recolle | SPOOKY HAUNTS AND TRAILS

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SPOOKY HAUNTS AND TRAILS » OPEN

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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[... What a strange place. Goro's honestly kind of put off by the captivity this place exhibits (he doesn't do well with enclosed spaces, after all) but the fact he's the one outside of the cell helps. The two girls are strange if absolutely confident in whatever the hell their job is (rehabilitating? disciplining?) and the long-nosed man is the most off-putting thing in here.

Seriously, that nose.

Anyway. Hello, Akira, Goro looks like he's trying to decide if he actually wants to go with the orders of the three residents or ask him a different question entirely.

... The latter wins out, and just so they're not griping about about a gentle touch Goro'll reach inside and grab Akira's chin roughly, tugging him into the bars with a much softer, amused voice.]

It seems you've done something worth of punishment. Just what was it?

[ And they mysteriously look similar to your roommate, Goro. Maybe they're related? Like family. The man with the large nose strokes his chin as he hums whimsically.

"My... What a turn of events. It seems that freedom is granted to this Trickster. No one has come to your aid, protector of man. It's unfortunate." ]

I have no idea, actually.

[ Akira keeps up the charade, but he does harbor some resentment to his predicament. It might not be enough to wanting to drag his captors to hell, but a flame ignites in his eyes as he looks up at Goro with a wry grin.

Only because it's Goro, he also bites his hand. ]

[Yeah, see, another weird thing. He'll have to ask her if she knows if her other self has any little sisters. Goro tilts his head at the long nosed man's words, but his attention's caught by Akira biting his hand, jerking away with an offended look. Wow.

This time he'll just lean against the bars, studying his boyfriend for a moment before looking back at the master of the room. Goro really, really wants to ask about the Trickster thing. Is he the Trickster? He's the one that's out here. But it's this Trickster, so is Akira one too?

A small huff, then he'll reach inside and gently tug at Akira's hair. Speaking quieter now.]

You're such a troublemaker. How would you like to be disciplined, bad boy?

[ This is not what he asked for?? He's cringing at this situation. Not only did someone get to see this including how the residents of the Velvet Room treat him, but it's his boyfriend. Gritting his teeth, he allows himself to be manhandled. There's not much he can do with his arms locked. ]

What about just letting me go and giving me a lecture? That's infinitely painful.

[ Igor watches quietly, tapping his fingers against the desk in front of him, but doesn't instruct more. Unfortunately, the twins are a lot more vocal. The loudest one even waves her baton wildly, almost grazing Goro's arm. There's a small crackle—what a shock!

"Hey, greenie! Are you just stalling? We can't have that."

"Don't tell me that you two might be conspiring together." ]

[No, Akira, this is kind of hilariously amusing-- until the louder one apparently has a fucking stun baton, okay, what the actual fuck. Goro throws them both a dirty look.]

Fine, [a soft huff,] I'll show them discipline.

[Nice that Akira's locked up like this tbh, Goro can pinch and pull at his cheeks all he pleases.]

I don't know what you did, inmate, but if they decree you must pay somehow for it, then pay you shall. I won't allow injustices to go unpunished, after all. It goes against my creed.

[ fuck you, goro akechi........ Sorry, these attendants are vicious, wild, and also not unnerved by the thought of needing to hurt Goro at all if he doesn't meet their expectations. Crossing their arms, they watch him with their piercing gold eyes.

There's little room to try anything under this surveillance. Akira is literally crossing his fingers as Goro lays out his justice speech. While he doesn't mind whatever happens to him (even if he doesn't like it when they kick and toss him around), he doesn't want anything to happen to the pleasant boy. ]

I'm not guilty.

[ "Silence!!" Ugh. ]

Do your worst.

[Honestly, if this ends with him in a cell anyway, that'd be fine. It could be a hard cut and everything. But Goro's not exactly looking forward to being punished like Akira anyway, so he'll force aside his unease at hurting his boyfriend and winds his fingers into the collar of the striped shirt.]

No wonder they're so eager to see you hurt with a mouth like that.

[He mouths a quick sorry before pretty much jerking him forward against the bars, face tightening at the sound of Akira's head on metal.]

