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batsutousai.bsky.social
🏳️‍🌈🦇Batsutousai🦇🏳️‍🌈
@batsutousai.bsky.social
83 followers 59 following 440 posts
Reader, Writer, Crocheter, & All-Time Nerd.
Eternally 30; self-identifing with she/they, but will answer to any pronouns
I live under a rock, because they can't find me here.
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batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 25/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3!
#jjw
Akechi finds a way to ensure Kamoshida won't attack Ren again.

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
Kamoshida was waiting inside, leaning against the wall near the school store window. He looked rough, like he’d gone a week without sleep. Since Ren wasn’t the only one visibly surprised by his state, he guessed it was new. And, given the reason Morgana hadn’t been with him yesterday, Ren had a pretty good idea about who was to blame for his state. Still, he waited until after they’d dropped Makoto and Haru at their classrooms, gone all the way to the top floor to drop Sumire at her classroom, and then split from Ryuji and Shiho on their floor, before asking Ann and Morgana, “What, exactly, did you four do in the castle?” Morgana, helpfully, just cackled. Ann turned in her seat and leant one elbow on his desk, resting her chin in her palm. “Jealous?” she asked sweetly. Ren took a moment to consider that, then shrugged and said, “Satanael can ground the bank.” She stared at him for a moment, then leant back and groaned. “Why does that have to sound so cool?” “Did Kaneshiro piss himself?” Morgana asked, sounding delighted. “Maybe a little,” Ren allowed, because he’d definitely panicked a bit at the threat to smash the bank. “Come on, trade.” Ann huffed and settled back into her previous position, looking mildly less smug. “We honestly were just going to wreck the dungeons, but then Mona suggested something interesting might happen if we wrecked the treasure room. It wasn’t hard to get up there, we just had to wait for the entrance hall to be empty and go through the back hallway behind that stupid portrait of him. Way faster.”
November 18, 2025 at 12:04 AM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Second side-story for my NG+ series is now up, titled "If It Be Truth, For Truth's Sake". It's Ohya's PoV through the events of chapter 24.
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/74277281
“Lala-chan,” Ichiko said, “I’m going to fail those kids.” Because, shit, what was a washed-up reporter like her supposed to do? She’d made her name chasing after politicians and revealing their mistresses and drug addictions and misuse of political funds, had got dropped down to chasing after fashion trends and fluff pieces because her partner got caught up in something deeper than Ichiko would likely ever understand. She chased the story, because that’s what she knew to do. The pieces that would pop, that would sell papers in the moment and be forgotten tomorrow. She didn’t have the skills to write this sort of piece. She couldn’t even promise them it would get published. She was going to end up doing, to those kids, what every other adult who had listened for two minutes had done. Lala hummed. “You know,” she said, “I knew this young woman, once. She raved about a piece her mentor had done, said she was going to make him proud, one day, write the sort of article that stayed with you, haunted the readers for days and months and years.” “She was a moron,” Ichiko groused, because being reminded of her early days, before she’d lost everything, did not do her any favours. “I don’t think she was,” Lala said, before a gentle hand scooped under Ichiko’s head, forcing her to sit up straight and meet Lala’s dark gaze. “I think she’s just scared. I think she’s been beaten down and lied to, told that there’s nothing she can do to change her fate, and no real future left waiting for her.” Ichiko swallowed and looked away. “I think,” Lala said, gentle, “that she is just like those kids.” Something shuddered down her spine, and something else felt like it was fluttering in her chest, beating against the cage of her ribs. “They’ve found their courage, because you were willing to listen. I wonder, Ichiko-chan, where you will find yours.” AO3 page for the fic. Summary: Side-story to Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters). Ohya finds the strength to rise up from her own slump and fights for the stories of those students who had entrusted them to her. Relationship Tags: Lala Escargot & Ohya Ichiko, Persona 5 Protagonist & Ohya Ichiko, Minor or Background Relationship(s), Akechi Goro/Persona 5 Protagonist Character Tags: Ohya Ichiko, Lala Escargot, Persona 5 Protagonist Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Time Travel, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Implied/Referenced Suicide, canon typical subject matter, protective adults
November 16, 2025 at 7:12 AM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 24/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3!
