vatheon | am i still coherent man idk here goes

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am i still coherent man idk here goes—

Who: tsubaki and akise
Where: nostalgia nook i think
When: after somatheon shenanigans aka now
Style: smooth
Status: closed

[ it is a particularly slow day today, not to mention dull— network posts were the usual, and gasai-san was still awol... therefore, the things akise generally fixated his attention on weren't necessarily cutting it for him today. he's resorted to idly thinking; if there was one consistent mystery that kept nagging at his mind aside from vatheon in general, it would be the odd-one-out that was tsubaki kasugano. he hadn't really revived those topics since their original conversation concerning them, primarily because the two of them weren't comfortable enough to— moreso tsubaki than him.

he honestly realizes he doesn't know much about tsubaki as a person— he's only accumulated as much information as possible about her background. so naturally he's curious about the girl who had never led a life outside, had been forced into a new environment completely out of her comfort zone, and had differing memories than the rest of them— including no memory of her own death. the most disconcerting for akise would be her memories concerning him, as it only made him suspicious about possibly forgetting something important. either way, akise decides that today is an excellent day on the calendar for indulging further in these curiosities.

she's only two floors down from him, so he decides to surprise her. it isn't long before he's gotten dressed and made his way down to her apartment door. he gives the door a few steady knocks before taking a step back to wait, hands in his pockets. ]

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[The knock at the door surprises her to say the least. She's not exactly used to visitors, and she wonders whether Rei-kun's been expecting someone today...but seeing as how he's already left their apartment, she supposes that isn't the case. He would have mentioned something anyway, she would think; it's common courtesy, after all. Definitely odd...

But that's enough dwelling, because it would be rude to make whoever it is wait.

She makes her way over to the door, and...well, after peeking and seeing that familiar head of white hair, she has to open the door to make sure it's really who she thinks it is.]

Akise-kun?

[ as soon as she opens the door he gives an amiable wave with a smile. ]

Hey, Tsubaki-san.

[ he ceases holding his hand up from the wave and proceeds to chinscratch with curiosity. ]

Are you busy today?

[Ha, as if she's going to say yes to that. Even if she was busy--which she isn't--she's pretty sure she wouldn't decline him.]

Not at all. What's the occasion?

[She opens the door wider and takes a step inward, as if to invite him to do the same.]

[ he follows her cue, stepping inside before answering her question. ]

I was wondering if you'd be interested in accompanying me today. [ does he want to be blunt— yeah he does. ] On a date.

[ yep, no reason to not be straightforward; that's just not how he does things. ]

A date.

[There's a pause for a moment as she allows this to process, because...in truth, she doesn't know much about what a date would even entail. Her outing with Zelos on Valentines' Day...would that count?

And what of their own meeting later on?

She supposes it only counts if they leave the house, of course...]

I... I don't see why not. Though I'm not exactly sure what to suggest.

[Though it'd been his idea, sooo maybe he's got something in mind...]

[ he does!! ]

Nostalgia Nook. [ said rather non-hesitantly. ] Have you been there, yet?

[There is a headtilt that seems to suggest the answer is no, though she's at least heard of the place, perhaps. She will shake her head, however.]

I haven't.

You wish to take me?

[ BINGO. he would make a thumbs up or something but that's just not his style, so he nods with an accompanying smile instead. ]

We can go now, if you'd like.

...All right.

[Still not really seeing any good reason to refuse him, so she agrees easily enough. Although she does wonder--]

But how about you? I take it you've been there?

[Unlike her--]

A few times, yes. I think you'll like it.

[ not really expanding any further on what tsubaki should expect to experience— he kind of wants to surprise her, honestly. she would have never been to a marketplace or a lot of shops before, right? the scenery there was pleasant too, so—

he simply extends his hand to her at this point, ready to go. why wait? ]

[She is curious, but she takes 'I think you'll like it' as kind of a dismissive statement-- a reassurance that she'll see for herself.

So she takes his hand, even if she is a bit reluctant about it.

She blinks when nothing awful happens. And then she nods, ready to leave.]

[ he smiles, and begins leading her. it's probably better this way, given that her vision isn't that great. there's probably a bit of small-talk on the way, usually about whichever area they were in or minor things about vatheon life itself— this talk probably made the trip seem like less of one that it actually was, because before they know it, they're there. ]

Ah.. this is it.

[ it's pretty noticeable, considering the marketplace in nostalgia nook was a little grand in appearance, and undoubtedly a little unusual compared to your standard one. everything had a distinct ocean theme about it, as well... although that was unsurprisingly typical for vatheon. ]

[Being led is something she's used to, walking around her temple back at home. It's no different here; though she realizes it's something she's taken for granted, when there isn't someone to do it for her at all times.

It's almost a relief, since she doesn't run into anyone or anything, with his guidance.

