[IC INBOX FOR fracturarpg]

[survivaltricks]

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"If your iPhone runs out of charge, does that mean you're out of apple juice?"

AKIRA KURUSU
THIEF'S CLASS
fragments ✧✧✧✧✧

Comments

text

[counterclocked]

hey

can i ask you a favor

Re: text

[survivaltricks]

[by now he has probably interacted with some people who are ACTING SUPER WEIRD so it takes him a moment to reply. a purposefully neutral reply JUST IN CASE]

What is it?

[counterclocked]

[Hunter, at least, isn’t that subtle - it’s not long until his response comes through.]

okay first off

did you get some weird message about some other life you didn’t know anything about before today? please say yes

[survivaltricks]

oh thank god you have no idea how WEIRDED OUT i have been since getting here

people know me

why do they know me

i don't know them i don't like this

[his relief is so palatable it has changed the way he texts]

action

[messianic]

[IT'S THE DAY OF THE GALA.

Shut up, we're not late, it's the day of the gala because I say it is.

Anyway, Minato's scanning the crowd for one person in particular--not because he feels strongly about it (he... he kind of does, don't look at him), but because it's tradition. He has to properly treat tradition right, right?

(He's never cared about that before, but hey.)

... Aha. A familiar mop of black hair.]

Hey--Akira. Hang on a second.

Re: action

[survivaltricks]

[oblivious and swanky all in one (monocle not included), Akira stands by the fringes of the crowd sipping idly at a drink. he has managed to fight off all of his ADORING FANS and is now spending some well-earned time by himself]

[until a familiar head of blue hair enters his vision. he remembers that Minato is. . . uh. "integrated fully" into this world, or whatever, so. he can't be Akira the person from the train station in space. he has to be Akira the famous dodge ball player]

Ah. Now there's a familiar face I'm happy to see.

[NOT THAT THAT CHANGES MUCH, BUT YOU KNOW]

What's up?

[messianic]

[Swank! Minato just tilts his head at that, hands tucking into the pockets of his own suit pants (most certainly not intended to be used that way), as he...pauses.

And tries to come up with a good way to say this.

... Hm, blunt is probably best, right?]

Have you already decided on someone to bump tonight?

[what]

[survivaltricks]

[despite all of the time Akira has spent in this world thus far, and because it's way funnier, he totally has no idea what that means]

[so]

[CUE LENGTHY, CONFUSED PAUSE]

[oh god he can't ask what it means HE IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS]

N. . . no.

[smooth, Akira]

I've decided to save it for a special someone.

action;

[messianic]

[He is so relieved to be back in this weird liminal space area.

The entire situation was honestly bizarre, and Minato had no idea how to deal with the two conflicting sets of memories--which is why, in tried and true Minato habit, he just shoved it all away to ignore it.

More importantly, there's Akira--not that Minato intended on coming across him. When he does, he actually freezes, a bit like a deer in the headlights...

And then he.

Stops...

And slowly turns... as if to go the other way...]

[survivaltricks]

[HONESTLY, Akira's just glad that things are back to normal. "normal?" whatever. . . "normal" is in train space, that is. having to pretend to be someone he wasn't for like an entire month was draining (as it always is), and so being able to be honest about the weirdness that just occurred with those who had formerly forgotten train space was definitely refreshing. in a way!!]

[and then there was the situation with Minato]

[Minato catches Akira leaving fantasy costco with an entire buggy filled with coffee supplies. BUY IN BULK OR DON'T BUY AT ALL!! and when their eyes meet, when Akira's brows raise as he flashes back to their last AU interaction (the long-promised bump accompanied by a rather sweet but extremely bewildering forehead smooch), he honestly isn't surprised to see Minato immediately turning around as if to avoid him]

[. . . heh]

[easier said than done]

[Akira immediately picks up the pace to follow Minato, buggy of coffee supplies in tow]

Hey-- wait. Where are you going?

[he asks, voice perfectly even]

We have a wedding to discuss.

[UH]

[messianic]

[...Caught.

He's so caught, and Minato pauses slowly... and then turns around again to meet Akira's eyes.

the fact that they are having this conversation over a cart full of coffee just makes it all the more ridiculous, but--it's not like it can be avoided.

Also, Minato can't help himself.]

Ah.

So you're the sort who doesn't want to bump before marriage.

[PERFECTLY... BLANDLY... In return.

Even if he's dying a little bit inside.]

