[Aki seriously doubts it, at this point. Denji still underestimates
people - and considering he thinks Angel is no big deal to him, he thinks
he would definitely fail to expect what he would bring in a fight. But he
doesn't say that, instead only offering him a, "Sure you would" roll of the
eyes. And joining them...]
I'm trying to give you a chance to show you've grown up a little, here.
Since your first outing with a devil. [You know, the one where Aki
had to save his sorry ass from a leech devil.] I don't -
[But over his shoulder, Angel calls out: "I don't want to go with
him." Aki looks at him, but he's facing forward again, not looking in their
direction. Just how much of that was he able to hear...? Devils are
awful.]
...And I don't want to go with you two. [A win win,
apparently.]
Denji twitches at the call, eyes turning to look ahead at the same time Aki does. And when they settle back into their conversation, he's right in step with him, unruffled by the extra input from Angel. ]
Whatever, it was just an idea. I don't care what you do.
[ Mouth pursing, his gaze drops a level, his expression a kind of cross between a scowl and a pout. He notices that he forgot to roll his sleeve cuffs up, so he starts fussing with that as he goes on to say: ] I'll show him a good time. He'll see a badass monster eat tons of people and dirt and things, have some candy, watch me rock at karaoke, and then… I dunno, maybe we'll do something else. Or maybe we'll stop by the apartment before he's gotta head back.
[ A beat. ]
And, fine, I'll pay for the stupid cab rides to keep him far away from folks. [ Since it'd be easy for the train car to rock a certain way and, whoops, there he goes bumping into someone. ] You can relax.
[Aki starts to tell him Angel does just fine on trains, that he's more than capable of keeping away from people and they've ridden the express line during rush hour a couple times without issue... But also, it's probably better not to risk it. Better to keep him on the straight and narrow.]
[He lets him off after that, just with a note to hold onto his button so he can sew it back on tonight. If his shirt survives the day, anyway. Once they're at the bureau and Aki is looking over incoming reports to see if help is needed in Shibuya, he's interrupted by the dangerously sweet sound of the boss calling him, looking into the office with that usual unreadable smile on her face before asking Aki if she can talk to him privately for a minute.]
[God, he's so fucked. He takes in a brief but steadying breath before following her out, the pleasure of talking to her mixing in a slurry with the dread of the anticipated dressing down over what Denji and Angel pulled.]
[Not that any of that filters down to them. The week goes by normally enough. He doesn't scold either of them and Makima doesn't talk to either of them about what happened either. It's not that it's been brushed under the rug, just... handled. He already made them both feel bad about it (he guesses) and redirected their problem-causing to a sanctioned hang-out session on the weekend, which is sent through the proper channels and approved easily. Mostly because it's Angel and mostly because Aki is the one putting his seal on it. So, by the time Saturday arrives, Angel is sitting in the garden out front, watching clouds roll across the sky. Still in uniform. He doesn't own any other clothes.]
[Truthfully, he's not that excited. He doesn't want to do something he knows he's not going to enjoy. Denji is probably going to end up being too touchy and close to him and some random human is going to end up freaking out and it's just going to be a mess of a day.]
[But Makima said something about popcorn. That he'll probably like it with butter, so he should make sure to order it like that. For some reason he's thinking about that.]
[ A good, normal week for Denji is usually one he doesn't remember much of by the end. That is, if he's done a well enough job of tilling the city, seeding the cracks in the streets and sidewalks with devil viscera. Just hot metal streaking out, plummeting, wherever Makima points her finger to.
It is what it is — a living, first and foremost, but his memory can be kinda crap because of it. Hard to keep track of things when so much is always happening simultaneously. It actually took Aki reminding him the night before, as well as the morning of (five minutes after Denji snoozed his alarm) to build out time to get ready, to have breakfast, to pack his things. He's so annoying. But without him, he'd probably be even further behind schedule than he already is.
Denji begs the driver to wait on standby before booking it into the courtyard. Given his extra attachments, sighting Angel is easy and fast; he hollers out to him at about halfway into reaching him: ] Heeey! [ He probably doesn't need to go the whole distance, the call really all he needs to beckon him, but Denji still draws nearer to him, his face blocking out his view of the sky. ]
What're you lookin' at? Let's go! We're gonna miss the previews.
[The sudden loud shout irks him just a bit, like a pinch to the side. Angel lowers his head to watch Denji approach, not bothering to get up until he's actually over there. The longer he can stay sitting, the better.]
Previews? [What, for other movies? He's never been to a movie, but he remembers hearing humans talk about seeing advertisements for other movies before them. Discussing which ones they want to see.] It's not like I'm going to see any of them.
[But he does get up, stretching his arms up high before dropping them with a sigh.] Okay, let's get it over with...
[Like he wasn't the one who literally requested this.]
Yeah, but that's the fun part… [ Denji keeps up with him, pointing at the cab to steer their direction. Not like Angel's moving that fast. ] Even if you don't see any of them, you can decide how bad or good it looks from the couple seconds they give ya! And, like, be all judgy.
[ Man, this guy's drought of energy is really killing his own enthusiasm…
Though they spent an entire night together, half of which was with an actual purpose in mind, the other half with another person in their company. How the hell are they going to manage a whole day migrating from point to point? They're going to wind up speeding through their itinerary if he doesn't approach anything with curiosity! Honestly.
He yanks the car door open, sliding to the far side of the backseat before Angel. Once he's in, he can see the driver blink into the rearview mirror, not expecting his second passenger to be, well, a devil. And so obviously one at that. He starts to protest, but Denji pats the back of the driver's headrest, perhaps more forceful than what's respectful. ]
Hey, big guy, couldja speed up? We've got a tight schedule here — right?
[ He steals a glance at Angel, clearly trying to garner his assist, not unlike when he was trying to pose as Aki. ]
[Be judgy... Considering the conversations he was just thinking about, that surprisingly tracks.]
[Angel follows Denji to the cab and naturally things get sticky from here. Denji didn't do the routine, he realizes. Aki Hayakawa alwasy approaches the driver at his window and shows his badge and explains who Angel is - what he is - and gives off an air of authority and control while doing so. Sometimes the driver still puts up a fuss and he'll narrow his eyes, click his tongue, mutter something about how they're going to be late. Kind of like what Denji's doing, but more dignified, less pointed. Sometimes that works. Sometimes the threat of not helping out the greater good convinces a taxi driver to let a devil in the back seat. But other times they'll curse him out, tell him like hell they'll let that thing in their cab. Speed off as Aki stands there looking vaguely annoyed. But never at Angel, himself.]
Um... [He pats in his jacket, trying to find that little identification paper he'd used last time in the convenience store. When he pulls it out, the driver tenses, like he's about to unveil a weapon.] I'm from Public Safety. We're going to a movie.
[If it's supposed to convince him, it barely does, the driver now looking at Denji like, Why are you bringing a devil to a movie theater? Angel slides the paper back in his pocket, like he just accomplished whatever he was trying to do with that.]
He wants to see the previews, so he's antsy about it. [Like Denji is the issue, here.]
[ Briskly whispered to Angel, as if he's barely containing himself from reaching over to whop his shoulder or something: ] Don't say it that way. You make me sound like I'm gonna piss myself!
[ The driver's still looking at him, his face now distorted in a cringe, like his main concern is no longer that he's commuting a devil to a theater, but that a teenager may wet himself and soil his backseat on the way there. Pulling a nasty face, Denji fishes inside the open pocket of his crossbody bag and thrusts his Public Safety badge forward, nearly punches it into the side of the guy's face. Probably should have done from the very beginning, but he only got the idea after Angel showed off his papers first. ]
See, dude? We're legit. Now stomp on the gas or else I'll do it for ya.
