006 - Connecting Lines, Connecting Lives

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Connecting Lines, Connecting Lives New Imprints ▲ Comments The Ground Shakes
It begins unremarkably enough, with the light tremors of the ground so small they might easily go unnoticed, or else dismissed as the movement of some creature nearby. As time goes on, however, those little tremors begin to grow in both strength and duration, the length of time shortening between each one. To begin with only small, light, unsecured objects are rattled loose by the rumbling of the ground, but as the tremors grow in strength there is a growing danger of much larger things being moved.

The realm’s clear lack of understanding of how things work cannot be relied upon in such a situation. If the tremors have grown strong enough to throw all the books of Hammerhead to the ground and throw over all the clothes rails and capsule machines and furniture in the Academy, then what if they grow strong enough to move the heavy blanket of snow atop Mount Silver? What if they grow strong enough to damage the caverns within?

Then there is the question of how, or why, the realm has made the land shake. It must surely have picked up the idea of an earthquake from someone, right? An answer to the question is not immediately forthcoming, but should one stay low to the ground and listen, they might well hear the muffled, distorted sound of screaming.

Creature Chaos
As the rumbling and shaking continues, it is clear to see that the local wildlife has been disturbed, and they seem remarkably active. Critters can be seen running and flying to and fro, and any who go out to investigate may find themselves the center of attention. Brushboys may paint arrows on the ground in an effort to lead them somewhere, or bluurgobos might actively offer rides, or the flying cat-like creatures will excitedly circle someone before attempting to lead them somewhere. Going along with them will lead to one of two places:

1. The meaty, pulsating, cavernous tunnels of Mementos shudder and convulse in a way quite unlike before, and closer inspection will quickly reveal why. The flesh has been cut and torn, hacked apart, leaving gaping and bleeding wounds to spill over the subway tracks. Whichever critter has brought someone here excitedly gestures towards the wounds, and as it does a giant and painful shudder goes through the tunnels and shakes the earth. All those earthquakes… could this be the source?


2. The road to the Hammerlocke Citadel Ruins are as long as winding as ever, and precarious with the risk of an earthquake dislodging snow and rock from the mountainside. The animal that has taken the lead is on a mission, however, as unclear as that mission might be. On arriving, it turns its attention to a group of the spiky, bear-headed beasts that are lazing about as though the land is not currently shaking and quaking around them, and tries to draw their attention. Clearly, these bear heads are expected to do something, and they aren’t doing it.

First Words
Though the tremors have finally stopped, they have left a significant change to the World in their wake. Where the ground above was once flat and untouched, there now lay cracks and fissures that glow with a strange, but enchantingly warm light. There doesn’t seem to be a single area that has been left untouched by them - though the number of cracks are denser in some places than others, it’s difficult to find a place completely devoid of them. Could this be the world’s attempt at trying to heal itself?

If all of that wasn’t enough to warrant investigation, the sound of whispers that appear to be coming from they might do the trick. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes apparent that the whispers aren’t coming from the lights, but from inside your own head. Focus a little more, and some of the voices may sound familiar…

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ren amamiya | persona 5 royal

[forethinking]

i. tremors (heavenly blanc)

(They surely start innocent enough, but Ren is not one to dismiss anomalies. Not when they're in a world where anything and everything could happen - Ren keeps his eyes right open from the first time the floor vibrated to the point a cup crashed on the floor.

He sees the cracks on a few places, covering them up with whatever he can find. It's blue, he doesn't know what it is, he might as well not touch it. Besides the one his foot is accidentally resting on, as he writes on his probation notebook, taking into account how few pages remain. He sighs, allowing his thoughts to wander.)

Out of juvie straight back into a much more unpredictable prison. I wonder if there's a pattern...

ii. the animals talk

(Ren can tell the animals too have been suffering from the earthquakes. Erratic behavior, agitation... But this one? This one looked at him straight into his eyes, like he was trying to say something. Empathy kicks in much more than common sense, and Ren simply picks the knife placed in the pocket of his gray trenchcoat.

Once he arrives at Mementos, one will be able to hear, loud and clear, Ren's voice echoing, in never heard before ALMOST swearing.)

What the f--?

(Careful what you think about. The walls of your mind have ears. Feel free to answer to his thoughts or simply find him here.)

iii. LEY LINE

I think I got the hang of this. Can you hear me?

i, could also be iii really

[feale]

[ Yoshizawa is in the midst of packing stuff into boxes to move from her apartment to the place she's selected for herself in the place that is - but isn't - Kichijoji - when the first of the tremors has the box she's packing tipping over; she's in the process of looking for something to put herself under when it stops just as soon as it started.

She folds her arms over her chest, looking around the room with a small frown. It didn't seem too bad, but she's a little more cautious than normal as she continues to pack her things.

And then—

Senpai?

Yoshizawa frowns. That sounded just like Ren's voice...

It feels ridiculous, but she tries to focus her thoughts outward, toward Ren, although of course all she ends up doing is sending said thoughts to everyone: ]

Senpai? Is that you?

imma gowith i

[forethinking]

... Yoshizawa-chan? ... Did you hear that?

(Nevermind him having a mild heart attack. Who else could have heard him think about juvie? Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck)

[feale]

I... did, yes.
Senpai, are we sharing thoughts right now?

