#⍟✦ —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.)

[heartsaligned-a]

@heavenslapse​ | akira and akechi on 2/2 ❄️

     Gentle snow fluttered softly past frosted glass, peaceful, quiet. The night was mild, dark and cold, but a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature had settled into Akira’s bones, into his heart and soul. For weeks he had forced himself not to think too deeply about Akechi’s reappearance, to take their time together as a blessing and not pull away the curtain, but in one swift movement Maruki had lain everything bare. Akira had been forced to look, forced to see something he couldn’t bear, all in a final, desperate attempt to control him. To control them.

     It wasn’t fair.

     Akira wasn’t stupid. Far from it, really. Everyone who met him commented on the sharpness of his gaze and his uncanny intuition. Incredibly perceptive, able to see past the mundane into something few others could see. He had seen Akechi when no one else could, witnessed the goodness of his heart despite the weight that clawed through his chest into the very fiber of his being. He had fallen in love with the person who would be his murderer, and yet it was the man who had been sent to help him had escaped detection. Maruki had displayed as unreadable for Akira, working his way into the teen’s head before he could be blocked out. For months Akira had let him use him without understanding why he felt so disgusting, so guilty--as if he owed the man something he wasn’t able to offer. And now, after months of pulling strings, he finally dealt his coup de grâce.

     At first, Akira couldn’t explain Akechi’s survival, but he also wasn’t going to deny his presence. It was a miracle. But the sparkling sheen began to chip off as the days passed, as Isshiki Wakaba and Haru’s father mysteriously returned to the world of the living as well. The thought had occurred to Akira then that Akechi might be in the same situation, but before it could even process his mind set up another wall, blocking the truth from sinking in. His mental state was already on the decline, and losing Akechi once had nearly killed him. How was he supposed to go through that again? How could he?

     There was no denying it anymore, of course. Maruki had made sure to make his terms clear, dangling Akechi’s life in front of him like a carrot on a string. Taking such a detestable deal sounded suddenly almost palatable, but the thought of accepting quickly turned Akira’s stomach. The Phantom Thieves fought as a unit, a tight-knit team that decided on everything unanimously, but in the end Akira was their leader. They followed him when he made the calls, and Maruki understand the nature of their relationship all too well. In the end, the decision was his and his alone.

     Time was running out. 

     After what seemed like an eternity in silence, Akira rose from his seat at the center booth, moving to stand next to Akechi, the resolve etched into his features already telling him everything he needed to know. There was no way they could accept the deal, they both knew it. Maruki had to be stopped, the world had to return to its true reality. Yet all Akira wanted to do was stay in this moment, to stay with Akechi no matter the cost. It was selfish, he knew that it was, but when did he ever get to be selfish? It was one thing after another with him, a life of selflessness, of struggling to meet other peoples’ standards, of taking their pain, being the responsible leader. Why did things have to turn out like this? Didn’t either one of them deserve one little bit of happiness after all these years?

     “Akechi...”

     Softer than he intended, more quiet and raw than he would have liked despite the attempt at keeping his approach impersonal. There was still so much left to be said, so much that had become suddenly so impossible to speak aloud. Neither one of them could afford to back down now, and if Akira knew that saying the wrong thing would have devastating consequences. The world could easily fall into the hands of a sociopath with a god complex and they would remain under his influence, puppets forced to smile and dance until they day they finally were allowed to die.

     “Do I get any say in this?”

#heavenslapse #wooo 2/2 lets gooo #time for pain everybody cry tonight :D #🌟 —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.)

[heartsaligned]

@heavenslapse | a new maiko makes her debut 🌸

      Sparks cascaded across the back of soft, cherry red silk, a small, incandescent fountain meant to offer luck on a beautiful spring evening. Lanterns burned gently in every doorway, swaying softly in the wind as people passed by in a hurry. But for Akira, he wanted to take his time, not only because everything was still very new, but because he wanted to savor each and every moment. Time was not movingly slowly for him. Taking a minute to simply stop and look around was a luxury.

      Only a year had passed since Akira began his training, and he had never expected to end up as a maiko of all things, but now it felt as though he could not hope to dream of anything else. His parents had cast him out of the house after trouble with the police, sent him off to an okiya to both recover from the losses they had incurred during the incident, and to be rid of their very public disgrace. The thought of living as a servant for the rest of his days had felt bleak, but at the same time it had felt more of a blessing than a curse. Being rid of his parents came as a silver lining, after all.

