2026-01-03: Interview with a Phoenix
- Log: Interview with a Phoenix
- Cast: Tsubasa Seki, Tamaki Uchida
- Where: Kuzunoha Detective Agency
- OOC Date: jan 03 2026
- IC Date: Tue Sep 04 2012 (Dark Hour)
- Summary: Phoenix sets up a meeting with Tamaki... and goofs on making her feel way jumpier than they meant to when they forget that she gave her email to TSUBASA. Luckily, despite their ability to pull a rocket launcher out of their cape(?!), their presently-unarmed nature helps them to have a frank conversation about Psychotic Breakdowns, the Phantom Thieves, and whether Phoenix did Tsubasa dirty. Tamaki explains a few things about Resonance to Phoenix, too... and they drop a trail of breadcrumbs for her to investigate Kazusa, in the process.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
An email arrived in Tamaki's inbox, from a strange account...
> I know you want to speak with me. I'll meet you at the Kuzunoha Detective Agency at 'the other midnight', on the unluckiest date of the month. I'll come alone. -PHX
The 'unluckiest date of the month'... does that mean the fourth? (Hey, wasn't there a WEDDING today?!)
It's not quite midnight, when the Dark Hour rolls in; it's just a minute too much, a little crack in the chronology to let all those horrors in. Tick... tock. Tick...
Tock.
And the world is drowned in green and blood, blood red, all splashing in the puddles around the coffins of a dozen frozen men. Phoenix's feathered cape stands in stark contrast, loudly orange; their ninja robes, beneath it, are far more muted.
When they walk up to the Agency, they are unarmed... but that doesn't mean much, to the Phantom Thieves, who can summon their weapons in an instant.
"Yo."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
EARLIER:
Tamaki flips open her phone to check her email after it buzzed. Reading its contents, she closes one eye.
The unluckiest is the 4th. That's when Yua and Kimitake's wedding is, though given the vague vibes she's gotten from that situation, who exactly would it be unlucky for? Yua and Kimitake? Or ... just Yua?
---
NOW:
Tamaki was, in fact, at a wedding earlier in the day. She has since had an opportunity to change into her regular business attire.
She'll be unarmed as well, though she has her sports bag placed on top of her desk just in case something goes awry.
Several minutes before the Dark Hour begins, Tamaki moves to the bathroom door and knocks on it before speaking to whoever's inside. (Who could be in the bathroom at this hour?! Todoroki?)
"Hey. We're about to have a visitor. Unlock the door, and keep an ear out for trouble." A midly irritated yowl echoes from behind the door. "That's not in our agreement, nyaaa~."
Tamaki scowls in frustration, but doesn't have the time to argue any further. " -- fine, fine! Have it your way! Just giving you a heads-up in case there's trouble."
She tries to compose herself before she steps to open the front door and keep watch for Phoenix's approach.
Everything shifts --
-- and Tamaki gives Phoenix a polite bow. "Thank you for arriving. Would you like to come in?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Oh, a wedding is a fortunate occasion... apparently.
Tsubasa didn't go to the party, though.
They decided they don't like weddings, after the last one they crashed.
Nyaa... hey, did you know that a Nekomata once found Tsubasa's striking blue eyes so charming, she declared that she wanted to claw them out and bat them around, and the Ogre had to burst in and save them? Of course, back then, Tsubasa thought she was just a woman in a cat costume... they didn't exactly have a Persona.
"Sure," Phoenix nods, as they step inside. They glance to the side, reach into their cloak...
... and pull out a hundred yen to toss to the cat statue, before they go to lean on the back of the couch, folding their arms.
"You're pissed 'cuz I was runnin' with th' Phantom Thieves, right?" They advance, cutting straight to the point. "Y'know, 'cuz a Tsubasa," and they must be close, if they're using their name like that. (Let's call it that, and not Phoenix forgetting to give themself an honourific. C'mon, man, they're not some kind of egotistical shrine maiden or something.) "... I get it."
Phoenix shrugs. "We got more info, after they was talkin' to you 'bout it... that's it. Like, I got right in their faces, all but chopped 'em in half... but they didn't even grok th' crime they was supposed to done." Their fingers drum on their arm, one leg propped up against the back of the couch. "It weren't them what did it. I can tell you that for a fact... but I ain't tellin' you how I know. Sorry. Personal. I can tell you I ain't gave up findin' who did it, tho'... I'm still on their side."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Well, Tamaki doesn't know that. Jury's still out on Nekomata. Maybe it was her, maybe she has no idea, maybe word got around of the incident. Nekomata's very well-connected, nya~.
Phoenix arrived, in plain sight, alone, and very visible with their orange cape. Everything about this situation is setting off Tamaki's alarm bells. Are they trying to draw her attention?
