[Akira opens his mouth to respond, but. . . nothing comes out. because Ash is right, isn't he? and wasn't that the same advice Akira had given Isaac way back when they first arrived??]
[. . .]
[his mouth clicks shut, lips curving into a concerned frown]
You must hate it.
[he eventually says]
Being in limbo like this. Not. . . knowing what's going to happen next.
Couple of noble bigwigs needed an excuse to invade this little Kingdom to the south of Erebonia. So they picked a little village small enough that no one'd miss it, gave some hired thugs a bunch of Liberlian weaponry and told them to leave no survivors.
'Course they messed that one up, but I guess that's my luck versus theirs.
Rank. Money. Prestige? Probably some fear as well, they couldn't buy their ranks anymore with regular folk climbing up the military ranks on actually skill and talent.
[just like with Chancellor Osborne, the anger that boils inside of him may not be about something he is personally involved with, but the mere idea of that injustice infuriates him anyway. he lifts a hand, bringing it down against the wall as he does so]
S'fine. There was a little back room trial. Very hush hush, couldn't let it get out that government was slaughtering their own people for excuses to invade.
Perps were executed, and everyone went on with their lives. [ Except for three people, but really? Who was counting. ]
[ he just spreads his arms wide in a shrug or a motion of ... not really defeat? but like he’s presenting that case to the crowd, even if the crowd is just akira. ]
Worked out reaaaal good for them, too. The other two caused enough chaos is Liberl for a while, and, well. You saw how I showed my gratitude.
That I can do. It's an entertainment town -- bars, clubs, gambling halls. Sleeps during the day and comes alive a night. People come just to experience the nightlife and try their luck on the slots.
[this seems like a more lighthearted topic than Ash's attempted assassination, and Akira relaxes as they transition into it easily. he lets out an amused snort as Ash describes his home town]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[. . .]
[his mouth clicks shut, lips curving into a concerned frown]
You must hate it.
[he eventually says]
Being in limbo like this. Not. . . knowing what's going to happen next.
no subject
[ It's a 50/50 chance, and y'know. People keep dying here. It's a bit more pressing. ]
I'll figure it out if I get back home.
no subject
[. . .]
[so. . . he'll ask about something else]
Hamel.
[something that seemed like a sensitive topic, so he wouldn't blame Ash if he refused to answer. but he has to at least try, right?]
Can you at least tell me what Hamel is?
no subject
He's gonna keep being asked about this for like. Ever. ]
My hometown. By definition of birth, if anything.
no subject
. . . what happened to Hamel?
no subject
no subject
I want the truth.
[he doesn't care about the "official" report because he gets the feeling it'd be nothing but a giant lie]
no subject
Couple of noble bigwigs needed an excuse to invade this little Kingdom to the south of Erebonia. So they picked a little village small enough that no one'd miss it, gave some hired thugs a bunch of Liberlian weaponry and told them to leave no survivors.
'Course they messed that one up, but I guess that's my luck versus theirs.
no subject
Shit.
[he hisses between his teeth, gaze narrowing]
How could they-- what the hell?! How could they do something so cruel--!
no subject
So. Military conquest it was.
[ That's the story as he knows it. ]
no subject
[just like with Chancellor Osborne, the anger that boils inside of him may not be about something he is personally involved with, but the mere idea of that injustice infuriates him anyway. he lifts a hand, bringing it down against the wall as he does so]
People like that--
[are the scummiest of the scum]
no subject
Perps were executed, and everyone went on with their lives. [ Except for three people, but really? Who was counting. ]
no subject
[closes his eyes again, now shaking with the anger he's doing his best to suppress]
That doesn't just fix things. That doesn't bring back the lives that were loss, or-- or help people like you, who lost their hometown.
no subject
[ he just spreads his arms wide in a shrug or a motion of ... not really defeat? but like he’s presenting that case to the crowd, even if the crowd is just akira. ]
Worked out reaaaal good for them, too. The other two caused enough chaos is Liberl for a while, and, well. You saw how I showed my gratitude.
no subject
[there's a moment of hesitation, like Akira isn't sure what to do next]
[. . .]
[and then he reaches out, dropping his hand on Ash's shoulder, letting it rest there in an expression of comfort]
no subject
...
[ After a moment, he just reaches up and pats the hand on his shoulder? What's comfort what's this. ]
It's not even like I remember much about it. Ash Carbide grew up in Raquel, after all. Not Hamel.
no subject
. . .
Can you tell me a little bit about Raquel?
[surely there are happy memories there for Ash to focus on]
no subject
That I can do. It's an entertainment town -- bars, clubs, gambling halls. Sleeps during the day and comes alive a night. People come just to experience the nightlife and try their luck on the slots.
[ there sure are, akira. there sure are. ]
no subject
No wonder you're such a risk-taker yourself.
[lightly!! teasing!!]
no subject
I know how to have fun. A little round of cards is good for the adrenaline — and strategising. [ see? It’s educational. ]
It’s a good place though. Good people. Raquel looks out for itself, ‘cause no one else is gonna.