Hasn't anyone ever taught you manners? Whether you think you did something wrong or not, the fact of the matter is you did. It'll only get worse out from here if you don't ask for forgiveness. On your knees, first off.

[Do it, or I'll do it for you is the sort of sentiment from that tone, though his expression's apologetic.]

[ You're the best, I guess... The metal clangs when he's pulls into it, but he tries to shake off Goro's hold to give himself some breathing room. There's this look int his eye that spells trouble, someone that isn't ready to yield even with this turn of events. It's almost like he isn't the same person or maybe this is what he's like when he's cornered.

His expression softens a bit to the sorry, but... His pride won't let him get on his knees. They would find it suspicious if he doesn't struggle a bit. The show must go on!

He jerks back so Goro can slam into the bars himself. Sorry. It gets a small giggle from the twins, actually. ]

[god you're hot.

A thought swiftly followed by a yelp, glaring at Akira and then at the twins, who don't seem phased in the least by his petulance. He's sticking both hands in his time to tickle Akira. That's befitting punishment.]

[ 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). ]

[It's the least violent, most effective punishment he can think of, and he laughs a bit at Akira's predicament, a little genuine in it too. It's kind of fun. Though he does ultimately feel bad about it, waiting until Akira's more wheezing than anything to move his hands up to his shoulders, massaging them softly in apology even as his voice sweetens like hard candy.]

Kneel, inmate. You're not equal to us.

N-never!

[ Akira's voice is cracking before he ends up laughing. It rings the Velvet Room crystal clear and it almost feels like this is not a nightmare at all... It's just a strange dream, nothing more, but—

"So this person... You've decided to accept him back into your life, Trickster."

The twins stay silent, watching them with their glowing gold eyes. It's strange for them to not complain about Goro's treatment of Akira, but their master is talking. Akira pipes up the same, feeling something caught in his throat when Igor mentions it.

"There truly is ruin in your future. For yourself and all those that lend you their strength." ]

... Ruin.

[ His voice is soft as he tries his best to indulge in Goro's kindness, but the voices come. They fill the room with their whispers and it only grows louder.

Ŗ̮̲͚̬͈̼͌̉̽́̇͐̋̓͜͢͠Ȕ̸͖̖̬̩̫̯͓̬̿͊̐̚͟I̷̖̝͇͒͗̑͛̂̄͐̕̚͜͝ͅṆ̸̨͖͈̪̭̘̄̅̄̐̏ Ruin. There is only Ruin.
Ruin. Ruin Ruin. THERE IS
ONLY RUIN IN YOUR FUTURE.
RUIN IS INESCAPABLEE

