MARCH TDM

[monstertruckers]

code

After tumbling through shadow you find yourself in a shrouded, ruined garage. It’s full of shattered windows and broken mechanical equipment, with all sorts of sharp edges to watch out for. Between that are strange symbols scrawled into the ground. Outside is cloudy weather and the beginnings of a storm flickering and rumbling.

Beyond the rundown garage is a rundown gas station surrounded by rolling, grassy hills. Close by is a Convoy of vehicles, either parked or driving up to station.

01: SUMMONING CIRCLE

This time the summoning circle and car garage is attached to retro diner, and an old wind turbine, barely still spinning and providing fading power. There’s also a broken radio playing a message about Nirvana and imploring people to head north. In fact, there’s a large amount of broken electric equipment in here and spitting sparks.

A fan circles overhead, stirring those sparks and creating a breeze. Trails of paper are attached to the fan, spinning lazily about. If Drifters choose, they can easily retrieve those paper talismans with little more than a slight static shock. While the paper is tattered and smeared with ink and blood, the following can be made out: “Broken in two […] Nothing to lose-“ “Moon mourns, call her down, ease her pain-“ “Need […] Better vessels from afar. Stronger souls-“ “Imbue with moon sigils, Give blessings of moon, share her pain. Put the ritual right.”

Hard to say what that all means, but it seems to have something to do with the summoning circle here. And there’s lingering power crackling through the building. The sort that makes the lights flash and flicker… And line up eerily with flashes of thunder on the horizon.

02: START UP

New arrivals will have a similar experience to before; a Convoy waiting outside for them, and a collection of vehicles, one of which feels like it belongs to them. The key to the vehicle may already be in the ignition, on the dashboard… It may have even been on their person, ever since they woke up in that garage. Either way, Drifters have the keys to the vehicle now.

…But there’s a few rough edges on these vehicles. Flat tires, cracked windows and mirrors, maybe some stuck doors and locks; all of them requires two pairs of hands and supplies. The garage can take care of the supplies… Now it’s just a matter of finding some extra hands.

03: STORM WARNING

There’s something odd in the sky; it shifts between a dark cloud, and a collection of birds. As the thing draws closer, it clearly becomes a mix of both. Car-sized, dark feathered birds and skeletal avians fly in a thundering flock, and turn the sky stormy in their wake. That alone is bad… But what’s worse is how the shiny chrome of the Convoy and vehicles draws the birds. As they dive towards the ground to snatch at the shiny metal, they pull the storm and bring a tornado with them. The Convoy does its best to anchor to the ground, but lighter vehicles and Drifters might not be so lucky.

The garage and diner takes it worst of all: the electric devices start spitting sparks and can even act as homing beacons for lightning strikes if a Drifter with electric abilities gets too close to them. Any remaining, intact windows shatter as the storm winds pick up, pelting Drifters with razor shards. And water starts pouring in, further shorting electric equipment and soaking anyone to the bone. There’s even a strange droning, siren like noise to warn about the storm and cut into one’s hearing. It’s difficult conditions for anyone caught up in the blow-out.

04: WEATHERING

Once the main force of the storm hits, the following happens:
Diversion: Those with Fast cars can drive away from the station and divert the birds. They’ll want a second Drifter to come along; either to snipe at the pursuing birds, or keep eyes on the terrain! Eventually the birds will tire or get culled enough that the storm disperses.
Updraft: There is the risk of getting swept up in the tornado winds. Damage, injuries… And a particular quirk this storm has. Drifters who spend more than a minute in the storm winds will find that they begin to take on traits from the Harpy monster. These traits increase in potency if the Drifter experiences hunger or violence. As the weather clears and days become calmer, the traits fade.
Downburst: If Drifters get slammed into the ground by the storm, or the dark birds flying about. They may also find themselves drenched with rain. Any injury they take mends quickly, but is replaced with scales, as the Drifters begin to resemble a Naga monster. These changes grow worse if they tell lies, but disperse with the storm.
BIRDS: The birds themselves are vicious: those afflicted with Naga traits are seen as prey, while Harpies are seen as rivals. The birds are deadly, but also clumsy if forced to the ground. The screens on the Convoy recommend crippling the wings before finishing the bird off on the ground.

