genessia | [KATY PERRY'S HOT N' COLD PLAYS IN THE BG] closed to Goro Akechi

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[KATY PERRY'S HOT N' COLD PLAYS IN THE BG] closed to Goro Akechi

Who? disaster boys
What? good!ren takes akechi for the sushi pissed!ren invited him to
When? sometime during easter event idk
Where? nova city

( this nagging sensation that ren needed to find the him that walked out of the room hasn't dissipated in the least, even over the course of a few days past. it really doesn't help that he also feels the need to stop and help every single individual he comes across that's in need of it, this has really eaten into his time.

a new approach might help, which is what finally takes him out of central genessia and into the gateway that leads to nova city. this place is enormous, he can't just keep walking around the same area and expect to run into the other him by sheer luck. his luck never quite works the way he'd like it to anyway. it's gotten him to the desired outcome on more than one occasion, sure, but the ride there is usually...not what he expected.

for instance, he's looking for his other, but instead luck brings him to the back of another familiar head of hair, the sight of which immediately stops him in his tracks. )

Akechi...?

( his pulse trips. who would have thought he'd run into akechi again so soon, and of all the places he could have chosen to investigate? that luck, man.

there's a conscious effort to raise his voice (against this weird need to keep it down and polite lately) as he hurries to catch up with him. )

Ah - Akechi!

( hi akechi, guess who doesn't remember dick about the salty way he treated you. )

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Please don't ruin my badass reputation, it's all I've got going for me.

( listening to akechi talk about these things...the long-term nature of it, and how passionate he is, it's such a stark contrast to that somber look ren remembers, when he was talking about foster homes. this is the akechi he wants to see more of - excited, hopeful. he wants to do whatever he can to help him.

at the mention of hawaii, he brightens, opens his mouth to comment that he's been there but akechi - beats him to it? so there's a laugh instead, slightly confused. )

Ah, you knew about that? ( maybe one of the others mentioned it to him. he's still not caught up on what the situation here is really. but for the moment, he's not concerned with details, he just shakes his head. ) Afraid not. For all the adventure we tried to have, the whole thing ended up being pretty lackluster. The school just had their thumbs up their butts and it didn't help that I got stuck rooming with someone who just wanted to talk about the Phantom Thieves the whole time, so it wasn't all that different from being in Japan.

( even as he downplays the trip though, there's light in his eyes. his hand climbs a bit higher as he cast his gaze towards their feet, watching them step in tandem with one another. )

I think...the most exciting thing about it for me was when we landed, actually. I had never been on a plane, or thought I could go to an exotic place like that - it was really beautiful.

( a thoughtful pause, and then his eyes raise again, a playful lid to them. )

All the places you mentioned sound really ambitious - that's just like you. ( he. baps akechi's cheek, with a fingertip. ) Would you ever want to go somewhere smaller?

[ It was escapism. There was always somewhere better than where he was and he could just go there. A hopeful thought. Too naive now, he realizes. He looks up ahead to make sure they're still going in the right direction and carefully steers them until they're there. ]

Niijima told me. It came up along the distracted lines of- [ He puts on a stern look and a hand on his hip. There's an impression here that involves this posture and lowering his voice instead of raising it. ] "I'll call Makoto to bring me the- Oh, right. She's in Hawaii."

[ He grins at the misfortune of the trip. Then tries to self-correct to a sympathetic look quickly. ] Was it Sakamoto? [ Who else would rattle his ear off about that? ]

I'm envious. [ Honest. He is. Extremely so. At least Ren's trip sucked. It makes him feel a little better about it. ] Is it? [ And blinking rapidly. Did he just poke him? ] Wha... I- [ ???? ] Sure. I'd go anywhere. I haven't been many places. There was never the means or the time to do it. I suppose it doesn't matter much anymore. There isn't much traveling to be had here.

Edited 2018-04-19 22:18 (UTC)

Haha! ( is this a sae roast session? ) That must have been right before- ( he brings one folded arm and a flip of long hair that he doesn't have to the table ) "Honestly, a vacation? Studying for entrance exams is by far the more beneficial and financially sound use of time."

( you fools...she could literally kill you both with one (1) look.

his laughter softens to chuckles as he shakes his head. )

No, but funnily, Ryuji ended up there too. So did Ann, actually. ( that whole night was....) We talked about the type of person we like, which was weird but preferable to hearing the word "Phan-site" ( or mishima vomiting in the background ) for the twentieth time, not gonna lie.

