WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[Well, this is...happening. This is a thing. This is your life now. The Commander is expecting you to just up and kill one another, and then try to get away with it. No big deal, right? You guys can handle this. You won't fall for what she has. She's clearly an idiot. A loud idiot, but still an idiot. She's not going to get one over you.

...Right?

In any case, the Commander's quarters are now open for anyone who decides they can actually stand to be in the same room as her, but beware - any favor you might ask of her is going to come at a price, and who knows what she'll ask you to do if you decide to gain a boon from her. Unless you're a suck-up like Baku - then she'll apparently be flattered. Maybe that's a good tactic to use?


Whatever you do, try not to murder the bread again. The Bread Did Nothing Wrong.


There are fifteen strangers in this place.]



MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY | SATURDAY

Comments

P5 endgame spoilers

[beguiledcard]

Force of will.

[ Moving so he can lean back against the table, ever-so-slightly. ]

The Metaverse was made up of all the thoughts and desires of humanity - the distorted and warped ones, to be exact. [ a brief hum ] I'll give you an even bigger example...

[ He taps his chin with the plastic blade a couple of times, his gaze resting on the wall across the room. ]

When someone's thoughts and desires became powerfully distorted enough, they formed what we called a Palace. The Palace existed in the Metaverse and functioned as a... home base, essentially. Their Shadow became the ruler... [ holding a blink for a second ] and other Shadows and Demons became drawn to the Palace. They all worked to defend it at all costs. Because whatever the ruler had latched onto and possibly obsessed over, in the real world, took form of what we called the Treasure.

Which is something that rested in the center of the Palace.

[ He glances to Naoya, giving him a few seconds to process all of that, if needed. ]

As the wild card, who was code named Joker... it was my job to lead the team into those Palaces, infiltrate them, so we could then send out a calling card to the person in the real world. Knowing their "heart" was in danger resulted in the Treasure taking a solid form inside the Palace. And, after that... we'd go in and steal it.

[ His gaze shifts back to rest on the wall. For some reason, he feels... strange, saying the next part to Naoya... ]

Without the source of distortion, the Palace crumbled, forcing the person in the real world to undergo a Change of Heart. They were left to face their truest feelings and desires... and were ultimately weighed down by guilt for all their crimes...

[ His gaze lowers. He genuinely can't leave it off at that - not with Naoya. ]

... In the end, almost all the Shadows of the former Palace rulers wound up locked away in what turned out to be Yaldabaoth's Palace, their will to fight completely gone. [ jawline briefly tightening ] It was all part of a game. And taking down all the former Palace rulers had been doing Yaldabaoth a solid, since we were getting them... out of the way, really. [ a soft 'tch' ] That asshole even had the nerve to try making a deal with me, in the end. So...

[ One corner of his lips lifts, ever-so-slightly. There's a spark in his eyes for just a moment. One hand lifts as he does the cliche "gun" gesture with it, pointing it towards that wall from earlier. He looks right at Naoya, the flash of a grin given. ]

I took pleasure in that final shot. [ "bang" gesture ] ... In short, the Metaverse had become like Yaldabaoth's playground, and we kicked him out of it.

[crouching_sin]

[... That's fascinating. And he has to wonder what his 'Palace' would look like, though he's not sure that he'd ever want anyone in there. Forcing him to change... it wouldn't work, anyway.]

That sounds all well and good, other than it being a trap. So... what are you going to do with the Metaverse now? Continue on with what you were doing? Ignore it?

[beguiledcard]

[ While shaking his head, he gives a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. ]

It's all inaccessible now, so we just... wound up shoved back into the role of normal teenagers.

[ In spite of how he's smiling a bit? There's something conflicted in his tone. ]

[crouching_sin]

Hm... not something you're all that comfortable with, is it? Change can be difficult to deal with.

[You're not as sneaky as you think you are, Akira.]

[beguiledcard]

[ ... Very few people he trusts have outright called him out, over something like this. ]

Ah...

[ Thus Naoya manages to be one of two people to make him blush in this place - it's very faint, but it's definitely there. With a slightly awkward glance to the side, he twists a strand of his bangs. ]

... My first best friend - I became friends with him because of those powers. Then, I became a leader... someone who was respected and trusted. What's more, is I was able to make a difference to an entire world...

[ He rubs at the back of his neck. The smile is... strained around the edges, honestly. ]

And it only lasted just under a year.

[crouching_sin]

It changed your life a lot in a short period of time. It's not like you're wrong to feel the way you do, Akira.

[beguiledcard]

[ The smile softens into something gentler. ]

Guess it's easy to forget that...

[ Being that he got so used to having to stay the calm and level-headed leader, and all... ]

[crouching_sin]

Of course it is. When you're a teenager... everything is immediate and right in front of you. Not that they can't plan for the long term, but it's harder to imagine things not being the way they are.

[beguiledcard]

[ He tilts his head a bit and twists a strand of bangs, a distant sort of smile appearing. ]

I think... for a moment, I forgot I was only a teenager. Having the sudden reminder felt surreal. [ gaze lowering, smile a little brittle, but intact ] And it's even harder to remember that, while I'm in places like this.

[ While looking back up at Naoya, he shrugs both shoulders. ]

But, I think the other part of it, now, is that life somehow feels more... [ brow tensing ] ... fleeting?

[crouching_sin]

It seems like it would. ... I can imagine, though, in a place with death... it would make things seem more fleeting to you. They always are, to me. For... well. Obvious reasons.

[beguiledcard]

[ His brow tenses and he nods with an expression that silently reads of understanding, namely towards that last bit. ]

Not to mention, I've gained more of an appreciation for the simple things.

[ Gesturing to the paper and pen he usually keeps on him. There are simple sketches on it, and notes for observations of his day. ]

Not to mention, I never enjoyed reading as much as I do now.

[crouching_sin]

Well, when there's no internet, you make do. Welcome to what we did in ye olden days.

[Yes he pronounces it with a fairly impeccable Received Pronunciation British accent, because why the fuck not.]

Hmm... do you draw, Akira?

[beguiledcard]

[ That gets a quiet snort out of him, at first. The question has his expression softening a little. ]

... Some of my closest friends do... and- did, in some cases.

[ He gives a dim smile as he briefly fidgets with the pen. ]

I thought I'd give it a try. [ a small grin is given ] I was the one who did all the red sketches on those announcements for the first meeting. They weren't anything special, but it was fun.

[crouching_sin]

It wasn't too bad. I can give you some pointers, if you want. Drawing isn't... my specialty, but I know the technical ins and outs.

Of course, if you just want to have fun and doodle, that's fine as well.

[beguiledcard]

Actually, I'll love some pointers.

[ Give him something to learn... please... ]

[crouching_sin]

Then I'd be happy to help you out. It's a matter of learning to break things down into shapes... which is a skill that can be learned.

I'm sure we can find something around here to use as an example...

[beguiledcard]

[ He brightens just the tiniest bit at that first part, nodding just a tad bit quickly. ]

What kinds of things do you recommend starting out with?

[crouching_sin]

Not something like a flower. Something easier... like...

[His gaze lands on the plastic dagger that's on the table.]

Like that. Just to train your eye - it might look simple, but there's a number of different shapes in it.

[beguiledcard]

[ A thoughtful hum is given, and then he nods, picking the dagger up. ]

Okay. Next time I'm in the room, I'll give this one a try, then.