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There are plenty of people that feel that way. An entire movement.
[As for Eren himself, though...]
Both sides are the same. I came to realize that too. My actions weren't meant to be just. They were a means to an end. To say I stooped to their level...
You'd be right about that.
[As for Eren himself, though...]
Both sides are the same. I came to realize that too. My actions weren't meant to be just. They were a means to an end. To say I stooped to their level...
You'd be right about that.
Why would I be? Ordering around some inexperienced people with my own minimal background isn't an effective use of time. Most people operated how they should have. I wonder what value a recently awakened ex-counselor had to them - it's fascinating.
[Eren's quiet - doing what? Akechi doesn't care. Sort through those swiss cheese thoughts on your own time.
It's so annoying. Not even the duck gets a reaction anymore.]
But I suppose you were a figurehead anyway, almost like a politician. No harm was done.
[Eren's quiet - doing what? Akechi doesn't care. Sort through those swiss cheese thoughts on your own time.
It's so annoying. Not even the duck gets a reaction anymore.]
But I suppose you were a figurehead anyway, almost like a politician. No harm was done.
Does it matter?
[It tumbles out of his lips before he can stop it. The warmth of a bath, the knowledge of shared rot between them. It slips, for a second. For a minute.]
When left with no other option, no other path, with a world on your shoulders - what good does it do to be the bigger person?
[The water laps at his lips and cheeks, submerged and staying that way. Eyes fixated on water between them, on Eren's face reflected in it. Voice light despite the topic.]
It's a thought exercise of sorts - of course, no outcome was ideal. The world would have ended to another's hand if not yours.
[A pause - strands of wet hair pushed behind his ear.]
It's almost a mercy for you to take burden.
[It tumbles out of his lips before he can stop it. The warmth of a bath, the knowledge of shared rot between them. It slips, for a second. For a minute.]
When left with no other option, no other path, with a world on your shoulders - what good does it do to be the bigger person?
[The water laps at his lips and cheeks, submerged and staying that way. Eyes fixated on water between them, on Eren's face reflected in it. Voice light despite the topic.]
It's a thought exercise of sorts - of course, no outcome was ideal. The world would have ended to another's hand if not yours.
[A pause - strands of wet hair pushed behind his ear.]
It's almost a mercy for you to take burden.
[Eren tries not to let what Akechi says get to him - not in the way that makes him angry, and not in the way that makes him feel...whatever it is when Akechi calls his actions a mercy.
[He doesn't flinch, but he feels like he has. He watches Akechi over the water. Sometimes it's impossible to tell whether or not he's being genuine. Eren wonders, though...]
Is that really how you feel?
[He doesn't flinch, but he feels like he has. He watches Akechi over the water. Sometimes it's impossible to tell whether or not he's being genuine. Eren wonders, though...]
Is that really how you feel?
[They don't deserve mercy - no one does. A world razed deserves it. It doesn't matter who starts it or whose arm raises to deal the killing blow. Everyone in society has a hand in ruining it. Everything that follows is deserved.]
I have no opinion on the matter, truly. It's beyond my scope and my opinion is irrelevant as an outsider. I'm only speaking in hypotheticals.
I have no opinion on the matter, truly. It's beyond my scope and my opinion is irrelevant as an outsider. I'm only speaking in hypotheticals.
[ Thorfinn notices there's some difference in Eren. He chalks it up to four years passing, to war. He knows how war can change things.
(He has no idea what happened to Eren, how off he is.) ]
I know legs grow! Whatever. In four years I'll be taller than you anyway.
[ He sounds like a petulant child about it. He's longed to be tall like his father, refusing to accept that he can't be. But ultimately it's a deflection from everything else, from Eren's disappearance, from his reappearance and his changed demeanour. ]
(He has no idea what happened to Eren, how off he is.) ]
I know legs grow! Whatever. In four years I'll be taller than you anyway.
[ He sounds like a petulant child about it. He's longed to be tall like his father, refusing to accept that he can't be. But ultimately it's a deflection from everything else, from Eren's disappearance, from his reappearance and his changed demeanour. ]
[A mercy. A burden, yes, but a mercy? He tries to imagine it being placed in someone else's hands - Mikasa, Armin, Jean...
[And he knows that weight. It hung around his neck until his head came off his shoulders. He's quiet for too long. He doesn't look cold; some pain bleeds in his eyes, staring ahead, away from Akechi, searching for something unseen.]
The people on Paradis Island were considered devils. Dangerous. Savage. Less than human.
Killing me made the Scout Regiment heroes. It should protect them for a long time.
[Is that the same thing as mercy?]
To say that I did it so they wouldn't have to, though...
[Another long pause. His brow pinches. He sinks deeper into the water.]
I don't know.
[And he knows that weight. It hung around his neck until his head came off his shoulders. He's quiet for too long. He doesn't look cold; some pain bleeds in his eyes, staring ahead, away from Akechi, searching for something unseen.]
The people on Paradis Island were considered devils. Dangerous. Savage. Less than human.
Killing me made the Scout Regiment heroes. It should protect them for a long time.
[Is that the same thing as mercy?]
To say that I did it so they wouldn't have to, though...
[Another long pause. His brow pinches. He sinks deeper into the water.]
I don't know.
[ AlMoSt LiKe A pOlItIcIaN. God, shut up.
Akechi gets one (1) sour look from Maruki for that comment before he turns his attention to eren, nudges the bowl of senbei toward him. ]
That's code for "yes, I'm horribly annoyed, actually." But I assume you're as fluent in Akechi as I am by this point.
Akechi gets one (1) sour look from Maruki for that comment before he turns his attention to eren, nudges the bowl of senbei toward him. ]
That's code for "yes, I'm horribly annoyed, actually." But I assume you're as fluent in Akechi as I am by this point.
