[04:27] <Axel_Wildfire> Tuesday Evening, Scarlet Devil Mansion -
[04:29] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake *fwumps* onto her bed in the guest room, faceplanting into the covers with barely a sound and slowly struggling to remove her clothes without going anywhere. Dealing with Masaki has totally worn her out, and the last week and a half has left her several different kinds of broken; she just feels *dead*.
[04:31] <Athon> However much to her sadness, the door seemingly opens from nowhere and a pile of bed sheets enters the room, only a small tuft of blue hair poking from the top.
[04:32] <Athon> "Out, need to change your bed."
[04:32] <Axel_Wildfire> By this stage, she's down to her t-shirt, socks, and panties, and doesn't look like she wants to move. "Ngh. Do it tomorrow." Ake's voice is muffled by the quilts.
[04:35] <Athon> "Nope. I'm putting all of them in the laundry. Letting this one out would set me back quite a bit." She sets the pile aside, moving on to poke on Ake. "C'mon, just for ten minutes."
[04:36] <Axel_Wildfire> "Nnngh..." Ake forces herself up and starts crawling for the edge of the bed, misses, and ends up at Haru's feet with a *thud*. "Ow..."
[04:38] <Athon> "... What are you? A Kid?" Haru reaches down for the girl, a faint outline of pink on her face as she takes hold of Ake's arms. "C'mon, let's get you up."
[04:39] <Axel_Wildfire> "I'm fine, just tired and drained." she takes Haru's hand for support and raises herself, looking... nervous. And tired; the dark circles under her eyes have the aspect of black holes, and the usual heat she radiates has dialed back to 'warmth', though it's still noticeable. "Thank you."
[04:41] <Athon> Haru's fake indifference breaks, as a concerned look overtakes her features. "... What happened with your sleep pattern?"
[04:41] * Adriel (~Adrielle@35FED62E.3DEBCD16.1849FF17.IP) Quit
[04:42] <Axel_Wildfire> "Nothing exactly, I'm just... everything has been wearing me down for a while now." Ake rubs at her face with her free hand. "Sorry."
[04:42] <Athon> "Is there anything I can do to help?
[04:43] <Axel_Wildfire> "Cause the Checkmate Four to spontaneously cease existing so that I'm not running myself ragged stopping Haruka from running herself ragged? No, wait, *cause the fucker with Masked Rider to become mute*." she laughs.
[04:45] <Athon> "... THat one I think I can make work. I have a pair of one of those things guys who work at noisy places have. I can lend them to you."
[04:49] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake giggles tiredly. "They're called earmuffs, Haru."
[04:51] <Athon> "It works, doesn't it?"
[04:55] <Axel_Wildfire> "I wish. Unfortunately I need to be able to hear him so that I can shut him up..." she sighs.
[04:56] <Athon> "... I can make some tea for you..."
[04:57] <Axel_Wildfire> "That would be great." Ake sighs again, this time in a more relaxed fashion, and she crouches to scoop up the pile of bedclothes. "I'll do this. It's my bed and all."
[05:07] <Athon> "Nah, the way you are, you'll probably get a sloppy job."
[05:09] <Axel_Wildfire> "Hey! ... I should be able to do this much to help out."
[05:10] <Athon> "We'll do it together and then we'll go down there for your tea, alright?"
[05:10] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake smiles. "Alright. ... you want I should get *dressed* first?"
[05:12] <Athon> "... You have seen how my aunt walks around." She shrugs.
[05:14] <Axel_Wildfire> She blushes. "That's very true."
[05:15] <Athon> "You could probably walk around topless and nobody would give a damn." She turns her back to Ake as she says that, grateful she couldn't see her face.
[05:16] <Axel_Wildfire> "... that is also very true." Ake crosses to the other side of the bed so she can help make it.
[05:18] <Athon> Haru work is fast, as the old sheets are taken out from the bed. "Well... other then being dead tired, how are things?"
[05:20] <Axel_Wildfire> "... found out my mother wasn't the hero I'd always heard she was." she freezes, speaking quietly.
[05:22] <Athon> Haru blinks, quietly reaching out to squeeze Ake's hand.
[05:24] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake squeezes back gently. "Yeah..."
[05:32] <Athon> "Oy. We're here with you. Don't need to feel bad..."
