April 13th, 20XX
Ren had trouble getting to sleep the previous night. He stayed at the clinic with Ann and Shiho to make sure Ryuji got home okay, and then had to deal with Boss about being super late, which was definitely not good for the blood pressure, and then study, and then… He was so tired that he couldn't remember what he did. It was half-past midnight when the quiet buzz of Yongen-Jaya finally lured him to sleep.
"Welcome to the Velvet Room, or should I say, welcome back, my dear guest." Ren opened his eyes. He stood inside what looked like a casino in his school uniform. Those boxes looked like betting machines, and that was definitely a massive slot machine behind Igor. There were even two bar areas on either side.
"Hello, Igor, my hallucinations seem to be getting stranger." The hunched man chuckled.
"It is not a simple hallucination, Trickster. The Velvet Room is a canvas that is painted upon by the heart of its current guest. Any changes in it's form are by those made in the heart of it's guest. At one time, it was similar to this for a previous guest." Ren was about to ask why his heart was a prison a few weeks ago, when he was interrupted.
"Hey, I might not be Him, but I can enjoy the drinks; right, old man?" Ren looked to the left and saw a blue-haired boy sipping a drink at the right bar.
"Ah, I see the Shadow of the Universe could not settle for human-made alcohol?" Igor questioned the boy, turning his neck at a weird angle, even for him.
"Right now, this has the taste of tap water, seriously, get the kid some Personae, old man," said the blue-haired boy, sipping the clear liquid from a martini glass.
"Um, excuse me, am I missing something here?"
"I apologize, Trickster. Your questions will be answered in due time."
"You know, He probably thought you were a cryptic bastard, even more than I do."
"I don't think that!"
"Not you, dolt. Or, fool, if that's the term you'd prefer." Igor chuckled. "I mean Him. Minato Arisoto. The Universe."
"Doesn't ring a bell."
"Should have expected as much," The blue-haired boy shook his head, taking a sip.
"Stop bothering my Trickster, Minatos."
"Hey, I'm just trying to get a drink, and aren't you a bit young to be here?"
"Keep quiet, I'm as old as you are." Ren turned to the new, feminine voice. A girl leaned against the bar on his left. She had long, platinum blonde hair, yellow eyes, and a fairly light complexion. She seemed to be about Ren's age, if not older. She wore what could be described as a modest barmaid's outfit, the frilled sleeves reached down to her gloved elbows, and her velvet blue dresses' length was hidden behind the bar. A frilled apron had golden letters that spelled 'OXYMORON' wrapped around her chest.
"Is it normal for people with a blue color schema to randomly show up in here, Igor?"
"Alas, it seems that Elizabeth's siblings all share the same fashion sense. To your left, is Lavenza, your attendant. She will assist you throughout your journey. On your right, is the shade of a previous guest, Minatos, known in some circles as the Shadow of the Universe. I do not recommend speaking of him near more dubious individuals."
"Greetings, Trickster. I am pleased to meet you again." The woman in blue nodded to him.
"Again?"
"You have met Lavenza in her damaged form- or rather, forms- previously, dear guest." Those twins? Well, if you added the suspected ages… yeah, that makes sense. Sure, his imaginary friends could do the fusion dance, why not?
"You're welcome, by the way, for me stopping the interloper from getting any further." The blue-haired boy swirled his drink.
"You are as much of an interloper, might I remind you, Minatos?" Lavenza said to the other boy.
"Ah, come on, the room would have been in far worse shape if I didn't do anything, and anyway, you got your true form back; the scar on your chest is minimal damage." The blue-haired boy, Minatos, shrugged his shoulders, taking another drink.
"Scar? Oh, you peeping little-" Lavenza hopped over the bar.
"Is it normally this… lively, around here?" Ren asked, turning his attention away from the others. Igor chuckled.
"There hasn't been much activity in the Velvet Room in recent years, prior to the beginning of your journey. I must say, I have missed the atmosphere."
"Can you tell me more about this interloper? And what kind of journey am I supposed to go on? And what's the deal with the room changing?"
"Should you follow your true path, you will come to know. Goodbye for now, trickster."
"Oh, son of a-" Ren heard laughter from the blue-haired boy as he faded back into unconsciousness.
Ren got caught in a crowd of other students on his way to school. He didn't see any distinct blonde or neon hair in the crowd, but he did see a girl with bright, crimson hair, tied up in a ponytail. Other students in the crowd spoke to each other.
