[open] because i can only be me

[simulatio]

Who: Goro Akechi and YOU
What: catch-all for august
Where: heavenly blanc, wall market; others tbd
When: yes
Content Warnings: threads with p5r spoilers will be tagged as such! please toss a comment on my spoiler opt-out post if you'd like me to avoid mentioning any p5/p5r spoilers in tags with your character.

Comments

[simulatio]

Don't be so childish.

[He glares with naked hatred, gaze sharpening on Ren's, but if he looks closely, there's just fear hidden behind all that vitriol. He can't tell him the truth, not after he'd so easily swallowed the lies Akechi had already fed him, but maybe he can at least make Ren think. For once in his stupid life.]

Let's suppose you're right. Fast forward until we return to our own reality. Worst case scenario, I'm in prison for the rest of my life for what I've done. [He clicks his tongue, waves a hand, lip curled in distaste. Even if his crimes were in the Metaverse, he'd entrenched deeply enough into Shido's conspiracy that they'll find a way to imprison him, whether he confesses or not.] Best case scenario, I'm dead before you even get out of juvie for their trumped-up crimes. You changing Shido's heart kicked up a hornet's nest of powerful people, and to his goons, I'm another loose end who mysteriously disappeared when their beloved ruler was taken out.

[He meets Ren's eyes with a steady gaze. They're all plausible hypotheticals, assuming he's not killed outright in that cursed engine room. It's dangerous to even say this much, to make Ren question his resolve, but he needs to know.]

Do you honestly mean to tell me that you'll face Maruki "without regrets" if you get involved with me?

[forethinking]

(God, Akechi talking again was such a relief for his brain. It had almost drained all his energy, the never-ending explaining and sharing, and he almost resorted to putting a pin in this conversation should he have to continue. Not that it would make much of a difference - it's not like they get to rest their brains here.

He listens, though. It brings a gloom to Ren's face, not as much as regret but more of anger, again. Just how messed up can they get? Either way.)

If I'm right, isn't all this even more reason to do it?

(Just. Allow themselves to be at peace, doing whatever they want if their fates are once more wrapped in an unfair game with almost no chances of winning. At least for the time being.)

I'd hate it.

(A beat.)

But what's right is right. This fight not about me, after all.

[simulatio]

[Akechi swallows hard as Ren speaks, mouth dry as he waits for the other's answer. This is quite literally the most important question of his life, after all, even letting Ren get the implication that he might be dead. His eyes stay on him, studying his face, his eyes, his body language, searching for any hint of deceit or that he might be wavering.

Maybe it's egotistical, to think that after Ren's friends were willing to give up their false realities and happy families to return to the real world, that Ren of all people would hesitate to do the same. And yet, inexplicably, it's probably because of Ren that Akechi's even here. He can't ever forget that.

So when he agrees, all of Akechi's breath leaves him in a weary sigh. Does Ren truly understand?]

Look me in the eye, [he says quietly, as seriously as he's ever said anything in his life.] And give me your word that no matter what happens, you'll change Maruki's heart. I'm done being manipulated.

[forethinking]

(As Akechi should. He'd been manipulated by Yaldabaoth, by Shido, even by Ren himself, to which he very easily justifies as comprehensible. Seen that it did save his life and all.

Of course the seriousness of the words hit him first more than anything. The tension can be cut with a knife, easily, and Ren is attentive. This is a first for him too, this tone and this sort of behaviour from Akechi, as if his life depended on this one response.

One that, as per usual, only Ren has a say in the matter. Certainly he doesn't waver, no hesitant words coming out from the lips, although there is a certain tension tugging at Ren's shoulders, like there isn't anything more important than what he was about to say, like he should choose his words very carefully.

Good thing his brain already picked up on the working braincells that made him coherent. Quiet, but straight to the point in his resolves. The eyes are piercing through Akechi's own when he says the words.)

Wouldn't ever be any other way.

[simulatio]

[He doesn't even hesitate. It's that quiet, steady resolve that drew Akechi to him in the first place, as far back as the TV studio.

A corner of his lip curves up into the barest of smiles.]

Good.

[He sets his hands on the bar and pushes himself to his feet, reaching for his jacket and pulling it on. His mind is racing, heart pounding, but as always, he keeps it from his face through practice and willpower alone.]

The curry was excellent, [he says, as if this were just a normal conversation, and nothing something entirely reality-shifting all on its own. He grabs his briefcase off the nearby chair, for all intents and purposes looking like he's about to leave.]

As for the rest... [he looks back over his shoulder, the smirk and challenge visible in his eyes.] I'll think about it.

[There's no going back.]

[forethinking]

(Akechi is such a pain.

After all this, he still manages to pretend this was such a normal conversation, like he hadn't just put Ren in such a do-or-die position... Not that he minded too much.

The compliment is received with a smile, albeit it's faint from how exhausted this conversation had left him. Promises, deals, expectations, talking. It felt refreshing to be honest with Akechi though, undoubtedly unaware of the web of lies that were presented to him.

For now, he just offers a quiet laugh and a shake of his head. Of course Akechi would leave him waiting - there's no way that's a glance and a mouth of indecision.)

See you, Akechi.