#and akeshu but that's a given

[berry--blonde]

I couldn't get the idea of an akeshu and ryusumi double date at a fair out of my head so i drew it!

(Version without the Phone UI under the read more!)

[easyaesthetics]

Sprite edits for Even the Mountains Crumble, a fic by @whoalookingcooljoker !

Chapter 2 vs Chapter 13

[235uranium]

honestly as much as I love royal and getting proven right it IS annoying how atlus and the persona writers specifically keep refusing to let you date the boys.

like I have Thoughts on yosuke but it IS absolute bullshit that they wrote a dating route and cut it. it's even worse when you remember that p2 came out in the 90s and did actually include gay people

.... like they're homophobic and biphobic about it, but you can't pretend it's not an option.

[87foxeninaboxen]

P5 fics where Morgana is just a normal cat are so fucked up you are the reason he has a complex a catplex even

[lemxonsol]

akeshu 2/14/23

pov:

man doesn’t get genuine love and gets confused when given love on day of love

[lokiarsene]

Can you explain to me what 2/2 means to akeshu and why the akeshu shipdom celebrate on this day, please, Im new to the shipdom so I really don't know much. Thank you !

oh anon, i'm so sorry i'm late!

in persona 5 royal, 2/2 is the final day that akechi and ren are together in maruki's dream world. the confrontation akechi has with ren in leblanc is one of the most angst-laden romantic discussions they have in the game, wherein you can choose to side with akechi (and fight maruki, and thus choose an unknown fate for akechi) or betray akechi (and choose maruki's dream world and the certainty of keeping akechi around).

basically you're given the choice to destroy an illusion world (and risk akechi's life in the bargain of pursuing the truth), or betray him and choose the illusion because you can't bear to endure the uncertainty of what reality has in store for him.

personally this is why i think akechi is not only clearly alive, but was obviously there at the train station in the final cinematic on p5r. the whole point of fighting maruki was that you didn't know what would happen to akechi when you got back to the real world. the game repeatedly stresses this, so imo it is a logical conclusion for the narrative to return these feelings of fear and doubt with a bittersweet yet comforting, albeit subtle, resolution. it's the only narrative payoff that makes sense, though i will concede that its subtlety does allow for people to interpret it how they want to. as someone who studied western and japanese literature in college, writes their own fiction, and continues to study and analyze fiction as a hobby, i personally believe that the only narratively satisfying conclusion is that akechi is alive.

i also especially like the idea that he's alive, and he and ren are free to meet again should their lives allow for it. they entered each other's lives because a god was pulling the strings, and then a man who would be god continued to do the same, and now that both are defeated, both boys are free. their lives are free, their fates are their own, and the possibility of them meeting is not only there, it's also just so... significant, i guess? it's a 'we met once before, so it stands to reason we can meet again' kind of poignant longing.

so basically, 2/2 is the climax (narratively speaking, though there is a lot of great angsty romantic fics for them on this day lol) of p5r. it hinges entirely on ren and akechi's relationship and how you want to honor it, and akeshuake fans celebrate it accordingly.

[icespur]

Goro and Akiren's names meaning

So, I've been going through a website for Japanese baby names with their written Kanji meanings too, for a future Akeshu post. and this also required me to visit the Megami Tensei Wiki of our boys to look at what their names mean and---

Akiren and Goro's parents had very different thought processes of importance when naming their newborns and it shows.

(no offense to any Japanese born with the name Goro, spelt with the same Kanji as P5's Goro, I just find this funny. This is purely making fun of a fictional character)

If you're on team Ren Amamiya for P5 Protagonist's name. You already probably know "Amamiya" means "Rain Palace". But what about "Ren"?

The Amamiya's named their son "蓮/Ren", which means "Lotus".

A Lotus flower is a symbol of purity, or "Strength, Resilience, or Rebirth".

For team "Akira Kurusu"

Kurusu means "Chestnut Grove". "Su" = "Nest" or "Grove", "Kuru" = "to come"

"Akira" spelt like this 暁

Means: "Daybreak" or "Dawn", or any form of "bright"

hey, maybe the Kurusu"s named their son after the time he was born.

and then there's Akechi----

The Surname 明智/Akechi (apparently read as "Meichi"??), is an uncommon spelling and means "Wisdom and Sagacity"

That's nice, fitting. Nothing wrong with that.

Now what about Pancake-boi"s first name?

Goro

Depending on what text characters you use, "Go" can mean "five" or "I, my, me, myself".

"Ro" means "Son, or Young Man"

the Kanjis for Goro"s name is indeed 吾郎

吾/Go = I, My, Me, Myself

郎/Ro = Son, Young Man.

