( closed ) they never saw it comiiiiing~

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Who: Kurusu Akira and Goro Akechi
When: 5/10
Where: Outside the city.
What: Taking on the Wilders recruitment test!
Warnings: None at the moment.


[ Akira isn't quite sure how he ended up in this situation.

Well, correction—he knows how. There was a flyer posted up in a shop window, announcing recruitment for the Wilders, and he figured... why not? For over half a year, his life has been a colorful mingling of mundane intertwined with danger and combat. There's plenty to learn and investigate inside of the city, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't miss the feeling of the more exhilarating portions of his life back home, too. Or that could just be that he's been feeling a little more froggy than usual since he arrived here. Hard to say.

The real question is why, that when he meets up with the Wilder overseeing the test, Goro Akechi is also present as his apparent partner for the mission.

It's true that they've formed a tentative sort of agreement: one to share whatever information they find out during their time in the city. Something mutually beneficial that also allows Akira to keep an eye on Akechi while trying to determine if his motivations have truly changed. Still, he wasn't exactly aiming to get into a potential combat situation alongside him when he's been stripped of most of his powers.

But Akira's used to rolling with it when his luck goes south. He only offers a quip about fate before Akechi can get one in, and they're off to the Wilde.

Thankfully, their goal today turns out to be negotiation. The briefing they receive at the destination makes it sound simple enough, but the sobs nearby don't seem like those of someone who really wants to talk. ]

How do you want to do this?

Comments

[grakraka]

[Good timing, because judging from Akechi's expression, he wouldn't have been able to hold back from commenting on that idealistic notion. Even if one argued his life had been unlucky, he had known so many, many bad people and not a single good one until, well, recently. The thought has him glancing at Akira before shrugging. They promised to accompany the merrow and so he doesn't see any point in dwelling here.

Though they can't really chat much on the way. It makes sense but he feels a little bad, too. The merrow seems more resigned than anything and he understands that feeling, so he does the only thing he really knows how to do: talk about useless things. He tries telling the merrow about home but only things like the trains or the Shibuya Scramble, things that aren't very important but might at least keep the merrow's mind occupied. It seems to work well enough. It doesn't exactly improve the merrow's mood but they nod or prompt him to talk more.

He doesn't exactly mind when they reach the Coven but he frowns, too.]

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[ And that's probably a good thing, because the merrow doesn't need to see dissent between them now, not when they're this close to getting them back to safety. Akira reads the skepticism on Akechi's face and simply gazes back, unflinching, as if to express the strength of his own belief.

The walk back is uneventful. Akira goes back and forth between listening to Akechi's descriptions and supplying brief details of his own, to observing the slums as they progress closer to the city, filing away more details from the sad state of the shacks at the outermost edge of the area to the wary and frightened reactions of those who see the partially transformed merrow passing through.

It takes a while to get all the way back to the Coven, and their companion seems to grow especially uneasy as they come up on the building. Akira wishes he could offer something more substantial, maybe a touch on their shoulder, but they've already been firmly reminded of the contagious nature of the sickness. He has to settle for a reassuring smile as they're led inside and received by the Witches in charge of treatment efforts. ]

We can't stick around past here... [ Which the merrow realizes as well, their opinion of being left with the Witches plain on their face. ] But I'll come visit soon. So do your best.

[ It's a decision he makes on the spot. As far as the mission goes, there's really no need to, but Akira knows he'll be left wondering how the merrow is faring. They might also recover better having something positive to look forward to. ]

[grakraka]

[Probably for the best they don't argue now. They could debate worldviews for hours and possibly even have, given that Akechi wouldn't have totally erased his more cynical views during the time together. But it's mostly avoided in safe topics. Akechi takes his own mental notes as they go but for the most part, does his job of trying to keep the merrow's spirits up.

A job he will gladly pass along to Akira now. That really is not his forte in the slightest. He did well enough for today but he doubts his ability to continue it. Left to his own devices, he'd probably just worsen their mood with his own thoughts. So he smiles.]

Don't worry. He might seem quiet but he's an excellent conversationalist and debate partner. I'm sure he'll be wonderful company.

