[open] - may catch-all

[murderingjustice]

Who: Akechi & You
Where: here and there
What: your typical catch-all log for may!
Warnings: references to violence, guns? Akechi's dramatic ass?



1 - Early morning

[It's very early in the morning when a series of loud sounds of a gun firing can be heard at the Orchards. Some people wake up and go for a jog as a first thing in the morning: Akechi, however, decides to use his time to do some shooting practice with his handgun. He's gathered empty cans and bottles and what have you, placed them on top of the fence, using them as his makeshift targets for his practice.

He's located rather close to the infamous statues. And whoever decides to approach them will notice that two of the statues have taken a quite bit of damage. There's almost completely demolished statue on top of platform reading: "Goro Akechi, the Saviour of the Aldrip". The another statue that has gone through some remodeling is the one belonging certain Osamu Dazai. The said statue is actually in pretty OK condition, if you didn't count on the missing head.

Oh well! If that certain Radio Show is to be believed the locals would repair the statues the next day so, who cares.]



2 - It's Called Fashion

[One thing that modern people take granted for is a wardrobe of clean clothes. It had been February in Akechi's world when he had arrived here, leaving him with rather ill-suited outfit for Aldrip's climate. So, he's slowly been collecting himself a new set of clothes after getting paid for helping around the locals with their matters... Matters, which often seemed require someone to do some light, casual "detective" work for them.

With a thermos full of fresh coffee in hand, Akechi's going through the shops at the downtown, checking out the clothing available and hoping to find something that did not scream late 19th Century couture. It's just then when his eyes land on rather... eerily familiar outfit on display window]

--What?! [He lets out an involuntary shriek and drops the thermos, spilling coffee on the ground. His eyes are wide and perplexed, faint shade of red spreading over his face. Look, he's not embarrassed. Just shocked that's all.]


3 - Leopard Can't Change Its Spots


[So.. Goro Akechi had been very satisfied to bury the famous Detective Prince and leave that line of work behind him. And yet, here he was, accepting work from the locals and helping with their everyday troubles. Their issues hardly hold a candle to the crimes he'd solve back in his own world. After all, he had been more familiar with the uglier side of society and working with the violent crimes. (Okay, he might've been the true perpetrator in most of those but shhh..)

But still, the work kept him busy and it'd be to lie that he didn't find any satisfaction solving the cases. No matter how mundane they were.

He's currently sitting in one of the coffee shops, a fresh cup of coffee in front of him and going through the notes about the current case he's working on. Something about local jewelry shopkeeper finding that some of his products were missing and replaced with replicas of sorts. Akechi honestly suspected that it was the nephew he kept as a worker there behind the crime but so far there wasn't any solid proof.]


Wildcard Got something in your mind? Leave me a top level, Akechi can really be found around all around Aldrip! downtown, forest, cave, windmills etc. for plotting reach me via discord & pm.

Comments

[murderingjustice]

[Look, it's nothing personal! After their last encounter Akechi hardly feels any need to exchange any fake niceties, but that doesn't mean he's going to be downright rude.

It was hardly first time Akechi found himself bruised. He used to explore the Mementos and Palaces all by himself for several years, facing the shadows without any help. He's had much worse days for sure. But after each time he could just use some adhesives and return to reality unscathed, even if exhausted. Aldrip was not metaverse and he had to carry all bruises and injuries, all while dodging Akira's annoying questions.]

Hah! Is that so? [He laughs and loads his gun again.] Somehow I'm not surprised to hear that.

You can tell your friend that I'll gladly help him make it reality.

[darkdisgrace]

'Friend' is not a word I'd use when it comes to that bastard.

[He makes a face like the very idea is gross, a rather childish expression for a grown man.] More like a perpetual pain in my ass. And I'll pass that along.

[He watches Akechi load the gun, curiosity evident in his eyes. It's pretty obvious this isn't just target practice but venting in some manner, but Chuuya wonders how effective it really is when you're just shooting things. Especially when Akechi's own statue is absolutely ruined.

