genessia | GENESSIA PROM!

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GENESSIA PROM!

I - SETUP (12:00pm-5:00pm)

For any and all who agreed to help with the decorations, this would be the time to gather at the Hotel. A large list of assignments will be posted on the wall near the entrance, with duties including but not limited to:

1. Setting Tables, including placement of centerpieces
2. Wall and ceiling decorations, involving a lot of gossamer drapery and lights
3. Preparing the buffet table, with a mixture of hot and cold foods, as well as a separate table at the end for delectable deserts
4. Getting all necessary equipment on stage for the Live Band to perform. Sound Checks may occur throughout.
5. A side dressing room area set up exclusively for those who volunteered to take the time to get ready themselves, including special hair and makeup stations and a large rack to hang their dresses & shoes to change into later

II - HOTEL LOBBY (6:30pm onward)

Cozy and luxurious in its own right, those who arrive before Prom is scheduled to begin will be allowed to lounge in the Hotel Lobby for a spell. Meeting and greeting other early birds and partaking in a select few hors d'oeuvre made available while waiting for the doors to open

III. - PROM PHOTOS!

In the far corner of the lobby, a cute backdrop will be set up, ready for any and all couples/groups/brave souls going stag for the evening to take a memorable photograph! Selfies are welcome throughout, but for those desiring a more professional setup, Hikari Yagami will be on hand for the first and last hours of the night for "official" Prom Photos.

Smile, everyone!

IV - EATING/DRINKING

With a "bar" consisting of 90% nonalcoholic beverages--the remaining ten percent reserved for of age chaperones--and a buffet table spanning the length of the side wall, there will be no shortage of food options that night! Hot pasta dishes, cold sandwiches, fruits, vegetable platters, and a special end section devoted to some of the best sweets Genessia's bakeries have to offer!

Of course, what prom would be complete without the traditional Fruit Bowl Punch? Better get a sip in early, though...because some traditions never die, and it's not like those in charge can keep an eye on that bowl the entire night, can they?

V. - DANCE FLOOR

With a live band (Thank you, Professor!) ready to rock, you'll soon be dancing the night away, under ethereal decorations that will really make you feel like you're dancing among the stars!

In between sets, there will be a DJ spinning a mixture of slow dances, crowd favorites, and songs that'll really get the party rockin' (~~LMFAO style~~).

VI. - CHAPERONES

Because somebody's got to make sure the kids behave.

Hopefully actual adults who can behave themselves.

VII. - MINGLING/MISC.

What other shenanigans could the teens and tweens of Genessia possible get up to? The night is young, and so are they~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ the cracks are like when something hot tries to escape confinement. steam bubbling out in increasing volume until the entire thing finally gives in an explodes. this is so frustrating. everything lies. no exceptions. things are rotten. ]

I'd like to think at least one of us was being fed a truth or the implications behind it seem sinister. [ that's unfair. it's really unfair and knowing changes nothing now. ren takes a step away from the balcony. akechi's eyeing the railing with that sharp glare like he wants to either jump off it or throw ren over it because the only other exit are the stairs behind the door his back is to - back in a crowded room. ]

I was angry too. Everything was wrong. I wanted to change things too... But I wasn't told I could be "rehabilitated." I was told something else. I never fought it. [ he puts his eyes back to ren, watching his hands raise. watching them. the gloved hands. ren's wearing the gloves right now. akechi's hands are bare and currently pale from how balled up they've become at his sides, nails digging into his palms. entire posture tense. everything is tense. ]

Don't give me that shit. You do the same thing! You say and do what would be most acceptable for the person in front of you, don't you? You become what the person wants. It has to be the best version of you. You understand, right? [ he's pointing at himself, jabbing himself in the chest with a finger. ] They don't want you. They never have. So why is it different? Why am I the one locked out, huh? Why is everything given to you?

[ it's emotional. it's very emotional. there's no charming smile behind any of it. he doesn't think he's lying to himself about this.maybe he's projecting but he doesn't think he is. they're both rejects and yet ren gets all the acceptance and nobody put a hand out for him. ren's trying to get under his skin again, right? ]

( it isn't until akechi points it out that ren realizes how strange that really is. if it is his heart, why would akechi have seen the same thing? cooperating with igor hasn't led him astray yet, but there has always been something unsettling that kept ren from fully trusting the man regardless. even the tiny wardens who abuse the shit out of him have more of his confidence. they're blunt, but they don't lie, and sometimes it seems to ren that they throw glances towards their master filled more with fear or uncertainty than any real reverence.

sinister is an alarmingly apt word for it. )

They do, don't they...