And when the arrive, she simply looks up at the large archway that is its entrance. Even with her poor eyesight, it isn't something she can miss.]

...How grand.

Isn't it? Well, the scenery is that way. Ah-.. [ he makes an audible beat, as though he were either remembering something or about to point something out— ] That, for instance...

[ of course tsubaki wouldn't be able to notice (much less see) it very well from where they were both standing, so he points her toward and indentation in the central area of the entrance. upon getting closer, a koi pond of sorts would be noticeable. the water reflected the sky thoroughly at this time of day, so the bright colors of the koi contrasted against the deep blue would be easy enough for her eyes to pick up. ]

It's quite the soothing atmosphere.. [ okay, he can't hold back a chuckle— ] ..which is slightly ironic for a place usually so busy.

[That?

...She watches him closely, since she can tell that he's remembered something. She isn't much for scenery for obvious reasons, but... she follows his gaze anyway and gets a blurry view of what looks like a body of water.

They are already approaching it though, so the view becomes a little clearer. And she blinks once, seeing the koi swimming around as orange blobs.

Peaceful indeed, though at least it isn't so busy that they can't stop to enjoy this.]

Fish?

[She tilts her head a little. There's nothing else it could be, could it? She leans in a bit closer.]

Yep! [ he momentarily reaches into his coat pocket to produce a single albeit sizeable snow pea, tossing it into the water near the edge of the indentation— which only serves to attract most of the fish closer. hopefully that would clarify them a bit, although they were beneath water so of course fish wouldn't be entirely clear to watch, even to someone with perfect vision. ]

Oh, my.

[She's not sure what it is he pulled out of his pocket, but said fish certainly like it. She watches their reaction in awe-- perfectly content with what she sees, despite how unclear her vision is at the moment.

Because she's used to it after all.]

What did you give them?

A snow pea— dried out, of course. Koi fish like them. [ and he knew they were coming here SO IT'S NOT THAT WEIRD— idk what the boy keeps in his pockets he's got convenient coins and shit.

he's still holding hands with her, so only the slightest motion indicates that he's about to show her somewhere else. ]

I'll show you the shops.

[Ah--

Once the snow pea's gone, the commotion seems to have died down anyway. So at the light tug of her hand, she turns easily and follows his lead.

Although she does spare the pond one last glance as they leave, she doesn't feel the need to say anything.]

[ the place isn't too large of an area, and many of the shops are crowded together. it's only a few meters away from the pond— the particular shop he stops at. there's an assortment of flowers at the entrance, but he doesn't necessarily stop to examine them too heavily.

leading her into the shop, he stops dead center within it; it isn't a very big store. he turns back to her— ]

Anything catch your eye?

[ in other words, tsubaki is free to lead. ]

[The color of the flowers catches her eye for a moment, but since Akise doesn't stop, neither does she. Into the store they go-- she never even caught the name of it, but she supposes it's not entirely important right now.

...But of course, she's never shopped before, so what does she know.]

...

[She is unable to answer right away, but she does start to look around.

...She's supposed to lead? Really?]

Is that jewelry?

[Catching something shiny near the counter, out of the corner of her eye, she'll slowly walk over there first. Her tone is more of genuine curiosity than of excitement, but...

Why not.]

[ he smiles, glad she had taken an initiative; overall, she seems like the type of girl who'd rarely had the chance to do that.. and he wanted to encourage it as much as he could. he liked taking initiatives himself, after all— and the freedom to do so. ]

Looks like it! [ he follows her, hands in his coat pockets rather than connected to tsubaki's, for once. he's curious himself, since he initally couldn't quite see what kind of jewelry tsubaki had caught sight of— ]

Earrings.

[Tsubaki answers the question for herself, mostly, but it's likely something Akise had wondered as well. Of course, he is in a better position to see them with her own eyes, but still--

There seem to be a variety of white and blue shades.]

[ ah, yes, as he's gotten closer he can clearly discern what type of jewelry it is. they look pretty enough, though he's curious— ]

Do you wear them?

[ curious here, since he was under the impression that tsubaki didn't leave her home often. in fact, she had mentioned akise being the first to show her out... although, for something like pierced ears, that could be done at home, couldn't it? especially if she were the head of a cult— it's likely she had people waiting on her, moreso due to her impaired vision. although he hadn't seen her wear any while in vatheon...

then again, this was her first time to nostalgia nook. ]

Edited 2012-07-15 14:19 (UTC)

[She shakes her head.

She'd never even wanted them either, but now that she's without influence from the cult, she can kind of see their appeal. Even if she doesn't really understand them, necessarily...]

I saw no reason to. Nor did anyone else.

[Anyone else who mattered.

What is the point of them, though...?]

[ he examines them for a moment; and although his interest in jewelry was rather low, even he can admit— ]

They're pretty though, aren't they?

