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.
After the ordeal that was...the thirty fifth installment (glares at The Butterfly Effect), I planned on making this one covering just one day.
Thankfully for me, it ended up just as planned.
What didn't end up as planned was well...
gets sick after getting a booster shot
then distracted by FNF Indie Cross and falling into the FNF mod hole then pulled into Fate/Grand Order (though at time of posting this, this might accidentally be over prematurely)
Among many other things
...when to post it. Because the instant my new schedule hit a snag, it flew out the window. Followed by distractions and prioritizing writing for Refraction when I wasn't.
So yet another change of plans. I think in terms or reading and reviewing, I'm gonna go back to a whole week of SPE since that worked out better.
Oh no no no, not starting this review. Nah. That's gonna be uh... -looks at calender- ...next next week.
Maybe.
Hopefully.
You know plans always go to shit on first contact...or something like that.
Enough preamble though! Here's the thirty sixth installment of Dragon Reviews and (Probably) Overanalyzes SPE. -puts on review glass- Review. STARTO!
7/29 Early Morning - Evening
And we start off with—actually not the day yet cause a bunch of stuff I wanna say stuff to.
Oh hey! I remember this pos—wait wait wait wait...wait.
Are you telling me.
That my first literal post.
In this thread ever.
WAS FUCKING AFTER YOU FUCKING FINISHED MINAKO'S FUCKING SIDE STORY?!
THE HELL THE COINCIDENCE I CAN'T WHHHYYYYYYY
More about the subject of the post though: anyone here who hasn't seen Crystaahhl should totally watch her she's amazing and hilarious. I forget if I mentioned this or not, but I basically found her through said compilation of her hating then loving Akechi and got really excited for her when she started diving into first Persona and then a bunch of other games I loved/liked. Also love her dancing vids. I LIVE for them.
Hmm...what ìs the most left field guess I can make...?
There's been Philemon, Yui, Naoya and Tatsuya, Igor, Gendo, Adachi, Nanashi and Hideki Anno himself that I remember so far (well the guesses that are not mine anyway).
HMMMMMM...
Assuming this is someone we would know about, whether be in the Persona (or SMT) verse, Evangelion, or mythology in general, then we can make guesses.
So...
Lucifer.
Loki.
Jack Frost.
King Frost.
Izanagi.
Izanami.
And last but not least...
...anya Jack Skelter, or Jack Ripper, better known as Jack the Ripper.
As I'm fond of pointing out whenever I have the opportunity: this is a woman who (in the original show) thought that joining her soul with a giant alien cyborg was the ideal way to become an eternal memorial to the existence of mankind.
/and don't forget
//the act of joining her soul to said giant alien cyborg
///was something she wanted her four-year old son to watch
////so if you're thinking that Yui may be a little...off...
/////you'd be justified in thinking that
Which is very messed up. And likely an indicator how come she came to love Gendo (presumably).
But unfortunately those words are also making me imagine a very hammy, very obviously Demon Lord Yui hamming up a storm while trying to become eternal.
Anyways...now that that's done! Let's get started with the day and it's—OH GOD THEO NO WE START OFF WITH THEO GOD DAMN MOURNING ABOUT THE REVELATION OF MINAKO AND NOW I'M CRYING AGAIN.
So yeah. Uh. It's not a good time for Rei to visit and thankfully, after some convincing from Elizabeth, she decides not to press on it for now (YOU BETTER LOLA REI I'M STILL NOT OVER THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT AND I'M NOT SURE I EVER WILL; also just realized i called you a lola whoops er...ignore that ). She does notice Shinji accidentally seeing the whole thing, though she says it makes sense. Shinji doesn't think much of it when he wakes up. Lola Rei does though, and laments about it sucking (I KNOW RIGHT) and a hint on just how long she's been looping (why yes that's why I slipped and called her lola because I was gonna go "young lady" but then remembered her age and immediately defaulted to lola. XD).
/brief addendum to my prior post about P1/P2
//just because the plots themselves aren't canon with regards to SPE
///doesn't mean certain elements won't find their way in
////if I can find a way to make them fit
Well you mentioned it before but still gonna say this: oh cool! Because I love the first three entries' casts too. My favorites from among them are Hidehiko "Brown", Eriko "Elly", Kei "Nate" (SPOILERS FOR P2EP: why yes it was hard for me to pick between Elly and Kei's routes in eternal punishment. i ended up having to decide by difficulty in the end because i really was torn), Eikichi, Jun, Katsuya and Ulala. So it's nice to see it be acknowledged.
Too bad Trinity Soul can't seem to be added beyond OST (so far?). I'll keep saying it again and again: I'm pretty fond of the characters.
But it might be a good thing considering the SUFFERING they might have to go through.
Brief fanfic shout-out to Persona 5 fans specifically. @DragonUnitOmega has begun writing a Persona 5 Royal novelization that's taken a bit of a P3P twist: namely, Ren and Akira as brother and sister, with Ren being the male protagonist (ala Minato) and Akira being the female protagonist (ala Minako)...at the same time.
"You didn't have to fight for me, you know." "And you didn't have to curl your hair so we'll look even more alike." Ren stared before he softly chuckled, Akira joining him not long after. With one simple decision as a child, Ren Amamiya goes to Tokyo alongside his little sister, Akira. (P5R...
Now that I reached here, can I just say how surreal it felt? I mean, I've mentioned before (though I forget if I ever mentioned it here in this thread...I don't think so though), I've loved Mobile Fighter Evangelion when I found it. I binged it in...I think a couple of days? And even stayed up late to read it. It's not just one of my favorite Evangelion fics, it's one of my favorite fics in general (though unfortunately for me i've yet to reread it even once beyond sort of going through it when Chronicles covered it). So you easily became one of my favorite authors even though I hadn't had the chance to read your other works before now.
