[It's logical. It's methodical. It's a plan b, c, d, e and for the inevitable failure of plan a. It doesn't change Akechi's stance in the slightest. There is no singular path that allows someone to rely on another. There's no reality where Akechi will turn around to help save a king, when there's another pound of flesh he's after.
The snarling demon and the crunch of bones pull his attention to the alleyway for a moment. Kazuya's words drag him back.]
But a word of warning - you can't rely on anyone. Not your cousin, not me, not that girl waiting for you, not the friends you think will stand by you or anyone in this reality you feel a bond with. They're fragile, unreliable and unnecessary.
[The message clear enough - Kazuya will have to take matters into his own hands. Akechi won't stop him. Might-]
Though in saying that -
[Akechi will-]
If your failure stands in the way of my goal, I won't hesitate to put you down. You have my word on that.
[And that's the truth of the matter. He can trust Naoya for certain things, but something like this? No, there's no way. Besides, he feels confident that most of the time Naoya's love for him isn't for him, it's for someone who he resembles. Someone who he had the soul of, the brief memories of. Someone he killed, and someone he feels bad for killing, even if he'd never apologize for doing it.
That much is alright with him.
And as for Yuzu... Fragile does seem like a word to describe their now relationship too. He'd hurt her, unknowingly, unwittingly. Made her think that he'd become the worst possible version of himself, even if that's the last thing he thinks that he'd ever want.
But the truth is, she'd left him. She'd left him, when he'd needed her the most. He's not angry about it. Upset, yes, it's a wound that will forever be raw and open, he feels, but he doesn't blame her for it. Could never blame her for it.
But Atsuro... Atsuro didn't leave him. Wouldn't leave him. Followed him as far as he could, and was only stopped when he was physically unable to, and even then, he'd made his complaints heard loud and clear. He'd have followed him down any path he'd taken. He feels that much deep in whatever shredded pieces of his soul that remain.
So again, Akechi isn't necessarily wrong to say what he's saying for the most part. People can be unreliable. For any number of reasons. Some selfish, some out of love. Some out of fear of being hurt.]
Then if that's the word I'll get from you, then that's the word I'll hold you too. Though it's possible that if your goal is to escape this place, then I might end up standing against you at some point unwillingly. So take my apology for that here and now for whatever you think it's worth.
I can assure you - if you stand between me and my goal, I won't hesitate to do all in my power to rip you apart. You won't survive. I'll take you down, no matter the cost. No matter how long it takes.
[That's the heart of the matter, the end of the whole discussion. Kazuya will die by his hand. Better find a way to avoid it because he isn't interested in facing off against someone controlled like a goddamn puppet.]
[Akechi says that he means nothing to him. If that's true, then that's a rather honest thing for him to say.
For something like that, Kazuya appreciates the honesty. Appreciates the blunt nature of Akechi's words where they might be a knife to the throat for someone else. After having dealt with someone manipulating him, and knowing that he was being manipulated, it's refreshing.
Maybe that's not healthy.
It's probably not healthy. And yet, when Kazuya speaks, there's no malice, only acceptance in his words. Akechi's are something he can live with. He'll think fondly of the other no matter what happens, he's sure.
Garm makes a grand reappearance from the trash, trotting to Kazuya's side and making an attempt to headbutt him fondly covered in garbage juice and rat viscera, only to be stopped by Kazuya's hand pushing it's head away. ]
I appreciate knowing where I stand with you. [Just so Akechi is clear.] I consider you a friend, though.
[Back to the task at hand, though, Kazuya turns his attention to the demon in full now, and it wags it's tail far too excitedly at the attention.]
Did you catch the scent of any others? An infestation has to be more than six rats.
[And of course, the demon barks. Loud. Obnoxious and sudden, with it's response.
"YES. ME GOOD HUNT DOG. ME CAN FIND MANY HIDING PLACES FOES ARE IN. TEAR THEM TO SHREDS. DEVOUR THEIR BONES. AWOOO."]
