pancakeboy | ic inbox [ota]

[Direction? At least that's not something he lacks—for now.] It's not that I don't think you're equal to those children. It's more the boredom of it I was afraid would get to you. You see what being locked up with other people's housework did to me.

[It's a joke. Probably. He doesn't ask why other-him feels the need to restrain himself around the kids, or otherwise; why he wants to be sure they have all the things the two of them didn't. He knows.]

So what's your plan? Ueno—[the hub of the motorcycle subculture in Tokyo]—or Mementos?

...What's preferable to you? That's equally important. Although I suppose the motorbikes wouldn't be terribly hard to obtain, and...

[Oh, where is he going with this? Another thought pops into his head. His very busy head full of racing thoughts and feelings.]

I could always show you my Evoker.

Edited 2023-09-12 21:37 (UTC)

Your–? [He doesn't know the term. But it sounds interesting....

He makes the connection, probably, just as his counterpart starts to explain; his face clears in astonishment. I have the means to summon a Persona even outside the Metaverse...]

...Wouldn't it be funny to see Loki destroy Shido's office even further?

[The wonders of an Evoker... it'd be possible. Cathartic, even. Oh so tempting.]

[And that dull gleam in his eye brightens to a spark. That is so tempting. Such a beautiful image...

His face falls.] We did promise your younger self he'd be in on the kill. Unless you'd rather he not be there for Loki.

That said, you're not wrong. I'd very much like to see that. And to see how you do it. [Because summoning Loki in what passes for the real world? Yes, he does want to.]

Hmmm... Any other place you'd recommend as a warmup?

[They do have options, after all. If they are to save the big event for his younger self's birthday... hmmm...]

[... and his eyes darken, as his smile fades to nothing.]

The SIU Director's office. It's not Shido, but it's close. [He'd like to see that fucker burn alive.]

...Yes. That would be an apt target, wouldn't it?

[Justice for Sae as well, he can only imagine. Certainly a worthwhile venture...

His glare only lasts a few moments before he relaxes.]

So I suppose the real question is, shall we seize the motorcycles before or after laying siege to his office?

[It doesn't take him long to decide.]

Let's do the office. I want to see what you've got. Plus, I'll sleep better knowing that shithole's been removed from the map.

We're going to have to take a quick detour to the Niijima residence, then. My room there is where I've stored my more dangerous belongings that aren't child-appropriate.

[He'll at least finish off his second drink, though, so not to be wasteful.]

I trust that won't be a problem?

Not at all.

[He finishes up his own. Then, because he's going to die and he's in a space between worlds and he can do as he wishes, he pulls the lemon slice from the edge of the glass and shoves into his mouth. Mouth full as they head for the door, he adds...]

I would love to see the Niijima residence.

[...Pfffft. He can't help but laugh at his other self's lemon antics.]

Just don't make a mess. It is my home away from home, after all.

[Well, the convenient thing about this place, in a sense, is the shortened distances. They may have to hop a train to get from Kichijoji, of course, but at least they don't have to worry about packed seats.]

[Out in the night, the air is cool on his skin, and Kichijoji Station isn't far from Jazz Jin at the best of times. Stars glimmer overhead; he stops to stare at them for a moment.]

That's so strange. Don't you think? Whose cognition is responsible for those?

[The stars. He's a city boy, and only half-knew they existed until he got his Personas.]

Oh, it's certainly strange, but of all the oddities this world brings, I can't say it's unwelcome.

[He joins his other self in watching the stars, resting a hand on his hip.]

The stars were one of the things I missed the most from Inaba. So much that Ren got me one of those packages of glow in the dark stars you stick to the ceiling. It was... a bit childish, I suppose, but a kind gesture all the same.

[And he turns, blinking, away from the sky. He'd have loved those when he was a kid, but...]

Is that right? You know, Ren has these on his ceiling. On the beams of the attic. [The Phantom Thief hideout, of course; it was the first time he'd seen it.]

And it's... the same ceiling, isn't it? [Wild guess.]

If you mean the Leblanc attic, he did put some up there as well. We're both "country boys," so it's something we can both relate to.

[Heh... And now they're dating. Funny how these things turn out.]

I think the most astonishing part of all was just how easy it was to establish a base of operations there. At first, they wanted to use the school rooftop, but I thought it was too vulnerable, whereas with the attic, we could disguise it as a "study group" and get the privacy we needed.

Not a bad thought. Do you know they—in my world—used one of the walkways in Shibuya Station for a time? As their top-secret hideout? [He starts walking, heading towards Penguin Sniper and the station.]

Right next to the bakery. I used to pick up a melon pan and watch them.

Ah, the melon pan. Not a bad choice at all.

[He'll follow along, eyes narrowing and lips pulling into a flat line.]

But why there of all places? That's hardly secretive. Literally anyone could overhear them.

[Hey, they both appreciate that melon pan? Little music notes play in the background.]

You understand. I tipped the police off about them once, to see what they'd do. That was entertaining. [And just like that, they're at the station.]

I wouldn't have been surprised if they confessed everything there and then.

I just can't fathom why the hell they thought that was a good idea.

[Seriously, if you're going to be discussing highly confidential information, the least they could do is pick somewhere more subtle.]

If they had to meet in public, at least communicate via text. I can only imagine Ryuji blowing their cover in tremendous fashion...

Ren once told me he was a Phantom Thief. Sakamoto, I mean. "Skull", presumably because it's all he has in his head.

[Yeah, there's... no love lost here, clearly. The ticket gates are standing open, attended by mooning cognitions, so through they go.]

Right in front of him, I mean. In the station, again. If I'd been ordered to stop them, I could have done it... considerably before that. [Hm. Actually, that's less funny, isn't it?]

You know, I'm starting to think it's a blessing that my Phantom Thieves had me to rein them in. Not that we had a Detective Prince to worry about- Naoto-san was actually quite charitable toward us, all things considered.

[He thinks he'd mentioned it at least briefly before, but it's funny how different the circumstances are.

Well, through the gate and toward the trains they go. At least there should be plenty of seats.]

[And there's a train waiting right there, almost empty. Even this late at night, it's up there with the most unnatural things Akechi's ever seen.

He drops into a seat, abruptly sombre.]

I gave Shido their names. In June. The first few, at least—Ren, Sakamoto, Takamaki, Kitagawa. Not the cat.

[He'll take a seat near his counterpart, giving him just enough space to not be directly nudged up against him.]

I imagine that was before you got to know Ren, correct? So it must have been different then.

After I met them and confirmed their identities, yes. Sakamoto again, of course. His mouth ought to be my best friend.

[He still hasn't described Morgana to Shido, not in any more depth than "the cat". And he didn't turn in Niijima, or Sakura, or Okumura. Why not? Because what Shido doesn't know won't hurt him, that's why.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject