tunasub | OPEN POST 2018

[ but you get to write the starter this time ]

[ for Lupin, that night hadn't really been anything out of the ordinary. True, he hadn't expected to wrap up an "innocent" "bystander" in the ordeal - but these things happen. What's a great heist without a surprise or two? Impey had eventually showed up at the specified Plan B location, complaining about car trouble (his usual excuse), and the two of them had safely made off with his bounty of stolen diamonds. Once again, the gentleman thief Arsene Lupin vanished into the night as swiftly as he'd appeared.

Since then, things had been fairly quiet. He wasn't going to complain about that; peace and quiet was nice. But he also knew it usually meant things were brewing right beneath the surface - especially in London. It wouldn't do for him to slack off; he had to keep an eye out and an ear pressed to the floor. Which is exactly how he ended up here: an enormous banquet party being held in one of the Queen's own castles.

Naturally, he's under a pseudonym; also naturally, the Queen herself isn't here, or he'd probably be in trouble. There's no better way to keep a finger on the pulse on the flow of money in the city than to listen closely at these kinds of events, and he's a bit of a natural at it, socializing easily - but not too easily, with various aristocrats here and there. During a break in the conversation, he flits off to the h'ors d'oeuvres table to politely grab a little bite to eat.

And locks eyes with a familiar face, and almost immediately chokes on his shrimp puff. What the hell is she doing here?! He'd formulate a plan, but he's currenly got a ball of pastry lodged in his airways - so the best he can do is try to flee (also politely) to one of the balconies, and hope she didn't recognize him. ]

[ There's a certain benefit to having nobility on your side-- and Princess may not hold as much sway as the Queen herself, but she does get invited to all of the royal functions, and that includes bringing along her "ladies" to attend to her.

Which can be Ange's job, or Beatrice's, because Chise's job is to listen from the shadows and Dorothy's job is to loosen some lips. It's one of those times where she's both relieved and disgusted that men of this caliber are usually so weak to a bit of exposed skin and some sultry smiles.

And she's gained a fair bit of information already, stuff she's smiled vapidly at, even as she's filed it away to commit to memory. After a moment to sip her champagne, she'll head back into the fray.

... Except that was the plan and not the actuality, not when she glances up and meets the amber eyes of--

Ugh.

Even when she glances away, she meets Ange's eyes from across the crowded room, who has definitely noticed the imperceptible stiffening of her shoulders. And with that, she knows that she's going to have to address this.

"Ballroom gown" attire is a lot different than "Getaway Driver" attire, but she knows he's recognized her. It doesn't stop Dorothy from continuing the poised, coy act as she sashays her way out to that same balcony and speaks with an air of surprise. ]

Ah, Monsieur. How unexpected to see you here.

[i leave this one to u but i will get the next prompt when i have one.]

[ He's good at remembering faces - one of his many miscellaneous talents. She's looking much more prim and proper than the last time he saw her, true, but there's no doubt that's the same woman whose car he "borrowed" not long ago. Lupin had been banking on never seeing her again; certainly not in a place like this where being recognized could seriously jeopardize his well-being and thieving lifestyle.

When he hears her coming up behind him, all he can do is swallow down the rest of that shrimp puff and pray that she's not the type to hold a grudge. ]

Ah... I'm afraid I haven't any idea what you mean, my dear, [ he says as he turns around - but the faint stiffness in his posture and voice shows that he already knows he's lost this one. But a man has to try, right? ]

[ Oh, sure. The man can try. And Dorothy kindly won't point out the glaring amount of tells he's got on him, because who knows, maybe he's not actually trying his hardest to play dumb.

That, or he thinks she's an idiot, which is a lot less endearing. Dorothy favors him with an unimpressed stare anyway, folding her arms beneath her chest.

So much for a relatively boring night. ]

Making a lady feel insignificant isn't very gentlemanly, you know.

[ she's definitely not an idiot, which is also why he isn't trying that hard. He screwed this one up. But, as is Lupin's nature, he's not ready to throw in the towel just yet. Just because she's recognized him doesn't mean she knows him. And even if she knows him -- well, she might not make herself his enemy. Even if he did sort of hijack her car. Worst case scenario, he'll talk his way out of it.

In response, he just sighs, a small, defeated chuckle breezing out of him with it, and rubs the back of his neck. ]

And I would never intend such an awful thing. Honestly, you might be the most significant person here tonight. [ At least to him. He gives her a small bow. ] You've caught me. It's a pleasure to see you again, madamoiselle.

[ The look Dorothy gives him is a very flat echo of "Oh, I'm sure it is." Not that she says that, because she's still trying to get a measure of this man, but she at least responds with a very small curtsy of her own.

