[ ...Honestly, that tracks. It could be someone else entirely, of course, but while Ren's seen usernames that feel like they could belong to people he knows ("Justice", for one) they've never immediately called him by name without being told.
He's not certain he's ever actually used his name on the network, actually. It just hasn't come up.
And it's entirely in keeping with how Akechi is to just spring this on him out of nowhere - if anything, Ren's simply surprised Akechi didn't pop out of the shadows of his apartment to demand information or something. ]
Of course, Akechi. You okay?
[ ...But he's being just as oddly casual, besides the obvious and extremely genuine concern about the other boy's wellbeing.
...Of course the "oddly casual" could just be his usual mode of texting: sometimes he'll be a bit more loquacious, but usually he's pretty brief even if he's quick to respond. ]
About as well as I could, given the circumstances.
[ Circumstances being... what? Being plucked out of his home that had turned into a fake reality to begin with? Dropped on nameless sex island without much of an explanation? The looming knowledge that in one day's time, he was to either disappear or be forever trapped in an even worse fate-- one that Ren had inadvertently wished for? Maybe.
Or maybe it's just the cat ears. Who knows. Certainly not Ren, if Akechi can help it. ]
But, I'll be brief. This is the one answer I don't seem to find anywhere, and though I don't have much hope you'll be able to provide, I have to ask: do you know how we ended up here?
[ Look, he'd probably be interested in the cat ears but he's far more interested in Akechi himself. Ren hasn't seen him in months, and he has no idea what happened after everything. Of course logic said Akechi was probably dead but -
Well. He didn't like to think about that. ]
I'm afraid "how" is beyond me and the only "why" we have is "to save this world with sex".
[ Which has a lot of "hows" to it, as well. He's not about to dance around that, though, because it's pretty obvious. It's not like their robot overlords hide what they want everyone to do or anything.
There's a whirring "..." as he actually chooses to type some more, though. Chatty! ]
I don't think it has anything to do with what was happening back home.
[ Yes, Ren, he has realized that much-- honestly he might have been a fake detective, but he was still capable enough to track his username down in the network, so do give him a little credit to figure out the obvious, okay? ]
I see. I can at least say I'm glad to not be trapped in someone else's disturbing idea of happiness.
[ Perhaps not as disturbing as Maruki's world, where Ren's idea of happiness would have him trapped in a place of easy camaraderie and friendly rivalry and a clean criminal record in which Akechi had never tried to kill him at all, but hey. Ren can take that to mean this weird sex island, and they can continue to pretend there isn't anything very wrong about that wish, not a single grudge to keep. ]
I assume you don't know the way out either? Questionable taste as you may have, even you shouldn't genuinely enjoy this ordeal.
[ Haha...is that something he should apologize for? Perhaps. But it's not like Ren can control what would make a utopia for him. He's intelligent enough to take the double meaning, but...
...he can't bring himself to say sorry for his dearest wish for reality, even if he had given it up. ]
I haven't been able to find a way out.
I have learned of other Persona users here.
[ He clearly doesn't mean anyone they know; there wouldn't be any point to specifically inform Goro of that. Ren assumes since he was tracked down, Kasumi's existence is also something the detective knows about...
[ Look, even Akechi isn't so emotionally stunted as to demand an apology for that; people feel how they feel, and no matter how senseless it is, Ren's wish is not something he had consciously decided on. The choice to give up on it, however, was, and Akechi can at least appreciate that.
But because people do feel how they feel, he can't be blamed for still holding a bit of a grudge, either. ]
Disappointing, but not unexpected. I suppose even you have limitations, after all.
[ Because, oh, isn't he special. The one with the special powers and the special bonds that powered up his special, multiple Personas, special enough to take down a god. So yes, in many ways, he is. But to Akechi?
Well. He does at least mean considerably more to him than "Kasumi," who he quite frankly didn't bother to check for-- much like any of the other Phantom Thieves. ]
What about these other Persona users, then? Anything noteworthy?
[ ... Ren. You can't possibly expect Akechi to take up Morgana's role, he's far too big to fit in a bag. ]
"Risette" is a navigator, eh? I suppose that could be useful, if she'll cooperate.
[ There's a with us that goes unsaid because, well, there's a part of Akechi who does see Ren as an ally of sorts. He's just not about to admit it out loud. ]
Although I don't see much need for a navigator, to begin with. The Metaverse isn't accessible, is it?
No, but our abilities do seem to be. She was scanning for enemies for me and supplying me with weak points. This was a little earlier when there was an incursion.
[ He's not fighting right now or anything...actually he's sprawled on his bed in his meticulously tidied home base. He doesn't have a lot of Things yet but he's always been handy at cleaning. ]
But I don't know if adding her and her friend to the group chat makes sense...which reminds me.
[ He adds Akechi to the group chat which hasn't gotten much use since it's been just two since Yusuke left before they had news to share.
He's apparently going to simply continue treating Akechi like an ally very blatantly. ]
In that case, it might be worth keeping an eye out around that time. If there's any sort of entranceway that gives access to the island, then therein must lie the way out, too.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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He's not certain he's ever actually used his name on the network, actually. It just hasn't come up.
And it's entirely in keeping with how Akechi is to just spring this on him out of nowhere - if anything, Ren's simply surprised Akechi didn't pop out of the shadows of his apartment to demand information or something. ]
Of course, Akechi. You okay?
[ ...But he's being just as oddly casual, besides the obvious and extremely genuine concern about the other boy's wellbeing.
