But First Coffee [Social]

[Maria Ashwin]

' BEING SECOND BEST....ISN'T SO BAD' 6 paragraphs 6 paragraphs total so far Maria is useing reversal and is currently a man Shizuka Sanamizu ✮

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(1) Sunlight, the color of weak tea, seeped through the dusty café window, painting lazy stripes across the worn wooden floor. Soft jazz, like the sigh of a saxophone, filled the air, punctuated only by the rhythmic rumble of the coffee grinder. In a corner booth, tucked away like a secret, sat Marik. His hair, the exact shade of a highlighter left out in the sun, was pulled back in a loose bun, escaping tendrils framing his face.

(2) He cradled a steaming mug of coffee, the bitter scent a welcome contrast to the sweetness of the cinnamon buns stacked precariously on a nearby plate. Marik wasn't much for conversation this Sunday. He preferred the quiet symphony of the café – the hiss of the espresso machine, the clinking of spoons against ceramic, the murmur of whispered conversations.

(3) Across from Marik, the other half of the booth sat empty. The worn leather held the faint indentation of a previous occupant, a ghost of warmth lingering where another body had been. But today, Marik was alone. He wasn't lonely, not exactly. There was a comfortable solitude in these stolen moments, a chance to simply be. Yet, a part of him couldn't help but wonder who might have filled that space on another day like this, sharing a stolen glance over the rim of a coffee cup, their laughter blending with the melody of the jazz trio.

(4) Things had grown hectic at Las Noches ever since they started working with Kohai. Things had certainly been shaken up. Missions had become more frequent, the stakes higher one slip up was all it would take and the man who sat here who was truly maria would find themselves exacuted on the spot. As such they with las noches weakened state the segunda needed allies , those who would come to thier aid in times of need.

(5) 'the shinigami wont serve....long sworn enemies....Uzaki is dead in the water that leaves Xcution and i wont bother with the nazi's in blue' they would let out a frustrated sigh , as they slid thier cofee to the side , resting thier head on the cold mahogany table the bustling of people filling his ears as the afternoon rush began people filing in and taking seats.

(6) In a burst of sonido , 6 other versions of himself would appear behind the counter in uniform three working the kitchen and counter while the other three worked as servers he himself would remain seated just watching it all. Maria knew how much kohai detested her having a day job but this made maria happy knowing she could procure her own wealth and work the job of seven people by herself.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

On this lazy Sunday evening, hardly anyone was stirring the way Shizuka would have thought. Humming to herself, she entered one of her favorite coffee shops with the intent of getting a chai for herself and some weird whatever latte it was that Luke liked. She was headed home from a day of shopping and already had her assistant grab her bags and bring them back home where Luke would undoubtedly raise a brow at her, but several of what she'd bought were actually gifts for him. As she opened the door, she realized the handle was warm from the sun beating down on it all day and smiled to herself as she cooled it a bit with her Soul Command.

Out of habit, she was always trying to use that innate ability to make things more convenient for her. In fact, a lot of the cleaning done at her penthouse was performed via Soul Command. She still worked out every day and did everything she needed to do in order to stay as active as in shape as possible, so she felt like she could slack off when it came to cleaning. Small feats like cooling a door handle was nothing, too. She'd been using this ability for years and it became second nature to her. Besides, a little magic never hurt anybody. So with the handle more comfortable to the touch, she opened the door and walked inside.

The first thing that hit her was the immediately smell of coffee. She heard the beans being ground in the back and everything was so fresh. There were still pastries on display at the counter, the menu had tons of options like usual, and there were only a few people inside. A quick glance around told her there were maybe twelve people, not including employees, and something caught her eye faster than she would have liked to admit. The employees all looked... similar. Like, as in, they could be related. Squinting her eyes, she scanned the rest of the room and found someone who may have also potentially be related to them and tilted her head a bit, curious as to what that could mean.

But not curious enough.

Shizuka strutted her way up to the counter, made her order, flashed a smile at the barista, and politely waited by the end of the counter for the two drinks. Whipping her phone out from her back pocket of her skinny blue denim jeans, she scrolled a bit on one of her social media apps and laughed at a couple of the reels that popped up, enjoying the dark humor that accompanied them. She sent a few to Luke who would probably be entirely too disappointed to respond, but she also knew he'd secretly be laughing, as well. It only took about two minutes before her drinks were ready, so she turned her phone screen off, put it back in her pocket, picked up her drinks, and was on her way out the door.

