Conversation Space I.

[powersthatbe]

The room is small, intimate. You are alone. There is no sign of a way in or out. Ping-pong balls crunch underfoot, and empty giftboxes, meticulously wrapped and ribboned, are lined up against one wall, while a humming wall of server blades are racked on the opposite wall. A high-backed, gilt chair with red velvet cushions faces an ornate, full-length mirror, and beside the chair is a mug of steaming hot chocolate on a tiny side table, steaming invitingly from beneath a layer of fifteen half-melted marshmallows.

What do you do?

Comments

[emperorsquared]

"Indeed," the Emperor intones. "For your friend's sake, then?"

[fruitknife]

Shinji shrugs. "I could do worse than remind someone of Aki."

It's as close to a yes as you're gonna get. Better take it.

[emperorsquared]

The Emperor inclines his head. "It is done. And in truth, I think you need my influence in your life."

So sit up straight and comb your hair, young man.

[fruitknife]

No.

"Do you. How do you figure that?"

[emperorsquared]

"With my guidance, you need not be a hooligan."

Suddenly, a baseball appears in the Emperor's hand. He tosses it through the mirror to Shinji, an easy, underhand throw.

[fruitknife]

"I'm not a hooligan."

He catches the baseball easily enough, at least, though there's confusion written all over his face. The fuck is this for, baseball is Junpei's thing.

[emperorsquared]

"Hello, Not-A-Hooligan," the Emperor says, deadpan. "I am the Emperor." In a more normal tone, "And you portray yourself as a hooligan, Shinjiro, even if that is not what you are at heart. You are in desperate need of my guidance. I chose better than I thought."

After a moment or two he adds, "You toss the ball back to me through the mirror."

[fruitknife]

The joke just gets a lineface. "Your sense of humor is even worse than Ikutsuki's."

(It's not as scathing a comparison as it would be from someone who was actually conscious in November, at least? Not that that's saying much; Shinji was never terribly fond of the guy, he just... wouldn't have thought he was also batshit insane.)

"...You seriously want a game of catch?"

[emperorsquared]

"It is a time-honored way to facilitate paternal-filial bonding," the Emperor says. "And my sense of humor is one that befits my Arcana. Moreover, the Empress enjoys it."

Look, Dad Jokes are the only humor he understands, Shinjiro.

[fruitknife]

"Still worse than Ikutsuki's." Hey, you wanted this asshole, you get to put up with him also being about a subtle as a brick.

(He lobs the baseball back anyway, though.)

[emperorsquared]

Is this the face of a subtle Arcana? No, no it is not.

Possibly they may be better suited than either of them originally thought.

"Ikutsuki must be a paragon of mirth," the Emperor replies, catching the baseball. He tosses it back through the mirror.

[fruitknife]

Possibly. This game of catch is only going to last as long as it doesn't require too much effort on Shinji's part, though, since he's expended so much on that goddamn maze.

For now, at least, he can keep up.

"What he was was a terrible pun machine. More to the point, what he was was batshit insane and using us all to facilitate his death cult."

[emperorsquared]

"Ah. Not one of mine, then," the Emperor says.

[fruitknife]

"...Tower would be deeply ironic."

Of course, if he ever shows up, these guys are gonna have to move fast if they want to stop Minako from Armageddoning him in the face. (Even with use of his Persona, Shinji'd probably just punch Ikutsuki, but his ire's more because his friends were hurt than personal.)

[emperorsquared]

"I suspect Tower would claim such a man," Emperor agrees.

[fruitknife]

"And that's enough said about his sorry ass."

[emperorsquared]

"The Emperor inclines his head. "If you slouched less, you'd seem less like a hooligan," he advises, changing the subject.

[fruitknife]

"You don't really think that's gonna make me do it, do you?"

Shinji does what he wants, when he wants. And right now? He doesn't want to sit up. Partly because you keep telling him to.

[emperorsquared]

The Emperor sighs before tossing the ball. "Perhaps not now. Hopefully, however, there may come a time in the future when you will remember my advice and it may help you."

[fruitknife]

Shinji snorts. "Not while I feel this crappy."

But that's not the end of the game of catch, either.

[emperorsquared]

"You will recover, one hopes. One can always hope."

There is a pause during which the ball is tossed back and forth.

"Do you wish to know of your comrades?" he asks, abruptly. "It occurs to me that you may not have met all or, in fact, most of them, as you are a quite recent Traveler."

[fruitknife]

Maybe so, but that much recovery might be hoping for a miracle he's not gonna get (isn't at all sure he deserves).

"Can't hurt. This just the other people you liked enough to grab?"

[emperorsquared]

"Yes," the Emperor says. "The ones who are online. Two are offline. Of the ones online, there is yourself, of course. Lupa, once called Greg. He lead the Wolves of the Junkyard. He is a man of honor, a father to his men, and a recent acquisition. There is also Alexander Hamilton, who is what one calls a 'Founding Father' of a nation called the United States. He is garrulous and a bit rude, but he values the practice of good government. There is Altaïr ibn La-Ahad, who is Mentor of the Fortress of Masayf and likewise a father to his men--or will be. He... intends the Arcana harm, but is nonetheless very suited to my Arcanum. There is Hoban Wasburne, father of Rose and husband to Zoe, who I marked as my wife did his. Their daughter is a beautiful child. The Empress and I bring her gifts. Finally, there is Liara T'Soni, the asari researcher. She is a sensible individual of her species."

[fruitknife]

Well, the dude was right about one thing - most of those names don't mean a damn thing to Shinji. Still, Mitsuru doesn't suffer fools lightly at all, and he wouldn't have survived two years on the streets if he didn't know how to make good mental notes about the situations he finds himself in.

Such as: Maybe don't start with this particular common connection with the guy who's looking to kill it.

"She is a cute kid." Thanks to the constant Baby Livestreams, he can at least agree on that count. "What about the ones who aren't around?"

Might as well know, in case they pop up again.

[emperorsquared]

"Sansa Stark is a good girl who honors her father in all that she does," the Emperor says. "And Toshizou Hijikata understood what things matter."