[Poor, poor Jii-chan! Look how much he suffers. Someone bring him his fainting chair and a box of tissues, because it won't be Akira. He will, however, chant his incantation and lower the temperature of the water a bit. Grandpa's giving boiled crayfish energy over there.]
You're not cute when you pout. Not at all.
[If Akira's lying, he sure doesn't sound like it. But he does lift a hand from the water to pat poor Solomon's head.]
Can you blame me for being curious? You're a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a... [fuckboy] ...You get the point, but I won't force you to talk. I'll just gaze at you admiringly from afar.
[He laughs a little at the smooth little flirtation, the water rippling at the exhale he gives out the nose. As the water temperature shifts, Solomon eases himself back up with a relieved tilt of his head.]
On the contrary. Curiosity makes for a strong sorcerer.
I can be cross at you for deciding to resort to unnecessary force so quickly. [Like, the flirting and even the touching was whatever, but groping???] I'd have to really wonder about your character if that's how you normally choose to solve problems.
[heeheeheeheehee
Giggling aside, his humor fades a bit as he pools up water in his hands to wet his hair down.]
You're bright, Akira. You can ask what you think you need to know. [He might not choose to answer, but that's not within Akira's control.]
[He can't help it? People like Solomon just get under his skin? Akira has the excuse of youthful reckless abandon on his side, but even that doesn't fully explain his decision to go ham on that poor nipple. Whatever his reasons, Solomon doesn't need to hear it.
Akira leans back against the wall of the bath, knitting his arms behind his head.]
That's your right. I should've gone easier on someone who can't even tolerate a hot bath.
[Hehe. Anyway...]
But I really am curious about the tats. Your whole body is covered in them. That's a lot of ink for someone relatively young.
Let's see... Japanese, obviously, and I'm learning English. A little bit of German, too.
[Sorry he hasn't taken a magnifying glass to those titties, but Akira's not looking to get zapped again any time soon. For once, he'll behave himself and not invade Solomon's bubble so soon after getting punished for it.]
There are multiple. Latin is one, yes. Hebrew, English, and Greek are used as well.
[A lot of the longer phrases aren't visible at a polite distance, though if Akira knows at least phonetic English, he could probably make out the letters that surround each of the circles that take up the entirety of Solomon's limbs.]
No Japanese, I'm afraid. I don't doubt it could be used to the same effect, given what I've seen of shrine customs, but it's not what I prefer.
[Hm. What do all those languages have in common? They share some root words, are all quite old, and are tied to both religion and magic. Naturally, Solomon isn't going to hand the answer to him on a platter, but Akira doesn't mind. He'll find his own entertainment in this little puzzle, as will Solomon, he's certain.]
Pardon my reach.
[So as not to affect Grandpa's delicate constitution, Akira gingerly scoots closer, leaning forward to get a better look at the worlds inscribed on his skin. Pardon his reach, but he needs to borrow one of Solomon's arms real quick to get a closer look.]
Let's see... These are...
[Akira's lips move in silence, reading along Solomon's skin until his eyes catch on a familiar name.
And another. And another. And another. Ose, Decarabia, Bael, Orobas... Were he to keep reading, he's certain he'd find even more familiar names, but Akira's seen enough to arrive at a conclusion.
His loose hold on Solomon's arm loosens further still.]
[Give him a break!! Is this guy a Persona user too? Akira's not getting that gut feeling, doesn't feel the hairs standing up on the back of his neck like he normally does when he's in the company of someone who shares his powers. Then again... he's been stripped of everything that made him a Wildcard to begin with, so even if Solomon is just like him, it's not like he can smell it on the guy.
Unless...
No, just kidding. Akira sighs, returning to his slump against the side of the bath.]
You could say that. [No easy hints for you either, Solomon.] So what are you, some kind of summoner commanding demons to fight on your side?
[See, there we go, Akira. Dodgy behavior is good for you.]
If you had ties, one of us would be able to sense the other the day we got here, so I know that's not going to be it.
I think most of them would be pretty offended if I said yes to that. It's not quite that simple. [While he wishes he could just summon a whole army at once, the amount of effort and bitching he'd have to put up with wouldn't quite be worth it outside extreme circumstances.] I'd call myself a sorcerer, though. Not a summoner.
[Thank fuck Shadows are only bitchy while they're being detained. Once they've accepted a place in Akira's heart, they're loyal to hell and back— quite literally. From the sounds of it, Solomon isn't quite so lucky.]
