(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

[bluecastleace]

I don’t know what to say.

[Figuring he’ll have to do most of the talking, that presents a bit of a problem - but it’s not a “no”.]

I’m being an...idiot. [He tugs at his collar to stubbornly wipe a tear from his eyes, then mutters to himself:] Grow up, stupid.

[forethinking]

Come.

(Ren sets a hand on the other's back, directing him towards the couch, and he sits as well.)

There's nothing wrong with missing your friends.

[bluecastleace]

[The hand on Iwa’s back surprises him, but what surprises him more is how eager he feels to have that comfort. He doesn’t resist as he’s guided toward the couch, and sits down with his eyes back on the pictures. He shakes his head again, chewing anxiously on his lip while his eyes start to fill up again, half-desperate to hold that emotion back, half-desperate to let it go. He’s been bottling it up so long now it seems.]

It’s not like everyone doesn’t feel this way...[His voice is quiet, hoarse.] I’m jealous of you, Ren.

I’d go home in a second even if I were brought back the next. But I’m not any more special than anyone else here.

[Still...If he could only see Miyagi one more time...]

I do miss them. [He’s practically whispering now.] I miss everything.

[forethinking]

(Ren is there, a hand out if Iwai wishes to take it, squeeze it, take some of the frustration out on something. He understands the feeling of craving belonging, something he achieved back in Tokyo when he needed it most.

Maybe don't be jealous of him. It wasn't roses at all, but Ren can understand that he means the opportunity of returning more than anything else.)

This place is unpredictable. Don't give up hope.

[bluecastleace]

[Iwa shrugs a bit, a stubborn sort of action, but only to his own detriment. Ren has a point, but it’s a difficult one to swallow. Even so...]

It already brought someone else here from home. No one I really knew back there, but...[He let’s out a weak, bitter laugh as he wipes another tear from his eye.]

You wanna know what’s really fucking stupid?

[Iwa points then to one of the teammates in one of the pictures - one that he’s nailing in the head with a box full of Christmas decorations while dressed as a reindeer, but you know. He indicates the same guy in the other pictures, muttering something to himself that’ll be too quiet for Ren to hear. Then, he says:]

This guy. I’m pissed as hell at him. It ain’t like any of this shit is his fault, but I—-

[He bites down hard on his lip to stop a wave of emotion from bursting out in his voice, shakes his head and tries to compose himself before he continues. He really does look more angry than sad, but that’s just how Iwa is when it comes to emoting.]

We’re supposed to be partners. We do this shit together. Where the hell does he get off hanging back...

[forethinking]

(Oh no, Iwaizumi... Don't put yourself down. Ren frowns, almost too empathic not to share the other's pain, even if he knows he's rather blessed. A good chunk of his friends are here, as well as his now boyfriend. Not everyone has such luck, like the man beside him.

With his attention fully on Iwaizumi, he listens to the other's emotion oozing from his voice. He gets it, a friend of his is very similar in how he processes his own emotions.)

You miss him. (Obviously, if he's pointing a finger at a blameless victim that he can't even see.) You will meet again.

(That's a promise, clear in the way Ren doesn't flinch before pronouncing it, not a hint of hesitation. He will find a way out of the Void, even if it takes a while. Perhaps the Void brings the man here, but either way. He's certain.)

[bluecastleace]

Yeah, well.

[Iwaizumi sniffs loudly, again stubbornly wiping an escaped tear away. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He hates to meltdown like this, but at least if he’s going to it’s in front of somewhat he trusts (even if he still doesn’t know him all that well). Ren’s tone is half-reassuring, though Iwaizumi can’t help but find it somewhat similar to a threat.]

We better. Or I’ll kick his sorry ass.

[He considers ending the conversation there. He’d like to, he’d really like to, but as much as that’s true, he’s got more words in his throat, and they’re getting harder to choke back by the second. Eventually, he speaks again, but his voice is softer, less angry and more wistful as his eyes go back to the picture.]

It’s stupid, but we’ve never been apart. Forty-one days. [He lets out a weak snort.] Forty-one between our birthdays, and that’s it. Can you believe that?

Asshole...

[forethinking]

(Is this only a friendship? Ren can't help but to wonder, seeing how defeated the other man looks. At least he's getting things out of his chest, and after everything he has been through, he deserves to let it out.)

Are you childhood friends? (It's half curiosity, half the need to help, have the other man tell him about this person he seems to like so much. Perhaps it aids the other to come to terms with it.)

This is headcanon but whatever

[bluecastleace]

[Iwa nods, wordlessly staring at the picture for a few moments before speaking again.]

That’s what I mean. Forty-one days.

Our mom’s knew each other, so we’ve been a team since day one.

[His voice is quiet. At least he’s not cursing the poor guy anymore. He’s knows it not Oikawa’s fault that he’s not here, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less - and besides, such is their dynamic. Maybe he just misses yelling at him.

[But it’s not just Oikawa.]

The rest of them...[Is that a smile on his face? It’s so small that it’s hard to tell - certainly pained, wistful if it is.] That’s my team. Dumb bastards...

[He pauses then, glances up and frowns.]

Hey Ren. Let me ask you something.

[forethinking]

(Ren gets it. When he first arrived, although he did have Akechi, there was longing for his team. There still is. Not all of them are in the Void, and Ren still misses them greatly... Even if he doesn't want to see them here, to begin with.

There's isn't much that Ren can say, so he's simply allowing Iwaizumi to use this as a safe space to process his emotions.)

Sure, what is it?

[bluecastleace]

Did time pass while you were gone?

Your friends, family, whatever. Did they even know you were missing?

[It should be clear on his face that this has been worrying him. A few months left of high school and beyond that college, distance - he doesn’t want to miss out on what little time he’s got left with his friends, and he definitely doesn’t want them panicking that he’s been gone for what should be months now.]

[forethinking]

No. I came back the exact moment I last remembered.

(And with no memories of anyone, at all. It does upset him now that he remembers, but there's nothing in his expression to give that away.)

[bluecastleace]

[The expression on Iwa’s face reads a mixture of relief and frustration. Just one more thing about this place that doesn’t make any sense, but he can take some small comfort knowing that his loved ones - especially Oikawa - aren’t panicking over a search party right now. He sighs.]

Well. Thanks, I guess. For these.

[He gestures with the pictures, glances at the door, and stands up from the couch.]

I’m...gonna get going. I need some time to...I don’t know.

It’s nice to see you, Ren.