[ Alas, even Caramia's enthusiastic response doesn't have the power to shift any gears inside Akechi, to infect him with some of that contagious optimism. He's stuck on neutral, completely unfeeling. only giving him the emptiest gaze.
Well. He supposes he can at least answer what's been asked of him, if he can't be arsed to react to void promises of restoring his color. It's all meaningless. He just doesn't care for that. ]
Guren-san insisted on walking me home, though I would have been fine doing it on my own. [ He really would. That would've been annoying, if he could feel annoyed. ] He has been periodically checking in on me ever since. Lupin-san, as well; he brings me meals.
[ But has he actually been eating said meals? That's up for debate. ]
[ That phrasing made him wince slightly. "Fine doing it on my own", really? ]
It's because he was probably worried about you, too. Even if you're okay on your own, sometimes you have to be willing to let people help you, Akechi. [ And he couldn't stress that enough! ] It's not for lack of respect for you, or not thinking you can't be independent... we just want to be there for you.
Ah, that's... that's good. But, here, you still have to eat what I've brought you, as well. It's all got color, so maybe it'll help? [ or, maybe not, but it's worth a shot. He reached over to pick up the tray to push at Akechi. ]
It might get you some energy back, and... [ Pause. ] if it doesn't help, I'll figure something else out, I promise. No matter what, even if I have to go back into the woods to find the answer, we'll fix this.
Regardless, you should stay healthy, even if you don't have color right now.
[ Because people are worried? Because they care, and want to help him? They want to be there for him? Even under normal circumstances, none of that would make a lot of sense to Akechi; he's learned from a very early age that he can only rely on himself, that no one will pay him any attention unless he proves his worth. It would all be nothing but beautiful lies.
But now? It's a nuisance. A whole lot of blah blah blah that he can barely bring himself to pay attention to. Honestly, why won't these people just leave him alone already? ]
I have plenty of energy. [ Technically, he does. It's just that he can't be bothered to do much. ] And I feel fine. You don't need to waste your time trying to fix what's not broken.
[ If anything, this might be the least broken he's ever been. ]
Bullshit!!! [ Excuse his French. ] You don't feel fine, don't lie to me. [ Caramia was almost certain he couldn't feel anything, but "fine" was definitely not one of the things he was. ] And don't you for one second tell me that I'm wasting my time. I would never consider helping someone or bringing them something to eat to make sure they're healthy "wasting my time".
[ His tone strayed from the usual, chipper, or at the very least kind-hearted one. This one was... admittedly a tone he only used towards his soldati. It's been a while since he's scolded someone.
Besides Kyrie, that is, but he's an outlier. ]
I won't stand for that kind of talk... capisci?
[ He didn't care how Akechi may have thought about this, he... wasn't okay like this. There had to be a way to fix this, and Caramia was going to find out how. (Probably.) ]
[ Under different circumstances, Akechi would have been surprised, perhaps even a little scared, to see that sudden shift in personality from Caramia-- and then quickly adjusted his own behavior to appease him, of course.
As it is, though? He doesn't even bat an eyelash, simply staring at this unnecessary display of concern like it completely escapes his comprehension. ]
If that's what you wish to believe in. But I have no reason to lie to you; I do feel fine.
[ Feeling nothing is better than anything Akechi has actually felt all his life, trust him on this. ]
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Well. He supposes he can at least answer what's been asked of him, if he can't be arsed to react to void promises of restoring his color. It's all meaningless. He just doesn't care for that. ]
Guren-san insisted on walking me home, though I would have been fine doing it on my own. [ He really would. That would've been annoying, if he could feel annoyed. ] He has been periodically checking in on me ever since. Lupin-san, as well; he brings me meals.
[ But has he actually been eating said meals? That's up for debate. ]
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It's because he was probably worried about you, too. Even if you're okay on your own, sometimes you have to be willing to let people help you, Akechi. [ And he couldn't stress that enough! ] It's not for lack of respect for you, or not thinking you can't be independent... we just want to be there for you.
Ah, that's... that's good. But, here, you still have to eat what I've brought you, as well. It's all got color, so maybe it'll help? [ or, maybe not, but it's worth a shot. He reached over to pick up the tray to push at Akechi. ]
It might get you some energy back, and... [ Pause. ] if it doesn't help, I'll figure something else out, I promise. No matter what, even if I have to go back into the woods to find the answer, we'll fix this.
Regardless, you should stay healthy, even if you don't have color right now.
no subject
But now? It's a nuisance. A whole lot of blah blah blah that he can barely bring himself to pay attention to. Honestly, why won't these people just leave him alone already? ]
I have plenty of energy. [ Technically, he does. It's just that he can't be bothered to do much. ] And I feel fine. You don't need to waste your time trying to fix what's not broken.
[ If anything, this might be the least broken he's ever been. ]
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[ His tone strayed from the usual, chipper, or at the very least kind-hearted one. This one was... admittedly a tone he only used towards his soldati. It's been a while since he's scolded someone.
Besides Kyrie, that is, but he's an outlier. ]
I won't stand for that kind of talk... capisci?
[ He didn't care how Akechi may have thought about this, he... wasn't okay like this. There had to be a way to fix this, and Caramia was going to find out how. (Probably.) ]
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As it is, though? He doesn't even bat an eyelash, simply staring at this unnecessary display of concern like it completely escapes his comprehension. ]
If that's what you wish to believe in. But I have no reason to lie to you; I do feel fine.
[ Feeling nothing is better than anything Akechi has actually felt all his life, trust him on this. ]