[catch all for belph]

[survivaltricks]

Comments

[survivaltricks]

[JUST]

[PRESSES A HAND AGAINST HIS FACE]

Did he-- did he mention anything about a soul-eating mansion? Because he was definitely in the mansion with us, too.

[. . .]

He's also my-- [. . .????] . . . friend. Probably. It's hard to tell with him.

[axilium]

Nope. Pretty sure the castle was his one and only rodeo.

[though. oh dear.]

But I can tell how it'd be... complicated with him. [...] Since he's your friend, I'll give you some friendly advice: be careful about mentioning his name to others. He and I got on okay, even though he probably thought about killing me a few times, but I can safely say that by the end, he was not a popular guy.

[survivaltricks]

[this]

[does not surprise Akira at all, and it shows]

. . . did he kill anyone while he was there?

[which. makes it clear that Akira is aware of his true nature]

[axilium]

He was kind of a serial killer and kept getting away with it, through a mixture of luck, having a role, and the power of love. So, yes.

[survivaltricks]

[JUST]

[PRESSES HIS HAND AGAINST HIS FACE. AGAIN. and mutters at himself Akechi you goddamned idiot--]

-- wait. Power of love?

[somehow that does not seem anything like the Akechi he knows]

[axilium]

Oh, yeah. He got a boyfriend who saved his life, like, twice, and at the end he ran off with him to his world to become an idol, probably. True story.

Does he not normally do that?

1/2

[survivaltricks]

[survivaltricks]

Llllllet's just say it's almost impossible for me to imagine the Akechi I know in any kind of committed relationship.

Or any sort of relationship that involves. . . you know. Feelings.

[GRIMM AKECHI WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO]

[axilium]

If it helps at all, Eichi was very similar to him. I cannot say in good faith it was a healthy relationship aside the fact that they probably made each other happy in their own, I-would-kill-a-man-for-you way.

[survivaltricks]

[UGH!!!]

. . . yeah. I guess he'd be pretty attracted to anyone who was similar to him.

[it's kind of sad, he thinks. but he doesn't say that aloud]

For the record, the Akechi back at the mansion didn't kill anyone, though I don't doubt he would've had things been different. He was a big part of why we were able to kill the house, too.

He was one of those "Professors" I mentioned before.

[axilium]

To be fair, our Akechi did try hard to help everyone. It's just that his efforts involved murder. Like drowning Evan Hansen.

But I'm glad that an alternate version of him managed to not stab people.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . . . . .]

[YEAH THAT SOUNDS LIKE AKECHI, TOO. trying to help people by drowning them. jesus fucking christ]

I-- I know I shouldn't claim responsibility for him when I wasn't there, but. . .

I'm sorry for everything about him.

[axilium]

[he waves a hand.]

It's fine. It might be because by the end we were all completely dead inside, but like I said, I was one of the few people who didn't hate him. He was pretty tolerable when not killing people.

[survivaltricks]

[JUST. . . breathes out deeply, his expression shifting to something a little more. . . sympathetic and conflicted]

He's from my world, you know? [if Belph couldn't tell] And his life has been. . . [. . .]

. . . he's a jerk, but-- I want the best for him.

I really do.

[axilium]

Yeah, I got the hints of tragic backstory and him dying.

But for what it's worth, I think he considered his fate a happy one, by the end. Since, you know, he ran off with his boyfriend. Also, I think he was bringing back his mother figure or whatever.

[survivaltricks]

[this isn't satisfactory for Akira, tho!1]

. . . his mother figure?

[axilium]

[he shrugs.]

He said he was going to ask one of his Historian colleagues to come with him. Dunno much about their relationship, but he admitted to seeing her as family, sort of.

[survivaltricks]

[ah. . .]

His real mother died when he was very young. So. . .

[y. you know. he grew up without family, without friends. . . somehow, it's not super surprising that an Akechi without any positive influences turned out this way]

[axilium]

Yeah, I got the impression that family was a sore subject for him.

[survivaltricks]

. . .

His biological father was a complete asshole, so that's not. . . surprising.

[god. way to dredge up his one billion and ten Akechi feelings, Belph]

[axilium]

[you're welcome]

Family's like that sometimes.

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

They are.

[the distant expression and pause continue, before Akira shakes his head]

Anyway. Thanks for sharing that with me. Akechi wasn't exactly popular back at the mansion, either. . . but nobody could deny that he was trying.

[. . .]

For a definition of trying.

[axilium]

[a snort]

He definitely does his best at something, that's for sure.

[survivaltricks]

[god. just. rubs a hand at his face. fuck!!1]

You know, apparently Magnus recognizes me from his game, too. But I don't remember anything about it.

I've heard of the whole "multiple selves" theory but being face-to-face with it is kind of eerie.

[axilium]

Here's hoping for your sake that other you didn't do anything embarrassing.