what is the sesame street number of the day??

[halfmoon]

Who: Makoto Yuuki & others [closed]
*** This is for pre-plotted threads, but anyone is welcome to contact me if they would like a thread with Makoto! lazdo
When: August 15 (Full Moon)
Where: Around the city
What: Makoto's first full moon brings with it some uncomfortable changes.
Warnings: suggestive sexual themes in threads with Fuuka and Iramaat, NSFW in thread with Eren

Prompts in comments!

Comments

[halfmoon]

Makoto nods. He thinks he understands what he means as "the same one as me," too.

"I went to school on Tatsumi Port Island, in Yokohama, before coming here," he says, dancing around where exactly he's from. There's a half dozen cities he's lived in over the past ten years, and none of them really felt like the place he's from.

"...in the year 2009, by the way. Since apparently people here can come from different times, too."

[scaling]

"I've heard of it. Yokohama is definitely familiar. I'm from 2016, though," Akira adds. That part doesn't surprise him too much. He's met people from a wide range of time periods. Even Akechi had arrived from a different point in their timeline.

It doesn't mean they're necessarily from the same reality, though. Even Souji, who had Personas just like him, came from a world (or a time?) where it manifested in a different way than the Metaverse.

"Yours have any weird superpowers?" He did meet someone with a Japanese name from a world like that. It's interesting to hear the differences.

[halfmoon]

The question is a little odd, but on further reflection, it's not that odd. Most Mirrorbound seem to arrive with complaints that they couldn't do everything they could do back home. Unless superpowers are a commonplace thing in 2016 Tokyo, but Makoto will guess that's not it.

"Sort of," he says slowly, looking away. Did Personas count as superpowers when they could only be used during the Dark Hour? Not including unfortunate souls like Shinjiro, whose Persona spent the daytime hours trying to go on a rampage. "Even if we technically still had them, I don't think they'd do anything here. The conditions aren't the same, and they're mostly just for killing these monsters called Shadows. I haven't seen a single one of them since coming here."

[scaling]

The explanation shifts his demeanor immediately. Before Akira can even try to temper it into something more subtle, the sharp edge of shocked recognition settles into his gaze. Shadows? There's no way this guy can also...

It's a pretty general name, isn't it? Even someone without knowledge of the Cwyld might look at the creatures it creates and dub them Shadows. But the first part makes him think that there's more to it than that. That's what his were for too, after all.

"... Is it called a Persona?"

[halfmoon]

Makoto's reaction is, maybe predictably, very similar. His expression of mild discomfort shifts into furrowed brows and narrowed eyes.

"Uh... yeah, it is," he says slowly. He doesn't look like he's wary or suspicious - he's just deeply, deeply confused. No possible explanation for this comes to mind. Unless, somehow, what happened with the Fall and SEES had become public knowledge by the year 2016 or something. Or maybe Akira had already met Fuuka or Shinjiro, and they told him?

"How did you know that?"

[scaling]

Akira almost has to laugh. What are the chances? Apparently better than he would think, given this is the second Persona user he's met here.

It raises even more questions, but one in particular is at the front of his mind: whether Makoto is like he and Souji. They're already established how observant he is, so it shouldn't be too hard to figure it out.

"Because I had them, too," he replies. The shock has faded away into a bright curiosity shining in his eyes.

akira: OH COOL!! makoto: *panic attack*

[halfmoon]

That's impossible. The Dark Hour is why Personas existed. When Makoto stopped the Fall and the Dark Hour disappeared, so did everyone's Personas. Even if this guy was another of Ikutsuki's chess pieces with the potential, and they just never learned about him, how could someone eight years later have a Persona?

As far as Makoto knows, there's really only one explanation for this, but it's so horrible that he skips straight over the denial, anger and bargaining. The Fall can't happen again so soon. Humanity can't be yearning for destruction again already. He couldn't have given up everything just for someone - someone who would've been Ken's age at the time! - to be going through the same episode all over again eight years later.

What if his friends are all going through it again, without him there to protect them?

In the very long pause that follows Akira's response, Makoto's face has turned white. He looks like he's been delivered the worst news of his life.

"When are you getting off work?" he asks, his voice completely flat.

[scaling]

The lack of response to his reveal is concerning, to say the least. Souji was surprised but seemed to share his sense of excited curiosity. Makoto, on the other hand... There's nothing like that on his face. There's nothing to be seen there, really—no, that's not true. Akira can see the color draining, a look rather appropriate for a vampire but obviously one that has nothing to do with that in this case.

What about that information freaked him out so bad?

"... Soon." Akira stayed to cover, but only for a little while. He plans to be home again before the moons get too high in the night sky. While not averse to risk in the least, that's not one he's willing to take.

Well, in most cases. The need to learn more about this overrides that feeling for now.

"Do you want to meet somewhere?"

[halfmoon]

Makoto swallows dryly. Panicking will do nothing in this situation, and who knows - maybe he's jumping to conclusions. The attempt at self-reassurance doesn't really work, but it does help him center himself enough to shake his head slowly.

"I need to bring these back," he says, looking down at the flowers. It's an excuse for the real reason, the problem he'd walked into this place with: not trusting himself around others right now. Akira is included in that, especially considering how close he'd come to snapping at him.

He heaves the three bouquets onto one arm so he can reach into his cloak and pull out his pocket watch.

"My user name is 'tatsuya'. Send me a message when you've got time to talk." He looks as if he's about to hurry out, but before he turns away, he adds, "Thanks for the discount."

[scaling]

He's really going to just run out after that? Akira's lips part as if a protest is about to burst forth, but he snaps his mouth shut again, thinking better of it.

The full moon probably isn't the best time for them to discuss this. He has so many questions for Makoto, most of all about why their shared ability made him so uncomfortable, but the vampire probably needs some time to process it himself. Not really the best time to do that when he's experiencing these changes.

"I'll text you," Akira acquiesces after a moment. He needs to get home before it gets too late as well. "No problem."

And with that, he raises a hand in a parting gesture. "Take care."