[open] someone once said burn my dread, babe

[simulatio]

Who: Goro Akechi + y'all 👀
What: early December prompts + future catch-all
Where: Throughout the Void
When: "December"ish
Content Warnings: N/A (yet)



A. Wall Market Bathhouse

[Whilst in the Mementos-that-wasn't-Mementos, Goro Akechi died.

He's no stranger to death; people die all the time. In his experience, rarely do they come back. He'd spent the time after his death with the other Phantom Thieves, doing his best to pretend that everything was normal. If he'd been more withdrawn, less prone to smile his princely smile and converse pleasantly, perhaps he could be excused. The deepest, darkest parts of his soul had been wandering around without him for a time, after all.

But he certainly can't hide forever, and the lack of showers in the apartment he shares with Ren drives him to the bathhouse. It's one of the most comfortable places for him, especially now that there aren't fish swimming in the bath. He sinks up to his chin in the warm water and closes his eyes, as relaxed as he can be in a public space.]

B. Mortis Lake

Stop following me!

[Akechi is trying his very best to sound as pleasant as possible, even as he waves his arms in an attempt to frighten off the winged giraffe-like creature that's taken to following him through the forest of trees. It's almost comical how annoyed he's getting as the animal continues to follow him, large doe-like eyes wide with interest as it pads along behind him. Every now and then, it flaps its wings to glide awkwardly over the ground to make sure it keeps up, plaintively letting out a mournful cry whenever Akechi gets too far away from it.]

Would you go find the rest of your herd already? [he snaps as it catches up and tries for a friendly nibble at the back of his hair.] What the fu-

[He freezes upon realizing that he has an audience nearby and clears his throat with a cough, correcting his tone to a more pleasant,] Pardon me. Could you give me a hand?

C. Heavenly Blanc

[Some time ago, Ren had sat outside the bar/café working on a shogi board. Now it's Akechi's turn with the same piece of wood, though he's taken over one of the tables inside. He's working on the other side of the shogi board to create a grid with fewer squares, tracing thin lines with one of the large knives from Heavenly Blanc's kitchen while using his cell phone as a guide.

Once he's done outlining the board with the knife, he goes back over the 8x8 grid with a marker, the cap held between his teeth as he concentrates. Beside him are gemstones from the Academy's store, separated into two sets of what look like clear diamonds and deep red rubies, marked with English letters: several marked with the letter "P," two each labeled "R, B, Kn," and one each "Ki" and "Q."]

A chessboard, [he'll explain to anyone who happens to glance over curiously, though he doesn't stop working.]

D. Gymnasium

[Akechi's never really been one for team sports, but the cycling machines attract special attention. Dressed in a spare gym uniform from the Academy (washed beforehand, of course), he's currently working through a rather challenging-looking course on one of the bikes. Loose strands of his hair, the parts that escaped being drawn back into the small ponytail at the base of his neck, stick to his cheeks as he huffs for air, pursuing an invisible finish line that only he can see.

It's only once he's finished that course and is taking a drink of water from a water bottle that he notices he has company, and offers an easy smile.]

Care for a race? They may be stationary machines, but we could always compare times.

E. Wildcard!

[I'll be adding additional prompts in comments as needed throughout the month, but feel free to use this post for just about anything involving Akechi! Feel free to chat with me @jaderhade if you want to do anything with this nasty man. As always, I have a screened spoiler opt-out page for anyone looking to avoid Persona 5 or Persona 5 Royal spoilers!]

Comments

[simulatio]

Haha, I appreciate the compliment...

[With the giraffe appropriately distracted, Akechi breathes a sigh of relief. He holds out a hand as if he might pet it in thanks, but thinks better of it and draws his hand back. No need to attract it's attention once again.

He freezes as Tifa reaches toward his hair, back stiffening as his eyes flick toward her hand. He'd really, really rather she not, but it's better for his image to let her do it, or so he thinks. Ren cares for her an awful lot, meaning that anything he does could negatively impact her impression of Ren.]

Ah, go ahead. It seems I've something else to thank you for. [He inclines his head a little to make it easier for her, consciously trying to relax his muscles. He still looks stiff and uncomfortable, though; letting someone close to his personal space isn't the easiest thing for him.]

[starshower]

[Tifa senses the stiffness but reaches for it anyway with both hands to work the splinters of wood and bits of leaves free from his hair. There's more of it than she anticipated, and gets to work brushing it out, snickering as more falls.

But then the giraffe leans its long neck down and sniffs before taking its long tongue and wiping it alongside the top of Akechi's head, and that makes Tifa leap back a step, watching as his neat hair is combed forward in a messy lump.

And then again. And again.]

That wasn't me, I swear!

[ ... ]

I'd almost guess that she thinks she's your mom now.

[simulatio]

[There's something nice, he reflects, about someone running their hands through his hair. A motherly kind of gesture, something he'd forgotten about. Had his mother ever done that for him? Surely she must have. Ever so slightly, the tension in his shoulders starts to ease as Tifa doesn't try to snap his neck, or yank his hair, or--

The strangled noise that bursts from between his lips at the lick is high-pitched and thoroughly undignified, the sound of someone so baffled and enraged as to have been rendered mute by the sheer audacity of this-]

Fucking creature-!

[He doesn't realize he's said that last part out loud until he's scrambling away himself, one hand reaching behind his back in an attempt to draw his saw sword. For a moment of blind rage, he seriously considers just eliminating the problem entirely.

His grits his teeth so hard they might crack, then forces himself to stand upright. Too upright, as he takes several quick steps back away from both the giraffe and Tifa.]

Excuse me. [Arms clamped at his sides, cheeks flushed a brilliant red from rage and embarrassment, he inclines his head.] I-I'll be going now. Thank you. Farewell.

[He rushes through the perfunctory goodbye in an attempt to do what he does best from humiliating situations -- run. He turns on his heel and walks stiffly away, every fiber of his being taut with the effort of not reaching up to fix his hair.]