messianic | IC

[wow... called out... he can't say he was expecting that, but... it does give him a bit more of an idea of how Akira functions.

This is more important than theorizing about the Town, anyway.]

You check on people a lot too, don't you, Akira-san? Is that why you're not used to people checking up on you in return?

I have a feeling you and I are alike in that way.

[Also alike in dodging questions.]

[Very alike in that.]

You're the leader of your group, aren't you? You have multiple Personas, and you seem pretty on top of things like that... it feels kind of familiar that way.

I am, and I take my responsibility to them seriously.

Are you also a leader? Is that why you do the same?

Yeah. More or less.

I guess it explains a lot. Wild Cards and leaders and multiple Personas....I wasn't expecting to meet someone else like that in a place like this, but I'm glad that I have.

[Getting another perspective on all of the stuff they always had to deal with alone is fascinating.]

I wasn't expecting it either.

[Even if he already knows one other Wild Card.]

Do you ever wonder why you were chosen for this?

[...Well.

In all honesty, Minato thinks he would've even just a month ago.

But now...?]

Not anymore.

[He's gotten his answer.]

But I think I might be further along in my Journey than you. [It's still a Journey, right, Akira!!]

[Well, at least one of them feels sure about this. Though Akira feels like he's done, isn't he? They defeated Shido's shadow, stole his Treasure, destroyed his Palace... what more could there be to do?

Although on that note...]

Journey?

[Why the significant capitalization?]

[...? Was he off base?]

You know, the Arcana Journey? Didn't you get the spiel from Igor when you entered the Velvet Room for the first time?

You mean "Rehabilitation"?

[Unfortunately, his Velvet Room is rather... bleak.]

What? No. What Rehabilitation? What are you talking about?

It's what Igor said to me, when I first went to the Velvet Room. That I had to go through Rehabilitation.

Sounds like it was different for you.

[Minato is probably a good kid who doesn't get arrested.]

[... What? What?]

That can't possibly be right. Why rehabilitation?

[... No, wait, this-- this doesn't feel right at all.]

Do you mind if we meet up to talk about this, Akira-san? I have more questions, now. I'll bring food.

[This feels like the sort of thing they should talk about in person.]

[Probably because he's a wanted criminal.

But instead of saying that, he types something else.]

Alright. I'll come wherever you want to meet.

[Akira no...]

Let's talk somewhere quiet... how about near the woods in the Ruga district? I can meet you on the border.

[Nobody's likely to overhear them there and ask uncomfortable questions.]

[He sighs quietly to himself, though no one is around to hear it. It seems Minato is going to dig past his guard once again.

But he doesn't mean to cause the other boy to worry, so he'll go and answer his questions.]

I'll be there.

[And there he will be, leaning against one of the trees that dots the space around the woods, not quite in it but not quite in the town either. One hand is stuffed in his hoodie pockets, the other is idly twirling a pencil between his knuckles.]

[Sorry, Akira. Protags gotta protag, and all of that good stuff.

Minato's later than Akira, of course, coming from Bluo as he was--but he lifts his hand from his pocket in a wave when he makes it there, tilting his head calmly.]

Hello, Akira-san. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me out here. I appreciate it.

[This was supposed to be his protag interrogation!

He nods in greeting, finally stowing the pencil in his pocket. He stays leaned against the tree.]

It's no trouble.

[But they might as well get to the point...]

What do you want to know?

[He wants to know so many things, Akira... but he'll start with:]

I guess I'll just get right into it, then...

"Rehabilitation", really? That's what Igor calls your Journey? I've never heard him say anything like that before.

[It's curious. Why would it be a Journey for Minato but Rehabilitation for Akira?

Well... he can think of one reason.]

The Velvet Room... appears to me as a prison, where I'm locked in a cell.

[The symbolism is about as subtle as a speeding train.]

Igor seemed surprised by it, the first time.

[... Yeah, that symbolism is even less subtle than Minato's, and he'd thought his own was pretty ridiculously heavy-handed once he'd figured it out.

But...

A prison...]

That's... [Akira's a bit cagey, sure, but he's still a kind person. Minato's seen glimpses of what he thinks are more Akira to him, too--the grin while they sparred, the enthusiasm for their next spar, the way that he messaged him to try to make sure he was okay...]

I know the Velvet Room is supposed to reflect our heart in some way. But... I don't understand. Your heart doesn't seem like a prison to me at all.

[At that, Akira smiles just a little. Is his heart truly free? He wants to think so, here, at the end... but something doesn't feel right. He still feels like there's more to accomplish when he returns. Like he's still chained to his ruin.]

...I moved to Tokyo seven months ago... because I'm on probation for a crime I didn't commit.

[His life had changed so drastically in that moment it still feels like a gut punch to think about it. He focuses on the ground more than Minato as he speaks.]

I learned that the world's justice cares more about who you are than the truth. And so, I decided to follow my own justice.

But still... Igor says that I'm chained to my fate.

[A shrug, and he looks back at Minato again.]

Ruin.

[It doesn't sound like anything Minato's ever heard Igor say before. Sure, Igor's cryptic, and sure, he expecting Minato to abide by the terms of his contract, fair or not, but...

Ruin?

Chained to his fate?

Minato's...brow furrows a little, concern on his face.]

Akira-san...

[None of that sounds fair at all, but...why is the Velvet Room, in particular, being that unfair? No matter how he looks at it, it's so hard for him to understand how the Igor he knows could have turned into an Igor that would talk about ruin.]

... There's no way that's true.

[He says that firmly, shoulders squaring as he straightens.]

There's no way that you're chained to any fate--I'm sure of it, Akira-san. You just... [He pauses, trying to think of how to put it in words, before he settles on:]

You have too much fire in your heart to be chained to some sort of fate someone else decided on for you.

[Akira's eyes widen in surprise at that, and his shoulders straighten as well, just a little. He always wants to follow his own heart, his own justice, but Igor had sounded like his path is set.

But... is anything truly unchangeable? He thought he was going to be murdered by Akechi, but that voice had spoken to him again, and the crazy plan concocted by him and his friends had worked perfectly to prevent it. He was able to avert his fate that time - why not in the future?

He wants to believe that, and not only for the future, but for the sake of someone here in this town as well... someone whose fate seems set in stone, but maybe it's more malleable than it appears.]

...Well, if you put that kind of faith in me... I guess I should deliver.

[He fiddles with his bangs briefly, before lowering his hand and looking at Minato.]

What did Igor tell you?

[If there's anything Minato has faith in, it's the strength humanity has. He's seen it for himself, after all. Humans can do truly amazing things when given the chance, and telling Akira that he has some fate where ruin is his only option is, quite frankly, bullshit.

Minato's seen that spark in Akira--his desire to help people, to do what he can to protect people, to be the sort of leader his team can look up to and trust in--and he trusts in that, too.

Akira is a good person. And Akira deserves something better than some half-baked future that he's been told to expect. And his response... that just makes him believe in it even more. So his lips quirk into a small smile, and he nods, and simple:]

I'll be looking forward to seeing it, then. When you deliver on that, and change that fate.

[Unless Akira comes from a time before him, he won't see it, of course--but that's okay. He believes he'll accomplish it anyway.

And then he takes a slow breath in, tilting his head.]

For me... the Velvet Room is an elevator. [Don't ask about the symbolism, he doesn't want to talk about it.] And when I met him, Igor explained to me that being a Wild Card is like the tarot Journey--that you have to progress through that Journey, making bonds with others and growing, until you've completed it.

That's how the entire thing was explained to me, anyway.

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