But her curiosity spiked. Turning around, she looked at the patrons and the employees one more time, then sighed. Approaching the booth where the lime green-haired male sat, every ounce of her being told her that it was worth investigating, but she wasn't sure how far she wanted to go. Still, his head was down and he seemed tired for some reason, so that was enough for her to approach him. Shizuka was very easy when it came to stuff like this. She enjoyed gossip, so if this guy needed a friend to talk to, she had a few minutes to spare. Luke's drink wouldn't get cold anyway since she could always heat it back up.

"You look like you could use a stiff drink, my friend. Is this seat taken?" Shizuka's lips curved into the softest smile as her heterochromatic eyes looked at him the same way someone would look at their lover. She wanted to make it clear she wasn't going to intrude and meant no harm, so asking him if he wanted company was the easiest thing to do.

[Maria Ashwin]

' BEING SECOND BEST....ISN'T SO BAD' 5 paragraphs 11 paragraphs total so far Maria is useing reversal and is currently a man Shizuka Sanamizu ✮

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(1) Marik would lift his head from the table , his emerald eyes meeting shizu's own though his face had boredome permantly etched into it. His eyes twinkled with a vast well curiosity , 'who is this woman , her aura is palpable...it's density and quality are...similar to my own' this was the first time marik had ever met somone who reflected what they felt in kohai and themselves.

(2) "stiff drink , some relaxion and someone to talk to so if you want that seat be my guest" he would lifting his cup to his lips sipping , hiding the growing pink of his face. Marik may be used to snark and sas but holding conversation with a woman who wasn't out to kill him , and a pretty one at that....was maybe a tad much at the moment.

(3) 'get it together, its just been over a thousand years since you actually spoken to a woman WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN YOU!? it'l be fiiiiine' he would would argue with himself back and forth in head head as he set his cup of coffee down. "where are my manners i should introduce myself , my name is Marik Ashwin and you are?" 

(4) Setting his now empty coffee to the side he would , straighten up slightly a small smile on his face. He was eagaer to here what she had to say it seemed like whatever was ailing him earlier was slowly passing , although in that same breath one of the waiters glitched out of existance for a split second. a pained and tired look flashing over marik's face only briefly.

(5) 'ive been doing this all day maybe im at my limit the muscles in my legs are tearing themselves apart!' he would cry out in his head as he tuned into whatever shizuka would have to say to him , useing her voice to tune out the sharp pain that was fading into a light tingle. He had tolerated worse and been through more taxing events for the time being he would manage

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

As the man lifted his head up and looked at Shizuka, her eyes widened a bit with surprise as his emerald eyes looked directly into her own. The sapphire blue in her left eye and bright green in her right eye stared back, unable to look away. He seemed so tired, but he was also undeniably handsome. Her features softened a bit as she relaxed out of her surprised state, briefly giving the man a once-over look. He seemed tall, but he was sitting so she couldn't be sure. His legs were long enough for her to make a guess. He also had lime green hair. This fact was interesting because she only knew of one other person who had that, and she wondered if maybe they could be related.

With the invitation extended, Shizuka gripped the two drinks in her hands, sat down in the seat, and slid a bit in order to be sure she was directly across from her unexpected coffee date. After making sure she was on the cushion properly, Shizuka placed both cups down on the table and left them alone. At least they were in plain view so she could remember to pick them up later. Otherwise, it was highly likely she'd forget. Her mind had been in a completely different world all day, so she felt like she could be forgetful pretty easily. With a giggle and a quick sip of her chai, she settled in quite nicely, regardless.

After finding out the man's name was Marik Ashwin, Shizuka skimmed her brain for probably only a second to figure out if she had any recollection of him. He had some serious 'main character' energy, which pretty much meant his slightly different hair color made him stand out. Unfortunately, her memory files returned absolutely nothing, which made her both much more comfortable around him and also very cautious. The world was full of unreasonable people these days and she hoped he wasn't going to be one of them. Still, it could help to be more careful of her surroundings. She'd grown careless after all these years.

"My name's Shizuka! It's super nice to meet you! I'm sorry your day seems to have been all kinds of rough-"

Shizuka could have sworn that, in that second, one of the waiters disappeared and reappeared spontaneously. She glanced around, only able to find that nothing was wrong and she may have just been seeing things. Well, that's what she would say if Marik hadn't looked so tired. Admittedly, that's how she started to be every day at work around, like, 2pm or 3pm. She just couldn't stand it. If she got bored, she'd have a tantrum. She couldn't stand being bored and desperately tried to do something every day that was enough to entertain her. She supposed getting coffee with a stranger counted, right?

"Oh. Hmm. Well, anyway, do you come here a lot? I've never seen you and I visit several times a week. I'm kind of addicted to whatever powder brand they use for the chai. If you've never come here, I recommend the strawberry shortcake. It's one of my faves!"

