Memory: Making toys for the kid Regained: 133, Cycle - Didn't participate Summary: They're... very elaborate.
"Damn kid." The kid's story was actually pretty pathetic, all told. Some bullies had convinced him that playing with stuffed animals was for girls- and had gotten him to throw his friend's stuffed rabbit in the river. Kanji rifled through his basket of yarn balls, looking for something even close to what the kid had said the rabbit looked like. "The hell kinda rabbit ‘s bright yellow, anyway?"
It looked like he had a couple shades of orange, and a massive amount of neon green. Why the hell did he even have that, anyway?
...he took it, along with some of the lighter oranges, and settled at the low table, pulling out his favorite set of needles. Let's see...
Five hours later, he had a respectable light orange bunny sitting in front of him. Setting his needles aside he looked at it critically.
It needed... something.
"Huh. Hey, ma!" He yelled over his shoulder, "We have any of that ribbon left?"
Two hours later, the rabbit had a bow, an umbrella, clothes, and a hat.
It was fucking adorable.
Kanji glanced at the clock, then at the homework he had piled on the table, then reached for the green wool. He had enough time tonight to get at least a good start on a second rabbit, give the kid something of his own to play with so he didn't have to borrow his friend's again.
Reaction: - Oh, huh, so I'm actually good at this knitting shit! - Guilty shifty feeling when thinking about the kid- whether in regards to the kid himself or the story isn't quite clear. - Also a guilty shifty feeling about the knitting itself? Why would he feel guilty about knitting. - Oh no it's cute. - So he lived at home. With his mother, who he calls 'ma'. - Goes to school, but views it as a waste of time, judging by the size of that homework pile.
Street-fighting: Regained 134, Bone Witch - Participated
Suddenly, you are aware of how to use pretty much anything as a weapon (pick it up and beat things with it until they stop moving.) The closest thing to 'strategy' in this fighting skill is 'kick them when they're down.'
Rank up in aggression, rank up in violent tendencies.
Memory: "Will you please beat the shit outta me, Kanji?" Regained: 136, EDEN - participated Summary: Teenagers are dicks. Also, super lazy write up, will fix later. The video's from 14:45 to the end.
This memory is of a warm summer day, standing outside a small shop in what looks to be a small town’s shopping district, eating popsicles with a silver haired boy and a brown haired boy, while waiting on- someone. It’s not long before three other come up- a girl with short brown hair, a girl with long black hair, and a boy with blond hair. The reason they were late is because they were apparently buying clothes for the new boy; which led to the brown hair boy asking “Is he cute? What do you think, ####?”
"Huh? What're you asking me for?"
"Well, I was just wondering if he was your type."
"Oh... I get it. What you're really asking is 'Will you please beat the shit out of me, ####?'"
For some odd reason, this doesn't go over well. The brown haired boy tries to buy you off with money for more ice cream, which the brown haired girl catches on, and teases him about becoming a good senpai now, only to let it slip that they bought the blond boy’s clothing with the brown haired boy’s money. They start fighting, and when the blond boy tries to defuse the situation with a joke, the brown haird boy turns on him, before getting pulled back into the argument with the brown haired girl. You slip off with the blond boy to go buy him some ice cream with your ‘senpai’s’ money.
Also the blond boy doesn't actually seem to be from around here? Why the hell did he need clothes in the first place? And what's all this talk about 'this is his first time in our world'?
Reaction: - Brown haired boy's an asshole. - No surprise at being teased over attraction to other guys though- has this gone on a while? - ....'our world'? 'Bear hide'? What?
Effects:
- Defensiveness up: Attraction to guys - Knowledge up: Basic Japanese culture, Senpai+Kohai, basic group dynamics - Memory unlocked: Topsicles with Teddy. - Names unlocked: None, all fuzzed out.
Edited (dear god why won't the link work) 2015-04-28 15:04 (UTC)
Memory: "There's no way in hell that you're me!" (05/23) Regained: 143, Kanra - Participated Summary: DID SOMEONE SAY SHADOWS? :D Watch from 15:35 to 17:27. Alternately, if Troy Baker's voice acting is too fabulous, read here from "He must be behind this door!" to the third picture following "Everyone, on guard!"
This memory is nothing but emotional pain from start to finish. The important things to note are that the group of people are the same as the group in the last memory but the blond guy is missing and in his place is some... mascot? Bear? It takes place in a bathhouse, but your double is the only one dressed for the mind-numbingly oppressive heat and humidity. By the end of the double's diatribe you feel so overwhelmed by mortification and anger that your voice cracks and you're about to cry.
When you yell that your double isn't you ("Nu-uh! No way! There's no way in hell that you're me!"), you lose all of your energy and hit the floor, flat on your back. As you're staring at the ceiling, you hear your double saying one last thing- "I am a shadow, the true self! I'm just being true to myself. And that's why I'll get rid of anything in my way!"
And then you pass the fuck out.
Reaction: - The hell does that asshole think he is saying shit like that? - Overwhelming mortification, terror, anger - No one can see this - Ever. - ...wait did that guy just say he was a shadow?
Effects: - Defensiveness up: Everything. Ever. This memory hit everything from his sewing to his sexuality, nothing is safe anymore. - Knowledge up: History (personal) - Broad strokes at being bullied in the past - Memory unlocked: "I am thou..." (05/23)
Memory: "I am thou..." (05/23) Regained: 144, Nyssa - Participated Summary:I am thou, thou art I- The conclusion of the shadow confrontation and the unlocking of Take-Mikazuchi. Watch from 28:00 to 31:35.
This memory continues immediately from the last, with you regaining consciousness in that bathhouse, surrounded by the same group of teens, all holding various makeshift weapons. The heat of the bathhouse is still overwhelmingly oppressive, and it takes some effort to get back to your feet. On the ground, a little ways ahead of the group, is the shadow, face down on the ground. It starts to get up as you do, glowing a dark blue. Around you, the group of teens start reacting- 'It's still coming at us!' '[Kanji]'s still rejecting it!'- but you really can only watch it as it stands, before it starts to talk again.
It's the same as before- first the shadow starts to try the gay route- but you're too tired, too worn out for it to work. It actually bothers headphones more than it does you. Then, it tries something new- 'I don't care who- Won't someone, anyone, please accept me?" You try cutting him off, but the shadow continues, voice raising in a shout- "Accept me for who I am!"
Beside you, the guy in headphones starts blabbering about not swinging that way- and you snap, bolting forward to punch your shadow in the face, knocking it to the ground.
"Yeah, I know. I've known all this time I had something like you! It ain't a matter of guys or chicks- I'm just scared shitless of being rejected. I'm a total pansy who tries to make everyone hate me."
You snort in response. "You make it sound like you got it all figured out." You turn back to your shadow, "C'mon, get up. Anyone who looks like me, I know they ain't so weak that they can't take a punch." The shadow gets to his feet, and you take a breath, continuing on. "I already know you're me. You're me, and I'm you, damnit!"
The shadow meets your eyes for a brief second- then the light surrounding it brightens as it surges upwards, changing form into a giant robot, holding a massive lightening bolt. A voice rings in your head, "I am thou, and thou art I. I am Take-Mikazuchi. I will accompany you to the end."
It holds that form for a second longer, and then melts away entirely, the light coalescing into the form of a card. The card drops, holding in front of you long enough to see the design, before vanishing entirely.
The adrenaline that had been keeping you going vanishes, dropping you to the ground again.
The trip back to the real world goes by in a daze- several floors of bathhouse, an endless expanse of mist filled void, what looked like the back lot of some TV studio, and then the electronics section of your local Junes. You get a promise of an explanation at a later date, and then stumble back home.
Reaction: - ...what - No really, what the hell? - DID I JUST PUNCH MY SHADOW IN THE FACE? - WAS THAT A GIANT ROBOT?
This skill allows you to summon the persona card Take-Mikazuchi. On summoning the card, you are aware of several things: This is an Emperor Arcana. It is Lightening/Physical type It is a twenty foot tall robot It possesses one starting skill, the lightening attack Zio, which uses 4 SP.
To summon said persona, destroy the card! ...unfortunately, only those who have a matching arcana/are wildcards can actually summon him, so all attempts to destroy said card will fail.
Memory: "So even if they're caught, the law can't do shit?" (12/03) Regained: 146, Waldemar/Lilith - Participated Summary: Just a whole lot of confusing shit, plus some minor info dumping. Watch from 15:55 to 22:52. As always, names are fuzzed.
This memory starts in a mall's cafeteria, with that same group of teenagers as in the last few memories- plus the blond, some new guy in a blue hat, and another new girl, this one in an unaltered school uniform. You're gathered around the newspaper, first discussing the weather- a thick set fog that people are concerned might be hazardous. The blond mentions that it reminds him of the fog on the 'other side', but other than that, you're all clueless.
Blue notices another item- a piece on a lead murder suspect. "There's another item of note here… A summary of Namatame's career, with details about the case. …The suspect was having an affair with the first victim. It seems she was killed due to relationship troubles. Also in April, Ms. Saki Konishi's body was discovered. The police are looking into a motive for the murder. In July, a boy living in Inaba performed a copycat murder. The boy was initially thought to be the culprit behind all the killings, but later suspicion was thrown upon Namatame. Last month, the suspect attempted to kidnap a seven-year-old girl of Inaba, resulting in his arrest…"
Somehow, all of this information is not only known to your group, but leads to a discussion on how you know the suspect is guilty, but you're worried about how the police will make the case, seeing as how the murders are all tied to 'the TV world'. Blue seems to know the most about how the police works, which leads to this discussion:
Red: Also, I heard before that if the police don't have enough hard evidence, it's difficult to build a case.
