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[glorifies]

chickens

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[unhappy]

Like, two. They're not everywhere like they were back home. [ A beat. ] In Verens.

[ Not Remnant. If she thinks of home, she thinks of the weird little cabin in the forest where the basket cryptids live. Even if she didn't actually live there, that's where she spent more of her time and she felt most comfortable. ]

But back there I had to do that sometimes too.

[glorifies]

You can handle that by yourself, right?

[ Having to speak to some people from her world, he means. Jaune is weird, he doesn't want to talk to him again. Ruby is extremely childish. ]

I would offer to help speak to them, but it may be better that you did it on your own.

[unhappy]

If you could avoid talking to anyone on my behalf it'll keep us both from getting killed.

[ She.. has regrets. About not showing him Salem's people before. She should've shown him, told him to stay away from them. Now the only way instead of showing memories is to make it seem real with her abilities.

...She needs to do that. It's safer than him off-handedly mentioning her and having someone like Tyrian realize her loyalties lie elsewhere. All he needs is an excuse. She wanted to protect him from knowing that, but the more she rethinks her strategy to protect Akashi, the more she can't. ]

At some point, I need to show you Salem and her people. It's going to look real since I can't share memories anymore. Is that okay?

[ She can't protect Akashi in real life if she keeps trying to protect him from her memories. ]

[glorifies]

I see.

[ That's fine. Though... he's not sure if he wants to see what Salem looks like. Emerald is terrified of her, after all. But it should be good that he knows, in the case that she and her allies find themselves here.

He'll need to protect Emerald from these people, too. He can't do that if he doesn't know what they look like. ]

Are you tired? [ They're nearing the apartment he found, so at least she can rest. She'd mentioned before that her illusions give her headaches. He doesn't want to cause her more pain. ]

[unhappy]

Not really. I mean, I was mad before.

[ ..Which is why she was terrorizing the empty apartments. "Mad" is definitely an oversimplification, but in some ways she thinks she's more wired right now than ever. ]

I'm okay now that you're here.

[glorifies]

[ That's sweet of her to say, and he feels very happy to hear it. He loves being able to help her and be there for her. ]

The apartment I've claimed for myself is a little larger than the old one I had in Verens. I'm not sure what to do with so much space, so if you'd like to put some of your things there, then I wouldn't mind.

[unhappy]

The only thing I have that's not on me right now is my Crocodile planter, maybe later.

[ She just gave Akashi her crystal, she's wearing her sweater, her compass is in her pocket, and her weapons are on her butt. ]

Did you get one of those rich people lofts from TV? [ be a cliche akashi, she'll be so amused ]

[glorifies]

... That's- what I chose, yes.

[ He's a little nervous, now. He feels like Emerald is going to make fun of me. ]

The interior is very nice, so is the landlady.

[unhappy]

I can practice pretending to be rich for you so you can actually take me places when we get to Japan.

[ Her apartment isn't actually that awful either, but it's a cozier one bedroom. ]

I'll be nice to her.

[glorifies]

There's no such thing as a rich personality.

[ He shakes his head at the funny statement and steps into the beige building. There are about 5 storeys to it, and Akashi pressed on the elevator to get it down. ]

Please do. She's very friendly.

[ She's a middle aged woman. Looks like a total cougar. Totally charmed by Akashi, too. On the other hand, he's totally innocent. ]

She may not be here, though. She lives at the penthouse.

[unhappy]

Personality, no. Obvious behaviors and lack of common knowledge for the lower to middle classes, yes. You also know the whole... silver wear, table manners, politically correct conversation, advanced dances beyond slow dancing, the difference between a penthouse and a loft, and a severe lack of chill regarding accomplishment.

[ She's fairly certain there are a hundred other things she doesn't know. ]

None of which I really get, so if you take me to an event I'm guaranteed to embarrass you unless you teach me, so your fancy new apartment is a perfect setting for pretending to be high society. Though still owe me Japanese lessons on top of that...

[ She turns backward and skips ahead a few steps once the elevator doors open. ]

You'd better hop to it, Mr. President, you're getting behind on my lessons.

[glorifies]

I do, don't I... [ He's stroking his chin as he thinks. Then- ah...

