[ he takes the coffee, and frowns at it. the frown only gets deeper when he's told exactly where nia was killed. ]
...
Right. [ Only just a little further from where they'd all slept. ] And then he got a fit of guilt and tucked her body in bed like she was sleeping. Nice of her.
If we're filtering shit through a bunch of secrets and half-truths, something'll get missed and we'll fuck up again.
[ His voice is firm. He sounds annoyed, but it's... well. At everything. A lot of things. He's got this uncomfortable guilt in his chest over all of it, and it keeps putting him on edge. ]
We don't understand what happened the first time around, and we'll be fumbling around until we do.
[another exhale. Ash isn't the only one dealing with guilt. . . Akira has been mulling over his poor vote ever since he found out Meltryllis was the killer. Ash might be able to feel a flicker of it, a weak brush of guilt that mingles with his own]
[Akira has yet to notice]
But I can't break my promises. Just. . . trust me when I say they're trustworthy.
I don't think they understand anything better than the rest of us do, even after voting correctly in all three categories.
[ if there's a flicker of guilt coming through, then akira might just feel... well, fainter than expected. But it's just this mess of anger and guilt all spiralled together. some of it's fresh, some of it's old but it's a mess. Faint, but it snaps out like it's trying to lash out. ]
That's still one step ahead than what I managed. And I managed to sleep through my roommate getting murdered and then tucked back up in bed, in the damn room I was in.
... photography guy. Because I didn't know. [ ... ] How's that for a vote that counts? I couldn't even work out who killed Snowbunny, and if I'd switched at the last minute and gone with the flow, things could've been way different.
[ Look at this guilt spiral. ]
...
We've just gotta get it right next time. If there is one. And any time afterwards. Maybe get our shit together more.
[a deep breath in, a sharp breath out, and Akira lifts his gaze to meet Ash. his gaze is fiery]
Yeah.
[Ash is right. they just need to get it right next time-- if there is a next time. he hopes there isn't a next time. they need to fight to make sure there isn't]
Getting it wrong doesn't mean we need to give up now.
If I gave up every time shit went bad, I'd have given up years ago. [ He finally takes a sip of his drink, taking a moment to pause. The anger is still there, and the prickles of guilt, but...
Being the underdog isn't new to him. ]
It'd be good if we could catch her-- Knifelegs -- and whoever might come next in one go. Set it back to ground zero.
[the prickles of guilt are met with empathy. understanding. someone has been beating himself up about this all week. he reaches out to try and smooth them over]
You're still determined to catch them at the trial?
[ oh. yeah that’s a weird feeling. it’s not like ash isn’t used to feeling things intensely — usually anger — but something trying to soothe it? it’s weird. a little invasive and makes him feel vulnerable. but it does seem to work? somewhat! ]
Worth a try. It’s majority rules and split — if we can pull off around ten to twelve of us voting for Knifelegs, and ten to twelve voting for whoever got us in another trial in the first place, then we’ve got it.
[ ... there’s a pause, before he shrugs. ]
It’s not a guarantee. But if we know both killers, then we either catch one, or both. And the other knows we’re watching them. It’ll only work if we’re sure about both targets though — like we were with the first girl.
[ he’s not saying to risk if they don’t have two solid option to vote for. ]
[Akira considers Ash's suggestion quietly. it's not bad, all things considered, but. . . it isn't great either, is it? it still relies on them doing nothing until after Meltryllis kills again on Thursday night. it still involves them putting someone who wasn't in control of her actions to death for something she couldn't help. it still doesn't feel. . . right]
[Ash can feel that uncertainty, small as it is, and Akira opens his mouth to respond--]
[-- but the words don't come, because suddenly? there's feedback coming from somewhere else. from someone who isn't in this room. an overwhelming sense of shock is doused upon their link, something cold and sharp and breathtaking, and Akira gasps as he jerks back, eyes widening in confusion]
[ he does know it isn't ideal -- but for the moment, just the sheer lack of faith in this place to not have more than one killer running around out there. he's willing to say so, but then there's just that spike of shock that snaps through him and the way akira jerks back like he's just touched an electric wire.
it's enough that he almost splashes his coffee everywhere, before getting his surprise under control. ]
I-- [the shock quickly turns into panic, and Akira's gaze flickers down to an arm. an arm that he holds out in front of him, staring at in alarm]
Something is. . . happening. . .
