[CLOSED] PHANTOM THIEVES + SHIHO ALL NIGHTER

[effinskull]

Who: Team Persona 5!
What: Ryuji decides it's time they all hang out. All Nighter time.
Where: Ren's apartment
When: Tonight!

[honestly, it had felt like forever since ryuji had hung out with his pals from back home. they used to go over to ren's house all the time, used to just chat until god knows when, and used to talk about their plans of action. he missed it, a lot, and he felt like he had been in a rut for a long time.

he needed a change, he needed some action, he needed to be deprived of sleep! so, earlier in the week, the group of friends would receive this text:

sup dudes!

So we need to just hang out and chill and do whatever, it's been way too long. Thinking Ren's apartment? Ann and Shiho are already there so I figured that would be easiest. Done and done! Get nice and rested up guys, we haven't done this in forever so let's pull an all nighter!

Whoever falls asleep first loses? y/n? Or last awake wins? idk. But yeah! I'll bring some snacks and some games, let's have board games and shit too! I'm stoked!

no one would have a chance to object, of course. so now it was hang out time!!

as everyone arrives, and as ren, ann and shiho will see, ryuji has indeed brought what he promised. he brought over a portable game from the arcade (A Bintendo Swutch?) in order for them to play on it. complete with four controllers! not only that but he has board games, chips, drinks, and some other candies. he also brought over coffee, which he knew that ren would be more than happy to make for them.]

Comments

Throughout the night!

[effinskull]

Video Games, 11:00 pm.

Alright!! [ryuji slammed his hands down on the table, getting himself pumped up! he stared down at the gaming device, grinning.]

So who is gonna challenge me huh?! We got some party games on here, Party Central or something like that, we gotta pick players and move around a board and do mini games and shit. Let's see who will come out on top!

Board Games, 1:00 am
[he was still going strong here! ryuji had busted out the board games now, and was currently wanting something easier to deal with. so, he held up two different ones.]

Snakes and Ladders? Or Checkers? I refuse to play anythin' like Chess, not my thing at all.

[come kick his ass.]

Starting to Crash?? 3:15 am
[so, by this time ryuji had definitely started to wear himself out. but he said they needed to do this, so of course they needed to! ryuji had wandered into the kitchen, now sitting down at the table, groaning and rubbing his eyes.]

I need... coffee... or anythin'.... [he lifted his head up and looked at the nearest person to him.]

How're you holdin' up?

??? ?:?? am?!

[ryuji could have sworn he got a moment of energy, just for a moment, before suddenly feeling like he was dying. he walked into the living room, fell to the floor, really, and was now staring up at the ceiling.]

Time... is it...? [whoever would be awake at this ungodly hour (5 am) inform him before he passes out, really.]

3:15am because I said I would do the thing

[phanther]

[The nearest person to him is currently resting against him, head on his shoulder because he's the closest person to lean against and that was as far as Ann had thought.

He won't get a verbal response. The fact that her only response at all is a steady breathing, coupled with her eyes being closed and the fact that she didn't really seem to hear him, probably gives him all the answer he needs.

She's been sneaking the odd power nap in here and there. But this time she seems to be truly out for the count.]

YAAY THE THING

[effinskull]

[suddenly ryuji felt some weight at his shoulder. he looked over to who it was, and none other than ann had taken a seat beside him, now falling asleep on him.

huh.

ryuji tried to shrug her, clicking his tongue.]

Ann, c'mon, we're tryin' to see who can stay up the latest. You really wanna be the first one out?

BOARD GAMES: CLUE

[redreigning]

( ren shifts through the games before he picks one up and holds it in front of everyone with an incredibly straight face. it's Clue. ) We should play this. ( that's not funny ren........... )

[wantsnudes]

[perks up suddenly!]

Oh, may I take a look?

[He reaches for the box. ...Just because he wants to look at the box art, not because he knows anything about board games.]

Starting to Crash?? 3:15 am

[alihacka]

[And here's Futaba with her 2nd (Or 4th? Who knew?) Munster of the night.]

So weak, honestly. This is nothing!

[She says that now, but she's already starting to feel it. Then again, 3AM wasn't hard to stay up to with what she did.]

[effinskull]

[ryuji blinked at her, slowly, his head bobbing a bit. he needed that coffee!]

If you're so awake, then make me some coffee. I can barely... get up...

VIDEO GAMES: NARIO PARTY

[redreigning]

( you would think, given his position on the team and general color motif, ren is a shoe-in for the main, red, mustached-man himself - but the decision he's caught in actually comes down to boshi (the closest thing he can get to a cat) or ruigi (the overlooked and horribly bullied underdog). in the end, he can't say no to the bullied, so ruigi - nario's lesser loved borther - it is!! ) Let's-a go. ( who's ready to put their social link in reverse. )

[effinskull]

[ryuji had already chosen his Main Squeeze in this! he went right over to the monkey looking one and chose it, grinning at ren. konky dong it is!!]

