idk pretend there's a title here

[beguiledcard]

Who: Akira, Shido, and whoever else! It's open!
What: recovery from the fissure, beating up Shido, Dogkira
When: ICly, April 20 - 27; OOCly, May 2 - 9 (so, it's mostly backdated!)
Where: roof, kitchen, beach, etc!
Warnings: Shido


a) for AW YEAH C O F F E E . . .

[ The last thing he remembers is looking at the day on the makeshift calendar he's made. That's why April 20th feels like any other Friday to him - the kind of Friday that leaves him lightly jolting awake, his heart pounding. And, it's not until after several seconds pass of total silence, he releases a laugh... It amounts to nothing more than a puff of air laced with some bitterness. How much longer before he finally stops doing that?

Well, he's not getting back to sleep anytime soon... even if he does feel like he hasn't slept nearly enough.

It's after he's managed to navigate his shared bedroom like it's a Palace - as stealthily as possible, for the sake of not disturbing Goro and Kurama, he makes his way down to the kitchen. Ehhhh... a full meal isn't going to happen just yet, but that doesn't mean he can't enjoy some snacks, right? And some coffee... Lots... and lots of coffee.

No, seriously, somebody might catch him while he's on his third cup (and still looking pretty damn exhausted. Alternatively, maybe they're catching him while his face is pressed against the countertop.

He's fine... Just tired.

Akira will spend the next several days primarily on the rooftop (where he'll be reading or writing), except when he's hanging out in the kitchen (where he'll just be sitting at... or on the counter, because he's a heathen like that).

Around the 24th, he can be seen doing all of the above plus playing some video games. Those goshdarn millennials and their fancy TV games. ]



b) for BACK TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING?

[ And it's starting around the 25th, that he can be seen looking even more lively than he did by the 24th.

He can be seen spending more time outside... and snacking more often? When was the last time he ate a proper meal, though... Well, whatever, he's eating, and that's all that matters! At least they're healthy snacks? ... Listen, Morgana...

... Chips come from potatoes.

If someone wants to lecture him, he can be found in the library and on the beach the most. ]



c) for CLOSED TO THAT ONE ASSHOLE NAMED SHIDO

[ It's on some random day, just after the whole Network Stuff Happened, he's out on the beach, intending to do some training. He's... cooled off a lot, but that doesn't take away from the restlessness. He'd meant it about the hand-to-hand sparring stuff, but Robin was right about Wound Up being an understatement. Maybe people should cool off before going at each other.

... Not to mention, maybe he could just use some time to clear his head out here, mostly alone.

Which... heh. Guess he wasn't the only one thinking this. They say speak of the devil, and he will come, but what does it say about a devil who's there without being spoken of?

Sigh... okay. He'd meant what he'd said to Prompto - he needs to just... find a way to work through his own feelings, after all, if he wants to help Goro work through his. So, with a deep breath, he walks right over to the older man. His tone is deadpan. ]

Didn't expect you to be the type to enjoy long walks on the beach.



d) for DOGGO STUFF

[ SOME TIME AFTER THE PALACE HEIST THING...

Akira's been feeling a bit weird since even before heading into the Palace. Granted, it was kind of clear something happened to him as a result of helping stabilize the Fissure...

Well, in any case, it's made clear the morning after Chapter: Izunia Palace is officially closed. He's tried running, tried multiple forms of exercise to just... get rid of that feeling! And, it's as he's out on the roof, he's reading in an attempt to just... ignore that weird feeling that nothing else seems to be helping with.

Eventually, it does help? In fact, he dozes off...

And that's what leads to an opportunity for people to wander up to the roof and find a dog curled up right where Akira was sitting. All of his things are still there... Hm. ]

Comments

closed to uh.... j..joker....

[makejapangreat]

[Whoever knew a mere child's voice could make a grown man tense?

Because tense Shido does at Akira's voice. He doesn't know the boy well enough to be certain that the post on the network is enough to curb his violence. He doesn't know that those two bursts of anger weren't the norm but outliers. The only comfort he really has is that someone might be watching or able to see up on the rooftop.

He glances at the station. There's no one on the rooftop. Welp, guess he's a dead man.]

Come to taunt me some more?

[He remembers the words yelled at him over the devices. Hah. Defend himself... and why should he, when he nearly had this boy killed? Any hurt, any injury, anything that happens— he deserves it completely.]

i'd say "poor shido" but... y'know...

[beguiledcard]

[ That question earns the quirk of one brow. There's a faint smirk before he says in an overly-pleasant tone: ]

Contrary to belief, I don't think you're worth the trouble of beating a dead horse.

