[EVENT] On the first day of Christmas...

[vrdr_mods]

Winter has been drawing in for quite a while, and even here, Christmas is inescapable. What's going on?

The day before

Snow is falling... all around. It's a freezing cold evening, and the air is still—except for the blizzard outside. Will you stay home in the warmth, watching the snow fall and the frost form on the windows? Or will you head out into the whirling night? Visibility is next to nothing, but you'll probably be fine... as long as you don't go too far.

The next day

Snow has fallen! It lies everywhere you look, inches-deep, from Tokyo to Mikage-cho. The air is still, and the sky is a clear, wintry blue. Doesn't look like it's going to warm up any time soon. But that means a snow day. You'll be fine, as long as you wrap up warm. Do you want to make a snowman sledge, skate or ski? Waterways are frozen solid, and if you can get to the right store, you'll find the equipment you need. Or maybe you want to keep it closer to home, with snowmen tea-tray sleds and snow angels? Just try not to kill any rivals or near-rivals with a snowball.

Snow also drifts gently from the ceiling of the Velvet Room, fading before touching the floor. Festive, unseen sleigh bells clash unnervingly with the usual elegiac piano melody. Igor watches on with his trademark knowing smile—the festivities are just beginning....

In Iwatodai Mall, Inaba Shopping District, and Station Square, there are Jack Frosts around the place, along with chilly-looking Pixies, Onmoraki, and many other assorted demons. They have large sacks, or toolboxes, or planks of wood; they work merrily in hard hats, and whisper and giggle amongst themselves, and watch you as you pass. What could they be up to?

Christmas trees now stand in all the open spaces, hung about with baubles and lights. Illuminations are up, too, on every building, across every street, between streetlamps, you name it. More urban areas, like Tokyo or Sumaru, are as dazzling as you'd expect. But it isn't just the real world—all cognitive zones are suddenly hung with countless tiny lights as well. Probably not a good sign.... then again, the inhabitants seem strangely reluctant to fight you.

Comments

[pheasantboy]

Shut the fuck up. [That's a big "yes"—but again, all the anger has been bled from it. He's watching her closely, taking her in.]

Midnight, really? That makes you sound quite the avenging angel.

[midnightmaiden]

Well, maybe not avenging. I prefer to help people with their problems, especially those who can't fight their own battles or change their own lives. Cendrillon's fairy godmother helped her reach her dreams, so I want to do the same.

[Is it a bit schlocky? Perhaps, but it's just how she feels! And Kasumi has the ability to make it happen.

It's just awkward to explain to such an abrasive Shadow.]

[pheasantboy]

Cendrillon is still your Persona? [His eyebrows have creased in a hawk-eyed frown.]

Are you Sumire or Kasumi? [Welp.]

[midnightmaiden]

Yes, she is.

[As for the question... She winces again, tightly wringing her hands.]

I'm Kasumi. Sumire died in a car accident several months ago.

[...]

I miss her every day, but I'm doing the best I can.

[pheasantboy]

[There's a long moment of silence. Then, quietly and oh-so-slowly pitching up, he starts to laugh.

The Mara in the Santa hat suddenly remembers a pressing engagement elsewhere, and hurriedly wheels itself down the tunnel with its burden of Christmas lights.]

[midnightmaiden]

...That's not very funny, Senpai.

[He is a Shadow. She knows that. Shadows aren't... always the most stable. But it's still unsettling. So very offputting.]

[pheasantboy]

[But the laugh trails off, eventually, thankfully. He unrolls his neck, and grins an ugly grin.]

So you don't know. Oh dear, dear, dear me, Yoshizawa-san. What a little lost lamb you are.

Or are you? Because something tells me you aren't as innocent as you look. [His teeth gleam in the coloured lights.]

[midnightmaiden]

I'm not lost, and I'm not clueless, either. I've been using the Metaverse longer than the Phantom Thieves.

[There's a slight edge to her voice. A little narrowing of the eyes. It's clear he's gotten her just a teensy bit on edge.]