( ren could almost feel relief at finally being able to talk about these things, could almost feel stupid for putting it off because he was afraid of knowing akechi. but shreds of gratitude or relief are burned out of mind by a gradually raging flame of misunderstanding, confusion. what the hell is akechi talking about? angry about what? wanted to change what? from the very start, akechi was on the opposite side - the side that had been winning for years until the phantom thieves threw a wrench in its system.

ren is never angry outward, at least not out of costume. but akechi's insistence that they're the same, jab after jab at who he is, ren can feel his hackles rise. his fists mirror akechi's. )

I'm always myself. I don't let other people's opinion of me feed into what I do or who I am. I don't become what anyone wants. I don't care if the world hates me for it, I'm always me.

( what is this? where is it coming from? akechi is taking it all so personally and ren doesn't understand but this accusation that everything comes easy for him is really pissing him off. )

Given to me?! ( ren doesn't get loud, but he's loud now. a dangerous flash in his eyes. ) You're the one who's full of shit! Was it easy for me when I got thrown out of my house?! When you put me in a fucking room with those assholes and got me drugged out of my mind, with my face beat in?! When you tried to shoot me in the head?! What the hell do you think I -

( abruptly, his mouth presses shut. ren folds his hands over his eyes, under his glasses, releases an exhale that's all heat through his mouth.

this isn't working. this isn't what he wanted out of this. defaulting to enemies - akechi said it was fate, but ren knows it will only be that way if he allows it to be.

it's a moment before he speaks again, without moving his hand. almost seeming more to himself, a reminder. )

I said I wasn't going to avoid you.

( none of him. that means the ugly parts, too, despite how much ren just wants to pull a ryuji and deck akechi in the face, he doesn't want to go down that path. he can't control what akechi will do, but he can control what he does.

and what he does is lower his hand and take two solid steps forward, close enough to grab akechi's wrist. )

No more yelling. ( he can't quite look up from where his hand is, but there's a steady command in the way he draws akechi back with him, slowly, step by step. he sinks down on a nearby bench. )

Sit here with me.

[ oh, how desperately he wanted someone to talk to about it all. to have someone not automatically assume he was going mad. he wonders if that's why ren kept it from the rest of them. the blue room is just too far-fetched even knowing all that they do because they can't see the door. people rarely understand what they don't see. he doesn't regret mentioning it. not at all. but it doesn't make it any less infuriating to find out it too, may have simply been toying with him.

he can practically feel his blood boiling. that gut-wrenching feeling that makes loki want to break everything in retaliation.

ren's just... fueling it further. he doesn't understand why this would bother him so much. why he, too - maybe moreso, had a right to be angry. to want things to change. ren rarely gets angry. he doesn't even think he was actually mad when he was fighting him after he snapped at them all. he doesn't think he's seen him truly mad and full of as much hate as he can be. there's a spark. ]

Why wouldn't you care!? Why would not giving a shit make people like you? [ why is it working out. why do tiny wardens look up at him while, despite being shorter, look down on goro akechi with something like pity?

ren being loud catches him off guard and he actually takes a step back, though the rest of him is standing ground. he doesn't remove his eyes. doesn't turn away. but he did take a step back out of ...fear, maybe. ren doesn't yell and he doesn't actually want to fight him again. not really. he will. but he doesn't want to, even if he might throw the first stone out of anger.

he has an argument back for one of those things. that he didn't make those cops do that. they were never supposed to go that far or even do anything. he was to dispose of them too. hell, he did. the rest of it though... nothing stopped him from shooting him in the head. having parental figures give up on you is one of the worst feelings in the world, even if it worked out for ren in the end. still, he can yell back.

but ren stopped himself before retaliation happened, probably unnecessarily harsh retaliation. he's left fuming and tightly wound and watching ren with utter confusion that he cut himself off.

he could still avoid him if he wanted. two steps forward. akechi takes another one back but wasn't far enough to not get grabbed. there's a knee-jerk reaction where he pulls back - but not enough for the grip to lose him. it's like someone slapped him across the face and he's stunned. ]

Hurt your voice without as much practice at it? [ joking again, because he has no idea what else to make of this. it's a shaky tone, made of flames slowly dying out. something in the way he's being moved tells him he shouldn't pull back again or he'll never gain his answers. he's moving along with it before he decides if he wants them.

