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]

[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]

[afailedmurder]

[already embarrassed + being teased = technical damage]

I can nap!

[tookyourheart]

Just because you can doesn't mean you do. Although you might be less cranky if you made it a habit.

[He's laughing outright for a once-more hit. Sorry, Akechi.]

So can I come in, or should I leave you to go back to your beauty sleep?

[afailedmurder]

[pauses to battle the kneejerk impulse to send him packing]

...Just shut up and come in.

[tookyourheart]

Yessir.

[following him inside! and leaving his shoes in the foyer, now that the staff are chill with him entering]

[afailedmurder]

There's an extra yukata in the closet.

[along with the futon he never actually laid out before taking his "nap"]

[tookyourheart]

Thanks.

[Ren notices the unused futon and has to stifle another laugh, or Akechi really might lose it. He undresses quickly and puts on the yukata.]

It's nice in here. I can see why you were so relaxed.

[afailedmurder]

I was simply tired.

[grabbing a floor cushion to sit on]

[tookyourheart]

Exhausted from a life on the run?

[Finishes dressing, then moves to join Akechi.]

[afailedmurder]

Something like that.

I wonder if anyone's even looking. Everyone seems to think I'm dead.

[tookyourheart]

Shido's fan club must've had a hand in covering it up. Same as what happened to me.

[Ironic as it is to see the playbook Akechi used turned against him.]