ic; what is shipping and how does it work

[stonethread]

[Yeah, this is Jolyne. This is Jolyne just walking around, minding her own business as she keeps an eye open to whatever in the world is going on. It seemed just like yesterday when she thought she met the guy of her dreams, only for it to turn out to be another asshole who just used her as he saw fit. Whatever, not like she ever had the best of luck with guys in the first place, they all seemed just like dime a dozen scum bags that messed with girls, and just threw them away afterwards. She wishes there was someone who could just break the chain at least once.

Either way, she seems to have a bit of a disgruntled look on her face as she just so happens to walk into what seems like a little bakery, looking at the goods before getting the bright idea to actually take one of the breads that was on display and leave without anyone really noticing what she did in the first place.]

Heh, what a bunch of idiots. They really should take better care of their stuff, who knows what might- [She was saying, not looking at all where she was going. It brought her to almost run into someone, but she quickly moved out of the way before she actually bumped into them and would've caused in accident. Wow, that would not have been good for her right then and there, in fact, it would have probably exposed her for what she had just done. But...knowing Jolyne, her face scrunched up a bit as she stared at whoever it was she was about to run into.]

...hey. [She started out, walking up to them and putting a finger into their chest.] Why don't you watch out where you're going, huh? Who knows what might have happened if you bumped into my and made me drop my food. [So she says, taking a bite out of it.] I would've made you walk back into that store and buy me another one, got it? [JOLYNE...YOU DIDN'T EVEN PAY FOR THIS THING IN THE FIRST PLACE...but not like she cares, anyways. She's got to hold up her tough girl image.]

So, what, you gonna pay me for almost bumping into me, or are we going to have some sort of problem here?

Comments

[normality]

[ He pauses a little at her answer. It's sort of sputtered and all, but it's.. pretty genuine compared to that stuff from before, huh? That's at least what it feels like to him when he thinks about it. It's a little cute, either way, the way she says all of that. So much that he can't help but smile. ]

Sure, sure. It's just the two of us having lunch together, nothing special about it. [ And he's being sincere about it, okay, he's not the kind of guy to do it just to score with a girl! But he seems pretty happy either way. ]

Come on, there's a good cafe down the street here.

[stonethread]

[She still looks as though there's going to be steam coming out of her ears from how embarrassed she is about all of this. But it's not like she can actually help it herself- this dude is way too nice to her on first contact, which is why she basically has her head spinning from how much this guy has flustered her. And the way he says that last part too...!?

Her lips are basically pursed into what looks like a half pout, but a half smile...as she reaches out and grabs unto his sleeve, looking away.]

...w-well...you're going to lead the way, right? I hardly know where some things are, and...i-it'd be better if I was hanging off of you like this so I don't get lost. Don't...don't take it the wrong way!

[normality]

[ .. She really is cute. He's sure of it now.. despite her tough exterior, this is the kind of girl she actually is, huh? That actually makes the toughness all a little more sad, like she has to hide behind it.. but ah well, it's at least good to know she can take care of herself if she has to, he'd hate for a girl like her to get in trouble and not be able to do anything about it. ]

I won't, don't worry. [ But he's smiling.. who knows what that smile means. It's probably just Mikiya being genuinely happy about all this though. ] Do you really want to hold onto my sleeve? I don't mind if it's my hand or my arm either, you know. Like I said, I won't misunderstand it.

[stonethread]

[...wh...WHAT?! First he says it's okay for the two of them to get lunch together, now he says it's okay for her to hold unto his...his...arm, or hand?! She's barely having enough trouble trying to actually hold unto his sleeve like this, but now that he's saying all of that other stuff, she's...she's...she's not even sure how she's supposed to handle it! In fact, she's blushing madly now, her grip on his sleeve tightening a bit.

...but...but...dammit Jolyne, you're going to regret this! Sure enough, both of her arms find themselves wrapping around his arm as she holds unto it, looking away from him.]

...m...mmmnnngh....j...just...let's just get there, how far is it, again...?

[normality]

[ He doesn't look fazed at all by her nervousness, aside from the small smile on his face. So Mikiya just allows Jolyne to cling to his arm like that. Even if she's looking away, it's not like it's something bad.. and he doesn't really care if people think they're a couple or whatever as they walk down the street like this. He knows the truth, after all. And it's not like there's a whole lot of people who know him, he's so normal that he just blends in. ]

Not too far. Here, come on. [ He starts walking, guiding her like that because she's holding onto him. ] It's just at the end of this street, so we won't have to walk long like this if you don't like it.

