He waits a spell after the execution is over. He doesn't want to bombard Eichi, doesn't want to crowd him, and - struggles between treating gently or refraining from treating him like a child. It's around lunch time that Jae-ha actually goes to cook up something small from the kitchen, but something warm.
Then he'll go to find Eichi, whether that's in his room or otherwise.
He knocks against the nearest doorframe to get his attention.]
[Eichi is in his room, in fact. He's sitting on the bed with a broken pair of silver glasses in his hands, the rest still shoved away in a drawer. He's holding a piece in each hand, uselessly pressing them together and pulling them apart again.
But Jae-Ha entering makes him glance up, and his hands still when he does. He is hungry, honestly, but he's not sure he has the appetite. Still, he doesn't want to cause worry or waste Jae-Ha's attempt, so he doesn't say that.]
...Did you make that for me? I can't refuse something like that. Thank you.
[Jae-ha wouldn't have blamed him if he said no - it's hard to imagine that a young boy would be hungry after the first time that he's taken someone's life, of his own volition or otherwise. There's a horror in it that lingers, that taints everything else.
... but eating is important, and so Jae-ha doesn't take rescind his offer. He comes in and brings a meal - a simple stew, but with flavor, as he's been watching Sanji cook and quietly taking notes - and sets the tray by Eichi on the bed.
He helps himself to a seat.]
Even if you just said yes out of politeness, don't force yourself to do much you're not up to either.
[Grief is an interesting emotion to wrestle - Jae-ha felt the same last week.]
[It smells delicious, and Eichi can't deny that his stomach growls a little at it, but Ann's face won't leave his mind. Her struggling, the way her life dissolved beneath his hand. He could feel her trying to breathe.]
...
[It's a quiet breath, and he sets the glasses aside, as well, near the stew.]
It feels strange. I can't say that my hands are clean, but this is the first time I've actually killed someone, and all I can feel is a sort of emptiness. My thoughts are selfish.
[He curls his hands into loose fists in his lap.] Death is... nothing, after all. It's nothing to me. I'm surrounded by it, and so it's never mattered. I could laugh at murder mysteries and enjoy them, but this is... different.
It almost felt like a relief, to feel her life disappear, when I thought that it wasn't Akechi-kun who was forced into this. I don't want to be drawn into this way of thinking.
a flower crown neatly deposited on eichi's head as he's wandering around the tournament. it's a sweet shade of blue to go with his eyes and jae-ha hums happily as he surveys his work]
[It's surprising, since Eichi is just walking around, taking a look at things and seeing what attractive people he can cheer on in fighting— but now there's something so gentle and innocent around his head, and as he blinks and reaches up to touch it and investigate, the compliment makes him giggle.]
A flower crown? I do enjoy wearing crowns, and flowers are my favorite. ♪ Thank you. [As the warm weather continues, it seems that Eichi is looking healthier every day. Of course, he's still the skinny, obviously sickly boy that he is, but he's less pale like a ghost, and certainly feeling better. It's in his eyes.]
[He loves the compliment, and it shows. Feed him more, thanks.]
If anyone here is beautiful, it must be you, Jae-Ha-san. [But he's polite (and honest!) too, so it's positivity all around.]
Have you been having a good time? With weather like this, it seems as if everyone's spirits are lifted. [Right...now... at least] Did you give one to Sousei-kun?
[You know, he loves compliments, but that is the most suspicious greeting he's been met with in this castle?? Yesterday was an adventure for various reasons, and Akechi acting like he did was certainly the biggest one.]
Hmm, there are plenty of things, I suppose, though asking it like that makes me think you may be aiming at something in particular...
[Eichi, who had a really fun time with Akechi on the piano, hand touching and all, not realizing that it was influenced in any way or different rather than natural progression.]
[ . . . what a long trial that was. Jae-ha still looks exhausted by the end of it, expression soured as he walks down the hallways. It's some time after trial, after he's attended to the needs of the people that he could, that he probably catches sight of Eichi on the way back to the dorms.
His expression softens marginally, even if the tiredness is still clear to see.]
... well, that was an adventure, wasn't it? How are you feeling?
[Eichi looks pretty tired himself, even if he'd been quiet the whole time. Nodding off in a chair, half listening to things, perking up any time his name was mentioned but never having the energy to argue.
Well, he's only coughing sometimes, though, so it could be worse.]
I suppose that's one word for it, isn't it? I'm... a bit disappointed that we weren't able to find even one of the killers, but I'm relieved that Goro wasn't targeted simply for being guilty weeks ago.
I am glad - that you've seemed to convince more people to give him a chance. He has been helpful, after all. I think I'm starting to see what you find so admirable about him.
[In. Some ways.
But regardless, Jae-ha shakes his head.]
This isn't anywhere near the worst wound I've had - it'll fade in a few days, probably.
[sunburn??? whatever. he has grabbed another cloak to put around his shoulders at least]
week 1, sunday
He waits a spell after the execution is over. He doesn't want to bombard Eichi, doesn't want to crowd him, and - struggles between treating gently or refraining from treating him like a child. It's around lunch time that Jae-ha actually goes to cook up something small from the kitchen, but something warm.
