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]

In that case, you should join me. We can finally settle the score...

[turns the phone to show him a photo from the website of two guys in yukata playing ping pong]

[tookyourheart]

[peers at the phone, deadpans:]

I see... The battlefield for our fated rematch.

[inside the bag, Morgana is rolling his eyes]

[afailedmurder]

[sorry cat, it's flirting(?) time]

Imagine being defeated in your own hometown.

[tookyourheart]

I might have to leave again from the shame.

[afailedmurder]

Then you'd better take it seriously. I don't intend to show any mercy.

[tookyourheart]

I've prepared long and hard for this day... in the batting cages.

[kitty is now audibly groaning from the icky flirty vibes] Ping pong and baseball aren't the same thing!

[afailedmurder]

Huh. Do you have batting cages around here? A multi-event tournament would be more telling than any one individual game.

[tookyourheart]

Maybe there's one at the local sports centre? I never tried batting until I moved to Yongen, to be honest.

[afailedmurder]

Of course. Well, we can concentrate on ping pong for now.

[one more drink of coffee in the cup. He zones out for a moment staring at it]

[tookyourheart]

[Watching him, he asks wryly after a moment:]

Is the coffee that bad?

[It's an invitation to talk, if he wants to.]

[afailedmurder]

The coffee's fine. I'm the only hot mess here.

[knocking back that last bit]

[tookyourheart]

Hah. Well, now you have time to clean up the mess.

[The hot part can stay, though. Ren likewise chugs through the rest of his coffee.]

[afailedmurder]

Do you really think that's possible?

[mostly sounding bitter, but there might be a genuine question in there somewhere]

[tookyourheart]

You took back your own reality instead of letting someone else fix things for you. No matter what I tell you, you've already made your choice.

[setting down his empty cup]

But for the record, I think you can do it.

[afailedmurder]

It's much easier to make a decision when you assume it will be your last.

[still, how can he help but smile when Ren says things like that]

Don't take me wrong; I don't intend to waste the opportunity. But what I'll do with it remains to be seen.

[tookyourheart]

Humans grow and change all the time, even without changes of heart. Maybe now you have some friends, it'll be easier, too.

[Ren looks from Morgana and back to Akechi.] Yeah. We'll support you, if you let us.

[afailedmurder]

God, you're embarrassing...

[grumblefluster]

...But I've gone so far as to follow you here, so we may as well do things your way.

[tookyourheart]

What are friends for, if not embarrassing each other?

[just gonna keep laying it on thicker, rip]

So, you figured out where you're staying, right? We should head over.

[afailedmurder]

Were you planning on checking in with me? I assumed you'd be meeting me later...

[tookyourheart]

I was planning to show you how to get there. But if you're fine making your own way, I can meet you there.

[afailedmurder]

I've got a map on my phone.

[tookyourheart]

[touche. he hesitates, like he wants to say something, then:]

You are going to stick around, right? You won't disappear once I leave?

[afailedmurder]

[Akechi also hesitates. He hadn't thought that far ahead, so upon answering this question, he's answering it for himself as well]

I'll be there.

[tookyourheart]

[That seems to ease some of the worry, and he smiles, offering a hand to Akechi.]

Wanna shake on it, like before?

[afailedmurder]

[accepting the handshake]

I'll see you tonight.

[deadly serious; even reiterating what they're shaking on, it feels like he's agreed to something much weightier]