Then lead us to them, would you? We're not going to get paid if you just stand around here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cw: suicidal SOMETHING
[It's logical. It's methodical. It's a plan b, c, d, e and for the inevitable failure of plan a. It doesn't change Akechi's stance in the slightest. There is no singular path that allows someone to rely on another. There's no reality where Akechi will turn around to help save a king, when there's another pound of flesh he's after.
The snarling demon and the crunch of bones pull his attention to the alleyway for a moment. Kazuya's words drag him back.]
But a word of warning - you can't rely on anyone. Not your cousin, not me, not that girl waiting for you, not the friends you think will stand by you or anyone in this reality you feel a bond with. They're fragile, unreliable and unnecessary.
[The message clear enough - Kazuya will have to take matters into his own hands. Akechi won't stop him. Might-]
Though in saying that -
[Akechi will-]
If your failure stands in the way of my goal, I won't hesitate to put you down. You have my word on that.
no subject
[And that's the truth of the matter. He can trust Naoya for certain things, but something like this? No, there's no way. Besides, he feels confident that most of the time Naoya's love for him isn't for him, it's for someone who he resembles. Someone who he had the soul of, the brief memories of. Someone he killed, and someone he feels bad for killing, even if he'd never apologize for doing it.
That much is alright with him.
And as for Yuzu... Fragile does seem like a word to describe their now relationship too. He'd hurt her, unknowingly, unwittingly. Made her think that he'd become the worst possible version of himself, even if that's the last thing he thinks that he'd ever want.
But the truth is, she'd left him. She'd left him, when he'd needed her the most. He's not angry about it. Upset, yes, it's a wound that will forever be raw and open, he feels, but he doesn't blame her for it. Could never blame her for it.
But Atsuro... Atsuro didn't leave him. Wouldn't leave him. Followed him as far as he could, and was only stopped when he was physically unable to, and even then, he'd made his complaints heard loud and clear. He'd have followed him down any path he'd taken. He feels that much deep in whatever shredded pieces of his soul that remain.
So again, Akechi isn't necessarily wrong to say what he's saying for the most part. People can be unreliable. For any number of reasons. Some selfish, some out of love. Some out of fear of being hurt.]
Then if that's the word I'll get from you, then that's the word I'll hold you too. Though it's possible that if your goal is to escape this place, then I might end up standing against you at some point unwillingly. So take my apology for that here and now for whatever you think it's worth.
no subject
[That's the heart of the matter, the end of the whole discussion. Kazuya will die by his hand. Better find a way to avoid it because he isn't interested in facing off against someone controlled like a goddamn puppet.]
You mean nothing to me, after all.
no subject
[Akechi says that he means nothing to him. If that's true, then that's a rather honest thing for him to say.
For something like that, Kazuya appreciates the honesty. Appreciates the blunt nature of Akechi's words where they might be a knife to the throat for someone else. After having dealt with someone manipulating him, and knowing that he was being manipulated, it's refreshing.
Maybe that's not healthy.
It's probably not healthy. And yet, when Kazuya speaks, there's no malice, only acceptance in his words. Akechi's are something he can live with. He'll think fondly of the other no matter what happens, he's sure.
Garm makes a grand reappearance from the trash, trotting to Kazuya's side and making an attempt to headbutt him fondly covered in garbage juice and rat viscera, only to be stopped by Kazuya's hand pushing it's head away. ]
I appreciate knowing where I stand with you. [Just so Akechi is clear.] I consider you a friend, though.
[Back to the task at hand, though, Kazuya turns his attention to the demon in full now, and it wags it's tail far too excitedly at the attention.]
Did you catch the scent of any others? An infestation has to be more than six rats.
[And of course, the demon barks. Loud. Obnoxious and sudden, with it's response.
"YES. ME GOOD HUNT DOG. ME CAN FIND MANY HIDING PLACES FOES ARE IN. TEAR THEM TO SHREDS. DEVOUR THEIR BONES. AWOOO."]
Then lead us to them, would you? We're not going to get paid if you just stand around here.
wanna wrap here <3
[Go on, little Garm.
Akechi will follow for however long it takes to clear this shithole and earn some points with the locals.]