thephantomthief (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thephantomthief) wrote2019-05-02 02:14 am
thephantomthief) wrote2019-05-02 02:14 am
IC INBOX - PRISMA
> Leave Ren a message?
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> Leave Ren a message?
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> Leave Ren a message?
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🎬 Action
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[ 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. ]
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[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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I hear ya. That what it's supposed to look like?
[ ryuji still...goes (went) to leblanc, so even he can tell it's not an identical recreation. some parts look eerily accurate, though, from what he's been able to pick apart in his stay here. ]
I still haven't really seen your place. You only showed me a couplea pics...
[ granted, it's not something he asked about often. if ren didn't want to show off, he wasn't going to push, all the more so behind the veil of a phone screen. visiting his hometown was always on ryuji's to-do, but the stars never have aligned for them on this one. ]
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Considering it's in [through the power of the 4th wall, the camera pans out beside actual solid details are given to Ryuji so that he knows, but we, the readers who do not have access to Atlus information, don't know.] and it's known as a small town known for its pottery, there's not much more I can tell you.
[Well apart from the fact that his parents are uh...always occupied, for better or for worse.]
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Suit yourself, dude.
[ it's the same run-down ren always gives him, then, the few times ryuji's ever asked. for whichever reason, it's something he never wants to talk about all that much, so it's pointless to pry anymore out of him. it was a worth a try, anyway. ]
I'm just curious, 'cause it's you, and all...
[ because they're...best friends, of a sort? because ryuji has genuine interest? or perhaps he's simply always wondered how much face ren's parents truly lost if they saw fit to send him all the way out of the country for an alleged year-long rehabilitation. he's glad they did, for obvious reasons, but the same time he can tell how much of a toll it's taken on the guy, even now.
some things never change, including that urge to always look out for others. ]
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All of that changed when he came home late and ran into Shido. Maybe he can at least try to provide a little more at his friend's silent urging.]
It's a nice house. Getting old and nearly broke during the last hurricane, so it's due to be be demolished and rebuilt. [His hands fumble awkwardly.] The people in the town...they tend to gossip a lot. News travels fast since we're a tourist destination.
[Which is why Shido was there at all.]
Considering what happened, I think my parents were also pressured to ship me away so that the town's reputation wouldn't be tinted.
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I get it, but still...
[ it's déjà vu, the way ryuji gets angrier the more he hears. aside from the differences in timing, the differences in how he seems to have developed here, ren is still ren, with the same raw deal life's given him as he ever as. ryuji's hands ball up into tight fists, and it looks like he's ready to spring up again, kick down the door, rail against something that won't do anyone any good, especially with how they're nowhere near home in the slightest right now. ]
How's that fair to the guy who's just tryin' to stand up to others...?! That shit never made any sense at all! Someone should've done the same for you, man...
[ i could have— wait, no, that's logistically impossible. this just gets him more upset, looking wildly at ren. ]
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I know. Our justice system is terrible...besides you heard what they said I did in school. It was worse back home. People were just making up additional accusations so it would be seen as less 'bad' to ship me out. I don't blame my parents for it.
[Much. Believing more in their son would have been nice, but he doesn't say that part.]
I still would have done the same, you know. Standing up for that woman, being friends with all of you, fighting Shido... Arsene knew that too. That's why he asked me if I regretted saving her before lending me his power.
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You're goddamn right you would—!
[ now ryuji's raising his voice to match. an onlooker might think he's simply sitting here getting all sore at ren, when the reality is actually everything but. he's not wrong; the justice system is terrible, godawful, worth uprooting on those merits alone, and when you add how society treated all of them into the mix, then... ]
It's messed up as hell, I dunno how you do it...
[ or more importantly, how he thinks he can go it alone, how he can stay so active and juggle so many affairs when in reality he's like a sliver of butter scraped thinly across burnt, dry toast. no wonder he's due for a break, this only serves to drive the point home. what a guy. ]
Hey... [ ryuji's thinking, a dangerous pastime, but he looks at ren. while his touch does little to soothe him, it's jogging his brain... ] Hey, lemme go too. If you go home, lemme go, we'll really stick it to 'em...
[ wait, is this something they can do? does ryuji get a say? he'll find a way if he has to, damn it. ]
We'll show them the kinda guy you really are. I'll give 'em hell if they wanna try anything funny...!
[ unless it's ren's parents. he's got the right of it there, as well: in their position, they think they're doing the right thing for their son, for their family as a whole. ryuji doesn't agree, but he's seen similar things firsthand, so he's sympathetic to the mindset. ]
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It can't be helped.
[It's a typical, very Japanese excuse. But it was better than the silence he had offered the first time they asked him why he hadn't stayed with Sojiro. For as much as the town was going to be horrible, he still had a responsibility towards his parents. And he knew his friends would understand, as would Sojiro.
