Shin Persona Evangelion [NGE/Persona Fusion]

[Ultra Sonic 007]

This may seem like it's overdue, but based on a comment I recently received elsewhere, apparently the fact that there will be spoilers to both the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime and the events of various games in the Persona Series (including but not limited to Persona 3, Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4, and Persona 5) wasn't made clear just by how the plot has unveiled.

So I'm placing a sticky post for this message: if you have not watched the original Evangelion anime, or if you have not played the Persona games — especially P3, P4, P5, and their updated re-releases — then take note that this story contains spoilers to all of them. Read at your own risk.

/that should do it
//right?
///right??

 

[DragonUnitOmega]

All right! Almost missed this day since it was packed full of stuff I wanted to see...but I made it! And just as I expected, this day deserved its own review. -puts on review glasses- So let's begin the thirty first installment of Dragon Reviews and (Probably) Overanalyzes SPE.

7/16 Early Morning - 7/16 Evening: Tokyo-3

Everyone gets ready for the big day. Shinji wakes on time thanks to Rei, Misato doesn't wake on time because Mana is Mana, Toji likely more or less wakes up on time but with SPUNK as RyuKing picks him up and Zeruel goes "LET THE BOSS BATTLE BEGIN".

Once breakfast is consumed, Rei is watching and baiting, Misato and Akechi are supervising from the surveillance room, and Temp. Team RyuKing are on standby. Unfortunately, whole Rei predicted the Angel would be in a certain area, and hope to bait them, well...

...I didn't expect the same.

So I was not surprised to see Ramiel going "DIE" and go all sans's first turn on Shinji. Misato is, well, panicked but Akechi is in CHIEF MODE and so directs her to more productive things while he makes sure Shinji and everything else is as fine as he can make within his power.

Except all of a sudden we're Minato being Minato and just walking around calmly in Tokyo-3 after some exposition about how shelters and stuff works.

And just as sudden we're back to Akechi beginning to do his job. RyuKing thus gets a warning just in time to be ready for an oncoming Acolyte Shadow. Meanwhile the ones dealing with the Acolyte in the real world manage to wrangle it and...reveal themselves to be the P4 Sun and Strength links! Both options! Thankfully they're fine, for now, with Ayane assigned to shock the tied up sucker while Daisuke, Kou and Yumi go off.

Ramiel meanwhile is still Gaster blasting Shinji, until Rei and Lilith arrive, with the polygon Angel calling her "Lilith's Other Self". That has...way too many ways to be interpreted with the info we have and we're in the middle of a battle, so I'll let that lie. Because of her appearance, the laser stops, but Shinji sees Ramiel and Rei get pulled into his "Seat of Power" and in turn

It's basically a Reality Marble isn't it?
(sorry not sorry about making nasuverse comparisons )

And...nope, it ain't. From how Rei describes this realm, while simultaneously wishing she could reside within something similar, it sounds more comparable to the Velvet Room, before she has a little "talk" with Ramiel, mostly about the state the world has ended up in and how they're both making the "most" of it. Ramiel (and the Angels, not that I'm sure about how many besides the Angels and Kaworu know) meeking out their revenge. Rei fighting for a chance to change, and Ramiel thinking his (and his kin's) way is much better than Rei's. Just as they're about to square off though, Shinji finally catches up. Rei doesn't want him there but she doesn't exactly have a choice in the matter as Ramiel, after commenting on Shinji's predictability, fires and they gotta start dodge rolling evading.

But of course we cut back to the fight outside the Angel Realm, first with Temp. Team RyuKing dealing with Acolyte Shadow that had previously been show to be coming their way. As they work together, Toji wonders what's up with the CPC. We see what's up. It ain't good. Misato and the other Agents are holding plenty back, but plenty is not "all". Meanwhile, Mana, with some encouragement from her sisters, is now fighting an Acolyte in the real world for the first time. It's nothing compared to the Reaper and Shinji's Shogoki.

Once again, exposition about the world and the general reaction the public is having about the breach in containment with Minato Arisato before we're back with Mana dealing with the Acolyte. After quite a bit of fighting she...does manage to. But not without being stunned at her first kill, thus she's caught off guard when a new Acolyte shows up and blasts her through a wall. As she's gaining her bearings...

"...that look like it hurt."

Click to shrink...

...Minato arrives, to Mana's confusion, and then he reaches for AIGIS and LABRYS. Mana is just panicking...until he synchs and absolutely wrecks the Acolyte, standing unmoving and obliterating it, an Acolyte that had just thrown Mana away mere moments before.

Damn.

I'll admit I'm a bit worried of Minato just nonchalantly doing that with a witness, but as he dispenses advice that Mana has to grow too and reminds me of RyuKing's advice when he talked about how he had been an asshole for a bit, I'm just gonna trust he more or less knows what he's doing and relish that he just dispensed cathartic curb stomping on it.

Of course Mana questions who the hell is he and Minato jokes that he's Death. Now while that is a joke, as he quickly tells Mana, which is true since he's right in that he's not really Death...

Aha aha aha...

...he's not entirely wrong either considering, well, his relationship in his base life.

But there are more immediate matters to tend to. So as Minato leaves, after giving a coupon to Neo Hagakure, Mana is back into the fray.

Meanwhile, Ramiel becomes a dual boss as he deals with Shinji and Rei seperately. Shinji deals with a mad Ramiel essentially going "why Why WHY WHY" at him over his choices, their consequences and their motivations. Rei deals with an unimpressed Ramiel going "your efforts will be for naught, at least let justice reign"...until she uses the curse that is life and insta-kills at least half of the legion of shapes that had been hounding her.

"THAT'S CHEATING," came Ramiel's death metal scream.

Click to shrink...

HA! Looks like someone's still not used to RNG.

Though despite that, Shinji's not doing so well. When he slips, Rei has to defend him with a tackle of a Ramiel extension and then a land of frozen death, courtesy of Mabufudyne. They retreat to the "edge" where Rei suggests he be the spear to pierce Ramiel while she's the ram that clears the way. Unfortunately, just as Rei prepares to do that...

...Ramiel strikes.

And BOOM, Akechi noticess the light show.

As the Warden observes it, Gigolo decides to be silly again as they comment about prettiness and actual goodness and their correlation...or lack thereof.

...i'm starting to think they're tabris
assuming it's an angel
i mean kaworu's just such a weird cinnamon roll
gigolo's being a polite and silly cinnamon roll
and it'd be fitting considering they're the angel of free will
but even if on the off chance i'm right though, i'm still callin' 'em gigolo

Anyways, Akechi is exasperated at Gigolo's commentary...even if they're right. And as he looks at each of the monitors, as much as it irks him, he knows he's not the right person for the job of slaying the Angel before wondering what Shinji will do.

And speaking of wondering about what Shinji will do, Kaji's Shadow wonders the same as he observes from a caldera as Mr. P fights with an Acolyte's Shadow in the background...which is funny, considering Ramiel called Shinji "predictable" yet here we have two people in the know who don't know what Shinji will do. Which could either mean Ramiel knows and remembers Shinji more than them...or those two better understand the unpredictable nature of people no matter how many timelines have passed.

Now actually back to the two, Shinji's mostly fine, but only 'cause Rei took the brunt of the laser, bloody and burned. Shinji is just questioning and wondering why and Rei meets it calmly and simply with "You matter more than me" and continues to plan and plan. It bothers him. He hates it. But all the more reason for him to make up for earlier...and all the more reason for him to speak up, to tell her:

"...[...] you're Rei Ayanami, and you're not replaceable."

Click to shrink...

That makes her acknowledge and listen to him. He continues speaking, telling about some of his uncertainties of being an Evangelion user; that, as much as he'd be tempted to give that burden away, he's resolved himself of carrying that burden; and that he wants to show that and put it into action.

And at last, she nudges a bit and actually works with him.

And they plan to do a single shot.

And of course because Trope-tan says so, we're not told the details of that plan so that it has a higher chance of succeeding.

Ramiel is just waiting for them to make themselves known so he can just hit them...remembering how, apparently, "his very Essence was sundered", which, well, considering what happened to Asuka, and assuming that it was like that but infinitely worse, well, I can get why they'd all be mad. I'm shuddering just imagining probably a mere infinitesimal fraction of what he means. But just because I get that don't mean I want them to back down. They made their choice, and so have our protagonist and friends.

Also we got only bits of the puzzle but hey. What can ya do?

Soon enough, the "Champions" stir and Ramiel fires. But it's being shielded. Ramiel though is like "HA! Bet." and ups the power...and he loses the bet. Of course he's screaming "IMPOSSIBLE!" and, well, he's not entirely wrong. We see that Shinji is straining to maintain Shogoki with his left to keep the laser on him and only on him, while Rei keeps pulling and pulling and pulling on his right holding on to a chain she has. It feels almost impossible to keep going.

Almost.

Because he will keep going. He will keep holding on.

Because he has so many things to hold on to.

The impetus that tempted him into the journey.

So many, many people whose essences were their core as much as they are aspects of him.

The Room that was both haven and symbol from and of the world.

And more pieces he has yet to find.

That holds him together as Ramiel once again bellows about his death and blah blah blah...until Rei calls, and Shinji answers.

And it's over.

Well, the fight with Ramiel anyway. We still got a little bit more to go.

This time, when the Angel dies, he leaves remains. Very inconvenient remains, but remains nonetheless, and just as quickly as Rei slayed it, she collapses. The Acolytes fall lifeless, Mana now taking the chance to rest while Ayane continues with procedures, thinking about what she saw. Oh boy. Meanwhile rejoicing is done by Temp. Team RyuKing and Misato and the Agents, Akechi seeing it all before he gives instructions for the current situation. Gigolo now comments about responsibilities and Akechi's wish that he didn't have them to pursue his own catharsis. He takes it in stride as he goes to get the "newest" Wild Card and get him medical attention. At said place, Mr. P is guarding it and Shadow Kaji is now an unlocked Social Link and is probably gonna give a Social Link invite in the future. Kaworu knows it's far from over. And finally Gendo orders medical attention for Rei and listens to international updates.

