hadriel_logs | you'll never see it comin' ♫

Entry tags:

you'll never see it comin' ♫

Who: Akira & OPEN ( one closed prompt )
What: Birthday celebrations, Phantom Thieves-style
Where: Various locations.
When: Early November
Warnings: n/a

I. SHOPPING ( open )

( ever since his friends had started to arrive in hadriel, akira had taken special note of the date. time played funny tricks on them in the caves, and he didn't plan on being caught off guard again. in tokyo, the last date he had noted was the 20th of November, he'd fallen into july somehow, and now four months later... he'd almost come to that day again.

but before the twentieth, something much more important had to happen. carefully walking through the aisles of various shops, akira seemed to be on the prowl for certain items in particular, and already lining his school bag was flour, sugar... and a few other smaller things.

reaching for a small vial of something, he read the label carefully... ) Hmm, vanilla...

II. SKULKING ( open )

( all right! finally everything was coming together. at last, akira had acquired the last item on his list, and it was time to head home. although he had become well-versed in the art of trying to avoid suspicion, something about the way he kept checking over his shoulder seemed out of the ordinary. like he was trying to avoid something, or maybe someone, in particular...

before crossing the street, he pressed himself against one of the buildings, maybe getting a little carried away with this whole sneaking thing. just a little. )

III. SIFT...ING? ( open: at his house )

( phew. he'd managed to make it back home with his precious items— treasures even you might say— without being spotted by one girl in particular. emptying the contents of his bag on the kitchen counter, akira felt a surge of pride as he looked his haul over, grinning as he moved his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. )

That should be everything. ( he nodded, reaching for an apron that he had also picked up somewhere along the way, and tying it around himself. it was ill-fitting but he did his best to make it work— thinking of how he'd worn one every time worked in leblanc's kitchen. ) Yes, all right! ( akira clapped his hands together ) Let's get started.

( this may or may not be worth watching... or helping. by the time anyone else arrives, there a streak of flour lined akira's cheek, and splashes of something else had made its way across his lenses. )

IV. SINGING. ( locked to ann & yusuke )

( everything was set. it may have been a little questionable how he'd let himself into ann's room without permission, but it was a temptation that a phantom thief couldn't pass up. what better place was there to surprise her anyway?

when she finally opens the door, she may find her team mates behind a lovely looking decorated cake, akira with his arms high in the air once he heard the knob start to turn and ready to shout out a— ) Surprise!

( and, wait for it, is he? yes, behind that smile, this leader of the phantom dorks starts into a joyful— ) ♪ Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you— !

V. SOMETHING! ( open )

( if you wanted to run into akira anywhere else during the month, let's make it happen! ota! )

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[Once he's heard Akira has returned and is getting ready to start baking, Yusuke emerges from their room with his sketchbook, looking... well, comparatively pretty stressed about something. Unsurprisingly, that something is art-related.]

Ah, Akira, there you are. I urgently need your opinion on a final design for the cake. I've sketched a number of ideas, but the colour of the icing and the placement of the fruit... I simply can't make up my mind...

[Yusuke hands him his sketchbook, which is full of all kinds of designs, some in black and white with labels, some coloured, of different cake designs. (Some are more elaborate than others, then when he realised he has literally no experience in cake decorating, he reined in his artistic ambition a little and decided to go with something simple.) Either way, it's clearly something Yusuke has been spending days trying to perfect.

Actually, all the designs are good. But he won't settle for just good; he wants the best for Ann, so he's treating this just as seriously as he would a painting.]

Which do you think she would like best?

( looking up, and over the rims of his glasses as yusuke makes his way over, akira removed his messy hands from the bowl he'd been working on the batter in. keeping them to himself, he peered over at pages once the sketchbook came close, looking the designs over with a thoughtful— ) Hmm.

( it's obvious that he had put a lot of effort into this. as he looks them over, akira seems to give each one equal attention, noting the different flows and patterns that lined each of the cakes.
was this... thanks to the influence of a true artist? was this the pursuit of beauty?? )

What about that one? ( he motions with his chin, a design that his eyes kept being drawn back to. it was one of the coloured pieces, to which he had to add— ) Actually, somehow— it really reminds me of her.

( something about the strawberries, maybe... )

[Yusuke looks a bit relieved, as he scrutinises the designs and points out one Yusuke liked, too. Akira's one of few people who knows Ann better than anyone, so of course he trusts his opinion.]

Yes, I thought she might like that one in particular. I also thought about decorating it with real flowers, not false ones, in a similar colour to the strawberries. I think it would add an extra air of elegance...

I wonder if I can make the colour of the cream between the two layers match the colour of the icing... Perhaps there's even a way to add pink food colouring to the sponge?