[not to him. he's fine; there's no reason for him to be this rattled. but the alarm he feels at this sudden onset of foreign feelings merely ramps up the dread and horror to levels that even Akira can't control]
[ Ash frowns, setting aside the mug for a moment to lean over and try and get a glimpse of Akira's arm -- what's he looking at? It looks normal, but maybe that's just the angle he's at. ]
... The detective?
[ It clicks into place, given Akira's alarm and the panicked way he's speaking. These emotional links are so draining. Even just the small sparks of emotion he'd felt from Akira through proximity had been a lot, and then imagining a major link? Oof. ]
[ Ash does actually look at Akira's arm -- properly this time, no weird angles. He even turns it from side to side, so it's clear he's examining it closely. And then he makes sure to look Akira directly in the eyes. ]
There's nothing there. [ He reaches to put a hand over it, to see if he can feel anything, in case his eyes are playing tricks. But there's just skin there - warm and not at all decayed. ]
[but before he can say anything, he sucks in a hiss of pain and doubles over on himself, arms wrapping around his side as though something had just. . . like. stabbed him there???]
[ the sudden movement means ash’s grip on akira’s arm tightens for a moment before akira’s arms shoot to wrap around his waist. ]
Shit— these stupid bonds— [ it’s not like he can do anything if all akira’s feeling is phantom pain from stupid things that his bond partner is doing, but he can spot the signs of someone descending into panic well enough. ]
Hey. [ he snaps his fingers under akira’s nose ] No freakin’ out. If he does need help you can’t do shit if you’re hyperventilating in a corner. C’mon.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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... it was her??
[ oh. Now he’s really pissed. ]
— wait. How do you know that?
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When you voted for Nikki-san, did you receive an item? For voting correctly in all three fields?
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You got an item, huh.
[ There's a pause, before: ]
Where did she die?
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[quiet for a moment as he pours some coffee and hands it to Ash]
. . . in the hallway.
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[ he takes the coffee, and frowns at it. the frown only gets deeper when he's told exactly where nia was killed. ]
...
Right. [ Only just a little further from where they'd all slept. ] And then he got a fit of guilt and tucked her body in bed like she was sleeping. Nice of her.
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[Akira seats himself halfway in and halfway out of the pillow fort, resting his chin in his palm as he talks]
Hell if I know why Meltryllis did that. I still don't fully understand what happened that night.
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[ His voice is firm. He sounds annoyed, but it's... well. At everything. A lot of things. He's got this uncomfortable guilt in his chest over all of it, and it keeps putting him on edge. ]
We don't understand what happened the first time around, and we'll be fumbling around until we do.
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[another exhale. Ash isn't the only one dealing with guilt. . . Akira has been mulling over his poor vote ever since he found out Meltryllis was the killer. Ash might be able to feel a flicker of it, a weak brush of guilt that mingles with his own]
[Akira has yet to notice]
But I can't break my promises. Just. . . trust me when I say they're trustworthy.
I don't think they understand anything better than the rest of us do, even after voting correctly in all three categories.
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That's still one step ahead than what I managed. And I managed to sleep through my roommate getting murdered and then tucked back up in bed, in the damn room I was in.
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[the guilt moves and changes and morphs with his physical actions, first reflecting bewilderment and then. . . empathy]
I voted for Asch.
[he admits, words quiet]
Knowing he was innocent. I voted for him because I wasn't convinced Meltryllis was the culprit. But if I had changed my vote, like I almost did then--
[they wouldn't have fucked up so spectacularly]
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[ Look at this guilt spiral. ]
...
