[........... AKIRA, THAT'S A WHOLE ASS LIST OF QUESTIONS. Akechi dead eyes him, but starts holding fingers up for each one.]
Mondays. [Second fingie.] Meltryllis-san was the first person we checked, and in the following week... My first partner made a mistake. [Third fingie.] Hunter and Fotia-san were included in our notes to make their immunity public knowledge. I used an item to check Brilith-san. [Fourth fingie.] And the application is for our eyes only, of course.
[A pause, as he considers that last question... And he lifts up his final finger.]
The Doctor knows my identity. You are the first person I have told outside of those I work with.
There are two Professors. Phoenix-san, my first partner, and my current partner all shared that title.
[Make of that what you will, Akira.]
I can check if someone has a job, though that feature is no longer necessary. I can ask for equipment the rest of our group wouldn't have access to, as well. That's how I acquired the gun. [Which, by the way—] By the way, I expect you to lie about its origins.
And you didn't know about each other from the very beginning?
[yeah, that sounds like an obstacle the house would pull. he makes a face, and it occurs to him that there's something strange about the way Akechi is saying "partner"]
[He shakes his head at his initial question, and then—
Kind of makes a face, like he bit down on something sour.]
My current partner is... the third partner I have been assigned since I acquired this job. [...] They keep dying. I don't understand why Master Blue insists on replacing them.
[he'd laugh because it's kind of funny, but. . . probably he shouldn't laugh when Akechi has been abandoned by death TWICE now]
I'm sorry.
[. . .]
[there's so much more he wants to say, but he also knows how volatile Akechi gets when he brings up emotions, so. . . maybe not now. maybe later. they still have so much to discuss]
[It's a very funny sore spot. Akechi doesn't say anything when Akira offers his condolences, allowing his gaze to drift for a moment. It's when he asks about the Doctor that he seems to tense up, jaw clenching.
Tersely:]
They have the ability to protect one person from a creature by taking the intended victim's place. But that person is a spineless imbecile who would never fight back, so we made a deal with the sisters. If the Doctor is targeted because of their choice, then I will be allowed to intervene.
It's not just about you telling me, though that is the part I pointed out.
[a small shrug]
You've been sharing your information with me since we got here. I know we had our "deal," but it sort of feels like that deal is a bit lopsided now. That I couldn't give to you as much as you could give to me.
[he lifts the hand to rub the back of his neck, sheepish]
. . . so thanks for letting me be a partner to you in a different way, too.
[Oh, no. Stop this? He has no idea what the fuck to do that, and it kind of shows in his face and body language. This is absolutely terrible.]
... You realize I spent the entirety of that time lying to you, don't you? I think that makes us even.
[...]
But if you truly want to call yourself my partner, don't let me down this weekend. There's a lot of work left to do, and we're running out of time to. If we don't do this right, the house will consume what's left of our souls.
If you break that promise, I'll kill you again myself.
[Lightly. He will strangle your ghost if they fuck up, Akira.]
For now... Report back to me if you find anyone else who received a letter. There has to be additional context for the one Phoenix-san sent me. If the "source" isn't what we've imagined so far, the deceased must be trying to point us in the right direction.
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Mondays. [Second fingie.] Meltryllis-san was the first person we checked, and in the following week... My first partner made a mistake. [Third fingie.] Hunter and Fotia-san were included in our notes to make their immunity public knowledge. I used an item to check Brilith-san. [Fourth fingie.] And the application is for our eyes only, of course.
[A pause, as he considers that last question... And he lifts up his final finger.]
The Doctor knows my identity. You are the first person I have told outside of those I work with.
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[for some reason, when Akechi puts it like that, it doesn't sound like he's talking about Luna???]
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Another person who was granted a job, just as Phoenix-san and I were. My title is the Professor.
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What was Nick's title? And do you have any other special privileges, other than being able to check people for. . . "rabies?"
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[Make of that what you will, Akira.]
