[Akira has spruced the place up a bit. It's not that he feels he's unfit for Haru's engagement, per say, it's that he feels undeniably boy around her, and she's always so proper and well-dressed.]
[He even put on a fresh shirt, Haru. Be proud of this stinky goblin boy.]
[It's probably still jarring for her to see him without his glasses, for that matter. But he isn't wearing them when he opens the door, smiling and immediately stepping aside for her.] Hey, welcome.
[He knows as much-- he just Wants to. Something something leader something. He's so used to putting on a show, even knowing none of them would want him to pretend he was something he wasn't, it's just. Ingrained. He's too far gone, now, he doesn't know who he is without the mask when it comes to the rest of them.]
[He'll get there.]
[He looks her over in a beat of confusion before realizing why she must be looking at him and barking a sharp peal of boyish laughter, waving his hand in front of his eyes.] Ah-- yeah, I don't wear them so much anymore. [Still masks like a motherfucker, though.]
[His ears turn a little pink, if she can see them through the sentience his hair is gaining in not being cut in nearly a year because he is afraid of the prospect of Goro Akechi with scissors.]
[And a manual one he does have. He's got a manual grinder, too, and produces a small bag of beans from a top shelf for her.] Very. You come through okay?
I don't really know. My brain feels a little muddled right now. I have been trying really hard to sort through what is real and what isn't. Nothing really feels real right now.
Yeah that's about how I feel. My head's like a big weird bowl of jell-o. [He reaches over her head again to pull down the grinder, stepping back and leaning on the opposite counter.]
[His head tilts further, until it's about entirely sideways and he's frowning at some spot on the counter in curious confusion.] Huh.
...Maybe I'm just used to being empty-headed, I haven't really noticed a difference. [A crooked little grin-- he's trying to reassure her it's probably fine.]
[That's a startling question. Akira's eyebrows briefly come together and he shakes his head slowly, taking a small step toward her and reaching out to take her by the elbow.] No, we didn't. He suffered a mental shutdown after we left the palace. We didn't induce those, Akechi did. [Which-- he considered hesitating to say, because relations between Haru and Goro are already (understandably) tense, but... Haru needed facts, and ultimately of all the people Akechi killed, Haru's father is one of the least innocent.]
[He isn't so sure he'd go as far as to say to her face he deserved it, because even if he did, she didn't deserve to have the chance to reconcile with him taken from her. It's complicated.]
[ Then why is she remembering that all wrong? Why can’t she remember the truth right now? She doesn’t seem panicked about it, just mildly put off that she seems to be remembering incorrectly.]
Akechi-san, right. He had a rough situation too. I remember that I said I understood, but things would be tense.
We’re trying.
[ Akira helped her break free before, and she is so determined she can do it again. ]
[He nods, squeezing her elbow. This... is not nearly as damaging for him, personally, as it was to go around waking his friends up from Maruki's false reality, but it's still hard to watch.]
It's okay that you don't forgive him for it. It's... not really a forgivable offense.
[ She just smiles at him. It's all the more reason to try, she thinks. Not to forgive Akechi, but get back on some footing of understanding with him. Akira is always so good to her, to everyone. ]
[Akira's whole midsection aches a little about the whole thing, if he's honest. From his sternum to his hips feels heavy, knowing he holds so dear someone who took so much from several of his closest friends. Knowing that they don't scorn him for it-- or at least, those who have experienced the degree of closeness he's attained here in Aldrip. He feels disgusting, feels unclean for how badly he's wanted to be where he is, how glad he is to have what he does. It feels like he's trampling all over Haru and Futaba both.]
[He doesn't figure either of them would ever admit to feeling that way, if they ever did. But it doesn't change that he's constantly at a terrible, wretched crossroads with himself between the one person in the world he so desperately wanted to save he nearly traded the rest of the world for him and the people he's hurt.]
[But anyway, coffee.]
[He smiles tiredly, the expression belying nothing of the constant inner turmoil he puts himself through.] Careful, I'm a snob about coffee.