While she peers outside, her eyes flit around as she tries to spot where an ambush may come from. She extends one foot further behind her, ready to grab her sword if she needs to.
All the while, she tries her level best to not appear her anxiety come through her voice, on her face, or via her body language. Maintain your fangs and claws and keep them sharp -- but also, keep them well-hidden.
Her preparation seems to be for naught as Phoenix's 'Sure,' surprises her and causes her to jump back and to the side to lean on her desk, neatly keeping the sports bag obscured from view. "Uh -- "
The cat statue is notably silent at this time of night. And yet: a muffled 'thank you, nya~!' rings out from behind the bathroom doors on the far end of the office.
Briefly forgetting her earlier caution, Tamaki starts to speak. "First off -- " Phoenix launches right into their explanation, and its unprompted nature surprises Tamaki and manages to disarm and mollify her, pre-empting whatever line of questioning she had. " -- Oh."
She takes a moment to process this new information. "Well -- thank you for being candid, at least," she says. Several awkward moments follow where she doesn't say anything further in response, she just thinks.
"Do we ... know for sure what the difference is between Changes of Heart and Psychotic Breakdowns? Given what I heard Queen say at Kamiya's Palace, I'm guessing -- speculating -- that Mental Shutdowns are when someone's Shadow is killed."
"Alright. Secondly ..." Tamaki places her hands on her hips and leans forward with a look of consternation. "How in the hell did you get my personal e-mail?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Phoenix... has no clue how to handle this interaction, but you wouldn't know from how they look like they know what they're doing. Inside, they're just like: 'how the fuck do i stop my work boss from wanting to stab me in the dark hour what the fuck what the FUCK HEY PAST ME I HATE YOU?!'
Outside, they're way cooler.
"Sure," they say, when she thanks them. "I'm not your enemy... well, I don't have to be." Did they see a suspicious bag? No they didn't. They're an expert in having not seen shit.
"... that's right," Phoenix nods, sternly, when Tamaki offers her speculation. "Mental Shutdowns happen when a guy's Shadow gets got. It's a risk in Mementos, since you can meet a guy's specific Shadow in there... an' you gotta worry 'bout it in a Palace, too, but jus' fer th' Ruler, Cognitions ain't shit. As fer Psychotic Breakdowns... no fuckin' clue, still. But it is different to th' Change of Heart." Whose mechanisms they are... not telling, apparently.
As for the second question... they shut one eye, as they glance over to her.
"Tsubasa told me 'bout it. Duh."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Tamaki clears her throat and scoots the bag further away onto the opposite side of the desk out of her reach, then placatingly holds up both of her hands, splayed open for Phoenix to see. "Pardon my abundance of caution -- someone got the drop on some friends and myself few days ago, you see. We ended up okay, but what concerns me is how they knew in advance where we'd be."
"To your credit, you arranged a time and place, so this isn't exactly a repeat of those circumstances." She places a hand on the back of her neck and rolls her head to the side to stretch. "Once-bitten, twice shy, though. You know how it goes."
"So they're distinct things ... " She places a hand on her chin as she thinks. "Similar in some manner, possibly acting on the same underlying principles, but ... that's casting a very wide net."
Tamaki raises an eyebrow at the last part. "So you're still on speaking terms with Seki-kun? They ... know about what you've said just now, and they're cool with it? How'd they take the news? Did you ask them for my address after we ran into each other in the Palace, or -- "
She slaps her face and drags her hand down as she lets out an exasperated sigh. "God damn it." She feels that it wasn't Tsubasa's to give without at least asking her. "It's not important right now, don't worry about it. Damn near gave me a heart attack in the process, but -- provided Seki-kun's account of things lines up with yours, no harm done."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"It's cool, man," Phoenix shrugs. "I'm a badass. I get it. I'd be freaked if the guy with a massive sword came to visit, like, specifically when they could use that sword on me too."
They look over to that cat statue -- and not, notably, at Tamaki, which means if she wanted to she could probably launch a sneak attack. (That's deliberate.) "I jus'... can't tell people who I am. Pre' limitin' so far as chit-chats go... I can't jus' rock up in real life."
Which explains why she's only ever seen them when things are Supernatural.
"Mm," they hum, affirmatively, as Tamaki thinks through it. They don't interrupt her, though; it's one parts not having the answer, and one parts not wanting to interrupt her if she's thinking. Apparently, both they and Tsubasa share that kind of laconic nature; they don't really talk to fill space.
(so like do they just sit in silence in a room together for hours and call that hanging out or)
Phoenix listens, accordingly, until all Tamaki's questions are fired. They lift a hand, counting answers off their orange-gloved fingers. "Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Freaked out, but they felt bad when they figured out they got th' wrong guys. Yeah."