It didn't stop it from being painful.]
I'm pretty sure if you came over it would probably make them speak up more.
[Still he can't help but laugh at the mental image. Both of his parents are shorter than hi,m which means Ryuji could potentially be taller than them.]
But I appreciate it. I wouldn't say no if you showed up by yourself. After all...it can't be helped.
[You can't take the trick out of the trickster, after all.]
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You gotta start somewhere, man...
[ yeah, this is all typical. as deeply as it cuts, it's strangely nostalgic to hear, too, after weeks of getting lost in a community who's way more direct than most of them seem to have any right to be, from ryuji's point of few.
it's an adjustment. what's with ren, really, how strong is he to just take all this... ]
Listen, I'm gonna take it and run if you give it to me. [ this sounds more like a threat than what's supposed to be a heartfelt promise to a friend... ] Now you're totally stuck with me! Like it or not!
[ in other words, ren better not get too comfortable. one of these days he won't wake up in the city anymore, but he'll be at home, with ryuji as well to run and cause a ruckus all up and down the street. this is his mission now, he's stuck with him. ]
All thos cock drama made me forget this one
I look forward to it.
[As a bonus now he's threatening to be closer to him than trying to run away and Ren likes that very much.]
wow [T]hanks so much
[ this is...the opposite effect he wanted? just a little. but if it's making ren happier, ryuji supposes he should be happy too, even if he is a little close. normally they'd have separated long before this point; must be that ever-constant need for chroma at work. ]
I dunno if that's somethin' to look forward to unless you're that homesick...
[ ryuji is, also just a little. it's mostly due to his mother, who's hopefully not taking his absence poorly, if there is one at all. part of him's convinced this continues to be one long bizarre dream, ready to conclude at any moment. ]
You better [B]elieve it
[All of that to say he wasn't that homesick, but he'd be home one way or another.]
And I'm sure our feelings will continue even if we don't remember everything here.
why do i make [T]ime for you again
Pfft, watch me time travel then! If we've gone to the Metaverse, how hard can that shit be!?
[ and that would be the end of it, except— ]
Wow, are you confessin' to me again? No thanks—!
[B]ecause you care
[He just laughs at that reaction. Well, he was a lot like his other self that had been here before. It made sense that he probably wasn't interested in him. So Ren played along to tease him.]
No if I was confessing to you, I'd be a lot less subtle about it. You know, winking and 'oh Ryuji, you know you make me doki for you'.
[N]ope
[ wow, this guy... ]
I take it back, I'd rather have the first one...
[ it's time for ren to leave, or at least get pushed away! if it fails, it's only because it's halfhearted at best. ]
[D]on't deny it
Too late, no take backs.
[He lets himself be pushed away and dramatically falls to the ground still laughing.]
Okay, okay. Maybe some take-back. But only because you're my best friend.
(softly) [D]on't
[ wow, that worked? either ren's an all-too-willing participant here, or there's more strength in ryuji than he thought he had. was it left over from spending a quarter of the week in a cube? ]
For real...
[ even when it's perfectly innocent, he's still laying it on thick. ryuji probably shouldn't go into this, but something about it prompts him to, out of the blue... ]
I mean, if anyone's gonna pull a stunt like that... [ not to him, obviously, but in general... ] They oughta be at least a little serious, I think.
[ you know, to whoever. ren's a popular guy, he knows lots of whoevers, he's sure. ]
[I]'m out of fun puns [S]hit
Yeah I know. Don't worry. [Ren wouldn't be that horribly bold. There was a certain style to it. He looks back at the door.]
If you...want to leave by the way, I won't stop you. I just wanted to have a talk, but it looks like you turned the tables on me.
can't believe [Y]ou've pun out already
[ with a sigh, ryuji flops backward onto the floor, too. he isn't looking at the door, but at the ceiling, at a loss on what the safest answer is. probably the honest one. ]
...just think I need some room to breathe if it's gonna get hairy every month, that's all. I couldn't forgive myself if this place got totaled.
[ not if this much care's gone into the construction. ]
I'm out-[P]unned
[He knows his friends cares and that's why Ren cares in return.]
...the good news is we know when the moons hit. Maybe we can find you a place to stay then, or until you find a new place. I could help you.
[Help you with everything.]
me, of all people, [P]unbelievable
[ yeah, about that... ]
Actually...me and Kasumi were already talkin'...
[B]lease forgive me
Wow, already having girls inviting to stay with them? Is she Sanguis as well? That might work out well in your favor.
i'll [P]unish you
Is she...?
[ ryuji's trying to think. if catching her in a beast cube was any indicator, then... ]
Her hands were all...icy...
[ sorry, he's still musing out loud. it definitely doesn't match up with the notes he's always reviewing, though. she has to be one of the other two... ]
Wow how [R]ude
that's a [P]unalty for you then
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