So just imagine my shock and happines when you popped in Refraction and then your shout-out to it in your own thread.
It's just.
Seeing this again just made me remember all that again.
And what's happened since then for both Refraction and what I've read and written for this thread.
And just wanna say thank you again.
For both reading Refraction.
And also writing Shin Persona Evangelion, which, even though I haven't caught up yet, I can already easily say it's also one of my favorite fics in general.
Yes even with dying from The Butterfly Effect.
Ahem. But anyways...WE'RE BACK TO DEPRESSING AS WE GOT MONAEL NOTICING ZERUEL AND TABRIS REMEMBERING MINAKO WHEN THEY SENSED AND I'M GOING OFF WITH FEELS AGAIN AAAAHHHHHH.
okay calmed down quicker
Partially because something came to mind. Either only Phanuel knows Tabris still operates/has a connection with Tabris, or the Angels know he's around but do not care. I don't know if that's just way off speculation or not but still. A thought.
But anyways, we get a Philemon mention as Monael once again tries, and fails, to give hope back to ADAM. Then we're with...oh. Kaworu also has those memories (AND I'M REMEMBERING IT AGAIN AAAAHHHH), which either means he can still sense the stuff even if his status as Tabris is ambiguous or it's proof that he's still Tabris, either way...HE'S TOTALLY NOT FORESHADOWING ABOUT SHINJI AND MINAKO FIGHTING AT SOME POINT.
NOPE.
NUH UH.
TOOOOOOTALLY.
HA HA IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE ON OPPOSITE SIDES AND THUS THE CHANCES OF FIGHTING EACH OTHER ARE HIGH IF NOT GUARANTEED.
TOTALLY NOT.
AHHAHAHAHA.
AHAHA.
HA.
Anyways.
Speaking of Shinji...he's in Gendo's office to ask something.
In Persona? Unless you count the Personas themselves as "souls", then not really. SMT currency tends to be macca while Persona so far gas solely been yen, so while I don't know all the games, I doubt they changed it too much.
Although yoh could kinda argue yes there were soul merchants since Atlus published the original Demon's Souls for North America, but again, they just published it.
Anyways back to the story aaaaaaaand YUP IT GOES ABOUT AS WELL AS I EXPECTED. Well minus Shinji asking his father about the state of things as subtly as he can to not alert Perfume too much about it. That I didn't expect to happen. Gendo hinting why he hates Shinji though wasn't as much. I mean it feels reasonable. Whether it's actually true, we'll see. I mean, if anything close to the original show happened with Shinji, like Shinji becoming a god for a moment, there's a good chance Shinji might actually be why Perfume's on the Throne, whether Perfume knows it or not. Luckily, Shinji gets permission, because it won't hinder Gendo's only "hope" of seeing Shinji getting crushed so utterly not even words could describe it.
Gendo: Damnation. How am I going to reclaim the "Most Hated Character Ever" title after what They Who Must Not Be Named did to FeMC in the last chapter?
The Usurper: Sounds like you better step up your game, boy.
I SWEAR TO FUCK GENDO IF YOU DO ANYTHING TO ADD TO THE SUFFERING TO WILD CARDS I AM GOING TO ALSO GIVE YOU STUPID NICKNAME BECAUSE THAT'S ALL I CAN
DO.
OR MAYBE SUBJECT THE AUTHOR TO THE INSANITY OF THE TYPE-MOON FRANCHISES.
IDK.
I DO NOT WANT THE VOICE OF SOMEONE I LIKE ASSOCIATED WITH MY MOST HATED CHARACTER
Anyways. Where were we? Oh yes.
With permission obtained, he asked all of the school friends, and a "co-worker"(?), if they wanna come with. Kaworu and Hikari can't come 'cause of a boxing tournament (and probably giving Shinji a higher chance to rank up his bonds) and a relative coming home (and may or may not be awkward when it happens) respectively. Toji, Kenny and Mana can though, the last one after Mana essentially asking to join. And that makes Kaworu go "oh I didn't think Mana would go for a harem".
Akira: It's a room or spot in Muslim houses, usually the nobility, where all the female relations to the man, whether it be cousins, sisters and/or wives (and some concubines for the even older times), stay where no males are allowed as a haven for them.
Ryuji: Uh...no it's not. It's all the girls that like or are in a relationship with a guy. Or well guess anyone who's all involved with one person but not really each other.
Makoto: No actually Akira is correct. That was the original meaning of the word.
Ryuji: Wait what? How the hell did it end up so different then?
Ren: Because apparently 19th Century European men could not comprehend a woman not wanting a man at any point in time.
(Note: no i am no expert but it was fascinating to hear about the origin of the harem when i was watching video talking about the persian from the phantom of the opera
that i just remembered i haven't finished watching)
Ahem. No that's not it.
The ones who know that aren't Kaworu take the question hilariously out of proportion. Kenny starts wanting to rec stuff, both Hikari and Toji wanna wreck stuff, and Shinji doesn't want to reck about that stuff (why yes i searched up if there was an appropriate word that would rhyme, what of it? ).
NG+ Shinji handles it well enough but that's an omake.
What Shinji talk about the problem of how one teenage girl with a bunch of teenage guys looks like (because really Hikari doesn't have anything to worry about with how Mana can literally kick their asses), asking if inviting another girl would solve it. It would...but that leads to Hikari pointing out a bunch of other things Shinji needs to plan out, like a grown-up supervisor to keep such a trip in order.
He hasn't thought of any of it.
But it just so happens that...hey! Ren offers to be that "grown-up supervision".
