maskormenacelogs | we held the globe and made it turn

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we held the globe and made it turn

WHO: HARU, YUSUKE & SHINJIRO
WHERE: Yusuke & Shinjiro's place.
WHEN: Afternoon of 4/12.
WHAT: Scoping out her friend's digs and meeting a doggo.
WARNINGS: None, I hope.

[ Haru has already forgotten just how warm Heropa is, the humidity in the air forcing her to tug her collar for air as long as she's directly under the sun. She relishes the shade of the trees as she finally makes it down the sidewalk leading toward the government housing, and even though she's worn a blue dress, forgoing stockings, she can still feel herself burning up a little and growing thirstier for a cool drink. She hates to impose on others, but she knows she's going to have to ask for water by the time she reaches Yusuke and Shinjiro's shared housing (if they can't tell by how flushed her face is). She should have gotten a hat, she thinks, but a limited budget here means limiting spending.

It's not long before she makes it up the pathway, heels clicking against pavement. She heads up to the front door, debating if she should text Yusuke to let him know she's outside. She decides against it, knocking gently to indicate her arrival. In her other hand she holds a small container with fresh apple slices inside, a treat she's brought along for Koromaru. ]

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[ It takes perhaps a moment or two before she gets an answer— Haru can probably hear the excited barking before the door opens. The door opens to Shinjiro's serious expression, the glare a natural default that smooths out to something marginally more friendly when he sees who it is. For his part, he seems to have taken less note of the weather when dressing. Despite the warming weather and being indoors, he's wearing his usual pea coat and beanie. ]

Hey.

[ He moves aside to let her enter, though Koromaru appears to have other ideas. He barks up at her, a wide doggy grin on his face as his tail wags back and forth. ]

...I think Koro-chan's excited to have company. He's used to more people being around.

[ Yusuke is right behind him, eager to welcome an old-new friend into his home. There are paintings everywhere, and it's a lot cleaner than one would expect from a house of four men randomly thrown together (or three, and one purposefully adopted), but it still feels lived in. Definitely a home and not a temporary solution. ]

Please, come in. Can I get you anything? Tea, coffee?

[ Haru only gets a glimpse of the art before she's distracted by Koromaru, letting out a delightful noise as he appears. She squats so she's at near eye level with him, reaching a hand out to pet his fuzzy head. She shakes the container of apple slices to indicate they're all for him. ]

Hello everyone! And hello, Koro-chan! You're a handsome dog.

[ She beams at Yusuke and Shinjiro, standing erect again. ]

If you could, an iced tea would be great. It's a bit humid.

[ Koromaru barks again, clearly delighted by the attention as she pets him. Shinjiro smiles at that, the edges of his eyes and corners of his mouth softening. ]

Looks like you've got a new friend.

It must be great to have a dog around all the time.

[ She holds out the tupperware for Shinjiro now. ]

I brought apples for him. I think these were alright, yes?

[ And her eyes begin to scan the house decor, curious as to what she'll find. ]

[ Shinjiro nods slightly as he takes the tupperware. ]

I was glad he showed up. C'mon, Koro-chan— [ He glances down at the dog. ] Thank her for the treats.

[ Koromaru barks happily, and Shinjiro gives him a brief pat on the head before opening the container and giving him a slice of apple.

As far as the decor goes, there's a distinct chance entire areas have been taken over by Yusuke's artwork. ]

[ Speaking of which, he's back, with three glasses of iced tea, with entirely unnecessary garnishes of lemon wedges and mint leaves.

Yes, much of the decor is thanks to Yusuke, on the walls, anyway. There's notable, painting sized spaces where something used to be but has since been sold, spaced out in a satisfying way, most of the ones he keeps downstairs are pleasant and not awfully challenging - landscapes, portraits of his friends done with or without their permission. There are a few that are more abstract, dark and vibrant patterns intertwined in some sort of fiery hellscape...some kind of boiling water related self portrait...Adachi bleeding out on the grass...just standard stuff. ]

Jaime has two more dogs, he must be out with them right now.

[ Haru is parched. She gladly accepts the glass, needing to take a long sip before she can say anything. As she swallows, enjoying the fresh and cool taste of mint, she can already feel it helping to cool her off. Her face isn't as red as it was moments ago. ]

Thank you, Yusuke-kun. This is delicious.

[ She holds the glass with both hands now. ]

Your house is lovely! I'm a bit jealous of all this wonderful...

[ ... that's a portrait of Adachi bleeding out. ]

... art.

[ Shinjiro takes a sip of the iced tea as well, though he quickly finds a place to set down the glass and shove his hands back into his pockets. ]

The walls are never boring here.

[ Shinjiro's gaze only flickers briefly towards the paining of Adachi. Knowing the context only makes it more morbid, and he'd rather Not. ]

[ Should he be offended by the hesitation? Yusuke's eyes narrow slightly, as he decides, but settles on no. He'll let it go this time. ]

Thank you. I did a portrait of the team you might like.

