survivaltricks | [IC Inbox for sidereal

[as promised!! Akira has somehow managed to acquire some Christmas cake and some fried chicken because despite him talking so much about turkey he totally doesn't know how to handle a huge bird, SO. FRIED CHICKEN? SAFER]

[at some point in the evening he is returning to the villa he and Akechi now share with grocery bags containing his holiday spoils in his hands]

Honey, I'm hooooooome.

[SO DRY]

[Akechi has been tidying up]

Welcome back~

[meandering to the kitchen to put both the cake and KFC chicken on the counter]

. . . have you been cleaning?

[Akechi?? domestic????]

[shrug]

It needed to be done.

[he needed to get out of his own head]

I see you got the chicken.

[waves a hand]

I realized I don't know how to carve a turkey.

[har har]

Do you?

I only know how to carve into Shadows.

[SNORT]

I don't know, with an edge that sharp, I think I'd trust you with a turkey.

[he's gonna get some plates!]

Better leaving it with me than your cutting wit.

[pulling out... some champagne]

Due to the time dilation we experience here, I thought we may as well roll in New Years.

[DO THEY EVEN HAVE CHAMPAGNE GLASSES, doesn't matter, Akira is interested]

Aren't we too young to drink?

[a beat where he makes Akechi wonder if he's being serious—]

Pop it open. Two holidays for the price of one.

[nope, just regular ass glasses. Akechi pops it and pours out two of them.]

You're welcome to abstain, of course.

[watching Akechi pour the champagne as he lays out two plates and pops open the fried chicken box]

Mmm. . . nah. It's a special occasion; I'll live life on the edge today.

[said lightly as though he doesn't always live life on the edge in other ways]

Glad to hear you're starting the fake new year right.

[sets down the glasses and goes for the chicken]

With teenage delinquency, you mean? Wouldn't have it any other way.

[RAISES HIS GLASS]

On the edge.

[raises his own]

[A TOAST!! bumps their glasses together before drawing back to--]

[. . . not quite take a sip just yet, but that's because he's sniffing the champagne first. BABY'S FIRST. . . CHAMPAGNE. . .]

[Akechi will just knock some back]

[...well it's also his first so he chokes on it a little]

[SNRK]

I don't think you're supposed to shoot champagne, detective.

[taking a much more careful and CLASSY sip]

I've stopped caring about what I'm "supposed" to do.

[but he's a little embarrassed, so this time he sips it like normal]

[another sip. . . and a thoughtful noise]

Kind of sweet, though. . . I thought alcohol was supposed to be more bitter.

It's a little sour...

[another sip]

...I don't dislike it.

[eeeeeh]

I think I'd prefer a cup of coffee.

[but he too takes another sip. he's COMMITTED so he'll at least finish a cup]

Yes, that's my preference as well.

[peering into his glass. he will also keep drinking]

Although to be fair, I've never experienced the effect of alcohol.

[Akira is gonna munch on some chicken while they drink, simply because he doesn't want it to get cold]

Me neither. Lala-san was always suuuuper strict about her liquor. I could never sneak a glass.

[NOT THAT HE REALLY WANTED TO, since he was always there for Work Purposes (TM), but still]

I've seen enough grown men turning into gibbering idiots to question the appeal.

[tearing into a drumstick]

[. . . hah]

[reaches out to gently knock his knuckles against Akechi's forehead]

One celebratory drink won't hurt us.

[brushes his hand away]

It was my idea. Even I get curious about these things from time to time...

[a tiny little huff]

And there's nothing wrong with that.

[raises the glass again! though not for a full on toast this time, as he takes another sip]

[does the same]

I know. But in the moment, it feels a bit... silly. To act as though I'm a normal teenager.

[ah. . .]

[a tiny little smile, half-hidden by his cup]

Because you've never had the chance to be one before. Right?

And because I didn't want to be one.

I'm not sure I do now. But in lieu of anything else to do, and stuck here with you...

[shrugs]

Well, we may as well do things your way.

[. . .]

Hold on, can I get this moment framed?

[A MOMENT WHERE AKECHI ADMITS TO DOING SOMETHING AKIRA'S WAY??]

No.

Too late. I've already committed it to memory. A mental picture is good enough.

[SIPS HIS CHAMPAGNE]

Your word against mine.

[nibbles a biscuit]

[an amused snort]

I don't need anyone else to believe it so long as I alone am the keeper of truth.

The gloating is unbecoming.

[pours himself some more champagne. also moving to top off Akira's glass]

[holds out his glass to allow for this]

All right, all right. I'll call it there.

I'll drink to that.

[raises his glass and has a sip]

So. What did you get me for Christmas?

[oh my god]

Absolutely nothing.

[THAT'S A LIE AND AKECHI ALREADY KNOWS IT, HE'S JUST BEING CHEEKY]

Oh?

Just my otoshidama money, then.

[holds out a hand]

[MOCK OFFENDED]

Excuse you, I'm still young enough to be getting otoshidama myself. And you're technically older than me, so--

[holds out HIS hand]

[continues holding his own hand out, staring]

[And then he can't hold it in anymore; he starts laughing]

This is so stupid.

[HAH]

Let it be known that you started it. Wait here.

[and then he is vanishing into his bedroom! and returning with a small box that can fit in the palms of both hands. it's wrapped simply but cutely]

[takes it and... stares at it]

[he expected this but he didn't really expect it. it almost feels like a joke taken slightly too far]

You even wrapped it...

[reaches for some chicken again, still munching away]

Yeah? It's Christmas. That's what you're supposed to do.

Mm.

[sets it down]

[...]

[stands up]

Excuse me for a moment.

[going to his own room and retrieving a paper bag]

[. . . ?]

[Akira looks a little-- well. surprised? because?? he hadn't expected reciprocation??]

Ah. . .?

It's what you're supposed to do on Christmas.

[hands it over and reclaims his seat]

...Should we open them now, or...?

[already opening the paper bag to peer inside, so that's probably answer enough]

Well, I'm not waiting.

[it's a sweater]

[and ok fine, then he'll open up his own gift]

[Akechi??? got him a sweater??]

[pulling it out of the bag, visibly confused but pleased at once]

[meanwhile Akechi gets a ridiculous coffee mug]

[a KNIT sweater, you're welcome]

[looking at the mug like he has no idea what to think about it. IS THIS FRIENDSHIP TEASING OR IS HE MAKING FUN OF ME? SHOULD I HAVE ALSO PICKED SOMETHING AS A JOKE?]

[IT'S FRIENDSHIP TEASING YOU NERD!!!!]

[meanwhile Akira is admiring the sweater and wondering if he SHOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS!! LESS TEASING, MORE SENTIMENTAL!!!]

[wait does he have sentimental feelings for Akechi]

[no we're not going there]

[. . . either way, he laughs]

Looks like we went in two completely different directions.

[oh my god don't call it out]

...They're both practical gifts.

Yeah, but yours is. . . cute.

[cute??? is that the word he'd use???]

I was teasing.

It's not— I simply saw it and thought it matched your style! It's cold out!

[hehe]

[SINCERELY]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

Mm. Thank you for the mug.

[why do I feel like I've failed at normal peer interaction]

[why do you!!! there was nothing about this that was a failure!!]

[. . .]

[reaches out to poke Akechi's forehead]

[shoves a piece of chicken into his mouth while making intense eye contact]

Mmm?

[STARING RIGHT BACK AT HIM as he takes another sip of champagne]

You looked like you felt awkward for a moment there. I was lightening the mood.

[chew, chew, swallow]

...I'm fine. I'm simply not used to this sort of thing.

[hn. . . lowering his glass to continue downing his own chicken]

The first time's always weird.

But it gets easier.

Mm.

...I think I gave up on it a long time ago, having normal interactions with peers. I don't mind so much when it's you, but it often feels like a pop quiz that I haven't studied for.

. . . if you're worried about meeting people's expectations then-- yeah. It's going to feel like a pop quiz you can't win no matter what.

But if you focus on just being yourself, then it's a lot easier.

And if "myself" is the thing I want to change?

[tilts his head. . . and then responds, voice even]

Then do it in a way that's genuine. Don't just put on a mask and call it a day.

It's not... a mask, to not want to fuck up Christmas...

[blinks]

[a little surprised]

It isn't, but-- you're afraid you're going to mess up Christmas??

[???? HE'S HAD A GOOD TIME SO FAR]

Well, as we've already crossed the threshold of awkwardness and discomfort... yes?

[aw. . .]

Hey. . . I'm having a good time.

[SINCERELY!!!]

Don't overthinking it, okay? It's just me.

Right. Of course — I know that. Forget I said anything.

[embarrassed, but. he's right! it's just him!!]

[hmmm. . . studying Akechi curiously, before lifting his champagne cup again]

Do you like fireworks?

I don't dislike them, though I usually avoid going due to the crowds.

What I'm thinking of doesn't involve any crowds.

[downs the rest of his champagne in a large gulp, though he makes a face afterwards]

After we cut into the cake, lets go set off some fireworks.

I could go for that.

[finishing off the last of his chicken, holding out his cup to Akechi almost demandingly]

More champagne, then.

[SO THEY CAN BE REAL TEENAGERS AND PLAY WITH FIREWORKS WHILE DRUNK, I GUESS]

Yes, yes.

[pours it out. tops his own off as well]

Cheers.

Mmm.

[kicking the champagne back with much more ease than he did earlier, and then going to DIG INTO THE CAKE]

How big of a piece do you want?

Don't hold back.

[drinking his own champagne pretty casually as well now]

[cuts him a slice that is like. . . at least an entire quarter of the cake]

[and then cutting a much smaller slice for himself because he doesn't really have a sweet tooth]

[he probably won't even eat that much, it just seemed like a cool thing to say]

[has another drink. then, feeling emboldened by alcohol and the confirmation that he has not, in fact, ruined Christmas:]

Say... am I the first boy you've ever kissed?

[-- chokes a little on a bite of cake, suddenly turning away to cough and like. try not to die]

W-- what?

[but it's fine, he regains his composure pretty quickly]

Mmmaybe. . . why?

[answer: yes]

Curiosity. With you, anything is possible.

[takes a bite of cake]

But it seems like I was, huh?

Mmm.

[another sip of champagne, a little bit of the alcohol's heat settling into his stomach and cheeks]

Yeah. First guy I've kissed.

But not my first kiss ever.

That much doesn't surprise me. You've always that sort of debonair charm.

[heh]

I took a lot of baths.

[AS THOUGH THAT. . . HELPED]

And you?

I've also taken a number of baths.

[give him the opportunity to be a smartass...]

[omg]

[DRYLY]

I can tell. Your hair is very clean. . . ly.

[what]

But that's not what I was asking.

[drinking a little more]

Well, what do you think? I had a sizable fan base, you know. It wouldn't have been difficult to acquire a girlfriend or two.

[finishes about half of his cake before he pushes it away, leans back in his chair, and stretches lazily]

No. And you're cute too, so you had that going for you.

[w-what]

But the only girl you told me about was one you said you turned down.

That's right, I did tell you that. There I go giving myself away again.

[eats a consolation bite of cake]

She painted me into a corner. I really did try to make sure they never had the chance to confess in the first place.

[did he not notice the "cute" or is it just so internalized that he doesn't even bat an eye at it?]

[AKIRA IS SAFE. . . FOR NOW]

Akechi dodging confessions like a ninja. . .

[heh]

Anyawy, that's girls. What about boys?

[snorts]

And invite a scandal that could kill my whole brand? Obviously not.

[hhhhhah

[a sympathetic look. and then, a bit wistfully as he rocks back in his chair, once again sipping at his drink]

There was a boy in middle school I liked for a really long time.

He was the reason I learned how to play baseball.

Ah, so you too...

[pauses, tilts his head to the side]

I don't know that I have a story like that. I was too far removed from others to think about things in that capacity.

Although... when I was in middle school, I recall having an intense interest in the original Detective Prince. When she came out as a girl, I remember thinking that it was pure genius — an absolute master stroke of marketing. But on a personal basis... I must say, I was a bit disappointed.

"Intense interest."

[laughing a little at the way Akechi phrases it]

Of course you had a crush on the original Detective Prince. Nerd.

A lot of people did! And I'll have you know, she's actually quite interesting in...

...person?

[wait, when did I meet her]

[immediately, without much thought]

Oh, I know.

[. . .]

[wait]

. . . I think?

You too? That's... odd, right?

[?]

[???]

[...looks at the alcohol!?]

It's--

[. . .]

[LOOKS AT THE ALCOHOL TOO??]

[. . .]

[TAKES ANOTHER DRINK]

[same here]

Well! Perplexing deja vu aside, I'm glad to talk to you about it. This subject has always felt like just another way for me to be different from everyone else.

[rocking back in his chair again, almost a little too far, though he doesn't yet fall]

Different, but in a good way. [and then, very seriously, but his words are a little slurred because the champagne is starting to go to his head] I'll always be willing to talk about cute boys with you, Akechi.

[pausing to process]

You're... literally incredible.

[TAKING IT AS A COMPLIMENT?? even if it's not mean to be one]

Aw. Thanks.

[it was, in a backhanded sort of way]

Nothing phases you, nothing can stop you, you never stopped treating me like a friend...

[. . .]

[quiet for a moment, allowing his chair to rock forward again, the front two legs hitting the floor with a snap]

. . . wanna do things right this time.

S'all.

[shakes his head and leans forward]

You didn't do it wrong. Your jushtice prevailed.

[oh my god. shoves a hand in Akechi's face]

Ugh, that's not what I mean--

[says something that is surely very passionate and meaningful, but between a hand in his face and alcohol in his system, is utterly incomprehensible]

[Akira is totally not picking up a word of that, but he can FEEL the PASSION in Akechi's tone, so he. . . draws his hand away]

Wha?

The path I chose— I walked it— shit, I said it better the first time.

[claps a hand on his shoulder]

I'm not your regret and I don' want you to light yourself on fire to keep me warm.

[and the other hand on the other shoulder]

When I want you on fire, I'll bring matches. Okay?

[reaches out (a bit clumsily; he misses the first few times) and claps a hand on Akechi's shoulder in return]

That's not what I-- what I meant. I'm not on f-- I'm not on fire.

[shakes. . . Akechi a little bit]

[spoken with the utmost of seriousness]

Would you like t'be?

[WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN]

No?? I mean-- kind of?? But no?

Kind of...

[moves his hand to just almost touch Akira's cheek, then withdraws it]

Fire...works. We should—were gonna set off fireworks.

[blinks a little blearily as Akechi withdraws, his own hand coming up to touch his own cheek in confusion]

-- oh, yeah.

[FIREWORKS!!!]

. . .

We're gonna be real delinquents, playing with explosives while drunk.

[chuckles]

Look at your influence on me.

I'm kind of proud of it, honestly.

[hops out of his chair, stumbling a little on the landing]

I'm a c-- a co--- rupting influence.

[to the exit!!]

Edited 2021-01-06 22:15 (UTC)

[knocks back the last dregs of the champagne bottle and follows after]

[FIREWORKS TIME!!! Akira is totally making his way to the storeroom to see if it carries fireworks]

'Taba and I did fireworks in the summer.

[nodnods!!!]

It was fun.

[non-committal grunt; don't wanna talk about your friends, don't wanna fight about not wanting to talk about your friends]

[in his alcohol-induced haze Akira totally misses the implication of that non-committal noise]

They didn't explode too much, though. We need something. . . big. Something--

[makes]

[firework motions with his hands]

["what are firework motions" I DON'T KNOW]

[nodnodnod]

Something explosive.

[nodnodnods more!! as they enter the storeroom]

Somethin' like--

[looking around, expression scrunched together, before he lights up and points at one of the shelves]

[with these lying on them]

-- that.

[whistles]

Those are the ones.

[picks up one box and tosses it at Akechi (his aim is off)]

[pauses]

[picks up a second box]

Okay, let's go.

[fails to catch it]

...

[picks it up]

Your aim is shit.

Fuck off. I'm a great pitcher.

[he sounds more entertained than offended]

Maybe you suck at catching.

[hey. hey!!]

Maybe... I should be the one doing the pitching! Did you think about that?

I mean. I was the one who grabbed the box of fireworks, so.

[said as though he does not know EXACTLY what he did]

[also he's making his way towards the cliffs!! the ones adjacent to the pathway that leads to the waterfall]

[grumble mumble incoherent threat]

[hee hee]

What wassat? I couldn't hear you.

[once they reach the cliffsides, Akira reaches out as though to climb said cliff. he misses the outcropping he was aiming to grasp like. . . five times, before he decides maybe scaling cliffs like this is a bad idea?]

Informin' you where you can shove your bottle rockets.

[watches him do that and snickers, then crouches down to set up his fireworks where he is]

[sticks his tongue out at Akechi as he crouches down to do likewise, pulling some matches and a punk out of the firework box as he does so]

Fire. . .

[is he gonna burn himself with these matches]

[. . .]

[hands the box to Akechi]

[takes the box]

[fails at his fist try in lighting his punk, the first match burning all the way to his fingers. he swears and drops it]

[second time goes better, and in irritation he immediately lights up a firework]

[-- oh shit]

[though it takes him a moment to realize one is lit]

Whoa whoa, move away!

[getting up to give the firework some space]

[backs off on his own time, which turns out to be just in time to watch the shell go up]

[laughs gleefully. no sense of danger here]

[tilts his head back, hand raised above his eyes to watch the colorful explosion sparkle in the air]

Haha. . . very nice.

[HE SEEMED PLEASED]

You were right, this is fun.

[starts setting another one up]

Doesn't beat the fireworks shows in Tokyo, but. . .

[following Akechi so he can light up one of his own. there will be two fireworks this time around!!]

[ Soooooooooooooo he's getting a text at some point before they've agreed to meet, because look. Sometimes you have to. ]

Akira-kun
Akira-kun
This is really important
Sidereal is real right
It's not just some weird fever dream that happened because I am actually dying from that poison after all
Right??

[I]

[THIS TEXT IS MILDLY CONCERNING???]

yyyyyyes?

do you need me to pinch you to make sure? i can pinch you.

[ SHE KNOWS. SHE KNOWS, ]

Yes
Actually
That's not a bad idea??

[RITSUKA. . .]

okay great, where are you and is everything okay???

I'm just at the fountain
Everything's fine it's just also
Σ（￣□￣；）

i'll be there in five

[less than five because?? why is she making that face!!!!]

you don't SOUND like everything is fine. . .

I'm having a moment where I'm questioning a lot of things
It's Kadoc's fault btw

[ HOPEFULLY THAT WILL REASSURE HIM, JUST A LITTLE, ]

[IT DOES. . . SLIGHTLY]

[at least, most of his worry ebbs away into amusement]

what did he do this time?

[THIS TIME]

[he is on his way btw, he might arrive before she can reply!!]

[ She gets about as far as typing He said he when Akira shows up.

And when he does, the first thing SHE does is just hold out her arm to him. He can pinch her, go ahead. ]

[as soon as he shows up, he]

[reaches out to pinch her. GENTLY!!]

Ow.

[ It's just an automatic thing; it doesn't actually hurt. ]

...Cool, okay, not a weird dream confirmed.

See? I told you.

[lightly amused, and he pinches her again (JUST AS GENTLY) before drawing back]

I wanted to make sure. I've had a really weird day.

[ But once he does that, she reaches out with both hands now, making vague grabby motions. Come here, sit down, let her flop on you. ]

[there's no hesitation in the way he reaches for her in return, at first grasping both of her hands with his before he guides her towards the fountain's edge. they can sit here!!]

Oh yeah?

[lightly amused]

Tell me about it?

My life is slowly becoming a romcom otoge. I don't know how I feel about it.

[ She follows his lead, and once they're seated, she immediately leans against his side. Her sigh is long-suffering. ]

For one thing, there are no save points. I can't savescum like this.

[slides an arm around her shoulders, hand immediately weaving into her hair so he can ruffle it affectionately]

Did you pick the wrong dialogue option?

. . . did Kadoc?

[IS KADOC THE PROTAGONIST??]

[ THAT WOULD BE THE TWIST, WOULDN'T IT, ]

No, I put the game on pause so I can consider my options. I don't think I've said anything wrong yet.

[IT SURE WOULD BE]

"Yet." As though it's inevitable?

[nudges her a little bit, like "come on, give yourself more credit than that!!"]

