hug hug, fall in love(?)

[doublecrowss]

WHO: Akechi and a whole lot of people so let's go with OTA!!
WHERE: Around Ruga
WHEN: May 22nd
WHAT: Akechi has tried out some of Kyrie's potion and feels an inexplicable urge to hug people. That's it.
WARNINGS: That is literally it, I have no good excuse for this 

[ He should have learned his lesson the first time: never take anyone else's food without checking it first.

Really, Kyrie's unusual behavior should have tipped him off; the man was difficult, the type that didn't really have many friends, and apparently didn't even want to be working on that assignment, in the first place, and yet, once Akechi made it to his door that morning, he was greeted with... a hug. Calling it strange was an understatement, but Akechi had chalked it up to Caramia's influence-- now that was a highly affectionate man, as Akechi has experienced in the flesh more than once. But that had been one heck of a wrong assumption.

And drinking from that inconspicuous cup? One heck of a wrong move.

So now he's making quick work of the distance between Flavo and Ruga, wondering how much longer the effects of that potion will last, and hoping against hope that he won't find anyone along his way-- hell knows hugging Kyrie had been embarrassing enough as it is, and if his roommates are home by the time he gets there, it might be hard to avoid them, too, but with any luck, he would keep these... incidents to a minimum.

... as fate would have it, Akechi isn't exactly a very lucky person. ]

Comments

Hug party.......

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ The hug from Kyrie was a wild ride, honestly. Like, the good kind of wild ride. The kind where you'd tell all your friends about it because it was fun and you wanted to do it again, but this time with your friends around because that's how rides worked. Of course, inviting people to come on Kyrie's Wild Hug Ride was a bad idea, but... he was absolutely doing so anyway.

He was a good don, honestly.

Of course, he couldn't be around for the aftermath of that mess, so he skedaddled fairly fast back to Ruga himself before he could face his consigliere's wrath. In the process, he caught up to yet another potion-influenced victim, giving him an unaware smile to trot up excitedly to him. ]

Akechi!! [ He called out with the usual gusto. ] Sorry I didn't greet you while you were back in Flavo. I was a bit busy admittedly...

[theshowsover]

[Akira has been in Bluo this morning doing his rounds, but now he's on his way back to his place in Ruga when he just happens to come across Akechi. From the looks of his path, he's headed back for his house. Akira doesn't pay it much thought, other than to smile and casually wave in his direction.

It works in place of a good morning. Akira is ever the quiet one.]

quietly screams.......

[doublecrowss]

[ Fuck.

No, no, no... Of all people, why did it have to be Caramia? He's already plenty given to effusive displays of affection, and if Akechi were to actually initiate it for once, that would probably encourage him to keep doing it even more, wouldn't it? ]

A-ah, good morning, Caramia-san. [ He folds his arms around himself, tight, his usual easy smile twitching just in the very slightest. ] D-don't worry about that, I didn't t-take very long at all, myself...

[ Obviously, since he had to storm the fuck out of that place. ]

[doublecrowss]

[ Fuck²

The good thing about Akira being so quiet is that he normally doesn't initiate conversation; invariably, it has always been Akechi doing all the legwork, talking amenities like the weather or his latest TV appearances.

The bad thing about this? Akechi always, invariably, initiates conversation. So when he only returns the wave with one of his own and a nod of his head without so much as an motion to stop and talk about, oh who knows, sweaty hands? That's... probably a little out of character for him. Just a little.

Oh well, guess we're going with HI, BYE today!! ]

[apocalypticist]

[ Sustenance for his body is a necessity, so Ryo had gone down to the harbor in Bluo to catch a fish or two. He's now heading back to his house in Ruga, fishing rod over his shoulder and a wooden bucket in hand; the tail of a lingcod can be seen sticking out from it.

He rounds a corner, halting in his step just in time to prevent the two of them from colliding. ] --Ah, hello, Akechi-san.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ Looked like he was matching your pace here, Akechi. Good luck trying to abscond the fuck out of dodge with that. Caramia didn't even seem to notice the weird behavior, or maybe he just wasn't questioning it. Akechi very well may have been cold, after all. There was a pretty chilly wind today after all. It was enough to make Caramia sniffle occasionally. ]

So, you and Kyrie are working on something together? [ Of course, he did his best to not hear the whole conversation. It was hard not to eavesdrop when you had impeccable hearing like Caramia's, but he wanted to at least try to have some tact around Akechi, which is why he busied himself while he was there so he could maybe not pay attention to what they were on about. ] That's great. Maybe you could show Kyrie a thing or two about working with other people.

