awashlogs | Even when the starry sky dissolves at dawn

[ that line is so lame that it even gets a "seriously?" look out of Lupin, although he does offer a (disbelieving) smile and a cocked eyebrow. Akechi is even cheesier than him sometimes, and that's saying something. Still, he manages to ignore it, listening to what Akechi has to say instead.

The sentiment is surprisingly familiar. Akechi has the manner of a well-bred, educated young man, and he even works on the side of the law. If he didn't know him better, he'd assume this talk of being on his own was teenage dramatics. ]

... Well, you're not wrong. If the stars were listening, I would've eaten like a king when I was a kid. [ not an outright statement about his own past, either, but an oblique nod to it - an acknowledgement that he knows where Akechi is coming from, in some way. ] But just because they're not listening doesn't mean nobody is.

[ he's the one asking, isn't he? ]

[ "Eaten like a king," huh? Sounds like Lupin went through his own share of hardship in his childhood, although poverty is hardly a plot twist in a thief's background. He would like to know some more, but prying wouldn't be very polite to do...

Hmm. Maybe if he shares some more of his own...? ]

In my case, nobody ever was. [ And yes, he gets what Lupin is subtly implying here, and that's why he takes the care to use past tense for this. It might be too late, but it's still nice to have someone who is here to listen. ] Planning out summer vacation trips, asking a child what they want to do for their birthday or what they would like to get for Christmas... Those are all things a parent would do.

[ And he didn't have any of that-- no family holidays, no birthday parties, no lazy days in the summer sun. Good parents wouldn't magically come to life, so that's one thing off his list. And wishing to go back in time and erase his own existence is... surely not something he could tell anyone, either. ]

I suppose that is why I can't think of any wishes to tell you about. More often than not, I don't let myself indulge and think about hypotheticals.

[ And when he does, what he wishes for is always revenge. ]

[ that basically confirms what Lupin had guessed from his previous comment. Though they've lived together for around two months now, Akechi didn't tend to talk about himself very much; this is probably the first time he's heard anything personal about his life back home outside of detective work. Sure, he seems well-bred and educated - but, then again, Lupin's good at acting that way, too.

He'd always been entirely alone as a kid, living on the streets and scrambling to survive; birthdays and christmas presents had been outrageous luxuries that he didn't even have time to think about, let alone wish for. Akechi's sentiment is more than familiar to Lupin. He watches the young detective pensively through lowered eyelashes, thinking on how to respond. ]

Yeah. I know.

[ his voice is a little softer and gentler than usual, lacking its usual pomp. There's no point in apologizing or offering condolences. They don't help, and if Akechi's anything like him, he doesn't want them in the first place. But he can offer him understanding. Again, he's not explicit about his own circumstances, but there's something in his response that's heavier than mere sympathy. There's a pause after that; then, Lupin shifts, sitting up on one knee and facing towards Akechi fully. He speaks again, more seriously. ]

... A gentleman thief always indulges. He lives by his own justice, in his own style, and if there's a hypothetical he'd like to make real, he fulfills it. Whether it's his own, or someone else's. [ with a dramatic flourish, he places one hand over his chest, bowing his head obsequiously before looking up with a small grin. ] Goro Akechi. The Gentleman Thief Arsène Lupin has heard the wish inside your heart, and will grant it with certainty.

[ It's wasn't quite a revelation, but there was definitely something different about the way Lupin had acknowledged that confession; it wasn't sympathy or condescending pity - and Akechi never liked any of that, had no need or use for it - but neither was it the sentiment of someone who could could only relate to Akechi's past in the realm of hypotheticals. It was something else. It was the honest feelings of someone who had been through the same.

But, he doesn't have the time to ask any questions, or even wonder much longer. Next thing he knows, Lupin is on his knee, grand and performative, making promises to grant wishes he was only half aware of. Could his heart even make such a call, if he wasn't sure it was even there, still...? ]

It's no wonder he acts the way he does...

