itsadamjoke | (no subject)

Adam nearly got us disqualified from the competition for punching the drummer. The guy deserved it.

*Eyeroll.*

No, it's fine, just not in a game like spin the bottle. This sort of game is about being bold. And a kiss on the forehead is anything but. You're either insulting the person you kiss, or you're declaring yourself wuss.

Yeah, I know. But they’re not worth getting into trouble for.

[Like hell he knew THAT…]

…Oh. [He looks sheepish again.] S-Sorry. I wasn’t trying to insult you. It’s my first time playing…

*Maya knew from the others that Adam was justified in what he did. But it wasn't her's to say.*

Your first time at a lot of things, so I guess I'll forgive you. But realize if you're forced to kiss someone, not kissing them on the lips is saying you don't want to kiss them at all.

...Well, there are things you can do, but if I tell you you might burst a blood vessel in your face.

......

[Well, he doesn't wanna burst any blood vessels, but Maya seems somewhat disappointed...]

Then... let me try again.

[Without waiting for her response (because he can be just that impulsive sometimes), Akihiko leans forward and carefully angles his head to the side before pressing their lips together. His gloved hand glides up to hold her cheek, warm leather against bare skin. He isn't quite bold enough to attempt Frenching her in return, but the kiss is slow and soft, tingling with both shyness and earnest effort.]

*Oh. Well, that was... very nice actually. She wasn't really expecting any kiss at all, so this was more than enough to be a good apology. Her hand finds a shoulder blade, palm flat against his back to make sure he doesn't leave before she wants him to.*

*Which she eventually does.*

While that was very nice, what I meant was-

*Cautious look around before she leans in to whisper. There's a tease in her voice, she didn't plan to tell him about this until he kissed her again. Her finger resting on his neck.*

I meant something that'd leave marks to explain later. Something here or here.

*She moved back and smiled. It was nearly predatory.*

[Akihiko exhales slowly after their kiss ends, finding himself oddly out of breath. He shakes his head to clear away that brief daze, and then listens to Maya explain the rest.]

Marks...?

[He lifts a hand and touches the same place her fingers were, just seconds ago. It takes him a minute to internalize her words, and then he nods in understanding.]

I think I've seen them before... Aren't they called "hickeys"? You get them from making out, right? [Akihiko is inexperienced, but he has heard quite a few things in passing from other guys in the locker room.]

Yup, that's not on the lips, but it definitely says you like them.

*Maya smiled, it didn't really have any weight behind it. A playful little expression as she explained to someone the age of her older sister how making out works.*

I mean, kissing is one thing. But there's nothing to explain for the next few days from that. And it takes a lot more to do it right, you want to use just enough pressure to make a mark, but not enough force to hurt them. *More than they like, anyway.*

[He quirks a brow thoughtfully as his hand goes back down by his side.] It seems like you'd have to suck pretty hard to make that kinda bruise. And since your throat's a vulnerable place - wouldn't that hurt?

[Oh, Maya. You do not want to know what junior and senior boys talk about in the locker room. Some of it makes Akihiko's ears burn, and he has to tune them out on purpose.]

Some people like that. I'm not one of them, but that's what the girls even in my grade say.

*And she's a Freshman.*

I just like the idea of next day at school, wandering around, and not caring as everyone whispers where it came from, who you were with. All that fun stuff.

[Akihiko shrugs a little, seeming unfazed by the concept. Pain doesn’t really bother him, but he’d worry about his partner.] Well, if a guy starts getting too rough with you, then kick his ass.

[He smirks at her words, amused by the idea.] That might be kinda interesting. Hey, at least people won’t have to wonder if you’re single or taken. Maybe they’d back off once they saw the marks. [Like his fangirls.]

I do know how to handle guys. *She's not some innocent kid.*

Yup, and without having to break any school rules grabbing the guy and kissing them in the hallway. Even if that's fun too.

You really have never even tried even a little bit of kissing? Not at all, no girls you like? No guys you like? None!?

Good. Then I don’t have to worry about you.

