[Prologue, Monday: Ann]

[doublecrows]

[Akechi follows wherever Ann leads, after their encounter near the tapestries. he's well-practiced in hiding his true feelings-- in shoving what he really thinks underneath a cheery, witty and charming mask-- which makes hiding the tension lining his shoulders really easy]

[thankfully]

[when they're alone, he's the first to speak]

Is everything okay, Takamaki?

Comments

[doublecrows]

[. . . Akechi has met people from different time periods. people from the 1800's, from worlds where common things like internet and electricity hadn't been invented yet. but for some reason, he never thought he'd run into a time disparity with someone he knew from home.]

[July, though. . . somewhere around the incident with Medjed, then. long before Akechi involved himself in the Phantom Thieves' business so directly. it explains so much. her lack of knowledge of his Persona, her confusion about him being here, and her. . . lack of wariness, which he now believes is genuine, and not a ploy to take him off guard]

[interesting. he can use this to his advantage. and what's more, it means he doesn't have to worry about her outing him. he can keep her alive, and user her trust to advance his own goals in this game]

[perfect]

[but even with those thoughts in his head, he droops a bit, his smile rueful and perhaps a little hurt]

I understand. It's all right, Takamaki. Even if you don't remember, I still consider you someone very important to me.

You're my teammate, and I intend to treat you as such.

[varas]

[ And Ann falls for it. Hook, line, sinker. He so resembles a kicked puppy that she's immediately falling all over herself to console him. ]

Thanks.

[ even with the faint prickling in her stomach, the faint no - don't - ]

Hey, I have an idea. Why don't we play a game to get to know each other better?

[ me: i'll end this thread next tag
also me: does this instead ]

[doublecrows]

[what]

[despite the performance, her suggestion truly takes him off guard]

What?

[WHAT!!]

What kind of game do you have in mind?

[varas]

Oh, it's really fun! Two truths and a lie... You ever heard of it?

[ SHE'S EXCITED ]

[doublecrows]

[AWK. . . but he forces a smile and a nod]

Ah, yes. I remember playing those types of games when I was younger. It is a good way of breaking the ice, as they say.

If it'll help us get to know each other better, then I'm on board.

[varas]

Iiii'll go first!

[ Although hiding it behind an exuberant, frivolous demeanor, part of Ann wants to see how well the genius teen detective can spot a lie. ]

One: I've lived in Finland, but I wasn't born there.
Two: My favourite subject in school is math.
Three: I kick ass at Super Smash Bros.

[ Two is the lie, but will he figure that out? ]

[doublecrows]

[oh my god this feels so. . . weird?? but okay. he's going along with it]

Is it number three?

[APPARENTLY, HE WILL NOT]

[varas]

Nope! You lose. And now, it's your turn.

[ it's okay, she's super pleased regardless ]

So, tell me three facts about you, but one of them has to be a lie.

[ he knows how to play??? ]

[doublecrows]

Oh. . . and you don't tell me which one was the lie when we're done? I see.

[he nods, satisfied with this! and then comes up with three for himself]

I enjoy cycling and bouldering on my time off. My favorite foods are spicy foods. I enjoy reading German philosophy.

[what a fuckin' nerd]

[the lie is number two, of course]

[varas]

[ But, because Ann's canon point is much earlier, she doesn't really catch on to the obvious lie. It's pancakes all over again. ]

German philosophy? Uh.

It's the third one, right?