[Week 6, Saturday: Souji]

[doublecrows]

[hey Souji, how did you even make it down here??]

[Akechi is curled up in the corner of his cell, legs drawn to his torso, head buried against his knees. he seems to be sleeping? maybe? who knows]

[do you say hi]

Comments

[sanguinairy]

[Slowly and wheezily that's how!!

Anyway boy that sure was a wild ride of a trial, huh. Souji will kneel next to the bars, setting his hands in his lap. After a second of silence:]

The two of you are really quite impressive, you know.

[doublecrows]

[jerks his head up in surprise, before settling when he sees who it is]

Who. . .?

[himself, and. . .?]

[sanguinairy]

Eichi.

[OF COURSE. Who else but Akechi's crazyass boyfriend... These two are a mess, but Souji also doesn't sound like he's being facetious.]

[doublecrows]

[oh]

Thank you.

[he. thinks?]

We've come to an understanding over the past few weeks.

[sanguinairy]

[Unlike some people in this trashbin, Souji doesn't give backhanded compliments, at least... But he is still a punk, which is why his response to that is:]

You've made it obvious, yes.

[JUST A LITTLE JAB ABOUT THEIR EVERYTHING... A good-humored one, at least.

That said, his expression becomes a little more serious after that.]

...Do you believe Eichi will be alright without you?

[doublecrows]

[I MEAN, AKECHI IS NOTHING BUT DESERVING OF THESE COMMENTS]

I do.

[that sure is confident for how Eichi reacted at trial]

He's far more bark than bite. He lashed out because I was dying, but I believe I gave him enough reason to continue forward when we last spoke.

[sanguinairy]

[I WISH MY CHARACTER WOULD BE AS MEAN TO AKECHI AS I WOULD BE!!!!!! but souji, unlike aki, is a good and pure soul who still somehow holds no ill will toward anyone in this castle.

He also looks pretty relieved to hear that. It's easy to trust Akechi for this one, at least; no one knows Eichi better.]

I'm glad, then. That sort of threat... [BOY!! These kids are messed up. But he'll just sigh after that, shaking his head.]

--In any case, I won't apologize for following that lead, but I will apologize for the distress it caused you both. [WHICH I, AKI, HATE EVEN MORE. But Souji does seem very sincere, possibly because:] I understand what it's like to have someone you would give your life for.

[Or kill for. EITHER WAY.]

[doublecrows]

[IT'S OKAY MANY OTHER CHARACTERS ARE MEAN TO HIM FOR YOU, SOUJI!!]

. . . I didn't want him to die for my sake. To die for taking actions to protect me from someone else.

[so of course he had bristled. Eichi is one of the few in the castle Akechi believes cares about him without reservation. losing that would've been. . .]

[well, anyway]

I suspect I know why Fane-san was trying to kill me that night, too.

[sanguinairy]

[AT LEAST... THERE'S THAT...

Anyway, Souji also seems to understand that, just nodding along in agreement. It's been a point of contention for him and several others, too. Basically this castle is full of people who'd die for a handful of others but would adamantly refuse the return of that favor.]

--Why do you think he targeted you, then?

[Genuine curiosity. He actually liked Fane quite a bit, but he doesn't understand why the heckie the guy would be This Determined to murder an Akechi.]

[doublecrows]

Because Varian-san told him he was going to kill Hansen with me.

[simple as that]

He was likely attempting to protect his partner. Varian-san may have been in on the plan as well.

With this knowledge, I'm almost surprised he didn't kill me while we were burning Hansen's body.

[sanguinairy]

[goddammit why is everyone involved in this so MESSY.

Souji looks quietly tired for a second - moreso than usual - before sighing.]

Well, he didn't speak against you either, at first.

[Not until Eichi Eichi'd it up, but he thinks that probably speaks to how Varian felt in at least a small way.]

[doublecrows]

[SO SUPER MESSY]

Likely because outing me would have outed him as well. He had no reason to stay silent once Eichi took that away from him.

[Akechi has no faith that Varian's silence was for reasons other than self-preservation]

[sanguinairy]

[WELL PROBABLY NOT NOW but Souji has a feeling that between Eichi and Akechi, it's definitely Eichi's ass he'd go after first.]

It's possible.

[Y'all are a bunch of ruthless fools turning on each other so quickly, god. MESSY. MESSY!!]

...Still, for things to turn out like that...

[He sounds so fuckin tired.]

[doublecrows]

[I mean. . . . . . yeah probably]

Murder is a messy business.

[he says that kind of tiredly, like. he's so tired of murdering people]

[sanguinairy]

[can't believe souji is the only murderer coming out of this castle still okay with murder

But he picks up on the tiredness there, and his expression softens a little.]

It is, yes. ...I would hope that this is the last most here have to face it.