Oh boy that don't sound good.

And boy it ain't good. Apparently everywhere is being overrun by Acolytes, and in just Germany, plenty of places were getting wrecked, including a pretty prominent German church that had survived Second Impact. With this, the A.T. Task Force is gonna get scrutinized and changes are gonna be implemented.

On the bright side, though Asuka just ran off and aggravating Mary again, she wrecks Matarael all by herself.

I'd say poor feller but the gang is gonna need any easy win they can get.

Speaking of wins...or at least it's a win for me, when Shinji wakes up, he finds Rei's cot by his own. They have a heart-to-heart as Rei asks why he thinks she acts as if she's replaceable when most think otherwise, which then leads to Shinji commenting how sad her way of living is, which then then leads to her asking, "What would suggest I do otherwise if it's as bad as you say it is?"

"well...you could just smile."

Click to shrink...

-blinks; softly smiles- Ah. This.

I might not have seen the series at this time. But I do know this line. And I know it means a lot more than just that moment. That, perhaps, she remembers what was likely the beginning, and what she was fighting for even more.

And for that, she thanks him.

Aaaand the heart-to-heart ends, to then have Zeruel making a damage report and a regular report...about apparently other machinations they have in place.

Oh boy.

With that, the day at last ends.

And oh boy was that a day. Not much else to say except that when it comes to your big climactic battles, I find they're always awesome and a treat and get me so HYPED. And this one didn't fail in that. Though I'll admit what made me love this fight was when Shinji is thinking of all his current links, not to dissimilar to the endgames of Persona 3 to 5, though more direct comparisons with 3 and 4 than 5, when they remember the bonds they have managed to make.

And as tempting as it is to quote some non-story posts and such and respond to them, I will refrain from doing so, my mood for while writing this review not up for such a thing, and simply take off my glasses and bid you adieu.

 

[DragonUnitOmega]

Two things.
One: I'm gonna try something a little different in terms of how I'm writing the thirty second installment of Dragon Reviews and (Probably) Overanalyzes SPE though it may or may not be noticeable as all that's different is my mindset while writing it.
Two: I was holding the dub of Spy x Family as a hostage treat for writing this. So... -puts on review glasses- STARTO!

7/17 Early Morning: Tokyo-3 - 7/18 Evening: NERV HQ, Part 3

Brief sibling banter between the Velvet Room siblings while Sokila is relieved Shinji's safe before we...actually deal with the soft reboot Wild Cards. Huh. Didn't expect that. Fully expected Ren havin' pancakes though. Anyways, after they recount what they did while Ramiel was gettin' rammed (with Minato being Minato and of course just going "oh hey i experienced something that is weird and would break most people but it was just a tuesday for me"), we, and Ren, learn what was up with Minato yesterday, as well as partial connections.

They are possible with Yu and Minato because, essentially, after going through so many times, they've seen many, many scenarios involving the ones they bonded with and how they would react to things, and thus they can tap into that knowledge to allow them to connect to them but since their bonds don't know them as intimately, they can't return it/match that link.

Oh and a bit more hints on how each Wild Card has dealt with things and how many times they've looped awake. Yu counted up to the current timeline being 2,457. Now, the number by itself is kinda small. Honestly I expected higher. But when I stop to actually think that was how many lives he lived...well, the number reaching that high is just sad and ouch and a number of words that probably cannot adequately describe just how devastating that can get.

And then we have Shinji kinda panicking as he's in the same room as Gendo while injured and being debriefed. On the bright side, Misato, Rei and Ritsuko are also there...and soon enough Takuto (Yo!), Ikutsuki (hi...not) and Mitsuru (Hi!). And then we see what happened elsewhere in the world. Short: not good. Longer: the retention facilities in the Metaverse versions of Atlanta, USA; Sydney, Australia; Xiangfan, Hubei Province, China; Patna, Bahar state, India; Kerman, Iran; Dire Diwa, Ethiopia; Debrechen, Hungary; and Natal, Brazil were all destroyed by Angels, causing a whole lot of casualties and damage from Acolytes, to put it lightly. Kerman, Dire Diwa and Natal, because of being outnumbered, were forced to gun the threat with the military. And on top of all that, Jin's spreading propoganda that, well, is true in that they hate Evangelion and are targeting them, but the "why" they only started now is probably only part of the reason...well, most likely. All I know for sure they're doing this to make things suck for Shinji and fellows.

And it's already starting, with TONS of complaints and questions.

Gendo doesn't really care. Mitsuru is more logical about why Angels would hate Evas when the public is questioning it. Takuto's gonna have to Angel-proof facilities in the Metaverse. Europe and Asia though wants Shadows released from CPC's despite, as Mitsuru pointed out, how they helped with everything else that wasn't an Angel attack. We shift from that though and onto who RyuKing's missing apprencite was: the one and same Jin, whose identity has now been made public seeing as he's, uh, I think it's called a public enemy right? Either way, explains why Morooka talked to RyuKing and he got interested in Boots Rip-Off.

Prepare the beef bowls and ramen for him when we'll eventually deal with that

Anyways, they briefly talk about where Eva users might end up being placed in the wake of these attacks (with Mitsuru bristling at even the mere thought of anyone doing anything stupid in regards to that) before Rei and Shinji recount their Angel fight, thankfully the latter getting the nerve to speak after the former started off. After that, things are decided:

Angel tissues will be sent to Ikutsuki.
Takuto will make Angel-proof measures.
Mitsuru will beat sense into any idiots keep idiot in their place.
And NERV HQ will...I guess contunue as usual.

With that, the meeting ends, to only switch over to a different kind of meeting: Hikari talkin' to Toji and Kenny about the aftermath. First the fact that they're continuing on as normal (Kenny knows the science, Toji finds it weird, Hikari thinks it good), then (for lack od better words) about Shinji and Rei's safety in school after the Boots Rip-Off's declaration. Initially the boys think it's for the Eva users wellbeing (Kenny can understand why and is somber, Toji can't understand and is mad) and kind of protest (well mostly Toji) until Hikari explains it's more the safety of other people (Kenny remembers Shinji's first Eva summon, Toji remembers Shinji's first Angel fight), so the boys relent. With her duty done, they part, Hikari doing her other duties by picking up her younger sister, and all the while we see thoughts that probably don't really register consciously in Hikari's head but are very much her thoughts as they comment on everything that had happened thus far...including her home, or perhaps, more appropriate, lack of it.

Speaking of home though, Shinji is discharged and heads home to the dorms. He gets a bunch of messages as soon as he arrives near the place, first is Mayumi worried, third is Tanaka Coffee, and the second is a Herod question.

HEROD: SUPPOSE YOU WERE A NORMAL HUMAN WITHOUT EVANGELION OR A PERSONA; YOU ARE TASKED TO VENTURE ALONE ON A QUEST THAT PROMISED A GREAT DEAL OF BODILY HARM. YOUR GOAL ON THIS QUEST INVOLVES SAVING A COUNTRY AND THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE.
HEROD: OF THE FOLLOWING, WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE AT THE EXCLUSION OF ALL OTHERS?
HEROD: A SWORD THAT WOULD NEVER BREAK; A POTION THAT COULD HEAL ANY WOUND BUT WITH LIMITED USES; A GUIDE WITH ALL THE KNOWLEDGE YOU'D NEED TO COMPLETE YOUR QUEST.
HEROD: THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER.
HEROD: PLEASE RESPOND WITHIN 96 HOURS.

Click to shrink...

Hmm. As cool as the sword is, I'mma go with the guide. As they say, "Knowledge is a swole chihuahua"... Wait a minute. Ah, well, either way, you get the idea. If the guide has all the knowledge I need to complete the quest, that means if that involves swords and potions and stuff, I can make them, and not only that, if I'm lucky, the guide can be my friend, so I won't be alone or lonely on the journey.

Anyways back to Shinji. He answers Mayumi and then gets back at his room, to the banter of Toji and Kenny. Kaworu is soon added to it after he invites Shinji to boxing practice and he accepts. And so Shinji sleeps to the sound of silliness.

Before I move on to the next day though.

One: this day just made me imagine the a.t. agents forces in the philippines...
and it doesn't end well
on the bright side i can imagine the philippines still bouncing back and being cheery despite that
we typically do even when we deal with tons of typhoons and storms each year

Two: imagining yet another omake!akira omake involving her thoughts of the last two days even though a part of me feels like it's too much self indulgence and feels embarrased

And three: intermission!

/but yeah
//don't think this one is much of a surprise
///given that Lovers and Judgement have been heavily hinted at already
////the only one left that hasn't been guessed at or foreshadowed
/////is Temperance

Click to shrink...

someone with the traits represented by Temperance in NGE...
yeah that is a hard one.
My first guess would be PenPen but he already has a different one.
Otherwise I am drawing a blank here.

Click to shrink...

Pfft. I find this considering what I said in the last review...aka my first guess was Temperance. Now though...well I'm more inclined to think Asuka's Lovers but I'm kinda still hoping for Temperance.

I just found this story today. It has been very interesting so far.

Click to shrink...

Oh hey. So this was when you started reading this.

...somehow i didn't realize you hadn't popped up until at this point in the thread...

This makes me wonder. Considering the events of Persona 3, is Shuji manipulating Strega behind the scenes again this time around?

Click to shrink...

possible, but not certain.
Sonic just loves to mess with our preconceptions.

Click to shrink...

I swear if he makes Shuji actually a gigantic dork who accidentally makes everything he says sound villainnous like how Kaworu makes everything he says lewd and/or philosophical...
...i'm gonna be unsure how to feel and then probably get very attached to this timeline's shuji.

Now on to the next day!

