songerein | ( OPEN / DREAM ) ☆ 🅾🅽E

Who: Joker (Ren Amamiya) & OPEN
Which: Open, Interactive Dream
Where: Naptime
What: HEIST DREAM, choose your own adventure: become a phantom thief and join Ren on his quest for the treasure, foil his attempts and ultimately convince him this is all a dream, or explore an empty school that has definitely never been involved in anything sinister, ever. Option one is for trying to talk it out, while option two is your standard phantom thief flair, secure the treasure and fight your way out!
Warnings: Will update as necessary

It was starting to get dark. Maybe you were headed home finally after some time in the Wildlands, maybe that's what brought Ren out here originally too— but now, he's seated near the edge of the lake. His chest rises and falls rhythmically on approach, a dim glow from the crystal of his lantern alight at his side.

He actually looks rather peaceful but... he probably shouldn't be sleeping out here, especially after dark. Unfortunately, he doesn't exactly seem easy to rouse. And the glow of that lantern is brightening just a little, almost invitingly... If you find yourself drawn in, rather than who you might expect... a phantom thief greets you instead,— inside the dream, with a curious— "Hm?"

☆

one. ( it's— a school? the hallways are empty and dark, devoid of any of the chatter you might expect on a normal weekday. you might hear a low murmur or the echo of a voice, but there's nothing meaningful to the words. the classrooms are mostly open, neatly lined desks standing at the ready. peak your head a little further inside, and you may just see an artist's rendition of a local celebrity. )

I remember this. ( joker says, studying the depiction. actually, he might even be smiling a little bit. ) It's actually pretty good.

( you know, the likeness. )

two. ( otherwise, the halls seem rather empty, though the further you venture the more you might experience a few... hiccups. you might swear for exam that the place seems to take on the appearance of a castle every now and then. maybe even your clothing itself might change into something a bit more... rebellious? )

Did you feel that?

( joker seems to be on high alert, implying that he seems to be experiencing it, too. )

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[ Susato straightens her stance, breathing just a little heavier from her attack. Her brain agrees: what?

Yet she is always the prepared one, someone who would have Mental Floss and all manner of things for a palace expedition, if only she knew what any of it was. She shakes her head. ]

No...

No, something is off. [ The uncertainty causes more flickers. She can see bits of the school again, just for a moment, which is at least a setting she's more familiar with, but still not what she's looking for. ]

Joker... who are you?

Who—? What do you mean, Hana? We're...

( hana? the only japanese name amongst the team? was that right?
there's a half-step back as the distortion fades back into a classroom. was it weak here? but there was nothing safe about this room, considering they'd just been attacked... )

We're here to find the treasure— ( joker straightens, sounding much less sure than he had before. ) We're the Phantom Thieves...?

[ The more she hears it, the more certain she is that Hana is not her name. It is beautiful, however, and she has no trouble believing she would choose it for herself, in another universe. Things are slowly falling into place now, though, and she's beginning to understand... even though somehow, her real name escapes her, like something on the tip of her tongue. ]

Then how did we meet?

[ The dreamscape flickers again, showing echoes of another life--one that never existed. Her "phantom thief" guise still holds, but just barely, and Ren may start to notice flashes of pink seeping through. ]

Where are we? I think this is... It must be...

( how did they meet? what a silly question. they'd met on his first day of school, he was waiting under an awning in the rain, and she— wait, no that had been ann, under the same canopy... )

It was in school, wasn't it? I was already going to be late, and—

( no, that wasn't right, either. ryuji had been the one...
her simple question was making his head spin, and the projection of the school along with it. )

Something— something's not right.

( his personas not answering his call, her place in all of this, the castle of lust no longer being seized...
he closed his eyes, concentrating, trying to access his third eye. )

But still, it's got to be— I can feel it, downstairs...

Edited 2022-02-08 02:32 (UTC)

[ She can see the way he concentrates, the way his mind must be scrambling to fill in the blanks, just like hers, when she asked that question. This only confirms what she suspects. The pieces of the puzzle start to fall together, and she can see her name, almost reach for it.

She still doesn't know his, though his alias seems to come easy to her. ]

Joker...

