the one where makima pops bocchi the rock

[overlies]

Who: makima & co! that could be you!
What: a few closed prompts for housemates and random open prompts for any wanted run-ins! also open to plotting and wildcards!
When: post mob's explosion, throughout the rest of march + april
Where: the dog house (you can't tell me that's not what house makima is called), the entertainment feed, other locations to be determined!

Content Warnings: psychological & emotional manipulation, devil contracts, gaslighting, victim blaming, body swapping, zombie dogs, violence, more tba if/as they come.

Comments

[overlies]

The way I see it, there are no downsides.

[ for her. and in her head, there isn't a downside anyway. not for shigeo, and not for anyone. they all win. people are safe, mob's power is under control, and mob is her's. she's certain they'll start yipping when it comes to their agency and "freedom", but really . . . they don't know what's best for them anyway.

but the boy thinks, and makima notices. she tips her head to the side like one who's observed an unwanted kink, and thus smooths it down with her voice. so firm and certain, and so very soft, like velvet draping off the shoulders. ]

Perhaps it was I who hadn't been clear as to what I could offer at the time, so that's on me. [ if that'd make anything more understandable. ] I have a feeling he understood it as more an external guidance.

[ but— no matter. but what does matter: ]

He's already agreed to what I want most of him: to be himself during the process. I'd take care of the rest.

[ but the binding, imprinting deal of the contract? that was between makima and shigeo. she wouldn't spill that to a soul. business was business, at least on her part. ]

[strongroots]

[ So there's no downsides. She said she saw none, and considering what's happened, what downsides could there be? And if she only wants Mob to be himself--that's what Mob deserves. Not to be racked by guilt, or scared of what was a part of him.

Robby wonders what there is that he can do. He'd like to know more, but asking about the details now doesn't seem right. She's living with Mob, there's a sense of trust between the two enough for Robby not to pry too deeply, and with her seeming so certain about what she's offering--

she's got a handle without him, without them needing to team up. But she had offered, so Robby asks, if only to search for his place after all this: ] So... is there anything I can do to help him? [ of course, because she doesn't need to say as much: ] I'll see him, and let him know everything's okay. No one's mad at him.

[ I'll support him, is his own offer. He's wanted to let Mob know all that already, even if there's already been plenty of people saying it. But he wants to, too. He wants to see Mob, and be there for him. Maybe--maybe say sorry, even. ]

[overlies]

There is, and it may be the most difficult task— but no less important.

[ makima pauses with her hands together. she knows this will be “tough”, and shows concern in her eyes. she doesn’t smile. ]

Have you ever heard the saying “If you love somebody, let them go”? [ by khalil gibran. but she pulled that out of her ass for the occasion. ] It’d be best to keep a certain distance for the time being, until we know he’s stable. The last thing I’d want is more harm upon both of you, and not only in the physical sense.

[ the poor thing can hardly remember daniel and feel panicked. do we want another one of those?

we do not. ]

I need him focused in places I cannot reach. [ she puts her hand on the teen’s shoulder, dips her head to meet his eyes— and it is there, where her smile begins to bloom an intoxicating persuasion. ] Keep your eyes on him. Guide him rationally, not emotionally. This, [ is the first step to breaking a pact. ] is the greatest help you could give.

[ maybe her words were wrong. maybe they would sound blatantly wrong to someone, but why is it that she could make it sound so, so true? ]

[strongroots]

[ If you love somebody, let them go.

Robby hears Miss Makima's words, but he can't predict where they lead; even with a saying popular, their meaning more than apparent, the conclusion--there's a flicker of disappointment, uncertainty in his eyes at the idea of separation. A conflict between his part in events (he knew, she said--and was Mob worse than he realised? Even if he was going out...), how he should approach the younger guy. Maybe he did need some more time.

It's a conclusion, a thought, that Robby might need more time to consider. But when Miss Makima looks at him, a golden hue that burns to look at--she's right.

Why couldn't she be right?

