The Beach || Mild Aphro

[infinite_arcana]

Minako did her best to avoid running into people on the way back to her room. After all, she didn't want to try and explain the look of frustration and hurt that seemed to linger on her face since her run-in with a familiar stranger. It'd left her feeling oddly unsettled, and more than a little upset, not that she'd admit it to anyone. Still, it

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[abelthemessiah]

Abel was standing, not too far away, staring at the fake sun and seeing for himself how beautiful life was. It had been many months since he had to last fight to survive, and after becoming a Messiah, it left him with no time to appreciate the fact that he survived the Lockdown. That he was alive.

Abel noticed a red haired female a slight distance away, looking all bothered and frumpy, as if something had happened to her that had unnerved her so. He started to walk towards her, with his white cloak fluttering behind him.

"A penny for your thoughts, my lady."

[infinite_arcana]

It wasn't a voice she recognized. Pausing mid-stride, she glanced back at the newcomer, watching him warily for a moment before she smiled faintly. After turning to face him, she reached up to brush a long strand of loose hair that had come down from her pins.

"They're not worth that much, I'm afraid."

[abelthemessiah]

"Nonsense." Abel smiled, "You seem forlorn, my lady. Did something happen to make you so?"

No matter how much you try to hide, Minako, he is the Messiah after all. He wouldn't have gotten the support of so many were he terrible at figuring out what a person is currently contemplating.

"May I be so bold to suggest that we walk together on this lovely beach?"

[infinite_arcana]

"I think I'd like the company. Thank you."

As stuck in pensive thought as she was, she really wasn't too keen on being on her own. After all, her greatest power came from her ties to her friends, even if they were separated for now.

Waiting until he was close enough to follow her, she made towards the cabanas once more.

"I'm sorry if I'm not the best company."

[shiro_megane]

"Arisato-san?"

A familiar voice drifted over to her from behind-- the door she had walked through was gone, in its place, a lifeguard tower, and, walking down from it, a familiar face. He looked a bit surprised-- albeit pleasantly-- though a bit nervous, as well.

"Hello. It's been a while."

[infinite_arcana]

It took her a moment to place the voice. Once she did, her feet came to a stop as she turned to offer him a small smile, followed by a minute bow of her head.

"It's good to see you again."

[shiro_megane]

"The hotel led you here, too, I suppose."

She didn't need to know that he had found himself here in a garish life-guard uniform. He had kept the red swim trunks, even if he might have preferred another color, but he couldn't abide the bright lemon-yellow shirt, and had managed to find a button-up short sleeved white shirt to wear in its place-- It would be less than optimal to have to swim in or to take off quickly, but, as Minako knew, he was somewhat self-conscious about the pentacle scar resting on the center of his chest.

"So far as I can tell, it's only the two of us here, for now," he went on as he gauged her reaction. He knew that though they liked one another, his own insecurities about his scars and the like had led to rough patches more than once.

[infinite_arcana]

"I guess. I was on my way back to my room, or so I thought. I just ended up here."

She hadn't missed the trunks and wondered if he'd ended up out here for a swim or something else, knowing how self-conscious he was. If that was the case, she wouldn't mind. After all, she knew about his scar and it didn't bother her at all. He wasn't he only one scarred, after all.

Once he mentioned it, her gaze traveled along the seemingly empty beach.

"I think that's good. I'm not really much for a lot of company right now."

Her hands slid down her rumpled skirt as she looked around a little.

".... do you think I could maybe find a swimsuit to change into? It's a little warm for my uniform..."

[static_boxer]

Akihiko's in the middle of an internal pep-talk and equally intense work out when he notices her in the distance, and he comes to a reluctant stop a few feet ahead of her, breathing hard. It takes almost a while for him to regain the ability to speak, which is more than enough time to notice the uncharacteristically forlorn expression on her face.

"H-hey, Minako!" He gulps, a nervous smile on his face as his heart thumps in his chest. "It's been a while."

[infinite_arcana]

Oh, of all people to find her like this...

She manages a small smile for Akihiko, trying to keep from looking him over too closely. After all, she knows his training is something important and personal to him and right now, she really has half a mind to just excuse herself and try to find a way back out into the hotel.

"Yeah. I was wondering if you'd gone home on me."

She tries to sound her usual chipper self, but it falls a little flat.

[static_boxer]

"I just...stay in my room a lot." He smiles, hands on his hips as he walks on the spot a little to keep his muscles warm. Still, there's no way to miss her defeated tone of voice, even with his stunted emotional intelligence.

"H-hey, I've pretty much finished my training today. Do you wanna go do something?"

[infinite_arcana]

Her gaze follows him as he moves, but she doesn't make a move to step closer, as she usually would've. Doing something sounds nice and all, but she's not sure she'd be good company at the moment.

"Mmm. We can, if you want. We could stay out here on the beach, maybe, but I'd need to find a decent swimsuit if we did."