2026-04-22: Shiny Make-Up! I'll Shine Bright
- Log: 2026-04-22 Shiny Make-Up! I'll Shine Bright
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Ann Takamaki
- Where: Back Alleys - Leblanc Cafe
- OOC Date: April 22, 2026
- IC Date: Mon Oct 29 2012
- Summary: Ren reaches out to Ann for the next stage in their makeup lessons. Ann-sensei is more than happy to oblige.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"So... a few days ago, I was passing by this maid cafe in Akiba, and they were having an emergency..."
This is how Ren starts a certain story to Ann after school on Monday, after the two of them have head upstairs to their attic room in Leblanc for a private conversation. Ren has asked her to bring her make-up back as of a text they sent yesterday night on Sunday. Morgana's hanging out on the desk where Ren sits; he already knows what this is about.
"...so I offered to cover for the maid waitress, since--they were in trouble, and I'm pretty good at customer service, and it sounded like fun anyway? And it went fine--I was pretty damn cute, if I do say so myself..."
Ann, too, would know some of what this is about. She's the first person that Ren came out to with a plan, as opposed to being spur of the moment because of something they just learned about her, or by accident because she was in hearing distance of the former and they got so caught up in coming out that they forgot about that. Ann taught them the very important basics of applying nail polish, and Ren took those lessons to heart; indeed, right now, her nails are not just painted plain black, but also a sparkly overcoat that makes them look like pieces of the starry night sky. The edges have been carefully cleaned, just as Ann taught her. It's been a while since their last make-up lesson--not since just after summer finals--but Ren hasn't been in a hurry. Recently, though, something's happened to change that.
"...aside from the fact that Akechi showed up and I had to serve him, but that ended up kind of fun anyway--but he laughed when he first saw me..."
It's Akechi. Of course it's Akechi. Goro Akechi is the driving force for a staggering number of the things Ren decides to do. Ren isn't even mad about how the encounter went overall; she was pissed at first, but she ultimately did have fun playing maidservant to 'Master Goro,' and after laughing, Akechi was actually perfectly respectful, if a bit familiar with 'Ran-chan.' Both of them left the encounter in a good mood. Still, the correct response should've been Akechi being so taken back by her beauty that it stole his breath away, NOT breaking out into laughter. Even if it was delighted laughter.
"...and so that's why I want to get started on the next step on learning how to apply make-up--you know, on my face."
Either way, Ren is completely serious. She hadn't done her make-up herself; she'd had to rely on the Alice's Apron manager to do it for her. Not that Ren thinks she could've necessarily done a better job than a cis woman who's been applying make-up to herself for years, but if Akechi were going to laugh at them, they'd rather it was because of her own efforts.
Well. That's what they're telling themself right now, anyway. They've wanted to get better at make-up for a while anyway, but they've got so much going on at all times that it's hard to find the time to ask Ann for the next step. This way, though, they can tie it in with their part-time job at Bar Crossroads. Them working an evening at Alice's Apron was a one-off thing, but Bar Crossroads is made for trans people dolling up. One-time maid waitress 'Ran Umemura' can start wearing a kimono and boost her drink-serving earning power there--and also have a place in her life where she can consistently be a girl. (She of course doesn't need a justification, but having one makes her feel less selfish about it.) She's already talked to Lala about it, also as of last night, and she'll handle getting the clothes. Makoto lives in Shinjuku, so if need be, she can come by to help Ren put on those clothes, at least the first time--but applying make-up well takes time, and it's best for everyone if Ren can handle that herself.
Which brings us to now.
Ren takes off her glasses and sets them on the desk, her expression fully serious. "What've you got for me, Ann?" she asks.
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
"Mochi mochi mochi, munch munch munch-- huh? Oh, hey, what's up, Ren?"
This is how Ann Takamaki starts out her fateful after school conversation with one Ren Amamiya today: paused, with wide wondering eyes, right in the middle of popping open a bag of snack-size strawberry mochi, her impromptu snack jingle aborted in favor of earnest curiosity and attentiveness.
She listens, carefully. She's still just as laser-focused as she slowly slides a single pink mochi into her mouth and munches as Ren explains the situation, because Ann is great at multitasking.
"Huhhhhhh..." mumbles Ann between chewing. Pale brows scrunch. "--W-wait, Akechi? That Akechi?! What the heck!"
And, briefly outraged that Akechi had the gall to laugh at Ren regardless of context or type of laugh, Ann points a finger dramatically at Ren and declares, "Next time he does that, you just laugh back at him, but louder! --Wait, there shouldn't be a next time, he's dangerous!"
Said drama is somewhat undercut by the fact that she is popping another mochi into her mouth but, you know.
We all make small sacrifices for our passions.
It turns out, though, Ren is not asking her for advice on how to out-laugh Akechi; this inspires brief bemusement in Ann - naturally - but when Ren gets to the point--
Sky blue eyes widen with realization, and fair features light up.
"Oh! In that case, I've got just the thing! C'mon!"
And off she goes, a force of fashion nature. Which brings us to
N O W
Where Ann arrives at Leblanc after making a brief detour at her own house, a very pink and very high scale and very large makeup bag in hand and a Serious Look on her face.
"Okay! Let's do this!"
