psychedelica | (no subject)

[Akechi is also glad he's still breathing, but truthfully, he doesn't expect to survive the week at all]

[even so, he gives Hikage a bland look, his own expression wrinkled in distaste and annoyance]

Most people are.

[he prefers it that way]

That's not what I meant.

[ the bland look doesn't seem to deter him, and he closes the distance between them, standing a few feet away. ]

I thought you were a bad detective... You're not. You're an excellent actor. I'm almost impressed. If only you'd been able to hold it together at the end, you might have fooled me, too.

[ there's a weird glint of red in his left eye that isn't usually there, or at least not usually noticeable; now, though, it seems impossible to miss. ]

You're smart. That must be why I was interested in you.

[oh]

[that catches Akechi's attention in a way nothing else in this manor has so far, and he finds himself standing up a bit straighter, attention focused]

. . . I'm sorry?

[he isn't sure what to make of this. wasn't Hikage one of the ones trying to catch him the most? the one trying the hardest at trial, examining evidence, seeking out culprits?]

[ he doesn't feel like repeating himself, so he doesn't. ]

I think it would be more interesting if you stayed around. For the time being, I want you to live. Do you want to live, Akechi?

[ he wasn't advocating to vote for ann because he thought akechi might still be innocent. quite the opposite. ]

[holy shit]

[there's silence as Akechi tries to understand what's going on here. everything Hikage is saying now contrasts so starkly with his behavior at trial. is this. . .]

[is Hikage like him? someone with two sides? two faces? two identities?]

[he answers honestly, without looking away]

Yes. I do.

[but he had accepted that he wouldn't, after Ann had outed him]

[ honestly, if he killed Akechi right here, he might be able to get the reward he's longing for. At the same time, he can recall all of the fake "wishes" those two women granted - the scars that Akechi himself had borne earlier this week. He doesn't trust them. For the time being, he'd rather see things burn a little bit more. Tonight had been so wonderful.

(Or does he pity Akechi? Wouldn't it be a waste? The white butterfly struggled, it tore and tarnished its wings until they were pitch black, only to collapse before the gates of paradise without a glimpse of its lover... No, that's not how the story ended...) ]

Tell me your title. And tell me what happened. [ there's a handgun hanging at his side, and he slips it out. At first, he just holds it flat; in a moment, however, he curls his fingers around the handle and points the barrel at Akechi's chest. ] I can protect you at the next trial. I can protect you this week with this, even. But only if you work with me. ... "Give something up to get something," wasn't it?

[ he doesn't look like the same hikage usually present at trials. ]

And don't think you can turn this on me. No one will believe you over Hikage.

[it's funny, how Akechi doesn't feel a goddamn thing, even when Hikage unholsters his weapon and points the barrel right at his chest. it's funny, how he stares down the point of that gun, and his heart is already seizing so violently in his chest from his curse that he can't do anything but stand there. not petrified-- he isn't afraid, he tells himself-- but. . .]

[absolutely captivated]

. . . haha. . .

[so. it was like that. Hikage had everyone fooled, just as Akechi himself had. only he did it way better. and at this point. . . at this point, when he's a walking target, a man on limited time, what does he have to lose by playing along with this?]

[nothing to lose, and everything to gain. desperation is a great motivator]

Why would I want to turn this on you? You're one of the only goddamn people in this place who hasn't labeled me an outcast.

[take the allies you can get. no matter who they are]

I'll tell you. . . but I also want to know your real name, if it isn't Hikage.

[ what a good reaction - yes, it makes him feel alive again, to see this desperation on Akechi's face. He almost remembers being human again. ]

Hahaha. As far as I can tell, it's been almost a hundred years since I died... You think I remember it?

[ it's a strange request. He feels a little dissatisfied that he can't answer it, actually, but only a little; that part of him is nothing but a whisper in the back of his mind at this moment. In any case, he hasn't been lying about his amnesia. It's the real thing. ]

I don't have a name anymore. In the in-between, they called me "master." You'd prefer Hikage, I'm sure.

[aha yeah, that one goes without saying]

Hikage-san it is, then.

[he holds up his hands, palms facing forward in the universal gesture of surrender. his smile is soft, almost pleasant-- the same smile he had worn for his first two weeks here]

I am the Swan Princess. My gift is to take a mortal blow for another person. [lol] And my objective is to receive a heartfelt confession of love from another person.

[l o l]

Your turn, Hikage-san.

[ lol indeed. What kind of weird-ass objective is that?! Hikage raises an eyebrow at him. But he's also fairly certain that Akechi isn't lying about this, because, well... what would be the point? If Akechi doesn't do something soon, someone's going to take justice into their own hands and kill him. And he's sure Akechi knows that just as well as Hikage does. ]

Foolishness. Those two have an odd sense of humor. [ he's sure they're listening now, but he doesn't really care if they know he thinks they're stupid. ] I see now what you were talking about earlier.

[ but he's not quite satisfied with that. He pokes him in the chest with the tip of the gun the way one might prod a stubborn animal, ignoring Akechi's question for the moment. ]

But none of that explains why you would kill someone. Or was that simply for pleasure?

[Akechi rocks back onto his heels with that nudge, still completely unperturbed by the situation in which he finds himself. this is a business negotiation. and while he realizes Hikage has all of the power (a good reputation with the rest of the manor, a weapon pointed at Akechi's heart, his own secrets he has yet to spill), he goes along with it anyway]

I don't kill for pleasure, Hikage-san. Despite what some may think now.

