[empatheias ic contact]

[purrtagonist]

TELEPATHY text / voice / image / action Akira doesn't have a bird with which to exchange written messages! But you can send him one anyway and he'll just. . . use your bird to reply. . . probably. code credit

Comments

backdated to the 15th - late evening!

[arraignments]

[ This is a particularly stress-filled mental contact; this guy is not remotely okay. He's sad, he's confused, he's definitely hurting...

But the first thought coming Akira's way is:]

Hello... How are you feeling?

[ Because, above all else, he is concerned about how the leader is taking this.

SERIOUSLY, IF HE FEELS THIS WAY, HE CAN ONLY IMAGINE... ]

[purrtagonist]

[I]

[it's only by some miracle that Akira manages to quash his instinctive ?????!?!?!?! reaction to that question. right. . . Akechi's memories have been altered, too. and not only that, they've been altered to make him think that they're friends and comrades. that the attempted murder and inevitable betrayal hadn't occurred at all]

[he isn't sure if he wants to break that illusion just yet]

[so what Akechi gets in response is just a wave of forced calm]

A little ghostly, according to Makoto.

[. . . AKIRA. . .]

But otherwise fine. What about you?

[arraignments]

[ Right. Calm. He isn't actually believing that, but it does remind him to calm himself as best he can. Deep breaths, and all, right? Right... ]

Ah... [ He is working really hard to keep his internal voice calm. ] That explains a few things...

[ He's clearly unsettled, but he's still trying to keep himself from expressing that over this thing. ] All I did was mention your name... and suddenly she was terrified. I did my best to calm her down, and yet...

[ He can't conceal the sadness entirely. ]

I also encountered Haru, and... [ There's a jumble of emotions here, mostly just... conflict. ] I must admit that I can't begin to think of a way to help her, either. How is everyone else doing?

[ Did he purposefully ignore the question regarding how he is? Yes. Did he simply get distracted? Who knows. ]

[purrtagonist]

[DON'T THINK HE DIDN'T NOTICE]

[and he's never not going to find "genuinely concerned Akechi" weird as heck]

Yusuke and Morgana are fine.

[thank god for some sanity in this whole mess. it sounded like Akechi had heard about Haru and Makoto, which means he doesn't know what happened with Futaba yet. . . but. Akira's keeping that one to himself, simply because of how personal Futaba's memory alterations were]

It's only been a couple of days, but I'v been trying to figure out what's going on here. The only thing that makes sense is it being an Arehtei, but--

[NO MEMORY AREHTEIS]

[arraignments]

[ Honestly, he'd be surprised if Akira didn't notice. That guy is really smart after all.

On his end, he's sighing and finally just- dragging his hands down his face. There not being any leads on this is starting to get to him more than he wants to admit to himself. Or... especially Akira. He has enough to stress over right now...

But some stress leaks out anyway, along with disappointment in himself. He wants to be able to actually do something to help??? Fuck being stuck just sitting around or asking people questions, only to come out with just as much as he had before (i.e. nothing)... or... sigh. ]

The only other thing I could think of... is probably just as unlikely, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to consider it an option.

[ A pause. ]

What if it's simply the impact of everyone's emotions on this world? If the emotions themselves result in anything from spontaneous fires or lightning, to the death of plant life... would it be so impossible for the emotions to create hallucinations in a group of people? For all we know... everyone could be affected. What physical proof do we have that any of us is remembering what actually happened in one another's lives? Or even our own lives, for that matter...

[ There's a wariness, some kind of unsteady ripple of his emotions -- he doesn't... actually know why, but he's even a little scared right now. ] In any case, it's likely untrue.

[ He isn't so sure, but some part of him is almost desperate to believe that. ] It's... something to think about, I suppose.

[purrtagonist]

[mmmmMMMMMMmmm. Akechi is definitely not the first person to bring up that theory, but Akira still hates it no matter who says it. it makes things unpredictable. it makes this a reoccurring event]

[it takes it out of the realm of something he can control and fix directly]

Trust me. I've thought about it.

[more than he likes to admit]

Doesn't help. If it is a mass hallucination caused by emotions, then what can I do to stop it?

[arraignments]

[ Trust him... he knows. The idea has him far more uncomfortable than he'd like to admit. ]

You really like the word "I" ... [ Not that he has any room to talk. A twinge of guilt attempts to sink in, but he sighs. ] I would think you of all people would know, but you can't do everything by yourself.

[ Concern. He wishes he had more experience in shielding emotions over this damn thing... ] I can't imagine how stressful this must be for you. I know there isn't much I can do to help right now, but... I do want to. Don't hesitate to ask me.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . Akechi's right about that. and he knows he has a tendency to push himself, to carry more burdens than he can actually manage. it's not the first time someone has called him out on it]

[it is the first time Akechi has, and that makes it weird]

[especially coupled with the offer for help. he hesitates, before--]

I'm fine. [truly] Takes a lot more than messing with people's memories to knock me off of my feet.

[you should know, almost tumbles from his mouth. but that's. . . too familiar. even for an Akechi who, for some reason, thinks they're friends]

But, thanks.