[ Well, that much comes as no surprise—but the brief meeting of their eyes implies that there's more to be said, so Akira gathers himself and trails behind her towards the front of the infirmary again. ]
No wonder. [ War is... quite a bit outside his scope of experiences. The Phantom Thieves may have been fighting a battle much larger than themselves, but nothing on that scale, nothing that raw. A bit quieter, while he's removing his own gloves: ] That must have been tough.
[ When the question is turned back on him, there's the barest moment of hesitation. Akira's unwillingness to speak about his role as Joker has a lot less to do with worry about running into someone from home and much more about wanting to preserve that secret identity in case he ever needs it here. Besides, having people assume him a completely mundane high school student has never hurt before. ]
I visited the doctor a lot. You have something done to you enough times, it's not that hard to imitate.
[ She doesn't answer him with right away, and as she removes her mask Lux offers him a small, quiet smile. ]
When it's all you know, you get used to it.
[ If anything, existing in a vibrant, relatively peaceful and accepting place like this has been more difficult for her. It's something that Demacia will never have, and there's a certain sadness that lingers at the edges of her mind. This was what she wanted, but it's not hers to have.
He hesitates, and at first she isn't sure why. As he explains, her eyes widen slightly, brows knitted in concern. He... Is he sick? ]
Should you be doing something like this? What if you get sick here as well?
[ Akira isn't totally sure he buys that line. There was a fatigue in Lux's eyes earlier that makes him think that while it may not surprise her anymore, it's still not an easy thing to deal with.
The conclusion she jumps to makes sense, when he thinks about it, but he's momentarily surprised by the concern that meets his answer. Once he's removed his mask, he shakes his head, offering a vaguely amused look. ]
No, I'm healthy. It was more like... clinical trials. [ Does she even have those where she's from? ]
[ He has no reason to lie, just like she has no reason to believe him, but why does it feel like there's more to it than that? But more to the point...
Blinking a few times as she processes what he says, she turns it over in her head before— ]
I'm not sure I follow.
[ Nope. She has no idea what he's talking about. ]
[ This has, admittedly, been one of the most interesting parts of talking to the other new arrivals to the city. The variety in the worlds from which they were pulled is massive. Akira wasn't quite sure how to pin down Lux's when strife is a universal constant, but between her name (it sounds like something right out of a fantasy RPG) and now this, he's guessing it's less modern than his. ]
It's a way to test medicine that's being developed. She would see how my body reacted and if there were any side effects.
[ It probably sounds like a strange thing to willingly subject himself to, and Akira can't really go into the arrangement they worked out, so he continues after another pause. ] She was working on a cure for a former patient.
[ Oh. Lux's concerned frown makes a return, but it isn't as pronounced as earlier. She's worried (who wouldn't be), but there's a hint of understanding there as well. If given the choice herself, she would very likely do the same thing as he did, so she would be a hypocrite if she lectured him about putting his own health in jeopardy.
But he does get a quiet, huffed sigh in her response. All right, maybe she's a little bit of a hypocrite. ]
That's very noble of both of you. [ A beat. ] Did you know them? The patient, I mean.
[ Her sigh elicits a small smile this time. The concern sort of reminds him of home, of being scolded by friendly faces for his recklessness. ]
Not personally. [ Akira doesn't mind this sort of prying, where he can speak more freely without having to twist his words to hide his identity. ] I just know it was a little girl named Miwa.
[ What would the doctor think about the things he saw here today? He wonders, glancing down at the bag of medicine. Magical illness is definitely outside of her area of expertise, but Akira imagines that wouldn't stop her from trying to work on a cure. ]
[ Miwa. Almost sounds Ionian, which gives his words a subtle, bittersweet turn. Lux knows that she isn't, but it endears her to the doctor's cause, even if it is literal worlds away in a place she'll never know. A child should never have to deal with something like that. The only thing they should have to worry about is enjoying their youth—not coming to grips with their own mortality.
Rolling her shoulders, stiff from the constant up-and-down of making the rounds all day, she quirks her head to one side, a hint of a smile beginning to resurface. ]
Then I suppose we should try to learn as much as we can while we're here. That way, you'll have plenty to report back to the doctor when you see her next. [ She pauses, before her smile grows. ] But no trying anything out on yourself, all right? You need to make it back there in one piece.
