tunasub | OPEN POST 2018

[in memory of arsene being a sacrifice in almsot every playthrough of p5 ever]

[ it's a strange feeling - not dissimilar to waking up, but not the same, either - when he opens his eyes again. Lupin has never put stock in the spiritual; that said, he has no better way of describing his experience than an incubation of his soul. His individual self was gone, yet he lived on, somehow, connected to the whole of humanity by a tether he didn't fully understand, not conscious of their thoughts but sensitive to their feelings. Time hadn't mattered. Neither had mortality. The very core of himself, whatever made him Lupin, didn't die. It had continued to exist, sleeping, waiting for the moment that would awaken him again.

As he'd find out later, that was called the "cognitive world." And it wasn't a moment he'd been waiting for - it was a person. Frankly, it still didn't make a lot of sense to him. But he heard someone call his name in his moment of need, and just like that, the chain was pulled taut - he was dragged back into the world, his consciousness lying just beside the boy's like a shadow, feeling his needs and wants and his situation innately rather than seeing them himself. Their hearts beat as one.

Until they didn't. Until Lupin suddenly remembered that he wasn't just a shadow or a fragment, he was a person once, and -- well, all this to say that he's currently sitting at a booth after hours in a little Japanese cafe, waiting for Akira to finish making his five-alarm curry. This isn't the first time he's manifested like this; even if it had been, this setting was familiar to him, as was the boy behind the counter. He'd been with him the whole time, after all. It should be shocking, all things considered, but it's just... not.

Like he said, it still doesn't make a lot of sense to him. But he is hungry. That part's straightforward. ]

You know, I always thought it looked delicious... You better not disappoint me.

[this whole scene-- a different sort of thief, from a different sort of life, tucked into a booth while someone sharing his heart and soul cooked him extra spicy volcano curry-- was unlike anything Akira had seen before. and by now, he had seen a lot, so that was really saying something]

[but the Metaverse always had been-- and always would be-- something strange and unknown and unexplainable. even Mona couldn't make heads or tails of the circumstances surrounding this young gentleman's appearance. Akira's first instinct was simple-- Persona. he could still feel it, those echoing words seared into the back of his brain: I am thou, thou art I. but no Persona could stay manifested in the real world like this. and although Personas came with their own set of "emotions" (sort of; it was a complicated line), they were still a part of him. an aspect of his personality. a manifestation of his soul]

[this man? was his own person, somehow in tune with Akira and yet not all at once. and that's what made him a puzzle]

[but puzzles aren't always meant to be solved in a day, and Joker is nothing but good at rolling with the punches. and so, late this evening as Mona takes a well-earned nap upstairs and Sojiro returns home for the day, Akira fills the cafe with the savory scent of his own special spin in Boss's curry recipe]

[rip Lupin]

Your high expectations are a little scary, Lupin-san. [Akira's response is full of dry humor, not an ounce of inflection in his words] I'm not sure I can live up to the pressure.

[ i can't believe akira is going to kill arsene again ]

Oh? I guess you better try your best. You're inheriting the great Lupin's legacy, so I can't go easy on you! Not even on your cooking.

[ he's probably better at cooking than Lupin is already, though... his deadpan doesn't seem to throw him off, and he just smiles, resting his chin in his hand as he sets an elbow on the table. ]

You've been practicing making it a lot, besides. There's no way you haven't got the hang of it by now. The old man wouldn't hear it otherwise.

[THE FIRST TIME WAS AN ACCIDENT]

[a soft snort of amusement, and Akira taps the spoon against the side of the pot, contents still simmering. it's mostly done now though, so. . . time to scoop a heaping helping of rice onto a plate]

The old man would make me was dishes for a month straight if I ever dared ruin his recipe.

[does making it extra spicy count as ruining it? Akira's friends seemed to enjoy the kick, even if it was a bit too powerful, soooo maybe not?]

Here's to hoping my curry skills save me from a month of water-wrinkled hands.

[he jokes, but in all honesty, Akira's pretty confident in his skills at this point. he's been working very hard, tyvm. . .! and although he'd never admit it aloud, he wants to impressed Sojiro. just a li'l]

[ WAS IT!!! ]

[ he should probably know better by now re: the spiciness factor of this curry, but (maybe because he hasn't really eaten many spicy things in life) he doesn't even consider that it might melt his face off. It's probably just a little strong. Nothing an infamous gentleman thief can't handle. ]

Right, right. Well, even if it's awful, I'm sure I've had worse. [ this after you just said you wouldn't go easy on him, lupin. ] You're lucky to have him, you know.

[YES!!]

[Akira lets out a thoughtful hum as he places the plate of piping hot curry on the booth table in front of Lupin. he's quick to slide into the seat opposite afterwards, too. . if only because he isn't serving himself up a helping just yet. he wants to see how his Persona-not-Persona reacts, first!1]

[at the commentary about Sojiro, though, his mouth twitches, a barely perceptible smile appearing on his features]

Mmm. I know.

