( SEMI-CLOSED ) put the gun down

[maskreant]

WHO: Akira and anyone that has CR with him!!
WHERE: Bosuma initially, then Recolle during the 3-day quest period
WHEN: Mid April
WHAT: Akira encounters the swamp witch and has to live with his regained memories. Of course he's going to get his name back. That stuff is super important!! If you want to plan anything specific, go ahead and contact me aftertaste or on discord (hei#2323).
WARNINGS: standard Akira warning and spoilers for P5 probably.

prelude

[ Akira thought it would be fun to visit Bosuma with his boyfriend after the hard work they've done in the other areas. He didn't have the chance to check out the luscious forest before—seemed more like a jungle, to be honest. Either way, he was enjoying the sights for the most part until an unfortunate happening. They were exploring a bit, marking the trees when they need to, but they somehow got separated...

No matter how hard he tried to find his way back, he found himself going in circles. Frustrating, really, but he eventually he reached his destination. There was something missing. When he pulled up memories of what he was doing earlier, he couldn't seem to remember a single thing. Not who he came with, where this was, where he lived—his name. What was his name?

What was there to comfort him was a stone house, a woman that coaxed him forward, giving him a new name, and a proposal he couldn't refuse. Though distrusting, he knew he had little to lose aside from his life. She gave him a simple task, but mentioned the stakes are high. His new name? He heard it before.

JOKER
It was a code name from what memories retained, even if his actual name became a blur. The task itself is to trust and rely on someone. Vague. Annoying. Whatever. Well, time to head back. ]

forest

[ Akira can be found in the forest, trying to find his way back. Whether he walks normally, carving some trees or mushrooms to keep him from being lost, or even rolls straight in front of you and falls flat on his face. He still needs some assistance... While he has memories of Tokyo, he can't for the life of him maneuver through Bosuma or Recolle if he wanted to. Someone is technically waiting for him, whether he knows it or not. Anyone that even utters his name will find it impossible. He can't hear it, anyway.

Please lead him the right way before he somehow ends up deeper into the forest again. ]

recolle

[ Once escorted safely thanks to someone very shady, he's back in the city and on his mission to get this quest done. Finding someone to trust and rely is rather difficult when there are holes in his memories, but his phone should be the best place to start. He can also be found around places that he frequents, at least based on what he learns from his phone:

1. Catmosphere Cafe
2. Mochi House
3. Recolle University
4. Unstoppable

But it's likely to find him anywhere. If he has ever texted you, then you can expect him there at your workplace. Or he might even send you a text:

hey, you're my friend, right?

Strange... Question. ]

wildcard

[ UP FOR ANYTHING!! ]

Comments

recolle @ the inkwell

[odasaku]

[ shoving himself headfirst into work has been odasaku's solution to avoiding all the emotional turmoil that he's been going through. he's working extra hours, doing his best to not think about what happened between him and ango...

it's only working moderately well, to say the least.

but none of that really matters when he sees akira walk into the bar-- isn't he too young for this? blue eyes blink and when akira's figure doesn't disappear, he stands up from his seat. ]

You okay?

[maskreant]

[ He knows very well this is a bar, though only recently did he learn that he only turned 19. Thanks, wallet. While he should feel out of place, he doesn’t and looks around the inkwell like he’s searching for somebody or someone—then they lock eyes. Akira gives him one of his unsettling feline stares before he compares his picture to the one on the Retrospec directory.

Yes. Yes this is him. He beelines straight toward him; it’s almost menacing. ]

You must be Oda?

[odasaku]

[ there's something off about the situation. the look on akira's stare, the way he walks, the mere air around him is all strange--wrong, even.

assuming this to be another one of retrospec's tricks, odasaku swallows whatever irritation bubbles at his stomach. akira's much more important now.

unwavering under the stare, odasaku nods. ]

Yeah. Sakutarou Oda. What's up?

[maskreant]

[ Oh... What's with this odd introduction? Of course Akira would know who he is if he approaches him, but to get a full name drop adds to the off air of this whole encounter. Akira can practically feel Oda's own suspicions at this point. ]

I'm wondering if you can help me with something. I lost my name, so I have to do this... Weird quest.

