[Prologue, Tuesday: Ion (older)]

[doublecrows]

[WELL. . . the tapestries make one thing clear that Akechi hadn't even noticed over the course of the weekend]

[there are twins in the manor]

[and upon scanning both of those profiles, he sets out to flag one of them down. how lucky of him to find the older one first! not that. . . he can tell that from a first glance]

Ion-san?

[. . . shit how to tell them apart]

Seventh replica, or ill-fated prophet?

Comments

[doublecrows]

[why!! are you comforting him!! when your situation is the one that sucks, Ion!!]

I don't understand how you could be happy when your life is the way that it is.

[rude?? but it isn't. . . asked in a ruder manner. Akechi sounds legitimately, positively bewildered, because he just can't process a single thing about Ion's viewpoint. the selflessness, the desire to live his life to the fullest despite the fact that he's a spare, the lack of self-hatred. it's so. . .]

[weird???]

[fragileprophet]

[He's a weird boy...weird and probably depressed.]

Sometimes I don't understand myself, either, but it's the way I've always been. The way I've always thought.

[He doesn't know why he's the one who managed such a thing, under Mohs' disdain and the weight of his own lies, the trouble he has coming to terms with his own identity. The only other one of them to survive (to his knowledge) became bitter and hateful and longed for an end. Their original himself had so much hatred over his pre-determined fate. Maybe that's the reasonable path. Maybe he's just not reasonable.]

In any case, I don't intend to make good on my objective anytime soon. I couldn't do such a thing in good conscience, so I'll be working hard at staying alive.

[He pauses, either oblivious to Akechi's frustrated confusion or simply choosing to smooth past it.]

So for as long as we're both still here, I'd like it if we could be friends.

1/2

[doublecrows]

[. . . . . . .]

[it isn't the first time someone here has said that to Akechi, but it is the first time it's come from someone so. . . sincere? he doesn't know if he believes it. should he believe it? why would anyone truly and honestly want to make friends in a place like this]

[???????]

[doublecrows]

[. . . Akechi's reply is muted. it's soft, but there's something missing, something almost doubtful in the tone]

Yes. I believe I'd like that, too.