[it's sometime in the evening after the icebreaker party finally draws to a close that a certain Low-Preservation Ghostly Tree-kun finds himself meandering through the temple. he's familiarized himself with the only solid structure in these woods as much as he could, but hey! another look around could never hurt]
[a flash of pink catches his eye as he brushes past an arched entrance to one of the many temple rooms. once it registers, he pauses in his steps, before he backpedals to peer into said room, which is occupied by a lovely looking fruit tree and a somber looking idol]
[huh]
Kugayama-san?
[. . .]
Itching for an evening snack?
[a flash of pink catches his eye as he brushes past an arched entrance to one of the many temple rooms. once it registers, he pauses in his steps, before he backpedals to peer into said room, which is occupied by a lovely looking fruit tree and a somber looking idol]
[huh]
Kugayama-san?
[. . .]
Itching for an evening snack?
[normally, Akira wouldn't be anywhere near royal territory, so it's kind of an anomaly for him to be skulking about the palace gates today. but then again, he's spent like, nearly two weeks hanging out in Syndicate territory and picking pockets in the Grand Market. he figures if he wants to learn more about the city, he should proooobably try and eavesdrop for information on the other side of things, too]
[and that's why he's here, hanging around Rion's special flying spot (not that he's privy to this information). it's taken him some time, but he's finally bought some proper attire for the desert (a loose-fitting hooded cloak pulled over a t-shirt and some cargo pants because DID YOU KNOW when you go hiking in the desert this is the recommended attire??), so he at least doesn't stick out like a sore thumb among the natives. for once!!]
[Iwai is perched on his shoulder, head poking out from underneath said hood, tongue flicking through the air as Akira people watches with his hands in his pockets and his back resting up against a building wall. he looks casual! and completely unassuming!]
[and he is totally not expecting to find any flying idols today]
[and that's why he's here, hanging around Rion's special flying spot (not that he's privy to this information). it's taken him some time, but he's finally bought some proper attire for the desert (a loose-fitting hooded cloak pulled over a t-shirt and some cargo pants because DID YOU KNOW when you go hiking in the desert this is the recommended attire??), so he at least doesn't stick out like a sore thumb among the natives. for once!!]
[Iwai is perched on his shoulder, head poking out from underneath said hood, tongue flicking through the air as Akira people watches with his hands in his pockets and his back resting up against a building wall. he looks casual! and completely unassuming!]
[and he is totally not expecting to find any flying idols today]
[They can't fight forever. As much as they want to save everyone, at some point they have to stop, take a break and regroup, with a breather.
It's important.
It's necessary.
And so Kou's showing up with one of those stupid melons, cut up, and offers Rion a slice as he slumps against the wall next to her.]
It's important.
It's necessary.
And so Kou's showing up with one of those stupid melons, cut up, and offers Rion a slice as he slumps against the wall next to her.]
Rion? Do you have any plans for the upcoming holidays?
[It seemed like a good idea at the time. Try to use new ingredients to figure out if they can make some more familiar foods. But it's one thing to taste test fruits and veggies they've never seen before and trying to make food out of that, and...another entire to be able to use them in recipes.
It.
It's...going...?
(But not well.)
Kou squints at Rion's pan.]
Uh, Rion--
[IT'S BUBBLING...]
It.
It's...going...?
(But not well.)
Kou squints at Rion's pan.]
Uh, Rion--
[IT'S BUBBLING...]
[ When it's another lovely day to be wandering out and about in robotville, perhaps it's no surprise 9S ends up running into a familiar face. Not literally, of course; it's only a couple of blocks away from their designated hostel when he spots Rion, and rather than simply pass her by— ]
—Oh, hey! Where you headed to?
—Oh, hey! Where you headed to?
