Nope's Peak r2 - DATE 1 with Joker

[flamingprick]

[Well they never did get a hangout night at the last game, so.

Rin is standing outside of the playplace, eyeing it. He's already slipped off his shoes and set his sword aside, but he's waiting for Akira before he dives in.]

You know, this feels more like just goofing off than a real date.

Comments

[purrtagonist]

Yeah. I did. Although I'd hang out with you like this even outside of this gam-- [oof, the ball is landing on his stomach, which gets him to sit up]

Shiemi?

. . . no, you didn't.

[flamingprick]

Of course you'd hang out with me outside of this game, I'm just the coolest friend you could possibly have.

[Self-image issues related to dating aside, Rin does have quite the ego. But the joking tone drops a bit when he starts talking about Shiemi.]

She'a a girl from my world. We're in the same grade at school, and she used to go to exorcist cram school with me. She's...really nice. And sweet. And pretty much the friendliest person I've ever met.

[It's pretty clear from his tone that he's very fond of her.]

She...Well. I. I like her. A lot.

...no, 'liked' is probably a better word. Things didn't work out between us.

[She doesn't want to date anyone actually.]

I never really thought about it before, but since we're all here now and this is about going on dates and stuff, I think that's my 'type.' Someone who's kind and gentle like that.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . . . . oh. an understanding expression crosses Akira's features. rejection always stings. even he's felt it before, because even Akira Kurusu has had unrequited feelings]

You know. . . [leans back on one hand] I think it's possible for people to have more than one 'type.' But that aside, I'm sorry it didn't work out.

[flamingprick]

[He shrugs at that.]

It happens. She said she wasn't ready for a relationship, so that's pretty much that. I wouldn't want to push her into anything, she's still one of my friends.

The reason I mentioned the 'type' thing is that Shirayuki is a lot like her. They're both even interested in plants.

[Not that he's crushing hard on Shirayuki yet or anything, but it's just. A feeling.]

[purrtagonist]

It does happen. It still sucks.

[he empathizes, but also perks up a bit when Rin mentions Shirayuki]

Ah? Day two, and there's already someone you like?

[flamingprick]

It's not a 'like.'

[He sounds a touch sullen as he says that.]

She's just cute, that's all.

[purrtagonist]

[aw, friend. . .]

Why don't you talk to her more, then? Maybe it'll turn into "like," or maybe you'll just want to stay friends with her.

[he shrugs!]

Either way, it can't hurt.

[flamingprick]

Maybe. I was gonna talk to her anyway, so we'll see.

[There's other cute people here too so.]

I was kinda thinking maybe I'd find out if I actually like guys or not here too. There's a lot more here that aren't super-old or super-evil.

[purrtagonist]

Like Allen?

[his eyes are sparkling with a hint of mischief]

[flamingprick]

[He blinks a couple times at that.]

He's a friendly guy, sure. What about him?

[purrtagonist]

He also isn't super-old, or super-evil.

[JUST SAYING. and he continues, totally innocently]

I feel like you two would get along, that's all.

[flamingprick]

[AKIRA HAS A POINT...]

He's a pretty good friend, yeah! We get along.

[Look, Rin already made some new friends.]

I didn't really think about it 'like that' though. Should I?

[purrtagonist]

[he shrugs!]

Only if you want to. I'd give you the same advice I gave you regarding Shirayuki: talk to him more. That's all.

[Akira's advice is always so simple]

[flamingprick]

Well I wanna hang out with him anyway, so that'll be easy.

[Watch out Akira, he might come back in a couple days with more FEELINGS to talk about.]

[purrtagonist]

[he will be READY]

Exactly. You don't have to have anything figured out yet, anyway. It's only the second day.

[WHICH. SPEAKING OF??]

. . . you know, I'm glad that no one died last night.

[flamingprick]

[OH YEAH THAT IS A THING TOO]

...yeah. Maybe things really are different this time.

[purrtagonist]

. . . maybe.

[leans forward, shoulders hunched, hands linked together under his chin]

[flamingprick]

...oi.

[Moving through the ball pit to get over to where Akira is now.]

It's gonna be alright.

[purrtagonist]

I know.

[shoots Rin a reassuring smile, just to show that he isn't moping, or stressing]

It just feels strange.

[flamingprick]

To not have to be suspicious of everyone?

[Rin is a generally trusting person, but that particular 3 weeks of his life taught him a thing or two about trust.]

[purrtagonist]

That's not it.

[Akira is already pretty distrustful so. . .]

Everywhere I go, I can remember either finding a body or a body part. In some places, it's worse than that.

[he can't hang out at the aquarium without remembering Erika. can't hang out in the auditorium without remembering his execution]

Everything being so lighthearted is almost. . . wrong.

[flamingprick]

[Ah right. That.

Rin climbs out of the ball pit and sits next to Akira, swinging his legs idly. He's quiet for a moment, thinking of what to say.

Maybe a story would help? That's always been his go-to for getting people to see what he sees.]

My dad died in the middle of our church. Well, not 'our' church, Yukio and I were just kids and didn't really have anything to do with owning it. But Dad was the head priest, and the other priests there still run the place.

Sometimes, when I go back there, I can still see that night. Sometimes I swear that if I lift up the rugs I'll still see his bloodstains there. It's...

[He shakes his head.]

None of the parishioners know. They know Dad died, and now one of the other priests is the head priest. But they don't know what happened that night, in the very church they worship in every Sunday. At first it felt wrong, like it was covering up what happened. But it's not really covering it up, is it? It's just living.

[He looks up to Akira now.]

And we shouldn't stop living just because something bad happened in the past. If anything, we should live more, so that we can make good memories there and we'll think of the good ones before the bad.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . hmph]

[Akira's mouth twitches into a wry smile, eyes slipping shut as he lifts a hand to scrub at his face tiredly]

You're not wrong.

[not wrong at all. but there is a small hiccup in that plan]

It'd be a lot easier if any of us were here of our own free will.

[flamingprick]

Would you have come back, if you had been given the choice?

[purrtagonist]

[gosh]

[what a question]

[he doesn't answer it immediately, instead sitting completely still, with one hand pressed against his face, as he searches for his words]

. . . I don't know.

[an earnest response, because it would have depended on many factors. would he have been returning to save people? would he have been returning just to see his old friends? for the sole purpose of participating in this dating round? for the sole purpose of being dragged into another murder game. . .?]