BERTOLT

[bloodread]

Comments

[bloodread]

[ Akira opens his mouth then closes it and shakes his head. ]

I'd ask to see, but.

[perspire]

[ gives him a sad smile ]

I would have loved to show you.

[bloodread]

...do you believe in ghosts?

[perspire]

What are ghosts?

[bloodread]

[ He searches bertolt's face, expecting this to be like a trick Seiji would pull on him. ]

...you really don't know?

[perspire]

[ he shakes his head ]

No, I don't.

[bloodread]

Spirits of the dead, basically. I never believed in them until one picked a fight with me and my life turned into dealing with one spirit another another.

[ A beat. ]

Most people pass on, but if you have unfinished business there's a good chance you'll stick around.

[ He just kinda looks at Bertolt, not really wanting to say the obvious. ]

[perspire]

--Oh.

[ he thinks about what that all means. about how he got his titan power in the first place. he lifts a hand and places it against his chest as he thinks about this. ]

I have a lot of unfinished business. If I can... I'll talk to you.

[bloodread]

I'd be a really shit spirit medium if you couldn't. It's kinda in my blood and usually more trouble than it's worth, but not always.

[ Nagako gives Idi a soft snout touch. ]

[perspire]

We'll find a way. Somehow, I know there has to be one.

[ Idi gives a small pleased noise, probably the happiest she's sounded all night. ]

I may not have known what ghosts where, but... I believe in them. [ he believes in akira ]

[bloodread]

[ He is not perceiving what his daemon is doing, or he would expire. ]

Supposedly that asshole, Qi-Rong, was writing letters or something that got back over here. I'll keep an eye out though, I've had spirits show up through my phone and in my bathtub.

[perspire]

[ so would bertolt to be honest ]

--That must have been awkward.

[bloodread]

[ Good. ]

Kinda? It just pissed me off, the one who showed up in my bathtub did so on a night I spent half of the time running from the cops. She made the water all murky and clogged it with her hair, so I wound up having to shower instead.

[ He says this extremely casually for someone who's bathtub was haunted. ]

[perspire]

So not only did she show herself in an awkward space, she came at a bad time.

[ this is fine. honestly. /gestures at aot world ]

[bloodread]

Yeah, spirits have all the time in the world. Another one tried to murder me so I had to wake up the entire damn block to scare her off.

Pretty sure my neighbors are still pissed at me. [ Again as if this was the worst thing about almost dying. ]

[perspire]

[ he can't help the small laugh he lets out at that ]

I'll be more considerate when I message you.

[bloodread]

Good, cause I'll still punch you.

[ The smallest of smiles as Nagako continues to be embarrassing. ]

...do you need me to hold onto anything?

[perspire]

[ laughs again while their daemons still keep doing Things behind him. Nope nope not looking at them ]

I don't have anything for you to hold onto but... [ he pauses as he looks down before looking back up at him. he reaches into his pocket and makes his way to the bars before holding his hand out, reaching through them to akira ]

I... want you to have this, at least. [ he's going to hand over a pocket knife. ] I found it our first day here. It needs to be sharpened, so I haven't used it for... anything really. But it made me feel comfortable about being here.

So... I want you to have it. [ just slightly red, embarrassed by this slightly but also being sure about this ]

[bloodread]

Ah? Sure. [ He blinks more than a little bit confused on surface but something in the mood (or maybe it's him catching just a glimpse of their daemons) makes him a little flustered too. There's no color flush across his face or anything like that, but his expression is open for once, not a scowl or clenched jaw in sight.

He takes the pocket knife and turns it over in his palm. ]

This is way more useful than the last good luck charm someone gave me.

[perspire]

[ he lets out a small breath of relief and smile after akira takes it. ]

I'm sure if you ask around, you can find a way to sharpen it if you want to use it for something.

But what did you get last time?

[bloodread]

Maybe.

[ He might just keep it like this, honestly.

As for the question, he rolls up his right sleeve to reveal a beaded bracelet consisting of seven different colored beads. ]

This girl I knew forced this on me cause she said it helped ward off spirits. I think it did the opposite and just wound up attracting them, but she wouldn't let up about how it just takes time to work.

[perspire]

[ peers down to look a little closer ]

Did it ever work?

[bloodread]

No, and then she wound up in a coma because of a spirit. [ The space here between his words speaks for him in a way "because of me". ]

...I had gotten used to wearing it by that point, so I just kept it. I'll take it off when she's out of the hospital for good.

[perspire]

[ his eyes fill with understanding with that and he nods. akira doesn't need to say it ]

Well, I hope you'll get to take it off soon.

[bloodread]

...she was supposed to be released the day after we got kidnapped, so she's probably gonna give me a mouthful.