[ It's only a whisper, as low as it's ambiguous, the sign of Akechi indulging his own thoughts again. Akira - no, Joker - is very much the same way, pompous and overly confident, far too fond of theatrics. Probably a little too reckless with his promises, too. Truly Arsene Lupin's other self. ]

Very well. [ Focus properly shifted back to the man in front of him, Akechi offers a soft chuckle in response-- curious, amused and indulging in equal parts. ] I'm not quite sure what wishes you may have heard, but coming from the legendary gentleman thief, I can only expect something rather grandiose.

[ And then, with a playful wink of his own: ] Just make sure it's not too great of a heist, or else I might not be able to turn a blind eye on it, okay?

[ if Akechi thinks he didn't hear that, he's wrong!! But Lupin doesn't comment on it. Instead, he breaks character to give him a big smile that's more genuine. ]

I know exactly what I heard. You might be a detective, but you're more like me than you think.

[ he's not fond of talking about himself; still, he owes Akechi at least that bare minimum of an admission. ]

Anyway, don't worry about that. I won't be stealing anything but some of your time. Besides, you're a hundred years too early to catch me!

[ More like him than Akechi would think, huh? No, he's always known this-- he has always been more thief than detective, and the only justice he really ever cared about was his own. It's what made him closer to the Phantom Thieves than he would say out loud-- what made him have fun with them, more so than he would like to admit.

It's probably what has made him grow a little fond of his roommate, too. Being able to relate to people like this... he can't say he has ever really experienced that before. ]

But you're sitting right next to me, Lupin-san. If I wanted to catch you right now, I could.

[ And while his own smile isn't as big and genuine as Lupin's, it is perhaps not as fake as it normally is, either-- and not remotely condescending, as he might feel inclined to doing with other adults on occasion. ]

But, if all you're taking is some of my time, then it shouldn't be a crime at all. It is not theft, if I willingly give it to you.

Don't bet on it, kid.

[ akechi's confidence is endearing; it only cements his decision to do something for him. For all his quips and smiles, there was something a little stiff and lonely about him - Lupin thinks this conversation's explained what that is. He didn't have a family. He's probably not used to being around people that much, by the looks of things. In a sense, he'd had worse luck than Lupin; eventually, he did have someone to give him parties and pay attention to him, even if that person betrayed him in the end.

He hasn't known Akechi that long, but he can tell he's a good kid. He may as well pay it forward. ]

I'd ask when your birthday is, but I suppose we don't have a clue what day it is here anyway.

[ Akechi only offers a soft chuckle at that first response, always friendly and polite. The more time he gets to spend with Lupin, the more he realizes he truly is the original Phantom Thief: overly confident, way too self-assured, but also undeniably alluring. Perhaps getting this chance to meet him in the flesh wasn't such a bad detour from his plans, after all.

But then he goes on, and Akechi hooks an eyebrow in curiosity. ] My... birthday?

[ That was... a little sudden, though Akechi supposes he did mention something about birthdays in passing. Was Lupin planning to take him out on his birthday or something? It's not like they even had any places to go... ]

You're right, that would be rather pointless without a calendar. [ And like this, he keeps the information to himself-- keeps himself from building expectations, and from being disappointed later on. ] Were you planning to bake me a cake, though? Is that one more of your many skills?

[ he'd take you out if he could, akechi, but there's nowhere to go... instead, he has to make do with what he has. It's a little disappointing that Akechi doesn't take the bait and give him the actual date, even though it doesn't matter. Lupin simply wanted to know. Just in case. ]

Hmmm... Well, I bet I could make one if we actually had the ingredients. Nothing too fancy, though. I just know enough to get by.

[ he relaxes his posture once more, sitting cross-legged on the ground. ]

My friend Impey, though - I bet he could bake you a great cake with just the stuff we have laying around here. He's a genius in the kitchen.

[ Maybe Akechi will tell him, at a later time, if his birthday ever becomes an auspicious occasion. As it is, he just doesn't feel like there's anything to celebrate, when his own parents never wanted him.

