AN:
Lavenza's theme is Blues in the Velvet Room. Look up an extended track and put it on 0.75x playback speed whenever she's the driving character in a scene.
?
"Hey, you…" Ren heard a voice, while he lay on slick concrete. His thoughts swam, and he felt groggy. "You're finally awake…" Ren tried pushing himself up.
"I don't remember any imperial ambush…" He fell back, barely keeping himself upright. He wiped his face with a free hand.
"...?"
"What happened…" Ren opened his eyes, and saw the tinted world around him. His thoughts sharpened, as he remembered what happened. "Ah, still here."
"Master Igor wants to talk to you." He looked toward the boyish voice. A bobblehead? Cat ears?
"Weird looking- Wait, you know Igor?" The bobblehead cat nodded, somehow not falling over. It stood on two legs like a human, but it had cat arms and legs. A tail flicked behind it. A strange mask was pulled over his fur.
"Yes. I am his… servant, Morgana."
"Where's Kitagawa-san?"
"That blue-haired guy? He's right behind you. He's pretty tired, and I didn't even see him fight." Ren managed to stand, looking to where he thought he left Yusuke. The boy was lying on the ground, and his breathing could be heard from a few feet away. Somehow, the strange liquid on the ground hadn't soaked into his shirt. "He'll be okay as long as he gets some rest and some food in his stomach. There's an entrance to the Velvet Room just over here." The cat-thing, Morgana, walked over to the side, next to the station entrance.
"You saw the fight?" Ren asked, as he limped over to Morgana. A blue door began to materialize in his vision. It was transparent, but gave off a wispy glow. It was decorated like the door to a casino. The words, 'The Velvet Room', were displayed on top by (bright?) blinking lights. Tacky.
"We'll talk inside, c'mon!" Morgana pushed on the door, which split like a double door. There was nothing inside. Not 'air' nothing, there was nothing, a sheer black void. Ren heard a meek sound, like a dull roar of the ocean. He limped inside, and his vision faded.
"Some nice champagne. Tastes like crime." Minatos sipped a deep red wine. His voice echoed in the Velvet Room.
"Thanks, I guess." Ren's nausea cleared up as he entered the velvet room. "Hello, Igor, Lavenza." Igor spoke.
"Greetings, Trickster. It seems that you have awoken to your power, and began your journey."
"You mean Arsene, right?"
"As I said, great champagne." Minatos was quickly shushed by Lavenza, who seemed to be listening intently.
"Yes. Arsene is your Persona, your mask."
"I… uh, don't quite get what you're saying at all…" Ren scratched his head, surprised he had the strength to do so. Igor simply chuckled.
"A Persona is the facade that is used to overcome life's hardships. It protects you from harm. Arsene represents your true self. When you tear off the mask you wear in society, your true power is revealed. However, it seems you possess a most interesting power."
"He's like Minato, isn't he?" The blue-haired boy interrupted, while drinking red wine from a glass.
"...You possess the Fool Arcana, and by proxy, the Wildcard." Ren started walking over to the bar.
"Okay, while you guys keep talking in capital letters, I'm going to get a drink. What've you got, Lavenza?" Lavenza laid out a pair of glasses, and turned behind her for the wine shelf.
"I didn't think of you as the type to drink."
"...I have the feeling this is going to take a while." Ren said, as he groaned into the table.
"Okay, so I can get more of those Personae?" Ren nursed his imaginary alcohol.
"Yes, the ability of the Wildcard is that which grants the ability to wield multiple facades within your heart. Arsene, your initial persona, is the manifestation of your willpower. It truly represents yourself."
"Essentially, you have the ability to change what mask you wear in life, though Arsene will remain your true self."
"I still don't quite get it, but sure. I can make cool demon things appear with my brain."
"Not demons." Minatos shook his head, having turned around to help explain. "Unless you intend on forming a demonic contract."
"Of course. Demons are real too. Why not?" Ren sighed.
"So you were one person, then two people, then one person?" Ren had a deep blush as asked the barmaid, who was leaning towards him on the bar. Because of the alcohol, not the… whatever.