Aha, aha, aha...I KNOW WHY YOU SAID IT LIKE THAT REN AND I HATE IT.
Anyways, after talking with Hikari a bit about his reasons and what he offers on the table (with Ren showing off his Max Dexterity with cards...which I'll get to talking about in a bit), we got the supervision and transportation set. Now we just need that one other girl, and Shinji gets one: Mayumi. With that, it's all set.
Also Toji and Kenny still bantering over harems because of course they were and Mana still wondering what the hell that is. Luckily for her, before Ren leaves, he answers her question, as well as promising to keep in touch with Shinji. Oh how? Oh obviously after having nicked his phone to put in his contact earlier of course. I missed that the first time reading actually.
Not even gonna try 'cause when it comes to romance manga, I'm not that familiar with the old ones. If someone told me the names, I might know them, but most likely not. Actually I'm probably not really that familiar with the newer ones. I just read the romance mangas that interest me, like Tonikaku Kawaii, Kaiju Girl Caramelise, and The Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts.
Isekai romance manhwa on the other hand is a different story (and even then I'm probably not that deep into it since it's mostly recent)...but I'm gonna end up digressing.
Speaking of digression, though it's not that much of a digression. I couldn't help but check the meanings of the cards Ren showed off before, which are Ace of Spades, Queen of Diamonds, and King of Hearts. So that means Ace of Swords, Queen of Coins, and King of Cups respectively.
Ace of Swords is mainly about new beginnings or new ideas. Queen of Coins is combining the compassion and mother role of the Empress with the image of coins, in other words, it can mean a hard working yet parent figure or prosperity and stable wealth. King of Cups combines the father role of the Emperor with the emotions of the cup, or its modern version "heart". So basically soft loid a soft dad who is calm and has control over his emotions, but knows how to show warnth and empathy. "This" Emperor also has an emphasis and encourages forming relationships.
So in other words: "This trip is a new beginning (Ace of Swords), where if you work hard you can have stable wealth (Queen of Coins) more control over your emotions (King of Cups) and have more compassion (both Queen of Coins and King of Cups), with me (all three, because he's gonna give Shinji new ideas and be a "guiding figure", and the Joker) to help you (the Joker)."
Aaaand yeah I pretty much said the same thing as above, just not as long because I was being a jittery mess trying not to say anything I might regret later. XD
Okay intermission over.
Back to the story, with Shinji doing missions since he has free time and a good number of his Confidants wait no it's not called that gosh dang it ren Social Links are busy because of the upcoming trip. But there's one that he can hang out right now! Akechi! Yeah! They're on the case again. This time being...oh. Oh no. I don't like how it changes these bickering families into "happy" ones. And apparently it's the Realm of...Maiko...? Why is that familiar? Gah. I'll check later. I got a story to read.
This Maiko is basically delaying a bunch of court decisions on various cases involving splitting families. Shinji is confused at first until Akechi reminds him that institutions exist (which hopefully are better than what little I could find of IRL orphanages in Japan in this universe but I doubt it) and asks if he knows any father figures that are unfit to be fathers.
Pffr. I like how Akechi specifically says "father figures" instead of just "parents" because of course that's the first type of parental figure he thinks of when it comes to problematic.
Anyways. Shinji gets it and they get to going to boss room. Once they're there, it's pretty much the usual fare. Declaring the charges before resisting by turning into the boss form. Again the usual.
WAIT THAT MAIKO
NOW I REMEMBER
Oh.
Oh no.
Considering her Realm and how her story in the link goes...
Oh...
That explains a lot.
And oh boy is that shown after the fight. She's talking about seeing families splitting up, how fathers are just cut off from their kids lives, and how foreigners have it even worse with legal kidnapping. But Akechi, relating to it all very much, reminds her about her actions aren't any better than the families breaking apart and hurting some that really need it. After making sure she'd do as instructed, Shinji says his small liece, she fades, and then he talks with Akechi about authority and good intentions.
None of them totally not relating to his own expreience noooo...
Of course it does.
But seriously...Akechiiiiiii he's better off than in the first/base timeline but ouch my boy. At least you got Gigolo to help as someone to help mediate you.
Shinji understandably doesn't know what to say to all that heavy stuff, but thankfully doesn't need to.
-INSTANTLY CLICKS BECAUSE ALWAYS UP FOR MORE INFO ON DIVORCE IN JAPAN-
-Turns out I already knew a majority of it-
Ok more seriously.
With what little research I could do about the subject myself which always feels like not enough for Refraction, I agree that this page sums it up pretty well. And yes, divorce and custody is like that in Japan and boy was it wild when I found out.
And also drove me nuts.
As Maiko mentioned, fathers almost never get custody of their kids in Japan, especially if the split happens with both (or all, if including the parents of the married couple) parties fighting over stuff instead of them all agreeing to it. I'd need to find it again, but afaik there has only been one case where the father won, and I think that was around 2013-2015. And so far (or at least so far from when I read it), it hasn't happened again. As such I was basically going nuts because I was like "WAIT HOW SHOULD I MAKE REN'S BIRTH PARENTS SPLIT UP WHILE KEEPING THEIR BACKSTORIES?! DO I HAVE TO CHANGE THE BACKSTORIES AND/OR PERSONALITIES?! BUT I DON'T WANT TO! THAT'S THE REASON FOR THEIR DIVORCE! BUT IF I DON'T FIGURE OUT HOW THEN THERE'S NO REASONABLE REASON FOR REN TO STILL BE UNDER HIS DAD'S CARE AAAAHHHHHHHH" and so in the end I did end up changing it somewhat. That being that everyone but Ren's mom agree to the divorce and see that she's really not well enough to be a mom unlike the original idea where Ren's mom and dad fought over his custody.
