[It will take her a hot second to slip into the room and change with her uno hand but it's fine! She'll step back out with something simple, her hair untied and still a little wild with how the waves sit around her shoulders.]
T-thank you. Um... is there anywhere in particular you'd like to go? I know it's a little late, but...
[when Luna returns, she'll find Akira leaning his shoulder against the wall, one hand lifted to tug idly at his bangs as he waits for her. he straightens when she steps out, offering her a lopsided, tired-but-sincere smile]
My answer to that is always going to be the garden. I guess I'm predictable.
Maybe, but... I don't know if I'd say that's a bad thing. If you know what it is that you can pursue that makes your heart happier, then that's the more important thing, right?
I don't think I'd ever say no, even if that wasn't the case.
[Ah. She... wants to reach out for his hand, but he still has the crutch, and they're going to have to climb stairs. So she refrains, her hand instead habitually fussing with her necklace for a moment.]
[he feels much the same, but. . . yeah. he also refrains because he is going to need both hands to get down the stairwell. also now that Luna can see him up close, she may notice a fresh bruise on his forehead and his chin. weeps]
[his response. . . is wry]
Yeah. That's an understatement.
But somehow, I don't feel like I'm going to be able to sleep anytime soon.
I don't blame you, but... especially right now, it's important to try...
[aaand her eyes drift straight to that discoloration. Her brows furrow, carefully taking another step forward and reaching up to gently touch his face because UHHHH
Her voice stays calm, even if her eyes betray her fussing.]
What happened...? Someone didn't... hit you, did they...?
[he jerks a little bit when she reaches out, a small hint of color blossoming to his cheeks as her fingertips brush up against the fresh injuries. but that surprise only lasts a moment before his expression pinches together, tight and unhappy]
. . . Akechi and I got into another fight.
[BECAUSE. OF COURSE. THEY DID]
It's fine. It'll heal. [. . .] I don't really want to think about it right now.
Her eyes narrow a bit as she lets out a frustrated breath through the nose. GUESS WHO'S LOOKING VERY CROSSLY AT YOU AKIRA. Not in a bad way, just... Akechi.......... sure is a topic........
But after a moment, the mothering tension to her expression settles, instead reaching up to brush the bangs away from his mask and take a better look at his forehead. Her voice stays quiet.]
[AKECHI. . . SURE IS A TOPIC. . . it isn't a very serious bruise, a small round circle right in between and above his eyes. it'll heal in a few days the most.]
[. . .]
[he tilts his head a little into her fingertips, though]
Nah. Just punched and then headbutted me. As he does.
[W. WRY]
It's not the first time we've fought. Probably won't be the last.
He's not exactly the easiest person to speak to. Even to people close to him, he... [he is just like this. like whoever akechi is. a big dramatic mess.
Satisfied with what she sees there, she'll take a moment to stroke his bangs back into place. Does his jaw look any better, worse?]
...I wish there was more we could do for him without him pushing people away.
[about the same! maybe the bruise is a bit smaller? but it's definitely no worse]
Nobody really knows him. Not even me.
[and he means that truthfully, his gaze growing a bit distant as he says it. but Luna's fingers are warm and soft on his forehead, smoothing away his curly and tousled bangs as they are, and. . .]
[he really doesn't want to think about Akechi right now. he really doesn't]
[so as they reach the stairwell, he reaches up to take her hand in his own, to gently move it away from his forehead and down between him, his fingers tight around hers]
But anyway-- [time to change the subject!!] Help me down the stairs? I'm getting pretty good at it, but it's still a bit clunky.
[handtouch... The strength of his grip is a surprise, but not one that she pulls away from.]
Of course. I'll do what I can. [It's a little harder, now that she's down to one hand. But she'll still carefully move to the railing side of the stairs, a repeat of the previous week in how she advances just enough to reach out if needed, to catch him if he stumbles. This means she will have to let go of his hand for a moment, but she wants him to have the wall to balance.]
Hypothetically. The staff said they can provide supplies, but... I'm not a mechanic. I don't think anyone here is.
I can tell my arm is still there, at least, so it's not beyond saving, but... from the errors I still see, I would probably need some circuitry repairs, cable replacements, and a reintegration of the ABT I've lost.
[A beat. She makes a nervous flutter of a sound off her exhale, almost a laugh, catching a strand of her hair between her thumb and forefinger and twisting it gently.]
S-sorry. I suppose some of that might not have made sense.