[ Not so much convinced by either their explanations or fancy documents, but threatened into submission, their vehicle finally begins to pull out into the street with a jerk, tires squealing. The driver seems dead set on avoiding eye contact with either of them during the ride, and making this one as quick as possible. In fact, Denji's pretty sure his foot never eases off the gas once since he entered traffic, like he's speeding just to get them out of his cab. ]
Uh, woah there — [ Denji yelps, bouncing back in his seat, scrambling to get his seat belt on. He glances at Angel. ] Hey, you, get your belt on, too! It's the rules!
[Oh, okay. So it really does work best with human ID. The car jerks forward and Angel jostles in his seat. This would definitely be the kind of situation that would make someone pee, so it's safe to say the driver doesn't think that of Denji.]
[The seatbelt digs into his back when they make a harsh turn and he glances at Denji, watches him pull his own on while ordering him to wear his. But he doesn't like to wear them. His wings don't stretch out enough if they're blocked by the seatbelt and the flat of the fabric feels uncomfortable on his feathers. Plus...]
I heard car accidents are a common way of dying.
[So wouldn't that be nice, to die in a car accident right now. Sure, the driver might die, too, but Denji would probably be okay. Again he jostles to the other side and pushes a hand into the cushion between them, trying to stay upright.]
[Maybe this is what it's like an amusement park rides? He's seen those on big posters downtown. People always look so happy riding them.]
Have you ever been on a roller coaster?
[They jerk to a stop at a red light, the driver tapping impatiently on the wheel until it turns green and he can sprint forward again. Because the devil in the back seat started talking about car accidents and roller coasters and that's got to be a bad combo.]
[ Rollercoaster? Where the hell is this guy's head at right now?
Denji's about to ask if a Rollercoaster Devil counts, but his head whips forward at the abrupt stop, the retractor mechanism in his belt triggering and packing him back from banging into the driver's seat in front of him. The band's so tight it feels as if someone had clove hitched him to his seat. Rubbing a hand under the the belt to stretch it out from its chokehold on his windpipe, he seethes out through clenched teeth — ]
Believe me, dude, in a lousy ass ride like this, a seat belt could kill ya just fine. Might even snap your neck, instant! So why dontcha quit mumbling and try your luck —
[ The driver sets off again, making sharp turns that have Denji gagging in pain, when his back crashes into his seat again, then growling, because he even anticipated his assholery and still got got. Damn it, he can't take this anymore.
Without warning, he launches toward Angel's side of the car, one arm trying to brace against his collar so that he can rip the belt strap across his chest and into the buckle. He wouldn't usually be so forceful about something like this. Life and death, whose clock runs out, when — none of that's ever mattered to Denji. But Aki's snobby voice loops in his ears, "Your job is protecting people, not killing devils." And apparently Angel's safety is the public's safety, even if the current public is a raging dick who should get his license revoked!
Besides, if a civilian died because Angel brushed up against him as he volleyed through the windshield, he'd probably get into trouble… ]
There, now just sit back —
[ "We're here," the driver announces at the same time Denji speaks. "Now get you and your devil out." ]
[Since when would a seatbelt snap his neck? It doesn't even go across his neck! Maybe it would split his stomach open? But before he can debate possible ways to be bisected by a seatbelt Denji is leaning over him and shoving his hands all over his personal space to attach the seat belt and Angel very badly wants to shove him away, but instead his body goes tense and still and teeth are grit tight as he tries to turn away from the touch, like Denji is as poisonous to him as he is to Denji.]
You're so...
[And then the car lurches to a stop as Denji finishes buckling him in and before the driver can finish speaking Angel is up and out of the car, faster than Denji has probably ever seen him moving.]
[He has half a mind to just walk home. This is stupid. He couldn't go two seconds without getting that close to him, so what's going to keep him from dropping dead before the day is over? But it's annoying, because Denji's apparent belief that he can't be killed is worming its way into Angel's brain, too. He doesn't know if his touch will kill a half-devil, half-human. Especially not one who bouces back from the goriest of deaths with a rip of that cord. In fact, he touched that cord and nothing happened. Is it just different, like how his wings and halo are safe to touch?]
[Regardless, they're not things he's willing to test. Casting a glare over his shoulder, he waits for Denji to get out before speaking.]
Do you know how mad he'd be if you died today?
[Maybe if he doesn't care about Angel's personal space he'll consider the impact of his death on Aki.]
[ Denji sends a disgruntled look after Angel's back, his form sailing out of the car like a kite catching wind. He'd be chasing hot after him, face nearly in his feathers, if this stupid driver weren't staring very pointedly at him, waiting for his fare. He watches him snatch the crushed up bills from his hand, recounting the total before staring silently ahead without thanks or farewell, clearly expecting him to also make his departure in the same fashion. Squeals out there just barely after Denji's backed away and slammed the door shut, exhaust spewing out from its rear pipe. Good for him, because given a few extra seconds, Denji would have definitely made time to poke a couple extra holes through his wheels. Jackass.
When he finally turns to focus on Angel, it's… Honestly, it's with great reluctance — from one angry person to another, with him today. But this time, it's actually his fault, he knows. He crossed another line with him. Saw it in the way his wings shifted back, his face turned away like Denji has some contagious respiratory disease, or whatever. So yeah, he's expecting a tongue-lashing of some sort. Just not him to bring up Aki. ]
Are you friggin' kidding me?
[ It was Aki who told him to be careful with Angel. Make sure he gets around safe and crap. Ugh. ]
Who cares if he gets mad? [ Denji stomps past him, shoving his wallet back into his bag. Aki gets mad at him for nearly anything he does thoughtlessly. Dying probably being one of them, maybe, but it's not like it'd mean much to him long-term. Not the way something else would. ] Hate me touching you so much? Put on your own damn belt next time. He'd be sad if you died.
[ He only pauses up ahead to glance over his shoulder, make sure Angel's following. ]
Now come on. We still gotta get the good stuff before the movie starts.
[What does that have to do with anything...? Angel watches him storm off, brows knitted in a perturbed and annoyed stare. His whole point is that touching him is dangerous, yet he keeps doing it. Why doesn't he seem to understand that...?]
[But he follows dutifully behind, keeping a few steps back, farther than he would with Aki. The thing is, usually when he's with Aki, Aki is in uniform, not casual clothes like Denji is. It makes it look less like he's part of Public Safety and more like he's just a rogue devil wandering around in a work suit. Barely any different from a salaryman heading home on Halloween. There are a few quiet mutters around, moreso compared to the other night. Maybe because the area is more crowded...? He doesn't know.]
[Usually he can ignore this sort of stuff but with Denji acting like he does, without a visible buffer between him and all these damn people, he can feel his mood crashing. This was such a bad idea. Such a stupid idea. Why would he even want to see a monster movie, anyway? He shoves his hands in his pockets and lets out a long, beleagured sigh.]
...She said to get butter on the popcorn. [Muttered, before he forgets. At least one good thing may as well come from this. Realizing he didn't specify and usually this is when Aki would give him a questioning look, he adds,] Makima.
[ Satisfied to see that he hasn't run off, he turns back around and leads them past the entrance, as well as the lines of people at the kiosk, still trying to get their tickets. But when Angel says that, Denji's steps come to a halt. Back suddenly straight. He doesn't glance at him again, instead looking around, searchingly — and oh, there it is. The concessions. ]
…Hm. Buttered popcorn sounds good right about now!
[ He says it extra loud, acting like the thought just appeared in his head, freezing out the agitation clear in his posture, and wasn't actually a suggestion posed by Makima — or Angel, her mouthpiece in this case. ]
Ah, that line's short. [ The smarter move would be to direct Angel to stand somewhere vacant in the back, waiting for him, but instead Denji begins maneuvering them the way toward a less populated line. One of the best parts about the theater is seeing the candy selection up close, the waft of popcorn spilling out from the overly full cases, the grilling hot dogs. Denji hasn't been the nicest during this excursion so far, but — well, this thing is for Angel. He should be able to look at stuff without being at distance. Life's boring, otherwise. ]
See, they actually have different flavors outside of butter! I'm like thiiis — [ His fingers pinch, like 🤏. ] — positive ya can get half-and-half of the cuh — curu — [ … ] The brown popcorn. Think about what you want, and we'll get it. Aki gave us extra cash, so…
[The concessions smell really good. He knew there would be sweets but he didn't know there would be full-on food. It's good that Denji doesn't ditch him in some corner but also bad - because now he knows what he can ask for, and he's not great at making quick decisions.]