Alright! You're goin' down dude!

3 am

[redreigning]

( ren would love to get up and make the coffee but unfortunately, a very sleepy artist has made a home of his shoulder. he huffs, mildly annoyed because he can't move but mostly amused because it might actually be the first time ren has seen yusuke's face not pinched with some form of dramatics. he looks so relaxed. so soft and peaceful. sweet dreams, little fox. ) Hey ( ren pushes at ryuji on his other side to get his attention and points at a marker lying innocently on the table ) pass me that. ( these are bad friends )

[wantsnudes]

[BAD FRIENDS WHO SHOULD FEEL BAD... This is a very good nap, though, and Yusuke just mumbles something incoherent as if Ren's request was aimed at him, before dozing off again.]

[redreigning]

I want it stated for the record that our apartment was bullied into this.

( his player may have said yes but ren has a tendency to just get STEAMROLLED by whatever ryuji wants to do so here they are! at his and the girls' very nice apartment! there's cheetos dust on the chair it took him three work shifts to buy!!! )

[alihacka]

Did they demand a ransom?

[redreigning]

I said bullied, not taken hostage. ( well..considering the circumstances i guess it is actually like that. he sighs. ) But yeah, Ryuji demands a ransom every day of my life and it's called my love and patience. ( we are all ren. )

[wantsnudes]

[Yusuke arrives armed with a mountain of snacks (who knew Genessia had their own brand of Jagariko?) and his contribution of something fun to pass the time if they get bored of games (art... documentaries...?). Don't ask him how much he spent on either, he's trying not to think about impending financial doom.]

Staying awake all night is a simple task for myself. Sleepless nights can be some of the greatest fuel for creativity.

[tldr: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED]

[alihacka]

Let's go then, Inari. Don't you dare disappoint me with such a brave statement.

[wantsnudes]

You shouldn't even count as a competitor here. Even if you pulled an all nighter, it would be because you slept all day.

[effinskull]

Eh, quit you're braggin'! I'll beat you for sure.

[this is a challenge he will not lose! ....well, he will probably lose, but he won't give up without a fight!]

But if you put on those art documentaries, everyone is sure to fall asleep right away.

[wantsnudes]

Just what are you insinuating, precisely?

[he came here to have a good time and he's feeling so attacked, etc]

[phanther]

Well, just so long as you keep your inspiration to paper. I'm pretty sure we're not allowed to draw on the walls or floor.

[And she's fairly sure their landlord isn't going to make exceptions because the art is actually good. Which is a shame, because otherwise she'd imagine Yusuke's contributions might actually add value to the place.]

[phanther]

(pre-)arrival/early evening

[Ann's never really hosted a gathering of friends like this before but because it's her closest friends involved she's determined to give it her best shot. Before people even begin showing up, Shiho and Ren will probably find her tidying up, arranging snacks and drinks - which includes putting away the results of the grocery run she makes at some point - and generally making sure there's enough space for everyone to chill out without destroying the place.

It's possibly a little much for something that's just for Shiho and the Phantom Thieves. Call it her expression of how excited she is for the chance to hang out with everyone - or everyone who's here, anyway. That, and the only example she really has to work with is her parents' fancy gatherings on the rare occasions they were home to play host.

And as people arrive, she's there to greet them, take anything they've brought with them and gently warn them about leaving the place intact once they're done. It's possibly too much energy to be spending when there's a lot of night left to go but right now, Ann doesn't care.]

Midnight

[It's safe to say Ann is starting to struggle. She's not usually one for late nights, certainly nothing to put her in the same league as some of her friends, but while she doesn't really care about winning (because she thinks that's a dumb thing to compete over, thank you) she does care about not missing out on time with her friends.

And so she's relying on coffee and sweets to keep her going, hoping she can stretch things out at least a little longer. Though it does come with an observation she can't help letting slip.]

I'm so glad I'm not working for a couple of days. And that my agent can't see me right now.

[And that worries her all the more here because Ren's already pulling in most of the rent and she's not sure what she'd do if she lost her job here.]

Into the AM hours

[The later it gets, the more frequently Ann can be found resting her eyes or curled in such a way that it looks like she's fallen asleep. In some cases, she's still awake - and will soon look up if anyone comes near her, or can otherwise still respond as though she's been paying attention the whole time.

Other times? She is actually asleep and it's going to take a little more to get her attention, if someone is brave enough to do so.]

[V SERIOUS PT DISCUSSION - ARE PT STILL PT IF THEY AIN'T STEALING HEARTS]

[redreigning]

Living Room - 10:00 pm

( before the festivities start, ren puts on his leader hat and orders a collective meeting in the general area around the coffee table. he's on his knees on the floor, very much wishing he had a morgana in his lap to pet and calm some of his nerves, but he has most of his friends here and that will do enough. shiho has been sent out for food and will be returning soon, so they can't spend longer than an hour or so on this. ren exchanges looks with each of them before starting. )

Ryuji brought this up a while ago - sort of - and I've been thinking about it since then, so this is probably as good a time as any to have a proper discussion about it. Yusuke, I'm not sure if you're aware of this, I know you just arrived here recently, but I think at least everyone else knows that we're able to summon our Persona in this place, right?

