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I hope so-

[Suddenly his phone vibrates. And of course it's a text from his older self.]

It goes without saying that the Shadow matters, too. And obviously, fuck "Dr. Macaroni."

Oh my fucking god...

[He shows the text to his other self, more than a little miffed.]

Oh, for....

[Obviously the solution is to send off a message to their group chat, Akechi Alliance.]

Goro Akechi (Magpie): You know, the tactically advantageous move would be to let me forget you're listening at all times.

Goro Akechi (Crow): I saw an opportunity to embarrass my younger self and I took it as punishment for his little escapade.

Goro Akechi (Raven): For your information, I was very helpful! Magpie even said as much. You should be thanking me.

Goro Akechi (Crow): You had no guarantee that it would work. It's good that it did, but there are no circumstances under which pursuing something so dangerous alone is advisable. Even Magpie was apprehensive, and for good reason.

[The younger Akechi sighs and grumbles and sips more soup because fuck this.]

Goro Akechi (Magpie): I was cautious, yes. [Not apprehensive.] But since it *did* work out so spectacularly, perhaps we should trust to Raven's untamed recklessness to investigate in future. Goro Akechi (Magpie): I'm not serious, of course. It was extremely stupid and endangered everything else you wish to accomplish.

[And yes, then he winks deliberately at younger-him. Why? To wind up Crow, that's why.]

[Oh, that wink has him grinning. He can play along with this.]

Goro Akechi (Raven): You're the responsible adult! You should have known I'd wait until you fell asleep to enact my master plan.

Goro Akechi (Raven): Also I think Magpie likes me better. We resonate with each other.

Goro Akechi (Crow): I am thou, thou art I.

Goro Akechi (Raven): And I'm the one enjoying soup that he made for me, while you're

[...]

Goro Akechi (Crow): Currently in your room, keeping Hawk company as he sleeps so he doesn't wake up alone.

[Huh. Trouble in paradise. He takes a long sip of his soup, then sets it down on the bedside table so he can use both hands.]

Goro Akechi (Magpie): Children, children. Behave. Goro Akechi (Magpie): Are we calling Maruki "Dr. Macaroni" now, by the way? Is that what I'm to take from this discussion?

Edited 2023-09-23 01:02 (UTC)

It was an honest mistake! Autocorrect betrayed me.

[Huff. And he knows Crow will have heard that, so he doesn't feel the need to text that into the chat as well.]

Goro Akechi (Crow): I think it would be amusing, if only to see how he reacts. Though I admit, he's been rather scarce of late. Perhaps our first meeting intimidated him into hiding, seeing as I am from his world.

Goro Akechi (Raven): We should kidnap him and force him to talk. >:)

Goro Akechi (Crow): Is that a smiley I see?

Goro Akechi (Raven): Don't get used to it. I wanted to better evoke my feelings. My point still stands, though.

If you want to better evoke your feelings, you should write better. [But he grins, one of the little ones that touches nothing but the corners of his mouth.]

Goro Akechi (Magpie): Do you two realise you're almost like a married couple? Functioning as a single unit, as you do. It's beautiful to see.

I'm perfectly adept at writing! You saw my notes.

[GrumblegrumbleWHAT.

He almost drops his phone. Almost.

Then an idea hits. He snickers.]

I thought you two were closer to that, to be honest. You do spend an awful lot of time together, and you butt heads quite often, and you both frequently fuss over me. What am I, your child?

[Wtf? "Oh, stop", he's about to say...]

[... but then he, too, has a better idea.]

Well, that's up to your older self. I don't think he's interested in that kind of thing, to be quite honest. He's so engaged with what's going on back home.

[Where's that soup? He really needs something to put in his mouth.]

Ah, yes. His beloved boyfriend whom he pines for even in his sleep, clinging to his pillow and sometimes, dare I say, moaning it on occasion with deep, passionate longing.

[The screen flashes to life with a message stating that Crow is typing. It starts and stops multiple times.

Back in the room, Crow ponders, what would Ren do?

...

He knows exactly what Ren would do.

And then the unexpected happens.]

Goro Akechi (Crow): Why not?

Goro Akechi (Crow): I don't think Ren would be that opposed to sharing with a Detective Prince. He might even find it rather hot.

[The phone shakes in the younger Akechi's grasp.]

What the FUCK?

[Crow is trying so hard not to laugh. There is a sleeping child in the room, after all.]

Edited 2023-09-23 01:39 (UTC)

What the fuck? [Yeah, he almost fumbles his grip on his own phone too. Not to mention the soup. Lucky the mug is half empty.]