#jjw
Today, we rob a bank

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
“And you must be the little sister he’s always talking about.” “Yup! Sakura Futaba,” Futaba said, offering out one hand for a shake, which Lala dutifully returned, clearly amused. “What’s he saying about me? Only good stuff, I hope,” she added, side-eyeing Ren when he stepped up next to her to grab one of the waters and take a sip. “Mostly about your expensive figure habits,” Lala admitted. “Yes! Because he owes me, like, three—” Ren turned to stare at her. Futaba froze, and then let out a loud, put-upon sigh. “Fine, only two.” “Futaba,” Ren croaked. She whined, “Scaring me is worth another one!” Ren shook his head, then held up a single finger, while Lala chuckled. “Fine,” she muttered. “But you have to get me the ball-jointed Pink Argus with the sparkly light arrows and the high-polish metallics. I need her. Sojiro keeps telling me no.” Ren huffed, because he was relatively certain that figure was out of production, and was going to cost him a large chunk of his appropriated yen to find in mint condition, which would be her preference, he knew. Then again, he couldn’t really imagine many things more deserving of blowing the conspiracy’s money on, than an over-priced collector’s item for Futaba.
November 14, 2025 at 10:58 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 23/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3!
#jjw
Kamoshida warning!

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
He didn’t realise he was shaking, until he was trying to pull out his mobile, and Morgana whispered a worried, “Ren?” “I’m fine,” Ren whispered back, because he was. His pride was a little battered, maybe—he really should have clocked Kamoshida before he got that close to him—but he had survived far worse than Kamoshida getting a little handsy and calling him a slur. That said, he also wasn’t stupid enough to not warn the others, so he opened the chat for just the Shujin students—no point in worrying Akechi or Yusuke, but there was nothing he could do about Futaba’s vouyeristic tendencies—and typed out a quick, ‘Kamoshida warning’ Ann flinched ahead of him and immediately twisted to look over her shoulder. “Are you okay?” she whispered, even as the others flooded the chat with that same question. 'I’m fine,’ he put in chat. 'Worried about Ann Shiho Haru tho’ Ann let out a quiet, dismayed sound, and then had to scramble to hide her mobile when Usami decided that meant she needed to answer a maths question, which Ren had to help her with. When it was safe to look back at the chat, he found Makoto had taken charge, ordering, 'No one leaves the grounds until clubs are out. Ann & I will attend the volleyball practise. Ren & Ryuji split yourselves between Haru & Sumire.’
November 10, 2025 at 10:32 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 22/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3!
#jjw
Madarame's exhibit and a date

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
“Perhaps,” Ren said, before Haru could continue to bait Akechi in front of witnesses, “we could view the art?” “Sensei, are you feeling quite alright?” Yusuke asked, as Madarame was starting to look even more pale. Madarame let out a laugh that had a distinctly panicked edge to it. “Oh, I’m afraid even we old hats can get nervous on opening days, but don’t worry about me, my boy. Why don’t you show your friends around?” “If you’re certain, Sensei,” Yusuke agreed, sounding uncertain; the picture of a concerned mentee. “Quite, Yusuke, thank you,” Madarame agreed, and then stepped away, towards signs indicating public toilets for use. They all watched after him for a moment, before turning back towards Yusuke, who was definitely fighting a smirk. “Kitagawa, what did you do to that man?” Akechi asked, tone mild, but lacking the plastic edge. “There’s a painting of me in here, isn’t there?” Ren guessed. Yusuke’s mouth turned up at the edges and his eyes took on a distinct glint. “I told him the image came to me in a dream,” he said, with just a hint of smugness. “It is not my fault he didn’t ask who the subject was.” “Nice,” Shiho said, while Ann held up a hand for a high five, which Yusuke didn’t hesitate to complete.