[ But it's... drained-sounding. On top of everything, dealing with Touma had been... well? Needless to say, Akira doesn't have much of that fiery anger left, more than he simply has the lingering bitterness and remnants of hate. Maybe even... some pity? After all this guy is pathetic, compared to what he once was.

Or maybe he always was this pathetic, and just hid it behind masks. Either way, Akira's releasing a heavy exhale, one hand firmly pressing to the back of his neck.. ]

... As shocking as it might seem, I walked over to ask how you're doing.

[makejapangreat]

[He does notice the lack of energy immediately. It's a rather stark contrast to the conversation they had over the devices, when he was so full of energy he could've easily kept ranting at Shido for hours, had there not been an... intervention of some sort, he presumes.

And yes, that is rather shocking. He isn't sure where this is coming from (he's certain it's not coming from any genuine concern), but...]

I'll manage.

[He's still tense. Still expecting something, but he makes no move to retreat.]

You sound exhausted.

[There's a note of apology in that observation. He knows at least a portion of that exhaustion is coming from having finally expressed all that bitterness and anger he had at Shido.]

[beguiledcard]

[ Since Shido is noticing all the other details, maybe he'll notice the way Akira's expression flickers at those last three words. Maybe he'll see the way that his body tenses ever-so-slightly.

After a brief moment, the ghost of a smirk appears, only to vanish almost instantaneously. ]

And you? [ he tilts his head to the side a bit, twisting a strand of his bangs before continuing ] You just said you'll manage. Meaning you'll get by... but not without struggling.

[ He lowers his hand completely back down to the side. ]

It's exhausting, living that way... maybe feeling like the entire world is against you. [ holding a blink for a couple of seconds, then giving something of a wry smirk ] And carrying a ton of guilt on top of it all? I don't know what that could feel like.

[ That sure is a lie with that last part. He's loosely folding his arms over his chest, and then giving the smallest shrug. ]

But why do you even care how I feel?

B

[meowna]

That still doesn't make them healthy! And even if they were, humans can't live on only potatoes!

[Help him out here, Akechi. And Kurama, if you can hear them from the kitchen. Or anyone else who might be in the area?]

[foolishjustice]

[Looking over from where he's rummaging through the cabinets...]

Honestly, Akira...if you keep this up, I might have to use that wish you owe me on making you taste test my cooking attempts until you start eating properly on your own.

[byanyother_name]

[Kurama is a Good Boyfriend so he's not going to comment on Goro's threatsuggestion. What he is going to do is shake his head and pull out different ingredients than he was originally going for.

Including some of the nastier peppers which will only be going into Akira's share.]

I'm afraid it's three against one at the moment, treasure. You may be best served by surrendering gracefully this time.

24th

[notjustahacker]

[ He's not going to be out there long playing games before Futaba shows up, hands in the pockets of her coat. Her gaze soon trailing from the screen to him after a moment. ]

You were playing video games and didn't even tell me? Talk about a betrayal.

[ A tone of something teasing was in her voice, along with a smile on her face. ]

So. Mind if I join in too?

[beguiledcard]

[ He'd given her a wave as soon as he notices her. Her words earn a twitch of his lips as he hits pause to look up at her. ]

Busted... [ it's so clearly in an over-dramatic tone ] Here I thought I could get some much-needed training in before challenging such an elite gamer.

[ But now his expression is softening into something fond as he nods, scooting over to make it so they can both sit directly in front of the screen. ]

Want me to restart, so it can be two players? I'm not married to this level, yet, since I just started.

[notjustahacker]

Nope. No chance of that happening.

[ Her smile immediately grew into something of a playful grin at that.

Once he moves to make room for her, Futaba takes absolutely no time in sitting down next to him in her usual way and nodded her head. Just being here like this with Akira was nice, and was much less stressful than the things that had been going on back home. ]

Of course. You needed to actually ask? Thought you knew me better than that by now.

b

[burninglight]

[Ardyn spent some time on the beach himself; a distance away and isolated, the reasoning for which was probably clear if Akira paused long enough to watch what he was doing. At first he seemed to be practicing with a massive thin-bladed greatsword, obviously made to be held in two hands but wielded in one with no obvious difficulty.]

[Then it disappeared in a flash of white crystal shards, Ardyn looking to his hands in what might have been uncertainty before holding them out for a massive scythe to appear in his grip. He seemed to stagger a little under the weight before managing to balance it out, and instead of being given a practice swing the blade vanished just like the one before it.]

[He may have still been stronger than he looked, but human bodies were so inconvenient sometimes. Ardyn sighed and raked a hand through his hair, looking up and-]

...Akira? S-sorry, I-...how long were you standing there?