Blue: Yes. There are many such cases and culprits. It's the eternal conundrum for crime investigators.
Ochre: So even if they're caught, the law can't do shit?
Blue: ...It's a possibility.
Ochre: Hell's up with that!? We all know he did it. You can't just let a maniac who thinks he's saving people by killing them run wild on the streets!
Headphones: They better not dismiss something this serious because of some mental issues. Saki-senpai... No. Not just her, or that announcer. Even King Moron is his fault. If it weren't for what he did, nobody would've tried a copycat killing. It's his fault Nanako-chan's in the hospital right now, too...
This seems to remind Silver that he had a promise to the girl in the hospital to pick up a new Kotatsu, and as a group you move to that section of the store, latching onto that promise as a way to cheer up.
Once you're there, the blond seems down, asking "Can I still stay here? You kept your promise to me, so I should be going back... But I don't want to go until Nana-chan gets better"
This leads to the group as a whole reassuring the blond that, yes, he is still welcome to stay, and even though [Nanako] was injured, she'll get better, and that they couldn't have caught the killer without him.
After that, there's a discussion of a welcome home party for [Nanako], the possibility of charging [Nanako's] gifts to Headphones again, Headphones and Green squabbling, and whether or not the girls should make a cake. Spirits are generally high as Silver gets a phone call.
Reaction: - ...wow that's an info dump - So, there was a killer. And we brought him in. But in the process of bringing him in, someone was injured? - Also, why can't the police know about 'the TV world'? - Where is the blond from? - Who are these new people? - WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN THIS MEMORY?
Effects: - Rank up: teamdere - Knowledge up: Japanese life and basic everyday customs - Memory unlocked: "Can't believe this is happening..." (12/03)
Memory: Mudo'd Regained: 150/151, Haunt and Isabel - Participated Summary: Revival beads are expensive, senpai.
"Yosuke's down!"
Kanji scowled as he heard Teddie's panicked cry- they'd all been effected by the Mamudo, but it had only hit Yosuke, and the way he was crumpled on the ground left nothing to the imagination.
"Senpai, I got this!"
Yu nodded, and he and Yukiko moved in to cover him as he ran to Yosuke, the pair drawing the beetle's attention away from Kanji and trying to take it down before it can send out another Mamudo.
Kanji pulls a string of beads from his pocket, gripping it tightly in one hand, while the other goes to check Yosuke's pulse- nothing.
Yoskue was dead.
"Damn it, Yosuke-senpai!" Kanji unknotted the string, pulling one bead off carefully. Behind him, Yukiko set the beetle on fire, and Kanji tucked the string of beads back in his pocket, before shoving the bead in Yosuke's mouth.
The effects were instantanious, a bright blue light flairing around Yosuke's body as his head started back up, and he took in a ragged breath of air, bruises fading and cuts healing.
By the time the light faded away, Yosuke looked, if not as good as new, then no where near death.
"Stop dying on us, Senpai!" Kanji pulled Yosuke to his feet before summoning Take-Mikazuchi, jumping back into the fray with a slightly ragged looking Jiraiya at it's side.
Reaction: - ...what? - Okay, so we fought. Things. - And died. - Often enough that my reaction was annoyance and irritation, not, you know, fear and panic. - One hit kill attacks are bullshit. -Hey, so that's what their personas look like! Headphones', Red's, and Silver's,
Effects: - Knowledge up: Fighting with Take-Mikazuchi - Rank up: disregard for life/death - Memories unlocked: None
Memory: "G-guys, put on your glasses!" (12/03) Regained: 152, Nyssa - Participated Summary: Ochre makes a discovery! From 12:55 to 15:03
This memory features- well, actually the entire group from the last one. You're walking to school together, and dear god it's foggy out today. And, based on what people are saying- every day, recently. It's bad enough out that people are going out in groups, for safeties' safe. Soon after your group meets up with the missing two members- Headphones and Silver- the newer girl, Pigtails, makes an observation:
Pigtails: It really is hard to see anything in this, though. It's just like on the other side.
Which, huh. You put on the pair of glasses that, yes, you were wearing in the last memory. That- makes the fog vanish?
Ochre: Wha-? G-guys, put on your glasses!
The others all put on a pair of glasses, and react in shock as they can suddenly see again.
Red: Whoa... It's all clear...
Headphones: Wh-what the hell is going on?
Blue: These glasses are meant to help us see through the fog in the other world... But putting that aside, no glasses would improve one's visibility in a fog, under normal circumstances.
Green: Then, um... Could the fog from over there be leaking into our world?
There's a collective moment of 'Oh shit!'
Green: Huh? Y-you guys think that's it? I-I was kinda expecting you to ignore it as Chie being random again... It's just a thought...
She trails off into awkward laughter as the mood darkens. Headphones changes the subject- evidently today's the last day of finals, and they really need to get to the school. You make a plan to meet at the 'special headquarters' after your exams, and start towards the school this time with complete visibility.
Reaction: - Well, I did a thing? I don't know what that thing was, but I did it! - Oh. Yeah. We were all wearing glasses in that last memory, weren't we? - ...'special headquarters'?
Effects: - Name unlocked: Green is now known to be Chie. All other names continue to sound like TV static.
Memory: Sorry for gettin' you mixed up in this, Senpai Regained: 158, Knut - participated Summary: FUCK THE POLICE. Watch from 2:02 to 4:27
This memory has Ochre and Silver eating in a restaurant, making small talk, when a man in a suit comes in. He immediately recognizes Ochre, calling him by name- which is, as always, fuzzed out, and demanding to know what he's up to, because there's been disturbances in the area. When Ochre defends himself, the cop leaves the restaurant, saying he'll find someplace else to leave. Ochre, resigned to this kind of treatment from the police, apologizes to Silver, explaining that he's tired of making trouble for those he's with.
Silver points out that the best way to make sure that happens is to change immediately, and Ochre agrees, firmly set on a new course.
There's also the line "I'm gonna renovate your ass!" because the Aiya's owner is a troll. A troll who calls Ochre 'Kan-chan', so clearly they know each other.
Reaction: - Fuck the police - I finally have a name! ...kind of. - No but seriously, fuck the police.
Effects: - Authority issues +20 - Cop issues +20 - Name partially unlocked- 'Kan-chan'. No one can know.
This is a montage of childhood memories, from when Ochre was about 6 to when he was 11. Mostly time spent with his parents in the fabric shop they run, learning about different times of fabric and thread, how to sew and knit, crochet and embroider. There's some memories of school, lots of playing with other children, mostly girls, and a couple memories of playing in street with a blond haired boy, and a girl with long black hair, who looks like a younger version of Red from his other memories.
All in all, it looks like he had a pretty solid, happy childhood. Also, a lot of the not-teacher adults in this memory call him Kan-chan, as well as a name that is blurred.
Reaction: - Huh. - So, that's what my parents looked like. - We own a shop? That's- really cool actually.
Effects: - Rank up: familial pride, affection - Knowledge up: history (personal) - childhood up until age 9 - Knowledge up: history (town) - main street, and the people who own shops on it. No names, but his parents were good friends with a lot of them.
You now know how to sew- both on machine and by hand. Plushies, quilts, bags, rips, tears, seams, patches, some embroidery and applique, basic knowledge about fabric and thread types- it’s all ridiculously easy to put together with a needle and thread. There’s a couple gaps missing- something in the polycotton and clothing areas, but you now know enough to deal with the everyday wear and tear a team like Tiamat puts on their uniforms, if not quite enough to make a set on your own.
Memory: "Call the damn police!" (08/01) Regained: 168, Kynigos - Participated Summary: We found the killer, asshole that he is. From 13:59 to 17:32
Ochre drags the boy through the TV with Headphones’ help, landing in the electronics section of the Junes.
It’s abandoned, thankfully, and as the stranger collapses to the floor in a heap, questioning where he is, you all surround him, blocking him from view from the rest of the store.
He doesn’t seem to notice Silver’s response, continuing to mutter to himself, seemingly exhausted “Why... am I here? What the hell are you guys…? S-stop it. Why did the TV-”
Chie looks like she’s starting to get worried by his incoherency, and the mascot cuts in quickly, and from the voice, he’s apparently the blond from before. “You seem confused from everything that happened. But we have a bunch of questions for you. First off, why did you do all this? Answer in ten words or less!”
The boy: “What the hell? Is that a costume? What a loser… Get outta my face, you freak.”
The blond takes that less than well, actually growling in anger.
Headphones takes a moment to calm the blond down, and Silver steps back in, asking if the boy did- it.
The boy: “Get off my back… I already told you… I did it.”
The killer: “Everyone’s talking about it, right? It’s a huge deal, and I did it! All of it! All by myself!”
This just pisses everyone off.
Headphones: “You just wanted the attention?”
Red: “Then why did you target me and the others? How did you kidnap us?”
The killer: “Whoa- look who it is... Hey Yuki. After all this time... now you wanna talk to me? What bullshit.”
Red: “Answer me! If you held a grudge against me, that’s fine… But why the others?”
