(open) can't hold on or life won't change

[forethinking]

Who: ren-chan & you!
What: as per usual, a bunch of prompts in the comments!
Where: literally everywhere
When: through the month of ooc october.
Content Warnings: for now, nothing. will be warned in the top level!

Comments

closed top levels go here!

[forethinking]

blue&ren&akechi

[forethinking]

(Breaktime.

Ren strips the apron, leaving it at the designated spot before he picks the cup of coffee he'd just instructed Akechi on making. Time of truth, Ren gestures with his head to one of the booths, sitting with a hand supporting his jaw and elbow on the table. The smile on his lip is fond, eyes never leaving Akechi and just when finally he was about to take the cup to his lips and...

Is that Blue?)

disaster the second

[halloflamer]

Oh! I didn't know you were here already!

[Blue grins brightly as he pushes through the door, giving an energetic wave to Ren and.... oh, Akechi is here, too!?]

[Perfect.]

Hehehe, it's kinda rare to see you both here... [Those eyes... he's looking between them very meaningfully.] Am I interrupting something~?

[simulatio]

[With everything Akechi's been through in his life, one wouldn't think that something as simple as making a cup of coffee would make him nervous. And he certainly doesn't look nervous, even as he pulls off his own apron and folds it neatly to set aside. But he is unduly concerned about whether or not Ren will like his first attempt at brewing something that isn't just mixing some instant coffee into boiling water.

He's just sat down with his own cup of coffee when Blue enters, and his lips curve down into a frown. Yes, actually, he is interrupting.]

If we said "yes," would it make a difference?

[Congrats, Blue. You've leveled up closer into getting the real Akechi.]

[forethinking]

(Ah. He knows those eyes, Blue. He knows what you're planning, so he narrows his own at the comment.

But then Akechi speaks, and he isn't expecting the bluntness when it's not towards him. What the hell went down between these two, he doesn't know, but he sort of wants to laugh before he shakes his head, taking a sip of the coffee. It's good, perhaps just a tad watery, but nevertheless, it's good and he smiles to let the other know.

Look. Ren doesn't like talking much and it's kind of a habit now to just have Akechi be the talkative one between the two with a third party.)

lessons;

[bachagain]

[ in true leo tsukinaga glory, ren will find a piece of paper slipped underneath his apartment door with the following:

It's time!!!!
Yumenosaki Shibumenosaki or whatever! That one room with the piano!
I'm waiting, Ren ♪

gasp. it's a shoe locker love letter... surely ren won't leave this mysterious admirer waiting, right? whenever he does make his way there, leo will have candles and dinner waiting--

--no, no, ren's just gonna hear the sound of skillful piano music playing through the hallways if sound decides to work properly. and when ren opens the door... surprise, there's leo, sitting at the piano, his hands dancing along the keys and singing along to his song.

who knows how long he's been waiting? time doesn't matter here, after all.

either way, leo doesn't quite notice ren's entrance, so he's still playing away regardless. sorry for his rudeness, phantom thief. ]

[forethinking]

(He has been getting all sorts of note as of late, most of them rather inappropriate, so he instantly rolled his eyes upon seeing a piece of paper under his door. Surprise! It was not a "health tip" from Blue, but instead, an invitation.

Ren makes his way to the place - it feels like the more Phantom Thieves and related they get, the more familiar the Void gets, like their influence was getting stronger each time... And yet, it's never completely theirs. It's frustrating, somehow that blends into curiosity, much like everything does here.

He follows the sound of the piano, even if it leads him to different rooms with the inconsistency of it and finally, after almost feeling like he's partaking in a treasure hunt, he finds the other boy.

Ren beams, almost as if he was proud to see the skills he keeps hearing about and well, this is Leo in his natural habitat, isn't it? He doesn't mind waiting and listening until Leo is done.)

[bachagain]

[ then ren sat there for hours (?), ignored and alone....... okay no. he will have to wait a while though -- however much a while might mean in this place -- because leo tends to ignore absolutely everything when music is involved. with one song done, leo moves to the next. there's no vocals paired with this piece, just a whole lot of piano keys, but when that's done leo is absolutely turning towards the door as if looking for something.

