[and Akira is quiet as he listens. most of these names are not at all familiar to him, but he doesn't need to know the people involved to understand the gist of what happened. he was offered the chance to protect two friends from home in exchange for two other lives. . . and he took it]
[. . .]
[Akira thinks back to Chuuya, who killed Four for Ayabe's sake during the week their loved ones were threatened. he thinks back to Babo Kim, who killed Meltryllis when he found out she was the only monster who got away]
[he thinks back to Akechi, who had killed countless other people-- including the parents of his friends-- for reasons far more selfish than any of those listed so far]
[. . .]
[a deep. . . long exhale]
Was it worth it? To you. To. . . cross that line to protect your friends?
[yeah. . . Akira hadn't exactly expected a response, so he doesn't look too upset that he doesn't get one. his expression finally cracks though, mouth twitching]
"I don't think I would repeat it" is enough.
[because his next question would have been. . . would you do the same thing here?]
[. . .]
Anyway. . . thanks for sharing. [he doesn't really think Guy needs a lecture on how MURDER IS BAD, sooooo he won't even go there] You could have kept that all to yourself and I wouldn't have known any better.
The girl who took my place made me promise to be honest about what happened, were I to somehow survive the execution. If I had known what she was doing...
...
Her blood's on my hands, though, just like the others. I'd be an absolute idiot to ignore that. To forget them, to forget what I've done, or to not keep myself alive now... that's just saying they all died for nothing.
[There's a sharp exhale, a laugh that didn't quite materialize, the smile on his face not even close to reaching his eyes.]
I appreciate it. Can't really tell you how many I've been raked over the coals in the last couple weeks.
It would make me a pretty bad hypocrite, anyway. I've told the same thing to Luke tons of times, but when it comes down to it...
[...]
Akira, I think it goes without saying, but I'd prefer if this didn't get spread around. I'm not about to police Yu or Majima, and if other people find out, I'll tell them. But right now, as far as I'm aware, only one other person really knows besides you. I've already got a big enough target on my back.
[so, y'know.]
That said, if something happens and you think this is worth spilling, then I won't blame you.
[He'll nod, more than eager to get this conversation moving ] He's one of the seven God-Generals for the Oracle Knights, so most people on Auldrant have at least heard of him. To see him here is definitely a surprise.
[Akira has no idea who the fuck the God-Generals or the Oracle Knights are, but. . . at the question about Asch being in the mansion, a flash of guilt appears on his expression]
If you've got to actually ask something like that, then that answers my question.
...
We're familiar with each other. He's not exactly the type to air out his relationships, though, and I know his temper well enough that I'm not about to do that for him.
[He considers it seriously for a minute, mulling over what Asch has already told him, what he's picked up on.
...]
Ideally? Yeah, I would. But his pride's one of those things that Asch will protect to his last breath, even if he has to rip everyone around him to pieces in the process. If something's happened, then I doubt he's going to share anything at all to anyone.
...
I don't need details. Just a yes or no.
Did someone kill him? Or did he kill someone else?
[he did, but honestly? he's kind of glad for it. he wasn't close to Asch, but he remembers the conversation they had while Asch awaited execution. he remembers being so angry himself that Asch would volunteer himself, think of himself as expendable, willingly throw away his second chance--]
[a sharp exhale. his own expression darkens again, because. . . well. doesn't he have his own Asch too, in a way?]
He's a moron.
[Akira says sharply]
Multiple people-- including myself-- tried to tell him to value himself more.
. . . but you said it yourself, right? He's stubborn and full of pride. I feel like it'd take a lot more than us telling him to value himself to get the message through his thick skull.
[hooray, another member of the "salty about asch" club]
He has his reasons. [stupid as they might be.] People can tell him whatever they want, but he has a choice he has to make about himself before any of those well wishes will go anywhere but straight through his ears. If he can't believe it, then why bother listening?
[Stupid, stupid kid.
...
He lets out another long breath, trying to relax his posture, as though the breach in his temper was unintentional.]
Sorry. I wish I could say he's been any different, but none of this is a damn surprise.
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[. . .]
[Akira thinks back to Chuuya, who killed Four for Ayabe's sake during the week their loved ones were threatened. he thinks back to Babo Kim, who killed Meltryllis when he found out she was the only monster who got away]
[he thinks back to Akechi, who had killed countless other people-- including the parents of his friends-- for reasons far more selfish than any of those listed so far]
[. . .]
[a deep. . . long exhale]
Was it worth it? To you. To. . . cross that line to protect your friends?
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I don't think I would repeat it, knowing how it turned out. Doesn't matter very much right now, though.
Anyway. Was there anything else you wanted to ask?
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"I don't think I would repeat it" is enough.
[because his next question would have been. . . would you do the same thing here?]
[. . .]
Anyway. . . thanks for sharing. [he doesn't really think Guy needs a lecture on how MURDER IS BAD, sooooo he won't even go there] You could have kept that all to yourself and I wouldn't have known any better.
