CMO

[feels_manager]

 /o/

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Apollon / MockMurder

[feels_manager]

[Once they get to his room, he closes the door behind them.] I wouldn't force you to say anything you're not comfortable saying, even if I could. [He turns to Apollo and gently takes his hands again, leading him to sit on the bed with Akira.] I'm just worried. And I think, from the little I know of you... that you would be too if someone you cared about called themselves "useless".

[light_weight]

[ Oh... He looks around, and there's a hint of surprise as he finds himself being coaxed to sit on Akira's bed with him.

He doesn't fight any of it, and Akira probably can feel that he's absolutely welcoming all of this physical contact between them. He'd even welcome more, to be frank. ]

Ah...

[ There's no surprise at Akira blatantly implying he cares about him. If anything, there's a sad kind of smile as he looks away. ]

You don't need to worry about me, Akira... [ a flurry of guilt and the heaviness of depression ] It's for the better that you don't. Better for you not to...

[feels_manager]

It isn't better for you. [He absolutely can feel how he welcomes the physical contact, so... he lets go of his hands and wraps his arms around him once more, gently firming the embrace.] I'm here for you, Apollon. And I'm not going anywhere.

[light_weight]

[ He tenses a little, but Akira should be able to gather that it's from the words - only the words. ]

Akira...

[ Try as he might, there's no helping the brief tremble as he continues to look away. His voice is a whisper. ]

... You're making a mistake.

[feels_manager]

[Ah, all of this... has his throat tightening. He swallows a little, and offers him a gentle squeeze. His tone is calm and warm as he responds:] I'm okay with that.

Tiernan / Mock Murder

[feels_manager]

[He's bringing them over to his bed and sitting them down, releasing a tense breath.]

It's more than not giving up. It saps you of your energy. It makes it harder to think.

You're going to need to be in top shape if you're going to help us save the universe.

[magician_sideways]

[He didn't exactly walk over expecting to be manhandled? But he lets Akira drag him around.]

Akira, need I remind you this was literally my day job? Am I fine with the fact that my lover is dying and the ruination of the game means I murdered those people for nothing? No. I am not.

But I've done my job half-dead, possessed, with dead friends, with the lives of friends on the line, and while literally having my energy sapped.

You needn't worry.

[feels_manager]

[He lets go of him.]

Or maybe you just want to avoid being emotionally vulnerable.

[magician_sideways]

Well that's a given. I don't really do any form of vulnerability.

[There's a dark sort of amusement there, twisting around the pain.]

[feels_manager]

That's part of why you became Tiernan, isn't it? [He looks back at him.] He's your shield from the world.

November 24th

[hatingloving]

[ Room 504 is officially open most of the time. At least to certain people, especially ones named Akira. The room is mostly empty and looks very similar to the way it was when the human was last in it.

With one change. A set of french doors that lead out to a balcony. Both of which are open and one of the room's occupants can be found out there, arms leaning against the railing.

Astaroth doesn't look back at his guest. ]

Do you know how long it's been since I've really visited the human world?

[feels_manager]

[Akira quietly comes up beside the demon, hands in his pockets. He's wondered about the changing room, actually, but when he thinks to ask Astaroth about it, he's already being spoken to about something else.]

Around five hundred years?

[hatingloving]

[ A faint smile but there's a lot more amusement underneath the surface. He doesn't hesitate to lean towards the human a little, pressing their arms together. ] A lot longer than that. My job's kept me down here for the most part. Sometimes you get a summons and humans want stuff from you but that's always temporary. [ Astaroth glances at Akira. ] Plus that counts as work. My last visit was back during the days when people in Egypt were all into worshipping their gods. I spent a lot of time there as Astarte. They even believed her to be one of their goddesses.

[feels_manager]

[The contact is nice, and Akira doesn't hesitate to lean back in return. The smiles he makes are still new and fresh and make his heart flutter every time he sees one, and he can't help but smile in return.] Do you ever get a summons because a person just wants to chat with you? [It's said somewhat jokingly, but he can't say he likes the idea of Astaroth being summoned only when something's wanted of him. Maybe it's a little silly given their respective species, but something protective flares up in him. A low whistle.] You were a real MVP, huh? [A pause.] Do you miss it?

[hatingloving]

[ Ah, he likes that - Akira leaning into him as well. An amused smirk and there's a short laugh at that question. ] Humans don't tend to contact demons just for a chat. They won't risk their souls for that. [ Honestly, Astaroth doesn't have hard feelings for not being summoned for something so nice and simple. He leans over to place a kiss on Akira's cheek. Mock offense: ] Excuse you. I might have only been a minor goddess to the Egyptians but I'm still an MVP in hell, you know. [ Then a thoughtful sigh and then a sense of longing. ] Yeah, I miss it. The people believed Astarte to be a goddess of war. Also of love and fertility. But just being allowed to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.

11/18

[righello_infernalei]

[ It's after his talk with Apollon that Nico makes his way over to Akira's room. He knocks on the door and when given permission to come in, enters. Nico takes a seat on the bed. ]

Hey, we have to talk about something important.

[ There's no hiding the worry he's feeling. ]

[feels_manager]

[There's a blink over at Nico, and he frowns, giving a slow nod.] What's up?

[righello_infernalei]

[ A sigh and he ruffles his own bangs. ] It's Apollon. I gave him back the item that allows him to use his godly powers. He's afraid of hurting you with them now if you go poking at his emotions. [ It sucks... having to say that. ]

[feels_manager]

[He looks at Nico a moment, absorbing the information. There's surprise and relief in his eyes regarding his powers— followed by confusion. His brow furrows a little.]

Poking his emotions...?

[He glances away with a slight frown.]

I haven't done anything with his emotions aside from help him sleep, which he agreed to.

[A held blink for a moment, and then he looks back to Nico.]

But... it's a good thing he has that back in his possession. [A nod.] Nice job, Nico.

[righello_infernalei]

[ A nod. ] No, I know you haven't. But he's aware that you can and that you want to help him a lot. So just... be careful going forward with him. We might have to do this long way, getting him to open up with words first. [ Which he's fairly certain both of them are willing to do for Apollon. ] Honestly, I expected it to take longer to find it. Guess Lucifer doesn't need it now that the game's over.

11/30

[light_weight]

[ After his most recent talk with Nico, he finds himself seeking Akira out...

Wherever Akira is at some point in the middle of the day, Apollon will be approaching. He's... apprehensive.

But he takes a deep breath, ensures Akira sees it coming, and then he simply pulls him into a hug. ]

[feels_manager]

[Akira blinks and looks over when he feels the apprehension. His eyebrows raise up, and he immediately gets up from his seat at the library where he was reading a spellbook.] Apollo— [And then the distance is closed and he pulls him into a hug. He takes a deep breath, his own arms not hesitating to come up and wrap around the god in reciprocation. He says nothing for a moment, just pressing his face into the blond's shoulder and relishing the contact.]

[light_weight]

[ He holds him close for a moment, and then pulls back to let his forehead rest against Akira's. There's a long pause...

A shaky breath escapes. ]

Even after how much trouble I am, you still want to help...? Still want to help me find what I don't think I deserve?

[feels_manager]

[He lets their foreheads rest together, letting the silence linger for awhile longer. It almost feels comfortable.

He hums softly.]

Yeah. I'm stubborn like that.

[light_weight]

[ He swallows thickly... ]

... Then...

[ But a swell of fear and anger and doubt hits. He tightly closes his eyes. ]

No Heart Mend... but I'll- accept anything else you can do. For you and Nico. For the two of you.