Day 17 - WHODUNNIT?

[pandatrash]

[It's that time again! The Great Detective has been killed, so put those little grey cells to work and find the culprit!]

[Most of the flooding has been stopped as well, though it's uncomfortably damp just about everywhere. Looks like the raccoons only half-assed their cleanup.]

[Speaking of half-assed, where's Tycoon? I mean, broken ones, sure, but has anybody seen him up and about? Looks like you guys might be flying blind this time around...]

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[purrtagonist]

[drops the chalk hard into the tray, tilting his head to flash Akechi a sharp, defiant smile]

Oh, sorry. Is this better?

[and then]






[. . . he flips him off]

[afailedmurder]

Well, that finger isn't broken.

So I'd say yes, you fared well last night.

I had to

[suppressthedark]

Oh my god, are you two just going to be like this from now on?

[Where the fuck did Ichigo come from]

i'm sorry

[purrtagonist]

[. . . he gives Ichigo a sideways glance that says, "yeah, probably"]

[suppressthedark]

[THE LARGEST, MOST PUT UPON SIGH IN THE WORLD]

...

[Just. have a look that says 'really?' Because there's genuinely nothing else he can say to this kind of pettiness right now.]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . well. that sigh and that look gets him to deflate a little bit, because Ichigo's unspoken words are right. now isn't really the time or the place]

[he looks away, lifting a hand to rub the back of his neck]

[suppressthedark]

[So long as you know right now isn't the time to snipe at Akechi, honey.

Though if Akira looks back again, he'll get a small, gentle smile. He still loves you, even if you got temporarily caught up in a grudge.]

[purrtagonist]

[he does look back, opening his mouth to say something, although the smile shuts him right up. there's a pause, his expression softening, before he returns it]

[gay]

[afailedmurder]

I was ready to be civil about it, but you see how he's been acting.

[suppressthedark]

...Yeah, I see.

[Really, he thinks they're both acting pissy, but -

Well, he'll ignore that for now, because he has something to say.]

Akechi? Thank you. For making sure he was safe last night.

[And that's....pretty fucking genuine.]

[afailedmurder]

[a bit of the hostility drains]

I didn't know what else to do. Even if he hates me...

[pauses, searching for words]

It's... the principle of the thing, I suppose.

[suppressthedark]

I understand.

[Ichigo's smile is fond, but also apologetic just a little as he speaks.]

You didn't want him to get hurt or killed. And Akira....he's definitely got his own mind when it comes to what he wants to do, even if he gets hurt in the process.

[He gives a little chuckle.]

'S probably why we get along so well.

But...While I won't claim I know everything about your relationship, I'm still grateful to you. It would have been really easy for you to just leave him to whatever might've happened last night - and you decided it would be better to make sure he was alright, even if he got angry and hated you from then on because of it.

[He remembers what Akira said about how Akechi sees their friendship - but at the same time, he can't say he doesn't understand where Akechi's coming from, either.]

So...I'm hoping you two can work this out. After all, in this place?

You need as many people on your side as you can get.

[afailedmurder]

[eventually they get tired of fighting and just separate, which isn't ideal, but isn't... the worst case scenario here?]

I don't know. Perhaps this is the point where we simply... agree to disagree.

[his gaze is distant for a moment, and sad, but he quickly snaps back into being defensive]

...And that's fine. I have Saihara-kun and Will-san. That's more than I ever had before.

[purrtagonist]

[sharply]

Yeah, sure. Better than some people did, right?

[that's pointed]

[afailedmurder]

Someone was inevitably going to die tonight. Would you have rather it been you?

[purrtagonist]

[his gaze narrows]

What if my answer to that is "yes?"

[suppressthedark]

Akira-

[Wow that's

Both alarmed AND threatening, somehow, as it's hissed out from the other side of the room.

Don't do this to him!!]

[purrtagonist]

[holding up a hand, gaze whipping in Ichigo's direction]

. . .

[afailedmurder]

If your answer to that is really, truly "yes," I don't have anything more to say to you.

[purrtagonist]

[lowers his hand, and turns back to Akechi]

It's less about me being ready to throw myself into the grinder and more about having the freedom to choose, Akechi.

My offer of friendship doesn't mean I'm your prize.

[afailedmurder]

[that get a flash of very real anger]

Who said shit about prizes? All I ever wanted was a goddamn friend, and you can't even do that properly.

1/2

[purrtagonist]

[momentarily taken aback]

[purrtagonist]

[and then lifts a hand to scrub at his face, all of the fight evaporating from him like water]

. . . forget it. I don't know if this is something we'll ever see eye-to-eye on.

[afailedmurder]

...No, I suppose not.

[deflating a little as he turns away]

[purrtagonist]

[turns away as well, shifting his weight to lean on his crutch]

. . .

[for a moment, it looks like he wants to say something else. but he doesn't, and instead exits stage left]