4 || [audio] backdated to August 1st

[incriminating]

[Adachi's communicator clicks on for the first time in a few days. Hey brats, did you miss him? There's the sound of languid footfalls for a few minutes as he makes his way through the village and then silence. His even breathing is all the audio feed picks up, until -- ]

Knock, knock.

[His voice curls around that one word, his tone feather-light

Comments

[voice // private]

[toplay_thefool]

[Missed you a whole bunch, man.]

What happened to you?

[voice // private]

[incriminating]

Oh, it's you!

[And my, but doesn't Adachi sound so delightfully pleased about this, like it proves some point, and a chesire grin splits his face before creeping into his voice.]

Heya, Seta.

Me? Let's just say I...loosened up a bit. Aha, ha, haha! I feel so...goddamn great. No more headaches!

[Excuse him as he chokes on his own laughter.]

[voice // private]

[toplay_thefool]

[There's one resounding word to be used here:

shit.

He's not forgotten their last conversation. But when last they spoke, Adachi was calm, too calm, mirror smooth - no, not like a mirror - rather than this.

Something's happened in the meantime, but what? Magatsu Izanagi, again?]

And what do you have to thank for that?

[voice // private]

[incriminating]

Sorry, kid. I'd like to tell you, but I can't.

[He makes a ziplock noise and snickers.]

Then again, what did you say before? About watching out for each other?

What do you say? You tell me your secrets, I'll tell you all of mine. Same theory, right?

C'mon, Seta. Souji.

[voice // private]

[toplay_thefool]

[There's a lilt of concern in his voice. The more he hears, the more he thinks he should act, act now, find him and -

no. Stop. He has to take it in his stride, has to keep his face on.]

What is it you want to know, Adachi-san?

[voice // private] 1/idefk

[incriminating]

[That throws Adachi off his game. He hadn't actually expected Seta to play along. With an almost panicked titter, he sharply replies.]

I was lying, you know. I'm not telling you anything.

[voice // private] 2/3

[incriminating]

[And then, abruptly -- ]

God, you're so fucking annoying. I see right through you, brat. You think I don't notice all the insecurities you try to hide behind that mask?

Kid. Kid. Guess what?

[voice // private]

[incriminating]

[His voice takes on an edge of hysteria, deeper and lower than it normally is. Magatsu Izanagi's root in him is too deep, too obvious.]

I know, because I am --

[thou, thou art I.

Adachi isn't laughing anymore.]

[voice // private]

[toplay_thefool]

[He's seen Adachi go from gormless, lousy detective to sharp eyed, spasm smiled killer. He's seen that transform into a pain wracked lunatic. He's seen Magatsu Izanagi, and this, this is somehow worse, because in spits and tears he can see bits of every single one of those faces, shining through each other like the dying streetlights of Magatsu Inaba

- Danger! Shadows crossing! -

and it feels like every single one of them can see far, far too much.

But what does he do? He keeps his cool. It's more difficult than it should be - he doesn't have all of his persona, doesn't have all of his parts in place, but his voice is remarkably even when he speaks.]

-- Magatsu Izanagi.

[voice // private] 1/2

[incriminating]

[Adachi sighs softly. It's too breathy of a noise coming from him.]

No, no. See, you don't get it.

I'm me. This is [there's a rustle of cloth, as if he was gesturing widely] all me. I just stopped...resisting it.

[video // private]

[incriminating]

[Suddenly, the audio clicks off, instead replaced with a video feed. Adachi's face is too close to the screen, his gaze too glazed over. He's not smiling.]

Look at me, Seta. Look at me! Christ, you think this is that thing? This is the same man who has sat across from you countless nights and had dinner with your family. This is the same man who killed two stupid, worthless bitches.

[Despite his words, it's Magatsu Izanagi staring out from behind those eyes. When Adachi continues, his voice has dropped to a frantic, low hiss.]

For fuck's sake, Seta. Acknowledge me. Me.

[voice - video // private]

[toplay_thefool]

[Unseen, his eyes widen, his jaw clenching, almost painful. And then they narrow, and that's when he switches the video on. It's a little impulsive, sure, but he's a teenager when it comes down to it.

So he meets that gaze through the camera, his own expression hard and flat as the steel of his sword. He speaks composed, but sharp - this is the leader's tone, this is the leader's mask, and he finds strength in the conviction of it, Izanagi bolstering every resolve.]

I am acknowledging both of you. If you think I'm going to turn a blind eye to either of you, you're mistaken.

[video // private]

[incriminating]

[And now Adachi begins to laugh. It's not a pleasant sound, saturated as it is in his despondency, in his petulant rage and his gnawing loneliness and his sickening cowardice. Like the frantic barking of some mutt, determined to be heard in the night, it carries through the village, noisy and chilling.]

Seta, ohh, Seta. You have no idea how happy I am to hear it.

[He spreads one arm out to the side, cranes his neck to expose his throat.]

C'mon then! I'm a bad, bad man! I've done such terrible things. Come, make me pay. Make me suffer. Come find me, Seta! We can finish this game!

[His eyes are hooded, sleepy-looking. His voice has dropped to a whisper -- like this is a secret between old friends.]

Come and I can show you just how alike we really are.

[video // private]

[toplay_thefool]

[He'd be lying if he said he wasn't tempted.

But that is crushed down. His demeanour is unyielding, unchanging, even if the sight, the sound, all of it is making him sick to the stomach.]

I'm not interested in playing games. And I am not about to break our deal.

[video // private]

[incriminating]

[Fury flickers over Adachi's features, his entire disposition shifting gears with that one refusal -- oh, but like so many other refusals in Adachi's life. How embittered is he to become?

But then he shudders, expression smoothing out once more. Well, if Seta won't play with him, Adachi can surely find someone else to amuse himself with.]

Neither am I.

Guess I'll see you around then, Seta-kun.

[The cocksure smirk has returned. Before the video feed clicks off on his end, Adachi glances over his shoulder at the hut he and Valeria share. The smirk widens.]