route666rp IC Inbox

[undyingcrow]

Comments

[undyingcrow]

I see.

[...]

Where are you?

[phantomshow]

Would you be mad if I said I don’t know?

[undyingcrow]

Not angry, no. Merely concerned.

[Damn it, Ren. How did you even get lost?]

I'll just have to follow your scent.

[phantomshow]

[Yeah, that “scent following” thing will never not be weird.]

I can try making a spotlight? But it probably won’t be very big.

[undyingcrow]

Feel free to try. Whatever gets you back to 'civilization' in a timely manner.

[Yeah, sorry Ren. He is putting that sniffer to work. Beware...]

[phantomshow]

OK, I’ll give you a minute, then I’ll light up.

Sorry about this, btw.

[Akechi will find him in a clearing about five miles to the east of the Convoy, sprawled out on his back among the tall grass and clusters of silvery flowers growing there. Ren’s eyes are closed in concentration as he holds his hands just above his chest, palms upturned to the sky to create a column of light to indicate his location.]

[undyingcrow]

[Akechi lands with a dramatic flourish, peering down at Ren.

Being Goro Akechi, he doesn't mince words as he approaches.]

You look terrible.

[But, rather than dwell on it, he crouches beside Ren.]

I can carry you back if need be.

[Something tells him that Ren isn't in any shape to walk long distance.]

[phantomshow]

[Ren did manage to wear himself out over the past dozen or so hours of wandering, so it’s not surprising that he looks terrible. Akechi’s assessment still earns him a tired laugh. Ren drops his hands to press his palms against his chest and allows the glow he’d been generating to fade.]

My hero.

[His eyes open, and he bats his lashes at Akechi for comedic effect. The mirth might be weakened a bit if Akechi is able to see Ren’s eyes are still red and his lashes are still damp.]

So … as it turns out, it’s pretty easy to get lost when you don’t have a navigator. Who knew.

[undyingcrow]

And why did you leave alone, exactly?

[Ren, really. This is ridiculously reckless...

But whatever. He won't rush Ren to get up. The red eyes and damp lashes speak volumes. Clearly, he's been crying.

Just let him idly wipe those tears. Shh. Don't think too hard on it.]

[phantomshow]

Hm. Brainless sentimentality?

[The brainless part, at least. Look, Ren can be a little impulsive sometimes. As a treat.]

I thought … maybe she was just out of range for the radio. Or maybe she got hurt and needed help.

[“She” meaning Kotone, of course. And of course Ren would throw himself headfirst into danger if he thought it might help someone in need.

He sighs quietly, deflating a bit more into the ground, but he’s pleasantly warmed by this small showing of gentle care from Akechi. ]

Pretty sure she’s just gone, though.

[undyingcrow]

She may have returned to her world, or perhaps it's like you, and she was... separated.

[Heaving a smoky sigh, he sits beside Ren.]

Naoto Shirogane was here for a time as well, though it didn't last long.

[phantomshow]

I hope she went home. She’s like us, you know.

[A Persona-user. A Wild Card.]

She had a team to lead and Shadows to fight.

[Important saving-the-world work. Better for her to be in the place for that than here in Revan searching for the elusive Nirvana.

Ren sighs, resolved to believe Kotone’s situation is better wherever she is now, even though her abrupt absence brings him pain. It’s selfish to dwell on it, and he has allowed himself enough time to indulge his selfish grief already. Time to move on.]

Wait, you met The Naoto Shirogane? The first Detective Prince? [That news definitely perks Ren up a bit. He pushes himself up to sit next to Akechi and stare in wonder.] What was that like?

[undyingcrow]

It was... interesting.

[There's a lot of weight to that word, 'interesting.' Almost as if he's not sure of his own feelings, really.]

We didn't know each other particularly well, and Shirogane-san kept many things close to the chest. It's a shame, really.

[phantomshow]

Isn’t keeping things close to the chest part of being an ace detective?

