020 ✤ o p e n

[akito]

Character: Wanijima Akito & OPEN
Date: May 10^th - May 31^st
Location: Various
Situation: Various
Warnings: n/a ; will update as needed
Notes: Akito will be shapeshifted for a majority of the month. If you want his normal appearance just make a note of it in your tag.


{ Scenario #1 }

No matter how much Akito may want to sleep his days away, still hurting from Agito's disappearance despite them both being aware it was likely only temporary, he still has a job to do. With the increase in crime he's noticed an increase in delivery requests from nervous kedan, on top of the requests he's been getting due to the sickness going around. It keeps him too busy to miss home, and he can't even feel guilty about being glad for the increase in business, regardless of the reason why.

There are enough deliveries that he covers only one sector per trip instead of two or three, yet he still finds it enjoyable - it gives him time to see the sights of each district as opposed to rushing through them.




{ Scenario #2 }

Work isn't the only thing that's been keeping Akito busy. Days when delivery requests are few and far between are days he runs his errands, stocking up on supplies to wrap and tie packages, groceries, and any other necessities he needs that week.

He never really purchases too much, though he makes sure to take his time and browse through all of the selections when he has a chance, just in case something catches his eye.




{ Scenario #3 }

If he's not working or running errands, Akito can be found at his apartment working on various things - homework from Callaghan, organizing his business records, or even building anything from basic furniture to complex ornamental pieces out of scraps. Bird keeps him company during these times, singing him songs to keep his mood up, or urging Akito to play games with him.




{ WILDCARD }

Want something else? Just toss in your own starter or contact me at froakie.

Comments

[akito]

He hums a note in the affirmative, which is soon after mimicked by Bird.

Akito will likely end up just making messy braids on either side of his face after waking up, brushing his real hair before shifting his appearance - kind of cheating really, but brushing long hair is so much work. And usually he has more important things to do.

"What about... Does wanting to avoid your real reflection for a while count as being a mask?"

[pushtheboundaries]

Hm.

"...I suppose there's times everyone wishes they look different," Robert notes, fingers slowing as he tries to get a better look at Akito's...well, he can't really see his face, but he's trying to get an idea as to whether or not he should have some concern, here. "But...that all depends on why you'd want to avoid looking at yourself."

A beat.

"Did something happen?"

[akito]

Akito grabs a loose strand of hair and twirls it absently around a finger, picking at the ends. He worries at his lip in silence, debating on what to say, but thinks that Callaghan would somehow get it.

"I don't see me when I look in the mirror."

All he can see is Agito.

[pushtheboundaries]

It takes Callaghan a moment, but after which, he...thinks he might get it. Is he sure? No. Does he know better than to assume? Yes.

Is he going to abandon the subject? Not at all. He does, however, adjust his line of questioning, keeping it quiet and gentle;

"Is that bad?"

[akito]

"What would you do, if every time you looked in the mirror you saw the face of the person you miss most?"

It's stupid, Akito knows, but that doesn't make it hurt any less when he catches glimpses of his other half. When he turns on learned reflex to smile and greet him only to see his own smile reflected back at him.

[pushtheboundaries]

Callaghan's hands go still.

It's perhaps not a perfect reflection, but there have been times when for a moment he can see a glimpse of his features echoed in another person- and even that is enough to make his heart ache.

"...fair enough," he allows, picking back up where he left off a moment later. "But...sooner or later, I think you may have to come to terms with it."

[akito]

"I will. I know he would be upset with me," he assures the man. "But there is a lot going on, and this helps a little."

Akito shifts, tucking his knees to his chest and leaning back tentatively into Callaghan's hands. "It's nice to have a little break. And also... Even if it isn't real, to see and touch my papa's hair again."

Sure, Kaito was far from the best father, but Akito is still a child - something he's more acutely aware of in Agito's absence - and his father had always been there. The scarce, kind and happy memories are what he clings to now, and he wishes for his Papa like he did when he was so small he can barely remember.

"When I was very small and Papa was still at Tokyo U, he would let me play with his hair before bed while he did his homework." He twirls a loose strand of his hair. "It was only this long back then, but the last time I saw him it was to his thighs. It was still very soft, and it moved like the hair you see in shampoo commercials."

[pushtheboundaries]

Looking down at Akito, it's hard to remember that this is a young man with such a troubled past - and future, based on such. He seems - simple? Carefree? Young, and childlike.

Maybe that's why Callaghan's brow only furrows as Akito begins to speak. Even with what he's pieced together...oh, there's a brief darkening of his expression, but he knows this isn't the time or place to voice his own thoughts.

This isn't about him.

"Did you braid it?" he asks softly, pulling up one of the lengths he's separated. Perhaps that's what this is all about...reaching in to...happier(?) times.

[akito]

"No, I never learned how to braid very well. He let me put beads in it though, after he put small braids in himself, and he still keeps them in his hair."

Focusing on the good memories makes it easier to forget about the bad - or at least make the bad weigh on his mind far less. The good memories he has with his father are few and far between, but there are ones that don't stand out as good, per se, as much as they stand out as normal. Comfortable.

The simple memories where they sit together at the table, covered in books and a dirty ash tray, eating dinner and simply reading in each others company. Or the times when the RV got too cold to sleep by himself and Kaito let him crawl under the covers with him. Small pats on the head of affection rather than whips or bullets. Teaching him new skills. Taking pictures of the memories they have together and pinning them to the bulletin board by the window. The times when Akito would make him something small and thoughtful for father's day and how his father would pause, a distant, pained look on his face, before smiling a rare smile and putting the gift away for safekeeping.

"Before I was brought here, Kaito-papa's arm was still recovering from when he was impaled, and so I helped him wash and brush his hair."

After learning about the history of Gazelle, it makes much more sense to Akito why Kaito seemed to treasure the times when he would try and fix his papa's hair up nicely. It was something Gazelle always did for him; tying back his hair, making sure it was brushed. Running her hands through it. She loved his long hair, and Kaito would only ever let her touch it - nobody else.

It's also why he let it grow so much longer, never cutting it any shorter in the decade since her death.

This greater understanding of his brother-father makes it much easier for Akito to forgive what was done to him. Things were much better when he left, and he can only imagine things will continue to improve.

"It was a much nicer way to bond than learning how to shoot a gun, I think."

[pushtheboundaries]

Callaghan knows only so much of that. What he does know, well- he's only ever tolerated so much to children. Even the kids at the college, though they were hardly children anymore...a few of them had stories of their own, stories which were, at best, regrettable. They were generally in a position where they were finally in a situation where they could move past, if they'd gotten there at all...

One does wonder how many bright minds were lost, however, before they ever had the chance.

Though Callaghan doesn't think many bonded at the shooting range. Akito's just full of surprises, isn't he?

"...he taught you how to shoot a gun?"

[akito]

"Ah?" Akito is surprised by the question, mostly because isn't that what he just said? "Un, yeah. I couldn't be the only person in the unit that didn't know how to shoot one, ne?"