tabularasa_rp | (closed) rivers in the deseeeeeeeeeert

I'm doing this for me too.

(It's nothing but the truth. Surely there's the part where Akechi is right, Ren is doing it for the girls, to give them a better time than they have had in the past months. It will be good for them to have all of them together for a meal, something light and fun to help wash down all the shit they've all been through.

He needs this too. Ren took so many hits the past months, and there hasn't been a second to be together like this, just enjoying everyone's company over a hot meal. Some peace to be among loved ones, strengthening bonds.

Carefully, Ren walks over to hand the spoon holding some of the broth with a little bit of meat to offer the other. It'd be a lie to deny his nervousness over what Akechi might think of his cooking, specially when it's something he doesn't put together often. Ren curls the tips of his hair while he waits.)

Of course you are.

[He takes the spoon, grateful Ren didn't try something overly-sappy like trying to feed him, and gives it a taste. As usual, it's leaps and bounds better than anything he used to eat in the past, absent the bland salt-and-cardboard taste of microwave meals. In spite of himself, he relaxes, the set of his shoulders easing somewhat in a way that only Ren's cooking seems to inspire.]

What do you look so nervous for? [He shakes his head at Ren as he returns the spoon and shakes his head.] Delicious, as always. You have quite the talent for cooking.

[Meanwhile Akechi, in spite of Ren's best efforts, still struggles to put together a decent curry. The last batch in Heavenly Blanc he'd tried to make, he'd turned the heat up to its highest setting for the sake of efficiency, which resulted in a burnt sticky sludge that took forever to scrape clean.]

I'm sure your friends will enjoy it.

Edited 2020-11-22 22:39 (UTC)

I don't cook it often. (And he wanted them to like it as well, but hopefully that is enough explanation as to why he was nervous. It's not curry, the one thing he knows he can cook blindfolded and it would still taste somewhat okay. In regards to Akechi's cooking skills, Ren can tell the other pays attention when he chops, dices, and fries, almost like he was trying to see the technique behind it.

Ren would gladly teach.)

I'm glad you like it too.

[ It's probably a good thing that Yoshizawa arrives when she doesn't, and not a few minutes before. When she does arrive though, she's also holding food - bento that's almost cute, but is missing some key ingredients to serve as decoration. Still, it will taste good, that much she can promise, and it will add to the variety of food that they've got.

She knocks on the door of Ren and Akechi's apartment, and then rebalances the pile of containers in her arms. ]

Senpai? Akechi-san? It's Yoshizawa.

[Considering Ren is still watching the pot, Akechi pushes himself to his feet to get the door. It's the least he can do, considering he's not doing anything else to really help this get-together. A little belatedly, he's wondering if he should have? That's what friends do for something like this, isn't it? He could have gotten some food from wall market, or perhaps convinced the little paint-creatures to lend him some paint. He does still have those battered playing cards he found on the beach, but that doesn't seem to be enough. If only he'd found a chess board... wait, no, that's only two people. Fuck.

It's with those thoughts in mind that he opens the door for Yoshizawa, his lips curved into a dark frown as he's realizing that maybe it would have behooved him to put in one (1) effort. Especially when he sees that yes, she brought food. Fuck. Fuck. It's not his fault he doesn't know what teens do during a party!]

Ah, Yoshizawa-san. Come in.

[Don't... mind his sour expression. That's just his face, really.]

Do we need anything else, Ren? I can go get it.

(Ren doesn't mind doing all the work - this is not even said in a bad light. He enjoys doing things for others, which, well, was basically the topic of the conversation they were having previous to Yoshizawa's arrival.

The thief can be seen in the background with a wave accompanied by a very happy greeting. He has a pot to take care of, so he stays where he is! So of course, with Akechi's back turned to him, he can't see his stupid face.

Of course Ren has everything ready.)

No, we're good.

[ Yoshizawa waves back to Ren, an act that once again upsets the balance of containers in her arms, and offers Akechi a small, hesitant smile. She can't tell what has him unhappy, but something certainly does. Still, she steps inside as she's invited, and moves to go and put the containers down where she can find free space, gesturing at them. ]

I know you said you were cooking, but I thought it might be fun to make bento, too...

[ Besides, everyone knows that her stomach is bottomless, so... ]

Is there anything I can do to help, Senpai? Akechi-san?

I didn't realize this was the kind of get-together where one was meant to bring something.

