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[glorifies]

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[unhappy]

[ Double dipping... ]

Yeah. I think I understand the slang "thirsty" a lot better now.

[ She thinks about what she wants for a moment, holding out her hand for him to lead the way as she thinks. Right now.. ]

I want to lay down on a picnic blanket with you two on either side.

[glorifies]

Is that supposed to mean something else?

[ He's a little iffy on holding hands now, but it's not like Emerald's hands aren't dirty either. He takes them as they head back into the light. It's noisy again. It's bright again.

He liked the darkness better. ]

[unhappy]

What, thirsty? It's a word that means you're craving sexual attention. Though I'm also pretty dehydrated now, it was a joke.

[ She's going to keep an eye out for a place to wash them, but right now they're equally dirty so she isn't worried about it. She follows him. It already feels like it's not just them in the world again, so she doesn't want to let go. ]

[glorifies]

Ah.

[ ... he won't bring any attention to that, then. Instead, he clears his throat. ]

I'm parched.

[ Where the food stalls are are small porta-potty areas with faucets and all. It looks like there's water supply in Diateris despite it being an abandoned city. ]

Let's clean up. I'll meet you at this spot when you're done?

[unhappy]

It's been a while since I've bathed in a sink.

[ She's not going to completely bathe but she does have a lot of.. well, wetness down below that needs to be cleaned up. His handkerchief could definitely not have been used for that. She lets out a one-syllable snicker at her own comment though, as if to let him know that it's not self-depreciating or like she's going to be triggered or anything. He cares too much, she has to let him know that she's tough enough to talk about things nonchalantly.

She gives him a brief wave, then heads into one to clean up as he suggested. ]

[glorifies]

[ He doesn't like the she had to do that, but what's done is done. He heads into one of the stalls and freshens up as well, only to come out close to five minutes later. He'll need to shower once he's back home... ugh.

Once he's with Emerald again, he takes her hand in his and laces his fingers with hers. ]

I'm sorry for making a mess. [ And for making her make a mess, too. ]

[unhappy]

[ Emerald accepts his hand, but makes a face at him and bumps his shoulder with hers- lightly and playfully, not violently or angrily. ]

Are you going to apologize every time we do that? It's messy. That's how it works. I don't care as long as you don't make a mess somewhere people are going to see.

[glorifies]

It's my job to make things weird.

[ :)!!! He's making a joke. ]

[unhappy]

[ She actually gets it and for once she actually thinks he's being funny.

..Gross, she really does like him, she can't even hold in her laugh about it, closing her eyes as she does. ]

You're really good at your job.

[glorifies]

[ With their hands clean, he can finally kiss the back of her hand. He gives me each bone in her knuckles a soft kiss before he smiles at Emerald as if she's the world. ]

Well, I'd only like the best for you.

[ And he's really good at making things weird, so that means he's the best. ]

Ah, there's a milk tea stall over there. Would you like to try it?

[unhappy]

[ She smiles even after her soft laughter is done. He might notice that when she laughs earnestly, it's always something quiet like it's something she's not used to doing. ]

Is that just tea with milk in it?

[ She starts heading toward the stall before he answers. Show her the world, Akashi. ]

[glorifies]

Yes. In some countries, milk tea can be had with tapioca balls, pudding, and other things.

[ Akashi prefers coffee, but he supposes he can cheat today. It's a day of celebration. ]

It's a cold drink.

[unhappy]

Did someone just dump a cup of tapioca pudding in their tea and call it a day? That sounds so sweet...

[ But if he wants it, she'll try it. ]

If you want some I'll try it.

[glorifies]

You can ask for less sugar, I believe. I don't mind if that's not what you want.

[ He's not sold on milk tea, anyway! He wants Emerald to choose what she wants. ]

What about some juice instead?

[unhappy]

I... Want iced coffee and mochi.

[ The same thing they had last year. ]

My first tradition, if we start doing that every year.

[glorifies]

Let's look for a stall that sells mochi first, then.

[ He tries to recall what flavour of mochi they had last year. ]

Strawberry?

[unhappy]

That's fine.

[ She doesn't know he's trying to match, but she does like that flavor. ]

[glorifies]

[ Akashi doesn't say anything as they look for a stall. He doesn't let go of Emerald's hand either, and the happy smile he has on his face and the occasional times he rubs his thumb over the side of Emerald's hand shows how happy he is. With how bright it is, it's a little impossible to see the lights dancing around their feet, but they're there, ever present.

Once they have the mochi, he leads Emerald to search for a booth that sells iced coffee. It's pretty easy to find, at least. ]

Can you carry the coffee for both of us? Let's find a quiet spot away from the crowd.

[unhappy]

[ She looks for a moment. She has to unlatch if they both get a cup. Hm..

Instead of steering him toward the iced coffee booth if he lets her, she goes over to a place that has soda and asks for the biggest cup they have, ending up with a 32 ounce. She pays like, the equivalent of a quarter for it who cares, then drags him back to the place with iced coffee. ]

We want two iced coffees, but in this cup with two bendy straws.

[ She is going to share a cup with him just so she doesn't have to let go of his hand, thanks. ]

[glorifies]

[ It's a rather strange concept for sure, but Akashi is all smiles. Emerald is doing something she wants to do. For now, all he does is follow. ]

This is very innovative.

[ The person selling iced coffee is a little confused, but takes the giant cup and starts preparing coffee in it! Who cares where he puts it as long as it's paid for, right? ]

[unhappy]

I'm just ripping it off of the cheesy thing with the milkshakes.

[ Except it's caffeine instead of milkshakes and it definitely doesn't look as cute in a disposable cup as a nice glass. ]

I'm being romantic. [ She's trying to anyway. ]

[glorifies]

[ There's an unsaid "try" in there that Akashi seems to hear, and he appreciates the effort Emerald is putting in! He likes that beyond kissing each other, there are things she wants to do together, too. It helps define her expectations in the relationship and what she can offer. ]

You've swept me off my feet.

[ With the whole romance thing. Akashi doesn't completely mean it, but he feels like their conversation is lighthearted enough for it to be taken as a joke. ]

Going to the square would be an unwise choice. I imagine a lot of people are there already.

[unhappy]

[ The fact that he likes it even if it's lame is encouraging to her. She leans in to kiss his cheek. ]

I have another dumb idea but I have to let go of you for this one and you have to hold the coffee and the snacks and we both have to walk a ways.

[ This is like the discount romance option, sorry Akashi, she's doing her best here. She waits for him to agree to it though rather than de-latching on her own.]

[glorifies]

What do you have in mind?

[ He wants to stay close to her!! He doesn't look completely against the idea, but he doesn't seem all that excited, either. ]

[unhappy]

I am going to go grab some flowers and lay them out in a circle and maybe a bouquet in the middle and we can have our own flower festival. Like, away from everyone else so people don't bother us.

[ but she needs her arms to carry flowers ]