[pheasantboy]

[Yeah, his eyes have narrowed in turn—but he's still mocking her.]

Look at you, trying to walk in the dark. Thinking you know it all. [The smirk fades to an ugly, lonely frown.] You have no idea how little you know, do you? The things that are hidden in your head.

Things like me. [What.]

[midnightmaiden]

If you have something to say, you can say it to me directly.

[Her scowl sharpens just a little. Her hands curl into fists. This is unsettling. Very, very unsettling.]

[pheasantboy]

... no. [It's odd; he seems... blank, somehow. Like something that should be there isn't. She probably recognises it.]

You're too like him. The other one. But he doesn't bother me any more.

[midnightmaiden]

The other who? There are a lot of duplicates around here...

[She relaxes a little, at least. The fists unclench. This is... hm. What's going on here?]

[pheasantboy]

Everything you've done, and you don't know how Shadows work? Keep up, Yoshizawa-san.

[Did you know Shadows project? They do.]

[midnightmaiden]

I know how Shadows work. They're repressed thoughts and feelings, but Persona users don't have them.

[So if she's trying to say she has a Shadow, then he's just wrong.]

Sorry, Senpai, but I really don't understand what you're getting at.

[pheasantboy]

You're drowning! Don't you get it? Everything you were is gone! Cut out of you!

[Oh, he's had enough. He lunges forward sharply, managing to snap at her.]

You were strong. I remember that much well enough. You're nothing but a puppet now.

[midnightmaiden]

[She jumps back, drawing her sword.]

I'm not a puppet! And I'm not drowning either.

[Despite her words, there's a hint of unease in her voice. Winces a moment, then shakes it off.]

Everything I have, I chose for myself. I wanted to be here!

[pheasantboy]

Liar!

[He lunges again—not coming close, not nearly, but enough to intimidate a weaker target. An aura of power moves before him, enough for her to tell his strength. Whatever he's thinking, it's enough to overcome her influence.]

What did he tell you? What did he do to you, to make you do what he wants? Two of them, with your strings in their hands, and you stand there saying you chose it! Idiot! They never keep you!

[midnightmaiden]

[So much power...

It's enough to get a brief, wide eyed stare before she slips into a defensive stance, both physically and emotionally.]

I wanted to help him! Dr. Maruki's done so much for me. I asked for him to bring me here, so I could help him break free. He needs someone who understands him, and who won't use him the way that Shido has!

[pheasantboy]

[Maruki... Shido....

It's too much. He stares at her for a long moment, strangely aghast for a Shadow, before erupting into something that screams towards her with an agonised sound, opening its maw in a fury of razor teeth.

... except then he bounces. He recoils from her, the scream collapsing into a moan, as his ballooned form collapses back into his usual human shape, in its black mist.

He hits the tunnel wall hard, shaking the cheerful lights, and collapses face-first onto the ground, unmoving. Not even breathing. But then, Shadows don't breathe.]

[midnightmaiden]

[It's all so shocking. She knows she can't influence human Shadows as easily, especially ones of this power level, but—

Ah. He just recoiled. He fell back. That's... not a good sign.

She could go. She could flee for her life.

Instead, she moves beside him, crouching.]

Hey... Are you okay?

[pheasantboy]

[He doesn't move, or speak a word. But he can't be dead, because he's still here.]

[midnightmaiden]

[She doesn't move and, very tentatively, she places a hand on his shoulder.]

Look... I don't want to hurt you. If what I said stressed you out, then I'm sorry. I don't know why you're down here, but if there's anything I can do...

[pheasantboy]

[There's no warmth to him; it's like touching a soft statue. He doesn't reply directly, or turn around, or even vibrate as he speaks, like a human would.]

You know what I miss?

[midnightmaiden]

No, but I'm still willing to listen...

[He probably needs it. It's not like this place has the best company...]

[pheasantboy]

Breathing. [There's another of those flashes of light, and a blink, and then he's standing, sliding his hands into his coat pockets—which thankfully he still has.] Breathing looks fun. Expressive.

What the fuck are you? [To have done that to him, he means.]