We've just gotta get it right next time. If there is one. And any time afterwards. Maybe get our shit together more.
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Yeah.
[Ash is right. they just need to get it right next time-- if there is a next time. he hopes there isn't a next time. they need to fight to make sure there isn't]
Getting it wrong doesn't mean we need to give up now.
It's not what Asch would want from us.
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If I gave up every time shit went bad, I'd have given up years ago. [ He finally takes a sip of his drink, taking a moment to pause. The anger is still there, and the prickles of guilt, but...
Being the underdog isn't new to him. ]
It'd be good if we could catch her-- Knifelegs -- and whoever might come next in one go. Set it back to ground zero.
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You're still determined to catch them at the trial?
With-- what? A tied vote?
[FROWNS!! he isn't sure how he feels about this]
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Worth a try. It’s majority rules and split — if we can pull off around ten to twelve of us voting for Knifelegs, and ten to twelve voting for whoever got us in another trial in the first place, then we’ve got it.
[ ... there’s a pause, before he shrugs. ]
It’s not a guarantee. But if we know both killers, then we either catch one, or both. And the other knows we’re watching them. It’ll only work if we’re sure about both targets though — like we were with the first girl.
[ he’s not saying to risk if they don’t have two solid option to vote for. ]
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[Ash can feel that uncertainty, small as it is, and Akira opens his mouth to respond--]
[-- but the words don't come, because suddenly? there's feedback coming from somewhere else. from someone who isn't in this room. an overwhelming sense of shock is doused upon their link, something cold and sharp and breathtaking, and Akira gasps as he jerks back, eyes widening in confusion]
Wh. . . what?
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it's enough that he almost splashes his coffee everywhere, before getting his surprise under control. ]
-- Hey.
[ that's not reassuring. ]
What's happening?
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Something is. . . happening. . .
[not to him. he's fine; there's no reason for him to be this rattled. but the alarm he feels at this sudden onset of foreign feelings merely ramps up the dread and horror to levels that even Akira can't control]
. . . Akechi. Akechi's in trouble.
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... The detective?
[ It clicks into place, given Akira's alarm and the panicked way he's speaking. These emotional links are so draining. Even just the small sparks of emotion he'd felt from Akira through proximity had been a lot, and then imagining a major link? Oof. ]
Hey. [ Focus. ] Do you know where he is?
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No. I-- no.
[Akechi hadn't told him where he was going, which is fine because he isn't Akechi's keeper. but it sure does make this even more difficult]
What the hell. . .? You see this, right Ash?
[SHOVING HIS ARM AT ASH]
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[ Ash does actually look at Akira's arm -- properly this time, no weird angles. He even turns it from side to side, so it's clear he's examining it closely. And then he makes sure to look Akira directly in the eyes. ]
There's nothing there, Akira. Your arm's clear.
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You can't see the. . . [he trails off. gives his arm another look. yeah, from his perspective? that skin is decaying]
It looks like it's starting to decay. The skin is rotting off.
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There's nothing there. [ He reaches to put a hand over it, to see if he can feel anything, in case his eyes are playing tricks. But there's just skin there - warm and not at all decayed. ]
Feels like regular ol' skin too.
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[then closes it again]
[then opens it--]
[but before he can say anything, he sucks in a hiss of pain and doubles over on himself, arms wrapping around his side as though something had just. . . like. stabbed him there???]
Fuck--
[THANKS AKECHI HE FEELS THAT]
What the hell is he. . . what is he even doing?!
[PANIC INTENSIFIES]
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Shit— these stupid bonds— [ it’s not like he can do anything if all akira’s feeling is phantom pain from stupid things that his bond partner is doing, but he can spot the signs of someone descending into panic well enough. ]
Hey. [ he snaps his fingers under akira’s nose ] No freakin’ out. If he does need help you can’t do shit if you’re hyperventilating in a corner. C’mon.
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