They did not think about asking Tamaki first, apparently.
"What, you mad?" They ask, and apparently they're disaffected, as their hand comes to rest on their folded arms again. "... sorry. It was this or leave a dead drop in ya office... figured th' email'd be more likely to get found in time. Plus, I reckon that damn cat's watchin' everythin' I do in here. I can feel it judgin' my sins, man."
They issue another suspicious glare to the cat, who, apparently, they're pretty sure would sell their real identity out if they dropped a letter.
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Tamaki lowers her gaze as Phoenix explains about why they need to stay incognito. "... yeah, I know someone like that. Or at least, someone who was like that. I understand."
Whatever opportunity she has for a sneak attack arrives ... and passes uneventfully.
During the Dark Hour, the cat statue is eerily still. The gleam in its eye is gone, and only radio silence remains in place of its characteristic mewling.
(yes. they absolutely do. granted, there are times when Tamaki's mouth can go a mile a minute, but processing new information is not one of those times.)
"Okay." Phoenix's answers seem to satisfy Tamaki for now, but she has ... "One more thing: how'd you or them get the idea that the Phantom Thieves were the culprits in the first place?"
'What, you mad?' Tamaki slides her half-lidded gaze over to Phoenix, then shrugs and gives them a laid-back grin. "More like jumpy from recent events, through no fault of theirs or yours. Under different circumstances, I might have taken things more in stride."
Tsubasa's suspicions are correct, albeit aimed in the wrong direction. Tamaki clears her throat when Phoenix mentions they can feel it 'judgin' their sins, man,' then clasps her hands together and smiles at Phoenix. "It's impressive that you can discern that she's still around. I can, ah, tell her to take a hike and give us some more privacy, if you'd like."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Cool," Phoenix nods. And gives her the opportunity! Tamaki obtains +5 trust points for not taking it. (These are real points which you can exchange for fabulous prizes... probably. Is the prize just not getting stabbed with an outrageously big sword...?)
They are so suspicious of that cat statue.
"Detective Akechi," they name their informant, their fingers drumming on their arm with a touch of veiled agitation. "Long time back, mind... woulda been early June he said it. Since then, he figured out that theory weren't solid... but he was too busy haulin' Tsubasa's ass outta Hell last time they ran into each other, so it never came up again. But they got real suspicious 'bout it... like..."
The drumming stills, but they're still not looking at Tamaki. "Sometimes... they get real... up in their head 'bout this shit, y'know? Like... there's gotta be someone to blame, an'... they the only ones what can figure it out. Like... they can't trust anyone, or... it ain't safe for some other prick to get scope on it. An' -- an' mostly that makes sense, y'know, there's some mad shit goin' on in their life, but... look... ain't always th' right tool fer th' job."
... is it easier to admit it might be a problem when they're supposedly not talking about themself?
"... oh, yeah," Phoenix manages to look a little sheepish, underneath their mask, which is a feat. "Would be. That's normal. Coulda timed it better."
But Tamaki clears her throat, and --
-- and Phoenix leaps up from where they're leaning on the couch, downright comically, hands raised to shield them from that god dman cat. "Huh, wha?! Th' cat's a girl an' she's really watchin' us?!?!?"
THIS IS BRAND NEW INFORMATION WHAT THE FUCK
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
"The Prince?" Tamaki quirks an eyebrow up at Phoenix. "Then I wonder how he had formed that theory. I did just see him earlier today, but we aren't acquainted or anything."
She listens as Phoenix explains about Tsubasa's suspicion. Here is another few moments where she is simply silent until she has fully digested what she's heard.
Quietly, she finally responds. "... that's a good way of putting it. A few years ago, I was a real fighter, barrelling my way through everything, but -- 'that ain't the right tool fer the job.' If you'd like my advice ... prepare well for the eventualities in either scenario."
Did Phoenix have a plan in case Tamaki had tried some kind of sneak attack?
Perhaps -- perhaps -- it may be here where Tamaki's positive balance of +5 trust points with Phoenix evaporates back to zero.
Tamaki widens her eyes and frowns in apologetic surprise. "Oh -- I may have misinterpreted! I thought you had genuinely sensed her presence, hence the comment on how you could feel the cat watching you." She glances left, towards the back of the office, towards the kitchenette, towards the normally locked bathroom stall. "She and her ilk have eyes and ears in the supernatural world -- they're one source of how we catch wind of Rumors so early, you see. It's an arrangement as part of our Pact."
She gives Phoenix a bright grin. "While Pact-bound Demons do provide some services, they won't fight for you, but if you encounter them elsewhere, at least they won't be aggressive. I'm sorry for startling you with that revelation, but with that particular Demon, you're safe around me."