Ţ̸̨̡̛͓̬͙̻̬̺͓̬͓̺͍͙̭͍͙̟͇̤̮͇̤̙̄̆͐̉͂̀̓̍́͒͆̾̈̂̿̆̆̽̀͒̇̓̓́̃̅̈́̽̅͒̉͒͌̅͛̓̎̀͑͋̈́̏͌̕͘͘̕̚͜͜͝͝ḩ̵̢̢̡̫̦͔͔̺̠̟̥͍̦̯͓̬͙̼̟̲̩͖͚̘̼̻̫͓̫̹͎̺̗͕̹̼͕̹̮͙̬͖͉̖̲͙̞̘̯̜̹̯̬̇́̀̒̾͘ͅe̷̛̛̲̞̳̐̊̑̆̿̉̽̈̓̾̓̓̅̇̉̑͑͑̿̑̓̃̒͑̈́͋͘̕͠͝ŕ̵̨̡̧̧̛̮͔̲̫̖̖͇̙͔̱̻͓̟̩̥̼̹̦̩̫̪͔̤͚̮̳̹̺͚̥̬̞̼̣̞̰̣̫̹̯̮̻̮̪̌̏͌͋̄͛͂͌͗̒͛͆͑̿̀̓̃̓̎̐̈̌́́̑́͗̿͛̉̓̾̒̃̽̈́̓̀̆̑̒̈́͗̚̕̚͜͜͜͝͠͝ͅe̸̡̧̛͉̫͍͇̖̹̮͔͚͇̤͖̖̤̲̣̙̝͍̗͙̱̯̼̼̦̱̫̳̮̹̺͕̻̙͈̻̎̎̎͛̇̈́̄̀̓̃͒̍̊̆́̑͊́̐͝͝͝ͅ ̷̠̙̱̋͊̿̆̐̽̌̇́̒̅̆͂̊̾̀̈̄̂̆̇̾͛̃̈́̾̋͂͑͆̎̽̔̾̿̎̈́̌̀͌̽͊̂̋̀̇̂̉́̃̃̕͝͝͠ͅi̶̢̡̛̛̛̼̰̜͍̩̰̪̱͚̦̱͖̼̦̤̯̪͕͖̝̬̱̻͇̳̱̠̋̿͐̋̈́́̅̈́̇͆̍͌̓͋̂́̊͊͋̏̃̃͆͐̀̊̍͑͆̓̈́̒̅̏̋͊̀̉̍̆̇̂͒̏̀̕͘͘͘̚͠͠͝͝͝͠͝ͅs̵̛̬̊̀͋̋̈̈́̓̊͝ ̴̨̡̨̡̞̫̳̪͎̖̥̱̗̻̱̻̠̯̟̼̖̗͈̣̥̮̺͑̑̾͋͜͜͜͜o̷̠͖̤̦͈̲̲͍̥͐̇̍͐̃̔̆͐̑̆̔̒̍̇́̒̍̽͐́̽̋̇͐̀̂̽̐̃̈́͑͌̚͜͜͠ñ̸̡̡̛̠̲͚̣̰̼̻͎̰̖̹̝̭̣͍̦͍̳̬̞̗͔̞̗̤̥̤̤͔̞͕̫̘͈̤̹͋̔̊̾̾̌͊̉͐̏̑̋́͑̇̒̂͗̎̚͜͝ͅͅĺ̶̨̢̨͚̲̙̖̪̦̫͙̪̼̥̳̱̠͓͉̯̝̣̤̖͖̤͖͔͜ŷ̵͓̙̮͖̹͍̙̳͔̻̜̙͙̣̓̏̀̾͗̀͐̋̿͒̃̂̌̍͋͋͆̔̒́̔͊̐́͌̈̚̕̕̕̚͝͠͠ ̸̺̝͖̭͉͂͗͊̑̋́͐̓̇͛r̸̡̧̡̛̛̛̛̖͈͖̺̬̠̜͔̱̻͔͎̬̞̖̣̘̞̳̭̙̣̥͕̞͇̳͔̯͍̯̣̩̮͚͗͆̏͌͂̀̒́͛̎̀̓͒͌̉̿̍̈̅̀̅͐͋̃͐̄̄͋̀̒͂̚͘̕̚͜͜͜͝͝͝ͅų̸̢̫͖̻̳̻̤͉̼̠͉̮̙̬̘̹̦̝̞͉͔̙̺͇̱̓̑̍̀̒̍̀͑̒̓̉̔̀̋̄̊̅̽̓̂̕͘̕͝ḯ̶̛̟̭̖̻̼̫̟̲̺͕̜͖̦̓͑̑͊̄͂̐̂̋̀́̔̒̎̒̿̂̉̈̉̈̒̓͌̆͊̒̃́̑̌̋̍͆̈́͛͗͘͘͝͝n̵̢͍̭͎̫̦͎̭̰̹̖̰͈̗̣͚̺̪̰͙͓̗̣̞̻͛͌͒́̊͂͛́͛͆͋̔̅̈́͂̿̀̿̀͆͛̑͆̌̎̅̀̋̈́͛̈́͂̽̓̐̿̉̌̏̍̕͜͜͝͝ͅ ̷̢̡̨̨̢̨̡̪̤̱͚̟̬͉̱̥̺͇̰̻̪̬̗̦̮͙̭̟̯͇̺̤͖̖̞̦̝̼̺̞̫͈̣͍̮̭͙͓̖̲͚̞͙̭̥̌́̏̒̏̚͜͠͠ͅͅĩ̵̙̪̩̘̬̗̙̭͇̝̱͖̙̻̗̳̩̣̩̱̰̪̰̤̘̟̘̬̞̳̗̰̂̈́̀͊̄̄͊͗̐̒̐̂͑̈́̏͗́͊̍͌̋̔̀̈̏͠ͅͅņ̴̨̬͖̖̮̬̭̠͕̝͓͈̖̥̮͈͔̜̫̣̮͓̩̙͈̞͓̀̐̀̆̂͋̿̆̾̀́̀̓͒͋͆̽͌̈́̄̆͒̅͌̃͊̀̄͆̊̚͘͘͘͜͜͝͝͝͝ͅ ̴̛̛̛̩͖͚̊̓̇͂̈́̀̓̾͂̈͗̀͆̓̿̿̐͑͐͂͑͂̅̇̉̓̓̑͋̊̑̐̅̓̒̍͊̓̑́̆̔̑͘̕͘̕͝͝͝͠y̴̡̡̧̡̛͔͇̖̝̩̙̞̠̤͖͕̙̙̬̼͖̮̻̠͈̮̖̜͙̼͉̞̬̯̥͉͓̥͕̞͚̣͓͇͉̲̘̩͚̥̞̗̲̘̍̔͛͗̎͆͐͒́̏̓̌̀́̎͗̔̓̔͑̈́̕̕̚͜͝͝ͅǫ̸̡̧̧̧̨̡̧̛̛̬͚͎̖͚̹͎̟͈̮̫̰̙̖͓͉͇͇͍̞̗̤̪̼̹̦͚̭͖͍̹͇͖̙͇̻̥̤̦̯̦͙̺͔̦̩̜̣̘͓͓̂̊́̍͒̄̅͛͆̀̔́͑̈̒͛͋̊͋̿͑̉̔̒̈́̓̈́̐͑̋͗̓̈́̿͂̔͂̇͗̎͋̚̚͜͝͝͠ͅͅͅų̸̡̨̢̛̛̙͙̣͉̥̫̦̠͚͈̦͓̬̤̺̟̤̙̯̜̼͉̭̺̼͖͍̳̭̦̞̲͉͈̻͇̩̫̝̖̳̈́̀̓̈́͒̊̓̅͛̀͑̓̌̅̉̀̇̑̋̐͂͆̆̉̚͠͝͝r̶̨̢̧̧̡̨̥̞̞̦͇̖̮̭͓̲̲̤͇̻̹̠̪̝̱̟͍͉̦̳̝̙͈̹̩̬̟̹̤̹͙̝̯̙͇̫̿̈́͌̏̈́͐̈́̋̽̓̀́̆͆̿̊͜͜͠͝ ̷̨̡̨͉͕̠̦͖̝̰̱̱̺͙̗̠͙͉͚͚͎̭͍̼̇̒̿̈́̀͂͛̐̓̏́͒̋́̔̅͌̇̿̉̀̐̏̋̑́̒̐̆̈́̑͑͑̔̓̽͑̽͗͛̈́̽̆̅̇̽͌̃͆̎̃̕̕͠͝͝͝͝͠ͅẇ̷̡̧̛̹̝̰̳̜̟̺̞̱̝̦͍̲͇̱̗̟̆̄̒͗͋̎͗̒̊̅̄͌̈́̈̔̍̔̈́̽̂̈́̐͂͊́͂̇͌̇̀̏͊̋̽̌́̕͘̕͠͠͠͠á̴̡̨̛̛̬̲͍̫̘͖̱̮̻̯̯̼̺̣̝͓̱̬̬̯͈̤͚̥͇͎̯̻͇̻͙̘͔͚̬̹̜̭̖̱̣̺̝͋̿́͆̆́̊̊̀̉̔̔̌̑̀͒́̈́̈́̀̐̐̔̈̏̄͐́̑͂͌̓̄̿̇̓͛̄̂̆̎̊̂̈́̇͂̌̈̚͝͠͠͝͠͠ķ̵̨̨̡̡̛̛̻̺̬̞͉̮̣͕͈̣͖̦͙̞̹̣̰̪̖̩͖̠͚͙̹̞͓̲͓͍̟̰̱̪̫͉̳͙͍̪̣͙̭̿͒͑̐̐̇̍͆͊̽̒̉͗̐͌̋͘͜͜e̵̛̝͍̥͍̬̮̳̻̱̪̞͗̀͒̒̓̒̋́͛̀̄͆̋͆͊̃̐̈́̆͑́͋̇͗́͋̓̅́͛͊̈͋͐̔̊̓̓́̑̀͋͛͆̀̀͌̅̃̕͘̚̕͘͜͝͝͝͝͝͝͝ͅ.̷̢̨̡̼̖̦͖͈̳̫̘̮͚͔͖̖̮͖̦͚͕̜̪͙͙͍̬̹͎͈̻̰̝͉̘̬̳̱̋͑͋͋̀̃͋̓͐͌͊̑̇̒̽̅̚̕͠͠͝