[he isn't completely sure he can help, but. . . she's done so much for him, hasn't she? she treated his leg injuries, fusses over something as simple as a few bruises, so. . .]
[he'd like to pay her back. somehow, some way]
I'm sure
So long as you are.
[it all really depends on if she trusts him to try]
...I... So long as I can power off my arm, I... I think it might be okay?
[The gears are turning in her mind, trying to think over what little she knows and how much of a risk it would be if he did something wrong... not to her, but to him. She's a high-voltage machine, after all...
...
Slowly, her hand raises to tighten against her chest, as though a feeling sits under her fingers that she can't quite reach, can't quite understand. A breathy gratitude that takes over her tone.]
[it isn't himself he worries about, possibly because he isn't fully aware of the risks to his person. it's her, of course. what if he did something wrong? what if he ruined her arm forever? what if he--]
[. . .]
[but. . . if she's willing to take the risk, then. . . he's just happy she trusts him enough to try]
Ah-- I am?
[he seems genuinely surprised to hear that]
I guess. . . nobody here really trusts themselves to tinker around with electronics.
[which is fair, he thinks. Luna is a complicated machine (but still a person, deep down on the inside) and it's likely nobody feels confident enough to try without fucking up royally]
It's, um... been a mix, to be perfectly honest. Either those that ask don't know I'm a machine, or they, um... defer to myself in the hopes that I can instruct them on what to do. Many have either given up temporarily or gone to the staff to see if they are able to assist, but... unfortunately, all they can provide is materials, not the actual repair.
I don't blame them, though. Maybe I'm overthinking a little, but I feel that most around here still don't really know what to do with me, once they know the truth.
[She pauses for a moment, considering something.]
I'm not sure if 45 is in a similar situation or not in regards to self-diagnosis and repair capabilities, but... we're very, very different pieces of machinery. So I deferred on the side of caution.
[. . . ah. well, Akira doesn't know much about 45, so. . . he also can't blame Luna for being cautious. nevertheless? he frowns, lifts his chin up, shoulders squared with a small hint of determination]
I'd rather try and fail then not try at all. So.
[his lips quirk upwards, a confident smile meant to soothe any worries she might have]
[It definitely soothes her worries, but now she has no idea how to respond to that???? The confident flare, the reassuring smile...
There's a blossom of bright pink once more on her mask as she turns her eyes right back to the ground, stuttering for a moment and unable to look at him without feeling like some part of her might just instantly stop working, like the smile on her face might be out of place at what he had just said.
Her hand presses to her mouth for a moment.]
Y-you... you don't need to say it like that, really. I...
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No. Nic is stable for now, so I just came back to get a couple of things.
What did you need?
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Some peace and quiet.
[is what he responds with instead, and to him, those two things are almost identical]
Is it too late to take a walk?
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N-no, not at all. Though... um...
Do you mind if I take a minute to change, if that's the case? I... I haven't really had a moment to myself for a while, and... um...
[Just. Shamefully looks down at what she's wearing, yet another dress lost to the medical war. Walking around with a hazmat risk is not Great.]
I hope Plum isn't upset that this keeps happening...
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[he seems a bit sheepish, but like. yeah, she should change. with one hand lifted to scratch at his cheek, Akira nods]
Yeah, go ahead. I'll wait until you're done.
[though in his opinion, she looks lovely even when covered with blood]
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[It will take her a hot second to slip into the room and change with her uno hand but it's fine! She'll step back out with something simple, her hair untied and still a little wild with how the waves sit around her shoulders.]
T-thank you. Um... is there anywhere in particular you'd like to go? I know it's a little late, but...
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My answer to that is always going to be the garden. I guess I'm predictable.
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I don't think I'd ever say no, even if that wasn't the case.
[Ah. She... wants to reach out for his hand, but he still has the crutch, and they're going to have to climb stairs. So she refrains, her hand instead habitually fussing with her necklace for a moment.]
You must be exhausted after today.
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[his response. . . is wry]
Yeah. That's an understatement.
But somehow, I don't feel like I'm going to be able to sleep anytime soon.
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[aaand her eyes drift straight to that discoloration. Her brows furrow, carefully taking another step forward and reaching up to gently touch his face because UHHHH
Her voice stays calm, even if her eyes betray her fussing.]
What happened...? Someone didn't... hit you, did they...?
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. . . Akechi and I got into another fight.
[BECAUSE. OF COURSE. THEY DID]
It's fine. It'll heal. [. . .] I don't really want to think about it right now.