The killer: “What a joke… You’re so desperate it hurts. I didn’t care who I attacked. Everyone pisses me off.”
Headphones: “You what? Gotta be kidding me! You killed Senpai over nothing? ...you son of a bitch!”
Ochre’d been quiet through this, all of this, but finally he steps forward out of the semicircle surround the killer, getting up into his face.
Ochre: “I hope you’re ready to get what’s comin’ to you…”
The killer: “What, you gonna kill me?”
Red seems shocked, calling Ochre’s name, which is fuzzed still
Ochre takes another step forward, pulling the killer up from the floor by the front of his shirt.
Ochre: “Kill you? It ain’t gonna be that easy, you piece of shit. What you did can never be taken back. No, you’re gonna own up to your crimes and pay for what you did. You ain’t gonna be allowed to kick the bucket until you understand exactly what it is you’ve done!”
Ochre drops the killer back to the ground, and Headphones is growing increasingly hysterical.
Headphones: “Why, damnit? Why did she have to die because of this bastard?”
Ochre: “Dude- the cops.”
Headphones: “Huh?”
Ochre: “What are you waiting for? Call the damn police!”
Headphones: “Y-yeah… You’re right…”
Chie: "Yoskue..."
Reaction: - Holy shit we found the killer! - And he's an asshole, kinda figures - Part of Red's name is 'Yuki' but she seems to really hate that - Headphones must have been really close to his senpai - Headphones' has a name!
Effects: - Name unlocked: Yosuke - Name partially unlocked: Yuki - Rank up: sense of justice - Rank up: moral code - Decrease to belief that all cops are assholes - Decrease to authority issues - Knowledge up: travel to TV realm - we can only enter and exit through this particular TV
This shard contains all the knowledge and skills needed by the heir of a small family business. Everything's here, from running the till and dealing with clients and supply sources, to balancing the books and taking inventory.
Memory: "Your father- the hospital-' (Past) Regained: 172, Units - didn't participate Summary: Not the worst of his signegs, but it's up there
You're 12, maybe 13, and you're playing out by the shrine with your friend from three stores down. You had a fight with your dad, and you're trying not to think about it, instead focusing on convincing your friend to help you find the shrine fox- you're sure if you look behind the actual shrine building, he'll be back there.
Just as you convince your friend to go look with you, the man who runs the Chinese restaurant down the street, one of your parent's friends, comes running into the shrine, looking for you. "Your father- the hospital-"
The next hour or so is a blur of panic, ending in a hospital room, and a monitor that was already flat lining when you got there. The doctors are explaining what happened to your mom over your head as she clings to your shoulders, but all you can do is stare at the ground, not able to bring yourself to look at the face you were yelling at three hours ago.
Memory: Sharing umbrellas (10/25) Regained: Iota - Participated Summary: Did someone say dumb crush? No? Feel the dokis anyway. From 26:04 to 27:39
It's an absolute downpour out- and you forgot your umbrella. At some point in your headlong dash from your home to the school, you pick up Yosuke, and the two of you are making good time when you run into Silver and Blue- almost literally.
"Sorry to barge in!" Yosuke takes absolutely no time in sliding in under Silver's umbrella, and you give a short, nervous glance at Blue before focusing over on Silver.
"M-make room for me too!"
Yosuke turns scowling. "This one's already full, dumbass! Get Naoto to make room under hers."
Blue- Naoto- nods, "By all means ####. You'll catch a cold at this rate, if you don't."
It's like all of the blood in your body's rushing to your face, and you know everyone can see you blushing, and that just pisses you off all the more, "Wha... Me and her under the same umbrella-? Ta hell with that!" Then, quieter, mumbling as you glance away from everyone "If I did that, um, that'd mean... W-we'd practically be like a couple!"
Even though you aren't actually looking at him, you can actually feel Yosuke's eyeroll. "And that's a problem because? Dude, how old are you?"
"Shut up! C'mon, let's trade spots!"
"...you know how stupid that sounds, right? Well, that's fine with me. Naoto, mind if I walk with you?"
You shoot another short glance at Naoto- and then what Yosuke said clicks "H-Hey, who're you callin' stupid? Stop talkin' shit about me!"
"Ugh, will you just make up your mind?"
Naoto pipes up again, looking awkward, "I don't mind making room for whoever..."
Silver, looking unamused, offers to go with Naoto himself, if it meant they could move on.
"A third choice? Not what I expected, but I have no objections."
A glance at Naoto shows that she's blushing, like all girls do when around Silver, and you just snap, frustrated, "Damnit, I don't need an umbrella in a damn drizzle like this! I'll show you all how it's done!"
With that, you bolt past them towards the school, soaked, embarrassed, and frustrated.
That's the entirety of the memory- You're on a stage, surrounded by Shadows- and they're strong shadows, there's no way you'll be able to get out of there in one piece with a crowd that large. Even so, you're feeling cocky about it, and tell Pigtails to cue you up. Suddenly, music fills the room and you start dancing, the Shadows stopping their arrhythmic jerking and start moving to the music, to your movements. Part of the way through the song Pigtails jumps in, and lends a hand, and your combined dancing seems to snag the shadows further and further away from the main group.
By the time the song ends, all the shadows were dancing along to the music, and they all, the entire crowd, shatter into blue glass and disappear.
Reaction: - What - No, really, what the hell - Why are the shadows tied up in yellow ribbon? - Why are we dancing? - What the hell is going on?
Effects: - Strangely enough, level up in teamdere.
The memory starts in what can only be only be described as an empty strip club- if a strip club regularly allowed five teenagers bearing weapons to go charging through. When you approach the curtain ahead, the blond's voice rings out in your head.
Blond: I think the girl named Rise is ahead of here. But I'm not certain.
You all go charging in to find- two of Pigtails, Rise. One's dressed like a shopping clerk, and on her knees, while the other's in a bikini and leaning against a stripper's pole.
Chie: There it is!
Headphones: Look, the real one's here too!
The shadow Rise, the one leaning against the pole, turns to look at you all and laughs.
Shadow Rise: They're all watching! All eyes are on me now!
Rise: Stop it!
Shadow Rise: Aw! What's the matter? You wanna show your stuff, don'tcha? Hows this?
The shadow grabs a hold of the pole behind her and starts spinning on it while the real Rise protests.
Shadow Rise: Oh, she wants me to stop. That's so funny! As if that's eve close to what you're really thinking, you little skank! You're me! And obviously, I'm you!
The real Rise can't even look at her shadow while she continues to deny it.
Shadow Rise: C'mon, look! You can't tear your eyes away! This is me! This is who I really am! Not Risette, the fake celebrity! Look at the girl right in front of you! I'm sick of being some airhead cliche who chokes down everything she's fed and takes it all with a smile! "Risette"? Who the hell is she? There's no such person in this world! I'm no one but myself! C'mon, look at me!
The real Rise protests again, while the Shadow continues to gyrate against the pole.
Shadow Rise: Well then, I guess it's time to prove it. I'm gonna show it all off! Let my naked truth be burned into your brains!
At that, the real Rise rises to her feet.
Rise: Stop- Stop it! You're-
Chie: No, don't say it!
Rise: You're not me!
The Shadow rise starts to laugh, moving on the pole even faster.
Shadow Rise: Here it comes! Now, I'm finally myself!
What looks like a cloud of black and red gathers around the Shadow, and when it dissipates, Rise is flat on her back, and the Shadow Rise is nowhere to be seen, and in it's place is- this. Shadow Rise: I am a shadow... The true self... And now for the moment you've all been waiting for! It's time for me to show you every last inch of myself! And for our guests in the front row... I'll give you extra-special, extra-intense service!
Ochre: So I was like this too? Oh man...
Shadow Rise: Oh? You're going to rush the stage? What an ill-mannered guest... Maybe you're looking for an experience that's a little more intense?
While she's talking, you're able to get a round of attacks in, for what little good they seem to do.
Shadow Rise: Enjoying yourself? I've got a ways to go until I show my true self.... You ain't seen nothin' yet!
She lets off a round of attacks, and just seems pissed in general that you aren't all downed yet.
Shadow Rise: What? I dealt all that exquisite pain and you're still not satisfied? What a finicky guest... You might as well die then!
A grid of green light appears around you all, one by one.
Shadow Rise: No touching allowed!
Your attacks won't hit, and all you can do is brace yourself for round after round of attacks, Mazio, Magaru, Mazio again...
Shadow Rise: I can see everything about you!
Chie: What's the deal? Our attacks aren't making a dent!
Headphones: Damn, it's like it's anticipating our every move...
Blond: I- I'm completely useless...
The shadow lets out another grid of green energy, enveloping the entire room.
Headphones: What the-?
Blond: That power... I think it's scanning us! Oh, this is not good! Ochre: When you say "not good," what exactly does that mean?
Shadow Rise: Woohoo! Analysis complete! Okay, here comes my counterattack! See if you can dodge, hm?
Blond: Stop it!
A bright light appears, knocking you all to the ground.
You're hurt- bad- and Red asks the question you're all thinking.
Red: Are we... going to die?
Blond: No! You guys can't die! What can I do? Sensei...
Silver looks over, telling Blond to help them.
Blond: But how can I help? Am I going to be all alone again? No. That's not what I want!
Another pulse of green light goes out.
Ochre: Shit! It's winding up again!
Blond: I- I-
Shadow Rise: Okie dokie, here we go again! Goodbye, forever!
