middaeg | [monster mash reference here]

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[monster mash reference here]

Who: Akira Kurusu and you
When: Throughout the month of Aereuer
Where: Monster House (his new home), etc . . .
What: MemSwap stuff can be done here + house party (also, I'll be prioritizing intro threads over this for a bit)
Warnings: N/A currently; will do my best to mark subject lines/edit this as they come up

Moving In/House Prompt
{{CLOSED TO HOUSEMATES (Bailey, Sylvia, Saori, and Jongdae) + CR}}

[ The first thing Akira will be looking into is coffee, and if they happen to have the means? He'll be making that as soon as he can. Sadly, it isn't going to be pour-over; that takes some very specific equipment. Some very specific equipment that'll be the very first thing he looks into buying, probably-- okay, maybe not the very first thing, but close enough.

Anyway, if looking for Akira, he can be found sitting with a cup of coffee in his hands, staring hard at the floor, clearly deep in thought. Or maybe they can spot him hanging out in his room, lying... facedown on his bed, hardly moving. What even...

Otherwise, enjoy some coffee and chat among yourselves. ]

Exploration Catchall

[ There are so many sights to take in, and Akira can be found practically anywhere throughout the month. Maybe the person is spotting him at a random shop, curiously frowning at some of the products, or maybe he's being found staring up at the large wall (Bright Wall), eyebrows lifted in awe.

Sometimes, he will find himself caught up in staring at the sights - it really does feel like he traveled back in time, in a way, rather than winding up in a new world. His expression is often softened as he lets his mind wander a bit. Otherwise, he is simply... sitting down somewhere, resting, looking pretty tired or simply as though he's lacking in energy. While it's clear there's a part of him that's excited over all the sights, there's an air of frustration towards how often he's needing to rest... ]

Maybe I'm getting sick...?

[ That's muttered at some point, mainly to himself, but perhaps it was overheard. ]

Memory Catchall

((Feel free to have a character approaching him after witnessing one of these! Otherwise, you're free to just use this post to play out them seeing it. I'm fine with whatever! Lastly, you guys are free to hit up

skiesonfire for plotting, as always.))

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[ He bites back the urge to say Akechi could take a picture - it'd last longer. By all appearances, he isn't remotely bothered by being studied so closely. Just the opposite. He gives a dim smirk that's only the ghost of something Joker might wear. ]

And it's true.

[ There's a brief moment where he holds a blink, his mind dwelling on the last time he saw them... And it feels like so long ago, already. ]

... You still haven't told me what happened during that encounter.

[ Yup, just what he expected. Akechi's expression slides towards exasperation for a moment before he gets it under control again.

The next 'question' is no surprise, either. Akechi has been waiting for him to bring it up, and he already knows what he's intending to say in response. ]

I mentioned the name Shido when you first arrived here. That's the man at the head of the conspiracy I was working as a part of.

[ Hopefully Akira's already figured out that Akechi wasn't working alone. He'll explain if he has to, but he'd rather not get sidetracked.

(The fact that he is so willing to explain, and the oddity of doing so, is lost on him for the moment). ]

At some point, you discovered his identity and infiltrated his Palace. Shortly after that, I started to think there was something odd about the circumstance surrounding your 'death'. When Shido's behavior in reality became erratic, I realized what was happening and confronted all of you in his Palace.

[ Akechi pauses to take another sip of coffee, using it as an (obvious, most likely) excuse to gather his thoughts. He already knows what he's intending to say, but he thinks it'll be obvious he's holding a few things back. Besides, not a single plan of his has ever survived contact with Akira. He has no reason to expect that to change now. ]

We argued. You tried to convince me to side with you, but I wasn't interested. So we fought, and I lost. You tried to convince me again, and... that's the last thing I remember.

[ His lips press together tightly as he listens, and then he holds a blink for a couple of seconds. There's a lot to think about here, even more to ask about. Finally, he lets out a sigh and nods. ]

And what was your goal?

[ Now he's studying Akechi about as closely as he was being studied a little bit ago. ]

What was the real reason for everything you did?

[ Well, Akira isn't rejecting his version of events and isn't asking any of the more uncomfortable questions. Akechi will take it. ]

I told you before that my mother fell in with a contemptible man, only to be abandoned and left to raise me on her own.

[ And how those circumstances had eventually lead to her suicide, though he doesn't repeat that. He has no doubt that Akira remembers. He's much calmer talking about it now than he was last time (for him), which only means he's hit the same level of calm-but-melancholy that normally comes when he discusses his past. ]

That man was was Masayoshi Shido. It's quite the scandal for such a high level politician to have a bastard child, no?

[ He tries to go for a light, almost joking tone, but it falls a little flat this time. He doesn't dwell on it. ]

I wanted to make myself indispensable to his plans, wait until he had reached the top, and then reveal who I really was. I thought it would have left him paralyzed with anxiety, knowing that ruin was just a few words again.