[Especially when told there can be a combo. A combo, really... But what if he just wants one flavor? But something sweet and salty would be nice, too... Would butter really be that good? But Makima is the one who suggested it, and she probably wouldn't tell him a bad flavor. He thinks. But there's hot dogs, too, and those big pretzels, and not to mention the candy boxes. It's a lot to choose from, and Denji picked a short line. They're at the register in no time and Angel is still only staring at the popcorn machine behind the part-time clerk who, while nicer than the taxi driver, seems just as concerned by the presence of an obvious devil. And a delinquent, judging by Denji's look.]
...I want one of everything.
[Aki definitely did not give them enough for "one of everything."]
[ The sweat on the part-timer's face is more than apparent, as is the look they pass over their shoulder, seeking help from someone nearby. Likely their manager. But for all this occurring directly in front of him, it goes unnoticed by Denji. That, or purely disregarded. ]
You heard him. One of everything.
[ Aki may not have given them enough, and he may not have been able to make off with his card this time, but there's at least one saving grace on his side. Da-daaan — he holds up his phone device, smug, as if he were holding an authorization badge. The screen is brightened with what appears to be his account details with the theater's rewards program… and an excessive amount of redeemable points?!
At the hesitation still preventing the clerk from beginning the transaction, Denji pushes his device toward them again, shaking it with extra impatience. ]
What's the big deal? Scan my code and get movin' already! That should discount some of the stuff, right?
[ The points were properly collected immediately after his date with Makima, as part of his bid to watch as many flicks as possible to make conversation with her, maybe be the one to pay instead for their next movie marathon. But nothing's actually come of that, since her schedule's always so packed. Anyway, some manager-type does eventually step in to adjust and readjust his rounded glasses at Denji's phone screen, before beginning to ring up one of each individual item, combination meals excluded. So by the end, they have a little gathering of exactly as Angel request, one of everything. One popcorn tub with a divider in the middle of both buttered and caramel flavors, a hot dog, pretzel, churro, pizza slice, a candy box, a soda, some nachos… The list goes on, and somehow they're walking away with all of it.
[Human IDs really can do anything. That's what he thinks when he watches Denji flash his phone at the part timer.]
[At first, Angel keeps taking stuff off the counter as it's handed over simply because he wants to eat it. Once they're walking away and he realizes he has more than half of everything that was ordered and he's liable to drop it all on the ground and lose it all... He's realizing this may not have been the best idea. But.]
I got it...
[He pulls his wings forward, the feathers intertwining in front of him to create something like a net or a woven fabric. Angel carefully pulls his arms out from his sea of food and the wings manage to hold them in place against him, pushing in flat near his stomach so not even a single piece of popcorn can fall out onto the floor.]
Yeah.
[See? This is just like when they killed that boar devil and Aki wouldn't let him take back as much as he wanted to. He could have carried it. But that day they got to have donburi so he can't be that mad about it.]
[When they finally make it into the theater, their seating choice means they have to walk in front of pretty much everyone just to get to their seat. It's crowded but the room is still lit, thankfully, making it easy to navigate, and Angel follows after Denji without complaint, wings holding everything with no problem. They get some stares, obviously, though whether it's because he's a devil or because they have a buffet of food, he doesn't really know. Either way, once they finally sit and he can begin moving everything around in his wings with his hands, Angel actually looks somewhat content. Like he's in his element. Sitting down with a lot of food. This is perfect.]
[There's some mumbling behind them. A few voices from other moviegoers. Is that a devil? Are those wings real? Wait, is that light gonna be on for the whole movie? But Angel doesn't even turn around, taking a piece of popcorn resting against the edge of his wings and tossing it into his mouth.]
Huh, that's pretty nifty… It's like you have double the hands. Like four of 'em.
[ Yes, two normal-sized hands and two giant-sized feathery ones.
For better or for worse, Denji seems to have lightened up a smidge, watching Angel carry most of their freight in. It's like having one of those collapsible grocery wagons or dollies around he's seen at the department store. He's always wanted one, in particular because it looked fun to ride in and have Power pull him around, but now he can sort of see other uses for them!
Astonishment aside, he does take inventory of the glances falling their way, the whispers. They stop by some of the floor staff on their way in for Denji to once again whip out of his Public Safety identification and insist they're present due to "very important recon purposes" on the premises… And even though the two of them looked at one another, as if to ask how one could possibly do "recon" seated in the audience (and front row at that), they agreed to dismiss any concerned reports from moviegoers about there being a devil.
Seated together, Denji begins to arrange his portion of the food around their armrests, the cup holders, his lap and knees — with all of it splayed out, it does strike him as a bit much, but oh well. If Aki were here, maybe he would have thought of the idea of using certain trays as individual plates to split up some their fare up in a kind of sampler smorgasbord, then place the rest aside at their feet or something…
But since he isn't, Denji's perfectly happy with their current mess of a setup. ]
Hey. You should put the popcorn in the middle. I don't wanna reach over you again.
[He's pretty cozy like this. The theater is a little chilly so with his wings wrapped around him he feels warm. They're pretty close to the screen, but so far they're just showing still images of advertisements so it's not so bad.]
[And for once... When Denji asks him to move the popcorn over, Angel only hesitates for a moment. And it's mostly due to not being sure how to do it. He looks at the little boat of a container holding the hot dog that's balanced precariously between his wing and the popcorn bucket and, deciding not to risk dropping it, instead picks it up and simply shoves the entire thing in his mouth, taking the hot dog down his throat in a single bite.]
[Someone behind them who was probably staring at the scene chokes. But Angel swallows, wiping a crumb off his finger, then manages to adjust the rest of the things to be able to remove the popcorn bucket safely as everything else settles in his lap.]
Here. [And he places it beside him, his wings sliding back to give him room to take it without touching them, either.]
[ Denji makes a lightly indignant noise as he watches their only hot dog disappear inside Angel's gullet. He didn't know his mouth could even open that wide — and, hey, weren't they supposed to share that?! Augh, whatever… Power's worse about hogging crap, so it's not as he isn't used to it… And they technically have more than enough other stuff to go around…
Pouting, he essentially punches his whole fist into the caramel side of the tub, grabbing as much as he can fill inside his cupped hand, a few puffy kernels tumbling down to the floor while he stuffs his mouth. It's so yummy, the scowl on his face suddenly disappears as he grabs some more. ]
Y'see? That's the stuff. I thought it was weird and, like, poopy-lookin' at first, but the hard shell's made out of — [ He pauses, thinking. Another fistful mushes into his mouth, sending more kernels into his lap. ] …Actually, I dunno, I mean — I'm not sure. I think it's basically sugar. Pretty sure that's what Miss Makima said. Anyway, it tastes good, right?
[ …The caramel side is about at halfway empty now, so they'll have to make do with mostly eating from the buttered side throughout the duration of the actual movie. In a fashion, eating a ton of your snacks before the movie's started is also a quintessential moviegoers experience. So, really, he's doing a tremendous job at showing Angel the ropes!
When it comes close to time for the lights to dim, Denji reminds Angel to go to the restroom a few extra times, trying to impress upon him how annoying it is when someone gets up in the middle of the movie. Movie theater etiquette and all that, which is rich coming from him, seeing how each time a new straggler funnels into the theater, a shocked look speeding their way, Denji chooses to ignore it. Like, what can they do at this point? Hang a jacket over Angel's halo? Then that'd be blocking everyone's view, and that's more rude! It's better if they just deal with it. ]
Seriously. [ Denji leans over again, voice dropped into a whisper as the lights begin to reduce in intensity. ] You better not pee in the middle of it!
