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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]

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[pancakeboy]

"You talk so much crap." He doesn't pull away, though; in fact, he presses closer.

[fogbornphantom]

"But it's all sincere." That's okay. He tightens his hold when Magpie moves closer. "Call it schmaltzy if you wish, but it's just who I am."

[pancakeboy]

He leans his head on the Shadow's shoulder, disgusted with himself, despairing and reassured all at once. "I definitely see where you went."

Because none of that is left in him. Not even a trace.

[fogbornphantom]

"I wish you wouldn't sell yourself short, but I suppose it's only natural to struggle to see the best in ourselves." Even he struggles with it, really. His own agency, his own independence, the validity of his being.

"...If you need it, I don't mind staying here tonight." He seems comfortable, which is a blessing, all things considered.

[pancakeboy]

His head jerks back up, pushed backwards in the conversation. "Really? You're sure you don't need Ren's permission?"

He's kidding, but.

[fogbornphantom]

"You saw how eagerly Ren embraced you earlier. I'm sure he'd be happy to know you have someone to comfort you after such an arduous day."

He's not moving, either, though there's a warmth to his words. It's okay.

[pancakeboy]

With a bit of a sigh, he settles back down. "Tomorrow is going to be the arduous day. Ordinarily I wouldn't be in the same room as Glitch, much less endorse Crow being there."

[fogbornphantom]

"But you won't be alone. Crow and Ren will be there and, if all goes well, I can stay by your side as well, if or until Crow needs to utilize a different Persona." But that's if, and not an issue until tomorrow.

[pancakeboy]

"I don't need my hand held. I can take her, if she forces the issue. More than likely she'll just pout." Which is exactly the sort of thing he was preparing for, before he was interrupted.

[fogbornphantom]

"It's not about holding your hand. It's about being there to catch you if you fall and to stand by your side as allies." La de da... More gentle strokes to his hair. "If Glitch makes herself a problem, I'm sure the others will see it for the hostility that it is. Frog also said that he would keep her under control."

[pancakeboy]

With difficulty, he reminds himself that the whole mess earlier is supposed to have started with Crow standing up for him. Not having been there, he views the image with mistrust. "Frog says a lot of things."

[fogbornphantom]

"Frog is generally fairly sincere. Despise everything, he does understand the complexity of the situation, just as he understood Crow's desire to stand up for you." He makes a sound like a sigh crossed with a laugh. "Frog referred to the friction between Crow and Glitch as a 'blood feud.'"

[pancakeboy]

Startled, he tries to lift his head, but doesn't get far since the Shadow's hand is on it; he quiets back down. "That does about sum it up. The nature of hate."

It describes him and Shido, certainly. And it strikes him, too, how little he knows about Frog.

[fogbornphantom]

"It's just so... exhausting." Out comes another sigh. "Perhaps it's the nature of my being that makes it difficult to comprehend. All the visceral anger at the world resides within Loki."

[pancakeboy]

"Yes." Plain and simple; it's true, after all. "That was how my awakening was, actually. Justice was inadequate. It wouldn't serve. There had to be more."

No, there had been more. All along, denied and strangled. He leans into the Shadow's warmth.

[fogbornphantom]

"I'm sorry. It must have been so difficult." But it's all right now. He holds Magpie close, letting his warmth soothe the other. "I suppose I should be grateful toward the circumstances that birthed me, as twisted as it sounds. Had the unified Persona Crow was meant to awaken not fractured, I wouldn't be 'me.'

I think that shows that it is possible to take dire circumstances and still reach a happy resolution, even if it's difficult, and even if it takes time. The pieces may not fit together perfectly as they were before, but you can still create something new."

[pancakeboy]

Again, he awkwardly tries to lift his head, and gives up. "And it matters to you, doesn't it? To be you, and not someone else."

[fogbornphantom]

"I keep telling myself that I'm an extension of Crow, however grateful I am to 'be' myself, but everyone around me feels that I'm selling myself short, Crow included. But I've had five years of this existence. Too human to be a Persona, but not human enough to be human."

A weak little laugh escapes him.

"But I get by. At least it allows me to help others in more meaningful ways." Like right now. A 'mere' Persona could never dream to experience such a mundane moment.

[pancakeboy]

He laughs himself, lower and darker. "Well. When you figure out what you want, beyond living only for others, then you'll have figured out what it is to be a person."

Because what else did he do? Kidded himself he was pursuing his own goals, while living only for others. What Shido told him to do, what the world wanted to see. Never a boy, so much as a puppet. As much volition as the puppet beside him.

[fogbornphantom]

"Well, I do know one thing I... might want, but ha." He looks away, suddenly oh so sheepish. "It's not something to prioritize now, when Crow and I have to be in top form for tomorrow."

Well, not just them.

"I suppose we all do. Which means allowing ourselves to rest our bodies and minds."

[pancakeboy]

"You're not wrong." Shit, is this going to be the gay chicken thing again? But no, he said Crow. Which Magpie is fine with.

He clears his throat, pulling away. "You can stay. If you like. Crow has done it often enough."

[fogbornphantom]

"I know. Even when I'm not physically here, I'm still present in his mind." Well, if Magpie needs to pull back, that's fine. He, perhaps a tad reluctantly releases his hold. "We don't have to, but if you need me to hold you, that's fine."

Whatever's comfortable, really.

"But... thanks, for trusting me enough to be here."

[pancakeboy]

A bit awkwardly, with a bit of a frown, he reaches out to briefly squeeze the Shadow's hand. "It's nothing. If you Hamaon me in the night, at least I won't have to go to that damned Palace tomorrow."

[fogbornphantom]

Aw. He accepts the hand squeeze with a smile before settling onto his side. "Sorry, but I've no intention to kill anyone. I will, however, do what I can to offer emotional support tomorrow."

[pancakeboy]

"Just don't be too public about it." He gets up, turning away to peel off his own shirt, trousers and socks, and slip on a far less battered, far more boring white tee. "I don't want the rest of them to know anything is going on."