. J U S T I C E .

AKECHI GORO from PERSONA 5 justice is as blind as he who wields it absolved by R A I N E01 - 15 - 18 // 01 - 13 - 19

[zentoku]

phandomadmin‌:

  - Nobody else had frustrated Mishima more. The people at his school scared and hurt him, some people annoyed him, but nobody else had frustrated Mishima more than one specific individual.

  That person was none other than this generation’s “Detective Prince,” Goro Akechi. He had plagued the television channels, the internet, and even the Phan-site, which he had no escape from. There was no way for him to avoid how much he didn’t want to see him or hear about him. No way for him to pretend he didn’t exist. Not even a way for him to escape things he influenced. His unusually sweet-sounding voice was everywhere in rumors. The soft looks he gave and the fact he always smiled at the camera.

   And yet, here he was, at his favorite tea shop. He’d made a callout on his before mentioned Phan-Site, claiming that if this Goro Akechi truly believed that the Phantom Thieves were criminals, then he shouldn’t be afraid to meet someone who believed the exact opposite here to prove it. There was no way for him to know if it would work, however.. So at least he could sit at the table, sipping strawberry dandelion tea to calm his nerves, while he waited.

– [ shipping starter call: @zentoku ]

It was a bold challenge that the Admin had made:  face a phan in person and convince them you’re right.  Akechi had initially blown it off;  he didn’t have the time or reason to pop a poor stranger’s bubble;  but the amount of attention that the challenge gained from the other phans was ... well.  It would have threatened Akechi’s reputation if he had said no.  Reputation is a pretty obvious pressure point for the detective, but he had tried playing it off.  Instead of answering on the forum outright, Akechi merely took note of the time and place that someone would be waiting.  ( He can already guess who will be there. )

The Detective Prince enters the tea shop exactly on time, looking for -- ah yes, there he is.  A benevolent sort of smile touches the brunette’s lips as he crosses the distance between them to stand at the other side of the table.

“ Mishima Yuuki-san... Correct ? “  Akechi asks in that so-sweet voice.  The smile he wears is playfully knowing.  “ I had a feeling you would be the one to meet me.  May I sit ? “

[fallingstarfishes]

the detective princes….

[pesimiizam]

[zentoku]

rebellebetrayed‌:

But it could be waved away with an easy denial; a small oh,please from Hikaru’s lips that would fall from his mouth as a denial. That why would Goro Akechi stoop so low as to indulge himself with trash like Hikaru; someone who has a criminal record to boot and a reputation that makes people avoid him like the plague, but that doesn’t stop him from moving to poke the detective’s cheek–a little too close for just friends.

“I’ll only let you handcuff me if it’s to you~” He practically sings; though it’s under his breath, almost a whisper so Sojiro won’t hear what he’s saying–There’s no fun in being found out, is there?

Akechi’s eyebrow lifts as Hikaru Karusu, Attic Trash and Probationer, dares to poke the plush of his cheek.  Instead of recoiling as one might expect, his smile simply grows, though his eyes hood in a way one could consider dangerous.  “ A little too close for friends “ is right, particularly when garnets dart to Sojiro’s back.  The cafe is empty; the coast is clear.  A flick of his head sees Akechi’s soft lips running over the pad of Hikaru’s finger.

“ Be careful what you wish for. “  He replies softly, pursing his lips into a devil-smiled kiss.

[foxinasmock]

@zentoku from x

“It’s no problem.” Yusuke shook his head and continued to knead at Akechi’s muscles. “You know… while the metaverse may seem like a fantastical world where you can run and jump faster and higher… there’s no reason to exert yourself, especially when you’re new to this.” Of course, he knew to a degree that Akechi was not new to this, yet he left those details for Futaba to further clarify.

“Well… Is it even fair to say…? That my mother was ripped away from me. I barely knew her. I was four, and I had not even remembered her face. I would not have, and my thoughts would only turn to her in times of loneliness, of desperation for some happier time.”

“Look.” He turned Akechi to the direction of The Sayuri. “You recognize it, right? If you hadn’t, well… To be honest, I’m a little embarrassed either way.” Evidence of the phantom thieves left in plain sight, although he wouldn’t bare to hide it from the world.

“It’s my mother’s painting. A self-portrait. The true Sayuri, that I would never have obtained had I not been a phantom thief. Isn’t it amazing? That world uncovered so much for me. It gave me this hope, that I hadn’t had before.”

[zentoku]

With the fox standing behind him, Akechi is free to ironically grin at his cup of coffee.  Especially when you’re new to this.  Akechi knows damn well that the thieves are onto him; it’s all by design; but to hear something so naive come out of the painter’s mouth is just ... sad.  It’s proof that this is all a game, an extended act.  The brunette is already tired of his role.

He lifts his head.  “ Yes, I recognize it. “  Of course he does.  He spends hours each day perfectly manicuring his image, and that includes his image of being a well-cultured intellectual.  He had followed the Madarame story just like everybody else  ( and for many other reasons )  and naturally the Sayuri had come into focus as a result.  He quietly listens to the story Yusuke tells surrounding it and feels a sting of jealousy afterwards.  He has nothing to remember his own mother by, but he doesn’t volunteer that information.  He simply smiles that small, calm smile.

