OPEN POST: Ren Amamiya (Joker) - Persona 5

[tookyourheart]

henlo friends it's that time again, toss in a prompt/starter/idea so we can thread

I've played and completed Royal, but I would prefer to remain unspoiled for Scramble!

Comments

[afailedmurder]

[quiet for a long moment]

I don't think I'd be especially comfortable around someone's parents, but... I'll consider it.

[tookyourheart]

You seemed to do all right around Sojiro.

[but he can also see why he'd feel that way, so he won't press]

Anyway, my number's still the same, so you know how to find me. I'll be getting off at the stop after this one.

[afailedmurder]

I may as well do the same. Any recommendations for a good local cafe?

[tookyourheart]

I wasn't really a cafe guy before Leblanc, but I know a place a couple of blocks from the station. I can you the way, since it's on the way home for me anyway.

[afailedmurder]

I'd appreciate that.

[a pause]

By the way... do you still have the app on your phone?

[tookyourheart]

[checking his phone, just in case, now that Akechi is mysteriously here]

Nope. Do you?

[afailedmurder]

[doesn't need to look]

No.

[tookyourheart]

Mine disappeared after we defeated Maruki, the same as everyone else. The Metaverse is gone for real this time.

[afailedmurder]

I see. Well, that's not unexpected...

[tookyourheart]

Look at it this way: now that it's gone, no one else can abuse it.

[afailedmurder]

We don't strictly know that it's gone, only that we're no longer permitted access.

...I suppose it doesn't much matter either way. It's out of our hands now.

[tookyourheart]

Yeah. Whatever the case, if something else comes up, we can deal with it as it happens.

[pulls up the blind, peeking out the window] Looks like we're almost there.

[afailedmurder]

[ok, subject change. probably for the best]

I'm curious to see it. I haven't spent much time outside of the city.

[tookyourheart]

It's a lot quieter than Tokyo, but maybe you'll like the change of pace.

[Or hate it, we'll see. He pulls his bag up onto his lap in preparation for leaving, and there's a sleepy complaint from inside: 'Just five more minutes...']

[afailedmurder]

[picking up his metal briefcase. does he look a little nervous?]

You'll have to show me what you do for fun.

[tookyourheart]

Before you ask, there's bars, but no jazz club, sorry. [At least, none that he knows of, and it wouldn't hold a candle to Kichijoji anyway.

The train is slowly pulling in to the station, so Ren gets to his feet.]

There's a shopping mall, a cinema, a little concert venue, a bowling alley attached to an arcade... [He stops and thinks.] Actually, I thought of somewhere you might like.

[afailedmurder]

I didn't expect there would be...

[Sliding out of his spot and into the aisle, blocking the space so Ren can do the same.]

But I'm interested in anything you have to show me. Lead the way.

[tookyourheart]

[Slips out of the seats, careful not to disturb the sleepy cat in the bag too much. Would suck to get busted for cat smuggling at the last minute.]

We'll stick with the cafe for today, but tomorrow onwards I can show you the place. You cycle, right?

[afailedmurder]

I do, yes. Though I didn't bring any of the relevant equipment.

Actually, I brought very little. I'll have to buy some clothes if I stay longer than a couple of days.

[tookyourheart]

My dad has a bike we can borrow, and my old one should still be there. [Hopefully his parents didn't go nuts and throw out tons of his stuff while he was on probation...]

And I can show you where the mall is for clothes. Are you okay for money?

[Time to disembark, whew. His parents haven't bothered to meet him at the station, so he'll go right ahead and lead the way off the platform.]

[afailedmurder]

Yes, I should be fine. I withdrew a fair amount of my savings.

[Walking alongside him.]

Are your parents not coming to meet you?

[tookyourheart]

Nah. They said they have some errands to run before I get home, but I can guess the real reason.

[Shrugs. At which point, there's rustling in the bag, so Ren unzips it, and out pops Morgana.]

Fresh air at last! --Wait, is that Akechi?

[afailedmurder]

Do they—

[interrupted by Morgana]

It's me.

[tookyourheart]

But how?!

[Ren just shakes his head.]

We'll figure that out later. For now, we're grabbing a coffee.

[Morgana seems to accept that much without complaint, at least, and settles for peeking around at everything as they emerge from the station.]

[afailedmurder]

[to Morgana:]

I don't know that your continued presence in the real world makes significantly more sense than mine...

[looking around as he walks]