I'm not unhappy. I'm pleased. We both got what we wanted, didn't we? You, a grave. Myself, a favor to a friend granted. What else could I possibly want?
[Oh, his hackles are up. Bristling, despite the smile plastered.]
You've been gone for some time, so I'll let it go this once and offer you a reminder - don't misconstrue my feelings as you often did in your youth.
I'm not sure what it is you want. I might have believed that, actually. You gave me exactly what I wanted. It's beautiful too. You could have just been doing that for a friend.
[Eren steps up closer to Akechi. He can see the moon's glow in the other man's eyes, unblinking.]
But you are unhappy. I can tell. You have that look in your eye again. Like you want to rip me apart.
I never want that. You often interpret my expression in odd ways.
[He could reach up -
and wrap his fingers around Eren's throat again. A bloom of purple would appear, and vanish, with every gasp.
It would be easy. Eren wouldn't bat an eye. A flutter of lashes to stay conscious, and he would, because he's doomed to die another way.]
I just find it interesting that you accept it so easily. A grave given by another in a temporary world filled with people who will come and go in an instant. By the time we walk down this hill, there may be no one left that remembers 'Eren' or his lost mother.
[The grave isn't for his mother.]
So what's the point of this? Why create a memorial when you're a barely a blip on the radar of the majority here? I would have thought four years would've changed your mind over the matter.
You're right about that. [Easy, casual, almost bored-sounding. He scratches a bit at the back of his ear.] It really doesn't make much sense.
I did ask for it though. [He lowers his hand.]
Graves anywhere work the same way, don't they? Eventually, everyone who was there for the burial ends up buried themselves. A grave simply becomes a place dedicated to something that no longer exists.
[Every lazy movement is another notch on an ever increasing list of irritants. Akechi can't place why - doesn't care to figure it out. Eren deserves it. From his disappearance, to arrival, to this.
To being at his home, constantly. Always. Present and there, even if Akechi rarely acknowledges his existence beyond the typical niceties required.]
True. Your name, life, everything you strived for will be completely meaningless. In fact-
[Feigned smile, hand on his hip.]
If you decide to have a tantrum on this world and turn it to a sea of blood too, it'll be buried under the weight of all here. Some who never knew they earned your ire, coating a grave meant for their killer.
I don't have one. Sometimes I enjoy speaking and seeing what other thoughts are for that sake alone. Not every matter requires a solution or answer. You were always someone simple to speak with, so I wanted to do so again.
[Provoking Eren used to be so goddamn easy to the point of annoyance. Akechi could blink, and that boy would bite.
This apathy is a different barrier to contend with.]
Is there anything that would make you want to turn this reality into a mirror image of your own? Without the source of your ire here, I can imagine not, so it's a hypothetical scenario. A small thought exercise. I'm fascinated by the nature of it all - what would make a person shun all the bonds they've formed for such a sordid purpose? What causes someone to snap? Or perhaps you're a one hit wonder, as it were.
As of right now, there's no reason to do anything like I did in my true reality. Aside from that, I don't currently have the means.
[He won't say that the circumstances don't call for it, or that it's impossible. He'll do what's necessary no matter what the circumstances are, and things can turn in this place on a dime.]
There's collateral in every war. I understand that too.
My concern is what it's always been. My people will remain safe. As for what may happen to anyone else when we take control of things, I could care less.
He answers, as always. Akechi listens, and notes it.
What a horrible man Eren turned out to be.]
It does. Thank you for indulging me.
[And with that, he looks to a town he's never hated more, up to the starry sky that's calming more times than it's not, and back to a man that oscillates between both.]
That's all I wanted to discuss with you. You're welcome to take your leave. I'll see you for our jog later.
[Mercifully enough, Eren doesn't take a seat beside Akechi. He stands with his hands shoved into the pocket of his coat, his eyes cast out over the slope of the hill, the town below. He won't speak again until Akechi does. They may talk about idle things. They do on occasion. Or they may remain silent until it's time to trace their way back to the beginning of their route. Sometimes Eren is surprised that Akechi still shows up every morning...]
