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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Wh-What-

[The older Akechi drops his chopsticks, utterly dumbfounded.

But you know who else is dumbfounded? The younger Akechi, who also drops his chopsticks. Fortunately, neither of them had food in said chopsticks.

And now he's gawking. Oh, he is so gawking.]

Th-That's my rock!

[Which he is... also holding. But they are identical. What the fuck?

The older Akechi brings a hand to his forehead.]

Ah... I suppose the secret's out.

[ Akira-kun looks at the two Akechis. He brings the hands holding their rocks together. They're the same person -- he approves. ]

[This is all incredibly weird, and a part of the older Akechi can't help but wonder if being so physically close will finally cause the cataclysmic time paradox of the century...

But it does not.

They just kind of stare at each other.

And stare.

And then the younger Akechi's eyes narrow to a squint.]

Oh my god. You're me from the future, and you didn't lead with that?

In my defense, I wasn't sure it was safe. The risk of a time paradox-

Clearly wasn't enough to deter you from calling me.

[Is he pouting? Maybe a little. Huff!]

...But let's be fair here. You've already made an alliance with one Akechi. And I should think that with our shared interest in Akira-kun's well-being, an alliance between us would be beneficial.

[The younger Akechi taps his chin. Hmm... An apt point.]

Thank you for revealing the truth, Akira-kun. Now this tall trickster has nowhere left to run!

[Oh, he's grinning, and his older self... snickers.]

I wasn't planning to.

[ An alliance? Call Akira-kun's curiosity piqued (that's a word he learned from a book he got from a library with Akechi-kun)! He tilts his head slightly. There are also people who look kinda like him if he was old here, and Kitty-san mistook him as "Ren" -- maybe they're more of him? Maybe they could make an alliance! ]

[ Also, oooh, trickster. That word sounds so cool! He wants to be a trickster! And he knows a trick! Or the basics on how to perform them.... ]

Since Akechi-kun and Akechi-san's hands are together with their rocks, he places his hand with his rock on top of theirs, palm-up, sleeve fully down. "Rocks," he says aloud with the biggest grin they've seen yet from him. "Good."

[Neither of them moves their hands. They just sort of watch the little guy place his rock hand on top of theirs and... aw.

He really is sweet.]

They're very special rocks.

The greatest treasures in this world.

[Heh. At least they can agree that Akira is a good kid. A common ground to tread.]

[ Okay, that might make him feel a little bad for what he's about to do, but...he has their eyes right where he wants them, and he's already done with dinner anyway. ]

[ Quick as a flash, while Akechi-san calls the rocks "the greatest treasures", Akira-kun puts his hand palm-down on top of theirs and scoops up all three rocks. As he's raising his hand, he discreetly flicks all three rocks into his sleeve, making sure they don't clack against one another. ]

"Trick!" He tries to say with a big impish grin, like the one Card-sensei uses, but it doesn't come out right. He mouths the word instead.

[...Well, that certainly was a sneaky move.

Both Akechis blink for a moment, then the older reaches out and ruffles Akira's head.]

Ha. Trying to be a bit of a trickster yourself, are we?

[The younger gives a quick applause.]

I admit, I didn't see it coming.

[ Phew, they're not upset about it...Akira-kun nods and beams under the attention and even shows some teeth in his smile! His big grey eyes might even look like they have stars in them at the headpats. ]

Keep that up, and perhaps one day you'll be a professional.

[Perhaps even grow into a skilled Phantom Thief in his own right, though that goes unsaid. Such matters are best saved for when he's older.

Ah, but seeing him so happy brings a sincere smile to both Akechis' faces.]

I see you're expanding your skillset, too. Next thing we know, you'll be pulling Morgana out of a hat.

[ Akira-kun nods eagerly. He'd love to do that! It's been a while since he saw Not-Kitty-san. He looks down at their dinner. Now that he's sure he won't be punished for his little trick, he figures he can eat a little bit more food...he sits down and goes back to eating, putting the Akechis' rocks on the table. ]

Thank you.

[He'll tuck his own rock back into his pocket. His younger self does the same, eyes probing over his older counterpart in a way that suggests he has many questions but isn't sure where to start...

So he just nibbles a little. His older self will do the same.]

I'm more than happy to make dinners for you whenever you like. To be honest, the place I've been staying in Tokyo is just as vacant as this house was when you arrived.

...Oh. You're in Tokyo. That explains the uniform.

