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

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

[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?

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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.]

[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. . .]

[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?]

[. . . ah]

[lightly]

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

[give him a break Mags, he knows better]

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

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

[god damn it]

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

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

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

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??]

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

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

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??]

[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.

[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]

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

You're a true romantic, Magilao.

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

[she likes that nickname]

I learned from the best: trashy romance novels!

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

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

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.

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.]

[. . . Magilou would also be into embarrassing doujin. I'm just saying. she and Futaba would be good friends]

What other kinds are there?

[fantasy Tales land means all she's got are the aforementioned books]

The ones that are pretty popular back home are... a lot more subtle. Most of it is spent trying to get to the first kiss, and maybe anything else beyond that can be a surprising bonus.

[...shoujo manga, romance j-dramas. yeaaah.]

The illicit stuff isn't usually very romantic.

[he shrugs.]

I don't follow too much of that stuff, anyway.

Uho! Classics tales of "will they, won't they!" Always keeping the audience hanging with missed chances and forlorn, lovestruck looks between the character!

[WHY DOES SHE KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT ROMANCE TROPES. okay to be fair, she knows a lot about all sorts of literary tropes, but]

You're right; romance doesn't really seem like your genre. I bet you like crime fiction.

...Mm. I like a lot of different things, but you're right. That's probably my favorite.

I can call 'em when I see 'em. Expert people reader, right here.

You nailed it, I won't deny it. They're good stories.

[and, you know. relevant to his interests.]

Hey, there's no doubt about that.

[relevant to hers as well, since she's, you know. a pirate. or was a pirate, at one point in time]

. . . you look a liiiittle less like death warmed over now.

[hm!]

I should probably go get Cindy so we can all pile into Bellamy and Serph's hut.

Right. We'll get locked in here if we don't get going.

[which probably wouldn't be too bad if not for the other parts.]

I'll see you in a bit, then? [obviously...

things will be awkward with the five of them all there, especially now with this whole. thing. between them.]

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spinatalltale - 2017-09-08 23:06 (UTC) - Expand

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