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ɪɴʙᴏx [ᴇxᴘɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ]
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Is that the way you approached your countless other part-time jobs?
[he waits for the rice and soup to be placed on the table, and Akira to join him before picking up the chopsticks with his right hand. He murmurs the polite "thanks for the food" and starts picking at his fish.]
What are you looking at?
[he waits for the rice and soup to be placed on the table, and Akira to join him before picking up the chopsticks with his right hand. He murmurs the polite "thanks for the food" and starts picking at his fish.]
What are you looking at?
Those were mostly by circumstance, here I don't have a bunch of teenagers and a cat to ensure the safety of in a parallel universe on a student's budget.
[He carefully begins on his own meal, methodical about how he eats. A bit of rice, break off a piece of fish, chew the rice, chew the fish, a swig of soup. The flavors complement each other nicely, all mild but not quite bland. He looks up from his soup bowl, half-raised to his lips, and swallows.] ...you? You were pretty feverish last night, so I'm making sure you eat okay.
[He frowns, setting his bowl down.] ...sorry, is that overbearing of me?
[He carefully begins on his own meal, methodical about how he eats. A bit of rice, break off a piece of fish, chew the rice, chew the fish, a swig of soup. The flavors complement each other nicely, all mild but not quite bland. He looks up from his soup bowl, half-raised to his lips, and swallows.] ...you? You were pretty feverish last night, so I'm making sure you eat okay.
[He frowns, setting his bowl down.] ...sorry, is that overbearing of me?
It's distracting.
[He mumbles and focuses back on his own meal. Taking small pieces of fish and rice. Akechi isn't usually a type to get nervous around the others, but Akira's attention makes him feel like a specimen under a magnifying glass, making him lose interest in the food despite the gnarling emptiness in his stomach.]
I will eat.
[He mumbles and focuses back on his own meal. Taking small pieces of fish and rice. Akechi isn't usually a type to get nervous around the others, but Akira's attention makes him feel like a specimen under a magnifying glass, making him lose interest in the food despite the gnarling emptiness in his stomach.]
I will eat.
Hehe, you sure are! [But she laughs and cuddles up to him again, smiling softly.]
I just want you to feel as... As safe and comfortable with me--with us--and we are with you.
I just want you to feel as... As safe and comfortable with me--with us--and we are with you.
[He stays quiet during the rest of their breakfast. Eating slowly and keeping his expression neutral. The food is good, even if a little bland. But it's not like he cares about any of that. As long it's nourishing he really doesn't care what it is that he eats.
Once their meal is over he picks up their plates and takes them back to kitchen, not wanting to be pampered by Akira any further. He's the guest here, after all. ]
Don't you have something to do? You really don't need to stay here for my sake.
[His voice is just as neutral as his expression before. Not quite sure how to proceed from here.]
I need to clean up and look for one of the healers, seeing that we can't summon our personas.
Once their meal is over he picks up their plates and takes them back to kitchen, not wanting to be pampered by Akira any further. He's the guest here, after all. ]
Don't you have something to do? You really don't need to stay here for my sake.
[His voice is just as neutral as his expression before. Not quite sure how to proceed from here.]
I need to clean up and look for one of the healers, seeing that we can't summon our personas.
Edited 2023-05-18 17:27 (UTC)
[He rumbles a mock-offended sound, but he sure is soaking up her cuddling.]
[He's quiet a minute, almost too long to still be amicable without the assumption he's fallen asleep, but then hums, angling his head to look up at her through his mess of black curls.] ...I do, Sumire. I'd trust you guys with my life and thensome. [Just not the burdens of his feelings when they aren't relevant. Which to him, they never really are.]
[He's quiet a minute, almost too long to still be amicable without the assumption he's fallen asleep, but then hums, angling his head to look up at her through his mess of black curls.] ...I do, Sumire. I'd trust you guys with my life and thensome. [Just not the burdens of his feelings when they aren't relevant. Which to him, they never really are.]
[He tries to view the silence as friendly, or at least amicable, but it feels a little stiff regardless. When Akechi claims his plate he almost protests, but-- no, he supposes it's fair to let him collect his own dishes in his room, Akira already invaded and made himself at home to cook in his kitchen. He hums, leaning back in his chair.] Yeah, I've got a few things to do take care of.
