Velvet Room MUSH Wiki - User contributions [en]

User:Thornpunk

2026-04-11T03:54:00Z

Thornpunk:

I'm Lettie (she/her)! You may know me as the former player of Bart Fatima, Silver Sakaki, Vash the Stampede, etcetera over on DCM.

I am currently retired from the hobby.

===My Former Alts (until Season 1, Episode 2)===
* [[Ulala Serizawa]] - FC (Persona 2EP) - Focus - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A lingerie saleswoman with low self-esteem and a mean right hook.''
* [[Shinjiro Aragaki]] - FC (Persona 3) - Focus - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A founding member of [[SEES]] and current punk truant who is running from his past. ALSO has a mean right hook.''
* [[Hazuki Nakao]] - OC ([[Persona Syzygy]]) - Focus - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A teenage Fool raised in England who returned to her homeland after her parents' messy divorce, putting on a mask of disconnection in an attempt to connect. Does not have a mean right hook.''
* [[Hiroto Nakamura]] - OC (Persona 2) - Nemesis - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A perfectly ordinary salaryman with a [[Assorted Supernatural Phenomena#The Mark|perfectly ordinary tattoo]] who works as a salaryman for the perfectly ordinary [[New World Order|Katou Corporation]].
* [[Eveline Deschamps]] - OC ([[Persona: Wild Hunt]]) - Nemesis - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A French bar owner and mother to a teenager who fights as part of [[The Wild Hunt|a group of veteran Persona Users]] who first fought twenty years ago. Practical, stylish, and a powerful Navigator.
* [[Tae Takemi]] - FC (Persona 5) - Chorus - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A back-alley doctor and pharmacologist with a prickly bedside manner and a true desire to help people hindered by a lack of self-value.''

2026-03-19: Rely On Me

2026-03-20T03:23:22Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Rely on Me''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Reiya Aomori, Aigis *'''Where:''' Port Island Back Alleys -> Road to Tatsumi Memorial Hospital *'''OOC Date:''' March 19, 2026 *'''IC Date:''' October 12, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''After Jin's ambush, Shinjiro is recovered by Reiya and Aigis. They manage to convince him to go to the hospital, and on the way they discuss the attack, the members of Strega, and just how hard it is to rely..."

*'''Log: Rely on Me'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Reiya Aomori]], [[Aigis]]
*'''Where:''' Port Island Back Alleys -> Road to Tatsumi Memorial Hospital
*'''OOC Date:''' March 19, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' October 12, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''After [[2026-03-17: Ambush|Jin's ambush]], Shinjiro is recovered by Reiya and Aigis. They manage to convince him to go to the hospital, and on the way they discuss the attack, the members of Strega, and just how hard it is to rely on others. In the end, though, they can't do anything right now but try.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Earlier, Shinjiro got ambushed, knocked down, and kicked repeatedly, beaten viciously by none other than Strega's Jin Shirato. His first action once he had his bearings and Jin was gone was to grab his phone, though he hesitated.

He couldn't call Aki. He didn't need to see him like this. He couldn't call Mitsuru. She's done enough for him.

In the past, Shinjiro would have called no one, tried to get his bearings and walk again, let the injuries set.

...but that's just running away, isn't it? Even in the guilt spiral he's feeling, he exhales.

He taps a contact on the phone, and clicks. His voice, when they pick up, is rough, sounding injured and weak.

"...Aomori? ...I got attacked. Back alleys. Strega. He's gone, but... if you could..." He trails off.

"...don't come alone. Aigis?" he says, absently, as if suggesting someone to join him.

And then, he spends some time just trying to stand up.

When the two arrive, they'll find him sitting against the wall, still having not found the energy to get to his feet just yet. He must have dragged himself over, arm lazily wrapped around his stomach as is.

He doesn't make eye contact, barely looking up towards them.

Shinjiro needs a moment.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
"I will be there as soon as possible."

That was Reiya's answer; there is a little concern in his voice, but it can be hard to tell. Urgency, certainly. So he went to get Aigis, explained what he knew of the situation, and...

Now they're here. He suggested that they approach from different directions, in case the assailant is still present, and from his direction, he approache in ilence--then--

"Aragaki-senpai," Reiya says, looking him over with a frown. "We should get you to the hospital. You said Strega is already gone?"

He doesn't hear or see them...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.
<poem>
Aigis' initial guess as to what might have happened is, perhaps, less charitable than what the reality of the situation calls for. It is, after all, only a guess; she simply does not know enough to form a conclusion.

And there are more important things to worry about at the moment -- ensuring Shinjiro's safety takes top priority.

She responds to Reiya with a nod. "Understood."

Her own approach is a bit more visible than Reiya's, almost blatantly daring other members of Strega to go after her, too. It's not exactly easy to be stealthy as a heavy robot, no matter how she runs.

Thankfully, her sensors don't pick up any unusual activity along the way. "No hostiles detected," she announces as she arrives to meet them both.

The hospital sounds like a good idea. "Are you able to stand, or do you require assistance?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
As Reiya speaks to Shinjiro, finally does he respond. "...I'll be fine. Just need to get back to the dorm." He doesn't look fine, how his hands are bruised like that in defensive positions, how beaten his body and jacket look.

"...Jin Shirato, their tactician. He wanted revenge for a fight I had with Niko during a Joker Killer encounter. Apparently I injured her badly enough it pissed him off," he says hoarsely. There's an extra hint of guilt in that, but his whole demeanor is guilt.

Aigis gets a glance as she approaches. "No, I think he was trying to... leave a message." A pause.

"He threatened Amada if we were to hurt his people outside the Dark Hour. Said he knows his route from school." Shinjiro doesn't know if that's true. Even if it was, the fact he knows about Ken means he's not safe.

But the most important part is perhaps how Shinjiro says that aspect. The guilt, the fear, of Jin attacking Ken. It's palpable even as he tries to clamp it down.

"...thanks for showing up," he adds quietly, as if it was possible they wouldn't.

Taking a moment, he tries to stand, and partially gets there, but clearly is struggling.

"I..." He swallows, looking to Aigis. "I could use some help."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
It's a good combination; one to draw attention, the other to take advantage. ...But it turns out unnecessary.

Reiya frowns more sharply at Shinjiro's assessment. "I cannot force you to seek treatment, but I will insist that one of us heal you and supply first aid, when we return."

But Shinjiro explains. A message...

he narrows his eyes. "So his condition is that we confine our battles to the Dark Hour..." A shake of his head. "It's late for that."

"...We will not allow him to harm Ken, even if it limits our tactical options. Protecting him is high priority."

He pauses. "You're welcome. We wouldn't leave you."

"Aigis-san," Reiya says, "If you will assist senpai, I will ensure that the path remains clear."

He pauses. "...The police, too, would be suspicious of us, given your injuries. I must insist again that you should visit the hospital instead. A Kirijo hospital will not ask too many questions..."

Pause. He considers that guilt over Niko, but isn't sure yet what to say.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.
<poem>
For once, Aigis decides to suggest a course of action rather than follow one. "I must insist that you get proper medical treatment, Aragaki-senpai."

Jin Shirato. She files the name away for some future recall.

In shock and confusion, Aigis widens her eyes and responds, "... But they hurt ''us'' outside the Dark Hour." Unfortunately, while lack of internal logical consistency may prevent her from taking some course of action, not everyone works the same way.

If Niko's injury is what led to this, then they should take care to avoid harming each other that badly. That's one reason (among others) she prefers to aim for an opponent's Persona instead of their physical body.

She looks at her own hands in contemplation. Given what she is, she doubts that Strega cares enough to take notice and see this the same way, too.

At the mention of Ken's name, she turns her head to Reiya, then turns back to Shinjiro to nod in agreement. "Exactly as Aomori-san says." By this point. Aigis knows exactly how significant Ken's safety is to Shinjiro.

After Shinjiro thanks them, Aigis gives him a polite bow as if she were in service to him. In her mind, there was never any doubt. "Of course."

More firmly this time, now that Reiya's asserted the same thing, Aigis emphatically provides a one-word addition: "''Hospital.''"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro grimaces as they insist he get treatment at the hospital. "I can't do anything if they admit me," he says, somewhat nervous about the prospect.

But then the two both voice the hypocrisy. "...yeah. I can't let Amada get hurt because of me, but..." He trails off. "Shit. He threatened the 'girls', too. There's nothing he won't stoop to. We might need to be more paranoid."

He wheezes a bit as he tries to get up again, still struggling. "...I-" he starts as Aigis and Reiya are insistent. "...alright," he acquiesces, closing his eyes shut briefly.

If Aigis will help him, he'll be able to rise.

"...you're really reliable, you know," he says to Reiya, not entirely sure where he's going with it. "...sorry for the hassle."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
Because Shinjiro relents, Reiya doesn't have to point out that he can't do much in his current condition, either. But he does look to Aigis. "They did," he says. "It's hypocritical. The sort of thing I would expect from them. ...We can't trust his word, but we have little choice but to abide for now."

If he were fully-trained... No. SEES wouldn't like that option, even if it weren't too dangerous.

Reiya doesn't understand what Aigis is contemplating, but he does understand Shinjiro's reluctance. And still, "The 'girls'," he repeats. "I see."

"I will consider countermeasures, and bring my recommendations to the Arisatos and Kirijo-senpai," Reiya assures Shinjiro. "For now, let's focus on getting you to..." Reliable.

"I do my best. Let's go. If the police interfere, I will tell them we are on the way to the hospital with you."

But he' rather avoid them. Reiya scouts ahead a few steps, and then nods, to go to the road. "I appreciate your insistence," he says to Aigis. "He may not have agreed to only me."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro's acquiescence has earned him a grateful nod from Aigis. "Thank you."

Aigis repeats after Reiya, "For now." She quietly wonders if that's good enough.

She has determined that there is one act that Strega could take which would garner a similar response from her: going after one or both of the Arisato siblings. 'The girls' includes Minako.

Aigis absolutely helps Shinjiro up and offers her shoulders for him to support his weight on as they walk. (Or at least she figures he'd prefer this to being princess-carried.)

Despite her smaller stature, Shinjiro might find she's sturdy and won't easily be put off-balance by just leaning on her.

Her winter school uniform mitigates the sensation, but she's cold to the touch. Synthetic polymers and metal don't exactly carry the same physical warmth as people do.

Reiya's thanks take her by surprise. "I had not even considered that. I was only doing what I thought was best. You are welcome, all the same."

She looks to Shinjiro with concern and asks, "Please let me know if you need me to adjust anything so that you are comfortable as we proceed."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro supports his weight against Aigis, now that he's finally breached the hurdle and able to move. "We can't... trust them at all. He acted like what I did was worse than Strega killing people," Shinjiro says. "He's warped."

And even then, Shinjiro still feels bad that this happened. Guilty that he is the catalyst for danger each time.

As Mitsuru is mentioned, though, Shinjiro knows Mitsuru has a plan. He's not going to share that, but he wonders just how bad it'll go if they do go forth with it.

"Okay," he does say about the police, before turning to Aigis. "I'm fine," he says, but it's likely he'd bear with the pain in order to not burden her. This is enough to ask for.

Before they get far, though, he exhales. "It's hard. Relying on others like this, I mean," he muses. "...I almost didn't call, but... I couldn't run away."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
For now. That's the key word. But Shinjiro mentions his view on it. "...Of course. To his view, only the people close to him matter. But even then, it seems that they don't care what cost their 'world' has to ordinary people."

A plan... Well, a plan is a plan. Probably better than the one that occured to him, anyway.

He almost says 'humans', but thinks better of it in public; instead he says, "Many of us are prideful, or believe that we can handle things better ourselves, without involving others."

"...No offense intended, senpai. I do it, too. It's hard to rely on others. But I think it is braver to remember that we are part of a whole, to do our duty to them regardless of our feelings."

"This way," he suggests, "I see an officer on the left."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.
<poem>
If they can't trust them at all ... "Then we should consider the possibility they may attack even if we strictly adhere their terms."

This is a thought which has, unfortunately, only occurred to her just now.

Talk of how Strega values those within their ranks more highly than outsiders does cause her to compare their apparent behavior to her own unequal value assignments. Those -- aren't the same thing, are they? Strega's is driven by sentiment, hers is driven by objective fact.

Or so she believes -- for now.

When Shinjiro expresses that it's hard, Aigis falters in her own steps and shudders slightly. Reiya's response doesn't help matters. She redoubles her efforts and continues. "It certainly is."

There's comfort in knowing it isn't just her, but ... who else is ''like'' her? Definitionally speaking, she's supposed to be the one providing the help.

Officer on the left. "Acknowledged," Aigis replies as she follows Reiya's direction, "and thank you for the heads-up."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"They don't," Shinjiro agrees with Reiya.

"They might," he agrees with Aigis.

He lets out a bitter 'heh' as Reiya mentions pride and thinking they can handle things better. That's not what he believes. He just thinks things will go less bad for other people if they're not around him. Even if there is some extent of pride to that, it's mainly guilt.

Shinjiro can feel Aigis falter and shudder as she supports him, frowning all the while. "Hey, you okay?" he asks briefly, but is willing to let it pass. The cop on the left mention gets Shinjiro to nod to Reiya, as he thinks of how to answer him.

"...I'm not very brave. Just... trying to do my best, even if I have to push through my own damn cowardice. ...but I agree with the sentiment."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
"True," Reiya agrees with Aigis. "I was thinking on that myself. ...We definitely need to find a countermeasures."

Shinjiro's laugh... well, at least he can laugh. There is that. He notices Aigis falter, too. Hmm.

he doesn't know what the problem would be, though...

"You are welcome," Reiya says first of the officer, who Reiya pointedly avoids, going around a phone booth to break line of sight for a moment.

"Hmmm," Reiya answers. "Is that how you see it...?" He agrees with the sentiment. "A man who risks himself for others either values others highly, or..." he works it out in his head, and then frowns. "...Either way," he says, "Your 'best' is good to us. You have dedicated yourself to saving others. Do not discount that."

"...Can you tell me anything else about Jin Shirato?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.
<poem>
"I am not certain that it is pride so much as ..."

The word she's looking for doesn't come immediately. There's something about her which forms a perceived distinction between herself and others. Others lack it and go looking for it or life foists it onto them like an ill-fitting suit. She was born with it, designed with it in mind.

Her tongue settles on: "Purpose."

Aigis nods after Shinjiro checks on her. "I briefly was not, but I am now. I am willing to explain later." She needs to physically support him in the present moment. She will admit to her own, but prioritize them appropriately.

Reiya trails off after stating one possibility behind what may cause one to risk their own well-being to protect others, leaving the other unsaid.

... she ''said'' she would explain later.

Reiya's words of encouragement to Shinjiro also somewhat ease her own concerns. "Perhaps I am being too harsh on myself, as well."

He asks about Jin. Aigis adds, "Is there anyone else you can tell us about?"

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro sighs as Reiya tells him not to discount his 'best', but he's glad Aigis is going to be okay. "Alright," he says about explaining later, before tilting his head lazily towards Reiya. He can see that Reiya may have figured out the other answer of that question, or what he believes it is - one who values themselves lowly. "I'll try to rein in the self-deprecation," he half-jokes, best he can to keep up the mood.

But they ask about Jin and Strega. "...Shirato's their tactician, their planner. He's the guy who set off the bomb at the dorm. Green jacket, glasses, short hair. Total jerk, very full of himself, I think. We never liked each other."

THen, he turns towards Aigis. "Besides him and the Joker Killer, there's their leader, Takaya Sakaki, the blonde hippie who doesn't wear a shirt. Carries a gun. Total freak. Then there's Chidori Yoshino, this... lolita chick who is their jammer. Also Niko Kirisaki, blunt force trauma nihilist, and some guy named Okaga. Don't know anything about him except that he was at the dorm, Umie Akabane told me about him."

A grimace. "That's all I know."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
No, it's not pride. It's something the opposite of pride. But Reiya does notice the sigh... and the half-joke gets a, "Thank you, senpai."

Aigis was troubled... but is fine now. Hmm. "That would seem likely," Reiya agrees with Aigis. "I'll accept the explanation later, instead of asking now."

But Shinjiro has DATA for them. Their tacctician and planner... Hmm. "Noted." A high threat indeed, this Jin.

He listens each of the others. "I've met Okaga," Reiya says. "I think."

"He's... dirty."

A nod then. "Thank you. This is useful intelligence... But I think i should try to gather more."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.
<poem>
Aigis frowns as she considers the names and associations. She's seen Takaya for sure. Jin set off the bomb, so he must have been outside. Niko and Chidori are girls. The Joker Killer had something to do with the artist and the painting she had seen in Tartarus.

None of their descriptions fit the one she's most familiar with. That just leaves ... "Does this Okaga often wear hoodies and have a scraggly goatee? I have encountered him twice now."

And his general vibe is 'dirty.' Reiya may have answered her question for her. "And once for Aomori-san."

"I will leave that to you. Please, direct me however you require."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro's never actually met Okaga. "If that fits someone in Strega, then it must be him," he says. "But... yeah."

A pause. "...I'll help however I can once you dig up the intel. They're not gonna stop until we're out of their way. And we can never be out of their way."

Even if the fact he says that means they're all in danger. ...but that's what they have to do, right? They have this damned power, they have to use it to make sure no one else ever has to suffer like them.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
"I see..." So that's their number. Reiya is concerned. They're pvoen that they're no pushovers even without Personas; if Jin was able to do this to Shinjiro in an 'ordinary' space... Not to mention Takaya's gun.

"We can't," he agrees. "As I recall... Niko-san wants to ensure we do not end the Dark Hour."

"We are at an impasse. They are our enemies, so long as they defend it."

A nod then. "I will try to observe in silence, and if possible without overmuch danger, speak to this... Jin."

"Then I will have more information, and we can decide what to do further."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.
<poem>
It's the best guess they have for now. "Understood, then. Okaga strikes me as impulsive, if that helps in your assessment, Aomori-san."

"Ergo, they will not ever stop." Unless, "... will they stop if we are successful in ending the Dark Hour? Their cause would be lost then, right?"

While Aigis has this power, she hasn't yet suffered in quite the same way. Despite that, she shares Shinjiro's silent sentiment on the topic.

Reiya expresses some intention to speak with Jin. Aigis turns her head and asks concernedly, "Should you go alone to do so, or would you like backup?"

Even she has enough tact to not openly point out that, one-on-one, Jin got the better of Shinjiro. What Aigis doesn't know is /how/ -- Jin fought dirty, and Reiya may be better able to anticipate such tactics.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"She's bought into the Joker Killer's deranged philosophy, I think," Shinjiro tells Reiya. "I dunno." He knows she's a bit of a blind spot, since he feels a strange kinship, and he's trying his hardest to not let his bleed into his business.

"...good luck. I'll stay out of that, but I'll do what I can otherwise." He's already foreseeing himself returning to battle as soon as possible. Though Aigis's question... "I think they'd have to. They wouldn't be able to use their power as freely. But to think it'll go that easy is..." He trails off.

He's going to quiet down a bit until they reach the hospital, clearly exhausted. But he'll take a moment to say...

"Thank you again. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't showed up."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
"If we push them so far that they no longer have a cause to 'lose'... Then they may become desparate. They will be more dangerous, not less, when we erase the Dark Hour."

That's his assessment, anyway. As to Shinjiro, he nods, and then, "Thank you."

"To scout, I can go alone. When I let him see me, it would be wise to have backup... To be honest, it would probably be wiser to have you nearby regardless. They have unknown abilities; I cannot guarantee that my stealth power will be sufficient."

He doesn't sound happy about that, though. "Though i have been training..." With Fuuka!

But when they reach the hospital, soon... That'll be that.

For now though, "You're welcome. ...Please continue to rely on me, senpai."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.
<poem>
Aigis bows her head at the notion that may only worsen Strega's endeavors. They'd lose their powers, but be further driven by spite and desperation. "I see ..."

She already told Shinjiro he's welcome earlier, but -- "Of course. You would do the same for either of us."

Scout alone, but have backup when he intends to be seen. "That stands to reason. I will wait on your instruction."

'Please continue to rely on me.' She looks at Shinjiro and says, "That goes for me as well -- provided, in turn, you also rely on others, Aomori-san."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"...mm." Shinjiro says about more dangerous. It's a good assessment, admittedly.

But they both talk about relying on others. Shinjiro exhales once, before letting loose a small, melancholic smile.

"...I'll try too."

Once he gets to the hospital, he'll split off from them with a nod once the hospital staff see him off. Hopefully, Reiya and Aigis can handle telling the others... and making sure that Ken is safe, at least for now.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro will try... and Aigis will wait. "Thank you," he says.

Then Reiya pauses, and looks thoughtfully at Aigis. "...Yes," he says. "I will."

"...None of us can do everything ourselves."

He waves to Shinjiro as the staff see him off, and then, "I suppose we should go home..."

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-03-17: Ambush

2026-03-20T03:16:06Z

Thornpunk:

*'''Log: Ambush'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Jin Shirato]]
*'''Where:''' Port Island Station Back Alleys
*'''OOC Date:''' March 17, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' October 12, 2012 (pushed forward)
*'''Summary''': ''Jin has a bone to pick with Shinjiro after his last fight with Niko. Shinjiro does not come out of it unscathed.''
*'''TW''': Physical brutality

----

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro has been behaving lately. No solo Dark Hour patrols where he can help it, trying his best to stick with his team, the like.

But he still has friends in the margins, and as such, he still visits the Port Island back alleys sometimes, even if he's started going to school and cleaning up again. Even those who'd grumble about this don't step to him, because he can still fight.

Shinjiro's currently walking down the alleyways to meet a contact. He's in his red coat and beanie, a neutral expression on his face. He has no idea what to expect. Things have been fine, even if his personal relationships have struggled since the Strega attack.

There's plenty of nooks and blind spots, though...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
Plenty of them. And Jin just happens to be tucked into one of them. He steps out smoothly into the walkway just as Shinjiro is about to pass, blocking his path. Clearly, he has been waiting. But not for long. Jin was all about strengths and weaknesses, but you never knew someone's strength or weakness without doing some real on-the-ground research first. And that's exactly what Jin did, spending the last week quietly stalking Shinjiro from the rooftops and shadows, analyzing his habits and haunting grounds before carefully selecting an appropriate time and place.

"Didn't expect to see you here," he says, though he knows Shinjiro is here all the time. "I thought now that you're hanging out with your group of goody-two-shoes, you wouldn't lurk around in a place like this."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro stops as Jin steps forward, gritting his teeth. He didn't want to see him. If he was here to threaten him, he wasn't going to play ball. But while he tensed, he did not bring his guard up - he knew Jin was a threat as a Persona User, but he didn't seem like the type to start a fight in the mundane world for no good reason.

"Piss off, Shirato. I haven't forgotten my roots, but neither have I forgotten how your gang of psychos attacked the people I'm trying to protect."

Shinjiro was underestimating Jin. That might be to his advantage, let him get the first blow if he wanted.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
Jin doesn't at all look affected by Shinjiro's words, or his attitude. He continues to stay blocked up in front of Shinjiro, blocking him from easily passing in the narrow alleyway. With one quick sidestep, Jin could block Shinjiro if he tried to pass on either side of him.

"Yeah? Seems pretty hypocritical when you're goin' around beatin' up people of our own."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro rolls his eyes. He doesn't try moving as Jin clearly wants to 'talk', but neither does he stoop to violence first.

"I'm not the one endangering civilians. As long as you're working with the Joker Killer, as long as you're ''killing people'', you have no place to scold me about anything."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
"Think whatever you want. At least I'm not beatin' on ''girls''." Jin couldn't care less what Shinjiro thought of him. He didn't even even care what Shinjiro thought of him when they were still on friendly terms. If anything, he looked at Shinjiro's turn-heel with disdain and judgment. And that's exactly how he's looking at Shinjiro right now.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro laughed, though it wasn't a cheerful thing. It was frustrated, no warmth to it. "What, is this about my fight with Niko?" No honorific - apparently they're close enough he's actually calling her by that name as she requests.

"She knew what she was getting into when she teamed up with a serial killer. Are you trying to white knight for her? That's kinda creepy, Shirato."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
Jin feels a prickle of irritation that only surfaces in a momentary twitch of the lip.

"Maybe someone should try beatin' on one of your team members to see how ''you'd'' react. One of the girls? Or maybe the little kid."

Jin's hoping to get a rise out of Shinjiro. Not because he wants one (the logical part of him doesn't), but if he's hoping to inflict some harm on Shinjiro, why not add a little psychological damage to the mix?

"Attacking a kid would be too easy. You know, I already know what route he takes to walk back home from school."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro notices Jin's lip twitch as he starts talking shit. The taller teen frowns, but he pales when Jin mentions Ken, how he might stalk him and attack him.

Psychological damage is one thing. But Jin doesn't know the *extent* of that psychological damage and what Ken means to him. The thought of Ken getting hurt because of him causes him to tense up, his hand twitching being the first sign of what happens next.

Lunging forward, he grabs Jin's jacket, trying to pin him against the wall. Jin might be able to counter or dodge it if he's fast, but either way, Shinjiro only says one thing.

"Shut the fuck up!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
Jin allows himself to be caught by Shinjiro. A smile grows on his face as Shinjiro catches his jacket.

Exactly what he planned.

"I guess I've touched a nerve," Jin says. Shinjiro's so caught up in his theatrics that he's not paying to anything around him. It's the perfect opportunity. Jin knows already that no one sees him as a physical threat outside of the Dark Hour. But having someone underestimate you can be an advantage. Catching someone off-guard so hard that they let donw their defensives is, too.

And Jin likes having the advantage.

Jin knees Shinjiro the second he's close enough for the joint to hit its target. If Shinjiro staggers back, he'll kick him in the stomach after. With any luck, he'll be knocked to the ground. That'll take care of any height or weight advantage Shinjiro has over him. From there, everything should be easy.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro's running on blind fear and anger right now, so when that knee comes up, he doesn't see it coming. He loses his grip on Jin's jacket, staggering backwards. If he had more of his bearings, he'd be able to defend against Jin's kick, turn everything around casually. "Fuck...!"

However, it hits him straight in the stomach, hard enough for him to lose his breath for a second. He drops, not as durable in a mundane confrontation, especially against a foe who's been planning this for some time.

Though while he hits the ground, he's not unconscious, just winded. He's lucky to not hit his head, but it's unlikely he'll be able to get up before Jin can get to work.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
"Don't!" Kick. "Fuck!" Kick. "With Strega!" KICK!

It's the first time anger registers on his face since their encounter began. No, it's not anger -- it's fury. He'd never admit it, but he had grown fond of Niko. He never once thought he'd let someone else in outside of his core group of Chidori and Takaya. But somehow she managed to integrate herself into his life and make herself a critical part of it.

And this bastard had absolutely no problems hurting her for it. No way was Jin going to stand for it.

The kicks continue -- each one more brutal than the last as Jin is wrapped up in a frenzied state of adrenaline. For a man who is usually so in control, he's completely lost any sense of it.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro doesn't have a chance to get up. Instead he guards his face with his hands, but that doesn't stop him from getting kicked over, and over, and over again, bloodied and battered and bruised.

It wasn't that Shinjiro had no problem hurting Niko, either. But why would he apologize to Jin for it? He's had to come to terms with that with Niko, that they're on opposite sides. Of course he struggles.

When Jin finally stops, Shinjiro's a mess. He's conscious, because it takes more than that to knock him out, but he's not getting up any time soon.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
"You touch one member of Strega outside the Dark Hour and I'll go after the kid next." Jin stomps Shinjiro's stomach. "Got it?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Mm," Shinjiro says, which is close enough to an affirmative while guarding his face, and the intent is clear. He doesn't know if he can actually keep it, though... or if he should. So he'll just have to make sure Ken's safe no matter what happens next. That's all he thinks about, even as he's kicked and beaten.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
Jin spits on Shinjiro, then turns on heel. The adrenaline is finally starting to wear off, but he's still feeling wound up. He shoves his hands in his pocket, his fingers twitching.

He needs to get back to the warehouse.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro is left physically worn, beaten, and unable to stand on his own. He has just enough cognizance outside the pain to not shout at him, as he reaches to find his phone and make sure it wasn't broken. Luckily, it wasn't hit, so...

After a long few moments of deciding if it's worth it, he calls someone. Hopefully they'll get there soon. For now, he can dwell on his weakness, unable to defend anyone, not even himself.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-03-17: Ambush

2026-03-17T22:10:36Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Ambush''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Jin Shirato *'''Where:''' Port Island Station Back Alleys *'''OOC Date:''' March 17, 2026 *'''IC Date:''' October 11, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Jin has a bone to pick with Shinjiro after his last fight with Niko. Shinjiro does not come out of it unscathed.'' *'''TW''': Physical brutality ---- <Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed. <poem> Shinjiro has been behaving lately. No solo Dark Hour patrols where he can..."

*'''Log: Ambush'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Jin Shirato]]
*'''Where:''' Port Island Station Back Alleys
*'''OOC Date:''' March 17, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' October 11, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Jin has a bone to pick with Shinjiro after his last fight with Niko. Shinjiro does not come out of it unscathed.''
*'''TW''': Physical brutality

----

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro has been behaving lately. No solo Dark Hour patrols where he can help it, trying his best to stick with his team, the like.

But he still has friends in the margins, and as such, he still visits the Port Island back alleys sometimes, even if he's started going to school and cleaning up again. Even those who'd grumble about this don't step to him, because he can still fight.

Shinjiro's currently walking down the alleyways to meet a contact. He's in his red coat and beanie, a neutral expression on his face. He has no idea what to expect. Things have been fine, even if his personal relationships have struggled since the Strega attack.

There's plenty of nooks and blind spots, though...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
Plenty of them. And Jin just happens to be tucked into one of them. He steps out smoothly into the walkway just as Shinjiro is about to pass, blocking his path. Clearly, he has been waiting. But not for long. Jin was all about strengths and weaknesses, but you never knew someone's strength or weakness without doing some real on-the-ground research first. And that's exactly what Jin did, spending the last week quietly stalking Shinjiro from the rooftops and shadows, analyzing his habits and haunting grounds before carefully selecting an appropriate time and place.

"Didn't expect to see you here," he says, though he knows Shinjiro is here all the time. "I thought now that you're hanging out with your group of goody-two-shoes, you wouldn't lurk around in a place like this."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro stops as Jin steps forward, gritting his teeth. He didn't want to see him. If he was here to threaten him, he wasn't going to play ball. But while he tensed, he did not bring his guard up - he knew Jin was a threat as a Persona User, but he didn't seem like the type to start a fight in the mundane world for no good reason.

"Piss off, Shirato. I haven't forgotten my roots, but neither have I forgotten how your gang of psychos attacked the people I'm trying to protect."

Shinjiro was underestimating Jin. That might be to his advantage, let him get the first blow if he wanted.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
Jin doesn't at all look affected by Shinjiro's words, or his attitude. He continues to stay blocked up in front of Shinjiro, blocking him from easily passing in the narrow alleyway. With one quick sidestep, Jin could block Shinjiro if he tried to pass on either side of him.

"Yeah? Seems pretty hypocritical when you're goin' around beatin' up people of our own."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro rolls his eyes. He doesn't try moving as Jin clearly wants to 'talk', but neither does he stoop to violence first.

"I'm not the one endangering civilians. As long as you're working with the Joker Killer, as long as you're ''killing people'', you have no place to scold me about anything."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
"Think whatever you want. At least I'm not beatin' on ''girls''." Jin couldn't care less what Shinjiro thought of him. He didn't even even care what Shinjiro thought of him when they were still on friendly terms. If anything, he looked at Shinjiro's turn-heel with disdain and judgment. And that's exactly how he's looking at Shinjiro right now.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro laughed, though it wasn't a cheerful thing. It was frustrated, no warmth to it. "What, is this about my fight with Niko?" No honorific - apparently they're close enough he's actually calling her by that name as she requests.

"She knew what she was getting into when she teamed up with a serial killer. Are you trying to white knight for her? That's kinda creepy, Shirato."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
Jin feels a prickle of irritation that only surfaces in a momentary twitch of the lip.

"Maybe someone should try beatin' on one of your team members to see how ''you'd'' react. One of the girls? Or maybe the little kid."

Jin's hoping to get a rise out of Shinjiro. Not because he wants one (the logical part of him doesn't), but if he's hoping to inflict some harm on Shinjiro, why not add a little psychological damage to the mix?

"Attacking a kid would be too easy. You know, I already know what route he takes to walk back home from school."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro notices Jin's lip twitch as he starts talking shit. The taller teen frowns, but he pales when Jin mentions Ken, how he might stalk him and attack him.

Psychological damage is one thing. But Jin doesn't know the *extent* of that psychological damage and what Ken means to him. The thought of Ken getting hurt because of him causes him to tense up, his hand twitching being the first sign of what happens next.

Lunging forward, he grabs Jin's jacket, trying to pin him against the wall. Jin might be able to counter or dodge it if he's fast, but either way, Shinjiro only says one thing.

"Shut the fuck up!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
Jin allows himself to be caught by Shinjiro. A smile grows on his face as Shinjiro catches his jacket.

Exactly what he planned.

"I guess I've touched a nerve," Jin says. Shinjiro's so caught up in his theatrics that he's not paying to anything around him. It's the perfect opportunity. Jin knows already that no one sees him as a physical threat outside of the Dark Hour. But having someone underestimate you can be an advantage. Catching someone off-guard so hard that they let donw their defensives is, too.

And Jin likes having the advantage.

Jin knees Shinjiro the second he's close enough for the joint to hit its target. If Shinjiro staggers back, he'll kick him in the stomach after. With any luck, he'll be knocked to the ground. That'll take care of any height or weight advantage Shinjiro has over him. From there, everything should be easy.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro's running on blind fear and anger right now, so when that knee comes up, he doesn't see it coming. He loses his grip on Jin's jacket, staggering backwards. If he had more of his bearings, he'd be able to defend against Jin's kick, turn everything around casually. "Fuck...!"

However, it hits him straight in the stomach, hard enough for him to lose his breath for a second. He drops, not as durable in a mundane confrontation, especially against a foe who's been planning this for some time.

Though while he hits the ground, he's not unconscious, just winded. He's lucky to not hit his head, but it's unlikely he'll be able to get up before Jin can get to work.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
"Don't!" Kick. "Fuck!" Kick. "With Strega!" KICK!

It's the first time anger registers on his face since their encounter began. No, it's not anger -- it's fury. He'd never admit it, but he had grown fond of Niko. He never once thought he'd let someone else in outside of his core group of Chidori and Takaya. But somehow she managed to integrate herself into his life and make herself a critical part of it.

And this bastard had absolutely no problems hurting her for it. No way was Jin going to stand for it.

The kicks continue -- each one more brutal than the last as Jin is wrapped up in a frenzied state of adrenaline. For a man who is usually so in control, he's completely lost any sense of it.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro doesn't have a chance to get up. Instead he guards his face with his hands, but that doesn't stop him from getting kicked over, and over, and over again, bloodied and battered and bruised.

It wasn't that Shinjiro had no problem hurting Niko, either. But why would he apologize to Jin for it? He's had to come to terms with that with Niko, that they're on opposite sides. Of course he struggles.

When Jin finally stops, Shinjiro's a mess. He's conscious, because it takes more than that to knock him out, but he's not getting up any time soon.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
"You touch one member of Strega outside the Dark Hour and I'll go after the kid next." Jin stomps Shinjiro's stomach. "Got it?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Mm," Shinjiro says, which is close enough to an affirmative while guarding his face, and the intent is clear. He doesn't know if he can actually keep it, though... or if he should. So he'll just have to make sure Ken's safe no matter what happens next. That's all he thinks about, even as he's kicked and beaten.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jin Shirato has posed.
<poem>
Jin spits on Shinjiro, then turns on heel. The adrenaline is finally starting to wear off, but he's still feeling wound up. He shoves his hands in his pocket, his fingers twitching.

He needs to get back to the warehouse.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro is left physically worn, beaten, and unable to stand on his own. He has just enough cognizance outside the pain to not shout at him, as he reaches to find his phone and make sure it wasn't broken. Luckily, it wasn't hit, so...

After a long few moments of deciding if it's worth it, he calls someone. Hopefully they'll get there soon. For now, he can dwell on his weakness, unable to defend anyone, not even himself.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-03-12: Scars Run Deep

2026-03-12T23:49:55Z

Thornpunk:

*'''Log: Scars Run Deep'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Tae Takemi]]
*'''Where:''' Yongen-Jaya - Back Alleys
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-03-12
*'''IC Date:''' Mon Oct 08
*'''Summary''': ''With the wounds sustained during the fight at the sanitarium still in the process of healing, Hyousuke pays a visit to Tae for a checkup.''
*'''TW''': Mild medical depiction of wounds
----

<Pose Tracker> Tae Takemi has posed.
<poem>
The clinic of Tae Takemi is not what many would expect. Walking into the narrow corridor that makes up the lobby, a red couch alongside the side of the wall is the only seating, underneath a rusted bulletin board and across from a potted plant. The clerical area has a window for shutter, with morbid posters along the walls, such as a teddy bear getting jabbed with needles to advise vaccinations and flu shots.

Sitting behind the window is Dr. Tae Takemi, who while wearing a doctor's coat, does not appear the type. She's wearing a choker attached to several necklaces, a one-piece black dress underneath her coat, bare legs, and stiletto heels, her blue-black hair cut short.

She's tabbing through a... it's not quite an official magazine, but a punk 'zine, as she waits for the next customer. There's a skull on the front. It's very cool, and also very indie. Seems to be keeping her attention, at least.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke paused before the threshold. He told himself that there was nothing to think about. It was just a checkup. It was just a quick session to see if his wounds needed any further treatment. It was just a routine visit to someone that, by all accounts, he should have been able to trust. He knew, intellectually, that there was nothing more to think about. But his eyes were still distant, and his hand still trembled a fraction of an inch before the handle. A brief spark of will flared up, unsmothered by the darkness that had pervaded him during the conversation with Ichika, and forced his hand to open the door. It was too late to back out now.

Hyousuke stepped in slowly. His feet were leaden, requiring great effort to heave forward, and every step he took past the door - one that he clicked gently shut - echoed like thunder in his ears. He forced a polite expression into his features, smiling and nodding and giving her a quick greeting as he moved towards a seat, but it was all stunted and awkward. It was like he was trying to move in clothes that were a size too large, cumbersome and heavy upon his frame, or trying to perform some delicate task underwater. It was like he had to puppeteer his own body, and force himself in.

"You're Takemi-sensei, aren't you?" Hyousuke asked, trying to sound casual - as though just making sure he had the right address - but the words were spoken with uncharacteristic gingerness. His gaze, in spite of his best efforts to keep eye contact, drifted away a little. First due to whatever plagued him, and then because of the overall aesthetic she bore. The necklace, the magazine, the air of the clinic... It all felt rather different to the cold and sterile environment of a hospital ward.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tae Takemi has posed.
<poem>
As Hyousuke enters the clinic, a bell rings briefly, alerting Tae to put down her magazine. She does not straighten up.

As he comes up and greets her, she does sit up a bit finally, looking over him. "That's my name." A pause.

"Are you walking in, or are you the guy who called for a check-up?"

She doesn't seem to care either way, but that is not a *lack* of care. She's checking to see how badly Hyousuke may be injured, and she can tell he seems a bit younger, so her face isn't stone cold.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke nodded as firmly as he could manage.
"Yeah, I'm Suzuki." He said flatly. Upon realising that that was precious little information with which to work, given how little he'd deigned to give her prior to the appointment, he shook off his jacket so that she could get a better look at him. The majority of the injuries he'd sustained during the fight at the sanitarium had since faded, and were not worth paying any great attention to. The bruises had begun to fade into faint patches of blue and grey, while the smaller cuts and scrapes had begun to scab over to the point where any further covering was wholly unnecessary.

The more serious ones had bandages still wound firmly - but not tightly - around them. The edge of them could be seen peering past his collar, but if Tae deigned to look closely at the plain shirt he'd worn to the appointment, the faint outline of bandages wound across his chest could be seen.
"I got into a fight." He said, hoping that was enough to satisfy any need for an explanation. "And I got cut up pretty bad. Nothing's broken though."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tae Takemi has posed.
<poem>
Tae nodded once, and then glanced as he took his jacket off. After a few moments taking appraisal and listening to his explanation, she rolled her chair back. "Alright, then. Let's bring you to the back so I can get a closer look."

Standing up, she grabbed the necessary forms - who is she kidding no one ever signs the forms, washed her hands real quick, and then moved to unlock the side door. If Hyousuke follows, he'll find himself led to a mid-sized room with a desk containing computer and science stuff, more of those morbid posters, and a boiler in the back to heat the place up. She pulls a curtain, covering the boiler, and then gestures to the bed to the side.

"Take a seat, get comfortable if you can. I'll need you to show me the wounds, so do that in whatever way minimizes your pain."

A pause. "Also, I may have to touch your wounds at points. Don't worry, I usually don't bite." An attempt at humor, maybe provide some casual comfort.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
It took Hyousuke a moment to register that she'd not pressed for details. The look he'd worn while speaking remained frozen on his face, disturbed only by the stray blink, until he shattered the ice by speaking in acknowledgement.
"Sure, that's fine." Came his response. Curt as it was, he delivered it with a fairly neutral - if hurried - tone, and followed dutifully behind. The morbid posters only added to the somewhat strange atmosphere the clinic held, and - consciously or not - his body began to ease a little. Every glance at the oddities scattered about the place, everything he noted that was incongruous with normal doctors' offices, even the way she treated him... it all seemed so utterly *different* to what he'd expected.

He hadn't the time to ruminate on it. Tae asked him to show the wound, and he knew it was in his best interests to oblige. He sat upon the bed easily enough, and slowly - cautiously, even - he began to peel the shirt from his body. As he did so, layers of clean white, stained only by the faintest hints of that day's sweat, were bared to her. The bandages had been applied by a practised hand, that much was clear. The firmness was just enough to keep it all in place without interfering with the healing process, the winds were even and flat, the fabric was clean - save for what mark the earlier trek to the shrine had left - and the faint smell of disinfectant hung in the air. It was hardly the first time he'd cleaned and covered such a wound, some might have noticed.

"What are you, a vampire?" Hyousuke retorted, perhaps in an attempt at easing himself into the procedure with his own attempt at humour. The difference afterwards was only slight, but he acted just a little more easily at her effort to chip away at his guard. Whether it was enough to be noticed was anyone's guess, however, especially with something that was - to him - as dull a task as removing bandages. When finally he could show the full extent of it, there was little doubt that he'd been telling the truth. The cuts were only flesh wounds, but each one was too deep and too straight to have been an accident. The largest one - a long and red thing, reaching from the edge of his right pectoral to the lowest of his ribcage's left side - only cemented the fact that someone had cut him with, and on, purpose.

Healing magicks and first aid had healed the worst of it. The wounds looked more serious than they actually were, and he did not seem to be in any significant pain. But the distant look he gave as he gave once everything had been cast aside... that, in its own way, might have been worrying.
"Don't bother trying to drink any of this if you are." He play-warned. "There was enough garlic in the last bowl of ramen I ate to kill Dracula."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tae Takemi has posed.
<poem>
As Hyousuke removes his shirt, Tae looks from her chair. "You did a good job bandaging it, that's a good sign."

The vampire quip gets her to smile toothily on purpose, revealing she is not, in fact, a fanged vampire. "Nope, these are all human."

As he removes the bandages, though, she gets to work. Looking over the cuts, dating them, she focuses on the longest one. "How old are these?" she asks, moving to feel the margins. She grabs a cotton swab and checks wound depth, frowning.

"I'm not sure we can stitch these without risking infection, which I'm already surprised you haven't had. And even if we did stitch them, I can't promise they won't scar. You got *very* lucky, but I am glad you came here, because we should be able to further clean and stop them from getting worse."

A normal doctor would probably scold him further. Instead...

"You'll want the wounds to be rechecked as they heal, which myself or any other doctor can do. But, you'll live. I'd buy a lotto ticket if I was you, honestly!" More of that humor, more of that attempt to show that, hey, this is life, it sucks sometimes, but such is how it goes.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Not that old. A few days?" Hyousuke said. It wasn't a lie. It had only been a few days since the fight at the sanitarium, and that meant the wounds weren't particularly old ones. But they'd clearly not been stitched, no matter how thoroughly he'd bandaged and cleaned them. He almost sounded flippant about the whole thing - like he'd had some secret method for healing wounds without use of needles and threads. But that flippant tone disappeared abruptly when she mentioned scarring, and in an effort to keep himself from starting, Hyousuke gripped with skin-paling strength upon the edge of the bed.

It wasn't hard to see the muscles in his torso tense, even if it was for only a moment. He'd bared them all to her, after all. Even with that sense of panic running him through like a dagger, Hyousuke nodded in confirmation, and even offered a chuckle and response at her closing joke.
"I think I used up all my luck on these staying clean. Bet I'd get hit by lightning if I walked out right now."
It was a hollow thing, more a loud exhale than any genuine expression of mirth, but at least he'd been listening to her. And in listening to her, he'd appreciated her respect for his privacy. It gave him room to breathe. It gave him a chance to compose himself during the lull in their conversation, and ask his question a little more calmly than he might have with a more 'normal' doctor.'

"Is there anything you can do to stop them scarring?" He asked, a little more emphatically than he'd have liked, but still coherently. He'd also deftly sidestepped how lucky he'd been to not have suffered infection. If she believed that was all there'd been to it, he was in no hurry to disavow her of the notion. "I've been keeping them clean and covering them up, but I..." His eyes looked down and away for a moment. One unblemished, one marked from brow to cheek with a canyon of rent flesh. An old wound, from another life, and another blade. "...I wanna know if there's anything else I can do about it."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tae Takemi has posed.
<poem>
Tae's expression becomes briefly sympathetic as Hyousuke tenses about scarring. She doesn't say anything, because that's his business, though she nods to his own counter joke.

But that question about scarring. This was important to him.

"I can't promise anything," she admitted. "But we can clean it the best we can, and there's some bandaging tips I can give you. You'll want to be redoing it daily, for example." A small sigh.

"I'll do the best I can, alright?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was silent for a few seconds. The moments seemed to stretch on for aeons, however, and he wondered just what he was supposed to say. Eventually, he nodded, quiet and pensive while he did so.
"Alright." He said. He sounded somewhat disappointed - he'd been hoping for a guarantee. More than just her doing her best. But it was better than nothing. Besides, she'd been honest and respectful with him from the start. That alone counted for more than he could realistically put into words. "So what do I have to do?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tae Takemi has posed.
<poem>
As Hyousuke agrees, Tae moves over to start getting the ointments and other supplies she'd need to try and stall the scarring.

"Alright, just hold still..."

It'd take a bit, but at minimum, the pain would go down. But the scarring was still up in the air. At the least... she did the best she could.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-02-15: I Won't Run Away Again

2026-02-16T04:42:23Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: I Won't Run Away Again''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Mitsuru Kirijo, Akihiko Sanada *'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory - Rooftop *'''OOC Date:''' February 15, 2026 *'''IC Date:''' September 26, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''With Mitsuru's help, Shinjiro finally tells Akihiko about his betrayal and his condition. A plan is set in motion to get back at Strega, and while the truth is difficult to swallow, the three refuse to give up, even if Shinjiro can't y..."

*'''Log: I Won't Run Away Again'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Mitsuru Kirijo]], [[Akihiko Sanada]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory - Rooftop
*'''OOC Date:''' February 15, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' September 26, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''With Mitsuru's help, Shinjiro finally tells Akihiko about his betrayal and his condition. A plan is set in motion to get back at Strega, and while the truth is difficult to swallow, the three refuse to give up, even if Shinjiro can't yet find it in him to have true hope for the future.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro knows it has to be done, talking to Akihiko, as much as he is scared to do it. He's been drafting the text since last night, when he was knocked unconscious by Niko's Theurgy and realized he can't waste any more time.

He's left a report on the situation in order to try and foster good will, which summarizes that the Joker Killer attacked a local gallery, kidnapped someone, and that Niko Kirisaki of Strega managed to defeat him and escape. Fuuka and Ririka had supported him, and most pressingly...

It would seem Strega has theurgy cartridges.

But that's not the important thing to Shinjiro right now. He's finally fired off the text Wednesday afternoon to the Senpai group chat.

>hey. we need to talk.

>meet me on the roof? it's important. i'd like you both there.

He knows Mitsuru will know what it's about, but he's not sure how Akihiko will take it.

When either of the two arrive, they'll find Shinjiro by the garden on the roof, checking on their crop as the sunlight shines through the clouds. He's already changed into his red coat. It's clearly busywork, distracting himself from what needs to be said imminently - his body is tense, and his hands are shaking lightly.

But when are they not?

"Hey," he'll say only once they've both arrived.

"Sorry for the short notice. There's... a lot that needs to be discussed."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
Mitsuru Kirijo knows what this is about. After all...

She explicitly offered to be here for Shinjiro for it.

It's why she's the first to arrive, beyond her usual penchant for precise punctuality: dressed in the black leathers of her riding jacket for the cooling days of fall, white neckerchief, denim pants, riding boots and all, she emerges slightly ahead of their agreed upon meeting time, the mild creak of hinges on the rooftop exit heralding her otherwise quiet arrival.

The air is cool. The autumn cloud coverage only allows those few piercing columns of sunlight to pierce through their veil as she looks upward toward the sky in silent thought.

"... Aragaki," she says upon Shinjiro's greeting. Her expression is... somber. It's a look that persists even upon Akihiko's arrival, hands tucked in the pockets of her jacket as she positions herself closer towards the gardens, dark red gaze fixated on some far away point that only shifts when the last of their founding trio arrives.

"... Akihiko."

There's a lot that needs to be discussed. Mitsuru closes her eyes, and lets out a heavier breath than she'd like.

"Yes," she says, around that warm exhale. "There is."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko arrives soon after Mitsuru does. He's been left utterly in the dark on the actual topic of conversation,. But even the lughead can sense the tense atmosphere the moment he arrives on the rooftop.

"Shinji. Mitsuru." Akihiko says, as he raises a hand in greeting. He's still dressed in his school uniform, his red vest popping against his white dress shirt and black pants.

..."Sure thing. You're the one who called us here, Shinji. Where should we start?" He nods to his longtime friend and brother, as he crosses his arms underneath his chest. Top of the agenda should be the Strega attack, and they've already spoken a bit on how to handle that at least.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro has considered how best to approach the topic for a bit now. There's technically two interlapping topics, and he needs to hit both of them together, so it's easier to start with Strega and then get into *why* he was involved with Strega as the main portion.

As the two greet him, Shinjiro feels guilt. Mitsuru's had to hold a burden for him, and it eats him up. He's thankful she'll no longer need to keep a secret from one of her closest friends, but that doesn't excuse that he made her keep it at all, even if he refuses to let her take any blame.

And Akihiko... has no idea what's going to happen.

He glances to the door, make sure they're secure, before starting.

"I've told Kirijo this part of it, but... two years ago was the first time I met Strega."

An exhale, as he stands near the garden.

"They had something I felt I needed," he says with a gesture of a hand to indicate he'll get to that. "In return... they stopped asking solely for money after a bit. They wanted information, stuff I heard or saw. I gave it to them. It worked out for a bit."

A grimace. "And then Yamagishi went missing, with people asking me for information. I needed an Evoker and needed it fast. I had two options... and I took the worse one. Strega could supply me, but they wanted a favor over me. I accepted. The day before I was arrested in Sumaru, I was asked to cash in for what I needed. They wanted info on Persona Users. Names and abilities. I gave what I thought was already more or less public, some thoughts on cohesion, that kind of thing."

Another, more ragged exhale.

"But I still gave it to them. The next day, I was arrested. She bailed me out. I told her some... very important things, but not everything I should have told her."

He hangs his head. "I'm sorry, Aki."

Something still hangs in the air, even so. If only this could be the extent of the discussion.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
It's unfair.

The entire thing is unfair. How this all began is unfair.

But that is what life is, isn't it? The entire affair starts with a fundamentally unfair premise that must eventually be reckoned with.

It's thoughts like these that percolate in Mitsuru's mind as Akihiko arrives and Shinjiro begins to broach the reason why he asked to meet. He begins - unsurprisingly - with the obvious reason: the attack on the dormitories, and the part he played in it, intentionally or not.

Her brows furrow as he explains. They deepen as he maneuvers around details that she knows - they both know - will be questioned.

"..."

Tension. It still hangs heavy in the air as Mitsuru glances aside in the wake of Shinjiro's apology, freeing one hand from the warm prison of its pocket to push strands of royal red hair back over her shoulder. A frown settles on her lips for several long seconds of silence on her part.

"Akihiko and I have discussed ways to answer this attack," she finally speaks up, focusing for the moment on the one thing she ''can'' focus on: strategy. "I believe we've settled on something, that will require a smaller scale team and some covert work, and it's something we believe you should help with. We can... discuss the details in a moment."

After all...

... this is far from the most important thing they should be discussing, right now.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko listens to Shinji's story. He really, really wishes he could just let bygones be bygones. He just can't find it in him.

"That was a damned, stupid thing you did, Shinji. You should've just gotten an Envoker from us." Though, he suspects Shinji already knows this. That Mitsuru has already spoken to him about it. That Shinji is beating himself up over it too.

"...We have so many kids here, Shinji. ...At least when Ken started staying here, you should've filled us in on the information you leaked." The attack could've been so much worse. If Strega has more information on SEES, that's so many people suddenly vulnerable.

It isn't over yet. Akihiko nods with Mitsuru. "We have a solid plan to deal with Strega. And if you can get us information too, that could go along way with regaining some trust."

A moment. They can talk more in a moment. "What else is there to talk about?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro swallows, as Akihiko admonishes him. He honestly doesn't want bygones to be bygones. He really did fuck up. He winces as Ken is mentioned, because that hits like a knife to the chest.

They have a plan. A way to strike back. Shinjiro sighs, and nods. "Okay. I'll help, no matter what it is."

But, Mitsuru reminds him they have something else to talk about. He looks away for a moment, taking a long breath, before turning back to Mitsuru. This is hard. This is so damn hard. He's the one among them best with people and it's still the hardest thing in his life. Then, after a long moment, he turns to Akihiko.

"...two years ago, when... everything went down... I..."

He trails off for a second, before restabilizing.

"I got scared, after I lost control. After... someone died. I was afraid of myself. I looked for a solution, and I found one. A... drug to suppress my Persona, make it easier to control, supposedly."

A glance away. "I didn't want anyone else to get hurt, so I went to Strega, who could supply me with it. But I knew there were consequences. If you stop taking the pills, your Persona will kill you. And for as long as you take them, they tear at your body, causing organ failure and nerve damage and all sorts of nasty shit."

He hangs his head again. "But I... I wanted to be punished. I've been taking them for the last two years. It's why I hid myself in that alley. It's why I didn't want to come back, even when I had to make that choice. I don't have much time."

"Maybe a year, if we're lucky."

He doesn't say the words again, but it's in his face. He's apologetic, guilt and sorrow alike worn clear. He's learned in the past few months he made the absolute worst choices he could have... but he can't turn back the clock.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
Ken.

He was on the forefront of her mind when she heard that the dorms were targeted. He was a non-inconsequential part of why she was - and is - so angry. She wasn't comfortable with him being brought into the dorms for a number of reasons, but guilt was one of the greatest of them, and this? Their basic inability to keep this a safe place for the one person they ''have'' to protect?

That just hammers that guilt in all the harder.

Mitsuru doesn't belabor the point, though. After all...

That guilt is something all three of them share. And it's why they're here today.

And it, too, is why Mitsuru subtly redirects Shinjiro towards the actual reason why he asked them all to come here. When he looks her way, those dark red eyes slide out of their reverie and towards the tall Third Year. She doesn't say anything directly. But the nod she offers, and the look that accompanies it, say more than words ever could.

He can do this. She knows he can.

And she's here for him.

So he explains, finally, to the one who most deserved to know why he was in such a desperate situation. Why Mitsuru does not hammer Shinjiro for not taking an Evoker from the Kirijo Group becomes rapidly apparent the more Shinjiro explains -- it's a topic she has already argued with him about extensively, after all.

''But I... I wanted to be punished.''

"..."

And she has already been grappling with his answer for a long time, now.

It's clear just to look at her, at the mild grimace clenching her teeth and narrowing her eyes and balling her fists -- this is something she's been well aware of before this point. Her gaze tears away again as Shinjiro speaks, her fists trembling until she forces herself to hide them away in her pockets lest she expose more of the frustration and sadness eroding at her invaluable sense of control.

Maybe a year, if we're lucky.

"No," she suddenly says, before she even realizes she's saying it. "I've had our best doctors in the Group assigned to this. We've done what we can for the current symptoms, but if we keep pushing, I'm certain that we can... that they will be able to..."

Her words fall away into nothing.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
A wave of relief washes over Akishiko as Shinji agrees to help. He's glad, that it can be sorted out so easily. That they can unite against Strega.

But then, Shinjiro continues. These drugs... Were wreaking his body. All this time. Because he was afraid. Because he couldn't control his Persona. Because he wanted to be punished.

A year. One year. Just a single year.

"You're...joking, right?" Denial. This can't be happening. Aki looks over to Mitsuru who... insists that the Kirijo doctors can help.

Oh.

Oh. This is really happening.

Even Mitsuru isn't sure.

Oh. Oh god.

The despair coming over Akihiko is palpable.

"You can't... You can't give up yet, Shinji! The doctors will..."

"Why? Why are you stealing your life away?!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro feels Mitsuru's support, and it helps. But it's Akihiko's reaction that gives him pause.

He doesn't respond to Mitsuru at first except to glance in her direction, pursing his lip. He can't tell her that her hope is misplaced. Her hope is the only thing that can give him any hope. His body aches, it hurts, he's having a flareup of pain as they speak, and he's just pushing through it like he always does because this is the most important thing to do right now.

"...mm."

A pause, before turning to look between them.

"...I didn't want either of you to get hurt if I lost control again," he admits, quieter. "I felt like a monster. Now, my body's rebelling, and..."

Akihiko's despair causes him to grit his teeth, but he doesn't turn his head.

He pauses. How do you reassure the friend you've hurt worse when you can't reassure yourself? The only thing he wants to do is help Akihiko here, but he feels like a little kid again, watching his home go up in flames, except this time, he's the one trapped in the fire, and he has to watch the person he cares about most in this world while the fire consumes him.

The first tears start to build as he's figuring out what to say.

"...I don't want to die, Aki. I don't want to leave. I don't... I don't know what to do. I'm trying to have hope, but I'm scared...!"

Shinjiro is not one who cries often. He does not express his fear often. To be at this point, to be resigned and afraid like this...

He's trying his best to be strong. But this is the moment Shinjiro has dreaded most for a long time, and all his strength is leaving him.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
They're joking. They must be joking.

When Akihiko looks her way, the truth is plain in the pain that lies behind her stare, behind that dogged refusal of hers to accept that this is Shinjiro's fate. She tries to insist that this is not the end; that they can find a way.

But... she's seen the medical reports. And...

Akihiko cries out as the realization hits. And Mitsuru grits her teeth, once again looking away. Arms wrapping around herself as she draws in even as Akihiko's shock rips through him and Shinjiro's terrified vulnerability rises to the surface, the student council president, with all her vaunted self-control, can only shut her eyes tight to keep those tears from stinging at the corner of her eyes and watering her gaze.

She can't cry right now. She can't.

She needs to be the one they can both lean on.

"... He... made a choice. He made a mistake. Just like we all did," she manages, eyes still shut. "But he shouldn't have to pay for his mistakes. We... none of us should."

She bites the inside of her cheek, fingers gripping all the more tightly at her elbows.

"We... we made a promise. The three of us. And I refuse to give up on it." Her eyes crack open as she looks Shinjiro's way.

"... On you."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
It's Miki all over again. What is he supposed to do? He can't be strong enough to conquer this. This is the one thing he can't beat with his fists or force of will.

Akihiko won't cry. He can't cry.

"We can beat this. We ''will'' beat this." It's just another disease. These things get cured. He's thankful, most of all. For Mitsuru's support and encouragement. "We've got time... Enough time to figure something out."

"I'll drag you to your appointments myself if need be!"

He's angry. Not at Mitsuru. Not at Shinji. He's just angry. "We'll figure something out, Shinji. I promise." Don't make a promise you can't keep.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Mitsuru's words cause Shinjiro to stop, as she looks to him. He nods, a little shaky, as he takes a hand to his eyes, trying to staunch the tears that he feels he shouldn't be having. He's the one who hurt them. He shouldn't be feeling this way.

Even so, he doesn't know if he can fully agree with her words. He did make a choice. He should pay for his mistakes, shouldn't he? Amada, and this, and everything...

He's been trying to unlearn that. But it's hard.

But it's Akihiko's words, his determination and anger, that really gets to Shinjiro. He doesn't have hope like they do, but...

"...okay. ...I'm sorry."

He should rebuke Akihiko for that promise, in a way. But he wants to believe. He wants to believe in his brother, and his friend, and the people who refuse to give up on him, even if he *cannot* believe in himself.

He runs a hand through his hair, taking a breath. Focus, Shinjiro, focus.

"...we're going to stop Strega. We're going to end the Dark Hour. We're going to graduate. And then..."

And then what? What is he supposed to say here? As much as he tries, he stalls off, unable to really commit to having hope. He's trying, though, and maybe that's enough for right now.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
"... Aragaki..."

Akihiko's anger, and Shinjiro's apology - and his fear - force Mitsuru to open her eyes. Tears don't spill.

But in those rare few shards of sunlight that puncture through cloud coverage, that dark red stare glimmers with built up moisture.

She turns, then. As Shinjiro breathes. As he makes that mantra. As his words trail.

Why is this so hard for her? Why can't she ever just find the right words to say in these moments? It's times like this she wishes she was more like Yukari or Minako, able to just speak her mind -- or put on a brave smile no matter what the occasion.

But she can't. She is who she is. And that's all that she can be.

So, she acts in the only way she knows how, tentatively stepping forward and struggling with emotions that she can scarcely express as she unfolds one hand to reach out towards Shinjiro.

She hesitates, just at the boundary of his personal space. Her fingers hitch back, as if recoiling from the presumption...

"... ... it's... it is okay, to be scared."

... before finally settling on his shoulder.

The touch is a little stiff. A little awkward. But it is there, as she regathers her poise as best she can.

"You don't have to apologize for that. You just... have to fight." Her lips thin, as she tries to offer a truly weak joke. "And if you don't we will drag you to the fight ourselves."

Her voice is strained. She can't imagine how Akihiko is taking this, even seeing him fight his way through his own anger. So she just tries to keep putting forth that brave face, as best she can.

"We made a promise, all of us. We will see it through, and then we will enjoy a future free of the Dark Hour. We will."

Her eyes narrow. Her jaw sets. "We ''will''. We believe in you. We will keep fighting for you."

No matter how hard it is.

"... We will... we will never give up on you. Right, Akihiko?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
"We made a promise." Akihiko agrees. "I can't give up on you, Shinji. There's no more running away, you hear me?! We're facing this head on, all together!" It's the only thing Akihiko can do, really. Force this to be okay through sheer will.

Is it? Okay to be scared? He needs to be stronger. He needs to be stronger. He needs to be stronger.

"I'm scared too." Akihiko relents. He's still weak. "But... I can't lose you too, Shinji."

Mitsuru, as always, is the rock for all of them. "We won't." Akihiko agrees." "....We still have our whole lives ahead of us. I won't let you die before me, Shinji." It's an empty promise. But he has to believe it right now.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro may be trailing off, but as Mitsuru approaches, reaches out, makes contact, his eyes widen, but he doesn't push her away. No, he appreciates it in the moment.

He understands the message.

"...I'll fight. I'll do my damnedest to... make it through this. I won't make promises. But I want to live."

If he could send a single message to his past self, he would. But he can't. So this is the second best thing he can do.

He breathes, as Mitsuru tells him they believe in him, they'll fight for him, they won't give up on him. As Akihiko admits he's scared, and can't lose him.

He brushes his eyes one last time, before exhaling.

"...we've gotta make the most of this time, no matter how it shakes out. But I won't run away again."

"I promise you that."

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-02-13: Uncaging the Phoenix

2026-02-14T22:20:50Z

Thornpunk:

*'''Log: ''' Uncaging the Phoenix
*'''Cast:''' [[Tsubasa Seki]], [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Ichika Kawase]], [[Ryuji Sakamoto]], [[Hibari Aoki]], [[Makoto Niijima]], [[Yusuke Kitagawa]], [[Kurou Ryouhara]]
*'''Where:''' Siren Alley, Yumezaki Ward
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-02-13
*'''IC Date:''' Tue, Sep 25 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Having identified the place Tsubasa's being held, Mujina and the Phantom Thieves waste no time in assaulting Siren Alley after school. There, they don't find the Ryouhara they expected... instead, Kurou demonstrates his loyalty and his terrifying strength. Ultimately, it's a hard fight to even escape, with Kurou bringing half the party low -- but they came here to rescue Phoenix, and by God, they're rescuing Phoenix, even if Queen needs to BLOW A HOLE IN THE WALL.''

----

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

Siren Alley is a long, winding affair, no simple straight gap between buildings. No: the buildings to either side of it were placed haphazardly over the years, one a few feet further in than the other, another receded into the space; building codes ensure that there's always a truck-sized path of space facilitated ''between'' the buildings, but this is an alleyway with ''corners,'' two dozen exceptional places to hide. And it is long, for its style: it stretches between two side-streets for an admirable length.

For years, it was unnamed, but for the commuters of Yumezaki who warned that this was a popular place for cut-purses to dwell in the shady corners. But as it got more of a reputation as ''dangerous,'' more people started saying even worse things about what would happen here...

Eventually, the rumoured danger of this place became strong enough that demons moved in. One of them opened a storefront, deep in the alley: SIREN, a music store purporting to sell the finest beats. They say the purveyor is ''herself'' a siren, a winged woman whose music lures men into the alley... so that the harpies who live in the apartments running off the alley can rip them apart.

By the time Mujina traced the feather's location to this place, in Yumezaki, the Dark Hour was soon to end -- there just wasn't enough ''time'' to go in and start a rescue operation. Luckily, she was able to identify this alley by rumour -- she ''is'' a Rumourmonger, after all! -- and tell the Phantom Thieves that this space was eerie enough for them to stage an afternoon rescue.

And so, after school, everyone's gathered at the collection point they identified that night. (There's more than enough corners to transform discreetly!) The next step, of course, is finding precisely what bolthole they've stashed Tsubasa in, here...

... probably not the music store, though Siren sings her heart out. "o''`~"

In that investigation of the alleyway, though, that Siren notices the heartbeat of a nearby young man, reaching out to him with increased tempo to her yearning music. "Come to me~ I'll set you free~! o''`" She lilts, and she serves, in her own selfish way, as an alarm system: a shadow shifts, as a shinobi melts into them to hurry back. A particularly sharp Tanuki may well ''notice'' that skillfully-silent retreat; the ninja placed as a guard, in this alley, isn't a ''Supernaturally'' gifted man. Following him back, that little sprite will find one particular building, and return to report the sins of an utterly unremarkable door.

It leads to a two-storey safehouse. The bottom floor is as unremarkable as the door, It was a shopfront, once, a clockmaker's store, though all the timepieces were long since taken away; only long glass displays and empty boxes remain, now. But at the back, past the staff-only entrance and the workers' restroom, there's a door leading up...

The second floor hosts large, open space, which would have once been used for its storage potential; it is a workspace, a place designed for those clockmakers to ply their trade. The most normal part about the room is the long line of cabinetry along one wall, hosting a workbench suitable for fine mechanical work. But what works have been made there...?

Perhaps one of them is the terrifying mechancial kami, lying in repose on a great dais along the back wall of the room. In its six arms are held six weapons; at each of its six wrists, six chains tether it to the dais with thick sliding bolts. It's certainly a statue -- but it feels as if they were worried it would break ''free.'' An unknown substance drips from the statue's fangs to a bowl below...

... and, dwarfed by the statue behind it, a throne rests atop the dais, too. There's a table, set up beside it, with water in a cup with a straw and some things to eat on sticks.

There, a figure struggles, hands bound in mitt-coverings of jade and iron which lash them to the arms of the chair; iron binds their ankles, just the same, a heavy weighted stone collar bolting their neck to the back of the throne. Their head is completely encased in a featureless helmet, sealed along a median line down their face. Even so, the scars which are now hardly covered at all by concealer which has sloughed away over two days of mistreatment are certainly Tsubasa's -- and so is that military tank-top, so similar to the one Ichika sometimes wears. Beneath it, their binder has been cut away along one side; it hangs loosely off of their left shoulder, under their tank-top.

They're not making a single sound, but they're trying their best to get free. (It's lucky those myriad pink, healing cuts along their arms are dressed with bandages... bandages with little paw-prints!) There doesn't seem to be anyone here in the room right now... is this their opportunity to get them out of there and escape?!
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>

Mujina's done her share. Now it's time for The Phantoms to do theirs.

The patches of darkness and the corners in Siren Alley are more than enough for a bunch of teenagers to duck in and transform into their alter egos. The next instant, Joker and the others are jumping from shadow to shadow, corner to corner, until they close in on the safehouse. A Siren raises the alarm, and Joker has a bad feeling about that, but they can't turn back now. If they do that, Shiryuu could take Phoenix and move them somewhere else--someplace that might not be as easily detected. "It's now or never," they murmur to their friends and ally.

Inside, it's empty and unremarkable--but Mujina says this is where Phoenix is. They sweep the first storey, then head up the stairs to the open space of the workspace of the old clockmakers. Joker eyes that mechanical kami with its many arms and many chains and the liquid dripping from its fangs. That sure feels like a Chekov's gun.

More importantly, there on the dais, is a throne--and someone tied to a table. Someone bound and in bad shape.

"Phoenix--no..." Mona murmurs, tail curling as his masked eyes narrow. He doesn't name them as Tsubasa, but they can all see it: they're not transformed into their cognitive costume. This means, if this Ryouhara didn't now their true identity ''before'', he certainly knows it ''now''. Mona and Joker share a dark, concerned look.

In that moment, someone else in their group might just rush headlong towards Tsubasa to free them from their chains and helmet without considering the implications of what's before them.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Ogre has been quiet with the group, focused on their rescue operation; she didn't ''love'' waiting... But for the same reasons she told Queen before, it was necessary. She might've spent a little time hugging Ryuji before they separated fro the night, though. Now...

The siren's song, and--

Ogre is here. She jumps from shadow to shadow with Joker, and there--they see it. The throne...

"!"

With a wordless cry, Ogre ''charges'' toward sthe dais, despite Mona's caution.

Dressed in her 'modern' armor, with the attire almost of a samurai beneath, her long horns from her oni mask glint in the light--her fingerless, spiked gloves catch a gleam; her high-tech shoes are silent against the floor.

"I'm here!"

She'll get them free.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
Skull keeps after Joker, still feeling that nervous energy from wanting this to get to Tsubasa so they are safe. To dispel this energy, Ryuji taps his rusty bent pipe on his shoulder, between shadow jumping toward their destination.

The time with Ichika was nice but damn if he didn't feel anxious as fuck. But he needed to be the strong one so he did his best to not let his feelings show.

That was until he got within eyesight of the throne. Skull drops the pipe, opening his mouth in shock. This....who the....Skull's teeth clenched as he suddenly saw blue flames shooting off from his skull mask. This was terrible. This was fucking TERRIBLE.

The blonde's eyes narrow as he starts moving after Ichika...even if he doesn't see her at the moment. "OKAY! Which corpse did this to them?!" Ryuji snarls as he kicks the pipe back into his hands. He is probably going to need to be held back from exacting some kind of terrible street justice on the lucky person who takes credit.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
<poem>
Mujina has never traced someone this far before.

She's searched for the Reaper in Mementos (to avoid it, but she still needs to know where it is for that); she's hunted down rare Shadows in Palaces, because even if she cannot take the mask of a treasure like Joker, she has uses for the *actual jewel*. She's even - because she is a Sumaru native - followed the trail of rumour demons to find out where they were hiding, because that's the kind of knowledge you can absolutely trade, if you know's interested and who to talk to.

(Hibari knows who to talk to.)

But hunting down a single person through the Dark Hour at a distance - that's hard. She'd never manage it without the aid of the feather she took from Shiryuu's disappearance, and even then it's a challenge. Occasionally, spectral tanuki barely seen, tiny images like Danzaburou but smaller and less fancily-dressed, come out of the darkness, bringing her back information. They're not truly individual beings, but more aspects of her Persona, roving out.

Some Navigators listen, or watch, or even smell the air. But Mujina has always done her best work putting together the scraps of information people trade her. And so she has little scouts, little spies, little reporters to bring her their knowledge so she can assemble it into something complete; it's the easiest way for her to visualize something complex like this and keep all the data straight.

And she wasn't expecting to run into another rumour she knew, but perhaps it's not that unsurprising. In the shadow of SIREN *would* be a good place to hide...

Mujina re-meets the Phantom Thieves at the alley. She's already in her costume, coat and mask and all, and fiddling with a pair of metallic spheres in her left hand, spinning them around and around and around each other with her fingertips across her palm. It's a fidgety gesture, not her doing something mystical.

"Definitely in here," she says, as the group moves in. She indicates the guard as they pass, silently, more by a gesture than anything else. Fortunately, he's not the worst of what they're likely to run into.

And Ogre pulls ahead. Mujina's instinct is to rush to Tsubasa's side too, but Ogre beats her to it, and she hisses after her, "Ogre, be careful! There are other people too - "

Not that she can stop Ichika at a time like this, and part of her doesn't really want to. She just doubts that all the guards are un-awakened; they clearly know what Phoenix can do. Mujina puts her weight on her back foot, and a couple of those tiny spell-tanuki skitter into the darkness as she reaches for a map of the area nearby. They *don't* want to stick around.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>

While Palaces and Mementos were things Makoto had gotten used tom, the presence of the supernatural in the real world was still jarring. The Old Maid bringing the supernatural with him was one thing, but a space like Siren Alley is something completely different. Another day she might have capacity to be more upset.

She's still on edge, but the combination of Ogre calling her in and Joker giving her something to do- battle plans, strategies, approaches. Anything to keep her mind occupied and not on the worst case scenario. The fact is, the Thieves have a lot of skills between them, but Earth is one of their weaker points.

As a result, where Ogre and Joker are leading, Queen is specifically staying near the back in case of ambush, and in close proximity to Mujina- she's the one with the 'navigation' powers as a whole suite, compared to Makoto's ability to deduce things about shadows and Ren's Third Eye. Which means, as strategist, Queen needs to be able to coordinate with the person providing information.

What she doesn't expect is to walk into some kind of... altar? Torture den? Whatever the hell it is, it's deranged. "Who would build something like this...?" Queen asks, her voice a whisper so only those closest can hear it-

But that is discarded when they see the struggling figure on the dais, and Queen gasps. Skull and Ogre are already moving, and she has to bite down the urge to join them.

That's not her job. She's the one here to keep her cool.

No fucking it up by half-assing it, right?

She 'draws' her revolver, and scans the room quickly. "Joker, we should cover them. Fox, Mujina, watch our backs." She snaps into tactician mode, and the way she holds the pistol this time, well, rather than her usual cowboy firing from the hip, it's way more like a movie cop moving in for an arrest of a dangerous criminal.

There's so many avenues of attack in here. So many opportunities for ambush- and, well, Ichika DID explicit mention ninjas.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>
The siren's song makes an elegant, mysterious backing to this most unusual heist for the Phantom Thieves: A rescue operation.

Fox comes up in the back of the group - his cognitive arsenal including a longer-range weapon makes him well-suited to providing overwatch for the team without compromising his threat in close combat if anything slips past the frontline. There aren't as many shadows as he's used to, on this afternoon mission into a supernatural space, but there's enough cover for their purposes.

This might not be a Palace, and they might not be stealing from a Ruler... but the back of his neck prickles just the same as after they send the Calling Card. It's high alert. Even though there's no enemies ''around'', as far as he can see... Well, they're up against ninjas, aren't they, so that doesn't mean anything.

What draws Fox's attention first, though, is the nature of the space inside the warehouse... and the statue chained behind the throne. He stares up at the six-armed-and-dangerous kami, bringing one hand to his chin as he tries to determine its nature. He wants to remark upon it, but the tension in his spine informs his hindbrain to shut the hell up. Only then does his gaze fall on the figure trapped in the throne, and Tsubasa's state of disarray, and the harm done to their self and presentation, sees his grip tighten on his rifle and his teeth grit.

This all seems...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

Mujina will find that there's rooftop access, up the next flight of stairs; the windows here open out over the alleyway. On the other side of the wall, in the next building, some Harpies are listening in on the infiltration, feathers to the wall and ears pressed against it. Those damn nosy harpies!! You could access ''their'' apartments from ''their'' rooftop if you wanted an extra fight, but you probably don't. Below, the battered-up storefront leads into the alleyway itself, which wends and winds on its path... though the streets it opens out into ''aren't'' Supernatural, so the map kind of fades into obscurity at the edges of the alley.

The figure on the throne doesn't respond to Mona's dismay -- or, even, to Ogre's wordless cry. Tsubasa keeps struggling, though. They will find that the mechanisms of the chair aren't simple to release -- but the Phantom Thieves are, as it happens, ''thieves,'' and breaking into things are their ''speciality.'' It takes some time to get their limbs free, to unbolt that collar from the back of the chair and pull the stone collar away; what takes the ''most'' effort is that helmet secured to their head. Once Ogre figures out the release to that one, though, it opens to either side of their head, and --

"-- TRAP!" Tsubasa's yelling, in there, because it was a ''noise-cancelling helmet'' this whole time. Their wild gaze focuses on Ichika, as they belt out their warning in full: "IT'S A FUCKING TRAP, YOU GUYS! IT'S A --"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kurou Ryouhara has posed.
<poem>

The door slams shut. Its lock clicks into place.

This is an uncomfortable time to notice that every window is reinforced with security bars, and more uncomfortable if one was already looking for additional avenues of escape and did not seem them when they first came in.

"You needn't have feared. You were right."

Not a single one of his footfalls disturbs the air with sound as Kurou makes his approach across the workshop: a freckled teenage boy, a year younger than his captive, with a streak of vivid blue shocked through his dark, shoulder length hair. He wears on mask to replace the Will of Rebellion, and approaches them as himself in the same sleeveless, grey hoodie he would wear casually on his days off from school.

"They heard you. And they found you."

Kurou draws Soumeiunsatou with an elegant twirl at his wrist. A chain dangles from the hilt of the tsurugi style blade, weighted by a clawed attachment, and held looped in Kurou's grip.

"Phantom Thieves... If you intend to leave this place alive, then you must either change my heart..."

BGM: 6:24 (Danger) - Furi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QpUGCXwOks

"... or run it through."

Kurou takes hold of the scarf at his neck and yanks. With a soft hiss, a mechanism within activates, and the needles within the hidden collar sink into Kurou's throat. Reality behind him shatters to make way for his Persona, heralded by haunting rattling.

"Gashadokuro."

The colossus rises: an amalgamation of skeletal remains to make one massive, singular skeleton, so large that only its upper half is visible as it crawls from the floor, and it still towers over Kurou. Even the teeth are made up of broken bones, grave dirt spilling between them.

With burning eyes, Gashadokuro opens its mouth and wails. A pillar of eerie light engulfs Kurou before he breaks into a dash to rush the group. Kurou weaves through his opponents in a frenetic dance, each footfall is as precise as it is percussive. The way he commands chain and blade are like extensions of his body: this is not someone who has learned weaponry through the expectations of his cognitive mask.

In his flurried attacks, that chain seeks out Phoenix and Skull in an attempt to bind their own weapons to them and ''yank'' them in so he can make his strike, before sweeping low to try and trip Mujina and Joker off balance to ''drag'' them in and make his swings.

Gashadokuro wails again in hushed silence, and the chain of Kurou's weapon becomes enveloped in shadow. He swings it like a flail before launching it for Ogre, Fox, and Queen, darkness guiding it like a hungry snake with a conjured maw of shadowed teeth to bite down.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Kurou Ryouhara has used the Almighty skill Samayou Soul on Kurou Ryouhara!
AS: Pressure: Kurou Ryouhara gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Kurou Ryouhara takes 0 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Samayou Soul.
AS: Def_Up and Spd_Up added!
AS: Weapon! Kurou Ryouhara has used the Slash skill Defy Heaven on Hibari Aoki! 2 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Kurou Ryouhara has used the Slash skill Defy Heaven on Ren Amamiya! 2 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Kurou Ryouhara has used the Slash skill Defy Earth on Tsubasa Seki! 2 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Kurou Ryouhara has used the Slash skill Defy Earth on Ryuji Sakamoto! 2 Hits!
AS: Tandem! Kurou Ryouhara has used the Dark skill Mayonaka Serpent on Ichika Kawase, Yusuke Kitagawa, and Makoto Niijima! 3 Hits!
AS: Kurou Ryouhara's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 70 Slash damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Defy Heaven.
AS: Bind added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 109 Slash damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Defy Heaven. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 22 Slash damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Defy Earth.
AS: Haze added!
AS: Block Best! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 22 Slash damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Defy Earth.
AS: Avoid Worst! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 75 Dark damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Mayonaka Serpent. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Hibari Aoki takes 37 Slash damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Defy Heaven. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 51 Dark damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Mayonaka Serpent.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Hibari Aoki takes 43 Slash damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Defy Heaven.
AS: Avoid Best! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 20 Dark damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Mayonaka Serpent.
AS: Mind Up! Tsubasa Seki's SP +8!
AS: Avoid Worst! Tsubasa Seki takes 59 Slash damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Defy Earth.
AS: Haze added!
AS: You have 1 more attack in queue!
AS: Avoid Worst! Tsubasa Seki takes 99 Slash damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Defy Earth. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Ichika Kawase takes 67 Dark damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Mayonaka Serpent. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Ichika Kawase takes 48 Dark damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Mayonaka Serpent.
AS: Block Neutral! Ichika Kawase takes 37 Dark damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Mayonaka Serpent.
AS: Counter Neutral! Makoto Niijima takes 58 Dark damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Mayonaka Serpent.
AS: COUNTER! Kurou Ryouhara takes 21 Earth damage in return for his attack! Resist!
AS: Counter Best! Makoto Niijima takes 68 Dark damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Mayonaka Serpent. Critical Hit!
AS: COUNTER! Kurou Ryouhara takes 36 Earth damage in return for his attack! Resist!
AS: Block Best! Makoto Niijima takes 29 Dark damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Mayonaka Serpent.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>

"Wait, you guys! This could be a--oh, why do I bother?" Mona grumbles when Ogre and Skull immediately rush in to set Tsubasa free. For all he's putting on airs, though, he's secretly glad ''someone'' is doing it. He nods up at Queen and Joker, his kitty face deadly serious. "I'll keep the perimeter secure with the others!"

(Whatever 'others' are here. Schroedinger's Phantoms...?)

Joker nods back to Mona and Queen both. Gesturing forward to Fox and Mujina, they draw their Makanorov from thin air and stalk into the chamber as Ogre and Skull work on getting Tsubasa free, masked eyes roving for signs of this Shiryuu--or, more pointedly, the Black Mask. They ''do'' note that the windows are barred and that there do not appear to be any other exits.

Just as they're about to warn the othes about this, though, their friends get Tsubasa's helmet off. They are immediately hollering about a trap.

The door slams shut, cutting off Mona and whatever others may be present. Joker whirls around--and even with a mask on, it's clearly Kurou. Their eyes widen.

"It's you!!" they utter--and indeed, Kurou might recognize ''them'' from that battle against the Old Maid next to Shujin Academy, that day when the serial killer tried to eliminate Maria Sakurai and her ex (and her ex's friend).

He would certainly not recognize Ren Amamiya, that co-worker of Umie's from the Triple Seven.

Joker grits their teeth with a low "kh!!" sound when Kurou demands they change his heart or run it through. The massive skeleton rises at his call, wailing at the group. Joker falls back a step, caught off-guard by both Kurou and Gashadokuro's wails, and so Kurou's able to knock them off their feet and swing at them with chain and blade. They strike hard, and Joker lets out a sharp shout of pain.

They'd had Ixtab at the fore of their soul, expecting someone weak to Earth attacks. They don't know what Gashadokuro might be weak to, but they can see those plumes of darkness it calls up. They press a hand to their mask, and blue fire calls up a different aspect of their soul.

"Persona!!" they call. A black-winged man in a red jacket swoops up over them and calls down debilitating magic to drain Kurou of some of his speed. He's already ''too fast''--best to mitigate some of that while they can.
</poem>

GAME: Ren Amamiya has assumed form 1, Arsène!
AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Almighty skill Sukunda on Kurou Ryouhara!
AS: Ruin: Ren Amamiya gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ren Amamiya's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Sorry, Mona. Ogre's rushing ahead. ...But someone had to.

Ogre hears about the need to be careful--so she doesn't abandon all caution. But she still has to rush forward. Getting these damned ''restraints'' off is a lot harder than she thought it would be, but she manages it eeventually, working with Skull. "We got it--"

'TRAP!'

A freckled teenage boy appears... and he draws his blade. Ogre turns to look at him, a glint in her red eye. He's younger than them. And he's got an ultimatum for them.

A huge Persona rises, before she can counter; the shadow launches towards her, and Ogre is ''slammed'' back by the first, knocked from her feet, but for the second and third she's able to get her shield up in the way. "gh--"

"Fuck you," Ogre says. "I won't do what you tell me."

COUNTERPOINT BGM: Will Power - P5 OST https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Msq4a0d9rCk

She rises to her feet and spits on the floor. "Of ''course'' it's a trap," she answers. "And for this person... I'll fall for it every time."

She walks forward and gently kneels down beside Tsubasa. She moves to help them up, ''jerking'' aside the chains--and then ''rips'' off her mask, blue flame exploding all around her. "PERSONA!"

Vine enwrap Tsubsa in a sphere, each one barbed with thorns, green with red roses. It ''bursts'' when finished, providing a barrier against physical attacks.

"So FUCK OFF!"

He's terrifying, really. ...But she's too angry for terror. No... Something else. What he said... to run him through--

If that's what it takes, is she willing?

"You know this guy?" Ogre wonders of Joker.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Almighty skill Thorn Shield on Tsubasa Seki!
AS: Support: Ichika Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ichika Kawase's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
Ryuji hears Kurou and his head snaps toward the sound. The delinquent drags his pipe along the ground, stopping as the ninja makes their proclamation.

Ryuji squints. "For real? Do you hear yourself, dude?! Eh, doesn't matter cuz your teeth are going on the ground. Lets see how you talk, eh?"

Then the chain attack comes toward him. Skull brings up his pipe to parry the chain. For a moment, the blonde is ensnared by the attack, getting pulled toward Kurou. The pain surges through him as the chain presses into his body. Rather that let this opportunity pass, Skull brings back his forehead and attempts to slam it into Kurou's stupid looking face''mask.
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Ryuji Sakamoto has used the Strike skill Takedown on Kurou Ryouhara! 2 Hits!
AS: Aggression: Ryuji Sakamoto gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ryuji Sakamoto's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Almighty damage from Ichika Kawase's Thorn Shield.
AS: Def_Up and Reflect_Phys added!
AS: Take! Kurou Ryouhara takes 0 Almighty damage from Ren Amamiya's Sukunda.
AS: Spd_Up removed!
AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Almighty skill Masukukaja on Yusuke Kitagawa, Ren Amamiya, Makoto Niijima, and Hibari Aoki!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
<poem>
An extra exit is a good thing to know about, Mujina thinks. Especially if they have to make an unexpected escape. Even if they don't want to fight the Sirens, they might *have* to - or at least run away from them. Can she silence them? Maybe long enough.

Though one of the other things she's thinking about is 'why do all of these people have guns??' Is this who she should blame for Phoenix having a goddamned rocket launcher these days?

(Mujina does not have a gun. It is unclear if she has a weapon at all.)

"The doors!" Mujina says, urgently, as her gaze flicks around the room. She's not ignoring the state Tsubasa is in, but Ogre is already over there (and Skull) and there's not much more she can do on that front. "Ogre, can you get them out...?" She freezes up for a moment as -

"You're not him!"

Mujina is not at her best fighting *actual people*, and she also likes to know things - she likes to be prepared. Shadows, sure, she can fight those, even the human-looking ones; demons, Humours, fine. She had prepared, mentally, to fight Shiryuu again. Now she's surprised and off-balance and also being attacked by a sweeping chain and sword.

Mujina hops backwards, then sweeps her arm up to try to block a strike. Her coat is as good as armour, at least for the first couple blows, but she's still staggered backwards, looking from Kurou to Gashadokuro and back.

There's another mistake here.

It's an easy mistake to make. Mujina is a figure in a fancy coat (trench coat style, for her) and a mask (white and red, a badger-y tanuki or a tanuki-y badger, vaguely Japanese art-styled - it looks a little like Fox's in some ways). She has appeared with the Phantom Thieves, she's fallen into a trap meant for them...

...but she isn't one. She couldn't Change a Heart even if she wanted to. And this is not the place she'd choose to do that, even if she could! Which she can't.

Her mouth opens, then closes as she fails to think of a good response. A few moments later, she speaks again, and *not* to Kurou: "Give me a moment!" she requests, before: "Danzaburou!" She has but one, but one's enough; the rotund animal-person appears, waving his fancy gunbai as his eyes gleam, as Mujina's gaze becomes penetrating. The gleam of Persona-blue appears behind her mask, around her eyes.

Only then does she speak to him: "How about we just take them back and leave it at that?"
</poem>

AS: Take! Hibari Aoki takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!
AS: Persona! Hibari Aoki has used the Almighty skill Basic Analysis on Kurou Ryouhara!
AS: Hibari Aoki's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!
AS: Block Best! Kurou Ryouhara takes 4 Strike damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Takedown.
AS: Block Best! Kurou Ryouhara takes 8 Strike damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Takedown. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>
Like a still life. A canvas of iron, jade, flesh and threat.

"--TRAP!" Tsubasa yells, in the same moment.

''And we're the audience.''

On instinct, Fox whirls towards the new voice, assault rifle raised, but before he can pull the trigger a serpentine blade whirls towards him on a chain, sending him flying; the rifle splashes on the ground, discorporating in blue flame. The second slash opens gashes through the sleeves of Fox's jumpsuit as he raises his arms to protect his mask and face, but before the third one can pierce his heart he grabs his mask from that position and the towering woodcut ronin catches the chain on his kiseru.

"Goemon! Aid us!"

The blue-garbed figure exhales a cloud of smoke rings, swirling around the Phantom Thieves to lend himself, Joker, Mujina and Queen hopefully enough speed to close the gap between themselves and ''an actually trained ninja''. If this weren't such a life or death situation, Fox might be exulting about this uniquely extraordinary situation... but then, if it wasn't life-or-death, he'd be Yusuke, not Fox.

A scarlet saya appears in his left hand and he grasps it's hilt as he feels his body lighten. "Get them to safety!" He calls to the others, fully intending to face their adversary head-on.
</poem>

AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!
AS: Take! Kurou Ryouhara takes 0 Almighty damage from Hibari Aoki's Basic Analysis.
AS: Hibari Aoki's Strength Scan! Kurou Ryouhara resists Earth!
AS: Hibari Aoki's Weakness Scan! Kurou Ryouhara is weak against Light!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>

When the door slams shut, Queen spins to face it, pistol drawn- and comes face to face with a teen. Masked, like those hunters they encountered in Mementos that day. His feet are silent, and he carries a weapon-

And he summons a persona, and Makoto feels a lump in her throat.

It's a persona. She can fight. It's a skeleton. It's not a real ghost, not a real monster, just a persona. She can fight it, even in this dark, caged place.

And so she sweeps her scarf in front of her, and calls her own heart. "Johanna!" She yells, leaping into the air to land on her motorcycle, aiming to press through the shadowed flail and slam back with the rock forming on her scarf-

The rock forming that is less than effective- and after two attempts, Johanna shatters and Queen tumbles back, pulling her diamond tekko up to block the final strike, but she's taken a battering already and that last strike forces her to one knee.

"You're serious about this, aren't you?" Queen growls back, as he declares the Phantoms must either change his heart or kill him- even as Ogre defies the orders. "...But we'll have to disappoint you." She looks to Joker- do they reiterate the Phantom Thieves stance on killing, or leave this ninja wondering?

And then Mujina declares that this one isn't the same one. "There's more of them?" This is bad for them. Two ninjas, and they know a vulnerability for the Thieves.

"What are you even doing this for?" Queen yells, waiting for Mujina's calculation. Still, she needs time to work out Kurou, how to fight back against him. His weapon gives him range, but it is cearly no slouch in close combat. She calls her pistol to her hand again, and snaps off a trio of shot at Kurou- both to see if it will work and how he reacts to not magic, not personas, but, instead, a hypothetically lethal countermeasure.

It might be if it were a real gun, after all, and not a stunningly convincing replica.
</poem>
AS: Weapon! Makoto Niijima has used the Pierce skill Fast Draw on Kurou Ryouhara!
AS: Makoto Niijima's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Worst! Kurou Ryouhara takes 48 Pierce damage from Makoto Niijima's Fast Draw.

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

Scroedinger's Phantoms are the world's strongest weapons. Someone's gotta guard the exits to make sure ''more'' ninjas don't show up to reinforce Kurou!

Horror settles in the pit of Tsubasa's stomach, as Kurou assures them that all their fears are dust in the wind. "Fucker," they spit, to Kurou. "Fox's already got ya figured out."

Their eyes widen. "Fuck --"

Freed from their bonds, their orange feather-cloak flickers into existence over their body, again, those blue flames bless them with that witch's hat mask of theirs, dark ninja robes across their body bound at belly and wrist and ankle with pale sarashi-cloth. But when they try to scramble out of that throne to escape those chains --

They knew their legs would give out from under them; maybe they were hoping they'd be stronger, now their friends have come to save them. Still they hit the floor, with a painful yelp, bound up with that chain of Kurou's. "LET ME GO!" They yell, for the umpteenth time, kicking at the chains.

"I'm okay -- jus' -- had me -- strapped down for days, man --" Phoenix tries to reassure Ogre, between pained gasps, as she wrenches those chains off of them and helps them standing. They grasp onto her for a long moment, but as she summons her Thorn Shield around them, those vines strengthen them against the long torment they've suffered.

"H...hey... ASSHOLE!" Phoenix yells, as they stomp forward, one staggering foot planted in front of the other, slumped like some kind of ravenous feathered monster of myth. "You think... yours is big?"

Their mouth splits into something savage, and hungry, and it might take a moment to place it as a ''grin.'' Their arm sways, as they reach for their mask, and after a moment of fumbling, tear it right back off -- though the shower of blood and flame means that Kurou wouldn't have been able to ''tell'' it was Tsubasa's face if he didn't already know what laid beneath it.

"IZBUSHKA NA KUR'IH NOZHKAH!"

What rises, in the workshop, is something which clips through the ''ceiling'' instead of the floor. Massive chicken's legs, as big as any one of them, lead up to a wicked witch's hut; lined with skulls and spines like some kind of sick skirt, the hatch-windows flap like little chicken's wings, veiling some shadowy occupant inside.

Presumably the roof is hatched, but, like: this thing is fucking ''big,'' man.

"Let's fuckin' GO!" Phoenix hollers, as they thrust their arm out beside them, and their matrimonal greatsword -- of the type used to cut wedding-cakes, in Spain -- weighs it down as it appears there, before they bring it forward to grasp it in their other hand and charge forward towards Gashadokuro, as Izbushka na Kur'ih Nozhkah stampedes towards the massive skeleton too. They plant their foot and swing their massive sword upwards, as those chicken legs stomp ''down.''

"Yeah, you gon' fuckin' talk now?" They lobby, to Kurou, energised by Ryuji's defiance. "How 'bout tellin' us whether you're workin' with the Order, huh?! You an' that 'shihaisha' a yours! Yeah, go ahead and tell us how it makes sense how he'd tell me to sabotage th' fuckin' Order's operations when you're obviously fuckin' in on it!" They look to Queen, as they add, in sharp explanation: "That's what this is about! That fuckin' Ryouhara boss wants me fuckin' up th' New World Order... an' he's got a timer runnin' over th' heads a th' people I love 'bout it! Says he'll kill me ''an''' them, in that order, jus' so I can't say goodbye!"

They leap back to clear some distance between them and Kurou's Persona, though; they're evidently not ''so'' brave that they're going to ''stick around.'' They land near Mujina, looking, sidelong, to her. "Hey," they add, their rough tone lower, "it's 'cuz a you everyone found me, right? ... knew I could count on ya little dudes."

Phoenix's grip flexes, against their greatsword. Their muscles are screaming -- their heart is, too.

"Ogre promised... an' I'm part a somethin' now. Knew they'd come for me. Jus' like, any time... I'd come for them! So don't even think 'bout fuckin' with 'em, you hear me?!" Their voice raises, as they yell: "YA FUCK WITH ONE A US, YA FUCKIN' WITH ALL A US!"

AS: Tandem! Tsubasa Seki has used the Strike skill Stampeding Wrath on Kurou Ryouhara! 2 Hits!
AS: Aggression: Tsubasa Seki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Tsubasa Seki: Haze removed!
AS: Tsubasa Seki regains 8 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Tsubasa Seki's turn has ended.
[OOC] Tsubasa Seki says, "tsubasa is of course trying not to mention that ryuji is also in the polycule so that he doesn't get targeted too"
[OOC] Tsubasa Seki says, "but they're too mad to figure out how to communicate that."
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "awww yes"
AS: Block Worst! Kurou Ryouhara takes 49 Strike damage from Tsubasa Seki's Stampeding Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Kurou Ryouhara takes 11 Strike damage from Tsubasa Seki's Stampeding Wrath. Critical Hit!
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "tanky skeleton..."

(|===== Arcana +stats: Tsubasa Seki, Persona Izbushka na Kur'ih Nozhkah ======|)
| []Rebellion Wk Magi ALM PL 0 20 SP +3L |
| Crt_Up and Mystic |
| ==Greatsword Slam Wk Phys STR PL 2 ----- +2L |
| Boost, Hinder, Weapon, and Heavy |
| ==Feral Kick Wk Phys STR PL 2 12 HP +2L |
| Ailment1 and Paralyze |
| ==Greatsword Charge Wk Phys SLS PL 1 ----- +2L |
| Weapon, Ailment1, Heavy, and Exhaust |
| ==Greatsword Impact Wk Phys SLS PL 2 ----- +2L |
| Weapon, All_Out1, and Heavy |
| ==Greatsword Assault Wk Phys SLS PL 2 (2xHit) ----- +2L |
| Weapon and Heavy |
| ==Dual Smash Wk Phys STR PL 2 (2xHit) 15 HP +2L |
| Tandem and Heavy |
| ==Firebrand Wk Phys FIR PL 2 (2xHit) 15 HP +2L |
| Tandem and Heavy |
| ==Fire Glare Wk Magi FIR PL 2 (3xHit) 12 SP +2L |
| None |
| ==Matarukaja Wk Magi ALM PL 0 20 SP +2L |
| Atk_Up and Area |
| ==Uncontrolled Burn Wk Magi FIR PL 1 16 SP +2L |
| Rage and Area |
| ==Rocket Launcher St Phys PRC PL 4 ----- 0L |
| Signature, Weapon, Critical1, Heavy, and Area |
| ==Greatest Sword St Phys SLS PL 4 ----- 0L |
| Signature, Weapon, All_Out1, Anti_Block, and Heavy |
| ==Blazing Wrath St Phys FIR PL 4 (2xHit) 25 HP +1L |
| Tandem and Heavy |
| ==Stampeding Wrath St Phys STR PL 3 (2xHit) 25 HP +1L |
| Tandem, All_Out1, Critical2, and Heavy |
| ==Crimson Sublation St Magi FIR PL 4 20 SP +1L |
| Poison |
| ==Makarakarn St Magi ALM PL 0 10 SP +1L |
| Efficient and Reflect_Magi |
| ==Rocket Sublation Fi Phys FIR PL 6 40 HP 1L |
| Tandem, Critical1, Heavy, Stress, Theurgy, and Area |
(|======================== HP: 325''500 (TP: 367''375) SP: 60''60 Limit: 2''6 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Kurou Ryouhara has posed.
<poem>

Kurou meets Joker's look of recognition with his own -- but, indeed, only for that day he assisted Akabane-san against the Joker Killer, and not from the day he checked up on Akabane-san at Triple Seven and met a new acquaintance with a promising start of friendship.

But even in violence against who Kurou thinks is a stranger, his face is that same stoic placidity as he faces Joker. Sukunda dampens the frenzied pace of Kurou's movements, but it's like slowing the charge of a bull. Though it's ''less'', it's still enough to shatter the porcelain in his path.

Ogre won't be told what to do. "Then by all means," Kurou tells her, "Remain and fall." There is little time afforded to determine whether that's what he sees as the alternative to rejecting his words, or if it is a direct response that accepts her claim at face value.

"I prefer not to talk," Kurou tells Ryuji. His weapon is one explicitly designed for a fighting style that restricts the movements of his opponents... which Skull ''completely bypasses'' by butting heads in a most literal way. A solid ''thunk'' smacks Kurou and sends him reeling, freeing Skull from the chain's grasp.

Mujina notes immediately that Kurou is not the same shinobi that took Phoenix from them in the first place. "I am your one and only opponent today," he clarifies for her. "And I do not cede my terms." Danzaburou's gaze comes for him. In that moment, Mujina sees Kurou's otherwise impassive eyes glowing with the same undying fury as his Gashadokuro's. Danzaburou will understand that the dead are restless, and will not be buried under grave dirt until their hunger is sated. Only an exorcism could possibly rid them of this haunted hunt now.

Goemon aids Fox, and Kurou's attention fixates upon latter. "Your blade," he says, pointing with his own. "Show it to me." The way he readies his own emphasizes how he would like to get to know Fox's sword.

Queen asks if he is serious. "Yes." An overly simple response, but one without hesitation. "To steal a heart or to destroy it... what is the difference?" He ''rushes'' at her ''apparently lethal weapon'', weaving in those fluid motions of his blade as if he could parry shots themselves. Two bullets miss. One bites across his the flesh of his uncovered arm and leaves its mark.

"A bullet is fine, too," he tells her. "Aim again, if you mean it."

Phoenix asks if Kurou thinks his is big. He pauses at that, looking to his double-edged sword. "No, it is smaller than the average katana --" Oh. Phoenix has a slab of metal with Kurou's name on it, and Persona of their own colossal making with feet for Gashadokuro. The four clash, and when Izbushka na Kur'ih Nozhkah ''tramples'' over Gashadokuro and ''shatters'' it, Kurou's body flinches as if struck, yet he makes no sound, giving a moment for Phoenix's blades to ''smash'' against Kurou's own. It is, in fact, a much smaller sword, and though he does not get cleaved in half, he is ''launched''.

But he manages to twist in the air and land in a crouch. "... Good. I am glad you can still smile."

That doesn't answer their question, or Queen's, but Kurou has a languid manner of speaking in contrast to his rapid and decisive movements. He rises back to his feet.

"I said... change my heart... or ''run it through''," Kurou reminds them in the wake of their supportive spells, quiet, but firm. "Gashadokuro... Show them." His skeletal colossal of a Persona rises ''beneath'' Fox, Joker, Mujina, and Queen. When it shrieks it is the opposite of sound. Noise draws ''in'', transformed into harrowing silence until they cannot even heart their own heartbeats. A withering, silent wind seeks to sap them.

And then that massive, open mouthed skull coming from below bites down.

Kurou dives in to point the tip of two fingers at Tsubasa's forehead -- Phoenix's mask. "I cannot speak for the shihaisha. I speak only for myself... and I prefer action to words." A sigh of a sensation rushes over Phoenix as Gashadokuro's bones rattle, with a chill down their spine: death approaches.

"Both in question... and in answer."

He faces Skull and Ogre. Gashadokuro crumbles apart.

The skeletons that make up its form crawl up the many-armed statue and arm themselves by ripping the weapons from its hands. Kurou leaps at the pair with his weapon, whirling in a dance of slashes while a skeletal swarm joins in, each able to make a single strike before they break apart from the effort.

AS: Kurou Ryouhara spends Limit on Exploit! Kurou Ryouhara can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Kurou Ryouhara has used the Almighty skill Ayashii Silence on Yusuke Kitagawa, Ren Amamiya, Makoto Niijima, and Hibari Aoki!
AS: Pressure: Kurou Ryouhara gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Kurou Ryouhara has used the Strike skill E A T on Yusuke Kitagawa, Ren Amamiya, Makoto Niijima, and Hibari Aoki!
AS: Persona! Kurou Ryouhara has used the Almighty skill Ohakamairi on Tsubasa Seki!
AS: Kurou Ryouhara's turn has ended.
[OOC] Kurou Ryouhara says, "OH NO"
[OOC] Kurou Ryouhara says, "one of them errored"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "oh lol"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "i'll refund the action if you do it now"

(|================================== +queue ==================================|)
| --------------------------- Attack 1: Ohakamairi --------------------------- |
| From: Kurou Ryouhara Tier: Weak Type: Magical Element: Almighty |
| Damage: Level 0 Hit: 1 of 1 |
| Flags: Recovery_Wall |
| Attacker Status: Atk_Up and Def_Up |
(|========================================================== Tsubasa Seki ====|)
AS: Tandem! Kurou Ryouhara has used the Earth skill Gaikotsu Rave on Ryuji Sakamoto and Ichika Kawase! 3 Hits!
AS: Pressure: Kurou Ryouhara gains 1 Limit!
[OOC] Kurou Ryouhara says, "accidental semi colon..."
AS: Block Worst! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 89 Earth damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Gaikotsu Rave. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 70 Earth damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Gaikotsu Rave.
AS: Avoid Best! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 45 Earth damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Gaikotsu Rave. Critical Hit!
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "Ok action refunded"
AS: Take! Hibari Aoki takes 0 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Ayashii Silence.
AS: Def_Dn added! Spd_Up removed!
AS: Block Best! Hibari Aoki takes 49 Strike damage from Kurou Ryouhara's E A T.
AS: Block Best! Ichika Kawase takes 16 Earth damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Gaikotsu Rave. Resist!
AS: Block Best! Ichika Kawase takes 16 Earth damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Gaikotsu Rave. Resist!
AS: Block Worst! Ichika Kawase takes 67 Earth damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Gaikotsu Rave. Critical Hit! Resist!
[OOC] Kurou Ryouhara says, "yaaay thank you. though it'd have been fair to make me eat more limit"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "true, but i already did it!"
AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Ayashii Silence.
AS: Def_Dn added! Spd_Up removed!
AS: Take! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Ohakamairi.
AS: Recovery_Wall added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Makoto Niijima takes 163 Strike damage from Kurou Ryouhara's E A T. Critical Hit!
[OOC] Makoto Niijima says, "oof...."
[OOC] Kurou Ryouhara says, "ok brb. if anyone wants to do something indulgent the answer is yes"
[OOC] Tsubasa Seki says, "ilu kurou"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase return
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "i got your back, makoto"
[OOC] Makoto Niijima says, "thank you"
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Ayashii Silence.
AS: Def_Dn added! Spd_Up removed!
AS: Avoid Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 116 Strike damage from Kurou Ryouhara's E A T.
[OOC] Makoto Niijima says, "Also Ren, Ryuji, you've got enough to shift"
[OOC] Ren Amamiya says, "let's see, do any of us have any light attacks?"
[OOC] Tsubasa Seki says, "i'm at the fire. i'm at the strike. i'm at the triple combination fire-slash-and-strike"
[OOC] Hibari Aoki says, "I have status effects! and that's what you're getting"
[OOC] Hibari Aoki :)
[OOC] Hibari Aoki says, "(I actually do have Kouha because I forgot to change my cards, though it appears to have been for the best, but I'm saving that for now)"
[OOC] Makoto Niijima says, "i am also fire and strike and a few heals and buffs"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "i just got heals"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "and earth"
[OOC] Makoto Niijima says, "...I have Dekunda?"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "hmmmm"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "i think we need damage more than we need the dbeuff cleared, my healing is pretty solid on everyone except tsubasa RUDLY being heal walled"
[OOC] Ryuji Sakamoto says, "I can Theurgy?"
[OOC] Kurou Ryouhara says, "okay back"
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Ayashii Silence.
AS: Def_Dn added! Spd_Up removed!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 64 Strike damage from Kurou Ryouhara's E A T.
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "wb"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "Do it Ryuji"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "Do you wanta Shift for that?"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "or do you already have the bonus action"
[OOC] Shiryuu Ryouhara says, "i could use a bonus action"
[OOC] Shiryuu Ryouhara :)
[OOC] Ichika Kawase gives Shiryuu a bonus knuckle
[OOC] Kurou Ryouhara says, "me, forgetting I am the boss 'I have limit. I can shift'"
[OOC] Shiryuu Ryouhara oh aight cool
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "if I get a bonus action I'm gonna use it to hit you"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "in the face, maybe."
AS: Ryuji Sakamoto spends Limit on Exploit! Ryuji Sakamoto can use another Weak skill this round!
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "Queen I think I'm gonna give you the bonus action to go with my heal"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "if you're cool with that"
[OOC] Makoto Niijima says, "sure"
[OOC] Ren Amamiya says, "Who wants my Shift"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "if you give it to me I'll hit him in the face."
[OOC] Hibari Aoki lmao
[OOC] Hibari Aoki says, "I can always take it, I do have Kouha, but I don't need it"
[OOC] Makoto Niijima says, "Dekunda the crowd given someone's very rude move, and then do something else"
[OOC] Yusuke Kitagawa says, "we love to see it"
[OOC] Tsubasa Seki says, "i have a theurgy i can throw out now too, just figuring out if i do that ''now'' or next round"
[OOC] Kurou Ryouhara says, "let ichika hit me in the face"
[OOC] Makoto Niijima says, "i didn't think Ichika chould shift yet though, she only has 1 limit"
[OOC] Tsubasa Seki says, "oh wait i have two limit. next round it is!!"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "I'll be able to after my next action"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "so I can do it at the end of my turn"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "(Mediarama is +1L and I'm Support for +1L)"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>

"In passing," Joker tells Ogre. Mujina's warning that this is a ''different'' Ryouhara is no surprise, but still. "He fought alongside Phoenix and me that time the Old Maid appeared near Aoyama-Itchome Station." In front of Shujin Academy, in other words. "He seemed to be with Umie Akabane."

'Seemed to be,' nothing--he's her roommate. But Joker wouldn't know that, so that's as much as they reveal for right now. Phoenix has a lot more to reveal once they don their cognitive costume and call upon their Persona. The Ryouharas are with the NWO, but they're blackmailing Phoenix into fighting them? What kind of sense does that make? Yet unfortunately, Kurou says he can't answer for his 'shihaisha,' and won't answer for himself--not in words.

Fox calls on Goemon, and he uses his magic to enhance several Phantoms' speed. Joker shoots him a nod of gratitude, before catching Queen's eye. They make a brief, horizontal gesture at their neck--Kurou knowing they won't kill might just make him press harder. (After all, they won't kill, and they ''can't'' change his heart.) They need to derail his aggression first.

Which will be quite the ask when he calls up Gashadokuro to not just shriek in silence, draining them of the speed Fox had just granted them, but then open up its maw to swallow them hole.

From within, they scream in agony--but then their own plume of darkness bursts from within, and before Gashadokuro fades, Arsène sends forth a volley of black needles that may well pierce through the Persona and hasten its disappearance--for now, at least.

Where it was, Joker pants, doubled over in pain--but still on their feet. It's a struggle to stand upright, but they manage it. For now.

"Exactly right," they declare, projecting their voice in a deep boom, in agreement with Phoenix's all-for-one-and-one-for-all declaration. Phoenix and Queen both ask the ''why'', so they instead ask, "So tell us--is Umie Akabane aware you're doing this?" (They don't think she is--she's terrified of the NWO and surely wouldn't be so protective of Kurou if she knew--but maybe bringing her up will provide the 'change of heart' that Kurou seeks, even if it isn't how the Phantoms normally do it.) "She's an ally of ours, if you were unaware." They flash him a grim smirk. "It would break her heart if we were to break yours!"
[OOC] Ren Amamiya throws that out to not keep people waiting
AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Pierce skill Darkness Nail on Kurou Ryouhara!
AS: Ren Amamiya: Bind removed!
AS: Ren Amamiya's turn has ended.
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
"Da hell?!" Skull says of Kurou's statement. The delinquent is put off by the ninja's rudeness, feeling his temper flare even further.

Skull wobbles a bit post headbutt, stabilizing himself in a very relaxed stance. He raises his pipe, pointing toward Kurou.

"Ok, asshole. I'm done playing around." Skull tilts his head, giving the ninja a look.

Rolling his arm, Skull takes a few test swings, trying to get the rust out of his swing before committing to the harsh reality he's about to dish out. The delinquent lets the pipe drop as he starts to charge Kurou. The pipe sparks as it drags behind Ryuji, running in circles around Kurou to build momentum. Finally, Skull spins, extending the pipe until he uses all the build up power to swing at the center of Kurou's body. As the pipe travels, it makes a pretty cool and kurt "whoosh"

AS: Persona! Ryuji Sakamoto has used the Strike skill Street Justice on Kurou Ryouhara! 3 Hits!
AS: Aggression: Ryuji Sakamoto gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Shift! Ichika Kawase can use another Weak skill this round!
[OOC] Ryuji Sakamoto says, "Always forget that one limit"
AS: Weapon! Ryuji Sakamoto has used the Strike skill Breakdown on Kurou Ryouhara! 2 Hits!
AS: Ryuji Sakamoto: Haze removed!
AS: Ryuji Sakamoto's turn has ended.
[OOC] Ren Amamiya says, "hmm, i have enough for another shift, who else wants one--i'm gonna default to phoenix if no one wants it"
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "let's see... healing ryuji, ren, makoto, and... me, lol"
<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
<poem>
"I wasn't just going to LEAVE you," is Hibari's response to Tsubasa. She might not love them the way Ichika does (which is for the best anyway, because THAT would be an awkward triangle... quadrangle, Ryuji is right there even if Hibari doesn't know it) but Tsubasa's still a close friend, and one of the only ones that knows her secrets. "Of course! You'd do the same for me."

And she felt guilty about leaving them, on the day of. Hibari was in no condition to search then; after her Persona was Broken (twice) she was in no condition to do much other than collapse, she'd leaned on Ogre to even get out of Mementos. But that doesn't stop the feeling! Honestly, it was working with the Phantom Thieves that was the unexpected part.

One of Mujina's little ghost-tanukis runs back to her, scampering up and vanishing like an unsummoned Persona; all blue light for a moment before it's gone, and only Danzaburou remains.

"Gashadokuro..." She recognizes the name, too, from a ghost story. She's not real fond of them either, if not as unfond as Queen, but she has heard this one nonetheless. "It's a skeleton made of the bones of the dead from the battlefield! You can lay it to rest; use Light!" Mujina calls out once she's had a moment to look at Gashadokuro. "And this time, Earth won't work... it's already been buried without a blessing once!"

Mujina meets Kurou's gaze, at least for a few moments. She can feel him building up to the strike before he does it - and when the silent scream goes out, Mujina braces, having a vague idea of what to expect next. Fox's assistance blows away on the wind, but she gives him a thankful nod anyway, from behind her helmet.

She was half wrong about exactly what was about to happen as it turns out, but not so wrong that she can't shelter from the bite. It hurts, but she pushes through it, though not without yelling out into the silence - Mujina's hard to get down. She might look like the easy target but she's tougher than she looks, and Danzaburou reappears with a sweep of his gunbei -

- and something swirls around Kurou's Persona, ribbons of light that squeeze and twist. It's like a cross between a headache, not quite a Persona Break of his own, and twisting his senses - it's enough to pull him off-balance with a vaguely sickening sensation.

"I'll try to make an opening for the rest of you!"

She's also learning. Mujina knows only a little about some of the subjects Joker brings up. But you better believe she's listening.
AS: Persona! Hibari Aoki has used the Almighty skill Shibaboo on Kurou Ryouhara!
AS: Ruin: Hibari Aoki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Hibari Aoki's turn has ended.
AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Shift! Tsubasa Seki can use another Weak skill this round!
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "it ''would'' be awkward."
[OOC] Ichika Kawase says, "a;lso pose!"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

"Skull!" Ogre calls. "You OK?" Those chains aren't nothing. But she apprecaites the headbutting. Ogre things headbutting is a great strategy.

Mujina's analysis will tell Ogre her attacks aren't going to help that much... but she's busy healing in any case, or is about to be, given how dangerous Kurou is. And Fox's speed seems to make the difference, too. "Nowehre to run!" she calls back to him. "I'll just keep everyone up!"

Queen brings out her pistol, and Ogre looks, too--to see how well it'll work. Kurou seems serious...

B ut Tsubasa is the one whose condition is most vital right now--and Ogre listens to what they say as reassurance. "We'll get you out," she says. "Just have to hang on a little longer."

They have a lot to say about the Order, but Ogre is proud of their destructive potential in any case.

Remain and fall, Kurou says. She narrows her eyes.

Smile? "The fuck do you care about their smile!?" Ogre demands of Kurou. Gashadokuro though--while it's frightening, Kurou is the one here, and and the skeletal swarm joins Kuro's attack. Ogre brings up her shield to defend against the first, which hammers against it. The second, which batters into her weapon. But the third gets past her guard, seethes with blue flame despite her resistance as it hits and her Persona protects her. She considers; this guy fought alongside them once...

Ogre picks herself back up. "They're damn right," Ogre says of Phoenix's statement. "...Mujina got us here," she says. "And now we're gonna get you out!"

Ogre then calls on Momiji again; the beautiful, terrifying Oni rises, and waves her hand. Healing sparkles set down on Skull, Joker, Queen, and Ogre.

"But I'll give you one thing you want."

She ''charges'', ''slamming'' her shield straight up for Kurou's face. "I CAN HIT SHIT TOO!"

Then she calls, "Queen! Go for it! I got your back!"
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Recovery skill Mediarama on Ichika Kawase, Ryuji Sakamoto, Ren Amamiya, and Makoto Niijima!
AS: Support: Ichika Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 144 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.
[OOC] Shiryuu Ryouhara says, "nice leadership jutsu..."
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 144 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.
AS: Weapon! Ichika Kawase has used the Strike skill Combo on Kurou Ryouhara! 2 Hits!
AS: Ichika Kawase's turn has ended.
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>
As swiftly as it was conjured up, the wind that Fox hoped to equalise them with their adversary is stilled - and great jaws open beneath him, forcing him to leap and scramble to safety as Goemon manifests to hold the jaws open and save them from being buried, though his Persona strains terribly against the Gashadokuro. Setting his eyes back on Kurou as he finds his footing again, Fox clicks his tongue. "Very well." Phoenix pronounces that if one messes with one of the Phantom Thieves, one messes with all of them, and like Joker, Fox agrees. "Enough of words, then," he matches Kurou's declaration.

He lunges, white boots almost a shadowy blur across the warehouse floor as he draws a black-bladed katana, racing towards Kurou to strike to hinder their ninja foe's aggression.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Slash skill Arm Chopper on Kurou Ryouhara!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 144 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.
AS: Avoid Best! Kurou Ryouhara takes 15 Pierce damage from Ren Amamiya's Darkness Nail.
AS: Ichika Kawase spends Limit on Shift! Makoto Niijima can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Counter Neutral! Kurou Ryouhara takes 40 Strike damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Street Justice.
AS: COUNTER! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 20 Strike damage in return for his attack!
AS: Counter Best! Kurou Ryouhara takes 32 Strike damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Street Justice.
AS: COUNTER! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 26 Strike damage in return for his attack!
AS: Block Worst! Kurou Ryouhara takes 21 Strike damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Street Justice.
AS: Block Worst! Kurou Ryouhara takes 13 Strike damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Breakdown.
AS: Counter Neutral! Kurou Ryouhara takes 60 Strike damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Breakdown. Critical Hit!
AS: COUNTER! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 21 Strike damage in return for his attack!
AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 144 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.
AS: Take! Kurou Ryouhara takes 0 Almighty damage from Hibari Aoki's Shibaboo.
AS: Charm and Poison added!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>

Phoenix outlines what it is that their kidnappers want, and Queen's eyes widen. How many people want to ruin Tsubasa's life? Kamiya, Furudate, and now this..? And the New World Order? Why? "...That won't happen," Queen responds, voice harsh. "We won't let them." Queen won't let them. She's not abandoning Tsubasa a second time.

Joker's hand signal is caught, and Queen gives her a nod of understanding in return. For someone kind of terrible at picking up social cues, when it comes to strategizing, Queen can communicate wordlessly when she needs to in here.

Ryouhara's response to Queen's gunfire being to rush her catches her by surprise- and she discards her gun as he closes, the gun disappearing from her hand and going to wherever on her skintight outfit she keeps it (not that she knows herself).

But it's hard to evade the ground below you giving way to a shrieking skull, a skull that drowns one in total silence. A silence that drowns out her own heart, that threatens to drown out her own thoughts- before it bites down on her, Queen finding her legs freezing when she tries to order them to run, and that moment of hesitance costs her as Gashadokuro's teeth crush her, and she lets out a scream that she herself can't hear, until the silence passes, and Queen finds herself bloodied and breathing heavily.

Ogre's light washes over her, and it gives her precious opening to stand again, and summon Johanna again, leaning on the personacycle to summon her own magic, revving the engine. "Heads up!" She calls, as the green light from Johanna's engines moves to clear the effects of the Gashadokuro's first scream from Yusuke, Hibari, Ren and herself-

And she's not going to pass up the opening that Ogre has given her- and when Johanna roars a second time, Queen rips off her mask in a momentary bloody spray, like it did when she awakened, and behind the mask is nothing but darkness and two bright yellow eyes. "You want us to change your heart that badly?" She asks, bloodied, atop the most violent aspect of herself. "...Then maybe we should start with some fear. Makajama!"
</poem>

AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Almighty skill Dekunda on Ren Amamiya, Yusuke Kitagawa, Hibari Aoki, and Makoto Niijima!
AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Almighty damage from Makoto Niijima's Dekunda.
AS: Def_Dn removed!
AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Almighty skill Makajama on Kurou Ryouhara!
AS: Makoto Niijima's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Hibari Aoki takes 0 Almighty damage from Makoto Niijima's Dekunda.
AS: Def_Dn removed!
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Makoto Niijima's Dekunda.
AS: Def_Dn removed!

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

"Yeah?! Then ''I'll'' fuckin' talk, ya prick!" Phoenix yells, to Kurou. "Let's tell 'em how this ain't somethin' you got no choice in or nothin'! Remember?! You said ya 'carryin' out ya own convictions'! You think I'm gon' get Stockholmed jus' cuz ya made sure I was eatin'?! WE'RE NOT FRIENDS, ASSHOLE!"

''Their'' friends are right here -- like Mujina, assuring them she wouldn't ''leave'' them.

They yell, unnerved, when Kurou expresses gladness over their smile: "FUCK OFF!" They're at least reassured by ''Ogre's'' reaction to it.

Gashadokuro rises to steal their friends' sound, and Phoenix rushes in -- only for Kurou to stop them, two fingers at their mask. There's something telling to the fear evident in their body and the grimace beneath their mask, as they freeze in front of him. "R--run you through? Gimme a break!" Phoenix snaps, as they scramble away, that fear trembling at their words now, too. "I-if I weren't gon' serve me own mother up for that fuckin' Old Maid, what makes ya think I-I'd go 'round killin' ''you?!''"

Wait, does that mean... Kurou is the person they would want dead ''less,'' in that equation...?

But it's just as Ogre says: they only have to hold on a little longer.

Phoenix's lips draw down in a scowl, though, as they think about ''Umie's'' place in all this. "We didn't know he was such a piece a shit back then, man!" They assure Joker, as they take another step back. "Akabane-san prolly jus' don't know what he's 'bout, neither!"

Ryuji's ceaseless assault inspires them, though -- just as Yusuke's own bladed assault does. "YEAH! Our katana's WAY more sick than yours!" Phoenix yells, in the wake of Goemon's User. "An' that pipe's gon' cave you in, asshole! Fuckin' A," they pump a fist, looking to Queen, "make him scream! You know this asshole kept askin' me why I was?! Creeped me th' fuck out!"

Phoenix takes a step back, tossing their greatsword aside -- somehow, it disappears instead of clattering -- as they bend a knee, arms swept out in a low bow. "I see it," they affirm, to Mujina, of her opening. "An' now --"

They flap their arms as they take a step forward, rising, and each arm comes to cross their chest, hands buried in the shadows of their cloak. What they pull out is -- A FUCKING ROCKET LAUNCHER! -- and a massive shell they load into it, as they call for the massive Persona at their bidding to round on Gashadokuro again. "Izbushka na Kur'ih Nozhkah -- GIVE IT TO 'EM!"

That house's skirt of spines and skulls detaches, the array of bones spinning rapidly, before they stop -- and every skull turns to face Kurou and his Persona. Fire flares in their eyesockets, as Crimson Sublation burns through them...

... as, simultaneously, Phoenix fires their FUCKING ROCKET LAUNCHER! straight into the middle of the skeletal remains and their User.

All the while, they're fucking cackling.
</poem>

AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Tsubasa Seki has used the Fire skill Rocket Sublation on Kurou Ryouhara!
AS: Tsubasa Seki takes 60 damage from Stress!
AS: Aggression: Tsubasa Seki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Tsubasa Seki regains 8 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Tsubasa Seki's turn has ended.
AS: Counter Neutral! Kurou Ryouhara takes 79 Strike damage from Ichika Kawase's Combo. Critical Hit!
AS: COUNTER! Ichika Kawase takes 33 Strike damage in return for her attack!
AS: Counter Worst! Kurou Ryouhara takes 97 Strike damage from Ichika Kawase's Combo. Critical Hit!
AS: COUNTER! Ichika Kawase takes 24 Strike damage in return for her attack!
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Makoto Niijima's Dekunda.
AS: Def_Dn removed!
AS: Counter Best! Kurou Ryouhara takes 90 Slash damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Arm Chopper. Counter Slash!
AS: COUNTER! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 68 Slash damage in return for his attack!
AS: Take! Kurou Ryouhara takes 0 Almighty damage from Makoto Niijima's Makajama.
AS: Panic and Sick added! Charm and Poison removed! Explosion! 240 damage!
AS: Counter Best! Kurou Ryouhara takes 176 Fire damage from Tsubasa Seki's Rocket Sublation.
AS: COUNTER! Tsubasa Seki takes 164 Fire damage in return for their attack! Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Kurou Ryouhara has posed.
<poem>

"No," Kurou agrees with Phoenix, once he finds his voice. "We are not." Another simple answer, with no hesitation behind it. "You were fed because you were hungry. You were bandaged because you were bleeding. That is all."

It is not the same resolve that puts Kurou in this battle, or in Shiryuu's service, but it is, perhaps, its own smaller conviction. Kurou does what he thinks must done, for futures both near and far. Doesn't everyone?

Black needles fling from Gashadokuro's mouth for Kurou as he leaps a twist to try and avoid them, breath catching when he is struck. He lifts back to his feet, slow and controlled.

"This has nothing to do with Akabane-san," Kurou tells Joker, even before they begin asking if she knows what he is up to. Kurou battle flow comes to a strange stop. "... Not yet," he says, like he expects her to find out, but is not ruffled by the idea. That may not be telling -- he has hardly been ruffled outwardly by anything so far.

But it would break ''her'' heart... "Oh. Hm."

Is... is that ''actually working?!'' It isn't as if Kurou knows what a 'change of heart' entails. Joker could be on to something, and it looks like Kurou has never once had to consider such a thing as a consequence to his actions.

Yet he does not stop the battle then and there. Skull is done playing, and Kurou invites it with two curls of his fingers. What he invites is a massive pipe. Brute force meets Kurou's frenetic flow. He strikes between each, and it costs him with blunt force trauma that ends in ''knocking'' Kurou's body to the ground, and a few feet across it.

Mujina sends Danzaburou after Kurou again, not in analysis, but to sicken him. Kurou blinks a few times extra, hand going to his head. He looks at Danzaburou with a hazy blink, and begins to reach out, though it would be surely impossible to close the distance as he mimes petting. "...... Fluffy..."

Charm works differently on some people.

But he manages to regather his focus enough to at least try and hold his blade in the proper position as the others consider to come at him. What does he care, Ogre asks. "... Not everyone can," is all he answers with.

Kurou has not smiled even once this entire fight, for all he asks for their violence. Ren did not see Kurou smile even once, even with Umie Akabane. Tsubasa did not see Kurou smile even once, the whole time he watched over them.

Ogre has her own response with a shield to his face, and it ''bodies'' him as he dashes straight ''into'' it to return her strike with the pommel of his sword. Her balance wins, but that didn't stop him from crashing into her.

Fox answers the way Kurou demands, and Kurou meets him in response. Fox is the faster of the two, toe-to-toe: a blur across Kurou, with the only sign that Kurou has been able to defend it at all being the sharp sound of steel meeting steel. His posture slips once Fox is upon the other side of him. Make him scream, Tsubasa says.

"Yes," he says, his voice weaker. Even as his body wears fatigue, eroded by their assaults, Kurou remains adamant. "Can you?" He has not smiled.

Nor has he screamed.

Queen offers a different change of heart: fear. Johanna and Danzaburou's forces mingle together in a burst at, perhaps, ''exactly'' Kurou's heart. Physical sickness and conflicting emotion overflow Kurou convulses and Gashadokuro wails, ''breaking'' even without being touched. Kurou coughs, dry, struggling to breathe.

"... Is that how it is..." Kurou murmurs as Phoenix balks at killing them, even though they are ''not'' friends. Even their own mother. "... If you truly want an answer to my 'why'... then... I, too, will not abandon my loyalty to my family... Those who held conviction for me... will receive it in turn until my debt is paid."

Conviction takes many forms. Kurou recognizes that Tsubasa's is a FUCKING ROCKET LAUNCHER. It is with utmost respect that Kurou must meet it. Through fire and fury, Kurou charges, lost in flame that wreathes his blade to strike back --

But not before a FUCKING ROCKET LAUNCHER ''explodes'' against Gashadokuro's bones. The skull of it cracks, and skeletons go scattering. Kurou coughs again. The looped chain in his grip slackens so much it jingles against the ground. His sword tip slips, lowering downward.

He's weakened. There is an opportunity here to strike him down. Perhaps not the way he demands, but an exhausted opponent cannot fight back any more than a dead one. Or their heart might be easier to 'change'? Either one...

He still rises for one last push.

"Gasha... do... kuro..."

Kurou's colossal skeletal Persona reappears like it were ripping through the earth behind him, shrieking out so loudly its every broken bone rattles in an unsettling chorus. The now-cracked skull breaks from the body, and the amalgamation of a body crumbles as countless skulls to roll out like a rising tide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X7I3bW49S8

Skulls bounce, rise, and their eyes glow with phantasmal fury before their jaws fall open, and the vitality of their marrow is turned into almighty beams of incandescent wrath.

The battlefield turns into a chaotic laser field of chattering skulls firing erratically, their own recoil sending them spinning and careening in further unpredictability. Kurou leaps into the macaberesque rave, his footwork determined despite his complex going paler as his blade and chain seeks out anyone unlucky enough to misstep for a more personal and violent moment together before kicking them off to find another partner.
</poem>

AS: Kurou Ryouhara spends Limit on Reach!
AS: Kurou Ryouhara spends Limit on Exploit! Kurou Ryouhara can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Kurou Ryouhara spends Limit on Broad!
AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Kurou Ryouhara has used the Almighty skill Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi on Tsubasa Seki, Hibari Aoki, and Ryuji Sakamoto! 3 Hits!
AS: Kurou Ryouhara takes 150 damage from Panic and Stress!
AS: Kurou Ryouhara spends Limit on Exploit! Kurou Ryouhara can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Kurou Ryouhara has used the Almighty skill Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi on Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, Ren Amamiya, and Ichika Kawase! 3 Hits!
AS: Kurou Ryouhara takes 60 damage from Stress!
AS: Kurou Ryouhara: Loses 8 SP and TP from Sick! Atk_Up, Broad, Def_Up, and Reach removed!
AS: Kurou Ryouhara's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Worst! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 127 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Avoid Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 128 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Ren Amamiya takes 89 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Block Worst! Ichika Kawase takes 118 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Avoid Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 128 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Ren Amamiya is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Block Neutral! Ichika Kawase takes 90 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Block Neutral! Ichika Kawase takes 90 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Avoid Worst! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 133 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Block Neutral! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 89 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Avoid Worst! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 127 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Block Best! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 66 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Block Worst! Hibari Aoki takes 124 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Block Worst! Hibari Aoki takes 124 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 88 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Block Neutral! Hibari Aoki takes 94 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Makoto Niijima spends Limit on Brace!
AS: Block Neutral! Makoto Niijima takes 75 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Block Best! Makoto Niijima takes 51 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Block Neutral! Makoto Niijima takes 75 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Almighty attacks cannot be Countered.

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>
Fox shields his eyes from the incandescent explosions that wrack the battlefield - first the aftershock of Queen and Mujina's debilitating assault, then a ''FUCKING ROCKET LAUNCHER'' exploding at near point-blank to him.

"Spectacular..." he breathes, lowering his blade in awe.

It is this lowering of his guard that proves ruinous, as Kurou has strength enough for one last call to his Persona, and Gashadokuro crumbles into a myriad skulls.

Fox's talents mean he prefers to evade, dancing away from blasts and strikes as though he were floating water, but the glowing skulls fill the warehouse with strobing lasers in every direction - and try as he might, there is nowhere to run. He calls out for Goemon, and the mighty ronin tries to shield him from the barrage - only to shatter like burning glass under the assault, leaving the tall Phantom buckled to a knee, consciousness swirling.
</poem>

AS: Avoid Worst! Tsubasa Seki takes 133 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Tsubasa Seki is unable to continue fighting!
AS: You have 2 more attacks in queue!
AS: Avoid Best! Tsubasa Seki takes 57 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Tsubasa Seki is unable to continue fighting!
AS: You have 1 more attack in queue!
AS: Avoid Best! Tsubasa Seki takes 57 Almighty damage from Kurou Ryouhara's Vital Fury: Kotsuzui Shikaeshi.
AS: Tsubasa Seki is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>

"It has quite a bit to do with Umie Akabane, if you have ties to the New World Order. Were you unaware that she's terrified of them? If she were to learn of what you're doing--she would consider that the blackest betrayal."

They pause a beat for effect. Then, a touch gentler, they continue, "It's not too late. You can still stop this. Stand down and leave in peace, and we shall do the same."

Kurou and Phoenix may not be friends--he may have fed and bandaged them only out of a sense of duty--but Kurou ''does'' seem to care about what Umie thinks. If that's the 'change of heart' they have to angle for, they'll take it.

Unfortunately, it appears to be too little, too late, especially with the attacks The Phantoms are still pouring on Kurou. Ogre's healing magic that settles over Joker and relieves some of their wounds isn't enough to counterbalance Kurou's assault. Gashadokuro screams anew, and a flood of skulls pour forth, screaming out laser beams from their maws.

Joker does their best to evade the torrent. However, there's simply too many. Enough rebound from angles and with timing that they can't work around to strike them, over and over, until they're cast down on their hands and knees, barely clinging to consciousness.

"....."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

"Wouldna been bleedin' if it weren't for you pricks!" Phoenix lobbies back to Kurou -- which is ''true,'' but somewhat misleading in the moment, given Kurou wasn't the one to carve into them.

Phoenix isn't really thinking about making him look bad, though.

They're just ''so'' mad.

... they did notice how he never smiled, though.

"Tch... so it's loyalty, huh?" They glower, to Kurou. "Tell ya this for free: loyalty ain't no debt."

They're glaring, but their advice isn't coming from a place of hatred. "If it ain't a gift ya givin', it's jus' a nice way to talk chains."

Kurou isn't the first one, strangely, to have charged Phoenix's FUCKING ROCKET LAUNCHER. (Who gave them a ''fucking rocket launcher?!'') But given the last person to do that was SHIRYUU RYOUHARA -- perhaps it's not so strange to see Kurou diving through the flames, bringing his sword burning with Phoenix's own fire as he brings it ''right back to them.'' Given that ''launching'' that rocket sent them hurtling back onto their ass, there's not much they can do but watch him return to sender, bodily.

"Fuck," Phoenix coughs, rolling away from the flaming impact crater. "You ate me strongest attack... and you still up? What the fuck..."

They manage to scramble to their feet, but it doesn't last ''long.'' Against that barrage of lasers, they can do little but try to escape -- and they're blasted through, in the middle of one of those acrobatic leaps.

Phoenix hits the ground, heavily. "Ugh..." They groan, as they struggle to get their hands beneath them again. "No... not again...! I won't..."

Their shoulders slump, as they cough, roughly.

"I can't..."

But how could they, after the psychological and physical torments they've faced here?

They're sure not getting out of here under their own power.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>

The force that the Gashadokuro unleashes upon them is truly fearsome. The force of Kurou's last stand, the storm of skulls even as Kurou starts to fade, the blade, the chain, and the spirits of the unburied dead all unleash their fury, and Queen is driven from Johanna and slammed to the ground harshly, only her Aikido training kicking in keeping her from being another casual as she is sent sprawling. She raises her head to see the battlefield.

And Queen sees them fall, she sees them fall as her heart begins to race. Kurou was hardly unclear. They would have to go through him- and he was very prepared to force them to kill him.

...to the point that he seems to have no qualms about being equally lethal.

The world seems to slow, as Yusuke is struck in a moment of lowering his guard, and hits the floor. "FOX!"

Tsubasa is unable to evade the grasping arms of the unquiet dead, the wild skulls and the brutal slashes. "PHOENIX!"

And Joker- the leader, the one who the Phantom Thieves rally around. The person who reached a hand out to Makoto, despite her blackmail, despite all she did. The one who pushed to find her true self. The one who trusted her to have her back. "Joker? JOKER!?"

And for a moment, she's fifteen years old again. She's sitting a room surrounded by unfamiliar faces, Sae sitting next to her. They're both in serious black dresses, Makoto's simpler than Sae's. Even her normal red hairband has been replaced with a plain black one. Others talk around them, sometimes to Sae, but not to Makoto. But she can hear them.

"He was killed in a hit and run by a gang member, they said."
"He left behind two young daughters, you know?"
"They must be heartbroken..."

And she's back in the room, where she can see the effect that Kurou's persona has had. Even those who are standing are doing so just barely. Ichika, Skull and Mujina are all badly wounded. So is Queen. Mona and the rest are outside, and unable to just bust in to their rescue, and Makoto can't reach them, and Joker can't make the call.

Or else they all die. Or else she loses everyone else, if she survives at all.

"...Not again," she chokes out, her voice suddenly raw and pained. "Not again. Never again." She promised Johanna. She swore. She promised herself. She's not burying anyone else- and she's not leaving Sae alone.

"Skull, Ogre, Mujina- grab who you can. Now." It's not a question. It's a suggestion. It's the Queen's order. And then she looks directly at Kurou, pushing herself to her feet, still bloodied, staggering, wavering- but standing. "You said we had to change your heart or run it through, right?" Queen says, spitting some blood from her mouth onto the floor. "That's not happening- but if I have to go through you to save them?"

Her red eyes alight with fury, as she reaches for her mask. "Then I'll drive through you, your men, your 'shiahaisha'," Green and white nuclear flame starts to surround Queen, and in the distance behind, Johanna's engines can be heard roaring, as if she's moving at speed, "and anything or anyone who dares step in my way until there's nothing left but tire marks and red smears! NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY YOU KIDNAPPING PIECE OF CRAP!"

And in that moment, Queen disappears into the flames around as she backflips into the air and Johanna speeds into existence, trails of nuclear flame behind her as she on the seat, no speed lost, the flames surrounding her body entering into Johanna and the two becoming a speeding body of nuclear heat, aimed not just at Kurou, but that locked door that blocks the way. Queen and Johanna will be the battering ram, and if he doesn't move, all the force going into that door will be going *through* the Ninja, as Queen puts all her power into making an exit. "MOVE, NOW!" She yells- to the thieves, to the door, to Kurou, to herself.

The will be a path burned through Siren Alley tonight, and the nuclear glow will show all where it came from.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Almighty skill Crash Out! on Makoto Niijima!
AS: Makoto Niijima takes 45 damage from Stress!
AS: Support: Makoto Niijima gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Almighty damage from Makoto Niijima's Crash Out!.
AS: Atk_Up, Crt_Up, and Inner_Strength added!
AS: Makoto Niijima spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Makoto Niijima has used the Fire skill Full Throttle on Kurou Ryouhara!
AS: Makoto Niijima: Psych removed!
AS: Makoto Niijima's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Worst! Kurou Ryouhara takes 219 Fire damage from Makoto Niijima's Full Throttle. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Their katana ''is'' cool. Fox is great. But Ogre has no room for compliments right now, despite the fact that she feels a strong bond with Mujina and the Phantom Thieves. No... she gives Queen her chanc, as well as she's able--and sees her try to unleash ''fear''.

Phoenix is going to talk. They clarify a few things about Kurou. ...And about themself. "You won't have to do that," Ogre assures Phoenix in the moment about killing Kurou.

'Not everyone can,' Kurou says of smiles. She narrows her eyes. That's true, but...

But Phoenix talks about ''screams'', and Ogre grits her teeth. And when she strikes at Kurou, he strikes back at her, sending her back. "Gh--"

His loyalty to his family...

"I get that," Ogre says, nodding once. "...But i'm not gonna let you have them." Phoenix. "No matter what."

A fucking ROCKET LAUNCHER happens next, but Tsubasa is struck back--"PHOENIX!"

One last push. That skeletal Persona comes, and almighty beams of wrath crash into Ogre; her shield ''shatters'' at the last one, sending her tumbling from her feet, barely conscious. ...But still, barely is 'conscious'.

"...Phoenix..." Loyalty isn't a debt. But he ate their strongest attack, all right. "I'll..."

With a cough, Ogre pulls her rifle. She gets up onto one knee, and starts looking down the scope, beginning to aim. "...Change your heart or run it through, huh? If it's you or them, then..." She thinks about it. She ''really'' thinks about it; she even manages to line up her sight with his heart. But Queen snaps her out of it, and Ogre stows her rifle imediately. "Right," she says.

Ogre summons her Persona one more time--to revive Joker in healing light. Then, her shoulders sag in exhaustion.

"...I'm not gonna let you change me," she says to Kurou. "Not like that."

Grabbing whoever isn't grabbed, she first offers Joker a hand up--

Then she starts to run with the others.

...It's different from running from the cops.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Recovery skill Recarm on Ren Amamiya!
AS: Support: Ichika Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ichika Kawase's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 135 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Recarm.

<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
<poem>
Mujina pauses for just one moment to hold her hand up and, if she has a moment (she may not) give Queen a high-five. Teamwork. Explosive teamwork.

The New World Order...

That's a phrase Mujina has heard before, but mostly from people she didn't take seriously. One of the hazards of being a rumourmonger is that you *do* hear some cranks, and even in Sumaru, not all of them are correct. Just because there are strange and mysterious things everywhere doesn't mean they're all here and now!

But Joker is saying it like he believes it and he's not the only one. She's going to have to pry. Later. Not now. Definitely not now.

"F - Fluffy??"

Hibari has been called 'fluffy' before but not in this context (and not very politely). It takes her a moment to realize Kurou means *Danzaburou*, who actually is fluffy, especially given the tail he half-sits on, half-curls around himself when summoned.

There's a moment's hesitation. Can you just call someone's Persona fluffy? Is that rude?? What does it say about her brainspace that she summons Danzaburou? This is not actually a thought that has occured to her before.

But honestly, right this instant she's more concerned about the skulls. "Watch out! They're going to - !!"

Lasers burst out. Mujina dives, tucking and rolling - THROUGH some of the lasers, but not really intentionally. They tear into her; she comes up pained, barely upright but at least able to scramble to her feet. And this time - thank goodness - Danzaburou wasn't broken by the attack. She came off better than some of the others; there's panic on her face as she sees the state of the group.

But Queen has orders. "Right!" Mujina can't really *grab* someone. She's not in a position to and she's not the fastest to begin with; Hibari has stamina, and momentum, but she's not much of a sprinter. But there's something she *can* do...

...and she sees the opportunity when Queen *blasts through an entire wall* with her Persona.

The nuclear glow shimmers, and quivers, and spreads, billowing out as some kind of rippling glowing fog. It's impossible to see through clearly; phantom images appear in it, shimmering hazes that look like they might be the silhouettes of the Phantom Thieves (plus one), or maybe Shadows, or maybe something else entirely. And it's backed not just by the normal power of a Persona, but a Navigator deliberately obscuring the path, making it hard to track through.

None of the silhouettes are the real ones. Because the *real* group is shimmering too, becoming blurry, hard to resolve. It'd be hard if you got to look at them just head-on. Through the illusion haze, it's nearly impossible to make them out.

So while Mujina cannot aid the escape physically, she aids it metaphysically, covering the tracks and sending pursuers who cannot see through it around and around in circles, until the effect fades. It takes a lot out of her; she's half-jogging, half-staggering until she catches up for a ride. But she manages it.
</poem>

AS: Hibari Aoki spends Limit on Exploit! Hibari Aoki can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Hibari Aoki has used the Almighty skill Illuzone on Kurou Ryouhara!
AS: Ruin: Hibari Aoki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Hibari Aoki has used the Recovery skill Madoronpa on Ichika Kawase, Makoto Niijima, Ren Amamiya, and Hibari Aoki!
AS: Hibari Aoki's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Hibari Aoki's Madoronpa.
AS: Eclipse added!
AS: Take! Hibari Aoki takes 0 Recovery healing from Hibari Aoki's Madoronpa.
AS: Eclipse added!
AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Recovery healing from Hibari Aoki's Madoronpa.
AS: Eclipse added!
AS: Take! Kurou Ryouhara takes 0 Almighty damage from Hibari Aoki's Illuzone.
AS: Haze and Crt_Dn added!