Frankly, punching things always appealed to Chuuya more.]

[murderingjustice]

Tch, of course not. [He clicks with his tongue and huffs out another amused sound. Who in their right mind would call Chuuya Nakahara and Osamu Dazai friends.

He takes aim, pointing his gun at another target at the distance, pulls the trigger and hits the mark perfectly. Ok, that might've been a bit of showing off]

But I don't understand why would Chuuya-san come to help Dazai-san out of all people?

forgot to mention the brand he def has growing atm

[darkdisgrace]

[Oh, absolutely. Chuuya quirks a brow before he wanders over to one of the statues, picking up some debris-- a spent bullet, a casing, maybe a small shard of stone. He tosses it in his hand, letting out a huff.]

Ha? Because he probably would have been absolutely insufferable after if he'd actually tortured you in that precious bar of his. And we're working together here, for our own reasons. It'd fuck me over if his reputation went to hell.

[A flick of the wrist-- the small shard flies straight and true, slamming into one of Akechi's targets with enough force to obliterate it. The deepening red of the marks curling against his cheek, his jaw and neck seem to only accentuate the curve of his smirk.] But more than that? I was helping you and Kotone-chan out.

[murderingjustice]

[He watches the piece hit one of the glass bottles Akechi had set as a target. He holds back a frown when it shatters to million tiny shards, spreading around like diamond dust.

Thanks that was his target, ugh. But then he gets another idea. He quickly turns around and fires four good rounds at Chuuya.

C'mon. Show him your party trick]

[darkdisgrace]

[There's a big difference between Chuuya and Dazai: Dazai liked keeping his ability in his pocket, because once someone knew Dazai's trick, it severely lessened his efficiency in battle.

Chuuya, on the other hand?

He knows there aren't many ways to fight gravity.

It's clear he was expecting some sort of violent reaction from Akechi, because Chuuya raises his hand, and the bullets halt midair as soon as they get close, a red glow encasing them all. His expression sharpens, the look of someone who feels perfectly happy when surrounded by violence.]

Nice try. It takes a lot to get a drop on me, and generally bullets don't do shit.

[If Akechi feels like giving another go or twelve, Chuuya certainly won't complain. This place has been far too peaceful.]

[murderingjustice]

[Oh, if he only had means to free Loki or Robin Hood from their cages. If he only could summon his power --- then the odds against someone like Chuuya would be very different than they were now.

Akechi watches intensively as the bullets halt, and are surrounded by the red before dropping on the ground. He lets out a satisfied hum and lowers his gun, satisfied now that he saw Chuuya using his ability again.]

I figured as much. I just wanted to see if you could repeat your performance from the bar. [Oh, he would definitely love to vent out more. But just what can he do to someone like Chuuya with his own restraints at the place? His mind goes back to their last meeting, and the way the man's hold on his neck had felt. It had been intense and heavy, immobilizing him. Then, he looks back at the bullets.]

Manipulation of a mass?

[darkdisgrace]

Of course.

[Dazai had mentioned Akechi had been fishing for information, after all. And frankly, Chuuya understood the value of a good destruction session. Sometimes you had to smash a few walls down or punch a few faces, crush a few skulls. Sometimes it just felt good, regardless of the point of it all.

He watches Akechi's gaze fall from him to the bullets on the ground, quirking a brow.]

Hmmm... close, but too limited. If I felt like it, I could have shot those back at you too.

[murderingjustice]

It would have been rather anti-climatic if you weren't.

[Also, very upsetting to Kotone. He's somehow managed to clear the ground between them, and to establish some sort of mutual understanding between them. While Akechi isn't one who cares much about such bonds he does recognize the inconveniences it'd bring.

That and trying to explain impromptu murder to Akira and the rest of Aldrip wasn't worth the trouble!]