[Looking over his shoulder at Akechi, he considers him a moment.] ...Can I ask you a favor?
[Looking over his shoulder at Akechi, he considers him a moment.] ...Can I ask you a favor?
[Akechi exits the kitchen, leaning his hip against the wall and meeting Akira's eyes]
What is it?
What is it?
[He looks the slightest bit scolded.] ...keep me in the loop? I know you're fine, and I know you can take care of yourself, I just. [His mouth quirks slightly and he sits forward in his chair instead to avoid looking at him.] I just want something to be normal, with us.
[God. What is even normal for them? Their relationship has gone through constant changes since it started. Summer of pretended niceties and fake flirting twisted into open hostility and violence, all until ending up in mutual understanding of one other and necessary teamwork.
And now? The Gap between them has shrunk along with this new strange closeness and clumsy affection. Is that a new normal for them.]
We did agree on that last night. [When they had agreed to team up again.] I'll let you in anything that's important.
And now? The Gap between them has shrunk along with this new strange closeness and clumsy affection. Is that a new normal for them.]
We did agree on that last night. [When they had agreed to team up again.] I'll let you in anything that's important.
[A bit of tension eases from his shoulders, and he rocks forward to stand, failing to put slip his hands into pockets that aren't there. Stupid yukata...] Right-- I forgot, sorry. [A brief flash of teeth in a grin, sheepish.]
[He bites his lower lip in an unconscious gesture, then, scuffing his foot against the ground and circling around his chair, pushing it back in like he's in public or something. His hands still on the back of the chair, he looks over his shoulder again.] ...c'mere a second.
[He bites his lower lip in an unconscious gesture, then, scuffing his foot against the ground and circling around his chair, pushing it back in like he's in public or something. His hands still on the back of the chair, he looks over his shoulder again.] ...c'mere a second.
[They really need get him more clothes. Akechi feels like he's lately seen Akira in that yukata than in his regular clothes.]
Just which one of us was feverish last night. [With a roll of shoulders he pushes himself off the wall and walks up to Akira.]
What?
Just which one of us was feverish last night. [With a roll of shoulders he pushes himself off the wall and walks up to Akira.]
What?
[Well maybe if you didn't throw him into lakes, buddy--]
[He gives him a slightly annoyed frown, rolling his eyes and setting one hand on his hip.] Oh shove off, I was actually worried about you. Anything else was secondary. [He takes a second, looking him over as he approaches, but reaches out and sets a hand on his shoulder to lean forward and put their foreheads together in an affectionate gesture.] ...you're gonna have to communicate boundaries with me on this or I'm gonna be really obnoxious.
[He gives him a slightly annoyed frown, rolling his eyes and setting one hand on his hip.] Oh shove off, I was actually worried about you. Anything else was secondary. [He takes a second, looking him over as he approaches, but reaches out and sets a hand on his shoulder to lean forward and put their foreheads together in an affectionate gesture.] ...you're gonna have to communicate boundaries with me on this or I'm gonna be really obnoxious.
[Akechi bites softly insides of his cheeks, mulling over Akira's words. He's not entirely sure what his boundaries even are outside of... Nothing that's too much. Or too public or obvious. Anything that would make him feel cornered. But what does that even include?
He hums quietly, quickly glances up to meet Akira's eyes before looking down, feeling that mental block pressing against his mind now that the fever wasn't holding it back.]
I don't mind you being here. [is what he settles on eventually.] Or doing this.
He hums quietly, quickly glances up to meet Akira's eyes before looking down, feeling that mental block pressing against his mind now that the fever wasn't holding it back.]
I don't mind you being here. [is what he settles on eventually.] Or doing this.
[Akira's whole posture loosens, warm. He closes his eyes on a chuckle, smiling, and bumps their noses together. He considers kissing him, for a solid ten seconds, but decides to start small, for now. Just affection, just contact. They can move forward from there.] I'm glad.
[He takes a step backward, letting his fingertips trail down Akechi's arm.] I'll see you later?
[He takes a step backward, letting his fingertips trail down Akechi's arm.] I'll see you later?
