(closed)

[entreats]

Who: Ange, Ragna and Shinichi
Where: In Aldrip
What: Ange does some protection matchmaking. N-Not because she cares or anything, idiots!
Warnings: Likely mentions of alien bodysharing.


[ Having spent some time out there in the desert investigating, Ange has had some time to overthink some events that transpired recently before heading out there - which, honestly, mostly is the talk she had with Shinichi at the meeting of Scott's club for weirdo teens.

(Okay, okay, that's not its official title, but it is that in Ange's mind, alright.)

It bothers her for several reasons. A whole lot of them have to do with Ange's lack of self worth, and with the fact that the girl is completely unable to ever fully process the fact someone might not want to see her dead, but since that stuff is all much more complicated, the girl is making sure to shove it all down, opting to instead focus on something else that bothered her about it - the way Shinichi is so quick to throw himself into the fray.

And sure. Maybe the guy has an alien in his body. Maybe that alien creature is somehow really powerful! It's not like Ange fully knows, never having seen it in action.. But she figures that there could be a truly omnipotent-level of danger hanging around somewhere in this place, and the last thing she wants is for a guy as nice as Shinichi to chuck himself at that danger firsthand.

It means she needs a babysitter. One more powerful than she is.

Hence, the current circumstances.

Ange contacted Ranga, asking him to come meet her at a specific spot in Aldrip-- without providing a reason, instead just.. hanging up the communication between the pendants.. Sorry, Ragna... Her involving you of all people in this plan actually shows that Ange has quite some trust in the guy, even if her actions sure don't show it. Imagine being open with other people about what you think about them. Imagine being vulnerable gross.

She could have contacted Shinichi like that too, especially since she's sure he would have easily listened to her and waited up, but she wants to make sure to be there when the two first meet, just so she can make the purpose of this meeting clear.

It means that if Ragna is actually being good and waiting after Ange asked him to, he'll end up seeing her approach with a fellow teenager following her. At least she's not literally physically dragging him along.. yet.. ]

Ah. You came.

[ ...

That's her best greeting, apparently. Ange's face is very much the usual - a pokerface, so hard to read anything from it, even emotions or intentions.. ]

That's good. I wanted to introduce you two to each other, in case you don't know each other yet. [ A-Ange Ushiromiya? Forcing people to be social?

Clearly there's more to this, even if she doesn't seem to be announcing it just yet.. ]

Comments

[rebellions]

[ "Trust" is a big word, and if asked, Ragna would deny having any in Agne, but even he has to admit (even if only to himself) she's proven herself to be a reliable ally... for now, at least. Which is why he answers her call and heads to the meeting place (albeit begrudgingly), wondering what the hell could be so pressing that it requires his presence instead of communicating it over the pendants.

When they (wait, they?) arrive, Ragna is leaning against the nearby building, arms crossed on his chest. He greets them with a frown, pushing himself off the wall and approaching them with a rather unamused expression. ]

... Is that it?

[ Really? She had him come his all this way just to waste his time with mingling? Surely there's more to this; he may not know Agne very well, but she's come across as a smart (read: antisocial) girl, so he finds it hard to believe she just wants to introduce him to some random scrawny teenager. ]

[kiseijuu]

[ Shinichi didn't ask questions when Ange initiated this — easily agreeing to accompany her to whatever it is she has planned, here. Some of that quick willingness comes from the fact that Shinichi has so immediately found himself wanting to help protect her if he can (from being stalked by witches......) which means keeping close.

But part of it also comes from his tendency to just be incredibly easy to lead around..... Even as they approach the young man up ahead, Shinichi's body language is extremely submissive, trailing along behind Ange like an obedient schoolchild. It's clear who's wearing the pants here.

He's tense and visibly nervous, especially as Ragna comes into view. Shinichi blinks widely at him, both hands shoved into the pockets of his coat as he comes to a halt (still standing a bit behind the girl....) He listens to the brief exchange, looking from one to the other, before shyly piping up. ]

Ah— no, I don't think we've met before. [ He'd surely recognise the stranger, with his shock of white hair and multi-coloured eyes. But if meeting him is what Ange wants.... Shinichi dips his torso forwards, politely. ...Obediently. ]

It's nice to meet you, sir. I'm Shinichi Izumi.

[entreats]

[ .. look at that formal greeting.

It's not really surprising, coming from Shinichi of all people.. But it certainly is the kind of politeness that's completely foreign to Ange herself - as if the way she's going about this protection matchmaking isn't making that very obvious right now.

At least she doesn't have to feel like the odd one out here, since she's pretty sure Ragna is way closer to her level of (read: lack of) politeness than to Shinichi's. ]

Right. [ She says after his introduction, as if to confirm it. She'll give Ragna some time to introduce himself too in a moment if he feels like it, but hey, by speaking up first Ange figures she's also giving the guy a way out in case he doesn't know how to reply to an introduction so overly polite..

