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[survivaltricks]

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"If your iPhone runs out of charge, does that mean you're out of apple juice?"

AKIRA KURUSU
THIEF'S CLASS
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[survivaltricks]

Yep. It's as expected.

[THEY'RE SO CHILL WITH IT]

[anyway eventually they make it to the bar, and Akira takes a seat next to the counter]

I've already stopped expecting an explanation for anything.

[messianic]

[And Minato takes a seat next to him, leaning against the counter casually.

A beat.]

Oh. Before we start talking about Persona stuff--do you mind if I ask if you know what your lost pieces are?

[survivaltricks]

[oh. that's easy. Minato is the first and only person so far who gets to know]

My Personas.

[he lifts a hand to tap his temple]

I have one, but the rest of them are just. . . gone.

[messianic]

[... Whew. Minato frowns a bit at that, tapping his chin.]

... That's a pretty nasty handicap... but I guess it makes sense. It's kind of similar to mine.

[survivaltricks]

. . . hn?

[giving Minato a curious look now, but he doesn't say anything else. he is fairly certain his expression is questioning enough]

[messianic]

[Minato just taps at his temple idly.]

Some of my Social Links are gone. Like... I'd never established them and worked through them in the first place.

[survivaltricks]

. . . Social Link?

[that term means nothing to Akira, who had to be a COOL KID and establish Confidants instead]

[messianic]

... You didn't have them?

[???]

You know... like. Bonds. Friendships...? Sorted into particular Arcana and important for boosting the strength of your Personas...

[He looks... well, pretty puzzled by this.]

[survivaltricks]

[ah. there we go]

Confidants. Contracts with people who share my aesthetics. They'd give me something, and I'd help them out in return.

[so, like. people to help him in this thief business!!]

Not that I was in it for the quid pro quo arrangements, though. My Confidants are my friends, too.

[his important people!! people he'd destroy the world to save if he had to!! . . . well he might not go that far after fighting to save the world, but you know how it goes]

[messianic]

[Confidants... Oh my god.]

So it really is different... but mostly the same. At base, I think it's the same idea. They're your friends and important people, and you helped them overcome hardships, right?

[So...!! Close enough.]

I'm missing a few of them. I still remember the people that they used to be, but... it's like the link itself was just totally removed.

[survivaltricks]

[that's interesting, and it earns Minato an inquisitive look]

How does that work, exactly? If you still remember them, isn't the bond still technically there?

[messianic]

I think so. I think my bond with them is still intact. It's just that now... they don't fulfill my Star, or my Strength, for example.

It's like that part was taken away.

[He props his chin on his hand.]

I haven't figured out yet how to approach getting them back... if I should establish new links or somehow try to get them to fulfill those old mysterious requirements... it's a work in progress.

[He doesn't sound too concerned though.]

[survivaltricks]

So just like a normal relationship.

[interesting. . . it's kind of unsettling how this place can so easily rip away the blood oaths he and Minato worked so hard to form, though. Akira isn't sure he likes it]

. . . I don't think it hurts to try whatever you can, but I think the way you get them back is going to be similar to the way everyone else gets something back, too.

Maybe. . . ?

[messianic]

[For his part, Minato shrugs a little at that, expression contemplative.]

Maybe... but there's no guarantee that it's not specialized to each of us.

How are you planning on getting back your Personas...? I haven't seen the Velvet Room around, so...

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

I don't know.

[Akira admits, and his brow furrows as he slumps backwards in his chair]

There aren't any Shadows here, so it isn't as though I can negotiate with them to join my team and just fuse the ones I lost. . .

[messianic]

[... Hm. They don't know much of anything, do they?

... But maybe that's okay.]

It's alright.

[Oh?]

It'll come to you, I'm sure. After all, by now... at this point, getting new Personas is pretty natural to you, right? [Being a Wild Card, and all.]

So it's only a matter of time before you figure out how to do it here, too.

[survivaltricks]

[that]

[gets Akira to pause for a moment as he blinks at Minato in surprise. but it's only for a moment before he huffs out an amused noise]

I feel like that same logic applies to you and your social links, actually.

[messianic]

[Minato's lips twitch into a faint smile of his own in response.]

Yeah... you might be true. I'm not too concerned about it... what happens will happen with it.

[... Way too chill about not having all of the pieces of himself..??]

But let me know if there's anything I can help with with your Personas.

[survivaltricks]

You're pretty calm about having lost parts of yourself.

[SAID THE POT TO THE KETTLE!! which is why Akira is more amused than accusatory]

But that offer goes both ways. If I can help with your social links, just let me know.

[a playful fingerguns]

Quid pro quo.

[messianic]

[They are so like this, and it's so dumb. PERSONA PROTAGS.]

Mm, well... I guess I'm just pretty sure that it'll go alright somehow.

But really, thanks. If there's anything, I'll let you know.

[Honestly!]

For now, though... I guess I'm more curious about your team and Persona experiences.

[survivaltricks]

[hm. . .]

[Akira doesn't response right away, but that's because he orders a drink-- a mocha java coffee brewed black. and when it appears on the counter, he picks up the mug and nurses the warmth between too hands as he takes sip]

[. . .]

[not bad. . . but not Leblanc, either]

Where should I start? From the very beginning?

[messianic]

[Minato wasn't going to get anything, but honestly? Akira's coffee sounds and smells pretty amazing so. He'll get a coffee of his own, black, and nurse that as he contemplates Akira's words.]

... Whatever you want to share.

I guess... whatever you want me to know about... your Persona Journey, and your team, and the people you met and the things you experienced.

I know that's pretty vague, but I don't think there's a right or wrong way to talk about this stuff.

[survivaltricks]

[Akira's lips twitch again as he takes another sip of coffee]

You'll return the favor then, right?

[he's pretty sure Minato is the type of person who gives as much as he takes, but hey. doesn't hurt to ask, right?]

[messianic]

[Plainly, and simply, and almost painfully sincerely:]

Akira, you can ask me anything, and I'll do my best to answer for you.

Regardless of what you're comfortable sharing yourself.

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

[Akira had been prepared to futz the details a bit-- for the sake of his own comfort and protecting the identities of his team-- but. . . that painful sincerity wins him over]

[he huffs out an amused noise, and nods]

If there's anything one learns when they become a Persona user and gain access to the Metaverse-- to the raw and unfiltered existence of human desires and cognition-- it's that humans are greatly flawed.

. . . some moreso than others. Wouldn't you agree?