...Of course the "oddly casual" could just be his usual mode of texting: sometimes he'll be a bit more loquacious, but usually he's pretty brief even if he's quick to respond. ]
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[ Circumstances being... what? Being plucked out of his home that had turned into a fake reality to begin with? Dropped on nameless sex island without much of an explanation? The looming knowledge that in one day's time, he was to either disappear or be forever trapped in an even worse fate-- one that Ren had inadvertently wished for? Maybe.
Or maybe it's just the cat ears. Who knows. Certainly not Ren, if Akechi can help it. ]
But, I'll be brief. This is the one answer I don't seem to find anywhere, and though I don't have much hope you'll be able to provide, I have to ask: do you know how we ended up here?
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Well. He didn't like to think about that. ]
I'm afraid "how" is beyond me and the only "why" we have is "to save this world with sex".
[ Which has a lot of "hows" to it, as well. He's not about to dance around that, though, because it's pretty obvious. It's not like their robot overlords hide what they want everyone to do or anything.
There's a whirring "..." as he actually chooses to type some more, though. Chatty! ]
I don't think it has anything to do with what was happening back home.
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I see. I can at least say I'm glad to not be trapped in someone else's disturbing idea of happiness.
[ Perhaps not as disturbing as Maruki's world, where Ren's idea of happiness would have him trapped in a place of easy camaraderie and friendly rivalry and a clean criminal record in which Akechi had never tried to kill him at all, but hey. Ren can take that to mean this weird sex island, and they can continue to pretend there isn't anything very wrong about that wish, not a single grudge to keep. ]
I assume you don't know the way out either? Questionable taste as you may have, even you shouldn't genuinely enjoy this ordeal.
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...he can't bring himself to say sorry for his dearest wish for reality, even if he had given it up. ]
I haven't been able to find a way out.
I have learned of other Persona users here.
[ He clearly doesn't mean anyone they know; there wouldn't be any point to specifically inform Goro of that. Ren assumes since he was tracked down, Kasumi's existence is also something the detective knows about...
Surely he's not special, right? ]
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But because people do feel how they feel, he can't be blamed for still holding a bit of a grudge, either. ]
Disappointing, but not unexpected. I suppose even you have limitations, after all.
[ Because, oh, isn't he special. The one with the special powers and the special bonds that powered up his special, multiple Personas, special enough to take down a god. So yes, in many ways, he is. But to Akechi?
Well. He does at least mean considerably more to him than "Kasumi," who he quite frankly didn't bother to check for-- much like any of the other Phantom Thieves. ]
What about these other Persona users, then? Anything noteworthy?
[ Please don't bore him with peons, okay. ]
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How familiar are you with pop idols?
[ This is actually relevant but may also be wasting Akechi's time. It's fine. ]
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I have a working knowledge of media celebrities. I do hope you're going somewhere with this, though.
[ Don't!! Waste his time!! ]
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The other day "Risette" was my navigator.
[ Ren...
...still sees Goro as an ally, whatever Goro thinks of the matter. ]
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"Risette" is a navigator, eh? I suppose that could be useful, if she'll cooperate.
[ There's a with us that goes unsaid because, well, there's a part of Akechi who does see Ren as an ally of sorts. He's just not about to admit it out loud. ]
Although I don't see much need for a navigator, to begin with. The Metaverse isn't accessible, is it?
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[ He's not fighting right now or anything...actually he's sprawled on his bed in his meticulously tidied home base. He doesn't have a lot of Things yet but he's always been handy at cleaning. ]
But I don't know if adding her and her friend to the group chat makes sense...which reminds me.
[ He adds Akechi to the group chat which hasn't gotten much use since it's been just two since Yusuke left before they had news to share.
He's apparently going to simply continue treating Akechi like an ally very blatantly. ]
But it may be worth getting to know them.
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Group chat, what no. He didn't ask for this, Ren cease this nakama bullshit immediately!! ]
You do realize there's no point to this, yes? It's not like you can carry out your Phantom Thief activities without access to the Metaverse.
[ Apparently, Akechi doesn't consider the possibility that a group chat could be used for... chatting... what a novel concept... ]
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We may not be stealing metaphysical hearts, but I thought it useful to be able to contact everyone I trust at the same time at a need.
[ Why does this include Akechi? ...well, because of course it does.
He's pretty sure Akechi isn't going to try to kill him again, it's fine. ]
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There is literally one other person, Ren.
[ And the other is... Akechi. There's definitely an unspoken question here. Why. ]
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[ Does that information even help... ]
Can we meet up?
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Meet up? What, don't tell me you think this is an elaborate prank?
[ Don't tell him he's scared Akechi isn't real. ]
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It's been months since the last time we met.
[ Though that way of framing it isn't much better even if he didn't use the words "I miss you" explicitly there. ]
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Months? How long have you been here, exactly?
[ Diversion tactics!! ]
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[ Maybe he should just give out his address in case Goro ever WANTS to visit.
Because it's entirely safe to hand out your address to people who have tried to kill you before, probably.
After thinking about it for a grand total of .5 seconds, that's what Ren does.
But then he keeps talking, so Akechi can pretend it didn't happen if he prefers. ]
I was in the first batch of arrivals.
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Literally, he's knew here, he's only just learning his way around. Ren, you moron. You actual moron. Thinking he would care! To look it up!! ]
So arrivals come in batches... And how often would you say that happens? Is there a set schedule or pattern to it?
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The tail end of every month. Arrivals tend to be spread out over several days to a week at that time.
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In that case, it might be worth keeping an eye out around that time. If there's any sort of entranceway that gives access to the island, then therein must lie the way out, too.
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[ Because he sure didn't! ]
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[ Ren, honestly, what kind of shitty kidnappers would just let them run rampant with a door right there? ]
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So you want to stage a stake out of the next arrival group?
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