View source for 2025-09-14: A Strange Place to Hang Out

*'''Log: 2025-09-14 A Strange Place to Hang Out'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ichika Kawase]], [[Ren Amamiya]]
*'''Where:''' Mementos Entrance
*'''OOC Date:''' September 14, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' July 11, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''By chance, Ogre and Joker meet at the entrance to Mementos. Recognizing her from a description Yusuke once gave them, Joker strikes up a conversation and answers a few--but only a few--of Ogre's questions in turn.''

----

 <Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ichika thought a lot about it, but the only answer to 'what the hell is Mementos' is to go and see it for herself. She doesn't intend to go very far, but just having a look shouldn't be a problem. So it was that she took the route after school after her extra study session to go to Shibuya, and... 

"Mementos," Ichika had murmured. 

Now, the Ogre stands inside the terminal, looking around at the strange displays and all the red-and-black... veiny... stuff, within them. She hasn't gone past the turnstiles yet, and she isn't making a giant secret of her presence, either. 

It's clear out in the 'real world'; no particular added danger in Mementos. But the Ogre could be a danger; dressed in tactical armor with thorns entwined about painted roses, she carries a shield at her back and has long, bleached hair. Her mask has heavy horns, curled upward, and her shoes are strangely high-tech; her fingerless gloves are spiked. 

In short, she's in the garb of Rebellion, and she is alone here.
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
    Ren doesn't have any intention of going that deep into Mementos either. However, given his reputation at school and how there are kids who don't believe the teacher repeating his story, it's a good idea for him to be seen as healing up quickly. It's thus worthwhile for him to drop into Mementos with Morgana and supplement natural healing (and Dr. Takemi's drugs) with an extra Dia per day. Just enough so he's back to normal faster, but not so fast that it seems unnatural.
    
    That's why Joker--and Mona--are in Mementos today, at least. They're just wrapping that up, along with some chat about what's going on at school and what their next move is for The Phantoms, when... a presence arrives.
    
    Joker's extrasensory abilities aren't ''that'' strong; they're mostly geared towards finding hidden things rather than hidden people. But he can at least tell when someone has entered Mementos, especially when Mona shoots a look towards the entrance too. The two of them shoot each other a glance, then hop out of view to hide in the shadows on either side of the entrance.
    
    A surprisingly familiar figure arrives an instant later, walking down from the stairs above. Tall, with rose-decorated tactical armor and a horned mask... Joker realizes they recognize her from Fox's sketches.
    
    So Joker and Mona share another glance and a nod--and Joker steps forward from their hiding spot while Mona remains hidden.
    
    "This is a strange place to come sightseeing," they remark, cool as a cucumber in shades, gloved hands in the pockets of their longcoat. Aside from being a general tic of theirs, it should help signal that they mean her no harm. "Looking for something?"
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ogre's sensory abilities aren't particularly strong, either; there's a reason she hasn't delved further than the entrance so far. Maybe she could go back and bring Mujina sometime... 

But instead, there's someone approaching. Ogre turns towards the sound, and watches for an instant--hands in pockets. ...No obvious hostility. She relaxes a little. 

"Yeah," she says. "Strange doesn't even cover it. What's with this place?" she wonders aloud. 

She lifts her own hands for a moment, to show mutual lack of hostility--and then lowers them again. 

"...Not exactly," she says. "More like... confirming something. I've heard about this place, Mementos, and I wanted to see it for myself. ...Not that I'm gonna see much of it, I know it's dangerous to go alone." 

"But I don't want to be staring around like an idiot when I come back..." 

"How about you? Not the usual place to just hang out, right?"
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
    What ''is'' with this place? "Good question," Joker replies. "The short version is that it's a reflection of the mindset of the masses. You'll find all kinds of gods and demons here accordingly."
    
    She raises her hands too, and Joker nods slightly to acknowledge it. They're meeting on neutral ground, even if one did walk in on the other, only for the other to approach one out of nowhere. Her reason for being here makes sense. They've heard about that labyrinth that Gekkoukan High turns into at midnight--presumably during the Dark Hour--and they've been meaning to check it out themself. But, as she says, it's dangerous to go alone. (Take this! (&#42;offers Morganakitten&#42;)) Coming here to get a feel for the place before doing a more serious expedition... That's just sensible. Joker nods once.
    