[Because there's no such thing as 'going overboard' with Yusuke when it comes to designs. Even with cakes!]

( real flowers? file that under things akira probably would have never thought of. he thinks about it for a moment, before apparently coming to a conclusion of— )

In that case, why not help me make the icing? Then you'll be able to mix the perfect colours to match.

( who else but yusuke would be the perfect candidate? although akira was used to doing the cooking for his friends at leblanc, well, this was a special occasion. )

Hmm... That's not a bad idea. Mixing food colouring can hardly be much different than mixing paints. I'm sure the principles are just the same, even if the substance is different.

[Time to do some baking in Yusuke's favourite way: random creative experimentation!! He sets down his sketchbook and goes to wash his hands, then gets all the ingredients and colours together for making the icing. At least with Akira here, he's unlikely (?) to get carried away and wind up making a bizarre mess more than anything productive.]

( welcome to New Experience Time! actually, akira was a little glad for the extra set of hands, and seeing as how they were in this little endeavour together, it only seemed right.

by the time yusuke readies himself, akira had set up a small area beside him with an extra bowl. some of his ingredients were... a bit lacking, not to mention his zero experience in the baking department, but he was sure this would turn out, somehow! )

The utensils here are always a bit off— ( too big, too small... some with wacky shapes... he says, looking at the sprial-handled spoon he had been using. ) makes you wonder if hand-mixing might still be a viable option instead, heh.

( he's kidding.
probably.
right? )

What's wrong with using utensils with unusual shapes? I think they're very avant-garde.

[Yusuke gets way more enjoyment out of Hadriel's oddities than the average person. There's almost something surreal about the place, and he can appreciate the artistic merit of that, minor inconveniences aside.

That said, he starts weighing out the various ingredients he'll need for the icing and adding them to a bowl -- sugar, butter and milk. In a few separate bowls, he starts to experiment with food colouring to get the exact shade he wants.]

Hmm... I want the precise shade of hot pink to be perfect, but it seems red food colouring is very intense, and adding even a drop too much can ruin the shade. I'll need to be careful.

[Is he muttering to himself for his own benefit, or because he thinks Akira will be interested in the artistic process? Who knows.]

( thinking on that commentary on the tools, akira picks up what was probably supposed to be a large spoon that curved back into itself, making it rather impossible to use as any kind of spoon at all. and, thinking over that 'avant-garde' comment as he stares at it he finally just... shrugs.

maybe it just doesn't have an artist's eyes for these kinds of things. tossing that item in particular over his shoulder and into the sink, he inches up behind yusuke, trying his best to look over his shoulder, having to go up on his toes just slightly.

he is definitely interested! but he also... doesn't want to get in the way. so here he is, peering over your left shoulder first, yusuke. then the right. then back to the left... )

Hmm?

--Happy birthday dear Ann! Happy birthday to you~! ♪

[Although a little more reserved than Akira's loud entrance, Yusuke is right behind him in joining in the song, a big doofy smile on his face. After his self-induced aesthetic crisis over the cake decorations, Yusuke actually proud of his final design, and he's excited to see how Ann will take it.]

[Any other day, Ann would have given serious thought to scolding the both of them for going into her room without permission, if only because of the potential for embarrassment-- but the shock that colors her face as she finds herself face-to-face with the two of them and their broad smiles, not to mention the cake and the singing? There's no question that it's the good kind. She breaks into a grin as the two of them finish, her cheeks flushing brightly.]

You guys! You didn't have to do this!

[She hadn't even considered that they might do any kind of celebrating while they were here.]

When did you have time to make this? It looks amazing!

[The cake definitely has an artistic touch to it, as well-- she can tell it was a joint effort.]

Oh, we found an hour or two here and there.

[Yusuke says it airily, as if it hasn't been a big joint effort to make it special. It was totally a breeze!!]

It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating your real birthday back home, but we figured it wouldn't hurt to have a second celebration. [He glances to Akira, then back to Ann, smiling.] Would you like to try it right away?

[He can handle her sticking a knife in his work of art... probably.]

( akira's response to that entrance is just an even broader grin. it's a self-satisfied— ) Hnhmm. ( that he sounds as he watches ann's reaction.

then, as if in response to yusuke's suggestion, he produces a knife, holding it out towards ann handle-first, plates in his other hand. )

It's been awhile since we had a celebration anyway, right? And since it's November again... ( he's still smiling, as he shrugs. ) We thought it would be a good excuse.

It's almost too pretty to eat!

