diver's arc

"We are not friends."

Akhos says it with such finality, not just matter-of-fact but speaking it into existence in case Mik's head's too hard to take the information in and needs a hammer to help with that.

Well, excuuuse me, princess. At least Patroka says she hates him with her front face on. Right?

Mik can surely understand being cagey and wanting to shut newcomers out. It's just...what, two hundred years? Something like that?

If they're not friends, then what are they? If they don't trust each other, how is it they've managed until now?

Make no mistake, everyone's always railing at Mik about something or other. He makes stupid suggestions to break the tension, because no one else will. God, they're all so super serious. It's not dark humor or a morbid sense. It's nothing.

We're not friends. We are not friends. We are enemies.

No, we're not enemies. Nahhh.

Mik stares at Akhos's perfect pitch-black hair and his petulantly pushed-up red-rimmed glasses. Akhos, who knows everything, says they're not friends. But Akhos hasn't killed him, and Akhos usually wants to try to chop a bit or a bob off of someone he hates.

So Akhos must...love him?

"So you're in love with me, right?" Mik tries, all tomato-burst cheery and feeling quite unlike himself. He's never chased this train of thought with anyone other than Patroka - literally, no one. Arguing with Akhos just...isn't the same.

It isn't the same, Mik realizes as Akhos continues not to answer him, because he's in love with Akhos.

As much as love ever means. Akhos grits his teeth.

What kind of character does this buffoon think he is? Surely not the macho man, leading liaison of the cast. They're all side characters, after all, because this is Jin's show.

They're not friends because it doesn't matter what they are.

(Still, Akhos loves his sister far more than she will ever love him.)

"You are insufferable," says Akhos.

"And you're suffering," replies Mikhail.