Okay talking about it, it isn't as bad as it could be.
BUT IT SURE AS HELL DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PLAN IT OUT.
This is a pretty interesting question considering all the time looping. Like, there aren't really any "laws" about how to handle the manipulation of time and space in a "humane" and/or "safe" way or the actions of people in before each "reset". Which I realized is a nice connection to how Gendo and the Angels are still holding grudges.
Okay that intermission over...
Shinji goes back to an empty dorm room (with us being shown a glimpse of where the other tenants actually are) before going to the Velvet Room where...
...oh.
Oh no.
AAAAAHHHHHH NO I FORGOT THEO'S STILL GRIEVING I'M HAVING FEELS AGAIN AAHHHHHHHH
[Pleasw stand by as we deal with emotional difficulties! ]
...
Okay I'm back. I mean I'm not fine, especially since Sokila is oh so showing how affected she's been by what Theo's going through (GOSH DANG IT), but I'm fine enough to read that Shinji manages to comfort the girl, get her to a bed he conjured for her, and then have a pretty meaningful conversation with Igor about what he learned, the Velvet Room's nature, and Shinji's answer to dealing with everything. After that, since he's here, he does what every Wild Card and fuse some Personas since why not?
And with that the day ends.
And probably just the beginning of me getting FEELS everytime Minako is mentioned (GAAAAHHHH)...
Maybe.
I don't know.
I mean preferably I'll eventually not be "triggered" anymore, but we'll see.
For now, gotta brace myself for the next day since apparently suffering is coming my way...
...and finally(?) bring back a running gag spoiler dodge until then!
Now that I reached here, can I just say how surreal it felt? I mean, I've mentioned before (though I forget if I ever mentioned it here in this thread...I don't think so though), I've loved Mobile Fighter Evangelion when I found it. I binged it in...I think a couple of days? And even stayed up late to read it. It's not just one of my favorite Evangelion fics, it's one of my favorite fics in general (though unfortunately for me i've yet to reread it even once beyond sort of going through it when Chronicles covered it). So you easily became one of my favorite authors even though I hadn't had the chance to read your other works before now.
So just imagine my shock and happines when you popped in Refraction and then your shout-out to it in your own thread.
It's just.
Seeing this again just made me remember all that again.
And what's happened since then for both Refraction and what I've read and written for this thread.
And just wanna say thank you again.
For both reading Refraction.
And also writing Shin Persona Evangelion, which, even though I haven't caught up yet, I can already easily say it's also one of my favorite fics in general.
Partially because something came to mind. Either only Phanuel knows Tabris still operates/has a connection with Tabris, or the Angels know he's around but do not care. I don't know if that's just way off speculation or not but still. A thought.
But anyways, we get a Philemon mention as Monael once again tries, and fails, to give hope back to ADAM. Then we're with...oh. Kaworu also has those memories (AND I'M REMEMBERING IT AGAIN AAAAHHHH), which either means he can still sense the stuff even if his status as Tabris is ambiguous or it's proof that he's still Tabris, either way...HE'S TOTALLY NOT FORESHADOWING ABOUT SHINJI AND MINAKO FIGHTING AT SOME POINT.
NOPE.
NUH UH.
TOOOOOOTALLY.
HA HA IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE ON OPPOSITE SIDES AND THUS THE CHANCES OF FIGHTING EACH OTHER ARE HIGH IF NOT GUARANTEED.
I SWEAR TO FUCK GENDO IF YOU DO ANYTHING TO ADD TO THE SUFFERING TO WILD CARDS I AM GOING TO ALSO GIVE YOU STUPID NICKNAME BECAUSE THAT'S ALL I CAN
DO.
OR MAYBE SUBJECT THE AUTHOR TO THE INSANITY OF THE TYPE-MOON FRANCHISES.
IDK.
Not even gonna try 'cause when it comes to romance manga, I'm not that familiar with the old ones. If someone told me the names, I might know them, but most likely not. Actually I'm probably not really that familiar with the newer ones. I just read the romance mangas that interest me, like Tonikaku Kawaii, Kaiju Girl Caramelise, and The Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts.
They weren't even romance manga at all; Magical Mentor MacLeod was a reference to Mahou Sensei Negima!, and Escapulario+Lichgirl is a reference to Rosario+Vampire, which are both technically shounen.
Speaking of digression, though it's not that much of a digression. I couldn't help but check the meanings of the cards Ren showed off before, which are Ace of Spades, Queen of Diamonds, and King of Hearts. So that means Ace of Swords, Queen of Coins, and King of Cups respectively.
Ace of Swords is mainly about new beginnings or new ideas. Queen of Coins is combining the compassion and mother role of the Empress with the image of coins, in other words, it can mean a hard working yet parent figure or prosperity and stable wealth. King of Cups combines the father role of the Emperor with the emotions of the cup, or its modern version "heart". So basically soft loid a soft dad who is calm and has control over his emotions, but knows how to show warnth and empathy. "This" Emperor also has an emphasis and encourages forming relationships.
So in other words: "This trip is a new beginning (Ace of Swords), where if you work hard you can have stable wealth (Queen of Coins) more control over your emotions (King of Cups) and have more compassion (both Queen of Coins and King of Cups), with me (all three, because he's gonna give Shinji new ideas and be a "guiding figure", and the Joker) to help you (the Joker)."
-INSTANTLY CLICKS BECAUSE ALWAYS UP FOR MORE INFO ON DIVORCE IN JAPAN-
-Turns out I already knew a majority of it-
Ok more seriously.
With what little research I could do about the subject myself which always feels like not enough for Refraction, I agree that this page sums it up pretty well. And yes, divorce and custody is like that in Japan and boy was it wild when I found out.
And also drove me nuts.