[He chuckles.] As long as it isn’t in front of a teacher…

Um, no… [Okay, you get a lineface for that “guy” question, Maya. This is probably not the first time Akihiko has ever gotten it, though.] I’m not gay. I just… haven’t met the right girl yet.

[shut up he’s a bit of a romantic]

Worry, about me, how sweet.

*She's mocking you again.*

A better way to find the right person is to find the wrong person. There's no fairy tale ending. You meet someone, you try it out, it falls through. This keeps happening till you find the right person.

And, for the record, I didn't think you were gay, just didn't want to leave it out as an option.

[He quirks a brow at her again.] I could not care, you know. [no he can’t he’s lying]

You mean, on purpose? [Brief pause.] But that’s a waste of time. If I can already tell I’d be incompatible with someone, then why bother…?

[Akihiko just sighs.] It’s not the first time I’ve been accused of that, actually… I think people assume I’m gay because I don’t chase skirts, like Junpei.

Uh huh. *Not buying it at all.*

No not on purpose! You, *Sigh* You meet someone you think it could work out with and you go for it, see how it feels. What's right, what's wrong, and if it's not any fun you find someone new. Nobody has just one soulmate, if that were the case... *She'll just trail off at that and focus on somethin else.*

*Like punching Aki in the arm.*

I wasn't accusing you of anything, I simply was thinking, maybe, you liked boys. I don't really have anything to go on for your preferences, so I listed both. I was trying not to assume anything.

Huh... I guess. [He hasn't met too many girls that he feels connected to, except for his leader and Mitsuru.] You sound like you have experience. Have you had boyfriends before?

[You get a smirk from Aki for that.] I'd show you what a real punch feels like, if you could handle it. [Nah, he won't really hit her. He has no reason to do so.]

Well, now you know. [He offers Maya a small smile. At least she believes him.]

...Yes, it ended badly. *Something about that scary look she's giving says to back away from this topic slowly, carefully, and then run like a coward.*

One of my friends from home is gay, I just don't like hearing about that being something you're accused of. That's all. Good to know you're just really bad at dealing with girls, even if you're not bad at kissing.

......

[He's not afraid. Rather, he looks concerned for her. He rests a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezes.] ...It's all right. You don't have to tell me.

[And there goes that smile. Thank God she didn't see how he interacted with girls in Yakushima...]

I'll... get better at it. Really. I just need to practice. [Because that's what the magazine said!]

*She'll just turn away slightly at that, she doesn't want pity, or compassion. She just wants to move on, why can't she even get that a world away? She will do her best to keep being playful, she can't miss him anymore.*

Practice helps with most things, music, fighting, relationships, making out. But you really won't practice much if you wait around for 'the right one.'

[Thinking she's uncomfortable with his touch, Akihiko hurriedly pulls his hand back, keeping a respectful distance.]

So you'd suggest that I pick up girls to practice with? [He shrugs slightly.] I can wait till I have a girlfriend. I'd rather not go around kissing random girls.

*~~First time for everything, Aki makes the right call about a girl.~~*

*Eyeroll.* I didn't mean practice that with random girls, I meant talking. Try talking to a girl like she's the only girl you'd ever want to talk to and see what works, and what has you wearing diet cola.

[~~shut up jerkface~~]

Oh, talking... I do that all the time. [With his female dorm mates.]

Wearing diet cola...? [That isn't an expression he's heard of before.]

Not just talking. I mean talking to them like they were a girl you want to pull into your arms and kiss. It's different.

*So so so hopeless.*

And if you try to talk to a girl that way, and do it wrong, most times they throw their drink in your face. Which is why you practice so you don't say something creepy and scare a girl you actually like away.

...You mean trying to pick them up.

[After that last disaster, no thanks. Like hell he'd have any tactics of seduction.]

......

[good god why are girls so complicated]

I wouldn't do that... Not intentionally, anyway. I'd have to like a girl who's tougher than that. If she's gonna be scared off by a few words, then...

I mean making them feel special.

*Like boys are any easier.*

...I never said you'd do it intentionally. But maybe scared is the wrong word. Insulted? The point is how will you know where to start if you haven't done anything at all?