<Pose Tracker> Kurou Ryouhara has posed.
<poem>

Even as the one ''eating'' the rocket, Kurou, for all the lack of expression of his face, has eyes that seem quite similar to Fox's to behold the rocket. It ''is'' spectacular.

Joker accuses Kurou of being on the verge of betrayal. "As long as she is safe, she can consider me in whatever manner she chooses." There's so many contradictions here... working for the NWO, but Tsubasa being turned against them? Perhaps Kurou has said a little too much in this moment, and yet still never enough.

"There is no such thing as peace," Kurou says without any harshness of his own. "Only finding spaces to thrive in conflict."

Loyalty is no debt, Tsubasa says. "... No, you are right," Kurou agrees, after a short pause. He did have to think about it. "I want to see the world he would make... and to make sure he has a place in it." Perhaps they have worn on him, if he's saying a little more now.

Kurou wavers in the wake of his own assault, but still does not fall even as he breathes hard. In fact, he seems almost oddly ''invigorated'' by his effort, starting to get a second wind as he looks above himself. His gaze turns, landing on Ogre, who takes aim for his heart.

It's open. His Persona is not summoned. All she has to do is pull the trigger, and she would hit it.

But she will not be changed. Queen interrupts the moment with her own resolve.

Kurou is unflinching in the face of Queen and Johanna's roar. For all the world, it looks like Kurou is going to be run over by a motorcycle that has enough force to break through the walls of this workshop. He readies himself with his sword to make it obvious this is not fatigue. This is a ''choice''.

A phantom haze of fog and illusion floods Kurou's vision. When and where anyone is ''shifts''.

Makoto crashes through the wall. She does not hit a bump along the way, and no one pursues the Phantoms as they retreat, by foot or by vehicle.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>

Just as it feels like Joker is going to black out--a wave of healing energy washes over them, drawing them back from the brink of unconsciousness into the light. It's a rush that brings adrenaline with it, and taking Ogre's hand with a small but sincere smile of gratitude, they climb back up to their feet, staggering a bit but otherwise able to move under their own power.

Of course, everyone else is battered and Fox and Phoenix are on the floor too, so this is not a rally but a chance for an escape. Queen's already called for that--is using herself and her entire Persona as a battering ram--so Joker gives the others a sharp nod and hurries to help Fox up and supports him while Skull helps up and supports Phoenix. A haze spreads out through the warehouse, and Joker looks over at Mujina... They give ''her'' a nod of gratitude, though it might be hard to see through the shimmer.

They look over their shoulder then at where Kurou was a moment ago. With the haze, it's hard to tell where he is now--but it's clear Queen didn't run anyone over.

"If you truly mean that," they call into the haze, to Kurou about Umie, "then tell her the truth, and let ''her'' decide what 'safety' looks like."

After that, they scramble out of here with their friends; the ones who'd been left on the other side of the locked door, who have to peel themselves off the wall in the wake of Queen's nuclear rush, will join up with them. The most important thing was rescuing Phoenix. The next most important thing? Getting out of here alive.

Anything else that needs discussing, they can all discuss later. At least they won't have to deal with a pursuit.
</poem>

2026-02-08: As Long As You're Alive

2026-02-08T22:38:29Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: As Long As You're Alive''' *'''Cast:''' Minato Arisato, Shinjiro Aragaki *'''Where:''' Gekkoukan High School - Rooftop *'''OOC Date:''' February 08, 2026 *'''IC Date:''' September 22, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Minato brings Shinjiro to the roof after school to discuss his past with Strega. Shinjiro tells him everything - including his condition - and finds support, sympathy, and further resolve to tell Akihiko the hard truth.'' ---- (|===================..."

*'''Log: As Long As You're Alive'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Minato Arisato]], [[Shinjiro Aragaki]]
*'''Where:''' Gekkoukan High School - Rooftop
*'''OOC Date:''' February 08, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' September 22, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Minato brings Shinjiro to the roof after school to discuss his past with Strega. Shinjiro tells him everything - including his condition - and finds support, sympathy, and further resolve to tell Akihiko the hard truth.''

----

(|===================== Gekkoukan High School - Rooftop ======================|)

-======================================= Iwatodai City/Tatsumi Port Island ====-

The stairs ultimately lead up to a fenced-off rooftop area, popular amongst

students for those difficult heart-to-hearts. Windmills can be seen spinning

through the bars, while stone slab flooring supports semi-circular stone benches

decorated with pink flowers in stone flowerpots. There's plenty of open space to

be had here, and not much supervision.

<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro's loyalties came out, during Strega's attack on SEES, a little over a week ago. Since then, the Blue Leader has been... well, not different to how he usually is. He still accepts Shinjiro on missions; he still greets him cordially. He'll help around the kitchen when Shinjiro's in there. He doesn't seem mad, though, being fair, Minato rarely seems much of anything.

He hasn't brought it up, though.

Is he... letting the others work their feelings out, first?

... except Minato ambles up to the floor above him, at school, where the third-years hang out. Shinjiro's ''going'' to school, now, so... since the last bell's just rung, he's surely still here. (He wouldn't press him for an audience during classtime! Minato is a certified good boy, he would never ''skip class.'')

"Aragaki-senpai. Will you join me on the roof?" He asks, mildly, hands shoved in his pockets. He's the world's least threatening young man.

(That's one reason why he has so many fans...)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
School is a weird experience for Shinjiro. He attended in his first year, sure, but he didn't complete it as normal, and so he's having to relearn the ropes. The one thing that is working out for him is that he's diligent, and his teachers have been relatively surprised that the truant is actually paying attention in class (and doing his homework!) instead of goofing off or sleeping.

He's grabbed his bag, dressed in a modified winter uniform (not the summer uniform, but strangely, the teachers haven't done anything), when Minato shows up.

Shinjiro's eyes scan over him. He can't read Minato well... but he's one of the few people he hasn't talked to about what's going on, so it's possible that it's time.

Or Minato might want to talk about video games. He can't really know.

"Sure," he says, and then proceeds to silently walk with him. He has no words yet - he'll give Minato time to formulate what he wants to say, and say it.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.
<poem>
A winter uniform... Shinjiro's often cold, Minato thinks. Did Mitsuru pull some strings to let him wear an out-of-season uniform...? Well, it's no stranger than a transfer student wearing their old colours, he supposes.

Step, step, step. Minato's are measured and calm; he ambles, untouched by the buzz of conversations around him, even though he's pulled out one of his earbuds to ask Shinjiro up.

When they get to the roof, he takes a seat on one of the benches; he takes his earphones out properly.

"How are you finding it?" He asks, and lets that question hang, for a moment, before he realises he hasn't made his topic marker clear: "Coming back to Gekkoukan."

H--hey, that's not option A ''or'' option B!!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro's anxiety is slowly rising, but it's not *clear* on his face. He told himself after talking to Mitsuru that if even one person wanted him to leave, he probably should - even if he hadn't voiced that with her. It was another fault of his self-loathing, to consider that he was the weak link, always.

Would Minato cut him loose? He was the leader - if he couldn't trust Shinjiro, it was reasonable. Before, he wouldn't have cared... but he's been finding a place.

Which is in his thoughts when Minato finally asks that question. Shinjiro pauses, trying not to let surprise show.

"...it's hard. Lots of work, lots of time taken up. I don't know anyone anymore, and anyone I did know doesn't really remember me. The teachers seem on edge around me, as do some of the students. My truancy makes me look like a delinquent or something."

A pause, as he realizes how that sounds. He technically *is* a delinquent.

"But I made a promise to be here, so I'm going to see that through."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"I see... so it really is hard work. Well, that's how it looked to me... but you've still walked to school each morning." Was that praise?? It was in such a round-about way, though...!

Minato rests his hands on his knees, one index finger tapping, thoughtfully. "I heard you spent a long time out of school," he goes on. "I don't believe you had a stable address, either. It seems to me like you didn't have much support during that time... or you weren't able to reach for it, anyway. Right?"

Oh, wait, maybe it ''is'' option A... Minato's just being indirect. Would it be impolite to address it too head-on? He is his senior...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro will take a roundabout compliment from Minato. But he's not dwelling on it for more than a fraction of a second, because Minato continues.

"...two years, yeah. I was living on the street, in that alley we met in a few times," Shinjiro says. "...I guess you could say I was trying to avoid the world."

Though, Shinjiro's never been an indirect guy. As he realizes that Minato might be trying to get somewhere... he swallows his fear and speaks after a long silence. "If this is about what happened at the dorms, I'm willing to talk about it."

If he's wrong, he's wrong. But they probably should talk either way.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"When we visited you," Minato says, "you didn't complain. I think there'd a lot you would have coped with stoically, in that environment."

His gaze, to Shinjiro, is measured.

"... but I do mean to ask about that, yes. Strega's leader linked you to them," Minato goes on, calm as ever, "but the way he did it, I think he really wanted me to think you'd betrayed us. Well, it would be very convenient for him if we couldn't trust each other... on the other hand, they did seem to have information on us. That's why my initial assessment was that there's a grain of truth being distorted for their own ends... that's the position I'm coming to you from."

He lifts a hand, gesturing, palm-open. "So... can I ask you what happened, Aragaki-senpai?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Never considered myself much of a stoic," Shinjiro says more with a sigh than humor.

But Minato shares what Strega told them. Takaya Sakaki. Of course he probably told them he helped planned the attack...

"...I met Strega two years ago, after I left SEES. I was looking for... something. A medicine for a condition I have, that I felt I couldn't get elsewhere until recently." It's a half-truth - to share that it was a drug that caused his condition would simply make the whole thing more convoluted, and he saw it as a medicine anyway, something to heal him from his lack of control.

"At first, Strega asked for money in exchange for the pills. Then, they asked for intel. Nothing big, supernatural going ons and things I heard on the street."

A sigh, as he moves to pace a bit, not having taken a seat.

"Yamagishi went missing, and I decided I couldn't sit around. But I wasn't... ready to return to SEES. I thought I never would. So I told them I'd trade them a favor for an Evoker. After she was rescued, I kept going about my life... but they cashed the favor. They wanted information on Persona Users. Names, abilities, I even told them how I felt about cohesion. I tried to be vague, but I gave it to them anyway."

Shinjiro stops, turning to Minato. "The next day, I got arrested in Sumaru. Kirijo bailed me out, and I told her about my condition, about what I was doing. I hadn't yet told her that I gave information until recently. She asked me to come back at that time, and I asked for time to consider. The rest is history. I hadn't spoken to the leaders of Strega again until the attack, though I am friends with one Niko Kirisaki. We don't talk about 'work'."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"I was surprised when they told me I was, too," Minato offers Shinjiro. "Given I'm very emotional."

His voice has remained in the same soft and mild register this whole time, and his expression hasn't shifted more than two degrees from dispassionate.

(Just so we're clear: that's a joke. That's supposed to ''relieve'' the tension.)

He listens, quietly, as Shinjiro explains. So, Shinjiro has a condition... Minato wonders if that's why he always feels so cold. (Or... does he feel cold? He remembers hearing, once, that some girls will wear a lot of layers just because they don't want boys to look at them...)

Minato hums, indicating that listening ear of his, as Shinjiro goes on to explain how Strega dug his hole deeper. Money... and then intelligence.

"I see... so it's like that," he says, thoughtfully. "That was a possibility in my mind. I'd also wondered if you were being blackmailed, or if they'd compromised your accounts... but it makes sense you wouldn't have anyone to turn to in that sort of situation."

He averts his gaze, politely, to the fence surrounding the roof. "I'm guessing you didn't tell her because you were afraid," he says, with a light dusting of apology to his tone as he points it out. "Getting caught up with loan sharks is unfortunate. It wouldn't be something you'd like to speak about, especially if you thought you'd never come back here. Right?" That is to say: it was too shameful to bring up.

"Well, I'm not going to fault you for making friends with one of them. I'm sure I'll speak to 'that man' again myself, after all." Does... he mean Takaya...?

"It's very unusual not to wear a shirt." Oh God, he really does mean Takaya.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro listens to Minato's response as he catches his breath. He considers what Minato has to say...

"...yeah. I... carry a lot of shame for the things I've done. I'm not the same person I was two years ago, and I regret that everyday, this fear I feel," he says.

And then Minato mentions Takaya. The shirt mention isn't touched on, It'd be hypocritical of the guy who wears too many shirts.

"...be careful around him. He's always given me the creeps. He will kill if he feels like it."

But even as the conversation might be coming to a natural close, Shinjiro feels he can't leave it there. He told others what his condition entails... while Minato's not prying, to keep one of his leaders in a blindspot is unfair to him.

"...about my condition. Don't... talk to Aki about this, he doesn't know. I'm telling him soon with Kirijo's help, and she's been doing her best, but..."

A breath.

"I don't have much time. A year, maybe. If we can destroy the Dark Hour in that time... I'll be satisfied."

If Minato looks closely, he might realize Shinjiro's a little gaunt, a little pale, even for his size. His temperature is something obvious, but there's other signs that only become more obvious when put into perspective.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"Must be heavy," Minato reflects. He doesn't offer him absolution: it's meaningless without context. Neither does he offer to carry it for him: there are some burdens which can't be shared so easily.

But he sees the weight, and perhaps that, itself, is its own solace.

Shinjiro mentions Takaya's generosity with death, though, and Minato nods. "I know." And with just enough of a pause that it needs a new text box: "That's why it has to be me."

Perhaps Shinjiro and Minato aren't so different, after all.

Minato, though, does not pry; he is still too distant to put his friends in the uncomfortable position of disclosure. It is fortunate, then, that Shinjiro will show his bravery today... to a boy who has evidently engineered for him the benefit of the doubt.

(He is not so distant that he cannot try to make their positions more comfortable.)

For the first time, his eyes widen, a little; it's an expression veiled by the hair over his eyes, veiled by the muffling-cloak over his existence, but he ''is'' struck by the idea Shinjiro will die. "I... see," he says, glancing aside, for a moment, before he looks back to Shinjiro again.

"Is that why you left SEES, before?" He asks, and it's subtle, the way his own feelings (he does have them, he wasn't ''lying'' about being emotional, at least not to the extent of ''having'' them) press his speech into something more direct. "Because you didn't want our senpai to know you were dying?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah," Shinjiro agrees.

"...then good luck. If you'll have me, I'll continue to lend you my support," Shinjiro says, hope dim but present.

But about his condition, he pauses at the followup question. The answer is 'no', but he can't tell anyone about Amada. That is a secret that would hurt Mitsuru and Akihiko for everyone else to know, a secret that might corrode trust in them. Even then, he's not thinking of himself and what others would think of him.

"...it's complicated. I left because... I felt like I couldn't trust myself. I wasn't safe or reliable. It... cascaded towards my condition, and then... I planned to die someday in that alley, never telling him. I didn't want to hurt him, or maybe I didn't want to feel the pain of hurting him."

A pause. "But... I feel like I'm starting to find a home again. A place I can belong. And he needs to know... he's pretty much my brother, you know? I've hurt him too badly to let this go on any longer like this."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"I didn't consider that to be in question," Minato says, when Shinjiro offers his support. "No one's come to me with any concerns, and your situation was more complicated than betrayal. Well, we're still working alongside Kirijo, even though they have that kind of history... it wouldn't be fair if we chased out our members for having difficult pasts. I'd like to be consistent."

Still... Shinjiro felt like he couldn't trust himself, didn't think highly of himself at all. Was it... self-injury? It's a little confronting to think about; Minato's not immune to the society he lives in. Even so, Minato thinks... if he was having such a hard time he did permanent damage to himself... he can at least do him the decency of looking straight at it instead of looking away.

(Minato doesn't know the half of it.)

"In the end, your plans did change," he settles on, after a moment of discomfort. "So long as you're alive, you can change the course of your own life."

Not wanting to hurt him, not wanting to feel the pain of hurting him...

"What matters is your own choice," Minato counsels Shinjiro, then. "So I won't tell you what to do, one way or another... but I will help you fulfill the decision you make, if you need it." It's not that he doesn't realise how much this would hurt Akihiko -- or even hurt ''Mitsuru,'' knowing and not being able to tell her other dear friend...

It's just...

People should be able to decide what matters to them, Minato thinks. And they should be able to cross those thresholds on their own two feet. If Minato pushes Shinjiro to tell Akihiko, won't he always wonder whether he really knew it was right?

"Because as far as I'm concerned, you have a home here. I'd like you to be able to rely on us, too, Aragaki-senpai. I understand some things are complicated for you... but you're part of the team. That means we want to support you."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Minato is uncomfortable, and Shinjiro feels guilt, but his words help. Not only is he not chasing him out... but he wants him to be able to rely on them, and he wants to help him make *whatever decision he chooses to make*.

"...I appreciate that. Sorry for being a downer. I'll... I'll tell him. He deserves to know, deserves to..." What was it Mitsuru said?

"He deserves to try and fight for me, too. To struggle with me. I know that's what he'd want... so I can't leave him out of it. He's stronger than I think he is."

Placing both hands in his pocket, he sighs. "Thanks, Arisato. I know you came looking for answers, but this helped me clear my head a bit. What I'll ask is... after I tell Aki, if you feel up to it, support him in whatever way you feel you can. That's what would help me the most."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"Good," Minato nods. "Sounds like you've made a considered decision. That's something you can be proud of as a man... doing something difficult because you know it's the right thing to do."

Is it strange to talk about Shinjiro being able to have pride in a position like his...? Not according to Minato. If he can't be proud of his actions, how can he hold his head up when they're done? Even if that pride needs to be rebuilt...

(He might sound a little like Akihiko himself, saying something like that; and it's certainly true that Minato takes influence from all their seniors. Even his sense of humour has been enhanced under Shizuka's counsel--! ... what? You didn't notice he had one?)

"No problem," he says, as he places a hand to the rooftop bench and pushes himself up; he's not ready to lie down, just yet. "I'll keep an eye on senpai... I may be your junior, but I'm still a field leader, so I want to be able to support him too."

He pauses, hands slipping into his own pockets. "By the way," he adds, "I've been looking forward to trying your katsudon." It's quite casual, little more than an aside...

... but it would be difficult to do if Shinjiro left.

Is that Minato's way of trying to say that he's invested in him staying, too...?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro nods once, as Minato reinforces him, as he says he'll be able to support Akihiko. But that isn't what causes a small smile to escape Shinjiro's lips.

No, it's because of the next thing he says, as Shinjiro suppresses a laugh.

"I'll make it for you sometime, then. Maybe you'll learn a thing or two if you help me prep."

For now, though, it seems the talk went well, that their bond has grown in some way. Even for someone with no future... he has things to look forward to.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-02-04: A Breach of Trust

2026-02-05T04:28:37Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: A Breach of Trust''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Mitsuru Kirijo *'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory *'''OOC Date:''' February 04, 2026 *'''IC Date:''' September 20, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro meets with Mitsuru to tell her about Strega, giving her what info he has on their membership and telling her that he traded them info for suppressants. While she is angry, Shinjiro's defeated demeanor leads to the two working on a plan to push forward. While Mi..."

*'''Log: A Breach of Trust'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Mitsuru Kirijo]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory
*'''OOC Date:''' February 04, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' September 20, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro meets with Mitsuru to tell her about Strega, giving her what info he has on their membership and telling her that he traded them info for suppressants. While she is angry, Shinjiro's defeated demeanor leads to the two working on a plan to push forward. While Mitsuru suggests shouldering the burden of blame herself, Shinjiro refuses, and they make an agreement to talk to Akihiko together about everything that's happened.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro's been dreading this day, ever since the Strega attack on the dorms. Ever since he told several of the others what was going on. Ever since Suzume told him he needed to tell her *everything*.

Case in point: he sends Mitsuru a simple series of text messages. It may seem to have taken only seconds or minutes. He first drafted it an hour ago in a notes app.

>are you free today?

>we need to talk about strega.

>command center?

Shinjiro has changed out of his school uniform. He's been attending diligently since the semester began, keeping his promise there, but his coat is much warmer than even the winter uniform he's wearing in the summer and so is preferred.

He's already there at whatever time they arranged. He isn't seated yet, standing near the table, and he's quiet. Lost in thought, perhaps.

This can't be a pleasant conversation. But he's hoping it's better than he thinks it will be.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
She should have been there.

More than anything, that - of course - was the overriding thing dominating Mitsuru Kirijo's thoughts in the aftermath of Strega's attack. She was quick upon her arrival after the fact to see to medical needs and any repairs that needed to be done throughout the building -- quick to apply the bandaids when the wound was already struck.

But she wasn't there, when they all actually needed her, and her failing simply infuriated her.

It's not the only thing that made her angry, of course; just the lion's share. There was also just the simple fact that Strega would be so brazen as to attack a school facility - a facility that had ''children'' residing there now. It was beyond the pale - beyond anything that their previous behaviors might have suggested - and instantly put SEES on the back foot.

Outpaced. Outplayed. Threatening her people in ''their own home''.

Mitsuru has much to be angry about. And that means she has to be as ''active'' as possible to make up for it.

So when Shinjiro sends out that text, the response is immediate, full of that impeccable formatting and grammar Mitsuru employs even in casual exchanges.

>Yes. We do. Now.

>Head to the command room. I will be there promptly.

Shinjiro isn't waiting long before the wide double doors leading into the command center crack open with the softest groan of hinges and the nigh-imperious clack of heels.

Mitsuru's arrival is prompt; her expression and bearing is as regal and uncompromising as ever, even still dressed in the school uniform as she is. It'd take someone who knows her, and the little nuances in her body language - the stiffness of her posture, the sharpness of her stare, the fact that she, too, does not sit - to know she was still upset.

Or the simple fact that she engages immediately in business mode, eschewing formalities entirely for a simple question that cuts to the quick:

"What do you have for me, Aragaki?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro is snapped out of his thoughts by Mitsuru's immediate words. Her anger is something he knows well from two years ago, and her quirks haven't super changed in that time, from what he's seen. They fought a lot.

He's expecting another one, even if he doesn't have the energy to fight about it. His body is tense. His expression is worn.

"Information on who attacked us... and an apology," Shinjiro says after an exhaled sigh. He doesn't know if having info will soften the blow, but that doesn't really matter. If anyone can do something with it, it's Mitsuru. Protecting SEES is the most important thing here.

He reaches into his pocket, pulling a prepared notebook out. He reaches to hand it over. He'll let Mitsuru scan through it before he speaks - it isn't long.

It describes the members of Strega who were there by appearance, and their names. Takaya Sakaki. Jin Shirato. Chidori Yoshino (who did not fight). Niko Kirisaki. Tatsuya Sudou, or, the Joker Killer. 'Okaga?', the only one he's uncertain of. It describes the abilities he knows, which are mostly Niko's reliance on striking force and psychic blows due to their multiple fights, as well as Chidori's jamming, and a whole writeup on the Joker Killer that is basically 'fuck that guy he's scary'. There's a street in Shinjuku marked, as well as a description of the Port Island back alleys... former meeting places?

"...this is all I've got off the cuff. But... there's something you need to know. Strega used to have me trade information for doses. It started with just stuff on the supernatural I'd hear about, or things I'd pick up on the street."

A sigh, as he rolls his shoulders. "But in exchange for the Evoker I used to help Yamagishi... they wanted information on Persona users I knew about. Mostly names. A little bit of capabilities. A general vibe on cohesion. I gave this to them the last time I ever met with Shirato, which was right before my arrest."

In exchange for his last dose, it seems...

Shinjiro closes his eyes. "I'm sorry."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
''Information on who attacked us... and an apology.''

It's the last part - of course - that has Mitsuru furrowing her brow to a quizzical point. She says nothing at first, those sharp, dark red eyes of hers regarding the exhaustion and weariness writ large on his features.

"..."

The notebook is taken without a word. She cracks it open as Shinjiro speaks, pouring over the names and the details with the swift comb of that steely gaze that Shinjiro can be sure is picking up and committing every fact to memory and extrapolating how to ''use'' those facts. Her gaze pauses, briefly, on a name.

"Tatsuya Sudou? Tatsuzou Sudou's son? Then why..."

It's a simple, incidental reveal of a name tied to a nightmare that answers so many questions and yet leaves so many more in their wake. Most importantly: does this deepen her father's theory that Strega was supplied by the NWO -- or does it just call the entire idea into question?

Scarlet lips draw into a thin line. She's analyzing the details of the one named Chidori Yoshina by the time Shinjiro's voice reaches her.

Bits and pieces at first. Doses. Trade information. Supernatural things he'd hear about...

... the Evoker...

"... What?"

Mitsuru's gaze snaps instantly up from the notebook to affix a shocked stare on Shinjiro. All that poise evaporates for a brief few precious moments to reveal naked surprise and confusion writ large on expressive features that do not often betray their existence.

Right before his arrest.

The Evoker.

She knew it came from Strega. Shinjiro told her.

Why didn't she ever ask what they wanted for it--

"You gave them their names," she repeats slowly. "You gave them _names_. Of the people under my _care_."

The clench of fingers on that notepad tighten to the point that they begin to tremble. She works so very hard to maintain a sense of composure and decorum, but--

"Why?! Why didn't you come to me, instead of -- instead of -- putting even more people at risk!"

She knows why. After all, they've talked about it. Extensively. But even so--

"If you had told me this sooner, we could have prepared! Known about the threat! Done something -- anything, than this!"

Anger doesn't deal in the rational, all too often.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"I've been investigating the Joker Killer for months. I've seen his face. That's definitely who it is," Shinjiro insists.

But as he eventually speaks up, as Mitsuru is not only shocked, but angry, Shinjiro sighs. Mitsuru may be expecting him to fight back. Argue. That's what Shinjiro Aragaki would do, after all. Defend himself.

Instead, he seems... defeated. Like he expects the worst, though he probably does every single day of his life. "Because I was a coward, Kirijo. I didn't want you, or Aki, or anyone to know what I'd done to myself. There's no excusing it. I may not have thought it actionable intel, but it was intel."

He grimaces, gritting his teeth. "And now in exchange for a handful of pills, people I love, people I care about, they have been hurt. They gave them my name, told everyone that I helped plan this attack. They want to destroy us, all because of our mission." At the least, that sounds like something that hurts him. It's definitely not true that he planned it.

"I fucked up...! And now I don't know how to fix it."

And boy, does he want to fix it.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
She's expecting an argument. Like how it always goes. Even in a situation like this, where the stakes and the consequences are so much the worse than any of the other things they would bicker about -- she still expects it. ''Prepared'' for it.

So to see Shinjiro just deflate, like a balloon giving up on the last vestiges of helium keeping it aloft--

"You..."

It takes Mitsuru aback, like a pugilist prepared for the counter swing only to duck beneath empty air.

Anger still boils inside of her; and yet for a moment it's clipped back as the Kirijo heiress watches the way Shinjiro grimaces and - for a moment, a depressing moment - sees the weight of Shinjiro's self-destruction and how much it has already ground him down. The redhead's reared back posture settles towards more standard decorum, just a little, tensed shoulders easing a fraction of an inch and drawn back leg stepping into place besides its other half to bring her to a fuller stand.

She watches him for a moment.

_And now I don't know how to fix it._

And then her eyes squeeze tightly shut. A tensed exhale slips past her lips.

It takes an interminable three seconds of silence further before she offers three, calmer words: "... Sit down, Aragaki." She steps forward, even draws one of the seats out for him to take -- before she takes the next, on the sofa, notepad closed and folded into her lap as she crosses one leg over the other and tries to wrestle through the maelstrom of emotions making it so difficult for her to focus now.

"How many people know about the extent of your involvement with Strega?" she offers a question, for now, instead of an immediate balm or further condemnation, even as her mind works.

Trying to think of a solution.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro is waiting for the condemnation, even as Mitsuru is taken aback. He doesn't expect a balm, he's not even sure he wants one. He doesn't think he deserves it.

What he gets instead is a chair, which he takes as instructed. He's staring at her, now the one with a quizzical expression for the briefest of moments, before letting just a tiny bit of that tension in his shoulders to ring out, to let it bleed out of him enough so that he can think on the question she asks him.

"Not many. You know, obviously. Fukura questioned me after the attack. I told her about it, as well as my condition. Same with Takeba, Mandai, Kawase, and Aomori. There's Umie Akabane, who gave me the name 'Okaga', though she's unaware I've ever given intel, and we're not sure if that name belongs to someone NWO or Strega, but I'm leaning on the latter. And then there's Strega themselves."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
Not many.

Mitsuru is already weaving together an idea, a kernel of one. Something to, at least, ensure the peace is kept in the dorms while they figure out how to address the overarching problem. One can see the gears turning behind her gaze even as she asks that question, because her plan hinges on it.

THe others look up to Shinjiro. Trust him. More than anything, she doesn't want to - can't afford to - compromise that.

She already sees a way: to simply put the onus on Kirijo, instead. An information leak. Trust among SEES in her family's company is already tenuous at best -- she'd have to be blind not to see that. If she can spin a story that puts the sin on her company name instead of tainting the way the others see Shinjiro.

The plan is already formulating in her mind by the time Shinjiro starts to list names. As long as it's contained, as long as there's no one who will balk against the story she's fabricating--

''... Same with Takeba,...''

... And he only manages to reach the second name before the jenga tower of Mitsuru's cobbling thoughts just topples in on itself.

"Zut," she mutters, elbows to knees, thumbs pressed against her glabella.

She's silent for a long time after that exasperated curse. Drawing in a long, slow breath, she releases it all in a slow, steadying exhale.

"... I can shoulder some of the responsibility for this," she finally says. She'll think of a way. She can do it. But...

"... But..."

Her hands lower from her face.

"... You are right. You did make a mistake. A great one. Perhaps you owed no... loyalty... to us, after we went our separate ways," her teeth grit just to say it, "... but innocent people were hurt. And it could have been much worse."

She refrains from bringing up Ken. It'd only be salt on the wound, wouldn't it?

"We can't... 'fix' mistakes like this when they happen, Aragaki. What has been done cannot be undone. All we can do is try to earn back what faith and trust has been lost for our actions. Build it back, one brick at a time. I am... still, trying to figure that out myself."

Fingers thread on top of that notepad. She's still angry. Frustrated. But for now...

"... I'll inform the others of what happened. We will need to adjust how we handle patrols during the Dark Hour. I doubt it will simply stop with this."

She simply tries to focus on what's most important.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro listens to Mitsuru's immediate response. It's a plan. It's certainly a plan, perhaps even a good one. If they put the onus on Mitsuru and her company instead of Shinjiro... it might keep the trust up.

"...I don't want our bond to be built on a lie. I... don't think it's fair to them, to treat them like people we have to keep secrets from, and I don't think it's fair to you to shoulder the burden," he admits, and it's *painful* to admit, to broach the same argument they often have of who should shoulder the burden.

"...we can't tell them everything that's ever happened, but this is something they deserve to know. ...Aki, especially."

But he can't tell them about Amada, which he feels would just irrevocably remove all trust the group has for their senpais.

A sigh is exhaled. "It wasn't like that," he insists when Mitsuru talks about loyalty. He's a little more firm on this, because he *is* loyal to Mitsuru and Akihiko. He also just is a coward and a fool who doen't know what he's doing, ever.

"I understand. I'll try to be the person everyone's counting on. ...thank you for allowing me to remain." His face softens at that. Before, he might have taken advantage of this to bow back out.

But he has things he needs to do. He cares about the people here. He's finding a place, as terrifying as that is.

Shinjiro doesn't want to lose another home.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
Some habits truly die hard.

A protest forms on Mitsuru's lips, as Shinjiro starts to shoot down the basic premise of her plan. Even if the initial one was untenable, she's certain she can make it work; yet, before that protest can truly form -- memories for Yakoshima float back to the surface.

The words of her father's scolding settle at the back of her mind as Mitsuru Kirijo bites back her words and draws up against the couch.

"It isn't..." she begins, and then...

... sighs.

"... I simply don't want them thinking less of you," she says after a time, her voice taut.

Angry though she is, she knows that she couldn't stand for it.

Not after everything he's sacrificed.

Her fingers thrum against the cover of that notepad, twice in slow succession. She can't answer his words of thanks, discourteous as it is -- not right now. Too many thoughts; too many conflicting feelings. Instead, she finally looks up again, gaze focusing squarely on Shinjiro for a quiet, searching moment.

"You need to tell Akihiko," she echoes his own sentiment, before emphasizing a simple word: "Everything. You can't put it off any further. If you wish me to come with you, then I can, but it must be done now. The more people who know, the more likely it is he will find out. Believe me.

"He can't hear it from another person."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Mitsuru tries to protest. Shinjiro frowns, but he lets his words stand for themselves.

"If that's the consequence of all I've done... so be it."

Even if, perhaps, they will not. Reiya still believed in him, as unfair as it seemed. They were angry, sure, but they were also worried about him. Perhaps Mitsuru really had found a good team.

But, as Mitsuru stares at him, tells him what he needs to do, he nods once, as still as he can be, the fear welling up again, tensing his body.

"I know. I... know. I'm so afraid. Even if he's stronger than I am... I've just been scared to tell him."

He weighs the offer. Shinjiro wants to be stubborn. He wants to say he'll do this on his own, but he's sure he'll fuck it up. That he'll just hurt them both, or run away, or not say what he should.

"...then I'll ask for help a little too late. Will you come with me when I tell him, Kirijo?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
They should never have had to be put in this position to begin with, but of one thing Mitsuru is certain:

Regardless of that unavoidable truth, there is not a single member of SEES that does not deserve to be here.

Even if sometimes they make mistakes. Grievous ones. Even if sometimes...

"... I understand. But this is about more than your fears, Aragaki."

... she has to say the harsher things she does not relish saying.

"He ''is'' strong. He will want to fight for you, however he can. ... He deserves to."

But still, as Shinjiro takes her up on her offer, that lone visible eye shutters out a blink of muted surprise -- as if sure he would tell her he would handle it himself, like he so often has in the past. She hesitates a brief moment.

The smile she wears is a small thing. A brief thing. Easy to miss.

"... Very well."

But touched, all the same. Despite the circumstances...

"I will."

Some things are more important.

Maybe it's something she herself should take to heart.

Sometimes it's okay to let other people help.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-01-26: Duty and Honesty

2026-01-27T02:53:58Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Duty and Honesty''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Reiya Aomori *'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory *'''OOC Date:''' January 26, 2026 *'''IC Date:''' September 16, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro and Reiya talk in Reiya's room about what happened with the SEES dorm raid, with Shinjiro revealing the extent of his betrayal and his condition. Despite everything, Reiya still respects him for fulfilling his duty in the face of death. The two discuss the Kirijo G..."

*'''Log: Duty and Honesty'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Reiya Aomori]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory
*'''OOC Date:''' January 26, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' September 16, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro and Reiya talk in Reiya's room about what happened with the SEES dorm raid, with Shinjiro revealing the extent of his betrayal and his condition. Despite everything, Reiya still respects him for fulfilling his duty in the face of death. The two discuss the Kirijo Group, and also, fish!''

----

-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-

A large four-story dormitory used by the Specialized Extracurricular Execution

Squad, only five minutes from Iwatodai Station. Upon entering, one passes a desk

with a sign-in book for guests to find a large carpeted common room that's well

appointed for co-ed gatherings.

A TV is usually on with the local news or a movie that's been loaded into the

DVD player for a student to enjoy. A table for shared dinners, or more often

study sessions, takes up the other half of the dorm, as well as a kitchen should

one dare to show off their skills to their fellow students.

There are two winding staircases on either side. The one on the left simply says

'Boys' while the other on the right states 'No Boys Except By Invitation.' The

implicit threat of execution need not be written down for those who violate

these rules. The second and third stories are living spaces divided by gender

with common spaces that have study areas and bookshelves available.

The fourth story is the command center with surveillance capabilities for not

just different parts of the city but each room within the dorms. The Chairman

has assured all who live here that this capability is strictly necessary.

BGM - Dormitory Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj-FrFI0qnM

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
It's been a rough few days since the SEES dorm raid. Shinjiro's been quiet, but at the least, he did not fully retreat after the accusation that he's a 'traitor' or after Yukari snapped at him.

He's mostly been in his room or in the city, but today he's ventured out. He's sitting in the second floor boys' lounge, some sort of crime novel in his hand that he's clearly kinda bored with, but is just trying to get out of his room and remember that this is his dorm too, at least for right now.

After a few moments, he finally closes the book, taking a drink of a canned coffee resting next to him and sighing lightly.

He really needs to figure out how to deal with all of this. There's people he needs to talk to, after all...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
It has been a rough few days for some. Reiya Aomori has goen on largely as normal. School, drama club, secret night-time outings on mysterious missions--the usual. But it is also Reiya's dorm, and he comes up the stairs now, dressed in his usual nice-casual sort of attire. He is calm as ever, his expression neutral, as he rises to see--

"Aragaki-senpai," Reiya greets. Shinjiro would be forgiven nfor not noticing his silennt steps.

"Hello." He comes to a stop. Maybe he also wants to talk to Shinjiro...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
As Reiya comes up, Shinjiro only notices once he either sees Reiya or hears his voice. For all his observant nature, he's not good at picking up ninja footsteps.

"Aomori, hey." A thoughtful nod, as he takes another sip of his drink before that observant nature *is* good for something.

"What's up?" he asks, curious. He's clearly no longer busy, so it might be a good time to talk. They fought Niko together, and he knows Reiya's likely to have questions based off the dialogue that day.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
If Reiya were an ''experienced'' ninja he'd know to make more noise when he's not doing ninja things. But as it stands, he's just a quiet kind of a guy.

"I was just coming back from an outing," Reiya answers as to what's up. "I am otherwise unengaged for the time being."

He pauses. "I am saying I am free to talk about what happened the other day if you are."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro pauses as Reiya explains. He's not sure how to react immediately until Reiya himself pauses, explains, and gets a very small smile that masks his hesitance.

In the end, Shinjiro needs a second to consider it, before sighing. "Sure. What's on your mind?"

He does take a glance around, though, to see if this is a good place to actually talk. It might be best if they go somewhere more private.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
"Good," Reiya says, and has the same thought as Shinjiro. "Come to my room; that way, we're less likely to be overheard." Reiya leads the way; his is downn the hall, and in the room itself it is... well, sparsely decorated. Assuming Shinjiro steps in, though, there is a computer on the desk, the bed is done in blue, and there is a large fishtank by the wall, filled with tropical fish of bright colors and interesting shapes.

Reiya will let Shinjiro close the door.

"...I wished first to ask how you made Niko's acquaintance."

He pauses. "...I don't object to your friendship. She seems a very friendly person, despite her actions. You performed your duty by repelling her regardless, and that's what would matter to me if it were my place to judge."

"But I am... thoughtful."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro nods, following, finishing off his coffee so he's not bringing a drink into someone else's room and trashing it beforehand.

Once he's inside, he's eying the sparse decor, but it's clearly the fishtank that catches his gaze. He silently marvels at the inherent gap between what he imagined of Reiya and the tropical fish, before turning to respond.

"...it's complicated," he says. Since they're in private, and he's told the story to others, he'll share it.

"I only met her in June. But we share a... sort of camaraderie. She knew who I was and basically declared us friends, because I know Strega."

The words leave his lips heavily, as he sighs.

"People like us frequent the alleyways, the darker sides of society. I feel a kinship, even if I don't agree with her actions as part of their group."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro would seem to be very cosiderate!

The fishtank. "I like my fish," Reiya says of the fishtank when he sees Shinjiro looking at it. "I've collected them for some time. They are somewhat difficult to care for, but I have become adequate."

But... it's complicated.

"I see," she says. "She declared that I should call her 'Niko-chan,'" Reiya reflects. "But I doubt she cosniders us friends now."

Still...

"That makes sense," Reiya says. "Because you were on the outside together, you have something in common. ...I also have kinship with people I disagree with," he says.

"But..."

He frowns, then, trying to phrase it. "Are you all right?" he asks.

"I see now, why you said not to rely on you, I think. But I believe that SEES will continue to do so, if you allow us. Even inn the face of what some would consider conflicting loyalties, you chose SEES. ...And for more reasons than just Kirijo-senpai and Sanada-senpai."

"I think, at least. I'm not always good at reading people," he admits.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"They've very cool. Must be a lot of hard work."

But on the subject of Niko... Reiya seems to accept that. Shinjiro isn't sure if he should say more and ruin the moment or allow Reiya to be more in the dark, when he says something that hits him in the chest.

'Are you alright?'

That, followed by the rest of what Reiya says causes Shinjiro to exhale. Sympathy for the devil, huh? He's tense, as he finally settles on an even tone. "No. I'm not."

He glances back to the fish. Peaceful, serene. But their time on this Earth is fleeting.

"...you deserve to know. The reason I know Strega is because I was a customer of theirs. I was buying... I guess you could call it medicine, if you wanted. At first, they asked for cash. I was able to scrounge that up. But then they wanted information."

A pause. "Keep my ear low to the ground, tell them what I heard. I did that, too. It was a neutral arrangement, until Yamagishi was trapped. I made a deal for an Evoker, not... ready to come back, and they requested a favor."

Shinjiro rolls his shoulders.

"They cashed that a week before I came back. They wanted intel on my 'new friends' in exchange for the next dose. I gave them names. What I'd seen of abilities. What I thought about the group and their cohesion. This includes SEES."

A pause. "The next day, I was arrested in Sumaru. Kirijo bailed me out, and I asked her for a week to consider rejoining... and you're right, there was extenuating circumstances."

His hands are shaky, but they often are. His skin is pale, but it always is. He's a little gaunt.

"I'm unreliable for a lot of reasons. I don't know how to ask for help or not hurt the people I care about. That's why I said that."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
"Thank you. They are." Work! But also cool? He doesn't specify.

Reiya speaks sincerely, when he speaks; he saves lies for the enemy, not his allies. And Shinjiro answers...

He is not. Reiya watches thoughtfully; there isn't much obvious sympathy on his face, but Shinjiro would know by now that Reiya does not emote overmuch. The transiet lives of fish; the transient lives of people...

He deserves?

"...I see," he says of medicine, and nods.

Medicine itself isnn't his business.

"Mm," he vocalizes at length.

Reiya does't have to read people to know this is difficult for Shinjiro.

"Most of that information is common knowledge," Reiya reflects. "Similar to the things I've given out in exchange for intelligence on potential adversaries. ...Though not all; I would prefer that you not have given them the full complement of information."

"But..."

"I'm more conncerned that Strega can source Evokers than I am that you gave information to former allies," he admits. "and..."

He considers. "Asking for help can be difficult. My mother doesn't like to ask for help, either."

"...Thank you for telling me all that."

"I think regardless of your opinion, though, you have proven to SEES that we can count on you. ...That may not be comfortable to live with, given the reasons you've mentioend, which are significant..."

"But I will either way continue to think of you as a member of the team, until and unless you leave again. If our leaders know your weakenssses, then they can compenstate. Isn't that so?"

He looks down, and frowns. "..I am glad, in this instance, that I'm not our leader. I donn't have to consider the downsides of what you've done in that."

"Can you get your medicine from elsewhere, now, or are you still reliant on Strega?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"...yeah," Shinjiro agrees on the full complement of information.

But Reiya mentions the evokers, and Shinjiro scratches the back of his neck. "I wish I knew. They don't have the SEES logos, but they're clearly our recipe, unlike the ones the NWO has."

But Reiya rejects that as a reason to consider him as unreliable, and Shinjiro struggles with that, quite visibly. There's clearly a lot of self-loathing in one Shinjiro Aragaki.

"...no, I cut contact with most of them when I rejoined. It's... a unique kind of 'medicine', but Kirijo is able to provide it to me. But... it has side effects."

Another breath. On one hand, this is his most personal secret, most personal worry. On the other... Reiya's a kind person. It'd be cruel to hide this from him when he's offering sympathy, when half of SEES already found out due to their digging, just because he didn't pry.

"I'm going through organ failure. I have less than a year in current estimates. Our leader... she's doing her best to help me. But I don't know that it isn't too late."

He sucks in a breath. "Only a few people know so far, and until a few days ago, it was just Kirijo. I've been anxious to tell SEES. That's selfish of me. So far, it's you, her, Fukura, Mandai, Kawase, and Takeba. It's... not an easy thing to break to anyone."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
"Mm. And I doubt I can get it out of them..." It's a problem. But, not Shinjiro's problem. Strugglign with his statemennt is. But Reiya stands behind it; he doesn't stop to reassure, but he doesn't back down on it either.

"I see," he says againn. "...There's that, at least. It would put you in a much worse position, otherwise."

But his personal secret and personal worry? This actually gets a slight widening of Reiya's eyes; he is trained, but he is not inured yet to death, particularly of his friends and allies. He knows it's always possible on the ''battlefield'', but...

"So... even with your death approaching, you choose to fight with us."

"I hope that it isn't too late. But to fulfill what you see as a duty in the face of death... It is the highest expression of honor. I respect you for that, Aragaki-senpai."

"...It is difficult to tell people, I'm sure. It is your business how and when."

"But I think..."

"You're right, to decide to start telling. It is the sort of secret we would... regret, not knowing."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Whoever it is, we'll stop them," Shinjiro decides to say.

But Reiya's eyes widen, and he says that he respects Shinjiro. That, too, makes him uncomfortable, but...

"...thank you, then," he decides. "...Takeba snapped at me, for... keeping it a secret from everyone. The worst thing is I need to tell Aki, but... how do you tell that to your own damn brother? With everything he's lost, that he's going to lose again?"

A sigh. "But you're right. I need to talk to Kirijo about... what happened with me and Strega more fully before I tell anyone else what's going on, though. I hadn't given her all of the details."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
He has his composure back, at least. "Yes," Reiya agrees.

Reiya nods. "That... Hmmm." He considers Yukari. "I can see that," he settles on. But Akihiko...

"Yes," Reiya agrees, "You do. I have no advice; my sisters and I already know the sort of duty we have. ...But I hope you can find a good way. I think he is strong eniough to withstand knowing."

Kirijo... Hmm. "All right," Reiya says. "That's important. ...And while I'm glad I'm not the one deciding what to do about it, I am sure you will not repeat those mistakes." Mitsuru needs the details...

"Well," he says. "That was all the questions I had. Unless you had any for me, I think the next sociable step would be to ask you about the book you were reading."

"...I think. Your taciturn nature makes it hard to tell what social cues are appropriate."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"...you're right," Shinjiro says regarding Akihiko. "He's so damn strong."

But regarding Kirijo, he nods. "...I like it here too much to do that," he admits, in a vulnerable place.

But Reiya offers questions to him. He's got one, but first, he laughs abruptly when Reiya says he's too taciturn t know if that's okay.

"Oh, that? Some mystery. It was real boring, prose was amateur."

A pause.

"...but I did have a question. What's your thoughts on what Niko was saying? About the Kirijo Corporation and the Dark Hour. It's... I'll be honest, I don't trust the corporation. But I do trust everyone in SEES." Especially Mitsuru.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
Reiya nods, firmly. Shinjiro would obviously know better than him--but he still thinks so.

"It's nice," Reiya agrees. 'Here'. Even though he has a 'home' to go back to, he still likes it here too.

Shinjiro laughs, and Reiya actually smiles faintly. "I see. I suppose it's better than doing nothing."

But a question...

"I believe that Mother and those she works with most closely are doing their best to correct the misdeeds of the past. ...But I can't deny it's possible that there are bad actors in the company, still. We can only try to root them out as best we can."

"But the Dark Hour.. I think she doesn't realize that the Kirijo Group ''created'' the Dark Hour, and I was not about to tell her as much. If man can create a thing, man can logically destroy that thing."

"I don't agree with her about the Dark Hour at all."

Pause. "But for Kirijo..." He sighs. "My mother is very secretive, but she has good reason to be. On the other hand, maybe I could've told more people some of my secrets sooner... there are things I might not have lost, that way."

"But I do believe the Kirijo Group--its leadership, especially--are sincere in what they've told us."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"That makes sense. I have no intention of telling anyone either," Shinjiro says about the Dark Hour, listening to Reiya's thoughts.

"...you're probably right, honestly. I do think her father was telling the truth when we met him. Your mother seemed nice too. It's more likely we have leaks than an active lie, I think."

A wince. Besides him, he thinks.

"...hey, Aomori? Thanks for hearing me out honestly. I'll do my best to not betray that respect."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
"Good."

Leaks rather than an active lie... "That would make sense. It's hard to account for everyone in such an organization." He appreciates Shinjiro thinking he's right, at least. But... Well.

"You are welcome," Reiya answers. "I prefer that we're able to be direct and honest where possible, as teammates."

"...And maybe, one day, as friends."

He nods. "I will assume you will succeed."

Pause. "...Would you like to hear about the fish?"

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-01-21: Rooftop Revelations

2026-01-22T05:25:29Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Rooftop Revelations''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Ririka Kawase, Hitomi Mandai, Yukari Takeba *'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory *'''OOC Date:''' January 21, 2026 *'''IC Date:''' September 13, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro, Ririka, Hitomi, and Yukari all end up on the roof of the SEES dormitory to get fresh air. After learning how and why Shinjiro 'betrayed' SEES, he confides his illness and impending death to the three, which results in angu..."

*'''Log: Rooftop Revelations'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Hitomi Mandai]], [[Yukari Takeba]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory
*'''OOC Date:''' January 21, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' September 13, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro, Ririka, Hitomi, and Yukari all end up on the roof of the SEES dormitory to get fresh air. After learning how and why Shinjiro 'betrayed' SEES, he confides his illness and impending death to the three, which results in anguish all around.''

----

(|============================ Iwatodai Dormitory ============================|)

-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-

A large four-story dormitory used by the Specialized Extracurricular Execution

Squad, only five minutes from Iwatodai Station. Upon entering, one passes a desk

with a sign-in book for guests to find a large carpeted common room that's well

appointed for co-ed gatherings.

A TV is usually on with the local news or a movie that's been loaded into the

DVD player for a student to enjoy. A table for shared dinners, or more often

study sessions, takes up the other half of the dorm, as well as a kitchen should

one dare to show off their skills to their fellow students.

There are two winding staircases on either side. The one on the left simply says

'Boys' while the other on the right states 'No Boys Except By Invitation.' The

implicit threat of execution need not be written down for those who violate

these rules. The second and third stories are living spaces divided by gender

with common spaces that have study areas and bookshelves available.

The fourth story is the command center with surveillance capabilities for not

just different parts of the city but each room within the dorms. The Chairman

has assured all who live here that this capability is strictly necessary.

BGM - Dormitory Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj-FrFI0qnM

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
It's been a rough two days since the SEES dorm raid. Shinjiro talked to Suzume earlier while surveying the kitchen, and then sent everyone a text letting them know what absolutely needed to be replaced and what was still usable (mostly, fridge food is scrap, pantry food is fine).

He currently can be found on the roof, where it's rather nice out, surveying the damage from his own attacks. Castor is strong, but the damage is cosmetic, if noticeable. There doesn't seem to be a risk of the roof caving in, at least.

Shinjiro takes a moment to check the garden, which was unharmed in the fight with Niko. He's not sure he wants to cultivate it right this second, but being around the plants is calming, as he stands on the edge of the roof and takes a look out towards Iwatodai silently.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka... well, she's been in a bit of a precarious mental state lately. Anger about the attack got her through the initial battle, at least, but that anger could only distract her for so long before it wears off, and other matters get to her. Classes help, but only so much.

There are some footsteps announcing her arrival, but Ririka doesn't call out, since she doesn't really expect to see anyone else up here.

She pauses, thoughm, when she sees Shinjiro. "Oh-- Aragaki-senapi. I..." She takes a quick look around the garden, surveying the damage. "If... if you're working I won't bother you." She's already starting to back up down the stars.

Look, there's really no way to hide it, even if she's still trying: she's got her acoustic guitar with her.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro turns as he hears the footsteps and door, glancing over to Ririka. When she pauses and greets, he shakes his head.

"You're fine. I was just surveying damage. Getting my mind off things."

Ririka's got her guitar. She's gonna back off, so in the moment, he considers. He's scared of talking to the others right now, with what happened, but...

"Come take in the day with me. I hear plants like music, yeah?"

He also doesn't really want to be alone if he has an alternative. Warring emotions chose that, in this vulnerable time, loneliness is the enemy.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Getting his mind off of things. Ririka looks around a moment more. She was kind of thinking of doing the same, honestly. And then Shinjiro knows just how to get to her.

Plants like music, right?

"Thaaat's what they say," Ririka admits with a small, forced, half-smile. "But if you insist..."

Ririka leaves the stairwell, stepping properly onto the roof and then moving to the edge, next to Shinjiro. With some careful shuffling she sits down on the edge, legs dangling off, guitar in her lap, and starts to idly strum.

There doesn't seem to be a song, yet, just a sort of quiet musical stream of consciousness.

"Nice day," she says after a while. "... the fresh air is nice for clearing your head, huh?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
Hitomi Mandai has also not been having a great time.

Shortly after everything stopped - ended is a wrong term, but at least the antagonists left - Hitomi had been taken to the hospital where SEES people tend to go. She had been there overnight; she was back the next day, at indeed about the same time when it had happened! Ha ha! That's funny.

"ugh" is the first thing Hitomi says, before she comes in view. She is down the stairs. "no, it's fine"

She shambles into view. Hitomi is wearing a different T-shirt, this one sky blue and a little too big for her - which means it's *quite* the big T-shirt - as well as a pair of gray sweat-pants and some house shoes. She looks somewhat more pallid and subdued than usual; she is not moving without pain.

Her right arm has bandages wrapped around the forearm and the bicep, though the elbow is clear. There's a taped-on triangular patch of gauze on the right side of her head, covering a strip of her temple and coming down to her cheek. Her glasses are helping to hold it in place.

"... I guess I'm not going to fall over, if I made it to the roof," says Hitomi in the doorway, leaning against it with her left shoulder for a moment. Her head turns, then. "They just told me I could skip gym for a while, it's not like I broke my leg or something..."

"... still, thanks," concludes Hitomi, to an individual NOT YET SEEN as she straightens up and steps outwards. Her voice lifts. "Hey, Ririka?" Her head swivels as she sees Shinjiro as well. "Hey," she tells him, raising her left hand to wave.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
Yukari Takeba has also not been having a great time.

Oh the wounds are less visible than Hitomi's, but she got shot, by a guy- because she was concerned with 'vanity'.

And because he thought Minato was worried about her. She does not feel great about this. You come to admit to yourself you care about the people you surround yourself... and promptly a bunch of violent Persona Users invade your home.

Great. Wonderful.

Yukari is here because she noticed Hitomi coming up the stairs, and while she doesn't want her to think she's ''concerned'' about her...

... she was going to be ready to catch her if she fell. "What'd they put you on for the pain anyway?" She asks, as she comes up out of the stairwell and around her, "No offense but, you look pretty out of it."

That's when she surveys the damage herself, her expression falling, "Up here too... huh?" She keeps looking about, "Ugh. Everything's such a mess..."

Even if it was cosmetic, it's like it's all scarred from the fighting. And then - she casts a glance towards a certain figure, "Somehow... the stupid gnome survived. Though I'm not sure how."

Maybe the Gnome was in on it. Maybe.

No she's not going to seriously present that as a theory.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro takes a seat as well as Ririka approaches and does so herself, nestling his hands together as she starts strumming. He's watching Iwatodai move, making an affirmative noise to her question. "Yeah. It's nice."

And then, he hears OTHERS. As Hitomi and Yukari come up, he shifts, a hand waving.

"Hey, Mandai, Takeba," he starts, before hearing Yukari's thing about 'up here too'. "They were attempting a pincer attack. Niko Kirisaki was up here, pink hair, muscles."

He sighs, looking back out as he says that.

"I considered kicking him off the roof when no one was looking, but..." he jokes, trying to see if he can add any levity.

"I think I would have been cursed."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka, all things considered, had fared okay herself... the worst injury was the indignity of being punched in the face by the Joker Killer. (She resisted going to the hospital; her ''dad'' works there, and she definitely doesn't want to make him worry.)

The same can't be said of Shizuka and Koh, though... and Ririka might've spent some time beating herself up for not supporting Koh better as her fight partner.

She doesn't stop playing as she hears her name spoken, though she does look over at Hitomi as she steps onto the roof. "Mandai-san... how are you feeling?"

Yukari comments on the Gnome. "... maybe it creeped them out too much to mess with it," Ririka offers quietly. There's not a lot of cheer in her words. "Hey, Takeba-san."

But Shinjiro mentions that Niko was up here. "Seriously? Ugh. Sorry, I wish I could've sensed things better... but they've got someone who can block all that. It was hard enough trying to establish a link to talk with."

She is trying very hard not to think about those muscles.

"So they were on the roof, in the dorm, out front with an explosive..." Ririka mutters to herself. "Were they even after anything?" She keeps strumming, without even really thinking about it.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
"Opium, I have to eat a whole poppy four times a day," Hitomi answers Yukari, if with an air of her more typical attitude. Just a whiff, though. "I forget which it was... it's just like big pills of... I want to say paracematol? It's got a name like that. It's just like, three pills in one since it's from the hospital." She sniffs once.

"I just feel like shit," she tells Yukari.

Her attention turns back to Shinjiro. "... like... did he come up the fire escape or something...?" She scratches her cheek, the one without the bandage, and looks around for a moment. This probably addresses some of the more severe possibilities. She's not cringing from the mere mention.

"Like shit," she answers Ririka, slightly more brightly.

Hitomi adjusts her glasses - wincing as she reached up with her right, using the left hand instead, more clumsily. "... the one in the kitchen said he was after the food. I think he was making fun of us." She looks to Yukari; she was, after all, right next door, as it were.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
"... Right." With a roll of her eyes at the idea of her eating a poppy. "I could have guessed by all the petals hanging out of the side of your mouth." Before - Hitomi reveals the real answer, "That's.... rough. Doesn't seem like enough for something like that."

She sighs, as she gives the gnome one last look, "Probably." To who does she mean? Shinjiro or Ririka?

'Yes'

She then looks towards Ririka, "Hey, Kawase-san." There's a groan at Hitomi's comment, "Probably. It wouldn't make sense for them to set off a bomb to just - raid our fridge and break our TV after all."

Before she then looks at Shinjiro furtively, giving him a discreet look, in an uncomfortable silence, before she eventually breaks it.

"...Senpai. There's something you and I need to talk about... something that happened during the fight. It's... kinda a sensitive subject - if you'd prefer it being private but... maybe it's best if I ask it out in the open too."

She laces her arms together, looking more concerned, than accusing of anything. "Your call."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"A jammer?" Shinjiro asks, considering. It makes sense for Strega to have someone like that.

"I think it was more or less to kill morale. If we get our home attacked we're less likely to fight back, after all. Niko was upset we were trying to destroy the Dark Hour, too, which must be a factor."

Hitomi gets a shake of the head. "I didn't see. I think she leapt the roof, though."

Though then there's Yukari's question, and he goes silent for a moment, considering. Something that happened...?

He has ideas, but no true knowledge. So, in the end, he turns to Yukari, looking over to make eye contact. It's best that this kind of thing be dealt with without secrets.

"Go ahead."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka turns to just give Hitomi a very worried look as she says she's on opium, and it takes her probably longer than it should to put together that it's a joke. Still, for a moment she looked like she was about to say something before Hitomi mentions a medication.

"... well, if you have any questions about it, let me know. I can try and ask my dad about it," she offers, after a moment.

Ririka winces a little as Hitomi describes how she's feeling. "... yeah. I hope you feel better quickly."

She makes a face at that. "Our food? These guys get landmines from who knows where and they need to raid our kitchen for food?" She's kind of on the same wavelength as Yukari, for that one.

"Yeah... when they attacked Kasu, I couldn't sense anybody in the air raid shelter until... I guess until their concentration slipped or something? That Yumi woman with the weird Evoker can do it, too, I think... Strega's 'jammer' or whatever makes everything really quicket. Yumi makes it all confusing."

Ririka stares at Shinjiro. "Why would she be upset...? Also why are you on a first name basis with her, of all people?"

But Yukari wants to talk about something, and Ririka looks between her and Shinjiro curiously. There ''was'' something weird, but she'd kind of written it off, so... did something else happen?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
"I mean it doesn't really *hurt* hurt," Hitomi says. "Unless I bump it or move it wrong. And I can take like six of them a day if I need to, just not more'n two in six hours." Hitomi may change her opinion later, especially if she's remembering her PILL RATION over generously.

Her eyes turn to Ririka wordlessly - how are *you* doing, they say - for a second or two, before they start to traaace back to Shinjiro and Yukari as Yukari raises a question.

But...

"I was pretty much saved by Aigis," Hitomi says, not to anyone in particular, looking downwards. "... Uh."

After this Hitomi takes a couple of steps away from the stairwell. Inevitably this puts her nearer to the edge of the roof though she is, visibly, not joining Ririka - there's a look, she sees how Ririka's sitting, she doesn't get closer. She sits down, about a Hitomi-length and some change further back than Ririka, and smiles at her faintly.

(Then she looks back at Yukari, though. This might be good.)

(For a certain value of good.)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
"You got stabbed. And you're telling me it doesn't *hurt* hurt." She echoes it back, as if to repeat to Hitomi what she just said, "Well, if you say so." She says, as she reluctantly acquiesces.

"That's what they said at least- though their leader kept claiming he was ''trying'' to talk to Minato-kun while he was trying to kill us... then not, doing that." Her expression, as she responds to Ririka is an unimpressed sigh on the matter, before nodding at Hitomi's statement, "It was a good thing we had her down there... if not for her, I'm not sure we would have made it out of there." In part because, if Noriaki had joined Takaya... they'd have been in trouble.

"Basically... one of the guys we fought said you're the reason they found us. That you told them where we live and detailed to them who we are and what we can do." Ririka's question doesn't bother her personally. She knows he knows Niko. She's known that much for a while.

Which is the only reason she's giving the accusation the slightest time of day at all, because part of it rings true, just not ''all'' of it.

One of her arms rubs the opposite, self-conscious about what she was bringing into the open, "And well, he was acting like you were some kind of traitor- but, I get the feeling that he wasn't telling the whole truth. It felt like he was just trying to paint something you did in the worst possible light to us, in order to undermine our trust in you."

She lets that hang in the air for a moment, before stating, "I'm asking you now because I wanted to give you an opportunity to explain, before anything spun out of control."

In other words, she's afraid the longer she holds onto this, the worse it'll be for him when it does come out to everyone.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro considers what they all have to say. He's considering the jammer and Yumi when Yukari and Ririka ask important questions. He starts with Ririka's.

"...we're friends," he says, before looking over to Yukari with a sigh. He rolls his shoulders, shifting his neck for a moment before he shifts where he's sitting.

"Two years ago... I met Strega."

Hitomi may also remember that two years ago is an important arc number for him. After all... something bad happened.

"They had something I needed, after I left SEES. I started paying in cash, but eventually, Shirato started asking for information. He's the guy with the grenades. He asked questions about what was going on in the supernatural world sometimes, anything I heard on the streets."

He's silent for a long moment, breathing slowly.

"When Yamagishi was trapped, I knew I couldn't just let someone die in Tartarus. But I also didn't... want to come back. So I made a deal. They wanted a favor in exchange for an Evoker. They cashed that in the next time I saw them, and asked about my 'new friends'. Names, capabilities, general opinions on cohesion, that's what I gave him. It wasn't just all of you, either."

His Sumaru friends, too.

Shinjiro rubs the back of his neck. "The next day, I got arrested in Sumaru. Long fucking story. Kirijo bailed me out, I told her... part of what was going on, and she asked me to come back. I asked for a week to think on it. The rest is history."

Shinjiro's trying to stare out away from the group. He doesn't want them to see his face, which is definitely wracked with guilt.

"I haven't talked to any of them but Niko since before I was arrested, and never about my work with SEES."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka catches that look, and all she can really do is just kind of shrug back. She's not sure. The attack has her rattled, and there's definitely something else that's been weighing on her recently that she hasn't brought up with the group yet.

"I'm glad she was around to help, then..." Ririka comments softly. Hitomi gets close, but not that close, and Ririka sets her guitar down so she can shuffle around and face inwards, instead, towards the rest of the group. She offers Hitomi a small smile back that she hopes is encouraging.

... And then the guitar goes back in her lap and she keeps idly playing, drifting from one musical idea to the next.

Ririka knows Shinjiro knows Niko--but the recent attack does kind of draw more attention to that detail. But Yukari brings up something Ririka wasn't expecting, and she sits up a little bit more. "Oh, yeah, the Joker Killer and... Shirato? Were saying that, too..." She glances to Shinrjio. "They kept calling you Shin-chan, but I mean... I just figured they were screwing with us."

She pauses and frowns. "... though... Shin-chan sounds like something Kirisaki would call you..." she mutters quietly.

They're friends. "She's got a funny way of showing it attacking the dorm like that."

But two years ago... he ''did'', in fact, meet Strega. Ririka's meandering strumming slowly slows until it comes to a stop as she turns to look at Shinjiro.

That look soon turns to a stare.

"Wait, wait. You gave them information on ''us''? For an ''Evoker''!? What the hell were you getting from them before that?" Ririka should probably take a breath to calm down. She is not going to take that breath just yet.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
Hitomi puffs out her cheeks a little bit at what Yukari is saying. Don't invalidate her tough girl act Takeba!! But she doesn't dig into it. Thinking about it is, if anything, making the sort of throbbing-metal-wire feeling along her arm, side, forehead come back.

But it's a little nice to be outside.

In the sun.

With other people.

Alive.

And speaking of life, Hitomi's head turns slowly and her eyes gradually widen as Yukari relates just what, exactly, her shiftless bum of a heavily armed home intruder was talking about. All Hitomi had been able to hear was the generalized racket and distant eye-shot suggesting that Yukari was alive and so was Minato, which meant that the gunshots she'd heard must have missed, or at least not really *hit*.

Since Yukari's right there, with few to no visible new holes.

Hitomi looks to Ririka, smiling at her as she moves a little closer. It's tired, but there. She's just not doing great right now. And... Hitomi's eyes turn to Shinjiro as Yukari speaks her mind.

Her eyes widen-- and then there's a glimmer of something in them. Her face, momentarily, looks slack, almost vacant, but it's actually the sum of several small currents pulling against each other. Her lips part...

and pull into a small, almost sly smile. She's sitting up a little straighter. Her left hand comes up to splay fingers across the side of her face for a moment.

But then Ririka speaks. Hitomi's eyes shoot towards her, the position of her hand veiling part of her expression.

Then towards Shinjiro again. Her voice is, weirdly, sweeter and significantly more femme-ish when she says, "I'd like to know, myself, Aragaki-sem-pai." Hm, that word got drawn out more than usual. "But it's true that you did help us with Yamagishi-san and as far as I can tell, there wasn't any reason to do so other than a real desire to help. And if Kirijo-sempai really did pay your bail..."

Hitomi's eyes squeeze shut. "Isn't that just like her?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
You can't front a tough girl act to someone else putting on a tough girl act Hitomi! It doesn't work out.

"Friends?" She echoes it back to Shinjiro like she's skeptical that part is true, before looking at one of the gouges on the roof, "... Yeah... real funny way..." As she echoes back towards Ririka

Two years ago...

"Hmmm. Something you needed..." She doesn't press him on that one, just echoing the idea again back, as she listens.

But he spells it out. A favor. One they cashed in on.

"Hmm..." She says, brow furrowing just slightly as she looks his way.

Ririka is upset, demanding to know what it is, but Yukari just watches him for a while longer, as Hitomi reasons through it.

"You know he lived on the street, right?" She says to Ririka, "He didn't have any real responsibility to look out for us at the time... but he kinda did anyway."

Shifting her arms, she places them behind her back, "There's nothing really I can get mad at there. I don't think he figured they'd come to attack this place or anything, or he wouldn't have done it..."

He's too loyal to Mitsuru Kirijo, she figures. Which, is still weird for her to think about, but she understands he wouldn't do anything to directly harm her.

"I guess I just gotta ask. If you think of them as friends... what are you gonna do if they keep coming after us?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro is quiet, as the three girls confront him. He lets them work through their own words, their own feelings, before he tries to defend himself. No, he doesn't actually try to defend himself, but instead...

"I did," he tells Ririka.

Hitomi takes a different tack, becoming oddly sweeter, and Shinjiro looks to her. He still doesn't quite answer what he had bought. He only said that part to avoid a gap in the topic, something that felt like he was hiding things, but...

"I've only ever seen Niko as a friend," he corrects. "And... I think there's something still good in her. Scarred, but good. But..."

He takes a breath. "I'm not a member of Strega. I'm a member of SEES. And she knows that. If we have to fight again... so be it."

He's struggling with something, though. What did he buy? He told Suzume, sure, but he's closer with Suzume. But he feels a bond fraying here. If he keeps this quiet, refuses to answer them...

He likes it here too much to do that to these people.

"There's a medicine I only know of a couple sources for. One of them is Strega."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka's not doing great. And this information isn't really doing many favors for her mood. But she doesn't miss the way Hitomi's expression shifts, or the way her pronunciation is drawn out, and she recalls what Hitomi said in Eiji's Palace.

"... Mandai-san," she says softly. She doesn't want to out her secrets, but... she's still trying to show some concern.

Still, she can't fault Hitomi's reasoning. But she's got other reasons she's thiniking of to be angry.

Yukari mentions living on the street. "Well, yeah, I know, but-- Strega attacked Kasu. I know people who go there." Like her sister, whom she isn't naming. "''And'' they're connected to the Joker Killer somehow. Who was ''also'' there that night."

Yukai says she figured Shinjiro didn't think they'd attack here. "I guess he gave them info on more people than just us..."

She's vascillating on being angry or not. It might come down to what Shiunjiro says next.

There ''is'' a bond fraying--Ririka would've had a hard time trusting Shinjiro completely, especially with the sensitive matter she'd discussed with him a few days prior.

But the mention of a medicine makes her pause. "... a medicine...?" It's half-statement, half-question. She normally wouldn't pry, but under these circumstances...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
Hitomi's eyes cut towards Ririka. Her mouth, half veiled by her fingers, is smiling. But...

That strange gleam fades. Does it go away? Hard to tell, outdoors, but it is at least dimmer. She slouches a bit. There's a faint intake of breath through teeth that are set but not clenched. Urgh. Her lips purse for a moment; her hands go to fold in her lap.

She takes in a deep breath; and pushes it out of her mouth with a faint 'huu.'

"I don't really understand these guys at all," Hitomi says, "but I guess I've only really met them once, so it's hard for me to say. They seem like pricks, sorry, I don't think I should hold out. But..."

Her left hand comes in a momentary vague gesture... until the medicine comes up. Her head rocks a bit to the side.

"Are you alright, Aragaki-sempai?" There is maybe a ghost of that sugar-sweet lilt a moment ago, but only a ghost. It's not a rhetorical question, playful at most.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
"... You must be looking pretty deep..." Yukari says with a hint of skepticism about Niko, "That girl definitely isn't normal." She wants to humanize her too, so badly- she even indicated as much to her.

But she laughed at the effort...

"Gotcha... Well, alright, I believe you." She says to him fighting for SEES. But, a medicine? That startles her subtly.

Now she's looking at him as if searching for 'what's wrong'? 'what's so wrong that you need to go to strega for medicine?' but mostly 'what's wrong?'

There's no potential answer to that question she likes.

"Right... I mean I don't think it's wrong to be upset. Just- you gotta look at things in a certain way too." She tells Ririka, responding to the idea Strega attacked Cuss and are involved with the Joker Killer.

"Sure but... did he know that when he traded them information?"

It may seem a little odd that Yukari's on his side here, given past arguments, but she's also someone who's weighing his responsibility in what just happened.

If he'd been a part of SEES? Sure, she'd be furious. But...

"There's not much to understand, really." She tells Hitomi, "They believe that having a Persona means... having the power to do whatever they want. Killing whoever they want. Human life just doesn't mean anything to them really."

If she has one thing to condemn Shinjiro for - it's hanging out with people like them, even when he's just trying to get by...

... but...

She's tabling that thought for now and just waiting to see if he answers either of them.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"I have no love for the Joker Killer," Shinjiro says bitterly. Ririka knows why.

But... they ask if he's alright. Yukari's also defending him, which does unsettle him just a bit. Does he deserve that?

"...I'm sick," he admits. He leaves it there for a long time. What does he say? What can he say?

But they'll probably keep fishing, so...

"...I don't have a lot of time. The medicine's the only thing that keeps me alive. I'm getting my supply from Kirijo now, but before I decided to rejoin SEES, Strega was my only supply."

He can't say the medicine is what originally doomed him. He wishes he could. But that's wrapped in so many things that he just can't explain right now without fraying further.

Preempting any questions, he does finally turn towards them. "Kirijo's doing her best to help me, but... it doesn't look good. In SEES, only Kirijo and, as of today, Fukura, are the ones who know."

He didn't even tell Akihiko.

"I... I didn't want to share it yet. I'm still scared."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Hitomi seems to shift, again, and Ririka's watching her now. She flashes her a concerned glance, eyebrows slightly raised. 'Are you okay?' is the silent question. She doesn't want to call too much attention to it, but she still wants to show ''some'' support.

Yukari calls Niko not normal, and Ririka wonders, again, about what she saw at arson of the art gallery.

She looks to Yukari and then looks away. "I don't know what to feel about this," she says, honestly. "... and maybe I need some time to process this."

Did he know that at the time? Yukari explains what they want, and how little they value human life. "He might not have known, but... just because he wasn't in SEES then doesn't mean he should automatically get a pass for supporting shitty people." She glances at Shinjiro. "... unless you didn't know what they were about?" She sounds skeptical on that front, though.

No love for the Joker Killer. "Well he seems pretty buddy buddy with Strega."

But... Shinjiro is sick. That seems to quiet Ririka for a moment as she processes that.

Not much time. "... shit. How long?" That might have finally defused her anger, for the moment. 'Caring' seems to have overtaken 'being mad.' Though she won't pry into what the medicine is.

Ririka looks down at her guitar, picking at a few of the strings again as she thinks. He's scared. "... yeah, that's... kind of heavy." She strums a chord after a moment--it's minor, with a dissonant sound--and looks up. "I'm still a little mad, but... if you need something let me know, okay?"

She kind of defaults to 'helping others' to take her mind off her own problems, though... 'helping someone with their limited time' might not be the best distraction from the anniversary of her brother's death.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
"They should go to Sumaru, some time," Hitomi answers Yukari, which is a rather cryptic answer and might indeed have happened, but her thoughts behind that remark remain opaque. But it's Shinjiro who has the turn now. Hitomi gives Ririka a passing smile, but soon enough her eyes turn to rest on Shinjiro.

He's sick.

He doesn't have a lot of time.

Strega was his only supply.

Hitomi's eyes saccade for a moment.

She rocks forwards...

... and she feels like she's pummeling at what Shinjiro had just said. He said that and already she can see him laying there, still and cold, like those poor old people, like she'd imagined for Fuuka, like that nightmare when she had seen a half-dozen others laying arrayed in their own blood, just like a horror movie come to life. Hitomi's imagination is quite good. She saw all of it.

And she'd sort of groped somewhere else, a way to hide from it. A shield; a shelter. In the back of her mind, Hitomi does it again. It doesn't feel like a rush of adrenalous joy down the back of her spine, this time. Though something about it whirls through Hitomi's mind, more a feeling like pages ruffling than anything else...

... and rocks back upright, eyes lifting to Shinjiro.

Hitomi stands up. It takes a couple of seconds. Heavily favoring her left side, she's able to do it quickly enough that there is no stumble or reopened wound, just the faint hiss of pain in stitched skin before she gets upright.

Her left hand comes up to rest over her heart as she looks at him. "... I think I get it," she says, meeting his eyes (if he doesn't avoid her gaze) for a moment. There is a ghost of a smile... and then it exhales as she slouches a little, her left hand coming up to rest on the back of her neck as she looks down.

"... I won't pass it on," Hitomi says, more like usual.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
"I mean who does?" She looks away, "Except for Niko, I guess..." Before she gives Ririka a- well she gets it, but at the same time, "Uhhh... I get what you're saying but, I don't think you understand the kind of place where he lived..."

After all, it was Junpei, Minato, Minako and her that went to the alley that night, when they first met him. "... it's a pretty rough place to even get by."

She's still wondering what's going on there. But Shinjiro outright says he's sick.

And Yukari looks at him, really looks at him for some time, at his physicality - the signs she didn't see before, and tries her best not to show any pity. He doesn't have a lot of time...

which means death

just like her dad

you can't

Yukari Takeba knows what it means to attach to someone so much that their death takes a part of you with it. It means... she needs to back away, now, before it's too late.

She can't get too close to him. Too close to ''this''.

"... From Kirijo... and Strega?" For now, she focuses on that part, what kind of medicine could it possibly be? But more than that, all of her suspicions come back- about the Evokers out there.

About what Niko said about Kirijo.

What truly is the connection?

But, he says he's scared, and despite her best efforts, she can't avoid that one. The tough guy from the alleyway headbutting someone to save them...

... he's scared to share it. That comment kinda... forces her back here instantly, despite her best efforts to detach.

"So... what are you saying? That it's just a 'fact' now? That you just ''accept'' it's going to happen?" It's a rising crescendo of desperation and emotion, "That you're just going to die!? And you were planning on just hiding it until you were- were-! I-"

She places a hand against her face, then takes a deep breath, and forces herself to be a touch calmer, even if she can't, not completely... a few moments pass, before the words become, less heated, a little colder, "Word of advice? Get over yourself. Whatever you think is the worst you can happen? It doesn't even compare to how badly it'll shatter them if they go on living thinking there's something they could have done differently... about how much it's their fault!"

Is she projecting? Absolutely... but, it doesn't matter. She never go to say a single word to her father to find any kind of closure before he was gone.

There one day, gone the next.

And right now Shinjiro makes a convenient target, realizing he hasn't said anything to someone who cares about him.

"I'm going back down." She announces, before turning towards the staircase, and starting to walk, "I'm not going to attend a pity party for someone who can't even get their priorities straight."

It's harsh, even a little cruel... but she's mad now- and may be for a while. The moment she starts to care about SEES and who's a part of it, she's going to lose one of them.

Fate must really be laughing at her right now.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro is too in his head to pay attention to what's going on with Hitomi. But as Ririka asks if he didn't know what they were about, his silence is damning - he knew a bit. People are complicated, right?

"A year at most," he says.

He doesn't really get a chance to reply to Ririka or Hitomi about what's going on. Yukari starts getting frustrated. Shinjiro is smart enough to realize that this is at least partly her own trauma speaking, but in the moment, it inflames his worst impulses, and he simply freezes.

"...I don't know what the fuck I'm doing," he says quietly. "I don't want it to happen, but..." Trailing off, he looks over as Yukari decides she's leaving.

She thinks he needs to tell the people who care. He doesn't know how to.

This is how it should be. People distancing themselves from him.

Shinjiro Aragaki doesn't deserve to infringe on the living.

"...sorry. We all came out here to get some fresh air," he decides on once Yukari has begun to leave. He rises, though he won't follow after Yukari until she's gone. He needs to get out of this dorm for a bit.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Hitomi's smile gets a fleeting one from Ririka, though all too soon her attention is also turned to Shinjiro.

But when she sees Hitomi struggling to get up, she sets her guitar aside and rushes up to her feet. "Mandai-san, here, let me help." It might still be an awkward production, but she can at least be a shoulder to lean on. "You good?" she asks softly, making sure she's steady before letting go.

Yukari says she doesn't understand the kind of place. "Yeah, I guess I never say it, but just... I just need time to sort out my feelings, okay?"

Shes not unsympathetic, but even so... emotions can be messy.

But it's Yukari's turn to get heated, and Ririka looks to her. "Hey, Takeba-san. Come on." Are they just going to trade off holding the angry ball? Let's hope not.

But she sighs as Yukari walks off. But... she kind of gets it, too.

But Shinjiro doesn't answer. Ririka frowns and takes her answer on that subject. It's hard, not to trace the lines, when you start thinking about how things--people, systems, societies-- ripple out.

She stoops down to pick up her guitar. "I won't tell anybody your business, but... there were things I never got to say to my brother before he died. Maybe think about how you want to spend that last year, and what people might want to say to you."

And with that, she'll head downstairs, too.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-01-20: A Weight I Have To Carry

2026-01-21T04:01:30Z

Thornpunk:

*'''Log: A Weight I Have To Carry'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Suzume Fukura]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory
*'''OOC Date:''' January 20, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' September 13, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''After the raid on the SEES dorms, Shinjiro and Suzume survey the damages to the kitchen. Suzume confronts Shinjiro over his friendship with Niko, and learns he was trading Strega intel. Her anger and search for answers leads to him confiding his condition, and in the end, Shinjiro isn't alone in moving forward.''

----

(|============================ Iwatodai Dormitory ============================|)

-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-

A large four-story dormitory used by the Specialized Extracurricular Execution

Squad, only five minutes from Iwatodai Station. Upon entering, one passes a desk

with a sign-in book for guests to find a large carpeted common room that's well

appointed for co-ed gatherings.

A TV is usually on with the local news or a movie that's been loaded into the

DVD player for a student to enjoy. A table for shared dinners, or more often

study sessions, takes up the other half of the dorm, as well as a kitchen should

one dare to show off their skills to their fellow students.

There are two winding staircases on either side. The one on the left simply says

'Boys' while the other on the right states 'No Boys Except By Invitation.' The

implicit threat of execution need not be written down for those who violate

these rules. The second and third stories are living spaces divided by gender

with common spaces that have study areas and bookshelves available.

The fourth story is the command center with surveillance capabilities for not

just different parts of the city but each room within the dorms. The Chairman

has assured all who live here that this capability is strictly necessary.

BGM - Dormitory Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj-FrFI0qnM

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
It has been two days since the SEES dorm raid. The good news is Shinjiro didn't immediately ditch the dorms and head to the alleyways again like he has before as a stress mechanism.

The bad news is he's been avoidant, often in his room or out where he can't be easily reached, and definitely not talkative at school.

But today he has no choice. He's gotta venture into the kitchen at some point, survey what they need to replace from what was stolen or destroyed alongside the fridge.

He's in his red coat and beanie as he steps into the kitchen, his notebook in one hand and a pen in the other. Yes, he's taking this seriously.

Food prep is no laughing matter.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
It has been two days since the SEES dorm raid.

Suzume has continued to live in the dorm, because where else is she going to go? She has been extremely strict about checking locks even though none of the locks made any difference at all and has made sure to have her Evoker handy pretty much all the time.

Shinjiro arrives in the kitchen. Nobody bothers him for about ten minutes.

And then Suzume is there, for similar reasons as he is - she keeps some stuff in the kitchen and she wants to see how much of it is still there. Whether she was expecting to run into Shinjiro or not is a good question. She hasn't spoken to him since the attack.

"Yo," she says, her all-purpose greeting, as she stands in the kitchen doorway. Not getting too close to him while he works, but also making it harder to leave. "How much crap are we missing?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
As Suzume arrives, Shinjiro tilts his head to her. They had an awkward time on the roof, but he's not going to bring it up first.

"A lot of stuff spoiled when they blasted the fridge, so if it was perishable, you want a new one. ...maybe in general. Doesn't look like they hit the pantry, at least, so anything that was in there should be fine."

He steps back, in case she wants a look, before checking his notes on ingredients. "I'll need to make a grocery run soon. ...how are you holding up?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
"Nnn."

Suzume clearly is unhappy with the damage to the fridge, but she pushes in and past anyway, because she had a soda in there. Sodas can't spoil! They can merely become not cold.

She can't find it. Either it was damaged or someone else got it first in the 'trying to clear out the fridge' process, but she remains in front of the fridge for a few moments to try, rummaging.

"I'm okay," she says, into the fridge. "She didn't beat me up that bad. All that combat training helped." Even if Suzume sometimes still feels weird about using it on people, and not Shadows. She didn't say that at the time, but...

It's in her to get into a shoving match, maybe even a fistfight. Using her tonfa against someone who was, to all appearances, trying to kill her... that's different.

"What about you?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro lets Suzume forward - to her luck, he doesn't just ditch her, either, to avoid what may be awkward. "Good. My injuries were also lighter than some."

An exhale, as he knows how that looks. He leans against the counter, thinking.

"...I'm trying to process it still. It's... not the first time my home's been violated like that."

Though last time, it was burnt down. This time... it survived.

"I think it'll take some time."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
"Nnn," Suzume doesn't-say again. It's not really *speaking* as such. It's kind of just a noncommital noise. "I hate it," she admits. "I feel like someone's gonna barge in, all the time. Even if nobody ever does. Nobody's even been up to my room but me."

She gives up on finding the soda and turns, reflexively closing the fridge door behind her. Which doesn't help Shinjiro sort through it, but she did it without thinking.

"Was she going easy on you?" Suzume asks. "'Shin-chan'." She shouldn't be sore about the name. It's not like Niko was particularly kind about using Suzume's correct one, either. But she made it sound like they were close...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"...yeah," Shinjiro says sympathetically. He feels the same way, but doesn't know how to verbalize it.

But as she closes the door, he frowns, though her question distracts him entirely from moving to deal with that.

"...I doubt it," he sighs. "I think that'd be a betrayal of the way she lives her life."

He winces, as he realizes how that sounds again, and what Suzume's trying to figure out.

"...Niko and I ran in similar circles. We... have things in common, and eventually, we started encountering each other. We became friends. I don't like everything she's doing, though, and I don't entirely get why she did this."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume scowls.

She isn't very good at concealing her emotions; she never has been. Shinjiro can read her like a book, at least if he's looking at her; it's harder from just her voice.

"Some things in common, huh." Suzume looks up at Shinjiro, actually meeting his eyes, almost a little challenging. "I was wondering. Because I got a good look at her Evoker, you know. It's not one of ours."

"But you showed up with yours before you re-joined SEES, didn't you? I thought it was your old one, that you kept from before. But all of OURS have SEES written on the side." Engraved, not written, but close enough.

"So - with the 'similar circles' - " Suzume bites back what she was going to say. Then: "I just wanna know what's going ON. I already can't trust Kirijo Group, apparently!" Who else can't she trust?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro listens. He doesn't interrupt Suzume, as she scowls, though he does frown sharply. He also doesn't interrupt her as she makes her observations.

In the end, he's silent for a long moment. He steps forward - it may seem he's going to leave - and instead heads for the fridge, before turning. He's clearly burning anxious energy via motion.

"...Two years ago, I left SEES. That was the first time I met Strega."

His tone makes it clear this is Serious, what he's about to share. His gaze is stony, but the fact he's going to tell Suzume this at all is because he thinks she is owed it.

"They had something I needed, that I didn't feel I could get elsewhere. So I started buying it off them. At first, for a long time, it was just money. Eventually, they wanted information on supernatural happenings and whatever I got keeping my ear to the ground." He leaves a gap there. Maybe he'll broach it again later.

"They're not good people. I've never liked them, they give me the creeps. But when Yamagishi was trapped... I didn't feel I could go back to Kirijo. Not with..." He trails off.

"So instead, I bought an Evoker off of them."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume gets out of Shinjiro's way when he goes to the fridge. This also means he's in his way again if he wants to go anywhere ELSE but, well. It's not a big kitchen. There's not many places for her to stand!

Two years ago, he left SEES. Suzume knew this - well, maybe not the exact timing but she knew he was with SEES when it was brand new, and then he wasn't, because he told her that part. He was coming 'back' to SEES, after all. He already knew Mitsuru and Akihiko.

She doesn't know why. She wants to. But she doesn't ask yet.

But they had something he needed. Suzume doesn't know what it is. Something that must be hard to get, or he would have gotten it somewhere else if he thought they were creepy... or he's lying. She can't tell. And she hates that, the anger building up again.

Especially as they turned him into an information-gatherer. Or maybe...

"Be honest," Suzume says, her voice a little tight. "Because if you don't I'll kick your ass and I don't care how much trouble I get in for it." (Odds are good she'd lose, or at least not win. She doesn't care.)

"Did you ever tell them anything about us? About SEES? To get your... stuff?"

Suzume closes her hand into a fist, then relaxes it by force of will. "Because you came back to Kirijo - to SEES - pretty soon after that. I mean, when you came and bailed us out in Tartarus. And I'm not saying I wish you hadn't. But..."

How much does an Evoker cost? Especially if they're not asking for money. It's not like Shinjiro HAS a lot of money, even now - and he had less before.

"...I hate this." Suzume hates that she has to ask. She feels like she's breaking a bond just pushing on it. But what else can she do? Fume? Be wrong?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"I'm not going to lie to you," Shinjiro says with utmost seriousness. "That's not fair to anyone."

A sigh. "My returning to SEES has nothing to do with what Strega asked from me. I made a deal for... my stuff the day before I got arrested in Sumaru. They cashed in the favor I owed them for the Evoker, in exchange for information. They... wanted to know who my 'new friends' were. In SEES, outside SEES."

A shaky breath. The guilt is palpable. "I gave names. A little bit of capabilities I'd seen in action witnessing people fight, nothing they couldn't get themselves. Some of my thoughts on the group's cohesiveness, nothing specific."

He tilts his head, to make sure no one's coming. He doesn't want to be eavesdropped on right now.

"When I was arrested, Kirijo bailed me out on her own. We... had a talk. I didn't tell her about that, but I did tell her about what I was buying. I asked for a week to think when she asked me to rejoin SEES. Then, I decided it was best to face the music, and I came back."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume clenches her fist again. This time she doesn't relax it.

But she doesn't swing it at Shinjiro either.

"So they wanted you to spy. And you just told them!" Suzume snaps. "Names - I mean, anyone can get those. But what we can do? How we worked together? Were you trying to get us killed? And then when you came back - "

"You didn't even tell Kirijo-san. I know she's your friend. I've seen her and you in the same room before. So you kept it entirely secret until now?" She makes a deliberate effort to lower her voice, to not start shouting so that someone just on the stairs could hear them. (At least, with the television broken and one of the couches damaged, nobody's sitting in the living room.)

A beat, then: "What 'stuff'," Suzume half-asks, half-states, suddenly. "It wasn't the Evoker. You only asked for that at the end. So it was something else. What were you getting off them?" Food? No, he could get that other places. A place to stay? ...maybe, but there was always the dorms if he was really desperate...

She's mad now, and she knows it. First she had to take in everything about Kirijo Group. What they told her, and what she talked about with Yukari afterwards, and others. Now, this. She knows she's reacting hard, but she can't stop herself.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Suzume clenches her fist, and Shinjiro's body is full of tension. But he has no hostility in his motions - just depressive guilt.

"...Fukura, I wasn't spying-" he starts, trying to make an excuse, but the words don't leave his throat. He told them what he knew, but it was never his intent to *steal* the information for them. He definitely doesn't like them that much.

There's a long period of silence. If she just hit him, he'd probably feel better. Eventually, in the stand-off, he just says it.

"I'm dying, Fukura."

He's never looked healthy. His skin is pallid compared to a normal person's, and his hands shake. He's gaunt comparatively to his size. But all of that could be chalked up to his previous living conditions, right?

"I was buying medicine off them, okay? Stuff that's killing me if I take it, and killing me if I don't. I've got a year to fucking live and I just. I don't know. I don't fucking know!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
"If you weren't SPYING why did you TELL THEM?"

Suzume *does* raise her voice at that, and regrets it, but by that point she's too far to stop: "What could they do with that other than what they did? Attack us? Fuck with us? She said it - they don't WANT us to stop the Dark Hour. They'll fight us for it!"

It doesn't help that one of the things she said was not to trust Kirijo Group. That echoes conversations she's had with SEES after all...

But Shinjiro continues after Suzume trails off into silence. It takes a moment, but he says it.

Suzume loses her flush - in fact, she goes pale. "Bullshit," she says, but her heart isn't in it. She can tell - Shinjiro isn't lying. And -

A moment of memory, as if she remembered something about it -

The feeling of cold to go with the deja vu. A chip of ice, in her chest -

Something is familiar. She can't hold onto the thought. But it feels *real* in a way that she can't deny.

Suzume practically deflates in place. Her challenging pose becomes a slump-shouldered slouch as she breaks her gaze with Shinjiro. "And you didn't say anything," she says, her voice having lost all its heat. (Would she have said something if it was her?) "...Just one year." That explains the promise. Why he had to MAKE a promise.

She can't look back up at him.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro is quiet for a long period as Suzume deflates. The guilt just exacerabates, the feeling of talking about his impending death just...

He's hollow for a moment.

When he finally remembers to breath, he sighs. "What should have I said? Tell everyone my deepest regret? Tell them to stay away from me, because I just hurt everyone in the end?"

Another sigh, as he realizes *he's* getting agitated at her. "...yeah. I'm scared. I don't know how to ask for help, how to... fucking deal with this. If I had gone back to Kirijo earlier, told her what was going on, maybe this all could have been avoided, but..."

He looks to the floor, taking another deep breath.

"I made my bed, and now I have to lie in it. This is just a weight I have to carry until I'm gone."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume isn't hollow. But she feels ... Not great. Pressing Shinjiro that way - she knew she was pushing at their bond. And now with this...

The worst part is, she still feels angry for what he's done, at the same time she's mad at herself for treating him the way she just did. She doesn't know WHAT to think.

She should apologize. But the words catch in her throat after everything else he's said. He made his bed, and he has to lie in it... until he's gone. It's hard to imagine Shinjiro being gone and she's only known him for a few months.

Suzume raises her fist -

And punches Shinjiro on the shoulder. Not hard. The way she's done it before; she tends to express herself with friendly physical contact, but she's a little rougher about it than a pat or a hug.

"You shouldn't have gotten buddy with Strega," she says, her voice catching once. "But - shit. I can't say I wouldn't have done something stupid too. I do stupid things all the time." And for less understandable reasons than Shinjiro. "Maybe it would have. But maybe it would have been worse."

What else can she say? There must be something. But she's having trouble putting the right words together. "..." A longer pause. "...sorry."

She understands not knowing how to ask for help. She understands that so well.

"But you're with SEES now. With us," she emphasizes.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
The fist is raised. Shinjiro doesn't even close his eyes, breath slowed. He definitely doesn't move. But as she impacts with his shoulder, she makes contact, he listens to her words and finally releases *some* of that tension.

"...you're right. I'm sorry too. ...I'll tell Kirijo about what I've done when I have a chance. But.."

He glances away, for just a moment. "I can't tell the others about my condition. Not yet. I don't... I don't want to leave, but neither am I ready to share that with everyone. Okay?"

He trusted Suzume, because he cared about their bond more than the secret, in that moment.

"...thank you, by the way. I really do like it here."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume scowls for a moment, a much more accustomed expression for her face.

"I won't," Suzume promises, "unless you pass out or something and someone needs to figure out what to do. But you'd better tell her, even if you don't tell anyone else." A beat. "Everything, I mean."

Strega. The sickness. Everything.

"And just remember. You've got people on your side."

Like her. If they're still friends after today... she's not sure what would make them not, short of Shinjiro defecting to Strega or something.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-01-20: A Weight I Have To Carry

2026-01-21T04:01:02Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: A Weight I Have To Carry''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Suzume Fukura *'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory *'''OOC Date:''' January 20, 2026 *'''IC Date:''' September 13, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''After the raid on the SEES dorms, Shinjiro and Suzume survey the damages to the kitchen. Suzume confronts Shinjiro over his friendship with Niko, and learns he was trading Strega intel. Her anger and search for answers leads to him confiding his conditio, and in th..."

*'''Log: A Weight I Have To Carry'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Suzume Fukura]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory
*'''OOC Date:''' January 20, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' September 13, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''After the raid on the SEES dorms, Shinjiro and Suzume survey the damages to the kitchen. Suzume confronts Shinjiro over his friendship with Niko, and learns he was trading Strega intel. Her anger and search for answers leads to him confiding his conditio, and in the end, Shinjiro isn't alone in moving forward.''

----

(|============================ Iwatodai Dormitory ============================|)

-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-

A large four-story dormitory used by the Specialized Extracurricular Execution

Squad, only five minutes from Iwatodai Station. Upon entering, one passes a desk

with a sign-in book for guests to find a large carpeted common room that's well

appointed for co-ed gatherings.

A TV is usually on with the local news or a movie that's been loaded into the

DVD player for a student to enjoy. A table for shared dinners, or more often

study sessions, takes up the other half of the dorm, as well as a kitchen should

one dare to show off their skills to their fellow students.

There are two winding staircases on either side. The one on the left simply says

'Boys' while the other on the right states 'No Boys Except By Invitation.' The

implicit threat of execution need not be written down for those who violate

these rules. The second and third stories are living spaces divided by gender

with common spaces that have study areas and bookshelves available.

The fourth story is the command center with surveillance capabilities for not

just different parts of the city but each room within the dorms. The Chairman

has assured all who live here that this capability is strictly necessary.

BGM - Dormitory Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj-FrFI0qnM

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
It has been two days since the SEES dorm raid. The good news is Shinjiro didn't immediately ditch the dorms and head to the alleyways again like he has before as a stress mechanism.

The bad news is he's been avoidant, often in his room or out where he can't be easily reached, and definitely not talkative at school.

But today he has no choice. He's gotta venture into the kitchen at some point, survey what they need to replace from what was stolen or destroyed alongside the fridge.

He's in his red coat and beanie as he steps into the kitchen, his notebook in one hand and a pen in the other. Yes, he's taking this seriously.

Food prep is no laughing matter.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
It has been two days since the SEES dorm raid.

Suzume has continued to live in the dorm, because where else is she going to go? She has been extremely strict about checking locks even though none of the locks made any difference at all and has made sure to have her Evoker handy pretty much all the time.

Shinjiro arrives in the kitchen. Nobody bothers him for about ten minutes.

And then Suzume is there, for similar reasons as he is - she keeps some stuff in the kitchen and she wants to see how much of it is still there. Whether she was expecting to run into Shinjiro or not is a good question. She hasn't spoken to him since the attack.

"Yo," she says, her all-purpose greeting, as she stands in the kitchen doorway. Not getting too close to him while he works, but also making it harder to leave. "How much crap are we missing?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
As Suzume arrives, Shinjiro tilts his head to her. They had an awkward time on the roof, but he's not going to bring it up first.

"A lot of stuff spoiled when they blasted the fridge, so if it was perishable, you want a new one. ...maybe in general. Doesn't look like they hit the pantry, at least, so anything that was in there should be fine."

He steps back, in case she wants a look, before checking his notes on ingredients. "I'll need to make a grocery run soon. ...how are you holding up?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
"Nnn."

Suzume clearly is unhappy with the damage to the fridge, but she pushes in and past anyway, because she had a soda in there. Sodas can't spoil! They can merely become not cold.

She can't find it. Either it was damaged or someone else got it first in the 'trying to clear out the fridge' process, but she remains in front of the fridge for a few moments to try, rummaging.

"I'm okay," she says, into the fridge. "She didn't beat me up that bad. All that combat training helped." Even if Suzume sometimes still feels weird about using it on people, and not Shadows. She didn't say that at the time, but...

It's in her to get into a shoving match, maybe even a fistfight. Using her tonfa against someone who was, to all appearances, trying to kill her... that's different.

"What about you?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro lets Suzume forward - to her luck, he doesn't just ditch her, either, to avoid what may be awkward. "Good. My injuries were also lighter than some."

An exhale, as he knows how that looks. He leans against the counter, thinking.

"...I'm trying to process it still. It's... not the first time my home's been violated like that."

Though last time, it was burnt down. This time... it survived.

"I think it'll take some time."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
"Nnn," Suzume doesn't-say again. It's not really *speaking* as such. It's kind of just a noncommital noise. "I hate it," she admits. "I feel like someone's gonna barge in, all the time. Even if nobody ever does. Nobody's even been up to my room but me."

She gives up on finding the soda and turns, reflexively closing the fridge door behind her. Which doesn't help Shinjiro sort through it, but she did it without thinking.

"Was she going easy on you?" Suzume asks. "'Shin-chan'." She shouldn't be sore about the name. It's not like Niko was particularly kind about using Suzume's correct one, either. But she made it sound like they were close...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"...yeah," Shinjiro says sympathetically. He feels the same way, but doesn't know how to verbalize it.

But as she closes the door, he frowns, though her question distracts him entirely from moving to deal with that.

"...I doubt it," he sighs. "I think that'd be a betrayal of the way she lives her life."

He winces, as he realizes how that sounds again, and what Suzume's trying to figure out.

"...Niko and I ran in similar circles. We... have things in common, and eventually, we started encountering each other. We became friends. I don't like everything she's doing, though, and I don't entirely get why she did this."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume scowls.

She isn't very good at concealing her emotions; she never has been. Shinjiro can read her like a book, at least if he's looking at her; it's harder from just her voice.

"Some things in common, huh." Suzume looks up at Shinjiro, actually meeting his eyes, almost a little challenging. "I was wondering. Because I got a good look at her Evoker, you know. It's not one of ours."

"But you showed up with yours before you re-joined SEES, didn't you? I thought it was your old one, that you kept from before. But all of OURS have SEES written on the side." Engraved, not written, but close enough.

"So - with the 'similar circles' - " Suzume bites back what she was going to say. Then: "I just wanna know what's going ON. I already can't trust Kirijo Group, apparently!" Who else can't she trust?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro listens. He doesn't interrupt Suzume, as she scowls, though he does frown sharply. He also doesn't interrupt her as she makes her observations.

In the end, he's silent for a long moment. He steps forward - it may seem he's going to leave - and instead heads for the fridge, before turning. He's clearly burning anxious energy via motion.

"...Two years ago, I left SEES. That was the first time I met Strega."

His tone makes it clear this is Serious, what he's about to share. His gaze is stony, but the fact he's going to tell Suzume this at all is because he thinks she is owed it.

"They had something I needed, that I didn't feel I could get elsewhere. So I started buying it off them. At first, for a long time, it was just money. Eventually, they wanted information on supernatural happenings and whatever I got keeping my ear to the ground." He leaves a gap there. Maybe he'll broach it again later.

"They're not good people. I've never liked them, they give me the creeps. But when Yamagishi was trapped... I didn't feel I could go back to Kirijo. Not with..." He trails off.

"So instead, I bought an Evoker off of them."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume gets out of Shinjiro's way when he goes to the fridge. This also means he's in his way again if he wants to go anywhere ELSE but, well. It's not a big kitchen. There's not many places for her to stand!

Two years ago, he left SEES. Suzume knew this - well, maybe not the exact timing but she knew he was with SEES when it was brand new, and then he wasn't, because he told her that part. He was coming 'back' to SEES, after all. He already knew Mitsuru and Akihiko.

She doesn't know why. She wants to. But she doesn't ask yet.

But they had something he needed. Suzume doesn't know what it is. Something that must be hard to get, or he would have gotten it somewhere else if he thought they were creepy... or he's lying. She can't tell. And she hates that, the anger building up again.

Especially as they turned him into an information-gatherer. Or maybe...

"Be honest," Suzume says, her voice a little tight. "Because if you don't I'll kick your ass and I don't care how much trouble I get in for it." (Odds are good she'd lose, or at least not win. She doesn't care.)

"Did you ever tell them anything about us? About SEES? To get your... stuff?"

Suzume closes her hand into a fist, then relaxes it by force of will. "Because you came back to Kirijo - to SEES - pretty soon after that. I mean, when you came and bailed us out in Tartarus. And I'm not saying I wish you hadn't. But..."

How much does an Evoker cost? Especially if they're not asking for money. It's not like Shinjiro HAS a lot of money, even now - and he had less before.

"...I hate this." Suzume hates that she has to ask. She feels like she's breaking a bond just pushing on it. But what else can she do? Fume? Be wrong?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"I'm not going to lie to you," Shinjiro says with utmost seriousness. "That's not fair to anyone."

A sigh. "My returning to SEES has nothing to do with what Strega asked from me. I made a deal for... my stuff the day before I got arrested in Sumaru. They cashed in the favor I owed them for the Evoker, in exchange for information. They... wanted to know who my 'new friends' were. In SEES, outside SEES."

A shaky breath. The guilt is palpable. "I gave names. A little bit of capabilities I'd seen in action witnessing people fight, nothing they couldn't get themselves. Some of my thoughts on the group's cohesiveness, nothing specific."

He tilts his head, to make sure no one's coming. He doesn't want to be eavesdropped on right now.

"When I was arrested, Kirijo bailed me out on her own. We... had a talk. I didn't tell her about that, but I did tell her about what I was buying. I asked for a week to think when she asked me to rejoin SEES. Then, I decided it was best to face the music, and I came back."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume clenches her fist again. This time she doesn't relax it.

But she doesn't swing it at Shinjiro either.

"So they wanted you to spy. And you just told them!" Suzume snaps. "Names - I mean, anyone can get those. But what we can do? How we worked together? Were you trying to get us killed? And then when you came back - "

"You didn't even tell Kirijo-san. I know she's your friend. I've seen her and you in the same room before. So you kept it entirely secret until now?" She makes a deliberate effort to lower her voice, to not start shouting so that someone just on the stairs could hear them. (At least, with the television broken and one of the couches damaged, nobody's sitting in the living room.)

A beat, then: "What 'stuff'," Suzume half-asks, half-states, suddenly. "It wasn't the Evoker. You only asked for that at the end. So it was something else. What were you getting off them?" Food? No, he could get that other places. A place to stay? ...maybe, but there was always the dorms if he was really desperate...

She's mad now, and she knows it. First she had to take in everything about Kirijo Group. What they told her, and what she talked about with Yukari afterwards, and others. Now, this. She knows she's reacting hard, but she can't stop herself.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Suzume clenches her fist, and Shinjiro's body is full of tension. But he has no hostility in his motions - just depressive guilt.

"...Fukura, I wasn't spying-" he starts, trying to make an excuse, but the words don't leave his throat. He told them what he knew, but it was never his intent to *steal* the information for them. He definitely doesn't like them that much.

There's a long period of silence. If she just hit him, he'd probably feel better. Eventually, in the stand-off, he just says it.

"I'm dying, Fukura."

He's never looked healthy. His skin is pallid compared to a normal person's, and his hands shake. He's gaunt comparatively to his size. But all of that could be chalked up to his previous living conditions, right?

"I was buying medicine off them, okay? Stuff that's killing me if I take it, and killing me if I don't. I've got a year to fucking live and I just. I don't know. I don't fucking know!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
"If you weren't SPYING why did you TELL THEM?"

Suzume *does* raise her voice at that, and regrets it, but by that point she's too far to stop: "What could they do with that other than what they did? Attack us? Fuck with us? She said it - they don't WANT us to stop the Dark Hour. They'll fight us for it!"

It doesn't help that one of the things she said was not to trust Kirijo Group. That echoes conversations she's had with SEES after all...

But Shinjiro continues after Suzume trails off into silence. It takes a moment, but he says it.

Suzume loses her flush - in fact, she goes pale. "Bullshit," she says, but her heart isn't in it. She can tell - Shinjiro isn't lying. And -

A moment of memory, as if she remembered something about it -

The feeling of cold to go with the deja vu. A chip of ice, in her chest -

Something is familiar. She can't hold onto the thought. But it feels *real* in a way that she can't deny.

Suzume practically deflates in place. Her challenging pose becomes a slump-shouldered slouch as she breaks her gaze with Shinjiro. "And you didn't say anything," she says, her voice having lost all its heat. (Would she have said something if it was her?) "...Just one year." That explains the promise. Why he had to MAKE a promise.

She can't look back up at him.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro is quiet for a long period as Suzume deflates. The guilt just exacerabates, the feeling of talking about his impending death just...

He's hollow for a moment.

When he finally remembers to breath, he sighs. "What should have I said? Tell everyone my deepest regret? Tell them to stay away from me, because I just hurt everyone in the end?"

Another sigh, as he realizes *he's* getting agitated at her. "...yeah. I'm scared. I don't know how to ask for help, how to... fucking deal with this. If I had gone back to Kirijo earlier, told her what was going on, maybe this all could have been avoided, but..."

He looks to the floor, taking another deep breath.

"I made my bed, and now I have to lie in it. This is just a weight I have to carry until I'm gone."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume isn't hollow. But she feels ... Not great. Pressing Shinjiro that way - she knew she was pushing at their bond. And now with this...

The worst part is, she still feels angry for what he's done, at the same time she's mad at herself for treating him the way she just did. She doesn't know WHAT to think.

She should apologize. But the words catch in her throat after everything else he's said. He made his bed, and he has to lie in it... until he's gone. It's hard to imagine Shinjiro being gone and she's only known him for a few months.

Suzume raises her fist -

And punches Shinjiro on the shoulder. Not hard. The way she's done it before; she tends to express herself with friendly physical contact, but she's a little rougher about it than a pat or a hug.

"You shouldn't have gotten buddy with Strega," she says, her voice catching once. "But - shit. I can't say I wouldn't have done something stupid too. I do stupid things all the time." And for less understandable reasons than Shinjiro. "Maybe it would have. But maybe it would have been worse."

What else can she say? There must be something. But she's having trouble putting the right words together. "..." A longer pause. "...sorry."

She understands not knowing how to ask for help. She understands that so well.

"But you're with SEES now. With us," she emphasizes.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
The fist is raised. Shinjiro doesn't even close his eyes, breath slowed. He definitely doesn't move. But as she impacts with his shoulder, she makes contact, he listens to her words and finally releases *some* of that tension.

"...you're right. I'm sorry too. ...I'll tell Kirijo about what I've done when I have a chance. But.."

He glances away, for just a moment. "I can't tell the others about my condition. Not yet. I don't... I don't want to leave, but neither am I ready to share that with everyone. Okay?"

He trusted Suzume, because he cared about their bond more than the secret, in that moment.

"...thank you, by the way. I really do like it here."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume scowls for a moment, a much more accustomed expression for her face.

"I won't," Suzume promises, "unless you pass out or something and someone needs to figure out what to do. But you'd better tell her, even if you don't tell anyone else." A beat. "Everything, I mean."

Strega. The sickness. Everything.

"And just remember. You've got people on your side."

Like her. If they're still friends after today... she's not sure what would make them not, short of Shinjiro defecting to Strega or something.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-01-14: Bonding Over Zombie Murder

2026-01-21T02:06:40Z

Thornpunk: Thornpunk moved page 2026-01-14: Bonding Over Zombie Murder to 2026-01-04: Bonding Over Zombie Murder: Misspelled title: wrong date!

#REDIRECT [[2026-01-04: Bonding Over Zombie Murder]]

2026-01-04: Bonding Over Zombie Murder

2026-01-21T02:06:40Z

Thornpunk: Thornpunk moved page 2026-01-14: Bonding Over Zombie Murder to 2026-01-04: Bonding Over Zombie Murder: Misspelled title: wrong date!

*'''Log: Bonding Over Zombie Murder'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Suzume Fukura]]
*'''Where:''' Paulownia Mall
*'''OOC Date:''' January 04, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' September 05, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro and Suzume meet up to hang out at the arcade after school, where they shoot zombies and discuss some of their hangups.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro Aragaki has returned to school. That is surprising! Uniform and all, and has not stopped attending since his return, showing up each day.

What's possibly more surprising is that one day, he asked Suzume if she wanted to hang out at the arcade after school. It's probable he's feeling some loneliness, but he does like her energy, so she's a good person to go hang out with.

When they actually meet up, Shinjiro's in his usual coat, having stopped to change (because a uniform isn't warm enough outside), leaning near the entrance to the arcade at the mall.

"Hey. How are you?"

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume has *also* returned to school, though it was significantly less surprising when she did it. A last-ditch session with Junpei and Minato saved her from being behind on homework, at least.

She was surprised to see Shinjiro in uniform, after what they'd talked about before; she knew he didn't attend. She guesses Mitsuru got to him, even if he'd said she wouldn't. But she hadn't said anything about it, either. She certainly didn't give him any guff about it.

When they meet up, Suzume is also not in uniform, though in her case it was less because she's cold and more because she prefers pants to skirts; she's got her Tigers T-shirt on along with some comfortable jeans.

"Fine," is her immediate response. It doesn't mean a lot because she almost always answers that question exactly the same way, but she really is fine, so she continues: "Being back at class always kind of sucks, but whatever, summer doesn't last forever." She stretches out her arms: "I could do with a break." Suzume, you have been back at class for literally three days.

She glances up at Shinjiro. "What about you?" Given, you know, all the changes. Yakushima. Amada. ...class.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro appreciates that he wasn't given any crap. He made the decision himself, after all, even if it might come off as Mitsuru having gotten to him.

"Also fine. School's hard to get used to again. Still hate it just as much," he says with a lightly teasing tone. "I've had enough breaks, thanks."

But Yakushima, Amada, class... "It's been rough, though. Hopefully it eases up a bit, but that's unlikely. I *did* get Aigis to eat something, so that's a plus, at least."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume is perfectly okay with giving her friends crap, and Shinjiro counts as a friend (she feels he does, anyway) but she's saving it for other topics.

"Yeah, well, you were gone for a while," Suzume says, as she steps past Shinjiro, toward the arcade. "I'd offer to lend you my notes, but one, my notes kind of suck, and two, wrong year." Her notes aren't that bad... in some subjects. She had to borrow Hitomi's for exam prep for math.

She pauses. "Wait, she can eat? Where does she put it? Does she have, like, a robot stomach...?" Suzume frowns, thinking about that. "Does she have to clean it out. It's not like she, like... processes it. Right?"

She shakes her head. "If you'd told me weeks ago that I'd be in a dorm with a *robot* I wouldn't have believed you. Now we're all just - she's just here! It's wild!" Suzume is kind of excited by the sci-fi, though: "I wonder what else there is out there that we haven't seen yet?"

Suzume shoves the door open to the arcade, gesturing Shinjiro to enter first if he wants with a dramatic sweep of her arm. She's got some energy to burn.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"It's fine. Worst case, I bug Kirijo," Shinjiro jokes again. "Or Aki, but he's all muscles for brains." He says it affectionately, at least!

"I think she burns it," he says about Aigis. "Would make sense to me, at least."

"What's the over-under on aliens, you think?" he asks her as they enter the arcade, taking the first step in. "Like. Do you think there's moon men?"

Shinjiro glances at the games, but he hasn't been at an arcade for fun in a long time, so... "What should we hit first, Fukura?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume sometimes feels that the only thing she's good for around SEES is her strength, so she doesn't respond to the joke quite as well as some people might have; she doesn't scowl, at least, because she knows that Shinjiro likes Aki and it's not meant to be cruel. "I figured she'd just tell you to find it yourself," is what she says instead.

Suzume has encountered Mitsuru about school-related activities.

As for Aigis: "Burns it? But then she'd have exhaust," Suzume says, before her brain goes several places: "I'm not gonna think about that," she decides firmly, shaking her head hard enough to ruffle her hair. (Which is shorter than it was on Yakushima, but still kind of floofy-shaggy.)

"I don't know about aliens," Suzume says, "at least not on the moon. Maybe Mars." Is she joking or not? "Though with our luck there's demons on the moon, like they've got in Sumaru. Moon rabbits, or something. Space mochi." Pause. "I'd eat it."

What should they hit first? "I could kick your ass at Night Parade," she offers, "or we could do something co-op. Is there a line at Horror House?" She stands on tiptoes as if trying to see. (It's clear.)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro definitely means nothing bad to Akihiko, but they're also basically brothers. It's the only reason he talks about him that way. He wouldn't let anyone else do the same.

But, about Mitsuru... "I dunno. We both want me to graduate. We all made a promise in middle school to graduate together. It's why I came back."

"Fukura, she's a *magic robot*. It's entirely possible she breaks the laws of physics." A pause. "Do you think space mochi is in weird flavors?"

Once they're inside, Shinjiro shakes his head about the Night Parade. "Nah, my reflexes aren't good enough." His hands shake too much. Suzume may have even noticed before.

"It's open. Let's do Horror House. You'll have to teach me how to play, it's been a while," he does say, as they approach it.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
A promise, huh.

It's kind of a weird thing to promise. They're all in the same year; presumably they would all graduate together, unless something went really weird. She looks at Shinjiro as if trying to figure out what that thing might be, but gives up after a few moments. Maybe one of them almost moved away or something, she thinks, uncertain. Mitsuru wouldn't, but the other two...

...yeah, okay.

"See, that's even weirder," she says, "because magic only works after midnight, and it's not like she naps until then." Suzume isn't entirely sure how Aigis works, but it has to be technology, right? It's not all her Persona; it's not like she's only awake during the Dark Hour. She scowls, thinking: "Maybe she only breaks the rules of physics during the Dark Hour."

This way madness lies.

Suzume does know enough to keep her voice down, though, or make it sound like they're talking about a game or something, and she knows to switch the topic once they're inside: "It's a shooting game," she says. "Light gun. Point it at zombies, shoot zombies. It's not usually my best kind but I can manage."

(Suzume also has not noticed his hands shake much. She hasn't been in a position to. He seems so energized in the kitchen...)

"When you run out of ammo, reload by shooting somewhere that's not the screen," Suzume finishes. "DOn't worry. I'll cover you." She grins as she picks up one of the light guns.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Maybe she's powered by a magical chunk of Sumaru," Shinjiro jokes. But then he drops it once they're inside.

"Light gun, huh. I'll give it a try."

He picks up the gun. When they start playing... he's got strong motions, but his aim isn't perfect. He decides to shoot center-mass instead of for headshots, simply because he has a better accuracy with them.

"Tell me if I'm doing shit," he says. He probably *isn't*, but it's clear he's a newbie, even if he *did* immediately reload well.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
"I mean, how do you ask that kinda thing?" Suzume wonders. "Just... 'hey, I was trying to figure out how you work'?"

A pause. "I'll see if I can convince Junpei to do it. He came up with the Babe Hunt, he's used to saying stupid things to girls." She may have looked at Shinjiro out of the corner of her eye on that one...

When they start playing, Suzume has skills. She's not as good at it as she is at fighting games - less practice; she's never had one at home to play. But she's pretty good.

"C'mon, over here! Take shots at the ones on the left - no, crap, they come in from above - !"

She also has a tendency to take charge. She knows the first couple stages of this game pretty well... but only the first couple; past that she has less experience and can't predict quite as much. The jumps get her - they're not really jump-*scares* precisely but they do throw her off. So while she pulls ahead on kills at first, it doesn't last and they balance out more further on.

"Not bad," she eventually says, with another one of those crooked grins.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"You don't," Shinjiro does say seriously. "It's one thing to speculate, but another to ask, you know? She's got feelings." Which surprised him, but he definitely gets the vibe she's a lot like them.

As they shoot, Shinjiro listens, and that he's good at. He's a good co-op player, which comes from years of having to play with Aki and not get into a fight *too* quickly.

"You're pretty good," Shinjiro says back to her. "You go to the arcade a bunch, right?"

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
"Obviously she's got feelings." That part wasn't even up for debate; she acts like a person, she looks like a person, she's a person. Suzume isn't entirely sure what to make of Aigis but *that* part she's sure on. "Doesn't mean you can't ask. I mean, we study biology. And people asked where I'm from."

(She's from Port Island, so it wasn't a very interesting conversation.)

But, as for the arcade...

Suzume lets out a slightly noncommital grunt, but Shinjiro - who she likes, despite the gap in year and life experience - deserves a better answer then that. "...Yeah," she says, after a brief pause. "I like the games. And it's better than hanging around at home all the time, even if you get looked at weird by some of the guys - well, you wouldn't."

It's always awkward to talk about her home life with someone who, until recently, lived out on his own; his only family is Aki. So generally Suzume doesn't. But she's definitely spent at least part of her time at arcades, or shut up in her room, or out with friends doing sports, to avoid hanging out with her family.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"I guess that's a point," Shinjiro replies to Suzume.

At the arcade, though, he considers her answer. He doesn't entirely have context for something like that - he's never had a home, or a family to avoid, or... any of that, but Suzume's feelings are still entirely valid and he knows that. So...

"I get different kinds of weird looks," he muses. "I stopped going places like this after I chose to live on the streets. Stopped doing much of anything. But it's been surprisingly nice to get back into it."

A sigh, led by a small smile. "I think I like it. Don't tell anyone I said that, though."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume doesn't tell many people about her home life in general.

And even if Shinjiro knew her sister way back when (he might have; she always went to school at Gekkoukan) she's gone now, and it's very easy to not put two and two together and realize they're the same Fukura family. Suzume and Kiyomi were so different, and it's not like they ever spent much time around the other...

"Huh," Suzume says, sounding noncommital again. But this time it's because she's thinking. She never really thought about it - obviously people avoid the homeless on Port Island. She chose to speak to him, beyond that first time, because she thought he knew something; they didn't become friendly until later.

"I guess you would," she agrees. But then she grins: "Except that time I caught you digging in the crane machine for that Hee Ho doll for that girl. You've been doing THAT, at least."

Don't tell anyone he said that... well, she hasn't told anyone about the Hee Ho doll, anyway. (Except Hitomi. But she was there anyway, so it doesn't count.)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Whether or not Shinjiro's connected it, he'd never say anything. Not his place.

"...tch," he tells Suzume as she brings up the crane machine, but it's not actually upset at all, more embarrassed. "She was a reseller, anyways. Didn't even want it. Still have it somewhere." What a bizarre day.

"Besides... helping people's important. We have to make the world a better place before we leave it. Even if I forgot that for a bit." It might sound like morbid philosophy stuff, but he seems fairly serious about it, at least.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
"You did all of that and she ended up being a reseller?"

Suzume doesn't know whether to laugh or not at Shinjiro's embarrassment. Sorry, Shinjiro; your Yakuza substory has ended in chaos. "At least you got a Hee Ho out of it, I guess."

(She will never say whether she thinks the Hee Ho doll is cute or not.)

Helping people's important... Suzume lets out a puff of breath. "You take that seriously, huh?" she asks. Well, it makes sense. "I get that. I mean." She waves a hand. "The whole thing with SEES," though she keeps her voice down for that. "It's not like anyone else can do that. It's why I'm here, if I can protect someone." Like when she Awoke, in Mementos... "And... everything else."

She wants to be the one people depend on. Is that so bad...?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"True," Shinjiro says about the Hee Ho.

But about taking it seriously... "Yeah. It's important to me." He's not going to say more, can't risk hurting Suzume if she figures out something's personal there.

But, about wanting to be the one people depend on... "That's a good motive. I think this life is one of the worst things that can happen, but... if we're in it, we have to live it. Protecting people's worthy, you know?"

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume has guessed some things about Shinjiro and absolutely none of them are that one.

(She did figure out he's a lot less rough than he likes to let on, though.)

Suzume shoves her hands in her pockets. "C'mon," she says, making a gesture - step away from the machine, they'll find another one. There's plenty to play, and it lets her continue to speak without raising her voice: "You weren't there when it happened, but when I first found out about this, I was in Mementos with a friend. We did the dare, you know?"

"We ran into some pixies. And he froze up. Twisted his foot running, but even if he hadn't he couldn't do anything. He panicked. I took a swing, but I didn't have an Evoker so it didn't do shit. SEES had to rescue me."

Suzume makes a fist. "I don't wanna be the one who gets rescued," she admits, more quietly. "I don't want to be the one who people have to bail out, who can't do anything for herself. So yeah, like I said. I get it. I don't think it's so bad."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro walks away with Suzume, listening about the dare.

"...I get it. I decided a long time ago, I didn't want to be a burden on anyone. So... I try to be self-sufficient, try to be more dependable than dependent. But I think I do a pretty decent job on that."

As they look for a machine, he pauses momentarily. "Besides, we're built for that. Tanks, you know?" He's being vague in terminology, but hopefully Suzume will understand he means Personas.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume elbows Shinjiro, exactly the same way she would someone her own age. "You do fine," she says. "I mean, hell, you've bailed us out before..."

As for tanks: "I make do," she says, with a slight grin. She plays video games enough to understand the reference. "And I've been keeping up on my workouts too. I'll show you sometime."

She hesitates for a moment. Better not to bring that up HERE, so instead: "Later, I wanna talk to you about Kirijo. Group," she clarifies, not Mitsuru. "Got a couple more questions. But not here. For now..."

"You want a drink? My treat," she clarifies. "I could do with a soda."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro at least takes the elbow well, nodding. As for the workouts, he nods to that too.

"Sure," he says casually to the thing about Kirijo. His face is even, but not cold - it's worth talking about, and he has info.

"Sure. I'll take that or a canned coffee. Thanks again for hanging out."

It's been nice! He enjoys spending time with Suzume.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-01-04: Bonding Over Zombie Murder

2026-01-21T02:06:20Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Bonding Over Zombie Murder''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Suzume Fukura *'''Where:''' Paulownia Mall *'''OOC Date:''' January 04, 2026 *'''IC Date:''' September 05, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro and Suzume meet up to hang out at the arcade after school, where they shoot zombies and discuss some of their hangups.'' ---- <Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed. <poem> Shinjiro Aragaki has returned to school. That is surprising! Uniform and all, a..."

2026-01-09: Sugar and Salt

2026-01-14T09:05:04Z

Thornpunk: Thornpunk moved page 2026-01-09: Sugar and Salt to 2026-01-13: Sugar and Salt: Misspelled title: correcting date

#REDIRECT [[2026-01-13: Sugar and Salt]]

2026-01-13: Sugar and Salt

2026-01-14T09:05:04Z

Thornpunk: Thornpunk moved page 2026-01-09: Sugar and Salt to 2026-01-13: Sugar and Salt: Misspelled title: correcting date

*'''Log: Sugar and Salt'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Umie Akabane]]
*'''Where: Naganaki Shrine, Iwatodai City'''
*'''OOC Date:''' January 13, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' September 09, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Umie and Shinjiro, unable to find a place where they can bake a cake, opt instead to pick up some cake, and to eat it at Naganaki Shrine. They catch up on the many events that have happened, but like anything sweet, you need to have a little salt to appreciate it.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>Shinjiro and Umie made a promise to try baking together. The problem: Umie can't bake in her apartment and Shinjiro can't bring her to the dorm. After a moment of false despair, they decided to do the next best thing: eat cake together.

By the time they get to Naganaki Shrine, the sun's starting to wind down, so it's a little cooler. Shinjiro's in his red coat and beanie, school being off today, with a bag holding a cake in his left hand.

"It's really nice here, and they shouldn't get on us if we're clean and quiet," he tells her as he looks for a place to sit on a nearby bench.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> What a terrible dilemma!

".... Maybe if I make a... skillet cake..." Umie wonders aloud. "Maybe if I put a bunch of pancakes on top of each other, and then, put frosting around it... but then I'd need to figure out how to bring it over here on the subway..."

Therein comes that latchkey kid thinking: making do with what you had around, even if it meant some pretty unholy culinary concoctions. However, a pancake 'cake' was one monstriosity Umie never had to consider, purely because of the access to an oven: a rather nice one, in fact, in retrospect.

Entering the Naganaki Shrine, the blonde reflects on how much smaller the place feels, now that the festival has come and gone.

Dressed with a white jacket over a red top, white cloth half-gloves cover her upper arms, over what Shinjiro would know is the Mark, at least on her right wrist. (Is it strange that Shinjiro and Shiryuu asked the same question about the Mark?)

"It's just your birthday again," suggests Umie, as they sit on some benches against the wall overlooking the playground area. Thankfully, no children are here now due to the time of day; it'd be awkward to be eating delicious cake in front of them.

"So, happy birthday again." The second bag holds some drinks, napkins, and plastic utensils, which Umie sets out over the bench space between them. "Not as thrilling the second time, but it *does* make the experience a little different, doesn't it?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>"How many birthdays am I going to get in thirty days?" Shinjiro teases, since he celebrated it twice, even if there's a sad note to the whole thing that he tries to brush away.

He hasn't talked to Umie in person in a short bit. He regularly texts her, and has occasionally sent her a meme or a cat picture, but otherwise it's mostly check-ins to make sure everything's okay.

"It's nice. It's been a weird week, you know. School is... it feels familiar and different all at the same time. Haven't missed a day, at least."

Bringing the cake out of his bag to set with the utensils on the desk, Shinjiro turns over to Umie. "How have you been holding up?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Umie sees that sad note.

She refuses to give it any attention.

"Complain any harder and I *will* see what I can make just using a toaster and a hotplate," Umie threatens, leveling a lavender nail up at Shinjiro's face.

In spite of the lack of face to face communication, for Umie, it feels like no time at all. Perhaps, that's just a consequence of her not being in school, and instead being subjected to the whims of adult life.

Summer really does seem to pass in the blink of an eye...

"I bet. Are you managing well enough, though?" She slings an elbow on the back of the bench. "I bet you're the talk of the school; Mr. Tall-and-mysterious~ You'll have a fan club before you know it, I imagine..." Her smile slips to something positively devilish. "Then you really will begin to regret coming back. Any teachers or classes you're liking so far?"

As for Umie? "Weelll, mostly boring, until I really think back on it all." A lot of it is subjects she just can't talk about over cake, but if she's threatening to feed him cake so much, maybe it's better *to* involve him in things.

"For one, if that bridge ninja ever bothers you again, tell him that you'll tell me all about it." She smirks at Shinjiro, though the expression is less directed at him and more at another person who is... not present. "We've come to a... certain understanding, one can say. The guy tried to go after the Old Maid, for example."

As much as she tries to tailor it towards a funny story, she can't.

"He's a strange one," she says, instead.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>"You're a criminal, Umie." Shinjiro instantly replies to her threat (it's definitely a threat).

He'll start serving the cake himself, thinking to her question. "Tch, it's not like that. I disappeared for long enough no one knows who I am. The winter uniform in the summer's got gossip going, but no oen says anything to my face."

A beat.

"Well, Mr. Ekoda did, but he's a prick. Other than that... nah, just trying to get through it." Shinjiro shrugs as he finishes plating, handing one to Umie and taking his own.

"That's... good? You two friends now or something?" He doesn't seem to mind, though... "I'll remember that."

Though as he takes a bite of cake, his face sours soon after, but not from the taste. "The Old Maid... you think we're running out of time? He's planning something big with that video announcement he made. And... I don't think he's just making shit up, either."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> "You're only discovering that now?" Umie grins, handing Shinjiro his drink. "You need to be faster on the take, Shinji-kun. Or maybe you were so taken by my sweet, innocent nature that it took until now tom discover I was a devil in disguise?"

(She's being sarcastic, thankfully.)

To have no one remember you when you come back... there's two ways that can go. Umie's eyelashes lower as she takes the slice of cake. "Does that make you... feel sad, that no one seemed to remember you? Or was it more like a blessing in disguise, like you could redefine who you are?"

Aside from the things he can't change.

"Well, screw Mr. Ekoda-san, then." Umie takes a declarative bite of cake, washing it down with some of her soda. "Does it make it easier, that there's lots more SEES members?" Even if being in SEES didn't mean they'd understand all of why you left, or why you dress like it's winter in summer.

Is she... friends. With Shiryuu Ryouhara. Umie's eyebrows raise as she tries to put words to the concept of 'what the heck is going on between her and Shiryuu'. She tries again.

Finally, she waves a hand. "Ask Reiya Aomori and I bet he can give you some hot gossip there. He was with a few of your SEES classmates when they intervened in a matter I had completely under control with a certain Okaga-san, who, if his current patterns hold, you'll probably see more of. Anyway, not only did my personal face-off with Okaga-san get interrupted by some well-meaning SEES members, Mr. Bridge Ninja also showed up, and--"

What should be a humorous, if dangerous story lurks into those in-between sections of knowledge, where secrets are glimpsed, reminding Umie of other questions still left unanswered. "Really, what I should be mentioning is..." She looks down at her slice of cake. "This 'Okaga-san' used an Evoker like yours. As in... like yours, specifically, Shinji-kun."

There's also the part with the Old Maid. "... I intervened in another case, this time concerning someone named Maria Sakurai," Umie says, quietly. "She went to my old school: Seven Sisters."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>"Hmmm. No, that part was pretty obvious." Shinjiro takes his drink without batting an eye, before sighing to the part about school. "...a little of both. On one hand, I don't have to burden anyone. On the other..." He trails off, looking over to the shrine.

"I guess? At the least, Kirijo knows and will have my back. But no one but her knows about my condition within SEES."

Shinjiro turns it around in his head about Shiryuu and Okaga. "Never heard the name. Glad everyone was able to drive him off, but..."

His eyes darken at the Evoker. Is he with the NWO? No, more likely...

"Strega?" Shinjiro asks. He hasn't told Umie directly where he got his Evoker, but he exhales. "I had a business relationship with Strega for the last two years." Same amount of time he's been on his meds. "I paid them and maybe traded some information, they gave me what I needed. That's how... I got that Evoker so fast, when we saved Yamagishi."

Shinjiro digs into his cake, clearly awkward. The part about Maria, at least, doesn't slip by him. "There was also an attack at Shujin. I poked around with Uchida."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> "At least hesitate a *little*," Umie jokes, knowing full well she prefers Shinjiro just this way.

Even if it hurts, sometimes, when those words are pointed towards himself. "... It's okay to want things for yourself," she murmurs. "Punishing yourself won't correct anything in the grand scheme of things. Especially when it comes to connections; they'll be around, even if you're not face to face." That seemed to be a better way of getting the point across, rather than saying 'when you're gone'.

Why punish herself more than she needs to?

"I see," Umie reflects quietly, as she eats another piece of cake. "Maybe that's for the best, in the long run. You get to decide who knows, instead of making it everybody's problem."

Okaga. Shinjiro's never heard of the name. "Me and Uchida-san from the Kuzunoha Detective Agency came across him opening a coffin during the Dark Hour." She looks at Shinjiro directly now, her expression as solemn as a funeral. "You would be the one person who'd understand why I'd take extra offense to that. So... I've made a point of trying to catch him in the act again."

Strega? Shinjiro asks. "That or NWO," Umie murmurs. "I'm beginning to lean more the former, though. It *does* sound like something they'd do, right?"

And then, Shinjiro comes out with it. Umie's eyes widen. "But that's..." She takes a moment to digest this, turning his words over in her mind.

He's willing to tell her, for once, and the Joker Killer wasn't always with them, right? And two years means...

".... Your meds, right." She frowns. "... Aomori-kun is looking into the matter of the non-SEES Evokers."

It's a statement, and nothing more, since when it comes down to it, Umie can't fully know if she could trust Reiya, even if, at the same time, she doesn't have any reason *not* to trust him.

"Make of that what you will."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>Shinjiro doesn't hesitate. That's just how he is! Not until she tries to get him to want things for himself.

"Some days, I feel lonely. I ask people to go hang out. And then I realize I have no idea how to do that anymore, like I'm acting from a faded script. Two years is a long time to isolate yourself. And... a lot of days, I barely feel like I know how to be alive anymore."

"Well, if you need help catching him, let me know," he does say on the subject of Okaga.

"...Could be. NWO could do it. But their model is said to be different, right?"

Reiya's mentioned. Shinjiro nods once, to both that and his meds.

"I wonder if Kirijo asked him... but then, I don't think she would. So why...?" Probably his mother, right? There's a lot he doesn't understand.

"There's a lot I don't understand. But I think everything's connected. The sooner we can end the Dark Hour... hopefully the sooner less of this matters."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> "... There'll be some rough spots, I imagine. But, you have one thing many SEES members don't: experience," Umie points out, literally, poking her plastic fork in the air. "Even if you guys never went into Tartarus until everyone else did... they need to understand what it means, to be a person with a Persona once the newness wears off."

Her lips purse.

"You may even sometimes feel it sets you apart, to have those few years over many others, even if you may may feel like you haven't have done much of anything at all." And that won't even tackle the parts Shinjiro punished himself over.

"But they may remind you of things you might've forgotten yourself. That's my take, from what I've learned myself, as the 'senpai'."

NWO, or Strega? "We'll find out, sooner or later. As for help..." She shrugs. "The hard part is just catching him in the act. I can't justify beating him up if he never does it again, right? Not that I *want* to. The guy's as tall as you, and just as skinny--"

And just as sick.

"..."

She lets the topic be, for now, switching to Reiya. "I mean, it's not like I can give great reasons when I involve myself in something," Umie remarks, dryly. "I'm sure there's a reason, but he's not going to tell someone like me."

'The sooner we can end the Dark Hour...'

"Mnh." Umie tries to hide the taste if discontent in her mouth with a spoonful of cake.

She tries to imagine a life without that extra hour.
She tries to imagine a life where she didn't have that quiet, or that freedom.

She tries to imagine a life where fewer people disappeared without a trace.

They both understand the costs.

"..." It's why Umie can't look Shinjiro in the eyes now.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>"...yeah," Shinjiro says with a nod. He doesn't even contest the senpai, for once, mulling it over. Maybe hanging with them will help him... even if it's scary.

"Tall, skinny..." Shinjiro's taking mental notes. "Okaga, you said? If I see him, I'll let you know."

He brushes over the Reiya subject though, because Umie has discontent, and can't look him in the eyes. Shinjiro frowns, taking a shaky breath...

Then, he gently clasps a hand on Umie's shoulder, before moving it back to his lap after a moment of contact. "I'm sorry. I just... we're all so young. Nobody asked us. Even if there's good and bad... I wish we had more of a choice in the matter. More of... an idea of what it'd be like."

Maybe if they knew, many bad things would be averted. Or maybe it'd be worse. Either way... no one else would end up like him.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
"... Yes. Carries a rusty cleaver. Can't miss him." If he's a part of Strega, is it because he took the same pills?

Maybe that's why he's been sighted in Port Island; maybe he's connected to... all of that.

And what is all of that, anyway...? Kirijo seems like a good company.

She feels a hand on her shoulder.

"No, it's..." Umie sighs. "I don't need--" No. Be truthful. "You shouldn't give me your sympathy, or your empathy, especially since you guys have been dealing with the Dark Hour in a way I never did."

Just how long has the Dark Hour been around, if it's always been there for her? That's nearly a decade, at least.

"The Dark Hour was scary at first, but after a year, I began to really see how freeing it was. The year after that, it was like a stress valve. As I got stronger and better with my Persona, it was like another world, filled with demons and shadows. I can't tell you how many times I nearly died, but also, how much I felt alive. Which... made the parts when I went to school the next day seem so... tiring." Well, literally, since it was the Dark Hour.

"Imagine having this whole part of yourself and closing it away from everyone else you know. I never chose the Mark, or my Persona, but neither did I choose my life. But everything I did then, I chose."

Even the one thing she wished she could take back. "By the time I sensed other people like me, I was convinced they were trying to find me, due to what I did."

She waves a hand nonchalantly. "I'm only telling you this because it's something no one else is going to admit: for some of us, the Dark Hour was, and perhaps, still is, freedom."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>Shinjiro listens to Umie explain how the Dark Hour affected him. She knows his story, of course, but he's never fully heard this, and he's looking over at her as she explains, intently paying attention.

"... I guess that's where our lives diverged, despite both just being kids. For you, it's freedom, for me, it's the cage. ...even so, I'm still going to feel empathy."

He takes a small bite of his cake.

"If it gave you life, that's... that's something good it did, then. I can't change my goals. But I don't see you any differently for feeling that way, you know?"

He waves his own fork. "Hell, I was the same way, before I fucked up my life. I wanted to help so bad, make a difference. These things affect us in different ways."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> And yet, it's more complicated, the more Umie tries to pin it down.

"... No, I just had more time before I messed up. I received my Persona when I was eleven." She looks up, a faint smirk on her face, as she leans against her hand. "Four whole years before I made my mistake. I should be more proud of myself, considering how young I was." Her smile disappears. "By the same token, by the time I did what I did... I should have known better."

She sips her soda.

"I made the cage myself, and hid like a coward," she says bluntly, looking Shinjiro directly. "Meanwhile, people like you had to take on a mantle far too heavy, and carry on against an aspect of the Dark Hour I never considered. I was playing pretend in the shadows, while you guys did the real thing, years later."

Contradictory it may be, but the Dark Hour itself is a time of contradictions.

"It gave me freedom, but it took yours away, and it takes the lives away of many people, each night."

'Hell, I was the same way, before I fucked up my life.'

"...." Umie takes another bite of cake. "... It's too bad, we couldn't have sent ourselves back to help each other. I bet you were barely any shorter at fifteen than you are now."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>"...should a kid really know better?" Shinjiro says, but doesn't push, because it's inviting hypocrisy he doesn't want to dwell on. But then..

He gets frustrated, just a bit. His voice becomes firm, not quite angry. "...don't talk about yourself that way. You were fifteen. This life isn't fair to any of us, and that includes you."

He knew his consequences. Did she? No. So it's different.

"After all... keep moving forward, right? That's what you told me."

He does finally come down, though, with Shinjiro moving to crack open his soda, nodding about helping each other. "...well, we can help each other now." He will not reveal the secrets of tall just yet. Maybe some other time.

For now, he'll keep eating. He doesn't really want to spend *all* this time ignoring the cake. It's supposed to be a good moment...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Umie opens her mouth, but finds herself caught in the same trap as Shinjiro.

Weird, to find Shinjiro echoing similar words to what she was telling Shiryuu, when he acted like what happened to him was somehow alright, because it happened when he was an undefined age that was just simply 'older' than Umie herself.

Keep moving forward. "<Correct>. Good work, Shinji-kun," she says, slowly grinning. "Ah, there you go, getting senpai points. You're going to catch up to me... Such a terrible fate, for someone like me."

Shinjiro's frustration doesn't seem to deter Umie's mood any; she seems pleased, in fact, that he voiced his frustration at all.

"Yes." She rolls her shoulders, and raises her own can, tilting it back and forth between her fingers. "We'll be the people we wished we had. And damn good ones, at that."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>"Who knows, maybe I'll be the senpai eventually," SHinjiro says as he lets the tension loosen from his muscles instead of dwelling on the frustration.

And instead... he just nods, smiling. He's glad to have a friend like her.

"Now, let's finish this cake. It's definitely a good day for it."</poem>
[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-01-11: Keep an Eye Out

2026-01-12T05:38:44Z

Thornpunk:

*'''Log: Keep an Eye Out'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Jun Kashihara]]
*'''Where:''' Kasugayama High School - Classroom Building
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-01-11
*'''IC Date:''' Fri Jan 10
*'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke and Jun meet for lunch. Lighthearted talk of food and the preparation thereof quickly turns to them both expressing worry about Yua's wedding, however, causing Hyousuke to lament his inability to act.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The plastic bento box that Hyousuke carried with him not seem to be particularly remarkable. It was a modestly-sized thing, mass-produced and wrought from red plastic. In fact, the most notable thing about it - save for its contents, of course - seemed to be the fact that it was new. Not brand-new, as the lack of packaging indicated, but new enough to indicate that it had not been long since he'd purchased it. This caught the attention of precisely nobody, even as Hyousuke fished it out of his bag and walked through the door.

Some few students milling about in there cast a glance his way, but not out of any real interest. It was simply them noticing a new arrival out of the corner of their eye, then returning to whatever their business was when they realised that it was just another member of the class looking to eat lunch. He paid them no mind either, only sparing a brief 'excuse me' to the few people that he had to slip by in order to make his way into the classroom proper. One he did, however, he stopped and glanced around.

He wasn't entirely sure whether Jun was there or not, and it showed. Green eyes darted from seat to seat and from face to face, checking to make sure his classmate was somewhere in the vicinity. He could have just taken a seat, but what would the point have been, if Jun had already picked out a spot? Far better was it, he thought, to take a moment and observe than have to get back up again.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>

Jun is in class today; he's in class almost all days, barring sickness or some other necessary absence. He's seated at his usual seat and has his own bento lunchbox in front of him. It's a pretty, dark-lacquered box, and the lunch within is clearly homemade. Sometimes Jun's mother prepares it for him; today, he has prepared his own, and therefore it includes rolled omelets along with a salad, stewed vegetables, a strip of grilled salmon, and of course a bed of rice.

As Hyousuke looks around, Jun has already opened said lunchbox and picked up the matching lacquered chopsticks, both of which he'll wash later; at this very second, he's bowing his head with hands pressed in prayer and murmuring a low ''Itadakimasu'' (akin to ''Thank you for this meal''). When he straightens, he opens his eyes and, though one is covered by his silky black bangs, notes Hyousuke looking his way. He smiles to him.

"Oh, Suzuki-kun," he says, gesturing to the desk in front of him. Its normal inhabitant is probably not Hyousuke, but whoever usually sits there has left, so there's space and opportunity to push it up against Jun's. "Would you care to join me for lunch? If you don't have other plans, that is."
GAME: Save complete.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke's neutral expression shifted to an eager smile once he caught Jun's invitation. More than polite, but not quite a broad and beaming grin, it lingered on his features for a few seconds before settling into something more relaxed, but no less genuine for it.
"Kasihara-san!" He said, already striding to close the gap before he'd even begun to speak. "Sure, I don't have any. I was just gonna go hang out on the roof." Was he allowed on the roof? No. Were any of the teachers going to bother enforcing the rule? Also no. Would Shiranui-san try to enforce it anyway? He didn't know, and didn't particularly care to find out.

His lunch, in stark contrast to Jun's, seemed a little messy. Some attempt had been made at egg rolls, but it'd broken down somewhere along the line and ended up more like scrambled eggs packed into the vague shape of a roll. The salad had been chopped roughly, but the pieces were at least somewhat even, and washed about as thoroughly as one might expect salad to be. The rice was perhaps the neatest aspect of it all, but then again, it was rice. To get it wrong was a task and a half.

Despite its appearance, it didn't smell particularly bad. It was no gourmet meal, to be sure, but neither was it some slapdash assortment of ingredients thrown together with little care. The seasonings seemed to have been measured and applied deliberately, while the ingredients of each had been balanced to a particular person's taste. Its appearance was rough, perhaps, but its substance - judging by smell alone - was decent, if amateurish.
"Man, your lunch looks good." Hyousuke said, glancing down at Jun's. "You make that yourself?" He brought out his own chopsticks and started to pick at his food. They were cheap and plain things, that much could not be denied, but no less useful for it.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>

Shiranui's recent enthusiasm for enforcing the rules has been... interesting. It's not a concept wholly unknown to Kasugayama, considering the Death Boss who rules atop all other Bosses has strong feelings about, for example, students not smoking; thanks to him, no one at the infamous Cuss High smokes. However, it does seem to be an odd change... Jun doesn't believe the rumors about Mr. Marlowe having 'brainwashed' Shiranui into it, but it does stand out to him all the same.

