[An ache remains in the wake of that thwap against the side of his head. He takes it, because he isn't supposed to be agile. Wild. He takes it with a resigned fury blooming in his chest, masked by the plastered on smile sinking into feigned exhaustion.
Eren is bold. Wild. Reactionary. Impulsive and full of reckless abandon.
Akechi hates him.
But blunting that dulled fury happens with the cheese Eren steals. It gives him a new place to focus. He doesn't give a shit if his food's picked at, annoying as it is.]
Cheese, meat and fruit. I'm surprised at the variety they managed to acquire in this small town.
[And he buries his wrath with the tiny cheeses he pops into his mouth.]
[Cheese, meat, and fruit is a standard lunch for Eren - he brings a satchel full for Aubrey every morning too.]
They've got all sorts of shit here. It has to do with all the magic, probably.
When I first got here, there was some big party in asshole's castle. They had every type of food you can imagine - some shit that came straight from people's own world's even.
[See, he can make civil conversation. You want information, right, Akechi?
[As for what he got, he merely gestures to the croissant on his plate, half-torn through.]
It's a croissant. I guess they're pretty common most places, but we don't have bread like this where I come from.
[There but for the grace of God, Akechi was not a witness to the first time Eren tried to pronounce that word.]
I'm shocked he would allow people so close to his throat and that no one was able to end this while they were there.
[Pleasant expression taped up, the bitterness in his lighthearted words is clear. It's not a slip - it's intentional. He wants to know why.
He pushes the plate towards the middle of the table for easy access. Keep him talking.]
But yes, croissants are common in my world. They're in almost every bakery in Tokyo in some form.
[And given the Sleeprs, it makes sense it's not common. Puff pastry is time consuming and intense, from what little he knows aboutit. The brutal world Eren the Sleeprs implied Eren is from - pastries over coffee probably aren't the norm.
He pulls another bit of meat - crunches it between his teeth and it's spicy. Ugh.]
Feel free to help yourself. I still owe you for the food you gave me.
You don't owe me shit. [But he does indeed take some of that spicy meat himself.]
Vaeros uses magic that fucks with your brain. Everyone at the Masquerade was under a spell that kept them complaisant. There was other magic too - cursed mistletoe you had to kiss someone to get away from. [This worked out in his advantage, but that's not the point--]
None of us even realized we were under a spell until it was over.
The nabbed food is enough for Akechi to check that box as repaid - this asshole would use any minor favor against him.
Noting the spicy meats being consumed first, he twists the plate around for him to have easy access to that part. He doesn't want it. ]
That's disturbing to say the least. That begs the question of why he doesn't use that ability all the time - it would keep us compliant and make us less prone to rebel. [A beat, a little grape, and-] I assume there's a limit to its use, but to exploit it for a party he's throwing - that's quite egotistical.
I don't know about that limit you're talking about. We're talking about someone who can rip people out of their own dimensions. There's magic everywhere here, and most of the time, it's the sort the messes your mind up.
Like those flower crowns making everyone act like idiots, or that...fortune teller. [His voice sounds a little...off when he talks about the fortune teller, expression a bit distant for a second.]
Yes, but why let that effect wane at all - the one where you hold full control over someone, their thoughts, and feelings.
[The magic in this world is foreign and strange. It weaves through every aspect of this place, but it's not constant. Compliance is limited to those strange moments. They aren't living in a permanent stupor.]
It would eliminate every single issue. Wipe our minds, make us think we belong here - turn us into dolls to wander a fantasy world. Our wishes would never need to be granted.
The fact this doesn't happen makes me think the full ability is limited by something.
[Maybe Eren's been a bit too prone to feeling hopeless lately. His gaze sharpens on Akechi as he explains. He doesn't trust him as far as he can throw him - never will. But what he's saying makes sense, and Vaeros having a weakness isn't a bad thing.
[Still...]
What you're saying makes sense, but I'm telling you, a big part of this is that he likes to watch us squirm.
Back home where I'm from, we were all fooled and lied to by the people in charge. They didn't use magic, but it worked well enough anyway - for a hundred years.