[ LOOK, HE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT NAVIGATING A FRAUGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR LOCAL ANTAGONIST..., ]

Considering we've fought as much as we've had friendly conversation until recently, I think it's a pretty safe bet.

[okay, that he understands, but--]

You two have been getting along more than you haven't lately, right?

I don't think you should worry so much.

Maybe not, but now...

[ She slouches a little, still leaning against him, rolling her head so she can look up at his face. ]

He actually said it, you know? He said he likes me.

[she seems so earnestly surprised that Akira can't help but huff an amused little noise, though he does his best not to slip too far into teasing. she's still working through some things!! he wants to be supportive!!!]

And. . .?

[and-- now what, Ritsuka!!]

And... I don't know.

[ That's part of the problem! If she had a stronger idea of what she wanted, that would make things easier, but... ]

It was hard enough when it was you, and we don't have any of that kind of history. I don't want to hurt him? I want to be respectful. And it's not like I've ever wanted to get involved with more than one person, so...

[aw, Ritsuka. . . his smile softens as he bumps his head against hers, a gesture of affectionate camaraderie. there's a time and place to tease!! and now is not the time nor place]

Then be honest with him. I know that's way easier said than done, but--

[. . . ruffles her hair some more]

Kadoc doesn't strike me as the type who'd get upset at you being honest.

He's not, no, but...

[ But this is still hard! She leans a bit more heavily against him, reaching to start playing a bit with his sleeve. It's a careless gesture, an idle animation, something to self-soothe. ]

It's hard. I don't want to just say one way or the other and then realize I feel the opposite.

[he doesn't seem to mind at all. she can toy with his sleeve as much as she wants!!!]

Yeah. . .? [a little sheepish, but with empathy] I. . . understand that.

[he really does!]

There's no rush for you to figure it out immediately, you know? You don't have to figure it out right now, this very instant.

You can just. . . take your time.

I'm trying to, it's just...

[ Just, sometimes, you kind of accidentally escalate every time you talk to the guy who has admitted he's into you, sexually as well as emotionally, and how do you admit it to your boyfriend? ]

I think... I keep making it worse, when I don't mean to...?

[ NAILED IT ]

["accidentally" huh]

. . .

Define "making it worse."

[unsure if she is ACTUALLY making it worse or if she just thinks she is??]

[ LOOK.......... he knows her, he can surely guess the stuff she will say without thinking about it, ]

...

[ She pokes the tips of her index fingers together. ]

So you know those orange flowers, right... did you know, he's been a wolf the last couple of times, and I'm always a deer... so I made a joke about eating me, except, I was thinking more like, the law of the wild at first, and he... wasn't.

[oh]

[oooooh]

[. . . OOOOOOOOOH]

[THAT IS WHAT SHE MEANT BY "MAKING IT WORSE"]

[. . .]

[okay so he knows this is about Kadoc]

[but]

[innocently looks into the distance]

Well.

He has the right idea.

Edited 2021-07-30 17:40 (UTC)

. . .

[ WELL

she hadn't actually expected him to get mad, all things considered but also oh my god?? ]

If I were a deer right now I would kick you in the face and run away.

[ THAT SAID,

she buries her face in her hands and then thunks her head on his shoulder and makes a sound sort of like: AUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHWRGLTHBBBBBBT. ]

[CRACKING UP and ruffling her hair again as he pulls her close]

I'm just saying—

[Kadoc is not the only one who has thought that way Ritsuka!!]

[okay no back on topic]

Anyway, I don't think that one is your fault.

[ She grumbles like an annoyed cat who is too resigned to actually fight back, curling up more against him. ]

Even if it's not, it's out there. This cursed knowledge exists.

[. . . kisses the top of her head and nuzzles into her hair a bit]

Soooo knowing he's into you like that is cursed knowledge, now?

[lightly teasing]

Was it cursed with me, too?

[ The only thing to do now is wind her arms around him before she sighs, deep and put-upon. ]

Oh, yeah, for sure. Do you know much I panicked after the first time we kissed? It was like--"oh no, I can't pretend I haven't noticed he's hot. I am aware of that boy."

[ She can say that with some good humor. It's true! It was absolutely cursed knowledge to have a guy you liked, but wasn't sure if you LIKED-liked and vice versa, and dealing with physical attraction on top of that. ]

It was lifted when we started dating, though. It's safe now.

Aw. I'm touched.

[he sounds pleased!!]

Personally speaking, I think Kadoc is pretty good-looking, too. Are you also— you know.

Into him?

I...

[ god now she has to THINK ABOUT IT SERIOUSLY thanks Akira you're a pal ]

[ he's right, though, Kadoc has a pretty face ~~prettier than hers, really~~ but it's kind of lost in the whole I HAVEN'T SLEPT IN THREE WEEKS, SURE, WHAT OF IT thing but also ]

[ BUT ALSO, THINKING ABOUT YOUR OWN WANTS AND DESIRES IS HARD--

DIFFICULT. IT'S DIFFICULT. SHE'S NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN EVEN IN THE PRIVACY OF HER OWN MIND. ]

[ why is her life difficult. why did she think she wanted to be a romcom protag. can she take it back? maybe just let her be a 4koma slice of life girl. ]

[ well, wait, what about-- ]

[... she mushes her face a little harder against his shoulder, her voice dropping to a mumble. ]

The last time, with the mistletoe... he bit me...

[ SHE LIKES BITING, SHE DEFINITELY LIKED IT, ]

[i]

[there is no conceivable way he does not already know this. HE JUST NODS SAGELY, still running his fingers through her hair]

So that's a yes.

And also surprisingly aggressive of him. . .

I wasn't expecting it. I was taken completely by surprise.

[ She's still mumbling, tilting her head so she can lean more into the petting. ]

Look, Akira-kun, no matter what you think about me, this isn't something that's happened to me before... ever. At all. What am I supposed to think?

. . hn.

[okay okay, that's a sincere question, so. . . she'll get a sincere answer. no more kidding around or teasing!!]

There's no such thing as what you're "supposed" to think. There's just what makes you happy, and what doesn't.

[another pause as he searches for the words, fingers curling around red locks. . .]

. . . when we first-- you know. When we first got together, and I knew that I had a-- a thing for Akechi, too-- I didn't really know what I was "supposed" to think, either. I kind of felt like I was being selfish.

[a little quietly]

I still do, in a way. . . but I know you, and I trust you, and I believe in you. And-- and I guess along the way I figured out. . . so long as I'm happy, and you're happy, and he's happy, then-- does it really matter what I'm "supposed" to do?

Mmmm.

[ Her shoulders relax a little, though she doesn't lift her head. ]

You're right... just, I guess--somehow, I went from no one interested in me to, to two? What the heck.

