(Seriously, this place is so weird that Akihiko can't help but wonder about it as he attempts to loosen the soil around his leg. At first there'd been suspicion of it being some bizarre, midnight hour branch of Tartarus they'd all somehow missed in the mad rush towards the end. But even from his vantage point of the ground Akihiko can pull that suspicion apart quickly; there are way too many people around for it to be the midnight hour, far too few shadows to be punched and, well, things just look and seem normal.
That is until a familiar voice reaches his ears and the hands at his leg momentarily freeze. It can't be..... That voice is one Akihiko would recognise anywhere, one that haunts dreams more than reality these days, something that has since been accepted though never welcomed.
Every thought about freeing his leg vanishes as Akihiko looks up at Shinjiro, the emotions all vying with each other in that brief moment. Shock, grief, joy all wrapped up in each other, swiftly followed by annoyance. The audacity of Aragaki getting to stand there and make that kind of joke after everything that happened.
That and it's not even a good one!
Akihiko huffs and clicks his tongue.)
There's no daisies here. (He's not touching that joke, wow, but Akihiko will take the offered hand as he pulls himself up to his feet. Flowers and leaves go untouched for the time being as the boxer tries to wrap his mind around everything that he's seeing. Maybe, just maybe the end isn't as final as he'd like to think it.)
[It's an absolutely audacious and terrible joke and one that he'd delivered just as even as anything else he says-- as though it weren't even a joke at all. But it's better than trepidation or trying to be gentle or finding someone else to break the news to Akihiko first. Fuck that. Better to just walk up to him and let him deal.
He'll help pull Akihiko up but won't help knock the dort off him. Instead he just shrugs at the question. It sure is a loaded one.]
Killing time, mostly. [He shrugs. No need to infodump on the guy who just showed up.]
Don't worry. Most people here ain't dead. [Though he sure is matter of fact about his own, regardless of how it might pain others. The more they get desensitized to it, the better.]
And there's some weird time shit going on, too. So when was it back home for you?
[Wait this is an awkward place to play catch up-- ah, he'll give Akihiko some time to process before shuffling him off someplace else to talk.]
( The joke is terrible and yet Akihiko is going to welcome it inwardly with open arms. Seeing his friend right now, after everything that has happened, is nothing short of a miracle and one that Akihiko had never dared think of. The dead were, after all, dead. Nothing could or should change that.
Which doesn't change the fact he'd be fine listening to Shinji talk about the most mundane shit right about now. Not mere hours ago Akihiko held the belief he'd never hear those dull tones again.
Killing time. Akihiko huffs at that one. Nothing much ever changes, even in a strange place.)
You're making it sound normal. ( There's a moment as dirt is brushed from his shoulders, Akihiko reaching up to unceremoniously ruffle the flowers out from his hair. When? That question alone has his eyebrows lifting. ) End of January. You're sounding like you understand this place.
[Wow, that one wasn't even an intentional dead joke. But it's near impossible to tell when Shinjiro is actively joking. Either way he shrugs. Akihiko is... definitely taking his living well, if he's from a few months after.]
I've been here like six months. Like I said: weird time shit. You can used to any place after enough time.
[He'll get around to breaking the news that Mitsuru is here. And two leaders of SEES, one of which Akihiko may know and the other he might not, depending on his memories.]
C'mon, clean yourself up. We can find someplace for me to catch you up.
Akihiko may looks like he's taking things well, expression as stern as usual, but it's the mention of time passing in this place that truly hammers the reality of it home. He's woken in a strange place, buried in someone's garden, talking to someone who has been around for six months. Is this what others meant with the phrase pulling the rug from under one's feet?
Being rash is out of the question to solve this madness; there's no enemy to rush at, to punch into oblivion until answers drop out.)
Six months.
(Dirt and flowers are brushed off some more as Akihiko touches the back of his head, checking for any bumps or bruises that could explain this. There's nothing, just stray leaves and without warning or preamble he moves, wholly intent on punching Shinjiro in the arm.)
[He deserves that punch. Hell, he would have deserved it if Akihiko had straight up clocked him in the face and broken his nose or jaw or something. So he sways with the hint with a short grunt, one eye closing in a bit of a flinch, but not arguing it. Damn, that'll be sore. Akihiko really never holds back, huh.]
Alright, you get that one for free.
[He rolls his shoulder with a wince-- it's really gonna be sore. But there's a lot to take in with suddenly waking up in this place, and Shinjiro is absolutely the worst person to introduce anyone to it. Because what the hell is he supposed to say? Sorry? To hell with that.]
Yeah. Mitsuru's been here that long, too. I'm gonna suggest you don't start out swinging with her.
