[WEEK 5, THURSDAY MORNING: Akira]

[spinatalltale]

[she waits until Thursday morning to seek him out. not because she needed time to process the information, but because she had been so damn busy yesterday. talking to people. exchanging letters. exchanging theories. trying to make sure Lucina will be safe come trial this Saturday]

[it's exhausting. it's far more than what she's used to doing, honestly. she's supposed to be an observer, not a meddler, and yet here she is. actively trying to keep their last hope in this game alive]

[this island has made her more than just soft. it's made her a do-gooder, too]

[but none of that is important now, and wherever Akira may be, Magilou will find him as she tosses her letter bottle from one hand to the next]

Letters. You got some, right?

Comments

[spinatalltale]

[the witty quip she had prepared in response to that first statement immediately dies on her tongue when the second tumbles from his mouth]

[. . .]

[gggguh]

[people can't fight against happiness. maybe she really has learned nothing]

Hey. Here's a story.

[she isn't responding to his statement directly, nor is she pulling away from his embrace]

I sort of left it out when I was telling you the tragic tale of Magillanica Lou Mayvin. The illusion Melchior used to test her--

[things are about to get super personal]

What do you think it was?

[jokered]

[well. he wasn't expecting a personal story out of this? but he'll take it. he's not going to stop listening to her stories if she's going to keep telling them.

besides, by now? akira knows that when she tells a story to him unprompted, it comes with a reason.]

What, exactly? I have no idea. But...

[hm.]

Probably something that Magillanica really longed for. [something powerful enough that her heart could shatter from the illusion.]

[spinatalltale]

Her family.

[. . . well. something powerful enough that it wasn't just the illusion itself that shattered her, but also Melchior's actions afterwards]

Humans can easily struggle and persevere against nightmares. But when presented with things they long for, things get a little dicier.

[jokered]

I see.

[it makes sense to him; instinctively, he does pull her a little closer, drawing in a quiet breath.]

And I'm guessing this relates closely enough to our current situation.

[spinatalltale]

[. . . she isn't pulling away. in fact, she gladly presses closer to him, her grip on his waist tightening]

Huh.

[a wry, half-laugh escapes, unbidden]

I suppose it doesn't matter now, but I think my Master would be disappointed that I didn't quite learn my lesson the first time around. I'm such a bad pupil, aren't I?

[people can't fight against happiness, least of all someone like her. or. . .]

[. . . maybe she's just willing to hedge her bets that when they wake up, he'll still be there]

[jokered]

It's better to be a bad pupil that follows her heart than a good one who lives the way someone tells her to.

[that's what akira thinks, at least.

but then, despite akira's sometimes gray-morality, he's always had a pretty black-and-white view of what's right and wrong with following one's heart. there are definite wrongs, when one's heart is used as a tool for harm....

but when someone has the choice between living freely in a way that makes them happy, and following the drone of society or someone else's decree, he'll always side with freedom.]

It doesn't mean you'll be free from pain, because I don't think anyone can ever be unless we become apathetic drones. But at least... your choices can be your own.

[spinatalltale]

[. . . huh]

[taking Melchior's lesson and turning it on its head. why hadn't she ever thought of that? probably because the wounds still stung, the scars ran too deep, and her instincts always told her to shut herself away if something would likely lead to pain]

[Akira is an idiot, to live so freely and embrace something that makes him happy, even knowing that very something could hurt later on. but again]

[it's her favorite part of him]

You know, I think by now, you've actually properly earned the name, "Trickster." ☆ Aren't you proud? Is it not kind of me to bestow the title to unto you without modifiers?

[shut up Magilou you've been calling him just Trickster for like two weeks now]

[jokered]

[it's just how he is. he's an idiot and a fool, like she said yesterday. he knows it. he's not free from pain. and so much of that pain has come from choices that truly weren't his own.

...but this?

this is his choice. wrapping magilou in his arms and looking for what good remains in their situation, having no regrets about pursuing her. she's truly incredible in her own way, and he admires the way she tries her best even when he knows she would find it easier to run away.

but she keeps not running away from him, and that makes him want to stay close, even if it means they'll hurt when they have to part.

it's part of being alive.

and they're still alive, so they have to embrace it.]