It's shocking and alarming, how swiftly she sets up, opening her bag and settling down at the table before unloading an intimidating array of makeup products, from brushes to powders to lipsticks to pencils to even a few glitter gels here and there. And even as she does, she's talking -- enthusiastically, but carefully, as if wanting to make sure Ren is keeping up with what she's saying, because, again: attentive!!
"So the -first- thing you wanna do when you're getting makeup set up is the essentials: skincare. I know that sounds obvious, but it's seriously important. Especially the SPF! Healthy skin is what really makes the makeup pop! Next, you want to get a primer, since it'll help smooth out the process for everything else, and let the makeup last a bit longer, too. After that, you want a foundation that matches your skin tone to even out your complexion and cover any blemishes... mmm..." Ann pauses. She looks up, squinting one eye at Ren, leeeeaning in to inspect her carefully--
"I think this one oughta do it!" she says, before sliding a bottle of foundation forward. "It's not perfect - you're gonna have to find one of your own that you know works best for you - but it's okay for a start. As for the rest..."
Ann looks down, considering for a second. "Usually I do the eyebrows next, but that's a lot of fine detail work, so maybe we should start with something more simple and fun... mmm..." Sky blue eyes glance back up at Ren, brows lifting.
"What do you know about eye shadow?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
In fairness: mochi is delicious with an amazing texture and Ann is completely correct to continue eating it while expressing her Akechi-related outrage.
Ren smiles at it, even. "I was waiting a table at the time. I couldn't laugh at a customer," they point out nonetheless. The fact that he's dangerous just gets a shrug. "What can I say? He just happened to show up. He wasn't even stalking me this time, he was following a different suspect of his around."
In other words, they can't really control when Akechi might just show up in their life.
...they COULD control all the times they hang out with him on purpose, but, you know.
That's not what this is about, surely.
N O W
Shocking and alarming and yet deeply impressive. For someone who models only because her parents are in the industry and she's not really all that into it, Ren can only stare in wonder as she unloads her make-up kit with speed and precision. Ren knows Ann is a passionate young woman, so this is really more of what they already know about her, but it remains one hell of a demonstration.
Also, she's explaining now. Skincare, right. Ren focuses on her rather than the spread of make-up and nods. "SPF--like sunscreen?" she asks. That's not really something she's thought of before, but it makes sense now that Ann's pointing it out. She uses it at the beach, of course, but the sun shines no matter what, and the piece of skin that's consistently exposed to the sun is the face. She slouches over, one hand on her chin as she thinks this through. Healthy skin...
"I wash my face daily," she offers. Baths are for night, but she at least towels down and washes her face after exercise each morning, among other basic personal hygiene things. But-- "Just with normal soap and water, though."
It might be good to wash up again right now before applying anything, but Ann's still in the middle of her tutorial, so Ren stays where she is. Primer and foundation... And matching her skin tone. She blinks when Ann leans in, squinting, then looks down at the foundation she offers. "My skin is darker than yours," she comments as she picks it up and looks it over. "I'll have to look around. Any brands or stores you recommend?"
The mention of eyeshadow gets another small smile. "That was one of the things the maid from Alice's Apron applied to me. Just a bit, along with some blush and mascara and lip gloss." Lightly applied for speed, angling towards the 'natural' look. Ren winks one eye shut and indicates her eyelid. "It's a little bit of color right here, to help your eyes pop."
"Ren-chan looked really cute with it," Morgana pipes up. "It was a bit of a soft, dark blue, if I remember correctly."
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
SURELY NOT.
"Yup! The sun can seriously do a number on your skin, even if you don't realize it." The way Ann explains is so casually matter-of-fact; the tone and vibe of someone who takes to such things naturally rather than seriously committing herself to learning the ins and outs. The consequence of living in a household saturated with fashion and beauty standards, no doubt. "Washing your face is a nice start; you should invest in a good moisturizer and sunscreen. I can give you a list of my recommendations before I go, but you're gonna have to trial and error a bit - especially with the moisturizer. Everyone's skin is different, y'know? What works, or what doesn't, depends on you. Especially for your face. "
There's a lot more nitty gritty to skincare, of course -- but for now, Ann thinks the basics will do just fine, considering today is a lesson on makeup. So she moves on for now, settling back into her seat once she's made her cursory examination of Ren, bobbing her head in cheery, eye-squinting agreement as she does. "Yep! So my foundation won't really work super well for you. Heh heh, you're catching on fast! A+, my apprentice!"
Ann pauses here. Her nose wrinkles. She frowns.
"--Aw, should I have bought some gold stars...? ... I've never had to teach this much before..."
...
Well. At least she's engaged.
"Body Chop's got a lot of cosmetics, like the nail polish," she says, referencing back to their first lesson. "It's my go-to, especially when I wanna experiment with something I'm not certain of. I can give you a list of other stores, too, but some of 'em can get preeettyyy specialized, so I'd wait until you're more comfy. Y'know?"
As she speaks, she goes back into her makeup kit. She looks up, sparing a glance Ren's way, brows lifting as she showcases her knowledge on the subject.
