(open) bet you thought you'd seen the last of me

[forethinking]

Who: Ren and YOU!!
What: His return to the Void after his canon update
Where: Everywhere, we know how I roll, I'll probably update this forever
When: OOCLY, around the 10th of December!
Content Warnings: 100% Persona 5 Royal Spoilers will happen BUT I will put it in the comment subject if anything comes up.

Comments

closed - arrival - akechi

[forethinking]

(Last thing he remembers is walking home from the gym. He'd promised Akechi he'd meet him in their apartment, the taste of victory still lingering after the game. He doesn't know what happened, let alone how it happened, but he went home. He did what he had promised to do. Now, two weeks later, just as mysteriously he poofs back into the Void, right in front of where he should have been working all this time.

How long was he out? There's a beat of anxiety when he opens the door to Heavenly Blanc, stunned and disoriented with the reappearing, wishing to get himself a glass of water and a moment sitting to recalculate his next moves. He hopes everything was fine in his absence...)

[simulatio]

[Fortunately or unfortunately, Akechi has beaten him there. Were it not for the various accoutrements of Seventh Heaven, it might look like the same scene from a lifetime ago; Akechi, seated at the bar in what had been his usual seat in Leblanc, a porcelain cup of coffee at his elbow and a book in his hand. He turns, and unlike the princely smile he'd worn back when he'd frequented Leblanc as a customer, his lips instead curve into the smallest grin of satisfaction. It's subtle enough that it could almost be mistaken for a frown, if not for the way the set of his eyes softens.]

You're back awfully late.

[His voice is almost, almost playful, just the slightest notes of it. He rests his elbow on the bar, chin against his fist, as if they'd only just spoken a few hours ago, and not what feels simultaneously like months and days at the same time. His gaze sweeps Ren deliberately up and down, looking for any change in his appearance, searching for injuries. If he's at all nervous or anxious about their reunion, there's no hint of it on his face.]

[forethinking]

(Overwhelmingly, there's way too many emotions running through Ren's body. First and foremost, there's happiness and relief, which is shown in the way his smile couldn't get any bigger. Perhaps he can be forgiven for the way his eyes water a little.

The confusion, the fear and the anxiety are still very present, but they're like background noise to the bliss. Finally, Ren too goes back to the same moment, his cheeks aching with the strain of such big smile.)

Honey, I'm home. (And he steps closer. He wants to hug him, do something, anything, but he knows Akechi isn't very big in doing any public display of affection.) I'm sorry for disappearing.

heavenly blanc - open

[forethinking]

(Ren is back to work. The bar is not as well tended as it should have been, or rather, as he makes sure it is. It has dawned on him that he has been missed and that things work a little smoothly when he's around, so it's time for him to get things in line. When a customer enters, they'll see Ren trashing empty bottles of alcohol, cleaning the counters, washing dishes... You name it.

It's with a smile that they're greeted, Ren as per usual in his little green apron and glasses. It's almost like he never left.)

Welcome.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack finds himself in Heavenly Blanc on a fairly average basis. Usually to see if Tifa or Cloud are stopping in or to have a drive-by drink or two with Blue. So he thinks he's pretty acquainted with the place. But seeing someone like Ren working does surprise him a bit.]

Oh hey, man. You work here too?

[You learn something new everyday.]

[forethinking]

(Ren stops in his tracks a little at the new customer. He's pretty sure he's told him that when they first met, but alas, his memory might be wonky with the whole appearing and reappearing. Instead of mentioning any of that, though, Ren gives Zack a short, polite smile.)

I'm the barista.

[bridge_princess]

[The voice opened by someone who looked methodical and glum in their every action. She looked more like she was going through the motions. Old forms. The usual places.]

Yeah yeah...

[She was halfway to her usual booth, the same booth that she sat in every single time she came here, when she paused and her head swiveled to regard him. The shock was readily apparent in her eyes.]

Wait a tic... Ren?!?

[forethinking]

(Parsee doesn't look so good. He knew she didn't deal well with a lot of things, especially the disappearances, so perhaps what he sees is the aftermath of theirs.

His eyes just followed her to the booth until she clicked what she was seeing in her head and he snorted, because it was funny more than anything else.)

Yeah.

[begetblue]

[ Turing just stared at Ren, with the greeting going in one auditory receptor and out the other. He wasn't gone forever, or dead. It was like nothing had happened at all, really. Nothing had to change.

Despite that sense of normalcy, on an impulse they did something that wasn't typically normal for them; they ran up to Ren and went straight for a hug. ]

ohnonononononononononononoononnoniosçgafje~wflksdklf

[forethinking]

(Oh, no. This will be too much for Ren to bear.

It's with zero hesitation that the boy kneels to the ground when he sees Turing running to him, arms open to catch and when he does so, the warmest hug on earth is delivered to the little robot.

