(no subject)

[truthdecided]

WHO: Goro Akechi, various quest partners, and an OPEN prompt for Conspiracy Cracking
WHAT: December quests!
WHEN: Throughout December
WHERE: Various
WARNINGS: Persona 2 weirdness may come up.

A. Ghosts of Teatimes Past (Ren and Maya)

With Maya safe in Bottlecap Bay and among the Oran Berries, how could Akechi pass up an opportunity like this? Not only that, but it's an opportunity for Ren to mingle with another Persona user, and one from long before them. While Akechi has... misgivings with the elitism within the Lum Berries, he can't deny that the Archives present a vital resource. That they wish to document the experiences of outsiders is merely the cherry on top. Not to mention, the Archives provide a reprieve from the cold.

So, once he, Ren, and Maya are adequately positioned to tell their tales, Akechi glances between the two. "Well then. Who would like to start?" He could, of course, but he might as well give the others their opportunity. Either would make a more organic starting point.

B. Snow Place and Home (Mayaka)

Akechi... isn't particularly fond of the cold, particularly in his current form. For that reason, he's bundled up with a plaid scarf, a wool sweater, and his Safety Goggles for good measure. Does he look ridiculous? Well, yes. He's round and small. It comes with the territory. However, he has a job to do, and unlike Mayaka, lacks large claws to make the task more manageable.

So, while they step out to tackle the snow, he hovers in the air and squints.

"...I suspect I may be able to cut through the piles with well-aimed attacks. That could theoretically carve a path, or otherwise maneuver the snow into more manageable piles."

C. December, First (Shoka)

It's funny. Akechi has helped in quests regarding Noelle before, yet the two still aren't especially close. Nonetheless, he is a detective, and he's worked with Shoka enough times to readily offer his assistance. After all, it's clear the quest is important to her, just as Noelle is.

A tiny ghost of a smirk lines his beak as the two take to the town. It's chilly, so obviously he's bundled up with a scarf, sweater, and his Safety Goggles. He'd be a fool not to.

"Before we begin, is there anything you recall regarding Noelle-san's sister? Every detail counts."

D. Holiday Hotpot (Kris)

As Ren's partner and rival, Akechi couldn't simply ignore his and Firoza's quest request, but who could he trust to find the proper ingredients? Whose senses and intuition would be enough to optimize their efforts and yield the greatest haul?

...Well, one way or another, here he is with Kris, foraging through the forest. Thankfully, work with Ren on their own request made it clear that they have a distinguished palate. Not everyone would care so much for the finer varietes of moss, after all.

Though, hot pot and moss don't exactly go hand in hand, so Akechi peers through the greenery, scanning for signs of interesting fruit, nuts, or herbs.

"Your senses are undoubtedly sharp. Do any particular scents pique your interest?"

E. Conspiracy Cracking (OPEN)

It's Akechi's first quest, which means it's important that he make a good impression. That means ensuring that his and Ren's room is tidied up, organized, and spacious enough for visiting teams who wish to share their findings. Those who enter will see various odds and ends. A nicely made bed with warm, fluffy blankets, some assorted furniture, a scratching post, a sort of perch for the two of them, along with miscellaneous trinkets and personal belongings (even some Tenna swag)...

But Akechi was very deliberate in hiding and caching the food. Moreover, there are some festive little decorations. Blame Ren.

Either way, Akechi will greet thoses who bring their findings cordially, ready to jot down every little detail with his full attention.

Comments

B!

[sharpjustice]

Unlike Akechi, Mayaka hasn't had time to assemble much of a winter closet. Thankfully, she's used to the cold winters of the Japanese countryside, and Skull Town had been colder. She'll happily choose shoveling snow in the streets than navigating through Furnace Mountain any day. Funny coincidence that she's gotten paired up with this Rookidee in both circumstances.

"You sure you can move your wings much under all those layers?" she asks with a little cackle.

She's completely tickled by his little get-up, and takes a step back, as if inviting him to demonstrate his plan of action on the pile of snow in front of them.

[truthdecided]

His feathers fluff up a little at her remark, but despite that, he smirks and flutters into the air.

"It's no trouble at all." In fact, he puts a little showmanship into it, pivoting around, reeling back, and beats his wings to cleave through the nearest snow pile with a well-aimed Air Cutter.

[sharpjustice]

She rolls her eyes at the unnecessary flourishes Akechi does in the air before he actually stirs the wind and does the job. But she's got to hand it to the bird, he's much stronger than his roundness lets on. She chooses to withhold this observation.

