[WEEK 5, SATURDAY POST-TRIAL: Akira]

[spinatalltale]

[it's late. extremely late, well after Magilou has spoken to Lief and Lucina-- the only other two people on the island she wanted to see. honesty, some part of her debates just locking herself up in her hut for the night and not even bothering with Akira. . . she can still feel the frustration bubbling in her stomach, can still feel the way that fear freezes her heart in her chest and makes her want to throw herself into the ocean and never resurface. these emotions are so unfamiliar, and she still isn't quite sure how to deal with them beyond running]

[. . . but maybe, some distant part of her knows better. she hasn't run yet. she can't run now]

[she walks, hands linked behind her back, expression blank, down the dark beach towards where he stands. she sidles up next to him-- her approach isn't exactly quiet-- but otherwise. . . she says nothing, nor does she reach for him. not yet]

Comments

[spinatalltale]

[her facial features contort into one of displeasure, and she buries her face in his shoulder again. mostly to hide that expression]

Time moves way too fast. Tell it to take a break for a little bit, hm?

[jokered]

If only Father Time was one of my Personas, I'd do it just for you.

[not that he can access his personas anyway.

he draws in a quiet breath, though, steadying himself. he has to, because this is hard enough on magilou as it is—

even though he doesn't want to this. even though he hates that he's going to put her through this after laphicet last week, and even though he really wishes he had more time with her like this too... he'll keep himself as calm and steady as he can.]

Take a break, time. [he says to a deity that isn't listening.] Though I guess we might both have more to say, since we didn't really talk last night.

[they let their bodies do the talking.]

[spinatalltale]

[AKIHIKO SO SMOOTH]

[. . . also she like. pushes herself up and pulls away from him slightly to stare at him with a deadeyed expression, her bangs a complete and total mess around her face]

Who is Father Time?

[HELP]

[but she also knows that's not the important part of this, so. . . she flops back down again quickly, with a sigh]

What is there to talk about? I don't want to talk about feelings.

[gross!! let her shut them off before the execution, Akira]

[jokered]

A legendary representation of time.

[and it's not like he has any of the gods of fate or time on him either.

regardless, akira will shift so he can straighten her disheveled bangs just a little.]

I'll keep feelings out of it. [for her sake.

there are words that sit on his tongue that he elects not to say. not yet, anyway, because it's not the right time—not that there will ever be a right time, but it's fine.]

I have something to show you beforehand. And a request.

[things he would have done last night if they didn't just immediately go for The Sex. whoops!]

[spinatalltale]

[LISTEN. . .! they knew what they wanted and they went for it, it's fine. why wait when he's about to die!!]

[at that, though, she pulls away to prop her head up in one hand. she catches his eyes with her own, brows raised curiously. she still looks pretty tired, but at least she's alert]

[she studies him for a moment, before. . . ah. cue a shit-eating grin]

Oh? And here I thought last night was enough.

[MAGILOU. . .]

[jokered]

[well, she wouldn't be magilou if she were suddenly different, right? it's one of the many things he's grown to like about her.]

I'm serious. [though he says it quietly, there's an amused tone to it. he sure showed her plenty last night!]

It was something I was going to do anyway, before this was over.

[but he has to like. move. in order to do that and he's liking being this close to her, so he's not in any rush yet.]

[spinatalltale]

[. . . and here she thought her teasing would just get her another one of those smirks she both loves and hates so much. he's being so sincere!!]

[her own smile melts away into genuine curiosity]

What is it?

[jokered]

[she's like a curious cat herself, isn't she?]

...I have to get up to get it. [ugh, he doesn't want to move? though he'll gently shift her off him for a moment so he can go into the trunk with his other belongings in it and pull out what he needs.

and he'll return after a moment, crawling back into the bed (it's cold outside the bed? let them stay close and warm), with his joker mask in hand. he'll offer it to magilou without much in the way of fanfare—a quiet gesture.]

My mask. The mask of Joker, leader of the Phantom Thieves.

[spinatalltale]

[nnnn don't leeeeeave her!1 but when he pulls away, she just lets out a quiet noise of protest, before burying herself further into the bed sheets to keep herself warm as she waits for his return. she scoots up next to him again once he does, though she lifts one hand to accept the mask in an equally as quiet gesture]

Oho. . .

