(closed) rivers in the deseeeeeeeeeert

[forethinking]

Who: renren & closed threads!
What: aftermaths of the event, hanging out with the phantom thieves and getting a cute gift! more will be added, probably, i am like that
Where: his apartment, hblanc, and perhaps a few others.
When: 3 days post event onwards.
Content Warnings: as per usual, beware of persona 5 royal spoilers in here!

Comments

@ leo, aftermath

[forethinking]

(Undeniably, Leo didn’t recognize him, even when he was more than familiar with his Phantom Thief attire. Surprisingly, he didn’t hesitate to lunge towards him, blade aimed straight with the intent to hurt. Ren’s main concern had been to have them snap out of it and to protect them from the nightmare and ever since, he has not seen his orange-haired friend.

Ren doesn’t blame him, but at the same time, he can’t stop thinking about it. Staring at his notebook and spinning the pen around his fingers as he rests on a booth, Ren once again goes over the entry for what he had seen, trying to comprehend it and see from different angles. He needs to discuss this with Leo, to check if he’s alright. Mementos is not an easy place to be in back home and with the how it reacted here, it sure was traumatizing to most of the Void residents. He can’t help but to feel sorry, but that’s a conversation for another time.

He seems to be considering all this right on time though, with how he spots the orange strands entering the shop. )

[bachagain]

[ ... leo's still a somewhat jumbled mess that's been unfairly focusing on izumi the past couple of days... one part of it is for obvious reasons. the other part is that he's not sure how to confront the leftover pieces of guilt that embed themselves in his heart, all because of the other people he hurt.

he's scared, actually, about how they'll react. that might be another reason that this takes so long, but leo honestly can't put it off any longer. whatever the result, he has to accept it, and he understands.

so, he's here. it doesn't take much looking for leo to spot ren, hidden away in one of the booths. he approaches, appearing much less uncertain than he actually feels, and through the anxiety bundled in his stomach he says: ]

... Heya, Ren. You busy?

[ he's not gonna sit down yet. ]

[forethinking]

(Of course, Ren can see from a mile away just how uncomfortable Leo is. He can't blame Leo for it either.

With a shake of his head, combined with a 'no' in the form of a hum, Ren gestures for the other to come close, to sit, with nothing in his expression to indicate any sort of resentment.)

I was planning to go see you when my shift was over.

[bachagain]

[ ... well, it's not surprising that ren's reacting like this. it makes leo feel a little worse, somehow. like, it'd be much easier if ren was mad? but he's not going to be.

( it's also not surprising that ren's still working after... that mess that just happened... same old ren. )

it's a combination of all of that that gets a little smile showing up on leo's face, tired as it is, and he takes the seat he's offered, across from ren. ]

Mm, nah. It's good you didn't. I should be the one to come to you, 'cause I'm the one that did something wrong. I should try to do at least one thing right, y'know?

[ if everyone he hurt ended up seeking him out to check on him, that'd just be. Bad. ]

So... You don't gotta accept it or anything, but-- I'm really sorry, Ren.

@turing

[forethinking]

(The calm after the storm. Ren’s by himself in his apartment, just trying to organize things better now that it’s been a while. If anyone were to look too closely, they’d find many contrasting items that just don’t belong in the field of flowers that make up his room. Molotov cocktails in boxes stored under the bed, a drawer full of lockpicks of different sizes and uses, along with several smokescreens in case they need it. A large dagger, hanging from a hook on the wall. It’s fine, though, as for the sea of colors and floral fragrancies surely come in first view and tend to distract from everything else.

He’s finally done for now though, watering the last of the pots before pouring himself some coffee into an opaque black mug, which is when he hears the knocks on the door. Without much thought, Ren opens it to find nothing at first glance. At least he’s smart enough to look down… And oh! Turing. The boy kneels to greet them from a more comfortable viewpoint.)

Hey, Turing.

[begetblue]

[ Ahhh, the fact that so many people were willing to bend over or kneel closer to their level really did take the sting out of being one of the shortest, if not the shortest being in the void. Turing smiled. ]

Hello, Ren!

[ Despite everything about all of the nightmares and sometimes traumatic memories being recounted recently, Turing at least looked chipper on the outside. ...Uh, very chipper, actually. They were holding a small canvas as well, but only the back of it was showing for a very specific reason. Showing your art was different from actually making the art, and the former was a skill that they were still learning. ]

May I come in?

