[ kaeya makes a show of the way he shrugs his shoulders as a response to ryunosuke's question. it's so much easier to hide the truth of what he really thinks with flair and dramatics. ]

... They aren't innocent in the eyes of the Regent.

[ that doesn't answer ryunosuke's question at all, but kaeya doesn't think it matters. he doubts that whatever he has to say will ever be acceptable to the other aion given what he knows about ryunosuke's personality — too honest and righteous. too much of a bleeding heart. it's every little thing that kaeya can't claim to be what he embodies, no matter what others think.

(both abel and himeka would argue that he isn't so far gone just yet, but he knows that he's already crossed the line so long ago.)

he is slow to approach the other man, stopping just shy of a few inches away from the shield that separates them from each other. playfully, he taps at it with with the tip of his frozen sword. ]

Well? Come on, then. If you're going to stand in my way, you might as well fight me.

[ even though that's what he says, he sends an attack not at ryunosuke, but directly behind him, the ice colliding against the building right there, sharp spikes protruding from the wall. it's a warning shot yet again. ]

I can always take it out on them, if that's what you prefer.