April 21st, 20XX
Thursday.
"Minatos!"
"Yeah, kid?"
Ren stormed into the Velvet Room as soon as he got off school. His method for avoiding the more... Interested students seemed to be improving.
"Not to get political or anything, but what the FUCK is the Hollow Arcana?"
"Oh, you met another persona user?
"Don't act nonchalant with me, I want a damn explanation!"
"Why are you so worked up about it?"
"Because I don't like hearing gunshots that I didn't make- Because it's fucking annoying, that's why!"
"Stop swearing like a sailor-"
"Eat shit."
"-and I'll tell you-"
"Your aura pisses me off, I just realized."
"-about the Arcana. And thank you, I like to think that defines who I am." Minatos took a large gulp of- Pumpkin spice beer? It was orange-tinted at least.
"I don't care about that."
"You're impatient. As a shadow of what is basically-"
You're missing out on lore, dumbass.
"Not that part. What does the Hollow Arcana do? Lavenza said that there aren't any Personae that have that Arcana."
God, these capital letters are giving me a headache.
"Well, back in the day, there was one, but he's dead too. Guess who killed him."
"You?"
"Kind of. Time for a history lesson."
"Time for me to kick your-"
"Lavenza! Do you still have that projector?"
"Well, I'll look for it, but it's for fusion. I don't think it runs film." Lavenza walked through a door behind the bar and returned a minute later with a clunky old projector in her arms. She set it on the counter. Minatos snapped his fingers and a white sheet appeared on the opposite wall. Minatos placed a hand on the film insert. The lights dimmed as a clock ticked on the sheet. It cut to a scene set in a dark corridor. Ren realized the footage was taken from the first-person point of view. A man with brown hair rounded the corner, holding a gun, and a blackened mass of tentacles writhing behind it.
He could see it.
The way the world moved in that battle. The walls shifted whenever either combatant took cover. Clips grew out of the walls and fed into the guns without a thought. Masks formed on their faces as they fought, white and black, black and white.
Floors shattered like drywall, as the man pushed him through level after level. And both got up, healing gunshots and cuts almost instantly.
The footage cut off just as hundreds of spikes shot towards the man from all directions, even the heavy air itself.
"So that, Ren Amamiya, is the Hollow Arcana."
He stared down at his hands.
"..."
"Any questions?"
"...Lavenza, can I have a drink?"
She set a sparkly red wine glass in front of him. Refined, but playful, somehow.
"So, I can do that too?"
"Not on the same level, not yet."
"I don't think I've done that at all before."
"Have you noticed things going too well for you recently? The world shaping itself to your needs? Like a smooth school wall suddenly becoming climbable, or an alley wall shortening enough to have someone thrown over?"
"I thought Arsene was doing the wall stuff. I was kinda running upwards."
"You can't fly with Arsene, not in the real world. The wall became slightly coarse, allowing you to use the friction to climb, perhaps."
"And what about the street wall?'
"Maybe it was spiral power, who knows?"
"You, maybe? Aren't you a god or something?"
"I've killed a few. Didn't manage to do in that last one, though. The big guy upstairs hasn't given me the all-clear on that arse."
Ren took a deep drink.
"I'm getting more and more used to all this stuff. I think I'm going insane."
"I think everyone is insane, but some are more sane than others. Outside the asylum, at least."
"Fuck off, Stephen King."
"Hey, you're learning!"
"Oh, also, I met another Persona user. Tae Takemi, a doctor. She mentioned a group of Persona researchers."
"Yep."
"But you already knew, didn't you?"
Arsene was sitting on Minatos' other side, attempting to pick up another glass too small for its hands, with shattered glass on the table. Jack O'lantern had gone off somewhere, but Ren could hear hee-ho'ing and the pulls of slot levers. Pixie was attempting to talk to Lavenza, something about clothes. Aside from the hair, they both did have a thing for blue.
"Yep."
"Bastard. Why did I hear gunshots again?"