Yes, I've been assigned a top secret mission, but now that I'm here, I'm under no such obligations.

[ Top-secret mission...Akira-kun's eyes go wide over his chopsticks. ]

I have to go undercover to stop notorious criminals from spreading corruption.

[Oooh. There's a playful edge to his voice, accompanied by an equally impish smirk.

To say this has grabbed his younger self's attention would be an understatement.]

...And you're a detective now?

Trained by the best.

[Oh. The implications of that... His child self watches in quiet awe.]

[ Akira-kun doesn't have the context to know what they're talking about, but he nods along. It sounds very cool. ]

The best as in-

Shirogane-san himself.

[Ah, but this all probably sounds so confusing, so the older of the two Akechis turns to Akira to explain.]

Naoto Shirogane, the Detective Prince. He's the latest in a long line of ace detectives, who found success even in his younger years.

[The younger Akechi cuts in, all too eager to gush-]

At age fifteen, he'd already more than made a name for himself! He's a legend.

[ Akira-kun...still doesn't know who that is, but he's happy to let them talk about whatever they want to. He likes being around happy, talking people. It makes him feel safe. There's no room for...shouting matches, cold glares, mean words whispered behind his back...bad things to sneak in. ]

[Ah, this has kinda veered off course, hasn't it? Not to worry.

Here, have another pat on the head from the older Akechi.]

But enough about me. Have you been up to anything fun, Akira-kun?

[The younger Akechi almost speaks up, but... no. He'll let Akira handle it.]

[ Akira kicks his feet, suddenly shy. ]

"Been wanderin' round 'naba," he says.

I hope it hasn't been too dull. Some of the people I grew up with used to find it all so... small, but I honestly like how peaceful it is. You can even see the constellations.

[That's less of a luxury in tokyo. It'll be... nice, to witness that again.]

[ Akira shakes his head. It hasn't been dull at all! ]

"Friends. And Nose-sama's Velt-velt-room."

Edited 2023-09-01 02:54 (UTC)

[V-velt velt... that's so cute. Goodness.]

I'm glad my younger self has kept you busy. We have a little sister, you know, so he's very used to spending time with younger kids.

[The younger Akechi's cheeks puff up for a moment. He probably looks a little silly.]

...Nanako-chan is about your age, and she's also very smart and independent.

[Okay, there's a lil' smile again.]

But what's important is that we aren't alone now. Having a house like this to myself would have been eerie, and you're very fun to spend time with.

[ Akira nods, though he knows being used to being around kids doesn't always mean someone will be good with them. And his parents usually talk about him being around to fill their house -- or, well, how quiet he is compared to what they were hoping... ]

[ It's...kinda weird, actually. When he's with the Rock-Akechis, he forgets that he's so young, compared to them. They don't do the thing grownups do where they treat him like he can't think for himself, they treat him like another person. He feels young, but his five-year-old-ness isn't screaming at him, like with his parents or other adults or older kids. It's...different. ]

[Indeed, Akira's quiet seems very contemplative, but certainly not a bad thing. Even if he isn't using many words, the way he communicates speaks volumes. Plus, they are eating.

Speaking of which, both Akechis take a few moments to progress on their meals. Then the eldest speaks again.]

So, I suppose the question is, would you like me to spend more time with you? I was thinking that with two of us, you'd always have at least one Akechi you can turn to, just in case one of us ends up caught up in some absurd Velvet Room tomfoolery.

And I do still think a phone would be an excellent idea regardless.

[Hmm... It's an interesting proposal. Very interesting. The younger Akechi raps his fingers on the table, then nods.]

I see no harm in it. Akira-kun enjoys our company, and I can't deny that this dinner was a welcome change of pace.

[ A phone sounds good! Akira-kun nods twice. Two Akechis and Card-san pretty much cover all his older-person-than-he-is needs, and he can talk to everyone else he meets...plus he can play games on a phone! ]

Might I suggest a smartphone? I may be able to grab one from Tokyo.

[The younger Akechi squints, taking his chin in hand.]

Those phones with the touchscreen? ...Not a terrible idea. I'd get one myself, but my phone was a gift. It's special.

[The older Akechi nods.]

I still have it at home as a memento. It was the first genuine gift an adult had given me in a long, long time...

[He looks to Akira.]

I know there are a lot of intimidating adults out there, but I'm glad I can at least be a trusted friend.

[Even if he's still a teen. Shh.]