windfall | 01 — i know that it's your soul, but could you bottle it up?

I hope so! [they're now on a street full of people coming and going, cheering and laughing, drinking and dancing — looks like they're headed the right way. in the distance, she can hear music playing; it sounds live.]

So, then... how did you spend New Year's Eve last year? Did you go to the square that time too?

Edited 2018-01-03 20:02 (UTC)

Nah, just some hot pot with friends. [he sounds rather nostalgic as he says this while watching some loud passersby click their wine glasses together.] We figured it'd be better since it was so cold last year.

[he hasn't spoken to them all that much since the whole court ordeal, but that's besides the point.]

Wonder which artists will be performing during the show...

[the popular, long-time fan favorites will definitely be back. maybe they'll even be in costumes by vega. now that'd be pretty exciting.]

I don't know. I don't really keep up with that stuff. [not recently, anyways. for the most part, working full-time has kept her busy. sometimes, she'll think about auditioning for a part in some no-name play, but she knows that there isn't much use. not with the name she has.]

Oh, but, hot pot sounds really good... [they pass by a particularly large and lively group of friends, jostling and giggling with one another; a good opportunity to change the subject] I'm not sure how much fun it'd be with just the two of us, though.

Yeah, it seems like something that would work better with a large group of people.

[not that he really knows who else he'd invite; akira hasn't really been in close contact with very many people recently anyway.]

[a small smile.] I'd kill for some fish tofu though. [stop right there akira, do not imagine warm fish tofu...]

[groooooaaaans]

Beef would be good too. Cuttlefish... Oh, crab sounds nice, now that I think about it. [damn you, akira] I think that all I want is something with a hot broth.

[don't worry sunny, akira's suffering increases exponentially with every food item you list.]

[in a rather mournful voice:] Wonder if any places are still open right now...

[they've reached the square by now, but there's so much going on at once, it's difficult to really decide on where to begin]

I don't know... it's pretty late. We can try searching on our phones, but... since we're here, should we check out the street vendors first? Just to see if they have anything?

[now that they're at the square, it sounds like there's a female artist being broadcast over the speakers, singing an upbeat remix of one of the top hits from the past year. she sounds familiar... akira's probably heard her on the radio countless different times before.]

Sounds good. Maybe they'll have—

[he's cut off by the first round of fireworks going off in the sky in a massive, dazzling display. the first set shows off "2018" in iridescent colors, and immediately after it's followed by a set of fireworks with the faces of different dog breeds.]

Wow, I don't even recognize some of those. That one looks like a Shiba, though... [still, akira's smiling, and the fireworks are reflecting off the glare of his glasses as he looks up.]

Edited 2018-01-04 15:59 (UTC)

Cuuuute. I want one.

[she gasps, eyes twinkling, as each firework shoots off into the sky. sunny's pretty sure one of them is supposed to be a bull terrier, but the sparks dissipate and descend before she can point it out. a few traditional, yet unnecessarily huge, fireworks shoot off after. it's funny, and a little cute, the way he's captivated by the display; she can't help shifting her gaze between the fireworks and his face, curious to see his reaction for all of them.]

Oh, hey, these next ones look like flowers. [squints a little, as if that'll help her identify them] Is that an orchid...? I can't tell.

Yeah, looks like it. [and hey, that one's even in purple, which is neat.] And that one's a daffodil, and a plumeria.

[he tilts his head a bit, considering, then amused realization rises in his gaze.]

Kind of cheesy, but it looks like they're really going for a "new beginnings" theme, judging by the flowers. [he holds up a gloved hand a little to breathe on it, warming it a little, then tucks both hands neatly in his pockets.]

Didn't peg you as the type to know so much about flower language. Color me impressed, Akira. [she watches him with fresh, appraising eyes, before turning her gaze back toward the sky. more flowers bloom right in front of them, daisies now.] New beginnings, huh...

[other fireworks spring to the sky after, each one louder and brighter than the previous. the last big one reads, "HAPPY NEW YEARS!" followed by several smaller fireworks surrounding it. sunny feels dizzied by the end, still staring at the now dark, blank canvas of the sky, as if still holding out hope for more]

There's a book someone recommended to me that went into detail about it. [never mind that it was more or less foisted upon him by his manager at the flower shop, but hey, who's checking? at any rate, at least it's useful for work and random trivia and...dissecting the significance in new year's fireworks...]