[ MAYBE THREE, IF WHAT KADOC SAID ABOUT MASH IS TRUE, but Mash isn't here so Ritsuka can afford to put off that thought for the moment. ]

[a light huff, something between a laugh and an exasperated sigh]

If I tell you that you're amazing and that anyone with eyes and a brain should be interested in you, are you going to call yourself ordinary again?

I could switch it up and accuse you of having a bias.

[ She pokes him in the side as she says it. They know how this goes, by now. ]

You can say that kinda thing all you want, but you can't argue with lived experience. I'm not ungrateful, I'm just kinda...

[ FLAPS A HAND ]

Mind blown?

[. . .]

I wonder if you're "lived experience" is just "innocent blindness". . .

[THERE HAD TO HAVE BEEN MORE PEOPLE INTO HER THAN SHE THINKS. THERE HAD TO HAVE BEEN!!]

I'm not that innocent. I spent a whole summer tabling at a doujin festival.

[ SHE HELPED CREATE FURRY DOUJIN WITH HER OWN TWO SINFUL HANDS ]

That's completely different and you know it.

[. . . but also--]

I'm proud of you, by the way. What was your best work?

Edited 2021-07-31 02:58 (UTC)

I dunno, have you seen some of the stuff people draw?

...I was mostly like, the jack of all trades. Jeanne did most of the work--but it was a story about a monster and a princess. It was like a fairytale love story without any romance, if that makes sense.

[huh. . .]

It does, actually. And you're making me want to read it.

We made so many books that summer, we practiced a lot.

[ Now, finally, she lifts her head, thoughtful. ]

It might even be in the library. That book was definitely the bestseller for that iteration of the con.

"That iteration."

[HE. . . SEEMS TO REMEMBER HER MENTIONING SOMETHING SIMILAR IN THE PAST. . . HE JUST, LIKE. NEVER ASKED]

[ He says that, and she just kind of oozes more onto him, letting out a long-suffering sigh. ]

So, sometimes... sometimes, you know someone who's kind of possibly omnipotent, and she thinks, wow, looks like you need a vacation! I know, I'll trap you and some of your friends in looping the same convention week and set an arbitrary goal for you guys to break out of it! Wow, what a great idea!

[ she's completely deadpan monotone as she says it, and then with a bit more energy: ]

Honestly, of all the options it could've been, it was probably the best one. I got to spend like eleven weeks in Hawaii that way.

[. . . . . . .]

Dooooes this happen to be the same person who-- [gestures. at his neck. she remembers the black string!!!]

And I hope you had a better time in Hawaii than I did.

That's the same one, yeah. ...What happened when you went to Hawaii?

[BLANDLY]

My best friend tried to drag me and a few other guys from our class into "babe hunting" on the beach.

It didn't go as planned.

...

Babe hunting.

[ SHE'S JUDGING YOUR FRIEND, AKIRA, JUST A LITTLE. ]

[a little painfully]

Babe hunting.

[IT'S OKAY. HE JUDGES RYUJI TOO. HE LOVES RYUJI MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF, BUT YOU KNOW]

[ A DEEP SIGH. ]

Akira-kun... if you come to visit me after all of this, and you bring your friends... do not, under any circumstances, leave your friend with any of the pirates.

[a]

[very long pause]

Whhhhhy?

[ryuji is a pirate 8(]

[ THAT PAUSE IS SUPICIOUS, AKIRA. ]

Do you want him to be friends with a guy who will hit on literally any person, as long as they've got bangs that cover one eye?

And when I say hit on, I really should mean, "outright proposition."

Ah.

[okay he is just gonna nod knowingly because yeah Ryuji does not need that bad influence in his life]

Noted. I won't leave him with the pirates unattended.

They're also one of the worst groups for trying to get me to drink with them.

...

Also, Anne and Mary are kind of terrifying? So yeah.

[. . . a breathless laugh]

Anne Bonny and Mary Read? I'd believe it.

They'd eat your friend alive. --Figuratively, but they're exactly those type of people.

I hate to admit it, but. . . he'd probably be into it.

[SIGHS AT RYUJI]

[and then, after a beat--]

There doesn't happen to be a William Kidd back in Chaldea, does there?

[ There's a moment where she has to think, but no, Billy's last name isn't actually Kidd, so... ]

Nope. Just Billy. ...Who I guess you could probably stretch the definition of "pirate" for, but he's a land pirate, not a seafaring one.

[a gentle laugh]

William Kidd-- or Captain Kidd, I guess-- is a seafaring pirate, so it definitely wouldn't count. I was just curious.

[ She hums a little, thoughtful. ]

I don't know if it's a matter of "no" or "not yet," honestly. We've got, uh--

[ now she's ticking off on her fingers: ]

Francis Drake, Edward Teach, Anne Boney and Mary Read, and now Bartholomew Roberts. I really think, at this point, anyone could show up and I wouldn't be surprised.

[a low, impressed whistle]

That's an impressive collection of pirates.

But none of them are Personas, as far as I'm aware.

One of these days, we really should try making a list for comparison... but yeah, the thing about a Servant is just--they could be anyone, really. As long as it's someone that humanity as a whole remembers and has stories about, I think you count.

. . .

[A BIT. . . INCREDULOUSLY--]

The Phantom Thieves could be Servants. . .

...

That could get weird real fast.

[ she almost said kinky and did not. please praise her even if you didn't know that, Akira, ]

[. . . . . . . . ACTUALLY--]

There are a lot of things I'm into, buuuut I'm not sure servant-master roleplay is one of them--

[sorry not sorry]

[ well, she wasn't GONNA, but since he started it-- ]

So you wouldn't be into a command seal instead of physical bondage, got it.

[ SHE SAYS, COMPLETELY DEADPAN ]

[OPENS MOUTH]

[CLOSES MOUTH]

I mean. . . the physical part is half of the appeal, you know--

[so yeah, she's right. no COMMAND SEALS over PHYSICAL BONDAGE]

I dunno, I think making it all about your willpower would also be fun.

[ she would 100% pull a "you can't touch me or you lose" thing on him, just saying ]

[. . . yyyyyyyyyeah she has a good point, there. . .]

. . .

Hm. . .

[ She tilts the back of her hand, with its seals, to show him, wiggling the fingers. ]

Oh no, I've put a spell on you, and now you have to do what I say. You can look but not touch, while I'm busy.

--Something like that.

[. . . reaches out to snag her hand, holding it in a manner where he can run his thumb across the markings on the bac]

Hn. . .

[. . .]

We don't. . . need "command seals" for something like that, do we?

[ She laughs at that, a little breathless, curling her fingers against his palm. This is kind of bordering on the edge of what she can handle, but she's managing! Somehow, she's managing. ]

No, but it might be fun. Whether we do it as a roleplay or not.

[she is managing!! he's so proud!! because he's about to raise the stakes a li'l bit as he turns her hand over and draws it upwards, all so he can press a feather-light kiss against the inside of her wrist]

I'll. . . keep it in mind, as long as you do.