Bubbly and happy, the two best words to describe this woman. She was making an effort to help Marik feel a bit more included in the conversation with hopes that them talking would give him a second wind. The poor guy looked like he hadn't seen sun in years, or like his jobs sucked the life out of him to no end. Then there was the fact that every employee in this place looked so much like him that it drove her nuts. She wasn't sure if she should ask about it, or maybe she should, but she knew that now wasn't a good time. That would have to be organic. That would have to be a totally nonchalant conversation.

"So are you related to everyone who works here?" Damn it.

[Maria Ashwin]

' BEING SECOND BEST....ISN'T SO BAD' 5 paragraphs 16 paragraphs total so far Maria is useing reversal and is currently a man Shizuka Sanamizu ✮

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(1) Marik's very tired bored looking expression would shift , to one of mild amusement like that of a child who was letting someone in on a very funny joke. He would tap the table twice with his finger as a waiter zipped by leaving behind the afore mentioned cake she was speaking of. Giving her extra whip cream and strawberries , a gesture of kindness albiet.

(2) "you know for someone so beautiful and dabanear your rather blunt and direct" A small chuckle escaping his lips as picked up the spoon on his plate and proceeded to shovel a small bite into his mouth , he would take a moment to chew savoring the flavors of the cheese cake. they'd been a bit of a junk food baron since they got thier taste buds back and as such food like this often left marik astounded.

(3) "its a quality more people should have , it's refershing" he would would set down his sppon next to his plate on a napkin , as he leaned foward resting his chin in his hand. Marik was orignally a hummingbird hollow , and thus had bird like tendacies and vision meaning right now he was slightly entranced with the color of shizu's eyes though he would close his eyes for a moment not wanting to come off as creppy. "and to answer your question , no not really theyre the result of a parlor trick take a good look at every waiter diffrent outfit same body build and face" 

(4) Disclosing that information would que shizu into several things about our green haired friend , but most of all that they where more similar than initially lead on & when she would see marik again should she do as instructed he would be shoveling another spoonfull of cheescake into his mouth. His eyes twinkling in delight as he looked down at the delicious pastry , by the gods how long had it been since they had real food.

(5) "i will admit though the tecnique is taxing to use for eight hours straight , im very ready to partake in some well deserved R&R" he say the last part with a bit of a groan slouching in thier seat a bit , spoon still hanging out thier mouth a piece of whip cream stuck to the left side of thier chin. This was the most aloof marik had allowed himself to be inawhile , no one to impress , no one to make scared , it felt nice to this open and vulnerable.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

"Oh my god, I have no idea how this could have possibly appeared before me but it would sure be rude if I didn't eat it, so I really might as well!"

Though somewhat stunned at the quick action from one of the waiters after Marik tapped on the table, Shizuka couldn't help but salivate at the sight before her. She had such a weakness for these things despite not eatings sweets very much. There were only a small handful of desserts that she ate at all, and this was one of them. Not wanting to take the waiter's and Marik's generosity for granted, Shizuka lifted the fork that was resting on the side of the plate, snagged a small bite with entirely too much whipped cream, and promptly ate it. Every single taste bud in her mouth danced at the flavor. She'd forgotten how nice this kind of cake could be.

"You know for someone so beautiful and debonair you're rather blunt and direct."

"Sorry about that," Shizuka said, placing her fork down on the plate once again. "I find it really hard to lie."

"It's a quality more people should have. It's refreshing."

Marik's sudden focus on Shizuka left her feeling a bit embarrassed. She hadn't realized what he'd said before until it finally registered, and Marik's face was just a bit closer to hers now. Granted, they were still an entire table width apart. But what really got her feeling particularly self-conscious was the fact that he was looking straight at her eyes, causing her to blink a bit and avert her gaze as her cheeks turned a light rose. She listened as he explained that these waiters were just a parlor trick and chose to inspect everything further, realizing he was being serious. They didn't just look related. They looked identical.

"Oh. You're like me."

He must've known the minute she sat down that she was different. Otherwise he wouldn't be advertising this information so freely. Anyone who was part of the spiritual world and had abilities like these two tended to be careful about giving out details like this as openly as he had unless they were sure the other person was similar in some way. And judging by Marik's reaction to the cheesecake he was eating, they were similar in more ways than one. A humored smile grew on Shizuka's face as she rested her chin atop her left hand, the table acting as the perfect prop for her relaxed position.