The dress she was wearing was nice. Her white gloves reached up past her elbows.
"Yes. The interloper was able to split my form before they were driven off."
He could barely see black leggings and tall navy shoes.
"Why were they elementary schoolers?"
That's a really nice apron.
"Basic division, trickster."
Why was he paying so much attention?
"I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to ask a woman for her age." Lavenza giggled.
That sound is pretty nice.
"Any decent man wouldn't. But if you must know, I am older than you. My sisters were older than their guests. My brother was as well, however much he still acted like a child."
Hey, this champagne tastes pretty good.
"Hey, Igor, I almost forgot to ask you, I got two more of those Arcana things from my friends at school."
"Yes, the bonds of the Lovers and the Moon will assist you on your journey."
"And Personae have Arcana, like people."
"Yes. When speaking to people of a certain arcana, you have the ability to change your mask to understand them more thoroughly."
"Huh. Can you give me 'nother Persona?"
"Unfortunately, I can not. You will have to do so of your own accord."
"Aw man…"
"Minatos."
"Yeah, kid, what's up?" The other boy glanced at him. Ren shook his head
"You look the same age as I do-"
"Shadow's don't age."
"Whatever. What's the deal wi'h that, anyways? If this guy, Minato Arisoto, died years ago, how're you still around? Morgana said shadows reflect people in the real world."
"It's really complicated, but basically, he's not technically dead. He just ain't coming back. He's stuck on the moon for a while. His eternal punishment, I suppose."
"That doesn't explain much. Are you messing with me?" And who the hell is writing this script? Damn powers-that-be.
"Essentially, he was british, then he killed a lot of people, then he blew up the national diet, then the world almost ended, and then he chained a god of death to the moon."
"..."
"..."
"You are messing wi'h me!"
"Believe what you want. And I don't know who's writing this either."
"..."
"..."
"So you going to explain how you can read my thoughts?"
"Nah, spoilers are lame."
Gulp.
"And I can go in people's 'eads and make them good?" Ren slurred to Morgana.
"Correct, all you have to do is steal their treasure!" The cat-not-cat jumped around on the bar.
"I still don't get all of this… I just kill the shadows?"
"If you kill the shadow of the palace ruler, they may very well die. The common shadows won't be affected in the real world, as they aren't connected to any specific souls."
"Right… Murder is bad and stuff. What about the red train station?"
"Mementos is everyone's palace. It doesn't have one specific ruler. That's where palace rulers start off, before they become too distorted."
"Right… And there are bad people there too?"
"Yes, you can change their hearts as well, should you come across their shadows."
"Yay, fun new extracurricular." Ren knocked back another glass of wine.
"..." Morgana glared at Lavenza, who simply shrugged.
"..."
"So… you're a dude, right, Morgana?"
"Yes, that's right!"
"And you're a cat?"
"I'm not a cat!" Said the cat.
"Alright, if it walks like a cat, and it talks like- wait, you have a cat body..."
"I said I'm not-"
"You don't have the vocal cords to be speaking!"
"You're questioning that of all things?"
"Cat! Cat body human voice cat-" Lavenza slapped him with a rag.
"Harisen recovery." Ren shrunk in surprise, then collapsed on the ground.
"What does that mean, woman?!" He cried. Morgana sighed.
"He's drunk… why would you give him that much champagne?" Lavenza blushed, then crossed her arms. She started muttering.
"...Can't blame a girl for having fun…"
Minatos loudly slurped his drink in the corner.
"Well, later Igor. Is there any magic 'ou can use to sober up?"
"When you entered the Velvet Room, only your consciousness was transported. Your physical being will not have been affected, as only your mind is influenced by your actions in this room.
"Huh. So I'll only think I'm drunk? For a lil' bit?"
"That will be the case, Trickster." Well, at least I'll pass a breathalyzer.
Ren's self-prescribed drunkenness cleared up as he stepped back into his own body. Might have just been the metaverse's effects. He noticed the blue-haired boy still laying on the ground.