... and then he jumps a little, as it's found. briefly, his mind brings up the painful stuff he knows about ren now, shocking as it still is, but he shakes that away. the present is the present, and the past is the past, so maybe he'll just focus on the former-- ]

Woah! Whaaaat, Ren, you really live up to your name! I was expecting you and I still somehow ended up surprised!

[ PHANTOM THIEF, ]

Didja just get here? Sorry, sorry, I get waaay distracted when I'm doing music, so I didn't even hear the door open!

[forethinking]

(It would be fine had that been the case! Ren finds a wall to lean his side against, arms crossed and the smile on his lips stands strong. He doesn't mind waiting when he's watching Leo have what seems to be the time of his life - basically what he envisioned it would be like when the other gets in contact with an instrument.

Ren himself jumps, just a little, when the other does - he didn't exactly come in stealth, hiding behind a piece of furniture and waiting for that precise moment in which he could make himself known.

So instead, he quietly laughs, shaking his head.)

I got here two songs ago.

VOID TOUR @ here, there, and everywhere!

[feale]

[ Once she finishes her coffee, Yoshizawa figures the first order of business is to learn more about this place in which she's found herself. As much as she might want to on some level, she can't allow herself to rely on Ren all the time; she needs to understand more about the Void so that she can move around more freely on her own.

Perhaps it's ironic, but the best way for her to do that is to ask Ren to show her around. And so...

Maybe you find them in Heavenly Blanc, where the tour starts while she continues to inspect the signage. Or maybe they're in Wall Market, with Yoshizawa happily picking at the different types of sushi and barbecue meat as they wander around under the neon lights. Perhaps you find them at the Messiah Station Square, or the Shibumenosaki Underground Academy, both places similar to home and yet not. Or maybe they're somewhere else entirely - the Void has a lot of places to explore, after all!

Let the tour commence! ]


( Obviously, both Ren and Yoshizawa will be replying to this thread!! The more the merrier, though! )

Messiah Station Square

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[Getting this far into Messiah was difficult at best, with that insect on constant patrol. Somehow Kaiba had managed to avoid her thus far. Like it or not he was making it his business to keep up to date on all the oddities that appeared in the void. Admittedly, he'd put this one off for a while and after seeing what it had to offer- he hadn't regretted the earlier decision. Of all the useless, out of the way time sinks.

He was descending one of the staircases carefully as water cascaded all around his expensive boots. He halted when he heard something from above]

Voices... down here?

[Why would anyone seek this place out? Intentionally? Grumbling, he debated continuing downward or heading back up to see who could be so foolish.]

[feale]

[ Honestly, Yoshizawa still isn't entirely sure how they made it to this place at all, or what it is. Practically nothing about the Void is making sense to her, not even with Ren's careful, patient explanations. According to him, where they're going is somewhere newer, a place that seems like Shibuya Station in some ways but isn't, much like the café Leblanc but isn't. Of course, getting down involves making their way down a flight of stairs that seems somehow more like a waterfall. Even with her even footing, she's nervous - or maybe that's just an excuse - her arms wrapped around one of Ren's, using him as a support.

She hears the grumbled complaint only a moment before the man in question comes into view, and one hand frees itself to wave in his direction. Unfriendly or not, this is a face she recognizes! ]

Oh, senpai! It's the man who helped me before...

[ Another wave, and she grabs at Ren's arm again, still careful in her movements - but excited to see someone she knows, even if he's 1. still mostly a stranger if she's honest and 2. kind of rude on top of that. ]

[forethinking]

(Admittedly, Ren himself doesn't come here often. Out of all the places in the Void, this has notoriously been the most challenging to reach - so only for his self-given recon missions.

Yoshizawa holding onto him for dear life is not an issue, much to the contrary. She's so tiny that the current could easily take her, so not only he trusts her to keep her grip steady, but he's also putting his strength to keep them both from being washed away. Thank God he works out.

A near heart-attack when she frees a hand, his hand curling around her arm to prevent disaster, but thankfully she was quicker than that.)

Kaiba?

(Ren blinks a few times. Not that he is surprised to hear that he is helpful, since Ren knows he built the accessways to the Wall Market, but alas. Hopefully he wasn't too rude to her.)

yumenoshibuya

[obsessiveness]

[ izumi finds himself more and more at the underground academy lately, which isn't odd at all considering how one half of this place was practically his second home back in his own world. still, combining this with a mall somewhere in japan is a little... jarring...

but his thoughts were interrupted as he hears voices from down the hall, and he peeks his head out from the music room to check out who it is. ]

Amamiya? Fancy meeting you here.