      But his beauty and natural talent seemed far too difficult to ignore. Before long an older geisha had taken him under her wing, helped him train despite the lack of time, and had watched as he blossomed from a gentle spring bud into a gorgeous flower. Breaking with tradition (under advisement, of course), she gave him the name 'Ren'--lotus. Rising from the mud only to bloom with radiant beauty.

      Having shadowed his older sister around, it was time for Akira to make his official debut and venture to a teahouse all on his own. Many already knew his name around the hanamachi, but few had been lucky enough to see him for long. Now, he had actual engagements, a whole calendar of events and parties he was meant to attend. There were scores of people to entertain, to talk with, and for someone so naturally quiet it was a bit daunting to consider. He would just have to hope he didn't make a fool of himself.

      The teahouse was thankfully nearby, and quite lively by the time Akira slipped through its sliding doors. The party inside the largest room was so loud that his arrival was very nearly overlooked, until a man with a booming voice called out to him. Two beautiful geisha sat on either side of him already, but despite that fact he seemed pleased that the maiko he had requested had been good enough to be punctual. Red lips curled into a practiced smile as he scanned the room for a place to sit, dark gaze falling on the young man nearest his age. For a moment, he didn't move, content to simply watch him from his spot near the door, but after what felt like far too long he slipped quietly over to his side, kneeling next to him.

      A gentle laugh spilled out of him, one delicate, pale hand coming to his mouth in obvious embarrassment. Hadn't he sat just a little too close? The way his leg brushed against the other's had to be just an accident. The table was so packed...he scarcely could have fit anywhere else. But the glimmer in his eyes and the way they flickered up to the other's clearly said more than his lips ever could.

      "You'll forgive me for seeming a little too bold, won't you? I saw you and I just decided I couldn't sit anywhere else."

#heavenslapse #geisha :D #well technically maiko #but geisha :DD #🌟 —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.) #✭❣ —— 𝕗𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕚𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕣┊(verse — geisha.)

[arcanalight]

     Because I see talk about this and because it’s been on my mind for literally a year and won’t leave me alone: Akira loves dressing up. Persona Q2 really confirmed a lot of my headcanons with him on that front, and it’s more than just crossdressing, but there’s a specific thought I want to talk about regarding the Crossroads bar.

     When Akira started working for Lala-chan part-time, he asked if dressing up was required. She, of course, said no--but Akira followed up with ‘is it optional?’ He wouldn’t always crossdress, but when he does? He’s beautiful. He’s already beautiful, with long, dark lashes and perfect skin, but his drag is so on point that people legitimately can’t tell at times. Not only is his look flawless, but he has amazing range with his voice. In the metaverse he tends to adopt a deeper tone, which carries over into the real world when he’s more serious. His normal tone is a bit higher, but he can take that tone much softer, much more feminine. He’ll sometimes do this just to mess with others and get a reaction, but he tends to adopt this voice when he crossdresses. 

     Regardless of what he chooses to wear at the bar, Chihaya waits for him on late nights. Lala-chan is often busy, and she can’t step away from the bar to walk Akira to the station. Ohya similarly can’t accompany him, as she’s usually very drunk on the nights she goes to the bar. The red light district in Shinjuku is a dangerous place where both women and men might be bothered. Chihaya makes sure no one lays a hand on Akira. Despite being nearly a foot shorter, she is fiercely protective and much more dangerous than she looks. Look at her (or Akira) wrong and she will not hesitate. She doesn’t need to read her cards to know a whole lot of trouble is coming your way.

#⍟✦ —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #☽⚝☾ —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕟 𝕠𝕗 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕖𝕗┊(chihaya.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚'𝕝𝕝 𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕞𝕪𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗┊(headcanon.) #one day i'm really gonna write up all my headcanons instead of just talking about them and hoping i don't forget #asdasf

[heartsaligned-a]

@heavenslapse | akira & akechi in kichijoji 🎱

     Friends were still a relatively new concept for Akira, and getting daily texts was altogether new. No one contacted him back home, no one wanted to spend time with the odd, quiet child who kept to himself. Even his parents’ considerable status had not helped his image, not when people found everything he said to be so weird. People didn’t like him. Didn’t hate him, either, but overlooked him instead. Attempts at making friends had fallen short, and as years passed Akira became more and more withdrawn, holding his emotions close to his heart and hiding behind a mask. 