But it wasn't like this. The things that happen here aren't bread and circuses. Bad shit happens. You get fucked with. It's not to keep us entertained...
A primary focus isn't equivalent to an overarching goal. Societies tend to have a heavy handed influence from behind the scenes, but it's always tenuous. No one's hold is absolute forever.
[Politicians evoking power through bribes and coercion - assassins working under cover to turn those debts into blood. Someone primed to rip, rip, rip it down under the guise of a shared dream.]
In fact, Vaeros - I wonder if he's even the one pulling the strings at all. Maybe the goal is keep us distracted with one, while another runs amok to achieve the true objective.
The possibility can't be ignored until it can be ruled it out definitively.
[All his grapes are gone - that sucks. He moves back to his few tiny cheese pieces remaining.]
Unfortunately, I haven't been here long enough to collect any conclusive evidence on the matter. Though it was wishful thinking on my part that a motive would be clear this early.
[There's a moment of silence as Eren appraises Akechi. He has a few pieces of fruit on his own plate. He plucks at them one-by-one, placing them on the shared plate instead - even a few grapes.]
You're a smart guy. That's why it sucks I can't trust you.
But you've got a good point. Can't say I'd ever thought about it that way.
[The fruit returns to the plate with a reason Eren has yet to explain, so Akechi watches the bizarre exchange with light interest. It's not important. Irrelevant and -
His fingers grasp one of the grapes rolling around the porcelain and he pops it right into his mouth. Whether this is a haphazard attempt at a truce or coincidence, it doesn't matter.
He leans forward - the if I may being rhetorical because there isn't a choice to listen, save for Eren disappearing into the crowd around them.]
While I can't claim to understand your distrust of me, you don't need trust to align yourself with someone. You only need to know your goals match and your vision of the end result is the same. In fact, I would argue if this theory is correct, our captors have the same mindset.
[Considering Eren's background according to the Sleepr, that should resonate. A comment that almost leaves his lips, but he's playing a part - trusting, kind, and open. No poking. No prodding. Not in a way that brazen.
His left leg hikes over the other, arms crossing against his chest - thoughtful. As if pondering the implication of what he said, though he knows full well how easy it is to align with blood and lies. How simple it is to pretend and worship the ground someone walks on until they get comfortable enough to ignore the dagger slipping into their back.]
And for the record, my goal is to leave this place.
Let's see if our goals really do match, then. Because mine is to stay.
[Eren levels a look at Akechi, tries to meet his eyes across the table. He's a loud-mouthed kid with an attitude problem, yeah, but there's more to Eren than just that. There's a storm thrashing in grey-green waves behind his eyes. He's forgotten how not to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. They're sitting in a cafe, calmly sharing a plate of food, in a peaceful world, and still, he looks ready to go to war.]
Freedom is the birthright of every last dreamer in this place. It should be up to us where we go and when. Those that want to stay should get to stay. Those that want to leave should get to leave.
That's my one and only goal.
If all you want to do is get us all kicked out of this place, then we can't be allies. I'm a good ally to have, Pleasant Boy.
[Pathetic. Disgusting. The sentiment of staying a stance he didn't expect this brash, loud mouthed irritation to take.
For a moment, he's disappointed.
Joker must have made him soft to determined individuals. The expectation was misplaced. He's all talk.
But none of that flickers in his expression. A feigned neutrality holding the softness of his eyes in place - the same pair locked on to the unwavering gaze of his companion. Resolute.
What does he care if a bunch of nobodies rot in a prison they've chosen.]
To be frank, I can't worry about the decisions everyone else will make, so long as they don't conflict with mine. If they want to stay, I welcome their choice and sympathize with their plight. I'm sure it's a difficult decision.
[It makes him want to puke. The whole ordeal a nauseating affair, but-
Eren can fight, be exploited and be of use. It's a necessary exchange for the limited timeframe he has to work.]
Though I doubt my words satisfy you, it's all I have. I hope it's enough for us to come to an understanding here.
