thephantomthief | IC INBOX

[Oh how the turntables.]

I'm supposed to be the leader, right? It's hard to talk about my feelings. If I start to falter I won't make a good example.

[But he relents. He sort of needs this and he knows Ryuji's not the type to go around telling others --

...

--WELL NOT THIS TYPE OF STUFF HOPEFULLY.

Also the Chroma is nice.]

I just worry if any of you end up leaving...or what if I leave and someone called Akira or I don't know, Takio Sumida or Izumi Urata or Itsuki Onda show up? Is it possible to be jealous of yourself?

Wow, it's almost like you're human or something. When you don't got wings or tails on you anyway...

[ which ryuji still can't fully process. give him a few more moons and he'll learn to deal with it. ]

But you said some of us took off before, right? I still don't know how to feel about being the third, it's kinda freaky... [ and a little annoying, to keep being compared to them both... ] I remember what you said when ya took me in, though...

[ it feels like a lot longer ago than it actually was. two weeks passed in the blink of an eye. ]

Even if the memories're different, we're still friends, aren't we? Y'think it really matters that much?

[ a genuine question. it felt like a hard pill to swallow at the time, but ryuji knows ren is always ren no matter what point in time he came from, so it's trustworthy enough information for him. shouldn't it go both ways? ]

We can always go with humanoid?

[Still trying to make jokes regardless.]

You're the second Ryuji thankfully. [Oh god three that would be...urgh. He sighs softly and it climbs up as condensed water before turning into small bits of snow.] I can't say I understand but I think I know how you feel...and I never wanted you to feel that way either.

[In a way, he was just trying to fix his own issues by giving Ryuji way too much information.]

No I don't think it matters at all...you could be called Ryu Sakatoni and I'd welcome you with open arms. I think...it's more when someone leaves that it hurts. You don't have time to say goodbye. You're just gone, the next day. In my case you and Ann just never came back for a long while.

What the hell, gimme a cooler name than that...

[ or is he missing part of ren's point? it's possible, given who he's speaking with here. ]

I mean, leaving in general hurts, dude. I wasn't fooling around when I talked about spammin' the group chat everyday...

[ whether or not this is the same ren (obviously he isn't), the fact remains ryuji missed him too, misses him regularly, despite recognizing the need to give him space and adjust. to put it lightly, it's been a long month. ]

But, uh... [ ah, he's no good at articulating things like these... ] Don't they have a saying? Absence makes a happier heart? [ no, but, points for trying. ] If it's meant to be, you'll prolly run into 'em again. Happened before, didn't it?

Well that's what you sometimes call something that looks like a human with extra parts but how about winged human? Furry human?

[He shrugs briefly, but careful observation would reveal he has a smile on his face.]

Yeah I know...[He falls silently again. Neither are them are good at this. Ren speaking about himself most of all. He doesn't even bother correcting his friend for that phrase.]

I hope so too...I am thankful I get to see most of us here and friends I never would have made otherwise. Even persona users from the past...I really miss Makoto but...Morgana most of all. A year without him around feels a bit empty.

Just takes time, man. I don't think any of us ever would've thought we'd run into a guy like who'd help us get all our shit together. Like, how nuts is that?!

[ hopefully the solid whack between ren's shoulder blades doesn't hit too hard. ]

Same thing here, don't you think? Can't have one of us without all of us, so...

[ as for morgana, that's a cat of a different color. after what's happened in the past several days, this probably isn't ryuji's place to say it in the slightest, but damned if there's not something about the guy tugging at his heart in a weird way.

they're old friends, he still misses him, that's all. surely. ]

Like...maybe I'll never get as hairy as he was— [ yikes, ryuji, what are you doing— ] But I could always, uh. Fill in?

[ he shouldn't make promises he can't guarantee to deliver. it's too late now, though, already filling the air between them. ryuji knows it's impossible to live up to, anyway; his meager offers to help were already turned down once before. here shouldn't be any different than the last time. as they say, it's the thought that counts. ]

Ouch! Hahahaha. Okay, okay I get it.

[He briefly rubs his shoulder, but Ren seems to have gotten the Message.

And...that is such a sweet offering, but at the same time Ren tries to imagine Ryuji as Morgana and he attempts to bite his lip but begins to start to laugh the more he thinks about it. It's not a mean laugh just the mental image playing over and over and...]

S-sorry. Now I am imagining you as hairy. Would you tell me to go to bed?

[ mission...semi-accomplished? ]

No shit, I can imagine it too, 'cause it was just yesterday...

