( OPEN ) get in the car we're going to mementos

[maskreant]

WHO: Ren Amamiya (for now) and you!!
WHERE: Probably in Chata
WHEN: all of July?!
WHAT: Ren received the MetaNav and is trying to figure it out. People within a radius will get pulled into Mementos with him. Dreamshare is available for wildcarding.
WARNINGS: none! will update accordingly.

mementos

[ Ren recognizes the app only from the short instances in his memories, but pressing it confirms his suspicions. The interface is overwhelming in red and black, blinking to get his attention, asking for a keyword. It's too much of a leap to name people (he doesn't know any) and guess keywords, so he tries out a keyword that lingers in his mind. You can be passing by, you can be approaching him, you can just come out of the store and he happens to be loitering by the entrance staring at his phone. It only takes a hushed whisper before something strange happens.

It comes with weak knees, a lightheaded feeling; their surroundings shift to a somber underground subway station. It's dimly lit, almost completely dark in some places, and empty on this platform aside from a figure in costume. That's Ren—curly hair, mask on, and a coat that almost touches the floor... Yup, he's even wearing heels. You can:

1. Get his attention. There's quite a distance between you and him, so he might not notice at first.
2. Stay quiet and observe. He'll proceed into Mementos and you can follow after him into this new land.
3. Wait at the beginning platform.

If you decide to wait at the platform, you will start hearing footsteps, very heavy footsteps at that. It isn't safe. Also, I will be NPCing NPC Shadows (Mementos) for the third prompt. ]

wildcard

[ check out my plotting comment! we can plan something specific and make plans. you can also contact me aftertaste or hei#2323 on discord. ]

Comments

Mementos: the Fresh Heart Maker

[fiddlestick]

[ So this is not how he expected running errands in Chata to go. He was browsing for some good violin strings when he was hit with a wave of lightheadedness and his knees buckled. Like most people, he feels scared at the sudden change. But once the feeling pasts, he very quickly notices how different his surroundings had become. ]

Where is this-

[He's only known Retrospec to teleport him around, and they'd had no reason to do so at this moment. And why was he in such a dark subway? He's so bewildered by his surroundings, he hasn't noticed his outfit's changed to something similar to the outfit he got last month from Retrospec, along with a golden eye mask.

He does notice Ren though. He remembers that outfit from previous times, like the bank heist, so there's no hesistation in running after him and calling out]

Ren!

[Gosh he hopes this isn't a trick or something.]

[maskreant]

[ Ren is still fiddling with the app, wondering if there are other features... Like an actual navigator since they don't have Futaba to him them. Rubbing the back of his neck, he looks around before stowing the phone back into his pocket (which then disappears cause the cognitive world is a strange place).

Surprised, he turns on his heel towards the sound of the familiar voice. Oh, shit. ]

Elliot? What are you doing here?

[ God. He already fucked up. ]

[fiddlestick]

[ You so fucked up.

Elliot meanwhile keeps walking until he's close to his friend. He looks confused more than anything]

I...don't know really? I was in a store and then suddenly it turned to...this.

Do you know where we are?

[maskreant]

Yeah, this is Mementos. We're int the Metaverse.

[ ... Wait. Did he ever explain how the Metaverse works? At this point, he remembers explaining it a couple of times, thought it's rather muddled. Even Elliot finding out about the Phantom Thieves wasn't planned.

Scratching his chin, he looks off to the side. Haha... Hahaha. ]

You can say this is the population's Palace.

[usurpers]

[ we all know where eren gets his food and it’s some giant supermarket that just sells every and all things ✨organic✨. healthy fruit, healthy greens, fresh meat from organic farms, rice crackers and quaker oats to fight off colesterol and balance a fine, healthy diet based mostly on protein! for this body.

a sudden weakness in his legs causes him to stumble off to the side with his head in a spin, still holding onto his carriage and steering it into another poor fellow’s car instead of his own (which, in retrospect, is good). when the illness subsides, which doesn’t take long, eren finds himself surrounded in a place he was not in before.

where this darkness actually was, he didn’t know, and aside from the dreams . . . he knew it was too good for an easy month to actually be true. where there even more things happening that he wasn’t aware of? the only way to find out was to find his way around, and lock onto the first movement he sees a far distance ahead of him.

was that . . . ]

Ren?!

