TALKING ABOUT A STRAWBERRY

[flamingprick]

[SO.

After Ichigo's under control/knocked the fuck out in the infirmary, Rin's going to pull Akira aside. Because conversations need to happen.]

We need to talk about that absolute idiot.

Comments

[purrtagonist]

I don't want it to happen, either.

[pauses. takes a breath, and then tilts his chin up and nods]

I'll look after him, though. I'll make sure he survives. And I'll make sure I survive right alongside him.

[and ideally? he'd like Rin to survive, too. but he's pretty satisfied with "I'm not giving up and just dying here" as a confirmation that Rin doesn't intend to just let it happen]

[flamingprick]

Yeah. I already said it once-

[To Dazai, actually.]

-but I'm gonna die as 'me'. I won't just lay down and accept it, I'm gonna fight it every step of the way.

[He just. He knows the risks. He's lived through it before, and he saw the horrified faces of his friends when he came out of it. Luckily nobody died that time, but.]

And yeah, you better make it too. You're probably the most stable out of the three of us right now, he's really gonna need you. So you better not have some big secret thing you're hiding that'll effect you and him surviving, because I'm kinda done with secrets at this point.

[purrtagonist]

[he can't help but smile at Rin's words, at the fire and determination he hears in them. Rin really is cool. . . hardheaded and a bit brash, but good-hearted and strong. it's admirable]

That's the spirit. If you've got to go down, go down swinging.

[and at that second part, Akira just laughs, a bit tired and breathless]

When it comes to secrets, Ichigo knows every damn one of mine. And the last thing I'd ever do. . . is compromise his safety.

[and Akira's own. because he's already seen exactly how Ichigo handles that]

[flamingprick]

Exactly! It's gonna take more than a couple of dumb raccoons to take down me! I still gotta kick Satan's ass, after all.

[...oh wait. Akira has a Satan with him too.]

I mean, the shithole Satan from my world, not yours.

[And HAHA SECRETS...]

Did Ichigo tell you all the shit I told him already? Because I guess you should know that stuff too, if we're gonna be a trio of 'get out of this shithole alive' and all.

[purrtagonist]

[honestly, Akira just snorts in amusement when he hears that]

You're damn right you have to.

[heh]

And-- no, he didn't. Just the part where Satan is your. . . [flaps. hands. biological dad?] Well, that you're half demon.

[flamingprick]

[Flappy hands is appropriate.]

Yeah, pretty much. I gotta keep it a secret for the most part though. Half-demons, those aren't too uncommon where I'm from. But being Satan's son is a big deal, and a lot of people have issues with it. The 'we should probably kill him' kinda issues.

Dad adopted me and Yukio- my twin brother- when we were babies. Mom...I dunno what happened to her, but she's dead now. I never knew her. So it was just me, Yukio, and Dad.

Then Satan possessed Dad and tried to drag me to Hell using his body, so Dad killed himself before it could happen.

[YEAH. That's why he has issues with suicide tbh]

That's why I gotta beat him. I owe it to Dad. He died for my sake, you know? If I die here, I'll never be able to make it up to him.

[purrtagonist]

[holy shit, that's. jesus. Akira thought Rin had good reasons for hating Satan before, but now he understands that on a much deeper level. his good hand tightens into a fist]

. . . you really do.

[mmm. his gaze narrows, and he nods again, firm and determined. he's decided; he, Rin and Ichigo will absolutely make it out of here alive. they have to]

It's no wonder that you're willing to fight so hard to stay alive. And no wonder that you're so insistent on-- if you have to die-- dying as yourself.

[flamingprick]

Yeah. It's pretty terrible, you know? I've lost control before. I don't really remember what happened then, but when I came back, and I saw everyone's faces...

[How horrified they were. How all of his friends saw him for what he truly was.

...no, not what he 'truly was'. The demon in him is a part of him, but that is not all of who he is.]

...I don't want that to happen again. I'm not a monster, and I don't want to become one.

[purrtagonist]

As long as you hold onto your strong sense of self, you won't ever be a monster.

[he says that with full belief in his words. he knows that they're true]

1/2

[flamingprick]

[He nods in agreement. More than anything else, he wants to keep himself from hurting others.]

2/2

[flamingprick]

[AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!]

Oh yeah! I got some stuff to tie Ichigo down with, so if he tries to do stupid stuff again we can just tie him to the bed.

[purrtagonist]

[WELL THAT IS WHIPLASH]

"Some stuff?" Stuff that won't hurt him if he struggles, right?

[flamingprick]

[IT SURE IS]

It's bedsheets!

[So no, it shouldn't hurt.]

We just tuck him in real snug-like, and he'll have to nap.

[purrtagonist]

[oooooh]

Just like we're swaddling a baby, right?

[SORRY. . . ICHIGO. . .]

[flamingprick]

Exactly! That's supposed to help with crying too, I think.

[Rin has no experience with babies.]

[purrtagonist]

[neither does Akira]

It is?

[flamingprick]

Sure! It's like...comfort, or something. Like they're being held.

Because babies like that.

[purrtagonist]

Technically Ichigo isn't a baby. . .

[flamingprick]

No, you're right, he's not.

Shit. How're we supposed to help him when he cries and freaks out then? Hug him into submission?

[purrtagonist]

[RIN. . .]

I honestly just tell him exactly what I'm feeling. . . it usually works?

[flamingprick]

...really? That's all you gotta do?

[purrtagonist]

Yeah?

[maybe Akira is just good at knowing what to say and when to say it]

It's not that hard. He just. . . need encouragement, sometimes.

[flamingprick]

[Yeah, that's more Akira's specialty.]

Maybe that's why you two get along so well. I'm kinda new to the 'friends' thing, I'm still figuring stuff like this out.

[purrtagonist]

Nothing wrong with that.

[holds up a fist! for a fist bump!]

We'll teach you the ropes as we go along, right?

[flamingprick]

[A fist bump! He can do that! Buuuump ]

Heh, works for me. I'll try to be a good student.