He complained a bit about how tiring this technique was to keep up, and Shizuka was absolutely shocked when she heard that it had already been eight hours. She literally never used any technique of hers that long in her life. She couldn't imagine doing it. The ones she had in her arsenal were already so incredibly overpowering for her sometimes that it took significant rest after usage for her to get back up to speed. If she had to use something like Electrocution to power an entire building for a whole work day... Nope. She'd rather die. This guy was clearly on another level. And judging by how exhausted he looked with his spoon hanging out his mouth and some cream on his face, he probably felt the same.

"Hah, here. Let me get that."

The blonde unwrapped her napkin from its place on the table and removed the knife that was still inside. Twisting it around her index finger, Shizuka reached her hand out to Marik's face and gently wiped the cream off, making sure to get every last bit. He was sort of like a kid, and yet seemed very mature. She could never be sure about people's ages these days since she'd met some who really did live for centuries. He could have either been somewhere around her age in reality, or also a million years old. Choosing not to ask, all she could focus on was trying to give him a chance to chill a bit. Shizuka took the napkin off her hand and placed it back on the table.

"I think you're right about needing a bit of R&R. I have to run an errand real quick anyway since I've got a drink over here that I owe somebody, but this other one is for me and I can sip on it however I want to." Shizuka looked around the café, noticing that the patrons were starting to run thin. "What do you say we close early and you come with me?"

[Maria Ashwin]

' BEING SECOND BEST....ISN'T SO BAD' 5 paragraphs 21 paragraphs total so far Maria is useing reversal and is currently a man Shizuka Sanamizu ✮

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(1) Marik held still as she wiped the whipped cream from his face, a smile on his face. She reminded him so much of that woman from two thousand years ago... he couldn't remember her face anymore. 'How long had it been since I thought of her... and why is she so important?' he would think to himself, becoming lost in his own thoughts and blurred memories for a fraction of a second. Tuning back in as Shizu began speaking to him, at length pertaining to R&R.

(2) "I think you're right about needing a bit of R&R. I have to run an errand real quick anyway since I've got a drink over here that I owe somebody, but this other one is for me and I can sip on it however I want to."  she said these words while surveying the cafe , which lead to him doing a once over as well , the place was almost empty say for one or two couples in the shop. Her next line perplexed him slightly "What do you say we close early and you come with me?"

(3) He seemed to ponder the question for a moment, while in reality, his copies were collecting the last checks and dirty dishes. "Well, I just finished doing the dishes, filing paperwork, and counting the safe for the night..." He would pause as several thrumming sounds could be heard fading before slowly perking up, stretching his arms to the heavens, yawning. "...So sure, let's see where the evening takes us. Could do for some fun," he would say, wiping his eyes and sliding out of the booth to stand up.

(4) Giving Shizuka a full view of what he was wearing, that being a simple long-sleeve black T-shirt resting beneath a thin white button-up long jacket. His pants were simple black jeans, the knees lightly torn and fashionably so, as it was his one attempt to match the times, while his shoes were a pair of running shoes in pristine condition save for the clear indication of the bottom of his shoe being balder than a baby's ass, a cue as to his high-speed movements.

(5) "So, Shizuka, what is it you had in mind for a bit of fun? I've got money to burn," he would say with a goofy smile on his face. The prospect of having a day out, no, a stress-free day out was fucking amazing, and he would not squander it. Clubbing, fine dining, movies, whatever they wanted to do was on the table, and in all honesty, Marik was excited to see what she chose as they hadn't truly ever experienced a day off in all their lives.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

"Jesus..." Shizuka spoke under her breath when she heard Marik list off the things he'd finished doing thanks to his clones.

But it seemed like Marik was up for their impromptu date! As he stood, Shizuka made a quick note of his outfit. The thought passed in her mind quicker than lightning, but she noticed everything about him in that instant. His clothes were cute and intentional, but very casual. So were hers, admittedly. She traded her typical everyday look for something more comfortable since it was hot, although she started regretting the choice of denim. She'd have to remember to cool the air around her legs, as well. Still, Marik looked so comfortable and she found herself jealous of his pants since she always wanted a pair with rips in them. She just never found any she liked.

"So, Shizuka, what is it you had in mind for a bit of fun? I've got money to burn."

Shizuka's favorite words. She often engaged herself in some retail therapy. She also wasn't frugal at all, much to her father's dismay. He tried to hammer into her the importance of money, but after she found some success in her life, she stopped caring so much. She has her emergency funds, but with her investments in real estate and the fact that she runs a company, she didn't really see any reason to hold back. She felt like she belonged in that movie where an Asian family owned, like, all of Singapore. But she wouldn't do anything too crazy. She understood that not everyone had the same kinds of privileges that she did.

"Well, come with me! I think we can go exploring!"