[ The use of 'thought' is quite deliberate. ]

So I wasn't motivated by anything as high-minded as justice or societal reform. I only wanted my father to suffer as much as we had.

[ Ah . . . there is it. The answer he'd been wanting, but unable to get. It would have been too risky to try reaching out the way he'd really wanted to, and his teammates are far more important to him than that.

There's a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach as he lets the information sink in. And, though he manages to keep his expression calm and steady, his gaze shifts between anger and understanding. ]

Revenge.

[ So, it was that - he doesn't even think to himself that it was as "simple" as that, because what about revenge is simple...? From what he's seen of it, it's a hard path full of pain and suffering for all people involved - including the one trying to get it. He studies Akechi for a long while... ]

... Do you know why we started out?

[ There's a dim smile as he leans forward, lightly resting his chin against his hands, fingers loosely curled as there's a brief distance to his gaze. ]

It wasn't to save society, at first. We wanted Kamoshida to pay for hurting everyone. I wanted him to feel the weight of everything he'd done. Morgana told us, in the beginning, that there was a risk of him dying...

[ He glances away. He's quiet for a few seconds, and then he looks back to Akechi. ]

... The only reason Kamoshida is still alive is because one of us decided that suffering was what he deserved more.

[ Akechi is aware that the Phantom Thieves started with Kamoshida, and he even suspected that they were acting in their own interests. This is the first he's really heard anything about their thought process at the time. In a way, it's also not surprising. Ryuji in particular jumps to mind as someone that might take that sort of measure without thinking it thought. But the way Akira words it... ]

'We're not so different' - is that what you're trying to say?

[ Akechi doubts it, but he'd like to hear it straight from the source before he continues. It's faint, but there's something both chagrined and bordering on amused in his expression as he waits for Akira's answer. He himself had insisted on something very similar during their fight in Shido's Palace, but hearing it coming from the other direction feels wrong. ]

Edited 2020-04-17 06:24 (UTC)

[ He smirks faintly, rubbing at the back of his neck as he thinks that over for a moment. ]

Maybe.

[ Some tiny part of him wants to insist that there's no way that's true, but that would be a lie. In his darkest moments, he's had some pretty messed up thoughts and he can't say for sure how he would have been in Akechi's shoes. He can't truthfully deny that there's a chance he would want to make a man suffer for hurting his mom. But... at the same time... ]

I didn't go through the same things you did. [ holding a blink, and then shaking his head ] But... I can't say, for sure, I'd never want anything like that.

[ He can't help wondering how the PTs would feel hearing something like that out of his mouth. He knows they'd still have his back... but...

There's a quiet sigh as he fidgets with his bangs. He's been sighing a lot more since he got here... ]

I'll let you in on a secret, though. [ dim smirk ] I don't think anyone should want to be similar to me.

[ It makes sense, if Akechi takes the time to think about it. Even knowing the full extent of what he did, the Phantom Thieves had been willing to give him a chance last time. Even the ones with the best reasons not to, like Futaba and Haru. So of course Akira would be willing to try to find common ground between them now, when the situation is less heated and Akechi's most recent murder attempt wasn't just a few moments ago.

Still... Akechi doesn't like it. It feels too much like pity, and while his mood is currently stable enough that such a thing doesn't immediately enrage him he still doesn't like it. ]

I doubt anyone who knows you agrees. Do you think Sakamoto-kun would have survived if you weren't there?

[ Akechi doesn't wait for an answer. He already knows what the truth is. ]

You say you could have followed a path similar to mine. I won't tell you that's not possible... but that's not what happened, and I never could have followed your path instead.

[ He lifts his eyebrows. ]

In my defense, I did use the word maybe, detective.

[ There's a sigh as he leans back in his seat, tilting his head at Akechi. ]

And, don't get me wrong: you've done some awful things that I think you should pay for.

[ Not that he knows everything Akechi's done - but even just attempted murder would be pretty bad on its own. Also, he isn't going to argue beyond that initial statement. He agrees that the hypotheticals are nothing more than that: hypothetical. They never happened and they never will. Daydreaming about what could have been can only leave room for more regret, in cases like this. But... all the same, there are things that could change, could improve. ]

For the record, I never wanted to become enemies. [ anger about some things aside ] Though, what I want isn't all that matters in a case like that.

[ It clicks for Akechi at that moment: Akira doesn't know everything he's done. The Phantom Thieves already know about the mental shutdowns, but he remembers their shock at realizes the psychotic breakdowns were his doing as well.

This is such a paint in the ass. Why can't Akira just know all of this already? Akechi keeps the irritation out of his expression, but only barely. ]

I never gave you much of a choice in the matter. I was responsible for the psychotic breakdown cases, as well, and I'm the one that pushed Sae-san towards seeing the similarities between those incidents and the changes of heart.

