Floor 1, Room 3

[jokey]

AKIRA

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[revengier]

I'm not straining myself...

[ Not by choice, at least. The pain in his chest isn't something he brought onto himself, at least not intentionally. With a sigh, he moves Akira's hand off of his waist and collapses back onto the mattress, gaze directed up at the ceiling although he can't see it. ]

I think I got myself cursed.

[jokey]

[At least Kurapika isn't arguing against the need for rest. Akira gets to his feet and hauls Kurapika further onto the mattress, untucking the sheets, the bedspread, to blanket him in comforting layers.]

...A curse, huh?

[...]

Do you know when it happened? Did it feel like anything in particular?

[A cold, discomfiting breeze, perhaps?]

[revengier]

[ Kurapika allows himself to be hauled around, simply because he doesn't know what else he can even do. The blankets are nice, comforting in a way he doesn't want to think about, much in the same way he isn't thinking about how this bed smells like Akira. ]

...I touched that rock.

[ Go ahead, call him stupid for it. ]

[jokey]

You touched that rock.

[Kurapika. Akira heaves a sigh forcefully enough that the boy in the blanket burrito hears him loud and clear.]

You literally did this to yourself. You know that, right?

[revengier]

I know. I know.

[ Thankfully, Kurapika is used to doing stupid things to himself and fully accepting the consequences for it. This would be a lot harder for him to deal with otherwise.

But, that doesn't mean he won't wrestle one of his arms free and attempt to smack Akira... wherever the hell he is. ]

At least this is valuable information. We know what can happen to us now.

[jokey]

[He'll give you a freebie, Kurapika, that slap smacking him in the haunch.]

And knowing what can happen, do you expect to do this again in the future?

[revengier]

Not if I can help it.

[ But he has a feeling that won't be a good enough answer for Akira. Call it his protag senses tingling, even as he shifts around and ends up on his side. ]

If I have to do it again to prevent a disaster or ensure our success in this world, I will without a second thought.

[jokey]

[Joke's on you, Kurapika. Neither of those answers are satisfactory. Akira drops down onto the chair beside the bed and stares him down.]

So you'll kill yourself if that's what it takes? There are alternatives to putting your life on the line, you know.

[revengier]

[ He can't see it, but he sure can feel Akira staring at him. ]

I need to live, but if I have to take on another curse, then I will. I can always learn to bear a curse.

[ At least Akira doesn't have to worry about him going too far... when it comes to this. ]

[jokey]

Kurapika...

[Did you miss the whole damn point? It's a good thing Kurapika can't see the way Akira is sneering at him, because that would ruin the impact of him leaning forward to pinch Kurapika's nose.]

You don't talk like a man hell bent on living. You talk like you have a death wish.

[revengier]

[ Kurapika jolts, swiping at Akira's hand as his face scrunches up. Unhand him!! ]

It's not a death wish. I have goals that supersede everything else. That's all.

[ He frowns, already feeling like they're headed back to that conversation that started the whole Incident after the ball. ]

[jokey]

[Hehehe~ Akira releases his hold after a few good swats. What a cutie.]

And what goals are these?

cw eye horror just a blanket warning

[revengier]

To recover the eyes of my people, and to kill the parties responsible for their deaths.

[ Akira knows the latter, but the eyes? He knows he'll have to explain that bit, and he braces himself for it. ]

[jokey]

[...Ah. Indigenous people really do get the short end of the stick in every world, don't they? Akira's expression twists painfully and he's thankful Kurapika can't see it. His words, at least, he manages to temper.]

You need to live long enough to see your goal through. How are you going to do that if you get hit with the wrong curse? If you end up possessed or even dead?

[revengier]

I'll live long enough, don't worry.

[ His words are resolute, leaving no room for argument. ]

I've almost recovered all of the Scarlet Eyes. I'm not going to let myself die when I'm so close to finishing that goal.

suicide ment

[jokey]

Yeah. I get it.

[Akira's tone flattens.]

Then you'll kill yourself when the job's done. Is that it?

[revengier]

Don't be ridiculous, Akira.

[ He frowns, a hint of frustration seeping into his voice. ]

I wouldn't do something like that.

[jokey]

Then what, Kurapika? You'll recklessly through yourself into other people's problems until it gets you killed?

[revengier]

No, I won't.

[ Said with a bit more force this time. ]

I don't invest myself in the problems of others like that.

[jokey]

Then what will you do when your mission is over?

[People like Kurapika? They build their entire lives around their mission, around revenge, around a death wish. Akira's seen what waits for them at the end of their journey and he hates it.]

[revengier]

[ He shakes his head. ]

I don't know. Like I told you before, I don't have anything to go back to once I'm done.

[ With a sigh, he pulls the blankets around him tighter. Kurapika lapses into a silence, but he speaks up eventually. ]

...Ahito said something about living my life to the fullest, but I don't know what that means or what it looks like.

[jokey]

[Ahito said that? Akira owes him his thanks. Sounds like Kurapika's giving that some actual thought.

Akira leans forward, patting the bundled up Pika.]

The main thing is that you're thinking about it. The rest will fall into place. For now... think about spending time with the people you care about. The people who make you laugh and smile.

[revengier]

[ He breathes out slowly through his nose. ]

Most of those people are back home.

[ Which isn't to say that he hasn't already found people he cares about here, not when one of those people is sitting right next to him, occupying a weird space in Kurapika's heart that he can't quite define.

So he chooses instead to shift the focus a bit. He's taking Akira's words to heart here, but he doesn't want to have to think too hard on it right now. ]

Is that what you do, Akira? Spend time with the people you care about.

[ Given what he said about his powers, Kurapika would assume so. ]

[jokey]

Of course.

[Akira's tone is very well duh.]

They're the ones who make life worth living, you know? I wouldn't be the same guy if it weren't for my friends. Sure, I've got hobbies and interests that I do on my own, but people are my lifeblood.

[revengier]

[ That tone pulls a little smile out of him, something Akira can see amongst the bundle of blankets. ]

Tell me about your friends, then.