Ushering for Marik to follow her, they left the coffee shop and she looked around, trying to figure out where was the best way to go back to her penthouse. It wasn't very far away, but nothing was in this town. It was big, but not huge. Plus, this was her favorite coffee shop due to its proximity to where she lived. It was a short walk - not that it mattered for spiritual people - and provided her with an opportunity to clear her head of whatever it was that muddied it up at the time. So with two drinks in her hands, she tilted her head in the direction of where she lived and started walking.

"I stay pretty close to here so it'll only take, like, a couple minutes to drop this off. But it gives you a chance to look around and see if anything catches your eye! I'm thinking we could go into the heart of Tokyo and take a look at some street vendors, or even go to the beach. You don't look like you get out much."

As she practically winnowed away, Marik would see that the two of them reached a relatively tall apartment building with a very fancy-looking top floor. Shizuka hopped inside, left Luke's drink with her receptionist and asked the woman to bring it to him, then pivoted and met back with Marik outside. She still had a firm grip on her own chai that she'd bought earlier and didn't have a chance to finish. After taking a curious sip, she looked back at her new friend and smiled, completely aware of the situation they were in. It wouldn't take long at all for either of them to get where they wanted to go. They weren't like regular humans, after all.

"Anything sound more fun than something else so far?"

[Maria Ashwin]

' BEING SECOND BEST....ISN'T SO BAD' 5 paragraphs 26 paragraphs total so far Maria is useing reversal and is currently a man Shizuka Sanamizu ✮

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(1) Marik chuckled lightly as Shizu enthusiastically rattled off potential date ideas. His voice held a genuine warmth as he replied, "I'll have a definitive answer when you get back, scouts honor." With a playful grin, he took a seat on the bench, giving Shizu ample space to enter the imposing building. As she disappeared through the grand doors, Marik's gaze followed her reflection in the building's expansive windows.

(2) From Shizu's perspective, it might have looked as if Marik was blatantly staring at her retreating figures posterior. However, the truth was quite different. Her reflection offered him a clear view of her front, and a mischievous twinkle would appeare in his eye if he caught her glance before diving into his phone. "Let's see... we've got a few hours until sunset. Best beaches, huh?" he mused aloud, his fingers tapping rapidly across the screen.

(3) In the brief time Shizu was away, Marik scrolled through countless online lists claiming to be the ultimate beach destinations for couples. Most turned out to be glorified hookup spots, hardly the romantic setting he envisioned. Determined to make Shizu feel special, he shifted his search. "Let's try the honeymooners' list," he muttered to himself.

(4) When Shizu returned, Marik stood by the bench, a small pink paper bag bearing the K Jewelers logo tucked under his arm. A playful smile spread across his face as he looked up from his phone. "I found the perfect place," he announced, his voice filled with excitement. "You'll need a swimsuit, and..." he would pause for a moment "...would you happen to have a pair of shorts I could borrow?" 

(5) "While you were gone, I booked the Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. They say the sunsets are out of this world, and there are natural hot tubs in these incredible grottoes," Marik explained, a hint of pride in his voice. "We can sip martinis, watch the waves, then hit the Tokyo food market or a bar. What do you say?" he asked, a proud smirk spreading across his face. The sheer audacity of booking an entire island last minute seemed to escape him. Then again, juggling seventy-two minimum wage jobs might have dulled his sense of financial reality.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

"Of course I have one you can borrow! So which beach do you want to visit?"

"While you were gone, I booked the Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. They say the sunsets are out of this world, and there are natural hot tubs in these incredible grottoes."

"The Virgin Gorda, huh? That sounds amazing! But, uh..."

"We can sip martinis, watch the waves, then hit the Tokyo food market or a bar. What do you say?"

"When you said you 'booked' something, I definitely thought it was a resort! But to go there and come back here... Are we going to be able to do all of that? I mean, travel time and everything..."

Her mind was trying to make sense of it all. Even Xcution's fastest private jets wouldn't be able to do all of this. He's making it sound like his intention is to accomplish everything in a single day and that's just impossible. None of Shizuka's step techniques would take her that far without her becoming impossibly exhausted. She loved his enthusiasm and thought this was all awfully sweet, especially since they'd only just met, but there was no way they'd make it everywhere in the timeframe he expected! Was he delusional? Was she walking into a lion's den dressed as nothing but a piece of raw meat?

She'd asked Marik to wait just a few more minutes while she dashed up to her penthouse and grabbed a few things, including some swim trunks for him. She may not understand his travel methods, but she was still curious about how he expected all of this to happen and decided to go along with it. Once everything was ready, she dashed back downstairs and hoped he wouldn't find her too rude for leaving him yet again. This time, she was only gone for about two or three minutes. When she dashes somewhere, she's really trying to move fast. She isn't holding her speed back except for when she's in front of normal people.