How fortunate for me. I can't deny what a comfort it is to be on the same side as someone with your background.
[The thought of working with this guy-
Revolting. It makes his stomach churn, to the point the little piece of pepperoni he popped into his mouth no longer taste palatable. Strength is a quality he must possess, given everything.
But brash, blunt and pathetic all the same. It will be easier once Robin Hood and Loki return to his heart and allow him the freedom to work alone.]
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no subject
Eren is bold. Wild. Reactionary. Impulsive and full of reckless abandon.
Akechi hates him.
But blunting that dulled fury happens with the cheese Eren steals. It gives him a new place to focus. He doesn't give a shit if his food's picked at, annoying as it is.]
Cheese, meat and fruit. I'm surprised at the variety they managed to acquire in this small town.
[And he buries his wrath with the tiny cheeses he pops into his mouth.]
What did you get?
cheese-buried wrath
They've got all sorts of shit here. It has to do with all the magic, probably.
When I first got here, there was some big party in asshole's castle. They had every type of food you can imagine - some shit that came straight from people's own world's even.
[See, he can make civil conversation. You want information, right, Akechi?
[As for what he got, he merely gestures to the croissant on his plate, half-torn through.]
It's a croissant. I guess they're pretty common most places, but we don't have bread like this where I come from.
[There but for the grace of God, Akechi was not a witness to the first time Eren tried to pronounce that word.]
tiny cheese is his therapy dog now
[Pleasant expression taped up, the bitterness in his lighthearted words is clear. It's not a slip - it's intentional. He wants to know why.
He pushes the plate towards the middle of the table for easy access. Keep him talking.]
But yes, croissants are common in my world. They're in almost every bakery in Tokyo in some form.
[And given the Sleeprs, it makes sense it's not common. Puff pastry is time consuming and intense, from what little he knows aboutit. The brutal world Eren the Sleeprs implied Eren is from - pastries over coffee probably aren't the norm.
He pulls another bit of meat - crunches it between his teeth and it's spicy. Ugh.]
Feel free to help yourself. I still owe you for the food you gave me.
no subject
Vaeros uses magic that fucks with your brain. Everyone at the Masquerade was under a spell that kept them complaisant. There was other magic too - cursed mistletoe you had to kiss someone to get away from. [This worked out in his advantage, but that's not the point--]
None of us even realized we were under a spell until it was over.
no subject
The nabbed food is enough for Akechi to check that box as repaid - this asshole would use any minor favor against him.
Noting the spicy meats being consumed first, he twists the plate around for him to have easy access to that part. He doesn't want it. ]
That's disturbing to say the least. That begs the question of why he doesn't use that ability all the time - it would keep us compliant and make us less prone to rebel. [A beat, a little grape, and-] I assume there's a limit to its use, but to exploit it for a party he's throwing - that's quite egotistical.
no subject
Like those flower crowns making everyone act like idiots, or that...fortune teller. [His voice sounds a little...off when he talks about the fortune teller, expression a bit distant for a second.]
The longer you're here, the more you'll see.
no subject
[The magic in this world is foreign and strange. It weaves through every aspect of this place, but it's not constant. Compliance is limited to those strange moments. They aren't living in a permanent stupor.]
It would eliminate every single issue. Wipe our minds, make us think we belong here - turn us into dolls to wander a fantasy world. Our wishes would never need to be granted.
The fact this doesn't happen makes me think the full ability is limited by something.
no subject
[Still...]
What you're saying makes sense, but I'm telling you, a big part of this is that he likes to watch us squirm.
Back home where I'm from, we were all fooled and lied to by the people in charge. They didn't use magic, but it worked well enough anyway - for a hundred years.
But it wasn't like this. The things that happen here aren't bread and circuses. Bad shit happens. You get fucked with. It's not to keep us entertained...
no subject
[Politicians evoking power through bribes and coercion - assassins working under cover to turn those debts into blood. Someone primed to rip, rip, rip it down under the guise of a shared dream.]