( another look around, presumably collecting nods, to which he answers with one of his own. )

At first, this relieved me. I thought that meant for sure that Genessia had to be some extension of the Metaverse, and thus there had to be a way home through it - but I've since learned this isn't the case. The MetaNav isn't even accessible through the phones we were given. On top of that, this world doesn't seem to be nearly as corrupted as ours was - is? ( pause. he looks down at the table, and then shakes his head ) ...Anyway, that doesn't mean there aren't still some questionable people here, and so I want to hear what everyone thinks about continuing as The Phantoms, here in Genessia.

( truthfully, ren wants to. it's not just some lingering sense of boredom, a lack of excitement or attention, being a phantom thief had filled him with purpose, and if he can have that here, in some context or form - he wants it. but this isn't just about him. his fingers curl into fists on his lap. )

Without the Metaverse as a conduit for changing hearts, I'm...not sure how we would go about this. To be honest, I'm not sure we're even a necessity to this place - there are other vigilantes like us, and the police seem surprisingly competent, but...just because we don't have to do something, that doesn't mean we shouldn't. If we saw something that was wrong, I don't think any of us could just ignore it. Rather than stopping corruption, maybe our goal here could be preventing it?

( carefully, he looks up, gauging the others' expressions. )

What do you guys think?

[effinskull]

[ryuji was the first one to speak up on this subject, but of course.]

Hell yeah! Are you kiddin' me? I've been waiting for this moment for so long! We gotta go back to being Phantom Thieves, we can't just quit because we're here! There's gotta be people here that are corrupt enough to have their own palaces and shit!

[but. still. they don't have the app, so...]

...We just gotta figure out how the hell we can enter a Metaverse here- uh, right?

backdated to whatever night in June this was; closed to akechi

[redreigning]

( it's nearly 4 am when ren wakes up, realizing he must have dozed off in the middle of the last movie they watched, since the dvd menu is now playing on loop. he pats around for the remote and shuts it off, blinks tiredly at the sleeping thieves scattered about the room, plus one shiho curled in a chair under a throw blanket. rather than putting himself back in the same position, ren pushes from the edge of the couch and makes his way to the kitchen, where he quietly pours himself coffee. now that he's awake and aware of it, the room has chilled without all the movement and energy from earlier, making him extra appreciative of the warmth the cup provides for his fingers. his intention is to head for the AC unit in the hallway, but as he's turning out of the kitchen, that's when he spots it - the faint glow of a cellphone's light. akechi is sitting alone, at the far end of the room and away from everyone. as usual. actually, the moment ren sees him, he realizes he had just assumed akechi left at some point. so he turns to him with no small amount of surprise on his face, though it might be difficult to make out in the dark. ) You're still here. ( no questions, no annoyance; a simple observation, one that almost sounds as if he's speaking to himself. not that it matters, because he still makes his way over, following that light that glows like a soft blue halo around akechi. he doesn't ask to sit beside him, just plops down like he had been sitting there all along. up close, he can see that akechi's lids have already fallen halfway over his eyes, may be fluttering just slightly in an effort to stay focused on whatever it is he's reading, or an effort to keep them from immediately flicking to his new companion. ren just watches, both hands on his mug, until he recognizes the pattern of that notorious sweater vest. ) Are you planning to sleep in that?

[misalignment]

[ it goes without saying that goro akechi is certainly the winner here. everyone else fell asleep at one point or another. he watched as the party when from lively conversations to quiet murmurs to the soft breathing of several sleeping bodies around a room. winning the no sleep contest when you have access to caffeinated beverages and tend to stay up a little late anyway because of a long history of all-nighters and troubled dreams.

victory! ...but kind of a hollow one. there's no prize to this contest outside of bragging rights that he won't be using. and he's so very tired now but not allowing himself to join the rest. what if he talks in his sleep or something? jolts up because there was blood on his hands and has everyone stare? that'd be so embarrassing. no thanks. pass.

he's been struggling for a good while when ren settles in next to him, focusing (as well as he can) on reading a book stored in his phone he's already exhausted a few times since being here. He doesn't want to look at him. He should just keep reading the last 10 lines... the last 9 lines... the last 10 lines... The same sentence over and over. Ah. ]

Too late to go now. I live in a different city. [ It's an obviously tired tone, soft and hushed to keep the room mostly silent in respect for everyone else but also because there just isn't enough energy inside to make it any louder.

He makes an incredibly small questioning tone. His eyes momentarily drop completely before he opens them enough to look further down from the phone and at himself. ] No. I wasn't planning on sleeping.