and sits. slouched. hunched over his knees and staring distantly at the floor and taking slow breaths to calm down further. no more yelling. ]

( goddamnit, ren cracks a smile, though his free hand comes up over his mouth to smother it. he could ask the same about akechi, really. "cheery celebrity schoolboy" and "sparkly attention-seeking prince" are the only octaves he knew akechi's mouth to be capable of producing. despite quieting down, the thrill of it still has his blood pumping. it isn't that he wants to see akechi in such a state, but the honesty of it was different from anything ren had seen from him before - in some fucked up way, it's preferable to the plastic smiles. )

Maybe I should have picked louder songs at karaoke.

( softly, just responding to respond rather than any real attempt at being funny. his hand comes down to his lap, the other still wrapped around akechi's wrist, a cuff to keep him from running. distantly, he's glad for the gloves. )

Something is strange here. No matter what we assume about each other, we're not getting to the truth unless we talk about it rationally. ( tentative fingers peel from akechi's skin one by one, hovering briefly before moving to his shoulder. ren leans forward, enough that he knows he's at least in akechi's peripheral. )

I'll listen to you.

( because it seems like something akechi needs, and it's a privilege ren himself has always been denied. he squeezes akechi's shoulder encouragingly before pulling his hand back, brushing his skirt to the side. )

What did Igor say to you?

[ akechi lets out a little sound that's almost a laugh, hanging his head even further to hide any minor smile that may have drawn out. stupid humor. ren said it so softly but the imagery of him screaming into a microphone at karaoke is amusing. they're so much better at meaningless dialogue.

there's a pause and he turns his head to watch ren's fingers peel away past hair in his face. ]

You're right. Both that it's terribly unusual and that a rational approach is best. If you need to further elaboration on anything, I won't hide the truth from you. I will assume this is mutual.

[ he picks himself up, straightening his spine and trying to be more composed than he had been there. the hand on his shoulder keeps him from trying to be pristine about it though. it's casual. like sitting on one of the leblanc stools instead of straight up during an interview. that shouldn't be as comforting as he finds it. nor should the confirmation that he'll simply be listened to.

it's almost pathetic how easily that touches his core. it's probably all over his face, the way he stares again with a softened expression. confused still. surprised. he puts his head back down quickly, nodding. ]

Thank you. [ for listening? ren just wants his answers too but-

it's just polite to say thank you. he tells himself that's all. ] Is that his name? He hardly introduced himself or the location. [ such a short visit. he looks to ren, speaking thoughtfully as he recalls, but in a way that's clear his remembers every second of it even if he doesn't say it all. even if he's paraphrasing. he's mulled this over since it happened. it stuck with him. it was a motivation. ] There was little explaining. None of my questions were answered but he justified my anger, as I'm sure he did for you. I was caged from birth. The ones imprisoning others would need to be removed in order to ever be free. The world would be renewed without the corrupt and true justice could finally be reached.

( the instinct to doubt akechi is strong enough that ren has to put a conscious effort into tempering it. that soft expression helps, the way akechi nods and thanks him like ren is going out of his way somehow. it's too reminiscent of those quieter, more vulnerable moments ren has caught him in, to the point that something painful squeezes in his chest. but rather than asking more, he listens as he promised, not making assumptions about him like he did before.

his brow knits with some confusion once akechi finishes. it is, in some ways, very similar to what ren was told, but the verbiage seems harsher. more final. )

The Velvet Room. At least, that's the name I was given, along with the claim that it was a reflection of the state of my heart. ( he raises his hand, palm down, and tilts slightly to one side, then tilts it the other way - a balance. ) He said the Velvet Room is a place between dream and reality, and the ones who show up there have made some sort of "contract." ( his hands falls back to his lap with a short laugh. ) It all sounds so corny saying it out loud like that.

( none of it ever sounded real, but more than enough evidence has piled to convince him by now and it makes that word akechi used earlier - sinister - feel more weighted. )

Renewed...he left that part out of mine. ( his hand comes to his chin as he thinks back on what exactly igor told him. he's certain it had felt more...avoidable than what akechi is describing. ) He said that I was heading for destruction, and the only way to avoid it was to reform myself and fight against the world's corruption. That's how I could rehabilitate myself into freedom. I couldn't do it myself though, I was encouraged to find allies, others who felt the same way I did about the world and wanted to change it.