[Each part is a little better than the last. If Denji actually thought he was going to be sharing any of this, or had the intention or willpower to hold back and allow the sharing, then he surely doesn't know Angel and his relation to food at all. He doesn't begrudge Denji for taking anything and, in turn, expects him not to begrudge him for taking anything in turn. He can have the whole side of caramel popcorn if he likes while Angel contents himself with slowly ripping apart the pretzel and eating it like that, occasionally grabbing a piece of popcorn, a sip from the way-too-sweet drink, a piece of candy... There's no real rhyme or reason, sometimes it's just where his hand reaches out to next. When Denji starts bothering him about going to the bathroom over and over, he finally huffs an annoyed sound and the theater goes dark (though their area stays dimly lit thanks to the ever-present nightlight).]
Devils don't pee.
[They do, but that's not really the point right now. He isn't about to explain how his digestion works. Someone behind him (maybe the same guy who watched him deepthroat a hotdog) grunts a quick, "Huh?!" at that statement, but Angel isn't paying attention. The movie is apparently going to start.]
[He doesn't know what he was expecting this movie to be about; the failure to defend your fallen comrades in the face of great destruction brought about by humanity's own hubris and journey toward self-annihilation wasn't it. Angel doesn't know a lot about human politics but it's pretty easy to follow everything. But when the main character's love interest is presumed dead and the man grits himself for revenge against some beast a hundred times his own size and a million times as powerful, Angel can't stomach his growing discomfort. His growing unease in the face of a suicidal attack as everyone around him tells him how stupid he is. How he's not going to win. How it's not worth dying for something like this. They can find another way.]
[But this is a movie, not real life. The love interest is okay in the end. The hero parachutes to safety as the monster is destroyed. Its body descends into the water and everyone is happy. Cheering, celebration. The two lovers reunite in a hospital. There's the tease of something more, of a re-emergence, of a battle that's never truly over. A pithy advertisement for round two, another round of the same story, repeated over and over. As the credits roll, Angel doesn't move, the empty remains of their foodstuff spread around him on the floor, in his lap, on the chair. He stares forward at the names scrolling up the screen, dead silent.]
[ There's a point where he stops reaching for the popcorn bucket, side of his jaw rested on his palm as he stares down the movie projection. It’s a lagging start for him. The scene setting for the main character's self-loathing, jumping then into this exhibition of what's always left after a war, what people always say it was all for: Other people, and the trauma reel that stretches on, outlasting the flagging smoke and flame and nationalist pride. It continues like that, with the action parts not being as much of a focus as he thought it'd be from the poster.
THE WOMAN: As flames took my parents, they ordered me to live. So whatever happens next, I know I must survive! That’s kept me going.
They stare at each other for a long time.
THE MAN: I can’t. They beckon to me in my dream every night. “Hurry and come,” they say. “Why are you still cheating death?”
THE MAN begins shaking again.
THE MAN: What if I’m really dead already? I died long ago on that island… and lie rotting. You and Akiko are just the last dream of a dead man.
THE WOMAN: You are alive!
It’s boring, for Denji. He can’t care about the main character any less, the turmoil inside him conflicted between dying in penance or living for retribution… He doesn't get what the fair-faced love interest sees in him at all. Why she's willing to sacrifice herself for him at the climax, and why he hears other people gasp, seeing her push him outside range of the shockwave following the creature's heat blast.
It's after the climax that Denji begins spending way more time following the story progression of each blink and microscopic movement in Angel’s expression than the actual film he paid actual money for. His gaze flickers over his way several times. The halo crowning the space above his head isn't the only oddity about him, it's the stillness in the way he sits there, well-kept, like something you secure in a glass case under very specific temperatures in dimmed light to avoid discoloring the pigmentation of his wafery frame. When he catches himself thinking something he's pretty sure he shouldn't, his eyes race to switch back to the screen.
Notably, he doesn't look away again until the main character is evaluating his jet right before what feels like the last battle. He's with one of the engineers, seeming to have resolved himself to carry out his vengeance, yet allowing, one last time, for his inner doubts to leak. "That’s funny. Part of me wants to live."
Like it just occurred to him. Like it hadn't been an underlying shadow this whole time haunting him far more than the comrades he left to die. What was it that Angel said last night?
DENJI: What's it like to live better? Is it dying?
ANGEL doesn't look back at him. What did his face look like? Did it sour? Did it reveal something?
ANGEL: Humans have everything. You're born, you fall in love. You get to die.
It's then ANGEL glances at him. Or did he? He did, didn't he?
ANGEL: That's why humans should suffer. There should be a punishment for not appreciating that kind of simple freedom.
DENJI: I think I get what you mean.
No, Denji didn't say that. But it probably doesn't matter what he really said back.
There's a crash as the main character's plane slams headfirst into the open mouth of the lizard creature, choking it for a few seconds, before taking out half its skull in an explosion. Someone in the theater is sniffling, believing the character to be dead, until the screen zooms on his ballooning parachute. A small group in the very back claps and laughs in relief, that feeling carrying throughout the remainder of the movie to its expected conclusion. Nobody moves throughout the credits until the screen fully blackens and the auditorium lights return to its default intensity. People pick up their trash, gradually filtering out of the aisles.
Most of their trays and boxes are empty, so Denji begins stacking those together, dusting off all the crumbs to the floor, while tossing their wrappers into their cups. ]
That was pretty whatever. Like, I get it's a prequel of a sequel of a sequel of something, so the lizard wasn't as powered up, but it still didn't feel like the real bad guy of the movie.
[ He gets up, moving for the exit to the room. ]
It was a solid six for me. But not every movie's going to be a ten out of ten, though. You have to keep watching to find the right one. [ So what if he's just repeating the same lines from his conversation with Makima? She was right. A pause, then he looks over his shoulder, prompting Angel for his own thoughts with: ] Well?
[Denji didn't like it...? Huh. Angel barely paid him any mind during the entire movie, so it's not like he was trying to gauge his enjoyment of the film. But when Denji finally turns to look at him, he isn't sure what to say. Did he enjoy it? Not really. Maybe it was the story, maybe it was the strange monster. Maybe it was the mass amounts of death and casualty that felt as if it only stood to make the monster seem worse. But what did it want? What was its goal? Just destruction and mayhem? Like any other devil?]
[He doesn't move from his seat, hands in his lap and a small kernel of popcorn stuck in his hair. His gaze moved from the blank screen to Denji looking at him, he finally shrugs his shoulders once.]
I think it felt too hopeful.
[As if a monster like that could be defeated by one man's pseudo-suicide attack. No, it would definitely take more than that. But how much more? Can something like that ever be truly destroyed?]
A single person can't hope to ever create that much change.
[He sits up as he says that, stretching his arms over his head. Most of the people have left but he can feel the stares from the ushers, waiting for them to leave both for their own peace of mind and so they can clean the theater. But Angel doesn't move to stand.]
I guess that's why this sort of thing is fictional, though.
[ This guy's so slow. Fully turned, arms crossed, Denji watches as he stretches his whole back out like a cat waking from a nap. At the very least, Angel's leisurely pace doesn't immediately tick him off this time — they're still good on time. No one's at risk of getting castigated if they're reported. Dismissing the looks angled at them by the ushers, Denji moves to hitch a seat up against Angel's armrest. ]
But it wasn't just him, right? He had all those other guys in the ships firin' at the thing, too. Trying to make it easier to take it down.
[ He stares at the screen in front of them, silver and empty. But he can still recall, the look of respect in their when the battle concluded. Of course the main character is going to do what main characters do: steal the show, drive the plot, pull peoples' heartstrings, make even skeptics root for him and salute his journey. They are what they are, and that's why everyone loves them by the end. ]
You don't like humans, anyway. Maybe you just didn't like it because it was too easy for them to be happy?