"Thank you. I did," he says when Hyousuke compliments his lunch. "I enjoy cooking and, if I may say so myself, I'm quite good at it. My mother and I take turns cooking for the family--she's the one who taught me how." He smiles fondly for a moment; then he looks at Hyousuke's. "Yours looks rather homemade too, if I don't miss my mark?" A store-bought bento wouldn't be that messy, after all.

He starts in on his own lunch though, delicately picking up small clumps of white rice and settling them in his mouth. His motions are quite elegant. It's not just his face that's beautiful, it seems.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"You can just say it's a mess, it's not gonna win any prizes." Hyousuke grinned a little at his own mark, and spoke with a jovial tone. He wasn't wrong about saying it was a mess - the entire thing was a stark contrast to Jun's work, and might as well have been packaged by a one-handed gorilla for all the delicacy and precision it displayed. Nevertheless, he seemed to be happy enough with it as he sectioned off some of the rice, and all but shovelled it into his mouth. Again, he stood as a contrast to Jun - not quite flouting table manners, but certainly appearing rougher when he ate.

"Just wish I could cook like that." Hyousuke said offhandedly, once more gesturing to Jun's neater meal. It wasn't a bitter remark, by any means - merely an idle thought, flitting out of his mind as quickly as it had entered. "And like the stuff at the wedding too. i know that's not exactly bento stuff, but I wanna be able to cook that good for myself too." He chased the mouthful of rice with a quick swig of some bottled tea out of the vending machine. Hardly the healthiest of choices, but hardly the worst either.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>

Jun chuckles goodnaturedly as Hyousuke speaks bluntly about the poor aesthetics of his cooking. "What matters is how it tastes, anyway," he says graciously. He is lying a bit there. You eat with your eyes first, so the aesthetics of food are hardy unimportant. However, the spirit of his statement--that it's fine as long as Hyousuke is happy with the taste--is sincere.

From the rice, Jun moves to the stewed vegetables, then to the salmon, and then a piece of rolled omelet, cycling between the foods as he eats. When Hyousuke remarks that he wishes he could cook better, though, he pauses and gives him a thoughtful look. "Oh? The food at the wedding ''was'' delicious, but do you mean you'd like to make your cooking look prettier?"

It's important to clarify these matters before making any comments on them!
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke certainly seemed to be satisfied with how it tasted. There was no real pattern to what he picked, nor any rhythm to how he ate, but there was certainly a restrained enthusiasm to every bite. Enough that he at least seemed to be aware of the concept of table manners, at the very least.
"The taste's fine, but I figure if I learn ways to make it look prettier, I might learn how to make it taste better too. Gotta be some link between them." He didn't know whether his statement held any truth, and seemed disinclined to give it more than some passing thought. If anything, he seemed more inclined to keeping the conversation with Jun going.

He paused for a moment, gaze drifting away from Jun as his expression shifted a little. It wasn't particularly difficult to intuit that he had thought of something, and that the thought had begun to take root in his mind - on some matters, Hyousuke's face could be read like an open book. Even if one did not manage to intuit it, he spoke his mind a moment later.
"But, between you and me? I kinda felt awkward eating anything there after Ooshi-" He paused, frowned, and collected himself. "After Ijuuin-sensei started panicking."

The words felt odd in his mouth, and sounded strange in his voice. He chalked it up to simply not being used to calling Yua that, but even so, something about the entire affair caused his gut to churn a little, and for a bitter taste to linger on his tongue. Not to mention that he was aware that his phrasing was indelicate at best, limited as it was by his vocabulary.
"Do you think she's doing alright? Maybe I'm just thinking about it too hard, but something seemed off about the whole thing."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>

"Maybe you could take cooking classes," Jun suggests. "Or, if you prefer, I could start tutoring you on that too. Looks and taste ''are'' connected in cooking--that's why plating is so important in haute cuisine. And doesn't a meal tempt you more if it looks appetizing?" He chuckles. "But you seem quite pleased with your lunch as it is, so you don't need to force yourself, either."

A silence falls as Hyousuke stares into space. Jun continues to munch, letting Hyousuke mull over whatever it is he's thinking about. He's enjoying the conversation, but part of friendship is being comfortable with not talking, too.

Especially when the topic turns to their teacher's distress. Jun frowns faintly, but nods in agreement as he sets his chopsticks down atop his bento box for a moment.

"Yes... She looked so terribly frightened," he murmurs. "She did say she became overwhelmed--" or, more accurately, Jun suggested that and she agreed, "but I agree; something ''did'' feel off. The wedding itself was lovely, although I'm not familiar with how Shinto weddings usually go, but some of the post-wedding speeches left a sour taste in my mouth."

Especially from that police captain, Shimazu. Others could be given a more charitable interpretation, like from Miho or Remi, but Shimazu's did not leave any illusions about what it was really about.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, the speeches..." Hyousuke trailed off, but the way he spoke alone made his thoughts on the matter fairly clear. The last word alone had his face curl a little in disgust, the bitterness in his voice - restrained though it might have been - leaving an even worse taste in his mouth than the name Yua had taken during the ceremony. "...Didn't feel like the kinda thing that you're supposed to say when people get married. People're supposed to be, I dunno... Equal when they're married, aren't they?" It was less a question, and more him affirming to himself that he had his thoughts in order.

"But that whole thing, talking about how she was supposed to be submissive... Kinda pisses me off." Foul though his language might have been, the intent was clean enough. Were Jun to peer into Hyousuke's mind, and see how much the entire affair had reminded him of Eiji and his machinations, the reason might have been clear as well. "I'm not thinking too hard about this, am I? She said she was alright..." Hyousuke was not a smart man. Hyousuke was a big, dumb, oaf that hit like a freight train. Those two things were not exactly well-kept secrets, and he was far from unaware of them. Therefore, he supposed it would not be out of the question for him to be overthinking matters - yet the worry in his voice rang clear as a bell, and he knew well that dark thoughts could lurk beneath a joyful facade.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>

"I suppose it depends on the country and the era. Equality between husband and wife hasn't always been the case, especially in this country--and it ''was'' a traditional wedding." Thus why Jun genuinely doesn't know if those wedding vows about Izanami and Izanagi and how a husband tends to his wife's sins are normal for a traditional Shinto wedding or not. If he ever gets more than just a vague sense of something being off, maybe he'll buckle down and look it up.

Traditional or not, though, Jun can only nod in agreement about what Hyousuke says about the ''submissive'' parts. To his view, Ooshiro-sensei's, or rather Ijuuin-sensei's, charm comes from the fact that she is so freely herself and is not afraid to express her uniqueness, even when she might get mocked for it. As a boy who grew up 'different' himself, who is ''still'' 'different' by the mainstream standards of Japan, he doesn't like that Yua is being boxed into conformity.

However, she ''is'' an adult, and it ''is'' her choice. Jun is her student and needs to respect that. Not knowing what Hyousuke's thinking--indeed, knowing nothing about Palaces, in particular Eiji's Palace--that's all he can keep in mind.

"We might be," overthinking it--and it might stand out to Hyousuke that Jun says ''we'' and not ''you''. "Practically speaking, even if something is amiss with our sensei, she's an adult and we're her students. We don't have a right to interfere with her private life. We're lucky that she went out of her way to make sure all her students were invited to the wedding at all. If she says she was all right and just a little overwhelmed on what must have been a very overwhelming day, we shouldn't claim that we know her feelings better than she does. That would be very arrogant."

Jun pauses a beat. "But... just in case she was forcing herself to keep from worrying us... I think there's nothing inappropriate about keeping an eye out for her too. Just in case."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke's lips curled at Jun's conclusion, and his throat rumbled in a quiet, displeased, growl. He tried to keep his reaction subdued, but there was no stopping what slipped through the cracks, and it spilled over into something that was obvious to anyone that so much as glanced at him. It seeped into the way he spoke as well, underscoring every word that fell from his mouth with a slight growl too.
"I know, you're right..." He conceded, before shovelling another chunk of food into his mouth and chewing. He didn't know what he'd grabbed, and didn't care. He just needed an excuse to pause for a moment and collect himself.

"It's just... sitting around and doing nothing feels wrong. I know *I* wouldn't like it if someone went poking around in my business, but it's..." His train of thought led to now firm conclusion, and simply trailed off with him shaking his head a little in frustration at it all. "Guess keeping an eye out's all we *can* do." He stabbed at what remained of his eggs, batting them around just to have something to fiddle with as he considered his next words. Were one to look closely, they might have seen some slight shade of pallor in his digits, or a vague trembling in the chopsticks - a sign of tension, as he held them tight.

"I wanna help, but even if I knew what was going on, I don't know that there's anything we *could* do anyway." Hyousuke's frustration with the entire affair was laid out again with that statement. "And that's if there's even anything wrong. Maybe I *am* just being arrogant about this." He didn't know if it was the right word, and his slight hesitation at saying that hinted as much. But Jun had used it, and Jun was leagues smarter than him, so he didn't think to doubt it too much. "...Sorry about that. Didn't mean to bring down the mood. It's just been on my mind a while."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>

Jun's eyes widen as Hyousuke starts ''growling'' about the matter. Is he really that attached to Yua-sensei? Or... does he know something Jun doesn't? He seems ''very'' agitated about this all of a sudden, for all he's trying to hold that back.

His explanation makes sense, at least. Jun nods in sympathy. "No, you're not being arrogant. What would be arrogant is if you assumed that because something felt wrong to you, something must indeed be wrong, regardless of what sensei told us," he explains. "You're still trying to be mindful of her feelings even though you're worried, and you're listening to me even though I'm not agreeing with you."

When Hyousuke apologizes, he gives him a gentle smile and a shake of the head. "Not at all. How about this, then? When sensei's back to teaching classes, we can ask her how things are going with her new husband. We can at least be active about checking in with her, don't you think?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
A short grunt escaped Hyousuke in response. It was still frustrated, but not nearly as drawn out as the rumbling in his throat had been. Thoughts of the Palace and a foe long since vanquished still lingered in his mind, but it seemed that being given something to do - however minor it might have been - was at least enough to keep things from getting too bad.
"...Guess you're right." He eventually said, not sounding pleased that it was *all* they could do, but satisfied that they could at least do *something.*

"I guess... checking in's the best we really can do right now." It didn't sit right with him. His tone - divided between resigned and frustrated - laid that out for anyone that cared to read into it. But whatever his thoughts were, they didn't matter much when faced with the reality of what he was actually capable of. "I just hope she's recovering alright. Be a damn shame if anything happened to one of the few teachers around here that actually gave a shit."
A wide smile and a joking remark did little to assuage his worries, and even less to disguise them.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-12-26: PARRY IT!

2025-12-28T01:19:46Z

Thornpunk: Created page with " *'''Log: PARRY IT!''' *'''Cast:''' Isabeau Fontaine, Eveline Deschamps, Vivienne Sournois, Alain Wakamatsu, Ren Amamiya, Katsuko Yoshinaga, Ririka Kawase, Kanae Fuyuki, Ryuji Sakamoto, Umie Akabane, Makoto Niijima, Noriaki Okaga, Tamaki Uchida *'''Where:''' Mementos - Path of Aiyatsbus *'''OOC Date:''' December 26, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 31, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''While exploring Mementos, several Persona Users fi..."

*'''Log: PARRY IT!'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Isabeau Fontaine]], [[Eveline Deschamps]], [[Vivienne Sournois]], [[Alain Wakamatsu]], [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]], [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Kanae Fuyuki]], [[Ryuji Sakamoto]], [[Umie Akabane]], [[Makoto Niijima]], [[Noriaki Okaga]], [[Tamaki Uchida]]
*'''Where:''' Mementos - Path of Aiyatsbus
*'''OOC Date:''' December 26, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 31, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''While exploring Mementos, several Persona Users find members of the 'Wild Hunt' slaying a Treasure Demon. Isabeau proposes a contest, with the winners getting the spoils, and violence ensues.''

----

(|======================= Mementos - Path of Aiyatsbus =======================|)

-====================================================== Tokyo/Shibuya Ward ====-

The tracks continue, and the station platforms look like they did at the top of

Qimranut, but this time everything is a dark, vivid blue. Splashes of red,

disturbingly blood-like, mark the floor and walls every so often.

Here and deeper, one might find and collect strange orbs of golden light marked

with flowers. However, you can't take them with you; once you leave Mementos,

they'll vanish. The robot-like boy Jose in his blue car drives around here and

lower too, and if you're lucky, you might run into him in a corner set up with

stars and drapes. There, you can trade those 'flowers' to him for goods and

services.

Since he's a little kid, he might want to play games with you too--innocent and

harmless ones, to be clear. Play those games with him, and you might start to

find clockwork posts sporting a great big star at some platforms. Pulling the

lever there will trade the bright star for a dim moon. Pull enough, and he'll

offer you a fun prize for that too.

Every so often, you can find a covered bench where you can wait for the trains

that run deeper into Mementos... though you'll have to hoof it first to anywhere

you want to go. At the bottom of Aiyatsbus is another platform where trains zoom

past on each side, and a wall that opened up to escalators heading deeper and

deeper within.

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
The Harmony-Robbing Path, Aiyatsbus, is deep enough into Mementos that you'd need to be going on a ''real Mementos run'' to reach it -- past the shallows of Qimranut, these dark blue halls feature glowing, ephemeral flowers, the sort highly-prized by Jose. (Just be sure not to leave Mementos entirely if you want to cash them in! ... returning to the ''entrance'' is safe, though.) Pale red light from the trains casts ill tones on the indigo blue arena, though the flourescent ''white'' tubes of light in the 'subway' mean that most of the path remains blue... but one doesn't only need the ''light'' to imagine something unsettling, here.

Red growths, like roots or veins, splays out at the corners and the edges of the structures here.

Hulking Shadows roam these halls; they wear the faces of Demons, and can even be negotiated with, in a limited fashion. But what's ''really'' worth hunting -- since this isn't one of those floors full of ''dangerous'' enemies -- are the Treasure Shadows: jewels on the path which resolve into Shadows worth a pretty penny, through bribery or violence.

Navigators may feel a draw towards pointing them out; astute Persona-Users might notice the glint in the distant tunnels. The luckiest might just ''stumble upon it.'' However you find yourselves here...

... you're too late.

"Haaah!" A stocky, hip-heavy girl with a ruby spear cries, as she thrusts her weapon into a figure floating over a jewel which shatters into bags of valuable coins. She wears a bronzed vest, buckled tightly over one side of her breast, the collar opening wide around the back of her neck. A longcoat dangles off of one arm; the other is bare, and heavily-muscled beneath the layer of fat there. Several buckles at her waist hold several pouches. She wears long tights, ending in rugged boots, and fingerless gloves across her hands; her left arm hosts a targe with a masked pattern, strapped there to leave her hand free.

Shujin students would know her at a glance -- though not in this ''outfit'' -- as Isabeau Fontaine, a girl with a ''terrible'' attitude.

"`What do you think?`" She asks, in French, as she turns to her party. "`Pretty cool, huh? But I'm not even ''tired'' yet...`"

Here, she turns back, to the attention they're gathering.

"Heeeyyy... ''I'' have an idea!" Isabeau grins, levelling her spear at the newcomers, mercifully switching to a more stilted and textbook form of Japanese as she does. "Why do we not have a little contest? We were not the only ones who tracked down this Treasure Shadow... so how about ''this?'' You guys," she gestures, with her spear, to their side of the subway tunnel, "can fight us here in the Wild Hunt, and if you ''win,'' you can have the yen."

She pauses.

"And if ''we'' win, Kanae must admit I am ''way'' better at this than she is!"

ISABEAU DON'T BE SO SELFISH AND PETTY C'MON!!!!

Nope, she's already committed. "We are ''much'' better conversation than whatever these Shadows are saying," Isabeau assures them, bouncing on her heels. "Come on! How about it? We will even give you guys the first shot. That is honourable, is it not?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
<poem>
"`Good work. This hunt is now complete,`" echoes the voice of the Wild Hunt's Navigator, Eveline Deschamps, in clearly fluent French. She watches as the coins spill, Isabeau's final blow being skilled, and hoists the bolt-action rifle she's carrying against her shoulder. Her own Persona is already out, the scarlet silken-haired woman with a tank for armor and a cannon on her arm scanning for Resonance at all times, leaving her likely the first to notice intruders.

Standing short with short blonde hair and glasses, wearing a dark top hat, Eve is clad in a finely made cognitive brown leather jacket that screams Old Europe, with trousers, a mantle, and a scarf. Rugged leather boots are firmly planted on the ground, as she turns towards the interlopers.

Before she can say anything, her facial expressions locked tight, she tilts her head to Isabeau. Her Japanese is perfect, if accented.

"A contest? Well, it'll be interesting to see how they match up. They're still a little wet behind the ears."

There's a sense of not quite dismissiveness, but absolute confidence, a bearing that says 'I don't think it'll be a problem for us' without actually underestimating them. Those who have seen her know she's at least experienced enough to explain why she may think that.

"Well then. Go ahead."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
<poem>
These Treasure Shadows have been a matter of particular interest to Vivienne. Figures drawing their form from noteworthy jewels, positively brimming with potential from the significance of it, and dispensing a wealth of cash besides... Of course she would be drawn to them.

It's important for her to keep her skills sharp, anyway, and these create a ''strong'' motivator. Blame Laurent for laying the bait out for her.

"`Well struck, Isabeau darling!`" Vivienne praises as the Treasure Shadow is reduced to a pile of coins.

She wears a longcoat of her own, dark blue and tight-fitting with a white muffler about her shoulders. A tricorne hat perches atop her head, and her large, round glasses gleam in the light. In each hand she wields a hooked sword.

She turns, as Isabeau draws attention to the newcomers.

"My... We aren't alone?" Vivienne replies, turning to face them. She rests a hooked sword on her shoulder, the other remaining casually at her side. A competition, is it? That's their Isabeau. Still... it has been some time since she'd had a proper fight. She looks toward Eveline as she gives her own thoughts on the matter... and then, she shrugs.

"Well... why not? I must admit, I ''am'' curious. Anyone who's come all this way must have some talent." Vivienne considers. Isabeau introduces ''additional stakes''. Vivienne suppresses a chuckle.

Honorable, hm...? Well... this is supposed to be a friendly(or, at least, ''casual'') fight. She supposes she can pretend, for the time being.

"Let us make this a show for the ages, hm?" Vivienne says. She bows with a flourish. "Bonne chance, my well-armed acquaintances!"

</poem>
AS: Eveline Deschamps has readied for combat as Guro Rysserova! She is now fully healed! Ready for 2 opponents!

AS: Makoto Niijima has readied for combat as Johanna! She is now fully healed!

AS: Vivienne Sournois has readied for combat as Skadi! She is now fully healed! Ready for 2 opponents!

<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
<poem>
"'Hunt complete indeed...'" A man echoes Eve's words, as if it were a reminder of the old day.

Among Isabeau's party is another man, with an old mask, which looks reminiscent of Western firefighter masks of the nineteenth century, an odd assortment of an iron plate, with lenses for eyes, and an odd nose, which looks like a long hooked beak-like faucet.

He's wearing a longcoat as well, over a black smith's apron, replete with tools, a shape vanishing under his coat as he looks to the other girl, and replies in French, "'You need not push yourself until you are. Stamina training in these places isn't the same as in athletics.'"

Mementos was still... strange for him. How did such a place escape all of their notice until the rumor came about? Or... did it? Perhaps the rumor created it in the first place. Something about idea that still bothers him.

As others gather however, he snaps to attention, turning around to regard the crowd. "Mon choupinette." He asides to her in French, "'It's likely not all of them are with your' rivale." As if to imply, 'We don't know what sort of people they all are.'

At this point, it seems a foregone conclusion. Why does he believe that? Well, because he's known Isabeau for more than five minutes.

Still, he's not exactly ''opposed'' to such a contest. He just wants that in her mind before they do this. The others- well, he knows they've almost certainly spotted it.

</poem>

AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga has readied for combat as Edmond Dantes! She is now fully healed!

AS: Isabeau Fontaine has readied for combat as Mielikki! She is now fully healed! Ready for 2 opponents!

AS: Alain Wakamatsu has readied for combat as Bayard! He is now fully healed! Spd_Up added! Ready for 3 opponents!

AS: Noriaki Okaga has readied for combat as Efnysien! He is now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
''Screeeech''. The wheels of the Monabus skid on the rough terrain of Mementos, and if there is the 'rewaeeear' of a cat echoing in the darkness, it's just your imagination. Behind the wheel, Joker frowns.

"...Looks like someone beat us to the prize," they comment to their compatriots within as they all spot a group of other Persona-Users take out a Treasure Shadow. The one who dealt the final blow is none other than Isabeau "Fucking" Fontaine, one of Joker's least favorite people.

At least Skull and Queen might also appreciate why, since she's a Shujin student too.

They glance over at the other Persona Users who've happened into this area, many of whom they recognize--Umie, Ririka... Kanae. Their eyes narrow behind their mask, and they don't bother to refrain from rolling them when Isabeau makes this encounter all about her.

But... so these are Isabeau's 'adult' companions who take her hunting. Joker frowns at them, too. As little as they like Isabeau, they'd like to get the measure of the people who've taken in their childhood acquaintance.

So they look over their shoulder at their companions. "How about it? Who feels up for a contest?" they ask, the corner of their mouth quirking up to show they, for one, are.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Every excursion into Mementos was a learning experience for Katsuko First it was the existence of the place in the first place, then it was how best to kill certain Shadows... and now it was the existence of Shadows that promised a hefty payday. While Katsuko might have prided herself on her commitment to the mission above all else, the idea of being able to import new miniatures, or purchase a premium model kit without even having to think about the purchase's effects on her budget for the year... She had to admit, it was tempting.

Thus, it was no surprise that she was annoyed by the presence of killstealers. It was difficult to tell, of course. Most of her face was obscured by darkest shadow, while the rest was covered by the rictus grin of a skull's lower half, glinting silver in what little light was afforded to her face. But, were one to listen closely, they might have heard a slight and short growl of consternation. If they looked closely, they might have even seen her fingers twitch towards the safety on her rifle, verging on switching her scout rifle into its active state.

"Fine." She grunted, hefting her weapon up just enough to show that she was serious. It pointed at nobody, and her fingers were off of the trigger, but they seemed itching to move a little closer. "I could use some target practice." She decided to leave out the part about being miffed regarding the potential loss of model kits. That was a secret she had decided she would take to her grave.

"Edmond Dantes." Katsuko said flatly, gesturing quickly towards Eveline. "Reveal yourself." Katsuko stepped backwards, letting the shadows behind her swallow her black-clad form in its entirety, while a figure donning a pitch-dark clothing and a blood-red waistcoat emerged in her place. Wreathed in clouds of grey smoke, Danes seemed more wraith than man, almost appearing to float above Mementos' floor. Nor more than a moment after he had emerged, Dantes called forth a pillar of stone with an upwards stroke of his sabre. Chains rattled from it, snaking and coiling towards Eveline in an attempt to bind her before the fight could even begin.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Mementos is a subject of interest to SEES, (among many others), and Ririka's here today working on her navigation skills. She knows she can't ''map'' this place--not permanently, at least, but there might till be things to learn about it.

Such as a distant, far of kingling chime of jewels that calls to her senses. Well ''that's'' new...

Thin, faint strands of music guide her to the scene of the recently defeated Treasure Shadows, and to the sight of an apparent challenge. She... doesn't know who Isabeau is. Or Kanae.

She's tall for a Japanese girl, standing about 5'7", and today her hair is back in a ponytail, and she's wearing a light jacket over a band tee, a leather bracelet on her right wrist, and cargo pants. And as she arrives Ampion follows behind her: a tall lumbering man made of stone, weighed down with heavy boots wrapped in locks and chains, and clutching a golden lyre with faint, nearly-invisible strings.

"Iiii wouldn't say ''competition''," Ririka starts, putting on what she hopes is a friendly smile. "I sensed an unusual type of Shadow and I wanted to investigate it."

She glances around at the people converging on the spot, thoughtful for a moment. "Though... if this is just a friendly competition... I suppose I support whoever wants to take it on." That's her duty as a Navigator, right?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae Fuyuki does not come to Mementos that often, but she's been thinking about doing it more. There's a whole unexplored dungeon here, and it'd be a shame if there were something vital down there that she missed. Besides...

Henry wants something from down here.

So down here she goes. Kanae is a girl of dark skin and hair dressed in gray, her outer layer a gray duster with pale blue accents. Her eyes are sharp--sharp enough to spot the Treasure Shadow.

"Hup--"

Holding her gunblade out, Kanae ''darts'' forward towards it, tip of her ruby-bladed weapon dragging along the ground and creating sparks against the horrible blood-asphalt.

"Hya--"

But.

She is TOO LATE.

"Ugh," Kanae starts. "I come here and I run into YOU?"

Isabeau levels her spear, and Kanae scowls. She looks at each of them. "`Like hell!`" Kanae shouts back in French at Isabeau's condition. "You guys..." She looks over the members of the Wild Hunt and scowls harder. "Wet behind the ears, huh?" she asks of Eveline. "I'll show you talent."

"Besides," Kanae says, flipping her hair as she straightens to her full (short) height. "I want that yen!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE2UM7dzZlw

Looking around at the others, she spots... some masked folks. A girl with a GUN. And--

"Hoodie-san!" Kanae calls to Noriaki. "Come with me! We're gonna KICK THAT GIRL'S ASS!"

Kanae is--not usually this animated, Ren might recognize. But she is facing Isabeau 'Fucking' Fontaine.

"PERSONA!"

With the shattering of glass, Kanae calls forth the substance that infuses her, and gold dust shimmers all around her. Blue light flashes--and Leshy, a gangly plant-woman of a Persona emerges. She rushes forward--

And ''slams'' two tree-like fists at Isabeau.

"It's not FRIENDLY!" Kanae shouts for Ririka's benefit.

When Henry adivsed she gather Allies, this is assuredly not what he had in mind.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Kanae Fuyuki has used the Strike skill Bash on Isabeau Fontaine!

AS: Block Neutral! Isabeau Fontaine takes 61 Strike damage from Kanae Fuyuki's Bash.

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
"Ugh" Skull made an exhausted noise when he saw Isabeau, crossing his arms from his spot in the Monabus. He didn't know her but he definately knew -of her-. "Greeat..That's whats between us and some cash."

"Might not be worth it...But then again, who the hell brings their parents to Mementos." Ryuji smirks as he scans the others there. He immediately spots Ririka, having seen her from a similar distance during the concert. "Wait is that?"

It was his girlfriend's sister. Every instinct told him it would be...polite?...to defend his girlfriend's sister.

"Well, fuck it. I'm in. Lets go punch her grandpa in the teeth."

</poem>

AS: Persona! Katsuko Yoshinaga has used the Earth skill Iron and Stone on Eveline Deschamps!

AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga regains 7 HP from Regenerate! and 6 SP from Invigorate!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
"First off," Umie begins to Tamaki as she takes out her kyoketsu shoge, "see the difference? An acquaintance made this for me; when I showed it to you earlier, it was all foam and paint, yeah?" However, as she swings the metal coin-shaped hoop around, it handles the same as if it were metal, in terms of weight and how Umie has to hold it. "I guess it's the same rules as the Dark Hour, but deeper than that. Shadows operate a little differently here, and so do the demons they'll turn into." Dressed in that mostly pragmatic uniform of hers of 'denim shorts, red low-profile sneakers, red tank top, and oversized light grey rain jacket', Umie's thrown the color scheme all off with a blue-green mask, painted with 'cracks' of gold metallic paint to resemble kintsugi pottery.

The problem with Mementos is that, when you bring someone, you can't just be irresponsible and run off into the shadows (with a small s) every time too much excitement looms near. However, Tamaki's fun to run around with. It's just a different vibe, being around someone who's a veteran and has seen things you can't even imagine. There's just not that many people around who are like that, are there? (ha ha ha)

Something trips Umie's senses; she holds up a red nailed finger, pulling away to a small alcove nearby. "... You feel that?" Umie whispers. "Feels unusually active... give me a moment. I'd rather not show you what a Reaper is on your first time here." Nevermind that they've traveled down this far, but sometimes, it just happens when you're having fun.

As blue light reflects off the pale exposed pale skin of the Badb, Umie's lips pull tense as she closes her eyes, trying to get a better sense of their surroundings. ".... Huh. That's weird.... Lots of activity. Too much noise to pinpoint exactly what's going on..." There's a terrible gleam in Umie's eyes as Badb disappears; she's beginning to smile. "How about we do a little bit of investigation? I don't know if I've been down this far, so maybe..." WAIT, UMIE, YOU SHOULD HAVE LED WITH THAT BEFORE BRINGING TAMAKI DOWN HERE.

Badb is not that great at sensing treasure, if at all; she's more about the blood. (And boy, is there a lot of it, down here.) A challenge like this is in itself a treasure for Umie, even if she's not visible. She stalks towards the challengers, making sure Tamaki is close by as she gives Joker a small nod as the latter is visually scanning the area.

After giving Tamaki a signal towards which one she's going towards, Umie doesn't waste time; a metal ring is suddenly swung out from the side, attempting to hit and loop around Vivienne's sword-holding hand.

Joker asks who's up; Umie's hands are busy, so she answers back with a simple, "Sounds like fun."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
"First off," Umie begins to Tamaki as she takes out her kyoketsu shoge, "see the difference? An acquaintance made this for me; when I showed it to you earlier, it was all foam and paint, yeah?" However, as she swings the metal coin-shaped hoop around, it handles the same as if it were metal, in terms of weight and how Umie has to hold it. "I guess it's the same rules as the Dark Hour, but deeper than that. Shadows operate a little differently here, and so do the demons they'll turn into." Dressed in that mostly pragmatic uniform of hers of 'denim shorts, red low-profile sneakers, red tank top, and oversized light grey rain jacket', Umie's thrown the color scheme all off with a blue-green mask, painted with 'cracks' of gold metallic paint to resemble kintsugi pottery.

The problem with Mementos is that, when you bring someone, you can't just be irresponsible and run off into the shadows (with a small s) every time too much excitement looms near. However, Tamaki's fun to run around with. It's just a different vibe, being around someone who's a veteran and has seen things you can't even imagine. There's just not that many people around who are like that, are there? (ha ha ha)

Something trips Umie's senses; she holds up a red nailed finger, pulling away to a small alcove nearby. "... You feel that?" Umie whispers. "Feels unusually active... give me a moment. I'd rather not show you what a Reaper is on your first time here." Nevermind that they've traveled down this far, but sometimes, it just happens when you're having fun.

As blue light reflects off the pale exposed pale skin of the Badb, Umie's lips pull tense as she closes her eyes, trying to get a better sense of their surroundings. ".... Huh. That's weird.... Lots of activity. Too much noise to pinpoint exactly what's going on..." There's a terrible gleam in Umie's eyes as Badb disappears; she's beginning to smile. "How about we do a little bit of investigation? I don't know if I've been down this far, so maybe..." WAIT, UMIE, YOU SHOULD HAVE LED WITH THAT BEFORE BRINGING TAMAKI DOWN HERE.

Badb is not that great at sensing treasure, if at all; she's more about the blood. (And boy, is there a lot of it, down here.) A challenge like this is in itself a treasure for Umie, even if she's not visible. She stalks towards the challengers, making sure Tamaki is close by. Sensing others, she attempts to get a sense of those gathered, briefly giving Joker a small nod as the latter is doing the same.

After giving Tamaki a signal towards which one she's going towards, Umie doesn't waste time; a metal ring is suddenly swung out from the side, attempting to hit and loop around Vivienne's sword-holding hand.

Joker asks who's up; Umie's hands are busy, so she answers back with a simple, "Sounds like fun."

</poem>
AS: Weapon! Umie Akabane has used the Strike skill Strike Weapon E on Vivienne Sournois!

AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Avoid Worst! Vivienne Sournois takes 33 Strike damage from Umie Akabane's Strike Weapon E.

AS: Take! Eveline Deschamps takes 0 Earth damage from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Iron and Stone.

AS: Bind added!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
For better or worse, Queen has not had many run ins with, apparently, one of Shujin's favourite people. All the better for her, given Joker's reaction (and the reaction of another student she hasn't met, learn to socialize Makoto).

"...Another group of Persona users?" Queen asks out loud, as she sizes up the apparent enemy. At this point she's starting to wonder how many there are. How do they keep encountering new groups?

How much danger could people carelessly hunting shadows in Mementos cause? How long until there's a spate of mental shutdowns because someone went on a spree?

It's not a great thought.

"...Sure. I'm up for a contest." The fact that Ogre's sister is here- something Skull has noticed as well- seems another reason to step in.

As such, Queen is the first to step out from the Monabus, in her skin tight motorcycle leathers, her scarf billowing behind her. For whatever reason, these Persona users, despite their outfits, don't seem to be hiding their identities. Strange...

"Care to introduce yourselves?" Queen asks, sizing up Alain as she does so. "Given you came onto our turf, it only seems right."

...Oh good, Queen's been watching her movies again.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Noriaki Okaga has posed.
<poem>
As these things go, Noriaki Okaga already has a day job. Or maybe call it a 'night job'.

Well, it's definitely a job. Technically speaking.

But that doesn't mean he doesn't have 'time off', and it also doesn't mean that he only sticks to his usual 'hunting grounds'. Mementos is a pretty interesting sort of space, and really easy to get into if you know what you're doing (and Strega, as a rule, absolutely does).

And a little extra cash in his pocket doesn't hurt any, especially for his 'down time' days.

And some Shadows can be worth some serious cash if you hunt them right, and that's right up his alley. So that's why--

"Tch," he hisses, too little, too late to make the kill himself. Extending one arm to rest against the wall a moment, he heaves out a rough-sounding breath. "All that for nothing." He laughs, as if to himself, and lingers there for a moment more as Isabeau extends her challenge to the lot of them.

Noriaki's lips pull into a wide grin. "Heh... feelin' lucky, eh, kiddo? Well--"

A ''finger'' is jabbed right at him. All of Noriaki's lanky body torques reasonably more upright than he'd been before. "Eh?"

Kanae has surprised him.

But he's quick on the recovery. "Don't gotta tell me twice! Looks like we're partners today, eh, girly?" He drags out a chipped machete, presumably the same thing he'd been using to hunt. "C'mon, kiddo, let's see if you can live up to your shit!"

No Persona, the way Kanae goes in: he breaks away from the wall and lunges for Isabeau, swinging that machete wide only in the final seconds as he closes the distance.

</poem>
AS: Weapon! Noriaki Okaga has used the Slash skill Well-used Machete on Isabeau Fontaine! 3 Hits!

AS: Aggression: Noriaki Okaga gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Isabeau Fontaine takes 13 Slash damage from Noriaki Okaga's Well-used Machete.

AS: Avoid Neutral! Isabeau Fontaine takes 13 Slash damage from Noriaki Okaga's Well-used Machete.

AS: Avoid Neutral! Isabeau Fontaine takes 29 Slash damage from Noriaki Okaga's Well-used Machete. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
"`Naturally!`" Isabeau crows, puffing up her chest, when Vivienne praises her strike. Now, were the old veterans of the Wild Hunt standing back and ''seeing'' how she dealt with it...? ... if they ''were,'' well, she's definitely progressing at an ''excellent pace.''

Even if she's still not at their level... but she's ten years too early to be ''that'' good.

"I want to see if they are any good," Isabeau grins, to Eveline, and if it's a bit of a knifish expression, that's... probably fine.

And to Alain, she assures him... in ''Japanese,'' because those people ''are'' gathering, now: "Oh, I do not think ''any'' of them are ''Kanae's'' friends. She was complaining just the other night that she did not have any help, do you remember? Ha! She has no friends where it counts!"

Man, she specifically made sure ''everyone'' could hear that just to embarrass Kanae... that's not very honourable, Isabeau!

Luckily, Isabeau doesn't recognise Joker one-little-bit, or else she might be EVEN MORE their least favourite person here. (She really seems to have it out for Kanae, though. MAN.) "Some of our opponents were headed to a ball... Alain, give them a ballroom blitz!!" WHY IS THE BABY ORDERING THEM AROUND

(She's bossy, this is normal.)

If she ''knew'' about the model kits, she'd surely be a dick about it. Luckily... she does not. "Nice gun," she calls, to Katsuko, instead.

"Unusual is right! Eve, tell her all about it!" Isabeau encourages their Navigator, when Ririka mentions investigating a strange Shadow.

She wrinkles her noise, as she turns to Kanae. "More is the misfortune," it's 'more's the pity', but never mind that, something clearly got lost in translation, "but I would defeat a hundred people so long as you were one of them!"

Glass shatters, and shatters ''again,'' as Isabeau pulls out a vial of something gleaming bronze and downs it in one fell gulp. (She doesn't need to, strictly speaking, since she was fighting before she started this fight; apparently the theatrics are ''genetic.'') "Mielikki--!" What rises behind ''her'' is a far more ''diminuitive'' woman, blue wasp's wings and green skin, spruce needles through her wood-hued hair; she wears a beautiful golden dress, and draped over it is a bearskin mantle, its oversized claws draped over her arms to let her use its claws as weapons. She is the one to meet Leshy's fists, and she buzzes around Isabeau's head in the world's most annoying dance.

"We are being ''very'' friendly to them," Isabeau sniffs, haughtily, turning her nose up. "You see?" She adds, gesturing to Umie. "It is sounds like fun!"

But then -- there are ''more schoolmates.'' "Do all Frenchmen look alike to you?" She adds, incisive, to Skull. "These are not my parents! They are my ''friends!'' My ''father,'' Laurent, is attending to matters deeper inside!"

She puffs up her chest. "He is our leader, of course... but ''I'' am his daughter! So I must gather these opportunities when they come, no?" Offering at least one answer to Queen's question: "My name is 'Isabeau'! Isabeau Fontaine!"

And everyone with her is, like, SO PATIENT.

But the guy Kanae's called out to partner up with him -- "You are a very foul-mouthed young man!" She snaps, but that's not all she does -- she ''springs'' backwards, acrobatically, one-two-three as Noriaki surges forward with those savage slashes from his machete. Her evasive efforts mean they cut light gashes across her Hunter's garb, rather than going straight ''through...'' though she does wonder, privately, whether he might have been find if they ''had.''

Did she... see old blood on that machete, like it had been used before? No, it's got to be one of those tricks of Mementos. Mementos loves making things look bloodier than they are.

"Persona!" She calls, as that wasplike woman appears again, the daughter-in-law of the forest clapping her bear-claws together as mighty winds tear across Noriaki and Kanae.

"Is that all which you have got?!" She demands, of them, indefatigable.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Almighty skill Dance of Protection on Isabeau Fontaine!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 0 Almighty damage from Isabeau Fontaine's Dance of Protection.

AS: Def_Up and Spd_Up added!

AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Wind skill Magarula on Noriaki Okaga and Kanae Fuyuki!

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki is, once again, getting a tour of one of these other supernatural places which have cropped up within the last few ... no, some of them have been there for a long time already, she only just recently became aware of them.

As Umie swings her ring around, Tamaki nods and gives her own sabre a few test swings. "I do see a difference, yes! Not surprising, given what I've observed in similar spaces. This sword is normally just for sport, equipment from fencing club. Under normal circumstances, it's dull, but down here, it gains a keen edge."

She nods again at Umie's explanation of the Demon-like Shadows. "So like in that Palace ... right?"

Tamaki's also grateful to Umie for this little Mementos tour. She's seen a lot already, but she's seen enough to know just how ''small'' her experience is in the grand scheme of things.

Then Umie makes more than a few troubling statements. " -- a Reaper? Uh -- wait, you haven't been down this far? But you're still -- " Oh no. Tamaki knows that smile by now. Tamaki tries her best to keep up as she darts off in the unknown darkness, first hoarsely whispering her name, then screaming as she runs down the hall. "Umie? ''Umie''? Wait wait wait WAAAAAAAAIIIIII -- "

"'Wet behind the' -- " Tamaki quietly mutters to herself as she briefly balks at Eveline's assertion. Which, on one hand, Tamaki's been Awakened for about five years ... but on the ''other'' hand, she's only actively practiced for a handful of months out of those five years. By contrast, just ''how'' long has the Wild Hunt been at this? Yeah, exactly, ''Tamaki''.

She flits her gaze between the rest of their opponents. Isabeau: spear, too much of a reach disadvantage. Alain: Can't tell immediately; at a guess, thrown explosives? Eveline: sword which extends into a whip, definitely a reach disadvantage, and if she's honest with herself, she intimidates Tamaki ''just'' a little bit. (Noriaki?!: double-take and be grateful he's on your side for the time being!)

Vivienne has those hooked swords, however. Her assessment: That's just about good enough for equal footing. Tamaki's heels skid as she stops in front of her as she drops into a proper fencing stance, her blade held point-in-line at her chosen opponent. "Would you happen to be the blacksmith of the group that I've heard about?" She breaks her stance to give her an elegant bow with a flourish of her sabre, then resumes her previous pose. "You came highly recommended."

Umie, apparently, had the same idea, possibly for different reasons, possibly for the same ones. Regardless, they're on the same wavelength. Tamaki retrieves a binder from her bag to hold in her off-hand, and "Arianrhod!" manifests in a flicker of blue light. Arianrhod's broadsword cuts a golden X pattern in the air, which shoots towards Vivienne. Keen-eyed watchers may notice that the X's trail leads back to Tamaki's binder, which she surreptitiously sneaks a peek at to read some now highlit passage.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Light skill Cross-Reference on Vivienne Sournois!

AS: Insight: Tamaki Uchida gains 1 Limit!

<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
<poem>
"'Just so, so long as you've taken note.'"

He's willing to play the game, so long as it remains only a game. If it becomes more than that, well... he will defend her from what comes next.

"'Have fun.'" He says in French to Kanae and Isabeau's exchange about kicking each other's ass, like a parent might to someone at a sporting competition. 'How about it? Who feels up for a contest?' "... I'll take your measure." He addresses the ''youths'', "You may call me Alain, if it pleases you. And what shall I call you and yours, young man?" He asks Joker, before Skull adds in something that causes the man to actually chuckle, "You remind me of someone we know. Though I don't imagine that thwarts the 'Grandpa' accusation, now does it?"

However, something the young woman says steals some of that sudden cheer away instantly. "Your turf?" He asks as his tone becomes abstracted. "... How fitting then." His tone becomes somewhat melancholy.

Last Surprise - Midnight Mementos Remix - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SOtzIkFQFI

Grasping part of his mask, part of it unhinges like a furnace door, revealing his mouth. In the same moment there's a flash of silver, and materializing in his hand is a phial of red liquid that can only be blood. Raising it up, he smashes it in his hands, with a echoing sound of glass shattering, as it drips into his mouth.

The moment they touch the inside of his mouth, red flames begin to ignite around his legs, rising more and more - as if he were offering kindling to the flame, until it becomes an inferno around him. His hand releases, and there's not a sign of the glass - or the blood for that matter, as he closes the hatch to his mask.

"Carry me... BAYARD!"

His Persona appears, an equine figure that seems to stand on two legs like a person, covered in so much barding that he no longer seems organic, a whole apron of metal floating off his chest. Yet behind two a set of aviator like goggles, the eyes seem quite alive.

As it raises one of it's hooves, it gestures, and suddenly every one of his Wild Hunt companions has dust pick up around them from the Mementos floor, before vanishing - amplifying their movements.

The Persona then lands in front of him and gets down... on all fours, just like a horse. With a leap onto his back, the Persona takes off like a shot that splits the air, encircling around the Phantom Thieves in a Cavalry charges, before it leaps up, and slams down it's hooves into the ground with a shattering noise, a violent concussive wave flying off from the point of impact to smash into Skull and Queen.

Right before the Persona again rears up, as Alain brings out an object from under his coat, sweeping up a hooked hammer and pointing it at Joker like a General in an old painting. Several boulders begin to rise up out of the ground, before they're flung at him, one after another.

"I suppose I did come out of retirement for this." He asides to his fellows, because when a young man calls you Grandpa... he knows just how much shit he's gonna get later.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Almighty skill Masukukaja on Isabeau Fontaine, Eveline Deschamps, and Vivienne
Sournois!

AS: Persona! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Strike skill Swift Strike on Ryuji Sakamoto and Makoto Niijima! 3 Hits!

AS: Persona! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Earth skill Sequence Magna on Ren Amamiya! 2 Hits!

AS: Take! Vivienne Sournois takes 104 Light damage from Tamaki Uchida's Cross-Reference.

AS: Tamaki Uchida's Weakness Scan! Vivienne Sournois is weak against Fire!

AS: Take! Eveline Deschamps takes 0 Almighty damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Masukukaja.

AS: Spd_Up added!

AS: Take! Vivienne Sournois takes 0 Almighty damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Masukukaja.

AS: Spd_Up added!

AS: Counter Best! Makoto Niijima takes 48 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Swift Strike. Critical Hit!

AS: COUNTER! Alain Wakamatsu takes 16 Earth damage in return for his attack! Resist!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 0 Almighty damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Masukukaja.

AS: Spd_Up added!

AS: Counter Best! Makoto Niijima takes 34 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Swift Strike.

AS: COUNTER! Alain Wakamatsu takes 11 Earth damage in return for his attack! Resist!

AS: Counter Worst! Makoto Niijima takes 53 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Swift Strike.

AS: COUNTER! Alain Wakamatsu takes 3 Earth damage in return for his attack! Resist!

AS: Counter Best! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 44 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Swift Strike. Critical Hit!

AS: COUNTER! Alain Wakamatsu takes 39 Strike damage in return for his attack!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Ren Amamiya takes 67 Earth damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Sequence Magna. Critical Hit!

AS: Bind added!

AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 28 Earth damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Sequence Magna.

AS: Block Worst! Noriaki Okaga takes 119 Wind damage from Isabeau Fontaine's Magarula.

AS: Block Worst! Kanae Fuyuki takes 150 Wind damage from Isabeau Fontaine's Magarula. Critical Hit! Block Wind!

AS: Haze added!

AS: Counter Neutral! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 39 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Swift Strike.

AS: COUNTER! Alain Wakamatsu takes 24 Strike damage in return for his attack!

AS: Counter Best! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 44 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Swift Strike. Critical Hit!

AS: COUNTER! Alain Wakamatsu takes 39 Strike damage in return for his attack!

<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
<poem>
As Eve waits, Alain's echo gains a nigh-imperceptible twitch of the lip, though it's hard to tell what she's thinking through that. It's often hard to tell what she's thinking, though he definitely has the advantage.

Though, she does nod as he tells Isabeau to be careful, and to Isabeau, she does note that knifish expression. Does someone like violence...?

Vivienne gains a very tiny smile at her demeanor. At the least, she's always reliable.

"You deny you're a rookie, Fuyuki-san?" Eve asks Kanae. "Be realistic."

Katsuko is recognized, if vaguely, for the last time they met during the Cursed Taxi hunt. But Ririka is not...

"You came alone? Risky... but the fact you're alive is impressive. Perhaps you'll be a worthy opponent."

Katsuko's binding chains come up, wrapping around Eve's body. She doesn't even try to move. "Hm."

"I quite like that book," she tells Katsuko, referencing her Persona's name. "A true classic."

The binding magic hasn't hit her arms, so Eve simply blasts once with a casual shot of her rifle, moving to hit straight in a non-vital location with nigh-unerring accuracy, despite how lazy she is about firing it. It's not even with magic, she just knows how to use it.

"Now then. My name is Eveline Deschamps," she asides to Makoto. "You may call us the Wild Hunt."

"And if this is your turf... then you've done a poor job of caretaking for it."

Alain's buff gets a nod. "Thank you, Alain." But Isabeau tells her to tell Ririka all about it...

"Well, it was an interesting Shadow. One of the valuable ones, of course. But it couldn't compare to our experience."

A flaming screen pops up in front of Eve, lit by her Persona. She grasps it with one hand, navigating through it, as the thermal goggles that Guro Rysserova uses as eyes peer straight into Ririka.

"Now, you. If you want to support... let's see why you fight. Guro Rysserova, initiate Truesight Protocol."

Guro Rysserova begins to scan her strengths, weaknesses, and abilities, all under the same lens: how does Ririka Kawase relate to fighting and violence? How do her instincts guide her? She's curious about someone who'd navigate into Mementos on their own.

</poem>
AS: Weapon! Eveline Deschamps has used the Pierce skill Bullet Dance on Katsuko Yoshinaga!

AS: Persona! Eveline Deschamps has used the Almighty skill Truesight Protocol on Ririka Kawase!

AS: Insight: Eveline Deschamps gains 1 Limit!

AS: Eveline Deschamps regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Block Worst! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 51 Pierce damage from Eveline Deschamps's Bullet Dance. Resist!

AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Eveline Deschamps's Truesight Protocol.

AS: Eveline Deschamps's Strength Scan! Ririka Kawase resists Earth!

AS: Eveline Deschamps's Weakness Scan! Ririka Kawase is weak against Elec!

AS: Eveline Deschamps's Support Scan! Ririka Kawase has passive skills Break Limit, Earth Boost, Skill Card Affinity,
Spotlight, Team Player, and Tough Love!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Once Queen and the others have left, the Monabus *poofs*, leaving the others to stand and fight. (Mona is plenty eager to fight, but he also knows the score: jump back into the shadows and lurk just in case they need to beat a hasty retreat.)

Joker glances over their shoulder at Skull and nods--that sure is Ichika's sister. Their masked eyes go briefly towards Katsuko as she summons her Persona--but they only see another masked Persona User like themselves and not anyone they know, thanks to the obscuring power of the Will of Rebellion. Something that Isabeau and her 'friends' don't seem to share...

They pause to smirk toothily at Umie, who's got her own friend with her and seems equally ready for a brawl. Kanae, though... She ''isn't'' usually this eager for blood. Or she didn't used to be, anyway. Well, far be it for Joker to get in between someone and their rival--especially as one who needs to be punched in the face as much as Isabeau does. (Or... stabbed in the face, as that one guy Kanae co-opts attempts. ...Barring any actual attempted murder, Joker will leave them to it.)

Especially when Isabeau goes out of her way to say that Kanae is a lonely loner who fights alone. That's an interesting take, given that she just bossed a random person into fighting alongside her. Even more interesting is how she proudly introduces herself and says her father is deeper within. Joker glances past her for a moment, as if they might be able to spot Laurent.

In the meantime, Queen addresses Alain, and Joker regards him as well with gloved hands tucked into their coat pockets. They've got their eye on all of Isabeau's companions, from Eveline to Vivienne, but when Alain responds, Joker focuses in on him. "Joker," they reply simply. "This is Skull and Queen." They point their chin at Isabeau. "Is she really your friend? She seems like she fancies herself your boss instead."

However Alain responds, though, he proceeds to unhinge part of his mask and--smash a vial of blood in his hand to drip into his mouth?! That's already alarming enough, and puts Joker on alert, even without the flames that rise up around him and the horse-like Persona that he rides as he speeds up his compatriots and then charges into Joker's. They roll to one side and come up as Alain points a hammer at them, sending jagged rocks to pierce towards them. These are harder to evade; though they manage not to get struck dead-on, one does slice along their coat, leaving a red wound behind.

"Retirement, huh? And what was worth ''that'' to you, Alain?" Joker calls as they raise a gloved hand to their mask. It bursts into blue flame, calling up Arèene at their back. However he responds, Joker doesn't care for the way his Persona Bayard rushed their friends--so they call on their other self to flap their black wings and drain the speed from Alain and ''his'' other self in a drain of greenish light.

"Skull, get in there and do what you do best. Queen, let us know his weaknesses and give us support," they command to their companions.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Almighty skill Sukunda on Alain Wakamatsu!

AS: Ruin: Ren Amamiya gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Alain Wakamatsu takes 0 Almighty damage from Ren Amamiya's Sukunda.

AS: Spd_Up removed!

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
Skull mouth opens when he realizes that the entire French squad heard him. Especially the dude who is coming at them.

Ryuji cringes a little, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "uhh..My bad dude? Guess you can still hear good?" Ryuji deliberately uses the wrong word because he is goading Frenchman to correct him.

Then he'd be a nerd too.

But Ryuji's little dip into being a smart ass jerk backfires. He blinks when sees the horsey Persona, smiling. "Uhhh guess you go to the track a lot too...Horses on the brain--" Ryuji is struck by attack.

He swings his pipe reflexively but he takes the majority of each hit. The delinquent runs a hand along his chin, seeing a little blood from where he bit his cheek. "Heh...You know, I take that back. Only an absolute -GEEZER- would care what a stranger has to say... Get bent, asshole"

"LET'S GO, Captain Kidd!" The skeleton rides into existence on a unseen sea. The pirate roars silently as smoke comes from it's grinning face.

Skull takes a deep breath and rotates his swinging arm. "Hey, old man. We better hurry this up if you're gonna make your stories on the TV." Skull grins devilishly, patting the pipe against his shoulder as the Skeleton Pirate surges forward on crashing waves, eyes glowing as it fires bolts of electricity toward the older man.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Ryuji Sakamoto has used the Elec skill Rapid Zio on Alain Wakamatsu! 3 Hits!

AS: Aggression: Ryuji Sakamoto gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Alain Wakamatsu takes 16 Elec damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Rapid Zio.

AS: Avoid Neutral! Alain Wakamatsu takes 38 Elec damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Rapid Zio. Critical Hit!

AS: Avoid Worst! Alain Wakamatsu takes 23 Elec damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Rapid Zio.

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Isabeau calls Kanae out, again. And Alain tells them to ''have fun''. "I won't!" Kanae assures Alain, and then scowls harder at Isabeau. "Your FACE doesn't have any friends!"

Yeah, Isabeau won that round.

But Noriaki is good, apparently. Kanae finally gets a good look at him and opens her mouth. Then she closes it. "yeah!" she says. "Partners!"

Nevermind that he's a scruffy, dirty man with a machete. She needs allies and she's sticking to it!

Bronze. And they're being very friendly. But still--Mighty winds tear across her, and kanae takes a ''big'' hit, knocked back into one of the walls hard. "Augh!" Kanae complains, and then hits the ground. "Fine. That's how it is?"

She looks to Alain, supporting the others. "I don't think so!"

Kanae drags herself up and stabs her gunblade into the wet ground. "PERSONA!"

But it's not the same one she summoned a moment ago; with a tink of glass, the Face she shows the world changes, and out emerges a black winged demon, cross-legged, holding a crown and a flame. "Baphomet! Let's go!"

Rings of light descend upon Isabeau, as Kanae moves to deactivate her buffs. Now, one might wonder: that version of an attack can affect a wide area, can't it?

Yes, it can. Kanae is targeting ''just'' Isabeau out of spite.

"You think I didn't learn from last time!?"

It's true that Kanae isn't usually this bloodthirsty at all--but then, Isabeau does have a very punchable face.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Kanae Fuyuki has used the Almighty skill Dekaja on Isabeau Fontaine!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 0 Almighty damage from Kanae Fuyuki's Dekaja.

AS: Spd_Up removed!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
Isabeau's talk of 'matters further inside' does make Makoto's eyes narrow. "What matters?" Her eyes glance back to the Mona. Morgana only tends to smell targets, but for all Queen knows, there's someone they could be after. Maybe she's just primed to expect the worst, but...

Eveline's insult clearly stings Queen, but she shakes her head. "...Do you even know what this place actually is?" She asks back, trying to get Eveline's measure.

Queen's frown deepens when Alain says that the matter is... fitting- only to gasp out loud when Alain shatters a vial of blood into his mouth. "What in the world is that!?"

But she only has a second before Bayard's shockwaves slam into her, and Queen tries to charge back- something that doesn't work out for her, the earthen shell provided by her armour seemingly ineffective against Alain and Bayard, while Queen gets badly battered, sent rolling backwards.

"...Got it, Joker." She acknowledges, falling unusually into the backline for now. "Don't underestimate him, he hits like a truck."

Still, Queen can't help but frown at Skull, even as she pulls her panda calculator out of... thin air, essentially. But somehow, the math device helps as she studies Bayard. "We should be cautious. We don't know what we're up against here- but neither do they."

At least someone here was taught to respect her elders, given that moment of stinkeye towards Skull. (Even if her elders suck, look, it's been a whole upbringing.)

</poem>
AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Almighty skill Shadow Factorization on Alain Wakamatsu!

AS: Take! Alain Wakamatsu takes 0 Almighty damage from Makoto Niijima's Shadow Factorization.

AS: Makoto Niijima's Strength Scan! Alain Wakamatsu resists Earth!

AS: Makoto Niijima's Weakness Scan! Alain Wakamatsu is weak against Fire!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Why is the first reaction of all of Ichika's friends to protect her? Still, she takes note of the Phantom's Presence, though they seem busywith another of these 'Wild Hunt' folks.

Kanae (Ririka guesses that has to be her, given her reaction) tells her it's NOT friendly, Ririka sighs. "Is it too much to ask for a week without a life or death battle?"

She's watching Isabeau who is certainly... ''enthusiastic'' about what she's doing. Who then tells Eve to tell her about it, and her attention shifts to the other Navigator, listening. "A little deeper than I'd planned," she admits. "But I had to check it out."

She sucks in a sharp breath as Guro Rysserova focuses her attention , watching Eve curiously.

Ririka has only had to take to fighting recently--she feels bound by chains of duty and obligation, a sense that she is 'supposed' to use her talents for the mere fact that she has them. Her instincts are guided by tempo and rhythm, someone who listens to the world before acting.

There's a very potent drum beat within, though, a new drive that is starting to propel her forward rather than just be dragged by those chains.

"So you're a Navigator, too..." Muses Ririka. "Alright then. Amphion! Analysis!"

The Persona strums, bombarding Eveline with soundwaves. Ririka puts the large cognitive headphones hanging around her neck back on her head, listening to the sounds as they come in for the information buried within.

And then she glances to Katsuko, watching how her Persona emerges from the shadows. "Cool move. Since we're doing this... I'll back you up, alright?"

</poem>
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Basic Analysis on Eveline Deschamps!

AS: Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!

<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
<poem>
They've really encountered quite the assortment, haven't they? Tonight will certainly be ''interesting'', regardless of how the fight itself turns out. She takes on the sight of each of the opposing Persona Users, one after the other, before focusing her attention on the ones that stop in front of her.

Ah, yes, these two... They were at trivia night, weren't they?

"Ah! You've heard of me! I'm flattered!" Vivienne replies brightly. "I ''am'' a blacksmith. Vivienne Sournois - of Kagurazaka's own Le Cinema du Monde. Were you looking to have any work done? ...Ah - but perhaps that should wait?"

It's time to fight, after all - and Umie makes the first move. The metal ring is hurled. Vivienne reacts quickly, moving to try to avoid it - but it still manages to catch her, looping around her hand.

A smile crosses her face. She regards Tamaki with interest as her Persona is summoned. A golden X cuts in the air, and Vivienne makes a brief judgment - and doesn't move. It strikes her, and she staggers back... and with the momentum, she ''yanks'' on the ring around her arm, swinging in with a testing swipe of her second sword as she tries to free the arm holding the other.

What Vivienne hasn't noticed is the results of Tamaki's attack - highlighting a weakness to Fire-based attacks.

Shortly after, Alain summons ''his'' Persona - and Vivienne feels that extra surge of speed. For her, she's in her element.

"My thanks!" Vivienne calls back to him, and turns back toward Tamaki.

"Now then - I suppose it's ''my'' turn." She says. She reaches into her coat, drawing out a vial similar to those her companions have used. For her, however, the vial issues forth a soporific mist, which Vivienne breathes in.

"Skadi. Let us cool things down a bit, shall we?" Vivienne entreats - and behind her a tall, blue-skinned woman in a heavy winter coat and a helmet appears, armed for battle with a spear and a bow on her back and skis on her feet.

A hand is cast toward Tamaki, and the air around her rapidly begins to grow cold, icicles beginning to form - and the longer one remains in the zone of cold, the weaker one feels.

</poem>
AS: Weapon! Vivienne Sournois has used the Slash skill Advancing Slash on Umie Akabane! 2 Hits!

AS: Persona! Vivienne Sournois has used the Water skill Cold Snap on Tamaki Uchida!

AS: Ruin: Vivienne Sournois gains 1 Limit!

AS: Vivienne Sournois regains 6 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Avoid Worst! Umie Akabane takes 48 Slash damage from Vivienne Sournois's Advancing Slash.

AS: Avoid Worst! Umie Akabane takes 70 Slash damage from Vivienne Sournois's Advancing Slash. Critical Hit!

AS: Block Neutral! Tamaki Uchida takes 64 Water damage from Vivienne Sournois's Cold Snap. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
<poem>
"'Yes. You sure look as if you aren't having any.'" Alain asides to Kanae in French. "Of course. We are teammates- after all." Is Alain's response to Eve. There's nothing malicious in it, indeed, he's saying he will cooperate with them all. But perhaps it's still not a wonderful reminder of the fact that he would have referred to her something quite different not too many years ago. "Enjoy the swiftness, Vivi."

"Joker it is. With all the implications thereof..." He nods at him, and with his mask, it's impossible to see a smile, "I understand why you would think that of mon choupinette. But you're... off the mark."

He taps the side of his head, right where his ears would be, "Everything." He says in an amused tone to Skull.

Joker responds immediately with, "Ah, good call." He praises him, "Taking away my advantages is the right move." He says as he leaps off his Persona at Skull's cry of 'asshole' - side stepping the first of the Zio's lightning bolts. Then barely twisting out of the way of the second.

The third cascades through his body with a ripple of electricity, and he rolls his shoulders and bends slightly, with a hand at his lower back. "Ah. My back..." Like he's stretching somewhat. Right as his Persona finishes rounding around, and stands on two feet, pointing at Skull.

Who feels his movements slow significantly, right as Alain charges forward and Bayard charges behind Skull, and with a mighty swing of his hooked hammer tries to slam it against him, hooking it on his outfit to drive him to the ground, and use that grip if it lands to grind him against the Mementos floor.

"... is what a Geezer would complain about, no?"

Right as Bayard leaps and he tries to unhook his hammer, as the Persona attempts to land right on top of Skull with cratering force.

Then trying to rear up atop Skull, the Persona points at Queen, this time attempting to reduce her defenses significantly, with a burst of energy that seeps into her.

Right before Alain rushes up, this time - swinging his hammer in a wide arc, splitting the air to try and prevent her from escaping. "Correct. Though the same applies to us." He admits. "We know nothing of your own capabilities. As for 'that'... it is our own method of summoning our Personas." He says, seeing little harm in telling her.

'What was that worth to you?'

"Ah - I think the answer is one you'd quite understand. Still - for now let us just say we're reliving our glory days." As he cocks his head towards Skull, "As old men often do." He's really not going to let this go, is he?

The Persona seems to levitate, aerially, before then flying in towards Joker, turning around and kicking with it's hind hooves. A multitude of hooves appearing in the air, ready to strike.

</poem>
AS: Alain Wakamatsu spends Limit on Exploit! Alain Wakamatsu can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Alain Wakamatsu spends Limit on Exploit! Alain Wakamatsu can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Persona! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Almighty skill Sukunda on Ryuji Sakamoto!

AS: Persona! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Almighty skill Rakunda on Makoto Niijima!

AS: Tandem! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Slash skill Terra Break on Ryuji Sakamoto! 2 Hits!

AS: Weapon! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Strike skill Without Breaking A Few Eggs on Makoto Niijima!

AS: Persona! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Strike skill Steady Smash on Ren Amamiya!

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
In the sanctuary of the shadows, with a few precious moments to observe the situation, Katsuko's face took on the faintest hint of recognition behind her masks. She did not know anything of Eveline, and what she'd seen of her had not given her much insight into how to gain a tactical advantage. It was a little frustrating, she admitted quietly to herself, but such things would just have to be taken in stride. If nothing else, the 'friendly competition' would serve as a way to collect usable data, and perhaps create a contingency plan for if they ever met again. Amongst the rest of them, only Kanae and Tamaki were recognised, but she did not spare them a glance. They seemed otherwise occupied, and Ririka - another unrecognised individual - took her attention with a declaration of their temporary alliance.

"Then let's finish this quickly. Time's money, and I've lost enough of both already." She said, her voice clear as a bell, despite the mask that stood before her mouth.

Katsuko raised her rifle to take a shot, but the sight of those vials caused her to hesitate. Intellectually, she knew she should not have been surprised. The supernatural realm held many strange sights - that of strangers crushig glass vials in their hand and ingesting the contents was rather tame in comparison to the manifestations of historical figures and environments shaped by humanity's emotions. But, it was new, it was novel, and it was something that Katsuko deemed worthy of investigation at a later date. For the time being, however, dealing with her foe would have to be the focus.

"At least you people have good taste. In weapons *and* in books."

Every fragment of her sentence seemed to emerge from a different shadow whilst echoing across different walls. Anyone with sharp enough eyes or ears could have tracked her - she was a novice, after all, and still learning the intricacies of stealth upon the battlefield. But to the casual observer, she might as well have been everywhere at once. Eveline, Katsuko assumed, was one of those sharp-eyed people. Her evidence? The pinpoint accuracy with which she fired that rifle at her, even as she obscured herself amongst the dark.

The shot was too quick for her to evade, and her active thoughts could not be processed quickly enough to have Dantes block the shot himself. There was only one thing for it. Katsuko drew her cloak across her body and braced, turning and letting the bullet impact somewhere she knew she could take it. It did not kill her, but even so, her ribs felt as though they had been beaten with a sledgehammer. The fact that she'd not had the wind knocked clean from her was something she found nothing short of miraculous.

Katsuko returned the shot in short order. She raised the rifle to her eye, and the very moment she lined up her shot, the bright flare of detonating gunpowder bather her in a bright orange glow. There she was, clearly visible for all of a heartbeat, crouching in the shadows, before once more being reclaimed by them. The shot rang out like thunder, the bullet a strike of lightning, streaking towards Eveline's head. Whatever mercy was given to Katsuko, she did not seem inclined to return.

</poem>
AS: Take! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 0 Almighty damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Sukunda.

AS: Spd_Dn added!

AS: Weapon! Katsuko Yoshinaga has used the Pierce skill Skullsplitter on Eveline Deschamps!

AS: Aggression: Katsuko Yoshinaga gains 1 Limit!

AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga regains 7 HP from Regenerate! and 6 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Counter Best! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 74 Slash damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Terra Break.

AS: COUNTER! Alain Wakamatsu takes 56 Slash damage in return for his attack!

AS: Block Worst! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 113 Slash damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Terra Break. Critical Hit!

AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 37 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Steady Smash. Critical Hit!

AS: Take! Eveline Deschamps takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Basic Analysis.

AS: Ririka Kawase's Strength Scan! Eveline Deschamps resists Fire!

AS: Ririka Kawase's Weakness Scan! Eveline Deschamps is weak against Light!

AS: Block Neutral! Eveline Deschamps takes 42 Pierce damage from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Skullsplitter.

AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Almighty damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Rakunda.

AS: Def_Dn added!

AS: Block Neutral! Makoto Niijima takes 36 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Without Breaking A Few Eggs.

<Pose Tracker> Noriaki Okaga has posed.
<poem>
"Wild Hunt, eh?" Noriaki remarks as Eve makes her introductions. "Ain't room for that many hunters in one hunting ground. Guess we'll see which one of us can hack it!"

Partners, Kanae affirms, and Noriaki grunts, rolling his shoulders as if to limber up. "Enemy of my enemy, or whatever. Just don't get in my way, girly!"

But the battle he's gotten dragged into is with only one of their number in this precise moment. "Yeah? You got a problem with that, kiddo?" he snaps back at Isabeau, that grin of his -- his eyes are not visible under the shadow cast by his hood -- widening further. "You wanted this!"

Is it dried blood? Is it a trick of Mementos? It's hard to know what the reality of the weapon that Noriaki bears -- freely, against a younger person -- might be. It does look well-used, though, and it's certainly not in good condition. The edge is chipped.

But it never connects with Isabeau herself. "Ha! Faster 'n you look!" he calls back, falling back into a quick readied stance himself. "Let's see what you're--"

Winds swirl in, catching him solidly along the middle. Though he staggers, bracing himself against the cutting gale, he doesn't fall. One hand draws something from within his hoodie's pocket. He jams it up underneath his chin.

Is that all he's got?

"I'm only gettin' warmed up, kiddo!" he calls out, pulling the trigger on the gun-like item. Red light bursts around him, congealing into the form of his Persona.

Efnysien, a shadow, looms in the skeletal bath of his cauldron. Rising sharply within the cauldron, the Persona brandishes a blade that bursts into flame. Efnysien slashes once, twice through the air in an 'X' which roars like a missile to the place where Isabeau stands.

</poem>
AS: Tandem! Noriaki Okaga has used the Fire skill Firebrand on Isabeau Fontaine! 3 Hits!

AS: Avoid Best! Isabeau Fontaine takes 8 Fire damage from Noriaki Okaga's Firebrand.

AS: Avoid Neutral! Isabeau Fontaine takes 26 Fire damage from Noriaki Okaga's Firebrand. Critical Hit!

AS: Avoid Best! Isabeau Fontaine takes 11 Fire damage from Noriaki Okaga's Firebrand. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
It's too bad Wild Hunt is so French, because there's a German word, ''Backpfeifengesicht'', that suits Isabeau perfectly. (Eveline's snooty remark about how The Phantoms haven't been maintaining their turf well enough might just upgrade her to Backpfeifengesicht status too. At least Vivienne is so friendly she not only names herself but also her workplace?? Strange people...)

Right now, Joker gives Kanae a sharp little glance, eyes wide behind their mask, when she summons Baphomet--a different Persona from what she'd summoned just a moment before. She also has the power of the Wild Card?

Their red-gloved hands squeeze into fists for just a moment.

Off the mark, hm. "Which mark? That she thinks she's your boss, or that she thinks she's your friend?" Joker asks. It could go either way, after all--and they have no idea what 'mon choupinette' means to give them some kind of context. Personally, if this Laurent, her ''father'', is the group's boss, that would explain a lot... For the time being, Alain seems to take Skull's taunting in stride and even go along with the joke of being an old man, which does earn him some points in Joker's book. They respect someone who can keep their cool even after being taunted. (Their feelings on him praising their tactical decisions is more mixed, however.)

Either way, it's clear that this man is ''quite'' strong, even just seeing the way he charges into Skull and hearing Queen's warning about how hard he hits. "Skull!" Joker calls sharply--but this is no foe to panic against. That vial-shattering--that was him summoning his Persona? There ''was'' that fire, but...

No time to consider that. Bayard charges at Joker to kick at them with their hooves. They wait until the last second to leap backwards, and their gambit pays off; their evasive maneuvers mean Bayard can't chase after them, and moving with the momentum of his attack means diminishing the amount of force it has. They spin backwards and land on their feet; Arsène mirrors their movements before vanishing.

Once Queen announces Alain's strengths and weaknesses, Joker gives her a little nod. "Then you'd better take the front line after all, and I'll handle support," they tell her. No need to explain why, with her elemental proclivity towards nuclear fire. They rise up and once again grasp their mask--but this time, they call up a Puss-in-Boots-ish feline. "Cait Sith!" they call, and the orange cat raises his sword and mroowwwlls, right before calling up a spell to strengthen the three Phantoms' attacks.

</poem>
AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Shift! Makoto Niijima can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Almighty skill Matarukaja on Ren Amamiya, Ryuji Sakamoto, and Makoto Niijima!

AS: Ren Amamiya: Bind removed!

AS: Take! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 0 Almighty damage from Ren Amamiya's Matarukaja.

AS: Atk_Up added!

AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Ren Amamiya's Matarukaja.

AS: Atk_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
"Ah." Umie itches under the edge of her mask. "Sorry, I... blanked out on that. Palaces and Mementos seem to have similar make-ups, yeah."

Umie may be a 'veteran' compared to others, but is it in *spite* of her tendencies, or because she's learned from them? Such mysteries, with Umie Akabane.

Thankfully, Tamaki doesn't get too far from Umie's sight, especially as her yelling Umie's name means Umie can't *afford* to. "Don't shout my name like that," she hisses before they get too close, eyes widened behind her mask as she attempts to get Tamaki's attention. "Once my identity is blow, it's blown." She says this, to the person she's yet to suggest another name to.

This is a problem for Future Umie.

In the battle proper, Umie's initial mood has lifted massively-- at least, initially, until she catches sight of *him*. "Why the hell..." Umie squints her eyes briefly at Noriaki, realizing, in that same scan of this angle of the area, that Eveline is *also* here, fighting on the same 'side' as Isabeau. "... are *you* here, Ben--" nonono don't reveal your identity, Umie, ha ha ha "--beeen a few nights since your *last* night out, huh." Her lips twist as she hears Eveline reveal the name of this 'group', but she carries on that conversation with Noriaki. "That man survived, by the way. You failed."

Tamaki may be grateful that Noriaki's on their side, but Umie isn't above some 'friendly' banter, especially if it may lead to exposing what Noriaki's done to everyone here. The blood on that machete may be possibly cognitive, but Umie's not able to let him off the hook. "Yank someone out of a coffin like that again and I'll--OOF!"

She had been watching Vivienne, but the woman's speed being enhanced by Alain has made her much more nimble that what Umie could keep up with; the *yank* on Umie's weapon brings her right up against Vivienne's own, neatly cutting into the young blonde.

Yeaaaahhh, that's a sharp weapon alright.

What's more, as Umie sees out of the corner of her eye, Tamaki's not having a great time with ice.

Falling away to land besides Tamaki, Umie wills Badb up above her with a silent decree.

The air ripples over Tamaki's head, but the ragged wings of Badb do not disappear just yet; in fact, Umie raises her hand, and the Badb answers with a widening void of a smile, red lips revealing a black nothingness behind them.

"Don't get ahead of yourselves," Umie begins, blonde wisps of hair messily beginning to spill from her hood, "I'll level the playing field before we're through."

</poem>
AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Exploit! Umie Akabane can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Recovery skill Shroud on Tamaki Uchida!

AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 69 Recovery healing from Umie Akabane's Shroud.

AS: Eclipse added!

AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Almighty skill Scarlet Sigil on Vivienne Sournois, Alain Wakamatsu, Isabeau
Fontaine, and Eveline Deschamps!

AS: Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!

AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Take! Vivienne Sournois takes 0 Almighty damage from Umie Akabane's Scarlet Sigil.

AS: Take! Alain Wakamatsu takes 0 Almighty damage from Umie Akabane's Scarlet Sigil.

AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Almighty damage from Ren Amamiya's Matarukaja.

AS: Atk_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
Skull is ...learning today. Next time, make sure the window of the Monabus is rolled up before trash talking someone. Evidently, the French hold grudges.

Skull is pretty amused when Alain hurts his back. "Dude. For real? You aren't helping your case..."

Again, Ryuji takes a lot of the attack, getting sandwiched first. He can't even really process how time went all weird...The delinquent clenches his teeth as he is slammed into the ground.

Skull coughs as the onslaught finishes. He grins through the pain as he moves to get up. "Heh...you're right. You just keep kicking my ass and proving me right, no?" He tilts his head mockingly before he coughs again.

The guy looks hurt.

Ryuji cranes his head when Joker yells his name. He coughs and gives the leader a thumbs up. "Not dead yet!"

He rolls his shoulder as he feels Joker's spell hit him, making his movements have a little more oomph.

"Alright, dude. I'll give you th---PIPE TO THE KNEE!" Ryuji suddenly swings his pipe straight for Alain's knee, just as advertised.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Ryuji Sakamoto has used the Strike skill Street Justice on Alain Wakamatsu! 3 Hits!

AS: Aggression: Ryuji Sakamoto gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Worst! Alain Wakamatsu takes 79 Strike damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Street Justice. Critical Hit!

AS: Block Best! Alain Wakamatsu takes 44 Strike damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Street Justice. Critical Hit!

AS: Block Best! Alain Wakamatsu takes 44 Strike damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Street Justice. Critical Hit!

AS: Tamaki Uchida spends Limit on Exploit! Tamaki Uchida can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki narrows her eyes as she glimpses the text of her binder, then gazes more directly at Vivienne. Right about now, she's immensely thankful for Eriko's infectious enthusiasm in certain subject matter: it just might save her hide tonight. If she's right, this could be ''bad.''

"One of your number informed me of your services, yes." She glances at her own sabre. " -- this blade has some sentimental value, let's say, but I'm open to the idea of a trade. We can certainly discuss it later."

It's now that Tamaki takes stock of the other familiar faces in the crowd.

There's a few of the Phantom Thieves she saw at the Palace: Joker, Queen, and Skull, but no Phoenix. Was their alliance with the Thieves temporary, the same as hers?

Kanae and Katsuko are two other faces Tamaki recognizes from the previous time the Hunt had antagonized them. Kanae seems to hold a ''particular'' enmity for one of their numbers -- there's history there.

Ririka, from SEES, also present at Kamiya's Palace. Seemingly an outlier here, getting a lay of the land in Mementos, same as her and Umie -- but alone.

Tamaki's eyes aren't where they ''should'' have been: she took her eyes off of her opponent. Her instincts were correct, but her reflexes were slow. Skadi's cold spell snaps Tamaki to her senses, but not before cutting ''deep'' at some long-dormant fears: those of the Reaper, tales of various ferrymen, the chill of the rivers Sanzu, Styx, and Cocytus.

The river she saw in those dreams that she had feared she may never wake from. She's put her binder away, and her left hand holds her six-coined necklace with a white-knuckle grip.

Still shivering from the bracing cold, Tamaki flashes a grin Vivienne's way: she remains cordial, but that smile and those eyes are a little ''too'' wide. "Dressed for the winter, are you? I suppose I came in with too few layers. We should fix that!"

Umie provides her aid, shrouding Tamaki. The feeling of a full night's rest, a hearty breakfast, preparation to face the day's trials anew. Tamaki's own smile returns to something more genuine and less -- well, ''haunted''.

She gives Alain a side-eyed glance as Bayard provides the Hunters with some alacrity-based assistance. " -- and in my opinion, your group has too ''many''. Come now, let's fight on more even footing."

Arianrhod's broadsword is a blur as she makes three motions in rapid succession.

First, she strikes the earth, briefly forming the image of a reflective pool of water underneath Vivienne, the image of a full moon visible in the 'sky' below. The ground she walks on is still solid, and the pool fades, but the effects linger.

Then, two wide, sweeping horizontal slashes: a giant red V forms in the air, then travels forward, just as the earlier golden X did, but it splits in four directions, aimed at each member of the Hunt. Should they make contact, blue and green mist spray into the air, enchantments separated from the people they've been bestowed to.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Almighty skill Light Break on Vivienne Sournois!

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
Isabeau ''might'' like violence, Eve. Just a lottle bit.

... which is probably why it's lucky Alain is buffing everyone. "Brilliant!" She calls out to him, with praise. Why does she know ''that'' word? Well, her father's Laurent. She's learned an above-average amount of theatric descriptors for her language level.

Isabeau does feel like she heard a surprisingly feline mode of transportation back there, but... well, she's too distracted by the FIGHT to go find the kitty cat. (Are there cats in Mementos? She's certainly rescued cats from ''Tartarus...'') Luckily, she trusts Alain enough not to keep arguing with Joker personally; he ''knows'' they're friends! Hmph!!

(Isabeau is certainly trying a little too hard, but who can blame her? She's still young; she has something to prove.)

"I will!" Isabeau chirps to Alain, in chorus with Kanae's insistance that she ''won't.'' But... her face doesn't have any friends? "Demonstrated to be untrue!" Isabeau jeers, to Kanae. "I am Hunting ''with'' my friends!" They're still adults, Isabeau, you're clearly not ''that'' mature. "You have had to pick this man off the side of the road, mean-while, like some kind of discarded fellow covered in dirt?! I am surprised he takes your ''charity.''"

But Kanae changes her Face, and -- "YOU DIRTY CHEATER!" Isabeau exclaims, as those rings of light descend over her. "Do you KNOW how much EFFORT Dance of Protection takes to invoke?! Rrrrgh... ''FINE!'' I do not NEED energy to `KICK YOUR ASS!`" Yes, she lapsed into French to say that last part. She still doesn't know how to swear in Japanese properly, and also, Kanae's making her ''that'' mad. Luckily, one invocation's the same between languages: "MIELIKKI!"

That waspish little woman appears again, flying straight into Kanae's space to ''slash'' at her with those oversized bear claws.

"Now on top of your crimes you have people thinking this is a ''fight to the death!''" She adds, acerbic, to Kanae. (She heard Ririka, apparently.) "I hope you will pay for their mental anguish bills when they realise we are simply engaging them in competition!" ... Isabeau forgot the word for 'therapy', huh.

And then -- "Scouting Mementos, of course!" Isabeau calls, to Queen, revealing her ''complete'' lack of opsec in the process as she answers what they're doing deeper in. Don't just... answer people when they ask you things, Isabeau, c'mon!!

"We may be immigrated, but still are ''we'' the Hunters here!" Isabeau huffs, to Noriaki. "And you..."

... are kind of freaking her out?! Like, when Noriaki says 'hack it', does he mean, like, literally, with that machete and stuff?

"I -- I have no ''problem!''" She insists, grasping her spear anew. But Umie yells at him, and Isabeau blinks, looking back to Noriaki. "Eh? You can remove people from those coffins? The ones at the Hour of Dark, no?" It's the Dark Hour, Isabeau, you got your subject-verb-object all mixed up.

Red light bursts from around him, though -- and Isabeau for ''sure'' isn't getting any closer to that weird creepy Persona, so back she leaps again, lifting her spear to parry the blows away from her.

Yeah, Ren, she absolutely has a punchable face.

"You are very intense...!" Isabeau exclaims, as the force of those attacks knocks her to the ground. She stabs her spear into the ground to push herself back up. "I am not, however, ''only'' a force which pushes forward. Persona!"

Mielikki appears, again, to weave in a sultry dance around Noriaki... it's Marin Karin!!

But while Mielikki is busy with that, ''Isabeau'' is charging forward, because apparently ''not only'' means ''in addition to.'' With a press of a latch at her ruby spear, the long shaft collapses down into the haft of a ruby ''knife'' --

That's not a spear! That's a SPEARKNIFE! And it's stabbing right for him--!! "You are not the only one with a knife!" She crows, proudly.

Badb cries out across the battlefield, though, and it's ''like'' Marin Karin; Arianrhod's attack, meanwhile, is not. It's kind of like Dekaja, just, you know, it hurts more. She springs back from it, but it meets its mark, anyway. "Ugh... a remarkable blow!"

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Slash skill Sever Boon on Vivienne Sournois, Alain Wakamatsu, Isabeau Fontaine,
and Eveline Deschamps!

AS: Tamaki Uchida takes 50 damage from Stress!

AS: Isabeau Fontaine spends Limit on Exploit! Isabeau Fontaine can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 0 Almighty damage from Umie Akabane's Scarlet Sigil.

AS: Charm added!

AS: Avoid Best! Isabeau Fontaine takes 18 Slash damage from Tamaki Uchida's Sever Boon.

AS: Def_Up removed!

AS: Take! Vivienne Sournois takes 0 Almighty damage from Tamaki Uchida's Light Break.

AS: Light_Break added!

AS: Avoid Worst! Vivienne Sournois takes 71 Slash damage from Tamaki Uchida's Sever Boon. Critical Hit!

AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Slash skill Fatal End on Kanae Fuyuki!

AS: Charm results in party damage! Isabeau Fontaine takes 75 damage!

AS: Defense: Isabeau Fontaine gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Almighty skill Marin Karin on Noriaki Okaga!

AS: Weapon! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Slash skill Cold-Blooded Strike on Noriaki Okaga!

AS: Take! Eveline Deschamps takes 0 Almighty damage from Umie Akabane's Scarlet Sigil.

AS: Block Best! Eveline Deschamps takes 43 Slash damage from Tamaki Uchida's Sever Boon. Critical Hit!

AS: Spd_Up removed!

AS: Counter Worst! Kanae Fuyuki takes 170 Slash damage from Isabeau Fontaine's Fatal End.

AS: COUNTER! Isabeau Fontaine takes 41 Slash damage in return for her attack!

AS: Take! Noriaki Okaga takes 0 Almighty damage from Isabeau Fontaine's Marin Karin.

AS: Charm added!

AS: Block Worst! Noriaki Okaga takes 62 Slash damage from Isabeau Fontaine's Cold-Blooded Strike.

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
"Earth won't work. Stick to Fire and Nuke!" Queen relates Alain's weaknesses and strengths easily- even if Johanna's navigation capabilities are fiercely limited, understanding an enemy Persona is as doable as understandable as understanding a shadow.

She can't stop the Rakunda wash over her, though, just as Skull's ability to evade is reduced- but not enough to stop her holding firm against the incoming swing from the hammer, her massive tekko- the jolt passing through her arms, but not hard enough to throw her off too bad. "...That's a mean swing, Alain-san." Queen says, matter of factly. "But far from the worst I've had."

"Understood, Joker!" Still, her eyes cast to the beating Skull just took. He's not doing exactly great. That's fine. Queen can do two things. "Johanna!"

The motorcycle Persona emerges as Queen pushes back against Alain's hammer, before she flips backward through the ait to land upon Johanna with ease. "Frei!" She shouts, revving the engines- and as Johanna's exhaust flares with green flames, and a plume of nuclear energy blazes toward Alain as Queen speeds off on Johanna!

"...So you definitely don't understand what's going on here. If you did, you'd know that scouting wouldn't help you at all." Now what could that mean, Tutorial Fairy Niijima??

Queen skids to a halt next to Skull, and green sparks emerge from Johanna's engine to wash over their heavy hitter. "Skull, slow down! If you keep swinging that recklessly you won't be standing much longer. Sync up with Joker and me!"

Of course, once Skull is fired up, it's hard to get him to hold back- and maybe going all out is what they need.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Fire skill Frei on Alain Wakamatsu!

AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Recovery skill Diarama on Ryuji Sakamoto!

AS: Support: Makoto Niijima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid Worst! Alain Wakamatsu takes 115 Slash damage from Tamaki Uchida's Sever Boon. Critical Hit!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Alain Wakamatsu takes 64 Fire damage from Makoto Niijima's Frei. Weak!

AS: Blast added!

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"You should always treat a fight seriously," Kanae offers Ririka. "But no, I don't mean it's to the death, I just mean it's not ''friendly''. Does this look friendly to you??"

She frowns at Alain. "I mean, I ''was'' having fun, before Isabeau showed up! And hey! Maybe hoodie-san is cool!"

'Don't get in his way'. Kanae considers this for a moment. "Eh, better than fighting with Isabeau," she allows after a moment. "And you smell better than she does, too." This is almost certainly a lie.

She realizes she doesn't particularly want Touma to grow a beard, though...

Kanae has no idea who Joker is, so she doesn't react to that. Instead--

She notices Umie appears to know Noriaki. "Uh?" Kanae says, looking between the two of them. She frowns then, and sees him use his Evoker. As the red light bursts...

That's a ''scary'' Persona.

"...Thanks," she says. "Now I remember not to use Fire."

But Isabeau hits her, and ''hard''. Huge claws slash at her, and Kanae hits the ground hard, even as she tries to deflect the blow with her gunblade and retorts... ''some'' of the damage. "Is that how it is, then?" she asks.

Kanae takes a deep breath--and calms herself. She opens her brown eyes to look at Isabeau. "...All right. So Henry tells me I need to be more deliberate about these things..."

"Somebody already Charmed you. That means... I can take an advantage here."

"I just have to risk it. Right, Wakamatsu-san? You said I should take more risks if it's not to the death..."

"So here goes!"

Kanae rises smoothly, gunblade dragging the ground as she puts out one hand. "Succubus! Come forth!"

''Tink''. Another Persona emerges, and this one is the representation of her bond with....

You know? Maybe don't interrogate that.

"My friends give me power, too, Isabeau."

Succubus rises, and spins in place, her bat wings flapping as she leans forward as if sitting in the air. She blows Isabeau a kiss.

Then a gigantic stake ''drives'' from the ceiling down to smash Isabeau!!

...And a moment later, a gravitic force, purple and yellow, tries to ''drag'' her back to the ground.

"So what's your connection to Hoodie-san?" Kanae shouts at Umie.

</poem>
AS: Kanae Fuyuki spends Limit on Exploit! Kanae Fuyuki can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Persona! Kanae Fuyuki has used the Pierce skill Cruel Attack on Isabeau Fontaine!

AS: Persona! Kanae Fuyuki has used the Earth skill Gry on Isabeau Fontaine!

AS: Kanae Fuyuki: Haze removed!

AS: Counter Worst! Isabeau Fontaine takes 145 Pierce damage from Kanae Fuyuki's Cruel Attack.

AS: COUNTER! Kanae Fuyuki takes 40 Pierce damage in return for her attack!

AS: Block Neutral! Isabeau Fontaine takes 47 Earth damage from Kanae Fuyuki's Gry.

AS: Paralyze added!

AS: Take! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 150 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Diarama.

<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
<poem>
"Oh? Then I will have to thank them." Vivienne replies, as Tamaki explains that one of them told her about her. "I see... I understand, of course. I do weapon maintenance, too. I can make it as sharp as the day it was forged, if you like. Better, perhaps. But certainly, a trade would also be wonderful."

Vivienne's slash lands, and Umie lands beside Tamaki. Vivienne turns to regard both of them, now, and watches as Umie calls upon her Persona.

Level the playing field, hm? A smile crosses Vivienne's lips.

"Please do. It's far more exciting that way, isn't it? A one-sided battle is only a tragedy." Vivienne replies. "Don't feel the need to hold back."

Badb smiles. Vivienne feels ''something'' wash over her - a pull, a distraction, but she pushes back at it.

"My, my..." Vivienne remarks with interest, before looking toward Tamaki.

"Naturally. All the better to break the ice, hm?" Vivienne replies.

Arianrhod's broadsword flashes through the air. Vivienne leaps back, but the reflective pool still appears beneath her - and with the flash of the full moon, suddenly, Mementos's lights seem all the harsher.

She can't concern herself with that feeling for long, however. A red V is carved into the air before splitting apart. Vivienne dives to the side, but she's too late to avoid it completely. It slashes into her, and a grin crosses her face.

"You two ''are'' serious, aren't you? Wonderful. I have been needing this." Vivienne comments. "Skadi!"

Skadi reappears, waving her hand in front of her.

Once more, the air begins to grow cold - though mercifully devoid of icicles, this time. It's a weakening chill, one that might make one feel more vulnerable... and Vivienne moves immediately to capitalise on it.

"Now - aim true!" Vivienne requests. Skadi draws her spear from her back, a poisonous residue beginning to drip from the head. She lunges toward, delivering a thrust toward Tamaki. With that she leaps back. Her spear is put away and bow drawn in its place, nocking an arrow before firing it toward Umie... where it explodes in a blinding flash, the moment it makes contact with anything.

</poem>
AS: Vivienne Sournois spends Limit on Exploit! Vivienne Sournois can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Persona! Vivienne Sournois has used the Almighty skill Winter's Chill on Umie Akabane and Tamaki Uchida!

AS: Ruin: Vivienne Sournois gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Vivienne Sournois has used the Pierce skill Poison Spear on Tamaki Uchida!

AS: Persona! Vivienne Sournois has used the Pierce skill Flash Arrow on Umie Akabane!

AS: Vivienne Sournois regains 6 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Almighty damage from Vivienne Sournois's Winter's Chill.

AS: Sick added!

AS: Block Neutral! Tamaki Uchida takes 38 Pierce damage from Vivienne Sournois's Poison Spear.

AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Almighty damage from Vivienne Sournois's Winter's Chill.

AS: Sick added!

AS: Counter Best! Umie Akabane takes 93 Pierce damage from Vivienne Sournois's Flash Arrow. Critical Hit!

AS: COUNTER! Vivienne Sournois takes 59 Pierce damage in return for her attack!

AS: Makoto Niijima spends Limit on Shift! Ren Amamiya can use another Weak skill this round! They both receive 8 SP and
25 HP!

<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
<poem>
"She's not our boss. As she said- she is the daughter of our 'leader'..." There's an inflection on the leader that is hard to decipher, does Alain not think well of their leader? "... so we're more like a strange family, in a sense. But she does not order us around."

He's not about to say they're more 'chaperones' allowing her to be trained and learn wisdom through her experiences as look he knows how teenagers are. That's the easiest way to get Isabeau to turn on him instantly.

Fortunately, Alain doesn't seem like he's intending to fight to the death. After all, he did not follow up on Skull to attempt a coup de grace.

Queen's comment on not the worst she's had, causes him to regard her in a new light, "You're quite sturdy, aren't you Queen? I'm rather fond of strong women." And yet the tone does not imply he's hitting on her in any sense. Simply a sort of framing her in a new light, at the new information.

Joker's words cause his stance to shift, like he's bracing himself for attacks on his discovered weakness, when Queen reveals it. "... Great." His Persona vanishes for a time, before the crimson flames rise again, and Bayard is summoned anew, spreading out a new blessing of power to his fellows. "We'll respond in kind, you understand." He makes clear to Joker.

Umie's silent decree made manifest from Badb and his Persona orients upon Badb, making a snorting noise, right as Arianrhod's titanic slash blasts the Equine Persona backwards, an act which causes Alain to glance at the pair, "Sorry to disappoint, but the playing field can't be changed in one's favor so simply." Which is when Skull comes up with a Pipe to a Knee.

Which connects, solidly, and the man makes a noise of pain, "Unfortunately for you... my name isn't Nancy." His hammer moves quickly to block the follow up strike, as Skull slams into it again, and then again. "Perhaps before your time."

His Persona rises up behind him as he draws back his hammer and swings DOWN - right before his Persona charges at Skull, and leaps over him to slam the ground. A large crack opens up in the Mementos floor giving him - something of a hazard.

Which is when Johanna appears and nuclear fire plumes clinging to him for a time, as he's stunned by the sudden explosion of power that dazes him, before he snaps back into attention, focusing upon Queen.

"You're the worst possible match up for me... good."

His Persona reappears then begins to wildly buck in a circle, sending out powerful wave of force after powerful wave of force at Queen and Joker.

"Why do you say that?" He asks Queen, in consideration of her statement about scouting Mementos. "I do not mind deferring to your expertise, if you don't mind explaining why you say that... what is your mission here?"

</poem>
AS: Persona! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Almighty skill Matarukaja on Isabeau Fontaine, Vivienne Sournois, Eveline
Deschamps, and Alain Wakamatsu!

AS: Defense: Alain Wakamatsu gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Alain Wakamatsu takes 0 Almighty damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Matarukaja.

AS: Atk_Up added!

AS: Take! Vivienne Sournois takes 0 Almighty damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Matarukaja.

AS: Atk_Up added!

AS: Tandem! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Earth skill Fissure on Ryuji Sakamoto! 2 Hits!

AS: Take! Eveline Deschamps takes 0 Almighty damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Matarukaja.

AS: Atk_Up added!

AS: Persona! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Strike skill Rampage on Ren Amamiya and Makoto Niijima! 3 Hits!

<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
<poem>
"I don't know any more than the broader Persona User community. If you're insinuating that an information advantage you may possess grants you ownership..." Eve pauses.

And then, she grins from ear to ear. "We'll just have to see about that."

It helps mask her awkwardness around Alain, not that she's bad at that in general.

"Are you familiar with what they say about curiosity and cats?" she asks Ririka, as the scan hears that she sounds like a metronome, precise and always on point, always moving the tempo, but unsettled if set off balance. Light unbalances, fire is guarded.

"You're chained to the feelings of those around you, aren't you?" she asks.

Katsuko's bullet flies out, as the rifle is thrown into the air rapidly and disappears. Instead, a cane suddenly manifests into her hand, smashing out to guard the bullet, deflecting it away, allowing it to graze her cheek.

Umie's charm fires at her as well, but she doesn't seem very affected. "A charm technique, interesting. Perhaps try harder than that, hm?"

Tamaki's enchantment-breaking V however smashes into her cane, forcing her into a step backwards to keep footing. She loses her agility bonus, instead throwing up a hand for Guro Rysserova to spread a shrouding effect on her team! "Let's weaken your approaches."

And then, Guro Rysserova shoots out a blast of fire into the air. Instead of impacting on anyone, Eve whips her cane out, turning into a sword whip. It impacts with the flames as Alain's second buff washes out, coating it, before moving to strike twice at Katsuko and Ririka, flaming whip moving to rake against their bodies, before a third pair of strikes goes for Tamaki!

Umie, meanwhile, gets a smile. She's been MARKED.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Eveline Deschamps has used the Recovery skill Wideguard Protocol on Alain Wakamatsu, Isabeau Fontaine, and
Vivienne Sournois!

AS: Insight: Eveline Deschamps gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Alain Wakamatsu takes 0 Recovery healing from Eveline Deschamps's Wideguard Protocol.

AS: Eclipse added!

AS: Take! Vivienne Sournois takes 0 Recovery healing from Eveline Deschamps's Wideguard Protocol.

AS: Eclipse added!

AS: Counter Worst! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 171 Earth damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Fissure. Critical Hit!

AS: COUNTER! Alain Wakamatsu takes 29 Earth damage in return for his attack! Resist!

AS: Tandem! Eveline Deschamps has used the Fire skill Afterburn on Tamaki Uchida, Ririka Kawase, and Katsuko Yoshinaga!
2 Hits!

AS: Eveline Deschamps: Bind removed!

AS: Eveline Deschamps regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Block Best! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 63 Earth damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Fissure. Critical Hit!

AS: Block Neutral! Tamaki Uchida takes 65 Fire damage from Eveline Deschamps's Afterburn.

AS: Block Worst! Tamaki Uchida takes 86 Fire damage from Eveline Deschamps's Afterburn.

AS: Avoid Neutral! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 78 Fire damage from Eveline Deschamps's Afterburn.

AS: Avoid Best! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 47 Fire damage from Eveline Deschamps's Afterburn.

AS: Avoid Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 84 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Rampage. Critical Hit!

AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 28 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Rampage.

AS: Avoid Neutral! Ren Amamiya takes 58 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Rampage. Critical Hit!

AS: Block Neutral! Ririka Kawase takes 65 Fire damage from Eveline Deschamps's Afterburn.

AS: Block Neutral! Ririka Kawase takes 65 Fire damage from Eveline Deschamps's Afterburn.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Joker smiles in relief at Skull when he confirms he's still kicking--moreso when Queen rides Johanna to his side and shower a Diarama on him. Queen's a better healer than Joker, so switching her to the attack is a risk, but chasing weakness hits is the basics of the basics.

"She was just telling you all what to do only a few moments ago. If she isn't supposed to be ordering you around, and you're avoiding calling her your friend, does that mean you're only babysitting her?" Certainly Joker doesn't think being 'like a strange family' necessarily means they ''like'' each other--especially not with the weird inflection Alain puts on 'leader.' Joker clucks their tongue. "I pity your 'choupinette' her delusions."

...Okay, now they're just being a jerk. But hey, at least they get to be the jerk instead of Alain, hm?

"I understand," they say smoothly to Alain. It's already been made clear that he's not just a heavy hitter but also a strong support. Nasty for everyone, really. Joker shoots Umie and Tamaki a nod of thanks as they both lend their support--but Alain isn't going to go down that easily... and with his heightened strength, that makes the next flurry of hammer and Magna and Persona force blows that much more disastrous for the group.

Joker is caught specifically in Bayard's Rampage, the waves of force blasting them back wave by wave by wave. They snarl in pain before dropping to one knee, panting. It's a good thing Queen just healed Skull, too, because Alain is really kicking ''his'' ass too. Funnily enough, he seems most favorably inclined towards Queen. "No need to tell them more than they need to know," Joker warns her, rising to their feet to whirl into a new mask.

This time, it's an umbrella-hatted woman in a loose kimono who rises over Joker in blue flame. "Ame-no-Uzume!" they call, and she dances as she once danced for Amaterasu--first to heal the hearts of them and their friends, and then... to speed Skull's feet and toughen his armor.

</poem>
AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 0 Almighty damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Matarukaja.

AS: Atk_Up added!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 0 Recovery healing from Eveline Deschamps's Wideguard Protocol.

AS: Eclipse added!

AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Recovery skill Media on Ren Amamiya, Ryuji Sakamoto, and Makoto Niijima!

AS: Support: Ren Amamiya gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 110 Recovery healing from Ren Amamiya's Media.

AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Almighty skill Dance of Protection on Ryuji Sakamoto!

AS: Ren Amamiya regains 6 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Avoid Best! Makoto Niijima takes 29 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Rampage.

AS: Avoid Worst! Makoto Niijima takes 70 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Rampage.

AS: Avoid Best! Makoto Niijima takes 29 Strike damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Rampage.

AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 110 Recovery healing from Ren Amamiya's Media.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Time is Money, Katsuko declares, and Ririka just kind of glances back in her general direction. "... Fair enough, I guess."

She ''does'' wonder where all these guns came from. Okay, o she has a katana she probably shouldn't have, and an Evoker, but ''still''.

But there's a ''lot'' going on, and Ririka is doing her best to keep tabs on everything nearby--she might not have the decades of practice Eve has, but she's been working to develop her own powers.

Which is why her head snaps around when that red light envelopies 'Hoodie-san.' The red light is new, but that rush of Resonance is not--she eyes that 'gun-like' thing suspiciously.

Now that she knows other groups have taken Kirijo's Evoker technology... she makes a mental note to follow up on that later.

Ririka ''is'' treating this seriously. Does this look friendly? Ririka glances at Kanae. "I mean, I don't know what's going on between you and that girl, but they did go through the trouble of issuing a challenge before just... ambushing us, so, you know. Not the ''most'' unfriendly fight I've ever had."

A beat. "... but maybe friendly is overstaing it, yeah."

Curiosity and cats. "I'm more of a dog person." Wait, is that a retort or just a statement of fact? But she's also listening to something else. "So Light will set you off balance... and yo're guarded againt fire."

She glances to Katsuko. "You get that? If you've got any Light skills, use them."

Chained... no matter how much Ririka might want to deny it... it's right there on Amphion's boots, weighing them down. She just looks at Eve, unable to answer.

The fire-covered whip lashes out for her. "Wait was that whip a ''sword''--" She crosses her arms in front of her to block the attack, grimacing as she's driven back a few steps. It stings, and she's haking her arms out as she recovers. "Yeowch. Alright then, Amphion!"

"Let's play a little tune!" She focuses, feeling out the most injured among them. "Give me a Healing Song!" Amphion strums, and strains of rejuvenating music drift out to encase herself, Katsuko, Skull, and Kanae in gentle healing magic.

"And for an encore--" Ririka gestures at Eve next. "Let's play something a little sharper!"

Amphion continues to play, but the song turns more dissonant and discordant, full of strange, off-pitch notes and tones meant to throw an opponent off. The continued song reaches for Eve, Isabeau, Alain, and Vivienne.

</poem>
AS: Ririka Kawase spends Limit on Exploit! Ririka Kawase can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Recovery skill Healing Song on Ririka Kawase, Katsuko Yoshinaga, Ryuji Sakamoto,
and Kanae Fuyuki!

AS: Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.

AS: Regen added!

AS: Take! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.

AS: Regen added!

AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Dissonant Song on Eveline Deschamps, Isabeau Fontaine, Alain
Wakamatsu, and Vivienne Sournois!

AS: Ririka Kawase: Gains 63 HP from Regen!

AS: Take! Vivienne Sournois takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Dissonant Song.

AS: Crt_Dn added!

AS: Take! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 110 Recovery healing from Ren Amamiya's Media.

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Dissonant Song.

AS: Spd_Dn added!

AS: Take! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 0 Almighty damage from Ren Amamiya's Dance of Protection.

AS: Def_Up added! Spd_Dn removed!

AS: Take! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.

AS: Regen added!

AS: Take! Alain Wakamatsu takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Dissonant Song.

AS: Def_Dn added!

AS: Take! Eveline Deschamps takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Dissonant Song.

AS: Def_Dn added!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
As the field of battle flows fprward, Umie's comments come quick.

'Sorry to disappoint, but the playing field can't be changed in one's favor so simply.' "Maybe, but I'm pretty sure your opponents will take it from there, hm?" Umie says, giving Joker's nod an answering grin. "I've heard they're pretty tenacious."

'A charm technique, interesting. Perhaps try harder than that, hm?' "Just getting started."

It goes downhill from there.

'You can remove people from those coffins? The ones at the Hour of Dark, no?' Umie makes a face at Isabeau's comment, like she had just unexpectedly chomped down into a lemon. No witty quip here. ".... Don't," is Umie's sharp response to Isabeau.

'Don't worry about timing. I'll find you!' "Damn it..." Umie grimaces, at Noriaki's comment, looking back towards Tamaki.

Vivienne is coming in as well, a bitter chill casting a crack in Umie's constitution.

The poisoned spear comes next, and Umie, in a rare move, leans into it, using that moment to slash the bladed end of her kyoketsu shoge into Vivienne.

Words exhausted, Umie leaves the rest to Badb, whose crescent smile leers at Vivienne as she rises out of Umie's back, like a butterfly from a cocoon.

A breath, and Umie winces, from the poison's effects; It translates into the Badb's eerie wail, echoing through the tunnels of Mementos.

</poem>
AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Exploit! Umie Akabane can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
Ryuji is grateful for the heal from Makoto. He turns his head, still smiling despite feeling like a bus hit him. "You're right. This isn't someone I can brute force." Skull gets into a defensive stance as the cooling heal energy makes him feel somewhat less like hell.

Ryuji is a little shocked when the pipe to the knee doesn't do more. He pushes into each strike, starting to feel this guys strength start to wind him.

"Geez dude, you might be old but...you hit like a truck" Skull says with a little bit of unease in his voice. This was bad.

It only got worse when the ground opens up. Skull falls backwards, catching himself as he struggles to deal with literally the ground attacking him. He flails, finally getting to his feet. "OK. Ok....I'm starting to see that I might've said somethings in jest that got taken personally..my bad" He leans over and lets the healing spells from Ririka and Joker do their magic. He is still rather winded though.

"Ok..I apologized but I'm still gonna try to kick your ass." Captain Kidd suddenly appears, blasting more lightning from parts unknown.

"Hey Queen...I think I'm starting to figure this guy out. Hit em harder this time!" Ryuji gives Queen a thumbs up.

</poem>
AS: Take! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.

AS: Regen added!

AS: Ryuji Sakamoto spends Limit on Shift! Makoto Niijima can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Final Warning on Vivienne Sournois!

AS: Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Pale Shriek on Vivienne Sournois!

AS: Umie Akabane: Loses 8 SP from Sick!

AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Shift! Makoto Niijima can use another Weak skill this round! They both receive 8 SP and
25 HP!

AS: Persona! Ryuji Sakamoto has used the Elec skill Mazionga on Alain Wakamatsu!

AS: Aggression: Ryuji Sakamoto gains 1 Limit!

AS: Ryuji Sakamoto: Gains 61 HP from Regen!

<Pose Tracker> Noriaki Okaga has posed.
<poem>
Maybe hoodie-san is cool.

...Maybe.

Considering how he's swinging that thing around, Isabeau, he might just mean that literally. It's... a possibility.

Someone here, though, knows him.

"Ah?" voices Noriaki, as Umie remarks on his recent failure to complete a job. "Which-- oh, you mean ''him''." His shoulders rise and fall in a lazy shrug. His head tilts in Umie's direction as she goes on. "Consider me impressed, kiddo! Didn't think you lot were up to the task!" His head turns as if he were sweeping the crowd engaged in combat here. "Now... one, two... I see the rest of your merry band are here, too! Now you've got me curious about exactly what you're capable of. But, eh, not right now. I'm busy."

He spreads his arms wide, grandstanding.

"Don't worry about timing. I'll find you!" he tells Umie.

It sounds like a promise ...and a threat.

It's possible to pull someone out of one of their coffins in the Dark Hour?

"Sure! All you gotta do is crack 'em open, and you can show someone a ''whole new world''!" he tells her, gesturing broadly with his free hand (Evoker included) as he lets out what can only be called a cackle.

Maybe it's only fitting that Mielikki emerges to disorient his world afterwards. "What's that--? My head's... gah," Noriaki utters, dropping his machete with a clatter as he palms his forehead and staggers. Into this moment intrudes Isabeau. Bright pain rips across fantasia.

"You little--" utters Noriaki, pulling away a reddened palm from his side. "Hh... enough! Efnysien!" Up comes the Evoker once again; red light shatters about him as the Persona erupts into the world. With his other hand, Efnysien cracks forward an object on the end of a long string right for Isabeau at startling force: perhaps only once the object returns to the Persona's side will it become clear that it's a broken and battered toy rocking horse.

In the same instant, Noriaki drops for his fallen machete, snatching it up in his bloodied palm as he rushes down Isabeau in the same moment that his Persona's attack finishes and its manifestation begins to fade. He swings wide.

"And stay down!"

</poem>
AS: Avoid Neutral! Vivienne Sournois takes 13 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Final Warning.

AS: Panic added!

AS: Avoid Best! Vivienne Sournois takes 17 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Pale Shriek. Critical Hit!

AS: Noriaki Okaga spends Limit on Exploit! Noriaki Okaga can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Persona! Noriaki Okaga has used the Strike skill Skull Cracker on Isabeau Fontaine!

AS: Charm results in party damage! Noriaki Okaga takes 75 damage!

AS: Weapon! Noriaki Okaga has used the Slash skill Well-used Machete on Isabeau Fontaine! 3 Hits!

AS: Aggression: Noriaki Okaga gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid Best! Alain Wakamatsu takes 77 Elec damage from Ryuji Sakamoto's Mazionga.

AS: Paralyze added! Blast removed! Explosion! 63 damage!

AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga spends Limit on Exploit! Katsuko Yoshinaga can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Earlier, during their hasty approach prior to the start of this skirmish, Tamaki held up both hands at Umie in wide-eyed apologetic surprise. "R- Right! Understood, though I tried to keep quiet with -- the first part." Tamaki doesn't bother obscuring her identity -- her business suit has by now become part of her ''brand''. This excursion is something she does on behalf of the Kuzunoha Detective Agency, and the recognition is part of her ''advertising''. For all their similarities elsewhere, Tamaki and Umie differ greatly in this respect.

"Just -- maybe we should establish more of a protocol going in, you know? For next time." This lack of team cohesion -- the growing pains of a pair not entirely accustomed to working together -- ''might'' be a portent of things shortly to come.

-=-=-

Then in the thick of things proper, Umie lets slip some information on Noriaki. Tamaki glances over with wide eyes and makes a cutting motion at her neck, silently urging her to refrain from speaking further. To Kanae, she calls out, "Talk later!"

She runs a palm over her face at Noriaki's response of 'I'll find you!' For someone so concerned with hiding her own identity, she sure does seem to want to piss off someone currently on their side and start fighting on two fronts ..! "Let me try to take the heat for us, yeah?"

''Speaking'' of fighting on two fronts, Arianrhod's disenchanting slashes earned Tamaki the ire of several of Eveline's fiery whip-strikes coming her way. The good news: she'd much prefer to stand in the line of fire for most of her allies, especially the younger ones -- quite literally 'taking the heat', as she said earlier. The okay news: her earlier assessment of the range disadvantage between herself and Eveline was correct. The bad news: she was expecting it to hit once, but not ''twice'': Arianrhod times her parry correctly on the first strike, but the second sends Tamaki reeling away, now dizzied from a Persona Break.

She can't complain. Fair's fair.

Skadi catches Tamaki while she's staggering. The chill starts to set in. Tamaki narrows her eyes as she understands the implications: if left alone, this puts her on a timer. If combined with something else, it'll --

'Now - aim true!' Vivienne switches to her poison-tipped spear and Tamaki scrambles back in a ''very'' undignified and panicked manner with a "Yeek!", but she at least manages to reduce the damage to mere contact as the poison avoids entering her system. That was priority one, and having at least accomplished that, Tamaki wipes her brow and exhales a sigh in relief.

Tamaki steadies herself again and clutches at her necklace, summoning Arianrhod once more. She holds her own blade aloft, and as it shimmers in an array of different colors, it reflects this light on Tamaki, Umie, Kanae, and 'Queen.' "Through hardship ..."

Calm before a coming storm.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Recovery skill Per Aspera on Tamaki Uchida, Umie Akabane, Kanae Fuyuki, and
Makoto Niijima!

AS: Insight: Tamaki Uchida gains 1 Limit!

AS: Tamaki Uchida: Loses 8 SP from Sick!

AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.

AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.

AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.

AS: Take! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko couldn't deny that it was a masterful stroke. To deflect a round hurtling towards her with such ease, and to only suffer a grazed cheek as a result... It was enough to give her pause, if only for a moment. Were it to have been anyone else's bullet deflected, Katsuko might have offered some silent appreciation. But knowing that it was her headshot that had so easily been pushed to one side? That was enough to have her quietly grumble in disappointment, her disapproval of the entire situation manifesting as a single rumble in her throat.

Another thing gives her pause - Ririka's analysis. She wracked her brain, trying to recall if anything she had could be construed as a Light-aligned skill, but nothing came to mind. Again, she grumbled, though this time a little louder. Not so much that it could be heard above the din of battle, but it was nevertheless a sign of her mounting frustration.

"Nothing." She said back, doing her best to keep anyone but Ririka from hearing. "Going to have to deal with this one the old-fashioned way." The 'old-fashioned way' being a gratuitous amount of gunpowder and steel.

Again, she levelled her rifle at Eveline. Again, she took aim, heaving the barrel into position and lining up a headshot. But before she could pull the trigger, Eveline's cane extended into a fiery whip, and like a firestorm, it slammed into her body. She did what she could to evade it, disregarding stealth in favour of simply surviving the onslaught, but those tongues of flame still carved into her. Scorched, surprised, but not quite out of the fight, she summoned Dantes to her side once more in preparation for her counterattack. The two faded backwards, their forms melding into obscurity, until nothing remained of them but an empty space. However, before the two vanished completely from sight, Katsuko fixed Ririka with a firm gaze, and nodded.

"My thanks."

Katsuko glanced around quickly, using what little time she had between attacks to try and take stock of the battlefield. Other users were engaged n other fights, and snippets of conversations made their way to her ears. Leaders, friends, rivalries, a hoodie - all made their way into the recesses of her mind, but little was of immediate use. Perhaps it would help her make sense of things when she reviewed the information upon returning home, but for now, she had neither the time nor the inclination to sift through the muck to see if anything lent a tactical advantage.

Once more, the glint of a sniper's scope could be seen as the faintest hint of light caught upon it. Once more, her eyes became fixed on her prey. But no shot came. Were one to cast their eyes down, they would not see her finger on the trigger. She did not intend to attack - she intended to command. Dantes acted on her orders with all due haste, and with his unfaltering resolve, he bolstered her strength, lending her the focus needed for precision. Yet, even as red aura flashed across her body, she did not shoot.

Dantes struck instead.

Gleaming steel carved through the air, extending from Dantes' hand. He swung his sabre quicker than a blink, with that same deadly precision of Katsuko's rifle, seeking to cleave Eveline's head from her shoulders in a single fell swoop.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Katsuko Yoshinaga has used the Recovery skill Unfaltering Resolve on Katsuko Yoshinaga!

AS: Take! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 0 Recovery healing from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Unfaltering Resolve.

AS: Atk_Up and Crt_Up added!

AS: Persona! Katsuko Yoshinaga has used the Slash skill Cleaving Saber on Eveline Deschamps!

AS: Aggression: Katsuko Yoshinaga gains 1 Limit!

AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga: Gains 61 HP from Regen!

AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga regains 7 HP from Regenerate! and 6 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Counter Worst! Eveline Deschamps takes 111 Slash damage from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Cleaving Saber.

AS: COUNTER! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 23 Slash damage in return for her attack!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Isabeau Fontaine takes 47 Strike damage from Noriaki Okaga's Skull Cracker.

AS: Panic added! Charm removed! Explosion! 63 damage!

AS: Avoid Best! Isabeau Fontaine takes 5 Slash damage from Noriaki Okaga's Well-used Machete.

AS: Avoid Neutral! Isabeau Fontaine takes 12 Slash damage from Noriaki Okaga's Well-used Machete.

AS: Avoid Worst! Isabeau Fontaine takes 20 Slash damage from Noriaki Okaga's Well-used Machete.

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
Something about Alain's compliment, even though he isn't hitting on her, still grosses her out and sends a shiver down her spine. She can't seem to hide her expression, either. "Save the compliments," Queen growls. It reminds her too much of... recent palaces. There's something equally unsettling about the way Alain calls her his worst possible matchup. Why are so many men.... like this?

Queen tries her best to avoid the onslaught from Alain, but she can't aboid them all. She takes some bad hits, and Johanna shatters from under her and Queen hits the ground hard. That hurts, far more than she'd like.

Joker's wave of healing is much appreciated, as she manages to get back to her feet. And it comes with a warning. "...Sorry. I've shared all I'm sharing."

Something's clear about this group, in how they respond- and who is in command. I'm sure you'll work it out."

"Come to me, Johanna!" Queen calls, reaching for her mask- and Alain is close enough to see that when she tears it off there is no face under it, just yellow eyes in a pool of darkness-

Before she is atop the personacycle again and speeding away from Alain, a plume of flame firing from Johanna, and then another as she makes distance down the tracks of Mementos-

But she doesn't expect the support from Tamaki to come again, focused as she has been on her own fight. One of Ichika and Tsubasa's allies, helping them again- but... didn't Tsubasa ask for Tamaki's help with proving the Phantoms enacted their mental breakdown? Maybe the air has been cleared. "...Thank you." She manages, as she speeds past the Private Investigator.

'Hit him harder' is Skull's advice. "Already on it!" She calls back, as she pops a wheelie on Johanna as she spins one eighty on it, and guns it for Alain, Johanna wreathing them both in Nuclear Flame. "Let's see how good you feel about it after this!" She yells, going full speed ahead for the hunter. "Johanna, let's go full throttle!"

And her Persona seems to respond to Queen's wishes with a roar from her engines, aiming to run down Alain and Bayard in a contest of a horsepower and flame.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Fire skill Frei on Alain Wakamatsu!

AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Fire skill Frei on Alain Wakamatsu!

AS: Tandem! Makoto Niijima has used the Fire skill Full Throttle on Alain Wakamatsu!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Alain Wakamatsu takes 47 Fire damage from Makoto Niijima's Frei. Eclipsed!

AS: Eclipse removed!

AS: Avoid Worst! Alain Wakamatsu takes 144 Fire damage from Makoto Niijima's Frei. Critical Hit! Weak!

AS: Avoid Worst! Alain Wakamatsu takes 204 Fire damage from Makoto Niijima's Full Throttle. Critical Hit! Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
"I sincerely hope that ''you'' have no fun at all!" Isabeau snaps, to Kanae. "... the others, though, I do hope are enjoying themselves."

Isabeau hmphs. "I am not ''charmed!'' I am very charming! I will prove to you that I am entirely of sound mind -- ''you'' are ''weary!'' The obvious solution to this is...! Mielikki!"

That waspish little woman appears, again, to sprinkle healing sparkles all over Kanae.

See? Isabeau isn't Charmed a BIT.

She also doesn't think Kanae's Persona is hot. Like. Weird? Who would think that? She's staring at Succubus for TOTALLY NORMAL REASONS when a stake falls down --

"OW!" Isabeau yelps, before a string of ''very'' pointed French profanity which we will not translate here, ''most'' people can't hear it. What matters is that she swipes at the stake with her targe, sending ''some'' of that awful piercing damage bouncing right back to Kanae.

"Your friends are `DEEPLY MISFORTUNATE HARLOTS!`" ... is how she ends her screed, utterly ''devastating'' whichever friend ''that'' Persona is supposed to resemble.

(It is not unreasonable to think, here, that Isabeau absolutely kind of needs a chaperone, even if Alain's too considerate to say it out ''loud.'' Look at her. She's getting in so much trouble even with all these supportive adults around her!)

Ririka's song rattles in her ears, though, slowing her footwork. "NO ONE LIKES THE GIRL WHO SHOWS UP TO PARTIES ONLY TO PLAY THE GUITAR BADLY!" She yells in the vague direction of Eve's opponents.

She's also kind of assuming from media depictions. She doesn't actually get invited to many parties.

Anyway --

Umie says 'don't' in a ''tone'' and Isabeau immediately sticks her tongue out at her. "Or ''what?!''" It's not like Noriaki's ''told'' her it means someone dies.

He's cackling, which is creepy, but like -- the machete's creepy too? And, man, he's ''really'' not taking Marin Karin well --

"Can you not ''dodge?!''" Isabeau demands, seeing that red at his side. She -- THOUGHT he was going to dodge!!

His creepy, Evoker-summoned (ALSO CREEPY!) Persona throws a ROCKING HORSE at her, though, and Mielikki appears to absorb the blow as Isabeau leaps back. (There's a terrible explosion, behind her, as Mielikki has to deal with the conflicting feelings of ''panic'' and ''charm'' and ends up shattering for her efforts.) Without a Persona to cover for her, Isabeau's on her own to back away from Noriaki's machete... but she's slower than she was, before.

"Ah--ow!" She yelps, as that machete cuts in through her longcoat. The dark brown is stained a little deeper, as it flutters free again. "Stop that! If I cut you deeply, blame yourself! Rrrrhhhh..." Isabeau downs ''another'' of those bronze-coloured vials, as she invokes: "Persona!!"

Eating so many of those probably isn't good for her...

As Mielikki appears to summon more thrashing winds, though, she's feeling strong enough to add a little extra support for her ''allies,'' too. That's the power of overdoing it a little to show off!

</poem>
AS: Isabeau Fontaine spends Limit on Break!

AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Recovery skill Diarama on Kanae Fuyuki!

AS: Defense: Isabeau Fontaine gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Wind skill Magarula on Kanae Fuyuki and Noriaki Okaga!

AS: Isabeau Fontaine: Break removed!

AS: Isabeau Fontaine's turn has ended. It's time for an All-Out Attack!

AS: Isabeau Fontaine spends Limit on Exploit! Isabeau Fontaine can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Recovery skill Energy Shower on Vivienne Sournois, Isabeau Fontaine, Alain
Wakamatsu, and Eveline Deschamps!

AS: Defense: Isabeau Fontaine gains 1 Limit!

AS: Isabeau Fontaine: Paralyze removed!

AS: Take! Vivienne Sournois takes 0 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Energy Shower.

AS: Panic removed!

AS: Take! Kanae Fuyuki takes 164 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Diarama.

AS: Break! Kanae Fuyuki can take another Weak action this round!

AS: Avoid Best! Kanae Fuyuki takes 136 Wind damage from Isabeau Fontaine's Magarula. Critical Hit!

AS: Break! Kanae Fuyuki can take another Weak action this round!

AS: Take! Eveline Deschamps takes 0 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Energy Shower.

<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
<poem>
There's an advantage to working as a team. She can expect support, when they're around - and, indeed, Vivienne finds herself suffused with power, courtesy of Alain. And through Eveline, she finds herself shrouded.

"I owe you both one." Vivienne comments brightly. This is followed soon after, however, by an emanating, discordant song. Vivienne finds herself briefly off-balance, her weapons not striking as keenly. She scans the battlefield for the source, spotting Ririka.

"Allow me to return the favor." Vivienne comments. Skadi emerges once more. She motions toward Ririka, purple light converging on her location to weaken her defenses.

It's only a brief distraction as she turns her attention back to Ume. The bladed end of her kyoketsu shoge lashes out. Vivienne backpedals, her sword swinging out redirect it. It's enough to prevent a major injury - slashing instead across her shoulder.

And then, Badb wails - the scream forcing Vivienne to recoil back.

"That sound... It pierces." She mutters. She's certainly thrown off her game - she's still grinning, but not as wide.

Only those truly familiar with her might notice the difference, though.

"Let's see... No, I believe I've already said that one..." Vivienne murmurs to herself. Isabeau's support washes over her - and that, in the moment, seems to be just what she needed as, abruptly, her grin widens back to its usual brightness. "Ah, that one's perfect."

"'Icy' that you both are quite capable... Skadi!" Vivienne calls out. Skadi appears, and gestures downward. And at her command, snow begins to fall in Mementos - calling a localized blizzard down upon Umie and Tamaki!

Though, a frown crosses her face as she takes note of ''how'' Isabeau has found that strength...

"`I believe our darling Isabeau may be overdoing it a little, my friends.`" Vivienne asides quietly in French to Eveline and Alain.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Vivienne Sournois has used the Almighty skill Rakunda on Ririka Kawase!

AS: Ruin: Vivienne Sournois gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Vivienne Sournois has used the Water skill Mountain's Fury on Tamaki Uchida and Umie Akabane!

AS: Vivienne Sournois: Spd_Up removed!

AS: Vivienne Sournois regains 6 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Block Best! Tamaki Uchida takes 56 Water damage from Vivienne Sournois's Mountain's Fury. Eclipsed!

AS: Bind added! Eclipse removed!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 143 Water damage from Vivienne Sournois's Mountain's Fury. Critical Hit!

AS: Bind added!

<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
<poem>
Ririka's dissonant song weakened Eve, who brings a hand to her ear briefly. But as Ririka doesn't remark about the chains...

"Focus on what drives you. There's something there, isn't it? You won't be able to truly be any good at this until you do."

Katsuko, though, buffs herself with her Persona. Eve seems to think the rifle is going to shoot her in the head again, so before Katsuko sends Dantes forward, she's just lazily preparing to guard it...

Which is an easy feint, because as Dantes comes forward, her whip blade flings forward to impact against their arm and lightly graze the Persona. In return, the slash doesn't take off her head, but the momentum shifts it to gouge into her shoulder, staining her coat lightly.

"Ah. You're really trying to kill me," she says with a cold grin. "Too bad *you're just a whelp.*"

The insults have flared, because Eve wants to set off this masked figure who is clearly not respecting 'friendly contest'.

The whip is changed back into a cane with a flick of the wrist, before being swung into Ririka to prevent her from interrupting. Then, a magic energy is sent from Guro Rysserova over the cane, enchanting it with pure mystical energy.

Another flick, and a shift of posture, and it's back into whip form, multiple slashes happening all around Katsuko.

Not one of them hits.

"Let us see if you can take what you dish."

She doesn't *want* this woman to die, but she snaps her fingers anyways. Magic slashes suddenly explode all around Katsuko, trying to carve into her without avoiding serious locations. If she got grievously injured... well, she wasn't being careful.

And then, with a flash, there's one more swing of the blade-whip at Katsuko, threatening to take an arm if Katsuko does nothing! Yeah, Eve's a little annoyed, so would the people who know her be able to tell.

But she never loses judgment. Instead of doing one more attack, she throws up a regen on Isabeau and her team, and then starts backtracking towards her. "Isabeau. This is supposed to be a contest... don't overextend yourself."

The compassion in her voice is masked, for sure. But Alain and Vivienne can tell she's worried.

</poem>
AS: Eveline Deschamps spends Limit on Exploit! Eveline Deschamps can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Eveline Deschamps spends Limit on Exploit! Eveline Deschamps can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Persona! Eveline Deschamps has used the Recovery skill Recovery Protocol on Isabeau Fontaine, Alain Wakamatsu, and
Vivienne Sournois!

AS: Insight: Eveline Deschamps gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Vivienne Sournois takes 0 Recovery healing from Eveline Deschamps's Recovery Protocol.

AS: Regen added!

AS: Counter Best! Noriaki Okaga takes 243 Wind damage from Isabeau Fontaine's Magarula. Critical Hit!

AS: COUNTER! Isabeau Fontaine takes 58 Wind damage in return for her attack! Resist!

AS: Break! Noriaki Okaga can take another Weak action this round!

<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
<poem>
"It is how you grow." He asides to Kanae, "Life is static without risk." Eveline's familiar protocol touches him, and there's something of a wistful sigh in his voice, before smiling, "Thank you, Eve."

It's clear though that Queen did not enjoy that compliment, and he responds with a simple, serious, "My apologies if I caused offense."

Before he then turns to Joker. His accusation, it's not precisely wrong.

And for a time... he doesn't answer, as if Joker truly had him pegged. But then, he breaks the silence with a question, "Is it delusion for someone's family to care enough to come along with them for the trials they face?"

Before he then asks Joker head on as he cannot help but notice they are three teenager fighting on their own, "Would your own do the same, if they knew what you faced, Joker?"

It's not a pleasant subject for him... remembering back then, knowing now where he actually stands with both of his parents.

Amphion's song causes him to wince, as his equilibrium is thrown off. "... Not to sound like an old man again... but if that is the 'music' of your generation - I'd like to file a noise complaint." He quips, unseriously.

Right as Skull compliments him, and he chuckles, "I'm actually thirty six." He tells him, "Positively ancient, I know. You've got quite the swing yourself, Skull."

Before he then chuckles at him, "Haha... look, it's fine. I did not ''actually'' take it personally. I just saw it as an opportunity to teach you a lesson - in a sense."

Well, he seems to actually be in good humor about it. "Underestimate an unknown opponent at your peril. I imagine there are Persona Users twice my age that would give me a run for my money."

It's easy enough to imagine isn't it? There being some old Persona Master hanging around somewhere that can easily destroy them all.

And as Lightning Blasts him from Captain Kidd, he quickly sidesteps it, but the shower of electricity from the ground still cascades out to arc across him, causing a grunt of pain, "And you might still, yet. I'm rather out of practice at 'ass-kicking'."

Before she tells him that she's not sharing more at Joker's direction, "As you say then. I would have been surprised had you revealed something so easily." And then Johanna's summoning causes him to call out, "Bayard!" And his Persona takes to the ground, as he leaps atop him to mount him. "Let's give her the race she wants-!"

the Persona begins to run, though not as swiftly as before, thanks to Joker's efforts, the Persona trying to match the Motorcycle and coming closer than Queen might find comfortable.

At first, he's wreathed in flame, and it doesn't seem nearly as effective before as the Persona swerves, but Eveline's protection only can extend so far. More fire causes his Persona to rear short, as Johanna races around him, coating him in more and more.

Until there's an explosion, and a shattering noise as he suffers a Persona Break.

In the aftermath, upon the ground... he slowly draws himself up to his feet, pulling his mask up again. "Ah. You truly are making me feel old." He says with a ghost of a smile they can now see, perhaps marked by him hearing Eve's worry.

"This contest is almost certainly yours. Indulge me with one final to remember me by?" He asks, before he summons what looks like that phial again to his hands.

For Those Who Come After - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdBtPgZ8lHk

This time, when he breaks it, it splatters him with crimson.

It runs down his face, his outfit, his mask. And as he does so, behind the lenses of his mask, his eyes glow a deep crimson. "We ride... BAYARD!"

The equine Persona arises in a swirl of deep flames, the red glow matching Alain's eyes, that glow of red, as he then descends and rushes in a charge, as Alain takes an aerial leap, and the Persona catches him as he stands astride him, beginning to race, faster, and faster - before the two leap, Bayard bucking him off his back mid-flight.

The beaked hammer is held with two hands in an over-hand swing, as the Persona Warhorse descends with him, like twin comets.

The Mementos floor is struck- and as they both do, the ground shatters into a titanic tidal wave of stone that surges towards the trio of Phantoms.

Followed by it's aftershock. A smaller wave of rock that's kicked up in a rising explosion.

Didn't this all start with him telling Isabeau she didn't need to overexert himself? Guess he might be a little bit of a hypocrite himself in the heat of battle.

Maybe he just hasn't had a fight like this one in ''decades''.

</poem>
AS: Take! Alain Wakamatsu takes 0 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Energy Shower.

AS: Paralyze removed!

AS: Take! Alain Wakamatsu takes 0 Recovery healing from Eveline Deschamps's Recovery Protocol.

AS: Regen added!

AS: Alain Wakamatsu spends Limit on Exploit! Alain Wakamatsu can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Alain Wakamatsu spends Limit on Exploit! Alain Wakamatsu can use another Weak skill this round!

AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Earth skill Geocrush on Ren Amamiya, Ryuji Sakamoto, and Makoto
Niijima!

AS: Defense: Alain Wakamatsu gains 1 Limit!

AS: Tandem! Eveline Deschamps has used the Slash skill Infernal Lash on Katsuko Yoshinaga!

AS: Weapon! Eveline Deschamps has used the Slash skill Grasp of Death on Katsuko Yoshinaga!

AS: Persona! Alain Wakamatsu has used the Earth skill Mamagna on Ryuji Sakamoto, Ren Amamiya, and Makoto Niijima!

AS: Alain Wakamatsu: Gains 65 HP from Regen!

AS: Counter Neutral! Ryuji Sakamoto takes 255 Earth damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Geocrush.

AS: COUNTER! Alain Wakamatsu takes 123 Earth damage in return for his attack!

AS: Ryuji Sakamoto is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Weapon! Eveline Deschamps has used the Strike skill Hard Impact on Ririka Kawase!

AS: Eveline Deschamps regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 0 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Energy Shower.

AS: Panic removed!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 0 Recovery healing from Eveline Deschamps's Recovery Protocol.

AS: Regen added!

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"JUST A LITTLE!" Kanae calls to Ririka when she says it's overstating it. "And what's going on is she's a huge jerk!"

But that rejuvenating music does help; Kanae can appreciate the merit of heaving friends, like this.

On the other hand, SOME friends aren't so good to have, as Kanae hears from Umie. "A...ha..."

But over there, the Phantom Thieves have real teamwork; a pang of jealousy hits Kanae, who's been fighting on her own for some time now. Henry's words echo in her mind...

"...Taking someone out of their coffin sounds bad," Kanae says to Umie next. But Tamaki makes a motion about talking later and--"Right!"

Kanae is trying not to fight on an additional front, herself. But Noriaki seems, uh...

"You OK, dude?" He makes her uneasy, but he seems to be having a problem. All the same... She thinks that he's probably ''not'' the kind of Ally Henry was talking about.

"I'm not having fun," Kanae assures Isabeau, deadpan, as Isabeau heals her. And Succubus? Succubus is, well, a lot like Kanae, actually. For some reason. And--

"That one's mine for Touma-kun," Kanae supplies helpfully for Isabeau. "The boyfriend you think is so unimportant?"

But Noriaki... Hoodie-san. Kanae notices Isabeau's stained attire, and frowns.

"...OK," she says. "I'm done, then. You can give the others the money, but I'm out."

Kanae switches Personas once more, this time to a teal horseman with a beautiful lyre. Kanae points--but this time, the healing light passes over ''Isabeau''.

"...Some weirdo with a machete isn't allowed to be the one to beat you," Kanae says to Isabeau, her chin rising as she lifts her head up high. "That's only for me."

She looks to Alain, who talks about how to grow... "Maybe you're right," she allows, and steps back. Healing light sparkles over their side in general--and then Kanae stows her gunblade and starts to walk away.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Kanae Fuyuki has used the Recovery skill Diarama on Isabeau Fontaine!

AS: Support: Kanae Fuyuki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Kanae Fuyuki has used the Recovery skill Media on Noriaki Okaga, Umie Akabane, Tamaki Uchida, and Ririka
Kawase!

AS: Persona! Kanae Fuyuki has used the Recovery skill Media on Kanae Fuyuki, Makoto Niijima, Ryuji Sakamoto, and Ren
Amamiya!

AS: Kanae Fuyuki: Gains 60 HP from Regen!

AS: Block Best! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 165 Slash damage from Eveline Deschamps's Infernal Lash. Critical Hit!

AS: Take! Kanae Fuyuki takes 84 Recovery healing from Kanae Fuyuki's Media.

AS: Counter Best! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 130 Slash damage from Eveline Deschamps's Grasp of Death. Critical Hit!

AS: COUNTER! Eveline Deschamps takes 82 Slash damage in return for her attack!

AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Vivienne Sournois's Rakunda.

AS: Def_Dn added!

AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 56 Strike damage from Eveline Deschamps's Hard Impact.

AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 88 Recovery healing from Kanae Fuyuki's Media.

AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 88 Recovery healing from Kanae Fuyuki's Media.

AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 88 Recovery healing from Kanae Fuyuki's Media.

AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 84 Recovery healing from Kanae Fuyuki's Media.

AS: Avoid Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 296 Earth damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Geocrush. Weak!

AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 138 Earth damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Mamagna. Critical Hit! Weak!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Makoto Niijima takes 196 Earth damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Geocrush.

AS: Block Worst! Makoto Niijima takes 104 Earth damage from Alain Wakamatsu's Mamagna.

AS: Bind added!

AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 84 Recovery healing from Kanae Fuyuki's Media.

AS: Take! Noriaki Okaga takes 94 Recovery healing from Kanae Fuyuki's Media.

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Despite her earlier (internal) assertions about having no use for the prattling of the other combatants, Katsuko couldn't help but overhear Isabeau's remark on Ririka's playing. Neither could she resist the urge to offer a retort, though whether it was actually heard was another question entirely.

"Tough crowd tonight. You mind playing a little louder to drown them out?" Katsuko hoped Isabeau heard her. Isabeau - to her mind - seemed the sort to get riled up quite easily, given the right provocation. Getting riled up led to mistakes, and an enemy's mistakes meant one's own victory.

She also found a successful taunt *immensely* satisfying.

But then one was directed at her, and a chill ran through Katsuko's spine. Whether it was the grin that Eveline bore, the tone with which each word was delivered, or some primal sense telling her that she was in immense danger, Katsuko could feel every hair standing on end, and every instinct telling her to RUN. The screaming rang in her ears, forced her muscles to tense and move, made her mind feel like it was ablaze with every synapse that fired off an order - but she could not heed any of it. The slashes around her had not been random - Eveline had displayed far too much skill for such strikes to be simple misses. They were the sign of something more, and Katsuko knew running would be futile. All she could do was brace.

Each flash of energy was a burst that left her seeing white. Each slash cut away at another piece of her body, threatening to flay skin from flesh, and carve flesh from bone. Stoic as she was, Katsuko could not suppress the cries of pain that tore themselves from her throat, ringing loud even past the silvered mask that remained clamped against her face. She clung on for dear life, panting and grunting and clutching her weapon with knuckles turned pale from the strain, until all felt as though it was over. She had remained standing, despite it all - but it was not over yet.

Eveline descended upon her, and she saw death in the woman's blow. The fire, the steel, it was as if hell had descended upon her like a guillotine. But Katsuko did not falter. Perhaps it was panic that forced her to swing her hammer into the blow, using that two-handed instrument of war's haft to intercept the worst of the strike. Or perhaps it was adrenaline that amplified the focus she held, driving her to act on instinct when her rational mind failed. It mattered little. The steel ground at her shoulder, biting down like a predator's maw, but it did not sever. Not when Katsuko shoved the blow aside with a great cry of effort, leaving her bloodied and battered, but not broken.

"Is that it?"

Katsuko was quite clearly on her last legs. A stiff breeze would most likely have brought her to her knees, let alone whatever Eveline still had to spare. But she refused to back down and beg forgiveness, contrition, or anything resembling regret. "Try harder." With whatever strength she still had within her, Katsuko leapt backwards. Whether she could find somewhere to hide or not was irrelevant - she needed distance, she needed time to think, and she needed to preserve what little energy still lingered in her veins. Dantes remained behind, his wrathful visage commanded to act while she sought her reprieve.

Her command was to poison Eveline. It was not a deadly substance, no matter how vile its putrid shade of green made it appear. It was a paralytic agent - a fact that would become immediately clear to any souls unfortunate enough to inhale the cloud Dantes created by smashing a flask upon the floor. Yet, no matter how how it might have stiffened the muscles or sent pain shooting through its victim, there was no real damage, nor any lasting hurt. Had Katsuko simply intended for it to be a measure to slow Eveline down while she retreated? Or had the lesson been beaten into her, despite her defiant statement?

</poem>
AS: Persona! Katsuko Yoshinaga has used the Earth skill Vile Poison on Eveline Deschamps!

AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga: Gains 65 HP from Regen!

AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga regains 7 HP from Regenerate! and 6 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Take! Eveline Deschamps takes 0 Earth damage from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Vile Poison.

AS: Paralyze added!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
"O-oh, right." Protocol. Names. Umie regards Tamaki with an apologetic glance. "I'm... yes. We'll have to workshop that for next time. I've actually been trying to think of names? ... I know it's necessary, but it just feels... self-important, when I put them on myself."

Wait. Did Umie stumble into another group situation? Huh.

--------

Umie is really trying, Tamaki! The blonde sees Tamaki's hand motion just barely; her homemade mask does make some things a little harder when she doesn't adjust them just right.

'Or ''what?!''' Of course, Isabeau would react this way. Umie's an adult, telling her what to do, instead of--

'All you gotta do is crack 'em open, and you can show someone a ''whole new world''!'

Oh no. Anger clouds the lower half of Umie's face, as Tamaki's pragmatic stance alludes the normally very responsive Umie. "You want to have our fight now, or later, Hoodie-san?!" she snaps, gesturing towards him with the blade end of her weapon. "We can cut out the middle man and have at go at it *right no-- h..." The poison hits her again at that moment, stopping her unneeded tirade.

One could easily tie it to Umie's tendency to be reckless at times, but the *anger* behind it is of a different flavor: livid, bright red, a painful beat in her ears.

'Through hardship...' Tamaki's calming light nearly causes Umie to drop her blade as her anger deflates to a rational hum. Right, she's not here alone.

It's enough to remember this just before Vivienne commits herself back into their share of the fight, waning smile and all, though there's nothing wan about the blizzard that rages on her and Tamaki both. Hissing out her breath in a pained cloud, Umie takes a moment to glance about her at Vivienne's French comment, trying to ascern what it may be about.

Isabeau is down, allowing Kaede to lend some much needed healing over her and other allies. Ririka and the intense Katsuko are holding up more or less, and when Umie looks at the Phantoms...

She answers that situation with a concerned grimace, her eyes searching up towards Alain. Just what sort of person is this man?

As much as she'd *like* to, she can't abandon Tamaki, nor would she be of much help over there. "..." It's a challenge, not a duel to the death, right?

A brief after image of Badb appears over Umie's head briefly before dissolving into smoke, with the blonde having done the same. Becoming a small presence in an ill wind, her invisible form darts by Vivienne, leaping up behind her to land dark-laced blows against the Hunter's back.

</poem>
AS: Tandem! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Seeker in the Dark on Vivienne Sournois!

AS: Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!

AS: Umie Akabane: Loses 8 SP from Sick!

AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Avoid Worst! Vivienne Sournois takes 73 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Seeker in the Dark.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Joker gives Alain a look like granite: cold, stony, and befitting a tombstone. "You still haven't called her your friend," they note without acknowledging if ''their'' family would fight for them or not (because they know for a fact they would not). For all that they respect his calm, there's certain other parts of his personality that they like no better than Queen. (Even if Alain ''does'' apologize.)

Umie claims that 'Hoodie-san' opened someone's coffin in the Dark Hour, and Noriaki confirms this. Joker gives him a look of muted alarm. That look travels over to Umie, then sets. ...Best to focus on settling this encounter for now. It's not life or death, but Joker suddenly doesn't want to be sent packing around someone like ''that''.

Life ''is'' static without risk. Joker knows perfectly well that Ame-no-Uzume is weak to Earth, the element that Alain has been slinging around--but he's also been slinging around physical attacks. They gambled on the idea that, when faced with a Persona who is clearly magically inclined, he would try for more physical attacks rather than an elemental assault.

But a gamble isn't a gamble if you don't occasionally lose.

For a moment, it seems like Queen's victorious in her race against Alain; his Persona Breaks, he falls to the uneven ground. He takes even this in stride--but then offers a final attack.

That phial ''splatters'' him, and he and Bayard race until the Persona bucks him off, and the hammer and the horse descend upon the earth. It ''shatters'', and stone and aftershock explode up around The Phantoms.

Joker's screams are lost in the intense rumbling of the earthquakes--just as Kanae's healing magic settles down upon them. If not for that, they definitely would have fallen alongside Skull. As it stands, they're left sprawled on the broken ground, protected from crushed bones by the shimmering after-motes of their own Broken Persona... until they punch the floor and shakily push themself up to their knees, to one foot.

"...Queen. Tend to Skull," they rasp, one hand splayed over their masked face. Their eyes give an eerie golden glow in the darkness behind their mask as it burns quietly, wreathing their face in shadow. "You seem to adore giving tit for tat, Alain, so allow me to return the favor."

They raise their fingers in a sharp ''snap''. "Ame-no-Uzume."

"Raise the sun."

The dancing Persona materializes again--but rather than healing or supportive magic, when she dances, she brings forth the searing heat of nuclear fire, burning as blue as the heart of Bellatrix.

...However the match goes, Mona will be there to pop out of the darkness in bus form, load up the three Phantoms, and speed away down the winding corridors of Mementos.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Fire skill Trio Freila on Alain Wakamatsu! 3 Hits!

AS: Ren Amamiya regains 6 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Avoid Best! Alain Wakamatsu takes 42 Fire damage from Ren Amamiya's Trio Freila. Weak!

AS: Blast added!

AS: Alain Wakamatsu is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Avoid Worst! Alain Wakamatsu takes 95 Fire damage from Ren Amamiya's Trio Freila. Critical Hit! Weak!

AS: Alain Wakamatsu is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Alain Wakamatsu takes 56 Fire damage from Ren Amamiya's Trio Freila. Weak!

AS: Alain Wakamatsu is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
"36, huh." Ryuji responds, keeping his eyes on Alain. He is listening to the lecture, wishing he had the strength to show this guy up. Even if he was kinda cool with how he was handling a punk like him.

The final attack from Alain is like being hit by a train....more accurately it was a charging horse that rocked the ground underneath Ryuji. He struggles to keep his footing, knowing that the next clash would be the last. Ryuji takes in a sharp breath, holding his pipe with both stands. He sees Alain come with his hammer and Ryuji attempts to strike back and parry it.

Skull can't see what happens next but he is thrown several feet. He hits the ground hard.

There is nothing from Skull for a moment. The blonde throws up his hand, pulling himself back to his feet slllllowwly. "Ok, for real...lesson learned. Don't fuck with... the French. I'm gonna go crash...bye bye" He takes several wobbly steps toward the Monabus and finds himself falling into a seat.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Noriaki Okaga has posed.
<poem>
"I said, I'm ''busy''," 'Hoodie-san' sighs at Umie. "Wait your turn, crow-girl! I ain't got more than one of me!"

