maskreant | INBOX

Oh, of course. There's not a minute of the day where I don't gush about you, why would it be any different at night?

[It's... maybe a joke? It's said playfully enough.

Belle, for the record, loves her new moving bed? She is so happy about her moving bed. Potato lets go of the sock (Gold rolls back in the process, darting away with it into the kitchenette with Goro) and hops onto Akira too, wagging his tail excitedly.

... Goro is picking up Gold to put on his shoulders, that is better, the sock is now on the counter and the black cat is amusing himself with the ponytail instead.]

The troublemakers seem to have taken to you too. Two of three, anyway, though Gold'll warm up to you. You're of the same breed.

[ Not a minute...? Akira doesn't talk back about that because he's thinking it over. While he doesn't mind at all that Goro likes him—liked him for so long—he never considered that maybe he gushes about him. Not talk about him. Gushes.

... That's so embarrassing. Who has heard Goro ROMANCE IS MY PASSION Akechi? Thank god he's buried in these cute little troublemakers. Even if Gold doesn't love him yet, it'll ONLY BE TIME. He pets Potato a bit before lifting the puppy into the air like they're playing some kind of lift off game. Up and down. Up and down. ]

Meow. [ Can't deny his catitude. ] Would you consider yourself a cat?

[ Dropped the other topic like it's hot. ]

[Potato loves this? Potato loves this. And if Goro notices the dropped topic, he doesn't say a word.]

Not at all. They're more aloof than I could ever pull off... the exception being Belle, but I was told that her breed tend to be more dog-like than most. I don't really know what I'd put myself as.

[He remembers being a rabbit in his dreams, but he........ doesn't want to say that...........]

[ Up and down the bungee ride, little puppy. When he's done with that, he rests potato onto Belle as he looks up, trying to catch Goro within his line of sight. Unfortunately, there are plenty of things obscuring his vision. Boo.

Please come back. ]

I would put you as a puppy because you tend to beg for extra food in your own way.

[ Called Out, but he does see Goro kind of like a rabbit, too. What a dilemma? ]

I do not.

[The most offended tone?? Excuse you. It does get him to lean over the counter between them with a frown though, hello.]

I remember you thinking of me that way back when our thoughts appeared too. I was quite dismayed about it.

You were trying to flirt your way to more hotcakes at the cafe earlier this week.

[ Don't even try him? Akira has been a victim of the begging! He smiles innocently in return, not at all feeling any remorse for his words. It's just the truth, Goro. Don't heckle him over it. ]

That? Was it really that surprising to you...

[ Have this incredulous look. Goro was practically beaming as he waited to him that day, okay? ]

[... Well--]

Begging and flirting are two different things. [Jeez. But it seems he'll acquiesce to that for now, taking a chopped carrot and beaning Akira with it.] And of course it was. I was worried that you might... um, nevermind.

[Back to... cooking. Right, cooking. Whatever. It'll be quick after this.]

Don't you think that dogs just try to weasel their way into your heart, especially at key moments during dinner, so they can guilt or charm you into more food?

[ Because Akira thinks so... It's so hard for him not to. Cats don't seem to do it so much, especially Morrigan, so he has been spared of such a harsh life. He has enough proficiency to dodge this carrot, but he can't. With the little demons on him, he can only tilt his head to one side.

And still get hit by the carrot. Ugh. ]

Rely on me.

[ TELL HIM. ]

[... Belle does that too, though she's more prone to just climbing into your lap and trying for scraps... The smell of onions and meat is enticing enough to bring the other two pets to him, so Akira's free again.]

It's not anything worth saying, Akira. Certainly not now. Don't worry about it.

[ Don't worry about it? Don't worry about it.

If only it were that easy. Those are the exact words that spur worry, doubt, and curiosity. Even if the demons have left him, he's still here, brow furrowed and squint directed towards Goro. Or towards Goro's direction, at least. ]

Goro.

[Mrrr. He nuzzles Gold a little, humming softly. It really was a stupid worry, and he knows Akira will think so too, but he's not going to give up until Goro says something, is he...]

A dog isn't a very flattering mental image to have of someone waiting for you, you know.

[But that doesn't really answer the question. He hesitates a moment more, then sighs.]

