prismatica | video; un: runner

Entry tags:

video; un: runner_boy

[The feed starts with an extreme close-up of a brown eye squinting at the camera, which quickly pulls back to show Akira checking the thing is on, a frown on his face. Once he's satisfied it is, he starts to speak.]

This is Akira. If anyone saw a message from a guy this month with the same username... That was me. I know I looked different, but trust me.

[He's referring to this video post, which he hasn't bothered to delete, for anyone who bothers to look it up.]

Sorry if I confused or worried anyone. I'm back to normal now.

That's all.

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Sorry I confused you, Titus. That was me when I was younger.

Just... younger? [ are deadlifts more powerful than he could possibly have imagined... ]

Yeah. My body is different, but I'm still me.

[ time to slide into the DMs... and select his words very carefully.

he doesn't want to get ahead of himself and jump right in with "it's honestly super cool with me if you aren't human, because actually, I'm not, either"... after all, maybe akira is completely human, or maybe he's not but he doesn't want to talk about it at all, and either way maybe bringing it up will just make things awkward. (besides, just because they maybe both aren't exactly fully normal human beings doesn't necessarily mean they'd really share anything in common. there are infinite things a person might be that aren't human.) (what's more, he could be misreading all of this! it's not like he's ever grown up alongside anyone, so maybe it's 100% normal for a person to change as much as akira did over the course of a couple years!!) ]

So... um.

[ nailed it ]

I suppose that... there are a lot of things we don't know about each other.
And it's not as though I need to know anything!... That is, if it were something you didn't want me to know, then I really wouldn't want to know about it in the first place. —Though that's certainly not to say I would prefer not knowing more. ...Well, I am sure you understand what I mean!

But.
The way you've changed... from how you were when you were younger. And now that I think about it, the way you were changing in the amphitheater, too... At the time I assumed it was all because of whatever spell Majestas cast on everyone, but maybe... it wasn't?

Well, anyway.
All I really want to say is that, however you might have changed, or... whatever might have happened, for whatever reason...
It doesn't matter, you know?
Or rather... it wouldn't change anything. About how I see you.

Thanks, Titus.

[There's a long pause as he decides what to say. He could drop the subject and he's sure Titus would easily leave it at that, and with such kind, accepting words, it shouldn't be a problem.

Even so... Most others have been nothing but kind about it, too. Perhaps there's no risk in telling him.]

Would you really still trust me, no matter what I told you?

I... I think so.
At least, I can't think of anything you might tell me that would make me stop.

...I'm a Devilman.

My body is a demon's, but I'm still me. I used the light-year drink because I wanted to remember what being human was like.

Oh.

[ oh. ]

...Ha.
That's really unfair, isn't it?
Since you lost the memories of your future, you didn't even get to enjoy it...

It's okay... Now I have the reminder of what it's like to be human. That's enough, I think.

Enough for what?

[ but it's not a serious question. ]

...I'm sorry. That such a thing was done to you, and that your life was changed because of it. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be.
But... well, I suppose it goes without saying, but I am really glad that whatever demon tried to replace you didn't succeed, and that you're still you.

...
And I'm also really sorry if the way I kept talking to your younger self about how buff and masculine you are made you feel awkward after you turned back.

Heh, I'm used to it. You should have seen how people were the first day I showed up at school looking like this.

And I can use this body to protect people, so it's not all bad.

They must have been surprised! Your personal charm completely switched polarities.

...If I may ask.
You mentioned remembering what it's like to be human.
Is it... really different? When it comes to how it feels...

Yeah. Demons are more driven by violence and sex. I felt the same way when I turned into a Devilman, but because I'm still human, I can keep it under control.

Caring about people, loving others, putting their needs before yours... Most demons aren't like that. The strong survive and the weak die. Maybe I would think like that too, if I didn't have the things that remind me I'm still human.

Ehh... so you really wouldn't have cared about the apricots. [ he says that mostly to himself. ]

Things that remind you...
Like Taco, and your family photo?

Apricots? [Oh, right, that was a thing, wasn't it. He'd almost forgotten, it happened so many months ago now.]

Yeah. Remembering the people I care about and want to protect... I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to them.

I hope you'll get to see them again very soon!
Except for Taco, whom you can already see.
...Though I suppose that's no reason not to hope you won't get to see him soon.

Heh, thanks. I can see him right now.

[Akira pans the camera across his apartment to where Tako is curled up and napping on an armchair.]

It's definitely a lot less lonely with him around.

[ bwah... seeing a cute cat makes titus think of marga, and seeing a cute cat making an apartment less lonely makes him think of his own lonely apartment... which again makes him think of marga. he's grateful that, thanks to the lost orrery, he can at least see her face now, but of course it's no substitute for actually being together.

but!! this isn't about him, and anyway, akira probably misses the makimuras just as terribly. titus can be cheerful long enough to finish this conversation on a positive note!

(speaking of things that aren't about him...
well, there just wasn't a good time to bring up his own complicated relationship to humanity. and their situations have nothing in common after all, so bringing it up would be self-indulgent at best. probably.) ]

Well... please give him an extra scratch from me! And maybe a treat.

I will, don't worry.

[Tako is already spoiled enough as is with people like Minato giving him treats and pets, but more spoiling never hurt.]

Thanks for worrying about me, though. How are things with you?

Oh!
Um... fine!
Good, actually. I purchased a "Lost Orrery" from that traveling merchant, so now I can revisit one of my favorite memories from Magnostadt whenever I like. If you ever have time, you should come see it.

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