Floor 1, Room 3

[jokey]

AKIRA

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[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. ]

[jokey]

Alright, alright. Be gentle with it.

[Akira plops the ring in Kurapika's palm. When he slips it on, the ring will hum, warming against his skin, and revealing the image of the justice arcana.]

Whew. Looks like it worked.

[He's relieved Kurapika's finger didn't blow up.]

[revengier]

[ He frowns as the ring grows warmer, briefly wondering if this is some more advanced version of a mood ring, but... ah. That image. ]

What does that mean?

[ Care to share, Akira? ]

[jokey]

That's your Arcana. You're not familiar with the Major Arcana?

[revengier]

Not really. I don’t believe in that sort of thing.

[ But he looks at Akira, prompting him to explain. ]

[jokey]

[Oh, he knows Kurapika is prodding him for an explanation, but Akira's not certain he'd believe him if he told him. Then again, this is a world wherein magic is real and Kurapika's world sounds magical in its own right.

Alright then. He'll toe the line.]

I believe in fate. I believe in the powers those Arcana hold.

[And, taking Kurapika's hand and sandwiching it between his own—]

I believe in the strength of our bond~

[...Which is the honest truth, but it sure sounds like bullshit when Akira says it with a flirtatious lilt.]

[revengier]

[ He considers pulling his hand away and keeping it closer to himself so Akira can’t take it again, but… no. He’ll let it stay there, clasped between the other boy’s hands, let Akira stew in his actions. ]

What powers do they hold? Surely they must do something for someone like you to believe in fate.

[ Yes, he’s definitely skipping over that “bond” line. What he doesn’t acknowledge can’t embarrass him. ]

[jokey]

[Oh, that's. Not what he was expecting Kurapika to do. Is he holding his hand hostage? Is he going to break a finger for every lie he tells? No, it's more like.......... Kurapika's punishing him on purpose. That's what this is.

This time, Akira is the first to relent, taking that hand and setting it neatly in Kurapika's lap. You can have that back.]

I meant it when I said that bonds are my strength. The particulars are... complicated.

[revengier]

[ There’s a mix of satisfaction and disappointment swirling in his chest when Akira gives in and sets Kurapika’s hand back down. It’s unsettling, feeling this way, and part of him feels like he’s made a mistake in not keeping Akira away.

But Kurapika does his best not to let his mind run wild right now, focusing instead on the conversation in front of him.

…In which Akira is being too evasive for his tastes. He was the same way when their powers came up before, wasn’t he? With a sigh, Kurapika decides to prod him. ]

So? Are you going to get into the particulars or not?

[jokey]

Do I have to?

[Grumbled around a mouthful of delicious bento.]

I feel like you'd just laugh at me if I did. I have feelings, you know.

[revengier]

Why would I laugh? Spit it out.

[ Akira, please. This is the first time he's been able to actually relax since the mission. Let him have this. ]

[jokey]

[Can you leave nothing well enough alone, Kurapika...? Akira rubs his temples.]

Everybody represents different Major Arcana. Strengthening my bond with people who bear those Arcana makes my own skills more powerful. Happy?

[Don't make him talk about Igor and his prison-themed Velvet Room, please!]

[revengier]

Not really. You haven't explained your skills for one, much less how they even boost your strength.

[ He's doing something worse than laughing—he's judging. ]

How do you even know when you strengthen a bond anyway?

[jokey]

You're the worst. Seriously the worst.

[This guy...!! He's trying to explain!]

Don't you have any friends? I'm not trying to be rude, just asking. You should know what it feels like when you've forged a strong bond with someone.