[WEEK 4, SUNDAY POST-EXECUTION: Akira]

[spinatalltale]

[she's taking Pal's advice this time around. she's keeping the damn knife]

[which, actually! makes prying open coconuts a lot easier? for some reason? well, anyway. she can be found some time after the execution on the outskirts of the jungle, sitting cross legged among a pile of freshly harvested coconuts!]

[. . .]

[um. she's stabbing the one in her lap with just a little more force than necessary]

[. . .]

[u m]

[on the bright side, she seems way more put together than she was on Saturday, after the trial. despite, you know. just having killed her party member. that is a bright side, right. . .?]

Comments

[jokered]

[that's not comforting at all, though he imagines after last night's release, she probably is a little better.

not much, though.

not after killing one of her own. not after why it came to be.]

...Magilao.

[he approaches somewhat casually, but his tone is a bit serious. he's worried about her, but...

he knows he has to frame it differently, because even now, she'll still try to brush him off when she can. and tonight? he really doesn't want that.]

[spinatalltale]

[ask her about last night and she'll say it n e v e r happened. oops]

Oho, Trickster! Good timing!

[she lifts her knife, which is currently stuck inside a coconut. so basically she's. . . lifting a knife-coconut torch, or something? it's ridiculous]

[she's already starting the whole "brushing him off" thing]

Want some coconut water?

[jokered]

[he won't ask about last night. he was there.]

Sure.

[magilou, did you think you'd get off that easily.]

...

[words. he kind of needs words to ask her this, doesn't he?]

You wanted me to be more selfish, right?

[spinatalltale]

[use your words, silent protag]

[she lowers the coconut into her lap and starts prying it open so she can reach the water inside]

Mmm.

[she remembers. she also remembers their conversation about this was specifically about his feelings, so. . .]

Need to talk about your feelings? I think I'm getting a little better at this.

[SLIGHTLY]

[jokered]

Not really.

[well, that's blunt.]

I just have a selfish request.

[kind of. he's going to frame it as selfish, and in a way it is—but he's still doing it for her?

akira, you're weird.]

[spinatalltale]

[he's weird, she's weird, they're two weird peas in a pod]

. . . ?

What is it? I can't make any promises!

[jokered]

It sucks going back to an empty hut. But I don't think I'm in the mood for a big sleepover, either.

[come spend the night in his hut, magilou.]

[spinatalltale]

[she isn't clueless. really, she isn't! but for some reason, this one flies right over her head. maybe it's just because everything is so. . . new and weird. she's still learning!]

[be more blunt, Akira]

Do you want to come stay with Cindy and I? I'll even let you use my pillow!

[jokered]

[he will.]

Quieter than that. Just us. I want your company tonight, selfishly.

[he just wants to hang out with her alone? all night? it's fine.]

1/2

[spinatalltale]

[oh]

[there it is]

[blinks at him a few times, like ???]

[spinatalltale]

[but in the end, while he drives her absolutely crazy by getting the upper hand on her when he's teasing her. . . she isn't really shy]

Okay.

[so her agreement is quick and easy]

Cindy will probably be worried if I don't tell her where I'm going, but since it isn't Thursday, it shouldn't be too bad to leave her alone for one night.

[jokered]

Go ahead and tell her first, then.

[honestly, it's not like he really wants to leave lucina out to dry, but it should be safe on a sunday night.]

Don't give her any extra reasons to worry.

[spinatalltale]

She really has no business worrying about me, after some of the stunts she's pulled. Sigh! The trials of having a reckless partner.

[she hops to her feet, coconut in hand. there's a hole carved out of the top for water. yay! she's also giving it to Akira]

Here. Enjoy your drink! Sorry about the lack of an umbrella. [supplies were limited] I'll meet you back at your place after I talk to Cindy.

[jokered]

[well, he won't refuse the coconut even still... despite it being a pretty strange use of her time following the execution. but still, he nods.]

Take your time. It's not like there's anything there to interrupt.

[he's without a roommate, after all.] We'll have all night, anyway.

[so they're not pressed for time, either.]

[spinatalltale]

[it's called stress relief!!]

Ah--

[green eyes blink at him slowly]

"We'll have all night. . ." in this context, that sounds--

[kind of romantic, but she aborts that thought immediately]

Right-o! I'll get right on it! See you soon, Trickster!

[AND SHE IS OFF]







[and, as promised, once the news is delivered to Lucina she'll be chilling outside his hut waiting for him later. or knocking on it, if he's already home]

[jokered]

[it's only meant to partially be romantic, but it's fine. she can dodge talking about it—it won't matter once they're alone together anyway.

he hums in response, letting her go off to handle what she needs to with lucina. and as promised, he'll be waiting in his hut for her.]

Come on in—

[he's just sitting at the edge of his bed, taking his shoes off, anyway. it's fine.]

[spinatalltale]

[she'll dodge talking about it, but certainly won't dodge everything else, so you know!!]

[once inside, she links her hands behind her head at takes a seat on the ground next to his bed, back pressed against the mattress]

I brought cards. And this time, we don't have to worry about anyone not knowing how to play.

[jokered]

[it probably would have been nice if she were a little closer, but the night is young. he's not impatient, so he just remains seated on the bed, relatively close.]

True. I forgot you even had that deck of cards, honestly.

[spinatalltale]

A magician is nothing without at least one deck of cards!

[she lifts a hand and waves it through the air, and suddenly-- she is holding a deck of card. like magic! the sleight-of-hand kind, of course]

And yes, I'm aware I usually call myself a witch, not a magician. Close enough.

[jokered]

[he would expect no less from her.]

You can be a magician tonight. I won't tell anyone your secret.

[spinatalltale]

[well, he was wishing they were closer, right? she scrambles from her spot on the floor to join him on the bed, sitting cross-legged as she shuffles her cards]

You know almost an embarrassing amount of my secrets. You'd better be good at keeping them, or else I'm toast.

[jokered]

I'm an expert secret keeper. Do you know how many people here know I'm a Phantom Thief, or about my Personas?

[hint, magilou: she's the only one aside from haru.]

1/2

[spinatalltale]

[oh]

[spinatalltale]

[no that didn't give her a doki or anything, what're you talking about]

I wonder what it says about your taste in companions, that I'm the only person to whom you've told that story.

[she muses idly aloud as she deals them both a hand for poker]

[jokered]

[this is fine.]

Probably that it's in my nature to keep shady company.

[he's teasing a bit as he picks up the cards she deals. sure, they can play for now.]

Or maybe it's just that I don't talk about myself much. Who knows?