[She prepares her cup while Akira is getting dressed, blowing gently on it as he enters. A smile and a thumbs-up later, and she's turning on her heel to skip toward the door.]
It's relaxing. C'mon! And tell me what you've been up to, too.
[He throws together a quick tumbler of coffee for himself so he isn't too lethargic, and moves along behind her at a much more languid pace.] Mmn, not overmuch. I caught myself reading one of Goro's psychology books the other night because I couldn't sleep. Stuff will put you right down.
[Hm, reading... not really her thing. Sounds kind of boring. Plus, she doesn't really ever have trouble falling asleep. It's waking up that's the problem!!
Anyway, she turns in the direction of the farmhouse once they leave Akira's place, clasping her hands behind her back and refraining from skipping only so she can keep pace with the other boy.]
[He likes reading, but Goro's pretentious philosophy texts are very boring.] Yeah. Like half a page and my brain was turning to goo.
[He hooks his coffee tumbler on a belt loop-- he puts carabiners on them so they're easier to carry because he frequently doesn't have a free hand --and slips his hands into his pockets.] Yeah. I'm kind of a handful lately, and he's... been surprisingly supportive.
[A beat, and he extracts a hand to twist his hair between his fingers.] ...ah, not. To say he's usually unsupportive. You know how he is.
[She makes a face at him when he describes himself as "a handful." What's that mean, bud? Existing? They talked about this.]
Yeah, he's kind of a self-centered jerk usually, [she says, affection clear in her tone as she gives him another smile to drive home that she's kidding. Mostly.] If he's not, I'll come nag him, though. I don't mind!
[Actually she enjoys nagging Goro. Let her do it more, please?]
[He quite pointedly ignores her look-- he's a handful! He's usually so low maintenance and he's been a disaster.]
[But he also laughs at her assessment of Goro-- really laughs, a startled bark of sound that he lets continue, because it feels nice. He takes a moment to savor that feeling, letting the laughter peter off into quiet, and nods.] I think he likes it when people nag him. I know I like it when people nag him.
The laugh at least keeps her from pushing the point too hard, at least for now. It's contagious, leaving her giggling a little and putting some extra spring in her step as they keep walking together.]
I'll definitely do it more, then! I think he needs to be nagged, otherwise he'll get insufferable. More insufferable. [(Affectionate.)]
[She really shouldn't be surprised at Akira turning this question on her. There's a beat of hesitation as her cheeks turn the lightest shade of pink and a hand goes to touch the chain of a necklace mostly hidden beneath her shirt before answering,] Good, I think!
[And then, almost as if she can't stop herself, she adds,] I've been hanging out with Yu, too. He's pretty cool!
[He does not miss the way her hand goes to that chain, and grins faintly. Point for Scott.]
[But then-- Yu? Akira's eyebrows shoot upward into his hairline and he blinks, but... Well, he can't blame her, Yu's pretty hot. And he certainly isn't one to judge the protagonist desire to hold everyone's hands.] Yeah?
[In more ways than one, not just having multiple Personas. A magnetic charisma, an easy-going charm, and the same willingness to have fun and just go for something. Plus, he's pretty cute!
But she hadn't intended to tell Akira about that. Like, it isn't as though it's all that important. There's a faint hint of a frown in her brows, but she dismisses it in short order.]
It's nothing serious, don't worry! [A wink and a smile as she nudges Akira's arm with her elbow.] He took me to fly kites on the beach, though. Probably not Goro's style, huh?
Oh, you mean a Wildcard? Yeah, we talked about that a bit.
[He grins, wrinkling his nose a little.] Notsomuch. He'd park his ass somewhere with an umbrella and read, complaining when anyone tried to get him to actually have fun.
So you're saying we should take him to the beach and make him have fun.
[Surely between the two of them, they can get him off his butt and enjoying himself in spite of himself. She laughs a little as she swings open the gates to the farmlands, holding them open for Akira to enter before closing it behind her. Don't want the animals to escape!]
It's kind of nice, though, [she adds after a moment's thought.] Pretending to be normal with everyone.
