[closed] everyone was watching you as everything just slipped away

[condoner]

Who: Akane Tsunemori (condoner), and friends.
When: 17 April (IC)
Where: The Chilling Cave
What: The Psycho-Pass cast (and then some) go ice skating.
Rating/Warning: Warning for Gino's sadness.

---

[ upon kogami's suggestion, akane's taken it upon herself to find a suitable (ha ha) way of celebrating her 23rd birthday! she found the chilling cave by coincidence while patrolling the streets once and decided that she wants to try ice skating.

so after texting the guys (brother, mom, and dad), as well as a couple of friends (really, it's just a couple. she doesn't have much friends) if they're free on the 17th, she waits outside the chilling cave, hoping to meet up with her friends.

it's time… to chill! ]

Comments

[hoasen]

[She'll get it out of him. ONE DAY. ONE DAY. But for now, only happy things because he deserves it.

He's too pro at this, seriously.]

Oh? [He didn't open his eyes, so he's not scolding, if anything.] What would you call someone who teaches you how to ice skate, then? I believe you might be the expert in compliments.

[If he...you know, gave them.]

[zitteraal]

[ Oh my god... he almost breathes a dry laugh at Vietnam's comment, almost. It's like he can only laugh when he's being rude about himself, but this is still an accomplishment. ]

My subordinates wouldn't agree with that comment.

[ He is So Rude to his babies, you have no idea... but then again, all his cute kids see right through him, so this might not actually be a correct assertion to make on his part. ]

[hoasen]

[OH...OH SHE'S GETTING THERE. PSN achievement get. Look, he needs to laugh more often. She really can't talk, but hey, she wants him to be happy. And see, his babies love him?!]

Ah, do they think you too strict? They do say that the strictest leaders are the ones who care the most. Spare the rod, spoil the child, as they once said.

[Not that anyone can really get that rod anymore but details.]

[zitteraal]

You're an optimist. I may have been unnecessarily harsh for no reason.

[ That isn't necessarily a nontruth, so he doesn't feel bad needling himself for it. Vietnam is truly too generous about her judgment of his character. ]

[hoasen]

Hmm...

[In a way all nations are optimists, but she's not entirely sure if that is it.] You are in war, no? Especially when it involves life and death, one cannot be too careful. Even if you think it's too harsh. I know how hard it can be. The one time we worked together to take down our dinner, I was able to experience a little bit of what you're like, so I think my viewpoint here is backed up by evidence.

But then I might still be biased.

[zitteraal]

...You are. You assume the best of people too quickly.

[ That's a dangerous trait, he thinks— too much to give, too much to lose. If only he knew that this is basically the way nations operate.

He shifts on the couch, though, and readjusts the wet cloth Vietnam gave him. ]

But I'm not here to argue. From what you've told me about yourself, you've seen your fair share of troubles.

[hoasen]

Only those who treat me well.

[Adolf has given her no reason to dislike him. His actions speak louder than anything else, in her opinion. If she had judged him by how harsh he is and pushed him away, she's sure she would've lost a lot more.

Seeing how she's readjusting the cloth, she quickly moves in to fix it for him, so that he he doesn't have to move a lot.]

Such troubles only helped me learn and grow. I am who I am now only because of them.

[zitteraal]

[ They're at a juncture where he knows that debating his actions won't change anything, so he lets Vietnam tend to him with slight resignation, brows furrowed but not necessarily because he's troubled. ]

People are glad for that, probably.

[ For her being the way she is, he means. He doesn't elaborate beyond that, though, because he's tsun and also because he feels like he's said too much; maybe he's revealing too much of himself by saying things like that. ]

[hoasen]

[Good, just give in. It will make it easier for the both of them. After she fixes his towel, she tries to check his temperature again. It's cool to touch where the towel is, but she's unsure about the rest of him.]

Really? I guess it could've been worse.

[She could've been bitter and gross. Adolf sure is a man of Few Words right right right.]

[zitteraal]

[ A part of him wants to smile— he knows how the expression feels, but he can't quite bring himself to make it. So, instead, he reaches out with one limp hand and ruffles the top of Vietnam's head, the way he remembers his subordinates responded well to. Eva would always look pleased after he did that, he hopes Vietnam does too.

He's dizzy, and ill— he can't be blamed for a few foibles, he hopes. ]

...You're more capable than you give yourself credit for, probably.

[hoasen]

[Smiling is hard, she can understand that. Vietnam knows that Adolf does show his emotions through gestures since he often conceals half his face, and ruffling her hair is a very warm one. It's not something that happens to her often, so it's rather nice. Her own actions slow down just so she can take it in.]

