[ who knew they could ever be this close? still, the fact that yusuke smells so different now—the same, but not the same—is the biggest surprise here. it won't stop ryuji from shamelessly snuffling inward, but there's disappointment here, hidden in his concealed frown. everything's changed, and he can't tell how good or bad this is just yet.
underneath his ire, though, he's happy to see a familiar face. ]
Better be worth it, or I'm still gonna knock you into next week.
Continue to threaten me, and I won't give you anything.
[So he says, but there's a small smile on his face as he draws back and reaches into his jacket. He produces a handmade card, depicting a traditional-style golden dragon above a stormy ocean, which according to the signature, Yusuke painted himself. And inside the card is... some kind of ticket?]
It is a day pass for the largest arcade in PrismaPlace, or so I have been informed. [Yusuke is an old man who knows literally nothing about this stuff, he just knows Ryuji likes it.] For one day of your choosing, it will admit you and one other person from opening until closing hours.
[ it only takes a few choice words for ryuji to puff up and growl again, and he's a hair away from socking one to yusuke while his guard's down—but the card lowers his guard, too, at the sight of the dragon. something about it eases him, though it'd be beyond him to explain why...he flips it over in his hand from claw to delicate claw, daring not to graze the surface any more than he has to.
as for what's within: ]
Whoa! NO WAY! [ all day! how expense are these? until recently, ryuji counted himself lucky any time he could squeeze in to one of more...run-down game centers for a way lower cost, and way worse games. ] How'd you swing this! These things cost out the ass!
Well, thanks to you and a few others, I am rather blessed with Chroma funds at the moment...
[Yusuke says it with a blush, cheeks reddening. Prismatica is a far cry from his starving artist days back home, that much is obvious.] Paying for it was no problem at all, so please go ahead and enjoy yourself.
[ ryuji's eyes roll up while he works this one out. after settling back in at home before the moon began to rise and fill, he'd never bothered to check on his own chroma count...maybe he's due to buy something extravagant for himself, too, as a treat.
more deep thoughts are prompted after he remembers that it's a pass for two. ]
Huh, who should I bring, though...
[ he takes a long look at yusuke...
...no, that's definitely not his scene. it'd be worth a laugh, but hardly worth the price of admission. this'll take some consideration on his part. ]
[Yusuke tilts his head and smiles at the long look Ryuji gives him.]
I'd suggest Futaba, but I can only imagine she is terribly competitive about games. [And would probably beat Ryuji at most games, honestly.] How about Ren?
[Totally an innocent suggestion! No ulterior motive here.]
Hey, you're right... [ plus he doesn't meet up with futaba as often as he should. sounds like a no-brainer to ryuji, who's narrowed it down to one single aspect: ] Heheh, I'm gonna whip her ASS!
[ at games. he'll whip it at games, of course. even if a little deranged, ryuji has his limits on who he's going to hit. someone like futaba definitely doesn't qualify.
then again, as soon as yusuke says the magic word: ]
Uh, why Ren? We play games all the time, dude.
[ or they used to...until recently. why go to the arcade for that when they can bring the experience to them? if they ever pick the hobby back up, anyway. it might not be for a while. ]
Have you played games here before? I hear the experience for some of those games is completely different, and it is fully immersive. It's not quite like the console Ren had in his room.
[Or anything their world has to offer, really.]
Surely the fact it's a favoured pastime of yours and Ren's is all the more reason to go together.
[ it's more like ann took him, at her insistence, but. details. ]
Pfft, what, like some kinda... [ ryuji wrinkles his nose before he can actually say it. friends go out together all the time, and that's all he and ren are, for sure, but... ] ...rgh... [ he shakes his head briskly, as though this is what'll knock the distasteful word out of his mouth. ] ...d-date!?
[ was that so hard? he's reading way too much into it. he could give this pass to anyone! ]
[ and before ryuji can think better of it, running his big old sanguis mouth: ]
We talk about it, too, it's whatever...
[ to distract himself he crunches down on the last bits of ramen he's still holding onto. it's become a lot less interesting to him, but he may as well finish it if he's devoured this much of it in one go. ]
[ great! this space is still all ryuji's, anyway. no one else's! ]
Not like you haven't peeked in on all our talkin'. [ from both points of view, at that. if ryuji were more in his right mind he'd worry about the potential advantages yusuke could hold over him... ] So yeah, it's whatever!
[ whatever, it's complex! it's not like he hasn't tried to help ren any, but at the same time, knowing what he knows now leaves it all the more bittersweet. ryuji chews and chews, and he thinks... ]
Shit, fine, I'll think about it...!
[ someday. maybe. not right now. strange how this leaves ryuji all the more lucid, and he spends a long moment continuing to think, flicking crumbs off of himself. this nastiness has only just begun, but: ]
So you just gonna stand there, or...
