undyingcrow | personavelvetroomdr IC Inbox

Ren has been gearing up for this all week. A box of home-made chocolates, a bouquet of anemones, carnations, and traditional red roses arranged tastefully into a harmonious, colorful piece of art (if he does day so himself), as well as a nice, if still somewhat casual outfit, he's ready to sweep Akechi off his feet. While they didn't agree to anything formally, it is valentines day...

So, he shoots a text at Akechi.

Hey. Meet me at the skytree? Got something for you ;)

Akechi has been scheming too. After all, a relationship is just a new battleground for them. He may have lost the duel, but there are other ways to triumph.

Good to see Ren is rising to the challenge.

How funny. I have something for you as well. When shall we meet?

Ren grins. He hadn't expected anything less, but... he's also a little relieved, nonethless. Sometimes, Akechi can be quite fickle.

How does around 4 sound?

Certainly. That should give you ample time to mentally prepare yourself for my secret weapon.

The reality of it is, it gives Akechi time to mentally prepare, but shh. No one needs to know.

Ohohoho, well now, prince charming, I look forward towards whatever secret weapon you have at your disposal... and will be more than ready to counter >:) See you at 4~

And indeed, by the time 4pm rolls around, Ren is idling by the entrance of the Skytree, bouquet and giftbox full of chocolates in hand. He's trying to look casual, but he still glances around every so often to see if Goro's arrived yet...

Akechi comes strutting up in a finely tailored suit and tie, with not one, but two boxes of chocolate. One contains the handmade goods he prepared with Hamuko, and another radiates class with its fancy packaging and gourmet goods inside.

Oh, and he's put on his finest cologne. An important step in laying on the charm.

"Well, well. It would appear we've both procured gifts for one another..."

Edited 2025-02-14 17:26 (UTC)

Compared to Goro, Ren didn't bother with any suits. Not his style- at least, not like that. He's remarkably casually dressed, but somehow, it comes off just as sophisticated and fitting anyway. It suits him, alongside some of the fanciest perfume he owns. A little feminine perhaps, but he likes it, and he hopes Goro likes it, too. He's a little amused at just how dressed up Goro is, honestly... but it's nice. He clearly put in effort.

But Ren's no slouch either. He's wearing a single glove on the hand holding the bouqet- ordinarily, it'd look quite sloppy... but Goro's sure to recognize this one.

He still has the other half of the pair, after all.

"It is valentines," he hums, smiling. "Two boxes of chocolates, though? You're too sweet, darling."

Even on a date- god, he's having a valentines date with Goro- he can't help but teasingly flirt. Still, he settles down quickly, holding out his own duo of gifts.

"Happy valentines day, Goro."

Oh. That glove... That indeed catches his eye, and he stares for a moment. Ren wore the glove to their date.

They are having a date.

Well, no matter. He needs to keep his composure regardless, so he runs his free hand through his hair. "I like to go above and beyond. Why settle for just one, when I can bring hand-crafted and gourmet sweets?"

That's right, Ren. Hand-crafted.

He offers his own offerings in exchange for Rens. "But yes. This is a rather happy occasion, isn't it?"

That stuns Ren a little, his eyes widening ever so slightly- hand-crafted? That's not what he expected from Goro at all, and he's got to admit... he's a little touched.

"Hand-crafted, huh? Should I be worried there's poison in them?"

The words are teasing, but his smile is warm. He gratefully accepts both boxes, waiting to see how Goro reacts to his own gifts...

He could say that he got assistance. On the other hand, that would undercut the moment. No, perhaps a bit of embellishing is in order.

Tipping his chin up, he says, "I underwent intensive training to hone my skills in anticipation for this moment."

Once he's passed off the gifts, he carefully accepts Ren's. "Though I must confess, this is vastly more appealing than previous Valentine's gifts."

So many chocolates from classmates who barely knew him. This is personal. Touching, even. "Thank you."

Intensive training. So someone helped him make those, hm? Ren laughs a little, but not in a mocking way. It's sweet.

"I'd hope it's more appealing than any previous gifts," he hums, "considering I made these chocolates with your tastes in mind..."