November 7, 2025 at 10:42 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 21/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3!
#jjw
We're a little delayed with the boundaries talk, lol, but they got there.

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
‘Sakura has informed me that any punishments must first go through a review board of herself and either Sakamoto or Okumura.’ Ren groaned and dropped his too-hot face into his hands; of course Futaba would decide to stick her nose into things. 'Did I overstep, in my teasing?’ Akechi asked. Ren sighed and tried to think about how to respond to that, settling on, 'No’ “Ren,” Morgana said, disapproving. His mobile rang, bringing up the contact image of a crow that he’d set for Akechi, and Ren sighed and answered, “Goro?” “I find it’s significantly harder to tell when you’re lying to me over chat,” Akechi said flatly, and Ren winced, caught. “Did I overstep?” “I don’t know,” Ren admitted, the honesty tasting sour. “I don’t… I’m not, opposed, necessarily, to the idea of rewards for success and punishments for failure. I just…” “You have been tortured, and I am not known for my care,” Akechi said flatly. That…wasn’t wrong, but it also wasn’t the whole of it.
November 3, 2025 at 11:09 AM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Happy Halloween & Blessed Samhain! 🎃🦇 May I tempt you with a god of death? ☠👻
Chapter 20/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3!
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
“You and your obsession with feeding me,” Akechi muttered, rolling his eyes. “I’m fattening you up for Christmas dinner,” Ren retorted. Akechi let out one of his slightly startled laughs and lightly kicked Ren’s ankle, while Ren flashed him a grin. “Dad taught him well,” Futaba said, before letting out a little, “Mwehehe.” “Your father,” Akechi said flatly, “I might actually believe is fattening me up for some nefarious purpose.” “Nah.” Futaba shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t think Dad ever really hated you. Maybe when Joker had to play dead, but, still, we knew who you were answering to, by then, and Dad knew Shady McShade already and doesn’t like him.” “ ‘Shady Mc'—” Akechi closed his eyes and took a deep breath, while Futaba twisted to muffle her cackle in Ren’s shoulder. “Your utterly baffling habit of picking out inexplicable terms—” “Okay, no, he wears those stupid orange shades everywhere. It is shady as all hell,” Futaba insisted. “Does he wear them in his big old office like he’s scared of the overhead lights?” Akechi stared at her for a moment, then deadpanned, “I will never get that mental image out of my head.” “You’re welcome!” “You adopted her,” Akechi complained to Ren. Ren smiled. “I know. Best choice I ever made.” “Oh my god, no, allergies,” Futaba said, and covered her face with her hands. “How do you just say that?” Ren snickered, and felt significantly better about life when he saw Akechi’s mouth twitch, like he was suppressing a smile.
October 31, 2025 at 8:54 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 19/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3!
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
“Oh? You don’t look like you’ll be much use in a fight,” Okumura pointed out. Ren hummed. “I was under the impression that the intention was to avoid the fight entirely, Okumura-san.” Okumura scoffed. “My point stands, boy,” he said, even as Haru quietly chastised, “Father.” Ren just blinked at him, trying to look unassuming and bland and not like he was a criminal who knew all of Okumura’s dirty little secrets and didn’t like him. Haru stepped forward and caught Ren’s free arm. “I trust Ren,” she declared, before turning a pretty, innocent smile on her father. “I will see you tonight, Father.” Okumura let out an unconvinced noise, but he got back into the car without arguing his point further. Ren turned them towards the school, Haru still holding onto his arm, like she had in Kichijoji, and was only vaguely surprised to find they had accumulated a crowd. Most of them were the standard gawkers who happened to come this way, and they moved on when the potential spectacle ended, but there were a couple of girls and a boy who didn’t, all eyeing either Haru or her arm in Ren’s with undisguised loathing. As they walked closer, one of them loudly said, “Look at this little slut. She can’t be satisfied with Goro-sama, so she’s hanging all over other boys.” Haru’s hand tightened around Ren’s arm. “I wonder,” Ren mused loudly enough to carry ahead of them, “how long it would take Akechi to find a body.” And then he smiled, wide and nasty. The group fled. Haru huffed a quiet laugh, her grip loosening on his arm. “Ren,” she said, tone chiding. “They deserved it,” Morgana yowled from inside his bag. Ren hummed. “You know,” he said, “it’s actually nice to have a use for my shitty reputation, for once.”