     But then he had moved to Tokyo, meeting people who wanted to talk to him despite the allegations against him. He had gone from the quiet kid to the dangerous criminal, but there were others who saw something in him, who bonded with him beyond the dangers they shared. People wanted to call him, to text him, to spend time with him. For the first time, people genuinely wanted his company.

     Even Akechi, it seemed. 

     A light rain had begun to fall, and with no real plans Akira had decided to head home, carefully navigating the sea of umbrellas that opened up around him on the crowded square. But before he could reach the stairs leading to the station platform, his phone buzzed in his pocket, the screen displaying a short text--an invitation to play pool at Penguin Sniper. Almost too quickly Akira replied, changing his destination from Yongen-Jaya to Kichijoji. Desperate? No, he wouldn’t say he was. But it was, perhaps, just a little curious how quickly he answered texts when they came from Akechi.

     Despite his apparent eagerness, Akira was as calm as ever when he finally arrived, though he did offer Akechi a faint smile in greeting. Playing against such a strong opponent had been interesting, and Akira’s skill at the game had grown exponentially. Luckily his natural ability to pick things up quickly had given him an edge, but victory had proven more difficult than expected. 

     It was exciting.

     “8-ball, or 9-ball?” He paused a moment, toying with a lock of hair, lips curling into a small but fiendish little grin. “I’ll be nice and let you pick, since I’ll be the one winning today.”

#heavenslapse #this is actually small for me #:( #how do you write like 2 paragraphs and shut the fuck up #i dont know #🌟 —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.)

[heartsaligned-a]

     @heavenslapse | akira is in desperate need of a nap 💤

      Even at a late hour the trains were crowded, but the car was thankfully not so full they couldn’t find a seat. Akira was beyond exhausted, dark circles shockingly visible against his pale skin. He hadn’t been sleeping very well to begin with, but his time living with Yu and Yosuke had at least made him feel better. Nightmares still plagued him, terrors clawing at him almost every time he closed his eyes, but every so often he would be tired enough to just sleep. Yet now he felt as though he were living through a different nightmare, his body growing heavier and heavier with each passing second, but try as he might he couldn’t wake up. The world had shifted overnight, and Akira felt his control rapidly fading away.

     Sumire was in trouble. Safe, for the time being, but still in trouble. His friends, on the other hand, seemed to be living their best lives, finding their true happiness in family and bonds--and not one of their perfect lives included him. Was that how they truly felt? Was he just the leader of the Phantom Thieves, a pin that held the entire machine together? Was he that easily forgotten that not one single person cared to include him in their life beyond their mission? And Yu...

     God. Where did he even start?

     Yu wasn’t just absent in his life, he was wrong, as though somehow dismantled and put back together with all the wrong parts. Not only had Akira been wiped from his memory, but Yosuke, his other half, had been erased from the equation as well. Finding Yosuke, at least, would be an easy enough task now that they realized where to look, but reuniting them and drawing them out of their false realities would not prove as easy. A part of Akira wanted to try and make it to the countryside that night, but it was already late. They could leave in the morning, and figure things out one step at a time.

     As weird as everything had become, having Akechi by his side made things somehow more manageable. He was a familiar presence, calming, sturdy, and if Akira wasn’t so emotionally wrung out he might have just started to cry thinking about him. But the day had drained him more than he could have ever possibly imagined, and soon the edges of his vision began to grow dark. The steady motion of the train, coupled with the sound of the tracks and the chatter around him was like white noise, comforting, familiar. Before he could stop himself, his head came to rest against Akechi’s shoulder, the faint hint of vanilla further relaxing him. After everything that had happened it felt as though Akira had reached his breaking point, and he didn’t want to have to think anymore for the night if he didn’t have to. Heavy eyes slid closed, and for the first time in ages he felt incredibly safe; it was just a shame the moment couldn’t last forever. 

#heavenslapse #he sleep :( #tired :(( #go to akechi's little apartment and have a sleep over #or akira sleeps on the couch until akechi relents and lets him in bed #lmao #🌟 —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.)

[heartsaligned]

@heavenslapse | interrogation room au 🚨

      Every breath hurt, every second that passed another knife in his ribs, in his skull. Nothing could have prepared him for what had happened in that interrogation room. No amount of planning could have ever allowed him to be ready for the horrors he would face. And despite everything they had failed. He had failed. Akira hadn't been able to convince Sae. And now he had no choice but to sit there and wait for his executioner to arrive.

