wizardmanor | Floor 4, Room 4

You grew up in the forest?

[Sorry, Kurapika. Did you think you could get away with not discussing your backstory? Akira pops open one bottle, not paying any particular mind to which of the two he's grabbed, and takes a sip before passing it to Kurapika. Not bad... not bad at all.]

What was that like?

[ He can already feel Akira zeroing in on him here, poised to ask question after question. With a soft sigh, Kurapika decides to go ahead and answer. ]

I did. The Kurta Clan lived isolated, since most people didn't trust us. We weren't allowed to leave the village unless we passed an exam, which included visiting the closest town and making it through that trip without the Scarlet Eyes activating.

[ Kurapika pauses, taking the bottle and thus, a sizable sip. He makes a face as it burns in the back of his throat.

Ugh. Alcohol never gets any easier to ingest. ]

I wasn't lonely or anything, though. I had friends, and we regularly had people from outside the Kurta marry in, so we didn't dwindle in numbers ever.

A test? That's pretty intense.

[...And he wonders if Kurapika ever took that test. If he did, Akira can easily imagine a younger Kurapika with less self-control getting angry and botching it. The idea, which he's absolutely keeping to himself, makes him snort. Don't worry about it.

What slips out, however...]

I'm surprised you had any friends.

[Oops. He didn't mean to say that.]

[ He frowns, grabbing a pillow and smacking Akira in the face with it. ]

Of course I had friends, you idiot.

[ Oops. He didn't mean to add the idiot part there, but he's not going to apologize for it either. ]

I had a best friend I spent most of my time with.

Pfft—

[This time, Kurapika actually succeeds in smacking him in the face. The pillow falls away and Akira's openly laughing, swatting it back in Kurapika's direction.]

Who are you calling an idiot? It was an honest question.

[Kurapika can hold onto that bottle for now. Akira's opening the other and taking a swig, finding this one a lot less acrid and dry and a fair bit sweeter.]

What was your bestie like? The polar opposite of you, I'm guessing.

[ Well if Akira's taking another swig, then so is he! Kurapika puts the bottle he's still holding to his lips, frowning again as the alcohol travels down his throat as he shoves the pillow back into Akira's face. ]

He was kind, calm, compassionate. He was smart, too, and would always calm me down.

[ Because, believe it or not, Kurapika was rambunctious. Mulling over his thoughts, he finds himself saying more than he normally would. ]

His legs were weak, and his vision grew worse over time... all because he fell off of a cliff when trying to save me from doing the same.

[ ... ]

He was a good friend.

...Man. Sorry to hear that.

[The fact that Kurapika's speaking in past tense says plenty. Akira doesn't continue to engage in their little pillow fight, but sets the pillow aside in favor of wiggling a little closer and swapping their bottles.]

You keep grimacing. This one's sweeter.

[Well, while they're trading childhood stories—]

I had a lot of friends growing up. That's probably not surprising. I lived in a pretty big city, though. I had everything I wanted close at hand.

[He doesn't intend to brag, of course, and normally Akira wouldn't follow up a story like Kurapika's with one of his own. Normally, Akira wouldn't bring up his childhood regardless.]

[ Oh. Is it that obvious...? He frowns, but reaches out to take that other bottle and let Akira have his. ]

What's surprising is that you're telling me this at all.

[ But he doesn't mind, not at all. In fact, he's glad for it. Resting his weight on one of his hands, he tilts his head to the side slightly. ]

I'm glad that you did. Kids should grow up without want. [ And he means it, as there's not a trace of envy in his voice. ] I had my hardships growing up isolated, but my parents loved me, the rest of the Kurta Clan treated me well, and I had a best friend I really loved.

Kurapika...

[He's speaking so... so honestly! Akira's proud, miming the wiping of a tear from his eye, and— wait a second. Why are there actual tears in his eyes???

Akira throws up a hand, a countermeasure to dissuade Kurapika from worrying about the rain falling on Akira's face. He doesn't get it either, man.]

Sorry, I'm just— happy for you. You deserve to be loved. I also... [SUCKS IN LIPS LIKE HE JUST LICKED A LEMON,] Rrrrrrreally like you.

Edited 2024-05-18 09:19 (UTC)

[ Why is he crying!! Why! Kurapika doesn't know how to feel at all in this moment, momentarily feeling as if he's had the blankets they're sitting on pulled right from underneath him. ]

You're so weird.

[ And it's embarrassing him. He grabs that pillow, smacking Akira in the chest with it. ]

What's wrong with you? Don't say that so weird!

Why are you getting so mad? I'm having a moment here!

[He's fine, see? He's fine! The tears have already dried and there weren't many of them to begin with. No need to get all... tsundere.]

Here, baby. You're acting up. Have another sip of wine.

[He puts his bottle to Kurapika's lips and tips it back. Oops, this is the bitter one.]

But I mean it, you know? I like you a lot. More than I've ever liked anyone. It's kinda... embarrassing, actually.

Edited 2024-05-18 09:25 (UTC)

[ Oh.

The pet name. If he were the kind of guy to hide his face in his hands and blush at something like that, he certainly would be now. Instead, he just grabs that bitter bottle and tips it back further to take a long pull as he feels the tips of his ears grow warm. ]

How is it embarrassing?

[ He's fully confident in his feelings, even if that means his brain sometimes shuts off around Akira. ]

[Oh. Sexy. When Kurapika's had his fill, Akira snaps the bottle back and matches him pull for pull. Frankly, he just needed an excuse to taste Kurapika on the mouth of the bottle.]

