puppycrush2 | week two

Akechi and Kat are carted off whether they like it or not on a nice date--to the water, where they then board a lovely dinner cruise! It coasts along the water smoothly, allowing them to enjoy the view while also being served high class food.

Highlights:

- excellent food and drinks
- they're on the cruise just in time to catch the sunset
- if they want to, they can go onto the top deck after the meal to enjoy the breeze!

[For what it's worth... He doesn't blame Kat for this. She seemed to take the hint when he basically told her to fuck off. So when he's dragged out, again, for a date he is unhappy but complacent. That complacency ends at the sight of the ship.

It feels like a cruel joke (but surely Cal would never do that to me. To Akechi.) and he really really tries not to get on this boat once its clear that this is their destination. There's a lot of arguing with production but... he does not get his way.

He grinds his teeth together, gloved fingers digging into the sleeve of his jacket once they're on the deck.]

This is bullshit.

[Kat had argued, too, feistier, perhaps, than anyone has seen her in the house so far, except maybe at the previous match ceremony. He said he didn't want to go! What's the matter with you! Don't you realize if you try to force feelings on someone, you're only going to force bad ones?

She doesn't know anything about why he might not want to be on a boat, but that doesn't matter. If anything, it might just be because he's already rejected her, and he just doesn't want to be stuck with her in a place neither of them can leave. She's not exactly happy about it, either... Kat has to admit her faith in him is really low.

Defeated, she leans her forearms on the railing, sagging over it with a body-full sigh.] At least the breeze feels nice.

[He won't say the petty and bitter comment about how much he hates it. The breeze, the scent of the ocean, the subtle rocking of the ship. It's all nauseating. The amount of times he had to slink about on his father's shitty ship. It's also... Where it all ended.

Of course he's here.

The city looks appealing though. He taps his fingers along the railing. Thinking.]

Let's jump. [He peers over the railing, judging the distance.] Let's jump and do something out there.

[Fuck the cameras and the crew. And most importantly... fuck this ship.]

[~~noooo akechi don't that's the hudson~~

Luckily they are in (bus horn noise) City instead, so it's probably a little safer if they end up in the bay water.

The suggestion very much startles Kat, though, and she jerks up from the railing with her eyes wide in surprise.] Eh?! You mean just... leave it all behind?

[She's trying, unsubtly, to look at the crewmembers that have been following them around for filming without actually alerting them to the fact that their future is being discussed.]

I don't know if I can shift all the way out here, so we'd have to go... [looking down with a swallow] in the water.

[He gives her a somewhat confused look. Obviously they have to go in the water. Shifting though...?]

If you can't swim you can hold onto me. I'll get us to shore. [If swimming is her only concern is actually going to join him on this? That'd be great.] What's out there in that city is way more interesting than what's on this boat.

[He holds out a gloved hand to her.]

Are you in?

[Given where she's from and the general lack of bodies of water, I do really have to consider how well she can swim. Probably not very well, but at least she might be able to survive. Either way, she'll definitely be clinging to him once they hit the water.

It feels like Goro is running away from something... Maybe it would be better if they were to stay and face it together... but Kat's pulled her tail between her legs before when things got too hairy and there wasn't anyone at risk but her. If she's going to understand what had him turning on the entire house, why he has the reputation he does, maybe this is what she has to do.

Kat takes his hand a little apprehensively. The camera crew gets a very apologetic smile; they won't have time to act anyway.]

I'm in. I still think it would be better if I could -

[And that's probably all she has time to say.]

[He gives the camera crew the finger in comparison and then he's climbing over the railing.]

Feet first. It's a decent drop.

[He holds tight to her hand so when they hit the water they're still connected. She didn't say she couldn't swim but in case he can't he's not just going to let her drown. That'd be difficult to explain. Also... she fought pretty hard to not go on this date after he declined her original offer. So they're partners in these trying times. And once she's over the rail with him... it's into the water.]

[She's used to falling.

That's not the scary part; neither is the distance. She'd probably still be fine even if she can't use her shifting abilities right now.

But plunging into the water from this height when she can't just pull herself out of it by altering the movement of gravity? That's scary. It's falling with no control over it, and for some reason that fills her with a much tighter sensation in her chest than anything else. Like she doesn't know what's at the bottom of the fall, of the water...

Kat shrieks, high-pitched, as soon as the cold water hits her feet. She's grabbing for Akechi's shoulders immediately to koala onto her helpful bully.]

[Girl. Relax.

He's a strong swimmer but her latching onto him for dear life does push him under a few times. He breaks to the surface once more and settles for paddling a little and allowing the wake to push them forward while also moving the both of them so they don't get sucked under. That'd be pretty bad.]

You pretty much float naturally if you want to lighten your grip a little. [Like just a little.] It'll be easier for me to swim. But you have to relax a little and don't panic or be scared. I'm not going to let you drown out here.

[It's a further distance than it looked but also not impossible. Without doing the entirety of the stroke he does some breast-stroke to help close the distance. One thing that he didn't really account for was that this water at this time of year is pretty fucking cold. When they get to shore he'll make sure that she gets something to change into. Because at the end of the day... She jumped with him. And that means something. He'll find a way to articulate that in some fashion as the day goes on. Or maybe next week. At some point.]

[It's chilly, but after a little while of being in the water, Kat gets her bearings. She doesn't immediately sink like a stone, and following his advice helps keep her solidly on the water's surface. She definitely has better control of herself here in the water than she expected.

When it comes to movement, Kat's actually a very fast learner. Her grip on Akechi eases as she gets used to the temperature, and she makes an effort to swim alongside him until they can swim the full length of the water and back to the shoreline. The worst of it is the cold, especially dressed the way she is. She was prepared to go on a "mystery" date, not go for a swim... so the thing that makes her cling the most to Akechi both in and out of water is the freezing up of her muscles as her teeth chatter against the chill.]

At least... it's not...super windy.

[Once she relaxes it's much easier to swim even with her on his back and then she gets her bearings and it becomes much much easier. The shore gets closer with every stroke until, at last, their feet brush the bottom and all that is left is to drag themselves out of the water.

He lets out a triumphant laugh once they're on land, one that hinges on hysterical but mostly relieved. Away from the cameras and all that garbage.

She's right that it's not windy but it is cold and they're now completely soaked. But that's alright because they're in (REDACTED.) And with Cal's permission from before they have money. He shakes out his wet hair and squeezes the water out of his coat and tie.]

Here's the plan... There's plenty of places to shop here so lets get a change of clothes. And then go somewhere to eat. [They were supposed to eat on the ship so they'll rectify that. And then, he assumes, they'll eventually be found.] Come on. It's a big city and we don't want to get split up.

[So when she's squeezed the water out of her own clothes he'll offer his hand to her. Cute shopping outfit for Kat in (redacted)?]

week two | dates

akechi & kat

I dont think kat deserves this

the jesus allegations are stronger now

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