[ He may as well put everything out there. If he's going to talk to Akira like this, he wants the dialogue to be as honest as possible. And speaking of honest... well, he can hear the implicit question in Akira's last statement. He hasn't forgotten how their last conversation went, and his opinion since then hasn't changed. ]

... But that was the wrong decision. You made a better rival than an outright enemy.

[ His eyes widen briefly. Ah...

... It makes so much more sense, having that last piece, though. A... painful amount of sense if he's being perfectly honest. He hates this, but he can't deny that learning it is better than remaining in the dark. And he can't deny that he's glad to have more of the pieces to work with.

After a couple of seconds, he nods. ]

We can't change what happened back there.

[ For either of them, even with one of them being from earlier than the other. ]

But we aren't there now.

[ He twists a strand of bangs, gaze resting on Akechi. ]

'Rivals' sounds more fun, anyway.

[ He really shouldn't have expected anything else. Last time, when Akira and the Phantom Thieves were fresh off Akechi's most recent murder attempt, they'd still reached out, still tried to close the gap, still asked him to join their cause. He's not so naive as to assume that all was forgiven or that their decision wasn't at least slightly motivated by practicality, but... well, Akechi himself would have never done such a thing.

Still, it's a relief. Akechi was in a much more pathetic state back then, and now Akira doesn't even know what happened after they parted ways. Which means, both then and now, this isn't a decision that was made out of pity, but because Akira genuinely believes it's the best course of action. It's stupid, but it's sincere, and the latter is what actually matters here anyway. ]

I agree.

[ Akechi isn't the sort of person to ever truly relax when he's with company, even if he's good at faking a languid air. He doesn't truly relax now, or even really smile, but some of the tension bleeds out of his frame, his expression softens, and his movements take on a more natural, less calculated air. ]

Though it seems we'll need to find something else to compete over.

[ Without the Phantom Thieves or Shido or Akechi's prolonged murder spree they're short on things that are worth butting heads over. ]

[ He gives a faint smirk. ]

Well, we both need to find a bond. Maybe we should see who can find one first.

[ It's... at least mostly a joke. He doesn't genuinely believe that it's something to just form a petty rivalry over - really, some part of him is maybe just hoping to motivate Akechi. Get him moving on finding someone so he doesn't... you know...

... explode?

There is still bitterness over everything, but he is genuinely interested in keeping him alive. So, like the asshole he is capable of being, he manages in a perfectly casual and thoughtful tone: ]

Unless that would be too much for a first challenge.

[ Oh come on.

Akehci's expression briefly slips into one of exasperation, though wry humor manages to take over again a moment later. ]

I didn't expect you to choose something where you'd have such a clear advantage.

[ He doesn't mind admitting that - not now, at least. After three months, Akechi has maybe three people he'd consider friendly acquaintances. He wouldn't be shocked if Akira has three times that number, and perhaps a few outright friends on top. ]

Then again, familiars are a type of Bonded, too. Unless you'd like to add extra rules, you've already lost.

[ He resists the urge to just sigh.

Akechi, please. Why you gotta be so difficult? Only just kidding, maybe. He might have some ideas of why now, but... still annoying. ]

Really? I just got here and [ ugh ] I don't have anyone I'd even consider, yet.

[ Nope, this is practically a lie. He does have people he'd consider. It's more that he doesn't feel comfortable with all that could come of a close Bond. And he doesn't want to admit those kinds of trust issues to this guy. But if Akechi's responding that way, that means he is in the same boat, minus the whole bird thing.

Akira leans back for a moment, shifting in his seat just a little as he resists the urge to suggest a volcano-curry-eating contest. ]

[ Akira should know by now that 'difficult' is Akechi's default. ]

That's surprising.

[ There's no indication that Akira is lying, yet Akechi doesn't believe him for a second. He won't directly call him out, however. Not without evidence. ]

I suppose there's no need to decide on a serious competition right away. Isn't it more interesting when these things arise naturally?

[ Or supernaturally, hah. But they need something to occupy themselves, don't they? So... ]

But in the meantime... do you know how to play chess?

[ He can't help the dim, gentle kind of smirk.

Chess, huh?

He tilts his head, twisting some bangs. ]

I might know a thing or two.

[ ... Literally. It's been so long since he's touched the game, he's definitely in need of a refresher. ]

[ In contrast, Aekchi's expression has settled back into pleasant neutrality, though it wouldn't be quite right to call the expression relaxed. ]

Then we'll start with that.

[ It's an enjoyable enough game, and more importantly: ]

It's a good way to keep your thoughts sharp.

[ He nods. ]

Name the time and place then.

How about... here, this Thursday?

[ May as well keep it simple. Akechi likes this place and, more importantly... ]

If we come in the early evening, it should be even quieter than it is now.

[ Another nod before he looks around. ]

Works for me. Even quieter sounds nice.

[ Not in every case, but he'll be interacting with someone in this particular one, so it's fine. ]

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