Floor 1, Room 3

[jokey]

AKIRA

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Comments

[revengier]

[ He frowns at how quickly Akira recovers from that. Ugh. He should've flailed around, not immediately gone back to talking.

With a sigh, he waves around his fork. ]

...I don't know how to use them.

[ Do you really think he's going to come out here and look like an idiot for Akira's entertainment? No. ]

[jokey]

[Why does Akira perk up after hearing that?]

I can teach you.

[revengier]

[ And that's the million dollar question, isn't it? Although, Kurapika has a feeling why Akira perks up, and he bites back a sigh. ]

...Alright. Go ahead.

[jokey]

[yessssSSSSSSSSSSSS,]

It takes some practice, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy.

[Akira picks up his chopsticks and shows his hand to Kurapika.]

You hold them like this. Give it a try.

[revengier]

[ He did bring an extra pair, so... Kurapika takes those out and tries to mimic Akira's hand positioning. He's got it mostly, but it's still a little bit off. ]

[jokey]

Almost. If you hold it like that, your hand'll cramp.

[Pardon the reach around, but it's necessary to correct Kurapika's chopstick posture. Akira unwinds his arms from around Kurapika immediately after. Don't get mad!]

[revengier]

[ Oh.

He isn't mad, not at all, but he does tense. It's a more visceral kind of tensing up than when Akira showed him how to cut carrots, and it takes him a second or two longer than he'd like to relax. ]

Thanks. That's much better.

[ Despite everything, his hand really does feel more comfortable in this position. ]

[jokey]

[...Still tensing up like that, huh? No, it's a bit different this time. Different in a way Akira can feel better than he can describe, feeling that tension cling to him and affect him just the same. Even 'uncomfortable' doesn't quite describe it.]

Sure. I noticed you had that habit. Tensing your hands, I mean.

[revengier]

[ For a long moment, Kurapika doesn't say anything. He stares at the chopsticks in his hands, pulling them apart and pressing them together with his fingers a few times. ]

And when would you have noticed that? Just now?

[ Or when he tried to chop carrots or peel potatoes. Or was it when they kissed? ]

[jokey]

You want my honest answer?

[He noticed it when they kissed. He noticed it on their mission. He noticed it in the way he hacked up those carrots.]

It's been obvious from the start.

[Somehow, he questions how much Kurapika will appreciate that answer. No one wants to think their bad habits, however minor, are immediately noticeable.]

[revengier]

[ ...He doesn't like being noticed like this. Since when did Akira get so perceptive? (The truth is, he always has been.)

Maybe it's those stupid fake glasses. ]

Explain.

[jokey]

Man, you're intense.

[Was Kurapika born with a stuck up his ass, or did he stumble somewhere along the way and get it lodged up there? Akira can't contain a smile, though he does manage to swallow back a laugh, scooping up a bit of rice to pop into Kurapika's mouth while he explains himself.]

You're a very honest person. That's all there is to it. You try to distance yourself from your true feelings, but you're not a natural-born liar. Sound about right?

[revengier]

[ He stumbled along the way... Akira better be sad when he finds this out.

Kurapika frowns around the rice in his mouth, leveling Akira with a half-hearted glare before he swallows it. ]

I don't like liars.

[jokey]

[He's allowed to be sad. He's also allowed to want better for someone like Kurapika.

Akira grabs a bit of rice for himself and brings his chopsticks to his mouth. A bit of Kurapika's warmth still lingers on the tips.]

Does anyone? I think you meant to say "liars piss me off and infuriate me. I want to whip them until they bleed with my badass bling."

[revengier]

[ He picks up one of the apples in his own bento and chews on it... maybe a little angrily, but let's not sweat the details here. ]

I don't like being physically violent, you know.

[jokey]

No one said anything about liking violence. Being hot-blooded lends itself to that sort of thing.

[Apple bunnies are so cute, aren't they? He's always favored the color red. Akira pops one into his mouth.]

You do things you don't like because you feel like you have to. Right?

[Kurapika's a stubborn guy, after all.]

[revengier]

[ That Akira goes for one of the apple slices with more red on it doesn't escape his notice, and he averts his gaze back to his own food. ]

We all do things we don't like because we have to, Akira. That's the nature of the world.

[jokey]

That's true, but not all of us torture ourselves on purpose.

[You know it's true, Kurapika. Most people choose to avoid the things that hurt them most.]

But back to the point, that's not a knock against you. You're stubborn and tense and your attitude kinda sucks, but I like you.

[...Quick addendum,]

...I like that about you.

[revengier]

[ Speaking of being tense, Kurapika's shoulders tense up the moment Akira slips up, and it takes all of his effort not to accidentally upend the bento on his lap out of nervousness.

This fucking sucks. ]

You need to like better traits.

[ Terrible taste. ]

[jokey]

[Believe him, the nerves are mutual. God, this sucks.]

I can like whatever I want. That's my problem, not yours.

[And, fuck it. While they're taking potshots at each other—]

Don't be a hypocrite.

[revengier]

[ He considers completely ignoring that comment, having a bite of rice and egg together, though he struggles to grab some of the egg with his chopsticks. ]

...For what?

[jokey]

Having bad taste.

[Pardon his reach, but he's stealing that vibrant red apple bunny right out of Kurapika's bento.]

Here. Let me see your hand.

[revengier]

[ Wow. He's just going to ignore that comment, thanks!! It's a good thing what Akira says is distracting enough that he doesn't have to make it obvious he's ignoring it. ]

Why?

[ You think he just gives his hand out for free? ]

[jokey]

Relax. I'm not asking for your hand in marriage.

[Unless Kurapika wants a shotgun wedding...?

Anyway, guess what Akira pulls out of his hand. It's a silver ring that shines an ethereal blue in the light.]

I've been working a little magic on this mood ring. Would you do me a favor and put it on?

[revengier]

[ God. He wasn't even thinking about marriage!! Kurapka huffs, but he holds out his hand, palm up. ]

Give me the ring.

[ Sorry, Akira, but he'll combust if you actually put that thing on him. ]