October 27, 2025 at 10:09 AM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 18/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3!
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
“Hey, Iwai-san? Can we take a picture with a couple of the guns? It might get you more business!” “I don’t think the people who follow you are the sort who come looking for airsoft guns,” Ren muttered. “Shut up or buy me a gun,” Ann retorted. “I’ll buy you the gun,” Ren said, because they could afford to get at least one new weapon for everyone on the team, as many times as they’d been in the lower levels of Mementos recently, “I just don’t understand the point.” Iwai, who had come around on the other side of the glass case to see which gun Ann was looking at, snorted. “And you claim to be an enthusiast,” he said, with just the slightest edge of teasing, as if Ren hadn’t already proven his credentials over the handguns. Ann snickered. “He just prefers his guns a little smaller,” she teased Ren, getting up on her tiptoes to rest her elbow on his shoulder. “A nice little handful, something he can—” “I’m sorry,” Ren interrupted in his approximation of Akechi’s too-sweet voice, “I thought you wanted a new gun?” Behind them, Shiho was cackling. Ann flashed him a wide, mean smile, then leant in and kissed his cheek, before dropping back to her heels. “Spoilsport. You have to pose with me.” “Not with one of those monstrosities,” Ren retorted, as he started towards the boxes of handguns. “Are you afraid of big guns, Ren-kun?” Ann simpered at him. Before he could figure out how best to respond, Shiho said, “Maybe there’s a good reason he doesn’t feel the need to overcompensate.” As he passed her, she held up a hand, and he didn’t hesitate to give her a high-five, winning him a smirk, while Ann let out little huffy, offended noises behind him, and Iwai guffawed quietly.
October 24, 2025 at 9:46 AM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 17/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3!
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
She let him make himself coffee and slide into the booth across from her, before asking, “What are we going to do?” Ren didn’t bother asking what she meant; there was no way this wasn’t about his and Makoto’s conversation. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “Talk to him. Keep moving forward, no matter what.” He rubbed tiredly at his eyes, then looked across the table, meeting her gaze over the top of her laptop screen. “What other choice do we have?” She shrugged. “Change our names and escape to another country. How’s your English?” Ren snorted, amused by the sheer absurdity of either of them jumping ship at this point. For them, Shido had always been personal, and there was no taking Shido down without also gutting the rest of the conspiracy; they had learnt that lesson the hard way. She ducked her head back down, behind her screen. “Want to do something useful?” “What did you have in mind?” “Stealing from the gremlins.” Ren eyed her for a moment, did her the favour of not asking if that would be safe, or if she thought poking that hornet’s nest was the best use of their time. Instead, he asked, “We’re still using that word for them?” She shrugged and pointed out, “It’s a little more crowd-friendly.” That…was not a terrible point. It also had the benefit of obfuscating what sort of target they were discussing. “Fair,” he allowed, and didn’t have to see her smile to know she was pleased that he’d conceded the point. “What are we doing with their money?” “Uh, hadn’t got that far,” Futaba admitted. “Using it to buy Inari a month’s supply of ramen probably isn’t the best use, huh?” Ren snorted. “Doesn’t make it any less tempting,” he admitted, and she straightened to flash him a sharp grin over the top of her screen.
October 20, 2025 at 9:53 AM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 16/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3!
