[and by delicious I mean. . . it's filled with the scent of hot, simmering curry spice! and that's because someone has decided to calm himself down by making himself some afternoon comfort curry, the coffee isn't a surprise; he's been downing that all week, thanks to the no-sleep motive effects. but curry? this is the first time he's made it since coming to his mansion. he hopes Peach's supply of spices will suffice]
[and that's where Luna will find Akira, should she be searching for him! standing over the kitchen stove, stirring a stainless steel pot full of curry. a bit absentmindedly, but hey. can she blame him?]
[She's been absent since the failed execution, mostly to give those close to Hunter some space. But once she's had the space to recollect herself, she pulls her hair back up in its original braided state, finally taking the time to change.
She has a few people she needs to find... and Akira is one of them. She can't detect the smells, unfortunately, but she knows the feeling of a hot kitchen, enough to give her pause through the dining room. A detour, then.
...
Her voice stays soft as she approaches, not wanting to distract him.]
[her voice is enough to startle him out of his thoughts, though gentle enough not to make him jump. with a thoughtful noise he looks up from the pot, immediately straightening when he sees it's her]
Oh, Luna--
[right. . . he hadn't had the chance to speak with her since that incident with Akechi, had he? or the incident on Friday morning. and she had looked pretty rough at the trial, too]
[quickly, he taps his spoon against the side of the pot, before puling away to approach her, gaze flickering across her form]
... I'm as okay as I can be, I think. Very, very relieved. Though... I, um... I suppose I have far more questions than I should.
[There's a pause, as though she's hesitant to add to her statement. But she shakes her head, instead letting her eyes look at the huge pot of whatever the world that is on the stove, then back to him, her brows slightly furrowed.]
...Is everything okay? I might have gotten the wrong idea, but... that the situation with Hunter was really hard for you, wasn't it?
[. . . ah. she isn't the first person to point this out to him. was it that obvious? was it that obvious how difficult it was for him to vote for and potentially condemn a close friend-- someone he has relied upon since day one-- to death?]
It-- [a breath, and he pulls up a lopsided, tired smile] -- I did what needed to be done.
[Her smile is apologetic as she shakes her head, moving to pull the chair over to better watch what he is doing.]
I'm battery operated, so... it's not necessary, I'm afraid. I wouldn't really be able to taste or consume it, regardless.
... I like the way a busy kitchen gets so... warm, though. Like a cloud of sunlight blossoming in a room. I like to imagine that the smells and tastes are like that warm feeling. That it's something comforting.
[she might not be able to smell the food or taste the curry, but her description of the kitchen resonates with Akira anyway. he finds himself smiling, albeit softly, as he returns to his pot of curry. some part of him suddenly feels extremely homesick]
The curry I'm making. . . it's a family recipe.
[ah. . .?]
The man I lived with-- my guardian-- he taught it to me. It was something he cooked because it was his daughter's favorite recipe. Her mother was the one who created it.
[a breath]
Every time I smell it, or taste it, or make it myself, it reminds me of home.
[being the first to discover that Akira was living in a cafe attic with a guardian also meant that Luna was the first in the mansion to ask Akira about his parents. it takes him off guard, evident by the way that he pauses in stirring his curry. evident in the way his expression falls, a barely notable downward tilt of his lips]
[. . .]
[his tone is even. nonchalant, almost. like it's not a big deal]
They're alive.
[that's not saying much, though]
They sent me to live with Sojiro for a year. I haven't heard from them since I moved to Tokyo, but--
Whatever she thought he might say, that... wasn't exactly what she was picturing? This is the first time she's really seen his demeanour fall outside the topic of a death, oddly vulnerable and walled off at the same time.
...
She knows it's not a wise idea to press too hard. Not with that shift in his mood. But... wouldn't it be better than leaving something unspoken?]
...
Can I ask what happened?
It... sounds like you almost didn't have a choice. Why?
[it's not exactly something he's eager to talk about, but he isn't actively trying to hide it, either. well. . . at least, not from her. not from someone who has already shared so much about her own past with him]
[it's his turn, isn't it?]
That's because I didn't. A court of law made the choice for me.
[his back is still towards her as he speaks, gaze focused on the curry]
I was sent to live with Sojiro as part of my probation for my aggravated assault conviction.
[stares at this curry forever?? what if he never looks up???]
[also his profile says professional thief, plz]
I tried to stop a drunk man from harassing a woman on the streets at night. I touched his shoulder. . . he fell and injured himself.
He turned out to be a powerful politician, and he threatened the woman to lie to the police about what had happened. She said I had attacked him for no reason, and I was arrested on the spot.
