Persona Q: The Wedding Files

Scenario 10: Theodore

"Your destined partner is… lo and behold…" The mechanical voice soon finishes, and two spotlights lit up. One was shining on the Leader from Gekkoukan, or P3 Heroine. And the other was on Theodore, the youngest of the Velvet Room siblings and the P3 Heroine's attendant.

"Oh, my…" Theodore was looking around the surroundings. "Where am I? I thought I was at the workshop?" He gasped loudly. "Could this be the instantaneous transportation magic that Elizabeth called an "illusion"…?" he hypothesized.

"Aah!"

Group Date Café, The Big Day

Theodore got up along with the Leader and dusted himself. He looked around their surroundings. It was like something that could be described as a fantasy land for love. The place is a garden of colourful flowers complete with a dirt path that was obviously meant to be stepped on. Heart-shaped arches extended all the way through the dirt path. "What could this place be…?" He said, looking up at where they fell from. "It's very bright and open… Are we aboveground?" He placed his hand under his chin. "Is it possible to fall to aboveground from underneath?" he asked, facing the Leader.

"…Oh?" Theodore looked at their hands. They were stuck together. "It appears… that our hands are bounded together. We cannot separate them…"

"It seems you have reached your destination."

Theodore notices the voice. "Yes, it seems we have…" Theodore said. "but who, sir, are you?"

"This seems to be a path where lovers who met their destined partners discuss their love for each other." The mechanical voice says. "What could be waiting up ahead? You are free to step forth hand-in-hand, curiosity and fear in your hearts, or you can refrain."

"Destined partners… You mean, she and I?" Theodore wondered, nodding. "Of course. She is our valued guest in the Velvet Room. And thus, she is linked to a great chain of eve–"

The mechanical voice interrupts Theodore. "You are free to step forth, or refrain from doing so. These are your apparent options. Now, step forth!"

Afterward, the mechanical voice went silent.

Theodore appeared to be disappointed. "…So, he won't answer my questions…" he sighed. "That's all right. I'm used to it… My sisters say that my existence is transparent in the extreme." He faced the Leader. "We're alone… and our hands are stuck together. My dear guest, what do you think about this situation?"

"This is so embarrassing…"

"There's nothing wrong with it."

"Let's go on, please."

"Embarrassing…?" Theodore wondered. "How could that be…? We are merely holding hands and… Hm? What is this...? I don't understand what it is…"

"This is so embarrassing…"

"There's nothing wrong with it."

"Let's go on, please."

"Ah, then it's okay for you to hold hands with me." Theodore nodded. Yet, he still seemed unsure about what the Leader had said. "Although… I do feel somehow strange… But… I wonder what it is…"

"This is so embarrassing…"

"There's nothing wrong with it."

"Let's go on, please."

"You won't answer my question, either…" Theodore appeared to be choking on his words. "…Is my existence truly non-existent…? Ah, please don't mind me. I feel somehow strange… But… I wonder what it is…"

"Well then, why don't we follow along with what the voice said and take a step forth?" Theodore suggested. "What could be waiting up ahead? It is in that spirit that we should never shy from proceeding forth! Don't you agree!?" The Leader nodded and followed the dirt path that apparently continued to expand as they took steps forward. Eventually, they reached an area where they could see a portrait resting on a stand, but they couldn't make out what it was from their location.

"Suddenly, all in attendance hear an announcement."

"An announcement, you say?" Theodore said. "Thank you for telling us."

"Up ahead, they see a bride and groom's joyous commemorative photograph of love." The voice says. "They confer between them whether to look at it, or ignore it."

The voice falls silent once again.

""Commemorative photograph of love" …" Theodore gasped, most likely in curiosity. "Oh, my… Could such a rare thing be here…!?" He thought that the Leader didn't understand what it is, so he explained it to her. "A recording of the limitless depth of love of those who recorded their nuptial vows onto a thin paper…" He paused before continuing. "That is how I've heard Elizabeth describe it. I've longed to see one with my own eyes!" He took a step forward, looking back at the Leader. "What are you waiting for? We must make haste towards it!" With that, Theodore practically yanked the Leader's arm until they were in front of the portrait.

"…?" Theodore tilted his head. "Is this… wedding attire…? And the ones clad in such attire are the two of us." As the Leader scanned through the portrait, it depicted a lacy pinkish background filled with pink roses, a "Happy Wedding" written at above the base of the image, and two formally dressed groom and bride. The groom was carrying the bride and one of their hands connected with each other to form a heart-shaped spacing. Although… the faces of the bride and groom… they were Theodore's face and the Leader's face respectively. The faces looked like they were taken from another photo before it was torn off from that photo and is pasted on this portrait. Overall, it looked like a manipulated photo.

Theodore stepped away from the portrait. "Does this mean that… you and I are getting married?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Nope."

"It has got to be a trap."