"The Hollow Arcana is different. Most of your social links-"
"'Confidant' sounds cooler."
"Whatever, whatever, mature past middle school- anyway, most of your social links are based on the faith and trust you place in others. The Hollow Arcana is different. It's the trust you place in your own insanity, your Personae, to do the impossible, see the invisible, and-"
"Fight da powa?"
"Exactly."
"Why did it happen for you and the doc?"
"Tae Takemi has a Persona. By placing your trust in another's insanity, the trust you have in your own grows."
"And what about you?"
"Spoilers."
"You son of a-"
Ren walked off from the Velvet Room, still slightly pissed at the shadow. Must bring out the worst in everyone, the bastard. He almost didn't notice he bumped into Yusuke.
A noticeably gaunter Yusuke. Bags had started forming under his eyes.
"Yusuke? What's up?"
The boy almost kept shambling on, but stopped and turned to him.
"Ah… Hello, Amamiya-san."
"You look terrible. Let's go get some ramen."
Yusuke's face lit up with… fear?
"No! I'm sorry, I don't think I can do that today."
"Why?"
"I can't tell you, I need you to leave me alone."
The boy turned and tried to run off. Ren grabbed his wrist.
Yusuke tumbled, and his phone and tiny painting dropped on the ground.
Both of which were already shattered. It looked like Yusuke had attempted repairs with office tape.
Ren stared at him, while Yusuke was frozen on the ground.
He quickly got up, pocketing his items, and starting running off again.
Shattered phone… That was a wooden painting, it would need to be deliberate to be broken…
He doesn't look like he's eaten in- No, since last week!
Ren's eyes widened. He started running off after Yusuke.
He followed Yusuke through the train systems subtly. He looked harrowed.
They only hopped a couple of trains, before Yusuke left the station altogether.
Ren followed him to a run-down shack.
Famous teacher, huh?
"Yusuke Kitagawa."
He turned around in surprise, almost losing his balance.
"Run-down shack."
"Amamiya-san, I insist that-"
He cut him off.
"Hell."
"Beginning Navigation."
In the shadow of a looming golden structure, there was a black forest as far as the eye could see, and a scorched trail leading forward.
Yusuke must have been really out of it, because he didn't even notice.
"-I don't need your help!"
Ren shook his head as his body lit alight into blue flames, switching to his usual outfit, drill in hand.
"If you didn't, this wouldn't have worked."
"What worked..." Yusuke finally took a moment to look around. "Where are we?"
"It's really complicated, but basically, we're in your head, and I'm going to do what I can to help you."
"What? Is such a thing even possible?"
"Take a look around. We need to find your shadow."
"My shadow?"
"All your darkest feelings and desires manifest into its own being."
"This doesn't make any sense!"
"Yeah."
Morgana walked up from a clearing, which was now occupied by a door to the Velvet Room.
"It's… That cat!"
"I'm not a cat! My name is Morgana. Ren, I'll help with navigation, even if I can't fight."
"Alright, let's go." He started down the gray trail.
Ren led in the front, keeping Yusuke in between him and Morgana, who was watching the back with a cutlass.
A shadow appeared around a bend, that looked like an actual shadow, with a blobby form, glowing white mask, and sharp claws.
He shot it right between the eyes, shattering the mask. The shadow morphed into a black horned beast with a white mane.
After seeing that bullets weren't super effective, and he would need to get in close for physical, he switched to Arsene.
Eiha didn't work. Damn.
He switched to Jack O'lantern and dodged over the charging beast.
Agi didn't make it go down.
"Last guess, come on, Pixie!" She appeared behind him, and they snapped their fingers at the horse-thing in sync. Lightning arced between them, and the Bicorn was knocked down. Ren walked up to it and placed his bolter at it's forehead.
"Whaddya want? Just be done with it."
"Let's talk."
"What have we got to talk about?"
"Might as well."
"Guess you're right…"
"..."
"..."
"...Nice weather we're having." Ren looked up at the crimson sky, contrasting against the black and bleak forest.