[beguiledcard]

[ And that sure was a sight, to say the least...

For a moment, he stands in place, quietly watching the weapons get switched out. And, frankly, switching out his Personas is one thing - it's different in how they're switched out for an array of unseen powers, until the spells are cast and the abilities are used. In this case, Ardyn's switching out between solid weapons; they're literally... poofing right into his hands.

And maybe seeing coffee, and even... chairs and a table appearing in thin air is different, in how they're not deadly weapons?? ]

Not too long. [ walking the rest of the way over now! ] Why are you apologizing? Shouldn't that be my line, since I didn't let you know I was hanging around, watching?

[burninglight]

No, I...don't really mind anyone watching.

[He waved a hand dismissively, giving an awkward smile.]

It's just that I've known people to get a bit nervous when they see what I can do. It's a lot of power to just be casually throwing about, to some.

a is for amber doesn't have a joke that works for this technical continuation

[matchmakes]

[Well, up to the roof he goes. With everything going on, Robin's already been pretty worried, so it doesn't take him long to gather everything and go, with Serra on his heels.

There's a stop by the kitchen first, so he can reheat some pizza--some for Akira and some for himself. But then after that, straight up to the roof.]

... Hey.

it's for april showers bring pain flowers bc idk somethingsomething kurama and murdergame and plants

[beguiledcard]

[ He's writing somewhat... vigorously in the journal, eyes narrowed and focused, up until he hears that voice. While he doesn't outright jolt, it might be clear he's just a little startled. ]

Ah... [ giving a soft hint of sheepishness as he closes that diary right on up ] Hey, Robin.

[ With a small smile he shifts in his seat to properly face him and nod. ]

How are you?

works for me

[matchmakes]

Tired, annoyed.

[For obvious enough reasons, given the past handful of days. He moves to sit down near Akira, then offers one of the plates of pizza.

Serra is quick to jump into Robin's lap, the small creature leaning over to sniff curiously at Akira.]

Feeling any better?

24

[letsplayer]

...whatcha playin'.

[ She blinks for a moment, then studies the screen a bit. She hasn't actually played a proper video game in ages. ]

[beguiledcard]

[ Glancing up, he blinks softly. There's a small shrug as he gives an almost exasperated smile. ]

Honestly, not the most exciting game for a single player. Smash Kart 2.0 is definitely meant for a group.

[ Akira's shrugging. ]

The graphics are pretty nice, and you can make your friends wreck... or just give them a very bad time.

[letsplayer]

...can I give you a bad time, please.

[ Good god, she's got a little shit grin over here. ]

d o g g o

[shiritai]

... this seems like a very ill-advised place to sleep.

[ Yes, that's how Violet is going to announce herself. It's not entirely clear if she thinks the dog is actually going to respond, but that's just how we do here, apparently. ]

IT'S OKAY FRIEND

[beguiledcard]

[ Well, the dog does respond. Its ears lift before it even properly stirs. Then, very slowly, it blinks awake and moves into a sitting position. It looks to Violet... and then down at itself.

A soft whine-like sound, followed by a soft "woof" (that possibly sounds.. confused?) slips out and it jumps up and to the floor, moving in a quick circle. Its ears are very much lifted as it looks up at Violet, head tilting to the side.

What the hell is going on?????

He only dreamed about being a dog!!

... Is this part of the dream???? ]

[shiritai]

... Good boy?

[ This is how you talk to dogs, right. ]

Is there a problem?

rolls in ultra late with b

[thoroff]

[It's in the library, of course, that Wren finds Akira.

...She doesn't say anything, but she does give him a faintly questioning look.]

responds super late..............

[beguiledcard]

[ Hello, Wren~

He finds her as he's with a pile of books in his hands! After settling in at a table, he gives her a small smile and wave. ]

Hey.

[ It's a whisper, of course. The questioning look has him glancing sheepishly at the pile. Ah... ]

I'm... trying to learn more about baking for one of my boyfriends. I'm hoping, with enough tips, I'll get better at it. Annnd I'm also trying to learn more about plants. [ a very fond smile ] For the other boyfriend.

[thoroff]

Aha... That's sweet.

[She raises a hand to her mouth, covering it, but her own smile is still obvious enough. In her eyes, though, there's something else. Something like... jealousy? Longing, perhaps?

Either way, it barely lasts a second before her expression shifts, her voice taking on a rueful tone.]

Well, if you manage to gain any insight into the former, do feel free to share.

[Suffice to say she's well aware of her own deficiencies in that area.]