"Aha. I knew that from the start." Theodore sounded pleased with his 'inference'. "I've heard that marriage is a ritual where a strongly bonded pair vows to nurture even stronger bonds. Maybe it is similar to how I help you with the fusion of Personas and you attempt to complete the requests I've given to you… So… is this the "marriage" thing now…?"

Theo is nodding to himself…

"Yes."

"Nope."

"It has got to be a trap."

Theodore appeared distraught when the Leader said that. "W-Was I mistaken?" He said. "Do pardon me…" He took a look at the portrait. "Well… if it were possible, I wish to experience this "marriage" thing. I've heard that marriage is a ritual where a strongly bonded pair vows to nurture even stronger bonds. Obviously, that holds no relevance to residents of the Velvet Room. Which is why I yearn to experience it. It's like reaching for a star…"

Theo is smiling…

"Yes."

"Nope."

"It has got to be a trap."

"I-It's a trap!?" Theodore shouted. He began to shift his head around cautiously. "Where is there cinnamon!?" After a while, Theodore has calmed down from his sudden panic. "Excuse me, I lost my composure…" He spoke in a calmer tone. "Just between you and me, it seems someone is setting up traps in the Velvet Room. These traps always involve cinnamon…" He shuddered. "When I let my guard down, I am deluged with cinnamon. Sometimes the cinnamon is spewed out from a table… Just the other day, there was a page made of cinnamon snuck into my Persona Compendium." Theodore shuddered more visibly. "That was an ordeal to clean… I can still feel it in my collar and sleeves. So very grainy…"

Theo is still wary of his surroundings…

"If I were to become married, I am sure that my sisters would be quite glad." Theodore continued. "There was a time once when they told me to perform this marriage ritual. It was something about wanting to play "in-laws"… They sounded like they were having fun, so I take it this "marriage" thing is something most wonderful." Theodore paused. "Then… this feeling… what is it…? It has been growing and growing ever since we fell…"

…

Things may feel awkward if you explain, so you said nothing…

They passed by the photo, noticing a large building far from where they were. They were quite surprised by its' sheer size, surprised that they didn't even notice it from where they landed. Halfway along the path, Theodore stopped walking. "I've been curious…" Theodore spoke. "Would it disturb you if I would… try out something?"

"Try out what?"

"Oh, you mean, carry me?"

"This." Theodore said, and he picked up the Leader like in the picture. "Hmm… I think I feel some sort of difference…" He said. "Carrying you… is somehow expanding that… feeling in my chest… I cannot explain this feeling… but I understand what it means to carry someone."

Theodore placed you down.

"Try out what?"

"Oh, you mean, carry me?"

"Yes." Theodore nodded. "With your permission, of course." The Leader thought about it for a while and nodded. "Well, then…" Theodore picked up the Leader like in the picture. "Hmm… I think I feel some sort of difference…" He said. "Carrying you… is somehow expanding that… feeling in my chest… I cannot explain this feeling… but I understand what it means to carry someone."

Theodore placed you down.

"Thank you for satisfying that curiosity." Theodore nodded. "I may still have a lot to learn about marriage. And I hope that you would aid me in my learning. Well then, shall we move on?" They resumed walking on the path until they reached the doors of the large building. It looked like a church based on the designs.

"The long-awaited moment has come. The bride and groom are finally about to enter." The mechanical voice spoke suddenly. "The last moment of hesitation has arrived before you are to be wed."

"May we… truly get married!?" Theodore said.

"Through your own free will, you decide to vow eternal love to each other." The voice spoke.

Theodore looked at the Leader. "Eternal love… A permanent love, stronger than the one between man and woman… The bond between a parent and child…" He said.

"Now, open the door together!" The voice said.

Theodore is very curious. He understands that there would be eternal love between his guest and himself if they enter, although they would be both parents… Theodore realized that they don't have a child now. They would need a child if they want to be "married". Well, at least that is what Theodore knows. Soon, the Leader pushed the church doors open.

"Ah, please wait!" Theodore realized that the doors have been pushed open. "We haven't found a child yet!"

The Leader and Theodore walked into the church. Theodore is fine with the wedding, it's his first time. However, he is still wondering where they could find a child for the marriage. The doors behind them closes automatically, and the mechanical voice from the beginning speaks.

"You must vow your unwavering love for one another, in sickness and in health. Now, vow your love!" The voice declares.

"P-Please wait!" Fuuka's voice suddenly shouted. "You can't do this!"

The doors suddenly slammed open and Aigis rushed in with incredible speed before the rest of the group rushed into the church. "Halt the marriage." Aigis said. At the same time, the Leader and Theodore's hands came unstuck.

"Huh? Is the wedding over?" Theodore asked.

"A forced wedding like this is not approved." Aigis explained. "This is your notice of its' cancellation."

…

It seems that the wedding has been called off…

I think that this chapter merely survived in terms of my understanding of Theo. I remember using Infinity to avoid his Megidolaons, and it took about five attempts for me to understand that I MUST NOT use any sort of nullification of physical or magic skills and nullifying all aliments. So… what of Theodore does anyone like?