Deer 2 // IC Contact

[comecatchthesehands]

[Pretty stuff goes here]

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[floatsaway]

Poor Bakugou indeed, though no transformation will take away his charming stupidity. But thankfully, Shigaraki seems to have taken the side Ochako hoped the villains here would - coming to a tentative and shaky "truce" because there really is no point in antagonizing one another in this world. Neither are the League members villains in Trench and nor are the UA students Heroes, there is no authority in Trench, no laws or rules, or even those that oversee their so-called justice.

It's well and truly no man's land, so working together when the situation calls, or just avoiding the other is more optimal. Hell, when the threat of corruption and Beasthood is so prevalent, Ochako has much bigger things to worry about sometimes. Though that doesn't exactly stop her from sucking in a harsh breath through her teeth at the familiar, gravely voice and the presence that sends goosebumps all up her arms.

She doesn't so much as whirl around as she does slowly and very mechanically turn, eyes wide. Yeah, she heard he was here, never thought any of her friends would lie, but Ochako's not seen nor heard from Shigaraki yet. She has quietly hoped, maybe, he got sent back or something. But, hah...that'd be way too nice.

"I--..." her voice catches, unsure of what to do or say, gritting her teeth before pursed lips. Focus, focus...calm down. "I-I'm just...trying to haggle. The price he wants is unreasonable."

She says that, looking the man dead in the eye as he leans back with a raised eyebrow and arms over his chest. But seeing the tension between the two people here...hm. There's a gleam in his eye. He could probably profit off this, easily.

[comecatchthesehands]

If anything, their surroundings have done him good. Using his quirk and getting it out of his system on things that want to try to kill him is even better. Give him every reason to do it. He will and does. However, the last thing she has to do is worry about him. The ghost of whomever she's used to is that much, a ghost and an understanding of what's going on in a world that he seethes at any chance he gets. She's one of the lucky few. Very few.

"I didn't say it wasn't." Smoothly and fluidly Shigaraki agrees with Ochako and bends down with his knees out to pick a small rock or two up from the floor. "In fact, I'd think he thought you were a pushover because you look young." The conversation isn't with the man it's about him and Shigaraki makes sure to hold up both pieces of stone, one in each hand, so that the perspective between the pluck of his pointer and thumb to hold the stones makes up for the man's eyes. The rest of his fingers splay out and he tilts his head, curiously looking at them.

"What he doesn't know is that it pisses me off and I'm tired of this place already." The stones in Shigaraki's fingers start crumbling and turning to dust. "I don't like being angry so I think you two seeing each other as equals for now would be the best way we all come out happy since..." His attention ticks to the man and the dust is let to fly on the wind so he can itch at the side of his neck. "...since she gave you a fair price."

[floatsaway]

Okay, that actually gets the girl's head turning. Not a whirled motion before, but a slow and deliberate turn - was Shigaraki, leader of the League of Villains and constant thorn in everyone's side for months, actually agreeing with her? Not even Dabi has given her that grace, and she's already helped him more or less rob a convenience store (it was abandoned, left to gather dust after a natural disaster cleared out the town). He did practically bean her in the face with a box of candy, so that probably was as good a compensation for her 'help' as any.

A shiver runs up her spine as she realizes what's happening before it does, and the shopkeeper begins to realize as well that he's a bit outclassed here. clearly, these Sleepers aren't the kind he can con for a profit. But Ochako is also sweating a little bit, because she just doesn't want anything bad to happen to anyone, even if this greedy shitkicker is absolutely trying to take advantage of her youth. Opening her mouth, no sound comes out other than a little gasp, eyes flicking between both men and lingering on the shopkeeper almost begging him to just give. Please. This person isn't worth whatever 'profit' he'll make from trying to give her less than a fair trade.

Needless to say, Ochako gets what she wants, and a paper bag of the meat she asked for is thrust into her hands and the bag of feathers she had is snatched up angrily. He waves them both away with a flick of his wrist and all but slams the door of his shop behind him as he goes back inside when Ochako asks about the vial of blood, sneering at them to get off his property and not come back. Welp!! One problem solved!

Now the bigger one still lingering at her side. Hm. Hmmmm.....

"You helped me," she gurgles, clearing her throat of the tightness a second later. Lord, Ochako feels like she ran a marathon.