[ he sounds disinterested, but his curiosity has been piqued at the sight of a very familiar-looking girl. ]

...Huh, it's you. This world got you too, huh.

[forethinking]

(Not an orange head of hair peeking towards the hallway, so, if it's not Leo, who he now is sure inhabits the school, surely has got to be the other music person they've got.

Look, he's right. He offers a small smile to the words, before he realizes that--

Oh, that's right. Izumi knows Yoshizawa, even if it was through Ren's eyes.)

It sure is her. (He laughs - he probably did mention that some people might recognize her due to the memory swap they've had not too long ago. There's proof.)

[feale]

[ It's not quite the Underground Mall, but then again, no place she's found here is "quite" what it's meant to be. At least the stores have clothing. Even if it's all the same school uniform in a variety of colors, she'll at least have other options available than her gymnastics camp gear.

When the grey-haired head pops unexpectedly out of one of the rooms, she squeaks and moves a little closer to Ren. But it seems he knows Ren... and...

He knows her, too? For a moment, she's confused, a questioning glance between the stranger and her senpai. But then she remembers what Ren told her - something about memories being mixed up, switched between residents of this Void place, that there are people who know her despite her never having met them. And so Yoshizawa offers the young man a small, hesitant smile. ]

H-Hello!

shibumenosaki

[bachagain]

[ it's a given that leo would loiter more around the place that most resembles home, and in recent... days... (?) that's what he's done. should yoshizawa and ren make their way into the auditorium, they'll find leo there, shooting at targets with a bow he'd picked up from backstage. it's hard to see from their position, probably, but upon closer inspection they'll find that each arrow he sets free hits its mark.

well, except for the one he shoots when they come in. that one's close enough but mildly off, his slight jump from the sound of doors opening setting him off-center. this isn't as distracting as music is, as nostalgic as it might be, so his attention to his surroundings is still mildly intact. as intact as it can be for leo, anyway.

hope you enjoy the orange-haired disaster waving frantically from the stage with his free hand when he turns to see who came in! he calls out loudly across the room, thank you stage experience: ]

That you, Ren? Heya, Ren! And-- [ he definitely does pause over yoshizawa in a very transparent way. familiar, but... not quite? ahh ] --Who's your friend? C'mere, come closer, introduce me!

[ said as he turns around and readies another shot...... ]

[forethinking]

(The place seemed really quiet without the sound of piano filling the halls, he notes to himself. For a second, he almost thought that the schoolmall was empty - only to have his eyes prove him wrong. The hair is, indeed, very orange and very characteristic.

Ren smiles for a second, glad that he found the other man. He definitely wanted these two to meet. The thought is only halted by the realization that Leo is holding a weapon, the gaze shifting to see the bullseye marks and ah, that's very nice.

Not to mention the small relief that comes with knowing that Leo is not totally defenseless.

Waving back, Ren makes his way towards the other, gesturing with his head for Yoshizawa to do the same.)

This is Leo Tsukinaga, our very own musical genius. (And then he gives space so she can introduce herself. You can do it, he tells her through a nod.)

slides in here with massive p5r spoilers

[feale]

[ For a moment, she's convinced they're about to meet up with Ryuji. The quality of the voice is different, of course, but the tone is so alike that for a moment it fools her.

Of course, in the time it takes her to process the question that comes along with that thought - if Ryuji-senpai is here, why didn't the others say anything? - she's realized her mistake. If the vocal quality wasn't enough to give it away on its own, the shock of orange hair should have been. Not to mention that Ryuji, with his preference for shotguns, probably wouldn't care to spend much time on a sport as precise as archery.

So when she steps forward in response to Ren's gesture, there's a little embarrassment mixed in with the shy expression on her face. ]

U-Um. It's a pleasure to meet you, Tsukinaga-san! [ Whether he's looking or not by the time she says that, Yoshizawa steps into a bow. ] My name is Yoshizawa Sumire!

Shibumenosaki Underground Academy

[menaretrash]

[ This place is so weird. Ann knows this place, or rather, she should considering all of the time she's spent here at home, but it's not really the same. It's been mixed with something else, a... school, of all things, and now it's become lame and dull and confusing.

