tabularasa_rp | (open) where have you been? been searching all along 𝅘𝅥𝅮

(This had the potential to be incredibly awkward, since Akechi really did not pick up on his intent, but instead, a drunk Ren cannot feel such. He laughs, sincerely amused, shaking his head and ignoring the blush that now gives the embarrassment away.)

I was flirting.

(He said, his gaze turning to the bottle that he denied with a motion. He probably had enough for now.)

But I can tell you I've been thinking about you a lot lately.

I'm aware.

[As long as Ren knows Akechi is purposefully making it as difficult as possible. He snorts a laugh and sets the bottle down on the desk beside him, instead taking his mug of water for a long drink. It buys him time to think, and it takes him far too long to think of what he wants to say, the gears in his mind grinding infinitely slower as he sips from the mug.]

I wish you wouldn't, [he says finally, which isn't what he'd meant to say at all. It just slips out, and after a beat, he presses his lips tightly together into a frown.] No. It would be better for you if you didn't. You are...

[Incredible. Phenomenal. A person with stronger morals and values than Akechi had had in a long, long time. A genuinely good person.

Better than him in every way.]

Absolutely insatiable, [he says finally in the end, lowering the mug and meeting his eyes to shake his head again.] Does that line often work for you?

(If Ren were aware of Akechi's mini crises in his mind, he'd definitely be more careful to bring alcohol between them again. But since he's not and Akechi is laughing and just as slow as he is, this feels stupidly fun and even cute somehow?

What a mess.

At the last question though, it's Ren's turn to snort.)

Bold of you to assume I've done any of this before. You were my first kiss, moron.

Really?

[Now that is something of a surprise, and Akechi sets the mug down, picking up the bottle again to resume picking at the label as he stares at the other boy in naked surprise. Because like, why wouldn't he be surprised? Ren is so honest and open and genuine about everything, so self-sure with every action he takes.]

You weren't interested in any of the members of your little group? Not even poor Yoshizawa-san, following at your heels like a little lost puppy in search of the smallest scraps of approval?

[And if he stumbles a bit on some of those words, perhaps he can be forgiven. He brings the bottle to his lips and takes another drink, grimacing once again from the taste. Anything to help him latch onto this new topic instead of thinking about how much he doesn't deserve Ren's attention or affection.]

( ?

Did he make Akechi nervous? He went straight to scratching the bottle... Ren's braincells are all too busy drowning to try and analyze the why of the matter. He is taking this as a victory, though, if Akechi thought he knew what Ren was doing even when he had approximately none. Means he's doing something right?? He thinks?? It's a victory. Don't argue.)

I don't think it was like that. She just wanted support... (Akechi is drunk, he gets a pass on the rude comment. At the question at hand...)

Interested like this? No. It's a different bond.

Oh.

[He's still clearly surprised, and not sure if it's a good thing or not. It does mean that Ren doesn't just see him as a charity case or something... right? After all, he'd argue that Yoshizawa is certainly a better candidate for that. Athletic, slim, beautiful, senpai this and senpai that.

He starts to take another drink, thinks better of it, and sets the bottle down with a clatter, frowning at the noise.]

Well. That's good, then.

[He grabs another takeout container to occupy his hands, rather than because he's actually hungry, and grabs one of the skewers of meat, brain frantically working like its running through molasses to find another topic, because talking about the other Thieves just isn't interesting.]

...Well, I suppose you've gotten the results of your experiment, though I would say that my tolerance is better than yours.

[He'd stopped counting how many times he'd drunk from the bottle, and it still feels like he's holding a conversation rather well, thank you very much.]

Why is that?

(Ren crosses his legs, knuckles supporting his cheek with his elbow on the armrest, the drunken smirk almost apparent in his lips, smug but much more relaxed than the ones Akechi is used to. Being drunk is a trip, literally, and Ren probably found his limit right there. Too much over that, it would bring memories he'd rather not think about, he's sure, less than that, he's just dizzy and a little slow.

All the slug aside, the look he gives Akechi is quite sharp.)

You know, Goro. You've been winning a lot lately. Don't think you're on a streak for too long.

Why is what?

[He can guess, but he wants to hear Ren say it clearly with his own words, so he can acknowledge that he's better.

Oh, but this is manipulation, isn't it? He can recognize it, surely as anything, and yet, in this case... he'll allow it, his eyes lighting up at the use of his first name, his own gaze sharpening in return.

Ren really is catlike in all of his easy, effortless motions, and impulsively, Akechi wants to put a stop to it. Keep him from moving around so much, so easily, so effortlessly.

In a heartbeat he lunges from the chair before he can think better of it, intending to win at this game, too. Whatever game they're playing right now, if it's intimidation or flirting, he plans to win.

Of course, plans go haywire because as he stands for the first time since he'd started drinking, the entire room rotates around him. What had started as a planned attack of pinning Ren back to the bed to wipe that smirk off his face becomes a monumental effort of just staggering the few steps to the bed and taking a careful seat beside him.]

(?!

Earlier, Ren had decided not to rush to aid for the rivalry reasons only. This time, the second Akechi stood up with such motivation, Ren could tell exactly what had hit him. He made the same mistake too at some point on his first drink and it's not pleasant at all to have the world turning around you and not knowing which way is which...