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no subject
You're unhappy? Why?
no subject
[Oh, his hackles are up. Bristling, despite the smile plastered.]
You've been gone for some time, so I'll let it go this once and offer you a reminder - don't misconstrue my feelings as you often did in your youth.
no subject
I'm not sure what it is you want. I might have believed that, actually. You gave me exactly what I wanted. It's beautiful too. You could have just been doing that for a friend.
[Eren steps up closer to Akechi. He can see the moon's glow in the other man's eyes, unblinking.]
But you are unhappy. I can tell. You have that look in your eye again. Like you want to rip me apart.
Well. Look at where we're standing.
cw: VIOLENT THOUGHTS
[He could reach up -
and wrap his fingers around Eren's throat again. A bloom of purple would appear, and vanish, with every gasp.
It would be easy. Eren wouldn't bat an eye. A flutter of lashes to stay conscious, and he would, because he's doomed to die another way.]I just find it interesting that you accept it so easily. A grave given by another in a temporary world filled with people who will come and go in an instant. By the time we walk down this hill, there may be no one left that remembers 'Eren' or his lost mother.
[The grave isn't for his mother.]
So what's the point of this? Why create a memorial when you're a barely a blip on the radar of the majority here? I would have thought four years would've changed your mind over the matter.
no subject
I did ask for it though. [He lowers his hand.]
Graves anywhere work the same way, don't they? Eventually, everyone who was there for the burial ends up buried themselves. A grave simply becomes a place dedicated to something that no longer exists.
no subject
To being at his home, constantly. Always. Present and there, even if Akechi rarely acknowledges his existence beyond the typical niceties required.]
True. Your name, life, everything you strived for will be completely meaningless. In fact-
[Feigned smile, hand on his hip.]
If you decide to have a tantrum on this world and turn it to a sea of blood too, it'll be buried under the weight of all here. Some who never knew they earned your ire, coating a grave meant for their killer.
I find things like that fascinating, don't you?
no subject
You're probably used to me getting upset about that sort of thing, aren't you?
Not so much anymore.
You're right. If I decided to wipe this world clean like I did my own, this grave will be a marker of destruction at its best.
What's your point?
no subject
[Provoking Eren used to be so goddamn easy to the point of annoyance. Akechi could blink, and that boy would bite.
This apathy is a different barrier to contend with.]
Is there anything that would make you want to turn this reality into a mirror image of your own? Without the source of your ire here, I can imagine not, so it's a hypothetical scenario. A small thought exercise. I'm fascinated by the nature of it all - what would make a person shun all the bonds they've formed for such a sordid purpose? What causes someone to snap? Or perhaps you're a one hit wonder, as it were.
no subject
As of right now, there's no reason to do anything like I did in my true reality. Aside from that, I don't currently have the means.
[He won't say that the circumstances don't call for it, or that it's impossible. He'll do what's necessary no matter what the circumstances are, and things can turn in this place on a dime.]
There's collateral in every war. I understand that too.
My concern is what it's always been. My people will remain safe. As for what may happen to anyone else when we take control of things, I could care less.
Does that answer your question?
no subject
He answers, as always. Akechi listens, and notes it.
What a horrible man Eren turned out to be.]
It does. Thank you for indulging me.
[And with that, he looks to a town he's never hated more, up to the starry sky that's calming more times than it's not, and back to a man that oscillates between both.]
That's all I wanted to discuss with you. You're welcome to take your leave. I'll see you for our jog later.
no subject
[Eren's hands are in his pockets. He scans the same space.]
We'll see each other soon either way. Let's just stay here a while.
no subject
[Eren is a free man and-
Akechi goes to sit on that makeshift bench, one leg looping over the other, hands folded neatly on his crossed knees.]
By all means stay and enjoy the view.
[He's so annoyed.]
jesus I didn't realize this thread was so long lmao WRAPTTT