Sokila be confused before we see Shinji taking the opportunity to make sure Mayumi is okay (and make me wonder where the hell she lives to not see anything that had happened) and noticing how people who don't really know him are acting around him (and giving more motivation for that omake...or at least to try it). He wishes he's overthinking it but he knows he ain't. Thankfully, he's got his hang-out with Kaworu to do today! Apparently it's voluntary practice 'cause of Olympics. Also Shinjiro's there. 'Eeeeey. Nice to see ya. Didn't expect ya here. But if you're here...Akihiko's not far behind. And soon enough, after showing the health waiver to Shinji, there he is! Captain of the team.

After learning the boxing equivalent of Pokémon Trainers' gazes meeting, Akihiko comments about how he seems...which is that he isn't sure, so he wants the fighter's way of finding out: with a battle! Shinjiro immediately has Shinji sign the waiver to get Miki (wait she's alive? Yay!) 'cause his Akihiko Sense is tingling. Akihiko quickly gets mad, scares Shinji by accident, grumbles at Kaworu as he be him, then Akihiko drags Shinji into a spar with the cinnamon bun.

One punch.

In Xander Mobus Smash Ultimate Announcer voice: DEFEATED!

Yeah Shinjiro was right.

Shinji soon wakes up and thankfully it's a pretty minor concussion. Miki gets mad at Akihiko, who then explains his logic which then leads to Kaworu apologizing and noting how everyone is shocked at Shinji's performance (or rather lack thereof) which then is followed by a spat between the Sanada siblings. Kaworu continues being Kaworu as Shinjiro sends Shinji to the nurse's office and the boxer escorts the downed Eva user to the place, and thus another rank "unlocked", as Kaworu himself describes.

Misato is exasperated at what happened, but well, what can you do? After briefly mentioning Shinji can't say no (i feel ya bud. i didn't even realize i have a hard time saying no when it matters most) and seeing who's taking care of Mana while she's keeping an eye/checking on Shinji, that being RyuKing and the boys, Misato makes a comment about thinking she'd deal with a teenager when she around 30 to 40. That prompts Shinji to ask her age, which Misato says is rude, which reveals that Shinji didn't know (well if it's any consolation buddy, while I get why it's rude, I can't really feel it being rude. Tho that might be more that if someone asked my age, and I have had been asked, I just answer it...irl of course). That then leads to a comment about how some things still haven't stuck to Shinji and her own age, again, before remembering she promised to talk with him about what led her here.

And she does.

She does stop before the whole story is told, but we're still told a good chunk. How she was a punk, her parents' relationship with each other, a little bit about one of her therapists...and how her mom died. It's then we're told of a first hand account of Second Impact and oh boy is it horrible, and I feel like that's putting it lightly. While all of that was happening, Misato was looking for her mom but...she was an absolute mess. After that, her dad managed to get her before she could've been one of the casualities by way of the military. Unfortunately, she was in a bad headspace and essentially lashed out at her dad for that.

But with that, she gives two pieces of advice. One, that good can come from the bad. And two, "life's too short to waste on being bitter". And so, she exits the room, and we see her settling herself with a little talk with Tokoyo (with the line about her bein' a "work in progress" just makin' me go "Agh...same. same.") before she properly leaves, wondering how Mana's doing.

Cue how she's doing.

Yeah, she's fine.

And so the day ends...and woo. Okay. That...-looks at clock-...took about two hours total! Yes! Not sure if I'll do it with the same mindset again, but at least I know I can make it shorter without making this completely a "highlights reel".

And I know just how to end this off!

/darn it Ryuji
//stop invading my scenes

Click to shrink...

Ref!Akira: -smirks- GET 'IM RYUJI!

Spoiler dodge roll: activate!

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

The rest of Shinji's afternoon with Sokila went...just as interestingly.

xx

As an Evangelion-empowered Inugami strangled an Acolyte's Shadow — the hulking beast clawing at the wormy dog specter without much success — Shinji noticed something...original. "Sokila-chan."

"Yes?"

"Where'd that ukulele come from?"

Sokila, holding a ukulele in her hands by the neck, casually answered, "From the Velvet Room!"

"...where you were hiding it??"

"But I wasn't hiding it...?"

"..."

"Anyhow, can I attack?"

"...sure."

With a wide smile, Sokila promptly jumped into the air, smashing the hulking Shadow in the mask with the broadside of her ukulele.

(For some reason that Shinji couldn't quite fathom, the collision sounded like an electric guitar being harshly strummed...?)

xx

"Why are we running?!" yelled Shinji.

"Theo-senpai says that 'cardee-oh is important'!" answered Sokila, swinging her arms back and forth with great exaggeration.

"How come??"

"For 'runnin' away from angwy siblings', is what he said!" Sokila pouted after she finished speaking. "Angry. Angry. Angry. Yeah!"

Shinji grimaced, looking over his shoulder at the Acolyte's Shadow that was chasing them. "We shouldn't be running away, though...!"

Sokila blinked with confusion. "But we aren't...I thought we were playin' tag! And the big monster's 'it'!"

"..." With a forlorn sigh, Shinji's thoughts aligned with his Persona, which had been hiding during this impromptu running session.

Without warning, a Shogoki-empowered Fuu-Ki dive-bombed the Acolyte's Shadow from above, ending the impromptu chase.

Sokila, strangely enough, smiled. "Hey, you know Margaret-senpai's special finishing move! Did she teach you that?"

"...no?" What is she learning in the Velvet Room?!

xxxx

As Sobek wrestled and struggled with another Acolyte's Shadow, Shinji wondered severely as to where his common sense had gone. "...this seems like a bad idea."

"But I remembered the attack name! I'll do it right this time!" exclaimed Sokila.

"...fine. But I'm going to have Sobek catch you, okay?"

"Okay!" She seemed quite pleased by that fact.

With concerned reluctance, Shinji bent his knees, cupping his gloved hands together.

With a gleeful smile, Sokila charged, jumping onto his hands; her sandaled feet pressed hard against his palms as she launched her into the air, increasing her own impressive velocity.

"Super...!" Sokila briefly paused at the arc of her jump. "INAZUMA...!" This time, her foot glowed with white lightning as she shot downwards. "KIIICK!!!" Right as she neared the Shadow, its movements were stilled by Sobek, as the crocodile-man gripped it from behind with a full nelson hold.

This time, there was an impressive explosion that accompanied Sokila's heel smashing into the Shadow's face. Dust erupted from the site of impact as the corrupted hulk was obliterated.

(Had that kick been a Skill combining Physical, Electric, and Almighty damage...?)

...what is she learning? That thought just wouldn't leave him alone.

The sight of Sobek walking out of the dust cloud, bracing a grinning Sokila on his shoulders, was sufficiently mollifying.

xxxx


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRYvdoIm24

Though the four Acolytes had been the targets of his missions in the Sapporo Dead Zone's outskirts, it felt like a bit of a shame to have their time together end like that.

That's when Sokila had had a bright idea.

("Well...I've never seen you actually gettin' new Personas outside the Velvet Room before..." Kicking at the ground, she asked, "Can I see you do the neg...ne-goh-shee...um...your bargaining?")​

Truth be told, it was a fine idea. But it went somewhat...unusually.

(For one, a lot of Archetypes were somewhat terrified of the latent power within his cherubic little Attendant. Those that weren't, well...)

"Oh, you're just a little tiny pixie in the making, aren't ya?" cooed the High Pixie, her four teal wings flapping rapidly with excitement.

"M'not a pixie," grumbled Sokila, crossing her arms with a huff. "I'm me!"

"How precocious." High Pixie looked towards Shinji with an amused grin. "And this little tyke is supposed to be your 'attendant'?"

"I'm honestly as baffled as you are," he honestly admitted.

"At least you're humble enough to recognize your good fortune...if you were haughty, I simply wouldn't know what to do."

"Mister Ikari isn't 'hawty'!" Sokila retorted. "Um...I think that's a bad thing, right...?"

High Pixie giggled. "Oh, this is just too delightful! Which reminds me...of what exactly I came from! I am thou, and thou art I!" As her earrings and armor gleamed, the Archetype added, "allow me to show you just what it means to be 'high'!"

Shinji blinked. "...wait, you're not going to drug me, are you?"

"How cute. We'll get along just fine!" High Pixie dissolved into azure fire, dissolving and merging with Shinji Ikari.

"...well, that's a thing," he murmured.

(...it turned out that some of the more feminine Archetypes they had run across seemed to go woozy with affection for little Sokila.)

"That makes four!" exclaimed Sokila, bouncing up and down on her heels.

Thanks to Sokila's aura of endless cuteness, he had managed to recruit Isis, Lamia, Clotho...

Within that strange and otherly place that Shinji Ikari's facets were manifest, High Pixie nestled into place.

Isis had had a free space to join; Inugami had given way for Lamia, whilst Nekomata had given way for Clotho.

Now, Orthrus departed, leaving so that High Pixie could become the newest facet of Shinji Ikari.​

...and now High Pixie. "...you honestly made it a lot easier."

Sokila's cheer suddenly died. "Wait...does that mean I helped you...cheat?"

Shinji blinked. "...no? I don't think 'cheating' applies to recruiting new Personas..."

"...hmm..." The little girl looked thoughtful, all of a sudden. "Lavenza-senpai says that cheating is bad...but Elizabeth-senpai says that cheating in a game can make things 'spicy'....but how would a game be spicy...?"

"...Sokila-chan."

"Yes?"

"What exactly are you being taught in the Velvet Room...?"

"How to be tough, of course!"

"...I see..."

xxxx

/since this would be a crossover with Evangelion
//Gainax references wouldn't have to be censored like they would for other properties

 

[DragonUnitOmega]

I was hoping to write two days for the thirty third installment of Dragon Reviews and (Probably) Overanalyzes SPE. I was planning to anyway even as I was nearing two pages and not seeing the "end of <insert date here>".