“ ... what are you trying to say, then ? “  Akechi asks, glancing up at the boy tending to his aching shoulders.  “ That my hope will come ? “  It takes everything in his power to keep the saccharine sarcasm out of his voice.  The two of them share something in common:  the Metaverse uncovered so much for them.  Where they diverge is that Yusuke took away hope and Akechi took on the bleak yoke of revenge.

[zentoku]

YOUR ANIMAL FAMILIAR. 

TIGER

The Tiger, though very, very powerful, is a dangerous, mysterious, and unpredictable familiar. They are often the companion of one who has strong feelings of vengeance or hate to another person. However, you are most likely very independent and sure of who you are, and strive to be yourself and not conform to others. You are pushed through even the toughest of situations through willpower and wise decisions, if you are able to keep your feelings of anger in check. A Tiger familiar is a very strong, vicious partner in battle, helps their master through mental stress, and gives them the will to continue on.

REPRESENTS: shadows, willpower, anger, unpredictability, mystery, wisdom

tagged by: @edgyearring tagging: anybody who either (a) hasn’t done this or (b) has done this and forgotten about it (probably like me)

[zentoku]

rebellebetrayed‌:

Like Hikaru hadn’t caught that; It merely eases a laugh of his own to escape, understanding the meaning behind those words easily enough to know not to tease–Right now. It wouldn’t be too hard to spin the tale of ‘unrequited love’ to Sojiro, to anyone looking their way. He merely moves to take another bite from the curry; silver hues focused on the boy next to him with obvious interest.

“Whoever said I was a good boy, Akechi-Kun? For all you know; I was out causing trouble and giving truth to my delinquent name.” A lie, he had been at one of his various jobs–Had stopped on the way home to fill his bags with Soda.

Unrequited love would be the easiest story to spin of them all.  Half-truths are easier to buy than flat out denials.  Hikaru had the habit of making his flirtations painfully obvious to the point where even the most dense of people could pick up on his intentions.  It left Akechi in quite the pickle, actually.  Here the brunette was, wishing he might be able to casually reach out and wipe up the smudge of curry on Hikaru’s lip with it only seeming a teasing gesture, but with how thick Hikaru lays it on all the time, there’s no doubt in the detective’s mind that Sojiro will ( rightfully ) convince himself that something is going on between the two.  It’s certainly no fun on Akechi’s end, having to endure all of this teasing without giving an inch in return, especially when Hikaru makes it so easy ...

“ Hmm?  Is that so.  Good thing I have an extra pair of handcuffs on me. “  Akechi says casually, toeing the line of too much as closely as he can.  It could be seen as an aggressive and risky play in their little game, but his smile is so serene and perfect that one has to wonder if there’s a game going on at all.  Haha, oh shit, they might think to themselves:  He’s serious about arresting Hikaru.

[zentoku]

rebellebetrayed‌:

Perfectly normal; but texts can be deleted, call history can be erased–The only way to get a hold of those is by having some warrant to grab what’s been erased from their history; but it’s normal, they’re normal to whatever everyone can see.

He catches that glance; wishes he could pin it down to what exactly it meant for now–Longing; Desire, they’re both too similar and for a moment, his grey mirrors Akechi’s eyes; reflects back at him.   Hikaru makes it a point to lick his lips after he pulls the spoon from his mouth; letting out a satisfied sigh as he moves to take another bit.

“It was warm as always; not too cold, but pray tell, what was I late for?” He bats his lashes at the other.  “It’s not like we had a date, Akechi-senpai.”

Sojiro’s awkward cough is masked by Akechi’s humoring laugh.  “ How flattering. “  Akechi says, radiating amusement in voice and posture.  “ You’ll make this old man blush if you keep talking like that. “  Though if he was talking about himself or Sojiro, it was hard to say.  A subtle way of saying lay off, you’re being suspicious, perhaps ?  As if Hikaru ever understood the definition of subtlety to begin with ...

“ Good boys and girls get home before dark, don’t you know ?  And here I thought you were worried about your image. “  He says with something of a lingering smile, rocking his cup to stir his drink.

[zentoku]

rebellebetrayed‌:

Anyone who had eyes would be able to tell there’s something going on there; if they allowed their usual habits to show themselves, merely observed them for a while would have their suspicions. It’s come up once or twice; with friends that aren’t Akechi Goro, what their relationship status–A concerned question from Ann; a suspicious glare from Ryuji, all that had prompted was easy denial from the thief.

“Thanks, Boss–”He rolls his eyes at the nearby brunette; grin still obvious on his face as he keeps his eyes on the other for a moment longer before indulging in a bite of curry. 

It’s easy to deny something that has no evidence.  Not in this timeline, anyway.  Ann Takamaki can inquire all she likes, and Ryuji Sakamoto can give all the nasty looks he wants, but the reality is they’ll find nothing.  Not a text, not a call, not a rumpled sheet or pillow -- their relationship is perfectly normal.

