4. Don't deal with the long-nose
The blue butterfly started flying in circles around him, a faint voice said to him
- Wake up, wake up, wake up...
The butterfly resumed its path repeating the same over and over again. Reaching higher and higher, shining brighter and brighter until he became blinded
- Wake up, wake up, wake up
Luther opened his eyes and turned to his right, where the voice was coming from. The voice was growing an annoyed tone, making it also annoying. His eyes took some time to readjust
- Wake uuup, waaaake uuuuup, waaaaaake uuuuup, weikooooooop, wicuuuuuup.
-I'm up
He could see a hair he's seen before, an ash-blonde silky hair. Just leaning on the side of the bed, her face was to the side, but he could imagine who it was.
- I know - she responded - I was just waiting for you to say something, maybe you had some neurological damage, and I wouldn't know
- Subtle - said Luther as he was looking at the room he was in - Miss officer, where am I?
Paying attention to the surroundings he could tell it was some sort of hospital room, but it was strange, the walls were covered in shiny blue tiles, on the floor, black tiles. There was some medical equipment like a heart monitor and an IV tripod, but none were connected, or at least no to him as the heart monitor just didn't signal anything.
- Miss officer? No, I'm now Miss Nurse - she said as she lifted her head from the bed and stood up
She did a little spin as to show her new outfit. On her was now some sort of light blue outfit, but something you could say was the internet's first result if you looked for "nurse outfit" on Google and not the real thing. A skin-tight dress just long enough to cover the important parts, the cleavage was just the right size of skin and covered, but what most took his attention was her eyes again, this time they were not gray, but some sort of golden yellowish shiny eyes.
What happened to her eyes? Was she wearing contacts?
He stopped his train of thought as a little headache began. Better leave it for now
- Aren't nurses supposed to wear white? - still looking at her
- Eh, don't mind it, you know what they say "the devil's in the details" or something like that
- Mmm - still looking
- Hey, aren't you staring a bit much?
- Weren't you who wanted me to look?
- If you do it too much it becomes creepy
- Sorry - with an unimpressed look he turned to look at the ceiling - Miss Nurse...
- Yeah?
- What happened? Why am I here?
- I don't know, that's what I should be asking you
- Where are we?
- I'm not the one supposed to give you that answer
- Ok, then who are you?
- I'm Fennec, took you long enough to ask my name LU-THER
- How?...
- I heard you talk with miss "oh you're an ok-guy, let's seat together, oh I'm flattered". I'm serious, I can't believe she's not the "Lovers". - said Fennec making fun of Yuna's speech
- What? We are not like that
- Forget about it, you wouldn't get it still
Luther sat on his bed, dropping his feet to the side, he was dressed in a gown white as a pearl, reaching down his knees. As he stood up, he could feel a bit of air entering his backside, he turned to try to look at his back
- Nice ass - said Fennec - you know maybe some sit-ups and some training, and you're set for a TV show
- Hey - Luther covered his back and a little flustered replied - Now who's being creepy?
- You started it - now Fennec looking at Luther's knees shake a little she states - You think you can walk?
- Yeah, think so
- Good, now it's time, follow me
Fennec walked to the door opening it and signaling Luther to exit first
-After you my dear guest
- I think you meant patient, right?
- Sure - she said smiling a bit
- Don't stare - said Luther covering his back as he walked out first
- Not promising anything
As they both got to the corridor and started walking to what seems an elevator, Luther couldn't stop inspecting every single bit of it, if it weren't for the blue toned atmosphere everything had and the lack of people, he could swear he was at a hospital. His room was at the end of the hallway. Other 6 rooms, 3 left and 3 right, each
- Are there more people here?
- Yes...
- And...
- Comments at the end of the ride - Fennec approached him and took his hand, then looked him in the eye - I'm sorry, but I really need you to focus right now
Luther seemed to understand, as he started to walk faster pulled by the nurse. As they both reached the elevator, it became clear it was not a normal one, by the looks of it, it was an antique elevator, with just lattice functioning as the door.
Fennec took Luther inside and pulled one of 4 levers on the side. The elevator started its descend. With no light, the in between made everything go dark. The space between floors was excessive, as if he just went through some sort of deep tunnel. He could feel Fennec's hand still, gripping a bit stronger
- Don't worry - she said - I can assure you nothing bad is gonna happen to you
He was kind of scared, his grip got stronger and his body stiffer
The light of the next floor finally got through, as well as some voice singing a piano playing. He finally remembered why was all that familiar to him.
The lattice let him see what was on the other side, a strange sight to say the least. Luther had seen enough police dramas to know what that place was
- A Morgue...
They both reached the floor. Fennec let him through first. He focused his attention on everything. First of all, the blue tint that covered up all the place, as if everything had some sort of shade between cyan and black. The 2 stores high ceiling with a chandelier in the middle, the enormous cabinets for bodies on both sides of the room, the giant door at the back and most important, the crescent moon table, where six figures made of a black TV static turned to look at him, with all the chairs pointing in the direction of the small desk in front of the doors, and in that desk a man, if that's what he was
Sitting, crossing his long stick-like legs. While his arms just as thin, were leaning on the desk. His bald top with white hairs all around his head. Those blood-shot black eyes and that creepy long smile. But the most distinctive feature of the man was his long-pointy nose. His eyes opened to look directly at Luther.
