week 3 ( sunday )

[subordinacy]

[Hold himself together—he has to hold himself together. Don't show weakness, don't show weakness repeats itself in his head like a mantra, even as he knows he's already failed.

(He wants to cry, scream, hit something—anything. But he can't.)

He can't afford to mope. He just has enough time for the mask of ice to settle, before he seeks out Akira.]

What did you tell Ichigo, exactly?

Comments

[subordinacy]

[Dryly,]

Of course.

[Definitely not a Reaper!!]

[purrtagonist]

[definitely not!!]

[the bathroom now smells like coffee]

You go it.

[fingerguns]

[subordinacy]

... You really couldn't have come up with a better place to hide this?

[purrtagonist]

I'm open to suggestions.

[McDonald's is the only constant thing in this world :(]

[subordinacy]

... I guess there isn't...

[what if you run into karen, akira.]

1/2

[purrtagonist]

[he's in the men's bathroom she won't come in here]

[maybe]

[purrtagonist]

[BUT ANYWAY]

[once the coffee is finished, he pours it into a paper cup and hands said cup to Setz]

This is the closest I could get to my favorite blend back home. Let me know what you think.

{spoilers: it's delicious]

[subordinacy]

[Setz takes it. Oddly, something sad passes through his face for a moment, before he ignores it. Not like it's something he can discuss with Akira, at any rate.

He takes a sip.]

[purrtagonist]

[Akira waits quietly for Setz's reaction, although he does make note of that sad expression. something to ask about in just a few moments. . .]

Hm?

[subordinacy]

... Well, now I know why you were so confident.

[purrtagonist]

[quirks a brow, lifting a hand to push his glasses further up his nose]

I learned from the best.

[subordinacy]

Seems like they were a good teacher, then.

[Sipping more of his coffee!]

[purrtagonist]

They were. They taught me how to make curry, too.

[but that's a little harder to get ingredients for]

. . . everything okay, Setz?

[subordinacy]

[...]

Why do you ask?

[purrtagonist]

You looked a little. . . sad.

[again, he noticed. and he won't let it slide without asking]

[subordinacy]

... Sorry. It's not really something I can talk about.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . ah]

Mmmm. Well. . .

[hops up, so he's seated on the edge of the counter, legs swinging in the air]

Max gets my recipe is anything happens to me. If you like it that much, talk to him.

You know where I keep my paraphernalia now.

[subordinacy]

... It's still weird to think about you hiding it in a bathroom.

[purrtagonist]

The moment we have access to a store with a kitchen is the moment I move it. Trust me.

[ha]

[and then, more seriously]

Anyway. . . if you change your mind, I'm here.

[for now]

[subordinacy]

... Thank you. I do appreciate it, Akira—everything you've done for me.

[purrtagonist]

I haven't done-- . . . too much.

[or it doesn't feel like he has, anyway. as exhausting as these four weeks have been, he only just now feels like they're coming into some answers]

Except speak from my heart, I suppose. And say what I really believe.

[subordinacy]

... You've... done a lot for me.

[Akira has been kind to him—kinder than most have ever been in Setz's life.]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . his instinct is to deny it, of course. but he lifts his gaze from the coffee maker to seek out Setz's with his own, studying him carefully]

If that's true. . . then I'm glad.

And I'll keep doing what I can, even as we move forward.