[she runs her fingers over the edges of the mask, before she unceremoniously pops it onto her face. it. totally doesn't fit, but hey! she's wearing it anyway]

So? How do I look?

[jokered]

[his immediate response it to snort out a quiet laugh.]

Ridiculous. It's too big for your face.

[but he's endeared, so he'll pull her close to him again for the warmth and press a kiss to her lips.]

But I don't mind it.

[spinatalltale]

It's just like your glasses, isn't it? The fact that it's too big is what makes it cute.

[just saying!! though she does pluck the mask off of her own face after returning that kiss, and. . . immediately puts it on his instead]

Ooooh, looking cool, Joker.

[jokered]

[at that, he snorts again.] You sound like Morgana.

[well, she sounds like futaba imitating morgana, but that's a morgana line through and through.

but just for her, he'll give magilou a signature joker grin before leaning in to kiss her again.]

I figured you should see the true face of the Trickster before it's too late.

[spinatalltale]

["before it's too late."]

[. . . that wrenches at something inside of her, a similar feeling to the one she had when she was mourning over Laphicet's incentive. when he pulls away from the kiss, he'll notice her expression is a mixture of emotions-- frustration, uncertainty, a small hint of. . . sadness? but he'll only see a flash, because seconds later]

[she shoves against his shoulder until he's on his back, props herself up so she's hovering over him, and leans in to kiss him. desperately, like something about this will prevent the execution that's set for later this day]

[this is fine!! she's fine. she's 100% fine]

[jokered]

[she's not fine. akira knows she's not fine—and he's not really fine either.

they both know they can't prevent this outcome, they both know it's too late for that. but his kiss is equally warm and desperate as his fingers card through her disheveled hair, brushing it from magilou's face.

they're both desperate for this; neither of them wants this to end. but... there's still more.]

The knife.

[he might as well get this out of the way so he can kiss her again.] It's in the trunk. Use that.

[he wants to be killed with the knife she gave him for safe keeping.]

[spinatalltale]

[she stops, hands framing his face, and pulls away just enough to give him a bewildered look]

. . . why?

[he may have to explain the sentimentality behind it to her]

[jokered]

[it's okay. he doesn't mind explaining.]

Because you gave it to me to hold onto, a promise not to be so reckless. But I think you'll keep that promise.

[she gave it to him, and that's important enough a reason, really.]

[spinatalltale]

[. . . ah]

[draws her thumb across his cheekbones underneath the mask, just. tracing and memorizing the lines of his face while she still can]

Are you sure? I'm pretty fickle. And a troublemaker, remember? Who knows what kind of danger I could get myself into before Vriska dies.

[she did, uh. vote for herself, after all]

[jokered]

[yeah, he hasn't forgotten.]

I know. You're the only idiot that would vote for yourself and get a final punishment from them. [well. he had to scold her a little eventually, right?]

You should have just voted for me last night.

[spinatalltale]

[she probably should have, but. . .]

Didn't feel like it

[he scolds her, and she brushes it off like it's no big deal]

[jokered]

[he sighs a bit.]

Was it really worth that much to you?

[spinatalltale]

Doing what I want to do is always worth that much.

[c:]

[. . . even if it worries people, she guesses! he isn't the only one with a bit of recklessness to him, here]

[jokered]

[he cups her cheek gently, looking at her for a moment before closing his eyes.]

Thank you. [very harsh scolding!!] For standing by me anyway.

[spinatalltale]

[very harsh, many sharp words, he's going to make her cry]

[leans forward and presses their foreheads together, nose brushing against his]

Selfish witch, remember?

[god does he even believe her when she says that anymore]

I will always do what I most feel like doing, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

[jokered]

[he doesn't believe her, which is why he kisses her again—a silent acknowledgement of the fact that he knows she's full of shit.]

A selfish witch and a selfish trickster, like two peas in a selfish pod.

[it's bullshit and they both know it.]

[spinatalltale]

[she makes a small, amused noise against his mouth before drawing back from the kiss, brows quirked and mouth tugged in a grin]

It's a cozy pod. Kind of warm and snug? Although admittedly, I usually like to have one entirely to myself.