( sorry, mishima. he still appreciates you. not quite as much as he appreciates the odd reactions that keep skittering across akechi's face, though. he'd poke him again, but he decides to have mercy and just keep his arm where it's curled around akechi's. )

I see... ( he looks at their surroundings a little thoughtfully before turning a smile back to him. ) When we go back though, if you can fit it into your schedule, maybe I could bring you to Kikohoro.

( a beat. )

That's my hometown.

That's quite good. [ He's laughing. Light and airy ] All work and no play. [ He hopes Makoto and them convince Niijima to take a vacation at some point. She desperately needs one.

One that's not anywhere near this place. ]

What conclusion did you reach about the type of person you like? [ He asks it out of curiosity. Same with the next question though the latter one sounds more like detective-investigating instead of a peak of interest. ] Did this person talk about it so frequently because they helped work on it? It sounds like quite an obsession.

[ He's listening "when we go back" and Akechi is quiet. Face somber, downcast. Still smiling but sad. He nods and tries to brighten it up to return the one being given to him. ]

You'd honestly want to bring me home? People might talk. [ Joking is easier. ]

Hm? ( he's curious about that sort of thing? ren would have assumed it was beneath him. his smile curls just on the edge of becoming a smirk.) It's only fair to ask that if you plan to answer too, you know.

( well, ann wriggled out of answering, but that was the condition back then, too. at the follow-up question, he's even more dodgy, not out of suspicion, but only because it's not really his place to go flapping too much of mishima's business. )

I guess you could say that. They do help with the site, so I guess it's like. When people show you pictures of their babies in their wallet, or something.

( honestly, if mishima was allowed to carry around pictures of them in his wallet to show off, he probably would. bless his heart. but also, chill.

his smile turns slightly more mischievous at the next bit. people will only talk if they find out, akechi. )

Not if I secret you away. ( okay no. he chuckles and waves his hand.) It'd be with the others, of course. We could make a road trip out of it.

( what he assumes must be their destination comes into view, since there's a sushi roll and a large pair of chopsticks smacked across the restaurant name, but ren stops walking suddenly, holding akechi still beside him. )

It's not really as exciting as the places you mentioned, but it's got its charms. In the spring, there's an old couple that passes out crowns and necklaces they make out of the falling cherry blossoms, and in winter, there's a lake you can go ice-skating on.

( he touches akechi's shoulder with his free hand, but his eyes are on the floor, enshrouded in a memory, with a small, almost wistful smile. )

Even night is so different from Tokyo. You can see galaxies, like someone dumped a bowl of glitter over in the sky.

( his smile slips a bit, sinking back into what he loved about his town, before things began to change. his parents. his friends. he's probably quiet a little too long, because he doesn't realize when it begins to creep into awkward territory. )

[ An expectant smile. ] I don't mind answering it back. [ Remember when he had adoring fans? He does. He misses them sometimes. It's nice to be cared about, even superficially. It's because of them that he has a perfectly prepared answer at the ready for that question. He used to get asked that all the time. The answer is finely crafted. ]

That could be considered sweet if it weren't an irritating habit to have. [ Ren wasn't going to provide him with the name of anyone, he knew that asking. That boy can keep so many secrets. And Akechi honestly doesn't care who it was anyway. The information is useless now, it was more than someone knew to talk specifically to him about it. ] I hadn't realized you shared Phantom Thief things outside of the team. I'm surprised.

[ He ducks his head and pats the hand on his arm before placing the back of his hand to his own forehead, sighing. ] The others? Oh. And here I thought we'd be alone. [ The hand drops. He flashes him a smile then listens carefully.

It sounds lovely. Picturesque. Like Ren had this fantasy childhood in the most peaceful place imaginable. ...And then had it ripped away from him. The look behind those overshadowing glasses speaks volumes. He wonders if it's worse to have never known peace at all or to have had it torn out from under you. ]

I'm sure the others would love to go with you. I doubt they'll even let you go back alone.

( ren doesn't startle from his reverie, but pulls from it by degrees - the brightening of awareness, the slow raise of blue-grey eyes towards akechi and the easy, knowing smile that follows after. the hand on his, a pat that is too light and short, earns a glance, as does akechi's playfully dramatic bemoaning of no alone time.

the others would love to go with him. ren puffs with a quiet laugh. )

But you'll only come if we drag you?

( ren had already toed across pre-established boundary, but now he places both feet firmly on the wrong side. his arm wraps around akechi's neck - one, and then two - they're just about the same height, but he still gets to pull him down a good three centimeters of distance, to properly sight chestnut strands of hair from his throat. ) Stupid... ( one hand covers the crown of akechi's head; the way ren chuckles, as if this is a perfectly simple, natural thing to do in the middle of the sidewalk, is almost as unsettling as the way he nuzzles akechi's cheek with his own. ) why are you talking like you're not part of others? I want you there, too.

