fragileprophet | Week 2, Saturday Post-Trial

Week 2, Saturday Post-Trial - Akechi

[Ion is in his room. Fair enough--his partner is in the dungeon, so there's nobody to bother him here. Of course, Ion being Ion, even at the height of what feels like his whole world crumbling inside of him, he still tries to put on a pleasant air whenever he hears a knock at the door.]

Come in!

[But he's sitting on Sandalphon's side of the bed, his back to the door, staring at nothing.]

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[surprise! it's Akechi. who usually doesn't seek people out like this, but. . .]

[he opens the door and slips inside Ion's room, closing it behind him, lingering near the entrance kind of awkwardly]

Ion-san.

[uuuum]

May I have a moment?

Yes, of course.

[As he always says. But he has to wait a quick moment before he's able to turn halfway toward Akechi with a smile. It takes him that long to remember how to pull one up onto his face.]

I'm hardly busy.

Is. . . that so?

[pauses, before he takes a step forward]

I'd imagine many people would wish to talk to you this evening.

Perhaps. I don't know.

[His smile flickers.]

People do strange things when they think someone may die.

[aha. . . ha]

[a long, long pause, before Akechi speaks again, voice neutral]

You once told me that you're willing to die if it would help someone else. Is that. . . true?

Are you afraid of dying tomorrow?

Yes and no.

[He pauses, like he’s still trying to figure it out for himself.]

I’d rather it be me than anyone else. I’d rather lose my life tomorrow than have watched anyone murdered so I could retain a spot in this game.

[And yet...and yet. Ion looks away again and laughs.]

I was lying to you the whole time. I’m more afraid than I’ve ever been.

[. . .]

Those who fear death only fear it because they have a strong desire to live. Is that right?

Yes.

[His hands clench into fists on his knees. It's the only way he can keep them from shaking--keep a straight face.]

I tried to deny my own feelings on the matter, because of my situation. But, truly, I...

[He swallows, his head bowing.]

I want live.

[ah. . .]

[. . . Akechi isn't equipped for this. he isn't. . . equipped for this at all. and yet, he's here, isn't he?]

But your objective asks you to die. And as Dragon-san said, the completion of objectives is. . . paramount.

Yes.

[He closes his eyes.]

And I still intend to fulfill it. Actually, I already spoke with her about it directly. I asked her if I could volunteer in exchange for her...sparing Sandalphon.

[He could laugh again, but he doesn't. It's all so pointless, now, and Ion doesn't know what he's feeling, how he's feeling.]

It's not so simple, now.

Did she say no?

[he asks, looking a bit uncertain]

If you want to live, then why do you try so hard to complete your objective?

She said she couldn't guarantee anything, but she could put my name forward, and let it be known it was my own will to be targeted. And she said yes, she would grant my wish.

[He pauses at the next question.]

I'm not necessary. And unlike you, I have no story to continue writing. How cruel of me to take that away from someone else.

[. . .]

Do you really not?

[have a story to continue writing, he means]

No.

[His smile finally slips off again completely as he thinks about what he'd be going home to.]

I have but another moment before I die.

. . .

I don't-- [hrrrgh. he doesn't really know how to say this. he's really not. . . at all the best person to offer words of comfort, or encouragement]

[and yet]

I feel as though merely wanting to live means you have more of a story to write, Ion-san.

That's a...lovely thing for you to say.

[And it hurts.There's an ache deep inside of him that he doesn't know how to describe. Fear and longing and like his heart is being split in half.]

I'm not sure that's quite true, but I'd like it if it was.

Truthfully. . . I don't know if it's true, either.

[but?]

Well, either way, I still feel-- I still feel that way.

Thank you.

[Ion takes a breath, steadying himself. There's a lot more he feels like he could say or should say...but he knows in the past his nature has made Akechi uncomfortable, so he decides to leave it at that, hoping the weight of the words will say more on their own. That he's not thankful just for the sentiment, but the honesty he feels behind it.]

I'm really so happy we've had the chance to become friends. If Sandalphon's plan...if it doesn't work, I'm sorry I couldn't be more help to you. What the Lady Dragon said...you're part of that group, aren't you? The Historians.

[He had told Ion, after all, that he was meant to be encouraging others to fulfill their objectives.]

You should let her know that the information you gave Lord El-Melloi II allowed him to complete his objective.

[. . .]

[he denied it with Fitzgerald. he denied it with Belph. but for Ion? he'll. . . he'll be honest. after all, he hasn't kept it a secret that he wants people to complete their objectives]

[he exhales deeply, and nods]

That's correct. I am a Historian.

I'm glad that El-Melloi followed up on the information I gave him, then.

[so that's one objective he had a hand in helping complete. that's one point in his favor. it seems like he's finally making some progress]

[Being honest to the mod character. Risky move. Still, the somewhat less personal topic makes Ion relax again.]

I'm glad, as well. I think I might have died if he hadn't found me so quickly...I really went overboard that night with my healing and lost a lot of blood.

[And, of course, said nothing about it to anyone.]

I think from now on, you'll be picking up much more momentum. The first is always the hardest, isn't it?

[A RISKY MOVE I KNOW]

Of course you did. If you heal someone else, make sure you see El-Melloi afterwards. [:/!!] I was going to suggest you tend to Shirasu-san's injuries, if you could.

[he promised both Belph and Shirasu he'd ask, so. here he is! asking]

[and, speaking of objectives, he still promised to help Fane with his. right?]

There's one other thing I'd like to tell you, since I'm here.

Oh--okay! I'd love to! Of course!

[Waver literally told Ion to just come to him directly instead of healing anyone anymore but, uh, sorry. Waver. Sorry. This is Ion.]

What is it?

[ION PLEASE. . .]

During my last meeting with the Crafters, after I successfully escaped execution, I learned that this "war" may be. . .

. . . a lover's spat.

[THIS IS FANE'S FALSE RUMOR]

[I'm.

Ion goes quiet.]

What? Really?

[He looks so confused.]

[c:]

Really. I don't know the details, but during my conversations with them, they seemed to allude to a certain past romantic history.

[Hm. A lot of different of perplexed emotions pass quickly over Ion's features, ultimately settling on embarrassment. Red faced, he puts a hand against his cheek.]

Well, that's...I'm sure that's a private matter! But if they're, ah, having some trouble...perhaps they can be encouraged to reconcile?

I had a similar thought. But as you can imagine, I'm not well-practiced in the art of. . . couple's counseling.

Do you know someone who might be?

Um...

[HE REALLY DOESN'T. But he wants to help, so he's trying to think.]

Maybe...Lady Rapunzel?

Maybe. . .

Would you mind talking to her for me?

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Week 2, Saturday Post-Trial - Akechi

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