[WEEK 4, THURSDAY NIGHT PRE-CURFEW: Akira]

[spinatalltale]

[she moves quietly towards Akira and Raven's hut after nightfall, but before curfew, silently hoping that Raven's absence means it'll be empty save for Akira. careful observation of his demeanor throughout the day revealed to her that his strength was wavering-- worry, a dash of panic, and most importantly fear, was etched into every single feature, to the point of where that spark in his eyes she admired so much was completely invisible]

[she didn't like it]

[. . . but she didn't know what to do about it, either]

[this wasn't her area of expertise. hell, just a few short weeks ago, she would've taken one look at that expression and kept her distance, allowing him to deal with his emotions all on his own. but her feet carry her before she can really think about it, and before she knows it, she's outside his door, standing with her hands linked behind her back and her expression neutral]

[she sucks in a deep breath]

Hey, Trickster! You home?

Comments

[jokered]

[it's unlike her, but akira knows better than anyone else that sometimes? you really just don't need words.

when he pulls back, he can see something so warm and sincere in her expression that he actually smiles right back reflexively; almost as if he can't help himself but smile seeing it.]

...There's no way I could regret that.

[it makes his heart feel a little less frayed. even though these terrible things still weigh on him—being granted this much agency, seeing magilou's expression—

even akira can hardly believe how much he's grown to like her, but hasn't that always been his way? those who don't traditionally fit in, those who are shady, those who can be a little sadistic—he's always drawn to those types. and now, their lives are on the line, and he'd regret more not pursuing something before his life ends.

of all the choices he's made since being here—this is probably the only one that's actually felt right.]

1/2

[spinatalltale]

[god he really is unfair. do-gooders have always made her itch, have always made her smile curl in a wry and mocking manner. this island. . . it's made her so damn soft, endearing her to people like Akira who wished to selflessly save the world, and not in the empty and pointless manner that had driven Artorius's actions. people who live, just as Velvet and the others, and live undaunted by the ugliness of this game. it shouldn't be surprising that she finds herself here with the one person who lives the most out of all of them. the one person who has actively tried to help her pick up the pieces of her own broken self]

[maybe this place has made her soft, but maybe it's also helped seal some of the cracks caused by Melchior oh so long ago]

. . . I don't get you.

[spinatalltale]

[and before he can respond, she drops her hand from his face and shoves him by the shoulder]

Hey. Don't go thinking I'm some blushing or demure maiden, here!

[annnd there is the tsun]

[jokered]

[he likes the tsun too, so akira just chuckles softly. she's helping? somehow, she's helping, even if it only gets his mind off things for a little while.]

I like that you're not either of those things. [shrug.] I still don't regret it.

[spinatalltale]

[AUGH]

[and she's back to facesmooshing]

I still really don't get you! And you still piss me off.

I didn't ask for this!

[tsun tsun]

[jokered]

I didn't ask for it either, but here we are.

[okay, but what if he, smooshed face and all, leans in to kiss her again to shut her up?

... c:]

1/2

[spinatalltale]

[a h]

[stop!! cheating!!]

[she wasn't expecting this one, so she tenses immediately on contact. one hand drops to his collar, fingers curling in the fabric, as though to pull him closer. and she's receptive for all of one second until. . . ]

[spinatalltale]

[she breaks away and jams her hat over his head, pulling it down far enough to obscure his eyes and everything]

[jokered]

[the problem here is that he's still smiling under that hat, amused.

clearly, she doesn't hate it when he does that, even if it's also clearly flustering the hell out of her in a magilou sort of way.

(she's... cute?? she's cute.)]

Ah. Now I'm the villainous witch.

[spinatalltale]

. . .

Eh. It's not a very good look for you.

[. . . she isn't letting go of his collar]

[jokered]

It's because I'm a Joker and not a witch.

[probably. this is fine? he's not bothered by it, in any case.]

[spinatalltale]

You're too much of a do-gooder to be a witch.

[she's just saying!!]

[jokered]

Not enough of a do-gooder to not be a Trickster, though.

[spinatalltale]

"Do-gooder" and "Trickster" aren't mutually exclusive.

[:3c]

[jokered]

"Do-gooder," and "criminal" don't usually go together either.

[just saying.]

[spinatalltale]

But they also aren't inherently mutually exclusive.

[her band of criminals saved the world. criminals are the best heroes]

[. . . at any rate, her fingers flex around his collar one last time, before they drop away]

Hey.

Don't take this the wrong way, but--

[and hesitation]

[jokered]

[...?]

But...?

[explain, magilou.]

[spinatalltale]

. . .

This-- hurts.

[not in a bad way, so she elaborates using an analogy they've talked about before]

Like when you stomp on your foot after it's fallen asleep on you to get it working again.

[jokered]

[ah. it's like that, huh?

he draws back enough so he can take her hat off and put it back on her head; he'll even tilt it downward so she doesn't have to look at him.

especially since he's going to cup her cheek in his palm gently and rest it there.]

It just means you have to keep working at it until the pins and needles stop, right?

[spinatalltale]

[thanks, Akira]

[she sucks in another sharp breath, and after a moment of tension, tilts her head into his palm]

Uho. . . what smooth lines you have there, Trickster.

[it's only half teasing. the other half? is muted, but fond]

[jokered]

...I thought I didn't have any charm.

[he's teasing a bit himself; for the first time all day—that teasing, cocky, joker side of him makes a brief appearance.

it's still a bit muted, but after all that teasing about his lack of charms with hayner, he thinks it's fair.]

[spinatalltale]

[. . .]

[AAAAAAAAAAAA]

[shoves both of her hands in his face, keeping her head bowed]

You don't. On that I refuse to budge!!

[jokered]

[cute.]

I wonder what it is, if it's not my charms.

[spinatalltale]

. . .

I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

[she's joking. probably]

[jokered]

That might be worth risking.

[curiosity killed the cat, he supposes.]