week two | dates

[marriagebroker]

Kiss the girl~!

Or guy.

Or person.

Or Messmer's snake.

Comments

nico and shoko

[marriagebroker]

Nico and Shoko are taken to pick up trash at the beach. They will be put in volunteer vests, given trash bags and pick up sticks, and sent along their way.

Highlights

• This is NOT a punishment. This is a volunteer opportunity.
• There will be sandwiches and juice boxes given out afterwards.
• You could literally just bail and walk the boardwalk tho.

[irreversal]

[ Nothing like a little nighttime beach cleanup! Shoko's thankfully been equipped with a flashlight. ]

The beach is kind of cold at night, huh... By the way, I assume you can see just fine, can't you, Nico-san?

[crimsin]

Oui, I can see in the dark just fine. If you need any help, be sure to tell me!

[ He’s also carrying all their shit, because he’s a gentleman and also has super strength so it doesn’t bother him at all. ]

[irreversal]

Don't worry - I will.

[ He might. End up doing most of the work here after a certain point, I'm so sorry. But at least to start, Shoko does pick up a random beer can that's been left on the beach. ]

Jeez. People really just leave all sorts of things everywhere, don't they?

[crimsin]

I see it is the same no matter where you go.

[ He opens up the bag so she can toss the can in. ]

My people are going to bleed the world dry in more ways than one, if they are not careful.

[irreversal]

[ —Oh. She has to assume he means vampires when he says "his people," which warrants some curiosity for Shoko's part. ]

Hm? How do you mean, Nico-san? Did vampires take over your world?

[crimsin]

Eh? Oh, no. Vampires have always been in charge. But we are very bad at change, you see, and very bad at valuing the things that need it the most.

[irreversal]

Huh...

[ The vampires have always been in charge. It takes her a moment to wrap her head around it. ]

I guess when you live to be thousands of years old, it's hard to break away from whatever you got used to, isn't it?

[crimsin]

Oui, that is the right of it. And most noble houses are used to a certain level of comfort.

[ His expression takes on a little bit of a sad tinge. ]

Regardless of the cost.

[irreversal]

Exploitation, I'm guessing?

[ Not just of their world in an environmental sense, as the trash on the beach reminds them - but people, too. ]

Sounds awful.

[crimsin]

The humans of our world are treated… exceptionally poorly.

[ He bends to pick up another bit of garbage and stick it in the bag. ]

It is not a system I am fond of.

[irreversal]

[ It's strange, isn't it? The very idea of humans being subjugated as an entire species, by another that seems almost like them, only with unnatural powers, it's—

It's surprisingly familiar. Shoko finds herself idly poking at a forgotten takeout box on the sand. ]

...I'd imagine it would take a lot to break down a system like that.

[crimsin]

[ He offers the open bag, ready for her to toss it in whenever she likes. ]

It is no easy task. The Lord Emperor has been ruling Adelphe for nearly ten thousand years. The roots go deep.

[irreversal]

[ This truly sounds like the stuff of stories like something you'd find out of a manga, but Nico is very much real and right in front of her... ]

Yeah... Someone who's called the Lord Emperor definitely won't let go of his power and go down without a fight, heh...

[ ... ]

Something really big would have to happen.

[ She says, knowingly. ]

[crimsin]

Something that only a wish might be able to achieve?

[ A smirk. ]

I had a similar thought.

[irreversal]

[ Whoa. The smirk's a different look on him - not in a bad way. In fact, it's intriguing. ]

Hoh...

Nico-san, you're someone with a big heart and an even bigger ambition. [ ... ] It sounds like it's for a good cause, so I can't help but respect that a lot.

[crimsin]

[ And just like that, the expression is replaced by one of his usual sunshine grins. ]

Thank you, mon ami! I can only hope we are on the right track to winning the game, for everyone.

[irreversal]

[ Right... It won't be long before they have to go back to actually playing this game. ]

Three lights in the first week seems like a good start.

[ She deposits some more garbage in to the bag that Nico's been carrying for them both. ]

And maybe after a week of going on dates, people will have a clearer ideas in their heads.

[ Or not!! ]

[crimsin]

That is what I thought as well. Personally, I do not feel any closer to an answer.

[ As ever, he has the bag open and ready for her. ]

We have too much chemistry as a group, I think.

[irreversal]

[ She's not surprised to hear this from him, one of the group's most eligible bachelors. . . . ]

Ehh... I can see how that could be a big problem for you, Nico-san. I did say you have a big heart, after all. Haha...