[ She squeaks before she can stop it, because what else is she supposed to do! She might not have an explicit thing for hands, but also, she knows that he knows exactly what he's doing. ]

Iiiiiiiiii--I can do that! Sure. No problem.

[yeh he knows EXACTLY what he is doing and he is REVELING in this]

[and laughing a little as he lowers her hand, though he doesn't let go]

Ah. That's the line for what flusters you?

Mmmmmaybe?!

[ It's still squeaky, but now it's also kind of indignant; she's making no effort to pull her hand away from his. ]

Every time I think I'll be fine, you're just--you--this is your fault.

[ "I like you too much" is probably weird as an accusation but it's there in her head. ]

Yeah. I'm a terrible, awful guy.

[said lightly!! teasingly!!]

What are you going to do about it?

What am I gonna do...?

[ She takes a DEEP BREATH, finally pulling her hand away from his-- ]

[ --so she can grab his collar and yank him in to kiss him.

How's THAT ]

[lets out a mildly surprised noise when she yanks him in, but honestly!! it lasts all of five seconds before he is leaning eagerly into it, fingers immediately diving into her hair as he kisses her back]

[THIS IS A-OKAY BY HIM TYVM]

[ This is a lot more preferable than him teasing her, okay. It conveys the same thing, but also, his mouth is occupied.

At some point, she does let go of his collar to wrap her arms around his waist instead. She will take this win, however temporary it is. ]

[perhaps her victory is more permanent than she thinks!! either way. . . it's true that this is a very effective way to shut him up, because who can argue with kissing?? a pleased noise rumbles in the back of his throat as he dives a li'l deeper into the kiss, fingers carding through her hair]

[ Either way, it's a victory, and she's very pleased with herself.

Pleased enough, in fact, that she hitches herself closer when his hands sink into her hair, enough that she can hitch a leg up, partly over his lap. They're gonna do this PDA thing, and who's going to stop them?

(There are people who could stop them, but also, it'd probably take a couple of attempts.) ]

[WHO IS EVEN HERE TO TRY AND STOP THEM!! THEY CAN MAKE OUT BY THE FOUNTAIN, NOBODY OWNS THEM!!!]

[when she presses closer, he shifts slightly to pull her fully onto his lap, an arm sliding around the back of her waist to steady her. there's no point in doing this halfway, after all!!]

[ You never know, maybe Mash will show up and then Ritsuka will have to drown Akira and then herself. Weirder things have happened in her life.

For now, though, clearly the thing to do in response to his encouragement is to just fully slide into his lap. Once she's settled, she finally breaks the kiss, though she doesn't pull back. This is fine. ]

...You're the worst, and I really like you.

[who will app Mash to let Ritsuka kiss a girl!!!]

[she draws back, and the first thing she'll see is Akira's smile, bright and wide and shining like the sun]

Hn. . . is that so?

[this is fine, he is more than happy with this!!]

Well. That's not very good encouragement to stop being. . . the worst.

[ WHO!!

She's still blushing a little, but at least this time, she doesn't look away. She has to turn her head slightly, but she's still watching his face. ]

Yeah, it's not, is it? I don't want you to change, unless you want to.

[lifts a hand to brush his knuckles against her cheek, touch feather-light]

I think. . . I'm pretty happy with who I am right now.

[ She closes her eyes, turning her head to press her lips to his palm. ]

Yeah? Even though you're the worst?

[ah. . . very cute. . . he can't help the way his cheeks flush a deep red at that]

Even though I'm the worst. The absolute worst.

You could be a little ashamed.

[ She doesn't sound terribly concerned, sliding her fingers into his hair to give it a small tug. Maybe she's not as good at it as he is, but she does like seeing him blush like that. ]

I don't know how. It's a character flaw.

[tilts his head a little into that tug, one eye slipping shut]

Oh no. I've fallen in with the wrong crowd.

[ As she says that, she starts scritching her nails gently against his scalp, like one might do to a cat. ]

Whatever will become of me?

[if he could purr he totally WOULD right now]

Depends on who you ask. Some people might bemoan your impending future as a convict.

Hmmmmm.

[ She keeps that up, leaning to rest her forehead against his, grinning. ]

I dunno. I could get behind being the ane-san for whatever gang of hooligans you lead in the future.

. . .

[brb his brain is picturing Sexy Delinquent Ritsuka (TM) now and it's distracting him into a moment of silence]

[ SHE CAN GUESS WHERE HIS MIND IS GOING and she is okay with that. ]

I could dress the part, if you wanted.

. . .

[heh]

Something else to "keep in mind," then?

Maaaaaaaybe.

[ She says, SO innocently, ]

Maaaaaybe.

[he echoes, light and playful]

From what I remember, I still owe you a date, anyway.

At this point, it might be a running tab. I don't mind, though.

[ How does a running tab of dates owed work? Possibly just as a relationship. ]

[it definitely works a JUST A RELATIONSHIP, so. you know]

Well.

[well!! he reaches out to grab her hands, swinging both of them to the side and then towards the middle again once he does so]

How's your schedule looking for the rest of the day?

Oh, you know me, I'm always super busy. But~

[ She squeezes his hands, leaning in to boop her nose against his. ]

For you, I think I could clear up some time.

[. . . steals a kiss when she's close enough, because!! he is!!! a thief!!!]

Mmm. . . in that case-- someone once told me there was a really nice cupcake shop around here.

--!

[ That gets a surprised but pleased little laugh out of her. He's a thief!! ]

Yeah? I'm a big fan of cupcakes.

[a thief!! a thief who is climbing to his feet, keeping one of her hands linked tightly with his own]

A little birdie might've told me that, too.

[ She doesn't latch onto his arm completely, but she does lean against him once they're on their feet, comfortably in his space. ]

And what other intel do you have on me, huh?

[and here. . . he lifts a finger to his lips and winks]

A gentleman thief can't reveal all of his secrets.

Oh, you're a gentleman, now? Fine, I guess I can accept that.

[squeeze her hand tightly before he pushes the cupcake store door open. luckily!! for them!! it is here today!!!]

I'm a man of many masks. It's literally a wild card thing.

So basically, you're just really embracing that whole "jokers wild" thing.

[ Lucky for them!! this is kind of Their Place, in her mind, and she will probably bring that back after teasing him first ]

[without shame]

Oh, absolutely. What's the point of being a Joker if I can't have a little fun with it?

[immediately heading to the counter to pick out some delicious cupcake flavors :9]

Yeah, but did you pick that name first, or did you think of the joke and go with it?

[ She's going to grab this because the only way I want to live vicariously through an rp character is in food. ]

Mmmmmmm. . .

[looks innocently off into the distance without answering!! meanwhile, he grabs this for himself]

Ah, is it a chicken and egg kind of question? If we're going to have a deep discussion about it, this is probably the best place for it.

[ There's a moment of contemplation, and then: ]

I feel like I've had multiple turning points in this shop. Is that weird? I think it's a little weird.