[forethinking]

(He thinks this every time he sees Turing, but they're SO adorable that's impossible not to shower them with compliments, a smile showing on Ren's lips as he opens the door wider and stands up to give them space to come in.)

Of course.

[begetblue]

Thank you.

[ Turing walked inside, and they might have been thrown off by the big ass knife hanging on the wall, if the flowers hadn't drawn their attention first. They had no toes to stand on the tips of, but that did not prevent them from trying to look in the slightest. If only they had access to the mesh! They wanted to know the scientific names for these flowers!! ]

These flowers are lovely! Where did they come from?

@ dead boyfriend

[forethinking]

(Ren has not properly left the room ever since he woke up under a pile of friends three days ago. There are drinks and ingredients in the fridge, new things to test to least lessen his worries, time to cool down from all the things he’s heard and experienced down in Mementos and, well. There’s the actual reason he hasn’t moved – Akechi, unconscious on their bed. His heart is beating, his chest raises and deflates, but he doesn’t wake, doesn’t move.

There’s the possibility that he might never do again, with the unpredictable element of the Void and their lack of understanding of it.

Even so, Ren is still holding out to hope. Akechi’s a force of nature and Ren refuses to doubt that, even when the situation is looking rather bleak. Akechi’ll pull through, whatever may be happening on the other side of his peaceful sleep and Ren should be here for him for when that happens. The younger boy can be found sitting on a chair next to the bed, Akechi’s hand resting under his own while the other holds his notebook loosely on his lap. His tiredness now can be seen, the entire room painted pitch black as Ren’d joined the realm of dreams as well.)

[simulatio]

[When Akechi finally wakes, it's very quick. The pitch blackness around the boy on the bed is blasted away as his eyes snap open and he jerks upright, inhaling a ragged breath and staring with wide, frightened eyes. He doesn't scream, he doesn't make a sound other than gasping for breath like he'd been drowning; his chest aches, his head hurts, his mouth is painfully dry. He sucks in a breath and coughs on it, almost choking. Without realizing, his hand has clutched tightly around Ren's, fingernails biting into the back of his hand as he tries to make sense of what's happening arund him.]

[forethinking]

(With how intense Akechi's awakening was, it was almost impossible for Ren not to wake up right along. After all, there's the assault of the light, the choking and the nails almost drawing blood.

He almost jumps awake, instinctively holding the hand that squeezes his own back before his brain properly wakes up- at least it was quick. Ren then takes the glass of water sitting on their nightstand to offer, sitting next to the other to offer support while Akechi rides the revival off.

He knew he would make it.)

Welcome back.

[simulatio]

[For a long several seconds, he just stares at Ren, eyes wide and breath shaky. After the nothingness, after the hellfire, everything seems far too normal, everything feels like far too much. He yanks his hand away, bare skin feeling like its on fire as he tries to make sense of his surroundings.

Another few seconds as he forces himself to calm his breathing, staring at the water as if confused by the concept before looking back to Ren. Ren. He's alive. Akechi has to keep it together, if for no other reason than he refuses to break down in front of the other boy.

So he takes the glass, draws on every ounce of his willpower to smooth his face into something normal.]

What... [he starts, swallows against a dry throat, and shakes his head, forcing his expression into its usual closed-off neutrality.] What happened?

@ cole

[forethinking]

@phantom thieves of hearts & affiliation

[forethinking]

spa day

[forethinking]

(Well, last time it wasn't a sleepover. It was just a hangout, after which they all woke up eons later with one piled on top of the other, and one didn't wake up. This time, he's hoping things will be a little smoother. If there's something he misses from home are these little moments with the Phantom Thieves between Palaces, their little parties, and hangouts. So, the idea of a proper sleepover had him smiling to himself while he steers the hot pot. It's something a little different, isn't it? Ren can live off of curry, but not all of them can, he's sure.

The noodles are ready, he turns off the portable stove and stretches his arms above his head. The girls should be here any minute now.)

slips this in here

[simulatio]

[Akechi's seated at their shared desk, watching Ren cook as if maybe he can absorb some of that knowledge himself. There's still a part of him that argues that it's pointless to try, when he isn't going to need it in the future once they return, but... well. It's always good to keep learning, and perhaps, if they're here long enough, he can learn to cook it for Ren.

Even still, it doesn't stop him from resting his chin atop his hand, elbow on the desk, and shaking his head at the other boy.]

