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[It's a perfectly ordinary day in Tokyo, if you ignore the fact that Akechi just got done enduring a horrific, white palace with crumbling architecture, creepy tentacles everywhere, and scraps of memory locked away and scattered like puzzle pieces, culminating in battling a tentacled abomination to free Wakaba Isshiki's Shadow from the prison of her mind, and... well. A mother-daughter reunion is always nice, he supposes.

He's on the phone when he stumbles in, deep in the midst of a conversation.]

Isshiki-san's condition is stable, but we'll have to relocate her before he notices anything amiss. ...Yes, Dad, I'm all right. Not that I don't appreciate the concern, but-

[The signal cuts out, and... ah. The Velvet Room. And not the Velvet Room of his childhood, but... this one.

At first he bristles, eyes narrowed into a razor-sharp glare. He has half a mind to complain to Igor about locking him out, but all signs point to Ren's "Igor" being impostor, and... no. Wait.

Recollection flashes before him. With that recollection, he grimaces.]

...Of course I'd end up back here.

[He shuts his eyes, brings a hand to his face, and breathes in deeply. He was such a stupid tween, and if people connect him to said tween... Who even knows how much time has passed here?]

[ooc: Older version of

fogboundcrow for the funny. Some info on his profile. Yes, he's wearing a Shujin uniform.]

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[ Yeah, Akechi keeps talking about stuff like that. Warping Wakaba's cognition. She was a prisoner in her own mind. That's all weird as shit, and pretty alarming, actually. He wants to ask about it, but there's something more important. He meets Akechi's eyes with a gravity he hasn't shown to him before. ]

Your instincts are right. Be really, really careful. Going into hiding won't be good enough, they need to not even know you fixed her.

We have plans to fake a transferal. I discussed it with Kirijo-san, and between Futaba-chan's and Yamagishi-san's hacking prowess, it should be simple enough to access the hospital database and, if need be, pay off the employees to prevent complications.

[Still, there's an air of unease in his voice as he speaks. The familiar sights of Shibuya do little to ease his mind, considering it's so similar to the genuine article.]

The real problem is that our adversary has the ability to alter cognition. Isshiki-san was the first known victim, but there have been countless others over the past two years.

Yeah, what the fuck is up with that? Nothing like that happens back home. They just kill people.

[That's... give him a moment. He stops in his tracks, more than a little taken aback.]

"They" being presumably the same party? Because what I do know is whoever is directing this Metaverse user has a vested interest in the country's politics and has rubbed elbows with the likes of Kunikazu Okumura, if Okumura himself isn't the one pulling the strings.

[It was in the case file, after all. Far too many incidents with connections to Okumura Foods and its competitors.]

[ Yep. Definitely the same dude. ]

I'm guessing it's the same person, since—uh. Wakaba. [ His face clouds over. Not really a delicate way to put that. ] It's not Okumura, though. He got got, too.

[ As far as he figures, lying about stuff that's common knowledge doesn't serve him. If his own Akechi shows up, or something, there's a good chance he could learn what Ren's said. And if Ren's known to have spread misinformation... ]

...I see.

[That's concerning, to say the least. If the case file is correct, then Okumura is hardly what Akechi would consider a noble actor. However, Haru is a genuinely sweet girl. To know that in some other reality, her father was taken from her...]

From what I can tell, Okumura remains unscathed. There have been reports of employees eagerly working themselves straight into hospital beds and begging to be released so they could resume their work. Competitors suddenly merging with Okumura Foods... suffice it to say, our enemy has a terrifying amount of control over people's minds.

If Okumura isn't the ringleader, he still benefits all the same.

[ Ren just kind of. Stares at Akechi. He opens his mouth, searching for words, and what finally emerges is: ]

What the fuck, man?

[ What an absolute clusterfuck. What a nightmare. That can't be Akechi's Ren doing that, can it? If Ren could do anything close to that stuff, he'd never get any rest. Shido would have him mindfucking people round the clock.

It's like changes of heart, but instead of just making people not be dicks, you can make them do anything. Ren's skin crawls, which is not easy to accomplish. ]

[Akechi chuckles at the response, but it's a dry, bitter chuckle, devoid of any genuine amusement.]

That's what I'm trying to figure out. I came to Tokyo specifically to investigate the cognitive anomalies and wound up entangled with Phantom Thievery purely by happenstance.

[He blows a small, almost wistful sigh.]

At least I share the burden of leadership with Ren. ...The Ren from my world, that is.

[This one was a Ren, wasn't he? Or was he an Akira...]

[ It's just bombshell after bombshell, huh? And this is the worst one yet. It sets his nerves alight, like a giant hand raking clawed fingernails down the chalkboard of his spine. ]

He leads the Phantom Thieves? Your Ren?

Technically, it's joint leadership. Me, the wise mentor well attuned to Personas and metacognitive worlds and Ren, my fellow Wildcard whose sharp wit and adaptability made him the ideal choice for a partner.

[A more earnest, gentle laugh slips from his lips. There's an undeniable fondness to the way he speaks.]

It also helps that he's so damn personable. I like to think I've a certain poise and charm, but I won't deny his ability to simply... connect to those around him, be they fellow underdog students or alcoholic journalists.

[Ah, but that might all be a bit much to dump on this other Ren.]

...Ah, but I mean no disrespect, of course. I suppose I got a little carried away.

[It seemed like this Ren found it all quite a bit to take in, but it's difficult not to gush about his own Joker after all they've been through together.]

[ Nothing Akechi says is rude, or offensive, but a stone settles in Ren's stomach anyway, heavier and heavier with each word. Despite the different intonation, despite the gloves, sometimes it almost seems like it could be Ren's own Akechi standing next to him. Staring fondly into space, talking about a different Ren who clearly has whatever Ren himself lacks. It's not brains or adaptability or even friendliness. Ren has all that. It's something else that Ren was just... born without. But he already knew that.