Isn't she being so nice. Look at her. A good deed done already. ]

And he's also going to get himself killed.

[ I-ISN'T SHE.. SO N-NICE...

Look, Ange may have great intentions, but they just.. come out like this. Saying it so bluntly, even though Shinichi is right there. Don't talk about him as if he isn't there, Ange!! Surely you could word this in a different way to explain it to Ragna.. ]

That's why I need your help.

[rebellions]

[ Bold of you to assume Ragna has enough social awareness to recognize that it would be nice if he bothered introducing himself. No, instead, he simply watches the guy act so politely it almost makes him wanna gag. There's something off about him, too, and it takes him a moment before he can put his finger on it... Ah. Right, so he's like Platinum and the snakes. The very thought of those men causes his frown to deepen, but he quickly shoves the bitter memories to the back of his head to focus on Shinichi instead. ]

... Mhm. And the other guy?

[ He asks casually, figuring he doesn't need to specify what he means. Whoever... whatever it is the kid is sharing his body with, it's nothing like he's ever come across, which makes him slightly more guarded than usual. Not that it's easy to tell the difference.

Ragna turns to look at Agne, raising his eyebrow questioningly. Cool, but what exactly does that have to do with him? ]

What, you want me to kill him first?

[ He says, like that's the most natural conclusion to draw from the information he's presented with. Okay then. ]

[kiseijuu]

[ Shinichi has no idea what to expect here, but clearly there's a reason why Ange wanted him to meet this man, so he'll just see what's to come of this.... Standing back up straight after his bow, he waits patiently, and then— 'And the other guy?'

The teenager's expression betrays surprise — eyes widening, visibly taken aback a little. No one besides the other parasites has ever been capable of detecting Migi like that, so it can't be... that this is the case. Right? He glances back over his shoulder quickly, as though there might be someone else there, before his head slowly turns to face the man again. His brows lift, confusion speaking for itself, though he doesn't verbally say anything in response. Not yet. Something's... extremely strange here, an uneasiness squirming unpleasantly in his gut, but before he can think too much about that part, it's at this point that he hears Ange mention him getting himself killed....

Shinichi startles all over again, ogling the girl first before what the man says next has him ogling him, giving a sharp gasp. Wait, what? Kill him?! ]

Um—! [ He manages to sputter, before he's suddenly giving a little cry that cuts off his own words. With that jolt of his heart, Migi's stirring impossibly fast, a ripple of movement, fingers twitching with awareness. The boy quickly loops his left fingers around his right wrist, shoving it back flush to his chest, against his own pounding heart. Shit! A threat to his life is exactly what would make Migi go ballistic... (and why is he getting threats to his life??? What the hell is going on here?!)

Shinichi's looking panicked (though that could seem to just be in response to what this incredibly intimidating stranger just said........) as his eyes once again snap from the man to Ange and back again, a mixture of confused and horrified. He's taking a step or two back away from the girl, just as frightened of this bizarre situation as of the thought of Migi going haywire. ...Even in this moment, the reason he's stepping back is predominantly because he's worried about Migi hurting her, though it could certainly seem that his fear is just aimed outwards, with the way he's looking so wide-eyed from her to Ragna, voice trembling, catching against itself. ]

Ushiromiya-san, w-what's going on?!

[entreats]

[ The first part - the 'other guy' part - goes completely over Ange's head, to be fair here. Sure, she knows about Migi, but she doesn't know that Ragna would have any ability whatsoever to tell Migi is even there, so she doesn't figure he's talking about the alien at all. It makes Ange glance around them for a moment, eyebrows curiously drawn up, like she expects to look around and see that someone else tagged along.

But-- no, it's just Shinichi there. And by the time she's reaching that conclusion, Ragna is already tumbling right along with his snowball of bluntness that's turning into an entire avalanche by now, and then Shinichi is freaking out.

At least Ange doesn't blame the guy for freaking out. As she sees him looking so horrified, and their gazes cross during the moments Shinichi isn't looking at Ragna, there might actually be a moment where Shinichi can catch Ange actually looking guilty in a way that breaks through her usual pokerface, only now realising that this really isn't going to the way she planned it to.

(Which, you know, was super easily avoidable with just some normal communication.. Good job, Ange..)

She bites her lower lip, but then her expression shifts back when she turns her head to look at Ragna, the girl now instead a little huffy. ]

Ragna, you're scaring him!

[ Like they're talking about a small dog, and not an alien-infested teenager.. ]

I just want you to look after him so he's alright! [ COULD'VE SAID THAT EARLIER, ANGE...

But at least the girl is being direct now. Because no matter how much she wants to keep up a certain social image of herself, it's not worth making someone else fear for their life.

