SPOOKY HAUNTS AND TRAILS » OPEN

[maskreant]

WHO: the infamous nasty crimeboy, Akira Kurusu, and you!
WHERE: Places in Recolle
WHEN: Spooky Month of October
WHAT: EVENT STUFF and mundane stuff if it comes up. if you would like to plan anything, hit me up via halloway or hei#2323 on discord.
WARNINGS: Persona 5 spoilers for last boss battle and late-game conspiracy unveiling. Will update when necessary!

NOTE!! You can leave an empty comment with the subject header of your choice or even RANDOM for something unlisted/miscellaneous (lighthearted) and I'll write the prompt. For nightmares, it may skip around and make no sense very much like how actual dreams are.

nightmares

[ When you enter the dream, you're engulfed by darkness until you hear a deep and unfamiliar voice. It speaks in a language you are most comfortable with. ]

The contract has been sealed...

You have agreed to provide the Trickster support
in his journey to oppose fate and seek change.

CASINO
It's filled with a variety of gamblers from talking fish to actual people. Shadows are also gambling? But they're aggressive due to their mass losses. There are several elevators and it seems like the treasure is on the VIP level.

If you choose to enter the CASINO, you may appear outside of the structure or on the first floor in costume and mask. Akira will accompany you in his Joker outfit.

VELVET ROOM
Are you a prisoner? Or a keeper? You can stand behind the bars with Akira, withstand the abuse and rebel alongside him, or on the opposite side—ushered by two wardens and a man with an elongated nose to carry out discipline. Rehabilitation is important.

If you choose to enter the VELVET ROOM, you may appear inside or outside the cell. Your attire will change into prisoner wear or officer uniform respectively.

MEMENTOS (SPOILER)
In the city of Recolle, you notice there's something strange. People walk past the blood red rain and the towering skeleton pieces. The irrelevant become forgotten. The forgotten vanish. Is it your hand that's disappearing? Or is it Akira's?

If you choose MEMENTOS, you'll be in your normal attire or in your underwear. Whichever your character feels less attractive in if you want. Once again, Akira is beside you.

CODE CREDIT

fog

[ Akira has been having a hard time with his nightmares. Some of them he remembers bits and pieces (all useless), but he's thinking a jog in the ungodly time where the thick fog rolls in is a good idea? Unfortunately not... He ends up running away from one of these three tormentors in his pajamas. What's with his luck?

As he looks behind him, he crashes into someone. Sorry. ]

TWIN WARDENS (SPOILER)
Their names are unknown to you, but they're two girls with silver hair with a single golden eye (an eyepatch covers the other). As attendants of the Velvet Room, they have this ethereal aura to them, even menacing as they shoot various skills into the fog.

"Come back here, inmate! You can't hide forever!"

"You're only delaying the inevitable."

IMPERIOUS ANGEL (SPOILER)
An angel appears with an abstract body shape. Wings scaling wide and halo spinning over its head, it spreads its several hands that hold instruments. With the rise of the triangle, the angel rings it with a clear ding. In a matter of seconds, a flash of light magic strikes near.

"I am what humanity desires. Why oppose me?"

You can hear the sneer in its voice.

GOLD PIGGER
This silver piggy bank may seem cute, but it's also massively large and rolls without end. What does stop it from rolling are valuable items. Throw something expensive and it'll take a break to appraise it with a series of oinks. The one in control is a half-fly guy throwing out some mad rhymes.

"Yo yo yo! You think you can just walk into my neighborhood and disrespect me like that, dawg?"

CODE CREDIT

wildcard

[ THROW ME WHATEVER! Baby haunts from the new ghosts or even the Retrospec Maze! Even anything normal. ]

Comments

mementos

[parodeity]

[ it's dave in black skinny jeans and a long-sleeved record tee, his shades in place. they're getting blood rain on them, probably, as is the rest of him. that's what happens when blood comes down from the sky, unless it is ignoring the people it falls on like they ignore it. the towering skeleton pieces are a thing, and he wonders for a moment whose planet this is, but he knows this city; it is recollé.

his hand is becoming translucent and dave freezes and holds his left hand up, tilting it this way and that. ]

- am I Doomed?

[ it's half a whisper, and he doesn't know if this is real or not for a heartbeat. ]

twin wardens

[browbeater]

[he hears them before he really sees them. And he's looking around in confusion.

The fog and its random sounds were probably the most annoying part of this october, especially since he could never tell what was real, and what wasn't. This seemed... not real. After all, who referred to anyone as "inmate"?

As he walks forward, he sees Akira first.]

Hey-- did you hear that?

[maskreant]

[ ok, calm down.

The residents become quiet when they see Goro scheme, even allowing him to try his hand at this strange sort of punishment. Of course... Akira's eyes only grow wide as his arrogant expression falls off fast. He's detained and there's not much he can do when he feels those fingers dig into his sides.

