[ Hey, Akechi! You definitely want unannounced company over while you're a weird, gray, unfeeling husk, right? Sounds like a good time all around if you ask me! So, here's a lion, trotting over to your place with his one free arm full with a tray of goodies. All colored, too! Namely, some cooked red snapper, chopped and fresh apples, water, and some baked, thinly chopped potatoes. Chips? Not really. They weren't salted and didn't taste Great without that. (He was working with what he had, damn it.)
Regardless, he very calmly found himself at Akechi and Lupin's doorstep, only giving two knocks before he just let himself in. Rude? Probably. Did he care? Not really. ]
Ciao! I've come bearing gifts. It's food. The gift is food.
[ Once Caramia makes his way in, he will run across a very unusual sight: Akechi sitting in a chair, staring at his still closed laptop, like he had stopped somewhere in between the process of settling down and flipping it open. Like whatever little energy he had managed to gather was gone before he could put it to good use.
Oh, the fact that he is completely grayscale is probably unusual, too, just a little. Possibly a little alarming? It might be, if he could feel anything. ]
Hello. [ He can at least move his glance towards Caramia, but that's all the greeting he offers, no pleasant smiles or even a name. No emotion in his voice, either. ]
[ It's one thing getting an uninterested response. Sometimes people don't feel like giving their all into one, and that's okay. But it's another thing entirely to just sound so incredibly... detached? We've passed the point of "deadpan". When he sees... or, rather, when he doesn't see the color on Akechi, he near dropped his platter of food to the ground. Curse his broken arm-- at least he managed to compose himself in time. ]
Akechi?
[ 'Incredulous' was never a word Caramia used. Mostly because it wasn't ever really applicable to much, but if he had to describe his tone just then, he'd have to pick that word, absolutely. He quickly made his way over to Akechi, settling the tray somewhere close by for now. ]
O-oi, what happened? [ Not that he expected an answer, but he was clearly concerned. He even reached his hand up to brush his thumb over Akechi's cheek, like this colorless state was something he could just rub off. (Sorry, Akechi, no personal space for you.) You'd think, after seeing Henry in a similar state, he'd be a little more receptive to a change like this. But, he wasn't. Far from that, actually.
...He didn't like seeing them like this. He had his own heartless robot at home-- to have these kids he's grown fond of to end up that way too would break his own damn heart. They didn't deserve that. ]
Hey, don't... don't worry, I'm gonna find a way to fix this. [ Because there just... had to be a way. Even if he had to go out into the forest again and negotiate with those asshole shadow-beasts personally. ]
[ While normally the sudden lack of personal space would have had quite the effect on him, this time Akechi doesn't even move, no awkwardness or gentle fluster over his cheeks - not like it could be seen even if there was one, anyway. ]
The woods. [ He offers in the same deadpan-like tone, figuring maybe Caramia - and everyone else - will leave him alone faster if he at least explains the situation. It should appease them, right? ] We ran into some shadows. I was unharmed, but they seem to have drained all color from me.
[ Said just like that, so casual, like he doesn't care. And, in fact, he doesn't. ]
[ Caramia winced at his very matter-of-fact response. This wasn't right. Yet, he still slapped on a smile for Akechi again. It held no real emotion, but he wanted to smile for Akechi-- maybe if he did, Akechi wouldn't be this husk anymore? Maybe he'd feel something then?
Unlikely, but... it was worth a shot, wasn't it? ]
I wouldn't really call that "unharmed", Akechi. Your color is very important, remember? [ It was something he even worried about when they first met. Caramia remembered that quite clearly. ] It's okay, though, we'll get it back!
Did your group take you home alright? Has your housemates been looking after you? Have... have you eaten?
[ 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. ]
Action; 4/6
Regardless, he very calmly found himself at Akechi and Lupin's doorstep, only giving two knocks before he just let himself in. Rude? Probably. Did he care? Not really. ]
Ciao! I've come bearing gifts. It's food. The gift is food.
no subject
Oh, the fact that he is completely grayscale is probably unusual, too, just a little. Possibly a little alarming? It might be, if he could feel anything. ]
Hello. [ He can at least move his glance towards Caramia, but that's all the greeting he offers, no pleasant smiles or even a name. No emotion in his voice, either. ]
no subject
Akechi?
[ 'Incredulous' was never a word Caramia used. Mostly because it wasn't ever really applicable to much, but if he had to describe his tone just then, he'd have to pick that word, absolutely. He quickly made his way over to Akechi, settling the tray somewhere close by for now. ]
O-oi, what happened? [ Not that he expected an answer, but he was clearly concerned. He even reached his hand up to brush his thumb over Akechi's cheek, like this colorless state was something he could just rub off. (Sorry, Akechi, no personal space for you.) You'd think, after seeing Henry in a similar state, he'd be a little more receptive to a change like this. But, he wasn't. Far from that, actually.
...He didn't like seeing them like this. He had his own heartless robot at home-- to have these kids he's grown fond of to end up that way too would break his own damn heart. They didn't deserve that. ]
Hey, don't... don't worry, I'm gonna find a way to fix this. [ Because there just... had to be a way. Even if he had to go out into the forest again and negotiate with those asshole shadow-beasts personally. ]
no subject
The woods. [ He offers in the same deadpan-like tone, figuring maybe Caramia - and everyone else - will leave him alone faster if he at least explains the situation. It should appease them, right? ] We ran into some shadows. I was unharmed, but they seem to have drained all color from me.
[ Said just like that, so casual, like he doesn't care. And, in fact, he doesn't. ]
no subject
Unlikely, but... it was worth a shot, wasn't it? ]
I wouldn't really call that "unharmed", Akechi. Your color is very important, remember? [ It was something he even worried about when they first met. Caramia remembered that quite clearly. ] It's okay, though, we'll get it back!
Did your group take you home alright? Has your housemates been looking after you? Have... have you eaten?
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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.) ]
no subject
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. ]