Then he'll go to find Eichi, whether that's in his room or otherwise.
He knocks against the nearest doorframe to get his attention.]
... hungry?
no subject
But Jae-Ha entering makes him glance up, and his hands still when he does. He is hungry, honestly, but he's not sure he has the appetite. Still, he doesn't want to cause worry or waste Jae-Ha's attempt, so he doesn't say that.]
...Did you make that for me? I can't refuse something like that. Thank you.
no subject
... but eating is important, and so Jae-ha doesn't take rescind his offer. He comes in and brings a meal - a simple stew, but with flavor, as he's been watching Sanji cook and quietly taking notes - and sets the tray by Eichi on the bed.
He helps himself to a seat.]
Even if you just said yes out of politeness, don't force yourself to do much you're not up to either.
[Grief is an interesting emotion to wrestle - Jae-ha felt the same last week.]
no subject
...
[It's a quiet breath, and he sets the glasses aside, as well, near the stew.]
It feels strange. I can't say that my hands are clean, but this is the first time I've actually killed someone, and all I can feel is a sort of emptiness. My thoughts are selfish.
no subject
His gaze flicks back to Eichi.]
... and do you think it's such a terrible thing to be selfish at the moment?
no subject
[He curls his hands into loose fists in his lap.] Death is... nothing, after all. It's nothing to me. I'm surrounded by it, and so it's never mattered. I could laugh at murder mysteries and enjoy them, but this is... different.
It almost felt like a relief, to feel her life disappear, when I thought that it wasn't Akechi-kun who was forced into this. I don't want to be drawn into this way of thinking.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
[1/2]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
week 2, wednesday
a flower crown neatly deposited on eichi's head as he's wandering around the tournament. it's a sweet shade of blue to go with his eyes and jae-ha hums happily as he surveys his work]
It suits you.
no subject
[It's surprising, since Eichi is just walking around, taking a look at things and seeing what attractive people he can cheer on in fighting— but now there's something so gentle and innocent around his head, and as he blinks and reaches up to touch it and investigate, the compliment makes him giggle.]
A flower crown? I do enjoy wearing crowns, and flowers are my favorite. ♪ Thank you. [As the warm weather continues, it seems that Eichi is looking healthier every day. Of course, he's still the skinny, obviously sickly boy that he is, but he's less pale like a ghost, and certainly feeling better. It's in his eyes.]
This was just for me? [He thought of him...??]
no subject
[he says it so confidently....]
I think it looks good on you. A touch of beauty to add to the tournament certainly couldn't hurt anyone.
no subject
If anyone here is beautiful, it must be you, Jae-Ha-san. [But he's polite (and honest!) too, so it's positivity all around.]
Have you been having a good time? With weather like this, it seems as if everyone's spirits are lifted. [Right...now... at least] Did you give one to Sousei-kun?
[1/2]
You have a good eye.
[for fuck's sake]
no subject
[SOUSEI!!!]
Everyone else has been much more appreciative. It's quite cute.
no subject
Except, no, there's something more important here.]
Hmm, is that what you think? You know, with how Sousei-kun is, though, I wonder if he secretly did like it.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
week 3, tuesday
Some mistakes might have been made.
Akeichi was not one of them.
Hence why Jae-ha is going to hum as he sliiiiides into the seat next to Eichi in the dining hall the next day.]
Hello. ♥ And how are you today, dear charming Eichi? Anything new?
no subject
Hmm, there are plenty of things, I suppose, though asking it like that makes me think you may be aiming at something in particular...
no subject
[sure
that's it]
no subject
[Eichi, who had a really fun time with Akechi on the piano, hand touching and all, not realizing that it was influenced in any way or different rather than natural progression.]
no subject
[akechi did say this
just not
recently]
no subject
He was perplexed...? I thought everything had become quite clear. Am I doing something wrong?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
week 3, saturday
His expression softens marginally, even if the tiredness is still clear to see.]
... well, that was an adventure, wasn't it? How are you feeling?
no subject
Well, he's only coughing sometimes, though, so it could be worse.]
I suppose that's one word for it, isn't it? I'm... a bit disappointed that we weren't able to find even one of the killers, but I'm relieved that Goro wasn't targeted simply for being guilty weeks ago.
What about you? Aren't you the one who's injured?
no subject
I am glad - that you've seemed to convince more people to give him a chance. He has been helpful, after all. I think I'm starting to see what you find so admirable about him.
[In. Some ways.
But regardless, Jae-ha shakes his head.]
This isn't anywhere near the worst wound I've had - it'll fade in a few days, probably.
[sunburn??? whatever. he has grabbed another cloak to put around his shoulders at least]
no subject
[Eichi slides his gaze off to the side as he thinks about that. That, and Akechi being given a chance, really. Good. It's good.]
no subject
[ . . . ]
It's - something to keep in mind. Hopefully no one gets too eager about it.
no subject
[Eichi jotting down mental notes about how to weaken his opponents—]
I wonder if they can be removed from there, for safe keeping, but the last time I entered, I got stuck and it was quite terrifying.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)