Makoto Niijima (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nuclearpowered) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thenearshore2017-06-17 01:35 am
nuclearpowered) wrote in thenearshore2017-06-17 01:35 am
[Closed] A Gathering of Thieves
Who: The Phantom Thieves and their Shinki
What: Information Sharing.
Where: The Far Shore, the Park
When: July 26th, Late Afternoon
Summary: 3 new gods arrive to find that 2 of their closest friends are dead, and they are responsible
for two other people as well. A talk is needed.
Warnings: Major Persona 5 Spoilers in comments, also probably language.
[Arriving here with little warning had been jarring enough, but when the Phantom Thieves realized that they weren't alone, and that two of their number had no memories, it was time to confer somewhere. Temples and the like had felt a little raw, and not wanting to stray too far from the Far Shore until they had their bearings, the group had gathered in the park. Akira, Ann, Futaba, Makoto, and Ryuji, along with the shinki that had unwittingly become part of their circle, all standing around in a small clearing, talking. It should've been a positive occasion, but there was no denying the shroud that hung over the group. There was a lot to talk about, and things that needed to be agreed upon.
The question was...how to even start?]
What: Information Sharing.
Where: The Far Shore, the Park
When: July 26th, Late Afternoon
Summary: 3 new gods arrive to find that 2 of their closest friends are dead, and they are responsible
for two other people as well. A talk is needed.
Warnings: Major Persona 5 Spoilers in comments, also probably language.
[Arriving here with little warning had been jarring enough, but when the Phantom Thieves realized that they weren't alone, and that two of their number had no memories, it was time to confer somewhere. Temples and the like had felt a little raw, and not wanting to stray too far from the Far Shore until they had their bearings, the group had gathered in the park. Akira, Ann, Futaba, Makoto, and Ryuji, along with the shinki that had unwittingly become part of their circle, all standing around in a small clearing, talking. It should've been a positive occasion, but there was no denying the shroud that hung over the group. There was a lot to talk about, and things that needed to be agreed upon.
The question was...how to even start?]
b.
waking up, having to listen to that like they knew anything about him but, of course, he couldn't verify a thing but his name. Who in their right mind could endure that?
Akira could, allegedly. He feels no kinship to the boy they obliquely referenced and then stonewalled him on, and after that, well. Some cooling off needed to happen. He just wasn't counting on a god needing the same.
The forest doesn't exist solely to facilitate Akira's frustrated wandering;
it finds Makoto's fury as compelling and rises to it, steels its trees apparently. Heaven should be good for something, he guesses. Akira doesn't try staying out of sight but he wonders if sound alone would reach her if he continues loitering in her periphery, less anger and more stoic observation of his god now.]
That doesn't hurt?
no subject
Doesn't that hurt he'd asked.
If only she could tell him. She toyed with the thought, but only for a half-second before her stomach lurched, the sense that violating the 'god's greatest secret' would be beyond even a Phantom Thief. The bone-deep knowledge that if she told him what she wanted to tell him he would cease to be anything resembling him gnawed at her as she leaned against the tree without looking at him.]
No. I don't feel a thing.
[Focus on him. That's what matters. Not you, she told herself before looking back at him.]
And I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to see me like this. I haven't...really gained control over what power they gave me yet.
no subject
It's not your fault. [ Did they ask to take on god duties? Hmm. ] I wandered over this way, I should be prepared for whatever I encounter don't you think?
[ Still clinging to his reserve, he nonetheless makes his way over to verify her claim, peering this way and that to see that her fists are indeed much less worse off than the trees, drawing out a contemplative look from him. ]
It'd be a bit rich of me to be down on you for working out your frustrations where it wouldn't hurt anyone.
no subject
You should be prepared, yes. You may see me like this again. I...am still processing all of this. It's a lot to take in, for both of us I'm sure.
[She holds up her hands to show him that she is, in fact, fine before lowering them and shoving them into her pockets. None the worse for wear, save a few scratches marring the skin but that's to be expected. It's awkward, but she feels that he should at least have confirmation.]