And then I read 7/19 Afternoon.

OH BOY DID I CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT DOING MORE THAN ONE REAL QUICK.

You all probably know what it is.

So let's stop the preamble, yes? -puts on review glasses- Review. STARTO.

7/19 Early Morning - 7/19 Afternoon to Evening

We start off with Sokila declaring Kaworu is a SUPER MEG! ULTRA MEANIE and then Rei being very mad at the stupid fish and so decides to deal with him. By pining him to the wall. In the bathroom. And then the stupid fish opens his mouth to drill into the ground.

Yeah not surprised a bunch of the readers start calling him a stupid fish.

It doesn't help that while we find out more about his state and why Rei asks why he speaks the way he speaks...HE FUCKING SAYS "WHY NOT?". OH MY GOSH KAWORU. I'M SURE REN WOULD ENJOY YOUR PRESENCE AND USE YOU AS A TACTICAL TROLL NUKE ON AKECHI. But that's not important. What's important is that, after an apology from Rei, we find out one: he does remember but how he exists is due to how he manifested himself...however that may be. Two: apparently Kaworu and Rei were at least friends in one timeline, if not several...assuming that's not the Adam and Lilith parts talking and their pasts are similar to Advice & Trust's. Which seems to be the case with how Kaworu refers to her later. And three: he's special, but he doesn't have anything that's useful for Rei, to her disappointment...even if she's not surprised. Despite that, when Rei leaves, she's lighter than before...which is good, meanwhile Kaworu is just back to feeling trapped and destressing.

Okay actually we learn a bit more than that, but those are just the ones I feel like pointing out.

Well, given that his thoughts (because he clearly has thoughts based on the narration alone in his POV scenes) don't have a tangible impact on the cognitive world, he's obviously something.

A little bit of human, a little bit of inhuman, who's to know?

Obviously, he's [REDACTED].

Click to shrink...

An Imagin then?
Urataros thinks he's trying to show him up in picking up ladies with his way speech and thus tries to show how much "better" he is at it.
Ryutaros plays with him by dance-fighting with his punches since they both want fun.
Kintaros cries over his plight and his will for enduring it.
And Momotaros just gets annoyed at all of their stupid antics.

Anyways, Shinji gets scanned by Ritsuko and gets empathy points, and maybe link points but I doubt it, before deciding to have lunch. He debates on who to invite for a hang-out...until settling on, with the help of a key and convenient timing, going to the Velvet Room and getting Sokila for lunch. Yay for Sokila!

While Shinji briefly wonders as to the ethinicity of the Velvet Room residents (oh, easy: alien ) before they end up going for Big Bang Beef Bowl Shop. As they order, Shinji acts as a dad and once again wonders about the Velvet Room when Toji and Kenny arrive and—

"Never woulda figured you for a lolicon...guess you never know with some guys."

Click to shrink...

YOU GET YOUR MIND OUTTA THE GUTTER BOY.

Thankfully for me, Shinji is of the same mind as he DEATH GLARES and Toji notices before Shinji makes up a reasonable excuse as to why he's with her: he's babysitting. Kenny's surprised, and would've asked stuff upon noticing Sokila's eyes...but he's preception filtered by the Velvet Room, and so instead he introduces himself and Toji to her. And...oh hey! She's also calling him Kenny!

...now i'm starting to wonder what you all thought when i started doing that.

Eh whatever.

Again, Sokila calls Kenny, well, Kenny, and Toji a meanie, which he protests to. However, Sokila has perfectly reasonable logic, Shinji sees no reason to go against the perfect argument his daughter ward, seeing as Kenny also thinks the same...and points out it could've been worse. At that point, their orders arrive...and Sokila loves it. So when she asks for more, Shinji concedes.

/the particular 'food challenge' for SPE
//has yet to be unveiled

Click to shrink...

...hmmmmmm...maybe something like that conveyor belt of eating sushis challenge? I saw it being a challenge on Japanese TV a few times: where a conveyor belt of sushis is sent a person's way and they have to eat as many as they can without missing one and letting it "fall" off.
It would fit in with the theme of the ones "awake" having to constantly deal with multiple timelines that vary from each other, like the eater having to eat lots of sushis of varying kinds.

On the Subject of Haru, is she still a speed demon/terrible driver?

Click to shrink...

*shrugs* Who's to say?

Click to shrink...

Well if she still is, and Big Bang Beef Bowl does deliveries, then she's probably the one who does all of those deliveries.

Anyways, back to story...

Of course with Sokila being not only a kid, but a Velvet Room resident kid, she eats a WHOLE lot, to the shock of Toji, who was now eating with them along with Kenny. Thankfully, Shinji's job means he's got the money for it. Not so thankfully, Kenny, done with his meal, reminds him exams are coming. With that, the boys leaves and soon enough Shinji and Sokila too, bringing leftovers to the Velvet Room. Though Shinji thinks it won't be the best idea considering the amount and lack of kitchen.

Also:

"Do you think his [Igor's] nose could get fat?"

Shinji tried not to think of that mental image. He promptly failed. "Uh..."

"Maybe I can ask him?"

"...I think that would be rude."

"Why?"

"...it just would be."

"Why?"

Shinji sighed, intentionally refusing to answer.

Click to shrink...

Well you could say "Igor's feeling might get hurt. That's why it's rude".
But then again, your social stats might be why you can't come up with something.

Anyways, Shinji's got nothing to worry about, as since he's not only a Guest, but an unusual one, the Velvet Room adjusts to him and adds a kitchen.

But outside...someone notices. Not just anyone. It's that cloaked figure that, at the very least, appeared when Jin and Sho popped up. And...

With a snap of their fingers, a great naginata manifested in their hands.

Click to shrink...

Oh no they're gonna kill Shinji. I mean most likely something's gonna prevent that at this p—

Formed from a jade staff and a sharp blade of divine steel[...]

Click to shrink...

A...jade naginata...with...divine steel.

No...

its distinguishing characteristic was the blazing wing curving up towards the head of the staff: [...]

Click to shrink...

NO.

[...] asymmetric, it solidified the image of the weapon as a naginata instead of a spear.

Click to shrink...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

I KNOW THAT NAGINATA ANYWHERE.

I HAVE SPENT HOURS UPON HOURS UPON HOURS USING THE VERY SAME NAGINATA.

THAT WAS FUCKING MINAKO WASNT IT

The figure — a girl with striking red eyes that were impossibly both fiery yet dead to the world — nodded, stepping away with naginata in tow. They stepped away from the flow of local time, and vanished entirely.

Click to shrink...

YES IT WAS
NO
FUCK

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

dies

THUD

...Minako?

Click to shrink...

Might be another Rei.

Click to shrink...

Had to look it up myself, but: Female protagonist (Persona 3 Portable) - Also red eyes, plus the weapon of choice certainly seem to fit the bill.

Click to shrink...

YES IT'S FUCKING MINAKO BECAUSE THAT WAS HER FUCKING ULTIMATE WEAPON SHE CAN GET FROM KARTIKEYA ALONG WITH THOSE RED EYES
AND I AM GLAD I HAVE THE SELF IMPOSED RULE OF "Don't read SPE a few hours before bed" CAUSE THEN I'D PROBABLY BE HAVING A HARD TIME FUCKING SLEEPING AGAIN
BECAUSE SHE'S PROBABLY WITH GILGAMESH ZERO FOR THE SAME REASONS, OR SIMILAR REASONS, SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS AN "ERROR" IN PQ2: SHE'S NOT "SUPPOSED" TO POSSIBLY EXIST.

So anyways, where were we?

Oh right.

Gilgamesh Zero noticed the existence of the Room, Minako was about to kill, and Gendo made sure she couldn't do it.

Oh and speculation about Gendo and then his Persona.

Watch as it turns out to be Astro Boy, or Crayon Shin-Chan, or Hello Kitty.

/just kidding
//maybe
///perhaps
////but seriously
/////not really
//////let's see an AI analyze the above text and get a meaning out of this one!

Click to shrink...

Hmm...maybe someone constantly pining for someone yet no matter what they can do, never have them...Lancelot? Can never have Guinevere, not even in death, nor get the Holy Grail, despite being one of the best knights there is, and is reduced to but a pale shadow of his prime.
...nah, that's probably just my Arthurian mythology fondness.
Plus it ain't that intimidating.
...or maybe it would fit in that, despite the extreme power Gendo has, in the end, he, and in turn his Persona, is still a man.
...nah probably still not.
I'll think more later.

Because we got Igor eating gyudon in the Velvet Room! And Shinji (and the reboot Trio) sense a violation in the universe. On one hand, it could be referring to Igor eating, on the other hand...

THEY COULD BE SENSIN' MINAKO.

BUT HEY.

THAT COULD.

JUST BE.

ME.

Anyways, Igor gives Shinji more Persona slots and then discuss Power, with a capital P. Apparently that also includes a reference as I have seen the phrase "the wrong man in the right place" before...but I don't actually know the origin. Either way, with that, Shinji leaves, though not after promising to cook with Sokila and probably make an Orthrus...and Hamlet being amused and the Beast being vicious. Back at the dorms, apparenrly Shinji gets some coffee, more Toji and Kenny banter, and Kaworu being Kaworu, this time with a reference I did recognize. As that inevitably triggers another bout of banter, Shinji answers Herod's question and...

Huh.

Shinji makes some interesting points that I agree with. I'll admit those points made me feel silly for my own for a moment. But only for a moment...because I then go on rationalizing my choice even further (which may or may not be a good thing ): even if I wanna know more than what I need and/or my guide could lead me somewhere I might not like...that doesn't mean I can't still do that with a guide by my side, especially if that guide ends up being a friend. Not only that, I find that if I bounce off ideas to someone else, I end up making new things on my own that, more often than not, help me further with what I'm trying to do. And well, also what I mentioned before about "knowledge is a swole chihuahua" and having a possible friend with me.

