a winter labyrinth

[townmusician]

断ち切るしかないんだろ
注いだ冬は心のラビリンス
後戻りなんて出来ないから
やりきるしかないんだろ
黒い気持ちと手を繋いだって構わない
抱きしめたっていいh

I have to break free
This pouring winter is my heart's labyrinth
I can't go back anymore, so
I have to finish this
I don't care if you took my hand with dark motives
I want you to hold me close

Comments

[unweathered]

...

[ 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?

[prozaic]

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.]

[unweathered]

If you know that, it could be a trap.

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

[prozaic]

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.]

[unweathered]

[ Oh, hello. Thank you sir]

You're sounding like an old man now.

[prozaic]

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.

[townmusician]

[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.]

[unweathered]

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?

[prozaic]

[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.

[unweathered]

[ 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.

[prozaic]

[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.]

[unweathered]

[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!

[prozaic]

[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.]

[unweathered]

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.

[prozaic]

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.

[unweathered]

[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!]

[prozaic]

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.]

[unweathered]

[...SIR]

I thought you could sing.

[prozaic]

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?

[unweathered]

Do you think butchering his songs would lure him out?

[Hilarious if so.]

Or beating him at his own profession?

[prozaic]

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?]

[townmusician]

[The music is getting louder and louder, leading Shalem and Schneider to another set of doors. Just the one—a set of plain double doors, with nowhere else to go.

They've made it to the end of the maze.

They can either pass through the set of doors, or continuing exploring the maze if they want!]

[prozaic]

[Shalem looks over his shoulder at Schneider, giving her a quick nod, before he puts his hands on the doors to push them open. If there's one thing he appreciates about her, she's all business, and not at all phased by anything.]

[townmusician]

[The doors open, leading them into a backstage area. There's music coming from the stage itself, and hazy, shadowy figures in the area.

Most of them look like they've taken the form of staff, helping to make the concert(?) run smoothly. They haven't noticed Shalem, yet.]

[prozaic]

[Shalem just sidles right on in, straightening his clothes so he doesn't look like he's been running around or lying in the dirt. He's still following the music, his main priority. Ah, music, his first love.

The music Haruka specializes in may be contemporary, but that doesn't change the fact that they're both performers.]