[Let's be real: he knows what that punch is about. But Shinjiro can't say he's ever made anything easy in his life, and doesn't plan to start now.]
(Akihiko isn't even sure what he expected when taking a swing at Shinjiro's arm. But the feel of the other's arm under his hand, the way it impacts and gets a grunt from Shinjiro reaffirms that yes, he's real and standing right there.
It truly hammers the point home, the fact that a solid hand had already been offered not taken into consideration.)
If I'd known it would be free I would have hit harder. (There's a small smile with that comment as Akihiko takes a moment to shake his head in disbelief. What is he meant to say here? That he was thrilled his best friend was alive? That if he'd known Shinjiro was alive elsewhere they would have looked for him? Each thought is a jumble of emotions and there's an attempt to put them to the back of his mind, Akihiko doing his best to focus on the important things for the time being.
Like the words he just heard involving "Mitsuru" and the fact she was not only in this place, but had been for some time despite the fact he'd only just seen the redhead earlier that day.)
Mitsuru? But... (A pause, give him a moment his mind is doing overtime today. Already feels like he's done a few rounds in the ring and then some more.) That's what you mean by weird time shit then. Who else is here?
[There's something so strangely easy about it-- falling back into old habits, picking up as though nothing had happened. Shinjiro's not stupid enough to think it will stay like that, especially once they start really processing things and Akihiko is less overwhelmed, but... for a short moment, it's nice. Familiar and easy.
He's quiet as Akihiko sorts through the words, and nods to confirm that, yes, that's what he'd meant by time bullshit.]
Arisato's here. Or if you don't know him, Shiomi is. They're both SEES leaders, just from different... I dunno, timelines or something. Don't think too hard about it.
[Easy for Shinjiro to say, having had so much time to just accept the fact. Either way, he starts walking, simply expecting Akihiko to follow and get away from the bustle of the art show and the city center. ]
Actually, that goes for most everything here. Don't think too hard about it, and don't think anything's permanent.
( It's awfully familiar and comfortable to hear the comeback from Shinjiro, Akihiko slowly shaking his head at the response. Nothing ever changed in the end, but now they're here the boxer can't help but think on how much did change in the last few months and not all for the better.
He's not letting Shinjiro out of his sight (for now). )
Shiomi? ( Different SEES leaders? How can Aragaki drop something like different timelines and then advise not to think too hard on it? It's such a wild statement that Akihiko knows the truth is being told, only by virtue of it being too out there to be a leg pull. He'll follow the other for now, unsure of where they're even meant to be going.
[He just shrugs!! He's here to just bare bones orient you. Figure out your own life, buddy. Or just experience it and learn what questions you need to ask. He's sure Akihiko will run into Kotone and that whole situation eventually. And probably take it way better than he and Mitsuru had, being suspicious assholes of some girl who claimed to know them.
At the question of an exit, he shrugs again!]
I haven't looked. But people disappear sometimes. Could be that they found one.
[Despite his even tone, the same as always-- Akihiko can probably tell that Shinjiro doesn't believe a word of what he just said. Of course they didn't find one. They're just gone, and it's weird. And there's no answers.
He finally tips his head over to look at Akihiko as they walk. He... Looks the same. Carries himself with determined confidence. Ends up in stupid situations despite himself. Looks healthy. It's relieving.
And helps ease his next question. If only for himself:]
So.... When was it for you? Before you woke up here?
( The answer is just so blasé in a way that Akihiko instantly dislikes it. Stuck in a weird place, with weird time stuff, by some mystery people is not his cup of tea. It made little sense to him and if Shinjiro doesn't know the details then Aki understands on some level that information will be in short supply. Shinji could be a jerk, but being one right now is beyond even him.
He can see the other looking at him, if only because Akihiko is doing the same thing. Shinjiro looks well, even if his jacket seems to have had better days and the boxer wonders just how far the time madness went in this place. And if anything could be brought back with them once they found the way out. )
When? ( It's such a surreal question that Akihiko almost stops walking, taken aback by it. ) 31st January. I think we were near the top of Tartarus and then this place happened.
[He has to take a moment to put it all in a line. Himself in October, Mitsuru in November, Kotone and Minato from well into the next year, he thinks? And now Akihiko in January confirming something he'd already begun to suspect:]
...So taking them all out didn't work.
[It's said mostly to himself, a short aside. Of course it couldn't have been that easy. He'd had his suspicions, but he'd also never directly sought out clarity preferring to distance himself as much from home as possible. (Though like always-it isn't possible, truly.)
Akihiko turns the question back onto him, and Shinjiro's eyes dip down, lips pressing together for a moment.
Confirming something is a lot harder than making shitty jokes that could be brushed off.]
