[yeah there was absolutely nothing to do about the guilt that followed both their failure to protect Szayel and Medic's false conviction. Akira spends a good amount of time outside trying to clear his head, which means when he returns to the resort, it's with a red-tipped nose and flushed ears. the obvious next step is to warm himself up with some coffee, but to get to the kitchen he has to pass through the restaurant]
[and that's when he sees Anthy seated at a corner table with Chu-Chu standing on the table opposite. he slows down a bit, hesitates, before stepping towards them both to interrupt their subdued game of cards]
Ask him if he has any threes.
[he mutters in Anthy's direction, one hand pressed against his mouth conspiratorially]
[ Ah... Anthy looks up and blinks for a moment, but then goes along with it. ]
Do you have any threes?
[ Chu-Chu looks momentarily shocked that they got his number like this, and then with a slightly disappointed chuuu..., drops the three of diamonds and the three of clubs onto the table, and slides them across with his tail. ]
Oh, thank you.
[ Look, she just needs spades now and then she'll have all the threes.
Chu-Chu takes a brief break to nibble on a cracker to cope with his losing turn, and Anthy looks back up to Akira. ]
[sorry Chu-Chu. Akira at least gives the monkey an apologetic look before he pulls up a chair and drops into it, leaning backwards and slumping juuuust a little bit when he does so]
[there's a time for coffee, and a time for tea. so he gives Anthy a grateful look, before reaching out to pinch the saucer and tug the cup towards him]
[ Chu-Chu tries to sneak a peek at a card, and Anthy gives him a gentle tap on the head. ]
Well, just be careful. They apparently didn't think you enough of a threat to try to vote for you this time, and I don't think that's something you want to change.
Actually, maybe there's something to be said for your spider challenge after all.
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[and that's when he sees Anthy seated at a corner table with Chu-Chu standing on the table opposite. he slows down a bit, hesitates, before stepping towards them both to interrupt their subdued game of cards]
Ask him if he has any threes.
[he mutters in Anthy's direction, one hand pressed against his mouth conspiratorially]
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Do you have any threes?
[ Chu-Chu looks momentarily shocked that they got his number like this, and then with a slightly disappointed chuuu..., drops the three of diamonds and the three of clubs onto the table, and slides them across with his tail. ]
Oh, thank you.
[ Look, she just needs spades now and then she'll have all the threes.
Chu-Chu takes a brief break to nibble on a cracker to cope with his losing turn, and Anthy looks back up to Akira. ]
You look cold.
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Do I?
[hm]
I guess it is a little chilly outside.
[A LITTLE CHILLY]
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[ She looks at him for a moment before touching a finger to the edge of the saucer beneath her teacup. ]
This is still hot if you want it. It's not coffee, though, so I don't think it would do much besides warm you up.
[ Still has caffeine, sure, but. You know. Not the kind of thing you'd bring into a Palace. ]
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That's okay. I like tea, too.
[there's a time for coffee, and a time for tea. so he gives Anthy a grateful look, before reaching out to pinch the saucer and tug the cup towards him]
Thanks.
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You did a good job today.
[ "Aside from the failed spider challenge attempt" is somehow clearly implied. ]
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Despite trying to fight a giant spider, to no avail?
[but despite her implication, there's amusement in his voice]
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[ ha ]
You did well with the leadership role you took, though. Everyone clearly trusted you.
[ even if they thought you were kind of a dumbass ]
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[that seems to take him by surprise, despite the fact that he's no stranger to being in a leadership role]
I wasn't. . . trying to lead.
[perhaps his air of authority just comes naturally?]
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[ Apparently. Or maybe he's just well-practiced at herding cats because one of his teammates is a literal cat. ]
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Maybe.
[a small sigh, and he lowers his tea cup back to the table, finger tracing the edges]
I just knew that we had to focus. That we had to try to find the Jorogumo, no matter how impossible it seemed.
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Mm...
[ Chu-Chu tries to sneak a peek at a card, and Anthy gives him a gentle tap on the head. ]
Well, just be careful. They apparently didn't think you enough of a threat to try to vote for you this time, and I don't think that's something you want to change.
Actually, maybe there's something to be said for your spider challenge after all.
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So reckless that there's no possible way I'm one of them, you mean?
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I like the way I put it better.
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[ She picks her cards back up and Chu-Chu follows suit. After a slight pause, she looks back to Akira with a smile. ]
If you want to play, it is better with three players than two.
[ And Chu-Chu probably wouldn't have any objections to ditching this round and starting over. ]
We used to play with Utena-sama back home sometimes.
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All right. Deal me in.
[a pause]
Who is Utena?
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The person I'm engaged to.
[ She lets Chu-Chu cut the deck. He gives it a relatively ineffective karate chop. ]
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Congratulations.
[he means that sincerely! but. . . then he has to ask]
How old are you?
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[ h m ]
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You're engaged at age fourteen?
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[ casually deals cards... ]
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Are. . . are you okay with that?
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[ Because if it wasn't it wouldn't make a difference and she doesn't have the energy to waste on that shit.
Anyway, here are your cards! ]
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That doesn't sound very convincing.
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You're not still trying to travel beyond the resort grounds every day, are you?