Author's note: All those siblings in the Velvet Room rock.
Story takes place during a break in all the emotional drama of Persona 3.
Human World Escapade
Elizabeth slumped her shoulders in boredom. Not that the Velvet Room wasn't a most scintillating place to be, but tonight she could count the hands of the huge wall clock tick by. This evening passed slowly. No complex Personae mutations and no new spells to learn.
Elizabeth wanted a night out. Pretending to pore over her copy of The Structure and Intricacies of Demonic Mating, while normally a delightful read, was not doing it for her.
She glanced discreetly over her shoulders. Over at the round divining table hunched Igor, rattling off incantations of some sort as he pored over a smattering of tarot cards. He was completely focused. Perfect. He always loved unique Persona combinations; he spent hours perfecting the right ones so when the rare time that a guest arrived on their doorstep, everyone could experience the tumultuous journey to the most wondrous Personae.
Big sis Margaret kept tabs on Igor's progress, referring back and forth from her massive tome of a Compendium and providing tips in sporadic instances. She really liked Personae fusions.
Theodore, bless his brotherly heart, was nowhere to be seen. He had gotten involved with honing new battle techniques and all this week he had barely been around here. He'd pop in and show his face just to prove he hadn't been annihilated by Shadows and leave again to battle further.
Now it was her turn for a wild journey of her own.
Sneaking out had been in Elizabeth's plan for a few days. Flitting off on a secret errand was such a human thing to do. She smirked.
Her hand touched the magically-enchanted doorknob of the room's exit and turned. Paulownia Mall was on the other side. The human world. Elizabeth shivered in anticipation at her intended destination.
Out of the world of blues and a perpetually-moving elevator, Elizabeth caught sight of the enchanting fountains lining the area. Oh yes, she came prepared this visit.
Elizabeth eagerly took out her coin purse as she crossed the space to the central fountain in the square. Stopping in front of the gently swirling play of water, she made sure to pause and think of a wish. She recalled how a previous trip had her foolishly giving the water sprites quite a bit of coin before she thought of a desire for them to grant.
"Hmm, now what should I wish for? The most illuminating evening filled with intellectual joy? Or maybe a dip into the evocative." Voicing her choices aloud, both options sounded appealing.
"Perchance a partner to share what is to come?" a deep voice suggested from behind her.
Elizabeth pouted as the tall man with the silver hair stopped next to her, smiling. "Theo, what are you doing here? Weren't you off showing Shadows who was boss?"
"I was, but I wanted a break. I couldn't help but notice you missing from the Velvet Room so inconspicuously tonight. Did you have plans?"
Coins jingled in the purse as Elizabeth chose a compromise between her two hopes. She upturned her pouch and watched the stream of gold and silver discs plunk into the water. Leave it to her brother to butt in. "Yes, I intend to visit a place I had only heard about in rumor. I wanted to for so long."
Theodore had looked intently at her, but upon hearing the word "rumor", his gold eyes lit up. "The... the club of rumor?"
Elizabeth giggled cattily. The sound of clinking coins continued.
His calm composure instantly broke and he grabbed her arm with an eagerness reserved for tiny children begging parents for indulgent candy. "Uninhibited spectacles of passion! Soul-moving melodies thrumming in such a confined space! Please let me join you! It has been my desire to see this oasis. It is... it is why I followed you. I had felt the energy coming from there to be most intense at this moon's rise."
Theodore looked smitten, but determined as he pleaded with his older and wiser sister.
She couldn't deny him. Besides, the excitement was too much to burden alone and there were few others Elizabeth could entrust with the secret. "Very well."
"Fantastic!" Theodore clapped his hands together. They waited a moment longer for the waterfall of money to finish its wet descent. They headed over to the alluring neon sign in the plaza's corner and stared up in awe at the phosphor glow of letters. They were going in!
Author's note: Watch out for the next chapter. Let me know what you think of this one!