( ren pauses for a moment, caught in his own explanation and thinking quietly on it. then, he turns more towards akechi, a serious expression on his face. )

It sounds like we were given two different goals, doesn't it? ( one of his hands comes out to the side, as if it were half of a scale ) Change ( the other hand, equal distance ) and Rebirth.

[ the way he watches him after he finishes speaking, as he always does, is a sign of akechi checking to make sure he was listening, that he came off clear enough to be processed in his head. it's a habit at this point. ren never shut his conversation out. it's like he absorbs everything, response or not but he could never have been sure that he's he's paying attention completely. maybe he was only listening before because he was waiting for slip-ups.

but this time ren made the choice to tell him he would listen. no one does that. hell, he's talking to himself half the time. or at someone, only for them to turn around and ask what the hell he's saying because only bits and pieces of his lines got through. it's nice, having someone listen. really listen. ]

Not the most creative name. [ because it's colored blue velvet. the man's chair is probably velvet, the fabric. akechi shifts his body, so he's turned to face ren more completely, pulling one of his hands up to his chin in contemplation, mirroring ren without noticing it. ]

Corny on a surface level. But a contract we were unable to actually know every condition of in a place we are unable to control only adds to how concerning it all really is. [ the more he learns, the more it seems as if there was no choice in it for them at all.

ren was given a path he could redeem people on, redeem himself. akechi was told to start everything over with a clean slate. ] Allies were never mentioned. This was a solo mission. He was irritated when I tried to make an ally, or rather just ...a connection. He said nothing of it but it would have made the goal harder to achieve.

[ ren's serious expression is met with an echo of his own but with a frown added to it. deep. grim. his eyes are lowering momentarily at his own hands before moving back to watch ren's. he holds them equally apart. raised the same height. ]

So... This being met us both and sent us down opposite paths. [ akechi hands are mirroring ren's exactly. only momentarily, one hand higher (change) and the other hand is lowered (rebirth). he speaks clearly but angrily. ] But these goal conflict. There can be no rehabilitation if the punishment is always death and no one can truly start over if the same pieces are always on the board. One of us would have to fail for the other to succeed. [ he drops his hands, one after the other. ]

This sounds like a game. I wonder who he placed his bets on.

( when akechi stopped visiting leblanc, ren had refused to allow himself to linger on missing their conversations. akechi was a liar. a traitor. ren knew he should want nothing to do with him, and that his absence should have been taken as a blessing - finally, that plastic, nosy, fake as hell nuisance who never knew when to shut up was gone. but much like touching your tongue against the raw nerve where a tooth used to be, an absence can be more felt than a presence, and ren learned that soon enough. talking like this now, it draws out all those regretful feelings he'd tempered into quiet. )

You're right. It also makes me wonder if there are others like us, since he seemed to be implying multiple contracts had been made before ours.

( this hurts, because it's so easy. why couldn't they have discussed this before everything went to hell?

the more akechi speaks, the more sense it all makes. yet, more questions bubble inside him. if igor was truly plotting something, or working for something bigger than himself and the little wardens, then why would he have aided to make ren so strong? it hasn't been the easiest journey, but igor and the services of the velvet room have done nothing but benefit him. ren can't say he trusts igor, but he hasn't been given reason to distrust him either - not like akechi seems to have been. why? )

I hope it isn't something so frivolous as a game. People have been hurt by all of this. People have died. ( his hands turn into fists on his lap, and ren stares as if his gaze alone can set them ablaze. ) We were never supposed to talk like this, were we? Your goal contradicts mine - the Thieves' - Igor must have known from the start that cooperation wouldn't last, even if we wanted...

( he trails off, mouth parted as a thought strikes him. ren turns his head, watching akechi with some confusion. )

But...didn't you find an ally? ( he hopes he doesn't have to say the name, and he tries his best to keep the judgment from his voice. curious and cautious, but carefully neutral. ) He knew about the Metaverse, too. You were working for him.

( it's a fact. they all know it. with this new information coming to light, it would make sense, put more pieces in place. but ren doesn't want to accuse him. if akechi says he's being honest, ren will take him at his word, and if akechi wants to explain, then all the better. but he treads carefully. )

You didn't have the same goal?