      None of this should have happened. When the Thieves first began to hatch the scheme it seemed like such a foolproof plan. Dangerous, scary, but oh-so doable. Akira had been arrested before, and he knew that the police weren't going to take it easy on him. He had anticipated being roughed up, had planned on simply trying to bury those fears and tune everything out. What he hadn't expected, however, was the absolute torture they would put him through.

      Cameras didn't matter. Ethics didn't either. The men took turns beating the absolute shit out of him, breaking his ribs, hitting him so hard he bled, leaving him concussed. Every time they knocked him over they would just pick him back up again, every struggle causing the cuffs around his wrists to cut so deeply into his flesh that blood ran freely down his hands. He was fairly certain his leg was broken to a degree--fractured, anyway. Several cuts all over his body still bled, the scalpels they had used not quite as sharp as they should have been, dragging through his skin just enough to cause pain rather than serious injury. They waterboarded him, drugged him several times, but even when the overdose stopped his heart they wouldn't let him die. Adrenaline got his heart beating again, and he got to deal with the horrors as though they had never ceased.

      The worst thing though, at least in Akira's eyes, were the threats. Threats that Akira was one-hundred percent positive were not idle. One of the detectives went so far as to kneel over him and grab onto him by the hair, explaining in no uncertain terms what he--they planned to do to him. After hours and hours of non-stop torture, sexual assault didn't seem like such a massive leap.

      But then Sae showed up, and Akira saw his chance. His only chance. All he had to do was talk to her, to clear his thoughts and tell his story. Convince her. His head throbbed, the haze from the truth serum he had been given making even simple sentence difficult. He tried--he really did. But in the end it wasn't enough. She had left, she hadn't done as he asked, and now it was all over.

      Maybe it wasn't the worst thing.

      Akira looked up as the door opened again, his heart giving a funny little jolt that he attributed more to a sudden rush of anxiety than the fact it had been restarted more than once that night. There was no fooling Akechi now, and a part of Akira felt so horrible, so battered and already close to death that he wanted to just let it happen. To let it end. All he had to do was close his eyes and wait for the trigger to be pulled. He had lost the game: every good gambler knew when to walk away, after all.

      Lucky for him, Akira never shied away from a challenge, even when the odds were stacked against him.

#heavenslapse #i make ur name pink because fuck you i can #i dont even know what to put #so i put a wee woo light #lmao #its been 84 years since i wrote anything #jfc #my tags still dont show up i fucking hate it here #i miss when tumblr didn't look like dogshit #and functioned #jinx is helping #and being a very good arm rest for typing #🌟 —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.)

[heartsaligned]

A bouquet of flowers, requested at the behance for someone he worked with. All for keeping up appearances and further the persona he painstakingly crafted as the pleasant prince. In actuality, he couldn't care at all. Everything was a means to an end.

Seeing Akira at the underground mall's flower shop came as a surprise, to say the least. How many different jobs across the city did he take on? Goro had seen him at the beef bowl shop, the 777 convenient store, Crossroads in Shinjuku, the odd fortune telling table, LeBlanc, and now here. One would think he was stalking him, and yet they seemed to always been pulled into each other's orbit.

Goro peered down at the flowers carefully wrapped in cellophane. He pulled one free from the rest, simple and white with smooth petals. Extending it outward, he truly struck the pose of a charming prince. "I suppose the ones who design the arrangement don't often get to receive them in turn?" | @heavenslapse sent !

      Flower Shop Rafflesia was one of the part-time jobs Akira truly enjoyed working. While Crossroads had been an eye-opening experience (and the start of something great), working with flowers had brought out quite a different passion Akira hadn't known existed. There was something incredibly calming about working with the flowers, arranging bouquets that weren't only just lovely but meaningful as well. It was so fascinating to Akira that he had sought out a comprehensive book all about hanakotoba, and in just a few nights he had educated himself all about the language of flowers. Who would have ever thought a simple bloom could say so much?

      Despite being tucked away in the corner of the underground mall in Central, Rafflesia garnered quite a lot of attention. Akira's shifts were always pleasantly busy, and every once in a while he would spot a familiar face wandering past. Both Haru and Yusuke visited him, and even Ann and Ryuji had stopped by on a shopping trip. One visitor he hadn't actually expected, however, was the shining detective prince: Akechi Goro himself. Just how many of Akira's part-time jobs was he going to crash? Akira would have to tease him about that later.