[survivaltricks]

[Akira, as bewildered as he was by the whole bumping business, clearly finds the whole thing hilarious. unfortunately (or fortunately?) for Minato. and fortunately (or unfortunately) for Minato, he's about to learn how little shame Akira has]

Yyyep. I told you I was saving myself for that special someone.

[comes Akira's bland, even reply]

Take responsibility for your actions, Arisato-san.

action!

[givethemhell]

[At like the end of Akira's shift at Koi Pond tonight HERE COMES WEI WUXIAN. He's here to bully another bartender but while he's at it, he swings by wherever Akira happens to be.]

Have a moment to spare? I need to ask a bit of a favor.

[Fortunately it has nothing to do with breaking and entering into courtesan houses.]

[survivaltricks]

[LEAVE HIM ALONE THEY WERE INVITED!!]

Hm? That so?

[Akira is casually cleaning off the counter as he addresses WWX with a crooked smile and a nod]

I'm listening.

[givethemhell]

[A LIKELY STORY.]

—Two favors, actually. [As he just flops onto one of the empty barstools and sets some money on the counter.] A shot of anything, keep the change. Didn't even have time to enjoy a drink tonight.

[A sigh!! Life is hard when you can't bodyslam into people while they're trying to enjoy a cocktail at the end of a long day.]

Second one shouldn't be too much trouble either, I hope. Can you keep an ear to the ground about activity near the borders? Caught wind of some trouble in the Xian Le that I'm a little concerned by.

[survivaltricks]

[a shot of anything. Akira doesn't know enough about alcohol to pick something good, so Wei Wuxian is getting like. . . cheap vodka. the kind that burns on the way down. he quickly pours the liquor into a shot glass and slides it across the counter towards his patron, before scooping up the money, part of it going into the register and the other part going into his pocket]

[the second part of what Wei Wuxian says. . . gives Akira pause]

Hn. . .?

[a tilted head, a casually curious expression]

Mind if I asked what you heard, so I know what to look for?

[quickpersuader]

[She arrives at the Koi Pond towards the end of his shift, but that might actually play to his favor if he wants a one on one. Kino just seems to be on one of her usual visits for socializing.]

Ah... I guess I am a bit late today.

[survivaltricks]

[she might be a bit late, but it's perfect timing as far as Akira is concerned. his expression is contemplative when she walks in, and he can't help but perk up a bit as the damp rag he has pressed against the counter comes to a halt]

Ah-- hey there.

[he gestures to as tool]

Do you want your usual?

[quickpersuader]

Yes please, if it's not too much trouble.

[And hey, if he's taking customers for coffee, she'll go ahead and seat herself at the bar.]

[survivaltricks]

Making coffee is never any trouble; trust me.

[he will get right on that as she takes a seat]

How have you been since your last visit?

[it might not have been that long ago, but hey. it's worth asking about]

god idk when this is

[crudest]

[SOMETIME AFTER THE EGG AND DRESS FIASCO - here's Baren, hanging out at the bar. He seems to be looking over some of his mail. He's not behind the counter today, but he's lit up a smoke in a fancy, ornate smoking pipe and is reclining like a cat in one of the comfier chairs the bar has.

When Akira approaches, he looks up, waving the pipe in his direction.]

Yo Akicchan - you working today?

OPERATION BIRTHDAY BAREN BOY

[survivaltricks]

[by now, Akira is used to Baren's company around the bar, and used to the familiar camaraderie between them. he might not have been around when his AU self struck up this friendship with Baren, but hey!! he doesn't mind reaping the benefits. Baren is a good guy]

[and now that he's here, it's time to begin Operation Birthday Baren Boy (original name copyrighted plz do not steal)]

If I'm here, I'm definitely working. For a certain definition of "working."

[he's wiping down glasses, that counts]

[crudest]

[baren is not a good guy i don't know where akira got this idea]

Well, as long as you don't break anything, it's not like I care.

[just don't make any messes because baren is a neat freak, but otherwise he'll just wave a hand carelessly]

Start a rumor, learn some secrets, go wild.

voice

[counterclocked]

['Sup, Akira!! Sometime during the day, he'll be receiving a voice message - one that sounds a little bit urgent.]

Hunter here. Hey, do you have something to write with and paper?

action!

[decryptic]

[ During some odd, slower hour of business, 9S walks into the Koi Pond. Even with a hat on, he's probably smaller than the average customer around here, but he shows no sign of self-consciousness as he takes a seat at the bar. ]

Hello there, Akira, sir. Do you have a moment?