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1. What's without

[To long time residents of this closet of a dimension, the figure leaning against the base of ~~Hachiko~~Buchiko's plinth is a familiar sight. The Goro Akechi, Age 21 who is there is dressed in mostly the same fashion as the last time anyone saw him - it's a different pair of black skinny jeans (these ones have a silver chain with skull charms hanging from the left hip to the knee, with just enough give to swing as he walks) and a different too-fancy shirt, but how many Akechis are there, even, who would even consider dressing like that? The only spot of color, aside from his hair and eyes (have they always been that red) is that the gloves he wears are bright red on the inside, palms and fingers. A memory he doesn't want to lose.

He's playing games on his phone with half-attention as he people-watches, which in this place is more an act of looking for people to watch. In the sea of cognitions, real people stick out like a sore thumb - and he's probably spotted you in the crowd before you even approach, with a faint smile or frown on his face, depending on who you are.

And if you're more than just a familiar face - someone who he actually met, the last time he was here - he'll actually stop leaning against the statue's base to give you a proper wave. It's been a while, Velvet Room Dimension, but your Reaper has returned.]

2. What's within

[And no trip through the old stoimping grounds is complete without a trip to Mementos, directly through Shibuya Station.

He doesn't wear a mask - indeed, even as a former Phantom Thief, his clothes don't change. But unlike on the normal, uncognitive side of the world, his wings are fully visible, moving like a natural extension of his body. And in place of the chain dangling from his jeans is a holstered pistol - neither the toy laser gun nor the real one he used as Shido's weapon, but at least at a glance, it seems real enough.

Akechi lurks for a while at the entrance of Mementos, sitting quite illegally on one of the turnstiles just because he can, perched like a particularly strange bird, one knee tented up against his torso and the other dangling as he watches in the direction of the depths. Eventually, he slides off his seat and deeper into the depths.

In Mementos proper, he spends a bit of time getting a work-out - that gun is in hand, though what it fires can only be loosely called bullets. Fireballs, lightning bolts, shards of ice, and of course laser beams once more - he uses all of these in various combinations, rather than summoning a Persona for combat. Combined with the fact that he's clearly much faster than most of the Shadows, it's usually a quick clean-up if anything tries to bother him.]

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An easier way to have certain small items to hand, perhaps, if one cultivates the cognition that there might be anything up your sleeves?

[He's just spitballing, really. The eyes on his wings don't phase him - he's used to them enough, from Players and even other Reapers. Shibuya's Reapers showed their wings; Shinjuku's didn't.]

Hmm... Yes, I can see that as a viable application. I know coin tricks exist as well, but I'm not sure if they'd be helpful or a hindrance in how much yen an enemy drops.

[This may warrant some deeper research, but that would also require Raven to learn magic tricks. What a conundrum...]

By the way, are those wings functional, or merely for show?

[You're never too old to learn a new trick, or something.]

What, you think someone could fly with these?

[He spreads the wings a little wider, showing off all the wrought-iron-gate-esque gaps in them.]

I can slow myself falling and glide over the ground a short distance, but that bears little connection to the wings.

If you can't fly with them, then what purpose do they serve? Is it simply an aesthetic flourish?

[Hmm... actually. That raises a far more pertinent question.]

And has it never occurred to you to use them for flight in the Metaverse, seeing how it operates on cognition and physics-defying feats are already achievable?

Well, they're a visual manifestation of the soul unique to Reapers. Generally, they're a way of showing power at a glance, since size roughly corresponds with strength. In more recent days, they've become a signal of a person's position within the office politics of the afterlife.

[Their purpose, in any case, is to be seen, but not for reasons as simple as pure aesthetics. As for the second question, he just shrugs.]

I haven't had access to the Metaverse for many years, before arriving here, and I don't particularly feel the need to fly around Mementos. It's cramped enough as it is.

[Also, he can line-of-sight teleport.]

I suppose a Palace would be more appropriate? Not that I've spent much time exploring them.

[Even still, the thought is an intriguing one... One of these days, he really ought to pester someone to go Palace hopping with him.]

Honestly, if the wings made traversing the tunnels easier, that would at least be sensible. Going on foot is quite the nuisance, especially where that Reaper is concerned.

[...]

The Shadow, with the chains.

Hm - I haven't been to any Palaces in this world, yet, myself.

[Truthfully, it had escaped his notice that they existed. Palaces without their Rulers - just what were they, then? Formed out of the memories of the various forms of Phantom Thieves here?

That makes the most sense - he'll have to test it. See if there are any of the handful of Palaces that he infiltrated solo, before he had any competition.]

Either way, I have my own ways of getting around. I can't say I especially miss my short period crammed between Skull and Fox in the back of the Monabus.

...Monabus.

[Has he been told about that before? His face scrunches up either way. It's such a perplexing mental image.]

I certainly can't imagine enjoying being in such cramped quarters. Something tells me it'll be even worse in my world, seeing how I grow up to co-lead the Phantom Thieves with Ren.

Yes, though calling it a bus is generous. It's a large van or cargo truck, really.