...You know when. [He mutters it quietly, before blowing out a breath and continuing.] I'd barely just blacked out before just... waking up in the woods here. Covered in blood, but.... Fine, pretty much.
[It was crazy. Accepting his death, embracing it, being glad for it, just to blink your eyes open to a fresh new existence, denying you your choices. He'd been pissed, confused, stayed laying there for entirely too long as though the earth would consume him back up on realizing it's mistake--
But he doesn't say any of that. As always the thoughts stay behind his careful lack of expression and the depth of his stare as he gestures uselessly with a hand.]
( Akihiko hears the short comment, feeling his stomach sink at the realisation that Shinjiro wasn't aware of how things had gone down. How "taking them out" had been the idea all along, that in doing what they'd thought was right they had somehow brought out the apocalypse instead.
He'll save that conversation for later though, just giving a nod at the comment and nothing more. )
I see. ( He's not sure what answer he'd expected and now hearing it is enough to have Akihiko looking away briefly, somewhat regretful he'd brought up the experience for Shinji to relive. Imagining waking up from such a thing, in this strange place? It didn't bear thinking about and the boxer gives a rare, reassuring smile. )
It's a mess, but a welcome one if you ask me. I'm just sorry I'm late to this fight.
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expiationlogs2024-04-14 10:44 pm
ticket prices about to drop
That is until a familiar voice reaches his ears and the hands at his leg momentarily freeze. It can't be..... That voice is one Akihiko would recognise anywhere, one that haunts dreams more than reality these days, something that has since been accepted though never welcomed.
Every thought about freeing his leg vanishes as Akihiko looks up at Shinjiro, the emotions all vying with each other in that brief moment. Shock, grief, joy all wrapped up in each other, swiftly followed by annoyance. The audacity of Aragaki getting to stand there and make that kind of joke after everything that happened.
That and it's not even a good one!
Akihiko huffs and clicks his tongue.)
There's no daisies here. (He's not touching that joke, wow, but Akihiko will take the offered hand as he pulls himself up to his feet. Flowers and leaves go untouched for the time being as the boxer tries to wrap his mind around everything that he's seeing. Maybe, just maybe the end isn't as final as he'd like to think it.)
What are you doing in this place?
no subject
He'll help pull Akihiko up but won't help knock the dort off him. Instead he just shrugs at the question. It sure is a loaded one.]
Killing time, mostly. [He shrugs. No need to infodump on the guy who just showed up.]
Don't worry. Most people here ain't dead. [Though he sure is matter of fact about his own, regardless of how it might pain others. The more they get desensitized to it, the better.]
And there's some weird time shit going on, too. So when was it back home for you?
[Wait this is an awkward place to play catch up-- ah, he'll give Akihiko some time to process before shuffling him off someplace else to talk.]
no subject
Which doesn't change the fact he'd be fine listening to Shinji talk about the most mundane shit right about now. Not mere hours ago Akihiko held the belief he'd never hear those dull tones again.
Killing time. Akihiko huffs at that one. Nothing much ever changes, even in a strange place.)
You're making it sound normal. ( There's a moment as dirt is brushed from his shoulders, Akihiko reaching up to unceremoniously ruffle the flowers out from his hair. When? That question alone has his eyebrows lifting. ) End of January. You're sounding like you understand this place.
no subject
I've been here like six months. Like I said: weird time shit. You can used to any place after enough time.
[He'll get around to breaking the news that Mitsuru is here. And two leaders of SEES, one of which Akihiko may know and the other he might not, depending on his memories.]
C'mon, clean yourself up. We can find someplace for me to catch you up.
no subject
Six. Whole. Months.
Akihiko may looks like he's taking things well, expression as stern as usual, but it's the mention of time passing in this place that truly hammers the reality of it home. He's woken in a strange place, buried in someone's garden, talking to someone who has been around for six months. Is this what others meant with the phrase pulling the rug from under one's feet?
Being rash is out of the question to solve this madness; there's no enemy to rush at, to punch into oblivion until answers drop out.)
Six months.
(Dirt and flowers are brushed off some more as Akihiko touches the back of his head, checking for any bumps or bruises that could explain this. There's nothing, just stray leaves and without warning or preamble he moves, wholly intent on punching Shinjiro in the arm.)
no subject
Alright, you get that one for free.
[He rolls his shoulder with a wince-- it's really gonna be sore. But there's a lot to take in with suddenly waking up in this place, and Shinjiro is absolutely the worst person to introduce anyone to it. Because what the hell is he supposed to say? Sorry? To hell with that.]
Yeah. Mitsuru's been here that long, too. I'm gonna suggest you don't start out swinging with her.
