text;; dead akechi speaking

[paysforall]

Just out of interest -

Has anyone other than myself and the Ren who blew up part of Shinjuku some months back been doing any significant experiments on the cognitive properties of this space? If so, have you found out anything interesting?

I know there were a group of you training in that tower in Iwatodai, but did you find anything there of interest, or just Shadows to beat up?

For newer arrivals: Hello, this is Shrike, comparative senior citizen of whatever we're calling this place. I come and go, unlike most everyone else, on account of my job. It seems like it's been a few months again, though I did get a few updates on my phone while I was away.

And before you ask: I don't go home under my own power, much less have the ability to send you back. Sorry. Don't sign contracts with strange demigods unless you know what you're getting yourself into, and, in general, try not to die.

Comments

[willowandoak]

yeah we learned u can change ppls hearts without stealing their treasure

[paysforall]

Or causing them significant psychological harm, I assume.

On the one hand, on a professional and personal research level, I want details.

On the other hand, given that the very limited number of 'real' people here with hearts to change... Well, I'll respect whoever's privacy unless they want to come forward.

1/2

[willowandoak]

d(ﾟｰﾟ@)

2/2

[willowandoak]

[ Rather than elaborate on the network, then, Ren pulls up his messages with Shrike and starts texting there. ]

it was me lmao

private texts ehnceforth lmao

[paysforall]

That was my suspicion.

And I am not fooled by your blithe lmaos. Are you alright?

[willowandoak]

u could at least pretend man
but yeah im fine, i let them do it
just weird as fuck to be in ur own palace
and even weirder that it worked, all they did was fucking. give my shadow a pep talk??
thats what ur rlly after. the secret methods

[ That is not, in fact, all that they did, or all that was necessary to change his cognition. But it really seems that way, looking back. ]

[paysforall]

Reaching the point of developing a full Palace isn't exactly mild.

My understanding is that my world's Futaba snuck into her own Palace after the Thieves when she demanded that they change her heart. Something about a giant sphinx version of her mother as a final boss?

So you'll forgive me for continuing to be concerned.

... I'm sorry I wasn't able to help.

[willowandoak]

dont worry abt it
be happy u missed it, i was unbearable
i think frog was thinking abt our futaba when he talked abt how u dont have to steal ppls treasure to change them so that makes sense
but i was in my palace to give the team instructions
even though i didnt have a persona. ridiculous operation lmao

[ Let him have his lmaos. They comfort him. ]

[paysforall]

[Just as long as he knows they aren't fooling Shrike one bit.]

A mortifying ordeal, as they say.

But no matter how much you tell me not to worry about it, you are my friend, and I feel like I failed you. No amount of conspicuous minimizing will change that.

(ง •̀w•́)ง

[willowandoak]

[ He doesn't respond for a moment, because he is busy feeling emotions. You'd think he'd be used to all the You're my friend. You matter to me. I want to help. shit by now, but if anything, it just hits harder as time goes on. ]

its not *conspicuous*

Ren is typing...

if were being like gross and sincere and shit im kind of glad you werent there?
it seems like every motherfucker here got to poke around in my heart
and watch me make an idiot of myseld
*myself
sometimes its hard to look them in the face you know? like its fucked up. that they were just in there. i asked them to be but it wasnt bc i wanted it, the alternative was just worse
its good to have a friend where i dont have to look at them and think damn you really did see all that

[ That had better make Shrike feel better, because Ren did not have a good time typing it. ]

[paysforall]

[Tough shit, Ren. Mortifying ordeal of being liked.]

Heh. A fair enough point, since in equal honesty, one of the reasons I regard you as a friend so easily is that you're someone who gets it that isn't ME.

There's only so many times I can look variations of my past self in the eye without cringing.

[willowandoak]

im probably the past version that ppl cant look at tbh
senpai tried to tell me to trust frog, i was like are u fucking kidding??
but he was right. hes probably feeling smug abt it

[paysforall]

And where's my points for telling you to trust your partner?

Anyway, most of the other versions of you are around your age, just from different life paths. Not exactly the same thing as Magpie being my past self, possibly identically to the day, before this place interfered.

[willowandoak]

[ He makes a face at his phone. ]

hate to say this dude but if u used to be magpie then dying did u a lot of goos
*good
also u dont get as many points bc u called him my partner
which like unless u get magic future seeing powers when u die that was wrong
.. actually do u get them

[paysforall]

I think this place made him double down in a way I didn't get the chance to because I was too busy trying to not get Erased, but he's definitely the closest to the old me.

*I* don't, but *my* partner got ridiculously accurate intuition powers. Not quite full winning the lottery level but he usually gets three numbers out of six, and I don't think I've ever seen him get *none*. It really just depends on the person.