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[pancakeboy]

[Text him! Or do whatever, I'm not the police, and neither is he, thank God. Just specify if you want the more-fun-but-less-stable pre-11/20 guy or the grumpy third semester/postcanon guy. Pancake only for VRDR guys please, he's not third semester yet]

Comments

[pancakeboy]

[Good call. He gets the text when he rolls out of bed, before 6am like a weirdo. And, since it's texts, younger-him never has to hear his screech of "what the fuck!?".]

Interesting. What about our experience yesterday made you think that was a good idea?

What did you learn?

[Yeah, that sure is a foreboding feeling. Just... boding.]

[fogboundcrow]

I just wanted to make up for what happened before.

[But, hm... He revealed so much. How does he even begin to put it into words?]

He said many things. I didn't understand it all. He mentioned an ability called Call of Chaos. Some things about vengeance against Shido.

But he chose to 'change,' even if it cost him his life. He did it to make a difference...

And then I suppose Maruki did something to undo it? I assume there's more to it than that, because he spoke of warning Ren not to fall victim to sentimentality. That they had to stop Maruki, but in the end, I suppose Ren didn't want him to die, and so he cracked under the pressure, resulting in that other Akechi becoming... that.

And I suppose it affected the world, too.

He didn't want that. He wanted to set things right, and Ren let him down.

He must really care about you, for him to be so easily swayed.

Sorry I don't know more. There's a lot that my older self may be better equipped to make sense of.

1/2

[pancakeboy]

[...

He feels sick. Why does he feel sick? Shit. He swallows it.]

Your older self is going to have his hands full figuring out what to do with you. You're reminding me to gift myself a vasectomy for my 20th.

He told you about Call of Chaos?

What did he say, *exactly*? Every word.

You need to understand I'm not ashamed of a thing.

[He must really care about you. Fuck, he really is going to be sick.]

Write it down. Everything he said. I know you won't forget, but it'll save you explaining it all.

2/2

[pancakeboy]

Are you all right?

[fogboundcrow]

I'll write it down on paper, too, but before I say anything else, I'm... well. I don't think less of you. I may not understand everything, but I still care about you. I haven't forgotten what happened in the TV world.

[That's important. He needs to know that he won't betray him. He won't abandon him. That matters.]

Anyway, in summation:

1) He tried to use Call of Chaos to regain control of his body. It didn't work.

2) He called Call of Chaos his special ability, said that it Ren could never do what he did despite his "500 Personas," could never hurt people.

3) He feels like there's nothing left for him.

4) He said the world was "dead" because of what happened.

5) Maruki was "the weapon" and he wanted to stop him, to go down fighting.

6) Ren didn't fight Maruki for that Akechi's sake, because he didn't want him to forfeit his life.

7) He chose to change, was fine with it, earned his sacrifice, and thought he made a difference.

8) For a month, he warned Ren, told him not to let Maruki get to him, to not fall for any "sob stories". He wanted to believe in Ren, but Ren collapsed under the pressure as previously stated.

9) He said Ren betrayed everything he liked. His strength of purpose, moral center, and freedom to choose.

10) The world is now a prison and "filled with zombies."

[pancakeboy]

[Why is his hand pressed to his mouth? He pulls it away. That's a whole lot of information, and he focuses on one salient point.]

He seems to think about Ren a lot.

[Another case study, where he dies. He chose to change... it cost him his life. The multiple descriptions of him somehow dying in the ship. And why would the ship turn on him?

Because he turned on it first. Even without what he's learned, there are cases where he gives up.]

[fogboundcrow]

Yeah. I don't know enough about Ren to make sense of it, beyond my older self's, well.

I don't think I need to bring that up again.

[He sighs. It's so much, almost dizzying. There's a pounding in his head.]

But there's still time, right? I don't know enough about your timeline, but perhaps there is a way to avoid all of that.

I don't know.

My head hurts. I don't know why, but it does.

[pancakeboy]

I often get headaches in the Metaverse. It can be intense, and Personas can be loud. It can't have been a pleasant experience.

Drink some soup. Go to sleep. You did well.

This afternoon, I'll take you for lunch, if you—[still]—wish, and I'll answer any questions you may have.

[fogboundcrow]

I won't abandon you.

[...]

Shit.

He just texted me.

[pancakeboy]

Time to pay the piper. I expect I'll be hearing from him, too.

[He doesn't comment on the first part. Anyone can make promises like that.]

[fogbornphantom]

Hello. :)

[He normally doesn't use smileys, but it is freaking late and he's more than a little steamed.]

[pancakeboy]

Don't use emoji at me. I didn't send him down there.

In fact, I suggested we both watch him.

[fogbornphantom]

That I know.

But I also know that he has a headache and just got out of Mementos. I'm not sure he'll be making it far by himself.

[pancakeboy]

He'll be fine. I was fine when I was almost his age. I haven't even showered.

[Ugh.]

I'll find him.

[fogbornphantom]

If you need me to join you, I can, but that would leave the kids alone.

I'm a bit concerned. Hawk doesn't do well by himself, so I'm in their room right now.

[pancakeboy]

Just keep me updated on his location.

[Ugh, ugh, ugh. He scrambles into his exercise gear, which doesn't need him to look put together, arms himself beneath the jacket, and scrapes his hair back into a ponytail.]

Hawk is having nightmares, I take it?

[fogbornphantom]

He hasn't gone far from the station. I doubt he will, anyway. Not with a headache like that.

[Hmmm... As for Hawk...]

I tried to quietly enter the room while he slept. My biggest concern is him waking up alone in the dark, so right now I'm just sitting on the couch and watching over him.

[pancakeboy]

Sounds enthralling. Don't worry, I can handle the rescue mission.

[In other words, get help. He's out of his building, crossing to Kichijoji Station to get the five-second train down to Shibuya.]

[fogboundcrow]

[It won't be hard to find him, out in his PJs (a Featherman T-shirt and some comfy flannels), grasping his head and squeezing his eyes shut as he leans against a wall.]

Damn it.

[Head's pounding. It's like there's screaming inside. Hurts...

Why does it hurt so much?]

[pancakeboy]

[And that's about when he emerges from the stairs up into the square, dressed down enough that he's probably unrecognisable. Looking around, he spots the kid right away, and walks briskly up.]

Akechi-kun. [When he was this age, he wanted to bite everyone who called him "Goro" through the hand. He rests a hand on the boy's shoulder, only to feel Loki thrum with recognition. Shit.

But it's pretty clear this is no time for a forced awakening.]

Can you walk?

[fogboundcrow]

...Ah. I. I'm fine.

[He pushes away from the wall, but stops, wincing.]

It's nothing...

[pancakeboy]

Well, you can't sleep here. Although, I say that.

[He glances around at the utterly inoffensive cognitions.]

This is what's going to happen. We're going to get you down the stairs, and onto the subway. Then I'm going to put you to bed in my apartment.

Hopefully this time no mysteries will invade my home.

[fogboundcrow]

Are you sure? I don't want to be an inconvenience...

[But he'll follow anyway, as best he can. Damn this godforsaken headache...]

[pancakeboy]

Hardly an inconvenience. After last time, I stored extra bedding next door. A shame not to use it.

[He offers his arm for the kid to take, so they can get slowly down the stairs.]

[fogboundcrow]

...Thank you.

[He'll accept that arm, a bit steadier with the added support.

In the back of his mind, his Shadow stirs. It's going to be okay, Goro. You deserve some rest.]