[ch. 6] post-investigation, w/ akechi

[asswipe]

[Haha, is there anyone who isn't dead on the inside after today?

Probably not.

Veronica's approaching Akechi like a normal person a couple hours after the investigation. It looks like she's been crying, but, uh. At least she didn't have a meltdown in front of a glass case?]

... Ion left a letter for you. I couldn't keep it after the investigation, so I— I thought you should know so you can request it after tomorrow's trial.

Comments

[doublecrows]

[yeah, she's. beating him as far as public meltdowns are concerned. Akechi still looks haggard when she finds him, hair completely disheveled and his expression wide and almost wild]

[he attempts to rein some of that in when Veronica approaches. he only marginally succeeds]

A-- . . . letter?

[and some genuine shock cuts through his expression when he hears that]

I can't read it now?

[asswipe]

[she

gives him a one armed shrug.]

It's in a glass case now. If you can read it like that, sure.

[doublecrows]

[. . .]

I-- don't know if I want the contents to be public. [. . .] Did you read it?

[asswipe]

[...]

I did.

[She won't lie about this, at least.]

He was still alive when we found him, so I thought... it could have included something about his killer. I'm sorry, Akechi.

[doublecrows]

[his next response is breathless]

He was-- [. . .]

[there are so many things he wants to ask. what was his condition? what did my letter say? why the fuck didn't you save him--]

[. . .]

Did you know his objective, Veronica-san?

[asswipe]

[Well, it wasn't for a lack of trying. Ion had just bled out enough that they didn't have the luxurie of fetching a healer and getting back to him.]

... It was in one of his letters. He had to die in someone's arms, didn't he?

[doublecrows]

That-- [. . . mmm]

That isn't how I understood it.

He had to die as a result from the injuries he took on while healing someone else.

[asswipe]

[... Huh.

That surprises her enough that she's showing one (1) emotion that isn't complete despair.]

That's... not the objective he wrote down in one of his letters. [???] He said that someone approached him out of their own accord and made their intent clear to him, and— he accepted. He asked that we didn't blame them even though they would come up as guilty according to the Crafters.

[doublecrows]

[. . . .]

Then maybe. . . I misunderstood.

[. . . . . .]

What did my letter say?

[asswipe]

[hm.

a mystery.

either way, veronica sighs.]

He... started off by apologizing about something that happened yesterday, and explained that he was only trying to say goodbye to you. [because, well, ion knew he was going to die.] The rest of the letter was him saying how much he appreciates you, and that, um... he'll support you no matter what. He didn't want you to settle for just surviving.

[doublecrows]

[and for a moment, he just. . . looks extremely pained]

[and then he digs the heel of his palm against his eyes and curses, head ducked]

That. . . fucking fool. . .

[asswipe]

[...]

Akechi, what you said to me about your gift... Are you still planning to go through with that?

[doublecrows]

[there's silence for a moment while Akechi furiously scrubs at his face. he doesn't look up when he answers]

I doubt it'll work on someone already dead.

[asswipe]

[On one hand, she's relieved he won't be sacrificing himself like that. On the other hand...

She sighs.]

For what it's worth... I'm really sorry, Akechi.

[doublecrows]

[goood he hates this. he hates. . . how quickly and deeply he became attached to people, despite the stupid nature of this game]

Why are you sorry? What's done is done. What can we do about it?

[asswipe]

Because your friend died and you're upset, and I don't know what the hell to do to make you feel better even though I want to. That's why I'm sorry.

[She doesn't mean to snap, but. Akechi, please embrace your one (1) feeling. They're all grieving.]

You're a Historian. You know all about the letters that were publicly shown this week. If you want to say "what's done is done" and act like there's nothing we can do for the people who died, fine. But you know better than that. We all do.

[doublecrows]

[they sure are. and because of that, he doesn't argue any further]

[but he does say, because he's a li'l shit who is his own worse enemy, the following]

I wasn't pushing for this "happy ending" because I cared about it.

[Akechi. . .]

It was my job. As a Historian. I was simply completing my duty.

[asswipe]

[... Oh, Akechi.]

Imagine you weren't chosen as a Historian. Your choices, your future, everything — it's up to you to decide what to push for. What would you have done, then?

[doublecrows]

[he'd like to say that he'd do everything the same, but. . .]

I don't know.

[he knows he isn't that kind of person]

i am now dying with added context

[asswipe]

... You should give it some thought.

[She's not going to judge him for not knowing, honestly.]

Following instructions is great and all, but what's the point if you never do anything for yourself?