[ Akira should know that Haru wouldn't think of it any differently. She wants him to be happy, and if this is what makes him happy then who is she to stop him? finding out did sting a little bit, but from then on...well, it's become pretty normal.
But awkward feelings aside, she's already halfway through pouring over the first cup. She has a dainty touch when she does this sort of thing. Like she wants the coffee to taste just a bit softer. ]
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come on by. :)
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[She wasn’t lying, fifteen minutes later there is a knock knock at his door. ]
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[He even put on a fresh shirt, Haru. Be proud of this stinky goblin boy.]
[It's probably still jarring for her to see him without his glasses, for that matter. But he isn't wearing them when he opens the door, smiling and immediately stepping aside for her.] Hey, welcome.
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Never mind that, she does look at him for a moment too long, studying his face without his glasses. But she quickly realizes what she’s doing.]
Hey, thank you for having me over.
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[He'll get there.]
[He looks her over in a beat of confusion before realizing why she must be looking at him and barking a sharp peal of boyish laughter, waving his hand in front of his eyes.] Ah-- yeah, I don't wear them so much anymore. [Still masks like a motherfucker, though.]
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[He will get there. She knows it. But now isn’t that time, now is it? They’re going to have to work up to it.
She's honestly happy just spending time with him, no matter their situation.
She heads over to the kitchen, rummaging around for the coffee drip. She guesses he has a manual one. She did say she needed to think. ]
It’s been a long few days, hasn’t it?
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[And a manual one he does have. He's got a manual grinder, too, and produces a small bag of beans from a top shelf for her.] Very. You come through okay?
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I don't really know. My brain feels a little muddled right now. I have been trying really hard to sort through what is real and what isn't. Nothing really feels real right now.
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Yeah that's about how I feel. My head's like a big weird bowl of jell-o. [He reaches over her head again to pull down the grinder, stepping back and leaning on the opposite counter.]
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I had to visit City Hall this morning too. That is certainly a tough crowd.
[ She just chalks that up to bad timing. ]
I can’t say I remember much of it though.
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I just remember going there, and not much else after.
[ Haru feels like her head is soup. ]
It’s okay, though. We have been through worse, I’m sure of it.
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...Maybe I'm just used to being empty-headed, I haven't really noticed a difference. [A crooked little grin-- he's trying to reassure her it's probably fine.]
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While she waits she just, looks to him. ]
I trust you.
Can I ask something?
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[ Why is she even questioning this again?
It’s because her brain is literally soup right now. ]
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[He isn't so sure he'd go as far as to say to her face he deserved it, because even if he did, she didn't deserve to have the chance to reconcile with him taken from her. It's complicated.]
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[ Then why is she remembering that all wrong? Why can’t she remember the truth right now? She doesn’t seem panicked about it, just mildly put off that she seems to be remembering incorrectly.]
Akechi-san, right. He had a rough situation too. I remember that I said I understood, but things would be tense.
We’re trying.
[ Akira helped her break free before, and she is so determined she can do it again. ]
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It's okay that you don't forgive him for it. It's... not really a forgivable offense.
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[ It is like puzzle pieces, falling into place. She will get there, she thinks. ]
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[ She just smiles at him. It's all the more reason to try, she thinks. Not to forgive Akechi, but get back on some footing of understanding with him. Akira is always so good to her, to everyone. ]
Would you like a cup too?
uses this icon because it's rude
[He doesn't figure either of them would ever admit to feeling that way, if they ever did. But it doesn't change that he's constantly at a terrible, wretched crossroads with himself between the one person in the world he so desperately wanted to save he nearly traded the rest of the world for him and the people he's hurt.]
[But anyway, coffee.]
[He smiles tiredly, the expression belying nothing of the constant inner turmoil he puts himself through.] Careful, I'm a snob about coffee.
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But awkward feelings aside, she's already halfway through pouring over the first cup. She has a dainty touch when she does this sort of thing. Like she wants the coffee to taste just a bit softer. ]
Who could blame you? You learned from the best.