As Maiko mentioned, fathers almost never get custody of their kids in Japan, especially if the split happens with both (or all, if including the parents of the married couple) parties fighting over stuff instead of them all agreeing to it. I'd need to find it again, but afaik there has only been one case where the father won, and I think that was around 2013-2015. And so far (or at least so far from when I read it), it hasn't happened again. As such I was basically going nuts because I was like "WAIT HOW SHOULD I MAKE REN'S BIRTH PARENTS SPLIT UP WHILE KEEPING THEIR BACKSTORIES?! DO I HAVE TO CHANGE THE BACKSTORIES AND/OR PERSONALITIES?! BUT I DON'T WANT TO! THAT'S THE REASON FOR THEIR DIVORCE! BUT IF I DON'T FIGURE OUT HOW THEN THERE'S NO REASONABLE REASON FOR REN TO STILL BE UNDER HIS DAD'S CARE AAAAHHHHHHHH" and so in the end I did end up changing it somewhat. That being that everyone but Ren's mom agree to the divorce and see that she's really not well enough to be a mom unlike the original idea where Ren's mom and dad fought over his custody.
Okay talking about it, it isn't as bad as it could be.
BUT IT SURE AS HELL DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PLAN IT OUT.
I don't know
I didn't think of it yet
Maybe danggit--er, rabbitfish? Danggit rabbitfish (had to look the English up), cause they smell terrible to clean and terrible after they're dried in the sun to me and don't find the taste worth it. And I named Perfume Perfume because I hate the smell of perfume.
They weren't even romance manga at all; Magical Mentor MacLeod was a reference to Mahou Sensei Negima!, and Escapulario+Lichgirl is a reference to Rosario+Vampire, which are both technically shounen.
Pen-Pen tapped his claws against the armrest of his beach chair, casually manifesting a martini. "Moving onto the 13th of July: as the school day progresses, Shinji is sent a collection of pictures about Yui Ikari from Futaba Maruki. This prompts him to speak with his homeroom teacher at the end of the day; Fuyutsuki pulls out a photo showing a dinner from 1999, where Katsuhito Ikari, Naoko and Ritsuko Akagi, Fuyutsuki himself, Wakaba and Futaba Isshiki, Takuto Maruki, and Yui and Gendo Ikari were celebrating. Despite the halcyon days that picture represents, it is also a reminder about how fleeting life can be, because things unravelled shortly thereafter, with Wakaba passing away during Second Impact, Yui disappearing in 2004, and Naoko dying in 2006...though, Fuyutsuki does not disclose the truth that she committed suicide."
Teddie tilted his head. "Naoko Akagi...isn't she the lady with three minds? But she's alive, isn't she?"
"Not in the conventional sense," remarked the interloper. "And it's to our advantage, alas."
"...eh?"
"That's neither here nor there," said Pen-Pen, glossing over Teddie's confusion. "Shinji observes that Fuyutsuki seems to be staying away from the children of his late peers; reflecting on the importance of family, they both conclude their meeting with plenty to think about. Shinji, whilst pondering these matters, decides to forward copies of Futaba's photos to Gendo Ikari...who promptly deletes them, going through the trouble of calling Shinji to tell him off."
The interloper frowned. "How rude."
"That's how the day ends: with Shinji stewing over why his father seems to despise the memory of Yui...and Gendo stewing over whatever darkness has consumed him. Thus we move on to the 14th of July: classes open with a kanji lesson that Shinji finds curiously simple; classes end with Shinji heading to the Literature Club, where he and Mayumi discuss how one's interpretations of books will change as one grows through life...and, to Mayumi's surprise, Shinji admits that he's already thought of them as friends by this point. Back at his dorm room, he finally answers PILATE's question regarding what he's willing to endure for a thankless ordeal...at which Shinji discloses he would only run if he had no hope of changing things; if he could not save anyone...and PILATE, to his dismay, is initially displeased by his answer. But after further elaboration and clarification, PILATE seems satisfied by his resolve, even if she finds it somewhat foolish. Thus the day ends, amidst the banter of Shinji's roommates."
"And so we get closer to the new moon..."
"Indeed! July the 15th: NERV demands the presence of Shinji, Kensuke, and Toji in order to prepare for the following day. Ryuji puts Toji, Kensuke, and Mana through the paces in the Metaverse, whilst Shinji spends more time in..." Pen-Pen paused for dramatic effect. "...The Tube™."
"...is it actually trademarked, though?" wondered Teddie, his hand puppet scratching curiously at his noggin.
"There's a brief aside where we see Misato try and corner me in real life...fortunately, my impeccable acting is enough to throw her off my trail. And all it cost was one guilt trip."
The interloper gave Pen-Pen a stink eye. "How uncouth."
"You're not a lady's man at all!" criticized Teddie.
"If we make it to the end alive, I'll apologize to Misato as much as I have to. Moving on: during his stay in The Tube™, Shinji asks Ritsuko about her memories of Yui Ikari, which have some measure of unhappiness about them...not that Ritsuko is willing to share. Misato eventually arrives, taking Shinji into the Metaverse to recruit more Archetypes from NERV's reserves; theirs is a rather frank and honest discussion about no longer wanting to be chained by their own fears, and Misato is refreshed by Shinji's earnestness. Later, everyone reconvenes in the cafeteria with Rei Ayanami, where they discuss potential tactics and strategies for the following day, all to the dulcet tones of Louis Armstrong. But of course, the day can't end without one last awkward father-son encounter in an elevator, where Gendo makes the significant admission that he hates Shinji for a reason...not that he tells the boy what that reason is."
"...can pain truly drive someone to such madness?" wondered the interloper.
