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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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. ]

Oh, I should probably call my younger self so he doesn't worry.

[He'll pull out his phone while guiding Akira through the door into Shibuya's central square. He'll even set it to speaker for Akira's benefit.

Ring, ring...

A familiar voice picks up.]

It's you again. Well then, are you actually going to explain yourself this time?

[It's all smiles here. Nothing to worry about!]

Well, Akira-kun and I are getting ice cream. Would you like some?

[A small gasp.]

He's with you?! ...Is he okay?

He is, yes. As for the ice cream...

[...]

...Fine. I'll have an ice cream. Ah, and Kurusu-kun... or does he prefer Akira-kun? Well, I'm glad you're safe!

[ Smaller Akechi! Akira gives a single bounce of excitement. ]
"Kira," he rasps.

Oh, all right. I'll remember that. See you soon, Akira-kun!

[He sounds much happier than he did when he started that call. The older Akechi chuckles before hanging up and tucking his phone back into his pocket.

Just then, they reach their destination. A cookie and ice cream shop with very fuzzy, cartoony mascots.]

Well, here we are! This should be sufficiently sweet.

[ Akira tries to say "goodbye" to the smaller Akechi-san, but his voice still isn't working...he waves goodbye to the telephone instead. ]

[ Akira's eyes go wide when they walk into the ice cream shop. So much stuff... ]

Hmm... Seems they've no shortage of choices.

[He gestures to the glass case displaying a variety of cookies, cookie smores, edible cookie dough...

And then there's, of course, the selection of different ice cream flavors.]

You can combine your ice cream cone with cookies, if you wish. Or if you'd rather a milkshake, that's also a viable option.

[ So many colors and so many options...Akira feels overwhelmed just looking at it all. He clutches Akechi-san's pants as he looks, eventually moving over to poke at an ice-cream sandwich made out of cookie cake. ]

An excellent choice.

[He turns to the cognitive cashier and says-]

One of those ice cream sandwiches for my friend here. I will have...

[Hm, something delicious, but not too extravagant. This is mostly for the kids, but...]

I'll take one of your cones, with Cherry Garcia and one of your chocolate cookies, and...

[What would really impress his child self? Hmmm...]

Another cone with chocolate fudge brownie, another scoop of Cherry Garcia, and a cookie on top because if I'm going to spoil these kids, I might as well do it with style.

[Not that the cognition particularly cares. Still, they get to work, preparing the goods. The ice cream sandwich arrives first, and Akechi passes it on with a smile.

Once he receives his own cone... cones, technically, he'll head back toward the door.]

Hopefully I didn't go too overboard. I haven't been twelve in a while.