[05:32] <Athon> Haru seems to choke on something, before shaking her head. "C'mon, let's finish this quick."
[05:33] <Axel_Wildfire> She blinks slowly. "What's wrong?"
[05:36] <Athon> Haru shakes her head. "Nothing important. Really."
[05:38] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake squeezes her hand again. "You sure?"
[05:40] <Athon> "Yeah..."
[05:41] <Axel_Wildfire> "... I want to help if there is..."
[05:42] <Athon> "You already do enough just by staying here." She smiles as they finish. "Okay, let's go?"
[05:43] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake nods slowly. "Please."
[05:45] <Athon> She gives her hand one last squeeze before pulling her.
[05:45] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake lets herself be pulled, almost eager to be led. She yawns. "God I'm tired. Looking after people is hard work."
[05:48] <Athon> "Yup. Don't I know?" She chuckles.
[05:49] <Axel_Wildfire> "... I guess you do, since you're always right there keeping an eye on me."
[05:54] <Athon> "Yup."
[05:56] <Athon> As they reach the kitchen.
[05:57] <Athon> As they reach the kitchen, Haru let's go of Ake's hand, going around to search the cabinets
[05:58] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake pauses by the counter, hovering; the floor is cold. "... I'm sorry."
[05:59] <Athon> "What for?" The pot is over the oven already, the water being heated.
[06:00] <Axel_Wildfire> "Don't play that, Haru. You know what for." she slides into a stool at the counter.
[06:02] <Athon> She shakes her head and shrugs, as she continues to prepare the tea. "Cold?"
[06:03] <Axel_Wildfire> "Haru..." Ake sighs and buries her face in her forearms, flat out on the countertop. "Yes, I'm cold. It's hard not to be."
[06:04] <Athon> Ake feels the touch of fabric on her back, something warm enveloping her. "Yeah, I know."
[06:05] <Axel_Wildfire> "Mm...?" she tilts her head and opens one eye to see what's going on.
[06:05] <Athon> Haru's jacket is lying on top of her, as a blanket as the other girl works over the oven. "I think there's something I can make for you to eat..."
[06:06] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake draws it a little tighter around her. "... that would be amazing, Haru."
[06:08] <Athon> "Sorry, should've let you get dressed." She messes around some more, before finding something. "Oh, here, those stuffs they bought for you. There are some cookies... heck, I can even make a cake..."
[06:10] <Axel_Wildfire> She snuggles down a little, like that's possible. "Don't go to any trouble."
[06:11] <Athon> "Then cookies it is."
[06:11] <Axel_Wildfire> "Okay..." Ake's sleepy voice is muffled by her arms.
[06:12] <Athon> As she gets up, it's easy for Ake to see the girl is shivering a bit, as she moves back to the counter. "It'll take a few moments, since I need to get them on the oven."
[06:12] <Axel_Wildfire> She does glance up briefly and frowns. "Haru... take your jacket back."
[06:15] <Athon> "No need to." She sends a smile to Ake, before bending to put the cookies on the oven.
[06:18] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake doesn't smile back. "You're shivering."
[06:18] <Axel_Wildfire> =adbreak=
[18:14] <Athon> "Am not." Another shiver, but this time is much smaller.
[18:15] <Axel_Wildfire> "You're shaking like a leaf in a wind."
[18:15] <Athon> "Didn't knew I ended up that thin."
[18:15] <Axel_Wildfire> "Leaf, not twig..."
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[18:21] <Athon> She shrugs.  "Leaves are thin too." She finally brings the tea to the counter, pouring some to herself and to Ake. "The cookies will take some more."
[18:22] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake's already clumsily shrugging off Haru's jacket. "Thank you."
[18:23] <Athon> "Keep it on, otherwise you'll get sick."
[18:24] <Axel_Wildfire> "That should be my line. I don't get sick easily, anyway." she holds it out to Haru. "Come on."
[18:26] <Athon> Haru shakes her head, already drinking her tea. "Not getting good nights of sleep actually lowers your immunity. You're the one who'll end up sick."
[18:28] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake sighs and tugs her jacket back on. "Fine..."
[18:28] <Athon> Haru single eye kept staring at Ake, blinking slowly. "..."
[18:28] <Axel_Wildfire> She sips at her tea cautiously. "... it's good."