04: MONSTER SHIFT, NAGA

This month, Drifters will have access to the serpentine Naga. On top of all Naga species traits being available, the following occurs:
+Cold Blooded: the rain and storms can potentially make Naga slow and sluggish, or inclined to sleep or seek out other heat sources to gain energy; this includes basking in body heat from others!
+Water Divert: With their water shaping, Naga can divert falling rain and even ground saturation to make the area or other Drifters more dry. They can also concentrate water into different areas, and can also change water into mist or ice.
+Blue shift: the scales of Naga become more vibrantly blue, or a strange mottled combination of blue and stormy gray, the more intense the rains become. These scale colors can also reflect their moods.
+Extra arms that are painful and disorienting to grow, and can result in coordination issues.
+Scale Pains: Pain and discomfort when scales grow in, as well as fangs or talons!
+Water glide: during floods from the rains, Naga find they can easily traverse deep water as though they were simply walking (or slithering) across it.
+Thermal vision, making it easy to track others in the middle of storms. Vision may also become disorienting, and eyes become slitted.

04: MONSTER SHIFT, HARPY

The storm will bring a second monster this month, in the form of Harpy. On top of all Harpy species traits being active, the following occurs:
+Storm Rider: high agility and capable of flying through the storm winds without hindrance. Even tornadoes can be mastered!
+Feather pains: itching, or full pain when growing feathers or wings. Talons may also be painful when growing from fingers or from feet.
+Wind Affinity: able to shape wind, including diverting the worst of the storm winds, or summon and focus wind into razors.
+Warbling Voice: words may waver and slip into something more songlike, or even a damaging sonic scream if emotions are heightened.
+Height Call: a need to get higher into the air, whether through perching on buildings or the convoy, or through flight. A sense of euphoria as they go higher.
+Nest Building: a compulsion to create a nest out of spare and soft objects, and feeling more safe inside that space.
+Heightened vision like a bird of prey, able to pick out details even at great distance. This may be disorienting at first, as vision becomes telescopic.

05: RAIN, SHINE, OR SALVAGE

Upon culling enough birds, the storm disperses. The monster avians dissolve as they drop into streams of energy, feeding into Drifter Sigils and providing limited healing. And handful remain intact when they hit the ground and can be harvested for meat, feathers, and possibly even talons.

There is one extra problem, in the form of falling debris. After being pulled up into the sky, wreckage (and possibly stray Drifters) are going to drop back down. It’s advised to look out for falling objects and people. It might be possible to salvage something in the form of scrap metal for any vehicle repairs, but such a task requires two.

06: STORM SHOT

The storm can be dispersed in one of two ways. One is waiting the storm out. The second is a battered collection of machines melted into the roof of the garage and gas station. When touched they burn the hands of Drifters, but also fire a jolt of lightning into the storm. One shot lessens the effects of the storm, repeated shots completely disperses the weather.

In the aftermath of the storm, something different rains from the sky in the form of glowing, quicksilver feathers. These feathers can suppress one avian or serpentine trait for a month, and can also drain away any Naga or Harpy changes from the event completely.

Alternately, the feathers will allow Drifters to temporarily access flight for one day. Doing so completely robs the feather of its magic: only one effect can be chosen from a feather.

MICRO ENCOUNTERS:

PLEASE NOTE! These are small bits of set dressing for players to include in threads if they wish, rather than full fledged prompts or events. You may handwave your exploration of these areas, or thread them out.

Windy Days: Preceding the storm are gales of strong winds, enough to stagger Drifters or send them staggering into other people or other vehicles.

Diner Is Served: While the retro diner attached to the garage has only limited food stores, curiously there is a respectable amount of cooking equipment that can be plundered. Portable stoves, pots and pans, spoons, and the like are all available for the taking.

Fading Storm: In the aftermath of the storm, the garage and diner look like they’re on their last legs, barely held up by their shelving. Anyone who wants to try salvaging had better move fast and carefully, before the entire thing comes crashing down.


NAVIGATION || RESERVES || APPLICATIONS

Comments

ren amamiya/joker } persona 5 royal } new guy

[phantomshow]

01.

Welp … either Ren’s train went wildly off course, or his home town has changed in drastic and unexpected ways during the past year while he was away in Tokyo. Or, you know, there could be a secret third thing explanation, which is the option Ren seems to be drawing toward the longer he stands observing the scene in front of him. Clue number one: wherever he’s landed, his phone doesn’t work. At all. Clue number two: Morgana is missing, though that could be attributed to the cat simply growing bored of waiting on Ren to regain consciousness. Wouldn’t be the first time he’d wandered off, after all. Clue number three, and the biggest factor leading Ren to lean into the conclusion that something else was afoot, is the fact that the current landscape - the garage, the gas station, the Convoy, the diner - all resembled something like the set of a film fitting the cinematic taste of one of his friends.

Probably Makoto or Haru, he muses, though he’d prefer to end up living in the former’s action-adventure genre than the latter’s horror style, if that is indeed his new reality.

Whatever the case with said new reality, it’s probably not the weirdest thing he’s ever seen, all things of the past year considered - which may explain why Ren appears remarkably calm as he sets off at an unhurried pace toward the settlement to begin investigating his current situation. This mystery isn’t gonna solve itself, after all.