Guess we've got even more common ground, don't we? I wouldn't call myself a summoner either, but I've had a demon or two lend me their power before.
[Far more than one or two, but don't sweat the details. He's trying to be dodgy here.]
But they're not quite demons. In my world, they're called Shadows.
[The answer to that is very "yes and no," and while Akira mulls it over, he tips his head beneath the water to slick his bangs back and out of his face. What his hair and glasses obscure is a deceptively serious face... and the little wizard cutie mark taking up prime real estate smack in the middle of his forehead. Thanks mods.]
It's all interconnected. The Shadows wouldn't work on my behalf if I didn't have the strength to command them, which means the source of my power comes from something else.
[If Solomon wants the answer, he'll have to puzzle it together himself. That's only fair, no?]
So if you had to guess, where does that power come from?
[He hums quietly as he drifts over to tap a finger against that mark on his forehead. Cute spot.]
That world inside you, powered by your feelings and bonds with others, not unlike our magic here. Though I can't begin to think how literal that might be for you.
[Magic worked in strange ways like that. Hearts that became stories, curses that transported you into a world that wasn't a world, alternate timelines... why not have a power that could keep something contained in the depths of one's soul?
He lifts that finger, only to press it right beneath Akira's collarbone, the ring on his middle finger reflecting the red of the water underneath.]
Is this where you keep your stolen hearts? Or is it where you descend to steal and change them in the first place?
[Now there's a question. Akira's "destiny" was fulfilled, his tale concluded. While he's mindful who he shares such details of his life with, how he went about rewriting society at its very core is a different matter. Knowing how Mementos, the very core of society, functions... That's enough to rewrite it. That's enough to do some real, serious damage. Can he trust Solomon with the key to the heart of human consciousness itself?
In his own heart, the answer is already crystal clear. Akira's hand layers over Solomon's, warm in a way the water isn't. There's that familiar spark of connection, but it's a thin, frail thing. His magic is weak, but it won't remain that way for long.]
I wonder how you catch on so quickly? Age? Experience? It's all moot now anyway. I can't "change" people in the way I could before. My days of stealing hearts are behind me, so don't think about it too hard.
[His free hand lifts to press a finger to his own lips. Akira can keep guessing on that, it seems. Keeping his age out of the picture helped to keep the broad distance between the millenia a little closer. Or perhaps, he just likes to tell himself as much. Easier to run with a joke of mystery than to present reality on someone that wasn't quite ready for it.]
There's still a heart that beats for a purpose in that chest of yours. You wouldn't have such a fire in your words or your eyes otherwise if that cause didn't mean quite a lot to you.
[AKA his passion leaks out of every pore in the heat of the moment.
He lets his hand pull naturally under the weight of Akira's, the heat of his palm pressed against his sternum with the cool snap of the ring like the light of a star against the skin.]
Maybe you just need to find another world still unknown to you, Thief of Hearts. Don't leave yourself closed to possibility.
[What is this? Solomon's attempt to guide a wayward sheep back home? Akira would liken himself more to the wolf that goes to great lengths to blend in among the sheep, but not everyone falls for his disguise. Even the nimble wolf loses its footing sometimes, and if anyone's going to see Akira's lack of direction for what it is, it's surely Solomon.
What an interesting life. Those who don't believe in fate should really think twice. Solomon's touch is warm and grounding, a northern star shining bright in an inky black sky. Let him hold onto it for just a moment longer.]
Maybe that's why I'm here. It'd suck if I peaked this early into my life.
[He catches Solomon's gaze, smile curling at the edges.]
And what about you? Content to sit back and take on a guiding role? This could be a new start for you too.
Brassy eyes study Akira with something far heavier weighing in their depths. He looks, and listens, and sees possibility here. He finds his chest warm, wondering where this young soul might lead himself. Even with the twists of an unknown power, of demonic forces familiar and yet not, this one had a strong will.
It wasn't often he took pupils. Perhaps, in another time. Perhaps, if he had longer to observe. Perhaps, if he hadn't just...
...
His hand withdraws with a deep sigh, a tired and complicated smile towards the younger man.]
Maybe we fall into what we know best.
It's for the better of all of us to right this situation. For now, we're all fledglings, as we must be for something outside of our comfort. But magic is something I know very, very well, where others might not have the luxury or the life that allows it.
