Shattered Justice (A Persona Quest)

Koromaru is being very energetic today. He's always willing to go for a walk, if you want to, so long as you fill his bowl with water as soon as you get back, but some days, like today, he perks up whenever you come close to him, and runs over to you demanding attention.

Attention, or a chance to run off that energy outdoors. As soon as you make a mere suggestion of the possibility, Koromaru's already at the door, barking for you to hurry up already.

It's probably not a perfect translation, but that's the feeling you get when you look at him, eyes bright and tail wagging, so that's what you're taking it as.
So that's what it's like to be Aigis-san...
It's a nice day for a walk, anyway. The skies are clear, like they have been, for the most part, since shortly after you were born, and the air's warm enough that it's finally impossible to deny that spring has arrived.

The two of you have a route that you like to take, and you know that the others have their own ways that they tend to go, but today you take a slightly different path than usual.

You think you might regret it. Just a little.

Not for the places you go by. Those are fine. You might actually want to come by there again one day.

The person you encounter, though... that's what sets all your alarm bells ringing.

Aside from a gold-lined butterfly pin in her hair, she's not wearing any shade of blue. But that's not too much of a surprise. Her sister doesn't either, these days, whenever she goes outside. And you'd heard she was going to school. You recognize the uniform.
I mean, it'd be pretty strange if you didn't.
But Elizabeth-san is very much a not safe person to be around. Koromaru seems to notice, freezing in his tracks when she comes into view, the shade of blue in her hairpin unmistakable, as is the silver of her hair.

As is the gold in her eyes, when she turns around and sees you. You flinch under her gaze, knowing, without a doubt, that you have been recognized.

"Why, hello!" She greets you, with a smile that has nothing outwardly wrong about it but still leaves you uneasy. Maybe it's just the sense of crushing power that she carries. You can't quantify it, but it feels like she's gotten even stronger since the last time you met. "You... are a friend of Lavenza's, correct?"

You don't know why she sounds unsure. It's not like you've never encountered each other before. Maybe it's just that it was a long time ago, and it's easier to forget people who don't leave that impression of immense power.

Still, you nod, because she's your friend's sister and it's important to be polite. "That's right." You don't mention how Lavenza has been worried about her, that people are genuinely concerned she'll blow up something important, that her very existence will probably terrify anyone who has even the faintest chance of sensing her power. Odds are she already knows.
I mean, she tends to ignore things like worry and sanity easily enough... I'm not sure she ever showed up and didn't explode something.
Elizabeth-san gives a satisfied nod to that. "Oh, good. I'm glad I remembered correctly. It seems everything is... not quite the way I expected it would be." Her smile still hasn't faded. You think that might be the scariest part of all this. "It is good to see a familiar face."

That makes one of you.

Still, you should probably say something.

It'd be rude not to, after all.



[ ] You heard she left the Velvet Room without telling anyone. Why?

[ ] Why is she so excited to see you? You've only met once before this...

[ ] Where has she been, anyway? You know she's going to school, but other than that...