Is he okay? He doesn't answer Kanae, focusing instead on returning the pain to their shared opponent.

It's not like Noriaki is helping very much here, either, considering he's not explaining that when you do things like, say, pull someone out of their coffin in the Dark Hour, it almost always leads to death by Shadow. That is, if it's not actually 'death by Noriaki' or similar.

He is, admittedly, a pretty creepy guy.

The spell seems to have addled him badly in that moment, so instead of dodging-- instead her weapon catches him in the side, and instead, it appears to infuriate the seriously creepy young man. He goes, as some might put it, a little bit wild.

Just a little bit.

"Blame myself?" He straightens, such that it is, still half-slouched where he stands, and starts to laugh. "Cut me, and I'll cut back! Easy as that. Now, come at me, kiddo, and stop messing around!" As if readying himself to attempt just that, he jams his Evoker again at the underside of his jaw.

Isabeau does as he asks. Wind rises to meet him in a howling gale and he stands strong throughout it, the attack punctuated just once by the red light of his summoned Persona. A measure of wind hurtles for her, as if to return but a small measure of the storm to its origin.

Kanae, his 'partner' in this, says that she's out. Healing light wicks around him and just for a moment, his grin fades, replaced by a grimace. "Eh, what are you on about? Givin' up already, girly? Don't got the stomach?" He shrugs, widely. "Fine. Looks like it's up to me to finish this up proper!"

His grip tightens again on his Evoker. "Efnysien!"

Lunging to lean forward in his cauldron, Efnysien snatches up in one hand a dark card, more shadow than 'physical' item. Crushing it in hand, a surge of shades fly from the Persona's hand to fall like driving rain upon Isabeau.

The Evoker fires again. Snatching up that twisted rocking horse once more, Efnysien whirls it about overhead like a lariat before letting fall like a meteor for Isabeau.

He, by contrast, seems to be fit to take this fight to the end.

</poem>
AS: Noriaki Okaga spends Limit on Psych!

AS: Persona! Noriaki Okaga has used the Dark skill Eiha on Isabeau Fontaine!

AS: Charm results in party damage! Noriaki Okaga takes 75 damage!

AS: Persona! Noriaki Okaga has used the Strike skill Bash on Isabeau Fontaine!

AS: Noriaki Okaga: Charm and Psych removed!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 133 Recovery healing from Kanae Fuyuki's Diarama.

AS: Avoid Worst! Isabeau Fontaine takes 30 Dark damage from Noriaki Okaga's Eiha. Eclipsed!

AS: Blast added! Eclipse removed!

AS: Avoid Worst! Isabeau Fontaine takes 61 Strike damage from Noriaki Okaga's Bash.

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
...His apology, at least, seems genuine. "Appreciated," Queen returns, tersely.

Still, the barb aimed at Joker- whether it was even intended as a barb- stings Queen too.

Would mom? She doesn't remember her enough to know.

Would dad? She... likes to hope so.

Would sis...?

She doesn't want to think about the answer.

Bayard is the first time she has met another Persona that lets one ride it as hers does- and that gets a bit of a grin from Makoto. Oh yes- the race is lighting a fire in Queen, but when it comes to a race, Johanna pulls ahead- in part because of the fact that Makoto is launching burst of flame after burst of flame- before his Persona shatters-

Yet Alain requests they indulge him in a finale, and this time, Johanna is not fast enough to outrun Bayard, and neither are able to withstand the way Alain shatters the earth, Johanna shattering again and sending Makoto sprawling and tumbling- and yet, she's doing better than her compatriots.

"Skull! Joker!" Queen would be in as bad a place if it weren't for Kanae's media washing over them- but at this point, Queen is not going to let herself be distracted from Alain right now, she's not going to look away from such a dangerous opponent-

But Joker orders her to look after Skull. "But-" She starts to protest, and then she catches the look in Joker's eyes, as their mask burns away. "Understood! Finish it, Joker!" Still, she doesn't go straight for Skull. She's not going to let her leader try and stand off against Alain in that state. "Johanna, Diarama!" She calls, summoning her other self again, letting the green light wash over Joker as Queen guns it for

So she runs over to Skull, and by extension Mona. She can't get him back into the fight, but she can make sure he feels less of the damage when they get out of Mementos, with Johanna's healing.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Recovery skill Diarama on Ren Amamiya!

AS: Support: Makoto Niijima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Makoto Niijima: Atk_Up and Def_Dn removed!

AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 129 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Diarama.

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki's opinion of the Phantom Thieves is, currently, decidedly ''neutral''. It wasn't that Tsubasa had requested her help on proving the Thieves' involvement in their breakdown -- Tamaki had guilelessly suggested that they ask for the Thieves' help, and Tsubasa did not take to that suggestion kindly before recalcitrantly retreating from the Agency's office. (What Tsubasa's asked Tamaki to look into is the motivations of whoever's ultimately responsible for the Joker Killer being called on them.)

"... Don't mention it," she replies to Queen before she glances back in the direction of where she thinks she heard an earlier meowing catlike vehicle. They had managed to elude her in the mad scramble out of Kamiya's Palace, but maybe, just maybe, she can catch up to the Monabus this time ... (Don't count on it, Tamaki.)

Maybe it's also just that she's not very willing to fight on multiple fronts. Her own reaction to ''Noriaki'' has been more muted for the time being, and she and Umie had literally caught him in the act earlier.

To Isabeau, Tamaki curtly adds, "Seriously. Just ''don't''." Her tone is uncharacteristically sharp and severe -- this is a final warning, and she's seen the same thing that Umie has. "Talk later, as I said." She does take a step away to distance herself from Noriaki, perhaps implicitly inviting Isabeau to let him have it after Kanae's walked away.

Vivienne mutters to herself as she chooses ... which pun to deploy along with her localized blizzard. It's only thanks to Umie's earlier aid that Tamaki manages to come through the other side of the storm intact. The warmth she had felt fades away, the morning has given way to dusk, and she is, once more, quite vulnerable.

Arianrhod levels her broadsword in Vivienne and Skadi's direction, pointing it straight towards her, and mutters a series of incomprehensible proclamations and warnings, a trio of geases. Trials for her to overcome, questions the imperious Arianrhod asks within the context of combat's back-and-forth debate: 'Who between us will burn out first in this war of attrition?'

Having grown up just one neighborhood away from Kagarazuka, Tamaki knows a little bit of French - enough to get by. Enough to discern the collective concern over Isabeau. Young as she is, she's still one of the adults in the room. Tamaki stands upright and places her sabre back over her shoulder and casts an uneasy glance in Noriaki's direction. "What do you say we call this a draw? Before things get out of hand."

She turns to meet Eveline's eyes in particular -- she's seen what he's capable of. That uneasy glance at Noriaki turns into laser-focused scrutiny. She's dropped her attention from the Phantom Thieves.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Almighty skill Threefold Tynged on Vivienne Sournois!

AS: Tamaki Uchida takes 75 damage from Pain!

AS: Tamaki Uchida: Loses 8 SP from Sick! Bind removed!

AS: Tamaki Uchida is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Then just avoid fire," Ririka says to Katsuko, when she says she doesn't have any Light attacks. "Unfortunately I don't hany either, though..." She could ''make'' a weakness... She gives Katsuko a nod as she says thanks. "Welcome!"

"It's called a lyre!" Ririka shouts back at Isabeau on that side of the battlefield. She likes to think she's pretty good with a guitar, but... is too modest to say it herself.

Ririka might not be with the rest of her team right this minute, but, like Vivienne, she ''is'' used to working with one. But she can't do anything to resist the purple light that comes for her to weaken her defenses, gritting her teeth as the magic ettles in.

But Eve is... giving advice? What is it with the Navigators she fights giving out advice? First that masked bride, and now Eveline. Is... is that what Navigators are supposed to do?

Should she be giving out advice? She's not sure she's qualified to do that.

"Yeah, there's something driving me now." 'Now' is a detail she didn't mean to let slip. But she doesn't elaborate any further, either.

That whip-cane has versatility, but Ririka is keeping a close eye on her opponent, and as the attack comes for her she brings up her arm to block it. Despite her defenses being weakened, she's still pretty sturdy, though she's left with a stinging arm afterwards. "That thing hits like a truck," she mutters.

Ririka rolls her eyes at Alain's comment. "Everybody's a critic. Next time I'll just bring my guitar."

Kanae confirms that Isabeau is a huge jerk. "Yeah, she... really seems to have it in for you. I'm guessing you two know each other?"

She's glad that Kanae appreciates her music, at least. And it gets her a heal in turn. "Thanks!" she calls out./

Katsuko asks for a louder song to drown them out. "... Heh. Yeah, I think I can manage that."

"Amphion, let's go." Ririka sweeps her hand out as Amphion starts to play, and a brighter, livlier song starts, one that's more fortifying than mending, a melody wrapping around herself, Tamaki, Katsuko and Ren. A little boost for the road.

Ririka herself will start navigating her way out, piano keys of light springing to life at her fingertips as she casts her senses out.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Recovery skill Victory Song on Ririka Kawase, Tamaki Uchida, Katsuko Yoshinaga,
and Ren Amamiya!

AS: Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!

AS: Ririka Kawase: Gains 63 HP from Regen!

AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Victory Song.

AS: Def_Dn removed!

AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Victory Song.

AS: Crt_Up added!

AS: Take! Vivienne Sournois takes 0 Almighty damage from Tamaki Uchida's Threefold Tynged.

AS: Charm, Pain, and Poison added!

AS: Tamaki Uchida is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Take! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Victory Song.

AS: Def_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
<poem>
"Because I don't think it's appropriate for an adult in my position to call myself such... no matter how friendly we are."

He says to Joker, now far stonier himself on the subject of Isabeau.

The sun is raised - and nuclear fire dances across his form. He looks like he's standing for a time, but then wobbles and... falls over flat on his back.

"Merde...! Best fight I've had in decades, kids." He says as the Phantom Thieves load themselves up on the Monabus, "Thanks for that."

It takes him a minute to overcome the pain of being burned repeatedly by the Goddess of the Dawn to press a lifestone to himself, and pull himself together and back up.

"Nngh... a shame they ran off." There's a small box in his hand now, under his coat. Of pastries he baked today. "... I wanted to give them a reward. Ah well."

Before he then limps closer to the others, especially Eveline, "Hm?" That look in Eve's eyes, that intensity, causes him to suddenly look to the others she's fighting. "... Ah."

This is a very different feeling from fighting the Phantom Thieves. As now he's watching to see if there's anyone he'll need to kill later.

Maybe even sooner than later.

</poem>
AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Victory Song.

AS: Crt_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
"I AM NOT!" Isabeau yells back, when Kanae insists she's a ''huge jerk.''

(Editor's note: Isabeau is, in fact, a huge jerk.)

''Kanae'' seems to think the coffin thing is bad news. (So is that a point ''for'' or ''against'' checking out the coffins --) "''Yawn!''" She lobbies back to Tamaki, miming weariness, though she totally just ''said the word yawn'' instead of yawning. "You sound like the police telling me not to climb a bridge!" Man, how is this kid gonna say she's mature enough to have a bunch of adult friends and then be ''this childish?''

But Kanae says she's not having fun, and Isabeau answers: "Good! I am so happy to hear that!"

She insists that Succubus represents Touma, though, and Isabeau sniffs: "So for your boyfriend, you are `a --`" and oh no no we're not translating THAT either let's keep the insults nice and non-misogynistic and positive to sex work.

(Hey, wait, didn't we translate 'harlot' earlier? ... apparently 'harlot' passed the censors because no one younger than 60 even uses it any more.)

When Kanae sees the effects of Noriaki's machete, though -- "Ugh! You are taking pity on me?!" Isabeau snaps, when Kanae heals ''her.'' (With the Charm shattered, she's no longer fooled into that being ''normal.'') "As if he would ever beat me! You have MET me! I am KIND OF A BIG DEAL!"

She's getting her ass kicked real hard for being such a big deal...

(... and yelling about it helps her to pretend she isn't ''deeply'' pleased to hear it's personal for Kanae, too.)

Isabeau riles ''so'' easily, Katsuko. And so -- "UGH!" Can be heard, in response to her bids for ''more dissonant tunes.''

She isn't quite down ''yet,'' though.

"I am messing around the normal amount for a friendly competition!" Isabeau huffs, to Noriaki, yelling at him ''blatantly'' to cover up the fact that she's ''really creeped out at this point.'' The adults of the Wild Hunt could have likely boxed with him on an even footing... but Isabeau's still a ''brat.'' "Talking about having the stomach... it is like you are some kind of thug or assassin!" Isabeau, please, for the love of God, read the machete, everyone is ''begging you.''

Unfortunately: here's Efnysien. And if Eveline hadn't had the foresight to Shroud Isabeau, earlier, she'd be in for a ''bad time:'' the obscurity of Darkness is her anathema, after all. "Why are you SO CREEPY?!" She cries, as she scrambles away from that rocking horse again -- ''soundly'' struck across the backside to go sprawling.

"Ugh..." She picks herself up. She didn't quite catch Vivienne's warning, but Eveline's regen and warning ''do'' catch her ears... and she sheathes her ruby knife. (Knifespear. THE KNIFE IS A SPEAR IS A KNIFE.) "They are right," she admits, though she's clearly not ''happy'' to cede victory. "This one, you win. I will not be so easily felled next time!"

She turns to her party, invoking -- "Mielikki!" -- as that annoying little wasp-woman appears to sprinkle revitalising energies across her party, washing away poisons and maladies. (Sorry, Katsuko.) "I suppose we have been bested today," she pouts -- POUTS!! -- as she folds her arms. "Let us away for now. We have shown them what it is we are made of!"

Blood, Isabeau. You're made of blood.

You left a little on that machete, worn down just a smidge more.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Recovery skill Energy Shower on Vivienne Sournois, Eveline Deschamps, Alain
Wakamatsu, and Isabeau Fontaine!

AS: Defense: Isabeau Fontaine gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Alain Wakamatsu takes 0 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Energy Shower.

AS: Blast removed!

AS: Alain Wakamatsu is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 0 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Energy Shower.

AS: Blast removed!

AS: Take! Vivienne Sournois takes 0 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Energy Shower.

AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Recovery skill Me Patra on Vivienne Sournois, Eveline Deschamps, Alain
Wakamatsu, and Isabeau Fontaine!

AS: Take! Vivienne Sournois takes 0 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Me Patra.

AS: Charm, Pain, and Poison removed!

AS: Isabeau Fontaine: Gains 61 HP from Regen! Atk_Up and Spd_Dn removed!

AS: Take! Eveline Deschamps takes 0 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Energy Shower.

AS: Paralyze removed!

AS: Take! Eveline Deschamps takes 0 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Me Patra.

<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
<poem>
Eve gives Ririka a nod. "We'll see where it takes you." She's a Persona User, she's sure to run across her again.

But as Katsuko spreads that paralytic, Eve's staggering, grimacing mildly, a real show that Katsuko actually got to her. She doesn't respond to the badgering. It's *Isabeau's* support that allows her to move fully, aiming to retreat with the others.

She won't fuss - Eve doesn't fuss - but she will make sure Isabeau is taken care of in her own way, because this is her friend's daughter and she needs to make sure he won't lose a family member today... as well as that a teenager not much older than her daughter is okay.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
<poem>
Vivienne's guard is raised the moment Umie vanishes. It isn't the first time she's had a target disappear on her - but where to...?

Umie leaps up behind her - and Vivienne turns. She's sensed her - but not quick enough to avoid her invisible attacks. She backpedals as blows rain down. She's on the back foot... but she's grinning again.

Arianrhod's broadsword is leveled at her, then. She can't understand her words, but she feels the ''effects'' - she becomes keenly aware that she's been placed on the knife's edge. One wrong move, and...

Tamaki voices the prospect of a draw... Vivienne considers this thoughtfully. Isabeau deciding to retreat decides this for her, though.

"Well, if you insist. It has been a ''remarkable'' battle, anyhow." Vivienne replies - and offers Tamaki and Umie both a wink. "Regardless of the outcome, should you come by my place, I'll ensure you receive a favorable rate on trades~."

...That was her game all along, wasn't it?

And with that she spins her hook swords in her hands, sliding them into the loops on her belt and offering Umie and Tamaki a tip of her hat.

"Au revoir, mes merveilleux adversaires!" Vivienne offers - and then, Skadi appears behind her. Vivienne becomes shrouded in a frosty mist, and for a moment, the only thing can be seen are her glasses, large and round like a pair of eyes gleaming out of darkness.

And then, they're gone - and if her mist happens to obscure the ''others''' retreat as well, all the better.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
"Crow-girl?! What the heck do you mean by--" UMIE YOUR PERSONA LITERALLY IS A--

.... why is joker looking at her like that, this is perfectly fine, it's not like they met because a serial killer tried to kill umie

It's probably better that they're not just moving onto round two down here; Umie wouldn't last that long against Noriaki in this state.

Heck, this fight against Vivienne is looking pretty bleak as well. She glances to Tamaki, trying to see how amenable Tamaki would be to running away... but could Umie stomach doing so?

Glancing back at the Phantom Thieves briefly once more, if just to see how that side of the battle is going, she looks just in time to see Joker's Ame-no-Uzume 'raise the sun' with a snap of their fingers. She stares openly, distracted for just for a moment, before she forces herself to look back to her side of the battle, first looking at Tamaki as she calls a draw.

Umie rubs the lower half of her face with her coat sleeve. "Yeah... I could be satisfied with a discount. Keeping my back-up sharp is a real headache... got some high standards."

The WIld Hunt leaves, and a loaded Monabus with them. As Umie's hand finally drops down from her face, her cheeks may *seem* a little pink, but in the distorted lighting of their surroundings and how much they've exerted themselves, who's to say? "Uchida-san, uh. Let's go. Before all this noise attracts things we *don't* want to deal with right now."

Also, why does she smell... pastries? This place must be messing with her sense of smell.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
To Isabeau, Tamaki says, "At least if you climb up a bridge, you're only risking your own neck." She'll leave the rest of that simply implied.

'It is like you are some kind of thug or assassin!' That garners a pointed stare from Tamaki directed at Isabeau. Yeah. About that. She opens her mouth partway, but catches herself. ... and Isabeau's already retreating. Given how she's responded to ''everything else'' thus far, trying to provide further clarification strikes Tamaki as a futile endeavor.

... she does take note that Isabeau easily undid Arianrhod's ailments. It may be best for her to save that particular parlor trick for solo opponents. Question asked -- and handily answered. She still has to shake off plenty of rust, it seems.

Tamaki gives Vivienne a graceful bow. "That it has!" At the mention that they should stop by, she inclines her head. "And likewise, if you ever have need of my services. I should have an interesting piece for you to work on. ''Au revoir'' to you, as well."

She nods at Umie as she says 'let's go.' "No need to tell me twice, I haven't forgotten what he's capable of." In Tamaki's perception, clearly, the simplest explanation for Umie's pink-tinged cheeks are due to the effects of Skadi's chill! No other potential reason.

Partway down the corridors back to the surface, the now-distant scent of pastries still lingers in her nostrils. It's ''gotten'' to her. "... are you hungry? I could go for something to eat."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
Umie immediately looks at Tamaki. "God, am I *ever*. Let's go." Her face falls. "... Now everything above this level's going to seem so boring..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Noriaki Okaga has posed.
<poem>
He's starting to go hard for what should just be a friendly competition. Of course, looking at Noriaki, one could easily believe he's never had a friend in his life. Perhaps he doesn't understand what it means to try someone's strength in a way that isn't sadistic. To wit:

"Ha! Scared, are ya? Go on and run, then!" he barks at Isabeau, that grin of his becoming nastier by the second. While this is apparently a hill that Noriaki is willing to die on, though, Isabeau and her allies have much bigger fish to fry (and better things to do) than maul each other over the sum of money. At the urging of the older members of the Wild Hunt, and much to Noriaki's apparent dissatisfaction, Isabeau concedes and makes to depart.

"Tch," remarks Noriaki, rolling his shoulders lazily. "Here I was, just gettin' started. Well, fair enough!"

Once they're gone, just like that, machete slung over one shoulder, he turns to start and walk away, whistling off-key all the while.

Once and only once, he glances back over his shoulder as if he were getting one last look at Umie.

...Isn't 'you're next' the Joker Killer's deal, though?

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-12-22: Hope For The Future

2025-12-24T20:22:57Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Hope For The Future''' *'''Cast:''' Ken Amada, Shinjiro Aragaki *'''Where:''' Naganaki Shrine *'''OOC Date:''' December 22, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 28, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Ken invites Shinjiro to a festival, hoping to find a mutual understanding. He agrees, and the two have a good time, winning hamster toys despite Shinjiro's shaky hands. Ken reveals his mother's death to Shinjiro, not knowing he was the true cause of her death, which wracks the l..."

*'''Log: Hope For The Future'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ken Amada]], [[Shinjiro Aragaki]]
*'''Where:''' Naganaki Shrine
*'''OOC Date:''' December 22, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 28, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Ken invites Shinjiro to a festival, hoping to find a mutual understanding. He agrees, and the two have a good time, winning hamster toys despite Shinjiro's shaky hands. Ken reveals his mother's death to Shinjiro, not knowing he was the true cause of her death, which wracks the latter with guilt, especially as Ken declares that he has gained hope for the future.''

----

(|============================= Naganaki Shrine ==============================|)

-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-

Naganaki Shrine is a piece of tradition in the middle of the city. Long stairs

lead up to a stone-pathed pavilion lined with sacred trees; immediately to one's

left is a children's playground, with slide, see-saw and a jungle gym. The first

part of the shrine proper is the cleansing area, where one washes out one's

mouth and hands in order to respectfully meet the Gods. This done, one may

approach the shrine.

Two lion-dogs fiercely guard the monetary offering booth, where many a student

has come praying for academic success. Off to the side, one may receive a

relationship fortune and tie it off, in hopes of growing closer to a special

someone. To the other side of the shrine are red pillars which lead one to the

/Inari/ Shrine, another place for prayer. One may receive items, here, if items

are sacrificed in turn. Beside the Inari Shrine is a great sacred tree,

protected behind a fence and by a series of tags tied about it from a holy rope;

a sign beside it describes the history of this place, going into the sacred tree

and the Shrine's deity.

<Pose Tracker> Ken Amada has posed.
<poem>
"Um... Aragaki-san? If it's not too much trouble, would you mind coming with me to the festival tonight?"

So Ken had asked Shinjiro that morning in the SEES dorm lounge. He hasn't really had a proper chance to thank him for saving his life from that Shadow, and he was awfully upset when Ken asked to join SEES, so... he wants to have a chance for them to... "bond" is probably not the word (or so Ken thinks), but to make sure they've got a mutual understanding.

"I understand if you'd rather not... but I hope you will. U-um, and I'll be paying! It's my way of saying thank you for saving me!"

As intimidating as Shinjiro is at first (and well after then), Ken's developed an understanding of his kindness. He doesn't want to make him worry about him just because he's a kid. Even someone as young as he is can save up to afford paying for a festival outing for two!

(...Not that Shinjiro is likely to accept that.)

~ * ~

The festival at Naganaki Shrine is quite lively. Ken looks around with an excitement that he tries to keep tamped down. It's been a while since he's attended--not in two years. It feels different now, in a good way.

"There's a lot of food booths this year, aren't there, Aragaki-san?" he comments, trying to seem mature as they walk through the lantern-lit festival. "Do you have a festival food you like best?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"..."

Shinjiro was definitely not expecting an invitation. He was also not expecting an invitation from *Ken*. At first, he's trying to figure out what to say, taking a moment. His Resting Brusque Face may make it look like he's upset at times, but Ken has seen him be kind. In the end...

As much as he doesn't deserve to say yes, a no would hurt Ken worse. Besides, he said he'd watch over him...

"Sure. But you don't need to pay for me."

---

Shinjiro is still in his red coat, hands in his pockets, as they reach the festival, and he can imagine Ken's excitement, even if the boy is trying to tamp it down. The way he asks questions, though, tries to be mature...

Shinjiro stole a lot from him, didn't he?

"Looks like it. I'm a fan of the okonomiyaki, but the squid can be good too. Taiyaki, too."

He looks over to Ken at that, considering. "How about you?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ken Amada has posed.
<poem>
It's not like Ken has any friends his own age. Hanging out with someone seven years older is normal for him, really. He lights up when Shinjiro agrees, and doesn't push the matter when he says he doesn't have to pay. (If Ken ''did'' pay for someone so much older, it would feel like he was trying to bribe him into hanging out with a kid like him. This feels much better!)

"Whole roasted squid is an interesting food, isn't it? It's not that easy to eat, so you spend a lot of time biting it down piece by piece. I understand it goes well with alcohol--but I won't know that for sure for another nine years," Ken replies, looking back at him. "I'm also a fan of the taiyaki, personally. The specialized waffle irons they make for them are such fascinating pieces of workmanship!"

...Also they're sweet and delicious. But that's the kind of answer a little kid would give.

As the two walk through, Ken notes there's a lot of other members of SEES around, walking around with each other but also with other kids he doesn't know. Minako's walking with a frizzy-haired boy, and Ririka, Moriko, and Hitomi are at the shooting gallery with a BIG muscular boy. And there's Koh, just coming from...

%T"Oh! A booth about hamsters!" Ken says, brightening. "That's so unusual--I don't think I've ever seen something like that before! Would you like to take a closer look at that one, Aragaki-san?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro tilts his head when Ken starts talking about the food in a... well, he's not sure it's mature when it's put-upon, but a detailed way. "It's kinda a time-waster, but it tastes good," he says, paradoxically *sounding less* 'mature' than Ken.

Though, the thing about Taiyaki... "When I was younger, I really wanted a taiyaki iron. I didn't get one, but probably for the better... I wouldn't use it often enough. It's sweet, but not a year-round type of thing for me."

Shinjiro notices the various other SEES they see, but Ken would have invited them if he wanted to go with them, so he doesn't flag them. Instead, as they see the hamster booth...

"Sounds good. You have a hamster, don't you? Maybe they'll have something for 'em."

He'll lead the way. He doesn't have a hamster, but he likes animals... and Ken's brightening shows it's the right path to take, anyways.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ken Amada has posed.
<poem>
This is how grown-ups talk about food, right? About how much depth or history it has instead of how good it tastes? That's Ken's impression anyway. When Shinjiro responds the way he does, he thus pauses for an awkward moment.

Thankfully, he moves on from squid to the taiyaki iron. "Oh?" he prompts. Shades of sympathy settle on his expression as he realizes... That's right, Shinjiro also grew up an orphan. (Ken, you're still growing.) Of course he wouldn't have been able to get such a specialized cooking tool... "Maybe you can get one now. There's a lot of people in the dorm who'd like a treat like that, I'm sure," he offers. With a little laugh, he adds, "Do you think Junpei-san would get excited for them, or do you think he's not the type to have a sweet tooth?"

Maybe later they can hang out with the other SEES members! Fuuka seems to be by herself over by the shaved ice booth--oh, no, there's an older lady with her, and Koh seems to be heading her way too? Yes, they can catch her later. For now, Ken blinks owlishly when Shinjiro comments on him having a hamster.

"Y-yes, I do!" Under his breath, he adds, "You remembered that...?" Then, at normal volume, he says, "Yes, Hamburger could use some new toys."

The hamster booth... is actually a game booth with prizes! Specifically, it's Whack-A-Ham--whack-a-mole, but with hamsters. The pop-up hamsters have cute faces that stick out their tongues when struck, so it isn't upsetting when they're hit, and there's a ton of hamster-related prizes, like toys, beds, treats, and accessories--such as a tiny hat.

"This game seems hard," Ken observes as he watches someone ahead of them play. "The hamsters pop up and go away really quickly, so you'd need lightning reflexes to get them..." Is ''he'' quick enough for that? Shinjiro can practically see him weighing that in his mind.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Ken is sympathetic... that causes a pang in Shinjiro's heart of guilt, but he doesn't show it on his face. Instead, the older teen tilts his head. "I'll think about it. It might be nice to make some for all of you," he says, including Ken in there.

But, Junpei... "I have *no* idea what goes on inside his head," he jokes.

"Hamburger's a cute name," Shinjiro says, being the last guy you'd expect to call a hamster 'cute'. But once they reach the booth and it's Whack-A-Ham... Ken isn't sure he could do it.

"I'll give it a try. I probably can't beat it, but it'll let you figure out the timings for if you try. Worst case, we did something worth experiencing, and best case, Hamburger gets something," he says seriously.

If he gets a chance to go up to the booth... Shinjiro's play is Not Bad, but Not Great. The problem, if Ken is watching Shinjiro instead of the hamsters, are that his hand seems to shake a lot, and it's slowing him down. Is that... normal?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ken Amada has posed.
<poem>
"Maybe we can make a taiyaki party out of it. It makes the expense feel a lot more worth it if you can make something with everyone with it, right?" Ken suggests. "We can try a bunch of different fillings, not just the traditional red bean paste."

He laughs a little at the crack on Junpei. "It's mostly about trying to impress girls, I think," Ken jokes back. "Even though, judging by Yukari-san, I don't think he has good ideas on how to do it."

It's a good thing Junpei's not here right now. He'd be shot down in one strike--and thanks to a grade-schooler, no less.

It ''is'' a surprise to hear Shinjiro call anything 'cute.' Ken gives him another wide-eyed look before offering a small smile. "Thank you. I though so too," he admits.

Shinjiro offers to play first. "Really? Thank you very much," Ken says. "I'm rooting for you, Aragaki-san!" Fists clench in support! "Go get 'em!"

He does watch the hamsters at first--but it isn't look before he's watching Shinjiro instead. He's got strong, ''decisive'' blows--a good way to make sure any hamster he hits ''really'' counts--but... Ken furrows his brows as he looks closer. Yes, it does seem like his hand is shaking... It's easier to tell in between blows, when his hand has a chance to be still for a second or two. Does he... have low blood sugar? Maybe they should've gotten something to eat first...

For now, though, he continues to cheer Shinjiro on. Even if he's paying closer attention to him than the hamsters, it does still help Ken get a sense of the rhythm of the game. It's tough, but not impossible--and when he listens closely, he can hear a good audio cue of the hamster gears turning just before they pop up. "There! Over there!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"...that might be fun," Shinjiro agrees. He doesn't dig too much into Junpei, but he does smile at the crackshot kill that Junpei probably sneezed at a mile away.

Once it's time to play, though... Shinjiro's keeping himself going by knowing it's not about winning, but about the experience he won't be able to have again. This is living, right? Ken's callouts help, and even though his hand shakes without control, he's able to be more accurate with that, instead of it making him lose concentration.

Win or lose, prize or no prize, Shinjiro comes out of it with a light grin. "Poor hamsters," he jokes. "Did you want to try?"

Either way... this experience is more for Ken than it is for him. He's not going to be pushy.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ken Amada has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro does win... a small prize! He just ekes enough hamster hits to win a little ball of woven rope and hay--perfect for a hamster to chew on. Ken beams at him at the end. "You did it!" he says. Does he want to try too, though? ...He hesitates, then nods. "I'll do my best!"

He needs to challenge himself if he wants to grow stronger, right? He can't just rely on grown-ups to take care of him anymore. That's the meaning of Persona... right?

Ken is enthusiastic about hitting the poor hamsters, too, shouting defiantly with every swing. He needs to swing with both hands to have enough force, but his hands are steadier than Shinjiro's and he has that audio cue he picked up while watching Shinjiro play. He doesn't make enough hits for a ''grand'' prize--a giant stuffed hamster--but he does get enough to get a silky new bed for Hamburger! (But no tiny hat. That prize is one Koh will have to claim later.)

"He's gonna be so happy when he gets these!" Ken enthuses, holding both bed and toy now--assuming Shinjiro handed his winnings over. "Thanks so much for helping me, Aragaki-san!" He pauses, looking at his hands, and adds, "But that really worked up an appetite. How about we head to the okonomiyaki stand? I'm starving," he quasi-lies. He ''is'' getting hungry, but this is more for Shinjiro's benefit than his own. (At least, that's the intent.)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro definitely hands over the hamster toy, because he does not own a hamster. When Ken plays, though, Shinjiro's cheering him on in the only way he knows how. "Come on! Over there!" He's not as supportive openly... but he's rooting for the kid.

And then he gets the bed! That's nice. "I'm glad," Shinjiro says earnestly. But when he offers okonomiyaki stand as the next destination...

Well, Shinjiro's not in his head, so he assumes that he really is hungry as a first priority. It's impossible to imagine someone doing it just for his sake.

"Let's do it. The toppings are the fun part, right? Every time I make it, I make sure to have it all available."

He'll pay for his own, and let Ken pay for his - anything else would make the kid feel like he's being coddled... and it'll let Ken have some measure of responsibility that's important.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ken Amada has posed.
<poem>
"They are," Ken agrees, and not just to look good. Okonomiyaki is as it says--a fried piece of whatever you like. Putting on the toppings you want, in any quantity and arrangement you want, is built right into the name. Shinjiro saying as much just makes it okay for Ken to say so too. "I usually like a seafood mix since they say it's good for your brain, but you like to mix in everything, Aragaki-san?"

That's precisely what Ken will buy too--though it's actually a lot for him and he'll have trouble putting it all away. Maybe Shinjiro will have the leftovers too... He appreciates that Shinjiro lets him pay for himself, though. It ''would'' feel like coddling if Shinjiro paid after Ken said he would. It's... nice, to have a grown-up who takes him seriously.

The size of the okonomiyaki portion will at least give them both an excuse to find somewhere to sit down--not an easy task with the crowds, but they luck out. As they're eating, Ken looks up at Shinjiro.

"...Thank you for coming out with me today," he says quietly. "I know you aren't happy about me joining SEES, so I was worried you wouldn't want to..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah. I have trouble with food waste. If there's a lot of toppings available, they should be eaten, right?" Shinjiro admits.

But when they get their food and move to sit down, he's enjoying what he eats. It's when Ken thanks him that Shinjiro looks over, considering his words between bites. When he finally has a chance to speak...

"It's not that I dislike you or anything like that," he says. "This is just... I wouldn't be a part of it myself, if I didn't feel like I had a responsibility to. It's not something I'd wish on anyone, having a Persona."

A pause, as he realizes he might be getting heavy with the eleven-year-old he's sworn himself to protect.

"...I'm enjoying myself today, anyways. You don't get many opportunities to do things like this when you're someone like me."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ken Amada has posed.
<poem>
"That makes sense," Ken says. "It *is* better not to waste food, and it's not good to be a picky eater either. At a big festival like this, though, I don't think you need to worry about anything going to waste. As long as it's tasty, it'll get eaten up sooner or later."

...This might be a naive optimism, though. Ken might be an orphan, but he's never lived in an orphanage. He got passed around relatives just long enough for someone to decide to take enough responsibility to pay for his schooling and send him to live at Gekkoukan. Unlike some other orphans, Ken got the hang of being a Good Little Boy very quickly.

That's then and this is now, though. Ken looks uncertain at Shinjiro when he admits he wouldn't be doing this. "I... suppose I wouldn't be either, normally," he admits. "I'm not doing this for fun. I also feel like I have a responsibility to." He looks down at his okonomiyaki. There's still a lot left. "Two years ago... my mother was killed during the Dark Hour. I saw it happen, but I was so messed up afterwards the psychologists convinced me my mind was playing tricks on me. Even now, my memories of it are a little hazy. But... that night you rescued me... I remembered."

His small fist closes around his disposable wooden chopsticks, bending them almost to the point of breaking, as his eyes grow distant and intense. "That Shadow that you were grappling with your Persona... I saw it that night. It crushed my mom to death...!" He sucks in a breath through his teeth. "When I realized that, I was so overwhelmed with hate... I couldn't let it live even a second longer. That's why I awakened... I wanted to punish it more than anything."

Tension rides in his slim frame a moment later; then it lets out all at once, leaving him sagging. "...But even though it's dead now, I don't feel satisfied. Mom can rest in peace now, so why doesn't it feel like it's over? ...I thought about it afterwards, and I concluded that--there's still a lot of Shadows out there in the world, right? Normal people don't know about the Dark Hour, and they get victimized because of it, just like Mom and I did."

He looks up at Shinjiro. "Knowing that there's people fighting to protect people from them... I can't pretend it's got nothing to do with me. I ''want'' to fight and help keep anyone else from ending up like me. I mean... what else am I supposed to use this power for?"

You were saying something about getting heavy, Shinjiro?

Ken offers him a smile, though. "I'm glad to hear that. You saved my life, and I realize it'll be a long time before I can return the favor, but I wanted to do ''something'' to express my gratitude."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro shrugs about the food waste. "True, but it's just something I've adapted to," he says.

But then Ken is admitting why he's fighting. Hazy memories... he believes the Shadow killed his mother, and he got his revenge. Shinjiro takes to eating during this, letting it prevent Ken from really noticing any facial expressions, and the tension in his own body can be written off as 'this is a pretty sad story actually'. But internally, the guilt overwhelms. He is the sole cause of all of this, of Ken Amada's childhood being stolen away.

As he finishes eating...

"...if that's how you feel, then I can't fault you. When we destroy the Dark Hour..."

"The dead can truly rest."

Shinjiro then looks over to Ken, tilting his head. "You really don't need to do that." A moment later, though, he realizes that will probably make Ken feel weird.

"...but if you do, thanks."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ken Amada has posed.
<poem>
With blurred memories, and with the way the Shadow and Castor had been in close proximity, it's easy to see how Ken might have seen the two fighting and gotten it mixed up in his head. He's already been gaslit this long, however unintentionally; what's a little longer of living a deception?

"Yes," Ken agrees. That's the belief that he's wrapped himself up in now.

It ''is'' awkward when Shinjiro tells him he doesn't need to repay him. Not wanting to argue with him about it and having plenty of food left besides, Ken only eats. Shinjiro's follow-up gets him a smile, though. "Mmm," he says around his mouthful.

For a time, there is a peaceful silence. At least, it's peaceful for one of them. When Ken manages to polish off his meal, he wipes his mouth with a paper napkin and hops up from the bench. Fortunately, there's a trash can nearby, and he carefully puts his trash away.

"The fireworks show is going to be starting soon," he notes, listening to the change in cadence to the taiko drums. "Aragaki-san, would you come with me? There's a special spot I know with a great view."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro would tell Ken if he thought it'd help him. But all he can see is more harm, more hurt, Ken never trusting again. Because he likely wouldn't, either. So if he can keep this secret to his grave...

Well, that's better. It won't be too long, either.

But when they're done eating, Shinjiro snaps himself out of his rumination he certainly was going through, and puts his own trash away.

"... a special spot, huh? Let's see what you've got," he says, following after Ken. Fireworks...!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ken Amada has posed.
<poem>
It's not like Shinjiro's the only one keeping that secret, either.

Besides, he's right; it won't be too long. Whether he realizes or not, Ken will get his justice.

Right now, though, he smiles innocently at Shinjiro, then leads him out of Naganaki Shrine, down the street, around, up some stairs, and...

It's an overhang above the shrine area, woodsy and hard to spot from below--but with a great view of the festival, and more importantly, of the skies above it. The two of them make it just in time. The music below has just stopped, and they reach the fenced edge just in time to see the first of the fireworks whistle up into the air and ''explode'' with festive color.

Ken only watches at first, smiling at the display. There's an irony similar to his situation with Shinjiro in them: something that can be so frightening and destructive can also be so heart-warming and beautiful.

"This used to be me and my mom's secret spot. We'd come here every year to watch the fireworks away from the crowds," he says quietly as the show continues. "After she died, I thought, 'Ah, that's it. Nothing good or fun will ever happen to me again.' But I had a lot of fun today. Lots of good things happened today." His hand curls around the bag where the Whack-A-Ham prizes rest. "It gives me hope for the future... Maybe it's worth living in a world without my mom after all.

"Thank you, Aragaki-san. For helping me see that."

''Pow''. A particularly brilliant burst of scarlet explodes, then showers down glittering sparkles that soon reduce to nothing.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
As they make it up the stairs, to the overhang... the first firework detonates. Shinjiro's watching them with focused eyes... though as Ken addresses him, he tilts his head down to him.

His expression is solid for a long second... before he looks back up, and smiles bittersweetly. In some ways, this is a dark irony, a bitter taste in the mouth. In others...

If the boy can have hope, that's all Shinjiro wanted. Even on false pretenses.

"Don't mention it. I'm glad you can come to that realization... we'll support everyone going forward so that future can come true."

Ken's in SEES now... Shinjiro can't deny he'll be relying on him, even if he doesn't explicitly say that. No...

Creating a future for everyone... that's what life is.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-12-19: My House

2025-12-20T21:37:27Z

Thornpunk:

*'''Log: My House'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Tsubasa Seki]], [[Hazuki Nakao]], [[Fuuka Yamagishi]], [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]], [[Roger]]
*'''Where:''' Level-up! Con, Akihabara, Tokyo
*'''OOC Date:''' December 19, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' Monday, August 28, 2012 (Morning)
*'''Summary:''' ''It's time for Level-up! 2012, a video game con in the heart of summer. Tsubasa goes to score merch for Reiko, Katsuko hopes to score exclusive Gunpla, and Hazuki, Roger, and Fuuka are attending their first con. Kazusa and Wakana show up in a joint cosplay effort, but their fun is cut short when Kazusa's dad Kazuki catches them, and he is... not exactly approving.''
*'''Content Warning:''' Emotional/verbal abuse by a parental figure

----

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Level-up 2012 is in full swing! The convention hall is bustling today as con-goers mill about, whether strolling along to check out things as they go or rushing to get to a panel that's about to start. It's a celebration of video games in particular but also the wider media landscape they inhabit: panels from industry insiders to offer insights into how particular games were developed, stages for companies to make announcements on, booths to show off up-coming or newly-released games, or for independent creators to show their love with fan-made wares, and even an arcade with cabs ranging from the earliest arcade days to hot new titles like Ultimate Night Parade 4 Remix Lightning Edition! There are some small tournaments underway, as well, but also... there's plenty of cosplay!

Various characters have been brought to life, in many levels of fidelity, as they wander the convention floor. And it's this particular bit of fan engagement that two high school girls step into.

One of them is Kazusa Motojima, currently decked out in a costume consisting of a dark pink halter top, metal belt, black pants, bracers and boots, and a trailing sash. And most crucially, a mask that covers the bottom of her face. Next to her is Wakana, wearing a similar outfit but in dark blues, wearing a similar mask and a long black wig. Both outfits are detailed, with custom tailoring and props.

After they entered they stepped off to the side, out of the flow of traffic, to check each other's outfits one last time. Kazusa fussed with her costume, then turned to show her back to Wakana. "How do I look?" she demanded.

"Perfect!" said Wakana cheerfully. "Check me over?"

"I'd ''better'' be," said Kazusa hotly. She turned back to look over the other girl as she did a spin. "Yeah, you look great," she said sincerely, but less effusively than her friend.

"Hey," said Wakana gently as she turned back to face her friend, stepping forward to place a hand on Kazusa's shoulder. "We look good, and the masks will keep anybody from recognizing us. And everybody's gonna be too dazzled by our moves to even care who we are."

Kazusa huffed and looked away from Wakana's earnest gaze but then slowly nodded. "Right. You're right," she said, her voice softening. "And... thanks. You did a ''really'' good job putting these outfits together."

"I couldn't have done it without your amazing sketches as a base!" said Wakana cheerfully. "You ready?"

"Yeah." Kazusa's smile didn't show behind her mask, but it reached her eyes. "Let's do this."

Together, the pair set off to go explore the convention together, heading out into the main convention floor.

ELSEWHERE

A stern-looking older man in a crisp black pinstripe suit with short black hair scowls as he looks over the crowd. "This 'convention' represents a significant outlay of resources. Why should we be allowing one of our newest titles to be available for free?" he said, gesturing at the Night Parade cabinets currently set to free play. "We don't even collect any of the admission fees-- we are ''paying'' to give our product away. And the cost of storing, maintaining, and transporting those older models..."

The man walking beside him was less formally dressed, and a handful of years younger. "I understand your concern, Motojima-san," he said, smoothly, choosing his words with care. "But consider it in terms of marketing and goodwill. Having the new Night Parade cabs here will generate buzz with our core demographics, plus they're also set to be featured in a tournament later, which will raise their visibility. They'll only be available 'for free' for a limited time, as well."

Kazuki Motojima looked at the younger man sharply, and with no small amount of disdain. "For your sake, I hope you're right about. Rest assured, I'll be looking at everything the Motojima Corporation is spending money on very carefully."

"Of course, Motojima-san," said the younger man, used to this routine by now. "Please, if you'll follow me this way, I'll show you more of what this investment is doing for the company..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
A con... it should be a pretty good time. Tsubasa's not the biggest into ''video'' games -- they're a card guy, they have a killer Faerie: the Beckoning deck which might in fact be shoved in their pocket ''right now'' -- but they've played a few. It's a good memory from Reiko's place, and...

Like, they figure she's too old for this shit now, and probably busy working her job. So, like, maybe they rock up here and grab some Drake Adventure merch for their case worker. Y'know, casual-like.

Today's hair is cyan, magenta, and yellow, falling in a metalhead shock down to their deeply tanned neck, framing a face painted with cyan and white makeup. They have a checkered tank-top that ends before their belly starts, and gunmetal grey cargo pants around their hips, and all the space between A and B where you'd expect to see skin is actually covered up by a ''second tank top'' in neon blue and black.

Except -- no -- that tank is way too tight against their skin. That's no tank top! That's a ''binder.''

(They're not dressed up as any kind of character, though... even though it kind of ''looks'' like they are. They just have a very distinct ''look;'' surely the kind of thing which would only be sanctioned in ''fiction.'')

They're presently at one of those booths at the edge of the artist's alley, looking through some Drake Adventure buttons someone's pressed. "Pre' cool," they comment, as they hand over a button of the protagonist himself. "Lemme grab this one."

Thanks to Mementos, they actually have a little yen in their wallet! And thanks to grabbing some (way more expensive, that's how it always is) ''official'' merch earlier, they even have a bag to toss the badge into once the vendor's expressed happiness that they ''like her work.''

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>A real Japanese gaming con! Hazuki's heard about the ones in the West, sure, but never been to one in Japan!

She's going through artist alley, though she hasn't cosplayed - her dysphoria prevents that every time she considers it. So instead, she's got a t-shirt reading Drake Adventure's famous quote, 'I DON'T WANT TO RULE, I WANT TO QUEST' in English with a depiction of a dragon, with a little skirt and stockings (she was at least a little brave!!) on. This obviously renders her hatless, though she is wearing her flower-clasped choker.

"What to buy, what to buy... Roger! Is there anything you want?" she asks, looking through the art. She ends up at the same table as Tsubasa, looking over the buttons, and sees them in the process. She admires their look for a second, giving a thumbs up. "I really like the way you present yourself!" she says, her English accent bleeding through as she potentially fumbles her word choice. Counterculture! Open queerness! It's awesome!

And then, a glance to a button. "Roger, look how cute they are!!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Fuuka hasn't actually been to that many conventions. Her parents wouldn't let her, for one... and also, she's a ''bit'' of a homebody and doesn't really like large crowds.

Lately, though... she feels like she has a bit more courage. This might be a ''bit'' throwing herself into the deep end, but the timing is convenient. If she misses this one, it might be a while before her schedule allows for her to take the time out again.

And so, here she is, wandering the show floor and looking at all the sights. Today's outfit is a green light sweater and a long skirt with a floral pattern. She doesn't really... ''look'' like the kind of person who belongs here.

And as she's wandering the floor she spots... a pair of cosplayers! ...She doesn't recognize the game they're from, but, true to Wakana's word, Fuuka doesn't recognize either of them either.

"Oh, your costumes are really good..." Fuuka compliments.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>A girl walked into the convention, her head bowed a little, allowing the brim of her plain, unbranded baseball cap to obscure her face. What parts of it the khaki-dyed headwear and its resultant shadow did not hide, the tinted lenses of her sunglasses and the cheap (but markedly opaque) mask served to cover up instead. Her hair - black as pitch and normally straight as a ruler - had been woven into a purposefully messy bun, leaving the skin between her neck and the thin, neutral-toned jacket exposed enough that she stood a reasonable chance of staying cool at that time of year.

All in all, she seemed to be a rather unremarkable - if somewhat unkempt - individual. Not particularly messy, but she certainly did not strike the sharp, pristine, carefully-crafted image that Katsuko normally aimed for. Yet, there she was, in all her disguised glory, sharp eyes darting from stall to stall in the hopes of finding one particular thing. Her eyes lingered on a few spots, and she made a mental note to return to them if time permitted, but even a casual observer would have been able to see that they were hardly her priority.

That went doubly so when her glances finally took her towards one particular booth. "TITANOMACHY: THE OLYMPIAN ALLIANCE" the sign above it proudly declared, the font and colour scheme instantly recognisable. It belonged to one of the nation's foremost mecha franchises, after all - anyone that had even a passing familiarity with anime and gunpla as a whole, Katsuko silently wagered, would have at least have a vague recollection of it. Without a moment's hesitation, she strode towards it, her normal measured gait replaced instead with one marked by haste and focus.

There, at the front of the line - a rather short one by con standards, given how early Katsuko had arrived - was her prize. A limited edition version of the game. The game itself was secondary, however. Katsuko's eyes were on the merch. The first part was a case - embossed metal with paints applied as precisely as mass production machines would allow. Up close, it was perhaps not an excellent example of craftsmanship, but it was a nice display piece nonetheless. The second was a statuette of the MKI ZEUS unit, holding aloft its signature Thundergun, cast in precisely-moulded resin - a true collector's item, if ever there was one. Third was the pièce de résistance - the one thing that she refused to leave the con without.

The gunpla kit.

It was more than a simple kit. It was more than just limited edition. It was one of only a relative handful, available to only the earliest of con-goers or those with exceptionally deep pockets and no qualms about dealing with scalpers. It was wrought from the highest quality plastic that the company dared to use. It had been looked over by the company's most eminent artists and designers, each part sculpted to their precise specifications. It was the prototype of the KRONOS mecha, the Titan faction's foremost unit, available then and ONLY then.

From behind her shades, Katsuko focussed like a hawk, ready to claw at anyone that dared to try and cut in front of her.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> "Wow! Everything looks like so much fun!!" This is not the first time an exuberant young man has said this. He casts something of a youthful presence, but is also just... kind of a strange-looking person to begin with. He's a heavy-set guy with a few features that border almost cartoonish, with an upturned nose almost (almost!) like a pig's snout, a smaller shoe size relative to height, and other things of that ilk.

Is he a high school student, or someone who just crossed the threshold of an adult? It's hard to tell. But there's a joyful, playful energy about him like he's in a space he feels like he means to exist in.

He's not cosplaying either. He's in very plain clothes that at least fit well, with a strong preference towards the color red for some reason.

"Eh? Hazuki-chan?" He looks in her direction from whatever things he was looking at, doubtless something bright and fun on a video screen. He tilts his head in contemplation. "What kind of games are those?" He asks of the artwork and other knick-knacks. He is very play-brained, and it is miraculous he hasn't took off for the arcade games yet.

(This is because he's having so much fun being with Hazuki anyway that he wouldn't stray from her. He may also be so intoxicated with excess stimuli that just being around her is a grounding thing.)

"Hello!" He says to Tsubasa as Hazuki greets them, kind of guileless but earnest.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Oh wow, I ''love'' your crazy do!" chirps the artist at the booth with the custom-pressed buttons. "And all the wild colors. You doing a character or just a vkay look? Either way, glad you like the buttons!" She makes change handily as she hands over the button. "And here, if you ever want more--" she passes over a business card with a website listed on it.

"''Fantastic'' shirt!" she says to Hazuki as she approaches. "Lemme know if anything catches your eye, okay?" She turns to Roger next. "Oh, a lot of these are from the game Drake Adventure. It's a series of games where you set out on a quest, usually to save the world. And I've got buttons from all of the mainline games here."

Over at Katsuko's booth, the two people working it are handling transactions as quickly and efficiently as possible. One of them, a guy in his 20's, handles change and wishes his customer a good day, then looks to Katsuko. "Good morning, miss! What can I get for you today?"

Meanwhile, Kazusa and Wakana are walking around, looking at everything in the artist's alley. They both stop when Fuuka compliments their outfits. Kazusa blinks in surprise, glancing at Wakana with a look that says. 'Wait, is that?' Wakana just gives her a quick look back and nods, then looks to Fuuka.

"Thanks!" says Wakana cheerfully. "We're from Fatal Klash. I'm Gidama, and ''this''--" she's gesturing to Kazusa. "--is Nireema!"

Kazusa pulls out her prop sai to pose with them briefly, then puts it away. "You a fan of that game?" she's doing her best to sound casual--not at all like she sounded the last time she meet Fuuka.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
"Eh?" Tsubasa asks, turning to Hazuki -- orienting on her as an individual rather than part of the /crowd/ as they hear her addressing /them/ and glancing her over in turn. "Oh, thanks. Nice look on you, too... stockins' really tyin' th' shirt together." They nod to the vendor, looking pretty pleased to get /another comment. "Uh, I ain't in cosplay or nothin', but I am pre' VK, yeah." Visual kei, that is.

They lift a hand in a wave to Roger. "Yo. Name's Seki," they add, and ''they're'' using ''boku'' as a pronoun just like any young man would, "like, Tsubasa." And ''that's'' presumably last name and then first name, because that's how the Japanese do it. They do shift a little over to the side, politely, to avoid blocking access to the artist's stall; someone immediately fills the gap, because artist alleys are ''like that.'' "Yeah, like she said --" the artist in the alley, that is, "it's an RPG, y'know? Surprised ya got it out West, tho'... I heard it's way more popular over here." Tsubasa can't really localise Hazuki's accent beyond 'somewhere in the West', though.

(They kind of figure that Roger looks a bit weird because he's foreign, too. They're not really trying to do that in any kind of malicious way, just... he ''probably'' looks way more normal in another country?!)

"Tho', I mean, if ya wanna get all philosophical-like 'bout it, th' artist's alley's kinda a game, too... like, you see all this cool shit people made an' you wanna buy all of it, but you got a budget, see? So you gotta be hittin' th' tables what sellin' th' stuff you like most first, else ya gonna run outta yen 'fore you find th' best shit..." Tsubasa gets this thoughtful expression on their face as they start philosophising on the nature of cons, only to look a ''little'' embarrassed as they look back to Hazuki and Roger. "Uh. Or... whatever." They're cool. They're super cool and ''not'' a teenage accountant.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>Hazuki waves a hand to Tsubasa. "Hello, Seki-san! Really? Thank you!" She shifts aside as well, not yet ready to buy a button. "It's not as popular as other franchises, but it's still sold in England... they briefly called it Drake Knight. I've played it!"

And then, she remembers to introduce herself. "Ah, Hazuki Nakao, it's nice to meet you! This is my friend, Roger."

She listens to the philosophy... "That makes sense... I've been to Night Parade tournaments but nothing like this, there's rarely merch."

She glances over to the crowds, seeing Gidama and Nireema. "Oh, that's Western fighting game characters! Fatal Klash was known for being pretty gory... I never liked it, too focused on dial-in combos..." what is she TALKING ABOUT

"Do you play fighting games, or just RPGs?" She asks Tsubasa, curious about them.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>Katsuko offered a polite - if very obviously hurried - response to the person manning the booth. She endeavoured to remain as polite was expected of someone like her, but there in front of her stood a collection of items that would take pride of place upon her display shelf. They were items she had awoken at an ungodly hour to attain, and shunted her way past innumerable throngs of bodies in order to lay her hands on. Were anyone to see the glint of manic energy in her eyes, they would have understood why she acted and spoke with such haste.

Her manner became noticeably more relaxed the moment she got her hands on a bag. One she carried with all the care and gentleness that a mother might her newborn. She was glad for the disguise for more reasons than just hiding the fact that she had tastes that society at large would have disapproved of - the smile she wore, slight though it was, may as well have been a cheek-splitting grin for how different it was to her usual stone-faced demeanour. So engrossed was she in the thought of putting together the kit the moment she got home, that she almost walked right by a pair of cosplayers with remarkably well-crafted costumes.

Bright colours and flowing fabrics managed to catch her eye before she had a chance to make it to the artist's alley, however, and she came to a slow halt no more than a few metres from the pair. Something about one of them seemed oddly familiar, and were she to study them closely enough, there was a very slight chance she might have managed to suspect their identity. However, so distracted was she by the costumes, that she almost forgot to look at the faces of the people wearing them - or the person that had already begun speaking to the pair.

"Remarkable..." Katsuko said, not even attempting to hide her fascination with the outfits before her. "It must have been hard work to make costumes this good." It was not an empty compliment, nor some gesture to try and get in their good graces. Katsuko spoke with such frankness that it would have been difficult to think of her remark as anything but a genuine observation. She blinked, then noticed a third, and looked to Fuuka before standing back a little. "Apologies. I didn't mean to interrupt."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Fatal Klash... Fuuka might not have recognized the characters, but she's heard the name of the game, at least. The only characters she can name are the iconic ninjas, though... So when Kazusa asks if she's a fan, Fuuka looks sheepish for a moment.

If she had any suspicions, Kazusa's casual response would've cleared them. It's so different than their previous encounter...

"I'm not very familiar..." Fuuka admits. "But I could see the passion in your costume work. You must be big fans, yourselves."

She pauses, though, as someone else speaks up from nearby. She offers Katsuko a small smile as she apologizes, and shakes her head.

"No, it's okay, you weren't interrupting..." She assures.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> "Oh! Drake Adventure! I've heard of that!" Roger smiles widely. "I want to play all of them!" ...He wants to play ''all the things''. He tilts his head as he leans to the side. "Can you play any games with these buttons?"

"Hello Seki-kun!" Roger greets in turn, reflexively. "It's like she says! I'm Roger!" ...Roger as in a strange surname, or, is he literally just introducing himself with the English name Roger? As Tsubasa talks about the strategy of the game of the artist's alley, he presses his fingers together as he looks a bit sheepish. "Oh, that kind of game! I play it all the time."

what

"It's hard. You have to be careful with money. Sometimes you have to use it when you don't expect to..." He is describing this very strangely, like this were a completely new concept at his age. Sheltered, or...? He smiles genuinely and warmly. "But everyone is playing that game, so it must be a lot of fun or they wouldn't. Okay! I'll play that today here too!" He considers the matter of the unexpected purchase of a pressed button. There does not seem to be any pattern or pretense to what he ends up choosing - just that he picks two.

One for Hazuki...

And one for Tsubasa, if they desire.

(it's okay, somehow he has stumbled onto part-time work in some very strange and fortuitous circumstances out of sheer enthusiasm)

"Nice playing with you!" He says in earnest to Tsubasa.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Rock on!" The artist says to Tsubasa, then switches her attention to other customers as they step aside. A customer such as Roger! Who wants to play ''all'' of them. "Hey, they're all great games, but they can take a while to finish." Can the buttons be used as a game? The artist blinks. "W-well... Not ''usually'', but... I've heard of some cons organizing scavenger hunts, and they can be part of a game then?"

But Roger gets two buttons: One with the series' signature monster, Blob, and Melog, a man made of bricks.

Fuuka's not very familiar. "Well, it's more of a Western game, so it's not as big here, so that's understandable." Kazusa even sounds... casual, saying that. Even if she's a bit nervous at being caught out still.

"I don't really play it," Wakana confesses, still enthused. "But I ''love'' the character designs! So this was an exciting project to work on."

But Katsuko shows up, and fortunately for both Kazusa and Katsuko, they're ''both'' wearing masks to hide their faces today. (This was, in fact, part of Kazusa's selection criteria for their costumes.) "Oh, thanks. Waka-chan did all the hard work," Kazusa admits. "She put the costumes together."

Wakana elbows Kazusa's side playfully. "Hey, don't count yourself out, Kazu-chan. ''You'' got all the reference materials and design sketches I needed."

Surely, this could be any random 'Kazu-chan' and 'Waka-chan', and not two specific Shujin students.

Kazusa rubs the back of her neck. "Well, I guess that's true..." she admits.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>Katsuko nodded curtly at Fuuka, silently and swiftly acknowledging the response. The lack of anything spoken might have been construed as a little rude, but when she turned to face the two again and was once more left rapt by the craftsmanship of their cosplays, it did not take a genius to figure out where her focus truly lay.
"You're both exceptionally skilled." Another statement delivered with a matter-of-fact tone that left little room for doubt - she meant what she said. If what she said and how she'd said it was not enough, Katsuko only glanced briefly upwards to make eye contact before studying every intricate detail - from the seams to the masks to the trims, and everything in between - might have served to make her statement more believable.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
"Roger-san, Nakao-san," Tsubasa nods, and of course it's -san, because they've ''just'' met her, it's inappropriate to -chan a girl you just met. (They don't question 'Roger' as one name too much; maybe some foreign countries don't have first names. It would be rude to snark about it!) "Cool. I ain't, like, a superfan or nothin'," they add, on the topic of Drake Adventure, "but like... there's this woman what really helped me out who's huge into it, Officer Shimizu, so I wanted to grab her some neat shit."

And then Roger asks if he can play ''any'' game with these buttons, and, like -- "Heheheh..." Tsubasa cracks a grin, briefly, before their face returns to its stoic default. "You're a pre' funny guy, Roger-san. Reckon a button that could let ya play any game'd be way costier, tho'." They think he's making a joke and not, like, legitimately asking... but they're at least intending to laugh ''with'' him, not ''at'' him. "Or, yeah, scavenger hunts," they add, nodding to the artist.

He plays the game, though, and Tsubasa blinks as they are offered ''a button.'' "Thanks, man," they nod, as they accept it. "Good game, yeah. Hey, this ya first con? Don't forget you can buy shit for yaself, too." They say 'buy' and not 'grab', because ''now'' they're starting to piece together that he might actually, legitimately be ''that literal.''

They rub at the back of their neck, admitting, on the topic of fighting games: "Yeah, I played a couple. Ain't gon' win no competitions or nothin', but stuff like Groove On Fight, Night Parade, Punch Boxer... kinda where I settle when I hang out at th' arcade, y'know?" Of course they would. They have so much pent-up aggression!

"Huh, they from a Western one?" Tsubasa turns, to behold Gidama and Nireema. "Man, wonder if there's a Western fightin' game 'round Tarasino shit... that'd be sick." Quinton Tarasino, of course, is known for his hyper-violent movies over in the West... and probably ''not'' known at this stage in his career as being a nightmare to work under.

"Those is some pre' good designs, tho'... gon' go tell 'em that," and Tsubasa pauses, and adds, looking back to Roger: "Cosplayers dig gettin' told their fit is tight." If it's his first con, like... y'know.

Tsubasa ambles up to Kazusa and Wakana, just in time to hear who put the costumes ''together.'' "Hey, you stitched this all up yaself?" They ask Wakana. "Sweet digs. Really like the work on them masks... gettin' the right kinda fabric for that ain't nothin'." With a light pause, they add, looking to Kazusa: "Gettin' references fer this shit ain't nothin', neither. Diggin' through art books, yeah?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>"Officer Shimizu? Uhhhh, from Yongen-jaya?" Hazuki has a good memory, because Reiko was memorable and nice, and she got the impression it's the same one! "She showed me around when I got lost once and brought me to a used electronics store! She's really nice..."

But, as Roger gives them buttons... her eyes brighten. "Roger! Thank you! You're not getting yourself one?" She echoes Tsubasa, smiling brightly.

When Tarasino is mentioned... "I don't think so. He seems too stuffy. Maybe he'll get a guest character into it?"

As they approach the cosplayers, though, Hazuki definitely doesn't recognize Kazusa and Wakana. Instead... "Oh, those are really good! I wish I had your courage to wear cosplay in public... how long did it take?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> "Oh... it probably would," he considers of the cost of a button that would let him play the games, as if taking a moment to take stock of the troublesome burden that is 'introspection' and 'doubt' and all these other extra things piled on top of his greatest desires like some manner of functional(?) addict.

Still, he smiles warmly at the surprise of not buying anything for himself from the buttons. "It's okay! I know what I want to do. I want to play the games later!" The arcade games, he means.

"I love the arcade! It feels like a home." He follows along, but as Tsubasa decides to talk to the cosplayers, he hears the word 'play.' He looks to Hazuki, tilting his head. "How do you play 'Cos'?" He blinks the once. "Is this something a lot of people are playing right now?"

He follows to Kazusa and Wakana. He can tell that his new friend Tsubasa and Hazuki are impressed. "You are both very good at this game, 'Cos!'" He says to the cosplaying pair, because if the two he's with are saying it's good, they must be good. "I want to play it one day too..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Katsuko only gives her a nod, but Fuuka doesn't seem insulted. She's the quiet type, herself, so she can understand. So instead, she just offers her an encouraging smile - and a nod of agreement, as she comments on how skilled the costumes are.

"Oh, I see... That makes sense." Fuuka replies with an understanding nod, as Kazusa explains that it's a Western game. Yes, she thinks she remembers that - she knows it's popular, but not so much here. Wakana doesn't play it, but she loves the character designs. "They're very evocative, aren't they?"

Kazusa explains that 'Waka-chan' put the costumes together, while Wakana says that 'Kazu-chan' handled the reference materials and design sketches.

They're clearly just nicknames. What's there to read into that?

"You two must make a really great team." Fuuka encourages.

It's at this point that more people arrive to compliment the cosplayers. Fuuka steps aside to make room in the growing circle.

"Oh, hello, Nakao-san... It's good to see you again." She greets with a small smile. "Who are your friends?"

She thinks she'd recognize Tsubasa if she'd seen them before, with that bold outfit... and Roger...

...He feels familiar somehow, but she can't quite place it.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
"Thank you," says Kazusa at Katsuko's compliment, sounding quite pleased. She takes her sais out again to pose for Katsuko, and Wakana quickly does the same with her fans, to get the full effect.

"We're really glad you enjoy them!" adds Wakana. She turns to Tsubasa as they approach. "Yep! And thanks!" She nods affirmatively at the mention of the masks. "Yeah, it was kinda tricky getting the trim attached to the mask with the proper fit, but I got it in the end."

Under any other circumstance, Kazusa might have had something to say about Tsubasa's outfit. "Yeah, and they weren't easy to find... I, uh, might've gotten the raw models out of the game files to work with, too," she admits, a little sheepishly.

It's a little awkward admitting she's good with computers. But it's fine, nobody here knows who she is, right?

But now she recognizes Hazuki, who's also just approached. Awkward. (Trust in the mask, Kazusa.) She looks the other girl over. "Uh, yeah, thanks. It's... our first time, actually. Drake Adventure, right?" she aks, nodding to the shirt.

"We're been working on it for a few months," chimes in Wakana.

Kazusa might be a bit more relaxed and chill right now. But she is not prepared for Roger complimenting them on 'Cos'. "Uh..."

Wakana comes to her rescue. "It's short for 'costume play'--because our outfits are costumes, see? And thanks!"

Fuuka remarks on them being a good team, and Wakana looks to Kazusa with an excited look. "Wanna show them just how good a team we are?"

Kazusa looks around at the people gathering around their cosplay. "... yeah. Yeah!" She's actually feeling ''excited''. People like the costumes, and they've got something special planned. "Okay, okay, back up, give us some space," says Kazusa, shooing people away from her.

"Excuse us, please," says Wakana more politely, as they try to clear a small bubble of space.

When they have their space, Wakana and Kazusa face each other. Kazusa takes up her pair of prop sai, while Wakana takes up a paper fan painted to look metal. They start a mock fight, attacking each other with thrusts of their prop weapons and graceful kicks. But they fight as a graceful dance, with grand sweeping motions that make the dangling sashes on their belts twirl and flutter, deftly blocking and redirecting blows over using direct hits. They circle each other in the tightly confined circle that they made, precisely using their props as they attack, duck, and dance out of the way of each other's attacks.

The choreography is fast and precise, the two girls moving together in perfect synchronicity born of hours of dedicated practice, and at one point when Wakana goes for a low sweep of her fan Kazusa vaults over her, planting a hand on her friend's back for the briefest of moments to make the transition. In its way, the routine is every bit as technical as something they might perform in competition for the school's Rhythmic Gymnastics team.

But the motion attracts the attention of Kazuki Motojima, who scowls to his younger counterpart. "Is ''this'' part of what we're paying for, for children to play fight in public?"

"Fans ''celebrate'' in all kinds of ways, sir," says the younger man, putting extra emphasis on the word. "It's the same reason the convention invites doujin artists and game makers to attend, too."

"''I'' see a disruption and potential liability should someone get injured," retorts Kazuki. "Need I remind you we are sponsoring this farce?" Kazuki turns to make his way through the crowd. "Coming through," he snaps, with a tone of aggressive authority in his voice. He pushes his way through the crowds until he's standing in front.

Right as Kauzsa takes a backstep into a space she thought was clear, bumping into the older man. "Oof--"

Wakana stops immediately, frozen as she stares up at the man. Kazusa, though, quickly turns around. "Ahh, I'm so sorry--" But she freezes too, eyes widening in terror as she beholds who it is she's bumped into.

Kazuki's eyes narrow with cold, furious intensity. His hand snaps out and he roughly yanks down the mask, revealing Kazusa's face for everyone to see. "Kazusa Motojima..." he says, his voice low and dripping with scorn.

Kazusa trembles, her voice shaking as she quickly bows her head, her cheeks flushing in shame. "O-- Otou-sama..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, that's her," Tsubasa nods. "Reiko Shimizu... she really gives a shit, y'know? Dunno where I'd be without her." And if it's weird for a guy who really looks like they're about to bust out 'IZZIIIIIT' to be speaking so highly of a cop... well, that's a fun little mystery!

(Tsubasa may in fact have busted out an 'izzit' or two previously, but the narrative here assures all red-blooded Englishmen that this was merely translation convention and they were throwing out some Japanese slang interjection or another.)

"Man, gettin' th' Bridesmaid into Groove On Fight would be sick," Tsubasa adds, apparently not minding Hazuki calling THE GENIUS OF WESTERN CINEMA stuffy. They figure she's probably read more interviews than them, on account of them not actually understanding a lick of English.

"You wanna play, huh? That's cool, man. Maybe we'll play a round later." Tsubasa's inclined to be more inclusive to the newbie congoer; they've intuited that Hazuki is definitely the one showing him the ropes, here, and they figure she'll have a way easier job convincing him this shit is cash if the people he talks to are supportive.

"Huh, you pulled the raws?" Tsubasa blinks, looking more impressed, when they come to the ''coses''. "Thas', like... decompilin' an' shit, right? That's some serious code junk... kudos."

They add, hearing Wakana explain: "You, like, take a character from a game or a movie or whatever an' make their costume," Tsubasa explains, to Roger, as they amble over. "An' then you take photos like you were really those characters. Some people get on stage an' perform, too." (Here, they reflect, briefly, on Hazuki praising their ''bravery.'') "You get all kinda people tryin' it at cons... reckon you might find some folks tryin' their cosplay out 'round Akihabara jus' fer local meetups an' shit, too."

(For all Roger seems to ''really not get'' how this stuff works, like, Tsubasa's explanations don't have a condescending attitude attached; maybe he's sheltered, or maybe he's just Kinda Weird Like That, but Tsubasa's pretty happy to meet people who are Weird Like That in the middle. ... and if he's just sheltered, like, that ''probably'' means he's new to the country or something? Most likely, right?)

But Wakana offers to let them see how good a team they are, and -- it looks like ''they'' have a performance rehersed, too. "Oh, sweet," Tsubasa says, backing up to give them a bit of space. It's a real impressive routine, too; Tsubasa wonders if they're gymnasts, or something.

Except --

Except someone closes into Kazusa's space.

Tsubasa's hands close to fists, beside them, as they see the look in his eyes. (They are not ''just'' angry.) He yanks her mask down, issues her full name... and there it is.

The same way they address their own father.

"Hey!" Tsubasa steps forward, gesturing to them. "Motojima-san, ain't her fault, I -- I told her she oughta show some moves like in the games, yeah?! She wouldna done that shit on her own!" It's a lie, obviously. It's not even a very ''good'' lie. It's just...

They know that telling him to lay off isn't going to do shit.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>Roger is okay! And they might all play games later... Hazuki nods. "Okay!"

Tsubasa gets a nod about 'Shimizu' giving a shit. Hazuki is a little bit ACAB but not enough to dismiss it! The bridesmaid comment also gets a smile...

When they approach, though, Fuuka is there! "Oh, Yamagishi-san! This is Seki-san who I just met, and...Roger!" She leaves it at that. Fuuka will know who it is, as she winks lightly.

But Kazusa and Wakana are unrecognizable. But when they start doing their tricks, she's in awe. Her eyes watch every motion, lit up. Impressive... beautiful... graceful.

But then, someone comes in, stops the show, and *grabs Kazusa* by the mask- wait, that's Kazusa? No, ignore that, Hazuki's freezing on the spot. It's only when Tsubasa steps forward that she does so as well, as hesitant as she is... there's a lot of people watching.

"...don't touch her," she settles on, disdain in her voice, instead of taking the same approach as Tsubasa, because there's something infuriating about seeing that building every second, something blinding her.

"You don't have the right."

Whereas Tsubasa has very personal experience with this kind of parent, Hazuki faced a different kind of parental trauma... but was also taught to never let someone put their hands on her. Kazusa doesn't deserve that, either.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> "Oh! So it's actually called 'Costume.'" Roger, enlightened, nods happily. Does he understand the difference? Uh, we'll see. He listens along to any other explanation attentively. Whether he actually absorbs that information or not, only time can tell. For his apparent age, however vague, there is a certain youthful enthusiasm one might attribute to younger minds and hearts. He just looks so happy to be here and play, in whatever capacity he has tried to understand what is being played and how.

And then! The demonstration! It is delightful for a time! But, there's a sudden stop, and a sharp change in mood all around as Hazuki gets actually angry. Roger flinches... and proceeds to push his fingers closer together as he bows his head.

"What you're doing doesn't seem like it's very fun. Everyone here is having fun... did you want to play something else other than 'costume'?" He asks of the sneering Kazuki Motojima, completely unaware of the weight of who this is.

"..."

"Do you like buttons?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>At the pair's behest, Katsuko moved backwards with sharp, precise, steps - though she made certain her precious cargo was secured, so as not to risk jostling it and damaging her goods. Even if the disguise was not in place, it would have been difficult to discern her expression - the closest she came to even letting a muscle twitch was when she blinked. As ever, the truth of it lay in the minutest details of how she acted. The focus with which she looked to the two, the way her eyes flitted between and followed them, her utter silence as she watched it all unfold... She said nothing, but not out of boredom. She was rapt.

"Such passion... Such grace..." Katsuko murmured. Silent as she normally was, even she could not help but voice her admiration for such a display. She herself was no athlete - not by any stretch of the imagination - but she recognised skill when she saw it. Skill that was hard-won and honed through trials she had only read of, until it had been honed into a fine point. She spoke no more, but Katsuko's continued interest spoke volumes of her thoughts towards the performance. So captivating was it that she scarcely noticed anyone approaching.

By the time her ears pricked up and she heard voices approaching from another angle, it was too late to carry out any action of any real substance. Sharp eyes darted towards the source, scanning for whoever was bold enough to voice such an opinion openly, and she watched as they drew ever closer to the performance being put on. She thought to warn them - any of them - but before she could take so much as a step forward, one half of the pair collided with one of the men approaching. She blinked, remained in place, and watched as all hell broke loose.

The reveal left Katsuko silent. Shock was part of it, of course. To not only see the Motojima patriarch storm into the event in such a manner, but unmask his daughter with such venom in his words and his actions, left even the normally unflappable Katsuko at a loss for words. The fact that it had been Kazusa beneath the mask did not help organise her thoughts either. She blinked behind those glasses - once, twice, three times, as any subsequent one would dispel the vision before her and reveal a more mundane reality. Yet, there she was, with a stranger attempting to step in and take the blame for it.

Even so, the reveal was not the most shocking part of it. Rather, it was Kazusa's reaction. She was used to jabs and barbs, pointed looks and unresolvable tension. To see her fold so immediately, and after such an action on the part of her father... It left Katsuko at a loss. It was a wrinkle in her plans that she'd not factored in, and planning around such a variable was something she believed would prove troublesome. Thus, she decided to step back, and allow the situation to unfold without her input. There was no reason for her to blow her cover, nor to risk earning the ire of someone with Motojima's influence.

Once more, she was glad for the disguise. Katsuko had no love for Kazusa, but those cheap lenses and that thin sheet of fabric were about the only things that hid the venomous glare she shot towards Kazusa's father.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Kazusa mentions getting the raw models out of the game files to work with, and that draws Fuuka's attention. She looks her way with interest.

"Oh, you did? That's really impressive... I understand it's pretty difficult, especially if it's in a format that's not set up for that..." She remarks. It's something she hasn't tried herself, being fairly new to games, but she knows enough to know just how much work that would've taken. A glance is offered to Tsubasa, too, who ''also'' seems to be aware just how difficult that is.

Hazuki greets her, though, and Fuuka offers her a smile back as she introduces who she's with. Seki-san and... Roger?

Like... ''Roger'' Roger...? That wink seems to indicate, in fact, yes. Fuuka stares at him for a moment, and it's hard to reconcile what she knows... 'How??' crosses her face - but she doesn't ask that question. Not here.

"Then... it's nice to meet you, Seki-san - and to see you again, Roger-san." She offers with a polite bow of greeting. "I'm Fuuka Yamagishi."

But her comment about how good those two are as a team seems to have encouraged Wakana and Kazusa to show off. They seem excited... So as requested, Fuuka moves aside to give them both some space - and then she watches, as they both perform.

...It's not just their costumes. They both ''move'' incredibly well, too - how long did it take them to choreograph this? Or, was all of this just on the fly...? Either way, it's impressive - but then, suddenly, someone barges into the circle, and removes Kazusa's mask.

...Oh. She recognizes her - it's hard to reconcile the person she met today with the way from back then.

But that man, her father... He seems all the worse. Fuuka freezes for a moment, intimidated by the intensity...

...And here, she finds the courage she thought she'd found tested. She isn't... good, at situations like this. Shadows she can handle, but people like this...? But as others step up to defend her, Fuuka... swallows, and steps up too.

"Motojima-san..." Fuuka murmurs - this one, for the younger of the two, before looking up at the older.

"I'm sorry, sir. We wanted to see them perform. It's our fault." She offers apologetically, doing her best to try and back up Tsubasa's lie.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
The raws! "Well... the assets are usually stored in a separate file, so if you know, ah... the format they packed it in... but thanks." She nods as Fuuka expresses how difficult it is. "Yeah, some of them can be, there's some tricks, though... I just happen to know a few." Having grandparents in game development might be cheating, though.

Still, she's never had to ''explain'' this to anyone who might appreciate the answer.

... It feels ''weird''. Nice, but weird.

Wakana, however, is more enthused as she chimes in on Tsubasa's expanded answer. "Yep! Just like that."

This is ''definitely'' choreographed, though, not on the spot. They were ''planning'' on this.

Kazuki stares down at Kazusa, and in the moment the difference in height is a vast gulf, with how Kazusa can't bring herself to look up at him. "So this is the kind of disgusting display my daughter puts on behind my back."

But Kazuki won't get to speak his piece uncontested. Tsubasa is the first to speak, trying to argue that they suggested Kazusa show off some moves. "Mind your own business. And do your parents know their son is out wearing such garish makeup? Disgusting."

Hazuki is the next to speak up, and Kazuki's eyes narrow at her. "She is ''my'' daughter, you don't have a right to tell me how to raise her." Hazuki's not wrong that Kazusa doesn't deserve this, of course, but Kazuki isn't the audience for that.

"This is not about 'fun'," Kazuki snaps at Roger next. "This is about my daughter's future and how she is squandering it on this childish notion." He scoffs but otherwise doesn't answer about the buttons.

Katsuko, at least, is spared Kazuki's ire. There's too many people speaking up that he simply doesn't have the time to take notice of everyone else who isn't.

Kazusa keeps her gaze steadfastly down. She can't bring herself to look at Fuuka, despite the use of her name, nor anybody else attempting to help her.

That doesn't stop Kazuki from looking at Fuuka, though. "Don't patronize me. I ''know'' what my daughter is like." And he very clearly doesn't approve.

Wakana has been frozen in fear, but Tsubasa's and Fuuka's words inspire her to action. She tries to step forward, to build on their effort, her words fast and frantic. "Please, Motojima-san, she wouldn't even be here at all if I hadn't asked her! I just didn't want to come here by myself--" She freezes in place as Kazuki's gaze locks on her next.

"Wakana Oosaka," he snaps, certain in his identification of the other girl. "Take off that ridiculous mask. I'll be talking to your parents about your role in this shameful display, too."

The other girl lowers her head, slowly pulling down her mask. She says nothing.

Kazuki turns his attention back to his own daughter. "As for ''you''. This is how you repay me for everything I've provided for you? We provide you with a superior education and coaching, and ''this'' is what you turn your skills to? You're turned yourself into nothing more than a circus performer or a carnival show."

Kazusa still can't lift her gaze, but her breathing is rapid as she glances around at the hushed crowd. "Father, please--" she starts, her tone pleading. "I won't do it again, I promise. But please, don't do this here--"

"I'm not the one who decided to make an embarrassing spectacle of myself in public," scoffs Kazuki. "You are a disgrace of a daughter. I'm ashamed to know this is how you've been treating my good name." He leans in closer, his contempt growing more concentrated. "But I can see now that I've been far too lenient, letting you indulge in your little childish fantasies behind my back."

With a sharp gasp, Kazusa looks up into her father's eyes, her own eyes widening still further. Her cheeks are already wet, and her thin, trembling voice reveals a dawning horror. "Oh no--"

Kazuki smirks cruelly. "Oh yes. Did you think I didn't know about that secret you and your grandparents have been hiding from me? That I wouldn't find out? I only permitted it because I thought you would eventually tire of these childish notions. But I see now I was wrong." He stands upright again. He looks to the other man he'd been walking around the convention with. "I'll be leaving." He looks to Kazusa and Wakana. "And you two are coming with me. It's high time I sorted you out. I will not tolerate anything less than a proper, well-mannered daughter bearing my name."

He abruptly turns and walks off. Kazusa and Wakana meekly follow, neither of them able to look at anyone in the crowd or each other as they follow the Motojima patriarch out. The chipper sounds and flashing displays of the convention carry on, but none of that can reach Kazusa as her world falls apart.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
In Tsubasa's eyes, Hazuki is much braver than they are: much more able to ''make'' that kind of declarative statement, rather than trying to redirect the man's anger to another target. They don't see, perhaps, how brave it was to step forward first.

They're not about to judge Katsuko for stepping ''back,'' either.

Fuck, man, they feel bad for Roger, too. Whatever's going on with him, he's... he's doing his best, man.

What they're really grateful for, though, is Fuuka backing them up -- because their plan is bad but at least it's ''a'' plan, and they can hear how scared she is when she's doing it. Before all this happened, they'd accepted her introduction, but -- man, what a shitty thing to happen right after.

Poor Wakana, though... she had the same idea they had. They wonder if her father does it, too.

Her father tells them to ''mind their own business,'' though, and Tsubasa flinches back for a moment as their fist tightens at their side. They're at least relieved they pass enough that the obvious insult doesn't come to his mind; it's little relief. "You -- y-you're one to talk, man!" They snap back, when he calls them ''disgusting.'' "Whatever, jus' -- cut her a break!"

He will not. Tsubasa trembles, both in anger and in empathic fear, as he takes them ''both'' away.

They think of the way they never let Makoto come home to visit them, back before they were them.

They had a damn good reason.

"Fuckin'," Tsubasa starts, when the two are meekly trotted off.

"Everyone in electronics an abusive sack a shit? Fuck. Fuckin' --"

They kick at the ground -- "FUCK!" -- as they turn and storm out of the convention centre.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>'...you're a bad father,' are the words that don't leave Hazuki's lips. She's stunned all but silent, making a 'mm' noise.

But as he takes away her passions, her interests, tries to mold her, her anger becomes cold and silent. She watches him take the girls away. She watches Tsubasa get angry and leave. She watches...

Nothing, because her eyes close shut. She tunes out the world... Roger might have to wait for her. When she finally opens them again, she's turning towards the arcade cabinets, less of a spark to her.

"Come on, Roger. There's nothing we can do right now, let's go play."

But this is definitely the kind of thing she'll talk to Kazusa about when they're in school. Maybe she can do something. Maybe this is the type of thing, too, that she is fighting against as part of In Unizone.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>Katsuko watched as judgement was passed, listening and looking, but never caring to act. She said nothing in response to him, remaining tight-lipped and glaring no matter what provocation reared its ugly head. It was a sad state of affairs, that much she could not deny - she had no love for Kazusa, but such treatment was inexcusable. The fact that it came from her father, of all people, only served to deepen the bitter taste the entire interaction had left in her mouth. But she had no interest in risking her own neck - and, potentially, what little progress she'd made in her investigations - because of some moral outrage.

She stole one last look at Kazusa, and frowned. Part of her was a little upset that she'd not intervened. Being able to foster some goodwill with Kazusa could have gone a long way, given how hard it would have been to worm her way into Kazuki's good graces. But that opportunity had come and gone, and to wonder what could have been was useless. Perhaps, she supposed, she could still salvage things. She could show concern by 'noticing' Kazusa didn't seem well. She could go through Wakana, or another of her friends, feigning concern and pretending to be too nervous to ask directly. There were many variables to consider, and a crowded convention hall was not the best place for it.

Sparing not a word for the others gathered, Katsuko turned on her heel and left.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> Somewhere in all this, Fuuka's suspicions are confirmed when Roger passes a glance that suggests familiarity. "Oh! It is nice to see you again!"

It doesn't cross Roger in the moment that his appearance here would be frightfully problematic in the eyes of SEES and their mission. He's just that happy to see her again.

...But to catch up to the actual present series of events...

Roger visibly flinches as Kazuki Motojima speaks his mind about what this is all about. It's something Hazuki might be passingly familiar with, when Roger doesn't quite understand what he's seeing or hearing - he freezes, like he doesn't know what a proper human reaction is. It takes Hazuki rousing him to go play somewhere. 'Play,' he understands, cherishes, seeks, desires, as the fundamental core of his being.

...

But that core has been wrapped in a human shell, as if so troubled it dares cast a counterweight.

"Future?" He asks aloud, far too late for anyone relevant to that discourse to weigh in meaningfully with Kazusa's father, especially with Tsubasa having stormed off. He presses his fingers together. "They were having fun now. Why isn't he happy that she's happy? It doesn't seem fun to not have fun."

His simplistic line of reasoning and attempts to wrap his head around it eventually loses out towards migrating with Hazuki towards a thing he much more clearly understands. Play! Arcade games! Playing with everyone as someone.

...But the whole of it still weighs on him the entire time, as is the burden of having an odd grasp of a human consciousness.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>Roger greets her back with familiarity. That's... definitely him, alright. Fuuka doesn't know how to process this.

"That's really interesting... I'll have to look into it." Fuuka enthuses. She's definitely going to go looking it up when she gets back to the dorm. Even if she likely isn't going to ''use'' this information, it's just nice to learn how to do new things.

That's later, though - but for now, she's faced with the reality of Kazusa's father. There's not much she can do in the face of him. His very presence is intimidating - and she freezes, when that gaze turns her way.

...The awful weight of expectation... Parents who expect you to be and act a certain way...

...It's a familiar sort of suffering - not her exact sort, but close enough to sting. She wishes she could say more... but she can't. Not that it would help, if she could.

She stands, with her hands clasped in front of her, and watches as Kazusa and Wakana are pulled away.

...For all that she can fight and support others in dealing with Shadows and other supernatural threats, she feels so powerless here.

Tsubasa stomps off, and Hazuki and Roger leave.

"...I... don't feel well." She murmurs after a moment. "I should go..."

And with that, she turns to leave the convention hall, herself.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-12-17: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

2025-12-18T03:44:18Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Cutscene: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki *'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory *'''OOC Date:''' 2025-12-17 *'''IC Date:''' August 27, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro ruminates after Ken's Awakening.'' *'''Content Warning''': Depressive ruminations (including on worthlessness and suicide), panic attacks, nightmares ---- <poem> Shinjiro has barely removed his jacket before he slumps into his bed, but sleep isn't going to come to him easily...."

*'''Cutscene: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory
*'''OOC Date:''' 2025-12-17
*'''IC Date:''' August 27, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro ruminates after Ken's Awakening.''
*'''Content Warning''': Depressive ruminations (including on worthlessness and suicide), panic attacks, nightmares
----

<poem>
Shinjiro has barely removed his jacket before he slumps into his bed, but sleep isn't going to come to him easily.

What has he done?

An eleven year old's life has been irrevocably changed for the worse and it's all his fault.

He stares at the ceiling, eyes wide. That scream. That guttural, guttural scream. That rage. That anger.

All aimed at that Gigas, misguided hate while the wolf remains in sheep's clothing. While the lamb respects the wolf, seems to trust him.

If Shinjiro is a wild wolf, shouldn't he be culled?

It's not a path he'll take. He has responsibilities to bear... but it'd have been better if he never existed. So many lives would be improved without his existence.

Akihiko, Mitsuru... the Cardboard Dragon... Ken. They'd do better if he wasn't there.

But he is. And he sees himself as too much of a coward to change that besides what's coming to him regardless.

As he stares at that ceiling, Shinjiro considers what path to take next. He does need to protect this boy until he goes. He can't let him know he's a wolf and shatter his world further. The people Ken needs right now...

He can't break Ken's faith in them.

"Fuck," Shinjiro says quietly under his breath, barely audible to even himself.

Did he deserve this attempt at life? This bucket list? This attempt to make the most of one more year?

When he keeps taking, and taking, and taking?

Ken can never return to being a 'normal' boy. Every night he'll see that green light. That blood in the water. The sharks circling around it in the form of monsters.

Rolling onto his side, Shinjiro feels his chest hurt like his heart is racing a mile a minute. His body tenses, his face flushes, and everything feels like anguish, more so than his condition usually makes it feels. He feels tight in his chest, like the world's going to end right now.

Trying to help himself, he grasps his bed sheet with both hands, trying to center his breathing, trying to remember that the world is right here. He's not dead yet.

He can't make it right.

But maybe he can make it less awful.

Maybe that'd be enough for someone without a future to do.

As the panic fades, the numb comes in. This is meaningless. He can't do anything right now.

It's one AM, there's no supernatural, no talking to anyone, no *existing* in this moment. All he can do...

All anyone can do is let the numb bring them to sleep.

Shinjiro is rocked with nightmares once more. That familiar house etched into his brain, pulverized in an instant. Castor's rage, Castor's hate, Castor's anger, as it takes a life. The death of a woman who quite literally did not deserve it.

When morning comes, he'll continue as usual. But morning won't come quickly enough.
</poem>

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-12-14: Worth Remembering

2025-12-15T18:35:41Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Worth Remembering''' *'''Cast:''' Hazuki Nakao, Tsumugi Kujaku *'''Where:''' Shimokitazawa - Peacock Silk *'''OOC Date:''' December 14, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 25, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Hazuki visits Peacock Silk to check on her order and deliver the information about Rin Sasaki's husband being a homunculus. Tsumugi is there to receive her, and they discuss these topics, as well as freedom and Hazuki's own interesting circumstances. A deal is struck..."

*'''Log: Worth Remembering'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hazuki Nakao]], [[Tsumugi Kujaku]]
*'''Where:''' Shimokitazawa - Peacock Silk
*'''OOC Date:''' December 14, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 25, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Hazuki visits Peacock Silk to check on her order and deliver the information about Rin Sasaki's husband being a homunculus. Tsumugi is there to receive her, and they discuss these topics, as well as freedom and Hazuki's own interesting circumstances. A deal is struck to teach Hazuki more about Ateliers in exchange for choice rights on Homunculus parts. Tsumugi decides Hazuki is fascinating.''

----
-================================================ Tokyo/Shimokitazawa Ward ====-

Peacock Silk roosts in a restored three-story Taisho building; the front is clad

with shiny copper in verdant green, interrupted by a slim front of brick,

suggesting the building grew together. A little lacuna brings one past Peacock

Silk's windows and into a suddenly-quiet enclosure - surrounded by traditional

burnt-cedar siding, with a flower bed, stone benches, trash and recycling (a

minor miracle in Tokyo) and a vending machine holding truly eccentric drinks,

served cold.

Peacock Silk proper takes up most of the street level of the building. The

entrance is not on the street, but a bit out of the way -- there is a door, now

barred and false, with a tiny placard (too small to be seen from any distance)

stating 'That Way' with a helpful arrow. The shop's entrance has double doors,

guarded by a wrought-iron gate featuring an Art-Nouveau outline of a peacock

with tail in full spread, standing atop a banner reading PEACOCK and SILK to the

left and right.

The store's interior is starkly modern: light wood flooring and white walls,

interrupted with the shop's goods, artisanal tools mounted behind the counter,

and - where a vast space of white makes an irresistible canvas - large pieces of

black-and-white art, rotating periodically. The register and checkout is on your

right as you come in, along with a small display of old-fashioned scales and

assaying tools, doubtless for show. To the entrance's left is a ramped platform

with stout wooden perches, several of different heights. The store's mascot, a

real live peacock, often perches here, peering in judgment on customers and

surveying his domain. (The bird accepts snacks.)

The back of the shop is ruled by a long counter, loosely split into thirds - one

space for glittering jewelry on busts and in glass cases and on twinkling

stands. Another for leather goods, white and black and brown and red; purses and

belts, chokers and bracelets galore. Towards the back, more complete outfits,

with several mannequins bearing signature pieces or unique offerings, often in

dramatic poses. The staff maneuver them now and then; sometimes when a customer

isn't looking.

Towards the far end of the shop, several changing booths have been formed from

interior dividers, holding the basics -- some room to maneuver, somewhere to

hang up clothes, and several mirrors to check yourself. Stepping right outside

of the changing voice is dazzling -- many of the store's modern track lightings

are skewed just so, producing a spotlight effect, like stepping out on stage.

Alone in the world. The perfect visual baptism to celebrate a new individual.

<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
It's been a bit of a week since In Unizone came into existence. Hazuki Nakao has looked for a base but with NO LUCK, so instead, she's bringing the intention on new Homunculi to some people she's decided to trust, with everything they've done for her.

Peacock Silk's double doors swing open, allowing Hazuki inside. She's clad in her usual Western Fashion clothes, her black jacket with white shirt and black newsie cap. She's touching the basic flower-clasp choker around her neck, as she looks around. No peacock on the perch, no Yanagi... who *is* here?

"Hello? It's Hazuki...! Did I come at the wrong time...?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
No peacock, proudly preening.

No Yanagi, jubilantly welcoming.

No Saika, scandalously shouting.

No, there's just one thing to greet Hazuki Nakao when she walks through the double door'd entrance of Peacock Silk:

https://youtu.be/FkXdPTA5URk?si=k2ZPsECQKlXhF78K

The perky J-Pop serenade of E-Girls' ''Follow Me'', dropped only this very week.

Piped through the speakers, it's shockingly pop sensibilities for such a shamelessly and notoriously counterculture boutique create such a powerful cognitive dissonance that one might - justifiably - think that is entirely the point.

It's certainly enough to be jarring. Certainly enough to demand attention. Certainly enough to distract, just long enough...

"So you're Hazuki."

For that calm contralto voice to cut through the sugar-pop, smooth as silk.

They're there, when they weren't before: towards the back, where the shop leads into the tailor's atelier; their shoulder leaned lightly against the archway that transitions one area to the next. They're dressed with deceptive simplicity, the white button-up they wear frilled elegantly at the placket, the top few buttons undone to reveal the gold choker wrapped around their pale neck, stylized like a snake with small, bright ruby eyes. Their sleeves are rolled up, hands covered by a pair of black, fingerless gloves revealing gold-lacquered nails; the shirt itself tucks into a black waspie corset threaded in gold, leading to trim black pants and, of course, a pair of black high heels, heeled with sharp, gold stilettos.

Green eyes brought out by smoky eyeliner regard Hazuki impassively for a few seconds. Their head cants. Black lips part.

"Welcome to Peacock Silk."

No -- no Pernelle, Yanagi, or Saika.

Today, Hazuki gets to meet the Peacock's purveyor.

... For the second time, technically.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
As the pop music filters in, Hazuki's senses are overwhelmed slightly, drawing her attention. But after a moment, while she looks along... she's humming softly under her breath, picking up the lyrics fast. "Follow me, follow me, baby~"

And then she's startled again by surprise Tsumugi! Even so, her gloomy countenance only slides on slightly, as she sheepishly nods. "Uh, yes---"

She gets a good glimpse of Tsumugi... "Oh my gosh." She's shellshocked a bit, just by how strongly, how gorgeously they're dressed.

"Er, yes. I'm Hazuki Nakao... are you the owner of the Peacock Silk? We met once, but I don't think it was a very good meeting..." she says, finger brushing over her choker clasp again. It's clearly an anxious tic.

"I placed an order with Yanagi, but I also had some things I wanted to talk about with your group... I can come back later... if you need me to?" She's not opposed to talking to Tsumugi, though, even if she's very English and therefore will use yobisute on anyone who allows it.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
''Oh my gosh.''

It's sublimely understated, the way Tsumugi Kujaku seems to completely fail to react to that shellshocked utterance, save the way their head dips just a little bit towards a deeper angle.

It's an understatement that endures all the way through Hazuki's ''actual'' introduction: Tsumugi's expression doesn't shift a single ounce one way or the other past that statuesque calm, nor do they budge from their casual, arm-folded lean against the arch. They just watch, and listen.

''We met once, but I don't think it was a very good meeting...''

Vividly green eyes drop subtly down to those fingers as they press upon that choker.

"Mm."

And then rise to meet Hazuki's gaze directly. Do they remember that meeting? ... Probably not.

But does it matter?

After all...

"But you're here now," they answer that greeting in lieu of introducing themself,

"and worth remembering."

It's so matter-of-fact that the possible flattery of it might well be enhanced by the sheer neutrality. It's here that Tsumugi moves, the soft shove of their shoulder against its perch swaying them back to a tall, upright position as they approach the main counter with the steady -=CLICK=- -=CLICK=- -=CLICK=- of heels in the boutique's perfect acoustics.

"Sa-ya isn't here today," they say simply as they reach the counter. Drawing out a large, hand-written ledger, they set it on the countertop, cracking it open with an easy ambivalence.

Paper pages fold past one after the other. They only pause that slow rifling as Hazuki offers an easy out: 'if they need her to.' A paper page pinched between gold-lacquered nails, Tsumugi's gaze is focused on the contents scribbled therein... but their words are for Hazuki.

"I need to eat. I need to breathe. I need to sleep. Needs don't matter; they're perfunctory. Wants are much more interesting."

Bright green eyes lift up, focused squarely on Hazuki.

"You can stay. We can talk. If you want to.

"Do you want to, Hazuki?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Hazuki blinks at the response, as they answer her greeting. Her dark eyes meet their green. Her? Worth remembering? She often wishes she was. But she's a lonely girl, and she's never heard someone tell her something like that in her life.

"Oh, uh, thank you..." she says, too stunned to process and think and worry.

But then, as Tsumugi goes to rifle through the counter paperwork, steady clicking of heels rhythmic in her ears, Hazuki watches carefully, taking in every motion, all of the atmosphere.

Needs don't matter... wants are more interesting. Does she want to?

"...yes. I want to speak with you. Your name is... Tsumugi Kujaku, right?"

Stepping towards the counter, she considers. "Your team really helped me back in Nakata-kun's Atelier. I wanted to repay the favor..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
Yes.

I want to speak with you.

It's all Tsumugi needs to hear; their gaze drops back down to the ledger.

"Then stay."

Their work resumes. And though their focus is not on Hazuki, they ''are'' listening. So when she asks about their name, without looking up, they remark a simple and easy, "Yes," that rises above the crisp turn of a page.

And when she talks about the Atelier - and her encounter with the rest of Peacock Silk within, and the debt owed for their assistance, even though there is a lingering silence after her last sentence trails off, eventually, inevitably, they answer:

"A choker with a stylized comet. Right?" ... Which ''isn't'' exactly what Hazuki was speaking about, and yet, all the same: "Sa-ya had another commission request come in at roughly the same time, but it's almost done. I'd say the work is three-fourths of the way there."

For a time, it seems like that might just be it. Confirmation on Hazuki's order, and little else. Silence lingers just long enough--

"Sa-ya told me about you, too," Tsumugi suddenly speaks, and those bright greens lift towards the leader of the freshly-minted In Unizone once more. "Pernelle and Saika, too. That you woke up in the Atelier." Gold-lacquered nails 'thmpthmpthmp' as they fall from pinky to index finger on top of the ledger.

"You sounded interesting."

There are questions that beg to be asked about that, but as is so often their wont, Tsumugi instead tables it to instead pivot back to something Hazuki expressed earlier:

"How do you plan to?" Their head tilts, leftwards. "Return the favor."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Hazuki chooses to stay. Tsumugi Kujaku... they seem interesting to her, too.

"Yeah, that's right," she says about the choker. "Okay, I'll pick it up when it's done then. Thank you..."

But there's more to talk about. Hazuki's face flushes at the words 'you sounded interesting', because she rarely thinks that about herself. "Yeah... it changed my life."

But before they can talk further about that, Tsumugi asks how Hazuki plans to return the favor. She swallows, hoping this is enough.

"I have a lead on another Homunculus. The husband of a Rin Sasaki - I don't know his name. She came to Rumormonger Merry, having realized he was 'different'. She's Unawakened, but Merry pointed us to each other... and the Kuzunoha Detective Agency confirmed our suspicions. I... told her about what it is we do."

She wonders if that was wrong, but...

"I want to save her husband. But I thought the information may be useful to you, too."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
"Opening your eyes for the first time should change you."

The ledger closes with the weighty thud of ink-scribbled paper on ink-scribbled paper, as if to punctuate Tsumugi Kujaku's point.

"Congratulations. You've experienced your first taste of true freedom."

But right now - ''for'' now - Tsumugi seems most interested in how Hazuki plans to repay that perceived favor. That Peacock Silk would have eliminated Taro Nakata's Homunculus is no nevermind to Tsumugi in this moment; so, too, the fact that Hazuki's efforts made their own work that much easier.

No -- they're most interested in what Hazuki has to say in this moment.

And for as understated as they so often are, that interest is such a palpable thing. It's in the quiet intensity of that stare; like the world was a stage and now that stare was a spotlight shining for Hazuki Nakao, and Hazuki Nakao alone. The store - the neighborhood - the city - the world might as well not even exist until the moment she offers her trade: a favor for a favor. Information for assistance.

''I... told her about what it is we do.''

And black lips curl into a rare smile, all for Hazuki.

"Ara."

The proprietor of Peacock Silk shifts. Ledger put away, they maneuver around to the front of the counter before gracefully sliding on top of it, adopting that comfortable and confident lounge they so often love to take up.

"Very few people want to know this world. They're comfortable in the lies that embrace and bind them." And as if they read Hazuki's mind, they address that private worry head on. "Most of the time, when the danger passes, they'll simply return to the preferable contentment of their blind world and treat it like a distant fever dream."

A brow lifts.

"But there's always someone who can't see the world the same again the second they know it's false. The people who claw their way out of the cave, rather than return to its comfort. Ambitious people. Curious people."

Is Rin Sasaki ambitious? Curious?

What will she do, now that she knows?

Tsumugi is very interested in knowing, themself.

But for now--

"Why?" they suddenly ask, and for a moment, that nebulously singular question lingers without context, before they clarify:

"Why do you want to help her and her husband?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
True freedom... is that what it is? Sometimes it feels restricting... at others, Hazuki does feel free. It's interesting.

Hazuki feels that intensity of the stare. Normally, she'd probably break under it. But there's an interest there, not demeaning, not cruel, that in many ways mesmerizes her.

Her posture rises minutely as she breathes, as Tsumugi explains that very few people want to see this world. But there's those it changes.

"It seems... sad. That we can't share this with everyone else," Hazuki says. "Doesn't everyone deserve the power to make a difference?"

But then, that question. 'Why?' Why does she want to help the Sasakis?

She could say 'it's the right thing to do'. Or that 'well, he's gonna die'. She considers it, even. But she feels naked under Tsumugi's gaze, and in a way, she feels any dismissal like that would be noticed easily. Or pried into.

"...it's my belief that people are connected. That we're all... a part of a greater system. Stars in a constellation. The things I've seen, the visions I've had... it's reinforced that I have the power to make a difference. I want to help everyone I can. If I have to fight Homunculus after Homunculus to make a real difference, a real change... I will."

A vulnerable pause. Hazuki takes a breath, before finally smiling.

"I'm not sure it's purely selfless, though. As much as... I've found meaning."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
Doesn't everyone deserve the power to make a difference?

"Everyone deserves to be free," is Tsumugi's simple answer. As disaffectedly stated as anything they say, those five words still have a certain sort of ''weight'' to them.

A certain sort of significance.

"But how do you free someone who's lived in bondage for so long they don't even see the chains?"

It's a question that doesn't linger -- at least, in terms of the time that Tsumugi spends on it. Whether the sentiment lingers otherwise seems not to concern them as they pivot toward the matter of the Sasakis proper, and what piques their curiosity about ''that''. To whit, that one, simple yet profoundly complicated question:

'Why?'

One leg lifting to about chest level, Tsumugi drapes their forearm over the upraised knee as they regard Hazuki with that seem, piercing stare past the barrier of flesh and fashion. They certainly seem to strike the impression that they would see right through her if she tried to offer some truism or platitude in that moment. And as she answers...

''That we're all... a part of a greater system.''

''Stars in a constellation.''

"..."

It's a contrast, truly, how difficult Tsumugi is to read in this moment in comparison. The way they listen in absolute silence; the way those bright eyes hood. The way they glance aside, after a long moment, within that poignant pause.

Everyone, connected.

"... Yes," they say, in that ineffably level tone of theirs,

"They are."

And it'd be so easy to interpret as them acknowledging Hazuki's beliefs that it could be easy to overlook how it says nothing about how they themself feel about them.

It, too, is something that Tsumugi doesn't allow to be dwelled on for long: "We'll help you," they suddenly say. "From what I've heard, you've come quite a way from where you started already. But there are things to Ateliers and Homunculi that you need to know if you're going to continue this path."

One, fingerless gloved hand turns over, palm up, as if the empty air that rested against its palm could hold infinite possibilities Tsumugi is offering in that moment.

"You and your friends can learn what you need to know from us. Peacock Silk can help remove the Homunculus in this woman's husband with you." Their head tilts. "In exchange for first choice harvesting the materials the Homunculus leaves behind."

They say it plainly. Make their wants known immediately, and without hesitation. Without shame. After all...

"There's no such thing as pure selflessness in the world, Hazuki. And you shouldn't want it.

"Self-interest is the proof that you exist freely in this world."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Hazuki can feel the weight of those words. Everyone deserves to be free... she agrees with the sentiment, even if it's possible they have entirely different perspectives on it.

"Bondage..." Hazuki tilts her head at that, though it's unlikely to be addressed. It's gonna resonate with her for a bit.

But Tsumugi agrees(?) with her, and she smiles at them. But there's no time to dwell on it; Tsumugi controls the conversation so casually that she doesn't even realize it's happening.

"Really?" Hazuki says, as if the deal sounds... *too* good for her. But a moment later, she nods. "I'll accept that. I'd probably be bringing the materials to you all either way, so..."

A deal struck.

But there's no such thing as pure selflessness, and she shouldn't want it...

"...the proof you exist freely..." she nods, but she might not quite get it.

It doesn't matter. Even if she agrees with it on her face, she's already come to the idea of the world *she* desires. One where people can understand each other... this path is the best way to get there.

At this point, the gloom is mostly gone, just lingering in small amounts.

"Thank you so much. I look forward to learning from you all."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
Really?

"Really."

It doesn't seem like much. But for Tsumugi?

It's all that matters.

Yet, for however too good a deal it might be, Hazuki ultimately accepts it. If Tsumugi was a person who placed value in the inherent well-being of others independent of their own interests, they might very well stop and warn her against simply accepting such agreements so easily.

"Then you'll have our help."

But instead, that's what they say, and that's all they say. After all...

Hazuki Nakao is free to make her own choices, now.

So they only offer that one, final piece of advice, because it interests them. That she might not understand is not especially surprising, or worrisome.

"Mm. I'm interested in seeing what you can achieve."

After all.

"I'm sure it'll be memorable."

They're certain she'll see the truth, in time. One way or the other.

With that, their hand turns palm down, falling on the countertop. Lacquered gold nails clik-clak-clik across glass as they look down on Hazuki.

"We'll be in touch. And Sa-ya will get ahold of you for the choker. Feel free to send the Sasaki woman our way, if you want." Their head tilts. "You can set the pace for dealing with this Homunculus, we'll show you the steps. After all... I want to see what you can do." It seems like that might be that, for now. But...

"One more thing, before you go."

They lean forward, slowly, until their chin rests on their upraised knee, looking down on Hazuki from their perched position with intent interest.

"What was it like? When you awakened.

"What did you see?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Hazuki still has no idea not to trust people so easily. No one has told her to be more careful. But even so...

"Thank you," she says towards having their help. Interested in seeing what she can achieve... what *can* she achieve?

Hazuki nods about the choker, about sending Sasaki to them. "Okay, I will."

But before she can leave...

"What did I see?" she repeats. She can recall it instantly - it seared its way into her mind.

"I was... in the cocoon. I saw myself in a dark void. I felt like I was drowning. I floated forward, and saw lights - no, stars - that formed together. I felt I had a choice..."

"Approach the constellations that shined so brightly, and my life would be different. Hide in the comforting darkness... and it would always be the same. I chose... the light. I chose to try and change."

She looks over to Tsumugi as she finishes recollecting. She wonders what they'll think, as hard as it is to pierce their aloof mask.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
Some of this is obviously familiar.

Tsumugi seems to take most of it in with that same, placid expression.

No -- it's not until Hazuki reaches this part,

''... saw lights - no, stars - that formed together. I felt I had a choice...''

that their brows lift. Just so. Just enough to be noticed.

Constellations. It echoes with that belief that Hazuki espoused, the imagery she evoked to explain her motivation.

It's...

"Fascinating."

It's something different. Distinctly so. And combined with what Yanagi told them about the fight with Nanghaithya, and its aftermath...

"I was right. You are worth remembering."

Is it a good thing? A bad thing?

That much is so hard to tell just glimpsing at Tsumugi's expression, with the little they offer with their words. Just that simple praise. And a suggestion:

"Let's talk again soon, Hazuki. I'd like to get to know you more."

Because if nothing else, for good or for bad, they mean it:

Hazuki Nakao is ''fascinating''.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Hazuki should maybe not take the remark of 'fascinating' or 'being worth remembering' as positively as she does, but it does make her feel good. To be noticed, to be recognized...

Isn't that what every teenager wants?

"I would like that," she says about talking again soon. "Take care! I'll be in contact!"

And when Hazuki leaves, it's with a spring in her step. This was a worthwhile visit for her... perhaps she's finally found her calling.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

Shinjiro Aragaki

2025-12-13T20:13:57Z

Thornpunk:

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 15%; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Shinjiro Aragaki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" |
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Shinjiro Aragaki
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | Arcana:
| [[Tarot#Hierophant|V. The Hierophant]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Male
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| 18 (August 11, 1994)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Brown
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Brown
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 6'0" /182 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Tatsumi Port Island
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| Gekkoukan High School
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Third Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Persona 3 (FC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| [[SEES]], Cardboard Dragon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Voice:
| Kazuya Nakai (JP), Justice Slocum (EN)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Thornpunk|Thornpunk]]
|-
|}

'''"Don't waste your breath."'''

Shinjiro Aragaki is running from his problems. A towering third-year student at Gekkoukan High School with a brusque attitude who stopped attending school and instead usually hangs around in dark alleyways late at night, he is a founding member of SEES and a close childhood friend of school boxing star and fellow orphan Akihiko Sanada. After a horrific accident two years ago, Shinjiro left SEES and began a reliance on Persona suppressants which are slowly killing him. Having returned to active duty after making new friends in Sumaru and being forced to reckon with the consequences of his past deeds, Shinjiro's armored, thorny exterior hides a kind and gentle young man who puts others before himself. He has a true passion for cooking, loves animals, and tries to pass on his learned wisdom to the younger SEES members wherever possible.

= Background =

As early as he can remember, Shinjiro Aragaki was an orphan. Raised at an orphanage, he met Akihiko and Miki Sanada at the age of four, and became inseparable, especially with Akihiko. However, when he and Akihiko were eight, the orphanage was burnt down by an arsonist, killing Miki. This was traumatic for Shinjiro, something that'd stick with him forever.

Shinjiro remained Akihiko's rock, following him to Gekkoukan and eventually meeting Mitsuru Kirijo in middle school. Mitsuru recruited Akihiko into SEES, and Shinjiro, refusing to abandon him, followed along, fighting Shadows during the Dark Hour. The three made a promise to graduate together, something Shinjiro appears to have forgotten.

Two years ago, a rookie Shinjro ended up losing control of his Persona. Castor destroyed the Amada household, killing a mother of a young child. Shinjiro abandoned SEES immediately, traumatized again by taking a life and leaving an orphan. He learned about Persona suppressant drugs eventually and began taking them, hoping to learn to control Castor - this worked, but had the side effect that Shinjiro, a natural Persona user, will lose worse control of his Persona if he stopped taking them. Additionally, the drugs did a constant number to Shinjiro's body, promising his death before graduation either way.

Shinjiro became homeless, isolating himself from the people he cared about. He couch-surfed with shady 'friends', got a part-time job at Hagakure Ramen, occasionally crashing in the back room, and generally just loitered in places that he probably shouldn't loiter. He still frequented the restaurant regularly even after quitting, and the owner often wants him to come back, having taught him how to cook.

SEES wants him back, but Shinjiro can't accept putting that burden back on them. His path is different now... but how long until he must answer the call?

==Season 1, Episode 1==
* '''STACKED DECK - PART 1''': Shinjiro [[2025-07-04: The Power of Rumors|begins]] [[2025-07-07: Brutes And Bananas|investigating]] [[Tatsuya Sudou]], the Old Maid Killer who burned down his orphanage ten years ago. He is [[2025-07-03: I Don't Just Play One On TV|tipped off to the information]] by one [[Goro Akechi]], his fellow orphan. He [[2025-07-08: A Pact Forged|aligns]] with [[Myunghon Yeo]] in order to get more information and assistance. During an [[2025-08-22: Challenging Fate|attack on Seven Sisters]], Shinjiro comes face to face with the Joker Killer, losing control as he confronts him and nearly injuring others. During this event, he learns that Akechi is a Persona user.
* '''HAUNTED BY THE PAST - PART 1''': Shinjiro [[2025-07-13: Hope You Know What You're Getting Into|befriends]] [[Umie Akabane]], who assists him along with others in [[2025-07-18: Separation Anxiety|journeying to Tartarus]] to [[2025-07-26: Battle Royale|rescue a Gekkoukan student]] named [[Fuuka Yamagishi]], having [[2025-07-21: Devil's Deal|bought an Evoker]] from [[Strega]] to fight again, claiming it's a one-time thing. His former [[SEES]] comrades, [[Akihiko Sanada]] and [[Mitsuru Kirijo]], see him fight for the first time in two years, as he battles with his Persona, Castor. Akihiko [[2025-07-27: Aftermath|tries to convince Shinjiro to come back]] once more, the latter refusing. Mitsuru [[2025-08-04: Time Doesn't Stop|later does the same]], insisting he return to school, but he still refuses.
* '''LIKE A DRAGON''': Shinjiro is there when [[Junya Kaneshiro]] threatens Myunghon and the Cardboard Dragon. He almost gets himself hurt telling Kaneshiro to screw off, and decides to assist Myunghon in breaking into his supposed [[Palaces|Palace]]. Myunghon gives Shinjiro a safehouse key, getting him off the streets more often, though he refuses to monopolize it, alternating days on and off the street. Shinjiro, Myunghon, and their allies later [[2025-08-05: Knives Out|discover the route]] to Kaneshiro's Palace. During [[2025-08-15: Scarface|their excursion into the Palace]], Shinjiro fights [[Niko Kirisaki]] with Akihiko and [[Yukari Takeba]]. Myunghon and Shinjiro later [[2025-08-07: Tiny Apartment Confessional|confide in each other]] their health issues and traumatic crimes, solidifying their bond. In the end, [[2025-08-23: The Godfather|Kaneshiro is defeated]], though a [[Goro Akechi|man with a black mask]] interrupts their victory, threatening Kaneshiro and the group of Persona users before disappearing as quickly as he came.
* '''HIRASAKA BLUES''': Shinjiro continues to aid Myunghon and the Cardboard Dragon, becoming a solid member of their core group. However, while [[2025-08-26: Love and Hope|aiding Myunghon with love troubles]], Shinjiro finds out that they've been harassed by a violent and bigoted cop. In surviving a dangerous Mementos run, he is [[2025-08-30: Otherside Picnic|forced to fight]] the same police officer who attacks Myunghon, [[2025-08-31: Crime and Punishment|getting himself arrested by the Sumaru PD]] after punching the cop in the face and staying behind to protect [[Tsubasa Seki]]. He [[2025-08-31: Ain't Found A Way To Kill Me Yet|suffers]] while in jail, the police having found his pills.
* '''HAUNTED BY THE PAST - PART 2''': After the arrest, Mitsuru [[2025-09-01: Release|bails out]] Shinjiro, confronting him about his ties with Strega and his drug use. In the process, she learns the truth about what he's been hiding: that he's been taking suppressants. With Mitsuru insisting he come back to SEES, Shinjiro asks for one week to decide. After [[Ken Amada]], the boy whose mother Shinjiro killed two years ago, [[2025-09-06: Youth|prepares to move into the SEES dorms]], Shinjiro decides he must come back to protect him and rejoins SEES.

===Sub Stories===
* '''THE CLAW OF DESTINY''': Shinjiro tries to [[2025-07-12: The Claw of Destiny|get a Jack Frost doll]] from a claw machine for a little girl. He fails, though [[Hitomi Mandai]] manages to assist him in recovering it. Having only wanted it for its supposed resell value, the girl gives the doll back to Shinjiro, who still has it.
* '''THE PRISON''': Shinjiro and Umie go to the [[2025-08-01: The Prison|debut concert]] of Gas Chamber, their ally [[Eikichi Mishina|Eikichi Mishina's]] band. Shinjiro ends up leaving with two [[Saika Kikuchi|cool]] [[So-young Park|adult]] women, showing them Parabellum and investigating the gun shop rumors there.
* '''FIGHT CLUB''': Shinjiro, having met [[Suzume Fukura]] while trying to win the Jack Frost doll, offers to [[2025-08-06: Similarities|train her in combat]] after numerous supernatural meetings and noticing her similarities to his past self. She accepts.

= Persona =
'''Castor''': Castor is a Greek mythological figure and twin brother of Polydeuces. Born of different fathers via the magic of the gods, rendering him mortal as a son of man. When Castor eventually died saving his brother, Polydeuces gave him half of his immortality, rendering the two to remain together forever.

Meaning to be revealed.

= Special Skills =
Shinjiro is an extremely skilled cook, having learned at Hagakure Ramen. He's a natural genius, and it provides him discipline. He can make dog food, too.

He loves punk rock and grunge music, especially Western stuff, and frequents indie concerts in the three cities.

He has a mean right hook. He reads true crime and memoirs.

=Relationships=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Address
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Arcana
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Associated Dish
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;"class="unsortable" | Info
|-
|[[Akihiko Sanada]]
|Aki
|IV. Emperor
|Steamed asparagus with grilled '''''seasoned''''' chicken
|''"Guess you always win in the end, huh?"''
|-
|[[Mitsuru Kirijo]]
|Kirijo
|III. Empress
|Butter-poached lobster tail
|''"Thank you for having the hope I can't."''
|-
|[[Myunghon Yeo]]
|Myunghon
|XV. Devil
|'Mean' sprouts
|''"We're in this together."''
|-
|[[Umie Akabane]]
|Umie
|VII. Chariot
|Wagyu burger
|''"You're still my friend, no matter what marks you have."''
|-
|[[Shinobu Shimizu]]
|Shinobu
|XII. Hanged Man
|Grilled steak with greens
|''"You're solid like a rock."''
|-
|[[So-young Park]]
|So-young
|XIX. Sun
|Umeshu
|''"You're reckless... but you do care, don't you?"''
|-
|[[Mio Kazama]]
|Mio
|XVI. Tower
|Sake
|''"Thanks for hearing me out that night..."''
|-
|[[Remi Ryuuja]]
|Ryuuja / Ariel
|XVI. Tower
|Coq au vin
|''"Your secret is safe with me, Ariel."''
|-
|[[Suzume Fukura]]
|Fukura
|VII. Chariot
|Tantanmen ramen
|''"I'll teach you what I know."''
|-
|[[Minako Arisato]]
|Arisato
|0. Fool
|Mochi
|''"I don't know if you can rely on me, but I'll try."''
|-
|[[Minato Arisato]]
|Arisato
|0. Fool
|Miso soup
|''"You seem like a strong leader. I'll do my best."''
|-
|[[Hitomi Mandai]]
|Mandai
|X. Fortune
|Tuna and pork ramen
|''"You're one of us, no matter your differences."''
|-
|[[Reiya Aomori]]
|Aomori
|IX. Hermit
|Sashimi
|''"I believe your intentions are good. But there's too many secrets around here..."''
|-
|[[Yukari Takeba]]
|Takeba
|VI. Lovers
|Sweet and spicy yakisoba
|''"...I'm sorry that was the truth you found."''
|-
|[[Eikichi Mishina]]
|Mishina
|XIII. Death
|Cucumber salad
|''"You've got a good attitude. Don't get yourself killed."''
|-
|[[Tatsuya Suou]]
|Suou
|XIX. Sun
|Katsudon
|''"...I'll be waiting for that ride."''
|-
|[[Niko Kirisaki]]
|Niko
|XVIII. Moon
|Mapo tofu
|''"For some reason, I feel alive around you."''
|-
|[[Ichika Kawase]]
|Kawase
|XIV. Temperance
|Banana ramen
|''"Your philosophy isn't half-bad."''
|-
|[[Yua Ooshiro]]
|Ooshiro
|III. Empress
|Okayu
|''"To believe in others..."''
|-
|[[Tsubasa Seki]]
|Seki
|XV. Devil
|Hot pot
|''"...I'm glad you're alright."''
|-
|[[Julian Marlowe]]
|Marlowe
|X. Fortune
|Nikujaga stew
|''"We'll see how far I can trust you."''
|-
|[[Goro Akechi]]
|Akechi
|VIII. Justice
|Pancakes
|''"You're wearing more than one mask, it seems. Which one's real? Goro Akechi, the Prince, or the angry boy who they said cried wolf?"''
|-
|[[Jun Kashihara]]
|Kashihara
|X. Fortune
|Yakitori
|''"You're too chill for a Kasugayama student. What's that about?"''
|-
|[[Jin Shirato]]
|Shirato
|IX. Hermit
|Mentaiko
|''"Ugh."''
|-
|[[Takaya Sakaki]]
|Sakaki
|X. Fortune
|Umeboshi
|''"You give me the creeps."''
|-
|[[Tatsuya Sudou]]
|Nothing Kind
|XIX. Sun
|No
|''"You'll pay."''
|-
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Address
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Arcana
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Associated Dish
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;"class="unsortable" | Info
|-
|[[Ayame Watanabe|Ikkaku Watanabe]]
|Watanabe
|XVII. Star
|Cold cut sandwich
|''"...you shouldn't have given me your emblem."''
|-
|Kazuo Kobayashi
|Kobayashi
|I. Magician
|Canned coffee
|''"Piss off, you so-called Storm Boss."''
|-
|[[Junya Kaneshiro]]
|Nothing Kind
|V. Hierophant
|Rotten meat
|''"You better not come back, scumbag."''
|-
|Koichi Ishiba
|Nothing Kind
|?
|Cheap-ass beer
|''"I wish I could punch you again. Go to hell."''
|-
|}

= Soundtrack =

== Character Soundtrack ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Main Theme:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBG7P-K-r1Y Everlong - Foo Fighters]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Hello 
I've waited here for you 
Everlong 

Tonight, I throw myself into 
And out of the red 
Out of her head, she sang 

Come down and waste away with me 
Down with me 
Slow, how you wanted it to be 
I'm over my head 
Out of her head, she sang 

And I wonder 
When I sing along with you 

If everything could ever be this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when 
She sang 

Breathe out 
So I can breathe you in 
Hold you in 
And now 
I know you've always been 
Out of your head 
Out of my head, I sang 

And I wonder 
When I sing along with you 

If everything could ever feel this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when 
She sang 

And I wonder 

If everything could ever feel this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Inevitable Death:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlFhERzYaKc Euthanasia - Will Wood]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
I was right there 
While you fought tooth and nail 
Gasping in the gas mask thrashing till you disappeared 
Say you're not scared, that you know it's cause I cared and 
Say you know I love you, and that hope was just not there 

And I know, I know that I'm wrong 
That when you're gone you're gone 
And I can't bring you home 
But I want, I want to believe 
That you'll remember me when you're just memory 

Roots in the ground 
Or uploaded to the cloud or 
Warm inside our hearts or as electrons in our head nowhere now 
Over the rainbow, can I stop by and say hello and 
Sorry I would take it back if I could but I know 

To love one from too far to call 
Is not to love at all, to whom is it I talk? 
But I want, I want to believe 
That you can still hear me when you're just memory 

Said "it's okay" 
And "It'll all be over soon" 
I'd never let a bad thing happen to you 
Now goodnight I love you 

And every, everybody dies 
Fighting for their lives, just trying to survive 
Well now I know, I know why we say 
That there's a better place that waits beyond the grave, oh 

And I know, I know it's not true 
There's just no more you but as long as there's no proof 
Then I choose, I choose to believe 
That we'll meet in sweet dreams after you're put to sleep
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Surviving Until That Very Last Day:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1CPi631WlU The Mountain - Three Days Grace]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Another night I'm barely holdin' on 
One step away from being dead and gone 
Am I alive to die another day? 
Is this life that I've been livin' 
All that's meant for me? 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still survivin', keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

The higher I go, the harder I fall 
So I don't look down, I don't look back at all 
And when I wish it all would turn to black 
I try to see the light and push the darkness back 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still survivin', I keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

So If I'm numb, already too far gone 
And If I feel a pulsin', I can carry on 
When I'm lost and wanna fade away 
I tell myself to live to die another day, yeah 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still alive and keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain, the mountain
</div></div>

== Dedications ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''[[Akihiko Sanada]]:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E36WU9Wzf4 Flaws - Bastille]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
When all of your flaws and all of my flaws 
Are laid out one by one 
The wonderful part of the mess that we made 
We pick ourselves undone 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws 
They lie there hand in hand 
Ones we've inherited, ones that we learned 
They pass from man to man 

There's a hole in my soul 
I can't fill it, I can't fill it 
There's a hole in my soul 
Can you fill it? Can you fill it? 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up, so nothing's left untouched 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws, 
When they have been exhumed 
We'll see that we need them to be who we are 
Without them we'd be doomed 

There's a hole in my soul 
I can't fill it, I can't fill it 
There's a hole in my soul 
Can you fill it? Can you fill it? 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up, so nothing's left untouched 

Ooh 
Ooh 

When all of your flaws 
And all of my flaws are counted 
When all of your flaws 
And all of my flaws are counted 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up. Let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up. So nothing's left untouched 

Ooh 
Ooh 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws 
Are laid out one by one 
Look at the wonderful mess that we made 
We pick ourselves undone
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''[[Myunghon Yeo]]:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj_sNT9LLeQ Heaven, We're Already Here - The Maine]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Blessed be the night we're breathin' in 
Unforgettable and so benevolent 
The closest that we'll get to Heaven-sent 
For all us darling aliens 
And we will never be this young again 
So full of fire and rebellion 
Now shoot the night just like it's medicine 
And we all will be born again, again, again, again, again 

This is everything you prayed for 
(Pray for, pray for, pray for) 
This is everything I need 
Please, don't anybody pray for me 
(My soul isn't yours to save anymore) 
Life is crazy, baby, don't forget the seatbelt 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road 

Blessed be the sky we're soaring in 
So few of us and millions of them 
Daylight isn't far away, my friend 
And we all will be born again, again, again, again, again 

Life is crazy, baby, don't forget the seatbelt 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road 

So alive, we could die 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Through and through, by and by 
Everything I love is right here tonight 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 
Let it live, let it die 
No, we can't get off, here we are tonight 
Through and through, by and by 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 

What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
Is what you're livin' for worth dyin', worth dyin' for? 

And this is everything you prayed for 
(Pray for, pray for, pray for) 
This is everything I need 
Please, don't anybody pray for me 
(My soul isn't yours to save anymore) 
Life is crazy, baby, baby 
(Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road) 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn door 
Our great unknown, the open road 

So alive, we could die 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Through and through, by and by 
Everything I love is right here tonight 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 
Let it live, let it die 
No, we can't get off, here we are tonight 
Through and through, by and by 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here
</div></div>

= Logs and Cutscenes =

==Season 1==

{{#dpl:
|category = logs&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

{{#dpl:
|category = cutscenes&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Focus]]
[[Category:Gekkoukan High School]]
[[Category:SEES]]
[[Category:Cardboard Dragon]]

2025-12-11: Denial of Justice

2025-12-12T05:09:32Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Denial of Justice''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Akihiko Sanada, Goro Akechi *'''Where:''' Port Island Station - Back Alleys *'''OOC Date:''' December 11, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 24, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro and Akihiko rendezvous with Akechi in order to inform Akihiko of his sister's murder by one Tatsuya Sudou. Akihiko takes the revelation poorly and uncharacteristically, with Shinjiro and Akechi handling it badly in their own usual w..."

*'''Log: Denial of Justice'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Akihiko Sanada]], [[Goro Akechi]]
*'''Where:''' Port Island Station - Back Alleys
*'''OOC Date:''' December 11, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 24, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro and Akihiko rendezvous with Akechi in order to inform Akihiko of his sister's murder by one Tatsuya Sudou. Akihiko takes the revelation poorly and uncharacteristically, with Shinjiro and Akechi handling it badly in their own usual ways until things spiral into frustration and bitter feelings.''

----

(|==================== Port Island Station - Back Alleys =====================|)

-======================================= Iwatodai City/Tatsumi Port Island ====-

The first thing one might notice is the conflict of old versus new. The

businesses here are more run down, but still stand defiantly, signs of rougher

dive bars and hangouts for the folk who don't quite belong in the sunlight of

Port Island. In the day, it's mostly drunks and people with nowhere else to go

who stand outdoors.

At night, the rougher elements of the town congregate openly amidst the rusted

chain link fences and litter-filled streets. Delinquent teens who never made it

into high school hang out, openly ignoring the laws decent people follow. All

who enter here are subject to at least seven pairs of eyes on them, deciding

whether or not someone belongs amongst them.

Better hope you pass muster, or you're gonna risk a beating.

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
At some point, Shinjiro has to break the news to Akihiko on why *Goro Akechi* wants to talk to them about a serial killer. Their childhood...enemy(?) from the orphanage, now a successful private detective.

He has not done that yet. He has told Akihiko there'll probably be explanations once they're there, though.

The back alleys of Port Island Station are a perfect meeting place in Shinjiro's mind. Firstly, he controls the roost, more or less - the daytime thugs there are generally scared of him, and the drunks avoid him. Furthermore, it puts them on a strong mental advantage against Akechi if needed; he has to come to them.

He might still be seeing things in fights and rivalries.

As Shinjiro leads Akihiko through the back alleys, towards the spot he's designated (he assumes Akechi can navigate and get past the jerks himself), which is his old haunt he used to sleep in...

He immediately takes a perch on 'his' crate, wearing that red coat, sighing.

"I wonder what he has for us..."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko follows behind Shinjiro closely, curious. They're meeting with Goro Akechi, huh? He knows that the kid has grown since then, but it's tough to imagine it. Regardless, he's hoping that it'll at least be smoother than his tagging along with Yukari to meet Ren Amamiya.

They arrive at the back alleys where Aki presumes Shinjiro used to call his...most of the time home? Anyways. He leans against a wall, giving his old friend and brother an eyebrow.

"We'll see if he'll match up to his word." Akihiko snorts lightly.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Yes, why does Goro Akechi wish to talk to them about a serial killer? Why contact them again at all?

These are all very good questions.

What isn't in question is that he can deal with a few low lives. Shinjiro, taking his place on a crate just has to look down the way they didn't come, and he'll see a glimpse of a pair of them groaning.

Well part of them anyway, they're mostly out of view. Before a familiar figure steps over one of them, and strides down the alley, adjusting his tie as he goes.

"Sorry- did I keep you waiting?" He says, as he centers his tie with one hand, shoring it's knot up, carrying his briefcase with his agency's logo on the side, a circled A.

"Apparently I didn't meet the dress code here- and I certainly wasn't on the guest list."

He quips, as he approaches them, seeing Akihiko, his smile smooths out into a more serious expression, "Sanada-san... it's been a while... we haven't seen each other since the day you left."

The day he was adopted, the day after the fire - the day after Miki died, "Before we get down to business..." He looks sidelong at Shinjiro, "... just how much have you told him, Aragaki-san?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro sighs, still figuring out how to play this off. "I think he will."

Akechi arrives, having gotten into a fight... Shinjiro nods once. "Well, you certainly fight like you belong here."

He shakes his head, turning over to Akihiko, before back to Akechi. "...nothing yet. I wanted to make sure you were involved," he says, not entirely bullshit. There's definitely some measure of 'I didn't want to drag him into this', but he knows that's been selfish. One of the many inconsistencies of Shinjiro Aragaki, selfish vs selfless to a fault on both.

"...we have a lead on the orphanage fire. It was... it was arson, Aki."

He rolls his shoulders, figuring out how to continue.

"The guy Akechi saw ten years ago... was real. I've seen him with my own eyes now." A tilt of a head towards Akechi, to explain some of it, since that's definitely *his* side of the story.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
So Goro really did... Akihiko is so surprised to see the brown haired young man again, and lets out an involuntary "Goro...!"

It's strange. To see someone you felt so strongly about, for so long, just step back into your life. He doesn't get very much time to come to terms with the feelings.

"...It has, Akechi-san." He smooths himself back over fairly smoothly, at least. He pats down his vest.

Unfortunately, Akihiko is the one who's on the backfoot here. He's just now realizing just how much out of the loop he really is. He's rendered speechless for several moments.

Arson? His sister's death was on ''purpose''?

They know who the bastard is?

He was left out of this for so long? Why now?

Akihiko is silent for a while, his emotions clear on his face. He doesn't even know where to begin. His mind is a whirl.

And worst of all, his weakness is in front of a man's surely taking so much pleasure in Akihiko's pain.

"Why? Why now?" He says, uncharacteristically quiet. It's the only thing he can manage to say.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
'Goro' gives him pause, since nobody really calls him that, but he supposes it's shocking to see him again after so long. "I hear you've done well for yourself too, Sanada-san. Unfortunately I'm under no illusions that I'm here for us to 'catch up' for old times sake."

Shinjiro's comment elicits a chuckle from him, "Aha... well you get plenty of practice in a career like mine."

Indeed, Akihiko doesn't exactly look like he belongs here either in Akechi's opinion. The two are quite 'prep'. Perhaps clothes really do make the man- in how one is perceived.

"... I see." He says, gravely to Shinjiro's confirmation that he still knows nothing. The look in his eyes sharpening, as he checks behind him, then down the other entrance.

He'd prefer this moment not be... interrupted. Then Shinjiro says it outright... and he witnesses Akihiko's pain over it. It is satisfying, but it also isn't. It's a contradictory mix of schadenfreude and bittersweet feelings over being validated like this.

'Why? Why now?' then he actually answers him, "That is the question, isn't it?"

He says, in that tone that indicates that it's both a good question - and that he already has deduced the answer.

"The Fire Marshal, the Police... they were all bought off. They claimed it was faulty wiring - and discredited my testimony as the delusions of an attention-seeking child."

Opening up his briefcase, he fishes out a trio of pictures. One of a man with a Paper Bag over his head, a single eyehole, and a macabre grin drawn on it in marker from the streamed video online.

Then another- now without a paper bag, a shock of white hair...

... ten years younger.

"Because he was the son of an important man. His name is Tatsuya Sudou. And his father is the Foreign Minister, Tatsuzou Sudou. It would be a stain upon his reputation if the public found out his son was an arsonist and a murderer, so he bribed officials, and had him quietly committed to a sanitarium in Sumaru City."

He then shifts his stance, "As for why he is only active now? It's because the Rumor of the 'Joker Killer' surrounding him has grown strong enough for him to leave his cell whenever he wishes... due to the supernatural power it grants him"

A beat.

"As a Persona User."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko doesn't like the answer Shinjiro gives him... his friend sighs, closing his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Aki. Take it out on me if you need to, I just..." The fact he's even saying that means he knows how bad he fucked up, as he struggles for the words to say.

"This is some scary shit. This guy is dangerous," like that justifies anything. Like that justifies Shinjiro doing it alone to keep Akihiko from hurting himself.

Akihiko is shown the pictures. Shinjiro mulls on what Akechi's revealed. "His teleportation... that aura he has," A breath. "It's bad news. I've had a simple idea on how to lure him out, but..." It's risky as shit, and no one will approve, so he's been keeping it in his pocket.

"He posted a video about being some kind of time traveling savior recently. I think he could be telling part of the truth." Shinjiro doesn't believe he's a savior. But a time traveler?

He could buy it, with the story about the shrine fire Tatsuya Suou told him about.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko doesn't have anything to say to Shinjiro right now. He needs any amount of time to figure his feelings out first.

A Persona User..." Could it be another way to use Personas? Outside of needing an envoker?

Much less, the ability to leave his cell like a damn ghost... It's really, really difficult for Akihiko to wrap his head around this.

And a time traveler at that? Jesus. He really doesn't know what to do with himself here.

"What am I supposed to say here?" It's said without humour. He's really, really out of his depth here. "...You're vindicated, Akechi-san. How are we supposed to handle something like this?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Akechi doesn't say he's sorry, doesn't console him. He just lays out the cold hard facts - the truth.

If anything, he feels he's doing him a favor doing so. Akihiko denied the truth years ago, because he didn't want to believe a child as bratty and attention-seeking as Goro Akechi.

He's giving it to him anyway, whether he deserves it or not.

"Not only that, but he can't be caught on any camera now unless he desires to be." He asides to Shinjiro to add to his abilities, "It blots out his face."

Time traveling savior? Giving the pictures to Akihiko, he now rests his hand upon his chin, with a serious expression.

"It certainly would explain a few things... but not necessarily about him. I wonder..."

He trails off, seeming lost in thought. "... There's only one way to know for certain." He decides, ultimately.

However- at Akihiko's statement- Akechi's gaze sharpens at being called out as being vindicated, "Ten Years. It's been ''Ten'' ''Years'' - Sanada-san...! Do you really think so little of me that I brought this to your attention just to point out 'I told you so'?"

He says, indignant. Because while it ''is'' a reason, it's definitely not the entirety of his reason. Often these things are Multiple Choice and 'All of the Above' for him.

And he'll double down on being the righteous detective any day of the week. "Do you really need ''me'' to tell you that?" He says, anger creeping into his voice, "I just told you that I've found the man responsible for your sister's death, and you ask me what you're supposed to ''say''? You're supposed to say 'Let's take the bastard down' or 'I'm bringing him to Justice, whatever it takes.'"

He places the pictures away into his brief case, "But apparently I thought too well of the boy I once knew who's been climbing into boxing ring after boxing ring in the hopes of growing stronger."

Well apparently that confirms how closely he's been following Akihiko's life ever since parting ways. He is a Detective after all.

With a click, he closes the briefcase, "What good is that strength, if you the first thought in your mind isn't using it for this?"

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro frown as Akihiko has nothing to say. That wasn't expected. But he's out of his depth...

And Akechi (who seems to not dismiss the time traveling theory, interesting) lays into him. Shinjiro feels like he should stop him, defend Aki, but...

He's surprised, too.

"...I can deal with this. It's the least I can do." That's what he was trying to do... it's his justice, too. If he has to spend himself to do it, that's a risk worth taking.

He glances over to Akechi in the moment. But he says nothing else. He's feeling a bit numb, at seeing Akihiko like this.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko doesn't react to Akechi's outburst. It washes over him. He just stares at the pictures of the man who killed his sister, blankly.

"It's been ten years." He says, quietly. "And you dredge all this back up for me, Akechi-san. And surprised me with this."

"This Tatsuzou Sudou... He seems untouchable." His mind can barely make out the man's features right now. "And we're supposed to do, what? Stop this Rumour phenomena? Expose him? Kill him?"

Is that strong? Is that kind?

"...What do you want from this, Akechi-san? What is the justice you desire here?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
"Shall I apologize then for the 'inconvenience' - Sanada-san?" He replies, his back obviously quite up right now.

He always did have a chip on his shoulder, "I only managed to find the evidence recently as a result of my newfound popularity. Beforehand, all avenues were closed to me by a widespread web of corruption attempting to cover this up. And once I found it - I immediately brought it to the attention of Aragaki-san."

He doesn't look in a way as if to accuse Shinjiro, because in a sense, he doesn't actually blame him for how Akihiko is acting right now.

"... Originally the two of us agreed that he would be the one to deliver the news, because I knew it would be better off coming from him rather than me. However, matters are coming to a head- there's no longer time to ease you into the uncomfortable truth as to what happened that day. You can either be a part of this - or Aragaki-san and I will do this ourselves."

However, he then asks what they're supposed to do? "Simple. We bring this psychopath to Justice. We can worry about the matter of his Father once we've managed that. However - I think it won't be difficult. If he's in custody - and I announce to the public that I have evidence tying the Foreign Minister to a cover up, he will have to answer to the public opinion."

And the fact of the matter is - Goro Akechi is much more popular than the majority of Politicians in this country. He's a media darling, the Second Coming of the Detective Prince.

But he then asks, what does he want from this? And Akechi looks away, and for a moment he actually looks stricken - disturbed, "I've seen his face in my dreams for ten years. That monster. The way he looked at me that day... I'll never forget it. And what he did after..."

He trails off. "... Your sister was kinder than most to me." He says quietly, "I want him to face Justice, for what he did. I want him brought in, and held to account -for her death. For ''every'' death he caused."

He then gives looks up to Akihiko with a look of resolution within his brown eyes, "Whether we like it or not - this matter ties the three of us together. And I felt - that the two of you deserve Justice for her death more than anyone else."

A beat.

"Was I wrong?"

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro still feels tremendously guilty... but at the least Akechi can handle the push to get Akihiko out of this funk, weirdly enough. Maybe being challenged by someone he hates will get him to move.

Even so, he is grateful Akechi doesn't directly accuse him, even as Shinjiro internally accuses himself.

"I believe he *has* to answer a call if you state *any* name. That's how the Rumor works..." Shinjiro says dangerously, tipping his hand to what his plan is.

Shinjiro shifts on his crate, looking between them. "I'm willing to risk myself in that. No matter what you choose." Akechi has likely noticed Shinjiro isn't healthy with his keen observation skills, even if he hasn't told either of them that fact.

"...I want to make this up to you, Aki. If you want to get justice for her, I'll help you. But I'm not giving up on this. While this is for us, it's more than us. My friends have been attacked. I threw him through a fucking wall that was magically repaired the next day. There's a conspiracy deeply embedded in this... and I won't stop until the people I care about are safe."

"That includes you."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko just can't wrap his head around this. Isn't Sudou already behind bars? And that isn't holding him down.

"...I need some time to think about it." Akihiko says, finally. "I still don't know how to feel about this. And I'm busy enough with..." He pauses, unsure just how much information Shinji has shared. "SEES, and the Dark Hour." He decides to say, finally.

Then Shinjiro starts talking, and Akihiko's blank look turns into a heavy frown.

"Damn it Shinji, what the hell's wrong with you?! What if you die??" It's ridiculous. Akihiko starts yelling. "Don't treat your life so flippantly!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
"Ah... so that's what you intend." Akechi puts a hand to his chin, as if contemplating Shinjiro's words here. "I've called myself - once, though I didn't give a name."

He doesn't sound like he's particularly opposed to that one either. Even as Shinjiro gets up, and he drops his hand, and lets him speak.

He then nods at Akihiko as he says he's busy, "I'm well aware. I'm a Persona User myself - even if I'm a rather... different sort than most within SEES."

But Akechi looks surprised himself, startled even by the fact that Akihiko thinks of himself as ''busy enough'' with this.

But it certainly makes him angry.

"Who are ''you'' to tell him he can't place his life on the line? Don't you do the same every night you step into that tower?"

Akechi tells him sharply, "Wasn't it even ''more dangerous'', several years back before SEES was in it's current form? Yes - I know about ''that'' as well. If you think it's too dangerous - then shoulder the risk with him."

A beat.

"As you would with someone facing death at your side in Tartarus. To tell him otherwise, that he shouldn't fight for ''this'' cause - shouldn't put his life on the line ''for this''... is just rank hypocrisy, Sanada-san."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro is going to give Akihiko time... but he continues talking. He gets *mad* at Shinjiro, and it feels like Akihiko again, even as Shinjiro recoils a bit, dropping fully to his feet.

"What else am I supposed to do? This guy's gonna keep killing until someone stops him. He could kill one of my friends. Hell, he could kill one of our teammates. Frankly, if you ask me, it'd be a fair fucking trade!" Shinjiro's heightening because Akechi's heightening becuase Akihiko's heightening.

"We can already deal with one of our problems, let me deal with another." He's subtle enough not to mention they have a solution to the Dark Hour in front of Akechi, but...

"It'd be worth it for a life as failed as my own."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko is in a losing battle, and he knows it. But he's lost. He can't even get his thoughts in order properly.

So, the meathead does the one thing he knows best. He plants a fist into Shinji's chest.