      Offering a practiced, customer service sort of smile (just to be extra annoying), Akira carefully built a beautiful bouquet, half wondering who the lucky recipient of something so meaningful could be. Judging by the flowers Akechi had chosen, Akira would normally have said it was for someone he had romantic feelings toward, but he knew better than to think as much. As far as he knew, the closest thing Akechi had ever had to a date was taking Akira to an aquarium and fancy cafés. Sort of a shame Akechi hadn't realized it at the time.

      Yet before he could make a teasing little comment, Akechi launched his attack, elegantly handing him the pure white gardenia with that charming smile. Something about the entire display struck Akira hard, dark eyes widening in surprise behind false lenses. Almost automatically he reached out to take the flower, the message of secret love not lost on him at all. Was it a joke? Was Akechi the one teasing him now? Or did the smiling bastard know exactly what he was doing? Either way, Akira was caught incredibly off guard, and it flustered him to absolutely no end.

      Brilliant pink dusted pale cheeks, and suddenly Akira couldn't even stand to look at Akechi, turning his gaze away in quiet embarrassment. Each second that passed allowed the feeling to build, growing even worse from his own inability to recover from the devastating blow. Butterflies formed in his stomach, and for the first time since meeting him, Akira desperately wished that Akechi would just leave.

      Just take your victory and go.

#heavenslapse #hit his weak point 😩 #knocked him down #enjoy this moment akechi #🌟 —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.)

[heartsaligned]

@heavenslapse | akira starts to fade away 💔

      Heavy smoke filled the small apartment, mingling with the acrid stench of what had once been dinner. The plan had been to have it waiting for Akechi when he got home from work, but time seemed to be slipping away in uneven increments lately. Akira couldn't explain it, and while he knew that the anniversary of the most horrible winter he had ever experienced was just around the corner he felt as though it shouldn't affect him. Not like this, not so completely. But every day felt as though he were drifting further away from where he needed to be, away from Akechi and from himself, and it was starting to scare him. What if this was it? What if things never got any better? How long could he go on like this?

      Each time things seemed to get better for him, the happiness was short-lived. When Akira found out Akechi was still alive he was practically euphoric, but that too vanished before long, leading to heavy doubts and unshakable concerns. All those messages that had been sent since February, texts and voice mails, confessions that Akira had imagined were falling on deaf ears--received, but ignored. It had taken months to reunite, and now that they had Akira felt more and more out of place. Was he just intruding? Did Akechi not want him here anymore? Every time Akira tried to get close to him he found himself pushed away, as though he were nothing but a nuisance. If he had misread the situation, how could he stay? Forcing his affection on someone who could never love him back was not the life he wanted. Things had been different once, he knew that, but nearly a year had gone by.

      Wasn't he just stupid?

      Gentle whining and the nudge of a wet nose brought his attention back for the moment, and Akira realized with a small jolt of surprise that the meat cooking in the frying pan had turned into something unrecognizable, burned black and stuck so completely to the bottom that the pan itself was probably ruined. Frowning, Akira also realized he didn't care, and switched the burner off to prevent a fire from breaking out. Without much thought, he reached down and gave Akechi's dog a pat on her head, quietly apologizing for worrying her. She was a good dog, but there was just too much on her plate and Akira knew it. Had he been in a better mood he might have laughed. Poor thing; she deserved better than having to watch after someone so broken.

      After moving the pan to the back of the stove, Akira left the kitchen and went into the bedroom, dropping his glasses onto the nightstand and letting himself drop down onto the mattress. Soft light filtered through the window, illuminating his prone form in the quickly darkening room. Vaguely he was aware of a presence beside him, sudden warmth against his back letting him know that he had been followed in, but he didn't move. He just stared through the window, feeling as though his entire body were washing away, breaking into nothing.

      Fading.

      It wasn't the first time he had felt such a way, and although it scared him he had to wonder if it was worth it to keep trying, to keep moving forward. What did he really have to live for these days? Trauma piled on top him so heavily that it felt as though his entire body would shatter beneath the weight of it. He already knew that his friends' futures excluded him, and that everyone was already beginning to move on. Even Akechi, the one person he felt himself living for, didn't want him anymore it seemed. And now the year felt as though it was about to start itself over again, the pain he had gone through washing over him. He just couldn't do it all again.

      Maybe fading away wasn't such a bad thing after all.

