linkingup | a winter labyrinth

[He tilts his head towards her, as if to say "go on". Perhaps she'd seen a memory from when the Dream King still lived... And her expression implies it's not a good one.]

He was older though in the dream I saw.

[Frowning a little, as she looks around. Is there anywhere else for them to go?]

I suppose this is how they met.

[Dangit, no hot dream goss for him. He'll just have to extract the answer from Haruka himself later.]

This was clearly the beginning of his career... So, yes. It seems so. [Clutching the book of hymns to his chest, he shakes his head.

There's nothing more to see here, so he looks around for an exit, too.]

[There's forward, of course, onwards through the maze while snippets of an old conversation float by.

"Listen to me, Haruka. Even if the audience reacts positively to you, you mustn't let it move your heart. Even if they get happy, you mustn't get happy. Even if they get sad, you mustn't get sad. Even if they love you, you can't love them."

But... isn't it an idol's job to make people happy?

"Yes. But there's no need for those feelings to be mutual. It's fine if the audience is like a medicine to you, but once they turn to poison they'll like kill you."

Does that really happen...? Do fans really turn into poison...?

...

"The love, expectations, scorn, and disappointment of so many people is a devastatingly powerful experience. The more you want fans to love you, the more it hurts and crushes you when they don't. The more your fans expect of you, the harder it will be to stand when you betray those expectations. That's why you shouldn't feel anything.

"The happier you feel, the deeper you will fall into despair once that happiness is gone. That kind of pain is enough to change your life and who you are completely."

Okay. You understand, you'll do your best to not be moved by others, you'll be the kind of idol he wants—

...

But...

What... happened to making me your son...?

There's a fork in the hallway. They can choose to go left or right. There's the sound of music to the right, while the left is silent.]

...

[ Schneider's brow furrows and she folds her arms across her chest. Well, it's not bad advice. But for a child...]

Which way? Follow the music or go where it's quiet?

I think... music. Haruka has always loved it, after all.

[In this, he and Haruka are similar. Perhaps it's appropriate that they found each other.]

If you know that, it could be a trap.

[ Shalem seems to know Haruka well. Following the music then]

He has always been a brat, so I'm prepared for him to pull a fast one over us simply because his mind is like that.

[But he does cast a few Rakukajas on both of them just in case.]

[ Oh, hello. Thank you sir]

You're sounding like an old man now.

That's not the first time I've heard that among Braphine's chosen. Given how many are still children or younger adults, yes, I am old. Even if by my own homeland's standards, I am still quite young.

[Following the music, you head deeper into the heart of the labyrinth, more echoes of the past following you.

"To tell you the truth, you're a disappointment."

Fear and panic build up in you, shock hitting you.

"That was a lie. I have great expectations for you, Haruka."

And then it fades, though that relief... doesn't last long.

You're seventeen, now. You're fluent in English and you've already become a star, already been on stage performing in musicals. All you want is to make Kujou proud, to make him and your grandmother happy. All you want is to be wanted, for people to be glad you exist.

Have you managed to become the ideal idol...?

"No, and I doubt you ever will. I used the wrong methods... The audience will never be moved, no matter how amazing you are, because you feel nothing for the audience."

...What? But you did everything right, you did everything he said to do, and even if he apologizes for raising you wrong, you don't understand. Has everything up until then been a lie? None of your protests, none of your questions, even get acknowledged because you realize, now, that you never actually mattered.

"Will you head back to Japan? You can continue your lessons, but you'll never succeed. It's best to quit while you're ahead."

"I don't want to look at a failure like you any longer."

"Idols who feel nothing for their audience are such a twisted, sad, irritating thing."

"I thought you were no good, and it seems I was right. Tenn really is the only idol for me."

All along, he had already had a son. A son you would never surpass. What was... the point of all this?

You don't know. All you know is that you're going to get back at him.

...

And that's when the snare trap goes off, catching both Schneider and Shalem, pulling them upwards and dangling them upside down from the ceiling.]

Hm. Like some arcanists then.

[ Schneider is distracted by the rest of the memory but doesn't get to dwell on it before SNAP hanging by a snare]

...so you called blue boy a brat, right?

[Shalem doesn't really care for the snare trap because it could have been worse-- like a bear trap. So he just sighs and starts wriggling to get free (10). If only his tail could draw his katana but this is an awkward angle.]

He is a brat, and I have called him as such, so he knows it.

[ Schneider just stays still, still swaddled by the coat (4). She really should put herself the right way up though...]

Interesting choice of words, all things considered. [ is this what you call cradle robbing?? Schneider does not know or care]

But I can see why now.

Edited 2024-10-13 04:24 (UTC)

[Guess who finally remembers he has a Persona? His escape is delayed because of his garbage rolls on sign-up (3)... But he summons Orpheus, who shoots an Agi at the rope keeping him suspended.

And he flops onto the ground, hard. Ow. Okay.

Sorry, Schneider, he won't be responding to that comment because he's busy blinking the stars out of his eyes.]

[Oh. Hm. Schneider swings herself up to cut the rope with a pocket knife she keeps hidden but unfortunately, her extra long sleeves get in her way (9). Oops. She doesn't grab the rope in time and falls

Right onto Shalem's stomach. Enjoy the tiny 5'3" missile...at least she's fairly light]

Ooph!

Edited 2024-10-13 04:36 (UTC)

[Well, now he can't get up because there's a woman on his stomach! If only this was a man--

Well, there is a man he was regularly fucking but he's the owner of this damn place.

Shalem sighs heavily.]

It would be nice if we could draw him out now, but the adventure continues. Now, please get off.

[She is tiny and he is big. He can throw her off so easily, but he's being a gentleman and not moving. It's like having a cat in the lap.]

Since you did say 'please'.

[She bounces off with another word. Now if only it was a beautiful woman beneath her. Unfortunately this is sausage central.]

How would you plan on drawing him out? These people all behave differently once they create one of these palaces.

Haruka's attraction to me is strong enough that he'll forget how to function as a person at times. [Dropping the embarrassing Haruka lore here, as he picks himself up and dusts himself off, even taking the pilfered jacket off of his shoulders to shake it.] But first I need to know if he's actually paying attention, and if the Shadow shares that same attraction.

[He needs a few signs first, and not some damn traps.]

Hence, onward we go.

[There's something completely unimpressed in Schneider's expression but she appreciates his confident. Nodding in understanding]

Thinking that you could bait him with a bit of skin then?

[ And onward they go!]

It's already baited him before.

[It's going to work again! He's sure of it.

And as they walk, he catches more of the music, and attempts to hum along. Keyword being attempt.]

[...SIR]

I thought you could sing.

An unfamiliar tune such as this? I may have been trained as a performer like Haruka, but not in the same genres and styles. Give me a moment to learn it, hm?

Do you think butchering his songs would lure him out?

[Hilarious if so.]

Or beating him at his own profession?

We shall have to see about that. My actions also depend on the circumstances-- if succeeding in a performance is required to leave this maze, I will have to give it my all.

[But! Are they close to the source of the music? Is it growing stronger?]

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