He's writhing as he tries to escape (the residents are unamused, but they'll watch some more before making a decision on what to do). ]

[maskreant]

[ The noise makes Akira wince, even scolding himself for not accompanying Elliot when he went to retrieve his staff. For now, he'll count it as a blessing that it's only a broken nose and nothing worse.

Except it's hard when he sees the blood, there are so many worries—what if he dies? What if they die? Even if they have power, they can fight this, and they can make it out... What if they don't? Those kind of thoughts are easier to brush off. He's used to being a pessimist, so he grits his teeth and glares at Kaneshiro who does a little shimmy and spin like he's on the disco floor.

His legs feel like lead, but he forces himself up and in front of Elliot. It's fine. They're fine.

"Haa? What's this?! You're some cheeky low lives, y'know. I'm almost impressed!"

Is it weird that these dark thoughts only make him feel more alive? It's strange, isn't it? With a shallow breath, Akira pulls out his dagger before attempting to lacerate their enemy in a series of quick swipes. The fly squeals like his pig, trying to crawl and climb back into his precious Piggyton. He's considerably damaged and they only need to land a couple of hits in to finish him off, but this one thought creeps up and stops Akira completely.

It's your fault your friends are suffering.

Gripping ]

It's... my fault.

[ The grip on the hilt only tightens, nails digging into his palm, as his mind shuts down completely. Unfortunately, Kaneshiro makes his escape back onto the pig, but it still need some more time to recharge. ]

[maskreant]

[ He doesn't want anyone to get hurt, especially when it's something from his memories. Even if this angel is from his memories, these emotions are from the present... He has always been envious of those around them, the way they connect to others, the way they can smile like they had a great time—how do they do it so easily? If he didn't waste his time avoiding others, would it come easier to him, too?

And most especially, there are these small things that come to mind and it makes his joints lock into place. He can't even move and the pain in his chest only grows. ]

I want that determination... [ It's something he has been building up over the years and the memories have been helpful, but— ] I want to be free.

[ He grips onto his arm to steady himself as the wave of regret and guilt hits, looking overall apologetic. He knows that it's just an illusion... Not everyone is actually how they seem to be—the angel laughs at this, "man is truly irresolute. If it not I to rule them, won't they tear each other apart?!" ]

I'm sorry.

[ Ultimately, he's ashamed. He never wanted anyone to know or see this side of him. ]

[maskreant]

[ Akira has been waiting for whatever it is to whisk him away like it did in his memories, but he's still here... Even if the crowd ignores him, he still exists after several of his friends have turned into a black haze—every single one.

Except for Dave, but it seems like he's next. As that hand starts disappearing, the arm is next... And if it's allowed to continue, the dread fills whatever is left in their body as piece by piece they cease to exist—"You are being erased from reality." ]

Dave? What are you...

[ Akira notices and approaches him before just freaking out. With at least one person's acknowledgement, Dave will slowly, but surely revert. ]

Are you okay?

[maskreant]

[ Maybe someone's playful date? It's kinky, isn't it? Akira is on the run, but luckily Mako pipes up loud enough for him to come to a full halt instead of crashing right into him. His heart is racing and staying still only makes him antsy. ]

Yeah. We can't stay still for too long.

[ Sorry, but he's going to manhandle you and grab onto your wrist so they can bolt. It takes only five more step before they hear the pair of voices again. They're, unfortunately, louder and clearer. It means they're right on their heels. If Mako turns back, he'll see two gold eyes that shine through the fog.

"You think an accomplice is going to help you?! You're dumber than I thought!" This time, it's fire that flies past them, barely missing.

"The relationships you've cultivated... In the end they were all for naught." ]

[sketchythief]

[ It looks like causing a disruption during class won't work even in this dream. Daisuke feels uncomfortable doing so because he doesn't really want to stand out, so he sits down on the desk, trying to pry the X off his face.

He wonders though, why didn't Akira say anything? Why does the class seem to not like him so much? Akira didn't seem to be like what everyone was saying from his experience, so... why?

He feels a little anxious, sitting in his seat, waiting for the class to finish. He keeps an eye on Akira every now and then during class that he doesn't have the energy to pay attention to. ]

[fiddlestick]

[ Its Akira's voice that stirs Elliot from his own thoughts. He hadn't notice his friend step in front of him, trying to shield him. Oh look, another person risking their neck to protect someone as worthless as yo-

Stop it.

The hold the spell has over him weakens and breaks. That's right. Akira didn't think he was worthless. Even if he didn't understand his reasoning, he knew Akira valued him. He didn't need to understand why right now, he just needed to make sure he worked hard to keep up. Even if he was terrified, he couldn't let them die out here. At least, he had to try.

