Day 6 - Final discussion before the second execution

[pandatrash]

[This morning, a video of Tycoon auto-plays on everyone's tablets. He is in a dimly lit room, and seems to be eating pudding out of a bicycle horn...? Whatever, the raccoons are weird.]

Today’s the day! Are you pumped up? Psyched out? Pissed off? Done in? Hehehehe!

Everybody better vote today for who you want to be PUNISHED! If you don't vote by the time the timer reaches zero, your vote will be randomized! Just like it now says in the rules!

I, Tycoon (only Tycoon), will still answer one question per person if you haven’t cashed yours in yet! Rule clarifications are free, by the way! Also, quit freaking out about the people who are off crying in their rooms or whatever! You already have all the alibis you need to solve the mystery!

((Navigation
Recyclr
Day 5 Q&A with Tycoon
Today's Q&A with Tycoon
Vote! It says midnight Friday, but it's technically midnight Saturday. 11:59 Friday, WHATEVER.))

Comments

[suppressthedark]

[It'll inevitably come up in one of their conversations, surely. But for now, Ichigo is silent - until that same look comes onto his face, the same one he'd had when he talked about Ulquiorra a few days ago.]

'...The path is closing, Ichigo.'

[His voice flat as he speaks, reciting from memory.]

'The path to a world with no fear. The living world...Hueco Mundo...and Soul Society - they were all meant to become one. Life and death, twisted and fused together - they were destined to be one and the same. But now...that will likely never happen, and you have yourself to thank for it, Ichigo.'

[He looks down, closing his eyes.]

'Sadly, because of all your actions here, life and death will never lose their current forms, and all those who breathe will continue to pass each and every day by, living in fear of death...for all eternity.'

...That was the last thing Yhwach said to me as he was dying from my final attack.

[purrtagonist]

[jesus fucking christ, that's heavy. Akira's expression immediately sours]

Compared to the alternative-- [well, he has no idea what life and death would look like twisted and fused together. but he can't imagine it'd be anything good, so what Ichigo did is probably for the best]

[however--]

. . . I know you're a shinigami. But it sounds like you carry the weight of so much death on your shoulders every single day.

[because that's, like. a lot. and it's admirable that Ichigo is capable of facing that responsibility with his head held high]

[Akira's not sure he could, and he shot a false god in the fucking head]

[suppressthedark]

...In my world, there's a balance. The living world on one side, and the dead on the other. Keeping them in equilibrium is the only way life and death can work, with souls going from either side in a circle.

He wanted to destroy that. He wanted no one to die, but no one would live - so no one would grow old, but...no one would be born.

[He'd had time to think about it here, in the school - late at night, putting pen to paper.]

So everything would just...stagnate. Because...he was afraid of dying himself.

[And yet, even as he talks about it, there's no venom in his voice. Instead, what there is? Is pity and understanding.

He shakes his head at Akira's comment, looking over quietly.]

I've just gotten used to it, honestly. And...I'm grateful for it, because I had the power to protect everyone. So...it's not even a weight I notice, anymore.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . man. one day, Akira should tell Ichigo about Yaldabaoth, too. only his god was far less pitiable than Ichigo's]

. . . I admire that.

[he tilts his head a bit, pulling up a genuine, earnest smile]

Your strength. Your compassion. I tell you to let someone else support you for a change, but it's awe-inspiring that you can carry so much. . . and still be the person you are now.

[and he means that]

[suppressthedark]

[He shakes his head, firmly. He'd been hearing that a lot from other people, but he wasn't anything special in his own mind - he was just someone who was stubborn enough to keep going, despite the odds stacked against him.]

It's nothing like that. I just...I won't let anyone who needs help be ignored, and I just do the right thing. Even if I don't have the power to change things, I refuse to just give up when people need me - even if the future looks bleak. It's what anyone would do.

[He pauses, taking a sip of his coffee, before looking over at Akira and giving him a smile that borders on one of his true ones.]

...Besides, you're more of an inspiration. You're able to keep doing this, even though it hurts...and you're strong enough to help support people when they want to give up. You're able to lead people so well, and I...well, I think that - and you - are really amazing, Akira.

1/2

[purrtagonist]

[jesus christ ichigo he didn't ask for this earnest sincerity shit]

[purrtagonist]

[PROMPTLY SHOVES A HAND IN ICHIGO'S FACE]

[suppressthedark]

[WAIT WHAT HE DIDN'T EXPECT THIS

FACE IN HIS FACE NOW]

-!! What the-?!

[purrtagonist]

[PINCHES HIS NOSE]

You know, just because I paid you a compliment doesn't mean you had to pay it back ten times in value.

[. . . okay, he's composed again. he grins, before letting go of Ichigo's nose and letting his hand fall back to the counter]

[suppressthedark]

Kghff-

[He makes a noise as his nose is pinched, practically slapping away Akira's hand away before he lets it go, his own hand going to rub his nose.]

I wasn't - agh, ow - I wasn't doing it ten times over, that's how I really feel! And did you have to do that?!

[How dare you Akira, ruining a perfectly good moment!!]

See if I ever pay you a compliment again, geeze.

[purrtagonist]

[NO ICHIGO, SAYING THAT'S HOW YOU REALLY FEEL MAKES IT WORSE. Akira laughs, light and breathy, eyes dancing]

It wasn't mandatory, but it was fun.

[his expression is still twinkling when he drains the last of his coffee]