OO MAMA MIA IT'S REN PAPA PIA (INTRO)

[redreigning]

(I) [Video]

( after a groggy arrival in what ren could really only describe as a luxury vampire pod and being greeted/lectured at by a hologram that was, decidedly, not princess lea telling him he was her only hope, ren wanders further out into the city before coming to a halt by a magazine stand. he shuffles through what he has in his arms to pull out the phone he was given. an upgrade from his own, for sure, but something he'd trade back for his own in a heartbeat, since that's where his friends are. at least this one seems to function similarly, so he doesn't have any trouble pulling video share up, even if his expression is still dubious. )

Hey. If Snow White back there was telling the truth, I guess I'm not the only one on this thing. Might be the only one to end up in some weird place a second time without realizing how he got there though...

( his attention drifts away a little, distracted, and then comes back. )

Anyway, to any other lottery-I-never-entered winners like me who are seeing this and wanna buddy-up to figure this mess out, I'm currently holding open auditions for a friend in...uh... ( where did that girl say he was again? whatever, he'll just turn the phone around and hope someone recognizes- ) this place.

( please enjoy this small virtual tour of central genessia as ren does a full 360 of his surroundings, then flips his phone back properly in his fingers. )

So yeah. Any takers? ( pause. ) I'm an asset, I swear.

(II) [Action]

( all right, he's...been in a similar sort of situation before, so first things first: know your surroundings. it's probably best to figure things out for himself rather than just blindly trusting what the weiss girl said, so he needs to explore the area. who's an enemy. what you can use. where you can hide. be cool about it though, or you'll draw suspicion, which is good because ren is actually pretty practiced at-

that's a cat cafe.

he stops dead in his tracks, attention laser-focused on the cat-head sign out front before he makes a sharp and unquestioned turn to head right inside.

if there is anyone there, he doesn't spot them immediately, or is simply too captivated by the cat tree in the corner to not make a beeline straight for that and the cat resting peacefully there until ren puts his big uninvited hand on it. )

This is absolutely the best, most trustworthy place there could possibly be in this city, but I guess I can't stick around here forever... ( uh, not that he wants to. he definitely wants to go home. but this is one aspect of this place he's not going to complain about. his thumb strokes delicately between the cat's ears and if he's smiling a little more than he has since he got here, he can't really help that. ) Do you know someone who can help me out?

( he's just being cute. or actually expects an answer because he's been living with a talking cat for the better half of a year before getting dumped here. either way, his attention isn't leaving until he's approached. )

Comments

[Video]

[heribbon]

I assume you're talking about leaving when you say that. I'm not interested in figuring out how to do that, but I have taken notes on Genessia, if you'd like to see them?

Re: [Video]

[redreigning]

( ren's brows lift with surprise when another, tinier video screen pops up at the corner of his own, showing a young girl who can't be older than futaba, but apparently knows more about what's going on than him? if she doesn't want to leave, then that must mean she's from here. ) You weren't kidnapped then? ( or, there's a serious case of stockholm going on here. he pulls the phone a little closer, nodding at her. ) And notes would be great, actually. You'll let me copy for free? ( this isnt..class..you dork..)

Re: [Video]

[heribbon]

No, I was kidnapped. But being alive here is better than being dead at home.

I'd be perfectly fine letting you copy my notes for free. From what I hear the people trying to get home aren't having much luck. So you could probably use all the help you can get.

Action;

[alihacka]

Holy shi--

[Is all Ren will here from the phone until Futaba turned it off to hurry to the Bay to meet him. So while that might leave him a bit confused, Futaba will arrive eventually and realize he wasn't there, but the cafe isn't too far away to find him there.]

Ren!

[She was just sulking for a while about him leaving, but he was back. Obviously he didn't seem to remember this place with an introduction like that, but she was more focused on how he was back.]

Re: Action;

[redreigning]

( ren did hear it - half a curse through a voice that sounded so familiar it made his heart lurch. but seeing as he didn't have time linger around on impossible scenarios, he chose to press onward in the search of real solutions.

however, nothing could feel more real than the tiny arms that snatch around his waist sometime later, an event that briefly robs him of his typically calm and cool exterior. )

AH- Futa-oof!!

( yes. futa-oof.

his hands settle on her very orange head before carefully wrapping back around her, so delicate it's as if he fears she might vanish if he reciprocates.)

Wow, I am. Stupidly happy to see you, don't get me wrong, but why are you...

( here??? he squeezes her when the thought that she was taken like him enters his mind. maybe he shouldn't be in a hurry to go back, since boss is going to kill him for not protecting her like he promised.

assuming that...this is actually futaba? he takes her head with both hands and tilts it back to look at him, concern etched in his features. )

You're not like, some hologram constructed from my memories or something right?

( I MEAN. THAT WEISS GIRL. )

Action;

[alihacka]

I should be saying that. You were here and then--- [He probably doesn't remember.] N-Nevermind! You're here and I had to come and get you!

[What was he doing...?]

No.... Although that would be pretty cool if I could manage to do that. I'm really here.

