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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[ There isn't one single way baby Akira makes it to the Velvet Room -- he was simply somewhere else, and then he was here. The end result of a small baby Akira in the Velvet Room is all the same, so he doesn't think it matters too much. ]

[ The small boy wanders over to the newest boy -- a bigger one that looks like other boys he's seen here that are usually called Akechi, but he's pretty sure this one is the oldest. He approaches the boy, eyes wide and face with the faintest traces of interest on it. His special rock is with him. ]

Oh!

[It's the small... no, his name was Akira, wasn't it? That's right. That sweet little boy who was a little 'different,' but not in a bad way.

Akechi approaches carefully. He can't expect the little guy to recognize him, but when he's close enough, he'll crouch down closer to his level.]

Hello, Kurusu-kun.

[There's a warm fondness to his words, accompanied by a chuckle.]

Still have that rock, I see.

[And here's the wild part. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a rock as well.]

[ Akira's eyes go comically wide. He takes out his own rock and looks over the one in this boy's hands. How did this one have Akechi's rock? Akechi is in Inaba, and certainly isn't his big!! What's happening? ]

[ He can't figure it out. Time travel, like an episode of Featherman? This place has all sorts of weird stuff going on... ]

"issat you?" he asks this familiar stranger, in a whisper.

[Aww... He'd pat him on the head, but first he should establish some familiarity. Still, he gets a warm chuckle for his trouble.]

Yes, from the future. The other "me" is fine, so don't worry. You still have your friend.

[Technically, he has two friends now? Now that's an amusing thought.]

"Big," is the only thing Akira can think to say in response. He looks so big, he's grown so much...!

Yes, I am. But one day, you'll be big, too.

[Oh, what the hell? He reaches out to ruffle Akira's hair.]

I met someone a lot like you, and he's almost as tall as I am!

[ Akira's eyes are wide as the big Akechi ruffles his hair. He'll get almost as big as Akechi someday? ]

I think so. There are other Akiras here who are tall, and I know at least one Ren here and back home who matches their height.

[Hmmm... He pauses.]

Actually, I heard one of them taught you a magic trick.

[ Right. Magic trick. He nods and takes out his coin with a faint flush on his face...before realizing that big Akechi is so big that he can probably see the sleight-of-hand from where he is. He takes a small step backwards to perform the trick. ]

"Dah," he says when he's finished, making the coin disappear, openly shy at this point.

[ ~~Will he ever get "his own" Akechi? He's never had a friend before, and the Akechi here is the closest thing he has to one...he hopes this "Ren" knows how good Akechi is.~~ ]

[Aww. The trick earns a rousing applause from Akechi! No sign that he saw through the trick.]

Great job, Kurusu-kun! You're already a master, I see.

[It's important to give him positive reinforcement. To let him know how special he is. And it is really sweet that he's picked up on it so fast, so it's not like he's being insincere.]

[ When did Akechi get- wait, when did Akechi-san get so mature? He's using so many big words...he's so big...and cool...and Kurusu-kun is just a little kid... ]

[ Kurusu-kun nods, doing a shy little bow to end his performance. ]

"Lernin'."

Edited 2023-08-23 03:36 (UTC)

And that's good! We all start somewhere.

[Hmmmm... There are a few things he could ask, but he should be careful. This is probably a lot to take in.]

It's so good to see you're doing well. Hopefully my younger self hasn't been too much of a handful.

[ Everyone says he's gonna grow out of his voice problems, so maybe he should force himself to talk so he can start being as mature as Akechi-san is! ]

"Fwien," he admits. "Bes...bes frien. No one li--"

[ His voice shuts off. That's about all it can handle for now, it seems. ]

...Ah, it's okay. If talking is too difficult, you can write, too. I don't mind.

[Here, have a supportive hand on the shoulder. It's okay. He's not disappointed.]

I'm... glad you think so highly of me- us- him. Haha... this is probably all so confusing, isn't it? But you're a very special kid. We're both lucky to know you.

[ Akira takes out his notebook to write the rest. ]

"Never known anyone like you at home. Hope your Ren likes you as much as I do."

My Ren is ridiculous.

[It's said with a good humored tone that suggests 'ridiculous' is positive in this instance.]

But you don't have to compare yourself to him. Ren is Ren, and you're you. And I think that's just as precious.

[ Akira is silent for several long seconds after Akechi-san tells him that. Then, his large grey eyes go watery, and he wraps his arms around Akechi-san in a hug, sniffling. ]

[Akechi returns the hug, wrapping one arm around his middle, while his other hand gently strokes his hair.]

There, there. It's all right. I'm here.

[ Akira's never had someone tell him to just...be himself before. It's really cutting deep into his tiny heart. Akira hugs tighter. ]

[Aw. He'll give a little squeeze, then.]

You must not have a lot of people who support you like this. I'm sorry...

[But it's okay, because he has plenty of support and care to give.]

[ Kurusu-kun remembers who he's talking to, and nods into Akechi-san's pants, trying to not get snot and tears everywhere and only kinda succeeding. He doesn't even know if he has his own Akechi-san... ]

...Hey, would you like to get some ice cream? I know a place you may like. They have cookies as well.

[He'll let Akira keep crying, of course, if he needs it. His comfort comes first, and he'll continue to give reassuring little pats on the head in the mean time.]

[ A small, quiet sniffle, and Akira accepts, peeling himself from Akechi's legs, though still a little wibbly. Ice cream always makes him feel better. ]

I think you'll like what they have to offer.

[Here, he'll even offer a hand in case he wants that extra comfort. Nanako always appreciates that.

Then, once he's ready, Akechi will lead him toward one of the doors leading into Shibuya.]

Just stay close, all right? Tokyo is much bigger than Inaba.

[ Akira's never had much trouble sticking close to Akechi, and he takes the hand -- covered in a glove, now, that's new -- to follow him to the ends of the Earth. Or just Tokyo. ]