[ this stings. it stings to have the source of his power be granted with what was most-likely ill intent. that a grand master had him on puppet strings, enabling ideas of revenge. a long-nosed demon pitted him against someone that could have been his friend. the path of destruction ren was warned about was the one akechi was on the entire time. ]

There were other persona users before us, which I've confirmed with some individuals I've met here. Someone like us being among them wouldn't be far-fetched.

[ he could have learned so much and figured it all out. if only they've met sooner. it'd all be so fascinating and exciting if he wasn't so royally screwed over by it. ren spoken to this being far more than he has. the mystery could still be solved. perhaps ren could do something about it.

"people have died" and akechi's gaze is averted again. off to the side somewhere. momentarily, he bites the corner of his lip in further thought. ] Probably not. Conversing would give it away and we'd either both stop or coordinate towards the same ends, right? Perhaps we could have even overth-

[ his full attention snaps back in an instant as if ren's question was a cattle-prod that suddenly shocked his entire system. there's nothing kind about his expression. the hands that dropped are balled up on his lap. he went very still. ] No. [ sharp and immediate. to shut down ren's entire line of questioning down there. ]

I didn't find an ally. You don't know anything about that. That man was never going to approve my goals.

( there's so much here to take in that ren isn't sure what to focus on. there are more persona users? potentially even like them? where are they? where were they this whole time? fifty more questions to ponder and enough to distract him from the way akechi suddenly averts his eyes, until ren asks his next question and the air between them entirely shifts with one word.

akechi's demeanor, the tone of his voice, all of it changes and ren almost jumps to his feet in some reactive form of self-preservation. almost. he manages to still himself, to keep his surprise to stiffening in the shoulders, a confused and careful stare. )

...You're right. ( his hand lowers to the bench, flattening between them as he holds akechi's eyes with his own, despite how urgently his body is trying to insist this has become a fight or flight ordeal ) The only thing I know with 100% certainty about Masayoshi Shido is that he's a shithead. ( he says it...so plainly. just a fact out there. ) I don't know what his motivations are, or how he found the Metaverse. I don't know why you were working for him.

( quiet. his voice lowers. )

Do you want to tell me?

( he knows it's a loaded question. akechi has his secrets and for ren, of all people, to ask him to spill them...he must know it will look bad if he refuses. even though offering him the choice is precisely the reason ren chooses the word want and not simply demanding to be given explanations here. no matter what the answer is, akechi loses. ren is aware of that.

so regardless of akechi's response, ren will interrupt him. )

I won't make you. You've already told me a lot.

( ren isn't smiling, but the honesty is there. there's a beat of silence where his fingers curl into his skirt, where his head tips forward a little so akechi can see he means no harm. )

I'm grateful that I could talk to you about all this.

[ he's been asking the same questions. where were they back in their own world? why didn't they interfere? it's been a theory that either all or the majority of their predecessors had perished and the ones that knew them had been too grief-stricken to attempt using their abilities ever again. something like that. perhaps igor just removes them once he's done with them, if they don't die trying to accomplish their goals. it's worth bouncing theories off of ren more at another time.

right now, every nerve of his went on high alert. one of the biggest cons of his entire operation was having to pretend to be on shido's side. ren assuming he was 100% for it is a hurtful insult, even if at the time he's from he might be justified for the thought. ]

He is, in fact, a shithead. [ yes. agreed. he agrees with a dull blunt voice.

the question ren asks is not one in his favor. stating his doesn't want to implies he'd rather keep all of his secrets, despite the contradiction of what he said moments ago that he wouldn't lie about things. telling ren is revealing far too much for probably nothing in return. it's an unfair question. "want" puts it in his hands, taking every blame and responsibility for asking it off of ren. it only makes akechi the asshole.

the only reply to it that ren was about to receive is him pointing out how unfair the question is but he's cut off before words leave his mouth again. ]

I appreciate not being forced into revealing all of my personal information in one sitting. [ dick. still, ren's being a little honest. he's genuinely appreciative he could speak about any of this and the feeling appears to be mutual. it eases the tension consuming his body. ]

Not having anyone to speak to about such things is ... difficult. I'd like to speak of this again sometime. [ he looks out behind them, the balcony again. it's not all that high up, really. ]

( adhering to a cumulative pattern, akechi's answer only fodders more confusion. he was working for a man he apparently did not care for, with a goal that differed from his own? it's no wonder ren looks at him like akechi has suddenly sprouted a second head. were they actually using each other to reach their respective means end?