You truly are incapable of doing something just for yourself, aren't you? You always have to look toward the needs of others.

[forethinking]

It's not a bad thing.

(Ren's smile was large to the point his eyes close, tiny half-moons showing just how happy he was. With a spoon, Ren takes some of the broth, an open palm hovering under it to avoid spilling and he puts it in his mouth, rather proud of himself for the taste.)

Want to taste-test?

[forethinking]

(It's even more nostalgic to have all of them in Heavenly Blanc, that's for sure. Ren can be found behind the bar, getting their coffees ready along with Yoshizawa, back turned for a second while he compares the two coffee blend jars in his hands. Sojiro has taught him that knowing your clients and picking the best things for them based on their personalities and preferences is the best way to run a business, so it's a skill he's slowly teaching Yoshizawa.)

Ann has a sweet tooth. (Which is why he shakes the container in his right hand, a sweeter, smoother blend with subtle bitterness to the aftertaste.) Akechi likes richer flavors. (Which happens to be the houseblend, although at times Ren mixes that with others for a surprise.)

Go ahead. (He smiled, eyes closing before gently he hands her to take the whistling kettle, waiting for the girl to pour the blend into the filter - checking for the right amount.)

Ah, Ann. I found some earrings and piercings at the beach. Do you want it?

[menaretrash]

[ Their merry band of thieves are indeed growing in number, and Ann's just glad to be surrounded by friends. She can't imagine how lonely and worried Ren must have been before the others started showing up, and how worried he must still be. He's quiet, but she knows him well enough now to know how he is, and he might not show it... but she knows he must be concerned. If they're all stuck here, what's going on at home? She gets it.

She's just glad not to linger on the what if's for now, though.

She's only half paying attention to the little lesson going on behind the bar, but she perks when she hears her name. Looking up from her perch on one of the bar stools, she blinks a few times. ]

Wow, really? Sure! I've always wanted second holes in my ears... thanks, Ren! [ She beams at him, pleased at the prospect of having shiny sharp things shoved through her earlobes. ] Hey! Think that's something we could do today?

@damien

[forethinking]

(Routine is getting more stable now with how time seems to have gotten itself back together. Blue and himself managed to put up a schedule, which now has been taped to the wall near the door, and right now, it's Ren's shift.

He's not alone. As many times before, Damien is sitting at the bar, waiting for his cup of coffee. By now, Ren can confidently provide the blend he knows to be the other's preference, so after a few minutes of brewing and tending to the preparation, Ren gently sets the cup on top of the bar for the other to enjoy.

And, of course, he pours himself one too.)

[abeautifulgame]

[oh, look. it's this asshole. the one that killed his favorite boy. never mind the fact that that's not how it went down -- he just knows that Akechi ended up dead, thanks to the thing wearing his face, and while it was all just a dream, it doesn't matter]

[where the fuck where you, Ren? why didn't you do something?]

[that in mind, he's scowling as he very deliberately reaches for the cup, sliding it close to himself. he doesn't drink from it, though. not yet]

We need to talk.

[forethinking]

(Those words are never something good, no matter who spills them. He'd noticed Damien's been less than his usual friendly, talkative self when he first walked in the bar, but alas. Ren figured the reason would surface sooner or later.

Of course, his eyebrows raise with surprise when he hears it mid-sip, calmly setting the coffee down to address it.)

What is it?

The Grilling of the Panther - ann&ren

[forethinking]

(Well, that was a trip he wasn't expecting. Perhaps he was too harsh on Ann, but what's done is done and he won't press it. Instead, he returns to his room when time is due, thanking Yoshizawa for being with Akechi while he was out and making himself a cup of coffee to think over.

She'll come if and when she wants to. She knows where he is. )

[menaretrash]

[ To be fair, it's a trip she wasn't expecting, either. She hadn't gone back with Ren once the fight had been broken up and she was finally released by Legion and Dragonite. She'd gone with Seto and had spent the majority of the rest of the day with him before sliding back into her own apartment.

It's not until a few days later that she finally comes crawling to Ren, knocking on his apartment door. She knows what's going to come, and she's been dreading it. But she's got a lot to say, too. ]

[forethinking]

(A few days mean that Ren can finally breathe easy again. Akechi has gone to God Knows Where and Ren for once finds himself alone in the apartment... So yes, he's playing Minesweeper as the storm breaks out outside. The game is paused though, when he hears the knock and opens the door.

... Ann?)

Hey.