( he squeezes him. for emphasis. for validation. and then steps back again, room to breathe. )

I'd enjoy going actually. [ But.

There's a pause that follows. He's carefully picking words in his head. A multitude of excuses at his finger tips. Pick and choose one. Any one but the actual reason this is an impossible scenario. One gets picked and is about to slip out in a skillful lie but all he's seeing is Ren and his throat is captured. He's caught. Pulled in closer than considered a reasonable boundary by normal people and makes an alarmingly squeaky sound in response to this happening. Like a cat that didn't expect to be picked up. A tiny yelp. His entire being goes tense.

Cheek to cheek. A hand on his head. Nobody does this. Not with him. He can't recall if his own mother had ever done it. An incredibly touch-starved individual can be so thrown off in a few simple motions. ] O...kay... Thank you. [ Thank you!? He has no idea.

The squeeze causes further alarm. Confusion. Is that a hug? He panics a little too much to respond to it before a new warm source of comfort (Or discomfort? No. That was kind of nice.) just took a step back. His ears feel like they're burning. Face red. Confused by the lack of breath he has. Eyes darting around them his as if seeking a witness to confirm that actually happened. ]

( thank you is fine, actually, or so says the look on ren's face. there are no ulteriors there and there is no teasing over akechi's reaction. he wasn't pushed away, something that seemed like a viable option, considering how distant akechi was. that fact alone has ren genuinely beaming, taking akechi's hand to pull him closer along to their destination. )

This is the place, yeah? We made it.

( a pause. he's remembered something. )

Ah, right--

( ren chuckles, cants his head a little. )

Back then ( here it is, the thrilling conclusion to that question: ) I said I don't have a type.

[ Now he has his hand. There's a momentary regret he's wearing gloves, that's following by self-rationalizing that it's far better to have them on. Don't touch him. He doesn't know what that means. ]

We did. [ He looks over his shoulder at the restaurant then back at him. ] I see... [ Dully, lowering his lids: ] What an evasive way of answering. [ He sighs and shakes his head. ] My type is honest people. [ No, it's not. ]

( ren knows what it means: it means akechi's fingers get squeezed when ren laughs. )

You think? I really don't, though. You can miss out on something great, if you limit yourself to one type of person.

( if he had to say something on it though, ren supposes he has a Bad Habit of collecting things no one else wants...

he sweats a little at the honesty thing, scratching his cheek sheepishly. is that a reference to before? )

Aha, does that mean I'm out of the running?

( had he his cattier side, he might have actually Laughed Out Loud in a way that wouldn't have been polite at all. akechi and honesty - what a story, mark! but as it is, ren flashes half a grin, taps the toe of his shoe against the floor. )

Well, I can honestly say that I'm glad you're here. When you're on our side ( wait... ) when you're on my side, I feel like there's nothing we can't do. So like I said ( he tugs him by the hold he has, smiling expectantly up the three centimeters of height between them ) don't leave me behind, okay?

[ He's wearing a soft smile. A rarer one that he isn't entirely aware of. Watching his hands and noting the grip on his fingers because looking at Ren while he's laughing is hard to focus on suddenly. ]

Is that how you have such a varied collection of friends?

[ Ren's collection of misfits. Akechi doesn't know them but he knows Ren has them by the thieves idly mentioning something (they get their weapons from an ex-mob member? the teacher is a maid? a child taught him a better way to shoot a gun?) and the doctor has had her coffee next to his seat. This is someone that easily connects with just about anyone. He never could. Another thing on the list of reasons he can be envious of him. ]

[ A tilt of his head, intentionally smiling wider. Isn't it ironic? ] Perhaps. But I suppose everyone else is too.

[ Our side. Eyes down. My side. Up. Back on the face, searching it again. Searching and searching and trying to find the lies. They would make a formidable team. If they met sooner, nothing could have held them back. He really does believe this. Ren seems to have noted it too.

But he already left. ] Ah.. ha. You're making it quite difficult to do with that grip on me.

( is that why? he has no idea how he forged so many bonds, when he couldn't have done a quarter of it in the sixteen prior years before this one. honestly, most of it just felt like luck - wrong place, right time, and any variations that follow. he's lucky. his luck never quite works the way he'd like it to - but he's lucky. )

Nah. ( shakes his head. ) I'm just super popular on Frndr.