Anyways, Herod takes the interesting points in an interesting way...a way that makes Shinji wonder if he subconsciously thought what Herod said.

That triggers the Beast and makes it go vicious at him for a moment.

So he goes and studies to settle down from that scare.

Thus the day ends.

I'm not done yet though.

One: this!

We're not even into August, and my plot takes us all the way to at least Christmas.

And we're...already over 320K words in?

So yeah...

/...
//this is gonna get to over a million
///hoo boy

Click to shrink...

-checks approximate word count of what I've written of Refraction so far, both published and unpublished-
-finds it's approximately 320K words atm-
-and am currently in the Medjed arc-

Yeah, SPE's probably gonna be over a million.

And two: OH MY FUCKING GOD MINAKO NOOOOOOOO.
More seriously, how many realized it was her just from the description of her weapon? (no it's totally not so i can brag...nooooooo. )

-heaves a deep breath- All right...now I'm done...

...and probably gonna go write some fluff meds...

So, unexpectedly soon, I take off my glasses and simply bid you adieu.

 

[Vajrei]

Like Shinji, I worry what they are teaching Sokila in the Velvet room. If Shinji were more angry, he would likely grab a shotgun before heading to the Velvet room to demand answers.

 

[jj_789]

Like Shinji, I worry what they are teaching Sokila in the Velvet room. If Shinji were more angry, he would likely grab a shotgun before heading to the Velvet room to demand answers.

Click to shrink...

Nothing to worry about, they're just teaching her how to be a tough bonus boss to be ready for the day Shinji might need her protection.

Oh, and just in case Shinji and friends decide to challenge her to a fight.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

I was hoping to write two days for the thirty third installment of Dragon Reviews and (Probably) Overanalyzes SPE. I was planning to anyway even as I was nearing two pages and not seeing the "end of <insert date here>".

And then I read 7/19 Afternoon.

OH BOY DID I CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT DOING MORE THAN ONE REAL QUICK.

You all probably know what it is.

Click to shrink...

It doesn't help that while we find out more about his state and why Rei asks why he speaks the way he speaks...HE FUCKING SAYS "WHY NOT?". OH MY GOSH KAWORU. I'M SURE REN WOULD ENJOY YOUR PRESENCE AND USE YOU AS A TACTICAL TROLL NUKE ON AKECHI. But that's not important.

Click to shrink...

Kaworu being a smarmy little git is always important.

But outside...someone notices. Not just anyone. It's that cloaked figure that, at the very least, appeared when Jin and Sho popped up. And...

Oh no they're gonna kill Shinji. I mean most likely something's gonna prevent that at this p—



A...jade naginata...with...divine steel.

No...

NO.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

I KNOW THAT NAGINATA ANYWHERE.

I HAVE SPENT HOURS UPON HOURS UPON HOURS USING THE VERY SAME NAGINATA.

THAT WAS FUCKING MINAKO WASNT IT

YES IT WAS
NO
FUCK

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

dies

THUD

YES IT'S FUCKING MINAKO BECAUSE THAT WAS HER FUCKING ULTIMATE WEAPON SHE CAN GET FROM KARTIKEYA ALONG WITH THOSE RED EYES
AND I AM GLAD I HAVE THE SELF IMPOSED RULE OF "Don't read SPE a few hours before bed" CAUSE THEN I'D PROBABLY BE HAVING A HARD TIME FUCKING SLEEPING AGAIN
BECAUSE SHE'S PROBABLY WITH GILGAMESH ZERO FOR THE SAME REASONS, OR SIMILAR REASONS, SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS AN "ERROR" IN PQ2: SHE'S NOT "SUPPOSED" TO POSSIBLY EXIST.

Click to shrink...

Congratulations on recognizing her by her weapon.

/I doubt that you're prepared what's coming up over the next several chapters in terms of plot

Because we got Igor eating gyudon in the Velvet Room! And Shinji (and the reboot Trio) sense a violation in the universe. On one hand, it could be referring to Igor eating, on the other hand...

THEY COULD BE SENSIN' MINAKO.

BUT HEY.

THAT COULD.

JUST BE.

ME.

Click to shrink...

Bah, Minako being under the thrall of the probably?Potential Final Boss is standard JRPG drama. Igor eating food? That's without precedent!

Anyways, Igor gives Shinji more Persona slots and then discuss Power, with a capital P. Apparently that also includes a reference as I have seen the phrase "the wrong man in the right place" before...but I don't actually know the origin.

Click to shrink...

That would be G-Man from Half-Life 2's introductory scene:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HBwxbWVb-M

...and probably gonna go write some fluff meds...

Click to shrink...

Nine days to go until...that part.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

With Shinji's party of Personas 'maxed out', Sokila had wanted to conclude their time with something simpler, and less exciting.

("Let's watch the sunset from up there!" she had exclaimed, pointing to the tallest landmark beyond the reaches of the Sapporo Dead Zone.)​

Which was how they found themselves sitting on the rim of a gargantuan silver can of Sapporo Premium Beer, its golden star gleaming brightly. Even in spite of the wavy black-and-red sky that was the Metaverse's characteristic, the ambient light seemed to vary according to the actual amount of sunlight in the physical world: another reflection of local cognition. "It's strange," he murmured, not feeling cold despite the fact they were sitting higher than any of the nearby mountains.

"What's strange?" asked Sokila, happily nibbling on a granola bar: one of many snacks he had taken to bringing with him into the Metaverse to recharge and energize.

"...just thinking about you and the other Attendants." Lavenza, Theodore, Elizabeth, and Margaret; all four of them, based on what he knew, had a strangely ageless quality to them. It was a quality that was utterly absent with Sokila. "It seems like they're...different, that's all."

"Different?"

"From you."

Sokila paused, mouth full of granola. "But wha'sh wron' wit' me?"

"Please don't talk with your mouth full," he mindlessly said.

Sokila hurriedly chewed and swallowed, breathlessly asking, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing wrong, just different," he assured her. "Mister Igor has talked about how you're different as well...that we're both different, compared to our predecessors."

"...is that a bad thing?"

"I'm not sure. I don't see why it would be, but given everything that's happened...I guess I just don't want to be caught off-guard." Looking back at the little girl, he asked, "About what you said in Nishiawakura...about your father being 'God'...what's he like?"

"...what'cha mean?"

"Well, if you're family with the other Attendants like Theodore said, then that means God must be their father as well. He must be...something...to have children like all of you." When Sokila didn't immediately answer, he looked at her with concern. "Sokila-chan?"

The girl, fiddling with her index fingers, quietly replied, "Well...Theo-senpai said that we're family...but their papa isn't my papa."

"...what does that mean? That you're adopted?"


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_E_y1AWAfc

"...kinda? Sorta? I'm not sure how to explain it..." Fiddling with her messy locks of silvery hair, the little girl continued, "M'not supposed to talk about my papa, because he's off doing somethin' important...I wish I could see him more often."

"Where is he, then?"

"It's a secret!" she exclaimed, smiling somewhat widely yet sadly. "I...it's why I'm trying to be the best 'Tendant I can be for you. Because I know that my papa's watching over me...and I want him to be proud of me."

Shinji briefly wondered what individual that could be casually called 'God' would be unable to see Sokila...but given the circumstances the world was under, would even a deity be restrained? Was Sokila's father akin to the Creator figure of various Western religions, or was it along the lines of the gods of his homeland's mythology? He had no way of knowing. "Well...I know that your heart's in the right place. I bet wherever your father is...he's happy for you." (It's not like she could do worse than your father.) "And if nothing else...I'm proud of you, for trying so hard. I really appreciate it." (More than she could possibly know.)

This compliment seemed to brighten the girl's mood, as she impulsively hugged him tightly around the torso. "Thank you, Mister Ikari," she said; he could feel her smile through the contours of his shirt.

Resting an arm on her shoulder, Shinji quietly looked out at the horizon, wondering what the future had in store for them both. "Just...try to take it easy, okay? I know you're trying to get stronger like me and the others...but you don't have to overdo it."

"But if I can't be a big girl, then how'm I supposed to help out? I gotta get tough!" To emphasize, she curled her arms up, making exaggerated poses with her biceps. "Hoo! Hah! Hurgh!"

Shinji couldn't help but chuckle at her youthful vigor. If only life were this simple...

It was with bittersweet sentiments that they parted ways soon after, with a promise to meet again soon...whether it be in real life, or in the realm of sleep.

(Somehow...it felt like it couldn't come fast enough...)

xxxx

/Star
//now at Rank 5

 

[lockdownspartan]

Hmm… If Shinji is the "God" that abandoned the throne, I wonder if whatever trace was left of that being created Sokila as a way to assist himself in this timeline. Either that or Yu's rendezvous with Margaret bore unexpected fruit.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Hmm… If Shinji is the "God" that abandoned the throne, I wonder if whatever trace was left of that being created Sokila as a way to assist himself in this timeline. Either that or Yu's rendezvous with Margaret bore unexpected fruit.

Click to shrink...

Ren: Why are you avoiding the Velvet Room?

Yu: *holds up an order for child support, signed by 'Judge Igor'*

Minato: ...huh. I didn't even know that was a thing.

Shinji: *slowly stares intensely at Yu*

Yu: ...not exactly what I anticipated, but it looks like it's once again time...*puts on eyeglasses* ...to be Big Papa.

Ren: *stares flatly at Yu*

Minato: *lost in thought as to what a hypothetical lovechild between him and Elizabeth would look like* ...pretty sure Tatsumi Port Island would be sunk before they even got to the age of five...

 

[Caltoa]

Minato: *lost in thought as what a hypothetical lovechild between him and Elizabeth would look like* ...pretty sure Tatsumi Port Island would be sunk before they even got to the age of five...

Click to shrink...

I think the action of making that lovechild alone would sink it.