[ Was it really that easy of a time, though? There were still mass casualties. Homes lost, loyalties questioned. Guilt, fear, hesitation. If anything… ]
My take? The movie was too real for something that was supposed to be explosions and cool lizard powers. It felt like I was watching a history program on TV. Everyone just looked…
[ Hurt. Downtrodden. But what does he know. ]
…Well, it's just a movie. Next time, let's binge things back at the apartment! [ To avoid spending as much money as he is today. Please. ] If you like it when things feel more real, you should watch this nature documentary I saw once. It had, like, elephant mating stuff.
[ With a quick enough pluck to Angel's hair to bypass getting batted off, he tosses the popcorn kernel in his mouth and swings back to his feet. ]
C'mon. You ever been to an arcade? It's not far from here, and it's real close to this one café Power's been nagging me to try.
[It's uncomfortable when Denji, of all people, is able to nail why Angel didn't like the movie as much as he did. But it's not because he dislikes humans. He totally does - but their ability to be happy isn't governed by his opinion of them, either way. A movie that makes it that easy, for two people to avoid certain death and come together in the end... That sort of thing, he feels, just doesn't happen. But maybe that's why it happened on this screen, instead.]
[Apparently Denji expected it to just be the fight scenes, which Angel can forgive considering how excited he was. He's kind of like a dog in that way, just excited to see anything new. Surely that's the only reason he was interested in elephants mating. He's not really fond of seeing other movies after this, but maybe if they weren't so depressing he wouldn't mind. But if they were too happy he wouldn't like them, either...]
[But then Denji reaches towards him and, without understanding why he is, Angel instinctively turns his head as he tries to move away from the touch, trying to see the angle where his hand is going, trying to avoid it at the same time, and it's not going to his shoulder or his arm or anything but his hair. His hair? Right next to his - ]
[There's contact, only for a second, but it's there. The brush of Denji's thumb against the side of his cheek, a graze of skin over skin, and then Denji snags the popcorn that got stuck in his hair and pulls back. Angel doesn't move an inch even as Denji continues talking, blabbering on about some arcade and a cafe as Angel caculates what just happened. Touch, life. Halo. He starts to reach up to it, like by touching it he can better confirm what he already knows. No - What he's sure of. Hand half-raised toward it, but he's too afraid to confirm for real.]
[His eyes finally turn toward Denji and he looks deeply uncertain, almost - upset. Not like he'll cry, more like he's about to kick him again. His stomach is jumbling uncertainly, twisting and sloshing like cream. Or more like sour milk.]
Did you feel that?
[Maybe, just because he didn't, doesn't mean Denji didn't.]
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[Aki seriously doubts it, at this point. Denji still underestimates people - and considering he thinks Angel is no big deal to him, he thinks he would definitely fail to expect what he would bring in a fight. But he doesn't say that, instead only offering him a, "Sure you would" roll of the eyes. And joining them...]
I'm trying to give you a chance to show you've grown up a little, here. Since your first outing with a devil. [You know, the one where Aki had to save his sorry ass from a leech devil.] I don't -
[But over his shoulder, Angel calls out: "I don't want to go with him." Aki looks at him, but he's facing forward again, not looking in their direction. Just how much of that was he able to hear...? Devils are awful.]
...And I don't want to go with you two. [A win win, apparently.]
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Denji twitches at the call, eyes turning to look ahead at the same time Aki does. And when they settle back into their conversation, he's right in step with him, unruffled by the extra input from Angel. ]
Whatever, it was just an idea. I don't care what you do.
[ Mouth pursing, his gaze drops a level, his expression a kind of cross between a scowl and a pout. He notices that he forgot to roll his sleeve cuffs up, so he starts fussing with that as he goes on to say: ] I'll show him a good time. He'll see a badass monster eat tons of people and dirt and things, have some candy, watch me rock at karaoke, and then… I dunno, maybe we'll do something else. Or maybe we'll stop by the apartment before he's gotta head back.
[ A beat. ]
And, fine, I'll pay for the stupid cab rides to keep him far away from folks. [ Since it'd be easy for the train car to rock a certain way and, whoops, there he goes bumping into someone. ] You can relax.
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[He lets him off after that, just with a note to hold onto his button so he can sew it back on tonight. If his shirt survives the day, anyway. Once they're at the bureau and Aki is looking over incoming reports to see if help is needed in Shibuya, he's interrupted by the dangerously sweet sound of the boss calling him, looking into the office with that usual unreadable smile on her face before asking Aki if she can talk to him privately for a minute.]
[God, he's so fucked. He takes in a brief but steadying breath before following her out, the pleasure of talking to her mixing in a slurry with the dread of the anticipated dressing down over what Denji and Angel pulled.]
[Not that any of that filters down to them. The week goes by normally enough. He doesn't scold either of them and Makima doesn't talk to either of them about what happened either. It's not that it's been brushed under the rug, just... handled. He already made them both feel bad about it (he guesses) and redirected their problem-causing to a sanctioned hang-out session on the weekend, which is sent through the proper channels and approved easily. Mostly because it's Angel and mostly because Aki is the one putting his seal on it. So, by the time Saturday arrives, Angel is sitting in the garden out front, watching clouds roll across the sky. Still in uniform. He doesn't own any other clothes.]
[Truthfully, he's not that excited. He doesn't want to do something he knows he's not going to enjoy. Denji is probably going to end up being too touchy and close to him and some random human is going to end up freaking out and it's just going to be a mess of a day.]
[But Makima said something about popcorn. That he'll probably like it with butter, so he should make sure to order it like that. For some reason he's thinking about that.]
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It is what it is — a living, first and foremost, but his memory can be kinda crap because of it. Hard to keep track of things when so much is always happening simultaneously. It actually took Aki reminding him the night before, as well as the morning of (five minutes after Denji snoozed his alarm) to build out time to get ready, to have breakfast, to pack his things. He's so annoying. But without him, he'd probably be even further behind schedule than he already is.
Denji begs the driver to wait on standby before booking it into the courtyard. Given his extra attachments, sighting Angel is easy and fast; he hollers out to him at about halfway into reaching him: ] Heeey! [ He probably doesn't need to go the whole distance, the call really all he needs to beckon him, but Denji still draws nearer to him, his face blocking out his view of the sky. ]
What're you lookin' at? Let's go! We're gonna miss the previews.
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Previews? [What, for other movies? He's never been to a movie, but he remembers hearing humans talk about seeing advertisements for other movies before them. Discussing which ones they want to see.] It's not like I'm going to see any of them.
[But he does get up, stretching his arms up high before dropping them with a sigh.] Okay, let's get it over with...
[Like he wasn't the one who literally requested this.]
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[ Man, this guy's drought of energy is really killing his own enthusiasm…
Though they spent an entire night together, half of which was with an actual purpose in mind, the other half with another person in their company. How the hell are they going to manage a whole day migrating from point to point? They're going to wind up speeding through their itinerary if he doesn't approach anything with curiosity! Honestly.
He yanks the car door open, sliding to the far side of the backseat before Angel. Once he's in, he can see the driver blink into the rearview mirror, not expecting his second passenger to be, well, a devil. And so obviously one at that. He starts to protest, but Denji pats the back of the driver's headrest, perhaps more forceful than what's respectful. ]
Hey, big guy, couldja speed up? We've got a tight schedule here — right?
