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Zac and Aki returned to Waltonville after ‘getting‘ Jackson of the streets and checking the perimeters. Everything was secure and they could finally have some time to have a decent talk. Zac unlocked the door of his house. “Join me for a drink will ya.” Zac spoke looking at Aki.
He knew Aki would, so he went inside and walk in his living room, tossing his keys on the table. After that he took of his jacket and threw it over a chair. “whiskey alright for you?” he asked looking if aki already made it inside.
(sorry for the short intro, but wasn’t much more I could do, cause I didn’t want to move Aki inside yet )
Post by Akihiro Yamada on Feb 13, 2016 14:49:30 GMT -5
What a shit show. Aki could use a drink.
"Whiskey's just fine," he called from the foyer of the home. He shut the door behind him and crossed into the living room, taking his jacket off and folding it neatly on the back of a chair. The black leather rested lightly against the cushion, and Aki's exposed wrists sported the ends of elaborate tattoos, the beginnings of ones on his hands and fingers. He pulled the ends of the long sleeves down out of habit and stretched, letting out a low sigh as he leaned backwards and heard the pops.
As he returned to his normal stature, he let his eyes scan the walls, the ceiling. He spotted a window against the opposing wall and nodded towards it as he took a seat. "You smoke? I found a pack on our last run." Nothing fancy, but Aki didn't have it in him to take something from Zac without giving something back in return. In the case that he didn't smoke, Aki was sure that he could make it up to him in some way or another.
(It's all good ^_^ Ditto for me, I'm about to get ready for work, but I wanted to get something down for you~)
Zac poured in the drinks, when Aki agreed on the whiskey. He took some ice cubes out of the freezer and did one in each glass. He then grabbed both the glasses and walked over to Aki. He took a seat on the other sofa facing Aki and placed the glasses on the table. “There yah go.” Zac spoke with a smile.
He nodded at the question about the smoke. “Euhm, no not really, I used to back in the days, but I stopped way before the world went to shit.” Zac replied. “But thanks for offering.” He added. “So what a day huh.” Zac spoke as he grabbed his glass and took a sip. “Those crazy girls, dead of Jackson, I hate days like that.” He spoke as he placed his glass back on the table.
Post by Akihiro Yamada on Feb 22, 2016 19:11:27 GMT -5
"Thanks." Aki took the glass out of Zac's outstretched hand and rattled it gently to get the alcohol stirring. It whirled around the hunk of ice and made it clatter lightly against the sides, and when Aki took a sip, he let out a low sigh at the familiar burn, warm and soft, at the back of his throat. As he leaned forward, listening to Zac speak, he searched for a coaster out of instinct. When he didn't find anything, he set it atop the table and watched it as he dug around for a cigarette within the pack, as if willing it not to leave a ring.
When Zac rejected his offer, he made a mental note to pay him back some other way, and tucked a cigarette behind his ear for later. He thought about the day that had unfolded and tucked the pack of cigarettes back into his pocket. He let out a low sigh as his eyes traced the ceiling, and he nodded along in agreement to everything that Zac had to say.
"It certainly strikes the fear of God into the people, that's for damn sure." He smirked ever so slightly as he looked back to his friend, abandoning the ceiling for the moment. "Not that they need it. It's almost a bit troublesome, how helpless they are. Like little lambs." The truth of his words stung, but it reminded him of why he liked Zac so much in the first place. In this new world, streaked with blood and violence, he felt oddly at ease. It was comfortable, familiar, and he was glad to find someone who could hold their own beside him.
"But those girls who popped up, they need some fear struck into them. Otherwise they're going to end up like Jackson." Aki had met the man a few times, spoken to him only a handful, but he didn't have enough of an opinion of him formed to determine whether or not he deserved to be shot dead in the street. On the one hand, he had made a mistake, but on the other, it was a mistake that could have cost them all dearly. Had this been his old stronghold, with Haruka the protected gem at the center of it all, he probably would have killed the man with his own hands too.
