onepromise: (04)
mai zen'in | 禪院真依 ([personal profile] onepromise) wrote2025-02-01 08:32 pm

and i think i'm ready / to let you get under my skin (for ~rockinghorse)

[Thank goodness for the Shinkansen.

Otherwise, Mai highly doubts she would have slummed it on a local train for almost half a day just to spend some time in Tokyo. As it is, she hardly bothers venturing to the capital city if it doesn't involve anything school-related-- and even then, she's the last person to be excited about participating in the first place. She far prefers her home campus in Kyoto to the sister-school where, unfunnily enough, her own sister attends. Just the thought of being in the same city as Maki annoys her to no end, but Mai takes mild comfort knowing that whatever plans she has wouldn't have interested her musclehead sister, anyway.

She won't admit it out loud, but the best part of today's trip is the fact that it doesn't involve school, or curses, or anything relating the life she was unfortunately born into and forced to remain in. Pretending to be utterly normal, even if for a day, is a luxury not meant for someone like her-- yet here she is curled up in her train seat and watching the world rush by, just like everyone else.

Of all of the impulsive decisions that she's made, this one might prove to be one of the very few that don't crumble into something wholly disappointing. Or, well, a girl can certainly wish.

At some point in their planning, Mai had insisted on meeting up at some karaoke joint-- Nana made no mention of any upcoming shows she'd be performing at, but Mai would be damned if she went back home without finding out if the woman was all-talk about her record deal and star talent. In another life, Mai might've been the type to join a group of girlfriends for singing as soon as the last school bell sounded. In this life, though, she's rubbing elbows with someone almost-famous, hundreds of miles away from home. She could do a whole lot worse for herself (and certainly has before).

She's reluctant to admit when she's lost, but it's obvious enough when she shows up a bit late to their hangout that Mai fumbled the directions along the way. Embarrassing. The excuse of not being all that familiar with the city is tidy enough and it's the truth, but Mai is still annoyed-- half with herself, and half with the city of Tokyo in general. When she spots Nana lingering outside of the building, she makes a half-decent effort to smooth the scowl from her face before approaching her side.]


These streets are so annoying. I don't know how anyone could get used to living here.

[As she speaks this brusque "greeting" of hers, Mai fishes around in her tote bag before pulling out a small box of a regional confection from her hometown. Without fanfare, she holds the gift out to Nana in the hopes that she'll do Mai the favor of taking it off of her hands.]

This was my friend's idea. Keep it, or give it away. I won't care either way, really.

[A lie; Momo might have been the one to insist on her bringing along a souvenir from Kyoto, but Mai is the one holding the box and the expectation of approval. A hereditary trait she loathes, honestly.]

So, what are the odds of this place having any of your originals to sing along to?
rockinghorse: (pic#17562227)

[personal profile] rockinghorse 2025-04-14 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
( as the song came to a memorable end that nana had heard far too many times before, she remained still as the weight of the intensity of her performance began to come down her body. it was such an intense thing that her skin was coated in a familiar trail of goosebumps and her breathing was just a bit more harder than before. not long though, mai was speaking to her and pulling her from the moment.

she turned briefly, placing down the mic onto the table and began to reach for a bite of the food that had been brought earlier. she remained silent for now, opting to eat as she looked at mai with a soft face before her eyes skirted towards the door to see the crowd of eyes looking in on them. )


Sure, go nuts. If you do a good job I might even consider hiring you as my personal body guard.

( it's a soft joke meant to sway away the intense feelings she felt now— it was a strange thing to be complimented, to boast about her talents in such a way. she wasn't quite proud of doing this now and while mai had pushed her, she wasn't sure if this was a good idea.

nana had never been too good at being prideful all things considered. )

Just make sure they don't get in here, would hate for this to end up on some cheesy tabloid.