#heavenslapse #did this even make sense #i just started rambling lmao #everything is awful and i hate it here #🌟 —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.) #WISH MY FUCKIN TAGS SAVED

[heartsaligned-a]

@heavenslapse yu & akira at a cute little café 🍓

     Aoyama wasn’t an area Akira had ever spent much time outside of school. Despite growing up with a considerable amount of money, the district made him feel weirdly out of place, as though he didn’t quite belong. The Shujin students still did their part to make him feel like that outcast, but it wasn’t just their whispers behind his back that made him feel awkward. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but his misgivings were just a tiny drop in the raging ocean of his ever-expanding problems. 

     Stress clung to him like a second skin, following him in every waking moment. His dreams, too, had begun to weigh on his soul, and as the days grew colder Akira couldn’t help but wonder what might happen if everything went wrong. He was seventeen, still a child in the eyes of the world, but too old to be considered someone to protect. Slipping through the cracks, taking on more than he could ever hope to shoulder, and looking to ease everyone’s pain all at the same time. How had the world come to rest in his hands? Why was it up to him, and just who had decided he would play the hero? The mysterious man with the long nose? Or was it something beyond that, some cruel twist of fate?

     He really had no idea what to make of it all, never had, but he had never let it stop him. These powers had come to him for a reason, and rather than let someone else take the lead, he had accepted it gracefully. Being able to help people seemed like a blessing more than a curse. There was a light inside of him that precious few people could see, but Akira could feel it growing, shining through the cracks in his armor, his mask. If he wasn’t careful he would shatter, and he knew it; one fatal misstep would destroy everything they had worked for. But he was careful, or so he thought. People needed him. How could he let them down now, after all they had been through?

     The tedious chatter of the café blended into the background as Akira poked idly at the strawberry roll cake on his plate, the entire display cloyingly sweet and extravagant. Although it wasn’t nearly as expensive as the hotel buffet he had spent time at, the ambience was similar enough to evoke unpleasant memories, bitter thoughts that turned his stomach and killed his appetite--not that he had felt particularly hungry to begin with. His usual single meal of the day had been replaced by small snacks if anything, but the slight drop in weight had gone unnoticed. A couple of pounds wasn’t very obvious on someone with Akira’s build, someone who was already a little too lean, and that small amount of weight would hardly matter if he got himself killed at the end of their next operation. So why should he worry about it? No one else seemed to be, after all.

     I should apologize, he thought, pulling the strawberry slice from the top of his whipped cream. Yu had been willing to talk to him, using his free time to meet with an odd teenager, and Akira hadn’t even been a good conversational partner. It wasn’t uncommon, of course, for Akira to remain mostly silent; he was a listener, not a talker. People vented to him about their problems, cried on his shoulder, and when they stopped for breath he would jump to say just the right thing to assuage their fears. Even the man meant to be counseling him looked to him for help. Sometimes Akira couldn’t help but wonder if he ought to become a therapist after graduating.

     The words ‘I’m sorry’, however, seemed to get stuck somewhere in his throat. Feeling more and more uneasy, Akira dropped his fork with a small clatter, earning himself a nasty look from the booth nearby. It wasn’t the first time he had been looked at as though he didn’t belong. He was sure it wouldn’t be the last 

#heavenslapse #woo #:D i did somethin #🌟 —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.)

[arcanalight]

@detectivcprince​ | from ☆

     Spending time with Goro might have seemed foolish to some, easily a risk given his status as a detective, but Akira didn’t see things so simply. He wasn’t just an enemy, he wasn’t just a friend; he was a person Akira genuinely wanted to get to know. There was someone fascinating beneath the princely mask, beneath the glitter and glamor carefully set into place for television. Something lurked beneath the surface that Akira realized could be dangerous, but if he cared he didn’t show it. A moth to a flame--or perhaps just a kindred spirit. 

     As perceptive as he was, Akira could never actually see Goro with clear eyes. There was always something obscured, something hidden, but all the same Akira believed there were true glimpses into the other’s nature. During their time together he had seen someone who liked to compete, who was incredibly intelligent and talented all the same. A boy whose logic had humbled him at chess, not to mention someone who could best him at a simple game of pool using his off hand. Goro was someone Akira wanted to befriend just as much as he was someone who pushed him to be better. 

     He was fascinating. 

     For the most part, Akira chose to stay silent and listen, allowing his companion to talk about anything and everything he wanted. Most of his relationships were built the same way, the quiet observer, only speaking when necessary. And yet his calm, reserved nature could not be mistaken for apathy. The moment he sensed danger he was ready to move, honed reflexes allowing him to act before the stranger that had accosted them. Without thinking he had pushed Goro to what he believed to be relative safety, his instinct to protect his friends superseding his own sense of self-preservation. Sharp eyes fixated on the drunken man staggering before him, hot anxiety prickling across his skin. The last thing he wanted was a fight--especially when the situation was so hauntingly familiar.