[Key word being almost. Sorry, Yusuke-- as beautiful as it is, there's no cake too sacred for Ann's tastes. Her smile broadens, bright as it spreads from ear-to-ear. She definitely wants to dig in, but first?]

Put those things down so I can hug the both of you!

[Because as strong as her sweet tooth is, she's both overwhelmed and grateful, and she needs to thank them properly.]

Just don't eat the flowers atop the cake. Those are real.

[Artistic skill or not, he can't say he's good enough with icing to make flowers so realistic looking, so he opted to go for the real thing.

Smiling, he moves to put his arms around her in his usual... awkward... Yusuke way. Group hug!]

( there was nothing more to be said, and akira's arms are free to wrap around the both of them. there's a gentle squeeze of yusuke's shoulder, and somehow the palm of his other hand founds it's way between ann's pigtails and ruffled her hair just slightly. he leaned in between the two of them, grinning broadly from beneath a mop of frizz.

it was... the happiest he felt since arriving in the cave.
~~+2 kindness??~~

easing himself out of the group hug, he turned his attention back to the cake, reaching to pass out plates and cutlery. the most normal looking ones he could find, at least. )

Ann, you should get the first bite. ( being that he had to improvise a little on every end, but it should be edible. at least, it smelled like it was. but perhaps, somewhere in there, one might find a hint of... curry... )

I'll be careful! I'll have to find a way to save them, they're gorgeous!

[She may not have a green thumb like Haru, but she can still deeply appreciate some artistically-arranged flowers, and Yusuke's eye for aesthetics is unrivaled among the Phantom Thieves.

She's practically glowing when Akira pulls away, reaching back to smooth down the hair he'd mussed, taking the offered plate when it comes.]

Yeah? I guess that makes sense--

[You don't have to tell her twice to dig in, honestly. She doesn't even put any effort into playing coy or hesitant, immediately taking a forkful of cake and closing her eyes to savor it as she puts it in her mouth-- only to go very, very still a moment later.

It tastes kind of salty and... spicy?]

Wow.

If you like them, I'm sure I could find the same variety of flower for you to keep in a pot.

[These ones won't last long even if Ann gets some water for them, unfortunately. Some potted flowers would certainly brighten up the house, though, given the proper care.

As she eats the cake, Yusuke watches her reaction curiously, considering he has no idea how the cake tastes himself, icing aside.]

...Is it good? ['Wow' could mean any number of things.]

( akira is only a few seconds behind ann, shoving a forkful into his mouth as well. the angle he tilts his head at has his eyes shadowed over and unreadable for the moment. the fork lingers there in his mouth for awhile, long enough for ann to sound her 'wow' and for yusuke to inquire about how it tasted...

then his arm suddenly thrusts forward to grab one of the glasses of water, pounding it back in heavy gulps... and slamming the empty cup back down between all of them.

he looks to both of them— then bursts out laughing, heartily and happily.
sorry guys, guess he 'followed his heart' on this one. )

[ Was Malkus truly so ominous, that even Akira had suspected him? The doctor had no idea that this was far from the case. Through his eyes, the fellow was peering over his shoulder to keep a watchful eye out for him. It didn't occur to him that Akira didn't have any idea about any murders one may have committed. ]

You wound me, sir.

[ The doctor approached with a limp, clutching at his abdomen. He seemed to have gotten himself pretty badly injured, at some point. ]

Must you scurry like a thief in the night?

Malkus. ( he knew the voice before he even turned, though he also did that quickly, anyway. he eyes dart from the top of him, down to the bottom. he had been doing this bit mostly for fun, but the good doctor surely had not way of knowing how on the mark that assessment was.

more importantly though, akira straightens up, an item tucked tightly beneath an arm swiftly, certainly not suspiciously. he keeps his expression neutral.
maybe he knows something. maybe he doesn't. )

I think maybe someone else took care of that. ( the wounding, he means. )

Wh- What- what do you mean-

[ His face grew flushed. Sweat gathered up on his face almost immediately. There's no way he'd known, right? Not Akira. Malkus pinched his eyebrows together, smiling nervously beneath the mask. It took a moment for him to realize what he'd been talking about. He looked down at his hand covering the torn cloth of his robe. Right! Of course! ]

O-Oh. Yes. This. Turmoil's growing in the city. A failed assassination. O-Odd as I'm not even- A target...

( curiouser and curiouser... )

You mean the names the Null put out. ( call it an educated guess, based on what malkus seems to be alluding to. )

Someone really tried to kill you? ( for his part, akira seems to be remarkably calm in light of the news. calm, or what could maybe be interpreted as caution... )

Without even being on their list?

