He loosens his arms and leans back so he can look Ryo in the face, frowning gently. You caused a trial to happen........]
It's all almost finished, Ryo. We'll get to the party and see what it's like. Maybe it'll be different than what we expect. We won't know until we try, and if we've made it this far... there's no point in not going.
[ hm, yeah that is a concern. everything they've been doing for the past few weeks, besides the weekend, have been rather random that it makes it difficult to figure out what the party is going to be like. or how the drinking contest is meant to be set up? ]
Honestly, it would be pretty embarrassing to trip at the finish line at this point.
[He thinks for a long moment about how he wants to respond. Finally, he says:]
I want you there with me.
[Because this week has made him confident in a great many things, but when it all boils down past the gnarled, scarred and scabbed skin, beneath the surface he does want Ryo to be happy. And even if he's considered several times whether or not he might have to take Ryo out, he thinks this might be the only way for Ryo to be happy.
Not that he wants to think about the rest of the sacrifices that'll come from this.]
[ unfortunately, it does make him happy. akira might be able to feel that his mouth curls up a bit, because sadly this is like the one thing that is easy to please ryo for.
generally, he isn't sure how they even managed to make it this far. if scaramouche hadn't also killed last week and mixed up their evidence, there's a good chance that ryo would have gotten caught. and, in general, he's also surprised that akira hadn't tried to kill him yet. there's still so much they haven't said. akira still has never mentioned miki's head is his item. ]
I'll be with you as long as you want me there, Akira.
So many people have told him to talk to Ryo about things, and yet here he is, electing to only talk to Ryo about the worst things--like humanity, like God, like the other him--in the worst ways. It's fine. Ryo doesn't have to know about Miki's head because he's too scared Ryo will try getting rid of it.
Just like he's sure Ryo will not hesitate to shoot Kaoru.]
[ the hilarity of ryo knowing about the head because he snooped and is literally now just waiting to see if akira will ever admit to having it. this is so stupid.
but the words are nice. ryo still isn't sure how much he can actually believe them, but at least for right now he tries to set the gnawing doubt and paranoia away in favor of being with his friend.
he's quiet for a moment. ]
I know that you were confused because I kept calling us friends. But that's because, more than anything, you're my best friend, Akira. Don't forget that.
[Don't wait on him......... He remembers Ryo's inner laughter at him before, the way he thought it felt condescending somehow. He doesn't want to hear that same laughter again if he tells Ryo about Miki's head in the flowers in the closet. He doesn't want his human love laughed at like he's a silly dog.]
I never forgot.
[The whole issue was he never forgot. Even when he was angry, when they fought, he was twice as angry because he hadn't forgotten they had been best friends. That a best friend had done those things to him. He thought Ryo had forgotten.
So it's very funny they won't talk about things the way they should.]
Even if there's ever someone else like that, you'd always be my best friend. As long as you don't betray me. [He curls his hand over his own chest, over the heart.] I'm still human, Ryo.
[ sometimes you are too busy arguing about the world ending things that you kind of forget to be normal
ryo... admittedly, would not like to ever talk or think about ryo's current love life. he was willing to accept miki. was he ready to kill her if she ever got in the way? yes. but he still chose not to even when he thought it was a bad idea, because he knew it would be a dealbreaker for akira. so, he was generally fine with miki.
he is not fine with kaoru. ryo is not going to push it, or beg akira to change his mind, because that's a level of desperateness he is not willing to sink to but. it's fine. he can deal with it but the second he sees them doing pda he's going to break something. ]
What do you consider a betrayal? [ ... ] I mean, besides the obvious.
[ he is not asking for this to gt launched into another don't cause the apocalypse debate ]
[Hmm. He has a chance here to be a dick, not that he thinks Ryo would follow what he says exactly. Not if Ryo thought it was ridiculous, or it was begrudgingly.
But instead, he's just as earnest as always, albeit more firmly.]
When you get to the party, if you win against this Satan, don't use whatever the reward is to hurt the humans when you go back. [Not that he'll know--not that the him here will know anyway.] And... don't hurt anyone here unless it's me.
[ the first request is expected, and the second one is too, if less obvious.
he pulls back a bit so he can properly look at akira's face. ]
Unless they hurt me first?
[ what are the limits on defending himself. for the record, he will consider every attack on itto as self-defense because the first blow is itto simply speaking to him. ]
[He looks back at Ryo, quiet for a long moment while he thinks it over. He wants to forbid that from counting because he knows why Ryo is doing it. But... he also doesn't think Ryo should just accept getting abused.
Ryo deserves this and yet.]
Only if they're attacking you physically. If they hurt you any other way, and you want to hurt them back, you have to hurt me in their place.
[He does not know anything in private, but it's fine. He... is trusting Ryo has not done this because he hasn't seen it in public really. Except for Itto.]
You do attack Itto. [HE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY. Kind of.] Don't you get along with him if he's a demon?
[He doesn't respond, but has that look on his face like Ryo is right, and he simply doesn't want to admit it. HE LOVES EVERY HUMAN. He killed some. It's fine.]
