[Week 5, Tuesday: Ion (fon master)]

[doublecrows]

[Akechi sure does spend a lot of time in the library. and, in particular, around that leather-bound book that no one can remove from the podium. he's read the words inked onto the pages hundreds of time by now, like he's trying to make sense of something. and yet. . . whatever it is he's trying to figure out won't come to him]

[he's easy to find. come bother him, Fon Master Ion!1]

Comments

[fonlines]

[ Ion also spends too much time in the library, it turns out, though less now that he's basically caught up with learning about the fairy tales everyone else seems to be familiar with. And while he often makes trips to the podium to check up on any weekly updates... ]

[ well. hm. what do you know, there's someone there. ]

Do you suppose there's something more to be found, if only you look hard enough?

[doublecrows]

[Akechi glances up, not at all surprised by the voice]

Not at all.

[oh]

But perhaps I'm hoping to be struck with a sudden lightning bolt of clarity.

[fonlines]

... They do seem to be able to come out of nowhere, here.

[ is that a reference to 2b's execution, or simply all the revelations or outlandish things that just manage to happen or appear in the middle of every week? or the random things that appear at trial? a mystery. ]

What was it in particular that you were thinking about, if I may ask?

[doublecrows]

[A MYSTERY}

. . . the advice given to us, written on these pages. Where does it come from? That's my unanswered question.

[fonlines]

[ hmm. ]

... I'd first assumed the Dragon and Tiger, and thought to take it with a grain of salt.

But as time goes on, the less I am certain that is the case. There are more... deviances, in this story than I had first expected. From the Historians, to the continued awareness of those on the Other Side...

One wonders who or what else there is in play without us knowing.

[doublecrows]

It's quite frustrating, isn't it? To still be in the dark about so much after so long.

[he runs his fingers across the corners of the book's pages]

It makes it difficult to truly know which path we must take forward.

[fonlines]

Perhaps a unified front would be better to garner first. I suspect that if we all attempt to investigate separately- well, we might come across a lot of the same information, don't you think?

[ he sighs, quietly, shelving the books he'd pulled from the walls for research. earth fairy tales continue to be as morbid as ever, it turns out. ]

... If the Historians apparently seem to be more informed than the rest of us, I do wonder why they haven't deemed to share what they know before now. After all... we do all share the same circumstances, do we not?

[doublecrows]

We do. That's for certain.

[he frowns, brows furrowed, and finally glances up from the book to stare at Ion]

. . . what information have you come across so far?

[fonlines]

[ to that, he only blinks back, owlish. ]

Oh, I'm sure you should know more than I do. After all, you were the one who was first offered a chance to ask our Crafters a question about this game, weren't you?

[ a mild, airy wave of the hand. ]

I offered an invitation to speak at a later date, even, but I had assumed that whatever your circumstances, you had chosen to disregard it. In any case, I thought it was made quite clear in our previous trial what information I had, given that quite the commotion was made over its contents after Sir Belph and Hikage pressed me into revealing it.

[doublecrows]

[Akechi wrinkles his nose]

I was. . . distracted.

[kind of. very distracted. with trying to stay alive, and yet expecting to die at the same time]

I wasn't able to glean much information from them. I discussed the nature of their conflict, and each one's preferences, but. . .

[that feels like it happened so long ago]

[fonlines]

I did offer you asylum, of sorts.

[ a small brow raise. he can probably guess at what matters it was that had distracted Akechi, but still... ]

You might not have believed me, I suppose, but I had meant what I said.

[ a mild sigh, before he shifts his weight to fiddle with the head of his staff. if he knew what Akechi was thinking he'd agree; this has been one very, very long month. ]

Is that really all, though? How unfortunate... I suppose it wasn't worth sharing with everyone else then, if it was so unimportant.

[doublecrows]

[there's a pause. Ion is right, he hadn't believed the offer for asylum, but truthfully it was difficult to believe anyone who had offered him kind words after. . . well. that whole debacle of a trial. and yet. . .]

[. . .]

You're a curious individual. I can tell you're fishing for something.

[he steps away form the book, and meanders towards a chair]

Would you care to take a seat? It'll be more comfortable to talk this way.

[fonlines]

[ to that he only shrugs, lightly, and pushes off of the wall. his usual smile rests exactly where it always does on his face. ]

Knowledge has always been the only boon available to me. When stripped of my title and influence as I am, can you really blame me for seeking out what I can, especially when my own partner is now deceased?

[ Akechi is the only publicly outed Blotter still alive, after all. but... sure. he'll acquiesce, settling primly down into a chair nearby wherever it is Akechi is headed. ]

I sought you out after that particular trial not out of sympathy but out of wanting answers. Your motivations, your feelings; what you thought it might accomplish you.

Are you really so surprised that I might try to press you for it now?

[doublecrows]

[hmph. . . Akechi chuckles a bit, surprisingly not at all offended by Ion's line of questioning. some distance from his has helped with that, perhaps. as has his continued survival, despite his known guilt]

I suppose not. And after Fitzgerald, I can understand why you want it all the more.

[fonlines]

[ serenely: ] There is nothing quite like looking directly into one's own imminent death, to make one want to survive.

[ he breezes past the mention of Fitzgerald without a flicker of hesitation. it was... unfortunate, but it was nothing that Ion hadn't expected. on the contrary, he was only proven terribly correct in his assessment of the others here, their situation. ]

I might hazard that you have found something of the same, considering how well you seem to have regrouped.

[doublecrows]

Truthfully, it surprises even me.

[not that he's complaining. he has no right to complain]

But I intend to see my story through. If the others Narrators have decided to keep me alive, then I will make the most of it.

[fonlines]

You must really be quite valuable to someone then!

[ it's quite the cheerful tone he takes for that. valued for what, though... well, he'd raised the notion with Fane at the trial that he might be too useful to kill, but then again, all things considered, it's also probable that there are simply those too attached to Akechi to not protest losing him.

his head does dip once, though, in slightly more sober inclination. ]

That isn't a thing to take lightly, I hope you realize.

[doublecrows]

[that. . .]

[leaves Akechi blinking in surprise. of all the people to say such a thing, he hadn't expected it to come from the younger Ion]

I-- suppose. . . it isn't, no.

[fonlines]

[ perhaps Akechi misreads either of Ion or his previous partner, or both? it isn't as if either of the two of them lacks any understanding of care, but hm... ]

Goodness, with a reaction like that I really do wonder what it is you must think of me. But what I mean, is, well- they must be investing quite the amount of care in you.

It may be presumptuous of me to ask, but I wonder if that devotion goes both ways?

[doublecrows]

[. . .]

It simply took me off guard, that's all. I don't think you cruel.

[. . .]

[he links his hands together, resting them on his knee]

And yes. It does.

[fonlines]

Hm. I see. Truly, I'm very glad to hear that.

[ he smiles, very gently, his own hands also plaiting across his lap. ]

Because you should know that if you cross certain ones of their number, it won't be them alone who you'll be answering to.

[ it's ... not even a threat. maybe a warning, but really, it's almost more idly conversational than anything. ]

Perhaps they were right to see that something in you after all.

[doublecrows]

[and then Akechi killed Evan]

Is that not how networks of friends work? Cross one, face the wrath of the entire group?

[he tries to say this with good humor]

[fonlines]

[ and then Akechi killed Evan

but if his good humor fails to be convincing Ion isn't mentioning it, taking it exactly at face value ]

Yes, exactly. You cross one, but then incite the wrath of the entire pack.

And our networks and webs have gotten so tangled here. I fear what might happen if any of those threads are stressed too far.