[it's not like investigating the storm was particularly physically taxing, beyond Akira needing to use his athletic strength to maneuver his way around the ruined city. but even so, the end of their reconnaissance mission leaves him pretty wiped (the lack of proper food and water probably doesn't help), to the point of where he makes his way back to the station for rest]
[Rion will find him sitting on a dusty bench, back pressed against the wall, arms folded and shoulders slumped. his head is bowed, chin tucked against his chest, and his legs crossed. he looks. . . peaceful, with his eyes closed and his glasses sitting folded on the bench next to him]
[peaceful enough to pester! or to let nap? actually, is he napping, or is he still awake? good question. WHY DON'T YOU INVESTIGATE, RION]
[Rion will find him sitting on a dusty bench, back pressed against the wall, arms folded and shoulders slumped. his head is bowed, chin tucked against his chest, and his legs crossed. he looks. . . peaceful, with his eyes closed and his glasses sitting folded on the bench next to him]
[peaceful enough to pester! or to let nap? actually, is he napping, or is he still awake? good question. WHY DON'T YOU INVESTIGATE, RION]
[Eventually, he does go find her. They don't have a lot in the way of supplies right now, but he does dig into a lot of the snacks and food that they were given for the trip and manages to pry out some tea. Nice.
Boiling water takes awhile out here too, which is why it takes him this long to chase her down.
But when he does, it's to gently knock a cup of tea lightly against her shoulder.]
Hey.
Boiling water takes awhile out here too, which is why it takes him this long to chase her down.
But when he does, it's to gently knock a cup of tea lightly against her shoulder.]
Hey.
soon after the BGs lay out their plan for taking on the storm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
[like a good friend, he gives Rion a day or so of space to cool down. but with the danger of their newest mission lying ahead of them, there's no way he can't say something to her-- no matter how small that something may be-- before they're shipped off to conquer this force of nature]
[he finds her in the underground tunnels, which may be vast and cavernous but still aren't that great for flying. and yet, that's exactly what she's doing. he really shouldn't be surprised. and in a way, he isn't]
[he doesn't say anything when he first spots her, but he does stand nearby, easily within view, as he waits for her to descend back to the ground]
[he finds her in the underground tunnels, which may be vast and cavernous but still aren't that great for flying. and yet, that's exactly what she's doing. he really shouldn't be surprised. and in a way, he isn't]
[he doesn't say anything when he first spots her, but he does stand nearby, easily within view, as he waits for her to descend back to the ground]
[Now that all hell has broken loose and the hard part's been done, Ryuji can't find himself sitting still long enough to enjoy some respite. He's always had a lot of energy, and not being out there in the front lines had nearly killed him.
Okay, not exactly nearly killed him?
Those lightning bolts probably would've fried him alive. And he can outrun his feelings, but not shocks raining down from the sky like he was waving his arms wildly screaming at the world "COME GET ME, ASSHOLE" - which is exactly what would've essentially been the scene had he followed into the more dangerous assembly of tasks to be taken.
So Rion might be around, might be coming back, but he's helping reboot these shitty windows XP pre-service pack 1 dropouts, when he spots her. Oh, man, he knows some stuff. How's he going to treat her?
He lifts a lifeless android up by the waist and proceeds to wave at her using the sleeping thing's hand.]
'Ey!
Okay, not exactly nearly killed him?
Those lightning bolts probably would've fried him alive. And he can outrun his feelings, but not shocks raining down from the sky like he was waving his arms wildly screaming at the world "COME GET ME, ASSHOLE" - which is exactly what would've essentially been the scene had he followed into the more dangerous assembly of tasks to be taken.
So Rion might be around, might be coming back, but he's helping reboot these shitty windows XP pre-service pack 1 dropouts, when he spots her. Oh, man, he knows some stuff. How's he going to treat her?
He lifts a lifeless android up by the waist and proceeds to wave at her using the sleeping thing's hand.]
'Ey!
[okay so Akira hasn't be, completely resting. . . sue him for getting a small bout of cabin fever!! first aid tent fever? whatever; the point was, he couldn't stay relegated to a cot for the entirety of his recovery period. and it only took about a day or so for the injury on his leg to stop hurting every time he put pressure on it, so. everything is fine!]