[18:28] <Athon> "Hehe. Good."
[18:29] <Athon> Haru actually blushes a bit, but doesn't lose her composture.
[18:29] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake stiffens slightly in her chair. "You laughed."
[18:30] <Athon> She blinks. "Eh... I think I did."
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[18:33] <Axel_Wildfire> "That's the first time I've heard you laugh in... a long time."
[18:34] <Athon> "Really?" Haru shrugs again, as she gets up to get the cookies. "I wish I heard yours."
[18:35] <Axel_Wildfire> "Hm? I've laughed in front of you..." Ake frowns. "... haven't I...?"
[18:38] <Athon> "No. I mean... now. After... that." She makes a face as she puts the cookies down.
[18:39] <Axel_Wildfire> She looks down at her tea, gripping the cup tightly. "... things have... been very downhill since just before that."
[18:40] <Athon> "Then I'll just make you happy enough to laugh again, then."
[18:41] <Axel_Wildfire> That makes Ake smile, just a little. "That would be nice."
[18:41] <Athon> "You're part of my family."
[18:41] <Athon> "It's the least I can do." Haru nonchallantly takes a cookie from the table.
[18:42] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake stiffens again. "Why does everyone keep saying that!?" she complains, quiet but desperate.
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[18:49] <Athon> "Because you are. Even before this happened."
[18:53] <Axel_Wildfire> She shivers. "It... feels like I'm intruding on you."
[18:54] <Athon> "If it was, do you think I would go far to make you tea because you felt like shit?"
[18:55] <Axel_Wildfire> "... I guess not, but..."
[18:56] <Athon> "Then what?"
[18:57] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake's shivering intensifies. "I'm never doing anything for you all. I'm just... leeching. That's not family."
[18:58] <Athon> "You taught me to stand for my feelings."
[19:00] <Axel_Wildfire> "I... what?" she blinks, looking kinda stunned.
[19:00] <Athon> "Yup. Then it's even."
[19:05] <Axel_Wildfire> "... I don't get it."
[19:05] <Athon> "Good."
[19:06] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake blinks again. "What?"
[19:09] <Athon> "I don't want you bragging around." She chuckles, eating another cookie.
[19:10] <Axel_Wildfire> "I'm not like that..." she reaches out for one of the cookies tentatively and nibbles on it - as you'd expect, the flavour is a bit more savory than you'd like, but what can you do? "I'm sorry, Haru."
[19:11] <Athon> "God, you're getting annoying."
[19:13] <Athon> She smiles, shaking her head.
[19:14] <Axel_Wildfire> "And so is everyone refusing to let me do anything!"
[19:14] <Athon> "Wha?"
[19:15] <Axel_Wildfire> "You won't let me apologise, Haruka and Yukari won't let me help them..." Ake sips at her tea moodily.
[19:15] <Athon> "... You're cute."
[19:17] <Axel_Wildfire> "Wha -?"
[19:18] <Athon> SHe shakes her head. "You can apologise. If that'll make you feel better."
[19:19] <Axel_Wildfire> "I've been *trying* to..." Ake mutters.
[19:20] <Athon> "Go ahead then."
[19:21] <Axel_Wildfire> "... I'm sorry I hurt you, Haru."
[19:25] <Athon> "Feel better?"
[19:26] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake grimaces. "Not really."
[19:26] <Axel_Wildfire> "Apologising doesn't fix it."
[19:26] <Athon> "You know how to make me feel better?"
[19:26] <Athon> Wanna know*
[19:30] <Axel_Wildfire> "Mm...?"
[19:34] <Athon> "Smile."
[19:35] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake tries, but it's pretty shaky.
[19:36] <Athon> "Not now." She rolls her eyes. "When you can."
[19:37] <Axel_Wildfire> "Worth a shot."
[19:37] <Athon> Haru shows her tongue.
[19:44] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake's smile becomes a little more genuine at that.
[19:46] <Athon> "THat's better."
[19:47] <Axel_Wildfire> "... guess I'm still learning."
[19:52] <Athon> "Finish eating."
[19:55] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake finishes up quickly, suddenly hungry.
[19:56] <Athon> "Good?"