[doublecrowss]

[ Fuck³

He was just about to get home, too-- he would've been relatively safe at home, right? Is this some kind of prank, has he not had enough for a day yet, can he just hide for the rest of the day...? ]

G-good morning, Asuka-kun. [ Oh lord, find a topic of conversation, a distraction, anything to keep himself under control... ] I-I see you've been fishing today. A-any luck with finding any regular fish...?

[ Come on, Satan, be a good buddy and please end his life already. ]

[apocalypticist]

[ Get him his memories back and he will gladly put you out of your misery, Akechi. For now, you're just gonna have to suffer. ]

I caught one normal fish. [ Only one, but that's fine, a lingcod is enough to keep him fed for a day. He regards Akechi for a long moment, eyeing him with mild suspicion. ] You seem nervous.

[ Or he's spontaneously developed a stutter, but that's unlikely. ]

[heartsteals]

[ even if Akechi manages to make it back to Ruga without any incidents (he won't), he still has at least one incident waiting for him when he arrives: his roommate, of course. Lupin has no idea what Akechi's up to; he minds his own business, mostly, and can be found sitting at his laptop, typing up something or other when he finally arrives home. ]

Oh, Akechi? Welcome back.

[theshowsover]

[Okay, that was... weird.

And mildly concerning. Akira creases his brow, then follows after him, quick stepping to cover the distance between them.]

Something wrong...?

[He's going to guess he didn't cause it, since Akechi seems to be avoiding him rather than trying to kill him. That's a good sign, at least...?]

[batsuits]

[ Well, Bruce lives in Flavo but he's still getting adjusted to the area so he's really just... walking around with his dog. He's kind of tired and been eating way too much fish so he doesn't look particularly happy, but Ace does, barking excitedly at the teenager heading their way. Bruce looks up and he's just giving a passing wave of greeting as you do with most strangers but --

Oh, okay. He's being hugged now. That isn't really something he enjoys, no. ]

... Excuse me?

[ But Ace is delighted about this turn of events so he's rubbing himself against Akechi's pants leg as well. ]

makes this the most awkward first meeting

[brightlyshines]

[Unfortunately for Akechi... Estelle has been doing some scavenging today, and Ruga was her current area of exploration. She hadn't really found much, unfortunately, but she had found a broom that's more stick than broom as well as some half melted candles, and both could be re-purposed pretty easily.

Of course, Estelle being Estelle, she's focused on the supplies in question more than the road, which means when she does pass him by, she very well might run straight into him instead.]

[nipzips]

[ Josuke lives in Ruga, so yes, he's just minding his own business, loitering around the area like a troublemaker when a guy comes up to him and wraps their arms around him. ] Woah there!

[ It's kind of awkward, but he also likes hugs so he doesn't mind too much. He just wishes it came with more notice. Beyond an initial tensing, he doesn't tear the guy away though. He doesn't want to hurt this person's feelings. What if they really needed a hug for some reason? Josuke eventually hugs him back too, patting Akechi on the back. ]

Hey, man. You doing alright? Don't start crying or anything ... [ They probably need reassurance. There's no other reason this stranger would want to hold onto him. It's either that, or it's Free Hug Day and Josuke missed a memo. ]

[doublecrowss]

[ It's a good thing Caramia is a bit of an idiot, really-- the less he questions Akechi's odd behavior, the better. Evading conversation, though? That looks like it's going to be a little trickier-- and it doesn't help that Akechi can't think with a completely clear head right now, either. ]

A-ah, yes, on Guren-san's special assignment. [ And hopefully Kyrie has mentioned something about it already so Akechi doesn't have to stay here any longer to explain. ] He seemed reluctant to work with a child at first, but I think he's coming around now...

[ If anything, he was... alarmingly affectionate. ]

[doublecrowss]

[ Fuckfuckfuck. Of all days for Akira to be uncharacteristically talkative, did he really have to pick today? Right now? ]

Y-yes, everything is just fine. [ He stops in his tracks-- knowing this guy, even if Akechi kept going, he'd just continue to give chase-- and turns to face Akira, his smile faltering for only fractions of a second, nearly imperceptible. ] Do you need anything...?

[doublecrowss]

[ Wow Satan, you are useless to him. ]

A-ah, not exactly. I suppose I am feeling a little under the weather, though...

[ That's... one way of putting it. Either way, Akechi tries to lean closer to get a better glance at the kind of fish Ryo had caught, in hopes to make some quick, polite conversation and then be on his way, but, to his dismay, even that little bit of added proximity seemed to intensify his... odd cravings, so he immediately pulls back and folds his arms around himself. Tight. Stay put, Akechi, stay put. ]

For your sake, you might wish to keep your distance. If this is contagious, I would rather not infect you.

[ He did start acting this way after meeting Kyrie so... It's not implausible, at least... ]

[doublecrowss]

[ The good news is, he finally, finally made it home. The bad news? Lupin is right there in the living area, and there's no way to avoid him.