[comecatchthesehands]

Shigaraki will agree when he feels like it and disagree when he doesn't. At the current time, he feels like she's right. If she isn't, he's more than capable of doing that, too. Getting off that free with Dabi is a blessing. She lived, many others wouldn't have. Then again he did talk her up when they mentioned her in their conversation, who knows.

This particular man may not be in this shop the next time she comes through and who is to say that it was him? No one that will want to talk. Once she's got her goods, Shigaraki spends the next fleeting seconds calmly studying the man's face before leaving only when she does. He can hear that tone in her voice and somewhere in his dead heart he feels bad for it, but she'll have to keep it if they both want to survive here. "I saw something I didn't like happening, I stopped it. That's all." Despite that he's walking with her. She doesn't need an escort, but it's been a long time since he's seen her, even if she doesn't know that.

[floatsaway]

Honestly, it's probably the fact she didn't outright antagonize Dabi that made it so they were able to work together. Ochako agreed with him a bit in that given the opportunity, it is best to take what's really necessary. Of course...he took more than that, but either way, she turned a blind eye for her own reasons - that being the store was left abandoned after a natural disaster and would have probably been looted anyway, and there were far worse crimes he could commit than just petty theft. She's a smart girl, she knows when and where to pick her fights.

In all honesty, that's become a bit of a common thing in Trench. Sadly, people here fall victim to a number of things that means they go 'missing'. Corruption, beasthood, attacked by a beast...or killed by a Sleeper or Phthumerian. Or whatever else Trench throws at them. Sad but true...Shigaraki may get off with no consequence if anything were to happen to that man. Still, she does note the long look he's giving the guy and narrows her eyes. She's also deliberately now walking on a completely different path than she's usually take, with no destination in mind, either. If Shigaraki is following, she's not bringing him anywhere near where she stays.

"...Mm, is that so?" Ochako ponders if she should say this, if it may instigate something dark, but it's what's on her mind regardless. And she always did have a problem with saying things on her mind she probably shouldn't. "That's really heroic of you, Shigaraki-san."

[comecatchthesehands]

This is why Izuku will never beat her. Smart and earnest enough to know that he's a threat to them all. And he is that, a threat to them, less to her unbeknownst of course. If the man goes missing, he'll shrug about it. It could've been him and likely will be. He's looking to start taking over a small area as his own and this might be a nice starting place.

Nodding his head to answer her question, it is so and the other one has him turn his head as he walks with her, step in step. His hands dip into the long black coat and he smirks. "Someone has to set an example. Heroes and Villains aren't any different. You're the villains in my story arc, you know. Say no all you want, but it's true."

[floatsaway]

It could, it will be, but the fact is, no one will be able to prove it. And even if they could, what then? There's no prisons or anything like that in Trench, law enforcement doesn't exist outside of Hunters who take down Beasts and other terrors. And killing someone doesn't work either and leads to corruption and beasthood as well. A vicious cycle.

Ochako raises a brow sharply. Firstly, this is deeply uncomfortable, walking in step with someone she knows is extremely dangerous, and second, he's assuming a hell of a lot with that comment there. Ochako wishes she could just keep her mouth shut, ignore him as best she can, but then again...that might make Shigaraki upset. She's caught between a rock and hard place, and has to probably just endure until he gets bored. What did Izuku say before? That he may be looking for him? Well, yeah...but Ochako's not going home, she'll stay out until dark, or find an inn, something.

"I wasn't going to say no," she remarks, looking around and picking another shop to browse - a grocer this time. Some veggies to pair with the meat she got. "You're right - everyone is a villain or hero to someone else, depending on circumstance. Good and bad are grey terms."

She's checking out some potatoes, onion--oooh, and some fresh herbs would be nice for a stew! Or maybe a roast, instead? Hm, decisions, decisions.

[comecatchthesehands]

Walking beside him even when someone's an ally probably makes them feel the same way, unhappily at a false ease. Even between Dabi and him, there's always an underlying possibility that they're about to explode.

Luckily this isn't the same with her, at least not where fire and decay are concerned. When she pauses, he does too with his hands still in his jacket. A little worn in places, but well cared for even in this place. "You always were one of the smartest ones." Not smarter, not smart, smartest. He tilts his head, eyes curiously looking on as she shops. "Now my curiosity is if you're being serious, or if you're humouring me because of who I am."

