[empatheias ic contact]

[purrtagonist]

TELEPATHY text / voice / image / action Akira doesn't have a bird with which to exchange written messages! But you can send him one anyway and he'll just. . . use your bird to reply. . . probably. code credit

Comments

[stripartist]

Then I shall meet you there. I'd like to sketch the wyverns some more, anyway.

[purrtagonist]

Thanks.

[a beat]

I'll appreciate having you there.

[that appreciation is warm and fond. he could really use a more calming presence to balance out Haru and Makoto right now. and Yusuke had always been good for that, despite his eccentricities]

[stripartist]

Of course. I'll be there shortly.

[Yusuke sends his own warm fondness over the link, as well as plenty of assurance.]

[purrtagonist]

[Akira waits outside the bathhouse for Yusuke to arrive, instead of going straight inside. his hands are in his pockets and his shoulders are slouched, so it's clear he's trying to give off an air of nonchalance]

[but Yusuke can probably see the way he shifts from foot to foot. the way he kicks at the ground. the way his gaze is downcast and the way the lenses of his glasses mask his eyes. he's tense, and even if he's trying to pretend he isn't, anyone who knows him well will be able to tell]

[stripartist]

[Yusuke arrives with his sketchbook and pencils eventually, outwardly calm but still unsure of everything. What is going on?]

Akira!

[purrtagonist]

[that voice helps relieve some of the tension, and Akira lifts his gaze to give Yusuke a smile]

Hey there, Yusuke.

You want some sushi while we're here?

[stripartist]

That sounds--oh, I promised Makoto I'd find something for dinner tonight. It was the only way to get her to go back to bed.

[Maybe something Western style...]

But sushi would be wonderful right now.

[purrtagonist]

There's usually a ton of leftover sushi at the end of the shift. Why don't we bring some of that home?

[it isn't Western style, but maybe it'll make everyone feel better. maybe??]

[stripartist]

I'm sure Morgana will love us.

[purrtagonist]

He'd better. Part of the reason I got this job was for him.

[even though he wasn't in Verens at the time?? okay Akira]

[pushes the door to the bathhouse open and heads inside]

[stripartist]

[Yusuke will not question, okay?

But he will follow!]

How are you feeling, by the way?

[purrtagonist]

[opens his mouth to say "I'm fine."]

[. . . closes it again]

Liiiiittle stressed out.

[stripartist]

Just a little?

[Please not even Yusuke's buying that shit.]

[purrtagonist]

[tilts his hand back and forth in a so-so gesture]

. . . all right.

A lot stressed.

[stripartist]

When are you off?

[purrtagonist]

Ah?

[blinks, a bit surprised by the question]

It's a half day today, so. . . four hours. Why?

[stripartist]

Why don't we spend a few hours in the spa when you get off? I think it would be good for us.

[purrtagonist]

[oh. . . . .]

[his smile is genuine. tired, but still genuine]

Sounds like a perfect idea to me, as long as we don't leave them by themselves for too long.

[he's really worried]

[stripartist]

Of course not. Two hours or so should be plenty to revitalize us, yes?

[Yusuke is smiling right back. Take a break, Akira!]

[purrtagonist]

I think I can spare two hours out of my extremely busy schedule.

[bumps his shoulder affectionately against Yusuke's]

[stripartist]

[Yusuke bumps back. Look! He's learned!]

Good. You deserve it.

[purrtagonist]

Just me?

[they're your friends too Yusuke]

. . . how are you holding up?

[stripartist]

What do you mean?

[He's fine, of course he's fine, why wouldn't he be fine...?]

[purrtagonist]

[don't lie!!]

They're our teammates. Not just mine.

[stripartist]

Makoto doesn't think I'm dead.