Having seen him again, she's absolutely sure of it now. A long, sweeping glance, and she speaks in a lower, amused tone. ]

So, does the great thief Lupin often make appearances at giant social gatherings, or am I just that lucky?

an 18-year-old chuunibyou ninja-in-training from edo-period japan, in an alternate timeline where the toyotomi clan defeated the tokugawa shogunate at the battle of sekigahara. he is terribly shy and not good in social situations, and is easily embarrassed; he tries to act cool and different to cover this up, but in reality, he's just lonely and struggling with some tragic backstory things.

if you pay attention to him and include him, he will love you forever. actually a very talented ninja. his hobbies are collecting foreign teas, reading, and sewing. he specializes in curse ninjutsu and manipulates two dolls (handmade) named lucifer and dark element.

[ I am throwing a fourteen-year-old member of the armed detective agency (formerly an assassin for the mafia) with a love of food and a rather quiet demeanor in your direction, have at thee because I hate starters. ]

[ He appreciates the lower voice, but he brings a finger to his lips nonetheless once she speaks his name. There goes the chance she didn't know about him. It had always been pretty small, to be fair... that caper had appeared in newspapers all over. ]

You're very lucky. But let's keep that between us, shall we? [ a wink; then he lowers his hand again, folding them both behind him neatly. ] I'm glad to see you made it through the night. Our pursuers weren't so far behind us then.

Believe it or not, being a pretty face, a smooth talker and an excellent driver in all circumstances aren't all my skills.

[ Although the two aforementioned ones do tend to get her out of most scrapes. And when they don't, well. Let it be known that Dorothy is not afraid to take a man down in three moves or less.

She won't bring that up now, though, choosing to lean back against the balcony railing, gripping it with her hands. ]

But you're a little more excitement than I'm used to. It's been awhile since I've had a night that wild.

[ Well.

Wild in terms of her highly dramatic "cohort" at the time. ]

[ It's raining. Very hard. To make things worse, it's one of those rare days where the Master of Intelligence Dragon-God Garaiya chose to leave his sanctified Requiem Point and venture out into the unforgiving mortal plane... in other words, he's off library duty today and is thus left with nowhere in particular to be. In the heat of the moment, brooding mysteriously by the river in the rain had sounded like a good idea. Now that he's halfway to the river with no umbrella and some very wet shoes, he's reconsidering his prior decision.

There's a small, bedraggled-looking ninja crouched by the side of the road, with two small stuffed animals huddled up near him. Instead of looking dark and mysterious, he just looks kind of sad and pathetic. Alas. ]

Umu... We've made a grave error. The purifying power of these holy rains is a burden to our sinful body, not a blessing. As is fitting for one damned to eternal loneliness for his deeds. Heheheh... hah.

[ sigh. ]

[ A huddled, sad person being soaked by the rain... probably a cause of sympathy for most. To Kyouka, it looks very much like a brilliant tactic to get some hapless victim to lower their guard. As Kouyou had always told her, use what you have at your disposal to lure them in. Feminine wiles or... woebegone faces, it's probably about the same thing.

But given that the armed detective agency is supposed to help civilians, and she's no longer with the Port Mafia, Kyouka doesn't immediately draw a knife or summon Demon Snow. What she does have is an umbrella, and she slowly shuffles closer and holds it over him.

Getting her own hair wet isn't really a pain, even if she's sure Atsushi will fuss at her for it later. ]

[ her evaluation of herself gets a chuckle out of him - an approving one. She's a spitfire, this one, that's for sure. And for the moment, he has absolutely no idea what her angle is here. It wouldn't be unusual for her to want to get back at him, but he can't see any sign of it from her. Then again, she's clearly a canny sort. He probably won't be able to read her so easily. ]

If he can't keep a lady safe, a gentleman should at least keep her entertained, hm? You flatter me. [ Lupin leans an elbow against the rail beside her, keeping a respectable distance between them. ] But I'll admit that you surprised me plenty that night, yourself.

[ aka it wasn't actually his plan to hijack your car, dorothy. sorry!! ]

[ There's a short period of silence, Dorothy glancing at him with a faint air of surprise-- before she laughs and shakes her head. ]

I think you of all people could probably agree that the element of surprise is one of the best weapons you could have. That being said, I'm afraid I'll have to charge you next time you try to hitch a ride.

[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.

Oh, is that a service you provide? You seem more reliable than the guy I'm using now. Be careful, or I might take you seriously.

[ her laugh seems to put him at ease a little bit more than before; some of the tension eases out of his shoulders, though far from all of it. For the moment, she doesn't seem to on the offensive. Which is good. That still leaves the matter of his identity at this party, however... Well, as long as she doesn't tail him or shout out his name to everyone inside.

(Naturally, he's already plotting some escape plans in case of those events, anyway, but.) ]

[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... ]

OPEN POST 2018

COME AT HER LUPIN

forgive my temporarily dead icons

he's pretty regardless

monamona!!!

true

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I'M HERE

SUP

please tag garaiya

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i'll never defeat you...

perhaps.... one day

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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