He’ll approach anyone along the way who looks amenable to conversing with one question, and it may not be a question expected of someone so obviously new here: “Excuse me … have you seen a cat?”

02.

While there’s still no sign of Morgana himself, the sight of a dusty black Citroën H van certainly reminds Ren of his friend, and it catches his interest well enough to convince him to climb into the driver’s seat and give the key resting in the ignition a tentative twist. Doing so results in a sharp wheezing sound as the engine attempts to turn over - and fails. Ren frowns and hmms in disapproval. That’s definitely not ideal, but given the state of this place, ideal was never on the table to begin with.

Giving up on the vehicle isn’t an option in Ren’s mind - this is his van, and now he knows it. So that means his obvious next step is fixing it. He hops out of the front seat and slowly circles around the van, as if a visual inspection will grant him the knowledge of what to do next. Oops, looks like at least one of the tires is completely flat too. Ren is decently proficient in using and making tools, but none of the books he’s read in the past year instructed on DIY auto repair. So that’s a slight problem.

Still, despite the frustration, he remains calm. The garage looks to be well stocked, and surely someone nearby knows what they’re doing.

“Do you know anything about fixing these?” Ren turns to ask of whomever happens to be in the immediate area. “Last one I drove handled his own maintenance.”

wildcard? (hey, just like this guy!)

Got another idea for how to meet the transfer student? Let’s have it!

02

[undyingcrow]

There's a startled grunt of a gasp. It might take Ren a moment to completely recognize Akechi, given the black feathers coating his face and neck, the talons piercing through the fingertips of his gloves, and the large, black wings on his back, but there's still some familiarity.

That same brown hair, those same wine red eyes. His school uniform's seen better days, and a close inspection will reveal some spots that have had to be sewn back together or otherwise patched up. He's certainly seen better days...

The annoying part about having feathers is how easily they betray his emotions. They're slightly fluffed up, though he takes a moment to slow his breathing and smooth them down.

It's... this is fine. Though Akechi wouldn't admit it out loud, he has missed his rival. There were many things left unsaid after Maruki's defeat.

So... composure. That's a good place to start. "Of all the ways we could meet again..." A small grunt of amusement slips out of him, despite everything, though he's quick to look around for spare tires. "Lucky for you, I've done some maintenance work already. It's a necessity, in a place like this."

He's sure Ren will have questions, but one thing at a time. Akechi is many things, after all, but when all else fails, best to remain poised and aloof.

[phantomshow]

It’s not until Akechi actually speaks that Ren realizes it’s him - he is, as far as Ren is aware, no longer alive, after all. Why would he expect to see Akechi anywhere, much less wherever here is? And yet, this isn’t the first time Ren has encountered the other boy unexpectedly alive and … as well as Akechi can ever reasonably be. Ren’s reaction is much more muted this time - no gasp, no bewildered question, just a mildly surprised raise of his eyebrows and widening of his eyes behind his glasses as the dots connect, followed by a sharp stuttering of his heartbeat. At least his poker face is still on point; he has no involuntary outward display of anything like feathers to betray the tumult within.

“Long time no see.”

Stealing your lines, Akechi? You bet he is, but there’s nothing but warmth in his tone and a whisper of a grin curving his lips to accompany the words. Ren truly hopes he hasn’t been thrust into some false fantasy world again, because boy howdy, he has missed Akechi more than he ever let on for anyone to see.

See, Akechi wasn’t just a rival to Ren. You don’t make a blood oath out of a bond with someone who’s just a rival. And in all honesty, he’d played up the rivalry aspect of their relationship to keep Akechi’s interest. While there was some genuine competitiveness in play, Ren’s feelings toward the teen detective were much more complex than simple rivalry. Though initially at odds with the Phantom Thieves, Akechi became a comrade with a common goal, a teammate and ally who’d won Ren’s trust through his later actions, and someone Ren considered a close friend, for as close a friendship as Akechi would allow. Despite Akechi’s numerous crimes, and despite his history of deception, power plays, betrayals, and attempts on his life, Ren valued him - his keen intellect, his skills both in and out of battle, and most importantly, his simple companionship. Just Akechi spending time with him like a normal friend at the jazz club, the aquarium, the billiards hall - Ren treasured those memories, and he found his mind returning to them again and again in the weeks since he, Akechi, and the Phantom Thieves won the battle for reality against Maruki and ended the doctor’s twisted desires.