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[20:00] <Axel_Wildfire> =adbreak=
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[20:11] <Axel_Wildfire> She nods. "It's... well, I'll be honest, you know what cookies that *aren't* safe for me taste like. One word: better. But it's good, so..."
[20:12] <Athon> "Alright, let's get you upstairs again, right?
[20:16] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake nods again, finishing up her tea and standing awkwardly.
[20:17] <Athon> Haru approaches her, making sure the girl is using her as support. "You lost weight."
[20:20] <Axel_Wildfire> "Yeah... my body just sheds all the extra fat with all this heat I'm making..." she mumbles, clinging to Haru clumsily.
[20:20] <Athon> "I could probably defeat you now~" Haru chuckles, teasing as they make their trek upwards.
[20:21] <Axel_Wildfire> "No doubt... but I'd rather not risk vamping out on you." Ake mutters.
[20:21] <Athon> "It would do you better, y'know? I have the same thing my mom does."
[20:22] <Axel_Wildfire> "... wha?"
[20:23] <Athon> "Auntie told you, didn't she? How she doesn't need Tau or anything, because she got energy from mom?"
[20:26] <Axel_Wildfire> "... oh..." Ake frowns.
[20:26] <Athon> "... So if you sucked me... you'd probably get the same."
[20:30] <Axel_Wildfire> She blushes furiously. "I see."
[20:30] <Athon> "I could ask it to auntie if you want."
[20:31] <Axel_Wildfire> "... I've already asked her about something like that... sort of... well, Yukari, not Haruka..."
[20:33] <Athon> "And?"
[20:35] <Axel_Wildfire> "... and she's thinking about it."
[20:36] <Athon> "... We can do it... Just the two of us, I mean."
[20:37] <Axel_Wildfire> "... I... want Yukari's approval for this other thing before I consider that." Ake mutters.
[20:37] <Athon> "Hm?"
[20:44] <Axel_Wildfire> "If she accepts, then I'll be making myself a target..."
[20:44] <Athon> "... No."
[20:45] <Axel_Wildfire> "No, don't start. This is the only thing I'm good at." Ake fumbles with the handle of her door.
[20:46] <Athon> "I'll have to hit you?
[20:46] <Axel_Wildfire> "Haru, please."
[20:48] <Athon> "Sometimes... You're really stupid." Haru sighs, as she opens the door herself.
[20:48] <Axel_Wildfire> "... this will *work*. I know it'll work. And it'll make things so much better..." Ake drags herself to the bed and collapses.
[20:49] <Athon> Haru only rolls her eyes, making sure to put the covers over the almost dead girl in the bed. "Sometimes, I wish you could go and think about other people..."
[20:51] <Axel_Wildfire> "I *am*." she mutters dozily.
[20:52] <Athon> "Yeah. Obviously." She rolls her eye again. "Anyway, have a good night of sleep..."
[20:52] <Axel_Wildfire> "Wait..."
[20:52] <Athon> "Hm?"
[20:52] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake shifts. "... I get cold."
[20:53] <Athon> "Aaand?"
[20:53] <Axel_Wildfire> More uncomfortable shifting. "... would you stay...?"
[20:54] <Athon> "... If you want me to..."
[20:54] <Axel_Wildfire> Ake scoots sideways to make room on the bed.
[20:56] <Athon> Haru quickly shrugs her pants, ending up with the same clothing as Ake, as she joins the other girl in bed.
[20:57] <Axel_Wildfire> Haru finds Ake curled into her side almost instantly - even though *she's* warm, everything else must feel cold to her. "Thank you..."
[21:00] <Athon> "You'll still get cold if you don't let me hug you too..."
[21:01] <Axel_Wildfire> "Mmkay..." she nuzzles into Haru's neck, clearly more asleep than awake.
[21:02] <Athon> Haru also cuddles onto her. "I... will protect you..." She mutters softly as she feels Ake's breath get softer.
[21:03] <Axel_Wildfire> "Mhm..." it's pretty debatable as to whether or not Ake even *heard* that, as moments later she's snoring gently.
[21:03] <Axel_Wildfire> "Mhm..." it's pretty debatable as to whether or not Ake even *heard* that, as moments later she's snoring gently.
[21:05] <Athon> Haru only shakes her head, slowly and gently caressing the girl's back before she herself falls asleep.
[21:06] <Axel_Wildfire> = =