[ if ren's in higher spirits, though, that's all that matters. ]

Why, you still on a tight schedule or somethin'? [ as far as he knew, ren came and went out of here as he pleased. ] I guess if somebody's gotta...

[Aww if you only knew how your angry vulgar boy words are like music to Ren's ears. Not like Yusuke's way with them that sounds like silk, Ryuji is more like...soft yarn, really. Not as refined but oh-so-soft.]

I meant like...a Ryuji cat. Catji?

[He is feeling better, even if his shoulder now hurts.]

Well running the café takes time but I can take time off whenever I want. I like being busy...it keeps me from overthinking things. You see what happens when I do.

Ain't that your moon?

[ or has he mixed them up? in any case, it doesn't sound like ryuji's thing; there were perks to the...bizarre week he's had, back when no one was at each other's throats.

more importantly: ]

Big deal, if you don't care of yourself, this happens too.

[ pow. he hits ren, forgetting how this had pained him already; as soon as he remembers, he rubs him down. was he always this strong? ]

When's the last time you had some solid Ren-time, man?

Yeah but I'm imagining you as a cat right now.

[No, it's just Ren's imagination Ryuji.]

I get punched by you?

[It hurts, but he'll laugh at it. It''s weird at least the rubbing helps a little due to the energy that comes from it.]

Uh Ren-time is always time?

[What IS Ren-time?]

So quit it, I'm fine as-is... [ or so ryuji says, until the wisecracks begin. for a split second there's legitimate distress on his face, and he rubs...harder, because this will fix everything, right? ] Gimme a break, I'm not trying to hurt anybody...

[ honestly. the fear of hurting others, or the people he knows, is the reason why they're parked in here at all. wasn't ryuji (attempting to) leaving, once? ]

Look, I'm serious! You gotta relax, take care of yourself sometimes...even my mom did it when her plate got too full.

I know. You're fine just the way you are. [Walked right into that one Ryuji. Ren might even do a small wink. As a joke, of course.] I know...

[At least they both seemed to have calmed down although he's a bit worried Ryuji might leave.]

So what you're saying is we should go to a hot spring? Can a Ren-time be also spending with Ryuji-time?

[ okay, maybe he can stop touching ren now. he's never shied away from skinship before, but even casual moonlacing makes ryuji's gut feel all funny inside. just something else he still needs to adjust to... ]

Tch. Dumbass...

[ it barely qualifies as a complaint, softly huffed. ]

Oh, yeah, they have those here...? [ his memory's jogged a little. maybe it'd set them both right as rain... ] Er, with me? You sure you wanna?

[ they see each other in passing every day! on paper it's not all that different from the past, but...the air's changed in some imperceptible way. maybe just because it's a foreign world, and ren's already carved out his own life here. ]

[Noooo please continue to touch Ren - awww. He doesn't reply back to the complaint because, well, it's barely a whisper. Also it's fair. He can be a dumbass.]

Yeah! In another city that's about two hours away with the foxes...it's a lot more traditional looking than here. I'd say almost Kyoto inspired as far as a city in another universe could be. [He looks at him from his vintage points before nodding.] Well yeah...it's fun being around you, you know.

[Now he'll just stare at the ceiling.]

Like I said, each day is important, right?

Kyoto, huh...always wanted to go...

[ oh, that's right. wasn't everyone talking about taking a trip, once upon a time? it already feels like a lifetime ago; maybe ren's offering a decent substitute. ]

Hah. Even when I try to clobber ya?

[ that was probably best left buried. ryuji's stretch is a little awkward, wincing when his joints loudly pop. his body's moved in ways he'd never have dreamed of, recently... ]

Guess you just gotta make the most of what you've got.

Well in this world, it's filled with foxes. And uh...some of the old-style Kyoto stuff too.

[You know. Red light district.]

Ha! Well maybe a little less then, but that just means I have to switch my personas around.

[Wink. That's also his queue to yawn and stretch out his arms and legs as well. The floor was okay, but it was probably better for them to actually do something.]

Yeah. [A pause.] Thanks. I think I needed that too.

It's probably worth checkin' out, though. Didn't realize how much I was gonna miss being at home until it's taken away from you...

[ he's going through it; there's exciting things about being here, too, so it isn't all bad. it just depends on the day. ]

Right? I'm tellin' you, a burnt-out brain's not gonna do you any favors. You gotta keep those positive thoughts going!

