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

[maskreant]

[ That isn't how it works in Persona 3, okay? That takes a lot of time to think about stuff when you can just assign roles to people!! He's glad to see that Elliot is fine, but they are... Exhausted. I mean, they're in their boxers.

Summoning Satanael so many times has also put a strain on his own body, too. It's fine. Their house is a couple of steps now. ]

Yeah, but... Still. I could have hurt you under that spell.

[ Kill for Love. ]

[fiddlestick]

[Thank goodness home is in sight. He'd had just about enough for this fog]

You didn't. And that would've been the spell's fault, not yours.

Besides, I'd likely regenerate anyway, so.... [he gives a little shrug of his shoulder. What's self-worth can you eat it]

[maskreant]

... I don't think regenerating really makes it better.

[ Elliot? Elliot. Akira is starting to see that you have a problem here, but won't talk about it since they need to enter the house. Kicking off his shoes, he hops onto the nearest couch. ]

Would it be too much to ask for something to eat? [ Guhhh. ] ... Also, I'm guessing you've received some memories alongside those items of yours recently, right? They're from Retrospec.

[ Why don't you tell your roommate a bit as they destress? Don't ask how he knows. ]

[fiddlestick]

[Wow, he's totally fine idk what you're talking about. He follows in after Akira, kicking off his own shoes and placing them neatly by the door. He'll make a b-line for the nearest armchair, slump into it with that his staff laid across his lap. Oh man, he's so glad to be home.]

Huh? Oh sure- [He glances at his phone to see the time] I think it's late enough for an early breakfast. Pancakes or Omelets?

[Just...yeah, give him a moment to catch his breath and die a little over here.]

Sorta? I actually got this student notebook with my stuff- it had instructions on how to make it work. [Handy really, because how else would you think to use a flip-phone for magic] Though I have been getting memories from running into stuff in the fog.

[maskreant]

Let's do pancakes so I can help you out.

[ He can at least make pancakes... With cat art on it. Maybe he should show Yusuke how to do it, but then they might not be able to eat their pancakes "because it's for viewing."

For now, they can rest. Akira doesn't want to move just yet for some pancakes, but the idea alone is nice. He can practically smell it. ]

... Instructions? [ SERIOUSLY?? ] That's really convenient.

[ But he's less keen on the fog stuff. His tone of amazement drops— ]

And those have been okay, right?

[fiddlestick]

Oh, okay! It'd be fun to cook with you!

[Just don't mind him taking pictures of your cute cat pancakes. Be great for his Instagram that's entirely about praising his friends and musical instruments.]

Yeah, it's been a huge help! The other me went to a school that taught that stuff, apparently.

[Though he's not too thrilled it was a military school, but...well, he's not there now. And he hesitates at that question, because no. No they have not been okay]

...Ha. Well I'm still alive so far. I just hope the fog ends soon.

[maskreant]

[ Akira also takes pictures of his own pancakes for his Instagram. I'm sure they follow each other at this point. Anyway, he's glad to hear that it's all fine... While he can see that the fog has spared Elliot his life, he's more relieved that his friend hasn't succumbed to vicious memories.

At least by the tone of voice. He can't tell otherwise—like shit man they're exhausted as hell. ]

So... Like a wizard school?

[ Are you Harry Potter? ]

[fiddlestick]

[Pls. With his hair, he'd be another Weasley]

Aha...that would be cool, wouldn't it?

[Going to a wizarding school, like every kid who read those books dreams about. That sure crossed Elliot's mind when he first got the staff, but...he lets out a sigh and shakes his head.]

No. It was a military school. Thors Military Academy.

[maskreant]

[ But would he be a dead one—Akira blinks once. Twice. Then picks himself up to go to the fridge so he doesn't stare too long. Let's start on that batter. ]

You don't... Seem the type. No offense. That seems more like your friend's deal.

[ He's talking about Eren. ]

[fiddlestick]

[I mean with all the protags who have vowed to protect him...yeah he's toast.

That reaction? Actually makes Elliot laugh weakly. He'll pull himself up and follow, leaving the staff leaning against the wall as he goes into the kitchen. It's not hard to guess which friend he's talking about. ]

Eren? He's my boyfriend, actually. You're not wrong though...

[He'll walk over to the cupboards to start taking out the necessary bowls and pans.]

I'm probably there because of my family. My aunt and uncle's wanted me to join the military or the police for years, even though I'd be terrible at either one. [He let's out a sigh] Guess even magic can't solve some problems.

[maskreant]

[ Elliot and Akira are on wavelengths now. Akira pulls out the ingredients for his roommate, letting him make the batter with his magical (literally) fingers. He rests against the kitchen counter, slouching a bit.

And almost FALLS? A boyfriend? Oh damn. Does he say congratulations? What if they've been together for 3 years? That would be awful to say, then. He'll. Keep quiet. Don't make a fool out of yourself again, Kurusu. ]

There are different roles in the military and police force that you can probably fill, but... [ Hmmm. ] You're happiest playing music, right?