     Pulling himself out of his own memories, Akira turned his attention back to Goro, finally stepping away enough to give him room to move. The hand coming to rest against his arm helped further anchor him, and with a small jolt he realized he was actually shaking a little. At least it seemed as though this particular drunk didn’t possess the power to ruin anyone’s lives. From Akira’s perspective he didn’t even possess the power to stay on his feet for long. Goro was right: leaving him was the smartest option.

     “--You okay?” The threat in the other’s words was not lost on him, but Akira chose not to fixate on their meaning just yet. “Let’s get away from here for now. We can take another route to the station.”

#detectivcprince #honestly i love that this is in the real world and not the metaverse #even if akira can't do a pull up and falls off a treadmill out here #he's goint to try and protect goro #😩😩😩 #⍟✦ —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.)

[arcanalight]

@bluescarfvivi​ | SotFD event

     Something had changed--shifted in his demeanor, in his entire body. Exhaustion breaking through despite the chain still firmly attached to his heart, his energy depleted, pushing Akira to his very limits. While he had not sustained much damage in the fight save for a nasty blow to the head (something he would definitely feel later), he had grown more sluggish, offering just enough time for Mystery to pin him to the floor, knife clattering away across the dance floor. And yet despite the fact that the Shadow’s chains alone were keeping him moving, the urge to fight still pulsed through him with every heartbeat. Oh, the Shadow loved him--of course it did! But it had used him, drained him of his energy, pushed him a little too far. His attempts at fighting to free himself were almost pitiful, his body stilling as his ever-present pink drifted from the kitsune on top of him to a familiar blue figure in the distance. 

     Before the Shadow had snatched him away she had shown him parts of herself she hadn’t shown others before in an attempt to convince him--but convince him of what? She kept talking to him, pleading with him, just as Yu had done. They didn’t understand, they were wasting their time when they could just let it all go. Why couldn’t he let it all go...? Treating him like a child, like he was wrong, like he was stupid, like--

     --like he wasn’t truly happy.

     Pain clouded his vision as the headache that had once felt so dulled intensified. He was tired, but he shouldn’t be tired. This was where he belonged, wasn’t it? Where he had been called, where he was supposed to be. Vivi could join him, they could spend those moments together again, the origami, the baking, the late night walks and silly chats. All she had to do was accept him.

     And if she didn’t...? Perhaps he would just tear himself apart to prove a point.

#bluescarfvivi #i feel like a new post is best #but he definitely is thinking about everything she said and did dw #he is v tired... #⍟✦ —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.) #v; shadows of the final day #✭❣ —— 𝕊𝕆𝕋𝔽𝔻┊(group verse.)

[arcanalight]

𝐶 𝐻 𝐴 𝑅 𝐴 𝐶 𝑇 𝐸 𝑅   𝑆 𝑇 𝑈 𝐷 𝑌   𝑇𝑅𝐴𝐼𝑇𝑆 & 𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑅𝐴𝐶𝑇𝐸𝑅𝐼𝑆𝑇𝐼𝐶𝑆

BOLD all that applies to your muse.

• EYES: blue | green | brown | hazel | gray | gray-blue | heterochromatic | other (black)

• HAIR: blonde | sandy | brown | black | auburn | ginger | grey / white | multi-color | other

• BODY TYPE: skinny | slender | slim | built | curvy  | athletic | average | muscular | pudgy | overweight

• SKIN: pale | light | fair | freckled | tan | olive | medium | dark | discolored | other

• GENDER: male | female | trans | cis | agender | nonbinary | demigender | genderfluid | other | doesn’t like labels

• SEXUALITY: heterosexual | homosexual | bisexual | pansexual | asexual | demisexual | other | doesn’t like labels

• ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: homoromantic | heteroromantic | biromantic | panromantic | aromantic | demiromantic | unsure | doesn’t like labels | polyamorous

• SPECIES: human | undead | shapeshifter | demon | angel | witch | ghost | incubus / succubus | werewolf | alien | mutant | android | elf | unknown | other

• EDUCATION: high school | college | university | master’s degree | PhD | other

• I’VE BEEN: in love | hurt | ill | mentally abused | bullied | physically abused | tortured | brainwashed | shot | burnt