He's sorry, Turing.)

gym - open

[forethinking]

(A lot has happened back home. While Ren is not much of a talker, there's still a lot of emotions that are running through his veins, a lot of noise in his brain as he tries to make sense of that and the fact that he's still blind on what controls the Void, what dictates who goes home, who stays... The lack of freedom of choice is a little maddening to him.

He doesn't quite have what to fight, though. Instead, he redirects the energy to a boxing bag in the gym, proper punches in both form and posture. He's been here quite a while, as the sweat running down his shirtless spine might indicate.

One, two, jab, cross.)

[starshower]

[Tifa isn't sure who she expected to see at the punching bags this time, hearing the rattling of its chains before she even enters the gym, but it certainly isn't Ren. She had been looking for him for hours, days, however long it's been, with no luck. Others had said they saw no sign of him, and searching his usual spots were entirely fruitless, and that's when the dread had started to kick in.

Either something terrible had happened to him here, or he was... gone. Just like the others who had disappeared from this world to (hopefully) return home.

So, when she spots him letting punches loose on the bag, she's filled with relief and... anger? Where had he gone? Why had he made her worry? There was still a lot that she would have liked to tell and ask him, and that chance could have easily been snatched from her.

While he's in the middle of his one, two, jab, cross, Tifa sneaks up behind him and, ignoring the sweat, suddenly wraps her arms around him in a hug, interrupting his practiced motions.

Hello.]

[forethinking]

(The arms wrap around him and he freezes in response, almost like she had turned off a very aggressive switch by this straightforward display of affection. It does take him a second or two to properly process it though, and it's only when his gaze falls to the gloved hands that he recognizes who is embracing him.

Tifa. They might have missed one another as he looked for her, perhaps at the same time she was looking for him. His hand, bandaged instead of gloved, falls to hers in a caress to the back of it.

He takes a deep breath.)

I'm sorry for disappearing.

[bazooker]

[After her first experience with the gym, Haru figured it wouldn't hurt to try again. She knew she wasn't physically strong compared to most people here but she had to try. After all, she really wanted to try and lift 40 pounds over her head!

That and exercise was a good way to deal with stress right? Between dealing with the realization her leader and friend(?) was gone, she didn't know what to think. For the first couple of days, she wondered if everything was going to be okay. It was difficult not knowing what happened to them. For all she knew, this world could have transported them into another world or somewhere even more dangerous. It was nerve wrecking as she started to lose sleep wondering what happened.

Even so, she couldn't allow herself to cry. She just couldn't because that's not the right thing to do. She had to be strong and move forward. Even if it was only Ann, Kasumi, and her. It was what Ren would have wanted. They just had to keep the team together no matter what.

Before she entered, she heard some light jabbing. It seems she wasn't going to be alone today. However, just as she entered into the room, she gave a loud gasp. Dropping her bag on the floor, she just stared at him]

R-Ren-kun? [She wasn't seeing things, was she? Suddenly, whatever tears she was holding back came down. How silly of her. To cry in front of him when she should be happy! With that, she gave a small sniffle before wiping away her tears.] Is...Is that really you?

merlaut apartment 310 - open

[forethinking]

(Home, sweet home. Akechi is not home right now, which means the door to their apartment is open while there's only Ren inside, as it usually was before they decided to stay together like this.

Inside, one might see the usual field of flowers, smell the sweet floral aroma and perhaps catch Ren on his bed, lying on his stomach, playing games on his phone. Thank God for thunderstorms.)

[anciently]

Hey! [ Standing in the doorway and looking cross is Aerith, hands planted on her hips as she surveys the scene. ] You're back!

[ It isn't a celebration of his return so much as her chiding him for leaving in the first place. She enters, unbidden, taking care around the flowers as she does. ]

Don't go vanishing like that on me again, mister! What'll I do without my business partner?

[ Besides, Ren had been on of her first friends in this world. She...would be pretty devastated if he had been gone for good.

Her expression softens, even as she crosses her arms. ]

Got it? No more vanishing!

[abeautifulgame]

[obviously, Damien has noticed Ren and Akechi missing. where everyone else has been so quick to assume that they were Gone Forever, though, the fact that all of their stuff is still here seems to speaks volumes to the contrary. he's more convinced that they took an expedition into Mementos or went exploring in the Void, trying to find more clues as to -- anything here, really]

[he's not surprised, then, when they just apparently reappear, if the fact that the door to their room is suddenly wide open again -- nor is he angry that he disappeared in the first place. instead, he just comes to lean into the doorway, casual as you please]

So?

[find anything interesting on your trip, Ren?]

[bluecastleace]

[It’s been a while since Iwaizumi’s seen Ren. He hadn’t thought much of it at first - the guy definitely seems like a busy one anyway. After a while though, it started to dawn on him that something may be up - nothing crazy like jumping universes, but maybe just something keeping Ren inside. He decides finally to walk by his apartment and check in on him and what do you know, he’s just...chilling on his bed.

