[IC Inbox for sidereal_rp]

[survivaltricks]

KURUSU AKIRA
17/M/Earth 2017

<span style="font-family:century gothic,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/ScI5Hsw.png" style="height:20px;margin:0 5px -4px 0;"><b style="color:#e75480;">YOUR NAME</b> matched with you!</span> MATCH

<lj-raw><span style="font-family:century gothic,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/P3gZl1b.png" style="height:20px;margin:0 5px -4px 0;"> <b style="color:#e75480;">YOUR NAME</b> sent you a message! <blockquote style="border-left:5px solid #ddd;padding:0 0 0 10px;"> Message_content </blockquote></span></lj-raw> MESSAGE

<span style="font-family:century gothic,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/w2B4FYG.png" style="height:20px;margin:0 5px -4px 0;"><b style="color:#e75480;">YOUR NAME</b> sent you a flirt!</span> FLIRT

CODE BY

Comments

[afailedmurder]

[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...

[survivaltricks]

[reaches for some chicken again, still munching away]

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

[afailedmurder]

Mm.

[sets it down]

[...]

[stands up]

Excuse me for a moment.

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

[survivaltricks]

[. . . ?]

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

Ah. . .?

[afailedmurder]

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

[hands it over and reclaims his seat]

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

[survivaltricks]

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

Well, I'm not waiting.

[afailedmurder]

[it's a sweater]

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

[survivaltricks]

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

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

[meanwhile Akechi gets a ridiculous coffee mug]

[afailedmurder]

[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?]

[survivaltricks]

[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.

[afailedmurder]

[oh my god don't call it out]

...They're both practical gifts.

[survivaltricks]

Yeah, but yours is. . . cute.

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

I was teasing.

[afailedmurder]

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

[survivaltricks]

[hehe]

[SINCERELY]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[afailedmurder]

Mm. Thank you for the mug.

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

[survivaltricks]

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

[. . .]

[reaches out to poke Akechi's forehead]

[afailedmurder]

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

Mmm?

[survivaltricks]

[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.

[afailedmurder]

[chew, chew, swallow]

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

[survivaltricks]

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

The first time's always weird.

But it gets easier.

[afailedmurder]

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.

[survivaltricks]

. . . 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.

[afailedmurder]

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

[survivaltricks]

[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.

[afailedmurder]

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