[Akira will literally pick his crabby ass up and drag him into the ocean until he laughs, don't test him. He slips into the fenced area and does a curious little circle watching her close the gate, because... He's never actually been here, he doesn't think? Somehow. He's looking off into the yard when she speaks, and hums a moment before he turns to her belatedly.] Oh, you mean not saving the world as teenagers?
[She laughs again and tosses him a wink once the gate is latched. There are cows and sheep visible on other parts of the farm, and plenty of crops growing. The chickens are, of course, able to roam where they please, but Kotone doesn't head toward any of that. Instead, she turns down another path, one that looks like it was cut more recently, deeper into some of the surrounding woods. Not the creepy woods, just normal woods.]
That, and just... doing normal stuff. Going to parties, playing games, going on dates. It's like... [she kind of waves her hand and shrugs helplessly.] Hard to explain!
[He grins, holding his hands up in an "OK" sign, and then looks at each of the animal groupings as he follows her before focusing on the path and that they're headed into the woods.] ...some place this is, 's got a little of everything.
[A nod.] Mmn. I'm..., I dunno, I think I did so much in Tokyo that I'm burnt out, I just kind of want to stay in. [He's also been traumatized and is experiencing a good old Depression, but that's beside the point.]
[She points to the farmhouse. That's Astralin's house, mind, not hers. She may have been living there for months, but it's still not hers.
Still, she gives Akira a hum and a smile, if tempered with a hint of concern. Burned out... not really a concept she's familiar with (if only because she feels it all the time but doesn't know any other way to be).]
I think it's still good to get out. I get sad if I stay inside too much by myself.
[Dazai said it's "depression" but that definitely can't be true because she's not sad all the time!!]
[His hands slide into his pockets as he walks, his posture pinning inward as he does so. He hums, but otherwise doesn't comment.]
[He knows how it looks. He's cried more since the maze than he did the whole year he was in Tokyo, and he's hardly left his apartment. He's getting better, he thinks, but he's well aware it doesn't look especially healthy. It's part of why he's trying to follow Kotone's energy and not turn tail and slink away.]
[Uh-uh. Give her one of those hands, bucko. She extends one hand in offer for him to take, if he wants, but it's less of an offer and more of a demand. Take it. Take it-!!
Either way, she keeps leading the way without further comment, deeper into the trees. He'll be able to feel the humidity start rising, and some awfully familiar architecture coming into view -- a Japanese-style open-air bath.]
Astralin-san worked really hard on this. I think he'll open it officially soon, but for now... it should just be us. [She gives him a smile and a raise of her eyebrows. Worth leaving the house for?]
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[She prepares her cup while Akira is getting dressed, blowing gently on it as he enters. A smile and a thumbs-up later, and she's turning on her heel to skip toward the door.]
It's relaxing. C'mon! And tell me what you've been up to, too.
[Chat! With! Her!]
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[He throws together a quick tumbler of coffee for himself so he isn't too lethargic, and moves along behind her at a much more languid pace.] Mmn, not overmuch. I caught myself reading one of Goro's psychology books the other night because I couldn't sleep. Stuff will put you right down.
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[Hm, reading... not really her thing. Sounds kind of boring. Plus, she doesn't really ever have trouble falling asleep. It's waking up that's the problem!!
Anyway, she turns in the direction of the farmhouse once they leave Akira's place, clasping her hands behind her back and refraining from skipping only so she can keep pace with the other boy.]
How about you and Goro? Good?
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[He hooks his coffee tumbler on a belt loop-- he puts carabiners on them so they're easier to carry because he frequently doesn't have a free hand --and slips his hands into his pockets.] Yeah. I'm kind of a handful lately, and he's... been surprisingly supportive.
[A beat, and he extracts a hand to twist his hair between his fingers.] ...ah, not. To say he's usually unsupportive. You know how he is.
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Yeah, he's kind of a self-centered jerk usually, [she says, affection clear in her tone as she gives him another smile to drive home that she's kidding. Mostly.] If he's not, I'll come nag him, though. I don't mind!
[Actually she enjoys nagging Goro. Let her do it more, please?]
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[But he also laughs at her assessment of Goro-- really laughs, a startled bark of sound that he lets continue, because it feels nice. He takes a moment to savor that feeling, letting the laughter peter off into quiet, and nods.] I think he likes it when people nag him. I know I like it when people nag him.
