personavelvetroomdr | (no subject)

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[It's a perfectly ordinary day in Tokyo, if you ignore the fact that Akechi just got done enduring a horrific, white palace with crumbling architecture, creepy tentacles everywhere, and scraps of memory locked away and scattered like puzzle pieces, culminating in battling a tentacled abomination to free Wakaba Isshiki's Shadow from the prison of her mind, and... well. A mother-daughter reunion is always nice, he supposes.

He's on the phone when he stumbles in, deep in the midst of a conversation.]

Isshiki-san's condition is stable, but we'll have to relocate her before he notices anything amiss. ...Yes, Dad, I'm all right. Not that I don't appreciate the concern, but-

[The signal cuts out, and... ah. The Velvet Room. And not the Velvet Room of his childhood, but... this one.

At first he bristles, eyes narrowed into a razor-sharp glare. He has half a mind to complain to Igor about locking him out, but all signs point to Ren's "Igor" being impostor, and... no. Wait.

Recollection flashes before him. With that recollection, he grimaces.]

...Of course I'd end up back here.

[He shuts his eyes, brings a hand to his face, and breathes in deeply. He was such a stupid tween, and if people connect him to said tween... Who even knows how much time has passed here?]

[ooc: Older version of

fogboundcrow for the funny. Some info on his profile. Yes, he's wearing a Shujin uniform.]

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[ Nothing Akechi says is rude, or offensive, but a stone settles in Ren's stomach anyway, heavier and heavier with each word. Despite the different intonation, despite the gloves, sometimes it almost seems like it could be Ren's own Akechi standing next to him. Staring fondly into space, talking about a different Ren who clearly has whatever Ren himself lacks. It's not brains or adaptability or even friendliness. Ren has all that. It's something else that Ren was just... born without. But he already knew that.

He shakes his head with a smile when Akechi apologizes. ] No worries. It sounds like you two are close...?

[ Why did he ask that. He doesn't want to know that. ]

Edited 2023-08-16 03:40 (UTC)

[Ah... Akechi's cheeks redden ever so slightly, and airy, uneasy laughter sneaks out of him. It's all smiles, a bit tight, and perhaps a smidge sheepish.]

That's... one way of putting it.

[In the back of his mind, he thinks about some of their recent escapades. How Ren was "admiring the view" when they last played billiards together, nearly thwarting Akechi's shot. Or the way Ren offered his bed to Akechi the last time he stayed over, pointing out how awful that couch must have been for his back.

All the times he's wanted to simply pull him aside, bare all his feelings, steal a kiss, and finally breathe...

But that all goes unsaid. It would be rather embarrassing to voice such thoughts to the same boy whom his Shadow made a very direct comment about his younger self finding him attractive.]

But I digress. This seems like a conversation better suited for more a more comfortable environment. We were going to grab sushi, weren't we?

[How fortunate that there's a restaurant nearby.]

[ ...Okay, it is kind of funny to see Akechi blushing like that, despite everything. ]

Yep. [ He sounds cheerful again. Fake it till you make it. ] You were gonna tell me the embarrassing story of how you got your Persona.

Of course. But that's a story best suited for when we've seated ourselves.

[So he'll be a polite gentleman and hold the door, all while quietly musing on what he should order...

Definitely some fatty tuna. Morgana should still be here, and having extras will be useful in reconnecting. Unagi is always a treat, mackerel or yellow fin are viable options...

Hm, perhaps a mixed batch of odds and ends. It's not like money is an issue here.]

A long story, huh. That's like you. Nothing normal when you can have drama. [ He sounds fond, as he walks through the door. ] Where do you wanna sit?

But would you have it any other way?

[He likes to think it adds character. It certainly gives him no shortage of fascinating conversation topics to bring to social interactions, at any rate.]

Anyway, we could sit at the sushi bar, unless you favor booth seating. Personally, I always enjoy watching the chefs at work.

[Although one look inside shows that the resident employees have the same eerie, empty smiles as just about everyone else in town. Ah well.]

[ Ren casts a skeptical look at the bar. ] Do you really want to watch these creeps?

[ He doesn't bother to keep his voice down, because the cognitions won't care. As for whether he'd have his own Akechi any other way, no, he supposes he wouldn't—but this isn't his own Akechi, in the end. Just a closer lookalike than normal. ]

...Perhaps a booth would be less unsettling.

