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[unhappy]

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[unhappy]

[ Emerald has been worried about him, but she did everything she could and she figured he'd come find her when he was ready. It isn't as if there was anything she could do hanging around the hospital. She had to water her plant, do things. And not be around when Akashi woke up as a reminder of what happened, since she doesn't quite know what to think of how easy it is to scare him.

That isn't to say she isn't relieved when she does hear from him. She is. It's a rather opportune moment- she's just finished up hanging her "NO CAROLERS" sign for her door. :) ]

Sure. I'm guessing you don't mean like this.

[glorifies]

No. I’d like to meet in person.

[ He can’t exactly give her a present if they don’t meet, either! ]

Are you in your apartment? It may take a while, but I can go there.

[unhappy]

I'll stay put and put on some tea. You probably need the exercise anyway.

[ Hospitalization means he wasn't walking around for a bit! :) She means it in a good way. ]

[glorifies]

[ Whatever it is, Akashi's taking it 100% seriously. ]

I do need the exercise, but I haven't been in any mood to leave the house lately.

In any case, I will be there in less than an hour.

[ And he will show up in less than an hour, just like he said! He's a bit confused by the sign, though... Why does Emerald hate nice things so much?

Don't blame Akashi when he knocks on your door and starts singing Jingle Bells. ]

[unhappy]

[ Happy people are the bane of the universe, Akashi. In fact, she's about to open the door, then scoffs and stops while he's singing. ]

I'm not opening it until you stop.

[ Why are you like this!! She regrets teaching him to tease!! ]

[glorifies]

[ He's going to finish the song, then. Emerald can open it afterwards!! :) ]

It's my birthday soon. You'll have to sing me a song when I celebrate.

[unhappy]

[ She finally opens it up when he's done. His voice isn't bad at least but it's still irritating!! ]

You're definitely not getting that birthday wish. I don't sing.

[ Not one bit. She moves out of the way so he can come in though. She's not going to ask how he's feeling. He'll tell her if he wants to. ]

[glorifies]

[ Akashi walks in, glancing at Emerald with a smile when he passes her, then puts a small bag on the kitchen counter. He's making himself feel at home!! :) ]

I brought some snacks to go with the tea.

[ It's mochi! Like that time they ate it at the Flower Festival. ]

[unhappy]

You're in a good mood.

[ Better than she'd thought he would be, but she doesn't say that. She doubts she needs to and she's not going to press him about it.

The teapot's done at this point so she just pours it into cups and sets it at the table. ]

[glorifies]

What makes you say that?

[ Isn't it only polite to bring gifts when you're visiting somebody? ]

[unhappy]

You're singing, smiling, bringing sugary snacks. Generally good mood things.

[ those are good mood things for sure! ]

[glorifies]

Hm...

[ He goes to look for a plate to put the snacks in. And as he goes through Emerald's cupboards— ]

I thought singing a Christmas song would be funny, I'm always smiling when speaking with someone, and it's only polite to bring a gift when visiting someone.

[unhappy]

[ She's let him get way too comfortable that he feels fine just going through her stuff without asking. On the other hand, it's not like she wouldn't do the same and she doesn't have anything to hide here. Not from him. ]

Forgive me for assuming your mood then, oh great and miserable Seijuro.

[ She's definitely teasing him. She's never had anyone argue about if they're in a good mood before. ]

[glorifies]

[ She's done this in his own apartment before. It's why he thinks it's fine to do the same! ]

I'm not saying I'm miserable. [ He finally sits down and places the plate at the centre of the table. ] I'm just trying to justify why I'm like this.

How have you been doing?

[unhappy]

[ She whispers like she's letting him in on a secret, even putting her hand up like she's shielding it to him. ]

I'm teasing you. [ He'll never learn this teasing thing, she's sure. ]

Same as ever, you?

[glorifies]

[ He'll never learn this teasing thing, that's for sure. ]

Ah.

[ It's not funny, but he doesn't say that out loud. ]

I'm a lot better now. Thanks to you.

[unhappy]

[ She doesn't share that she doesn't think he would've gotten hurt if she didn't try to get around taking them out in the first place. She should've just shot them the second they walked in that room. ]

Thanks to the doctors. All I did was lug you around like a tall potato sack.

[glorifies]

Phrasing aside, that is what I'm thanking you for.

[ Maybe Emerald doesn't want the credit, but she still did something, and Akashi's not going to disregard that. ]

[unhappy]

You're welcome.

[ She says it as she sits down with the tea, watching Akashi as he finishes setting out the snacks. Once they're plated she'll take one off and hold it in front of her, looking pretty excited about it. They were pretty good, and it's probably too casually that she says this: ]

If anyone threatens you, just call me and I'll take care of it.

[ She lets it end at that. She'll try not to kill anyone in front of him, but she's not going to promise no one will get hurt. She tried to make sure no one got hurt, but Akashi was too arrogant to cooperate. Trying anything as benevolent as a peaceful solution despite that she's capable of it is too much of a risk with someone who won't listen to her. She won't risk their lives to try to prevent bloodshed. But since he's so sensitive about it, because it's so fresh to him, she adds as if it should be a comfort to know: ]

Non-lethally if avoidable.

[glorifies]

That’s not necessary.

[ The usual cordial smile he has plastered on his face disappears, replaced by something more serious. He doesn’t want to think about what happened, but he can’t exactly stop thinking about it. Emerald is right in thinking that it’s a fresh memory. It’s only been recently he’s gotten over being bit by a vampire (though he’s still angry about the situation), and then getting poisoned happened... ]

I’ll just be staying in the city from now on. At least here, I’ll be safe.

[ And if anybody threatens him here, it will be a lot more manageable. ]

[unhappy]

Okay.

[ There's a distinctive tone to her voice, and though it's not quite snide, it's clear that she doesn't buy what he's saying one bit. Not the part that he'll be staying in the city- she's already forming her own opinions on how Akashi's a lot of bark and very little bite. But her own experiences, knowing Mercury's experiences, very much colors her view of what he thinks is safe. Rather than overcome his weakness, he's choosing to hide and hope that his survival isn't threatened again. He's not safe, he's just decided to lie to himself and bank on everyone around him being strong enough to handle what he can't. ]

So did you bring these because you liked them or I liked them?

[ She's certainly not going to be the one to rain down on his parade unless he pushes it. She pops the mochi into her mouth, instead focusing on her question. She's definitely not complaining about the mochi. ]

[glorifies]

[ Oh. He just thought they would be a good snack. He’s not married to mochi, but he enjoyed eating it when they did! He thought she did too. ]

Do you... not like them?

[ She’s eating, though. Forgive the confused look on Akashi’s face, because he’s not sure what Emerald is trying to say by asking such a question. ]

[unhappy]

[ Give her a moment. She may be a street rat, but she's got manners. At least enough not to talk with her mouth full. And mochi is chewy and she popped the whole thing in instead of just taking a bite.

.......

Ok! Swallowed! ]

I like them, I was just wondering. I was just telling Tetsuya the other day that you let me try these, don't blame me that it's suspicious timing.

[glorifies]

Oh, he hadn’t mentioned anything about your conversation. [ Akashi relaxes at Emerald’s response. Good to know she has nothing against what he brought. ] It’s all just a coincidence.

[ Finally, he takes a piece of mochi for himself to eat. This is all the sweets he’ll be eating for the month. :)

There’s something else he wants to say, though. Something about what happened, but he figures to just bring it up later on. Maybe once they’re done eating. ]

[unhappy]

One of these days you have to come over for something other than food.

[ She finds it kind of funny that they cook and buy groceries and play wine pong. ]