Floor 1, Room 3

[jokey]

AKIRA

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[revengier]

[ That really isn't so bad, even though it feels weird and Kurapika thinks it really might not do much for him at all, but he doesn't get a second to voice that thought.

No, instead his breaths grow ragged and labored as he reaches up to grab onto Akira's wrist, his grip painfully tight because he has nowhere else to channel the sharp, angry pain in his chest. It feels like his heart is about to burst right out of his chest, like his ribcage is about to cave in on itself, like something is clawing at his heart in an attempt to get it to stop.

His eyes are squeezed shut, even as he turns his head to the side to break the kiss, practically shuddering in pain. ]

[jokey]

[For all of a moment, Akira's convinced he did something wrong. That he hurt Kurapika, the angry fingers seizing into his wrist suggesting as much, but his instincts convince him otherwise.

Something is wrong. Something is very, very wrong. Akira pulls back, the pain scrawled over Kurapika's face.]

Hey- Kurapika! What's wrong?!

[revengier]

[ It takes him a few moments, a few more ragged breaths, before he finally opens up his eyes.

They're a bright red, the same scarlet that Akira saw a couple of weeks ago, only they're covering the entire of his eyes, sclera and all. It's an eerie sort of look, unlike the beauty of his actual eyes. ]

Akira...

[ Kurapika speaks through gritted teeth as he reaches up clumsily, trying to find Akira's shoulder, his hand landing somewhere on his bicep instead. ]

Something in me changed.

[jokey]

[There's nothing beautiful about the blood red eyes causing Kurapika clear and obvious pain. Akira sits up and anchors his palm to the broad of Kurapika's back, helping him upright.]

...Yeah, I can see that.

[This had to have happened on the mission. Akira's dagger hums, clattering against the nightstand, as he chants his incantation and attempts a healing spell on Kurapika.]

How's the pain? Any better?

[revengier]

[ It takes a bit of effort to get Kurapika to sit up straight, and once he does, he immediately rests his forehead on Akira's shoulder.

But at that question... he shakes his head. ]

No. Nothing helps. Don't... waste your magic on me.

[jokey]

What do you mean, nothing helps?

[That can't be. That's ridiculous. How could there be nothing, nothing at all, to salve the pain?

Akira tries again to pour his magic into Kurapika, searches and searches for the origin point of his pain to no avail.]

—Damn it. How long has this been happening? Kurapika.

[Why didn't you say something sooner? Akira's mind races down a list of solutions. One of them has to work.]

I'll get Totsuka. He'll know a way to fix this.

[revengier]

Since we got back.

[ So, only a day or so. ]

It comes and goes with no real reason, and now I've a good idea that it's pretty random.

[ Since, well, he wasn't making out with anyone the last few times it happened. It doesn't seem to have a "trigger", so to speak. ]

I'll go talk to Tatara on my own.

[ Stay. ]

[jokey]

[Like hell he's going. Akira loops his arm around Kurapika's waist and holds firm.]

You're staying right here. Did you forget that you're the one in pain right now?

[revengier]

[ Oh. Well. He was planning on going another time, but he won't exactly protest and arm around his waist right now. ]

I didn't. I don't know the layout of the manor well enough to navigate it without sight anyway.

[jokey]

And you were going to stumble around on your own anyway? You stubborn ass.

[Tch, but it's that pigheadedness of his that Akira really admires. Kurapika is strong, even at times like these.

Inhale, exhale. Alright. If the pain isn't going to go away with any spell or medicine, then there's only one option.]

The pain comes and goes at random, right? Lie down for a bit. If nothing else, you should be careful not to strain yourself.

[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.