[They've been following the same routine for a while now - a year, at least, though Eren thinks it might be more. He runs to the castle--
[It's in ruins, the land overgrown. Eren pulls out his device, pulling up Akechi's username and hitting call. With the phone pressed up to his ear, he glares at the ground. This isn't right, which means something's not right, so--]
Hey. Where are you? [His voice sounds...
[Awake. Engaged. As casual as it is aggravated, and punctuated by the sound of someone gathering up saliva and spitting it onto the ground. How unrefined...]
There's some weird shit going on. Vash's castle is gone.
[Where are you? should be Akechi's line, but Eren steals it the moment his finger hits 'accept call' on his phone.
The voice is -
Odd. Different. Enough to raise Akechi's hackles to a potential issue - there are plenty to go around this month. Vash's castle is gone is another indicator. There's a small chance that Eren is screwing around, as rare as that is and if he isn't-
Well, Akechi isn't putting on airs around him. He'll get the correct one back.]
If you're taking up playing pranks as a hobby, this is a poor one. I suggest you stop wasting both of our times and get over here.
[Eren might not have been wise to anything a moment ago, but he's been in Visium a long time now. When something doesn't make sense right away...
[Well. It could just be his mind. He seems to have forgotten that too. The disorientation is too familiar. He blinks, and visions of faces pass over the backs of his eyelids; Vash's castle is still gone.]
This is where we always meet. I'm not fucking around--
[The machiya. Maruki stays there too - Kurusu, Venat, that Adachi guy, that girl Eren can't stand...]
Shit. Never mind that. My head's all screwed up again.
I'm on my way.
[He abruptly ends the call. Not fifteen minutes later, and he's jogging up to the machiya's front door.]
[Akechi's response is cut off when Eren ends the call with no warning.
My head's all screwed up again - that's a confirmation of a problem, stated in a way that's uniquely Eren. My head's all screwed up again like he's relaying the weather, requesting a meal at dinner, and not combating mental distortions.
Akechi waits outside anyway. Unsure if Eren can will make it. His wellbeing isn't a concern - Eren's strong. No matter what, he'll be fine. There are distractions, other issues, other memories that could drag him elsewhere. Akechi isn't interesting in trying to leash a runaway dog today, but he will.
Doesn't need to, it turns out. Eren arrives and looks the same as ever.]
Should we bother with doing this? If you're unwell, it's more prudent to stay inside until it wears off.
He's reminded of a shared snack in a tavern, each stepping on the other's toes.]
It doesn't matter what happened to it. You'll remember soon enough - I doubt explaining would jog your memory.
[Akechi wants to punch him. The urge is strong enough to make his fingers twitch by his sides. It might be enough to knock what little sense remains back into him.
He'll think about it and motions forward with his hand to get Eren started alongside him.]
It doesn't shock me this ailment has taken hold of you. Your mind is-
[Just as if they were transported back in time, Eren shoves back. They continue down along the path anyway, and he still has it memorized. He snarls at Akechi as they run.]
What did I do to piss you off this time, huh? Took a wrong turn?
We haven't even turned yet. At least pick a better reason.
[Eren's giant body with his younger attitude is something else - Akechi's shoved. He doesn't hate it. Keeps going all the same.]
I'm calm. If I seem irritated, it's only your own perception and I'm sure you'll forget that in a few moments as well. [He's literally never mad. ♥] Though I have a theory on how to stop this issue. Are you interested?
[It lands - hard, with a crunch that makes steam rise from Eren's bent nose. Blood pours, and he can't so much as look stunned before he's lunging for Akechi. He'll aim for a punch, and he'll deliver one if he has time, but the real goal is distracting Akechi long enough to sweep his legs out from under him. He wants to pin him to the ground.]
[The punch hits with a loud thud on the side of his face, near his chin. Teeth clench. This might be the happiest he's felt in some time.
It's a shame it's not really Eren giving in right now. Not the one he wants, but-
It's fine. It works. He's gone through the foot sweep before and manages to barely sidestep the first attempt. Fool him once and all that - he learns. Eren's an enemy with a pattern, like any other shadow in Mementos. He won't be taken off-guard.]