    One corner of their lips tugs up at her counter-question. "I'm a local," he non-replies. "And you're from Sumaru, right?"
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Huh," Ogre answers, and doesn't entirely get it. But she doesn't know where to start asking about the long version. So instead, she nods back. They have at least reached something of an accord for the moment. 

Local. And, "Yeah. How'd you know?" Ogre wonders. She glances down at herself, as if she might see a Sumaru sticker, but doesn't think she sees anything of the sort.
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
    In fairness: Joker doesn't totally get it either. But that's why they and their friends are exploring Mementos--to figure it out.
    
    Ogre's question--or, more accurately, the way she looks herself over as if trying to find a tell--gets a low chuckle. "I cheated," they admit. "You've met a compatriot of mine before--a man in a kitsune mask and a blue jacket, who wields a katana. The two of you fought along with another Persona User to stop a burglary taking place in the hour after midnight. He described you to me afterwards, and I recognized you."
    
    He turns their gaze towards the turnstiles. "It's a nest of Shadows down there. They never come up this far, so you're safe here, but after this point, you'd best be prepared."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
A laugh? Ogre is luckily kind of light-hearted about that one--but when he reveals he cheated, she's curious. Then, "Oh--The guy in the fox mask, yeah," Ichika recalls. "He was good at what he was doing. ...And he made me think. I've faced that woman again since then, the one we fought... I don't think she wants to be fighting. But I'm not sure what's to be done about it, either." 

She pauses, and looks down. "Shadows..." 

A nod. "...I need to get stronger," she says. "So I'll be coming back. Prepared."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
    Given that Fox ''isn't'' a Sumaru local, it's still possible Ogre wasn't from there either--but that's why Joker asked. It's easy when you can get someone to confirm a suspicion themselves. This way too, she can think Fox might be from Sumaru when he isn't. The more obfuscation, the better--especially since Joker is only a local in the sense that he currently lives in Tokyo.
    
    "I see," he says of that woman they'd been fighting. "I haven't encountered her at all, myself, so I'll have to take your word for it. I feel sorry for her if that's the case, though." But, as she says... It's hard to know what, if anything, they can do about it. Maybe if she ever shares the name of her handlers on the Phan-Site... But that's a long shot.
    
    For now, they nod. "Good plan," they reply.
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ogre isn't really sure; she hasn't thought about where Fox might be from. Traditionally, her approach to the supernatural was to avoid thinking about it at all. But while that's changed, it doesn't all change all at once. 

"Yeah, it sucks," Ogre agrees. "Fighting her isn't exactly 'justice'," she says. "But at the same time... I can't let the people controlling her do what they want, either." It's difficult! 

"Hope so," Ichika says. "...There's some things I need to be able to do. And I can't do them right now. So that's how it is." 

"...Hm." She considers them. They haven't been forthcoming about anything about ''himself'', and that's not necessarily her business, so... 

"Any pointers?" she asks. "If you're an ally of that Fox's, you're at least not my enemy. And you seem to be experienced about this stuff."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
    Joker gives Ogre a thoughtful look as she explains further. It isn't 'Justice,' but she can't let the ones pulling her strings do as they please, huh... It seems like the two of them have something in common. "I've heard of a couple of Persona-User groups that she might be a part of. Strega, the NWO... Did she happen to mention either of those?"
    
    That's how it is. Hmmm. "And you think exploring Mementos will help you be able to do them?"
    
    Another slight, crooked smile. "Likewise," they reply of Fox's allies not being their enemy. "It's dark down there, so be prepared for that. Shadows lurk everywhere, but you can hide or outrun them if you really need to. There's train tracks running throughout the place, and they lead to platforms that you can take to deeper levels. The layout of most of the floors changes each time you come, so watch out for that. There's an odd little kid named Jose who wanders around the place in a little car; if you give him the flowers you collect down there, he'll help you out. And, let's see..."
    
    They fuss with a lock of their bangs in thought. This might give him away, but... "You might not be able to delve down very far. There's walls that cut off the way down. A few of them have been opened already, but I'm not sure if they open for ''everybody''." If they opened because the public has acknowledged The Phantoms more, then who knows how far a random Persona User might actually be able to go...
    
    ...
    
