Out of the frying pan and directly into the mouth of the lion, or something. Ren subtly takes a deep breath and waves back at the Akechi sitting on the couch — obviously Magpie just from the sheer defensive prickliness radiating off him — and approaches with a smile of his own.

“Akechi Goro,” he replies, proud his voice doesn’t waver. “I’ve heard lots about you in the past couple hours, too. Glad to finally meet my boyfriend’s other-special-someone. He’s done a lot of crowing about you, you could say. Absolutely raven reviews.”