Whatever role I decide to take, I have no intention to let us falter on the people here, nor on our own back home.
[There's that complicated look again. What's going on in that head of yours, Solomon? Akira lets him withdraw his hand without a fuss, but his own finds Solomon's forehead and playfully knocks on it. Will the homeowner come to the door? He has a half dozen unanswered questions for you.]
A very Solomon answer. You really are old.
[That a very safe answer too. Diving into the role of the hero isn't so bad every now and then, is it? At the same time, Akira wonders if it wouldn't be the worst idea to come to Solomon whenever he's struggling to learn a new spell or form of magic. Given the badass demon compendium on his skin, he definitely knows a thing or thirty.]
I wouldn't mind calling you Sensei if you'd teach me what you know. I've got a few ideas in mind, but I don't know how well they'll translate into functional magic.
[He allows the knocking, expression going dry at yet another jab at his age, but letting it drift. If Akira truly wanted to know, he would find the right way to ask.
And then he asks for teaching.
...
Visibly hesitant, Solomon straightens up in his seat and gives it some proper thought.
Potential wasn't a problem. The sass might be if it came without self-control, but that's something he could work with. Work ethic, magical compatibility, not to mention his own power levels being minimized...
It would be risky, going too far with this. But...
The Fountain wasn't here. Neither was Thirteen or Candy. Or...
...
How long had it been since he'd explored outside ████████████'s reach?
...
Akira has already made his intentions known, and yet their situation skirts close enough to repeating things once again. It digs at him in a way that hasn't hurt in a while.
Mmm. Would you trust something so important to someone so feeble and undeserving of respect? Maybe my heart might break into pieces from being called an old man, and you'd have nothing left to steal.
I wouldn't want to put such a burden on you.
[aka stop calling him old and he'll think about it]
[Talk about tonal whiplash. What is Solomon deflecting from this time? Akira doesn't need the specifics to know Solomon has some reservations about teaching him his ways when his abrupt change on tone makes that obvious.
He did think about it before getting all dramatic, didn't he? Akira saw that look on his face. It's just a matter of convincing him now or, at the least, working out why Solomon is so hesitant to take a chance on him.
Time to tackle this from a new angle. Akira reaches out a hand and sweeps Solomon's hair back behind his ear.]
Look at that beautiful, youthful face. Not a wrinkle in sight. Are those muscles just for show? I don't think so.
[Will flattery work? For the record, he's being perfectly honest.]
I'll take good care of your heart. I might even be willing to promise, but you'd have to return the favor.
[See? He doesn't make promises willy nilly. Taking care of another person's heart is a big obligation, but it's one Akira would take on with pride. Solomon has to know this by now. He's not the one with eighty million hangups here.]
[Akira can reevaluate his hangups when he lives to be a bazillion years old.]
Laying it on a little thick, there, aren't you... well, I'll pass the compliments for my skincare routine to Asmodeus when I next see him.
[He understands what comes next is meant to be light, that it's Akira trying to reinforce his persistence. But Solomon immediately shakes his head, something far more authoritative slipping in.]
Treat a promise with the fragility it holds in this space, Akira. Do not make one to me under any circumstances, whether I am your teacher or not.
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no subject
You're not cute when you pout. Not at all.
[If Akira's lying, he sure doesn't sound like it. But he does lift a hand from the water to pat poor Solomon's head.]
Can you blame me for being curious? You're a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a... [fuckboy] ...You get the point, but I won't force you to talk. I'll just gaze at you admiringly from afar.
[You know, like 🥺🙏]
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On the contrary. Curiosity makes for a strong sorcerer.
I can be cross at you for deciding to resort to unnecessary force so quickly. [Like, the flirting and even the touching was whatever, but groping???] I'd have to really wonder about your character if that's how you normally choose to solve problems.
[heeheeheeheehee
Giggling aside, his humor fades a bit as he pools up water in his hands to wet his hair down.]
You're bright, Akira. You can ask what you think you need to know. [He might not choose to answer, but that's not within Akira's control.]
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Akira leans back against the wall of the bath, knitting his arms behind his head.]
That's your right. I should've gone easier on someone who can't even tolerate a hot bath.
[Hehe. Anyway...]
But I really am curious about the tats. Your whole body is covered in them. That's a lot of ink for someone relatively young.
[How old is Jii-chan, really?]
