[ That pause isn't lost on Akechi, and while he likes to think he's keeping a better lid on his reactions, well...
Well, he can't help the way his gaze tracks Sylvia as she steps past him. He has to force himself to turn his attention back to the door as he pushes it closed again. ]
I don't mind.
[ Maybe he should, but he doesn't. ]
Take your time. I don't have anything else planned today.
[ She keeps her back turned towards him, because she's afraid that if she looks at him, she won't be able to look away. She puts her hands behind her back and looks straight ahead, not quite focused on anything except trying to keep herself in check. ]
[ It's a very dangerous answer. It's not like she hasn't seen Akechi's bedroom before, but the pollen is making her head spin when she thinks about it. She manages to get in there and quickly grab her clothes before she walks back out, a little hurriedly. Her cheeks are red, and she turns towards the bathroom to get changed.
But suddenly, she stops and turns to face him. Her eyes have a hard time meeting his, but they manage to look at him. Sylvia swallows nervously. ]
Hey... You didn't go to the Wilde to deal with some flowers earlier, did you?
[ He probably didn't; he's acting pretty normally. ]
[ ... Busted. Akechi really tries to force himself to step away from the little doorway between the living room and 'hallway' connecting the bedroom and bathroom, but when Sylvia emerges he's still lurking there like... well, like he owns the place.
And apparently, that and whatever she may have caught from the Bond is enough to tip her off. Akechi pauses for a moment, then offers her a nod. ]
I did, actually.
[ He sounds and looks mostly normal, but eye contact is heavier than usual, and he's still in a way that suggests he's paying an over abundance of attention to Sylvia. ]
[ The pollen is so strong that the thought of hiding how she's feeling doesn't even occur to her. There's the feeling of wanting -- no, needing, and while a part of her is uncertain, she's still riled up. Still feeling the effects from the pollen despite having gone one round already.
She pauses for a moment and turns to face him completely. ]
Yeah, I did.
[ She's surprised he had to ask, given how she didn't bother trying to filter her encounter with Steak. But there's her answer -- she doesn't say anything else. ]
[ There's only a split second that passes before she gives him her answer firmly: ]
You say that like you think I'd leave.
[ So...they're doing this, are they. Somehow things were easier with Steak than they are with Akechi right now, and she hesitates before she steps forward. Her hands go to his shoulders, and her gaze is burning. She leans in -- only halfway, though -- and speaks, voice low but a little unsunre: ]
So...we should help each other out, is what I'm hearing?
[ Ah, he should have known he could count on Sylvia to be so simply forward about it. He's a little startled, but he quirks a faint smile at her question. Alright then. This might end up being a mistake, but right now?
Right now he likes the idea a lot. ]
Well. Probably not out here.
[ Still, as he speaks he slides half a step closer and lets his hands fall to rest on her waist. ]
[ She grins a little when she says it, now that his hands are on her waist. Seems like the sentiment is mutual, and it's nice to know that Akechi's willing to do this. Maybe this will be a mistake, but for now, this is good.
She pulls her hands off of his shoulders, and one of them reaches out to grab his hand. ]
[ It's not like they can go back to Sylvia's place. Still, his tone is light and teasing rather than harsh and critical. He'd hesitate to describe himself as being in a good mood (he always hesitates to describe himself as being in a good mood) but this is a definite improvement over the cautious tension that gripped them a few moment ago.
He takes Sylvia's hand and steps around her, tugging her along with him as he crosses the short distance to his bedroom. It is, as Sylvia saw just a few moments ago, fastidiously tidy. Everything is in its place and the bed is freshly made, which mean there's no reason for Akechi to do anything but head right for it and take a seat, pulling Sylvia along with him all the while. ]
[ He sure seems like he's in a better mood than he was earlier, and honestly, she's in the same boat there. She feels more comfortable when he takes her hand and leads her into his bedroom (which is probably getting way less tidy soon), and when he takes a seat, she sits right next to him. ]
Okay...so...
[ She's mumbling to herself, trying to gather her bearings now that they're committed to this. Again, somehow, this is proving to be way more difficult than her rendezvous with Steak; but she doesn't want to let things linger for much longer. She doesn't want time to overthink this, especially with the pollen still in play.
