[gently, Akira rocks to the side to brush his shoulder against Luna's. she's talking about other people, but. . . what about her pain?]
Mm. I know.
She asked me to look after Isaac if she ever died. I guess. . . she never thought someone would target a kid like him.
[he never called Isaac a kid to his face. he knew the younger boy would have hated that. but to Luna. . . ? he isn't about to beat around the bush of Isaac's age]
[it's hard to say, when they don't know the circumstances around either Ayabe or Isaac's deaths. he leans into her as well, sinking a little bit into the contact, even if it isn't entirely comfortable to press up against a metal robot skeleton i'm so sorry luna]
But we'll find out who is responsible tomorrow. Just like we do every week.
[It's fine, she knows she's not very cozy right now]
We know what's responsible. I...
I'm so tired of having to find a culprit when that's not the case at all. I... I hate that we're becoming... accustomed to this...
We can only lose three more. If someone is convicted, and they are killed... that brings us to two. And if someone is murdered and, likewise, their murderer convicted next week...
[She'll nod, but otherwise stay silent for a long few moments. She knows he's right. She knows that to look for a more immediate option, at this point, might not even be feasible. But after what happened with the red bell, with the eyes and the grin and the hunger that couldn't be satiated, it's hard not to be frightened of what's to come.]
I... I hope people are willing to speak towards Akechi's ideas, if they're able. I know emotions will be raw, but... if we really do have everything we need to make a decision about this place, we... we need to figure it out.
[It's hard to think about right this second, if only for how badly the loss of Ayabe and Isaac hurts her deep inside. But there's nothing she can do about those feelings right now, except stow them away.]
I think. . . we're at the point where everyone is. Honestly.
[or. well. he hopes they are. they need to be]
I'm going to make the announcement about his meeting first thing at trial tomorrow morning. Just to make sure everyone knows, and that no one gets too distracted from--
Mmm. No, there's no need. I... I spoke to him about it already.
[...]
Akira... I... I know the most important thing right now is to be honest with each other. It's... it's what I want more than anything else. But... I... [The words falter, as though she can't finish the thought.]
She, instead, wordlessly holds out her clenched grip - the one not holding the necklace. There's a flicker of color, but it's small enough that he won't be able to see without accepting whatever the hell she's holding.]
[but. Akira extends both of his hands, palms cupped together, to accept whatever it is Luna is giving him. he doesn't ask, because whatever it is will become clear in a few seconds, he's sure]
[. . . . . . . . . . . honestly, for a moment, he just kind of. . . blinks down at the phone, his thumbs tracing the edges, eyes wide with clear bewilderment.]
[but then it sinks in]
[and he lets out a laugh, breathless but not at all upset or offended or anything. he understands]
[because when she says that, all he can think about is that memory with Akane, and how that had stoked the flames of anger all the way down to his core]
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Mm. I know.
She asked me to look after Isaac if she ever died. I guess. . . she never thought someone would target a kid like him.
[he never called Isaac a kid to his face. he knew the younger boy would have hated that. but to Luna. . . ? he isn't about to beat around the bush of Isaac's age]
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...The house is tricking all of us, and... and it worked this time.
He was so young... both of them...
Someone took advantage of that... didn't they...
[It hurts, just like it always hurts. But the feelings can't go anywhere, trapped in her chest like an angry storm.
Rather than trying to finish her sentence, she just leans into the touch of his shoulder.]
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[it's hard to say, when they don't know the circumstances around either Ayabe or Isaac's deaths. he leans into her as well, sinking a little bit into the contact, even if it isn't entirely comfortable to press up against a metal robot skeleton i'm so sorry luna]
But we'll find out who is responsible tomorrow. Just like we do every week.
[except during Asch week, but. . . you know]
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We know what's responsible. I...
I'm so tired of having to find a culprit when that's not the case at all. I... I hate that we're becoming... accustomed to this...
We can only lose three more. If someone is convicted, and they are killed... that brings us to two. And if someone is murdered and, likewise, their murderer convicted next week...
[Well. Y'know. That's three.]
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[. . .]
[he can't let himself be held down by them, can he?]
I know.
. . . but what else is there for us to do at this point but keep going?
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I... I hope people are willing to speak towards Akechi's ideas, if they're able. I know emotions will be raw, but... if we really do have everything we need to make a decision about this place, we... we need to figure it out.
[It's hard to think about right this second, if only for how badly the loss of Ayabe and Isaac hurts her deep inside. But there's nothing she can do about those feelings right now, except stow them away.]
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[or. well. he hopes they are. they need to be]
I'm going to make the announcement about his meeting first thing at trial tomorrow morning. Just to make sure everyone knows, and that no one gets too distracted from--
[well. . .]
[Ayabe and Isaac's deaths]
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That might be for the best. It would make sure that everyone was together, so that we wouldn't miss anyone on accident.
[...]
Um... I... I know this is a bad time to ask this, but...
Do you know if anyone figured out what... what the telephone was for that Phoenix had? It's... been on my mind lately.
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No. As far as I know, that cell phone is still a mystery.
But maybe that's a question we could ask Lio.
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[...]
Akira... I... I know the most important thing right now is to be honest with each other. It's... it's what I want more than anything else. But... I... [The words falter, as though she can't finish the thought.]
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[he draws away, turning to face her with a slightly confused, slack expression]
. . . but you-- what?
[there's nothing chiding about his words, at least. but he is trying to gentle coax her into finishing that thought]
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She, instead, wordlessly holds out her clenched grip - the one not holding the necklace. There's a flicker of color, but it's small enough that he won't be able to see without accepting whatever the hell she's holding.]
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[but. Akira extends both of his hands, palms cupped together, to accept whatever it is Luna is giving him. he doesn't ask, because whatever it is will become clear in a few seconds, he's sure]
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Luna doesn't look at him.]
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[but then it sinks in]
[and he lets out a laugh, breathless but not at all upset or offended or anything. he understands]
Ah.
. . . I get it, now.
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She doesn't look at him. Instead, she repeats herself, nearly verbatim, some of the warmth lost from her tone.]
Akira... I really hope people are able to share and be honest tomorrow.
If... if they're able.
[If.]
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[. . .]
[he hands the phone back to her, voice still gentle, because all of a sudden so many things make sense]
Can you tell me why they might not be able to. . .?
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...]
Have you ever asked Peach why the staff can tell us some things, but not others?
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No.
But I do know there are consequences for helping us too much.
[because Peach pushed them too far one week, and that's how she got her MOUTH SEWN SHUT]
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...
They... they all have orders.
[There's a horrible, grating familiarity in how the word leaves her throat.]
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[because when she says that, all he can think about is that memory with Akane, and how that had stoked the flames of anger all the way down to his core]
. . .
From Master Blue? Or the house?
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...
And from the length of her silence, it might be obvious that she can't answer.
Sorry, Akira.]
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[. . .]
You worked with Nick.
And Akechi too, right?
[BOTH OF YOU DUMPED THIS ON ME AT THE SAME TIME I HATE IT]
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Akira, you are going to have an easier time talking to a brick wall.]
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[it's fine, based on all of the information he knows now, the answer to that is a resounding "yes."]
[he isn't going to try to pry any more information from her if she can't give it, but. . .]
[. . .]
Luna. . . can you look at me?
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god these tags are hard to write when i have no facial expressions to work with
8(((
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