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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[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.

[ There's no such thing as overboard when it comes to kids! Or to Akira-kun, at least. Maybe twelve-year-olds are much more mature...he thinks Akechi-kun will like Akechi-san's treat, at least. ]

[ He'd tell Akechi-san this, but his face is already stuffed with sweet, sugary ice cream surrounded by sweet, frosting-covered cookie cake. He just shakes his head. ]

I know where he is, so don't worry. Just a short trip back to Inaba, and we should be there in no time.

[He's more than devised that the doors respond at least in part to a desire to appear at a certain location, but first they must make their way back to the Velvet Room.

This would be where he'd pat Akira's head, but with his hands full of his own ice cream and his child self's helping, that will have to wait.

Thankfully, it's not long before they pass through the Velvet Room and reach the Inaba door, which, thankfully, deposits them right outside the Dojima house.]

Ah, would you mind getting the door?

[ Akira-kun still has his hands full with his ice cream sandwich when they reach Akechi-kun's house, but he uses his foot to nudge the sliding door open, using his face to open it the rest of the way. ]

Thank you!

[Ah, but now he feels bad. Even he could've opened the door with his foot.

Oh well. Once the door is open, he'll follow Akira inside, only to find--

Younger Akechi jumpscare! He's hovering in the space between the kitchen and the living room, watching expectantly. When he sees Akira, he immediately brightens.]

Ah, you're safe! Good!

[Then the older Akechi walks in and he stops, looks up, squints... There's a chin in hand as his eyes dart between the ice cream cones and the other him's outfit. Hmmmm...]

So you kept your word.

That I did! Here.

[He offers the more extravagant cone to his younger self, who hesitates for a moment before snatching it. It looks very, very enticing.

Ah, but manners...]

Thank you for the ice cream. ...And for looking out for Akira-kun.

[ After Akechi-san goes through the door, Akira-kun follows him in, and oh! There's Akechi-kun!!! ]

[ Face covered in sprinkles and frosting and melted ice cream, Akira-kun beelines for the younger version of his friend to taste his ice cream. ]

[Oh! Well, okay. The younger Akechi offers a lick of his own ice cream in exchange, with a lopsided smile and a warm chuckle to follow.]

It's good to see you, too.

[The older Akechi watches from a close but safe distance, allowing the kids to have their moment.]

You must be taking good care of him.

Of course! I don't half...

[He stops himself from saying halfass.]

I always put my all into everything that I do.

[ Akira-kun tastes Akechi-kun's ice cream, only taking a polite lick. The ice cream sandwich is definitely better, but his is good too. He nods his approval, and takes another giant bite of his ice cream sandwich. ]

[ After another moment of eating, he stops. They're talking about...taking care of him? ]

[ He looks down. Suddenly, he's very, very aware of just how messy his face and the ice cream are. Akira-kun makes an effort to re-wrap the ice cream sandwich in its napkins and takes a spare napkin from Akechi-san's pocket to wipe off his face. Messy kids aren't easy to care for; he's not messy. After he wipes himself off, he goes back to eating, taking small, polite nibbles of ice cream instead of stuffing his face like he was before. ]

Edited 2023-08-28 02:24 (UTC)

Ah, Akira-kun--

[The younger Akechi puts a hand on his shoulder.]

You don't have to do that. It's okay. Please just do what you're comfortable with.

[The older of the two Akechis also moves closer. Was it something he said?]

Remember what I said? You should be yourself, Akira-kun. Neither one of us was the kind of child most adults would find "perfect," but who cares what they think? I'm truly sorry if what I said made you feel like less than the amazing kid you are.

[The younger Akechi sends his older self a very confused look. Talking like he knows what he's lived through. ...Interesting.]

[ Akira-kun closes his eyes and sends a prayer to whichever spirit is listening. He's easy to care for, don't fight, he can take care of himself, please don't fight-- ]

[ He opens his eyes to see both Akechis close to him, trying to comfort him, looking upset. Great, he made them sad, and ice cream is supposed to be a happy time. ]

[ Akira-kun blinks. Once, twice, then he's blinking pretty hard. He doesn't notice he's crying until a tear lands on his fingers. He's comfy with this, he promises. He's comfy. ]

[Screw it. The older Akechi kneels down beside him, pulling him into a one-armed hug, while giving his younger self a look as if to say, "You too."

So his younger self complies.]

This isn't your fault, Akira-kun. I really am sorry. If you need to cry, that's okay, too.

[The younger Akechi nods, thinking of some interactions with Nanako in the past, when he and Yu would butt heads.]

We aren't fighting. If there's anything we can do to cheer you up, just let us know.

[ ...A hug. ]

[ When was the last time he was given a hug? Akira-kun doesn't know. He can't remember. ]

[ Feels nice, though. Especially since these are his friends. ]

[ Akira-kun registers Akechi-san's words and nods into his shoulder. Yeah, he needs to cry for a bit...tears stream down his face silently as he cuddles closer into the two older boys hugging him. ]

Do you need me to put your ice cream in the freezer? I can do that if you'd like, then you can eat it when you're ready.

[He'll wait for him to respond first. He'd ruffle his hair, were it not for the ice cream in his hand.]

It's going to be okay, Akira-kun. No one is upset with you.