[floatsaway]

Ochako scrunches her nose when he stops with her, hoping that by doing so at the vegetable in her hands, it'd hopefully be taken that her appraisal meant the item wasn't to her strands...instead of being, erm, unenthused by his overall presence beside her. It is very peculiar he seems to be so comfortable, but then again...Shigaraki probably doesn't view her as a threat. He'd be right, honestly, there's no way she could take him on and live to tell the tale. Distract and delay him, maybe a few minutes, but that's it.

Also, dear lord, he must be smoldering in that coat. Though the image of Shigaraki in shorts, sandals, and a pair of sunglasses makes Ochako abruptly snort, and she has to clear her throat before putting the veggie down and putting another in her bag. "Eh--...I-I could say the same."

Compliments? From the League leader?? Is she hallucinating???

[comecatchthesehands]

Shigaraki, with anyone else that isn't league, has never been as comfortable as he has been with someone he spent a lot of time with. It's too bad she'll never know. However, the time and places are different, and even still maybe he should have his guard up a little more. Who knows what she's learned, what's different here about her or anywhere else?

"Why? I'm a villain to you, but I'm not an idiot. I can see which ones of your class are an actual threat and who has to wait for the director's cut to be worthy of play time." His eyes again run a little over her face, "Are you afraid?"

[floatsaway]

Ochako has learned a bit, but still nothing she feels would aid her in a fight against Shigaraki. She's still a hand-to-hand fighter, all melee, and getting within arm's reach of this man quite literally would be her death. She may not have any idea he may not ever pick a fight with her, specifically, but she's still on guard. Hence why his question actually makes her quite literally snap her head to him and look as if he just asked her something obvious.

"Anyone who isn't scared of you in some way, Shigaraki-san, is a big, fat liar," she retorts, snatching a leek and shoving it into her bag. Potato and leek soup would be nice with any leftover spuds. "But I've been scared before plenty of times...and I never turned around and ran, y'know."

She hands her bag to another grocer, an older woman this time around, who weighs the items and taps her chin as if in thought, then pushes a pad of paper to the girl and a piece of sharpened charcoal, asking for the recipe to what she'd be using her veggies for as a trade, since the Sleepers always have such 'varied and interesting tastes!'.

[comecatchthesehands]

Waiting around for her answer is an interesting time, especially since she almost broke her own neck to do it. A small 'heh' is what she gets along with a lopsided, albeit none-the-less-frightening grin. It may not be the smile of old, but it's got its points to it when he's amused by something.

"No, I'll bet you don't run. Only rabbits run." That's right, shot at Deku. But before she can get another moment in, she's already looking toward the woman and exchanging whatever barter there is to be exchanged. Alright. This one can live.

Something pangs at him a little bit, something deep in him that he doesn't recognize aside the words that are out of his mouth long before anything else. "What if you and I made a deal? You like bartering, don't you?"

[floatsaway]

That grin is the stuff of nightmares, absolutely. Ochako purses her lips, trying to calm the cold shiver that makes its way from the back of her neck and settles in the pit of her stomach. It almost makes her sick, honestly, because of how poorly this could go. She can't let it. Can't let anything happen to herself, but especially to anyone else. She wants to be there when Bakugou wakes up, and...and for Izuku, too, who's already been through his own gauntlet well before they even showed up. No, she can't let Shigaraki frazzle her.

This grocer is far kinder than the last, for sure, and the trade definitely seems fair - good food can be made from quality ingredients, and sharing recipes with a nice granny would have been something Ochako would do for free in any other iteration. She bows to the woman with a pleasant smile after handing her the recipe she wrote down, and she's waved off with an equally warm smile and nod of the older woman's head.

...Fuck, Ochako is running out of places to drag Shigaraki's crusty ass. "I usually wouldn't make a deal with the devil, but I can't say I'm not curious now that you've said it." Her eyes narrow at him, because this is...dangerous. Extremely dangerous. He could ask - hah...demand - anything. Villains don't barter. They take what they want. She's seen it firsthand with Dabi and the convenience store. "Why the deal? Why not just take what you want? What in the world could a Hero have to offer that you'd actually want?"

She may have an idea...and he sure as fuck isn't getting it if Ochako is right. She would sooner die than give up her friend - any one of them.

[comecatchthesehands]

It's fun to make people squirm like that and Shigaraki is no different for it while he smirks or any other thing that does. Even when it's her and most especially sometimes when it's her. ...Even if, again, she didn't know.