Video;

[heroes_never_die]

[And here's Mercy sitting in her office, chuckling slightly. While waking up introductions were a normal thing here at this point, it was a unique way to follow up the, "help me, I'm stuck here" trope that usually happened.]

I could always use more friends. I've been here for a while, if you need any assistance.

My name is Angela Ziegler.

Re: Video;

[redreigning]

( let's be real here - he's pretty wary of adults, but once in a while he meets a decent one that doesn't immediately have 37 things to criticize him over. he's getting that vibe here. like a Mom Vibe. or what he assumes one might be like, if his mom smiled at him like that. )

Ren Amamiya. It's nice to meet you, Angela-san ( angela-san ) but I don't know if "been here for a while" is something that should make me feel better or worse, haha...

Video;

[heroes_never_die]

[Considering the world he's from, it's not too surprising as to why. That's definitely a mom vibe though.]

It's a pleasure to meet you as well. Ren.

[Japanese huh. She mostly knows Genji as far as picking up on honorifics for her not to confuse her. She just hopes he doesn't mind that she doesn't use them herself; She has no idea what she would use in this instance.]

Well... It was meant to be reassuring that I could probably provide whatever information that you needed to know, but I can see where you come from.

Action

[sincerepurity]

[Mimi was walking home from work, and decided that she wouldn't bother Takeru at Moonbucks today, so she detoured to the cutest cafe in the city. Upon arriving, she could swear this boy speaking cutely to the cat looked familiar, but couldn't put her finger on it. Either way, new friends are STILL friends!

She walked up behind him, grinning as she rocked on her heels, her hands behind her back.]

Don't know if the cat can help you, but maybe I can?

Re: Action

[redreigning]

( a bell of a voice calls his attention away, hand lingering on the cat's head as he stares at the girl who's just up and interrupted his conversation. granted, it was a one-sided conversation, but! point. he smiles and turns to give her his full attention. )

I guess trading a fuzzy head to pat for someone who can actually speak isn't a bad deal. I'm Ren, and I'm... ( scratches his cheek ) kidnapped, I guess.

( he's not an overly expressive guy to begin with, but it's weird to keep talking to people so casually about this. )

But I'm hearing that's not such a weird thing around here.

action;

[truesmiles]

I mean you could live here, but that would be weird.

[Fai couldn't help but laugh slightly, considering the cat cafe was the place he spent most of his time on business-wise after all. He smiled slightly after the chuckle had ended as he had gone about cleaning a nearby table.]

It also depends on what help you need.

Re: action;

[redreigning]

( truly, this four-legged creature had some sort of spell over him for ren not to realize someone right behind him. )

There's some weird stuff happening that beats out wishing I could stay with my feline brethren, I think.

( wait, but that was an invitation to stay here right? 👀 )

Ah, well...there's a lot. ( he laughs a little awkwardly and leaves the cat alone. ) But maybe knowing who I'm talking to is a good place to start.

action;

[truesmiles]

That's Genessia for you, but I assume you mean home?

[Considering Fai keeps a bed and stuff in the back, one could technically live here.]

s for who I am, I'm Fai D. Flourite. CEO of The Cat's Meow [Yes, that is his company's name.] and Owner of this cafe and many more. It's why you may see me here often.

video;

[trollkeru]

Didn't know making friends was an audition process.

Re: video;

[redreigning]

Where I'm from, you can't even talk to some people without prerequisite conditions being fulfilled.

( don't even look at him if you're not rank 3 guts. )

But I'm a lot easier. My only requirement is 'can you put up with bad jokes'?

video;

[trollkeru]

Wow, that's... pretty odd.

[Takeru nodded slightly.]

That's a good requirement honestly. If I had one, mine would be could you put up with teasing every so often.

video;

[effinskull]

[and here is ryuji, as eloquent as ever.]

Dude what the eff?! This place wasn't kiddin' when it said people come 'n go all the damn time!

[yeah no, and now ryuji felt like he needed to just run and tackle his leader. he felt way better however, way waaayy better! having ren here was like a breath of fresh air.]

You better stay this time dammit!!

Re: video

[redreigning]

( ryuji isn't the only one practicing some manner of elegance here, check out this transcendent-level proficiency as ren's phone nearly fumbles out of his hands and hits the concrete! it takes him one, two - five tries to catch the device and hold it properly again, hollering back into the familiar little image that's popped up on his screen. )

Ryuji!!

( thank god. but also: what? )

Ah, yeah! I will!

( . . . )

Where did I go?

[Video]

[lostxleader]

What kind of asset are you, then? Perhaps a name would help.

[couldn't help but chuckle at this guy]

I appreciate the team mentality, I'd like you to have on my side, despite looking...jesterish..

Re: [Video]

[redreigning]

It's Ren, and I can do a lot! I make coffee... ( he's thinking. a lot harder than was probably implied. ) Uh, one time I won the Big Bang Burger challenge. I got a pin and everything.

( no one wants to know you ate a giant burger, ren... )

Hey ( he looks very seriously into the phone ) jesters are good for team morale.

action;

[misalignment]

[ Every place that serves any sort of caffeinated beverage in Genessia, is one Akechi has visited. Frequently. He rotates between them all, depending on where he ends up working that day. He'd pick a favorite but none offer the amount of comfort he's still blindly seeking. He can rate every coffee here on a highly detailed scale if asked.