[no arguments there. whatever rough foot Akira and Sojiro had started on has long since smoothed over]

You don't need to tell me that twice.

I know. I'm just feeling a little envious, I guess.

[ or nostalgic. the relationship he had with the man who took him in wasn't entirely dissimilar to the bond between the two of them, although Sojiro (somehow) is rougher around the edges than the old master thief.

For the moment, though, he sets that aside, instead looking down at the tasty homemade curry sitting in front of him. Everything about this situation should be alien to him - the foreign food, the plasticky booths, the writing on the menus he shouldn't be able to read - but they, too, feel nostalgic. Lupin doesn't have Akira's memories or anything like that. But he exists strongly in Akira's soul, enveloped in his experiences and emotions. This coffee shop is safe and comfortable. And so is this curry. Which is probably why he eats a mouthful (after blowing on it) without any hesitation whatsoever. ]

Oh! It's as delicious as it looks! So this is Japanese curry... Hm. I like it.

[ he swallows before he starts talking, because he's a gentleman. it seems like the burn hasn't set in yet... ]

[well, the initial reaction is promising, and Akira's mouth curves into a smile as he pushes his glasses up further on his nose]

And you should consider yourself lucky, too. I made this batch with the most important of secret ingredients: love.

[. . . which Lupin will probably be feeling rrrrright about now, maybe]

[ yup... here it comes. there's not exactly a lot of spicy food circulating in western Europe during the 1800s, which means he has almost no idea about what's coming. As a matter of fact, he's halfway into his second bite when he starts to feel that most peculiar tingle...

Which rapidly turns into burning. Cue coughing after he swallows that second bite, his face slowly starting to turn red. ]

W-wha... Water!!

[ DID YOU POISON HIM!! ]

[WHY WOULD HE POISON HIS PERSONA-NOT-PERSONA!!]

[Akira just. . . blinks rapidly at Lupin as the seasoning starts to sink in and set his cheeks aflame, expression blank, before--]

Ah. . . right. My culinary love can be a little. . . spicy at times?

[GENTLY NUDGES A GLASS OF WATER TOWARDS LUPIN. . . oops, sorry about that lack of warning, buddy]

[ akira's love is too spicy for his humble French tastebuds, apparently. He grabs the glass of water with two hands and takes a few huge gulps. To be honest, it doesn't help that much, but it at least provides some temporary relief. ]

Is your love made of lava or something?!

[ ... it did taste good, though... ]

What a coincidence. Futaba did officially dub this dish the "volcano special."

[okay okay, so he might be smirking in amusement a bit, arms folded as he leans back in his seat. sorry, Lupin. AT LEAST IT TASTED GOOD]

It's too dangerous to put on the official menu.

So you made it for me?

[ WHY ]

You're an even more dastardly criminal than I am, [ he says, as he goes back for more water... even as he starts thinking "it DID taste good" and foolishly begins to contemplate taking another bite. ]

[arches both brows, amusement lighting up his eyes]

Why, thank you. That's a title I'll wear proudly.

[MORE DASTARDLY THAN THE FAMOUS ARSENE LUPIN]

[why is he proud of this fact]

Tch... Don't get cocky. I'll still clean this plate.

[ he refuses to be defeated by this spicy curry. he has to eat it all now... there must be a trick to it. Maybe if he eats it fast enough, he won't feel the burn?! This is now the plan. Watch as the elegant gentleman thief shovels curry and rice into his face at a quickened pace!

There's no chance of failure here. ]

[. . . . . . . . holy shit]

Wait, Lupin-san-- [DESPITE HIS ARROGANT TEASING, he doesn't want his new thief buddy to, uh. choke on spicy curry. he'd warn him to slow down, but. um.]

[instead he's just going to. . . grab the empty glass of water, stand up, and slowly make his way back to the kitchen to refill it. you're gonna need it, pal]

[ his stomach is going to severely regret this decision in about two hours... his tongue is regretting it right about now, though. To his credit, he does get through quite a bit of the curry! But, to his chagrin, he's forced to concede not long after Akira returns with some more water. Chagrin, and also pain. Hot, burning pain.

Lupin grabs the glass, chugs it down, then coughs a little bit, slumping down in his seat slightly with an air of shameful defeat... ]

[it takes all of Akira's willpower not to laugh. but somehow, despite the flickers of amusement dancing in his eyes, he schools his expression into something more somber]

You fought hard, Lupin-san.

[he says gravely as he places a hand over his heart]

I'm proud of you.

I'm pretty sure our positions should be reversed...

[ he's the older, wiser one, isn't he?! He's supposed to be here to lend strength to Akira, too... But here he is. The praise only seems to make him look more glum. ]

There's no way people really eat this. You played a prank on me.

OPEN POST 2018

HIT ME SIB

i miss u arsene

muffled "in the arms of the angels" plays in the distance

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ive had 300 game tags blease forgive me

NEVER-- j/k I will always wait patiently for Sib tags!1

thank u...

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it has been Exactly One Month thanks grimm

THAT FEEL

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