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
Akechi scowled at him, and Ren hurried to say, “I don’t mind, but I’m taking one of your gloves in trade,” before that potential fight could actually break out. Akechi turned to face him, clearly startled, while Futaba asked, “Only one glove?” “Oh?” Akechi murmured, leaning in. “Is there a promise you’re meant to uphold?” “Are you— Is this a flirting thing?” Futaba demanded, while Sumire giggled and Morgana let out a noise of understanding, because it had been impossible to hide the glove from him for the entire year at his parents’ house. “Should I not?” Ren asked, and wondered if Akechi knew the meaning of the glove had changed, for him. If he should admit that it had become a his way to remember Akechi, instead of their original promise, especially with the rest of the world seeming to have forgot he’d existed. “You still haven’t beat me.” (Something to revisit when they didn’t have an audience.) “You cheated last time,” Akechi pointed out. Ren braced his chin on his palm and smirked at Akechi. “Did I?” “Please save your weird foreplay for a time when we are not here!” Futaba called. “Ren, you owe me Featherman!” Ren huffed, was reasonably confident she meant that to mean a Featherman action figure to add to her collection, but it could always be one of the DVDs or some other over-priced merchandise for whichever series she was salivating over that week. “Could you at least wait until I actually have a part-time job before exploiting me?” “Not if you’re making me envision you and A-sketchy getting naked together,” she retorted, and Sumire let out an embarrassed moan and hid her very red face in her hands. “You broke Sumi. That’s two Featherman.”
October 17, 2025 at 10:18 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Midnight is my very bed bed-making helper.

He attacks the blanket when I straighten it against the mattress and loves being on the bed when I throw the blanket out to spread it over the bed because he gets to attack the corners as they fall and then hide under the blanket. Best. Game.
Photo of a black cat half under a folded back blanket on a bed.
October 15, 2025 at 10:30 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
The first side-story for my NG+ series is up, titled "Gain Friends For the Time When We Awaken", it's Sojiro's PoV of the story up through chapter 16.
#jjw

Read it: archiveofourown.org/works/72548536
Watching his kids curled together on the other side of the booth, traumatised and terrified and so unbelievably strong in spite of it all, it broke Sojiro’s heart. Because this wasn’t how it was supposed to be. They should have been able to trust the adults around them, should have been able to turn to someone before everything had gone to hell. Shido never should have ended up in a position where he could hurt either of them, or twist Akechi to do his bidding. There never should have been enough assholes, after Shido’s court case, to gather together and decide to kidnap a bunch of kids. To torture them. It didn’t escape Sojiro that Ren had avoided mentioning specifics, but he had a pretty good idea, now, why he’d told Tae that he’d recognise internal bleeding or broken bones. Couldn’t help but remember that Ren had said he’d had to sleep next to Akechi’s corpse. And Futaba’s last comment, that those assholes had had to kill them. He was furious. He wanted to storm into the Diet and rip apart every single one of Shido’s allies; wanted to go to Shido’s office and dose him with something slow and agonizing, so he might suffer even a fraction of the pain Sojiro’s kids had gone through. Except, he couldn’t do any of that. He had two traumatised kids and all of their traumatised friends, and they needed him to be there for them, giving them a place where they were safe. Where they could laugh and study together, Akechi sitting hunched and wary at the counter, looking like he was waiting to be ordered out, but his gaze kept sliding over to Ren, softening at the edges, and Sojiro had a feeling that he was going to be seeing a lot of the kid. He had a feeling he was going to be seeing a lot of the little redhead, Sumire, too, and he couldn’t help but smile, watching her and Futaba curled together in one booth, sharing a plate of curry and occasionally sharing jibes with the other half of the group. It was so clear that they adored one another, and Sojiro couldn’t be an… Screenshot of the AO3 header for a fic titled Gain Friends For the Time When We Awaken, by Batsutousai. The summary reads Side-story to Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters) Sojiro has watched the weight of a future that never happened bowing the shoulders of his kids and their friends, and decides he needs to do something to ease that weight, even if isn't something they would approve of.
October 15, 2025 at 9:22 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 15/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3! (Please be mindful of the warnings.)
