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

[cattack]

... That sounds like a frustrating waste of time.

[you leave the casino level alone, cleo, it's better than rats.

but either way, she's just. Walking right up to the elevator, drawing her sword, and ramming it right into the elevator door's crack, using it as a wedge to force the door open.]

[maskreant]

No clue.

[ They are so ready for this. Unfortunately, as they take steps down the stairs, they feel themselves ceasing to exist entirely only to be recreated in a different environment.

It seems like a coliseum except the rows of people at their seats are actually in jail cells surrounding them. They're at the center, fastened with weapons of their choice.

"You dare defy me? This is what humanity asked for."

What appears... in front of them... Is a giant blackened cup. ]

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot meanwhile, as always, is worried. Also very confused. Why is there a monster sitting on a toilet? Why is there a snowman? And also the succubus-- well, he's sure people into women would find her nice looking-- but it's still weird to see her here.

Worries and confusion aside, it looks like Akira is revving up for a fight, so he'll do the same. He'll hold that staff in front of him, reading to swing it. He could...probably work on his stance, but that's for another day]

Ehe, I hope so too...

[BRING IT]

[twostringsonebow]

Chandeliers feel more like decorations to me than actual light fixtures, but perhaps that's because I've never grown up around them... though this place is gaudy enough that it isn't too weird, I guess.

[Like, look at it??? Gosh. This Palace is ridiculous. Did Akira really traverse something like this..? What sort of person has this distorted a view of the people around them? Sae-san (whoever she is) had a perfectly normal view of them...

Let's twist some more. This is like a rubix cube of candles.]

I do have the undeniable urge to shoot them, though. Like in the movies.

[parodeity]

[ he really does not like ceasing to exist for a second or two. that sucks.

and his weapon of choice is -

well, a sword. ]

...I know I didn't ask for that. If I had, there would be a silly straw in it. You know, one of the super twisty ones with colors.

[ when uncertain and ill at ease, MAKE JOKES ]

[adoringpast]

[ they didn't see akira? okay, they can make do with this. sena keeps up the straight-laced look in his face as he waltzes into the room, keeping the brim of his hat lowered. ]

The higher-ups actually sent me here since the rest are busy right now. Told me to check the surveillance cameras to see if they're still working right. You know how paranoid they can be sometimes, even if they don't act like it.

[ he coolly approaches the controls, hoping that the guards will turn their attention towards the screens so that akira can sneak up on them while distracted. ]

Now tell me how you switch from one camera to another. I can't do this on my own.

[feistytrader]

I've got you to thank for that.

[Off they go then, down the street which feels surprisingly far on a night like this. There's a certain amount of satisfaction and confidence that came from standing their ground, but the fact that there really is nothing stopping another one of those things from showing up again- or something else for that matter- is pretty damn sobering. It doesn't put him on edge, but it's definitely a good reminder to stay alert. It also makes holding Akira's hand all the more important, and Silver isn't really aware of how tightly he grips it. Thankfully, the library isn't too far away.]

What do you think the best way in is?

[It is a pretty big building. Silver looks up and weighs the pros and cons of the second floor windows. Akira did just scale that giant god, after all...]

[geckoman]

No shit.

[Iwai looks around and finally shoves Akira down an alley so they can dart through the buildings to the other side. It's not going to do much but he's trying to do anything to get this kid out of danger right now.]

It's going to hurt someone at this rate.

[maskreant]

[ Yes. It's as easy as imagining it. Whatever Daisuke had in mind as lunch appears right on Akira's desk. For two, especially. A bit surprised, he doesn't seem to find the food appearing strange... Just this whole ordeal. ]

Yeah... It's all right. Go ahead and take a seat?

[ But he doesn't seem to remember his name. ]

[sketchythief]

[ In contrast, Daisuke is the one that's surprised by the sudden food appearing. He borrows a nearby chair that probably belongs to someone else and sits. The food is a mix of non-sticky white rice, chicken salad on the side, chopped seasoned onions, and some thinly sliced fish cakes. A pair of chopsticks and a spoon are set up at each side neatly--all plastic to match with the plastic containers that the food is in.

Now that he settled into his seat. He just looks at the food and laments on how awkward he feels to the point that he can't look up at Akira aaaaaaaaa ]

[maskreant]

Really? It seems much to keep adding though... It's not like this dining hall is that large.

[ Which is strange? Dining halls this extravagant should be spacious, but here we go. More twists until all the candles are extinguished. Nothing happens for a second, however. Hm.

A gun appears in Akira's hand and bang bang—there goes the chandelier. It drops right in the center of the dining table and the girls instantly vanish into a black smoke after they screech in terror. The table breaks in half and the room finally expands. On one side where the exaggerated portrait of Kamoshida rests, the wall lifts up to unveil a dark corridor. ]

Maybe I didn't need to do that.

[ It was going to open whether they shot the chandelier or not. ]

[maskreant]

Cleo, I don't think—

[ Cleo? Cleo, no. The alarms start ringing throughout the casino and the danger meter goes up to 100%. The number of guards increase ten fold as they rush to apprehend the thieves.

Nope. Nope. Nope......... Akira quickly summons Satanael again to cast a rain of bullets, but they're literally tackling them down as if they're playing football. ]

[maskreant]

[ So you mean Akira would find her attractive (he does), but that isn't the point. Not everyone can perfect the stance... Akira picked it up from his own memories. Framing his mask with his fingertips, a demon lord appears from the black flames before casting a rain of bullets onto their enemies.

And... The monsters start talking.

"Don't you know what privacy is?!" Maybe the Shadow shouldn't have brought his toilet with him.