[ He steals a glance at Angel, clearly trying to garner his assist, not unlike when he was trying to pose as Aki. ]
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[Angel follows Denji to the cab and naturally things get sticky from here. Denji didn't do the routine, he realizes. Aki Hayakawa alwasy approaches the driver at his window and shows his badge and explains who Angel is - what he is - and gives off an air of authority and control while doing so. Sometimes the driver still puts up a fuss and he'll narrow his eyes, click his tongue, mutter something about how they're going to be late. Kind of like what Denji's doing, but more dignified, less pointed. Sometimes that works. Sometimes the threat of not helping out the greater good convinces a taxi driver to let a devil in the back seat. But other times they'll curse him out, tell him like hell they'll let that thing in their cab. Speed off as Aki stands there looking vaguely annoyed. But never at Angel, himself.]
Um... [He pats in his jacket, trying to find that little identification paper he'd used last time in the convenience store. When he pulls it out, the driver tenses, like he's about to unveil a weapon.] I'm from Public Safety. We're going to a movie.
[If it's supposed to convince him, it barely does, the driver now looking at Denji like, Why are you bringing a devil to a movie theater? Angel slides the paper back in his pocket, like he just accomplished whatever he was trying to do with that.]
He wants to see the previews, so he's antsy about it. [Like Denji is the issue, here.]
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[ The driver's still looking at him, his face now distorted in a cringe, like his main concern is no longer that he's commuting a devil to a theater, but that a teenager may wet himself and soil his backseat on the way there. Pulling a nasty face, Denji fishes inside the open pocket of his crossbody bag and thrusts his Public Safety badge forward, nearly punches it into the side of the guy's face. Probably should have done from the very beginning, but he only got the idea after Angel showed off his papers first. ]
See, dude? We're legit. Now stomp on the gas or else I'll do it for ya.
[ Not so much convinced by either their explanations or fancy documents, but threatened into submission, their vehicle finally begins to pull out into the street with a jerk, tires squealing. The driver seems dead set on avoiding eye contact with either of them during the ride, and making this one as quick as possible. In fact, Denji's pretty sure his foot never eases off the gas once since he entered traffic, like he's speeding just to get them out of his cab. ]
Uh, woah there — [ Denji yelps, bouncing back in his seat, scrambling to get his seat belt on. He glances at Angel. ] Hey, you, get your belt on, too! It's the rules!
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[The seatbelt digs into his back when they make a harsh turn and he glances at Denji, watches him pull his own on while ordering him to wear his. But he doesn't like to wear them. His wings don't stretch out enough if they're blocked by the seatbelt and the flat of the fabric feels uncomfortable on his feathers. Plus...]
I heard car accidents are a common way of dying.
[So wouldn't that be nice, to die in a car accident right now. Sure, the driver might die, too, but Denji would probably be okay. Again he jostles to the other side and pushes a hand into the cushion between them, trying to stay upright.]
[Maybe this is what it's like an amusement park rides? He's seen those on big posters downtown. People always look so happy riding them.]
Have you ever been on a roller coaster?
[They jerk to a stop at a red light, the driver tapping impatiently on the wheel until it turns green and he can sprint forward again. Because the devil in the back seat started talking about car accidents and roller coasters and that's got to be a bad combo.]
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Denji's about to ask if a Rollercoaster Devil counts, but his head whips forward at the abrupt stop, the retractor mechanism in his belt triggering and packing him back from banging into the driver's seat in front of him. The band's so tight it feels as if someone had clove hitched him to his seat. Rubbing a hand under the the belt to stretch it out from its chokehold on his windpipe, he seethes out through clenched teeth — ]
Believe me, dude, in a lousy ass ride like this, a seat belt could kill ya just fine. Might even snap your neck, instant! So why dontcha quit mumbling and try your luck —
[ The driver sets off again, making sharp turns that have Denji gagging in pain, when his back crashes into his seat again, then growling, because he even anticipated his assholery and still got got. Damn it, he can't take this anymore.
Without warning, he launches toward Angel's side of the car, one arm trying to brace against his collar so that he can rip the belt strap across his chest and into the buckle. He wouldn't usually be so forceful about something like this. Life and death, whose clock runs out, when — none of that's ever mattered to Denji. But Aki's snobby voice loops in his ears, "Your job is protecting people, not killing devils." And apparently Angel's safety is the public's safety, even if the current public is a raging dick who should get his license revoked!
Besides, if a civilian died because Angel brushed up against him as he volleyed through the windshield, he'd probably get into trouble… ]
There, now just sit back —
[ "We're here," the driver announces at the same time Denji speaks. "Now get you and your devil out." ]
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You're so...
[And then the car lurches to a stop as Denji finishes buckling him in and before the driver can finish speaking Angel is up and out of the car, faster than Denji has probably ever seen him moving.]
[He has half a mind to just walk home. This is stupid. He couldn't go two seconds without getting that close to him, so what's going to keep him from dropping dead before the day is over? But it's annoying, because Denji's apparent belief that he can't be killed is worming its way into Angel's brain, too. He doesn't know if his touch will kill a half-devil, half-human. Especially not one who bouces back from the goriest of deaths with a rip of that cord. In fact, he touched that cord and nothing happened. Is it just different, like how his wings and halo are safe to touch?]
[Regardless, they're not things he's willing to test. Casting a glare over his shoulder, he waits for Denji to get out before speaking.]
Do you know how mad he'd be if you died today?
[Maybe if he doesn't care about Angel's personal space he'll consider the impact of his death on Aki.]
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When he finally turns to focus on Angel, it's… Honestly, it's with great reluctance — from one angry person to another, with him today. But this time, it's actually his fault, he knows. He crossed another line with him. Saw it in the way his wings shifted back, his face turned away like Denji has some contagious respiratory disease, or whatever. So yeah, he's expecting a tongue-lashing of some sort. Just not him to bring up Aki. ]
Are you friggin' kidding me?
[ It was Aki who told him to be careful with Angel. Make sure he gets around safe and crap. Ugh. ]
Who cares if he gets mad? [ Denji stomps past him, shoving his wallet back into his bag. Aki gets mad at him for nearly anything he does thoughtlessly. Dying probably being one of them, maybe, but it's not like it'd mean much to him long-term. Not the way something else would. ] Hate me touching you so much? Put on your own damn belt next time. He'd be sad if you died.
[ He only pauses up ahead to glance over his shoulder, make sure Angel's following. ]
Now come on. We still gotta get the good stuff before the movie starts.
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[But he follows dutifully behind, keeping a few steps back, farther than he would with Aki. The thing is, usually when he's with Aki, Aki is in uniform, not casual clothes like Denji is. It makes it look less like he's part of Public Safety and more like he's just a rogue devil wandering around in a work suit. Barely any different from a salaryman heading home on Halloween. There are a few quiet mutters around, moreso compared to the other night. Maybe because the area is more crowded...? He doesn't know.]
[Usually he can ignore this sort of stuff but with Denji acting like he does, without a visible buffer between him and all these damn people, he can feel his mood crashing. This was such a bad idea. Such a stupid idea. Why would he even want to see a monster movie, anyway? He shoves his hands in his pockets and lets out a long, beleagured sigh.]
...She said to get butter on the popcorn. [Muttered, before he forgets. At least one good thing may as well come from this. Realizing he didn't specify and usually this is when Aki would give him a questioning look, he adds,] Makima.
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…Hm. Buttered popcorn sounds good right about now!
[ He says it extra loud, acting like the thought just appeared in his head, freezing out the agitation clear in his posture, and wasn't actually a suggestion posed by Makima — or Angel, her mouthpiece in this case. ]
Ah, that line's short. [ The smarter move would be to direct Angel to stand somewhere vacant in the back, waiting for him, but instead Denji begins maneuvering them the way toward a less populated line. One of the best parts about the theater is seeing the candy selection up close, the waft of popcorn spilling out from the overly full cases, the grilling hot dogs. Denji hasn't been the nicest during this excursion so far, but — well, this thing is for Angel. He should be able to look at stuff without being at distance. Life's boring, otherwise. ]
See, they actually have different flavors outside of butter! I'm like thiiis — [ His fingers pinch, like 🤏. ] — positive ya can get half-and-half of the cuh — curu — [ … ] The brown popcorn. Think about what you want, and we'll get it. Aki gave us extra cash, so…
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[Especially when told there can be a combo. A combo, really... But what if he just wants one flavor? But something sweet and salty would be nice, too... Would butter really be that good? But Makima is the one who suggested it, and she probably wouldn't tell him a bad flavor. He thinks. But there's hot dogs, too, and those big pretzels, and not to mention the candy boxes. It's a lot to choose from, and Denji picked a short line. They're at the register in no time and Angel is still only staring at the popcorn machine behind the part-time clerk who, while nicer than the taxi driver, seems just as concerned by the presence of an obvious devil. And a delinquent, judging by Denji's look.]
