Lower Fens The Morels are Amungus

[Tatiana Morozov]

Looks/Fit During the winter snow storm

Tati was pulling on her boots, lacing them up as she waited for Goki to get hear. There was the wind howling outside and the voice just whispering outside her window until she was getting up and shutting the curtains and pressing her hands against her ears.

“ Zatknis', zatknis', zatknis'!” she hissed at the window, hating the voices that were wafting in before she turned and walked from it and paced her room.

The floor was frosting over again from her steps as she paced in her forestry mushroom room.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

outfit

Rather than navigate his way through public transportation, Goki took an Uber across the Lower Fens, fine with eating the cost if he spent less time in the cold. And, with the way the temperatures were dropping, he couldn't help but worry about Tati. He didn't know what they'd be up against if her suspicions about a yokai were correct, but he was confident they were better equipped to tackle it together.

Hunched up against the cold, he strode into the lobby and realized belatedly that meeting Tati in a hotel was a little suspect. A themed hotel had a bit of a love hotel vibe, but the notion was more amusing than upsetting to the man. He knew what he was about, grinning guilelessly at the receptionist when he arrived before leaning on the counter to text Tati.

hey i'm here in the lobby

Then, he realized he might've stopped for some food too, but the night was young. He knew the area well enough to go out searching for food if worst came to worst and they couldn't get delivery while they waited out the cold.

[Tatiana Morozov]

The text drew her from her upsetting emotions that froze her floor yet again. Grabbing her bag, she was quick to try and just escape her room; shutting and locking it while shoving the keycard into her pocket as the rushed out and then saw him. It was a relief to see Goki again, even if he was a smartass.

“Goki-San...it is good to see you, ” she told him as she went over and pressed her forehead against his shoulder.

“Kaze ni wa koe ga aru ” she whispered to him, her eyes closed but it did not hide the stress and strain she felt. Tati looked purely tired from not getting any real sleep and just keeping watch whenever the wind blew into her room.

T: The wind has a voice

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

Tati didn't have him waiting long, even if he wouldn't have minded. Girls took forever but the lobby was decorated in the same understated way Tati's room had been in the picture and Goki had to admit that it was pretty. Pretty and interesting.

Still, his old friend was hard to miss when she entered the room, a shock of pretty white against the earthy palette around her. Turning to greet her, he could tell she was coming in close by her stance, and as she dumped her forehead against his shoulder, he reached out to gather her up in a hug. Her words in Japanese made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

“Jesus,” he muttered, before replying seriously in Japanese, “Have you seen anything?”

[Tatiana Morozov]

Tati's arms wrapped around him, holding him to her as she just breathed in the familiar scent into her lungs. Safe. This was a safe person and she was grateful for him being here right now as she didn't think she'd have much to fear with a friend around. Honestly, when she wasn't alone was when things were rather quiet so she was doubly happy on that front.

A small lift came from her shoulders, “I don't know. This is the third hotel I've changed to since I came here. ” she replied back. It was jarring and yea, maybe she should have told him sooner but she was not one to be a problem with her friends as she normally was able to handle things on her own.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

Goki drew a deep breath and exhaled very slowly, his arms squeezing tighter around Tati's shoulders. Then, uncertain what to say or do, he lifted his head and looked around the lobby. The cute entrance was at complete odds with the unnatural cold outside and the possible demon stalking them through the wintery chill. It felt like they were on a momentary island of calm. The attendant behind the desk caught his severe look and quickly looked away, and he looked back at the top of Tati's head.

Resting his big hand on her head, he curled his fingers in a few long pale strands, wondering for the millionth time if it was natural. If it wasn't, he'd never seen her roots, but that didn't matter. His mind wandering back to Tati's comfort, he murmured gently, “Alright, have you eaten?”

[Tatiana Morozov]

The warmth from his touch and how safe she felt in his arms had her eyes closing. His hand felt comforting on her head, her face buried against his chest so that she didn't have to look anywhere. No, she just relaxed for the first time in days and it felt incredible to do so.

He also would never know if her hair was natural or not; she'd always claim it to be and he'd never find proof otherwise. The question had her head shaking a little- could he tell? Was she skinnier than before? Normally, she didn't watch her weight but her clothes had gotten a bit baggy on her but she blamed that alone on how she wasn't washing her clothes properly like before. “ No. I may have forgotten to, ” now that tracked for her as she did often forget the basic thing of food and water when something was on her mind.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

The demon could feel the way she relaxed in his arms and, unbidden, a low rumbling purr sounded in the depths of his chest, like a huge cat. It was barely noticeable above the ambient noise, but with her face against his chest, Tati had a chance of picking up on it. Goki didn't notice it himself, simply pleased he could provide some security.

