catch-all: akira.

[miscakes]

Comments

[survivaltricks]

[. . . a small snort, and Akira does shift to the side a bit so Akechi can sit. if he wants to]

What do you think I think of you, Akechi?

[but before Akechi can answer that question, Akira moves on]

Besides. . . I think you had a personal interest in these killings. [a pause] In Mammon's murder.

[miscakes]

[He does! He starts to sit down, his lips parting as he gets ready to answer — but then Akira is moving on. And, ah. There is it.

Not the same, sharp grief Akira picked up yesterday, but... Guilt. Frustration.

And then it's gone, replaced by irritation and suspicion.]

What are you saying?

[survivaltricks]

[yeah. . . he's not dancing around it today. yesterday he was being careful, the sting of their prior interaction on Wednesday with Luna still fresh. today???]

I'm saying you made a friend, and you're upset that he died.

[today, he's being honest. he looks up at Akechi, expression neutral]

. . . it's okay. I know you're not the type who likes to talk about your feelings, so I'm not going to say anything other than that.

But I'm sorry.

[he knows it hurts. just like. . . the thought of losing Hunter does]

[miscakes]

[...]

We weren't friends.

[Blandly, like he's pointing out a mistake on someone's homework. Like Akira can't feel that something's wrong, even if Akechi himself refuses to parse it.]

He was just some idiot who didn't know when to keep his mouth shut. It's his fault he was killed so easily.

[It wasn't. But at least saying so makes him feel better.]

[survivaltricks]

[ha. Akechi should absolutely know that Akira isn't buying it, especially judging by the wave of doubt that follows that response. Akira lets out a huffed snort, drawing one leg up to rest his chin on his knee]

If you say so.

[DOUBT DOT PNG]

Is there anyone out there you would call a friend?

[somehow? he thinks the answer to that is "no." and that, he thinks, is a little. . . sad]

[miscakes]

[Mm, pointedly ignoring that doubt by staring at the duck pond.]

... Of course not. I have no need for that. You should know this by now.

[There's no point. He's already...

Well, it doesn't matter.]

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

[a flicker of disappointment. Akira links his fingers together and stretches his arms above his head lazily, also staring out at the duck pond]

I know you think you have no need for them. That you hold people at a distance because you think it's easier.

[but. . .]

But I wonder if deep down, you know that's not true.

[YOU CAN'T TURN OFF YOUR FEELINGS AKECHI GORO]

[miscakes]

[It stings.

And then the anger and the disdain and the irritation Akira probably so used to at this point come back at full force.]

Shut up.

[Sharp. Tersely. He tears his gaze away from the pond to glare at him.]

Don't act like you understand me. You don't know anything.

[The week they've spent tethered together changes nothing.]

[survivaltricks]

[there it is. the push back he expected from trying to pry a little semblance of honesty out of Akechi. he should really know better by now, what with all of the fights they've had already. why does he keep trying. . .? shouldn't he let sleeping dogs lie? that would make things so much easier, wouldn't it? if he just gave up]

[why can't he just accept things the way that they are? why can't he just be happy with the brief moments where they do get along, however rare they seem to be? however shallow they might feel]

[. . .]

[because Akira's never been that kind of person, has he? because Peach talked about how being here was a chance to chase lost opportunities. because it'd be a waste if he didn't try, if he didn't push, even a little bit]

[a frustrated noise. a spike of it on Akira's end of the tether]

Because you won't let me.

[AND HE'S BEEN TRYING!1]

[miscakes]

[He should. He should know better by now because, regardless of what Akira tries? It's inevitable. Things will always end up like this.

Hissed through his teeth, tone flat:]

And why, exactly, should I let you?

[Perhaps Akira means well by it, but it only makes him angrier. Despite those brief flickers of fondness he felt in the past week, it only makes his hatred bubble up to the forefront. He's not— He shouldn't—]

I'm not one of your stupid friends. I don't need to let you do anything. I don't need anything from you.

[Akira should quit while he's ahead.]

[survivaltricks]

[UGH]

[the urge to bristle and fight and argue is there again, but-- Akira's tired. his shoulders slump. something on the tether sinks and slinks back, too exhausted to push more than that for the time being. Akira shakes his head]

I'm not saying you do. It's not about "need."

[maybe it's more about. . . want?]

Nevermind.

Let's talk about something else.

[even though he was the one who brought it up]

[miscakes]

[...

Right.

He's had enough of this, too. It won't change anything.]

... Fine.

[He's more irritated than anything now, but at least... It doesn't look like he wants to argue about this, either.

Pick a subject, Akira.]

[survivaltricks]

[well. at least he isn't fleeing. that's something, isn't it?]

You can sit down, you know.

[it's weird if Akechi is the only one standing]

And I think these ducks are spoiled.

[LET US TALK ABOUT DUCKS!]

[miscakes]

... That's what you decided to go with?

[SQUINTS.

But, hey. He's sitting down. Be happy.]

[survivaltricks]

[HE IS HAPPY. or relieved? grateful? it's some kind of positive emotion, very slight and difficult to interpret. ANYWAY]

I'm open to suggestions.

[miscakes]

[Is it difficult to interpret if you don't bother to try at all?]

Very well. Why don't we speak about how no one in this mansion knows how to properly question other's injuries?

[... Yes. He's salty over Nikki, Melt and now Hunter.]

[survivaltricks]

[akechi you're such a loser]

[also a flash of wry amusement at that]

You're so critical, detective. Why don't you take over the injuries search from here on out, then?

[Akira will keep Akechi HONEST just like he did this past trial]

[miscakes]

I would, if people like Nakahara-kun and Fotia-san stopped jumping the gun.

[There's an order to these things. :/ Let him be a loser.]

[survivaltricks]

Instead of complaining about it, why don't you help them when they do?

[PROBLEM SOLVING, AKECHI]

[miscakes]

And what, exactly, do you think I have been doing?

[PEOPLE NYOOM, AKIRA. And Akechi can't check the ladies out himself.]

[survivaltricks]

Being too slow to initiate the injury search yourself.

[GOTTA NYOOM FASTER, AKECHI]

[miscakes]

If I'm so slow, then why not take initiative yourself?

[BITCH.]

[survivaltricks]

I'm not a detective.

[IT'S YOUR JOB BITCH]

[miscakes]

Hilarious. As the deceased can't hold a job, technically neither am I. So don't complain and do it.

[SMH!!!]

[survivaltricks]

. . . you're not dead.

[:/ he'd say that with more OOMPH but some part of him just like. . . deflates slightly at the reminder that Akechi is DEAD]