bottlebay | [Video]

[An 'unfamiliar' face projects through the Pearls... except if you look closely, it's not that unfamiliar. The shape of the plumes on his head carry the same general silhouette as a certain Rookidee...

But now he's larger, longer, and has a noticeably bigger beak. In fact, he looks far more like a crow than he did before!

And so Akechi fluffs up his feathers a bit and addresses the Pearl at last.]

Greetings. This is Akechi. I realize that this transformation may be a bit alarming, but I thought it best to announce my recent evolution so that no one believes I've disappeared.

This new form is far more suitable, though I wish it hadn't been so overdue. Still, it seems that being put into highly dangerous situations is one way to provoke evolution.

I suppose this does bring up a curious question, though. To evolve, or not to evolve. For me, it was a no brainer, but others may be less enthused about changing their physical forms yet again. Evolution is, after all, irreversible.

So humor me. Do you wish to evolve, or are you content as you are?

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Nope, [she answers curtly.]

[She wants to laugh at the image conjured up by Akechi. Yeah, Mayaka can totally picture some of the girls in school looking like that.]

Do you... feel any different? It's still you, right? [Even though it doesn't seem like it, she's still trying to adjust to the fact that this Corvisquire is the annoying round know-it-all. Being able to hear his voice helps.]

Well, yes. A shift in proportions is always going to feel different, not to mention that my size and weight have also increased.

[Which, granted, are welcome changes, but changes nonetheless.]

My beak is longer and sharper, as are my talons. My eyesight feels sharper as well, but corvids are known for their strong vision. ...and their ability to perceive a broader spectrum of colors than the human eye.

There you go, rambling about nerdy stuff again. [Same old Akechi, no doubt about it.] I'm not asking about the biological facts. Not just that, at least.

I mean, how are you feeling?

...Relieved, I suppose? I've been yearning to evolve for quite some time. This form is more suitable to me, and I feel less like I'll be looked down upon or coddled for being to small, cute, or weak.

[Which... helps. He wants to be stronger, more self-reliant, and less... ugh. Easily mocked, certainly. No more mistaking him for a ball!]

You always take yourself so seriously, I didn't know stuff like that affected you. [Or maybe it's precisely because of that that he doesn't want to be underestimated by others.]

Well, good for you then.

I've always had to take myself seriously. It's one of the 'perks' of being an illegitimate child.

[She's Japanese, so surely she'd understand. Their society doesn't tend to look kindly upon those who fall outside the traditional family structure.]

...

[Is there a socially acceptable way to respond to this new piece of information? The more she learns about him, the more his outlook and attitude is starting to make sense. She feels sorry for him all of a sudden.]

That sucks. Seriously.

[A beat, then, a sigh.]

It might be naive of me to say this. But whatever is in your past... that doesn't have to determine who you are now, or who you'll be in the future.

[He shuts his eyes, heaving a slow sigh.]

I've... tried to internalize that. In some respects, my time here has granted me a fresh start, stripped of my sins. Still, I will eventually need to confront the reality awaiting me in my own world.

A reality that may not be so... forgiving.

.... what are you saying, Akechi? Are you a wanted criminal or something?

[Detective prince turned criminal, sounds like a real tragic plot.]

Wanted... not quite, but I was an accessory to a government conspiracy run by the prospective prime minister, and my hands aren't exactly clean.

[Best to keep it vague for now. Going into the mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns would be rather loaded...]

That means, back then when you told me about the corruption caused by your Prime Minister... you were part of that all along?

[Mayaka frowns, but holds her tongue. She's known Akechi as an ally (ish) long enough to not jump to any accusations immediately.]

I offered my services to him as a vengeful fifteen year old who fully intended to knock him off his pedestal. I simply got more than I bargained for.

[He grumbles at his own foolishness, for what little that matters.]

Though, he never did become Prime Minister. The Phantom Thieves forced a confession out of him and then thwarted the malevolent god that had used him and myself as its unwitting pawns.

[That sounds like the kind of calculated plan that Akechi would attempt to pull. And having seen how out of control he got with his Outrage, she's now aware of the strong emotions he's been keeping under wraps.]

You've been through a lot, Akechi. And it sounds like you got what you deserved at the end. Both the good and the bad. [Said a matter-of-factly.]

So, why not cut yourself some slack?

It's difficult to be lenient with myself when I dealt irreversible damage. Even if it was under orders, I walked into that situation, thinking I had control.

[He was an idiotic teenager, but still. Excuses don't fix the problem. He'd rather not claim he's a victim.]

That fact that you're holding yourself accountable instead of running away or ignoring your mistakes is already a step in the right direction.

[Mayaka thinks they can agree on this, no matter how different their backgrounds are.]

So quit talking about all the bad stuff you've done. Saying it once is enough. [She's pretty sure he's said something similar before, though she may just be jumping to conclusions again.]

I guess that's what I meant by cutting yourself some slack. If you keep reminding yourself about it, how will you ever move past it?

...You raise a valid point.

[He chuckles bitterly.]

Some would argue I should get therapy. Unfortunately, the last therapist I knew tried to rewrite reality, so it's not exactly on top of the priorities list.

[...]

I wonder if this place even has qualified mental healthcare.

Eh??? [That's... something to unpack another time.]

They use berries as medicine here. I think we're out of luck.

Anyway, don't carry everything yourself. At least you have Ren-kun.

[She sounds a bit jealous that she doesn't have someone like that to share her worries here.]

Ha. Whoever invents therapy within this world shall have a most fascinating niche...

[It won't be him, obviously. Hell no. Even so...]

But yes. Frankly, I doubt I'd be alive without his persistent sentimentality.

[Ren had gushed wholeheartedly to her about Akechi. And here, all Akechi can say about him is that he has 'persistent sentimentality'.

Mayaka giggles to herself. Hopefully Akechi doesn't think she's laughing at him.]

You two make quite the pair.

Indeed. Frankly, I think he could do much better, but I am... flattered that he chose me.

I've never been anyone's first choice.

[With anything, really. Familial love, friendship... So many disappointments. It's no wonder he's so jaded.]

[Mayaka frowns. If Akechi thinks she's going to join is little pity party, he's totally off track!]

When you aren't the first choice, isn't it all the more satisfying when you're able to show them them why they should've picked you?

[Video]

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help new akechi lore drop every single time they talk on the network

maybe this should be a tradition lmao

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