I...we...definitely got off to a poor start, and I know you don't know me yet. I won't ask that you trust me. But you will, I hope, in time.
[Taking a long and slow breath her chest rattling a little with stress, Makoto turns her side to him. Looking back at the way he'd come, the little gathering of people. People she was going to have to be responsible for. Ryuji...Futaba...Ann, and the two newcomers, in addition to the boy standing her with her.]
I don't know what you heard from the other people playing at godhood in the temple, but I won't be like them. I won't ask you to do anything I wouldn't do myself. I hope you understand that.
no subject
He hasn't made it easy on her either, nodding in agreement but offering no other mollification for the moment. If not getting over it, he's at least trying to move past it. At first he thinks he can sleep it off and naturally that makes him wonder, does he sleep anymore? If he eats and sleeps there functionally isn't any different between being alive and dead except what he does for a living. So to speak.
In that vein, Akira shrugs and pockets his hands in the pants he'd scrounged up somewhere when the yukata got to be too breezy for his tastes. ]
You seem responsible enough for someone else playing at godhood. I just recognize we might be in a similar situation, that's all.
[ Akira's dislike of not having full autonomy of his situation is mitigated in this way. Making it explicit, however is a different matter, his eyes hooding. ]
So, sorry. I guess I'm making things harder than they already are.
no subject
We are, in a sense. And thank you.
[Shifting her weight, she bows to him as one would after just meeting someone. Perfect, the model of an honor's student, of good behavior. Strange, thinking he knows no different, now.]
I'll do what I can to make things as pleasant and comfortable as possible for you, and for Mabel. The temple I was given has private rooms and common rooms, and that's your space as much as mine. My only request is that you respect my privacy.
[She steps closer, voice lowering a few levels, low enough that it won't carry. She doesn't want people not affiliated with the group to overhear, and thank god Ryuji isn't here to blurt things out.]
I think for now the plan is going to be playing along with what's expected of us. I can't see a good reason not to answer prayers and fight the ayakashi to protect the people of this version of Earth. I'd appreciate your help with that, though again, I won't press you or Mabel. I don't quite buy into all of this stuff, and I think there's more going on beneath the surface, but I need information, and keeping up appearances will keep suspicion off us.
[She especially doesn't buy into it after speaking with Jennifer. The Shinki who'd left, and returned a God...]
no subject
[ She's probably just trying to be respectful? Akira doesn't suspect that he's the kind of guy who had people bowing to him in life; he hadn't grabbed a mirror quite yet but he's obviously as young as or younger than most the others in their little enclave.
And if Akira has a problem with gratefulness it's because it's unearned, shifting uncomfortably on his bare feet. Or is she showing respect? Akira is hers to convince frankly, and though the wariness isn't going to leave him fully until he realizes it's not there anymore Akira does nod, brief. ]
I'm not nosy - at least, I don't think I am. [ If only he knew. He's still a bit grudging, if understanding as he adds: ] Thanks for a place to stay. Heaven seems all right but I wouldn't want to figure out what the stray cat life is like.
[ Give him purpose. Give him a target to aim for and Akira can honestly say that his time isn't wasted, however much he has of that on this plane of existence, shaking his head. ]
Prayers are what people resort to when hope's lost. If I can be a part of helping them and destroying demons then it's better than sitting around feeling sorry for myself. It's probably the best thing, actually.
[ Then, a little softer and secret: ]
Do you need help investigating?
no subject
I agree. If we can do some good while we're here, then we absolutely should.
[Then pitched lower, she adds:]
And yes, please. Eyes and ears, information, anything you can get without arousing suspicion from the higher ups in the Heavenly Bureaucracy. Whatever you hear about the state of things? Tell me. Tell Ryuji, tell Futaba. We're going to start digging into what's going on, and compiling it all, look for patterns and new possibilities. I'm hoping we can have regular meetings to discuss this stuff with all of us, perhaps disguised as dinners like this.
Someone was already talking about revolution, and I'm going to investigate what they had in mind. From there we'll figure out what steps to take next.