He looks up in time to see Kaneshiro get back into his pig. Oh no. He didn't have any spells that were strong enough to penetrate the hull. He had to lure the guy back out here--

!

It was crazy and could backfire, but it might just work.

He scrambles over the rest of the distance to the staff. On the way, he pulls out his ARCUS unit and opens it up, turning it upside down to shake a few times until the Master Quartz pops out. Without it's blue coloring, it looks like a beautiful spherical glowing gem that's the size of a walnut. Just think materia okay, its basically materia- In other words, something that would net you a fortune.

As its removed, the ARCUS goes dead, and he pockets it again. Now with a hand free, he'll pick up the staff. Soon as the staff's safely in his hands, he'll yell:]

Hey! Check this out!

[He'll chuck the gem as hard as he can in the pig's line of sight. It flies a fair distance before it reaches the ground, bounces twice, and rolls- showing off its sparkling glory.

If it works? Elliot's got a sleep spell attack powered up and ready to go.]

[browbeater]

[please don't get him into your kink circle, Akira...

But hey, look, someone else with golden eyes. that's cool. He quickly picks up on the fact that they need to run, but there are a lot of questions, especially since Akira didn't really give him any sort of explanation before grabbing him to run. And if there was one thing he learned from August: he was pretty bad about running away from a fight.

Oops.]

What's going on? Who are those girls?!

[maskreant]

[ Weird enough, it rips off of his face with a noise akin to velcro straps. It feels like fabric in one's hands and no one questions it even when they see it right before their eyes. Time in class seems to go by really fast. The hand on the clock just winds forward and it's lunchtime already. Teachers swap during, teaching different subjects, before they clap to indicate it's time for their needed break.

Akira stays behind as the rest of the class leaves the class, bouncy and cheerful as ever. Their conversations show above their heads, but get fuzzier in the distance. Of course Daisuke has some students approach him, asking if he wants to go eat lunch with them? It seems like the Xs on these students' faces are peeling off slowly?

If Daisuke looks over, Akira is watching from the corner of his eye, head propped in his hand and elbow resting on his desk. ]

[sketchythief]

[ Suddenly he feels nervous when he notices that Akira is watching for no reason whatsoever. He gives a flimsy excuse to the classmates, saying that he has other things to do so that they can go ahead without him. While he waits for them to leave, he puts the X inside the desk that he's sitting at.

He wonders if it's a good chance for him to go over to Akira soon and hopes that he doesn't leave... ]

[feistytrader]

[...Free... Is he really free? He's never felt that way, not really; you can thrash around a cage as much as you want, but that doesn't mean you're out of it. At the same time, maybe that isn't to be understated, either. He's gotten notoriously good at acting on his own whims, for better or for worse. Often for worse, and it's difficult to marry that with something admirable, but... It's much more difficult to do so when he's always seen everyone else as so much more than himself.

But there's something way, way more important than all of that, and that's Akira. He's hurting. Whatever that thing did, it's really tying him down. He has to do something... He shakes his head to try and snap out of it, then presses down on the ball in his hands. Kingdra emerges and looks straight up at the angel; she's furious and looks ready to start firing at god without orders because that's just how we roll in this household, but refrains, at least for the moment.]

Don't apologize. Don't you think that saying stuff like this is part of being free, too?

[But this isn't right. This whole thing is really starting to piss him off, and he waves a hand for Kingdra to attack, to which she complies with gusto- finally, let's fight this thing- and fires a harsh stream of water accordingly, because she's the only one that has something a little more menacing than Water Gun.]

I've had enough of you! Aim for the bell!

[People who aren't yet ready for this bossfight: all]

[elevelvetor]

[ She gives a shit, Akira??? Thank you for the help up though, she appreciates it—

she appreciates the lightning way less, oh my god. She flinches, thankful she's in sandals as opposed to heels or something because this booking it they're doing would be way harder. Execution, turn yourself in, who— ]

Just who did you manage to offend so badly? [ hell hath no fury like a woman scorned boy like what did you do ] I consider you to be quite nice, but you've obviously done something for... for this.

[sharplydressed]

[WELL. Good thing Kashuu is here to loudly let him know that this is totally not okay. It's nightmarish in the exact way you'd expect a nightmare to be, and in between trying to keep away from the goo and looking for a source and possible way to stop it, he's also sparing a Very Concerned handful of glances at Akira.

Finally, though, he says something because of course he's gotta:]

Hey— Don't just stand there like that, then! If you're innocent, you shouldn't even be here! So let's get out already!

[parodeity]

[ even with the dread, even with his arm disappearing before akira speaks, dave doesn't move or panic. there is almost a certain resignation to how he watches himself fade, and when it starts to cease - when someone speaks to him - he looks up. his expression behind his shades is blank, and hard to read. ]

- I think so? [ but he lies automatically, and plays it off like a joke. ] Just, you know. Normal day. What's up with the blood rain, do you know?

