[Akira's approval means the most at the moment. It doesn't matter much if Akechi thinks it tastes fine when Akira is the one who knows best. Gaining it lightens his heart considerably and he gives a soft, pleased hum.]
I thought as much. [He says it with confidence, which happens to be mostly true. He really did think it would work but there is always room for error.] We can bottle the rest. It should keep for awhile.
[ Akira nods his concurrence and gets back to the stove to remove the pot of sauce. Then it's back to flitting around the kitchen: He checks on the curry and adds a couple more things, the scent from the pot shaping into something more and more familiar, and then another bit of water is set to boil separately before he busies himself with finding a sieve which he can press the homemade steak sauce through.
As he's doing so, he finally speaks up again. ] Time for you to tell me something about you that I don't know.
[Like before, he enjoys watching him in silence, only stirring from his own muted thoughts when Akira speaks. Well, he did ask him the same thing earlier, so that is fair. His intentions had just been to get to know him better and he supposes it probably goes the same way for Akira.]
Hmm... [He drums his fingers on the side of his thigh as he tries to think of something worth giving.] I like a variety of movies but my favourite type would be animated ones.
[ It might have been more surprising a month ago but after hearing about Akechi's taste in television shows and his favorite book, this new detail fits right in. ]
I get that. They have a charm that live action movies don't. [ He glances up from mashing the sauce through the sieve. ] I can see you liking ones about animals.
[He smiles. True enough, it seems Akira has his number.]
I do. There was one I saw awhile ago, about little mice-sized people and their life. Of course, the cat in that appeared very large to them, as did any other animal. It proved to be a dangerous but enchanting world from that perspective. Movies where animals are the humanized characters are fun, aren't they? [Fun isn't the only reason but it's true he really likes stories with inhuman characters.] Though I also just like the animation itself. The different styles and approaches can convey so much more to the stories, even if the stories are simple ones. They feel richer and more meaningful, like you can see the creative team's feelings.
[ Akira nods, focusing again on his task. ] It puts a new spin on stuff you see as completely normal. And the animation gives it its own personality.
[ He falls quiet for a moment as he finishes with the sauce and just sets the finished product aside for now. Finding something to bottle it in can come later; right now, he has to tend to the curry and get the fixings for coffee ready before the water finishes boiling. ]
Curry and a movie would've been a good way to spend the afternoon.
[ That's what he misses most about them, he thinks. The social aspect. Going to the theater with a friend or taking in the fuzzy picture on his boxy old television with Morgana.
Well, it's true that that's no longer an option. This isn't so bad, though. The lulls of silence while he works, interspersed with brief bursts of conversation. Akira readies the coffee pot amidst it, a process different from the manual drip he learned back at Leblanc, and once the pouch with the grounds is inside, he pours the boiling water over it. ]
[It sounds like a nice way. In fact, he'd love to see a movie with Akira. Akira brings an interesting energy to everything he does; even seeing a movie would be different. But, also, it just seems fun, like a thing friends do.
Speaking of fun, he's enjoying getting to know him better. Before he never really did, for multiple reasons at any given point in their relationship. But now there isn't much point in keeping his distance.
[ Akira gives the coffee pitcher a thoughtful look as he closes it. Both of their facts so far haven't been all that surprising. What can he say that Akechi might not have been able to infer already? ]
... One time I called one of those shady maid services.
[ Well, he managed something surprising. The honest shock in Akechi's reaction is kind of satisfying, Akira can't deny that. ]
It wasn't my idea... [ His friends just chickened out at the last second. ] But yeah, I did.
[ Which he realizes sounds terrible, so he continues as he moves back to the curry: ] She needed the money, so I wanted to help. I'd get her to come clean my room after Leblanc closed for the night.
[His shoulders slump as he relaxes back against the counter again with a sigh.]
For a moment, I truly thought I had underestimated your delinquency... [Reforming society sure whatever but a 'maid service' would have been a different level.] That sounds like you, though. Assisting someone in need, I mean.
[ That actually gets a little laugh. Should he tell Akechi that said maid was his homeroom teacher and in exchange she would give him opportunities to slack off in class? Maybe another time. ]
I guess so. I just don't like seeing people being taken advantage of.
[That would be a lot to take in but he gives a hum of thought.]
Yes, that's why you're the leader, after all. A leader is the core of any team and holds responsibility for being a representation of the guiding principles of any given group.
[ Akira has never given that much thought to his role as leader. It's a role he was essentially elected to, not one he intentionally claimed. Akechi's words give him pause, the spoon slowing as he stirs the pot. ]
... I'm not that integral as a leader.
[ Nor does he want to be. Akira wants to think that if he's gone missing from his timeline, the Phantom Thieves will be able to carry on their work seamlessly in his absence. To say that he's the core implies that the rest would suffer without him. ]
[He raises an eyebrow, surprised. Though he thought that went without saying, apparently Akira feels differently on the matter.]
You think so? [Akechi taps his chin, debating what to say.] Well, that belief is part of what makes you a good leader as well, at least in part. Most great leaders have greatness thrust upon them rather than stepping up without selection. But I stand by what I said.
[Before Akira misunderstands him, though, he adds:] Don't worry. It doesn't make your friends mindless masses or useless without you. It's different than that. But underestimating your importance would be a mistake.
[ Maybe it just looks different from his perspective. Akira knows better than anyone else how much support he gets from everyone else—both inside and outside of the Metaverse. But maybe being the leader for him is tying all of it together in a way that best benefits the team. ]
Thanks, Akechi.
[ Regardless, it's not a topic he should be dwelling on. Too much and he's going to start wondering why he's hanging around making curry when he should be trying to get home. It's just like a Palace infiltration, where he can't throw himself at it blindly until it works out. Pacing and gathering information are important, and both of those are even harder without his powers.
It doesn't take too long before the coffee is ready. Part of it gets poured out to be added to the curry, but the rest is divided into two cups, and Akechi's is placed in front of him, prepared about the same as he preferred back home. ]
It doesn't taste like Leblanc's, but I thought you might like some.
[Lucky for Akira, he doesn't see a reason to pursue the topic. It would be fun to discuss but not when it seems to be a delicate subject of a sort. So he doesn't mind letting it drop in favour of enjoying the smell of the brewing coffee. He takes a sip of it as he nods.]
Of course. I imagine it would be impossible to replicate here, though we could investigate the types of beans that are around sometime to have a richer knowledge regardless. But I do like coffee anyway.
[ A soft hum, as if considering the idea. ] Hm, we should do that sometime...
[ He learned some facts about the different beans from Sojiro and tried quite a few of the brews himself; perhaps with enough searching, they could find a blend that would come closer to mimicking the familiar flavor than what he's managed to pick up so far.
Akira has his own cup, though he only sips from it once before getting back to work. There are just a couple more things to throw into the pot, and then the cover is placed over and the heat turned down, and the waiting game begins. It's still a bit too soon to start the rice, so Akira returns to the counter to pick up his cup of coffee. ]
It's got to cook for a while. Why don't you tell me something else?
[Akechi sips at his coffee as he considers what to tell him. Akira gave him a rather surprising fact, so he should give something surprising, too. But what would be surprising about him now? At this point, Akira knows several sides to him, so he can expect certain types of information that falls along a fairly broad area. Not only that but Akira would be expecting something surprising now, too.
In that regard, maybe he should just give a fact and hope it's surprising anyway.]
[ That's beyond the bounds of his expectations. Akechi has earned himself one quick glance, eyes slightly widened in surprise. ]
Really? And you wanted to call me the delinquent... [ It's hard to imagine the situation. A work function, maybe? Akechi works with the law so probably not, but Akira also knows how corrupt part of that branch is.
Actually, there's a more pressing detail here than the reason: ] ... What kind of drunk are you?
[Judging by his expression, he's pleased that he managed to surprise Akira. He chuckles at the look and takes another drink of his coffee before answering.]
Ah, I get rather sleepy and start saying nonsense from what I recall. Unfiltered, I suppose. Well, alcohol does that.
[ Well, it lines up with the cherry anecdote. But he imagines it's much different from the flavor of unfiltered Akechi he saw earlier in the month. ]
I can see that. [ It fits in with the cuter, somewhat ditzy air Akechi gives off sometimes. Which Akira originally thought might be intentional like much of his image, but he's starting to see now that it's just how Akechi is. ] What was the occasion?
[While allowing it to be seen was at times calculated, he unfortunately had plenty of uncalculated ditzy moments, too. He gives a soft, almost snorted laugh at Akira pointing it out, though.]
Ah, we were at a buffet and I wasn't exactly being monitored through it as far as I knew, and I wasn't actually paying for any of it, either, so... [Akechi shrugs.] Well, it seemed like a fun idea to try some. And it did taste pretty good, so I kept... trying it.
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I thought as much. [He says it with confidence, which happens to be mostly true. He really did think it would work but there is always room for error.] We can bottle the rest. It should keep for awhile.
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As he's doing so, he finally speaks up again. ] Time for you to tell me something about you that I don't know.
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Hmm... [He drums his fingers on the side of his thigh as he tries to think of something worth giving.] I like a variety of movies but my favourite type would be animated ones.
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I get that. They have a charm that live action movies don't. [ He glances up from mashing the sauce through the sieve. ] I can see you liking ones about animals.
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I do. There was one I saw awhile ago, about little mice-sized people and their life. Of course, the cat in that appeared very large to them, as did any other animal. It proved to be a dangerous but enchanting world from that perspective. Movies where animals are the humanized characters are fun, aren't they? [Fun isn't the only reason but it's true he really likes stories with inhuman characters.] Though I also just like the animation itself. The different styles and approaches can convey so much more to the stories, even if the stories are simple ones. They feel richer and more meaningful, like you can see the creative team's feelings.