[ That mirthful glint in her eye? Just his imagination, surely. ]
[ When he looks up again, she's smiling, and the subtle playfulness behind her words has Akira huffing out an amused breath. ]
No experimenting on myself? [ There's a moment of pause, like he's considering it, although it's really not something he thinks he would do in this case. ] I can promise that much. [ A little cheeky, as if implying there are other things he can't.
The uplifted mood lingers as he picks up the bag. ] I should report back. [ They might want to assign him another task or two before releasing him for the day. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2019-05-13 04:56 am (UTC)No wonder. [ War is... quite a bit outside his scope of experiences. The Phantom Thieves may have been fighting a battle much larger than themselves, but nothing on that scale, nothing that raw. A bit quieter, while he's removing his own gloves: ] That must have been tough.
[ When the question is turned back on him, there's the barest moment of hesitation. Akira's unwillingness to speak about his role as Joker has a lot less to do with worry about running into someone from home and much more about wanting to preserve that secret identity in case he ever needs it here. Besides, having people assume him a completely mundane high school student has never hurt before. ]
I visited the doctor a lot. You have something done to you enough times, it's not that hard to imitate.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-13 05:08 pm (UTC)When it's all you know, you get used to it.
[ If anything, existing in a vibrant, relatively peaceful and accepting place like this has been more difficult for her. It's something that Demacia will never have, and there's a certain sadness that lingers at the edges of her mind. This was what she wanted, but it's not hers to have.
He hesitates, and at first she isn't sure why. As he explains, her eyes widen slightly, brows knitted in concern. He... Is he sick? ]
Should you be doing something like this? What if you get sick here as well?
[ Akira, please think about your own health!! ]
no subject
Date: 2019-05-13 05:51 pm (UTC)The conclusion she jumps to makes sense, when he thinks about it, but he's momentarily surprised by the concern that meets his answer. Once he's removed his mask, he shakes his head, offering a vaguely amused look. ]
No, I'm healthy. It was more like... clinical trials. [ Does she even have those where she's from? ]
no subject
Date: 2019-05-13 09:52 pm (UTC)Blinking a few times as she processes what he says, she turns it over in her head before— ]
I'm not sure I follow.
[ Nope. She has no idea what he's talking about. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-05-14 01:26 am (UTC)It's a way to test medicine that's being developed. She would see how my body reacted and if there were any side effects.
[ It probably sounds like a strange thing to willingly subject himself to, and Akira can't really go into the arrangement they worked out, so he continues after another pause. ] She was working on a cure for a former patient.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-15 08:12 am (UTC)But he does get a quiet, huffed sigh in her response. All right, maybe she's a little bit of a hypocrite. ]
That's very noble of both of you. [ A beat. ] Did you know them? The patient, I mean.
[ She shouldn't pry, but she's curious. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-05-15 01:28 pm (UTC)Not personally. [ Akira doesn't mind this sort of prying, where he can speak more freely without having to twist his words to hide his identity. ] I just know it was a little girl named Miwa.
[ What would the doctor think about the things he saw here today? He wonders, glancing down at the bag of medicine. Magical illness is definitely outside of her area of expertise, but Akira imagines that wouldn't stop her from trying to work on a cure. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-05-16 04:56 am (UTC)Rolling her shoulders, stiff from the constant up-and-down of making the rounds all day, she quirks her head to one side, a hint of a smile beginning to resurface. ]
Then I suppose we should try to learn as much as we can while we're here. That way, you'll have plenty to report back to the doctor when you see her next. [ She pauses, before her smile grows. ] But no trying anything out on yourself, all right? You need to make it back there in one piece.
[ That mirthful glint in her eye? Just his imagination, surely. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-05-16 05:49 pm (UTC)No experimenting on myself? [ There's a moment of pause, like he's considering it, although it's really not something he thinks he would do in this case. ] I can promise that much. [ A little cheeky, as if implying there are other things he can't.
The uplifted mood lingers as he picks up the bag. ] I should report back. [ They might want to assign him another task or two before releasing him for the day. ]