Aoi ' Santa ' Kurashiki (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jinglebros) wrote2023-08-05 05:42 am
jinglebros) wrote2023-08-05 05:42 am
Alternative SHIFTs
This is a post for different SHIFTS
Once upon a time, Aoi demanded a kiss of Roland for a toll. It turns out that isn't the first time he's asked this of him, but he continues to be surprised each and every time Roland agrees.
The first time this happened, Aoi was far more intrigued for his own good. He ended up pursuing Roland, seeking out ways to engage him in things. This was before he got to know Hubert and become committed to the possibility of him. So his mind was free to think of another.
And when Alastor is killed, Aoi finds himself supporting Roland.
"Hey," he says in private, after the trial of the demon's murderer. "I know you can't believe me, but it will be fine."
The first time this happened, Aoi was far more intrigued for his own good. He ended up pursuing Roland, seeking out ways to engage him in things. This was before he got to know Hubert and become committed to the possibility of him. So his mind was free to think of another.
And when Alastor is killed, Aoi finds himself supporting Roland.
"Hey," he says in private, after the trial of the demon's murderer. "I know you can't believe me, but it will be fine."
Roland's been dead for a week. Zero followed this up with a resurrection motive and it's up to Aoi to talk Alastor out of it. The problem is, Aoi is fond of Roland too. And it's hecking hard to think of a reason it shouldn't be done.
"But you know he wouldn't be happy if you did it," is what he settles with finally. He's been through enough loops at this point to know that they need to make it to, and somehow past, the final trial. "Do you really want him to be alive but miserable?"
"But you know he wouldn't be happy if you did it," is what he settles with finally. He's been through enough loops at this point to know that they need to make it to, and somehow past, the final trial. "Do you really want him to be alive but miserable?"
It had been absolutely no real secret that he was incredibly tactile and just enjoyed being able to dole out affection. So when one little kiss turned into something more frequent? He'd started to look forwards to each and every time, and it would be hard pressed to say he was getting attached.
Alastor was still someone very much important to him, a very valuable friend and so in the wake of his death? It'd shaken him to his very core.
Maybe it was just because he hadn't been able to save the devil from his fate, or just all the death getting to him. He looked up to Aoi with pained eyes, a hand reaching out to grasp at his arm. Something to ground him. "...I... How...? This game... it's cruel and heartless. I've never felt so powerless."
Blood was on his hands. Zero had chosen him as the executioner, after all.
Alastor was still someone very much important to him, a very valuable friend and so in the wake of his death? It'd shaken him to his very core.
Maybe it was just because he hadn't been able to save the devil from his fate, or just all the death getting to him. He looked up to Aoi with pained eyes, a hand reaching out to grasp at his arm. Something to ground him. "...I... How...? This game... it's cruel and heartless. I've never felt so powerless."
Blood was on his hands. Zero had chosen him as the executioner, after all.
"That's how Zero wants you to feel. He gets off on it."
Aoi places a hand over Roland's own. He's not exactly sure he's doing the right things here, but somehow he wants to try.
"Don't give him the satisfaction. Figure out how to get the power back."
Aoi places a hand over Roland's own. He's not exactly sure he's doing the right things here, but somehow he wants to try.
"Don't give him the satisfaction. Figure out how to get the power back."
A slow exhale was breathed out, then he nodded. "You're right. He's taken too much from us already. I don't want anyone else to die here.." That had a bit of a spark shining within his green eyes, moving a bit closer to Aoi.
"Though if i'm honest? I'm afraid someone might try to target you... and I won't allow that."
"Though if i'm honest? I'm afraid someone might try to target you... and I won't allow that."
"I can take care of myself. I've been doing it all my life. You don't need to worry that I'll let someone fuck with me."
Aoi is drawn to him, just as he always is. When Roland moves closer, he can't help but move closer as well. Sometimes he's mad about how much control this man seems to have over him, but he doesn't bother right now.
"How would you prevent it, anyway?"
Aoi is drawn to him, just as he always is. When Roland moves closer, he can't help but move closer as well. Sometimes he's mad about how much control this man seems to have over him, but he doesn't bother right now.
"How would you prevent it, anyway?"
That made him exhale a very soft huff, to where he essentially was pouting a bit now despite his best efforts not to.
"Well... what if someone manages to somehow overpower you? Having someone as a backup to help you would be VERY useful." A pointed nod of his head follows, thinking about that question for a very short moment before his answer comes quickly. So assured and without hesitation.