It doesn't hurt. It barely makes a noise.

Is this strength? Is this kind? He wants to beg Shinji, not to die. That Akihiko can't lose his family again. It just doesn't come out.

"I'm going for a run." Akihiko says, to the air.

He sulks out of the alley, overwhelmed and thoughts swirling.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

Ruzica Crvena

2025-12-11T23:33:21Z

Thornpunk:

Shinjiro Aragaki

2025-12-08T21:47:04Z

Thornpunk: /* Relationships */

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 15%; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Shinjiro Aragaki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" |
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Shinjiro Aragaki
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | Arcana:
| [[Tarot#Hierophant|V. The Hierophant]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Male
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| 18 (August 11, 1994)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Brown
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Brown
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 6'0" /182 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Tatsumi Port Island
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| Gekkoukan High School
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Third Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Persona 3 (FC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| [[SEES]], Cardboard Dragon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Voice:
| Kazuya Nakai (JP), Justice Slocum (EN)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Thornpunk|Thornpunk]]
|-
|}

'''"Don't waste your breath."'''

Shinjiro Aragaki is running from his problems. A towering third-year student at Gekkoukan High School with a brusque attitude who stopped attending school and instead usually hangs around in dark alleyways late at night, he is a founding member of SEES and a close childhood friend of school boxing star and fellow orphan Akihiko Sanada. After a horrific accident two years ago, Shinjiro left SEES and began a reliance on Persona suppressants which are slowly killing him. Having returned to active duty after making new friends in Sumaru and being forced to reckon with the consequences of his past deeds, Shinjiro's armored, thorny exterior hides a kind and gentle young man who puts others before himself. He has a true passion for cooking, loves animals, and tries to pass on his learned wisdom to the younger SEES members wherever possible.

= Background =

As early as he can remember, Shinjiro Aragaki was an orphan. Raised at an orphanage, he met Akihiko and Miki Sanada at the age of four, and became inseparable, especially with Akihiko. However, when he and Akihiko were eight, the orphanage was burnt down by an arsonist, killing Miki. This was traumatic for Shinjiro, something that'd stick with him forever.

Shinjiro remained Akihiko's rock, following him to Gekkoukan and eventually meeting Mitsuru Kirijo in middle school. Mitsuru recruited Akihiko into SEES, and Shinjiro, refusing to abandon him, followed along, fighting Shadows during the Dark Hour. The three made a promise to graduate together, something Shinjiro appears to have forgotten.

Two years ago, a rookie Shinjro ended up losing control of his Persona. Castor destroyed the Amada household, killing a mother of a young child. Shinjiro abandoned SEES immediately, traumatized again by taking a life and leaving an orphan. He learned about Persona suppressant drugs eventually and began taking them, hoping to learn to control Castor - this worked, but had the side effect that Shinjiro, a natural Persona user, will lose worse control of his Persona if he stopped taking them. Additionally, the drugs did a constant number to Shinjiro's body, promising his death before graduation either way.

Shinjiro became homeless, isolating himself from the people he cared about. He couch-surfed with shady 'friends', got a part-time job at Hagakure Ramen, occasionally crashing in the back room, and generally just loitered in places that he probably shouldn't loiter. He still frequented the restaurant regularly even after quitting, and the owner often wants him to come back, having taught him how to cook.

SEES wants him back, but Shinjiro can't accept putting that burden back on them. His path is different now... but how long until he must answer the call?

==Season 1, Episode 1==
* '''STACKED DECK - PART 1''': Shinjiro [[2025-07-04: The Power of Rumors|begins]] [[2025-07-07: Brutes And Bananas|investigating]] [[Tatsuya Sudou]], the Old Maid Killer who burned down his orphanage ten years ago. He is [[2025-07-03: I Don't Just Play One On TV|tipped off to the information]] by one [[Goro Akechi]], his fellow orphan. He [[2025-07-08: A Pact Forged|aligns]] with [[Myunghon Yeo]] in order to get more information and assistance. During an [[2025-08-22: Challenging Fate|attack on Seven Sisters]], Shinjiro comes face to face with the Joker Killer, losing control as he confronts him and nearly injuring others. During this event, he learns that Akechi is a Persona user.
* '''HAUNTED BY THE PAST - PART 1''': Shinjiro [[2025-07-13: Hope You Know What You're Getting Into|befriends]] [[Umie Akabane]], who assists him along with others in [[2025-07-18: Separation Anxiety|journeying to Tartarus]] to [[2025-07-26: Battle Royale|rescue a Gekkoukan student]] named [[Fuuka Yamagishi]], having [[2025-07-21: Devil's Deal|bought an Evoker]] from [[Strega]] to fight again, claiming it's a one-time thing. His former [[SEES]] comrades, [[Akihiko Sanada]] and [[Mitsuru Kirijo]], see him fight for the first time in two years, as he battles with his Persona, Castor. Akihiko [[2025-07-27: Aftermath|tries to convince Shinjiro to come back]] once more, the latter refusing. Mitsuru [[2025-08-04: Time Doesn't Stop|later does the same]], insisting he return to school, but he still refuses.
* '''LIKE A DRAGON''': Shinjiro is there when [[Junya Kaneshiro]] threatens Myunghon and the Cardboard Dragon. He almost gets himself hurt telling Kaneshiro to screw off, and decides to assist Myunghon in breaking into his supposed [[Palaces|Palace]]. Myunghon gives Shinjiro a safehouse key, getting him off the streets more often, though he refuses to monopolize it, alternating days on and off the street. Shinjiro, Myunghon, and their allies later [[2025-08-05: Knives Out|discover the route]] to Kaneshiro's Palace. During [[2025-08-15: Scarface|their excursion into the Palace]], Shinjiro fights [[Niko Kirisaki]] with Akihiko and [[Yukari Takeba]]. Myunghon and Shinjiro later [[2025-08-07: Tiny Apartment Confessional|confide in each other]] their health issues and traumatic crimes, solidifying their bond. In the end, [[2025-08-23: The Godfather|Kaneshiro is defeated]], though a [[Goro Akechi|man with a black mask]] interrupts their victory, threatening Kaneshiro and the group of Persona users before disappearing as quickly as he came.
* '''HIRASAKA BLUES''': Shinjiro continues to aid Myunghon and the Cardboard Dragon, becoming a solid member of their core group. However, while [[2025-08-26: Love and Hope|aiding Myunghon with love troubles]], Shinjiro finds out that they've been harassed by a violent and bigoted cop. In surviving a dangerous Mementos run, he is [[2025-08-30: Otherside Picnic|forced to fight]] the same police officer who attacks Myunghon, [[2025-08-31: Crime and Punishment|getting himself arrested by the Sumaru PD]] after punching the cop in the face and staying behind to protect [[Tsubasa Seki]]. He [[2025-08-31: Ain't Found A Way To Kill Me Yet|suffers]] while in jail, the police having found his pills.
* '''HAUNTED BY THE PAST - PART 2''': After the arrest, Mitsuru [[2025-09-01: Release|bails out]] Shinjiro, confronting him about his ties with Strega and his drug use. In the process, she learns the truth about what he's been hiding: that he's been taking suppressants. With Mitsuru insisting he come back to SEES, Shinjiro asks for one week to decide. After [[Ken Amada]], the boy whose mother Shinjiro killed two years ago, [[2025-09-06: Youth|prepares to move into the SEES dorms]], Shinjiro decides he must come back to protect him and rejoins SEES.

===Sub Stories===
* '''THE CLAW OF DESTINY''': Shinjiro tries to [[2025-07-12: The Claw of Destiny|get a Jack Frost doll]] from a claw machine for a little girl. He fails, though [[Hitomi Mandai]] manages to assist him in recovering it. Having only wanted it for its supposed resell value, the girl gives the doll back to Shinjiro, who still has it.
* '''THE PRISON''': Shinjiro and Umie go to the [[2025-08-01: The Prison|debut concert]] of Gas Chamber, their ally [[Eikichi Mishina|Eikichi Mishina's]] band. Shinjiro ends up leaving with two [[Saika Kikuchi|cool]] [[So-young Park|adult]] women, showing them Parabellum and investigating the gun shop rumors there.
* '''FIGHT CLUB''': Shinjiro, having met [[Suzume Fukura]] while trying to win the Jack Frost doll, offers to [[2025-08-06: Similarities|train her in combat]] after numerous supernatural meetings and noticing her similarities to his past self. She accepts.

= Persona =
'''Castor''': Castor is a Greek mythological figure and twin brother of Polydeuces. Born of different fathers via the magic of the gods, rendering him mortal as a son of man. When Castor eventually died saving his brother, Polydeuces gave him half of his immortality, rendering the two to remain together forever.

Meaning to be revealed.

= Special Skills =
Shinjiro is an extremely skilled cook, having learned at Hagakure Ramen. He's a natural genius, and it provides him discipline. He can make dog food, too.

He loves punk rock and grunge music, especially Western stuff, and frequents indie concerts in the three cities.

He has a mean right hook. He reads true crime and memoirs.

=Relationships=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Address
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Arcana
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Associated Dish
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;"class="unsortable" | Info
|-
|[[Akihiko Sanada]]
|Aki
|IV. Emperor
|Steamed asparagus with grilled '''''seasoned''''' chicken
|''"Guess you always win in the end, huh?"''
|-
|[[Mitsuru Kirijo]]
|Kirijo
|III. Empress
|Butter-poached lobster tail
|''"Thank you for having the hope I can't."''
|-
|[[Myunghon Yeo]]
|Myunghon
|XV. Devil
|'Mean' sprouts
|''"We're in this together."''
|-
|[[Umie Akabane]]
|Umie
|VII. Chariot
|Wagyu burger
|''"You're still my friend, no matter what marks you have."''
|-
|[[Shinobu Shimizu]]
|Shinobu
|XII. Hanged Man
|Grilled steak with greens
|''"You're solid like a rock."''
|-
|[[So-young Park]]
|So-young
|XIX. Sun
|Umeshu
|''"You're reckless... but you do care, don't you?"''
|-
|[[Mio Kazama]]
|Mio
|XVI. Tower
|Sake
|''"Thanks for hearing me out that night..."''
|-
|[[Remi Ryuuja]]
|Ryuuja / Ariel
|XVI. Tower
|Coq au vin
|''"Your secret is safe with me, Ariel."''
|-
|[[Suzume Fukura]]
|Fukura
|VII. Chariot
|Tantanmen ramen
|''"I'll teach you what I know."''
|-
|[[Minako Arisato]]
|Arisato
|0. Fool
|Mochi
|''"I don't know if you can rely on me, but I'll try."''
|-
|[[Minato Arisato]]
|Arisato
|0. Fool
|Miso soup
|''"You seem like a strong leader. I'll do my best."''
|-
|[[Hitomi Mandai]]
|Mandai
|X. Fortune
|Tuna and pork ramen
|''"I'm glad you're thinking on it."''
|-
|[[Reiya Aomori]]
|Aomori
|IX. Hermit
|Sashimi
|''"I believe your intentions are good. But there's too many secrets around here..."''
|-
|[[Yukari Takeba]]
|Takeba
|VI. Lovers
|Sweet and spicy yakisoba
|''"...I'm sorry that was the truth you found."''
|-
|[[Eikichi Mishina]]
|Mishina
|XIII. Death
|Cucumber salad
|''"You've got a good attitude. Don't get yourself killed."''
|-
|[[Tatsuya Suou]]
|Suou
|XIX. Sun
|Katsudon
|''"...I'll be waiting for that ride."''
|-
|[[Niko Kirisaki]]
|Niko
|XVIII. Moon
|Mapo tofu
|''"For some reason, I feel alive around you."''
|-
|[[Ichika Kawase]]
|Kawase
|XIV. Temperance
|Banana ramen
|''"Your philosophy isn't half-bad."''
|-
|[[Yua Ooshiro]]
|Ooshiro
|III. Empress
|Okayu
|''"To believe in others..."''
|-
|[[Tsubasa Seki]]
|Seki
|XV. Devil
|Hot pot
|''"...I'm glad you're alright."''
|-
|[[Julian Marlowe]]
|Marlowe
|X. Fortune
|Nikujaga stew
|''"We'll see how far I can trust you."''
|-
|[[Goro Akechi]]
|Akechi
|VIII. Justice
|Pancakes
|''"You're wearing more than one mask, it seems. Which one's real? Goro Akechi, the Prince, or the angry boy who they said cried wolf?"''
|-
|[[Jun Kashihara]]
|Kashihara
|X. Fortune
|Yakitori
|''"You're too chill for a Kasugayama student. What's that about?"''
|-
|[[Jin Shirato]]
|Shirato
|IX. Hermit
|Mentaiko
|''"Ugh."''
|-
|[[Takaya Sakaki]]
|Sakaki
|X. Fortune
|Umeboshi
|''"You give me the creeps."''
|-
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Address
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Arcana
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Associated Dish
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;"class="unsortable" | Info
|-
|[[Ayame Watanabe|Ikkaku Watanabe]]
|Watanabe
|XVII. Star
|Cold cut sandwich
|''"...you shouldn't have given me your emblem."''
|-
|Kazuo Kobayashi
|Kobayashi
|I. Magician
|Canned coffee
|''"Piss off, you so-called Storm Boss."''
|-
|[[Junya Kaneshiro]]
|Nothing Kind
|V. Hierophant
|Rotten meat
|''"You better not come back, scumbag."''
|-
|Koichi Ishiba
|Nothing Kind
|?
|Cheap-ass beer
|''"I wish I could punch you again. Go to hell."''
|-
|}

= Soundtrack =

== Character Soundtrack ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Main Theme:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBG7P-K-r1Y Everlong - Foo Fighters]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Hello 
I've waited here for you 
Everlong 

Tonight, I throw myself into 
And out of the red 
Out of her head, she sang 

Come down and waste away with me 
Down with me 
Slow, how you wanted it to be 
I'm over my head 
Out of her head, she sang 

And I wonder 
When I sing along with you 

If everything could ever be this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when 
She sang 

Breathe out 
So I can breathe you in 
Hold you in 
And now 
I know you've always been 
Out of your head 
Out of my head, I sang 

And I wonder 
When I sing along with you 

If everything could ever feel this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when 
She sang 

And I wonder 

If everything could ever feel this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Inevitable Death:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlFhERzYaKc Euthanasia - Will Wood]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
I was right there 
While you fought tooth and nail 
Gasping in the gas mask thrashing till you disappeared 
Say you're not scared, that you know it's cause I cared and 
Say you know I love you, and that hope was just not there 

And I know, I know that I'm wrong 
That when you're gone you're gone 
And I can't bring you home 
But I want, I want to believe 
That you'll remember me when you're just memory 

Roots in the ground 
Or uploaded to the cloud or 
Warm inside our hearts or as electrons in our head nowhere now 
Over the rainbow, can I stop by and say hello and 
Sorry I would take it back if I could but I know 

To love one from too far to call 
Is not to love at all, to whom is it I talk? 
But I want, I want to believe 
That you can still hear me when you're just memory 

Said "it's okay" 
And "It'll all be over soon" 
I'd never let a bad thing happen to you 
Now goodnight I love you 

And every, everybody dies 
Fighting for their lives, just trying to survive 
Well now I know, I know why we say 
That there's a better place that waits beyond the grave, oh 

And I know, I know it's not true 
There's just no more you but as long as there's no proof 
Then I choose, I choose to believe 
That we'll meet in sweet dreams after you're put to sleep
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Surviving Until That Very Last Day:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1CPi631WlU The Mountain - Three Days Grace]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Another night I'm barely holdin' on 
One step away from being dead and gone 
Am I alive to die another day? 
Is this life that I've been livin' 
All that's meant for me? 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still survivin', keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

The higher I go, the harder I fall 
So I don't look down, I don't look back at all 
And when I wish it all would turn to black 
I try to see the light and push the darkness back 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still survivin', I keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

So If I'm numb, already too far gone 
And If I feel a pulsin', I can carry on 
When I'm lost and wanna fade away 
I tell myself to live to die another day, yeah 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still alive and keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain, the mountain
</div></div>

== Dedications ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''[[Akihiko Sanada]]:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E36WU9Wzf4 Flaws - Bastille]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
When all of your flaws and all of my flaws 
Are laid out one by one 
The wonderful part of the mess that we made 
We pick ourselves undone 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws 
They lie there hand in hand 
Ones we've inherited, ones that we learned 
They pass from man to man 

There's a hole in my soul 
I can't fill it, I can't fill it 
There's a hole in my soul 
Can you fill it? Can you fill it? 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up, so nothing's left untouched 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws, 
When they have been exhumed 
We'll see that we need them to be who we are 
Without them we'd be doomed 

There's a hole in my soul 
I can't fill it, I can't fill it 
There's a hole in my soul 
Can you fill it? Can you fill it? 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up, so nothing's left untouched 

Ooh 
Ooh 

When all of your flaws 
And all of my flaws are counted 
When all of your flaws 
And all of my flaws are counted 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up. Let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up. So nothing's left untouched 

Ooh 
Ooh 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws 
Are laid out one by one 
Look at the wonderful mess that we made 
We pick ourselves undone
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''[[Myunghon Yeo]]:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj_sNT9LLeQ Heaven, We're Already Here - The Maine]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Blessed be the night we're breathin' in 
Unforgettable and so benevolent 
The closest that we'll get to Heaven-sent 
For all us darling aliens 
And we will never be this young again 
So full of fire and rebellion 
Now shoot the night just like it's medicine 
And we all will be born again, again, again, again, again 

This is everything you prayed for 
(Pray for, pray for, pray for) 
This is everything I need 
Please, don't anybody pray for me 
(My soul isn't yours to save anymore) 
Life is crazy, baby, don't forget the seatbelt 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road 

Blessed be the sky we're soaring in 
So few of us and millions of them 
Daylight isn't far away, my friend 
And we all will be born again, again, again, again, again 

Life is crazy, baby, don't forget the seatbelt 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road 

So alive, we could die 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Through and through, by and by 
Everything I love is right here tonight 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 
Let it live, let it die 
No, we can't get off, here we are tonight 
Through and through, by and by 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 

What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
Is what you're livin' for worth dyin', worth dyin' for? 

And this is everything you prayed for 
(Pray for, pray for, pray for) 
This is everything I need 
Please, don't anybody pray for me 
(My soul isn't yours to save anymore) 
Life is crazy, baby, baby 
(Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road) 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn door 
Our great unknown, the open road 

So alive, we could die 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Through and through, by and by 
Everything I love is right here tonight 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 
Let it live, let it die 
No, we can't get off, here we are tonight 
Through and through, by and by 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here
</div></div>

= Logs and Cutscenes =

==Season 1==

{{#dpl:
|category = logs&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

{{#dpl:
|category = cutscenes&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Focus]]
[[Category:Gekkoukan High School]]
[[Category:SEES]]
[[Category:Cardboard Dragon]]

Shinjiro Aragaki

2025-12-08T21:46:32Z

Thornpunk:

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 15%; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Shinjiro Aragaki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" |
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Shinjiro Aragaki
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | Arcana:
| [[Tarot#Hierophant|V. The Hierophant]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Male
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| 18 (August 11, 1994)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Brown
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Brown
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 6'0" /182 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Tatsumi Port Island
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| Gekkoukan High School
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Third Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Persona 3 (FC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| [[SEES]], Cardboard Dragon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Voice:
| Kazuya Nakai (JP), Justice Slocum (EN)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Thornpunk|Thornpunk]]
|-
|}

'''"Don't waste your breath."'''

Shinjiro Aragaki is running from his problems. A towering third-year student at Gekkoukan High School with a brusque attitude who stopped attending school and instead usually hangs around in dark alleyways late at night, he is a founding member of SEES and a close childhood friend of school boxing star and fellow orphan Akihiko Sanada. After a horrific accident two years ago, Shinjiro left SEES and began a reliance on Persona suppressants which are slowly killing him. Having returned to active duty after making new friends in Sumaru and being forced to reckon with the consequences of his past deeds, Shinjiro's armored, thorny exterior hides a kind and gentle young man who puts others before himself. He has a true passion for cooking, loves animals, and tries to pass on his learned wisdom to the younger SEES members wherever possible.

= Background =

As early as he can remember, Shinjiro Aragaki was an orphan. Raised at an orphanage, he met Akihiko and Miki Sanada at the age of four, and became inseparable, especially with Akihiko. However, when he and Akihiko were eight, the orphanage was burnt down by an arsonist, killing Miki. This was traumatic for Shinjiro, something that'd stick with him forever.

Shinjiro remained Akihiko's rock, following him to Gekkoukan and eventually meeting Mitsuru Kirijo in middle school. Mitsuru recruited Akihiko into SEES, and Shinjiro, refusing to abandon him, followed along, fighting Shadows during the Dark Hour. The three made a promise to graduate together, something Shinjiro appears to have forgotten.

Two years ago, a rookie Shinjro ended up losing control of his Persona. Castor destroyed the Amada household, killing a mother of a young child. Shinjiro abandoned SEES immediately, traumatized again by taking a life and leaving an orphan. He learned about Persona suppressant drugs eventually and began taking them, hoping to learn to control Castor - this worked, but had the side effect that Shinjiro, a natural Persona user, will lose worse control of his Persona if he stopped taking them. Additionally, the drugs did a constant number to Shinjiro's body, promising his death before graduation either way.

Shinjiro became homeless, isolating himself from the people he cared about. He couch-surfed with shady 'friends', got a part-time job at Hagakure Ramen, occasionally crashing in the back room, and generally just loitered in places that he probably shouldn't loiter. He still frequented the restaurant regularly even after quitting, and the owner often wants him to come back, having taught him how to cook.

SEES wants him back, but Shinjiro can't accept putting that burden back on them. His path is different now... but how long until he must answer the call?

==Season 1, Episode 1==
* '''STACKED DECK - PART 1''': Shinjiro [[2025-07-04: The Power of Rumors|begins]] [[2025-07-07: Brutes And Bananas|investigating]] [[Tatsuya Sudou]], the Old Maid Killer who burned down his orphanage ten years ago. He is [[2025-07-03: I Don't Just Play One On TV|tipped off to the information]] by one [[Goro Akechi]], his fellow orphan. He [[2025-07-08: A Pact Forged|aligns]] with [[Myunghon Yeo]] in order to get more information and assistance. During an [[2025-08-22: Challenging Fate|attack on Seven Sisters]], Shinjiro comes face to face with the Joker Killer, losing control as he confronts him and nearly injuring others. During this event, he learns that Akechi is a Persona user.
* '''HAUNTED BY THE PAST - PART 1''': Shinjiro [[2025-07-13: Hope You Know What You're Getting Into|befriends]] [[Umie Akabane]], who assists him along with others in [[2025-07-18: Separation Anxiety|journeying to Tartarus]] to [[2025-07-26: Battle Royale|rescue a Gekkoukan student]] named [[Fuuka Yamagishi]], having [[2025-07-21: Devil's Deal|bought an Evoker]] from [[Strega]] to fight again, claiming it's a one-time thing. His former [[SEES]] comrades, [[Akihiko Sanada]] and [[Mitsuru Kirijo]], see him fight for the first time in two years, as he battles with his Persona, Castor. Akihiko [[2025-07-27: Aftermath|tries to convince Shinjiro to come back]] once more, the latter refusing. Mitsuru [[2025-08-04: Time Doesn't Stop|later does the same]], insisting he return to school, but he still refuses.
* '''LIKE A DRAGON''': Shinjiro is there when [[Junya Kaneshiro]] threatens Myunghon and the Cardboard Dragon. He almost gets himself hurt telling Kaneshiro to screw off, and decides to assist Myunghon in breaking into his supposed [[Palaces|Palace]]. Myunghon gives Shinjiro a safehouse key, getting him off the streets more often, though he refuses to monopolize it, alternating days on and off the street. Shinjiro, Myunghon, and their allies later [[2025-08-05: Knives Out|discover the route]] to Kaneshiro's Palace. During [[2025-08-15: Scarface|their excursion into the Palace]], Shinjiro fights [[Niko Kirisaki]] with Akihiko and [[Yukari Takeba]]. Myunghon and Shinjiro later [[2025-08-07: Tiny Apartment Confessional|confide in each other]] their health issues and traumatic crimes, solidifying their bond. In the end, [[2025-08-23: The Godfather|Kaneshiro is defeated]], though a [[Goro Akechi|man with a black mask]] interrupts their victory, threatening Kaneshiro and the group of Persona users before disappearing as quickly as he came.
* '''HIRASAKA BLUES''': Shinjiro continues to aid Myunghon and the Cardboard Dragon, becoming a solid member of their core group. However, while [[2025-08-26: Love and Hope|aiding Myunghon with love troubles]], Shinjiro finds out that they've been harassed by a violent and bigoted cop. In surviving a dangerous Mementos run, he is [[2025-08-30: Otherside Picnic|forced to fight]] the same police officer who attacks Myunghon, [[2025-08-31: Crime and Punishment|getting himself arrested by the Sumaru PD]] after punching the cop in the face and staying behind to protect [[Tsubasa Seki]]. He [[2025-08-31: Ain't Found A Way To Kill Me Yet|suffers]] while in jail, the police having found his pills.
* '''HAUNTED BY THE PAST - PART 2''': After the arrest, Mitsuru [[2025-09-01: Release|bails out]] Shinjiro, confronting him about his ties with Strega and his drug use. In the process, she learns the truth about what he's been hiding: that he's been taking suppressants. With Mitsuru insisting he come back to SEES, Shinjiro asks for one week to decide. After [[Ken Amada]], the boy whose mother Shinjiro killed two years ago, [[2025-09-06: Youth|prepares to move into the SEES dorms]], Shinjiro decides he must come back to protect him and rejoins SEES.

===Sub Stories===
* '''THE CLAW OF DESTINY''': Shinjiro tries to [[2025-07-12: The Claw of Destiny|get a Jack Frost doll]] from a claw machine for a little girl. He fails, though [[Hitomi Mandai]] manages to assist him in recovering it. Having only wanted it for its supposed resell value, the girl gives the doll back to Shinjiro, who still has it.
* '''THE PRISON''': Shinjiro and Umie go to the [[2025-08-01: The Prison|debut concert]] of Gas Chamber, their ally [[Eikichi Mishina|Eikichi Mishina's]] band. Shinjiro ends up leaving with two [[Saika Kikuchi|cool]] [[So-young Park|adult]] women, showing them Parabellum and investigating the gun shop rumors there.
* '''FIGHT CLUB''': Shinjiro, having met [[Suzume Fukura]] while trying to win the Jack Frost doll, offers to [[2025-08-06: Similarities|train her in combat]] after numerous supernatural meetings and noticing her similarities to his past self. She accepts.

= Persona =
'''Castor''': Castor is a Greek mythological figure and twin brother of Polydeuces. Born of different fathers via the magic of the gods, rendering him mortal as a son of man. When Castor eventually died saving his brother, Polydeuces gave him half of his immortality, rendering the two to remain together forever.

Meaning to be revealed.

= Special Skills =
Shinjiro is an extremely skilled cook, having learned at Hagakure Ramen. He's a natural genius, and it provides him discipline. He can make dog food, too.

He loves punk rock and grunge music, especially Western stuff, and frequents indie concerts in the three cities.

He has a mean right hook. He reads true crime and memoirs.

=Relationships=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Address
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Arcana
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Associated Dish
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;"class="unsortable" | Info
|-
|[[Akihiko Sanada]]
|Aki
|IV. Emperor
|Steamed asparagus with grilled '''''seasoned''''' chicken
|''"Guess you always win in the end, huh?"''
|-
|[[Mitsuru Kirijo]]
|Kirijo
|III. Empress
|Butter-poached lobster tail
|''"Thank you for having the hope I can't."''
|-
|[[Myunghon Yeo]]
|Myunghon
|XV. Devil
|'Mean' sprouts
|''"We're in this together."''
|-
|[[Umie Akabane]]
|Umie
|VII. Chariot
|Wagyu burger
|''"You're still my friend, no matter what marks you have."''
|-
|[[Shinobu Shimizu]]
|Shinobu
|XII. Hanged Man
|Grilled steak with greens
|''"You're solid like a rock."''
|-
|[[So-young Park]]
|Park
|XIX. Sun
|Umeshu
|''"You're reckless... but you do care, don't you?"''
|-
|[[Mio Kazama]]
|Kazama
|XVI. Tower
|Sake
|''"Thanks for hearing me out that night..."''
|-
|[[Remi Ryuuja]]
|Ryuuja / Ariel
|XVI. Tower
|Coq au vin
|''"Your secret is safe with me, Ariel."''
|-
|[[Suzume Fukura]]
|Fukura
|VII. Chariot
|Tantanmen ramen
|''"I'll teach you what I know."''
|-
|[[Minako Arisato]]
|Arisato
|0. Fool
|Mochi
|''"I don't know if you can rely on me, but I'll try."''
|-
|[[Minato Arisato]]
|Arisato
|0. Fool
|Miso soup
|''"You seem like a strong leader. I'll do my best."''
|-
|[[Hitomi Mandai]]
|Mandai
|X. Fortune
|Tuna and pork ramen
|''"I'm glad you're thinking on it."''
|-
|[[Reiya Aomori]]
|Aomori
|IX. Hermit
|Sashimi
|''"I believe your intentions are good. But there's too many secrets around here..."''
|-
|[[Yukari Takeba]]
|Takeba
|VI. Lovers
|Sweet and spicy yakisoba
|''"...I'm sorry that was the truth you found."''
|-
|[[Eikichi Mishina]]
|Mishina
|XIII. Death
|Cucumber salad
|''"You've got a good attitude. Don't get yourself killed."''
|-
|[[Tatsuya Suou]]
|Suou
|XIX. Sun
|Katsudon
|''"...I'll be waiting for that ride."''
|-
|[[Niko Kirisaki]]
|Niko
|XVIII. Moon
|Mapo tofu
|''"For some reason, I feel alive around you."''
|-
|[[Ichika Kawase]]
|Kawase
|XIV. Temperance
|Banana ramen
|''"Your philosophy isn't half-bad."''
|-
|[[Yua Ooshiro]]
|Ooshiro
|III. Empress
|Okayu
|''"To believe in others..."''
|-
|[[Tsubasa Seki]]
|Seki
|XV. Devil
|Hot pot
|''"...I'm glad you're alright."''
|-
|[[Julian Marlowe]]
|Marlowe
|X. Fortune
|Nikujaga stew
|''"We'll see how far I can trust you."''
|-
|[[Goro Akechi]]
|Akechi
|VIII. Justice
|Pancakes
|''"You're wearing more than one mask, it seems. Which one's real? Goro Akechi, the Prince, or the angry boy who they said cried wolf?"''
|-
|[[Jun Kashihara]]
|Kashihara
|X. Fortune
|Yakitori
|''"You're too chill for a Kasugayama student. What's that about?"''
|-
|[[Jin Shirato]]
|Shirato
|IX. Hermit
|Mentaiko
|''"Ugh."''
|-
|[[Takaya Sakaki]]
|Sakaki
|X. Fortune
|Umeboshi
|''"You give me the creeps."''
|-
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Address
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Arcana
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Associated Dish
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;"class="unsortable" | Info
|-
|[[Ayame Watanabe|Ikkaku Watanabe]]
|Watanabe
|XVII. Star
|Cold cut sandwich
|''"...you shouldn't have given me your emblem."''
|-
|Kazuo Kobayashi
|Kobayashi
|I. Magician
|Canned coffee
|''"Piss off, you so-called Storm Boss."''
|-
|[[Junya Kaneshiro]]
|Nothing Kind
|V. Hierophant
|Rotten meat
|''"You better not come back, scumbag."''
|-
|Koichi Ishiba
|Nothing Kind
|?
|Cheap-ass beer
|''"I wish I could punch you again. Go to hell."''
|-
|}

= Soundtrack =

== Character Soundtrack ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Main Theme:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBG7P-K-r1Y Everlong - Foo Fighters]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Hello 
I've waited here for you 
Everlong 

Tonight, I throw myself into 
And out of the red 
Out of her head, she sang 

Come down and waste away with me 
Down with me 
Slow, how you wanted it to be 
I'm over my head 
Out of her head, she sang 

And I wonder 
When I sing along with you 

If everything could ever be this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when 
She sang 

Breathe out 
So I can breathe you in 
Hold you in 
And now 
I know you've always been 
Out of your head 
Out of my head, I sang 

And I wonder 
When I sing along with you 

If everything could ever feel this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when 
She sang 

And I wonder 

If everything could ever feel this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Inevitable Death:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlFhERzYaKc Euthanasia - Will Wood]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
I was right there 
While you fought tooth and nail 
Gasping in the gas mask thrashing till you disappeared 
Say you're not scared, that you know it's cause I cared and 
Say you know I love you, and that hope was just not there 

And I know, I know that I'm wrong 
That when you're gone you're gone 
And I can't bring you home 
But I want, I want to believe 
That you'll remember me when you're just memory 

Roots in the ground 
Or uploaded to the cloud or 
Warm inside our hearts or as electrons in our head nowhere now 
Over the rainbow, can I stop by and say hello and 
Sorry I would take it back if I could but I know 

To love one from too far to call 
Is not to love at all, to whom is it I talk? 
But I want, I want to believe 
That you can still hear me when you're just memory 

Said "it's okay" 
And "It'll all be over soon" 
I'd never let a bad thing happen to you 
Now goodnight I love you 

And every, everybody dies 
Fighting for their lives, just trying to survive 
Well now I know, I know why we say 
That there's a better place that waits beyond the grave, oh 

And I know, I know it's not true 
There's just no more you but as long as there's no proof 
Then I choose, I choose to believe 
That we'll meet in sweet dreams after you're put to sleep
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Surviving Until That Very Last Day:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1CPi631WlU The Mountain - Three Days Grace]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Another night I'm barely holdin' on 
One step away from being dead and gone 
Am I alive to die another day? 
Is this life that I've been livin' 
All that's meant for me? 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still survivin', keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

The higher I go, the harder I fall 
So I don't look down, I don't look back at all 
And when I wish it all would turn to black 
I try to see the light and push the darkness back 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still survivin', I keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

So If I'm numb, already too far gone 
And If I feel a pulsin', I can carry on 
When I'm lost and wanna fade away 
I tell myself to live to die another day, yeah 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still alive and keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain, the mountain
</div></div>

== Dedications ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''[[Akihiko Sanada]]:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E36WU9Wzf4 Flaws - Bastille]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
When all of your flaws and all of my flaws 
Are laid out one by one 
The wonderful part of the mess that we made 
We pick ourselves undone 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws 
They lie there hand in hand 
Ones we've inherited, ones that we learned 
They pass from man to man 

There's a hole in my soul 
I can't fill it, I can't fill it 
There's a hole in my soul 
Can you fill it? Can you fill it? 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up, so nothing's left untouched 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws, 
When they have been exhumed 
We'll see that we need them to be who we are 
Without them we'd be doomed 

There's a hole in my soul 
I can't fill it, I can't fill it 
There's a hole in my soul 
Can you fill it? Can you fill it? 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up, so nothing's left untouched 

Ooh 
Ooh 

When all of your flaws 
And all of my flaws are counted 
When all of your flaws 
And all of my flaws are counted 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up. Let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up. So nothing's left untouched 

Ooh 
Ooh 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws 
Are laid out one by one 
Look at the wonderful mess that we made 
We pick ourselves undone
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''[[Myunghon Yeo]]:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj_sNT9LLeQ Heaven, We're Already Here - The Maine]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Blessed be the night we're breathin' in 
Unforgettable and so benevolent 
The closest that we'll get to Heaven-sent 
For all us darling aliens 
And we will never be this young again 
So full of fire and rebellion 
Now shoot the night just like it's medicine 
And we all will be born again, again, again, again, again 

This is everything you prayed for 
(Pray for, pray for, pray for) 
This is everything I need 
Please, don't anybody pray for me 
(My soul isn't yours to save anymore) 
Life is crazy, baby, don't forget the seatbelt 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road 

Blessed be the sky we're soaring in 
So few of us and millions of them 
Daylight isn't far away, my friend 
And we all will be born again, again, again, again, again 

Life is crazy, baby, don't forget the seatbelt 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road 

So alive, we could die 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Through and through, by and by 
Everything I love is right here tonight 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 
Let it live, let it die 
No, we can't get off, here we are tonight 
Through and through, by and by 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 

What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
Is what you're livin' for worth dyin', worth dyin' for? 

And this is everything you prayed for 
(Pray for, pray for, pray for) 
This is everything I need 
Please, don't anybody pray for me 
(My soul isn't yours to save anymore) 
Life is crazy, baby, baby 
(Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road) 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn door 
Our great unknown, the open road 

So alive, we could die 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Through and through, by and by 
Everything I love is right here tonight 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 
Let it live, let it die 
No, we can't get off, here we are tonight 
Through and through, by and by 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here
</div></div>

= Logs and Cutscenes =

==Season 1==

{{#dpl:
|category = logs&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

{{#dpl:
|category = cutscenes&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Focus]]
[[Category:Gekkoukan High School]]
[[Category:SEES]]
[[Category:Cardboard Dragon]]

Tae Takemi

2025-12-07T17:34:45Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "{| class="toccolours" style="width: 15%; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#008B8B; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Tae Takemi''' |- ! colspan="2" align="center" | |- ! style="background:#008B8B; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | <span style="color:#FFFF..."

User:Thornpunk

2025-12-05T23:06:32Z

Thornpunk:

I'm Lettie (she/her)! You may know me as Bart Fatima, Silver Sakaki, Vash the Stampede, etcetera over on DCM.

I am free at most times almost every day of the week (Pacific time gives me some leeway), and can play from 11AM PST/2PM EST until 10PM PST/1AM EST at preferred latest.

===My Alts===
* [[Ulala Serizawa]] - FC (Persona 2EP) - Focus - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A lingerie saleswoman with low self-esteem and a mean right hook.''
* [[Shinjiro Aragaki]] - FC (Persona 3) - Focus - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A founding member of [[SEES]] and current punk truant who is running from his past. ALSO has a mean right hook.''
* [[Hazuki Nakao]] - OC ([[Persona Syzygy]]) - Focus - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A teenage Fool raised in England who returned to her homeland after her parents' messy divorce, putting on a mask of disconnection in an attempt to connect. Does not have a mean right hook.''
* [[Hiroto Nakamura]] - OC (Persona 2) - Nemesis - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A perfectly ordinary salaryman with a [[Assorted Supernatural Phenomena#The Mark|perfectly ordinary tattoo]] who works as a salaryman for the perfectly ordinary [[New World Order|Katou Corporation]].
* [[Eveline Deschamps]] - OC ([[Persona: Wild Hunt]]) - Nemesis - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A French bar owner and mother to a teenager who fights as part of [[The Wild Hunt|a group of veteran Persona Users]] who first fought twenty years ago. Practical, stylish, and a powerful Navigator.
* [[Tae Takemi]] - FC (Persona 5) - Chorus - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A back-alley doctor and pharmacologist with a prickly bedside manner and a true desire to help people hindered by a lack of self-value.''

User:Thornpunk

2025-12-05T23:03:49Z

Thornpunk:

I'm Lettie (she/her)! You may know me as Bart Fatima, Silver Sakaki, Vash the Stampede, etcetera over on DCM.

I am free at most times almost every day of the week (Pacific time gives me some leeway), and can play from 11AM PST/2PM EST until 10PM PST/1AM EST at preferred latest.

===My Alts===
* [[Ulala Serizawa]] - FC (Persona 2EP) - Focus - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A lingerie saleswoman with low self-esteem and a mean right hook.''
* [[Shinjiro Aragaki]] - FC (Persona 3) - Focus - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A founding member of [[SEES]] and current punk truant who is running from his past. ALSO has a mean right hook.''
* [[Hazuki Nakao]] - OC ([[Persona Syzygy]]) - Focus - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A teenage Fool raised in England who returned to her homeland after her parents' messy divorce, putting on a mask of disconnection in an attempt to connect. Does not have a mean right hook.''
* [[Hiroto Nakamura]] - OC (Persona 2) - Nemesis - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A perfectly ordinary salaryman with a [[Assorted Supernatural Phenomena#The Mark|perfectly ordinary tattoo]] who works as a salaryman for the perfectly ordinary [[New World Order|Katou Corporation]].
* [[Eveline Deschamps]] - OC (Wild Hunt) - Nemesis - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A French bar owner and mother to a teenager who fights as part of [[The Wild Hunt|a group of veteran Persona Users]] who first fought twenty years ago. Practical, stylish, and a powerful Navigator.
* [[Tae Takemi]] - FC (Persona 5) - Chorus - Season 1, Episode 1 - ''A back-alley doctor and pharmacologist with a prickly bedside manner and a true desire to help people hindered by a lack of self-value.''

2025-12-04: To Break The Shackles

2025-12-05T21:55:00Z

Thornpunk:

*'''Log: To Break The Shackles'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Yua Ooshiro]], [[Hiroto Nakamura]], [[Miho Ijuuin]]
*'''Where:''' Katou Corporation office -> Eiji Kamiya's Palace
*'''OOC Date:''' December 04, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 20, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Yua visits Miho's place of work to bring her a bento, and meets Hiroto, one of Miho's coworkers, who helps her escape the sexist jeers of their coworkers. Miho arrives and talks with the two of them, where Hiroto reveals his other identity and Awakening. The three later meet up to discuss more in a Palace they plan to investigate, and Miho and Yua recruit Hiroto into their confidence after learning that he only fights for the conspiracy for the sake of his family. ALSO: Hiroto gets Yua nickname'd! He's been accepted!''

----
(|============================== Narumi - Main ===============================|)

-================================================= Sumaru City/Narumi Ward ====-

The newest ward of Sumaru City is also the fanciest and most elegant--and,

consequently, the most expensive. The crime rate here is low and the stores are

top-class, so many rich and famous people make their homes here. The view is

second to none, thanks to how it juts directly into the sea to the south; a

yacht harbor ensures one can watch classy ships sailing by all day long.

Because it's so new, there are sections of it that are still under construction,

most notably the local subway lines, and some of the seedier parts of society

have taken advantage of that to creep in and take root. That has nothing to do

with the local science lab, conducting experiments for the good of society with

top-notch security, and maybe everything to do with the sewer system next door.

But one can't possibly want to go into the sewer--not when the five-star

accommodations of Hotel Pleiades are available on the south beach. Hotel

Pleiades is without question the jewel of Narumi. Because it also overlooks the

yacht harbor, many rich, seafaring travelers get rooms here, boosting the local

economy even further. The Astro Universe Theme Park here is home to the Astro

Clock, the second largest ferris wheel in Japan.

<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
Yua had some trouble with breakfast, this morning, which Miho had to help her with... and by the time everything was well, it was almost time for her to ''leave,'' and she had to ''hurry out.''

Which means -- tragedy of tragedies -- Yua didn't have time to finish her ''bento.''

Obviously, this won't stand. Yua took some more medicine, and returned to the kitchen, determined that at least ''Miho'' could enjoy some breakfast with any kind of ''flavour'' to it. (It's not ''fair'' that she has to eat bland food all the time now...) By the time she is done, she has created a ''work of art.'' The rice is shaped like a fishie with little seaweed gills and fins and seaweed flakes for scales; it swims in a sea of greens, with a 'sun' of a cherry tomato surrounded by pieces of red and yellow cucumber sitting low on the horizon, surrounded by delicious clouds made of shredded chicken.

Yua's kids are going to have a great time at lunch, but no one told her that bento are supposed to be for children. She decided in highschool that she wanted to make lunch for Miho every day just like she did for her younger siblings, and by God, Yua achieves her goals.

The next trick, of course, is getting it... to Miho's office. Luckily, Miho keeps a spare swipe card -- and Yua ''knows'' where she keeps it -- so getting up to her office isn't a problem. It's just...

Yua is a strange creature, as she appears from the elevator: dressed in a black dancer's leotard, skirt hanging to her knees and a purse about her shoulder, with ''shoes with ankle support'' and ''compression socks'' where her pointe shoes ought to be. Her teal hair is all done up in a tight bun which reveals the eyepatch over her left eye; she has a fabric decoration stretched over the back of her right hand, and an ''engagement ring'' on her left wedding finger. Her skin is notably tawnier than most of the mainlanders she's passed, here.

And, of course, she is carrying a bento.

"Mimi!" Yua chirps, as she enters the office block. "Mimiiiii...?" She stands on her tippy-toes to try and see where Miho might be in this sea of suits, but of course she is a little short for a lady, which means she ''definitely'' can't see over the cubicle walls. "Mimi?"

"Hey," one of the men elbows another, from where they're coming back getting cups of coffee. "Isn't that Ijuuin-san's...?"

"Shh!" His buddy whispers, sharply. "She can hear us!"

"It's fine, it's fine, she doesn't mind! Do ya, doll?" The first man smiles, walking up to Yua. "We've been ''wondering'' about her cute little lunchboxes. So -- she ''didn't'' really make them herself? Heh... you're ''both'' a little old for it, don't you think?"

"Mmm..." Yua frowns, taking a step back as she holds the bento to her chest, scowling to them.

"She's so ''cute,''" another man reflects, quietly, looking up from his computer. "Ah... a shame she's wasted with Ijuuin-san..."

"No, no," another man offers clarification, under his breath. "They're marrying her off, I heard, it's fine."

"Eh? You mean Ijuuin-san? I didn't even think she was on the market," the man distracted from his work replies.

"Not her, ''that'' pretty little thing -- though if the rumours are true, maybe that means Ijuuin-san is next..."

Dear God, Yua could start a civil war just ''standing'' here. The worst part is: Miho Ijuuin's been in a ''meeting'' for the past half an hour, and who ''knows'' when she'll get out? (Very soon, but ''they'' don't know that.)

But what kind of man working here would escort Yua to the break room so she could safely stow the bento she's brought for Miho...?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Hiroto Nakamura is at work in a cubicle today. Ever since his 'promotion', he has been working in this office, and is currently working on something that is technically not due for a while but will be done early anyways at insistence, since his whole problem is he's an overachiever who they're trying to break down into nothing by giving him harder work.

As he's working, he overhears the words that finally bring his attention to Yua. He's familiar with her existence, though they've never met.

Near-imperceptibly, as his coworkers talk about her in such a foul way, so... sexistly, his face shifts. Brows crease, lips curl, and eventually, he stands up. He can fit in a break...

Rising with his striped tie, and square spectacles, Whereto straightens it, before stepping over to Yua. "Ma'am, would you like to be led to the break room? If so, please follow me."

If Yua's observant enough, she might notice those signs as the starting of anger, as small as they are.

Should Yua follow, Hiroto leads her to the break room, which should currently be empty.

"Would you like some water?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
When Yua's gaze darts to Hiroto, it's with the worried scowl of someone expecting even ''more'' misogyny; surprise widens her crimson eye, when he instead addresses her ''respectfully.'' "I, um..."

('Wan', she says, not 'ware'; it's the Okinawan pronoun, the kind of slip one might expect from someone flustered. It's also, in Japanese, the sound of a dog barking, which soundly informs --)

"Oh? Stealing Ijuuin-san's dog? Hah!" His coworker exclaims, clapping him on the shoulder as he walks past them. "It's your funeral!"

"Please, let's just go," Yua says, to the man, and the quiet of her voice can't mask the way it's wound tight.

She can see that he's getting angry, and she doesn't want to cause a fight in Miho's office after she forgot her lunch, too...

Yua hurries off behind him, and -- "ah!" -- when they enter, she hurries over to the ''fridge'' to slip Miho's bento safely inside. (No one would dare to eat her lunch, especially after what she's going to have to do to them ''now.'') Closing the door, she peeks back up, and says: "S-some water would be nice... thank you."

A light pause, and she adds, to herself, "I think I can keep that down..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Hiroto sees that worried scowl, and his expression does soften lightly, though the anger and frustration is still there. As she asks him to take her, he dos so, and they're soon in the break room. He watches as she slips the bento inside, and moves over to the water cooler, grabbing two cups and pouring an equivalent amount of water into each of them. He hands her one, before taking the other for himself.

"Here you go, Ooshiro-san. I apologize for my coworkers' behavior." The anger is calming, at least. He needs to control his face better, if people can notice...

"Are you ill?" he asks curiously. "We may have nausea pills somewhere, if that will help."

It is good to always keep some handy, especially with some of his own stomach sensitivities. Being nauseated at work is a reduction of productivity, after all.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Miho would accept less flavorful breakfasts! That would be an acceptable sacrifice, for Yua's health. However...

That isn't the world they're living in at the moment. It's not that Miho doesn't appreciate it; it's just that she wories about Yua. And today...

Well, today, it's getting it to her.

Miho is dressed in one of her usual dark suits, with short green hair and... business. Miho is in a meeting, herself. She thus does not immediately hear anyone call Yua 'doll'. She does not immediately hear anyone speaking of Yua as her dog. But 'immediately' is not the end of how they talk about her.

But she gets out, and there are whispers. More than whispers.

"What a cute lunch! Perfect for--"

Miho narrows her eyes at the first man to speak up. She then smoothly walks across the room to the break area, opening the door, passing through, and closing it behind her.

"...Hello, Nakamura-san." Pause. "Yua."

"I was in a meeting..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Oh! You-- you know me?" Yua asks, taking the cup. "R-really, it's okay, um... Mimi told me they weren't very nice, so..."

Sip.

"I, um -- n-no, it's not that," she shakes her head, after a moment to tell whether the water is going to actually ''settle'' properly. "It's, er... it's nothing infectious, um..." A blush spreads over her cheeks, as she realises she doesn't even have an ''excuse.'' "I--I'm pregnant," she admits, a moment later.

"Um... t-thank you, um...?" Yua starts, but before she can manage to get past her nervousness to ask for his ''name'' --

-- the door opens again!

"Mimi!" Yua exclaims, bounding over to her. She remembers her situation at the last moment, of course, to stop in ''front'' of her rather than leaping into her arms, though she clearly ''wants'' to. "I got your lunch done! It's in the fridge! T-this, um --"

She pauses, looking from Miho to Hiroto. "N--Nakamura-san? Nakamura-san helped me!" Yua sighs, with a terrible pout. "Everyone was being really mean, but he offered to show me where you kept lunch and stuff... and he got me some water!"

She holds the cup up, demonstratively. And then takes another sip. The water is ''probably'' not poisoned.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
"My wife was watching your engagement announcement. Congratulations," Hiroto says politely, Seeing as it was a single episode of a single show, he must have a good memory.

As Yua stumbles upon her words on how to tell him why she's feeling ill, Hiroto is patient, sipping at his water. When she finally admits, he nods, a reassuring smile on his face. "Congratulations once more. Children are a wonder."

But she doesn't know his name... he's about to introduce himself, when Miho walks in and introduces him indirectly. She was in a meeting...

"Ijuuin-san, hello." He greets formally and properly, before turning. "Hiroto Nakamura. It is nice to meet you."

Miho, at least, may know some of the rumors about Hiroto, both in-office and in-conspiracy. The 'Sisyphus of Katou Corporation', his direct 'handlers' have been trying to overwork him to death perhaps literally, pushing impossible assignments on him to get him fired. He's never failed once, to the point that the conspiracy themselves 'promoted' him into a fixer - the Ferryman.

"Tough meeting?" he asks Miho, since small talk is HARD and AWKWARD.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Miho smiles at Yua first. She would've absolutely caught her... but it's best not. Instead, "Thank you," she says of the lunch. Then:

She looks to Hiroto again. She does remember the rumors on both sides, as a matter of fact, and so it's good that the water probably isn't poisoned. ...Yua would notice if it were. She's sensitive like that.

"My co-workers often forget their manners in the face of pretty women," she says 'diplomatically'. But not you it would seem, Nakamura-san. I appreciate your assistance to her."

Pause. "Not especially," as to the meeting, because she must always project Strength. "However, if I go out onto the floor now, I am likely to say something unkind to a co-worker. That would not be ideal."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Oh!" Yua exclaims, when Hiroto mentions how she was on ''television.'' She looks surprised, so perhaps it's not a usual thing for her...? "Thank you," she smiles, warmly. "I'm really looking forward to joining Kimi-san's family!"

And, it seems, she's ''really'' looking forward to ''adding'' to the Ijuuin clan. "Thank you!" Yua chirps, brightly. "It's still very early... but we're very happy!"

And then -- Miho!! Yua smiles to her, warm and big as the sun, brightening up the Underworld for her visit.

(Is she really just visiting...?)

But Yua is, indeed, ''very'' sensitive to things tasting ''off'' these days. Or even smelling bad! Perhaps that's why she's such a picky eater right now...?

Yua bows her head, politely, when Hiroto formally introduces himself. "N-nice to meet you! I, um -- I'm Yua! Yua Ooshiro!" She pauses, looking back up. "Um, though you knew that, since you remembered that episode on TV..."

SHE'S SO CUTE.

"He was kind to me," Yua smiles, to Miho, as if it's that ''simple.'' To Yua, it might well ''be'' that simple.

Still, those men out there... "Oh... are they still saying mean things?" Yua frowns, and then takes Miho by the wrist to lead her over to the seating. "Then let's sit down for a few minutes! If they're busy gossiping, that means they don't need you for work, right?"

She smiles, to Hiroto, as she puts her cup of water on the table. "Nakamura-san, you, too! You didn't like how they were talking, right? You shouldn't have to listen to that stuff. It's, it's... a ''hostile work environment!!''"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Miho appreciates Hiroto, and Yua sees him as kind. "It was nothing. I would hope the ones I care for would be treated similarly." The brief furrow of his brow indicates he wouldn't *expect* that, though.

Miho is strong, and he respects that. He also respects that it's not ideal. "Of course." He understands that control is paramount.

Yua, though, is a ball of light. She tells them to sit for a few minutes, and he's PLANNING on excusing himself so they can have privacy, when she directs to him too. Hiroto considers, before nodding. He was getting angry...

"That's true. But unfortunately, it is not one I believe can be dealt with trivially. I will join you for a few minutes, then, as long as I am no bother."

If affirmed, he will take a seat with his own water.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"In this company, they would." Miho says that flatly. And then, "...But in the company outside, probably not. You're unusual to care so much about the affairs of women, Nakamura-san."

"I appreciate that kindness." She nods to Yua. Then, as Yua leads her over to take a seat, Miho accepts. Her shoes click against the breakroom tile.

A hostile work environment... "They would say instead that we're hostile; that we aren't adapting to the culture," she assures Yua.

But then to Hiroto, "...But we're accustomed to being stubborn, aren't we?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"That's a normal thing to want!" Yua insists, to Hiroto, despite the fact that they ''really'' can't expect their loved ones to be treated well in a place like this.

It's a terrible place for 'Bring Your Kid To Work' day, that's for sure. Let alone your wife, or your... whatever Yua's going to be to Miho now she's marrying into her family. Cousin in law?

(Will anyone buy them being cousins...?)

"Mm, maybe it's not that weird," Yua adds, though, tilting her head as she considers Hiroto. "Since Nakamura-san's married, too! See that lovely ring?" His wedding ring!! "So," she adds, turning to him, "you must have women in your life you care about! Right?" Yua smiles, the expression all but ''sparkling.''

Don't tell Yua how many of the men back there are also married and don't give a shit about their wives. Some of them are even having affairs with their secretaries...

"I guess it's tough..." Yua sighs, poking at her glass of water. "Well, every workplace is a little like that, right? Like, everyone at Shujin is always so stressed out... and then when you go to Kasugayama, most of the staff -- mm, except for a couple -- they're just counting the days until they get deployed somewhere else, so it's hard to get anyone involved in doing anything for the kids... mouuuu, but it's much, much worse in the office!!"

Yua pouts, taking another sip of water. "How are you supposed to adapt to a culture like that? By picking on women who come in? That's no good... and it's not fair to expect you to be mean to other women just so they don't pick on you, Mimi!!" Yua has, just, immediately picked up on the catch-22 of Miho's suit, the tension between her being a ''woman'' and simultaneously not ''feminine'' and ''available.''

"You must be very stubborn," she decides, looking between them both. "But that's good! Stubbornness is just what people call determination when they're mad about it!"

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
"Am I? That's unfortunate," Hiroto tells Miho, before nodding over to Yua. "Yes. I have a wife and a teenage daughter," he explains. "Being a parent doesn't automatically grant you compassion, however... but it has taught me many things. Our son is only eight, so I'm hoping to instill the same values."

But Miho explains that they'd be the hostile ones. "It is better not to rock the boat, unfortunately. I don't necessarily want more overtime." Is that a joke? (It's a joke.)

"Teaching is a wonderful profession," he compliments, and it's clear he *likes* kids if he thinks that. But then, Yua talks about stubbornness, as does Miho...

"You have to be, in our line of work. But perhaps determination is indeed a better word for it."

The fact that it applies to both lines of work doesn't leave his mind.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
It is a normal thing to want. One would think. But Hiroto gets Miho's answer, and Miho continues, "I see. Well, they're lucky to have a conscientious father," she says.

Who would buy a pair of lesbians as cousins?

"It's important for boys and girls both to have a strong father. I can imagine you doing well."

She doesn't know him well enough for it to be more than imagination, of course. But she can imagine it.

"I agree," she says of teaching, and then looks to Yua. "...Every workplace has its foibles," she agrees, "But not all are the old clubs of this workplace. ...Yes, it's not fair. But it is how it is."

"Overtime, staying for drinks..."

"It is business."

"I do think I prefer 'determination'. You know, Nakamura-san. I suddenly think they might've had reason to keep us from talking much in the past."

"I think we could have things in common."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Yua gasps, her eye shining. "Mm, Mimi's right! A good dad is really important! If my dad hadn't worked so hard for us, Mimi and I might have never even met, you know? But he got posted to Sumaru, so here I am...!"

Still, that's true. Lesbians really just being cousins isn't very believable...

"It's weird," Yua tilts her head. "Everyone says not to 'rock the boat', but they know that boats are always rocking, right? Since the waves are moving all the time and stuff... even if the water's calm, there's still a little bit of movement!" Yua... it's a saying, Yua... "Mooouuuu... but if they're giving you too much overtime, you should complain!! Most of the men at the schools who take a bunch of overtime actually wanted it... I don't really get it, since some of them are really upset about not seeing their families much, you know?" Yua sighs. "But they say things like, 'I need this promotion to stay in Sumaru', or 'I want the principal to notice my hard work so I get a good recommendation'... then again, I guess I'm in a privileged position not having to rely on that kind of thing to support everyone..."

Yua, of course, doesn't even ''have'' to work. She could spend her days in idle leisure if she wanted to! But she still wants to spend time teaching, even though she's making Miho's home welcoming, too.

"But I really like teaching!" Yua smiles, to Hiroto. "I've been planning some really cool new things for the kids when they get back... it's always tough when you're young and vacation ends, you know? So I've been reviewing all the popular new songs to figure out how the dance routines in their music videos go! I'm sure they'll love getting to do that! And once they're a little more used to coming to class every day, we can start going over how the movements work..."

Still, Yua pouts, as she looks to Miho again. "Hey, hey, but how are you supposed to do that when you're pregnant? The women working here can't stay for drinks then!" Yes, Yua, that's the point.

"Hmph!!" She huffs, with another sip of water. Yua is ''offended'' for the secretaries!

She looks from Miho to Hiroto, though, blinking her one good eye. "Hey, that's right! If you both don't like the culture, here, you can at least support each other! Right?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
"Thank you," Hiroto brushes off the compliments, because he sure is a bit uncomfortable receiving them, even if he appreciates them. But Yua starts on boats. He considers it. "I believe it's because the more you rock the boat, the more likely you are to fall overboard."

But, on overtime, he nods to both of them. "It is work. My situation with it is... peculiar. I am often forced to work late hours." He's not seeking sympathy, just to explain, even if he might get it anyways.

"That makes sense," he tells Yua, taking a long sip of his water. He remembers how he, too, wanted to be a kind of teacher... if only life had been different. "I am sure they'll appreciate it."

But Miho prefers determination, and that they had reason to keep from talking much in the past. Things in common. "Perhaps," he says. "You cannot grind one down as easily if they have allies." Ah, he's aware of what they're trying to do to him. (He always has been.)

Yua though, gets a glance. He doesn't actually know Miho very well for the pre-established 'they kinda keep us apart', but... she seems earnest about it. "I am willing to assist my coworkers, of course."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"True," Miho says of Yua's very good father.

"I believe it's as he says. ...But also probably a phrase primarily used by people who have never spent much time on the water."

It is a privileged position, of course. But Miho's is even more so. And as to work, well, "Yes. I understand." She offers that, instead of obvious sympathy, because--well, of course she gets it.

"That sounds fun," Miho says of Yua's plans. "And useful. A healthy mind resides most easily in a healthy body..."

But, how? "You aren't," Miho says. "Indeed, they would prefer if women largely stayed out, except as secretaries now and then."

A look to Hiroto, and a nod. "Yes," she says.

"It's something to consider, Nakamura-san. I at least would like it if we could speak more often."

"They try to lay traps before me, as well, of course. They do not like my successes much."

"...Not in business, at least."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"You're much more likely to fall overboard if you can't rock ''with'' the boat, though..." Yua points out, tilting her head the other way.

She's not making a philosophical point, though it might ''seem'' like she is.

She just likes boats!

Which is why when Miho explains that people who ''don't'' boat came up with it, she says: "Oh! I get it! It looks like the boat rocking is scary, so that's what throws you off! But it's okay," she assures Hiroto. "If you know how to use a boat, it's pretty easy to stay on deck! The most important thing is to work with the weather! If the waves are wild enough that you're getting tossed off your boat, you made a mistake long before the boat started rocking!"

Yua... really likes boats...

... and she might be a bit, you know, 'odd'.

She wrinkles her nose, though, when Hiroto says he has to work late hours. "It's okay," she sympathises, with him. "Sometimes I have to work late, too. It's really inconvenient to go out when you've already had dinner and bathed, you know?" Yua, no type of teaching on the planet has you going out after dinner and bathtime to do more work.

Yua doesn't realise for a ''second'' what it sounds like when an attractive woman who is known to have been exploited by organised crime says she has to do inconvenient work late at night, though.

She smiles sunnily at their appreciation of her ''teaching plots,'' though. She works hard at them!! Even though it's hard to get teenagers excited for school...

Yua pouts, when Miho points out that women aren't ''invited.'' "That's not fair," she sulks. "You work as hard as any of those jerks! But... it sounds like you're working really hard, too, Nakamura-san!" She adds, looking to Hiroto. "So it would be nice if you could help each other, right?"

She looks a little confused, though, when Miho mentions ''traps.'' "I don't think Nakamura-san is a trap," Yua points out. "If he was, he wouldn't have been ready to leave before I asked him to sit with us, right? No... I think he was just doing something nice!"

Yua might be a little confused as to what kind of traps Miho's office invests in.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Hiroto appreciates the BOAT FACTS HE'S LEARNING. He is used to infodumps, he has children, and even if it may be seen as 'odd' to come from an adult woman, it is honestly charming instead. "That makes sense. I will keep that in mind if I am ever on a boat," he says with a smile.

But, Miho would like to speak to him more often... and Yua is clearly revealing too much about herself. (He does not think she's a lady of the night. Too incongruous with how casual she says it and what he knows about her and Miho.)

"I would like that too, Ijuuin-san. After all, it seems we are all frequently working right after midnight."

Casually, carefully, a gentle hint of Resonance flares. It's not a beacon, so no one outside the room is likely to notice, but he wants to make sure his message is clear - he is capable of conversing about both avenues of their work..

It's waves, much like that of the boat, calm and controlled. A symbolic dam is in place, keeping them from flooding outward. Yua's Navigator senses in particular might notice what it is like to be Hiroto Nakamura - you have to keep that dam steady yourself, or it will break and flood everything around it. Life is a battle of control.

It would seem slowly working with these two might be to their mutual benefit, after all. Miho is a rising employee mistreated much like he is even if in very different ways and reasons, and Yua is a teacher in an unsavory line of work she quite honestly probably doesn't deserve, especially if she has a child coming...

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Boats! Yes, Yua likes boats. Miho is aware of this. They should spend more time on the water...

"Yes. The sort of people who care most about not 'rocking the boat' do not want to adapt to weather, either."

She's adorable, is what she is. Yua makes an IMPLICATION and Miho... doesn't actually catch it this time. She takes her at her work. And the way they both work...

"Indeed, neither do I," Miho says of the traps. Yes, there are different snares they set before Miho. She in turn nods to Hiroto, and her own resonance gives a brief heartbeat hint of sulfur and steel.

Miho reaches into a pocket and extends Hiroto her card. "We should speak again later, I think."

"...Soon, you and I must return to ''this'' work. But I think..."

"It may be of interest, to discuss the other."

"For instance... at the rumored Akiyoshi building, in Iwatodai City. Have you heard of it? They say it's something of a... Palace."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"There are lots of ferries that run around! It would make a really fun day trip for your family, I bet!" Yua smiles, brightly. "And don't worry, ferries are super safe!!"

... maybe the Powers that Be want the weather to adapt to ''them,'' Yua thinks.

Luckily, Yua's ''terrible implications'' don't go misunderstood. Instead -- Yua does, indeed, feel that Resonance. And while normally she keeps hers under wraps...

Well. She glances to Miho, with a little wordless "?" of confirmation, and then unveils what ''she's'' hiding.

... and maybe she's ''not'' a visitor to the Underworld. Because what is here is underground; what is here is locked away. Stillwater drips, where it gathers, undisturbed.

Immured.

And then it is gone, as Yua locks away the dungeon where her heart lives once again. "Aww... already?" She pouts, before she looks to Miho a second time.

"Oh... oh! I get it. Our eyes are everywhere," Yua sighs, not quite having the heart in her for the call-and-response, but still not brave enough to be ''sassy'' about it. "... especially ''here''..." She gestures out the window, vaguely, at all-of-Narumi.

Still. It's the kind of call-and-response Hiroto ought to be quite familiar with, in his own work.

This sweet little teacher lady is with the New World Order... and no doubt it's not just ''her.''

Before Yua packs up, though, she makes sure to add one little thing: "... oh, the Akiyoshi building? Right! I was reading about that on the Dark Side of Sumaru!"

Yua might be bad at implications ''sometimes,'' but she's also been working with Miho for quite a long time by now.

It's quite a long time before everyone's off work, too, though. By the time they get into the carpark of the Akiyoshi building for Yua to recite some really quite ''accurate'' Shakespeare, the sun's already set. The front of the Kamiya Convention Centre receives its guests through fabulous double-domes, with a glass dome atop the building. There are side-entrances which aren't staffed by guards like those front doors are -- a shadowy wall...

And stepping in there, it at first seems like no one's here. It seems like no one's here because Yua has willed it, Shrouding the corner of that wall in deeper shadow.

When someone with ''Hiroto's'' Resonance enters the field, though, the jail bars driven into Gretchen's arms spread open as the disguise falls away, revealing Yua and Miho where they are dwarfed by the massive woman in white who is Yua's Persona.

"Don't worry," Yua assures him -- with no veils over her face, nothing to mask the way her eyepatch has been slid back to reveal an eye with ''three pupils'' arranged in much the same fashion as the 'face' on his own Mark -- as she beckons him forward. "No one will hear us, here. When we're in a place like this, Gretchen can help!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Miho and Yua both understand, as Hiroto feels their own resonance. "Take care, Ooshiro-san. Good luck with your work, Ijuuin-san. I'll certainly have to check that out." He's heard of it, of course. It's part of his work.

Once work passes, Hiroto takes a breath outside the office, and pulling out his phone... there are sacrifices he makes for his family.

"Reina? I'll be home late again tonight. Mm, yeah, it's more work, came up last minute. No, I'm okay, I promise. I'll be back as soon as I can. I love you too."

And then, it's time to take a train to Iwatodai. Once actually there, he recites the Shakespeare fairly well (he, too, is a classics reader) and steps forth into the Kamiya Palace.

His Resonance rings out, and he's stepping forward. His body language, Yua and Miho will immediately noticed, has changed. No longer is he an awkward, Clark Kent-ing sort of salaryman who seems gentle and soft. While his face is neutral, his body language is alert, paying attention to all vectors of information around him. He keeps him arms loose to his side, in case he needs to strike at any point (Shadows, not Miho and Yua - he doesn't think they're a danger to him right now, though he doesn't underestimate them if they were, either).

"Hello again," he says. "It seems we all bear the same sign." A pause.

"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am the Ferryman." That's a name *Yua* might have heard of as well. A remorseless fixer who completes every job with efficiency and without complaint.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Their eyes are, indeed, everywhere. But eventually Miho is off work; she has been working extra lately, given the time off she was able to get. ...There are times at which she considers doing away with the facade...

But then they'd expect more of her 'out of office' work in return for her resources, of course.

The person Miho would call is already here, though she does text Eiko, to keep her abreast of what will be expected of her.

SHe doesn't recite the Shakespeare. Instead, she makes a disgusted scowl as she puts together the meaning in this case.

She notices, though. She notices that body language...

"We do," Miho says, and inclines her head. Bear the same sign. "...Though I come by it differently, you see."

Gretchen ''can'' help. "I wish to bring you into my confidence," Miho says to Hiroto. "But to do so I must understand one thing." She looks to Yua, and back to Hiroto.

"For what resason do you fight for our mutual contacts?"

"I fight primarily for Yua. ...To recover and rescue her, I joined the conspiracy. Now, I require what they can offer to keep her and my friend alive."

She shared something with Yua on the way over; that they helped to care for his family, in the True World, after he fell.

"I share this because I believe that we could work together for our own benefit--for our families' benefit--rather than only theirs."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"We do," Yua affirms, to the Ferryman -- who, indeed, she's heard of. She might have feared him more if she hadn't met Hiroto, first... though it's not as if they're two separate people. She felt the way that dam was holding back the waters. "Though mine is hidden from their sight."

Her arms are bare, and that is useful, now and then.

"Were I in a place like this," she says, "most times I would veil myself, disguise myself, become the Bride named Yumi... but it is sufficient to hide ourselves here, I think." She pauses, looking back to the Palace. "We should not enter this place, this day. The hour grows long, and weariness grows longer." She sounds... a little more odd, but... perhaps it's nothing?

"I am fighting because I must," Yua shares, in turn. "Because the Powers that Be control medications I require... for this reason, they believe I am but a tool they possess. Recchi and I both are doomed this way... until we are free of their coercion, we are assets they still use." She frowns, looking up to Hiroto -- to the Ferryman. "Yet they know not what they leash. I am no doll; I am a Queen."

If he was there, in the True World... surely, Yua thinks, she can ''trust'' him.

But Miho would know best who to trust, in a place like this.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Hiroto listens as both women speak. Before he shares his reason, he allows them to explain their own...

Something twitches in his face. It's a softening, not a hardening. He can agree with what they're saying.

"I was given this life as a... promotion." The bitterness is tangible. "For 'exemplary work ethic'. They intended to break me, I believe. What they did instead is slap a shackle on me."

He sighs, taking a side step to look out at the sign of a noise, before turning back. "That shackle is not just mine. Should I fail, my family takes the penance. Should they be a distraction, they will be removed. Should I escape, they will have to flee, too. We are all bound in the same chains..."

"And I wish to shatter those chains where we are bound."

Hiroto looks firm, resolute at this.

"Before you make any decision or offer any alliance, I will give you some information myself, as it would not do to blindside you. The Powers that Be hand me around as a tool. Currently, they have me targeting one I believe you may know." He's read some of the individual's file, and it adds up with school choice, ages, and patterns he's seen on the job.

"Myunghon Yeo. They are not a kill order, but I have been assigned to intimidate them by their own family. It is not an order I can break lightly. They seem kind, however, truly passionate about the literary arts."

The fact he's naming and gendering them correctly may be noteworthy. He is not one of the traditional NWO fascists, it seems.

"I thought it was only fair to let you know how exactly they are pulling the chains."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"...And I, the Groom named Miyu," Miho confirms after Yua introduces herself.

It is indeed not as if they're actually separate people.

"I trust your judgement," Miho says. "If your senses indicate that entering the Palace is a poor idea.. then I will keep us out of it." A pause. "But another day, we should investigate," she says. "There may be matters of interest to us. And if not..."

"There may be matters of use."

But he twitches. And then he speaks.

"So we all operate under chains," she says. "Mine, through Yua and Remi. Yours, through your own family."

"...Your candor is appreciated," she says, and looks to Yua, and back to Hiroto. "However, I also once was set to target Myunghon Yeo. They have a habit of surviving even fatal intentions."

"I am confident that they will survive yours, as well. Whether they wish it or not."

"There's no need to break that order. They can handle it. But knowing their own family is involved... that's interesting. That may be helpful, later."

"It was fair. Myunghon Yeo is a friend to us, despite what I have said."

"And so since you have made clear your condition..."

"I will share a truth. I did not earn this Mark by standing before Gozen. They recruited me because I already had it. Because another's will lurks behind the scenes."

"Because I have my own ambitions that I will see fulfilled. Yua will be free. ...And so will your family, if we join forces. I will help you to shatter those chains."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Another day," Yua agrees with Miho, with a faint smile. "When we are strong and stronger. We will need her, here. Recchi. This is a great power... too great to handle lightly." What she senses of it, from the outside... she knows they must be ready.

Yua does seem worried, to hear that he's targeting Myunghon, though she looks to Miho first. "Myucchi... if you think they'll be okay, then..." She sighs, looking back to Hiroto. "... we all are asked to do things we wish not. I have blamed boys too easily for this before... I will not make that mistake with you, now. But Myucchi is our dear friend," she adds, clasping her hand to her heart. "Please, do what you can."

Though she knows that mightn't be ''much.''

"They forced me into it," Yua says, of this ''life,'' reaching up to press a hand to her cheek, "though... this Mark... I received it of my own free will. They said they'd let me see Mimi if I cooperated with them... of course, they were lying. I couldn't even rip them to shreds with the power they'd given me... my Mark is a quiet thing. Too quiet to summon demons whence I tread... though it slips past Persona-Users' notice much more easily than Mimi's, at least for a time."

She frowns, her hand reaching up to rest at Miho's arm. "Mine is... wrong," she surmises, at length, looking down. "It hurts me... in a way Mimi's never has. They did something to my eye, but... I don't know anything about it."

She sighs, looking to Hiroto, again. "Regardless of their transgressions," she insists, "I will bring about Mimi's ambitions. That's something I decided without being tricked at all."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
The Groom and the Bride. Hiroto nods, as he considers more what they have to say. Myunghon Yeo is strong, and will survive. They are chained by the people they love. It is a cruel, twisted fact of life, that the wolf that would bite to defend themselves gets chained or culled, Hiroto thinks. Were they those wolves? Well...

If you try to tame a wolf, it either becomes a dog... or it turns on you. He refuses to be the former. He has no love lost for the conspiracy.

"I am sympathetic to your hardships. When they gave me the Mark, I saw such unspeakable things. I am no longer in full ownership of my body, and likely not even my soul."

A breath, and a nod.

"...I am amenable to an alliance. To survive in this world... one cannot simply go alone."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Another day... Yes. They will need another. That is true. But with Hiroto--with the Ferryman--perhaps, the four of them...

Miho says to Yua, "Have faith in them. They have survived much before. Even me."

But Yua was forced into it, and..

"They lied to you in many ways. ...To me, as well, but I am more concerned with what they have done to you."

Hers is wrong...

"Mine may be the only one that is 'right'," Miho opines on the mark. "I have Seen things. I See a path before us."

"And I will guide us there. We will work together, then, an alliance."

"And may their sinless world tremble before us."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
Yua isn't a dog, as much as they make cruel jokes about it. It's not the sound of a dog barking; it's the word for her will.

"You're right," she smiles, to Miho. "They're really tough..."

But what they have borne -- lies and horrors -- they darken Yua's gaze, as she slips her hands around Miho's arm.

"When we took audience with 'him'... the Powers that Be arranged such a thing," she remarks, scowling, as she dwells on Gozen for a moment. "Yet Mimi was blessed of her own accord... and I believe in what she has Seen," she says, drawn close to her. "Though I cannot see that world, for all the sight they have given me... nothing can shake my faith in Mimi. She's always been strong enough to protect us... so it's her goals I really care about."

She smiles, reaching out to Hiroto with her other hand.

"They never should have underestimated us, Ton-chan!"

He has a cute nickname. ''It's over.''

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-12-04: To Break The Shackles

2025-12-05T20:49:02Z

Thornpunk:

*'''Log: To Break The Shackles'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Yua Ooshiro]], [[Hiroto Nakamura]], [[Miho Ijuuin]]
*'''Where:''' Katou Corporation office -> Eiji Kamiya's Palace
*'''OOC Date:''' December 04, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 20, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Yua visits Miho's place of work to bring her a bento, and meets Hiroto, one of Miho's coworkers, who helps her escape the sexist jeers of their coworkers. Miho arrives and talks with the two of them, where Hiroto reveals his other identity and Awakening. The three later meet up to discuss more in a Palace they plan to invesitgate, and Miho and Yua recruit Hiroto into their confidence after learning that he only fights for the conspiracy for the sake of his family. ALSO: Hiroto gets Yua nickname'd! He's been accepted!''

----
(|============================== Narumi - Main ===============================|)

-================================================= Sumaru City/Narumi Ward ====-

The newest ward of Sumaru City is also the fanciest and most elegant--and,

consequently, the most expensive. The crime rate here is low and the stores are

top-class, so many rich and famous people make their homes here. The view is

second to none, thanks to how it juts directly into the sea to the south; a

yacht harbor ensures one can watch classy ships sailing by all day long.

Because it's so new, there are sections of it that are still under construction,

most notably the local subway lines, and some of the seedier parts of society

have taken advantage of that to creep in and take root. That has nothing to do

with the local science lab, conducting experiments for the good of society with

top-notch security, and maybe everything to do with the sewer system next door.

But one can't possibly want to go into the sewer--not when the five-star

accommodations of Hotel Pleiades are available on the south beach. Hotel

Pleiades is without question the jewel of Narumi. Because it also overlooks the

yacht harbor, many rich, seafaring travelers get rooms here, boosting the local

economy even further. The Astro Universe Theme Park here is home to the Astro

Clock, the second largest ferris wheel in Japan.

<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
Yua had some trouble with breakfast, this morning, which Miho had to help her with... and by the time everything was well, it was almost time for her to ''leave,'' and she had to ''hurry out.''

Which means -- tragedy of tragedies -- Yua didn't have time to finish her ''bento.''

Obviously, this won't stand. Yua took some more medicine, and returned to the kitchen, determined that at least ''Miho'' could enjoy some breakfast with any kind of ''flavour'' to it. (It's not ''fair'' that she has to eat bland food all the time now...) By the time she is done, she has created a ''work of art.'' The rice is shaped like a fishie with little seaweed gills and fins and seaweed flakes for scales; it swims in a sea of greens, with a 'sun' of a cherry tomato surrounded by pieces of red and yellow cucumber sitting low on the horizon, surrounded by delicious clouds made of shredded chicken.

Yua's kids are going to have a great time at lunch, but no one told her that bento are supposed to be for children. She decided in highschool that she wanted to make lunch for Miho every day just like she did for her younger siblings, and by God, Yua achieves her goals.

The next trick, of course, is getting it... to Miho's office. Luckily, Miho keeps a spare swipe card -- and Yua ''knows'' where she keeps it -- so getting up to her office isn't a problem. It's just...

Yua is a strange creature, as she appears from the elevator: dressed in a black dancer's leotard, skirt hanging to her knees and a purse about her shoulder, with ''shoes with ankle support'' and ''compression socks'' where her pointe shoes ought to be. Her teal hair is all done up in a tight bun which reveals the eyepatch over her left eye; she has a fabric decoration stretched over the back of her right hand, and an ''engagement ring'' on her left wedding finger. Her skin is notably tawnier than most of the mainlanders she's passed, here.

And, of course, she is carrying a bento.

"Mimi!" Yua chirps, as she enters the office block. "Mimiiiii...?" She stands on her tippy-toes to try and see where Miho might be in this sea of suits, but of course she is a little short for a lady, which means she ''definitely'' can't see over the cubicle walls. "Mimi?"

"Hey," one of the men elbows another, from where they're coming back getting cups of coffee. "Isn't that Ijuuin-san's...?"

"Shh!" His buddy whispers, sharply. "She can hear us!"

"It's fine, it's fine, she doesn't mind! Do ya, doll?" The first man smiles, walking up to Yua. "We've been ''wondering'' about her cute little lunchboxes. So -- she ''didn't'' really make them herself? Heh... you're ''both'' a little old for it, don't you think?"

"Mmm..." Yua frowns, taking a step back as she holds the bento to her chest, scowling to them.

"She's so ''cute,''" another man reflects, quietly, looking up from his computer. "Ah... a shame she's wasted with Ijuuin-san..."

"No, no," another man offers clarification, under his breath. "They're marrying her off, I heard, it's fine."

"Eh? You mean Ijuuin-san? I didn't even think she was on the market," the man distracted from his work replies.

"Not her, ''that'' pretty little thing -- though if the rumours are true, maybe that means Ijuuin-san is next..."

Dear God, Yua could start a civil war just ''standing'' here. The worst part is: Miho Ijuuin's been in a ''meeting'' for the past half an hour, and who ''knows'' when she'll get out? (Very soon, but ''they'' don't know that.)

But what kind of man working here would escort Yua to the break room so she could safely stow the bento she's brought for Miho...?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Hiroto Nakamura is at work in a cubicle today. Ever since his 'promotion', he has been working in this office, and is currently working on something that is technically not due for a while but will be done early anyways at insistence, since his whole problem is he's an overachiever who they're trying to break down into nothing by giving him harder work.

As he's working, he overhears the words that finally bring his attention to Yua. He's familiar with her existence, though they've never met.

Near-imperceptibly, as his coworkers talk about her in such a foul way, so... sexistly, his face shifts. Brows crease, lips curl, and eventually, he stands up. He can fit in a break...

Rising with his striped tie, and square spectacles, Whereto straightens it, before stepping over to Yua. "Ma'am, would you like to be led to the break room? If so, please follow me."

If Yua's observant enough, she might notice those signs as the starting of anger, as small as they are.

Should Yua follow, Hiroto leads her to the break room, which should currently be empty.

"Would you like some water?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
When Yua's gaze darts to Hiroto, it's with the worried scowl of someone expecting even ''more'' misogyny; surprise widens her crimson eye, when he instead addresses her ''respectfully.'' "I, um..."

('Wan', she says, not 'ware'; it's the Okinawan pronoun, the kind of slip one might expect from someone flustered. It's also, in Japanese, the sound of a dog barking, which soundly informs --)

"Oh? Stealing Ijuuin-san's dog? Hah!" His coworker exclaims, clapping him on the shoulder as he walks past them. "It's your funeral!"

"Please, let's just go," Yua says, to the man, and the quiet of her voice can't mask the way it's wound tight.

She can see that he's getting angry, and she doesn't want to cause a fight in Miho's office after she forgot her lunch, too...

Yua hurries off behind him, and -- "ah!" -- when they enter, she hurries over to the ''fridge'' to slip Miho's bento safely inside. (No one would dare to eat her lunch, especially after what she's going to have to do to them ''now.'') Closing the door, she peeks back up, and says: "S-some water would be nice... thank you."

A light pause, and she adds, to herself, "I think I can keep that down..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Hiroto sees that worried scowl, and his expression does soften lightly, though the anger and frustration is still there. As she asks him to take her, he dos so, and they're soon in the break room. He watches as she slips the bento inside, and moves over to the water cooler, grabbing two cups and pouring an equivalent amount of water into each of them. He hands her one, before taking the other for himself.

"Here you go, Ooshiro-san. I apologize for my coworkers' behavior." The anger is calming, at least. He needs to control his face better, if people can notice...

"Are you ill?" he asks curiously. "We may have nausea pills somewhere, if that will help."

It is good to always keep some handy, especially with some of his own stomach sensitivities. Being nauseated at work is a reduction of productivity, after all.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Miho would accept less flavorful breakfasts! That would be an acceptable sacrifice, for Yua's health. However...

That isn't the world they're living in at the moment. It's not that Miho doesn't appreciate it; it's just that she wories about Yua. And today...

Well, today, it's getting it to her.

Miho is dressed in one of her usual dark suits, with short green hair and... business. Miho is in a meeting, herself. She thus does not immediately hear anyone call Yua 'doll'. She does not immediately hear anyone speaking of Yua as her dog. But 'immediately' is not the end of how they talk about her.

But she gets out, and there are whispers. More than whispers.

"What a cute lunch! Perfect for--"

Miho narrows her eyes at the first man to speak up. She then smoothly walks across the room to the break area, opening the door, passing through, and closing it behind her.

"...Hello, Nakamura-san." Pause. "Yua."

"I was in a meeting..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Oh! You-- you know me?" Yua asks, taking the cup. "R-really, it's okay, um... Mimi told me they weren't very nice, so..."

Sip.

"I, um -- n-no, it's not that," she shakes her head, after a moment to tell whether the water is going to actually ''settle'' properly. "It's, er... it's nothing infectious, um..." A blush spreads over her cheeks, as she realises she doesn't even have an ''excuse.'' "I--I'm pregnant," she admits, a moment later.

"Um... t-thank you, um...?" Yua starts, but before she can manage to get past her nervousness to ask for his ''name'' --

-- the door opens again!

"Mimi!" Yua exclaims, bounding over to her. She remembers her situation at the last moment, of course, to stop in ''front'' of her rather than leaping into her arms, though she clearly ''wants'' to. "I got your lunch done! It's in the fridge! T-this, um --"

She pauses, looking from Miho to Hiroto. "N--Nakamura-san? Nakamura-san helped me!" Yua sighs, with a terrible pout. "Everyone was being really mean, but he offered to show me where you kept lunch and stuff... and he got me some water!"

She holds the cup up, demonstratively. And then takes another sip. The water is ''probably'' not poisoned.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
"My wife was watching your engagement announcement. Congratulations," Hiroto says politely, Seeing as it was a single episode of a single show, he must have a good memory.

As Yua stumbles upon her words on how to tell him why she's feeling ill, Hiroto is patient, sipping at his water. When she finally admits, he nods, a reassuring smile on his face. "Congratulations once more. Children are a wonder."

But she doesn't know his name... he's about to introduce himself, when Miho walks in and introduces him indirectly. She was in a meeting...

"Ijuuin-san, hello." He greets formally and properly, before turning. "Hiroto Nakamura. It is nice to meet you."

Miho, at least, may know some of the rumors about Hiroto, both in-office and in-conspiracy. The 'Sisyphus of Katou Corporation', his direct 'handlers' have been trying to overwork him to death perhaps literally, pushing impossible assignments on him to get him fired. He's never failed once, to the point that the conspiracy themselves 'promoted' him into a fixer - the Ferryman.

"Tough meeting?" he asks Miho, since small talk is HARD and AWKWARD.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Miho smiles at Yua first. She would've absolutely caught her... but it's best not. Instead, "Thank you," she says of the lunch. Then:

She looks to Hiroto again. She does remember the rumors on both sides, as a matter of fact, and so it's good that the water probably isn't poisoned. ...Yua would notice if it were. She's sensitive like that.

"My co-workers often forget their manners in the face of pretty women," she says 'diplomatically'. But not you it would seem, Nakamura-san. I appreciate your assistance to her."

Pause. "Not especially," as to the meeting, because she must always project Strength. "However, if I go out onto the floor now, I am likely to say something unkind to a co-worker. That would not be ideal."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Oh!" Yua exclaims, when Hiroto mentions how she was on ''television.'' She looks surprised, so perhaps it's not a usual thing for her...? "Thank you," she smiles, warmly. "I'm really looking forward to joining Kimi-san's family!"

And, it seems, she's ''really'' looking forward to ''adding'' to the Ijuuin clan. "Thank you!" Yua chirps, brightly. "It's still very early... but we're very happy!"

And then -- Miho!! Yua smiles to her, warm and big as the sun, brightening up the Underworld for her visit.

(Is she really just visiting...?)

But Yua is, indeed, ''very'' sensitive to things tasting ''off'' these days. Or even smelling bad! Perhaps that's why she's such a picky eater right now...?

Yua bows her head, politely, when Hiroto formally introduces himself. "N-nice to meet you! I, um -- I'm Yua! Yua Ooshiro!" She pauses, looking back up. "Um, though you knew that, since you remembered that episode on TV..."

SHE'S SO CUTE.

"He was kind to me," Yua smiles, to Miho, as if it's that ''simple.'' To Yua, it might well ''be'' that simple.

Still, those men out there... "Oh... are they still saying mean things?" Yua frowns, and then takes Miho by the wrist to lead her over to the seating. "Then let's sit down for a few minutes! If they're busy gossiping, that means they don't need you for work, right?"

She smiles, to Hiroto, as she puts her cup of water on the table. "Nakamura-san, you, too! You didn't like how they were talking, right? You shouldn't have to listen to that stuff. It's, it's... a ''hostile work environment!!''"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Miho appreciates Hiroto, and Yua sees him as kind. "It was nothing. I would hope the ones I care for would be treated similarly." The brief furrow of his brow indicates he wouldn't *expect* that, though.

Miho is strong, and he respects that. He also respects that it's not ideal. "Of course." He understands that control is paramount.

Yua, though, is a ball of light. She tells them to sit for a few minutes, and he's PLANNING on excusing himself so they can have privacy, when she directs to him too. Hiroto considers, before nodding. He was getting angry...

"That's true. But unfortunately, it is not one I believe can be dealt with trivially. I will join you for a few minutes, then, as long as I am no bother."

If affirmed, he will take a seat with his own water.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"In this company, they would." Miho says that flatly. And then, "...But in the company outside, probably not. You're unusual to care so much about the affairs of women, Nakamura-san."

"I appreciate that kindness." She nods to Yua. Then, as Yua leads her over to take a seat, Miho accepts. Her shoes click against the breakroom tile.

A hostile work environment... "They would say instead that we're hostile; that we aren't adapting to the culture," she assures Yua.

But then to Hiroto, "...But we're accustomed to being stubborn, aren't we?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"That's a normal thing to want!" Yua insists, to Hiroto, despite the fact that they ''really'' can't expect their loved ones to be treated well in a place like this.

It's a terrible place for 'Bring Your Kid To Work' day, that's for sure. Let alone your wife, or your... whatever Yua's going to be to Miho now she's marrying into her family. Cousin in law?

(Will anyone buy them being cousins...?)

"Mm, maybe it's not that weird," Yua adds, though, tilting her head as she considers Hiroto. "Since Nakamura-san's married, too! See that lovely ring?" His wedding ring!! "So," she adds, turning to him, "you must have women in your life you care about! Right?" Yua smiles, the expression all but ''sparkling.''

Don't tell Yua how many of the men back there are also married and don't give a shit about their wives. Some of them are even having affairs with their secretaries...

"I guess it's tough..." Yua sighs, poking at her glass of water. "Well, every workplace is a little like that, right? Like, everyone at Shujin is always so stressed out... and then when you go to Kasugayama, most of the staff -- mm, except for a couple -- they're just counting the days until they get deployed somewhere else, so it's hard to get anyone involved in doing anything for the kids... mouuuu, but it's much, much worse in the office!!"

Yua pouts, taking another sip of water. "How are you supposed to adapt to a culture like that? By picking on women who come in? That's no good... and it's not fair to expect you to be mean to other women just so they don't pick on you, Mimi!!" Yua has, just, immediately picked up on the catch-22 of Miho's suit, the tension between her being a ''woman'' and simultaneously not ''feminine'' and ''available.''

"You must be very stubborn," she decides, looking between them both. "But that's good! Stubbornness is just what people call determination when they're mad about it!"

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
"Am I? That's unfortunate," Hiroto tells Miho, before nodding over to Yua. "Yes. I have a wife and a teenage daughter," he explains. "Being a parent doesn't automatically grant you compassion, however... but it has taught me many things. Our son is only eight, so I'm hoping to instill the same values."

But Miho explains that they'd be the hostile ones. "It is better not to rock the boat, unfortunately. I don't necessarily want more overtime." Is that a joke? (It's a joke.)

"Teaching is a wonderful profession," he compliments, and it's clear he *likes* kids if he thinks that. But then, Yua talks about stubbornness, as does Miho...

"You have to be, in our line of work. But perhaps determination is indeed a better word for it."

The fact that it applies to both lines of work doesn't leave his mind.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
It is a normal thing to want. One would think. But Hiroto gets Miho's answer, and Miho continues, "I see. Well, they're lucky to have a conscientious father," she says.

Who would buy a pair of lesbians as cousins?

"It's important for boys and girls both to have a strong father. I can imagine you doing well."

She doesn't know him well enough for it to be more than imagination, of course. But she can imagine it.

"I agree," she says of teaching, and then looks to Yua. "...Every workplace has its foibles," she agrees, "But not all are the old clubs of this workplace. ...Yes, it's not fair. But it is how it is."

"Overtime, staying for drinks..."

"It is business."

"I do think I prefer 'determination'. You know, Nakamura-san. I suddenly think they might've had reason to keep us from talking much in the past."

"I think we could have things in common."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Yua gasps, her eye shining. "Mm, Mimi's right! A good dad is really important! If my dad hadn't worked so hard for us, Mimi and I might have never even met, you know? But he got posted to Sumaru, so here I am...!"

Still, that's true. Lesbians really just being cousins isn't very believable...

"It's weird," Yua tilts her head. "Everyone says not to 'rock the boat', but they know that boats are always rocking, right? Since the waves are moving all the time and stuff... even if the water's calm, there's still a little bit of movement!" Yua... it's a saying, Yua... "Mooouuuu... but if they're giving you too much overtime, you should complain!! Most of the men at the schools who take a bunch of overtime actually wanted it... I don't really get it, since some of them are really upset about not seeing their families much, you know?" Yua sighs. "But they say things like, 'I need this promotion to stay in Sumaru', or 'I want the principal to notice my hard work so I get a good recommendation'... then again, I guess I'm in a privileged position not having to rely on that kind of thing to support everyone..."

Yua, of course, doesn't even ''have'' to work. She could spend her days in idle leisure if she wanted to! But she still wants to spend time teaching, even though she's making Miho's home welcoming, too.

"But I really like teaching!" Yua smiles, to Hiroto. "I've been planning some really cool new things for the kids when they get back... it's always tough when you're young and vacation ends, you know? So I've been reviewing all the popular new songs to figure out how the dance routines in their music videos go! I'm sure they'll love getting to do that! And once they're a little more used to coming to class every day, we can start going over how the movements work..."

Still, Yua pouts, as she looks to Miho again. "Hey, hey, but how are you supposed to do that when you're pregnant? The women working here can't stay for drinks then!" Yes, Yua, that's the point.

"Hmph!!" She huffs, with another sip of water. Yua is ''offended'' for the secretaries!

She looks from Miho to Hiroto, though, blinking her one good eye. "Hey, that's right! If you both don't like the culture, here, you can at least support each other! Right?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
"Thank you," Hiroto brushes off the compliments, because he sure is a bit uncomfortable receiving them, even if he appreciates them. But Yua starts on boats. He considers it. "I believe it's because the more you rock the boat, the more likely you are to fall overboard."

But, on overtime, he nods to both of them. "It is work. My situation with it is... peculiar. I am often forced to work late hours." He's not seeking sympathy, just to explain, even if he might get it anyways.

"That makes sense," he tells Yua, taking a long sip of his water. He remembers how he, too, wanted to be a kind of teacher... if only life had been different. "I am sure they'll appreciate it."

But Miho prefers determination, and that they had reason to keep from talking much in the past. Things in common. "Perhaps," he says. "You cannot grind one down as easily if they have allies." Ah, he's aware of what they're trying to do to him. (He always has been.)

Yua though, gets a glance. He doesn't actually know Miho very well for the pre-established 'they kinda keep us apart', but... she seems earnest about it. "I am willing to assist my coworkers, of course."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"True," Miho says of Yua's very good father.

"I believe it's as he says. ...But also probably a phrase primarily used by people who have never spent much time on the water."

It is a privileged position, of course. But Miho's is even more so. And as to work, well, "Yes. I understand." She offers that, instead of obvious sympathy, because--well, of course she gets it.

"That sounds fun," Miho says of Yua's plans. "And useful. A healthy mind resides most easily in a healthy body..."

But, how? "You aren't," Miho says. "Indeed, they would prefer if women largely stayed out, except as secretaries now and then."

A look to Hiroto, and a nod. "Yes," she says.

"It's something to consider, Nakamura-san. I at least would like it if we could speak more often."

"They try to lay traps before me, as well, of course. They do not like my successes much."

"...Not in business, at least."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"You're much more likely to fall overboard if you can't rock ''with'' the boat, though..." Yua points out, tilting her head the other way.

She's not making a philosophical point, though it might ''seem'' like she is.

She just likes boats!

Which is why when Miho explains that people who ''don't'' boat came up with it, she says: "Oh! I get it! It looks like the boat rocking is scary, so that's what throws you off! But it's okay," she assures Hiroto. "If you know how to use a boat, it's pretty easy to stay on deck! The most important thing is to work with the weather! If the waves are wild enough that you're getting tossed off your boat, you made a mistake long before the boat started rocking!"

Yua... really likes boats...

... and she might be a bit, you know, 'odd'.

She wrinkles her nose, though, when Hiroto says he has to work late hours. "It's okay," she sympathises, with him. "Sometimes I have to work late, too. It's really inconvenient to go out when you've already had dinner and bathed, you know?" Yua, no type of teaching on the planet has you going out after dinner and bathtime to do more work.

Yua doesn't realise for a ''second'' what it sounds like when an attractive woman who is known to have been exploited by organised crime says she has to do inconvenient work late at night, though.

She smiles sunnily at their appreciation of her ''teaching plots,'' though. She works hard at them!! Even though it's hard to get teenagers excited for school...

Yua pouts, when Miho points out that women aren't ''invited.'' "That's not fair," she sulks. "You work as hard as any of those jerks! But... it sounds like you're working really hard, too, Nakamura-san!" She adds, looking to Hiroto. "So it would be nice if you could help each other, right?"

She looks a little confused, though, when Miho mentions ''traps.'' "I don't think Nakamura-san is a trap," Yua points out. "If he was, he wouldn't have been ready to leave before I asked him to sit with us, right? No... I think he was just doing something nice!"

Yua might be a little confused as to what kind of traps Miho's office invests in.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Hiroto appreciates the BOAT FACTS HE'S LEARNING. He is used to infodumps, he has children, and even if it may be seen as 'odd' to come from an adult woman, it is honestly charming instead. "That makes sense. I will keep that in mind if I am ever on a boat," he says with a smile.

But, Miho would like to speak to him more often... and Yua is clearly revealing too much about herself. (He does not think she's a lady of the night. Too incongruous with how casual she says it and what he knows about her and Miho.)

"I would like that too, Ijuuin-san. After all, it seems we are all frequently working right after midnight."

Casually, carefully, a gentle hint of Resonance flares. It's not a beacon, so no one outside the room is likely to notice, but he wants to make sure his message is clear - he is capable of conversing about both avenues of their work..

It's waves, much like that of the boat, calm and controlled. A symbolic dam is in place, keeping them from flooding outward. Yua's Navigator senses in particular might notice what it is like to be Hiroto Nakamura - you have to keep that dam steady yourself, or it will break and flood everything around it. Life is a battle of control.

It would seem slowly working with these two might be to their mutual benefit, after all. Miho is a rising employee mistreated much like he is even if in very different ways and reasons, and Yua is a teacher in an unsavory line of work she quite honestly probably doesn't deserve, especially if she has a child coming...

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Boats! Yes, Yua likes boats. Miho is aware of this. They should spend more time on the water...

"Yes. The sort of people who care most about not 'rocking the boat' do not want to adapt to weather, either."

She's adorable, is what she is. Yua makes an IMPLICATION and Miho... doesn't actually catch it this time. She takes her at her work. And the way they both work...

"Indeed, neither do I," Miho says of the traps. Yes, there are different snares they set before Miho. She in turn nods to Hiroto, and her own resonance gives a brief heartbeat hint of sulfur and steel.

Miho reaches into a pocket and extends Hiroto her card. "We should speak again later, I think."

"...Soon, you and I must return to ''this'' work. But I think..."

"It may be of interest, to discuss the other."

"For instance... at the rumored Akiyoshi building, in Iwatodai City. Have you heard of it? They say it's something of a... Palace."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"There are lots of ferries that run around! It would make a really fun day trip for your family, I bet!" Yua smiles, brightly. "And don't worry, ferries are super safe!!"

... maybe the Powers that Be want the weather to adapt to ''them,'' Yua thinks.

Luckily, Yua's ''terrible implications'' don't go misunderstood. Instead -- Yua does, indeed, feel that Resonance. And while normally she keeps hers under wraps...

Well. She glances to Miho, with a little wordless "?" of confirmation, and then unveils what ''she's'' hiding.

... and maybe she's ''not'' a visitor to the Underworld. Because what is here is underground; what is here is locked away. Stillwater drips, where it gathers, undisturbed.

Immured.

And then it is gone, as Yua locks away the dungeon where her heart lives once again. "Aww... already?" She pouts, before she looks to Miho a second time.

"Oh... oh! I get it. Our eyes are everywhere," Yua sighs, not quite having the heart in her for the call-and-response, but still not brave enough to be ''sassy'' about it. "... especially ''here''..." She gestures out the window, vaguely, at all-of-Narumi.

Still. It's the kind of call-and-response Hiroto ought to be quite familiar with, in his own work.

This sweet little teacher lady is with the New World Order... and no doubt it's not just ''her.''

Before Yua packs up, though, she makes sure to add one little thing: "... oh, the Akiyoshi building? Right! I was reading about that on the Dark Side of Sumaru!"

Yua might be bad at implications ''sometimes,'' but she's also been working with Miho for quite a long time by now.

It's quite a long time before everyone's off work, too, though. By the time they get into the carpark of the Akiyoshi building for Yua to recite some really quite ''accurate'' Shakespeare, the sun's already set. The front of the Kamiya Convention Centre receives its guests through fabulous double-domes, with a glass dome atop the building. There are side-entrances which aren't staffed by guards like those front doors are -- a shadowy wall...

And stepping in there, it at first seems like no one's here. It seems like no one's here because Yua has willed it, Shrouding the corner of that wall in deeper shadow.

When someone with ''Hiroto's'' Resonance enters the field, though, the jail bars driven into Gretchen's arms spread open as the disguise falls away, revealing Yua and Miho where they are dwarfed by the massive woman in white who is Yua's Persona.

"Don't worry," Yua assures him -- with no veils over her face, nothing to mask the way her eyepatch has been slid back to reveal an eye with ''three pupils'' arranged in much the same fashion as the 'face' on his own Mark -- as she beckons him forward. "No one will hear us, here. When we're in a place like this, Gretchen can help!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Miho and Yua both understand, as Hiroto feels their own resonance. "Take care, Ooshiro-san. Good luck with your work, Ijuuin-san. I'll certainly have to check that out." He's heard of it, of course. It's part of his work.

Once work passes, Hiroto takes a breath outside the office, and pulling out his phone... there are sacrifices he makes for his family.

"Reina? I'll be home late again tonight. Mm, yeah, it's more work, came up last minute. No, I'm okay, I promise. I'll be back as soon as I can. I love you too."

And then, it's time to take a train to Iwatodai. Once actually there, he recites the Shakespeare fairly well (he, too, is a classics reader) and steps forth into the Kamiya Palace.

His Resonance rings out, and he's stepping forward. His body language, Yua and Miho will immediately noticed, has changed. No longer is he an awkward, Clark Kent-ing sort of salaryman who seems gentle and soft. While his face is neutral, his body language is alert, paying attention to all vectors of information around him. He keeps him arms loose to his side, in case he needs to strike at any point (Shadows, not Miho and Yua - he doesn't think they're a danger to him right now, though he doesn't underestimate them if they were, either).

"Hello again," he says. "It seems we all bear the same sign." A pause.

"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am the Ferryman." That's a name *Yua* might have heard of as well. A remorseless fixer who completes every job with efficiency and without complaint.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Their eyes are, indeed, everywhere. But eventually Miho is off work; she has been working extra lately, given the time off she was able to get. ...There are times at which she considers doing away with the facade...

But then they'd expect more of her 'out of office' work in return for her resources, of course.

The person Miho would call is already here, though she does text Eiko, to keep her abreast of what will be expected of her.

SHe doesn't recite the Shakespeare. Instead, she makes a disgusted scowl as she puts together the meaning in this case.

She notices, though. She notices that body language...

"We do," Miho says, and inclines her head. Bear the same sign. "...Though I come by it differently, you see."

Gretchen ''can'' help. "I wish to bring you into my confidence," Miho says to Hiroto. "But to do so I must understand one thing." She looks to Yua, and back to Hiroto.

"For what resason do you fight for our mutual contacts?"

"I fight primarily for Yua. ...To recover and rescue her, I joined the conspiracy. Now, I require what they can offer to keep her and my friend alive."

She shared something with Yua on the way over; that they helped to care for his family, in the True World, after he fell.

"I share this because I believe that we could work together for our own benefit--for our families' benefit--rather than only theirs."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"We do," Yua affirms, to the Ferryman -- who, indeed, she's heard of. She might have feared him more if she hadn't met Hiroto, first... though it's not as if they're two separate people. She felt the way that dam was holding back the waters. "Though mine is hidden from their sight."

Her arms are bare, and that is useful, now and then.

"Were I in a place like this," she says, "most times I would veil myself, disguise myself, become the Bride named Yumi... but it is sufficient to hide ourselves here, I think." She pauses, looking back to the Palace. "We should not enter this place, this day. The hour grows long, and weariness grows longer." She sounds... a little more odd, but... perhaps it's nothing?

"I am fighting because I must," Yua shares, in turn. "Because the Powers that Be control medications I require... for this reason, they believe I am but a tool they possess. Recchi and I both are doomed this way... until we are free of their coercion, we are assets they still use." She frowns, looking up to Hiroto -- to the Ferryman. "Yet they know not what they leash. I am no doll; I am a Queen."

If he was there, in the True World... surely, Yua thinks, she can ''trust'' him.

But Miho would know best who to trust, in a place like this.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Hiroto listens as both women speak. Before he shares his reason, he allows them to explain their own...

Something twitches in his face. It's a softening, not a hardening. He can agree with what they're saying.

"I was given this life as a... promotion." The bitterness is tangible. "For 'exemplary work ethic'. They intended to break me, I believe. What they did instead is slap a shackle on me."

He sighs, taking a side step to look out at the sign of a noise, before turning back. "That shackle is not just mine. Should I fail, my family takes the penance. Should they be a distraction, they will be removed. Should I escape, they will have to flee, too. We are all bound in the same chains..."

"And I wish to shatter those chains where we are bound."

Hiroto looks firm, resolute at this.

"Before you make any decision or offer any alliance, I will give you some information myself, as it would not do to blindside you. The Powers that Be hand me around as a tool. Currently, they have me targeting one I believe you may know." He's read some of the individual's file, and it adds up with school choice, ages, and patterns he's seen on the job.

"Myunghon Yeo. They are not a kill order, but I have been assigned to intimidate them by their own family. It is not an order I can break lightly. They seem kind, however, truly passionate about the literary arts."

The fact he's naming and gendering them correctly may be noteworthy. He is not one of the traditional NWO fascists, it seems.

"I thought it was only fair to let you know how exactly they are pulling the chains."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"...And I, the Groom named Miyu," Miho confirms after Yua introduces herself.

It is indeed not as if they're actually separate people.

"I trust your judgement," Miho says. "If your senses indicate that entering the Palace is a poor idea.. then I will keep us out of it." A pause. "But another day, we should investigate," she says. "There may be matters of interest to us. And if not..."

"There may be matters of use."

But he twitches. And then he speaks.

"So we all operate under chains," she says. "Mine, through Yua and Remi. Yours, through your own family."

"...Your candor is appreciated," she says, and looks to Yua, and back to Hiroto. "However, I also once was set to target Myunghon Yeo. They have a habit of surviving even fatal intentions."

"I am confident that they will survive yours, as well. Whether they wish it or not."

"There's no need to break that order. They can handle it. But knowing their own family is involved... that's interesting. That may be helpful, later."

"It was fair. Myunghon Yeo is a friend to us, despite what I have said."

"And so since you have made clear your condition..."

"I will share a truth. I did not earn this Mark by standing before Gozen. They recruited me because I already had it. Because another's will lurks behind the scenes."

"Because I have my own ambitions that I will see fulfilled. Yua will be free. ...And so will your family, if we join forces. I will help you to shatter those chains."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Another day," Yua agrees with Miho, with a faint smile. "When we are strong and stronger. We will need her, here. Recchi. This is a great power... too great to handle lightly." What she senses of it, from the outside... she knows they must be ready.

Yua does seem worried, to hear that he's targeting Myunghon, though she looks to Miho first. "Myucchi... if you think they'll be okay, then..." She sighs, looking back to Hiroto. "... we all are asked to do things we wish not. I have blamed boys too easily for this before... I will not make that mistake with you, now. But Myucchi is our dear friend," she adds, clasping her hand to her heart. "Please, do what you can."

Though she knows that mightn't be ''much.''

"They forced me into it," Yua says, of this ''life,'' reaching up to press a hand to her cheek, "though... this Mark... I received it of my own free will. They said they'd let me see Mimi if I cooperated with them... of course, they were lying. I couldn't even rip them to shreds with the power they'd given me... my Mark is a quiet thing. Too quiet to summon demons whence I tread... though it slips past Persona-Users' notice much more easily than Mimi's, at least for a time."

She frowns, her hand reaching up to rest at Miho's arm. "Mine is... wrong," she surmises, at length, looking down. "It hurts me... in a way Mimi's never has. They did something to my eye, but... I don't know anything about it."

She sighs, looking to Hiroto, again. "Regardless of their transgressions," she insists, "I will bring about Mimi's ambitions. That's something I decided without being tricked at all."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
The Groom and the Bride. Hiroto nods, as he considers more what they have to say. Myunghon Yeo is strong, and will survive. They are chained by the people they love. It is a cruel, twisted fact of life, that the wolf that would bite to defend themselves gets chained or culled, Hiroto thinks. Were they those wolves? Well...

If you try to tame a wolf, it either becomes a dog... or it turns on you. He refuses to be the former. He has no love lost for the conspiracy.

"I am sympathetic to your hardships. When they gave me the Mark, I saw such unspeakable things. I am no longer in full ownership of my body, and likely not even my soul."

A breath, and a nod.

"...I am amenable to an alliance. To survive in this world... one cannot simply go alone."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Another day... Yes. They will need another. That is true. But with Hiroto--with the Ferryman--perhaps, the four of them...

Miho says to Yua, "Have faith in them. They have survived much before. Even me."

But Yua was forced into it, and..

"They lied to you in many ways. ...To me, as well, but I am more concerned with what they have done to you."

Hers is wrong...

"Mine may be the only one that is 'right'," Miho opines on the mark. "I have Seen things. I See a path before us."

"And I will guide us there. We will work together, then, an alliance."

"And may their sinless world tremble before us."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
Yua isn't a dog, as much as they make cruel jokes about it. It's not the sound of a dog barking; it's the word for her will.

"You're right," she smiles, to Miho. "They're really tough..."

But what they have borne -- lies and horrors -- they darken Yua's gaze, as she slips her hands around Miho's arm.

"When we took audience with 'him'... the Powers that Be arranged such a thing," she remarks, scowling, as she dwells on Gozen for a moment. "Yet Mimi was blessed of her own accord... and I believe in what she has Seen," she says, drawn close to her. "Though I cannot see that world, for all the sight they have given me... nothing can shake my faith in Mimi. She's always been strong enough to protect us... so it's her goals I really care about."

She smiles, reaching out to Hiroto with her other hand.

"They never should have underestimated us, Ton-chan!"

He has a cute nickname. ''It's over.''

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-12-04: To Break The Shackles

2025-12-05T20:48:24Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: To Break The Shackles''' *'''Cast:''' Yua Ooshiro, Hiroto Nakamura, Miho Ijuuin *'''Where:''' Katou Corporation office -> Eiji Kamiya's Palace *'''OOC Date:''' December 04, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 20, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Yua visits Miho's place of work to bring her a bento, and meets Hiroto, one of her coworkers, who helps her escape the sexist jeers of their coworkers. Miho arrives and talks with the two of them, where Hiroto reveals his othe..."

*'''Log: To Break The Shackles'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Yua Ooshiro]], [[Hiroto Nakamura]], [[Miho Ijuuin]]
*'''Where:''' Katou Corporation office -> Eiji Kamiya's Palace
*'''OOC Date:''' December 04, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 20, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Yua visits Miho's place of work to bring her a bento, and meets Hiroto, one of her coworkers, who helps her escape the sexist jeers of their coworkers. Miho arrives and talks with the two of them, where Hiroto reveals his other identity and Awakening. The three later meet up to discuss more in a Palace they plan to invesitgate, and Miho and Yua recruit Hiroto into their confidence after learning that he only fights for the conspiracy for the sake of his family. ALSO: Hiroto gets Yua nickname'd! He's been accepted!''

----
(|============================== Narumi - Main ===============================|)

-================================================= Sumaru City/Narumi Ward ====-

The newest ward of Sumaru City is also the fanciest and most elegant--and,

consequently, the most expensive. The crime rate here is low and the stores are

top-class, so many rich and famous people make their homes here. The view is

second to none, thanks to how it juts directly into the sea to the south; a

yacht harbor ensures one can watch classy ships sailing by all day long.

Because it's so new, there are sections of it that are still under construction,

most notably the local subway lines, and some of the seedier parts of society

have taken advantage of that to creep in and take root. That has nothing to do

with the local science lab, conducting experiments for the good of society with

top-notch security, and maybe everything to do with the sewer system next door.

But one can't possibly want to go into the sewer--not when the five-star

accommodations of Hotel Pleiades are available on the south beach. Hotel

Pleiades is without question the jewel of Narumi. Because it also overlooks the

yacht harbor, many rich, seafaring travelers get rooms here, boosting the local

economy even further. The Astro Universe Theme Park here is home to the Astro

Clock, the second largest ferris wheel in Japan.

<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
Yua had some trouble with breakfast, this morning, which Miho had to help her with... and by the time everything was well, it was almost time for her to ''leave,'' and she had to ''hurry out.''

Which means -- tragedy of tragedies -- Yua didn't have time to finish her ''bento.''

Obviously, this won't stand. Yua took some more medicine, and returned to the kitchen, determined that at least ''Miho'' could enjoy some breakfast with any kind of ''flavour'' to it. (It's not ''fair'' that she has to eat bland food all the time now...) By the time she is done, she has created a ''work of art.'' The rice is shaped like a fishie with little seaweed gills and fins and seaweed flakes for scales; it swims in a sea of greens, with a 'sun' of a cherry tomato surrounded by pieces of red and yellow cucumber sitting low on the horizon, surrounded by delicious clouds made of shredded chicken.

Yua's kids are going to have a great time at lunch, but no one told her that bento are supposed to be for children. She decided in highschool that she wanted to make lunch for Miho every day just like she did for her younger siblings, and by God, Yua achieves her goals.

The next trick, of course, is getting it... to Miho's office. Luckily, Miho keeps a spare swipe card -- and Yua ''knows'' where she keeps it -- so getting up to her office isn't a problem. It's just...

Yua is a strange creature, as she appears from the elevator: dressed in a black dancer's leotard, skirt hanging to her knees and a purse about her shoulder, with ''shoes with ankle support'' and ''compression socks'' where her pointe shoes ought to be. Her teal hair is all done up in a tight bun which reveals the eyepatch over her left eye; she has a fabric decoration stretched over the back of her right hand, and an ''engagement ring'' on her left wedding finger. Her skin is notably tawnier than most of the mainlanders she's passed, here.

And, of course, she is carrying a bento.

"Mimi!" Yua chirps, as she enters the office block. "Mimiiiii...?" She stands on her tippy-toes to try and see where Miho might be in this sea of suits, but of course she is a little short for a lady, which means she ''definitely'' can't see over the cubicle walls. "Mimi?"

"Hey," one of the men elbows another, from where they're coming back getting cups of coffee. "Isn't that Ijuuin-san's...?"

"Shh!" His buddy whispers, sharply. "She can hear us!"

"It's fine, it's fine, she doesn't mind! Do ya, doll?" The first man smiles, walking up to Yua. "We've been ''wondering'' about her cute little lunchboxes. So -- she ''didn't'' really make them herself? Heh... you're ''both'' a little old for it, don't you think?"

"Mmm..." Yua frowns, taking a step back as she holds the bento to her chest, scowling to them.

"She's so ''cute,''" another man reflects, quietly, looking up from his computer. "Ah... a shame she's wasted with Ijuuin-san..."

"No, no," another man offers clarification, under his breath. "They're marrying her off, I heard, it's fine."

"Eh? You mean Ijuuin-san? I didn't even think she was on the market," the man distracted from his work replies.

"Not her, ''that'' pretty little thing -- though if the rumours are true, maybe that means Ijuuin-san is next..."

Dear God, Yua could start a civil war just ''standing'' here. The worst part is: Miho Ijuuin's been in a ''meeting'' for the past half an hour, and who ''knows'' when she'll get out? (Very soon, but ''they'' don't know that.)

But what kind of man working here would escort Yua to the break room so she could safely stow the bento she's brought for Miho...?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Hiroto Nakamura is at work in a cubicle today. Ever since his 'promotion', he has been working in this office, and is currently working on something that is technically not due for a while but will be done early anyways at insistence, since his whole problem is he's an overachiever who they're trying to break down into nothing by giving him harder work.

As he's working, he overhears the words that finally bring his attention to Yua. He's familiar with her existence, though they've never met.

Near-imperceptibly, as his coworkers talk about her in such a foul way, so... sexistly, his face shifts. Brows crease, lips curl, and eventually, he stands up. He can fit in a break...

Rising with his striped tie, and square spectacles, Whereto straightens it, before stepping over to Yua. "Ma'am, would you like to be led to the break room? If so, please follow me."

If Yua's observant enough, she might notice those signs as the starting of anger, as small as they are.

Should Yua follow, Hiroto leads her to the break room, which should currently be empty.

"Would you like some water?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
When Yua's gaze darts to Hiroto, it's with the worried scowl of someone expecting even ''more'' misogyny; surprise widens her crimson eye, when he instead addresses her ''respectfully.'' "I, um..."

('Wan', she says, not 'ware'; it's the Okinawan pronoun, the kind of slip one might expect from someone flustered. It's also, in Japanese, the sound of a dog barking, which soundly informs --)

"Oh? Stealing Ijuuin-san's dog? Hah!" His coworker exclaims, clapping him on the shoulder as he walks past them. "It's your funeral!"

"Please, let's just go," Yua says, to the man, and the quiet of her voice can't mask the way it's wound tight.

She can see that he's getting angry, and she doesn't want to cause a fight in Miho's office after she forgot her lunch, too...

Yua hurries off behind him, and -- "ah!" -- when they enter, she hurries over to the ''fridge'' to slip Miho's bento safely inside. (No one would dare to eat her lunch, especially after what she's going to have to do to them ''now.'') Closing the door, she peeks back up, and says: "S-some water would be nice... thank you."

A light pause, and she adds, to herself, "I think I can keep that down..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Hiroto sees that worried scowl, and his expression does soften lightly, though the anger and frustration is still there. As she asks him to take her, he dos so, and they're soon in the break room. He watches as she slips the bento inside, and moves over to the water cooler, grabbing two cups and pouring an equivalent amount of water into each of them. He hands her one, before taking the other for himself.

"Here you go, Ooshiro-san. I apologize for my coworkers' behavior." The anger is calming, at least. He needs to control his face better, if people can notice...

"Are you ill?" he asks curiously. "We may have nausea pills somewhere, if that will help."

It is good to always keep some handy, especially with some of his own stomach sensitivities. Being nauseated at work is a reduction of productivity, after all.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Miho would accept less flavorful breakfasts! That would be an acceptable sacrifice, for Yua's health. However...

That isn't the world they're living in at the moment. It's not that Miho doesn't appreciate it; it's just that she wories about Yua. And today...

Well, today, it's getting it to her.

Miho is dressed in one of her usual dark suits, with short green hair and... business. Miho is in a meeting, herself. She thus does not immediately hear anyone call Yua 'doll'. She does not immediately hear anyone speaking of Yua as her dog. But 'immediately' is not the end of how they talk about her.

But she gets out, and there are whispers. More than whispers.

"What a cute lunch! Perfect for--"

Miho narrows her eyes at the first man to speak up. She then smoothly walks across the room to the break area, opening the door, passing through, and closing it behind her.

"...Hello, Nakamura-san." Pause. "Yua."

"I was in a meeting..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Oh! You-- you know me?" Yua asks, taking the cup. "R-really, it's okay, um... Mimi told me they weren't very nice, so..."

Sip.

"I, um -- n-no, it's not that," she shakes her head, after a moment to tell whether the water is going to actually ''settle'' properly. "It's, er... it's nothing infectious, um..." A blush spreads over her cheeks, as she realises she doesn't even have an ''excuse.'' "I--I'm pregnant," she admits, a moment later.

"Um... t-thank you, um...?" Yua starts, but before she can manage to get past her nervousness to ask for his ''name'' --

-- the door opens again!

"Mimi!" Yua exclaims, bounding over to her. She remembers her situation at the last moment, of course, to stop in ''front'' of her rather than leaping into her arms, though she clearly ''wants'' to. "I got your lunch done! It's in the fridge! T-this, um --"

She pauses, looking from Miho to Hiroto. "N--Nakamura-san? Nakamura-san helped me!" Yua sighs, with a terrible pout. "Everyone was being really mean, but he offered to show me where you kept lunch and stuff... and he got me some water!"

She holds the cup up, demonstratively. And then takes another sip. The water is ''probably'' not poisoned.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
"My wife was watching your engagement announcement. Congratulations," Hiroto says politely, Seeing as it was a single episode of a single show, he must have a good memory.

As Yua stumbles upon her words on how to tell him why she's feeling ill, Hiroto is patient, sipping at his water. When she finally admits, he nods, a reassuring smile on his face. "Congratulations once more. Children are a wonder."

But she doesn't know his name... he's about to introduce himself, when Miho walks in and introduces him indirectly. She was in a meeting...

"Ijuuin-san, hello." He greets formally and properly, before turning. "Hiroto Nakamura. It is nice to meet you."

Miho, at least, may know some of the rumors about Hiroto, both in-office and in-conspiracy. The 'Sisyphus of Katou Corporation', his direct 'handlers' have been trying to overwork him to death perhaps literally, pushing impossible assignments on him to get him fired. He's never failed once, to the point that the conspiracy themselves 'promoted' him into a fixer - the Ferryman.

"Tough meeting?" he asks Miho, since small talk is HARD and AWKWARD.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Miho smiles at Yua first. She would've absolutely caught her... but it's best not. Instead, "Thank you," she says of the lunch. Then:

She looks to Hiroto again. She does remember the rumors on both sides, as a matter of fact, and so it's good that the water probably isn't poisoned. ...Yua would notice if it were. She's sensitive like that.

"My co-workers often forget their manners in the face of pretty women," she says 'diplomatically'. But not you it would seem, Nakamura-san. I appreciate your assistance to her."

Pause. "Not especially," as to the meeting, because she must always project Strength. "However, if I go out onto the floor now, I am likely to say something unkind to a co-worker. That would not be ideal."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Oh!" Yua exclaims, when Hiroto mentions how she was on ''television.'' She looks surprised, so perhaps it's not a usual thing for her...? "Thank you," she smiles, warmly. "I'm really looking forward to joining Kimi-san's family!"

And, it seems, she's ''really'' looking forward to ''adding'' to the Ijuuin clan. "Thank you!" Yua chirps, brightly. "It's still very early... but we're very happy!"

And then -- Miho!! Yua smiles to her, warm and big as the sun, brightening up the Underworld for her visit.

(Is she really just visiting...?)

But Yua is, indeed, ''very'' sensitive to things tasting ''off'' these days. Or even smelling bad! Perhaps that's why she's such a picky eater right now...?

Yua bows her head, politely, when Hiroto formally introduces himself. "N-nice to meet you! I, um -- I'm Yua! Yua Ooshiro!" She pauses, looking back up. "Um, though you knew that, since you remembered that episode on TV..."

SHE'S SO CUTE.

"He was kind to me," Yua smiles, to Miho, as if it's that ''simple.'' To Yua, it might well ''be'' that simple.

Still, those men out there... "Oh... are they still saying mean things?" Yua frowns, and then takes Miho by the wrist to lead her over to the seating. "Then let's sit down for a few minutes! If they're busy gossiping, that means they don't need you for work, right?"

She smiles, to Hiroto, as she puts her cup of water on the table. "Nakamura-san, you, too! You didn't like how they were talking, right? You shouldn't have to listen to that stuff. It's, it's... a ''hostile work environment!!''"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Miho appreciates Hiroto, and Yua sees him as kind. "It was nothing. I would hope the ones I care for would be treated similarly." The brief furrow of his brow indicates he wouldn't *expect* that, though.

Miho is strong, and he respects that. He also respects that it's not ideal. "Of course." He understands that control is paramount.

Yua, though, is a ball of light. She tells them to sit for a few minutes, and he's PLANNING on excusing himself so they can have privacy, when she directs to him too. Hiroto considers, before nodding. He was getting angry...

"That's true. But unfortunately, it is not one I believe can be dealt with trivially. I will join you for a few minutes, then, as long as I am no bother."

If affirmed, he will take a seat with his own water.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"In this company, they would." Miho says that flatly. And then, "...But in the company outside, probably not. You're unusual to care so much about the affairs of women, Nakamura-san."

"I appreciate that kindness." She nods to Yua. Then, as Yua leads her over to take a seat, Miho accepts. Her shoes click against the breakroom tile.

A hostile work environment... "They would say instead that we're hostile; that we aren't adapting to the culture," she assures Yua.

But then to Hiroto, "...But we're accustomed to being stubborn, aren't we?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"That's a normal thing to want!" Yua insists, to Hiroto, despite the fact that they ''really'' can't expect their loved ones to be treated well in a place like this.

It's a terrible place for 'Bring Your Kid To Work' day, that's for sure. Let alone your wife, or your... whatever Yua's going to be to Miho now she's marrying into her family. Cousin in law?

(Will anyone buy them being cousins...?)

"Mm, maybe it's not that weird," Yua adds, though, tilting her head as she considers Hiroto. "Since Nakamura-san's married, too! See that lovely ring?" His wedding ring!! "So," she adds, turning to him, "you must have women in your life you care about! Right?" Yua smiles, the expression all but ''sparkling.''

Don't tell Yua how many of the men back there are also married and don't give a shit about their wives. Some of them are even having affairs with their secretaries...

"I guess it's tough..." Yua sighs, poking at her glass of water. "Well, every workplace is a little like that, right? Like, everyone at Shujin is always so stressed out... and then when you go to Kasugayama, most of the staff -- mm, except for a couple -- they're just counting the days until they get deployed somewhere else, so it's hard to get anyone involved in doing anything for the kids... mouuuu, but it's much, much worse in the office!!"

Yua pouts, taking another sip of water. "How are you supposed to adapt to a culture like that? By picking on women who come in? That's no good... and it's not fair to expect you to be mean to other women just so they don't pick on you, Mimi!!" Yua has, just, immediately picked up on the catch-22 of Miho's suit, the tension between her being a ''woman'' and simultaneously not ''feminine'' and ''available.''

"You must be very stubborn," she decides, looking between them both. "But that's good! Stubbornness is just what people call determination when they're mad about it!"

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
"Am I? That's unfortunate," Hiroto tells Miho, before nodding over to Yua. "Yes. I have a wife and a teenage daughter," he explains. "Being a parent doesn't automatically grant you compassion, however... but it has taught me many things. Our son is only eight, so I'm hoping to instill the same values."

But Miho explains that they'd be the hostile ones. "It is better not to rock the boat, unfortunately. I don't necessarily want more overtime." Is that a joke? (It's a joke.)

"Teaching is a wonderful profession," he compliments, and it's clear he *likes* kids if he thinks that. But then, Yua talks about stubbornness, as does Miho...

"You have to be, in our line of work. But perhaps determination is indeed a better word for it."

The fact that it applies to both lines of work doesn't leave his mind.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
It is a normal thing to want. One would think. But Hiroto gets Miho's answer, and Miho continues, "I see. Well, they're lucky to have a conscientious father," she says.

Who would buy a pair of lesbians as cousins?

"It's important for boys and girls both to have a strong father. I can imagine you doing well."

She doesn't know him well enough for it to be more than imagination, of course. But she can imagine it.

"I agree," she says of teaching, and then looks to Yua. "...Every workplace has its foibles," she agrees, "But not all are the old clubs of this workplace. ...Yes, it's not fair. But it is how it is."

"Overtime, staying for drinks..."

"It is business."

"I do think I prefer 'determination'. You know, Nakamura-san. I suddenly think they might've had reason to keep us from talking much in the past."

"I think we could have things in common."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Yua gasps, her eye shining. "Mm, Mimi's right! A good dad is really important! If my dad hadn't worked so hard for us, Mimi and I might have never even met, you know? But he got posted to Sumaru, so here I am...!"

Still, that's true. Lesbians really just being cousins isn't very believable...

"It's weird," Yua tilts her head. "Everyone says not to 'rock the boat', but they know that boats are always rocking, right? Since the waves are moving all the time and stuff... even if the water's calm, there's still a little bit of movement!" Yua... it's a saying, Yua... "Mooouuuu... but if they're giving you too much overtime, you should complain!! Most of the men at the schools who take a bunch of overtime actually wanted it... I don't really get it, since some of them are really upset about not seeing their families much, you know?" Yua sighs. "But they say things like, 'I need this promotion to stay in Sumaru', or 'I want the principal to notice my hard work so I get a good recommendation'... then again, I guess I'm in a privileged position not having to rely on that kind of thing to support everyone..."

Yua, of course, doesn't even ''have'' to work. She could spend her days in idle leisure if she wanted to! But she still wants to spend time teaching, even though she's making Miho's home welcoming, too.

"But I really like teaching!" Yua smiles, to Hiroto. "I've been planning some really cool new things for the kids when they get back... it's always tough when you're young and vacation ends, you know? So I've been reviewing all the popular new songs to figure out how the dance routines in their music videos go! I'm sure they'll love getting to do that! And once they're a little more used to coming to class every day, we can start going over how the movements work..."

Still, Yua pouts, as she looks to Miho again. "Hey, hey, but how are you supposed to do that when you're pregnant? The women working here can't stay for drinks then!" Yes, Yua, that's the point.

"Hmph!!" She huffs, with another sip of water. Yua is ''offended'' for the secretaries!

She looks from Miho to Hiroto, though, blinking her one good eye. "Hey, that's right! If you both don't like the culture, here, you can at least support each other! Right?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
"Thank you," Hiroto brushes off the compliments, because he sure is a bit uncomfortable receiving them, even if he appreciates them. But Yua starts on boats. He considers it. "I believe it's because the more you rock the boat, the more likely you are to fall overboard."

But, on overtime, he nods to both of them. "It is work. My situation with it is... peculiar. I am often forced to work late hours." He's not seeking sympathy, just to explain, even if he might get it anyways.

"That makes sense," he tells Yua, taking a long sip of his water. He remembers how he, too, wanted to be a kind of teacher... if only life had been different. "I am sure they'll appreciate it."

But Miho prefers determination, and that they had reason to keep from talking much in the past. Things in common. "Perhaps," he says. "You cannot grind one down as easily if they have allies." Ah, he's aware of what they're trying to do to him. (He always has been.)

Yua though, gets a glance. He doesn't actually know Miho very well for the pre-established 'they kinda keep us apart', but... she seems earnest about it. "I am willing to assist my coworkers, of course."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"True," Miho says of Yua's very good father.

"I believe it's as he says. ...But also probably a phrase primarily used by people who have never spent much time on the water."

It is a privileged position, of course. But Miho's is even more so. And as to work, well, "Yes. I understand." She offers that, instead of obvious sympathy, because--well, of course she gets it.

"That sounds fun," Miho says of Yua's plans. "And useful. A healthy mind resides most easily in a healthy body..."

But, how? "You aren't," Miho says. "Indeed, they would prefer if women largely stayed out, except as secretaries now and then."

A look to Hiroto, and a nod. "Yes," she says.

"It's something to consider, Nakamura-san. I at least would like it if we could speak more often."

"They try to lay traps before me, as well, of course. They do not like my successes much."

"...Not in business, at least."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"You're much more likely to fall overboard if you can't rock ''with'' the boat, though..." Yua points out, tilting her head the other way.

She's not making a philosophical point, though it might ''seem'' like she is.

She just likes boats!

Which is why when Miho explains that people who ''don't'' boat came up with it, she says: "Oh! I get it! It looks like the boat rocking is scary, so that's what throws you off! But it's okay," she assures Hiroto. "If you know how to use a boat, it's pretty easy to stay on deck! The most important thing is to work with the weather! If the waves are wild enough that you're getting tossed off your boat, you made a mistake long before the boat started rocking!"

Yua... really likes boats...

... and she might be a bit, you know, 'odd'.

She wrinkles her nose, though, when Hiroto says he has to work late hours. "It's okay," she sympathises, with him. "Sometimes I have to work late, too. It's really inconvenient to go out when you've already had dinner and bathed, you know?" Yua, no type of teaching on the planet has you going out after dinner and bathtime to do more work.

Yua doesn't realise for a ''second'' what it sounds like when an attractive woman who is known to have been exploited by organised crime says she has to do inconvenient work late at night, though.

She smiles sunnily at their appreciation of her ''teaching plots,'' though. She works hard at them!! Even though it's hard to get teenagers excited for school...

Yua pouts, when Miho points out that women aren't ''invited.'' "That's not fair," she sulks. "You work as hard as any of those jerks! But... it sounds like you're working really hard, too, Nakamura-san!" She adds, looking to Hiroto. "So it would be nice if you could help each other, right?"

She looks a little confused, though, when Miho mentions ''traps.'' "I don't think Nakamura-san is a trap," Yua points out. "If he was, he wouldn't have been ready to leave before I asked him to sit with us, right? No... I think he was just doing something nice!"

Yua might be a little confused as to what kind of traps Miho's office invests in.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Hiroto appreciates the BOAT FACTS HE'S LEARNING. He is used to infodumps, he has children, and even if it may be seen as 'odd' to come from an adult woman, it is honestly charming instead. "That makes sense. I will keep that in mind if I am ever on a boat," he says with a smile.

But, Miho would like to speak to him more often... and Yua is clearly revealing too much about herself. (He does not think she's a lady of the night. Too incongruous with how casual she says it and what he knows about her and Miho.)

"I would like that too, Ijuuin-san. After all, it seems we are all frequently working right after midnight."

Casually, carefully, a gentle hint of Resonance flares. It's not a beacon, so no one outside the room is likely to notice, but he wants to make sure his message is clear - he is capable of conversing about both avenues of their work..

It's waves, much like that of the boat, calm and controlled. A symbolic dam is in place, keeping them from flooding outward. Yua's Navigator senses in particular might notice what it is like to be Hiroto Nakamura - you have to keep that dam steady yourself, or it will break and flood everything around it. Life is a battle of control.

It would seem slowly working with these two might be to their mutual benefit, after all. Miho is a rising employee mistreated much like he is even if in very different ways and reasons, and Yua is a teacher in an unsavory line of work she quite honestly probably doesn't deserve, especially if she has a child coming...

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Boats! Yes, Yua likes boats. Miho is aware of this. They should spend more time on the water...

"Yes. The sort of people who care most about not 'rocking the boat' do not want to adapt to weather, either."

She's adorable, is what she is. Yua makes an IMPLICATION and Miho... doesn't actually catch it this time. She takes her at her work. And the way they both work...

"Indeed, neither do I," Miho says of the traps. Yes, there are different snares they set before Miho. She in turn nods to Hiroto, and her own resonance gives a brief heartbeat hint of sulfur and steel.

Miho reaches into a pocket and extends Hiroto her card. "We should speak again later, I think."

"...Soon, you and I must return to ''this'' work. But I think..."

"It may be of interest, to discuss the other."

"For instance... at the rumored Akiyoshi building, in Iwatodai City. Have you heard of it? They say it's something of a... Palace."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"There are lots of ferries that run around! It would make a really fun day trip for your family, I bet!" Yua smiles, brightly. "And don't worry, ferries are super safe!!"

... maybe the Powers that Be want the weather to adapt to ''them,'' Yua thinks.

Luckily, Yua's ''terrible implications'' don't go misunderstood. Instead -- Yua does, indeed, feel that Resonance. And while normally she keeps hers under wraps...

Well. She glances to Miho, with a little wordless "?" of confirmation, and then unveils what ''she's'' hiding.

... and maybe she's ''not'' a visitor to the Underworld. Because what is here is underground; what is here is locked away. Stillwater drips, where it gathers, undisturbed.

Immured.

And then it is gone, as Yua locks away the dungeon where her heart lives once again. "Aww... already?" She pouts, before she looks to Miho a second time.

"Oh... oh! I get it. Our eyes are everywhere," Yua sighs, not quite having the heart in her for the call-and-response, but still not brave enough to be ''sassy'' about it. "... especially ''here''..." She gestures out the window, vaguely, at all-of-Narumi.

Still. It's the kind of call-and-response Hiroto ought to be quite familiar with, in his own work.

This sweet little teacher lady is with the New World Order... and no doubt it's not just ''her.''

Before Yua packs up, though, she makes sure to add one little thing: "... oh, the Akiyoshi building? Right! I was reading about that on the Dark Side of Sumaru!"

Yua might be bad at implications ''sometimes,'' but she's also been working with Miho for quite a long time by now.

It's quite a long time before everyone's off work, too, though. By the time they get into the carpark of the Akiyoshi building for Yua to recite some really quite ''accurate'' Shakespeare, the sun's already set. The front of the Kamiya Convention Centre receives its guests through fabulous double-domes, with a glass dome atop the building. There are side-entrances which aren't staffed by guards like those front doors are -- a shadowy wall...

And stepping in there, it at first seems like no one's here. It seems like no one's here because Yua has willed it, Shrouding the corner of that wall in deeper shadow.

When someone with ''Hiroto's'' Resonance enters the field, though, the jail bars driven into Gretchen's arms spread open as the disguise falls away, revealing Yua and Miho where they are dwarfed by the massive woman in white who is Yua's Persona.

"Don't worry," Yua assures him -- with no veils over her face, nothing to mask the way her eyepatch has been slid back to reveal an eye with ''three pupils'' arranged in much the same fashion as the 'face' on his own Mark -- as she beckons him forward. "No one will hear us, here. When we're in a place like this, Gretchen can help!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Miho and Yua both understand, as Hiroto feels their own resonance. "Take care, Ooshiro-san. Good luck with your work, Ijuuin-san. I'll certainly have to check that out." He's heard of it, of course. It's part of his work.

Once work passes, Hiroto takes a breath outside the office, and pulling out his phone... there are sacrifices he makes for his family.

"Reina? I'll be home late again tonight. Mm, yeah, it's more work, came up last minute. No, I'm okay, I promise. I'll be back as soon as I can. I love you too."

And then, it's time to take a train to Iwatodai. Once actually there, he recites the Shakespeare fairly well (he, too, is a classics reader) and steps forth into the Kamiya Palace.

His Resonance rings out, and he's stepping forward. His body language, Yua and Miho will immediately noticed, has changed. No longer is he an awkward, Clark Kent-ing sort of salaryman who seems gentle and soft. While his face is neutral, his body language is alert, paying attention to all vectors of information around him. He keeps him arms loose to his side, in case he needs to strike at any point (Shadows, not Miho and Yua - he doesn't think they're a danger to him right now, though he doesn't underestimate them if they were, either).

"Hello again," he says. "It seems we all bear the same sign." A pause.

"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am the Ferryman." That's a name *Yua* might have heard of as well. A remorseless fixer who completes every job with efficiency and without complaint.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Their eyes are, indeed, everywhere. But eventually Miho is off work; she has been working extra lately, given the time off she was able to get. ...There are times at which she considers doing away with the facade...

But then they'd expect more of her 'out of office' work in return for her resources, of course.

The person Miho would call is already here, though she does text Eiko, to keep her abreast of what will be expected of her.

SHe doesn't recite the Shakespeare. Instead, she makes a disgusted scowl as she puts together the meaning in this case.

She notices, though. She notices that body language...

"We do," Miho says, and inclines her head. Bear the same sign. "...Though I come by it differently, you see."

Gretchen ''can'' help. "I wish to bring you into my confidence," Miho says to Hiroto. "But to do so I must understand one thing." She looks to Yua, and back to Hiroto.

"For what resason do you fight for our mutual contacts?"

"I fight primarily for Yua. ...To recover and rescue her, I joined the conspiracy. Now, I require what they can offer to keep her and my friend alive."

She shared something with Yua on the way over; that they helped to care for his family, in the True World, after he fell.

"I share this because I believe that we could work together for our own benefit--for our families' benefit--rather than only theirs."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"We do," Yua affirms, to the Ferryman -- who, indeed, she's heard of. She might have feared him more if she hadn't met Hiroto, first... though it's not as if they're two separate people. She felt the way that dam was holding back the waters. "Though mine is hidden from their sight."

Her arms are bare, and that is useful, now and then.

"Were I in a place like this," she says, "most times I would veil myself, disguise myself, become the Bride named Yumi... but it is sufficient to hide ourselves here, I think." She pauses, looking back to the Palace. "We should not enter this place, this day. The hour grows long, and weariness grows longer." She sounds... a little more odd, but... perhaps it's nothing?

"I am fighting because I must," Yua shares, in turn. "Because the Powers that Be control medications I require... for this reason, they believe I am but a tool they possess. Recchi and I both are doomed this way... until we are free of their coercion, we are assets they still use." She frowns, looking up to Hiroto -- to the Ferryman. "Yet they know not what they leash. I am no doll; I am a Queen."

If he was there, in the True World... surely, Yua thinks, she can ''trust'' him.

But Miho would know best who to trust, in a place like this.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
Hiroto listens as both women speak. Before he shares his reason, he allows them to explain their own...

Something twitches in his face. It's a softening, not a hardening. He can agree with what they're saying.

"I was given this life as a... promotion." The bitterness is tangible. "For 'exemplary work ethic'. They intended to break me, I believe. What they did instead is slap a shackle on me."

He sighs, taking a side step to look out at the sign of a noise, before turning back. "That shackle is not just mine. Should I fail, my family takes the penance. Should they be a distraction, they will be removed. Should I escape, they will have to flee, too. We are all bound in the same chains..."

"And I wish to shatter those chains where we are bound."

Hiroto looks firm, resolute at this.

"Before you make any decision or offer any alliance, I will give you some information myself, as it would not do to blindside you. The Powers that Be hand me around as a tool. Currently, they have me targeting one I believe you may know." He's read some of the individual's file, and it adds up with school choice, ages, and patterns he's seen on the job.

"Myunghon Yeo. They are not a kill order, but I have been assigned to intimidate them by their own family. It is not an order I can break lightly. They seem kind, however, truly passionate about the literary arts."

The fact he's naming and gendering them correctly may be noteworthy. He is not one of the traditional NWO fascists, it seems.

"I thought it was only fair to let you know how exactly they are pulling the chains."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"...And I, the Groom named Miyu," Miho confirms after Yua introduces herself.

It is indeed not as if they're actually separate people.

"I trust your judgement," Miho says. "If your senses indicate that entering the Palace is a poor idea.. then I will keep us out of it." A pause. "But another day, we should investigate," she says. "There may be matters of interest to us. And if not..."

"There may be matters of use."

But he twitches. And then he speaks.

"So we all operate under chains," she says. "Mine, through Yua and Remi. Yours, through your own family."

"...Your candor is appreciated," she says, and looks to Yua, and back to Hiroto. "However, I also once was set to target Myunghon Yeo. They have a habit of surviving even fatal intentions."

"I am confident that they will survive yours, as well. Whether they wish it or not."

"There's no need to break that order. They can handle it. But knowing their own family is involved... that's interesting. That may be helpful, later."

"It was fair. Myunghon Yeo is a friend to us, despite what I have said."

"And so since you have made clear your condition..."

"I will share a truth. I did not earn this Mark by standing before Gozen. They recruited me because I already had it. Because another's will lurks behind the scenes."

"Because I have my own ambitions that I will see fulfilled. Yua will be free. ...And so will your family, if we join forces. I will help you to shatter those chains."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Another day," Yua agrees with Miho, with a faint smile. "When we are strong and stronger. We will need her, here. Recchi. This is a great power... too great to handle lightly." What she senses of it, from the outside... she knows they must be ready.

Yua does seem worried, to hear that he's targeting Myunghon, though she looks to Miho first. "Myucchi... if you think they'll be okay, then..." She sighs, looking back to Hiroto. "... we all are asked to do things we wish not. I have blamed boys too easily for this before... I will not make that mistake with you, now. But Myucchi is our dear friend," she adds, clasping her hand to her heart. "Please, do what you can."

Though she knows that mightn't be ''much.''

"They forced me into it," Yua says, of this ''life,'' reaching up to press a hand to her cheek, "though... this Mark... I received it of my own free will. They said they'd let me see Mimi if I cooperated with them... of course, they were lying. I couldn't even rip them to shreds with the power they'd given me... my Mark is a quiet thing. Too quiet to summon demons whence I tread... though it slips past Persona-Users' notice much more easily than Mimi's, at least for a time."

She frowns, her hand reaching up to rest at Miho's arm. "Mine is... wrong," she surmises, at length, looking down. "It hurts me... in a way Mimi's never has. They did something to my eye, but... I don't know anything about it."

She sighs, looking to Hiroto, again. "Regardless of their transgressions," she insists, "I will bring about Mimi's ambitions. That's something I decided without being tricked at all."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hiroto Nakamura has posed.
<poem>
The Groom and the Bride. Hiroto nods, as he considers more what they have to say. Myunghon Yeo is strong, and will survive. They are chained by the people they love. It is a cruel, twisted fact of life, that the wolf that would bite to defend themselves gets chained or culled, Hiroto thinks. Were they those wolves? Well...

If you try to tame a wolf, it either becomes a dog... or it turns on you. He refuses to be the former. He has no love lost for the conspiracy.