“Stupid,” he scoffed, annoyed at her for not taking care of herself. Still, he smirked, leaning back so he could look down and catch her eye. “You'll get too bony to shake your ass on the internet.”

[Tatiana Morozov]

Purring. Goki was PURRING like a damn cat against her ear and she just stilled and listened to it. If she had the energy, she'd freak out a bit but the sound, the rumbling against her, it was soothing to her jangled nerves that rippled through her. How did he purr? Was he a cat boy?!

That made her laugh, her head tilting back before her eyes rolled, “My ass will never get boney thank you very much...also just means its tits out only then, ” she joked, a smile on her red stained lips as she took a small breath, “Did you know that you purred like a cat? ”

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

“The fuck,” he laughed in English. Was he purring? The sound stopped as soon as it started in his confusion, but he assumed Tati was a little delirious with hunger. Shaking his head, he focused on her bony ass and whatever titty contingency plan she had. “Whatever- Tits? What tits?” he teased in his relentless older sibling-esque way as he started detangling himself to take her hand and start for the door.

[Tatiana Morozov]

“Vhat, you are ze cat boy not me Mr Purr Pants, ” she said, laughing for what seemed like the first time in days. She couldn't stop the smile on her face before a shocked look crossed her face, “I have tits! And they're bigger than your own thank you very much, ” she huffed at him, smacking his chest before letting him take her hand to head to the door.

He'd be able to feel her hesitate at the door, her face scrunching a little before she'd leave the safety of the building to head outside with him.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

Without being fully aware of his ability to purr, he took Tati’s insistence about being a cat boy as another friendly jab. ‘Mr Purr Pants’ made him grin like an idiot, and to her claim about her tits, Goki laughed harder. The big man lazily batted at Tati’s hands to fend her off but ultimately still took a hit to the chest. Bearing it manfully as they started for the door, he was about to point out that his pectorals had to count for something when he felt Tati hesitate.

Glancing back at her, he lifted both eyebrows, concern shadowing his face. “You okay? Do you want to stay here? I can go out.” Unless she didn’t want to be alone. He added after a moment, “We could get delivery.”

[Tatiana Morozov]

Tightened her fingers around his hand, “We can go out, it's okay, ” she told him, trying to smile a bit but she was nervous about going out in that snow. What if something happened? Could Goki even protect her in the snow? Her mind was racing as she gave him a small smile.

“No, it's okay. I can't hide and you're with me...Just hating my favorite season right now, ” she told him with a small sigh as she held his hand a little tighter ready to go outside with him. “Come on Mr purr pants, ” she told him, smiling as she tried her best to not look unsettled but he might see through her faking.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

Although Tati hesitated, she seemed to gather up her nerves, squeezing his hand. He smiled gently down at her, although her little episode had him wary. Was it just paranoia on her part or did they have an actual yokai waiting for them out in the cold? He wasn't helpless, but how would he measure up against a true demon? The sort that could bestow curses?

He supposed there was only one way to find out and if the alternative was Tati starving herself in a hotel, then he was going out into the cold. Steeling himself against the potential danger and the sudden drop in temperature, he pushed out through the front door and hunched his shoulders as a brisk wind whipped past. It wasn't snowing, but the cold was wretched enough to steal the breath out of his mouth.

“It's your favorite season?” Goki chuckled as he tucked his face into his scarf and scanned the hotel parking lot. “You've got terrible taste.”

[Tatiana Morozov]

“Maybe that's why I like you, I have terrible taste, ” she countered with an attempted smirk and smile at that. When she stepped out, she felt the cold but it didn't bother her too much anymore. It was cold, plane and simple. She was always cold unless baking under the shower that finally had warmth seep into her flesh.

She'd try and walk with him, the snow not falling as much but there was plenty around. When the wind played and whirled the snow around it had her stiffening to look out into the blinding white that surrounded them.