"Staying close to you, obviously! I would use all of my Chasseur experience to ensure nobody would be able to have the chance to hurt you."
"Well... what if someone manages to somehow overpower you? Having someone as a backup to help you would be VERY useful." A pointed nod of his head follows, thinking about that question for a very short moment before his answer comes quickly. So assured and without hesitation.
"Staying close to you, obviously! I would use all of my Chasseur experience to ensure nobody would be able to have the chance to hurt you."
"Well, it's not as if having you close would be a punishment..."
Aoi raises his eyebrows, though. At this point in his loops, he wants any way out - so it's a bit annoying to him to be protected. But he's not going to let that impact Roland.
"Fine, but only if I can protect you too."
Aoi raises his eyebrows, though. At this point in his loops, he wants any way out - so it's a bit annoying to him to be protected. But he's not going to let that impact Roland.
"Fine, but only if I can protect you too."
Upon hearing that, the pout dissipated and immediately he was beaming.
"I have nothing against that! I'd be happy to have you protect me too~" After all, he had no doubts in his mind that Aoi could handle himself and it was only fair that he allow the same in return. His mood was already feeling uplifted, and maybe that was what had him reaching out to cup one of Aoi's cheeks softly.
"You mean a lot to me. More than anyone else! So my goal besides escaping this game will be ensuring you're at my side."
"I have nothing against that! I'd be happy to have you protect me too~" After all, he had no doubts in his mind that Aoi could handle himself and it was only fair that he allow the same in return. His mood was already feeling uplifted, and maybe that was what had him reaching out to cup one of Aoi's cheeks softly.
"You mean a lot to me. More than anyone else! So my goal besides escaping this game will be ensuring you're at my side."
"At your side, huh...?"
Aoi's brow furrows a little at that, even while he can't help but turn his face towards Roland's hand.
"You sure you really want that?"
Aoi's brow furrows a little at that, even while he can't help but turn his face towards Roland's hand.
"You sure you really want that?"
Roland nodded without even so much as missing a beat, thumb gently running over the younger man's cheek.
"Absolutely. Why wouldn't I?" He almost looked confused to why Aoi would ask such a thing but he also wanted to hear him out.
"Absolutely. Why wouldn't I?" He almost looked confused to why Aoi would ask such a thing but he also wanted to hear him out.
So many reasons and none of them he can actually say. Or at least he can't and not look insane.
"You don't really know the things I've done," he says instead. "I don't think you'd approve."
"You don't really know the things I've done," he says instead. "I don't think you'd approve."
"Hmm? Can you tell me about these things I wouldn't approve of?" There was no judegment in his voice, a genuine curiosity and gentleness to him as he spoke.
He knew that there was things that he didn't know about Aoi, but running away from things because it was unknown wasn't something he wanted to keep doing. Not now.
He knew that there was things that he didn't know about Aoi, but running away from things because it was unknown wasn't something he wanted to keep doing. Not now.
It's been a few loops now, but long before the golden one where Hubert would Remember. So the motives, at least certain ones, always have a chance to work on him.
But honestly, just getting home was often enough. Especially before he remembers his own and his Lady's death. Before he realizes his life is now meaningless.
...there's been more than one where he died for other reasons. Not many, but some. Despair more than once. This time though he stalks through the corridors, the long blade that, this time, Gai gave him much earlier, in his hand. Slipping from shadow to shadow, bare feet silent as he moves. Somewhere on the ship John Connor was also awake, thanks to Hubert's own scheming. He has ever intention of drawing the blade across the man's throat.
But honestly, just getting home was often enough. Especially before he remembers his own and his Lady's death. Before he realizes his life is now meaningless.
...there's been more than one where he died for other reasons. Not many, but some. Despair more than once. This time though he stalks through the corridors, the long blade that, this time, Gai gave him much earlier, in his hand. Slipping from shadow to shadow, bare feet silent as he moves. Somewhere on the ship John Connor was also awake, thanks to Hubert's own scheming. He has ever intention of drawing the blade across the man's throat.
Edited 2023-08-06 19:13 (UTC)
[Hermes exits sleep mode, his screenface flashing on. His first thought underneath those few seconds of bleariness is he didn't remember entering sleep mode. He doesn't remember this room at all. This isn't even the tutorial... Hermes thinks. He looks around, seeing no screens to the outside Player. This is so bizarre. Is this some form of punishment? Did everyone else really find out about what he just did already...?
All these thoughts are ground to a halt when he lays his eyes upon Aoi and he just freezes, blinking a few times.]
[All is silent. He's staring for a very long moment.]
