personaiiiisms

Ren's breath caught in his throat for a moment. Looks like he wasn't going to be able to turn focus away from him this time. His polite smile faltered, teeth grit as if in pain. Talking about himself was...

He took a deep, shaky breath.

"Ren." His name was said with a sigh as Maruki gave him a much more pointed stare. Even if he pushed, it didn't mean that Ren was going to tell him anything else. In fact, he could guess that pushing would only have Ren retreating even further.

His eyes reconnected with the therapist at the offered suggestions of where he might best slot in to the perfect world crafted through cognition. A school representative? Class president? Him? Maybe there was a good reason he didn't settle for what Maruki offered, a dismissive sound escaping between his teeth. "That wasn't going to work," he said, rejecting the thought out of hand. Maybe he would have been a class president at one point, but he'd always kept his head down, always minded his own business. Before.

But did before even exist now? Tongue wetted his lips as he tried to reconcile what Maruki had done with his own life, not to mention the life of his friends, breath hitching in his throat before he dipped his head, running his fingers through his hair.

There was a hint in his response of something more than just gentle concern for the young man in front of him. Something that was no quite but was close to indignation and a flicker of heat. Barely more than a small ember, but a hint of the sheer arrogance he possessed to truly believe that he could make these decisions for others and that his decisions were objectively correct.

It was a crack that vanished in an instant - blink and it was gone. Maruki smiled before letting out a chuckle. "You're their leader Akira. I'm open for suggestions for other ideas, though. Would you rather be in charge of a sports club? Perhaps something more like journalism instead?"

He misunderstood, and Maruki could only shake his head. "They don't have a reason they can point to, but they still care. I didn't change anything about how important you are to them. There's just... a piece missing. Once we can finish working that out, everything will go back to normal. You'll be happy with people who love you."

But Akira would continue to fight it, and that... that was concerning. A problem. Until he was able to fully infiltrate Mementos and make changes at the deepest parts of humanity's subconscious, the changes could be undone. And Akira...

"Sakura-chan has her mother back. Kitagawa-kun is living happily with Madarame. Okumura's father is still, as is Niijima's. Sakamoto was never kicked off the track team and his leg was never broken. Takamoto and her friend were never assaulted. So what matters more to you, Akira? Returning the world to how it was, or protecting your friends' happiness?"

That was something that she had certainly thought of and was a big concern for her for sure. The fact that Medjed was connected to that government crap that was connected to them in the sense that they had been threatened by them. Though that turned out just to be a ploy. It just pissed her off that they were allowed to just steal her stuff like that and get away with that.

Makoto could see the look on her face, a contemplative one but a sure one at the same time. She had clearly thought about it."

"You're right, it probably would be better to just have it under my own name for school purposes." But there was a good reason why she was bringing it back, and she didn't care about the possible consequences in this case. "Medjed was mine, well before I knew you all. When I was first looking into what happened to my mom I went under the Medjed moniker. I just really like egyptian stuff as you know."

"I..." There was no way to gently skirt around it. Makoto sighed as the realization that she would have to step into the role of the no fun allowed elder figure once more. She was always the one to look at things logically and point out the flaws in plans because she was the one who enjoyed that, and not because no one else was ever willing to speak up to be the voice of reason.

"I understand what you're saying, Futaba, but this isn't something you should do without asking everyone else. Especially since you're also attending Shujin. The teachers there are going to be on high alert for anyone who might know more about what happened last year, and if you run a club with that handle someone is going to connect the two together. I'm sure the police already suspect all of us because of how close we are to Akira but without solid proof they haven't been able to bring any of us in for questioning, and using a handle that's already associated with the Phantoms and the change of hearts is likely going to be proof enough for the police."

And Ryuji's comments had been insightful, talking about the most likely mechanism of injury and then beginning to run through helpful stretches and strengthening exercises that might even help. Akira had been staring, but more because he was impressed by just how much Ryuji had learned so far, not because it was weird or anything.

"I like listening to you talk," he reassured Ryuji, voice gentle. "It's really cool what you've learned so far." Reaching down, he rubbed at his own knee, poking at the place where it was still sore every so often, swinging it back and forth experimentally as he considered some of the stretches Ryuji suggested.

Shoulders bounced in a shrug as considered what to say in response to Ryuji's question, smile dulling slightly. "Not really doing much, just working at LeBlanc. I'm thinking about taking the test again." A lie, but one he still sometimes told himself. Failing the second round of testing before getting into university was enough of a sign for most people not to try again, and it was a sign for him too.

But sometimes he still tried to resist it.

Ryuji watched as Akira rubbed at his leg, and it wasn't hard to pick up on the gesture being an attempt to self soothe both a physical and an emotional pain. The latter he was still horrible with, but the former: "You okay?" An incredibly vague question with no clear answer. Exactly the type of thing that encouraged honest and self reflective conversation.

"Honestly, I always thought you'd just end up takin' over Sojiro's cafe since you're the only one able to replicate his curry. An' you're really good at cooking and making coffee." Though just because Akira was good at that didn't mean that was what he wanted to do.

"Or open up some sort of Private Investigator business. You know I'd come work for you too. Moonlighting is fine as long as it's in a different business."

As soon as he registers Akane's words, Zenkichi hurriedly rushes to reassure her that she's wrong, feeling flustered once again. Honestly, every time he thinks he's got a sense of control, something always manages to catch him off-guard again... he's just great at this whole parenting thing, huh.