[ he can’t tell entirely, but he jolts to his feet either way, briefly taken by his change in clothes and what sat snug over half his face— leathers and metal bolts akin to those worn by the danes of a north germanic world, old and brutal— to match eren’s more ruthless take on justice. beyond his perfectionism and a direness in helping those around him, his justice is feral. his justice holds very little mercy, it does what he believes must be done, and so help those that attempt to change his mind.

weapons are there, if he so needs them; his swords, and his wires, but most importantly perhaps what was over his nose and mouth, but not his eyes: fabric and metals, a half mask that resembles the mandibles of a human skull, one perhaps with sharper teeth than what a man usually has.

something tells him taking these off are the least of his worries, and he races to catch up to ren. ]

[maskreant]

[ Eren is rich so he can afford ✨organic✨ ingredients. Ren is quite used to the look of Mementos, seeing it in passing in his memories... Just a lot of the battles were in the cognitive world. The darkness doesn't bother him at all; with the third eye, he's able to make out his surroundings with ease.

Along with Eren who shines a bright blue in this different view. He shuts that off as he looks at him with a surprised look through his Joker mask. Once confirmed its his friend, he tilts his head so he can scan him head to toe. Not bad. ]

Nice digs. [ But to address important matters: ] How did you get here?

[ He has. So Many Questions right now. ]

[usurpers]

[ eren is very unsure about these and gives himself another look down— listen, as good and nerd as he is out there, there is something about these that resonates with him. he likes these. even the mask, something he’d find a little suffocating, was pretty loosely fit. comfortable. he could take this off whenever he wanted.

now would probably not be one of those times. ren has so many questions?? what about eren, stuck in interrogationville. ]

I don’t know, I was walking— [ wait!!! wait!! ] Do you know?

[maskreant]

[ These costumes are very much like a second skin, though he's surprised that Eren isn't trying to take his mask off—or at least try to. Don't mind if he circles Eren so he can get a whole 360 view, even touching his shoulders to get a feel for it.

Usually, he doesn't do this... But this is the first time he has seen someone else come in here. In costume. ]

Yes. [ Let him clarify: ] I wanted to come here—this is Mementos. The masses' cognitive realm.

[ With an open palm he guides Eren's attention to the entrance of the subway, tracks on the floor, and the sound of heavy footsteps in the distance. ]

[complementing]

[This...is not the clothing store at the Towers that she was about to go into. And these are not the clothes she wore to get to that clothing store. Minako looks down at herself in mild bewilderment, taking a moment to pat at her armor, fluff out her butt cape, and lift her legs to look at her heels. So weird. But also so awesome?

From the corner of her eyes she spots Ren. Minako immediately jogs over, her heels click clacking pleasingly against the concrete ground of the subway.]

Hi, Ren. You look amazing.

[Figures that the one chance she'd get at being taller than him, he's wearing heels too.]

[maskreant]

[ Butt cape... Ren's eyes widen, not sure how to make out of this—he has never exactly told Minako about the nature of the world he remembers, merely his group's reputation as Phantom Thieves and the nature of their work.

So... Of course he's surprised she's in here, especially in an outfit like that. ]

Thanks. [ Rubbing his neck, he feels like the sidekick. It's bingo all over again, but he doesn't mind that. ] You look good, too. Like straight out of an MMO.

You'll be all right in those heels?

[complementing]

Do I?

[She's very pleased, doing a little twirl to feel the butt cape swish around her legs.]

It's completely impractical. Same with all this fabric. But I still love it. I should get the hang of it after we run around a bit.

[Because she completely expects him to lead, here.]

[maskreant]

Usually, we could ride a cat bus through Mementos, but... We'll have to go on foot.

[ Which Minako is probably used to with Tartarus being a tower can only be scaled. He gestures her to follow him, going down the tracks that branch to different directions. Without a navigator, it might be difficult.

Also...

Bipedal Shadow blobs are roaming around in different corners. They're kind of cute from a distance. ]

Is Tartarus like this?

Mementos.

[mincingminuet]

[When Penelope had been out taking care of a few things, she hadn't expected the world to go all red. And she definitely didn't expect her casual outfit to change into something more piratical. Or Piradical, if you will.

Either way, she shook off the initial lightheadedness and put her hand on the pistol that went from concealed in her jacket to sticking out of her waistband and started to look around. Eventually her attention falls on a taller figure a ways off, and there's no mistaking that curlycue hair. Hustling up, distance be damned, she yells.]

Ren? Hey! Is that you?!

[God she hopes it is...the figure is a little shadowy.]

[maskreant]

... It's Joker in here.

[ Well, at least he knows Pen for the most part and they've gone through Magatus together. To ease her nerves, he waves at her like he usually does. Looking her up and down, it fits her! He guesses he'll have to be the flashy one between them. ]

Hey. Didn't expect to see you here.

[ Of course he didn't. The footsteps are coming closer, though muddled. ]

[mincingminuet]

Right. Joker. Then I'm...Piradical.

[She can't say it with a straight face...]

And I didn't expect to be here. Where...is here? You seem calmer than me.

[maskreant]

[ He snorts because that was so bad, but really funny to him. ]

That was good. [ NO, IT WASN'T. Rubbing his neck, he checks out the area again. It's dark, with strange fixtures and a foreboding entrance. It should be unsettling, but for some reason he feels kind of at home. ] You can say this is the population's collective subconscious if that makes sense.