If you believe so, then I can believe it. Everything I do is because of hard work. I can still do better.

[zitteraal]

[ His eyes close again— he hopes this isn't going to ruin anyone's day, his less-than-optimal condition— and his weight falls back onto the couch, as if he's given up on trying to shove Vietnam away. For now... ]

Take a day off today. It's not the day for hard work.

[ They both need to lighten up... IT'S A BIRTHDAY!! ]

[hoasen]

[Good, good, he's given up now. This means things can only go well for him because he can rest and others will help him?!]

You're right. Today is a birthday. Although, it didn't go quite as planned for you, did it?

[She's teasing only because he's resigned to his fate.]

[zitteraal]

It's fine. I wasn't expecting much.

[ This incredibly rude thing to say?! Except he means that he's not troubled, even if he's currently suffering from his own purity. ]

I'll be fine once I sleep. I'll leave in a few minutes.

[hoasen]

[ADOLF PLEASE...good thing no one else is around to hear that?]

If you sleep for a while, I can take you home after.

[zitteraal]

...That won't be necessary. I'm capable of taking myself home.

[ Does she intend to princess carry him home?! Is she capable of this?! ]

[hoasen]

[Um??? Yes??? Although really she was thinking about helping him with public transport. STILL, IF HE WANTED TO BE CARRIED...]

You were quite dizzy before, it is best to be careful. It is not an inconvenience.

[zitteraal]

[ And, well. For a second, he forgets that he's not back in Germany— things about him and his physical being have been so normalized that in his current state of dizziness, he forgets that Cerealia has different standards. ]

I'm under constant surveillance. The medical staff will find me if they sense an irregularity.

[ 'So don't worry about it', is implied. A nap would be good, though... ]

[hoasen]

["Under constant surveillance." "The medical staff will find me if they sense an irregularity."

Such things are not normal. He even sniffed some strange powder before, and with his body looking the way it does, she wonders exactly what he's been through. She wants to ask him, and now is the best time to do so while he's slipping up information here and there. But he also needs his rest.]

Why do they always watch you? Either way, I am here now.

[zitteraal]

[ His assessment is simple, and without affectation: ] Experiments are meant to be monitored. It shouldn't be surprising.

[ For a precious few years, he'd thought that maybe he'd changed— he's had illusions of humanity, but that ultimately. Uh. Didn't pan out.

So he's cynical, if anything else. Dismissive, even. With his eyes closed and his consciousness fading in and out, he can afford to not have too much tact. ]

[hoasen]

[She falls quiet, because at first, she thought he implied that he was an experiment.

And as she looks over him again, seeing what happened, she knows he meant it. That explains a lot. It explains too much that she was beginning to get very angry. Not at him, but at his fate. What on earth happened?!]

You're an experiment? Why? [Why would they do that? And why did they choose him?]

[zitteraal]

[ He doesn't bother opening his eyes, because while the line of questioning is new— no one's ever asked him why things happened the way they did, because it wasn't worth asking— the answer is routine. ]

That was what they decided.

[ That's not exactly it, because he'd volunteered; saying that seems like something he did out of the goodness of his heart, though, and it wasn't like that, not really. He doesn't see it that way, anyway.

(It occurs to him for a moment that he should stop answering these questions, not only for his own sake, but for Vietnam's.) ]

[hoasen]

[He makes it sounds like that life is just the way it should be. And he's accepted it like that. But why is he the way he is? To be experimented on for some war. Is this why he speaks so sternly, yet his gestures can be so gentle?]

I do not agree with it. [who would? But her voice softens.] Even so, I think you're one of the strongest people I know to be able to go through that, and still be...yourself?

[zitteraal]

Myself.

[ He breathes that word, slightly cynical. He quashes down on it, though, and retains his neutrality again; there's no use in getting offended on his own behalf, because there's nothing there.

Subject change, he tells himself. Shut this down— it's not productive, he reminds himself. ]

That isn't important. At any rate, it's not anything to dwell on.

[hoasen]

[Here she wonders what they have done to him that he doesn't even respect his own self. Is it because he's in such a situation, he's completely selfless? Look she's seen through your shit.

She wants him to accept that he can be selfish for once.]

Hmm, I may not know anything about what you've been through. But you are important. At least to me. Thank you for being my friend, Adolf. [She fixes his towel again.] It is why I work so hard, so much that you have to argue to try to get me to stop.