Rec Room | Day #5

[assent]

[ By seven thirty, she's actually grateful Akechi chose a later time as she's had the chance to have a nap and shower before going to the Rec Room to meet him. She's wearing a pretty simple red dress but there's a white belt around the middle as well. The only problem is that it does very little to hide the bite mark on her neck from earlier that afternoon, but the closet of clothes she has been given didn't include scarves so she's... stuck with this for now.

The Rec room isn't a place she's spent too much time in yet, so while she waits for him to arrive she wanders around and examines what there is to do there. On the side she's left something for them to drink (though thinking about it, she isn't sure if wine was the best idea--but it's pretty common at home to drink it so it came as a second thought) too, along with the last box of chocolates she got from the bingo prizes.

She looks up when the door opens, however, smiling at Akechi as she moves to greet her properly. ]

Good evening.

Comments

[assent]

[ Wow that sure is. A lot of stuff.

She stays quiet as he explains, leaning back in her seat to get comfy, sipping at her wine as he goes through all the details of it all. ]

Despite the difficulties, it seems as though you are quite forward thinking.

[afailedmurder]

[Pleased to be praised, as always.]

I'm determined, at the very least. As long as my cute boyfriend is happy and my scumbag father is suffering, that's all I need. So I'll do whatever's necessary.

[assent]

[ That sure is one hell of a sentence, Akechi. ]

That is true, I cannot imagine you backing down easily. And... I am certain Saihara-san is lucky to have you.

[afailedmurder]

I'm the one who's lucky. He doesn't even care that I'm a—

[whoops, better cut that thought right off]

[assent]

...Akechi-san?

[ That was super obvious though like. There's no way she wouldn't respond to that. ]

[afailedmurder]

[laughs nervously]

Oh, uh— hmm. Alcohol certainly loosens the lips, doesn't it?

[downs the rest of his glass, because surely that will help?]

[assent]

[ That... won't help?? ]

If you do not wish to talk about it, that is fine.

[ Her eyes drift away. ] But please do not laugh it off either.

[afailedmurder]

[his laugh quickly disappears]

I'm trying to learn to be more... open? Honest? I want to be someone who can be a friend to others. But I've already lied to you.

[assent]

People lie to each other all the time.

[ That is probably not what he wants to hear. ]

If you make that mistake, the way to correct it is by apologizing then telling the truth, is it not? If you are worried about it, you do not need to. I already forgive you. You are my friend, after all.

[ And that may be partly there because Shuichi told her he'd probably appreciate it--but also because it's the truth. ]

[afailedmurder]

Ah... thank you. I'm glad.

[Shuichi was right on the money, because he appreciates that very much indeed.]

And I'm sorry for lying. The truth is, I really was the killer in that story.

[assent]

[ Shuichi is a good boyfriend, obviously. ]

Thank you for the apology. I can understand why you did not wish to say, however... everyone has reasons for their actions, yes? A motive?

[ Though it's very hard to not just grip his hands and go starry eyed at him I'm sorry, Akechi. She's a disaster. ] There must have been a reason you did it.

[afailedmurder]

I was trying to become close to my father — close enough to enact my revenge.

...But I didn't stand a chance against him. I took the power that fate had granted me, which was meant to dole out justice, and became his dancing marionette.

[Bitter, bitter. He holds out his empty glass.]

[assent]

Politicians are very creative with their means of manipulation. It is no wonder everyone around them becomes... I suppose tainted is the best word for it. To be a politician you often have to be merciless and only care about power. The fact that you were swept up in it... it is not your fault, you realise? He is the one to blame.

[ She doesn’t refill the glass right away though, instead standing up with her chair to drag it closer to him. Once she’s seated again she offers him a smile, tipping more wine into the glass. Then: ] Would you like a hug?

[ He sounds like he needs one tbh ]

[afailedmurder]

[Instead of taking another drink he sets the glass down and nods at her dumbly. He really, really does.]

[assent]

Here.

[ The smile she offers is understanding, even if she can only really truly understand parts of this--it isn't like she's lived through it. Her arms open for him though, ready to curl around his neck as she leans in and up to do just that. ]

[afailedmurder]

[Hesitates at first, but soon he's leaning in to embrace her, burying his face in her shoulder.]

[assent]

[ She didn't quite think this throat as her shoulder stings as he leans into it, but thankfully she's able to not flinch nor make a noise when it happens. Instead, she focuses on trying to soothe him. ]

There, see. Much better, no?

[afailedmurder]

[Eventually he pulls away, nodding and wiping away a couple of stray tears.]

You're very kind.

[assent]

[ Seeing him wipe away the tears makes her struggle to not frown instead. She glances at the wine. ]

Someone here told me that they drank to forget things... Would you like to try it?

[ Thanks Futayo. Look what you've done. ]

[afailedmurder]

[smiles a little at that]

That sounds like a plan.

[assent]

Then, when we finish this bottle we can go and get more, all right? It will be interesting to see if it actually works.

[ She'll even go and pour out more into both their glasses. ]

And as you have shared so much with me, is there anything you would like to know about myself?

[afailedmurder]

[Peers down at his glass, then back up at her.]

What are you drinking to forget?

[assent]

[ She peers down at her glass, takes a sip of it and smiles faintly. ]

If we are going to be opening up like this... I suppose I should be honest and say "who I am supposed to be", no?

[afailedmurder]

I see. It's not easy, to live up to the standards of others.

[this much, he understands]

[assent]

It is not merely that. [ She pauses. ] But it is tiring, not wishing to let your people down by being something different from what they expect, yes.

[ But she isn’t going into the other thing either. ]