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[nomorules]

Hey, Sakamoto Ryuji here.

I can't be the only one with ass kicking on the brain after that invisible dog bullshit. What's the consensus on fighting instructors around here? Did that turn out to be a thing?

If anyone's got the time show a few moves and still taking requests, I got one of my own. I'd appreciate a few tips if you feel like sharing. I'm talking about the badasses that know what they're doing, not just the make it up as you go kind (like me). Hate to say it, but the stuff we're facing in events is a little different from what I'm used to.

Dunno what I could trade for it, but I learn fast! And I'll think of something. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

PS: And if you're looking for Akira, don't worry. Nothing bad happened to him. He just went home. Sorry.

_{[The last bit is the real crux of the message and also the thorn in its side; bundling it in with the request lessens the sharp prick of it. Not by much, but some.]}



I | Exercise facilities + outer grounds

<sub>[Anyone with an eye for blond phantom thieves can usually spot Ryuji adhering to a runner's training schedule, a carry-over from home. Indoors in the weight room, outdoors on the grounds, casual long distance jogs, short distance drills--he's at it most days, alternating between staving off boredom and building on his strength.

Usually time following an event are cool down days, a period to let himself recover from the trial of the week. Not this time. He keeps his foot jammed on the gas pedal with the restlessness energy of someone who has something he has to face but is taking every detour to avoid it. The request for some self-defense pointers had been practical--if the Tartarus event taught him anything (and the Asgard event before that, and the zombie event before that), he could use them--but it's also fuel for the avoidance fire.

Usually there's room for a chat in between squats on the beach or a friendly wave on a run, but don't take it personally if he seems a bit standoffish today. He's distracted, brows set in a flat line, viciously pouring energy into his routine with a nice, healthy contempt for the ground or the horizon, whatever he happens to be staring at.

If someone catches his eye, though, he'll forcibly relax, offering a smile. It comes a beat too late to be effortless, but that's hardly out of place, right? They've all been through a lot coming out the other side of the event meat grinder.]</sub>

II | Training center

<sub>[Futaba. Morgana. Iwai. Yusuke. Ann. Makoto. Haru... Akira. How could he have thought this place felt small? With all of the people most familiar to him--people he'd shared the burden of events with, sat across the breakfast table with, lived with in the case of his two best friends--gone to fuck knows where, Wonderland feels infinitely massive and empty. He could handle this together. Alone, it's... it's hard. Harder than he imagined.

There's still Akechi, and isn't that the height of irony, to be the last man standing with Akechi Goro, out of everyone. He hesitates a while with phone in hand, Akechi's name in the To: field, but his hands aren't interested in sending more messages.

They want to make fists. They want to break.

Those in the training center will be privy to Ryuji, uncharacteristically stoic and grim-faced, slipping on a pair of gloves and squaring off with a punching bag with a frenetic violence to match. Either that punching bag insulted him, or someone didn't burn off quite enough energy climbing stairs in Tartarus.

The flurry is broken up only by a wince after a particularly hard punch. Peeling off his glove reveals a streak of red from split knuckles. Apparently someone also doesn't know when to quit.]</sub>

Fuck, that stings.

_{[Any gym rats handy with bandaids...? Alternatively, maybe you see him taking himself and his bloody hands for a walk to the clinic for something to wrap them with. He's probably not the only needing aftercare after that doozy of an event, even if his most recent war wounds are fresher.]}

III | Kitchen

<sub>[The thought of going back to his empty room in his empty section of hallway throbs worse than his bandaged knuckles. Suddenly it's like his first day in Wonderland all over again, not knowing what to do or where to park himself in a strange, unwelcoming environment.

He ends up in the kitchen, hungry but not really, searching the fridge and cupboards with a listless indecisiveness. He's probably standing in your way as you go to grab something--and will continue to stand in your way until prompted, or he notices you.]</sub>

--Oh, my bad.

_{[And he'll slide to the side to let you get to your business, smile apologetic.]}

Go ahead, I ain't really lookin' at anythin'.