Listless, he looks down at the ground as he tries to cover his ears. ]

Ruin..?

[Pure confusion. The whispers swell around them, louder and louder, and Goro feels himself slipping into an anxiety that usually stays settled beneath his skin, nerves alight with reminders of his other self's misfortunes (his fault his fault) and his own repressed insecurities. He leans against the bars, nearly curling into them, and catches Akira's listlessness.

Oh. Oh no, Akira is one of his indisputable goods in this life, and Goro closes his hands around Akira's ears to block out the sound, to draw his attention back to where it belongs: off the ground, on someone that cares for him very dearly, even if Goro's wanting to do nothing but hide.]

Akira, [gentle, soft, quiet as to not give away the tremor he feels in his lungs,] look at me.

[But it's not loud enough, he knows, not against the riptide of voices. So he pinches Akira's cheek instead. Actions speak where words can't.]

[ Akira stays quiet as the whispers start to diver from their original chant. It echoes a different tune about how history will only repeat itself even in another country, another world, another time. No matter what he amounts to, he will fall and drag all his friends with him. His own mind is racing until he's forced to look up, gaze blank yet reflecting a different location entirely in his dull eyes—a dystopian Recolle filled with monsters, small figures that represent people disappear into dark particles.

Igor sits at his desk, tapping his fingertips against the wooden surface as he observes intently. The twins stand at his side, waiting for orders like diligent assistants, but their piercing gaze is practically stabbing into Goro's back.

"There is not much that can be done." With the snap of his fingers, the barred cell doors are replaced with a cinder brick wall to separate the two. "What about you and I strike a deal?"

A contract floats over to him and it details erasing the memories they've received from Retrospec, but they also lose the ability to discern the strange happenings—blissful ignorance is the promise. ]

[The twins' stare isn't unnoticed, no, but he's caught by the possible future in Akira's eyes; thinks he can see his mother, their friends, though he knows it's simply his imagination.

The wall comes up and Goro jerks away, hands searching frantically the wall for any sort of seam. The contract draws his attention from trying to find a way back to Akira, promises things he inhales sharply at, and he looks over it at Igor, at the wardens.

... Erase the memories he'd received, be someone normal again, not be haunted by the decisions made by another self... but become unaware of the going-ons, blissfully ignorant of anything weird or distressing. Goro hesitates, taking the contract from the air and gripping the pen that appears with it tightly.

What he wouldn't do to be normal.

... On the other hand, the oddity of the city was something that connected him to others; talking to someone with the app verses without are two different things completely, and Goro can't deny that for all Retrospec is, for all the danger it presents in his life, for himself his friends his family

it has given him the chance to make bonds, to commiserate in the bad and celebrate the good, to grow close to people he never thought he would before. Sure, he could do without the memories, the nightmares outside of this month's poison, but all of that... isn't something he has to deal with alone. He has Silver. He has Haru now, too, and Takamaki, Miss Velveteen, Yu-- against all odds, against fate itself, he has Akira.]

... It's tempting, [he starts, thinking of that ruinous future, how this decision could lead to that, and loosens his hold on the contract, allowing it to fall if it can.] But I must decline. Silver won't stay with us if I return to such a state, and I would rather share in the pain of my friends than to become ignorant of their suffering.

