tabularasa_rp | (closed) rivers in the deseeeeeeeeeert

(And she just blurts out an apology first thing... Ren hasn't been very fond of these lately, not without both sides putting their pieces out there and well, that feels much more important than apologizing first hand.

Ren owes her an apology too, after all, but he'd like to tell her his thoughts first. So, before he can say anything, he opens an arm for her to hug.)

Come here.

[ She can't help it... it's just how she is. She wanted to get it out before she ended up becoming a weird, overemotional, nervous wreck.

As soon as his arm is open, she walks into it, wrapping both of hers around his body. ]

I should have come to see you sooner... I was a little embarrassed...

You are here now, aren't you?

(That's really all he needs to know. He keeps the hold on her before they come in and he closes the door behind her.)

What happened?

Yeah, but too little, too late...

[ Read: she knows she should have come sooner. She's glad to not be in the hallway anymore, at least. ]

I screwed up... everything happened so fast. I was in a shitty mood because Akechi-kun hadn't awakened yet and I was trying to get my bearings and I just... heard a lot of noise in the hallway and it pissed me off. And it was Seto-kun and Iwaizumi... they were fighting.

[ She glances off to the side, shifting a little bit. ] Seto-kun was the one on the ground, and I didn't know what happened, but I just... snapped. And attacked Iwaizumi...

There's no such thing.

(Again, the important thing is that she came around, isn't it? He isn't about to sit on a chair, this isn't an interrogation, so he just leads her to the empty bed where they can sit and talk more comfortably.)

... Seto-kun? (Wait, is that Kaiba? She doesn't even call Akechi by his first name, from what he knows. Just how close are they? Ren frowns, confused, but willing to revisit this later.)

Do you know the full story now?

Maybe...

[ Yes, this is true, but it still doesn't excuse the fact that it took her days. She will sit next to him, at least, and fold her hands neatly in her lap. ]

Yeah... [ Her hands fidget at the mention of Seto, in fact, and she swallows hard, keeping her gaze firmly down at the floor as if it's the most interesting thing in the world. ]

I do. And I've already apologized to Iwaizumi. Did you know he enjoys volleyball? He's asked me to play with him.

I know. I went to see him.

(Because of course Ren did. It was no way to arrive, with Kaiba being possibly the first thing to be seen and heard. Ren felt like making amends, even if he had little to do with it.)

I promised him I'd try to get a few matches happening. (But that's not the point of the conversation. Ren sighs, taking her hands into his as a way to ground, to comfort.) I don't need apologies, but I'd like you to work on it.

(Whatever action she takes, it surely will end up reflecting back on her in the future. He'd know this.)

I owe you an apology.

Ah...

[ Well, that's nice! And also embarrassing on her end, because honestly she fucked up and she feels like Ren did what she should have done to begin with. But it's over and done with now, and she can't go back. ]

Yeah! He's pretty excited about it, we've been practicing almost every day. [ Because who is she to say no, especially since it makes the other young man so happy? As Ren takes her hands, she tenses for a few moments, before gently squeezing his hands and glancing off to the side. ] But I do owe you an apology. I acted out and I know that reflects poorly off of you... I didn't mean to. I just saw Seto-kun on the floor and... I dunno. I snapped.

[ Snapped is one way to put it, at least. ]

What? No you don't, not at all. You didn't do anything wrong, don't be silly.

That's not my concern.

(He says it with conviction towards her apology - because to Ren, it's not about him at all. It's about her.)

Ann. It could reflect poorly on you. Forget about me. (He sighs, but the other words call his attention.)

Of course I did. I could have been nicer. (At least he knows. He was not in a good mood, for the aforementioned reasons, but it doesn't justify it.)

Edited 2020-11-18 21:05 (UTC)

Me? I don't care what anyone thinks about me. [ Because she stopped giving a shit about people's opinion of her years ago, and this is no different. ]

You didn't need to be nicer, you were fine. You had every right to be mad. [ She doesn't blame him in the slightest for that, thanks. ]

I was mad because I thought you made the decision of punishing someone without talking to us. I also didn't ask.

(She might have stopped giving a shit, but Ren knows exactly what that kind of reputation is like and how much it sucks.)

I'm sorry.

No, no... I just... took my really shitty mood out on Iwaizumi without thinking. I was upset because Akechi-kun wasn't awake and I was worried, and then they were so loud, and Seto-kun was on the floor and I was worried about him, too... I just lost my temper.

[ Her reputation doesn't mean anything to her, never has, never will. Her friends, though? She doesn't want theirs to get screwed up just by associating with her. ]

You don't need to apologize, Ren. But I'm sorry, too.

He is now.

(Well. Clearly. Dead men don't walk out of beds and Ren wouldn't have moved him if he was still breathing.

Again with the Seto-kun thing, huh, Ann?)

