[ic] all the voices mistaken

[pheasantboy]

In the end, they got Ren settled into bed, with a glass of water and his phone—though a big part of Akechi would have been far more comfortable if that glass was a sippy cup. He wanted to stay, to be on hand, but he didn't need to be told crowding Ren wouldn't be for the best. And he can be on hand just as well downstairs in the park as in his apartment.

So here he is, sitting on a park bench with his head in his hands, having vaulted the closed park gate as if he's done it a thousand times before—which may not even be untrue. Besides his fear for Ren, the things he's learned rotate in his head. He notices his episodes, now—that never happened before. And this thing Ren believes he did... what can it have been? Something everyone but him knows about, clearly. Something bad enough to make them hate him? Even to kill him?

Perhaps not coincidentally, he's sitting on the same bench another Akechi was feeding the birds from, long ago. The bag of breadcrumbs he forgot earlier has vanished, as if it never was.

Comments

[willowandoak]

Don't—take this the wrong way. [ He isn't sure how to say this without sounding condescending, but he's gonna at least try. ] But most people here could do some stuff to him that you can't do anything about. I get that you want to protect him, but I don't know if putting yourself in the line of fire will help.

[pheasantboy]

Do you really think not?

[Soft, matter-of-fact. Like there's a truth to it that's absent from most of what he says. His cup rests lightly in his hands.]

Of course the rest of you have magic powers I can't do anything about. But if the only way I can save him is to put myself between him and danger, then I will. Wouldn't you do as much for the people you love?

[willowandoak]

Yeah. [ But he doesn't want to talk very much about "the people you love". ] I just think—a likely outcome there is you go down, and they walk over your corpse to get to your Ren. You can protect him without hurting yourself, you know? Figuring out where he shouldn't go, who he should avoid, that kind of thing. You've been here for months, you know this place and the people way better than he does.

[ The change in Sparrow's tone is interesting. It gives Ren hope, weirdly enough, that something can be done for him. ]

[pheasantboy]

[But he smiles, and it's definitely not quite his usual smile.]

I'm not saying I plan to die as a first resort. But—yes, if someone makes an issue of it, then I'm prepared to take the risk.

It would be much easier if all of you were prepared to be reasonable. But I'm long past wishing for that.

[willowandoak]

[ He makes a quiet, offended noise into his coffee. ]

Don't talk like I'm out for his blood.

[ Not that he would mourn that Ren if he died. He just, very unfortunately, in a tragic twist of fate, has reasons to want him alive. ]

[pheasantboy]

[And, of course, his face clears at once into his usual pleasantry, affable and inoffensive....]

Of course. Forgive me. [Except that then he blinks, and looks back up.]

Why aren't you? I mean, you clearly weren't one of the people who met him. Perhaps you'd have found him despicable, too.

[willowandoak]

[ ...This is kinda awkward. He fiddles with his half-empty mug. ]

...I don't wanna lie to you, dude. You have enough trouble getting info already. So. I would've been pretty pissed. But we've all stayed peacefulish since we got here, which is kind of a miracle. I don't know what'll happen if someone breaks that streak.

And it would upset you if something happened to him. It would be stupid to, like. Be mad at him because you're my friend and then not care what you'd think about retaliation.

[ He's never put something like that into words before. It's weird. He feels a bit like Lala, dispensing sage wisdom. ]