He shakes his head with a smile when Akechi apologizes. ] No worries. It sounds like you two are close...?

[ Why did he ask that. He doesn't want to know that. ]

Edited 2023-08-16 03:40 (UTC)

[Ah... Akechi's cheeks redden ever so slightly, and airy, uneasy laughter sneaks out of him. It's all smiles, a bit tight, and perhaps a smidge sheepish.]

That's... one way of putting it.

[In the back of his mind, he thinks about some of their recent escapades. How Ren was "admiring the view" when they last played billiards together, nearly thwarting Akechi's shot. Or the way Ren offered his bed to Akechi the last time he stayed over, pointing out how awful that couch must have been for his back.

All the times he's wanted to simply pull him aside, bare all his feelings, steal a kiss, and finally breathe...

But that all goes unsaid. It would be rather embarrassing to voice such thoughts to the same boy whom his Shadow made a very direct comment about his younger self finding him attractive.]

But I digress. This seems like a conversation better suited for more a more comfortable environment. We were going to grab sushi, weren't we?

[How fortunate that there's a restaurant nearby.]

[ ...Okay, it is kind of funny to see Akechi blushing like that, despite everything. ]

Yep. [ He sounds cheerful again. Fake it till you make it. ] You were gonna tell me the embarrassing story of how you got your Persona.

Of course. But that's a story best suited for when we've seated ourselves.

[So he'll be a polite gentleman and hold the door, all while quietly musing on what he should order...

Definitely some fatty tuna. Morgana should still be here, and having extras will be useful in reconnecting. Unagi is always a treat, mackerel or yellow fin are viable options...

Hm, perhaps a mixed batch of odds and ends. It's not like money is an issue here.]

A long story, huh. That's like you. Nothing normal when you can have drama. [ He sounds fond, as he walks through the door. ] Where do you wanna sit?

But would you have it any other way?

[He likes to think it adds character. It certainly gives him no shortage of fascinating conversation topics to bring to social interactions, at any rate.]

Anyway, we could sit at the sushi bar, unless you favor booth seating. Personally, I always enjoy watching the chefs at work.

[Although one look inside shows that the resident employees have the same eerie, empty smiles as just about everyone else in town. Ah well.]

[ Ren casts a skeptical look at the bar. ] Do you really want to watch these creeps?

[ He doesn't bother to keep his voice down, because the cognitions won't care. As for whether he'd have his own Akechi any other way, no, he supposes he wouldn't—but this isn't his own Akechi, in the end. Just a closer lookalike than normal. ]

...Perhaps a booth would be less unsettling.

[Fair enough. With a small sigh, he waves Ren over to a conveniently empty booth... which is most of them, to be fair, but comfort is important for conversation, and if Ren is uneasy, that's that.

Fortunately, this restaurant seems equipped with modern conveniences, like a tablet with which to place orders. Akechi flips through the menu, picking out a few odds and ends...]

So. The legend of my prepubescent stupidity... Honestly, I'd argue that it began when I chose to use my newly awakened ability to enter the TV world to meet with Teddie in secret. I used all your textbook tricks. Bribery, flattery, free snacks for a lonely creature desperate for validation...

[Not his proudest moment, but it got him what he needed at the time.]

[ Ren settles into the booth across from Akechi and waits for his turn to order. His fit of melancholy is already over, and he props his chin in his hand with a grin. ]

Really? I wouldn't have guessed you had that kind of thing in you when I met you a few days ago. Proud of you, man.

What? The self-awareness or the cunning?

[Heh. The banter is relieving, at least, and... hmmm, there.

A comfortable mix of odds and ends. Unagi, yellowfin, fatty maguro to share with Morgana, and ika...

Variety without budgetary constraints is rather fun, he'll have to admit.]

Either, now that you mention it.

[ With a gleeful gleam in his eyes, he pulls the tablet over to his side of the booth and goes wild, ordering anything he sees that looks even a little good, much more than he could ever eat. Who cares? It's all free. None of it's real. ]

I'm flattered, truly.

[Heh. Well, he did have a story to spin, so best to carry on while Ren places his order.]

I was eager to prove myself to my "big bro" without him realizing I'd even obtained the power. Yu had even offered to ease Kanji and me into the TV world, but by that point I was steadfastly determined to seize the power, which is where our "friendly" gas station attendant came in.

[He pauses, a wry smile tugging at his lips.]

Ah, fun fact about that: He was actually the goddess Izanami, and all of us bestowed with the power were but pieces in a game to determine humanity's desires.

[ ... What.

He finalizes the order and pushes the tablet aside to give Akechi his full attention. ] He was what?

[ ??? ]

I knew there was something weird about the gas station guy. I fucking called it. Why did she need to give people Personas and start a murder spree to figure out humanity's desires?

The goddess Izanami, the very same goddess of our country's creation myths.

[Funny how that happens. To have stood against a literal goddess of legend...

That smile twists into a tight scowl.]

She sought to stimulate Inaba. The murders were not necessarily her end goal: she simply brought out the potential in three unwitting humans and myself.

But if that isn't enough, she was a fragment of one of my friends, the true Izanami-no-Mikoto. Evidently, she split into multiple beings when humanity ceased to wish for the "truth," one seeking to protect humanity and one wishing to grant its distorted desires. Our 'friendly' attendant was the latter, and Marie-san was the former.

[In other words... it's quite a lot. Akechi's had years to let it all sink in, but he can imagine this is all quite the revelation.]

[ Ren squints at him across the booth. ]

...That makes no sense. You know that, right?