“ You ever piss off a demon? ” she asked him curiously, staring off to where a snow whirl was playing. She knew her mind was playing tricks, there wasn't anyone there at the moment but on the air of the wind there was a sing song like voice that wafted around them. Now, whether Goki heard it or not, she didn't know but it was out in the air with the blowing wind.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

It didn't need to be snowing for the wind chill to be utterly torturous, but it looked like it was about to get worse, with snowflakes dusting past the streetlights. He could feel them landing on his cheeks around his eyes and instinctively huddled closer to Tati, making it easy to catch her question.

A plume of condensation jetted out around his head as he exhaled a mirthless laugh. “Nah. Not as far as I know,” he answered honestly, thinking of Tisiphone and how she'd reacted to his mouthing off. But he wasn't dead, so she must not have been that pissed. “I've pissed off a ghost a few times. Got one in my apartment.”

[Tatiana Morozov]

“You live in a place where a ghost also lives? Do they...talk to you or peep at you? ” she asked, trying to tease a little at the fact that he had such a weird ass roommate.

It made her wonder if she'd have a roommate at this place they would go after getting something to eat. As they moved and the snow picked up, her head looked up as the flakes attached to her face. If Goki looked, he could see a perfect snowflake that didn't instantly melt on her skin like it would his. It stuck, showing off the weblike patterns until it eventually slid off her skin.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

Unseen behind his scarf , his mouth opened but Goki was momentarily quiet as he contemplated the idea of his live-in ghost roommate peeping on him. Priya couldn’t even meet his eyes if he was walking around without a shirt on, but that didn’t preclude her from getting an eyeful while she was creeping around invisibly. There have been times when he knew she was there in the shadows and had to call her out for eavesdropping.

Maybe she had peeped… maybe she was shy, but he couldn’t confidently discount her being a little pervy.

“She, uh…” The big man started as he glanced over at Tati in time to see snowflakes dusting her cheeks. He reached over to brush it off with a knuckle. “She just plays games on my computer. Sometimes she gets pissed at me if I kick her off though. I don’t think she’s ever perved out on me though.”

It sounded ridiculous when he said it aloud. He had a ghost roommate who played on his computer. Bizarre.

[Tatiana Morozov]

A ghost that plays games on his computer. They could do that? Even dead? What a whirlwind that must be, to be dead but yet you can enjoy video games while being stuck at some point in your life. She smiled some, her head shaking a little bit at him.

“You should get your ghost friend her own computer...since she can't buy her own, ” she suggested as her hip bumped against his side. The touch of his knuckle against her icy skin sent a jolt of warmth through her face, her eyes closing as her head just tilted into the touch.

He made her feel safe and warm. “Any other roommates? ” she asked, wondering if he had a goblin in the cabinets or something at this rate.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

Goki chuckled at the idea of buying Priya her own rig, but shook his head. What would a ghost do with a computer? It wasn’t like he could leave it with her when he moved out.

There hadn’t been any talk about it but suddenly the thought of moving out suddenly struck him as deeply saddening. He would miss it. Smiling faintly as Tati tipped her face into his hand, he nodded affirmative.

“Yeah, my friend Max,” he answered. “You’ll probs meet him if you come over. He’s cool.”

[Tatiana Morozov]

“You know, I am glad to hear- does he know zhat you snore like a broken chainsaw at least? ” she asked, her tone playfully teasing as she wrapped an arm through his and held onto it. The cold had been making her sleepier as of late and he was like a comfortable warm pillow that soothed her.

“How much longer? ” she wanted to get out of the snow and cold, away from the whisper on the wind that spoke of a promise that she'd been hearing about nightly now.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

The big man shook his head, rolling his eyes at Tati's accusation. He didn't snore, as far as he knew. However, if he did to the degree Tati accused him of, he was sure the werewolf with super hearing would've pointed it out by now. Her next impatient question got a low laugh out of Goki, and he turned to walk backward and look back at the hotel, which was still in sight.

“Woman, we just left,” he taunted good-naturedly. “Why? You wanna run? We haven't even picked where to go!”

[Tatiana Morozov]

“Anyvhere vith fries sounds amazing ” she told him, shaking her head a little as she smiled, “Sorry...anxious I can't help it alright. I don't sleep vell and am living off of coffee, ” she told him with a small humph to that.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

Dissolving into snickers, Goki slung his arm over Tati’s shoulders and drew her in close to to his side. “Yeah, I think I know a place here with some good fries,” he said, before plucking at the collar of her jacket, teasing her even as he hunched against another gust of wind. “Need me to carry you?”