 

[MisterHalt]

To emphasize, she curled her arms up, making exaggerated poses with her biceps. "Hoo! Hah! Hurgh!"

Click to shrink...

Where the heck did she find out about Johnny Bravo?!

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Where the heck did she find out about Johnny Bravo?!

Click to shrink...

I literally did not make that connection until you just mentioned it.

...

*googles Neon Genesis Evangelion Johnny Bravo*



...okay...

*slowly backs away*

 

[neogoki]

*lost in thought as to what a hypothetical lovechild between him and Elizabeth would look like*

Click to shrink...

it would a silver-haired beauty, boy or girl a total heart-breaker.
And possibly demi-god-levels of power.

 

[lockdownspartan]

googles Neon Genesis Evangelion Johnny Bravo*

Click to shrink...

Now I'm trying to imagine a Johnny Bravo Persona crossover. Unfortunately, Google doesn't have anything for that. But hey, with the power of social links, Johnny might actually get a girl.

 

[neogoki]

with the power of social links, Johnny might actually get a girl.

Click to shrink...

I highly doubt that, Social Links need to be forged
Johnny lacks the personality for that.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

I highly doubt that, Social Links need to be forged
Johnny lacks the personality for that.

Click to shrink...

That seems somewhat unfair; Johnny has plenty of personality.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANBYfvoLqA4

 

[Navi-Hank]

Besides Johnny also gets plenty of tail, we only see where he fails because it's funny

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

With his missions — and, more importantly his time with Sokila — concluded, Shinji Ikari returned to Tokyo-3. By the time he manifested back in reality, he realized that a number of texts had been sent to his phone.

-Team Statherós Group-

K. Aida: would you guys like to meet up for dinner?
K. Aida: at Kernel's Fried Chicken?
T. Suzuhara: sold
M. Yamagishi: Is something the matter?
K. Aida: just got something to talk about, thats all
K. Aida:（´＿｀）
Mana: we had a prety eventtful day to
Mana: might as wel eet whil doing it
T. Suzuhara: dude you need to deal with those typos
K. Aida: if you get this message Shinji, meet us at KFC!

Shinji quietly replied.

S. Ikari: just got back
T. Suzuhara: sweet, we just ordered
K. Aida: how soon can you get here?
S. Ikari: hold on

Sighing, Shinji concentrated...

xxxx

As he traversed the grayscale threshold, the lights of his friends seemed more prominent than those of others...​

xxxx

...and emerged by their table-

"GAH!"

"WHOA!"

"Eeep!"

-only to startle Kensuke, Toji, and Mayumi by his mere presence. Only Mana didn't visibly react to his presence. "Sorry," he murmured.

"It's just Ikari," casually remarked Mana, munching at a drumstick.

"...wait, did you sense him coming?" asked Toji.

"Yeah, he's kind of obvious."

"Why didn't ya warn us?"

"Why would I have to warn you? It's Ikari."

Shinji slid into the booth beside Tojj, looking at them all; a giant bucket of chicken had been ordered which they were all apparently sharing from. Physical cues from Kensuke were sign enough for him to help himself. "So...how did your day go?"

"You first, latecomer," mumbled Toji through a mouthful of chicken meat.

"Oh. Well...I did some studying at the Academy, took down some Acolytes near Sapporo...and hung out with Sokila-chan." Nibbling at some of the fried poultry skin, he added, "apparently she's trying to get tougher. She can kick an Acolyte's Shadow in the face."

"...dang," remarked Toji. "Well...I did some trainin' with Sakamoto-sensei, introduced him to my little sister...and tryin' not to think of the summer homework waiting for me at the dorms." Mayumi arched an eyebrow, prompting Toji to sputter, "C-Come on, it's not like I'm panicking! I just...would rather do other things."

"You and every other student ever," joked Kensuke.

"What about you, Yamagishi-san?" asked Shinji once he swallowed the food in his mouth.

"...Mana-san and I both had some tests at NERV...but our morning was spent talking with Katsuragi-san about...her circumstances, and ours."

Mana nodded. "Yeah. Turns out she's had a pretty shitty life as well. Turns out she's an orphan like the both of us."

...so Misato-san told them about her upbringing? (And more, from the sound of it.)

"The parallels are...striking," admitted Mayumi. "It's more understandable, now, why she would bother to take me and Mana-san in..."

Toji snorted. "The way I see it, if it weren't for my custodian basically recruitin' her, she wouldn't have been onboard."

"That ain't fair," groused Mana.

"Guys guys, let's not," interjected Kensuke, holding out his hands to calm the duo's tempers. "None of us have what you'd call 'enviable family situations'."

"...I suppose that's fair," murmured Mayumi, shifting her glance towards Shinji.

Probably thinking about my father, he mused. He couldn't blame her. "Kensuke...what did you want to talk to us about?"

"Oh. That. Right." Sighing, Kensuke proceeded to explain the circumstances behind his impromptu meeting with his father earlier that day.

"Aida-san," mildly reproached Mayumi. "You didn't think to go home...?"

"Look, it's just...been busy for all of us, okay? I wanted to pick your brains before Saturday, get some ideas about how to...deal with him."

"You make him sound like an infection," idly noted Mana.

Kensuke paled. "No, not at all! It's just...it feels weird, to be nervous about this, given everything we've been through...but I am."

"...I can relate," admitted Shinji. "How do you want us to help?"

"I figured we could brainstorm about it," answered Kensuke, briefly looking back down at his plate. "...right after I finish my chicken."

Thus did the children continue to eat and chat away, trying to figure out ways to help Kensuke with his dilemma. Even as night made them part ways, thoughts of the days to come dominated their thoughts...

xxxx

END OF 8/26/2015

 

[Vajrei]

How likely can they come up with a solution for Kensuke?

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

How likely can they come up with a solution for Kensuke?

Click to shrink...

Mayumi: If this were a coming-of-age story, we'd need you to be willing to sleep on the streets with a crazy woman who has pink hair and an electric guitar...

Everyone Else: ...?

Mayumi: What? Did no one else watch FLCL?

Kensuke: That wouldn't have come out in reality until after Third Impact happened, so it doesn't exist. We can't make a reference to it.

Mayumi: Ah, you must be thinking of the 2003 English dub production; the original manga began in 1999, whilst the original anime was released in April of 2000!

Kensuke: Point taken...but did it ever reach completion?

Mayumi: ...no.

Kensuke: I rest my case.

Mayumi: They had only released three episodes! It was cut short in its prime!

Mana: What are they talking about?

Toji: I think it's a show that involved giant robots using our brains as portals...with lots of metaphor thrown in.

Mana: Huh. Sounds neat.

Shinji: *is wondering why the image of Sokila smashing a Shadow with her ukulele keeps coming to mind*

/
//fun fact: Second Impact was September 13th, 2000
///FLCL episode 3 was released on August 23, 2000
////episode 4, in reality, would not have released until October 25 of 2000...so 2nd Impact cut it short

 

[DragonUnitOmega]

/I doubt that you're prepared what's coming up over the next several chapters in terms of plot

Click to shrink...

Nine days to go until...that part.

Click to shrink...

...

...

...

Oh fucking hell no...

-grabs FEELS cap and readies music-

Aaanyways...

After trying out that whole (okay more or less one) week of reading and reviewing SPE...yeah I ain't gonna do it like that again anytime soon. But now I have a new schedule in mind! ...that I'm not actually following today...but that's because I got a scheduled brownout tomorrow, so there.

So a day earlier than planned, here's the thirty fourth installment of Dragon Reviews and (Probably) Overanalyzes SPE. -puts on review glasses, FEELS cap and music on- Oh and with SAFETY precautions. Ahem. Anyways... Review. STARTO!

7/20 Early Morning - 7/25 After Exams

We start off with...

Sokila.

Crying.

No sobbing.

Why is she crying?

In the light, there was a certain character about the kitchen that had been missing in the relative dark of the auditorium. He couldn't quite identify it.​

Click to shrink...

Okay apparently this is probably why Sokila is crying.

And for some reason my first thought was that that was Tatsuya and that maybe Sokila was supposed to be his Attendant.

Then my next thought was that she's Shinji's kid born from a time that is now gone because of the looping because that was Shinji or an imprint of a past him.

But upon reading it again...I'm starting to think that was a "phantom" of Philemon. Belladonna and Nameless are obviously still here since the Aria is still being played. And while you could argue Demon Painter also...but, no offense, he doesn't have so much significance to be "veiled" yet referred to as "a certain character". And if it is Philemon, it makes me wonder if Sokila is a fragment/born from him, kinda like how Marie was Izanami and then Kusumi-no-Okami and then (likely) back to Izanami.

Though that just makes me remember the theory that all the Velvet Room attendants are just fragments/pieces of Philemon. (It's in the middle of this video for those curious)

But anyways, yeah, Philemon.

Of course this is under the assumption that this "certain character" is someone we've seen from the Persona or Evangelion side and not someone new and/or is completely from Herman (aka the mystery guy getting guitars from way back).

...tho i fucking swear if all of this started because of tatsuya (not saying he's gilgamesh zero, just saying he might have been the trigger that allowed them to usurp) i'm gonna RAGE.
and be upset.
mostly upset.

Aaaaanyways Shinji then wakes up, very reasonably upset at Sokila's crying even if he doesn't consciously know it...only to then be bombarded by questions by Pilate too.

Because of course.

Ahem. Anyways. Pilate uses Shinji's answer for the previous question as the "backdrop" (which just makes me think of those four summoned onis, Fuu-ki, Sui-ki, Kin-ki, Ongyo-ki) for the three new ones.

PILATE: FIRST — IS IT RIGHT FOR YOUR LORD TO ENGAGE IN SUCH DUPLICITY AGAINST HIS RIVAL? IS IT NOT THEIR CHOICE TO USE DANGEROUS MEANS OF COMBATING THE YŌKAI IF THEY SO DESIRE?

