[Akira] Are you really the cats meow (Let me know if this is okay)

[lightdecrement]

[ This honestly was way more socializing than he's ever done in his entire four years of life. He waits for things to start to calm down after the trial and slips away, intending on heading to to the Italian place to enjoy it one last time before it inevitably goes away.

He halts his mission as soon as he spots that hair. Rubbing the back of his head, before he heads over. ]

All alone and without using any little girls for bodyguards?

[ Guess who shared with their partner? ]

Comments

[lightdecrement]

[ He's not running. Good. ]

And risk getting Erased along side my partner? [ Please. Even if suspicion did fall on him a couple of times during the trial thanks to the force rounds. ]

I do have to admit, I'm not surprised you're being targeted.

[purrtagonist]

[nope. definitely not running. his brows furrow, as he tilts his head at Vanitas in a simple question]

Why?

[lightdecrement]

Ignoring that you were fine with putting my partner in danger...

[ Yeah he's not going to drop that any time soon ]

You were on the right track last trial. And you seem at ease with this whole situation.

[purrtagonist]

[HONESTLY THAT IS PRETTY LEGIT]

Ah. . . with Caren and Chuuya having been Madara and Ranpo's killers, you mean?

Undine, Lenka, Ichigo and I were the only ones who pursued that line of logic. When neither Chuuya nor Caren were voted for, it was natural to think one of them might come after us.

words do not make sense to me any more

[lightdecrement]

They were targeting you specifically. [ And tonight with the amount of votes he got... ]

It's probably far from being over. They might come for you again. So, what are you going to do about it?

words are dumb!!

[purrtagonist]

What am I going to do about it?

[he lifts a hand, adjusting his glasses on his features]

I'm going to survive.

THEY ARE

[lightdecrement]

[ That's an interesting response. ]

Regardless of the cost?

[purrtagonist]

No.

[he shakes his head]

But I don't see it in those kinds of terms, anyway.

[lightdecrement]

Then what terms do you see it in?

[purrtagonist]

I will survive. But not at the cost of anyone else.

Only myself.

[hm. vague. but he doesn't seem interested in elaborating]

[lightdecrement]

[ Brow raise, and then he'll just grin. ]

Then explain my partner's involvement. You know, the girl who is barely five feet tall that's risking her life for you. [ You're both around the same height Vanitas. ]

[purrtagonist]

Aren't you about the same height?

[. . . NOT THE POINT]

She's a magical girl. She can fight, and take care of herself. I don't judge strength based on appearances alone.

[lightdecrement]

[ The hair counts as being taller, right?

He's going to focus on the second thing though. ]

So, you don't regret using her. [ A pause. ] You know, you're nothing like how she describes you.

[purrtagonist]

I didn't "use" her.

[. . . he tilts his head]

How does she describe me?

[lightdecrement]

She thinks you're a good person.

[ Then he's going to wave at all of him. ]

You're good, but not in the way she thinks. You're good at hiding.

[ Just check out Akira being all composed. It's tempting to see exactly how to break it. ]

[purrtagonist]

. . . good person, huh.

[he can try to break it, if he'd like. but Akira's composure is legendary. this game has already tested it, more than once, just by being what it is]

Undine is a good person, but I would never use her. I would never force her into doing something she doesn't want to do.

And as for me? I am good at staying calm. I don't know if I'd say I'm good at hiding.

[lightdecrement]

[ Just going to close the gap and try to grab his shirt/top/whatever are you wearing fluffy-kun. ]

You already did, you idiot. Do you have any idea how much guilt she has on her? How she thought she deserved to be erased? How long did it even take you to become visible after she killed him? Did you wait until after you were sure he was dead?

[ Has he ever shared how much it sucks having a whole heart again? Cause it ducking sucks. ]

[purrtagonist]

[he can do that! Akira doesn't even try to pull away; he even sways slightly with the force of Vanitas's grip]

I know.

[he knows, and that much is obvious in the painfully raw tone suddenly present in his voice. he knows, because he saw how she had reacted afterwards. held her as she cried on Chuuya's corpse]

But I was there for her the entire time. I helped her, when I could.

Because I would never, ever abandon her.

[and that. . . that? that much is sincere]

[lightdecrement]

[ As soon as he hears that raw tone, he drops his hand quickly as if it actually hurts. He doesn't move out of Akira's personal space, but he is stuffing his hands into the pockets of his bun parka.

He watches him a little longer, the distrust evident in his gaze before he sighs. Loudly. ]

You are all stupid.

[ At least it does feel like he is owning up to at least what he did to his partner. ]

I hope you realize, she intends on protecting you from now on.

[purrtagonist]

And I will protect her.

[he isn't denying the part about them being stupid, either. but he is saying that with a certain forcefulness, a certain amount of resolve]

So if that's what you're worried about. . . don't be.

[lightdecrement]

I have to. She's my partner.

[ Don't you have your own already? ]

It's my life on the line and his. [ There's no indication about who he means by his. ] It doesn't help that the whole incident makes it sound like you're a reaper.

[ Undine told him some of the things shouted that night. ]

[purrtagonist]

. . . his?

[HE IS ASKING]

How does it make me sound like a reaper? We all know that reapers aren't the only ones killing people.

[lightdecrement]

Ventus.

[ Because that clears things up totally ]

I don't think a reaper would care if the regular players weren't killing though. He also attacked his friend to get to you. There's got to be something going on there.

[ Something more than his problem sleuthing, fluffy hair, and the mask he wears. ]

[purrtagonist]

Ventus.

[who??]

Iiii'm pretty sure anyone would care if someone was trying to kill them, though. Reaper or not.

[lightdecrement]

[ At least he knows Tera didn't cry to everyone. ]

His life is linked with mine.

[ Maybe people will assume hes the price. ]

But you were hiding. So, why would Chuuya bother? Why would he take out Undine to get to you?

[purrtagonist]

. . . how?

[I'M SORRY HE'S JUST GOING TO KEEP ASKING]

And I told you, didn't I? Chuuya knew that we knew he killed Madara. Even if he got away with it, both Undine and I were liabilities, I guess.