Haruka.
His fingers twitched, impulsively looking for release in the form of nicotine, but he staved it off for the moment.
"Days like this are what make me want to smoke." It wasn't a total lie. "I smoked for the bulk of my life, but I stopped for a few years once Haruka was born. It didn't last long, though."
Last Edit: Feb 22, 2016 19:13:38 GMT -5 by Akihiro Yamada
Zac noticed how Aki looked at the celing and nodded in agreement. “I always knew you liked the color of my ceiling.” Zac joked. He nodded as Aki finally looked at him and spoke about driving fear into people. “That it does my friend.” He replied also smirking.
“I completely agree.” Zac replied as Aki spoke about it was actually troublesome. “I’m glad we always see eye to eye.” He said looking at Aki. Zac meant every word, couldn’t express how happy he was with someone he trusted, it was very rare in this fucked up world. "It's hard to find someone you trust with your life in this fucked up world, but i'm glad i found at least one person." he added.
Once more he nodded as Aki spoke about the girls. “True, it’s exactly what they needed.” He replied. He noticed Aki disliked this day as much as he did, it was confirmed when he told Zac days like this made him smoke. Zac also learned he stopped smoking when Haruka was born, but only for a little while. “Well at least you tried.” Zac said with a wink. “But I know what you mean, you need a cigarette, I need a drink.” Zac said before taking another sip.
Then he looked in Aki his eyes. “By the way, care to tell me about the note, did you read it already?” Zac asked. “I know you knew I noticed it and I also know you are always honest with me, cause that’s what makes our friendship so strong, we don’t keep secrets.” Zac said. “So before we talk about it, let’s raise our glass on our friendship.” Zac said offering his glass to Aki, so they could toast.
Post by Akihiro Yamada on Mar 6, 2016 18:06:08 GMT -5
Aki hadn't forgotten about the note, and he wasn't surprised that Zac noticed it, too. He was alert, perceptive, just as Aki always was. It was half the reason he felt safe under his guard in the first place. Rarely did he even run with the other members of his crew, unless it was something basic. And even then, it was Aki and Zac who did most of the work. The others were bodies to help them carry the haul. So when Zac proposed a toast to friendship, Aki smirked ever so slightly in approval and raised his glass. "To friendship."
The two clinked glasses in the light of the setting sun, and he took a swig of his drink. "I didn't look at it yet. Everything happened so fast, I didn't have the time." He set the drink down on the table and moved to grab his coat from the back of a nearby chair. He fished the note out and then sat back down on the couch. As he unfolded it, he held it so that Zac could read along if he wanted. The message genuinely perplexed him, and he frowned and furrowed his brow.
"It says she wants me to meet her in her room tonight, and that we're escaping to find our families." He held the note out to Zac so he could get his input on it, and bit the inside of his cheek in confusion. He had never met the girl in his life, that much he knew. Aki never forgot a face. So for her make a claim about his family baffled him.
Unless she had run into Haruka on her journey here. He felt a tinge of curiosity well up within him, but he tried to be rational and pushed it down. She had had no intention of coming to Waltonville, and if Haruka had told her about him, she would have said something when she got into hot water. He was pretty unmistakable.
"I need a smoke." He shook his head and finished his drink as he stood. He crossed over to the window and cracked it so he could let the smoke out. He lit his cigarette and as he took a drag, the cherry at the end lit up in the slowly dying light. He exhaled a stream of smoke and looked back to Zac once more. "What is she trying to get at? It seems like empty words."
Zac smiled as Aki agreed to the toast. He could have never guessed, he would trust anyone so close in the apocalypse. Seeing how Aki wasn’t shocked Zac noticed the note and seemed open about it, was once more prove they told each other everything, no secrets, always there to support each other, which was great and rare in the apocalypse.
Zac watched him grab the note from his pocket as he sipped from his drink again. Zac got a little closer and read the note with him. When Aki was done he showed it once more so Zac could reread. He rolled his eyes “Escaping, that’s a good one, she should have her own stand-up comedy show, here in Waltonville, would be nice to have some entertainment.” He spoke with a chuckle.