[Fair enough. With a small sigh, he waves Ren over to a conveniently empty booth... which is most of them, to be fair, but comfort is important for conversation, and if Ren is uneasy, that's that.

Fortunately, this restaurant seems equipped with modern conveniences, like a tablet with which to place orders. Akechi flips through the menu, picking out a few odds and ends...]

So. The legend of my prepubescent stupidity... Honestly, I'd argue that it began when I chose to use my newly awakened ability to enter the TV world to meet with Teddie in secret. I used all your textbook tricks. Bribery, flattery, free snacks for a lonely creature desperate for validation...

[Not his proudest moment, but it got him what he needed at the time.]

[ Ren settles into the booth across from Akechi and waits for his turn to order. His fit of melancholy is already over, and he props his chin in his hand with a grin. ]

Really? I wouldn't have guessed you had that kind of thing in you when I met you a few days ago. Proud of you, man.

What? The self-awareness or the cunning?

[Heh. The banter is relieving, at least, and... hmmm, there.

A comfortable mix of odds and ends. Unagi, yellowfin, fatty maguro to share with Morgana, and ika...

Variety without budgetary constraints is rather fun, he'll have to admit.]

Either, now that you mention it.

[ With a gleeful gleam in his eyes, he pulls the tablet over to his side of the booth and goes wild, ordering anything he sees that looks even a little good, much more than he could ever eat. Who cares? It's all free. None of it's real. ]

I'm flattered, truly.

[Heh. Well, he did have a story to spin, so best to carry on while Ren places his order.]

I was eager to prove myself to my "big bro" without him realizing I'd even obtained the power. Yu had even offered to ease Kanji and me into the TV world, but by that point I was steadfastly determined to seize the power, which is where our "friendly" gas station attendant came in.

[He pauses, a wry smile tugging at his lips.]

Ah, fun fact about that: He was actually the goddess Izanami, and all of us bestowed with the power were but pieces in a game to determine humanity's desires.

[ ... What.

He finalizes the order and pushes the tablet aside to give Akechi his full attention. ] He was what?

[ ??? ]

I knew there was something weird about the gas station guy. I fucking called it. Why did she need to give people Personas and start a murder spree to figure out humanity's desires?

The goddess Izanami, the very same goddess of our country's creation myths.

[Funny how that happens. To have stood against a literal goddess of legend...

That smile twists into a tight scowl.]

She sought to stimulate Inaba. The murders were not necessarily her end goal: she simply brought out the potential in three unwitting humans and myself.

But if that isn't enough, she was a fragment of one of my friends, the true Izanami-no-Mikoto. Evidently, she split into multiple beings when humanity ceased to wish for the "truth," one seeking to protect humanity and one wishing to grant its distorted desires. Our 'friendly' attendant was the latter, and Marie-san was the former.

[In other words... it's quite a lot. Akechi's had years to let it all sink in, but he can imagine this is all quite the revelation.]

[ Ren squints at him across the booth. ]

...That makes no sense. You know that, right?

Can't the same be said for the Metaverse itself? Or Morgana. Or any number of supernatural aspects to our world.

[Ren's reaction does get a quiet laugh out of him, at least.]

I suppose it's one of those things where you had to be there. But all of that business with gods came much later. My Shadow showed itself very quickly, and I was terrified at the prospect of accepting such a soft, open, and vulnerable side of myself. So I avoided it for a while, just like I did here. Golden Week and exams kept me busy enough, anyway, so it was less of a priority for a bit.

[Well, until Morgana got him to come to his senses.]

[ He nods. ] Yeah. I always wonder how people do school and Persona stuff at the same time.

[ It's not meant as a question so much as an offhand comment. He does really think about it, though, especially recently now that he's infiltrated the Thieves. They're always planning Palace infiltrations around homework and upcoming tests. ]

I suppose I 'lucked out' in that I was too young to work, so my after school time was left relatively open. But, ah... here's where things get complicated.

[As he says this, the sushi arrives. Akechi gives the server an amused little smirk at the timing.]

Thank you.

[He knows the server isn't real, but force of habit and all.]