It's like this. [flails hands ineffectually, conveying nothing at all] You know? Ugh, wait, that's not it.

It's like... liking someone so much your chest gets all tight whenever you think about them? Catching yourself smiling in the reflection on a window? I've never felt like that before. It's overwhelming.

You haven't? Really?

[ Apologies for being surprised, but the words just slip out without him intending for them to. ]

I've never let myself have feelings for anyone before. [ And it's freeing to finally allow himself this. Scary, but freeing, and he's been enjoying it. ] Still, I'm surprised you like me more than your past girlfriends.

That hard to believe, huh?

[He knows he wears this mask of his tight, but sometimes Akira impresses himself with the degree to which he's able to hide the more fallible sides of himself. Despite that, and despite the inherent discomfort in letting the mask slip, Kurapika is someone he can trust. If he didn't, he'd be out the door by now, realizing something in this wine is compelling him to honesty.

So be it. Akira helps himself to another long, steady pull, finding the burn more pleasant as intoxication sinks in.]

I didn't know what I wanted, back then. I was just a kid messing around... but it's different with you. You challenge me. You keep me engaged. It helps that you're pretty, but that's not what attracted me to you in the first place. It's that passion you try so hard to hide.

Edited (THERE WAS A TYPO AFTER ALL) 2024-05-18 09:41 (UTC)

The passion you provoked.

[ He's not going to let Akira forget that, perhaps ever.

However, his words make Kurapika fall into a contemplative silence, the sort that doesn’t preclude rejection but is appreciative instead. He picks up that sweeter bottle of wine and puts his lips to it, taking a swig. Ah… this one really is a lot better. It’s probably enchanted just like the other one, but he doesn’t mind it so much, feeling the pull of the spell as he looks at Akira.

Giving into the enchantment is easy, especially when he’s merely vocalizing what he thinks. ]

I could say the same things about you, Akira. You’re not afraid to butt heads with me, and you’re steadfast in your beliefs. I think you’re obnoxious, but I like that about you.

[ … ]

I like you a lot, too. Enough that my first thought isn’t to push you away.

Passion that's been sleeping in you all along.

[No need to tell him you were a fireball of a child, Kurapika. Akira can easily imagine.]

That's pretty big, you know. Admitting you don't want to push me away.

[And it's a relief to hear, knowing he can tether Kurapika despite how similar they are, their inner flames burning just as hotly. Setting his bottle aside, Akira leans forward and loosely curls his hand around Kurapika's.]

You're gonna call me an idiot again, but I don't care. You're someone I could see myself spending a long time with. Maybe my whole life. Now that I have you, I'm not letting you go.

[ Oh. He feels like he needs a lot more wine in his system to properly deal with this, and all of the emotions it sets alight in his chest. ]

You really are an idiot.

[ And yet he means it affectionately, of all things. Kurapika turns his hand over underneath Akira’s so he can better hold it, better squeeze his hand. ]

You did say you were going to torment me, didn’t you? Or at least, something to that effect. You better follow through on that too.

[Akira thought he could handle this. He did! But in reality, hearing himself is a special kind of torture, a flame kicking up in the nape of his neck that spreads and spreads, burning hottest on his cheeks and on the tips of his ears. Being honest? It sucks.

He scrubs his cheek with his free hand to no effect.]

There's a lot of things I want to do to you, but I don't know if you can handle it.

I’m not fragile.

[ He takes another swig of wine, shooting Akira a frown as he pulls the bottle away from his lips. A nervous energy settles into his chest and stomach, and he’s sure it isn’t the alcohol. ]

Why are you thinking about that anyway? Didn’t you set all of this up so we can look at the stars?

Edited 2024-05-18 10:09 (UTC)

Right, right. You're not.

[Thanks for saving him from certain peril, Captain Brutally Honest. He's gonna try to pretend he wasn't just about to admit something crass and flops down, taking Kurapika's hand along for the ride. Notably, he doesn't answer that first question, biting his lip until the urge to passes.]

Yeah. Come on, then. The stars aren't getting any starrier.

[ Kurapika notices the way Akira avoids answering him and… hmm. He’ll let it slide this time, only because the thought of pursuing it further makes his heart race. ]

You couldn’t sound less excited.

[ He laughs softly, settling down right beside him. ]

Did you ever stargaze back home? What did you do when you weren’t protecting humanity?

[ There’s a slight smile at the end of that question, a slight tease, but he knows it’s true. ]

[Bless Kurapika for letting him off the hook... or maybe he didn't notice anything was amiss? Nah. Observant as Kurapika is, he took pity on him. What a sweet(?), merciful(??) man his beau is.

With a whooshing exhale, Akira sets his glasses aside and gazes up at the stars.]

Here and there. The skies back home weren't nearly as clear as they are here. When I wasn't kicking ass and taking names, I was hanging out with friends, fishing, getting my fortune told, playing shogi, reading, fixing broken computers, doing homework, making coffee, brushing Morgana, playing video games, doing laundry, playing darts, buying and selling weapons...

[Honesty-compelling wine, that question, and a Persona protag is a dangerous mix, but it's an answer!]

…I regret asking.

[ He expected that Akira did all sorts of things, but this feels excessive. When the hell does he sleep? When does he get anything done at all? Is he on the go from morning to night? Even Kurapika has some downtime.

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t latch onto a few things here and there, however. ]

Who is Morgana?

~~Morgana is my son. My child. Baby boy. Light of my life.~~

[Oh, right. Can't lie. Ahem.]

My cat and a good friend of mine... oh, but don't call him a cat. He takes offense to that.

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