"Hee hee. Yep! That sounds cute as heck!" enthuses Ann, grinning a delighted grin. "Eyeshadow and eyeliner are both to enhance the eyes and your upper face. A soft color definitely works well as a contrast with your hair and eyes. You can even get eyeshadow that's a slightly darker shade than your complexion, y'know, to make your eyes look a little darker in a way that still complements your skin tone. Or, mm, I bet you could get a black eyeshadow and really rock the smoky look... there's a lot of people getting mileage out of that lately, and you've got the right... errr, attitude, I guess? That 'sort-of aloof but kind-of weird but in a cool way!' attitude! But -- sometimes getting a contrast works really well too..."
And as she speaks, Ann pulls out a case of eyeshadow, popping it open. There's an array of colors there--
But her blue-painted fingernail taps squarely on the red one.
"... A warm shade like red would -really- draw attention to your eyes, with how dark they are. I think they're one of your strong points! Depending on what you're wearing, I think this could really work for you. But for right now..."
It might be noticeable, now or perhaps even earlier, that Ann did something else before she got here:
"... I want you to try applying the eyeshadow on me!"
Removed all that subtle, understated makeup she was wearing.
"I think it's kinda hard to learn applying it to yourself at first -- eyeshadow isn't like fingernails, you know? And mirrors only help so much. So... having someone else to practice on might, I dunno, help!" Her head tilts, faintly. "... um. How much do you know about applying eyeshadow?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
It makes sense, of course. Since Ren has a different skin tone than Ann, the moisturizer and foundation is going to have to be something she has to figure out with trial and error. At least she also seems to have good instincts for this, once Ann explains the first steps to her. The nitty gritty can come later; as long as she can nail the basics, everything else will come in its turn.
So A+ indeed! Morgana can also confirm that Ren is an excellent apprentice.
For her part, Ren grins. "I'd love to get some gold stars," she says. "Save 'em for next time."
A good way for both of them to get more engaged!
"Yeah, I've been to Body Chop since. That's where I bought my nail polish," she says, nodding along with Ann's suggestions. "I can stick with that for now." She's already familiar with them, so it works out too.
Ann continues on the topic of eyeshadow, and eyeliner; dark blue gets her approval, and she also suggests black for the smoky, mysterious look. Kind of weird in a cool way sounds like a compliment to Ren, and she grins at that too. "Aww, you flatter me," she jokes.
But--red would complement her better, huh... Black and red always have been her favorite colors. Maybe that's what would've gotten Akechi staring with a blush creeping up on his handsome face...
...n-not that she wants him to be attracted to her, with her dating Makoto right now. ......well, okay; she has to admit, she does want him to be attracted to her. But he's got a crush on her anyway. If it's going to be like that... she wants to wow him. In this, and everything else.
First comes first: she needs to practice applying it. As her eyes go from the eyeshadow to Ann's face, it is apparent that she's going without right now. Something had seemed different. "It does seem like it'd be tough," she muses. "Not a lot. I noticed the maid who applied it to me at Alice's Apron had a light touch. It is on the eyelids, so it makes sense. Beyond that... it's not like I could watch."
She picks up the make-up case and inspects it more closely. That shade of red does look pretty--striking and bold. ...She hopes Makoto will like it. Makoto of course already knows and accepts her as X-gender, but is she going to like the look of her while she's femme? ...If she does, then what?
Ren shakes her head a bit. Focus on the present moment. "Any tips before I start?" she asks.
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
I'd love to get some gold stars.
"Hee. Then don't worry, Instructor Ann is on the case!"
Thumbs up. Stuck out tongue. Wink!
Just like a true professional teacher.
"... where do you get gold stars? Huh. Maybe Yusuke knows..."
Look. It seems like an artsy thing to her! Stickers! They're crafts!
For now, though, Ann focuses up (with a small detour in which she declares, "And I'm damn good at it!" as Ren jokes about Ann flattering her) and starts setting out the various things as she explains. "Mm. Yeah, you want to be careful with eyeshadow, but, um. How do I put this... you don't want to be too controlled about it?" Setting out what looks like a light cream and a soft powder and accompanying pad, Ann scrunches her brows. "It's like... if you try to be too exact about how you use it, too careful, you end up using too much pressure instead, and the eyeshadow comes out all yucky-splotchy. Does that make sense? So, like."
And here, Ann -yoinks- a flat shader brush out of her case, flips it into the air, and then catches it in a pincher closer towards the _based_ of the brush rather than closer to the brush itself.
It might be the smoothest Ann Takamaki has ever been.
"... You wanna hold it right here. That way, you get a nice, even application because you're giving up some control."
And with that? Ann sets that brush down, before producing a blending brush and setting down that too. She pauses, looking over everything she's assembled.
"Huh. This is kinda a lot, huh? I never really thought about how much goes into this. I just kinda did it.........." Ann scratches her cheek and frowns, before ultimately shrugging. "Well, whatever! It's super easy once you get a handle on it. But first -- remember how when we did your nails, I mentioned you need a primer and a base coat? The polish we were using kindaaa gets around all that, but it's still important. It's kinda the same with eyeshadow - you need it to smooth out all the creases and pores and stuff, y'know? - but there's no, like, multipurpose eyeshadow that can do all the steps for you. So! First,"
Ann slides over that bottle of cream, a brush, and the powderand pad.