[there are a few noises of disappointment as some teenagers near them mull over the lull in fireworks. akira doesn't look outwardly disappointed, but he's still watching the sky like sunny is, waiting a bit. usually the show goes longer, rivaling that of what he's seen on tv of the ones done in new york city.]

Any resolutions?

[she can name a few off the top of her head, but too embarrassed to actually say them, she shakes her head]

Ah... no, not really... maybe I just need some more time to think about it though. I'll get back to you on that. [looks around, seeing some people begin to return to what they'd been doing before the fireworks. is it really over?] What about you? New year, new you — isn't that how the saying goes?

[having the question turned back on him makes akira pause a bit, but right as he's about to respond, he hears a voice calling out some distance away in the crowd. a familiar voice.

"ren? that you?"

akira stiffens, gaze casting about to find the source. then, nearby, in the distance, there's a boy his age with brown hair, stylishly gelled. his ears are pierced, and he's clad in a pea coat that flatters his athletic form. the kind of guy who'd attract attention in a crowd, from the way some girls nearby are looking at him, whispering excitedly.

the kind of guy who's been on tv a few times before, with the debut of luminous' latest boy group.

as if he hasn't seen, akira lets his gaze slide away, and then he firmly takes hold of sunny's wrist, putting conscious effort into not squeezing too hard, and guides them through the crowd, away from the boy.

"oi, ren—don't you dare run away from me, not like last time—"

too late. a gaggle of teenagers meanders into the spaces between, blocking the boy off from pursuing, and akira determinedly leads sunny toward one of the food stands. for all his quick reaction, the only thing betraying how he's feeling is how white his knuckles are on his other hand, the one that isn't touching sunny, and the slight wince in his expression.]

...Wanna try the takoyaki? My treat.

[sunny doesn't look back at the boy, because she doesn't need to. she's never really caught his name before, but she's seen his face — on a billboard, or promoting a new fashion line on tv, or singing and dancing on some kid's phone screen. he's a star, you get to know them without trying.

so, instead of looking back, she looks up. akira's face is unreadable, and, maybe, that in itself says something.]

Huh? [she blinks, slowly registering his question, the gears in her head still turning. ren, the guy had said with conviction, with familiarity. the name rings a bell, but distantly. she's heard it in the past, she just can't pinpoint where.] Oh! Takoyaki? Yeah, sure. If you pay for it, I can grab drinks, if you want?

Ah, then—thanks, if you don't mind. Let's meet back over here in a few minutes then.

[akira relaxes a bit and lets go of sunny's wrist, glad that his grip hadn't become vice-like. small victories, right? at any rate, he doesn't hear his name—if you can even call it that now—being called anymore, so. even better.

he heads toward the takoyaki stand. just think about food. food is easy to think about, especially when you're hungry. not that he has as much of an appetite anymore, because of—no. think about food.

don't think about masato fuuji.]

[sunny's considering a nearby vendor's selection, absentmindedly rubbing her wrist, when she spots the same guy from earlier in peripheral. he's on the phone now, but she can see him scanning his surroundings, presumably still looking for akira. repositioning herself so that she's mostly hidden by the kiosk and its wares, she hastily takes two drinks from the mini-fridge, pays, and rushes back to the meeting point.]

Hey, let's go somewhere a little quieter. Also, uh, here. [she's holding a glass bottle of sangria in each hand, one outstretched toward him. since she's still nineteen, sunny technically shouldn't be able to buy alcohol... but, luckily for her, she'd gotten a fake id made awhile ago, from back in her days at mds.] The alcohol content's pretty low and I figured, you know, it's New Years. We should celebrate — oh, but, if you don't want to take it, you shouldn't. I could get you a water bottle once we've moved, so... no pressure.

[akira gets back to the meeting spot with...an entire bag stacked with food containers inside. there's takoyaki, fish balls cooked with peanut butter sauce, okonomiyaki, pan-fried dumplings, pad thai... it seems he, uh. might have gone a little overboard. food is the best distraction, right? right.]