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
Ann didn’t ask, and neither did Morgana, which was probably why Ren told them, over crêpes, about the kiss Sunday morning. “You know,” Ann said, while twisting her crêpe, looking for the next best spot to bite in without losing too much of the cream, “from what I know about Crow, he’s probably having as hard a time figuring out where his head is at, as you are.” “Yeah, I know,” Ren admitted. “It’s pretty telling that this is the first time he hasn’t felt annoyed when it’s implied he should be dating someone.” She flashed him a sympathetic smile, and Ren reached out to swipe a bit of cream off her cheek, then ate it off his finger before she could lean in first. “Excuse you! My crêpe, my cream!” Ren snorted, and didn’t complain when she retaliated by taking a finger-swipe of the cream in his own crêpe. “He does care about you,” Morgana offered. “He’s only ever tolerated the rest of us because of you.” Ren winced, while Ann hummed a noise of agreement around her finger, then pulled it from her mouth with a ‘pop’. “I think he’s getting better,” she offered. “He never would have come to a sleepover in January, or agreed to go to a party with Noir.” “Pretty sure that’s at least half because her fiancé deserves to be kicked off the observation deck of the Skytree,” Ren felt the need to point out. Ann visibly considered that as she licked along the edge of her crêpe. “Fair,” she allowed after a moment. “Still, explain the sleepover.” “Spending time with Ren,” Morgana said, even as he reached one paw out in the direction of Ren’s crêpe. “Sharing is caring.”
October 13, 2025 at 1:52 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
I did another one, a monster, and some friends did the fairy witch and haunted house that they also had out. Lol, they hung them all on the wall.
A coloured-in picture of a monster with horns with the words Happy Halloween over its head. A photo of two coloured-in pictures. One is a haunted house scene, the other is a smiling witch with butterfly wings.
October 11, 2025 at 2:43 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
The hotel left out pictures and crayons, so I coloured a kitty.
A coloured-in picture of a black cat wearing a purple witch hat relaxed on a jack-o-lantern.
October 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 14/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3! (Please be mindful of the warnings.)
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
“Yeah, I’m just normal,” Shiho said, sounding a little bitter. Next to her, Ann’s expression twisted with uncertainty, and she opened her mouth, like she might say something, before closing it again. “That okay!” Jose insisted. “I’m normal, too! We can be normal together!” Shiho blinked a couple of times, looking like she was having a hard time processing that. Jose turned back to Ren. “That’s something humans do, isn’t it? Be ‘normal’ together?” “Dude, there is nothing—” Ryuji started, before grunting and hissing, “Noir!” Haru murmured something too low for Ren to make out, which made Ryuji grimace and duck his head in apology. “Being 'normal’ together isn’t really an activity,” Ren admitted. “But, humans will often spend time together performing activities that would be deemed 'normal’.” “Oh. Like drinking flowers?” Jose guessed. “Like what?” Shiho hissed, and Ann mostly muffled a giggle. “That’s not really something humans do,” Makoto said diplomatically. “Well, we could certainly sit together and drink something while Jose enjoys his flowers,” Haru pointed out.
October 10, 2025 at 12:45 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 13/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3! (Please be mindful of the warnings.)
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
(Forgot to post here this morning, but no one noticed, so it doesn't matter.)
Haru hopped up into the stool next to Akechi, and he twitched, hands tightening around his cup, like he believed he might need to defend it. “If you’re done flirting with my dear friend, Akechi, I had a request for you.” Ren wondered about the mechanics of spontaneous combustion. Akechi cleared his throat and studiously didn’t look at Ren, instead affecting a nonchalant air as he asked, “And what sort of request might you have towards myself?” Haru smoothed her fingers over the pleats of her skirt. “As I am certain you are aware, my father throws an annual party on Constitution Memorial Day,” she said. This was news to Ren, but Akechi didn’t seemed surprised, simply nodding as he finally took a sip of his coffee. “He and I have been…in disagreement,” Haru said, words careful. “He wishes to formalise my betrothal to the son of a political contact, but I…” She hesitated. “Want to take an axe to the crown of his head?” Morgana helpfully suggested. “Would prefer to drown him in acid?” Ann supplied. “Would like him to get hit by a train during rush hour, so he is both dead and an inconvenience?” Yusuke said. “Wow,” Shiho said, sounding more than a little enthralled, while Akechi’s eyebrows slowly raised at the series of violent suggestions. Haru cleared her throat, a mean glint in her eyes. “I would prefer the engagement not occur,” she said diplomatically.
