(open) if you don't want to, i can live with that

[jokey]

Whomst: akira and you~ ✨
What: akira wandering around doing akira things
Where: various places around campus
When: late january
Warnings: none, will update as necessary

i. CHATTY CATTIES

[The resident cats seem familiar, their toe beans pleasantly plump beneath his thumb and their fur silky soft... but something is off. Something doesn't feel quite right, and it's neither their beans nor their silky soft fur, so what could it be?

Stooped in the hallway, Akira turns to the black cat and shakes his head.]

I could've sworn you had a name. [Akira taps his chin, brows scrunched up in thought.] ...Miyuki? No. Morris?

[Akira's been here trying fruitlessly to converse with the cats for the better part of an hour. Crazy? Possibly.]

ii. STEAL BOOK, GET NAILED

[Incidentally, if you're studying hard (or hardly studying) in the library, you'll bump into Akira sooner rather than later. He's quiet, if not exactly shy, and strides up to eye the book in the other student's hands.]

That's a new one. Let me guess, another novel no one's heard of?

[The sharp-eyed might notice that all the fingertips on Akira's right hand have been thickly wrapped in bloodied bandaids. Curious!]

iii. STORE LOSER

[Should someone be headed towards the student store late in the evening, they might coincidentally find Akira giving the vending machine a nice, solid kick. He looks he might fire off a second when he feels the gaze of another student all but boring into him.

Turning, Akira brushes his blazer into place a little too casually. This is exactly what it looks like, and so Akira doesn't bother trying to save face.]

Sorry. The vending machine ate my homework. [Stepping aside, Akira flippantly motions to the machine.] All yours.

Comments

[bullchuck]

Count on me, then! I'll get this sorted out in no time for ya! Here, lemme just..

_{[ Oh. His grip is tightening on this vending machine and his back starts to bend backward. Was he really going to lift this thing off of the ground? There's some huffing and groaning as his muscles squeeze. However, the vending machine doesn't budge, no matter how hard Itto tries to lift it off of the ground. ]}

Just... a few... more.. hah.. minutes..

_{[ why does this tag sound sexy i'm so sorry milky ]}

What the hell?

_{[ And release. Itto backs up, seeming to break a sweat. ]}

WHAT THE HELL? Is this thing melded to the ground or somethin'?

[jokey]

[UGH, just look at those RIPPLING MUSCLES,

...except Akira would be more impressed if this guy could, you know, actually manage to lift it. He can't, and so therefore all he gets for his efforts is a modest golf clap from Akira. Poor thing, he tried so hard...]

They say it's the thought that counts. [But Akira's not including himself in the category of "they."] It probably is. You know, to deter big muscular men from stealing it.

[bullchuck]

_{[ It's the thought that counts, but Itto doesn't handle defeat very well, Initially, really. It's a flighty and emotional outburst in most cases, but it doesn't let it chew into his chipper demeanor. So, there's a gnash of teeth as he turns to Akira. ]}

Listen, I ain't gonna steal it! Okay! You deserve that snack fair and square!

_{[ Oh. He's getting into Akira's personal space and jabbing at his chest. ]}

Is that how you think, huh? With defeat after something mistreats ya?

_{[ It sounds like.. he's acting really dramatic over something really small, doesn't it? To him, it is a big deal. His ancestors had fought for equality for years.
No, it was in his blood to fight for what was right and maybe that's why he didn't understand when people didn't, even over the smallest things. ]}

[jokey]

[This man(child) is almost painfully earnest. Actually, no, Akira's in agony right now, so it's high time he come clean and put them both out of their misery. Akira throws up his hands as if to admit defeat. stop... jabbin he tiddy.........]

Look, you're a cool guy and I appreciate the backup, but it's not needed. The vending machine never stole anything from me.

[Please understand.]

[bullchuck]

Yeah?

_{[ Itto settles his hands on both of his own hips, allowing the space between them but squinting at Akira as he leans down to be more eye level with him. Sus. ]}

Then why did ya say so! When you were lookin' at me too! Y'anno!

_{[ Oh, Now he's jabbing that finger into his own palm to emphasize his point: ]}

If someone ever took somethin' from ya unfairly, that deserves a fight! Am I right? Never give up on yourself!

[jokey]

[This man is either the best or the worst motivational speaker and Akira can't decide which.

Wishing for a swift end to any and all jabbing, Akira shakes his head and pockets his hands.]

You're right, but you're misunderstanding. I was just making a joke.

[Itto should understand how jokes work. He's a punchline.]

I wanted to see resilient these vending machines were, so I gave it a whack. As you saw, it won't even budge.

1/2

[bullchuck]

A joke!? Seriously!? What are you.. some kinda joker?

_{[ badumTSH ]}

Yeah! It won't! But!

_{[ butt ]}

That doesn't mean I'm gonna give up. This thing is my enemy now. I swear by it.

_{[ Akira. What have you done. ]}

[bullchuck]

Man, all this firing up is making me thirsty!

_{[ there are drinks.. right in front of them.. but like.. he has some weird grudge against the vending machine now. Akira may even notice he's glaring at it and his nose is scrunching up. ]}

C'mon! Let's find something to drink!

[jokey]

[Ah. At this point, he has to intervene, setting a consoling hand on the man's shoulder and shaking his head.]

Hone your skills and come back. Your arch nemesis will be waiting.

[Or just, you know, drop it?? Maybe he can........ distract the guy from his vending machine grudge, if only temporarily.]

There are other places we can get water. Don't worry about the vending machine.

[Yeah, other places!! Like the toilets and the garden hose outside. You know, normal places to get drinking water.]

[bullchuck]

Yea, man! The toilet has water.. and it's free.

_{[ omg??? Is he being serious or what.. ]}

Where do ya suggest we get somethin' to drink at?