She turns towards him, one hand covering his while the other one moves to his cheek, and leans in halfway. When she sees that he's not pulling back, she takes her chances and finally presses her lips to his. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Well, he can't help the way his gaze tracks Sylvia as she steps past him. He has to force himself to turn his attention back to the door as he pushes it closed again. ]
I don't mind.
[ Maybe he should, but he doesn't. ]
Take your time. I don't have anything else planned today.
no subject
[ She keeps her back turned towards him, because she's afraid that if she looks at him, she won't be able to look away. She puts her hands behind her back and looks straight ahead, not quite focused on anything except trying to keep herself in check. ]
So...where do you keep the clothes again?
no subject
In the bedroom.
[ He keeps his tone pretty even, but it's a close thing. ]
Some of your things should be in the back of the wardrobe. You can take something of mine if there's not.
no subject
[ It's a very dangerous answer. It's not like she hasn't seen Akechi's bedroom before, but the pollen is making her head spin when she thinks about it. She manages to get in there and quickly grab her clothes before she walks back out, a little hurriedly. Her cheeks are red, and she turns towards the bathroom to get changed.
But suddenly, she stops and turns to face him. Her eyes have a hard time meeting his, but they manage to look at him. Sylvia swallows nervously. ]
Hey... You didn't go to the Wilde to deal with some flowers earlier, did you?
[ He probably didn't; he's acting pretty normally. ]
no subject
And apparently, that and whatever she may have caught from the Bond is enough to tip her off. Akechi pauses for a moment, then offers her a nod. ]
I did, actually.
[ He sounds and looks mostly normal, but eye contact is heavier than usual, and he's still in a way that suggests he's paying an over abundance of attention to Sylvia. ]
And you?
no subject
She pauses for a moment and turns to face him completely. ]
Yeah, I did.
[ She's surprised he had to ask, given how she didn't bother trying to filter her encounter with Steak. But there's her answer -- she doesn't say anything else. ]
no subject
To know what? That they're both worked up and stuck here in a small cottage with no reason to leave? ]
... You don't have to. But I think you should stay.
no subject
You say that like you think I'd leave.
[ So...they're doing this, are they. Somehow things were easier with Steak than they are with Akechi right now, and she hesitates before she steps forward. Her hands go to his shoulders, and her gaze is burning. She leans in -- only halfway, though -- and speaks, voice low but a little unsunre: ]
So...we should help each other out, is what I'm hearing?
no subject
Right now he likes the idea a lot. ]
Well. Probably not out here.
[ Still, as he speaks he slides half a step closer and lets his hands fall to rest on her waist. ]
no subject
[ She grins a little when she says it, now that his hands are on her waist. Seems like the sentiment is mutual, and it's nice to know that Akechi's willing to do this. Maybe this will be a mistake, but for now, this is good.
She pulls her hands off of his shoulders, and one of them reaches out to grab his hand. ]
Wherever you want. Lead the way?
no subject
[ It's not like they can go back to Sylvia's place. Still, his tone is light and teasing rather than harsh and critical. He'd hesitate to describe himself as being in a good mood (he always hesitates to describe himself as being in a good mood) but this is a definite improvement over the cautious tension that gripped them a few moment ago.
He takes Sylvia's hand and steps around her, tugging her along with him as he crosses the short distance to his bedroom. It is, as Sylvia saw just a few moments ago, fastidiously tidy. Everything is in its place and the bed is freshly made, which mean there's no reason for Akechi to do anything but head right for it and take a seat, pulling Sylvia along with him all the while. ]
no subject
Okay...so...
[ She's mumbling to herself, trying to gather her bearings now that they're committed to this. Again, somehow, this is proving to be way more difficult than her rendezvous with Steak; but she doesn't want to let things linger for much longer. She doesn't want time to overthink this, especially with the pollen still in play.
She turns towards him, one hand covering his while the other one moves to his cheek, and leans in halfway. When she sees that he's not pulling back, she takes her chances and finally presses her lips to his. ]