So... essentially, we'd gone a few weeks without any new culprits. The day I finished exams, I had a chance encounter with Naoto Shirogane, the original Detective Prince, and ever the eager one, I insisted on showcasing my findings to prove myself to my idol.

At the same time, Kanji was adamant about testing our hypothesis about the culprit's movements by purposefully appearing on the news by intervening against an aggressive biker gang. And due to my encounter with Naoto-san, Yu ended up more or less strongarmed into asking his friends for consent to show him the TV world, since he'd more or less deduced that their little party had somehow rescued Yukiko Amagi.

So a lot happened in very little time, and I still hadn't properly accepted my Shadow. ...And I'm ultimately to blame for the added stress my future teammates experienced.

[He brings a hand to his face, growling at his own... well, everything.]

Mm. You were like that. Are like that...? [ Is Akechi's baby form still around? That probably is an important question, for all that they've been ignoring it. Oh, well. ]

I'm glad you got yourself a team. I worried about that, you know.

I'm... not sure what to make of my younger self. My memories get hazy after a certain point, so it's possible that he is here, but it's just as possible that he left.

[He pauses for a moment, and an impish smirk takes form.]

I have an idea.

[He takes out his phone, sets it to speaker, and dials a number he remembers quite well...]

Ring, ring...

[Suddenly, a voice picks up on the other end!]

Okay, who the hell are you, and how did you get my number?

Oh, don't worry, Akechi-san! Your number hasn't been stolen by nefarious telemarketers nor have any political parties sought your allegiance.

[There's a brief pause and a gasp thrown in.]

...Damn it. You're another version of me, aren't you?! But how did you find my number? I expect an explanation.

[Akechi's trying very hard not to laugh. This is so surreal? Was he always this angry?]

[ Meanwhile, Ren's face has lit up in a grin of absolute delight. Baby Akechi is funny, and proving himself to be real didn't make him any less so. But he presses his lips together and keeps his laughter restrained to silently shaking shoulders. If Akechi looks at him, he's going to shake his head. He's not getting involved in this. He doesn't want to face baby Akechi's outsized sense of insult. ]

Well?! What do you have to say for yourself?

[Okay. He needs to breathe. He needs to compose himself. He's got another idea...]

I am calling as a part of the top secret Akechi Alliance. Our purpose is to...

[Damn it. This is stupid.]

To connect with our fellow selves to form a support network in this unsettling domain we've found ourselves in.

[He's trying so hard to keep a level tone of voice. It's not as though it's a terrible idea, anyway.]

Even if I were to believe that, you still haven't explained how you got my phone number. Are you that version of me with the striped tie and the olive colored uniform? Your inflections seem... different.

[Ah... Right. There was one of those, wasn't there?]

I'm afraid I can't reveal my true self, save for those who swear their undying loyalty to the cause. But, should you accept our mission statement, you will receive a heavenly order of pancakes as a welcome gift.

[There's a bit of a grumble.]

I'm not stupid. If there was truly an 'Akechi Alliance,' I'm certain I would have heard about it. And seeing how you are the only version of me that's made contact, that's highly suspicious. I haven't given my number to anyone yet.

[Ah, the impetuous preteen mind... Good to see he's as sharp as he remembers.]

Well, I'll let you think about it. Take care, Akechi-san.

[He hangs up, and then... Finally, the laughter bursts free.]

That may be the stupidest thing I have ever done.

[ The moment Akechi hangs up, Ren bursts into peals of laughter. ]

Holy shit. Undying loyalty to the cause. The cause of a support network. A heavenly gift of pancakes. [ He slumps forward against the table, still snickering. ] Your voice. You were so mad.

We couldn't even make one of those. What would it be called? Amamiya Association? Kurusu Club? It'd never even get off the ground, we'd just argue about the name.

"Akiren Anonymous"?

[It's said with a light chuckle and a wry smile that suggests he isn't completely serious, at least.]

But yes... I forgot how squeaky I used to sound. I really was like a feral kitten back then...

[Ah, how his child self would hate to hear that.]

That name would make us even less stealthy than the Phantom Thieves, and that's saying a lot.

[ He straightens up and rolls his shoulders. ] You can see it from my point of view now, right? You were funny. [ Sorry, Akechi. ]