"I have to admit, Marik. I didn't expect any of this. You know I can pay... Like, you seem as if you can totally handle yourself, and that's awesome, but I don't want you to think I'm taking advantage of your kindness!"

[Maria Ashwin]

' BEING SECOND BEST....ISN'T SO BAD' 5 paragraphs 31 paragraphs total so far Maria is useing reversal and is currently a man Shizuka Sanamizu ✮

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(1) Marik extended a warm, inviting smile towards Shizu as he roffered the elegant K-Jewlers bag. "Do me a favor and just enjoy yourself," he began, his voice gentle. "This is simply two overworked adults trying to unwind and appreciate each other's company. But if you insist on splitting the cost, dinner and drinks are on you. Fair enough?" His suggestion was laced with sincerity, a clear attempt to alleviate any potential discomfort or obligation she might feel. she probably had enough of that shit in her life as it was , the modern man confused marik to no end.

(2) "There's a Green Emerald And Diamond Necklace inside" he explained, a playful glint in his eyes as a yawn escaped his lips. He covered his mouth with his hand, his expression softening. "Thought I'd grab you a little souvenir. After all, it's hard to forget a guy with green hair, isn't it?" As he handed her the gift, he pulled out his phone and began inputting coordinates into his GPS. "So, it's this way then... Okay, should be a quick run if I push it," he muttered to himself, his focus shifting to the digital map.

(3) "Alright, make your choice," Marik said casually, his tone as relaxed as if discussing the weather. "Piggyback, or shall I carry you bridal style?" His words hung in the air as he awaited her response. Depending on her answer, he would adjust his posture accordingly, ensuring her comfort and security. However, if she remained silent, he wouldn't hesitate to scoop her up effortlessly and drape her over his shoulder.

(4) "Hold on tight," Marik warned, his voice a steady counterpoint to the spirit energy coursing through his veins. With that, he activated a weakened version of Dorito, his most favored high-speed Arrancar technique. The world transformed into a blur of colors as they hurtled through space at unimaginable speeds. When they finally arrived at their destination, the sound of crashing waves and seagulls filled the air. The acrid scent of burnt rubber assaulted Marik's nostrils as he looked down at his shoes, which were reduced to mere shreds. The soles had completely vanished, and the uppers were torn and melted. "well thats a pain in the ass"

(5) Normally, executing such a powerful technique would leave him on the brink of exhaustion, as the immense energy required was typically reserved for breaching dimensional barriers. But this short burst of speed was a mere trifle in comparison. "So, what do you think of the view?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. He had used his spirit energy to shield her from the intense forces at play, but she would undoubtedly have felt the ungodly amounts of pressure pinning her to mariks form if she hadn't braced herself like instructed

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Shizuka delicately accepted the jewelry bag that Marik offered with a small hint of skepticism. She was smiling when she took the gift, excited to see what it was, regardless. As Marik finished his thoughts, she was already in the process of opening the bag due to her impatience and curiosity. Nodding to his suggestion of her paying for dinner and drinks, Shizuka pulled out an absolutely stunning and clearly very expensive necklace from within the bag. With an audible gasp, she stared at the necklace, completely dumbfounded. She didn't expect such a gesture from someone she'd just met! She didn't even know what to say!

"So, it's this way then... Okay, should be a quick run if I push it."

"I'm sorry, a quick what now?"

"Alright, make your choice. Piggyback, or shall I carry you bridal style?"

"Uhhhh..."

Clearly there was only one correct answer here, but Shizuka was too wide-eyed and starstruck to even answer properly. After placing the necklace in her purse, she zipped it shut and gripped it in front of her body as she got extremely close to Marik, accepting his offer to carry her bridal style rather than piggyback. This was going to be the most comfortable for her, she had to admit. Judging by how he looked, it wasn't as if he was very weak, and he was like her in some way. He could handle a little extra weight from someone, and it wasn't like Shizuka was particularly heavy. Still, she didn't really know what he was trying to do until he finally told her to hold on tight.

The world flashed around her faster than she could process. It forced her to close her eyes tightly and shove herself into Marik's chest while her right arm clutched around his neck with sheer determination and will. The movement was too much for her to bear, choosing to be as closed off as possible to the ever-moving world around them both. She'd wondered how they were going to travel but didn't realize it would be at practically the speed of sound, and had she been any other normal human, she likely would have died. Before she knew it, though, she heard and smelled the ocean. Slowly opening her eyes, Shizuka inspected the island while also letting herself free of Marik's grasp. Very, very slowly.