But then he thought about it and raised a eyebrow. “But she wrote, to find OUR families?” Zac asked. “How would she know, you are looking?” he added a bit startled. He then heard Aki said he needed a smoke and that he didn’t know what the girl from then ote wanted. Zac walked closer and placed his hand on Aki his shoulder. “If you think she knows anything about your girl, we’ll drag it out of her, but don’t let it get to you, I think she’s probably playing mind tricks.” He said stern and slowly let go of Aki.
He hated if someone did that to Aki, he was a good guy and didn’t deserve this shit. “So what shall we do, pay her a visit, let her meet lefty and righty?” Zac asked with a chuckle referring to his fists. “Or focus on our trip tomorrow.” He added. Zac wasn’t the guy to hit a girl, but messing with Aki his head, made his pissed enough.
Last Edit: Mar 8, 2016 0:33:33 GMT -5 by Zac Scavo
Post by Akihiro Yamada on Mar 8, 2016 14:42:35 GMT -5
Aki smirked as they joked around, already feeling a little bit better thanks to Zac. The man always had a way of putting him at ease. Maybe it was because Aki knew he didn't have to babysit him like the others in his squad, or because he felt a genuine brotherhood with the man. Whatever it was, he relaxed slightly as he blew another stream of smoke out the window and flicked his ashes against the sill. As he thought on Zac's words, he decided that he was probably right about the girl trying to catfish him with the note. After all, she had spoken so passionately about family and community in her plea to find the Star Chasers, so he assumed that she would have been upfront with him if she did know something about his daughter.
"She's probably just talking shit," he decided aloud. "Though, I'm sure that Walton has her on lock down, and I doubt that he'd let us in to her quarters to talk about mutiny."
The trip tomorrow was going to be their best bet at finding his daughter. Over the past year, he had searched far and wide over the eastern states, and had come up short. But with a vehicle, he would be able to travel the most amount of distance in the shortest amount of time. When they found her--not if, because Aki had faith in their effort--Zac would be the only person he would trust his daughter with. He had made the mistake before of placing his trust in his old companions, and all it got him was a room of dead comrades and a missing daughter.
"When Haruka gets here, I want one of us to always be with her," he started slowly. "But I don't want her to be involved in the shit we do."
He knew it was foolish to think that she could remain as sheltered as she had always been in his care, given the new nature of the world, but he had to try. He didn't want her to have to see the lengths that he would go to to keep her safe, the things that he would do to give her protection. He wanted her to reap all of the benefits of his love without having to understand the sacrifice. And he had a feeling that Zac would help him out.
Zac noticed the smirk on Aki his face, which meant the cheering up worked. Zac never liked seeing the people he cared for sad. He was a tough guy from the outside, but buried deep inside, he had a very sweet heart, he would easy show it, but it was there.
It was quiet for a brief moment, but then Zac looked at Aki as he replied. He was glad Aki agreed that the girl was probably playing mind games and he also added that even if they wanted to pay her a visit they couldn’t, since she was on lockdown. Zac chuckled “I’m glad you agree, but then again if we really wanted to get to her we could, I mean come on, we are highest in rank here inside Waltonville, we can visit someone in lockdown, we are fucking Aki and Zac.” He nearly yelled with a smile as he raised his glass of whiskey.
He then lowered his glass and took another sip. “But it’s good we aren’t going, if we would go she thinks she’s winning, we’ll find Haruka without that stupid bitch.” Zac replied. He then walked closer again. “I’m sure it’s only a matter of time.” He spoke softly standing next to Aki, looking out the window. Zac knew how much pain losing a child caused, he had lost his little girl, so the only thing he could do now, was help safe someone else his daughter and by that also help someone he had forged a bond with, that someone being Aki of course. He liked how he and Aki had so much in common, it was probably because of all those things, they connected.