He'd help Akechi walk if allowed, but if not, the second they're both seated, Ren wraps an arm around his shoulders, as to give him something steady to help refocus his brain.)

[He will not allow help to the bed, but he won't shrug off the arm around his shoulders. For a moment, he just keeps his eyes closed and inhales deeply through his nose. Is it even possible to get nauseated when most other bodily functions don't work? They don't get thirsty, only hungry, and why would they get nauseous if such other basic things aren't in play?]

I asked you a question, [he demands more than says as the room finally stops spinning behind his eyelids. Alright, a change of plans it is, then. If he's already on the bed, then...

He reaches to take Ren's chin in one gloved hand, holding him fast so he can't break away even if he wasn't planning to in the first place.]

Answer me.

(He'd expected Akechi to be much more interested in discussing the indirect (or direct, hell, he doesn't know) message he sent him last. That there would be consequences to all this antecipation... But instead, he wants an answer that he already easily has?

Either way, there's a hand holding his chin and a demanding lover in front of him, eager for an answer...)

Why is it good that I've only been interested in you?

[There it is. That's what he wanted to hear, the acknowledgement singing through his veins and bringing a heated flush to his cheeks. Hearing it said, out loud, that he's the only person Ren's ever been interested in...

It should spark another wave of panic. Instead, Akechi only leans closer, lips curving into an unmistakable smirk.]

Because I'm rather selfish, and I don't want to share you with anyone else.

[Which... should be obvious by now, really, but before Ren can point that out or offer any kind of rebuttal in exchange, he's using that grip on his chin to pull him in for a kiss.]

No. I didn't have many issues like that un--... (Until he put himself between that awful, rotten man and the woman he had been drunkenly harrassing. Up until that point, Ren had been fine, life was normal. After that? The weight of mistrust, responsibility and wrath fell upon his shoulders, dragging him to his awakening and even after then. One could argue Ren is not in a rush to grow up at all, seen how long the Shitty Adults In His Life list was.

This is irrelevant though, because Ren is not sharing this either. It's nervewrecking enough to talk about Akechi, imagine adding his probation to the list of things. Well, he stopped himself, so who's winning now, alcohol?)

What does that have to do with Red-san?

(And then, after a silence...)

Does he know you like him?

I'll let you help me get furniture and pound nails and the like. I mean it's making a house. It can't be that hard to make a decent place to live.

It just doesn't rain in hell, so who cares if I live under the bridge, right?

[Sorry, she's such a bum.]

Yeah, I figured as much. [Blue grins slightly, from behind the lip of his drink.] You probably just went along at your own pace...

[The type to gather others, instead; leading just by existing. Blue gets that kind of personality, but Red wasn't quite the same. People were drawn to him, and others liked him, even if he had a hard time dealing with them- he had no interest in that sort of thing.]

[It certainly was far from a 1:1 comparison, but.... Suffice to say, Blue had noted certain personality quirks.]

[Speaking of.]

What does it have to do with him? [Blue lofts an eyebrow, sipping his drink again. Sheesh, Ren; he's not as tipsy as you are on one beer. You ain't catching him in this net.] We're here to talk about you, and this little meltdown you're having. Me? I'm peachy-keen.

[Blue's eyes roll up as he takes a few more gulps, and sets his beer back down.] We grew up childhood friends....... Of course I care 'bout him. It's complicated, when you know someone that long. Worse when things haven't always been that great.

How long've you known Akechi-kun?

(That's his question, what does the whole growing up talk and the need to do it fast has to do with Red and Blue at all? Ren reaches for his beer, the one that Blue had taken. By the time he gives it a sip, he remembers how bitter it tastes... Ugh.

The word 'meltdown' is taken with a glare by Ren, because it wasn't one until Blue brought up the subject, or at least it's what he's decided, even if it's a lie almost the size of the Void itself.

Blue's words, however, trigger a little peak of interest in Ren's features, visible by the eyebrows that went gently up and the catlike curiosity that comes out of it again. )

Things not being always great is expected, isn't it?

(It's not bait for information, but instead, a genuine comment. Isn't that part of life? Things are inherently imperfect, even the things worth experiencing.)

Since June. It's supposedly January.

(Although so much had happened within those months that it's impossible to not feel like it's so much longer...

Finally, a deal is a deal and Blue had followed through, albeit not as much as Ren would like. He owes the same cortesy, so he circles back to the question as to why is it so complicated. At least now he had time to put together something that doesn't really involve murder, betrayal and death...)

A lot happened. We hurt each other a few times really badly and there's still a lot of unresolved arguments and issues.

(While Ren obviously drew the short end of the stick, he realizes that he too emotionally stabbed Akechi several times, even if a good amount wasn't his choice whatsoever. Not only did Ren lie to him for several months, pretending not to know about his nature as a Metaverse user, but he hurt his pride by defeating him, had the revenge he so desired and unlike the other, had way too many tools promptly given to him to make that happen. God's favorite, so to say.

It's not the same as getting shot in the head, but alas. It's not great either.)

