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

[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]

[tookyourheart]

Yeah. See you later.

[His tone is still light, but the way he squeezes his hand says otherwise.]

All right, I'll let you go for now. I'll text you tonight when I'm ready to head over.

[afailedmurder]

Sounds good.

[Time to go check into the inn and then... what? Read his book? Eat dinner? Furiously Google himself? Play Ping Pong with the wall? ...All of the above, until he gives up on being a person and ends up flopped on the tatami floor watching the Cake Knight Rises on his phone.]

[tookyourheart]

[Meanwhile Ren has a less-than-heartwarming family reunion, unpacks his belongings (or at least, the few he brought in a bag, the rest due to arrive in a separate delivery), shows Morgana around the house after introducing him to his parents... There's a lot to be done, and it's finally after dinner that Ren manages to shoot Akechi a text.]

On my way.

[Time for the moment of truth to see if Akechi will keep to his word, anyway.]

[afailedmurder]

[Akechi fell asleep on the floor, so he doesn't return that text.]

[But he is here.]

[tookyourheart]

[Arriving at the ryokan but... still no Akechi reply?

Maybe he should try calling him before he bothers the staff. Please don't have your phone on silent.]

[afailedmurder]

[gropes around for the phone]

[picks it up and peers at it, noticing it's Joker]

[groggily debates whether to answer]

[suddenly remembers exactly why he should answer and gets so worked up about it that he fumbles the phone entirely]

[by the time he's picked it back up, it's stopped ringing]

[OH NO]

[tookyourheart]

[Is he being ignored? Rude.

He asks at the reception area if anyone fitting Akechi's description has checked in (he might've used a pseudonym, after all), but he's turned away with the reasoning they can't compromise the privacy of guests.

Disgruntled, he heads back outside, and tries calling one more time.]

[afailedmurder]

[Akechi is also trying to call! And bursting out the front door in his yukata.]

[tookyourheart]

[The line's engaged. Seriously? Maybe he really is being ghosted--

--Which is right when Ren spots him running out in a yukata.]

Akechi?!

[afailedmurder]

[...]

[...]

[...]

...I was taking a nap.

[tookyourheart]

[Surprise quickly turns to incredulity, which then turns to barely-withheld laughter.]

You? Nap? Since when?

[aren't workaholics allergic to that sort of thing]