PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS - AKIRA

[menially]

Comments

[menially]

[That's




...

...

Cold, careful:]

Why did he volunteer?

[survivaltricks]

[boy that tone makes Akira think Guy already knows the answer]

He insisted it was because he had died back home.

[menially]

[Of course. Of course it was.

He immediately swears under his breath.]

That idiot.

...

Is that all?

[survivaltricks]

[yeah. yeah]

[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.

[menially]

[hahahahahHAHA wow no this is why he wanted a yes or no because guess who can't hide the visible flicker of rage on his face

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.

[survivaltricks]

[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.

[menially]

[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.

[survivaltricks]

[more like "salty about dead people wanting to go back to being dead" club. THANK GOD HE CONVINCED AKECHI OTHERWISE]

[sets his jaw tightly]

Maybe he'll finally learn something here. Maybe-- [a pause] Maybe you can get through to him yourself.

[menially]

Who knows. He's never been one to listen well, regardless.

[...]

Thanks. You didn't have to tell me all of that. [But it definitely puts some things in perspective.]

[survivaltricks]

If you knew him from before, then it's not something to keep a secret.

[because ASCH IS STUPID]

. . . but don't tell him I told you or he might throw salt at me again.

[menially]

[Salt??? What???

He can't help but snort out a laugh, humorless.]

Yeah, I get that. Don't worry. If he and I talk about it, it's on me to own up for it, not you. I'm the one who asked.

[survivaltricks]

[don't ask]

Thanks.

[a beat]

Also wow, this is not at all what I expected us to talk about.

[menially]

No kidding. [pff]

While we're opening up the floor, any deep, dark secrets you want me to secretly trip over?

[survivaltricks]

[omg. at that his lips twitch and he huffs an amused noise. a sort of half-laugh]

I drink my coffee completely black. No cream, no sugar.

Does that count?

[menially]

Your brutal honesty is a lesson for us all. [Nah, but he can take the hint.]

Tell me about some of that life of crime, then. I'll warn you, I reserve every right to judge you if it involves your coffee addiction.

[survivaltricks]

[oh]

[opens mouth. closes it again. sweats. he's been a bit more loose-lipped about it here, but. . .]

What if it does?

[a beat]

Kidding.

I'm a Phantom Thief.

[menially]

[Thankfully, he seems to be taking this pretty casually.]

Phantom, huh.

You mean like the monsters, or something else?

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

You know, Phantom Thieves? Thieves who steal things in the flashiest manner they can?

Like Arsene Lupin? [a beat] You've never heard of the phrase?

[menially]

Ah, so like the Dark Wings.

You're from Japan, Akira. I'm from Malkuth. It might be best to assume I know absolutely nothing.

[survivaltricks]

[a soft snort]

Fair enough.

That's what I am, though. A Phantom Thief. Though I don't steal material possessions.

I steal hearts.

[menially]

[




okay that's probably not what he means, but]

I mean... where I'm from, we just call that a really lucky guy.

[survivaltricks]

[that is exactly how he knew Guy would take it, so. just grinning]

I steal corrupted hearts. Distorted hearts.

The hearts of those who commit crimes beyond the law's ability to punish.

[menially]

[Sometimes you just can't help yourself in the right company, okay]

So, it's more a sort of fighter for justice. A vigilante, maybe.

How do you go determining who's done right or wrong? That's pretty subjective depending on the circumstance, isn't it?

[survivaltricks]

Exactly.

[it's okay Akira appreciates Guy's jokes]

And you're not wrong about that. My group and I-- because I don't work alone-- we keep ourselves just by only targeting those we unanimously feel need a change of heart.

. . . and we have only targeted known criminals. A teacher who sexually abused his students. An artist who abused his pupils and stole their artwork. A mafia leader who blackmailed teenagers into smuggling drugs for him.

A corrupt politician who murdered his way to the position of Prime Minister.

[menially]

[Ah, corrupted politics. What a topic.]

A popular criminal is one thing, sure. But what made you guys thing that each of them deserved a "change of heart", rather than being punished for the character flaws and choices that led them to those positions?

I'm not saying that people like that don't deserve the opportunity to change. But if they were in such a position that the law couldn't touch them, I guess I just want to understand the reasoning behind your choice.