"we put on the primer! Apply the cream first with the brush, start along the underside of the brow and then work down to the eyelashes. Thennnn, you don't have to, but I like to apply powder to set the primer -- it helps dry the cream more and gives you a really nice matte base to work with for the eyeshadow. It really makes things pop."
And with this, Ann leans in, tilts her head up, obligingly shuts her eyes, and waits.
... Her lips purse a second later.
"Um. Tell me if this is all too complicated."
See again: never thinking about this stuff, just doing it, instant succeeding. It makes it hard to know what's too much!!
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Hmmm... Maybe an arts and crafts store? Or a school supplies store?" Ren suggests thoughtfully, dark eyes rising to the ceiling. Stickers do seem like an arts-and-crafts thing, but also, they're associated with teachers, as the two of them have just established. "Otherwise, Yusuke does seem like your best bet." For similar reasons!
She grins again at Ann's pride in flattery, but soon gets serious as she listens to the explanation about eyeshadow. "Hmm. I'm not sure," she admits. Sometimes things are just contradictory like that, and that's the spice of life, but in this case, Ren's not seeing the logic that makes the contradiction actually part of a yin-yang. Too much control and you'll lose control? Or so it sounds to her ears.
Then Ann flips that shader brush and catches it exactly where she wants it. Ren whistles, impressed once again. "Damn, Ann."
She leans in closer to get a better look. Whether it makes sense or not, Ann is the expert here, so Ren trusts what she tells her. When she pauses, Ren looks up at her curiously, then back down at... well, everything.
"It kind of is," Ren admits, because it objectively is. "But it's worth learning."
Especially if there isn't a shortcut with eyeshadow like there is with nail polish. She watches the various tools and creams as Ann pushes them out towards her and gives her the various instructions...
"It's not too complicated, but I'm probably going to need you to repeat some of these steps," Ren admits. "How'd you learn all this stuff in the first place? Did your mom teach you?"
Still, she at least remembers the first step: primer. Apply the cream first with the brush...
"I wonder who figured out how to do all this in the first place," Ren comments as she does her best to follow said instructions. "Cream isn't something you'd logically think to apply with a brush, you know? I'd assume it's something you rub in by hand."
At least starting from the brow and down to the lashes is logical--top to bottom, in the direction of how the eyelid closes. That makes sense. Ren will start there obligingly, and hope that she didn't put on too much or too little cream.
"...How's that?" she asks when she's done. "If it's good, I'll do the powder next."
Unless she needs to do that before the eye opening. Maybe she should've asked that sooner. She's about to learn!
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
Hmm. I'm not sure.
"Trust me, you'll understand once you put it in action. It's like that, like, religious proverb: just do it!"
ann that's
no
no.
It is a lot, though. But Ren's eagerness to learn has Ann nodding her head, proudly. "See, you get it! And I set my own schedule so we'll have plenty of time to make sure you're comfy with it."
The joys (??) of your parents never being around.
And also not having a tyrannical cat ruling over your sleep schedule.
As all cats do.
"Mm. For sure. If you have any questions, just ask! You don't even have to raise your hand, because I won't see it most of the time!" Well -- the logic is sound, anyway. But it's Ren's follow up question that makes Ann tilt her head in those moments before her valued protege gets to work.
"Um. Yeah, a little. My dad, too. They both know how this stuff works -- it's part of the job, you know? They didn't have a ton of time to teach me, though. But whenever I was at a photoshoot with them as a kid, there were makeup artists on set, and a lot of them loved to teach me this stuff. I really had fun with that."
It's a little sad, in a way. But Ann still manages to say it so matter-of-factly despite that; like this was just her life, and she's found the spots to enjoy about it. It's fine. Being alone gives her plenty of time to think big thoughts. Like--
I wonder who figured out how to do all this in the first place.
"Ummm. Um um ummmm. Maybe artists? Like... the human body is a canvas! ... r-right?"
Probably. ... Not.
She doesn't even start to think about the more practical applications, like 'protecting from the sun,' even though she was literally just warning Ren about it. Instead, she continues to mull, "... but then how'd they invent paint, too... ugh, this is hard..." as Ren gets to work. To her credit, she is very still; she's a professional (hobbiest) after all. It makes her an ideal person to practice on, calmly maintaining that one position, head tilted upward to give Ren a better angle on her eyelids and arms folding neatly over her stomach as the Phantom Thieves' leader works.
But when it's done, and Ren asks how it is?
Ann starts to crack her eyes open. And then pauses. And then instantly squeezes her eyes shut hard and shakes her head with the wild bobble of platinum pigtails.
"Wait wait wait nope nope nope! Sorry, I can't open my eyes yet! If you open your eyes while the primer's still wet, you'll get crease lines, and it'll ruin the whole thing! Ugh, I can't believe I almost forgot that!"
She takes a moment to frown a mighty frown, but fortunately, she's also quick to bounce back, sighing and slumping forward.
"Give it... like a minute. And then do the powder. We'll just have to wait and see how the whole thing looks, okay?"
She'll wait, obligingly, the primer to ready -- and for Ren to start the application of that powder. And then, when she's about midway into that work?
Ann abruptly asks,
"Sooooo. You decided to figure out makeup after Akechi visited the cafe?"
like a LIGHTNING BLITZ
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
It's like that, like, religious proverb: just do it!