[ "You treasure this life well... Cherish it for as long as you can."

Igor takes the contract back and his expression seems amused. The twins stay quiet before placing their hands behind their backs, lowering their heads. The curtain calls. Your time in the Velvet Room has ended, but "do come again. Our doors are open for you... For the time being."

In a snap, Goro is in the cat cafe where Akira is serving him. The date is right before they get the invasive app. ]

Here is your order, Akechi. [ He sets the cup of coffee with foamed milk cat art on the top. ] Solved any cases, lately?

[ And on an invisible screen is the list of memories Goro received in July (which he still retains) and a list that Akira will soon regain the same month. Some that he has told Goro, a couple that he hasn't. The only difference is that Akira's list is editable—it's listed:

AKIRA KURUSU (PENDING INITIATION DATE: JULY 1)
☐ Persona users hanging out in a coffee shop
☐ Goro Akechi's TV station interview PT ?
☐ Arsene Lupin's profile
☐ Castle heist
☐ Finishing off a god
☐ Reality distortion
☐ A cat thing turning into a car
☐ Posing with Yusuke Kitagawa
☐ The Okumura public announcement

There are no previews to the list items. It doesn't seem like Akira or anyone else can see the same screen. It's only available to one single person. ]

Rescued any cats in trees?

[It takes a moment, almost like he's restarting his mind but his lips quirk up in that friendly smile he'd always given Akira, feeling weird at hearing Akechi now. It'd been so normal before, but now...]

More cats than cases, unfortunately. [He'll take a picture of the coffee, setting it aside and taking a sip, humming softly.

... It is so hard to not stare at the list that no one else can see, holy shit. There's certainly some he remembers hearing about, but others...] And less trees than... well, I've done a fair bit of time on my hands and knees lately. There's plenty of hiding spaces for pets literally under your nose.

[He doesn't actually know what he said so far back then, what they spoke of, and this might be the first time he actually wants Akira gone; it might be a little weird to see what he can do with this list in front of those unaware of it.]

[ Resting his elbows against the counter, he slouches into a comfortable and friendlier posture, obviously here to mingle with a customer. Regulars are good to keep the slightly new cat cafe going and the exposure lets shelter cats become adjusted to human interaction. Akira continues to make as many excuses to humor him even if it's definitely for the warmth that comes from Goro's warm smile, his cheerful personality. There's something about the passion he shows for his hobby that also makes him endearing in some way.

... It's nice. He's envious, but he squashes as many personal feelings he has fast. Swift. And let's talk. ]

Cats do like to fit themselves into the strange places—I actually found Morrigan in my underwear drawer earlier this week. I'm not sure how he got in, either. I guess it's cozy?

[ A true story! But one that Akira definitely never told anyone on that day. It seems like the dream is playing off a different possibility... Once Goro even thinks about editing the list, time freezes completely. Coffee is poured in midair, steam stays in place, and everyone freezes like a still frame.

Uncheck and check what you will. There's already a next button at the bottom right, showing that he can even select none of them and move on. ]

[Oh, that's an interesting tidbit, Goro opens his mouth to reply and finds that the world is a little

um. not moving.

... That's interesting. He glances down at the list, very tempted to check all of them once he's done one and then unchecked it uncertainly, staring at Akira. Would it change the scene if he proceeded? If that was the case... he curls his fingers against his mug and debates staying with this sweet tidbit, when they were both blissfully unaware of the app once more, of the odd memories they shared together. A simpler time, all things considered.

... There's no use dwelling on it. He'd made his choice on this matter not five minutes ago, and he is curious to see the others; perhaps he can come back here, cleanse himself with a cute boy and a cute smile and see what happens when he's a little more brazen with his affection. Goro'll pick castle heist since that sounds interesting and he hasn't actually seen a heist done. Here goes nothing.]

[ For a second, Akira glitches several times like one would in a computer program, very similar to the monsters back in August. Despite that, the world stays still as Goro's choice is processed like a simple order.