There's lesser fun in it when he realizes he's playing with an echo of something in his own mind. However, her calling him the devil perks his eyebrow up and his head tilts to the side, interested. His hand comes up as she continues on, over and over. Yes. He could take what he wants. He knows good and well that he has Search and could find them at any time with enough ground covered. There's no place to hide from a quirk that finds a quirk unless they relinquish that part of their body.

"Freedom." he states easily, leaning against a store wall, half lead to the alleyway. "The guarantee that until you need to, we don't have to kill each other. Not yet. Maybe one day, but not yet."

[floatsaway]

It's deeply unsettling the way he relishes in her discomfort, and Ochako has no idea it's partially because of his former familiarity with a her from another world. A world that's not Nippon. Funny, that - how they're both fro different worlds, and Ochako would relish in getting to talk to someone about the experience (that's not Bakugou), but the other person is Shigaraki. Maybe one day she'll figure it out.

Ochako's eyes are glued on that hand, and she unconsciously holding her breath and tensing up as her mouth shuts tight. She can't help it, it wasn't a lie when she said she was absolutely terrified of him. His quirk is devastating, she's seen what it can do, the destruction it can cause. Not how it's evolved, not yet, and not knowing how much more terrifying he is might be a mild blessing. Her pace stutters a bit, mostly because her legs feel heavy, but she needs to get him far away from this market square...where many people gather. Any direction, just as long as it's far from people...give them a chance to escape, because her answer is--

"Eh?" That was, uh...not the 'deal' she expected. At all. Blinking rapidly, starting at him just a washed up carp, Ochako shakes her head and tilts her head to one side. "You--...I..." Holy crap, this is a hell of a thing to shoot her in the face with. Ochako stops outright, taking in a deep breath.

"That's not a decision I can make on my own. Because I know I'll keep my word: I won't attack you, or Dabi, or whoever else shows up from the League unless they do something to someone - anyone, not just me and my friends - to hurt them, but I can't speak for someone like Bakugou, and I frankly don't trust any of you all not to go against your word when we walk away."

[comecatchthesehands]

The look on her face is enough for him to enjoy and hate it all at once. There's that feeling in his skin and it only makes his hand draw up again to scratch in a different location. Luckily not enough to bother him long and his hands drop down to his pockets again to take their place while she stutters and looks like a deer in the headlights.

"I don't care about the rest of them. I asked you." He says decisively, trying to keep her on task. "The rest of them can make their own decisions, you're not a sheep are you?"

[floatsaway]

Ochako frowns. No, of course she's not a sheep, but she's friends with her classmates, and they operate as a team. They communicate, they support and help each other, and they all work together to make sure they all can live easily. And her decision will effect them, regardless of their current involvement. Besides--

"Why me?" It's been nagging at the back of her mind ever since Shigaraki started literally following her. "Why's my decision so important?"

If he think it's because the 'nicest' one, he's sorely mistaken. Ochako is certainly kinda, and she's sincere in her kindness, but she most certainly knows when to bite back. She's hung around Bakugou long enough to know the place and time to show her claws and fangs, and use them. She won't be manipulated by him into making some shitty agreement he'll just break eventually.

[comecatchthesehands]

All of this is the truth, she has influence in her own decision but making this pact means she has to deal with the consequences on both sides. Or live with saying nothing, both are neither of his concern. If she chooses to fight, they fight. Her question isn't unwarranted and he shrugs his shoulder.

"Because you're standing in front of me and I want to know the answer to a question you have the answer to. Do you want to be in a constant state of battle, or do you want to live without looking over your shoulder where I'm concerned. I don't tell anyone what to do, either."

[floatsaway]

Ochako takes a long, deep breath...because she really just needs to center herself and find the power to not do anything rash or say anything stupid. There's a simple answer to be said here and that's obvious, but she just doesn't get his reasoning as to even wanting to make this little 'deal'.

"Obviously I'd prefer not to fight...there's no point to it in places like this. There's no laws here, and barely anyone to enforce what few there are. From what I've found out, death isn't permanent, there's no jails or prisons, and a much bigger problem to deal with that effects everyone."

Blood pollution, corruption, and beasthood. That sort of thing doesn't discriminate between Hero and Villain, there's no difference. People are people, those titles mean nothing in Trench.

