laevateinns | caelum inbox

[Out of the blue! A message!!]

Making the rounds for my apologies, re: that mistletoe that made us all feel more aggressive than necessary.

So, sorry. [He wonders if it would mean anything to this young man at all. For Henry, this is just obligation to smooth things over with those he has to share this blasted hotel with, and his actual regret is... middling, at best. But still, an effort is being made.] Are you still upset?

[ hello message!!

akechi frowns at it at first. apologizing… ha. henry hadn’t seemed apologetic at the time, even after the mistletoe left, and—-

well. maybe akechi should have suspected that someone with a power like that might not actually regret using it.

he has some experience with that, after all. ]

Oh, not at all! [ he LIES ]

After all, it made me quite aggressive as well. It’s nothing new to me, really; I have a power myself that allows me to unchain people’s inhibitions and sort of send them into a frenzy— including myself— and I must admit that often ends in violence.

[ …is he… trying to give a vague threat?? to henry?? rest in pieces, akechi. ]

[Oh, yes, he reads that for what it is. How funny.

He could play that game right now, too, but he's NOT GONNA.]

You don't need to lie, you know, or veil threats my way. If you're upset, just say so.

[ akechi has a teenager moment of UGH, WHATEVER, at this guy's CALM ACCEPTANCE. ]

Seems like you already know the answer, then.

[ he knows, logically, that he's being unfair. that mistletoe had sent everyone wild in different ways, and... it's not like akechi had meant to attack him either, really.

but.

but. ]

You told me you'd forget it, but something tells me you're not going to.

[He can't blame him. He'd feel the same.

And maybe that's the point.]

The memory itself will be hard to forget, but I don't feel the need to rub it in your face for no reason.

[Henry weaponzies bad memories, trauma. He doesn't fling them about for fun, just for the heck of it. At least... not in this hotel.]

It's more... Well. That politeness you put on, would you say that's just an act for you?

[ "for no reason," he says.'

so if he had a reason...?

the question makes him pause though. ]

Politeness has its uses.

[ which is. not technically an answer. but also totally an answer. ]

[If he had a reason.

It's a half-answer, anyway.]

To get people to do what you want, right?

[ ...when he puts it like that... ]

That's certainly part of it. Although I wouldn't put it so broadly, personally.

I don't just go around trying to get everyone to do what I want for fun.

[ ...perhaps much like henry needs "a reason" to use things against people. ]

[Much like that, yes.]

No, I suppose not.

I'm wearing a smile because otherwise, it makes it difficult for people to function around me. [That's a nice way of putting it.] But if I had a choice, I wouldn't need to do it at all.

It's tiring, that's what I mean. Adhering in the stage play that is everything all around us. Along with my apology, I just wanted to let you know that someone else functions the same way as you.

[Maybe this is too much of an assumption, but. Henry's making it anyway.]

[ akechi immediately bristles again at someone trying to act like they understand, like they know, him, but.

but. ]

A stage play? That's awfully dramatic.

[ akechi agrees. he also... agrees with wishing he didn't have to. he'd spent all that time acting that way for all kinds of reasons, but then... he has to admit he had... fun, getting to let go and be more himself when the ruse was finally up. ]

Most people are shallow. [ is what he'll allow.

is he... sympathizing?? ]

Really? I think it's fitting. Aren't we all just playing some role expected of us?

>[It feels a little like sympathy. Maybe that's a step in the right direction, when it comes to... smoothing over their last meeting.]

[ HE'S NOT WRONG... and akechi agrees, he's just still feeling like a little shit and unsure if he wants to answer honestly or not. ]

You're not wrong. Everyone has a persona they show to the world.

[ haha... haha... ]

[Despite seeing Akechi's persona already, he has no way to correlate the two to what he's just read, alas.]

And that's not always a good thing. My own family employed that very well.

[But maybe that's a tale for another time.]

Either way, I hope there's not too much bad blood between us for now.

No, it's not always a good thing.

[ akechi's father tried to do much the same-- akechi himself did much the same.

ha. ]

I'd be interested to hear about that sometime. [ it's only fair, after all-- but yes, perhaps another time. as for the question... akechi mulls it over. thinks about it. eventually decides, ]

I know it wasn't your fault. I'm not happy about it, but I understand.

