013 ☀ Phantom Thieves, Magilou

[jokered]

Comments

[jokered]

[he lets magilou be because he understands this is tough.

instead, akira lets out a bit of a mirthless laugh.]

You'd think. The people in the game didn't agree though—even though a lot of people were just as bad, or worse, I think a lot of people felt exceptionally betrayed by me.

[even if he's not sure why. he still doesn't get why he took more flak than just about anyone. he's still not sure why he was treated like some of the worst of the lot, even after the game had ended and they had a chance to make amends.

maybe that weighs on him more than his actions, because some of the people he wanted to make amends with truly never let him have the chance and kept knocking him down until he hit his limits.]

Except for this weird one. She... was the one person who stuck by me. Even after knowing, she never turned her back on me.

[okay. so some people came around and eventually apologized for their harsh behavior, and a couple of others never truly held it against him.

but magilou was the one who tried to keep him from dying. she tried to keep the attention off him, she didn't even vote for him even though she should have.

he's fond of her, okay.]

[spinatalltale]

[from her spot underneath the table]

. . . hmph. Don't say embarrassing things, Trickster.

[but her tone is soft and fond in that really tsundere kind of way. and then, directed to Futaba--]

He takes on a lot, you know? Carries the world until it crushes him underneath its weight. Someone had to hold him up for a change.

[virtuale]

[There's a long, long pause, Futaba squinting at Akira and then at the floor where Magilou presumably is, as if she had x-ray vision, and then--]

Ewwwww.

[GROSS?? GROSS.]

You two are like that?

[What??? That's gross!! Akira's love life is gross.

(Sorry, they can get back to important things in a moment.)]

[jokered]

[okay, that makes him laugh.]

I have to get the Sakura family seal of approval, don't I?

[which is to say that regardless of the fact that magilou actually showed up on her own terms, his family matters.

...not that it would stop him or his feelings, but he still wants his family, and the phantom thieves, to accept her—he wouldn't have gotten through that experience without magilou, and that akira is sure of.]

[spinatalltale]

[every serious moment needs a bit of comedic relief!!]

Oh my! I didn't know there was going to be a test.

[love her, Futaba]

And also, you'll have to get the details from Newt here, because witches are strictly prohibited from talking about matters of the heart.

[virtuale]

[Futaba makes a face, and then she shifts until she can peer under the table between her legs, which she pulls up to her chest like some sort of mutant gremlin, because she's Futaba.

And she points at Magilou.]

That's not how it works, you know. She's the one who has to get the Sakura family seal of approval.

[Not Akira, Akira's already got it, Magilou's the one who has to impress her here.]

I'm only the midboss anyway, Sojiro is the final boss.

[jokered]

[akira's just nodding here.]

There's a reason we all call him Boss, you know.

[...that's not why they call him boss at all, don't listen to akira.]

[spinatalltale]

[]

[PUTS UP HER DUKES]

You don't know how many midbosses and bosses I've defeated in my day, but this might be the hardest challenge yet! I don't know if my heart can take it!

[please make her talk about her feelings, Futaba. p l e a s e]

[virtuale]

[Akira's helping.

But Futaba is not backing down!! Because obviously not.]

Quirky Side Witch uses Plaintive Diversion! It's not very effective!

[Shut up, Futaba.]

Here's your test! I want you to tell meeeee--

Why you like Akira! [Ah.

Of course.]

[jokered]

[honestly, akira is just going to hum this.

it's fine.]

[spinatalltale]

[aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAH. literally the one question she never answered for anyone except Akira himself?? god. no. she's not ready for this]

[she's wearing a hoodie, she's totally pulling the hood up over her head and drawing it shut around her face, so only her nose is visible. her words are muffled]

. . . hey, no fair. Aren't midbosses supposed to use their weakest attacks before their strongest ones?

[SHE'S]

[STALLING]

[virtuale]

[Akira's the best, and Futaba leans against him contentedly and affectionately as he indulges in her everything.

With Magilou, though, she shows no quarter.]

Ha ha! That's assuming that this is my strongest attack! I have techniques the likes of which you've never seen!

[Doomed.]

[jokered]

Magilou used Stall! It doesn't affect the opposing Futaba....

[he's commentating this like a pokemon battle. softly. it's fine. he can't help himself, he needs futaba to know he'll be okay somehow and...

it's kind of funny to fluster magilou, anyway.]