...if they were using each other, were they aware of it at all?

ren's mouth parts as if to ask, but closes when akechi refuses to indulge him in that particular matter further, just barely masking his ire at ren's insinuations. there's a huff that expels from ren's chest, a sound caught between amusement and exasperation, before ren elbows him delicately in the side. )

Is that that new thing called sarcasm?

( bitch. you're the one that offered in the first place. ren isn't truly bothered by it though; as much as his reservations towards akechi continue to outline their interactions, he really does prefer this to the sticky smiles. it makes him feel like he can breathe around akechi a little easier.

actually, a lot of this has raised the weight from his shoulders, some he wasn't even aware he'd been carrying. )

Yeah... ( in response to it being difficult, to talking like this again. he's distracted when he says it, staring off between the bars of the balcony - reminiscent of that room, in a way. ren turns his head from it and reiterates with more focus, more certainty. ) I'd like that.

( he smiles, just a little, focused on the way akechi isn't focused on him. )

I do have one more question, if that's all right.

[ there could be answers, at some point. if ren pressed, maybe he'd feed a little more information. but not all of it. akechi certainly isn't ready to tread down that path of conversation. neither of them probably are. it's still something haunting him in the background of most thoughts, filling his head with doubts about his entire reason for living up until a certain point. shido, the person who cast an overbearing shadow on him from day one, still has an unfortunate hold on him because he had to go without any closure.

he knows ren wants to ask, everything about his expression to the way he's letting a breath go says he wants to ask. but he isn't and he can only appreciate him for not doing so. now isn't the time.

he elbows him back on reflex. but it's a straight jab. a clear hey, don't shove me. the collective history of being incidents of being elbowed in the side resulted in ren's version of it an anomaly by being completely harmless. it registers right after that this is one of those friendly gestures he's been neglected of experiencing properly and now he's gone and elbowed ren under the ribs. so much for breathing easier. one step forward. two steps back.

he raises his hands apologetically after retracting his arm, surprised expression and nervous laughter accompanying the gesture. ] Ah. Sorry...

[ he can salvage this. akechi starts sheepishly clearing this throat. LET'S PRETEND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. ]

It's fine. Feel free to ask away.

( what the fuck.

the immediate instinct is to retaliate, but ren staves that urge off, tempering it down to a grimace and holding his side. you see? this is exactly why he doesn't make a habit of touching people. he seems intent on shifting away until akechi apologizes, and though ren looks more put-off than actually mad, the crinkle in his brow does smooth out some at akechi's laughter. he exhales through his nose, can't quite work all of the grimace out of his smile, but he is smiling when he gestures behind them, over the balcony where faint, poorly played music drifts over. )

Do you dance?

[ how does physical contact even work?

ren's holding his side though he doesn't seem too bothered by it so it's safe to move on. still, goro is thoroughly embarrassed at his own impulse action - and ren's asking him to dance now. there's the briefest of pauses where he blinks widely at him only for all the tension he was holding in make him crack in the worst manner possible, he thinks. the situation has him caught in a fit of giggles that no amount of forced composure completely dissipate. straightening his back and trying to hold still just seemed to make it worse. an actor that can't keep a line straight and is now stuck on a blooper reel.

his eyes shut and he's putting a hand close to the side of his head, tucking hair behind his ear in a lack of knowing what else to do with his hands. ]

Do you... want me to dance with you? I do dance. In private. Sometimes. [ he looks back at him, pressing his lips closed to try not to keep the laughter at bay but it just turns into a wide smile. he points at ren's side. ]

Can you dance with an injury?

( what the hell is that noise? is akechi giggling? it's a sound ren thinks he's only heard once before and had been under the impression that it was either a) carefully crafted to be cute and endearing, as the rest of akechi is or b) a collective hallucination that he and the rest of the thieves agreed to dismiss with one shared look. now though, with akechi less than a foot from himself and stop-start giggles chiming in his ears, ren is forced to understand that the reality was neither.

auditory alone is pulling heat from his neck into his face, so visual details paired along - half-dressed, hair up, shoulders struggling not to shake - prove to be too much for ren to handle and he deftly turns his head from the imagery altogether. )

I mean... ( does he want him to? that's an awfully loaded question, that's not what he said, he was actually very careful not to say do you want to dance? ) Seems like a waste of the dress if we don't, doesn't it? And it is a party.