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[Tats? Ink?
Ahhhh, this is hip kid lingo. Okay, okay, he thinks he can connect the dots.
He brushes his wet bangs away from his face.]
That might be because they aren't tattoos. [He figures Akira knows that much, but he might as well give the kid something to chew on.]
What languages can you read, Akira?
[If it's just Japanese, then that would explain why he isn't connecting more dots.]
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[Sorry he hasn't taken a magnifying glass to those titties, but Akira's not looking to get zapped again any time soon. For once, he'll behave himself and not invade Solomon's bubble so soon after getting punished for it.]
So what language is it? Latin?
[Latin is the magic language.]
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[A lot of the longer phrases aren't visible at a polite distance, though if Akira knows at least phonetic English, he could probably make out the letters that surround each of the circles that take up the entirety of Solomon's limbs.]
No Japanese, I'm afraid. I don't doubt it could be used to the same effect, given what I've seen of shrine customs, but it's not what I prefer.
1/2
Pardon my reach.
[So as not to affect Grandpa's delicate constitution, Akira gingerly scoots closer, leaning forward to get a better look at the worlds inscribed on his skin. Pardon his reach, but he needs to borrow one of Solomon's arms real quick to get a closer look.]
Let's see... These are...
[Akira's lips move in silence, reading along Solomon's skin until his eyes catch on a familiar name.
And another. And another. And another. Ose, Decarabia, Bael, Orobas... Were he to keep reading, he's certain he'd find even more familiar names, but Akira's seen enough to arrive at a conclusion.
His loose hold on Solomon's arm loosens further still.]
no subject
1/2
/2
[Oddly, he relaxes a little more under Akira's grip as soon as his conclusion is off his lips, letting his arm slip away easily.]
I wasn't expecting you to reach that conclusion so quickly. But I'm glad to see you did.
Did you recognize something?
no subject
Unless...
No, just kidding. Akira sighs, returning to his slump against the side of the bath.]
You could say that. [No easy hints for you either, Solomon.] So what are you, some kind of summoner commanding demons to fight on your side?
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If you had ties, one of us would be able to sense the other the day we got here, so I know that's not going to be it.
I think most of them would be pretty offended if I said yes to that. It's not quite that simple. [While he wishes he could just summon a whole army at once, the amount of effort and bitching he'd have to put up with wouldn't quite be worth it outside extreme circumstances.] I'd call myself a sorcerer, though. Not a summoner.
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Guess we've got even more common ground, don't we? I wouldn't call myself a summoner either, but I've had a demon or two lend me their power before.
[Far more than one or two, but don't sweat the details. He's trying to be dodgy here.]
But they're not quite demons. In my world, they're called Shadows.
no subject
Shadows, huh. Pretty generic name, but at least it fits the general vibe.]
Lend you their power, hm? Is that the same power you would usually use for those cards?
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It's all interconnected. The Shadows wouldn't work on my behalf if I didn't have the strength to command them, which means the source of my power comes from something else.
[If Solomon wants the answer, he'll have to puzzle it together himself. That's only fair, no?]
So if you had to guess, where does that power come from?
no subject
[He hums quietly as he drifts over to tap a finger against that mark on his forehead. Cute spot.]
That world inside you, powered by your feelings and bonds with others, not unlike our magic here. Though I can't begin to think how literal that might be for you.
[Magic worked in strange ways like that. Hearts that became stories, curses that transported you into a world that wasn't a world, alternate timelines... why not have a power that could keep something contained in the depths of one's soul?
He lifts that finger, only to press it right beneath Akira's collarbone, the ring on his middle finger reflecting the red of the water underneath.]
Is this where you keep your stolen hearts? Or is it where you descend to steal and change them in the first place?
no subject
[Now there's a question. Akira's "destiny" was fulfilled, his tale concluded. While he's mindful who he shares such details of his life with, how he went about rewriting society at its very core is a different matter. Knowing how Mementos, the very core of society, functions... That's enough to rewrite it. That's enough to do some real, serious damage. Can he trust Solomon with the key to the heart of human consciousness itself?
In his own heart, the answer is already crystal clear. Akira's hand layers over Solomon's, warm in a way the water isn't. There's that familiar spark of connection, but it's a thin, frail thing. His magic is weak, but it won't remain that way for long.]