[spinatalltale]

[yells??? yells!! he is literally the only one who has ever been able to fluster her like this]

[also SHOVES AT AKIRA'S KNEE FOR THAT COMMENTARY]

I'm under leveled! I didn't dungeon grind enough for this! Throw me a support spell, please!

[still stalling]

[virtuale]

Absolutely not! I save my support spells for people who have passed my test!

[So like.

The Phantom Thieves.

That's it.]

Time's up! [A point.] Your answer! [Well, Magilou?]

[jokered]

No buffs this time, Magilao.

[... nickname and all, huh.]

Talking to Futaba's like talking to me, anyway. Family's just an extension, you know.

1/2

[spinatalltale]

[. . . augh what the fuck. nickname is cheating. everything is cheating]

[her reply is dry]

His charm, smooth one-liners, kindness and good looks.

[badum tish]

[spinatalltale]

[okay, but. more seriously. Magilou shifts underneath the table so her back is pressed against the wall, legs stretched out in front of her. she also pushes the hood from her head, running her fingers through her bangs as she does so]

You know him too. . . don't you? [quietly, not looking at either of them] He has a strong heart. Much stronger than my own. And he uses it to just-- [hrrrgh this is embarrassing, and Magilou never gets embarrassed. she keeps her tone even in an attempt to play it cool] -- feel things, you know? He lives, brighter and more vibrantly than anyone else I know now.

[insert casual nonchalant shrug here THIS IS FINE, SHE IS FINE]

Even when he cracks, even when he shows weakness, even when he hurts and experiences pain and grief. . . well. It's like I said earlier. Not even that island could extinguish that spark within-- nothing could kill that no matter how hard it tried.

[another shrug!!]

. . . he keeps going. Despite the ugliness in the world, despite his own suffering and the suffering of those around him.

[. . .]

So in other words, he's okay, I suppose.

[after that, only "okay," jfc Magilou]

[virtuale]

[... Oh.

Futaba pauses at that, listening intently, her arms wrapped around her legs...and then she smiles a little to herself. In truth, Magilou loves Akira for a lot of the same reasons that Futaba loves him, even if they love him in different ways. He's still Akira, and he's everything both of them need and more.

And he always keeps going.

So... she nods, humming a satisfied little tune.]

Yep, you're right. He's Akira, and Akira's Akira. [Obviously.] That's why he's so cool.

[And amazing and warm and the best big brother she could ask for, but she won't say that. Instead, liltingly:]

Okaaaay, you pass. I was going to unleash a super special crazy move after, but... eh.

I'm bored now.

[No, Magilou just...convinced her with that answer, that's all.]

[jokered]

And so, she concedes, mercifully.

[but to futaba, more softly:]

Thank you.

[and he means it. futaba is family, she's someone who can't be replaced in his life and someone he loves with all his heart...

but there's a lot of room in his heart, and a lot of people he loves. magilou is one of those people now; she helped him through his darkest hour, and he wouldn't be here like this right now if it weren't for her. so for futaba to recognize that and accept it—

it helps him. it makes him feels like things will be okay. it's going to take him time to heal, and there are still more people who need to learn the truth, but...right now, this is fine.

he'll at least give magilou a moment to recover, even if he slips his hand under the table, as if to offer it to magilou and pull her back up to their level here.]

[spinatalltale]

Hmph. That wasn't me conceding. That was a Mystic Arte, and I just one-hit-KO'd the midboss.

[but her response is a little less sassy than usual, and after a moment to regain her bearings, she does reach up to grab Akira's hand so she can clamor back onto the booth seat again]

[virtuale]

Eh.

[Futaba just shrugs a little, leaning against Akira before she reaches across the table to fetch her coffee.]

It was a scripted boss fight anyway.

[Futaba.]

[jokered]

[akira snorts at that. look at his best girls, here!!]

I can't tell if I'm the damsel here or not.

[spinatalltale]

[sorry Futaba, but once Magilou is level with them both again, she is totally leaning in, pressing one hand against Akira's cheek, and stealing a (not so quick. . . actually. . . SHE'S LINGERING A BIT) kiss. GROSS PDA]

[and when she pulls back--]

You are. And you're welcome for that save.

[lightly thwacks his head, before she settles back into her seat next to him]

[virtuale]

No, you're the key it--

[... GROSS.

GROSS???

UGH.

She's immediately making a horrified face, and there are definitely gagging noises coming from her side of the table as she slumps uselessly to the table and makes dying noises.

Death by her stupid brother's stupid girlfriend's gross PDA. RIP in pieces.]