Oh yeah, Goro, these are hand-made as well. Did you expect anything else? Dark chocolate with coffee, milk chocolate with orange zest, and dark chocolate with seasalt... a mix of bitter, sweet, and salty (just like Goro himself, heh).

"I'm glad you like my gifts," he says warmly, smiling. "Thank you, too. These are very nice."

"Oh? Well then. I'm sure they'll make for a unique experience." He holds the bouquet delicately. Knowing Ren, he picked the flower arrangement himself, which gives it greater significance.

"I'm glad my gifts are to your liking as well." So... what next? Ren certainly has a plan, surely.

Oh, have a plan he does. With the gifts exchanged, Ren holds out his hand for Goro to take.

"Shall we?" he says, waiting for Goro to take it. The planetarium may be a little cliche... but, he thinks Goro will like it regardless.

It takes a moment for him to tuck the chocolate box into his pocket, but once he's freed it, he accepts Ren's with a chuckle. "How romantic."

"I'm going all out for you, honey," Ren hums, squeezing Goro's hand with a chuckle of his own. It's warm... or is that just the feeling in his chest?

He leads them inside, forgoing the ticket booth- there's no need, inside this place, after all. The are cognitions mulling about, but not nearly as many as there would've been people back home, and he draws them both inside the dome of the planetarium. The show is yet to start, but that just means they get to find the best seats.

Once they've found somewhere to sit, he bows theatrically, gesturing at one of the seats.

"After you, my prince."

"What a gentleman." He takes his seat, careful not to jostle the flowers, though his eyes keep wandering back to Ren.

They've had outings before, but none so... decisive. This is more than a night at Jazz Jin.

And Ren's, in turn, keep wandering to Goro, a small smile on his face. Something about this is so... he can't quite describe it. Warm? Lovely? ... Intense? None of them feel quite right, but it's nice, nonetheless. His own hand finds Goro's again, giving it a squeeze.

"Ah," he murmurs as the room darkens, looking up at the displays, "it's beginning."

"So it is." Having another hand in his is such a strange feeling. Comfort. Stability. Though he should be watching the displays, his eyes drift down to their joined hands.

Hm.

A small, tentative squeeze, then, before he refocuses on the show.

If Ren notices, he doesn't say anything about it, merely watching the show. The displays are as impressive as the first time, and he's glad to be watching it with Goro.

But... he can't keep his eyes from wandering to Goro, to their connected hands, and it brings a sort of... giddy excitement to his heart. He doesn't know how to describe it.

Honestly, he's just happy to be here with Goro.

It's all so entrancing. Starlight amidst the darkness, hands intertwined... Such a simple, ordinary day after everything they endured.

It almost feels too good to be true, like he'll close his eyes and awaken in a prison cell...

Optimism is difficult. Hope especially lies outside his comfort zone.

So he sits there quietly, unsure of what to say in the moment.

And Ren knows Goro, knows that he has lingering doubts. Instead of calling them out, though, he squeezes his hand, and whispers:

"Enjoying yourself?"

Oh. That whisper snaps him out of his thoughts. "...Yes. Thank you." He's not sure what to add, what else to say. Moments like these are difficult. Foreign.

Ren gives a small smile, before going back to looking at the show.

"I'm glad," he murmurs, because he is. Despite what Goro might think... doing this in a romantic sense is new to him, too. Foreign. Strange. He's had outings with his friends, with Goro, and it's similar, but also not at all.

Not bad, though. Not at all. He's happy to share this moment like this, hands laced together as the watch the projected stars.

Eventually, though, the show comes to an end, and Ren rolls his shoulders in a stretch.

"That was beautiful," he says, looking at Goro, "don't you think?"

Edited 2025-02-15 22:31 (UTC)

"It was." He's quiet for a few more moments. A part of him wishes the show had lasted just a little longer, but... "Did you have any other plans?"

It's worth checking. They may have exchanged gifts and chocolates, but there are other things they can do. Other ways to commemorate the moment.

And Ren, with a twinkle in his eye, grins, pulling himself and Akechi upright.

"Perhaps," he says with a smile, "let's take a walk."

And so, still hand-in-hand with Goro, he guides them both outside.

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