[ ic // inbox ]

[mountainfoggedlotus]

Hey there! This is Ren. Uh, the smaller one. Mini-Joker.
You can leave a message after the beep, I guess.
Or text me. Actually, please text me. Unless you're Raven.
Anyway. Do I make the beeping sound, or...? Uh. Beeeeeeeep.
[ Beep ].

Comments

[vessel_ken_amada]

A few days after the party, while Ken still hasn't been back home.

Hello Ren-kun,

I am not sure how much Raven has told you, but I think you deserve the truth, so it is time for me to come clean.

I am someone you should stay away from. I have already told you that I am not human, but the truth is much worse than that. In truth, I am an abomination, a mockery of nature and anything good. The only thing human about me are remains badly stitched together. My very existence is an offense to this world and should have never happened.

Not only that, but it is dangerous for you to stay close. Not only could I lose control of myself, but the only reason I am alive is to fulfill a mission, and the only possible ending is a bad one. You will get hurt, no matter what.

This is why you should stay away from me. I hope you understand.

Yours truly,
Ken Amada

[mountainfoggedlotus]

bro. kenpai
drink some apple juice and go to sleep
its 3 am
even i know life sucks at 3 am

[vessel_ken_amada]

This is not just a sleep-deprived rant. Everything I said was true. You can confirm with Raven that I have talked about all the elements above repeatedly with him.

In any case, it wasn't my intention to bother you while you were sleeping. Goodnight. I hope you will consider staying away from me, for your own good.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

if being hurt is what it takes to stay by my friends sides then call me a
uh. person whose into pain. i forget the word. oneof the futabas kidlocked me from looking it up on my phone
and if im stupid for that. tell me something i dont know
apples work miracles i promise. take care of yourself

[vessel_ken_amada]

[The next day, early in the afternoon, a very short text arrives.]

Why me?

[Why bother with him? Why try to be friend with him in particular when there are so many other people? He is an abomination, and he will hurt everyone that gets close. Why???]

[mountainfoggedlotus]

because

He's learning that it's the only reason he needs.

[vessel_ken_amada]

[The answer again takes some time to arrive.]

Maybe you don't need a reason, but I just can't understand why you would want to be friends with someone who can only bring you bad things.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

we had fun down in mementos didn't we
that was a good thing you brought me
youre being an akechi and overthinking things

[vessel_ken_amada]

[Ken doesn't send an answer for a while, but right before he finally comes back home from his self-imposed exile, Ren gets another text.]

Well, if we're gonna be friends despite everything, I'll do my best to give you more fun moments.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

Heck yeah!!

[fogboundcrow]

It's Christmas Eve.

Would you like to do anything today? I can think of a few activities that might be enjoyable.

Crow said we can all celebrate together tomorrow, so it's all right if we do our own thing.

[Hopefully that doesn't sound too pushy, or overtly lovey dovey. He does want to heed Joker's warnings, after all.]

[mountainfoggedlotus]

I dunno! What do you have in mind, Grand Wizard?

[fogboundcrow]

Well, there's an ice skating rink in Tokyo that looked promising.

I have absolutely zero experience, so we'd be on equal footing.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

Bold of you to assume I have no experience!

He doesn't. But he's not taking that lying down! How hard could it be?

[fogboundcrow]

Perhaps we should make things more interesting.

A bit of a wager, depending on who falls on their ass first?

[mountainfoggedlotus]

You're on!

[fogboundcrow]

And what shall the loser do, I wonder?

(Either way, I'm heading back momentarily. I just had to pick up some odds and ends.)

[He absolutely was not at Leblanc, putting the finishing touches on some gifts, shh.]

[mountainfoggedlotus]

[ Good question. Hmmm... ]

Loser has to...uh...make an embarrassing post on the network?
I dunno..,

[fogboundcrow]

An embarrassing post could work, or...

Loser has to wear silly reindeer antlers? The kind they sell as novelty items.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

Oh, so holiday celebrations are too good for the Wizard of Nerdiness?

[fogboundcrow]

If they were too good for me, I wouldn't want to make today special for us.

I just think reindeer antlers look silly.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

Rudolph didn't get bullied for you to call his antlers silly! You're on!!

[fogboundcrow]

I support Rudolph and his struggles for acceptance, but we are human.

Nonetheless, I am pleased to hear you accept the terms. I'll be home shortly.

And by shortly, he means within minutes, as he returns in the house with a nice, winter scarf, jacket, beanie, and gloves and some rather festive looking bags in hand.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

Ren takes several more minutes than Goro, because, well...he had to get dressed and get ready and stuff! And find antlers. "I'm here!!"

[fogboundcrow]

He looks so... frantic. Raven tries not to laugh, but alas. A little chuckle escapes in spite of his best efforts. "Just give me a moment to put these bags away. And no peeking."

He holds the bags close to his chest. "Tomorrow isn't too far off, anyway."