...I want one of everything.
[Aki definitely did not give them enough for "one of everything."]
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You heard him. One of everything.
[ Aki may not have given them enough, and he may not have been able to make off with his card this time, but there's at least one saving grace on his side. Da-daaan — he holds up his phone device, smug, as if he were holding an authorization badge. The screen is brightened with what appears to be his account details with the theater's rewards program… and an excessive amount of redeemable points?!
At the hesitation still preventing the clerk from beginning the transaction, Denji pushes his device toward them again, shaking it with extra impatience. ]
What's the big deal? Scan my code and get movin' already! That should discount some of the stuff, right?
[ The points were properly collected immediately after his date with Makima, as part of his bid to watch as many flicks as possible to make conversation with her, maybe be the one to pay instead for their next movie marathon. But nothing's actually come of that, since her schedule's always so packed. Anyway, some manager-type does eventually step in to adjust and readjust his rounded glasses at Denji's phone screen, before beginning to ring up one of each individual item, combination meals excluded. So by the end, they have a little gathering of exactly as Angel request, one of everything. One popcorn tub with a divider in the middle of both buttered and caramel flavors, a hot dog, pretzel, churro, pizza slice, a candy box, a soda, some nachos… The list goes on, and somehow they're walking away with all of it.
But they're going to have to share everything. ]
Dude, you're tipping over on one side…
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[At first, Angel keeps taking stuff off the counter as it's handed over simply because he wants to eat it. Once they're walking away and he realizes he has more than half of everything that was ordered and he's liable to drop it all on the ground and lose it all... He's realizing this may not have been the best idea. But.]
I got it...
[He pulls his wings forward, the feathers intertwining in front of him to create something like a net or a woven fabric. Angel carefully pulls his arms out from his sea of food and the wings manage to hold them in place against him, pushing in flat near his stomach so not even a single piece of popcorn can fall out onto the floor.]
Yeah.
[See? This is just like when they killed that boar devil and Aki wouldn't let him take back as much as he wanted to. He could have carried it. But that day they got to have donburi so he can't be that mad about it.]
[When they finally make it into the theater, their seating choice means they have to walk in front of pretty much everyone just to get to their seat. It's crowded but the room is still lit, thankfully, making it easy to navigate, and Angel follows after Denji without complaint, wings holding everything with no problem. They get some stares, obviously, though whether it's because he's a devil or because they have a buffet of food, he doesn't really know. Either way, once they finally sit and he can begin moving everything around in his wings with his hands, Angel actually looks somewhat content. Like he's in his element. Sitting down with a lot of food. This is perfect.]
[There's some mumbling behind them. A few voices from other moviegoers. Is that a devil? Are those wings real? Wait, is that light gonna be on for the whole movie? But Angel doesn't even turn around, taking a piece of popcorn resting against the edge of his wings and tossing it into his mouth.]
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[ Yes, two normal-sized hands and two giant-sized feathery ones.
For better or for worse, Denji seems to have lightened up a smidge, watching Angel carry most of their freight in. It's like having one of those collapsible grocery wagons or dollies around he's seen at the department store. He's always wanted one, in particular because it looked fun to ride in and have Power pull him around, but now he can sort of see other uses for them!
Astonishment aside, he does take inventory of the glances falling their way, the whispers. They stop by some of the floor staff on their way in for Denji to once again whip out of his Public Safety identification and insist they're present due to "very important recon purposes" on the premises… And even though the two of them looked at one another, as if to ask how one could possibly do "recon" seated in the audience (and front row at that), they agreed to dismiss any concerned reports from moviegoers about there being a devil.
Seated together, Denji begins to arrange his portion of the food around their armrests, the cup holders, his lap and knees — with all of it splayed out, it does strike him as a bit much, but oh well. If Aki were here, maybe he would have thought of the idea of using certain trays as individual plates to split up some their fare up in a kind of sampler smorgasbord, then place the rest aside at their feet or something…
But since he isn't, Denji's perfectly happy with their current mess of a setup. ]
Hey. You should put the popcorn in the middle. I don't wanna reach over you again.
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[And for once... When Denji asks him to move the popcorn over, Angel only hesitates for a moment. And it's mostly due to not being sure how to do it. He looks at the little boat of a container holding the hot dog that's balanced precariously between his wing and the popcorn bucket and, deciding not to risk dropping it, instead picks it up and simply shoves the entire thing in his mouth, taking the hot dog down his throat in a single bite.]
[Someone behind them who was probably staring at the scene chokes. But Angel swallows, wiping a crumb off his finger, then manages to adjust the rest of the things to be able to remove the popcorn bucket safely as everything else settles in his lap.]
Here. [And he places it beside him, his wings sliding back to give him room to take it without touching them, either.]
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Pouting, he essentially punches his whole fist into the caramel side of the tub, grabbing as much as he can fill inside his cupped hand, a few puffy kernels tumbling down to the floor while he stuffs his mouth. It's so yummy, the scowl on his face suddenly disappears as he grabs some more. ]
Y'see? That's the stuff. I thought it was weird and, like, poopy-lookin' at first, but the hard shell's made out of — [ He pauses, thinking. Another fistful mushes into his mouth, sending more kernels into his lap. ] …Actually, I dunno, I mean — I'm not sure. I think it's basically sugar. Pretty sure that's what Miss Makima said. Anyway, it tastes good, right?
[ …The caramel side is about at halfway empty now, so they'll have to make do with mostly eating from the buttered side throughout the duration of the actual movie. In a fashion, eating a ton of your snacks before the movie's started is also a quintessential moviegoers experience. So, really, he's doing a tremendous job at showing Angel the ropes!
When it comes close to time for the lights to dim, Denji reminds Angel to go to the restroom a few extra times, trying to impress upon him how annoying it is when someone gets up in the middle of the movie. Movie theater etiquette and all that, which is rich coming from him, seeing how each time a new straggler funnels into the theater, a shocked look speeding their way, Denji chooses to ignore it. Like, what can they do at this point? Hang a jacket over Angel's halo? Then that'd be blocking everyone's view, and that's more rude! It's better if they just deal with it. ]
Seriously. [ Denji leans over again, voice dropped into a whisper as the lights begin to reduce in intensity. ] You better not pee in the middle of it!
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[Each part is a little better than the last. If Denji actually thought he was going to be sharing any of this, or had the intention or willpower to hold back and allow the sharing, then he surely doesn't know Angel and his relation to food at all. He doesn't begrudge Denji for taking anything and, in turn, expects him not to begrudge him for taking anything in turn. He can have the whole side of caramel popcorn if he likes while Angel contents himself with slowly ripping apart the pretzel and eating it like that, occasionally grabbing a piece of popcorn, a sip from the way-too-sweet drink, a piece of candy... There's no real rhyme or reason, sometimes it's just where his hand reaches out to next. When Denji starts bothering him about going to the bathroom over and over, he finally huffs an annoyed sound and the theater goes dark (though their area stays dimly lit thanks to the ever-present nightlight).]
Devils don't pee.
[They do, but that's not really the point right now. He isn't about to explain how his digestion works. Someone behind him (maybe the same guy who watched him deepthroat a hotdog) grunts a quick, "Huh?!" at that statement, but Angel isn't paying attention. The movie is apparently going to start.]