If Ren were inclined toward poetic expressions like Yusuke, he would say that losing Akechi for the second time felt like having a piece of his own heart stolen, or like having a part of his very soul ripped away from him by force. Making the choice to let Akechi go, again, was one of the most difficult decisions Ren had ever faced. It was the right decision, no question, but it hurt him more than taking a Megidolaon straight to the face ever had. The overall war had been won, sure, but not without suffering a significant loss. Their victory was stained with a certain hollowness that Ren could never entirely put out of his mind. Regardless of how Akechi felt about him, Akechi was important to Ren. Special. And he’d failed to save him, in the end. More than any missed opportunity or wrong decision made from the past year, that was the one thing Ren regretted the most. He understood and respected Akechi’s position, and he admired the other boy’s unflinching resolve, but he hated that he hadn’t been able to find another solution. Maybe if he’d had all the facts at his disposal earlier, maybe if he’d had more time - ah, but there’s no point in ruminating on past maybes and what ifs, is there. He and Akechi are here now, together again, and things are weird in ways Ren has yet to fully comprehend, but it’s - it’s another chance. Maybe this is the exact sort of fresh start Maruki envisioned for them with his misguided rewritten reality.

It just better be real this time. Ren’s not sure his heart could handle losing Akechi for a third time.

“I’m very lucky, then.”

Ren reaches up to idly twist a lock of his hair around his finger as he contemplates where to even begin with all of the questions pushing through to the front of his mind. One does not simply ask Akechi for anything, though. It’s not his style to freely give information without an exchange of some sort, in Ren’s past experience, and this is too fragile of an opportunity to risk testing if that still holds true.

“Would you be open to making a deal with me?”

[undyingcrow]

A deal... Heh. Though faint, the corners Akechi's mouth perk up into a familiar smirk. He wasn't sure what to expect. What was the last thing Ren remembered before his arrival? Sanada and Shirogane set a precedent for inconsistent timelines. He shouldn't assume they're on the same page...

But the ease at which he offers a deal is promising. A Ren freshly plucked out of the interrogation room wouldn't be so comfortable. A Ren before the betrayal wouldn't understand the significance of deals between them.

He visibly relaxes, comfort finally setting in. His wings fold against his back, and he brings a hand beneath his chin. "Well, you honored the terms of our previous deals." Plural. That's important. Were it merely singular, that would imply he only recalled the engine room and his 'death...'

That's another can of worms entirely. His survival... Well, one thing at a time. The casual familiarity is far more comfortable for Akechi than teary sentimentality.

Still, he'll pass the proverbial ball back to Ren. "What terms do you have in mind?"

Fine print is important, after all. He can trust Ren, certainly, but it should help determine where they stand in the present.

[phantomshow]

The answer Akechi gives is both illuminating and a bit of a relief. An outright refusal would have been a giant red flag to Ren that he’d severely misjudged the current situation. The mention of previous deals signals that Akechi is aware of their win against Maruki. Akechi being alive with that knowledge is a more complicated question, but one that can hold for the moment. Ren releases his hair and slips his hand back into his front pocket.

“Fix the van with me, and tell me everything you know about this place.”

As for what Ren can offer in return … he’s not sure. He has very little information about this locale, and none of it would be of value for someone who has been here longer than he has. Ren has numerous useful skills at his disposal, but are any of them currently useful enough to appeal to Akechi as a trade for what he’s asking? Why not let Akechi decide for himself what he wants from Ren.

“And you can name your price.”

If anyone who knew them from Tokyo were present, they’d think Ren had lost his entire mind. Not only is this offer all but an outright admission that Akechi has the upper hand here, it’s also a huge extension of trust to give him carte blanche in whatever he’d want to ask of Ren in exchange. Akechi had manipulated, extorted, and betrayed the Phantom Thieves; he’d spent years breaking minds and committing murders on Shido’s instruction. None of them would trust Akechi not to use the advantage Ren’s offering for grievous ill, but none of them understand Akechi like Ren does.

Or at least, he thinks he does. No, Ren is confident he does, and he doesn’t believe Akechi is truly so evil he would abuse the trust Ren has presented to him. In fact, Ren doesn’t think Akechi is evil at all. He has certainly done evil things, but it’s not hard for Ren to see why he did them. The two of them are similar, after all, and if not for the support of his friends and the chances he’d been given by sheer blind luck, Ren could’ve turned out much like Akechi did - alone and angry and vengeful against a world that was all too ready to throw him away like so much garbage.

Maybe that was a large part of why Ren cared so much, despite how illogical it is to trust someone who has such a history of misdeeds. In Akechi, he sees so much of the person he could’ve become, under different circumstances. And Ren is living proof of what wonders can grow from the seed of just one second chance. All it takes is someone willing to extend trust that the chance they offer will be put to good use.

He’ll find out soon enough if his gamble is likely to pay off or if he’s made a fatal misjudgment. For the moment, all he can do is wait for Akechi to either accept or reject the proposed terms.

Your move, king.