"Oh, I forgot this was still happening." He walked over to Yusuke and nudged him with his shoe. The other boy's eyes fluttered open.
"What…"
"Psst, Ren, do you want to go back to the real world?" Ren looked over to Morgana who was in not-a-cat cat form.
"Yeah?" Ren was going to ask how, but heard a sound from his pocket.
-Bzzt-
"ending navigation, thank you for your efforts."
-bzzt-
The real world solidified around them. Masses of people passed by Ren and Morgana, who now looked like a normal cat. Totally still not a cat though. People barely glanced at him standing over Yusuke. The boy sat up.
"...Happened?" Ren decided to lie, thinking that the less people that knew about his weird not-demonic powers, the better.
"You just collapsed, man, are you okay?"
"I remember seeing something… Red? And… I could swear I heard chains rattling." Yusuke shook his head, gingerly standing up.
"Ren, look at this guy-" Yusuke's stomach growled loudly. "He needs to eat."
"Is that… A cat? Why do you have a cat with you?"
"He can't understand me, because you know I'm not a cat, but he thinks I am."
"But you are a cat."
"Why are you talking with that cat?"
"Hm?" Ren turned back to the boy. He grabbed Morgana and dropped him in his school bag. "What cat?"
"Hey! You can't… actually it's very soft in here, you carry this much yarn around?" Ren clasped his bag shut, ignoring the ruffling inside.
"Ha… My mind must be playing tricks on me."
"You don't look too good, Kitagawa-kun. Let's go get some food."
"Ah, you mustn't worry. I have run out of my allowance from sensei…"
"I'll pay." His master is rich and his allowance runs out in two weeks?
"Really, I shouldn't eat unnecessarily, the muse is inspired by hunger after all..." Yusuke awkwardly laughed. Ren felt a flicker of anger.
"Yusuke, if you don't come with me to this great beef bowl shop which is literally one minute away, I am going to kick your ass into next week!" Ren grew sick of the boy's weak denials, snapping at the boy.
He was unfazed by the threat of violence. He looked down at his shoes. Ren's expression softened, and he pinched his nose. "Listen, Kitagawa-kun, the muse won't do you any good if you pass out from malnourishment."
"Well… Alright. Lead the way, Amamiya-kun.
Ren and Yusuke sat down at the counter of the noodle shop. Ren ordered a large beef bowl for himself, Teriyaki-style, for himself, and a Mega Beef Bowl (Mind the capitals), with extra, well, everything, for Yusuke. They sat in silence as Yusuke contemplated the enormity of his meal. Ren glared at the boy and lowered his voice.
"Eat."
The other boy gulped and began chowing down into his meal. He started off slowly, but began tearing into the bowl as he ate more and more. He barely stopped for breaths.
"The flavour…"
"The mystique…"
"This is the magnificence of the Mega Beef Bowl!" Yusuke declared, as he continuously shoved the noodles into his mouth. Ren simply laughed and ate his own noodles.
Summoning not-demons can take a lot out of you. Literally.
"So, what's life like for you, Yusuke?" He'd told Ren that the formality was unnecessary, as thanks. Emperor.
"Well, as you know, I am Yusuke Kitagawa, student of the master artist, Madarame… Anything else is unimportant."
"Do you live with your sensei?" Ren didn't want to ask about the parents, as he hadn't mentioned them, and it might be a personal issue.
"Yes. He took me in after my mother, who was also his student, had passed away."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Do not be. Sensei is a wonderful man. He has done very much for me."
"Is that why you nearly passed out from starvation?" Yusuke froze. Ren sighed. "Yusuke, it might not be my business, but you need to eat more. I'm sure your sensei is a wonderful person, but you need to talk to him about your 'artistic training' affecting your health."
"..."
"Listen, if you really are out of allowance… I'll take you out for ramen again sometime, how does that sound? I'm sure that Mega Beef Bowl can keep you filled up for a while."
"..."
"..."
"Thank you, Amamiya-kun."
"No problem. Here's my chat i.d. Just text when you're free." Yusuke nodded. Ren noticed a small trace of tears gathering at the corners of his eyes.