His eyes go wide and his cheeks turn red. ]

Mr. President?

[ The elevator beeps. He hasn't gone in yet. ]

[unhappy]

[ Emerald is at least realistic about how much she doesn't know. She's street savvy, but she's well aware at any sort of high society event she'll stick out like a sore thumb. It's not something she's upset about-- she doesn't really.. respect people with money. But she respects Akashi, and she doesn't want to embarrass him.

She likes embarrassing him in private like the way he's reacting now, not in front of other people. ]

You're not senpai or sensei or whatever, so you're Mr. President.

[ He can't deny that he's student council president in some world. She reaches out to hold the door for him. ]

[glorifies]

[ He steps into the elevator and immediately turns to press the button to the fifth floor. ]

Please don't call me that. It's embarrassing. Seijuro is fine, because that's what you normally call me.

[unhappy]

Are you sure?

[ She's just saying. She leans over to kiss his cheek once the door closes. ]

You kind of seemed like you liked it.

[glorifies]

When used in the proper situation, then yes, I would like it. It's a show of respect. But you—

[ He pokes her on the nose as the elevator goes up. ]

You use it to tease me. I don't like that. And I'm not your president. I'm your boyfriend. It's not a proper term of endearment.

[unhappy]

I respect you.

[ She sometimes wonders if he doesn't... get that part of her. She thinks for a second, waiting until the elevator moves a bit, holding her hands together behind her back, then adds: ]

I tease you to your face because I respect you. I don't do it with you since you're too nice for it, but I talk behind peoples' backs a lot. Mostly to Mercury and Chihiro. I talk about you to them sometimes, but any time Merc tried to get mean about it I just told him to shut up.

[ The elevator dings and Emerald steps out, walking backward again so she can face him but stopping once there's enough room for him to get out too. ]

If I didn't feel I could be honest with you, I'd just be nice to you all the time instead of saying what I really think. Don't think I don't respect you.

[glorifies]

You wouldn't be with me if you didn't respect me. I know you do.

[ The teasing is just... it's not something he's used to. Emerald flusters him a lot, and sometimes it gets too far. Like that time in Theasthai, but that worked out in the end. . . sort of. ]

All I'm saying is that partners don't really call each other "Mr. President" or "Madam Secretary". [ oh god it really is a porno ] Calling me as such would only be appropriate in a school setting.

[unhappy]

[ ........

................ ]

"Madam Secretary?"

[ akashi have you been having fantasies about your secretary?? ]

[glorifies]

If you were my right hand, then...?

[ It makes sense to him? He looks a little confused that Emerald's confused.

Once they reach Akashi's apartment, he opens the door and gestures for her to come in first. The walls are white and so is the floor and the rest of the furniture. Yukimaru is somewhere... he's also white and small. ]

[unhappy]

Is that what you call your school secretary? Why are you assuming I'm your secretary in this scenario?

[ She pauses. ] Seijuro, do you have some kind of... want... to be with your secretary?

[ She's trying not to embarrass him about it as much as she can. She sees Yukimaru and her face just lights up. He's so. Small???????????????? She doesn't know what to say without completely invalidating this conversation. ]

[glorifies]

No, I don't. I just thought that— [ That's what most people call... secretaries............ in other places..................... Perhaps he was mistaken. ] Let's just move on.

[unhappy]

Fine. I won't call you President Seijuro.

[ She falls quiet for a moment, instead going over to greet... tiny Yukimaru... this is legitimately the cutest thing she's ever seen and she usually doesn't get all gooey over animals but she likes Yukimaru and he's.. ]

What happened to him?

[glorifies]

It's very troubling.

[ He reaches down to pat Yukimaru, running a hand through the horse's mane and then checking his face for anything weird, and then his teeth. Yukimaru doesn't usually live indoors, after all... who knows what it could have bitten while inside. ]

I don't know why he's become small since arriving. I need to fix it.

[unhappy]

Maybe it's good until you can save up money for a stable, it's not like these apartments come built with one.

[ She stands up straight, looking over at Akashi thoughtfully. Speaking of.. money... ]

Can you turn around for a second?