[That confidence is as suspicious as all the other coincidences that brought them together through sheer luck. He doesn't comment, but does give a sideways look. Even his quick search for bars in XXXXX didn't provide any noteworthy offerings, though he only offered a casual glance to the results. Didn't see any that struck him as interesting.
But he relents - shuts the laptop cover with finality. No more searching for Ren's lost algebra homework.]
Yes. It might surprise you, but I didn't go to Tokyo with the hope of being famous.
[They both know why he was there - that unspoken past a ravine of muck and blood. One step will capture them. He doesn't linger on it.]
I enjoy the anonymity a big city provides. You simply go about your life. No one knows you or your family, nor do they care. Much like the way Crossroads ignored your age and the law they dangerously skirted. But I can't say I'm surprised. You had a lot of people fooled with that face of yours.
That just makes it more impressive that you became such a celebrity. People genuinely liked you. But I guess city stuff rarely reach this side of the country...
[ despite akechi's appearance, people don't really know who he is, or place a name to his face. and akechi's a good liar; if people start to speculate, he easily steers himself free from any lingering suspicions.
you're like my little secret, he doesn't say. akechi being a secret of his isn't something new at all - all of their hangouts were done in secret and without the majority of the phantom thieves knowing about. he never had the heart to tell them that his meetings with akechi rarely had to do with their mission at the time; it was motivated by an itch that still lives under his skin to this day, a gnawing desire that only stirs when he knows he can spend more time with akechi. ]
I was only good at that because I enjoyed working there. People don't wear masks there, not after a few drinks.
[ with akechi giving up at last, he gets to his feet and throws on a scarf and jacket, having been in jeans all day from errands he went on earlier. it's as if he'd planned this from the very beginning - which, perhaps, akechi has already caught on.
well, not losing the algebra homework part. he hadn't planned that one. ]
The scoff that falls from his lips isn't stifled in the slightest. It's a kinder form of the bitter laugh still resting in his throat. He sits on that - the people genuinely liked you.
And the comment about masks and drinks - if he didn't know any better, he would think Ren was trying to do the same between them. Remove pretenses with alcohol, not that there's anything left to hide between them. The thought sticks to the back of his skull - unforgotten, but temporarily ignored.
He's heading to his room before the order of get dressed - a little Joker in the way he relays it. The years have made him bold to act that way outside of the Metaverse. It makes him halt in his step, turn a little to eye him already dressed and by the door - eager and ready to leave the cramped confines of their apartment.]
For the record, you're the only one insane enough to like Akechi Goro. [His fingertips drum against discolored wall beside him.] The fans I used to have - they only liked a picture perfect Detective Prince. An illusion and nothing more. There was nothing genuine in that.
[A beat, and there's an order all his own.]
You should look for your homework in the interim. There's no sense in idling around, doing nothing while you wait for me to get ready. It's going to be a moment.
[ what happens when two people wear masks that negate one another— are they truly still wearing masks at that point? it was always a dance with them, intricate steps to keep all facets covered while also trying to understand one another deeply. even know it excites him. ]
Did you not have fun at all, even a little bit? The attention must have been exhilarating sometimes.
[ like how you had my attention for the entirety of that summer, and more. ]
This is how college is gonna be like with you, huh? Nagging me the whole way through? [ it's snorted as he finally rummages through his files. honestly, all he has to do is backtrack his thinking. what would he name a file like that, and where would he put it... he has about fifteen minutes to figure it out. ]
You care a lot and I appreciate it, Akechi. [ :) ]
[The fame was enthralling in its early stages - waves of attention and praise handed out like cheap candy. It was addictive and-
Fleeting. It became favors and offers, exchanges of feigned platitudes, jealousy and resentment. His act could never falter, not for a moment. A noose of his own creation.]
It was in the beginning. Though you know well how quickly that fame can twist into something darker. I wouldn't say it was worth it.
[The Phantom Thieves truly felt the brunt of that.