Ren opens her mouth.
Ren shuts her mouth.
"Cool," she decides to say.
Look, some things are not worth challenging. Especially when there's more important things to focus on, like making sure you've got your basic essentials down. Ren's smile is fond and grateful when Ann tells her she's got plenty of time to help her out with it.
There is a tyrannical cat around here, right there on the desk, but Ann is his one weakness and he's content to mostly just watch the two of them right now, so it's fine. They actually do have all the time in the world.
"Oh, I see," Ren says, turning a little subdued as Ann explains how and where she learned about make-up. It makes sense. She's not that familiar with what Ann's parents do--she knows they're involved with the modeling industry and that they're busy a lot of the time--but it hasn't occurred to her until just now that this means of course it's professional make-up artists who would've made the time to teach her rather than them.
Of course it's like that. Aren't so, so many parents like that?
"That makes a lot of sense," she continues, though, because Ann doesn't sound bothered by it and Ren doesn't want to make her feel like she should be bothered by it. "You're so good at it and it comes so naturally to you, of course you learned from professionals."
...Well, she learned the techniques themselves, if not the history. Ren laughs a little when that becomes apparent. "Maybe," she says agreeably all the same. "Tribal body paint is a thing, and I remember hearing somewhere that make-up was really popular in ancient Egypt. People would've had plenty of time to figure this all out."
Just like the two of them, right now.
She blinks, leaning back, when Ann fervently shakes her head and explains why she cannot and should not open her eyes. "Oh," she utters. "Damn, that was close, then. Should I reapply it to smooth it out?" Her eyelids did twitch... but then Ren leans in closer to get a better look. "...No, actually, never mind. You squeezed them shut just in time--I think you're okay." She leans back so Ann can slump forward. "Okay."
For now, she trades out brush for powder, and the two of them wait a minute for the primer to dry. Once that's done, and she starts applying the powder with care--
Sooooo. You decided to figure out makeup after Akechi visited the cafe?
"Oh--uh--I mean--" Ren utters, caught off-guard by this BLITZ INTERROGATION about their CONFUSED FEELINGS about their HOT ARCHRIVAL. Her hand flinches back, and she's very glad Ann has her eyes shut right now, because she can feel heat rise in her own face. "I-I've been meaning to for a while. There's just so much going on it's hard to make time for everything," she protests. "It's just--what happened at the maid cafe made me think of it. I have another job at a bar run by a trans woman, and she's offered to help me dress up cute for it before, so... i-it felt like the right time."
So she says, but she knows how hard her heart is beating right now--something she herself isn't too happy about. After all, she can tell she's flustered by the question, something she surely wouldn't be if she had no feelings for him...
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
It makes a lot of sense.
"Right? There's no way I could have just learned all this all on my own! Well, I guess if I looked it up online...? Hmmm."
If Ann notices that subdual, she doesn't mention it; really, it's not something she's looking for pity about, as clear by the way she speaks on it. She just focuses on setting up, a small smile touching her unpainted lips as she speaks.
"Honestly, learning about all this stuff made it feel like I had a connection to my parents and the stuff they're so passionate about. I guess maybe it was always about that."
But she doesn't mind talking about it, either, with a friend she trusts as much as she does Ren.
"For real! They had, like, millions of years to smoosh some flowers and animal fats into paints or whatever! It's gotta be boring just sitting around in a desert for a million years!" Nor does she mind getting history laughably wrong while simultaneously somehow knowing about how paints were developed.
Thus, we behold the mysteries of Ann.
But at least she knows about makeup well enough to stop herself from making a terrible (correctable) mistake. "Ohhh no nooo is it okay??" she worries, because Ann is a girl with Big Feelings; which is exactly why she heaves out a big "PHEW!" of a sigh once Ren confirms that she caught herself in time. "Thank god. -- I-I mean, now you see how tricky it can be! G-great lesson, right? Ha ha ha!"
After this, though, Ann once more settles into that comfortable stillness. And she's still still when she oh-so-casually, and oh-so-suddenly asks that curious question. She remains still, in fact, eyes shut even as Ren flinches away and stumbles through her answer.
Lips purse in an otherwise still expression.
"Mmm," Ann muses through pursed lips. One could just feel the squint that cannot be expressed right now. "Is that so..."
And then, her shoulders lift. "Well, okay. As long as he's not getting under your skin! It just seems like you and him have some kinda intense back and forth going on, y'know?"
Ann: too perceptive for her own good. Luckily--
"--Wait, you're working at a bar? Do you -- do they let you make drinks?? Isn't that, like, totally illegal?!"
-- also easily distracted.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"If you looked it up online, you wouldn't get hands-on practice or be able to ask questions in real time," Ren points out. Her expression softens as Ann says it helps her feel connected to her parents, though. For all her negative thoughts and feelings about parents, that's... sweet, really. It'd be nice to be wrong about her parents. "Do you guys bond about that when they're around, then?" she wonders.
M-millions of years... Ren's not good at history but even she knows that's way too big a time frame. "Uh, I'm pretty sure it only goes back a few thousand years..."
...which is actually too short a time frame, but so it goes. Maybe one day they'll both get a better grip on history.