"I am sympathetic to your hardships. When they gave me the Mark, I saw such unspeakable things. I am no longer in full ownership of my body, and likely not even my soul."

A breath, and a nod.

"...I am amenable to an alliance. To survive in this world... one cannot simply go alone."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Another day... Yes. They will need another. That is true. But with Hiroto--with the Ferryman--perhaps, the four of them...

Miho says to Yua, "Have faith in them. They have survived much before. Even me."

But Yua was forced into it, and..

"They lied to you in many ways. ...To me, as well, but I am more concerned with what they have done to you."

Hers is wrong...

"Mine may be the only one that is 'right'," Miho opines on the mark. "I have Seen things. I See a path before us."

"And I will guide us there. We will work together, then, an alliance."

"And may their sinless world tremble before us."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
Yua isn't a dog, as much as they make cruel jokes about it. It's not the sound of a dog barking; it's the word for her will.

"You're right," she smiles, to Miho. "They're really tough..."

But what they have borne -- lies and horrors -- they darken Yua's gaze, as she slips her hands around Miho's arm.

"When we took audience with 'him'... the Powers that Be arranged such a thing," she remarks, scowling, as she dwells on Gozen for a moment. "Yet Mimi was blessed of her own accord... and I believe in what she has Seen," she says, drawn close to her. "Though I cannot see that world, for all the sight they have given me... nothing can shake my faith in Mimi. She's always been strong enough to protect us... so it's her goals I really care about."

She smiles, reaching out to Hiroto with her other hand.

"They never should have underestimated us, Ton-chan!"

He has a cute nickname. ''It's over.''

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-10-09: Wanna See My Card Collection

2025-12-03T19:59:16Z

Thornpunk:

*'''Log: Wanna See My Card Collection?'''
*'''Cast:''' Jose (played by Penguin Sniper), [[Myunghon Yeo]], [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Akari Hoshi]], [[Shinobu Shimizu]], [[Remi Ryuuja]], [[Umie Akabane]], [[So-young Park]]
*'''Where: Cardboard Dragon'''
*'''OOC Date:''' October 9, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' July 23, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''A small not quite human boy shows up to the Cardboard Dragon during the Dark Hour, to trade cards. However, his cards aren't exactly their usual...''

----

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Sniper has posed.
<poem>
It's the Dark Hour currently. A time when only Persona Users and Supernatural Beings can come to the Cardboard Dragon to peruse their wares. It's been a relatively slow night tonight, the kind wherein some might be tempted to go outside and blow off some steam on beating up some Shadows just to move around.

But then...
Listen, can't you hear it?

VROOM

If your soul truly has not truly given up hope of an exciting night...

VROOM VROOM

You should be able to hear...

BUDDABUDDABUDDABUDDABUDDABUDDABUD

What sounds like a car coming up stairs?!

The slam of a stairwell door. A screech of tires, and then a flash of headlights through the front of the Cardboard Dragon gleaming eerily in the light of the dark hour, a toyetic car catches some air like it just flew off a ramp, slamming down just inside the door, and making a quick pivot upon landing as brakes slam down at the last possible second, the rear end of the car barely tapping a display which rocks, but then goes still without dislodging anything.

Balloons flutter as they strike the ceiling patpatpatpat over a heavily laden cargo area that sways precariously, and what looks like a small boy with yellow eyes, and vaguely robotic hair and ears, wearing a white coat laden with images of crescent moons and stars, suddenly announces, "Hello-! I didn't see any parking spaces outside of your store, so I just came right in."

Wicked Plan - Persona 5 OST - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiWKPohcvsE

Image of this figure in his natural environment: https:''''www.velvetroom.wiki''index.php''File:Jose.png

He lowers his goggles to hang around his neck, and hops right out. "My name is Jose. I hear you sell cards here." He announces cheerfully before asking, "Can I see? I've got all kinds of neat stuff from my shop that I can trade for them."

Tsumugi Kujaku has arrived from Historia: The White Chronicle.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
<poem>
Rumourmonger Merry is indeed hosting a sale for Skill Cards today, but given that this is happening within the bounds of exam time, there haven't been many other external Persona-Users that've come to explore the limitless and exciting bounds of Skill Cards. How disappointing. They're trying to comfort the fact that they're not making new inroads into connections with others this time by taking advantage of the fact that it is the Dark Hour by not sitting on the couch but rather--

Sitting on their Cognitive Coat, which has become a throne all on its own with the fabric bent such that it's spilled out to become a chair of darkness. A ribbon has stretched out to hold their drink, and they have a book held out by several more twines out from their coat.

"I suppose that if everyone is supplied and satisfied with the Skill Cards they need for the next week, we could call this sale off early--"

vroom

A pause from Myunghon. "... hmm?"

VROOM VROOM

"... is that the sound of a--"

BUDDABUDDABUDDABUDDA

Myunghon's singular eye widens as the stairwell door SLAMS open to a tire fire in the night, and then headlights flood the sickly-green exterior of the Cardboard Dragon and they instinctively lunge behind the couch, declaring, "Move, everyone--!!"

...

What comes in is a toyetic car slamming into the Cardboard Dragon proper, with balloons attached to it. "Is it another kind of Dark Hour Shadow? They've come after us, have they become organised-- no, were organised in the first place?" Merry is clearly already falling into a thousand theoreticals as they start to finger possible culprits, but then they see--

A small boy with yellow eyes, vaguely robotic hair and ears, wearing a white coat. The yellow eyes speak to the supernatural, perhaps of Shadows, yet...

The boy introduces himself. Jose. "... I--" Myunghon looks flabbergasted, still thoroughly on guard.

It is perhaps curious to some of the others who HAVE met him that Merry, despite basically half-living in Mementos, apparently has never... ever... EVER... met this individual before. How did they miss each other this entire time?

"... yes, that is correct. This is the Cardboard Dragon, and we do trade in Skill Cards here. My apologies, your grand entrance was startling," Myunghon's mask slips back on as they peel themself out from over the couch, Cognitive Coat propping them up and around.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>Shinjiro is HERE, now that he's made up with Myunghon. It's actually not been awkward on his part! He's nursing a canned coffee he bought from the fridge, browsing very carefully through the book section. He's been reading No Longer Human... what else does Myunghon have here?

"Hey, Myunghon-" he starts, when VROOM!!! As the car comes up the stairs, he's bracing, trying to get there first when instead a car smashes through. He's, as usual, going to try and TANK the car instead of escaping!

Instead, however, a toy car comes in, covered in balloons, turns around, and... deposits a child. Who is here to buy cards?!

Shinjiro's heart starts beating again at this point. He wants to be kinda gruff but this is clearly some magical child so he can't be mean.

Instead, he steps over to support Myunghon as they remask, speaking to Jose. "You've come to the right place. You looking for Vampire Bakers or the magic stuff?" He assumes the latter but...YOU NEVER KNOW.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.
<poem>Surprise! It's Ixquic!

Ixquic - as in *Ixquic*, rather than Akari - comes to the Cardboard Dragon rarely. It's hard for her to get out at night - or, rather, it's hard for her to get out *here* this late at night. She lives in Rengedai! And it's not like her parents know why she wants to stay out past midnight, nor would they approve if they did! (Well, they wouldn't believe it anyway even if she told them.)

But once in a while she manages it. Today, for instance; her father managed to get home early and he had taken her mother out. Akari suspects she knows why, and, being a teenager, she does NOT want to think about it.

It did mean that nobody was paying attention to little old her, though. And so she made it to the sale!

"Hmm..." Myunghon might actually make a sale to Ixquic - she wants a Cleave card and no doubt about it! - but she has little to trade aside from bits and pieces from inside Mementos or Ateliers, so it might be barter-based. Is this a store that takes trade-ins?

But then her head lifts. She tilts it, slightly. "What's that sound...?"

When Jose actually SLAMS inside, Ixquic has her gigantic sword out, pointing it dramatically at Jose's car. She changes the declaration she was about to give to "It's you!!" because she's actually seen him before (in Mementos; she gathered flowers for him).

Then she remembers to lower her sword. The tip touches the floor with a gentle tap. "It's cool, he's cool," Ixquic informs the others. She has the mask part of the helmet off today so it's easy to see her grin. "He's a businessman! A salvager! Searching for treasure in the depths of darkness!"

... "I didn't know his car got that good air time, though."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>It's another Dark Hour Skill Card Sale, and Shinobu is here to help with the proceedings. ...At least, that was her initial reason for coming here. But as it happens, a lot of the clientele is otherwise occupied, so there's not actually a whole lot to do other than hang out.

Myunghon's about to suggest calling it off - and then, there's the sound of a vehicle. ...It's getting louder?

"What the - wait, it's coming ''here''?" Shinobu starts. A car ''slams'' through the doors. Shinobu leaps behind the couch quickly, following Myunghon - but when the metaphorical smoke clears and she sees who it actually is...

"Oh, Jose. Hey, kiddo, what brings you here?" Shinobu greets. It's a lot more respectful than she usually greets people for the first time. That's because she knows them! They've met and had a pleasant talk. ...And also she watched him casually vaporize a Shadow. That tends to earn a certain amount of respect.

"Yeah, what she said." Shinobu says with a nod toward Ixquic. "Don't worry, he's cool."

She chuckles at the air time comment.

She looks back toward Jose with a nod toward Myunghon.

"Merry here is the boss around here. They'll get you sorted out. What kinda cards are you in the business for? Healing, support... maybe something with a bit more kick."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi is... working the till! Well, the till isn't working--it's the Dark Hour, after all. But she is there, handling sales and clientelle with a warm, friendly smile.

Or at least, ''Ariel'' is, the cover she uses for engaging in Dark hour shenanigans. She's wearing a short black wing with straight hair that frames and changes the shape of her face, thick black glasses to obscure it further, a long brown dress with a long-sleeved white top underneath, and a leather trenchcoat. (Ignore the fact that the leather on the left forearm is cracked, now. Or the fact that it's way too warm for her to be wearing so many layers.)

But Ariel presents as a cheerful, friendly woman, albiet one with a bit more theatricality than might otherwise be proper.

"Thank you for coming to the Cardboard Dragon!" she says cheerfully as she hands over a skill card and takes some Yen in payment. She pauses as she hears the commotion outside, looking to the fire escape that is the store's entrance... and then to the actual front entrance. "My word... what rancor and din approaches!" Then, more perplexedly. "... is that an engine?"

She remains entirely too calm as a car bursts into the store and almost--but doesn't--knock over a display.

She recognizes the figure--she met Jose in Mementos previously, only ''then'' she was going as Tsurugi. She can't hiede her Resonance, by any means, but at the very least she isn't radiating the same kind of killing intent she uses to make Shadows cower.

Ariel looks at Merry starting to spiral, and in a soft, but firm tone, she says, "Dearest Merry--I believe it is only proper for you to great our new guest!"

Meanwhile, she's getting the book of Skill Cards and setting it on the counter, open, so Jose can peruse. "Is there anything you're fancying, dear?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
A spicy sriracha chip is tossed into the air as Umie sits at one of the tables. The lack of lighting makes it hard to read, so she instead has turned to a natural task one does when bored during the Dark Hour, and that is--

.... making origami stars from scrap receipts. Successively smaller and smaller ones, trying to feel through her fingertips alone when her eyesight begins to fail her. However, at a certain point, her stomach interrupted her, so it was time for a combini snack.

The chip lands, and Umie makes quiet munching noises as she continues with her task.

VROOM

She raises an eyebrow.

VROOM VROOM

Oh god it's getting closer.

BUDDABUDDABUDDABUDDABUDDABUDDABUD

Umie *dives* under the table, fingers fumbling for her weapon when the door budges open.

Thankfully, this is someone Umie knows.

She also knows they're... supposed to be in Mementos, but did anyone actually *say* that to her?

Umie's eyes widen. "Jose-san?! Y-.... _how did_..." She crawls out and rises up halfway, still managing to thud her head against the corner of the table. "... Gh....owowowowow...."

Rising fully while holding the side of her head, she grabs a random star and offers it out to Jose. "Merry-san. Roadside delivery. We need to make that a thing." But how does someone know, during the Dark Hour, that someone outside needs a delivery?

It, like figuring out how they can contact the Phantom Thieves, is a question for future them to figure out.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> Despite spending a lot of her time in Sumaru as of late, So-young still has a job and an apartment and a life in Tokyo to go back to most nights. She's usually careful to get home before the Dark Hour hits, because the last thing she wants is to spend an hour on a stationary train full of coffins like she's the victim of the latest artsy horror movie. On the other hand, she's learned One Neat Trick to help ensure she can show up at the Cardboard Dragon during many of the Dark Hours:

Icarus can go really, really fast, and So-young Park really, really loves flying.

However it happened, she's around in Sumaru late enough to be present in the Cardboard Dragon during this particular Dark Hour, and here's where another perk of having the conductor around comes into play - sometimes you get some violin music as a background track. Thankfully, So-young does at least appear to be able to give some thought to matters of volume - and rather than her usual boisterous self she's leaning back against one end of the couch in the living area of the shop, spending her extra hour of practice freestyling her way through slow ('languid' in her words) and peaceful notes.

Her gaze sometimes pauses on the people around. It's at least pleasant to see Myunghon and Shinjiro occupying the same room without clambering up the walls. She's not sure how they cleared the air, exactly, but she'll take what she can get. And it's kind of curious to see Myunghon in this environment, where their confidence in all matters Mementos kind of bolsters the 'store owner' mask.

A frown flickers across the conductor's face as she catches onto the incoming sound remarkably quickly, shooting a glance towards her sibling with a frown that says 'what the hell is that'. She can't help the way her playing shifts to quickly deliver two suspenseful notes, because So-young is ultimately a slave to drama and instinct and whimsy - but she is also a slave to 'not getting run over', and there's something about the twin headlight beams shining through the door directly at them that activates a lizard fight-or-flight part of her brain.

As others dive towards her she yelps. Blue lines explode around her as she rears back, but she doesn't get far enough to manifest Icarus before she pitches backwards over the arm of the couch in an extremely ungainly fashion. Fortunately, it's also enough to hinge the couch upwards, and she lunges for it to complete the process, propping the furniture upright on one side as if it were a wall to take cover behind. (Yes, this is strictly worse for cover for everyone else than having the couch sit normally. She's not thinking too straight.)

It is a long moment before she lowers the couch again, somehow managing to not look embarrassed about the whole proceeding. It's not acting if you're simply too stubborn to feel at all bad about your reaction. It's quickly forgotten either way, because she's too busy taking in the scene in front of her. "I sincerely hope the floor holds. It creaks enough as it is," she notes, before breaking into a bright smile towards Jose. "Hello! Have you considered wings? Or a very long red scarf to trail behind you. Perhaps both."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.
<poem>"Capes are cooler," Ixquic informs So-young.

She may be slightly biased owing to the fact that she is, in fact, wearing a bright red cape.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Sniper has posed.
<poem>
"Hmm?" Myunghon looks surprised at first, and confirms it with their words. Jose actually sounds abashed, "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle anyone. I just was trying to park and couldn't find any spots inside the building." His eyes light up at Umie's suggestion, "That'd be very convenient! Can you make deliveries to the station too?"

Before he then beams at Ixquic, "Oh hey there Miss Ixquic, Miss Shimizu. I haven't seen you around in a while. I'm glad you're doing alright out here." Before he then comments to Ixquic happily, That's because I souped it up! You gotta in Mementos, those escalators don't make it the easiest to get around from place to place."

So-Young notes the floor's integrity! The building's! And Jose smiles at them, "Don't worry about that. It's actually very light. Go ahead, try lifting it yourself."

If anyone tests it, it in fact, weighs just like a heavy laden child's toy??? The heck? It feels like it goes against all the laws of physics!? But he cocks his head in thought, "Wings? A red scarf?" Before Ixquic suggests, "Capes?" He considers the matter, before deciding, "Hmmmmm. Do you think it'd go faster if I did? ... It might get too narrow for wings down there." He asides, as if giving it actually serious thought.

With a small waddle forwards he considers, "I was going to stop for refreshments on the way, but then I remembered it's really hard for places to stay open right now." His yellowed eyes then blink owlishly at Shinjiro with wide eyed innocence, "Vampire bakers? Are they open right now? Hmm... well, maybe on the way back." He considers the matter, "But I'm thirsty now, so I guess I can give this a try."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out something, like a boy grabbing for his allowance, but what pops out is much larger than anything that should be able to fit. "Maybe this one." A spherical bubble of stretched over flowers that glistens strangely in the gloom of the Dark Hour, orbited by many more smaller bubbles like a tiny solar system. Then, he reaches a hand towards it.

And it shimmers as it moves towards his hand, distorting into streams of light, and forming into a small drink glass of greenish liquid, garnished by a Moon and a bendy straw, "Hmmm." He takes a sip, then his eyes fall as he makes a face. "It always tastes like this at this time of night."

Shinobu tells them that Merry will sort them out, "I'd appreciate that. Huh?" He sounds confused by her offer of 'healing' and 'support' but rather than ask for clarification he then walks with a cartoonish gait forward to the counter, looking to peruse Ariel's book, "Hmmmmmmm..." A flip of a page. Another. Another. "Well... these aren't the cards I'm looking for." Jose says, as if a little disappointed. "You see, I'm trying to learn more about people... so I collect these."

And out of his pocket comes a rapidly expanding giant binder decorated in fancy stars and nebula like swirls, he opens it, showing sleeves containing cards that look quite unusual. In fact, no one in the Cardboard Dragon can say they've ever seen anything like it before.

At a glance, they look like, Arcana Cards - they've all seen those - but there's human Shadows imprinted upon them with gleaming yellowed eyes, and a swirl of distortion curling up their body, like the shadows in Mementos. A holographic shimmer, and it's instead a demon. Back... and forth like an eerie transformation, in the light of Dark Hour.

What kind of cards are ''these''?

"Do you have anything like these here?" Jose asks, hopefully.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
<poem>
Myunghon does look rather surprised that so many of the others around here -- virtually everyone but them -- seem to know who this person is. That they've met them in Mementos before... how is it that they've never run into them, despite the sheer number of runs and experiments that they've indulged in within them? Is it that a relevant data point? Should they be obsessing over the why, Umie Akabane-style? Will they? (Yes.)

Merry would be quite pleased to trade with Ixquic -- to Ariel's dismay, the majority of the 'sales' of Skill Cards have become bargains and trade-ins rather than anything involving money, so the store's books have been solidly in the red for a while... "A businessman... a salvager?" Myunghon quietly furrows their brow at Ixquic's words. "I see..."

Shinobu's reassurance does lend a lot of weight. With Shinjiro by their side too, they don't really have to feel like they'll be unprotected in a fight, but... they have a little pout towards Ariel to say, "It seems I was unaware of something you all had encountered in Mementos."

They do help Umie up gently if she needs it, but then Umie has an idea! Roadside delivery!

"... that is not the worst of ideas, but-- we are a little short on drivers," Myunghon does confess to Umie. "Kazama-kun can only do so much, and we do not have a car that works during the Dark Hour. Perhaps if nuna flies them..."

Myunghon, please don't get any ideas on turning your sister's flying Persona into a delivery drone.

There's an embarrassed little cough as they set their drink and book aside, not lost that Shinjiro's reading their favourite book of all time, and looks to So-young. "It would be checkmate if I had to pay reparations to the Sunny Day owner, yes..." they sigh, almost theatrically. But Jose points out the car is actually VERY LIGHT. How does that... work?

Jose does apologise for startling them, thouh, and they shake their head in turn with a genteel smile. "Parking is at a bit of a premium here in Hirasaka, I do confess. But--"

Jose mentions that he's thirsty, and he produces a spherical bubble stretched over flowers that glistens strangely against the sickly lights of the Dark Hour. Merry's a little entranced at this show for a moment. They have to wonder just what it is that count as refreshment to Jose -- that kind of liquid certainly doesn't look like anything anyone but the most inventive of bartenders can concoct.

Surprisingly, however, Jose isn't even looking for Skill Cards -- he's trying to learn more about people, and instead, the cards look more like... Arcana Cards, with human Shadows with gleaming yellowed eyes that holographically play with a trick of light into demons. The metaphor is clear. Myunghon trembles gently, somehow feeling a little bit of unease.

"... I must say that I've never seen anything like that," Myunghon does affirm, though given they're not in the know about Jose, they look to the others to see if they know something about it. "They do have a semblance to Arcana Cards, but the way they reflect and reveal yet another side of the Shadow..."

Their eye widens slightly as they cup their cheek with their one working hand. "How fascianating. Please, tell me more."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.
<poem>Alas, Ixquic does not have a lot of spending money, and what money she has goes to art stores that definitely won't take barter. Just because her family is a long way from poor doesn't mean they give their fourteen-year-old (now) much of an allowance that she doesn't need for other purposes. So trading with Myunghon works for her, even if it leaves the books uncomfortably red.

It looks like there's no threat after all, so Ixquic leaves her sword propped up against the counter rather than hang onto it. It's within reach, she just doesn't have to carry it. She's glad to see some of her friends here - Umie, for one, who she greeted pretty excitedly and asked how she was doing, when she first got here.

Ixquic considers trying to get a car up the elevators in Mementos.

"That's fair," she agrees. You wouldn't want to drive it along the train tracks from level to level! There are trains on those.

Ixquic does not try to pick up the car, because she assumes that - having been told it doesn't weigh a lot - that the balloons are holding it up. That makes as much sense as anything else about Jose, honestly, especially because she's seen Grandpa Carl's Flying House. Instead, she wanders over to look over Jose's shoulder, because she is nosy. She's also the closest person to his (apparent) age here; of course she's willing to hang out!

"Can I try your drink?" she asks, because she has no idea what it is but it's one of the only liquids she has seen in the Dark Hour that doesn't look *red*, so it must be interesting! (She was always interested about the flowers once she saw him drink them too, but she never tried any herself.) "I'll trade you for..."

She checks her pockets. Her outfit, conveniently, has them. "...a Black Thunder bar?" Not rare at all, but she figures Jose does not have one: a cocoa-flavoured cookie bar with crunchy biscuit, all chocolate-coated. She holds one up, wiggling the wrapped snack.

But there are cards - "Oooh." Ixquic hasn't seen any of those before. "I don't have any holographic ones, but I have a few like this..." She digs in a different pocket and pulls out a (generic) Magician tarot card. "I got this one off a Pyro Jack! Though it's not like it says... I guess he is a magician though. But mine aren't lenticular like that."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>As Jose indicates he's here for magic stuff, Shinjiro looks at him as he drinks his weird... drink, before asking about special cards. He recognizes him from Mementos!

Fascinating... and also spooky. But Shinjiro takes a look, musing with a hand to his chin. "Are those... people's Shadows? Or like, I don't know, Shadow trading cards? Is someone making these?"

A pause, as he looks over to Myunghon. "I don't know if we have those... but maybe we have something else you'd like? Sorry we can't be much help, little guy."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"Yeah, we're doin' alright. No need to worry about me, I'm pretty tough." Shinobu assures as Jose greets her. "Just haven't been down in the tunnels much lately, is all."

She will, in fact, marvel at how light Jose's car apparently is. The fact that the fire escape didn't collapse under the weight should've given it away, but it's still a surprise. She whistles appreciatively.

She listens as he addresses the others, chuckling slightly as he gives wings a thought, before watching him drink a bubble of flowers.

...She's not sure she'll ever get fully used to that. She isn't particularly surprised something produced from the Dark Hour isn't very appetizing, either.

She nods as he thanks her - but then notices his confusion. But he looks the book over anyway, and doesn't seem to find anything of interest. Instead, it seems what he's looking for is...

"...''Huh''." Shinobu says, leaning in to get a closer look. Those cards... she knows Arcana Cards, alright, but these... those are humans. Human Shadows, transforming into demons...

"...Yeah, these are new to me, too. Sorry, kiddo. We have something like that, but what you're looking for looks a little different." Shinobu says, looking toward Jose. She's about to reach into pockets, but thankfully, Ixquic already draws out a card to show him. She's not sure she even brought any with her today, anyway.

Myunghon's interest in the cards is clear, though, and Shinobu nods.

"Yeah, we might be able to figure something out, at least. What are these?" She asks.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Umie suggests roadside delivery. "Excellent! So you have a car that works in the Dark Hour like this fine gentleman's?" Ariel says this brightly and cheerfully and she is ''definitely'' making a point.

No place to park. "Ahh, I see the difficulty, young traveler! Most cars are a mite larger than yours, so they tend to be parked outside, rather than in. No matter, it is an understandable confusion." ... is it?

Remi won't fuss ''too'' much about taking barter in exchange for Skill Cards. Yes, she would like to see the store's ledgers in the black, but it's not like Myunghon paid for the Skill Cards out of the store's budget, right?

"My dear Merry, did you forget I have never been to Mementos?" she lies, blatantly, with an easy smile. "I, too, am onmly just now making Jose-kun's acquaintance."

She looks on as Jose peruses the Skill Cards. "I'm sorry they aren't to your liking, young traveler. But do tell us, what is it you seek? Perhaps we may yet be able to acquire it."

The big binder comes out,and Remi moves the Skill Card binder to make room for it on the counter, then leans over to take a look. "My word. How distinctive! And such a curious trick of the light, as if bewitched wit' enchantment." But she's looking to the others--particularly Myunghon--for input.

"Still, they are quite curious..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> This is how it starts, Myunghon. You see a small data point, and you begin to obsess over it, until you find a way to *solve* it. Except, some things can't be solved, and much of life must, and always will be, a complete mystery. But you still keep going, because you can't leave something *unfinished*.

"He's from Mementos," Umie quickly tries to explain. "Like a... moving shop." The who and whys of Josie, however, would be best left to someone else. On the topic of station deliveries, Umie grimaces, though that's from touching the sudden sore spot on her head, after Myunghon helps her up. "... Ehhh... I meant, like, someone comes up, and someone brings it out. Easy."

She says this, as Jose does the completely normal thing of taking out a drink from a mystical flower bubble. ..... She wants... to pat him on the head...

To mask her urge for CUTE AGGRESSION, instead, she thinks to offer her chips, but stops when Akari offers the much better Black Thunder bar instead.

But what Jose is really after is...

"Hm. Do you know where you've found these? I'm guessing Mementos, but if you've come out to here, we'd better narrow it down," Umie murmurs thoughtfully, as she glances over his delightfilly whimsical card binder. "Maybe, by knowing that they exist," she says, over her shoulder to Shinjiro, "we'll notice them. Who knows if we just overlooked them up until now?"

But if this is from Mementos...

".... Could they be collected from shadows, maybe? But, shadows like in Mementos, like Kaneshiro." It's not like humans can turn into the shadows like the ones that randomly wander outside in the street, ha ha ha HAAA "There's others like them, in Mementos too. Aragaki-kun, Shimizu-san, we encountered one like that just by wandering Mementos, right?"

She peers at the cards. "If we come across any, if we collect them, would you be interested in trade, Jose?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "I will not dispute that," So-young states in Ixquic's direction without batting an eyelid, "But when you are a driver, a scarf is much more suitable in my opinion. You cannot have too much flutter or else you'll ruin the effect," she notes with confidence, before aiming a megawatt smile at Jose. "Perhaps not faster, but certainly more dashing."

Her eyebrows go up almost into her hairline as the boy eases her immediate worry. That is one hell of an offer Jose makes to her, and she has absolutely no reason to refuse it even before you take into account her latent curiosity. Stepping up to the car she gives it an almost friendly pat before kneeling down, bracing herself, and--

--nearly throwing the poor thing into the ceiling given how much power she puts behind her lift. Thankfully, she manages to catch herself before anything too destructive happens, and instead she's just left holding a car a couple of feet in the air as if it were no weight at all, the tower of suitcases on the back simultaneously grazing the ceiling and also somehow remaining as steady as a rock.

"... ... ... I definitely need someone to take my photo right now," is So-young's only awed comment - but this is the Dark Hour, and she knows that the suggestion alone would get several people reminding her of opsec. More importantly, it's probably rude to take a picture of a Metaverse inhabitant's ride without asking them for permission first. Gently, she sets the car down where it was, and pats off her hands with an aura of pride as if she just did the same thing back in normal time without the support of her Persona.

"I am certainly not above a little gig work, but I don't think I necessarily have the time or inclination to be a delivery driver," she smirks with amusement towards Myunghon. "Besides, experience says that the moment I start flying you would have to find a way to remotely crowbar my attention span back towards work every single time." She seems... proud of this, too, somehow.

Thinking about Jose's special skill card makes her suddenly aware of something: she doesn't even know the first thing about how 'regular' skill cards are actually produced. Tucking that question into the back of her mind for later, she hums thoughtfully over the specialized ones they're being shown. "... we can certainly tell you _about_ the shadow and his haunt, if that might help visualize things better," is her rather instinctive guess towards the process.

She's still not familiar enough with Metaverse terminology to capital-S the word Shadow yet.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Sniper has posed.
<poem>
It's quite the contrast isn't it, Myunghon? The innocence of this small boy, versus the sinister looking nature of these cards. "Those are really nice!" They enthuse at Ixquic, "It's kind of like those - but with other stuff on them too."

However, Ixquic asks to try his drink in trade, "Oh you want to trade it for that? I don't think I want to finish it... just, it's not really that good."

It's there however, should they want to. If they accept the trade, he happily opens the wrapper, and begins to munch happily, "Mmmm! This is much better."

And if they do, it tastes like the consistency of a strange electrical buzz running through the texture not unlike that of congealed Yokan. That wouldn't be too unpleasant on it's own, but there's a layer permeating it that tastes like an unpleasant oil slick that clings to your tongue like real crude oil in a spill clings to the creatures of the ocean.

"People usually don't like them." He warns, possibly after Ixquic has already tried. "Especially during this time right now." He adds, almost apologetically, like the Dark Hour spoils the drinks.

They do try to solicit more information about the cards though, after he's told several different ways that they don't have anything like it, "Well, you see. I make them myself..." He says as he answers Umie most specifically, "... like that, yeah! Whenever a really strong Shadow in Mementos comes at me, I bop them."

Bop them? Does he mean just, beats them up?

"And a card comes out. I call them Shadow Cards. I guess I thought other people might be doing it too?"

Jose slowly withdraws one out from it's plastic sleeves, holding it forward for anyone to touch who wants to. The card itself shows a yellow-eyed shadow of a scraggly young adult tough hanging upside down, his feet bound, with a symbol of the Hanged Man there, there's a holographic shimmer as one looks at it and it becomes the monster 'Othrus' hanging on it from a similar angle.

"Go ahead. You can hold it if you want. But be careful. He's not very nice."

And as anyone present touches it, there's a flash of white light within their psyche, and suddenly their mind is flooded with information.

Seiji Oshita appears in Kanji.
Followed by: The Desire to be Top Dog

There's images of a man stalking up on stray dogs. He begins kicking them, progressively harder, even breaking ribs, or worse. You watch him recruiting friends for this, engaging in efforts to clean up the neighborhood.

'They just put them down anyway. Why not have a little fun first?'

This metastasizes, as he begins following people who rent out net cafe booths overnight to have places to stay, until eventually he confronts them in alleyways, with a mask on. Beating them to a pulp as if these people are stray dogs.

Eventually it shows an image of when he's a kid and was bit by a stray dog, developing an intense phobia of them. Kids ridiculing him for running away from tiny dogs barking at him. The need to dominate, to not be laughed at causing an infection in his soul as he grew up into a jerk.

And cost him every opportunity. His violent nature caused him to be kicked out of his parents' home. To be dumped by girlfriend after girlfriend. To be arrested by the cops. To be fired from his job and evicted from his apartment when he couldn't pay rent.

It's only now they realize, this man is homeless himself, and still keeps setting himself apart, like he doesn't consider himself the same as the people he bullies to this day.

For anyone who touches it - no time has passed at all. Jose is still looking at them. Is... every card in his binder like this? A glimpse into the hearts of distorted Shadows?

"I don't get why some people have desires like this. Even with this whole collection, I just can't figure it out at all? So, I'm looking for more to see if I can't understand people better..."

He actually looks pretty downcast by all this? Before he addresses Umie on the trade, "Well, I kind of don't want to break up my collection, since it's part of what I'm doing in Mementos... but I have all kinds of other things I'd trade for more?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro has quite the insight. Are they people's Shadows? And if that's the case, given how much they've warned people of how not to treat others' Shadows within Mementos... that has a particularly sinister suggestion behind it. Myunghon does quietly step a little closer to Shinobu as she also says that she's never seen them herself. All right, so this isn't a case where they haven't quite experienced the supernatural like the others...

"... true," Myunghon answers. "I only meant the rest and nothing more," they answer Ariel.

Umie's already off on her own little spiderweb of thoughts, Myunghon knows, and her own theories. "The Shadows of people, yes, more prominent and defined than the others that form some of the connective tissue within Mementos..."

But even their attention is partially drawn to So-young lifting the car with, indeed, as if there is no weight. Myunghon looks quizzical for a moment, before admitting, "Unfortunately, I do not have a working camera at present. Though that in itself is something that may come in useful in the future, were we able to solve for it. Obtaining photographic evidence, if only between other supernatural users..."

A pause. "And Cognitions are often mistakable for their real counterparts..." Oh, Criminal Activity is already brewing inside of Myunghon's head, isn't it.

Akari wants to try the drink, however, and it seems like... it might be an experience, to say the very least. How would Merry find such a drink? Perhaps their distorted tastes, that tastes most every nice, pleasant food as ashes, might be quite pleased with sticking crude oil in their mouth. But the topic of the drink is somewhat forgotten as Jose explains how these are created when...

A really strong shadow in Mementos comes at him... and he bops them.

Myunghon does quietly reach for the card, because the desire for knowledge is ousting their desire for safety, and for a moment they spasm mildly as information floods their mind--

They're really glad Lance is in a little comfy dog-size coffin at this point.

It's more than just dogs, however; his behaviour escalates to stalking people at night, following people who stay at net cafes -- vulnerable, homeless people... and the background whence this horrid behaviour came from. Because there often is trauma that becomes violent and angry, as a shell to interface with the world... and though he is homeless like the rest of them, he still sets himself apart from his victims.

Myunghon glances to Umie, their breath still a bit weak.

The Rumourmonger has to pause, and then eventually they steady themself against Shinjiro for a moment longer. The implications are dire, and yet clear. "Jose-kun. I don't suppose you know what happens to the people whose Shadows are captured within these cards? In all my knowledge of the supernatural, it typically is not a healthy outcome when a Shadow is ripped apart from the fabric whence it exists..."

Those who know Merry definitely already know they're going to see what this Seiji Oshita's real life situation is. Whether they've become a victim of Apathy Syndrome or a Mental Shutdown...

But something Jose says does catch their mind. Why is it that some people have some desires like this?

"The world that people inevitably exist in contorts and distorts them, Jose-kun. One variable contorts upon another, and the equation is spoiled. But it is not hopeless in the slightest." Rumourmonger Merry's smile is from ear to ear, the gleam in their eye hopeful and dangerous as they say: "I shall cut through these distortions and bring a constant, a Hope that shall stir a revolution in people's hearts. That is my Rebellion."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.
<poem>"Bo-ring," is Ixquic's response to So-young, though she sounds joking about it. "My Persona... she has wheels, like a motorcycle! And I ride with my cloak. It looks awesome," she confirms, looking at the others who have seen it - Myunghon, Umie, even Shinobu - for confirmation

This is a trade Ixquic is happy to make: chocolate bar for glass of mysterious moon-aspected liquid. "Sure!" she says, and then takes a big sip of it.

...

Ixquic's eyes are, of course, hard to make out under her visor - not impossible, the tint isn't completely opaque. Her lower face is a lot easier because her helmet has a removable mask, and at times like this, when she's just meeting people in the Dark Hour, she usually leaves it off; it goes on for adventuring.

The face she makes is a lot like she bit into a lemon when her tongue tingles. That in and of itself isn't the worst - she likes sour things, she could probably learn to like tingly things too. It's the aftertaste that's the worst. She feels like she wants to scrape her tongue afterwards, except that would be gross and probably not work without a toothbrush. And a lot of toothpaste. Something that doesn't taste like that. She *does* run it along her upper teeth in the hope that that helps. It doesn't.

"...you're right," she gets out a few moments later. "It really isn't very good. I hope the flowers are better other times... maybe I'll try them some day. I'll bring you another Black Thunder," she promises.

Since she's busy putting something inadvisable in her mouth, she at least avoids also inadvisably touching the card. One stupid idea at a time!

"I did fight one of the people in Mementos," she says, before: "I didn't kill them! That would be bad. But I did knock them down so we could get past. They didn't have a card like that, or if they did I never saw it..."

She looks up at Merry as they say more. Ixquic doesn't always like to talk about things like that and she's grateful for Merry for bringing it up so she doesn't have to - even if she wouldn't admit it, and doesn't even consciously consider it.

And, her Rebellion...

Ixquic can't stop herself from grinning at that. Hers isn't the same of course, but... she understands having an ideal to which you hold, at least.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>Shinjiro contemplates the shadow cards some more, and when Jose brings one out to touch... SHinjiro reaches to touch it.

He winces immediately, though instead, as he comes out of it, he's staying strong, supporting Myunghon for as long as they need. "Shit, what a *dick*," is all he can say. He's not minding the children right now!

But then, Jose says he'd have things he'd trade for more... "Well, if you're the one who makes them, how are we supposed to get more?"

He's also eying Myunghon as they ask about what happens to the Shadows. He also eyes as AKARI DRINKS THE DRINK.

And then Myunghon gives their piece, talking about their Rebellion. He looks away, but isn't awkward about it. Just because Myunghon and him decided that they can't be *his* hope, doesn't mean they can't be Hope at all.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Ixquic looks to everyone for confirmation - that it looks awesome - ''even her''. Oh no. She's put on the spot. Even Shinobu can't quite bring herself to make her sad by saying no, or worse, not expressing a strong opinion, so...

"It does." Shinobu confirms with a nod.

Shinobu glances, just briefly, toward Myunghon as they step closer to her when she confirms she doesn't know about the cards, either, before looking back toward Jose.

Oh, Jose ''makes'' them. That explains a lot, in that his capabilities are so out of the ordinary that it makes sense. He bops them and a card comes out...

"I see... Yeah, I haven't been doing anything like that. Didn't know we could." Shinobu replies. Jose says they can hold it and she looks over to the others before reaching out -

- and then a second later recoiling back.

"''Shit''." Shinobu says, exhaling sharply - momentarily forgetting she's in the presence of children.

"...You were right. That guy was a real piece of work." She agrees. It's not like she doesn't know that people like that are out there, but it doesn't make it any better to get a front row seat to the events in question.

"...Wish I could tell you, kiddo." Shinobu replies, shaking her head. Myunghon has something to say about that, though. She shakes her head, still a little shaken.

"Yeah, uh... as long as nothing bad happens to the real guy, if you let us know how it works, we can try to collect some for you." Shinobu replies. "We've already got a deal going anyway, right? If we can keep helping each other out, might as well. That's how we do things around here."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
Sorry, Jose, you may be warning her, but Umie's already reaching to touch that card, much like Myunghon is.

When Umie's fingertips touch the surface, and she freezes in place, flinching back her hand like it was burnt.

'Ara, ara, wasn't that just *fun*, Umie-chan? Go on, touch some more. Let's see how deep the well of misery goes~'

For a stray, painful moment, it shears through all the questions and hypotheticals that Umies ever produced, borne from Mai-chan's whispers of her heart being next, or Akechi wondering if the Phantom Thieves could turn her into a willing bride for Syuusei.

A man had a delusional desire, and he paid for it. If it had just been sliced off, like a cancerous growth--

"... _Don't touch it_," she almost snaps, to Shinjiro, but hes already done it. Then, with an apologetic nod towards Jose, "Jose wasn't kidding."

She takes a few more steps back, politely sitting herself in a chair and crossing her legs, as if nothing had happened at all.

How does Myunghon take all of that and still make a cohesive answer?

"Desires can be a thing that makes people move forward," Umie attempts. "Even dark ones. We can be very flexible, but sometimes, things go out of control."

Jose's downcast expression, though...

Umie's chair shifts as she stands up, her left hand going towards a few of her tinier origami stars, which she turns around and offers to Jose. "Pretty brave of you to try to understand it, Jose-kun. Pretty crafty of you, too, to turn them into cards. Don't worry, I dont think anyone's going to want to break up that collection, but if we can help you complete it..." Then what?

"Just remember you're only viewing the worst case scenarios. A lot of people probably never get that bad." A lot of people don't get Marks, or kill someone. "... This isn't for trade; consider these freebies, for coming out all this way. I like to craft things myself."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi watches So-young almost lift the card into the ceiling. "Careful, dear music maker. We could not want to trade the safety of one floor for another, hmm?" That ''is'' kind of impressive the car is so light, though.

"Just a bop, hmm? Naught but a mere trifle?, is it?"

'Ariel' has confessed to not fighting, that her Persona simply isn't suited for it, but she does reach out to take examine the card when offered.

There is information. Entirely unpleasant, and too much, yet delivered in the blink of an eye.

Ariel does not react, at least not with outright horror and disgust. There is a frown, though, as she considers the card and its namesake. It ''is'' revolting, but... her experiences in the lab may have numbed her to some of the more savage parts of human nature.

"... he became the beast he feared..." she muses, quietly, her tone somber.

As for Jose's question. "Mmm. The thread of a person's story does not stand in isolation--it is a vast tapestry, beset upon forces both grand and gossamer-light. And some are woven in shapes that amplify and sustain themselves, that even when outside forces act upon them it does not diminish the pattern, yet drives it further. Clinging desperately to a shape it cannot afford to lose, lest it fear itself naught but a single unformed thread devoid of shape."

"But take heart, young traveler. Though this may be a foul and wretched sort, there are those with hearts gladder and less sad to meet as well."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young almost goes to touch the card - as much as she and Myunghon can bicker and be opposites at times, she does outright trust the rumourmonger's instincts when it comes to anything around the Metaverse, and if they're doing it, then it's probably okay - right?? But then Myunghon and Umie both freeze and jerk backwards with a sudden spasm, and So-young's hand stops on the spot, hesitating before the follow-up questions convince her she doesn't actually need to see whatever Myunghon just saw.

"Emotions and desires are not something you can easily figure out by looking in," she says slowly to Jose after intuiting a little from what he says. "And the worst part is that emotions and desires are not necessarily something the person themselves can make sense of, or even recognize that they're feeling. Some days, we just feel bad or upset, and sometimes there's nothing we can do but wait for it to pass or wail it out on our violins or go smash something. Some people have spent years and years trying to figure out the things you're trying to figure out."

She beams, unexpectedly. "Still, do not let that dissuade you. The more you manage it, the better your art will become, no matter what the shape of that art might be." Well, of course she had to bring it back around to that.

So-young pauses for long enough to let Myunghon deliver their creed, because she's got a sense for the dramatic like that. She does note the way in which Shinjiro looks awkwardly away, and purses her lips briefly as she notes something else to pry at later. "Well, I'm a pilot, and I say scarf," she grumbles instead to Ixquic. "And until I meet someone else who can fly that makes me the reigning authority."

By now, she's heard enough from other people that she can get a rough shape of what the issue with that card is, and she frowns at it, suddenly distinctly uncertain what she's looking at. Does Jose understand, or is he acting on impulse? She can't help but think of the demons she's traded kazoos with - how often the reasoning along the way doesn't matter so much as the end goal. Maybe she should actually dissuade him from putting people into cards for the sake of learning abou them - but she remains silent on that front.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Sniper has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, yes!" He says to Ixquic, "They're much better in Mementos. Well... most of them are. It's just up here during this time out here - it gets all wonky?"

Does the Dark Hour ruin cognitive floral drinks? Apparently so.

Thanks, Kirijo.

Merry asks him a question, and Jose cocks his head to the side as if in thought before, "Oh! It's not like that - I'm not ripping them apart. It's more like their Shadows are being very loud about their desires. And well, because of that, it's pretty simple to make a copy of their memories about their desires."

Merry will find out later that Seiji Oshita is someone homeless in the Konan district - one of the few people 'actually' on the streets as to how Japan counts people in homeless, rather than 'not homeless' by virtue of staying overnight at capsule hotels and net cafes, lashing out against others in unfortunate places from a place of past trauma.

Quite alive, certainly, and not in a state of apathy syndrome.

"They just don't like coming near me after? Usually hey're scared that because I have their Shadow Card, I can get them in trouble... honestly, it's a little disappointing. I wish they'd just talk to me as I want to ask them why they're like that."

What does in fact happen if he completes his collection, "Welllll to be honest... I don't really know? I figure that when I do complete it, I'll know what to do next."

It's not exactly him being cryptic. It's more he doesn't know what the end of this road looks like, or the start of the next one.

He just knows he wants to walk it.

"... Wow! This is really nice, Miss." As he inspects the Origami star she hands to him, "I appreciate it. Huh? Not a trade? Well, if you're sure, then I'll keep that in mind for when you come by my store next time."

He smiles at her happily over the gift, before adding, "Oh I know that, I deal with people who aren't like that all the time. Like you all... and SEES... and the Phantom Thieves too."

And So-Young tries to explain human nature. And Jose watches as if in fascination, but once finished, "Emotions are something even people themselves can't make sense of? I don't think I really get it, but maybe after I finish this, I will?"

Shinjiro however asks the question of, how are we supposed to get more? Well that's easy. Hmm, though." He cocks his head, looking at them thoughtfully, "You might not be able to do it like I do... but you have Personas right?" Then it's like there's a Eureka moment as his eyes light up. "I know! I'll just bop them!"

He reaches into a pocket, and suddenly there's one of those squeaky cartoonish accordion mallets that looks like a toy, only it's nearly as large as he is tall.

"All I gotta do is hit the pressure point on your Persona's forehead..." Wait, Personas have PRESSURE POINTS? "...and-! I'm pretty sure I can smack how to do it right into them." He looks up at Merry with Cherubic eyes.

"Can I see yours? Now... I've gotta warn you. It might hurt a little."

He says, while holding an enormous cartoon mallet. It seems ridiculous that such a thing could harm a Persona.

And yet, Shadows run in fear from this child after he strikes them with it.

One might learn the secrets to new cards, if they can endure a moment of pain.

Song Of What Comes Next: Punch de Ouch - Persona 5 OST - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO2QJOg0zBY

"But I promise it's just a bop... it's like she said over there."

A mere, trifle*, certainly.

*Probably guaranteed to not make a copy of your own memories in card form, Merry. Maybe.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
<poem>
It's all just a nasty Kirijo Plot. Rumourmonger Merry is onto them!!

"It is indeed quite impressive," Myunghon does answer Ixquic, rather plainly and honestly, because -- well, it is! They don't need to fake that one bit. Ixquic's expression is a little difficult to make it, but it really doesn't seem like she has a good time with it. What would the flowers taste at a better hour? Usually it's Merry that has to be berated on putting things in their mouth that they shouldn't, like Tartarus.

Myunghon did confess that they didn't need to be some beacon of hope for Shinjiro, but... Rumourmonger Merry never promised that. Why, that's the luxury of the flesh and blood of the revolutionary in private. No, the revolutionary of the public must become a thing greater than flesh and blood -- a being of light and stars, whose legend and inspiration far outstrips the confines of their body after death.

That is how Rumourmonger Merry can give a cohesive answer, Umie.

But So-young and Umie both have more thoughtful answers than the deliberately vague, grandiose one Merry gives. Ariel's answer is similarly grandiose, but Myunghon does seem to like it. Shinobu does affirm that if it doesn't hurt the person in question in the physical world... so Shinobu has a deal with them, huh. They're going to have to figure out what all this is.

But Jose does clarify that it doesn't ruin the person in question -- and that definitely piques THEIR interest, because they were expecting something to the effect of how they aren't privy to what happens in the physical world.

"The phenomenon you describe is not unlike that of the distortion Akabane-san and I have experienced with Palace Rulers, however..." Myunghon taps their chin. "So it is a *copy*... how extraordinary." They'll have to take him at his word for now, but they're certainly going to verify it for themself later.

But what Jose describes is even more fascinating. Possessing a Shadow Card allows him to stay safe because they're afraid he has something on them... an act not unlike cognitive blackmail, but Merry's not about to say that out loud even if that is inevitably part of their trade. That Jose is compelled to have a Collection does worry Merry, but this is far from the last time they'll have deals with powers that they scarce understand...

"It is true that one will scarce find someone who is a true master of their emotions," Myunghon does admit. "But-- ah?"

He'll... BOP their Personae. Wouldn't that just make Shadow Cards... or, is the bopper multi-purpose? And now they're the guinea pig! They usually like using guinea pigs. This is highly unideal.

"You have quite the assortment of mysterious powers, Jose-kun. Very well -- I shall endure this ordeal first for us."

But Merry recovers from whatever rankling of their pride as they step forward, confidently focusing as they whisper--

"Kudlak."

And the jet-black humanoid creature rises out of their Cognitive Coat, half-melded within it, save for the head with the gleaming red eyes and silver hair and the suggestions of a 17th century aristocrat, with the jabot on their collar rapidly subsumed into darkness.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Sniper has posed.
<poem>
Kudlak rises, and Jose suddenly swings the mallet back, "Alright! Here goes!" And with a little hop, he raises the mallet overhead in a two handed strike, smashing Kudlak on their forehead dead center with an intensely cute squeaky noise sounding on the strike.

The Vampiric Persona instantly sees stars-! Literally, there are swirls and stars in their eyes as they list in dizzying circles like the Persona is punch drunk.

And so too does Merry who nearly swoons on their feet. It's like the most intense Persona Break you could ever have, like your ego is having trouble holding together coherently under the strain of taking a blow to that pressure point.

And then it settles, and-!

Kudlak has learned the ability: Card Capture

"There. Now you make Shadow Cards with your Persona."

He says, before smiling and turning to the others, "Does anyone else want me to bop their Persona?"

</poem>
[OOC] Penguin Sniper says, "*blu-ray Now you can make Shadow Cards"

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>Umie tries to warn Shinjiro. IT'S TOO LATE!!! He might have sympathy over being homeless, but not over cruelty. Eugh.

BShinjiro does feel worried about Myunghon's attitude, about the stench he metaphorically feels about their hope and their sacrificial nature, but...

This isn't the time.

INSTEAD A MALLET IS COMING OUT??? As Jose explains, Shinjiro's breath hitches, but he's just positioning himself near Myunghon, in case the blow hurts them. As they start swooning soon after Jose begins, he's making sure they don't *fall* over.

Then, once Myunghon's on their feet... he's stepping up to Jose, pulling out his evoker. "I'll go." He's got misgivings, but if they can avoid Change of Hearts...

He puts the Evoker up to his head and summons Castor, who manifests in a stomping action before stepping before Jose. "Let's get it over with."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
<poem>
So long, suckers!

When the star cloud dissipates, Myunghon is lying completely still on the Cardboard Dragon floor.
</poem>
[OOC] Shinjiro Aragaki blu-ray edit stuff about Myunghon actually falling and eating it anyays later
[OOC] Shinjiro Aragaki blu-ray move below myunghon

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.
<poem>Ixquic sticks her tongue out at So-young - but again, it's more a joke than anything else. "I'd say you're just jealous because you can't ride yours, but you can... I only know, like, two other people who can do that! And one of them, I've never spoken to." Maybe she should have asked for Queen's autograph instead of Panther's? But Panther is super cool... maybe she can get both, eventually.

Collect the whole set!

She looks over at Umie. "I didn't know you like to craft things too! I thought you were just doing the mask because you needed one." Ixquic, of course - well, Akari - loves all sorts of craftiness. "I made my sword myself, and other things... but I can't just give those away. I need them!" Otherwise Jose might get a gift from her too.

With everybody warning people away from the card... well, part of Ixquic wants to touch it anyway just to be contrary, but she's willing to take their word for it this once. Especially with Jose's other offer...

"Cool! I can see everyone's Persona that way!" Ixquic is pleased by that at least. She does want to see them... *and* she wants to get in on it, if Jose is offering. "I'll go! Quixote!"

Her own Persona is - like she said - half-motorcycle; it's like if you made a motorcycle centauride (what's a centauride? it's a lady centaur, perfectly normal word) wearing light armour, wielding a sword and bearing a lance, point-up, with a banner attached. She appears, revving her wheels, though she doesn't go anywhere... she does kick up some dust though.

As for Ixquic, well...

Ixquic is poking Merry with the blunt reverse of her sword. Poke. Poke. "Are you okay?" Poke.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Their Shadows are being very loud about their desires, and that makes it simple to make a copy of their memories...

"That makes sense." Shinobu comments. ...She's mostly just going with the flow and trying not to think too deeply about it. More importantly, it sounds like it doesn't have any negative effects on the real person. The question is raised of how ''they'' can make more - and Jose says that he can just bop them!

Shinobu thinks back to her first meeting with him. She then watches him demonstrate on Myunghon.

...Is this really a good idea??

...But then again, when did Shinobu ever not do something because it didn't seem like a good idea? She's been in plenty of fights and taken plenty of hits - at least this time he isn't actually ''trying'' to hurt her.

"I'm good for it." Shinobu says. "Lachesis!"

At her call, Lachesis appears behind her - and then moves in front of her.

"Hit me, Jose." Shinobu says - and then pauses to quickly clarify, "The other me, I mean."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"To teach a Persona..." Ariel muses quietly. She, certainly, ''has'' a Persona. She is awake in the Dark Hour, after all!

But she has never seen fit to summon it for anyone here, as far as anyone knows. She has begged off, that her Persona is 'not suitable' for combat. It's only a... partial lie. It is suitable for combat, but... not suitable for keeping her cover.

"How ''fascinating''!" she exclaims, looking at the cartoonish mallet with keen interest. "I should be ''quite'' interested to see the process in action. I shan't undergo it myself, of course, as my skills do not shine in the arena of e blade and bow, but I shall eagerly watch the rest of you undergo it."

Sorry, Ixquic. You won't get to see Ariel's Persona tonight.

She watches the bop, the stars, and... Merry out cold on the floor. She seems entirely too unconcerned as she steps out from behind the counter and moves to kneel next to them. "It appears it was rather quite intense. But I'm sure our Merry will be back on their feet in no time!"

Is... is she not concerned???
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> Jose says patiently that a lot of the questions about whether he is ripping Shadows apart are answered by his 'I am not ripping Shadows apart' t-shirt, and while So-young can appreciate that sort of candour she is not entirely certain about the small child being able to so easily refer to ripping Shadows apart in the first place. She remains a little wary throughout, though Jose still gets a warm smile as So-young snickers. "... it might be sooner than you think," she winks.

She can somehow manage to say that with supreme confidence. Maybe it's because a desire to complete a collection is exactly that - a desire. Maybe it's the fact that his collection _has_ an end to be discovered, which will mean anticipation or impatience or satisfaction along the way. Maybe she's just being self-confident for no reason. It wouldn't be the first time, by any means.

That confidence takes a hit when the mallet comes out. "Erm?" she starts to say something, then looks wide-eyed at Myunghon. "Erm???" There is clear concern in her gaze, but-- well, um, to be blunt, not enough concern to volunteer herself in Myunghon's stead. Maybe she's banking on Shinjiro doing it instead. So-young, it's not nice to exploit your friends ability to run into walls head-first to try to get them to handle the dangerous stuff--

B O P

With a distinct frown on her face and an ultimate degree of prim elegance to every movement, So-young Park kneels next to her fallen sibling alongside Ixquic, cautiously checks that there's evidence that Myunghon is still breathing, and then begins lightly poking them in the side until they wake. There is not a trace of sympathy on her face, despite the light shadow of relief. Sometimes you truly deserve what you get.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>Not a trade? Possible store credit? Umie smirks. I wont say no~
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Not a trade? Possible store credit? Umie smirks. "I won't say no~" Using origami stars as possible store credit? Not bad, for something she was trying to do to give to Ren later. Point system rewards!

.... look, it was an idea.

"I mean, I do have to, for masks," Umie says, to Akari. "But origami and kumihimo weaving are things I played with even before that."

Jose assures them that this does not affect the person whose shadow its used on, and Umie shrugs. "Sounds like a good insurance policy, too. Don't want one of them sneaking up on you when you're distracted..."

Bop their personas, huh. She ponders.

She doesn't need to hear Mai-chans voice to know exactly what she'd say.

"... If you're offering," Umie says, despite looking at Myunghons fallen body. "... Ill go last, just in case."

After all, it's a nice way to see how everyone summons, and appreciate all their Personas in turn.

Also, it's not like it could be a bad idea. He's not bopping her _Mark_.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Sniper has posed.
<poem>
"Well... I hope so." He says to So-Young, "Sometimes I feel like I'm not making much progress."

Jose suddenly hops up as if trying to do the same to Castor!

Castor attempts to resist learning the ability: Card Capture

Even as it's bopped, Shinjiro can feel the tugging, like his Persona is about to go berserk from this pressure point being struck.

...
...
...

This could be really bad! But, as the cloud clears, Jose is still in that pose of slamming the mallet against Castor's head.

And then the Persona shatters, vanishing in a blast of light

Castor has learned the ability: Card Capture

"Your Persona isn't very nice, Mister. Actually it seems pretty mad at you." Jose says after he lands, with a frown. "Are you feeling alright?"

Quixote appears, and Jose smiles at Ixquic, "Sure! Here goes!"

Quixote has learned the ability: Card Capture

Well. She'll be good by exams tomorrow, probably!

(If she forgets about the existence of Algebra, that's not his fault.)

'The other me, I mean' Jose actually looks like he was already going to go, but then has to readjust his aim some, "Oh- Right!"

Wait could he do it by BOPPING the person too?

It's probably for the best he doesn't, even if he could.

Lachesis has learned the ability: Card Capture

Actually, weirdly? It's a little easier for Shinobu, like it feels like a normal run of the mill Persona break!

Ariel however turns it down, "Oh, you don't want it? That's okay!"

And as Umie then goes last, he leaps, bops and-!

"Huh?"

Badb has not learned the ability: Card Capture

As he lands, he considers the problem. "Ohhhhhhhhhh I get it! Okay let me try that again." He drops his hammer then rubs his hands together like some athlete preparing for a decathlon event, then picks up his squeaky hammer.

Pivots twice in circles that are quickly speeding up. Then leaps.

At the point of contact, there is an intense blinding light at the point of contact, from the hammer into Badb.

Badb has learned the ability: Card Capture

Also, Umie gets what everyone else got, only twice as bad... because someone is a jerk.

That someone is not Jose.

"There, I think that did it."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
<poem>
Ixquic and So-young both take turns poking at Myunghon, who has for a moment become an artful line drawing like the light is about to take them at any time. Unfortunately, that'd be too easy, wouldn't it, Merry? Miho's still waiting...

The white-haired Rumourmonger groans and peels up slowly as the Cognitive Coat helps prop them up and assert gravity the right way up again, and they collapse into their coat as if nursing a horrible headache. "I wasn't even aware Personae had pressure points in that regard. I suppose if you consider them to be cognitive beings, they may well represent models of the body or mind, suffused to nerves as they are..."

They're going to indulge in thought for that for a while. Jose's commentary about Shinjiro's Persona being mad at him does get them to pause and become reflective, though. But rather curiously, they regard the process on Badb, and it appears that Jose's having some trouble. Their eye narrows as they consider this, given what Umie's already confided in them. But even they have to shy away from the intense, blinding light--

"I can only scarce wonder what cognitive changes this may bring upon the person in question... I suppose naught, given what Jose-kun already shared with us," Myunghon utters. "However, the retrieval of this Shadow Card in question elucidates a wealth of information that may not even be possible from a regular Palace exploration."

They tap their chin, smiling a little too easily as they say, "Perhaps ours is not the way of a Change of Heart after all. No, we have always been in the trade of information, have we not? Those who threaten us often deal with threatening us in the spaces where we are most vulnerable... but these Cards can aid us in placing them in check."

Then they look to So-young. "Go get your bop on, nuna. Do you not want this advantage over mother?" they rub in.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>Castor gets bopped. Shinjiro stuns backwards, bracing himself against the couch, but more than that, he feels the tug of going berserk, even as Jose wins the battle. It's a bad feeling, one that reminds him of who he is and where he is and how he got there. Of what he's become. He's been having a good week...

The words that follow it make it only worse. His Persona *is* mad at him... for good reasons. It's his fault. He's suppressing it... no wonder Castor would be angry.

If Jose hadn't been stronger, would have he just killed everyone here? Would he have torn the Cardboard Dragon asunder and slaughtered his friends for the sheer hubris of trying to become stronger?

Shinjiro snaps out of his rumination, to nod to Jose. His voice is even. "I'm okay. Thank you."

Then, he turns... and goes for the door. "I'm going to make sure everything's okay outside, see if anyone else is on the streets. I'll be back."

Shinjiro needs to go for a walk.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.
<poem>Ixquic stops poking Merry once they start to rise. They're fine! Apparently!

"Obviously they do. If they didn't have a pressure point it would be because they were the same all the way through, and they're not. We have different parts of our mind!" Ixquic says this right before -

*bop*

Well, once again, Ixquic's eyes are mostly hidden behind her visor. But if you COULD see them, if you looked real intently at her face, you might see the swirly eyes hidden in there. "Ow. See, right now PART of my brain hurts a lot," Ixquic says - not quite whines - before deciding to plop down in place to recover.

Unlike Myunghon, she sits, rather than collapses. It's much more graceful. (not really)

If Ixquic has one advantage, though, it's that she recovers pretty quickly; she's young, she's resilient, and the way she thinks doesn't really make sense to anyone else (if you were mean, you could also call her stupid, but that's not really true... weird, she'll accept, though). It's a surprisingly short period of time before she feels ready to hop up to her feet, and if she's still nursing a headache from having Quixote bopped so hard she shattered she doesn't show it.

Quixote will be fine. It's not the first time she's Broken.

She gives the others a slightly bleary look - especially Shinjiro and Umie, because Jose has more to say about their Personas than her own - but between trying to drink the foul Dark Hour Juice and this, she's not really feeling quite up to her usual energy levels.

"It would make exploring Mementos easier," she agrees with Myunghon, "but I don't know..." It's Myunghon's ideal, to learn everything like that, but is it hers? She has her own dream, but...

Hmm. She needs to think about it. When her head doesn't ache so.

"Tell me if anyone's out there!" she calls after Shinjiro. "I'm going to have to run to get home in time if I stay much later! Unless..."

...

"Jose, can you give me a ride back to Mementos?" She can take the exit from there that goes to Rengedai Station and get home in half the time!
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> BOP

It already feels like her entire Umie-ness has been bopped with a sledgehammer. She's never had her Persona properly broken before now, and the first time is always a proper Experience.

'Oops, sorry, you flinched at the last second. Should've stayed still, Umie-chan~ Why do you have to make things so difficult?'

"Nh....gh..." Bleary eyes crack open from where Umie sits, now on the floor. It is quite firm, unlike what So-young insinuated earlier. "... He's not bopping me," she slurs through her hands, as if trying to carry a conversation, "'s'it's my Persona..."

Jose's... picking up his squeaky hammer. Surely he's going to move on to--

oh. OH.

This is just her life right now, okay

at least she _won't move_

B-B-B-B-B-BOP!!!

And now Umie's on the floor, nearly completely out, mumbling complete nonsense. "...Not now, Mai-chan..." Umie slurs, through drowsy lips. "... It's too late for that kind of thing..."

'Oh, so scandalous~ Please do make sure they hear you.'
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>BOP.

Jose does, in fact, hit Lachesis. It feels like a sharp headache and she winces and stumbles back - but she doesn't topple over. The sensation feels familiar, in fact. Some others seem to have gotten it worse - and in some cases, there have been some strange reactions...

"Whew. You've got a good arm, kiddo." Shinobu comments, massaging her forehead even though she didn't get hit there ''physically'', giving Jose an approving nod. She's still just a ''little'' dazed, but powering through it. "Thanks. We'll put this to good use, yeah? And maybe see if we can't get a few more cards for your collection."

She looks toward Myunghon, then, as they consider the ramifications of this. ...That's a good point. Being able to view another's memories...

"...That's a good point. That's much more our speed." Shinobu replies with a thoughtful nod. She frowns after a moment, thinking on it further. "...But that's still something that's worth using wisely, too. Spying on someone else's memories isn't something to do lightly, yeah?"

She looks to Shinjiro. She watches him for a moment - and then, nods.

"Alright. See you soon, Aragaki." She replies.

...The almost-out-cold Umie gets a look and a raised eyebrow, but Shinobu doesn't pry. Some things are best left unknown...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Ariel does watch with keen interest as the rest of the Personas presented undergo the process and learn that crucial skill of Card Captor. She focuses intently on Castor.

Like his Persona is really angry at him... her expression doesn't change, but she makes note of that. Badb's, too, is noteworthy. Though she has less things to draw inference from there.

Ariel offers Merry a hand up should they need it. And to their musings, sge smiles. "Information ''is'' the stock and trade of a Rumormonger, is it not, dear Merry? It shall be most useful to ahve such a tool at our disposal."

And then they can get an entirely new type of card that Merry doesn't sell for cash and leaves the books in the red. Win-win!

Shinjiro leaves to take a walk. "Do be careful!" she calls after him.

Umie, though... Ariel observes her curiously, then move to check on her. "Well now, you seem to have quite an experience. Shall we move you someplace more comfortable? Perhaps the couch?"

Ariel will take help, but she can also just haul the other woman up herself if need be. It won't be pretty or graceful but she can do it.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> Slowly, So-young releases a breath she didn't know she was holding that hard, as Myunghon picks themselves up off the ground. She rocks back on her heels, frowning at Myunghon's teasing as she grumbles. "You're really alright?" she asks in an unguarded moment of concern, her mouth drawn into a line, before she sighs and lifts up to her feet.

"Some days will feel like that," So-young replies placidly to Jose's concerns. Even his saying that feels like a self-fulfilling prophecy. How can someone lament a lack of progress and yet not know anything of emotion?

She's just as struck by the way Jose evaluates some of their Persona. The idea that part of Shinjiro's identity might be mad at him is not surprising in the least, but more than anything it leaves So-young with the odd thought of 'what would Icarus think of her?' Presumably, since its even part of her, the question is moot in the first place, but it sticks to her brain and won't let go.

Oh well. "Very well, then. But please do be careful. Icarus always feels just a little rickety, you know?" she makes a bit of a theatrical show of it, before summoning the bundle of spindly latticework and linen and feathers that somehow makes up a coherent part of her mental map.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Sniper has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro departs, and Jose looks sad as his eyes follow him for a while, but- "Alright Mister. I hope to see you again later."

Jose considers Merry closely as they contemplate the possibilities of the Shadow Cards, and others thank him, "I hadn't even thought of that... you kind of remind me of another group I know, at least a little." He then looks at the Origami Umie gave him earlier, "Hmmm, alright, I've decided!"

And Jose brings out something that looks like a Shining Stone, glittering in multiple hues of purple and blue and green. It looks both otherworldly, and like a craft project a child might have made all at once.

"Okay and I just need to..." He puts his hands over the stone. Then folds it. Then folds it again, and again, in smaller and smaller folds. What began as a large stone now looks like it has the consistency of folded cardboard into a small Origami like Dragon. Except try as one might, it's impossible to ''unfold'' it. And the edges look more rounded than ever.

But as it becomes a Dragon, there's like a sparkle to it that wasn't there before, like the shape imbued a certain quality to it.

"Since you're collecting Shadow Cards... take this, as a sign of our friendship! Dragons are impossible creatures to humans right? And with this, I think you can make the impossible seem that much more possible."

Before he says with some thought, "Sometimes, at least." He holds it out to Myunghon as an offering, before Ixquic asks him for a favor. "Oh sure! I can do that. Though..." He walks back towards his car, "... the seat isn't really big enough for two."

So-Young makes her choice, and- "Alright. Though can you bring Icarus down lower? I promise I'll be real gentle, Miss." Jose moves forward, slowly raising his mallet, and letting it creep forward, until he does the teensiest little little...

...bop...

Which nevertheless still hits So-Young full force right in the psyche, like he hadn't held back at all.

Even though he did. It's just she asked him to be gentle with the Persona!

Icarus has learned the ability: Card Capture

-=-=-

"Hang on! I'm gonna jump it!"

Cue a car tearing across the Dark Hour at high speed, and Magical Warrior Ixquic... riding on the hood, as the headlights gleam, and they catch air going down the stairs of the train station, immediately vanishing into a swirl of distortion that appears as Jose arrives to the station, sending them both into Mementos.

"Good luck!" He calls out, as his car abruptly brakes, sending Ixquic careening right on the exact train back to Rengedai, just as the doors slam shut.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
<poem>
Myunghon's expression turns dormant, downcast, even, as they watch Shinjiro for a moment longer than they likely should -- and he offers to go do patrols. They pull their legs up into their Cognitive Seat, and for a moment sinks back into themself--

But Ixquic has doubts of her own. "... it is wise to have doubts," Myunghon does reassure. "The space that we are all navigating requires great care, even at a moment where we're gifted a new boon such as this."

Ixquic needs to go home, though, and given her disguise, Myunghon does recognise the difficulty but... hitching a ride with Jose?? Hmm. They never even considered that a possibility. Still-- Umie does look like she's struggling, so Merry picks themself back up and they help Umie up again dutifully. "That was quite the experience for you, Akabane-san." A pause, as they hear Umie mumble that name. Their lips flatten for a moment, as they help transfer her over to the couch, all with the help of the Cognitive Coat and Ariel, since they're not strong enough to really do much of that themself.

"Yes, it's quite true, Shinobu-ssi, Ariel. However, it is well worth considering giving our opponents, who frequently control media and police, a taste of their medicine." That Remi *is* here makes Myunghon know this knowledge won't remain secret for long, but even so... they haven't cast Remi out over it. If there's a dagger in their back someday over this, that's just the price of their friendship.

So-young has a moment of more heartfelt concern, though, and their expression returns a little. More Myunghon-like, less Merry. (Yes, Myunghon is infinitely less merry than Merry, hoooooooo ho ho ho ho.) They do look to the door again, concerned. "I will be, thank you..."

But Jose has another gift, after he says that they remind him of another group he knows. Who could that be...?

But he procures a shining stone -- a Shining Stone, sorry -- and works upon it until it resembles a... a... a small, beautiful, colorful origami dragon. An origami are often made out of thin pieces of...

Cardboard.

Their very own cognitive Cardboard Dragon, impossible to unfold, as if it bears the folds of all their bonds!

Myunghon accepts it gently as Jose reflects on the nature of dragons. Just imagine dragons, even. "Many that others consider impossible are merely improbable. But it is true that with the gifts you have unlocked for us, that new paths have now opened. Perhaps in this sense we can truly become... like a dragon."

There is a nod towards Jose as he motions to leave. "Stay safe. You too, Ixquic."

But So-young's about to experience why hers is the story of Icarus, and they're going to be ready to also move them to the couch because by the time this is all done, half the Cardboard Dragon is just going to be flat on it from getting the mallet.

No, way, Jose? Yes, way, Jose!
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Akari Hoshi has posed.
<poem>Why would you not ask Jose for a ride? He's going the right way!

"I'll be safe. But you too!" Ixquic says, as she moves to go with Jose. She does crane over to look at the dragon origami -

"Oooh!" She's impressed by it. She may not be part of the group, precisely, but she knows artistry when she sees it (even if, in some ways, it looks as crude as something she would have made years ago), and she can feel something deep inside...

"With everybody's hopes and dreams in something like that, you'll never fail!"

But right now she's going to hitch a ride. With Jose. On a car. And what does she think about having to ride on top?

"Wheeee - aaah!"

...yeah okay some things don't change. Even as she's pitched into the train. Well, it was where she wanted to go, so she can't complain, but... there's got to be a way that doesn't end with her head over heels, having stopped only when she hit the far side of the train car.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Shinobu considers what Myunghon says. A taste of their own medicine to their opponents, huh...? She thinks on that for a moment, and then shrugs.

"Can't argue with that." She decides. They have to use the tools they have, after all, if they want to have a chance of coming out on top.

And, Jose seems to have reached a decision. He brings out a stone of some kind. Shinobu watches with interest as it is folded, folded, and folded, until it takes the form of... a Cardboard Dragon, which is offered to Myunghon.

...A small smile crosses Shinobu's face.

"...That's really kind of you, Jose. Thanks." She replies.

But it's time for him - and Ixquic - to leave, and she offers them both a wave.

"Take care out there." She replies.
</poem>
[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

Eveline Deschamps

2025-12-02T01:42:25Z

Thornpunk:

2025-11-27: Two Dorks and a Deer

2025-11-28T04:04:26Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Two Dorks and a Deer''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Akihiko Sanada *'''Where:''' Okinawa Islands *'''OOC Date:''' November 27, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 13, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro invites Akihiko on a nature walk, where he reveals his return to school. The two make plans to introduce Akihiko to the Cardboard Dragon, and also find a deer!'' ---- (|============================= Okinawa Islands ==============================|) -=========..."

*'''Log: Two Dorks and a Deer'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Akihiko Sanada]]
*'''Where:''' Okinawa Islands
*'''OOC Date:''' November 27, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 13, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro invites Akihiko on a nature walk, where he reveals his return to school. The two make plans to introduce Akihiko to the Cardboard Dragon, and also find a deer!''

----

(|============================= Okinawa Islands ==============================|)

-============================================== Other Japan/Okinawa Region ====-

Part of an archipelago that stretches from the southern tip of Japan to nearly

Taiwan, the Okinawa Islands are home to a distinct culture of the Ryukyuan

people who were forced to become a part of Japan four hundred years ago.

Resentment for being viewed as expendable stretches back much further than the

Second World War.

Those who respect the locals will find that Okinawa is the ideal for summer in

Japan, with its proud shisaa serving as guardians on rooftops and gates to

households alike. The local cuisine is distinct from mainland Japan; goya

chanpuru is a popular stir-fried delight.

People can travel between the Okinawa Islands through a vast network of ferries

that carry people to and fro, and no two of them are alike. However, one should

be careful not to go too far off the beaten path... or violate one of its

clearly marked sacred sites.

Sometimes the ferries take an awfully long time coming back, and if some people

disappear here? Well.

Accidents happen all the time on vacation.

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
It is a lovely (if hot and humid) day in Okinawa. SEES is on their vacation, and Shinjiro Aragaki has made a decision that he can't undo, not that he wants to.

So, he needs to catch up with Akihiko, the comrade, the brother, the fellow orphan he's been neglecting and keeping information from. There's still a lot he can't tell him, so he can make it up by letting him be the second to know his decision.

Shinjiro has invited Akihiko on a nature walk. He still has that list of Okinawan wildlife times and locations Mitsuru gave him on his birthday a day prior.

He's clad in a long-sleeve gray t-shirt, jeans, and boots, even in this heat, as he stands in the forest outside the Kirijo estate, waiting. Their stated goal is to search for deer (and hopefully not scare them off), but his other primary goal is to tell Akihiko the good news! His third goal is to get through it without punching Akihiko. That's possible, right?

(Time will tell.)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
It's been a calm trip thus far, for Akihiko. It's a strange feeling to not have to deal with a crisis here and there, or whatnot. Some time to breath, and recover from his training. Although, he's been getting a little antsy, admittedly.

So, when his best friend and brother Shinjiro invited him out to a nature walk, Akihiko decided it'd be a nice change of pace. A chance to be at least a little more active. Even if it's slower than his ~usual~ active activities. It's nice to bond some more, with someone whom he holds a strange relationship with.

Akihiko arrives dressed in a red striped t-shirt and white pants, with a watch on his wrist.

"Thanks for inviting me, Shinji." Akihiko smiles with his friend, after meeting up. "I appreciate it."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro nods as Akihiko arrives, a casual smile on his face, something he hasn't really had in a while. He must be in a pretty decent mood.

"No problem," he says, turning towards the trail. "Let's go."

He'll talk while they walk, starting to speak once they've made good momentum. "So, how's training going? ...for the boxing club, I mean." Since they have two kinds of training. Shinjiro isn't usually interested in school things due to having basically quit, even for small talk, so it might be a little weird to hear. "I know exams were kicking everyone's asses, so good thing they're done for a while."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro with a smile? It's so rare to see that, the sight brightens Akihiko up nearly immediately. Ha... It's almost so silly. But if he stays still, he's gonna get left behind!

Akihiko rushes to fall into line next to Shinjiro. They walk for a while in silence, until Shinji starts a conversation. "Oh, it's well. I remain undefeated of course, but my kouhai's are managing quite well in their own matches. I'm proud to see them come into their own." He responds honestly, without reservation. "Ha! It's nice to for it to be over for a little bit. And a vacation as well to rest up is extremely nice." He gives Shinji an eyebrow. "I'm not used to you being interested in school."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"You better keep that streak up until you graduate, then. Perfect record, you know?" Shinjiro tells Akihiko, a lazy smirk on his face. "I won't tolerate anything less."

Though, after that tease, he considers the vacation... it has been nice. Also, very healing, in many ways. But Akihiko's not used to him being interested in school...

"Yeah. I know." He takes a moment to think on how to break it, taking a breath of the clean crisp forest air.

"Kirijo's been trying to get me back in school, and... I decided maybe now was the time to do so. Before it's too late... I gotta graduate with both of you."

The promise they once made.

"She said she'll get it taken care of when I asked her if it was still possible, so..."

There's definitely still a hint of nervousness about it in his voice, at least. Anxiety over 'what may come', and the things he's not telling Akihiko and can't tell him.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
"Honestly, I'm much more stern about my winning streak against Shadows." Akihiko replies. "It'd be nice to have a real challenger to go up against." Granted, his strength has only doubled, if not tripled, since SEES.

Then comes the real surprise. Akihiko's eyes widen. "Wait, seriously? You're enrolling again?!" He has to take a few moments to really process what he's hearing.

"I...really didn't expect the day would come." He says, after a long pause. "How are you going to make up for the lost time...?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Well yeah, that's one where a loss would be really bad," Shinjiro says.

Though, Akihiko's surprise does give him a tiny bit of surprise in return, and makes him laugh a bit at his reaction. "Yeah. I thought... if I continue on this path, that's not really living, is it?" It's more complicated than that... but it is how he's started to think lately. "We only get the one life. Gotta make it count."

Though, Akihiko gets a sigh as he admits he didn't expect it to happen. "Honestly, neither did I. My friends at the Cardboard Dragon are the ones you should thank. Myunghon Yeo and them. They gave me some new perspective." The ones who helped at the Palace and at Fuuka's rescue... he must be really close.

"I'll start catchup work the moment I get back. Kirijo will probably have a tough as fuck regimen to go through... but I'm starting to think it might be worth it." He's dodging the other meaning of the question, the one only he thinks about.

He can't make up for the lost time. But he's learned that *doesn't* mean he shouldn't try.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko gently punches Shinjiro's shoulder. "Finally got through that thick head of yours, huh?" He pauses. "...Well, I'm glad. Took you long enough."

Mm... Akihiko thinks about it for a bit. "Right. I'll have to send something as thanks, maybe. If I figure something out." He nods. "They must be good friends. I'm glad, honestly." And maybe a little jealous. But he's not going to voice that.

"Heh. That she will, Mitsuru." Akihiko laughs a bit. Mitsuru is famous for her hardassery, after all. "I'd be glad to help you out as well, Shinji. Anything you need. Muscles aren't just my expertise."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"I guess," Shinjiro says with a joking grimace as Akihiko impacts his shoulder. He grabs Akihiko by his own, jostling him playfully. "But don't get too cocky about it just yet. ...it's going to take time to really process some of this. But we've got some of that, right?"

Akihiko doesn't voice his jealousy, which is good because Shinjiro would probably bully him a bit. Instead... "You should meet them sometime. I think it'd be good for you, too."

He's counting on them to help Akihiko when the end comes after all.

"Are you sure?" though he'll bully him about muscles!! "I didn't think protein powder helped you with exams." A pause, his voice gentle when he speaks again. "Thanks. I'll take you up on that. I'll have a lot of support."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
"We do." They should have the time at least. Akihiko laughs as he's jostled. "Maybe you'll get in next semester, or the one after that. It'll be nice to see you around Gekkoukan again." Akihiko smiles happily.

"I'll look forward to it, in that case." The suggestion makes does make Akihiko somewhat relieved.

"Of course. Your brain is a muscle, just as much as any other muscle." Though, at that, he wonders. "I want to say I've heard something about increased focus from working out, actually." Though, don't quote him on that. Aki smiles a lot, softly, as Shinjiro accepts his help. "Thanks, Shinji."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Probably best to come in this upcoming one, if Kirijo can swing it," Shinjiro admits. "She's probably had the whole thing planned out, anyways." She has.

"Awesome. I'll text you the address once we're back," he grins a little bit.

"...is that a thing?" Shinjiro no, don't believe the muscle guy! "Not that you're gonna get me to become a protein freak, though."

Up ahead, though, Shinjiro suddenly hears rustling, pulling a hand up as he stops. "Shh, I hear deer."

Hopefully they don't scare it off! ...it's a fifty-fifty chance with these two dorks, honestly.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, Mitsuru absolutely has." It's nice that Mitsuru cares for Shinjiro just as much as Akihiko does.

Akihiko smirks reflectively at the idea of going back. A vacation is nice, but he's missing the action. "It's a plan. We'll find a solid evening for it.

"Heh, I doubt I ever could. Or would want to, you do just fine for yourself."

As Shinjiro shush him, Akihiko stops. "Oh?" He says, softly, not wanting to spook the deer either. He slowly turns his head, to figure out where it is.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Excellent," Shinjiro had said about the plan...

But for now, it was time to find a deer. As the two approach into a small corner of the woods, there it is.

A majesticf deer, standing completely still. Shinjiro raises a hand, grabs his phone, turns off the flash...

And takes a picture. It's not very like him - he's never been picture-oriented - but he clearly is intent on doing so.

The deer, thankfully, does not startle. They have this moment together...encapsulated both permanently and in memory.

And honestly, that makes this all worth it.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-11-26: Hell To Your Doorstep

2025-11-27T00:25:22Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Hell To Your Doorstep''' *'''Cast:''' Hazuki Nakao, Katsuko Yoshinaga *'''Where:''' Mementos - Entrance/Path of Qimranut *'''OOC Date:''' November 26, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 16, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''During a jaunt into Mementos for training, Hazuki accidentally drags a bystander in - her newfound 'friend' Katsuko Yoshinaga. Forced to flee from Slimes, someone from Katsuko's past appears in the form of a Shadow. As Slimes surround them, Hazuki lose..."

*'''Log: Hell To Your Doorstep'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hazuki Nakao]], [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]]
*'''Where:''' Mementos - Entrance/Path of Qimranut
*'''OOC Date:''' November 26, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 16, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''During a jaunt into Mementos for training, Hazuki accidentally drags a bystander in - her newfound 'friend' Katsuko Yoshinaga. Forced to flee from Slimes, someone from Katsuko's past appears in the form of a Shadow. As Slimes surround them, Hazuki loses Katsuko... who is reborn through the power of the Will of Rebellion. After an escape, the two make plans to reconvene later.''

----

(|=========================== Mementos - Entrance ============================|)

-====================================================== Tokyo/Shibuya Ward ====-

Once you enter Mementos, however you manage it, the world will transform around

you. It's subtle at first. Initially, while you remain just before the entrance

of what should be Shibuya Station's Underground Mall entrance, there's just a

soft, fractal blueness at the edge of your vision. The city itself seems normal,

but all the people are gone, and it feels like you're walking on air.

Head down the stairs and no subtlety remains. Disturbingly vein-y lines,

dark-ish and reddish, dig through the floor, walls, columns, and ceiling. A set

of turnstiles mark the bottom of the stairs at your back, and in front, there's

a set of escalators leading deeper within. Snow plays on TV screens to either

side, and past them, would-be electric maps display cracked and broken.

Those Persona Users whose outfits transform will, while they were in their

normal clothes above, find them transformed here. No Shadows lurk in the

entrance, but they can still sense your presence at this point--so this is your

last chance to turn back.

BGM: Mementos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_Jkz_ZC9Yc
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Normally, when you go to the train station, you're not carrying a baseball bat. Hazuki Nakao is an exception to many rules, however, as she drags a baseball bat into the bathroom of the Shibuya train station... in sight of another girl who might know her.

She's in her usual outfit, as she enters the currently-empty girls bathroom and goes to the mirror. Katsuko would have an opportunity to sneak up at this point, as she stares intently into it, and...

"Okay... Mementos, Mementos, Mementos, Mementos..."

She takes a breath.

"Mementos."

And the world changes.

The city is empty outside the Underground Mall entrance without a soul, footsteps like one is walking on air. Hazuki proceeds down the stairs without turning back, but as she does, something changes in her. Her hair flashes orange and ash-grey, her outfit changes into one with a massive winged pauldron and magical girl-esque dress, and her attitude turns from gloomy to confident in an instant.

Her silver baseball bat has turned gold.

Dark red veins crawl through the walls and floors, as TVs play snow and the electronic maps are cracked and broken. Turnstiles mark their back, and escalators mark their descent.

Hazuki proceeds down the escalators, as fractal blueness dots the lines of vision. Metal bars keep her from wandering in certain situations as she ends up in a strange-ambience train station, and literally leaps onto the tracks. The walls are lit poorly with fluorescent lights, and wind and debris blows at them, encouraging them down the tracks.

A dark and maze-y region is what they end up in, and skittering noises can be heard in the distance. It's at this point Hazuki stops and stretches.

"Alright! Time to train..."

It might be a good time to interrupt her now.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Upon first catching sight of Hazuki, Katsuko had started forwards, hand raising a little as she began to call out and greet her. Before the words could leave her lips, however, she spotted something peculiar - the bat. That alone would not have been a particularly unusual sight, given the popularity of the sport, but most people didn't drag it into the train station, let alone brandish it when they were in the station's bathroom. While it may have been more sensible to simply ask what was going on, Katsuko grew as suspicious as she did curious, and elected to tail Hazuki instead.

She hid around a corner before slipping into a stall, peeking out from behind a barrier to try and figure out what exactly Hazuki intended to do. She'd not started vandalising the place, and there appeared to be nobody inside that she intended to visit violence upon. So what was she doing, and why did she seem so intent on chanting that same word into her phone? Before Katsuko could even begin to form a coherent theory, reality itself warped around her, as if the fabric of it was being tugged upon from every angle.

Katsuko backed away, unsure of what she saw, and unwilling to be trapped in it regardless of what it was. She stepped back, mind on edge and heart racing, only stopping when she collided with the cubicle wall. Slight though the impact was, it managed to shake her out of her shock enough to spur her into action, and she set forward to follow Hazuki with all due haste. Or, at least, that was her intention. Distracted by the unsettling new environment she had been thrust into, Katsuko's mind was flooded with questions as much as it was silent panic, no matter how hard she tried to push it down and think clearly. It was only natural that her eyes were averted when Hazuki transformed.

The figure she saw as she pushed through into the depths - against her better judgement - was a stranger to her. A local of the strange realm, perhaps? Someone else that had been dragged into it with her, by whatever ritual Hazuki had performed in the bathroom? Those questions, and a bevy more, all raced through her mind, clamouring for attention every step of the way. Even as Katsuko's sharp eyes flitted between the world's onslaught of unsettling imagery, and her mind was wracked by the cacophony of sounds both close and distant, she could not help but let her focus draw back to that enigmatic figure before her.

Then, they spoke. The voice sounded familiar - but then again, not. A thought tugged at the edge of her mind, as if she had been handed puzzle pieces with no idea on how to arrange them, but she pushed it aside. There were more pertinent matters at hand.

Like interrogating the figure before her.

"You." Katsuko said, her voice cold as ice, her face like solid stone as she levelled a glare at them. "What is this place? Where am I? And who are you?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
As Katsuko speaks, Hazuki pauses, turns on her heel, and nearly falls over in shock. "Yoshinaga-senpai?!"

She blinks twice, alarm reaching her eyes. She takes a moment to panic, before speaking. "It's me, Hazuki! How'd you get in here?!" A pause. Oh no, did she drag her in from the bathroom? Stupid careless Hazuki...

"Don't panic! I'll get you out of here! You're just in a magical train station that reflects humanity and is full of monsters!" Wait, no. That's not helpful. "It's complicated! Just follow my lead and everything will be okay...!"

Hazuki's probably panicking more than Katsuko is. The skittering gets louder, as if it's slowly being drawn by the noise.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
"Nakao-san?" Katsuko was the very picture of cool and collected as she asked the question. Her voice was even, yet carried enough force to it that she could not have been seen as anything but serious. Her expression remained stony, unwavering even in the face of the unknown. Even her body language spoke of composure, barely shifting unless to let her glance to one side. But internally, a conscious effort had to be made to maintain that appearance. Thrust into a strange realm with a stranger explanation for it, Katsuko's mind ran a mile a minute to process everything, leaving a tense moment of silence or two before she continued. "If you have a way out, then move quickly. I hear something coming." She whipped her head to the side, hearing yet more skittering from that direction. It surrounded her, as if threatening to drown her, and it took every ounce of her willpower to focus on hauling ass out of that hellhole.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
"Right, right-" Hazuki started, before turning to start past Katsuko.

It was too late.

Whipping her head back, she tilts back on her heel, bat swinging out as a Shadow, a black blob with a strange mask, suddenly lunges at her in an abrupt burst of speed. The Shadow transforms in an instant, a viscid rotting meat pile, a veritable Slime, manifesting and slumping backwards from the blow, but maintaining shape. And then another comes. And then another. They ooze towards the exit, coralling them so that their only escape is deeper within

"Oh crap," she says perhaps a bit too quietly, before taking a breath. "I got this! There shouldn't be more coming!"

There's probably more coming, as Hazuki reached out a hand. A blue butterfly manifested, flying around, before landing in the palm of her hand...

With a claw grip, much like a gamer with an arcade stick, the butterfly is mercilessly crushed.

"Persona!"

Her Persona Janus is manifested, a royal figure with two masks and two clock hand for blades. In an instant, a blast of pure light is fired at the wounded Slime from the clock blades, moving to envelop it. It survives, however, and Hazuki's eyes widen.

"Follow me, it's gonna explode!"

what

She moves to rush deeper inside, ducking down a corridor but will grab Katsuko if she stalls. Maybe they can take a breather once they get enough distance.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
A putrid, squelching, mass of decaying flesh, adorned with a mask. Katsuko was unsure if she was supposed to be shocked, revolted, panicked, or some combination of the three. She opted for revulsion tinged with just enough panic to instil urgency into her actions - there would be time to ruminate on the nature of such vile things another time. For now, safety was her priority, yet even that was denied to her by the shambling mounds that stood as a barrier between her and the exit. Her eyes scanned the environment, searching desperately for an out, but instead caught on the spectacle Hazuki put on.

Persona - a word she recognised, though certainly not in this context. The appearance of yet another supernatural creature - one that appeared to be under Hazuki's thrall, if her command of the thing was any indication - only confused matters further, and left Katsuko with yet more questions to cloud her mind. Consternation crept into her features, persisting even after she bolted in Hazuki's direction. Adrenaline made certain she kept pace, and with it flooding her system, she even had the strength to bark out a question.

"Will you PLEASE tell me what's going on?" For the first time in a while, Katsuko felt her tone shift to something resembling fear.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Hazuki makes sure the Slimes aren't following, before starting to speak. "I... it's... we ended up somewhere magical. This is Mementos... a supernatural world behind ours. I'm one of the ones awakened to it, who fights these monsters... Shadows. I accidentally pulled you in here, I think. I'm sorry." She bows her head, panic still in her heart.

"But! You'll be safe. I won't let anything hurt you." Hazuki says that with such a surety of will, raising her head and staring into Katsuko's eyes with her own gold ones. "We just need to find an exit. There's ways back up, but unless we decide to fight those Slimes... we'll need to find an alternate path out. Stay close, okay?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
The explanation offered little information that Katsuko could find useful, but she was far too busy catching her breath and attempting to remain calm to bother pressing Hazuki for details. With a horde of rancid beasts blocking their exit as well, Katsuko decided that perhaps it was better to simply keep anything but the most pertinent questions to herself until the danger had passed. That look Hazuki gave her, though... Whatever questions Katsuko might have thought important enough to ask were momentarily forgotten as she saw the resolve in them, and heard a command so confidently issued. She might have found it dashing, were the situation not so dangerous.

"Understood. Lead the way, then - I'm counting on you." It was less a vote of confidence and more a statement of fact. Bereft of weapons, training, experience, and knowledge, Katsuko - much to her disdain - had to rely on Hazuki.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
As Katsuko says she's counting on Hazuki, the latter nods, smiling brightly.

As they progress inside to find an alternative exit or even time out the Slimes, the path they took leads them deeper and deeper... straight into a large chamber. The tracks continue progressing, but they might not have a chance to continue further, as noises seem to be coming from deeper, more Slimes.

"Uhhh..." Hazuki says. "The layout's different from last time... should we take the chance or look for another corridor?"

She'd take another breather, but it's very likely someone won't let them. Someone... Shadowy. At the least, she's alert now!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
The lack of light left it difficult to make out what lurked beyond - a fact made clear by Katsuko squinting into the distance. She could make out a humanoid figure, steeped in darkness and blocking their exit, but little more beyond that. It was a simple thing, and a far less repulsive prospect than the legions of festering pustules that dragged themselves through the levels above. So why did the one before her twist her stomach into a knot, and have her clenching her jaw tight at the mere sight of it?

As she noticed the thing that stood amidst the blackness, it too noticed her. It turned slowly, gold eyes like pinpricks of light in an ocean of black, underscored by a grin so sharp it looked as though it had been carved with a knife's tip. Slow, steady, footsteps resounded off the subway walls as it started forwards, and what dim light was afforded to them revealed the figure to be a man - as did the voice that left its lips.

"Oh? What have we here?" It said, every word accompanied by the tapping of its footfalls. "Some uninvited guests. I *do* wish you people would make an appointment first..."

What little light was cast on the Shadow revealed a plain suit, woven from navy thread and layered atop a pristine white shirt. Around its neck, a tie to match the suit itself was attached, tapering up towards a older man's face, itself topped by black hair slicked back until the light caught on it was almost blinding. Katsuko said nothing - she *did* nothing. She froze on the spot, her face caught somewhere between shock and fury, while her fists clenched with white-knuckled tightness.

"You..." She spoke, her voice lowering into a deep, rumbling, growl. "...What are you doing here...?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Hazuki sees the humanoid figure, after Katsuko does, eyes widening. Gold eyes, but not quite like hers...

A Shadow.

"Oh no..." Hazuki says, taking her bat and taking a combat stance.

"Do you know this guy, Yoshinaga-senpai?" Hazuki asks fromt in front, bat at the ready. "I don't think I can take on a human's Shadow easily on my own... we need to be careful!"

That's to say, she's going to try if it's their only way out, until they can get enough distance to make a retreat. She herself looks over his face, trying to see if she's heard of him anywhere. If he's some suit, maybe not, but maybe Katsuko will explain.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
The Shadow cocked a brow and spoke again. Each word that oozed from its lips dripped with smugness, its every sentence a taunt, its every movement beckoning her to come closer and try her luck.

"Do I know you?" It asked, before tapping its chin casting its gaze to one side in a mocking gesture. "Hm... You certainly aren't someone I've had dealings with... and I'd certainly remember if you were one of my empl-"

"Yoshinaga."

Whether Katsuko heard Hazuki or not was irrelevant. Her eyes, narrowing and focussed like a hawk's, were locked on to the Shadow. "Hiroyuki Yoshinaga. You will answer for your crimes against him."

"Yoshinaga...?" The Shadow looked to her again. The look he gave her was, once more, mocking in its exaggeration, with the smugness in its tone only serving to pour salt upon the wound. It shrugged, cocked its head to the side, and settled its eerie, unblinking, eyes back onto her. "Hm... Ah yes, I remember him! That oaf was *unbearably* naive. So much wasted potential, just because he couldn't look the other way when it mattered..." Katsuko's teeth clenched again - this time so hard that she swore she could feel them cracking under the force of her own jaw.

"You... You speak to me like that again, and I will-"

"And that idiot almost cost us our contract !" It loomed ever closer, its form swallowing the light behind it, draping darkness over Katsuko as if to swallow her whole. "Crashing into Yuki's car like that, and on his holiday too... At least crashing seems to have knocked some sense into him, for once in his life."

"Shut up!" Whatever semblance of composure Katsuko might have clung to vanished in that moment. In its place was hatred - sheer, unfettered, primal, hatred, so bile-tinged and acidic that her tongue burnt as she spoke those words. "He was- He IS a good man! He's better than you'll ever be! And I'll-"

The Shadow waved its hand, dismissing whatever vitriol Katsuko still had left to direct at him, before speaking in a tone as lazy as the gesture given.

"Whatever you have to say, I'm sure it can wait. I've entertained you long enough as it is, so please allow my friends to show you to the door." With a snap of its fingers, more of those festering monstrosities emerged from the black, oozing their way across the ground. The circle drew in slowly, but with no gaps in the horde's defences, it was only a matter of time before they closed in on Katsuko and Hazuki.

"No!" Paralysed by fear as much as hatred, Katsuko stood in place, gesturing sharply at the Shadow. "You don't get to leave! Not after what you did! Get back here!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
The back and forth between Katsuko and the Shadow causes Hazuki to falter a bit. Hiroyuki Yoshinaga... is that someone important to Katsuko?

As she's defiant, and the Shadow moves to send the Slimes over and everything looks very bad...

Hazuki steels herself. A shaky grin appears on her face, as she points the bat to the Slimes. "Sorry, but I'm going to be the one to play this game tonight... I'll hold you off!"

It's a suicide plan very likely if she's unlucky. But if Katsuko died here, because of her action... she'd never forgive herself.

"Yoshinaga-senpai! You can't give up! If you die here... you'll never be able to face him! You'll never be able to get your revenge! So look to the stars and follow your light!"

Hazuki tries to inspire, even as she enters what may be her final battle. She doesn't want to die... but it's okay, if Katsuko escapes, right?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko did not listen. Katsuko did not respond. Katsuko, blinded by rage and deafened by a single-minded desire to bring the man before her to justice, could only register Hazuki as a distant, stifled, sound behind her. Even the massed horde that encircled them was only barely registered, their presence at the corners of her vision ignored as anger swelled in her like wildfire.

"Dying here, and dragging your friend down with you..." The Shadow sighed with mocking pity. "Whoever you are, Yoshinaga would be embarassed to have you here on his behalf. Now, begone."

What little distance was left between Katsuko and the encroaching mob was swallowed up in a heartbeat. Katsuko scarcely had time to realise what was happening to her before the weight of the first one struck her to the ground. The second hammered against her torso, bludgeoning whatever breath she'd held from her lungs, rending a desperate gasp from her core as she struggled to clamber to her feet. But, pinned beneath the ever-growing horde, even the surge of strength that adrenaline and anger granted her was not enough to set her free. She would die there, and Hazuki would die with her. This was the end.

BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHDE_P4mAzA

"Is this the extent of your conviction?"

A voice echoed in her mind, and brought with it agony. Her skull felt as though it would shatter and rip apart at the same time, her mind trembled as excruciating pain wracked it like a lightning bolt, and it was all she could do to bring her hands to her face as if that futile gesture would do a thing to alleviate it. She could offer no response to the voice - only listen as it echoed at her from every direction, inside and out. It was torture. It was pain. It felt as if something was attempting to rip itself out of her very soul.

"You swore to deliver justice to those that believed themselves above it. You swore vengeance upon those that believed themselves invincible. You swore to fight, no matter the cost to yourself or to others. Is your will truly so weak that you would forsake those promises?"

Katsuko struggled. Even as every fibre in her body screamed under the strain, and her vision clouded from the fury plaguing her, she gave her answer with manic thrashing and guttural cries of hatred. "No? Then I shall lend you my power, and our pact shall be formed. I am thou, and thou art I. Speak my name, and become what you must."

"Edmond... Dantes..."

For all her fury, it availed her of nothing. The black tide swallowed Katsuko, her hand vanishing beneath it as the horde piled upon her body. Darkness engulfed them all, and in moments, she was condemned to a grave of shadow.

Then, a deafening crack ripped through the air. Detonating gunpowder blasted from the shadows, its sound like the sudden clap of thunder, backed by a burst of orange flame. The darkness at the edge of the arena dispelled for but a moment, affording a fleeting glimpse of something else that lurked inside. Lines of gleaming silver were tinged flame-orange by the pistol's blast, forming accents across the body of the weapon's wielder, tapering to razor-sharp points until they reached the edges of their owner. Sharp curves and wicked points comprised its silhouette, a billowing curtain of black their backdrop. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, it faded.

Only for another shot to ring out, and tear through a mass of slimes near Hazuki.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
As the Slimes approach to engulf, Hazuki defiant til the end, something happens. The Black Tide swallows Katsuko...

"YOSHINAGA-SENPAI!"

Hazuki's too late. She turns, calling out. "ELIGOR!"

A red armored knight on a black horse manifests, moving to try and burn through the Slimes with a rapid rush, as Hazuki tries to carve through them, but she's not fast enough...

The thundercrack rings out. Hazuki turns, getting a glimpse of the mysterious combatant, but she's hyperfocusing, trying to do anything, recover anything, hope this is a bad dream.

Hazuki screams out, as the horse turns, and impacts her bat with a crushing tide of gravity, Hazuki charging forward and slamming it into the nearest shadow even as the gunslinger saves her life.

"You there! You have to get out of here! I can't leave her!"

At this rate, though, they might be able to thin the crowd that they can just *escape*, and after a long moment, if the figure doesn't pre-empt her, Hazuki will literally turn towards the exit, shaking in rage and grief.

She knows she can't die just for the sake of dying.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
The only response the figure gave to Hazuki was another pistol shot, and another line of monsters destroyed. The ones that had descended upon Katsuko. Nothing beneath them remained but dirt and cement. Nothing of the woman herself remained - no body, no possessions, nothing. She was gone, and no volley of lead would bring her back. The figure did not notice, or did not care. What few slivers of light shone on it caught against the pistol's barrel as it turned towards the human Shadow, giving it a split second to see the thing's intention before the trigger was once again pulled.

A cry of surprise was all that the Shadow could give before it retreated into the lower depths of the subway. As it retreated into darkness, the gunslinger emerged from it, revealing themselves before the assembled crowd. Boots of darkened leather, their tops tapering into sharp points that jutted towards the knee, beat against the ground. The leather gave way to dark grey fabric hanging from its wearer's body, while above it a shirt of similar fit and colour sat. Shrouded by a longcoat as black as pitch, its hood cast shadows on its face that left its eyes buried, while below it sat a mask - the grinning lower half of a skull, and the same silver as the accents that trailed across its chest.

Behind it strode a figure wreathed in smoke as soot, an ink-black tailcoat trailing behind it. Iron, damaged yet polished, clung to its face in a crude mask, while blood-red satin enveloped its chest in a form-fitting waistcoat. A pistol - the pistol from earlier - hung from its hip, while its hand now clutched the handle of a gleaming steel sabre. Yet, despite it trailing behind the hooded thing, it did not seem to walk as much as it seemed to glide. Feet plunged into that same thick smoke, it resembled a wraith, forever hanging over someone's shoulder.

"Leave." The first thing commanded, extending its finger sharply towards the exit. "I'll follow."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
As the Slimes are being destroyed, Hazuki turns to the mysterious masked figure, trying to keep herself sane as she clearly doesn't recognize them, and nods once. She runs as far as she can, and eventually finds her way to the escalators back to the entrance.

Rising up to the safe part of Mementos, Hazuki makes it a few steps towards the actual exit before she loses her balance and falls to her knees. She's trying to prevent tears from welling up. She couldn't save Katsuko... was this really that dire? Was she that useless?

"..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
"Get up, Nakao-san. We have to go."

The figure in grey crouched down beside her before trying to bring her to her feet, an arm wrapped around her back as it dragged upwards. "They'll be on us any second. We-" Its voice stopped suddenly, and for a moment, it was silent. It pondered something, then sighed lightly, before both hands reached towards its own face. One peeled the mask away, letting it fall away and dissipate into the ether, while the other hauled back the thick fabric of the hood. Slowly, the veil was lifted, and Katsuko's face - shocked, yet focussed - emerged from beneath. "Apologies. I'm not used to wearing this."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
As the voice says her name, Hazuki is only mildly confused, because she's too busy struggling. It's only as she's dragged upthe mask is removed, turning up to the figure, that her eyes widen.

"Yoshinaga-senpai..."

That was her, then... she Awakened? How? What kind of Awakening was that? She didn't even recognize her... Hazuki shakes her head, before stabilizing on her feet. "Right... we'll talk once we're out of here. Let's get back to the real world."

Then, Hazuki leads Katsuko to the exit, steps through, and allows that blue to take away her vision.

She's back in her normal outfit, carrying her silver baseball bat in the girls restroom. Luckily, it's still empty, her footing shaky as she wipes the tears from her eye.

"I'm glad you're okay..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
It wasn't the emergence into the real world that gave Katsuko pause. It was a relief to be back somewhere safe, even if it was in the middle of some subway's bathroom. It wasn't the slew of strange things that had been heaped on her back in whatever place that was. Katsuko had many questions, of course, but calmed herself by rationalising that she could have them answered in due course. It wasn't even the mortal peril she'd been placed in - her shock, though still waning, left enough manic energy in her system to keep her from processing all of it and collapsing into a catatonic heap. It was Hazuki's reaction.

Katsuko took a moment to analyse the situation, and came to the conclusion that offering her usual brusque response would be insensitive. That, in turn, would damage their relationship, and thereby risk depriving her of a useful ally. She could hardly afford to lose someone that seemed so genuinely concerned for her, and as such, did what she could to try and bring comfort to Hazuki.

"I'm fine, Nakao-san. Just a little shaken up." Reassurance had been given. What next? Directions, perhaps? It wouldn't hurt to take charge of the situation, she supposed, if only to get them out of the bathroom. "You should rest. We'll talk about this when you're well."

Whether she was conscious of it or not, something new tinged Katsuko's voice.

Concern.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Hazuki nods once more, a weak smile on her face as Katsuko gives direction. "Okay..."

Hazuki will leave the restroom, straighten up, and then split off from Katsuko. Both are a bit shaken... they should probably process it a bit before they dive straight into it.

She's just so glad she's okay.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

Shinjiro Aragaki

2025-11-19T04:02:54Z

Thornpunk:

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 15%; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Shinjiro Aragaki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" |
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Shinjiro Aragaki
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | Arcana:
| [[Tarot#Hierophant|V. The Hierophant]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Male
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| 18 (August 11, 1994)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Brown
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Brown
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 6'0" /182 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Tatsumi Port Island
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| Gekkoukan High School
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Third Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Persona 3 (FC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| [[SEES]], Cardboard Dragon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Voice:
| Kazuya Nakai (JP), Justice Slocum (EN)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Thornpunk|Thornpunk]]
|-
|}

'''"Don't waste your breath."'''

Shinjiro Aragaki is running from his problems. A towering third-year student at Gekkoukan High School with a brusque attitude who stopped attending school and instead usually hangs around in dark alleyways late at night, he is a founding member of SEES and a close childhood friend of school boxing star and fellow orphan Akihiko Sanada. After a horrific accident two years ago, Shinjiro left SEES and began a reliance on Persona suppressants which are slowly killing him. Having returned to active duty after making new friends in Sumaru and being forced to reckon with the consequences of his past deeds, Shinjiro's armored, thorny exterior hides a kind and gentle young man who puts others before himself. He has a true passion for cooking, loves animals, and tries to pass on his learned wisdom to the younger SEES members wherever possible.

= Background =

As early as he can remember, Shinjiro Aragaki was an orphan. Raised at an orphanage, he met Akihiko and Miki Sanada at the age of four, and became inseparable, especially with Akihiko. However, when he and Akihiko were eight, the orphanage was burnt down by an arsonist, killing Miki. This was traumatic for Shinjiro, something that'd stick with him forever.

Shinjiro remained Akihiko's rock, following him to Gekkoukan and eventually meeting Mitsuru Kirijo in middle school. Mitsuru recruited Akihiko into SEES, and Shinjiro, refusing to abandon him, followed along, fighting Shadows during the Dark Hour. The three made a promise to graduate together, something Shinjiro appears to have forgotten.

Two years ago, a rookie Shinjro ended up losing control of his Persona. Castor destroyed the Amada household, killing a mother of a young child. Shinjiro abandoned SEES immediately, traumatized again by taking a life and leaving an orphan. He learned about Persona suppressant drugs eventually and began taking them, hoping to learn to control Castor - this worked, but had the side effect that Shinjiro, a natural Persona user, will lose worse control of his Persona if he stopped taking them. Additionally, the drugs did a constant number to Shinjiro's body, promising his death before graduation either way.

Shinjiro became homeless, isolating himself from the people he cared about. He couch-surfed with shady 'friends', got a part-time job at Hagakure Ramen, occasionally crashing in the back room, and generally just loitered in places that he probably shouldn't loiter. He still frequented the restaurant regularly even after quitting, and the owner often wants him to come back, having taught him how to cook.

SEES wants him back, but Shinjiro can't accept putting that burden back on them. His path is different now... but how long until he must answer the call?

==Season 1, Episode 1==
* '''STACKED DECK - PART 1''': Shinjiro [[2025-07-04: The Power of Rumors|begins]] [[2025-07-07: Brutes And Bananas|investigating]] [[Tatsuya Sudou]], the Old Maid Killer who burned down his orphanage ten years ago. He is [[2025-07-03: I Don't Just Play One On TV|tipped off to the information]] by one [[Goro Akechi]], his fellow orphan. He [[2025-07-08: A Pact Forged|aligns]] with [[Myunghon Yeo]] in order to get more information and assistance. During an [[2025-08-22: Challenging Fate|attack on Seven Sisters]], Shinjiro comes face to face with the Joker Killer, losing control as he confronts him and nearly injuring others. During this event, he learns that Akechi is a Persona user.
* '''HAUNTED BY THE PAST - PART 1''': Shinjiro [[2025-07-13: Hope You Know What You're Getting Into|befriends]] [[Umie Akabane]], who assists him along with others in [[2025-07-18: Separation Anxiety|journeying to Tartarus]] to [[2025-07-26: Battle Royale|rescue a Gekkoukan student]] named [[Fuuka Yamagishi]], having [[2025-07-21: Devil's Deal|bought an Evoker]] from [[Strega]] to fight again, claiming it's a one-time thing. His former [[SEES]] comrades, [[Akihiko Sanada]] and [[Mitsuru Kirijo]], see him fight for the first time in two years, as he battles with his Persona, Castor. Akihiko [[2025-07-27: Aftermath|tries to convince Shinjiro to come back]] once more, the latter refusing. Mitsuru [[2025-08-04: Time Doesn't Stop|later does the same]], insisting he return to school, but he still refuses.
* '''LIKE A DRAGON''': Shinjiro is there when [[Junya Kaneshiro]] threatens Myunghon and the Cardboard Dragon. He almost gets himself hurt telling Kaneshiro to screw off, and decides to assist Myunghon in breaking into his supposed [[Palaces|Palace]]. Myunghon gives Shinjiro a safehouse key, getting him off the streets more often, though he refuses to monopolize it, alternating days on and off the street. Shinjiro, Myunghon, and their allies later [[2025-08-05: Knives Out|discover the route]] to Kaneshiro's Palace. During [[2025-08-15: Scarface|their excursion into the Palace]], Shinjiro fights [[Niko Kirisaki]] with Akihiko and [[Yukari Takeba]]. Myunghon and Shinjiro later [[2025-08-07: Tiny Apartment Confessional|confide in each other]] their health issues and traumatic crimes, solidifying their bond. In the end, [[2025-08-23: The Godfather|Kaneshiro is defeated]], though a [[Goro Akechi|man with a black mask]] interrupts their victory, threatening Kaneshiro and the group of Persona users before disappearing as quickly as he came.
* '''HIRASAKA BLUES''': Shinjiro continues to aid Myunghon and the Cardboard Dragon, becoming a solid member of their core group. However, while [[2025-08-26: Love and Hope|aiding Myunghon with love troubles]], Shinjiro finds out that they've been harassed by a violent and bigoted cop. In surviving a dangerous Mementos run, he is [[2025-08-30: Otherside Picnic|forced to fight]] the same police officer who attacks Myunghon, [[2025-08-31: Crime and Punishment|getting himself arrested by the Sumaru PD]] after punching the cop in the face and staying behind to protect [[Tsubasa Seki]]. He [[2025-08-31: Ain't Found A Way To Kill Me Yet|suffers]] while in jail, the police having found his pills.
* '''HAUNTED BY THE PAST - PART 2''': After the arrest, Mitsuru [[2025-09-01: Release|bails out]] Shinjiro, confronting him about his ties with Strega and his drug use. In the process, she learns the truth about what he's been hiding: that he's been taking suppressants. With Mitsuru insisting he come back to SEES, Shinjiro asks for one week to decide. After [[Ken Amada]], the boy whose mother Shinjiro killed two years ago, [[2025-09-06: Youth|prepares to move into the SEES dorms]], Shinjiro decides he must come back to protect him and rejoins SEES.

===Sub Stories===
* '''THE CLAW OF DESTINY''': Shinjiro tries to [[2025-07-12: The Claw of Destiny|get a Jack Frost doll]] from a claw machine for a little girl. He fails, though [[Hitomi Mandai]] manages to assist him in recovering it. Having only wanted it for its supposed resell value, the girl gives the doll back to Shinjiro, who still has it.
* '''THE PRISON''': Shinjiro and Umie go to the [[2025-08-01: The Prison|debut concert]] of Gas Chamber, their ally [[Eikichi Mishina|Eikichi Mishina's]] band. Shinjiro ends up leaving with two [[Saika Kikuchi|cool]] [[So-young Park|adult]] women, showing them Parabellum and investigating the gun shop rumors there.
* '''FIGHT CLUB''': Shinjiro, having met [[Suzume Fukura]] while trying to win the Jack Frost doll, offers to [[2025-08-06: Similarities|train her in combat]] after numerous supernatural meetings and noticing her similarities to his past self. She accepts.

= Persona =
'''Castor''': Castor is a Greek mythological figure and twin brother of Polydeuces. Born of different fathers via the magic of the gods, rendering him mortal as a son of man. When Castor eventually died saving his brother, Polydeuces gave him half of his immortality, rendering the two to remain together forever.

Meaning to be revealed.

= Special Skills =
Shinjiro is an extremely skilled cook, having learned at Hagakure Ramen. He's a natural genius, and it provides him discipline. He can make dog food, too.

He loves punk rock and grunge music, especially Western stuff, and frequents indie concerts in the three cities.

He has a mean right hook. He reads true crime and memoirs.

=Relationships=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Address
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Arcana
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Associated Dish
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;"class="unsortable" | Info
|-
|[[Akihiko Sanada]]
|Aki
|IV. Emperor
|Steamed asparagus with grilled '''''seasoned''''' chicken
|''"Guess you always win in the end, huh?"''
|-
|[[Mitsuru Kirijo]]
|Kirijo
|III. Empress
|Butter-poached lobster tail
|''"Thank you for having the hope I can't."''
|-
|[[Myunghon Yeo]]
|Myunghon
|XV. Devil
|'Mean' sprouts
|''"We're in this together."''
|-
|[[Umie Akabane]]
|Umie
|VII. Chariot
|Wagyu burger
|''"You're still my friend, no matter what marks you have."''
|-
|[[Shinobu Shimizu]]
|Shinobu
|XII. Hanged Man
|Grilled steak with greens
|''"You're solid like a rock."''
|-
|[[So-young Park]]
|Park
|XIX. Sun
|Umeshu
|''"You're reckless... but you do care, don't you?"''
|-
|[[Mio Kazama]]
|Kazama
|XVI. Tower
|Sake
|''"Thanks for hearing me out that night..."''
|-
|[[Remi Ryuuja]]
|Ryuuja / Ariel
|XVI. Tower
|Coq au vin
|''"Your secret is safe with me, Ariel."''
|-
|[[Suzume Fukura]]
|Fukura
|VII. Chariot
|Tantanmen ramen
|''"I'll teach you what I know."''
|-
|[[Minako Arisato]]
|Arisato
|0. Fool
|Mochi
|'''I don't know if you can rely on me, but I'll try."''
|-
|[[Minato Arisato]]
|Arisato
|0. Fool
|Miso soup
|''"You seem like a strong leader. I'll do my best."''
|-
|[[Eikichi Mishina]]
|Mishina
|XIII. Death
|Cucumber salad
|''"You've got a good attitude. Don't get yourself killed."''
|-
|[[Tatsuya Suou]]
|Suou
|XIX. Sun
|Katsudon
|''"...I'll be waiting for that ride."''
|-
|[[Ichika Kawase]]
|Kawase
|XIV. Temperance
|Banana ramen
|''"Your philosophy isn't half-bad."''
|-
|[[Yua Ooshiro]]
|Ooshiro
|III. Empress
|Okayu
|''"To believe in others..."''
|-
|[[Tsubasa Seki]]
|Seki
|XV. Devil
|Hot pot
|''"...I'm glad you're alright."''
|-
|[[Niko Kirisaki]]
|Niko
|XVIII. Moon
|Mapo tofu
|''"I'll figure it out."''
|-
|[[Julian Marlowe]]
|Marlowe
|X. Fortune
|Nikujaga stew
|''"We'll see how far I can trust you."''
|-
|[[Yukari Takeba]]
|Takeba
|VI. Lovers
|Sweet and spicy yakisoba
|''"...your suspicion isn't unfounded, but [[Mitsuru Kirijo|she's]] not your enemy."''
|-
|[[Goro Akechi]]
|Akechi
|VIII. Justice
|Pancakes
|''"You're wearing more than one mask, it seems. Which one's real? Goro Akechi, the Prince, or the angry boy who they said cried wolf?"''
|-
|[[Reiya Aomori]]
|Aomori
|IX. Hermit
|Sashimi
|''"You're too quiet... but you seem loyal to her."''
|-
|[[Jun Kashihara]]
|Kashihara
|X. Fortune
|Yakitori
|''"You're too chill for a Kasugayama student. What's that about?"''
|-
|[[Hitomi Mandai]]
|Mandai
|X. Fortune
|Tuna and pork ramen
|''"Get a better reason."''
|-
|[[Jin Shirato]]
|Shirato
|IX. Hermit
|Mentaiko
|''"Ugh."''
|-
|[[Takaya Sakaki]]
|Sakaki
|X. Fortune
|Umeboshi
|''"You give me the creeps."''
|-
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Address
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Arcana
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Associated Dish
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;"class="unsortable" | Info
|-
|[[Ayame Watanabe|Ikkaku Watanabe]]
|Watanabe
|XVII. Star
|Cold cut sandwich
|''"...you shouldn't have given me your emblem."''
|-
|Kazuo Kobayashi
|Kobayashi
|I. Magician
|Canned coffee
|''"Piss off, you so-called Storm Boss."''
|-
|[[Junya Kaneshiro]]
|Nothing Kind
|V. Hierophant
|Rotten meat
|''"You better not come back, scumbag."''
|-
|Koichi Ishiba
|Nothing Kind
|?
|Cheap-ass beer
|''"I wish I could punch you again. Go to hell."''
|-
|}

= Soundtrack =

== Character Soundtrack ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Main Theme:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBG7P-K-r1Y Everlong - Foo Fighters]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Hello 
I've waited here for you 
Everlong 

Tonight, I throw myself into 
And out of the red 
Out of her head, she sang 

Come down and waste away with me 
Down with me 
Slow, how you wanted it to be 
I'm over my head 
Out of her head, she sang 

And I wonder 
When I sing along with you 

If everything could ever be this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when 
She sang 

Breathe out 
So I can breathe you in 
Hold you in 
And now 
I know you've always been 
Out of your head 
Out of my head, I sang 

And I wonder 
When I sing along with you 

If everything could ever feel this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when 
She sang 

And I wonder 

If everything could ever feel this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Inevitable Death:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlFhERzYaKc Euthanasia - Will Wood]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
I was right there 
While you fought tooth and nail 
Gasping in the gas mask thrashing till you disappeared 
Say you're not scared, that you know it's cause I cared and 
Say you know I love you, and that hope was just not there 

And I know, I know that I'm wrong 
That when you're gone you're gone 
And I can't bring you home 
But I want, I want to believe 
That you'll remember me when you're just memory 

Roots in the ground 
Or uploaded to the cloud or 
Warm inside our hearts or as electrons in our head nowhere now 
Over the rainbow, can I stop by and say hello and 
Sorry I would take it back if I could but I know 

To love one from too far to call 
Is not to love at all, to whom is it I talk? 
But I want, I want to believe 
That you can still hear me when you're just memory 

Said "it's okay" 
And "It'll all be over soon" 
I'd never let a bad thing happen to you 
Now goodnight I love you 

And every, everybody dies 
Fighting for their lives, just trying to survive 
Well now I know, I know why we say 
That there's a better place that waits beyond the grave, oh 

And I know, I know it's not true 
There's just no more you but as long as there's no proof 
Then I choose, I choose to believe 
That we'll meet in sweet dreams after you're put to sleep
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Surviving Until That Very Last Day:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1CPi631WlU The Mountain - Three Days Grace]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Another night I'm barely holdin' on 
One step away from being dead and gone 
Am I alive to die another day? 
Is this life that I've been livin' 
All that's meant for me? 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still survivin', keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

The higher I go, the harder I fall 
So I don't look down, I don't look back at all 
And when I wish it all would turn to black 
I try to see the light and push the darkness back 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still survivin', I keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

So If I'm numb, already too far gone 
And If I feel a pulsin', I can carry on 
When I'm lost and wanna fade away 
I tell myself to live to die another day, yeah 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still alive and keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain, the mountain
</div></div>

== Dedications ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''[[Akihiko Sanada]]:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E36WU9Wzf4 Flaws - Bastille]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
When all of your flaws and all of my flaws 
Are laid out one by one 
The wonderful part of the mess that we made 
We pick ourselves undone 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws 
They lie there hand in hand 
Ones we've inherited, ones that we learned 
They pass from man to man 

There's a hole in my soul 
I can't fill it, I can't fill it 
There's a hole in my soul 
Can you fill it? Can you fill it? 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up, so nothing's left untouched 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws, 
When they have been exhumed 
We'll see that we need them to be who we are 
Without them we'd be doomed 

There's a hole in my soul 
I can't fill it, I can't fill it 
There's a hole in my soul 
Can you fill it? Can you fill it? 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up, so nothing's left untouched 

Ooh 
Ooh 

When all of your flaws 
And all of my flaws are counted 
When all of your flaws 
And all of my flaws are counted 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up. Let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up. So nothing's left untouched 

Ooh 
Ooh 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws 
Are laid out one by one 
Look at the wonderful mess that we made 
We pick ourselves undone
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''[[Myunghon Yeo]]:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj_sNT9LLeQ Heaven, We're Already Here - The Maine]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Blessed be the night we're breathin' in 
Unforgettable and so benevolent 
The closest that we'll get to Heaven-sent 
For all us darling aliens 
And we will never be this young again 
So full of fire and rebellion 
Now shoot the night just like it's medicine 
And we all will be born again, again, again, again, again 

This is everything you prayed for 
(Pray for, pray for, pray for) 
This is everything I need 
Please, don't anybody pray for me 
(My soul isn't yours to save anymore) 
Life is crazy, baby, don't forget the seatbelt 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road 

Blessed be the sky we're soaring in 
So few of us and millions of them 
Daylight isn't far away, my friend 
And we all will be born again, again, again, again, again 

Life is crazy, baby, don't forget the seatbelt 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road 

So alive, we could die 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Through and through, by and by 
Everything I love is right here tonight 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 
Let it live, let it die 
No, we can't get off, here we are tonight 
Through and through, by and by 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 

What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
Is what you're livin' for worth dyin', worth dyin' for? 

And this is everything you prayed for 
(Pray for, pray for, pray for) 
This is everything I need 
Please, don't anybody pray for me 
(My soul isn't yours to save anymore) 
Life is crazy, baby, baby 
(Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road) 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn door 
Our great unknown, the open road 

So alive, we could die 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Through and through, by and by 
Everything I love is right here tonight 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 
Let it live, let it die 
No, we can't get off, here we are tonight 
Through and through, by and by 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here
</div></div>

= Logs and Cutscenes =

==Season 1==

{{#dpl:
|category = logs&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

{{#dpl:
|category = cutscenes&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Focus]]
[[Category:Gekkoukan High School]]
[[Category:SEES]]
[[Category:Cardboard Dragon]]

Shinjiro Aragaki

2025-11-19T04:02:39Z

Thornpunk:

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 15%; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Shinjiro Aragaki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" |
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Shinjiro Aragaki
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | Arcana:
| [[Tarot#Hierophant|V. The Hierophant]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Male
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| 18 (August 11, 1994)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Brown
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Brown
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 6'0" /182 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Tatsumi Port Island
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| Gekkoukan High School
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Third Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Persona 3 (FC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| [[SEES]], Cardboard Dragon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Voice:
| Kazuya Nakai (JP), Justice Slocum (EN)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Thornpunk|Thornpunk]]
|-
|}

'''"Don't waste your breath."'''

Shinjiro Aragaki is running from his problems. A towering third-year student at Gekkoukan High School with a brusque attitude who stopped attending school and instead usually hangs around in dark alleyways late at night, he is a founding member of SEES and a close childhood friend of school boxing star and fellow orphan Akihiko Sanada. After a horrific accident two years ago, Shinjiro left SEES and began a reliance on Persona suppressants which are slowly killing him. Having returned to active duty after making new friends in Sumaru and being forced to reckon with the consequences of his past deeds, Shinjiro's armored, thorny exterior hides a kind and gentle young man who puts others before himself. He has a true passion for cooking, loves animals, and tries to pass on his learned wisdom to the younger SEES members wherever possible.

= Background =

As early as he can remember, Shinjiro Aragaki was an orphan. Raised at an orphanage, he met Akihiko and Miki Sanada at the age of four, and became inseparable, especially with Akihiko. However, when he and Akihiko were eight, the orphanage was burnt down by an arsonist, killing Miki. This was traumatic for Shinjiro, something that'd stick with him forever.

Shinjiro remained Akihiko's rock, following him to Gekkoukan and eventually meeting Mitsuru Kirijo in middle school. Mitsuru recruited Akihiko into SEES, and Shinjiro, refusing to abandon him, followed along, fighting Shadows during the Dark Hour. The three made a promise to graduate together, something Shinjiro appears to have forgotten.

Two years ago, a rookie Shinjro ended up losing control of his Persona. Castor destroyed the Amada household, killing a mother of a young child. Shinjiro abandoned SEES immediately, traumatized again by taking a life and leaving an orphan. He learned about Persona suppressant drugs eventually and began taking them, hoping to learn to control Castor - this worked, but had the side effect that Shinjiro, a natural Persona user, will lose worse control of his Persona if he stopped taking them. Additionally, the drugs did a constant number to Shinjiro's body, promising his death before graduation either way.

Shinjiro became homeless, isolating himself from the people he cared about. He couch-surfed with shady 'friends', got a part-time job at Hagakure Ramen, occasionally crashing in the back room, and generally just loitered in places that he probably shouldn't loiter. He still frequented the restaurant regularly even after quitting, and the owner often wants him to come back, having taught him how to cook.

SEES wants him back, but Shinjiro can't accept putting that burden back on them. His path is different now... but how long until he must answer the call?

==Season 1, Episode 1==
* '''STACKED DECK - PART 1''': Shinjiro [[2025-07-04: The Power of Rumors|begins]] [[2025-07-07: Brutes And Bananas|investigating]] [[Tatsuya Sudou]], the Old Maid Killer who burned down his orphanage ten years ago. He is [[2025-07-03: I Don't Just Play One On TV|tipped off to the information]] by one [[Goro Akechi]], his fellow orphan. He [[2025-07-08: A Pact Forged|aligns]] with [[Myunghon Yeo]] in order to get more information and assistance. During an [[2025-08-22: Challenging Fate|attack on Seven Sisters]], Shinjiro comes face to face with the Joker Killer, losing control as he confronts him and nearly injuring others. During this event, he learns that Akechi is a Persona user.
* '''HAUNTED BY THE PAST - PART 1''': Shinjiro [[2025-07-13: Hope You Know What You're Getting Into|befriends]] [[Umie Akabane]], who assists him along with others in [[2025-07-18: Separation Anxiety|journeying to Tartarus]] to [[2025-07-26: Battle Royale|rescue a Gekkoukan student]] named [[Fuuka Yamagishi]], having [[2025-07-21: Devil's Deal|bought an Evoker]] from [[Strega]] to fight again, claiming it's a one-time thing. His former [[SEES]] comrades, [[Akihiko Sanada]] and [[Mitsuru Kirijo]], see him fight for the first time in two years, as he battles with his Persona, Castor. Akihiko [[2025-07-27: Aftermath|tries to convince Shinjiro to come back]] once more, the latter refusing. Mitsuru [[2025-08-04: Time Doesn't Stop|later does the same]], insisting he return to school, but he still refuses.
* '''LIKE A DRAGON''': Shinjiro is there when [[Junya Kaneshiro]] threatens Myunghon and the Cardboard Dragon. He almost gets himself hurt telling Kaneshiro to screw off, and decides to assist Myunghon in breaking into his supposed [[Palaces|Palace]]. Myunghon gives Shinjiro a safehouse key, getting him off the streets more often, though he refuses to monopolize it, alternating days on and off the street. Shinjiro, Myunghon, and their allies later [[2025-08-05: Knives Out|discover the route]] to Kaneshiro's Palace. During [[2025-08-15: Scarface|their excursion into the Palace]], Shinjiro fights [[Niko Kirisaki]] with Akihiko and [[Yukari Takeba]]. Myunghon and Shinjiro later [[2025-08-07: Tiny Apartment Confessional|confide in each other]] their health issues and traumatic crimes, solidifying their bond. In the end, [[2025-08-23: The Godfather|Kaneshiro is defeated]], though a [[Goro Akechi|man with a black mask]] interrupts their victory, threatening Kaneshiro and the group of Persona users before disappearing as quickly as he came.
* '''HIRASAKA BLUES''': Shinjiro continues to aid Myunghon and the Cardboard Dragon, becoming a solid member of their core group. However, while [[2025-08-26: Love and Hope|aiding Myunghon with love troubles]], Shinjiro finds out that they've been harassed by a violent and bigoted cop. In surviving a dangerous Mementos run, he is [[2025-08-30: Otherside Picnic|forced to fight]] the same police officer who attacks Myunghon, [[2025-08-31: Crime and Punishment|getting himself arrested by the Sumaru PD]] after punching the cop in the face and staying behind to protect [[Tsubasa Seki]]. He [[2025-08-31: Ain't Found A Way To Kill Me Yet|suffers]] while in jail, the police having found his pills.
* '''HAUNTED BY THE PAST - PART 2''': After the arrest, Mitsuru [[2025-09-01: Release|bails out]] Shinjiro, confronting him about his ties with Strega and his drug use. In the process, she learns the truth about what he's been hiding: that he's been taking suppressants. With Mitsuru insisting he come back to SEES, Shinjiro asks for one week to decide. After [[Ken Amada]], the boy whose mother Shinjiro killed two years ago, [[2025-09-06: Youth|prepares to move into the SEES dorms]], Shinjiro decides he must come back to protect him and rejoins SEES.

===Sub Stories===
* '''THE CLAW OF DESTINY''': Shinjiro tries to [[2025-07-12: The Claw of Destiny|get a Jack Frost doll]] from a claw machine for a little girl. He fails, though [[Hitomi Mandai]] manages to assist him in recovering it. Having only wanted it for its supposed resell value, the girl gives the doll back to Shinjiro, who still has it.
* '''THE PRISON''': Shinjiro and Umie go to the [[2025-08-01: The Prison|debut concert]] of Gas Chamber, their ally [[Eikichi Mishina|Eikichi Mishina's]] band. Shinjiro ends up leaving with two [[Saika Kikuchi|cool]] [[So-young Park|adult]] women, showing them Parabellum and investigating the gun shop rumors there.
* '''FIGHT CLUB''': Shinjiro, having met [[Suzume Fukura]] while trying to win the Jack Frost doll, offers to [[2025-08-06: Similarities|train her in combat]] after numerous supernatural meetings and noticing her similarities to his past self. She accepts.

= Persona =
'''Castor''': Castor is a Greek mythological figure and twin brother of Polydeuces. Born of different fathers via the magic of the gods, rendering him mortal as a son of man. When Castor eventually died saving his brother, Polydeuces gave him half of his immortality, rendering the two to remain together forever.

Meaning to be revealed.

= Special Skills =
Shinjiro is an extremely skilled cook, having learned at Hagakure Ramen. He's a natural genius, and it provides him discipline. He can make dog food, too.

He loves punk rock and grunge music, especially Western stuff, and frequents indie concerts in the three cities.

He has a mean right hook. He reads true crime and memoirs.

=Relationships=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Address
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Arcana
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Associated Dish
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;"class="unsortable" | Info
|-
|[[Akihiko Sanada]]
|Aki
|IV. Emperor
|Steamed asparagus with grilled '''''seasoned''''' chicken
|''"Guess you always win in the end, huh?"''
|-
|[[Mitsuru Kirijo]]
|Kirijo
|III. Empress
|Butter-poached lobster tail
|''Thank you for having the hope I can't."''
|-
|[[Myunghon Yeo]]
|Myunghon
|XV. Devil
|'Mean' sprouts
|''"We're in this together."''
|-
|[[Umie Akabane]]
|Umie
|VII. Chariot
|Wagyu burger
|''"You're still my friend, no matter what marks you have."''
|-
|[[Shinobu Shimizu]]
|Shinobu
|XII. Hanged Man
|Grilled steak with greens
|''"You're solid like a rock."''
|-
|[[So-young Park]]
|Park
|XIX. Sun
|Umeshu
|''"You're reckless... but you do care, don't you?"''
|-
|[[Mio Kazama]]
|Kazama
|XVI. Tower
|Sake
|''"Thanks for hearing me out that night..."''
|-
|[[Remi Ryuuja]]
|Ryuuja / Ariel
|XVI. Tower
|Coq au vin
|''"Your secret is safe with me, Ariel."''
|-
|[[Suzume Fukura]]
|Fukura
|VII. Chariot
|Tantanmen ramen
|''"I'll teach you what I know."''
|-
|[[Minako Arisato]]
|Arisato
|0. Fool
|Mochi
|'''I don't know if you can rely on me, but I'll try."''
|-
|[[Minato Arisato]]
|Arisato
|0. Fool
|Miso soup
|''"You seem like a strong leader. I'll do my best."''
|-
|[[Eikichi Mishina]]
|Mishina
|XIII. Death
|Cucumber salad
|''"You've got a good attitude. Don't get yourself killed."''
|-
|[[Tatsuya Suou]]
|Suou
|XIX. Sun
|Katsudon
|''"...I'll be waiting for that ride."''
|-
|[[Ichika Kawase]]
|Kawase
|XIV. Temperance
|Banana ramen
|''"Your philosophy isn't half-bad."''
|-
|[[Yua Ooshiro]]
|Ooshiro
|III. Empress
|Okayu
|''"To believe in others..."''
|-
|[[Tsubasa Seki]]
|Seki
|XV. Devil
|Hot pot
|''"...I'm glad you're alright."''
|-
|[[Niko Kirisaki]]
|Niko
|XVIII. Moon
|Mapo tofu
|''"I'll figure it out."''
|-
|[[Julian Marlowe]]
|Marlowe
|X. Fortune
|Nikujaga stew
|''"We'll see how far I can trust you."''
|-
|[[Yukari Takeba]]
|Takeba
|VI. Lovers
|Sweet and spicy yakisoba
|''"...your suspicion isn't unfounded, but [[Mitsuru Kirijo|she's]] not your enemy."''
|-
|[[Goro Akechi]]
|Akechi
|VIII. Justice
|Pancakes
|''"You're wearing more than one mask, it seems. Which one's real? Goro Akechi, the Prince, or the angry boy who they said cried wolf?"''
|-
|[[Reiya Aomori]]
|Aomori
|IX. Hermit
|Sashimi
|''"You're too quiet... but you seem loyal to her."''
|-
|[[Jun Kashihara]]
|Kashihara
|X. Fortune
|Yakitori
|''"You're too chill for a Kasugayama student. What's that about?"''
|-
|[[Hitomi Mandai]]
|Mandai
|X. Fortune
|Tuna and pork ramen
|''"Get a better reason."''
|-
|[[Jin Shirato]]
|Shirato
|IX. Hermit
|Mentaiko
|''"Ugh."''
|-
|[[Takaya Sakaki]]
|Sakaki
|X. Fortune
|Umeboshi
|''"You give me the creeps."''
|-
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Address
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Arcana
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Associated Dish
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;"class="unsortable" | Info
|-
|[[Ayame Watanabe|Ikkaku Watanabe]]
|Watanabe
|XVII. Star
|Cold cut sandwich
|''"...you shouldn't have given me your emblem."''
|-
|Kazuo Kobayashi
|Kobayashi
|I. Magician
|Canned coffee
|''"Piss off, you so-called Storm Boss."''
|-
|[[Junya Kaneshiro]]
|Nothing Kind
|V. Hierophant
|Rotten meat
|''"You better not come back, scumbag."''
|-
|Koichi Ishiba
|Nothing Kind
|?
|Cheap-ass beer
|''"I wish I could punch you again. Go to hell."''
|-
|}

= Soundtrack =

== Character Soundtrack ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Main Theme:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBG7P-K-r1Y Everlong - Foo Fighters]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Hello 
I've waited here for you 
Everlong 

Tonight, I throw myself into 
And out of the red 
Out of her head, she sang 

Come down and waste away with me 
Down with me 
Slow, how you wanted it to be 
I'm over my head 
Out of her head, she sang 

And I wonder 
When I sing along with you 

If everything could ever be this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when 
She sang 

Breathe out 
So I can breathe you in 
Hold you in 
And now 
I know you've always been 
Out of your head 
Out of my head, I sang 

And I wonder 
When I sing along with you 

If everything could ever feel this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when 
She sang 

And I wonder 

If everything could ever feel this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Inevitable Death:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlFhERzYaKc Euthanasia - Will Wood]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
I was right there 
While you fought tooth and nail 
Gasping in the gas mask thrashing till you disappeared 
Say you're not scared, that you know it's cause I cared and 
Say you know I love you, and that hope was just not there 

And I know, I know that I'm wrong 
That when you're gone you're gone 
And I can't bring you home 
But I want, I want to believe 
That you'll remember me when you're just memory 

Roots in the ground 
Or uploaded to the cloud or 
Warm inside our hearts or as electrons in our head nowhere now 
Over the rainbow, can I stop by and say hello and 
Sorry I would take it back if I could but I know 

To love one from too far to call 
Is not to love at all, to whom is it I talk? 
But I want, I want to believe 
That you can still hear me when you're just memory 

Said "it's okay" 
And "It'll all be over soon" 
I'd never let a bad thing happen to you 
Now goodnight I love you 

And every, everybody dies 
Fighting for their lives, just trying to survive 
Well now I know, I know why we say 
That there's a better place that waits beyond the grave, oh 

And I know, I know it's not true 
There's just no more you but as long as there's no proof 
Then I choose, I choose to believe 
That we'll meet in sweet dreams after you're put to sleep
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Surviving Until That Very Last Day:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1CPi631WlU The Mountain - Three Days Grace]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Another night I'm barely holdin' on 
One step away from being dead and gone 
Am I alive to die another day? 
Is this life that I've been livin' 
All that's meant for me? 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still survivin', keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

The higher I go, the harder I fall 
So I don't look down, I don't look back at all 
And when I wish it all would turn to black 
I try to see the light and push the darkness back 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still survivin', I keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

So If I'm numb, already too far gone 
And If I feel a pulsin', I can carry on 
When I'm lost and wanna fade away 
I tell myself to live to die another day, yeah 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still alive and keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain, the mountain
</div></div>

== Dedications ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''[[Akihiko Sanada]]:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E36WU9Wzf4 Flaws - Bastille]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
When all of your flaws and all of my flaws 
Are laid out one by one 
The wonderful part of the mess that we made 
We pick ourselves undone 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws 
They lie there hand in hand 
Ones we've inherited, ones that we learned 
They pass from man to man 

There's a hole in my soul 
I can't fill it, I can't fill it 
There's a hole in my soul 
Can you fill it? Can you fill it? 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up, so nothing's left untouched 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws, 
When they have been exhumed 
We'll see that we need them to be who we are 
Without them we'd be doomed 

There's a hole in my soul 
I can't fill it, I can't fill it 
There's a hole in my soul 
Can you fill it? Can you fill it? 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up, so nothing's left untouched 

Ooh 
Ooh 

When all of your flaws 
And all of my flaws are counted 
When all of your flaws 
And all of my flaws are counted 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up. Let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up. So nothing's left untouched 

Ooh 
Ooh 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws 
Are laid out one by one 
Look at the wonderful mess that we made 
We pick ourselves undone
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''[[Myunghon Yeo]]:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj_sNT9LLeQ Heaven, We're Already Here - The Maine]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Blessed be the night we're breathin' in 
Unforgettable and so benevolent 
The closest that we'll get to Heaven-sent 
For all us darling aliens 
And we will never be this young again 
So full of fire and rebellion 
Now shoot the night just like it's medicine 
And we all will be born again, again, again, again, again 

This is everything you prayed for 
(Pray for, pray for, pray for) 
This is everything I need 
Please, don't anybody pray for me 
(My soul isn't yours to save anymore) 
Life is crazy, baby, don't forget the seatbelt 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road 

Blessed be the sky we're soaring in 
So few of us and millions of them 
Daylight isn't far away, my friend 
And we all will be born again, again, again, again, again 

Life is crazy, baby, don't forget the seatbelt 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road 

So alive, we could die 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Through and through, by and by 
Everything I love is right here tonight 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 
Let it live, let it die 
No, we can't get off, here we are tonight 
Through and through, by and by 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 

What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
Is what you're livin' for worth dyin', worth dyin' for? 

And this is everything you prayed for 
(Pray for, pray for, pray for) 
This is everything I need 
Please, don't anybody pray for me 
(My soul isn't yours to save anymore) 
Life is crazy, baby, baby 
(Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road) 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn door 
Our great unknown, the open road 

So alive, we could die 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Through and through, by and by 
Everything I love is right here tonight 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 
Let it live, let it die 
No, we can't get off, here we are tonight 
Through and through, by and by 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here
</div></div>

= Logs and Cutscenes =

==Season 1==

{{#dpl:
|category = logs&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

{{#dpl:
|category = cutscenes&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Focus]]
[[Category:Gekkoukan High School]]
[[Category:SEES]]
[[Category:Cardboard Dragon]]

Shinjiro Aragaki

2025-11-19T03:03:22Z

Thornpunk:

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 15%; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Shinjiro Aragaki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" |
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Shinjiro Aragaki
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | Arcana:
| [[Tarot#Hierophant|V. The Hierophant]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Male
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| 18 (August 11, 1994)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Brown
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Brown
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 6'0" /182 cm
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Tatsumi Port Island
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Workplace:
| Gekkoukan High School
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Job:
| Third Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Persona 3 (FC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| [[SEES]], Cardboard Dragon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Voice:
| Kazuya Nakai (JP), Justice Slocum (EN)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Thornpunk|Thornpunk]]
|-
|}

'''"Don't waste your breath."'''

Shinjiro Aragaki is running from his problems. A towering third-year student at Gekkoukan High School with a brusque attitude who stopped attending school and instead usually hangs around in dark alleyways late at night, he is a founding member of SEES and a close childhood friend of school boxing star and fellow orphan Akihiko Sanada. After a horrific accident two years ago, Shinjiro left SEES and began a reliance on Persona suppressants which are slowly killing him. Having returned to active duty after making new friends in Sumaru and being forced to reckon with the consequences of his past deeds, Shinjiro's armored, thorny exterior hides a kind and gentle young man who puts others before himself. He has a true passion for cooking, loves animals, and tries to pass on his learned wisdom to the younger SEES members wherever possible.

= Background =

As early as he can remember, Shinjiro Aragaki was an orphan. Raised at an orphanage, he met Akihiko and Miki Sanada at the age of four, and became inseparable, especially with Akihiko. However, when he and Akihiko were eight, the orphanage was burnt down by an arsonist, killing Miki. This was traumatic for Shinjiro, something that'd stick with him forever.

Shinjiro remained Akihiko's rock, following him to Gekkoukan and eventually meeting Mitsuru Kirijo in middle school. Mitsuru recruited Akihiko into SEES, and Shinjiro, refusing to abandon him, followed along, fighting Shadows during the Dark Hour. The three made a promise to graduate together, something Shinjiro appears to have forgotten.

Two years ago, a rookie Shinjro ended up losing control of his Persona. Castor destroyed the Amada household, killing a mother of a young child. Shinjiro abandoned SEES immediately, traumatized again by taking a life and leaving an orphan. He learned about Persona suppressant drugs eventually and began taking them, hoping to learn to control Castor - this worked, but had the side effect that Shinjiro, a natural Persona user, will lose worse control of his Persona if he stopped taking them. Additionally, the drugs did a constant number to Shinjiro's body, promising his death before graduation either way.

Shinjiro became homeless, isolating himself from the people he cared about. He couch-surfed with shady 'friends', got a part-time job at Hagakure Ramen, occasionally crashing in the back room, and generally just loitered in places that he probably shouldn't loiter. He still frequented the restaurant regularly even after quitting, and the owner often wants him to come back, having taught him how to cook.

SEES wants him back, but Shinjiro can't accept putting that burden back on them. His path is different now... but how long until he must answer the call?

