Floor 1, Room 3

[jokey]

AKIRA

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Comments

[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.

[jokey]

[Oh, Kurapika... Do you have any idea what you're asking for? Akira is a guy who isn't lacking for friends.]

I've got a lot, now that I think about it. Let's see... I met Ryuji and Ann first. Ryuji's got the whole bad boy look going on, but he's kind at heart. You couldn't ask for a better wingman. Ann's super fashionable and models in her free time. She's always keeping me up to speed on the latest trends.

[revengier]

[ Looks like his tactic worked—he's finally getting Akira to talk about things related to him. ]

A wingman and a model. I almost don't believe you.

[ Almost. ]

[jokey]

Believe it or not, it's the truth.

[Kurapika would balk if he knew all the different "relationships" Akira has fostered in the year he'd been in Yongen-Jaya.]

You said you're in the mafia, right? I know a man who's ex-Yakuza too. Pretty cool guy, but intimidating as hell.

[revengier]

[ What the hell was Akira doing to meet a model and an ex-Yakuza? That question is written on Kurapika's face in the way he raises his brows and frowns, but he decides not to voice it. ]

Is that how you spotted Kiryu's association with the Yakuza so quickly?

[jokey]

[Kurapika could literally befriend a model and an ex-yakuza if he'd just get out a little more, y'know?]

That's right. Yakuza have certain tells. They usually hide their tattoos, but you can't hide that imposing aura. Wouldn't you say it's the same for mafia types?

[revengier]

[ Could he, though? Could he? ]

It is, at least for the most part. Do you think I'm intimidating?

[ Even while bundled up like a Kuraburrito? ]

[jokey]

I mean, yeah. Have you seen your face when you're angry?

[But when he's mad, he's also kinda.................. 🫦]

But I get over that sort of thing quick.

[revengier]

[ That Akira gets over it quick isn't a shock, not at all. He goes with the flow too easily to get tripped up by someone intimidating for longer than a few moments. ]

Intimidation is simply a skill that you have to hone just like any other. I learned the exact moments I need to threaten to get what I want, and haven't had issues since.

[jokey]

Mhmm, mhmm...

[Nodding along...]

I know a thing or two about that myself, actually.

[revengier]

[ He frowns, turning his head to where he thinks Akira is. He's probably sitting right next to the bed, right? Hopefully he is. ]

You're incredibly unthreatening. Explain.

[jokey]

[He sure is! Akira expected that response, snickering and leaning back into his seat.]

Yeah, I figured you'd say that. Thing is, I don't think you'd take my word for it if I tried to explain. You'd have to see me in my element.

[revengier]

You have a habit of thinking I won't believe you.

[ As if Akira has given him reasons not to believe him. It's ridiculous, and Kurapika has no problem voicing it. ]

[jokey]

It's not that you're the issue here. It's more like... where I come from, most people wouldn't believe half the things I say without seeing them for themselves. You're the skeptical type, so I thought you'd need convincing to believe me.

[He's kind of a bullshitter, besides.]

[revengier]

[ Well, he has a good reason for that, it seems. Still, he can't help but feel a mild sense of frustration that Akira wouldn't just ask him anyway.

He sighs. ]

Akira, I'm a Conjurer. I used my own spiritual power to conjure my weapon. You don't need to convince me of much at all.

[jokey]

Alright, I get it. So if I told you I was the Phantom Thief of Hearts, you'd believe me without question?

[revengier]

[ It sounds almost ridiculous, but... ]

I will. Just tell me about it.

[ And if his shoulders tensed at the word "phantom"? Well, he can't do anything about that. ]

[jokey]

[He sees that flinch. Maybe Kurapika saw The Phantom Menace and hated it. Poor guy.]

Can you promise me you won't tell anyone else? Just knowing how my power works could enable other people to do the same, and not everyone has noble intentions.

[revengier]

[ Bold of you to assume he watches movies. ]

Do you really think I'm some kind of gossip, Akira? I won't tell anyone. [ ... ] The knowledge of someone's abilities in my world could mean life or death. I take this seriously.

[jokey]

[Deep breath in. Long, whistling exhale out.]

We stole the desires of the corrupted and the people who abused their power to trample over others. We took the very root of that evil and destroyed it. That's what my friends and I did.

We weren't the only ones, though. A few people with less noble intentions were able to access the same "reality" we could and wreak havoc instead. That place is called Mementos, and you can think of it as the collective human conscious.

[revengier]

You changed the very core of people's sense of self?

[ He doesn't sound in disbelief, but...

It's a noble cause, but immediately his mind starts to calculate the risks. ]

I'm sure you don't need me to tell you how risky that sounds, especially to yourself.

[jokey]

[Akira nods just once.]

I know. We'd pulled it off several times and we were taking big risks every time. Some things are worth doing no matter what the personal cost.

[revengier]

Why was it worth it to you?

[ He genuinely wants to know, especially when he understands the weight of significant risks being worth it himself. ]

[jokey]

Why else? Because those people were hurting my friends. Those people were ruining lives. I had the power to put a stop to it, so I did. It's just that simple.