tabularasa_rp | [open] because i can only be me

Entry tags:

[open] because i can only be me

Who: Goro Akechi and YOU
What: catch-all for august
Where: heavenly blanc, wall market; others tbd
When: yes
Content Warnings: threads with p5r spoilers will be tagged as such! please toss a comment on my spoiler opt-out post if you'd like me to avoid mentioning any p5/p5r spoilers in tags with your character.

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[It's still much too dim for Akechi's liking, but if one enters the bathhouse, one might find Akechi's jacket, socks, and shoes set neatly in a basket in the changing room. It doesn't feel right entering the bathhouse itself with shoes on -- or any clothes, really, but it's hard to relax when it's so difficult to see and there are so many unknowns.

Akechi can be found with his shirt sleeves and pant legs rolled up, soaking his feet in the warm water. His jagged sword is at his side within easy reach, and as he hears someone enter, he opens his eyes and turns to look, squinting in the semi-darkness to see who it is.]

[ There aren't really Eastern-style bathhouses in Midgar, which is why it's a woman who pokes her head in, blinking immediately in confusion when she spots a single, male figure soaking in the water. ]

Oops, sorry! [ There's a light giggle and an apologetic smile, but she doesn't quite go away. Instead, Aerith hovers with one hand and half her body visible at the door, seemingly waffling about whether or not to leave this guy to his peace, or to - ]

What're you up to? [ They haven't been introduced, but she's always happy to dive right into conversations with strangers. ] Does the water feel nice?

[Well, the silence was probably too much to hope for. A beat, then Akechi tilts his head in a "come on in" gesture, smile rising to his lips.]

It does indeed. It's traditional to clean oneself before entering the bath, but I prefer not to shower in the dark. Thus- [he gestures to his feet in the water only. Way easier to just hose off his feet in the shower, and significantly less-vulnerable.]

It's... Aerith-san, isn't it? My apologies, but Ren told me a little about you. It's wonderful to finally meet you in person.

Some people like to shower in the dark, right? Kinda creeps me out, personally...

[ Like being in a cave, or something. Aerith steps further into the room once she knows she's not totally violating someone's privacy, pressing her back to the door and smiling politely. ]

Oh - you're Akechi? Nice to meet you, too. [ Ren had mentioned him, in turn, and she perks up at the familiar name. ] It's nice to be here with people you knew already, don't you think?

Mm, you may be right about that.

[Ren is both a comfort and a liability. Both of them know too much damaging information about the other to run their mouths freely, even if they wanted to. But, bizarrely, he's the only person Akechi can truly trust, too, beyond the possibility of mutually-assured destruction if they so chose.]

I suppose I should thank you for giving Ren a much-needed diversion. He has an insatiable need to help people, and your flowers have kept him out of trouble.

[He smiles to show he means it as a joke, but like, there's truth to it. If Ren's doing something stupid like arranging flowers, it means he's not doing something more stupid like charging off to explore recklessly alone.]

Aww, I didn't really do anything. He's a really nice guy, and he's been a big help. Plus, he makes great coffee! And curry too, or so he claims. No chance to test it out yet, though!

[ It seems like the pair is pretty close. She smiles genially, happy to help...particularly when it's helping someone who's done her a few favors, too. ]

You two are the only ones here from your home, right?

He's a man of many talents.

[It's taken practice to say that without a hint of bitterness or resentment, but he manages it. He only nods at the question, drawing his feet out of the bath and reaching for the nearby towel to start drying them off. It feels weird to be sitting while she's standing, after all.]

That's right. Even the other Japanese people we've spoken to don't know anything about things that are common knowledge for us. It's made for quite an interesting puzzle, wouldn't you say?

You're friends with Tifa-san and Cloud-san, yes? It must be reassuring to have them with you.

[ Aerith, for having walked in on a guy trying to enjoy the peace of a bathhouse and taking it upon herself to chat him up, seems perfectly unbothered by him sitting and her standing. ]

It sure has. A puzzle without all the pieces for us to find, if you ask me.

[ Not yet, anyway.

The mention of her friends' names perks her up a little, and she's quick to nod. ]

Yup! They're two of the people I was with right before this. [ To be fair, Red XIII isn't exactly..."people." ] It really is nice having them here...I don't know what I'd do if I'd showed up alone. Though, I guess I still wouldn't be alone, huh? There are so many others who were brought here, same as me...

[ And she's already befriended quite a few of them, as is her Way. ]

What about you? Is it just you and Ren from back home?

[He nods. It sure is like someone had helpfully hidden the majority of their figurative puzzle pieces under the couch before they'd even gotten to start their puzzle.]

As far as we know, it's only the two of us. It's fortunate to know people from before our kidnapping, but even so, I've yet to encounter anyone who hasn't been willing to work with us. [He gives her a smile, almost rueful as he finishes drying his feet and heads over closer to her. Not in an attempt to breach her personal space or anything, just to converse more comfortably without having to call across the room. Though, come to think of it, had that even been an issue...? He'd been able to hear her perfectly fine, after all.

Another oddity of this place to file away as he folds his towel in his arms.]

By the way, considering that you know about flowers, do you know much about flower language? I found the strangest flowers in my room, [thanks, Ren,] and was wondering if there were any meaning to them. A tall pink flower with a fern-like bottom?

[He's trying to describe Astilbe, but simply doesn't know enough to say so.]

That's a good point. Most people here are really friendly, which is nice. [ Kaiba had been one of the few who was...less so, but that hardly seems to concern her. ] It makes a lot of sense, since we're all in the same boat.

[ The question has her tilt her head curiously at the description, and she taps her chin in thought with a considering "hmmm." After a moment, she offers: ] Sounds kinda like Astilbe, maybe? Almost kinda spiky-looking in a bunch?

[ Funny that he found them in his room, though. Why that flower? ]

Pretty sure they can be seen as a symbol of patience, if I remember that right.

[Honestly, Akechi almost respects Kaiba for being so open about his contemptuousness for others. He wishes he could do the same, sometimes, but alas, he wants to be liked too much. It doesn't benefit him at all to be hated, not when there are so many unknowns here still.]

Yes, that sounds like them exactly.

[And he frowns. What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Ren??]

How strange... thank you. Hearing first-hand from an expert is even better than an internet search, wouldn't you agree?

I guess so. Not sure how I feel about being compared to an internet search, though, considering I'm not sure what that is!

[ Is it like the Worldwide Network? She's not a big tech geek, or anything, so she doesn't vocalize a guess. ]

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[open] because i can only be me

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