[well. he was going to sass her a little bit, but--]

It miiiight be a little wird.

[LIGHTLY AMUSED. . .]

But other than getting married here-- [he is kidding, obviously!!] -- what other turning points do you associate with this place?

Kadoc and I had our first screaming fight here.

Only it wasn't really screaming, it was more like... instead of eating your feelings, it's throwing them at each other, in the form of small baked goods...?

[Akira is getting a text that includes a photo of Ritsuka sitting dressed up cute at a little cafe table, with her face in her hands, cheeks obviously red where they can be seen through her fingers. The text says,]

I told her we agreed she was hot in a bikini.

[OH MY GOD]

Edited 2021-08-27 12:14 (UTC)

[HEH]

i'm setting this as my lock screen photo. immediately

I'll let that be a surprise to her next time she sees your phone.

[SHARING A GIRLFRIEND...ISN'T BAD]

[it is actually the BEST THING EVER!!]

you're a pal. and i'll make sure to return the favor the next time i take her out.

I appreciate it.

[A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT]

[teaming up to make their girlfriend make cute faces, rip Ritsuka]

did you guys have a good time, by the way?

I don't remember a single thing about that movie, so yes.

That's not as scandalous as it sounds.

. . . is there a non-scandalous explanation for not remembering a movie while you're on a date?

I said it's not AS scandalous as it sounds.

press x to doubt

but i'm glad you had a good time

You can think what you want. Pretty weird that you want it to be scandalous

i thought we already established that fact? i'm weird. i don't mind weird things.

If that's your answer to everything, I might as well not even point out anything weird you say or do.

now you're getting it.

I've gotta respect the logic.

[a snort]

you don't HAVE to but a part of me appreciates it. i think? i'm not sure i'm losing the thread of this conversation.

Sorry. I didn't have a lot to say. I just wanted to show you.

[But he also keeps responding because he . . . likes it.]

i appreciate it. i think that's probably one of the benefits of us dating the same girl.

we can provide each other with more ammunition than we could ever get alone.

One of the benefits, huh.

what? you don't think so?

No, I'm wondering what the other benefits you have in mind are.

being able to talk to someone about how amazing she is and have them totally and completely understand?

That's so embarrassing.

[AND YET . . . TRUE]

for you, maybe.

i have no shame

I know better than that.

You just have very LITTLE shame.

i feel like i should be offended you're accusing me of having any shame at all.

[HAVING SHAME CAN BE A GOOD THING AKIRA]

That says a lot about you.

I'm not letting you live down I managed to throw you off one single time.

[oh my god]

it wasn't THAT big of a deal. . .!

Let me have this.

(╬ Ò﹏Ó)

[ It's like late morning when this text comes through: ]

Akira-kun
Just so you know
I need to ask you something before I ask you something
How prepared are you for weird possibly tmi stuff

[. . . HM]

cooooonsidering we have crossed the tmi line together more than a couple of times now

probably pretty prepared??

probably

Edited 2021-09-08 00:36 (UTC)

[ Thanks Akira, you're a pal as much as you're a cute boy, ]

OK then
So
You know
Just as a hypothetical
And all that
Did YOU know that a guy could

[ The next line goes through maybe a solid minute of the "..." of her typing, deleting, and starting over. Sorry about that. ]

Pierce

[ Yeah, it took that long for her just to type that. ]

[HE IS DOING HIS BEST]

[BUT ALSO]

[hang on he needs to process this]

[and process this]

[and process this some more]

[. . .]

uuuuh

nnnnnnooo?? yyyyess?? vaguely?? i've never wanted one so i've literally never in my life thought about it until this very point in time????

Edited 2021-09-08 01:31 (UTC)

Trust me
I didn't really think about this as a thing that people did until
Last night??

[. . . . . .]

well.

surprise??

[he has LITERALLY NO IDEA WHAT ELSE HE SHOULD SAY, HERE]

I'm definitely surprised!!

[ . . . . . . ]

In a good way though

[there's like]

[a good minute of ". . ." on Akira's end as he types and deletes, types and deletes]

[and then]

so. . .

it was hot?

Is this weird to tell you about?????
I feel like it's weird
But also
I have no idea who else I'd talk to??????????

[oh ritsuka]

[laughs a little breathlessly, a little fondly on his end]

it's super weird!!

[there's, ah. a reason he never brought up the unspeakable things he has done to Akechi]

but also, i'm flattered, and you might be my girlfriend but you're also the best friend i have here, so i'd rather you talk to me about it than not???

Normally I'd talk to Medb, because she's the one who just like
Knows everything about this kind of stuff
But she's not here and also
You were still the first person I thought of to talk to

[ He's her best friend here, too!! Who can you talk about this kind of thing to, if not your best friend? Even if you're also dating, ]

[the two things are not mutually exclusive!!]

[also. . . that makes him smile, because honesty-- whoever else they might be kissing, the fact that she says that makes him feel pretty warm and fuzzy and special on the inside. there will always be things that he shares only with her]

well, i'm here.

even though i'm not going to be much help

because, you know

like i said

literally never thought about it before now

[ There is a much, much longer pause this time, though it's still not more than a couple of minutes before: ]

In hindsight maybe I shouldn't have been surprised
The guy has a piercing on his neck
Why NOT the other head

[I LITERALLY HAD TO LOOK IT UP BECAUSE I FORGOT?? HE HAD ONE?? ON HIS NECK?? KADOC!!]

[another breathless laugh]

the guy's got guts. you have to give it to him.

but wouldn't it

. . . you know

get in the way?

[ RIGHT ON HIS THROAT, EVEN!! ]

Trust me
It did not

[ how much information is too much, she doesn't know, ]

[HOW MANY QUESTIONS CAN HE ASK BEFORE IT BECOMES TOO PRYING, HE ALSO DOESN'T KNOW]

did it

i don't know

feel. . . weird?

Well
Yes
But like
A good weird?????

[ is this bordering TMI now????? yes?! ]

[yes, but he is WAY TOO CURIOUS to not ask]

i mean. i'd hope so.

but like

in a "it made it better than without" way????

Akira-kun
Do not make me write this

[ bro please there is something really weird about having to Literally Compare Your Boyfriends' Dicks ]

It's not any better or worse it's like

[ .................................................. ]

Comparing an eggplant to a zucchini????

[STOP, HE IS JUST TAKING NOTES!!! FOR REASONS!!!]

that's not what i meant!! i was just

curious??

like

for personal reasons??

but i think i get it now, and next time i see kadoc i'm going to have to try really hard not to think about his dick

AKIRA-KUN I LIKE YOUR DICK JUST FINE

Also please be nice to him he was very good to me

[OH MY GOD]

I KNOW THAT I HAVE NO INSECURITIES ABOUT THAT THAT IS ALSO NOT WHAT I MEANT PLEASE REMEMBER I LIKE DICKS TOO!!!