I am thou
I'm cool with this.
Thou art I
Yusuke's a cool dude.
Thou hast acquired a new vow. It shall become the wings of rebellion that breakth thy chains of mortality.
I deserve this one.
With the bond of the Emperor Arcana, Thou will obtain the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power.
"Hey, Ren! What's that smell? What's this 'Ramen' thing you guys are talking about?"
"Is that… Mewling? Coming from your bag?" Yusuke looked behind Ren at a wiggling school bag.
"No, of course not..." Ren nervously laughed. I'm sure that bag isn't airtight. Pretty sure. At least a little bit.
Yusuke finished off his meal pretty soon after that. Suppose he didn't want to get caught with food.
"My muse has returned to me! Farewell!" Ren waved as Yusuke walked off to the subways. Ren turned back to the counter.
"So how much did that bowl cost…"
Too much, apparently. Bland school bread for Mamamiya until he gets a job.
He managed to get back to the cafe before closing time, starting to feel the soreness from the other world. Hard to believe all that happened today. Oh, and the mental hangover. Maybe the alcohol content depends on a Persona's strength over there.
"Kid, why is your bag wriggling?" Ren had almost made it past Boss when Morgana chose just then to start playing with his yarn stash.
"Ah, well you see, I should start from the beginning. So, this is a story, all about how, my life got flip-" Ren saw the older man's glare. "Okay, I found a cat."
"A cat?"
"Yeah, his name is Morgana."
"...You read it's tag and still brought it home?" Ren started sweating.
"No tag, see boss, I was studying in the park, right, and I was reading a book about myths and legends, and he came out of nowhere and started pawing at the name on the page." Of course, that was complete bullshit.
There's obviously too much pollen to study in the park right now.
Also that would be too convenient to convince the older man. Hierophant.
But only if he knew about the metaverse, which he probably didn't.
Wait, Hierophant?
Where did that come from? Didn't he think something weird like that earlier while eating with Yusuke?
God damn it Igor, what did you omit this time?
"...Whatever. Now that I think about it, taking care of an animal would probably be good for your probation…" The man had pinched his nose while Ren was zoned out.
"Really? So, I can-"
"But keep him upstairs, got it? I don't need the health board up my-" Ren didn't hear that last part of grumbling, as he wisely decided to head upstairs.
"Sir yes sir!" Ren called downstairs, saluting to nothing.
"Don't call me sir, you brat, it makes me feel old!"
AN:
I've been writing about a page every day but still thinking to myself that I need to work, and then I remember that I just wrote ten pages, and have a chapter ready for the next update. Guess deadlines don't occur to you when you're having fun.
The bit in the velvet room was more of a summary than the detailed explanation the game gives you, so if you played the game, you'll be fine. I don't feel like playing the game scene by scene as I write this would be fun or efficient, so there may be inaccuracies due to my own misunderstandings. I really like the velvet room attendants in general. Elizabeth was kind of funky and badass but also really cute and interesting, Margaret had a cool and mature vibe, but probably didn't need a social link, and Lavenza is basically a non-character in the base game, so I'm making it up as I go along. I do have some ideas though.
NoRoleModelz, I thought that Persona 5 didn't have enough just-school-friends, which makes sense in the context of the game and Japanese society, but it's not very relaxed or fun, is it? I thought Mishima would be a fun way to integrate that. Also the earlier ranks of other confidants/social links.
Yusuke does not know what the metaverse is. He thought he was just hungry. I dunno if he'll be the first party member or not.
Oh, also, Morgana doesn't have a persona.
On a personal note.
I found part of the answer to what I want in life.
Hiraeth is a welsh term that roughly translates to ' a longing for something that you have never known'.
I think that's one of my deepest emotions right now.
I throw myself into other media, games, my writing, whatever, because I'm bored with my normal life. But that's not so bad. I just want to find what I'm looking for.
Sorry if this is heavy, I've just come to the revelation. Update's will continue to come, I hope.
The writing is mediocre, the jokes are bad sarcasm at best, but hey-
It's mine.
Have a good weekend, folks.