But now isn't the time to get distracted by sarcastic thoughts. He hadn't thought too much about how his words would come across, focusing on just getting himself to say them at all, but... well, his relationship with Akane was strained for a long time. On top of that, she's been through so much... and from the way he was talking, of course she'd assume that he was keeping some kind of awful secret.

"No, Akane, it's... it's nothing bad. You don't need to worry." Though there might be parts that are upsetting, if she believes him at all. It's himself he's worried for, mostly, as selfish as that might be.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. It's more just... something a bit out there. I don't really know how to explain it." He manages to awkwardly say what he's thinking, which is a relief - but the more he dances around the point, the more worried Akane is likely to get. That's not fair on her. Just, how to...?

That was... much worse than just dating someone in her eyes. Why would her father try to downplay that?

"Something out there, huh." The judgement in her tone was heavy and harsh, as was the gaze Akane found herself giving her father as she leaned back in her seat, arms slowly crossing over her chest. "Yeah. That would be one way to word it, I suppose." You absolute cretin.

Bonus points for more context, such as:

pat

braid

comb/brush

twirl a strand

put a flower crown on

comb fingers though it

kiss the top of the head

¹⁾ “your shoulder’s acting up again, isn’t it?”

²⁾ “sit, and rest your damn hip before it gives out altogether.”

³⁾ “you’re doing that little frowny thing you always do when a migraine’s about to come on.”

⁴⁾ “i think i coughed wrong and tweaked my back.”

⁵⁾ “christ, how much tiger balm have you got on?”

⁶⁾ “here, can you help me wrap my knee?”

⁷⁾ “i can tell, so don’t bother lying. your gait always gets fucked up when you haven’t been doing your physical therapy.”

⁸⁾ “ran you a bath. might help loosen things up, yeah?”

⁹⁾ “i saw how you were limping this morning- figured picking up your prescription ahead of time might’ve been the move.”

¹⁰⁾ “the heat pack’s in the top left dra- “ “nah, you’re a much better comfort.”

¹¹⁾ “of course i’d manage to break my fall with my bad wrist.”

¹²⁾ “think i pulled a muscle.” “which one?” “all of them.”

¹³⁾ “if you won’t go to the doctor, at least just take it easy for a day or two.”

¹⁴⁾ “i’ll believe your back isn’t at you if you can get up off the floor to tell me it.”

¹⁵⁾ “please tell me that creaking is coming from the stairs and not you.”

¹⁶⁾ “you don’t need to take care of me. i wouldn’t ask that of anyone.”

¹⁷⁾ “i need some ibuprofen, a whiskey and a bath. maybe in that order.”

¹⁸⁾ “you’re good at hiding it, but i can tell you’re in pain.”

¹⁹⁾ “i’m gonna stay the night. i don’t wanna leave you like this alone.”

DIALOGUE PROMPTS

that thing you just stepped on? yeah, that was my foot.

you've never danced like this before, have you? i can tell.

you're rather good at this.

where did you learn to dance like this?

i'm sure i'm not the only one you've danced with.

i don't know what i'm doing.

just follow my lead and i'll help you.

you're a lousy dance partner.

is that your perfume i smell?

i'll be with you the whole time. follow me.

it's an honor to dance with you.

i could kiss you right now.

i never thought i'd get the chance to dance with you again.

i like to keep things spontaneous.

mind if we dance?

you clean up nice.

figured it was time i stepped in.

what were you doing, dancing with them?

i've waited my whole life for a moment like this.

if you dip me, i'll kill you.

i think the song's over.

well... that was nice.

you look lovely in that dress, by the way.

can we go again?

just put your hand on my shoulder.

i didn't know you could dance!

do you remember the last time we danced like this?

you're doing wonderfully. you look like an expert.

when's the last time i danced with you?

you deserve this, you know.

everyone's watching us.

what would you do if i kissed you?

just keep your eyes fixed on me.

ignore the staring. they'll get over it.

take hold of my hand and let me guide you.

may i have this dance?

i was hoping i'd meet you out here on the dance floor.

dance with me. don't make me go out there alone.

is this the part where we kiss?

ACTION PROMPTS

[ cut in ] sender interrupts receiver as they dance with someone else and requests to dance with receiver, instead

[ dip ] sender dips receiver at the end of the song

[ guide ] sender places receiver's hands in the correct position for a formal dance

[ slide ] sender's hand slips down to receiver's hip as they dance

[ stumble ] sender and receiver make a mistake in their dancing and stumble over each other

[ laugh ] sender and receiver attempt to dance, but can't help themselves from crumbling into a laughing fit

[ private ] sender encourages receiver to dance with them in the privacy of their own home with no one around

[ silence ] sender and receiver start dancing without any music

[ groove ] sender and receiver perform funky, silly dances together, overexaggerating to make each other laugh

[ oops ] sender keeps stepping on receiver's feet and apologizing each time

[ almost ] sender and receiver finish their dance and stare into each other's eyes, transfixed, nearly about to kiss

[ teach ] sender gives receiver a proper lesson on how to dance

[ classes ] sender and receiver meet at a dance class

[ slow ] sender and receiver slow dance together

[ tender ] in the middle of a dance, sender reaches out to fix receiver's hair/clothes

[ interrupt ] someone tries to interrupt sender and receiver as they dance

[ forbidden ] sender and receiver are not supposed to be seen together... but they end up dancing together anyway

[ sensual ] sender and receiver participate in a sensual, romantic dance

[ cooking ] while cooking with music on, sender and receiver humorously dance around the kitchen (using utensils as microphones in the process)

[ first dance ] sender and receiver share their first dance at their wedding