You're so kind and benevolent, Magilao. [as ever, he doesn't call her out on the fact that she's already been calling him that for a while.

instead, he just bends over a bit, leaning in to press a light kiss to her lips.]

I won't complain if you think I'm worthy of the title. [despite, you know. everything.]

[spinatalltale]

Yes, that's right. Shower me with praise! I accept all forms of it-- written and verbal.

[now she's just being a li'l shit, even as she tilts her head back to willingly accept that smooch. god. it's only been a week, but she's getting way more comfortable with this]

[jokered]

What about the other kind of praise?

[the one that's just showering her in kisses? because akira much prefers that form.]

[spinatalltale]

Hmph. I suppose that's acceptable, depending on what other kinds we're talking about, here. Get creative!

I'm a very difficult girl to impress.

[well, at least, you know. despite everything, she's still herself]

[jokered]

[it's fine.

he can be creative?

by which he means pulling back enough that he can grip her waist and lift her up to his height for more kisses. a few of them. she deserves them? so she's getting them, those are just the rules now.]

[spinatalltale]

[WHAT]

[AKIRA!!!]

[makes a small noise of surprise against his mouth and grips him by the shoulders to brace herself. what the heck!! what did she say about not being a blushing maiden!!]

[. . . but to her credit she is not complaining. or flailing, despite her surprise. although after returning a few of those kisses, she is pulling away long enough to sass him]

For the record, this totally doesn't count as being swept off my feet!

[jokered]

[she's not a blushing maiden, but it's still fun to keep things interesting and surprise her a bit sometimes, right?]

No, I guess it doesn't. But I can probably try that if you really want me to.

[spinatalltale]

[she likes it, as tsun as she is]

[. . . also she has such a love-hate relationship with that smug grin, jesus christ. with another hmph, Magilou twines her arms around Akira's neck and leans in, until they're nose to nose. she's stubbornly refusing to close that last bit of distance, though]

You can try, but as you know, I'm hard mode.

[ha. her mouth twitches into a grin]

Besides, you're too smug. Somebody here has got to knock you off your high horse.

[jokered]

I think you're a step above hard mode. Merciless? Intense? Chaos?

[he lets out a quiet laugh.] Something like that. But I like a challenge.

[it's fun to him.]

Now I guess I'll really have to try. [he's giving her a second before he does anything else, though.]

[spinatalltale]

[just]

[arches her brows at him]

[like]

[what're you gonna do, Kurusu??]

[jokered]

[just give him a second.

...

...

because he's going to do the dangerous smirk thing before literally swooping to position switch and pull her into a princess-carry.

what a punk.]

[spinatalltale]

[OH MY FUCKING GOD]

[she expected, like. another kiss, or something! not this. not literally sweeping her off of her feet. she yells in surprise, feet kicking out through the air as she flails, and]





[immediately ruins any romance that may be involved in this action and shoves a hand in his face, grabbing his nose and yanking]

[jokered]

[and yet?

akira is laughing somewhat easily at that; he's amused even if she's yanking on his nose.

and it doesn't seem like he's planning on putting her down.]

I wonder where we should go.

[he's helping.]

[spinatalltale]

[YANK YANK YANK]

I'm cold. Wherever we go, it should be somewhere warm. And I can walk there perfectly fine on my own!

[rawr]

[jokered]

The bonfire? The hot springs?

[hm.]

Maybe I'll let you walk the rest of the way, if you ask nicely.

[spinatalltale]

I'm not saying please for the ability to walk. You can't make me! You'll never steal my dignity like this!

[these dramatics are unnecessary]

[jokered]

[honestly, she's so dramatic.

but he'll put her down anyway. there will be time later to really sweep her off her feet? sure.]

[spinatalltale]

[BLESS]

[she adjusts her book skirt when he puts her down and gives him a :T look as she reaches up to SMOOSH HIS CHEEKS. again]

The bonfire.

[the hot springs are nice but she doesn't feel like taking a dip right now]