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The laugh at least keeps her from pushing the point too hard, at least for now. It's contagious, leaving her giggling a little and putting some extra spring in her step as they keep walking together.]
I'll definitely do it more, then! I think he needs to be nagged, otherwise he'll get insufferable. More insufferable. [(Affectionate.)]
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Definitely more. He's always insufferable to some degree. [Disgustingly fond.] Oh, but-- how are you, with Scott?
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[She really shouldn't be surprised at Akira turning this question on her. There's a beat of hesitation as her cheeks turn the lightest shade of pink and a hand goes to touch the chain of a necklace mostly hidden beneath her shirt before answering,] Good, I think!
[And then, almost as if she can't stop herself, she adds,] I've been hanging out with Yu, too. He's pretty cool!
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[But then-- Yu? Akira's eyebrows shoot upward into his hairline and he blinks, but... Well, he can't blame her, Yu's pretty hot. And he certainly isn't one to judge the protagonist desire to hold everyone's hands.] Yeah?
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[In more ways than one, not just having multiple Personas. A magnetic charisma, an easy-going charm, and the same willingness to have fun and just go for something. Plus, he's pretty cute!
But she hadn't intended to tell Akira about that. Like, it isn't as though it's all that important. There's a faint hint of a frown in her brows, but she dismisses it in short order.]
It's nothing serious, don't worry! [A wink and a smile as she nudges Akira's arm with her elbow.] He took me to fly kites on the beach, though. Probably not Goro's style, huh?
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[He grins, wrinkling his nose a little.] Notsomuch. He'd park his ass somewhere with an umbrella and read, complaining when anyone tried to get him to actually have fun.
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[Surely between the two of them, they can get him off his butt and enjoying himself in spite of himself. She laughs a little as she swings open the gates to the farmlands, holding them open for Akira to enter before closing it behind her. Don't want the animals to escape!]
It's kind of nice, though, [she adds after a moment's thought.] Pretending to be normal with everyone.
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[Akira will literally pick his crabby ass up and drag him into the ocean until he laughs, don't test him. He slips into the fenced area and does a curious little circle watching her close the gate, because... He's never actually been here, he doesn't think? Somehow. He's looking off into the yard when she speaks, and hums a moment before he turns to her belatedly.] Oh, you mean not saving the world as teenagers?
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[She laughs again and tosses him a wink once the gate is latched. There are cows and sheep visible on other parts of the farm, and plenty of crops growing. The chickens are, of course, able to roam where they please, but Kotone doesn't head toward any of that. Instead, she turns down another path, one that looks like it was cut more recently, deeper into some of the surrounding woods. Not the creepy woods, just normal woods.]
That, and just... doing normal stuff. Going to parties, playing games, going on dates. It's like... [she kind of waves her hand and shrugs helplessly.] Hard to explain!
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[A nod.] Mmn. I'm..., I dunno, I think I did so much in Tokyo that I'm burnt out, I just kind of want to stay in. [He's also been traumatized and is experiencing a good old Depression, but that's beside the point.]
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[She points to the farmhouse. That's Astralin's house, mind, not hers. She may have been living there for months, but it's still not hers.
Still, she gives Akira a hum and a smile, if tempered with a hint of concern. Burned out... not really a concept she's familiar with (if only because she feels it all the time but doesn't know any other way to be).]
I think it's still good to get out. I get sad if I stay inside too much by myself.
[Dazai said it's "depression" but that definitely can't be true because she's not sad all the time!!]
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[He knows how it looks. He's cried more since the maze than he did the whole year he was in Tokyo, and he's hardly left his apartment. He's getting better, he thinks, but he's well aware it doesn't look especially healthy. It's part of why he's trying to follow Kotone's energy and not turn tail and slink away.]
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Either way, she keeps leading the way without further comment, deeper into the trees. He'll be able to feel the humidity start rising, and some awfully familiar architecture coming into view -- a Japanese-style open-air bath.]
Astralin-san worked really hard on this. I think he'll open it officially soon, but for now... it should just be us. [She gives him a smile and a raise of her eyebrows. Worth leaving the house for?]