Event Nine.

[awashmods]

Thus, on Life’s gloomy sea, Heareth the marinere Voices sweet, from far and near, Ever singing in his ear, “Here is rest and peace for thee!”

t's a dark night, and the sounds of feet in the darkness are further dampened and hidden by even more magic, as they are lured away by the soft sounds of dreams that are too good to be true, leaving the Town much, much emptier than when it began. On one side, an island, and a ticking clock to a gruesome death. On the other, the slow realization that those bonds everyone has been forging might mean much, much more than they first thought. Welcome to Awash's ninth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to start your own posts or logs for this event as well. If there are any questions, please ask them here. Please be sure to very clearly mark where your characters are in your prompts, so people know which they can tag depending on which group they are in. Thank you!

Comments

[doublecrowss]

[ Hmm, what a strange question-- and Akechi wasn't aware Caramia had been running his mouth to just about anyone about his true nature, but on the other hand, he was far too... simple-minded for keeping secrets. ]

He used to be, at least. [ Obviously, since he doesn't look like a lion anymore. Even Akechi isn't entirely sure of the details behind his transformation and impossibly long lifespan. ] Even as a human, though, he seems to have retained much of his original instincts, specially hunting.

[ And also climbing up walls instead of using the ladder, but that's a topic for another day. Right now, the mention of sharing meat with Akira brings another question to mind. ]

What kind of meat did you even have access to in this island?

[theshowsover]

[Actually, he told Kaoru, who told Akira. Word gets around, in this tiny town...

He "used to be" a lion though, huh? Interesting. Maybe Morgana's hope that he'll be a human one day isn't so futile after all.

Akira swallows down some more of the apple before he answers.]

It was some kind of weird... bird. Didn't taste very good.

[A drink of water.]

Zelda and I caught some fish.

[doublecrowss]

[ A weird bird and fish, huh? It doesn't sound like a lot, but at least it was enough to keep them alive. ]

Taste should hardly be an issue, under the circumstances. As long as it kept you nourished, it did its job.

[ But speaking of nourishment, Akechi reaches for the basket again, intending to get some more fruit into Akira's system, but his vision lurches as soon as he moves, and he quickly falls back to his seat with a graceless thud and a wince. Eyes closed and a hand to his forehead, he takes a few labored breaths, quick and ragged, just waiting the effects off.

Damn it. Why is it getting worse? Why now? ]

[theshowsover]

[He's about to say something about the taste of the bird, but suddenly Akechi is reeling, and Akira forgets whatever it was to get up and move toward him, the boat rocking a bit under him.]

Akechi-!?

[He holds out the cup of water he was just drinking from with one hand, dropping the apple so he can put his other hand on Akechi's shoulder. Whatever's wrong, it doesn't sound good...]

Are you injured?

[He starts trying to reach for his Persona, just in case.]

[doublecrowss]

I'm fine.

[ It's said through gritted teeth and ragged breaths, though he still finds the strength to push Akira's hand off his shoulder.

Immediately after that, he feels a sharp pain in the back of his head, and he gasps out a muted yell, wincing in agony. It's like his entire body is screaming at him, the feelings his heart refuses to acknowledge. ]

It's just... a headache. I can handle this.

[ Alas, Akechi doesn't listen.

Instead, he takes a few deep breaths, then hauls himself up to his feet, wobbling from sickness and the motions of the boat. Is that... a siren in the distance? Fuck this shit. ]

I have... to do this.

[theshowsover]

[Akira has no idea what's happening, but he does know it sounds painful. That yell isn't normal for Akechi; he must be really hurting to let himself make a sound like that.]

I really think you need to sit down.

[His voice is hard, not leaving much room for argument. Joker's voice, peeking through.]

Let the others handle the siren.

[doublecrowss]

The others...?

[ It comes out in a hiss, low and pained as much as it is venomous-- much like the look Akechi finally spares him. ]

But there is no one else who can handle them, is there?

[ Though his glare is fixed on Akira, his hand reaches for his gun with a slight tremor, cold sweat running down his forehead. And yet, weak as he feels, his tone has been raised by several octaves, higher in volume and accusations alike. ]

If you hadn't fallen prey to them, if you hadn't been reckless, then maybe there would have been someone else! But you never listen, do you?!

[ He doesn't, and Akechi been all but left to deal with this on his own again, having only his own strength to rely on, even as it feels like he's being slowly drained out of his body. He's tired, and scared, and alone, not much different from the way it's always been. Then so be it; he'll do it the same way he's always done.

All because Akira cares so very much about everyone else. ]

There's only me. I'm on my own...!