[ which was more or less their purpose. some things couldn't be logically enjoyed but they were still just that... enjoyable. akise could relate, if only because he found things he didn't understand appealing, as well. ]

Yes. I suppose.

[She'll actually be daring enough to reach forward and pick up a pair now. And although they don't really match with her miko, they are quite pretty in the way they shine.

Someone must take care of them.

...Ah. And interesting, they seem to have clips on the back. For ease of trying them on, she assumes.

Hrm.]

If you like them, you should try them on.

[ —a suggestion merely based on his observations. she might not know herself that she likes them entirely.. she's new to this, after all— but akise can at least tell that they're keeping her attention well enough. either way, if she tried them on she'd have a better chance of discerning whether or not she legitimately likes them. ]

[Oh.

......Hrm. Right, she's still kind of staring, fascinated with them; but then she figures he is right. So she fumbles with the earrings, trying to unclip at least one of them to attach to her ears.

...

...

She wasn't supposed to drop them.

Oops.]

[ well, they are small— and with her vision...

he kneels over to pick them up for her; it goes without saying that he wouldn't allow for her to search on the floor for them herself, especially since she would undoubtedly have a little trouble spotting them.

although he doesn't hand them back to her immediately. ]

Is it alright if I help? [ for someone like her, he'd rather avoid anything that might make her uncomfortable, but... he's still bold enough to ask. ]

[She's already bent down to try to find them, despite knowing that it's unlikely she'd be able to. But when she sees that he's already gotten a hold of them-- indicated only by the shine emitting from his hand-- she stops.

...And at the question, she likewise doesn't answer right away; but eventually, she nods.]

I would appreciate it...

[He's already helped her before. Even here in Vatheon.]

[ at her permission, he stands up— but not before offering his hand to her in order to help her back up, as well. he chuckles, because they really had no business being on the floor for longer than necessary.

moving a lock of her hair aside with a few of his fingers, he carefully fastens an earring for her left ear— he's facing her, so it's easy enough to do the same for the other ear in a quick but equally careful motion. it's a momentary realization, but he hadn't been this close to tsubaki in their entire time here— he doesn't necessarily dislike it, either. tsubaki was... pleasant, for some reason. she was interesting to him; he knew so little about her while she knew so much about him— he wasn't used to being in this sort of situation, honestly. if it were anyone else, it might trouble him more—it had irritated him initially, but for some reason he'd grown less and less worried over time.

once finished fastening the earrings for her, he takes a step back— he'd rather not invade her personal space longer than necessary; plus, she'd likely want to use the mirror now. ]

[Likewise, she found Akise's company pleasant as well, though she has a better idea as to why than he does. The sensation of him being so close is familiar to her, too, if only because she still remembers how it felt, giving him that kiss-- but it's been a long time now since that happened.

She's not going to scare him by doing anything like that any time soon, but she does allow him to to clip on those earrings, standing perfectly still as he does so. Her breaths are careful, calculated, her heartbeats fast; but it is all short lived.

And when he steps back, she turns to face the mirror as predicted, nudging the earrings lightly with her hands.

The way they shine is certainly something else.]

I wonder if they suit me.

[ he doesn't say anything at first, instead taking the time to scrutinize her himself— of course, she doesn't look bad; he didn't think earrings were particularly necessary for her to look nice, but they admittedly did suit her. ]

It's cute. [ said shamelessly enough because that's just how he rolls!! ]

Cute?

[She barely knows the meaning of the word tbh. Or at least, she's never associated it with herself. It's enough to make her turn to him with a confused expression, head tilted and all.

But then she turns to the mirror again.

Maybe...it's true?]

Mm, very. [ he nods, his statement flowing naturally - confirming it as though it were something obviously true. ]

They look good on you.

[ not 'you look good in them' because that would imply she would otherwise be unattractive - and akise is smooth with his words so he wouldn't make a mistake like that. ]

...Thank you.

[Tsubaki isn't nearly savvy enough about that kind of thing to catch that distinction anyway. But either way, it's a compliment to her, and she takes it with a smile.

It'd be a shame to take them off right away, too, so she decides to leave them on while she decides how badly she wants to keep them; and she starts looking around at the rest of the store's selection in the meantime.

There seem to be necklaces, even outfits to match, but there's a lot of stuff where she just doesn't know what to make of it...]

[ leave it to akise to recommend something! or at least help steer her in an appropriate direction - he really doesn't want to overwhelm her here, but there is something he's been curious about - ]

How much clothing do you have at the apartment?

[ since she.. wears the same thing every time he sees her. it doesn't take a detective to catch that detail. ]

[Hey, they may be the same thing but she takes good care of them okay. But fine, she'll answer the question, underlying assumptions and whatnot aside.]

Simply what is necessary.

[aka not much.

...Why?]

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am i still coherent man idk here goes—

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one hiatus later—

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