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[purrtagonist]

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[purrtagonist]

[ah. . . that's. . . well. that's the mindset by which Akira has always operated, so. he gets it. and it makes him feel a little warm]

[his own plate is empty now, and despite her offer for seconds, he feels full enough to pass it off to a shadowy servant himself. maybe after their walk he'll be hungry again. but for now? she doesn't even have to kidnap one of his hands, because he's already standing up and reaching out to twine their fingers together]

You know, we're a lot more alike than we originally thought.

[flyingsolos]

[ Rion smiles, pressing their palms together briefly before shifting her grip for a more familiar hold.

Looks like they'll be heading out now. ]

You mean on the shameless front?

[purrtagonist]

[EXCUSE]

I'm not shameless. I'm perfectly innocent, thank you very much.

[how can he say that with a straight face]

[flyingsolos]

...

[ She is giving him a very skeptical stare right now. Really, Akira? Really? ]

[purrtagonist]

[what]

I find your skepticism very offensive, Rion.

[no he doesn't]

[probably obvious in the way he says that so airily that it's clear he isn't being serious]

[flyingsolos]

And I find it very hard to forget your tongue--

[ Well. He did this to himself. ]

1/2

[purrtagonist]

[STARES FURTHER INTO THE ABYSS]

[purrtagonist]

Anyway, though true, shamelessness was not what I was talking about.

[okay he caves he admits to it]

[flyingsolos]

[ There, she knew he could do it. Good job, Akira! ]

What did you mean, then?

[ As Rion, blithely acting as though she did not just make Akira stare into the abyss yet again, gives him a little tug further along. Outside sounds nice. ]

[purrtagonist]

[she's slowly killing him with every single playfully flirty comment. SLOWLY KILLING HIM!!]

I meant, neither of us are the type to be shy or hide how we feel about other people.

[it's dark outside by now, but not so dark that they can't see their way through the forests. the light of the moon and the stars above is more than enough for that]

Or to take advantage of the time we have with them.

[flyingsolos]

[ It's been some time since she's wandered outside at night, but it's nice to be back in a place with actual trees and nature. Rion's even taking a second to inhale deeply. ]

I think the both of us have probably done a lot of hiding in the first place. [ The both of them and their monster-fighting, Rion and that angelic power of hers, Akira and what he'd gone through... ]

Not having to do it at all with someone else is just... really nice, you know?

[purrtagonist]

[. . .]

[his expression softens a bit, though his eyes are affixed on the path ahead as they walk]

Yeah. I know.

[. . .]

That's what I thought when we first formed the Phantom Thieves, you know?

[flyingsolos]

Having a group of people who understand you and share the same kind of goal... something like that?

... [ She'll squeeze his hand, gaze also resting ahead of them. ]

I didn't know you back then, but I'm glad that you didn't end up going through it alone. That you had Ryuji, and Ann, and your other friends... it's such a relief.

[purrtagonist]

To give you a place of belonging, when you never really had one before. . .

[he squeezes back]

Yeah. I'm pretty glad I had them, too.

[and he's glad he has Ryuji and Ann here, even if it's a double-edged sword]

[flyingsolos]

[ Akira's done his best, really. And she's glad they're here for him too-- because even now, she's sure there are a lot of things about Akira, or things he's had to deal with, that they'd understand better than anyone else.

Just like her and Kou. So Rion only nods, giving their joined hands a little bit of a swing.

If the Phantom Thieves gave him a place to belong, then she's even more grateful. ]

[purrtagonist]

[he could gush about his friends all day, but admittedly, that's now what they're here for. it's a first date they should be talking about each other!1]

You know-- [he finally breaks the silence with a hum, arm swinging to and fro with her guidance]

You never told me what it was you had in mind earlier.

[flyingsolos]

Oh-- that?

[ Ah, right. Rion's echoing his hum, in a higher octave. ]

I was thinking about sitting in your lap. Maaaybe feeding you.

But mostly the lap.

[purrtagonist]

[BUMPS HIS HIP AGAINST HERS]

You can sit on my lap when we find a good place for stargazing.

[oh]

[flyingsolos]

[ oh ]

... No takebacks.

[ IF HE'S JOKING SO HELP HER ]

[purrtagonist]

No takebacks.

[HE IS, IN FACT, NOT JOKING]

[flyingsolos]

So--!!

[ brightly. ]

About how long do you think it'll take to find a good spot?

[purrtagonist]

[lets out a breathless laugh, fondly amused]

Not that long. There are plenty of clearings in this forest.

[flyingsolos]

I'm all fired up now!

[ ... this has apparently made her seriously happy. Way to go, Akira. ]

[purrtagonist]

[every time he thinks she can't get anymore endearing. . .]

[but it seems like Akira was right. a few paces ahead of them, a clearing appears!! and there don't seem to be any mischievous sprites or other fantastical forest animals hanging around, either]

[flyingsolos]

[ Wow. She didn't expect to find a place that didn't involve creepy birds or random lizards or sprites flitting about-- ]

Whoa...

[ Rion's slowly looking around, just to make sure there aren't any random critters, before she looks straight up. ]

Okay, I approve.