[He doesn't know what he was expecting this movie to be about; the failure to defend your fallen comrades in the face of great destruction brought about by humanity's own hubris and journey toward self-annihilation wasn't it. Angel doesn't know a lot about human politics but it's pretty easy to follow everything. But when the main character's love interest is presumed dead and the man grits himself for revenge against some beast a hundred times his own size and a million times as powerful, Angel can't stomach his growing discomfort. His growing unease in the face of a suicidal attack as everyone around him tells him how stupid he is. How he's not going to win. How it's not worth dying for something like this. They can find another way.]
[But this is a movie, not real life. The love interest is okay in the end. The hero parachutes to safety as the monster is destroyed. Its body descends into the water and everyone is happy. Cheering, celebration. The two lovers reunite in a hospital. There's the tease of something more, of a re-emergence, of a battle that's never truly over. A pithy advertisement for round two, another round of the same story, repeated over and over. As the credits roll, Angel doesn't move, the empty remains of their foodstuff spread around him on the floor, in his lap, on the chair. He stares forward at the names scrolling up the screen, dead silent.]
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As flames took my parents, they ordered me to live. So whatever happens next, I know I must survive! That’s kept me going.
They stare at each other for a long time.
THE MAN:
I can’t. They beckon to me in my dream every night. “Hurry and come,” they say. “Why are you still cheating death?”
THE MAN begins shaking again.
THE MAN:
What if I’m really dead already? I died long ago on that island… and lie rotting. You and Akiko are just the last dream of a dead man.
THE WOMAN:
You are alive!
It’s boring, for Denji. He can’t care about the main character any less, the turmoil inside him conflicted between dying in penance or living for retribution… He doesn't get what the fair-faced love interest sees in him at all. Why she's willing to sacrifice herself for him at the climax, and why he hears other people gasp, seeing her push him outside range of the shockwave following the creature's heat blast.
It's after the climax that Denji begins spending way more time following the story progression of each blink and microscopic movement in Angel’s expression than the actual film he paid actual money for. His gaze flickers over his way several times. The halo crowning the space above his head isn't the only oddity about him, it's the stillness in the way he sits there, well-kept, like something you secure in a glass case under very specific temperatures in dimmed light to avoid discoloring the pigmentation of his wafery frame. When he catches himself thinking something he's pretty sure he shouldn't, his eyes race to switch back to the screen.
Notably, he doesn't look away again until the main character is evaluating his jet right before what feels like the last battle. He's with one of the engineers, seeming to have resolved himself to carry out his vengeance, yet allowing, one last time, for his inner doubts to leak. "That’s funny. Part of me wants to live."
Like it just occurred to him. Like it hadn't been an underlying shadow this whole time haunting him far more than the comrades he left to die. What was it that Angel said last night?
What's it like to live better? Is it dying?
ANGEL doesn't look back at him. What did his face look like? Did it sour? Did it reveal something?
ANGEL:
Humans have everything. You're born, you fall in love. You get to die.
It's then ANGEL glances at him. Or did he? He did, didn't he?
ANGEL:
That's why humans should suffer. There should be a punishment for not appreciating that kind of simple freedom.
DENJI:
I think I get what you mean.
No, Denji didn't say that. But it probably doesn't matter what he really said back.
There's a crash as the main character's plane slams headfirst into the open mouth of the lizard creature, choking it for a few seconds, before taking out half its skull in an explosion. Someone in the theater is sniffling, believing the character to be dead, until the screen zooms on his ballooning parachute. A small group in the very back claps and laughs in relief, that feeling carrying throughout the remainder of the movie to its expected conclusion. Nobody moves throughout the credits until the screen fully blackens and the auditorium lights return to its default intensity. People pick up their trash, gradually filtering out of the aisles.
Most of their trays and boxes are empty, so Denji begins stacking those together, dusting off all the crumbs to the floor, while tossing their wrappers into their cups. ]
That was pretty whatever. Like, I get it's a prequel of a sequel of a sequel of something, so the lizard wasn't as powered up, but it still didn't feel like the real bad guy of the movie.
[ He gets up, moving for the exit to the room. ]
It was a solid six for me. But not every movie's going to be a ten out of ten, though. You have to keep watching to find the right one. [ So what if he's just repeating the same lines from his conversation with Makima? She was right. A pause, then he looks over his shoulder, prompting Angel for his own thoughts with: ] Well?
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[He doesn't move from his seat, hands in his lap and a small kernel of popcorn stuck in his hair. His gaze moved from the blank screen to Denji looking at him, he finally shrugs his shoulders once.]
I think it felt too hopeful.
[As if a monster like that could be defeated by one man's pseudo-suicide attack. No, it would definitely take more than that. But how much more? Can something like that ever be truly destroyed?]
A single person can't hope to ever create that much change.
[He sits up as he says that, stretching his arms over his head. Most of the people have left but he can feel the stares from the ushers, waiting for them to leave both for their own peace of mind and so they can clean the theater. But Angel doesn't move to stand.]
I guess that's why this sort of thing is fictional, though.
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But it wasn't just him, right? He had all those other guys in the ships firin' at the thing, too. Trying to make it easier to take it down.
[ He stares at the screen in front of them, silver and empty. But he can still recall, the look of respect in their when the battle concluded. Of course the main character is going to do what main characters do: steal the show, drive the plot, pull peoples' heartstrings, make even skeptics root for him and salute his journey. They are what they are, and that's why everyone loves them by the end. ]
You don't like humans, anyway. Maybe you just didn't like it because it was too easy for them to be happy?
[ Was it really that easy of a time, though? There were still mass casualties. Homes lost, loyalties questioned. Guilt, fear, hesitation. If anything… ]
My take? The movie was too real for something that was supposed to be explosions and cool lizard powers. It felt like I was watching a history program on TV. Everyone just looked…
[ Hurt. Downtrodden. But what does he know. ]
…Well, it's just a movie. Next time, let's binge things back at the apartment! [ To avoid spending as much money as he is today. Please. ] If you like it when things feel more real, you should watch this nature documentary I saw once. It had, like, elephant mating stuff.
[ With a quick enough pluck to Angel's hair to bypass getting batted off, he tosses the popcorn kernel in his mouth and swings back to his feet. ]
C'mon. You ever been to an arcade? It's not far from here, and it's real close to this one café Power's been nagging me to try.
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[Apparently Denji expected it to just be the fight scenes, which Angel can forgive considering how excited he was. He's kind of like a dog in that way, just excited to see anything new. Surely that's the only reason he was interested in elephants mating. He's not really fond of seeing other movies after this, but maybe if they weren't so depressing he wouldn't mind. But if they were too happy he wouldn't like them, either...]
[But then Denji reaches towards him and, without understanding why he is, Angel instinctively turns his head as he tries to move away from the touch, trying to see the angle where his hand is going, trying to avoid it at the same time, and it's not going to his shoulder or his arm or anything but his hair. His hair? Right next to his - ]
[There's contact, only for a second, but it's there. The brush of Denji's thumb against the side of his cheek, a graze of skin over skin, and then Denji snags the popcorn that got stuck in his hair and pulls back. Angel doesn't move an inch even as Denji continues talking, blabbering on about some arcade and a cafe as Angel caculates what just happened. Touch, life. Halo. He starts to reach up to it, like by touching it he can better confirm what he already knows. No - What he's sure of. Hand half-raised toward it, but he's too afraid to confirm for real.]
[His eyes finally turn toward Denji and he looks deeply uncertain, almost - upset. Not like he'll cry, more like he's about to kick him again. His stomach is jumbling uncertainly, twisting and sloshing like cream. Or more like sour milk.]
Did you feel that?
[Maybe, just because he didn't, doesn't mean Denji didn't.]
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not me losing this notif 💀
no worries!! dw notifs are so easy to lose track of 😭
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