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[Magpie is glaring at them both, just a touch through the red of his mask. The train is chuntering down into the depths, somehow, as it does.]

I'm standing right here, you know. I like the stripes and belts. [Weird symbolism or not.]

Let me guess, though. In order to fix it, he needs to stop feeling like he attacked that guy.

[That Ren, that is. It's possibly a little revealing, but hey, it's just them.]

It's fine with you. I just...

[He trails off, because he's really not sure where he's going with this.

His Shadow shakes his head.]

More comfortable to play the part of the righteous Detective Prince's protege? The noble leader and mentor to the Phantom Thieves... Now, obviously, considering these are all feelings I embody, I'm not going to say this is wrong.

However, these more negative feelings are still a part of you, and I doubt you want a second Shadow spawning as a result of emotional neglect.

[Magpie squints. A second Shadow?]

That can happen?

I'm spinning hypotheticals here. Technically, I'm still Crow's Persona, and my sense of self allows me to appear in this form because this aspect of my identity is what defined me. I existed for several weeks before he finally accepted me, and it would seem that this gave me a slight partition. A division between him and myself.

[The Shadow gazes down at his hands, chuckling softly.]

As if I wasn't 'divided' enough. But the point still stands that I was made manifest when Goro rejected his more open, positive, and vulnerable emotions and embraced the dark feelings that shielded him from pain. What should have been one split into two. I became the Shadow, and Loki... well, I believe Loki is trying to make a point.

[The mischievous cackling in Crow's head makes him groan. Of course Loki is trying to make a point. Of course.]

Goddamned trickster deities. If Izanami gets involved, then I'll know I'm screwed.

[He doesn't have the feeling his own Loki is cackling. Rather, as he sometimes does, he's analysing every detail of the conversation, as if he's resting his suspiciously human-looking hands on Magpie's shoulders. One of Magpie's own hands comes to rest below his chin, in its clawed gauntlet, with one finger resting on the underside of his beak.]

I can't say it doesn't make sense, Crow. [After all, it's almost exactly what happened to him, give or take a few small details.]

If you want to know, I've always associated this suit with action. And you know the sorts of action I tend to take. The other is... [Ugh, he doesn't like to think about this—] more passive, I suppose. Like when I was younger.

[More afraid. More convinced others control his life, that he can't fight back; more convinced of the truth of the ways others see him. The train rattles to a halt, a couple of dozen levels down.]

... this is too high.

Then shall we wait for a deeper level? I assume you want something more challenging.

[Crow's Shadow shakes his head, a faint smile across his lips.]

Speaking personally, I wouldn't call myself passive. You've seen how he gets. Taking on countless tasks and challenges. Always striving to be the shining example of success. A beacon of hope to his teammates and peers... He's built quite the pedestal.

[Crow doesn't mean to scowl at his Shadow, but... ugh. When it's laid out like that, it's troubling.]

[He would rather like something deeper, if it's all the same. He gets so tired of dragging his feet up here, after pissant little targets. And he also doesn't.]

In other words, he's done exactly what I did, just differently. Made a perfect image on the outside while neglecting what happens within.

[He offers Crow a glance.]

Would you say that's accurate?

Extremely.

[The Shadow smiles wryly.]

I wouldn't say the irony is lost on me. The tables turned. The script flipped. Now I am the well worn glove, and those feelings he once used as a shield are left to rust.

[Damn those metaphors... but then again, it is Crow's Shadow. He really shouldn't be surprised at the poeticism of it all.

Crow would run a hand through his hair, but this damn helmet is in the way.]

I suppose that interaction with the other Ren was more upsetting than I cared to let on.

All that shit about how we weren't the same. I should have known.

[But he rests one clawed hand on Crow's back, through his tattered cape. Then he looks back to the Shadow.]

So what's the solution here? You're the one who shows up with the cryptic mockery. What is it you want him to do?

He needs to stop taking on more than he can emotionally handle. But also, crucially, he needs to let himself be angry.

[The Shadow places a hand over his chest.]

I know, coming from me that must sound absurd. However, there is a difference between blind and justified rage. Crow is allowed to blame those who have wronged him, if he feels he has been wronged.

[Crow looks down at those damned gauntlets. He can't bring himself to protest.]

[Yeah, and just like that, though his voice never shifts from its low baseline, Magpie's eyes go wide and fraught behind his mask.]

Is that right.

[It wasn't his fault, okay. It's that guy who made the problems.]

The other Ren.

[The Shadow emphasizes this, because he sees that look, and he knows it all too well.]