[undyingcrow]

"Anything? My, that's quite the gamble." He raises an eyebrow. It isn't lost on Akechi how much trust Ren is giving him. That's the peculiar thing about him. He has every reason to despise Akechi, to want nothing to do with him...

But Ren held onto the glove. His wish... sentimental though it may be, it speaks volumes to the care he still holds for his would-be killer. Of course, the thing about their trust is that it goes both ways. February second proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Akechi could trust Ren to respect his wishes and autonomy; the same cannot be said for the likes of Shido and Maruki.

Something catches the corner of his eye, and so Akechi pivots toward it. Though it's a bit difficult to see in the darkness of the garage, the flashlight from his smartphone still works wonders, even if all network and communication functions have failed.

Aha. A car jack... That's a promising start, so he traipses over, lifting it off the ground and moving it closer to Ren's vehicle.

"Lucky for you, I've no desire to burn bridges anew. No, all I ask in return is that you honor your other promise." His lips curve into another smirk. "We never did have our duel, after all."

So, he'll extend his left hand for a shake, careful with his talons.

[phantomshow]

It’s no surprise that Akechi brings up their long-promised duel. Ren’s only real surprise in its mention is the how of it. He hums a quiet laugh and while Akechi is off retrieving the jack, slips out of his blazer to fold it neatly over the hole in the van’s door where a window used to exist.

“No risk, no reward.”

That’s a gambler’s motto, right? After Sae’s Palace, Akechi should know better than anyone that Ren doesn’t shy away from taking big risks if the potential rewards are worthwhile.

“I figured the duel was a given. I still have your glove, after all.”

Said glove is in his pocket at this very moment, in fact. No harm in being a little sentimental if no one can see it, right? Ren can easily keep it to himself.

“You’re sure that’s all you want from me?”

As Ren carefully takes Akechi’s hand in his own, he can’t help remembering when they’d met last June with a similar handshake. Repeating the gesture now feels like coming around full circle. Ren still has no idea where he is or why Akechi looks like this now, but if this truly is a chance to start over, those details aren’t of primary importance.

[undyingcrow]

"The duel is a start. We can always work out the finer details later." But yes, the handshake does bring things full circle, no matter how much this place has changed him and how much it'll continue to change him...

Both of them, in theory. His brows knit, and his lips pull into a thin line. It's troubling. The lack of agency in their circumstances is bad enough. The transformations, without consent, unpredictable and sometimes brutal...

It's a punishment befitting Akechi, appearance matching the wretchedness inside. But Ren isn't like Akechi. He doesn't deserve this.

But here he is, and a selfish part of Akechi is grateful for his presence.

Eventually, he withdraws his hand, scanning their surroundings for more equipment. "Besides, I owe you information."

But... hmm. A spare tire tucked beneath a workbench catches his eye, so he moves to grab it. "So, where would you like to start?"

[phantomshow]

Ren doesn’t mind allowing Akechi to take the lead on ending the handshake. This is as close as Akechi ever really let him get, and he’s a little reluctant to have it end so soon, dangerously sharp talons and all.

But end it must. Ren doesn’t linger when Akechi separates from him. At least now he’s reassured this isn’t a hallucination or other trick of the mind - Akechi felt far too solidly real for that to be the case.

“Hm. The beginning?”

That’s a joke, of course. Ren’s quick to follow the joke with his real answer, and he’s just as quick to follow Akechi’s direction toward the tire, ready to help haul it back to the van.

“Where are we? It feels … different.”

Not different like being in the Metaverse felt - something else. Something slight that Ren can’t quite put his finger on, but he knows it’s there. Chalk it up to his Phantom Thief senses.

[undyingcrow]

"This world is called Revan, evidently." When Ren moves to help lift the tire, he doesn't protest. He could say that he has it handled, but Akechi knows Ren and his eagerness to help.

Bleeding heart that he is, Akechi can't find it in himself to protest as harshly right now. It's been a long stretch of time since February...

"We were all summoned here, forced to endure an arduous trek toward 'Nirvana,' and, based on some of my earlier investigations, it would seem we're replacements dragged to this accursed place to fulfill a previously failed ritual."

Once they reach the van, he moves to set the tire down. "I gathered some notes earlier. They're... fragmented, unfortunately, but they may shed some light on the circumstances, once we finish our current objective."

[phantomshow]

Ren did say he wanted Akechi to fix the van with him, not for him, after all. While there’s no doubt in his mind that Akechi is fully capable of handling this - or anything else - by himself, Ren also knows Akechi is accustomed to working alone by necessity. There’s no need for him to work alone now, if he’ll allow Ren at his side.

And for the moment, it seems Akechi is willing to allow it, and for that, Ren is silently grateful. February may not be as long ago for him as it is for the other boy, but it’s long enough.