Let's just move past this. (Ren prefers to see actions rather than words, anyways. He intends to not let his mood tamper with his behavior again.)

... Seto-kun, huh?

I know, and I'm really glad for that. How is he doing? Does he remember anything that happened?

[ She hopes he doesn't, for his sake... ]

Okay. [ She's just glad it's over, and she's glad that, yes, she and Iwaizumi are actually becoming really good friends and things seem to be on the up and up after everything's said and done. ]

.... [ Ann blinks, and turns bright red, quickly looking off in the opposite direction. ] I mean, yeah! He and I are friends, you know?

He's fine.

(But to her second question, he shakes his head. Thank God he doesn't... But Ren has told him everything by now, or at least what he saw and knows.)

... Ann. You suck at lying to me. (Or to anyone. She's red as hell.)

Edited 2020-11-18 21:43 (UTC)

I'm glad nothing crazy carried over, at least.

[ Fortunately. No bullet wounds or crazy Persona overtaking bodies..... ]

I'm not lying, we are friends! [ THAT part isn't a lie, at least. She clears her throat, pointedly staring at the wall. ] We've spent a lot of time together, especially lately.

He has a scar.

(And psychological damage??? More??? But he's incredibly strong, a force of nature personified, he'll be fine. They'll heal.)

Not that. (And, much like the troll he is, Ren pokes her reddening cheek with the largest grin he can manage. She's cute.) I am talking about this.

Edited 2020-11-18 21:57 (UTC)

...Where he was... shot?

[ Oh, lordy. She's going to have to... figure something out. She'll have to bring Akechi a gift or something, maybe pick up a cake from the Church. A get well soon... thing? A cake that says 'GLAD YOU'RE NOT DEAD' or 'WELCOME BACK'? ]

Eh? [ She can feel that poke, and she goes rigid, immediately reaching up with both hands to cover her cheeks, looking absolutely horrified as she quickly looks back at poor Ren, who looks so amused. ] I... I dunno what you're talking about! I'm just... under the weather, that's all!

Yeah.

(I MEAN why not right???

God, he is such a fucking troll, because he just stares at her, the little shit, like he's absolutely sure of what he thinks he knows.)

Again, you're really bad at this.

Is... is it bad?

[ Does he look like an extra from a zombie movie...

This is just getting worse and worse. She squirms a little bit and huffs. ]

I'm not! I'm not, I swear I'm not! It's fine, everything is fine! We're just friends.

Not so much.

(He chuckles a little, rubbing his hand against her back.)

I'll let you lie to yourself for a little longer.

I'm glad, Akechi-kun is too pretty for scars.

[ Can she just lay down and die right now? Please? ]

I'm not-- it's not a lie! It's fine! Really! [ You know what she's going to do? She's going to laugh. Really hard. Really fucking nervously. ] It's fine, we're fine, everything's fine! It's great! Everything is just wonderful and great, and friendship is just wonderful! Hahaha, it's great. Really.

[ Do you believe her yet or-- ]

(The comment on Akechi's face makes him laugh because, well, is she anything but right?

And she... Starts to laugh maniacally. He leaves her for a second to get her a cup of water, but really, he knows if he does what he does best and be silent she might actually tell him something.)

Edited 2020-11-18 22:24 (UTC)

[ She's still laughing and chattering nervously away even as the poor man stands up to go get her water, and the longer it goes on, the harder she's laughing, because really, isn't the entire thing just so fucking funny?

Except when he returns, the laughter stops abruptly and she takes that glass of water, sinking down as if that will one thousand percent protect her from anymore embarrassment, and she takes a sip as if that laughter never even happened. ]

Thanks! Uh... so yeah, that happened. A thing happened.

[ She doesn't lower the glass immediately, instead speaking into it... sort of. ]

....we'regoingonadate.

(God, he knew it. All he had to do was quiet and-- Huh??? HUH??

Ok, she is into someone, that was nice, it was cute, but-- HUH??

He coughs, almost desperately, because really he choked a little bit by inhaling saliva from the surprise.

Well. Let's look at this objectively. Kaiba... Is an asshole. He truly thinks that Iwai did the Lord's work by striking him. Two. There's an underlying concern. Kaiba doesn't really seem to know how to handle people and Ren worries about her being mistreated... But then again, she could have opposed his relationship in a heartbeat. She'd have receipts, an actual reason over suspicion and Ren wouldn't know what the hell to do if that was the case... But she is happy for them. She trusts Ren. He wouldn't put her in the same hypothetical position, even if he is worried sick. She... Can take care of herself.

Ugh. What's just is just... And he loves her more than he dislikes Kaiba. So.)

... I see. (Finally, with his voice returning to smoothness after being hoarse from the SURPRISE.)

Listen. Don't... Let him be an ass. (NOBODY mistreats his best friend... But he trusts her to know what she is doing at the end of the day.) Are you happy?

Edited 2020-11-18 23:28 (UTC)

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