[Ren’s aiming for levity in an attempt to distract both of them from his ill-advised solo excursion, but the results are mixed at best. His own comment inadvertently brings to mind last January, with Akechi keeping secret the belief that he was dead, then his subsequent disappearance, and Ren is not, not going to fixate on that again. Akechi has admitted it was a mistake, and Ren forgives him for it, but the pain of being left behind keeps coming back to slap him in the face.

The weak smile he’d forced falters, and Ren looks away.]

I don’t think I can take it if you disappear again.

[undyingcrow]

I don't want to disappear.

[He pauses, then tentatively reaches for Ren's shoulder. He's... not good with affection. Not good with sentimentality, but...]

Ideally, we leave this world together, returned to our original forms. In the best case scenario, our fellow Drifters find freedom as well.

[phantomshow]

[Ren nods and covers Akechi’s hand on his shoulder with his own hand.]

Nirvana, right?

[That’s what they’re supposed to be looking for, the final stop on this journey. Ren bites down on the question of what if it’s not up to us if we disappear? and swallows hard. There’s no sense in entertaining what ifs.

But it wasn’t their choice to be brought here. Will they really have a say in when or how they leave?

Ren drags a weak smile across his mouth and in his nervous fidgeting, reaches out to pluck two of the silvery flowers nearby. He sticks one behind his ear and silently offers the other to Akechi.]

[undyingcrow]

Allegedly.

[A weak grunt of... something slips out of him at the offered flower. Not quite a laugh, but not an unhappy sound.

He accepts the flower, handling it carefully in his claws.]

Amazing how life still persists within this world.

[phantomshow]

Even flowers can have a spirit of rebellion.

[He huffs a quiet laugh, and when he turns back to Akechi, his small smile is much more genuine.]

I learned a bit about the language of flowers from working at Rafflesia. Are you familiar?

[undyingcrow]

I have some passing familiarity, but I imagine you've learned far more by virtue of your work.

[Though, something strange begins to transpire. The flower's glow bleeds into his sigil. At first, he's not even fully aware of it.]

[phantomshow]

[Ren is also not aware of the flower’s effect on his sigil. He lies back on the ground, fingers laced behind his head, staring up at the sky.]

Well, let’s test that theory. If I were putting together a bouquet to give you, I would pick … red carnations, dandelions, and honeysuckle. Know what those mean?

[undyingcrow]

Hmm... I believe the red carnation has romantic connotations.

[He lies down beside Ren, feeling oddly... comfortable for once.]

Dandelion... Something evocative of hope? Going by the name alone, the honeysuckle evokes sweetness.

[phantomshow]

Correct on the red carnations.

[Ren grins and turns over on his side toward Akechi, then continues rolling over onto his stomach so he’s lightly pressed against the other boy’s side.]

Deep love and admiration. Close on the others, but not quite. Dandelions for faithfulness and happiness, honeysuckle for devotion - which I guess you can say is something sweet.

[Ren sure thinks it is. And there’s no denying at this point that Ren is anything but hopelessly and wholly devoted to his more-than-rival. He reaches over to lightly draw a heart shape with the tip of his finger on Akechi’s chest, over the spot where his actual heart sits.]

[undyingcrow]

Sentimental as always.

[Heh. Yet, somehow, he feels drawn toward that gentle touch, moving closer in turn.]

Yet, I can't say I mind right now.

[So strange. Why is he so at ease?]

[phantomshow]

[Well, it’s nice that he’s not protesting he isn’t worth Ren’s affection for once. Ren grins brightly and leans in to leave a kiss where he’d just drawn a heart.]

Can’t seem to help myself when you’re around. I love you so much.

[undyingcrow]

Kissing my clothes, are we?

[A subdued laugh follows, but he doesn't push away. Instead, he brushes his taloned fingers through Ren's curls.]

It's strange. I feel so oddly at ease right now.