( there were plenty of minor and middling demons that wouldn't have been able to meet makoto's gaze so readily, but then again, his reputation preceded him there — the mysterious former human that J had taken in as his ward, who had taken to the turbulent waters of hell far better than someone with his history should have been able to. that ignorance probably helps here, sure, but makoto isn't willing to write it all off as that. the other boy has an iron nerve, enough to help buoy him through interacting with a creature who is clearly no longer human.
but he doesn't miss that faint twitch of the eye either. he suppresses the instinct for his smile to take a far more impish twist. anything he learned about what it was that the stranger despised was another piece of ammunition he could slip subtly up his sleeve for later.
his eyebrows arch leadingly at the stranger's brusque assertion — he would hate to have it pointed out to him, but it's very much a response that he's picked up from J, something to egg him into continuing without giving away too much of his own thoughts on the matter. he is more observant than he would expect of many high school delinquents, though to stop there is a race only half-run. his inferences aren't really on the nose, but it's at least an effort. makoto lifts a hand to thumb the ridge of his jaw, his pale eyes tracking the line of the gesture toward where the armed guards stood, ringing their encampment.
he seems to take it into careful consideration for a moment before his smile returns, slick and oddly serpentine. ) I would have considered it, but I've already found them to be... less than talkative on the way here, ( said as he moves the same hand away from his jaw and towards his throat — it's easy to miss, given how distracting the scar and stitches there are, but there are some fading bruises camouflaged in the same place, courtesy of one of those whips. he sweeps his hair over one shoulder. ) I'm not expecting anyone to have answers. Just passing the time.
( a lie, of course — he's trying to measure the people he finds himself surrounded by — but makoto has found being underestimated can give him useful advantages. one can think of him as a coward all they like, because in certain ways they would be correct, but it carries its own risk — it only makes it more of a shock when it becomes apparent what he's capable of. )
Besides, ( he continues, his tone honeying, ) it doesn't seem like that approach has been going all that well for you so far.
tbh i only got into it recently and i'm obsessed! and PLEASE if you do let me know... i would love
but he doesn't miss that faint twitch of the eye either. he suppresses the instinct for his smile to take a far more impish twist. anything he learned about what it was that the stranger despised was another piece of ammunition he could slip subtly up his sleeve for later.
his eyebrows arch leadingly at the stranger's brusque assertion — he would hate to have it pointed out to him, but it's very much a response that he's picked up from J, something to egg him into continuing without giving away too much of his own thoughts on the matter. he is more observant than he would expect of many high school delinquents, though to stop there is a race only half-run. his inferences aren't really on the nose, but it's at least an effort. makoto lifts a hand to thumb the ridge of his jaw, his pale eyes tracking the line of the gesture toward where the armed guards stood, ringing their encampment.
he seems to take it into careful consideration for a moment before his smile returns, slick and oddly serpentine. ) I would have considered it, but I've already found them to be... less than talkative on the way here, ( said as he moves the same hand away from his jaw and towards his throat — it's easy to miss, given how distracting the scar and stitches there are, but there are some fading bruises camouflaged in the same place, courtesy of one of those whips. he sweeps his hair over one shoulder. ) I'm not expecting anyone to have answers. Just passing the time.
( a lie, of course — he's trying to measure the people he finds himself surrounded by — but makoto has found being underestimated can give him useful advantages. one can think of him as a coward all they like, because in certain ways they would be correct, but it carries its own risk — it only makes it more of a shock when it becomes apparent what he's capable of. )
Besides, ( he continues, his tone honeying, ) it doesn't seem like that approach has been going all that well for you so far.