[ This was good, Akashi thinks. He feels lighter now that Emerald's contacted him. It's eased some of his worries and it's distracted him from being sad that Miu's gone. It's. . . nice. He hasn't felt like himself these past few days, and being able to go out and take care of somebody has helped him.
These are thoughts he doesn't vocalise, though. In fact, with his back facing Emerald as they head to where Akashi lives, it's a bit difficult to tell what he's feeling and what he's thinking. He stays quiet in case Emerald doesn't really want to talk. He's not sure what there is to talk about right now, either. They're both sad. ]
[ Emerald doesn't necessarily not want to talk, but her mind isn't on anything that Akashi wants to hear about. She doesn't know what to say, but he came and got her even when she just wanted to let him know she was okay. He's here for her, and that's important. That's a lot.
He'll probably feel one of her arms moving off of his stomach though. She's never been on a horse properly, she's gonna reach back and try to pet him. She's strong enough that she can hold onto Akashi with one arm if something happens, at least long enough to get her other one back around him. She'd rather do something than sit here and go deeper into her thoughts though, even if she doesn't know what to say. ]
[ But she lets out a little laugh at that. It's not exactly mirthful, but it's there. ]
He said that you weren't the worst and he wouldn't do anything to you since I like you. Chihiro and Tetsuya, too. I think it freaked him out that I liked anyone so he didn't know what to do.
[ Even if she sounds down, if he's the one who gave her this news, she doesn't sound upset that he's here.
..He also definitely implied if Akashi hurt her he'd hurt Akashi but you know, she'll leave that bit out. ]
[ Ah, so that's why Emerald was so surprised when Akashi asked if Mercury hurt her. If they don't keep anything from each other, then they're probably very tight. ]
I see.
I'm glad we're friends.
[ That's what he was driving at when he brought up that she likes him. He can say it now, too. ]
[ She turns back around the rest of the way and rests her forehead against the back of his spine. ]
He wasn't too bad was he? He just came fresh off of Cinder-- of the battle Cinder died in, our side losing... If he was there, I was there too so he's probably exhausted hauling me off if we needed to escape and in a bad mood.
[ She knows if they get cornered it's her job to get them out of there. She doesn't have any of the details of what happened, or even who else was with them, but Cinder was the only one he told her died. But regardless, she's really hoping Akashi hasn't decided to write him off. She doesn't expect them to get along but it'd be nice if they weren't actively trying to pick a fight with each other, so she wants to know what to expect. ]
I just want you to know you're not alone, that's all.
[ She doesn't just have Mercury! ]
He's nothing I can't handle. [ At that time, anyway. He's not sure how it will be once Mercury's. . . feeling better and more oriented with the place. ]
[ Not to have an expectation of being alone. She knows it took her a while to contact him, but the fact that she felt she could contact someone for help is a first. ]
Uh huh. I'm the only person he'll let handle him, so if something comes up just let me know. No pissing contests.
[ Akashi looks back at Emerald for a split second before facing front. She really needs to speak more eloquently. He doesn't want to get too distracted when they could topple off the horse if he does. ]
I'm not barbaric enough to do that.
[ Literally and metaphorically. Either Mercury is an ally or an enemy, though. Right now, he's still in the middle. ]
[ When he looks back, he'll have seen her quirk an eyebrow at him. ]
Sure, Mr. "I am Absolute, know your place."
[ He said it in front of her after playing the two jerks at the basketball court, she's not going to not tease him about it. She's pretty sure that's the definition of a pissing contest to compete against someone for the sole purpose of proving dominance. ]
Yeaaaaah... I don't think his promise to me not hurt you unless you hurt me first is going to last through you making him kneel, so I'd hold off on that and just call me over if he's being a pain.
[ That's not exactly what he said, but the implication that Emerald would stop liking Akashi for any reason would require Akashi to hurt her a lot to get her to tell Mercury it was okay. If A is B and B is C, then A must be C. ]
[ Because Mercury doesn't have to be standing up to shoot him in the face. X( ]
I want you to be aware of him and recognize that the best solution isn't you handling him on your own. Besides, his negative emotional reactions suck just as much as yours do- you pull that at the same time and you'll end up killing whoever's around you before each other.
[ ... that's it. That's all the acknowledgement Akashi gives.
He's fine with trusting Emerald and relying on her on some things. He's learned his lesson when they went to Shaarnath and had to deal with the rebels, but he's not going to play nice because someone told him to when the other person isn't returning the favour. ]
If he doesn't hurt me, [ Or annoy him, really... ] then we won't have a problem.
