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You don't think I can read the room?

[He steps forward. The Rangda is already grovelling, in a gloomy sort of way: "Why does this always happen to me? I should have stayed in bed!"

Magpie considers this.]

Wouldn't have been any better there. Besides, do you even have a bed?

[Crow chuckles at the remark. Perhaps the sense of humor will land?

For now, he nods along, keeping the gun at the ready. Far be it from him to overshadow the one who's meant to obtain the new Persona.]

[The Rangda doesn't seem to mind. "Even if I had a bed, you'd just have found me there... you have that sort of face, under all that. Are you twins?"]

What if we are? It's not all it's cracked up to be, you know.

[The Rangda nods, drawing itself tighter in its tangled heap. "What is? Huh, but you seem like you get it. Life is nothing but hunger and pain... and now I'm so alone. Let me stay!"

There's a momentary flash of white light, and then Magpie's black mask shimmers. Rangda's voice sounds in his head. I am thou, thou art I! What's will without a dream to lift it, or fear when no one speaks your name and shudders?

He drops to his knees, mouth open.]

[Crow applauds, because of course he does. Where Magpie is concerned, that's quite the bold step!]

Congratulations. You've just obtained a brand new Persona. Collect enough, and perhaps you can even get Igor to fuse you something especially efficient.

Edited 2024-01-08 22:48 (UTC)

I did it.

[He can barely raise his voice above a whisper, let alone properly hear Crow over the new presence in his mind. His claws scrabble absently in the pebbled dust of Sheriruth's tunnels. It had seemed like something he would simply never master, another confirmation that he was irretrievably flawed.

Don't you become one of those cheerful types, now, Rangda chides him, too motherly for his tastes, but Loki's scorn bolsters him. That witch will have her work cut out to eat me, little weaver. Let her take the other one.

His breath catches in his throat. His eyes are shining as he lifts his head.]

I did it. [Give him a moment, Crow.]

[Screw it. Crow's going to move closer and rest a supportive hand on Magpie's shoulder.]

It's an incredible feeling, isn't it?

[Magpie's hand scrabbles for Crow's and locks tight around it. He feels bigger, somehow, in a way he knows won't bear close scrutiny—but, God, how he wishes it would.

He gets to his feet like he has wings.]

Mm. Suddenly I understand how all of you do the things you do.

[Ugh. Fuck it. Quickly, he turns and pulls Crow into a hug, pushing both halves of his mask out of the way so he can make a pretence of burying his face.]

[Oh!

Well, it's not as though they haven't hugged before, but it's still a little startling. Crow goes still for a moment, but only a moment. Once the shock wears off, he firmly returns the embrace.

And with a little sparkle, a little swish, he's no longer dressed in dark, spiky, and stripy clothes. The pretty, princely garb has returned.

Crow blinks.]

...Ah. Seems I'm no longer seeing red.

[Yeah, he feels the shift, and then his face is buried in a red and gold epaulette.]

Ugh. I like you better when you're pissed at my enemies. Unleash your vengeance. Get some free therapy. [But his hands tighten against Crow's shoulders all the same, in the red cape, before he lets go.

He's still in black, of course.]

I probably could switch back, but I was only in that costume due to the severity of my stress, I imagine.

[He rests a hand on his hip once they part.]

If you want to go deeper and acquire more Personas, I'm certainly not opposed.

[Oh, that's tempting. But there are three people in his head now, maybe even four at a time like this if he really listens hard, all telling him it would be a bad idea.]

Maybe another time. I need to adjust to what I have. Which is not bad, by the way. Strong against physical attacks and two elements, and I think—

[He squints.] There's something going on with her spellcasting.

Oh? Tell me more.

[He knows that urge. The Akechi urge to talk and talk and flex his intelligence and show off how great he is.

So this is an opportunity. Go on, Magpie.]

You're so kind. [Absolutely deadpan, still smiling. He sees you, Crow.]

You're familiar with how Loki's Debilitate is sometimes less effort to cast? It feels similar to that, except for curse magic. Which is interesting, since I don't sense any curse attacks here.

[I'll show you a curse attack, grumbles Rangda in his head; his smile sharpens.]

Maybe she'll learn some. Right now, she has physical attacks, not too unlike Loki. [Except Loki is special, of course; Loki is his.]

Yes, it's entirely possible she may learn as you hone her strength. Then there's always the option of acquiring Skill Cards. Those allow you to apply skills to Personas they may not otherwise have.

[It's so good to see him smile, though. The sheer excitement is palpable.]

And just wait until Raven finds out. I'm certain he'll want you to show him how to acquire Personas properly.

Now there's a thought. [He is, in fact, already planning to show Raven his cool new trick.] Teach Raven this, and he'll have more personas than you by the time he returns.

Surely he should leave you something to do. [How the two of them even work is a puzzle that can still distract him.]

Well, of the two of us, he vastly prefers your company. I think a part of it is that if I were to instruct him, he'd feel like he has more to live up to.

[Not that Raven dislikes him, of course. They live together. There is trust there, but still...]

So you want me to teach him instead. [Nodnodnod.] Evil hold-ups?

[Pffft. Congratulations, Magpie. You made him laugh.]

Perhaps. And it's not that I can't teach him or that I want to put undue pressure on you. Rather, I suspect he may be jealous that we got to experience such a pivotal moment without him.

And we couldn't keep it quiet, since as soon as I went into the Metaverse with him...

[Not that he would keep this quiet from Raven, you understand. But he's curious to know if Crow would.]

I'm sure I can get it done. Once I can pull it off a second time, the rest will be easy.

You could also ask Ren to play backup. I'm sure he'd love to spend time with you and show off his abilities.

[It's phrased as a half-joke with a wry little smile.]

Still... Do you wish to continue, or is this enough Mementos for one day?

Are you joking? Rangda will skin me alive if I stop now.

[He is joking. But there's a sliver of truth in it, one that Crow will recognise.]

I have hours left in me. Though, of course, I understand if you have to leave, oniisan.

Oh? I thought you were the oniisan.

[It's just a playful tease, though, and he draws his blade.]

But no, I believe I've still got some fight in me left.

[He rolls his shoulders and does a little stretch.]

I'd say the one who annihilates the fewest Shadows has to buy the other drinks at Jazz Jin, but I suppose that's rather moot without currency. We'll just have to find some other way to keep things interesting.

Sure. [And let him show you how, Crow.] Do it for the pleasure of kicking my ass. If you can, that is.

[He draws his own sword, which glints a bruised red in the tunnel's light.]

Oh, Magpie. Let's not forget who nearly kicked your ass before...

[Still, it's a playful tease, and with them both at the ready, Crow takes a dash ahead.

This is sure to be an interesting night.]

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