[he may not have any qualms with killing, but he does have standards]

Remember when Evans said she was approached by the Crafters with an offer she couldn't refuse? The same happened to me, and Takamaki.

The Crafters call that role the Blotters, and they'll choose two more people to fulfill it next week. One of those could be you.

[ now that's what he'd been looking for. Hikage's eyes narrow; finally, the pistol drops away from Akechi's chest. ]

It's random, then. Here I was thinking that Tiger or Dragon had their own factions they were pitting against each other... Hmph.

[ it only makes this riddle more difficult to untangle. It makes things more about survival than subterfuge. Hikage wonders how good at that he'll be. ]

Whatever. I'm a gracious host, so I'll grant your wish in return. I'm Cinderella's Prince. My aim is to correctly identify a culprit three times. To that end... I can have any item I desire given to myself or the trial to help me. [ a smile creeps onto his face again. ] Without me, we wouldn't have gotten Ann. It's a pity she dragged you down with her.

[ but whatever. she's dead, he's got another box filled, and life goes on. He takes a step back, gesturing widely with his arms. ]

If you survive the week, I think they'll vote for you during the trial anyway. They'll see it as a safe vote, even if they know you're not the killer that week. People are so capricious... [ Hikage seems to think this is funny, and he laughs a little. He's clearly not all there. ] But if you help me, I could conjure something up that paints you in a better light.

[Akechi drops his arms to his sides, brows shooting up]

So you're the one I have to thank for the shoe mold. [l o l] I suppose, in a way, that means I owe you my life.

[. . . something about him saying that tugs at his gut, twists it into uncomfortable knots. he doesn't like being at someone's mercy like this. he doesn't like owing debts. but again, his instinct to survive wins out over his pride]

If what you say is true, then you're the most powerful ally I could have in this entire manor. [. . .] And, perhaps, if I help you, you could help me with something else in return.

Something unrelated to the target currently painted on my back.

Such as?

[ he doesn't know what could be as pressing - or more pressing - than having more than half of everyone in this mansion turned against him, unless it has something to do with one of his wishes. ]

If you're expecting me to fall in love with you, you're out of luck.

[ that was a joke. ]

[WOW]

Hardly.

[he's taken Eichi, please-- I mean. no he doesn't want gross feelings of love??]

I knew from the very first day I would never meet my objective. That's a non-issue.

You do recall when we discussed the importance of completing objectives, yes?

[ YOU'LL NEVER FIND LOVE WITH THAT ATTITUDE, AKECHI... ]

Of course I do. Get to the point.

[ so there's something Akechi wasn't telling him before, anyway. ]

. . . I have another role in this game. One that I have yet to tell anyone.

[oh snap!!]

It's my job to ensure that as many objectives as possible are completed. To ensure that this game runs smoothly, and according to plan.

This is why I encourage others to chase their objectives, and offer to assist in reaching them as much as I can. For every objective completed that I have a hand in, I receive a reward of my own.

Edited (WORDS ARE HARD) 2018-06-18 02:44 (UTC)

[ hmmmm. ]

And yet they made you a killer.

[ are they playing against each other, or do they just enjoy the chaos? He could understand either way, but he wishes he knew the truth. ]

So? What are you suggesting? It was going to come to this, regardless of your "second role" ... I want to know what you can offer me. I'm not so generous that I'll save you for free. Information? Protection? Loyalty? [ there's a slight sneer, as if the idea is a joke. ]

[he was a killer long before coming to this manor, but you know, lol]

All I want from you-- other than your help in staying alive-- is help in collecting other people's objectives, so that I might do what I can to help fulfill them.

[it's simple!]

In return, I'll assist you in whatever capacity you need. If you decide to commit a murder, I'll help you hide the evidence, and vouch for you at trial. Consider it an all-encompassing IOU. I'll also provide you with any extra information I may obtain about this game as per my "second role."

It isn't loyalty, but it's something better. It's a business transaction.

[ that's about what he was expecting. Not great - but not bad, either. If he had been expecting something he wouldn't like, he wouldn't have even bothered stopping Akechi in the first place. Hikage flashes a grin. ]

How typical. That's fine... If I happen to learn something, I'll share it with you. I know a few other people's titles and gifts, but only my own objective.

[ he pauses; then, he flips the gun around in his hand. This time, when he points it towards Akechi, it's with the handle, not the barrel. ]

I'll let you borrow this for a week. You can give it back to me after the next execution. [ whether he's alive or not. ] If someone tries to kill you, simply kill them first. You know how to use this, don't you?

[. . . . . . oh. Akechi's mouth curves into a smile as he closes his fingers around the handle of the weapon. very nice]

A show of good will, is it? Of course I know how to use this.

[and then he lifts the weapon up, pointing the barrel at Hikage's head, right between his eyes]

It's far more useful than poison, or even a dagger.

[ frankly, he was expecting this; he doesn't look worried, and barely even flinches. ]

That's right. It's easier to use, and safer, too. You even have a silencer.

[ a pause. he tilts his head just slightly. ]

Shoot me here, and you'll die tomorrow. I can guarantee that.

[for a moment, there's nothing but silence]

[. . . and then Akechi lowers the gun, clicking the safety into place before he tucks it into his blazer]

I'd be a fool to kill a new ally.

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secret spoiler icons i won't upload yet JUST FOR YOU

omg I FEEL SO SPECIAL

<3

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