Man, I feel like I'm staring at my own reflection sometimes. You're obnoxious.
[Said with no real heat, no ire, because nothing in Solomon's answer surprises him. He'd be something worse than a hypocrite if he held any disdain for Solomon just because they share so much in common. It's those commonalities that make it easy to relate to and understand this enigma of a man.
...Alright, he's setting his cup down for this just in case Solomon is overwhelmed with the urge to throttle him. Akira doesn't want tea stains on the carpet.]
I made a promise, Solomon. Two of them.
[And he's not going to apologize. He's not going to double down in an effort to explain the reasons why. He doesn't regret what he did, nor would he take it back, but Solomon deserves to know what his apprentice has done.]
[The swell of Solomon's emotion washes over him like the high tide, and Akira fights to stay on his feet. He knew this would hurt Solomon, perhaps even deeply, but he wasn't prepared for the reality of his confession.
He wishes he could apologize. Wishes he felt any sort of regret... but he doesn't. He doesn't. Akira looks straight ahead, his eyes squared on Solomon's.]
I wouldn't have made them if I didn't. I will do anything I can to honor those promises to him... even if it costs me my life.
[Solomon's imposing when he's angry, isn't he? Akira's taken aback, just for a moment, before that shock bleeds out and twists into a strange sort of elation. I did that. I made you feel that way. Now you'll never, ever forget me.
He wouldn't dare undermine Solomon's words with a smile, but it's in his words. It's in the way he leans forward and speaks to him in a voice barely above a whisper.]
How's it taste? Your own medicine.
[A life is not a bargaining chip. Risking death knowing you'll leave the ones you love behind is a sin. They both ought to know.]
[This couldn't have ended any other way. Akira doesn't fight it, doesn't demand Solomon return so they can hash this out. They've already arrived at the conclusion, and with that, Akira stays right where he is and watches Solomon as he turns to leave.
His hands sit balled in his lap, nails biting into his palms. He's fine, he's fine, he's fine. Solomon deserves to know.]
Go get some rest. You'll need it.
[He imagines a fight is what Solomon is after. If that's the case, Akira will be fully prepared.]
[Another stanza of the dance, then. So quickly have they lost the back and forth. So quickly Akira has turned it to a fight.
And Solomon can no longer go limp in its grasp, for the drop he sees below the hydra's lair is too deep to come back from. Does he grasp this boy in the teeth of his many mouths of duplicity, and hope they both tire?
...
He does take a moment before losing Akira's field of view, a hand held against the wall to keep him upright. He's dizzy. He needs to get back to his room. But...
...]
Speak to Bruno sooner rather than later.
He and some others are checking on Oz's village on my behalf. I don't want him to repeat what I did. So don't let him go alone.
[He won't explain any further. With a click of the door, Solomon slips back out into the hall. Time for a very long walk back up the staircase, and a very sleepless night over ink and pen.]
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no subject
[Said with no real heat, no ire, because nothing in Solomon's answer surprises him. He'd be something worse than a hypocrite if he held any disdain for Solomon just because they share so much in common. It's those commonalities that make it easy to relate to and understand this enigma of a man.
...Alright, he's setting his cup down for this just in case Solomon is overwhelmed with the urge to throttle him. Akira doesn't want tea stains on the carpet.]
I made a promise, Solomon. Two of them.
[And he's not going to apologize. He's not going to double down in an effort to explain the reasons why. He doesn't regret what he did, nor would he take it back, but Solomon deserves to know what his apprentice has done.]
1/2
He falls completely still. Everything but his eyes, which suddenly become too bright, too sharp.
Surprise. Then concern. Then anger.
Then a deeply, deeply ingrained hurt.
All in moments, passing, brilliant, before tucking back down.
...]
2/2
...Mn. Did you, now.
[It's not his job. It's never been his job. He knows this. The heat of sorrow feels so vibrant in his throat.
But it never was his decision to make. Not for them. Not for him.
...]
Do you plan to keep them, then?
no subject
He wishes he could apologize. Wishes he felt any sort of regret... but he doesn't. He doesn't. Akira looks straight ahead, his eyes squared on Solomon's.]
I wouldn't have made them if I didn't. I will do anything I can to honor those promises to him... even if it costs me my life.
no subject
Promises mean nothing to the ones who care for you if your life is the bargaining chip.
[It's the angriest bite in Solomon's voice that Akira has probably heard, like the snap of a snake.]
Don't make something as precious as your word nothing more than pointless padding for a gravestone that you'll never even get to see.
If you meant it, then you live.
no subject
He wouldn't dare undermine Solomon's words with a smile, but it's in his words. It's in the way he leans forward and speaks to him in a voice barely above a whisper.]
How's it taste? Your own medicine.
[A life is not a bargaining chip. Risking death knowing you'll leave the ones you love behind is a sin. They both ought to know.]
no subject
[With no further word, he weakly pushes to his feet. His tea stays untouched. He does not take the bait any further.
How badly he wants to grab that wrist and rip that star of approval off the boy's soul, as though it might take it all back.
...
...]
I expect to see you up at the training grounds nice and early at the end of the week.
Thank you for the tea, and your time. I believe we're done here.
no subject
His hands sit balled in his lap, nails biting into his palms. He's fine, he's fine, he's fine. Solomon deserves to know.]
Go get some rest. You'll need it.
[He imagines a fight is what Solomon is after. If that's the case, Akira will be fully prepared.]
no subject
And Solomon can no longer go limp in its grasp, for the drop he sees below the hydra's lair is too deep to come back from. Does he grasp this boy in the teeth of his many mouths of duplicity, and hope they both tire?
...
He does take a moment before losing Akira's field of view, a hand held against the wall to keep him upright. He's dizzy. He needs to get back to his room. But...
...]
Speak to Bruno sooner rather than later.
He and some others are checking on Oz's village on my behalf. I don't want him to repeat what I did. So don't let him go alone.
[He won't explain any further. With a click of the door, Solomon slips back out into the hall. Time for a very long walk back up the staircase, and a very sleepless night over ink and pen.]