"Hey, isn't that the honor student?" Asked a girl nearby Ren, who was speaking to another plain-looking boy.
"Yeah, the gymnast first-year, Kasumi Yoshizawa, right?"
"Heard she scored pretty high in the prefecture last year…"
"How's she special? Not like any other athletes get treated differently," grumbled a different student with gym clothes sticking out of their bag.
"Do you think they're starting a gymnastics team-" Ren couldn't hear the rest, as the train screeched into the station. He ended up standing next to the honor student in question, funnily enough, who was sitting down. An old lady who was holding onto a pole dropped her grocery bag. Faster than Ren could blink, the red-haired girl caught the bag.
"This is an awfully heavy bag, ma'am, please, take my seat," said the girl, holding the bag for the woman while getting up. Another businessman sat down before anyone could move.
"Excuse me, sir-" Ren moved to ask the salaryman to get back up.
"Aw, that's not necessary dearie, but thank you- bless your kind young hearts." The woman's eyes crinkled as she smiled at both of them. Ren rubbed his neck, shaking his head. The train arrived at Aoyama-Itchome station soon after. Sure enough, there was another rush of students leaving the subway. He walked towards the school leisurely, not spotting anyone he knew. A short presence appeared beside him. He glanced to the side. The red-haired girl had caught up with him.
"Hello!" The girl cheerfully greeted him.
"Um, hi?" I guess. Ren responded, awkwardly, not exactly used to cute girls greeting him out of the blue.
"Thanks for the help on the train! That was really nice of you!" The girl said, walking alongside him. Ren couldn't help blushing. Hey, kindness is an attractive trait for a person to have. Y'know, aside from having a nice- Shut up, me, thought Ren to himself.
"It was nothing, I really didn't do anything." Ren shrugged off the thanks. He really didn't do anything.
"Sure you did! You were ready to help that nice old woman. That's a good thing!" The girl was very cheery. Probably had too much sub-par not-from-LeBlanc coffee- Wait, brand loyalty already? Well, it was pretty good coffee.
"Hey, whatever you say." The girl giggled.
"Well, it's nice to meet you! I'm a first-year if you couldn't tell from the uniform." I can't see all the way down there, pipsqueak.
A short boy with blond hair and a red cloak screamed in the distance.
"'Ah, I'm a second-year, though I just transferred in…"
"Oh! Are you the Mamamiya I've been hearing about?" Ren felt like finding a suitable wall and giving it some love-taps. With his skull.
"It's Amamiya. Ren Amamiya." He overcorrected. God knows what else the other students will butcher his name into.
Probably 'Renjamin' or something.
"And you're… Kasumi Yoshizawa? The gymnast honor-student?"
"Yes, that's me!" The girl replied, eagerly. Her voice lowered as if talking to herself. "I don't know about honor student though... I didn't ask to be treated differently…"
"Yeah, being treated differently isn't always good." Ren sympathized with Kasumi's plight.
He could only imagine how bad it would have been for him if his record got out.
"Oh! Just pretend i didn't say anything, Amamiya-san! I really do appreciate the school-" Ren laughed, waving her off.
"Don't worry about it. And just call me Ren, Amamiya is kind of a mouthful…" They arrived at the school gate.
"Alright! Then just call me Kasumi! See you later, Ren-senpai!" Kasumi turned and walked to class. Ren stood there, having an internal debate over whether or not a girl already calling him senpai was a good thing.
He ignored the same boy that bothered him and Ann crying and running into the school. Again.
He contemplated if his heart being a casino meant he was getting really lucky. A school bell rang, and more students rushed into the building.
Or not...
Ren followed the rest of the students hurriedly, knowing lateness could only incur the wrath of the student council. Something told him that 'I was talking to a cute girl' would not excuse him from an EXECUTION! Wait, that doesn't sound quite right…
Ren talked with Ann during lunch. Apparently, Ryuj had to stay at home because of his injuries. Something about 'not pissing off Coach Nishiwaki.'
Apparently, the new track coach was a lot more stringent on team members getting in fights.
Ren took a bite of some regular school bread. Apparently, the good stuff, the Yakisoba, was only around for a little bit on Fridays.