[ Malkus had just chalked it up to a stoicism that seemed to be the young man's trademark. As for the doctor, traces of that venom still pulsed through him. He seemed as though he could never quite catch his breath as a result. ]

It may be, admittedly, due to my once-allegiance with them. That is before they'd published such a list. When they'd only seemed intent on bringing an end to our imprisonment, rather than... er... well bringing our end.

[ Someone may have caught wind, assumed Malkus was still following the Null, and sought to put an end to a potential threat. Of course, that was what he tried to get others to believe. ]

( allegiance? akira's ears seemed to perk at that, while still maintaining his neutral expression. had malkus really sided with the null, beings that wanted to kill hope? truly, he wasn't a fan of either faction but—
what could be the motivations at work here... )

I didn't realize you had been working with them. ( and for how long, he wondered. there was another flick of his grey eyes downwards. )

You still have those gauntlets you took, right?

People think the gods here have some intention of releasing us, when they’ve admitted they barely know how to operate their own Door.

[ That was a lot of talking. Enough to put Malkus into a coughing fit for a moment. He held a hand against his hip to steady himself. ]

I make no secret of wanting to see them fall. And the gauntlets are at my little camp for now.

[ Though as he thought about it, he realized he should probably keep them on his person more often. ]

[Of course, even with as experienced as Akira is at skulking and getting around without being noticed, it's hard to escape your friends when they're almost as good at being stealthy as you are. Fortunately, Ann has been out of the house for most of the day, which means things will be a bit easier for Akira if he can get back there without her-- but that in itself might be a little bit tricky. She catches a glimpse of him just before he disappears around the corner of a building to press his back to the wall, frowning to herself as she lets out a thoughtful hm in response to his sudden disappearance.]

What is he...

[Well. One way to find out. A moment later, her face appears around that same corner as she leans sideways to get a good look at him, raising an eyebrow.]

Hey! Avoiding someone?

[Hi. :D]

( akira's brows hoist themselves high above the rims of his glasses, though a well-timed glare from the sudden moment of coming-face-to-face with her hid the shock in his eyes.
was he, out of practice??? )

Ann— ( it's breathy, as he slowly leans back up to a standing position, thinking fast. ) Uhh—f course not.

( of course, he says. trying to make it sound oh-so-natrual. )

What are you doing here?

( never mind this sleight of hand he's trying to pull as he moves and talks trying to slip something behind the cover of his blazer. )

[Geez, Joker, for someone who's the leader of a band of Phantom Thieves, you sure do suck at playing it cool sometimes.]

I was just passing through. Not much to see around here, but I'm still trying to learn my way around the place, get a feel for it.

[She squints a little, curious as he shifts in front of her, although she doesn't see what he hides in his blazer-- or the fact that he'd tried to hide it at all.]

Are you okay...? You're acting kind of weird.

( wow!! take?? that back?? this was some a+ sneaking going on, ann.
he just... really didn't think you were going to be one of the ones to find him. plus this mission is obviously more important than any ole' castle sacking or museum heist. the cake stakes were too high here! )

Oh. For sure.

( see? so smooth. )

Weird? You mean like, cave-weird or Yusuke-weird? ( it's a joke and a deflection! two for one! ) Can't be too careful with that list floating around anyway now, right?

Nobody is Yusuke-weird.

[The answer comes immediately, although she pauses to re-think.]

But if anyone was going to be, I'd say you're pretty close right now. [Just saying.] You're right about the list, though... that whole thing gives me the creeps. I don't get all of what's going on, but this place is even more dangerous than I thought.

It'll be okay though, because like you said last time. We can handle it together. ( he's smiling now. deflection? what deflection? )

Aside from staying out of that mess you, uh, have any other plans today? ( or, you know, places he should avoid if you're there so he doesn't 'give up the goods.' )

[The situation with the Null's kill lists necessitates more patrols; it's on one such patrol that Henry notices suspicious movement at the edge of his vision.

Naturally, he makes the decision to investigate.

While he does not yet draw his sword, his hand closes around its hilt and he holds his shield ready to bring up in defence as he strides round the side of the building—]

Akira...?!

[He speaks instinctively, startled. It shouldn't be a shock, but somehow it is to come face to face with a stranger who simultaneously invokes such an echo of deep familiarity. Henry doesn't even know for certain that's the young man's real name, but the memories of Pleasant Valley remain strong.

His hand falls from his weapon.

For a moment Henry flounders, caught between his fading surprise and a rising discomfort. There was a reason that after Pleasant Valley he never sought out his fake children as he did Irisviel. Namely his embarrassment over the whole affair.

But he soon recomposes himself, his expression forming a faint frown.]

What are you doing?