Ryo... [GOD. Or Satan rather.] He's annoying you on purpose, you know.
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he just nods against him. ]
I'm ready to never do another trial again.
[ truly the most exhausting experience "you made a trial happen" so exhausting. ]
It'll be nice when it's over with.
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He loosens his arms and leans back so he can look Ryo in the face, frowning gently. You caused a trial to happen........]
It's all almost finished, Ryo. We'll get to the party and see what it's like. Maybe it'll be different than what we expect. We won't know until we try, and if we've made it this far... there's no point in not going.
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Honestly, it would be pretty embarrassing to trip at the finish line at this point.
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I want you there with me.
[Because this week has made him confident in a great many things, but when it all boils down past the gnarled, scarred and scabbed skin, beneath the surface he does want Ryo to be happy. And even if he's considered several times whether or not he might have to take Ryo out, he thinks this might be the only way for Ryo to be happy.
Not that he wants to think about the rest of the sacrifices that'll come from this.]
At the end.
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generally, he isn't sure how they even managed to make it this far. if scaramouche hadn't also killed last week and mixed up their evidence, there's a good chance that ryo would have gotten caught. and, in general, he's also surprised that akira hadn't tried to kill him yet. there's still so much they haven't said. akira still has never mentioned miki's head is his item. ]
I'll be with you as long as you want me there, Akira.
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So many people have told him to talk to Ryo about things, and yet here he is, electing to only talk to Ryo about the worst things--like humanity, like God, like the other him--in the worst ways. It's fine. Ryo doesn't have to know about Miki's head because he's too scared Ryo will try getting rid of it.
Just like he's sure Ryo will not hesitate to shoot Kaoru.]
If you aren't there, there's no point.
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but the words are nice. ryo still isn't sure how much he can actually believe them, but at least for right now he tries to set the gnawing doubt and paranoia away in favor of being with his friend.
he's quiet for a moment. ]
I know that you were confused because I kept calling us friends. But that's because, more than anything, you're my best friend, Akira. Don't forget that.
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I never forgot.
[The whole issue was he never forgot. Even when he was angry, when they fought, he was twice as angry because he hadn't forgotten they had been best friends. That a best friend had done those things to him. He thought Ryo had forgotten.
So it's very funny they won't talk about things the way they should.]
Even if there's ever someone else like that, you'd always be my best friend. As long as you don't betray me. [He curls his hand over his own chest, over the heart.] I'm still human, Ryo.
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ryo... admittedly, would not like to ever talk or think about ryo's current love life. he was willing to accept miki. was he ready to kill her if she ever got in the way? yes. but he still chose not to even when he thought it was a bad idea, because he knew it would be a dealbreaker for akira. so, he was generally fine with miki.
he is not fine with kaoru. ryo is not going to push it, or beg akira to change his mind, because that's a level of desperateness he is not willing to sink to but. it's fine. he can deal with it but the second he sees them doing pda he's going to break something. ]
What do you consider a betrayal? [ ... ] I mean, besides the obvious.
[ he is not asking for this to gt launched into another don't cause the apocalypse debate ]
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But instead, he's just as earnest as always, albeit more firmly.]
When you get to the party, if you win against this Satan, don't use whatever the reward is to hurt the humans when you go back. [Not that he'll know--not that the him here will know anyway.] And... don't hurt anyone here unless it's me.
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he pulls back a bit so he can properly look at akira's face. ]
Unless they hurt me first?
[ what are the limits on defending himself. for the record, he will consider every attack on itto as self-defense because the first blow is itto simply speaking to him. ]
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Ryo deserves this and yet.]
Only if they're attacking you physically. If they hurt you any other way, and you want to hurt them back, you have to hurt me in their place.
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he does sigh, but it's less in annoyance of the restrictions and more of a 'of course you'd say that you martyr' way. ]
I haven't actually been attacking everyone at random, you know.
[ "itto" again ryo is not counting him ]
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[He does not know anything in private, but it's fine. He... is trusting Ryo has not done this because he hasn't seen it in public really. Except for Itto.]
You do attack Itto. [HE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY. Kind of.] Don't you get along with him if he's a demon?
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[ and then he makes a slight face. ]
And Itto deserves it.
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Ryo... [GOD. Or Satan rather.] He's annoying you on purpose, you know.
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[ it's working so well. he just thumps his forehead against akira's shoulder. ]
I may just pull a Scaramouche and live outside.
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[He glances at Ryo, but frowns while he does it.]
How many times have I told you weeks ago you could stay in my room? Don’t complain.
And don’t live outside like a hobo.
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ryo, at least, does not voice that. ]
It wouldn't be entirely like a hobo.
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[A sigh.]
I’ll stay with Gideon in hers, but she is probably with Harrowhark. So she might just let me have it.
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he shakes his head. ]
I'll deal with it.
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Then don’t complain. I’ve tried a thousand times to get you to take it.
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You’re so stubborn.
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[ it just seems like losing now ]