As he walks into his room, still able to hear his roommates voice through a shut door. A response is on the tip of his tongue, ready to inflict a verbal lashing over nagging when he hears the second part and-
It dies on his lips. Ren will only hear a throat clearing cough - ignoring every part of that as he changes. He didn't hear it - that's his alibi.
And a few minutes later - he's back out! 'Casual wear' being a plain black shirt and jeans.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
But he relents - shuts the laptop cover with finality. No more searching for Ren's lost algebra homework.]
Yes. It might surprise you, but I didn't go to Tokyo with the hope of being famous.
[They both know why he was there - that unspoken past a ravine of muck and blood. One step will capture them. He doesn't linger on it.]
I enjoy the anonymity a big city provides. You simply go about your life. No one knows you or your family, nor do they care. Much like the way Crossroads ignored your age and the law they dangerously skirted. But I can't say I'm surprised. You had a lot of people fooled with that face of yours.
[He stretches his arms above his head.]
When do you want to leave?
no subject
[ despite akechi's appearance, people don't really know who he is, or place a name to his face. and akechi's a good liar; if people start to speculate, he easily steers himself free from any lingering suspicions.
you're like my little secret, he doesn't say. akechi being a secret of his isn't something new at all - all of their hangouts were done in secret and without the majority of the phantom thieves knowing about. he never had the heart to tell them that his meetings with akechi rarely had to do with their mission at the time; it was motivated by an itch that still lives under his skin to this day, a gnawing desire that only stirs when he knows he can spend more time with akechi. ]
I was only good at that because I enjoyed working there. People don't wear masks there, not after a few drinks.
[ with akechi giving up at last, he gets to his feet and throws on a scarf and jacket, having been in jeans all day from errands he went on earlier. it's as if he'd planned this from the very beginning - which, perhaps, akechi has already caught on.
well, not losing the algebra homework part. he hadn't planned that one. ]
Right now. Get dressed.
no subject
The scoff that falls from his lips isn't stifled in the slightest. It's a kinder form of the bitter laugh still resting in his throat. He sits on that - the people genuinely liked you.
And the comment about masks and drinks - if he didn't know any better, he would think Ren was trying to do the same between them. Remove pretenses with alcohol, not that there's anything left to hide between them. The thought sticks to the back of his skull - unforgotten, but temporarily ignored.
He's heading to his room before the order of get dressed - a little Joker in the way he relays it. The years have made him bold to act that way outside of the Metaverse. It makes him halt in his step, turn a little to eye him already dressed and by the door - eager and ready to leave the cramped confines of their apartment.]
For the record, you're the only one insane enough to like Akechi Goro. [His fingertips drum against discolored wall beside him.] The fans I used to have - they only liked a picture perfect Detective Prince. An illusion and nothing more. There was nothing genuine in that.
[A beat, and there's an order all his own.]
You should look for your homework in the interim. There's no sense in idling around, doing nothing while you wait for me to get ready. It's going to be a moment.
no subject
Did you not have fun at all, even a little bit? The attention must have been exhilarating sometimes.
[ like how you had my attention for the entirety of that summer, and more. ]
This is how college is gonna be like with you, huh? Nagging me the whole way through? [ it's snorted as he finally rummages through his files. honestly, all he has to do is backtrack his thinking. what would he name a file like that, and where would he put it... he has about fifteen minutes to figure it out. ]
You care a lot and I appreciate it, Akechi. [ :) ]
no subject
Fleeting. It became favors and offers, exchanges of feigned platitudes, jealousy and resentment. His act could never falter, not for a moment. A noose of his own creation.]
It was in the beginning. Though you know well how quickly that fame can twist into something darker. I wouldn't say it was worth it.
[The Phantom Thieves truly felt the brunt of that.
As he walks into his room, still able to hear his roommates voice through a shut door. A response is on the tip of his tongue, ready to inflict a verbal lashing over nagging when he hears the second part and-
It dies on his lips. Ren will only hear a throat clearing cough - ignoring every part of that as he changes. He didn't hear it - that's his alibi.
And a few minutes later - he's back out! 'Casual wear' being a plain black shirt and jeans.]
Any luck?