Tali broke out of his thoughts when the boy mentioned him. He tilted his head and flashed a corny grin. “A friend of Toki’s. I’m Tali, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He hummed happily, rubbing Poe’s head. “Does the cat normally not like people? Cats have always liked me. Maybe they think I really am some weird deity.” He joked, grinning at Toki. “Your sister is a very interesting woman, little guy. I quite like her but can’t seem to get her to like me back. Granted it’s only been a day.” He sat up on the counter and yawned, flipping sides so he was on the same side of the counter as Toki and her brother.
“He’s normally wary around people.” Osora said, moving to arrange a display. That same barely noticeable blush was back on her cheeks, which might have been part of why she’d do suddenly found interest in working.
“Kinda like my sister.” Maki joked, shooting Tali a supportive wink. It seemed they were close enough to feel comfortable butting into each other’s lives like that. “Pro tip, she’s a sucker for food and broken clocks. That’s how Shou won her heart.”
Osora nailed him in the head with a bag of crackers, which he caught after the obligatory ‘ow!’. “That wasn’t the reason and you know it. Just a bonus. Besides, we don’t need to talk about my dating life five years ago, or ‘pro tips’.”
“Oh she is pretty weary isn’t she?” He replied simply, smiling at Maki and turning to watch Toki with soft eyes. He was determined to get at least something out of her. “But I think her beauty makes up for it. And not to mention her personality. She may seem cold but hell is she kind to those she is comfortable with.” He replied softly, watching her carefully.
When Maki offered advice he perked up. “Oh? Food and broken clocks huh?” He asked, feeling his heart drop when another name was mentioned.
And then Toki was speaking and what she said lifted his spirits and hopes. “Well, I offered her free food already, which she promptly accepted but declined me taking care of the check.”
“That’s my sister for you. Goddamn though dude.” Maki let out a whistle, ducking out of the way of Osora’s hand as she swatted at him. “That was the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. Sonnet-level shit. Toki, why the fuck aren’t you dating this guy already?”
“Because I just met him.” Osora responded, her voice coming from somewhere in a back room. She returned a moment later with three large boxes stacked on top of each other, carrying them with odd ease. “You keep calling me beautiful,” She started, her words aimed at Tali. “And I feel liable to tell you that that really isn’t true. Another word not used to describe me.”
Tali chuckled and moved over to Maki, ruffling the kid’s hair. “Slow down there, kid. It’s only been a few minutes since we’ve met.” He explained, laughing softly.
His eyes trailed to Toki, a soft sigh leaving his lips. And then she was staring back at him, and his heart jumped into his throat. “I think you’re beautiful! Just because you might not see it or believe it doesn’t mean that it isn’t true, Toki.” He reminded her, smiling kindly.
Maki grinned, swatting playfully at Tali’s hand.
“Dangerous words.” Osora muttered to herself, without really thinking about it. She set the boxes down on the ground, wiping her hands off on her shorts, before meeting his eyes again. “You’re allowed to think what you want, false or otherwise.” She said simply, shrugging a shoulder.
Tali shrugged and set Poe down, moving to her side. “It’s not false, Toki.” He murmured gently. “You’re beautiful. Albeit a little stubborn but beautiful.” The skin-stealer folded his arms as he looked down on her. “I mean come on, I’m not just hitting on you I very much find you interesting. I would like to get to know you.” His eyes flickered over her face, a softness to it that hadn’t been there before.
She tilted her head back to look up at him as he approached, her brows furrowed as he spoke. He seemed oddly set in the idea that she was beautiful, which she found a bit strange. Even stranger still, was the softness in his tone and expression. “Chances are, you’ll find you don’t like what you learn.” She said simply, though the right corner of her mouth twitched upwards just slightly.
“And if I do like what I learn?” He asked softly, leaning in closer so their faces were inches away from each other. “Will you agree to go on a date with me?” He grinned, showing off his perfect teeth. He laughed softly and stood back up straight. “And if not, then you can tell me to beat it and I won’t come around again.”
She blinked, shaking her head slightly to clear the haze that had clouded her mind at his close proximity. She really needed to fix whatever that was, or it could prove to be a bit of an issue. The light color to her cheeks had returned, her darker skin covering most of it, unless someone was specifically looking for the reaction. "We'll have to see if you're still around." She said, neither a definite yes or a definite no, but definitely not a no. "Hey, Maki, we're going to run up to Satou's, you want your usual?"
Maki, who had been looking between the two of them with his eyebrows raised, blinked at being addressed. "Huh? Oh, uh, yeah. You grabbing everyone some?" She nodded, and he grinned, blowing her a kiss. "You're the best~"
Tali nodded softly, turning his face to watch Poe as if he hadn’t just asked her out and had gotten so close. “We’ll have to see~” He purred, glancing at Maki.
“What do you usually get? I really freaking love curry so I have my heart set on that but if you want to try and convince me otherwise, then go ahead and try.” He told Maki with a grin and a laugh.
"The Tonkatsu man." Maki said, bouncing on the balls of his feet as Osora returned to unpacking the boxes and marking the items down in a notebook before putting them on various shelves. "It's insane. Osora likes the Tempura better, but both are hella good. Get it with the curry, if you're really wanting curry. Best of both worlds."
“Mm never had that. I’ll have to try it sometime. If I’m allowed to hang around for a bit I’ll go with you and buy you some, Maki.” He smiled and winked at Toki as she worked. “Need help there?” He asked softly, leaning over her shoulder to look at the notepad.
"Dude, even if she doesn't go out with you, I'll totally go for Tonkatsu with you." Maki said, slipping behind the counter to dig around one of the drawers for something.