I wonder how you catch on so quickly? Age? Experience? It's all moot now anyway. I can't "change" people in the way I could before. My days of stealing hearts are behind me, so don't think about it too hard.
no subject
There's still a heart that beats for a purpose in that chest of yours. You wouldn't have such a fire in your words or your eyes otherwise if that cause didn't mean quite a lot to you.
[AKA his passion leaks out of every pore in the heat of the moment.
He lets his hand pull naturally under the weight of Akira's, the heat of his palm pressed against his sternum with the cool snap of the ring like the light of a star against the skin.]
Maybe you just need to find another world still unknown to you, Thief of Hearts. Don't leave yourself closed to possibility.
no subject
What an interesting life. Those who don't believe in fate should really think twice. Solomon's touch is warm and grounding, a northern star shining bright in an inky black sky. Let him hold onto it for just a moment longer.]
Maybe that's why I'm here. It'd suck if I peaked this early into my life.
[He catches Solomon's gaze, smile curling at the edges.]
And what about you? Content to sit back and take on a guiding role? This could be a new start for you too.
no subject
Brassy eyes study Akira with something far heavier weighing in their depths. He looks, and listens, and sees possibility here. He finds his chest warm, wondering where this young soul might lead himself. Even with the twists of an unknown power, of demonic forces familiar and yet not, this one had a strong will.
It wasn't often he took pupils. Perhaps, in another time. Perhaps, if he had longer to observe. Perhaps, if he hadn't just...
...
His hand withdraws with a deep sigh, a tired and complicated smile towards the younger man.]
Maybe we fall into what we know best.
It's for the better of all of us to right this situation. For now, we're all fledglings, as we must be for something outside of our comfort. But magic is something I know very, very well, where others might not have the luxury or the life that allows it.
Whatever role I decide to take, I have no intention to let us falter on the people here, nor on our own back home.
no subject
A very Solomon answer. You really are old.
[That a very safe answer too. Diving into the role of the hero isn't so bad every now and then, is it? At the same time, Akira wonders if it wouldn't be the worst idea to come to Solomon whenever he's struggling to learn a new spell or form of magic. Given the badass demon compendium on his skin, he definitely knows a thing or thirty.]
I wouldn't mind calling you Sensei if you'd teach me what you know. I've got a few ideas in mind, but I don't know how well they'll translate into functional magic.
1/2
And then he asks for teaching.
...
Visibly hesitant, Solomon straightens up in his seat and gives it some proper thought.
Potential wasn't a problem. The sass might be if it came without self-control, but that's something he could work with. Work ethic, magical compatibility, not to mention his own power levels being minimized...
It would be risky, going too far with this. But...
The Fountain wasn't here. Neither was Thirteen or Candy. Or...
...
How long had it been since he'd explored outside ████████████'s reach?
...
Akira has already made his intentions known, and yet their situation skirts close enough to repeating things once again. It digs at him in a way that hasn't hurt in a while.
"I don't know about you, but I keep my promises."
Can he set up another for loss so soon?]
/2
Mmm. Would you trust something so important to someone so feeble and undeserving of respect? Maybe my heart might break into pieces from being called an old man, and you'd have nothing left to steal.
I wouldn't want to put such a burden on you.
[aka stop calling him old and he'll think about it]
no subject
He did think about it before getting all dramatic, didn't he? Akira saw that look on his face. It's just a matter of convincing him now or, at the least, working out why Solomon is so hesitant to take a chance on him.
Time to tackle this from a new angle. Akira reaches out a hand and sweeps Solomon's hair back behind his ear.]
Look at that beautiful, youthful face. Not a wrinkle in sight. Are those muscles just for show? I don't think so.
[Will flattery work? For the record, he's being perfectly honest.]
I'll take good care of your heart. I might even be willing to promise, but you'd have to return the favor.
[See? He doesn't make promises willy nilly. Taking care of another person's heart is a big obligation, but it's one Akira would take on with pride. Solomon has to know this by now. He's not the one with eighty million hangups here.]
no subject
Laying it on a little thick, there, aren't you... well, I'll pass the compliments for my skincare routine to Asmodeus when I next see him.
[He understands what comes next is meant to be light, that it's Akira trying to reinforce his persistence. But Solomon immediately shakes his head, something far more authoritative slipping in.]
Treat a promise with the fragility it holds in this space, Akira. Do not make one to me under any circumstances, whether I am your teacher or not.
Are we clear?
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