GUEST SERVICES - AKECHI

[cluedin]

Comments

[miscakes]

[He mutters a quick thank you as he takes his cup, letting it warm his hands before taking a small sip from it.]

... Yes, I recall you said something similar in the past. [Something, something, Master Blue. Maybe it was one of her sisters, instead, but...] Has your master chosen someone to take Phoenix-san's place already?

[cluedin]

[There's a nod. Probably. She does say things like that.]

Yes, though we do sometimes recommend people of interest to the Master for suggestions. [She looks a little bummed though if only because she really likes Phoenix.] It won't necessarily replace him, but it's just like with Mammon. Two of you working together is important.

[...] People are starting to ask questions, by the way. Have you...told anybody about what you're doing?

[miscakes]

[Peach looks bummed, and Akechi looks... like a whole ass new partner is the last thing he wants right now. Or, like, ever.]

... Is that truly necessary? [Probably, yeah. She literally just said it's important, after all. Doesn't mean he likes it.] And what will become of our partnership with Luna?

[Or maybe Luna will die next week, too, and that won't be an issue any longer. Either way, he lifts an eyebrow at her question.]

You asked us to be discreet. There is no one who knows about my job outside of the ones in our group.

[cluedin]

Your new partner will meet with Luna as well. And we'll be there. We...we'll take care of everything.

[Hm. But she seems to be staring at him over the rim of her coffee cup.] I recall what we asked, I was just curious. I don't think Nick told anybody either, and...well, you saw what happened with Luna. [But she seems to be considering something.] ...were you truly this resistant to teamwork back home, too?

[miscakes]

[Well. He relaxes a bit at the news that their arrangement didn't go up in flames along with Phoenix, so there's that. Her question does catch him off-guard, however, if only because he distinctly remembers never telling her shit about what happened to him back home.]

... What do you mean?

[Peach??? Can't believe Akira is going to die because Akechi will kill him once he realizes he tattled on him.]

[cluedin]

[RIP.]

Were you really working by yourself back home? That's not a hard question, is it?

[miscakes]

[It is not, but he is not answering it. Realization sinks in, and his expression turns into something just a little bit unpleasant.]

Oh, I see. How much did Akira tell you?

[cluedin]

Just that you knew each other back home. [A sip.] It's pretty obvious you aren't great at working with others, but I wasn't really sure why.

[miscakes]

[... He very much looks like he suspects Akira said more than that, but. Taking a sip of his coffee now.]

Back home, most of the tasks I undertook allowed me the freedom to work by myself. [Very matter-of-factly.] Teammates only slow me down.

[cluedin]

[She's an Akira stan, what do you expect from her, Akechi.]

Have your teammates here slowed you down as well?

[miscakes]

None of them have survived long enough for it to become an issue.

[RIP to Mammon and Phoenix. Will Luna get hit by the two week curse, too? We just don't know.]

[cluedin]

...Nick cared about what happened to you a lot, you know. [Where is she going with this?] Did he ever tell you?

[miscakes]

[Where is she going with this? He gives her a look.]

He pitied me. As if I'm someone who needs to be saved. [Disdainfully, and a little matter-of-factly. Like Peach is the one who has it wrong.] Why bring it up now? He's dead.

[cluedin]

...I dunno. Maybe because you're kind of an idiot if you thought of it as pity? [Hm.]

[miscakes]

[A scoff.]

Then you haven't seen what he wrote about me.

[He's a dumb bitch, Peach. I'm so sorry.]

[cluedin]

What was so offensive about what he wrote? What did he say?

[miscakes]

I already told you what he wrote. He believed I need to be saved, when we have far greater concerns right now.

[cluedin]

Phoenix believed that of everyone, that's why he was someone we chose when things started to look really bad! It's not pity when he wanted to save everyone. Isn't that part of the greater concerns in the first place?

[miscakes]

Releasing our companions from the house's hold is a different matter entirely.

[cluedin]

They're technically one in the same. Same goal, same methods, but how you approach it may influence the outcome.

[A pause.] ...is that what you want? Releasing everyone else.

[miscakes]

Of course. Isn't that our primary goal?

[cluedin]

Of course it is, but it's just...I've never been quite sure if you want the same thing as the primary goal. You seem to be focused on your own goals.

[miscakes]

... Oh? And what are my goals, exactly?

[cluedin]

I always figured it was what suited you most instead of a combined effort. Am I wrong?

[miscakes]

That's a method, Peach-san, not a goal.