"It's just inventory and restocking." Osora said, turning the notebook so he could see it better. A list of items and numbers next to them. "If you really want to help, just hold up things, tell me the name if you can." She offered, leaning to the side a bit and turning her head so she could look at him.
“Niice. Let’s do it then.” He grinned and turned to look at Osora. “Your brother likes me already, that’s a step forward, right?” He asked with a soft laugh.
When she told him how to help he grinned. “I can do that!” Tali’s grin split into a mischievous smirk. He suddenly lifted her up bridal style, humming. “This one is a Toki.”
Whatever Osora had been about to say was cut off as she was lifted, a small noise of surprise leaving her. "What the fuck, Tali?" She asked, blinking a few times and making sure she still had her notebook. She was oddly light, maybe due to her size, but that didn't seem to be quite all of it. "I'm not a packaged food item. Maki, stop laughing."
Her warning didn't seem to affect her brother, who was in fact, laughing so hard he could barely take a picture, though he did eventually manage to keep his phone in his hands.
Her surprised expression drew unreal levels of happiness and joy to Tali. It showed in his face and eyes as he looked down at her, beaming like a proud little kid. “I know you’re not food, but I’m sure you’re just as addicting and as good~” he winked, snickering softly as he glanced over at Maki.
He very slowly turned to the kid, smiling and winking for the photo. “You’re so light, dear, why don’t you come and eat with me today? You need a little muscle and weight on you.” He fretted, lifting her up and down as he judged her weight to be somewhere in the low range. “Mm you definitely need some food in you.”
"You're really out here flirting the shit out of my sister in front of me." Maki commented, still laughing as he took a few pictures. "She's got plenty of muscle, just feel her limbs. It's the ballerina weight you're feeling."
"Am I allowed to keep anything a secret, or are you just going to tell him everything from my first kiss to my most recent life or death experience while you're at it?" Osora asked, raising an eyebrow at her brother as she crossed her arms under her chest. She was perfectly fine with pretending he hadn't made her heart stutter with his words. "And I weigh just below average for someone of my height and build, excuse you."
Tali pouted at Maki, sticking his tongue out playfully. Tali was a whole child, he had been raised with anything he ever wanted though, so it was to be expected. And yet there was still something utterly wholesome about him too, something that told he cared.
“She’s so light though… even for a ballerina.” He replied softly, looking down at her and flashing a smile. “I’m going to get food in you.” He purred, still holding her quite close to his chest.
"You say that like I wasn't already excited for shrimp and curry." Osora said, turning her raised eyebrow on Tali, looking up at him. The use of the word excitement made it obvious she felt perfectly fine, she just couldn't show her feelings. "Is calling me underweight supposed to be a compliment or an insult?"
"Yes." Maki chimed in, leaving it at that with a snort as he climbed up onto the counter to pet Poe. A trend, one would notice, in their family. Sitting on surfaces not meant for sitting on.
He grinned and shrugged. “You can take it How you want to take it but I’m worrying over you. I don’t do that with very many girls, Toki. You should be flustered I’m taking the time for you~” He set her down gently, reaching out to fix a stray strand of hair that was falling into her face.
Tali shoved his hands in his pockets and yawned. He hadn’t slept for days. “Mm do you know if there is a shrine around here I could sleep at? They usually let me in for free if I tell them I’m the deity of my own shrine.”
Osora straightened her muscle tank once Tali had set her down, blinking as he brushed her hair back away from her face. That was unexpected. To be fair, most of the things he had done so far were a bit unexpected. She furrowed her brows, an actual frown on her face, when he mentioned sleeping at a shrine. "Are you sure that's safe? This city is my home, and I love it, but it has it's fair share of unkind people."
"Hey, Toki, do you think mom would mind…?" Maki trailed off, motioning to Tali and raising an eyebrow. "Asami's room is empty, with her at college. At the very least, he could share a room with one of us."
Osora tilted her head, looking from her brother, to Tali, and back. "It would be better than him sleeping at a shrine. You should ask her when she gets back."
Tali grinned, suddenly showing off a pair of rather sharp canines. “I’ve been working on a few tricks, I can become as strong as a man who has worked out for years, and I can create teeth that tear and rip at flesh. I’ll be alright, dear.” He snickered darkly, a sudden morbidity and darkness to his persona.
As quickly as it had appeared, the evil in his face had disappeared, his aura once again child-like as he moved to pick Poe up again, humming happily at the cat. “Oh no, don’t worry about me, I don’t want to be a burden on this household. I can always go to a motel or hotel. I have enough money for it.” He admitted, waving his hand in the air.
The darkness on his face had been startling, but his quick switch back to happy and fun was probably even more so to Osora, who was no stranger to evil, but a stranger to others being both evil and not. She had never stopped to think about herself that way, despite the fact that she most definitely was. "Absolutely not." She stated, shaking her head. Maki seemed a bit surprised by the conviction in his sister's voice, glancing over at her with wide eyes. "If my grandmother found out I had let you turn down an offer of hospitality, she might very well throw me out of a third story window. Just stay with us."
Tali paused, staring at her with just as much surprise as her brother. “I can’t do that to you guys.” He murmured softly, setting Poe down after a few more pets and sighing deeply. “I’m rather selfish, Toki. I don’t deserve hospitality.” He suddenly bowed his head, refusing to look at her face. “I can find a place to stay so please, do not worry about me.” He mumbled.
When he stood back up straight his expression was torn. He didn’t know what to do. He wanted to accept but even he knew he’d mess something up between them.