Headphones: Aw shit, it's coming!
At that, something in the blond snaps, and he moves out in front of you and your friends, looking entirely harmless in his weird bear costume.
Blond: M- my body's moving on it's own! W- why am I stepping forward? I- I feel like I'm going bear-serk! I'll do it! Take a good look... at Teddie's last stand!
His body starts to glow, and the Shadow Rise seems entirely distracted by it.
Shadow Rise: This high-energy reading... Is it coming from that weird thing?
Ochre: Teddie! The hell are you doing?
Teddie doesn't respond, just growls and bolts forward.
You're in the back room of the fabric shop, putting away deliveries. You're sorting through a box of blue fabric when the delivery door's buzzer rings- it's probably the last one of the day.
Jotting down a quick mark to remind yourself where you left off- the PKL Teal- you go to answer the door.
After that, everything's a blurr. There's a bright white light, and then you're falling into darkness.
This memory takes place in what looks like a music room in a school- if the music room was abandoned and possibly haunted. The pictures on the walls all have glowing eyes, there’s caution tape stretched across the door and papers are tacked up against the chalkboard to spell out ‘P 1’.
The window shatters, and someone leaps through- an older teenager. He’s got a gun and a knife- as well as being shirtless, wearing a cape, and is covered in scars.
“What the-? Who’re you?”
The stranger’s eyes widen- “You’re that guy from the video…”
You’re a little too occupied by sheer confusion to respond to his weirdass comments- “Didn’t you just come falling from up there? What’s going on? Answer me!”
The stranger ignores you.
Again.
“I remember now. You’re the- the ‘Bloodcurdling Beefsteak Emperor’!”
That just pisses you off all the more. “Hell no! C’mon, did you even try to remember my name?”
“So that P-1 Grand Prix thing has already started.” This guy is really starting to get on your nerves. He walks past you towards the door, before stopping, hands hitting the air like there’s a wall. He backtracks to the window he’d come in through, and does the same thing, before turnign back to face you. “...Hey, take off your clothes.”
What.
“Wh-what the hell? How can you just ask that straight out?”
“What’s wrong with that I said? Won’t it be hard to maneuver wearing that?”
“M-maneuver?”
“What are you all flustered for? I’m talking about your jacket. If you don’t wear it right, it’ll get in your way during the fight.”
Oh.
Oh.
“My jacket? Couldn’t you have just said that to begin with? There’s no real meaning behind this, it’s just how I wear it.”
“It’s plain weird.”
“Says the guy who’s half naked except for a cape!”
A tv turns on in the corner, and Teddie appears, berating the stranger and giving you a couple minutes to regain your level head. For a moment there, you’d really thought he’d-
No, head in the game.
“You keep sayin’ the weirdest crap. Guess I’ll just have ta make you leave! Let’s get this started, capey!”
“What, now you’re interested? Alright… Come and get me!”
The rest of the memory is just dumb backtalk, and then you jump the guy, leading into a fight.
The girl- ‘Nozomi’, looks like she’s been through hell. ‘I-I ran away. Again. Why am I always like this?’
Blond- In that damn bear outfit again- pipes up. ‘Nozo-chan! It’s okay! You got what we were trying to tell you, that’s all that matters!’
Pigtails chimes in, “Yeah, no feeling down! I’m so glad you’re safe. What more can I ask for?”
Nozomi seems a little stunned, her voice hushed- “Really? I- I’m horrible at talking to people. I’m always… like this, when I’m out of character.”
Lapis nods, “If that’s how you are, then I think it’s perfectly fine. You should be proud of it, and tell everyone.”
Nozomi falters, then nods, still quiet. “Okay. I’ll try. I-I’ll do my best.”
You can’t keep from commenting. “Man, even bugs are louder than her. You sure she’s gonna be okay?”
Nozomi gives you a look, and you frown in confusion. “Huh? Wh-what?”
She falters, then, screwing her face up in determination blurts out- “You’re mean. Scary.”
Which- What? “What was that?”
Pigtails bursts in, berating you. “####! Why are you like that? Be nice to Nozomi.”
Lapis joins in as well. “That’s right, ####-kun. Can’t you see she’s trying to change?”
“Wha- Wait, why am I bein’-”
Pigtails cuts you off again. “No excuses! Nozomi’s trying her best, so work with her!”
“Argh, fine, whatever, just shut up!” You shift your gaze from the girls to Nozomi, feeling awkward having been berated like that, “So, uh- Well… K-Keep at it, alright? I’m rootin’ for ya!”
Nozomi lights up, grinning, and then walks over to you, looking you right in the eyes as she says “...I’ll do my best! Thank you!”
“Wha-” You can feel yourself blushing, and you find yourself sputtering, getting louder defensively. “S-stop lookin’ at me like that! So you’re happy! I get it! Th-that’s enough, dammit!”
Nozomi winces, “Scary again!” and you flinch, not sure how to fix this.
Unfortunately… Blond chooses now to enter the conversation. “Non non non! Nozo-chan, let me give you a lecture on how a guy’s heart works. ### is just embarrassed, that’s all! It’s hard to see past his crude demeanor, but he really does accept you! So there’s absolutely no reason to be scared of him!”
Nozomi looks like she’s realizing something, and Pigtails chimes in. “That’s right! ###’s pretty bad at expressing his feelings, too. He’s such a handful…”
You can’t take this any more. “Wha- Sh- Shut up, you two!”
That’s when everything goes even more confusing.
“Then... You like me?”
The noises that come out of your mouth cannot be referred to as ‘words’.
Nozomi scrambles over her words, voice growing quieter and quieter as she speaks. “Y-You’re embarrassed, right? So- I wondered if.. I was your type.. and I uh- Scary.”
Lapis and Blond seem stunned. “That was beyond jumping to conclusions. I’m not sure how to process this...”
“Hm, she really is something else when it comes to talking. That was a classic communication breakdown!”
You turn on them like the worthless friends they are. “Hey, stop gawkin’ and help me out! And you!” You turn back to Nozomi, “The hell was that ‘scary’ at the end? Doesn’t make sense!”
At that the atmosphere grows dark, and a voice cuts through.
“Ah, Nozomi, you have been poisoned as well.”
You all shift, slightly; getting ready to jump into battle again.
“You’re still here? I won’t forgive you for putting Nozo-chan through all this!”
“There’s no need to get so worked up. If you’re not interested in a bond with us, that’s fine. Do whatever you like.”
The atmosphere brightens again as the voice finishes.
“Ugh, that punk just up and left again-”
And then there’s another flash of light as a door appears to the side of the stage.
This memory's less than a minute long- started at the tail end of a conversation with Lapis, and cutting off right before you enter the fabric shop, but what a hell of a lot of crap got packed into that minute.
Reaction: - ???????? - ??? - ??????????? - What? - Why was I chasing the IT away? What happened in that conversation? What's going on?
Memory: Thousand Curses Regained: 225 Summary: Here from 7:38 to 8:23
Highlights: The memory starts with you using your own health to strike at the multi-limbed creature, and Rise's voice in your ear asking if you're okay.
There's not really a lot of choice to toe be okay, because it' pretty obvious that everyone- Silver-Senpai, Yukiko, Headphones, and yourself, are all in rough shape. You've been fighting this creature for what feels like hours, and there's that familiar worn feeling of too many heals in too short a time.
Yukiko uses what has to be the last of her mana to cast a full heal- on everyone, and the tired leaves your bones. You can do this.
"Goodbye... Accept the reality of your death"
The monster moves and suddenly Headphones is flyign across the room, knocking Silver out of the way of the blow- except it wasn't an attack, not really, and the floor opens up beneath him, dark hands coming up to grab Headphones and drag him under.
Just as quickly, the floor seals, and the spell is gone- and Headphones with it.
Rise's gasp of horror rings in your ears, and you have less than a second to recognize that the creature's casting the spell again before you're moving, lunging to kick Silver-Senpai out of the way.
The last thing you hear as exhaustion takes your body and you drop to your knees, getting pulled under the ground by a thousand grasping hands is Rise screaming your name.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Memories
Skills
Skill 1 (Starter)
Give the boy enough time and some yarn, and he can make you pretty much anything. Noted in canon for his toys which are... very elaborate.
Shard 1
Regained: 133, Cycle - Didn't participate
Summary: They're... very elaborate.
"Damn kid." The kid's story was actually pretty pathetic, all told. Some bullies had convinced him that playing with stuffed animals was for girls- and had gotten him to throw his friend's stuffed rabbit in the river. Kanji rifled through his basket of yarn balls, looking for something even close to what the kid had said the rabbit looked like. "The hell kinda rabbit ‘s bright yellow, anyway?"
It looked like he had a couple shades of orange, and a massive amount of neon green. Why the hell did he even have that, anyway?
...he took it, along with some of the lighter oranges, and settled at the low table, pulling out his favorite set of needles. Let's see...
Five hours later, he had a respectable light orange bunny sitting in front of him. Setting his needles aside he looked at it critically.
It needed... something.
"Huh. Hey, ma!" He yelled over his shoulder, "We have any of that ribbon left?"
Two hours later, the rabbit had a bow, an umbrella, clothes, and a hat.
It was fucking adorable.
Kanji glanced at the clock, then at the homework he had piled on the table, then reached for the green wool. He had enough time tonight to get at least a good start on a second rabbit, give the kid something of his own to play with so he didn't have to borrow his friend's again.
