o how gentle the rain can arrive

[unfoggedlotus]

Ren follows Goro to the Dojima house, steps as sure and confident as he can make them with his heart pounding a bit louder than normal in his chest. Maybe he's nervous for this, so what? It's not every day you get to meet the alternate-reality-family your boyfriend found during his two-month timeskip that was only five hours or so to you. His head's still kind of reeling from the...everything, but he's rolling with the punches. Not like I expected things to be normal with us, he says to the part of himself that's maybe not-very-Joker-like and trying to shy away from everything.

Life comes at you fast, but Akechis come faster-- well. Hopefully not, and Ren's not thinking about that right now, nope throw curveballs at half the speed of light and expect you to catch 'em. And Ren isn't letting one slip by him yet! ...Even if this one might be aimed right between his eyes.

Ren squeezes his boyfriend's hand -- it's what boyfriends are there for, after all -- and readjusts his grip on the little...okay, large bag of gifts against his chest (hey, everything's free here, and he didn't wanna show up unprepared) as they come to a stop in front of the door.

He takes a moment, letting go of Goro's hand, for a once-over just to make sure he looks good, brushing invisible bits of dust from his jacket and readjusting his glasses. Then, with a nod to his boyfriend, Ren raises the hand carrying the pile of gifts to knock on the door.

It's showtime.

"Hey guys!" He calls out as his boyfriend opens the door, resisting the urge to run his fingers through his hair (for now). "We're here!"

> Say hello to Crow's boyfriend?

Comments

[fogbornphantom]

It's funny, really. Akechi had always hoped to bring Ren home one day. Introduce him to the family. It just so happens that the family he's introducing him to is a different one than he expected.

The house is cozy enough, at least. Magpie would argue it sorely needs a dishwasher (they can worry about that later), but there's a working kitchen with a fridge, a stove with two burners, a microwave, two separate toasters (one Featherman themed), a toaster oven, and a rather large hutch for dishes, among other things. A fairly large dining room table, a living room with a large couch, a small table with pillows to sit upon, a TV and a Nontendo Flop...

It's cozy.

And speaking of flopping, Akechi is going to do just that, taking a seat on the couch to just... decompress for a moment.

"I know it's all a bit modest, but make yourself at home, Ren."

[fogboundcrow]

Raven's been a bit anxious since Ren materialized. It's a bit of a daunting prospect, meeting the person he'll one day fall for. He's too young for anything serious to come of this, of course. He's not stupid. He only just turned thirteen. Ren has to be, what? Sixteen, seventeen?

Still, even with Magpie there to keep him company, it's been a little intimidating. When the happy couple returns, he looks up from a book he was reading at the table.

"Oh. You're here."

Funny how he was so nosy before. Now he's just... unsure.

[rosemaudite]

A little Raven happened to mention that shenanigans are afoot. And, well, it's something for Haru to do other than seethe about the home-turf update her Goro gave her (she's beginning to piece together some elements of their own countermeasures, but that doesn't make her any less incandescently angry).

She even brought popcorn for the promised absurdity, because Why Not.

"So you are," she says. Someone who actually lives here can do the traditional 'welcome home' bit.

[pancakeboy]

And also on the couch, just snapping off the TV, is the single most composed Akechi you have ever seen. Or, well, Crow can probably tell. Come to that, Ren likely can too.

He glances up as the two of them step inside, and offers a little wave in Ren's direction. The glasses. The hair. He is, abruptly, bitterly jealous, but smiles brightly. So you're the homewrecker, he thinks, bright and shining. If the kids weren't around, he'd have said it.

"Ren Amamiya. I've heard so, so, so much about you in just the last few hours." Smile, smile, and smile again. It works, sometimes.

[pancakeboy]

Rather before that point, a medium-sized bird ambushes her at the kitchen counter.

"I won't ask who invited you." Raven, of course. "Popcorn, that's ... a brave choice." Also hilarious, but hey.

[rosemaudite]

"I was promised absurdity. It seemed appropriate. Would you like some?"

[pancakeboy]

"I really would." And he takes... one piece. Hm. One single, solitary kernel between gloved finger and thumb. Well, she knows Goros.

"What else did you hear? Just so we're both up-to-date with the absurdity?"

[rosemaudite]

Indeed she does, but hopefully he's planning to eat more than that.