( but shit, yeah, he does. because he needs as much of a break from the tension as akechi, and if he only does it in private, then he can't be very good at it. another chance to show him up, right? right. let's focus on that and not the picture of how charming and embarrassingly sweet akechi dancing alone in his apartment must actually be.

with an airy chuckle, ren lets go of his side. )

It's fine. The bleeding is only internal.

( he stands, a motion pulled off with a deceptive smoothness considering how weak his legs feel under his skirt, and holds out his hand. it's closer this time than it had been at the beach, where he really only offered it as a test - this time it's more genuine, an honest invitation. )

[ he wants to cut it off and go back to being mad because it's easier. less confusing. he has no idea what he's feeling outside of embarrassment, though there's a mix in there of being genuinely amused. and some sort of massive pile of relief that somehow, magically and against every odd here, he didn't completely fuck this up and ren has not left him alone here. no violence.

it's so stupid and he thinks he's also embarrassing ren with any laughter he was letting slip out still. look at him. he had to look away. the second-hand shame must be real. he ducks his head quicker than intended and focuses on letting it die out to a halt. ]

Do you get to keep it? You could always wear it again later so it isn't a total waste. [ dancing with him is a bit of a waste, right? why ask that? why is he even at prom right now? this is a mess. he picks his head up. ]

That's a relief. Blood is supposed to be on the inside. [ jokes. jokes. he almost laughs again and makes a hiccuping sound instead because he's keeping his face straight and his mouth shut while following ren with his eyes. it dies out finally.

ren's hand is there again, offered out to him. he takes a breath first before taking it and standing to his feet. there's an open invitation. they already talked. technically, they could both leave on semi-good terms now. instead of trying to interact more. ren had an opening but he didn't take it. composure composure. ]

( the girl didn't make any plans with him to meet up again later, so as far as ren knows he's now acquired a very glittery piece to an otherwise plain-as-hell wardrobe. however, he doesn't plan to make a habit of wearing it, so anything worth remembering has to be absorbed into its threads tonight - a dance, akechi's laughter and the way it makes ren's face feel like a room on fire. this is fine. )

Let's try to keep it that way, yeah?

( a bit of dark humor. he does like his blood better on the inside, thanks, a sentiment he conveys through his sharp little grin and the squeeze of his fingers around akechi's when he stands with him. )

Well? ( his head tilts. he draws akechi back with him. ) Show me.

[ he feels out of breath - but that's probably from the laughter. it wouldn't be anything else. anything else is a different sort of dangerous. he nods at him, furrowing his brows through the smile he's wearing.

it's not fake, which is probably why it comes off a bit sad. nervous. uneasy. at least until he fixes it himself and it becomes a little less genuine. he tilts his head back, moving to put his other hand over the one ren's using to squeeze fingers and take a few steps to turn away from the bench and pull him around with him where there's more space. ]

How to dance?

[ more joking. do you even know how? he shared where he's danced before but admittedly it probably doesn't clarify how often he does that. it's not unskilled, he would think. probably raw? he's confident enough in himself to know he won't step on any toes.

they could rejoin the crowd but then all of ren's friends are there. he's not going to presume he wants to be seen dancing with goro akechi in front of them all. so he steps closer right here, taking a moment to look at the other and figure out the best approach. ]

You're in the dress, so traditionally speaking I'm leading... [ which means his hand goes on ren's hip. he's going for it. hand carefully being placed with the slightest hesitation then looking to his eyes with raised eyebrows. ] Yes? [ go ahead and tell him to remove that hand. ]

( he actually meant how you dance in private - ren knows how to dance. or, maybe he doesn't know, but he's confident enough to act like he does even if he comes off like some epileptic donkey to everyone else. the joys of not giving a shit what people think. except when it comes to his friends and what they think he thinks about akechi, because in theory he should be absolutely fine with this downstairs too, and yet, for some reason, he isn't. the thought curls his stomach in a way he's not really sure how to do deal with, the implication of questions he's not really sure how he would answer because for once, he doesn't know the answers himself.

like an explanation for how his breath catches in his throat when a hand touches his hip. it's nothing, the slightest pressure that can be easily knocked away if ren wanted to. and he does want to. but it's these arms, all right? akechi's, very bare an inch from ren's waist, and then his own, openly betraying him by pressing akechi's hand more firmly - both of them are to blame. )

If you want to be traditional about it.