She chuckles at Ann's theatrics over her eyelids--theatrics that despite their drama are entirely sincere. "Great lesson," she echoes fondly--and also sincerely. Even someone as experienced as Ann can forget important details about this sort of thing, so she shouldn't sweat if she makes a mistake herself. It'll get easier as she gains experience.
For all that Ann is terrible at history, though, she not only knows how paint itself is made, but also when someone is being way too intense with their archrival. Ren falls silent as she points this out. A back and forth... That's one way of describing it, for sure. It's even more intense if Ren's suspicions are right and Akechi really is the Black Mask--something she still has no conclusive evidence for either way. Another way and reason Akechi's dangerous, and falling for him is a terrible idea...
Fortunately, she is easily distracted, and Ren only has to remain silent before she sets up a change in topic all on her own. "No, no--I don't do anything illegal," she reassures her, relieved. "She just has me do basic chores, like washing dishes, clearing tables--stuff like that. I don't touch the alcohol, and I still won't after I start dressing up." There are laws about that too, apparently, but as long as she's not doing it for 'entertainment'...
"Sometimes I chat up clients too. Lala-san's supposed to do that, but sometimes there's more people than she can handle by herself, so I help out," she continues. "When I dress up there, it won't be as part of the job, but just as a chance to get to express my femme side. Since I'll still get more attention that way, though, she's going to offer me a small pay hike. Lala-san--that's the owner, Lala Escargot--she and I talked through it all yesterday. She's a bit worried still, but..." She rubs the back of her head. "I really want to try it. I don't really have anywhere else in my life where I can get away with doing this."
She falls quiet for a moment. Then she resumes applying that powder. When she's done, she leans back. "There. All done. When you're ready, give it a look." She sets down the cosmetics, then takes a moment to look over her nails. The topic's moved away from Akechi, so she ought to talk more about--
"...You don't think Makoto will be weirded out any by this? I don't think she would, but... I haven't talked to her about it yet either." She pauses. Then, awkwardly: "I really do have a bad habit of not talking to the people I'm close to about personal stuff, huh."
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
"Oh, that's true. It's always better to do something in person."
Ann, diehard advocate of in-person shopping, is not hard to convince about the benefits of in-person makeup training.
As for her parents, though, a little smile plays across unmarked lips as Ren asks that question. "Mmhm," she voices wordlessly at first, drawing her legs up on the couch into a comfortably cross-legged position. "They really love their jobs. They like to talk about my shoots and stuff when I have a gig -- sometimes they'll give me little pointers about whoever's working photography if they know them, stuff like that, you know? I think they just like that I enjoy it, though, even though they know it's not really what I want to do."
A soft "heh heh" escapes her lips; were she not otherwise remaining still as a makeup model for Ren's attentions, one could perfectly imagine her bobbing her head in affirmation here as she declares,
"I'm sure they'll be especially impressed when I'm a big time action hero!"
...
"I-I've kinda been slacking a bit on my training, though. Aheh..."
Ann, her head blessedly in the clouds. This heavenly point of view, however, means she is scarily observant about other things. Like whatever's going on with Akechi and Ren, for example: fortunately, her train of thought is self-derailed before she can plunge it even deeper into that particular abyss, a sigh of relief escaping her lips as Ren assures her that she is doing everything above board and legal at the Crossroads.
"Oh, phew. That's good. I'm glad you found a place you could be comfy with experimenting with this stuff!" she exhales, before lifting a hand to awkwardly scratch at her cheek. "Iiiii guess it's kinda weird for Phantom Thieves to be worried about doing anything illegal, huh? I bet you would look pretty cool tossing those bottles around and stuff, though... --oh! Like those clips of fancy bartenders online! They're soooo coooooool... ... huh, do you think I should become a bartender instead...?"
Ann's runaway train of thought is, thankfully, is reined in once Ren announces she has finished. "Oh! Cool!" It's delicate, the way that Ann's eyelashes flutter with the opening blink of her eyes. Trained and yet natural, those eyelids slide open with a light grace that completely belies the way she kind of places hands on her knees and bounces her way towards the right so she can leeeeeeeean forward in her cross-legged position and snatch her compact, tongue hooking on her lower lip with the effort.
"Nnnn... there! Okay, let's see." Drawing back and snapping open that little container, Ann looks at herself and that powder with a scrutinizing eye for a few seconds, before that compact snaps shut once again.
"Not bad! Especially for your first time. There's a few spots here where you put a little too much pressure, see..."
And Ann will run Ren through some pointers - she even knows exactly where to point in the spots she's referring to on Ren's initial technique despite having only looked at herself in that mirror for such a comparatively brief time. Those little lessons continue until--
...You don't think Makoto will be weirded out any by this?
"Huh?"
Sky blue eyes blink as Instructor Ann is drawn out of her tutorial mode. She's a little surprised, for a second, if only because it's not a question she was expecting. But...
"Mmm."
... she puts serious thought into it all the same, hands planting in her lap as she looks upwards towards the ceiling.
"... I wouldn't say 'weirded out', no. But you shouldn't take it the wrong way if she's surprised or alarmed or something, you know? Makoto is so cool in so many ways but I think, like, all of this?" A hand lifts, to gesture at the cosmetics, the two of them, the vibe - everything. "... she's such a babe in the woods about this kinda thing. I think... she's spent such a long time living the life people expected her to live it takes her some time to adjust to the fact that there are other ways to live, or, like... ways she wants to live."
