[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]

[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.]

[spinatalltale]

. . . and satisfaction brought it back.

[she was thinking the same thing]

[lifts her head, tilting her hat back so she can catch his gaze with hers again. her breath hitches in her throat]

I don't know, really. [ah. . . ] You're just so-- alive.

[jokered]

Ha.

[she definitely thought the same thing, that's amusing.]

Well... yeah. Being alive is how I've preferred to be for my whole life.

[it's mostly just a hard thing to parse, but part of his tone is to make this easier for her rather than himself.]

[spinatalltale]

[REVENGE OF THE FACE SMOOSHING]

[. . .]

[but she keeps it brief, hands falling into her laps again]

I don't know.

[ugh. for the first time, she thinks she finds herself grateful that he's so. . . patient. with her. with her taking her time to articulate things she still doesn't fully understand]

I don't care about balance. [though she knows it's there. has noticed it from the very beginning, long before he pointed it out to her] I don't care about charm, or smooth one-liners, or kindness, or good looks, or anything like that.

[basically everything someone might give for liking someone else?? she's weird]

. . . maybe it's strength.

[hm]

A fearless determination to live, despite the ugliness that surrounds us all. Despite your cracks and fissures and scars.

[hmmmmm]

You can do things I can't.

[HMMMMMMM]

That's pretty neat. I guess.

[Magilou. . .]

[jokered]

[his smile softens significantly, and he nods, gentle. almost approvingly, like she managed to say what he wanted to hear.]

...That's the best answer of all, you know.

[oh?]

Charm, one-liners, good looks... those things probably don't last. Character, personality, what a drives a person's heart.

...They do.

[he likes it.

he really likes that answer because it's sincere.] Those reasons aren't shallow and superficial.

[and to akira, it's much more important to be sincere. his charm and his teasing one-liners set moods and tones, but they don't define him. he doesn't really think very much of his looks, and while his kindness stat is definitely maxed, he knows he's not the nicest person there is in the world. but those other things are him, and magilou sees him for those things, past the veneers and other masks he wears for everyone else—doesn't that count for a lot?]

[spinatalltale]

[. . . ah]

[lightly]

No? And here I am, a shallow and superficial person.

[give him a break Mags, he knows better]

[jokered]

Then you'd be here for my good looks, my charm, and my one-liners, right?

[he sees the fallacy in this argument, magilou.]

[spinatalltale]

[god damn it]

Got me there. There's totally no way for me to argue myself out of that one.

[jokered]

It's alright. I'll keep your secret safe.

[he means it, but he's also smiling like a punk.]

[spinatalltale]

You'd better!

[oh wait when did her fingers migrate back to his jawline to trace the lines of his face??? weren't they in her lap??]

[jokered]

[he doesn't know, but he's not complaining.]

You'll kill me if I don't, right?

[spinatalltale]

Oh? No, no.

I was two letters off.

[suddenly tugs his chin down and pushes herself up all in one motion to give this kissing thing a try herself. it's. . .!]

[. . . actually, for as quick and short-lived as the first two were, she's lingering in this one. progress??]

[jokered]

[oh.

well, this is fine? it's not like akira would complain about a more lingering kiss—he's pretty comfortable with that sort of thing.

but he won't let it go for too long, either—he's definitely not looking to rush her, even if she initiated this time.]

I think I like this letter swap.

[spinatalltale]

[even after they both pull back, she keeps a gentle hold of his chin between her fingers. just because!!]

Eh. I'm still testing it out, personally.

[. . .]

I suppose it's less messy than killing someone. That's a pro!

[. . . she is the absolute least romantic person ever]

[jokered]

[this is fine with him? he accepts her efforts.]

You're a true romantic, Magilao.

[he'll shamelessly, but gently, tease her about it.]

[spinatalltale]

[she likes that nickname]

I learned from the best: trashy romance novels!

[jokered]

Is that what happens in those books? I've never read one.

[his cultural references for romantic fiction are far different.]

[spinatalltale]

There's a reason they're called "trashy" romance novels. And yet! Their words capture the hearts of young women everywhere, entangling their thoughts in dreams of passion and love as they await for their Prince Charming to sweep them off their delicate maidenly feet!

[. . .]







It's actually kind of gross, but hey! I suppose it's morbid fascination that draws me to them.

[jokered]

Yeah, I guess that's a thing. I don't know much about them. Most of the girls I know are into... different kinds of romance stories.

[ann is definitely the proponent of the shoujo manga trope, makoto is surprisingly about that as well...

and then futaba is into the embarrassing doujinshi, of course. of course.]