Reaction:
- Oh, huh, so I'm actually good at this knitting shit!
- Guilty shifty feeling when thinking about the kid- whether in regards to the kid himself or the story isn't quite clear.
- Also a guilty shifty feeling about the knitting itself? Why would he feel guilty about knitting.
- Oh no it's cute.
- So he lived at home. With his mother, who he calls 'ma'.
- Goes to school, but views it as a waste of time, judging by the size of that homework pile.
Skill 2
Suddenly, you are aware of how to use pretty much anything as a weapon (pick it up and beat things with it until they stop moving.) The closest thing to 'strategy' in this fighting skill is 'kick them when they're down.'
Rank up in aggression, rank up in violent tendencies.
Shard 2
Regained: 136, EDEN - participated
Summary: Teenagers are dicks. Also, super lazy write up, will fix later. The video's from 14:45 to the end.
This memory is of a warm summer day, standing outside a small shop in what looks to be a small town’s shopping district, eating popsicles with a silver haired boy and a brown haired boy, while waiting on- someone. It’s not long before three other come up- a girl with short brown hair, a girl with long black hair, and a boy with blond hair. The reason they were late is because they were apparently buying clothes for the new boy; which led to the brown hair boy asking “Is he cute? What do you think, ####?”
"Huh? What're you asking me for?"
"Well, I was just wondering if he was your type."
"Oh... I get it. What you're really asking is 'Will you please beat the shit out of me, ####?'"
For some odd reason, this doesn't go over well. The brown haired boy tries to buy you off with money for more ice cream, which the brown haired girl catches on, and teases him about becoming a good senpai now, only to let it slip that they bought the blond boy’s clothing with the brown haired boy’s money. They start fighting, and when the blond boy tries to defuse the situation with a joke, the brown haird boy turns on him, before getting pulled back into the argument with the brown haired girl. You slip off with the blond boy to go buy him some ice cream with your ‘senpai’s’ money.
Also the blond boy doesn't actually seem to be from around here? Why the hell did he need clothes in the first place? And what's all this talk about 'this is his first time in our world'?
Reaction:
- Brown haired boy's an asshole.
- No surprise at being teased over attraction to other guys though- has this gone on a while?
- ....'our world'? 'Bear hide'? What?
Effects:
- Defensiveness up: Attraction to guys
- Knowledge up: Basic Japanese culture, Senpai+Kohai, basic group dynamics
- Memory unlocked: Topsicles with Teddy.
- Names unlocked: None, all fuzzed out.
Shard 3
Regained: 143, Kanra - Participated
Summary: DID SOMEONE SAY SHADOWS? :D Watch from 15:35 to 17:27. Alternately, if Troy Baker's voice acting is too fabulous, read here from "He must be behind this door!" to the third picture following "Everyone, on guard!"
This memory is nothing but emotional pain from start to finish. The important things to note are that the group of people are the same as the group in the last memory but the blond guy is missing and in his place is some... mascot? Bear? It takes place in a bathhouse, but your double is the only one dressed for the mind-numbingly oppressive heat and humidity. By the end of the double's diatribe you feel so overwhelmed by mortification and anger that your voice cracks and you're about to cry.
When you yell that your double isn't you ("Nu-uh! No way! There's no way in hell that you're me!"), you lose all of your energy and hit the floor, flat on your back. As you're staring at the ceiling, you hear your double saying one last thing- "I am a shadow, the true self! I'm just being true to myself. And that's why I'll get rid of anything in my way!"
And then you pass the fuck out.
Reaction:
- The hell does that asshole think he is saying shit like that?
- Overwhelming mortification, terror, anger
- No one can see this
- Ever.
- ...wait did that guy just say he was a shadow?
Effects:
- Defensiveness up: Everything. Ever. This memory hit everything from his sewing to his sexuality, nothing is safe anymore.
- Knowledge up: History (personal) - Broad strokes at being bullied in the past
- Memory unlocked: "I am thou..." (05/23)
Shard 4
Regained: 144, Nyssa - Participated
Summary:I am thou, thou art I- The conclusion of the shadow confrontation and the unlocking of Take-Mikazuchi. Watch from 28:00 to 31:35.
This memory continues immediately from the last, with you regaining consciousness in that bathhouse, surrounded by the same group of teens, all holding various makeshift weapons. The heat of the bathhouse is still overwhelmingly oppressive, and it takes some effort to get back to your feet. On the ground, a little ways ahead of the group, is the shadow, face down on the ground. It starts to get up as you do, glowing a dark blue. Around you, the group of teens start reacting- 'It's still coming at us!' '[Kanji]'s still rejecting it!'- but you really can only watch it as it stands, before it starts to talk again.
It's the same as before- first the shadow starts to try the gay route- but you're too tired, too worn out for it to work. It actually bothers headphones more than it does you. Then, it tries something new- 'I don't care who- Won't someone, anyone, please accept me?" You try cutting him off, but the shadow continues, voice raising in a shout- "Accept me for who I am!"
Beside you, the guy in headphones starts blabbering about not swinging that way- and you snap, bolting forward to punch your shadow in the face, knocking it to the ground.
"Yeah, I know. I've known all this time I had something like you! It ain't a matter of guys or chicks- I'm just scared shitless of being rejected. I'm a total pansy who tries to make everyone hate me."
Someone behind you- Silver, maybe, says something.
You snort in response. "You make it sound like you got it all figured out." You turn back to your shadow, "C'mon, get up. Anyone who looks like me, I know they ain't so weak that they can't take a punch." The shadow gets to his feet, and you take a breath, continuing on. "I already know you're me. You're me, and I'm you, damnit!"
The shadow meets your eyes for a brief second- then the light surrounding it brightens as it surges upwards, changing form into a giant robot, holding a massive lightening bolt. A voice rings in your head, "I am thou, and thou art I. I am Take-Mikazuchi. I will accompany you to the end."
It holds that form for a second longer, and then melts away entirely, the light coalescing into the form of a card. The card drops, holding in front of you long enough to see the design, before vanishing entirely.
The adrenaline that had been keeping you going vanishes, dropping you to the ground again.
The trip back to the real world goes by in a daze- several floors of bathhouse, an endless expanse of mist filled void, what looked like the back lot of some TV studio, and then the electronics section of your local Junes. You get a promise of an explanation at a later date, and then stumble back home.
Reaction:
- ...what
- No really, what the hell?
- DID I JUST PUNCH MY SHADOW IN THE FACE?
- WAS THAT A GIANT ROBOT?
Effects:
- Skill unlocked: Persona: Summon
Skill 3
This skill allows you to summon the persona card Take-Mikazuchi. On summoning the card, you are aware of several things:
This is an Emperor Arcana.
It is Lightening/Physical type
It is a twenty foot tall robot
It possesses one starting skill, the lightening attack Zio, which uses 4 SP.
To summon said persona, destroy the card! ...unfortunately, only those who have a matching arcana/are wildcards can actually summon him, so all attempts to destroy said card will fail.
Shards unlocked: All of them.
Shard 5
Regained: 146, Waldemar/Lilith - Participated
Summary: Just a whole lot of confusing shit, plus some minor info dumping. Watch from 15:55 to 22:52. As always, names are fuzzed.
This memory starts in a mall's cafeteria, with that same group of teenagers as in the last few memories- plus the blond, some new guy in a blue hat, and another new girl, this one in an unaltered school uniform. You're gathered around the newspaper, first discussing the weather- a thick set fog that people are concerned might be hazardous. The blond mentions that it reminds him of the fog on the 'other side', but other than that, you're all clueless.
Blue notices another item- a piece on a lead murder suspect. "There's another item of note here… A summary of Namatame's career, with details about the case. …The suspect was having an affair with the first victim. It seems she was killed due to relationship troubles. Also in April, Ms. Saki Konishi's body was discovered. The police are looking into a motive for the murder. In July, a boy living in Inaba performed a copycat murder. The boy was initially thought to be the culprit behind all the killings, but later suspicion was thrown upon Namatame. Last month, the suspect attempted to kidnap a seven-year-old girl of Inaba, resulting in his arrest…"
Somehow, all of this information is not only known to your group, but leads to a discussion on how you know the suspect is guilty, but you're worried about how the police will make the case, seeing as how the murders are all tied to 'the TV world'. Blue seems to know the most about how the police works, which leads to this discussion:
Red: Also, I heard before that if the police don't have enough hard evidence, it's difficult to build a case.
Blue: Yes. There are many such cases and culprits. It's the eternal conundrum for crime investigators.
Ochre: So even if they're caught, the law can't do shit?
Blue: ...It's a possibility.
Ochre: Hell's up with that!? We all know he did it. You can't just let a maniac who thinks he's saving people by killing them run wild on the streets!
Headphones: They better not dismiss something this serious because of some mental issues. Saki-senpai... No. Not just her, or that announcer. Even King Moron is his fault. If it weren't for what he did, nobody would've tried a copycat killing. It's his fault Nanako-chan's in the hospital right now, too...
This seems to remind Silver that he had a promise to the girl in the hospital to pick up a new Kotatsu, and as a group you move to that section of the store, latching onto that promise as a way to cheer up.
Once you're there, the blond seems down, asking "Can I still stay here? You kept your promise to me, so I should be going back... But I don't want to go until Nana-chan gets better"
This leads to the group as a whole reassuring the blond that, yes, he is still welcome to stay, and even though [Nanako] was injured, she'll get better, and that they couldn't have caught the killer without him.