(Although, hearing that Lupin would be willing to bake him a cake does warm his heart, just a little bit.) ]

Well, if we ever get the chance, I would love to try that. I may not look like it, but I'm rather fond of sweets.

[ He's not, really-- in fact, he doesn't care about the taste of food at all. It's an useful quirk, in a place like this. ]

Ah, but that's... the same friend you used to watch the stars with, correct? It sounds like the two of you were fairly close.

Actually, you look exactly like the type.

[ what does that mean?? you figure it out, akechi. Lupin can just easily imagine him scarfing down cake, for some reason...

But he leaves that for the time being, nodding at Akechi's question. His past may be something he's reluctant to discuss with people, but he doesn't mind talking about his present - especially to someone who already knows what he does. ]

Mm, that's right. Originally, we were... well, I guess you could call us business partners. I met him two years ago when I came to London. He's an idiot, but he's a good guy.

[ Akechi's only response to that first comment is a slight tilt of his head and a single blink. What does that mean, indeed...

But then Lupin is talking about his friend, and Akechi sees it as an opportunity to learn more about him. Maybe it's true, what Lupin said about Akechi being more like him than he knows-- at least as far as being fairly secretive about their past. ]

Business partners... Does that mean he, too, was a thief-- or at least someone who assisted you in your heists?

[ he shakes his head. ]

Nope. Just the opposite, actually - he had something stolen from him, and I happened to be tracking down the people who stole it for entirely separate reasons. That's how I met him. We figured we may as well work together to find them. [ that's the gist of it, at least. ] He's a genius engineer - says he's going to fly to the moon someday.

[ the light way in which lupin talks about him speaks of their familiarity. If he were less strict about showing weakness, there might even be a hint of loneliness in his voice, but he does a good job keeping it locked out. ]

[ Yes, their familiarity is obvious just from the way Lupin speaks about him, and even though he doesn't show it, Akechi does wonder if he feels sad, talking about someone who isn't here. It's hard to relate when Akechi himself doesn't have anyone to miss. ]

So you tempted an otherwise upstanding citizen to the wrong side of the law... Lupin-san's charm truly is a force to be reckoned with!

[ It's not a joke, but he laughs, anyway, airy and friendly. Praise is often a very effective technique. ]

Flying to the moon, though... That sounds like a fairly romantic notion. I wonder if this, too, was the result of your influence on him.

[ that makes him laugh a little, too, although the idea of calling Impey an "upstanding citizen" is... funny, somehow... he hasn't done anything bad, but he doesn't seem like the kind of person Her Majesty would want representing her country, either. ]

I can't take credit for that one - he was like that before I met him. I don't know all the details, but it's been his dream since he was a little kid. He just happened to never grow out of it.

[ considering what he's been through, his positivity and idealism are somewhat miraculous. It's what Lupin likes about him best. ]

[ Akechi ponders over for a moment, whether or not he should tell Lupin that man has made it to the moon already, in his own point in time, but ultimately decides against it. If this person is someone important to Lupin, then it would likely upset him to know his friend's dream will not come true, not according to history as Akechi knows it, anyway. ]

So, allow me to venture a guess: you intend to assist Impey-san in making his dream a reality, correct?

[ It's grand and ostentatious, and very Lupin-like to aim that high. ]

[ he already heard it from Minato, who conveniently left out the fact that it wasn't for another hundred years or so... which is probably the way to go. It's true: he'd be upset to hear that Impey failed in his quest. Enough so that he'd assume his own world would just be different. There's no way that idiot could fail. ]

If he needs my help, sure, but there's not much a thief can do to help build a missile to the moon. Science isn't my forte. [ he waves a hand. ] Like I said, I'm mostly helping him track down a part that was stolen from him.

He might need some government-controlled components or chemicals, though. Certainly your legendary skills as a thief could prove to be helpful.

[ But it's said with a soft laugh, as though making light of his own suggestion-- surely such an upstanding young man on the side of the law would never imply such a thing and mean it, absolutely not. ]

Regardless, whether it's simply tracking down this stolen part or offering support as a friend, I'm sure your presence must be a valuable asset to him.

