[ 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

[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."

[mountainfoggedlotus]

"What's tomorrow-- oh! Christmas, right." Ren heaves out a few more breaths, headband with antlers and little bells jingling. "Don't I look good?"

[fogboundcrow]

"It's a cute look." He won't deny it, and the jingling bells get another little laugh from him. "Though I have to wonder... isn't it a bit early? The loser's the one who has to wear them, after all."

[mountainfoggedlotus]

"Well, I'm no loser, and neither is Rudolph!"

[fogboundcrow]

"Your confidence is admirable, but I suppose we'll have to put it to the test."

He slips upstairs quickly, just to tuck the gift bags away. Then, he's back down the stairs, raring to go. "So, off we go to Tokyo. This is certain to be a learning experience for both of us."

[mountainfoggedlotus]

"Learning experience? You'll learn how to handle defeat gracefully, maybe."

[fogboundcrow]

"Are you sure it won't be you who has to learn that lesson?" Despite his smack talk, Raven struts up to the door, holding it for his partner.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

"And how do you know it won't be you?"

[fogboundcrow]

"Clearly, neither one of us wishes to concede, so we'll just have to put ourselves to the test." Once Ren steps outside, he'll offer a hand to hold, though.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

Ren looks at the hand, but after a moment and a slight flush he takes it. "Yeah! We can test each other."

[fogboundcrow]

"I can always count on you to keep me on my toes." But first things first, the Velvet Room! Luckily, it doesn't take long for them to reach that familiar blue door, and from there, they just have to make their way to Tokyo.

Soon... Soon the real date begins.