[And then...]
...Are you a human?
[Wait... didn't this happen to you before, Aoi? Wasn't Hermes... feral? Didn't everyone except Hermes just get executed? What is going on!?]
All these thoughts are ground to a halt when he lays his eyes upon Aoi and he just freezes, blinking a few times.]
[All is silent. He's staring for a very long moment.]
[And then...]
...Are you a human?
[Wait... didn't this happen to you before, Aoi? Wasn't Hermes... feral? Didn't everyone except Hermes just get executed? What is going on!?]
It's been enough loops now that Aoi has a fondness for Hubert. Not anything for John Connor, not at all. That's not why he's out here. Why he's out here is he still has a belief that he can stop the loops, a despair that he can't hasn't set in yet. So he wants to make sure that if this is the right time, this is the last loop, Hubert will b alive.
He caught wind of his planning somehow. Knowing him well, maybe? Well, whatever. This time they'd also been roommate, so he'd known when he snuck out. He soon follows him.
"What do you think you're doing?" he says quietly, from behind.
He caught wind of his planning somehow. Knowing him well, maybe? Well, whatever. This time they'd also been roommate, so he'd known when he snuck out. He soon follows him.
"What do you think you're doing?" he says quietly, from behind.
[ It's the third loop. It's still so early on, and Aoi isn't used to the fact he's repeating things yet. He hasn't even clued himself in yet.
So when he wakes up to this, he nearly flips, but it's his control over himself that keeps him from trying to push Hermes over. ]
What the fuck...?
So when he wakes up to this, he nearly flips, but it's his control over himself that keeps him from trying to push Hermes over. ]
What the fuck...?
[Woah...! This human(?) is sure a bundle of nervous energy.]
Don't worry, I'm just a Hermes unit!
[The AI looks around the room, bobbing up and down a little.]
Were you not expecting one?
Don't worry, I'm just a Hermes unit!
[The AI looks around the room, bobbing up and down a little.]
Were you not expecting one?
"Mmm... maybe."
Aoi hasn't shared them with anyone. Doing so with Hubert and Alastor is several loops away, and he has no clue it's going to happen. So doing so now seems impossible.
Aoi hasn't shared them with anyone. Doing so with Hubert and Alastor is several loops away, and he has no clue it's going to happen. So doing so now seems impossible.
I wasn't expecting you to -
[ No, slow down. This is odd. Something's obviously happening. ]
- What did you say you were again?
[ No, slow down. This is odd. Something's obviously happening. ]
- What did you say you were again?
[Blink.]
I'm a Hermes unit... I think something went wrong in whatever transit you were expecting. WhatTypeOfUnit DidYouActuallyWant?
I'm a Hermes unit... I think something went wrong in whatever transit you were expecting. WhatTypeOfUnit DidYouActuallyWant?
"Maybe??" He still seems interested at least, if not somewhat amused in a way. "How can I say if i'd approve or not if you don't tell me?" There was something about the light in his green eyes that said little would change his opinion of Aoi.
Someone like him who had an open mind and an almost unending amount of love in his heart for others.
Someone like him who had an open mind and an almost unending amount of love in his heart for others.
Well, he HAD put quite a few... additives... into dinner last night to make sure as many people slept as possible. Of course he didn't know about Aoi's habit of poisoning himself yet.
A small breath sucks between his teeth before he turns, the only expression of his surprise- his face icy and blank by the time he's facing Aoi. Though there's a bit of sadness in his one exposed eye. Everyone was going to die, but... he didn't want to kill Aoi directly.
Well, nothing for it now. Him and John both had to die.
"Nothing you need worry about."
A small breath sucks between his teeth before he turns, the only expression of his surprise- his face icy and blank by the time he's facing Aoi. Though there's a bit of sadness in his one exposed eye. Everyone was going to die, but... he didn't want to kill Aoi directly.
Well, nothing for it now. Him and John both had to die.
"Nothing you need worry about."
Edited 2023-08-06 21:15 (UTC)
"Sure, sure."
Except Aoi is used to seeing through other people's facades, and he can tell a mask that's trying to crack when he sees one. He's not taking this at face value.
"Except how you have that weapon right there. Planning on using it on me?"
Except Aoi is used to seeing through other people's facades, and he can tell a mask that's trying to crack when he sees one. He's not taking this at face value.
"Except how you have that weapon right there. Planning on using it on me?"
...your unit. Hermes unit.
That's exactly what I wanted.
[ Humorless smile. ]
That's exactly what I wanted.
[ Humorless smile. ]
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