"Oh my gosh... So this is what you meant. That's unbelievable! I can't believe you got us here so fast! And-" Unable to maintain her composure, Shizuka clutched her stomach with her left arm and covered her mouth with her right hand, facing away so Marik wouldn't see. "-I don't know if I can ever handle that again."

Truthfully, she'd traveled at high speeds a number of times in her life. But for that long? No, not a chance. That was crazy beyond anything she'd ever experienced before. And poor Marik's shoes had suffered! No one would be without a proper pair of shoes. So the moment she looked down and noticed the worn out soles, Shizuka grabbed the man's hand and looked around the island, already noticing a few shops. They had mostly souvenirs, and there weren't really many options for sneakers or anything like that, but they had some sandals. At least his feet could be comfortable. She smiled at Marik and yanked him toward one of the shops.

"What size shoe do you wear? I'll buy you something as a thank you for really testing my will to live."

[Maria Ashwin]

' BEING SECOND BEST....ISN'T SO BAD' 5 paragraphs 36 paragraphs total so far Maria is useing reversal and is currently a man Shizuka Sanamizu ✮

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(1) The neon green haired man would stifle a small chuckle as the fun loving blonde in his arms , ever so slowly made her way out them. Atleast she was ok , he had to admit he had his reservations about moving people besides himself at that speed. Yet it was nice to know she could handle a little faster than light movement , he would chuckle a bit as he apologized seeing her getting motion sick "sorry i did my best to shield you from the inertia , i'll try to be a tad slower on the way to Tokyo" 

(2) Shizuka’s hand felt warm in his, a grounding presence amidst the chaos of his thoughts. With a swift, almost graceful movement, Marik stepped on the remnants of his shoe, the worn leather tearing easily under the pressure of his foot. He repeated the process with the other shoe, the cool sand beneath his feet offering a strange sense of liberation. As they walked along the pristine beach, the rhythm of the waves provided a soothing soundtrack to their silent companionship. The salty air carried the promise of adventure, and for the first time in what felt like ages, Marik felt a genuine sense of peace.

(3) "Eleven and a Half should work" he would say followed by a nervous laugh , 'testing her will to live? what am i doing wrong?!' his mind was running  a thousand miles a minute what should he say?! what could he say in this situation "well i'd hope your will to live was strong , i still wana get to know the woman behind the beautiful face" he would say with a genuine smile as they made thier way into a shop front, that appeared to sell flip flops and scuba wear.

(4) A blush crept up his cheeks as he realized how forward he sounded. He quickly averted his gaze, trying to appear nonchalant. Suddenly aware he was still holding her hand , yet he didn't want to let go yet he enjoyed the feeling of being close to someone in this way. but seeing as this was a first date , he wouldnt push it by trying to interlock fingers with her. Letting go of her hand he would make his way to the cashiers stand and ring the service bell "helooo?"

(5) A moment of silence stretched between them, the only sound the gentle lapping of waves against the shore. Then, with a series of loud thuds and muffled curses, a middle-aged woman burst through a back room. Her hair was a tousled mess, and her face wore a mixture of sleepiness and irritation. “Sorry, sorry! I was just catching a few zzz’s,” she said, patting down her shirt in a futile attempt to look presentable. “Welcome to Bren’s Beachside Bonanza! How can I help you lovebirds today?”

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Eleven and a half... Damn. Man's got big feet, I guess. Or is that normal for guys? Shizuka didn't dare say this thought out loud, but she couldn't stop herself from looking down at Marik's feet to inspect them. As she did so, the fact that he said he wanted to get to know her and called her beautiful made her pause. For whatever reason, it never mattered who it was complimenting her. Shizuka always found it endearing and couldn't help but blush at it, matching the tinge of pink she noticed had crept up on Marik's face, too. After giggling, she simply nodded and let him remove his hand from hers. He was sweet.

The moment was interrupted a bit after Marik had tried getting the shop owner's attention, only to be met with a large order of profanity and loudness. This made Shizuka snort as she tried to hold back a laugh, covering her mouth and looking in the opposite direction of the man in the process. She didn't see when the owner showed up in all of her messy glory, but the woman's voice caught Shizuka's attention. With a smile, she looked around before moving anything out of the way to see if she could find a pair of sandals that matched Marik's general vibe, only to be caught off-guard when she said 'lovebirds.'

"Oh! We're not..." Well, if I reject that so quickly, I might hurt his feelings. He's way too nice for that and I already like him since he's funny. "Uh... Looking for anything specific! Sort of. Well, actually, I kind of am. Do you have any sandals that come in the size 'Greek God?' Because I'm trying to find something for this guy here."