In fact, Vaeros - I wonder if he's even the one pulling the strings at all. Maybe the goal is keep us distracted with one, while another runs amok to achieve the true objective.
no subject
no subject
[All his grapes are gone - that sucks. He moves back to his few tiny cheese pieces remaining.]
Unfortunately, I haven't been here long enough to collect any conclusive evidence on the matter. Though it was wishful thinking on my part that a motive would be clear this early.
no subject
You're a smart guy. That's why it sucks I can't trust you.
But you've got a good point. Can't say I'd ever thought about it that way.
no subject
[The fruit returns to the plate with a reason Eren has yet to explain, so Akechi watches the bizarre exchange with light interest. It's not important. Irrelevant and -
His fingers grasp one of the grapes rolling around the porcelain and he pops it right into his mouth. Whether this is a haphazard attempt at a truce or coincidence, it doesn't matter.
He leans forward - the if I may being rhetorical because there isn't a choice to listen, save for Eren disappearing into the crowd around them.]
While I can't claim to understand your distrust of me, you don't need trust to align yourself with someone. You only need to know your goals match and your vision of the end result is the same. In fact, I would argue if this theory is correct, our captors have the same mindset.
[Considering Eren's background according to the Sleepr, that should resonate. A comment that almost leaves his lips, but he's playing a part - trusting, kind, and open. No poking. No prodding. Not in a way that brazen.
His left leg hikes over the other, arms crossing against his chest - thoughtful. As if pondering the implication of what he said, though he knows full well how easy it is to align with blood and lies. How simple it is to pretend and worship the ground someone walks on until they get comfortable enough to ignore the dagger slipping into their back.]
And for the record, my goal is to leave this place.
no subject
[Eren levels a look at Akechi, tries to meet his eyes across the table. He's a loud-mouthed kid with an attitude problem, yeah, but there's more to Eren than just that. There's a storm thrashing in grey-green waves behind his eyes. He's forgotten how not to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. They're sitting in a cafe, calmly sharing a plate of food, in a peaceful world, and still, he looks ready to go to war.]
Freedom is the birthright of every last dreamer in this place. It should be up to us where we go and when. Those that want to stay should get to stay. Those that want to leave should get to leave.
That's my one and only goal.
If all you want to do is get us all kicked out of this place, then we can't be allies. I'm a good ally to have, Pleasant Boy.
no subject
For a moment, he's disappointed.
Joker must have made him soft to determined individuals. The expectation was misplaced. He's all talk.
But none of that flickers in his expression. A feigned neutrality holding the softness of his eyes in place - the same pair locked on to the unwavering gaze of his companion. Resolute.
What does he care if a bunch of nobodies rot in a prison they've chosen.]
To be frank, I can't worry about the decisions everyone else will make, so long as they don't conflict with mine. If they want to stay, I welcome their choice and sympathize with their plight. I'm sure it's a difficult decision.
[It makes him want to puke. The whole ordeal a nauseating affair, but-
Eren can fight, be exploited and be of use. It's a necessary exchange for the limited timeframe he has to work.]
Though I doubt my words satisfy you, it's all I have. I hope it's enough for us to come to an understanding here.
no subject
[An unspoken but certainly intended question: Does he plan to interfere?]
no subject
[See? He can do this teamwork makes the dream work shit.]
I'm glad we could come to an understanding. I look forward to working with you.
[Ugh.]
no subject
[For the first time, it clicks into place that "friends" is not synonymous.]
no subject
[The thought of working with this guy-
Revolting. It makes his stomach churn, to the point the little piece of pepperoni he popped into his mouth no longer taste palatable. Strength is a quality he must possess, given everything.
But brash, blunt and pathetic all the same. It will be easier once Robin Hood and Loki return to his heart and allow him the freedom to work alone.]
You can have the rest of my meal. I'm quite full.
no subject
[Eren takes his bag, a pouch from it. He begins bagging up the remaining food. None of it will go to waste.]
Same here. I'll see you around, Pleasant Boy.
no subject
He just waves at him - pleasant as ever.
Bye, asshole.]