[nevertheless, if Rion comes looking, she'll find Akira currently laid out on one of the cots. his hands are linked behind his head and his eyes are closed and he allllmost looks like he's sleeping]
[hm]
[bother?]
[nevertheless, if Rion comes looking, she'll find Akira currently laid out on one of the cots. his hands are linked behind his head and his eyes are closed and he allllmost looks like he's sleeping]
[hm]
[bother?]
[Hey Rion.
Kou's definitely just...dragging blankets and a pillow over to your room now.
He also gently chucks a box of tissues her way.]
I'm gonna stay here while you're sick. [He says with his voice a croak SO OBVIOUSLY HE IS ALSO SICK.] Something about this isn't right, like Akira said, so I want to be here.
Kou's definitely just...dragging blankets and a pillow over to your room now.
He also gently chucks a box of tissues her way.]
I'm gonna stay here while you're sick. [He says with his voice a croak SO OBVIOUSLY HE IS ALSO SICK.] Something about this isn't right, like Akira said, so I want to be here.
[the cold doesn't go away]
[if anything, it gets worse. the first day of the second week, Akira rolls out of bed with a body full of fever aches and a forehead drenched in sweat. he recognizes that this is more than just a mild bug, and the reasonable part of him knows that he should park his ass in bed and stay there until the whole thing blows over]
[but he isn't doing that. unsurprisingly]
[he spends his days meandering sluggishly throughout the temple, checking on friends and strangers alike and occasionally stealing naps underneath various fruit trees (Rion would so make fun of him if she knew). his steps are heavy and his chest heaves with every breath he takes, but still he pushes forward. it's only a fever, he tells himself. I'm fine. I can handle this. This is nothing]
[. . . and he tries his best not to think about the flashes of a familiar sharp smile, worn by a detective dressed in brown, in the corners of his vision. the occasional phantom sensation of heavy chains weighing down his wrists and ankles. the rare echoes of a fired gun clanging in his skull]
[today, he drags himself to Rion's room, his blanket pulled tightly over his head and shoulders like a cloak. she'll certainly scold him for being out and about like this, but hey. . . on the bright side, that means she'll probably let him nap with her again]
[so there's the sharp noise of someone knocking on Rion's door, followed by a heavy cough. is she awake!1]
[if anything, it gets worse. the first day of the second week, Akira rolls out of bed with a body full of fever aches and a forehead drenched in sweat. he recognizes that this is more than just a mild bug, and the reasonable part of him knows that he should park his ass in bed and stay there until the whole thing blows over]
[but he isn't doing that. unsurprisingly]
[he spends his days meandering sluggishly throughout the temple, checking on friends and strangers alike and occasionally stealing naps underneath various fruit trees (Rion would so make fun of him if she knew). his steps are heavy and his chest heaves with every breath he takes, but still he pushes forward. it's only a fever, he tells himself. I'm fine. I can handle this. This is nothing]
[. . . and he tries his best not to think about the flashes of a familiar sharp smile, worn by a detective dressed in brown, in the corners of his vision. the occasional phantom sensation of heavy chains weighing down his wrists and ankles. the rare echoes of a fired gun clanging in his skull]
[today, he drags himself to Rion's room, his blanket pulled tightly over his head and shoulders like a cloak. she'll certainly scold him for being out and about like this, but hey. . . on the bright side, that means she'll probably let him nap with her again]
[so there's the sharp noise of someone knocking on Rion's door, followed by a heavy cough. is she awake!1]
[the fever breaks, but things still don't get better]
[it's much nicer to be able to walk without being struck by sudden bouts of lightheaded dizziness, or without being winded within the first five steps. even his coughs are beginning to subside, which does so much for soothing the rawness in his throat. but Akira barely has time to enjoy any of that, because in the absence of normal flu symptoms?]