==Season 1, Episode 1==
* '''STACKED DECK - PART 1''': Shinjiro [[2025-07-04: The Power of Rumors|begins]] [[2025-07-07: Brutes And Bananas|investigating]] [[Tatsuya Sudou]], the Old Maid Killer who burned down his orphanage ten years ago. He is [[2025-07-03: I Don't Just Play One On TV|tipped off to the information]] by one [[Goro Akechi]], his fellow orphan. He [[2025-07-08: A Pact Forged|aligns]] with [[Myunghon Yeo]] in order to get more information and assistance. During an [[2025-08-22: Challenging Fate|attack on Seven Sisters]], Shinjiro comes face to face with the Joker Killer, losing control as he confronts him and nearly injuring others. During this event, he learns that Akechi is a Persona user.
* '''HAUNTED BY THE PAST - PART 1''': Shinjiro [[2025-07-13: Hope You Know What You're Getting Into|befriends]] [[Umie Akabane]], who assists him along with others in [[2025-07-18: Separation Anxiety|journeying to Tartarus]] to [[2025-07-26: Battle Royale|rescue a Gekkoukan student]] named [[Fuuka Yamagishi]], having [[2025-07-21: Devil's Deal|bought an Evoker]] from [[Strega]] to fight again, claiming it's a one-time thing. His former [[SEES]] comrades, [[Akihiko Sanada]] and [[Mitsuru Kirijo]], see him fight for the first time in two years, as he battles with his Persona, Castor. Akihiko [[2025-07-27: Aftermath|tries to convince Shinjiro to come back]] once more, the latter refusing. Mitsuru [[2025-08-04: Time Doesn't Stop|later does the same]], insisting he return to school, but he still refuses.
* '''LIKE A DRAGON''': Shinjiro is there when [[Junya Kaneshiro]] threatens Myunghon and the Cardboard Dragon. He almost gets himself hurt telling Kaneshiro to screw off, and decides to assist Myunghon in breaking into his supposed [[Palaces|Palace]]. Myunghon gives Shinjiro a safehouse key, getting him off the streets more often, though he refuses to monopolize it, alternating days on and off the street. Shinjiro, Myunghon, and their allies later [[2025-08-05: Knives Out|discover the route]] to Kaneshiro's Palace. During [[2025-08-15: Scarface|their excursion into the Palace]], Shinjiro fights [[Niko Kirisaki]] with Akihiko and [[Yukari Takeba]]. Myunghon and Shinjiro later [[2025-08-07: Tiny Apartment Confessional|confide in each other]] their health issues and traumatic crimes, solidifying their bond. In the end, [[2025-08-23: The Godfather|Kaneshiro is defeated]], though a [[Goro Akechi|man with a black mask]] interrupts their victory, threatening Kaneshiro and the group of Persona users before disappearing as quickly as he came.
* '''HIRASAKA BLUES''': Shinjiro continues to aid Myunghon and the Cardboard Dragon, becoming a solid member of their core group. However, while [[2025-08-26: Love and Hope|aiding Myunghon with love troubles]], Shinjiro finds out that they've been harassed by a violent and bigoted cop. In surviving a dangerous Mementos run, he is [[2025-08-30: Otherside Picnic|forced to fight]] the same police officer who attacks Myunghon, [[2025-08-31: Crime and Punishment|getting himself arrested by the Sumaru PD]] after punching the cop in the face and staying behind to protect [[Tsubasa Seki]]. He [[2025-08-31: Ain't Found A Way To Kill Me Yet|suffers]] while in jail, the police having found his pills.
* '''HAUNTED BY THE PAST - PART 2''': After the arrest, Mitsuru [[2025-09-01: Release|bails out]] Shinjiro, confronting him about his ties with Strega and his drug use. In the process, she learns the truth about what he's been hiding: that he's been taking suppressants. With Mitsuru insisting he come back to SEES, Shinjiro asks for one week to decide. After [[Ken Amada]], the boy whose mother Shinjiro killed two years ago, [[2025-09-06: Youth|prepares to move into the SEES dorms]], Shinjiro decides he must come back to protect him and rejoins SEES.

===Sub Stories===
* '''THE CLAW OF DESTINY''': Shinjiro tries to [[2025-07-12: The Claw of Destiny|get a Jack Frost doll]] from a claw machine for a little girl. He fails, though [[Hitomi Mandai]] manages to assist him in recovering it. Having only wanted it for its supposed resell value, the girl gives the doll back to Shinjiro, who still has it.
* '''THE PRISON''': Shinjiro and Umie go to the [[2025-08-01: The Prison|debut concert]] of Gas Chamber, their ally [[Eikichi Mishina|Eikichi Mishina's]] band. Shinjiro ends up leaving with two [[Saika Kikuchi|cool]] [[So-young Park|adult]] women, showing them Parabellum and investigating the gun shop rumors there.
* '''FIGHT CLUB''': Shinjiro, having met [[Suzume Fukura]] while trying to win the Jack Frost doll, offers to [[2025-08-06: Similarities|train her in combat]] after numerous supernatural meetings and noticing her similarities to his past self. She accepts.

= Persona =
'''Castor''': Castor is a Greek mythological figure and twin brother of Polydeuces. Born of different fathers via the magic of the gods, rendering him mortal as a son of man. When Castor eventually died saving his brother, Polydeuces gave him half of his immortality, rendering the two to remain together forever.

Meaning to be revealed.

= Special Skills =
Shinjiro is an extremely skilled cook, having learned at Hagakure Ramen. He's a natural genius, and it provides him discipline. He can make dog food, too.

He loves punk rock and grunge music, especially Western stuff, and frequents indie concerts in the three cities.

He has a mean right hook. He reads true crime and memoirs.

=Relationships=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Address
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Arcana
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Associated Dish
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;"class="unsortable" | Info
|-
|[[Akihiko Sanada]]
|Aki
|IV. Emperor
|Steamed asparagus with grilled '''''seasoned''''' chicken
|''"Guess you always win in the end, huh?"''
|-
|[[Mitsuru Kirijo]]
|Kirijo
|III. Empress
|Butter-poached lobster tail
|''"...it's not your fault. It's mine."''
|-
|[[Myunghon Yeo]]
|Myunghon
|XV. Devil
|'Mean' sprouts
|''"We're in this together."''
|-
|[[Umie Akabane]]
|Umie
|VII. Chariot
|Wagyu burger
|''"You're still my friend, no matter what marks you have."''
|-
|[[Shinobu Shimizu]]
|Shinobu
|XII. Hanged Man
|Grilled steak with greens
|''"You're solid like a rock."''
|-
|[[So-young Park]]
|Park
|XIX. Sun
|Umeshu
|''"You're reckless... but you do care, don't you?"''
|-
|[[Mio Kazama]]
|Kazama
|XVI. Tower
|Sake
|''"Thanks for hearing me out that night..."''
|-
|[[Remi Ryuuja]]
|Ryuuja / Ariel
|XVI. Tower
|Coq au vin
|''"Your secret is safe with me, Ariel."''
|-
|[[Suzume Fukura]]
|Fukura
|VII. Chariot
|Tantanmen ramen
|''"I'll teach you what I know."''
|-
|[[Minako Arisato]]
|Arisato
|0. Fool
|Mochi
|'''I don't know if you can rely on me, but I'll try."''
|-
|[[Minato Arisato]]
|Arisato
|0. Fool
|Miso soup
|''"You seem like a strong leader. I'll do my best."''
|-
|[[Eikichi Mishina]]
|Mishina
|XIII. Death
|Cucumber salad
|''"You've got a good attitude. Don't get yourself killed."''
|-
|[[Tatsuya Suou]]
|Suou
|XIX. Sun
|Katsudon
|''"...I'll be waiting for that ride."''
|-
|[[Ichika Kawase]]
|Kawase
|XIV. Temperance
|Banana ramen
|''"Your philosophy isn't half-bad."''
|-
|[[Yua Ooshiro]]
|Ooshiro
|III. Empress
|Okayu
|''"To believe in others..."''
|-
|[[Tsubasa Seki]]
|Seki
|XV. Devil
|Hot pot
|''"...I'm glad you're alright."''
|-
|[[Niko Kirisaki]]
|Niko
|XVIII. Moon
|Mapo tofu
|''"I'll figure it out."''
|-
|[[Julian Marlowe]]
|Marlowe
|X. Fortune
|Nikujaga stew
|''"We'll see how far I can trust you."''
|-
|[[Yukari Takeba]]
|Takeba
|VI. Lovers
|Sweet and spicy yakisoba
|''"...your suspicion isn't unfounded, but [[Mitsuru Kirijo|she's]] not your enemy."''
|-
|[[Goro Akechi]]
|Akechi
|VIII. Justice
|Pancakes
|''"You're wearing more than one mask, it seems. Which one's real? Goro Akechi, the Prince, or the angry boy who they said cried wolf?"''
|-
|[[Reiya Aomori]]
|Aomori
|IX. Hermit
|Sashimi
|''"You're too quiet... but you seem loyal to her."''
|-
|[[Jun Kashihara]]
|Kashihara
|X. Fortune
|Yakitori
|''"You're too chill for a Kasugayama student. What's that about?"''
|-
|[[Hitomi Mandai]]
|Mandai
|X. Fortune
|Tuna and pork ramen
|''"Get a better reason."''
|-
|[[Jin Shirato]]
|Shirato
|IX. Hermit
|Mentaiko
|''"Ugh."''
|-
|[[Takaya Sakaki]]
|Sakaki
|X. Fortune
|Umeboshi
|''"You give me the creeps."''
|-
|}

== NPC Relationships ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 75%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Name
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Address
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Arcana
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;" | Associated Dish
! scope="col" style="background:#8B0000; border: 2px #000000 solid; font size: 110%;"class="unsortable" | Info
|-
|[[Ayame Watanabe|Ikkaku Watanabe]]
|Watanabe
|XVII. Star
|Cold cut sandwich
|''"...you shouldn't have given me your emblem."''
|-
|Kazuo Kobayashi
|Kobayashi
|I. Magician
|Canned coffee
|''"Piss off, you so-called Storm Boss."''
|-
|[[Junya Kaneshiro]]
|Nothing Kind
|V. Hierophant
|Rotten meat
|''"You better not come back, scumbag."''
|-
|Koichi Ishiba
|Nothing Kind
|?
|Cheap-ass beer
|''"I wish I could punch you again. Go to hell."''
|-
|}

= Soundtrack =

== Character Soundtrack ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Main Theme:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBG7P-K-r1Y Everlong - Foo Fighters]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Hello 
I've waited here for you 
Everlong 

Tonight, I throw myself into 
And out of the red 
Out of her head, she sang 

Come down and waste away with me 
Down with me 
Slow, how you wanted it to be 
I'm over my head 
Out of her head, she sang 

And I wonder 
When I sing along with you 

If everything could ever be this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when 
She sang 

Breathe out 
So I can breathe you in 
Hold you in 
And now 
I know you've always been 
Out of your head 
Out of my head, I sang 

And I wonder 
When I sing along with you 

If everything could ever feel this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when 
She sang 

And I wonder 

If everything could ever feel this real forever 
If anything could ever be this good again 
The only thing I'll ever ask of you 
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Inevitable Death:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlFhERzYaKc Euthanasia - Will Wood]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
I was right there 
While you fought tooth and nail 
Gasping in the gas mask thrashing till you disappeared 
Say you're not scared, that you know it's cause I cared and 
Say you know I love you, and that hope was just not there 

And I know, I know that I'm wrong 
That when you're gone you're gone 
And I can't bring you home 
But I want, I want to believe 
That you'll remember me when you're just memory 

Roots in the ground 
Or uploaded to the cloud or 
Warm inside our hearts or as electrons in our head nowhere now 
Over the rainbow, can I stop by and say hello and 
Sorry I would take it back if I could but I know 

To love one from too far to call 
Is not to love at all, to whom is it I talk? 
But I want, I want to believe 
That you can still hear me when you're just memory 

Said "it's okay" 
And "It'll all be over soon" 
I'd never let a bad thing happen to you 
Now goodnight I love you 

And every, everybody dies 
Fighting for their lives, just trying to survive 
Well now I know, I know why we say 
That there's a better place that waits beyond the grave, oh 

And I know, I know it's not true 
There's just no more you but as long as there's no proof 
Then I choose, I choose to believe 
That we'll meet in sweet dreams after you're put to sleep
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''Surviving Until That Very Last Day:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1CPi631WlU The Mountain - Three Days Grace]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Another night I'm barely holdin' on 
One step away from being dead and gone 
Am I alive to die another day? 
Is this life that I've been livin' 
All that's meant for me? 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still survivin', keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

The higher I go, the harder I fall 
So I don't look down, I don't look back at all 
And when I wish it all would turn to black 
I try to see the light and push the darkness back 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still survivin', I keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

So If I'm numb, already too far gone 
And If I feel a pulsin', I can carry on 
When I'm lost and wanna fade away 
I tell myself to live to die another day, yeah 

Every day I'm just survivin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 
Even when I feel like dyin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain 

Every time I think I'm over it 
I wake up in the bottom of it all again 
I'm still alive and keep climbin' 
Keep climbin' the mountain, the mountain
</div></div>

== Dedications ==
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''[[Akihiko Sanada]]:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E36WU9Wzf4 Flaws - Bastille]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
When all of your flaws and all of my flaws 
Are laid out one by one 
The wonderful part of the mess that we made 
We pick ourselves undone 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws 
They lie there hand in hand 
Ones we've inherited, ones that we learned 
They pass from man to man 

There's a hole in my soul 
I can't fill it, I can't fill it 
There's a hole in my soul 
Can you fill it? Can you fill it? 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up, so nothing's left untouched 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws, 
When they have been exhumed 
We'll see that we need them to be who we are 
Without them we'd be doomed 

There's a hole in my soul 
I can't fill it, I can't fill it 
There's a hole in my soul 
Can you fill it? Can you fill it? 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up; let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up, so nothing's left untouched 

Ooh 
Ooh 

When all of your flaws 
And all of my flaws are counted 
When all of your flaws 
And all of my flaws are counted 

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve 
And I have always buried them deep beneath the ground 
Dig them up. Let's finish what we've started 
Dig them up. So nothing's left untouched 

Ooh 
Ooh 

All of your flaws and all of my flaws 
Are laid out one by one 
Look at the wonderful mess that we made 
We pick ourselves undone
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">'''[[Myunghon Yeo]]:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj_sNT9LLeQ Heaven, We're Already Here - The Maine]</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Blessed be the night we're breathin' in 
Unforgettable and so benevolent 
The closest that we'll get to Heaven-sent 
For all us darling aliens 
And we will never be this young again 
So full of fire and rebellion 
Now shoot the night just like it's medicine 
And we all will be born again, again, again, again, again 

This is everything you prayed for 
(Pray for, pray for, pray for) 
This is everything I need 
Please, don't anybody pray for me 
(My soul isn't yours to save anymore) 
Life is crazy, baby, don't forget the seatbelt 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road 

Blessed be the sky we're soaring in 
So few of us and millions of them 
Daylight isn't far away, my friend 
And we all will be born again, again, again, again, again 

Life is crazy, baby, don't forget the seatbelt 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road 

So alive, we could die 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Through and through, by and by 
Everything I love is right here tonight 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 
Let it live, let it die 
No, we can't get off, here we are tonight 
Through and through, by and by 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 

What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
What you livin', what you livin', what you livin' for? 
Is what you're livin' for worth dyin', worth dyin' for? 

And this is everything you prayed for 
(Pray for, pray for, pray for) 
This is everything I need 
Please, don't anybody pray for me 
(My soul isn't yours to save anymore) 
Life is crazy, baby, baby 
(Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn doors 
Our great unknown, the open road) 
Adjust the rearview, crack the windows, shut the goddamn door 
Our great unknown, the open road 

So alive, we could die 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Through and through, by and by 
Everything I love is right here tonight 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here 
Let it live, let it die 
No, we can't get off, here we are tonight 
Through and through, by and by 
As we drive all night in the afterlife 
Seven, Heaven, oh, it's clear 
Heaven, we're already here
</div></div>

= Logs and Cutscenes =

==Season 1==

{{#dpl:
|category = logs&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

{{#dpl:
|category = cutscenes&season 1
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 3
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
| addcategories = true
| mode = userformat
| format = ,,\n* [[%PAGE%]],
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Focus]]
[[Category:Gekkoukan High School]]
[[Category:SEES]]
[[Category:Cardboard Dragon]]

2025-11-17: Many More To Come

2025-11-18T04:40:11Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Many More To Come''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Mitsuru Kirijo *'''Where:''' Kirijo Palace, Yakushima *'''OOC Date:''' November 17, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 12, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro takes Mitsuru aside during the SEES beach trip to apologize for his previous behavior in their confrontation, before asking a fateful question: can he still graduate and fulfill his promise? Mitsuru affirms him, but when asking the m..."

*'''Log: Many More To Come'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Mitsuru Kirijo]]
*'''Where:''' Kirijo Palace, Yakushima
*'''OOC Date:''' November 17, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 12, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro takes Mitsuru aside during the SEES beach trip to apologize for his previous behavior in their [[2025-10-22: J'accuse|confrontation]], before asking a fateful question: can he still graduate and fulfill his promise? Mitsuru affirms him, but when asking the motive for changing his mind, she ends up comforting him as he explains his newfound reasoning and fears about dying and hurting others. They agree he should take the chance to live selfishly, as he decides to keep trying.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
It's been an interesting few days. Birthday, souvenirs, beach time...

But eventually, a nagging feeling hit Shinjiro after his birthday, and he knew he needed to talk to Mitsuru. When's a better time than vacation, huh?

Really, there's no good time for the type of things he needs to talk about.

Shinjiro Aragaki has left a note with a maid, asking for Mitsuru to meet him on the veranda, or whatever the closest thing there is to a veranda in a rich person's forested megamansion.

He's in a grey t-shirt, long-sleeved, much like he was during his birthday dinner. He has dark jeans and thick boots on, and is wearing a pair of fingerless gloves because he's outside.

His right hand is on the railing, looking out over to the setting sun over gorgeous natural scenery. It's nice. He already went on a solo hike to see the animals Mitsuru gave him information on, after all...

He has waited until he knew the rest of SEES was settled, and doesn't expect them to come interrupt. It should be fine.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
'Interesting' is a good word for it.

Mitsuru Kirijo had initially been incredibly reticent about taking this trip when Ikutsuki had sprung his little surprise. It took no small amount of convincing from SEES members (junpei) in desperate (junpei) need (junpei) of a beach-based (junpei) break to persuade her to relent. (... junpei) And the entire trip over, she was ''still'' reluctant, for any number of reasons, chief among them a desire to not disturb her father on his own valuable break time.

... But she has to admit, begrudgingly or not...

She needed this, too. Much more than she expected.

Admittedly, 'enjoying a break' isn't quite the same as 'taking a break from work,' and Mitsuru's ''still'' been pursuing a few or her more... clandestine... projects while she's been here, on top of just prepping an agenda of things to tackle once they return.

She's in the middle of the latter when one of the maids approach her, a note in hand. Mitsuru, sitting cross-legged on the bed she's called her own in this off-puttingly ostentatious estate since she was a child, looks up from her work on her laptop and blinks. She plucks the note, reads it, and furrows her brows in faint thought.

"Ah," she exhales. "Thank you, Yamajiro-san. I'll be right there."

A second passes after the maid leaves. And then Mitsuru shuts her laptop, and - only ''somewhat'' reluctantly - peels herself away from her work.

Back to break time.

-+-

"It's a remarkable view, isn't it?"

That familiar, composed voice drifts by behind Shinjiro as he watches the sun sink beneath the tree-dappled horizon, painting heaven with a smear of orange-pink-purple gradations. It creates a perfectly tropical backdrop to this subtropical setting, the humidity dulling at night but the warmth lingering even as the light of the sun fades, bit by bit.

Mitsuru stands there at (one of) the entrances to the Kirijo summer "home"'s stately veranda. Arms folded under her chest, elbows propped on palms, the Kirijo heiress focuses her gaze forward toward that setting sun with an unusually fond look on her face, full of quiet reminiscence.

"When I was younger, my father would put me on his shoulders so I could watch the sun sink. I think I asked him some silly little questions, like why the sun wanted to hide. He'd humor every one."

... Sometimes her grandfather would, too. ...

She shakes that memory out of the forefront of her thoughts by focusing on the present, instead, walking closer towards the polished stone railing of the veranda and settling there comfortably before she looks sidelong towards her old friend.

"Did you need something, Aragaki? Is everything well?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Part of Shinjiro worries he'll be burdening Mitsuru by asking her to come out here. But it's important, so he takes that risk. He can always become a ghost again if he fucks up.

"Yeah," he replies about the view. He listens to Mitsuru describe her father, and their experience together, with a soft smile rising on his face. It's not one he can picture, never having anyone who ever took that role for him, but... it does contextualize the mysterious man more, and it does sound like a pleasant memory for her.

He looks from the veranda to her as she joins him. Without the beanie, he looks a lot more similar to his school days, than the overclad thug of today.

"I think it's as well as it can be, given everything. I had something I wanted to talk about... and an apology to make."

He seems genuine, at least, as he looks to her, remorseful. "...we shouldn't have sprung that on you, back at the dorms. I'm sorry."

It's clear he's been thinking about it for a while, though he's an overthinker in general.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
''I had something I wanted to talk about... and an apology to make.''

Dark red eyes turn a questioning stare Shinjiro's way.

''...we shouldn't have sprung that on you, back at the dorms.''

And then turn back towards the forest a moment later as lips part out the softest exhale of realization:

"... Ah."

She had at least ''some'' inkling of an idea that it might be about that. Things have been... tense... lately, since that day. And yet...

And yet, even so, Mitsuru shakes her head, those red locks swaying behind her with the motion.

"It's... fine," she manages, after a moment. "I shouldn't have lost my composure like that. It was... unprofessional."

''Shouldn't have'' is a phrase that has a considerable amount of overlap with ''didn't want to''. A more professional way to put it, perhaps.

"I imagine your approach was Takeba's idea," she surmises simply. "I understand why. It's for the best she has someone or something to focus her anger on." A frown settles on those scarlet lips, for a few lingering moments.

"... No one wants to have their worst thoughts about their father vindicated."

She pauses here for a moment, before she sighs. Eyes shutting, she leans forward, resting her weight on her arms as she folds them over the top of that sun-warmed stone railing.

"Besides, you were right. I understand I am not very... approachable."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"...I get it," Shinjiro says about losing composure. "...but we're too young to always be professional, too," he muses, looking back to the forest at the same time as her.

"I'm not going to put it all on her shoulders," he says about Yukari. He was clearly worried, too, even if his own approach was worry *for* Mitsuru instead of *about* Mitsuru. "I do understand there's things going on there I just don't have all the information on, and it's not my place to pry. But I was still a collaborator."

He exhales at the approachable comment. He doesn't quite know what to say, except... "It's fine. Neither am I, usually. It's something we have to work on, as their seniors."

Though, that reminds him. He shifts back towards her. "That wasn't exactly what I wanted to discuss, though. I..." He stumbles for a moment. He's been considering this for a few weeks now and it's still hard to bring up. He falters for a moment, not sure he'll even say it, before... taking another breath and nodding to himself.

"If I was to come back, is it still possible to graduate with you and Aki?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
With her observation on Yukari, Shinjiro moves to take some of the blame almost like a reflexive action. Despite herself, a soft "hah" escapes Mitsuru's lips, a sardonic kind of smile briefly toying at the corners of her lips.

"Non, merci," she says, turning an arched brow on Shinjiro. "It's alright. I'm not assigning blame on any of you, so I'm afraid you have none to shoulder. This was simply... a long time coming."

She leaves it at that, though. After all, he's right; this isn't something he should have to worry about. This is wholly her mess to try to disentangle.

So instead, she considers his observation on both their problems with aloofness. Her expression softens, frown lingering on her lips as she concedes, "... Yes, I suppose so."

It's not something she's ignorant of, after all. No -- she's painfully aware of it.

But it's when Shinjiro starts to pivot back to his original topic that Mitsuru's attention draws back towards her fellow SEES co-founder. "Yes?" she prompts like a flooring to ground himself on as he stumbles, hesitates. It just makes the look in her eyes even ''more'' curious as she shifts to look at him, the split hems of her breezy, creme-colored grain de poudre pants rustling with the motion. She is, as ever, a picture of stylish control; between the pants and the sleeves black turtleneck she wears, she somehow rides a line between style and practicality that always weaves a powerful illusion of making her look older than she is.

''If I was to come back, is it still possible to graduate with you and Aki?''

"--What?"

But it's an illusion that's always dashed against the rocks in moments like these.

It's a look of naked bafflement that widens Mitsuru's eyes and has her lips hanging open for a few precious seconds before she has to forcibly remind herself to clamp them shut. It doesn't really change the brow-lifting alarm in her expression, though, like she's having difficulties processing what Shinjiro just said.

You need to just --

give her a moment.

She's like an Ahab that managed to harpoon her white whale and not get dragged into the crushing depths with it right now.

"I--" a second passes. And then a sputter of a happy-yet-confused laugh escapes her lips, despite herself, one she instantly terminates by flying a hand up to cover her lips. "I'm sorry, I just -- bien sûr, of course, of course you can. It will take a bit of work from both of us to make work, but--" she's had the groundwork for it laid out ''literally since he stopped coming to classes'', she elects ''not'' to say right now. Instead, it's ''her'' turn to hesitate.

Happiness and confusion dwindles slightly. And the pragmatist in her wonders:

"... Truly? Not that I want to question it and risk you changing your mind, but -- what changed your mind, Aragaki?"

Last she knew, his reasons for rejecting her were... well... she has the cruel context for why now.

Even if she still refused to give up on that promise.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro taking the blame for something is honestly a free action, like talking. As she says none of them have anything to blame, he frowns a bit again, but says nothing to it, or her concession about having to work on it. He doesn't want to press with his feelings about it.

It's when she offers that mooring that he finally comes to his words, and these words do not have... quite the reaction he was expecting. Maybe it shows he really does overthink how perfect Mitsuru can be, though it's admittedly charming to watch her be baffled, and he stores this image into the back of his mind reflexively.

He gives her a moment, though a bit of tension exhales as she insists it's possible.

As she asks why, though, he places his other hand on the railing as well, looking up to the sun. "Well..."

"As you probably know, my current life expectancy is... less than a year. I've known it was happening longer than that, but I didn't ask any doctors about it. I knew it'd get back to you if I did. I was scared."

He's still scared. His hand trembles as he says it.

But, he turns back to her at this point. "Then, Yamagishi's rescue got me back into the fold. I met some people in Sumaru. I had some time to think, remember what it feels like to be in a team again."

"...Amada came back and I knew I had to take responsibility. But even then, I've been... I didn't want to attach. I didn't want to *live*, because isn't it selfish? For the one dying by his own hand to try and live anyways, knowing he's just going to provide pain to everyone who cares about him?"

He exhales softly. "The people I've met... convinced me that it's better to try than to give up, to let myself shatter. That... if I do it for anyone, do it for myself, and if I can't do that, at least do it so others can have the memory. I was convinced to start a bucket list. I was convinced to try and do the things I will never get another chance to do."

He laughs, gently, at this, smiling at Mitsuru. "And one of those is keeping that promise that I made. I've never forgotten."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
Why?

Well...

She does know. She knows, at least, what the doctors have told her. That they can minimize the symptoms, that they'd do what they could, but Shinjiro's condition had already progressed too far, and a way to reverse it would simply be...

...

Her brows furrow as the memories bubble up to the surface. Something stubbornly defiant sparks in those red eyes as she fixates forward, jaw tensing faintly and lips thinning gradually.

''I was scared.''

She can't help but notice the tremble of digits on polished stone. It was the way shee was raised; the way she was trained. Observe, and notice things. About events; about people.

''Was'' is much more of an ''is''.

"..."

She's quiet, throughout most of Shinjiro's explanation. Just listening, and thinking of how the little muscle spasms in Shinjiro's grip saying volumes more than even those frank words do. Gaze hooding, she can't keep those little fragments of guilt out of her stare as Amada is invoked, as Shinjiro explains himself, and so instead she directs that look down towards the creeping brushland ringing her family's summer estate as he speaks about his bucket list.

Impossible. That's what they said. Mitsuru hates that word. 'Impossible'. There's already too many things in her life that are 'impossible' already. And what's the point of all her family's wealth and influence if she can't even save one life?

It's not fair.

Her eyes widen briefly as he speaks.

But by the end, at his laugh? Those eyes squeeze shut,

''I've never forgotten.''

because she doesn't trust what will happen with that growing moisture behind those lids if she opens them back open.

For a long time, she's wordless. It's only when she's gotten that emotional reflex under control that she dares to part her lips to speak.

"... You know, my father was caught in that accident ten years ago," she begins suddenly but slowly, as if trying to find the right words for what she is trying to say. "He was the only one who survived. It was... the first time I realized, really realized, that he could die. And it terrified me. When I discovered my power, I promised myself: I would use it to keep him safe, no matter what."

She considers a moment after that rare moment of confidence. And then:

"I'm unsure I have lived up to the expectations that have been set before me. But there are some things I refuse to give up on."

She is bad at consoling others; she knows it. Awkward, and never certain how to approach to truly provide comfort. Even the way she lifts her hand now is stiff and uncertain in a way she rarely lets herself be seen, hesitating with the brief, inward curl of her fingers just before the precipice.

The way it finally settles on Shinjiro's forearm, the arm that trembled, is ultimately still stiff and uncertain.

But it's still there, as if to say to a dear friend: it's okay.

"I refuse to call it a bucket list. I refuse to give up. But... you ''should'' pursue what makes you happy, Aragaki. You should... live a fulfilling life, and do the things that you wouldn't have. And I will use what power I have to fight for that, too."

She can't accept impossible. But at least...

"And no matter what... I will make sure we graduate together. All three of us. ... No matter what."

... she can support her friend.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro never pauses his explanation, even as he sees Mitsuru process it. He knows it's important to reach the end.

When Mitsuru begins with that anecdote about her father, that promise she made... well, he knows how her promises are important to her.

His face softens as she says there's things she won't give up on. He gave up... does he really deserve this? To have a friend who still cares about him after all this time, who'll still fight for him, after everything he's done in his self-destructive path?

Her grip reaches him, to console him. Shinjiro has seen sides of Mitsuru the others wouldn't believe, but the side where she shows even a shred of vulnerability is the one he appreciates most. It's how he knows they *are* friends.

She won't call it a bucket list. She won't give up. She'll make sure they graduate. She'll fight for him to have a fulfilling life.

Suddenly, he laughs. It's not humorous, but it's not sad, either. It's a laugh of perhaps surprise at something. He wipes the corner of his eye, a person who's almost never cried in front of others in his teenaged life, killing the briefest moisture that impacts.

"...I guess I was a fool. To give up on myself when no one else has, when they won't. I've been too busy hating myself to really see the truth."

Shinjiro gives a soft smile. "I'll do my best to work for it. I'm not giving up again. At the least..."

Another small laugh. "You'll always have this memory, Kirijo."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
Laughter; she doesn't expect it, and it inspires a brief blink of understated alarm because of that when she hears it.

But as Mitsuru turns that bemused look Shinjiro's way, watching a rough finger wipe moisture from an eye -- as she listens to his words... that expression softens swiftly.

"Hah," she exhales herself -- it's a little chuckle, and this one is more amused than the flabbergasted affair of earlier as she shakes her head ruefully. Her eyes shut; a little, knowing smile touches her lips, all of it undercut with a current of fondness swimming beneath the surface sentiment.

''I guess I was a fool.''

"Honestly, Aragaki," she says, that self-assured tone returning, even if just a little.

"It certainly took you long enough to realize."

Confident, knowing, in all those subtly 'perfect' ways that Mitsuru so often comes off as. But she has reason to be so expectant.

After all... she's always known that Shinjiro Aragaki was someone not to give up on.

And it's about time he saw it, too.

He offers his assurances. She'll always have this memory. Within his laugh, she reopens her eyes.

"Yes," she says, before repeating what she said before, at the beach: "With many more to come."

... Regardless of how long Shinjiro has.

"But now certainly is not the time to focus on me, is it? You have many memories of your own to make, oui? Your friends were right: you have the opportunity to be selfish, Aragaki. You ought to seize it.

"... Take it from a friend, joining the chorus: such opportunities shouldn't be wasted."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro pauses for a long moment at Mitsuru's chuckle and response. Took him long enough to realize...

And then, he laughs fully, amused. "I guess it did."

As she says many more to come, he nods. He's better equipped to believe it, right now. But she tells him not to focus on her, that he has the opportunity to be selfish, and he should seize it.

Such opportunities shouldn't be wasted.

"You're right. I'll do my best. I can't promise I'll never backslide, but... I'll try."

The sky is getting darker, so he turns back to the entrance to the house. "...we should head inside. Thank you for coming out to talk to me."

He, admittedly, has other things he wants to talk about eventually. But they're all trifling, or matters of school...

He has time, doesn't he?

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-11-14: One Last Birthday - SEES Side

2025-11-15T22:30:42Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: One Last Birthday - SEES Side''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Minako Arisato, Reiya Aomori, Moriko Kumamoto, Yukari Takeba, Koh Katsuhiro, Hitomi Mandai, Fuuka Yamagishi, Mitsuru Kirijo, Ririka Kawase, Suzume Fukura *'''Where:''' Okinawa Islands *'''OOC Date:''' November 14, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 11, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro's birthday is cruelly leaked to SEES while at Yakushima, and he is forced to cel..."

*'''Log: One Last Birthday - SEES Side'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Minako Arisato]], [[Reiya Aomori]], [[Moriko Kumamoto]], [[Yukari Takeba]], [[Koh Katsuhiro]], [[Hitomi Mandai]], [[Fuuka Yamagishi]], [[Mitsuru Kirijo]], [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Suzume Fukura]]
*'''Where:''' Okinawa Islands
*'''OOC Date:''' November 14, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 11, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Shinjiro's birthday is cruelly leaked to SEES while at Yakushima, and he is forced to celebrate it with his allies. Insisting on barbecuing for them, the other members force him to lighten his load and accept help, while gifting thoughtful presents on short notice. Int he end, it's a pretty nice night.''

----

(|============================= Okinawa Islands ==============================|)

-============================================== Other Japan/Okinawa Region ====-

Part of an archipelago that stretches from the southern tip of Japan to nearly

Taiwan, the Okinawa Islands are home to a distinct culture of the Ryukyuan

people who were forced to become a part of Japan four hundred years ago.

Resentment for being viewed as expendable stretches back much further than the

Second World War.

Those who respect the locals will find that Okinawa is the ideal for summer in

Japan, with its proud shisaa serving as guardians on rooftops and gates to

households alike. The local cuisine is distinct from mainland Japan; goya

chanpuru is a popular stir-fried delight.

People can travel between the Okinawa Islands through a vast network of ferries

that carry people to and fro, and no two of them are alike. However, one should

be careful not to go too far off the beaten path... or violate one of its

clearly marked sacred sites.

Sometimes the ferries take an awfully long time coming back, and if some people

disappear here? Well.

Accidents happen all the time on vacation.

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Over the two days leading up to Saturday, August 11th, something terrible has happened.

Shinjiro Aragaki has been exposed... for having a birthday.

Who could have done such a thing? Who would reveal his deepest darkest secret?

(It was absolutely Ikutsuki, the power of sending a message.)

One thing came to another, and Shinjiro was somehow convinced to celebrate it with some of the members of SEES. Perhaps even you helped convince him!

But, of course, he had conditions. He may have made them expecting they wouldn't be met.

He was wrong.

This is why, in the lovely town of Yakushima, a small outdoor rental place has been reserved almost on the spot. It's a nice, cozy little place, often reserved for parties, overlooking nature. Able to see the forest, and perhaps a glimpse of the mountains on the other islands, it is reserved solely for SEES today.

Tables and chairs are arrayed, fans are on to help with the heat and humidity, and a grill has been set up, large enough to accommodate the hungry SEES members who decided to come. Only one person could be manning this grill.

Shinjiro is wearing a long-sleeved grey t-shirt, the kind he usually wears under his coat, alongside an unzipped white hoodie. He's got jeans on and a pair of worn boots. Honestly, if you didn't know him, you'd think he overdressed.

(he still kinda is, to be honest)

Having come a little late to his own celebration because he was bringing Supplies, Shinjiro is the one manning the grill, refusing to take a no for an answer or let anyone help.

He's got personally-prepared teriyaki meats and some vegetables cooking, and they smell pretty good. He's also set up a cheap rice cooker, because like hell he's not having white rice. It's his birthday!

But he's also been quiet. Contemplative, even, as he cooks. He hasn't addressed anyone yet, so perhaps someone will have to break that silence.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<poem>
When Minako heard that Shinjiro has a birthday coming up, she didn't hesitate to attend. He is a friend -- isn't he? -- and a comrade in SEES. That counts for something. And, besides, birthdays are important.

She is wearing an orange tanktop and shorts -- it's hot enough that she isn't about to go without that sort of clothing. She looks around at the reserved place -- with the overlook of the nearby forest -- and then she turns her head towards Shinjiro.

She beams at him, her head tilted to the side.

"Happy birthday, Aragaki-senpai!" she says. She pauses for a second, glancing at the rice cooker.

"Did... did you cook for your own birthday?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
Reiya Aomori didn't convince Shinjiro Aragaki of anything this time. But he did know it was coming...

Which is why he came prepared.

Reiya is in a loose, short-sleeved button-down and shorts, wearing ''sandals''. It is beachy. And he carries with him a rectangular box bigger than his hand, wrapped in sedate and austere maroon paper with a black ribbon.

It's a lovely setup. The grill, the forest nearby...

He picks up said box from where he'd set it on a table, and approaches Shinjiro.

He knows they haven't always gotten along, but...

"It would seem that he did," Reiya adds to Minako as he makes his way over. "That is good. A man should take charge of things important to him."

"...With that in mind--"

Shinjiro may see Reiya present the box in both hands. "Happy birthday, Aragaki-senpai. I hope this item will be of use to you, and show that I look forward to working together."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
<poem>
Moriko's showed up herself. Wearing a simple white sun dress in white and trimmed in spring green. She's brought a bag herself. Fully intending to try and steal the grill, only to discover that Shinjiro wouldn't give it up. She's not sulking, but it's clear she had been excited to have a chance to cook herself!

Whether she can steal space or not, she does help set up some skewers, just to add variety. After putting a little box on a table where others might be set up as well.

"Happy birthday-" she starts. Realizing she'd been off in her own thoughts for a moment. Turning her head to Minako, "I know right?" Definitely not sulking a bit. Even as she nods to Reiya, "Kinda agree with him. If that's what you want to do, roll with it!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
Yukari's kicking herself for ''not'' asking for his birthday in advance. If she did, she'd have more time to buy him a gift! Fortunately, Yakushima isn't ''just'' the Kirijo Mansion and a secluded facility.

Eventually going into town, she finds something that's- "Perfect. I bet he'll love this, even if he maybe won't ''say'' that." She says with a grin, "It's funny that it's always the guys who say girls don't say it like it is... but then there's this guy."

Despite his best efforts, she did like Shinjiro for the most part, he was a good guy, he helped her out several times - and he's far kinder than he'd admit to.

-=-=-

And now, she's there. She's wearing a YEGO T-Shirt from some store collaboration with a pair of denim cut offs, and some nice tennis shoes.

"Happy Birthday." She adds in, cheerfully to Minako's break of the silence, "He really is..." She says with a sigh, "Come on, aren't we supposed to be treating ''you''?"

Before she glances sidelong at Reiya's assessment, "Uh... I hope that means you're not taking a turn at dinner duty at the dorms in the name of 'manhood'?"

She raises a hand, in a dismissive gesture, "From what I've heard - pretty sure you'd burn the place down."

She's got a bag held behind her back, there wasn't any offers to ''wrap'' anything at the village store. Which, well, that's fine.

She doubts he's picky about that.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.
<poem>
Koh likes birthday parties! Especially other peoples.

He's dressed in a loose cloth shirt, light jacket, shorts and sandals. Vacation apparel. And he didn't have much notice, but he carries with him a bag that's been stuffed with thin packing paper to give the illusion of festivity.

"You're working pretty hard on your birthday, Aragaki-senpai."

Rather than wait, Koh digs into his bag and presents his very useful gift: plastic wrapped blue mackerel. He must have bought it today.

"You can fry these guys."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
BEHOLD - HITOMI.

Hitomi is wearing the same flopsome hat she's been rocking for a while, and despite plenty of fun in the sun, has clearly been wearing her sunscreen, because she is at most slightly less plae than she was before. With it is a red T-shirt declaring allegiance to a band that broke up three years ago along with some cargo shorts, which are mostly notable for having sunscreen sticking out of one leg pocket.

She also has a small box wrapped in local stationary paper in one hand.

"Yeah... haha, I guess he's dedicated... If you want us to take over, though, just say so," Hitomi speaks up, before lifting her voice: "Happy birthday Aragaki!!"

After this she cranes her head to ogle what's on the grill. The small object is proffered, though Hitomi isn't bringing it near to the grill for some reason (that's a great way to get ants).

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
A birthday! The last thing Fuuka had expected was that anyone's birthday would fall during their trip. It was a surprise - particularly, that it's ''Shinjiro's''. She's not the type to pressure someone into things - but when he ''does'' agree to the party, she gladly elects to attend.

...Though... She does feel a ''little'' bad that he seems to be taking care of everything himself. She's asked to help, but...

...It's probably a good thing that he said no.

"Yes, happy birthday, Aragaki-san..." Fuuka agrees, as Minako wishes him a happy birthday.

She's in a light blue floral-pattern summer dress today. It is, of course, accented with frill.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro's birthday. Somehow, the news got out. Was it Mitsuru? She's on a first-name basis with Akihiko; one way or the other, she'd know.

But Mitsuru respects Shinjiro's privacy too much except when it comes to his blatant truancy to just out him like that.

so obviously it was ikutsuki. i mean come on.

Either way, the Kirijo heiress ''is'' here today, because even if she's not giving up Shinjiro's secrets like 'what day did shinjiro officially become a surly little baby' she ''is'' going to celebrate them. Dressed in a pair of tan, high-waisted capris and a light purple, sleeveless button up shirt, Mitsuru's sole concession to acknowledging the heat exists is the way that long, royal red hair of hers has been done up in an elegant little bun.

Otherwise, she's still all perfect poise and and looking cool as ice. You see, as long as you keep unfaltering posture every day of your life, even subtropical humidity cannot affect you.

She's here as the others arrive, her arms folded under her chest as she watches Shinjiro work. Dark red eyes turn to regard the others, and a small, rare smile graces scarlet lips to greet them as they offer Shinjiro well wishes on this, the day of his birth.

"He would sooner throw the grill into the ocean than let anyone else touch it at this point, Mandai," is her lone aside to Hitomi, which surely must be a joke. Right?

.... R-right?

god her poker face is so hard to read--

"Regardless, at least let me help you with serving the food to the others," she asides to Shinjiro. "I suppose we'll need to assemble the proper utensils. Did you bring enough steak knives?"

...

how does

mitsuru think barbecue meals are meant to be eaten

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka wasn't about to let a fellow SEES member's birthday go uncelebrated, plus she still felt she owed Shinjiro for helping out with Eiji's palace. (Even if their first run at it had been a bust.)

She's arrived in a bright cami top, skirt, and sandals, because there's no reason to layer up in the heat. (Unless, apparently, you're Shinjiro?)

"You're... cooking for your own birthday?" she echos Minako's comment. "Don't you wanna take it easy...?"

Still... "Happy birthday, Aragaki-senpai. I've got a gift in mind for you, but..." She rubs the back of her neck a little. "... I'll have to give it to you once we're back in Iwatodai. Sorry!"

She wasn't prepared to bring a gift, unlike Reiya.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Suzume had no idea it was Shinjiro's birthday at all until someone (Ikutsuki) told her. She's bad at birthdays; prone to forgetting yearly dates like that anyway, and she didn't know Shinjiro's in the first place, which means she didn't even have the chance to forget it!

Unfortunately that means, like several other people, she was caught completely present-less. Which means she had a momentary panic because what do you get someone like Shinjiro? She spent some time in the same situation as a few of the others, though probably not the same shops. But, unlike most of them, she didn't manage to find anything she thought would work.

Suzume is back in shorts and a green-and-blue short-sleeved shirt. (It's too hot for anything else.) She's been dressing like that a lot when she's not actually preparing to swim, so it's not exactly a surprise, though the precise shirt is new.

"I dunno, he didn't throw me out of the kitchen that once," Suzume says, though she still seems a little doubtful about it. She didn't try to take over from him either. "But hey. Happy birthday. I don't... have a gift here," she has to admit, grudgingly. She has been defeated! "It'll have to wait for Iwatodai..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
As Minako approaches first, Shinjiro is finally broken out of his reverie. A nod to everyone as they wish him a happy birthday. "Thanks," he says coolly but not quite brusquely.

"It's the least I could do, right?" he adds about the cooking, before taking the gift from Reiya. "How did you prepare this in two days?" Yukari, Koh, and Hitomi have gifts too...

It might be clear he wasn't expecting anyone to learn about his birthday. Mitsuru would also know the added layer that he's never really made a big deal of it, though she certainly knew it. Indeed, there's definitely a pall over it for him this specific year.

But curiosity will get the better of him, and he acquiesces to the subtle pressure, *very* reluctantly.

"Kumamoto, watch the meat. Don't burn it," he says firmly, seeing her desire and being very serious about his cooking. He suspects she can grill. But can she grill as well as he can...?

(Sorry Fuuka, you need to level up your Proficiency to get permission to help Shinjiro's cooking.)

He'll then move over to one of the tables nearest the grill so that Moriko can remain engaged, and he'll set Reiya's box on the table.

As he opens it up, his eyes widen slowly, appraising whatever is inside. If anyone peeks to look...

There is a fine steel chef's knife, not too large, with a black handle and a steady, sharp edge. It is neither monogrammed nor excessively branded, a simple tool that is expensive for its workmanship, not its flash.

"...thank you," Shinjiro says, expression even, eyes a little narrow, breath hitched very slightly after a long pause. Whatever emotion he's feeling, he's trying to restrain it.

He's never had a gift like this before. But he's also never had a birthday party, a real one, since he was a small child.

It's very much appreciated. But it also feels wasted on someone like him.

Then, he turns to Koh's mackerel gift. He keeps his expression still restrained. "This looks good. But it gets fishy if it's not done fresh and I don't have a frier here, so I'll just prepare it and toss it on the grill in a few minutes."

As Mitsuru offers to help him serve, he tilts his head. "Are you sure?"

Yes, he was going to do that too.

"It's just forks and regular knives. We've got chopsticks too." In case anyone has a preference.

Ririka and Suzume apologize that they didn't get gifts in time. He waves them off.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"He should, huh...?" Minako says, with a glance sideways at Reiya. She cracks a smile at him, then, and tilts her head. "Is that what you do, Aomori-san?"

She looks at Moriko and cracks a smile, before she nods. Then, she looks sideways at Yukari -- and she shakes her head. "I dunno, I think cooking is pretty much perfect regardless of guy or girl." She says this, but she isn't very good at it. Then, she steps aside for Koh to give his gift.

But her eyes widen a fraction. He got Shinjiro ''fish''!

Then she looks sideways at Mitsuru. One eyebrow quirks. "Uh, Kirijo-senpai..." But Shinjiro has it covered.

Speaking of gifts, much like Yukari, Minako has a hand behind her back. The edge of a paper shopping bag can be seen though, bouncing against her leg. "I'll help clean up," she volunteers. "And thanks for cooking, senpai. If it makes you happy... well, that's what counts!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
"I have neither senpai's aptitude nor interest in the culinary arts," Reiya says to Yukari. "...Though I'm reasonably sure I wouldn't set the dorm ''ablaze''. In any case I will stick to my own skills." A look to Minako, as she inquires, and he straightens a bit, more pleased at ''this'' line of inquiry than Yukari's heckling. "Yes," he says. "I make a point of getting involved in things that interest me."

Shinjiro has a quesstion. Reiya says, "I made a concerted effort." It's that simple for him; it was important, so he did it! ...it also doesn't reveal very much...

His eyes widen, and Reiya nods. "You are welcome," Reiya says. "I hope that it adequately expresses my feelings."

he considers the others. Hmmm. Other gifts, and some without...

He smiles, though, to see Moriko given a chance to help. it's nice! "Yes," hea grees with her agreeing with him.

But Mitsuru ofers to help..

"May I also assist?" Reiya volunteers, perhaps unsurprisingly. He adds, "I only had resources to acquire the one knife..."

"...The fish looks good, too..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
"Hey," Suzume greets several of the others as they arrive. She's got friends here - Minako, Ririka, Fuuka, Hitomi, Koh, Reiya... okay it's mostly her friends, which is kind of novel but in a good way.

Suzume knows what she wanted to buy - a knife sharpening tool, a stone or something - but she doesn't know hardly anything about sharpening good knives (so wasn't even sure what she wanted to buy), couldn't look it up, and didn't want to get the wrong one. If they even had it here. And then she second-guessed herself and assumed Shinjiro already had one, anyway, because -

Well, why wouldn't he? If he's into cooking.

She still feels like she should have tried harder, even though she hadn't had much warning or anything. Suzume shoves her hands in her pockets.

And then she just *looks* at Mitsuru. She can't imagine her serving, either! Everything is backwards and wrong and she doesn't know what to make of it! And on top of that, with the knives...

Oh. She's a rich person, Suzume thinks. She doesn't know how to actually do things. Except run school. And run SEES. And boss people around -

Which almost gets her to NOT say the next thing, but she likes Shinjiro. "I'll get it," Suzume volunteers, un-pocketing her hands as she heads to pick up some of the plates and sort the right utensils along with them. "Wasn't that the rule? You don't do this kind of work when you're cooking?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
Hitomi offers that they could take over, and she pipes in, "Yeah I don't mind trying my own hand at it... How hard could it be?"

Yukari can cook, just - she's never done any outdoor grilling. But Mitsuru reveals how far he'd go, enough that Yukari physically recoils, "Whoa! He's really that intense about it?"

Turns out he lets Moriko try it, which is kind of a relief because Yukari thinks his standards might be ''way too high'' for her skills.

Before Mitsuru asks about the Steak Knife, situation... "Uhhhhh..." Fortunately, Shinjiro steps in, and the moment passes without cracking the image of Mitsuru Kirijo's perfection in her head.

"That's what they all say." Yukari seems to groan in reply of Reiya thinking he wouldn't set the dorm ablaze, "But I'll believe it when you survive your first encounter with a grease fire."

After several gifts are given, and she sees the bag bouncing against Minako's leg, she looks back up towards Shinjiro.

"Well... since everyone is jumping to the gift giving right now? Happy Birthday Senpai."

The bag is produced, and inside is an Okinawan Cookbook, including many staples of local fare. Chanpuru, Suba, and more!

(There's at least twenty ways to cook goat inside. She checked. She's never had goat. She figures he might like that.)

"Might even be something you want to try out while we're still local."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.
<poem>
"Whoa," Koh says of various SEES members' promises of future gifts for Shinjiro. He lowers his voice conspiratorially and asks: "Fukuhara-san ''and'' Kawase-san? Aragaki-senpai is getting private gifts from ''both'' of you?"

"You guys are closer than I thought..." The corners of his lips look like they're trying to escape his face with how hard he's failing to suppress his smile.

He nods at Shinjiro's assessment, like he knows what the older boy is talking about. "Thanks. Happy birthday!"

Koh flops bonelessly into a seat to enjoy the smell of the grill.

"All that matters is the food is made with love." He weighs in helpfully.

No one has ever seen Koh eat anything that ''isn't'' fast food at the dorm.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
Mitsuru's comment gets a 'hmfph!' from Hitomi, whose eyes track to her for a moment, without words. After this she looks back towards Suzume. "Maybe he wanted to teach you his ancient arts? It does smell good... I mean, it's hard for things to smell BAD on the grill."

Since the dawn of time, Man has sought to Grill.

When she's asked how she had the opportunity to put it together, Hitomi smiles at Shinjiro, a little wanly. "Well, it was a surprise... so I had to put it together from what I had on hand. I hope you enjoy it when you open it." Her arms fold in front of her, and she seems... satisfied somehow.

She does turn her head to look towards the proffering of -- "Oh!! Badass," Hitomi says with a clasping of her hands in approval. "Are grease fires, even that common if you're not frying, though?"

Hitomi looks towards Suzume, and potentially arbitrarily, FUUKA as well in case they have experience.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
A chef's knife.

For a moment, Mitsuru regards the gift Reiya's offered Shinjiro. She looks sidelong to the former, before her gaze drifts back to the latter. Her expression is soft. Understated.

''... thank you.''

"..."

Just like the pensive line that creases her brow, or the subtle thinning of her lips.

"... It's a very thoughtful gift, Aomori," she offers in the aftermath of Shinjiro's gratitude, a smile on her lips. "I'm certain we'll all benefit from it."

Still -- she's made her offer, and as Shinjiro questions it, Mitsuru is swift to raise a brow in response.

"I wouldn't offer if I wasn't," she asserts firmly. "You're already doing quite enough on your own. You'll let us handle the rest, as a birthday gift."

It sounds like it could be a suggestion.

But it's really more like an absolute command.

Just as absolute as the minute nose-wrinkle of Mitsuru's confusion as he follows up with his explanation.

"'Regular' knives? ... are these forks also 'regular'?" She's trying to picture it in her head, having the sudden realization that her life experience with utensils might be vastly different from everyone else's and not wanting to make things even -more- awkward for herself or others.

... is it more like an oyster fork, or...?

Regardless, she's soon enough moving as Suzume does, gathering the necessary plates for everyone -- and nodding for Reiya to join them. As she does, she asides to Yukari:

"You haven't seen the lengths Aragaki is willing to go to ensure his kitchen remains his domain." It's -- really difficult to tell-- "I recall him once threatening Akihiko with a... spork?"

that can't possibly be true can it

Whereupon, Mitsuru plucks up one of the forks, and inspects it. "Ah, like a table fork," she says under her breath, heaving an exhale of relief for having a point of reference.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
Cooking...

"I think it's an important skill..." Fuuka agrees. It's one she's kind of envious of, in fact, because her own skills there are... lacking. To think, there are still heights of Proficiency she has yet to reach...

"Wow..." Fuuka remarks, impressed, at the very professional-looking knife Shinjiro receives as a gift. It's perfect for him.

"Yes, thank you." Fuuka agrees, as Minako thanks Shinjiro for cooking.

There are already a lot of volunteers to help serve - at this point, she'd probably just be getting in the way if she tried to help with that.

"If anyone has any drink requests, I can go fetch them." She offers. She's looking at Shinjiro when she says this. If she asked just him directly he might just say not to bother, but if she asks ''everyone''...

She thinks this will work, because this would work on her, too.

And then, suddenly, Hitomi looks at her.

Fuuka goes blank for a moment.

"Um... They're still dangerous, so it's good to be careful..." She advises.

She's waffling because she has ''no earthly idea'' if that's the case or not. She doesn't even know what causes a grease fire in the first place. Just hot grease??

Fuuka listens to Mitsuru's story, then looks toward Shinjiro.

"A spork...? That's a lot of dedication." She comments. She doesn't know if that's terrifying and/or impressive, but it's at the very least memorable.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
<poem>
With the grill opened up, Moriko offers a thumbs up and says, "I promise to take it easy on the spice." Suggesting she's big on heat. The spicy kind. till, she does actually seem to care about the art. Probably a side effect of her work back home and camping trips.

Her own gift hadn't been anything too big. She honestly had no idea what to get the guy.

She smiles back to Minako, "Cooking's always a good skill, but I had some experience back home cooking for a big group so I thought I would help!" She hefts the bag for emphasis.

Her gift was a container of shichimi. She knew he liked cooking, but didn't know what he had and it was kind of last minute.

She'd also argue she had intended the dinner to be part of it, but hey. She's at least helping!

Glancing to Mitsuru at the offer to help. "Could just make it a whole group effort thing." Holding up the long chopsticks she'd been using to move things around. Clicking them together for emphasis even!

Reiya gets a teasing, "You'd better!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka looks on as the knife comes out. "Whoa... thaaaat's a really nice knife." A beat. She looks to Suzume and asks quietly, "... right?" It ''looks'' nice, but knives aren't her forte.

But fresh fish. "I bet that'll taste really good..."

''Her'' plan had been to get Shinjiro some cool music CDs, but she hadn't been able to source what she'd been thinking of locally. She can get it pretty easily back home, at least. But delivery wasn't exactly feasible either.

But Koh asks about ~private gifts~, and Ririka shakes her head furiously. "H-hey, don't say it like ''that''! I'd give it to him right now if I had it ready. I just... didn't have enough notice."

She already got ready for a whole-ass ''surprise vacation'', she came here for less stress, not more!

Still, everyone's pitching in, and there's a lot of them. "Do you want a hand with drinks, Yamagishi-san?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro nods to Minako as she mentions she'll help clean up. "Sure. I was going to handle that too, but..." Isn't his rule that if you eat the food, you have to help clean? What's different about it *on his birthday*?

"It's appreciated," he finishes, eying her gift against her leg.

Reiya asks to assist too. Shinjiro's still thinking about the gift when he answers. "Anyone who wants to assist can help, I guess," he sighs, rubbing the back of his head.

Mitsuru does, in fact, *order* him to let them help him. "Tch," he says, looking away over to where Moriko is watching the grill. "Fine."

Suzume actually mentions the rule, and he has a... strange expression at that. That is indeed the rule, and he holds to it steadfast most days. "Yeah," he admits.

Yukari's cookbook is received, and he looks over the back. "Thanks, Takeba. I might need to, or at least grab any special ingredients while we're here."

Speaking of which, he turns to Moriko. "Put spice on the meat and I'll-"

Saved by the Koh, who causes Shinjiro's head to swivel. "Don't be a creep," he tells Koh, before turning over to Hitomi, taking her gift. He'll move to partially open it, since he's opened the others, removing a letter which he reads through quickly and privately. He folds it back up and puts it back with the present once he's done, to look over later.

Perhaps for the first moment since they arrived, he smiles lightly. It's a nice smile. "Thanks, Mandai."

Mitsuru mentions the spork incident, which must certainly be a joke, right?

"I wasn't going to point a *knife* at him, Kirijo." Oh, no, it's true. Maybe.

Fuuka is appraised as she offers to get drink requests. "You all don't need... okay, sure. Go ahead," he decides, remembering that Fuuka wants to be helpful.

He'll certainly like music CDs, though he currently doesn't know about them. Shinjiro eyes Ririka as she moves to offer to help Fuuka.

Aigis has arrived from The Rooster Inn.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<poem>
Minako's head tilts as Reiya says that, one eyebrow quirking up. He is still so straightforward, she thinks. "What kinds of things interest you, Aomori-san?"

She perks up at Yukari's gift, looking down at the cookbook. "Nice, Okinawan cuisine," she says. "I've never had that!"

Then, she looks sideways at Koh. She raises an eyebrow -- then she cracks a smile. "Like Wild Duck, right?" Which, to be fair, is Minako's favorite burger -- but mostly because she hasn't had a burger from somewhere that isn't fast food.

She looks at Mitsuru, and she fights a smile. Is she--no, she doesn't seem to know quite what these things are. Then, she looks at Fuuka, and she nods at her. "No kidding," she says. "You'd really have to work at it, to get someone with a spork."

Has... has Minako thought about this?

She looks back at Shinjiro, then, and she nods. Then, she produces the shopping bag -- red paper, and inside of it is...

...a plushie of a Shisa, an Okinawan lion of legend. It also looks like a dog, though, sort of. It is red, white, and gold; it has a big grin. "To remember the time you spent at Yakushima!" Minako declares. "And to ward off evil spirits. If you know what I mean."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
"Don't re-spice his food until he asks, he's better at it than you," Suzume says to Moriko. Is it true? Well, she's eaten things Shinjiro has cooked, and she's never eaten anything Moriko has cooked, so while she doesn't know if it's true or not she does know that Shinjiro knows what he's doing. "And apparently he'll stab you with a spork if you do it wrong. ...but if you make it spicy I'll take some of that."

She grins at Hitomi. "Ancient arts, huh? I don't know about that. But you never know." She glances over toward Yukari's cookbook - does that count as new ancient arts? Looks like some people got luckier (or better prepared) than she did. And the shisa makes her grin wider, though she tries to hide it from Shinjiro. "What's different about it?" she asks Minako, because she too has never had it.

That's a really nice knife.

"...probably?" Suzume doesn't know a whole lot about knives, as already mentioned, so when Ririka asks her she has to *assume* it's true. It looks nice to her. She stays out of the conversation of grease fires because *she* thought it was just frying, too. Maybe other meats can do it? Meats have grease, right? Unless they're lean meat.

Suzume has remembered the Rule, and she's going to obey this particular Rule. Even if it also means she's sorting out plates and things. Which isn't too bad, even with other people getting in her way (as she sees it).

So she bustles around for a bit, until -

Koh.

"What's *that* supposed to mean?" Suzume's voice raises slightly. "I just don't have it with me because I didn't know it *was* his birthday until today! I don't have a bottomless suitcase or anything to pull that kind of stuff out of!"

Bottomless suitcases are more Mitsuru's deal.

"You know what I mean, anyway!" Suzume realizes she is holding a fork a little tightly and sets it down gently on the plate. "Don't put it like that with either Kawase or me."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
<poem>
Reiya nods to Minako. "My primary interest in extracurricular activities is the Drama Club," Reiya says, which might explain a few things, especially when he says, "I enjoy building sets and doing technical work especially..." He has others, but he knows not to share them all at once!

Then he looks to MItsuru, who calls it thoughtful. He nods back, quietly pleased. "I hope so."

Grill... It smells good, anyway.

"I do not think grease fires are terribly common," Reiya says, "But it is important to remember with a grease fire ''not'' to put it out with water."

He knows that much!

A plushie!! that's... so cute.

Reiya looks at Minako for a moment and tilts his head. He doesn't stare--well, not more than a second, before he looks to Suzume, who looks angry. "Food made with love," he agrees with Koh. "...It is a nice thought."

"Your 'taking it easy' is still significant," Reiya points out to Moriko, though.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
"A spark?" says Hitomi, who has had the blessed opportunity to eat food mostly off of quasi-traditional Japanese plateware - and Japanese homestyle dining does not have that particular innovation of the beautiful, preservative-rich realms of American cuisine.

She doesn't even know what she's missing... perhaps one Christmas, she'll have the chance.

Her attention rests now on the unambiguous chef's knife; she lacks, perhaps, the depth of appreciation, but it's definitely a thoughtful gift. Koh speaks up and spoils it a little, and Hitomi looks towards him with a bit of a smirk, as well as looking back towards Suzume with an air of vicarious, but mild, revenge.

After that - she looks towards Shinjiro, and her face does color slightly. She reaches up to tug down the brim of the hat, veiling her eyes even as she says, "I hope you enjoy it," to him, turning away afterwards to go over towards Minako, a step or two.

"Yeah," Hitomi echoes Reiya towards Moriko. "I'm amazed you won that much slack from Aragaki, if he's letting you handle that grill before everything." NOW to the area of Minako, whom she asks, in all gravity: "Have you had the mystery burger at Wild Duck, ever?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.
<poem>
Koh raises a hand in both defense and apology at the collective scolding. "Okay, okay, sorry. Don't stab me, Fukura-san." He still sounds just a little bit amused.

And with everyone pitching in, Koh finds that there's nobody to benefit. So he does so, heroically.

"Could I get some juice?"

But then he does get up to help set things where he can. "Good thinking, Takeba-san. Now Aragaki-senpai can cook for us more with his new knife."

"Exactly," Koh says to Minako with a grin in return after. "If someone didn't love me, why would it taste so good?" Pause. "Oh! Shiisa. Cute..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
Koh implies that Suzume and Ririka ''must be close'' and Yukari blinks, before looking up... then at Shinjiro as he admonishes him for being a creep.

She doesn't ''think'' anything is going on, but asking to give a gift in private...

Both of them deny it, but hmmm... she wouldn't actually be surprised. He is quite the catch if you like a 'bad boy with a heart of gold.'

Lacing her hands back behind her back, she smiles, pleased that he seems to like her gift, "You're welcome. I figured there's a lot of things here that'd be interesting for you to try out." Before she grins at Minako, "I had a little as a kid. There was this Okinawan food stand I tried out not far from where I lived in Okina City. I never tried ''making'' any though."

'Good thinking, Takeba-san. Now Aragaki-senpai can cook for us more with his new knife.'

"Hey it's not like I'm trying to ''take advantage'' of him or anything. I can cook my own meals. I just thought he'd find it fun." She explains to Koh, though it doesn't put her in a bad mood.

Fuuka offers some drink orders, and Yukari considers it, she doesn't like ''taking advantage'' of Fuuka, but indeed, Fuuka ''wants'' to be helpful. She learned that first hand.

"A melon soda if there is any."

But Mitsuru, with the story of the ''Spork''. "Really? A spork?" Yukari sounds skeptical at first, but then she rethinks it, sideeyeing Fuuka at her remark, "Well I guess if anyone could make it work, it's Aragaki-senpai..."

Only for Shinjiro to confirm it did happen, "Uhhh honestly now that I think about it a spork in your hands feels more threatening, because it's so dull..."

Only because he's ''so strong'' does she think that. Shinjiro's not the kind of guy who'd just stab someone with a knife, right?

The Shisaa plushie Minako presents though, "Aw, that's adorable. Where'd you find such a cute gift, Arisato-chan?" She's not sure she'd trust it to ward off evil spirits given what ''they'' face, but she'd definitely add it to her plushie collection...

... that nobody knows about, because she keeps it hidden. Very very hidden.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
Gathering her share of the plates and utensils, Mitsuru goes about setting them down next to people's places at the tables.

She's... pretty fastidious about it. The knife and fork frame the plates perfectly, both on their appropriate side, even though she might well be the only one who knows fine dining etiquette or just the only one who thinks it applies here.

She does frown a little as she does so. It just doesn't feel right without the full assortment of utensils...

"Hm," is all she says on the matter, before pivoting to what matters:

"Applied with proper force at the appropriate angle, a spork should be enough to puncture a vital area. Of course, that depends on the assailant's knowledge of anatomy and where the body is most vulnerable."

...

W-well.

As they say.

Knowledge is power! (???)

Mitsuru seems to think nothing off this off-handed note on the killing power of sporks, instead pivoting towards things more wholesome: "Okinawan food makes more use of kelp and seaweed, I believe. Their cuisine makes especially heavy use of turmeric. The kaisou salad is quite good."

As she works, though, she listens to the conversations - the banter - with a quietly content little expression decorating those fair features. This is... nice, isn't it? Celebrating like this.

It's something she'd like to keep doing, to make a tradition of. Even if...

Her thoughts drift as she keeps an eye on Shinjiro from her peripherals, watching as he receives his gifts. As he smiles, a pleased little smile all Mitsuru's own drifts across her lips, before she brings the last of her plates and utensils over to--

"Mandai, Arisato -- here you are," she says, extending arms delicately balancing both plates out to either of them. She'd set them down but, well -- Hitomi doesn't have a place at a table yet, as far as she knows, and Mitsuru is ''painfully exacting'' about these things. "Please, enjoy the food. And... thank you, for the gifts."

Should she really be thanking all of them, when it's Shinjiro's gifts? Maybe not.

But she seems sincerely grateful, all the same.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
It's not like Suzume said she wanted to give it to Shinjiro in private; she just has to wait until they get back to Iwatodai. And indeed it would probably be in the dorms.

...But she does have *some* kind of thing with Shinjiro, if people pay attention and think back. The two of them have vanished onto the roof together before! And that was before the planters got set up up there, so it wasn't an impromptu gardening session. She's done it with Reiya too, come to think of it... and she came back sweaty and immediately vanished into a shower!

(It was workout sessions in both cases. Suzume has been trying to master her tonfa and improve her strength and stamina; both of them know things that could help her, and she made agreements with them to do just that. But it's not like she tells anybody that kind of thing.)

Currently, though, Suzume is very seriously considering throwing a spoon at Koh. He is safe because she doesn't have a spoon to throw and she's not going to start tossing knives, she's not *that* kind of person.

She blusters a little bit, puffing as her face reddens, especially when Hitomi gives her that Look. She eventually lets it out in an awkward sigh. "Whatever," she grumps, though Koh is still in moderate danger.

"...kelp and seaweed, huh." Doesn't sound too bad to her. But she changes the topic entirely: "Yamagishi-san, if there's any Moonkist, could you fish it out for me?" She offered, after all.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro confirms that the incident ''did'', in fact, happen. Because he wasn't going to point a knife at him. She meets Minako's look - but she's surprised when she responds that you'd have to look at it, in a way that suggests that she's ''thought'' about it. And Mitsuru clarifies on how a spork could be used for violence! Fuuka laughs nervously -

- though it's forgotten a moment later when Minako produces a plushie of a Shiisa.

"Oh, that's adorable..." Fuuka praises alongside Yukari. She doesn't know whether or not that's something Shinjiro would like... but who wouldn't be happy to receive a gift like that?

Shinjiro does agree, though, to let her handle drink requests - and Ririka offers to help her, too.

"Yes, that would be a big help, Kawase-san." Fuuka says with a grateful nod. Koh wants juice, Yukari wants a melon soda, Suzume wants Moonkist... Fuuka nods. She'll take another round of drink requests then, with a nod toward Ririka duck away to retrieve them...

...and return, a moment later.

For anyone who didn't know what they wanted or doesn't request anything specific, Fuuka - gives her best guess! Fortunately, her reading is generally fairly accurate.

For herself, she has acquired a fruit tea.

"Thank you, Kirijo-senpai." Fuuka offers, as she helps with distribution - and then starts passing out her share of the drinks she retrieved.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Why would anybody use a spork like that...?" Ririka asks out loud. And then Mitsuru just... explains the ''how'' and Ririka pales just a little bit. "Eh heh. Krijo-senpai...? Why do you..."

She pauses as she reflects, and then decides maybe she doesn't want to know. "O-on second thought, never mind."

She's a little concerned by that. But that gift. "Awww, that's really cute!" Lion plushie!

She nods to Suzume. Well, it seems like a nice knife, and it was a gift, so it's probably safe to assume. But Suzume gets upset with Koh's phrasing, and Ririka nods firmly. "Yeah, what she said!"

Koh does offer an apology, and Ririka just rolls her eyes a little.

Yukari, it's not like that...! Though Ririka will, sadly, never admit to ''why'' it's not like that.

Ririka smiles to Fuuka as she accepts the help, though. "You're welcome, Yamagishi-san." Drink orders are taken, and Ririka will duck away with Fuuka...

For herself she's got a fresh fruit juice. She sets the various drinks down with the people that requested them that Fuuka didn't end up carrying, and then takes a seat herself.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Minako presents her gift, and Shinjiro looks over it. There are a lot of options for how Shinjiro could react to a stuffed animal, based off what one thinks about him.

His reaction might be surprising, then, as while he restrains his smile to a mild one, his eyes definitely light up. Privately, this is probably the gift that he likes the most.

Though, it dulls as soon as she says to ward off evil spirits. His smile fades to neutral after a long moment, though he doesn't seem upset, more... contemplative, processing it.

If only it was that easy.

"Thank you, Arisato," he tells her gratefully.

About grease fires, he nods to Reiya on that, shifting suddenly. "Snuff it out with a metal lid or cookie sheet or something. *Never* use water, that's just suicide."

But people are commenting on the knife, so he adds, "It's very high-end. Thanks again, Aomori."

Suzume gets a sigh. "I've never *stabbed* anyone with a spork."

Hitomi comments on Moriko and the grill. Did he embarrass her with the letter? "She seemed interested. I'll step in if it goes bad."

Koh talks about Shinjiro cooking for them. "Don't push your luck," he says brusquely.

Yukari gets another rub of the back of his head, as she mentions sporks being dangerous in his hands. "First rule of a fight, don't escalate to weapons. Though, if I needed one, I prefer bigger weapons anyways." He does use axes and hammers...

Mitsuru explaining spork murder is glossed over. It is not the *most* surprising thing out of her mouth today. (That was the offer of assisting with serving! Not because he thinks it's beneath her, but because it just didn't cross his mind.)

His eyes cross over to her as she thanks the others for his gifts. His expression is nearly unreadable, neither a tch nor a smile, but it seems... melancholy.

He'll take a seat as Fuuka and Ririka escape with drinks, before nodding to both of them as they return. "Thank you," he says. His usual drink is canned coffee, but it's a question whether or not that's what they grabbed him...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"I dunno!" Minako answers Suzume. "But, it'd be fun to find out, right?"

She glances at Yukari -- and a smile breaks across her face all over. "That sounds tasty," she says. "I never really had any--well, not any that's super authentic. Some stuff here and there when I lived in Osaka, but it was chain places."

Then, she looks at Hitomi -- and she considers her question with gravity for a moment. Then, she nods. "I have," she says. She leans in close -- and gets a smile on her face, before she says conspiratorially: "It isn't for the faint of heart."

There's a look at Koh -- but no, he apologizes, and she lets out a sigh of relief. And then, she looks at Mitsuru.

She blinks -- then she hurriedly takes the plate. "Of course, Kirijo-senpai," she says. "Birthdays are important, you know?"

She takes a seat, then, and starts to dig in. She takes a drink Fuuka offered -- a soft drink -- and cracks it open. "Thanks, Yamagishi!"

She brightens up at the reception of the Shiisa. Even Koh seems impressed!

"There's a little store in town," Minako says to Yukari and Fuuka. "They had a lot of this sort of stuff. I hopped by earlier today, and saw it and thought it was good." She beams at Yukari. "Even if I wasn't quite sure about a plushie for Aragaki, I admit..."

And she is waiting to see what he thinks of it -- and the smile, then the more thoughtful thanks... she thinks he liked it. That makes Minako smile, too, and she rocks back in her chair. "I'm glad you like it, Aragaki-senpai. It ''is'' pretty cute, I think. The expression, too~"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.
<poem>
Koh is tempted to ask Yukari about her cooking when she explains the purpose of her gift. But he merely nods in understanding at her explanation, having already taken his big swings.

"Thanks for grilling for us, senpai." He replies to Shinjiro, dipping his head with unfeigned sincerity. "You too, Kumamoto-san." She helped, after all.

He does offer Suzume a kind-of apologetic smile. But that'll teach her to say his desire for a personal maid dumb.

His eyes slant over toward Mitsuru when she expounds on the killing power of the spork."Ah." Does she think a lot about this?

"Thanks, Yamagishi-san." Orange juice acquired, he settles again. "You'll have to give me directions, Aristao-san." Does he want a plushie too? "Food smells great!" Soon it will be eaten.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
"Oho... that's good to know," Hitomi answers regarding the grease fires, still half-hiding her eyes with her hat brim. "I guess the water doesn't actually put it out, like a chemical fire or something?" A supposition, but perhaps she's been paying attention in science class.

Minako confides something in her. Hitomi raises a hand up, a finger on her upper lip. She smiles at her. It's cryptic. Perhaps she knows of what Minako speaks...

Oh yeah, drinks. "If you're getting some, can you get an oolong tea?" Hitomi tells Fuuka, reaching up to adjust her hat again. Maybe it doesn't quite fit, maybe there's a breeze she's detecting. Maybe it's just something to do with her hands to displace tension.

Her eyes turn towards Mitsuru as she speaks more about the terror of the spork. Her lips purse for a moment. "Ahh... oh! Thank you," Hitomi says, as she's abruptly handled a plate from the self same sempai she had been looking at. She leans forwards a little and smiles wordlessly to Mitsuru.

"It's no trouble at all," she says, almost confidentally, before turning away to walk towards the seating. She takes one without particular care, settling down to pick up one of the neatly arranged forks and slide it into a sliver of meat, along with some vegetable.

Raising it up, she casually pops it in her mouth -- pausing just beforehand to say, "Thanks for the meal~!" -- and from the little 'mmmhn' of appreciation that comes afterwards, it *has* hit her approval. Moriko's skewers may be slightly behind, but it's a summer barbecue: seconds are completely legitimate.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.
<poem>
Alas, Suzume has not actually learned a damn thing and will continue to put her foot in her mouth at the most inconvenient times for herself.

"I think the grease floats," Suzume says. "Like oil on water. So it doesn't actually put it out and then you have a floating fire that keeps drifting around."

A beat.

"Which would be pretty cool if it didn't happen in the kitchen by mistake," Suzume has to admit. "Like, you could do some special effects with that..."

Having sorted plates and such, Suzume comes around herself to pick up Actual Meat. She's one of those teenagers that is always hungry. Blame all the exercise she gets running around and swimming and whatever else she's been doing on the island (lots). She will definitely appreciate this.

"Thanks for the meal," she echoes Hitomi. "And the drink! Thanks, Yamagishi-san." Aw yeah. This is turning (back) into at least an okay day. Even if she did embarrass herself a little - but, well. That's positively normal around here.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
''Eh heh. Kirijo-senpai...? Why do you...''

Mitsuru seems not to notice the distraught response to her little bit of spork-based trivia.

Does Mitsuru think a lot about the killing power of the spork?

Is that a terrifying thought? Or is the true terrifying thought that the answer came to her so naturally and off-handedly it's almost like she just instantly clocked its fatal potential on reflex?

...

maybe it's best not to think about it too much.

As it is, Mitsuru is now a disarmingly gracious server as she hands out the last of her remaining plates to Minako and Hitomi. As they, and Fuuka, offer their gratitude, Mitsuru just dips her head and says, "Please, think nothing of it," with a genuine modesty and more than a little proper decorum. Hitomi offers a smile; Mitsuru's own lingers a little longer than she notices before she checks herself and withdraws.

"Yes, well. I'm just pleased you all convinced Aragaki to actually celebrate his birthday."

Her arms fold over her chest. And she eyes surreptitiously right about--

"Even if he's spent most of it treating us all."

here.

Don't think she's going to abide this much longer, Shinjiro...!

Which might be precisely why, at ''some'' point, she ends up beside him, arms still folded over her chest, brow arched.

"Things seem to be going rather well," she notes idly. "But they'd go even better if you joined in and enjoyed your own hard work, I think."

Does she note the fact that ''she's'' been so busy trying to help make the others feel comfortable that she didn't actually get a plate for herself? Of course not. This, however, is not a matter of being right.

It, like the little slip of paper she discreetly hands Shinjiro, containing a hand-written and painstakingly detailed list of the various fauna and flora of Yakushima and the best places and times and methods to spot them in their element for anyone who might, say, be interested in some tranquil alone time on the island, is because of one thing and one thing only:

"Happy birthday, Aragaki."

It's not her day, it's his. And she wants him to remember that.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
Fuuka is surprised to see that Shinjiro - actually seems to really like Minako's gift! It's nice to know he has that side to him, too.

...And she will, quietly, note his advice on how to deal with grease figres. Metal lid or cookie sheet. Never use water. The way he says it, water probably just makes it worse... What kind of reaction causes that? Now she's curious. She'll have to look it up later...

"You're welcome." Fuuka replies, as thanks is offered. She did, in fact, remember a canned coffee for Shinjiro - and Hitomi's oolong tea, as well.

Minako explains where she got the plushie for Shinjiro. A store in town...

"I'll have to take a look myself... I wonder if they have any sika." Fuuka considers thoughtfully. She's ''still'' thinking about the deer they saw... Maybe she should think about a souvenir for Ken, too, while she's at it.

She settles in with her own food, offering a nod.

"Yes, thank you, Kumamoto-san and Aragaki-senpai..." She offers gratefully. "...And, happy birthday, once more."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Welcome!" Ririka says to Shinjiro. Ririka can snag any drink orders Fuuka didn't pick up, so Hitomi will get her tea, too.

As she sits down, she looks to Minato. "Can you tell me where that store is later, Arisato-san? I'd like to take a look."

Ririka will... try very hard not to think about Mitsuru's spork prowess.

But she sits down with her own food and drink eventually. "Thank you Arigaki-senpai and Kumamoto-san for the food, and thank you Kirijo-senpai for setting out the plates!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Minako mentions the expression on the Shisa, and Shinjiro's smile returns a bit. "Yeah, I see it. It's nice."

Koh thanks Shinjiro sincerely. "You're welcome," he says, another rub on the back of his head, clearly a nervous tic.

Hitomi, Ririka and Suzume thank for the meal. It SHOULD be delicious, because Shinjiro can cook. "I'm glad you like it, he says simply."

Mitsuru helps out well, and Shinjiro appreciates it. But as she cruelly tries to get him to enjoy his own handiwork, discreetly handing him something, he's smiling once more as he skims the note she slips him, before repocketing it.

Fuuka wishes him happy birthday again, thanking him. "Of course... thank you."

But he'll stop, turning to Mitsuru as he finally moves to eat.

"I'd like you to enjoy it, too, Kirijo." His look is firm, if positive.

It might be his day, but if he has to share it with *anyone*, he's glad it's them.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-11-13: Summer Bar Fun

2025-11-15T22:25:14Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Summer Bar Fun''' *'''Cast:''' Eveline Deschamps, Ruzica Crvena, Yua Ooshiro, Vivienne Sournois, Rain Summers, Alain Wakamatsu, Yanagi Nagisa, Remi Ryuuja, Miho Ijuuin, So-young Park, Pernelle, Umie Akabane, Tamaki Uchida *'''Where:''' Kagurazaka - Fleur de Lis *'''OOC Date:''' November 13, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 10, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Fleur de Lis, a French bar and bistro in Kagurazaka, hosts a trivi..."

*'''Log: Summer Bar Fun'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Eveline Deschamps]], [[Ruzica Crvena]], [[Yua Ooshiro]], [[Vivienne Sournois]], [[Rain Summers]], [[Alain Wakamatsu]], [[Yanagi Nagisa]], [[Remi Ryuuja]], [[Miho Ijuuin]], [[So-young Park]], [[Pernelle]], [[Umie Akabane]], [[Tamaki Uchida]]
*'''Where:''' Kagurazaka - Fleur de Lis
*'''OOC Date:''' November 13, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 10, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Fleur de Lis, a French bar and bistro in Kagurazaka, hosts a trivia contest. Multiple Persona Users (and an Awakened peacock, and an American) show up for drinks, as Resonance flares and surprise trivia upsets create a fun night for all.''

----

(|======================== Kagurazaka - Fleur de Lis =========================|)

-===================================================== Tokyo/Shinjuku Ward ====-

Fleur de Lis is a French-style bar and bistro in Kagurazaka, Tokyo owned by

Eveline Deschamps. It was designed to be reminiscent of classical-style bars in

Paris that had been around for generations. Although it is a relatively recent

bar, the rich history it conveys gives one the vibe that many intimate meetings

and conversations have taken place here.

When one walks in, soft piano music is the first thing they'll hear, courtesy

the piano player at the rear of the building. Gentle clinking of glasses being

washed and plates being served can often be heard, while a bartender is always

ready to serve drinks.

The atmosphere is bright, classical lighting, with woody reds and browns, the

dining area on one side and the bar on the other. It's a lively enough place,

with regulars nursing drinks and servers dishing out hot sandwiches and pommes

frites. It's a fairly casual bar at night, with trivia events and other

gatherings. During the Dark Hour, however, the bar stays open, catering to the

Awakened and providing a neutral meeting ground where fighting is strictly

forbidden.

Teenagers are allowed during the day to eat, though are often turned away at

night... unless the proprietor knows one to be Awakened or they are with one who

is Awakened, in which case, they look the other way. This is in part to learn

more about other members of the Awakened community, and in part because it

allows a sense of camaraderie between the unique. Even so, teenagers are never

given alcohol under any circumstances, though non-alcoholic cocktails are on the

menu.

<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
<poem>
Fleur de Lis is a French bar and bistro in Kagurazaka, Tokyo, reminiscent of the kind of old style bars that secrets were shared in, a distinctly European vibe to it.

Fleur de Lis is not well-known... yet. Some may have heard rumors of it being open certain days during the Dark Hour, but unless they've been there themselves, they cannot prove that.

Eveline Deschamps, owner and bartender, has set up an event to make them more popular, using the height of summer. Using ads created by her daughter, Yuri, and her ward, Ruzica, with mouth-watering photos taken by the latter, Eve has set up the bar side of the establishment this early evening for fun and games. A dart board has been set up, tables have been arranged for cards and dice (strictly no gambling), and a trivia contest is promised to occur.

Drinks and certain food items like hors d'oeuvres and sandwiches are half-off for the duration of the event, so it's sure to be a good time.

Eve herself is a short woman with short-ish blonde hair, a white dress shirt with a dark vest, and a pair of square-frame glasses covering green eyes. She's lithe and athletic, a gymnast's frame. She's been migrating from behind the bar to the front of house at different times, making sure everyone here for the event is decently cared for.

People have been coming in and out all night, and the activity is pretty good. But trivia's starting soon... who will show up?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
<poem>
One of the serving staff today at the Fleur de Lis is... Ruzica Crvena!!

Ruzica's a young woman with long black hair, tied up in a high ponytail, from which large, cold golden eyes peek from beneath her long jet-black fringes. She's dressed in a red dress shirt with suspenders, and black pinstripe dress pants, worn pressed and fastidious as to capture the look of a high-class front of house member at a classy restaurant.

She's pretty average for a Japanese teen, at 156cm, with a slight build.

> You spent the evening working at the Fleur de Lis serving the mythical creatures known as the GROWN-UP...

> Your Guts slightly increased. But your guts are still hungry...

"`Welcome to the Fleur de Lis`," she crisply greets people in French at their tables. "May I take your order?" she speaks fluent Japanese and French, able to Toby Fox her way through sets of entirely different phonemes without breaking a sweat as she pours water and gets tables started, delivering menus and listening to concerns and special requirements attentively.

"We have an excellent croissant sandwich served with genuine `jambon de bayonne` and a quartet of French cheeses... the burger is also done to medium-rare perfection, on a brioche bun made daily by Patisserie Kurayama down the street. And the house cocktail, made by our own Eveline Deschamps, comes highly recommended..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
Yua is a fan of Kagurazaka, though it was likely Remi who told her about the ''Fleur de Lis.'' Now that Miho and Yua are back from London, though -- it's certainly time to celebrate, so they've all come out here!

Well... it was ''going'' to be all of them, but... Myunghon never managed to make it.

... Yua assured her best friend and her partner that it was fine, and they didn't need to know what was keeping them.

She steps into the bar dressed in her usual black leotard, skirt fluttering down to her knees -- though she's wearing flat shoes with good ankle support, rather than pointe shoes, and they're coupled with ''compression socks.'' Her dark teal hair is pinned up in a neat bun, exposing the eyepatch which covers her left eye and her darker, tawny skin. Her right hand sports a black fabric decoration stretched from a ring around her middle finger to a bracelet around her wrist; her left hand sports a few fine bangles of their own, gold and studded with garnets, matching her choker and her earrings and her one crimson eye.

... and on her left ring finger -- a mokone gane engagement ring.

She is, of course, the part-time dance instructor who appears once a week at Shujin to engage school refusers in a special program to help them attend class more often. She ''appears'' to be a totally normal woman with no Resonance to speak of... because, of course, she is expert at hiding it.

"Oh, this atmosphere is lovely!" Yua exclaims, walking in beside Miho -- though not grasping her, of course, they are in ''public.'' "`A croissant sounds fabulous... but nothing alcoholic for me, please,`" she asks of Ruzica, in really rather good French, when she floats over to them. "`Perhaps some juice...?`"

She smiles, looking over to Remi. "Ah, you see... surprise!" She throws up her hands, fingers curled. "I'm a few weeks along now... fingers crossed!!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
<poem>
The Fleur de Lis is a frequent haunt of Vivienne's. It's in the area... and it happens to be run by a long-time friend. That there's a Big Event occurring tonight is all the more reason for her to drop by - she's always been a social butterfly, worming her way into social situations. There's bound to be lots of people there, and with the promise of fun and games, it should make for a delightful time.

She even agreed not to cheat this time!

"You've certainly gone all out tonight, haven't you?" Vivienne says brightly, waltzing onto the scene. Her black and white dress evokes the colors of a film reel, a pair of large, round glasses resting on her face and a beret perched atop her head. "Wonderful to see you again, Eveline, darling - and you too, of course, Ruzica!"

She moves to talk a seat at one of the tables and is immediately interested when food and drink is asked.

"My, I think my heart is singing for that croissant sandwich... I think I must, yes, if you would!" Vivienne decides, when her order is asked for. "And the house cocktail, of course."

And with that, she settles in to see who else arrives, curious to observe the turn-out.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.
<poem>
Rain, had, of course, passed by the Fleur de Lis every so often when conducting business in Kagurazaka, but had never had time to step in. But, the place was doing an event on her night off, and she figured to herself, hey, what the hell? Get away from the stress of the company books for a bit and unwind.

~~If only there was a way to get away from it forever~~

She shakes her head as she stands at the entrance, attempting to get the intrusive thought out of her mind. This was exactly why she needed to relax. Things were getting to her... She centers herself and enters.

Rain was used to sticking out like a sore thumb in Japan, usually the tallest in the room, and the purple/green dyejob and flowery aloha shirt didn't help either. She looks around the bistro, taking in the atmosphere. A little high class for her taste, but not bad. Finding a table, she squeezes into a chair, raising a hand to the serving girl. "Burger and a cocktail sounds good!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
<poem>
Scrub, scrub, scrub.

It's part of the closing checklist. Not that he needs to look at it. Today, he was making certain all the equipment was spotless.

Really, it's because he was avoiding what comes next, after closing. But there was really no avoiding it, was there? He would not disappoint her...

He hangs up his apron, and takes off his coat. Then buttoning up a shirt over his tank top beneath, he makes himself... well, presentable.

There's still a dusting of flour on his pants, as he leaves for the night.

It's for that reason that he arrives late, tonight, hands in his pockets as he comes through the front door, and stares at Ruzica resentfully for half a heartbeat while she describes the 'special offerings' - and the ingredients, before he looks away; instead stepping past the party arrangement towards the founder of the feast tonight.

"Bonsoir... Eve." In comparison to her, he towers over her - physically at least, though, he's never felt that was the case otherwise.

Then, without missing a beat, he hands her a rather thick envelope, discreetly... as if he were some henchman performing a 'clandestine' exchange with their boss.

"You're looking well." He says, as if somewhat abstracted, in the act before he says sideways, "And you as well, Vivienne. You'll have to tell me what's featured this week at your cinema."

He has a seat, not long after, as he's trying not to make it more awkward than any visit here naturally is for him, though he doesn't bother to pick up a menu.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Yanagi has caught sight of this ad campaign, and that food ''does'' look good. She's never had French cuisine before, and being all about new experiences, she decided to come by for this event. She'd rather not go alone, though, and who better to join her for a fresh new dining experience than her peacock pal, Pernelle?

(Saika is in the corner, weeping, probably. It's just as well; she's vegan.)

So on this August night, Yanagi drops by Fleur de Lis with Pernelle. Her long, wavy hair is parted in two long pigtails today, held in place by pearl hair clips that double as ties. Her eyes are a dark grey, her skin is pale, and she is alarmingly thin--but she still smiles brightly. She's dressed in a seafoam green dress with a flowing, ruffled, knee-length skirt and a stylish hooded white cloak, embroidered in silver, that clasps around her bodice. Pernelle may or may not be riding in the hood.

She walks in with the help of a polished walking stick, her free hand pushing the door of Fleur de Lis open. Regardless of how Pernelle is entering, she holds it for him, like a gentlewoman.

"Oooh, it looks lovely in here!" she breathes. "I can't wait for the trivia contest!" She beams at her companion, heading for a table with him once they're both inside. "Do you think we'll win, Pernelle?"

As a note: Nagisa is a high school drop-out, and Pernelle is a peacock.

OBVIOUSLY they'll win.

And, when it comes to order: "I don't know what that is!" she tells Ruzica brightly. "We'll have one of each, please and thank you!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi has mixed feelings about entering a French-themed establishment. It can't ''possibly'' compare to her second homeland of France, not really, and yet... the wanting for something a little familiar she isnt sure she'll see again is undeniably real.

But she is pleasantly surprised as she steps in. The decor seems impeccable, and to be greeted by someone speaking fluent French is très excellent.

And she, herself, looks like she should fit right in here. She's about 5'6" tall, with long, wavy honey-blonde hair and matching complexion... and she is dressed in a black beret, turtleneck and skirt, gray tights, and a long flowing sea green cardigan and ankle boots.

Gosh, all that, in summer? Isn't she warm?

Remi adores Yua's French, of course, but her own she's cultivated over a lifetime. "`Thank you, dear, I think that I shall try the coq au vin, if you please. And... I shall try a cocktail. What do you recommend?`"

She turns to Yua and smiles. "''Congratulations'', darling, you must be ''very'' excited, non?"

She can't hide her own Resonance, of course, but she's not going out of her way to broadcast it, either. For Eve, it smells like steel, paper, and ink.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Miho enjoys French food and French drink. It's an old style bar, and Miho appreciates that about it. Miho is here, with Yua, walking beside her partner. Her partner, engaged to someone else. ...It's fine. "It is," Miho agrees. and the matter of the order... She sticks to Japanese, though she clearly ''understands'' French. "The croissant sandwich with cheeses will be lovely. I will also try the house cocktail, since it comes so recommended."

She smiles at Remi.

She is in a dressy shirt, buttoned up, and slacks, with a belt. It's a masc presentation, but not quite 'mens' clothes'.

"Fingers crossed," Miho agrees, and this smile is less restrained.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem>
So-young is quite fond of Kagurazaka on the whole. As a Korean person who is still kind of thinking of herself as a long-stay tourist, she's always been a little confused as to why Japan has such a love affair with a country on the other side of the world - but so long as it produces excellent food and leafy streets and lots of smaller laid-back shops for her to nose around she's certainly not going to complain.

She's also familiar with the area for business reasons - she has contacts within a nearby publishing house who work with the Bunkamura to produce manuscripts for the orchestral shows, and it's also where she gets her staff paper in bulk, and it's through them that she picks up the buzz about a new bistro's opening day. Far be it from her to miss something like this, especially since she's not-- --alright, she's not _avoiding_ Sumaru after sticking her foot down her throat yet again, but she is just kind of. Giving them a break from her for a day or two. Yeah.

The conductor looks well-suited for the place, because for once her habit of wearing evening dresses just looks absolutely perfect and suited for her locale, and her hime cut with its white-and-black piano hair is pretty damn Bohemian. So-young Park has also put quite a few points into schmoozing, and is quite aware how natural she can look with a wine glass in one hand and a complimentary canape in the other. Surely nothing will go wrong.

"A glass of the house red would be delightful, thank you, and if those are your recommendations, then--" So-young hesitates, because even she knows enough to be a little confused about the idea of a burger being one of the top-billing items at a French bistro. Drawn to that gap like a moth to a flame, she nods. "The burger as well, thank you." That said, she gravitates towards Rain as one of the other loud people here, delivering a warm smile. "Hello! What a small world. It was only yesterday we were escaping the Great Shibuya Flood with your help."

Along the way she spots a few people she knows, one of whom she thinks she knows fairly well - she nods with a bright smile towards Remi as she passes, but the other woman is clearly engaged in what is clearly some pretty important conversation as Yua holds up her hands - so astonishingly So-young manages to leave it at that for now. Give her a while and she'll probably say something awkward.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
"What a delightful establishment!" Pernelle chirps in agreement from Yanagi's hood, for how could he ever pass up the opportunity to be so adorably placed in a container of any sort?

Little description is needed for Pernelle. He is an Indian Peacock. Just a full on exotic pheasant who happens to speak -- so long as you're Awakened.

"The delineations of its cuisine was already heavenishly hypnotizing! But look at this, look at ''this''..." He lowers his long, elegant neck and rises it back up in rapid, but fluid motions to look up and down. This means he is able to scrutinize everything impeccably, so long as it's at or above Yanagi height.

Trivia will be soon.

"Think? Oh, no no no, between the two of us? Our victory in this battle of wits is all but assured! We shall bathe in the lamentation of the fallen!"

As Ruzica speaks French, Pernelle brightens up with a ruffle of his neck feathers before they smooth again.

"My, my! Enchante, madam!" He does not actually expect her to hear him. "Yes, yes, what she says! Please and thank you!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
>>omg umichan the food is ssssssoo good you have to go!!!!

>>how expensive??

>>not bad

Umie scrolls through the restaurant's social media page on her laptop, the floor fan whirring in the background in her hot as hell apartment this warm August night. Red brown eyes spot the words 'half off'.

_The die is cast_.

Then it's uncast, as Umie gets a message back that no, her dearly exciteable friend Toki will be busy that night.

Then the die gets *cast* again because, screw it. _She'll go by herself_.

.....

There's... a lot of Persona Users here, including people she does and doesn't know, two of which are... Miho and Yua, who are... completely ordinary people, in a resturant. So why does Yua, in particularly, look familiar? Oh, right, the Old Maid attack. Awkward.

But, the area where Umie's attention is most drawn to is, of course: "Pernelle!" Which is how, unfortunately, Umie's own status as a Normal, Boring Person is blown. "... I didn't know you liked French cuisine t--"

Sorry, Yanagi, but Umie is now turning to you, and acting like you were the one she was talking to. Can you see the pleading look in her eyes, this person you have barely met, if at all?

"Peacock Silk, right?" Umie tries to smooth it over, with a casual, polite smile, drawing a blonde bang back.

(Meanwhile, Umie tries to remember Yanagi's name. It is definitely not Pernelle, who she has only met... once.)

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Earlier in the morning, Tamaki had business to attend to elsewhere in Shinjuku Ward: Background research for a mundane case at one of the local public libraries. As her day wound down, she had decided to take a stroll down Kagurazaka to see how the neighborhood's changed since her 1st-year high school days ... and also now that the street isn't in parade preparation mode like it was when she had visited a couple of weeks ago. Sifting through old documents may be more mentally taxing than it is physically, but it does put her in the mood to get a pick-me-up before taking the train back home.

She is very pointedly avoiding the street directly adjacent to this one. No, no no no, she's got fonder memories of its neighbor, Kagurazaka. Maybe someday, but not today.

This Fleur de Lis place she comes across the entrance of isn't one which she remembers -- she thinks it's either new, or it had escaped her notice as one of those places she was too young to enter at the time. May as well take a chance on tasting the food here, sight unseen -- she's definitely more receptive to something novel rather than something familiar.

Tamaki steps through the doors, wearing her typical brown-and-beige-striped business attire with her necklace of mon coins prominently displayed front-and-center. She takes a table alone and after deepy consideration, she orders ... "May I have the croissant sandwich and cheeses with a glass of -- " She pauses partway through her order, snaps her fingers, and points at her server (presumably Ruzica!) with a grin. " -- I was about to say moscato, but do you have a particular cocktail that you'd recommend to pair with this? Thanks!"

Coming in late, she looks around and notices a few familiar faces among the crowd. Remi, she saw at the gym's fencing club, and she saw Miho from watching the Olympics on television. So-young is someone she's seen in a few contexts, but usually in a more chaotic setting. The Peacock Silk crew, she knows from their time in the Atelier. Umie --

She hears Umie blurt out Pernelle's name and turns to watch and listen to the proceedings with curiosity and amusement.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
<poem>
Ruzica is handling tables excellently as usual. Eve gives her an affirming nod if she looks her way, appreciating her work ethic.

"Ah, Vivienne. A pleasure to see you again," Eve greets her old friend as she steps inside. She'll trusts her not to cheat, but. She doesn't trust her not to be smug about winning, should she. Who knows!

Maybe someone else will cinch trivia tonight.

Yua, Remi, and Miho are noticed, mostly because Eve tracks a scent from Remi. Ink, steel, and paper... reminds her of books, in an odd way. She doesn't infer anything from it - a risky business - but she does infer one thing. Persona Users have arrived.

Eve reminds herself to take a deep breath, honing in on the people here to see if anyone has obvious, noticeable Resonance. She won't pry *too* deeply, and obviously she can't pierce another's shield, but she's curious how many people are to be worth keeping track on.

If one's Resonance is detectable, she'll track it by scent. That has always been her method, as a Navigator.

She also notices one of them an Olympian. She keeps up on that - she was mostly watching gymnastics, but she has a keen eye and a good memory. Interesting. Celebrating the victory with friends, perhaps?

Rain gets a glance, another foreigner, as Eve starts making the cocktails others are ordering with the help of some generic other bartender.

Alain approaches at this time with an envelope. Eve's reaction isn't quite clipped, but it's well-trained, well-formal, even at the impeccable timing. She knows better than to reveal emotions in public. "Hello, Alain."

She takes and stows away the envelope in her vest.

"Please, enjoy yourself tonight," she tells him with an even tone. Yuri isn't here... but she was very much looking forward to this being a success for her mother.

And then, Yanagi walks in with a PEACOCK. Pernelle immediately catches Eve's eye, but before she can react in a negative way, she hears his voice.

Well, fuck.

Eve asides to her other bartender that she's going to step out to the floor, who nods. Eve then proceeds to leave the bar, approaching Yanagi and Pernelle's table around the same time as Ruzica.

She's heard the rumors of a place called Peacock Silk. She's *very* well informed. But to imagine some of their own coming to her venue... is quite intriguing to her.

"Why, hello. Welcome to Fleur de Lis. I'm Eveline Deschamps, owner of this venue."

She glances to Pernelle. If he speaks, she is potentially cognizant that he's doing so. She turns back to appraise them as a group, not singling on Yanagi at any point.

"You work at Peacock Silk, non? I recognized your lovely bird friend here."

It doesn't seem like she's going to throw them out!

"Please, enjoy your time here, and good luck on the trivia."

At this time, Umie comes in and immediately greets Pernelle as well. Interesting. She can't sense her Resonance at all if she's indeed Awakened... that's quite a few Persona Users.

So-young and Tamaki are also noticed as they arrive. Tamaki's interest in Umie catches her eye briefly, before she turns to So-young and her exuberance. Another foreigner... interesting.

That's all well and good. Foreigners are definitely welcome at Fleur de Lis. But it wouldn't do not to appraise every single person who ever steps foot inside.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
<poem>
Fortunately, Ryuzaki Kurama, habital chameleon, has largely not had a reason to have to meet Yua Ooshiro because he's neglecting classes. In the future, perhaps, for one reason or another, but... not now. Ruzica does take Yua's wonderful French with grace, nodding. "`Croissant and an apple juice, perhaps, ma'am?`"

Remi orders the coq au vin, and a cocktail. "`Our recommendation is Madame Deschamps' very own take on the French 75, the 'Rooster's Call' -- a blend of cognac and champagne, with a symple syrup and fresh lemon juice,`" she advises Remi and Miho both, who switches to Japanese.

"Croissant sandwich with cheeses," Ruzica nods, clearly understanding that if a customer is switching to another language, they have a preference, and she'll suit to match.

The key to being a polite server is to know when to get out of the way when your guest's topics are taking their attention, and thus, when Yua speaks of being 'weeks along', Remi congratulating her, Ruzica bows her head away from Team Dark (what is an adult several weeks along that they get congratulated on?? It is a mystery to Ruzica) and takes the time to stop at Vivienne's table.

"You look wonderful too, auntie," Ruzica answers Vivienne with a slight softness that's a little blink-and-you-miss-it, but that's the life of a deadpan person for you. "The premiere for that movie was bigger than I thought... I was glad to have been on hand for it." She does dutifully jot down the orders. The croissant is speaking to a lot of people tonight...

Ruzica does bow to Rain as she leads her towards a table, and pours her water and a menu. "The burger -- medium-rare? And the cocktail, certainly." She doesn't betray her expressionless face, but she is particularly intrigued at Rain's dress, which is just as unique with the French community in Kagurazaka as others. It's very striking, in a good way.

Ruzica pauses, though, because she can sense Alain's stare from across the bar when he enters through the front door -- and then quietly turns towards... towards... Yanagi and Pernelle.

About three seconds pass without her expression changing one bit at the presence of a wonderfully dressed woman in twintails and her... pet peacock?

This, too, is part of the mission. Approach the target peacock inconspicuously...

"One each of the burger and croissant sandwich? `Very good.` We have high seating for your peacock as well, mademoiselle, and please let us know if any other special arrangements are required," Ruzica answers, not missing a further beat as her gaze rests on Pernelle for a little bit long when he addresses her in specific, as if appraising her options.

Level 1 tactical assessment: To respond to a peacock would be the height of politeness to a guest.

Level 2 strategic counterplay: That may expose your status as a Hunter. You have the advantage at present.

Level 3 tactical consideration: Assume the part of the unawakened so as to not rouse suspicion.

"Your peacock is very beautiful," Ruzica answers Yanagi instead, feigning being a normie who can't hear anything but squawks, pouring Umie a glass of water when she arrives and letting her take her order on her own time, not being particularly pushy.

Peacock Silk. That was one of the targets mentioned. The mission continues. Eve is here to continue to socialise, and she's not going to get in her way.

Ruzica's distracted by So-young coming in, and she does stop to bow and guide her towards a table in turn. The tables sure are filling up fast, and there's a wide variety of ecclectic adults in attendance tonight... they're all very vivacious people in their own way, with a wide variety of high-class elegance and eccentricism both.

"The house red tonight is the `Angelique Trois Pinot Noir`," Ruzica advises. "And the burger, excellent. The wine will be with you in a minute, madam." So-young got madamed by an adam...... but indeed, why is there a burger on the menu of a French bistro? Perhaps it's a way in which they can appeal to a wider audience. Or perhaps...

The Burger Fiend exists right here.

There's a polite bow as well to Tamaki, as she guides her to one of the few remaining tables, pouring her water and waiting quietly and unobtrusively as she considers. "The croissant, wonderful, and..." A pause, as they consider what particular cocktail to recommend. "Madame Deschamps' Rooster Call is a favourite, but with the flavours of the croissant sandwich, perhaps I would recommend a crisp white to start? We have the `Arcana Famigilia Sauvignon Blanc` tonight."

Ruzica's deposited all of the orders to the kitchen at this point, but her task isn't done yet, because she next has to hurry and set up the projector and props for trivia night in a way that isn't too terribly conspicuous or bothersome, and then she's next hurrying to deliver informational sheets to each table for trivia night:

Please assemble a team of up to four members for Trivia Night on this sheet of paper and also the Name of your Trivia Team.

There will be an extra prize for the most evocative Team Name tonight!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
Eve is correct: they ''are'' here to celebrate Miho's gold medals. It just so happens that Miho has two gold medals... ''and a future baby.''

Well. Not that anyone here would realise it's ''Miho's'' baby, given Yua's the one announcing it. "`Thank you, little miss!`" She chirps, brightly, to Ruzica.

Yua ''gasps'' in delight when she sees a ''talking peacock,'' only to look at who has brought the peacock and clap her hand over her mouth. (Her left hand; there's that engagement ring, again.) "A-hum..."

Their eyes are everywhere; maybe that man who just passed the proprietor a suspiciously thick envelope, Yua thinks. (Is she saying Alain looks like an NWO flunky...? ... well he sure is SUSPICIOUS.) She can't be out here ''calling attention to Yanagi'' when they might be ''watching her.'' And so she whispers, to Remi: "That is her... but she escaped, so let's be careful, okay? She--she doesn't want to get pulled back in."

Which might explain why Yua hasn't mentioned her. ... she can't help hearing the name 'Peacock Silk', though.

And then, at a more normal volume: "I'm so excited!!" The more normal volume for this statement is 'actually, quite loud', because Yua has only ever ''mostly'' figured out how to modulate her tone appropriately. "Even if, um..."

How should she say this...? "Father decided how to best handle it... and arranged my marriage to one of Mimi's cousins so I could enter the family. You know, someone who... approaches relationships like we do...? So it was a good match... the wedding's in September." Her smile is a little thinner, now. "His name's Kimitake Ijuuin! He's a kind man... he even visited today just to reassure me about everything. He's been very gentle with me, very understanding."

Luckily, at this point, Ruzica appears with a delivery of an ''informational sheet!'' "Oh!" Yua exclaims, holding it up. "We get to name our team! Mimi, what should we call ourselves...?" Of course she turns to Miho to answer that question; Miho is the most decisive of all of them. That's how she claims victory, right?!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Pernelle assures Yanagi that their victory is a foregone conclusion. She giggles in delight. Her complexion may be pale, but her cheeks are rosy... more or less. "It'll be like milk and honey! My skin and your feathers will glisten like never before!"

Someone addresses Pernelle! Yanagi turns to get a look at who it is; Umie cuts herself off and gives her a pleading look. "Oh, no, continue on with your conversation! We'll be getting a table in just a moment," Yanagi reassures her with a bright smile.

Your unspoken pleas have fallen on uncaring ears, Umie.

"Yes, we're from Peacock Silk," she does at least confirm. She walks to the table Ruzica brings her to--sits--turns around to let Pernelle let himself out of her hood--

And then Eveline walks up. Yanagi blinks up at her, then smiles. "Yes! That's correct. I'm Yanagi Nagisa." She lets Pernelle introduce himself. She tilts her head, looking her over thoughtfully... and smiles again. "We will! Thank you for your welcome." She turns that smile on Ruzica next. "Thank you very much! He's an ''exceptionally'' resplendent peacock, you know."

Then she accepts the informational paper and looks it over. "Hmmm... It looks like we can have four members, and there's a prize for the best team name..." She sighs, cupping her cheek in one hand. "If only Tsumugi and Saika were here!"

She looks around the room at that point... and it's not hard for her to recognize the dark-skinned woman clasping her mouth. Her smile fades in a perhaps unsettlingly unemotional look as her dark eyes travel slowly from Yua to Remi and Miho.

Then she smiles back at Pernelle as if nothing had happened. "Oh well. Pernelle, what do you think for a team name?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
<poem>
"A pleasure indeed. Tonight seems to have been quite successful so far!" Vivienne replies brightly. If she's promised not to cheat, she can be trusted to keep to her word. ...Being smug about winning is something she'll ''never'' promise not to do, though, so it's wise not to trust her ''there''. The only thing for it is to make sure she doesn't get her chance.

She looks toward Alain, then, at his greeting, offering him a smile.

"It's nice to see you, darling." She greets. And strange to see him ''here'' - but she doesn't point it out when it already must be awkward. It's a rare courtesy. A grin crosses her face. "Oh, it's a delightful line-up. Plenty of drama, plenty of romance... Action and thrills, and even a few animated pictures for the children. I still have some slots left, as well, if you have any specific requests."

Ruzica answers her with that softness, then, and Vivienne offers her a genuine smile.

"Thank you, dear. And, yes, that was quite the turnout, wasn't it? Thank you for your help - it certainly made everything go a lot smoother." She replies.

And then, a paper is distributed to the tables. Information sheets... for ''Trivia Night''.

Vivienne fills one out for herself - and then looks toward Alain.

"Do you intend to participate, or are you here for the atmosphere? You're welcome to join my team, of course." She offers.

She already has a team name filled in on the paper.

'Belle Génie Éblouissante' - roughly, Beautiful Dazzling Genius...

...It might be wise to suggest alternative team names.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi smiles to Ruzica as the recommendation is made, responding back in French. "`That sounds delightful. I shall give it a try, thank you.`"

Remi turns her smile to Miho, next. "And congraulations to you as well, darling." Both for Yua's pregnancy, though Remi won't acknowledge it since they're in public, but also... "Another gold medal! Your match was simply ''inspired''. All that hard work and training has paid off."

Something uncertain flickers in her expression for just a moment as she sees So-young, but the smile returns readily enough. Sociable, if not ''as'' effusive for Yua and Miho. "Good evening, Park-san."

Remi spent three and a half years fighting Shadows on a near-constant basis. She has a deeply ingrained habit of noticing the unusual, because doing so might mean the difference between life and death.

... A peacock in a restaurant certainly counts as unusual.

A ''talking'' peacock ''definitely'' counts as ''unusual'' and potentially dangerous.

"... my word," she murmurs to herself as Pernelle's voice draws her ear. But then she pauses and goes pale, like she's seen a ghost.

"Nine--" she almost utters, but catches herself. She's looking at Yanagi in shock, and it takes her just a moment too long to yank her attention back to Yua with a concerned look. "Y-yua-chan..." she murmurs. Questions are spiraling in her head now, as she tries to navigate all of the things her conditioning demands of her. As far as she knows... Yanagi is still an NWO asset, and needs to be protected.

Yua explains, and inadvertently ''complicates'' Remi's situation for her. "She ''what''?" Remi asks in a strained whisper. "I thought..." Bluntly, that she'd died. Or been assigned without being told about it. But ''escape''...

She closes her eyes and breathes slowly. If the NWO doesn't know, if they don't ''ask'' her... she doesn't need to do anything. She doesn't have to act.

It's fine.

She's too distracted to notice Tamaki at the moment, which might be a small blessing. The last time Remi saw her... was not the best of circumstances.

She forces a wane smile as she listens to Yua, though, as she explains... an engagement, to one of Miho's ''cousins''. "... ah, I see. Well, 'tis far better he be kind than not, I suppose." Belatedly she adds, "... congratulations."

She was a bit distracted, and when the informational sheet comes around, she looks at it. A team name... "Well, naturally, since there are ''three'' of us... how about Les Trois Mousquetaires?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.
<poem>
Rain perks up when So-Young approaches. "Ah, right! You were one of them! Good to see you didn't end up catching cold. Come back anytime, I do a lot more there than offer shelter from the elements." She takes a sip of her water as she hands her menu back to Ruzica after ordering.

She takes the opportunity to look around and people watch as she waits for her food. She catches Eveline's glance from behind the bar. Ah, she must be the owner. Explains the atmosphere. She gives her a knowing nod in a show of gaikokujin solidarity.

Scanning around a bit more... hey, that lady looks kinda familiar... ah! The Olympics! She must have just come back from London! A small world indeed, she thinks to herself.

And her gaze immediately stops at the sight of--

"<Is that a fuckin' bird?>" She's struck into her mother tongue by the shock of a live-ass animal in a dining establishment. Well, as long as it behaved itself, she saw no reason to call the health board. That reminds me, isn't there that fancy boutique? Peacock Milk? Something like that. Probably related to that. No reason for there to be a peacock in the streets of Tokyo otherwise.

And then the trivia sheet is placed on her table. "Hm! Bar trivia. Doesn't seem very French, but whatever gets people in. Offering my services as a movie expert!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
"It is I!" Pernelle replies to Umie cheerfully. "And it is you! The one with a fine touch to pet this fine crest of mine! And, goodness, whomst --" Pernelle you can't just say whomst -- "among us does not fancy a fine ''croissant?'' An invention of the French, to the best of my understanding. Ah, but terribly sorry, but I do not believe I caught your name, miss...?"

Once they come to the table, Pernelle wriggles his way -- as gently as a peacock can manage -- from Yanagi's hood by stepping onto the back of the seating, and then falling into his own seat beside her. It's like he thinks he's people!

Ruzica looks into the eyes of a peacock, and the peacock looks right back at her, tilting his head birdishly one direction to the next as he tries to determine her understanding. He puffs up his chest as she calls him beautiful, then looks under his seat. "I could do with some higher seating, I am afraid. I do appreciate the offer. And ah -- one other thing..." He glances to Yanagi pointedly before addressing Ruzica. "My burger... could I trouble you to set the toppings aside separately? I have a ''process''. Incredibly delicate. It must be done by beak alone. Much appreciation for your understanding."

He has no such process. He just wants to see if this request will be met or not.

As Eveline approaches and looks right at Pernelle, Pernelle looks brightly right on back. "You may call me Pernelle, and please accept my highest compliments! The ambiance here is sophisticated beyond measure. You must have quite the eye for environmental design and management."

Yanagi calls him exceptionally resplendent, and Pernelle straightens up his neck with a nod. "So true. So true." Ah, but there is no Saika, nor Tsumugi, as Yanagi notes. Pernelle sighs melodramatically. "Oh, how I miss them in moments like these, dearest Yanagi! I will do my utmost not to devour every scrap we are served. Perhaps we can lure them here next time with a taste of what this wonderful location provides."

But oh, Pernelle is noticing he is drawing attention. And he does so love drawing attention. He ruffles and smooths himself out, preening and puffing so that all can gaze upon his novel glory -- and so Yanagi can continue to receive her own attention by proxy, should she so choose to savor it!

He pauses to peet at the information sheets. This bird can talk AND read? Pernelle squints at it thoughtfully, then turns to Yanagi. "It is you and I tonight, so we are not all of Peacock Silk, are we? No... we are but flames and ice. We are the burst and we are the surge! For that we shall be... Frost Fire!"

Yanagi, thankfully, is the one who controls writing instruments.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
There is a Peacock there. He is talking. Miho notes this with some curiosity. Miho herself, when she speaks, may offer Eveline a faint scent of brimstone. Her Resonance is strong--subtle, but strong. Perhaps appropriate to an Olympian.

"Fascinating," Miho reflects. But Miho notes that Yua doesn't want to draw attention to her, and so she says no more than that, instead nodding at the matter of Yanagi to Remi. But Peacock Silk...

Hmmm.

She isn't surprised by Remi's overdressed state, of course. Instead, she smiles. But that smile fades shortly thereafter; the arranged marriage...

"It was very kind," she agrees, but there's a little less tone in her vocal tone than there usually is. The sheet though. The team name...

It takes a back seat for a moment, as she looks to Remi. "Whatever you need," she tells her, "We will make sure that you have."

A pause. "...I recommend 'The Golden Geese'," she says. "We are all quite taken with the Peacock... but we're a different sort of birds, don't you think?"

She hears Rain in English from across the room, and laughs softly.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
<poem>
He doesn't seem to take offense at Eveline's response, as if he were quite accustomed to it. "Of course." He says to the 'Please, enjoy yourself tonight,' as if to reply in a business like manner, a little clipped.

Yuri isn't here tonight, certainly, but she'd be upset if he skipped out on this big night for Eveline.

"Hmmm." Vivienne is her usual vivacious self, and Alain weighs the question. "May I avail myself of your expertise with the request to 'surprise me'?"

The truth is, he has no idea what kind of movie he would like to see right now. But he's become quite good at masking his indecisiveness as a symptom of his current state, behind politeness..

Alain looks sidelong at the Peacock as it talks and stares, like it's grown a second head. His eyebrows begin to raise... then looks back forward and rubs at his face like he's trying to remove that sight- or the exhaustion from his eyes.

"What bullshit anime are the kids watching that allowed this to happen?" He murmurs to himself grumpily, a bit of a contrast to the proprietor.

Still, he marks the name of 'Peacock Silk'. He'd heard the rumors, now... he wonders. Taking a sheet of paper, he glances towards Ruzica again... as Vivienne's question lingers.

"Why not? I believe I shall." Before he looks at Vivienne's paper, and makes a sour face... before looking back at her.

"You forgot to add 'Modeste', Vivienne." He deadpans, before considering names. Then sighing, "Perhaps 'Équipe: Mort de Rire'?"

Like most from his country, he perhaps has an ironic sense of humor. It has everything he isn't - laughing - and online - within the name.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem>
So-young Park is usually able to roll with any stupid idea that gets into her head, but even she is taken aback when she hears the first chirps of a familiar voice from within Yanagi's hood, and even she has to drop her jaw in astonishment when she realizes what that means. All the elegance in the world cannot help her steal the show here, because there is really no way to beat the raw power of bringing a talking peacock along to a French bistro.

The problem with this is that So-young is not the most familiar when it comes to matters of the Dark Hour and Resonance and the Metaverse and all that other stuff, and so perhaps she has not completely realized that only resonant people can talk to the talking peacock. (She will be _most_ upset when she realizes this, because that means the world at large is being denied of Pernelle's glorious presence! Gasp!)

Thankfully, Umie is also there to make that mistake. Now we can only hope that So-young works it out from that. This is extremely likely to happen, definitely. At least the conductor raises her eyebrows towards Umie, having apparently already social-butterflied her way towards one table with someone faintly familiar at it, and the key here is that for So-young 'faintly familiar' is still familiar enough to speak to someone as if they've been friends forever.

For a moment she watches as Ruzica interacts with Eveline, because it's this of all things that makes her smile in the moment - before raising her eyebrows as she's directed to a table. "Thank you! I must confess I haven't heard of that maker, but I will trust in the house," she chimes back to Ruzica, before her face almost comically falls. "Oh, dear. I must be getting older if I don't warrant a 'miss' anymore," she teases merrily. So-young is absolutely not good enough to even try to hide her resonance - it smells like aged wood and walnut, with a little side of wax.

When Ruzica delivers her wine, So-young has put her purse in her lap, carefully picking through it as she does her best to try to grab Eveline's gaze. But Ruzica can certainly be asked as well: "Oh, do you mind if I take some photographs? Not of any staff, of course, and certainly not the other clientele. Just the bar itself, if that would be alright," she requests with all the force of her charm. "It's truly a lovely looking place."

"Oh, I was quite alright. I am lucky to live right nearby, so I technically didn't even need to come down to street level to see the festivities - but it's so much better that way, and I got to meet a few new people out of it! So-young Park," she repeats. "I primarily work at the Bunkamaru, putting on performances."

"That _is_ a fuckin' bird," the conductor repeats back with amusement as she slides into the seat opposite Rain, the swearword somewhat at odds with-- the rest of her rather posh look. Leaning in Pernelle and Yanagi's direction, So-young is absolutely not afraid to conduct some ILLICIT DEALS FOR THE SAKE OF VICTORY, beckoning her hand a little to try to get their attention on the downlow before anyone else can poach - sorry, bad wording in Pernelle's case - the pair.

"Pernelle! Pernelle! My stalwart friend!" she hisses softly while also managing to inject maximum drama into her voice. It is a learned skill, and it helps to have such ironclad self-confidence that you are not afraid to look like a buffoon. "Together, surely our teams would be unstoppable!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
For Eveline, there is a smell of something like feathers. Not a peacock, but something that shouldn't be noticed, that is ordinary. Ignore it, it's likely nothing. A shroud that hangs itself on a cognitive, persistent lie can only do so much against those that detect via extraordinary supernatural means, but still, it is an attempt at holding itself.

Yanagi deals with Umie's quiet pleas with a quick, artful refusal to play along. No, Pernelle must be experienced like someone experiences an electric shock: with your full, utmost attention and appreciation for the surprises that life gives you. "Don't worry," she chuckles, "I never gave mine. It's Umie Akabane," she supplies to Pernelle, nodding to him and Yanagi in turn, "Kujaku-san was nice enough to tell me yours when I was in last. But, it's nice to meet--" let's not be rude, Umie "--the two of you again."

She turns to Ruzica in turn, nodding as the astute waitress pours her a glass of water. "Thank you." She glances down at the menu, her eyebrow twitching ever so slightly. ... Where does someone start, here...? "What do you recommend?" Umie asks, pleading with her eyes for the second time this night.

(She may have missed a few recommedations because there was a very pretty Pernelle in front of her.)

Oh, right, trivia. She was going to convene with So-young, but Tamaki is also there.

_Teams of four._

"Uchida-san." Umie lets out a sigh, and holds up her hands with a shrug. "You with anybody?" she says, in the next breath, already gripping her hand into a fist in front of her as she leads with her offer: "We should combine our powers of observation for personal gain."

(Forgive her, So-young. You already have an advantage of being So-young. But Umie will be there to snap you up if your proposal for funding falls through.)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Ruzica's suggestion sounds perfectly lovely to Tamaki, and she nods with a grin. "The Sauvignon Blanc to start, then, but I would like to follow it up with that Rooster Call sometime in the evening, please." She's absolutely beaming; this feels like just the thing to recharge her spirits ..!

... Maybe she'll ask for a burger when the time comes for that Rooster Call, too ...

To Eve's senses, Tamaki's Resonance consists of a curious medley of coffee, honey, freshly-cut pears, and faint traces of ... is that gasoline?

... RIGHT, she'd also seen Yua around Aoba Ward and had a chat with her over in Paulownia Mall. It's been a while, but given how Yua's in the same group with Miho and Remi, her absence makes sense. The Three Musketeers, indeed. Knowing two out of the three of them is enough for her to give them a distant friendly wave.

She stands from her seat to move next to Umie and the Peacock Silk pair. Her disposition couldn't be sunnier. "Hello again, Akabane-san, and ... you're with Peacock Silk, I assume? We had met the other night, albeit briefly. It's a pleasure to see you again. I'd been meaning to stop by your shop, just haven't quite had the time yet ..." She gives Yanagi a slight bow. "If I forgot to introduce myself then, allow me to do so now: Tamaki Uchida, of the Kuzunoha Detective Agency."

As for Umie's question about trivia teams, Tamaki nods fiercely and gives her a thumbs-up in response. "Both tonight and onwards. How does the 'Detection Division' sound as a team name to reflect our respective powers of observation?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
<poem>
As sheets are passed out, Eve finishes with Yanagi and Pernelle. She considers her approach. She can't... quite respond to Pernelle as proprietor of a mundane-friendly restaurant, even though it's clear she understands him, with the ways her eyes light up and her face shifts.

So, she doesn't. She leaves it at that, nodding, though her own Resonance flares subtly, as uncertain as it is whether that was accident or purposeful. (Everyone who knows her knows the answer.) To the standard Resonance senses of those right near here, it feels like flames, tempering steel and glass. Highly controlled. Highly honed.

For she who senses internally, possessed by the feeling, it's like having a sense of calm passion. A burning intensity that nonetheless is completely under your grasp... careful unless it slips, and threatens to burn you indiscriminately.

And for she who senses visually, it's a flicker of candle flame. Lit by the bearer and consistent in its burning, yet still painful if touched wrong.

She has no issues playing this card. It doesn't reveal the others, and it allows her to attract attention for her Dark Hour rendezvous in the future.

Miho's brimstone is noted. Interesting, but perhaps fitting, indeed. The other scents are all catalogued as data as well. Umie's is *particularly* fascinating.

That's a lot of Persona users, alright.

So-young gathers her eye, and she steps over. "I don't see why not," she asides about photographs. "Be my guest."

Then, she'll wait for Ruzica from there, angling over at the bar next to Alain and Vivienne.

"Vivienne, Alain, good luck to you as well." A squint at their team name. "...interesting."

That, in itself, is the most emotional reaction she'll give all night.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
<poem>
Food is definitely flying out in fairly rapid order, and Ruzica's very busy with a lot of carrying and lifting and ensuring that people are catered for. Burgers, croissant sandwiches, cocktails, the coq au vin... all kinds of appetising and beautiful-looking food is served.

Pernelle, however, is upping the ante. He has a particular desire for his burger for his toppings to be set aside, because of the particularly unique nature of being a bird... ... ...

This is a tremendous tactical risk. Optimum strategic outcomes require her to continue to play the part of the unawakened fool. But does he know? Perhaps he knows that she can't just easily ignore a request from a customer let it result in an unoptimal service outcome! He's pincered her between her desire to be an excellent server and her obligations to the Wild Hunt! MERDE!!!!

And thus, it is without flinching later that Ruzica shall serve Pernelle his beautiful burger... ... ... and then very surreptitiously stumbles on her step such that the burger smoothly slides across the plate -- and yet not outside!! -- such that the top bun, slice of tomato, lettuce, and patty are all separated. Nothing fell off, though.

"Ah... my most profound apologies for my incompetence," Ruzica quietly apologises to Yanagi. "We can re-assemble or provide you with a new burger for your peacock..."

That was a strategic error for the Hunter. But perhaps a point of pride for the Perfect Server.

At around the time Ruzica comes back with drinks and their food, she's definitely cottoned on a ''little'' that there's a little cross-pollination of recognition across the tables... but it isn't as if Ruzica is paying particularly keen attention. Besides, adults know each other, right?

Rain's expression of shock is given a quiet nod by the time Ruzica arrives with her burger. "<It is a bird,>" she answers Rain in English. "<Your burger, ma'am, please let me know if you require condiments or anything in addition.>" How many languages does this Japanese teen speak...?

Ruzica does stop and look back to Alain by the time she's handing out the information sheets, pouring him a glass of water as well. Chances are he's already taken an order through the bar or Eve, but... Mort de Rire? Perhaps they will all be, by the end of this.

"`Please let me know if you'd like refreshments, Monsieur Wakamatsu,`" she does advise Alain. So damn lifeless, unlike Ruza... there's something like a little bit of timidness, perhaps, though it's well-buried underneath that rigid porcelain mask of hers.

Vivienne's comment has her nodding as well, however. "I will be on hand to assist for tomorrow afternoon as well."

Ruzica does stand still against So-young's burst of energy, and without missing a beat or even changing faces: "My apologies, `mademoiselle.` Photographs are fine, but please do not take direct shots of the clientele or staff, and please do not disturb anyone with the act of photography. We appreciate your patronage."

Since So-young has burst onto Pernelle's side, it's there that Umie asks what she should have on the menu. "The croissant sandwich or burger are half-off during trivia night and do come recommended, and come with a side of steak-frites and a side salad. For vegan options, we have the classic French bistro salad, or our French Onion Soup..."

It seems that a number of these people are a lot more free in sharing that they can hear the peacock, like So-young and Umie. That means that she's awakened...? That's a worthy observational note for later. There's a polite nod for Tamaki's preference of the cocktail later, and as she declares what their team name is going to be. Tamaki Uchida, of the Kuzunoha Detective Agency....

... that's the place that she wanted to go to.

Ruzica keeps herself quiet and inconspicuous, unlike Eve -- she knows Eve's methods, and her own method is to try to be as unobtrusive and avoidant as possible. What will they gather tonight?

"Thank you for waiting. We shall begin Trivia Night in short order. But first, we shall introduce our intrepid teams," speaks Ruzica through a microphone, the lights on the bar dimming slightly as the projector comes on. Perhaps they should've gotten someone with a little more emotion in their voice, or someone whose face can... emote? Or is this in fact a form of French humour? Or free child labour.

"... First is Team `Équipe: Mort de Rire`," Ruzica reads out, gesturing towards Vivienne and Alain's corner of the bar. "Ha ha. Ha ha..." Ruzica monotonely intones laughter and attempting to have a heart attack on the spot with it.

"Next, we introduce Team Golden Goose," Ruzica monotonely points out, gesturing towards Yua, Miho and Remi. "With Grimm determination, let us hope they shall not be stuck like their namesake."

"Never to be outdone, we have the team with the resplendent peacock, Team Frost Fire, with several additional tildes and flowers and also the cool S," Ruzica observes, nodding to Yanagi, Pernelle and So-young. "Will we be graced with a song as well?"

"And last but not least, be aware, for we have sleuths amongst us, it's Team Detection Division," Ruzica introduces Umie, Tamaki and Rain. "There is only, after all, one truth." It's a catchphrase worthy of a barbarian, perhaps.

"Then, our first round of questions will be..."

BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7RDkJEKSaQ

1. Snails can feel through their shells. True or false?

2. Most snails have a ribbon-like tongue with thousands of microscopic teeth. What is it called?

3. The scaly-foot gastropod, or volcano snail, is a species of deep-sea hydrothermal-vent snail from which Ocean?

4. What is the biggest known species of snail?

... ...

Hey........

Why are all of the trivia questions about snails...? And it seems like, if you squint hard enough, Ruzica is a ''little'' more vigorous about reading out the questions, like she's so proud to share in their first and foremost interest and there's music notes coming out of her head...

> You shared snail facts with a room full of adults.

> Your Guts definitely increased again. Yet your guts still tells you you're hungry...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Had Yanagi not already had a conversation with Yua about this, she'd be much more concerned, of course. Remi sure doesn't look as though she'd already been informed about her, the way she's gone pale. However, Yua told her she would pretend not to see her, and Yanagi believes her--so she will pretend not to see her back.

For now, at least. No, for now, Yanagi shares that pointed look at Pernelle as he gives Ruzica ''specifics'' on his order for a made-up process. She most certainly does not weigh in on this. She does adjust his seat lovingly before she sits; she slips her left hand out of the cloth strip that keeps her polished walking cane at hand, then hangs it on the edge of the table.

When Ruzica returns later and stumbles into precisely the way Pernelle ordered his burger, she smiles. "No, that's quite all right," she reassures her. She looks at Pernelle. "Unless it isn't?"

She watches Eveline for a moment as Pernelle weighs in. As a Navigator with a visual aspect to her extrasensory perception, she takes in the sight of a candleflame, lit and controlled by its bearer. For her part, Eveline would scent her own Resonance like a winter forest--fragrant yet sharp at the same time. Pine needles among ice crystals.

Pernelle laments with Yanagi about the lack of Tsumugis and Saikas. "Oh, how magnanimous of you!" she gushes. "Yes, you're quite right. Besides, I already think I want to come back here. I understand French cuisine includes snails, and we absolutely ''must'' try that sometime!"

Maybe they're trying it tonight, even! She doesn't know the French word for snails or what the two of them just ordered! Why couldn't there be escargot on a burger?

Yanagi giggles again at all the stares and comments Pernelle is getting. "You're a star," she says affectionately, reaching out to pet him atop his glorious crest with a single long, dexterous finger. She looks up at Umie and Tamaki as they both introduce themselves properly; Yanagi has a smile for Tamaki in particular, recognizing her from Taro's Atelier.

"Oh, it's lovely to properly meet you both! I'm Yanagi Nagisa. Thank you again for your hard work the other day!" she adds to Tamaki in particular. "Please do feel free to come by anytime. We usually have ''someone'' there!"

...They might be the ''only'' person there, but there's usually ''someone''.

But she is indeed the one controlling the writing instrument, so she soon picks up the pencil. "What a lovely idea! Oh, but you and I both love to sing little songs. Maybe we could add that in there for... there!" she declares, writing it down. She turns around the paper and reveals their new team name: A SONG OF FROST AND FIRE

(It does indeed have tildes, flowers, and ''two'' cool S-es.)

Yanagi is the one who controls writing instruments. There's nothing to be thankful about for that.

"Oh, croissants were popularized in France, but they were actually invented in Austria," she asides to Pernelle as she writes. "They used to be called kipferl, but when an Austrian baker brought them to France, they were renamed to croissants because of their crescent shape. Tsumugi told me so last week when we had some for breakfast!"

.........Maybe they ''will'' win this trivia contest??

She looks up when she's done, and sees So-young join her and Pernelle to suggest they ''join forces''. "You mean, become one team?" She looks to her companion, then smiles back. "I don't mind at all! Welcome, stranger!" ...At least she's not a stranger to Pernelle?

Ruzica asks if they will grace them with a song. "Oh, absolutely!" Yanagi gushes. She looks to Pernelle and So-young, with absolutely no knowledge of whether So-young has any musical talent or not, and goes, "One, two--!"

And she bursts into a loud song, scatted rather than sung. Specifically, it's the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky.

...Someone else will need to answer the questions. Yanagi doesn't know anything about snails, beyond that they are probably delicious. Maybe they ''won't'' win this trivia contest......

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
<poem>
"My gratitude. Your assistance will be, as ever, appreciated." Vivienne offers to Ruzica.

Alain says 'surprise me', in regards to film selection, and Vivienne offers him a smile.

"Of course. You ''know'' I would never miss out on the opportunity to surprise someone." She assures. Of course she wouldn't. It's a prime opportunity to amuse herself. Her attention is drawn the way he looks, then, and - my, is that a live, fully grown peacock? She wonders what Eveline thinks about ''that''. For Vivienne, she observes this with amusement.

...And, most unusually, he ''talks''. Oh, now tonight ''truly'' has become fascinating.

"What, indeed." Vivienne agrees with Alain, bright in contrast to his grumpiness. "For I think I would much like to watch it myself!"

Alain agrees to join Trivia Night, though - and makes a comment. She emits a mock gasp of surprise.

"Ah! How true, how I could I have possibly forgotten? It's ruined now, I'm afraid." She replies, shaking her head... and then she laughs, fittingly, at his suggestion. "How perfect. Yes, that shall be us, I think."

Eveline offers them good look.

"Thank you, Eve, darling. We'll do our best~!" Vivienne replies... and grins, as she spots the team name.

Team names are read out! Vivienne looks pleased at Ruzica's reaction, and takes a moment to partake of her order until, eventually the questions are read out.

They... aren't ''all'' going to be -

...They ''are'', at least for this round. Vivienne laughs.

"Why, Alain, I believe we've been had." She replies. "Now, let's think about this..."

She 'hm's to herself.

"Now, I'm certain that the answer to '1' is true... They must be like turtles, yes? Their shells being a part of them. So naturally, they would be able to feel it." She says. "And 3... why, if we answer 'Pacific Ocean', we have the highest likelihood of being correct purely by volume alone."

She 'hm's to herself.

"The rest, though... I'm afraid I have no ''earthly'' idea. Your thoughts?" She asks.

Vivienne watches a lot of movies, so she's fairly knowledgeable on trivia. There are not, however, a lot of movies about snails.

They'll have to wait until next year for that.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
Yua wishes she could pet Pernelle's crest...

being part of the deepstate sucks, you guys. :(

Dutifully, Yua does ''not'' look to Yanagi, though. She promised! She ''does'' wave to So-young, though, when Remi points her out. "Greetings, Park-san!" ... she is, in fact, the kind of woman to bust out a cheerful 'greetings'; socialising for her is one big performance, so no ''wonder'' she can ham it up.

(Mysteriously, Yua didn't see her before because she was distracted by the bird... and mysteriously, Yua will leave her alone when she ''joins'' the bird. So-young is safe -- for now!!)

She does whisper, her words strung taut under tension, to Remi: "Her name, it's Yanagi Nagisa... she worked hard for that." While it's safer for them to know less about her... the manner of address Remi almost blurted out isn't one Yua can stand. And then, a touch more softly: "... it's okay. We're here."

And ''she's'' here, too. Yua chances squeezing Miho's hand, for a brief moment, before she returns her hands to her own lap; but she smiles supportively, to her, as if to silently assure her that she understands there's more here unsaid, with the way Miho says it's very kind.

Is this the sort of thing which should be described as bravery...?

She looks between Remi and Miho as they declare their respective name suggestions, though, and...

"HONK!", Yua honks, cheerfully, and with gusto.

Sorry, Remi. Yua getting to make dumb animal noises is gonna win ''every time.''

And then she hears 'is that a fuckin' bird' and giggles, behind a hand. Turning to see where that came from -- yes, Rain does rather stand out -- helps her catch Tamaki's wave, and she enthusiastically waves in return... though she doesn't get up to go bother her when she heads towards the peacock, mysteriously.

She falls quiet, though, her eye focusing on nothing at all; "oh," she exclaims, but quietly, as she is gripped by that feeling of ''passion.'' "Mimi...?" She wonders, first, as she looks to her; but of course Miho's Resonance grasps her as a different type of burning, and as much as she's reminded, the difference is plain to her when she reaches out to investigate.

In this single moment of unguarded uncertainty, Eveline may smell stillwater and stale air, chthonic and sealed away.

"`Thank you very much,`" Yua says, to Ruzica, when she delivers her croissant sandwich. Though, she realises something about the way she's been the only one flitting around taking orders: "`Oh, are you working all alone tonight? You poor thing...`"

She turns to Miho, and says: "She's very hard-working!!"

But then -- the trivia!!

"Honk!!!" Yua calls out, cheerfully, after Ruzica introduces them.

But then, the questions...

"Ehhh... ummm...." Yua starts, tapping her finger to her lip. "Isn't that tongue really called a foot? Umm..."

She sighs, her shoulders sinking. "These questions are too hard for me..." She says, with blue sadness squiggles snaking over her visage.

... Yua's really taking these snail facts seriously, huh?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
<poem>
"I can always count on you, Vivi." Is his easy response to her being so readily willing to surprise him.

Alain looks up briefly at Eveline's 'interesting'... there was a time in his life when he would have adored getting such a reaction out of her.

Now...

He's still looking off into the distance when Ruzica politely offers him refreshments, "'I'll pass,' ombre." It's said with a mild edge of distaste to it, though he does so quietly at least.

He's not here to ruin the night.

Her later 'Ha ha. Ha ha...' over the light of the flickering projector causes him to have regrets.

Then their first round of questions... causes his eyebrows to shoot up, then he looks to Vivienne. "Is this their idea of an 'Escargot' joke?" He asks, as if confused by ''all'' the questions being about snails.

But then again, who can understand how Shadows even think? He stares at the projector screen again at Vivienne as she breaks it all down her logic on the answers. They are good - well reasoned thoughts, but-

"Vivi... I believe I'm about to blow your mind." He says, sighing, as he begins to write down answers in front of her.

1. True

2. Radula

3. Indian

4. Australian Trumpet

He's not sure what's weirder, that all the questions are about snails or that he knows the answers thanks to an extensive module on Mollusks as a teen.

> Your Guts failed to increase from showing off your knowledge of snail facts in public.

> It is not a courageous act when you are dead inside.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.
<poem>
Rain sighs and takes a bite of her burger once it's provided to her. Despite spending most of her life in Japan, she WAS an American, and one cannot keep an American from burging out.

Pretty good! Could use a slice or two of pineapple, though.

Swallowing her bite, she glances to her two trivia partners, Umie and Tamaki. "Kuzunoha? Think I've seen your agency's name in the news once or twice. Detective work, huh? Man, that's really cool! You ever get any dangerous dames walking through your door on a stormy night?" She chuckles and turns over to Ruzica as she introduces the teams. "how is the bird going to..."

She gives it no further mind as the questions are read out and... Snails. What happened to, like, history and pop culture and stuff like that? There definitely are not a lot of movies about snails, fast or otherwise.

"Hm... Well, I don't... think snails can feel through their shells? Weird questions..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Pernelle is no navigator, but he still has Resonance for Eveline to sniff out... like smelling freshly washed linens by a fireplace.

"Umie!" Pernelle repeats. "Umie... That has a nice sound to it! Uuuuuumie. Ahem. It is wonderful to finally formally meet you." First name basis? Well, ''he'' only has a first name...

But there is yet another friend! "So-young! So-yoooung!" Pernelle cries with sing-song delight. "What a pleasure it is to be graced with your charming company this extraordinary evening!" He motions to her with a clawed foot, looking up at Yanagi. "Dear So-young is a most wondrous comrade in the arts. I should think we will benefit from such an auspicious alliance."

And so an alliance there shall be!

Serving is made, and Pernelle awaits to see what Ruzica will do with rapt attention. And what Ruzica does is... oh no! She ''slips!'' Pernelle's feathers ruffle as he straights alert. "My word, little hatchling, are you all right?" But Ruzica does not respond to this, and. Hm. His burger was not separate and is now. How... inconclusive!

"It is quite all right," he echoes to Yanagi. "Puzzling, but all right." Pernelle might think to consider thus further, but now he's got food in front of him and, as Yanagi points out, is a star. Between snacks and attention, what thought could Pernelle possibly hope to hold?

"A song! Beautiful, Yanagi! Perfection!" But he is informed he is INCORRECT about the nature of a croissant! "Is that so? I had no inkling of such a history! Tsumugi truly is wise! Kipferl. I do like that that sounds, yes. Adorable!"

He reassembles that burger with his beak, humming to himself. The lettuce does not actually make it back onto the burger before Pernelle accidentally eats it up along the way. Munchmunchmunch. But the rest of the burger... that is something Pernelle is opening his beak over, apparently intent on trying to fit the entire thing into his mouth at once. (This will not work, not outside a meta-space.)

For a moment he aborts it to look to Yanagi. "Oh Yanagi, had I but known you wanted a taste of snail! They ''are'' delectable little treats. I favor them to slugs... the ''crunch'' is a critical aspect of the mouthfeel, you see. I shall have to save you a few next time I go nosing through the gardens!"

Pernelle may be a magical peacock... but he is still a ''peacock''. And what do peacocks eat, naturally? Well, unfortunately for Ruzica, and maybe fortunately for trivia...

Peacocks.

Love.

Snails.

He is eating his burger normal style when the questions come up. He opens his beak in awe of the questions, and a tomato falls out. He looks up at Yanagi.

"True." Do NOT ask him how he knows that. "Radula. Indian." This question's not fair, Pernelle's an Indian Peacock! "''Achatina achatina.''"

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi of course, hears that name, Peacock Silk... and she has other business there, she feels like. She still has some concern over what happened there with Myunghon, after all. But that's a problem for later.

Remi won't press about the engagement. Not here, at least. She's got a hunch, based on the prior conversations she's had with Yua, of why this may have happened.

She gives a small shake of her head to Miho. "I... I will be fine. I simply need a moment." She pauses. "... and perhaps some water." She'll go for her glass if she already has one available to her.

Remi feels guilty for that manner of address. It was a detestible thing, how they were treated in the lab. It took her a while to stop thinking of Yua as her number, too. But a name will give her something to latch on to. "... thank you, dear," she whispers back. They're there. She nods. "Merci."

Remi's starting to regain her composure, and the notices the wave from Tamaki, and offers a small smile and a nod back. It's not much, but they've only met the once (or at least, had a meaningful conversation the once.)

When the order comes, her smile is much more put-together for Ruzica. "`Ahh, thank you very much.`"

Yua decides the name, and Remi chuckles good-naturedly. "Very well, then. I admit, my suggestion loses something without our dear Myunghon here... Ah well."

She manages a small chuckle at Vivienne and Alain's team name. She does take note of the other teams as well, however, though she doesn't let her gaze linger too long on Yanagi and Pernelle's table.

REmi will pretend not to notice Yanagi, now that she's been made aware of the situation.

But the questions come, and Remi frowns a bit. "Well I should think the shell is separate from their body... so I would wager they cannot feel through them."

"... but for the rest I couldn't hazard a guess. I do not think they use sea snails for escargot, but beyond that... I don't know."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Miho will be more willing to discuss the engagement with Remi... privately. Perhaps it's the same for the matter of Yanagi.

It could be called bravery. Honking is definitely bravery. And it's a delight. Miho smiles.

The matter of the Resonance, though--Miho frowns for a moment as she looks to Yua. "Are you quite all right?" she wonders.

But Ruzica brings their things, and Miho says, "Thank you."

But soon, the trivia and... there are... snails.

Loses something without Myunghon... Hmmm. Miho supposes that may be so.

She regards Tamaki too, when she sees REmi waving to her, and gives her a dignified nod.

Still...

"I know nothing about snails but that properly prepared, the right ones are delicious," Miho says.

"I have no time for slow creatures."

That delivered, she considers. "...But if I were to guess..."

False, foot, Pacific, and gigantic."

She nods firmly.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem>
Sometimes you have to recruit the peacock. Sometimes you think rules are a suggestion. Sometimes trivia nights are for getting pleasantly tipsy and rowdy. And as such So-young also waggles her eyebrows towards Umie and Tamaki both, as if she is trying to katamari everyone she knows in the room into one big pile and _then_ worry about how she's going to justify it counting as four people.