[ IT CAME ON CHRISTMAS THOUGH.

There's a box in front of Akechi's door and when he opens it there will be a handwritten note in Japanese: ]

akechi -

saw this and thought of you! not sure if you still have your old pair but maybe a new one might be nice :) merry christmas, buddy!

- ryuji

[ And in the box will be a very nice pair of leather gloves with a monogrammed A on the wrists.

Listen, he does not know the Glove Drama™ ]

[ what the fuck. what the fuck.

is this a... christmas gift??

akechi has only ever gotten those from, like, fans sending him chocolate and candy and sweets because he's "suuuuuch a sweet-tooth," but,

this is like. an actually thoughtful gift?? what the hell

he looks at the gloves in shock, only encouraged when he sees the monogram. ]

What the fuck. [ he murmurs-- before immediately trying them on.

NOT TO BE UNDONE. ryuji will find, several weeks later, a bag containing some therapeutic lotion used for after workouts in front of his door with no name on it.

they're... kind of high quality, though. ]

[ THIS IS. THE BEST. CHRISTMAS GIFT.

Which is why Akechi gets a text, he doesn't have to reply to it and Ryuji isn't expecting one but — ]

thank u for the lotions, akechi-kun! ❤️

[ yeah he used -kun and a heart emoji ]

[ akechi somehow avoids answering "i don't know what you're talking about" to ryuji but

HE SURE DOES PREEN AT THE ACCEPTANCE

hell yeah, he is so good at giving gifts... even if sakamoto is being A LITTLE FAMILIAR WITH HIM

(he weirdly doesn't hate it like he did when his fans used to do the same thing)

(surely this means nothing) ]

hey idk if he told u but akira left the hotel

now its just u and me lol

[ the saddest lol............... ]

Right. Of course.

[ a simple, clipped response at first because… well, when he first got here hadn’t akechi told akira how surprised he was that he was staying?

it’s a vacation, akira had said.

and then they made a deal— akechi to try and relax while he was here, and akira to tell akechi of anything he uncovered about the hotel.

…and now he was gone. ]

I suppose that’s simply how it goes, when people can leave as they wish.

yeaaaahh lol

[ More sad lols. Ryuji didn't want to say this to Akira, didn't want to discourage him from leaving if he didn't want to stay anymore and felt like it was time to go but — Ryuji doesn't really know what to do without him.

Should he have left too??

Before he can help himself, he's asking — ]

r u gonna leave too?
shit
i mean
u dont have to answer that if u dont wanna
i know its a lil diff for u

[ ha! what a question, even with ryuji’s considerate follow-up. ]

I don’t currently have any strong desire to die, no.

[ he responds, LIKE AN ASS. he was never fully convinced he was still alive back in their world— akira was, and now akira was gone, so. ]

I suppose you will, though?

[ why does the thought make him
so…
so… ]

[ At least Ryuji's response can come before Akechi's thought fully forms. It's almost immediate, Ryuji not shy at all in responding with — ]

no i dont wanna leave u
even if u make friends here and stuff
its still gonna be a bit lonely isnt it
so ill stay unless u rly want me to go

[ wtf. wtf.

how can ryuji just say something like that? what does he mean, lonely? akechi making friends here?

why—

why does that answer fill him with so much relief— ]

Do whatever you want. I won’t stop you.

[ …ryuji is welcome to take that as accidental permission to move into the room next to him, of course. ]

[ He does. Because Akechi isn't the only one feeling an immense amount of relief at the reply he gets. When Akechi gives that somewhat approval for Ryuji to stay, Ryuji smiles at his phone, feeling more cheered up now than he has since Akira broke the news to him that he was leaving. ]

thanks!!

u know u can talk to me anytime right? i know its gonna be a lil sad now that hes gone but im here for u, man

[ the fact that something so small could make ryuji feel better… akechi would be blown away in shock if he knew.

as it is, he’s blown away in shock by ryuji’s thoughtful and kind offer because… what the hell ]

I’m not sure what you expect me to say. He was here and now he isn’t, and I’ll probably never see him again.

[ he doesn’t seem to realize just how revealing even saying that is.

but then he— wait. he realizes— was ryuji… did ryuji… ]

Do YOU need someone to talk to about it?