[ Then it's like some magical girl transformation, starting with her hair. Her hair unravels, and the hat disappears soon after. Her black uniform that made her so gallant and dashing and impressive gave way to a mere pink kimono, which seems to clash with the western style of her boots.

She sees the color, the way her large sleeves fall at her side, and right away, she knows. She is Susato Mikotoba.

And he... ]

... You're dreaming.

( her words chime like a heavy bell, resonating deep in ren's core as he stood there. )

Dream... ing?

( he watches as her transformation falls away, mouth just slightly agape.
hana, a simple codename had come easily to him when he looked at her. but now, dressed as she was, he raked his mind searching for her name, something to call her. she was... no student of shujin, was she?

before this, what had he...
rev... ... in. re— verin.

his long coat melted away with the scenery, leaving him once again bespectacled, and arms out-stretched. that voice. wasn't that...?
the sound of chains sounded softly, becoming louder as ren's lantern slowly took shape in his hands, glowly strongly. )

You're right... I was dreaming...

( and the scent of something freshly baked started to waft through the air, as he turned towards susato again, everything finally starting to add up. the world of dreams. the reason arsène didn't come. )

About yakisoba bread.

( in the dream, his stomach rumbled.
and with a gasp— ren shot upwards from his slumber, waking suddenly on the other side. )

[ . . . Okay. Susato can't help it. That comment gets a genuine laugh out of her, and her case of the giggles gets even worse when she can hear his stomach rumble.

When she wakes up in the real world, it is with a smile, and laughter that shakes her just under her breath--though for the sudden good mood she had found herself in, she apparently also decided to fall asleep right where she found him, dropping into the dirt like a very hard bed. She opens her eyes, blinking slowly at first, and the smile disappears quickly as she sits straight up.

Oh.

She gasps, looking around for--

Joker? ]

( for his part, ren is a little confused, but he's got the spirit! or something.
reaching up to his head quickly causes his glasses to fall off, onto the ground beside him. )

Ah— ( as he sweeps around for them with his hands, his comrade pops up near-by, giving him pause, as he stares. ) Uh...

( so eloquent.
he may be without a mask, but that mop of hair on his head may seem quite familiar. and, looking her over, ren seems to recognize her as well, thanks to that last minute change of outfit she'd made. )

... You were— in the dream. Hana.

[ Hana. Somehow, she doesn't find it strange. He could call her that from now on, and she'd probably respond to it, but she does think he deserves to know her real name. ]

...It is Susato, actually. Susato Mikotoba.

[ She could watch him swipe around for a while longer, and maybe eventually get those glasses, but she crawls the couple steps between them until she reaches them herself. She should probably get off the ground though, so she pulls herself off out of the dirt and onto her feet before she hands the glasses back. ]

( with how easily she had fallen into the role of fellow phantom thief, it was a bit difficult for ren to feel almost— comfortable around her, already. his expression softened, with a MAX CHARM smile as he reached for the specs. )

Susato.

( it felt more natural than mikotoba, for some reason. or maybe thanks to a combination of all of the above. )

I'm Ren. Amamiya, Ren. Sorry, it seems you were caught up in an impromptu nap of mine. Thanks for your help.

[ Susato isn't sure she can take credit for much, but she is easily taken in by that smile, and feels equally comfortable talking to him. Once he puts on the glasses and her hands are free, she finds herself straightening up a bit, and brushing the dirt off her kimono. ]

It is my pleasure, Ren. [ She curtsies... If he's going to use her first name, she'll use his too. ] Apologies for all the confusion. The lake is quite scenic and peaceful, but perhaps we should head back. It is already starting to get dark.

( he's got one hand rubbing at the back of his head still, hoping he's put all of the pieces back together now. yeah, she was right about that— it was scenic, peaceful... and he'd definitely fallen asleep, his last conscious thoughts lingering on something familiar, comfortable...

and edible. as announced by another, more subdued, growl of his stomach.
just how long had he been conked out here on the ground? )

You're right. We should head back but... is it all right if we stop for something to eat along the way?

( OPEN / DREAM ) ☆ 🅾🅽E

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annd just gonna wrap this up with one last tag also, boop... >>