[ So much, that he forgets all about the people who care about him.

Fuck this.

Gun in his hand, he turns towards the siren, takes aim for a second, and fires.

His shot misses. ]

[theshowsover]

Ah-

[He's too late; Akechi is turning from him. Akira holds out a hand as Akechi takes his gun, that venomous look he was given still imprinted on his mind. Did Akechi really mean that?

Alone? On his own?]

...But I'm right here.

[He says it, quiet, all his senses focused on Akechi, but inside, a power is growing, fighting against the weakness plaguing his bones.]

I'm right... here! Dominion!

[The angel tears out of him, his Thief outfit flickering to life for just a moment. It hovers over both of them for but an instant, but it's enough for the bright light of a Hamaon spell to engulf the siren.

It shrieks once before it's gone, but Akira barely registers. His arms are still reaching, reaching out for Akechi. He's panting and sweating from the exertion but unwilling to give up.]

I'm here.

[doublecrowss]

[ But I'm right here.

The words register before everything else, the Persona hovering above them and the blast of light and the dying wailing of the siren. How poetic can irony be, casting salvation upon the rescuer in the shape of an angel and a thief...?

He's never had anyone truly come to aid him when he needed it the most, no one to back him up when his own strength wasn't enough. He's always been alone.

I'm right here.

He turns, slow and exhausted, spots Akira's arms reaching out for him, helpless. Was he just trying to stop him? Or rather, was he trying to... support him? Is it wishful thinking, to hope that there's more to rely on than just his own abilities? That there is power in bonds?

And if so, is that... what he lacks right now?

(If only there had been someone like that before... If only they had met sooner...)

Before he fully realizes, his own arms are reaching for Akira, snaking around him in a strong grip-- too tight, crushing with the weight of too many feelings. Anger, frustration, overpowering despair... and relief in equal measure.

I'm here. ]

... It took you too long.

[ But maybe he's not too late. ]

[theshowsover]

[For a moment, Akira thinks Akechi's going to run, going to turn away from him, going to reject this even now... but then he reaches forward, and Akira's arms wrap around him back, holding him close, one hand lightly tangling in Akechi's long hair.]

I know.

[It took him awhile, but he knows now. When it was finally too late, Akechi's pain was on display for all to see.]

I didn't know how much you needed me.

[Maybe he means back in Chroma, or even beyond. It's not an excuse, just an admission. He wasn't deliberately ignoring his pain. He just missed it.

Akechi is so good at hiding.]

I'm here now.

[But maybe he has a second chance.]

[doublecrowss]

[ Against his better (or would it be his worst?) judgement, Akechi indulges for a moment longer. There are no other victims to protect, no siege to defend against. There's only the two of them.

And like this, whatever few words are exchanged sound louder on the ears, hold heavier meaning.

"I didn't know how much you needed me." Is that what it was, then? Does Akechi really... need him?

Like an answer to his questions, his condition seems to improve the longer they stay together, slow and steady. His vision is finally clear, perhaps in more ways than one, and the ache in his head fades away, only to be replaced by the pitter-patter of his heart, growing stronger by the second. But this much, he knows, is only going to get worse the closer he gets to Akira.

Eventually, he pulls away, hands sliding down Akira's arms, lingering, and maybe a little paranoid he would disappear again. ]

... My apologies. That was uncalled for.

[ He looks back towards the other boats more as a way to avert his own gaze, but then he spots even more sirens approaching the helpless victims. ]

They're coming. I must handle this.

[ So he guides Akira back to his seat, gentle but firm, in a silent command for him to stay put. ]

[theshowsover]

[Akira wants this moment to linger, but he knows it can't. He wants to argue against Akechi leaving, but knows he has to go. He wants to go with him, but even that one summoning took everything he had. He won't be any help right now.

So he sits, and doesn't try to move, instead watching Akechi as he prepares to run off into the fray again.]

Just... be safe, okay?

[doublecrowss]

[ Akechi watches with relief as Akira sits down without protest, nodding at the words of caution. ]

Hmm. I'll be fine now.

[ Because his physical condition has improved considerably, yes, but also because he has more than his own strength to rely on now. Because Akira is here.

He's no longer alone.

So he makes a move to leave, but seems to change his mind halfway through the process and turns to Akira instead. He raises a hand, palm facing Akira; time to pass the baton, even if in name only.

(That, too, is about powering up by sharing strength, though, isn't it?) ]

[theshowsover]

[Akira raises his head when Akechi stops, then grins when he sees what it is he wants. Of course; they always do this, when passing the torch off to another.

So he also raises his hand, and gives Akechi a high five.

Go get 'em.]