[ He's been trying things with a bunch of people on his contacts, so here he is. ]

[odasaku]

[ odasaku highly doubts that akira has only lost his name, and that the situation is more grave than that. but he won't push anymore than necessary-- everything at its own time. ]

Yeah, sure.

[ he'd never say no to akira if he needs his help. ]

What do you have to do?

[maskreant]

... I have to trust and rely on someone.

[ He has actually been trying this out with several people on his contact list. Odasaku showed up... And he read some of his work that he found in his room. ]

I know it's vague, but that's the only way. [ While it's dire, he doesn't want to put so much pressure on it. They shouldn't force it—that's what he learned so far. ] You gave me a folder filled with your work, right? I enjoyed it.

[odasaku]

[ trust and rely on someone... and he chose him?

he doesn't doubt that there must be others that akira's reached out to, but odasaku still feels touched...and somewhat confused. it's not like there's anything special about him to choose in the first place.

but he won't question it. no need to push him away when he needs help. instead, he focuses on the fact that his work is being complimented, and odasaku actually turns a little red over it. ]

I'm glad you liked 'em. They were a present for your birthday.

[maskreant]

[ It's true. Akira has gone through a couple of people already, but not by favoritism. It's at random, whichever has a long chat history, whoever he called/texted last. In the end, it still doesn't change that he think this is worth trying.

Odasaku seems like a fine man, too. Dependable, reliable, but you never know? If only Akira could remember that this man can also be an idiot—at least a nice idiot based on that reaction. He sputters. ]

That's a good choice of present, very personal. [ Even if he doesn't remember, it was nice. ] Have you published anything? Or are you already a published author?

[odasaku]

I've published a few things, yeah.

[ he wonders how much of this might be helping akira, but also doesn't want to question it. if akira has to trust him, then this must be similar to dealing with his cat. leave the food out and watch the trust form. ]

I told you once that I was a writer and you got really interested...but I never got a chance to send you anything. [ he chuckles. ] You made fun of me 'cause I printed them instead of sending them through email. Printers smell fear y'know.

[maskreant]

[ Did you just compare him to a cat? Because he is very much one. The small talk is very much like food, little morsels leading to your home to hopefully coax the cat in. A bond forms the moment the cat recognizes your face—which Akira doesn't, but that's fine. ]

So you stood me up and you're scared of printers. [ Based on his expression, he isn't serious. ] Where should I sit?

[ Just... Wondering. ]

[odasaku]

Terrified of them. Do you think there's a word for that kind of phobia?

[ from the glint in his eyes, he's not serious either. when akira asks where he can sit, odasaku gestures at the small bar as if saying anywhere's alright. ]

It's a slow day, so it's pretty empty. If you wanna sit at the bar, then just act like you're 21 if someone else comes.

[ in fact, that's exactly where odasaku's gonna sit. and once akira's has sat down, too, he'll make his first question in a very casual tone. ]

Did you lose anything else besides your name?

[maskreant]

Inkaphobia.

[ Weird, isn’t it? But words are created every day. He looks at Oda as he’s instructed to give off a more adult air. It gets him a squint—sure, he’s... His ID says he’s 19, so that isn’t too far from 21, but he’s sure as hell that he doesn’t look the part with what looks like a school bag.

He obviously takes a seat where he thinks it would be the most secluded. The question gets him to freeze, then nervously play with this ring on his finger. It helps him calm down. ]

... I guess the jig is up. I’ve lost my memories, too. The catch is I remember stuff from a different life?

[odasaku]

It's fine. You did a good job. It's just that you wouldn't call me by my last name. You'd usually call me Aniki or Odasaku. You don't have to

[ he shrugs casually, and he certainly doesn't look angry. if anything, he's a bit troubled over what has happened to akira, which is why he'd like to get the bottom of things as fast as possible.

well, as fast as akira is comfortable with going. ]

Gotcha. [ he rests his hand on his chin, thinking for a moment. then, he faces akira. ] I don't know how much you remember about this place, if anything. But there's an app on our phones that causes us to remember things from some sort of previous or different life. Those are probably the memories you have?