[ A pause, and he considers his next words. Would it make him upset...? ]

He must miss you.

Tch. What do you take me for? I only steal goods from people if they're undeserved or ill-gotten. I'm not the biggest fan of the government, but I'm not taking their things just for Impey's sake unless they start abusing them.

[ he doesn't think Impey would ask him to do that for him, anyway... unless he was really desperate, in which case Lupin might actually make an exception. He probably needs that stuff more than the Queen does. ]

Anyway, I'm sure he does. He's probably crying right now, wondering where I am, the big baby. [ he gestures idly. rather than being upset, Lupin seems amused; he has a lot of faith in Impey. ] We've got other friends who can mop up his tears, though.

Edited 2018-06-07 07:41 (UTC)

[ A giggle. ] Lupin-san is as ruthless as a friend as he is as a thief, I see.

[ That's... some odd friendship, to say the least, and Akechi wonders how much of that is true and how much is just Lupin's own way of coping with the distance. Akechi may not have anyone back home that he can really miss, but it sounds natural to him, that parting from someone you're so close with must leave a mark. ]

Still, it sounds like your government is in better hands than the one I'm familiar with, if even a thief of your caliber is willing to spare them. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the state of affairs in my own country.

Really? I've never been to Japan... Not that it would matter. Yours must look pretty different from the one I've read about.

[ he'd like to say that meeting Akechi and the others have given him a better idea of it, but the future seems wildly different than the present in some ways; he refuses to make any kind of assumption about it all. ]

[ That's true-- from Lupin's sense of fashion alone, Akechi can tell he probably comes from an alternate version of their reality, close enough, but not quite the same. The world of fiction, maybe? ]

I think you would like the place, but as a nation, Japan still has a long way to go. In my line of work, I could see from up close just how corrupt the system has become.

[ From prosecutors, school principals and even politicians, Akechi has definitely seen his fair share of disgusting adults. ]

I did tell you before, didn't I? On at least one occasion, I found myself in a position where I had to turn a blind eye on the law, for the sake of true justice.

Edited 2018-06-08 21:18 (UTC)

[ more like the world of 1850s Europe... but yeah, it's also steampunk, so he's not completely wrong.

Lupin's not surprised to hear that, in any case. People are the same all around the world. There are people who go into the system just to take advantage of it. It's one of the reasons he never works with it. Akechi, on the other hand, sounds like he's trying to root that corruption out from the inside - at least from Lupin's point of view. ]

Most people in your position would do the opposite, you know.

[ he's seen plenty of cops ignore terrible things for the sake of their positions, maintaining whatever rules. Much more than he's seen the reverse, actually. ]

I know. [ He nods. ] People like that are the reason why I must seek justice no matter what.

[ And he's not exactly lying, either. Corrupt adults who would use their power to crush and further oppress the weak, people who would eliminate any and all that may threaten their status quo-- including their own flesh and blood, no less-- they had all been responsible for his distorted sense of justice. His revenge.

But of course, he's not about to expose all of that to Lupin, not now, and probably not ever. If he were to ever find out the kind of person Akechi really is... he would never accept him. ]

But, to the eyes of the law and even my peers, I am but a child. There is only so much I can do to help, and I suppose, at that time, seeing a group of teenagers around my own age about to face a lifetime behind bars for a crime they didn't commit... that must have been what spurred me into action.

[ it's interesting to hear him talk this way. In theory, he knows there are people like this in the system - people that actually care - but he rarely meets them. He's not so cynical as to imagine every single person in law enforcement is doing their work simply to make themselves feel better rather than protect those in need. However, he does believe that those voices are usually snuffed out. He tilts his head at Akechi. ]

And? Did you manage to save them, Akechi?

[ there's no pressure in his voice - just a gentle nudge. ]

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doublecrowss - 2018-06-19 04:18 (UTC) - Expand