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[Akira enters, gaze lowered like he can't meet Ryo's eye -- although he still can't help but cast a curious glance around the apartment. Predictably not unlike his penthouse back in Tokyo, minus the ever-lingering presence of his secretary.

He takes a deep breath his back to Ryo, and asks in a shaky voice.]

How'd you handle it? Your first triple moon cycle, I mean...

[ Ah. That question. He's not surprised it is coming up. It seems like the sort of question one would ask a friend experiencing an interesting transformation for the first time - and that's what they were. Ryo's knowledge on them isn't practical, he didn't go out to see how others dealt with their transformations, as he spent the time trying to get accustomed to it. He wasn't sure how others perceived them, not yet anyway. He knew that would be a study for future Triple Moons. ]

Hm? Oh. It was -- [ he settles on an answer ] no big deal. I had white wings. I kept to myself and read most of the time, though. I thought it might be best to see what occurred.

[ He did read, sure. But he was miserable, and he hated every second of it, and every aspect of it. He could see why, with his, that people would seek out the help and attention of others, but he didn't do that, it wasn't something he had ever done before. And he wasn't about to start because some strange alien planet subjected him to this. ]

Huh. [He's grabbing Ryo's arms, suddenly, looking him up and down as if to check for any sign of crystallisation. Seeing none, and satisfied Ryo has it under control, he heads further into the apartment.]

So you've been keeping your chroma up.

[ What the heck, Akira, he's fine. He rolls his eyes at the concern from his friend. People are useful enough. ]

I don't need much. [ At least not to just get by. As long as he doesn't access or use any of his abilities that he managed to keep. ] It's not like it's hard to earn, anyway. Everyone needs it here. [ Unfortunately. ]

You don't have to worry about me. You know I can take care of myself. Is that why you came over? Because you're worried about me? [ He doesn't really think this is all there is to it. ]

Edited 2020-07-20 14:06 (UTC)

Of course I'm worried. You know why.

[Ryo might not be the little monster he was when they were kids, but he still somehow struggles to connect to people. If he keeps his Chroma levels up, it'll be because he's found some sort of mutually beneficial arrangement with someone, not because he's gotten close to anyone or feels any particular way about them.

Maybe he shouldn't be worried. In a place like this, the pragmatic approach could be fruitful.

Still, he hasn't fully answered Ryo's question, and it hangs heavy in the air. Akira moves to sit, his gaze low.]

Ryo, I... [He decides to just get to the point. The longer he draws this out, the worse he feels.] I killed people.

[ He does know, but he also doesn't think that Akira needs to worry about him. He knows, if he had to, he could call on the other. Though he prefers the one to be relied on. He wants Akira to need him, and he wants him to not have a choice. He wants to be the most dependable person his life. So, he'd do his best to avoid it unless necessary. Less it would cloud Akira's perception of him. ]

You killed people? That's unlike you.

[ He doesn't sound upset or even particularly bothered. It's the indifference that Akira is long accustomed to in regard to lies. And, as it were, he's not sure Akira wants to hear that it's okay. It's all good. No harm done. He steps forward, shifting his arms around Akira's shoulders and tugs him in close. ]

What happened?

[ Maybe it'll help him figure out what drove the other to that point. There's none of the danger here, not like at what was once their home. ]

[He's not even sure if a hug is what he wants right now, and not from Ryo of all people, when it was Ryo who made him like this in the first place. Made him always moments away from snapping, barely holding the demonic instincts inside him at bay.

So he doesn't hug him back, but he doesn't push him away, either. His body is rigid and his eyes squeeze shut.]

Sanguis. Usually it makes me want to fight, but this time... I lost it completely.

[ While Ryo is full of regret and sadness for how Akira ended up, turning him into Amon is the least of the things that he thinks of as terrible. He steps back, hands on Akira's shoulders as he looks at him sternly. He sees no real problem with murder, so he isn't going to be a source of comfort. ]

What happens to people here? Do they not come back?

[ Though he never directly asked about this before, the fact that he's standing in front of someone who has died in his timeline has made him suspect that there's different rules. ]

Is it like this every Sanguis?

[ Curious, really. There's a lingering part that is concerned that if it drove Akira to the edge like this, would one of these moons drive him to becoming his full, complete self as Satan at some point. Because that means he'll be in that terrible place thanks to Iris and have to isolate himself to maintain his secret. ]

What?

[Akira just stares at him, disbelieving, for a moment. He already knows what Ryo is likely thinking -- if they come back, then why does it matter? -- but Akira won't even entertain the thought with a response.

To his second question, however, he nods and lowers his gaze.]

Yeah, but some months are worse than others. I've never gone this far.

[ He doesn't need an answer, then. Akira gives it to him without anything. He's able to connect the dots. And he's right to think Ryo doesn't understand the concern. People dying isn't a big deal to him even when they can't come back, clearly if they can come back, it's less of a deal. ]

That's concerning.

[ Is he talking about Akira, is he talking about himself. It's unclear, because it's both. The reality is, he can't have Akira going around just killing people, and he can risk a chance he'll be driven to his other self, either. ]

What helps it?

[ It's a scientific, almost, series of questions. ]

Or - does anything help it.

Moonlacing. But I'm always worried I could go too far with that, too. Or force someone to do something they don't want to...

[So it's not just a case of holding hands and hoping it passes. His impulses are too unhinged for that.]

I could handle being a Devilman when I knew I could use that power to help people. [Whether Ryo actually wanted him to help or not.] But here... I'm just a danger to everyone.

Ah.

[ There's immediate understanding at Akira's implication because he knows. He knows how Amon is and how he acts and what he often wants. Ryo knows, though not in the same way Akira does. He's witnessed it. He reaches for him, grabs either side of Akira's face and holds it focused on him. ]

Then we'll just have to find a whole new way to control him, even during Sanguis, won't we?

[ He didn't really know how, or if he really could - since he never was able to before, but he liked to thrive on giving Akira a sliver of hope. A way to manage Devilman. He didn't care about the deaths, he honestly thought it would be an interesting way to test Amon's limits. ]

[Akira lets his face be grabbed, but as a consequence, can't hide the flash of hurt and anger that crosses his face at Ryo's words.]

You're the one who made me like this. You'll have to help find a way.

[He might not understand Ryo's motives, but perhaps he can get him to take responsibility for once.]

[ He's watching Akira's expression carefully, figuring out hat each and every shift in his face means. He isn't surprised that Akira isn't happy with him. ]

You know why I did this, Akira. I did say we would, Akira.

[ He knows he's responsible, but nothing could make him regret what happened as far as that goes. And, he'll look at this as just another hurdle to overcome. More opportunities to learn about Amon. He moves his hands and takes a step back to look the other over. ]

That means you'll have to show me how it is sometime.

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