"Ain't you a regular saint, talkin' like you care about sentimental things like the weather." Bicorn snorted.
Wait, you actually think this is nice?
"Eh, anyone can appreciate it, has nothing to do with age." Geezer.
"You get it, youngster! I know these ain't the best circumstances, but I think I'm taking a shine to you- Yeah, we're similar! We're both from that sea o' souls! And from now on-"
"Son of-" Ren almost tripped over himself trying to jump back.
"I'm you!"
He tripped anyway, being toppled by the mask.
"GOD DAMN IT!"
"Why do you hate getting new Personae this much?" Morgana bobbled up to him.
"It's violating, I barely get a say in the matter! They just come on in, and I'm stuck with them."
"Well, in the Velvet- You know what, I'll tell you later. That's what you get for having an open mind."
"Shaddap." Ren summoned his new mask, and the horned steed appeared next to them. "Bicorn, how long can you stay summoned?"
"As long as ye want, if you can keep up with the draining."
"I can live with that, as long as we deal with this quickly enough. Everyone, get on. Morgana, your bus form won't fit on these rocky paths."
Bicorn charged straight through the few other shadows they came across. Guess the distortion hadn't grown too strong. Yusuke hung limply on the horse's back, more being dragged by Morgana than anything else.
They came to a clearing, where an ice blue pool of water flowed beneath a fruit tree. Paint easels and supplies lay scattered around the pool, in various states of use and shredding.
Yusuke sat in the pool, eyes closed, his usual outfit clinging frozen to his body. His lips were blue, and…
His eyes were yellow.
"Ren, be careful, that's a shadow."
"Ya think?"
The resting copy opened its eyes and looked at him. It looked almost gleeful to see him, struggling to free itself from ice.
"Hello, Ren! Thank you for coming back!" He waved, exaggeratedly.
"What are you doing in there?" Ren carefully lowered the real Yusuke onto the ground as he broke the Persona.
"Ah, my sensei says that solitude and fasting are the cure to my artist's block. I stopped feeling the ice cut into my flesh long ago, so don't worry about that!"
"Do you want food?"
"Ren, why are you chatting with a shadow! That's an-"
"It's fine, let me handle this." He looked back to the frozen boy, who was somehow smiling. "Yusuke, is your master hurting you?"
"Oh, the very thought is ridiculous! Sure, he doesn't feed me if I don't meet his artistic quotas, but that's normal, isn't it? Struggle is a part of art!"
"When was the last time you ate?"
"Oh, last week or so. I had wished you not interfered in my artistic training, but the meal was enjoyable. Sensei could tell, of course, that I had lapsed in my judgement, and I've been doing extra training since! Such an admirable man, wouldn't you agree?" The eerie smile never left his face.
"Right, give me a moment." He turned to Morgana. "Yep, distorted. If this goes on, he could end up hurting himself for his 'art'."
"You know what to do." The not-cat nodded. "Mercy, remember?"
"Yeah, I'm like Batman, no killing for me."
"Didn't he used to kill people?"
"How the hell do you know that?"
"Shut up and do your job."
Ren sighed and moved to wake up the real Yusuke.
"Yusuke. Wake up."
The lanky haired boy refused to rouse. He grabbed a thermos of coffee from Morgana and poured it in his throat. Instead of waking him up with caffeine, he choked on it and shot up.
If it works, it works. Do you know how difficult it is to make someone swallow something while they're unconscious?
Ren clearly didn't.
"What is it? Is this nightmare still occurring?"
"Yes. Go talk to yourself." He nudged him towards his doppelganger.
"What? You're me!"
"Yes, me, I am you."
"Why are you trapped there?"
"Well, you would know better than anyone. This is what life is like for us, isn't it?"
"What?"
"Stuck in burning ice, trapped by art, unable to eat or drink, don't you remember?"
"That's not- No!"
"Sensei hasn't been back since last week… He made the tree grow even taller, to keep the fruits away from me! What an amazing man!"
