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

[forethinking]

Who: renren and you!
What: a catch-all!
Where: bathhouse, hblanc, apartments, market place...
When: august-september
Content Warnings: none, but i promise nothing and will update this if needed! spoiler warnings will be on the top level or in the subject of the comment.

edit: remember when i said i promised nothing? there's people bathing in here

Comments

[simulatio]

[He stares at him a moment longer, then scoffs and shakes his head. Unbelievable. Truly beyond his comprehension.

His eyes flick back to Ren's lips, and it takes conscious effort not to lick his own. Shit. This isn't fucking fair. But this is a situation of his own devising after all, lies upon lies upon lies, crafting a tower for him to perch on.

But isn't this Ren's fault, too? Akechi tried to kill him. Twice he tried to kill him, and both times he'd honestly meant to do it. Both times he'd wanted to do it, wanted to see him dead on the floor in front of him. And still, Ren and his friends had reached out.]

You'd do better just to forget about me.

[Then maybe he could have some fucking peace for once in his miserable life.

He heads toward the edge of the bath nearest his clothes, intending to get out and towel himself off to start getting dressed.]

But fine. I'll still uphold my end of our deal. This changes nothing between us.

[forethinking]

(Akechi wasn't so discreet with where his eyes trail to, at least to Ren's observant self. It does add just a little more fuel to the fire - not interested certainly doesn't cover that look now, does it? Why lie about something so painfully wanted by the two of them? Ren is fully aware about just how bizarre the whole situation is, though.

It's not like he had forgotten everything that he went through just because they are away from it, not when the scars from the interrogation room still show upon his fair skin and the trauma rather fresh in his mind. Even so, his answer is simple and probably too obvious to poke a reaction out of Akechi either way.)

That's for me to decide.

(Not for Akechi or anyone else. Ren lives his life the way he sees fit, true to his decisions, to his emotions and his resolves. Taking that choice away from him is impossible by definition, that's the very core of his rebellion and thus, his very essence.

He wants to move on. If only Akechi had known how much it destroyed him to see that gate closing, just how devastating it was to hear he was missing. How heartbreaking it was to have failed to save him and how much he wished these things to be different. How much he wanted a fresh start. Not a clue on his part that Akechi is very much aware.

And now, here they are. Nothing pulling the strings like they're both puppets in a show made for them, destined to be the other's demise. Ren likes him. Does Akechi really expect him to be quiet, put his head down and just ignore it? He should know better.

Through all these thoughts, Ren almost emanates the resolves and decisions in his head, as intense in expression as he possibly could - specially without the glasses. Ren turns around to grant Akechi privacy to leave the bathtub before he quirks an eyebrow.)

Is that a real concern? Of course our deal would stand regardless.

[simulatio]

[His gaze sharpens into a glare at Ren's simple statement, a growl boiling suppressed behind his lips. There's an argument to be made, about how he should have a choice in it, too. That why is it always want Ren wants, what Ren thinks is right, what Ren wants to do. Why is he always the one in the fucking right?!

He keeps his back to Ren as he towels himself off, shakes out his clothes, and gets dressed. He's almost dizzy from the heat and the hot water, but he won't let that stop him from getting out of here as quickly as he can. Running away a voice taunts him, and he can't tell if it's one of his Personas, or just his own mind.

But he can't do this. Can't give Ren any more reasons to let his resolve waver. He'd tried so hard to be liked back then, and now he has to do the opposite. Cut it all off and start over. Akechi spent most of his life alone in foreign circumstances and survived. He can do the same here.]

Good. Because I'd rather end it than compromise it.

[So yes, it is a real concern. His back burns, and he wants to look behind him to see if Ren is watching him get dressed, but he refuses to give him the satisfaction.]

The only thing I care about is figuring out what's going on here so we can go back to where we belong. I can only hope we haven't wasted too much time here already.

[forethinking]

(To say Ren is frustrated is an understatement. Ren wants to yell at him, to say the very least. If deals are so important to Akechi, then why is he not honoring their most recent one? Why won't he stop contradicting himself and just talk to Ren for once? Does everything between them have to be a manipulation game until the worst possible scenario happens? Again?

Fuming, although his hands are relaxed and he's putting effort not to press his lips together, the look in his eyes betray him more than any microexpression he might be fighting against. What does Akechi think he is? Fickle? Unstable? He has never not done something he set out to do.

The fact that he's glimpsed towards Akechi and currently is unable to actually touch him again doesn't help the anger pulsating in his face, turning cheeks red. He wants Akechi so much and it's infuriating to feel like the other wants him too, but here he is. Lying again.

The voice that echoes the bathhouse is lower than normal, the tone much more suited to Joker himself than to a daily Ren.)

Do you trust me this little?

[simulatio]

[Akechi's back tightens at the accusation, but it doesn't stop him from pulling his shirt on, buttoning it as quickly as he can and tucking it into his pants. Leave it to Ren to cut straight to the heart of the matter. It's something Akechi had always appreciated, even when his princely personality had forced him to take a more roundabout route.

So the answer he gives Ren in exchange is equally as direct, though he doesn't turn yet. He's still getting dressed, after all.]

Do you trust me?

[He pulls his tie around his neck and works to tie it, fingers moving automatically as his muscles stay tense. It's a rhetorical question, really. He knows Ren can't trust him. He's never had any reason to trust him.

He glances back over his shoulder, his own gaze sharpening at the sight of the anger in Ren's eyes. There's a sick sort of satisfaction to knowing he's sparked such a reaction from him, even as much as he wishes Ren wouldn't.]

We have a job to do, Ren. I won't let you get distracted.

persona... 5.... spoilers...

[forethinking]

(Back home, back then, the answer would be very straight-forward: No. Not before they, as Akechi puts it, "parted ways". Even then, with Akechi confirming that he would get in their way, Ren offered him a chance to join them, to make things right. The certainty on his side that Akechi could, and still can be trusted should the mist in front of his eyes clear. Ren thought it did then.

So, with the tone unchanging, he replies.)

I do. Why don't you?

(It's all he says. If Akechi wants to add anything, he can find Ren outside. He takes the remaining items from his locker, glasses back on his face and next thing, he returns to where the rest of his clothes are.

Coward. Thanks for the input, Satanel, to which are you talking about...?)

[simulatio]

[The question only earns Ren a derisive snort. Is that what he's hurt about? Akechi doesn't trust anyone. Ren's special enough that he tells him more than most, and even still, he can't tell him the whole story. It shouldn't surprise him that Akechi can't trust him or anyone else.

He finishes getting dressed and stalks toward the door, grabbing his coat and his sword on the way out. Fuck Ren for making this all so complicated. Fuck him.]

I'm going back to the apartments for now. Come find me when you've got your head on straight again.

[He'll grab something to eat in Wall Market first and then back to the apartments it is. A tactical retreat, not running away.]

[forethinking]

(As if.

Bold of Akechi to think Ren is coming to find him on his bullshit terms, like none of this wasn't going to be relevant anymore because they have a job to do. Like he doesn't just want to stop him and kiss him again, like he can just swallow the lies again.

There are no words coming from Ren, perhaps a shake of his head and the glare that follows Akechi as he leaves, the glasses doing nothing to soften it.)