Except as an actual place.

Mementos

[fullcowl]

[Izuku recognizes absolutely none of this, Ren looking like that is new and strange. But he's quickly accepting Recolle is just weird. There's all kinds of things that he was simply blind to.

Awful.

He'll try and get Ren's attention, shouting for him and trying to make his way over. It's better than being alone. The whole world just shifted to a subway station he doesn't recognize.]

Ren!!

[maskreant]

Bunny.

[ Ren recognizes Izuku instantly, especially when his friend doesn't come with costume. Then again, he can tell by his muss of hair.

Well, there's no use hiding who he is now that he already blurted Izuku being a bunny. ]

... I sure made a mistake. Are you all right?

[ Even with the haunting footsteps in the depths of the subway. ]

[fullcowl]

[Izuku looks incredibly embarrassed at being called bunny, but that's normal. It's always so easy to fluster him.]

I'm, um, I'm fine. I think.

What are you wearing?

dreamshares,

[adoringpast]

[ recolle middle school... sena should feel nostalgic about this place, given that he'd transferred here at a tender age of fourteen, but he doesn't feel anything upon reappearing in yet another rando's dream. frankly he just finds it weird and wrong somehow, as if he's intruding into someone else's younger years. he's pretty sure that the dream wouldn't want someone to take a peek at such an intricate part of every person's life, but that probably depends on said person. sena, for the record, doesn't really care if someone were to barge into his brain to view this memory, since there's nothing notable that had happened in his.

the classroom is empty, save for some kids who are huddled in one corner and having lunch together, and he wanders out of the door to find the megane we all know and love. ]

This all seems pretty tame, Ren-kun. It's a little strange somehow.

[ unless this place is also a Palace. wouldn't it be fucked up if true, though. ]

[maskreant]

[ Ren's enjoying his time in this dream, sitting in one of the middle schooler desks that is far too small for his legs. He isn't affronted by Sena's presence, only because he feels he has little to hide. There are students walking past, teachers eating lunch during their break, all not noticing them. The chatter from the small group makes small mentions of other students, either their crushes, their friends, or people they don't entirely like.

Gossip is a skill that's learned at a young age, carried decades after. Leaning back, he keeps his attention on Sena, well aware that this is a dream based on the knowing look in his eyes. ]

My dreams are usually wild—pyramids, cat buses, vampires. I don't remember the last time I dreamt about school aside from missing an exam during break.

[ Which is silly. The clock is stuck on a certain hour, seconds passing, but big hands stuck. Tilting his head, Ren strokes his chin before peeling himself off the chair. ]

But we must be here for a reason. Want to wander around?

[adoringpast]

'S not like I have anything better to do.

[ a shrug, before he follows ren out of the classroom with his hands stashed in his pockets. seems to be a bright, sunny day out, but the feeling of nostalgia hasn't really sunk in him yet. he's that much of an introvert in those days. ]

It's normal to have stress dreams about school anyway, but maybe there's a specific reason why you're dreaming of this in particular? [ hmm. ] Did you grow up here in the city?

NANASHI & DAISUKE

[maskreant]

[ So... Ren asked Nanashi if he wanted to help him run Mementos, knowing very well the boy is a summoner. Why invite Daisuke? Well, he thought it would be good to show his cousin the world his other self came from, especially after they shared some words earlier this month about Dark and the Niwa family curse.

It only takes one press, one word, and they're warped into the masses' cognitive plane. Donned in his regular outfit, he takes a look around to make sure it's safe. It's kind of dark, but they can make out the tracks which is the most important. ]

... Since we don't have a navigator, we might get lost.

[ THEy'LL BE FINE. ]

[reaquila]

[Nanashi stays closer to Daisuke and Ren. He doesn't say it out loud, but he's scared. ]

Yeah, I'm guessing GPS is useless here? We can just be careful. [So much for the advances of technology.]

It's like this place came straight out of last week's episode of creepy pasta.

[Yuck. It's pretty dark in Mementos and that makes it easier for them to lose their way.]

[sketchythief]

[ Daisuke isn't scared of the dark. He's also pretty good at mentally mapping due to all the experience from his memories where he knew many museum layouts like the back of his hand. However, he feels anxious. He did agree to go, but actually being here makes him wonder if there's going to be a monster that will pop out of nowhere like a completely unwarranted screamer.

Still, he does his best. Daisuke's clothes more or less stay the same, just some casual wear. His phantom thief clothes weren't really all that flashy anyway, and he prefers this anyway. ]

I can try to keep track of where we go... unless this place changes randomly on it own.

[ Then they're screwed!!

Daisuke is cautious as he sticks close to Ren and Nanashi. ]