(While he grows more anxious by the second, his face shows none of that. Instead, it's calm but eager to hear her. Finally, she says it and he perks up - that's most reaction he was given time to provide.

She never painted the picture of how it happened in detail, and Ren never pushed for it either. It was her information to disclose and an open wound that he would do his best to help heal, but he's not imposing it. He listens though, joining hands in the space between his legs as he thinks. It's unquestionably fair...)

I'm sorry about Seventh Heaven and your home. (He starts by saying it, because truly, he is and it enrages him how distortion is so rampant and present in her homeworld, and likewise, it's not like he could fix it, even if he really wants to. It's just heartbreaking to hear the story, but still, he fights whatever indication of upsetness. It's not what she needs.)

I understand. You can leave it to me for as long as you need. (Be it short, long, or permanently. Ren's voice is a strong resolve in tone and he nods.)

I'll still be here for you and I'll take care of Heavenly Blanc just the same.

More than enough reason to make your place here nice.

(It's fine, Parsee. Ren lives in a doorless attic, sleeps on a mattress atop milk crates and there's chatter that leaks from the cafe. He gets it trying to make a new place be home and not knowing how.

At least he found his way - he keeps his door open when he's at his apartment, so surely she would have noticed how much effort he put on his own - many plants and flowers decorate it!)

I wouldn't mind that. If it was nice, but not as nice as the apartments I wouldn't feel any urge to leave. It's not like this isn't a tiny little place overall. We'll see each other plenty.

[She wasn't hiding away, that much at least she wanted to be clear. It would be futile with people like Ren around, so she was accepting that she was apparently part of these people's lives for good or ill.]

Just avoids risking things getting nasty. If my powers come back properly you wouldn't want me in the apartment. Hah, that could get ugly fast.

How so?

(Half of it is concern, surely, but the other half is preparing for what is to come, possibily.)

I'd get jealous of every happy moment all of you had. Then I'd get more jealous and I'd start spreading the jealousy around, and all of you would get more jealous, and either we'd drink ourselves into a stupor, make bad life choices and get over it...

Or more likely something bad would happen. Bad things happen when I live too close to too many people. Measured doses.

... We should have a contingency plan should your powers come back.

(There's no way he's just letting this happen to Parsee or the world around them. So, with that resolve, he asks:)

Can you turn them off somehow?

Edited 2020-09-07 18:22 (UTC)

[Well, that was a tiny bit unexpected. Not THAT unexpected, but his solution was more 'how do we help if it happens' not prepping ways of dealing with her personally. Her cheeks colored a little and she blinked at him.]

Uhhh... well, first of all I don't have the range to hit the whole island unless I'm getting one hell of a boost. So, me having my own place will help. I might get a sign, put it on the shrine to warn people if I know they're back. To keep distance at first.

Ok, so that's a start. [Ahem] Marisa wrote up a thing on a bunch of youkai once. I snuck a peek when nobody was looking. People who are better at focusing, controlling themselves and who are strong willed are better off. Alcohol helps. Meditation helps. Watch for floating, glowing green lights. If I'm doing it actively, you'll probably see that or cherry blossoms and ashes floating where they shouldn't.

I can turn off all but the most passive stuff if you're close to me, but ... let's just say? I'm jealous of you right now, but it sort of feeds off itself with the powers, so it's harder the more I get pissed off.

If it happens, I think I should be ok to watch you.

(Considering he's focused, absurdly strong-willed and meditates ever so often. He listens, though, before coming to a conclusion and pointing at her.)

Maybe we should find a way to calm you down.

[Impulsively, Blue almost reaches to snatch the beer out of Ren's reach again, but... fine, he'll allow this one indulgence!! But he's monitoring you, child; if you get any sloppier, you're done.]

[He knows damn well this 'meltdown' of his would have been had, now or later, eventually; if he's bottling all this up there's only one way for it to go. Alcohol was funny like that; it sort of unplugged all of that, and eased the memory of you letting go, so you couldn't remember it too badly.]

[...Not that it erased the consequences.]

Hmmm. Yeah.

[Blue agrees mildly, but instead he listens to Ren's reply. Only half a year? ...Blue supposes for a teen romance, though, that's probably pretty standard. He thinks back to some of the boyhood flings he'd had, a fresh youngster at boarding school with little supervision and a lot of new feelings to dole out. Feelings came quickly, and left just as fleetingly.... It was like he said- at the time, everything feels so much more important, so much more pressing.]

Gee, sounds rough... [He isn't trying to be patronizing; it's hard to know how much of an understatement that is, and it's hard to know how similar it is to his own experience. But that's why he doesn't really ask further; specifics get real messy, don't they? It's always a long story.]

[Blue drains his drink, and flicks the empty can back.]

Well, here's what I'd say. At least you guys have talked about it a little bit, right? You must've, if you got that far. [His grin returns, elbowing him gently.] Don't feel like it's all gotta come out and be resolved at once......... Even if it's bit by bit and you ignore some pretty heavy stuff for a while, if even one of you isn't ready, then it's probably not worth it.

What's important is at least you know there's something to work towards, huh?

(open) where have you been? been searching all along 𝅘𝅥𝅮

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