🎧 homophonic | pcs | yukichi (fukuzawa)

[silicone]

There's no need to fear the past. The past is just a memory.

(in retrospect i regret my choice of filter name)

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Week 4, Monday

[allmenare]

[Whoo it's a new week! And before he can even say anything to Eiden there will be a weird pig noise and this memnory (3:14-5:24) plays. There is one other thing that isn't mentioned in the anime though: when Fukuzawa talks about how he knows Kunikida is alive, Eiden will be able to feel how Fukuzawa's ability works, how it connects him to the others at the Agency. He'll feel how Fukuzawa could sort out Kunikida's heartbeat from all the others and know for certain that he's alive.

He will also feel every movement Fukuzawa makes before he makes it. He knows this man, he knows how he acts, and he can predict every attack.]

...what was that?

[silicone]

[ a brand new week! now! eiden and fukuzawa are probably about to head off somewhere but then, yeah. we got pig'd. eiden can't even open his mouth as he's assaulted by fukuzawa's memory. at the same time, a memory unearths itself in livid detail in turn for fukuzawa.

meanwhile, he's reacting to this memory of his, the feeling of fukuzawa reaching down with his ability, the way all men are equal gives him the distinct beat of kunikida's heart, that fills him with certainty, even as the wind is knocked out of him from the sudden surprise. ]

Pig?! [ where the fuck did it go? he turns to look at fukuzawa after trying to look for the noise pig briefly—it's completely disappeared, skittered off to give someone else some weird out of body experience probably! ] I... I saw— [ mmgh ]... you were handcuffed to a table... [ he has to like, process this. what the fuck. he's still humming unhappily inside at this. it's jarring, the feelings still thrumming through him. ] I'm guessing... your interrogation.

[allmenare]

[Give him a moment. Much like how Eiden was gasping for air in the memory, Fukuzawa is gasping for air now. He coughs a few times, but his breathing starts to level out.]

That was, but...

[He's more focused on something else. That memory...it knocked the wind right out of him.]

...was that really your brother?

[silicone]

[ eiden is just. thrumming still. from the adrenaline of fukuzawa's movements in his memory, wrenching his arm as the table splits in half, as the sword comes close to hovering just over the chains, so close to freedom -

he freezes at the question and just...

shakes his head, he's still holding onto him. ]

No. [ it's immediately, but sounds uncertain still. ] I mean. I don't know. If he is, I never knew him, and what would he even doing on the Klein Continent anyways? [ like he's trying to rationalize it himself. ] Didn't have a brother at the orphanage. Could have been separated but...

[ he shakes his head ] I would never call him a brother even if we were.

[allmenare]

So he was a crazy man.

[He still had Eiden's face though...but no, if Eiden says he doesn't know who he is, then he doesn't know. ]

[silicone]

Maybe...

[ he really doesn't know and the fact that he's shown up twice is really bothering him. he reaches and gently puts a hand on fukuzawa's chest. ]

Catch your breath, Yukichi.

[ his hand is shaking a little. ]

[allmenare]

...I'm fine.

[He's catching his breath! He's just worried about Eiden!]

I'm the one who should be asking if you're fine.

[silicone]

I'm a little surprised, didn't really expect to get jumpscared into uh. Sharing that?

[ he's still here though, and he's still looking a little worried after the kind of wearily smile. ]

I can't imagine you did either.

[allmenare]

Not really. I don't even talk to people about my past, other than you.

[silicone]

[ my autocorrect on my phone... but eiden just nods at that. there's an unspoken awe, and warmth that he'd share something like this in words. nevermind being forced to by a stupid pig noise. poise? nah. ]

He was hoping you'd cooperate...

[ softer ] I felt your ability. It was... strange. But I think I understand just a little more.

[ the people under fukuzawa's care, all of them, scattered like sees on the wind, but always so close at hand, to hear a heartbeat, to feel their life. ]

It's a heavy responsibility.

[allmenare]

It is. When I discovered my ability a few years ago, it was quite the surprise. But now that it's turned off afters years of having it, the silence is deafening.

[What he wouldn't give to be connected to Amelia, Simon, and Livio. He misses the feeling of everyone's heartbeats, they helped steady him when he felt overwhelmed.]

[silicone]

[ when he says that, it gets him right in the heart actually. he can imagine it sort of. ]

That's a little how I felt when I couldn't feel Yakumo anymore when we first got here. Back in Klein, I can feel my clan members through my essence, it's like our own way of being linked to each other. But here in the UG... nothing.

[ and then he just

moves forward to hug him very carefully. ]

[allmenare]

[OH NO his stoic look absolutely crumples into shock, and then sadness. And when Eiden moves to hug him, he draws his arms around him and hugs him back tightly.

Someone understands.

He expected to go his whole life without finding anyone who could understand.]

[silicone]

When he was trying to get them killed, wearing my fucking body like a skin... I could feel them too. It was terrible.

[ he squeezes a little more tightly. ]

I'm just glad they know me better... I'm glad they didn't believe all those shitty things he said with my mouth.

These people are attached to you, differently... but. You're responsible for them too in your own way... and you hold them together.

[allmenare]

[How awful. Fukuzawa just holds onto Eiden while he explains.]

They didn't believe it because they know you, Eiden. They know someone they care for wouldn't try to hurt them.

But it sounds like you already found that out, didn't you?

[silicone]

[ he nods quietly, and eventually pulls away just a bit, not enough to release him from being touched. he just brings his hands back around to run his thumb along the line of his robes. ]

It took a really long time.

[ he leans his head a bit and just. presses an ear right over fukuzawa's heart, against the fabric. ]

[allmenare]

[Oh. Well his heartbeat will feel like a normal, steady pace at first, but once he realizes what Eiden is doing it picks up slightly.]

Eiden?

[silicone]

{ after a moment, looking upwards. ]

Yukichi?

[allmenare]

..it's nothing.

[He's just.

Going to let Eiden rest his head there. It's fine.]

[silicone]

Tell me.

[ he has his attention now, but he doesn't seem bothered. ]

[allmenare]

[Noooo he's embarrassed now! His heartbeat picks up just a little bit.]

...what do you hear down there?

[silicone]

[ he doesn't hesitate, because wow, that was kind of surreal, to feel the way it picks up. ]

Your heartbeat.

[ closing his eyes. ]

You.

[allmenare]

And what does it tell you?

[He reaches up with a hand to tuck Eiden's hair behind his ear.]

[silicone]

[ the fingertips pushing his hair back earn a small laugh. it tickles just a little. ]

It tells me that you're here. That you're alive.

[ very quietly: ]

That something excited you a second ago.

[allmenare]

I suppose you could say it was that.

[Eiden seems to blur the line between surprise and excitement for him these days.]