"Why do you think Sakamoto-san doesn't want anyone to find out about the beating?" He asked Ann, after she got off the phone with the other boy. She shrugged.
"Dunno. Guys have weird priorities." Detective time. Ren closed his eyes, taking up the Gendo Ikari thinking pose.
"Do you have reflective glasses? I need to think." A strange look. "Oh come on, you've never seen Evangelion?" Her head shook.
"Anyway, those guys usually don't go that far with him." Ouch. "Never seen him so bruised before." Ann rested her knuckle against her forehead.
"Maybe it's a personal thing..." Ren knocked his head back, sighing. Shiho dropped in and took Ann to buy some stuff from the school shop. He quickly waved to them as they left, and he contemplated his half-eaten bread. Of course, the bland flavor pushed him into his thoughts, given there wasn't enough flavor to focus on.
I can always ask the guy later, though it probably isn't my business. Ren saw flashes of that night. Do I really want to get involved? Those guys might get suspended, and if I'm connected, that might violate the probation… Ren was shaken out of his thoughts by one of his classmates. A boy with blue hair and a white shirt. Had eye bags, probably stayed up too late playing Eternal Punishment Online. Life drainer of a game, or so he heard.
"Excuse me, Amamiya-san, could I talk to you for a moment? The rooftop should be unlocked." Ren smirked.
"Isn't it a bit early in the year for confessions? I'm flattered of course, but still." The other boy waved his hands around, clearly flustered.
"NO! I mean, no, it's nothing like that, it's- whatever, I'll explain up there."
"Alright, alright, but keep the letters in your bag." Ren stood up, chuckling. The other boy shook his head, having caught on. It was a quick walk up to the roof. The door slid open easily when the knob was jiggled. Ren took residence on a dry desk, waiting for the bluenet to begin.
"So, the rumor is that you, Takamaki-san, and Suzui-san are all in a polygamous relationship. There's some recent speculation that the gymnast, Yoshizawa-san, is involved as well, since this morning." The boy said, with a completely straight face.
"Wha- It's been three days! Three days! How bored are you people?" Ren nearly yelled, caught insanely off guard.
"But is it true, Amamiya-san? Or am I missing a critical piece of information? Are other girls involved? Or even guys, if you're into that?"
"How can you say that with a straight face? And of course it's not true, I've been in this city for half a week!"
"Ah. So that disproves the theory that you and Takamaki-san are secretly childhood friends, and that Yoshizawa-san was a star-crossed lover/rival of yours in gymnastics. On the other hand, those could be true separately…"
"NO! None of that! None of that's true! I only just met them! And where do you get off talking about women like that?"
"It's not like that, Amamiya-san, I assure you. I don't deal in rumors, I deal in information." Ren blinked.
"Aren't those… y'know, kinda the same thing?"
"I don't spread rumors, I collect them. And then I sell them to those interested. Would you like to hear the ones about why you and Sakamoto-san left school so late yesterday, in such a state?" Ren's eyes sharpened.
"Is that a threat?"
"Oh no, of course not! I'm just the information broker!" Ren shook his head and started muttering.
"God, and I thought people had nothing better to do back home… Only thing you're missing is a fluffy black jacket and some dark hair dye..." The other boy apparently didn't hear him, had never seen that show, or ignored it, and kept talking.
"And why would I threaten such a great source of profit!" The boy spread his arms and looked into the sky. "Why, the mysterious transfer student who attracts women like moths to a flame, I stand to make a lot of money!" Ren mentally face-palmed.
"People really pay you to gossip for them?"
"Ah, gossip is such a dirty word. I prefer the term 'barter information.'"
"You're delusional." Ren honestly couldn't be bothered to hide his disbelief at the sheer audacity being shown to him.
"Never met him."
"Then, who are you?"
"Wha- I'm in your class! How do you not know?"
"Everyone knew everyone else back home- wait, maybe I shouldn't say that to you…"
"What? Why not?" The boy whined. Seriously, if he was going to deal in something as vile and vitriolic as rumours, he should be more patient.
"Take a guess, Mr. Information-broker. I don't need my personal history floating around the school." Ren nodded off to the side. Be a shame if you happened to leak my record. Shujin wouldn't have an info-broker anymore.
"I would never do that to a friend!" The boy exclaimed, desperate to prove himself.
"Friend?" Ren raised an eyebrow, surprised by the switch.