.. or, well, not someone who doesn't deserve to have to go through that, anyway. ]

[rebellions]

[ Well, this is turning out to be a disaster, but Ragna remains perfectly calm in the face of Shinichi's obvious panic. If anything, he seems mildly annoyed at most ─ the guy is being such a drama queen in his humble opinion. And then even Ange gets on his case, as if it's his fault somehow? The man rolls his eyes, feeling his patience wearing thin by a minute. ]

What is he, your pet? [ Both he and Ange should probably stop talking about him like he's not there, though that requires social skills neither of them possess. But fine, he gets the idea. Ragna sighs, and then turns to look at the poor, terrorized teenager. ] Relax, I'm not in a mood for a bloodbath right now.

[ "Right now"... how reassuring. He considers the matter settled, however, and definitely has no intention of apologizing to the guy. Besides, it's probably better if they move on and address the actual reason Ange set all of this up. And once the girl finally gets to the point, it's Ragna's turn to feel completely blindsided by this development. ]

Are you outta your goddamn mind? The hell do you think I am, some kinda babysitter for hire?!

[ Thing is, he could potentially be talked into doing it, but he sure as hell won't make it easy on them to convince him. He has his pride, you know. ]

[kiseijuu]

[ This is definitely weird and Shinichi's feeling more and more like a cornered animal, here. He doesn't know Ange that well at all, of course; he's only just met the girl, but while she could be a bit cool, she never seemed to him like someone who would want to kill him..........

The shift in expression he catches on her face also makes it seem like she isn't gunning for him to meet his end, maybe, but then what.... what's happening here?!

(Somehow, the man assuring him that he isn't in the mood for a bloodbath (....right now) does little to reassure him and his eyes are just widening at Ragna in response as he quickly tenses back away from him, wincing sharply...... Could this man be a known killer? If he's not in the mood to kill now, that just implies he will inevitably be later.... ANGE ARE THESE KIND OF PEOPLE YOUR FRIENDS)

....Look after him??? Now Shinichi's back to ogling Ange, pretty much mirroring Ragna's bafflement. She wants this man to look after him? Like.... keep him safe? Shinichi's still too scared of Ragna to look at him much.... or talk to him..... nudging back closer towards Ange again. ]

Ushiromiya-san.... do you mean.... protect me? Are you worried about me?

[ Sorry Ange. He's just.... oblivious to Tsundere Nature not needing to be called out.... His heart's too earnest; he's just going to come out and say it. As well as this next part... ]

But he seems so scary....

[entreats]

[ Now she's just getting attacked from two sides, isn't she. First there's the Ragna side with his critique about her request - which, honestly, is pretty valid, considering the way this went down, but Ange can't use this right now, Ragna!! - and then there's the Shinichi side with him just blatantly calling out what she's doing here, even though Ange was trying so hard to be cool about it.

Give her a moment. She has to take a deep breath here to readjust to all of this. Even if, in the middle of said deep breath, she actually hears Shinichi call Ragna scary.. out loud.. right in front of the other man's salad..

Okay, Ange, time to save this. She holds up two hands, one to each of the guys here with her. ]

Okay, listen.

[ Time to try and keep this conversation on track! P-Please!

Looking at Shinichi first-- ] Yes, I mean protect you. [ She will conveniently ignore the 'are you worried' question. It never happened. Strike it from the record. She'll even ignore Shinichi's latter comment, because she honestly thinks Ragna is just the kind of guy who might take being called scary as a compliment.

This is not necessarily a good thing.

So, now to turn her head towards him instead-- ]

And no, I'm not just going to ask you for something with nothing in return. At least hear me out before you call me crazy! [ H-Hmph!! ] I was going to ask what you wanted in return for it. It's not like they have money here, but I could try to get you a better sleeping spot at the inn or whatever, if that's what you want.

[rebellions]

[ Granted, Ragna presenting himself as this aloof and dangerous individual is fully intentional, but that doesn't mean he's particularly happy with being called "scary" right to his face, even if it means his efforts are working as intended. As such, he gives Shinichi another glare that probably won't change things for the better. ]

"He" is right here and can hear every word you say, so I'd watch my mouth if I were you.

[ So at least this threat is more of a thinly veiled kind? But once he's done digging his grave further, he turns his attention back to Ange, who by now has finally decided to explain herself. His eyes widen as she lists the potential benefits of this assignment, mostly because that idea has never occurred to him in the first place. ]

Wha─ Wait, that's not the problem here! I mean, it sorta is, but it's not the main point...

[ Getting paid (or rewarded in any way) was not on his mind, anyway. It took him forever to learn this, but he now knows that his powers can (should) be used to protect what (who) is dear to him... so it's not like he's completely opposed to the idea of protecting someone, period. But becoming some teenager's bodyguard kind of goes against his plan to keep up this image of a hardened criminal he's been trying to build up here (not to mention sound like a massive pain in the ass). Not sure how to address all that in a way that isn't completely stupid, Ragna lets out a resigned sigh, massaging his temples. ]

... Does he─ [ He points his finger at Shinichi, pausing for a moment before correcting himself: ] Do they get a say in this, anyway?