I'm not saying he has to hate him. What I am saying is that he could have been more direct with how upset he was, why he was upset, and made it abundantly clear. Instead, he held his tongue. Minced his words.

[Crow heaves a very loud sigh.]

I feel like I'm a child being lectured...

Edited 2024-01-08 17:44 (UTC)

[Shit, the wicked relief that floods him is enough to make him wet himself, and he's come close to that enough times in this outfit. He offers Crow a barely-there, pointy little smile.]

I suppose if you need lessons in how to make others miserable, I could oblige you. But I don't think that's what... other other-you has in mind.

[It's a hell of a concept, though. Just saying something when he's pissed off. Confronting people when they're out of line, instead of having to cloak it all in saccharine smiles. Imagine if you could live like that.]

Are you going to do it? Show your friend the error of his ways? [Please do it, Crow. Please let him watch. Let him film it.]

To be honest, I'm not sure if I want to talk to him at this time.

[Slow, calming breaths... Ironically, this is the opposite of what his Shadow advises. The Shadow gives him a pointed look that he chooses to ignore.]

I wanted to give it time so that cooler heads could prevail.

Or you could just tell me how you feel about him. Let me play therapist for once. We don't have to tell anybody.

[The train has come to a pointed halt, and is refusing to move until they get out. Magpie is used to this; he turns to the open door to head out, still almost laughing, a bad little seed.

He figures Crow and his Shadow will follow.]

[And follow they do, although his Shadow hangs back. There's an amused little glint in his eye. An impish perking of the lips.

Crow shoots him a rather sharp look, and he snickers.

Fine, then. Out they go.]

It bothers me.

[Well, that's a start.]

His gut reaction to returning to his 'normal' state is to kick and claw and hiss and shout. Highlighting all his crimes. Insisting that everything about him is fake, that he is going to die...

[And this part is crucial.]

I've been through this before. We came out closer for it. I didn't give up, and look where we are now.

[Some of the mirth retreats from what little of his face is on show. Yeah, he knows. He also knew it was stupid at the time.]

You know I don't want you to be closer to him?

[Of course Crow fucking knows. It's a confession, of sorts, nonetheless.]

[Crow takes a chance. He reaches for Magpie's hand.]

And I want you to know that my other connections are not meant to eclipse and threaten ours.

[Still... hm. His face falls. Thankfully, the mask conceals at least some of his unease.]

But I also understand why you despise him. Now that I've heard what he said to you, it makes sense.

[Magpie lets it happen. Claws clatter quietly on claws, as leather touches inside their grip, as their eyes meet through layers of red.]

I won't ever forgive him for that. Never. If I killed people for sport, he'd be dead. [... and he pushes it a little.]

I don't understand why you aren't angry. You know what he said. Why be so understanding? Some things are beyond your attempts at compassion, you know.

It's the fact that he used it to try and push me away, alongside his crimes. That told me that he has had sufficient enough time to reflect and realize the severity of what he said.

[His Shadow watches, but does not speak. To Crow's credit, he doesn't budge. He just stands there, hand in hand. It's... comforting.]

I've been that person, so angry that I spouted words that made matters far worse than they had to be. You were in my dungeon. You heard the way I was so combative with Yu, assuming that he thought so little of me and lashing out as a result.

But make no mistake. I'm not happy about what he said. It was a horrible thing, twisting something he doubtlessly learned in trust and confidence with his version of us. Doubly so given his clear attraction to him.

[Still holding Crow's hand like an idiot, here on the Mementos platform inside all his armour, he risks something deeper.]

When he said it—[his mouth has dried up]—for a moment I forgot it was him. That it wasn't really Ren saying those things. I told him, you know.

I wanted to smash every bone in his body, and shoot him in every joint.

[There, there. It's all right. He gives Magpie's hand a comforting squeeze.]

His face, his voice... I can see why it hurt so much. That you would trust your Ren with something so deeply personal means you must have formed quite the connection.

[...]

I don't believe your Ren would do such a thing. He more or less told me that he has feelings for you.

[No. He tries to turn away, to draw back his hand.]

Oh, come on.

[Crow is stubborn. He's not letting go, but-]

We don't have to discuss this now. As I recall, we were supposed to be eviscerating Shadows.

[And, as Crow shoves them both through the back door, Magpie's hand slowly tightens again.] You're right.

[The space around them is deep red, with smooth black walls engraved with arcane designs in red. The train has forced them off in Sheriruth.]

This is as far as I've ever gone. Rather boring. You need a Palace for a good fight, and even those are rare.

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