[ does yusuke have time? even if he doesn't, the guy deserves something for his trouble. ryuji heavily trudges back inside nonetheless, the door left wide open. ]
[ ah, kasumi...she's been the furthest thing from ryuji's mind during his little temper tantrum. the poor girl puts up with a lot, and she deserves better, less volatile roommates than him, though he's never heard her complain once. incredible, really. ]
I-it ain't that bad, is it...?
[ it's bad, though only slightly. ryuji absent-mindedly scratches at his belly and slumps where he stands. at the time it didn't seem like that much of a mess, but now that there's a second opinion on board here... ]
Ugh, fine...
[ he'll drag his feet while he does it, though, picking up this and that. lame... ]
She says she's a first-year, but none of us ever heard of her.
[ funny how this is the first time ryuji's ever brought it up...has ren not said anything to anyone, either? he didn't think it was between the three of them, but maybe he's wrong. the mystery dampens his potential ire that much more, and he scratches at the back of his neck. ]
Ren, Ann, and even Haru'd tell you the same thing...I thought it was 'cause of those different timelines or whatever.
[Finishing sweeping up, he moves to empty the pan.]
She seemed to know me as well, and at first I assumed I'd merely forgotten her... [He is pretty absent-minded, honestly,] But she seems to hold memories of me that I myself do not recall. So perhaps you are right, and differing timelines are indeed the issue.
I dunno what else'd be...anything's possible, I guess.
[ walking past one of the apartment's little alcoves, ryuji leans his weight on the edge of it, and frowns. ]
...hey, sorry for, uh...makin' you come over and clean up like this...
[ it's no way to kick off a birthday, and nothing to put one of his friends through. now that his senses are back for the moment, he feels kind of bad about it all. ]
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S-stop puttin' words in my mouth...
[ who knew they could ever be this close? still, the fact that yusuke smells so different now—the same, but not the same—is the biggest surprise here. it won't stop ryuji from shamelessly snuffling inward, but there's disappointment here, hidden in his concealed frown. everything's changed, and he can't tell how good or bad this is just yet.
underneath his ire, though, he's happy to see a familiar face. ]
Better be worth it, or I'm still gonna knock you into next week.
[ he wouldn't.
he might. ]
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[So he says, but there's a small smile on his face as he draws back and reaches into his jacket. He produces a handmade card, depicting a traditional-style golden dragon above a stormy ocean, which according to the signature, Yusuke painted himself. And inside the card is... some kind of ticket?]
It is a day pass for the largest arcade in PrismaPlace, or so I have been informed. [Yusuke is an old man who knows literally nothing about this stuff, he just knows Ryuji likes it.] For one day of your choosing, it will admit you and one other person from opening until closing hours.
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[ it only takes a few choice words for ryuji to puff up and growl again, and he's a hair away from socking one to yusuke while his guard's down—but the card lowers his guard, too, at the sight of the dragon. something about it eases him, though it'd be beyond him to explain why...he flips it over in his hand from claw to delicate claw, daring not to graze the surface any more than he has to.
as for what's within: ]
Whoa! NO WAY! [ all day! how expense are these? until recently, ryuji counted himself lucky any time he could squeeze in to one of more...run-down game centers for a way lower cost, and way worse games. ] How'd you swing this! These things cost out the ass!
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[Yusuke says it with a blush, cheeks reddening. Prismatica is a far cry from his starving artist days back home, that much is obvious.] Paying for it was no problem at all, so please go ahead and enjoy yourself.
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Oh...yeah, guess so...
[ ryuji's eyes roll up while he works this one out. after settling back in at home before the moon began to rise and fill, he'd never bothered to check on his own chroma count...maybe he's due to buy something extravagant for himself, too, as a treat.
more deep thoughts are prompted after he remembers that it's a pass for two. ]
Huh, who should I bring, though...
[ he takes a long look at yusuke...
...no, that's definitely not his scene. it'd be worth a laugh, but hardly worth the price of admission. this'll take some consideration on his part. ]
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I'd suggest Futaba, but I can only imagine she is terribly competitive about games. [And would probably beat Ryuji at most games, honestly.] How about Ren?
[Totally an innocent suggestion! No ulterior motive here.]
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Hey, you're right... [ plus he doesn't meet up with futaba as often as he should. sounds like a no-brainer to ryuji, who's narrowed it down to one single aspect: ] Heheh, I'm gonna whip her ASS!
[ at games. he'll whip it at games, of course. even if a little deranged, ryuji has his limits on who he's going to hit. someone like futaba definitely doesn't qualify.
then again, as soon as yusuke says the magic word: ]
Uh, why Ren? We play games all the time, dude.
[ or they used to...until recently. why go to the arcade for that when they can bring the experience to them? if they ever pick the hobby back up, anyway. it might not be for a while. ]
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[Or anything their world has to offer, really.]
Surely the fact it's a favoured pastime of yours and Ren's is all the more reason to go together.
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I took Ann once...
