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]

[ 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. ]

[afailedmurder]

[noting the reluctance]

Whatever it is, I'm in no position to judge you. Only the wine can do that, and it won't survive to see the morning.

[assent]

I suppose you are correct. [ She takes another drink. ]

Though it is not that I am worried about that either. It is just... every person i have told has grown worried or... or rather shocked at how different things are where I am from.

[afailedmurder]

I can't promise I won't worry... but I don't think anything could shock me at this point in my life.

[assent]

In my country children are taught how to operate tanks, how to utilise weaponry when they are in elementary school. That is merely one thing, of course.

[afailedmurder]

[Clearly surprised, but still rather calm about the whole thing.]

Are you at war?

[assent]

[ She pauses at that. ]

Not exactly, though I would not say it is peaceful either. We are one of the few countries that is still ruled by a monarchy. Not everyone is happy about that. Alongside that, due to our small size, other neighbouring countries have taken interest in the land as well.

[ What a mess. ] I have been kidnapped before, when insurgents have tried to use me as a bargaining chip for a political regime or stance. Perhaps that is why this situation does not bother me.

[ Except it does bother her, of course it does. ]

[afailedmurder]

...I'm sorry.

[What else can he even say to that? It's not like he can go about destroying the opposition for her (anymore).]

[assent]

It is fine... At least tonight we can drink and try and forget together, yes?

[ This is not how dates are supposed to go though. ]

[afailedmurder]

It's not fine! Why should you have to live like that?

[Far from forgetful, the liquor is mostly just getting him all riled up.]

[assent]

[ She winces at his outburst. ]

Akechi-san, it is fine... It is what I have grown up with. Before I travelled abroad, it is all I knew. I did not know to be bitter about it, in a way.

[ She sips the wine. ]

At least I can enjoy my time here, yes?

[afailedmurder]

It's not fine! You deserve some kind of choice about how to live your own life! Are you even happy?

[more and more emotional]

[assent]

Do I? [ She pauses, observing him quietly. ] Is my happiness really more important than the thousands of lives I am to govern?

...I understand what you are saying, but I cannot afford that kind of selfishness.

[afailedmurder]

So you're not happy.

[leaning into his chair and knocking back some more wine]

Why is other people's happiness more important than yours?

[assent]

I... [ She hesitates, as though she's forgotten the answer to that. ] ...I have a duty as princess to ensure their happiness. They are my responsibility.

[afailedmurder]

People are the worst. You think they care about you? Only to your face. They'll just use you and thrrrow you away.

[did he slur that just a bit? no, no, he's fine]

[assent]

Of course they do not, to them I am not a person. [ She pauses, quiet as she watches him and somehow this doesn't feel like it's about her anymore anyway. ] Do you wish to talk about it some more, Akechi-san?

[afailedmurder]

[Is it ever not at least a little bit about himself with this guy? Probably not, but he's trying his best.]

No, I don't want to talk about it! You are a person! You're a charming, intelligent, beautiful true crime otaku who kicks my ass at Battleship!

[assent]

[ He really is trying his best. Bless you, Akechi.

Especially as that startles her enough to stop, her head dropping a bit, face heating up because while his demeanor may have slipped, the words themselves definitely sound honest and they're... nice?

It's nice to hear.

Though she isn't entirely sure how to respond to something so sincere yet a flurry of words at the same time. ]