[he can't feel a goddamn thing]
[he chalks it up to being exhausted the first time he realizes that his fingers are numb to every single sensation. but as the days creep by and even a good night's rest doesn't bring his sense of touch back, as he starts to fumble with objects and knock his legs and shoulders against the corners of hallways, he definitely realizes this isn't normal]
[and that part is so, so frustrating]
[so! today, Akira can be found in the kitchen, attempting to serve himself up a bowl of simple soup. except. . .]
-- shit!
[at some point? he winds up dropping that bowl onto the ground, splashing warm soup everywhere. and, under the impression that he's completely alone and no one else is around to see him lose his cool just a little bit, he slams his fist down against the counter, shoulders hunched and shaking with frustration]
Damn it. . .
[he hates not being well]
[it's much nicer to be able to walk without being struck by sudden bouts of lightheaded dizziness, or without being winded within the first five steps. even his coughs are beginning to subside, which does so much for soothing the rawness in his throat. but Akira barely has time to enjoy any of that, because in the absence of normal flu symptoms?]
[he can't feel a goddamn thing]
[he chalks it up to being exhausted the first time he realizes that his fingers are numb to every single sensation. but as the days creep by and even a good night's rest doesn't bring his sense of touch back, as he starts to fumble with objects and knock his legs and shoulders against the corners of hallways, he definitely realizes this isn't normal]
[and that part is so, so frustrating]
[so! today, Akira can be found in the kitchen, attempting to serve himself up a bowl of simple soup. except. . .]
-- shit!
[at some point? he winds up dropping that bowl onto the ground, splashing warm soup everywhere. and, under the impression that he's completely alone and no one else is around to see him lose his cool just a little bit, he slams his fist down against the counter, shoulders hunched and shaking with frustration]
Damn it. . .
[he hates not being well]
Rion? It's Arenvald. Do you have a moment?
It's nothing bad, I promise.
It's nothing bad, I promise.
Bat signal.
[uh]
[what?]
[uh]
[what?]
Hey, Rion!
Do you have a minute? I wanted to show you something.
[Ann hasn't forgotten the promise she made awhile back.]
Do you have a minute? I wanted to show you something.
[Ann hasn't forgotten the promise she made awhile back.]
[and that night after Rion catches Akira practicing with his Personas in the fighting ring. . .]
Meet me in the kitchen.
Meet me in the kitchen.
[ At some point during the week, Rion may catch Prompto in the kitchen, raiding the ice box for ice cream. Truth be told, he hasn't left his room much over the last couple of days, behaving unusually like a shut-in, and when he does, he's been spending most of his time out by the lake, trying to clear his head.
It doesn't help. He knows he needs to talk to someone, but that's not so easy, either. He's never been good about asking for help when he needs it, but from the way he is piling an assortment of ice cream pints into the crook of his arm, he could certainly use it, both literally or figuratively.
It's a few moments before Prompto realizes he's not alone, and he startles so badly he nearly topples his ice cream tower right on the floor. ]
O-oh! H-hey, Rion...didn't see you there. [ Evidently. ] What's...what's up?
[ Don't mind how tired he looks. He moves to lean nonchalantly against the table, not acknowledging the ice cream one bit.
He's fine. ]
It doesn't help. He knows he needs to talk to someone, but that's not so easy, either. He's never been good about asking for help when he needs it, but from the way he is piling an assortment of ice cream pints into the crook of his arm, he could certainly use it, both literally or figuratively.
It's a few moments before Prompto realizes he's not alone, and he startles so badly he nearly topples his ice cream tower right on the floor. ]
O-oh! H-hey, Rion...didn't see you there. [ Evidently. ] What's...what's up?
[ Don't mind how tired he looks. He moves to lean nonchalantly against the table, not acknowledging the ice cream one bit.
He's fine. ]
SO, now that nobody's sick anymore and we've all made it through our underwater cave adventures for the time being, what do you say we catch up?
The baths are free, and I figured out baking. Think I can tempt you?
[HEY GIRL HEY]
The baths are free, and I figured out baking. Think I can tempt you?
[HEY GIRL HEY]
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