[WEEK 1 GY POST: Bring out your dead]

[purrtagonist]

[he awakens with a start in his bed in the House of Hearts, long after the investigation has concluded. the first thing he does is bolt upright, hand flying to the side of his head where Croix's blow knocked him unconscious, then to his right eye which is. . . huh. completely whole again. his heart hammering madly in his chest is evidence enough that he isn't dead (he. . . thinks?), so after one or two steadying breaths to reorient himself, he slips out of his bed and through the front door]

[he meanders for a bit. everything in the Hare's Abode looks exactly the same, and there are people milling about everywhere, talking about the evidence they found, the bodies they found. it's probably a good thing he has yet to go to the market and see his own, uh. head, honestly. but no matter who he runs into, no matter how hard he shouts and waves his hands, no one seems to notice him, which is. . . well. disconcerting.]

[for the fellow dead? Akira can be found standing outside the Timeshare, staring at the bloody footprints as he twirls his cat mask around his finger. look ma, no mask!!]

[his expression is blank. unreadable. shoulders tense, posture stiff. let's dead person party guys!!]

Comments

[purrtagonist]

It's beyond mine, too.

[haa. . . he slips his hands into his pockets and kicks idly at the ground]

Maybe there's no point in us asking questions with no answers right now. So how about this--

[a pause]

What happened to you?

[nonidentity]

The woman known as Croix chose to put an end to my existence.

[Thinking of himself as "killed" is strange, when he's never been properly alive to begin with.]

[purrtagonist]

[and that's when Akira's expression immediately darkens, his hands balling into fists in his pockets. tch]

Did she tell you it was to "save something?"

[nonidentity]

... I see you met a similar fate. Yes—she spoke of "justice" and wanting to help everyone return home.

[purrtagonist]

She's full of shit.

[he says bluntly, not bothering to mince his words]

That "justice" she spoke of? The Queen's justice; not her own.

[nonidentity]

Indeed, her words, and how she spoke of wanting no harm to befall "innocents", seemed contrary to her actions.

[purrtagonist]

[he shakes his head]

I don't know what it is she wanted to save. But despite her role? [a derisive snort] Obviously, whatever it was isn't the people here.

[SINCE]

[HE HAS DONE LITERALLY NOTHING]

[AND HAS NO ROLE]

[AND SHE KILLED HIM ANYWAY???]

[nonidentity]

[He nods, lowering his hood (because fuck this i don't wanna keep using hooded icons).]

Well, it doesn't matter to me. [Because his life doesn't matter?? Even though yeah, he too was completely innocent.] It is unfortunate that you were a victim of her goals, however.

[purrtagonist]

[ha]

That'd only be true if my story ended when she wanted it to end.

[and obviously? there are still so many more chapters to go. he doesn't consider himself her victim-- he can't. not now]

[nonidentity]

[He blinks. His existence is over, one way or another, and he's always been prepared for that fate, so he can't empathize with Akira's feelings.]

Nevertheless, you seem displeased by her decision.

[purrtagonist]

[gives him a sort of "NO DUH??" look]

[his next words are extremely dry]

No. I'm not displeased at all. I mean, I only got stepped on maybe three times total during her entire interrogation? The handcuffs weren't so bad. And the axe looked pretty friendly--

[#salt]

[nonidentity]

[Spoilers.

Ferim doesn't understand sarcasm.]

I was not aware humans enjoyed those sorts of things. Is it customary to be stepped on more than three times during an interrogation where you are from?

[purrtagonist]

[FERIM. . .]

That answer depends on who you ask.

[said. dryly]

I was being sarcastic-- of course I'm displeased with her choice. Whatever she was trying to save, I'm sure she could've done it without-- [just. lifts a hand and draws his thumb across his neck]

[nonidentity]

"Sarcastic"... that is the quality used to describe when one is using irony to express contempt, correct? A human trait.

[...]

So that was what the axe was for.

[purrtagonist]

[man. this guy really isn't human, is he. . .? Akira huffs out a wry laugh, arm dropping to his side]

That's an assumption on my part.

[but what ELSE would axes be for?]

[nonidentity]

All I can say is that she knocked me out with it. An odd choice of a weapon for a woman of her stature, though it was apparently not her decision.

[purrtagonist]

. . . I'd be willling to bet it was all a part of her role. Whatever that role might've been.

[nonidentity]

Most likely, though it seems a pointless part.

[purrtagonist]

Not if used correctly.

[he can already envision how to use the role effectively, to catch those who actually were guilty, to help put an end to this charade]

She didn't even bother trying.

[nonidentity]

[He meant the axe part specifically, but.]

And how would you have tried?

[purrtagonist]

[dryly]

I wouldn't have killed someone after realizing they were innocent.

[SMDH]

[nonidentity]

People kill one another, innocent or not. That has been a constant throughout your history.