Floor 1, Room 3

[jokey]

AKIRA

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[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.

[revengier]

...

[ Something about that question seems to catch him off guard, enough so that he doesn't say anything for a long, long moment.

And when he finally does, his voice is much softer: ]

Of course I do, Akira. Of course I have friends.

[ They mean the world to him, after all, and that's why he can't be around them anymore. ]

[jokey]

[Akira's words, in turn, soften.]

Then you understand the power of bonds perfectly. The difference between us is what "fuel" we use to supply our powers. I don't know how yours works, but I assume your powers don't come out of thin air either.

[what is nen]

[revengier]

[ just drops the wiki page and leaves ]

Where I'm from, your power comes from your life energy—your Nen. It relies on your ability to adapt to different situations and opponents.

[ Planning and adaptability really are the most important things once everything else has been shoved to the side, he thinks. ]

Conditions and rules placed on your abilities to limit them will also greatly increase their strength.

[jokey]

Really? That's pretty interesting. Sounds like something out of a shounen anime.

[Akira taps his chin in silent thought. Hm. It won't really harm or benefit Kurapika to know the specifics of Akira's powers, so fine. He'll tell him.]

I can summon something called a Persona. It's a part of myself that fights on my behalf. I can summon multiple, actually, all with their own strengths and weaknesses. It's the bonds I've forged that make my Personas powerful.

[revengier]

[ He raises an eyebrow. A what what?

Anyway, that's not important and probably world specific to Akira, so Kurapika doesn't dwell on it, immediately shifting his attention to his abilities. ]

Does this mean you have many different aspects of yourself?

[ It's honestly kind of hard to conceptualize, but maybe he can think of it as a Conjuration type of Nen ability... ]

[jokey]

[See, this is why he didn't want to say shit to Kurapika. He's just embarrassed now. You show your whole ass to a guy and he just doesn't get it.............]

I'd like to think I'm a pretty well-rounded guy. I like doing new things, meeting interesting people... keeping my mind open to different perspectives.

[God. He feels like he's being interviewed for a job. Akira groans. The tips of his ears are a little red too.]

Anyway, can we talk about something else? It's not like it matters anymore. I can't use my powers here.

[revengier]

[ This is what you get for being into a guy with negative rizz, Akira.

Whether Kurapika feels a certain way about Akira's embarrassment or not, it's hard to tell, because his expression remains neutral. ]

Doesn't it matter? They rely on your bonds. Clearly they're an important part of your life. Just because you can't use them doesn't mean that they haven't had a hand in shaping who you've become.

[ Honing and developing an ability is a big investment. It's significant no matter what. ]

[jokey]

[...Kurapika really is a nice guy, isn't he? A shame he doesn't apply these concepts to himself, but that's neither here nor there. Akira takes another bite of tamagoyaki before replying.]

No one said they've stopped being important to me. All my friends are dear to me.

[His lips curve naturally into a smile. He looks at Kurapika sidelong.]

And I think we're gonna be good friends. You're good people.

[revengier]

[ Something about that... it bothers him, and he can't place why. Friendship is a good thing, despite all of his hang ups about it, but he's since accepted the fact that there's no avoiding that here. Can't exactly avoid someone when they can march right up to you instead of calling.

So, why is he bothered? He can't pick it out and isolate it and examine why he feels this way or why he's suddenly thinking about the warmth that radiated off of Akira when they shared a bed. It's impossible.

He picks up an apple slice. ]

We're already friends.

[ Mm... that isn't quite what is bothering him, as the feeling doesn't go away after he says it.

But it's true, so that's what counts. ]

[jokey]

That's true, but we can always be better friends.

[Nice and platonic-like. Akira's grin widens, perfectly unaware of Kurapika's inner turmoil.]

You could start by telling me your deepest darkest secrets.

[revengier]

[ Hmph.

It's a subtle shift, but Kurapika turns a little bit so that he isn't facing Akira nearly as much as he was before. ]

Are those really things you want to know, Akira? I am a mafia boss.

[jokey]

[Eh? Nani the fuck? Akira definitely notices, but he doesn't say shit about it. Kurapika is a pretty moody guy, so the reason for the sudden cold shoulder could be anything, really.]

When you say it like that, you make me even more curious.

[...Okay, the cold shoulder's kind of annoying, actually. Akira taps him on the shoulder, tap tap tap.]

[revengier]

[ He shrugs Akira off, a little frown on his face. ]

I don't really have secrets.

[ If he's asked the right question or in need of information, Kurapika will reveal whatever he needs to. So... ]

Ask me a question and I'll answer, but if you aren't specific you need to be happy with whatever you get.

[jokey]

[Aw, c'mon, don't be such a stiff. Putting that aside, Akira spits out the very first thought that comes to mind.]

What's your type?

[revengier]

[ ...

Why did he walk right into this? That's absolutely what he did, isn't it? ]

I don't think about that sort of thing.

[ And yet he kissed Akira back. Funny, isn't it? ]

[jokey]

What, really? You're such a wet blanket.

[Does Kurapika even... you know. Jork his peanits?]

I could hazard a guess, but you'd probably ditch me. I'll keep my thoughts to myself.