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Her eyes narrow a bit as she lets out a frustrated breath through the nose. GUESS WHO'S LOOKING VERY CROSSLY AT YOU AKIRA. Not in a bad way, just... Akechi.......... sure is a topic........
But after a moment, the mothering tension to her expression settles, instead reaching up to brush the bangs away from his mask and take a better look at his forehead. Her voice stays quiet.]
...He didn't do anything else to you, did he?
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[. . .]
[he tilts his head a little into her fingertips, though]
Nah. Just punched and then headbutted me. As he does.
[W. WRY]
It's not the first time we've fought. Probably won't be the last.
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Satisfied with what she sees there, she'll take a moment to stroke his bangs back into place. Does his jaw look any better, worse?]
...I wish there was more we could do for him without him pushing people away.
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Nobody really knows him. Not even me.
[and he means that truthfully, his gaze growing a bit distant as he says it. but Luna's fingers are warm and soft on his forehead, smoothing away his curly and tousled bangs as they are, and. . .]
[he really doesn't want to think about Akechi right now. he really doesn't]
[so as they reach the stairwell, he reaches up to take her hand in his own, to gently move it away from his forehead and down between him, his fingers tight around hers]
But anyway-- [time to change the subject!!] Help me down the stairs? I'm getting pretty good at it, but it's still a bit clunky.
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Of course. I'll do what I can. [It's a little harder, now that she's down to one hand. But she'll still carefully move to the railing side of the stairs, a repeat of the previous week in how she advances just enough to reach out if needed, to catch him if he stumbles. This means she will have to let go of his hand for a moment, but she wants him to have the wall to balance.]
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Is there any way for us to fix your arm?
[because it has to be hard carrying it around with the complete inability to use it, right?]
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I can tell my arm is still there, at least, so it's not beyond saving, but... from the errors I still see, I would probably need some circuitry repairs, cable replacements, and a reintegration of the ABT I've lost.
[A beat. She makes a nervous flutter of a sound off her exhale, almost a laugh, catching a strand of her hair between her thumb and forefinger and twisting it gently.]
S-sorry. I suppose some of that might not have made sense.
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Actually, I understood some of it. I managed to fix my laptop back home with nothing but Google and a few tools I bought in a secondhand shop, so. . .
[. . . gestures!! a little!!]
I-- could try?
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She looks a little taken aback at the request. She's had several people wish condolences, say they wish they could help, but...
...]
I... I could see if there's something in the library for Hephaestus system repair, just to make sure... I wouldn't want you getting hurt, b-but...
Are you sure?
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[he'd like to pay her back. somehow, some way]
I'm sure
So long as you are.
[it all really depends on if she trusts him to try]
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[The gears are turning in her mind, trying to think over what little she knows and how much of a risk it would be if he did something wrong... not to her, but to him. She's a high-voltage machine, after all...
...
Slowly, her hand raises to tighten against her chest, as though a feeling sits under her fingers that she can't quite reach, can't quite understand. A breathy gratitude that takes over her tone.]
Thank you.
You're... you're the only one who has offered...
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[. . .]
[but. . . if she's willing to take the risk, then. . . he's just happy she trusts him enough to try]
Ah-- I am?
[he seems genuinely surprised to hear that]
I guess. . . nobody here really trusts themselves to tinker around with electronics.
[which is fair, he thinks. Luna is a complicated machine (but still a person, deep down on the inside) and it's likely nobody feels confident enough to try without fucking up royally]
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I don't blame them, though. Maybe I'm overthinking a little, but I feel that most around here still don't really know what to do with me, once they know the truth.
[She pauses for a moment, considering something.]
I'm not sure if 45 is in a similar situation or not in regards to self-diagnosis and repair capabilities, but... we're very, very different pieces of machinery. So I deferred on the side of caution.
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I'd rather try and fail then not try at all. So.
[his lips quirk upwards, a confident smile meant to soothe any worries she might have]
I'll do my best, Luna. For you.
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[It definitely soothes her worries, but now she has no idea how to respond to that???? The confident flare, the reassuring smile...
There's a blossom of bright pink once more on her mask as she turns her eyes right back to the ground, stuttering for a moment and unable to look at him without feeling like some part of her might just instantly stop working, like the smile on her face might be out of place at what he had just said.
Her hand presses to her mouth for a moment.]
Y-you... you don't need to say it like that, really. I...
I trust you.
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I had to RETYPE THIS ALL ON MY PHONE....
TERRIBLE. . .
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