After that, there's a discussion of a welcome home party for [Nanako], the possibility of charging [Nanako's] gifts to Headphones again, Headphones and Green squabbling, and whether or not the girls should make a cake. Spirits are generally high as Silver gets a phone call.
Reaction:
- ...wow that's an info dump
- So, there was a killer. And we brought him in. But in the process of bringing him in, someone was injured?
- Also, why can't the police know about 'the TV world'?
- Where is the blond from?
- Who are these new people?
- WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN THIS MEMORY?
Effects:
- Rank up: teamdere
- Knowledge up: Japanese life and basic everyday customs
- Memory unlocked: "Can't believe this is happening..." (12/03)
Shard 6
Regained: 150/151, Haunt and Isabel - Participated
Summary: Revival beads are expensive, senpai.
"Yosuke's down!"
Kanji scowled as he heard Teddie's panicked cry- they'd all been effected by the Mamudo, but it had only hit Yosuke, and the way he was crumpled on the ground left nothing to the imagination.
"Senpai, I got this!"
Yu nodded, and he and Yukiko moved in to cover him as he ran to Yosuke, the pair drawing the beetle's attention away from Kanji and trying to take it down before it can send out another Mamudo.
Kanji pulls a string of beads from his pocket, gripping it tightly in one hand, while the other goes to check Yosuke's pulse- nothing.
Yoskue was dead.
"Damn it, Yosuke-senpai!" Kanji unknotted the string, pulling one bead off carefully. Behind him, Yukiko set the beetle on fire, and Kanji tucked the string of beads back in his pocket, before shoving the bead in Yosuke's mouth.
The effects were instantanious, a bright blue light flairing around Yosuke's body as his head started back up, and he took in a ragged breath of air, bruises fading and cuts healing.
By the time the light faded away, Yosuke looked, if not as good as new, then no where near death.
"Stop dying on us, Senpai!" Kanji pulled Yosuke to his feet before summoning Take-Mikazuchi, jumping back into the fray with a slightly ragged looking Jiraiya at it's side.
Reaction:
- ...what?
- Okay, so we fought. Things.
- And died.
- Often enough that my reaction was annoyance and irritation, not, you know, fear and panic.
- One hit kill attacks are bullshit.
-Hey, so that's what their personas look like! Headphones', Red's, and Silver's,
Effects:
- Knowledge up: Fighting with Take-Mikazuchi
- Rank up: disregard for life/death
- Memories unlocked: None
Shard 7
Regained: 152, Nyssa - Participated
Summary: Ochre makes a discovery! From 12:55 to 15:03
This memory features- well, actually the entire group from the last one. You're walking to school together, and dear god it's foggy out today. And, based on what people are saying- every day, recently. It's bad enough out that people are going out in groups, for safeties' safe. Soon after your group meets up with the missing two members- Headphones and Silver- the newer girl, Pigtails, makes an observation:
Pigtails: It really is hard to see anything in this, though. It's just like on the other side.
Which, huh. You put on the pair of glasses that, yes, you were wearing in the last memory. That- makes the fog vanish?
Ochre: Wha-? G-guys, put on your glasses!
The others all put on a pair of glasses, and react in shock as they can suddenly see again.
Red: Whoa... It's all clear...
Headphones: Wh-what the hell is going on?
Blue: These glasses are meant to help us see through the fog in the other world... But putting that aside, no glasses would improve one's visibility in a fog, under normal circumstances.
Green: Then, um... Could the fog from over there be leaking into our world?
There's a collective moment of 'Oh shit!'
Green: Huh? Y-you guys think that's it? I-I was kinda expecting you to ignore it as Chie being random again... It's just a thought...
She trails off into awkward laughter as the mood darkens. Headphones changes the subject- evidently today's the last day of finals, and they really need to get to the school. You make a plan to meet at the 'special headquarters' after your exams, and start towards the school this time with complete visibility.
Reaction:
- Well, I did a thing? I don't know what that thing was, but I did it!
- Oh. Yeah. We were all wearing glasses in that last memory, weren't we?
- ...'special headquarters'?
Effects:
- Name unlocked: Green is now known to be Chie. All other names continue to sound like TV static.
Skill 4
It's a skill card containing Media. SP cost 7.
Shard 8
Regained: 158, Knut - participated
Summary: FUCK THE POLICE. Watch from 2:02 to 4:27
This memory has Ochre and Silver eating in a restaurant, making small talk, when a man in a suit comes in. He immediately recognizes Ochre, calling him by name- which is, as always, fuzzed out, and demanding to know what he's up to, because there's been disturbances in the area. When Ochre defends himself, the cop leaves the restaurant, saying he'll find someplace else to leave. Ochre, resigned to this kind of treatment from the police, apologizes to Silver, explaining that he's tired of making trouble for those he's with.
Silver points out that the best way to make sure that happens is to change immediately, and Ochre agrees, firmly set on a new course.
There's also the line "I'm gonna renovate your ass!" because the Aiya's owner is a troll. A troll who calls Ochre 'Kan-chan', so clearly they know each other.
Reaction:
- Fuck the police
- I finally have a name! ...kind of.
- No but seriously, fuck the police.
Effects:
- Authority issues +20
- Cop issues +20
- Name partially unlocked- 'Kan-chan'. No one can know.
Shard 9
Regained: 160, The Rotten - Participated
Summary: Childhood montage
This is a montage of childhood memories, from when Ochre was about 6 to when he was 11. Mostly time spent with his parents in the fabric shop they run, learning about different times of fabric and thread, how to sew and knit, crochet and embroider. There's some memories of school, lots of playing with other children, mostly girls, and a couple memories of playing in street with a blond haired boy, and a girl with long black hair, who looks like a younger version of Red from his other memories.
All in all, it looks like he had a pretty solid, happy childhood. Also, a lot of the not-teacher adults in this memory call him Kan-chan, as well as a name that is blurred.
Reaction:
- Huh.
- So, that's what my parents looked like.
- We own a shop? That's- really cool actually.
Effects:
- Rank up: familial pride, affection
- Knowledge up: history (personal) - childhood up until age 9
- Knowledge up: history (town) - main street, and the people who own shops on it. No names, but his parents were good friends with a lot of them.
Skill 5
You now know how to sew- both on machine and by hand. Plushies, quilts, bags, rips, tears, seams, patches, some embroidery and applique, basic knowledge about fabric and thread types- it’s all ridiculously easy to put together with a needle and thread. There’s a couple gaps missing- something in the polycotton and clothing areas, but you now know enough to deal with the everyday wear and tear a team like Tiamat puts on their uniforms, if not quite enough to make a set on your own.
Shard unlocked: Tailoring
Shard 10
Regained: 168, Kynigos - Participated
Summary: We found the killer, asshole that he is. From 13:59 to 17:32
Ochre drags the boy through the TV with Headphones’ help, landing in the electronics section of the Junes.
It’s abandoned, thankfully, and as the stranger collapses to the floor in a heap, questioning where he is, you all surround him, blocking him from view from the rest of the store.
He doesn’t seem to notice Silver’s response, continuing to mutter to himself, seemingly exhausted “Why... am I here? What the hell are you guys…? S-stop it. Why did the TV-”
Chie looks like she’s starting to get worried by his incoherency, and the mascot cuts in quickly, and from the voice, he’s apparently the blond from before. “You seem confused from everything that happened. But we have a bunch of questions for you. First off, why did you do all this? Answer in ten words or less!”
The boy: “What the hell? Is that a costume? What a loser… Get outta my face, you freak.”
The blond takes that less than well, actually growling in anger.
Headphones takes a moment to calm the blond down, and Silver steps back in, asking if the boy did- it.
The boy: “Get off my back… I already told you… I did it.”
Pigtails: “Why? How could you do such a thing?”
Chie: “Three people are dead because of you.”
The killer: “Everyone’s talking about it, right? It’s a huge deal, and I did it! All of it! All by myself!”
This just pisses everyone off.
Headphones: “You just wanted the attention?”
Red: “Then why did you target me and the others? How did you kidnap us?”
The killer: “Whoa- look who it is... Hey Yuki. After all this time... now you wanna talk to me? What bullshit.”
Red: “Answer me! If you held a grudge against me, that’s fine… But why the others?”
The killer: “What a joke… You’re so desperate it hurts. I didn’t care who I attacked. Everyone pisses me off.”
Headphones: “You what? Gotta be kidding me! You killed Senpai over nothing? ...you son of a bitch!”
Ochre’d been quiet through this, all of this, but finally he steps forward out of the semicircle surround the killer, getting up into his face.
Ochre: “I hope you’re ready to get what’s comin’ to you…”
The killer: “What, you gonna kill me?”
Red seems shocked, calling Ochre’s name, which is fuzzed still
Ochre takes another step forward, pulling the killer up from the floor by the front of his shirt.
Ochre: “Kill you? It ain’t gonna be that easy, you piece of shit. What you did can never be taken back. No, you’re gonna own up to your crimes and pay for what you did. You ain’t gonna be allowed to kick the bucket until you understand exactly what it is you’ve done!”
Ochre drops the killer back to the ground, and Headphones is growing increasingly hysterical.
Headphones: “Why, damnit? Why did she have to die because of this bastard?”
Ochre: “Dude- the cops.”