Sure...[Not said teasingly, really - idly, more so. His eyes begin to wander, distant. There's more to be done now - ever more to be done.]
Thorfinn...
[He turns back to face the man.]
I'll have to go for a while. I'll see you later, won't I?
Thorfinn...
[He turns back to face the man.]
I'll have to go for a while. I'll see you later, won't I?
[Senbei. He takes one.]
I think he'd rather that not be true. [Senbei time.]
I think he'd rather that not be true. [Senbei time.]
Ah, of course you are. I'm sorry for implying otherwise.
[ Sweet, innocent lil senbei munch. ]
Do you want to explain your new tattoo, then?
[ OH, YOU THOUGHT HE DIDN'T NOTICE? There's a II inked on Akechi's finger, and Maruki's seen that shit in the early mornings when he's gloveless. ]
[ Sweet, innocent lil senbei munch. ]
Do you want to explain your new tattoo, then?
[ OH, YOU THOUGHT HE DIDN'T NOTICE? There's a II inked on Akechi's finger, and Maruki's seen that shit in the early mornings when he's gloveless. ]
I will be. [Quiet; tired, maybe. He turns back to Thorfinn and takes his hand - fiddles with the fingers.
[He leans in to take a kiss - seems to remember halfway through what kissing someone he loves feels like, then takes Thorfinn's face in both of his hands and deepens that kiss.
[Eren's love never dies, never diminishes. It only grows more terrible.
[When they break:]
Tonight, then.
[He leans in to take a kiss - seems to remember halfway through what kissing someone he loves feels like, then takes Thorfinn's face in both of his hands and deepens that kiss.
[Eren's love never dies, never diminishes. It only grows more terrible.
[When they break:]
Tonight, then.
Edited 2024-11-01 22:14 (UTC)
If they benefited, it doesn't matter if your intent was to help them. You did, in the end.
[The world itself is impossible for Akechi to grasp. The lives of all are meant to live in misery and what can be done for a reality where every single being is seen as an ant.
Akechi doesn't give a shit about ants.
Eren isn't an ant.]
Good intentions can't save the world. Bad intentions don't always doom it. If both actions end up helping - what does the origin matter?
[And that's all there is to it, really. A detective prince ready to raze the world. A god dooming it in a different way.]
But I think this discussion has given us enough to think about for one day.
[The world itself is impossible for Akechi to grasp. The lives of all are meant to live in misery and what can be done for a reality where every single being is seen as an ant.
Akechi doesn't give a shit about ants.
Eren isn't an ant.]
Good intentions can't save the world. Bad intentions don't always doom it. If both actions end up helping - what does the origin matter?
[And that's all there is to it, really. A detective prince ready to raze the world. A god dooming it in a different way.]
But I think this discussion has given us enough to think about for one day.
That's it, then?
[Eren's eyes are on Akechi - ever on Akechi. There's almost something to them. What he feels is that odd fondness that exists only for one person - this person.
[Grief, rage, even hatred, but still...]
I'm not ready to leave you yet.
[Eren's eyes are on Akechi - ever on Akechi. There's almost something to them. What he feels is that odd fondness that exists only for one person - this person.
[Grief, rage, even hatred, but still...]
I'm not ready to leave you yet.
[Eren saw that in the bathhouse as well.]
Oh yeah. I forgot to ask about that.
Oh yeah. I forgot to ask about that.
[Eren is odd.
Akechi feels a gaze on him again and-
Watches him from the reflection in the water, raises his head to match and-]
Neither am I.
[Not for a long time.]
Maruki-san made a meal yesterday I think you would enjoy - there are leftovers if you come over tomorrow.
[And for the remainder of the their time in the bath, he speaks - sparse and lighthearted. Topics easy to navigate and answer.
Stays there, until they're both ready to go home.]
Akechi feels a gaze on him again and-
Watches him from the reflection in the water, raises his head to match and-]
Neither am I.
[Not for a long time.]
Maruki-san made a meal yesterday I think you would enjoy - there are leftovers if you come over tomorrow.
[And for the remainder of the their time in the bath, he speaks - sparse and lighthearted. Topics easy to navigate and answer.
Stays there, until they're both ready to go home.]
[Words tumble out immediately, in a voice too high pitched to be natural, an expression smoothed over and feigned.
He is so goddamn fucking `STATIC` over it.]
A disgusting pest bit me. It's a temporary mark from that, and will go away on its own. It's not a tattoo.
He is so goddamn fucking `STATIC` over it.]
A disgusting pest bit me. It's a temporary mark from that, and will go away on its own. It's not a tattoo.
[ It tends to roll with swine.
Maruki pauses. Stares at Akechi, silent, calculating.
Then turns to Eren. His voice is flat with exhaustion. ]
BB bit him, then. Hopefully in her rabbit form.
[ Hopefully, but probably not!!!
Cool. He hates it. He's getting up to make more tea. Bye, freaks. ]
Maruki pauses. Stares at Akechi, silent, calculating.
Then turns to Eren. His voice is flat with exhaustion. ]
BB bit him, then. Hopefully in her rabbit form.
[ Hopefully, but probably not!!!
Cool. He hates it. He's getting up to make more tea. Bye, freaks. ]
She bit you? What was the purpose of that?
[Unless. You know.
[Which he hates.]
[Unless. You know.
[Which he hates.]
[Some shit about authorities and marking him and wow she sure did do the most fucking sexual act possible on his finger and he was literally just guy standing there he was having such a nice day everyone was having such a nice day the garden was so quiet and he remembers thinking something was about to pop off and then she just appears to fucking stick his goddamn finger into her mouth, stop time and ohhhh of course she can stop time ooohhhh godlike ai stops time ohhhh little pathetic palace ruler stops time oohhhhhhh]
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