MamaKechi really just named her newborn "My Son".

Alternate spelling with a diffferent "Go" Kanji, isn't any better

五 and 伍 = Go (the characters can also be read as Itsu-tsu, or Kumi) translate as "Five", so alternatively he would be named "Fifth Son", which wouldn't make too much sense on Mother's part because Goro is an only child on her side.

On Shido's end though, given his interaction with Women, who knows how many One Night Stand or One Sided Encounters that ended in children being born he's had at this point. Goro could be "Unintentional Half Child" number 5 or higher for all we know. But MamaKechi wouldn't know that.

Point is, why is the P5 fandom only roasting this man for his infamous "Delicious Pancakes" screw up, but not taking advantage of the endless potential of his first name meaning "My Son"?

Because, me personally, I find that hilarious. Oh, if the Phantom Thieves learned that they could tease him mercilessly to the point he drops the Goro entirely when introducing himself to new people.

the possibilities are endless!

Extra: His name being a nod to Kogoro Akechi, a fictional Detective isn't any better. "Kogoro" uses the "Fifth Son" Kanjis, with "Ko" meaning "Small, Tiny, Little". Inspired by a Detective from a mystery novel or not, his namesake inspiration could be translated as meaning "Tiny fifth son"

[maze-of-my-design]

7 8 12 15 for sumi!!!!

(the ask game in question times 3)

[incredible excitement] YA HOO!!!!

7- SUMIRE/VIOLET REDESIGNS MY BELOVEDS god y'all don't know how i love em. As much as i love the canon outfit they SHOULD'VE given her a redesign, small as it may be. Love it when people give her different hairstyles too, shout-out to the short hair sumis out there i love every single one of em. I'm not a part of em personally but i believe in their beliefs.

Also extra shout-out to that one Transmasc Sumire post I think about it always and i love that for him. in love tbh.

7.5 i need more positivity after last post - When people see her past the "hello senpai uwu im so cutesey and shy" personality and treat her issues like they do, say, Akechi's for example. She's an interesting character guys they couldve done so much with her, she isn't just the Badly Interwoven Royal Marketable Plushie guys plea

8- Probably the inverse of the 7.5 point AND when they make her just "akeshu's child" or "akeshu's thirdwheel" or just. make her revolve around them, yknow? ESPECIALLY when it's Royal Trio stuff. She would be mildly concerned about their Doomed Yaoi Swag, of course, but it wouldn't be her sole character trait. Also, when they make her into this permanent doormat-type, fragile little girl. Please, Sumire literally asks Makoto to teach her how to physically clock a bitch in the Theives Den, she's the first one who rushes into battle during Maruki's palace before The Revelation (AND she's verbally told to slow down by AKECHI), she kills three shadows SINGLEHANDEDLY during the intro to the game WHILE LANDING BACKFLIPS. ON HEELS. Sumire is by no means weak or shy in battle and she would be willing to knock a man unconscious if need be.

12 (except it's multiple bc i love her) - She'd be a featherman fan. Maybe not a fanatic, but she'd enjoy the show greatly! She'd also like Disney movies (though not the company itself because Fuck Disney) and taught herself how to pirate TV shows and films so that she could enjoy them in her spare time. Lastly i think she'd enjoy sewing, while Kasumi would have enjoyed embroidering. Two sisters fixing and embelishing clothes, two parts of a whole, you feel me?

12.5 - She's 16 during Royal. Listen, i know she's a first year, but it is stated IN GAME that "the girl who died [Kasumi] was 15" and Sumire is brainwahsed by Maruki on the twins' birthday (according to the wiki) so she would be 16 instead of 15 and that innacuracy drives me a little nuts i think. However we know that fandom wikis aren't the end all be all of characetr info so correct me if i'm wrong

15- I guess i enjoy shu/sumi and sumi/taba* sometimes – their stuff can be rly cute tbh – but i think we were robbed of a bond between Akechi and Sumire. They're the only two theives who arent really members of the theives (Sumire being openly against their methods since they'd make society over-rely on them, Akechi being Akechi), They're both people who pretended to be someboy they weren't because of a single man who thought himself holy, they reunited with eachother at their realest moment (Akechi being Crow, Sumire awakening to who she really is). Akechi would have the opportunity to open himself up at his own pace with her instead of traumadumping to strategically get closer to chosen people, Sumire would get to be more walls-down and feel bad instead of just pretending to be ok. Sumire would learn to be more blunt with others and Akechi would get to be less defensive and mellow down. They're both more honest with eachother than with other people. do you see the vision?