[maskreant]

... Aniki?

[ He can't tell if that's true, but Odasaku was written on the sheets of paper, so he guesses it's a pen name of sorts. Makes. Sense. He continues to play with the ring, even taking it off to spin it on the counter. It spins...

For ages. ]

No one told me it's related to an app. [ That's really weird. ] But that isn't surprising, seeing that I can't remember anything because I wandered into the forest and met some witch. You don't mind if I call you aniki again?

[odasaku]

Yeah, this place only gets weirder and weirder.

[ he does quirk an eyebrow when he mentions a forest and a witch. a witch that steals memories? it seems so unlikely and so fantasy-like that odasaku has no choice to accept it, feeling bad for akira. curiosity really does kill the cat--

or steal their memories, at least. ]

You can if you want. It's kinda nice to be thought of as an older brother.

[maskreant]

... I guess that's true. I'm an only child—well, I only remember being an only child.

[ But he can understand wanting a sibling... Having family. From what he has, he had something similar in Tokyo. They weren't his blood relatives, but he always thought that was what it feels like. He drums his fingers against the counter. ]

You're doing something pretty brotherly, so I think you deserve a title. Do I get an allowance?

[odasaku]

Same here.

[ in all honesty, odasaku wouldn't be surprised if his past life was an orphan or something like that. what kind of parent would let their teenage child kill for money?

he does his best to push that thought away, quirking an eyebrow over akira's question. he'll pull at his pockets-- some lint falls out. ]

Nope. But I do make a good plate of curry.

[maskreant]

You, too?

[ Akira looks at him with genuine surprise... It has little to do with the fact that Oda is an adult and broke as hell. He won't judge him since it's hard these days to really make it. ]

I feel like I'm surrounded by people that either love curry or consider it their specialty.

[odasaku]

[ odasaku smiles a little, nodding. ]

Actuallly, we cooked some curry once. So you're pretty good at it.

[ he pauses, wondering if this loss of memory would affect akira's cooking skills in any way. ]

Or were. You remember how to cook?

[maskreant]

[ God. He must really like curry in this life, but he can't blame himself. Curry is nice... It's homely. It brings him some good memories despite everything? Even if some of them are nonexistent. ]

I remember how to make curry and coffee—but that's from my "other life." There was a coffee that served both. [ Nnnn. ] Curry sounds good right now.

[odasaku]

[ he nods, listening closely to what akira says...so the curry skills come from his other life, too, huh?

and then akira actually mentions wanting curry and man, that's something odasaku can relate with. ]

Curry always sounds good. I actually brought some with me for my break...if you'd like to share.

[maskreant]

Really?

[ Akira looks genuinely surprised by the offer... Sure, he said that curry would hit the spot. In a way, he's a little homesick, missing anything familiar, but he doesn't mind adapting. It's just food, but he's hesitant anyway. Oda does still very much like a stranger to him, despite all the new info. ]

It's your lunch.

[odasaku]

I still have some at home and it's just half and half.

[ in fact, he goes back into the bar for about half a minute. when he comes out, he has a lunch bag and an extra plastic fork in his hand, which he hands to akira. ]

But I won't force you. If you don't want it, then that's fine, too.

[maskreant]

[ Ohhhh, noooo. When Oda comes back, Akira can smell the familiar aroma from here and it makes his mouth salivate. He isn't even hungry, but it's a nostalgic feeling that he misses... He's glad that he can feel like this, despite missing huge parts of his memory. ]

I'll just have whatever is left.

[ Best of both worlds. ]

[odasaku]

I'll give you half.

[ sorry akira, odasaku is incredibly stubborn and when he says akira's getting half of his lunch, it means he's getting half of his lunch!!

he takes a forkful, enjoying the spices of the curry sauce. once he swallows, he pushes the tupperware to akira. ]

At least try it.