week five ♡ wednesday ♡ lief

[jokered]

[snow is falling(? sure, moron island, sure), and it's cold. and akira's still without his blazer since magilou definitely needed it more than he did.

so it means he's sitting by the bonfire, knees curled up to his chest. his chin rests on his knees, one hand idly running over the deep scratches marked on his face from the illusion room last week, the other idly tapping against his shin.

it's probably hard to tell whether he's brooding or just deeply contemplating, but he's definitely looking pretty exhausted. but hey, at least the company is welcome, right?]

Comments

[reidentify]

[Lief's faring better than some, his cloaked wrapped around him, its warmth like a veil of protection (or is that mere sentiment, remembering it as his mother's gift to him?).

Noticing Akira, he approaches.]

Are you all right, Akira? I hope it is not too cold for you...

[jokered]

Oh—Lief.

[he looks up, surprised at the sudden company, but he just shakes his head.]

I'm alright. Magilou needed a jacket more than I do. [he's got jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, and that's doing the job enough.]

It was just quiet over here.

[though it's quiet in most places lately, with how low their numbers have gotten.]

[reidentify]

[He smiles.]

... I did notice her complaining incessantly about the weather.

[jokered]

Unsurprisingly. Book skirts don't seem very suited for winter weather.

[and yet, he says it kind of fondly. he can take care of her a little bit that way.]

It's refreshing anyway, I think.

[reidentify]

I still do not understand how that skirt counts as clothing... but indeed. It is nice to know that no matter what happens, she will continue to make bad jokes and complain about what displeases her.

[...]

And what of you?

[jokered]

I'm glad she hasn't lost that spirit of hers.

[it's helped him so much, really. but he doesn't say that. instead, he just shrugs a little.]

Worn out. I think I'm as ready as anyone for this to be over, I guess.

[reidentify]

... Indeed. I imagine most of us are rather tired at this point. I do not feel as though this farce will continue on for much longer.

[jokered]

I want to put an end to it already.

[...honestly speaking.]

Enough people have bloodied their hands.

[reidentify]

Agreed.

... Unfortunately, it does not seem there is a way without bloodshed, as much as I wish there were.

[jokered]

I think we all wish for that. But...

[he sighs.]

We're at that point, aren't we? Where we need to work together to find a way to minimize it.

[reidentify]

[He nods.]

... Did you receive any letters?

[jokered]

Yeah. Two.

[he's got them on his person, of course, though he doesn't take them out yet.]

I'm guessing you did, too.

[reidentify]

Indeed. What were yours about?

[jokered]

Two annoying riddles.

[seriously. he's still salty about the emoji riddle, fuck you guys in the graveyard for that shit.]

About the Sirens and who to trust. [he's not going to hold back. they need to trust each other if they want to end this game, right?]

[reidentify]

[...]

It seems we are to leave it in the Wickie's hands.

[jokered]

Seems like it.

[...]

Do we even know who the Wickie is?

[reidentify]

... Perhaps their partner would know. Though in that case, I imagine they would be sworn to secrecy, as would anyone they told regardless—so that may not help us.

[jokered]

[he nods. not much to be said about that, huh?]

That just leaves the rest of the Sirens, then. I wonder if they can be convinced.

[reidentify]

... I think they will be. Most likely, they too wish for this game to end with as many people saved as possible.

[jokered]

I think that's what they want to—just that they were misled.

[that's the impression he got, at least, from battler and serph.]

It feels like even if the answer is simpler, the solution itself might still get complicated.

[reidentify]

... Indeed. Especially as, according to the dead, we are in a dream—whatever that means.

[jokered]

[...]

It's all bullshit. A farce. [really, is there any other conclusion to draw from that revelation? they'd been suspecting something similar for a while.] Something we need to put an end to.