the night is short

[hairpincurves]

Who: Akira and you! Plus a closed prompt for Goro.
What: Fissure preparations
When: The week leading up to the trip out to Bellmare
Where: Around the Station, also Incendia
Warnings: Can't think of anything, but I'll change this if something comes up

Closed to Goro
[Well, the trip's been a long time coming, and Akira figures if nothing else, it might as well be best to get this done now. There's a lot that needs to be done in the coming week...]

Hey, do you want to get that Incendia trip done today? Might be cutting things a little close with the upcoming expedition, but...

Open
[As for the rest of the week, when she's not doing her usual training, Akira can be found bustling around the station.

... You'd think after helping with the Halloween party, she'd be sick of doing things in the kitchen, but that's clearly not the case, as she can be found cooking up... far too much food for just herself (even taking Wildcard portions into account...).

Or, some might catch her sewing--though, it's not the usual stuffed animals she busies herself with. That... sure is a growing pile of scarves next to her... though there's one that's folded and sitting apart from the rest. That one might be going into someone in particular.

And then it's entirely possible that occasionally, she's down at the stable, taking care of a black pegasus there.]

Sorry, Est, I think you're gonna have to sit this one out...

Comments

[hairpincurves]

... Ah... Okay, I see where it's coming from, then. And I bet that's a hard mindset to shake, especially after so long.

CW: discussion of abusive relationships and the normalization thereof

[foolishjustice]

And it didn't exactly help that when I started dealing with powerful men on a regular basis...it's disgustingly common for them to have open affairs, without even considering the feelings of the women involved. Most of the supposedly intimate relationships I knew of were simply...people in power exploiting those who were willing to tolerate anything to stay attached to that power, or even felt they had no room to set boundaries because they might not be able to find anyone else. And they treated this like it was normal, just...how men are.

And even now that I realize I'm also a girl...I'm still a boy, too. I can still see myself being judged on those assumptions of how men see people we're attracted to.

[hairpincurves]

It's shitty no matter how you look at it.

[She closes her eyes.]

I know this isn't... directly about that part of the problem, because I don't really know what I could say to help there, but... I think this is an important thing to consider. I've never met anyone quite so mindful of boundaries as you--I mean... look at us. We're not dating, despite our mutual attraction, we've both admitted it, and you haven't done a single thing that's made me uncomfortable in regards to that.

I... really can't talk when it comes to worrying about people judging, but... I can at least say anyone who'd judge you based on those assumptions is a damned idiot.

[foolishjustice]

I don't ever want to make people feel like their wants don't matter...especially after the way my fans have treated me.

[She offers a faint smile in Akira's direction.]

But actually, that...the way we have a mutually acknowledged attraction that hasn't made things awkward with us not dating has actually helped a little already. You're the only person I even could have asked about this, for multiple reasons. And I'd probably be more embarrassed about wearing revealing clothes if not for how casual a bit of showing off between us has become.

[hairpincurves]

Ah...

[She smiles faintly, a blush starting to creep up.]

Well, I'm glad I could help with that...

[foolishjustice]

[That blush gets her smile to spread a little.]

It's been nice. I never had anyone back home I could relax like this with, except for the few days I was there between the mall and here...and even then, it's a very different tone between someone I'm dating, and a friend I have a comfortable mutual attraction with.

[hairpincurves]

It's incredibly different. You're the first person I'd ever felt I could really relax with... Like, really, really relax...

[Sure, there's the other Thieves, but... Goro has definitely seen more of her true colors by this point than, say, Ryuu.]

[foolishjustice]

[She'll just be wrapping an arm around Akira now.]

You know, I...used to not understand why anyone would actively want a non-romantic friend they were physically comfortable with. But it's relaxing, in a way, having someone to cuddle with and...appreciate, without it feeling like I'm asking anything major of them.

[She chuckles quietly.]

I almost feel like I should be thanking you for turning me down, I think this sort of perspective is something I needed.

[hairpincurves]

It really is nice.

[She leans against Goro, sighing happily.]

I think... a friendship like this is something we both needed.

[foolishjustice]

Mm...and maybe actually talking about it, too. I'm feeling a bit better, now.

[hairpincurves]

Ah... good. I'm glad to hear it.

[...]

Can we stay like this for a bit longer?

[foolishjustice]

We're not exactly in a hurry. I don't mind sitting here for a while.

[hairpincurves]

Okay, good.

[She doesn't feel like getting up.]

[foolishjustice]

[But if that's going to be the case, don't mind if she uses the top of your head as a pillow. It's the price for using her shoulder as a backrest.

...After a while, she also starts absently combing her fingers through Akira's hair.]

[hairpincurves]

[She lets out a content sigh before shifting so she can wrap her arms around Goro, because that's easier than just leaning against her like before.]

[foolishjustice]

You know, I don't mind you sitting in my lap, if that'd be more comfortable for you.

[hairpincurves]

... That might be a bit more convenient than this, yeah.

[foolishjustice]

And probably better than sitting on a hard bench, too.

[So she'll lift her head up so Akira can move more freely.]

[hairpincurves]

[And Akira is wasting no time moving to sit on Goro's lap instead.]

Yep, much better~

[foolishjustice]

[And she's immediately getting hugged.]

For me, too~

[hairpincurves]

[She chuckles and makes herself comfortable, hugging back.]

[foolishjustice]

[She goes back to toying with Akira's hair at first...but after a while, her hand starts to slow, as her eyes drift closed and her head droops...]

[hairpincurves]

Ah... [Poke poke.] Hey, Goro, if you're gonna nap... we should probably find a better place for that.

[foolishjustice]

Mn?

[She blinks, suppressing a yawn as she rubs one eye.]

Ah...sorry. I was just so comfortable, I started dozing off...

[hairpincurves]

After the last few minutes, I can see why. C'mon, let's go find a display mattress or something.