Now i wouldn't say i ship them, moreso i see a Warriors Bond between them where saying friends is too simple but neither would want to kiss eachother on the mouth like That by any means (That is a Gay Man and a Lesbian your honor). They're two ppl who have their worst moments near eachother for an hour and then proceed to cuddle on the couch watching featherman to calm down.

(also because a full on romantic ship would be a little weird considering their ages and all)

*typing the ships like that so that they don't show up on search

[skyberia]

SAY, would any of you be interested in physical copies of those akeshu comics i made? they would be similar to this (but with better formatting & possibly, maybe, a new cover), come with a sticker, and probably cost around $15-18 (+ shipping, which i'm estimating to be about $5)

CAVEAT: given how i'm shipping from brazil, it would probably take from 2 weeks to (worst case scenario) 3 months to get anywhere internationally. Which unfortunately i cannot do much about

NOT-CAVEAT: i drew the sticker already. and it's cute. look at them

[pickles4nickles]

Hi I just wanted to make a quick post, thank you to everyone who's given my big Akeshu comic zine a read so far!

I super super appreciate those who left a little tip, but also if you didn't and you just wanted to check it out, super fine as well! I'm just glad that people are enjoying the thing I spent like a whole year making

[tgirljoker]

the appeal of akeshu is all about the pining, and the unsaid tension, and the fact that they cant do anything to save each other because of the paths theyve taken, and how they cant be upfront with eachother so they speak through double meanings, and how they perfect the masks they wear around people yet are the only ones who can see through each others, and how they wish things were different between them but recognize the impossibility of that given their circumstances. all of this means that any time someone depicts them having a genuine and significant moment of affection with each other at any point in the game i cant enjoy it because i dont think its in character 😭

[tricksterlatte]

The Safety of Anonymity

Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Fandom: Persona 5 Pairing: Akeshu (Goro Akechi/Akira Kurusu) Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Social Media, Chatting & Messaging, Mutual Pining, Akechi Goro Lives, Akechi Goro is Bad at Feelings, I took that Black betrays Red scene from the TV and made Akeshu get into fandom discourse over it, Angst, A SHOCKING amount of angst given this started as a Reddit fic, Angst with a Happy Ending, Humor, Secret Identity, Online Friendship, Coping, Getting Together, Not Beta Read, References to Depression

[queen-ofsunflowers]

How do u feel about RenxSumire and Renxakechi?

Send me a ship and I'll give you my (brutally) honest opinion on it

Oh, it's interesting that you chose these two, Anon. Very interesting.

ShuSumi

I'll be frank. Whether it be because I knew I was going to be able to on my playthrough for Break Away, I romanced Sumire on my first run of Royal. And I loved it. Their interactions were so damn sweet!!

I love ShuSumi. Not only their interactions together during the romance route, but even before that happens too. They work well together and support each other. There's a good dynamic going there between them. There's more I can talk about if given the right questions, I'm just not sure exactly what to say. To put it simply, it's cute and sweet and I love it.

ShuAke/AkeShu

Much like the previous, I like the dynamic between Akechi and Ren as well. It's one of my top Persona 5 ships for the protag along with ShuSumi. Rivals/Enemies to Lovers is one of my favorite tropes if it's done properly, and AkeShu isn't an exception to that. It's also the fact that Akechi came back in the third semester because of Ren, and that is what Maruki tries to use Akechi as the way to get Ren to agree to not steal his heart. That whole scene was just... oof. Very emotionally charged.

There are some ways that I've seen the ship written that doesn't exactly nail the dynamic or Akechi's character at all correctly, though. That tends to drive me a bit nuts and make me stop reading. He's an asshole, dammit. Let him be an asshole.

The Royal Trio

Okay so... if we're being honest, my favorite combination of these is where Ren gets to hold both of their hands. He is a disaster bisexual who falls for two of his friends, and when they figure it out, they both go for those hands. While Ren's being a disaster over the both of them, I like to think that Akechi and Sumire end up being pretty close friends in the long run. They just happen to share a simp boyfriend.

One of my favorite things about the trio as well is that they're able to see underneath each other's masks. I have a feeling that Akechi already knew that there was something going on while Sumire was pretending to be Kasumi, but he didn't say anything about it. He knew who she was the whole time. And while Ren was affected by Maruki's illusion, there were some moments where he saw Sumire underneath Kasumi's mask and helps her bloom into her true self once the illusion wears off. I think that's beautiful.

Ren knew about Akechi the entire time, and it's through their confidant that Ren can see more of the true him under that false persona he wears. I'm not so sure about Sumire in this case, because I remember her being surprised by Akechi's true self. I do remember her adapting to it rather quickly, though.

