(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

[starshower]

[She might have caught a glimpse of the piercing, but that's the least of her worries (for now). At the moment, Tifa's more concerned with hearing him out, listening to what he has to say if anything, and finding out how he had come and gone just like that.]

Hang on. You're telling me you could go home and come back? You didn't mean to, did you?

[Without telling her that he was, of course...]

[forethinking]

It just happened.

(Ren gestures to the nearest bench for them to sit. He feels like this is going to be a long conversation, and both of them should be comfortable for it.

It's only fair that she wants to know about his disappearance, not only for his sake but also for what it means for those entrapped in the Void. He intends to be honest.)

I didn't have any say on it.

[starshower]

Huh... [she mutters as she slumps on the bench.] So, we just leave without even being able to say no, huh?

[What would that mean for her if she were to leave Cloud and Aerith behind? Leaving them here so suddenly has been a worry of hers since day one, mostly because she doesn't know what will happen to them back home.

Maybe she'll find some answers to help ease those worries.]

What happened when you got home?

p5 royal spoilers

[forethinking]

I returned to the moment I was taken.

(Christmas Eve, about to agree to Sae's proposal of turning himself to the police before Goro stepped in.)

I didn't remember you.

(While it was a fact, he still feels sad to say it.)

[starshower]

Right...

[Tifa's hands, nestled together on her lap, tighten at the news. It was what she was afraid of. It is a relief, however, to hear that he returned to the moment he had come from, but without the memories of this place? That's a bit jarring.]

So everything we do here is just... [Her sentence falls short, and she's unable to find the right words to finish it, but she figures that Ren probably knows where it was going.

Instead, she focuses on something else—his bandaged hand that she gently picks up and holds in hers.]

This happen back home too? Or you still don't know how to throw a real punch...

[forethinking]

(A little pointless.

He understands where the frustration comes from, but instead of holding onto the negative part, Ren decided to embrace it. If they're not going to remember, when and if they go home, why hold back?

His hands are calloused but small and delicate to the eyes, and Ren just shakes his head. They're uninjured, aside from the soreness.)

Couldn't find gloves. Better than nothing.

[starshower]

That's a relief.

[She had worried that something had happened—that he'd gotten into a fight and injured himself, or that the sparring they've done together was for nothing. As long as he still knows how to throw a proper punch should the situation call for it, then...

Well, she's still not quite satisfied.

Mostly because she still hates how horrible it felt when he'd gone, and how worried she was, but in true Tifa fashion, she tries to smile through it.]

So, you gonna tell me what kind of trouble you got up to while you were gone or am I gonna have to pry it out of you?

[oh tifa, if only you knew...]

persona royal spoilieeees

[forethinking]

(Oh, way to scramble his brain, Tifa. He's not sure which part he should tell her - or even how to begin. So much has happened, so much that can upset her and so much that he wants to tell her, ever since Cloud brought his unfairness to his attention.

He breathes in, like he is working overtime to pick the words.)

My reality was made wrong, we put it back in place.

(At least it's something!)

[starshower]

Your... reality?

[Tifa's eyes narrow, like her own brain is working through the sudden hundreds of thoughts going through her head.]

You mean it was changed? How so?

[... That sounds a little too familiar. So familiar that it sends chills down the back of her neck.]

[forethinking]

Someone created a reality where everyone was happy.

(All his friends, with their biggest wish brought to life. Ren's biggest wish, walking and talking, fighting alongside him.

His record erased.)

It wasn't real.

[starshower]

Why would someone wanna do that? What do they get out of it?

[Villains always want to create a world where people are miserable, for one reason or another. Looking at you, Sephiroth.]

[forethinking]

He didn't want people to suffer as he has.

(The wishes of a man who hasn't come to terms with his grief. Pain is important - it shapes us, molds us, and it's part of who we are at the end of the day. While the motivation was somehow noble, it was not his place to take away something so necessary, so inherent of living.)

[starshower]

I mean, it sounds nice when you say it like that, but...

[She thinks she knows what he means.]

... If I suddenly never had all those struggles I did, I don't think I'd be as strong as I am now, you know? You know what they say: what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

[Tifa breathes a laugh at how cheesy that sounds having said it out loud.]

Some people think they're heroes... trying to help... and don't realize that they're just hurting others.

[forethinking]

That's exactly it.

(And Ren smiled the brightest one he had. Tifa would make such a great Phantom Thief, if she so wished.)

We stopped him.

[starshower]

That was gonna be my next question...

[What he did with that information was important. It's a difficult choice to make, to be sure, and one that someone so young shouldn't have to make, but she's glad that he chose the correct path.

Tifa beams at him, proud, and flings an arm around his shoulders to pull him in close, and gives his hair a gentle ruffle, trying to make light of what could end up being a dreadful conversation.]

Look at you, going out and saving the world!

[forethinking]

(It's rare that someone gets that kind of close to him, besides the Phantom Thieves, so for a second there's surprise before laughter emerges, shaking his head to put the mess that is his hair back in place as he wraps an arm around Tifa. A hug, if he's allowed.

What a good adopted mom.)

Not just me. It was a group effort.

[starshower]

[He's definitely allowed. It isn't often either of them get the chance to do this, if ever, so it's a welcome gesture. Tifa's hold is warm but firm, with all of the love she has to give poured into it.]

You guys should come help save mine next.

[If only, right?]

[forethinking]

It's something I have given some thought before.

(By that, he means that literally every time she talks about a bad person in her world, he's seething in his seat, craving justice in her behalf.)

I'd love to make them repent.

[starshower]

Guess I'll just have to work extra hard for both of us.

[Take Shinra down twice over, for her and on the Phantom Thieves' behalf.]

Anyway... Enough about that! I'm glad you made it back okay.

[Assuming he wants to be back here!]

[forethinking]

You'd be a great Phantom Thief.

(He finally words his thoughts, and he couldn't look prouder when he gazes over at her. Good Tifa, great mom.)

I'm good. Shall we proceed our training?

(It's been a while.)

wrapping!

[starshower]

And I'd be honoured to be one.

[Whatever it means to be a Phantom Thief, it lines up pretty well with her own motivations, some of which she's kept close to herself since she joined AVALANCHE, but they're there, simmering until she gets the chance to get back at Shinra for everything they've done.

With that, she jumps to her feet and offers a hand to him.]

Thought you'd never ask. Hope you're not too rusty.