"How can you hit a lady!!" Equal rights. Sorry, Succubus.

"Hee-ho! You think that does anything to me you punk?!"

The snowman dances a bit before the gravel is covered by ice. ]

[cattack]

This does make it much easier.

[Cleo's just backstepping, swinging her sword out from the door to let the guards run right into it, tearing it out to slash through another guard.]

If we simply eliminate them all, we won't have to hide.

[fiddlestick]

[Whatever floats your boat Akira. He's more prepared for a fight this time, so the gunfire doesn't phase him like last time. He makes sure to stand behind Akira, so he doesn't get hit on accident

And great. Chatty monsters. Just because this wasn't weird enough.

Well, he knows what to do about the snowman at least. He'll charge up a spell, before raising his staff and releasing a blast of warm water straight at the snowman and his ice.]

[twostringsonebow]

Perhaps, but it was very satisfying to watch. Don't you think so? Though I do feel a little bad about the collateral damage, cognitions or not...

[That's his Akira! In... some form, he supposes? He doesn't want to think to hard about this, but he is curious to know the sort of relationship they have at the moment, in this... apparent twist of fate.

Goro'll gesture the two along, trying to find the words to broach that topic. Asking bluntly wouldn't work at all... he should probably be focusing more on the dark corridor ahead, but it's alright to split attention half and half, right? Akira and Morrigan can handle it.]

[maskreant]

[ The Shadows seem perplexed? But listen to Sena and teach him how to work the controls and the cameras. It seems pretty simple and with these cameras they can see every floor, including the treasure room.

It literally says Treasure Room as its lower third title, a weird blob hovering over a pedestal. Either way, they are focused on helping their peer learn the ropes—until Akira just climbs onto their shoulder and rips off their mask. Easy. ]

Good acting. Too bad these cameras don't include the control room.

[ But!! This room does include a map that shows the control room. For some reason, it's in the basement. ]

[maskreant]

I guess if you're into drinking the life force of the people, then that would be nice.

[ Because there are veins coming from the cup that branch to the cells surrounding them. Is it weird that these people are cheering for... a cup? A cup called the Holy Grail, apparently.

"Foolish mortals... It would be easier to submit. A world blind is full of bliss."

To test the waters, Akira starts shooting it with a gun that appears in his hand. There's clanking noise and the cup seems to take damage&mdsah;while it doesn't make a noise, the people around them scream stop hurting it! What are you doing?! ]

[maskreant]

You were just as helpful.

[ Akira does notice how tightly Silver is holding it, so he swings it back and forth in the air to lessen the paranoia. Of course they need to keep watch. Once in a while, he notices something lurking from afar, but it's probably someone else's apparition...

Who knows? At this point, he feels like he can fight anything that isn't... The god again. ]

What's stopping us from using the front door?

[maskreant]

[ SMART. The god is gated by the small entrance, unable to pursue them. There's only a foreboding hum coming from it as Akira and Iwai continue to add distance. ]

Then I guess everyone lucked out since it's only after us?

[ When they reach the end, the god is there... Rest in pieces. ]

[maskreant]

[ The food looks good! But still doesn't surprise Akira. He doesn't... Touch it, however. Even if it's enticing him with its aroma alone, he keeps himself checked since this isn't his food per se.

He keeps his gaze down to the food, too. It's time to play the avoid Olympics. ]

... You seem nervous. Are you all right?

[ What happened to that boldness? ]

[sketchythief]

I... I'm fine. [ He tries to shake off the awkwardness that seeps into his bones, so he grabs the spoon. ]

Let's eat! You must be hungry, right?

[ It looks like he got his determination back--sort of. His expression says it all. It looks like he'll be force feeding Akira if he doesn't eat, tbh. ]

[maskreant]

I’m sure Kamoshida will get his maids or slaves to clean it up... If he gets the chance.

[ Cause they’re here to steal the teacher’s treasure, aren’t they? Morrigan meows before leading them through, Akira following diligently behind. It allows Goro all the time in the world as they unlock Kamoshida’s distorted heart. On the opposite side of glamor is the nitty-gritty torture dungeon area. It’s grim, dark, only lit by the few torches.

It’s also swarming with Shadows that take the appearance of knights. They pace around areas, sometimes whispering dumb chatter you would expect from humans—some dumb, some pretentious, others loyal...

“Those meddlesome thieves have to get through me if they even think about laying one grimy finger on King Kamoshida!”

Then there’s “when will the next guy switch out with me? Nothing’s even happening.” ]

Morrigan says the treasure is a couple of floor up.

[ Uhm. Morrigan said nothing, but he looks up at the both of them as if understanding the situation entirely. Yes, they’re hiding in the shadows like criminals. ]

[twostringsonebow]

[... Maybe dream logic dictates that only Akira can understand his cat. Goro nods, curling his hand uncertainly around the hilt of his sword as he wonders the sort of Persona that might appear in battle -- Robin Hood, in all his heroic glory, or that strange striped one he seemed more familiar with? Which was Akira more accustomed to? Would it shift around him?

Stupid things to worry about with Shadows on the lookout for them. He breathes out softly, observing the path of one close to them. When it moves off again, he glances at Akira and then at Morrigan.]

Are we going to conserve our strength for necessary fights, or are we going to clear them out completely?

[elevelvetor]

I was under the impression people were through being upset over that!

[ ...It's an internet thing slightly before her time but also: she plays MMOs with idiots, they necro that shit every so often.

Uh, unless that's not what he's talking about— ]

Never mind. Let's simply find somewhere to hide for the moment, or... something. [ Is that even going to help? God she hopes so, she can't actually afford to take a moment to summon Thanatos because she's too exhausted to even do that. ]