It takes a moment for his mouth to work, lips ajar, twitching with the words he's trying to find, but eventually, carefully: ]

What should I tell him?

[ To guide him, rationally. ]

[overlies]

The truth.

[ it's not too hard to piece two and two together; separation and distance being key only meant promoting such, as much as it hurt— and as much as makima is promoting the fact that all of this was a great deal of robby's fault. he's done such a good job owning up to her, she's certain that with the right lead, he will own up to shigeo. ]

Will you do that for me?

[strongroots]

[ The truth. He struggles with it, knowing what that is--the protest that had been in him before wanting to push itself up Robby's throat, but it doesn't make it that far. He'd fiddle with his hands if he wasn't holding the cup, and instead presses the pads of his fingers against them. ]

... Okay. [ But Robby does answer, despite the more hesitation; the lowering of his gaze speaking of the guilt that comes with it. The guilt that has to be there, if she's right about this too.

(And she will be--it'll worm itself inside him. What did he ever know about helping someone like Mob? He turned their training into games. He was stupid.) ]

I will, [ he adds on, as reinforcement. Looking at Miss Makima, rolling his lips together, not smiling, though trying to appear agreeable. ]

[overlies]

Excellent. [ and that's all there was to it. closing the verbal pact up with a little golden bow, she places a warm hand on his shoulder as she prepares to move out of her seat. ] You won't carry the burden alone. I'm with you in this, okay?

[ the only difference was that she didn't feel a lick of guilt. she's carrying on as if this was a simple, sealed business deal. oh, but his cup . . . has mostly been left untouched. makima brings her fingers to the mug to inspect the heat. ]

Your tea is getting cold— do you want me to heat it up for you?

[strongroots]

Uh- [ He looks at the cup, entirely forgotten as anything more than sometimes a thing to hold. There's nothing enticing about drinking it, either--his thoughts distracted, and he blinks with some furrowing of his brows as if in confusion as he thinks. ]

I should probably go, in case Mob comes back. I can take it into the kitchen and finish it. [ You know, quickly. He'll even wrap his fingers around the cup. ] Sorry--

[ Robby doesn't hurry to stand, but he can now, unless Miss Makima interrupts him. ]

[overlies]

Please.

[ “stay”, says both her smile and the reach her hand makes for his arm. ]

I know when he comes back. You can take the time you need to finish it, and heating it up should only take a minute. [ her dogs, at least a few of them, are crowding around the boy’s feet. sniffy sniffy— ] What’s that, Tiramisu? You don’t want to say bye-bye to the new friend?

[ her voice is playful and bouncy in her now baby-talk with the dogs . . . one of them woofs, while she prepares the stove for heating. ]

[strongroots]

[ Robby listens, if with a slight stiffen. An awkwardness born from the situation than from her touch itself, or particular about her (though it's a situation created by her). He smiles in a small and polite way, though Robby's distracted by the dogs that have started to come over with him sitting back down.

But he does stay as Miss Makima goes to the stove. Under other circumstances, he might give the dogs more attention, but he does pat a few of them on the head who seem to stick close.

But, it sure seems he's got to sit in this feeling--of guilt over Mob, his hands cup over the other in a fist. ]

a wrap....? :)

[overlies]

[ everything is quaint in this little home and organized kitchen. the dogs fail to show any signs of danger being close. to be quite honest, it looks fairly safe here.

makima heats up his tea, and continues short, probing talks about himself and the dojo. oh, but poor little guy . . . he's so uncomfortable. let her help you with that.

(because, gradually . . . doesn't it feel nice here? isn't makima just. great?) ]

wrap 🥹

[strongroots]

[ The guilt starts to ease as he speaks more, and despite an uncertain beginning--usual for anyone speaking to someone new. And Robby, he can be cautious, but it's somewhere in talking to Miss Makima, and maybe everything that's come before, it becomes easier.

And isn't that a good thing? That Mob's in such safe hands.

He'll even be glad upon leaving. This really all is such a good idea. Sometimes, you should let the people you love go. ]