Oh. [he seems a little surprised, but he takes the offered sangria, blinking curiously at sunny.] Thank you. This is fine. [he sounds especially grateful; and really, it's not just for the drink, but because of how sunny is putting up with everything that's happened so far. akira seems a little surprised she's just been rolling with it.]

I got, um. [rather than articulate anything, he just holds up the bag of food for her examination.]

Looks good — [just shooting the bag the briefest of glances, she begins to turn away, only to stop. sunny doubles back so quickly, anyone else would have gotten whiplash] — wait. Akira, this is a lot. I have to reimburse you. Later.

[this time, she's the one to grasp his wrist, using the same amount of care and delicacy he had handled her with, to pull him along] C'mon, I think that I saw an empty bench earlier.

Hm? Ah, it's not a big deal...

[thankfully, he doesn't have rent to pay, since he's staying with a family friend. his parents send money occasionally, and it's enough to cover the basic necessities... the rest, he just works for. at any rate, he doesn't have an inordinate amount of bills to pay, so it really isn't that big a deal. granted, the food prices were a little jacked up because it's new year's and anything within walking distance of the square tends to be pricier by virtue of convenience, but it's not like he's going to go broke from indulging a little.

...and anyway, akira feels a little warm when sunny starts to gently pull him off in the direction of the bench she had seen. it's nothing like the exaggerated feelings people discuss in manga, but it feels a little like...being looked after. it's overwhelming in some inexplicable way.]

...okay. [he follows her lead docilely, only sparing a brief glance back.]

[once they're seated and have everything arranged between them, sunny doesn't waste time swooping in to steal a ball of takoyaki.]

Ahhhh, that hits the spot. I wish I knew how to make these myself. [much like before, she wedges another one between her chopsticks; instead of immediately consuming it though, she stretches her hand out in offering, making sure that the ball is level with akira's mouth] Here, try some before I lose all self-control and eat them all.

[akira takes a seat and watches sunny with some minor fascination, then blinks at the takoyaki ball suddenly being offered to him, gaze flitting between sunny and the takoyaki with some bafflement.]

...Thank you for the meal. [aaaand chomp. he takes the entire thing with his teeth and pulls back to chew thoughtfully, exhaling some steam at points because JEEZ THIS THING IS STILL HOT. to his credit, he doesn't start speaking again until he's finished swallowing.]

I've seen people make some using machines on Youtube... The ones with grids of circles and you're supposed to add batter in them and rotate them with toothpicks as they cook.

[akira seems to have perked up now, because now he's quickly pulling apart his own disposable chopsticks, brushing off some splinters. quick, sunny, eat more before akira sics himself on the remaining ones...!]

Actually, I think that I've seen one of those videos before! There was a really cute dog narrating one...

[gingerly dipping a dumpling into some soy sauce, she waves it a little, in hopes of cooling it down, and then blows on it for good measure] Yhoor ginda tiff — [stops herself from continuing to speak around the dumpling, taking some time to chew and swallow before repeating herself]

You're kinda different from how you are at work. Although, I'm sure that's how everyone is. [after sucking the tips of her chopsticks clean of any residual sauce, she begins gnawing lightly on them in contemplation] Is this your first job?

[letting out a small laugh at sunny's garbled words, akira masterfully plucks up another takoyaki from the container with his chopsticks before leaning back on the bench to chew thoughtfully.]

How so? [he's surveying the containers now, as if figuring out which food to eat next is a decision that requires Intense Meditation.] And yeah, it's probably the first one that decided to take me.

You're a little different at work, too. A lot more... [suddenly akira straightens up and flashes a cheerful look in an alarmingly natural 180, his voice gone warm and inviting without being overly saccharine.] Welcome! How are you? Our specials today are— [and then, just as quickly, he's suddenly looking more himself again, slouching a little.] Or something like that.

[CUE A REALLY AUDIBLE CHOKING NOISE. she'd been shoveling pad thai into her mouth, careful to keep any noodles from dropping, when she witnessed the horrible whiplash that was his impression of her. after swallowing the noodles with much difficulty, she tries to object, but...] I... well... that's...

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SHE'S SO EMBARRASSING I'M SORRY

ITS OK I LOVE HER

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