I think that, in and of itself, takes guts.
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Yeah, well.
The girl who took my place made me promise to be honest about what happened, were I to somehow survive the execution. If I had known what she was doing...
...
Her blood's on my hands, though, just like the others. I'd be an absolute idiot to ignore that. To forget them, to forget what I've done, or to not keep myself alive now... that's just saying they all died for nothing.
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Mmm. I agree.
[Akira isn't one to mince words, so. . .]
You've got a chance to things right this time around, too. A chance to makeup for the mistakes that you've made.
That's part of moving forward. Carrying those mistakes with you, learning from them, and being a better person.
[another breathless laugh]
. . . but I'm sure you already knew that. You don't need a lecture from me.
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I appreciate it. Can't really tell you how many I've been raked over the coals in the last couple weeks.
It would make me a pretty bad hypocrite, anyway. I've told the same thing to Luke tons of times, but when it comes down to it...
[...]
Akira, I think it goes without saying, but I'd prefer if this didn't get spread around. I'm not about to police Yu or Majima, and if other people find out, I'll tell them. But right now, as far as I'm aware, only one other person really knows besides you. I've already got a big enough target on my back.
[so, y'know.]
That said, if something happens and you think this is worth spilling, then I won't blame you.
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[he might've, had Guy lied about it or if he thought Guy was dangerous, but. . . somehow? he doesn't think he is]
[. . .]
[(a tiny part of him hopes that doesn't come back to bite him later)]
It goes without saying that I'm hoping this place doesn't devolve into killing games like the other places have. But if it does?
I don't want to be the one to put a target on someone's back. If you're not going to hurt anyone. . . then I have no reason to tell anyone else.
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[Like a flip of a switch, that light tone comes right back, far more comfortable.]
Pretty sure Asch would come strangle me if I started doing anything even remotely fishy, anyway.
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[well, there isn't much more to say on the topic, is there? so when Guy mentions Asch, he moves on with the conversation]
Asch, huh? Do you know him?
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He was in the mansion with you, right?
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Yeah. He was.
[a pause]
Did he tell you about what happened there?
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Not in any detail. It was pretty much a repeat of what you told me earlier.
...
Why? Did something else happen?
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[SWEATS NERVOUSLY. DOES HE DOXX ASCH OR DOES HE NOT???]
. . . are you two close?
[he asks, but there's hesitation in his tone, like. he isn't sure if he should go any further than that]
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His mouth thins, before he lets out a sigh.]
If you've got to actually ask something like that, then that answers my question.
...
We're familiar with each other. He's not exactly the type to air out his relationships, though, and I know his temper well enough that I'm not about to do that for him.
Sorry.
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No. I understand. I wasn't close to him, but I knew him well enough to understand what kind of person he was.
[A CRANKY BUTTHEAD WITH A HEART OF GOLD]
I can tell you what happened, but-- would you rather hear it from him?
no subject
...]
Ideally? Yeah, I would. But his pride's one of those things that Asch will protect to his last breath, even if he has to rip everyone around him to pieces in the process. If something's happened, then I doubt he's going to share anything at all to anyone.
...
I don't need details. Just a yes or no.
Did someone kill him? Or did he kill someone else?
no subject
He was injured while trying to protect someone else from being killed by one of the monsters. He lost an arm in the process.
[. . .]
We weren't able to identify the monster within the trial's time limit, so. . . he volunteered to be executed instead.
He was killed the next day.
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...
...
Cold, careful:]
Why did he volunteer?
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He insisted it was because he had died back home.
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He immediately swears under his breath.]
That idiot.
...
Is that all?
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[JUST SIGHS]
This next part I didn't see, but someone said he gave a grand speech about returning home to his fate right as we were all leaving.
So he's probably feeling pretty stupid that he wound up here instead.
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you brought this on yourself akira]
He had better feel stupid. That he went through all that and still decided he was better off going back--
[He scowls, hand gripling tightly against the hilt of his sword, the leather cracking audibly under the effort.]
The bastard never learns anything.
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[a sharp exhale. his own expression darkens again, because. . . well. doesn't he have his own Asch too, in a way?]
He's a moron.
[Akira says sharply]
Multiple people-- including myself-- tried to tell him to value himself more.
. . . but you said it yourself, right? He's stubborn and full of pride. I feel like it'd take a lot more than us telling him to value himself to get the message through his thick skull.
no subject
He has his reasons. [stupid as they might be.] People can tell him whatever they want, but he has a choice he has to make about himself before any of those well wishes will go anywhere but straight through his ears. If he can't believe it, then why bother listening?
[Stupid, stupid kid.
...
He lets out another long breath, trying to relax his posture, as though the breach in his temper was unintentional.]
Sorry. I wish I could say he's been any different, but none of this is a damn surprise.
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[sets his jaw tightly]
Maybe he'll finally learn something here. Maybe-- [a pause] Maybe you can get through to him yourself.
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