"You also have to make sure the paths look presentable, you know," Mayaka says as she points to the area in front of them.

While the large snow pile has been flattened, the wind has caused some snow to spread over the walking path. The Sneasel steps forward, using her claws to scoop up these smaller clumps of snow and clean up the road.

"I do this all the time when I help out at the shrine during New Year's. And the mikos are really strict about it."

[truthdecided]

"That's not surprising to hear. Such sacred places need to remain safe for visitors." But, hmm... A more targeted approach could work...

Turning toward another snow pile, he considers another approach... and then he charges, twirling like a drill. Drill Peck could be more efficient...

It just means he'll have to shake himself off after.

[sharpjustice]

"Woah!" Mayaka watches, mouth agape as the Rookidee disappears into a whir of feathers, and makes quick work of the second snow pile.

"Doesn't that make you dizzy?" she shouts over to him, not bothering to close the distance between them. She focuses on cleaning up the part of the road nearest to her.

"How do you learn that you can do these sort of things anyway?"

[truthdecided]

Once he screeches to a stop, he carefully shakes himself off. At least the goggles protected his eyes, and his sweater's kept him warm enough.

"Some of it came through experimentation. Once I got the hang of aerial movements, I attempted to hone my skills. ...That being said, the Archives and speaking to Ingo-san and Emmet-san didn't hurt, given their prior experience with Pokémon."

[sharpjustice]

Ingo-san was indeed rather helpful explaining to her not only about Pokemon with poison-resistance, but also how the Grumpearls work.

"Hmph, alright." Mayaka doesn't have much to say to that. She knows she's supposed to put some time into training, if only to get better control of the poison on her claws. But as someone who has no prior experience with sports or combat, it's a bit of a leap.

Doing this road clearing work gives her a chance to stretch her limbs and make use of these claws, at least.

"You take care of the big snow piles. Leave the tidying up to me," she tells Akechi, figuring that this would be the best way to go around things.

E

[paperceptive]

Odile's here to provide her own findings, such as they are, of course. Akechi knows them all already, but that's not the same as having it properly written down. Either one of them could fall into a coma any day. (Just like Siffrin.)

But she's also brought along her own notebook. No harm in keeping more than one set of notes. "Would you mind if I listened in on other interviews as well? I'd like my own copy for review."

[truthdecided]

"Not at all." He even shuffles aside, even if the room is fairly spacious by Spire standards. "The more copies we have, the better, really. This world is too unpredictable to lower our guards."

[paperceptive]

"I agree." That was a part of the point too, even if Odile does rather plan on keeping hold of her copy unless it's actually needed elsewhere. "Best to duplicate our efforts, especially when there's so many things that can...affect us mentally, here."

Not to mention perhaps turn back time entirely - though she's quite certain that would render any notes kept void.

[truthdecided]

"Indeed..." He glances to his conspiracy board, particularly the notes on the cognitive anomalies in the wild swarms and previous bounties. "You're quite fortunate you missed the rain some time ago. It coaxed people's memories out of them, forcing them upon those nearby."

[paperceptive]

"Ugh." Her grimace is immediate. "Is it always incredibly invasive?" Odile's not sure if that sounds better or worse than what happened with Froslass and Malamar, but either way - everything here seems out to take away their control of themselves, in one way or another. Odile quite values that.

(...would've been interesting to hang around Siffrin during that. But that's invasive too.)

[truthdecided]

"More often than I'd care to admit." Shuffling over to the board, he gestures with one wing toward some notes on the forest. "Then there are the illusions and hallucinations. In some regions, the paths themselves seem to twist and warp."

A

[positivestars]

For her part, Maya's more than willing to meet and talk about their experiences- she talked a bit about it with Yukino and her friends, but not for long enough to really dig into everything that happened. Maybe they'll get the opportunity once it's all done. She hopes so.

For now, though- she raises a hand. (Paw?)

"I'm willing to start!" Admittedly, there are things she wants to keep under her hat,so to speak. "Alternatively- we could draw lots." But as the oldest, she should probably be setting an example,right?

[colorsflyinghigh]

"I'm good with either," Ren says with a hum. He wouldn't have minded going first, but Maya spoke before him. "Lots could be fun- though, I have to admit, I'm curious what stories you've got for us, Maya-san."

That is to say... Akechi and him probably have very similar stories, unlike Maya. He's very curious! A Persona user from before their time... he wants to know more!