October 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 12/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3! (Please be mindful of the warnings.)
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
“Why do you have an entire stack of butts?” Futaba asked. Ren snorted. “Why not?” “If this is just a way to keep Akechi from realising you like staring at his ass—” Futaba started, and Morgana laughed from where he’d jumped onto the bed next to her. “That ship,” Morgana said, “has sailed.” “Oh, I know,” Futaba agreed, sounding entirely too gleeful about it. Ren stared at her for a moment, then turned around the image of Sumire’s ass and said, “So, we shouldn’t ask Yusuke to make you a copy of this one?” Futaba turned bright red with a speed that was, frankly, a little worrying, and squeaked, “N-no? W-why would you—? I-I mean, I don't— You’re the weirdo who likes looking at butts!” she finally managed. Ren couldn’t help but laugh. Because that? That had been a classic deflection failure, and he adored her. Futaba moaned and flopped over, twisting to hide her face in his pillow. Ren snickered and set the pictures back down on his desk, then stepped over to sit next to her, gently poking her in the side. “Come on. I usually can’t get you to shut up.” “I hate you,” she said, mostly into the pillow. Ren and Morgana both scoffed.
October 3, 2025 at 10:13 AM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Ah~ My #P5 sleeping Thieves are here! They're perfect, I love them 🥰

(Also, Mona, why you gotta be so top-heavy?)
Photo of the Persona 5 Tomy Arts sleeping figures, with, from left to right, Joker, Crow, Mona, Fox, Panther, Skull, Queen, Noir, Oracle, and Violet.
October 2, 2025 at 9:48 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 11/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3! (Please be mindful of the warnings.)
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
(Oh hey if you're enjoying the fic could you share the posts? B/c sharing here feels pointless right now)
Ren gave him a minute, another. And then, when it was clear that Akechi wasn’t going to clarify, he said, “Explain it to me, then. Why can’t you work with us? What’s stopping us from dismantling the conspiracy together?” Akechi scoffed. Ren sighed and, even though it felt like a supremely bad idea, he got up, crossed the attic floor, and sat on the bed next to Akechi. Ignored his flinch, the flash of fear in his eyes before they shuttered, his whole expression shutting down, like the tenseness of his body wasn’t still giving him away. Ren licked his lips, and said, “Goro.” Akechi’s closed expression twisted, mouth twitching like he was fighting a smile or, more likely, a frown. “I did not give you permission to call me that,” he said, tone flat. “You didn’t,” Ren admitted, and decided he wanted to live dangerously. “But I’m a thief, remember?” Akechi’s mouth twitched again, and Ren was hopeful that had been a suppressed smile, instead of a frown. “Goro,” Ren said, again. And, when Akechi didn’t immediately complain, he continued, “We fought together in January. Nothing has changed, from then.” “Everything has changed,” Akechi replied, but Ren thought he sounded tired.
September 29, 2025 at 9:32 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 10/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3! (Please be mindful of the warnings.)
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
(Posting a day early because of the AO3 scheduled downtime)
Ren gave him a minute, another. And then, when it was clear that Akechi wasn’t going to clarify, he said, “Explain it to me, then. Why can’t you work with us? What’s stopping us from dismantling the conspiracy together?” Akechi scoffed. Ren sighed and, even though it felt like a supremely bad idea, he got up, crossed the attic floor, and sat on the bed next to Akechi. Ignored his flinch, the flash of fear in his eyes before they shuttered, his whole expression shutting down, like the tenseness of his body wasn’t still giving him away. Ren licked his lips, and said, “Goro.” Akechi’s closed expression twisted, mouth twitching like he was fighting a smile or, more likely, a frown. “I did not give you permission to call me that,” he said, tone flat. “You didn’t,” Ren admitted, and decided he wanted to live dangerously. “But I’m a thief, remember?” Akechi’s mouth twitched again, and Ren was hopeful that had been a suppressed smile, instead of a frown. “Goro,” Ren said, again. And, when Akechi didn’t immediately complain, he continued, “We fought together in January. Nothing has changed, from then.” “Everything has changed,” Akechi replied, but Ren thought he sounded tired.