Ann frowns a little. "Err. I dunno. Maybe I'm totally wrong. B-but my point is -- don't be too bummed about her initial reaction! I think she'll be super supportive once she's had a moment to, like, dip her toes in and adjust, y'know?"
And here, she offers Ren a look.
"And yes. You totally do. Especially her. You're dating! That kinda thing is super important!"
--
"I-I assume!"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
As Ann describes her parents in affectionate detail, Ren smiles with her. So it's more like that, huh... They could still be around for Ann more, but she's genuinely glad for Ann that her parents care about and support her. ...at least, they want to believe they care about her, and aren't only supportive because she's doing what they like. They keep that thought to herself, though. Intellectually, she knows not everyone has the contentious relationship with their parents she does, and why rain on Ann's parade?
Especially since--
I'm sure they'll be especially impressed when I'm a big time action hero!
"Yeah. How's that coming along?"
I-I've kinda been slacking a bit on my training, though. Aheh...
Ren sighs in amused exasperation and shakes her head. She works out in her attic room almost every morning. It's limited in the gains it can give her, especially compared to drinking protein drinks and hitting the gym, but nothing beats 'free' plus 'zero transit time.' "And how much is 'a bit'?" she teases.
She does chuckle when Ann points out the irony of the Phantom Thieves being sticklers for not doing anything illegal. "Can't let the cops catch onto us," they half-joke. This, too, is a good opportunity to practice sharing about herself with a trusted friend, so she continues, "But yeah. I found Crossroads Bar when I met up with this reporter lady I met while we were investigating Madarame's Palace, then got her help with the info we needed for Kaneshiro." She means Ichiko Ohya, not Maya Amano, though Maya did help out with info about Kaneshiro too. "We meet there since that's where she hangs out most nights. She and Lala-san seem pretty close too, so Lala-san took a shine to me. Lala-san's just a kind person in general, though."
Fancy bartenders... Ren has to nod thoughtfully at the mental image. "That would be pretty cool... It pays well, too. More than any other job I've got." They smile. "Maybe when I turn twenty, I'll start bartending on the side. Just for the sexiness of it."
Should /Ann/ become a bartender, though? Ren raises her eyebrows at her. It's generously 50/50 if Ann will even notice right now.
Still, that's fine, because both of their focus is on Ren's make-up practice. She waits for Ann to check herself out in her compact mirror, and wonder briefly if she should get a mirror for her bedroom--there's a couple downstairs, one over the sink and one in the bathroom, but it'd be nice to check herself out without having to go up and down the stairs every single time.
"Ah, yeah? Sorry," she replies at the critique. It is her first time trying, so she listens to the explanations and pointers, leaning in closer to get a better look. She nods, pays attention, and will note it all down in her journal later.
She asks a certain question, though, and Ann is at first startled--but then gives it serious consideration. When she replies, Ren absorbs it with a slow nod. "Yeah. You're right. She did used to be really straight-laced." Awkward phrasing aside, she nods again. "And she's pretty close with Tsubasa, who wears way heavier make-up than you or I ever will. I'm probably worrying too much--but sometimes it can be different when it's your datemate instead of just a friend."
Ren laughs quietly again. "Hmmm, have you ever dated anyone yourself?" she wonders with another teasing little smile. "But yeah. I'll give her a call tonight, and we'll talk it over," she concludes decisively.
"In the meantime--" She raises the cosmetics brushes still in her hands. "You mind if I try again?"
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
And how much is 'a bit'?
"N-nothing you need to worry about! You know, they say fifty percent of getting in good shape is having a positive outlook, so I'm already halfway done!"
... something about that math doesn't seem... ...
"Oh! I think I remember you mentioning her!" Thankfully Ann is too powerful and just blows right past what may or may not be flawed logic, we just can't say (it is). "--Wait. Is this the Coolest! one, or the other lady?" One of these things Ann sounds noticeably more excited about than the other. Sorry Ichiko. If you wanted to be cool in Ann's eyes, you'd work at Coolest!, and not a respectable investigative paper.
Still -- "Lala-san does sound pretty cool. I'd be seriously intimidated. --Oh! Oh!! Is she one of those aloof madam types who seems distant but is actually super caring?? Does she own a kiseru...?!"
Lala-san with a kiseru would be too powerful, but there's no stopping Ann's imagination now--
Just as much as she does not in fact even notice Ren's well-placed incredulity when the possibility of being a fancy bartender is added to her long list of pipe (get it) dreams.
"If you do become a bartender, you need to invest in some good vests. And neckties that offer a splash of color! I saw clips of one of those flair bartenders that was wearing a green tie that really brought out her eyes..."
Ann sighs.
"So cool...!"
But, there will be time for enthusing about the stylishness of bartenders...... later. For now, there's more important things to deal with, like make up tips, and relationship advice. Which. Like. Is Ann even qualified to be giving any of the latter out...??
"I-I mean -- I'm just not in a rush about it!" is her blurted and slightly defensive answer to that question. "Besides, most of the guys in Shujin are total creeps."