Headphones: “Huh?”
Ochre: “What are you waiting for? Call the damn police!”
Headphones: “Y-yeah… You’re right…”
Chie: "Yoskue..."
Reaction:
- Holy shit we found the killer!
- And he's an asshole, kinda figures
- Part of Red's name is 'Yuki' but she seems to really hate that
- Headphones must have been really close to his senpai
- Headphones' has a name!
Effects:
- Name unlocked: Yosuke
- Name partially unlocked: Yuki
- Rank up: sense of justice
- Rank up: moral code
- Decrease to belief that all cops are assholes
- Decrease to authority issues
- Knowledge up: travel to TV realm - we can only enter and exit through this particular TV
Skill 6
This shard contains all the knowledge and skills needed by the heir of a small family business. Everything's here, from running the till and dealing with clients and supply sources, to balancing the books and taking inventory.
Shard 11
Regained: 172, Units - didn't participate
Summary: Not the worst of his signegs, but it's up there
You're 12, maybe 13, and you're playing out by the shrine with your friend from three stores down. You had a fight with your dad, and you're trying not to think about it, instead focusing on convincing your friend to help you find the shrine fox- you're sure if you look behind the actual shrine building, he'll be back there.
Just as you convince your friend to go look with you, the man who runs the Chinese restaurant down the street, one of your parent's friends, comes running into the shrine, looking for you. "Your father- the hospital-"
The next hour or so is a blur of panic, ending in a hospital room, and a monitor that was already flat lining when you got there. The doctors are explaining what happened to your mom over your head as she clings to your shoulders, but all you can do is stare at the ground, not able to bring yourself to look at the face you were yelling at three hours ago.
Shard 12
Regained: Iota - Participated
Summary: Did someone say dumb crush? No? Feel the dokis anyway. From 26:04 to 27:39
It's an absolute downpour out- and you forgot your umbrella. At some point in your headlong dash from your home to the school, you pick up Yosuke, and the two of you are making good time when you run into Silver and Blue- almost literally.
"Sorry to barge in!" Yosuke takes absolutely no time in sliding in under Silver's umbrella, and you give a short, nervous glance at Blue before focusing over on Silver.
"M-make room for me too!"
Yosuke turns scowling. "This one's already full, dumbass! Get Naoto to make room under hers."
Blue- Naoto- nods, "By all means ####. You'll catch a cold at this rate, if you don't."
It's like all of the blood in your body's rushing to your face, and you know everyone can see you blushing, and that just pisses you off all the more, "Wha... Me and her under the same umbrella-? Ta hell with that!" Then, quieter, mumbling as you glance away from everyone "If I did that, um, that'd mean... W-we'd practically be like a couple!"
Even though you aren't actually looking at him, you can actually feel Yosuke's eyeroll. "And that's a problem because? Dude, how old are you?"
"Shut up! C'mon, let's trade spots!"
"...you know how stupid that sounds, right? Well, that's fine with me. Naoto, mind if I walk with you?"
You shoot another short glance at Naoto- and then what Yosuke said clicks "H-Hey, who're you callin' stupid? Stop talkin' shit about me!"
"Ugh, will you just make up your mind?"
Naoto pipes up again, looking awkward, "I don't mind making room for whoever..."
Silver, looking unamused, offers to go with Naoto himself, if it meant they could move on.
"A third choice? Not what I expected, but I have no objections."
A glance at Naoto shows that she's blushing, like all girls do when around Silver, and you just snap, frustrated, "Damnit, I don't need an umbrella in a damn drizzle like this! I'll show you all how it's done!"
With that, you bolt past them towards the school, soaked, embarrassed, and frustrated.
Shard 13
Regained: 183, Haunt - Participated
Summary: What the hell
No seriously, what the hell.
That's the entirety of the memory- You're on a stage, surrounded by Shadows- and they're strong shadows, there's no way you'll be able to get out of there in one piece with a crowd that large. Even so, you're feeling cocky about it, and tell Pigtails to cue you up. Suddenly, music fills the room and you start dancing, the Shadows stopping their arrhythmic jerking and start moving to the music, to your movements. Part of the way through the song Pigtails jumps in, and lends a hand, and your combined dancing seems to snag the shadows further and further away from the main group.
By the time the song ends, all the shadows were dancing along to the music, and they all, the entire crowd, shatter into blue glass and disappear.
Reaction:
- What
- No, really, what the hell
- Why are the shadows tied up in yellow ribbon?
- Why are we dancing?
- What the hell is going on?
Effects:
- Strangely enough, level up in teamdere.
Skill 7
You feel like you can take on the world- like it'll take a lot more to damage you.
Ochre was already a damage sponge, but even now it'll take more to knock him off his feet.
Shard 14
Omurice, writeup to come later.
Shard 15
Info dump
Shard 16
Regained: 190, Nyssa - Participated
Summary:
From 5:24 to 16:03
The memory starts in what can only be only be described as an empty strip club- if a strip club regularly allowed five teenagers bearing weapons to go charging through. When you approach the curtain ahead, the blond's voice rings out in your head.
Blond: I think the girl named Rise is ahead of here. But I'm not certain.
You all go charging in to find- two of Pigtails, Rise. One's dressed like a shopping clerk, and on her knees, while the other's in a bikini and leaning against a stripper's pole.
Chie: There it is!
Headphones: Look, the real one's here too!
The shadow Rise, the one leaning against the pole, turns to look at you all and laughs.
Shadow Rise: They're all watching! All eyes are on me now!
Rise: Stop it!
Shadow Rise: Aw! What's the matter? You wanna show your stuff, don'tcha? Hows this?
The shadow grabs a hold of the pole behind her and starts spinning on it while the real Rise protests.
Shadow Rise: Oh, she wants me to stop. That's so funny! As if that's eve close to what you're really thinking, you little skank! You're me! And obviously, I'm you!
The real Rise can't even look at her shadow while she continues to deny it.
Shadow Rise: C'mon, look! You can't tear your eyes away! This is me! This is who I really am! Not Risette, the fake celebrity! Look at the girl right in front of you! I'm sick of being some airhead cliche who chokes down everything she's fed and takes it all with a smile! "Risette"? Who the hell is she? There's no such person in this world! I'm no one but myself! C'mon, look at me!
The real Rise protests again, while the Shadow continues to gyrate against the pole.
Shadow Rise: Well then, I guess it's time to prove it. I'm gonna show it all off! Let my naked truth be burned into your brains!
At that, the real Rise rises to her feet.
Rise: Stop- Stop it! You're-
Chie: No, don't say it!
Rise: You're not me!
The Shadow rise starts to laugh, moving on the pole even faster.
Shadow Rise: Here it comes! Now, I'm finally myself!
What looks like a cloud of black and red gathers around the Shadow, and when it dissipates, Rise is flat on her back, and the Shadow Rise is nowhere to be seen, and in it's place is- this.
Shadow Rise: I am a shadow... The true self... And now for the moment you've all been waiting for! It's time for me to show you every last inch of myself! And for our guests in the front row... I'll give you extra-special, extra-intense service!
Ochre: So I was like this too? Oh man...
Shadow Rise: Oh? You're going to rush the stage? What an ill-mannered guest... Maybe you're looking for an experience that's a little more intense?
While she's talking, you're able to get a round of attacks in, for what little good they seem to do.
Shadow Rise: Enjoying yourself? I've got a ways to go until I show my true self.... You ain't seen nothin' yet!
She lets off a round of attacks, and just seems pissed in general that you aren't all downed yet.
Shadow Rise: What? I dealt all that exquisite pain and you're still not satisfied? What a finicky guest... You might as well die then!
A grid of green light appears around you all, one by one.
Shadow Rise: No touching allowed!
Your attacks won't hit, and all you can do is brace yourself for round after round of attacks, Mazio, Magaru, Mazio again...
Shadow Rise: I can see everything about you!
Chie: What's the deal? Our attacks aren't making a dent!
Headphones: Damn, it's like it's anticipating our every move...
Blond: I- I'm completely useless...
The shadow lets out another grid of green energy, enveloping the entire room.
Headphones: What the-?
Blond: That power... I think it's scanning us! Oh, this is not good!
Ochre: When you say "not good," what exactly does that mean?
Shadow Rise: Woohoo! Analysis complete! Okay, here comes my counterattack! See if you can dodge, hm?
Blond: Stop it!
A bright light appears, knocking you all to the ground.
You're hurt- bad- and Red asks the question you're all thinking.
Red: Are we... going to die?
Blond: No! You guys can't die! What can I do? Sensei...
Silver looks over, telling Blond to help them.
Blond: But how can I help? Am I going to be all alone again? No. That's not what I want!
Another pulse of green light goes out.
Ochre: Shit! It's winding up again!
Blond: I- I-
Shadow Rise: Okie dokie, here we go again! Goodbye, forever!
Headphones: Aw shit, it's coming!
At that, something in the blond snaps, and he moves out in front of you and your friends, looking entirely harmless in his weird bear costume.
Blond: M- my body's moving on it's own! W- why am I stepping forward? I- I feel like I'm going bear-serk! I'll do it! Take a good look... at Teddie's last stand!
His body starts to glow, and the Shadow Rise seems entirely distracted by it.
Shadow Rise: This high-energy reading... Is it coming from that weird thing?
Ochre: Teddie! The hell are you doing?
Teddie doesn't respond, just growls and bolts forward.
