. The more I’ve learned about them and the Soul Cycle, I came to the realization that the Shinigami will always have to exist.” Luke explained, knowing full well how Shizuka felt about them.

”But; that doesn’t mean we can’t limit their impact on our lives. I want Karakura Town to be a city where everyone can live. Quincy, Fullbringers, normal humans, Bounts. A city where all of us can live without the fear of those who want us dead for being different, or of those who would want to dictate our lives. A free city.” Luke explained in a hushed tone, turning his attention outside the window. ”I’m not stupid enough to think I could do anymore than one city. But one city is enough. With Xcution’s help, I want Karakura Town to be completely independent from the whims of Soul Society. I’ve seen what happens when the Shinigami get involved in our affairs. How everything must be subservient to their rules and their ways.” He thought of Uzaki’s, and what happened when Kazura sought for Shinigami approval.

”I want a quiet life, Shizuka. A quiet, slow, life. One that I can spend with you. And it doesn’t matter who it is, or who they are, I’ll see them gone.” When Luke finally returned his gaze to Shizuka, for the splittest of seconds, she’d notice his eyes. Slit tightly together like a cats. And, for the briefest of instances, she’d feel Luke’s killing intent hit her. Not directed at her. Directed around her. A waiter suddenly dropped a glass in that same instance, causing Luke to blink. After that blink his eyes were normal again and that feeling was gone. Looking at his eel, Luke would pick at it with his fork.

”But, right now, we need to fill our ranks. And find a way to actually go on the offensive.”

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

She hated bringing work up just as much as he did since they were supposed to be on a date. Can't avoid it, her face would say. Shizuka was smiling, but she did feel a bit guilty. Still, she felt it was important to get that off her chest and make sure he understood her intentions. She was doing this for free. It wasn't something he was going to pay her to do, and she didn't owe him anything. She volunteered. Shizuka accepted Luke's ideology that the Vandenreich needed to be taken out in order to preserve peace, and their organization was exactly the one to do it. Potentially the only one, at the moment.

They continued to speak between bites, though Shizuka was doing most of the listening, so she kept picking away at her dinner. Everything Luke was saying was totally right, too. Work needed to be done if Karakura was going to be completely safe from people trying to step on it all the time, or complete random enemies destroying her headquarters again and then promptly running away. Or, y'know, whatever it was that happened a short while ago that led to her renovations of their building. Finishing off her daiquiri, she refrained from interjecting at all, choosing instead to listen to Luke's sultry voice as he spoke the truth. Especially at the part about Shinigami.

Shizuka's free left hand balled into a fist very quickly when he mentioned them. Her gaze was directed at the plate in front of her, but her fist was gripping so hard that she had to force herself to relax out of fear that she'd draw blood from herself. Not wanting to ruin the table cloth, she took a deep breath and sighed. To anyone passing by, they probably wouldn't have noticed her reaction or cared much, but Luke knew. This wouldn't have been a surprise to him. She went her entire life looking for ways to build an army big enough to take out the Gotei, but every time she felt like she got close, it slipped through her fingers. Times were different now.

Soul Cycle be damned, she didn't want to hear any of his logic. Even if it made sense, she didn't want to hear it. Shinigami were worse than the Vandenreich in her mind, but she was being blindly led to battle by the man she loved purely because she felt this urgent desire to protect him and help him achieve everything he could ever want. Yet here he was, defending her enemy. Perhaps all of that character development she'd had when meeting other Shinigami really meant nothing if this was how she reacted to someone even just mentioning them. It wasn't pleasant, but Luke carried on. Shizuka remained quiet for the time.

Before she knew it, she found that she was smiling once again when he talked so passionately about Karakura Town. This man, whether he still believed it or not, was a real hero. And she loved it. Despite her sudden fit of anger moments ago, her heartbeat slowed back down to normal and she found herself calmed once again at his mention of just wanting to be able to live a quiet life. With her, specifically. She lifted her foot again and slid it back against his leg, not bothering to remove it. She was simply trying to be sweet and reassure him while he continued speaking. She believed in his cause just as much as he believed in her and her own, even if he did think she was quirky. And yes, she caught that comment, too.

But something changed in the air around the two that was palpable. It had been a long time since Shizuka felt any amount of Luke's power flare the way she did when their eyes met. His gaze, normally led by his amber eyes, was now slitted and dangerous as his pupils changed to reflect what he was flexing during this time. He looked almost feral, sending a shiver down Shizuka's spine that felt so unknown but so familiar simultaneously. She'd felt it from him before, but in a different way. He wasn't trying to intimidate her and he never really did, but he was absolutely making a point. He was strong, too. She remembered.

Then it was over.

A waiter dropped a glass, snapping Luke out of whatever trance he'd been in when he was making his example. Shizuka's eyes had widened just a bit, her own pupils dilated when she felt the desire build again. She didn't realize her body reacted this way until she also heard the glass drop, so she tried to collect her bearings once again, but never removed her foot from his leg. In fact, she pressed it harder against him. Luke already knew this about Shizuka, but if there was ever anything that could get her attention, she could have listed two definitive things. One of them was biting, hence why she was so enamored with Luke. The other one was power.

"You're right, I know. We have a good team, though. And I had been working on buying out Uzaki Enterprises, so I've been recruiting Kazura's people out from under his nose for months. I even infiltrated their headquarters a little while ago." The blonde mentally patted herself on the back. Really, she'd just walked in the door. Luke wouldn't know any different. "They already don't have many members. But now they'll have even fewer, and they'll be too weak to say no to me anymore. From there, I want to build alliances. Someone not too long ago told me about Las Noches, and I think I can get them to help us. I hear the Espada are strong."

Arcadus. He had left on his journey to become stronger and never came back despite promising he would, but he'd given her some good information before any of that. Shizuka didn't know about every single member in the group because Arcadus never mentioned them, but she did know they existed and were built on being the strongest. Knowing how that Arrancar was when they'd met, it was possible the entire team was exactly who Shizuka and Luke needed if they wanted to truly destroy the Vandenreich and force the Shinigami out of their lives for good. She just needed an in with them.

And to focus, but that was proving to be difficult. Their moment of seriousness was over and the alcohol finally caught up to her completely. She felt dizzy, but in a fun way rather than a sick way. Shizuka looked at Luke, a blurry mess in her eyes, though handsome as ever. She giggled a bit to herself quietly and dragged her foot up to his knee before stopping and holding it there. She may be strong and spiritually powered, but she was still human and still had a liver that very much could not handle alcohol at all. She remembered why she didn't like to drink much and figured that was probably part of the problem, but shoved blaming herself out of her mind for the moment. Her attention was back on the man sitting before her, and the plate and glass on her side of the table were empty.

"I am fully aware of the things you can do, by the way. But that surge of power... You haven't lost your touch. It's the same kind of feeling I got years ago that made me so curious to see how you could hold up against me. You made me want to feel that again. In fact, you make me want to feel quite a lot of things again." Shizuka rested her chin in her palm while her elbow was propped up on the table. He had to have known how weak she was to flares like that and did it anyway. "I think we need to go."



END

[Blair Aldaine ❅]

Luke: over 50 paragraphs = 50% social bonus to any thread with Shizuka

Shizuka: over 50 paragraphs = 50% bonus to any thread with Luke