[fiddlestick]

[He'll get started on the batter. He's done this so many times, it's basically habit now. And Akira you could always ask how long they've been together, you know, like normal people do...]

Yeah, that's right. [Playing music was the only time he felt right] Not marching songs though. I hate those things.

[He normally wouldn't admit that, but there's been more than one person to try to persuade him to like the military because those things. What twisted creations.]

[maskreant]

That's... They're really dedicated to their expectations, aren't they.

[ Nervous laugh. And no that's weird what kind of person asks about how long couples have been together what if you ask and then the next day they break up what is the point?? With the batter up and ready thanks to Elliot's chef expertise, Akira turns on the stove and places two pans, then vegetable oil so nothing sticks.

Where's those blasted squirt bottles they have? He hopes no one ended up putting ketchup or anything in it. Filling it up, he starts drawing little cat faces first. ]

I'm glad that you're following your heart though. It takes a lot of nerve to do that.

[fiddlestick]

Y-Yeah... [He gives a little sigh] They're good people, really.

[They did take Elliot in, and they did help people. They just...didn't fully know how to handle a kid that was very different from what they expected.

Also if Eren and Elliot broke up, you better be prepared to listen to over a month of very sad violin music. With Akira making those pancakes, Elliot will take his turn to lean against the counter to watch. Oh, those are skillfully made.

The compliment however, makes him pause, then shake his head.]

...Nerve I don't actually have, you mean. The only reason I've gotten this far is because of my brother and Eren. My brother works so hard to support me, and Eren's always encouraging me. Meanwhile, I can't even bring myself to declare a music major because I'm worried about how they'd react.

If it was just me? I'm sure I'd be back in Queens, enrolled at some police academy my aunt likes. Or a military school, like my other self.

[maskreant]

[ Ah... So Elliot hasn't changed his major yet. Akira assumed that he already enrolled in music, maybe composition or performance emphasis, but hushes up to listen. The pan sizzles as he adds the rest of the battle, letting the fluffy pancakes cook under the depreciating story.

Akira looks over to his friend before lowering his eyes back to the pancakes, flipping both over when they're ready. ]

But aren't you still trying? You could have rejected their support and stick with your relatives, never having the chance to even dream of doing any kind of music. You would be living the life they chose for you.

[ He's sure if Elliot had no nerves at all and accepted his relatives' pressure, he wouldn't be here. ]

It takes small steps—one decision at a time.

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot's silent for a moment, the only sound coming from the sizzling pancakes, as he thinks over Akira's words. They seem to resonate with him a little, at least. Small steps, huh?]

...Yeah, maybe you have a point.

[He sighs]

It's too bad I can't just tell them about having magic. They might stop worrying about me doing something "important" if they knew I can heal people. [He gives a weak laugh] B-but they'd probably think I've gone nuts if I even tried telling them, huh?

[maskreant]

[ Akira doesn't say more, but he's glad that Elliot agrees. Even then, they could also agree to disagree. The pancakes get stacked, three each—might as well make some for the other three people in his house. ]

People outside of Retrospec wouldn't find it too weird... Some even brush it off. I think sometimes they notice changes, though. It's weird.

[ Though he doesn't tell his parents or anything. They wouldn't care anyway. ]

You can keep it your little secret.

[fiddlestick]

[The stacking pancakes is cue for Elliot to move from his spot and dig out the toppings: Syrup, butter, blueberries and a banana to slice up. He likes fruit ok.....]

What do you put on your pancakes?

[Putting that stuff on the dining table though, he gets back to the conversation at hands]

Yeah, sounds weird...maybe I'll try tackling telling them I'm gay before the whole "I'm a wizard" thing, aha... [But enough about him, he'll glance back at Akira] What about you? Have you told your family anything?

[maskreant]

[ It's okay, Elliot... Akira is more of the strawberry, banana, and nutella kind of guy, so he's after that rather than maple syrup. When they're ready, he turns off the stove and sets out for the table. ]

Nah. My parents are busy people, so I wouldn't want to bother them. [ They really are. ] I'm sure they wouldn't be that interested, anyway.

[ So the usual. It doesn't seem like he's bothered since he's digging in. He isn't smiling and he isn't crying this time, but he's visibly brighter. ]

It's delicious.

[fiddlestick]

Oh...

[They wouldn't be interested in their son gaining powers? That's...such a weird concept for Elliot to grasp, and for a moment there's clear confusion his face as he tries to wrap his brain around it. Sure, his relationship with his aunt and uncle was strained and distant, but what he remembered of his own parents was completely different. They took a full-hearted interest in everything Elliot did, just like his brother. Part of him just figured that's simply what parents are like. You know, crazy levels of doting.

But he won't press. Not when there's pancakes to eat. Which he'll start doing the same- dang they are]

Haha, yeah they are! And really cute! You did a great job.