[Not nearly big enough for seven teenagers to fit in comfortably, especially with as few windows as it had.]

I'm sure the size was fine at the start when there were only four or five of them, but as time went on... Perhaps having more people at the beginning will make Mona's cognitive form larger at the outset.

[He can hope, right?]

It is a cognitive world, so if cognition is responsible for Morgana's change in form, I suppose it could expand his vehicular form to accommodate for more Phantom Thieves. I'm not even sure how many are a part of Crow's team, but I do know that we're not typically one of the founding members in other worlds.

[Which is troubling, given his own guilt for being so lucky, though Crow is much worse in that regard. People like Magpie are the norm, as sad as it is, but that doesn't make them bad.]

Indeed. I was the last - [If you could even truly call him a member of the team, really.] - and I imagine it's the same for most other worlds that closely parallel mine.

That would make sense. Magpie may be a similar case, although his relationship with the Phantom Thieves seems... complicated.

[A little frown, but not quite a pout, takes hold of him here.]

He doesn't intend to kill Ren anymore, nor does he intend to stick with Shido, so there's that, at least.

He seems to be the one who is closest to my younger self, from the few times we've talked. I'm glad to hear he's trying to branch off in another direction.

[Considering what was objectively waiting for him at the end of his road if he didn't change.]

Technically, he's become two people who are both planning to alter their respective fates.

[He pauses, letting that sink in before clarifying:]

A few months back, he regressed to around my age and stayed that way until just after the holidays. Evidently, when he reverted back, his younger self retained all memory of this place in a split timeline and still texts Crow and me regularly.

Ah, yes, Crow did mention when I texted him to ask what I missed earlier.

[Nobody knows what's going on like your busybody older self, sorry kid.]

Magpie himself is in the place where it's most difficult to change, since he's running up against the clock. But if he's gone so far as to decide that he wants to change, and has committed to that path, that's the most difficult hurdle overcome.

As I understand it, Crow believes he should work with the Phantom Thieves more sincerely. At least inform Ren of his situation so that he can be 'in' on the plan, whatever that entails, and they can deal with the rest later...

[Granted, Raven doesn't have the full scope of what's to come. All he knows is what could happen. His brow furrows in serious thought at that...]

I know that Shido's Palace is the tipping point. Sparrow's Shadow told me a fair bit.

Mm... I'm not sure I would disagree with that assessment. To me, the tipping point was Kunikazu Okumura, and that is already past. Sae's Palace was the gun; Shido's is the coffin.

[That's his perspective, after three years away from it all. Okumura's death was the line where he feels like he never could truly have been one of them.]

But so long as you exist, there's hope, or so an acquaintance of mine would say. No point in giving up while the bullet is still in the chamber.

True. I suppose the real question is whether or not the Phantom Thieves would be willing to work with him in order to take Shido down. To that end, I suppose honesty truly is the best policy. They'll likely be more amenable if he informs them of what's on the line.

[Raven heaves a heavy sigh. It all seems so daunting. He can understand Magpie's reservations.]

Joker yes. Sakamoto yes, but specifically through the lens of focusing down on the awful shit Shido has pulled and how he has to be stopped at any cost. Takamaki will hesitate, but eventually agree with Sakamoto.

Kitagawa will take his time considering. Makoto will be sure to remind him that this doesn't erase the things he's done. Futaba will be conflicted, but listening to the others will bring her around.

Haru... will want justice for her father and all the other people Shido trampled over for his ambitions. She'll be willing to put Magpie's sins aside for that purpose. And however much Morgana might object at first, in the end he'll go with whatever Joker decides.

...That's my assessment, at any rate. Of course, it's been years since I last interacted with those of them who aren't here.

Edited (icon) 2024-02-16 18:18 (UTC)

[So many names Raven doesn't quite register. He nods along, brow creased in concentration as he tries to make a mental list. Morgana is familiar enough, at least, as well as Haru.]

Do you recommend passing this assessment along to Magpie? I believe he'd trust my word, since we are rather close.

It's up to you. Ultimately, their exact reasons don't matter that much if he doesn't actually have to convince them, no?

[And they'll do the convincing themselves. Shido ultimately can't be allowed to run unchecked. That will come first.]

I suppose so. Nonetheless, the more information I can provide, the more easily he can refine his plans as needed. He's more than capable of acting alone, of course, but I'd rather ensure he has all the information required.

[So... hm. Mental note: remember these names and general habits. Actually, perhaps he should write that down.

In fact, he's going to do that, removing a notepad and scribbling away.]

[Smart kid. Sometimes that's the best strategy.]

Hopefully he either has or will get it into his head that acting alone is what got him into that mess in the first place.

I think he's... somewhat improved? At the very least, he trusts Crow and myself, and he's fairly open with Hawk. Rose as well, I believe? Beyond that... it's more difficult to say, but his tolerance of Ren is a good sign, seeing how he has been living with us more recently.

[Quite a full house at this point, really. Not that Raven's complaining, if it means more time with one of his favorite people.]

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3000 years later...

no it's fine i had a game to open anyway

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