After that. . . he used his connections to have me convicted of assault.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
w2, sunday post-execution
[and by delicious I mean. . . it's filled with the scent of hot, simmering curry spice! and that's because someone has decided to calm himself down by making himself some afternoon comfort curry, the coffee isn't a surprise; he's been downing that all week, thanks to the no-sleep motive effects. but curry? this is the first time he's made it since coming to his mansion. he hopes Peach's supply of spices will suffice]
[and that's where Luna will find Akira, should she be searching for him! standing over the kitchen stove, stirring a stainless steel pot full of curry. a bit absentmindedly, but hey. can she blame him?]
no subject
She has a few people she needs to find... and Akira is one of them. She can't detect the smells, unfortunately, but she knows the feeling of a hot kitchen, enough to give her pause through the dining room. A detour, then.
...
Her voice stays soft as she approaches, not wanting to distract him.]
...There you are, Akira.
I hope I'm not interrupting.
no subject
Oh, Luna--
[right. . . he hadn't had the chance to speak with her since that incident with Akechi, had he? or the incident on Friday morning. and she had looked pretty rough at the trial, too]
[quickly, he taps his spoon against the side of the pot, before puling away to approach her, gaze flickering across her form]
. . . how are you doing?
no subject
[There's a pause, as though she's hesitant to add to her statement. But she shakes her head, instead letting her eyes look at the huge pot of whatever the world that is on the stove, then back to him, her brows slightly furrowed.]
...Is everything okay? I might have gotten the wrong idea, but... that the situation with Hunter was really hard for you, wasn't it?
no subject
It-- [a breath, and he pulls up a lopsided, tired smile] -- I did what needed to be done.
. . . what Hunter would've wanted me to do.
[note: not an answer to that question]
no subject
Her eyes soften, though her look of concern does not. A hand lifts to delicately rest against his arm, very aware of just how exhausted he looks.]
You're a very lucky person to have as a friend. I... I hope you know that.
...
I can leave you be, if you'd like. But... I'd be lying if I wasn't worried for you.
no subject
[at that, Akira immediately shakes his head, sheepishly gesturing to a chair]
No. I'd appreciate the company, actually.
[a pause]
I'd offer you some curry too, but--
[r-robots don't eat?? probably???]
no subject
I'm battery operated, so... it's not necessary, I'm afraid. I wouldn't really be able to taste or consume it, regardless.
... I like the way a busy kitchen gets so... warm, though. Like a cloud of sunlight blossoming in a room. I like to imagine that the smells and tastes are like that warm feeling. That it's something comforting.
no subject
The curry I'm making. . . it's a family recipe.
[ah. . .?]
The man I lived with-- my guardian-- he taught it to me. It was something he cooked because it was his daughter's favorite recipe. Her mother was the one who created it.
[a breath]
Every time I smell it, or taste it, or make it myself, it reminds me of home.
[so. . . yeah. she's right. it is comforting]
no subject
[Her hand instinctively moves to her collarbone, as though to touch something resting around her neck. But there's nothing there, as usual. Only skin.
...]
What was your guardian's name?
no subject
[her question draws another smile from him]
Sakura Sojio. He ran a coffee and curry cafe. I lived in the attic.
[A PAUSE]
That sounds way more awful than it actually is. I like my attic bedroom; it's cozy.
no subject
[yes this is her first thought]
no subject
Bingo.
[SHE GOT IT. and she's the first one to make the connection!!]
no subject
maybe don't tell her.]
Is... there a reason you're with Mr. Sakura right now? What about your parents?
no subject
[. . .]
[his tone is even. nonchalant, almost. like it's not a big deal]
They're alive.
[that's not saying much, though]
They sent me to live with Sojiro for a year. I haven't heard from them since I moved to Tokyo, but--
[shrugs]
They're around.
no subject
Whatever she thought he might say, that... wasn't exactly what she was picturing? This is the first time she's really seen his demeanour fall outside the topic of a death, oddly vulnerable and walled off at the same time.
...
She knows it's not a wise idea to press too hard. Not with that shift in his mood. But... wouldn't it be better than leaving something unspoken?]
...
Can I ask what happened?
It... sounds like you almost didn't have a choice. Why?
no subject
[it's his turn, isn't it?]
That's because I didn't. A court of law made the choice for me.
[his back is still towards her as he speaks, gaze focused on the curry]
I was sent to live with Sojiro as part of my probation for my aggravated assault conviction.
no subject
You're... considered a criminal, then? [A simple question, quiet if not a little confused. Akira, a criminal? Que??] What happened?
no subject
[stares at this curry forever?? what if he never looks up???]
[also his profile says professional thief, plz]
I tried to stop a drunk man from harassing a woman on the streets at night. I touched his shoulder. . . he fell and injured himself.
He turned out to be a powerful politician, and he threatened the woman to lie to the police about what had happened. She said I had attacked him for no reason, and I was arrested on the spot.
After that. . . he used his connections to have me convicted of assault.
I didn't stand a chance.
[that last part is said very, very quietly]