And Akechi and Sumire are able to see past the lies and reputation that Ren has to see the real him. Ren's not afraid to show the true him around the two of them, despite how many masks he may wear literally, seeing as he's a wild card.

Basically, their dynamic flows incredibly well when the three of them are together, and in one fic series of mine, I am incredibly tempted to have the Royal Trio be the ship that Ren is involved in. It won't be confirmed in the main game because Ren is a disaster, but in Strikers. Either way, it'll be fun to work with.

[nebulaleaf]

other nightly thoughts: I see a lot of akeshu soulmate aus where their string is cut in the boiler room scene and that makes sense given what happens but ....  I feel like akechi would willingly cut his string at a much earlier point than that. even before finding out it’s akira tbh-- which i know takes the fun out of the string concept in soulmate aus, but IM personally fascinated by how having a grey and withered string on both their hands would effect them.

[daz4i]

idk what kind of things to ask but you asked for asks soooo uhhh

top five ships, just any fandom and fmk for chuuya, nikolai, and poe

oooo thank you!!! ^o^

top 5 ships, in no particular order bc ik recency bias will skew it:

1. skk. who'd have thought

2. akeshu. shocking i know

3. sylvix. I'm sensing a pattern here

4. kurotsukki. i may have a Type

5. zerhys. thank god i broke free from That One Specific Dynamic

ok now. that fmk. is the hardest one you could've given me tbh

i think. nikolai would be okay with me killing him here. smth about breaking free from the chains of life. so i feel less bad about doing it. also nothing says we can't fuck beforehand

marry poe bc there's no point in us fucking when we're both bottoms

fuck chuuya bc that'd be so awesome tbh 👍 and i don't think we'd be able to last as a married couple

[specterthief]

(in case it hasn't been asked) goro?

Sexuality Headcanon: GAY GAY HOMOSEXUAL GAY. with a lot of these characters i'm like "oh yeah i can see them as bi too sure" but in this case it's not like a fun headcanon vibes thing, it is interpretation of the text (in which akechi shows absolutely no interest in women in a game that never passes up a "haha guys ogling girls" bit) that is critical enough to how i interpret akechi as a character in the full context of persona 5 that anything else will immediately take me out of a fic no matter what

(to be clear i do not care at all what other people ship and hope that everybody with m/f goro ships/who headcanons him as bi is having a great time over there but i personally just cannot see it) Gender Headcanon: cis guy! i've also seen some good trans guy goro content but while i like the idea i can't see it in canon in his case A ship I have with said character: akeshu is THE ship, it's such an incredibly developed dynamic in royal and ends up being the emotional core of my absolute favorite part of the game and manages to both hit a lot of tropes i really love (enemies-to-lovers, "two sides of the same coin", among other things) while having a really interesting twist on one i usually don't like (predestination.) i can't really see goro with anyone else seriously and akeshu is genuinely one of my favorite ships of all time. i cannot fucking believe having another chance to be with goro being joker's greatest wish and something he'd consider going against all his teammates and everything he's stood for for is real A BROTP I have with said character: it's such a fleeting underdeveloped thing but i'm really fascinated by the dynamic goro seems to have with muhen. i'm really curious what his history with jazz jin is and how much muhen does or doesn't know about what's going on with him. also in the brotp (fucked up) way i posited in the maruki post, i've been really intrigued by goro and haru recently (though this is also a brotp (genuine) in synthesis, which is part of what's made me so intrigued by their canon dynamic and the potential there.) recognition of the self in the other (derogatory), you know

i also have a soft spot for the "futaba and goro are half siblings through shido" headcanon and like to think about the drama of how that might shake out A NOTP I have with said character: sumire. there's nothing wrong with it and i'm sure plenty of the shippers are perfectly nice but the worst hate i've ever gotten in this fandom has been over just quoting the interview where wada says goro doesn't care about her (on my own account, just in the context of the "love triangle" quote about akeshu, not targeting any shippers) so i went from just not liking it to having a really negative association with even seeing it in general and i block everything to do with it A random headcanon: had he been given the opportunity to form a contract and make full use of his wild card powers, his velvet room would be a train, endlessly hurtling onward with no destination General Opinion over said character: he's my #1 favorite character in persona 5 (and persona as a whole so far)! he's a particular type of tragic antagonist i really love and i came into the game with a lot of affection for him already because one of my best friends is also obsessed with him and i was not disappointed when i got to experience him for myself. royal was such a blessing for his character and i enjoy everything about him so so much, best boy