“A ritual … so that means someone did this to us.”

How many times will he need to fight against being controlled by unseen forces? A jolt of white-hot fury courses through him. Ren generally has a good handle on containing those momentary flashes of temper when they spark, so unless Akechi is paying very close attention, he may miss the split second of narrowed eyes and taut jaw before he’s back to silently mulling over the information he’s been given with a thoughtful frown.

And as much as every fiber of Ren’s entire being rebels at the idea of being kept under some unknown entity’s control all over again … he knows it’s so much worse for Akechi. After all of the manipulative puppetry he’d suffered under Yaldabaoth, his father, and then Maruki, being held in Revan against his will must be eating him alive from the inside like so much acid rain.

Whoever is responsible for all of this will end up regretting it in the end. Ren has no doubt that there is no one more clever and determined to piece together a strategy for ending this reign of subjugation than Goro Akechi, and Ren silently vows that he will stay at Akechi’s side to see it through, regardless of whether his presence is requested or even wanted. Ren hadn’t spent so much time fighting gods and monsters for the sake of free will just to turn away in discouragement because he wasn’t issued an invitation to the next battle. If Akechi doesn’t want him at the party, Ren will crash it anyway, and Akechi can deal with it.

He hopes it won’t come down to that, though. Working with Akechi is much more satisfying, and even just in the task of moving the tire, they’ve fallen back into a familiar rhythm. Ren sets the tire down in tandem and shifts to his next question.

“How long have you been here?”

[undyingcrow]

"Yes, though we don't quite know who." Akechi, however fraudulent, was a detective. Subtle tells like narrowed eyes and a clenched jaw stick out, and his brows perk as he takes those little shifts in. It's not surprising, of course. Ren has always been deeply compassionate...

It's one of the most admirable and infuriating parts of him.

But, for now, they might as well shift focus to more pressing topics. Once they get the wheel in place, he pauses to eye that broken window. It'll probably take more work to replace than a busted up tire, but one task at a time.

So...

"It's been several months now, and we've traveled a fair distance." He pauses. "We're all provided with these vehicles as well as a Convoy that provides basic amenities like shelter and bland food. Everything else, we must scavenge for ourselves, or hunt when necessary. All the while, we've had to contend with hostile wildlife, traps, and the threat of being hunted ourselves."

[phantomshow]

Bland food? That won’t do at all. Ren nods to acknowledge Akechi’s explanations, and starts making a mental list of things he’ll need to look for while scavenging. He’s sure he’ll need to improvise the recipe based on whatever he can find, but something like Boss’s curry shouldn’t be too hard to make. Probably. A fishing rod wouldn’t be a bad idea either, if the opportunity for fishing presents itself. Why yes, Ren is already making plans for how he’ll contribute to the group. Fighting is obvious, but he can do other things, too. Maybe he can even convince Akechi to teach him more about auto repair after this van’s fixed.

Said van’s missing window is less of a concern than the fact that the engine won’t start. That means … probably something under the hood, right? He wanders over to the front of the bus to attempt - and fail at - prying the hood open with his fingertips. Frowning, he stares at it as if the solution will write itself in the coat of dust covering the faded paint. And it’s time for another question.

“So … you remember fighting Maruki?”

Ren pointedly doesn’t ask Akechi if he remembers dying after they’d fought Maruki. That’s not the sort of question Akechi would be inclined to answer, he thinks, remembering the terse reply he’d received once in the subway, after asking what the other boy planned to do after they’d reached their goal of stopping Maruki from infecting their reality with his own. A snapped Don’t waste my time with this sentimental bullshit is the best answer Ren thinks he’s likely to earn from such an inquiry, and the peace he’s brokered with Akechi feels too fragile to risk right now. Ren may not shy away from speaking up and speaking his mind when it feels like the right thing to do, but he also knows when to keep silent. This is one of those times for speaking less.

[undyingcrow]

"Oh, I remember. The fight, that ungodly cramped helicopter, and... what came after." Breathing a small, smoky sigh, he moves to to lift the hood. Careful with his talons, he manages to pry it open with a bit of effort. "It was March 20th before I arrived here."

So... there's that. He delivers the news with a distant expression, his voice subdued. Even without outright stating that he survived more than a month, he knows Ren can read between the lines.

The question is how he'll take it.

[phantomshow]

March 20th … March 20th … that was …

Sometimes, during a fight in the Metaverse, a Shadow would land a hit on his Persona’s weakness and knock Ren entirely down, leaving him breathless and dizzy as he hit the ground. Akechi’s answer leaves Ren with the exact same sensation.

March 20th was today. The day Ren said goodbye to the friends he’d made over the past year - except Akechi, because Akechi wasn’t there - and boarded a train headed back to his home town and the rest of his post-probation life.