Mmm.. [He hums thoughtfully, crossing his arms and rubbing his lower lip. That would imply that his powers had something to do with telekinesis, but that wouldn't explain the increased intensity and weight. Akechi takes a brief moment to think before he looks up, raising his brow curiously.] Gravity, then?

[darkdisgrace]

Not exactly on my agenda, don't worry.

[They both cared about Kotone after all, and for all Chuuya thought Akechi was an idiot for goading Dazai of all people, he could admire the guy's guts. Probably a masochist of the highest order, but gutsy nonetheless.]

Gravity manipulation, yeah. And no, I don't particularly mind you knowing.

[Which is a message all in itself: Chuuya knows precisely how powerful he is, and what he's capable of. More than that, he doubted he could keep his ability under wraps here long term anyway. There was no point, with how often he was helping locals with heavy labor.]

[murderingjustice]

[Care? Ew, don't make him a softie!!!

But gravity manipulation? That is quite impressive power to have. Something that even Akechi can understand to respect and not treat lightly.]

Really? That's pretty different approach to it compared to your, ah, what is. Partner?

[darkdisgrace]

Ex-partner. He may play at being a detective these days, but I sure as hell ain't.

[He crosses his arms, unamused by Akechi's little jab.]

Dazai's always been a cagey bastard, but my ability has never been subtle. Which is fine by me, I like a little excitement in my life.

[murderingjustice]

Ex-partner with who you just happen to work here.

[This is truly a pot meeting the kettle. So far, Akechi has denied of being part of the Phantom Thieves, insisting that he only joined forces with them when their interests aligned together. But just a few days before, right after the altercation with Dazai, Akechi struck another deal with Akira and promised to be partners again. Not that Chuuya was privy to any of this information.

The mention of 'little excitement' does ping Akechi's interest. He might have calmed down from his previous agitated state, but there's no scenario where the indication of violence doesn't get him excited.]

So, what all can you do with that power?

[darkdisgrace]

It's an alliance. Working together to get our asses out of this place and back home, among other things. He's useful to me, and I'm useful to him.

['other things' meaning keeping an eye on a certain rat and clown.

Nevermind that the details of said alliance have become muddled, far beyond what they'd agreed to, a source of mutual comfort for them both.

It's just mutual benefit.

He focuses instead on Akechi's question, grin growing knife sharp.] What can't I do? That's a pretty wide open question there, y'know.

[murderingjustice]

Hmm.. [Akechi hums in understanding. Really, that set up does sound rather familiar. It’s just like the one he had established with the Phantom Thieves. And here with Akira —- although he has a feeling that his rival is yearning for something more. Something more stable and lasting rather than this brief, temporary partnership.

But that’s again where they differ from each other. No use stressing over it.

A n y w a y!:]

You said you could have shot the bullets back at me if you had wanted to. Do you have any limitations on your power? For an example, do you need to be in physical contact with the object or is there a certain radius for it? How do you even manage such power? I imagine it’d be difficult.

[darkdisgrace]

Are you asking out of curiosity, or because you think this information will be useful later? [He smirks. Sorry Akechi, he's known Dazai for years.

Luckily, he's also got the confidence to back it all up.] My ability is touch based... usually. [That's. Ominous sounding?] but that really isn't that much of a limitation when anything I touch is a weapon.

[Up to and including his own body and the ground beneath their feet.]

As for how I manage it, I've pretty much always had it. Sure I practiced to get this good, but it's always been a little more natural for me than most.

[Which is also a weird thing to say, frankly.]

Backtags to eternity!!!

[murderingjustice]

Why can’t it be though. [He’s curious because it might be useful to know later!!

Akechi rubs his chin thoughtfully as he listens to Chuuya’s elaboration.. That.. Indeed sounds like a formidable ability to have, something that one shouldn’t be messing around without a proper plan. He’s sure to keep it mind, in case they were to have an encore of their little episode at the bar.]

Does your alliance with Dazai-san also prevent you from gossiping about his ability? He seems to be have an ability to erase another’s powers temporarily. Am I correct?