[Iwaizumi knocks lightly on the door frame so as not to startle him before he starts talking.]

Hey, Ren. I haven’t seen you in a while. What’s up?

WILDCARD!

[forethinking]

(GIVE ME ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING)

music room - closed - leo

[forethinking]

(Not in his room, not in Heavenly Blanc. It's with decided steps that Ren walks the hallways of the school, directed to the music room. The melody is concise, and now that Ren understands a little bit about style, it definitely means Leo is behind the door.

He opens it without much hesitation to find his orange-haired friend and listen to the rhythm his skillful fingers produce.

He's back, hello, he knows he'll have to wait until Leo notices him. It's fine.)

[bachagain]

[ oh, ren's learning. fortunately, this time, he doesn't have to wait three songs. it only takes the one -- stretched out for a couple of bars more, elaborate but played with ease -- until leo turns around, almost as if he'd been paying particular attention to the sound of the door. and, umm, maybe he had?

there's a flash of surprise, mixed in with something else that he doesn't quite have a name for... until leo kinda scoots over on the bench, patting the space beside him.

come now, ren. when he comes on by, leo's expression will be the same as always. as if ren hadn't gone and vanished like some people did.

but leo supposes if one were to break the pattern and come back, it would be ren. ]

Hey, you're late! For that, I'm gonna play the ruthless, mean teacher now. [ he's KIDDING, ] Here, here, surprise pop quiz! Play something you've learned, and play it loud!

music room - open

[forethinking]

(You were expecting Leo to be here. Perhaps Izumi, but you get Ren. You get Ren with his little probation notebook, erasing notes and tunes from the paper, rewriting once, rewriting twice... It still doesn't sound the same.

It doesn't stop thin fingers from attempting to play what he wrote on the piano, once, twice, change it, go back. Music is still a new skill - one that he wasn't expecting to enjoy so much. Good thing Ren is not a quitter, and for the little time he's been doing it, he's learning quite fast.

Just not fast enough to play what he wants to play. It still sounds okay, though.)

Mementos - open - PERSONA 5 SPOILERS

[forethinking]

(It might have taken Ren a while to return to Mementos, but almost magnetically, the place calls for him. It's strange now, to step into the maze in plain clothes and remain so. No mask to rip, no enemy to challenge, it's just him in the never-ending trap of dead-ends and turns.

He doesn't have his third eye now, but he's leaving sticks, punctured inside the walls the wall to mark the way back. You may find him on his way down, brave and unhesitantly, or you may find him right where he would like to be. The heart of Mementos. Once, a God sat here. Today, there are no answers.

He just wants to think for a while.)

u thought u were going to get some peace, but

[menaretrash]

[ As time has gone on, so has Ann... in a way. She's more or less resigned herself to the fact that two of her friends are gone; where to, she doesn't know, and that is what is causing her the most anxiety. For all she knows, they're dead. She hopes not. She hopes that they've somehow made it someplace nice, like... a beach or something. Her searching, while it has admittedly slowed, hasn't quite come to a stop, either.

Every few days, she makes a point to make a sweep of the Void in general; just to make sure. Mementos is no exception to this rule; its twists and turns may be confusing and misleading, but she has to at least try. She has Seto to thank for that, actually, even if he has no idea that he's the one who put that idea in her head or that she's been going it alone down here.

She's about to turn back and head home for the day when she reaches the heart of Mementos; granted, she's always thought that if Ren and Akechi were to be anywhere down here, it'd be here. She's searched here, too, of course, and the results have been the same: no Ren, no Akechi.

When she enters, she's expecting much of the same. What she gets, however, is the sight of a familiar form, deep in thought. Ann's eyes widen, and her entire body goes stiff. She's quiet and still for a long few moments, making sure this isn't some trick of the light or something that the place is tossing at her, but that doesn't last long. She balls her hands into fists, eyes immediately filling with tears as she begins marching towards him from behind. ]

Ren Amamiya, I can't believe that after weeks, you decide to finally show up again. [ Is she mad? No. Of course not, she's just really emotional and trying not to have some sort of weird breakdown again. ] And here, of all places... you have no idea how worried everyone was about you, do you?

post party blizzard - akechi

[forethinking]

(They managed to leave while the snow wasn't a full blown storm, but it didn't take it long to catch up to them. Most surprisingly, it's Kichijoji where they stumble, Ren frowning at the familiar environment in his confusion.

No time to think about it, though. At least it's a place both of them know by heart, and as soon as they find the Penguin Sniper, Ren and Akechi climb to the apartment found on top of the store the building adjacent. Coming close to the window, Ren shivers a little bit - he had given his jacket to Ann since she was in summer clothing and she needed it more than him. The storm doesn't seem to be decreasing and Ren blows hot air on his unusually cold hands.)

It'll be a while.