( the sound of his name is enough to get him to stop in his tracks. looking just slightly over his shoulder, it's as though he's weighing his options quickly as he spies henry.

back in that time they'd spent in pleasant valley... henry had tried to catch him then, too. he wasn't sure how much of that fantasy mimicked reality but— maybe he could have a little fun with it.

the answer to that frown? it's a sly grin... as akira breaks into a run. )

[Acting on impulse, Henry immediately gives chase.]

You will not escape me!

[By the time he questions why it's too late; once he starts something, he commits fully. There's no evidence of any wrongdoing on Akira's part, but that grin was without doubt a challenge. As he sprints, he tries to recall whether or not Akira was one of the names on the Null's kill list.

If Akira thinks Henry will be easy to lose, he can think again; Henry knows Hadriel's streets like the back of his hand, and the notion that plate armour has a significant impact on mobility and speed is a myth, especially for one as experienced and conditioned in its use as Henry is. There is a payoff, but less than one might expect.

That said, while he's on Akira's heels, Henry fails to close the final stretch of distance between them.]

Edited (html fixing) 2017-11-13 12:53 (UTC)

( henry certainly has the advantage when it comes to the lay of the land.
but akira is a master of improvisation, or so he thinks, at least where being pursued is concerned.

with moves un-befitting of a regular high school student, akira skids around corners, gaining speed and momentum as he grabs a hold of posts, lamp standards and street signs, anything to give him a quick spin of the heel for a directional change.

he seems to be... almost revelling in this, as noted by the ever-growing smile on his face, which he flashes back towards henry again. he does like a good challenge.

into the alleys he goes! )

[Well. It's hard to mind your own business when you see something like that. Firo calls out from further down the street:]

People can still see you, you know. What'd you do?

[Firo assumes he must be in trouble for something, if he's this wary.]

( it looks like a painful wince, as akira hears the voice directed at him. still, he gives a quick glance to the left, then right, before turning to see firo. )

Well if they didn't before, they sure do now. ( aren't you supposed to be on his side, bro?? keep it down would you!
the contents of his bookbag really weren't exciting, but still. )

Me? Well, nothing of course. Just like always.

Sorry.

[He doesn't sound so sorry as he says it, light and perfunctory, but it's the thought that counts, right?]

Sure you aren't. Who're you worried about seeing you doing "nothing," in that case?

( have a light chuckle to indicate just how sorry he's sure you are, firo.
either way, he doesn't seem too bothered, since his quick scan of the area seemed to reveal that he was safe... for now. )

Just a friend. ( and with that, he takes a medium-sized package out from his bag, holding it in his hands between the two of them. it's nothing particularly enticing, it looks just like a small burlap sack. )

See? My precious cargo.

Doesn't look like much, to be honest.

[In case Akira doesn't take the bait--come on, Firo's curious--he decides to just give up on subtlety entirely:]

What's in it?

( with one hand, he reaches to open the top of the bag, the contents still hiding somewhere within. he cups the bottom of it gently, moving it just slightly closer to the other man. )

See for yourself.

( his expression is completely blank. )

[Firo peeks in and comes up looking nonplussed when he sees... baking supplies?]

Doesn't exactly look like contraband, unless people've gotten a lot smarter about how they wrap that kinda stuff up. So why all the secrecy about this?

( there's a wait. and after firo concludes his assessment, akira gives the bag a quick, sudden squeeze and a puff of flour erupts from the top that he hoped to catch the other man in.

and he smiles.
sorry dude, if any of it gets on you consider it your punishment for blowing his cover!! though his intentions are all in good fun. )

It's a surprise. Tomorrow is a friend of mine's birthday.

[Firo does not see the flour coming and takes it squarely in the face. He hops back and sputters as he tries to wipe it off (and tries not to sneeze), and it's only when he looks up to see Akira's smile that he realizes it was on purpose.

Cue scowling.]

Awfully nice of you, provided you're not just going to attack 'em with the flour. Who is it?

Of course not. ( his grin is a little more of the shit-eating variety after that. forgive him firo, but it was your just desserts. pun... intended. )

Ann Takamaki. We're going to make a cake for her.

Huh. I guess this place needs more stuff like that.

[Just friends being friends and hanging out. He supposes that's one benefit to the long lulls between anything happening: you can take the time to do things list this.]

And a cake's gotta be top secret?

It is when you're trying to make it a surprise. ( he smirks. stealth is this boy's forte, and even though this mission may not be life or death exactly... it still puts a fun spin on it. )

I don't want her to see it coming. Especially since... it had technically already passed before we came here.

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you'll never see it comin' ♫

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IV

why are you both so precious

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dying over 'cake stakes'

#justannthings

II;

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