"Even if it's foolish, I'd like to think even our two sides could agree to battle a bigger threat together. Or agree to leave each other alone...and not openly antagonize the other." Ochako sighs, running her hand through her hair nervously, that obnoxious tick she has, that musses it up like crazy. "But that's just me. I can't tell anyone else what to do myself, and I'll support the side I'm on, I think you're smart enough to know that, Shigaraki-san."

[comecatchthesehands]

Shigaraki tilts his head, he had figured a lot of this was the same. That there was things manifesting in other ways than death. Just respawning and repeating the same purgatory. He gives her the benefit of the doubt as she speaks and his hands remain safely in his pockets. Given that he doesn't need to actually touch things, maybe not the best safety for all but it's what he's got to offer that he's of little threat.

After a long study of her, his eyes searching for something that she can't possibly know in the least. "If you call, I'll answer. You won't like how I deal with whatever it is I have to "Battle"--" Yes with the air quotes before he sets his hands back in his pockets. "But I'll answer. It beats doing shit all here."

Let him have a moment for the smirk on his face and sticking his hand out toward her. "Shake on it?"

1/3

[floatsaway]

It helps, but also is deeply unsettling as well, not being able to see his hands. Having them in a place where she can monitor is better, and lets her be ready to get the hell out of reach of them as fast as she possibly can. Ochako knows well enough she'd be toast in a one-on-one with Shigaraki - both their quirks are based on touch, but his is lethal the instant his fingers make contact. Hers needs time for someone to get up high enough that she can either drop them or suffocate them when they reach about 7km above sea level.

Though, there's a weird not quite trust she feels just in knowing he's being this lax with her. It's absolutely bizarre, because he's laying it all out for her and her specifically. Ochako doesn't understand why and--

2/3

[floatsaway]

...Oh my god, does Shigaraki like her???

EW.

EWWWW, EWW, EWWW, EWWWWWW. NO THANK YOU, GOOD SIR, LET'S PUT THE BRAKES ON THAT RIGHT HERE AND NOW, HER STOMACH IS ALREADY MAKING THE ANGRY NOISES AT THE THOUGHT, OKOKOK.

3/3

[floatsaway]

Oh, thank god, a death threat!! That is so much easier to deal with that what her brain conjured up a second ago. Shaking her head and leaning back and away from the older man, Ochako wrinkles her nose a little and scrutinizes his extended hand with a scowl and a loud sniff.

"Ehhh... S-Sorry, my hands are full...but I'll take your word for it."

Not exactly a lie! Ochako is carrying her groceries in both arms right now, after all. She narrows her eyes though, finally registering his words for what they're worth and pursing her lips thoughtfully.

"I appreciate you being able to, um...help," Hoo boy, that's a loose way she's using that word, ayup. "But what I'm confused about is why seek out me? I don't have anything to offer back...because I'm sure this sudden generosity isn't for free."

He has to want something. It's the only way it makes sense.

lmao gonna steal ur girl bakuHOE

[comecatchthesehands]

Thank God she got that out of her head. That is certainly not what he's after and the thought would likely make him shake his own hand. He knows a lie when he sees it and it's not because the floor is lava and she can't put down her goods. Alright, fair. He retracts his hand for now instead of escalating it and puts it back in his pocket while she speaks.

The confusion is, again, fair and he looks on quietly. "It's for free." he assures her the moment she says it isn't. There are a lot of looks that Shigaraki wears, normally all of them are annoyed or deadpan on some level. This particular deadpan is on his face for the obviousness of considering what he has to say. "This isn't the first place I've been taken. I knew you—— know you."

Time to gauge how that gets taken.

TOES WEREN'T ENOUGH FOR OL' TOMMY FINGERS

[floatsaway]

Thank God indeed, because Ochako would find a way to teleport herself into the sun, for sure. Though the real reason actually does give Ochako pause, and she actually stops in her tracks to stare at the man beside her very curiously. That's clearly not what she expected at all, but coming from another world herself, even before Trench...the pieces are starting to fall in place.

"...So you've done this before, too, then." The confirmation of one half, and hen Ochako sighs slowly. She almost seems apologetic in tone when she speaks again. Almost. "But the place I was before this, definitely didn't have you in it, Shigaraki-san. And I don't remember another other world past that.

"I don't know how each place works completely - time travel and temporal science...that kind of physics isn't what I like to learn about - but I'm...probably not the same person you know."

Not entirely, anyway. Ochako opens her mouth, then closes it, her apology dying in her throat. He wouldn't want to hear it anyway. "If I treated you kindly, then that's all I can hope for."