[ She's not unaware that at no point has he agreed to call Emerald if something happens. He's still refusing her help, even in a situation that would in no way put her in danger of crossing any lines.
Though unlike Akashi's solutions to do what he pleases and exert his authority as needed, Emerald makes a mental note to just be careful about upsetting him. If her off-handed comment didn't phase him, she perhaps mistakenly assumes that means he knows he's hurt her and he doesn't care instead of just not realizing it as she'd previously thought. It adds up with his behavior of late, making sure that anyone who crosses him isn't able to. It also adds up with how people who like Emerald treat her when she doesn't behave, so this isn't something she feels the need to address. The fact that he's nearly suffocated her twice being something he's aware of and hasn't felt the need to address in the past or when she's brought it up is something she just accepts and doesn't at all deter her from her response: ]
[ Emerald is going to eventually leave him if she had to choose between him and Mercury, anyway. Akashi is no Cinder, but Mercury is the closest person she has to Cinder. He and Emerald are friends. Mercury and Emerald are... whatever they are - allies, colleagues, co-slaves—all Akashi knows and believes is that her relationship with this person is far more important than what the two of them have. Akashi finds that he hates that - that Emerald is going to leave him behind eventually and he knows what the cause of that will be.
He should listen to her for his own safety, but Akashi is angry and broken. Were he in the proper state of mind, he would have responded differently. He isn't.
Eventually, they reach the house in the woods. There isn't much changes to the exterior compared to the housewarming party. The windows once had cracks in them, but Akashi's since fixed it.
Akashi gets off Yukimaru once they're inside the stable and helps Emerald down before leading the way inside. ]
[ It's a good thing he helps her down because her heel got stuck on the stirrup. If he wasn't helping she probably would've ended up flat on her face. She brushes off the back side of her pants once she's down and gives Yukimaru two pats above his stifle as a thanks for the ride, then follows Akashi. ]
Just the bread is okay, I'm not really hungry.
[ In fact, she's heading for the couch once they're in if he doesn't direct her otherwise. ]
[ Emerald can chill on the couch, no big deal. Akashi would have suggested she stay there, anyway. It's comfortable on the couch!
Meanwhile, he heads to the kitchen to the warm some milk and heat some bread. He's not sure if she wants something with the bread, but he slices some cheese and puts honey in a small bowl to serve.
He's out in less than five minutes, and he sets everything on the coffee table by the couch. ]
[ By the time he's out, Emerald has gathered up every throw pillow she could find and put them against her and one in her lap. She'll give one back to Akashi if he wants it. ]
It sounds sticky.
[ But he said to try it so she's going to try it. She makes a face though. Fancy cheeses aren't really her thing. She likes the honey anyway........ ]
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These are thoughts he doesn't vocalise, though. In fact, with his back facing Emerald as they head to where Akashi lives, it's a bit difficult to tell what he's feeling and what he's thinking. He stays quiet in case Emerald doesn't really want to talk. He's not sure what there is to talk about right now, either. They're both sad. ]
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He'll probably feel one of her arms moving off of his stomach though. She's never been on a horse properly, she's gonna reach back and try to pet him. She's strong enough that she can hold onto Akashi with one arm if something happens, at least long enough to get her other one back around him. She'd rather do something than sit here and go deeper into her thoughts though, even if she doesn't know what to say. ]
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[ But then, it didn't occur to him that he was the Mercury Emerald had mentioned before. ]
He's quite a personality.
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[ But she lets out a little laugh at that. It's not exactly mirthful, but it's there. ]
He said that you weren't the worst and he wouldn't do anything to you since I like you. Chihiro and Tetsuya, too. I think it freaked him out that I liked anyone so he didn't know what to do.
[ Even if she sounds down, if he's the one who gave her this news, she doesn't sound upset that he's here.
..He also definitely implied if Akashi hurt her he'd hurt Akashi but you know, she'll leave that bit out. ]
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You didn't even want to call me your friend before, but now you're telling people you like me.
[ How far they've come!! ]
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[ Obviously, as if that explains anything. ]
We don't keep secrets from each other.
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I see.
I'm glad we're friends.
[ That's what he was driving at when he brought up that she likes him. He can say it now, too. ]
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[ She turns back around the rest of the way and rests her forehead against the back of his spine. ]
He wasn't too bad was he? He just came fresh off of Cinder-- of the battle Cinder died in, our side losing... If he was there, I was there too so he's probably exhausted hauling me off if we needed to escape and in a bad mood.