The way he said it was more of that needling, promising that he might do it if Tati said yes, but it might not be pleasant.

[Tatiana Morozov]

“Zhen lets go to zhat place, ” she told him with a small nod before a brow lifted. Oh dear, it was hard to not take him up on that, “Da...my legs are much too frozen, ” she said, her tone relaxing and far more playful than it had been before.

How the heck did he do that? Turn her worry into something playful and funny.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

“You big baby,” Goki shot back before turning to Tati and swiftly bending to loop his arms around her thighs. Straightening, he'd hoist her over his shoulder and start walking down the street with long, purposeful strides. Since they decided where to go, he looked forward to a big basket of cheesy fries.

[Tatiana Morozov]

“I am no- OH! ” she yelped out before laughing her ass off at him actually picking her up and slinging her over his shoulder like a sack of flour. She was laughing now, genuinely laughing at how ridiculous this was but sadly for her like this, he'd notice she was lighter than last time thanks to her stress.

Her head bobbed and bounced while her hands held onto his hips a bit, her long hair brushing down into the snow as he walked. “Goki! ” She laughed, wriggling around, not even paying attention to anything other than how silly this was.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

Now that he didn't have Tati's short legs to contend with, Goki took full advantage of a faster pace. Pulling his phone out, he wiped snowflakes off the screen onto his trousers before taking a look at the map. All the while he ignored her protest, jostling her on his shoulder to get her to stop wiggling.

“This is what you asked for!” he crowed in English, offering a broad grin to a pair watching them from across the street. He didn't want to be mistaken for a kidnapper, although it was clear from their tones that they were having fun on this frozen evening.

[Tatiana Morozov]

It was nice, she forgot what was going on and just laughed! The blood rushed around her head as her long hair bounced and swayed to his walking pace while she just gasped and laughed before taking aim and smacking him squarely on the backside for that!

“I did not believe you vould toss me over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes! ” she said laughing and wriggling around a bit but not enough to actually try and escape; it was far too entertaining to stay like this honestly.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

Tati's hand landed squarely on Goki's ass and he yelped, his voice frying slightly. It didn't hurt as much as surprise him. Jostling her on his shoulder, his retribution came swiftly as he wrapped his arms around her thighs and smacked her backside in return.

“It's like you don't even know me,” he chuckled, hunching his shoulders against another rush of cold air.

[Tatiana Morozov]

Laughing, she was truly laughing now before a yelping gasp left her as he spanked her backside in retaliation!

“Zhat is my butt! ” she said with a laugh as she landed another swat to HIS BUTT AGAIN! Not like she was going anywhere right now so she was going to land what she could!

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

“It is!” he agreed with a bright laugh, before once again retaliating by slapping her ass in return. “I can do this all night if you keep whacking me!”

[Tatiana Morozov]

A yelping laugh left her, smiling as she gripped the waistband of his pants to sort of prop herself up a bit, “So can I! Keep it up I vill stick my cold hands under your shirt, ” she threatened him.

Oh she was going to anyways, didn't matter what he did as she shed a glove and then stuck her icy hand right against his tailbone.

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

“Oh my Go-” The rest of the exclamation was lost as Tati's freezing fingers snuck under his shirt, and he jolted with discomfort. Shifting his hips to get them away from her hands, Goki jostled the smaller woman again, trying to pull her forward so she would sit up in his arms.

He could hold her slight frame with no effort, his arms wrapped around her thighs. He exhaled a plume of moisture as he scowled up at her. “I'll drop you,” he threatened, lowly. “Then I'll run away.”

[Tatiana Morozov]

It was the first time that her cold skin was a boon to her because of this reaction. She was laughing at the little dance he was doing over her cold hands against his warm skin. Goodness it felt nice though to have something warm pressing against her cold palms to eat through the ice.

She was laughing as he adjusted her in his arms, her hands escaping from under his shirt as she just laughed, “No do not do zhat...zhat vould be mean, ” she gasped, laughing still as she leaned in to him a bit now, “You vould have done ze same if you ver colder zhen ice and you know it. ”

[Tanaka Gokiburi]

Goki scowled as Tati declared that dropping her icy ass and booking it would be mean. Of course it would be mean. That was the point.

“There's some kinda double standard here,” he groused. “It's okay to play ice-hand grab ass but I can't yeet you into the snow and run?”