On the other hand, he's already gone so far as hugging 1. strangers and 2. terrible options so, is there even a point in trying to escape this? ]

Hmm, thank you.

[ And just like that, Akechi makes his way towards Lupin, leans over and... awkwardly, very awkwardly casts his arms around his shoulders in a hug. ]

... I'm sorry.

[ That almost makes it sound like it's someone's funeral-- and, by all means, it might as well be Akechi's. ]

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ Now, what was strange was the fact that he seemed so uncomfortable. Stuttering from being chilly? Sure. Arms wrapped around him from the cold? Acceptable. But troubled in the presence of what Caramia thought was friendly company? Absolutely not. He hovered worriedly around Akechi, unknowingly making things worse. ]

Told you all that, did he? You know you can be honest with me, if he wrong you at all, I can tell him off for you. Is that what happened?

[ Poor Caramia. As if Akechi would be bothered by Kyrie's bad attitude. ]

[apocalypticist]

[ Suspicious... he does take a step back though, his eyes narrowing slightly. ]

You should go home and rest if you're not feeling well.

[doublecrowss]

[ Oh, this is great. This is fucking great, really. Up to this point, he had only come across people he knew so it made things not... any less awkward, actually, but he could at least explain himself to them at a later time.

But this? A complete stranger? Can death come any sooner, please? ]

A-ah, my apologies! [ He is, at least, quick to pull away, holding his hands together behind his back. ] I thought you were someone else for a moment.

[ A lie? Absolutely. But hopefully it makes things a little less awkward?? ]

You... seem to be new around here, correct? [ Yes, let's steamroll past this uncomfortable first meeting, let's change the topic to something else!! ] How are you adjusting in Chroma so far...?

[ How about we make that a welcome hug, what if Akechi starts a welcome committee... ]

I am here for this

[doublecrowss]

[ Boy, this day just keeps getting better and better!! Another stranger-- and this one all but runs straight into him and almost manages to knock him off his feet! Almost, because at least he's quick enough to cast his arms around Estelle in a strong hug and secure them both into place, though the same probably can't be said about her supplies.

Oh, well. At least this time he could put these odd cravings to good use? ]

A-ah, are you all right, miss?

[heartsteals]

[ the first part of that greeting was pretty normal, so Lupin turns his gaze back to his laptop swiftly. The second part, not so much. It's almost impossible to sneak up on him, so he's not startled when he feels Akechi's arms around him as much as he is confused. (Also, hastily closing his forum window so Akechi doesn't see him messaging people about that surprise birthday party.)

He's not usually the type to seek out affection from Lupin. Actually, he's pretty sure this is the first time he's even touched him of his own volition. Not that Lupin minds - it's just that his first assumption is that something really terrible must have happened to him. He puts a hand on one of Akechi's arms, giving him a (semi-concerned) smile. ]

An apology and a hug? What's the matter?

[doublecrowss]

[ Oh. Of course. Yet another stranger. Why does this not even surprise him anymore-- because that's only par for the course for this terrible, terrible day, that's why.

(But this guy - whoever he is - seems to be... returning the hug? Well. He's not sure that makes it any less awkward, but at the very least, it makes Akechi feel slightly less weird.) ]

A-ah, no, I'm all right...! [ He pulls away as soon as he has the chance, offering a weak smile that probably does a poor job at convincing the other guy that Akechi is fine. ] My apologies, though. I thought you were someone else.

[ That's the same excuse he used on a different guy, so. Hopefully Josuke will buy into it? ]

because akechi hasn't had enough awkward first meetings

[shotlocking]

[ Aqua has decided to familiarize herself with the town... and when she makes a decision, she commits fully to it. Today, she's in Ruga, and while she doesn't expect anything exciting to happen, that doesn't mean it won't. Still, she's feeling a little tired, so she hopes nothing too crazy will happen.

... And then someone's hugging her, and it's been so long since she was hugged?? It takes her a moment before she can respond. She's quite a bit shorter than he is, so she has to tilt her head back to look at him. ]

Oh-- Erm, hello there.

[doublecrowss]

[ Nonono. Kyrie's attitude was all fine and dandy, as far as he was concerned. But this? This... awful closeness? Nope, not okay. It makes the urge grow stronger, and a shade of red tint his cheeks, whether from embarrassment or from the sheer effort of fighting the compulsion, it's hard to tell. Might as well be both.

So maybe if he cuts off at least one of the sources of his fluster, it wouldn't be as bad, right?

Without another word, he closes the (already short) distance between them and lets his arms envelop Caramia's figure, soft and loose, nothing like the huge, effusive hugs Caramia would give him, but one that suits Akechi instead-- tentative, awkward. Like someone who isn't used to this at all. ]