[Akira's not the only one who's thinking of a kiss here. But Akechi just can't bring himself to take the first step here. Not now. And he does appreciate Akira not pushing it, leaving them with space to grow used to whatever this is.]
Yes. [He brings his hand to grab Akira, not letting him wander off too far just yet.] You'll keep me updated on things around here as well, correct? It's a deal.
Yes. [He brings his hand to grab Akira, not letting him wander off too far just yet.] You'll keep me updated on things around here as well, correct? It's a deal.
[There are a lot of people she has to talk to. A lot of people she'd hurt. It's hard to remember a lot of it, but that moment Akira had stepped in is crystal clear. She'd almost killed him.
She looks so weary as she knocks hesitantly on his door. She has her school bag clutched over her shoulder, her Evoker still holstered at her hip, but she keeps her back straight. She has to take responsibility for this.
If Akira hates her, then she'll live with that. It would be easier not to find out, but- well.]
She looks so weary as she knocks hesitantly on his door. She has her school bag clutched over her shoulder, her Evoker still holstered at her hip, but she keeps her back straight. She has to take responsibility for this.
If Akira hates her, then she'll live with that. It would be easier not to find out, but- well.]
[He's worn out. He hadn't even done much, and he hates that he's so tired from a little scratch-- seeing Arsène again had been nice, at least. Making sure Kotone didn't get split in half was worth it. Watching the shower drain fill with red for a while had been a little less so, but he was clean and bandaged and had been Resting, at the insistence of both his Persona and the nurse who had patched him up.]
[He still gets up immediately at the knock, and moves maybe a little too quickly to get the door. If he looks Rough, well..., Maybe she won't comment.] Oh, hey. Howzit? [Absolutely no change, this moron.]
[He still gets up immediately at the knock, and moves maybe a little too quickly to get the door. If he looks Rough, well..., Maybe she won't comment.] Oh, hey. Howzit? [Absolutely no change, this moron.]
Hey.
[She tries for a smile, but it doesn't even come close to reaching her eyes as she holds up her bag.]
Brought you a new shirt. To replace your other one.
[Her hands are shaking a little, but her voice stays steady as she meets his eyes. He doesn't... look like he hates her.]
[She tries for a smile, but it doesn't even come close to reaching her eyes as she holds up her bag.]
Brought you a new shirt. To replace your other one.
[Her hands are shaking a little, but her voice stays steady as she meets his eyes. He doesn't... look like he hates her.]
[He's hung his neatly-sliced shirt up in his closet after washing it-- he hasn't figured out how to fix it, if he can, but he'd like to. He likes his weird little not-Baby-Phat polo, thanks. His eyebrows disappear further into his mess of curls at the offer of a new shirt and his mouth forms a little "o".]
...ah, yeah, the other one is kind of... [He makes a slow slicing motion with one hand, taking two steps into the room and holding the door open.] Wanna come in?
...ah, yeah, the other one is kind of... [He makes a slow slicing motion with one hand, taking two steps into the room and holding the door open.] Wanna come in?
...Sure.
[She takes a few hesitant steps in and toes her shoes off, gently kicking them off to the side before opening the bag and pulling out the shirt. It's not quite the same style as the one she'd ruined, but it is black with a high collar and short sleeves, though the buttons go all the way up instead of just at the collar.
Offering it with both hands, she can't quite meet his eyes as she takes another breath.]
I'm... really sorry.
[She takes a few hesitant steps in and toes her shoes off, gently kicking them off to the side before opening the bag and pulling out the shirt. It's not quite the same style as the one she'd ruined, but it is black with a high collar and short sleeves, though the buttons go all the way up instead of just at the collar.
Offering it with both hands, she can't quite meet his eyes as she takes another breath.]
I'm... really sorry.
I-
[She opens her mouth, pauses, rehearsed little apology speech stumbling to a halt as she glances quickly back up at him. Her hands curl lightly in his, more from confusion than anything else.]
I attacked you. I almost killed you, then I left you when you were still injured.
[She opens her mouth, pauses, rehearsed little apology speech stumbling to a halt as she glances quickly back up at him. Her hands curl lightly in his, more from confusion than anything else.]
I attacked you. I almost killed you, then I left you when you were still injured.
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