purrtagonist | [Day 12, afternoon: Akechi]

I tried to tell you.

...Is it because you don't trust me? Is that all it is?

[almost a little hopeful there, because that's better than not being taken seriously... maybe?]

[AKECHI]

No. That isn't it.

[drags his hand down his face, wincing as he accidentally puts pressure on his cheek wound. his next response is quiet, like. . . it's touching on something that he's never really spoken aloud before, scratching the surface of feelings he's always kept close to his chest in order to maintain a picture of composure and togetherness]

It's because I can't do what you do.

What I do...?

[so completely baffled that even the emotion has drained out]

When I first moved to Tokyo, I couldn't even make it one day pretending to be a "normal high school student." And I tried. I tried to keep my nose out of trouble, I tried to keep my head down, I tried to stay polite, to hold my tongue, to do everything that a "good" kid-- judged by the standards of all of the adults around me-- was supposed to do.

[he gets more and more distasteful and derisive as he goes]

Every single second of that fake good kid act made me feel like I was drowning. So when I finally harnessed the power to fight back, it was--

[a breath]

It was liberating. It was like I was finally able to be the person I knew I was supposed to be all along. But. . .

[but those methods don't work here. being that person-- the person who always rises up and fights back-- isn't. . . working. it's as Akechi surmised: what was supposed to be an unstoppable force finally crashing into an immovable object. and the unstoppable force isn't what's winning, here]

Graham told me that he would bet on your resiliency over my ability to adapt. And maybe-- [a shrug] Maybe he's right.

...If I am... "resilient," it's not because I wanted to be. I have never had the luxury to behave in a way that was not appeasing to others.

[comes around to the front of the wheelchair, pulling up a chair of his own and taking a seat]

It's taken me a long time to comprehend how you could be so completely brazen. You've always made it look so easy, as well... I can't say I didn't envy the freedom that I saw in you. And if I am to be completely honest, deep down I admired your principles as well. You're a good person, Kurusu.

[a little grudging, a little awkward. but against all odds, he finds that he doesn't want to be more hurtful than he has to.]

If this were a good world, or even just a fair game, that would be enough. But I'm not going to sugarcoat it— I agree with Will. If you can't adjust to this situation, you're not going to survive it.

[jam session in the kitchen. Akira doesn't look up whenever Akechi sits down, gaze affixed on his lap, the heel of his palm digging into one eye like he's trying to hold something back]

The world has never been good, or fair. That's why we formed the Phantom Thieves in the first place: to enact our own justice. I've risen above unjust circumstances before, too. Remember-- Yaldabaoth's game was rigged for me to lose.

[a tiny flicker of pride at that. he knows he punched fate in the face in those circumstances, and he can't deny he's damn proud of it]

But without Joker, I'm just. . . some unruly kid who almost gets himself and someone important to him killed out of sheer stupidity. Out of sheer defiant stubbornness.

[at least he's honest with himself]

. . . maybe I finally see what you meant when you said you could make decisions I couldn't. That you could do what's necessary.

[resists the instinct to argue for the sake of argument at that glint of pride. it's silly to argue a point upon which you agree. THERE IS NO JUSTICE, ONLY POWER.]

I'm glad to hear that. Or rather... relieved. Even if you decide that you can't do it, then... then at least you can make that choice with your eyes open.

[moves like he's going to reach out, but he gives up on the gesture before even really starting. his hand barely leaves the arm of his chair before dropping back down]

Edited 2018-01-08 19:13 (UTC)

[JUSTICE ACHIEVED BY HAVING POWER]

[he misses that aborted movement, too busy focusing on his lap, on scrubbing away whatever emotions threaten to spill out with his hand. he already cried on Ichigo last night, he's not going to cry again!!]

. . . make no mistake, I'm not giving up. I'm not throwing in the towel. I'm not quitting.

[a breath. and once he feels like the moment has passed, he lifts his head again, eyes sparking]

I can do it.

[do what, though?]

[that's a good question. let's ask it]

Do what?

[smart kid. his answer isn't very specific, though]

Survive.

[no, no it isn't!!]

I don't suppose you'd care to be a little more specific.

[slowly, a crooked smile curves up the corners of his mouth]

Well, tonight I'm going to be stuck in the nurse's office with an alien doctor-slash-babysitter.

He could probably take down a killer before they got to me.

[a joke. . . he jokes. . .]

[this, at least, puts Akechi a bit more at ease]

...That's a very good point. At least for tonight, you would make a poor target.

[are you still worried about him getting himself killed, buddy]

I'd make a great target, actually. Ichigo, too. But as long as Ulaz finds someone trustworthy to partner with, it'll probably be fine.

[won't stop him from being jumpy as fuck, though]

No, it's just the opposite. The act itself would be much easier to perform, but actually getting away with it would be incredibly difficult. Everyone knows that Ulaz has been tending to you; he won't be able to do anything else tonight without garnering immense suspicion. His best course of action is to do as you said; find a trustworthy partner and bunker down with his patients.

In fact, even if Ulaz were to find an untrustworthy partner, that person would not be able to act freely. They would have to wipe out all three of you to get away with their crime, and there are only meant to be two murders tonight.

[pausing thoughtfully]

I suppose if one of you were to be simply incapacitated and somehow made unable to witness the murders of the others, that might make for a compelling mystery... but listen to me, I'm beginning to sound like Furudo. No one with the slightest amount of sense would attempt a crime like that.

[s-soft snort]

Thanks for the pep talk, detective.

[but he can't really deny that logic, so. . . he'll relax just a little bit]

You're welcome.

[helping!!]

By the way, I'm planning on staying in tonight.

[alarm bells]

. . . by yourself?

No, of course not.

I'll be with Baxter.

[. . . HAAAAAA. . .]

Funny.

[said in a dry tone which makes it obvious he doesn't think it funny at all!]

You know you could bring Baxter and yourself to the infirmary, if you want. I could vouch for you.

I'm not going to kill anyone. I'm simply... not in the mood. For any of this.

Edited 2018-01-09 00:41 (UTC)

. . . that's not the only thing I was worried about. Although that does make two of us who aren't in the mood for any of this.

[#mood, honestly. and Will did tell him to stop thinking the worst of Akechi. . . now would be a good time to start]

[although, when he thinks of Will, he can't help but grumble]

All that stuff you said earlier, about me having "power" over you, or whatever. . .

You got that form Graham, right? That's what he told you?

Edited (clarification probably helps) 2018-01-09 00:53 (UTC)

[a little grudgingly, as it is embarrassing to admit just how much he and Will have talked this over]

...He's been helping me work through some things, yes.

[to be frank, he isn't surprised, considering how much he and Will have talked about his Akechi problems]

[also? bluntly]

I think that's bullshit.

[immediately defensive]

Well excuse me if these things don't come naturally to me!

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