The memory ends in a flash of brilliant white.
Shard 17
Regained: 194, Iota - Participated
Summary:
You're in the back room of the fabric shop, putting away deliveries. You're sorting through a box of blue fabric when the delivery door's buzzer rings- it's probably the last one of the day.
Jotting down a quick mark to remind yourself where you left off- the PKL Teal- you go to answer the door.
After that, everything's a blurr. There's a bright white light, and then you're falling into darkness.
Reaction:
- Did- did I just die?
Skill 8
Shard 18
Regained: 195, Rotten - Participated
Summary:
This memory takes place in what looks like a music room in a school- if the music room was abandoned and possibly haunted. The pictures on the walls all have glowing eyes, there’s caution tape stretched across the door and papers are tacked up against the chalkboard to spell out ‘P 1’.
The window shatters, and someone leaps through- an older teenager. He’s got a gun and a knife- as well as being shirtless, wearing a cape, and is covered in scars.
“What the-? Who’re you?”
The stranger’s eyes widen- “You’re that guy from the video…”
You’re a little too occupied by sheer confusion to respond to his weirdass comments- “Didn’t you just come falling from up there? What’s going on? Answer me!”
The stranger ignores you.
Again.
“I remember now. You’re the- the ‘Bloodcurdling Beefsteak Emperor’!”
That just pisses you off all the more. “Hell no! C’mon, did you even try to remember my name?”
“So that P-1 Grand Prix thing has already started.” This guy is really starting to get on your nerves. He walks past you towards the door, before stopping, hands hitting the air like there’s a wall. He backtracks to the window he’d come in through, and does the same thing, before turnign back to face you. “...Hey, take off your clothes.”
What.
“Wh-what the hell? How can you just ask that straight out?”
“What’s wrong with that I said? Won’t it be hard to maneuver wearing that?”
“M-maneuver?”
“What are you all flustered for? I’m talking about your jacket. If you don’t wear it right, it’ll get in your way during the fight.”
Oh.
Oh.
“My jacket? Couldn’t you have just said that to begin with? There’s no real meaning behind this, it’s just how I wear it.”
“It’s plain weird.”
“Says the guy who’s half naked except for a cape!”
A tv turns on in the corner, and Teddie appears, berating the stranger and giving you a couple minutes to regain your level head. For a moment there, you’d really thought he’d-
No, head in the game.
“You keep sayin’ the weirdest crap. Guess I’ll just have ta make you leave! Let’s get this started, capey!”
“What, now you’re interested? Alright… Come and get me!”
The rest of the memory is just dumb backtalk, and then you jump the guy, leading into a fight.
Reaction:
- ??????
- ????????????
- WHAT????
Shard 19
Regained: 198, Swallowtail
Summary:1:33:06-1:37:31
There’s a bright light, and Lapis asking- “Did that do it?”
When the light fades, you are standing on a stage. In the center is an unfamiliar girl.
Pigtails and Lapis bolt towards her, while you and Blond hang back.
The girl- ‘Nozomi’, looks like she’s been through hell. ‘I-I ran away. Again. Why am I always like this?’
Blond- In that damn bear outfit again- pipes up. ‘Nozo-chan! It’s okay! You got what we were trying to tell you, that’s all that matters!’
Pigtails chimes in, “Yeah, no feeling down! I’m so glad you’re safe. What more can I ask for?”
Nozomi seems a little stunned, her voice hushed- “Really? I- I’m horrible at talking to people. I’m always… like this, when I’m out of character.”
Lapis nods, “If that’s how you are, then I think it’s perfectly fine. You should be proud of it, and tell everyone.”
Nozomi falters, then nods, still quiet. “Okay. I’ll try. I-I’ll do my best.”
You can’t keep from commenting. “Man, even bugs are louder than her. You sure she’s gonna be okay?”
Nozomi gives you a look, and you frown in confusion. “Huh? Wh-what?”
She falters, then, screwing her face up in determination blurts out- “You’re mean. Scary.”
Which- What? “What was that?”
Pigtails bursts in, berating you. “####! Why are you like that? Be nice to Nozomi.”
Lapis joins in as well. “That’s right, ####-kun. Can’t you see she’s trying to change?”
“Wha- Wait, why am I bein’-”
Pigtails cuts you off again. “No excuses! Nozomi’s trying her best, so work with her!”
“Argh, fine, whatever, just shut up!” You shift your gaze from the girls to Nozomi, feeling awkward having been berated like that, “So, uh- Well… K-Keep at it, alright? I’m rootin’ for ya!”
Nozomi lights up, grinning, and then walks over to you, looking you right in the eyes as she says “...I’ll do my best! Thank you!”
“Wha-” You can feel yourself blushing, and you find yourself sputtering, getting louder defensively. “S-stop lookin’ at me like that! So you’re happy! I get it! Th-that’s enough, dammit!”
Nozomi winces, “Scary again!” and you flinch, not sure how to fix this.
Unfortunately… Blond chooses now to enter the conversation. “Non non non! Nozo-chan, let me give you a lecture on how a guy’s heart works. ### is just embarrassed, that’s all! It’s hard to see past his crude demeanor, but he really does accept you! So there’s absolutely no reason to be scared of him!”
Nozomi looks like she’s realizing something, and Pigtails chimes in. “That’s right! ###’s pretty bad at expressing his feelings, too. He’s such a handful…”
You can’t take this any more. “Wha- Sh- Shut up, you two!”
That’s when everything goes even more confusing.
“Then... You like me?”
The noises that come out of your mouth cannot be referred to as ‘words’.
Nozomi scrambles over her words, voice growing quieter and quieter as she speaks. “Y-You’re embarrassed, right? So- I wondered if.. I was your type.. and I uh- Scary.”
Lapis and Blond seem stunned. “That was beyond jumping to conclusions. I’m not sure how to process this...”
“Hm, she really is something else when it comes to talking. That was a classic communication breakdown!”
You turn on them like the worthless friends they are. “Hey, stop gawkin’ and help me out! And you!” You turn back to Nozomi, “The hell was that ‘scary’ at the end? Doesn’t make sense!”
At that the atmosphere grows dark, and a voice cuts through.
“Ah, Nozomi, you have been poisoned as well.”
You all shift, slightly; getting ready to jump into battle again.
“You’re still here? I won’t forgive you for putting Nozo-chan through all this!”
“There’s no need to get so worked up. If you’re not interested in a bond with us, that’s fine. Do whatever you like.”
The atmosphere brightens again as the voice finishes.
“Ugh, that punk just up and left again-”
And then there’s another flash of light as a door appears to the side of the stage.
Shard 20
Regained: Nafuna game
Summary:
19:55-20:38
This memory's less than a minute long- started at the tail end of a conversation with Lapis, and cutting off right before you enter the fabric shop, but what a hell of a lot of crap got packed into that minute.
Reaction:
- ????????
- ???
- ???????????
- What?
- Why was I chasing the IT away? What happened in that conversation? What's going on?
Re: Skills
You now can cook without burning things.
Congrats!
Shard 21
Regained: 202, Eloise, didn't participate
Summary: No, seriously, we don't.
Once the battle's done, Ochre holds back, snagging Yosuke by the arm as the others move forward, checking the contents of the chest.
"Yosuke, the hell was that?"
Yosuke shifts, groaning. "Just don't ask, we don't know."
"Yeah, but did he haveta use it? Seriously, the hell was that shit?"
"Look, we don't talk about the Incubus, okay?"
Shard 22
Regained: 210
Summary:
This is a short memory of helping Nanako with her summer art homework.
Skill 10
You are now okay at video games!
...just okay, though, don't get too cocky.
Shard 23
Regained: 215, Nafuna
Summary: Social link, start!
0:00 to 1:10
Reaction:
- Of course people think I'm part of some- gang of bullies.
- Shit, senpai's a good guy
Effects:
- SL upgrade: Silver senpai
- Rank up: Teamdere
Shard 23
Regained 216, Iota
Summary
0:55 to 1:08
Shard 24
Regained: 225
Summary: Here from 7:38 to 8:23
Highlights:
The memory starts with you using your own health to strike at the multi-limbed creature, and Rise's voice in your ear asking if you're okay.
There's not really a lot of choice to toe be okay, because it' pretty obvious that everyone- Silver-Senpai, Yukiko, Headphones, and yourself, are all in rough shape. You've been fighting this creature for what feels like hours, and there's that familiar worn feeling of too many heals in too short a time.
Yukiko uses what has to be the last of her mana to cast a full heal- on everyone, and the tired leaves your bones. You can do this.
"Goodbye... Accept the reality of your death"
The monster moves and suddenly Headphones is flyign across the room, knocking Silver out of the way of the blow- except it wasn't an attack, not really, and the floor opens up beneath him, dark hands coming up to grab Headphones and drag him under.
Just as quickly, the floor seals, and the spell is gone- and Headphones with it.
Rise's gasp of horror rings in your ears, and you have less than a second to recognize that the creature's casting the spell again before you're moving, lunging to kick Silver-Senpai out of the way.
The last thing you hear as exhaustion takes your body and you drop to your knees, getting pulled under the ground by a thousand grasping hands is Rise screaming your name.
"Kanji, no!"
Effects:
- Willingness to die for the team increased by about 1000%
- Name unlocked (for real)
- Yosuke's name unlocked
- what the fuck is that thing holy shit holy shit holy shit