"Well, we are business partners now, aren't we?" The boy explained himself, scratching his head.
"I… suppose." The other boy offered a hand, which Ren shook. A voice echoed in his head, and a butterfly flew at the edge of his vision.
I am thou
Wait, seriously?
Thou art I
Is it supposed to be that easy?
Thou hast acquired a new vow. It shall become the wings of rebellion that breakth thy chains of mortality.
Ren resolved to talk to Igor next time he had a hallucination.
With the bond of the Moon Arcana, Thou will obtain the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power.
Their hands dropped back to their sides.
"I really don't know your name though."
"Yuki Mishima. It's nice to meet you."
"Ren Amamiya."
"Well, I knew that of course. But the sentiment remains." Mishima walked to the roof's doorway and froze. "Now that I think about it… You probably don't want those polygamy rumors floating around, do you?"
"Hey, if it makes you money. No one that matters will believe it anyway."
"Thank you. And don't insult my customer base!" Ren laughed and returned to his slightly smushed, lukewarm, half-eaten bread.
Omake: Mishima has a weird imagination
"Yer a wizard, Amamiya."
"I'll leak your record if you don't give me Takamaki's phone number. I'm strapped for cash this week."
"Hey, are you the pilot of Unit-01?"
"There are rumors about you, Takamaki, Suzui, and Yoshizawa all having a hot foursome in Shinjuku. Oh, and alternatively it was really just some people named Langley, Ayanami, and Ibuki, and then some other girl. Any of that happen to be true?"
"You're delusional."
"Never met him."
"Then, who are you?"
"Who the hell do you think I am?" Mishima gladly took up a heroic pose. On the edge of the roof. Ren barely kept him from slipping.
"Okay, so I know you said no letters, butttttt I made a lot of money telling people that I could get theirs to you."
"Despite what you may think, Ren Amamiya, the Travis Scott meal is not simply a big mac with lettuce."
"Okay, Ren, so I know the plan was to call a maid to this apartment, and I was thinking actually sell photos of you talking to her to girls who want to know what you're into- Holy shit! Is that Ms. Kawakami in a maid outfit walking down the street? Dude! I'm going to be rich!"
AN:
Hehe. Having fun with Mishima. Still Mishima, but not eva-canon-Shinji-Ikari Mishima.
I'm really starting to have fun writing this. The enjoyment it gives some of y'all is tertiary at this point. I got shivers just reading one page (That's not out yet) and that's not even a percentage as badass as some of the stuff I have planned. Or so it seems in my brain. Damn brain.
Is the polygamy joke sexist? I don't think it's- nah, I'm just kidding. I'll stop stealing that joke from Fairly English Story. It's really more of an homage than anything else.
I'll admit it, I have not finished Shinji and Warhammer 40k, but to be fair, It's a goddamn monolith of a fic. And I'm really busy when I don't have time off to write this.
Going to need reviews after next chapter, I'm feeling a lot more confident with the direction I'm going. Oh, and we hit 69 views. Nice.
Oh, and another Review!
To the dearest NoRoleModelz: I agree with the sentiment, Minato is really not a likable person. But I think that's what makes him compelling. See, the Persona protagonists are always supposed to be your self insert to an extent, right? And you'll see similarities between things Minato does in the story that you did in the game. When you compare yourself to him, it's really interesting, because some people really did do the social links for the arcana bursts only, or gave SEES bad weapons so they could keep the good stuff, or even just do the worst thing possible to other people. You hate Minato, because he's you. He's the dark mirror of the video-game protagonist archetype, the shadow, if you will. He's smug and you hate him for it. And that, I think, is what makes him so interesting, and what makes Minatos an interesting concept. Because we don't know what Minato actually thought about things, but from what SamJaz hinted at in the For Every Soul Penultimate Excuse chapter, he was not the best person. Minatos is the player looking in. You don't know what your character thinks as you play as him, you only observe, and believe you are the one in control.
Hoo, that got deep. I like the character, but I hate the person. If that makes sense. Sorry about the third-person perspective thing, I'm not used to first person, as I'm trying to avoid self-insert tropes. Working on that though, but maybe not for this story.
And thanks for complimenting the tone, I'm trying to keep the spirit of the original, as it is a torch I have decided existed and wanted to carry. Bit strange with a protagonist that starts off like Shinji Ikari, and not the one that played Warhammer 40k.