"You should know better than most, given what you've witnessed," observed Pen-Pen. "But, as Shinji slumbers away in the Velvet Room...the day of the new moon arises: July the 16th...and the battle against Ramiel."
The penguin gazed wearily at the image of a crystalline octahedron, hovering above Tokyo-3. "When Ramiel emerged, he struck at Shinji first with a mighty beam; the residual energy bled through the Cognitive Protection Center, prompting numerous Agents to focus on Shadow subjugation as numerous Acolytes were 'born.' Thus were Ryuji, Toji, Kensuke, Mana, and Misato occupied for most of the morning...but as for the Angel: after his initial strike, he withdraws into his Seat of Power at the nexus of mind, body, and spirit. It is there, where Rei Ayanami pursues him, and engages in combat...and where Shinji follows; thus begins the battle. Meanwhile, in the real world, Mana is temporarily put down by an Acolyte's surprise attack...at which point Minato Arisato, out for a stroll, gives her a brief lesson as to how relationships constitute a two-way street."
The interloper stared quietly at the illustration of Minato holding both AIGIS and LABRYS. "Continue."
"His strange ability to synchronize with the weapons befuddles Mana, but she has little time to wonder before leaping back into the fray. As for the battle against the Angel...after the two Evangelion-users give it a good show, Ramiel propels them out of his Domain with violent force, where they crash into the ground outside Tokyo-3 within the Metaverse."
"A shame that something with such a graceful and dignified appearance would be so devastating," mused the interloper, gazing at the next picture of a symmetrical crystal hovering over a smoking crater.
"Rei's injuries are harsh, but not enough to slow her down; the sight of her burned and bleeding back is enough to strike at Shinji's core, to plead for her to accept his help...that she doesn't have to bear all of the pain by herself, that she isn't replaceable."
Teddie balked. "But...doesn't she have the soul of Big Mama LILITH? Why would she be so unbearably careless??"
Pen-Pen sighed, staring at the crimson light of an eternal sunset. "She believes her own pain to be secondary, in the grand scheme of things...but can she endure forever? I suppose only time will tell." Turning back to the book, Pen-Pen continued, "Convincing her to let him cooperate in a more tangible manner, Shinji uses his awesome power to both endure Ramiel's rage, and to launch Rei at high speed toward the Angel's Core: swift and sure, she pierces Ramiel through his very being. Thus is another Angel slain, and the newborn Acolytes running rampant were thus snuffed of life and vitality in an instant." Pen-Pen suddenly chuckled. "It is the sight of this that finally convinces Ryoji Kaji's Shadow to enlighten Shinji Ikari as to the nature of things...but that's for another day."
"...wasn't there something about a giant spider?" wondered Teddie.
"Ah, you mean Matarael? He died against Asuka in a battle that was surely epic...a shame that Sister Mary Makinami didn't see any of it." Flipping the page, the penguin added, "anyhow, as Shinji Ikari awakens at the hospital, he speaks frankly with Rei about living as though her own life was worth living...and it ends with a smile that echoes from an old life to now...but this brief reprieve means little to the rest of the world, which was ravaged by the Angels in numerous places."
"Thus were events set in motion for Japan's eventual isolation from the world," murmured the interloper. "I wonder if they are regretting their choice, now that Strega is expanding their reach...?"
"Compared to repetitive fights and a seemingly futile grind against Acolytes and Ghosts, day after day? Strega probably seems like a more tangible target by comparison: one that can be planned for, given enough warning. And if they continue to target the MAGI, eventually the other nations will narrow down on Strega...but to what avail, given their patrons amongst the Angels?" Pen-Pen irritably inhaled through his pipe, loosing another cloud of angry smoke. "July the 17th. The Wild Card Trio discuss Minato's actions during the new moon, and ruminate over how much of a newbie Ren is relative to Minato and Yu. As for the First and Third Children...they, along with Commander Ikari and NERV's three Directors, cover the carnage from the prior day. Millions perished throughout the world, in the worst incident of mass Angel Syndrome since Second Impact. They listen to the message that had been broadcast by Strega: a declaration of war against those allied with Evangelion...and all the political angles that go with it. While their debrief concludes, Hikari talks with Kensuke and Toji about the collateral damage from the prior day, and how the student body looks at Shinji and Rei with no small measure of trepidation in light how they can fight such awesome monsters...and survive." The picture of Ramiel's corpse being broken down said plenty. "As Shinji returns to his dorms — getting a conciliatory message from Mayumi; another question from HEROD regarding a scenario fit for a fantasy quest; another offer from Tanaka's Portable Commodities — he is greeted warmly by his roommates...and is invited by Kaworu Nagisa for a visit to the Boxing Club the following day."
"He doesn't seem like the type for boxing," wondered the interloper. "Perhaps that's why he's so effective?"
"Do you think he could take down a bear with one punch?" asked Teddie.
"He might very well could! Anyhow, onto July the 18th: during the morning walk to school, Shinji and Mayumi commiserate regarding the events of the prior day, even as he feels the quiet bud of isolation beginning to bloom from other students...this unease persists throughout the day. Fortunately, the Boxing Club serves as a decent distraction; the club's health advisor, Shinjiro Aragaki, makes him sign a waiver in the event of possible injury; given that the club's captain is Akihiko Sanada, that's all too possible. One thing leads to another, and Shinji ends up in a spar with Kaworu...only to be knocked out in one punch." Pen-Pen sighed. "A poor showing, all things considered."
The interloper sighed. "Shinji Ikari isn't a fighter at heart, it would seem."
"Indeed; though he awakens relatively quickly, he is still told to go to the nurse's office. As Kaworu gives him a shoulder to lean on, the boy muses about how appearances in the eyes of the beholder can change, and ebb and flow...and how, despite how odd it may seem, boxing provides him a 'pleasant distraction'."