[ ryuji would know. he isn't sure what to do from here, however...the evening may be young, but the fear of accidentally tearing the cafe apart still lingers in the back of his mind. just because nothing happened to him during the triple moons doesn't mean it can't start now.

he leans his weight back onto his hands, elbows bent. ] Besides, not like we really get time to shoot the shit... [ when you're practically a lovesick puppy, that doesn't really help matters, either. it's a relief to feel more or less like himself again. ]

I was thinking about opening a second coffee shop there so there will be plenty of excuses to go. That and Yusuke moving there with Midna too.

[Ren realizes they just talked about how he's not taking enough of Re-time so he raises his hands before Ryuji hits him again for being an idiot.] But I'll find someone to help me run it, I promise.

[Then nods.]

Right. Keep the positive thoughts going. You too. We gotta keep telling each other.

[Hmmm.]

Maybe we should order out and play a game? [For all the weird shit that the VR game had caused, it was also pretty fun.] That counts as us-time, right?

Edited 2020-06-13 09:09 (UTC)

[ mentioning yusuke almost distracts from ryuji from the glaring issue: ] Huh? They're moving outta their swanky house? We better pitch in, then... [ but it's little more than a temporary pause. attack on ren part two, the long-awaited sequel, is about to begin. ]

Renreeen! You're gonna work yourself into an early grave—!

[ actually, there's no real hitting involved. ryuji merely shakes the guy back and forth, jostling him. not therapeutic whatsoever. ]

Dude, get your ears cleaned out and listen! You better get a whole lot of someones... [ actually: ] Oh! Lemme help! I've seen it here, how hard can it be!?

[ plenty hard, most likely. since ryuji's full of good ideas, he's such a generous guy that he's more than willing to listen to some from ren as well. ]

Uh, yeah, anything with me and you's gonna fit the description! Maybe all the grease will really start to lube up your brain, heheh.

[ a well-oiled brain will make for a...well-oiled body? is this how it works? if it's what ren wants, he may as well go for it!

You know Yusuke. The traditional culture probably tickled his everything. And I'm sure he'd feel more homely in the houses they have there.

[From swanky to extra-swanky.]

Don't worry I'm not!

[Probably. He keeps a very steady no emotional face as he moves back and forth from Ryuji's movements and watches as his brain catches up and - hey that's not a bad idea.]

Well you could help with the merchandise at first. There's a lot of heavy things to carry and I'm sure I could use your help both here and at the other store. I could teach you to cook too.

[Lube up his brain heh? Ren laughs but probably not the way that he's thinking.]

So I'm guessing we need greasy food. The greasier the better. But we also gotta work out tomorrow after.

Yeah! I think I finally found my calling, though I still don't really know much about gettin' jacked... [ he'll have to do some research on his own. or poll a small group? that has potential. ] I still owe ya one, anyway.

[ ryuji means it exactly how it sounds, and the grin on his face grows a mile wide at the thought. ren and lube...he never thought he'd be here picturing it in any capacity, but he's living proof stranger things have happened in life. ]

Duh, you gotta work out every day, man. Sooner or later I'm gonna catch you slacking off...

[ and what will he do then? there's no telling; it's an empty threat. ]

Don't worry, I'm sure there's plenty of people in this world who are ready to teach you all about buff life. [Plus they went to protein gym together!] Hey I'm not keeping tabs. I'm sure if the situation was reversed you'd do the same for me.

[Oh he'd lube it up and many other things.]

You can try, but you won't. That's why there's wooden poles on the ceiling...it reminds me when Morgana would make me work out in the attic.

I know, but it doesn't really feel right...sure, we're buds, but we gotta stand as equals too, don't we?

[ don't they? it's not really the end of the world if they aren't, but what kind of (so-called) right-hand man would ryuji be if he didn't try to give it his best effort? fair is fair, supposedly. ]

For real? Now that you mention it... [ his head tips back, immediately looking for these poles in question. ] Kinda does feel like your home-away-from-home, huh?

[ he doesn't need to ask if the choice is intentional by design. in ren's position he'd do something similar, if not the exact same. even the smallest creature comforts can go a long way. ]

Right. Equals who would do anything out to help each other.

[It makes sense, right? That's the logic behind it. He smiles, if a little bitterly at the statement as he takes a look up at the wooden structure again.]

Honestly...the cafe felt more like home than...home.

[Ren hasn't really talked much about his real home.]

I prefer the smell of coffee lingering in the air, even if this place has a lot less cigarette smell.

[But that's fine, really.]

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