Thread: The Scarlet Crossing (DeliciousLust & darjeeling)

As if a great flame had suddenly engulfed her hand, Aurelia quickly snatched it back to her side, looking equal parts horrified and astonished that she had even touched Mariko in the first place, and that she had found her once more against all odds. The monster looked different and yet was still completely recognizable to the human girl. For one, none could deny the plentiful eyeful of cleavage or the sensuous curves accentuated by the tight, form-fitting clothes she wore. The heels that Mariko wore also pushed her height to higher grounds, far more than Aurelia could recall even if most of the time she had seen the monster seated on the platform. Aurelia herself wasnt lacking in stature either but she found that she had to crane her neck upwards slightly so that she might look upon golden eyes behind fashionable glasses. It was somewhat jarring to see the monster in normal clothes, a strange thought given that Aurelia had seen her bare, or mostly bare, to the world and surrounded by equally undressed men to which she had been unphased at by her second visit. Yet for some ghastly peculiar reason, she remembered that she was wearing the same clothes she had on the first night she had come into contact with the bakemono. The thought had been so sudden and Aurelia had been so unprepared that she visibly shook her head like a mutt flinging water from its fur. The action would have been somewhat strange and definitely abnormal. Her hands went to her pockets again, to hide away the red tips of her fingers but there was nothing she could do for the blush masking the normally pale tone of her cheeks. Beneath the sun, carmine and crimson interbred, wave upon gentle wave of both hair and fluster as she took a step back, contrasting the cotton blue scarf wrapped around her neck and the lower half of her face. The color didnt suit her in the slightest but it did help to protect her from the chill wind the city was accustomed to at times. It was Aurelias ill luck that there was no wind now to cool her down, though she doubted it would help at all. She shifted, acutely conscious of the womans toothy smile and look of befuddlement. It made sense that Mariko would make that kind of face, she reasoned to herself, considering her complete lack of tact and somewhat rude greeting. You, Aurelia bit her lip beneath the scarf, M-Mariko. The word tasted odd on her tongue rarely had she spoken the others name aloud and when she did, it had been under miniscule coughs and clearing of throats. Her fingers twisted against the insides of her pockets anxiously as she casted her eyes to the side, noting the people milling past them and the few who stopped to stare at Marikos figure and swaying reptilian tail were offered Aurelias trademarked frown. Not that it dissuaded them the pavement corner wasnt a good place to talk, but to the redhead, it was all background music, like one might listen to in an elevator. The cars zooming past was the booming bass and the smell of petrol and gas the nicotine, Who else? Aurelia offered a tight, awkward grin, the smoulder in her eyes dying away the more she spoke. She knew it was terribly silly of her to act as if she had been taken off guard, especially since she had been the one to call the bakemono out. Aurelia could have easily turned heel and escape in the other direction to never hear from Mariko again, but she knew that she wouldnt have done that. At the very least, she commended herself for not following the woman like a silent, creepy ghost or even managed to restrain herself from launching into a massive spiel about how delighted she was to see a familiar face in a sea of strangers. The idea that Mariko was one of the only creatures she considered as something of an acquaintance made her smile, hidden beneath the winding blue fabric. Aurelia shook her head again, determined not to paint herself a fool though it was already too late. I mis She stopped, her teeth almost separating the tip of her tongue from the rest of the muscle as the middle of her sentence bled into a quiet choking sound. No, she wasnt bold enough to speak that way, especially in broad daylight. Aurelia swallowed audibly, her inelegance almost cringe-worthy as her hand dropped out of her pocket and she half lifted it in the air as if to slap away her slip-up. I mean w-would you like to talk elsewhere? Her throat felt dry and sore, her heart thudding away against her ribcage, the possibility of her offer being rejected terrified her even if it was just a simple askance of a conversation. If you want. Of course. Aurelia added, quickly stuffing her fist back into her jacket but to her credit she did manage to look at Mariko, even if her glance to the monsters eyes took a little longer getting past her bust.