Look at this shit. Look at him trying to catch me out. [He rattles off a quick reply.]

Goro Akechi (Magpie): The things that come out of your fingers. What are you going to do if I accept?

I'd be careful. Sometimes, loath as I am to say it, it is best not to fan the flames.

[Because holy shit, this is... certainly a thing that is happening.

He's just going to have more soup as he witnesses this trashfire burning.]

Goro Akechi (Crow): Rather big if, knowing you. Would your pride even allow it?

Edited 2023-09-23 01:47 (UTC)

[Yeah, he really tries to keep a straight face here, and ends up looking roughly as if he wants to poke his upper lip up his nose. If he just wanted the experience, another version of himself is probably a good option.

But he doesn't. He really doesn't. Except he also doesn't want to lose.]

Goro Akechi (Magpie): You think you can get me by appealing to my pride? Goro Akechi (Magpie): So let me just get this straight: Goro Akechi (Magpie): The game is gay chicken, correct? First to fold loses?

Edited 2023-09-23 01:56 (UTC)

[What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck? He can't be seeing this right. This must be a joke. His voice cracks as he protests.]

You cannot be serious. Think of your dignity! You have so much more to live for!

Also he's me so this is all incredibly weird.

[On the other end, Crow is staring at the screen in deep contemplation. What would Ren do?

He'd probably sit there on the couch with him, pat his shoulder, and then say, "You're not gonna let him win, right?"

They're secure in their relationship, but even so, this is all... something, all right.]

Goro Akechi (Crow): They do say that pride cometh before the fall. I also don't make bets if I'm not confident I will win.

Goro Akechi (Raven): And your boyfriend would approve?

Goro Akechi (Crow): He'd find it hilarious. He'd very much find the prospect of pushing a "scary Akechi's" buttons to see what makes him tick very, very entertaining. He's a menace.

[Sad to say, the kid has a point. There's no way he can so much as gesture a this isn't happening without older-him getting tipped off. And it is incredibly weird, and getting weirder by the second.]

Goro Akechi (Magpie): Younger-you is right. This isn't an appropriate conversation for us to be having in front of him. Plus, Hawk is asleep next to you, isn't he?

Edited 2023-09-23 02:07 (UTC)

Thank you.

[God. Finally, the adults have some sense! He'll have more soup, while Crow works on his reply.]

Goro Akechi (Crow): He is, yes. But you see, this was my ultimate gambit. As I said, I only bet if I'm confident I will win. Victory has never tasted sweeter.

Goro Akechi (Magpie): You can think that if you like. Personally, I think not traumatising your younger self, and indirectly yourself, is a win to me.

[And then he glances to younger-them, as he types a message with a ten-second expiry.] Turn off your phone.

Goro Akechi (Magpie): Personally, I can't believe you were so desperate to get into my pants.

[Okay, he knows the game. But he can't resist.]

...Okay. If you insist.

[Off his phone goes, but oh.

Oh.

Crow is gonna bite right back, sending a personal text:

You're the one who made the 'offer.' What does that say about you?

For some reason, the younger Akechi can't help but wonder what's going on here. What tomfoolery awaits?]

[Ah, so they're in private. Fine.] I can't believe he's still going.

You need to be patient with me, honey. I've had a hell of a day.

[Bitey bite bite.]

It looked like you texted something to him. Are you sure you should be poking the proverbial bear? Keep at it, and he might get serious. That man is very clearly affection-deprived...

[And he says this knowing fully well that his older self will hear this. He's weaponizing their memory link for good!

And Crow still texts back.]

You know, dear a growing boy like our little Raven really shouldn't be staying up so late. Perhaps you should take his phone so he doesn't spend the whole night texting under the covers.

Edited 2023-09-23 02:40 (UTC)

Trust me, affection deprivation is something we cope with very well.

[As he's currently illustrating. He doesn't look up from his phone.]

Are you afraid of him? That's not like you.

Perhaps you do, but he's the one pining in his sleep. And hugging his pillow, at times. Whatever they have going, it had better be worth it...

[Perhaps if a younger version of their Ren were to arrive... Hm.

Well, at least he'd be able to investigate. For science.

Crow's still at it.]

He has a headache and has already texted both Rose and Akira-kun. Akira-kun thinks our memory link is unfair, by the way. It's not as though I purposely use it half the time.

This time is an exception.

[That's ... an annoyingly good point. Hm.]

Plus, I'm sure you can hear what he's telling me. But I'll keep it between all of us. [The pillow.]

He wants me to take your phone.

[Just... looking up. This is your chance to hand it over, Raven.]

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