September 25, 2025 at 10:23 AM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 9/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3! (Please be mindful of the warnings.)
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
“Are you going to let him ruin this for you, too?” Ren snapped. “What, exactly, is there to ruin?” Akechi snapped, voice tight and just a little too sharp. (Ren had spent a month with the real Akechi; he recognised the sound of fear in his voice.) “Akechi,” he said, gentling his voice, “I gave you a healing item.” Akechi stared at him, thoughts flickering lightning-quick behind his eyes for a moment that stretched, before he asked in a voice that failed to come out steady, “What do you want?” “To make you a coffee,” Ren said, before he could think better. Akechi stared at him in open confusion for a moment, before he dropped his head back against the wall and let out a shaky laugh. “What the hell?” he whispered. And then, stronger, “Who even are you?” Ren tilted his head to one side, debating possible answers, and settled on, “Attic trash.” Akechi’s next laugh was sharper, more honest, and Ren couldn’t manage to keep a fond smile off his face at the sound; it hadn’t taken him long to decide that too-sharp laugh was his favourite. A little too fond, probably, because Akechi’s whole face closed off, withdrew, and Ren wondered if he’d fucked everything up. He took a breath and said, “We want to ruin him, too.” Akechi stared at him, just long enough for Ren to start double-guessing his wording, the choice of attack, the fact that he was still pressed bodily against him. And then he said, “Fine. Let’s see if your coffee is any good.”
September 22, 2025 at 10:06 AM
batsutousai.bsky.social
Chapter 8/46 of Whether it Be Dream or Truth (To Do Well Is What Matters), my #akeshu / #shuake NG+ fic is on AO3! (Please be mindful of the warnings.)
#jjw

archiveofourown.org/works/698144...
Ren nodded and looked at Futaba. “Madarame reported a famous painting attributed to him—” Yusuke, Ryuji, and Ann all scoffed in unison “—called Sayuri, was stolen. In truth, he’s been painting counterfeits and selling them to interested parties. Is there any way you could track down some of those forgeries?” He couldn’t see her eyes narrowing on the small screen, but he could make out the way her mouth split with a mean smile, could envision the rest of the expression. “If there is a digital trace, I will find it,” she promised. “We have every faith in you, Futaba,” Makoto promised. “O-oh,” Futaba mumbled, before diving for her geisha mask and shoving it back on her head. Ren wasn’t the only one who laughed, the sound fond. “What if there aren’t digital traces?” Yusuke asked. “Madarame does not keep a computer at the house, and he seems to struggle with using his mobile.” “Being bad with technology can be faked,” Ann pointed out, “and we know he has an alternate address.” “He does?” Futaba asked, tugging her mask back off and turning to the side, the sound of typing becoming audible again. “We think it’s under a mistress’s name,” Ryuji offered. “Ha! Got it,” Futaba announced, followed by a little cackle. “Thought you could hide from the all-seeing Alibaba, did you?” “Rein it in, Alibaba,” Makoto ordered, tone dry but fond.
September 19, 2025 at 9:23 PM
batsutousai.bsky.social
There was this one artist, late '90s, who was super prolific, Tom Tierney, seemed like he had another book of paper dolls out every time Mum let us stop at the bookstore.

I thought I had more than these, but it's been a while since I pulled them out, lol
A photo of 5 paper doll books, all by the artist Tom Tierney, spread out over a bed, with a black cat sitting next to them. The doll variants are the American family of the colonial era, modern dance, Ancient Egyptian costumes, American family of the Confederacy, and Russian Imperial costumes.
September 17, 2025 at 12:44 AM