thenearshore | [Closed] A Gathering of Thieves

Entry tags:

[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?]

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[The day had been difficult enough so far, with the shift from Tokyo into this strange place, but the events had taken a far more jarring turn when Shinki assignments had come. It necessitated a lot of tongue biting and patience until they had made it through what was expected of them and been able to move off on their own without causing too much of a fuss. That part, at least for Makoto, had been torture. The vision of both shinki's deaths had been like a dagger through her heart, and waiting to really speak to her friends had been a task.

But the moment was here, and someone had to say something. So, pushing off of the tree she'd been leaning on, Makoto coughed to get everyone's attention. Trying to stand in as non-threatening a pose as possible, she addressed the group.]

So. We...all need to have a talk. All seven of us. Probably starting with introductions, I think. So that we all have an idea of who each other is.

[Looking at each of them in turn, she puts on a weak smile and bows.]

My name is Makoto Niijima. And I'm currently standing in for Bellona, the Roman Goddess of War...

[Which felt even stranger to say than to think.]

((ooc: This is the big group thread. No posting order, just go for it.))

Edited 2017-06-17 06:42 (UTC)

[Before the meeting really began in earnest, Makoto had deliberately pulled Ryuji and Futaba aside, tugging them out of earshot of the Shinki and pitching her voice low so that they could actually discuss how to handle all of this. It was difficult, hard to bear even, but it needed to be done. As the eldest she naturally felt responsible for the others, the Shinki more than any of the others, and it wasn't going to be an easy talk but when she had the two of them isolated, she tried her best not to let her emotions show.]

So. We...definitely can't tell Akira and Ann about their life back home. None of it. But that doesn't mean we can't work together. All of us. I...

[She frowns, at a loss for words.]

...Without the rest of us, and with Akira and Ann in their current state, I think that we're going to have to be careful for a while.

A) Team Mom:

[It's really not an easy situation to be in, but Makoto Niijima is nothing if not resilient. She'll do as she does, doing her best to make sure everyone around her is at least somewhat comfortable and adjusting. She's not great at offering kind words, but she is good at giving advice and a comforting smile.

She's also snagged food from the training grounds, and has set all of that out for people to munch on as they want. Light snacks, water, Gatorade, that sort of thing. If anyone looks remotely hungry or dehydrated, she's bound to walk up and offer something. Well...offer is a strong word.]

Here, take this. [Foisted upon is more like it.]

B) Ferocity

[Makoto eventually had to step away from the group. Her head clouding, memories of Akira's life coming back to her slowly but surely, coupled with the fury that had been seething inside her since she'd been given Bellona's mantle made it necessary. Moving back into the trees, she sets to work getting out some of that pent up aggression. It starts slow, one punch, two punches, just working a tree like a punching bag until eventually her anger overrides her sense. She draws on that anger, fist swinging faster, actually cracking the wood of a tree. Another swing and another until her power begins to truly manifest, a blood-red aura beginning to swirl around her hands as her new power starts working.

Feel free to come see her, fists working the tree until they tear out splinters. She's mad, and her fists make audible impact sounds as they crash into the wood. Just...don't sneak up on her.

C) Wildcard

[Funk me up guys. Come talk to Makoto, or make up a scenario you want. I'm cool with anything.]

Edited 2017-06-17 07:01 (UTC)

A - Watching the dead

[Futaba had no idea how to deal with this. When she'd arrived, she'd sensed the four of them almost immediately thanks to her persona (which worked here, and was a briefly awesome thing) until she'd realized...well. The rest of it. Someone explained before she did anything stupid, but the urge was still there in the back of her head the whole time.]

[So she was sitting off to the side of the others as everyone talked, just listening, her laptop open in her lap (but she wasn't actually doing anything with it) as an excuse to seem like she was busy. But her eyes were never on the screen, they were on everyone else. Well. Mostly Akira and Ann, really.]

[It was a shame two years of basically hiding had made her awful about hiding her emotions, since it was pretty obvious she seemed caught somewhere between frustration, and just wanting to burst into tears. Whoops...]

B - Oh right she's a light goddess.

[Sometime after adjustments had been made and she'd managed to get control of herself, well she thought she had anyway, she realized that...well, it wasn't as dark where she was sitting as it had been earlier. Which prompted her to look at her arms, which were...bright? Brighter than her usual sun-reflecting paleness, even. Uhm.]

Hey so uh I seem to be glowing? [A beat, as she waved her hand in front of her face.] Yeah definitely glowing this is new. Help?

[She was probably supposed to know how to turn this off...]

