week 2 ( friday )

[subordinacy]

[In terms of self-preservation, approaching someone with a record of violence, including against him personally, and who's blatantly unstable in his grief? Likely not the best idea. In fact, it's probably a terrible one, and the part of Setz that acknowledges this is why he doesn't inform Jacopo where he's going.

Still, he has to see him.

... Even if Shinssin doesn't consider him a friend and may never have—even if Eleanor was wrong about all of that. It doesn't change this.

When he finds Shinssin, he has nothing with him. (Nothing to give, especially when he knows that the one thing Shinssin must want right now is something he can't grant.) He stops a short distance from him.

Quietly,]

Shinssin.

Comments

[shinssin]

[ Shinssin remains in place, back toward him. ]

Eleanor and the blonde woman are dead. But the third one is still alive...

I wonder who that could be?

[subordinacy]

[...]

I'm sorry.

[That the one to survive was him, rather than Eleanor.]

[shinssin]

[ He's gone.

In the next moment, he grabs Setz.

They're gone.

In the next moment, Shinssin has Setz shoved against a nearby wall, pinning him down with an arm that threatens to cut off his air supply. ]

Don't tell me you're sorry, Setz. Lying's not a good look on you.

Oh look, your dad's not here. I guess I can do whatever I want now.

[subordinacy]

[He was half-expecting it, half-not. Momentarily surprised at the impact, but he regains his composure quickly enough, even with the pressure against his throat. He doesn't teleport away just yet.

In his mind, he apologizes to Jacopo. He knows he should prioritize his own safety above all. And yet, at the moment, he can't.

Considering the situation, his voice is remarkably calm. Admittedly, it's a bit of an effort.]

Don't do this, Shinssin.

[shinssin]

Shh, shh.

[ He covers Setz's mouth with a smile. It's not friendly. ]

It's alright. I'll make it look like an accident.

[ What was meant to muffle turns into a vice grip.

In one fluid motion, he grabs Setz's face and attempts to slam his head into the wall. ]

[subordinacy]

[Despite the hand over his mouth, Setz is about to say something—leaving him woefully unprepared when Shinssin then slams him against the wall.

There's pain, and there's white in his vision, before by reflex, Setz reaches up to try and remove Shinssin's hand. Why, is a question that flickers through his mind, because (like with his father, like with Nil), he both understands and doesn't, why Shinssin is doing this to him.

Even with Shinssin's group, again, he tries to speak.]

They wouldn't have wanted you to do this...!

[Eleanor, Maya. The people Shinssin might've cared about here.]

1/3

[shinssin]

[ He's about to slam Setz's head again when he hears him speak. His hand freezes in the boy's grasp, as if their words have seized control over his body. If he killed Setz now, Eleanor would definitely kill him. ]

[shinssin]

[ and Maya would definitely not share her McNuggets with him but anyway ]

[shinssin]

...

[ The anger is there, but it's no longer with Setz. There's no point in taking it out on someone who might have been innocent in this entire affair, so he breathes and lets go.

Like what his partner said: he mustn't give into the Darkness. ]

Dammit...

[subordinacy]

[... He can't believe that actually calmed Shinssin down. Why couldn't have Nil been this (semi)reasonable?

When Shinssin releases him, he reaches up to touch where he slammed his head against the wall, grimacing when he feels something wet. He's going to have to get that looked at—even besides the risk of worse damage, he can't go back to Jacopo like this.

(Clarke is gone, as is Madara. Ichigo and Seizaburo are too open. He doesn't know if he can trust Kaiba with this. Chuuya, though—Chuuya should be discreet, right? Even if it's for a price.)

Amazingly, Setz's next step isn't to get the hell away from someone who just tried to murder him and is potentially still volatile, as he instead stays where he is.]

... They would've wanted you to look after yourself, as well.

[shinssin]

[ He grits his teeth. ]

... I know.

[ But he can't help his instincts. He can't help feeling sad and angry and scared—

All he knows is how to fight.

No, that's not true. Because he's lived so long and come this far and he didn't get his name on record to have it erased from history and the Throne.

All he knows is how to survive. ]

I'll live.

[subordinacy]

Good.

[I'll hold you to that as well—he doesn't say that. He doubts Shinssin would appreciate it from someone he just tried to kill.]

Though try to do more than that, if you can. Don't just "survive".

[shinssin]

[ He has a knack for hitting the nail right on the head, doesn't he? ]

... Hey, Setz. What's your fee?

[subordinacy]

[This is becoming a bit of a surreal conversation. That, or Shinssin slammed his head harder than he thought.

He looks uncomfortable for a moment, but he answers.]

... My feelings towards someone, I suspect. [Then, when he realizes how that might sound—] I mean my friendship with him. Seeing as how he was the only thing I had left to fight for by the end of my life, I suppose it's an appropriate fee for this game.

Why do you ask?

[shinssin]

[He smiles.]

... Nothing. I just wanted to confirm something. Maybe we got more in common than I thought.

[In a flash, he disappears.]

[subordinacy]

[...

He has no idea what that was about, but Shinssin stopped trying to murder him and showed some degree of stability by the end, so... victory, he supposes?

Time to pay a visit to an extortionist and make sure Jacopo never, ever finds out about this.

And hope that, ultimately, Shinssin will make it through.]