    How far might Akechi--and/or the Black Mask--be able to go...
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"I don't think so," Ogre answers. "But she sort of... talks like she's crazy. In riddles. So maybe she did and I'm just not smart enough to get it. Couldn't say." 

Exploring Mementos... "Yes," the Ogre replies firmly. "...It won't do the trick on its own," she clarifies. "I need... to control my emotions more. But I also need to get ''stronger'', and practice fighting Shadows should do that. If I can do both of those things... I can do what I need to do." 

Likewise! That's an encouraging sign. But dark, and... Hm. "Huh. Sounds ''really'' weird," Ogre says. "Different from other places I've been. ...In Sumaru," she explains, "In some places, and in the Dark Hour, you find demons now and then. But places aren't mazes or whatever. I don't think." 

"And there's definitely no helpful little kids." 

It doesn't give him away to ''Ichika'' anyway; she doesn't know enough to know it's something. "Huh," she says. "I... see. I guess there's no reason to assume everything'd be open..." 

"And my lock-picker doesn't have a Persona," she mutters. "...Well, thanks."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
    "Huh." Joker lowers their hand and slips it back in their pocket. Talks in riddles, like she's crazy... That might mean she's in Strega with the Joker Killer and his pals. At the same time, he's yet to see her running with them and he's run into Strega a couple times now, so maybe not. As they recall, her handlers were black-suit types anyway, and that doesn't sound like them either.
    
    Mementos is merely a means to an end--a way of getting stronger. "Hmmm... It's a good place for that," he agrees, nodding once. At least until she hits the wall. They'll both just have to see if she can get past it or not--not that... Joker even knows this woman's name.
    
    Sumaru has demons? Like actual demons, as opposed to Shadows that look like demons? Joker's eyebrows rise at that, but they don't remark. Her 'lock-picker doesn't have a Persona,' huh...
    
    "You're welcome," they say graciously. "By the way, is there a name you go by?"
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ogre really couldn't say. But when they agree about it being a good place, Ichika nods. "Cool," the tall demon-girl answers. "I'll do what I can then." 

But, she sees the eyebrow raise and nods. "Yeah, it's weird, but it's true. I've seen them--the Joker Killer can summon them up, too. It's bad news." 

But, a name? "Oh. Yeah, sorry, I'm being really rude, huh?" 

She is not a gentlemanly thief at all! 

"Call me Ogre," she offers. "How about you?"
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
    Joker frowns at the mention of the Joker Killer. They haven't seen that--just the man himself fighting, or bringing in his buddies from Strega to help him fight. That's... chilling. But very good to know. "Sounds like it," they reply.
    
    They chuckle again when she calls herself rude. Given that they haven't introduced themself either, they're not going to fault her for that one. Who's to say which of them should be naming themselves first, anyway?
    
    But Ogre does it first. Joker nods once. "I'm called Joker. Unrelated to the Joker Killer. He's mad about it," he adds dryly.
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>Very bad news. 

"Cool," Ogre answers. "...Guess he doesn't have a monopoly on playing cards or whatever," she says. "I bet he's mad about it. You're diluting his brand." She actually quirks a smile. 

"...But one more thing." A pause. "Can you tell that Fox I said 'thanks'? ...We wouldn't have done as well without his help. And I might not've realized what was up with her at all. I was too busy being mad."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
    That gets her a smirk right back. "No, he's diluting ''my'' brand. I came up with it first," Joker jokes.
    
    (They didn't--either come up with it, or do so first--but that isn't the point anyway. The point is kidding about it while the Joker Killer is not actually present to set him on fire over it.)
    
    The smile fades into a neutral look when Ogre moves on. So Fox was that big of a help, huh... They nod once in acquiescence.
    
    Then they turn towards the stairs leading out of Mementos. "I was headed out, so I'll leave you to it. You won't spot Shadows immediately if you head down a level, so it's safe to take more of a peek--just be ready to fall back once you do," they reply--though they'll be sure to not to leave until Ogre's attention is away from them. Mona needs to leave without getting spotted too.
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Heh. Corrected." She'll take that. 

But, Ogre nods back, and looks to the way down before looking back to Joker. "...Cool," Ogre replies. "I'll do that. ...See you whenever, Joker." 

Ogre starts down the way to Mementos proper. 

She won't stay long, but...

It's important to have a look.
</poem>

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