"Well, yes, but- I'm happy like this!"
"Of course, the mercy of Madarame is the greatest thing you know! Friendship and other selfish needs are irrelevant, as long as he is pleased!"
"That's not-"
"Not what? True? We both know how you feel about it. After all, I'm you."
"As long as sensei is pleased... Yusuke collapsed to the ground.
Ren walked up to him and picked him up by the collar. Then slapped him.
The ice pool suddenly cracked, but was still rigid.
"Yusuke. You are not your master's tool."
"But I owe him everything!"
"Life is not something you owe anyone."
The crack grew.
"He's the one who saved me after my mother's death!"
"He saved you from Earth and brought you to Hell. Just take a look around."
Smaller cracks began spreading across the glass-like surface.
"No!"
"You deserve to be treated better! Acknowledge that!"
"I must do as my sensei-"
"Shut up! Learn, dammit. You need to live before you can live for others. Your priorities are completely fucked, can't you see that?"
The cracking became audible.
"If my sensei needs me to sacrifice myself for him, then that is what I must do! Why else should I exist!"
"No more 'buts' or 'hows' or 'whys', just do it, live! Yusuke Kitagawa, I refuse to let you die!"
The glass shattered into blue shards and exploded into cold, blue flames. A black, spiny, wooden figure approached through the flame. Ice covered it's waist and formed it's beady eyes.
Yusuke clutched his head, before looking upon the apparition.
"I, I know you."
"But of course. I am thou."
"And… Thou art I! I understand!"
"Then call my own name."
"You/re… Tantalus!"
"Yes. And I am you."
Yusuke threw out a hand, and the figure melted into light, that flowed into him.
He collapsed to the ground again. Oh right, anemic.
Ren hauled him onto his shoulder and re-summoned Bicorn, hopping on with Morgana.
"I gotta say, I'm actually a little impressed."
"We're heading back. shaddap, cat."
"I'm notttttt-"
Ren appeared in the alley next to the shack with Yusuke over his shoulder and Morgana in his bag. As he rounded the corner, he saw an old man entering the house. They noticed him immediately, or rather, his luggage.
"You! What have you done to my student!" The man stormed over.
"I'm guessing you're his master, Madarame? He's been rather weak since I met him, just collapsed a few minutes ago." Madarame stiffened.
"I can't imagine why."
Bastard.
"I don't think he's been eating very well. If he's under your care, I'd only hope that he is taken care of." His eyes slightly sharpened at Ren.
"Of course. I'll take him now."
"Make sure he eats well, alright?" I have a few choicer words for you, you senile son of a-
"I am well aware of his needs."
"Obviously. I'll be off then." He handed the boy carefully to his master, while he was rousing.
"Goodbye."
He decided to just head home. Ren didn't do much fighting in the distortion, but he was fairly tired regardless.
"Hey, kid. You look beat." Boss greeted him as he walked in. No customers, as usua- Nah, he'd kick my ass if I said that.
"Don't even get me started."
"Trouble at school?"
Did you hear me?
"Everyone's crazy."
"Women or otherwise?"
"Yeah, sounds about right."
I mean, they actually like me. Weird, right?
AN:
This chapter sucked to write, I won't lie. Couldn't get it out on Wednesday, so regular schedule.
Oh, Jumanji, happy new years, whatever. Came to a revelation that if I want my future to be real, I have to make it real with my own hands.
In my notes, I put it like this :
"My pen is the pen that creates my future!"
I'm working on some original work, but I need to see this through. So I channeled that energy into this. I want to be a famous writer one day, but I need to be the one that makes that day sooner and sooner.
Distortions don't work like the TV world. Yusuke's Persona, Tantalus, is formed from his distorted self, not his shadow. Take that how you will.
I think if Samjaz came back and told me my work wasn't canon, I'd actually be happy with that, because then I can really go off the rails. But no, universal consistency is the name of the game. But if he liked it, that would be pretty cool too. Win win situation.
Oh, two month anniversary. Funny,