Heartbeat thudding in his ears, Ren takes a step backward and closes his eyes. Remember your meditation practice, empty your mind - but the side of his head aches, the same spot where that goon in the interrogation room ground his shoe down to try to intimidate him, but Ren hadn’t breathed a word then, he was strong enough to endure the pain - that spot hasn’t hurt as much lately but now Ren presses a hand to the side of his head.

Breathe, two, three, four - Akechi had been alive - out, two, three, four - for forty-five days, not that he’d counted each one or anything - release thy rage - and Ren never knew.

It wasn’t fair.

He inhales a long, steadying breath, then slowly exhales, and he can’t yet open his eyes, but he can at least keep his voice calm.

“Where were you?”

[undyingcrow]

Ren's reactions... aren't surprising.

Not in the slightest.

Akechi watches him closely, but keeps a safe distance. This is obviously a lot for Ren to take in. He has a right to be upset. Akechi certainly would be, if the tables had turned.

But... there's no sense in lying, is there?

It takes a moment for the words to form, and when they come, his voice is subdued. Oddly uneasy, even. "I awoke on February 4th in a shelter my mother and I used to visit whenever we fell upon hard times. My memories were a mess. I didn't expect to live, and I needed time to untangle everything. Not that it excuses my silence."

If anyone deserved to know, it was Ren. The others... well, that was up in the air.

"I had... intended to contact you, once I was certain my situation was stable. There were many factors to take into consideration, and my first priority was getting my shit together and then using my knowledge to drag down any stragglers from within the conspiracy, regardless of what happened to me in the aftermath."

[phantomshow]

His first priority … of course it would be tying up the loose ends Shido left behind. Akechi had only been planning to take revenge upon his father for his entire life. How could Ren possibly compete with such a goal? Of course he wouldn’t be a priority. Akechi was relentless about pursuing his goals, Ren knew this. And if he was hurt by the revelation that he wasn’t important enough for Akechi to tell him, at any point during those forty-five days, that he’d managed to survive, Ren concludes that was his own fault for having such an expectation when really, he should know better. He knew Akechi well enough for that blood oath, after all.

Ultimately, this was good news - Akechi survived. He was still alive, and that meant Ren hadn’t failed to save him after all. Now he could stop carrying around the weight of that particular regret. The ache in the side of his head doesn’t subside, but Ren decides to ignore it now. Composure regained, he opens his eyes again and nudges his glasses up the bridge of his nose before turning to Akechi with another of those ever-so-slight grins.

“Careful. That almost sounds like an apology.”

Akechi doesn’t apologize - that’s it, that’s the joke. Ren’s hands return to his pockets - he is fine now. A misstep, not a fatal error. The people who hold importance in your life aren’t obligated to return the sentiment. He’d simply grown too comfortable with how in sync he and Akechi were as they worked together last winter, but their partnership was always going to be temporary. It’s fine - Ren’s heart would heal.

Eventually.

He steps forward to the now-opened hood and continues to not have a single clue as to what he’s looking at.

“These are a lot easier to deal with when they can actually tell you what’s wrong.”

[undyingcrow]

"You and I both know that apologies won't erase my mistakes." Still, there's a tinge of regret, however subtle. For a moment, he averts his eyes. Akechi isn't stupid. He knows keeping Ren in the dark undoubtedly hurt him.

What was he supposed to do? Just spontaneously go, "Oh, by the way, I'm alive!" and expect an open embrace? His relationship with the Phantom Thieves was always tenuous at best. Without a shared objective, would associating with him not only bring complications with Ren's real friends?

A part of him wants to say more. It's been months. Months stuck in this godforsaken place, and... he's made connections, astonishingly. He's... adapted. One might even say he's found new convictions and grown as a person.

That desire to be needed entangles with his hatred of vulnerability. If Ren pays close enough attention, he may notice subtle shifts in Akechi's demeanor. Tension and release, searching eyes, a slight pinch in his brow accentuated by the feathers.

They're slightly ruffled. Pay them no mind.

The engine is a bigger priority. "...We could attempt to operate on the engine, but it may be better for us to salvage another engine from one of the other vehicles."

He may have picked up some skills, but a motorcycle is an entirely different beast.

[phantomshow]

“That’s why it was a joke,” Ren deadpans, casting a sideways glance at Akechi. Doesn’t he know a joke isn’t funny if you have to explain it? Granted, it’s not Ren’s best work, but it’s the best he could manage under the circumstances.

He may not be a detective of Akechi’s caliber, but Ren is decently perceptive. It doesn’t escape his notice that the feathers have puffed up again, and that this seems to indicate some kind of distress. He wishes an idle thought, that any of the books he read in the past year had been about the behavior of birds. Maybe he’d be better able to decipher what Akechi was thinking now.