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[ He falls quiet for a moment as he finishes with the sauce and just sets the finished product aside for now. Finding something to bottle it in can come later; right now, he has to tend to the curry and get the fixings for coffee ready before the water finishes boiling. ]
I miss movies.
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Me too. I only went a few times. Most of what I saw was at home in my rare moments of free-time. But it was nice.
[Maybe he should have seen more. Well, that ship has passed. Maybe they can invent movies here? Possibly? Hm.]
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[ That's what he misses most about them, he thinks. The social aspect. Going to the theater with a friend or taking in the fuzzy picture on his boxy old television with Morgana.
Well, it's true that that's no longer an option. This isn't so bad, though. The lulls of silence while he works, interspersed with brief bursts of conversation. Akira readies the coffee pot amidst it, a process different from the manual drip he learned back at Leblanc, and once the pouch with the grounds is inside, he pours the boiling water over it. ]
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Speaking of fun, he's enjoying getting to know him better. Before he never really did, for multiple reasons at any given point in their relationship. But now there isn't much point in keeping his distance.
At least in this specific way.]
Hey, it's your turn again.
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... One time I called one of those shady maid services.
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Wh-What?! You did what? [He still can't believe he heard it right.] Did you use it?!
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It wasn't my idea... [ His friends just chickened out at the last second. ] But yeah, I did.
[ Which he realizes sounds terrible, so he continues as he moves back to the curry: ] She needed the money, so I wanted to help. I'd get her to come clean my room after Leblanc closed for the night.
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For a moment, I truly thought I had underestimated your delinquency... [Reforming society sure whatever but a 'maid service' would have been a different level.] That sounds like you, though. Assisting someone in need, I mean.
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I guess so. I just don't like seeing people being taken advantage of.
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Yes, that's why you're the leader, after all. A leader is the core of any team and holds responsibility for being a representation of the guiding principles of any given group.
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... I'm not that integral as a leader.
[ Nor does he want to be. Akira wants to think that if he's gone missing from his timeline, the Phantom Thieves will be able to carry on their work seamlessly in his absence. To say that he's the core implies that the rest would suffer without him. ]
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You think so? [Akechi taps his chin, debating what to say.] Well, that belief is part of what makes you a good leader as well, at least in part. Most great leaders have greatness thrust upon them rather than stepping up without selection. But I stand by what I said.
[Before Akira misunderstands him, though, he adds:] Don't worry. It doesn't make your friends mindless masses or useless without you. It's different than that. But underestimating your importance would be a mistake.
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Thanks, Akechi.
[ Regardless, it's not a topic he should be dwelling on. Too much and he's going to start wondering why he's hanging around making curry when he should be trying to get home. It's just like a Palace infiltration, where he can't throw himself at it blindly until it works out. Pacing and gathering information are important, and both of those are even harder without his powers.
It doesn't take too long before the coffee is ready. Part of it gets poured out to be added to the curry, but the rest is divided into two cups, and Akechi's is placed in front of him, prepared about the same as he preferred back home. ]
It doesn't taste like Leblanc's, but I thought you might like some.
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Of course. I imagine it would be impossible to replicate here, though we could investigate the types of beans that are around sometime to have a richer knowledge regardless. But I do like coffee anyway.
[Who doesn't like a jolt of caffeine?]
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[ He learned some facts about the different beans from Sojiro and tried quite a few of the brews himself; perhaps with enough searching, they could find a blend that would come closer to mimicking the familiar flavor than what he's managed to pick up so far.
Akira has his own cup, though he only sips from it once before getting back to work. There are just a couple more things to throw into the pot, and then the cover is placed over and the heat turned down, and the waiting game begins. It's still a bit too soon to start the rice, so Akira returns to the counter to pick up his cup of coffee. ]
It's got to cook for a while. Why don't you tell me something else?
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In that regard, maybe he should just give a fact and hope it's surprising anyway.]
Hmmm... I've been drunk before.
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Really? And you wanted to call me the delinquent... [ It's hard to imagine the situation. A work function, maybe? Akechi works with the law so probably not, but Akira also knows how corrupt part of that branch is.
Actually, there's a more pressing detail here than the reason: ] ... What kind of drunk are you?
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Ah, I get rather sleepy and start saying nonsense from what I recall. Unfiltered, I suppose. Well, alcohol does that.
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I can see that. [ It fits in with the cuter, somewhat ditzy air Akechi gives off sometimes. Which Akira originally thought might be intentional like much of his image, but he's starting to see now that it's just how Akechi is. ] What was the occasion?
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Ah, we were at a buffet and I wasn't exactly being monitored through it as far as I knew, and I wasn't actually paying for any of it, either, so... [Akechi shrugs.] Well, it seemed like a fun idea to try some. And it did taste pretty good, so I kept... trying it.
[And trying it and trying it...]
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