"A distraction from what, though...?"
"Shinji asked that same question," remarked Pen-Pen. "The school nurse arranges for Shinji to be taken directly to NERV, to have his mind scanned after suffering a concussion; Misato and Dr. Sayoko Uehara are none too pleased by such tomfoolery. As Shinji rests, Misato finally deigns to answer some of Shinji's questions about herself, including her history...which, in this particular timeline, has many uncanny similarities with reality..." Pen-Pen sighed heavily. "Witnessing Second Impact in its fullness...is it always her lot in life? At any rate, she leaves Shinji to rest...and Misato converses with her Other inwardly, resolving to continue being a 'work-in-progress'." Then penguin chuckled quietly at the thought. "Oh, and the day ends with a cutaway to Misato's apartment, where Ryuji is chaperoning Toji, Kensuke, and Mana...and the girl showcases that for how horrid her luck in life has been, she's got immense luck in games of chance. I mean, seriously, who gets a royal flush honestly?"
I didn't say that I didn't want them to have a good (would-be) voice actor, I just didn't want one that was associated with someone or something I liked. Because I agree with amazing voice acting making amazing villains considering I love Robbie Daymond, aka our meme lord Akechi's English voice actor. But considering the good voice actors are also usually the prolific ones...I have no idea what the chances of that are.
Except now that I say that, and you said that, and now I'm thinking about it, I just hate Perfume sO gOdDaMn MuCh I almost want them to not have the dignity of having an amazing voice actor.
So...yeah.
On one hand it's always preferable to have great voice acting for characters for quality.
On the other hand I FUCKING HATE PERFUME so I am now torn.
So yeah.
Oh and thank you. Glad you are liking the insane fun ride of me going through SPE.
"July the 19th," continued Pen-Pen. "Rei decides to confront Kaworu Nagisa in the early morning within his dorm room, taking advantage of the fact that Shinji, Kensuke, and Toji are elsewhere; through her interrogation, she determines that he is aware of older times...which makes his apparent decision to not be an active player rather interesting."
"Indeed; what 'rules' could be binding him?" wondered the interloper.
"What 'rules' indeed?" cryptically answered Pen-Pen. "Though Rei regrets the fact that Kaworu cannot be an open 'participant', she is at least mollified by his presence...and that, regardless of what else may have changed, his devotion to Shinji Ikari seems unaffected. Thus do we turn back to Shinji, who is once more lying within The Tube™ at the mercies of Dr. Akagi and her poor sense of humor. Once he's released, he wanders the city, eventually stumbling upon the door of the Velvet Room...which results in another delightful outing with Sokila. By chance, he meets Toji and Kensuke at Big Bang Beef Bowl, who are somewhat perturbed at the fact that the little girl knows not of the pleasures of beef."
"...what would a Big Bang Bear Bowl shop, be like?" wondered Teddie aloud.
"With leftovers in hand, Shinji and Sokila return to the Velvet Room; Igor marvels at how the Room seems to keep changing so constantly in response to Shinji's desires...but, as this occurs, a stranger is watching from above."
The interloper stared quietly at the image of a cloaked girl in black, holding a naginata in her hand. "A 'stranger' is an improper choice of words. More like...a poor pawn, who lost the chance to be a player."
"Minako's attempt on Shinji's life — apparently — is aborted, thanks to whatever influence Gendo Ikari has over Tokyo-3...but Shinji is unaware of all this, busy as he is conversing with Igor. Though Shinji doubts whether he was the right choice...Igor assuages him with the knowledge that even if one's circumstances are not ideal, a difference can always be made...anyhow, in spite of that heartwarming conclusion, studies still await him back at the Izanagi Dorms! His answer to HEROD's prior question — namely, that on a perilous quest, he would rather take a sword that would never break instead of a guide with necessary knowledge or a healing elixir — surprises the MAGI...but their subsequent inquiries, aiming for clarification, only serve to perturb Shinji as to what the depth of his heart and thoughts are truly like..."
Teddie plopped down into the sand beside the beach chair, burying his snout under his paws. "Trying to find out who you really are...I can relate," murmured the hand puppet."
Pen-Pen flipped the page. "July the 20th. Shinji awakens to a question from PILATE, this time relaying a scenario that...is a very thinly-veiled allusion to an incident where a nuclear-powered robot went on a rampage, so very long ago in a world so far yet near to our own." As he spoke, his claw traced over the illustration of a lanky, hunchbacked robot that was dressed like an oni.
"...for what reason, does the name 'JET ALONE' persist? And why is it always an inappropriate name for the project it represents?"
"A possible fixed point in the mental narratives of humanity?" offered Pen-Pen as a suggestion. "Anyhow, another day of classes ends...and Principal Lorenz requests a meeting with the boy after a run-in in the halls. After discussing the nature of education and the challenges involved with the perceptions of other people, he's off for one last cram session at KiKi Ichibanya." The included image of Shinji, Toji, Kensuke, Kaworu, Hikari, and Mayumi — all gathered around a single table, eating curry and reading from books — was rather wholesome. "Amidst the typical worries and banter of teenage students, the hour grows late...and we finally reach the dreaded summer exams."
"...why would they be dreaded?"
"Spoken like an innocent cub in a grizzly's world," harrumphed Teddie. "I remember how panicked Yosuke would get...but not Sensei. He was as cool as a polar bear!"