And to think, the only thing she could find here are school uniforms. What the hell is she supposed to do with an abundance of those? It hasn't stopped her, of course, from grabbing an entire armful of skirts and pants and shirts and jackets in varying shades, because now she's bound and determined to make them into something other than a uniform.

It's something to do, at the very least. And as she rounds the corner, she is able to easily spot two familiar faces, though admittedly... one is far more familiar than the other, and far less shocking. ]

Ren! Yoshizawa-san! [ She's quick to make her way towards them, lifting her free hand in greeting, before all attention is on the other girl. ] Hey, did you just arrive? Poor thing, I'm glad that you found Ren right away!

[feale]

[ Running into Ann here is definitely not a surprise. For one, both Ren and Akechi have already told her that she's in the Void with them. And they're in a mall. One that's partially a school, but also looks very much like the Shibuya Underground. And so there's only happiness on Yoshizawa's face when she waves, rushing forward a few steps to meet Ann halfway. ]

Takamaki-senpai! [ She nods. ] I haven't been here for very long at all. [ She thinks, anyway. Yoshizawa makes a face as she thinks about it. What is time? The only thing she knows for sure is that her senpais have been here longer than she has.

Heh. Now they're three times her senpais. Second year senpais, Metaverse senpais, Void senpais. The confused look becomes a smile, a small snrk of laughter escaping her before she can stop it. Her cheeks flush, and she clears her throat. ]

...But I was lucky to meet with senpai, and with Akechi-san... And I'm so glad to see you, too!

[ This place may not be home, but she's with the people who matter most to her, so that's a good thing, right? ]

cuddling edgelord

[forethinking]

(Leaving Heavenly Blanc in Blue's capable hands, Ren and Akechi make their way home. It's been a while by now and while it feels comfortable at this point, it's still a tad strange at times, just having the other right next to him at all times.

His routine ends up always the same - get home, remove shoes, water the plants, make coffee and now, he's lying on the bed, attempting to read this overly complicated book once again. Speed reading is great to get general concepts, but this requires a lot more attention and care for details than he can muster.

Finally, after rereading a line over and over, he caves with a frown.)

Goro, can you come here for a second?

[simulatio]

[If it's strange for Ren, it's doubly strange for Akechi. Akechi never had a cat at his side as a constant companion, or, well, anyone. More than once he considers just telling Ren that he'll stay in his own room for now; his shoulder isn't fine, but it's enough that he doesn't need the other boy constantly looking out for him.

But it's also nice, being able to stay with someone like this. Knowing without looking where the other boy is, hearing the sounds of him shifting or breathing. Akechi's seated at the desk with his notebook, gently tapping the end of the pen against his lips as he reviews notes he has memorized by now, jots down small pieces of things he remembers in case it becomes important later.

Maybe someday, the sound of his first name from Ren's lips won't make his heart leap in his chest. As it is, he keeps the weird little emotion from his face as he closes his notebook and glances over.]

What is it?

[He does not go there.]

[forethinking]

Confusing wording.

(Ren admits, but while his voice is as neutral as ever, the expression on his face is less so, a frown for the book and a scrunched nose for reaching out for help.

Perhaps he should have read more back home, he ponders, but with how the library never quiets with the sound of whispering - a lot of them regarding him and just how strange it is that the kid on probation is actually interested in studying, almost as if he's like everybody else - Ren much prefers to sit down at LeBlanc during closing hours, when he's tired and it's late, or read on the way to school, a little at a time.

That is, if he can snag a seat in the train. So naturally, the book Akechi lent him takes longer for him to interpret without the practice of intense reading.)

deep talks & music notes- leo

[forethinking]

(It's been routine by now to spend a while with Leo in the music room, and slowly but surely, Ren is actually getting the hang of how the notes sound on the piano. How to move the thin, long fingers on the black and white keys, probably an easy song or two can easily be played at this point.

But it's a break now instead of a lesson, the same fingers now mindlessly strumming guitar chords, not a melody or a song and much more a series of random notes with no apparent rhythm while he rests.

There's a coffee bottle on the floor, next to him where he's sitting, and he only stops the movement to pour some to the other man.)

Here.