[ The only person she's spoken to this way is Ella. ]

[forethinking]

... I believe so.

iii

[bridge_princess]

Get the Hang of what? WHO IS THIS?!?

Void, is that you?

[Nope. She hadn't gotten the hang of this at all, and she was staring right down into the mist, wondering if the Void was bleeding or something. This was going to go great.]

[forethinking]

It's Ren.

[bridge_princess]

REN?!? What the hell? When did you turn into a psychic?

How are you in my head right now?

[Give her a minute, Ren. Sorry.]

[forethinking]

I didn't. You're in my head, too.

i

[starshower]

[The tremors were, needless to say, quite frightening. Tifa had been down in Wall Market when they hit, and her first thought was what if the insides of the cave collapsed—would she be able to make it out in time? What would she do if they did? What if someone else was down here with her? She spent the better half of it in a panic, frantically searching through the streets for any stragglers with Cloud's voice in the back of her head urging her forward the tremors die down.

Her fear gives her little time to check out the newly formed cracks in the ground when she hears a voice whispering in her head. An idle thought, it sounds like, but this is the same as when she and Cloud were able to communicate through... whatever this universe was giving them.

—juvie straight back into a much more unpredictable prison—

She says nothing in return, and her lips press together. Is she hearing that right? Was Ren somewhere nearby? Was it something meant for her to even hear?

Her first stop is, of course, Heavenly Blanc, where she knows she'll find him at just about any time of day. The bell to the bar jingles as she pushes it open, taking a careful peek inside to make sure it's still standing.]

... Hello?

[forethinking]

(He hasn't moved from the place that thought was once placed out. He's writing on the tremors, the ley line under him still unknown to him. There seems to be no pattern to be found, but he has already made changes to accommodate it. Nothing is close to an edge anymore, including the cup of coffee that he is sipping from, center of the table.

The bell jingles and he perks up to see who it is, and the first thing that comes into his mind is I'm so glad to see you, and while his mouth remains closed, his face brightens up at the sight.)

Welcome.

[starshower]

[Tifa returns the smile, although it's a little more crooked than usual, as she steps in and closes the door behind her. After checking around to make sure no one else is seated in the café, she clicks the lock and sits at the bar without saying a word about why she chose to do so.

And then, she peers up at Ren through her lashes.]

Some earthquake, huh...?

[Great icebreaker, Tifa.]

[forethinking]

You did not lock us to talk about the earthquake.

(And quite frankly, it is nerve-wrecking. Not that he expects anything bad from Tifa, but simply being without escape makes his heart skip faster, his sweat go down the temple.

Perhaps he can be forgiven for the bluntness, but she was the one who was acting suspicious. Did someone tell her about his past? Fuckfuckfuck.)

I

[bazooker]

[Here, Haru had been in her apartment trying to cook up something when she felt the rumble. At first, she wondered if she should find a place to hide as she didn't know how long they would last. Luckily, it seemed to be only for a moment. Once they stopped, she looked around to see if everything was okay.

Of course, the moment she heard a familiar voice? Wait, what was he saying? As she looked around, it seemed that he was nowhere in sight. Should she say something back?]

Ren-kun? Is everything okay

[forethinking]

(Wait, what? Why is Haru's voice coming straight into his brain? Did she hear what he think? He's sure that he's alone. Fuck?)

... Haru-chan?

[bazooker]

Yes? Is everything okay?

[Because she sure doesn't know what the heck is going on right now!]

[forethinking]

Tremors. Mind-linking?

ii

[forceofnature]

Shhh!

[The small girl surrounded by a crowd of animals reaches up to cover the... nonexistent ears of a flying chestnut.]

There are children here.

[meaning the chestnut, of course]

Why do we need to deal with these awful flesh caves again? The first time was gross enough. What's wrong with them?

[forethinking]

(Right. She can hear his thoughts. Ren sighs, looking over the child-like goddess, and nods in apology.)

It's been hurt.

(By Akechi, clearly, but he makes an effort not to add that in thought nor to say it.)

[forceofnature]

Well. Good.

[...]

Maybe. I don't know. I thought the flesh caves were some sort of evil nightmare realm. But the children seem to want to do something about it.

[forethinking]

What do you mean?

(Can she talk to the animals?

Technically, he could take the time to explain Mementos, but he doesn't. It's irrelevant now.)

i

[crystaltower]

[The Exarch was quietly examining the glowing cracks in the ground when a voice decides to slip into his head, like the thoughts of another person. A voice that’s vaguely familiar, though not one he can immediately place. He stops, stands and looks around him for the source of it, uncertain.

There are many perfectly sensible questions he could be considering, like ‘who is this’ or ‘what’s happening’. The question he actually focuses on?]

What is ‘juvie’?

Re: i

[forethinking]

(Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no. The blood inside his veins nearly turn into ice with the panic that runs along with it, and Ren goggles his eyes. If it had been heard, he doesn't want to explain through thought.)

Come to Heavenly Blanc.

[crystaltower]

[...what? Well...]

Very well, then.

[Fortunately, it isn't too far from where he is, and he has nothing better to do. So, a matter of minutes later, he shows up at the door and scans the room, looking for the source of the familiar voice.]

iii

[hightouch]

[The reply comes quickly, almost like a reflex after he's been startled. Which is exactly what happened.]

I can hear you!

[A pause.]

Wait... where are you? I don't see anybody around!