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]

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. ]

[afailedmurder]

[Mumbling into his drink now]

S'bullshit.

[assent]

[ She's just, going to reach out and curl her hand around the edge of his drink. ]

For a moment, please.

[ She means to take it and put it on the side--if only to hug him again, still a little overwhelmed by the kindness that came from that. ]

[afailedmurder]

[He lets her take the glass. Though the way he leans in, maybe it's not a hug he's expecting.]

[assent]

[ Akechi...

help.

She puts the glass on the side then shifts around, trying to work out the best way to do this--oblivious to what he... thinks is happening here apparently. Eventually it's probably worse as she ends up having to slide off her chair to slide onto his lap instead, leaning in to cuddle instead apparently. It's a little embarrassing and more than she should probably be doing (nevermind what he thinks she was going for apparently???) but it's really warm. ]

...Thank you. From my time here, also, you have shown me nothing but kindness, your intelligence and have made me laugh... so I think you are more than that, also.

[afailedmurder]

[He had expected a light smooch, but this situation is well beyond the realm of his comprehension. He only spends a couple of seconds trying to discern whether this indicates success or failure at dating before settling into the embrace. This is fine either way.]

I... still wonder, sometimes. But it's better now that I'm not alone. That's what I want you to understand.

[assent]

[ Sorry, Akechi, this is what happens when you and your boyfriend are very open about being together, but are a bit less open about seriously trying to date other people too.

But at least this is nice and warm. ]

Perhaps so. Saihara-san makes you happy, yes? In that case, I hope you are able to stay together for longer.

[ And she'll just avoid talking about her side of things This Is Fine. ]

[afailedmurder]

[It's weird to talk about!]

Of course, I can't let him leave me. I'd sooner die than go back to being alone.

Don't you ever feel like that?

[assent]

[ It is but now look at this mess. ]

...I cannot say I do, though I have not been in love either. Perhaps that is the difference.

[afailedmurder]

It's not about love. I do love him, of course, but I've just... spent too much of my life all alone.

...I thought you seemed lonely, when you talked about your people. That's all. Maybe I'm only projecting... that's something I've been known to do.

[assent]

I am, but dying would not help them in the end, would it? Making that choice seems a little... [ She trails off, uncertain if she wants to continue with her line of thought. ] It is just not something I would consider.

My belief is that my time to die will be when my country needs me to die, after all.

[ Morbid????? ]

[afailedmurder]

...It's funny. I wouldn't have thought that meeting someone whose political power hadn't completely eroded their principles would be so depressing.

[assent]

...Perhaps because I can see that at the moment no matter how hard I struggle there is very little I can do, even if I wish to change things.

[ She pauses. ]

All I am able to do is bide my time until I am coronated.

[afailedmurder]

[Maybe that's fine? ...Maybe? Joker would know the right thing to say, but as it is, Akechi feels like he's too drunk to even completely wrap his brain around it.]

I'm sorry.

[assent]

You need not apologise. If anything, I should be apologising for making you sad.

[ It may or may not be why she hasn't moved away yet and is still cuddling him. ]