If nothing else -- she does have good reason to be wary of relationships.
"And... things just got kinda complicated after everything with Shiho, I guess. And when she left..."
Ann fidgets with her thumbs for a few, quiet moments. But for however many reasons she does have to be wary of relationships, "Ah! But that's not the point! Don't worry too much about it, okay? Makoto's the coolest. It'll be okay. I know it."
And this, she says to a certainty. Just as much as she gives a firm, confident nod at Ren's request, twintails bobbing with the motion.
"No problem! Yeah, let's do a second attempt. And then after that, I'll show you how to do the primer and the eyeshadow. You're already doing much better than a lot of beginners I've seen; you'll be a total pro in no time."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren may not have gotten very good at math until recently, when Umie reframed it as a puzzle to be solved, but something about that math is indeed not mathing. Still, it's every inch the answer she asked for, so she just shakes her head, still amused, and lets it go. No wonder Ryuji didn't want to help her come up with an exercise regime.
"The other lady. Ohya-san," she replies. "She and Amano-san are really similar personality-wise, actually. I wonder if they know each other..."
Aloof with a kiseru? Ren considers this. "I haven't seen her with a kiseru... but I can easily imagine her with one," she replies. "I wouldn't call her the aloof type, though. She's not intimidating, either. She's actually really chill, even when she's scolding Ohya-san for drinking too much. She takes everything in stride." Ren smiles. "I admire her."
Ann would also be overwhelmingly powerful with a kiseru. Ren wisely does not bring up this image. Instead, Ann shares her own of her ideal bartender--and it is an excellent image, she must say. "Yeah... A sharp tie and a clean, crisp vest is exactly the way to go," she agrees. "It'd have to be red for me, though."
It is absolutely true that Ann has good reason to be slow to get into a romance. Ren nods sympathetically--though she sobers when the matter of Shiho comes up. (And also suspects, considering how the conversation has turned--but she keeps that to herself, too.) "How's she been doing lately, on that note?" she wonders instead, gently. "Feels like I haven't seen her in ages."
Makoto is the coolest, though. Just like Ann's the funniest. Ren smiles anew, shutting her eyes as she ducks her head.
"All right," she replies. The compliment draws out a grin. "I'm lucky to have an excellent teacher. Right, Ann-sensei?"
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
The other lady.
"Oh. Okay."
It's not your fault, Ohya--!!
"Ooh. Maybe they're, like, journalist rivals, or something! Hehe, how exciting...!"
And there she goes, imagining some wild scenario once more...
"Stiiiiill. It'll be pretty useful to have a journalist as a contact, yeah? I guess it is kinda exciting how much progress we've been making with all of that."
And intimidating, she thinks, but does not say aloud right now.
No -- for right now, Ann focuses on how Lala Escargot is or is not intimidating. "She sounds super cool. But still a little intimidating," says Ann, scratching her cheek. "The fact that she's totally chill and admirable and still isn't intimidating just makes her even more intimidating..."
The paradox of Lala Escargot is great indeed.
How intimidating Ann would actually find Lala is of course another matter. One day, she may venture out into the Red Light District and see for herself. For now, though -- for now, after a brief affirmation ("absolutely has to be red") for Ren's tie choices, Ann falls uncharacteristically quiet when asked about Shiho.
"Mm," she voices, fingers lacing together in her lap. "She's doing much better now. She's so strong... I can't even imagine coming back from everything she's gone through. And yet she kept telling me that it was because of me she could even try to stand again."
She smiles a small, uncertain kind of smile, blue eyes focused on the press of her thumbs together. "That's so weird, right?"
It's a question she's happy to leave to the ether for now, though. Whether she can understand it or not, well.
Ann's grin is one of eye-shutting mirth as she lifts her arms, clasping one hand on her opposing bicep as she flexes it triumphantly.
"Mmhm! Ann-sensei's ready to take it to the next level! Hehe, 'Ann-sensei'. I like that."
She's much stronger than she thinks. Even if she has a lot about herself to figure out.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"It has been, yeah," Ren agrees with regard to journalist contacts. She has so many contacts in all sorts of places now, Ann would hardly believe it. It is fun to imagine an Ohya-Amano rivalry, though--racing through the demon-riddled streets for their next scoop! ...Just kidding. Only Maya could manage that. (Sorry, Ohya. You should've been a Persona User.)
A sweatdrop runs down the back of Ren's head--or would if this were an anime or a video game or something--at Ann's insistence that Lala is intimidating. Well, maybe she can stop by Crossroads Bar sometime and see for herself.
More important for the moment is Shiho; it's been a while since Ren got an update about her, and while she's had a lot on her mind for the past several months, she does care about how she's doing. It's good to hear that she's improved a lot, but--she attributes her strength to Ann, huh.
"Not really," she replies, a little smile lingering on her lips. "You're inspiring like that." A beat. "Let's go visit her together sometime, all right? If you think that wouldn't put her out."
For all that Ann's spirit ebbs for a moment at Shiho's mention, though, she flares back to full brightness in just a moment. Ren's own smile warms even more as the two of them get Ann-sensei's face cleaned up and ready for the next try.
It's so easy for Ren to see exactly what Shiho means. Maybe one day, she'll see it too.