Floor 1, Room 3

[jokey]

AKIRA

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Comments

[revengier]

We could go to an antique store. I could use a few more items for my room.

[ He has it almost where he likes it.

Kurapika picks up another bite of his cake, musing as he chews. This time, it tastes much better, the sweetness less a burn and closer to pleasantly light. ]

I'd like to end things at the observatory in West, however. It's far enough away that there's no light pollution, so the view of the sky from the cliff it sits on is beautiful.

[jokey]

I didn't know you were the homemaking type. Antique store it is.

[Akira could also use more items for his room, but that's nothing out of the ordinary for him. As it stands, his room is already littered with gifts and items from the various friends he's made here.

Akira takes another bite of his scone, washing down the dry layers of flaky bread with hot, acrid coffee.]

That's a pretty romantic end to a date. I should let you plan all our dates.

[revengier]

I'm not.

[ Don't get him wrong, Akira. You're the homemaker in this relationship.

He takes his time eating his cake, but it's not long before he's done. After all, it's just a slice.

Kurapika frowns over his coffee, a slight furrow to his brows as he regards Akira. ]

No. You're planning the next one whether you want to or not.

[ Yes, next one. ]

[jokey]

The next one?

[Akira puffs with pride! The next one!!]

I'd be honored to, m'Pika. That won't be hard, considering all our common interests.

[Akira polishes off his vittles and stacks his emptied tableware and sets it aside. Kurapika can take his time finishing his coffee, of course, but Akira is raring to go.]

...This means you're having fun, right?

[revengier]

[ He was until you called him "m'Pika".

Kurapika takes the last sip of his coffee before setting it with the stack Akira has already created. ]

I like you, so of course I am.

[ He stands, straightening out his clothes before regarding Akira. ]

Your coffee is much better, by the way.

[ And with that, Kurapika holds out his hand. Shall we? ]

[jokey]

[Someone's in a good mood, isn't he? Akira grins, hand slotting easily into Kurapika's. The cafe bell bids them farewell with a cherry chime and Akira takes the lead, scanning the businesses lining the busy streets for any sign of a promising looking antique store.]

I'm really digging the honesty. If you really like me, you should say something like "Akira, I want you to make me coffee in the morning every day for the rest of my life."

[That's basically a Japanese-style proposal, but he doesn't expect Kurapika to get the reference. He doesn't need to, either. When that day comes, if it comes, Akira's answer will be an emphatic "I do."]

[revengier]

A heavy commitment. Would you even say yes to that sort of thing?

[ The thought makes him nervous, a mess of butterflies tangling together and knocking around his stomach. Kurapika scans the surrounding businesses as well, his eyes landing on a small shop packed to the brim with various things, dolls and plush chairs and busy shelves lining the shop window.

Without asking for permission, he tugs Akira in that direction. ]

Make me coffee tomorrow morning.

[jokey]

You're asking the real questions.

[And he's serious about Kurapika, so he can't give him an answer to that now. In lieu of that, he brings a finger to his lips and smiles.]

Time will tell, right? For now, I'll make you coffee until you're sick of it.

[He follows Kurapika's gaze to a shop lined with knickknacks of all kinds.]

How's this one look?

[revengier]

[ He rolls his eyes, but that answer satisfies him nevertheless, so he gives Akira's hand a little squeeze.

And as he peers into the window, spotting a lovingly carved globe somewhere on one of the shelves... ]

Exactly what I'm looking for.

[ With that, he tugs Akira into the shop, the smell of old paper and dusty objects immediately taking over their senses. ]

[jokey]

[Akira happily allows himself to be led by the hand into the smell of musk and old books. It's a charming little place, the shelves lined with genuine treasures that handedly beat the contents of any modern antique store. Everything here is handmade, all of it unique, and Akira can't help but be charmed by it.]

You saw something already, didn't you?

[revengier]

Of course I did.

[ Bye, he's letting go of Akira's hand to beeline towards that globe, lifting it up to test its weight and quality.