Edited 2021-09-08 17:30 (UTC)

and good. i threatened to beat him up if he wasn't.

Wait are you going to propose that to Akechi-kun or are you thinking about making a move on my guy

[ serious questions for a serious conversation ]

[PRESSES HAND AGAINST FACE, but he's laughing breathlessly to himself on the other end of the line]

neither. akechi would never go for it and kadoc isn't my type. i'm just curious!! you can't blame me!!

[ this is STILL EMBARRASSING, but at least now it's funny too ]

I don't blame you for that
But also [X]

[ to doubt, ]

why are you doubting me, a good joker, who has done nothing wrong ever in his life

You know that works better when you're in person and I can see your face when you say that right
Anyway
Here's my thesis get ready

1. You and I like a lot of similar things
2. Kadoc and Akechi-kun are pretty similar people
3. You were independently interested in Akechi even before we hooked up and now you're dating him
4. In spite of ALL CIRCUMSTANCES Kadoc and I are now a thing
5. Therefore!!!!!!!
6. You saying he's not your type is at least a little bit bullshit

[WOW. SHE NEEDS TO STOP CALLING HIM OUT. STOP BEING SO RIGHT???]

hey. hey!! listen!!

even if it is a little bit bullshit making a move on my girlfriend's other boyfriend probably breaks some kind of rule?? probably???

[ LOOK, SHE'S GOTTA CALL HIM OUT WHEN HE'S WRONG, GENTLY AND LOVINGLY, LIKE A GOOD GIRLFRIEND SHOULD,,, ]

Akira-kun
Scroll up and look at the start of this conversation
I think we've already broken lots of rules in the past 15 minutes alone

[another laugh, but also. . .]

more seriously. . . i don't know. it still wouldn't feel right.

if there was ever someone else i was interested in-- which there isn't, not right now-- i'd want to run it by you first.

because i want to be as open and honest with you as i can.

[ Ughhhhhhh, how dare he be so sweet? She likes him SO much, and it's always stuff like this!! You're on notice, Akira!! ]

I know
I don't actually have anyone else like that either right now
But I'm saying that if it happened, I trust you
And I trust we'd be able to talk about it (´꒳`)♡

[. . . heh]

we would. though you don't have to worry about it. kadoc gets offended when i just play flirt with him, i can't imagine what he'd do if i ever did it seriously

Akira-kun
When we were on our date, he kept making these jokes like I was gonna dump him for an actor I told him I liked
An actor that I ALSO told him I wasn't interested in sleeping with
I think my exact words were, "I wouldn't bang him but I would invite him to my birthday party"
ON AN ACTUAL DATE
If you think I'm bad, he's worse

[. . .]

you know i told him straight up to his face that he needs therapy.

he agreed with me.

You know what, I'm not surprised
About either of those things
Like I'm probably gonna need it too after this
But mage society is really Something Else

[. . . haaaaah]

. . . yeah. it sure is.

if it helps, i probably need it, too. but for different reasons.

akechi DEFINITELY needs it.

maybe we could all, you know. start a club.

Aren't we already kind of a club?
At this point

[SNORTS]

kiiiiind of i guess?? the "everyone is making out with someone" club?

Yeah
Can you imagine trying to go out somewhere as a quartet?
"This is my boyfriend Akira and his boyfriend Akechi and also this is my other boyfriend Kadoc."
"No we're not making this up."

the good news is we don't have to explain it to anyone else.

as long as we're all having a good time and everyone is happy, who cares?

[for the very first time he did not deny that Akechi is a boyfriend. . .]

[ SHE NOTICED, ]

That's true
But I get the feeling that like
We'd be happy
Kadoc would probably be embarrassed but enjoying himself more than he wants to admit
And Akechi is probably only slightly secretly plotting to murder us

[SHHHHH. . . sometimes things happen. . .]

only slightly? you're really giving him the benefit of the doubt.

It depends on how in public we are
If it's like a restaurant or something?
Then yeah I stand by that

don't underestimate akechi's ability to keep his murderous thoughts beneath a pleasant boy smile.

I'm not I'm not
That's why SLIGHTLY

i still say you're giving him the benefit of the doubt. but in a way, i appreciate that.

I trust you
If he were completely irredeemable, I don't think you'd be this close to him
So even if I don't know how well we get along
I trust you know how to handle him

i do.

and hey. . . not to change the subject but

i really like you.

[ alksdfja;kthuapt???

She drops her phone, which means it's a few seconds longer than she usually takes to reply. ]

WHAT WAS THAT FOR

[ another long pause, and then: ]

I really like you too!!
Even when you're a jerk (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄

[hehehe]

i dunno!! i guess i was thinking about it.

i met passionlip the other day. she didn't believe we were dating.

Oh, you met Lip!!
Don't take it too hard if she doesn't trust you, okay?
She's a good girl but she's very uh
Well, she's from Chaldea
She knows what it's like

that's exactly what she said. i guess she's too used to dealing with people like. . . kiyohime, right?

[. . .]

she's sweet, though. a bit of a romantic, it sounds like.

Kiyohime, Raikou, Serenity, Fergus... there are others, but they're probably the worst?

[ LOOK... Ritsuka tries very hard not to think too hard about all of this. ]

She's a good girl!!
Her thing is like
Well
She and her sisters were created to represent different aspects
So for her case, she's "Love and Hate"
But she really wants love when it's her, as a person

[. . . ah. suddenly, some of the things Lip said make perfect sense, and he smiles a little bit by himself]

if she's a part of your family, then i think she has more of it than she might realize.

though when i tried suggesting that you were her family, she vehemently denied it.

I think it depends on how you define "family," too
Only one of her sisters is in Chaldea
And so is her "mother"
Actually you've kind of met her
The mother, I mean

bb, right?

the black neck string

That's her
She's definitely one of those "little devil" types

based on what you've told me, i absolutely believe it

she and lip sound like they couldn't be any more different

There are SOME similarities
But usually only when they're really worked up
They've both done a lot for me and I'll always be grateful for that

i could tell she cares about you a lot. she really wanted to be able to protect you.

which i think is most of the reason she didn't believe we were dating, but hey. i wasn't offended.

Yeah, a lot of them are kind of
Protective??
I guess that's the best word for it
All things considered Lip not believing you is probably one of the better options

it's true. she could've crushed me into a pea if she wanted to.

and she didn't.

Yeah uh
Definitely take that seriously
She can technically crush anything that she can visualize smashing her hands around
And if you've met her, you know how easy that'd be

for as possible as i know it is, and as seriously as i'm taking it, she didn't seem really psyched about the whole crushing thing, you know?

She usually isn't!
Unless you piss her off

which is not something i plan on doing.

but that aside. . . she seems nice. i'd like to be her friend.

Please do! ( ´ ▽ ` ).｡ｏ♡
She's a nice girl
You're a nice boy
And honestly it'd make me happy if you guys could be friends

[IC Inbox for sidereal_rp]

day 124

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