[ She knows if they get cornered it's her job to get them out of there. She doesn't have any of the details of what happened, or even who else was with them, but Cinder was the only one he told her died. But regardless, she's really hoping Akashi hasn't decided to write him off. She doesn't expect them to get along but it'd be nice if they weren't actively trying to pick a fight with each other, so she wants to know what to expect. ]
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I just want you to know you're not alone, that's all.
[ She doesn't just have Mercury! ]
He's nothing I can't handle. [ At that time, anyway. He's not sure how it will be once Mercury's. . . feeling better and more oriented with the place. ]
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[ Not to have an expectation of being alone. She knows it took her a while to contact him, but the fact that she felt she could contact someone for help is a first. ]
Uh huh. I'm the only person he'll let handle him, so if something comes up just let me know. No pissing contests.
[ She doesn't want Akashi to get hurt. ]
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[ Akashi looks back at Emerald for a split second before facing front. She really needs to speak more eloquently. He doesn't want to get too distracted when they could topple off the horse if he does. ]
I'm not barbaric enough to do that.
[ Literally and metaphorically. Either Mercury is an ally or an enemy, though. Right now, he's still in the middle. ]
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Sure, Mr. "I am Absolute, know your place."
[ He said it in front of her after playing the two jerks at the basketball court, she's not going to not tease him about it. She's pretty sure that's the definition of a pissing contest to compete against someone for the sole purpose of proving dominance. ]
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Although sometimes he does like to flaunt it because some people are assholes. :) ]
I won't make Mercury kneel unless I have to.
[ That's not him challenging Mercury to a pissing contest. It's him slapping the guy with authority. ]
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[ That's not exactly what he said, but the implication that Emerald would stop liking Akashi for any reason would require Akashi to hurt her a lot to get her to tell Mercury it was okay. If A is B and B is C, then A must be C. ]
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It almost sounds like you want me to be afraid of him.
[ But for Emerald's sake, he doesn't say anything else, opting to move on. ]
We're near.
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I want you to be aware of him and recognize that the best solution isn't you handling him on your own. Besides, his negative emotional reactions suck just as much as yours do- you pull that at the same time and you'll end up killing whoever's around you before each other.
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[ ... that's it. That's all the acknowledgement Akashi gives.
He's fine with trusting Emerald and relying on her on some things. He's learned his lesson when they went to Shaarnath and had to deal with the rebels, but he's not going to play nice because someone told him to when the other person isn't returning the favour. ]
If he doesn't hurt me, [ Or annoy him, really... ] then we won't have a problem.
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Though unlike Akashi's solutions to do what he pleases and exert his authority as needed, Emerald makes a mental note to just be careful about upsetting him. If her off-handed comment didn't phase him, she perhaps mistakenly assumes that means he knows he's hurt her and he doesn't care instead of just not realizing it as she'd previously thought. It adds up with his behavior of late, making sure that anyone who crosses him isn't able to. It also adds up with how people who like Emerald treat her when she doesn't behave, so this isn't something she feels the need to address. The fact that he's nearly suffocated her twice being something he's aware of and hasn't felt the need to address in the past or when she's brought it up is something she just accepts and doesn't at all deter her from her response: ]
I trust you, then.
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He should listen to her for his own safety, but Akashi is angry and broken. Were he in the proper state of mind, he would have responded differently. He isn't.
Eventually, they reach the house in the woods. There isn't much changes to the exterior compared to the housewarming party. The windows once had cracks in them, but Akashi's since fixed it.
Akashi gets off Yukimaru once they're inside the stable and helps Emerald down before leading the way inside. ]
I'll prepare a small meal.
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Just the bread is okay, I'm not really hungry.
[ In fact, she's heading for the couch once they're in if he doesn't direct her otherwise. ]
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Meanwhile, he heads to the kitchen to the warm some milk and heat some bread. He's not sure if she wants something with the bread, but he slices some cheese and puts honey in a small bowl to serve.
He's out in less than five minutes, and he sets everything on the coffee table by the couch. ]
Honey with cheese is good. Try it.
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It sounds sticky.
[ But he said to try it so she's going to try it. She makes a face though. Fancy cheeses aren't really her thing. She likes the honey anyway........ ]
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[ That's what it seems to him. ]
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[ She's just going to nibble the end of the bread now. ]
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[ He gets up to go get those, then! ]
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I lost the notif for this :(
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