After a beat, Tamaki winks at Phoenix. "And you tip pretty well, so I think you're good in her books, too."
(...Hey, did you know that a long time ago, a Nekomata actually did bat around Tamaki's --)
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Dunno," Phoenix shrugs. They've heard a couple of things, to be sure, but they feel like they're doing more damage stringing them together with conjecture when doing too much of that got them in trouble in the first place.
Still, Tamaki advises them to be prepared for anything, and Phoenix scoffs. "Think I didn't?"
Their plan might begin and end at 'rocket launcher', but THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD PLAN!
They blink, though, as Tamaki offers that apologetic explanation. "Eh? Sensed her? Like... what, like when th' world breaks every time th' Joker Killer or that one Ferryman guy or whoever else shows up?" Phoenix... doesn't know shit about Resonance, apparently, for all they're well-informed on other topics.
"Wait, like -- so, like -- back up," they hold up a hand, palm out. "There's a whole-ass Demon back there? Some fuckin'... friendly Demon?" Beat. Phoenix stares at the cat statue again. With words comically flattened in their textbox, they add: "so is the statue a demon or"
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
"That's fair." Tamaki shrugs in turn. "It's not a question that needs answering right now."
Another shrug. "I never said that you didn't, just offered unsolicited advice. I suppose I could have asked first."
where would phoenix have kept a rocket launcher in this situation. what
Tamaki's smile freezes momentarily as Phoenix says 'Ferryman.' She blinks a few times, but continues apace. "Those are some the stronger sensations felt by all Persona-users, but some possess a special talent for perceiving -- or obscuring -- more subtle signals."
She places a hand over her face to illustrate. "From what I understand on the topic, that mask you wear serves as some potent signal interference, even from those most gifted at perception."
"A Nekomata, yes. They're not normally friendly -- they're usually quite violent, but they're fascinated by the shine of wealth, among other things." She glances back at the door. "The trick to it is seeing what actually makes them tick, despite their rough exterior."
Is she really still talking about Demons there ..?
At Phoenix's last question, Tamaki can't help but break out into a bright peal of laughter. "Ahahaha! No, no, there's a speaker on the statue. Normally, she talks through it, but the circuitry doesn't function during the Dark Hour."
Tamaki looks Phoenix over and considers ... "As an apology for scaring you there, would you like some blank Tarot Cards? You'll have to find someone who can turn them into an actual Skill Card, but I have a small amount of them that I'm not using."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
THEY STORE IT IN THE CAPE, OBVIOUSLY! That's where they keep all their stuff when they're transformed. Like their sword, and their lockpicking kit, and their rocket launcher, and... probably their wallet, man, they've never tried to pull it out?
This is a question they might actually need to answer as they reply: "I mean, if you wanted to start some shit I coulda just pulled me rocket launcher out. Ain't a lot a problems rocket launcher can't solve." Phoenix is apparently not too fussed about also being blown up in the enclosed space.
"Huh," they tilt their head, as Tamaki explains those signals. (They feel a little bad for jumpscaring her mentioning the Ferryman, but, like, what can you do.) "Wonder if that's what I heard someone felt 'round that Kazusa Motojima girl... like, what was it, 'like somethin' wasn't right on a cosmic level', or somethin' like that...?" They shrug, as they add, "Dunno. But Tsubasa were askin' 'bout her, too... somethin' musta happened."
They're dropping a hint! It's very blatant. They think they're not being that blatant. They are WRONG they are TEN YEARS TOO EARLY to be subtle. They're just also way too brusque to not just say 'hey, apparently this chick's Resonance is rancid as hell, can you help figure that out'.
"But yeah," they add, tapping the side of their witch's hat mask, "the mask is pre' tight."
And... Nekomata! "Huh... wonder if there's a cool bird out there." They pause. "Wait a sec. Maybe I ALREADY made friends wit' th' cool bird. Holy shit, man... mind blown."
(They don't know that Pernelle isn't a Demon. All these different classifications are hard, man.)
Tamaki explains the statue, though, and Phoenix... still looks baffled. "Man, so I been talkin' to a demon cat all this time... uh... yo," they salute the cat statue, at a loss for how to handle that. Tamaki offers one method: avarice! "Aw, sweet," Phoenix cracks a grin, briefly. "Sure. I'll grab 'em. Better split after that, tho'... don't wanna get caught out when th' Dark Hour's done. Uh, you got any more worries, you can ask Tsubasa too, y'know? We're pre' tight. They can, like, bounce questions back to me."
Once they've acquired their PRIZES, they will turn and stroll out of the Agency, cape fluttering a little as they turn into the street.
... seriously, how do they fit a rocket launcher in there...