Hah - you think that will work again? [Mean. Mocking.] You tried that shit before.
[Akechi moves in for another punch, his other hand reaches for Eren's shirt to pull him close, if he can. Close quarters with him is dangerous. It's a necessary risk to get him back.]
[Eren ducks easily away from the second punch, and away from Akechi's grasp too. At fifteen, he graduated at the top of his class in hand-to-hand combat; he's done a hell of a lot of fighting in the past four years since.
[He comes in for a sharp blow to Akechi's stomach, then another around to the side of his face in a swift one-two. He'll kick him straight to the ground if he can. If he can't, he'll try to muscle him down with all the force of a pissed off bulldozer.]
You piece of shit. This is exactly what you've been waiting for, isn't it?
[Akechi's face stings, he can't breathe and his back slams into the ground with a thud that promises to ache in the morning. It feels like he won despite it. He looks up at Eren and spits out a curse that's barely audible - shoves his fingers and palms against his body to gain enough leverage to flip them around.]
You must think so highly of yourself to assume I waited for you in any way.
[Eren's back hits the ground, and he lets out a cruel laugh. Immediately, there's a hand in Akechi's hair, roughly yanking his head to the side with only a little less force than it would take to snap someone's neck.]
If you think you stand a chance against me like this, you're crazy.
[That's Eren's cue to bring his knee up into Akechi's gut. He hopes he makes him puke. He should be easy to throw off after that, Eren thinks. He'll stand up if Akechi doesn't drag him down again.
[Either way:]
You can keep trying if you want. I'll break every bone in your body, then drag you to the crystal myself. Hell, I'll even use my own shards to put you back together.
[Loki could end this. It would take one attack and Eren would be pushed off, almost dead.
He doesn't summon it. Unnecessary in the wake of a threat that may come to fruition. Akechi lacks the desire to stop it.
Bile surges up his throat - he swallows it back down. Spits out salvia to the side and takes a deep inhale he can despite the sting in his chest. Eren stands back up - Akechi won't allow it. He can't breathe, but he reaches up to grasp at the rising edge of Eren's shirt and jerks him back towards the ground. If Eren doesn't fall, Akechi will pull himself up with the fabric so he can throw all his weight against Eren.]
I'm so scared - what a frightening man you are. [It ends with a laugh - a vile little uptick to his tone. Mocking. Amused. He hates Eren with all his heart.] Will you even remember that little threat in a few minutes? Perhaps you'll blink and forget all of this.
[Akechi's weight feels like nothing. It hits Eren, and he wraps both arms, strong, around Akechi. It's not a tender hold - a restraint, keeping the boy pinned against his chest no matter how he struggles.]
Tell me why you're really upset, Akechi.
[His voice is a growl in Akechi's ear; Eren squeezes tighter. It's an exercise in restraint not to break bones.]
[It's pointless to struggle. He does anyway - pushes, shoves, tries to rip himself free with his fingers and legs. He wishes they were fighting. This is embaressing. Eren remains static and steady and all Akechi can do is fight off awkward humiliation of being held.]
I'm not upset. Do you think something this minor would bother me? Don't make me laugh.
[There's the answer. Something is wrong. Eren knew it as soon as he saw the ruins of Vash's castle. Akechi explains: 'You aren't yourself, and I won't stand for it.' It isn't a matter of time, nor destruction; just a matter of Eren, and Akechi, knowing that something is wrong with one of his people, not knowing what, not knowing how to fix it...
[This place is a unique Hell. Eren loosens his grip and stands up straight.]
Alright.
[He pulls his arms away. He keeps his eyes on his friend.]
Help me fix it, then. Let's investigate. [There's still that spark inside of him, that gleam in his eye. Once the mystery is solved, it will all fade.
[For now, he firmly nods his head, confident in that young, stupid way.]
We can clean your face up first if you really want.
[Let's investigate isn't good enough, but Akechi acquiesces anyway. It's not denial. It's not ignoring the problem. Eren wants to solve it and so does Akechi. Fists didn't work and the alternative is running through the various issues it could be - several come to mind, but there's never a guarantee when Eren's involved.
Akechi steps back - brushes off his pants and fixes his shirt. There's blood dripping from his nose. That's annoying. He rubs it with the back of hand and there's no glove to hide the smear of red.]
I can't wander around like this. We'll turn around so I can wash up in the Machiya - it's not that far back. Then we'll begin to look for a cure for your distorted mind.
[He's beautiful, bleeding like that. Eren pictures himself cradling Akechi's sore face and getting his hand bitten through. He looks him over because he can't touch him, takes a photo with his mind. He doesn't think he'll forget this sight.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
audio; un: eren (april event)
[It's in ruins, the land overgrown. Eren pulls out his device, pulling up Akechi's username and hitting call. With the phone pressed up to his ear, he glares at the ground. This isn't right, which means something's not right, so--]
Hey. Where are you? [His voice sounds...
[Awake. Engaged. As casual as it is aggravated, and punctuated by the sound of someone gathering up saliva and spitting it onto the ground. How unrefined...]
There's some weird shit going on. Vash's castle is gone.
audio
The voice is -
Odd. Different. Enough to raise Akechi's hackles to a potential issue - there are plenty to go around this month. Vash's castle is gone is another indicator. There's a small chance that Eren is screwing around, as rare as that is and if he isn't-
Well, Akechi isn't putting on airs around him. He'll get the correct one back.]
If you're taking up playing pranks as a hobby, this is a poor one. I suggest you stop wasting both of our times and get over here.
no subject
[Well. It could just be his mind. He seems to have forgotten that too. The disorientation is too familiar. He blinks, and visions of faces pass over the backs of his eyelids; Vash's castle is still gone.]
This is where we always meet. I'm not fucking around--
[The machiya. Maruki stays there too - Kurusu, Venat, that Adachi guy, that girl Eren can't stand...]
Shit. Never mind that. My head's all screwed up again.
I'm on my way.
[He abruptly ends the call. Not fifteen minutes later, and he's jogging up to the machiya's front door.]
no subject
My head's all screwed up again - that's a confirmation of a problem, stated in a way that's uniquely Eren. My head's all screwed up again like he's relaying the weather, requesting a meal at dinner, and not combating mental distortions.
Akechi waits outside anyway. Unsure if Eren can will make it. His wellbeing isn't a concern - Eren's strong. No matter what, he'll be fine. There are distractions, other issues, other memories that could drag him elsewhere. Akechi isn't interesting in trying to leash a runaway dog today, but he will.
Doesn't need to, it turns out. Eren arrives and looks the same as ever.]
Should we bother with doing this? If you're unwell, it's more prudent to stay inside until it wears off.
no subject
[His voice is two steps too loud for the hour, snotty and sneering.]
I'm fine. You know how I get. [Those words are sharp, defensive.]
What happened to that place anyway?
no subject
He's reminded of a shared snack in a tavern, each stepping on the other's toes.]
It doesn't matter what happened to it. You'll remember soon enough - I doubt explaining would jog your memory.
[Akechi wants to punch him. The urge is strong enough to make his fingers twitch by his sides. It might be enough to knock what little sense remains back into him.
He'll think about it and motions forward with his hand to get Eren started alongside him.]
It doesn't shock me this ailment has taken hold of you. Your mind is-
Fascinating, these days.
this is so weeeeeird!!!
If you have something to say, say it. I don't need my mind to kick your ass.
SPOOKY SCARY
It's not unwelcome. A decision is made with that singular act.
Akechi elbows him back - not only that, he shoves Eren's body to throw him off balance.]
What good would that do? You may wake up tomorrow morning and forget that as well. No, I'm fine to keep my thoughts to myself.
no subject
What did I do to piss you off this time, huh? Took a wrong turn?
no subject
[Eren's giant body with his younger attitude is something else - Akechi's shoved. He doesn't hate it. Keeps going all the same.]
I'm calm. If I seem irritated, it's only your own perception and I'm sure you'll forget that in a few moments as well. [He's literally never mad. ♥] Though I have a theory on how to stop this issue. Are you interested?
no subject
I'm dying to know.
no subject
Standing in a laundromat, facing down a sworn enemy, and ensuring Kurusu's grasp on reality was solid enough to see their shared goal.
Akechi remembers, in that moment, how ready he was to beat Kurusu down.
Recalls when Kurusu arrived lacking those same memories how much resolve it took to keep from pummeling him on the spot and-
With Eren, somehow-
He can't resist, so he doesn't.
The second 'dying to know' leaves his lips, Akechi throws a punch right at his face.]
FUCK YEAAAAAAAH
LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cw: THEY'RE FIGHTIN
It's a shame it's not really Eren giving in right now. Not the one he wants, but-
It's fine. It works. He's gone through the foot sweep before and manages to barely sidestep the first attempt. Fool him once and all that - he learns. Eren's an enemy with a pattern, like any other shadow in Mementos. He won't be taken off-guard.]
Hah - you think that will work again? [Mean. Mocking.] You tried that shit before.
[Akechi moves in for another punch, his other hand reaches for Eren's shirt to pull him close, if he can. Close quarters with him is dangerous. It's a necessary risk to get him back.]
cw: violence against akechis
[He comes in for a sharp blow to Akechi's stomach, then another around to the side of his face in a swift one-two. He'll kick him straight to the ground if he can. If he can't, he'll try to muscle him down with all the force of a pissed off bulldozer.]
You piece of shit. This is exactly what you've been waiting for, isn't it?
cw: still fightin
You must think so highly of yourself to assume I waited for you in any way.
no subject
If you think you stand a chance against me like this, you're crazy.
[That's Eren's cue to bring his knee up into Akechi's gut. He hopes he makes him puke. He should be easy to throw off after that, Eren thinks. He'll stand up if Akechi doesn't drag him down again.
[Either way:]
You can keep trying if you want. I'll break every bone in your body, then drag you to the crystal myself. Hell, I'll even use my own shards to put you back together.
cw: emeto mention
He doesn't summon it. Unnecessary in the wake of a threat that may come to fruition. Akechi lacks the desire to stop it.
Bile surges up his throat - he swallows it back down. Spits out salvia to the side and takes a deep inhale he can despite the sting in his chest. Eren stands back up - Akechi won't allow it. He can't breathe, but he reaches up to grasp at the rising edge of Eren's shirt and jerks him back towards the ground. If Eren doesn't fall, Akechi will pull himself up with the fabric so he can throw all his weight against Eren.]
I'm so scared - what a frightening man you are. [It ends with a laugh - a vile little uptick to his tone. Mocking. Amused. He hates Eren with all his heart.] Will you even remember that little threat in a few minutes? Perhaps you'll blink and forget all of this.
cw: more...violence, wretchedness, etc.
Tell me why you're really upset, Akechi.
[His voice is a growl in Akechi's ear; Eren squeezes tighter. It's an exercise in restraint not to break bones.]
What did I forget that's so important?
weh
I'm not upset. Do you think something this minor would bother me? Don't make me laugh.
[He's calm.]
You aren't yourself and I won't stand for it.
no subject
[This place is a unique Hell. Eren loosens his grip and stands up straight.]
Alright.
[He pulls his arms away. He keeps his eyes on his friend.]
Help me fix it, then. Let's investigate. [There's still that spark inside of him, that gleam in his eye. Once the mystery is solved, it will all fade.
[For now, he firmly nods his head, confident in that young, stupid way.]
We can clean your face up first if you really want.
no subject
[Let's investigate isn't good enough, but Akechi acquiesces anyway. It's not denial. It's not ignoring the problem. Eren wants to solve it and so does Akechi. Fists didn't work and the alternative is running through the various issues it could be - several come to mind, but there's never a guarantee when Eren's involved.
Akechi steps back - brushes off his pants and fixes his shirt. There's blood dripping from his nose. That's annoying. He rubs it with the back of hand and there's no glove to hide the smear of red.]
I can't wander around like this. We'll turn around so I can wash up in the Machiya - it's not that far back. Then we'll begin to look for a cure for your distorted mind.
ARE WE WRAPPIN???
Alright. Let's go.