Aki then spoke again telling Zac, that when they would find Haruka, they had to be under protection of one of them, the whole time. It mean a lot to Zac that Aki trusted him, with his daughter, the most precious thing to him. “I will protect her with my life Aki.” Zac spoke. “I promise you, no one will take her away again, once we find her.” He added.
He also heard the part where he said, that he didn’t want Haruka to be involved in their ‘job’. “It won’t be easy, keeping it secret, but I’ll do everything in my power to help you with that.” Zac replied. “You know I’m always there for you.” He added.
Then Zac started once more out of the window, as he thought about his own girl. He looked up at the sky and stars. ‘I hope you’re a little star by now.’ He thought, as his face expressed his sadness, but without tears or watery eyes.
Last Edit: Mar 9, 2016 1:15:50 GMT -5 by Zac Scavo
Post by Akihiro Yamada on Mar 11, 2016 1:16:51 GMT -5
Aki smiled at the way Zac playfully gloated about their rank, and as he watched him raise his glass, he raised his cigarette in a final hurrah before putting it out on the windowsill. It was true, he knew. Walton ran this entire community like a machine, with Aki and Zac as his main men. They fought for him, killed for him, and in return were given opportunities that others couldn't dream of. If they wanted to go and press Hadley for information, he knew that Walton wouldn't be opposed. However, he didn't want to sacrifice his rare free time to go and talk shop with the girl.
Besides, Zac was right. They didn't need her help to find Haruka. With Walton's resources and Zac's skill, Aki's determination was only strengthened. His hope of finding her had never been more solid, and he would turn this world upside down if it meant finding her. He would die trying. And after listening to Zac's words, it seemed that he would, too.
He had really lucked out in finding Waltonville. The resources it provided, and the purpose it gave him, brought him to a refreshed sense of self. It brought him to Zac, who he knew he could depend on through thick and thin. He would find his daughter, and with Zac, he would never lose her again. But despite his friend's devotion to his child, he could tell that the conversation had hit a nerve, and if he had to guess, Zac was hurting for the loss of his own. Perhaps Aki was luckier than he thought.
"Hey," Aki said, and he patted Zac's shoulder with a firm, reassuring hand. "It's all right. It's gotta be."
Zac was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of Aki his voice. He looked at him as he said hey, then Zac felt Aki his hand on his shoulder, before he said it was alright. “Yeah I know it is…” Zac said softly pausing. “But sometimes it’s hard.” He added in a sad tone looking down.
Without even talking, Zac knew that Aki felt his he was thinking about his own little girl, how he lost her. Another great thing about their bond, they always knew when to support each other. “You know what?” Zac said looking back up at Aki. “I couldn’t have wished for a better friend.” He added. “It’s hard to find one in this god damn apocalypse, but I did it.” He spoke smiley slightly, barely noticeable.
But the memory of his girl wasn’t gone, it was still there and so was the sadness when thinking about it. “You should have known her.” Zac spoke softly. “Bet you would have been an awesome godfather for her, I just should have known you earlier in my life.” He added in the same soft tone. “I bet with your help, I could have saved her, but I was too weak.” Zac spoke trying to control his emotions, but it was harder every second.
“So that’s why I’m sure we are going to find your daughter and I’m going to help you take care of her, I’m not letting history repeat itself.” He said. “She might be too old for a godfather, but if you want it, I’m up for that role.” He spoke looking at Aki trying to smile a little.
Last Edit: Mar 12, 2016 7:45:03 GMT -5 by Zac Scavo
Post by Akihiro Yamada on Mar 16, 2016 0:39:02 GMT -5
As Zac spoke to him of all the things he'd had, all the things he'd lost, Aki listened quietly and mused on his words. He, too, wished that he had found Zac earlier on in his life. He had grown up rough, with few true friends outside of his Yakuza brethren. And even then, they were friends by association, but necessity. He didn't keep in contact with those men when he escaped to America with his daughter, and it wasn't just because he was pretending to be dead.