It's not like Shizuka could tell either way, but if this lady could see Marik, then that meant he was either a human like her or using a Gigai. He'd have to flex his Reiatsu at her if she wanted to know for sure, which he hadn't done. If she memorized the types of movement abilities amongst the different races, then their travels would have clued her in, but she really had no idea. For now, she was thankful someone could see him. That meant her mind could be put at ease for the time being until she figured out what was going on and if he was actually a foe in disguise. She hoped not, though. She was quick to realize she enjoyed being around him.

"I'm just kidding. He's a size eleven and a half, and I know these kinds of shoes generally come in, like, a size range or something. I'm looking for anything that comes in..." She glanced back at Marik and reviewed his casual wear before looking back at the lady. "Light brown."

In all honesty, Shizuka could have stolen this stuff. Having completely forgotten to pack a bag for the beach after coming back down from her apartment, she also needed to make sure Marik had a chance of clothes so he could actually enjoy the water, but it meant she also needed to do the same. Shops around here had tons of options to choose from, and Marik did a good job at landing the two of them in a super touristy part of town, so they had their pick for sure. With the intention of hitting a few stores up, her plan was to basically throw a few different things at him, force him to try them on, then pay for whatever he wanted. This was all while wearing the very sweet and extremely generous gift he got for her, of course.

[Maria Ashwin]

' BEING SECOND BEST....ISN'T SO BAD' 9 paragraphs 45 paragraphs total so far Maria is useing reversal and is currently a man Shizuka Sanamizu ✮

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(1) Marik would look down at his own feet a the mention of Greek god size , his feet weren't something he payed much attention to unless he was planting it somewhere firmly between his opponents lungs and colon. 'am i that outta place...' he would think to himself as his partner in crime for the day made chit chat with the store clerk , this was a new feeling all together he was self conscious about his appearance for the first time in centuries.


(2) 'mom always said it was good for men to have big feet , they could work in the rice fields longer' He would think to himself as shizu reffered to , taking a moment to sit down upon a bench near the register. A light internal stinging coming from marik's legs as he did so , despite the ease at which he moved at such a pace his gigai body was not built to handle light speed movement. 'prime time for the damn thing to break down' with a pained wince he would send the smallest most minute amount of riatsu down into his legs , the muscle twitching slightly as it regenerated.

(3) When she would next be looking back at him , she would find marik cuffing his panse legs and rolling them up. A ploy of course to cover up his other convulsing leg muscles , the pain wasn't anything he hadn't felt before. His face would remain neutral as he did so , by the time she turned back around he would have cuffed both panse legs and simply be sitting there while the two talked.

(4) The older woman behind the counter , seemed to think long and hard for a momment "i mean i've got em but....jesus does he play sports , or work on a far-" she would cut herself off "nevermind stupid question rule one never get to personal with the customer" With that she would retreat to the back of the store , more cursing and loud clangs of things falling over would echo through the empty shop untill she came back out.

(5) "all right size eleven and half , in brown now we typically sell these in Styrofoam thong styles but because of the size it's made for more traffic so to speak it's gonna run you $19" she would say putting emphasis on the work traffic as she opened the box she had returned with , revealing a sandle that looked like someone had stitch the rubber soles of a running shoe to the  simple holding straps of a thong.

(6) Marik would make no comment or protest on the sandal , he was just happy to have shoes. As they exited marik would hold the door open for shizu , now all that was left was to get the proper clothes so they could hit the resort at the beach and grab a few things on the way there. Stopping at street vendor who was selling sun screen , marik would frantickly search his pockets handing him a wad of crumpled Benjamin's trying to save on time as he and shizu where on a bit of a schedule.

(7) "sorry about that im very Korean, my olive complexion can become beat red and id rather not look like a sun dryed bount who forgot his SPF one million" he would say jokingly , as he gripped the tube with his teeth and began taking off his jacket and black shirt beneath tying them around his waist. grabbing the bottle and unscrewing the cap , he would squirt a generious dollop in his hand , rubbing it along his arms , chest and stomach as they walked up the strip twoard the swim wear store.

(8) "kinda left field but , i know i work 72 jobs and one very stressful gig...what do you do for living? Super model? Secret Agent with a dark and brooding past?" his question was asked with a goofy grin , but he would quickly apologize for even asking "sorry i asked you out so we could escape work , you dont have to answer that now then lets get something to swim in i wana hit the water" he would say as they walked in the store.

(9) Marik would indulge in shizu buying him what he wanted , although he was having a bit of fun grabbing some silly options , ugly options, and risque options and the pair he actually wanted simple green swim trunks. He would be in and out of the changing rooms like a flash of lightning making sure to model them for her , his objective here was mainly to get a laugh out of her and play a bit of dress up on his part...what can you blame him?!