The service in the cat cafe is a six out of ten. The location, a ten, ideal in that he can get a glance at any newcomers that wander over out of the bay through the window. The coffee is not their best but their tea is a eight, so he'll end up with that. The food is about a seven but one might occasionally find a cat hair. The ambiance ranges from a ten to a five, depending on the mood of the cats. The place gets rated higher, despite the poor coffee, because everyone leaves him alone in here because cats are the main attraction. He has become one with them too, after several months of visits. Enough time to build familiarity with the felines so that he hasn't been bitten by one in a while. If no one else is around to snatch their attention, he has a majority of them on or around him.

Which is why Goro Akechi, looking like a deer in headlights, is not too far when Ren beelines right for the tree to invade one of his companion's personal space. It's a table nearby. Six feet, tops. There's a cat on the table next to his cup, a cat on his lap, a cat at his left side leaning into him and one on a foot. Escape would mean knocking one or more of them on the floor. Is it worth it?

The pros and cons of betraying kitty comfort to abandon ship and avoid awkward interaction with Ren Amamiya is weighed in his head. Ren won't turn around. He could probably slip out. But they say third time is the charm? If it isn't, he won't try again. ]

That one won't give proper advice. [ States his own forcibly overly-sweet voice. The cats won. He'll have to suffer this. ] You want to ask Ginger for help. [ A hand he was resting his chin on is moved so he can point at the orange cat on the table. ]

/chinhands @ this 8)

[redreigning]

( ren didn't come in here expecting much more than the comfort of soothing, whiskered creatures and their pink paw pads, so you can understand the shock that briefly flashes in his expression when a familiar voice crawls into his ear. his shoulder hikes up a little, reflexive block of a sound he's developed an intrinsic aversion towards. honey-sweet, sticky in all the worst ways.

in the lapse of his surprise though, you better believe he sinks back into #calm and #collected. throws a smile up to further augment the idea that even in this situation, where he doesn't know where the hell he is or what the hell to do, he still won't allow goro akechi's presence to rattle him. if anything, he might even feel a touch of relief. it shows in the slight fall of his shoulders as he turns to give the other his full attention. )

I see.

( easy, casual. akechi may not have been his first choice at a reunion, but ren can still fall into step with him as if he were meant to be so. he sets his things down - the phone, the necklace - and scoops up the cat akechi had pointed to, gently sitting it on his lap as he lowers himself into a chair across from the other boy. )

Mighty, all-knowing Ginger, I beseech thee... ( takes this unfortunate creature's front legs and spreads them in a wide arc ) can you enlighten this poor fool's knowledge ( stuck at a meager "scholarly" ) and tell him why the coveted detective prince is currently sitting across from him, very far from Tokyo?

( the logical assumption of course being that akechi was kidnapped as well, just like the rest of them. but if he had to place bets on anyone figuring a way back home, ren would have thought akechi was the sure thing. he doesn't seem worried (but who can be anything other than full of smiles when they're kitty-caged?), and ren has questions. how long has he been here? does he want to leave too?

how much does he remember?

none of this is given voice, because one thing at a time. ginger doesn't seem interested in supplying an answer for him though, so his eyes flick back up, gauging akechi beneath the fringe of his bangs. )

Does she need a sacrifice first?

[Action]

[unbridledtiger]

[Seth is tired and worn from work and in need of a vacation. There is no easy way to get away and so, he takes the form of a gray tabby cat for a day to pamper himself. He wanders around for a good portion of the morning before finding himself sneaking into a cat cafe for cuddles and free food.

He has the same pale golden eyes as when he's human however he doesn't think anyone will notice. What's one more stray cat?

A boy walks in and Seth rises from his perch in the hopes to get some affection. Being a cat is awesome.]

Meow!

[He answers Ren's question though there is no way for the boy to understand him. Seth can talk directly into the boy's mind if he wants but he isn't sure if there is a need for that yet.]

Re: [Action]

[redreigning]

( not what he expected, but who is he to deny a creature in need of attention? he turns to the second cat in the tree, a tabby that sits a little higher and rubs his knuckles under its chin with a smile. ) No need for jealousy, there is enough hand to go around, my friend. ( he's so stupid, why is he like this? ren is more than content to continue petting cats for the time being rather than looking for actual answers, but when his finger strokes beneath a golden eye, his smile slips at the corner from surprise. he leans a little closer, studying the creature. there's something familiar about its eyes that he can quite put his finger on, until it suddenly strikes him that it's the clarity - the intelligence. ) Ah...hey, you kind of remind me of someone, actually. ( morgana's are just like this. not the color, since his are an electric blue, but rather the awareness of them, something that speaks to more than a simple cat behind their gaze. his thumb smooths back thoughtfully between the cat's ears as the name slips out of his mouth. ) Morgana...? ( he knows it can't be morgana, of course, but he's too caught up in the thought to realize he's given it voice. )