I can check if someone has a job, though that feature is no longer necessary. I can ask for equipment the rest of our group wouldn't have access to, as well. That's how I acquired the gun. [Which, by the way—] By the way, I expect you to lie about its origins.
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Well, no shit. If you haven't told anyone else, I'm not going to be the one to out you.
[since. gestures at Nick?? whom he is sure was killed due to having a role??]
Where are you going to say you got it, so I don't contradict your story? And what kind of jobs were you checking for?
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[Thanks for being a pal, Akira.]
I was searching for the Doctor, but there's no need to continue my search. There are only three of us at any given time.
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[yeah, that sounds like an obstacle the house would pull. he makes a face, and it occurs to him that there's something strange about the way Akechi is saying "partner"]
[. . .]
How many partners have you had. . .?
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Kind of makes a face, like he bit down on something sour.]
My current partner is... the third partner I have been assigned since I acquired this job. [...] They keep dying. I don't understand why Master Blue insists on replacing them.
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[and because Akira isn't an idiot--]
Was Mammon your first partner?
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Why do you think we failed so miserably with Meltryllis-san?
[HORNY MISTAKES WERE MADE.]
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I'm sorry.
[. . .]
[there's so much more he wants to say, but he also knows how volatile Akechi gets when he brings up emotions, so. . . maybe not now. maybe later. they still have so much to discuss]
What does the Doctor do?
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Tersely:]
They have the ability to protect one person from a creature by taking the intended victim's place. But that person is a spineless imbecile who would never fight back, so we made a deal with the sisters. If the Doctor is targeted because of their choice, then I will be allowed to intervene.
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[WHEW. THAT SURE IS A LOT!!!!]
What did that deal cost you?
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Absolutely nothing. This isn't that kind of situation, Akira.
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[especially knowing how this place works and how many rules Blue and the sisters have to abide by]
[he thinks that covers most of his immediate questions, but. . . he does have one more]
. . . how much more do you know about this place-- this house, Blue, the sisters, the previous rounds-- than the rest of us?
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[He has special privileges, but not like that. Now Akira knows why Akechi pushed so hard for certain theories, though.]
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. . . okay.
[he breathes out, mulling over everything he has learned]
[. . .]
[and then he smiles, though it's different than his usual ones. uncharacteristically fond? grateful? appreciative?]
Thanks.
For trusting me enough to tell me.
[for working so hard]
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That is a very gross look.
Akechi looks away so he doesn't have to acknowledge this shit.]
I may be forced to reveal myself on Sunday, anyway. Don't thank me because I decided to let you know a bit ahead of schedule.
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It's not just about you telling me, though that is the part I pointed out.
[a small shrug]
You've been sharing your information with me since we got here. I know we had our "deal," but it sort of feels like that deal is a bit lopsided now. That I couldn't give to you as much as you could give to me.
[he lifts the hand to rub the back of his neck, sheepish]
. . . so thanks for letting me be a partner to you in a different way, too.
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... You realize I spent the entirety of that time lying to you, don't you? I think that makes us even.
[...]
But if you truly want to call yourself my partner, don't let me down this weekend. There's a lot of work left to do, and we're running out of time to. If we don't do this right, the house will consume what's left of our souls.
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[this time he wasn't lying in order to murder him, he was lying to protect himself. that's a little more forgivable]
And I won't. I promise. After coming this far, we aren't going to fail now.
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[Lightly. He will strangle your ghost if they fuck up, Akira.]
For now... Report back to me if you find anyone else who received a letter. There has to be additional context for the one Phoenix-san sent me. If the "source" isn't what we've imagined so far, the deceased must be trying to point us in the right direction.
[Too bad they don't have a medallion anymore!!]
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[and later he will point Ken in Akechi's direction so he hopes that is good enough]
Mmm. I will. For now—
[. . .]
Akechi—
[hm??]
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He gives him a curious look, though.]
Yes?
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1/2
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