"I bet if I had you in my old compound, it would have never fallen. Haruka would have never been taken." He meant every word of it, and had to stop himself from wishing on it too hard. Aki had known countless men in his life, all walking in and out like ghosts through the walls, but he had found something special in Zac. He had an undeniable brotherhood with the man, and a trust that was like iron. He had more faith in Zac than he did in a hundred men, and felt more comfortable leaving Haruka in his care than with a legion of soldiers. He had all he needed in Zac, and they both knew it.
"But we can't dwell on the past. We can only rectify our mistakes in the future. Trying to do anything less will eat us alive." His words were low, soft, but he spoke from harsh experience. The loss of his daughter had stolen his sanity for a long time, and he only regained it when he first entered the walls. Now, with Zac at his side, he was stronger. Better. It was only a matter of time until they found his girl, he was confident of that fact. "She would love to have you as a godfather, that much I know. She's never had any kind of family."
Aki himself didn't have any family to account for, having been an orphan before getting swept up by the Yakuza. Aki had never made a habit of meeting Chikako's family, and after her unfortunate murder, he took their child and leaped at the first opportunity for escape that presented itself. With no way to return to Japan without sounding alarms, she had never been, and while he was content with their solitude, he knew that Haruka yearned to know her family. But he also knew that she was content to stay by his side. Zac would be the perfect medium for both.
"Who knows? Maybe you'll make a baby with a broad from here and I can be a godfather then." He smirked and nudged his side. It wasn't to detract from his lost daughter, or to act as a means to replace her. He simply wanted to try and make him feel better by messing around. It was the least he could do for his friend.
Zac looked back at Aki as he spoke, he smiled as he heard how Aki said he’s old compound would never have fallen, and his daughter would be by their side, if only they knew each other sooner. “No, I wouldn’t let that happen, you see we are an unbeatable team.” Zac spoke looking at him. “But thanks for believing in me, thanks for trusting me, I will never let you down.” He spoke. “But never forget I think that of you too, I trust you too and believe in you.” He added smiling. Zac felt Aki his words weren’t just words, he could feel the truth in them and made sure to express his the same way.
Zac nodded as Aki spoke about not dwelling in the past. “I couldn’t agree more.” He spoke. He smiled as Aki reassured him his daughter would be happy to have a godfather. “Well that’s settled then.” He spoke in a happy tone. But it face sort of turned sad as he heard she never had any family. “Must have been hard, good thing is I consider both of you as family, so maybe that helps.” Zac said placing yet again a hand on Aki his shoulder, giving him a soft squeeze, before letting go.
As Zac thought about how horrible it must have been with not family, he couldn’t help but think how he lost he lost all of his. The only person that could be left is his sister and his partner from the station, but he had giving up hope long ago.
Zac was pulled out of his thought by Aki his voice, immediately he looked up and laughed as he heard Aki talk about making a baby. “Well, need to be some hot girls first then, I already saw some nice guys, but guess they won’t give me a baby.” He spoke with a smile. But that smile slowly faded away, as he was reminded of having kids, Zac loved kids and he remembered how happy he was with his little girl. Aki his words gave him a spark of hope, but he wasn’t even sure if he wanted to get a kid in these horrible times, he wouldn’t want it to be raised in dead and chaos. Waltonville would provide shelter, but he wouldn’t be able to hide the world for her or him. He shook his head once more and decided not to think about it. “Well we never know what the future will bring, the only thing I know for sure, is that we will find your girl.” He spoke.
(I added the guy part figuring Aki know about Zac his experiment side and I figured he would be coo lwith a comment like that ;-) if not or you want him not to know I’ll edit ;-))
Post by Akihiro Yamada on Mar 21, 2016 20:33:19 GMT -5
(Yeah, Aki's totally cool with it, no worries ^_^)
"At times, it was hard," Aki agreed, and as he watched the night sky through the windows, his eyes followed the stars. "I had never had a family, so I wasn't really any worse for wear. But Haruka didn't understand why she didn't have a family, not at first. She still doesn't know why we could never return to Japan. She still doesn't know what I've done."
