001 (How does one formalities?)

[acceptedlife]

[Takeshi has been... very careful. Since the last time he replied to something on the linkshell. However, he can't help but have a feeling of dread as August rolled in. Maybe he's just paranoid. But in the middle of the night, there is a text appearing on the list from him.]

Out of curiosity, what does everyone think of this invitation to the Empire? (Also what does someone wear to those kinds of things?)

Locked to [AU] Reno
Found something interesting in the 'Width. Be visiting soon.

Locked to Nagito Komaeda
Said I'd message you when I had something. I finished the map, so I'm sending you that now. Expect the other thing before some of us accept that most gracious invitation.

[Attached is crystallismap.jpeg and wor.jpeg. It's far rougher than what the official images look like, more like outlines that have been erased and redrawn until it seemed right and then redrawn over with ink. He's no ultimate artist (or any artist, for that matter), but it's passable and isn't inaccurate.]

Locked to Kenichi Nakagawa
Hey dad. Found something of interest you should see. I'll be between Arito and Yun'Ashia for most of the month working on adding to it, but lmk when'd be good to visit.

Comments

[acceptedlife]

[Dad.

Dad no.

Dad, no.]

Dare I ask how much that's gonna cost?

[failtsuninari]

That's for me to know and you to never find out.

[A pause and he breaks into a smile.]

Can't a dad be allowed to treat his son from time to time, Takeshi? Besides, I managed to get a good deal with the tailor. It'll be ready to pick up the day after.

[He had been taking more shifts with his airship piloting job, but thankfully he finds the work to be rather satisfying.]

gmail is a jerk and I didn't see you tagged me i'm so sorry ;a;

[acceptedlife]

[The look Takeshi gives him is one of slight horror before he just... relents. Realizing that someone isn't going to let that go.]

Fiiine.... [S i g h.] But I'm buying lunch after.

[And probably dinner, too.]

no worries

[failtsuninari]

[Dad: 1, Takeshi: 0.]

Sounds like a deal to me. It's really the least I can do for you since your mom got a headstart on family bonding time with you over me.

[acceptedlife]

[dad y u r liek dis.]

Well, guess it's your turn now. [He stretches a little, before getting back to work on his notes.] Besides, it's still better than when she decided my bedroom window was a better option to knock on than the front door. To deliver a birthday cake.

[what the hell mom he could have been changing clothes and no one needs to see all his scars.]

[failtsuninari]

What can we say? It's part of our parental obligation to embarrass or go out of our way to all out for our kids now and then. The twins won't be i immune to this either when they get older. Its stuff like that makes the memory stick more to you in our opinion.

[Sorry if you were expecting normal parent things, but welcome to the Nakagawa family, Takeshi.]

[acceptedlife]

[Takeshi stops, blinking as he looks up at his dad again. It's a very good thing he has no idea what a normal family looks like. Because honestly? This is his normal.

Guess he'll fit right in, after all.]

Note to self: Close the curtains when I change clothes, then.

[...No that totally isn't an innocent and amused glint in his eyes. His eyes can't lie.]

[failtsuninari]

...Wait, you seriously change without the curtain pulled closed? Scandalous.

[Eh, normal is overrated. There are a few throw pillows within arms reach, Takeshi. Just saying.]

That probably was just a one-time thing since that was the first birthday of yours she got to celebrate. So I think you'll be safe from that. For now at least.

[acceptedlife]

[He shrugs, acting completely innocent before lightly tossing a throw pillow at Kenichi.]

Nope. [Not anymore.] I shared a dorm for a year with three other guys. You get used to a lack of privacy.

And yeah, I figured. Still, that was definitely a surprise I didn't see coming.

[failtsuninari]

Nice try.

[He may have lost his vector manipulating soul power, but he can still catch an incoming pillow.]

Ah, that makes sense. I never did try rooming with people before landing here. There were moments for me where privacy didn't exist. I kept getting put under house arrest because I'd find ways of sneaking out of the manor undetected. I couldn't help it since I refused to follow in your grandpa's footsteps for the longest time. Hell, I even swore I'd never get married or have kids but uh, you know how that went.

[acceptedlife]

[Look. He dumped everything into white mage, okay. Don't judge him, Dad.]

The heart is funny like that. Deciding on one thing when we sometimes say another. [He chuckles.] Though don't we all want to follow our own paths, anyway?