[Day 12, afternoon: Akechi]

[purrtagonist]

[ANYWAY, he's totally pushing himself down the hallway. . . with one foot. . . again. aiming for the kitchen this time. which is, incidentally, right where he was coming from, so it isn't far off]

Right or left?

[???]

Comments

[purrtagonist]

. . . 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?

[afailedmurder]

[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.

[purrtagonist]

[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.

[afailedmurder]

[immediately defensive]

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

[purrtagonist]

[holds up!! a hand!!]

No, no. I get that. I'm actually really glad he's been there for you. Really.

[truthfully! he's very sincere about that]

And I don't think everything he says is bullshit, either. But that part about power. . .

[ugh why is that grating on him so much? maybe it's because Wills toddler-parent metaphor didn't sit well with him]

I told you I wanted to be someone you could fall back on. I told you I wanted to be someone who could guide you, and call you out on what I thought were questionable choices. Because that's what friends do, Akechi. They pay attention to each other, and tell each other not to do something stupid, even though sometimes it doesn't. . .

[get through? well. YOU KNOW. GESTURES TO HIMSELF]

But in the end, I can't tell you what to do. I don't want to tell you what to do. The choice I made to enter that room-- stupid as it might've been-- was a choice I made because I know what kind of person I am. And I have to live with the consequences of my actions.

. . . and in the end? No matter what I say, only you can decide what kind of person you want to be.

That's a bit of freedom you deserve.

[afailedmurder]

[honestly, Kurusu's power over him feels more real than ever. it's in the gap in their respective concepts of friendship, the things that Kurusu takes for granted, the morbid thoughts inside of him that only Will Graham seems to understand.

But all the same, this makes him a little happy. Kurusu isn't messing with him on purpose. On the contrary, he's offering a nice dream.]

...I can't say it doesn't sound appealing. That kind of friendship.

[purrtagonist]

[it's a gap that'll probably take a lot of work to close, and those morbid thoughts may be something that Akira can just never understand. for all he denies not trusting Akechi, there's a reason Will told him to stop assuming the worst]

[and there's a reason Akira told Will in return that he absolutely wouldn't let Akechi take him down with him, in the end]

[(although right now, after the previous night, when his guards are lowered and he's finally discovered the limits of his own brazen nature, he can't help but wonder if he'll be the first one of them to take the plunge)]

. . . then think about it, all right?

[a pause]

Ah, right. And there's one other thing I wanted to tell you.

[afailedmurder]

[nods. he will think about it!! probably also many other, stupider/crazier things. but friendship will be among them]

...What's that?

[purrtagonist]

[as long as friendship is among them, then everything is okay!! maybe. possibly]

Shuichi really likes you.

[afailedmurder]

[???]

I suppose we've been getting along well enough...?

[purrtagonist]

[OOOOOOH BOY, GODSPEED SHUICHI]

Well, good. I hope that continues.

[afailedmurder]

Unless you know something I don't, I'm sure it's fine...

[THIS CONVERSATION GOT WEIRD AND SOMEHOW EMBARRASSING IN A NON-QUANTIFIABLE WAY]

[purrtagonist]

[it's fine!!!]

No, I'm sure it is either. He's an interesting guy, you know?

[afailedmurder]

[maybe it's because he's never had a friend before in his entire life, but this conversation feels suspiciously like teasing!!]

Are you implying something?

[purrtagonist]

[that is because it is!!]

Nope. Not at all.

[yes he is]

I'm simply stating the obvious.

[afailedmurder]

[no sir, I don't like it]

Honestly, he hardly even knows me...

[purrtagonist]

Spend some time with him, then. You might become better friends that way. Everyone can use some downtime, even in a place like this.

[afailedmurder]

I already spend time with him...

Is this also what friends do?

[purrtagonist]

[innocently]

I have no idea what you mean, but the answer is probably "yes."

[afailedmurder]

Honestly. How would you like if it I were to pry into the time you spend with Kurosaki-kun?

[purrtagonist]

[THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PLAN IS THE FACT THAT AKIRA IS SHAMELESS]

Are you sure you want to know all about our sordid love affair?

[afailedmurder]

[that doesn't mean there aren't still opportunities to be catty about it!]

Is that what you were doing? You should invest in a safe word.

[purrtagonist]

[bless you Goro Akechi]

We already have.

It's "tinfoil."

[afailedmurder]

Do I want to know?

[purrtagonist]

[just]

[grins]







[the funny thing is he is totally bullshitting, here]