Returning to Japan would be suicide. Even when he was living in Virginia, he found himself looking over his shoulder on occasion. The Yakuza was all-encompassing, and although there weren't nearly as many in America as there were in Japan, they still existed. His journey to leaving the group had been long, arduous, and planned down to a tee, and all along, it had been for Haruka's safety. How ironic it was that now, with the Yakuza no longer an imminent threat, his daughter was nowhere in sight.
But before that lingering sadness could eat at him, he heard Zac make a joke about how the attractive men within Waltonville couldn't give him a baby. He tore his eyes from the stars and laughed, genuine, something that rarely ever happened. "If guys could give us babies, I don't think we'd ever need women again. Too much trouble. But I'll keep my eye out for an incubator for you anyway."
This kind of talk, this masculine banter, reminded him so much of home, though it had been almost over a decade since he had been to Japan. Part of him wondered how they were fairing back home, but he was certain that there were some survivors there just as there were here. Japan as a country was small, but the people were resilient. That had rubbed off on him, as well as on his daughter, and as Zac spoke of finding her, determination set in his core.
"Yeah. We'll find her." He locked eyes with Zac and nodded. "I believe that."
(I'm thinking that enough time has passed from this timeline to where we can wrap the thread up now We've said a lot of what's needed to be said. But I was thinking we should do a kind of "Let's Talk..." series in the private games section as the timeline moves on. Like once they get back from the shootout, it can be a new thread like "Let's Talk Nadia" or something like that XD What do you think?)
Zac laughed out loud as Aki told him if guys could get babies they wouldn’t need women anymore. “Does that mean that you are finally up to try some guy on guy action, I’ll make sure to find you a good one.” He said laughing even more and giving him a playful nudge. “Cause if you think that about women, that means you don’t need them anymore, not even to get laid.” He added still laughing. “And yes keep your eyes open, for chicks that can give me what I miss, a little girl or boy.” He said slowly losing his smile as he was reminded of the pain of losing his adopted daughter.
“Of course we do and always remember that, we won’t quit, we will succeed.” He spoke looking straight in his eyes, the determination clearly visible in his eyes. Then he finally finished his whiskey with one last sip. “Well bro, I think it’s time for a shower and bed, we have a big task in the morning.” He spoke looking at Aki. “So unless you want to soap my back, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” He spoke with a smile.
Post by Akihiro Yamada on Mar 30, 2016 12:18:05 GMT -5
Aki smirked at his words. It was true that since the death of his wife, he had grown solitary in terms of romance. He had had his woman, and from her, his daughter. With her passing, Aki had had no desire to find another woman to replace her. With Haruka under his care, he poured his attention into that, and didn't feel the need to find companionship. Or at least he hadn't thought about it. He had found all the companionship he needed in Zac, and honestly, he had never thought about spending time with a woman privately. He was harsh, cruel, and didn't have the time to nurture sensitivity towards a woman. But instead of announcing this to Zac, Aki instead nudged him back. "I'll keep my eyes peeled for you."
The playful energy in the house turned down to a somber note as they pledged their promises to find his daughter, and he stared back into his eyes with the same stark determination as before. He patted his shoulder in confirmation, and as Zac cracked a joke about washing his back, he chuckled and let him go. "I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep well."
He crossed back to the table and finished his whiskey, donned his coat. With a wave of farewell over his shoulder, he left the house, unaware of what tomorrow held for them both.
(And with that, the thread can close And we can resume another Let's Talk... when we return from the firefight.)
Shauna Kelly: That helped, thank you
Oct 4, 2021 14:40:44 GMT -5
Ayita Hunt: dang, January was my last post.. Jeez it's been a hot minute. o7 guys, sorry for the complete disappearance, life got.. a little interesting this year.
Oct 18, 2021 22:34:19 GMT -5