I just... Well, at the time I knew you didn't necessarily mind my feelings towards you, and while I had... different reasons for not believing you returned them, I often thought that they might be annoying or just humored. As in you not taking them seriously.

[Sort of in the way that a teacher might humor a kindergartner's precocious crush on her? That way.]

Stupid and silly. Not worth mentioning, as I said, and nothing I'm worried about now. I really should've just asked you out when you called out my crush and saved myself months of trouble.

No, that's fair. I'm sorry—I just thought you were really cute. It made my day.

[ He isn't going to justify it at all, merely adding tidbits, even though he doesn't find being similar to a dog as low. They're loyal... They're balls of sunshine. They wait for you, they love you unconditionally. That doesn't mean he should have thought of anyone akin to an animal, however.

He understands that. The tangent catches him off-guard. He didn't think that had anything to do with this? He clasps his hands over his stomach, merely looking at the plain ceiling. What a boring color. ]

No. It would have been better if you waited. I... Wasn't in the right state of mind. I did actually pick at your crush to distract myself from something I didn't want to think about.

[ He feels a familiar warm yet dreadful swell in his chest as his nerves burn up—ugh. Talking about it is harder than he thought. Still, he has to be clear and transparent about it. ]

I'm sorry...

... Oh.

[To both things, really, and he waits a quiet minute as he puts the heat down to just keep everything warm, taking Gold off his shoulders and putting him down beside Belle. Good kitties. Good Potato.

Then he goes over to Akira, kneeling down beside him to play with his hair. The pets follow, part curious and part because that's just what pets do.]

You're forgiven. For both things. I'm not mad about them, you know, the latter's actually quite funny when I tell those curious. [... Which is a number growing by the day. Should he not talk about it, then..?] What didn't you want to think about?

[Like, he should probably properly finish the meal first, but. Akira's more important.]

[ AKira's is awkwardly smiling, but he doesn't want Goro coming over here. It doesn't show on his face. Instead, his body is just stiff, but he enjoys the pets. It's still soothing in their own right. ]

I know, but still. [ There's a nervous chuckle as he closes his eyes now, worried that the tension can be seem in them. ] We can talk about it when you're done cooking.

[ He wants to stall, but shows signs of being cooperative. There's only person he has told the memory to, but he knows he should talk about it. It doesn't hold anything over him anymore—at least not as much as before. ]

I'll be fine.

[Goro stares down at him, frown growing as he tugs Akira's hair a little firmly.]

There's no way I can believe that when you're so stiff, you know. [But his edges soften, as does his tone, and he looks more concerned than anything.] Rely on me. I have to wait for the rice to go off anyway.

[So he's got a minute, essentially.]

[ He groans before lightly swatting Goro's hand away. Stop!! ]

I'm not that stiff. [ He just would rather not talk about it. ] I think it'll take longer to explain than a minute, but you asked for this.

[ Mentally crossing his fingers that the rice cooker will play its little tune in the middle of this conversation. A sigh escapes him before he starts. ]

Have you visited my nightmares last month? It's probably familiar if you have, but I received a memory that month where reality fused with Mementos... Since the Phantom Thieves failed to stop the process, we started to fade out of existence. It was scary, but I think the worst part is seeing fear in their eyes before they vanish.

[ Quiet, he twiddles his thumbs as he keeps his gaze at the ceiling again. ]

There was more after that, but it was hard to piece together at the time. For a while, I thought it was... [ "my fault." ] The end.

[Mementos... the weird subway? Goro's quiet as he listens, regaining nothing from this and knowing, or at least suspecting, exactly why. He pulls his knees to his chest and rests his chin on them, feeling oddly unsatisfied with pulling it out of Akira.]

You thought it was your fault.

[He vaguely recalls the shadow thing blaming Akira for something or other too, though he doesn't remember what. Only that it was kind of upsetting.

He reaches out to pet Akira's head again, fingers curling into themselves as he hesitates and then retracts it with a soft hum. The rice cooker will absolutely go off while he's getting his thoughts together? And he's going to pin a glare in its direction before putting Potato back on Akira's chest.]

That's terrifying. [It's a lame response, but it'll do as he goes to finish up their meal.] Sorry.