[ surely he wouldn’t go to akechi for that. right?? right???? ]

[ surely he wouldn't! except that he would and that's part of the reason he texted akechi in the first place. he just needed... someone. and akechi was the first person to came to mind. once he thought of the other boy, no one else seemed to be the right person to talk to. ]

that must bum u out a little tho. not being able to see him again, or anyone else either. im sorry, akechi.

[ and then he considers the offer because yeah... he is feeling kind of messed up about all this. ]

im kind of sad. i thought wed be here together for longer. part of me wonders if i shouldve gone home w him but it didnt feel right yet to go. idk.

[ oh, god. he DID come to akechi for this. akechi is completely Shaken(tm) for a second before he prepares himself to tell ryuji to fuck off and find someone who cares. ]

It's not unreasonable that you'd hope for more time together. At least when you do eventually return, you won't have missed anything back there, though I suppose that isn't the same for him: missing time here right now.

[ FAILED STEP ONE??? what is he DOING... as for himself... he scoffs at the message, even if ryuji is right. ]

You have nothing to be sorry for. This is completely a consequence of my own actions.

An interesting punishment, wouldn't you say?

[ Ryuji is so relieved that Akechi is willing to talk to him... this is already making him feel loads better and he's quite happy about it. ]

yeah ur right. i guess the best thing to do is make sure the time i spend here is worth sharing w him when we meet again!!

[ Time to make some memories!! ]

do u think being here is rly ur punishment? i kinda thought itd be like reahbltiation

[ HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO SPELL REHABILITATION LEAVE HIM ALONE ]

[ ryuji is taking that surprisingly well, but… akechi is all too good at pretending, and trying to fake it until you make it.

so, he wonders…

the question throws him off though. ]

You don’t think it’s a punishment? Certainly it’s provided me with opportunities I would not have normally had, but it’s also given me all manner of frustrations.

[ an amused laugh, even if ryuji can’t hear it. ]

…Though I suppose that’s just living, isn’t it?

Regardless, I’m not interested in any kind of rehabilitation. What’s to rehabilitate? I know I’ve done awful things and deserve to be held accountable for them.

[ HE WONT MENTION THE SPELLING… THIS TIME ]

[ Don't look too closely, man. He's not as good at pretend as you are.

So, he's a little relieved to be talking about Akechi instead of himself. Time to deflect. ]

if it was punishment u wouldnt be walking around so freely would u? if anything what happened w maruki was more of a punishment than this

if its not rehabltation or punishment maybe its a second chance instead

A second chance?

[ what exactly qualifies him for a second chance? he had his chance and he failed, couldn't even do the one goal he set his life to. and... it's not like people like his mom got a second chance.

so why him?

he huffs, frowning at the screen. ]

Is that what you think? That'll I'll suddenly become a paragon because I'm still alive- here, at least?

[ Ryuji rolls his eyes as he gets the response back, as if everything is more simple than Akechi is alluding to.

He doesn't really know what a paragon is but he gets the gist. ]

u do know u dont have to be a good person to deserve to live right? u can be perfectly average and not deserve to die. u can even be a bad person and not deserve to die.

u did bad things sureb ut now ur just getting a chance to be a normal person. u dont have shido in ur ear telling u who to kill and what to do. u can just be u, no fake shit. thats ur second chance.

[ There's a little box of homemade chocolates outside Akechi's door. They're all in different shapes: mostly heart shapes, skull shapes, and something that vaguely resembles a bird?? Could it be... a crow??

And a little note: ]

Happy Valentine's Day, Akechi-kun! Thank you for being there for me. I appreciate you a lot. 💛

- Ryuji

[ ryuji you have GOT to stop sending akechi mixed signals ]

[ ryuji PLEASE…

akechi reads the note. looks at the chocolate. puts his face in his hands.

and yells.

what the fuck.

he may have given info competitiveness at christmas but ryuji won’t be getting a valentine’s gift from akechi.

oh, no— he’ll wait until white day.

that’ll show him!!!

(doubt) ]

caelum inbox

un: latrodectus, dn: henry; late december idk!!!

un: a, dn: akechi

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a very belated christmas gift

HELP x2

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dn: ☠️RYUJI☠️ | after akira leaves

RYUUUJJJIIIII

AKECHIIIIIII

SAD BOIS

so sad

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on valentine's day

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