[cattack]

Perhaps. But many true officers are.

[she steps forward, this time aiming a downward slash to cut off the whip-tail.]

[covenantal]

[ Who knows? He felt like he should, like he needed to. Maybe Akira's solidity helps him remember his own.

Yu's smile goes crooked when Akira ruffles his hair, and he huffs a barely there laugh, little more than a breath. It's a relief... to feel real.

Of course, that cheery, straightforward description of something that should be horrible... somehow it makes him think of Souji, and Yu's smile turns to a gentle frown. The scream of the passerby tumbling into the darkness gets him to startle, and though he stares, his expression doesn't much change. He does get to his feet, though. This ... is a nightmare. One of many he's visited. ]

"Supposed to"?

[adoringpast]

They are, if you chop one of their feet off.

[ that's kinda morbid, izumi. but now this got him to thinking - as if they have all the time in the world to grind for chips right now. they need to get up there, and fast.

which means... u g h. god, why did he have to learn gambling from her of all people? ]

I have an idea. Follow me.

[ let's go to a corner of this large room where nobody can listen in on them. sena's eyes dart from left to right, checking if they're in the clear, and huddles closer to akira to whisper: ]

We have no choice. We need to cheat in order to get up there. I know how to rip off stuff from poker - not sure about slots though - but yeah. We have to play dirty.

shows up in mementos 10 years late with starvicks

[alitaba]

[ The sky is bleeding.

Something about this feels almost familiar to her, like a word just on the tip of her tongue. The sights, the sounds, something about it stirs at her memories but it just doesn’t come. For now, Futaba lets it be as there are more important things to be concerned with. Like how her left elbow seems to have just vanished on her.

She's terrified but at least Akira is here. ]

Is this it ?

[ Don't let her fade away ]

shhhhh

[maskreant]

[ Out of all the people in Recolle, Futaba is one of the ones he would never want seeing this. Despite that, he's merely looking at the growing structures... There seems to be a tower that rises in the middle of the city, too, but it's obstructed by a mist. When he hears her voice, his heart stops. ]

Futaba?!

[ He has told himself time and time again there will never be a repeat of this. No one will be disappearing. It seems that his acknowledgment has brought her arm back, but his expression only spells distressed as he holds both of her hands and clasps them together. No one notices this scene. The crowds just walk past like it's nothing.

Lowering his gaze, he can't bear to look at her. ]

I'm... Sorry.

[ It's hoarse, quiet, but still audible despite the patter of blood rain hitting the concrete. ]

[maskreant]

[ Akira leans in, raising his eyebrows in this little corner they've congregated in. Lucky for them, they're in the area that seems to be less populated because these machines don't have as many chip bonuses as the others. There's a thoughtful hum... ]

Good idea. [ Of course he's game? In the end, the method doesn't matter if they can get results. This isn't reality in more than one way. ] I saw an employees only door nearby, but it's locked with a card...

We might cause too much of a scene assaulting an employee for their ID card, but there's also a vent that we can fit through.

[ ARE YOU READY?!??! ]

[maskreant]

[ Akira is doing the best he can to be normal. Don't worry, Yu! He is nothing like your brother, but unfortunately similar in this dream. There's just... So little one can do. Picking himself up, he frowns alongside Yu, feeling rather listless yet dispassionate over that single disappearance. ]


Yeah... When the everyone's subconscious fused with reality, people disappear when they're forgotten. It really shows you how little you really are in the world.

[ A second disappearance happens somewhere a couple feet away, then another... Eventually, people realize and the screaming start. A dark, foreboding voice can be heard from all directions: "don't worry. Soon you will be erased from the masses' cognition. It is only a matter of time." ]

[maskreant]

[ The tail comes flying off and the rat lets out a shrill cry before burst firing its rifle. Within no time, Yoshitsune flickers once to block the bullets—as least as many as he can. Some may stray, grazing them... Though it doesn't ultimately break skin.]

The world you envision must be just.

[ It seems the rat has last control, even going berserk. Its gunfire has no pattern and now does more damage, but Akira quickly sends Yoshitsune to electrocute it. It only needs one more hit before it goes down.]

[maskreant]

[ A normal day...? For a second, Akira's expression twists as he wonders if Dave is like the rest of the populace, but the next question says otherwise. He... Guesses he's right. It's a normal day. Blood rain is just an atmospheric element to Recolle because they can't afford blue at the moment. ]

Apparently red is the color of people's subconscious. Didn't you know? Best color.

[ They're both going to play it like a joke... Even if the person that walks past them falls onto the floor, screaming as they disappear. ]