[He's still frowning, even as he jerks his head toward their shared table to indicate that Yoshizawa should set her containers there. At least they'd managed to scrounge some extra furniture from the beach, even if the water damage and other assorted dings and nicks in it are rather irritating. Not to mention the physical exertion of having to haul a couch up the stairs and tilt it through the doorway? Terrible, but at least now there are places to sit other than the bed and desk.

He does manage to sublimate most of the venom in his voice. It really is his own fault for not checking with Ren beforehand to see if he needed help. He's simply not used to- well, any of this, really. Gatherings of friends, for no reason at all.]

Edited 2020-11-29 23:32 (UTC)

[Meanwhile, here Haru was having no idea how to approach this. She was excited at the idea of having a sleepover as she never experienced it with real friends before! On the other hand, she wasn't sure how to feel knowing Ren and Goro were staying in a room together.

Maybe she was reading too much into things but she knew just couldn't ignore the both of them. Perhaps a sleepover is what they need to talk things out.

Taking a deep breath in, she looked down at her arms. A couple bags of snacks should do the trick, right? And maybe a couple of movies too?]

Ren-kun? Akechi-kun? It's me, Haru.

(There's a lot going on - but at least the hot pot is ready. In one quick motion, Ren uses one hand to close the pot with the lid and the other to turn off the fire. Of course he can hear the conversation next to him, so finally, he takes a soda from the fridge to offer Sumi with a smile.)

There's nothing. Just make yourself at home.

(And of course, he catches the frowning adorning Akechi's face. There's no need for one, Ren didn't need help for anything specific, and besides...) You're providing the space too. You can relax. (He conts the back and forth to the beach and the carrying of furniture part of it too. If Akechi hadn't helped, they'd all be sitting on the floor and the mess afterwards would be greater.

The sweet voice cannot be mistaken - Haru has finally found her way to their apartment. There's a rush of anxiety that runs through Ren's spine. Perhaps he should have told her by now, but he hasn't found a way... Somewhat, somewhere in him expected it to be assumed when he said they live together, but alas, something such as an assumption cannot be considered truth. They've got only one bed, after all. It's Ren who gets the door this time, a small smile on his lips as he steps to the side to let her in.

Their room, unlike many others, is decorated with flowers, most of which hang from the walls and ceiling, making the room a colorful field of plants with a splash of floral perfume when one first comes in.) Hey. You've made it.

[ Fashionably late, Ann makes her way over to the apartment as well, humming and carrying a small makeup bag under her arms. Naturally, it's filled with the essentials -- nail polish and a few makeup items, but she thought she'd bring it anyways. Just in case anyone decides they want... a manicure. Ann will always be down for giving manicures.

She's learned her lesson, thank you very much, about just opening the door to this particular apartment, and even though she's pretty sure she's the last one to arrive, she's going to knock, thanks. ]

(Still blissfully unaware that there is a PROBLEM there because nobody has EVER TOLD HIM, Ren, who was the closest to the door having just closed it behind Haru, opens it for Ann.

His curious eyes go straight to what she was carrying.)

Hey. (He steps aside for her to enter the room and finally, they can begin this party!) What do you have there?

[As Haru stepped into the room, she couldn't help but be amazed. She didn't know how long Ren or Akechi had been here but she could tell it was quite a while. With so many flowers, it seemed like she walked right into a floral wonderland!

Before she could say anything else, she looked to see Ann.]

Oh, hello Ann-chan! What do you have in that bad?

[ And now all the senpais are here! She's hardly had a chance to sit down when Haru arrives, closely followed by Ann, the latter of whom is holding a bag that looks suspiciously like it should contain makeup. She greets them both with a bow, and for a moment there's temptation to repeat the question already asked twice, but instead she moves to Akechi's side, her voice low as she looks up at him. ]

Um, there's no reason to feel bad. W-We're encroaching on your space, so... actually, you and Senpai are doing the most of anyone. It's usually the guests' job to bring snacks and things...

[Akechi steps back against the wall, well out of Haru's and Ann's way. It's hard not to feel like this is something he isn't meant to be a part of, though he refuses to come out and say so. A muscle in his jaw tightens as he surveys the bags, the general cheer, and it would be a lie to say there isn't a part of him that wants to find a way to destroy it. He doesn't know if it's Loki, or just his own horrible brain, that makes him want to "accidentally" light one of Ren's Molotov cocktails just to see what would happen.

A muscle in his jaw tightens, then he glances down to Yoshizawa at his side. Her voice is low enough that it's obvious she's not trying to chastise him in front of the entire group.]

