towerofanimus | (no subject)

Characters: Akihiko and you
Setting: 2-04, dorm hallways (maybe other areas?) late at night
Format: Whatever you like
Summary: Akihiko can't sleep, so he decides to go looking for ~~trouble~~ something to occupy his time.
Warnings: Possible monster encounters

[It's easy for Akihiko to keep himself distracted during the day. People are awake to talk to and watch, and it's the best time to train and exercise.

But at night, Akihiko finds it hard to sleep through until morning. There are a lot of things on his mind. The last experiment didn't include him among the guinea pigs, but people were still forced to experience senseless torture and needed help. While he didn't hold back fighting fellow residents who'd assumed mutated forms of the characters they were forced to dress as, it still bothered him. What if he couldn't just knock them out? What if there was no escape? Would he be able to ensure everyone's survival?

And so he lies in bed, tossing and turning restlessly. Try as he might, he's too wired to sleep. And he doesn't even drink much in the way caffeine.

Eventually he decides to leave the room for a bit, trying to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb his roommates while making his way out with Evoker handy. It was discouraged to be exploring the tower at night, but it couldn't be too bad so long as he was armed and stayed close to his room...right? Getting a glass of water shouldn't be too bad...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He frowns at the boy. Akihiko has never approved of stealing. When they were much younger, Shinjiro stole a doll for Miki from the toy store...and Akihiko wouldn't have it. He made him return it. Sure, both of them were punished, but they learned it was wrong, even though they were poor.

And killing people to get what you need? That's even worse.

But Akihiko doesn't know Strega's background. He just knows they take suppressants for their personas, that they have a murder request site, and that they don't want the Dark Hour to disappear.

He doesn't raise his voice or show anger, but the disappointment is obvious.]

What about the people you take from? The people you kill? What did they do to deserve death?

It's not like we kill people who don't deserve it. That's why they kicked Takaya out before I even joined up. It's only people who have really done terrible things.

[... When he speaks again, there's an obvious note of regret in his voice.]

... And I never take too much. Just enough to survive. I... I don't want to have to steal, but it's not like anyone will hire me. And I don't want to just take handouts. The others are old enough, but... I don't know that they have a lot of time before they get too sick from their pills.

So I steal. If I had money I'd pay for it, but I don't. And I can't get it. If I hadn't started stealing, I would have died from the Shadows within a month of ending up on the street or even faster than that. I did what I had to, and I'll keep doing what I have to as long as I have to.

[Ken's self-sufficiency is admirable in some ways. He's only a kid and he's more mature than most of the students he goes to school with back home.

But there had to be a more honorable way to get by. His next words are hard to say.]

Sometimes you need a little help before you can stand on your own. And you can pay the kindness others show you forward to other people who need it in the future.

[He chuckles.]

But I'd probably think the same way if I was younger.

[He growls a little.]

Yeah, sure. Ask for help. From who? I don't know who my dad is. My mom's family didn't want me. The police thought I was crazy. Who, exactly, do you think was gonna help me? Nobody wanted me!

[Ken's shoulders slump and start shaking as he tries desperately not to cry.]

Nobody wanted me... no one cared. I just wanted someone to care... someone who didn't think I was crazy when I said something about the monsters in the night. But even that wasn't possible.

So I did it without help.

You're going to keep going on hurting and stealing from people?

[He just can't see Ken doing those things. It's not right. Ken's too young to get messed up in criminal activity.]

I don't want to. If I could find another way, I would. I want to pay people back, but I don't have anything to do it with. No one wants to take me seriously since I'm so young.

I know it's not right. But... but I don't have any other choice. It's easy to say that it's wrong and don't do it when you have other options. I don't know how you grew up but I bet you at least had food and medicine when you needed it. We don't.

Just cause someone didn't believe you once doesn't mean it'll keep being like that, you idiot.

[HI.

Guess who's back looking a like he needs a shower. That month-long visit to his dead homeworld has made Shinjiro even more grumpy than usual. He is not taking this excuse bullshit, Ken.

And Shinjiro's acting like nothing happened the past month, but what else is new. Just enjoy all this glaring.]

[That voice...]

Shinji?

[He turns to face his best friend. He's surprised he didn't notice the odor until now.]

Shinji! What the hell happened to you?

[He opens his mouth to respond, but closes it. No use arguing about it right now. He takes a step back to give the two some space, though he does summon Dike for a healing spell for Shinji. He has no idea what the guy's been through, so it couldn't hurt.]

[The spell doesn't seem to help that much (least of all the smell).]

Found myself back home. For all the good that did. Tch. There ain't nothing left.

[And that's all he'll say about the subject unless he's pried about it. The less they know about what happened, the better.]

What do you mean there's nothing left?

[Too bad Akihiko's not pleased with a simple response like that. It's asking for more prying.]

[He tried, gold star, etc.]

[He doesn't say anything yet though, just waits for an answer, letting the butt of his spear rest against the ground. So tired...]

I'll explain later. [Probably. You'll need to pry it out of him again.] I need a shower.

[He's so happy to see everyone, and then looks at Ken.]

And you get some rest.

[The happiest frowns. Only Shinjiro is capable of those.]

...Shinji's right. You look like you could pass out.

[It seems easier to talk to Strega's Ken when Shinjiro is present.]

But...

[... He knows they're right, though.]

I... I guess. Both of you should go to bed too, though.

[Yes only the happiest of frowns just for you. They can talk more about what he got to live through eventually. But you know. Shinjiro and talking in general.]

Yeah.

[Then without waiting, he takes off.

He really needs a shower.]

Hey, Shinji! Wait up!

[Questiiiions...

But he looks back at Ken.]

Shinji's right. Things change. You can too.

[His Ken will too. He'd be even more confident in his words if he knew so.]

... I know. I've already changed a lot. It's just... hard. I'll... think of something.

[He nods towards Shinji's retreating back.]

You should catch up with him.