( swipe right on him, akechi...

the playful atmosphere relaxes him as he watches akechi back, following the flick of his gaze with an interested, quietly patient one of his own. to this version of him, there's nothing he needs to hide, no reason he shouldn't pin his heart directly to his sleeve and no reason akechi can't stay by his side like the others. be part of his misfits. despite feeling that way though, his grip is certainly as firm as akechi calls it out to be.

in the flattest voice, but with the most innocent smile: )

Oh no. ( ren doubles down, snatches akechi's second hand so he has both in his grip. ) He's discovered my plot...!

( good luck holding any guns now asshole. )

[ Ren is lucky to the point of it being unfair. Akechi was always incredibly unlucky. Right place, wrong time, and any variations that follow. It never works. Never. He had only been giving himself a false sense of hope that it ever could. ]

Ah. That explains a lot. I don't believe I downloaded that one.

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It's playful. Like cats. Like sitting in Leblanc. Like exchanging silly comments in Mementos. This is what having a friend should be like but there's a point where it has to turn on them both. He doesn't remove the gaze. It holds. ]

[ His grip gets a little tighter back. A small squeeze of his own hands while they're both captured. He realizes he's doing. Tears his gaze away from the smile and has them go slack. ]

How nefarious. I'm trapped.

You are.

( without missing a beat, or the way he's squeezed back. akechi breaks eye contact and loosens his hold, but even that doesn't seem to deter ren from his antics. you can practically see the three little ♪'s pop out of his head when he brings akechi's hands up to his mouth. just sort of smiles behind his fingers, a mischievous look beneath the fringe of his bangs. the dastardly villain playfully taunting the hero he's captured. )

And I won't let you go. No matter how much you struggle.

( not just a tease. there's a promise there, deeper and more nuanced than ren may entirely understand at the moment, it lingers behind the gentle loosening of akechi's fingers cupped over his own. not lowering them, but akechi can draw them back for now if he wants because: )

Sushi is the only exception.

[ Anything Ren is doing while he has his hands is allowed to play out, if just to see what will happen. Akechi has simply become an observer here. Watching like a hawk. Like a child seeing a damn balloon for the first time, all wide-eyed and slightly in awe. It's fascinating. Look at that smile. The son of a bitch. ] That sounds like a threat.

[ And a flattering comment all at once. People usually drop him so quickly. And he usually hates being trapped. The grip is lost on the opposite end and he pulls his hands back. ] Ah. I almost thought you were going to kiss the prince's hands to better swear such an oath. Lost opportunities.

[ He purposefully says it like he's disappointed, shaking his head and sighing after his words. ]

Shall we go in?

( in his right mind, with all proper pieces - hurt, power, anger - in place, ren would have something sharp to say to that. all of that. should i make it look like one, too? i would, but i don't see any princes around here. sorry, i don't like the taste of murder in my mouth. he'd say it with a grin, tip his head down just enough to show akechi the thirst for a fight in his eyes, over the rim of his lenses.

none of that happens. there are no words at all.

what happens is this: ren cants his head at the word kiss, nothing readable on his face aside from curiosity, an ever-present interest, the touch of a smile that gauges a joke. then, without warning, he tilts forward and lightly bumps the side of his head against akechi's. it's a brief nuzzle, lasts maybe two seconds, before he's sliding off to the side again, beckoning akechi with wide eyes and a sweet smile.

yes, let's. )

[ He expects a snappy comeback to that. It's part of how Ren might work. There's a back and forth of witty remarks - sharp as a knife and twice as hurtful sometimes. But he doesn't get one. Instead the reply is an action, which could speak louder than words.

Not that he's interpreting what the action is supposed to be saying. The words are lost in translation and only succeed at making his face feel hot. What does that mean? That Ren is an actual cat? He rubs the back of his head, making an attempt to just laugh the confusion off. ] You remain an enigma.

[ He'll hold the door open for him. ]

( it's called affection, akechi, it's not that deep, and the more you let him get away with it, the more inches he's gonna take. ie: how he slips under akechi's arm that's holding the door so he can pull the other boy in along with him, just barely fitting the both of them through the entrance. )

Does that mean you're trying to figure me out? ( hip-to-hip, one hand wraps at akechi's waist, the other grabbing the hand hanging off his shoulder. this is honestly the most blatant touching he's done in years and he's going to kill himself for it later - when he is himself again. ) I think you're more of one.

( mercifully, he disentangles from akechi and slips away so they can grab seats, but then looks up at him again. )

You can ask me anything you want.

( beat )

Goro.

( THE AUDACITY )

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[KATY PERRY'S HOT N' COLD PLAYS IN THE BG] closed to Goro Akechi

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the only unfair thing about this...that icon (*꒦ິㅿ꒦ີ)

look at it. (๑❛ꇳ❛๑)

remember that you made me do this

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