[Let's be real: he knows what that punch is about. But Shinjiro can't say he's ever made anything easy in his life, and doesn't plan to start now.]
no subject
It truly hammers the point home, the fact that a solid hand had already been offered not taken into consideration.)
If I'd known it would be free I would have hit harder. (There's a small smile with that comment as Akihiko takes a moment to shake his head in disbelief. What is he meant to say here? That he was thrilled his best friend was alive? That if he'd known Shinjiro was alive elsewhere they would have looked for him? Each thought is a jumble of emotions and there's an attempt to put them to the back of his mind, Akihiko doing his best to focus on the important things for the time being.
Like the words he just heard involving "Mitsuru" and the fact she was not only in this place, but had been for some time despite the fact he'd only just seen the redhead earlier that day.)
Mitsuru? But... (A pause, give him a moment his mind is doing overtime today. Already feels like he's done a few rounds in the ring and then some more.) That's what you mean by weird time shit then. Who else is here?
no subject
[There's something so strangely easy about it-- falling back into old habits, picking up as though nothing had happened. Shinjiro's not stupid enough to think it will stay like that, especially once they start really processing things and Akihiko is less overwhelmed, but... for a short moment, it's nice. Familiar and easy.
He's quiet as Akihiko sorts through the words, and nods to confirm that, yes, that's what he'd meant by time bullshit.]
Arisato's here. Or if you don't know him, Shiomi is. They're both SEES leaders, just from different... I dunno, timelines or something. Don't think too hard about it.
[Easy for Shinjiro to say, having had so much time to just accept the fact. Either way, he starts walking, simply expecting Akihiko to follow and get away from the bustle of the art show and the city center. ]
Actually, that goes for most everything here. Don't think too hard about it, and don't think anything's permanent.
no subject
He's not letting Shinjiro out of his sight (for now). )
Shiomi? ( Different SEES leaders? How can Aragaki drop something like different timelines and then advise not to think too hard on it? It's such a wild statement that Akihiko knows the truth is being told, only by virtue of it being too out there to be a leg pull. He'll follow the other for now, unsure of where they're even meant to be going.
Maybe this really is a bad knock to the head. )
Let me guess. There's no exit either?
no subject
At the question of an exit, he shrugs again!]
I haven't looked. But people disappear sometimes. Could be that they found one.
[Despite his even tone, the same as always-- Akihiko can probably tell that Shinjiro doesn't believe a word of what he just said. Of course they didn't find one. They're just gone, and it's weird. And there's no answers.
He finally tips his head over to look at Akihiko as they walk. He... Looks the same. Carries himself with determined confidence. Ends up in stupid situations despite himself. Looks healthy. It's relieving.
And helps ease his next question. If only for himself:]
So.... When was it for you? Before you woke up here?
no subject
He can see the other looking at him, if only because Akihiko is doing the same thing. Shinjiro looks well, even if his jacket seems to have had better days and the boxer wonders just how far the time madness went in this place. And if anything could be brought back with them once they found the way out. )
When? ( It's such a surreal question that Akihiko almost stops walking, taken aback by it. ) 31st January. I think we were near the top of Tartarus and then this place happened.
( A pause. )
.....You?
no subject
...So taking them all out didn't work.
[It's said mostly to himself, a short aside. Of course it couldn't have been that easy. He'd had his suspicions, but he'd also never directly sought out clarity preferring to distance himself as much from home as possible. (Though like always-it isn't possible, truly.)
Akihiko turns the question back onto him, and Shinjiro's eyes dip down, lips pressing together for a moment.
Confirming something is a lot harder than making shitty jokes that could be brushed off.]
...You know when. [He mutters it quietly, before blowing out a breath and continuing.] I'd barely just blacked out before just... waking up in the woods here. Covered in blood, but.... Fine, pretty much.
[It was crazy. Accepting his death, embracing it, being glad for it, just to blink your eyes open to a fresh new existence, denying you your choices. He'd been pissed, confused, stayed laying there for entirely too long as though the earth would consume him back up on realizing it's mistake--
But he doesn't say any of that. As always the thoughts stay behind his careful lack of expression and the depth of his stare as he gestures uselessly with a hand.]
I know it's kind've... A mess.
[That's something like an apology? Maybe?]
no subject
He'll save that conversation for later though, just giving a nod at the comment and nothing more. )
I see. ( He's not sure what answer he'd expected and now hearing it is enough to have Akihiko looking away briefly, somewhat regretful he'd brought up the experience for Shinji to relive. Imagining waking up from such a thing, in this strange place? It didn't bear thinking about and the boxer gives a rare, reassuring smile. )
It's a mess, but a welcome one if you ask me. I'm just sorry I'm late to this fight.