After all, he is one picky bitch. ]

[jokey]

[Akira snickers, letting his hand go without a fight. It's cute seeing Kurapika so wrapped up in whatever's caught his attention... and in this instance, it's a pretty nice-looking globe.]

That would go well with the rest of your decor. Want me to buy it for you?

[revengier]

[ He runs his fingers along the outside too, just for good measure. The quality is nice, and it goes with the light, earthy tones he's already begun to fill his room with.

But at that question, he looks up at Akira. ]

I can afford it on my own.

[ ...

Wait. That's not why Akira is offering to buy it. He's offering to buy it because this is a date. Right. ]

...You can, if you want to.

[jokey]

This is a date, Kurapika.

[Need he remind him? Akira wiggles his fingers— hand over the globe. He'll thank him once he hands it over and proceed to pay for it at the counter, returning a couple minutes later with the globe carefully wrapped and slid into a bag.]

I won't insist if you find more things you like, but I've got plenty of money and nothing to spend it on. May as well spend it on you.

[revengier]

Don't spend all of your money on me. I'm capable enough of buying myself things.

[ Yes, he's going to bitch about this, even as he takes the bag from Akira's hands, grasping the handle like it's something precious. ]

[jokey]

Fine, fine...

[Oh, Kurapika. You have no idea who you're dealing with here.]

I'll be good. Just promise you'll let me treat you now and then, okay?

[He won't be fucking good and treating Kurapika "now and then" means Akira will be spoiling him with gifts on the regular. Still, he'll let Kurapika live his delusion and believe Akira won't burn a hole in his pocket spoiling him.]

[revengier]

[ Yeah, he doesn't trust Akira to be good at all. At least, not when it comes to this sort of thing. It's why he fixes Akira with a Look... but he says nothing, because he also knows that he can't change Akira's mind either. ]

What sort of things do you like, Akira?

[ He demands an answer. ]

[jokey]

You sure you want the answer?

[The answer is pretty broad, but it all boils down to one thing:]

Gifts from the heart. I don't care if it's hand-made or store bought so long as it's something a lot of love and thought went into.

[revengier]

[ God, he was afraid Akira would say that... ]

Of course that's what you like.

[ He sighs, long-suffering. ]

I'm not good at that kind of gift.

[ That doesn't mean he won't try, however. ]

[jokey]

I had a feeling you'd get all exasperated.

[Akira pats him on the back. There, there.]

Just do what comes naturally to you. You don't need to buy me anything either. Taking me somewhere nice, sharing something you like with me... Those things count too.

[revengier]

I did say I wanted to take you to the observatory in the West...

[ But does that even count? He isn't so sure. It's something he thought was nice and he wanted to share it with Akira. Ah... he doesn't usually doubt himself, but Akira really does turn his emotions on their head. ]

Do you like looking at the stars?

[jokey]

[Akira nods, a smile tight on his lips.]

Of course. What kind of romantic would I be if I didn't?

[It's starting to sound like Kurapika is one too... but he'll keep that thought to himself.]

[revengier]

Aren't you more of a flirt above anything else?

[ No, he sees the romantic underlying a lot of the little things Akira does, and the thought makes his fingers squeeze tighter around the handle of his gift bag. ]

[jokey]

Hey. That's uncalled for. Are you saying I can't be both?

[So what if he's a flirt? Let him live! Clearly Kurapika doesn't mind this side of him, otherwise he wouldn't be going on dates with him. Akira pinches his side.]

Anyway, see anything else you like?

[revengier]

[ He swats at Akira's hand. No pinching!! ]

I like a lot of the things here. [ ... ] I've actually come in here a few times for a few pieces of decor for my room.

[ Mostly bookends and such, but he's looked around at everything else too. And looking around is exactly what he's doing, picking up little trinkets and holding them in his hand before setting them down.

But... his eyes do linger on one thing—sun and moon collar pins, clearly meant to match between two people as some sort of set. ]