• POSITIVE TRAITS: affectionate | adventurous | athletic | brave | charming | confident | creative | cunning | determined | forgiving | generous | honest | humorous | intelligent | loyal | patient | selfless | polite | down-to-earth | diligent | romantic | moral | fun-loving | charismatic | calm

• NEGATIVE TRAITS: aggressive | bossy | cynical | stubborn | envious | shy | fearful | greedy | gullible | jealous | impatient | impulsive | cocky | reckless | insecure | irresponsible | mistrustful | paranoid | possessive | sarcastic | self-conscious | selfish | unstable | clumsy | rebellious | territorial | emotional | vengeful | anxious | self-sabotaging | moody | peevish | angry | pessimistic | slacker | thin skinned | overly dramatic | argumentative | overly protective

• LIVING SITUATION: lives at sea | lives with parents/guardian | lives with a friend | transient | homeless | lives with children | unknown | other

• PARENTS/GUARDIAN: mother | father | grandmother | grandfather | guardian (Sojiro) | unknown 

• SIBLING(S): sister | brother | none

• RELATIONSHIP: single | dating |  engaged | married | separated | it’s complicated

• HAVE A(N): learning disorder | personality disorder | borderline personality disorder | mental disorder | anxiety disorder | sleep disorder | eating disorder | behavioral disorder | substance-related disorder | PTSD | mental disability | physical disability | non-applicable

• THINGS I’VE DONE BEFORE: had alcohol | smoked | stolen (in the metaverse at least) | done drugs | self-harmed (solitary confinement) | starved | had sex | had a threesome | had a one-night stand | gotten into a fight | gone to hospital | gone to jail | used a fake ID | played hooky | gone to a rave | killed someone | had someone try to kill me

tagged by: @trio-of-tr0uble​ (ty!!) tagging: oh gosh who hasn’t done this yet?? steal it if you wanna do it!

#omg this took me forever to get to asdasd #it was really interesting to see how akira came out though #✭❣ —— 𝕚'𝕝𝕝 𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕞𝕪𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗┊(headcanon.) #⍟✦ —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.)

[arcanalight]

     “--It’s not possible for us to form Shadows though, right...? Persona-users can’t have a Palace...”

     So why did he feel this much doubt?

#dash commentary #⍟✦ —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.)

[arcanalight]

@asterisque​ replied:

"think it's better if i'm the one doin' the liftin'...".

     “You don’t trust me?” Probably for the best. There’s something just a little too sweet about that smile.

     “Well, if you insist on picking me up, I won’t argue.”

#asterisque #akira doesnt mind the clark kent aesthetic #but he thinks lois lane has the better wardrobe #wanna be his superman ryuji? #🥰️ #⍟✦ —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.)

[arcanalight]

“If you were Clark Kent, what would you do right now? Like you're both badass super heroes, hiding their true identity and wearing glasses... especially the glasses". | @asterisque​ sent !

↳ pushing daisies prompts | accepting !

     Clark Kent...which one was that again? Not Batman, surely. Ryuji had mentioned glasses, so that meant it had to be...

     “Superman?” he asked, head cocked to one side. He had never really considered himself a superhero, but it made him strangely happy that Ryuji viewed him as such. “I guess I’d wear skin-tight clothes and sweep people off their feet. That’s what he does, right?”

     He paused, watching Ryuji casually, expression carefully blank. Superheroes and the like might have been a bit beyond his knowledge, but he knew enough, and he could hardly resist teasing the other boy whenever the opportunity presented itself.

     “How about it? Should I start with you?”

#asterisque #don't let him try #his little noodle arms will snap #akira thinks he's cool but he's a mess outside of the metaverse #he'd still attempt it though... #⍟✦ —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖!┊(ic.) #✭❣ —— 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕧𝕠𝕚𝕔𝕖𝕤 𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕦𝕥┊(answered.)

[arcanalight]

     Akira has always moved quietly, often being able to walk into a room without anyone hearing him. It isn’t a thief thing, or something he learned, either. As long as he can remember he’s just been soft and quiet. Because of this he often startles people who aren’t paying attention. The thieves (and most of his confidants) have all threatened to bell him like a cat more than once.

#⍟✦ —— 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣┊(akira.) #✭❣ —— 𝕚'𝕝𝕝 ��𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕞𝕪𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗┊(headcanon.) #he'd be cute with a bell though lbr