warmwood, evening 2; tsukiyama + banjou

[lasuaspada]

[Tsukiyama doesn't return home immediately after the trial; rather, the first part of his evening is full of the sort of questionable life choices that lead to him getting violently ill immediately after he does. It'd been reckless, and he's aware that it's a bad idea to be spending time anywhere near someone possessed while he's in a less than ideal physical state, but at the same time he can't say that he can be bothered to care, and in its own way it had been entirely worth it.

After a while, however, he'd forced himself up and straightened himself up, and even if he's still looking...slightly disheveled he's more composed than he has been for the better part of the day, and when he finally finds Banjou he doesn't approach him properly. Instead he just leans up against the doorframe and watches him for a moment; when he finally speaks, his voice is perhaps surprisingly calm, even if his expression is a bit unnervingly blank.]

Why did you abstain?

[The question is straightforward; it's all he offers for now. No greeting, but not screaming insults either. Just a question.]

Comments

[irenicly]

[This isn't going to end well. Banjou knows it the moment the question is asked. He knew it the moment the trial ended with his brother living.

If Tsukiyama had died....]

Because Fulbright-san confessed to being the False Seer. And I can't vote for you.

[He knows that Tsukiyama knows. If he dies because of this, maybe it'll keep his brother alive.

After all, his brother thinks he's gone. That he isn't talking to the real Banjou anymore.]

[lasuaspada]

Because voting for your own brother would look suspicious.

[It isn't a question.]

[irenicly]

I could never vote for you, Shuu-san. It's not because it would look suspicious, it...

[No matter what he says, he isn't going to be believed

damn the Lady. Damn her for stealing his brother from him.]

I would be worse than Yamori if I killed my own brother!

[lasuaspada]

Please. Don't even start.

[He tosses his head a bit at that, the look in his eyes cold.]

Ah, but technically you're right, aren't you? You won't kill me.

You'll just throw me to the wolves so the others will do it for you.

[irenicly]

[He has no response for that.

It had been a result of not thinking things through, but that's what happened, isn't it? Banjou very nearly did kill his own brother. Even if he hadn't voted, it was going to be his hands stained with blood.]

Had you died, it would have been me who killed you. Not the people who voted for you. Me.

[It's a miracle he can keep his voice steady.]

[lasuaspada]

[And something in him burns up a bit at that, and he's tempted to approach, to lash out or yell or do something, but as it stands he just freezes, and even when he manages to release some of it he just folds his arms only for his hands to immediately tighten against his sleeves.]

Is there anything left?

[He fidgets a bit, gesturing vaguely in Banjou's general direction.]

Of...him.

[irenicly]

[That's enough for Banjou to let out a sniff. He doesn't look close to tears, but the question burns.]

I've been in control of my actions this entire time, brother. I... I know you won't believe me.

I thought if we could take out the dove, the Avenger might target you. It's the only way I could know for certain that you'd be safe.

But I always fuck everything up.

[lasuaspada]

[Tsukiyama doesn't say anything right away; the question is obvious, he just isn't sure he can bring himself to ask it.]

"Safe"...?

[From what, Banjou-san.]

[irenicly]

You'd fall asleep. You wouldn't actually die, we'd wake you up afterward!

I can't ask you to forgive me for my actions, but please believe me. I never wanted you to die.

[lasuaspada]

[He tenses up a bit at that; he's quick to look away.]

...You're very convincing, you know.

[irenicly]

Can I ask you a question?

[lasuaspada]

...Go ahead.

[irenicly]

Why did we come here? We're ghouls.

We can't live amongst humans. We'll either go mad and attack someone or we'll eventually starve. Coming here was a death sentence, so why did we do it?

[lasuaspada]

Why would you ask me that? Coming here was a blessing from Our Lady; I'm sure that if things were to become dire, she would provide.

[irenicly]

I guess she would.

[...it's no good.

It's just as he said.]

[lasuaspada]

...Is there anything left or not? I want to know if I'm wasting my time.

[irenicly]

[.....he doesn't want to lie to his brother, but...]

Yes. He's still here.

[lasuaspada]

That's...!

[His gaze darts a bit at that while he tries to process it; his breathing quickens a bit, though it's not in that odd, constricted way that he was dealing with at the trial.]

May I speak to him, or...?

[irenicly]

[He's silent for a long moment before he nods.]

I'm breaking rules if I do this. I can only let him talk for a minute, understand?

[lasuaspada]

I understand, of course.

[irenicly]

[Dammit.

He's not a good actor, but he shifts his shoulders tensing up abruptly.]

Brother?

[lasuaspada]

[As bad an actor though you may be, there's something about being on some sort of emotional rollercoaster for the last several hours that ensures that when it peaks again, you are left seeing exactly what you want to see and it's...]

Kazuichi-san...?

[...gonna be really undignified in about three seconds, you just watch.]

[irenicly]

[Banjou can't decide what to do with his face. It's a mess of emotions right now, which works given the situation.]

Please help me, Shuu-san.

I don't... I don't want to die.

[lasuaspada]

[One of his hands flutters a bit at that, as though he's tempted to reach out and touch but thinks better of it; he finds himself covering his mouth instead for a brief moment before he makes himself stop - there isn't much time to talk to him, after all.]

You're not going to die, amore, I swear to you. You know I'll do whatever's necessary.

[irenicly]

[Why is he doing this?

This is going to get himself killed.]

I don't know what it wants, but please... please...

[This isn't really going anywhere and he knows it. Tsukiyama should be the one asking questions right now.]