[truthdecided]

"Not to mention, Ren hasn't heard nearly as much as I have." He cracks a knowing sort of smirk. "And there's always room to learn more, of course..."

So yes, Maya. Please do enthrall them with your stories.

[positivestars]

"Naturally!" Maya smiles at them both, settling herself in to talk. Ah, here come the nerves… But it'll be fine! She just has to figure out where to start. Although- she's been wondering about that…

Well. Probably not the Alaya Shrine, in truth- maybe when their old memories seem relevant. Although that's still a bit personal…

The rumours make the most sense, then. That's what everyone noticed.

"So, to start! I'm from Sumaru City, working for Kismet Publishing." She tilts her head for a moment, wondering if they'll recognise the city, but she'll continue on regardless. "For this story, we'd heard there were strange things happening at Seven Sisters High- rumours of a curse, and a game where you could call your own phone and have your wish granted. Yukki and I- Yukino Mayuzumi; she's been taking photographs for me- went to investigate and interview students. The principal would also have been a good subject, but- as someone with their wish granted, he'd decided his loyalties lay there. It wasn't very helpful! But it was in the school we realised we were all Persona users."

Realising Yukino had had that power like her guardian had been a shock- a pleasant enough one, but she wonders how they didn't realise. …well, she hadn't known Maia was one, before that.

[colorsflyinghigh]

Yeah, that sounds like the start of a Persona journey, alright.

"So you all already were Persona users, huh?" Ren hums, interested. Considering he and his entire group had awakened sometime during the year, that's different. "I... think Seven Sisters High sounds familiar? I can't put my finger on it, though."

Maybe one of the school's sport clubs competed against them once? Hard to say. That said, he is interested in the whole curse and calling yourself thing.

[truthdecided]

"So someone had the power to grant wishes in the real world..." That's a step removed from a certain therapist, certainly. His eyes narrow, as he runs the names through his head... Seven Sisters, in Sumaru City.

Wasn't there a particularly large scandal in the 90's in Sumaru?

"I recall reading that the Foreign Minister at the time had some shady dealings in Sumaru City, though I confess that the files seemed more vague than I would have liked. What I find more intriguing is that you discovered your shared Persona abilities at a school, rather than in a parallel reality, such as the Metaverse."

C

[telewarped]

"Dess," Shoka starts, her tone unusually serious. "Yeah, Noelle's told me some things..."

For a moment, she hesitates, trying to decide how much she should say. Noelle gave the information away easily, but that was when it was just the two of them, and Kris was another story.

Ultimately, she opts to say it anyway. It's only Akechi, after all, and every detail counts. If nothing else, she can trust that he'll take the case seriously and do everything he can to solve it.

"She said that Dess first went missing when they were exploring in the woods once, back in their world. Apparently they found something out there, but she can't remember what it was... Only than that it was something dark—like, literally. Something hard to see through."

A little like Dess' new form itself, come to think of it, if Noelle's description of a completely black, shadow-like Deerling was accurate.

"Uh—she also said Dess is really confident and kind of a troublemaker..." Shoka pauses there, racking her brain for anything else. "She also plays the guitar, I guess? If that's anything..."

[truthdecided]

He nods along, taking mental note of these descriptions. Lost in the woods, played guitar... How much of that is applicable here remains to be seen, but it's a start.

"Perhaps we ought to ask around the Canopy, then. It certainly wouldn't be the first time a new arrival got lost in the woods."

He averts his eyes to hide a grimace. Given what he, Ren, and Flowey found in the tunnels... Well, best not to dwell on it for now.

[telewarped]

"Good idea. Think we should split up for that, or...?"

[truthdecided]

That... is a good question. One that gives Akechi momentary pause, while he folds his wings and paces in place.

"That depends on if you believe you need backup, as well as how far we go into the forest." Close to the Cheri base shouldn't be an issue. It's further out that may present more difficulties. "I could fly up to the higher levels, I suppose. That would give you the opportunity to survey the ground."

[telewarped]

"Sounds good. We can split up to ask around Cheri home base, then meet back up before going any deeper into the woods."

She doesn't need backup just to ask questions, after all... Or so she hopes.

"If anything comes up... You have your 'Pearl with you, right?"

[truthdecided]

"Naturally." But, with a plan in motion, he flutters off to put his investigative skills to the test.

He's very thorough in his efforts, conversing with everyone from birds, to bats, to bugs. Eventually, a picture starts to form, and he returns to the place they'd split up.

Perhaps Shoka has found some details that cover the gaps in his own findings.