C - Wildcard. Futaba will be moping around or watching or glowing or whatever just throw an idea here!

Edited 2017-06-17 11:18 (UTC)

A - Juice Box Blues

[Once the introductions are over and done with, he takes it upon himself to help with handing out some refreshments. Better to keep himself busy to take his mind off of things than to sulk around, right? With a pair of juice boxes in hand, he wanders about still visibly tense. Not like he's trying very hard to hide it, but for the sake of everyone else he's at least attempting to put his best foot forward.

If you happen to be sitting or standing nearby, the blond will pause.]

Yo, heads up.

[Think fast, you're getting a juice box thrown at you!]

B - Oh my freakin' God

[After a little bit of socializing (if he can even call it that), Ryuji takes his leave from the rest of the group for a while to explore the park and to clear his spinning head. Gods and shinki, memories lost... it's a bit much for someone to take in in one day. Once he's far enough away, he breaks into a light jog as he begins a lap around the park. Second time around, he cranks it up a notch into a run with his feet thundering against the ground as he gradually picks up speed.

Being able to run like this stirs a sort of rush that's unlike anything else, and it's one he's missed for a while. This time, however, things feel different. Something's not quite right, and by not quite right, he means that everything feels right. Like he can run freely without a care in the world... it's that awareness that sends him stumbling a little before he catches himself from falling. His movement is swift and quick and very not-like-him that he fumbles to a halt when it's all over.

He looks back to the group, hands out in front of him and eyes wide.]

The hell...? [And he calls out to whoever happens to be in earshot or watching him:] You see that!?

[Or is he just going crazy? Heck, if it's not one thing, it's another.]

C - Wildcard!

[Have something else in mind? Come at him, brah!]

a. cut down to size

[ He's not a naturally surly person, Akira can tell that much. Forced to choose between staying near the others and nonetheless being subject to it or breaking away and suddenly having too much time on his hands to think about the afterlife being screwed up, Akira takes his chances with the latter for now.

It's not their fault. Makoto didn't kill Akira or ask him to get - what is this, resurrection? The closest approximation may be that he's a ghost or spirit and yeah, great, thanks for that, Powers That Be. Him being a literal shade of who he used to be.

Seeing some things at the temple took a bit of the sting out of it - knowing he wasn't completely helpless like this. Time spent surveying the forest and walking off his anger shifted with that notion crossing his mind: the training Akira admittedly had only observed, feeling no obligation toward anything in the moment but frustration.

But alone among the trees it's easy to look at his hand and flex it, feeling the terribly real response of bone, muscle, and tendon. It's easy to imagine the anger bubbling up underneath the surface as he makes a loose fist, first two fingers drawn together like he saw in the temple grounds, rows and rows of shinki facing wood and straw targets as they shouted - ]

Line!

[ Crack. A nearby tree groans after and slides off its own axis, split with the faint blue light Akira drew with his fingers. The magical energy crackles, smelling oddly of ozone to him. He shifts and looks at the result, trying to handle how he could possibly feel his pulse beating in his throat like this if he's really dead. ]

So that's how it works. Useful. [ At least he could really be left alone if he wanted to be.

A twig snapping behind him suggests that isn't the case. Akira whirls, instinctively drawing another borderline between him and his company. ]

b. caffeine solves everything

[ To be honest he's getting tired of being mad. Makoto doesn't deserve that, Mabel's just a kid - it's not doing anything productive and that's why Akira decides it has to go now that he's paid its due in acknowledging its existence.

From their attempt at a secluded gathering Akira could still see other gods and shinki training, talking, and... eating? Why would you have to eat in the afterlife? No one is going to die so... comfort for all the former humans? The earlier hours saw Akira avoiding Makoto's attempts at looking after him and others, robbed of an appetite. But there are worse means of establishing a truce.

He doesn't know why he settles on coffee - hot cocoa for the less caffeine-inclined. Producing an electric kettle, supplies, and getting the process started is bewilderingly easy for the setting - Heaven provides, huh - and sets his mind to the task without knowing particularly why he knows how to set up a filter and pour hot water over the grounds until it "blooms", deflates, and then continue pouring. It's as though the blueprint exists in his mind and he's simply following through.

At length, he realizes he has company, glancing up as he sets aside another hot cocoa to one side of the work area, divided from the coffee mugs. ]

Hi. We're stuck here so... a little hospitality seemed like it was in order. What's your poison?

wildcard!

[ wildcard like the wild card himself~ ]

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The Discourse.

God Talk

Makoto