IV | Wildcard

_{[Ryuji'll be going about business as usual in Wonderland post-event, so feel free to come up with your own starter around the mansion and/or elsewhere! Or hit me up for a different one if you're not feeling the locations/prompts.]}

Comments

[nomorules]

You've had friends here before who've showed up and left, haven't you? How did you know when they were gone for good?

I know when their stuff's gone and their devices won't connect Wonderland's revoked their all-access pass, but I guess I'm wondering when you stopped, you know. Waiting.

_{[Lingering around favorite spots in Wonderland worried that if you look away for too long, you might miss someone's return, or afraid to touch anything in a room in case the other half of its residents might pop back and notice it's different.]}

[eatsyourscience]

The first couple times, it took a week or two. After that, it was easier to accept it faster. Just seeing their rooms empty is enough now.

[It might be a way in which he's becoming complacent, but it saves him a lot of agonizing.]

[nomorules]

Is a week or two the limit or something?

[eatsyourscience]

Sometimes, people go home but come back, only now they're from another point in time. When that happens, they're usually gone about a week. What's why I would wait that long.
Waiting for two weeks is just wishful thinking.

[nomorules]

Right.

_{[Kinda bleak, but celebrating your six year anniversary is even bleaker. Ryuji might've made a mistake on this one--this isn't much more cheery than talking about Akechi.]}

Guess I'm still in the wishful thinking phase.

[eatsyourscience]

How long as it been since he left?

[nomorules]

It's been a few days since his room went bare bones.

_{[Easier to say the room did it. Akira wouldn't have emptied it of its own accord. Akira wouldn't have just found the exit door and left him here.]}

[eatsyourscience]

A lot of your friends used to be here. I know that's hard when they're gone.
Minato and I are still here with you, though.

[Not a lot of consolation, he thinks, but he'll just throw that out there.]

[nomorules]

Aw, are you trying to say nice shit to cheer me up, Seta? You're a softie under that stoic act. Thanks.

_{[He appreciates the sentiment that he's not alone, either here or in his feelings.]}

Wonderland's a bitch and a half, but we wouldn't've met like this if not for coming here. The Phantom Thieves used to be the only friends I had, but not anymore.

[eatsyourscience]

I'm glad we met, too.

[LINK ESTABLISHED.]

[nomorules]

Now you're just buttering me up.

[eatsyourscience]

It's never failed before.

[nomorules]

You talking about me, or other people?

[eatsyourscience]

Ever.

[And it will not fail this time.]

[nomorules]

Big words, bro! Sometimes you remind me of Akira with confidence coming out of your pours like that.

_{[It's a good thing.]}

[eatsyourscience]

I guess we're both just naturals.

[It is big talk. He hasn't always been like this. It took awhile.]

[nomorules]

And having extra time to practice can't hurt.

_{[Every now and again he almost forgets Souji's lived a lot more years than them, despite how young he looks.]}

Must be a bonus of packing multiple Personas!

[eatsyourscience]

It's more confusing than you'd think.

[It's a lot of voices in his head. Though he thinks having only one there influencing him would be strange to him now.]

[nomorules]

You and Akira ever get to compare notes?

_{[Their illustrious leader's one of a kind on that front--if you exclude Akechi, which he is.]}

[eatsyourscience]

No. I only got the chance to talk to him once, when he first arrived.

[nomorules]

That's too bad. Bet you two would've had some interesting stuff to talk about. But you guys might get another shot at it.

_{[It's not that he's wishing Akira'll return to this shithole so much as he'd like to believe the people here will have other chances to see each other. Willingly, not just because they're trapped together.]}

[eatsyourscience]

Well, I'm probably still alive at home. We might meet someday.

[He's going to be five years older than them, but that doesn't really make much of a difference.]

[nomorules]

_{[--Okay, tap the brake.]}

"Probably"?

[eatsyourscience]

You never know.

[nomorules]

Yeah, I do know. I know that's kinda a morbid thing to worry about.

We will meet someday. How's that?