I don't feel bad, [he answers just as quietly, resisting the urge to sneer. He's not a child, throwing a tantrum because he feels awkward. But even still... the tense set of his shoulders eases somewhat as he looks back over the gathering in the small room.] Ren works very hard to keep the people around him in good spirits. I'm simply realizing that perhaps, there's more that should be done for him.

[And even that's a lot to say aloud, the unspoken implication that he needs to do more.]

(Now that everybody is in, Ren breathes in with a large smile on his face. He's just so happy and it shows in the way his eyes almost close when he glances towards the scene. Sumi and Akechi are talking about... Something, the girls are here and he just gestures to the table for those who wish to sit.

He does so first, of course, taking his phone off his pocket for comfort and spinning it on a finger before he sets it down on the table. Naturally, it's not Ren who knows where things are in their apartment, so he turns to Akechi with a Very Important Question.)

Where's your deck of cards?

Didn't you just say you didn't need anything?

[He rolls his eyes as he pushes off the wall and crosses to where his winter coat is hanging on the door. A moment to draw the deck of cards out of its pocket, then he tosses them directly at Ren's face with every expectation that he'll catch them -- though he doesn't join them at the table. After all, Ren's question is a transparent attempt to get him involved, and ever contrary, Akechi refuses to accept an obvious (pity) invitation.]

Yoshizawa-san, help me separate out the food. I won't tolerate a haphazard mess.

(It wasn't, you dumbass! It was simply an icebreaker activity since his videogame or DVDs are nowhere in sight. It's without much effort that Ren catches it, spinning the box as well because why the hell not, before he sets the cards in two piles to shuffle.)

Hey, you guys! [ Ann is happy, her mood was already high in the sky and it's been bolstered upward even further now that she's in the presence of a good majority of her best friends. As she enters the familiar apartment, she beams at all of them, giving the bag a little twirl on her wrist. ]

Ah, it's not much -- it came with me from home, but it's got a little bit of makeup and some nail polishes in it. I thought it might be fun if we gave each other makeovers!

[ Because of course she would -- she can't particularly envision the guys saying no, either. It's also beneficial for another reason-- ]

Actually, Akechi-kun, I was hoping you'd be able to give me some pointers. Your skin is always so flawless, I was hoping that maybe you'd be able to give us all a few tips and tricks. [ Because she knows that he must dabble into at least a little bit of makeup, too, considering all of his social media things and television appearances as of late. Mostly, this is a way to try to get him a little bit more involved with something he may be more familiar with.

She knows what it feels like to be the odd man out, after all. ]

[Meanwhile, as Haru listened to the conversation, she couldn't help but giggle. Despite how much she wanted to say something, it would be better to push that aside for now. It is important to have fun and enjoy the moment!]

What a great idea! We definitely do need that, I could use a make over myself!

[At the same time, she wasn't sure how to comment on Ann's remark about Akechi. While she couldn't deny that he was certainly flawless, she wasn't sure how to interact with him just yet. Instead, she just looked at him and the others.]

I think a couple of others could use it too!

(Ren might be quiet, but he's listening and watching. This is where he thrives and this is where he gets the strength he has, from his connection with people. Moments like these are a piece of heaven on Earth to him, and what he is seeing is everyone getting along, especially to the non-Phantom Thief part of the group.

It's specially nice to watch the girls genuinely want to include Akechi - or at least, attempt to. He's smiling to the point his cheeks hurt, but something is said that confuses him more than it makes him excited, which is...)

What's a makeover?

Surely you don't mean to imply that my skin isn't naturally flawless, Takamaki-san?

[For a moment, his voice intentionally edges into princely territory. Then he snorts through his nose and drops the act.] I'll admit, my routine has been somewhat lacking due to the scant resources afforded us here, but...

[He glances at her, then gives Ren an appraising look, bringing a hand to his chin thoughtfully.] If you're asking that, I believe he should be the first victim. Wouldn't you agree?

I'm sure it is! But everyone needs a little help every now and then, whether it be makeup for a good camera filter.

[ Preach it, sister. She gives the bag on her wrist a little twirl, humming thoughtfully, before she turns her gaze onto Ren and then back to Akechi, nodding. ]

Yes, I think that'd be a great idea~ What look should we give him, hmm? I'll bet he'd look pretty with a sultry smoky eye.

(Everything that is said about what was to be done to him was a big question mark, so Ren just throws his hands up - he trusts that whatever they want to do is a good thing.

He's at y'all's mercy.)

(closed) rivers in the deseeeeeeeeeert

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