- Let me introduce myself. My name is Igor. Welcome... to the Velvet Room
The what? Velvet room? What who the hell is he? What are those other people in black static? What's going on?
He knew that voice, that was the voice from his dream. Most of the impatience and anxiety hit him in that same moment.
- He he ho - Igor laughed - Or should I say welcome back? You took the elevator this time
- I brought him master; we can begin whenever you like
Fennec guided Luther to the only chair left, the one in the middle, just in front of Igor. The other static people began making some weird noises. Some started to point at him while making loud noises, some others in the direction of Igor, it was as if they were screaming at him and at Igor. One of them didn't scream, just got near, and made some quiet noises towards Luther, getting it's hand near his, but at the moment they got near, they both felt a little shock. Fennec chuckled a little at the sight of that
- You are all dead - Igor said out loud. The other noises stopped suddenly - it was not your time, yet you lost your life
What did he say? I died? I'm here, am I not?
All the others started making loud noises, as if they started screaming again
- QUIET - Fennec yelled, ending the uproar - Let my master finish or else I'll make you half dead-beats wish you were dead-deadbeats
Scary
- Ahem - Igor continued - as I was saying, your fate was changed to die earlier than intended. So, I would like to propose you all a deal. Stop the one who Shattered Fate and you all gain your life back if you survive, of course if you do not wish to accept, you can accept death and exit through the door behind me, no one will stop you
Everyone was silent, not a single sound in the room, some paper and pen appeared out of nowhere falling in front of all of them
- Excu... - Luther was interrupted by a knife near his throat
- Sorry, not a word. It's either you leave, or you sign - Fennec didn't even looked at him, just pressed the knife onto his neck as a warning
It's either do or die then - he thought as he raised the paper to read it - the contract seems pretty simple, basically we have three objectives
1. Find who is changing the fates of others
2. Deal with the one responsible, doesn't tell me how, so my first assumption is to end it/them?
3. Reach the end? This one just makes no sense
Guiding me in those objectives, "fate" should put everything I need at hands reach yet never on my hand. And should always make the situation turn to my favor if it is necessary to reach the end, but shall never resolve it itself as that is my job, if I fail to do so, I'm fully responsible for my actions and if possible must make amends for it . That last part made zero sense and it doesn't specify for how long this contract is admissible. But it's either that or death, even so, it's either I die before I even try, die while trying, or win this wicked bet and live the rest of my days
Luther took the pen, floating in front of him, Fennec lowered the knife and let him get closer to the table. A quick sign and it was done
- If it's a do or die, I'm doing it, there's still a lot I need to do
After that, all of the others started signing, more static noise directed towards him, but none seemed hostile anymore.
- Well, it seems we've all come to an agreement then - Igor said, and with a hand swing all of the contracts disappeared, leaving behind a card faced down in front of him, one for each of them. - We might as well start, mind to do the honors dear guest?
Igor extended his hand at Luther, he understood what needed to be done, he took his card and flipped it over. On it was the number 0 with an image of a figure with a bag and a dog near a cliff
A fool - said Fennec looking astonished - the innocent fool, a blank card, nothingness
Rude - Luther replied
-No, you don't get it, it's perfect
One of the others began to make more incomprehensible static noises, seems like the card meant something to it. The others tried to flip over their cards but none of them could grab it
- Patience, as this has just started - stated Igor
- Hey hey Luther - said Fennec returning to her normal self, pulling out a card of her own and placing it face down on the table - now you might as well see mine
- But what are those supposed to...?
- Come on just do it, for me? - she said while sitting on his lap, reaching both hands behind his neck, clinging to him with a smile and looking not onto him, but on one of the static people
Luther just sighed as he flipped the card on the table. The image was that of a woman breastfeeding a baby in one arm and having fire on the other. But the card was upside down, it looked new, and the design was sort of neo classic, painted in red and black tones. One of the shadows, the same which reacted last time, now started yelling in urgency, the noise was starting to give Luther a headache
- The upside-down Charity arcana, from the Visconti-Sforza Tarot. What would that mean? - she said with a grin on her face getting near his, it gave Luther a bad feeling - well that's up to you to determine
She got up, as if nothing happened and took her card with her. Igor, now with Fennec at her side started laughing
- The pact is sealed, for now you need to return, we'll bring you here when we need you
With another hand sign, a bright light covered all of them, only given one last word from him
- Farewell...
- Wake up, wake up, wake up
Luther opened his eyes and turned to his right, to where the voice was coming from
This time, the voice was coming from a TV. Looking around he could see the white walls, with white tiles, and white all. This time he was in a real hospital
Author's notes:
Kingdomkeylight you're actually my first follower, thank you for the opportunity and I appreciate your comments. As you said I always felt the Persona's MC were like empty shells at the beginning, so I tried doing that with Luther. And funny enough, the officer was actually a very important character so hearing you said that made me happy xD.
Dnd notes: Last chapter I didn't put any of this cuz there was no game-related aspects. In this one it's more of an introduction of the players to the velvet room, their arcanas and the contract with the velvet room residents