The memory plays on what seems to be a larger screen that displays between the two: Joker, Panther, Skull, and Mona make their way to the treasure room as they dart through the throne room. The Palace is extravagant, but also gaudy. It comes with some unsettling statues that showcases a woman's body in some volleyball uniform with her hind sticking out.

As the team makes it to the weird blob floating above the pile of gold coins, there are words that appear in the middle of the screen:

WHY ARE YOU CONTROLLING MY LIFE?
The display is slightly translucent, so Goro can easily notice that the Akira on the opposite side looks... Sullen, if not disappointed compared to before. ]

[........................ This is so weird, he immediately feels guilty, he's ducking his head down. He's not even sure if there'll be a response like this? If not, then he can just resume it from before, can't he..?]

I'm sorry, I... no, there's no excuse. I don't mean to intrude, Aki-- Kurusu, I simply found myself curious and didn't think of what it might feel like to you.

[... Dream you? Something like that.]

[ Akira only smiles at him, breaking through the frozen world. Unfortunately, the rest doesn't follow suit. Everything remains frozen in place, letting them keep this bubble of time to themselves. ]

... It's fine. We're all just puppets, aren't we?

[ A prisoner, chained by fate and destiny—a life that he has no control of. This dream self represents feeling hamstrung, the part he long accepted and abandoned, but it still stuck around the back of his mind ever since he learned about Goro this month. His body language lacks confidence and his mannerisms are little more sheepish, reflecting the person he used to be long before he met Goro, even before his oldest friends. ]

But you've been gifted, right? You gave me that memory. There must be more you can do... Can you change me, too?

[ And the checklist turns into a character sheet, listing parameters with standard Persona 5 stats. They're also editable with sliders as if you can build a person from scratch and break them down. The stats seem all normal, except there are two extra categories: helplessness at max and alacrity at zero. ]

[What a different Akira. It's startling, in a way, and he taps his foot a little restlessly in response.]

... I'm not certain I would call it a gift per say...

[But there's a character sheet in front of him, stats and all, and Goro glances between Akira and it uncertainly. The biggest thing he'd change would be helplessness, but he's going to lean on his hand instead, smiling softly.]

I don't have a right to change you, you know. You're no more a puppet than I am. If there's anything to be done, it needs to be done by you.

[As he says so, he'll be reaching over to take Akira's hand, place it on the character sheet.]

If you need help with that, I'm here for you no matter what. We're friends, after all.

[More than that, but he's very much keeping cards closer to his chest.]

... But I can't.

[ The cat cafe actually starts melting, degrading into this black goo. The counter, the tables, the cat furniture, the cats themselves, the people—seat Goro is using? Slowly melting into the ground. Akira's gaze is downcast where the character sheet is, but it seems like he can't see it.

Once again, it's something he can't control.

The screen between them still shows the heist in production, but the red text starts shaking rapidly. However, the audio is still clear and it seems like they're looking straight at Goro. While the world around them is frozen, melting like they're wax figures under the sun, the video continues to play... Joker reaches out before a red gloves comes to grab Goro by the collar and pull him into the screen.

WELCOME TO KAMOSHIDA CASTLE...
Akira is there with his phantom thief outfit, raising his eyebrows at how he just pulled him out of... Well, nothing? It doesn't seem like Mona, Panther, and Skull are here. However, Morrigan is. The cat has blue eyes in this dream and an orange bandanna around his neck. Hand on his hip, he tilts his head. ]

Where were you?

[So trying to do something outside what the dream allows results in this... Goro touches the goo awkwardly as it melts, glancing up at Akira and flinching at the sight of the screen between them, suddenly uncomfortble by the stares.

And then he's being pulled in, the world suddenly changing to a scenery he's entirely unfamiliar with. There's Akira (Joker, his mind corrects, it's Joker here) and... Morrigan? Goro glances discreetly at himself, noting his own phantom thief outfit and being a little relieved at the whiteness there.]

Um, elsewhere. Sorry, my mind wanders.

[Which is a rookie mistake, he knows, but maybe it'll be forgiven..?]

this is the only way he's getting into the velvet room

does no one else have velvet room horrors

they do not you are the only one

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