[Akira can be as dramatic as he hecking wants, but Akechi won't budge an inch from where he stands. He stares at him. Arms crossed. Lips curling in disdain. Fingers digging into his own biceps.]
And what part of you makes you think that's your choice to make?
[He scoffs. Making a big deal over something like this... Who the fuck does he think he is? It's not even a matter of what Akechi thinks he deserves, it's...]
It seems like your victories have gone to your head after all. Are you truly so conceited to believe you can change the past? Don't make me laugh. What's done is done.
[by now, Akira has slid his way into Akechi's persona space, standing close enough to be uncomfortable but not so close that they're anywhere near touching. his fists tremble slightly at his side, and does his best to ignore the way his gut churns]
[we could have been rivals. . . or even friends]
I want to pave way for a better future. What's done is done, but what hasn't happened yet is an open book.
You're not going to pass up on that opportunity, are you?
[Cool. Cool, cool, cool. He stares at him dead in the eye, shoulders taut and back straightened in an attempt to make use of that single inch he has over him.]
You're talking as if there's a guarantee such an opportunity exists.
[He's not... He won't get his hopes up for something like that. He accepted his death before it happened. Came to terms with the fact that he dug his own grave and now had to lie in it. Talking in hypotheticals is a waste of time. So... why...? Hm.
After a second's pause... he smiles. It's not a pleasant look.]
Ah, I get it. You want to see me turn myself in so badly? I can't say I'm surprised if that's the case.
[He's not delusional. If not death, then a life in prison is all that waits for him in their world. It's his comeuppance as the one responsible for the mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns.]
[visibly taken aback, Akira recoils a step, eyes widening]
What? No, that's not-- that's not it!
[. . . which isn't to say he doesn't think Akechi should turn himself in. he does-- if only for the sake of Futaba and Haru, who deserve to see justice for the deaths of their parents]
[but all of that? is secondary to what Akira really wants here. and with a hiss, he reaches out to snatch the front of Akechi's shirt, eyes flashing]
I want to see you take back the future Masayoshi Shido stole from you.
[Whatever kind of response Akechi was expecting? It certainly wasn't that. Not by a long shot. For a moment, he's frozen. Eyes wide, mouth hanging open, words lodged in his throat. Akira might as well have punched him in the face for what it's worth. It would have been just as horrible... if not infinitely more bearable.
But then the moment passes, and his expression twists into something raw and visceral. He shoves at him with all the strength he can muster, wanting to create as much distance as possible between the two of them.]
Shut up, shut up, shut up! Are you an idiot?! [That's not... Why would Akira...] He didn't... I was the one... Every choice I made was for my own benefit! I decided my own future!
[and Akira stumbles back, letting go of Akechi's shirt when he's shoved. but none of that prevents him from stepping into Akechi's personal space again once he regains his balance, head still lifted and voice still firm and challenging. he isn't going to back down just because Akechi still hasn't come to terms with the truth of what had happened]
And by whatever powers-that-be, you've been given the opportunity to come up with a better one. A much better one.
[Haha! Yeah. No. Akira can try to invade his personal space once again, but both of Akechi's hands are going to shoot up to stop him, intent on keeping him at a literal arm's length. Having to listen as Akira strikes that raw nerve over and over again is bad enough. Having him stand so close to him? Well. It's only going to end in a repeat of the dining hall if this keeps going.]
Of course, that's so easy for you to say! [There's a hint of hysteria in there, a little too reminiscent of when he was losing his shit in the depths of his shitty father's mind. It's... fine. It's fine.] You— You're nothing. You're worthless, criminal trash. But people gather around you. Even when things go wrong, they still work out in your favor! You have everything you could ever want.
[... Is Akira really that lucky, though? Well. He has friends who love and support him unconditionally, so that's close enough.]
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no subject
And what part of you makes you think that's your choice to make?
[He scoffs. Making a big deal over something like this... Who the fuck does he think he is? It's not even a matter of what Akechi thinks he deserves, it's...]
It seems like your victories have gone to your head after all. Are you truly so conceited to believe you can change the past? Don't make me laugh. What's done is done.
no subject
[by now, Akira has slid his way into Akechi's persona space, standing close enough to be uncomfortable but not so close that they're anywhere near touching. his fists tremble slightly at his side, and does his best to ignore the way his gut churns]
[we could have been rivals. . . or even friends]
I want to pave way for a better future. What's done is done, but what hasn't happened yet is an open book.
You're not going to pass up on that opportunity, are you?
no subject
You're talking as if there's a guarantee such an opportunity exists.
[He's not... He won't get his hopes up for something like that. He accepted his death before it happened. Came to terms with the fact that he dug his own grave and now had to lie in it. Talking in hypotheticals is a waste of time. So... why...? Hm.
After a second's pause... he smiles. It's not a pleasant look.]
Ah, I get it. You want to see me turn myself in so badly? I can't say I'm surprised if that's the case.
[He's not delusional. If not death, then a life in prison is all that waits for him in their world. It's his comeuppance as the one responsible for the mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns.]
no subject
[visibly taken aback, Akira recoils a step, eyes widening]
What? No, that's not-- that's not it!
[. . . which isn't to say he doesn't think Akechi should turn himself in. he does-- if only for the sake of Futaba and Haru, who deserve to see justice for the deaths of their parents]
[but all of that? is secondary to what Akira really wants here. and with a hiss, he reaches out to snatch the front of Akechi's shirt, eyes flashing]
I want to see you take back the future Masayoshi Shido stole from you.
no subject
[Whatever kind of response Akechi was expecting? It certainly wasn't that. Not by a long shot. For a moment, he's frozen. Eyes wide, mouth hanging open, words lodged in his throat. Akira might as well have punched him in the face for what it's worth. It would have been just as horrible... if not infinitely more bearable.
But then the moment passes, and his expression twists into something raw and visceral. He shoves at him with all the strength he can muster, wanting to create as much distance as possible between the two of them.]
Shut up, shut up, shut up! Are you an idiot?! [That's not... Why would Akira...] He didn't... I was the one... Every choice I made was for my own benefit! I decided my own future!
no subject
And by whatever powers-that-be, you've been given the opportunity to come up with a better one. A much better one.
Don't waste it, Akechi.
no subject
[Haha! Yeah. No. Akira can try to invade his personal space once again, but both of Akechi's hands are going to shoot up to stop him, intent on keeping him at a literal arm's length. Having to listen as Akira strikes that raw nerve over and over again is bad enough. Having him stand so close to him? Well. It's only going to end in a repeat of the dining hall if this keeps going.]
Of course, that's so easy for you to say! [There's a hint of hysteria in there, a little too reminiscent of when he was losing his shit in the depths of his shitty father's mind. It's... fine. It's fine.] You— You're nothing. You're worthless, criminal trash. But people gather around you. Even when things go wrong, they still work out in your favor! You have everything you could ever want.
[... Is Akira really that lucky, though? Well. He has friends who love and support him unconditionally, so that's close enough.]
Don't you dare patronize me.
no subject
[urge to reach out and shake Akechi silly: rising]
Our circumstances are completely different! And you have so much that I don't have! And it might be selfish of me, but I think--
[a slightly frustrated noise]
I think you could do so much good for this world if you just took a step back and tried!
no subject
What are you talking about? You think I never tried?
[Society can lower him into his grave so it can let him down one last time, etc, etc. Questionable definition of "tried," though.]
I don't care about a world like this.
no subject
Yeah. This world sucks.
[said bluntly and honestly, because. . . well. it does. he isn't so naive to think that his penultimate battle against Yaldabaoth fixed everything]
So help me make it better.