[Even if he can't do much himself, in his opinion, he reaffirms that to let them know they're in good hands in at least one thing. The merrow still isn't happy but Akechi and Akira kept this promise and have been, as far as they know, honest with them. So in the end they give a nod and mutter to come back soon. The witches have to take it away to get the disease contained properly with their sincere thanks but it does feel like a somewhat bittersweet ending to a mission.

It could have gone worse, for sure, but he doesn't know how it could have gone better. Not in these circumstances.]

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[ Akechi's vote of confidence is a small consolation. Goodbyes are quickly exchanged and the merrow is led from view, leaving Akira with the same sort of bittersweet feeling. They've achieved the goals laid out for their test and seen their new acquaintance to what he can only hope will be a place where they can recover, but the merrow's story and another taste of what the Cwyld does to its victims are hard to swallow.

The Wilder who accompanied them on their mission is ready for a fast debrief, but before that, Akira catches one of the Witches, wanting to inquire about the treatment. Like most of those at the Coven, she seems more than happy to share the information, describing the extensive, tiring process they plan to undertake. It's a small comfort, knowing what they intend to do—and that he's indeed permitted to visit in the future.

A little while later, once they've finished speaking with the Wilder and officially turned loose from their test outside the doors of the Coven, Akira speaks up. ]

Good work today. [ Not unlike wrapping up a trip to the Metaverse, maybe. ]

[grakraka]

[For the most part, Akechi keeps to simple questions during the debrief, just to confirm that they passed and will have future opportunities to work with the group. It seems like it will be a good job for intel gathering and also allow for more freedom than most jobs, while possibly playing to their more dubious strengths.

With that done, Akechi lingers, unsure exactly what to do now. It really is strange being here with no goals to drive his schedule. It's been years since he lived like this and even before then, he was at the cruel whims of caregivers with no actual say in things. This should probably feel more freeing than it does but instead he feels lost.

Akechi glances at Akira when he pulls him from his thoughts. The familiar words bring a smile and an easy but sincere reply.]

It goes for you as well, not that I would expect anything less of you, of course.

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[ Akira presses out an amused breath at the response, a familiar sort of flattery from the time that they worked together during the casino infiltration. Honestly, the entire thing has reminds him of that period—and not necessarily in a bad way. He's well aware that it was all part of the scheme, that Akechi was purposely playing along with the team with an ulterior motive. Still, it doesn't change the fact that having him along often felt... perhaps not right, knowing what he knew, but he was an asset to the team and there were moments in the midst of battle or during particularly funny exchanges where he could almost forget that it was all part of a bigger plan.

Which is exactly why he can't let himself slip too far into the feeling that lingers once their mission is done. ]

Thanks. [ Akira pauses, fingers coming up to brush at his hair. ] I'll let you know how they are later on, if you want.

[ He can't be sure that Akechi cares that much, but some of the anger he expressed on its behalf seemed genuine, so maybe. ]

[grakraka]

[It would be hard to miss that or perhaps Akechi has just been far too in-tune with the emotions of people around him for too long—at least when it comes to the less positive ones. Even if it makes sense and he would even encourage it if it came down to that, something tight still squeezes between his lungs, that ever-present awareness of rejection and walls when he hides behind his own.

But he smiles, the easiest thing in the world for him, as he gives a light laugh. Those irrational feelings bother him yet he won't dwell on them. Better to just ignore them and busy himself like usual.]

Yes, of course. I might not be able to help them the way you will from here on out but please keep me informed. I do hope for... positive news no matter what. [He taps his chin.] Ah, and I'm going to keep looking into these matters, so I'll let you know if any interesting information comes out of it. Do the same for me, too.

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Sure. I'll keep you updated on both fronts.

[ That's the type of correspondence they've committed to before, after all. There's a tiny part of him that wants to seek the company of the only other person from his world, right alongside the one that wants to believe everything Akechi told him back at the bonfire, but it's impossible to overlook the things he knows to be fact.

Akira drops the hand to slip it into his pocket (the side that isn't still vaguely damp; who would've guessed that magical water would take even longer to dry than usual), regarding Akechi with a tip of his head.

At least the old pretenses of collaborating on that mission made parting ways after infiltrations feel more natural than this right now. ]

I'll see you around, then.