But anyway, first point is: I've been in this place since the start. And a lot of things have happened since then. And I know that I'm probably not going to be quite the same person that you'll remember.
I'm against the idea of normalizing death. I don't condone people playing harder than absolutely necessary in the games. And I'll do whatever I can to prevent people I care about from being killed. But... some experiences have proven... that, in this place, for me, death is not the absolute worst thing to experience.
[so there's that first bombshell dropped.]
I don't expect others to feel the same way, but... just to explain why maybe my reactions can be off...
[well, she'd heard similar from Mars-- and... if Death is normal, they have to have some way to make sure people still felt it for some of the games, didn't they? But...]
How long is "from the start"?
[she doesn't know exactly what to say to that, so she'll focus on the stuff she can]
I thought that might be the worst part of it-- though, a part of me is scared of what happens if someone doesn't come back. What if these pointless deaths are eventually how we end it?
[this is the looking down at the table of someone who actually knows Consequences]
... it's not dying that could be permenant here, I think. But becoming a Damned, one of the groups that watches us, that could be like dying, since it involves losing memories and sense of self.
It nearly happened once. Everyone was going gray and forgetting. And the only way some people could think of to make it stop was by playing their game, by working for the demon princes that run this place.
That's how I know that we're a mixed bag in this place. Some of us were dragged into this from home. Some of us were already dead. I asked the demon I summoned about it.
That's part of it. The other part is sticking to your unit's image. Being willing to be in conflict with other units--even superficially. There's been games that made a point to give wins to participants who cause problems for other units.
[reaches up to tug on a lock of his hair, a bit self-conscious because sure have been an audience favorite more than once]
... and I summoned Asmodeus. I don't really remember the details of that time well anymore, but I sent record of the questioning to Intensity on Future is Now.
He confirmed that some of us are dead back home, but alive here.
... it played out over a few memories between me and A--since we've been here longest.
There was a heist and I got caught. I think we had a plan to get me out of the situation, but it depended on me talking to someone and getting her on our side.
I was able to, but... maybe too late.
A remembered... walking in. And shooting the guard. And then me.
Prim, Fox, and Mars were there to see the memory and A's reaction to it--he announced it to everyone and was going to kill himself.
[looking a little pained because it was a really. distressing time.]
But you know my backstory? How a guy framed me just because he could? That guy isn't only running for Prime Minister but he's also A's father. And he had A so twisted up...
[hands are going to curl into fists because HE FUCKING. HATES SHIDO. SO GODDAMN MUCH.]
So no. I don't forgive him for it. And I don't forgive him working with Shido on what to do with my friends, after. I just... understand the situation for him.
... Joker, I don't know any of that. I just know the flashes I've seen in my memories, and the ones I've seen from Prim and Fox-- neither of which are that complicated.
[well, as uncomplicated as being phantom thieves can be? But she leans back, and twirls a strand of hair around her finger.]
I don't understand all of it. I want to, but... Maybe it would be best to work back to the beginning for me? I know you're important to me, and that if A did hurt you, I should be upset... But I only know what you tell me.
... If you're being honest, then I'll be understanding for A, too.
but he does seem to lean back in his seat, taking that in.]
... it's all a matter of perspective, huh.
Either way, I'll leave it to you on how you want to approach A, but I'll answer any question you might have about the situation. Here or back home. Clear up confusion.
... not very much outside of... there was a memory where we were all hanging out at a school fair, but that was mostly us being worried about A being around as a celebrity detective and trying to keep a low profile so the cops wouldn't suspect us.
Though that one does have the fun moment of A eating a spicy takoyaki and not handling it. Apparently, your class spent more time and money on the maid uniforms than the food.
[looking amused at this because lol yep.]
There was also the thing with Kamoshida. It's a long memory of us going through his gross heart, defeating his shadow, and stealing the distortion in his heart so we could get him to confess to the abuse he'd been making kids at our school suffer. You made the call on that. There was the option to kill his shadow but... that would have killed him. You decided you wanted him to feel the weight of his crimes, and Ryuji, Morgana, and me supported that.
You picked out your own code name at the start of it. Based it around your metaverse outfit--the outfit we get after our Personas awaken. Yours was... a red catsuit. So you went with Panther. And your Persona was called Carmen. She, ah... well, you both showed a tendency to really enjoy putting the boot to people. And your chosen weapon was a whip.
[not sure what kind of picture this is painting but also... YEAH IT KINDA SAYS A LOT ABOUT THINGS, HUH]
My Persona was Arsene, a fictional gentleman thief that did a lot of robbing the rich and being good to the poor kinda stuff. So it fits being on Bad End.
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