Akechi holds Hikaru’s gaze as the ravenette’s lips part around the spoon.  It’s an innocent display, but it stirs something in Akechi, something that Hikaru might have caught before tasting the homely food.  Longing ?  Desire ?  It’s impossible to say what it was, and Sojiro’s back had been turned.  It’s a moment now gone, just like all those nights together that no longer existed.  Akechi’s smile has renewed itself by the time Hikaru’s eyes open once more.

“ I hope it was cold.  That’s what you get for being late. “  He says in that ever-teasing voice, raising his own cup to take a sip from where HIkaru’s lips had been not minutes before.

[zentoku]

rebellebetrayed‌:

A public scandal; they avoid implicating anything that might make it look from the outside like there’s something there that shouldn’t be–Nothing that the ravenette would wish to come into the public eye; though he’s certain that Sojiro might know something, or at least more than what everyone else sees. He merely moves to take a sip from the brunette’s cup; rather than going after the curry just yet.

“Did you make sure to get some?” 

Who would ever expect something to be happening between The Second Coming of the Detective Prince and the young teen on probation at a cafe in the middle of Yongen-Jaya ?  Exactly no one, and that’s what makes it so easy to be calm.  Everything about their relationship can be easily explained.   Why did Akechi start visiting LeBlanc ?  Because he heard one of the students involved in the Kamoshida case stayed there.  Why did Akechi befriend that boy ?  Well, after tasting Hikaru’s coffee, surely anyone would decide to become a regular.  But honestly ?  Sojiro definitely knows something is going on.  Seriously, he’s not blind ... “ Of course. “  A plate is passed from Sojiro to Akira, spoon included.  “ Unlike you, however, I had to pay.  For that, too. “  He teases, propping his chin up as his other hand slides his coffee away from Hikaru’s mooching hands.

[zentoku]

rebellebetrayed‌:

The smile that graces Hikaru Karusu’s face at seeing the other is something akin to the look one gets when seeing their favorite thing; for Hikaru Karusu, there are few things that fall under that category, but his smile doesn’t drop as he moves to slide into the seat next to the other. “Honey; I’m home.”

Even if he’s heard it before and it makes him roll his eyes, Akechi smiles at the acknowledgement.  There’s something about the subtext of the exchange that makes him warmer than his steaming cup of coffee.  Is it the implication that Akechi belongs ?  Or is it the suggestion of them being an item ?  It’s hard to say and both males are quite tight-lipped about the nature of their relationship despite their easy-going interactions in public.

“ Come eat before the last batch of curry gets cold. “

[zentoku]

Ah, the Phansite.  An interesting little venture.  Akechi has half a mind to hack it down some day, but on the other hand, it’s quite amusing to browse from time to time. The wild theories that circulate on some of the boards are frankly laughable, not to mention the -- how shall we say -- armada that the particularly odd ‘Phans’ argue about.  He reads over the title of this week’s poll: 

           Joker x Panther or Joker x Queen ?!  

Sometimes he wonders if this ‘Admin’ doesn’t have better things to be doing ...

                               @phandomadmin // tut tut.

[zentoku]

The jingling bell sees Akechi put down his coffee, glancing towards the door.  He can’t help the smile that creeps onto his lips.  “ Welcome back.  You’re home late. “

                               @rebellebetrayed // making him wait? smh.

[zentoku]

“ ...no, just for you. “  Akechi corrects as he speaks over the phone, jotting down something in his notes.  There aren’t many souls left working at this hour, but he’s one of them, the lights dimmed as he works under a lamp.  “ I won’t be home until much later. Just leave something in the fridge. “

                                          @the-flower-karasu // you heard him.

[liquidcatt]

by ayattuji

[adievs-deactivated20201209]

@rebellejoker , @zentoku !

[zentoku]

rebellebetrayed‌:

The fool and it’s reverse; the fool and his foil—It’s a fate that only the god who played this game, who rigged it would place on them, be it out of anger or something that Hikaru can’t even imagine being part of its’ thinking. Deity’s are strange like that; something that he can’t comprehend–not in this moment where his heart is breaking once again over a boy who he can never have; who he’s doomed, like hades, only to have this love for a few months before it’s ripped from him once again–winter and spring.

He leans into him; into his warmth as they portray what’s typically hidden from public eye, that secret, that scandal they’ve kept hidden and merely tries to calm himself, to hold himself to that standard he typically did.

“I can’t…I hate this; I hate this so much. I find you only to have to lose you again; it’s…not fair.” But when did fair exist in anything but the lives children led?  

Winter and spring, but never longer.  Akechi sighs as Hikaru voices his angry complaints.  What use is it to repeat what the other has already said ?  They both hate this, but in the end, there’s nothing to be done.  Nothing to do but sit and wait for them to be ripped apart again.  For now, though, the icy barriers can melt.  For now, the barbed words can be bitten back.  For now, lips can brush unfamiliar skin and sigh with bottled longing.

“ It’s not fair, “  Akechi agrees.  Things have never been fair to them, not even each other, but what did one expect from a tragedy ?

“ ...you should go.  This conversation was never meant to last long. “  The brunette murmurs.  Body and words diverge yet again.  ( His fingers beg Hikaru not to leave him. )

[teerofinale]

Are you a top or bottom?

I’m an experience