( at least his voice came out a lot steadier than he feels, so he'll give himself mental snaps for that. his eyes flick up from beneath his fringe, he can't back out of this now because he'll lose - lose at what, don't even ask him, he'll just lose at whatever it is. actually, he'll swallow his nerves and double-up, slide one hand from akechi's wrist towards the inside of his elbow. )

[ some part of him knows what ren actually meant but he decided it couldn't be it. he went for the better option. the one that didn't involve him dancing alone in front of him to the slightly distant music that's not entirely on-key. he'll take ren with him for this. he wanted to dance with him or so he choose to believe.

it's a delicate hold on him. one hand holding his hand still, the other on his hip - just the lightest of touch that only settles in when ren doesn't argue against it. there's a firmer hold from ren. and all he does is smile about it like he won something. god, his heart is pounding in his ears he's hardly hearing anything at all.

he has no idea what he could've won here. he won not being shoved over? his pride certainly isn't going to let him back out of this now. that'd be losing. he shouldn't want to be this close but he is. ren has a hand on his arm now that raises hairs and he's ever grateful that there's gloves on at least one of their hands today. and taking another step closer. there's a distance between them but not a lot. not at all. ]

Only for positioning. I'm not sure I could keep up with it otherwise. [ he starts off swaying them and moving his feet a little. there's no counting, since it's self-taught. it's all improvisation. he's simply going along with the music until the song picks. then he's trying to spin them both around with a big grin on his face. it's a fancier and livelier move than the song merited but it's fun and maybe it'll throw ren off. ]

( it's completely out of place, but the first thing ren is reminded of is their battles. falling in sync with one another, seamless and natural, there were times where joker caught himself thinking that he and crow could have taken niijima's palace alone. thoughts he'd quickly shoved back into the ludicrous hole they sprung out of, because the person trying to kill you is the last person you want to consider being alone with, no matter how naturally it comes.

but things are different now. here. maybe? ren isn't entirely sure, but regardless, he can't ignore the familiarity, how he can read akechi's movements as easily as if he were a book - until he spins.

ren knows it was on purpose, akechi's grin is wide and white enough to tell him that, and if he had switched shoes with that girl he's sure he would have gone stumbling into the railing, possibly over it entirely to save himself the torture of a smug look. but he has his mercifully flat shoes and sharp reflexes to thank that instead of stumbling, ren ends up gripping. his hand flings up, gripping the side of akechi's shoulder to keep his balance until the world is slow again.

he survives, and that's bad news for akechi and his big grin because ren knows a thing or two about punishment. with his pulse in his head, his fingers traverse the hill of akechi's shoulder, feet moving steadily - forward, side, back - as their tips follow the curve of his throat, catch a loose bang on their way into his hair. delicately, it's tucked behind his ear, and then his fingers unfold to flick the small tail protruding from the back of akechi's head - the swipe of a cat's paw. )

You should do it like this more often.

[ the person he was supposed to kill is the last person he should have been spending time around. the person he did actually try to kill isn't someone he should be around. the person he died for, technically speaking, is another thing entirely. their movements had been oddly in sync while fighting and this just makes it clear it translates over into everything else like he always thought it would have. dancing where it's hard to throw him off even while intentionally trying to. the steps go along. it's confusing and conflicting. he doesn't know if he wants to flee, stay, or push him over so he goes toppling into the street below - cracking his spine on the pavement.

akechi is trying not to think of it. succeeding for the most part. that's why he can grin so easily. why having ren practically death grip his shoulder momentarily gets quick little laugh out of him in amusement.

he can't not think about how off it is though when they're too close and ren's hand decides to just start traveling over his head again. what kind of compliment... the tips of his ears, now with hair tucked behind it are probably red. god. he's making fun of him, isn't he? this is such a horrible idea. knew it.

the look on his face is embarrassed and utterly incredulous. ]

Is that how you like it? It's hardly professional.

( he's definitely affected and ren definitely notices. the way akechi talks to sounds almost accusing. it's sloppy, you would like it - something like that. rather, ren thinks it frames akechi's face nicely, makes his round features more noticeable, but there's no way he's saying that shit. )

I think that's exactly why I like it. We're well past professional by now.

( murder can do that. the messier akechi gets, the more he likes it, actually. so he'll leave his hand right where it is, curled lightly at the nape of his neck. he pulls them back into one long-step glide that follows the swell of a violin. )

This isn't your first dance, is it? You know, outside of your room.

( you know, with someone else. )

GENESSIA PROM!

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