"About this? Mainly that the pet name situation has already gotten quite out of hand. I suppose I can't fault our newcomer for his taste, but..."

[pancakeboy]

"Ah, you heard about tuft of feathers. And sweet songbird." Just for a second, his grin is absolutely feral. Then he pinches his nose, and it vanishes behind his hand. He hasn't mentioned honey. "Really, if I needed proof this business rots the mind. I'd have said Crow was reasonably sensible, and suddenly he's a wobbling mess."

His eye drops briefly, to nod at the trinket around her neck. "Speaking of which, that's new, isn't it?" Speaking of which, Akechi?

[thedevilinyourdetails]

...So, he's here.

Aki-chan -- currently perched on his shoulders, because it was the only way he could get the guy to sit still for a few minutes -- pokes him in the cheek moments after the door opens.

Akira chuckles. "It's time to investigate the new Ren, huh?" He hums, looking up to see his little hitchhiker's face. "Got your notebook?"

Nod, nod. Filou-chan taps it on his head, and he can feel the bursting pages through his fluffy curls.

"Have your blanket?"

Shuffle. It's wrapped around his chest like a cape.

"Remember the secret code?"

Aki-chan flashes two fingers -- one on each hand -- in front of his face, followed by one tap to his chest for I'm good!. Then, he flashes four fingers (two per hand) in the same manner for can we change the subject, please? with two taps, and six fingers (three per hand) for I'm really not feeling good; I wanna leave now summed up with three taps.

"How are you feeling?"

"Cited," Filou-chan manages, a little rough. "Wanna Ren-frend. Who's livinin wiffus."

"You and me both," Akira grins up at him, adjusting Aki-chan's legs on his shoulders. "Rens are awesome people, and this one even has Large Chirpling's seal of approval." He stands up. "Let's go."

The walk from the living room to the entrance is a quick one, thankfully. "Welcome in," Akira greets Amamiya with a small bow; Aki-chan mimics him. He looks up and down the newest addition of their little roost and grins. "Your reputation precedes you, Amamiya-kun."

[rosemaudite]

"I hadn't heard that second one, actually." Goodness. Well, if it works for them, she supposes she shouldn't complain.

Haru raises an eyebrow at his choice of segue, but otherwise doesn't comment. "Goro thought we could use an easy visual identifier for each other. Or, well - he settled on Aspen for an alternate code name, since his usual one's already taken. This may not be what we keep in the long term, but it was the best of the selection where we were."

[pancakeboy]

It sounds reasonable; he nods in reply, leaning back on the counter. "I suspect he needs it more than you do. You really aren't very like your counterpart." It's not just the clothes; Rose has a presence that Okumura-san, in Akechi's view, lacks. A reality, perhaps?

"Mind you, I haven't run into him yet, so perhaps he'll surprise me. Aspen is a good name. Like Rose, yes?" A plant, rather than a bird.

[rosemaudite]

She'd say Noir is just as real as she is, all things considered, but they do carry themselves very differently. That's down to their different life experiences.

"Exactly. It has connotations of both protection and corruption, so he thought it was fitting."

[pancakeboy]

"Interesting. I've clearly never given enough thought to what tree I'd be." More of a bird type, him.

"How's he settling in? Not too much mirror shock, I hope?"

[rosemaudite]

Well, someone had to break the bird theme sooner or later. Besides, the literal child got to 'Hawk' first.

"I wouldn't say he's thrilled by variations of himself making up so much of the real population here, but it's not going completely poorly. It probably helps that I was here first, so he has an anchor." And together, they can conquer anything.

(She hopes. Things at home are going to get interesting, but she thinks they can navigate it regardless.)

"He did show up from about two months ahead of me, which is interesting."

[pancakeboy]

"Really?" Because he gets the implications, of course; the games they play are too large for them to be funny.

"This is hardly the place for a detailed discussion—" he glances at Raven and Hawk, on the far side of the house—"but I hope things are going well?"

Whatever well means for them.

[rosemaudite]

"Really. And he didn't mention me acting strangely or being unusually absent, which he would have noticed. No sign of Shujin hiring a counselor in that time, either."

Which is, bluntly, a relief. Haru still intends to double-check just to make sure, but since that seems to be this Maruki idiot's point of entry in most of the timelines that have to deal with him...

