AKIRA

[concasse]

will shitpost later

Comments

[survivaltricks]

Huh. We have one of those? Never heard of them.

[moving to sit on the boardwalk now, not looking at Sanju as he does so]

[concasse]

[Rolling his eyes SKYWARD]

Kid, I'm fuckin tired and just wanna get this done -- I'm here to trade info.

If you can't or won't, make it clear so I can be on my way.

[survivaltricks]

[huffs an amused noise and cranes his head at Sanji, smiling a little, before he pats the spot next to him on the edge of the pier]

I have to make a show of denying it first, don't I? I'll be honest— after yesterday, I had a feeling one of you might come after me.

[concasse]

[Sanji is old (no he isn't) and grumpy (definitely true), so that smile gets a flat look of "bruh" before the chef flops down next to him, letting his feet dangle over the edge]

Nah.

[Shaking his head]

That's not why I'm here. Your ass was suspicious but I'm ... let's say I'm here on Heart's behalf.

[survivaltricks]

[an amused snort, and Akira begins to fiddle with the fishing pole to prepare it for casting]

Worth looking suspicious to protect the person I was trying to protect.

[no regrets!!]

. . . if you're here for Heart, then you're one of those who can check a person each week to see their teams and special privileges, right?

[concasse]

Aa! The camp's Guidance Counselor at your shitty service~!

[Smirking widely, though again, it's not really the kind of statement that's met with any pride or enjoyment.]

You seemed like a nosy busybody always up someone's business, so I checked you first. Just think of my surprise when I got a hole in one.

[SANJI BE NICE??? BE NICE!!!]

[survivaltricks]

[a beat]






I really suck at this.

[this is why everyone figured out he was a phantom thief back home]

[concasse]

-- Oi oi, I'm just giving you shit.

[Not that Akira is wrong, everyone from a mile away could see that he was Up To Something, but Sanji reels back his bullshit for a hot second]

You're the one whose got the harder role, I bet... what is it, you can protect one person per week?

[survivaltricks]

Oh don't worry, I'm extremely self aware.

[he says that lightly and with good humor as he finally casts his line, but a shadow falls across his expression once Sanji mentions his role]

And that's the gist of it, though there’s another layer that makes it more. . . complicated.

[concasse]

[... Sanji considers that statement, and he doesn't ask the obvious question yet -- "what makes it so complicated?" It's because while he'd poked fun at Akira for being so obvious a pick, the chef considers himself a damned good candidate for the role he was given, and runs the calculations like he's flipping through a recipe book.

...]

I meant what I said. I'm here to trade and coordinate information. [Staring out at the water] So I won't ask anything without offering shit in return.

I wanna know what makes your role complicated, but you can ask for something I gotta give up for that privilege.

[survivaltricks]

[incidentally. . . that's the best way to get Akira to open up. he feels the most comfortable when relationships are a give and take, and it shows in the way some of the tension seeps from his shoulders]

[. . .]

I want to know if you're working alone. If not. . . then I want to meet your partner, but I'll leave that part up to them.

Just tell me if this is a solo gig or not and pass that message on and I'll consider us even.

[concasse]

No, I don't have a partner.

[His voice is pointedly neutral when delivering the statement]

I work alone, and that's not gonna change, either -- but I'll extend a hand if you need help with anything.

[survivaltricks]

[hm. . .]

[Akira pulls his gaze from the lake to study Sanji carefully, his own expression neutral. and in the end. . .]

I can choose one person per week to protect, with the decision taking place on Mondays. If the person I protect is targeted, then I'm offered the opportunity to intervene.

[. . .]

I can intervene however I’d like, but I'm also reminded that "death is part of the competition."

[concasse]

[... A quiet scowl when the word "competition" is brought up, but Sanji holds his tongue for a moment.]

What's your criteria for protecting someone?

Right now, I pick anyone who seems likely to hold a role based off their actions, the number of people they interact with, shit like that...

[survivaltricks]

[MOOD THO]

Last week I shielded myself.

[aha]

This week I was going to shield anyone I felt was at risk. And I had planned to shield anyone with— well. With either a role, or otherwise important information about the game that can't be risked.

[concasse]

[-- Wait what]

Oi, you shielded yourself? Did someone come after you?

[God wasn't he going to trade info for info? Well too late, he's shooting off questions like a concerned, irate parent]

And do you know anyone else with a role?

[survivaltricks]

[Akira doesn't seem to mind, and he holds his hands up with palms facing forward, fishing pole resting against against his knees]

No. But if someone had, I wanted the heads up to prepare.

[I wish I had shielded Yu instead goes unsaid]

And other than you? Nope. But based on the pattern so far, I'm sure Shadows has someone doing some extra work for them.

[concasse]

[... Settling down because... Sanji gets it, in his own way. His eyes tick to the side before he heaves a sigh and leans backwards on his hands]

According to Heart, if we're certain someone has a role, we can talk about it like we're doing and not deal with any shitty consequences.

Trade-off is I can't out you, and you can't out me. The roles gotta stay secret.

[Which is also cause for annoyance, but if Sanji starts listing his grievances now, they'll be here all day]

Also? Never protect me. Even if you've got no one better to protect. I can handle myself just fine.

[survivaltricks]

[WELL. he has some things to say to that, things like don't worry, I didn't plan on saying anything to anyone and if there is someone else out there with a role I'll be sure to tell you]

[but]

[then Sanji says that last thing and]

[THIS IS THE STARE OF A TEENAGER WHO IS GOING TO PROTECT HIM WHENEVER HE FUKKEN WANTS TO]

[concasse]

-- Oh no you don't!

[Where did the cool, levelheaded man go? He's been replaced by a shrieking banshee whose head swivels in Akira's direction]

Your role is more important! Protect yourself, you little shit, or I'll throw you into the goddamn lake!

[survivaltricks]

[it]

[takes all of Akira's willpower not to laugh. somehow, he manages!! and he slowly reels in the line he cast for. . . extra effect]

I protected myself last week; I can't do it again this week.

[concasse]

[UGH Akira is gonna be a little shit, Sanji can feel it in his SOUL--

Also he refuses to be deterred and after a moment of sullen thought:]

Protect Lili then. She's a valued member of the group. And I don't know about you, but I don't wanna see what happens if we were to lose her this early.

[A sigh. And it's really at this point Sanji just gives up on managing how much info he gives Akira.]

I was thinking of checking her out next, or maybe Dick, but if you got better considerations, I'm willing to listen.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . hah. his mouth twitches]

Lili was on my list, actually. Her, Dick, Chuuya, Escha. . . [a pause] Guy.

And out of those two I'd check Dick. I know Lili's team, and I doubt she has a role. But Dick I can't get a read on either way.

[concasse]

... Fair enough. Dick it is. I would've been shooting into the dark one way or another.

[...]

Lili's outspoken and good at rallying people to her side, so I'm worried that'll make her a target. But Dick's so damned competent, that might be a problem for the same reasons. [A pause] I'm not as familiar with Chuuya, Escha-chan, or Guy.

[Though uh, his eyebrows still arch slightly at that last name]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . mmmm. once he's done reeling in his line, he casts it out into the lake again, not speaking until the bait and hook are submerged into the water]

Chuuya, Escha and Lili might be targeted by someone trying to find Yu's real killer. And Guy--

[he]

[trails off]