[stonethread]

[BUT HER IMAGE IS AT STAKE HERE...she doesn't want people to see her as this sort of...moe blob that's clinging to this guy's arm. But that's how it's looking right now, isn't it? And she's not exactly protesting what she's doing in the slightest...maybe she does like this feel of being close to someone after so long. It's why she's practically shaking her head furiously to herself, her eyes finally drifting up to the man she's clinging to.]

...your name. [She starts, although it comes out a little too low for anyone else to hear but him.] ...if we're...going to do this lunch thing...it's only natural that I...I get your name, you know? I don't want this to be completely awkward... [She lets out a tiny huff, her arms tightening around his.]

[normality]

.. Ah?

[ The way she's asking him for it.. it's so strange, isn't it? At first she doesn't even say more than just "your name", so it makes him raise his eyebrows in surprise as he glances at her, but then he realises what she's trying to say as she continues on. ]

Well, I don't think there's anything really awkward about this yet. [ He's being serious, he's rather enjoying this after all, even if she's embarassed.. ] My name is Mikiya though. Mikiya Kokutou. You know, like the French poet, except written the Japanese way.

[stonethread]

Mikya...Kokutou... [She mumbles it to herself for a moment, at least trying to make the effort to learn his name. But with the way she is right now, it's a little hard for her to actually swallow some things, like someone actually being genuinely nice to her for once. The idea seems sickening enough to someone like her, but...she can actually get past this just for once and maybe open up a little bit. Just this once.]

It's a really interesting name...um. My name is Jolyne Kujo. Thanks for doing all of this for me despite how I was acting earlier. I was raised up like that, to defend for myself, you know?

[normality]

No, it's fine. [ He shakes his head as if literally nothing about her earlier attitude affected him at all, like he can literally just shake it off.. ]

It just means you're a strong girl, you know? I'm glad for it, with all the abductions and murders you hear about on the news it's better when people can at least take care of themselves if they have to. [ FOREVER THE OPTIMIST ABOUT EVERYTHING.. ] So.. it's nothing but nice to meet you, Kujo-san.

[stonethread]

...you're...really too nice, you know that? [She murmurs mostly to herself, really can't believing that someone like this actually exists in the first place. When was the last time someone actually talked to her like this...? Besides her mom? No one, really...but that's because of her decisions...]

...call me Jolyne, when you call me that, it sounds as though someone's talking to my dad, and something about that is just weird in general. So, only Jolyne, got it? I won't accept it if you call me something else.

[normality]

[ Won't accept it..? Hehe, she really is special, wording it like that. Nobody else would talk that way, this girl is both strangely blunt and cute at the same time.. but that's actually what he likes, because he's seen the cute side now so he knows there's a good heart beneath the exterior. And that only makes him want to make her happy more.. but then again, maybe he's getting carried away, they're only going to have lunch, after all. But he sure wouldn't mind still knowing her even after that, he's sure. ]

Jolyne. [ He says it with a smile and surprisingly easily without a honorific. ] There, does it sound better like that? It's a pretty nice name, either way. You don't hear it a lot.

[stonethread]

[...it was... a nice name? No, no, she couldn't let herself get so flustered once more, she just needs to brave the storm that is this guy. He's so nice, and something else that she never had to face before. She didn't even know guys like this could exist in the first place! But...but maybe if she were to...]

...or. [She started, as she leaned in and whispered into his ear.] ...You can call me JoJo if you want...I only let certain people call me JoJo, so...

[She pulls away, her stern expression had now softened into something more...more girlish, something she almost would never show anyone, unless they were her mother and...someone she wanted to get closer to. And this guy...she wanted him to make her feel special.]

[normality]

[ .. JoJo..? He has to think for a moment, but then he figures it out. Of course iut's a nickname, isn't it? Since her name is Jolyne and then her last name Kujo, there's two Jos in there.. normally he wouldn't have thought of it, he's the kind of guy who just uses people's names instead of making up nicknames, but..

Hey, if she wants it, then it isn't a problem. If something that simple can make her happy, then that's fine. ]

If you don't mind [ In other words, "if you'd like it" ] then I definitely will.. Jojo. I'm fine calling you whatever you want.

.. Ah, we're here though. [ He enters the cafe with her like that, guiding her to a table - see, he's even pulling the chair back for her so she can sit.. ]