Click to shrink...

As Pilate said, this is the first one. And well...I could wait a little longer than 12+ hours on thinking in it... But I feel like answering is: No, I don't think it's right, because well, I like to try to be fair as I can because everything else tends to be not as fair, but as you said, it's their choice to enact it. If I knew about it, I'd try to stop them from doing it, even if I doubt I'd actually succeed in such.

PILATE: SECOND — NOTWITHSTANDING YOUR ANSWER TO THE FIRST QUESTION, ARE THEIR MEANS NONETHELESS TOO DANGEROUS TO CONSIDER? EVEN IF YOUR LORD'S MOTIVES ARE WITHOUT HONOR, WOULD THEY NOT BE JUSTIFIED IF IT MEANT PUTTING DOWN AN ONI BEFORE IT CAN BREAK FREE?

Click to shrink...

Well, in my opinion, yeah, especially if you want to have as little lives lost as possible. I agree on putting the oni down before it can break free, and by extension if the plan is enacted I'd slay it then, but I certainly don't like making it purposefully look bad by berserking it and then killing it, and thus getting uninvolved people, well, involved in the "squabble".

PILATE: THIRD — NOTWITHSTANDING THE ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE, WOULD YOU NONETHELESS WELCOME ASSISTANCE IN YOUR WAR AGAINST THE YŌKAI, NO MATTER THE SOURCE? NO MATTER THE DANGER TO INNOCENT BYSTANDERS?

Click to shrink...

NO. One, big, fat...NO. I wish I could...but unless they find a way (or maybe even allow me to help them) to make the oni's safe use was more guaranteed, NO, I wouldn't like its help.

Aaaand that's that.
Oh and Shinji wondering why he was crying.

Anyways, now it's classes! And thankfully the teacher for this period gave them mercy by teaching them all some nice stretches to deal with stress, and more Vigor for Shinji. Once they're done, he's wandering again...until that is, he runs into Kyle! Yay! Nice to see ya again!

Not long after that, they're at Kyle's office. Shinji notices the gramophone (which I wouldn't mind owning at some point) that he got from Tanaka (because of course it's him) which leads to a brief comment from Hamlet (obviouely still remembering things and knowing the truth of this world) and a brief mention of Yui (whose habits Kyle doesn't like...hey! Sometimes people like to dabble) and then them talking about their deal. Unsurprisingly, Shinji hasn't made much, if any, progress on that front.

"...um...is there a reason why you wanted me to find out why the students are so scared of you?" [...] "I mean...the school principal being scary is a stereotype, isn't it? At least...that's what I've heard..."

"There is a difference between being a stereotype and being an 'other'," remarked Keel.

Click to shrink...

So...a difference between "being put into a simple, and more often not untrue, box" and "being an outcast"?

Either way, that the goes into this:

"...I guess."

"Do you agree? Or do you disagree? Guessing is only acceptable if you lack sufficient information to make an informed decision; given my admittedly incomplete knowledge of you as an individual, I think you're not 'guessing' at all."

Click to shrink...

So am I getting it right that he's essentially saying "Guessing's fine if you don't know everything you need to make a choice, but, even with what little I know about you, I don't think that 'I guess' was a guess at all."? I hope it is. For some reason it took me several rereads of this single...sentence? Paragraph? Dialogue before I realized he was "questioning"/"confirming" what Shinji meant when he said "I guess".

Well assuming that's what Kyle meant, Shinji then says he agrees, having had experience with it through the Beast, before the principal goes on to explain why he wanted Shinji's help. Simply put, he wants the best for the academy so he doesn't want to let things slip his notice about the students, and there are simply some matters he wants to deal with himself. So, he asks for help, and what better kind of person for than a student? (And well Shinji's the protagonist but that's a different matter entirely. ) And he wants to do this because he wants to spread knowledge in the places that can, and have, influenced the whole world. (i wouldn't have minded if he found an institution in the philippines. we sorely need it. ) Which leads to Kyle revising their deal to be useful to both...okay more him but still. Rank up!

Oh and plenty of people doubting Kyle's intentions...

HOW DARE YOU. KYLE JUST WANTS THE BEST FOR THE SCHOOL.
Okay I get the doubts...
BUT STILL.

/could it be
//the legendary creature of myth and folklore
///..."Good Guy" Keel...?!?
////his Capture Level outpaces that of Evil Rei
/////and "Doesn't Want Anything to Do with Shinji" Kaworu...!

Click to shrink...

One: Well I certainly hope he stays that way. I'm onl
And two: I am now imagining evil hammy ham Rei laughing manicially as she monologues and I have no if that's been done before.

But anyways, the day ends off with a Room 203 study session with Hikari and Mayumi as extra members, Misato telling Shinji 'bout missions on top of exams...

"...I haven't seen her that much, but your boss lady sounds like a dick."

"SUZUHARA!" hissed Horaki.

The crude boy held up his hands. "I mean, no offense, I ain't talkin' literally, but you know what I mean!"

"Actually, no I don't," asked Kaworu. "Have you checked? She might have one." The Class Rep looked at him with a scandalized expression. "What? I don't make a habit of making assumptions about other people's external genitalia without having been invited to investigate personally. After all, I'm a gentleman."

Click to shrink...

...and Kaworu being Kaworu.

Well, not that he's wrong though.

Shinji: So...is this normal?

Ren: What is?

Shinji: Going to school while...you know, everything is happening?

Click to shrink...

Ref!Akira: School is an eldritch abomintion itself. Course not even world ending disasters can stop it.

But anyways, with that, it's the first day of exams! And...-gasp!- Theeeooooooo! Yay! He's here. And bein' good big bro as usual to the sad Sokila.

...

OH FUCK THEO

I JUST REALIZED WITH THE MINAKO SITUATION HE'LL ALSO BE HURT
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Oh right exams.
Rei tells him about how they're gonna deal with quests and exams. And also correcting Shinji's typo.
Shinji's determined to get through exams.
And Rei does the first switcheroo, Shinji makes sure she's okay and then grabs some snacks, and learning his lesson on where to pop out of an Eva-Walk.

Now the next day.

Aand...no Theo nooooooooooo...he feels bad over Minako. Dang it... But luckily for me and him, Sokila is here to cheer you up! With a drawing of her on his shoulders. Thank you, Sokila for that. For real.

Anyways, exams continue and...AKECHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII. -cough cough cough- Excuse me...had a bout of fan squealing... Okay. Shinji's talking to Akechi to apparently learn that Ghost and Acolyte activity just blanked for the last few days...and that certain Archetypes are gathered in certain areas to be used as "air freshener", as Akechi described (which is a horrible analogy for me as I hate most, if not all, air fresheners, in part due to my asthma). Also a bit about Boots Rip-Off...and that being nada beyond rumors and their propaganda, but not surprising.

You have no Idea how happy I am the female lead of P3 hasn't been forgotten <3

Click to shrink...

On one hand, I feel the same since I love FeMC.
On the other hand, SHE'S PROLY IN PAIN RN AND I DON LIKE IT SINCE I LOVE FEMC.
And on the top of my head, but what about P1 and P2? Cause I love those casts.
So yeah. Lots of emotions on tuat front.

Okay. Next day.

The cherubic tone of Elizabeth drew her eyes toward the kitchen table.​

Click to shrink...

LIIIIIIIIIZ YAY! Yet another Velvet Room siblin--wait.

The cherubic tone of Elizabeth drew her eyes toward the kitchen table.​

Click to shrink...

...

...

...

-remembers someone noticed Kaworu having the adjective "cherubic" applied to him-
-also remembers he's ambiguously human and with silver hair-

kaworu's like the velvet room attendants isn't he?

...you know what, never mind, here's hoping it's just me going "conspiracy theorist" on it.

Anyways...Liz!

"Well, you first have to look at the fourth wall. It has to specifically be the fourth one, for reasons that escape me at the moment. After all, there are so many walls throughout all of history; who decided what the very first wall was, much less the second or third?"​

Click to shrink...

I'm pretty sure you've destroyed a whole lot of said walls considering your P4A appearance.

And she draws a completely perfect drawing of Orpheus. In red "paint". ...what? No, I'm not thinking of Orpheus Telos just because of the (likely? not likely?) coincidental color choice, nooooo...

Aand that's it. Then we're then on the continuing exams.

Shinji's pooped, his friends notice, but he keeps going not only because he wants to...

G. Ikari: There will be no favors or allowances granted. One must accept the consequences of their actions.
G. Ikari: I learned this lesson long ago.
G. Ikari: It is one that you will learn as well.

Click to shrink...

...but probably because it's a way to vent out frustrations.
Funny story about these texts is that, for some reason, my eyes saw that as "G. Akechi" until I reread it.
Because of course I did.

After that is math (that i only had trouble with either because of one tiny mistake in the formula...or using the "wrong" formula to get the same answer).
Then Mr. P helping a bit for Shinji's missions.

Next day is...

...

Excuse me gimme a sec for this auspicious moment.

-runs off to grab audio files, spotlights and speakers-

Ahem. I present to you...

drumroll plays
spotlights oscilates
and music tempers the room
until...
"tada!" trumpet chime plays!

What filled them with such dread?

Surely it couldn't be Igor, standing at the stove and making breakfast.

[...] "That would seem to be the case," answered Igor, whisking together a mix of what looked like Black Oozes(?) and Ara Mitamas(??) into a spicy sauce.

[...] Igor slathered the sauce onto an Onmoraki(???) and placed the corpse-bird into the oven.

[...] After a poignant ding from the oven, Igor withdrew the baked bird, which had somehow assumed the appearance of a roasted turkey, succulent and golden brown. "Enjoy, my dear assistants."​

Click to shrink...

CHEF IGOR!

Also more Velvet Sibling antics.
Also also probably one of the few times Elizabeth isn't hassling Theo because she too is fearing for her life.