[ it's more like ann took him, at her insistence, but. details. ]
Pfft, what, like some kinda... [ ryuji wrinkles his nose before he can actually say it. friends go out together all the time, and that's all he and ren are, for sure, but... ] ...rgh... [ he shakes his head briskly, as though this is what'll knock the distasteful word out of his mouth. ] ...d-date!?
[ was that so hard? he's reading way too much into it. he could give this pass to anyone! ]
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[Ryuji, this is what he believes Futaba would call a "self-own". Though he doesn't say as much, his expression is telling.]
Of course, what you decide is your choice. But he has missed you, and I am sure you would both appreciate the time together.
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[ ryuji's more than willing to let basically all of that go until the last part, because yusuke's set him up, obviously... ]
Missed who? I see that clown all the time!
[ once a week, at least! moving out of his temporary cafe room doesn't mean he never drops by! and unannounced, to boot! ]
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[It might not be quite as extreme as the way he misses Morgana, but the cat is a special case.]
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No duh, I've seen that...
[ and before ryuji can think better of it, running his big old sanguis mouth: ]
We talk about it, too, it's whatever...
[ to distract himself he crunches down on the last bits of ramen he's still holding onto. it's become a lot less interesting to him, but he may as well finish it if he's devoured this much of it in one go. ]
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[He'll just... make a face and step back while he finishes cronching on that ramen. u nasty]
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[ great! this space is still all ryuji's, anyway. no one else's! ]
Not like you haven't peeked in on all our talkin'. [ from both points of view, at that. if ryuji were more in his right mind he'd worry about the potential advantages yusuke could hold over him... ] So yeah, it's whatever!
[ whatever, it's complex! it's not like he hasn't tried to help ren any, but at the same time, knowing what he knows now leaves it all the more bittersweet. ryuji chews and chews, and he thinks... ]
Shit, fine, I'll think about it...!
[ someday. maybe. not right now. strange how this leaves ryuji all the more lucid, and he spends a long moment continuing to think, flicking crumbs off of himself. this nastiness has only just begun, but: ]
So you just gonna stand there, or...
[ does yusuke have time? even if he doesn't, the guy deserves something for his trouble. ryuji heavily trudges back inside nonetheless, the door left wide open. ]
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[Who knows what devastation awaits within, but he'll head inside anyway, removing his shoes at the door.]
I don't mind waiting while you, ah, make yourself decent.
[Since Ryuji is still in his underwear and all. Not that he seems to care.]
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Eh?
[ ryuji stops and looks down at himself. yeah, okay. everything's a little tattered, but... ]
This is decent!
[ it could be worse; he could not wear anything at all, as overheated as he is. this is a step up from how the day began. ]
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[It's nothing Yusuke hasn't seen before already anyway, and not a bad sight at that, so he won't complain.]
At least allow me to help you tidy up. For Yoshizawa-san, if not for yourself.
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[ ah, kasumi...she's been the furthest thing from ryuji's mind during his little temper tantrum. the poor girl puts up with a lot, and she deserves better, less volatile roommates than him, though he's never heard her complain once. incredible, really. ]
I-it ain't that bad, is it...?
[ it's bad, though only slightly. ryuji absent-mindedly scratches at his belly and slumps where he stands. at the time it didn't seem like that much of a mess, but now that there's a second opinion on board here... ]
Ugh, fine...
[ he'll drag his feet while he does it, though, picking up this and that. lame... ]
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[Yusuke will go searching for a broom to sweep up all the nasty dried ramen pieces and... whatever else is strewn all over the floor. Thanks, Ryuji.]
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Man, I couldn't tell ya...she says Ren helped her out of a jam or somethin', and she's all senpai this and Sakamoto that...
[ he raises his voice in the world's worst falsetto and hands yusuke a pan, to boot. see, ryuji's thinking of you! sort of! ]
Never saw her before in my life, but I'd feel bad if I kept pointing it out to her.
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How could you never see her if you attend the same school? That ribbon she wears is quite distinctive.
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She says she's a first-year, but none of us ever heard of her.
[ funny how this is the first time ryuji's ever brought it up...has ren not said anything to anyone, either? he didn't think it was between the three of them, but maybe he's wrong. the mystery dampens his potential ire that much more, and he scratches at the back of his neck. ]
Ren, Ann, and even Haru'd tell you the same thing...I thought it was 'cause of those different timelines or whatever.
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She seemed to know me as well, and at first I assumed I'd merely forgotten her... [He is pretty absent-minded, honestly,] But she seems to hold memories of me that I myself do not recall. So perhaps you are right, and differing timelines are indeed the issue.
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I dunno what else'd be...anything's possible, I guess.
[ walking past one of the apartment's little alcoves, ryuji leans his weight on the edge of it, and frowns. ]
...hey, sorry for, uh...makin' you come over and clean up like this...
[ it's no way to kick off a birthday, and nothing to put one of his friends through. now that his senses are back for the moment, he feels kind of bad about it all. ]
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