akira

[preordain]

Comments

[tearduct]

[He glances at the closed door as if acknowledging the other weirdos out there, and he frowns.

Does the lack of Miki and the others mean… they went to heaven?]

I don’t know. Maybe this is where we belong, Ryo.

[preordain]

Jail? Hell?

[ he doesn't sound like he disagrees, exactly, but he also doesn't sound too concerned about that. ]

I just find it odd that no one else recognizes me, if we're all meant to be newly deceased. They should if we're from the same place.

[tearduct]

[Both... but he doesn't answer.

The frown is still there even if it's now full of more scrutiny than before.]

No one knows who I am either. [THANK GOD. Honestly. He lowers his voice.] I... can't... you know.

[Gestures at himself.]

[preordain]

That's unfortunate.

[ there's a long pause, before, ]

Why would they recognize you specifically?

[ he was on tv, yes, but it wasn't like the camera really focused on akira at the time. ]

[tearduct]

[(paula cole voice) Where has all the Devilman powers gone?]

Th...

[Wait. He squints at Ryo. Really LOOKS at him. Leans in close, looking. He reaches up and starts trying to look through Ryo's hair to make sure there's bad no boo-boos.]

[preordain]

[ WHY IS HE BEING MANHANDLED. actually he is used to being manhandled by akira, but this is slightly stranger than usual. ]

What exactly are you looking for?

[tearduct]

[Wow...... Not a single boo-boo is here, hello.]

Injuries.

[This is so bizarre... He frowns considerably.] Because you told everyone. [He does not explain.]

You really... don't remember, huh?

[Oh n. He must protect this ignorant Ryo.]

[preordain]

Don't remember what?

[ the idea of akira knowing something that he doesn't is somehow more aggravating than being in hell. ]

We revealed to the world that demons exist. And then you became angry at me, and stormed off. [ he squints. ] Did you do something after that?

[tearduct]

[Did HE do something?! Wow... Wow and oh no. Ryo doesn't remember... It doesn't dawn on him perhaps Ryo hadn't experienced the future yet. He has already assigned Ryo memory loss because it tracks.

Anyhow, sorry to Ryo, but here come the water works. He starts slowly crying.]

It'll be okay, Ryo. I... was really angry, and I left you alone. But I shouldn't have.

[preordain]

[ ...

ryo is going to hug him, because of course that's his response? ]

Then don't leave me alone here. I'm the only one you can count on, Akira.

[tearduct]

I know.

[His chin fits on Ryo's shoulder, but he looks through the tears into the middle distance. Is the forgiveness worth being in hell? He can't seem to dredge up the anger because he's really resigned them both to this fate now.

He succeeded in that way, hadn't he? Taking Ryo to hell with him. But why does it feel like he's failed? To protect the people he cared about. To save the world. To make Ryo understand.]

Are you going to look for a way home?

[preordain]

Of course. Or, at the very least, a way out of this cell. There has to be more out there.

[ ... and honestly, looking through hell might be more useful than not, so might as well take the opportunity while they still have it. ]

You don't want to be stuck in this small space either, right?

[tearduct]

[How does he say there is no home to go back to anymore... He really died on a molten rock listening to Ryo talk about the humans being gone.

He pulls back so he can use his arm's sleeve to wipe his eyes. Gonna not think about a single thing, or he'll start crying again.]

Not really. What if out there is worse than being in here?

[preordain]

And what if it's not? We won't know until we look.

[ and, honestly, ryo would prefer to get them to a place alone. they are around too many people, and they can only hide away in a stall for so long before the others need to use it. ]

[tearduct]

[OUT THERE WAS WORSE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.]

Then let's look. [Kind of scared about Ryo being nosy, though.] Don't do it by yourself. Let's look together.

Okay?

[He's too stupid to be holding this leash.]

[preordain]

[ he's going to be mad that they're not roomies ]

... of course.

It's dangerous to go alone.

[tearduct]

[HELP. Ryo frowning at the directory.]

Yeah.

[Akira is now wondering if hell can even contain Satan. This Satan, not the other Satan.

WOW, HE CANNOT LET RYO FIND OUT HE'S SATAN OR HE WILL FIGHT THE OTHER SATAN.]

I'll go with you.

[preordain]

[ SATAN VS SATAN HELP

but he nods. of course akira will go with him... all is right in the world. ]

Mm. What do you think about the other people here?

[tearduct]

[He looks at the door again as if somehow appraising everyone through it.]

They're okay. I don't think we're all from the same place. No one knew about... uh, Devilman. I thought one of them was a demon.

[Filbo.]

He said he's a "grumpus"?

[preordain]

The large, blue one?

He doesn't seem like the type to be one. He hasn't attacked anyone yet.

[tearduct]

Yeah, that guy.

[Hmmm. It is weird Filbo hasn't made an attack instantaneously, but... also... he thinks about devilmen.]

Maybe he's like me...?

[no]

[preordain]

There is no way he's a Devilman.

[ he is drawing the line there. ]

[tearduct]

[TAKING HIS ONLY SOLIDARITY...]

I know... He said he was whatever a grumpus was anyway. He seemed fine. [He will be loathed to hear this assessment, but:] What do you think about everyone else?

[preordain]

They range from annoying to potentially useful. If things end up dangerous, we should probably keep in mind who might get in the way.

[ figure out who runs the slowest ]

[tearduct]

[He was right, he did not like the assessment. It's so strange having sharper hindsight. This would have been nothing but Truth to him a while ago... but now it just sounds sour, ugly.

He wonders if anyone will ever be good enough for Ryo.]

Who do you think would get in the way?