The conductor does make sure to smile back to Yua for good measure - less because she thinks socialising is a performance, and more because she's the sort of person to put a lot of stock even in acquaintances. "Hello! I do hope things are going well - and my congratulations?" she adds. It's in passing, but it's well meant - the only reason she puts a faint question mark on the end is just to be certain, since she is trying to get a little better about just bowling people over.

"Thank you so much," So-young smiles brightly to Eveline, and then again as Ruzica so-smoothly changes her title to Mademoiselle instead. Now that's impeccable service, So-young decides to herself as she nods solemnly. "Of course, I completely understand. I will be careful," she promises, because she is at least aware of how you act at a fancy place when it comes to taking photographs for Binsta.

So-young is quick to slide across to Yanagi's table, and it is there that she accepts her burger, her eyebrows raising sky-high at the sight of it. "My," is all she notes as she pauses to take a quick snapshot of it - the camera she pulls out to do so is pretty high-end, though with the trivia impending she does make sure to work quickly - and then levels a bright smile towards Yanagi herself.

"Hello!" she beams. "Would I be right in thinking that you are with the Peacock Silk? If so, then I am at least a little higher than a stranger - rather, a customer. You crafted an exquisite silver baton for me," So-young adds as she takes out a slim case that looks like it might hold either a pen or very thin glasses. Inside is a thin shape - a telescoping conductor's baton, with a filigree handle. Certainly, the atelier's work. "I thought I would take this opportunity to compliment you on it. It is absolutely gorgeous."

"So-young Park, of the Tokyo Philharmonic," she adds with a bow of her head in greeting as Pernelle introduces her, before--oh!

As mentioned: So-young will instantly join in with any dumb idea on the best of days, and that only goes double for anything musical related. It takes her only the first couple of bars to identify the music, and then she has snatched up the baton she was just showing off to 'conduct' Yanagi's singing, accompanied by taps of her baton against two water glasses and a wine glass as not-quite-percussion not-quite-melody, using their different levels of fullness to 'ting' different notes out. "If only I had my violin with me! I have not forgotten my promise to you, Pernelle."

This is absolutely how you act at a classy French bistro. The snail questions may have been temporarily forgotten, but So-young's answer to each of them would probably have been 'snail' anyway, or maybe a little doodle of a snail instead in an attempt to fish for extra points. Fortunately, Pernelle is there to save the day in a burst of glory, and thus So-young's grand plan of trivia domination continues apace. At least, as far as she knows.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
Something about Eveline draws Umie's attention immediately. Umie's being Perceived, and, in turn, she's seeing them as well, causing her lips to quirk in a dour line.

Thankfully, Umie's critical eye is distracted by Pernelle, who elongates her name so delightfully that Umie forgets that spike of paranoia, giving Pernelle a charmed smile. "Great," Umie says, in turn, to Yanagi, considering her garments. To get away with dressing like that, and doing it so *well*-- "Sounds like you've been gaining some fans, Ichida-san," Umie says, with a small, pleased grin. She saw Tamaki at the Atelier, but it *was* a rough battle...

It'll likely get harder, as time goes on. Which means, it's time to--

"Crossiant sandwich sounds good," Umie says, slightly later, to Ruzica. It may or may not be due to Pernelle mentioning them earlier, but they're now on her mind.

But *now*, it's time to... think. About snails.

".... Team, I think our answer is clear." Umie folds her hands in front of her mouth, coral red fingernails standing brilliantly against the pink of her skin and the black of her thumbsleeves.

Her eyes narrow, about to drop her final answers onto the table with her brilliant companions.

Her hands slowly revolve outwards in a shrug; like her hands, she has nothing.

".... She... really likes snails..."

_Think, Umie, think._ She places her hand on one upturned palm. "Why do you think they can't, though?" she asks Rain. "If a snail is inside its shell, how does it know when to come out?" Deep philosophical questions, by Umie.

The second question. ".... Do snails have mouths?" Damn it, she never studied snail facts in high school! ".... I know they have feet." The third? "..... Pacific?" And finally, the last! "I think there was something about a really big snail that was in the US," Umie posits. "Something about it being big enough to eat houses... I think that part was just, translated wrong. It was...." What a terrifying snail... "African land snail, maybe?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki smiles at Remi's response, but looks mildly caught off-guard when Miho waves back at her as well. An Olympic fencer is far, far above her own hobbyist skill level when it comes to sabre fencing -- she's feeling a little intimidated. ... Yua's honking antics amuse her, but do not surprise her, from what she knows of Yua. She can't help but crack a wry smile as the bird very understandably steals Yua's focus.

Tamaki beams at Yanagi. "You're welcome, Nagisa-san! I learned a lot in the process. I'll stop by sometime." She glances at Pernelle, though refrains from addressing him here. ... She does wink at him.

Ruzica's comment on the team name she suggested causes her to rankle her nose slightly. Something about that sounds a little funny to her ear. On one level, it's not an incorrect statement, but ...

Tamaki shakes off the feeling and smiles at Rain. "Good to have you! The days are usually sunny, but otherwise, yes! On occasion." A beat. "I'm an apprentice detective, so don't get the wrong idea, the Chief really calls the shots."

Snails. The questions are about snails. While Tamaki's body of knowledge is broad, she lacks ... specialization.

"They're certainly not questions I know the answers to offhand, but let's see how much we can induce our way through this ..." It may be unusual, but she'll sincerely engage with the material at hand!

Can snails feel through their shells? "... it's hermit crabs who move to different shells, but snails are more attached to their shells throughout their entire lifespan. They'll die if removed from them. I don't quite know if their nervous system extends through their shells, but I'd actually lean towards 'yes' ..."

"As for the tongue ... Hmmm. A number of anatomical features are named in Latin. I'm familiar with a bit of that ... 'per aspera', 'nil desperandum', et cetera. The thousands of teeth makes me think the word would be descriptive ... an appendage with teeth would scrape, so perhaps derived from 'radere', meaning 'to scrape' ... 'radula'?"

"I vaguely remember that the Pacific and Indian Ocean have distinct sets of organisms living in their geothermal vents, but I don't think I can narrow it down any further than that ... " She looks to Umie and Rain. "If no one else has a better idea, I'll flip a coin. Heads Pacific, tails Indian." She flips a coin and it comes up heads. Should Rain or Umie not have anything better than this gamble (and it sounds like Umie's going with Pacific as well), Pacific'll be their answer.

While giving her commentary on the final question, Tamaki shakes her head. "The last one ... has me utterly stumped. I think that one's strictly in the realm of acquired knowledge." She looks over at Umie gratefully. "That's better than anything I could provide. African land snail it is."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
<poem>
It looks like Yanagi's permissive with Ruzica's 'blunder'. By putting the onus on the owner on whether it's correct or not, she'll still have fulfilled her obligations as server, even if a 'blunder' is visibly a mark against perfect service... but, these are the kinds of minor disgraces one has to bear in order to serve their customer.

They try to hide the terror of Yanagi mentioning ''eating snails'' well underneath their face. And then Team Frost Fire bursts into a song about... well, is the Nutcracker really about ice and fire? I suppose you could be reductive about that in a sense...

Vivienne has some insights. Indeed, the Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world, so perhaps that would increase their chances of being correct...? And, alas, Ruzica did try to add a trivia question about movies with snails but -- it TURNS OUT THERE AREN'T A LOT OF THEM. This is an injustice.

Next year, though, will be Ruzica's time to shine. ... but will she hate a snail with a Dreamworks smirk or not? That will truly be when her adoration of snails comes into question.

Yua wonders if she's working all alone tonight, when she arrives to deliver food. "`My colleague was not able to make tonight's shift, but we are making do,`" she politely answers the Okinawan. "`I am happy to serve, however.`" A refill of water, at this point.

But Alain refuses and calls her a gradient. There's a quiet nod as she does leave it at that. But... but later... Alain Wakamatsu does, in fact, impress Ruzica by answering all the snail questions correctly. Even the ones that aren't listed on the pose, because the gag is that this probably goes on for a bit.

Ruzica will remember that.

Ruzica does not, in fact, answer Pernelle, because she's still keeping her facade up for now. How interesting that the peacock is ''acquainted'' with so many people, though. And indeed, this peacock does eat burger with a certain deliberation that... for a moment, makes them connected, no matter what falsehoods Ruzica is putting up.

To burg out is, in fact, to be one. Rain knows this.

However, Ruzica is also impressed, silently, by Pernelle's tremendous knowledge of snails. Even if Pernelle knows of all this because he is, in fact, predator to her little adorables. ... she will still acknowledge his mastery in this topic. And perhaps in her heart Ruzica would award a little grade point for So-young's doodles of an adorable snail as an answer. But grade points are not trivia quiz points. They can only be redeemed after the game is over. Come back in New Game+ for more snail facts, So-young.

Miho has NO TIME for slow creatures, but believes in Yua anyway. It's a good thing their service is fast, then.

Umie has philosophical ponderances: if a snail is inside its shell, how does it know when to come out? And who amongst us can't relate to that, when we stay indoors and only come out when the time is right (the time is never)?? Tamaki has impressive snail prowess as well, coming at it from a very linguistic and academic approach. Adults sure do know a lot of things.

But eventually, time is up.

Ruzica returns to the stage and clicks through her science fair-esque presentation.

"The correct answers for this round are..."

1. True

2. Radula

3. Indian Ocean

4. The largest snail is the Syrinx Aruanus, or the Australian Trumpet Snail. However, the largest land snail is, indeed, the Giant African Land Snail.

"We also have deliberated and came to a conclusion for the extra prize. The honour goes to team 'Song of Frost and Fire', in no small part because there are not one, but two Cool S-es. The extra prize is..."

Still without breaking emotion, Ruzica reaches underneath the little podium and comes out with a box.

"A limited edition 1/12 plastic figure of an Australian Trumpet Snail," Ruzica declares without fanfare. "Congratulations to team Song of Frost and Fire on their new snailpla." The box is summarily handed over to Team Peacock Silk, which does include an overdramatic rendition of said snail and also a disclaimer that images on box are pre-painted and that the finished product may not look, in fact, as dramatic.

"The next round of questions will be worth double points, and be hosted by the purveyor of the Fleur de Lis, Eveline Deschamps."

Ruzica bows and steps away from the stage at this point, returning to refilling water, taking additional orders, continuing to pretend to not listen to Pernelle... the truly pleasing part of the night has passed for them. May her head be full of snail facts for the remainder of it all.

She does deliver Umie's croissant sandwich at this point.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
<poem>
As trivia starts, Eve doesn't speak. Instead, she listens to each group, monitoring.

Is everyone but the American a Persona User?!

She eyes Alain as he answers every question correctly. Well, she's not *at all* surprised. Though she does look away, at the memory of times they could have done something like this together.

Alas.

As Pernelle also gets the snail questions correctly, she's somewhat amused, watching him carefully.

When Ruzica's questions end and everyone is scored, however, Eve is heading over to trade off with her.

"We will do one more round, for a final total of eight questions. I hope you enjoyed the snail facts that Ruzica here prepared for you."

Yes, she's shunting the blame subtly. And also the praise!

She wanted to do easier questions first, but Ruzica decided to go first, so...

She'll use those now.

5. Why are flamingos pink?

6. What American primate did movie monster Stopzilla fight in 1962?

7. Who composed the opera, The Barber of Seville?

8. What is the origin of the word 'tennis'?

Maybe these questions should have led in the first place...

> Your Academics failed to rise, because you prepared the questions personally. Consolation prize: you are smarter about snails than half the room. (Thanks, Ruzica!)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.
<poem>
Indeed, Madam Eve, how did poor Rain find herself in a room full of Persona users/bird understanders? She's normal, she swears.

"Well, that round was a bit of a wash. At least we've got some normal questions now." And wouldn't you know it, a question about creature features! Couldn't be more perfect if you tried!

"Ah, it was Duke Rilla vs Stopzilla. It was actually going to be Duke Rilla fighting Frankenstein's monster, but it was shopped to the owners of Stopzilla at the last minute. The suit actor for Duke Rilla went on to play Stopzilla's archnemesis Baron Plagula and, well, none of all that is relevant to the question. Should stop before I get ahead of myself, ehe."

She chuckles and writes down her answer, casting another quick glance towards the peacock. Her eyes must be messing with her, because she could swear the others were talking to it. I mean, people talk to their pets all the time, right? That's nothing, probably.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
"Kipferl! Kipferl!" Yanagi echoes back at Pernelle, as if she were some pastry-based Pokemon. (One day, Fidough will be revealed upon the world, and it will be glorious.) "Croissant isn't a bad sound either, but kipferl ''does'' have a bit of a pop to it, doesn't it?"

Pernelle decides to forgive Ruzica's blunder, and Yanagi nods, accepting his judgment. He was the one who set the challenge, after all. Then he offers to save her a few snails from the garden next time he's out in it, and she brightens. "Oh! You can just eat them out of the garden? I hadn't realized! And you can eat the shells too? Yes, please do! I'd be delighted to try them! I thought you had to prepare them a special way!"

...Yanagi is perhaps forgetting that Pernelle is someone who will eat, just for example, a set of car keys. Nonetheless, she raises a finger. "But I'd still be interested to come back here to try them. Just because plain tater tots are delicious all on their own doesn't mean it isn't worth eating parmesan garlic tater tots!"

Impeccable logic, no? Yanagi does not notice the terror on Ruzica's inexpressive face. The disadvantages of deadpan... which, incidentally, is what those snails are going to be.

Umie and Tamaki get one last smile before the contest starts. More conversation will have to happen another time.

Yanagi looks at So-young curiously as she photographs Pernelle's burger. Pernelle does introduce her, and she lights up to hear that So-young is a patron of the arts--of the Tokyo Philharmonic, in fact. "Oh my goodness! How exciting!" she gushes. "Do you ever play classical ballet music? That's my favorite!" As made evident by the song she chose to sing.

But then So-young brings up her work as part of Peacock Silk, specifically the silver baton. "Oh! So that was for you!" she utters, eyes lighting in recognition. "I'm glad you're pleased with it, So-young! In fact..." She tilts her head, studying her face. Now that she's really paying attention, her features are familiar, and her name... "Are you, by chance, related to Myunghon Yeo? They're a dear friend of mine!"

She endears herself to her further when she 'conducts' Yanagi's singing. She beams at her as she lilts. A shame for the lack of violin indeed, but this too is wonderful! As for if The Nutcracker Suite is about ice and/or fire... it takes place during Christmas, and there's a fire in the hearth, is there not? That absolutely counts, probably!

It is saying something when Pernelle is the only member of a group who is on task.

When she's done her song, she jots down his answers, bouncing a bit in her seat from the thrill of song. ("HONK," Yua vocalizes from the other table, and Yanagi bursts into giggles. Goose...!)

The round ends. The answers are announced. And the winner of the best team name is...! "We won!" Yanagi utters, delighted. She accepts the snailpla box with sparkling grace, then holds it out to Pernelle and So-young in excitement. "We won!!" she repeats, bouncing in her seat again.

The next trivia round arrives! These are not snail-based questions. "Oh, I know the first one! Tsumugi told me this one too," Yanagi says with confidence to her trivia companions. "They told me flamingos are pink because they drink the blood of those foolish enough to swim in the same waters as them, and it dyes their white feathers pink!"

...that's... that's almost halfway correct...?

"The second one too! Stopzilla fought Duke Rilla," Yanagi continues with unerring
confidence, writing down her own answers. "As for The Barber of Seville, it was composed by Gioachino Rossini, with an
Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini!" These are topics she actually knows, being a fan of not just ballet but opera and
movies, so this time she actually is right."

The last question, though... Yanagi only shrugs. "I don't know anything about tennis." She looks from Pernelle to So-young questioningly.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
"Thank you!" Yua chirps, brightly, to So-young. "Oh, I hope it's a boy...!!" There is ''one'' thing, after all, which she is happy about without needing to force it, and so she naturally assumes that So-young's congratulations are over her future child.

Yua has more words for it in private, of course. ... though it isn't the public atmosphere which is making her give a good review of Kimitake. She really ''does'' think he's a nice, considerate man.

"`You're doing great,`" Yua encourages Ruzica. "`I remember having shifts like this when I was your age... it's a lot!`" ... Yua ''looks'' the part of a fabulously wealthy socialite, which might make it hard to believe she ever ''bussed tables,'' but... then again, Isabeau's a rich bitch, and ''she'' busses tables. Maybe some rich people are just weird.

She hands Remi some water, of course, when she hears her distress. She knows where the water is at all times!!

And seeing Miho smile at her honking, Yua resolves to honk even more loudly and proudly. (At least she can ''honk'' like that...)

... she does feel a little sad that Myunghon wasn't here to hear her honk, but there's a conversation she needs to have with them which she's a little glad she isn't having ''now,'' because regardless of how kind Kimitake is, she can tell his job is important to him.

"I--I'm fine," Yua says, though she touches Miho's arm, briefly, as if to draw support from the strength clearly written there. (That strength may indeed be intimidating for people like Tamaki; for Yua, though, it's comforting.) "I just... had a strange feeling..."

She smiles, though, when Miho makes her firm, declarative guesses. "Then... that must be it!" She declares, and then, with gusto: "HONK!!!"

Yua blinks, though, as the answers are revealed. "Eh... uh... radula...? I've never even heard that word..." That's apparently her biggest priority, over the fact that they ''lost the trivia contest.'' She does admire the snailpla, though... from afar!!

When Eveline announces her next round of questions, though, Yua brightens right up. "Oh! Oh! I know these ones!!"

Beat, "Um, except the one about the flamingo... but the other stuff!!"

She bounces in her seat, her hands flapping in delight in front of her, fingers curled. "Stopzilla fought Duke Rilla in 1962! It was called 'Duke Rilla versus Stopzilla'... it was the first time they both appeared in colour together!!" She's terrible at modulating her volume when she's excited, so she's definitely saying this loud enough for people to hear, but is anyone going to tell Yua she should quiet down? I think not. "And, and! And the Barber of Seville, that's a trick question!! It's a trick question because there were TWO! And it was ''supposed'' to be three! You see, when Pierre Beaumarchais first wrote the play, he really ''wanted'' it to be a opera, but they made him change it... but then, a few years later, Giovanni Paisiello made it into an opera! But that's not the opera most people think of! Because! A few decades later, Gioachino Rossini wrote one that was much more popular!!!"

Yua takes a breath. "And tennis is actually French, obviously!!!"

Yua is too excited to actually remember to say what the French word is, though, so Remi's going to have to help her out.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
Oh, her food is here! Umie gives Ruzica an appreciative nod and a smile.

But it's time to get back to business... of trivial pursuits!

Why are flamingos pink? Umie gives a smug smile, her middle and ring fingers clasping delicately to her palm as she raises her head. "From the algae and the brine shrimp they eat. Next."

Stopzilla? She looks to Rain, who answers with a veracity that's impressive. "<Nice>," she complusively says, in accented English.

The third (well, 7, technically): "Hm... Rossini, I think." So-young will *definitely* know that one in full. Would Pernelle technically know the answer to the first (fifth) question by virtue of being a bird?

Does it even work that way? Do birds know other birds exist, besides themselves?

(Stop asking philosophical questions in the middle of a trivia quiz, Umie.)

Tennis, tennis... She looks helplessly to Tamaki and Rain, munching on her croissant-wich. Munchmunch.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
<poem>
Vivienne offers a wink as Alain says he can always count on her. And soon enough, the questions.

"I believe they may just be genuinely enamored with the creatures." Vivienne offers. Still, the answer... Vivienne 'hm's to herself, trying to puzzle through them - but Alain says he's about to blow her mind.

...And, as she turns her attention to the answer sheet, he certainly does, alright. She doesn't ''know'' that his answers are correct... but from how confident he is about them, she has every reason to believe ''he'' thinks they are, and that's good enough. But still, that he has them so readily...

"...Why, Alain, I believe I'm seeing a side of you I never knew existed." Vivienne comments, mystified - and then laughs. "Well, I know when I'm bested! I'll pin my hopes on you."

...Was she considering it an internal competition up to this point...?

Which turns out to be the best, for when the correct answers are supplied... his answers are, in fact, correct.

"What do you know. Excellent work." She comments.

The extra prize for the team name goes out, about this time... and it goes to 'Song of Frost and Fire'(which is impossible to render here in its appropriate majesty, alas). Vivienne offers them polite applause. Snailpla, huh...

The next round of questions come out, and this is more Vivienne's speed.

"Ah, excellent. Let's see..." She 'hm's to herself.

"Flamingos... It's their diet, yes?" Vivienne considers. "It comes down to what they eat... shrimp, was it? But I can't recall the ''specific'' mechanism..."

She 'hm's to herself. The American primate, though - that's an easy one.

"Ah. It's Duke Rilla, of course." Vivienne answers proudly. "It's a marvelous spectacle, 'Duke Rilla versus Stopzilla'. ...Perhaps I should play it at the cinema tomorrow, now that I've been reminded."

She overhears answers from around her - and it seems like she isn't the ''only'' movie buff. People here tonight certainly have good taste...

"The Barber of Seville. That was... Mario Costa, wasn't it?" Vivienne considers thoughtfully.

...Her mind is still on movies after the previous question, so she's thinking about the first ''film'' adaptation, rather than the original. She might need to be course-corrected.

The last one, though, Vivienne looks smug about.

"That's an easy one. It's French, of course - from 'tenez'." She concludes - then looks to Alain for his input on her answers.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"Thank you dear," Remi murmurs as Yua hands her water.

Privately would be ''much'' better. Not that Remi wants to ruin their homecoming with dire discussions.

"Certainly, Miho," Remi agrees of the deliciousness of snails. "Though I do not know if I saw them on the menu... pity, that. Still, the coq au vin is ''exquise''."

She reviews Miho's guesses. "Mm. We shall see, then." This might not be their round.

But the answers come, and... they didn't do so well. Well, Remi is hardly surprised or dismayed. Though she /is/ quite surprised to see... snailpla. "... how /curious/..." She looks to Miho and Yua for their takes. "If thta thing is really 1/12th scale..."

When Ruzica comes around, Remi will ask her to pass her compliments on her dish to the chef, and on the cocktail to the propieter. Credit where credit is due, after all!

But a new set of questions come, and at least some of these are far more up her alley. She smiles as Yua gushes about the answer--and she will have to entrust her with knowledge of Duke Rilla because she isn't so much an American movie buff. "I shall entrust that answer to you, my dear." But she's beaming as Yua susses out the trick question. "Quite right, dear, excellently said. The French word you're looking for is 'tenetz', meaning 'to hold, receive, or to take', if I am not mistaken."

"And Flamingos receive their pink coloration from the foods they eat, which includes shrimps and... algae, I believe."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Miho is used to catching people off-guard, Tamaki. It's why she wins Gold!

(Doh, ho, ho...)

She nods to So-young in passing, with a pleased expression at her congratulations.

Ruzica's service is quite good! Miho has no complaints. They are not ''too slow''.

But they got none of the answers right... hmmm. Miho is not accustomed to losing. On the other hand, this very much isn't her field. On the other hand...

"One day," Miho says to Yua, "I will conquer snails, as well."

The next questions...

Hmmmmm yes. Miho knows some of these immediately, of course. But the ones she knows might not be what is expected. "The beta-carotene in their diet," Miho tells Yua quietly. "It is a pigment... But they are fascinating creatures. They can survive in extremely inhospitable environments. Truly an example of nature's strength."

A nod to Remi. "Yes, indeed."

"...Though i had almost wondered if it was to be a 'theme' night..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Honestly, Tamaki did enjoy the snail facts. At Eve's mention of it, she gives Ruzica a sunny smile! -- oh, come to think of it, the next time Ruzica comes around, Tamaki's about ready to politely ask for that cocktail. Zero rush at all, it is a busy night and the meal and drink she's had so far were already delightful.

Tamaki looks to the rest of her group for 5, 6, and 7. If she had ever known the answers to those questions, they've faded from her memory. Flamingos, maybe from science class forever ago. American monster movies are a far cry from her own media consumption habits, she's more of an ''X-Folders'' or ''Mirrored Mountains'' kind of girl, more into investigation television shows than into movies. Her interest in theatre is closer to home in the histories of kabuki or bunraku, so this one also eludes her ...

At least Rain's got them covered on the movie question. "That's a fascinating history behind the film. I wouldn't mind hearing more later. Goes to show you how much work goes behind the scenes."

Umie's answers elicit an double eyebrow-raise from Tamaki. "How did you know those? I'm not complaining, just curious. Impressed, even."

Tennis, on the other hand. Being both the sports and etymology nerd that she is, this is a gap she can fill. "''Tenez'', from French, meaning to take or receive, spoken by the person serving the ball to signal to their opponent that they should be ready. Similar to the referee asking ''prêts?'' in fencing."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
<poem>
Trivia night was always fun, when the two of them were on the same team. A distant memory.

Ruzica returns to the stage, and- he looks at the answers, before the extra prize is announced.

"Ah, it seems our team name failed to impress, Vivi." 'Failed to impress the Shadow' Despite the 'We' he's not blaming Eve for it. "... That is on me."

But the prize? "Strangely, no regrets." He quips drily as he looks at Pernelle... wondering if his rival tonight is going to be a Peacock Shadow, before Eve presents the next set of questions. He lets Vivienne work it all out, brow furrowing. "You're definitely correct on number five... and eight. I agree. It's the pigments they break down, I believe."

5. Their diet contains pigments.

8. Old French term 'tenez' for 'Receiving'

"Tell the pleasant prince this mock of his / hath turn'd his balls to gun-stones." He quotes Henry the V, quietly... right as Yua literally bounces across the room.

He does not look down upon it of course, he remembers how Pregnancy could swing Eve's moods all over the place.

"'Despite the best efforts of the boisterous shouting from across the room, I have no idea on the other two, but if you think it is so, then I would rely on your expertise when it comes to the cinema and theater any day, Vivi."

A quirk of a wan smile, before he writes down Vivienne's answers...

6. Duke Rilla

7.Mario Costa

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
"Indeed!" Pernelle agrees with Yanagi. "Croissant ''is'' fun to say I admit, but kipferl! Their true name! I love it." Of snails he brightens at Yanagi. "Oh yes, good nutrition in the shells, I should think! But... yes, of course. It is about ''preparation'' at times, and I imagine they can be fancied up as much as a potato."

Tamaki winks at Pernelle and the peacock turns his head to wink right back. Which is ''probably'' not a behavior regular peacocks can readily perform.

What glorious music this group has now with Yanagi's singing and So-young's conducting! Pernelle heaves a contented sigh. Art is most powerful in these beautiful, unexpected moments. "Even without such an instrument, you demonstrate your commitment to sound flawlessly, So-young."

But the moment of judgment is upon them...! The answers! The knowledge! Has Pernelle lead his team... to victory?!

"....Syrinx Aruanus. Australian... Trumpet? What... musical mammoth has eluded me all this time?" His eyes go wide, staring into infinity.

My god, it's full of snails.

Lost in this reverie, he does not return to reality until they receive A SPECIAL PRIZE for all their cool S action. Pernelle's vision locks onto it, pupils becoming pin point before suddenly engulfing his entire eye until they are naught but black. Look at it. LOOK AT IT. Did she say... 1/12...?

His beak falls open again, and his tongue falls to the side, hanging out as he begins to ''drool''. His wings begin to flap a bit as he looks to Yanagi and So-young, then back at the box with, "Aaa? Aaaaaaa?" sounds. Do they SEE it? Are they WITNESSING? Look at it! It's so glorious and delicious he's at a loss for words!

But hold on now! There's more quiz.

"Oh!" Pernelle clears his throat and turns to his conspirators, voice low again. Tsumugi informed Yanagi of the flamingos? "I didn't realize they knew so much about the flamingos' dirty little secret! Their waters are ''horrific'', let me tell you. But it's true... there's pigment in that plankton for beautiful rose plumage. What is it called... ah! Captivating carmine and canary carotenoids. Something of the sort." He looks to the side as if a flamingo could be listening right now, and he were gossiping about a rival. "Don't tell any of them I told you."

The other questions have Pernelle stumped. He pecks at the sheet, but Yanagi has those answers. "Hm. Oh! Brilliant, Yanagi! Such wisdom you've brought to Team Song of Ice and Fire today!"

The last question, though...

"Tennis. Teeeeennis. Tenniiiiiis?" Pernelle cants his head far to one side as he feels the word around. "Ten...acity? Ten...dinous? Ten...ebrous. No that doesn't make any sense..."

The peacock doesn't speak French, outside of 'enchante' and 'croissant."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem>
Between the singing and the snail facts it does suddenly occur to So-young that their team might be a little lopsided, a theory that definitely gets borne out next round - but then, perhaps they'll be the _right_ kind of lopsided for a place like this. It feels like she's already in an opera, even before you add in the Nutcracker Suite for good measure.

At least she does not need grade points or quiz points for her doodle of a snail to have meaning. All she needs is the satisfaction of a well-drawn snail, and the warm glow of accomplishment that comes from it. They even get a special prize, proving above all else that their hearts are truly snail-aligned. (So-young is absolutely just rolling with this. It will be hours before she goes 'hang on, do I want to be compared to a snail?' and by then it will simply be too late.)

"On the contrary, my dear Pernelle. Anything can be an instrument if you simply try hard enough," she puts all her actress training into the wink she provides as the last 'ting' of her glass starts to fade away before a gentle finger on the rim of the glass silences it completely. With infinite care, she snaps her baton closed again, and places it in its case.

"Professionally, I conduct rather than play, but in my line of work you usually end up getting interested in both. I run the Shibuya Afternoon concerts in specific - they are meant for a somewhat young audience, so we do end up going through a lot of different themed events." So-young explains. "Sometimes it is 'classical music for angry people', sometimes it is 'as fast and joyous as we can imagine'. I'm the one responsible for working out the concert sets, though, so I can always sneak you a whole show of ballet music sometime if you'd like," she offers a second wink to Yanagi with a pleased smile, absolutely drinking this up.

"I promised Pernelle I'd bring my violin along next time I go to your store. And, I believe I have an instrument that I can lend out that can be played with beak and wing," she hums. "So I was planning something of a duet session." So-young is not yet admitting that the instrument she has in mind is a warbling nightmare that will haunt the store forever. So it goes.

"Oh-- yes, Myunghon is my sibling," she nods, her eyebrows raising. "If you haven't heard my name before, it is because we only learned of each other's existence a couple of months ago. There is rather a long story about that, but suffice it to say that Myunghon was the one who pointed me towards you in the first place. To be honest, I didn't think we shared that many features that I would be recognizable." This isn't true - their grey eyes are probably the most similar thing, and perhaps the preference for monochrome. And, yes, the Korean name.

They've won a snailpla! So-young laughs out loud at that, a joyous bark of noise. "Well, I think we know who did the most to earn that last round," she immediately offers the box in Pernelle's direction, unaware of the tasty nature of the present. Honestly, she would probably offer the prize to the peacock regardless of what it was, just to see the reactions more than anything.

"Ah, let's see - it's their diet, isn't it? Something about shrimp," So-young frowns at first, thoughtful. That ''is'' drinking the blood of their foes in a technical sense, so she decides to nod in agreement, counting off on her fingers as Pernelle ONCE AGAIN saves them. "Duke Rilla, certainly, and--" she's about to open her mouth when Yanagi answers the question even quicker than her, tilting her head towards the answer to allow it with a satisfied smile. Yes, she is entirely at home in this group. She even looks over to Yua with open admiration at the fullness of her answer, though So-young would definitely put money on 'Rossini' being the name on the judge's card.

Unfortunately... she falters on the last point, because French is very much not in her regular vocabulary unless you happen to be refering to a very narrow and themed list of terms whose topic rhymes with busical. "... did they perhaps yell 'tennis' when they won?" she ventures, tilting her head with a blank look.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
<poem>
Ruzica doesn't seem to notice that Eve is (lightly) throwing her under the bus, because she's proud of snail facts and public transport. And the fact that she's giving up a precious treasure of limited edition snailpla tonight. Yanagi seems so very delighted by the fact that she won, however... and she's quite the movie and opera buff.

Remi's compliments are duly noted, though she does advise: "`Of the cocktail -- of course, it shall be Madame Deschamps herself. But I shall pass the compliments to the chef as well.`"

Ruzica also didn't forget about Tamaki's cocktail, and in fact, by the time she comes around to the Detectives again, she offers the Rooster's Call. "Uchida-san, the cocktail you desired later. And I can take your order for food now, if it would please."

There is a moment where Pernelle's gaze on the box is of such desire that his eyes have eclipsed the sun. He's drooling, tongue falling to the side, and at this point Ruzica is fervently decided on one thing:

Target confirmed to have maximum threat potential. (to snails)

It's okay, Alain. Ruzica might've been a smidge vindictive too. Also, if people found out, they'd blame them of colluding?? The Wild Hunt, in collusion! It's a strategic decision to deter suspicion, you see.

...

At this point, Ruzica's introvert battery is completely dry and she has to pick up plates and then flee into the kitchen, where she allows herself to power all the way down and for the first time in the night sighs, even if the expression on her face still hasn't changed.

But perhaps it's now more honest to herself.

Ombré.

Grabbing an apron to put on, she rolls her sleeves up and starts on stacking dishes in the commercial dishwasher, because those are activities she can do without thinking. Dissociatin' with the Dishes!!

But Ruzica's not about to just completely tune out of trivia. Internally, Ruzica gives the questions a fair shot while she works at the back of house:

5. They ate a lot of carrots... a guy became orange because he ate a lot of carrots too. Then, to get to pink, the flamingos pinky-swore with each other.

6. Everyone knows that it's M.K., Mule Kong. He's the leader of the bunch--

7. Vivienne Sournois (would know). This is a factually correct answer.

8. There was a legend about how the ancient sport was performed by the Ten Kings of Nis, now the third largest city in Serbia, and thus: Ten Nis.

...

...

> Your Guts tells you you're absolutely correct. Well done, Ruzica! (it's still hungry, though.)

> (Perhaps you should listen more to your Academics score, however...)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
<poem>
Everyone answers. Eve is watching carefully, tallying up scores. She does aside to glance as Ruzica leaves, though,

Her eyes linger on the people she knows best, followed by everyone else. She has personal tallies - she's watching her comrades' team closely, as well as the Peacock Silk team. They're most likely to take it, right?

5. Due to their shrimp and algae-based diet providing pigments called beta-carotene

6. Duke Rilla

7. Giovanni Paisiello OR Gioachino Rossini

8. The French word 'tenez', aka hold, take, or receive

Eve starts to rank teams after that, reading their results as she gathers them and tallying in her head flawlessly, before taking the mic again.

"In fourth place, with a valiantly obtained eight points... Golden Goose!"

"In third place is A Song of Frost and Flame, with nine points!"

"And in an upset, the winner..."

"Tied for first are Équipe: Mort de Rire and Detection Division, with ten points! Congratulations."

Some may see Eve pausing as a question on 'how are they going to reward two first place winners'.

If they really think that Eveline Deschamps didn't have an answer to this, they do not know her.

Instead, she moves to grab two identical medallions from her pocket, each ascribed with a Fleur de Lis and the words 'TRIVIA NIGHT #1 CHAMPION' in French.

"As a follow-up, all contestant teams will have a discount on their next visit. Please, we do hope you return."

And then, Eve disappears down the back, after a quick round of check-ins to make sure everyone's okay.

She needs a smoke break.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
<poem>
"Alas." Vivienne laments with a shrug, as Alain comments on their failure to impress. "Perhaps we should have introduced more fascinating symbols into our name. Perhaps an octothorpe, next time? I understand those are popular these days."

Alain confers on his answers.

"Ah, yes - that makes sense." She agrees with a thoughtful nod. The pigments... She overlooked such a simple answer. She'll accept his answers - and he accepts hers.

The true answers are provided and -

"Ah! Giovanni Palsiello and Gioachino Rossini... Of course! Of course." Vivienne sighs, shaking her head. Now that she hears ''that'', it's obvious where she went wrong. "I was thinking of the film production. My apologies, Alain. I was too focused in on one subject, as it were."

Her mistake hasn't cost them the competition... but it ''does'' mean that they're tied with first place. Vivienne can't help but chuckle. This kind of interesting outcome ''definitely'' makes her faux pas worth it in the end.

"You all fought valiantly. It was a remarkable battle, was it not?" Vivienne observes, looking around at the other teams. "And as for you, Detection Division... I'm most impressed. Congratulations."

She looks upon them with interest.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.
<poem>
Rain claps her hands together as the results are announced. "Alright! Hey, maybe I'm cut out for detective work, haha! I'll be sending my resume over to Kuzunoha next week!"

She chuckles and waves her hand. "Kidding. I got a pretty good thing going. Come on down to my video store over in Shibuya, Central Street. Look for the palm trees, can't miss it."

She looks over to Vivienne with a nod and a thumbs up! You should DEFINITELY stop by, I think.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
The announcement of the quiz results comes, but something a little more important is happening for a certain peacock.

So-young offers the box of the snailpla in Pernelle's direction, and he looks at her with those eyes still so big, as if he has never witnessed such kindness in his life. He smooshes his peacock face up against it, nuzzling it with a sniff.

He pushes so far into the box with his face that it slides far enough for his head to ''thonk'' on the table. He remains in this horizontal position, as if paralyzed by his happiness...

... and takes giant bites of the food Yanagi's ordered for him while crying his tears of joy.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Miho will conquer snails. "I have no doubt of that, my dear."

And a grateful nod as Miho supplies a particular detail for one of the answers. "I see," she says. "That is quite useful to know." She considers. "Well, two of the questions are about French topics, and 4 were regarding snails... I do not suppose there were four more snail questions waiting...?"

Remi can't hear you quoting Shakespeare, Alain, but she would appreciate you if she could!

"`Naturally,`" Remi says to Ruzica regarding the cocktail. "`Thank you greatly, dear.`"

But the results are in, and... they came in fourth--but at least they got all of the non-snail questions. "Ahh, c'est la vie," she says, raising her glass to her teammates, giving both Yua and Miho a smile. "Still, the company is reward enough. Santé!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
<poem>
"Don't worry about it... Vivi. We can do far worse than tying for first." Alain says her way, but he does give her the Medallion, "I think you'll have more use for the discount than I."

The reason is rather obvious, as his eyes follow Eve to take her smoke break, before he looks towards the group that Vivienne is approaching.

There is... a curious look, before he gets up. He's gone before Eve gets back.

-=-=-

"Your ads were well made, I saw them on the way to work this week... ah - yes, I was there tonight, I took part in their trivia contest. We tied for first actually... it was a little unusual, the questions."

...

"We spoke only in passing, really." He says while rubbing his eyes, a phone pressed against his ear.

...

"Yes... it was nice to see her again, ma fifille, just- complicated... ah, sorry, it slipped out without thinking."

...

"Would you mind if I called you again this week? I don't want to take up too much of your time on vacation, but..."

...

"... Soon then. Have a good night, Yuri."

He puts the phone away and begins to walk. He likely won't stop even after the clock strikes twelve and the hour between begins.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
<poem>
Yua's mood swing is a big tire and it goes wheeeeeeeeeeeee

"Right! Yeah, ''tenez!'' I like these questions so much more!!" Yua bubbles, to Remi. And Miho --

Miho knows the one thing they don't know!! "Mimi!" Yua chirps, happily, flapping her hands with more excitement. "You know so many bird facts!! And I bet you'll know everything about snails soon, too!"

She pauses. "Mimi, can we go get snails? I bet there's a place that does them around here..." Fleur de Lis does not appear to serve snails.

But then, the tally...! "Huh? We lost?" Yua blinks, owlishly, looking quite surprised. She's quiet for a moment, before she turns to Miho and Remi, smiling brightly again.

"There's really a first time for everything!!"

Like losing is some exotic new experience they've only now had...

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-11-05: Figuring It Out

2025-11-15T22:14:59Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: ''' Figuring It Out *'''Cast:''' Hazuki Nakao, Roger *'''Where:''' Shimokitazawa - Street Scene *'''OOC Date:''' November 05, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 03, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Immediately after saving Taro Nakata from his Homunculus, Hazuki brings Roger out into the real world, revealing a human for. They buy treats. They talk their future plans and lodging, with Hazuki planning on putting Roger up in a hotel until they can find him a long-term plac..."

*'''Log: ''' Figuring It Out
*'''Cast:''' [[Hazuki Nakao]], [[Roger]]
*'''Where:''' Shimokitazawa - Street Scene
*'''OOC Date:''' November 05, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 03, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Immediately after saving Taro Nakata from his Homunculus, Hazuki brings Roger out into the real world, revealing a human for. They buy treats. They talk their future plans and lodging, with Hazuki planning on putting Roger up in a hotel until they can find him a long-term place. In the end, they reinforce their growing bond, as members of a team who'll help people.''

----

(|======================= Shimokitazawa - Street Scene =======================|)

-================================================ Tokyo/Shimokitazawa Ward ====-

Shimokitazawa is a neighborhood of densely-packed buildings near the

Shimo-Kitazawa Station, where the Odakyu Electric and Keio Inokashira lines

intersect. The winding alleyways and smaller spaces for shops and venues have

kept away the big-money chains, leaving space for dozens of small and

independent fashion shops to sprout up, cozily tucked and intermingled with

bars, cafes, live music venues and theaters.

The narrow streets of Shimokitazawa can be confining, especially when there is a

crowd; the shops have colorful signs, and offer a panoply of experiences, each

of them striving to radiate a vision of their own kind of cool. A crisp and

efficient tile-and-straight-edges men's clothier sits across from a

heavily-tagged used clothing shop. The streets stay lively at night, with music

belting out to the lonely hearts of the big city from dozens of hole-in-the-wall

jazz bars and rock venues. In summer, dance festivals trail throughout the

narrow streets, bringing back a traditional vibe... until the next day, of

course.

Local landmarks include the station itself; the Matsuda Theater, a 400-seat

venue that has helped drive the boom in smaller-scale theater throughout the

neighborhood; and the not-too distant Gotoku-ji temple, famous for its vast

collection of beckoning maneki-nekos, each of them enshrined in a place of honor

on the temple grounds.

<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Hazuki was on the verge of passing out in the Atelier. It's mostly gone once they returned to the internet cafe, but after some introductions and Figuring Basic Things Out, it was time to part from Akari and figure out some hard stuff.

Like what to do with the fact that Roger is in the real world.

Outside the internet cafe in Shimokitazawa that Hazuki chose is a different kind of cafe. Hazuki is too tired and thirsty and hungry to immediately jump on a train, so she's gonna order them treats, taking an outdoor table and watching the streets.

"Pick anything you want," she'll say once they're given menus. "You okay?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem>
There was also a real row by the people running that net cafe about who Roger was, where he came from, and why he didn't pay to use the stalls. Roger, being guileless about the (to humans, and to be fair, it largely is the) "real" world beyond what little was shared prior, said probably the funniest honest answers imaginable that will only be funny in retrospect.

And also a polite request to maybe take off the mascot costume (his old self) because they're not accepting advertisements for whatever in there. He's perfectly human-looking underneath, which is to say... he passes for human ''enough''. He's kind of, uh, gonk, with a few vaguely pig-like traits to his appearance.

One round of Figuring Basic Things Out later...!

"There's a lot of rules in how to play as a human being, isn't there..." He has gotten contemplative since the early trials, questions, and answers of it. "Very complex."

He has a menu in his hand. "I'm thinking... maybe... we could start with a cherry, then a strawberry, an orange, an apple, then... melon, and... do spaceships and bells have flavors? I don't see those here... do they have keys...? Is a key lime that?"

(...uh, is he legally allowed to make this joke?)

Nonetheless, these bizarre thoughts manifest eventually in the form of a cherry smoothie of some kind, and strawberry-flavored pastries. Despite what the next obvious step might be in the Grand Tour of Learning to be Human, he's... a neat eater. Who knew.

"I'm having fun! I want to play with everyone as someone, so that's why I followed you out!" He says, genuinely and warmly, albeit almost like a tone that might have come out of media meant for younger ages.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Hazuki had to use all her Charm prompts to get them out of that (and also pay for Roger's time). Needless to say, she's still beat.

But now that they're at the cafe... Hazuki tilts her head, taking a moment to get his reference. "No, it's... what IS a key lime?" she wonders.

And then, they have pastries, with her having a croissant and a coffee to give her enough energy to get home.

"I'm glad," she smiles to Roger. "But... shouldn't you have stayed in your Atelier?" she asks. She sighs. "If you're going to be out here, we'll need to find you some place to stay..."

It's weird, that he's no longer a pig. But she doesn't mind. He's still Roger!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem>
Roger tilts his head at the thought of staying in his Atelier. "It's... really strange. I never even thought about the idea of leaving before, but..."

"...it was really strange in the Atelier, too." Roger looks downcast for a moment. "There shouldn't be any reason for a difference between Humors. I don't know why I was singled out at all! I rooted around in thought thinking about it, and I still don't know why the other Sanguin Humors weren't talking to me. Or why the Coleric Humors didn't listen to me, or... anything like that."

"But you did, Hazuki-chan. You and all your friends! So I want to keep playing with all of you. So I left!" He says it like it's the simplest thing now, cheerfully, though it segues into a very difficult, important problem that needs resolution. Some place to stay...

"Um," he presses his fingers together, "I didn't think about that part..." After all, Roger kind of just spontaneously appeared in this world without a birth certificate, family, history, or anything which is already weird and alarming!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Hazuki frowns sympathetically as Roger goes downcast, picking at her croissant. "Maybe... you were supposed to move on? I did that... light show thing... because I felt it was my purpose. Maybe your purpose is to be out here too?"

She doesn't know what happened. Only that it was important.

Though, she smiles as he becomes cheerful. "Well, you're welcome here as long as you want, though..."

Yes, thinking about where he'll stay. "My grandma would probably freak out... maybe some of the people who helped know where to stay? There's some of those cool adults, like Myunghon... I can talk to them. Until then... I can dip into my allowance to find you a hotel!" She's gonna be broke *very* fast.

A pause. "I'll ask grandma, too, just in case. Oh, or we could hide you in the garage!"

Hazuki, not that one.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem>
"Supposed to move on... I've never known any Humors to do anything like that." Beat. "Oh! I've never known any Humors to get their own Persona like me, either!"

No one's ever known of any Shadows getting their own, even if there's those strange cases like Morgana (whom insists they are actually human!) and Pernelle (who is... Pernelle).

...But where he'll stay now, as opposed to how everyone got where they are now, is going to be important. He's already experiencing matters like 'hunger' and 'fatigue' and 'people can't be split up into four easily understood categories of personality and role in an environment' and it's admirable he even has any sort of capacity to let it stew and cogitate into complex thought.

"...Is it because I'd be scary?" Roger asks, about hiding in the garage. "The ones with the red armbands seemed like they weren't having all that much fun with me..." Beat. "But I had fun with them!"

...Even if all that complex thought inevitably, and invariably, ends up somewhere within the collective existential goal of 'play!'

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
Hazuki takes a drink of her coffee, as she nods. "You're special, then! You're a player, not just a mob..."

Hazuki considers, though. "Well, kinda... we have a concept called 'stranger danger'. Some people don't trust people they don't know, especially around people my age, right? So if I asked grandma if you could stay with me, she might think something bad could happen or someone could get hurt, even though it wouldn't!"

A pause, as he mentions SEES... "I don't get them either. They seem... really morbid. I think they're good people, but I'm an optimist. I don't get along well with cynics..." A shake of the head. "But it's okay! We're a team now, you, me, and Hoshi-senpai. We'll figure out how to do this all by ourselves next time can get together..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem>
Stranger danger.

Roger frowns in consideration of one of his strawberry pastries. "Telling apart 'friend' from 'not' was a lot easier in an Atelier." Life was simpler in an Atelier, because he was also much simpler. "Maybe if I play with your grandma she'll understand I'm a friend!" It's not ever really that simple, is it?

A little cheer and a very big smile at the talk about being a team now. "Yes! We are! Whatever we'll play together, I can't wait!"

Another moment passes as he has himself another bit of snackin', before looking up. "...Thanks for coming to the Atelier. I know it was scary and not all that fun for you, at first, but... thanks to you, I'm really looking forward to everything!" Everything except the hard questions that can't be solved - or perhaps may in fact be caused - by what he desires to do most.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
"I bet," Hazuki says softly. "But... I don't think it's that easy. But maybe eventually! We'll figure it out, though. I promise."

She bites into her croissant, chewing as he thanks her. She swallows, "I'm glad I did. We met you, saved Nakata-kun, and... we're going to keep helping people like him. People who can't help themselves anymore."

A smile. "We have time to decide what that looks like as a team, but... this is a new chapter! We beat the arc boss... now we have to figure out what to do next. I have some leads, at least."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem>
"Those Homunculi can't hide from me!" Roger snorts, an intense look on his face - surprisingly intense, given the playful (if, um, charitably less than homely) facial expressions he typically manages with his hard-won human guise that's all his own. "Though..."

He relaxes some. "When we go into any other Ateliers, I'm on the same hoofing as you are. But I'll put forth the best game I can for any other! Especially you!"

...A reinforcement of a growing bond.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
"...yeah!" Hazuki cheers back, intensely, before relaxing as well.

"Thank you, Roger. We couldn't have done any of this without you."

She can feel it inside. The bond growing... she wonders what exactly this destiny all means.

"Okay, let's finish! Once we're done, we'll find you somewhere to sleep. We have a lot ahead of us... but let's not rush ahead!"

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-11-04: Powerless

2025-11-15T22:11:15Z

Thornpunk: Created page with "*'''Log: Powerless''' *'''Cast:''' Shinjiro Aragaki, Minako Arisato *'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory *'''OOC Date:''' November 04, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 05, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Minako finds Shinjiro in a funk, and provides him some leaderly compassion. They discuss all the supernatural things he's been struggling with and the feeling of being powerless, before he vaguely confides that he believes he hurt Mitsuru. They agree to try and give her some more..."

*'''Log: Powerless'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinjiro Aragaki]], [[Minako Arisato]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Dormitory
*'''OOC Date:''' November 04, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 05, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Minako finds Shinjiro in a funk, and provides him some leaderly compassion. They discuss all the supernatural things he's been struggling with and the feeling of being powerless, before he vaguely confides that he believes he hurt Mitsuru. They agree to try and give her some more support.''

----

(|============================================================================|)

(|============================ Iwatodai Dormitory ============================|)

-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-

A large four-story dormitory used by the Specialized Extracurricular Execution

Squad, only five minutes from Iwatodai Station. Upon entering, one passes a desk

with a sign-in book for guests to find a large carpeted common room that's well

appointed for co-ed gatherings.

A TV is usually on with the local news or a movie that's been loaded into the

DVD player for a student to enjoy. A table for shared dinners, or more often

study sessions, takes up the other half of the dorm, as well as a kitchen should

one dare to show off their skills to their fellow students.

There are two winding staircases on either side. The one on the left simply says

'Boys' while the other on the right states 'No Boys Except By Invitation.' The

implicit threat of execution need not be written down for those who violate

these rules. The second and third stories are living spaces divided by gender

with common spaces that have study areas and bookshelves available.

The fourth story is the command center with surveillance capabilities for not

just different parts of the city but each room within the dorms. The Chairman

has assured all who live here that this capability is strictly necessary.

BGM - Dormitory Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj-FrFI0qnM

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
It is Sunday in the SEES dorms, and Shinjiro Aragaki is NOT cooking. That's not all he does! Though, over the last week, he's been a bit distant, he's still sleeping here and cooking here normally, even as he helped the Cardboard Dragon technically with Taro Nakata's Atelier instead of SEES, guarding their internet cafe booth.

The distance isn't clear where it came from... but he hasn't been interacting as much as he had before, and the perceptive could notice. He knows what it is, of course, the encounter with Mitsuru and Reiya and his fear of causing problems for the living, but he's not sharing that information.

However, he has been buying stuff for the summer vacation in less than a week, so they can be sure he'll be there, at least.

Right now, Shinjiro's alone on one of the couches. He has a book in his hands, though he's clearly having trouble getting through it. The book is No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai, which he's mentioned before.

After a long moment trying to stare at a page, he sighs, placing the book back down. He places his head in his hands for a moment, running his fingers through his hair, before straightening up, trying to put back on his metaphorical masks.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<poem>
Minako slept in a little late today. She often does on Sundays, unless she has a part-time job to do in the daytime. She comes down the stairs, then, and rubs at her eyes. She had been up in her room after getting up, and she pauses as she sees Shinjiro...

...and a familiar book.

She starts to open her mouth -- but she sees the way the mask falls. The way his worries are clear, as he puts his head in his hands, and Minako's smile fades for a moment. Then, she takes a couple more steps down the stairwell.

"Hi, Aragaki-senpai," she says. She hesitates for a second. "Everything okay?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro, for once, is not alert as Minako rubs her eyes. It's when she comes further down and greets him that he tilts his head over, face reverting to neutral.

"Hey, Arisato," he greets, before seeing her hesitate. AS she asks that question, he considers.

The answer is 'no, not really', but he can't just burden her with that. Then again, she's one of the leaders... but he can't tell her what *happened*, can he? It's between the six people that were in that room.

"I'm fine," he first answers reflexively. It's said with all the practice of someone who's had to say it a thousand times. After a moment where he considers leaving it at that...

"Just stressed," he admits. "Things have been pretty rough lately all around."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"Ah, yeah..."

Minako trails off, before she walks closer. She stops behind the sofa -- the one opposite the one that he sits on -- and puts her hands on the back of it, and looks at Shinjiro with a thoughtful expression.

"Things with the trip?" she asks. She hesitates for a second. She can hazard a guess about what else it might be, too.

"...you know, the stuff with the Dark Hour and everything else?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Part of Shinjiro wondered if Minako would say a platitude and leave at that. People usually do. But instead, she move to engage, and he watches as she places her hands on the sofa.

"Trip is whatever. It's like a week, yeah? I didn't have enough prep time, but it's better to go, right?" He's still a bit uncertain. Has he earned something like that? But he's trying to mask it as best as he can. He's the senpai here.

Though, then Minako pierces the actual problem. "...it's been a shitshow," he admits without censoring himself. "I've been dealing with that, some Palaces, *two* cursed circuses, some stuff with the Cardboard Dragon..." Another sigh.

"It's not like it was back in the day anymore. The world's a lot bigger. There's more people who can get hurt."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<poem>
Minako never likes to look away. She looks at him, and then there is a nod of her head. "Yeah," she says. "It'll be nice to relax. But there wasn't a lot of prep time, either."

She doesn't flinch at the coarse language. She doesn't swear as much as he does, but she isn't exactly the type to never swear. "I heard about the cursed circuses," Minako says. She frowns, though, and tilts her head. "The Cardboard Dragon ''and'' Palaces, huh?"

She hesitates.

"...Well..." She trails off for a second. "...I hate it when people I care about are in danger. And especially if it's dangers I can't see coming. That leaves me feeling... I don't know. Powerless?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"It'll be cold," Shinjiro mutters, even if that is the oddest thing ever to say about a beach. "But... might be nice, even if I'm honestly too busy for this." What does it say about him that he refused to fight, and the moment he came back, he started to overwork himself?

A pause, as he considers what to share with Minako, and decides to trust her. "A contact of mine is being threatened by a Palace Ruler, and then some guy just got murdered while my allies got brutalized trying to protect him." He's craving eel, suddenly...

Minako, though, is thoughtful, and talks about people in danger. "...yeah. Just watching the world move by for the worse, being unable to act on it... it sucks."

His neutral expression breaks into a frown at that. "I'm being a downer," he says, shaking his head.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"I-I hope it won't be cold," Minako says with a little laugh. She isn't sure if it's a joke -- even if it doesn't sound like he meant it as one -- and then she hesitates for a second. She smiles, then. "I hear you about feeling busy. I want to explore Tartarus more, and..."

She trails off. "...but, it might mean we really ''do'' need a break, so we're at our best."

She gets quiet, then, as Shinjiro explains more. She frowns when he explains it -- and her eyes widen a little bit. She shakes her head quickly. "Hey--hey, it's okay. You've got every reason to get down about. I'm really sorry about... about the guy who got murdered. That's horrible."

She hesitates. "That's a lot. It's... remember you don't have to handle it alone, okay?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro realizes he said that aloud where she could hear him, and sighs. "I've got temperature regulation issues. It's gonna be cold for me," he admits. It'd explain why he's always wearing a thick coat. But it wouldn't explain the rest of his apparent poor health, the weakness in his muscles, the pale skin, being slightly underweight.

On the subject of breaks... "Maybe you're right," he says, considering. "Myunghon can probably handle it without me." They'll need to learn, either way.

Though, as Minako is sympathetic, Shinjiro nods. He feels awkward about this situation, but he's trying to be more honest with his leader, at least so he doesn't screw up group cohesion. But there's a lot he's still hiding.

But then Minako says that he doesn't have to handle it alone, and he thinks back to everyone else who has been trying to get him to believe that. "Everyone else has a lot on their plate."

He's pretty bad at asking for help, so his first reaction is to try and justify why he doesn't.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"Oh--oh, yeah, that would do it," Minako says. It ''does'' explain why he wears a coat all the time. Though, he looks good in it, and it's just his look. She looks slightly guilty for having brought it up.

Then, she nods. "It'll be okay. And... when you get back, you can catch up, right?"

She doesn't know Myunghon. But she trusts they can handle it.

"I know," she says. "Everyone's got a lot going on, but... if we help each other, it means we're sharing it, right? So you're not alone on this kind of thing, if you wanna ask."

A beat.

"And if you need to keep something quiet, I can keep my mouth shut."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Don't worry about it," Shinjiro says gently, noticing the guilt. "You didn't know."

Catching up... "Yeah, I guess. It's just the worry of coming back to Hell, you know?" He's straightening up a bit, at least, not as tense, even as he admits that.

But Minako's next words, the ones about sharing and keeping quiet... make him laugh gently. He smiles lightly at that, which looks better on him than the frown does. "Thanks, Arisato."

And then he pauses, and considers. Keep her mouth shut, huh? He can't say everything, but maybe a neutral party is a good person to tell...

"...I got into a fight with Kirijo. Can't really talk details. I just know I probably hurt her. Rarely if ever heard her yell like that, you know?" He rubs the back of his head. "Don't repeat this, but she's important to me. All my good memories are with her and Aki."

"I've already put a lot on her. The three of us shared burdens no one else knows about, but... it just sucks to watch her grind herself down. What were you saying, powerless? That's what it feels like."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"Thanks," Minako says, when he reasures her. Then, there is a nod of understanding -- and she thinks of those years where she worried what she would find, when she was reunited with her brother. It wasn't life or death...

But she can imagine the anxiety.

She listens to him -- and there's a slight widening of her eyes, at the mention of Mitsuru losing her temper. It is hard for her to imagine, but that may be the point -- how little SEES knows of Mitsuru, how much of her is hidden. Minako nods, after a second.

"That... yeah. That makes sense," she says. "She takes a lot on her. I'll... I'll try to look after her, okay? I won't say you said anything. But..."

She considers. "Maybe with two of us on it, we can help," she says. "It can't hurt, right?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"...thank you," Shinjiro says when offers to look after her. "I'd... appreciate that. I need to talk to her, but I might wait until the trip. She's sure to be busy until then." He sighs.

Another smile. "I think we'll be in good hands with you as one of our leaders. Your brother, too. He's pretty dependable." It might seem odd to say that about the gloomy monotone guy, but Shinjiro absolutely means it. He's seen enough of Minato so far.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<poem>
"The trip is a good time," Minako says to him. She tilts her head to the side as she considers what he says for a second. "Since... it's making us all take a deep breath. And that includes Kirijo-senpai."

Then, Minako brightens -- and she folds her arms, proudly. "Thanks. I'll do my best to not let you down," she says. "And... yeah. My brother is reliable, too. I know he'll do a good job. And I'll be there to back him up!"

And have the energy for the both of them.

She smiles back at him. (He has a nice smile.) "Don't worry. I'll talk to her -- maybe I'll get her off for some girl time on the trip."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah. Maybe that's what we need," Shinjiro says. "Just a change of pace."

Shinjiro considers what she says about not letting him down, and nods. He doesn't think she will. If anything, it'd be the other way around.

Minako's smile is also nice, and the fact they're no longer frowning is helping shaking him out of it. "Yeah? I can see that being good for her. Especially since I will probably have to deal with some of Iori's nonsense." Oh no, he's got future sight... "May there be mercy on us all."

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-11-06: I Ain't Afraid Of No Ghost

2025-11-08T09:57:45Z

Thornpunk: fixing cast member link

*'''Log: ''' I Ain't Afraid Of No Ghost
*'''Cast:''' [[Isabeau Fontaine]], [[Niko Kirisaki]], [[Jun Kashihara]], [[Hazuki Nakao]], [[Ruzica Crvena]], [[Yukari Takeba]], [[Shizuka Kuroki]], [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Fuuka Yamagishi]], [[Maria Sakurai]]
*'''Where:''' Hirasaka - Eifuji Haunted Manor
*'''OOC Date:''' 2025-11-06
*'''IC Date:''' Mon Aug 06 2012
*'''Summary''': ''* Are you a COWARD? ''
''* STAY HOME!!!!! ''
''* Legitimate ghost hunters ONLY invited to Eifuji Manor group stay ''
''* If you are just going to scream and run away DO ***NOT*** WASTE MY TIME!''

''Isabeau's learnt of a haunted manor operating as a hotel in Hirasaka Ward -- but unfortunately for /her,/ it only accepts /group/ bookings. Thusly has she sent out a challenge over social media, demanding with great aggression that people sign up to come with her... /if they think they can take it./''

''But the twist is that this is a /Sumaru/ haunted house, and people have been spreading rumours about Eifuji Manor for /ages/...''

----

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>

OST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfZkqG_gfIc Ghosts - If You Have Ghosts (Roky Erickson cover)

Eifuji Manor offers a unique stay for groups of travellers; the promise of a ''haunted'' experience at their hotel-manor. They say a woman once died there, following an attack by her jealous sister; ever since, there have been unexplained events which have chased any permanent occupants from the lodgings. All that remains are the haunted-eyed maiden maid, Kinori Chikahata, and the strangely peppy concierge, Hisayasu Yabu -- or 'Yasu-Yabu', as he introduces himself to you all.

One presumes they would be quite strange, living and working here.

Or perhaps... IT'S ALL AN ACT?!

Isabeau Fontaine kept one of her luggage-cases ''with'' her when Yasu-Yabu took your bags, though -- ''obviously'' she has more than one, she's ''rich,'' she came ''prepared.'' It rolls onto the floor of the entrance hall, where it straightens up with a ka-CHUNK. The tiled floor is well-suited for things to be wheeled over, at least, with a stark black-blue-white pattern which can feel a little dizzying to look at; there's a grand staircase leading up, and an arched entryway leading into what must be the loungeroom, alongside the kitchen and dining areas. Bronze sculptures of furious eagles decorate this entry hall, with paintings of a love-lorn woman who always seems to be looking out into the world beyond the fourth wall. (You look lovely today.)

"All right," she says, as she turns, stomping one boot-covered foot down on the tile as she places her hands to her hips. "Listen up!"

... she didn't take off her shoes...

Isabeau is a remarkably ''tall'' girl, at five-foot-six -- and markedly ''larger'' than most of her peers, heavy weight settling about her hips and padding out the muscles on her arms and legs. She wears a purple blouse with a lace-mesh neckline and broad shoulders to even out her bottom-heavy figure, and a pair of jean shorts cropped just above her knees. Her honey-blonde hair is prone to tight curling, and three of those locks have made themselves known in the ponytail behind her head, with two drills framing either side of her face. She has green eyes, and aside from her freckles, she's ''white as a ghost'' -- definitely a foreigner, if the slightly stilted Japanese didn't clue that off.

"I have called you here tonight to find the Ghost of Eifuji Manor. If ANY of you," her finger points, in the ''world's rudest gesture,'' across the gathered teenagers, "have come here only to mess around -- you can find the exit -- right behind you!" Oh, thank god, she started pointing at the door instead of at anyone here, that was ''way'' too aggressive, did she arrive in Japan ''yesterday.'' (She did not. She's been part of Shujin's 2-A class since April. Don't worry, ''everyone'' is upset about that.) "I do not need anyone here who is not taking this ''seriously!''"

It's a haunted manor, how serious could it be? Deathly serious, according to Isabeau's stern expression.

"I would have only done this ''myself,''" she grouses, "but they would not ''let'' me book the manor alone. That is why ''you'' are here. So!" Isabeau leans down, to open up her luggage -- revealing an entire array of ''gizmos'' and ''gadgets.'' "These are our tools. If you break them you will ''pay'' for them, and I tell you they were ''not cheap.'' First --"

She pulls out a camera, which she passes to Ruzica. "''This'' is a thermal imaging camera. I trust you can find it in yourself to be of ''some'' use to this investigation." The rest of the equipment, she distributes amongst the others. Hazuki gets an EVP Recorder, a sensitive sound recording device said to be able to pick up the delicate voices of ghosts. Jun gets an EMF Meter, a sensitive device designed to sense supernatural electromagnetic fields. Kazusa gets a night vision camcorder, the kind which can record an investigation even after the lights go out. Niko gets a pair of night vision ''goggles'' -- perfect for seeing anything in the dark. Maria receives a full-spectrum camera; unlike a thermal imaging camera's ability to image warmth, this one takes photos which show the ultraviolet and infrared light spectrums. Fuuka receives a 'Spirit Box': a device that creates white noise from radio frequencies to allow ghosts to speak through. Finally, Shizuka receives an ''ouija board,'' used to receive messages from the dead.

To Yukari, finally, she hands... a heavy-duty flashlight.

"The operation of these tools is like ''this'' --"

What follows is a quick (and really rather mean) tutorial on how to properly use and handle all this ghost hunting equipment, during which very little spookiness happens at all. Perhaps ghosts are polite, or perhaps haunted houses ''aren't real.'' Sure, maybe there's a little creeeeeak here and there... but it's an old house! Houses creak.

No, everything is fine. The tutorial goes off without a hitch. There's just enough time to air some sassy comments, before --

-- the lights flicker --

-- and the manor blacks out!

(Luckily, all those high-tech gadgets which were just handed around were all designed to be used in low-light conditions, so their menus and dials and buttons are all backlit.)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
<poem>

Ruzica Crvena has come along with Isabeau in part because she's been goaded by the latter's insistence, but also she had business here in Sumaru City... elsewhere, so sharing accomodation only made sense. Tonight, though, it looks like she won't be able to peel off to do her business, and when Isabeau plops the thermal imaging camera in her hands--

"Wherever... did you obtain this?"

Ruzica does look rather enamored, though, so much that Isabeau doesn't bother her this time because this is still a camera-shaped object and thus she is instantly in her HAPPY PLACE as she begins to meddle with every little nook and cranny of it, as if to truly get her craft hands all over and understand it. Click click click. Beep beep. Oh, thermal imaging... how fascinating, even if they're not even certain what kind of photographs they'll be able to take by the end of this. It looks like this is a digital camera, because for once Ruzica isn't handling something made 40 years ago.

Don't worry, Ruzica will still love you, dear camera...

The young woman isn't terribly tall, only 156cm, with her black hair tied into a high ponytail with cold, golden eyes peeking vividly out from her curtain of jet-black fringes. She's wearing a crisp wine-red button-down shirt and black pinstripe dress pants all worn fastidiously like she could actually just be a member of the hotel staff, with a harness to go with their shirt.

It looks like the social media post really did rouse a large number of people. She wasn't certain if it was going to end up with just her and Isabeau. ... there might've been a non-zero chance it was going to be that way.

"... it's nice to meet you," Ruzica greets quietly, her expression phlegmatic, her voice barely above a whisper. Her expression hasn't changed once in the middle of all the explanations. "I'm Ruzica Crvena."

The lights flicker just right after they're done familiarising with their tools.

"Ah..."

A blackout!

Ruzica's face can be very lightly seen in the backlight of her thermal camera. "Of course, it isn't a certainty if our ghost will exhibit body heat... but perhaps the true value of a thermal imaging device is to find ''cold'' spots instead... how fascinating..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shizuka Kuroki has posed.
<poem>

Shizuka Kuroki, you are a badass Shadow hunter who deals in the supernatural and climbs a hell tower every night.

Shizuka Kuroki, you've got incredible magic powers that can take care of any creep or ghoul or ghost.

Shizuka Kuroki, why are your knees knocking together?! Cut it out!

Shizuka was already regretting coming here. The best thing to raise your courage is to immerse yourself in fear, right? It's a 'haunted manor,' that stuff's all fake! Ghosts aren't real! It's safe! Right?

The mousy girl takes the ouija board and tucks it under her arm. Come on, this is definitely fake. It's a piece of cardboard, how is this going to get any messages from the dead?

Hey, are anyone else's feet getting cold?

She turns over to Fuuka and Yukari, putting on a nervous smile. "Boy, this place is really going all out, huh? Just like that weird carnival the other week!" She can't really fully hide the nerves in her voice, but she's trying.

And then the lights go out. Oh no.

"EEEK!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
WHO ELSE DIDN'T TAKE OFF HER SHOES THAT'S RIGHT IT's HAZUKI NAKAO WITH THE STEEL CHAIR----

Hazuki took up the offer of ghost hunting not necessarily because she wanted to hunt a ghost (she believes in them, why wouldn't she? But that's not her priority!) but because she wants to see if they can put up Roger for a few days. Unfortunately, she's unaware it's GROUP BOOKINGS ONLY because she skim reads when she doesn't quite know the language. She just thought they were ghost hunting a hotel!

Hazuki has seen Isabeau around, but never talked to her. She knows the rumors, and she seems just as prickly... but maybe she's secretly nice? Ren was secretly nice!

As her luggage is taken and equipment is tossed into her hands, Hazuki takes it carefully. "Alright! I'm Hazuki Nakao. Time to befriend a ghost, befriend a ghost, nanana..." Wait, no.

She does listen to the tutorial, thankfully, and is not sassy. She nods to Ruzica and Shizuka, the latter of whom she's met alongside several other Persona Users, though she clearly seems to believe in ghosts.

AND THEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT

Hazuki holds up her EVP recorder, clicking the buttons as instructed. She's straight to work! "Hello, miss ghost...?" She's assuming it's a woman, she *did* hear the story.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>

It's close to sundown when Jun returns home to Hirasaka Ward from Iwatodai, where he spent most of the day tutoring Hyousuke, his underclassman. It was a very productive session... but he's spent a little too much time acting as though everything's normal with him.

Because everything's ''not'' normal. Between being interrogated by Strega and learning that Sutoh is actually Sudou and most likely the Joker Killer... Jun is very much not having a normal time of things.

That's why, when he saw a call on social media for a ghost hunt in what is functionally his backyard, he decided to sign up for it. For all that its confrontational language claims this is a SERIOUS mission for SERIOUS ghost hunters ONLY, Jun doesn't actually think it's serious; he figures it's a test of courage, as Japanese students often do in the summertime. The fact that it's set at Eifuji Manor, a local legend that he's been to before, only reinforces this.

All considered, Jun figures he could stand to test his courage some more. He managed to stand his ground emotionally with Strega, but if "Sutoh" approaches him again... he needs to be ready.

He doesn't show up with luggage, per se; he lives locally, so he can go home whenever he wants to. So, aside from the pale blue button-up shirt with a sprig of lavender in the breast pocket, brown slacks, and tennis shoes, and of course his phone, Jun arrives with a shoulder bag with a) a single change of clothes plus a pair of pajamas b) a book to read if it gets dull c) that's it. Hotels have travel-size toiletries already, so he doesn't need extra.

He wasn't really expecting the ghost-hunting equipment, though in retrospect he should have. One look at Isabeau (she's a foreigner, it's more or less fine that she doesn't take her shoes off, what can you really expect (Jun is not immune to prejudices)) tells Jun that she is most ''definitely'' taking this seriously.

"Hmmm," he murmurs, dubious, when she points at the door for anyone not ALSO taking this SUPER SERIOUSLY--but he has his own reasons for being here, so he'll stay. He looks at the rest of the crowd that's gathered and decides not to spoil anyone's fun. (By the time he clocks Niko in particular, it'll be too late.) He smiles at Ruzica when she introduces herself--he likes her style--and replies, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm Jun Kashihara." He nods to Hazuki and the others in similar greeting. "Let's make the most of this, shall we?"

He accepts the EMF Meter with aplomb and even interest, once he learns what it's supposed to be for (however rudely Isabeau's tutorial may be delivered); supernatural or not, electromagnetic fields are most certainly real, so they might actually pick something up on it. Considering the mood, staying calm even so could be a good test after all...

Especially when the power suddenly goes out.

Shizuka's shriek is startling; fortunately, in the dark, no one can see Jun flinch. "Ah, that's skillful timing. Good effects," he remarks aloud, looking up with the assumption that Yabu-Yasu or whomever turned off the lights on purpose.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>

Why is Kazusa, of all people, here? That might be a mystery (but a smaller one than finding the ghost of Eifuji Manor.) She's an average 5'2", thin (as befits a rhythmic gymnast), with along straight black hair and purple eyes. She's dressed in a dark red cami top, skinny black jeans, and a stylish bomber jacket. (Also cute black boots, but she ''did'' remember to take those off.)

If any of them are here to mess around, and she just smirks and says, "What about if we're just here to see you fail?" She looks around. "Kazusa Motojima," she introduces herself. "Yes, ''that'' Motojima."

She might be needling Isabeau, but she ''does'' quiet down once the equipment comes out. "Mm," she says with an arched eyebrow. "Well, you didn't skimp on the equipment, at least," she says offhandedly.

But when handed the night vision camcorder she doesn't need to wait for Isabeau's instructions. She takes it and does actually study it, flipping through the various settings and filming some test footage. "Not bad. But we should test this in a dark room first. Just to make sure you didn't get ripped off."

She does actually jump a little as the lights go out, looking around. "... Nevermind. Time to see what this can do." She starts filming, swinging the camera around to take note of everyone. "... Seems like everyone's here." She smirks in the dark. "And there's no unexpected guests yet, either."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>

"Hey Yukatan, up for a little summer fun with a test of courage?"

Yukari looked up from painting her nails in the common room to give Junpei an odd look, "What kind of a 'test of courage'?"

"Eifuji. Manor." He enunciated every syllable, "Home to an ''infamous'' ghost story in the Hirasaka district of Sumaru City."

"Uhhhhh- Nope." Yukari went back to painting her nails, pretending her best not to be freaked at all. "I don't need my courage tested- Stupei. Go on your own."

"Hey come on! It'd be totally lame to go by myself. And besides - I'm pretty sure that you're just scared."

"I am ''not''. I just have better things to do." She says sharply. "It's not like with Fuuka-chan where people were collapsing anyway... so there's no reason for it."

"... Well I think you're ''chicken''!"

"I am not chicken-!"

-=-=-

Yukari Takeba is very much ''chicken''. At least when it comes to ghosts. The idea of the afterlife where restless ghosts can't move on disturbs the heck out of her.

And worst of all.

"Where... ''is he''?"

Junpei didn't show. He's not even answering his texts. "If he convinced me to come only to ditch me I'm going to-"

And Isabeau starts to speak. It's her last chance to bow out. If Junpei doesn't come, would he ever even know?

But as she looks around, there are people who ''would'' know. And ''could'' tell him. Like Fuuka and Shizuka. She can't believe she's even here after what happened to her!

A sweeping fingerpoint, and Yukari seems taken aback by the aggressiveness of the gesture, before- "Seriously... Yeah sure." She says, obviously not sounding, thrilled, but also not playing around.

And they brought... "Ghost equipment?" Like she's baffled by people trying to look at this scientifically as she murmurs, "Iiii dunno..."

It's probably all demon-shadow, Persona stuff anyway, right? RIGHT?

A heavy duty flashlight is put in her hands which she holds like it's a hot potato she wants to get rid of, and- "Wait does that mean I'm up front?" She maybe pales a shade, before replying, "Sure. I guess I can handle that."

As Ruzica introduces herself, Yukari gives her a strange look, "Ah uh nice to meet you? Takeba. Yukari Takeba."

Why are those gold eyes so disturbing? They remind her of Kaneshiro, but that's stupid... she's definitely got nothing in common.

Up front she goes... the flashlight on, with her stopping every so often at the creaks, "That was, us right?"

And then the lights flicker and-

"AHHH!!" Yukari lets out a little shriek of shock at the blackout before... "I-It's fine. Totally fine. We have plenty of light." The heavy duty flashlight seems ''dimmer'' than ever, in the face of this darkness, as she shines it here or there.

"But we should probably try to find a breaker a-anyway." She babbles, "No sense on relying on... just flashlights, aha... ha."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>

A meeker person might have looked at that advertisement on the socials and thought it's way too aggressive.

A skeptical person might have looked at that advertisement and reasoned that ghosts don't exist so clearly it's some kind of hoax.

A more cautious person might have looked at that advertisement and thought that they shouldn't go to a strange manor with a person and people they don't know.

Maria is... well, Maria is here, isn't she? That may say everything for her.

She's changed into casual clothes, a light-blue button-down shirt paired with a knee-length white skirt with lacy fringe, and had a pair of slip-on flats (blue) before exchanging them for slippers up front because she's kind of an airhead but has been thoroughly housebroken. A shiny plastic round purse hangs over one shoulder. Her pink hair is pulled into a high ponytail, tied off with a large white ribbon.

Her attention is everywhere. She's looking at the spooky picture and the spooky house-keepers (until they themselves away) and the spooky tiled floor, and had been craning her neck to sight whatever or wherever those stairs had led, until Isabeau calls everyone to order.

Maria has been put in custody of one (1) camera. It's full-spectrum! Isabeau might have had to explain to her what 'ultraviolet' and 'infrared' mean.

"Wow... light is full of colors," Maria remarks, bearing her new prize aloft (Maria no you can't keep that). How did she miss that in science class again?

(Cut to, years ago, Maria zoning out during science class while teacher tries in vain to bestow precious knowledge unto their proteges...)

Pointing the camera right at the stairs, Maria takes a picture! Cliiick. "Oh, is it like a Polaroid? My grandfather had one of those, you know, he used to take a lot of photos of me as a kid and they'd develop right away! I liked watching those develop. You shake them you know and--"

The lights, mercifully, go out.

Maria, for her part, just looks confused. "They should get the wiring looked at. My grandfather was an electrician, you know."

He's also dead, Maria.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
<poem>

Believe it or not... but Niko is actually taking this completely seriously. In the sense that she fully expects there to be a legit haunting involved. That's one of things that makes this an interesting venture. All the people that will be involved is another interesting thing. You learn a lot about people when they're put in situations like this. Most of it is bound to be funny.

...Also, an open call is like her one chance to get in on something like this. There's no way she could convince any of her Strega fellows to join her for something like this. Their loss, really.

Niko just kind of stares at Yasu-Yabu when he gets to her, then shrugs. No bags here, she literally just showed up with the clothes on her back. That's fine and normal. Really, the others are the weird ones. "Y'all brought bags? That's optimistic, thinking you're gonna get any sleep. Or... only a short sleep, if you catch my drift. Maybe you should have brought a different kind of bag..."

She's talking about a body bag, if that wasn't clear. I mean, it's a ghost house, in Sumaru. She doesn't know what anyone else is expecting here, but she's got her guesses.

Isabeau seems cool, though. Taking this stuff seriously, coming prepared, looks like she can fight, taking the leader role... failing to take off her shoes, just like Niko. Very nice. They might just be similar in many ways, including height, just not in build. Oh, and friendliness, obviously. As everybody knows, Niko is the pinnacle of friendliness.

And she gets freaking night vision goggles! She wastes no time in putting those on, while there isn't any need for it yet. "Hell yeah, this is metal as shit, I'm never taking these off." She didn't bother introducing herself, or paying much attention to who else was there, until she can look at them with those goggles on her head. Grinning the entire time, making it hard to be sure if she's grinning at anyone's presence in particular... but she's definitely clocked the familiar faces in the crowd here.

Look at her though, being a good girl and not interrupting the tutorial with any of her nonsense... until the lights go off. People start screaming, and Niko just starts laughing, boisteriously. Not so much because she's absolutely fine with those goggles on, but because the game, clearly, is afoot.

"Oh, here we go, now we're talking! This is gonna be good, only a matter of time before someone dies in a way that'll be ''really'' funny. But who will it be, hmmm..." She once again scans the group, driving home the point all the more that even if you can't see her, she can still see you.

"I just can't decide, you ALL look like you could be the first to die in a horror movie!"

If nothing else, she's setting the proper tone, right?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>

And that's when Yukari- who didn't notice Niko's presence earlier during prep, too distracted waiting on Junpei, turns around, her flashlight moving past her... then suddenly zooming back towards Niko's face like she realized something, either from that glimpse of the face or the voice.

Violin Screech - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TUeUL7EW9M

"AHHHHHHHHH!" Another shriek, "What are you doing here!?"

If this is a horror movie, then she must think that Niko is definitely the killer.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
One might imagine Fuuka to be the kind of person who wouldn't go anywhere ''near'' an ostensibly-haunted hotel. She seems the type - she's small and quiet, she probably gets spooked easily. Well... she ''used'' to be. But a steady diet of science fiction and a ten-hour stint in said hell tower has done a lot to work up her tolerance.

She's even been accused of being a ghost herself, before - some people still call her the 'ghost girl' at school, after the stories that arose from her disappearance.

It's easy to convince her to come along - and so, here she is, joining the others in the group. As expected, there's a bunch of unfamiliar faces here... and some she does.

"I'm Fuuka Yamagishi... It's nice to meet you all." Fuuka greets with a polite bow as Ruzica introduces herself, and she listens to everyone introduce themselves in turn.

Her attention turns to Isabeau as she calls for them all to listen up.

...The shouting and the rude gesture might be scarier than any ghost, and she ''definitely'' has to check that she isn't being pointed at directly.

Tools are being handed out - and Fuuka, who has an eye for these things, looks over the Spirit Box she's handed curiously. ...She has to admit, she's intrigued at how such a thing works. Though, thermal imaging, night vision...

"How... did you get all of this?" Fuuka asks. It's some pretty advanced stuff...

...and then, the lights go out!

"Oh!" Fuuka says, surprised. She turns on the Spirit Box, keeping an ear out for any sounds.

"It'd probably be somewhere they usually don't let guests into." Fuuka considers, as Yukari points out that they should probably get the breaker. She looks toward Isabeau. "Did we get any keys...?"

"It's alright, Kuroki-san. Stay close and don't get separated..." Fuuka advises, as the sudden darkness elicits an 'eek' from Shizuka. That's how it always happens in horror movies... which becomes pertinent advice, when Niko says that it's only a matter of time until someone dies.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
<poem>

Niko just casually puts her finger in her ear, possibly to deal with the ringing after Yukari's even louder shriek. "Last I checked, this was an open invitation. Anyone could come, I'm anyone too. Relax, Yuka-chan, I'm no ghost. OR AM I-- nah that's not even a good joke."

Although this whole venture is definitely all the funnier for it, with people here who know her.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>

''Where'' did Isabeau obtain all this equipment? "My mother realised I had resonant indigo harmonics when I was still quite young, so she was more than happy to support my explorations to the spirit world," Isabeau explains, and perhaps only because ''Ruzica'' is the first one who asked. (Does that mean she would have just snubbed Fuuka if Fuuka were the only one to think to ask?! Man, how cruel...)

"It would be bad luck to bring a body bag," she assures Niko, gravely. "Besides, these things are handled by the ambulance responders." Why does she know that?!

"This is no ''carnival,''" she promises Shizuka, with a haughty sniff. And to Hazuki, she says: "Do not be so quick to think a ghost will be your friend. Ghosts are trapped in the living world due to strong emotions... they usually are not good."

Seeing everyone introduce themselves, though, has her going, "Ugh, yes, you all want to be ''friends,'' very ''well,'' I am Isabeau ''Fontaine,'' if you must know." Man, all Jun's smooth social skills look even ''smoother'' against someone like ''this!''

"If you are so sceptical," Isabeau shoots back to Kazusa, unable to hide her scowl, "I am sure the hand on your shoulder is no problem for you." There's no hand on her shoulder, of course, but ''sometimes'' people fall for that one.

(She and Fuuka would likely have common ground in being viewed as creepy... but hey, didn't Fuuka already go through an entire character arc about being bullied?!)

"''Yes,'' ghost hunting ''equipment,''" she informs Yukari, quite prim. "How are we to conduct an investigation if we do not have tools to investigate? And of ''course'' they work," she adds, to Kazusa. "I have been using them ''myself.''" To Niko, she issues: "Have fun if you like, but handle the equipment ''properly.''"

Isabeau pauses, lightly, looking to Maria. She takes a breath. "Ruzica, explain the visible spectrum to her," she delegates, at length.

She does ''not'' scream when the lights go out. "Keep the light forward, Yukari," she says, and addresses her ''yobisute'' and with her ''first name'' as if they're ''the closest friends in the world,'' what the ''fuck.'' "A breaker, it will likely be in the basement."

You mean THE SPOOKIEST ROOM IN THE HOUSE???? "Access to the basement is through the kitchen, mostly. Do not worry, I was given a full set of keys," she adds, to Fuuka, with a jingle as she holds them up.

When Yukari shrieks a ''second'' time, though, Isabeau snaps: "What ''she'' is doing here is ''filling space,'' just as ''you'' are doing here! I do not remember inviting you to dictate who would fulfill the terms of the stay, so either hand over the flashlight and go, or make your peace with her!"

She's telling her to HAND OVER HER FLASHLIGHT when it's THIS DARK?! When ''Niko'' has ''night-vision'' goggles?! She might as well just declare, bold as brass, that Yukari's first to the chopping block--!!

"Anyway," Isabeau shakes her head, "the kitchen will be past the loungeroom. We go."

The loungeroom is a rustic, comfortable place... or it would have been, thirty years ago. The television here is one of those old ''massive'' ones, the kind which have ''seriously'' fallen out of style. (These days, it's all about that LCD!) A fabric-upholstered couch and lounge chair face it; behind them stands a high bookshelf, filled with hundreds of tomes. A display cabinet beside the television holds an array of video tapes which must fit into that VCR under the television's stand, alongside a few war medals displayed on the top shelf.

There's a shifting sound -- and a book falls from the bookcase. Its title reads 'The Sand Woman' against a backdrop of aimless black and sandy ink. It's an old book -- it was published all the way back in the sixties -- but if by chance anyone has studied it for school, or at least picks it up to read the blurb, they'll know that it's about a man who was trapped in a house surrounded by sand dunes and forced to keep his home free of sand with the woman who lived there. ... in the end, the man lost the desire to escape from his new family when he realised that he was no more free in Tokyo than he was trapped in this place of eternal labour, and eventually he was pronounced officially missing by his old life.

Which means, essentially, that anyone with ranks in their ''literary'' skill will realise what's going to happen several minutes before it does.

" ''no escape ,'' " a voice whispers, to the left of your shoulder. (''Everyone's'' shoulder, though the words were assuredly only spoken once.)

The cameras will catch a blur of a flash -- and the EVP recorder will pick up ''laughter'' -- but whatever was there flees the moment it's noticed.

No -- it's when they turn ''back'' that they'll see her, as if she were standing in front of them the whole time.

"Haha... pretty good, huh?"

She's statuesque, stunning, and TALL -- easily a hundred and eighty centimetres. (Or, as the bullies in Shujin would 'kindly' translate for Isabeau, a girl they call 'California' because she's ''foreign'' and ''fat'' and everyone ''knows'' everything in America is ''big'' -- around 5'11"!) Her skin is pale, but her hair is long, black, and straight; her face is covered with a cloth mask, and her clothes would have been in fashion several decades prior.

She's also speaking, like, standard teen Japanese, which is in stark contrast to ''Isabeau,'' who exclaims, in French: "`That's amazing! I've never seen such a defined apparition!`"

The tall woman claps her hands together, and says, "I knew you guys had that 'JAY NAH SAY COY!'" And she says it like she's speaking ''English,'' which of course has Isabeau's brow twitching.

"''Un je ne sais pas quoi,''" Isabeau corrects her, automatically.

"Oooh, la la!" The woman claps a hand to her masked cheek, her eyes glittering. "But the this-or-that of pass and coy isn't that important. What I really want to know is..."

She leans forward -- and down -- expectantly, hands clapping to either side of her lovely eyes.

"Do you think I'm pretty?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
"Anything can be your friend if you believe!" hazuki no

As they're moving through the shadows, and people start shrieking and fighting, Hazuki is still using her EVP recorder, keeping to herself. Even if Kazusa's there and probably going to bully her. Once they're heading to the loungeroom, she does not recognize the book...

But she picks up that laughter. "Reading, reading!" she immediately calls out, especially with that voice over her head.

As the ghost is spotted when they turn, Hazuki doesn't... panic, per se. She does get highly tense for just a second, before the ghost seems to clap her hands together and be nice.

"Oh, hello...! I'm Hazuki. You seem very personable," she starts, before considering the question. She knows a little bit about yokai traps from anime... but also she tilts her head philosophically.

"Do you *want* to be pretty?" Hazuki, an incredibly queer person, wonders what she truly desires. Not every girl wants to be called pretty, not every boy wants to be called handsome, et cetera. "I think what matters is what you think of it!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
<poem>

Shrieks come from their various companions, which doesn't seem to deter Ruzica. Hazuki introduces herself. That's Hazuki Nakao from class 2-E... they're not certain if she's going to notice, given that they haven't really stopped to talk at school or anything. Jun's introduction has her nodding in turn. His style is striking... does he like flowers too, with the lavender on his breast pocket? (She doesn't know the half of it.)

"Jun Kashihara... your lavender is nice. I like flowers a lot..."

For someone with quite the exotic name (is it French? it must be European, at the very least), Ruzica's Japanese is impeccable, combined with her looks and manners largely blending in -- in contrast to Isabeau, whose looks and mannerisms make her stand out quite a bit.

But Kazusa is here as well. It doesn't look like she's particularly noticed her, and that's particularly fine by Ruzica. She does particularly stand out with her style as well, though. And Yukari Takeba... it seems like she's a little bothered, but Ruzica isn't particularly certain because of what.

(The golden eyes do often disturb people.)

"Oh... do you like Polaroids as well? The chemical composition within them is very fascinating. I prefer to develop photos on my own, but there is a different appeal to silver halide emulsions, is there not...?" Ruzica quietly brings up to Maria.

Niko's really getting into it, though, with a boisterous laugh. She points out that they all look like they could be first to die, like in a horror movie.

This gives Ruzica some thought.

"Hmm... if I go first... I want a good head-popping death..." they say placidly to Niko, as if they were talking about whether to get milk or eggs from the konbini. "I like the models they do for that from old movies... CG just doesn't quite have the same effect."

Isabeau points out that this actually came from her *mother*. Unlike the others, this actually does give Ruzica pause, and they're forced to look aside in quiet contemplation for a moment as Fleur comes distinctly to her mind. Somehow, the camera feels a lot more precious in her hands now, though she was never particularly intent on being disrespectful to a camera. No, that's not the way of things.

Isabeau also instructs her to explain the visible spectrum to Maria. "Oh. Yes, what we think of as colour is electromagnetic radiation upon a spectrum..." On the one hand, Ruzica is clearly knowledgeable about this. On the other hand, the near-lifeless monotone might be a deterrance to her being an actually good teacher of things.

It looks like Yukari and Niko's gonna go off to reset the breaker. The loungeroom, for the rest of them, could've been charming thirty years ago... but there's a charm even now that Ruzica finds somewhat fascinating. A book falls. Moments later, there's a whisper to the left of her shoulder, and Ruzica quietly turns to point the thermal imaging camera to--

Her.

Pale-skinned, with long, black, straight hair, covered in a cloth mask...

Perhaps in unison with Isabeau, Ruzica does get offended by the bad French. "`... what she said,`" she points out in French, silently LIVID that Isabeau BEAT her in the impromptu contest to correcting the ghost's bad French. Of course, if she's feeling livid, it hasn't surfaced at all to her surface expression, which is...

Well, the tall, spooky lady has more expression than Ruzica at the moment.

"Ah... this must be the Kuchisake-onna, the Slit-mouthed woman," Ruzica points out.

Two seconds of silence pass.

"Wait... is that spoilers? Am I not supposed to just say it like that...? I'm sorry."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>

Ruzica compliments Jun's flower, a thing that instantly endears her to him. He gives her a broad, pleased smile. "Thank you. I do too--you can communicate so much with them, and everything about them is the essence of beauty. For you, perhaps a white rose would suit?" A white rose, or devotion, innocence, and''or silence. Ruzica ''is'' fairly deadpan...

The crowd is indeed big enough that Jun doesn't notice Niko at first. However, when the lights go out and she bursts into some very familiar maniacal laughter... when someone shines a flashlight on her face and screams... Jun gasps sharply, his pretty face going deathly pale.

It's one thing to go ghost hunting in a manor you grew up hearing about and thus has lost any sense of tension or mystery.

It's another thing to go ghost hunting with a serial killer's accomplice at best and a serial killer in her own right at worst.

Jun is fully on board with Yukari's shrieked question. He does not dare echo it, especially with those night goggles on Niko. If she hasn't noticed ''him'' in the crowd--unlikely, given that he introduced himself to everyone quite casually, but hope springs eternal--he very much does not want to draw her attention.

Looks like this will be far more of a test of courage than he could've ever expected... He swallows hard, circles the group from behind as Niko responds to Yukari, and takes up a spot closer to Yukari. When Niko's attention moves away from her, he leans in to murmur to Yukari, eyes still on Niko, "You know who that girl is?" From his tense tone, Yukari will be able to tell Jun very much does too--especially when he continues, "We should keep an eye on her, for everyone's sakes..."

Jun might just have an EMF reader, but people have electromagnetic fields too. He can track her... hopefully. Certainly the host of this expedition doesn't seem to know and''or care that they have an actual literal killer among them. Social skills aren't all Isabeau lacks, clearly...

The group moves into the lounge room. A book drops. Jun picks it up to return it to its spot, but he ''has'' read this book before. Just one glance tells him. He looks up and around at the others nervously, unsure of if he should say anything or not. The killer in their midst is real, but the "ghost" is all theatrics... right?

Theatrics or no, that whisper, that bait-and-switch of where the newcomer should be and then where she actually is, is quite effective. Jun whirls around, a bead of sweat trickling down his face. He's trying to keep an eye on Niko and on this new development while maintaining his calm, but he can't stop his hands from shaking.

'Do you think I'm pretty?'

If it's theatrics, it's ''very good'' theatrics--for all that the staff here seem to be mixing up an urban legend with the actual ghost story of the major.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>

The Yobisute takes her very off guard, "Wha-" She barely even knows this girl, but then again it ''is'' a weird situation, that she's leading.

She decides to let it go

Yukari stares slowly at Niko as she explains, breathing a little harder, before Isabeau just ''scolds'' her. And- "Nope! It's okay! I'lllll keep ahold of it..."

And with that, Yukari inches that much closer to Fuuka, murmuring, "I'll stay close."

As Jun asks her about that girl, and Yukari gives him a startled look, before murmuring, "Yeah... I do. She's... dangerous." 'We should keep an eye on her just in case.' "Stay close." She whispers, "Let's not give her any easy openings."

What about Shizuka then? ... Look in a horror movie there must be sacrifices, and Shizuka's hat collection has marked her as one.

Her pace is perhaps a little more measured, given that Isabeau gave the ''actual murderer in the room'' the ''perfect tool'' to ''kill them all without anyone noticing.''

They move on... into the loungeroom, and Yukari keeps her flashlight up front, with small shifting sweeps, before- a book falls and-

Her flashlight triangulates in on it, landing on it.

"Uh!" She keeps the flashlight there, eyes darting this way and that, before ''no escape ,''

"Ah!" As she turns around rapidly, breathing hard, before she turns around again and- "AHHHHH! Where did you come from!?"

As she backpeddles a step, almost running into Fuuka, then... she looks, more skeptically. You see...

... stuff you can't see is way creepier.

"Are you sure she's an apparition?" She could just be a demon, or a rumor - or a rumor demon!!! "I don't think a ghost would be so uh- friendly..."

'Do you think I'm pretty?'

"... Sure? Though uh, it's hard to judge when you have a mask on."

And then - Ruzica gives spoilers!

"On second thought... your ensemble is so pretty it seems a shame to- unveil you so soon!" She babbles out quickly, trying to head off a disaster caused by her and her big mouth.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shizuka Kuroki has posed.
<poem>

Shizuka collects herself as her eyes adjust, having clung to Fuuka's arm in the darkness. "I'm fine, I'm good, everything's gonna be okay. Sh-Shizuka Kuroki, by the way." She clings to Fuuka even tighter as Niko begins her teasing. "Don't jinx it!!!"

With a bit of mustered-up courage, she manages to pry herself off her kohai and picks her ouija board back up, now holding it folded like a wrestler holding a steel chair. What good cardboard would do against any attackers would remain to be seen, but it was better than nothing.

The board is dropped once again as the group is accosted by a kuchisake-onna! This is just an actor, it's just an actor, she thinks to herself. Shizuka mentally refers back to the three months back in first year where she really got into urban legends. How to survive a kuchisake-onna... they could say they were running late, but running late to what in a place like this? Confusing her by calling her appearance average might work, if they had enough space to run away... she didn't have any bekko ame on her... Well, the easiest one to try...

"Er... Pomade, pomade, pomade!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>

Isabeau explains, and Kazusa has another eye roll. "'Resonant indigo harmonics'? Really?" She smirks at the attempted trick. "Nice try."

"Sure, ''you'' know that," she responds about the equipment, "But none of the rest of us do, do we?"

Maria comment sthat they should get the wiring checked out. "They probably leave it like that to add to the 'ambiance'," she says dismissively. "Or they just turned them off to scare us."

Niko declares they all look like they could be the first to die in a horror movie. Kazusa rolls her eyes. "Don't get morbid. This is just a tourist attraction. You're making yourself sound like a weirdo serial killer by saying that."

She jumps and whirls the camera around when the book drops. "Ah!" Deep breath, compose yourself Kazusa. "... oh, it's just a book. Somebody probably just... pushed it from the other side of the bookshelf, that's all."

There is a louder yell and a jump as the whisper comes and she whirls around. "What the-- okay, who did that," she snaps. She tries to capture that blur, but it's just a bit too fast.

But she starts (more quietly) when the woman appears, frowning. French is exchanged, and Kazusa is looking her up and down with the camera. "... okay, a ghost wouldn't be speaking modern Japanese," she declares, confidently (and maybe a little bit to reassure herself.)

'Do you think I'm pretty?'

"Eh? Well, if we updated your wardrobe, and got you a nice foundation, then... maybe that'd be workable," is Kazusa's off-handed response.

Kazusa scoffs at Hazuki. "Don't give her your ''name'', idiot. If she were a real ghost she could use it to curse you or something. Not that she's a real ghost, of course."

"... Hey, Crvena-san. You got the thermal imaging camera, right? Does this woman show up on it?" Nope, she noticed you! "What about that book?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
'Resonant indigo harmonics'...? That's a term Fuuka's familiar with - but ''Resonance'' is something she's well enough familiar with, and it's close enough that Fuuka really can't say one way or another whether or not that's a real thing.

"I see..." Fuuka considers - and leaves it at that, for now.

Shizuka is now clinging to her arm, and Yukari seems to agree with her advice on not getting separated.

...Fuuka doesn't recognize Niko on sight, but she can tell that Yukari isn't happy to see her.

"Okay. It'll be easier to keep together." Fuuka replies with a nod, as Yukari says she'll stay close. The breaker is in the basement, through the kitchen - and, thankfully, they ''do'' have the keys.

"Ah, good..." Fuuka breathes out, relieved. It's difficult to pick locks in the dark... and, would probably go against whatever agreements the hotel owners have in place. That's the more ''important'' issue.

And so, they start that way, heading first into the loungeroom - Fuuka keeps a close ear on the Spirit Box for any sign of activity. It looks like it could have been cozy, once, and her attention is quickly drawn to the VCR. Ancient technology... what a stunning find...

And then, there's a voice. 'No escape'...

...Oh, so that's what it's like. Fuuka looks to the left - and then when she looks to the front -

A tall woman stands there. The sudden sight of her causes Yukari to stumble back, almost running into her -

"Ah! Yukari-chan!" Fuuka gasps - and then, the woman speaks.

A ghost is ''one'' thing. ...But a stranger asking for her opinion on her personal appearance? ''That's'' true terror. Fuuka goes stock still for a moment.

"U-um..." She starts, unsure. What does she say...? Is it a trick question...??

"I-I'm sorry..."

...Why is she apologizing?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>

But, all that aside, why did someone like Maria come here? The answer is, truly, painfully simple:
Because it's the sort of thing that her grandmother would have refused her if she'd asked. So for all intents and purposes, she's-- definitely not at home tonight. Did she bother coming up with a reason for why she wasn't home? Sources say... ...maybe.

Maria also has not introduced herself in time with the others. This is not out of rudeness or anything like it -- she just forgot...

That is, until just about everyone else does, which proves effective at jogging her memory. "I'm Maria! Maria Sakurai. Class 2-C at Sevens!" No one asked, Maria. She bows, her long ponytail spilling about her. "Please take good care of me! Thank you for arranging this trip, Fontaine-san!" You know, like this is a fun expedition and not a ghost-hunting trip.

"Uh huh!" she tells Ruzica. "They're fun to shake! Nothing happens with other photos, though, if you shake them." It must be nice to be an airhead...

And then, as previously noted, the lights go out. "But it could be that the wiring's bad, too," she tells Kazusa. Slowly, like a confused dog, Maria then cranes her head to look at Niko, as if trying to make sense of who she is and what she's saying.

"What about you?" she asks of Niko at last, clasping her hands behind her back. "Couldn't you die in a horror movie, too?" She glances back at Ruzica. "I think... I'd like to die... Oh! A dagger in the heart! That's 'romantic', right? Heaving your last, in the arms of your beloved..."

Isabeau got all this from her mother, huh. Maria considers this carefully and appears to wrangle her camera with significantly more care than before. Ruzica meanwhile tries to explain how electromagnetic radiation works. "So where's the radiation come from? A big bomb?" asks Maria, who in fairness, is not entirely wrong here.

But Isabeau says they should (or someone should) go into the basement and check on the breaker. Maria, with her free hand, waves in the air heartily. "I can go! I think I remember how breakers work!" ...Is everyone going to trust that she can do this, though?

(Then again, sometimes calm waters conceal depths.)

She pads after Isabeau and the others gamely enough, only to startle when someone whispers over her shoulder. "Huh? Did someone say something?"

There's someone else here. She's very tall. Maria has to tilt her head to look up at her. "An apparition?" she asks of Isabeau, the word sailing right over her head. She gets close and closer, and almost certainly, someone would be expected to see a disaster is in the offing, given Maria's overall demonstrated level of intelligence thus far.

But there are spoilers. This is, as Ruzica states, Kuchisake-onna, the slit-mouthed woman. ...Is there a Japanese teenager who hasn't heard this one?

"Oh," says Maria, looking up at the figure. She lifts her camera. "Then, may I take your picture?" There's a pause. "We're meant to take pictures of ghosts, you see."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
<poem>

Oooh, a believer in bad luck! Niko snickers at Isabeau's comment, but doesn't argue the point. It is kind of preparing for failure, isn't it? Though really, some of these people don't look nor sound like they have any idea what they're doing, some measure of failure is probably a foregone conclusion. This is fine, it wouldn't be funny if everything went well.

Ruzica's reaction to possible death prompts a shrug from Niko. "That'd be cool, but honestly, of all these people you probably look the most like a protagonist, so I'm not seeing it happen. They rarely pull a twist like that." And to Maria's suggestion, "Nah, I'll be fine, I know all the tropes." Clearly that's what will make the difference at times like this.

And then she pulls a big-ass knife from her coat pocket, cheerfully suggesting, "Got a dagger right here for you though, if you wanna give that one a shot." She's not gonna do anything with it, simply putting it away again, as if she just wanted people to know she had that. She's not bothered at all by people thinking she might be 'a weirdo serial killer', as Kazusa calls it. It's funnier if people think that.

It's not until Isabeau introduces herself that she follows suit on that herself. "You can call me Niko! Because... that's my name. I will accept any and all Niko-chans from the audience!" It's rarely easy to tell whether she fully realizes what's going at any given time.

She fully intends to have fun, either way, and Yukari's reaction has already given her one obvious opening for it. Jun conveniently provides another when she sees him near Yukari. Niko takes the opportunity to tiptoe right behind the two of them, and when Jun mentions her, casually starts speaking distressingly close to their ears. "My ears are burning~" And then backs away, cackling, gleefully abusing the fact that she has way better vision in the dark. Who's bright idea was it to give perfect night vision to this gremlin??

But at least that's all the trolling she does, for the time being. As the group moves on ahead, she hears the book drop - and can clearly see what it is, so her interest ends there immediately. She's not here for ''books''.

She then ''starts'' when suddenly given a taste of her own medicine from a voice nearby, but that and her mumbling "good one" are the only signs that she was surprised. Until the apparition appears, that is, and she freezes in her tracks. Not out of fright so much as being on guard.

Gotta do something to lighten the mood at a time like this, so when Isabeau starts speaking in French, she pretends to not know what that sounds like, remarking, "Holy shit, someone's speaking in tongues! Write that down, it could be a clue!"

When the name 'Kuchisake-onna' is dropped, though... "Shit shit shit, I know this one," she says, waiting to do so after some people have already given a response to say, "Don't matter what they said, someone who answered that question is definitely dying first."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>

"I would not expect you to understand," Isabeau sniffs haughtily at Kazusa, "you are as sensitive as a ''rock.''"

(Isabeau, we note for the record, has no particular spiritual gifts, but her mother ''was'' quite convinced she was special. ... Fuuka may notice the ''regular'' Resonance around her when she considers it, though.)

And when Maria volunteers her skills in breaker...ing, Isabeau nods to her. "Good. I will then send you in first." Let no one say she doesn't understand the value of ''delegation.''

"Weapons will not protect you from a ghost, Niko," Isabeau warns the serial killer, as if ''that's'' why she has a giant knife. No Niko-chan, but she ''did'' hit ''her'' with yobisute address too, so maybe that's also good???

When Niko declares that Isabeau is speaking in tongues, she lashes back: "My language is ''French!''" What, the word people say when even mentioning 'swearing' is beyond the pale?

Jun's hands are trembling, but luckily, there are people here willing to speak up ahead of him. Like ''Hazuki'' -- who has a strange answer to her question. "Ehhh? Do I ''want'' to be? Golly, no one's ever asked me ''that...''"

But Ruzica names her, and the woman puts her hands on her hips. "Have you been gossiping with my sister?!" She demands, petulant. "Yes, that's me... I'm Kuchisake-onna!"

She pouts even ''harder'' at Yukari: "Why would you scream at my entrance?! I worked hard at that, you know!" Oh no, she's losing points with the ghost...

"Amazing," Isabeau remarks, as she steps closer to the murderous ghost. "Finding a ghost whose spirit is strong enough to hold a conversation in plain hearing is very uncommon! Does this mean you were killed for your looks?" She asks the Kuchisaka-onna.

"I was killed by jealousy!" The Kuchisake-onna declares, before she pouts, turning to Kazusa: "And this is the latest ''fashion!'' ... well, at least," she adds, turning to Fuuka, "''you'' realise how rude your friends are being."

She frames her face with her hands, like a heart, as she assures Maria: "Sure! But no flash photography!!" That's... probably not a problem with this kind of camera. (Thermal imaging, as it happens, will find a ''suspiciously cold spot'' where she is.)

But Shizuka starts invoking ''pomade,'' and Kuchisake-onna yelps, "Eek!!", as she turns and flees...

... right into the kitchen, which Isabeau just ''said'' was where the basement entrance ought to be.

Is Niko right? Is someone about to die? "This way," Isabeau insists, placing a hand on the kitchen door and barreling through, regardless of anything like self-preservation.

And so -- the kitchen.

It's ''big;'' any chefs in their retinue would be overjoyed, in normal circumstances, to have so much ''elbow room'' in this place. There's bountful countertop space, with knives and ladles and other tools hung up abovehead, a big oven and ''six'' burners on the stovetop. The chest freezer looks big enough to store a man (s-surely not?!), and the fridge is a touch old-fashioned, judging by the way it's humming so loudly.

And there's a ''door'' settled in against one wall which looks suspiciously spooky. That must be the basement door...

... and there's the Kuchisake-onna, sharpening a pair of scissors at the countertop between them and their path to the breaker. She turns to them, and snip, snip, delicately cuts off the ties keeping her cloth mask tied to her face.

Of course, everyone knows this story: long, horrific scars tear from the corners of her mouth right up to her cheekbones, turning her beauty to a stark thing.

"Am I pretty ''now?''" She asks them, with a permanent grin.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
<poem>

"Communicate... I see, the language of flowers," Ruzica takes just a bit to catch on, but then nods slowly. A white rose. "... I can only strive to become a real rose," despite her name -- 'little red rose', in Croatian. "But I appreciate that you think that of me, Kashihara-san." ... what she means by that is a little cryptic, perhaps, but Jun's suggestion nonetheless does seem to bring a silent cheer, a bit more visible in her golden eyes than her face.

It seems that she didn't have to worry about spoilers, since Yukari and Shizuka have cottoned onto the task particularly quickly. Pomade... perhaps the ones most suited to deal with these are the greasers.

Kazusa did spot her after all. ... well, she does check her camera to see if the kuchisake-onna does emit body heat. ... and the book? Suna no Onna, was it... the Kobo Abe book. A horror story, but as much as other works of the time, it's meant to be a critique of society... Perhaps it's still relevant even today. "Without the threat of punishment, there is no joy in flight..."

... perhaps that is what makes a haunted house fun?

But the camera does reveal truth: "No... where she is, the temperature is quite Cold," she points out to Kazusa.

"Hmm... not shaking, but developing photos in a dark room is fun in its own way. You have to be careful and gentle with the photos... and that's fun in its own way," Ruzica advises to Maria. Maria chooses a dagger to the heart, because it's romantic. Ruzica considers this. "I will accept it... B- way to die."

Where does the radiation come from? A big bomb? "The Sun is a big bomb, yes," Ruzica answers without missing a beat. "Don't forget to put on sunscreen..."

Oh no, are they both airheads?

Niko DENIES her a cool head-popping death by saying she looks most like a protagonist. This seems to dampen her spirits... very mildly, again mostly reflected in the slightly different way her eyes shine. (In other words, Ruzica has no visible reaction for most people.) She has a Big-Ass Knife, too, which-- does seem to get her to stare at it for a while with more intensity, like she's... appraising its details? Or it's getting her to stare at some point far, far away, beyond Niko and the knife...

The kuchisake-onna asks if she's been gossiping with her sister. "Mmm. A little bit... but mostly, you're pretty popular even on Sumaru social media now..." Ruzica advises. "I wish I had my regular camera... I could've taken a professional shot. Sakurai-san, please do your best in my stead."

Isabeau inquires if she was killed for her looks -- but no, it was jealousy. Shizuka's chant sends the kuchisake-onna flying. Isabeau leads them to the kitchen, and it's... big, and well-appointed. The chest freezer looks big enough to store someone in it... (that'd be a C+ death, Ruzica notes). But the Kuchisake-onna is sharpening a pair of scissors and turns to them, mask off... of course, her scar is from ear to ear.

Is she pretty ''now''?

Without breaking her perfect, expressionless monotone, Ruzica quietly puts a fingergun up as she shows the kuchisake-onna the results, that there's a very cold spot where she's standing.

"You're..."

the fingergun goes bang.

"... Pretty Cool."

MONAD: Ruzica Crvena has acted with Cornbanwa toward Am I Pretty Now?! Puns and Cringe!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, the first time you consider it can often be the most important," Hazuki nods to herself, before tilting her head at Kazusa. "I can't befriend her by being rude!"

Kuchisaka-onna... the slit-mouth woman. Well, she hasn't attacked yet! So Hazuki assumes they can still diplomacy it.

When she runs off, though, Hazuki *frowns*. "Don't be rude, everyone!"

As they enter the kitchen, she turns to the Kuchisaka-onna. Her face... is creepy, sure, but Hazuki tries not to be judgmental. She smiles softly, sympathetically, letting her Understanding mingle with her Guts to push her forward.

"You know... you keep asking, and it makes me wonder... did people treat you poorly about it? Needing some affirmations is fair, but..." A pause. "Do you really just need someone to talk to?"

For as dense as she can be (having not even recognized Ruzica), she seems to be trying to be compassionate, too. She nods once to Ruzica, though. "Yeah! If you're lonely, you don't have to be. You seem like you could hang out with us, you know?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shizuka Kuroki has posed.
<poem>

As the others answer and Niko pulls out a knife, Shizuka shuts her eyes and braces to have her cheeks cut, but... the spell works! The kuchisake-onna is driven back by western hair products!

She bravely puts her hands on her hips, knees still shaking. "Ha! I ain't 'fraid of no ghost!" Liar.

And then Isabeau follows the apparition into the kitchen. "Oh we're following her, okay. That's what we're doing. Investigating ghosts." Gathering her board, which she still isn't sure about the relative usefulness of compared to the other equipment, she follows into the kitchen herself.

The color drains from her face as the kuchisake-onna reveals her Glasgow smile. This wasn't an actor!!! "Y-You look average! I'm late for an appointment! I-I'm sorry!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>

Yukari confirms she knows who Niko is. At this point, it doesn't matter who she is; she is an ally in this situation. Jun gives her a grim nod back. She may not name Niko or say ''how'' she's dangerous, but knowing that much is more than enough.

Of course, then Niko follows to approach them, and Jun flinches back from her, teeth grit as he turns the EVF meter on her. It, naturally, does nothing. All living creatures have an electromagnetic field. It's not telling him anything he doesn't already know. (If only he were pointing it at the Kuchisake-onna...)

However, then he composes himself, stands up straight, and gives her a polite, if tense, nod. "Niko-san. So this is the sort of thing you do for fun?" ...He already knows she gets bored easily, so he'd better saddle up for this test of courage and be boring...

...too bad she's already backing away into the darkness while cackling her head off... and... holding a knife.

This is already shaping up to be a nerve-wracking night.

Jun's smile at Ruzica is thus rather more tense than he'd like it to be. At least she seems to be having a good time--or maybe just a slightly better one than before. He doesn't know Croatian, but he does know French (convenient for following along with Isabeau and the Kuchisake-onna). "Even a flower must strive to bloom. They only make it ''look'' easy."

Speaking of whom, the Kuchisake-onna can't be a ''real'' ghost. As Isabeau points out, she's so... chatty. She's barely a ghost at all. She must be an actress. She's doing a good job of tying the local legend in with the Kuchisake-onna,though... She even runs on cue when Shizuka invokes ''pomade''--and runs right into where the group has declared they're headed. (Well, where Isabeau declared it.)

For what it's worth, it's a beautiful kitchen. Jun has seen it before, but it's been years--not since he was a kid--and he's much more of a chef now than he was back then. He wishes he could actually appreciate it.

He is keeping the EMF reader on where he saw Niko last, leaving the others to deal with the actress with the admittedly impressive costume make-up. Which one of these colored blobs is that over-friendly knife-wielding maniac...?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>

She'd tell Fuuka about ''Strega'' and Niko's role in it immediately, except she thinks it'd only draw more attention to them.

For now 'She's dangerous' between her and Jun will have to suffice given that Niko is RIGHT THERE!

"Not enough of you is, if you ask me." She says sharply, as Niko cackles and takes off. She's not ''really'' that spiteful but... maybe burning the witch has more merit than she once would have given it.

Though, now she looks at Jun, to make certain he's alright and, she double takes? He's real pretty, for a boy, isn't he?

Back to the ghost though! "Uhhhh- if you didn't want us to be scared, why'd you do that whole 'no escape' thing?" She asks, Kuchisaka-onna ''suspiciously''. "And hey, don't misjudge Fuuka-chan. She's not ''trying'' to be rude." Then Shizuka invokes, "Oh come on, that's not going t-" She flees, "What, it actually worked!?" She says, taken aback by it.

Into the kitchen they go... and Kuchisaka-onna sharpens a pair of scissors - snipping the cloth, as Yukari eyes wide gasps, smothering a scream, before she pulls out the most powerful weapon of all-

-a gun!

"Stay behind me, Fuuka!" Except she's pointing it at herself!? Does she not know how guns work!? "You- don't scare me!" She says with a slight tremble in her arms.

"You're not even real, you're just some- stupid rumor!"

She didn't answer the question at all!!!! That's not how the flowchart of this horror monster is supposed to work!

Before her eyes shoot sidelong at Hazuki, "Are you trying to ''befriend'' her!?" She says aghast, "She's going to try to slit your mouth open!" And Shizuka takes cover behind NIKO!?, "Hey don't hide behind HER!"

Pause.

"Actually nevermind, good thinking."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>

"Gentle, huh...?" She seems like she's thinking about it, as Ruzica mentions what's fun about using a darkroom. "I guess that could be fun..." She seems like she's a little doubtful, though. "And there is that one cute guy in the art and photography club..."

"Okay! Can I borrow the flashlight?" she says, waving her hand as Isabeau says she can go on into the basement first (alone??).

"Oh, really? Can you teach me them too? I've been learning how to pick locks, too, so it'd be good to survive a horror movie, right?" she asks of Niko, as if that's something that can just be passed along. And then, as Maria expresses the way she'd think would be the most ROMANTIC way to die, Niko says she's got a knife right there.

"Is that a real knife?" she wonders aloud, her gaze unfocusing as she stares for a long moment at the knife's edge. It's as if for an instant that her strings have been cut, but-- "Hmmm. I think I'd need a 'beloved' to die in the arms of first, right?" And then she's back, like nothing at all had happened. Ruzica gives her manner of death a rating. "Eh--? B ''minus''??"

She doesn't go for the book, of course. 'Sand Woman' doesn't sound that interesting as a title. Where's the passion? The throbbing intensity! The-- well, third-rate romance.

The sun is a big bomb.

"A big bomb..." Maria echoes, her gaze distant. "Wow..." It's better not to speculate the sorts of images transpiring inside her head. "I guess I should use more sunscreen."

Kuchisake-onna poses cutely for her and Maria, as promised, takes her photo! "This should look great! You've got a real model-quality, right? Now what about one more--"

Pomade, pomade, pomade...!

"Ah--! She ran away..." Maria says, lowering the camera as her subject turns and flees. "I wanted to get her good side," she sighs. "Do you think she's still in the kitchen?"

She is! And she's sharpening a pair of scissors.

Which she uses to snip snip snip the mask right off her face. Maria gazes at her wounds, her eyes widening, but then--

"Wow! That makeup job looks so real!" she declares, raising the camera again. "Can you pose with your hands in a heart-shape again? And turn to your left-- oh, oops, your right! Ehe, I mixed up my directions!"

Is... that the real reason why Maria can stay calm? Is it because she thinks it's a super-cool costuming and makeup job...?

(also, being an airhead, the most calming power of them all)
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>

Kazusa looks at Maria. Or at least in the general direction of her, it ''is'' rather dark. "Come on, they're charging for this. There's no way they're gonna let the wiring get ''that'' bad. They gotta keep this place up to code."

"... a dagger in the heart?" Cue Kazusa's extremely skeptical face. "That's morbid."

And then Niko--that camera whirls around ''right'' quick to behold... well, maybe a vaguely knife-shaped green blur on screen. "Wait, ''seriously''!?" She is... currently more freaked out by Niko than the is the actual (probably not actual) ''ghost''. "What the hell? What is your ''problem'' you're not supposed to carry a weapon like that!"

... Kazusa, why are you mouthing off to the person with a ''weapon''?

It takes her a moment to respond to Isabeau. She's trying to stay well away from Niko. "... Somethin'gs a rock here, but it's not me." That one felt weak, even to her. She's a little unnerved by the presence of a weapon.

Kazusa, if she knows anything, knows her fashion. "Well, you're got that retro chic thing going. Props to whoever does your costuming for the accuracy, at least. But if you ask me I'd add in a modern twist. A splash of color, maybe a new material. Just for the contrast."

* Kazusa used Fashion Talk!

They proceed to the kitchen, and there are ''knives''. "Nobody let that... Niko woman near those knives," Kazusa mutters. (She'd use a last name, but she wasn't given one.)

A little startled lean back as 'Kuchisake-onna' reveals her face. "Eugh! Okay... good makeup... I'll give you that."

She looks to Ruzica. "... eh? Are you ''sure''?" She frowns a little. "... What did I tell you about calibrating your equipment, Fontaine-san?"

A stare in the darkness at Hazuki's direction. "... you shouldn't be befriending her at all."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
Is that... Resonance? Fuuka lingers on Isabeau for a moment longer. That's surprising... She makes a mental note of that, but there's not much she can say about it here.

And then, Niko pulls out - is that a knife?? Fuuka blinks, and then looks toward Isabeau. That's... way too normal of a reaction!

And in the loungeroom, the ghost speaks - and actually ''reacts'' to them. If she's just an actress, she's doing a really good job of it...

Her incidental apology seems to go over well, at least - and Shizuka's invocation sends the Kuchisake-onna running. ...Right where they need to go.

"We don't have a choice... The breaker is that way." Fuuka replies with a shake of her head, at Shizuka's comment.

They do, indeed, follow her into the kitchen. It's a ''big'' kitchen, in fact. Fuuka wouldn't know what to do with half of the equipment here. And then, there's the scraping sound of grinding metal - sharpening scissors, as the Kuchisake-onna stands in their way. She cuts off her mask, revealing her scarred face.

Yukari tells her to stay behind her, drawing out her Evoker.

"Yukari-chan..." Fuuka starts, cautioning. It might be dangerous to use an Evoker here, with so many people around... but she ''does'' stay behind her, as suggests.

Fuuka doesn't reach for ''hers''... but what she ''does'' do is press a few buttons on the face of the Spirit Box, to start it scanning.

"I'm sorry if we're intruding..." Fuuka apologizes. "We're just trying to fix the breaker. Can we get through...?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
<poem>

"Gotta have fun somehow!" So Niko replies simply to Jun, neatly summarizing her main motivation in few words. On the plus side, Niko's idea of having fun tends to be annoying at worst, reactions like Yukari's only making it better. The question is what will happen if she stops being entertained, and she either can't or doesn't want to just leave. Acting unpredictable for unpredictability's sake might be the least of one's worries. At least she can be counted on to not do the same thing twice in a row.

If there is one other absolute truth about Niko, it's that Niko takes whatever Niko can get. Yobisute is better than most options, in her book. Not that keeps her from whining, "I knoooow," when Isabeau cautions that a knife won't work on ghosts. "I was just making a point." Don't bother asking what it was, she'll only deflect the question. But it is, without a doubt, a real knife. (If one does care to appraise it: it's a 180mm Outdoor Nata, not the most common thing to carry around, but it would make for a solid companion when doing the more traditional kind of hunting. It looks pretty new, showing no signs of wear.)

"You could count a ghost hunt as a date," she casually suggests to Maria, and leaves it at that before putting the knife away, shrugging in Kazusa's general direction. "Yup, that's kind of my thing, doing things you're not supposed to do."

If it wasn't obvious yet by now that Niko has been messing around at least 50 percent of the time, her response to Isabeau's declaration that she spoke French might be somewhat of an indicator. "Ahh, pardonnez-moi." Just don't ask her to say much more than that, all the French she knows comes from people who randomly intersperse short French phrases into their speech. All fictional characters, of course. No one would do that outside of fiction.

Niko's certainly been having a lot of fun today, and very little of it involved the actual ghost hunt. Mostly because it's turning out to be a little bit too real. She doesn't like it when other things seem more dangerous than her. She's not so confident about outdoing a scissor-wielding ghost in the danger department.

At the very least, they are in a kitchen, and she's clearly seen what's there. When people moves are made to hide behind her, she's quick to point out, "Hey - there's enough knives here for everyone, you don't gotta rely on mine!" Not like she's about to get into a knife fight with a ghost, anyway.

She'd have to admit to not actually knowing what the right call is to deal with this situation, so this seems like a good time to turn to Isabeau with what actually seems a measure of legitimate concern. "What now, Leader? Don't look at me, this thing you gave me's only going to help me get a good view when she starts cutting people up."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>

Ruzica is... having fun with photography.

Since she's also helping here, Isabeau will accept it.

(It's nice that she's happy, or whatever...)

"I would simply decline to die," she adds, on the topic of how she'd like to. And when Maria asks to borrow the flashlight, she assures her: "I will bend Yukari's arm until she is going with you."

"Good," Isabeau nods, to Shizuka, when she declares she ''ain't afraid.'' "You are lying, of course. A knowledge of the weaknesses of ghosts still is essential to navigating the supernatural."

And when Kazusa declares that something here is a rock, Isabeau scrutinises Niko, and replies: "True. Niko has an admirable physique." Is that really what she meant?!

"Your pronounciation needs work," she informs Niko, primly, when she hears that French from her -- which is a ''real'' high horse for her to be riding when ''her'' Japanese is so stilted.

Kuchisake-onna blinks, when Ruzica declares her ''pretty cool.'' "Is that because I'm popular? What's a social media, anyway? Is it like, making a movie with your friends? OH! I get it, that's what you're doing right now, right?!" She points, excitedly, at the camcorder. She's pointing with her scissors, but that's probably fine, right?

She taps a finger to her horrific lip, as Hazuki answers a question with a question. "I guess it's hard for me to believe people when they say I am," she admits. "So I think, if you think I'm so pretty, you'd better want to be just as pretty as I am, right?! And everyone always screams and wails and then eventually stops running around, and, I mean, they're always delicious, so it's whatever, but it's SO hard for me to do my affirmations when no one actually wants to look like me!"

Shizuka declares that she's ''late,'' and the Kuchisake-onna walks ''right'' up to her, with ghostly steps which don't seem to disturb the floor at all. "That's it, that's it! That's the story they told about me, right? Like when you said those awful greasers were around!" She claps one hand into her opposite wrist, because her other hand is of course holding the scissors. "Somehow, hearing it became such a popular story makes me happy...! They're right, you know. You shouldn't lie to a girl just to get out of an awkward situation!!"

Shizuka... earned points with the ghost...?

"But, you know... I noticed something! You! Yeah, you! Hey, you!!" Oh no, the 'actress' is ''talking to Jun.'' "You're pointing your camera at that other girl! That must mean... another ghost is trying to move into my house?!" She marches right up to Niko, poking her in the shoulder with her free hand. Mercifully, it's not the one holding the scissors... and that means her finger phases ''right through Niko's shoulder.'' T--the acting must be really good, right...? "Don't you muscle in on my turf!!" She huffs. "I already had to give those Jacks some extra eye-holes when they thought it would be a good place to get a snack!!"

Poke. Poke, poke. "Heeeey," the Kuchisake-onna pouts. "You're not a ghost! You're a human, too! What gives, why's everyone scared of you instead?!"

"Stay calm," Isabeau advises Niko, before she lifts her voice a little more. "Oh, Kuchisake-onna? You did tell me you were died of jealousy, did you not? Does this not mean it would invite your sister to come here if you became jealous of Niko?"

"Haaah?" the Kuchisake-onna turns to Isabeau, instead, who gamely does not turn tail and run when she marches up to ''her.'' "What about my sister?! I already killed her!"

"You are dead also," Isabeau points out, quite sensibly.

"Well, I guess you're right, but..." Kuchisake-onna pouts.

Yukari PULLS OUT A GUN, given all this tension, and Isabeau turns to her, palm-up. "Put it away," she advises her, her voice somehow still steady. "Escalating to 'that' will certainly get you slit apart. Right now, it seems like she is content to talk... I also think some of these people will be shocked to see your 'gun'."

The way she doesn't look surprised to see Yukari pointing it at her head, and the particular pause-emphasis she puts on ''gun,'' kind of implies that she knows full well it's really an Evoker. It might imply something ''else'' about how shocked Isabeau ''isn't,'' but, well, she's not going to make that explicit right now.

Luckily, Maria asks the Kuchisake-onna to ''pose,'' and of course she's charmed. "Sure!" She chirps, putting her scissors down -- they disappear in an ectoplasmic ''poof,'' just as Isabeau was trying to sneak forward with a little plastic evidence bag -- so that she can turn to Maria and pose just as she asked.

"It is normal for ghosts to be cold!" Isabeau lobs back to Kazusa.

The Spirit Box starts scanning, and from the white noise, Hazuki's EVP Recorder will start picking up a... rather strange...

"'' e v e r y d a y . . . s a m e . . . w e a r e . . . a l l . . . ''"

But the Kuchisake-onna isn't saying anything like that. Instead, she turns to Fuuka. "Oh? That's really all you wanted to do?" She asks. "Well, I guess that's okay... actually, you know what, I like you!" She decides, clapping her hands and doing a little spin. "I decided you can stay! Even if some of you had terrible arguments... I guess you're all doing your movie together, so I'd better grade you as a group!!"

She steps back, then, to hop up on the countertop. "You can go turn the lights back on. I promise I won't cut them again tonight! But let's hang out tonight, okay? That nice girl promised, so you've gotta!!"

The path to the basement is free...

... but at what cost?

Dear God, it's a sleepover with a Kuchisake-onna.

Luckily, the stairs down the basement have a railing -- and one that's ''solid,'' even! -- so Maria isn't likely to go tumbling down the stairs. ("Yukari, light the way for her," Isabeau bends her arm, just as she promised.) There's a boiler down here, and an old workbench, and a bunch of tools, and... a box on the wall!! Lift up the metal hatch, and Maria will find that one of the switches have been flipped from 'on' to 'off'.

So, like, switch it back to 'on'. Breakers ain't rocket science, at least when they're still basically working, which these ones apparently are -- since all the lights roar back on once the breaker's switch is restored to its rightful state.

The Kuchisake-onna has disappeared from the countertop when someone thinks to look back, and the sceptically-minded might think she ran out the back door -- which is also a perfectly valid escape for the ''less'' ghostly terrors of the party, one might note.

(Don't worry. Kuchisake-onna will be back for her slumber party... WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT!)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hazuki Nakao has posed.
<poem>
"I think... everyone has their own beauty. To want to look like others, or others to look like you... is everyone ignoring their true self," Hazuki tells the ghost sympathetically, remembering the 'boy' who decided that wasn't *her*, who decided they could only be her true self.

And then turns to Kazusa, still smiling. "It's fine! I have a good feeling about this."

When the EVP recorder picks up a sound, Hazuki listens to it, but she's still focused on the ghost ahead of her. She'll mention it later! If she remembers!

"It was nice to meet you!" Hazuki calls out as they wait for Maria to turn the lights on.

And then, expecting a sleepover, Hazuki looks proud of herself as she gestures to the group once the lights are on. "See! I told you, you can befriend anything. All's well that ends well!"

Hazuki may be too naive often, but...Social Link with a Ghost, get?!

"Don't worry! If you're still scared of her, I'll do all the talking tonight!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
<poem>

Hazuki appeals to the ghost, perhaps convinced that the Kuchisake-onna is lonely and needs someone to talk to. Shizuka, on the other hand, appears to be stalling for time, as Ruzica vaguely remembers the script on how to deter one. Jun's looking particularly tense, and she can't blame him -- in fact, it's far more eerie that this young woman doesn't appear to have had a single emotional reaction -- at least, not on her face.

Even a flower must strive to bloom... they only make it ''look'' easy.

"... that's very true," Ruzica quietly says, as if taking that advice to heart.

Indeed, Ruzica is appraising Niko's knife -- the length and capability, the manner in which the grip is held, its single edged nature, as if appraising how to best disarm such a weapon if it came to it...

Yukari's reaction breaks Ruzica's metaphorical strings much like Maria's did, though, and the approximate shape and weight of a gun being drawn instantly has her in tension and tautness.

She immediately grabs Maria by the shoulder to lower themselves behind one of the kitchen islands to take cover from assumed stray gunfire. Since she's kind of cottoned onto her as an approximate Buddy in a make-believe Buddy System.

"Behind here, Sakurai-san, ''now''--"

But Yukari's also pointing the gun at herself. This seizes Ruzica up further, her eyes staring at a point far, far beyond the Evoker itself, but she's still trying to cover Maria as best she can. Something's strange, however. That Fuuka girl doesn't seem nearly as startled as she'd expect another to be-- no, a lot of them don't...

The kuchisake-onna has a point when she's like, why are you so much more scared of a gun than ME, the ghost! Ghosts out here doing their besties and y'all just ignore her! It's pretty rude, y'know. It's like denying a ghost their primal purpose in life. They're gonna bugger off to some microcosm and wear funny hats and play shooting games just to survive at this point.

The ghost hustle be real.

Isabeau, very pointedly, doesn't seem to be surprised by the gun, and points out that escalating to 'that' will get her slit apart. ... Ruzica can intuit the meaning behind the words, but she's not privy to what an Evoker is. She's not sure she wouldn't have reacted the same way nonetheless, however...

The ghost asks what social media is, and if it's like what they're doing right now. A pause, as Ruzica considers this. "Yeah..." she's starting to come down from the sudden high. "I think you're pretty popular."

In the end, though, it's Maria's request for the Kuchisake-onna to pose that causes the scissors to drop and-- well, oops, they disappear in a puff of ectoplasm. You won't be able to trade in for your reward like that, Isabeau... however, their real reward is a sleepover with Kuchisake-onna. If she's going to be spending time around, then that means she'll be able to take proper photographs later... perhaps.

Fortunately, it looks like the breaker does just need to be reset, and they don't have to find a missing FUSE, which is behind an EAGLE DOOR that you need a HEART KEY and a CRANK to get.

Ruzica's a pretty annoying person to have a sleepover with later, though, cause it turns out she doesn't like sleeping with the lights off. She'll even insist on sleeping in the bathtub instead with the lights on if needed. I mean, after all that trouble to fix the breaker...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
<poem>

Ruzica might be inexpressive, but that's at least a ''normal'' kind of strange. She seems like a perfectly nice young woman otherwise. Jun offers her a small but sincere smile when it seems like she's... cheered up?... by his words.

Then Jun laughs nervously at Yukari's clapback at Niko. Not that he can blame her, but... He pauses, though, when she looks at him and does a double-take. His face is indeed as beautiful as a goddess's, or at least according to certain ''fire''-wielding maniacs, but it's only puzzled now. "Yes?"

That puzzlement turns to alarm when Yukari pulls an Evoker and--points it at her own head?! Jun, whose only exposure to guns thus far is in movies, utters in a harsh whisper, "What are you doing?! Stop!!"

He might remember later that Yukari told the 'actress' she's 'just a rumor.' Right now, Jun is focused on the real-world danger of a girl playing around with a deadly weapon and''or bluffing with a realistic (not actually that realistic to someone who actually knows guns) model and either way apparently threatening ''suicide'' at someone. What is going on with this group?!

Niko encouraging other people to get their own knives instead of hiding behind her and relying on hers is not making it better. What do you even say to someone who asserts they've 'gotta have fun somehow'? Jun genuinely can't tell if she means that--implying that it doesn't matter what she's doing as long as she's stimulated--or if she's messing with him. Both are equally plausible to him. Maybe the thin-lipped, stressed frown he shoots her as he attempts to talk Yukari down will be entertainment enough.

Of course, that's when the 'actress' addresses him. "Huh?!" Jun utters, staring at her wide-eyed. "U-um... S-sorry?" The line here seems to be that she thinks, or is pretending to think, that they're making a video of her, but... There's an actual murderer in the room here!! He can't spend time wondering if this is an actress or a real ghost when that is a known science fact!!

...

...did her fingers just go through niko's shoulder

no. no, that did not happen. jun denies. he fumbles with the emf reader and has to focus on that to keep from dropping and breaking it.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>

"Let's... deal with our current situation first?" Re: bending her arm and Maria??? ... Some people just have very little survival instinct.

As for Jun yelling at her to stop, she says, "It's not what it looks like!" She says quickly, even if she knows it might be ''difficult'' to convince him otherwise, "Just stay behind me."

And Yuchisake-onna, talks, and talks and- "... This is one talkative 'ghost'." Yukari says, sounding more glum and skeptical both at the same time.

Isabeau however advises her to put it away, "I'll put it away when she puts those scissors away." She says, clipped.

Though, she hasn't done anything rash with 'pulling the trigger' so to speak. Isabeau though- well, she understands what that must imply.

Great.

Well at least more than the people in SEES, Hazuki, and Niko are able to defend themselves. ... Probably.

Maria though, convinces her to pose and- the scissors are put down, and POOF?! It's only then that Yukari gives this whole situation a 'Why me?' kind of look and lowers the Evoker, putting it away.

"Tell... you what. How about Fuuka-chan and you just exchange contact information." It is the universal girl code for 'give her a fake number Fuuka'. "And she'll hang out with you later."

The ghost probably died before this tactic was common right? She hopes!

She keeps the Evoker close at hand, but does light the way down for Maria, "Watch your step..." She cautions, as they go down to the basement and...

... once the breaker is back on. Yuchisake-Onna is ''very'' very gone.

"... Ooookay." Before she whispers sideways at Fuuka, "Fuuka-chan you gave her a fake number, right? Be sure to block hers."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shizuka Kuroki has posed.
<poem>

Shizuka freezes up as the ghost approaches her, still shaking even as the spirit seems to bear her no ill will. She's advised to stop telling lies and she nods her head. "Y-Yes, ma'am..."

She falls to her knees as the kuchisake-onna invites them to a sleepover, her strength leaving her as the lights come on and her stress nears its breaking point. "Yuka-chan, Fuu-chan, I wanna go home... And kick Iori-san's butt!!!" Oh no, she dropped the nickname. You're in trouble, Junpei.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>

Kazusa is still just kind of glaring at Niko a little. "Just... don't do anything too messed up. And stay away from me." She points out the ''knives'', and Kazusa scoffs. "Not helping your case any!"

Kazusa just ''stares'' at Isabeau. "... are you admiring the girl acting like a ''serial killer''!? Seriously? I know you believe in ghosts or whatever but come on."

Jun isn't the only one keeping an eye on Niko, though, and Kazusa's eyes go wide when Kuchisake-onna's hand goes ''right through Niko''. "What the-- H-hooow did you do that."

She's been solidly Team Skeptic, ''mostly'' to needle Isabeau, but she's getting more and more unnerved. Which means she look to see Yukari and yelps, stepping back from ''her'' now, too.

"You have a ''gun''!? What is ''wrong'' with you people?" She looks to Isabeau. Ghosts are cold! "Yeah-- but--" She sputters a bit. "She's not supposed to be a real ghost though!?"

Annnnd once the lights are up the 'ghost' is gone. "... right. Right. She... gave us a scare, she used some kind of... stage illusion and then she left, and... that's that. Right? Right." She's muttering to herself.

And she's gonna keep well away from Niko and Yukari for the rest of the night.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
Fuuka blinks. Did she just insinuates that she eats people...? And... she mentions 'Jacks'... That's a coincidence, right? Still, it's true that she's really talkative for a ghost... Maybe she's just lonely and likes playing it up for a crowd?

Maria convinces her to drop the scissors, and when Fuuka explains what they're after... She seems to agree?

"Oh, thank you..." Fuuka replies with a polite bow. And, the Kuchisake-onna declares that she likes them!

...That's a good thing, right? Isn't it...? She wants to hang out, even!

That's... not what she expected. And Fuuka blinks, as Yukari ''puts her on the spot''.

"M-me?" She asks. She hesitates for a moment - and then nods. "...Okay."

The breaker is turned back on. The ghost is gone... for now. She looks toward Yukari at her question.

"I generated a proxy number, so... we can monitor it." Fuuka whispers.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>

She'll bend Yukari's arm until she helps her out. At that, Maria positively ''beams''. "Oh, Yukari-chan! We can go down there together!" Into the dark of the basement, where there's a breaker that needs attention... hey, when did they get to 'Yukari-chan' anyway!! They only just met!

Maria's back is to Yukari, which may well be for the best: the knife has plausible deniability when all is said and done, but the Evoker is--
Well, no, it's entirely possible that Yukari could tell Maria it's a very realistic fake and she'd buy it. It's probably all fine...?

"Ohhh," Maria utters in awe, as the kuchisake-onna advances on Niko and it looks like the two of them are about to throw down. "This is just like a movie, but in real life! You're both great actresses!" ...Is that why she wasn't panicking at the knife, either??

(did the kuchisake-onna's finger just go through Niko's shoulder a little? what are you talking about, Maria didn't see that at all)

"Eh? Gun?" Maria glances back sharply as Ruzica grabs her shoulder to lower her behind the counter, but she's just in time to see all of nothing at this angle, her confusion writ plain across her face. To wit: ??? ????? ????????

But even so, she won't let something like 'confusion' get in the way of things like 'taking a photo just like she was asked'. The moment Ruzica lets go of her, she pops backup onto her feet, her camera in her hands. "Okay! Now smile!"

And, in spite of the 'makeup-job', the actress playing kuchisake-onna ''is'' very pretty, and she'd make a great model. Maria is so focused on getting that shot that she misses the fact that the dropped scissors vanish into ectoplasm. "See? You're a natural! Hehe, I've always wanted to say that..."

But just like that, the 'actress' (ghost) says that she's pretty chill with the lot of them, so they can go down into the basement. They just have to hang out with her tonight! "Sure!" agrees Maria, as she makes her way to the basement door (thank goodness, Yukari's here with the light or this would be a fairly fraught journey down). And just as promised, Maria is a genius at 'circuit breakers'--

...anyone could have done this, though, couldn't they? It's literally. Just a flipped switch.

"I did it! The lights are back on! Thanks, grandpa!" Maria cheers, as if she's done something of consequence.

Of course, once she's back upstairs--

"Hey, where's the lady playing the kuchisake-onna? Did she have to use the bathroom?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
<poem>

Niko's French is not good enough?? C'est impossible! No, that was pretty rough and Isabeau's right to say it, hypocritical though it may be. "Well, excuse me," Niko effectively repeats herself in the language she is fluent in. But she lets it slide otherwise. An oddly sassless response, such things may happen when she feels there may be some measure of an understanding. It's hard not to identify with that 'simply declining to die' attitude, if nothing else. Hard to be sure just how much she has in common with Isabeau from just this venture, but not feeling a strong urge to poke fun is generally a solid sign.

Of course, that's when everything -stops- for Niko, Jun getting unintentional revenge by inadvertantly getting the Kuchisake-onna's attention focused on her. "H-hey, you better back off--" is as far as she gets before getting fingerpoked right ''through'' the shoulder. Suddenly she feels ice cold, and she can't be sure how much of it is directly due to the ghost, or it just all getting a bit too real. Fully tense and frozen up, she can't muster any sort of response at all to the ghostly beratement that follows.

She's not ''scared'', of course. Just... surprised, to the point where she only finds her voice again once Isabeau tells her to calm down, managing to respond to that final question of why everyone's so afraid of her. "...That's... just how it should be!"

Kind of an odd response, but it's the only one that would come out following that moment. She has a half a mind to do that one over, but maybe it would be best to just... not draw anymore attention to herself? Yeah... that back door which she conveniently can see quite clearly is looking mighty inviting right about now. With the ghost declaring to return later, she has weighed the odds, and the amount of entertainment she can still get out of this venture no longer outweighs the potential for... less pleasant situations, in her estimation.

By the time the lights come on again, Niko is already long gone. If nothing else, at least the group will only have to spend the night with a ghost, instead of a ghost and also a Niko. Small mercies.

But hey, entertainment aside, Niko did get something out of it. Free night vision goggles! She was only told not to break them, so there can be no complaints about stealing them.
</poem>

Eveline Deschamps

2025-11-07T19:14:24Z

Thornpunk:

2025-11-06: Destruction Before Creation

2025-11-07T02:17:12Z

Thornpunk: just in case of bugs, removing these too

* '''Cutscene: <Destruction Before Creation>'''
* '''Cast:''' [[Eikichi Mishina]]
* '''Where:''' <The Prison>
* '''OOC Date:''' <2025-11-06>
* '''IC Date:''' <Mon, Aug 06 2012>
* '''Summary''': ''<Ken, Shogo, and Takeshi quit Gas Chamber in order to take Eikichi to his next level.>''

----"Boss, I don't think we can keep doing this." Ken says sadly, rubbing the back of his neck as he looks over at the blue haired punk, who is sitting on the edge of the stage. Eikichi was silent for the moment, finding himself unable to find the words just yet. Was this the end of Gas Chamber?

No.

This is happening because Ken, Shogo, and Takeshi want Eikichi to go further. The three know that they can't carry the boss any further.

Ken sighs looking over at the other two members of Gas Chamber, who remain silent for the moment, letting Ken break this news to Eikichi. The two are close so it should come from Ken.

"We worked our asses off, Boss, but there is no reaching you anymore. In order to get you to your next stop on this journey, the guys and I....we need to step down, Boss. I'm sorry/" Ken is kinda tearing up as he says these things, looking away when Eikichi almost starts to tear up as well. This was always going to be hard but it needs to happen.

Finally Eikichi looks up, nodding his head slowly. He puts on a brave face and prepares to officially disband Gas Chamber. He wipes a tear from his eyes before speaking up. "Without you guys, I don't think I can do this..."

"No, Boss...You aren't giving up. That isn't going to happen." Shogo finally speaks up.

"Yeah, you can't give up because we can't match up to your passion." Takeshi adds bluntly.

"Which is why we have already been looking for our replacements..." Ken crosses his arms and meets eyes with Eikichi. "Boss, we aren't abandoning you...If anything we're just changing how we work in this band."

"It's not going to be the same..." Eikichi sighs and looks downstage. He tries to image another group up here with him. The blue haired deliqnuent can't picture it yet. Or maybe he doesn't want to yet. "It's not gonna be the same."

"No. It's not. Honestly, the people we have scouted are a different vibe...Just like you." Ken nods slowly. "But with some real talent behind you....You're gonna go far, Boss. And we'll be cheering you on the whole way."

Eikichi looks between the members of his crew, standing on stage finally. He isn't sure what the future has instore but it felt like Eikichi was moving toward something. "Alright...If you guys are sure, then I can't really fight back. I guess Gas Chamber is about to have a new line up!"

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]