Ren himself isn’t the Phantom Thieves - he’s just their leader. He had spent months getting to know the detective, going on those little outings with him, and none of his other friends had any idea until he’d mentioned that he already had Akechi’s contact info when Makoto needed to invite him to the school festival. Ren loved his friends dearly, but he relished spending time alone with Akechi. Those outings were something he didn’t have to share with anyone else - well, except Ohya, that one time at the aquarium. Regardless, they were special.

Even if Akechi had been planning to kill him most of that time. Some of the time? Who could truly say, other than Akechi himself, and Ren wasn’t fool enough to ask.

And if Ren hadn’t been inclined toward holding a grudge against Akechi for literal attempted murder, he wouldn’t for this injury, either. The ache in his heart would eventually fade. The important thing is that his friend - yes, his real friend - had survived. Ren decides to take a gamble now on speaking his mind:

“I’m glad you’re alive.”

Even if you aren’t. Even if you don’t want me to be. Even if you don’t care about me as much as I care about you.

He should’ve said so back in December, too.

Without waiting for Akechi to respond and call him a sentimental idiot or something of the sort, Ren turns to wander off in the direction of the next comparable sized vehicle to the van. How can you even tell what sort of engine these things need?

[undyingcrow]

"I suppose you would be." There's more uncertainty in his words, followed by a hollow chuckle. "And now you can have your cake and eat it too. You respected my wishes, and it seems fate has rewarded you for it."

How typical for Ren, really. Not that he's especially disappointed by this outcome.

No, his feathers smooth back down after a moment. There's work to do, and they can take their time sorting out what this means as they go along.

Akechi follows along, scanning for any vans of similar style. A match would be the simplest option.

[phantomshow]

Oh, Akechi, you’ve left Ren a terrific setup for another joke. He casually spins on his heel to face toward Akechi again, this time with a much bigger grin stretched across his face.

“Are you comparing yourself to cake and suggesting I should eat you?”

He’s not wrong, though. Ren’s wish was granted in the end, by means other than Maruki’s. Learning of it may not have played out in the most ideal manner, but when is anything in life delivered to match an ideal? Ren will silently celebrate the win for what it is.

And watch with keen interest for Akechi’s reaction to the cake comparison. Ren hopes it’s hilarious.

[undyingcrow]

Akechi's face scrunches up for a moment, because what a visual that is... But soon a smirk slides back into place. "My, how forward of you." There. A swift recovery, he should think. "But for all you know, I'd give you indigestion, or worse..."

This is stupid, but perhaps a little levity is warranted. It's sure to make the tedium of their busywork more bearable, at any rate. The quips and banter are a comfortable push and pull, especially now that they don't have the threat of Maruki's reality looming over them.

[phantomshow]

Ren shakes his head, still grinning widely. This is good, this is what he wants, this is how it should be - like it was before February. Stupid jokes are his preferred way of breaking tension, and he’s thrilled Akechi is bantering back.

“I won the Big Bang Burger Challenge. I could definitely take you on.”

How long is Akechi willing to play along? There’s only one way to find out. Ren stands up straighter than his customary slouch and adopts an exaggerated expression of someone deep in serious contemplation, fingers folded to prop under his chin as he pretends to give Akechi a sharp visual inspection.

“Though now I must wonder … if you are a cake, which flavor are you? Strawberry, perhaps?”

That’s right, he’s even mimicking Akechi’s “detective prince” tone when speaking. This is meant to be a playful impression, not mean-spirited mocking. Ren hopes that’s the way Akechi will see it, and that he’ll verbally volley back.

[undyingcrow]

Wow. Ren is really going there, is he? They're supposed to be fixing his van, but now...

Oh, now, it's on.

A wry smirk takes hold, just a bit toothy. Look how sharp they are, Ren. Are you scared yet?

"I'm surprised your first guess wasn't devil's food cake." It suits him, doesn't it? Dark, like his soul, devilish, like his past atrocities...

[phantomshow]

Excellent.

Fixing the van can wait, if Akechi’s willing to indulge Ren in this ridiculous little game he has decided to play. As far as Ren can tell, there’s no immediate urgency for this group to mobilize, so the van doesn’t need to be in working order at this exact moment. They have time to spare for a little silliness.

He shakes his head again. “Too obvious.” Devil’s food would be playing to type, and - at least in Ren’s eyes - Akechi is anything but typical. “Something unexpected would suit you better.”

Unexpected like that flash of teeth. Ren’s heartbeat skips when he sees them, mentally calculating just how much more lethal Akechi must be now, talons and teeth and all. He should be scared, but he is instead utterly enthralled. It’s been too long since he has found the opportunity to do anything this reckless, and it’s fun. He can’t stop now.