Either way, it's more Velvet Room shenanigans before we see Shinji starving for chicken, Kaworu being Kaworu, and more exams (this time being kanji). Once that's done, Shinji's talking with Mr. P. It starts off with his opinion of Boots Rip-Off before teaching him, with better words and obviously with different intent, that it'll be Shinji's choice whether he wants to retreat or not...so long as he can live with the consequences. Oh and also Shinji continuing to be a bit behind as apparently he hasn't heard of "no rest for the wicked."



No not that one!

Anyways...

His missions had taken him to the moral rural parts of Japan, surprisingly enough. Then again, the motivations of the Angels were something he didn't often ponder.

Click to shrink...

Pretty sure that's an error. Think that should be "more".

Okay next day--

"Ah, so this what it means to create Mystery Food X!" exclaimed Elizabeth.

As fiery tentacles lashed about from the kitchen, Lavenza simply said, "I've heard many stories about this 'Mystery Food X'...perhaps we should instead call this Mystery Food Z?"​

Click to shrink...

...

Welp. They're doomed.
Okay maybe just tickled, but the rest of the world is certainly doomed.

Anyways, Shinji's contnuing to be more than pooped, his friends notice it, but he pushes through the last day. Because apparently he needs Knowledge, Determination and Vigor to complete exams. Which, well, makes sense (and not just 'cause "Being Shinji is suffering" ) seeing as he's dealing with missions on top of that.

"I'd be more concerned if Ayanami didn't so perky whenever she shows up in the afternoon."

Click to shrink...

Also I think I spotted an error? It feels like a word's missing.

Anyways, with that, exams are over, and so Shinji promptly shuts down in the courtyard, with Kenny and Toji making commentary about it and plans for...Marine Day. Whatever that is. After that, we cut to Asuka and Mary talking about the former's workload (which was more than Shinji's and Rei's)...as well as shock over taking exams. Then back briefly to banter with Kenny and Toji before we go to Rei...visiting somewhere and timing it, by informing someone--

SOPHIA: Be careful, okay sweetie?

Click to shrink...

SOPHIEEEEE.

Ahem. Anyways. That's interesting. I mean I know why it's Sophia of all things, but I don't know how it's applied to the NERV HQ MAGI (who we now are confirmed to at least know, like probably Kaji, if not awake, like a majority of the "players" in this game).
Also kinda sad Rei doesn't know the origin of the name but makes sense. As far as we know, she only really knows about the Wild Cards, the Velvet Room residents (and maybe Mona) in terms of Persona characters. And no not counting the ones staffed at NERV like Tae and Sayoko, since she might not realize they're bonds of the reboot Trio.
Maybe.
I might she could see but--you know what never mind I don't know where I'm going with this anymore.

Either way, Rei wonders about the break in naming scheme and--

[...] even 'Anna' (though, given the presence of Phanuel this time around, that name might have seemed...unseemly).

Click to shrink...

Ok im sorry WHAT
Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait.
"Anna"? What does that name have to do with Monael? The only Anna I know from Persona is...Anna from Persona 2. SPOILERS FROM PERSONA 2, BOTH GAMES: aka a member of the Masked Circle in P2IS and in EP was a major key in the early plot. Does that mean Monael's Anna? No, can't be, unlike Mona who at least is made from the Collective Unconscious thus giving him a chance to be Monael, Anna's human, so how would she end up as an Angel? But wait this world's messed up so it's not like it's impossible but...aaaarrrgggh! ... ... ... I have...NO idea what to think of now so I'mma just gonna leave a pin on it...

Rei goes to the place, that I'm imagining as Mementos but the description doesn't seem to be that way, and ends up...talking to a computer? Either way, gets a status report (it's not so good but it's not so bad either) about...whatever is her little project is, then gives it a charge, and then informs the MAGI about it. Then she goes for a walk...to make sure that she'll keep walking. Otherwise she probably won't keep going forward again.

And with that, the exam week ends, with no "FEELS incidents"...yet...though lots of freaking out. And that's it for this installment, which took waaaay longer than usual for some reason.

Oh right. Sleepier than normal today.

How fitting considering Shinji conked out in the end.

Anyways...

Spoiler dodge roll: activate!

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

...

...

...

Oh fucking hell no...

-grabs FEELS cap and readies music-

Aaanyways...

After trying out that whole (okay more or less one) week of reading and reviewing SPE...yeah I ain't gonna do it like that again anytime soon. But now I have a new schedule in mind! ...that I'm not actually following today...but that's because I got a scheduled brownout tomorrow, so there.

Click to shrink...

Gilgamesh ZeroThe Usurper: At least scheduled brownouts aren't something I subject the characters to.

Sokila.

Crying.

No sobbing.

Why is she crying?



Okay apparently this is probably why Sokila is crying.

...

Of course this is under the assumption that this "certain character" is someone we've seen from the Persona or Evangelion side and not someone new and/or is completely from Herman (aka the mystery guy getting guitars from way back).

Click to shrink...

As far as "a certain character" goes, the particular definition was not referring to a specific individual, but this:

the distinctive nature of something.
"gas lamps give the area its character"

In other words, it was referring to the environment of the Velvet Room's kitchen, not a person.

But anyways, with that, it's the first day of exams! And...-gasp!- Theeeooooooo! Yay! He's here. And bein' good big bro as usual to the sad Sokila.

...

OH FUCK THEO

I JUST REALIZED WITH THE MINAKO SITUATION HE'LL ALSO BE HURT
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

...

Aand...no Theo nooooooooooo...he feels bad over Minako. Dang it... But luckily for me and him, Sokila is here to cheer you up! With a drawing of her on his shoulders. Thank you, Sokila for that. For real.

Click to shrink...

*googles 'theodore sad persona'*



That'll do!

And on the top of my head, but what about P1 and P2? Cause I love those casts.

Click to shrink...

*looks towards 7/29 and 7/30*

...nah, I won't say anything.

-remembers someone noticed Kaworu having the adjective "cherubic" applied to him-
-also remembers he's ambiguously human and with silver hair-

kaworu's like the velvet room attendants isn't he?

...you know what, never mind, here's hoping it's just me going "conspiracy theorist" on it.

Anyways...Liz!

Click to shrink...

Cherubic:
having the childlike innocence or plump prettiness of a cherub.
"a round, cherubic face"

CHEF IGOR!

Click to shrink...

*googles 'persona igor cooking'*



Not quite what I was looking for...



why is this a thing

Pretty sure that's an error. Think that should be "more".

Also I think I spotted an error? It feels like a word's missing.

Click to shrink...

*fixy fix*

Marine Day. Whatever that is.

Click to shrink...

A specific Japanese holiday: Marine Day - Wikipedia

Ok im sorry WHAT
Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait.
"Anna"? What does that name have to do with Monael? The only Anna I know from Persona is...Anna from Persona 2. SPOILERS FROM PERSONA 2, BOTH GAMES: aka a member of the Masked Circle in P2IS and in EP was a major key in the early plot. Does that mean Monael's Anna? No, can't be, unlike Mona who at least is made from the Collective Unconscious thus giving him a chance to be Monael, Anna's human, so how would she end up as an Angel? But wait this world's messed up so it's not like it's impossible but...aaaarrrgggh! ... ... ... I have...NO idea what to think of now so I'mma just gonna leave a pin on it...

Click to shrink...

The connections of all the other names (Mary, Magdalene, Martha, Veronica) are tied to the life of Jesus Christ, much like Herod and Pilate; Anna is no exception. She is a prophetess mentioned in the second chapter of the Gospel according to Luke, where she's spoken of during the segment detailing the presentation of the infant Jesus in Jerusalem.

One particular detail about Anna? She's explicitly stated to be the daughter of a man named...Phanuel.

So yeah.

And with that, the exam week ends, with no "FEELS incidents"...yet...though lots of freaking out. And that's it for this installment, which took waaaay longer than usual for some reason.

Click to shrink...

Three days until...that.

/although to be fair
//July 26 has some stuff that'll probably get you
///and July 28...
////...but especially July 27...

 

[neogoki]

Not quite what I was looking for...



why is this a thing

Click to shrink...

Because Memes and Photoshop... DO EXIST!

 

[DragonUnitOmega]

As far as "a certain character" goes, the particular definition was not referring to a specific individual, but this:

the distinctive nature of something.
"gas lamps give the area its character"

In other words, it was referring to the environment of the Velvet Room's kitchen, not a person.

Click to shrink...

Ah lamps.

...wait gas lamps?

-tries to think of something...but can't think of anything-

Nah...not in the mood for it...I'll think on it later...

*googles 'theodore sad persona'*



That'll do!

Click to shrink...

Noooooooooooooo Theoooooooooooooo.

*looks towards 7/29 and 7/30*

...nah, I won't say anything.

Click to shrink...

Me upon reading that:

Cherubic:
having the childlike innocence or plump prettiness of a cherub.
"a round, cherubic face"

Click to shrink...

I am still very sus about the word choice even if I don't want to.

why is this a thing

Click to shrink...

Because why not?

The connections of all the other names (Mary, Magdalene, Martha, Veronica) are tied to the life of Jesus Christ, much like Herod and Pilate; Anna is no exception. She is a prophetess mentioned in the second chapter of the Gospel according to Luke, where she's spoken of during the segment detailing the presentation of the infant Jesus in Jerusalem.

One particular detail about Anna? She's explicitly stated to be the daughter of a man named...Phanuel.

So yeah.

Click to shrink...

...

...

...

My brain is refusing to think about it right now...I'll just keep this in mind and think about it later...
Again.

Three days until...that.

/although to be fair
//July 26 has some stuff that'll probably get you
///and July 28...
////...but especially July 27...

Click to shrink...

OH COME ON
THREE. WHOLE. DAYS. IN A ROW OF (possible?) FEELS INCIDENTS?!

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGG