Not Again! With Akira

[shortforever]

Comments

[shortforever]

[He considers the note for a moment.]

Yeah? Well, whatever the note says, they must've trusted you a lot to send it to you.

[survivaltricks]

. . . I hope so.

[he smiles a bit, expression thoughtful]

I really need to find out who sent it. It's. . . [a pause before he emphasizes the next word] Extremely important.

[shortforever]

Yeah?

[He perks up a little at that.]

If I were the person who sent that note, what would you tell me?

1/2

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

I'd ask if you're the new Career Counselor.

[survivaltricks]

[— and as soon as he says that he looks?? a bit shocked??]

1/2

[shortforever]

[Chuuya actually braces himself, like he's expecting some kind of backlash, but then it's fucking nothing???]

[shortforever]

[And then, an equal amount of shock.]

--you! You're someone special, huh?

[survivaltricks]

[aaaaah]

[aaaaaaaaaaah]






[IMMEDIATELY JUST REACHES OUT TO CLING TO CHUUYA LIKE A MAN DESPERATE FOR AFFECTION. no words only hugs now]

[shortforever]

[WELP. This sure is a hug, and he'll hug Akira back. He can tell Akira needs it. But it's not going to be wordless on his side of things.]

How long? I've only been at it a day! Purple said I needed to be careful, but I didn't think I'd come across someone else with a special role so easily.

[He should have expected it though, Akira has been really on the ball during this game.]

[survivaltricks]

[quietly, his fingers curling into Chuuya's shirt. he may be getting blood on him, sorry. he also dropped a crutch]

Since the beginning.

[he sounds oh-so tired]

I knew about Sanji, too. I was the first person he checked.

We've been working together since the very beginning.

[shortforever]

[Ah. No wonder Akira needs a hug. Bleeding's okay, his clothes have already been messed up since the bloodbath in leopard cabin on Monday morning.]

So it's not true then, right? That Sanji went after Magnus. Because if you both had roles, he would've been keeping you in the know.

[survivaltricks]

It's not.

[. . .]

[he pulls back from the hug, hands resting on Chuuya's shoulders. this is what's keeping him upright now that he doesn't have his crutches]

. . . but it's also true that you need to trust Magnus.

[. . .]

You need to.

[with one hand still holding himself upright, he pulls another note from his pocket. it's. . . well. it's this]

[shortforever]

Now that you can actually tell me shit, you're gonna need to explain a bit more.

[Also, that note.]

Right. Okay. So we're going to 'totally not a murder'. Do we need to bring actual swimsuits?

[survivaltricks]

I'll explain the rest of it at the pizza party. That's today, by the way.

[his lips twitch, amusement appearing in his one good eye]

And nope. Don't tell me you plan on going swimming with open wounds?

[shortforever]

What open wounds?

[He gestures to himself. All he got at the mansion were acid burns, so the only 'open wound' on him is the cut on his hand.]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . points to the acid burns!!]

Those count. I bet they wouldn't play nice with chlorine.

[shortforever]

[SHRUG]

I'll figure something out. So is this 'pizza party' for more people like us? Or do we have to keep it quiet?

[survivaltricks]

[he lifts a finger to his lips, expression softening]

The people you meet at the party are people you can trust. People like us.

. . . but you can't share with anyone outside of that group. Okay?

[he knows how much that sucks, especially since he can't tell Lili (his other important game ally), but. . . better safe than sorry]

[right. . .?]

[shortforever]

[he nods.]

Got it. No need for knives or whatever happened to Taako.

[survivaltricks]

Exactly.

[. . .]

[and he reaches out again, this time sliding his hand behind Chuuya's head so he can thunk their foreheads together]

I'm glad it's you.

[shortforever]

[Ah. This is very close. Chuuya is flustered for a moment by it, but he pushes those feelings aside because Akira needs reassurance right now.]

of course it'd be me, dummy. I'm Purple's favorite.

But I'm glad I can actually talk to you about it, instead of leaving you a code to track down in case I die.

[survivaltricks]

[there is so much relief and gentleness in the movement that Chuuya is right-- it's a clear request for reassurance and support. it's nice to have someone he knows he can trust-- someone he'd give his life to protect-- on his side. in the know]

[he hated keeping secrets. he hated not being able to talk about it. and now he can, and there's relief in knowing that]

Me too. [a huffed noise] Is that what "rainbow raindrops" meant?

[shortforever]

[It's okay Akira, he's got you. He's still learning how to comfort people, but he'll try.]

Yeah. I was gonna start carrying a clue on me, in case I died. One that only you would know the meaning to.

[survivaltricks]

Something related to the password, right?

[a huffed laugh]

Well, I'm glad I didn't have to wait until you died to find out. It's much easier this way.

[shortforever]

And preferable to dying in general. Dazai would go on a rampage, and I'd hate to let Purple down.