Not with Yusuke-kun's art! Oh, his use of colour is so lovely.

[ A small and delighted sigh as she looks over the paintings (minus Adachi) again. She hopes to fill her own place, temporary as it is, with something so it feels more like a home than a random place of shelter. ]

Did you? [ A sidelong glance at Yusuke. ] May I see it?

You are too kind.

[ But, Haru has a refined taste that he can trust. He smiles, humbly accepting the compliment. ]

Of course. It is in the hallway upstairs.

[ Shinjiro glances between the two. ]

I'll leave you two alone.

[ He feels a little like a third wheel, and besides— ]

It's time to take Koromaru for a walk.

You're leaving so soon, Aragaki-kun? Please stay.

[ She understands dogs have needs to be tended to, but they just met in person finally! Haru looks him over with a pleading look, but it's also understanding enough to know that sometimes people need to go off and do their own thing. ]

He sees it every day. They won't be gone long.

[ Shinji usually feels awkward about something, so he can only assume that's the case now. ]

[ Yusuke's got good instincts. He nods briefly at Yusuke, acknowledging what he said, then looks at Haru. ]

Yeah, it should only be ten or fifteen minutes. C'mon, Koro-chan.

[ Koromaru's head turns to look at Yusuke and Haru for a moment, then he barks and follows Shinjiro out the door. ]

I hope that you'll rejoin us soon.

[ She waves to Koromaru. ]

Bye bye, Koro-chan!

[ And then, glancing at Yusuke: ]

Upstairs, you said?

Yes!

[ Yusuke leads his fellow thief up the stairs, to the wall between the doors to Yusuke and Shinjiro's rooms. There's a large portrait of all the (original) Phantom Thieves there, done not long after his arrival here, from back before he was truly settled in, when he was still scared he might forget their faces. Turns out, he was silly to worry, everyone's popped into this world, if only briefly.

Except Ann, but he couldn't possibly forget her.

Everyone is happy, laughing, stuffed into a booth at a coffee shop - Leblanc, of course. Ryuji's dumb grin, Futaba's ice cream cone stacked above her head, Haru is leaned clone to Morgana, like she's telling him a secret. Gang's all here, sun shining through the window onto their faces.

Well. Goro's not in it. ]

I did this early on. Last June, I think.

[ Haru takes her time observing the painting, as one is supposed to do with art. She takes in the colours, the composition, the Yusuke's attention to detail, and she beams. Her head turns to look at Yusuke with a pleased expression. ]

It's perfect. Is this all from memory? Your detailing is exquisite. It's almost like I'm back there.

[ She hasn't been away from home long enough like the others to begin missing it, but the painting certainly makes he nostalgic. ]

Mostly from memory. Akira and Futaba were here, by then.

[ He can't help but beam at Haru's praise. Here, with the automatic fame of being an imPort, he can never be quite sure whether people appreciate his work for what it is, or if they just want a piece of memorabilia. He trusts her, though. ]

It's wonderful...

[ It's hard not to take a second look, trying to make out any details she's missed.

A thoughtful hum. ]

You've improved. O-oh! Not that you were never talented, it's just you've gotten even better!

[ Haru lets out a whimsical sigh. ]

Everyone has grown in the time they've been here... I feel so behind, to be truthful.

It has been a year. [ That's a pretty long time, especially for an eighteen year old. Of course he's changed. ] It must be hard for you to adjust to, being met here by your friends who are different now...if I could have brought you all with me at once, I would.

Aw... thank you, Yusuke-kun.

[ Her cheeks glow a soft pink for a bit. ]

Even if this is an adjustment for me, I'm happy that everyone has been able to live their lives and find happiness away from home.

[ Happiness...it still seems strange to consider. Futaba's learned to function in a society that was brand new to her, Goro is alive with a second chance, he and Akira have...whatever it is they have. Yusuke's fallen in love, found a renewed sense of purpose after regaining his Persona here, he can do what he loves without being under the shadow of Madarame. There's been more than enough bad to even that out, but he's happier here than he's ever been. Maybe that just says a lot about how he grew up. ]

This is home, now. I'm sure that seems strange to you, but that is how I feel, at least.

[ He can't speak for the others. Except...Goro, who has nothing to return to, but he's not about to bring that up now. ]

[ That's something Haru wants to feel eventually, too. Or at least similarly. While she misses home, the hard truth is that she has no one to return to in her own household. The maids are there, yes, but she's never been particularly close to them. The company is in good hands, so she doesn't have to fret anymore about that.

There's nothing right now besides her friends, but with Akira going home she worries they may not see much of each other anymore. ]

Hardly so. I think I can understand. You have all been here so long... you have had to build a life for yourselves in the meantime.

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we held the globe and made it turn

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