[About pressing it. That he had those memories in the first place. That... he can't quite understand how bad it is, that he never experienced it, that the month after must have felt exactly the same. But Goro's never been good at comforting others -- the words just don't come -- so they remain quiet in his mind.]

I suppose August must've been rough on you.

There's no reason to be sorry.

[ Goro did nothing wrong. Akira could have easily glossed over it, even asked if he could keep quiet instead. He's sure Goro would understand... Whatever feeling of heaviness is conjured on his own. At least the weight and happiness of a little furball lightens it up. He smiles fondly before petting Potato.

When he thought he could bounce back, he's just hit with August. Carefully, he turns onto his side and settles Potato on the floor. ]

Yeah... It was similar. People forgot those that once existed and everything.

[ He remembers being so desperate to bring the missing people back even if it meant they had to ally with Retrospec, their perceived "enemy." His muscles ached the whole time. He didn't get enough sleep— ]

But most returned safely, so I'm glad for that.

Now I feel a little guilty for having so much fun... next time I go traveling, I'll take you with me. I think it'd be nice. Um, thank you for telling me.

[Even if it wasn't his choice at the time to go travelling or not?? He still feels bad about it, especially now that he knows that he (and others) inadvertedly worried and scared Akira. Even if he has no reason to be sorry, he still wants to make it up to him some how.......

Beginning with dinner, the clatter of plates alerting to such.]

Where would you like to go? If you could go anywhere.

[To move onto a better topic while he gives Akira extra stir fry on his plate.]

[ His nose wrinkles as the aroma finally settles in the air, practically wafting to wherever he is. It's hard to focus on the comforts of a soft puppy when he can hear the rumbling of his stomach. It's time to head back into the kitchen, though there is a rather pensive look at he first washes his hands at the kitchen sink.

Traveling. He has moved to so many places, but a trip to relax and remember there's a place to come home to is very foreign to him. It sounds nice. ]

Thailand.

[ It would be fun, the sights would be amazing, and the cuisine is amazing. When he dries his hand with a paper towel, he slides onto a seat!! Eyeing his plate. ]

What did you have in mind?

[ His guess is somewhere in Europe. ]

[Thailand...... Interesting. Have your plate, he'll sit across.]

You're thinking I'd choose someplace European, aren't you. [Slightly accusatory. But he laughs a little, playing with his fork.] You're not wrong, I would like to sometime, but I think I'd like to return home to Japan first. I remember the sights around Tokyo quite vividly, and I've always wanted to see the rest of the country too.

[Recolle has a nice part that feels similar to it, but it's very distinctly not it too. Doesn't have the thousands of shrines or just as many years of history.]

Other than that... Belgium or Switzerland, maybe. Though once you're in Europe, it isn't hard to take a tour of the whole continent, pressed together as they are.

You're getting better at reading my mind, Mister Akechi. [ Golf claps. ] Returning home to tour would be nice.

[ He'll start eating once Goro is situated at the table. After one bite, he's silent as he listens so he can enjoy the rest of his meal. Bless dinner. Food is the ultimate comfort. ]

It would be cool to check out a whole continent.

[ Obviously not against it. ]

[It really is. Bless dinner. And... he doesn't mind it?? Oh, good, plans are best made in advance anyway.]

If we went to Australia, we could explore an island, a continent, and a country all in one go. Maybe we can see the Great Barrier Reef before it dies out completely too... oh, but most of Australia is brush besides the shore cities, it's quite dangerous out there.

[So maybe not... On the other hand, going to New Zealand and seeing where a lot of fantasy movies take place would be fun? He's starting to daydream about mountain climbing.]

Isn't the most venomous marine animal also in Australia?

[ He thinks he saw it on animal planet one time, but he's not at all discouraged. He's about 80% sure that the little jellyfish are in waters with labels on them already. If anything, he seems interested by the sound of it. They can go to such a dangerous land, but also have a grand time.

Maybe even fight kangaroos. Idly, he starts spinning his eating utensils. ]

I'd like to see the Sydney Opera House at least once.

[ Dream Big. Dream Dangerous. ]

[... akira really is good with his hands--]

Keep the beginning of April open and maybe you will.

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