"Things are... certainly going, from the sound of it. But there's plenty of time to ensure they do go well. I may bounce some ideas off you later." But he's right - not here. Raven would be far too interested for his own good, and the literal children don't need the details.

[pancakeboy]

"You're more than welcome. Drop me a text, later." He reaches for her bowl again, picking two kernels out this time with the same delicacy as before; he's living large.

"No Maruki sounds promising. Then again, perhaps it would be better if he was in plain sight. Two months ahead is July, yes, for you?" And he slips the popcorn into his mouth.

[unfoggedlotus]

It's one thing to text with someone who's apparently another version of you. Seeing two Goros helped set the stage, and he's heard enough about the little guy to at least try and mentally prepare himself, but he still pauses for a moment when the two approach. One of them's older. Then again, the other one's younger. It really is a crossover episode, huh? Time and space bending in weird, wobbly ways. Alternate versions of himself with alternate names. Maybe one day, he'll meet one with a goatee, and that'll signify his evil twin.

Then they can build a rivals to best buds dynamic. That'd be something else.

But... right. The dynamic duo of Akira Kurusus. And apparently they know things. Goro had said that Raven had been spreading the word. That older Akira also popped into his inbox unannounced. That was weird. His smile's a bit sheepish for a sec, and a silly little chuckle follows suit. "Tuft of feathers, right?" It's the easiest thing to assume, "Or maybe it's the face that I'm a menace." He winks at the little guy. "I bet we can get into all kinds of mischief together."

Nailed it.

[thedevilinyourdetails]

“Mischief? A Ren after my own heart,” Akira grins, lopsided, taking the new Ren inside the house. “You could say that you’re stealing it. Metaphorically and platonically, of course.” A wink. “I’ve got a little bird of my own back home.”

Aki-chan kicks his feet a little in excitement. “I guess we should introduce ourselves, huh? You already know I’m Akira, and this,” he nudges his hitchhiker, “is Aki-chan.”

Somewhat nervously, Akira-kun shuffles his things, opening his notebook to his introduction page and holds it out for Ren to read. Akira has to stop — he can’t see with a notebook stuck in front of his face, surprisingly — but it’s a small price to pay for filou-chan.

[rosemaudite]

Wow, three entire pieces of popcorn. That's... mildly concerning, but she's also not quite sure how to approach this (she probably gently bullied Aspen out of the habit before it could set, if he were so inclined). So she says nothing. Much like other discussions, this isn't the best place regardless.

"I fully intend to double-check for his presence, but I won't complain if he's not a factor. We're going to be busy enough without that concern." Considering they need to both disentangle from the conspiracy and make sure they survive the experience... well. Hands already full without a benevolent dictator trying to make everyone happy.

"July, yes. Not quite summer vacation."

[unfoggedlotus]

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.”

[unfoggedlotus]

“Oh, Haru! Hey!” Okay, that’s not someone Ren expected to see when walking into the house. The air’s different, but there’s Haru, sitting on the couch with popcorn. “Er, assuming you’re named Haru. Still wrapping my head around the alterRent realities thing.”

[unfoggedlotus]

He takes a moment to read the introduction. Aw... Well, he heard about the selective mutism from Goro, so it's not too surprising. Makes sense that he'd have something written out, though, just to make intros easier. He flashes a warm smile at the kiddo. "Nice to meet you, Aki-chan. You seem pretty... dino-mite."

Please pardon the bad dad joke. He has a plan with this! He will win the kids over with his charm and untapped parental energy that he is manifesting here and now.

Just give him a moment to dig out the first of the gifts. Check it out! It's another dinosaur notebook. "Goro told me you do a lot of writing to communicate. This'll help keep you going a little while longer." It's hard to say how many pages are left, but it's been two months. "And as for Mr. Card-san..."

Dun dun dun... and pause for effect. A little showmanship and sleight of hand to try and make the cards appear in a dramatic flourish. It might not be as effective. In fact, it probably isn't, but ta-dah! New cards. "I don't wanna tip my hand too much, but you could say I'm a real Joker."

The mischief comes with the territory, really. He's gotta live up to the name. Gotta embody his role as a Phantom Thief.

[rosemaudite]

"...That pun was atrocious." Just putting that out there. "But yes, it is still Haru. You can call me Rose if you need to differentiate between myself and the other one."