"Given these exams, and the missions he takes immediately afterward...it's like the days fly by, for Shinji Ikari. Besides some intriguing conversations with Goro Akechi and yours truly, nothing of any true significance happens. Thus, in the proverbial blink of an eye, July the 21st passes...and the 22nd, the 23rd, and the 24th...until at least, on the 25th, exams come to an end. Exhausted, Shinji naps away the afternoon and evening...but more importantly, we get a glimpse of Rei Ayanami doing something...unusual." The book included a picture of her slumbering in her bed; yet, on the very next page, it showed the same blunette standing within a grungy, dilapidated chamber, kneeling before a flickering computer monitor. "A dark place, marred by blood and mildew...speaking with an unknown computer about 'integration' and 'anomalies'. Once her inspection is complete...she seemingly awakens, and busies herself to keep herself going." Pen-Pen looked calmly at the interloper. "Your thoughts, dear chum?"
The interloper quietly cupped his chin. "Merely that...it is a shame, that so much of the burden falls upon her shoulders. She already carries quite enough, does she not?"
"If you asked her, she would say that it's not enough."
"A lamentable mentality...but one that I suppose was inevitable. Do you think she will ever shed it?"
"I certainly hope so," muttered Pen-Pen.
xxxx
/taking a brief sabbatical for a weekend road trip
//see y'all on Monday or Tuesday, Lord willing
The book included a picture of her slumbering in her bed; yet, on the very next page, it showed the same blunette standing within a grungy, dilapidated chamber, kneeling before a flickering computer monitor. "A dark place, marred by blood and mildew...speaking with an unknown computer about 'integration' and 'anomalies'. Once her inspection is complete...she seemingly awakens, and busies herself to keep herself going."
"Because if what you told me is true...and based on how the Impact Timeline usually transpires if not interfered with...Naoko Akagi died in the year 2010." (Which stung, because he had genuinely come to care for that brilliant yet flawed woman.) "So why did she not feel the same? Why did she feel like a living human being?"
"...I'm...not sure." Rei seemed honestly disturbed by this idea. "...but you're right. In retrospect...the sensation I felt from her was different, in subtle ways from Yui, Ikari, Sohryu, or Kaji. But I never questioned it..." (Curious, that Ayanami's senses were more finely tuned to his on the matter of souls...then again, why would that be surprising? It was only to be expected!) "...but why would that be...?" Her irises briefly flickered in width, narrowing and widening with unnerving quickness. "...the MAGI...could it be...that they're still functioning...? How? Is there time dilation...?"
My guess is that the reason Naoko was never an echo like Yui, Kaji, Shinji, and Asuka were in the loops is because her soul is preserved inside the MAGI, while Rei just informed it of Shinji's integration.
Fresh mead at a Renaissance Fair is quite delicious, FWIW.
xxxx
"At any rate..." continued Pen-Pen. "July the 26th. Toji decides to invite Shinji to meet his sister in-person at Kobayakawa Memorial Hospital; but he gets distracted by one Yu Narukami, who is as eccentric as ever...but his introduction of one elderly patient by the name of Nanako Dojima has its own brand of melancholy." Pen-Pen ignored Teddie's sudden blubbering about 'Nana-chaaaaan!!', reading, "Her condition is a unique, bearing signs of past memory...or perhaps an odd clairvoyance?" The interloper said nothing. "In any case, Narukami asks if Shinji is able and willing to see everything through to the end...and when he chooses to take a stand, the bond of Judgement is forged."
The interloper chuckled. "Ah...how interesting...yet appropriate."
"The boy finally meets back up with Toji, who introduces him to Sakura Suzuhara. After a bit of story time to the unconscious girl and a bit of thinking about what it means to even be a 'kid' when they've gone through so much, he ends up tailing Mana Kirishima...who is tailing Minato Arisato, because she's mighty curious about how he was able to wield AIGIS and LABRYS! That particular thread will remain unplucked for now, however; going into the Metaverse, Mana remarks about her need to attain greater mastery of her own power...a need that Shinji is more than willing to help with. After a bit of training, Shinji — tired and exhausted — falls asleep on a couch in the dorm's common room, where they're watching the exploits of Olympic outfits with excitement. Thus ends another day...but when he awakes on July the 27th, it's to being bound by a bunch of toilet paper in a janitor's closet! An example of hazing gone wrong-"
"That's not hazing."
Pen-Pen turned quietly at Teddie. "Pardon?"
The hand puppet wiggled authoritatively. "Nope. Definitely not hazing!"
"He has a point," remarked the interloper, reading ahead a little. "It's not exactly an initiation ritual...and there's no alcohol involved, either...I believe that's just old-fashioned bullying."
Pen-Pen stared flatly at the duo. "...if you insist." Turning toward Teddie, the penguin asked, "How exactly do you know the definition of hazing so offhandedly?"
The big blue bear looked away. "...there are some things that men and bears experience which must remain unspoken. Such is my solemn bond..."
The interloper and penguin both looked quizzically at the bear. "...right," droned Pen-Pen. "Anyhow, phasing through the wall is all it takes for Shinji to escape, much to the surprise of the ne'er-do-wells that scatter upon sight. Breakfast with his roommates at Kernel's Fried Chicken enlightens Shinji as to what just happened to him...but before any Marine Day plans can be made, yours truly sent him a message to meet up in the Metaverse...and although a tip from Ritsuko Akagi clues Misato in as to what's happening, I still manage to send the boy on his way through Aokigahara Forest, following a delightful fox from a time long past. Right after he leaves, Misato confronts me, wanting to confirm her suspicions as to whether Mister P and Pen-Pen are one and the same...and she calls Goro Akechi to confirm my presence in reality. Which, lying without qualm, he does."
"Whatever I may have said that could have implied the contrary...you know that falsehood won't last forever."
Pen-Pen shrugged. "So long as she lives long enough to make it past the endgame, my capacity for caring is somewhat diminished...and the mask of a deceiver is one that the boy is accustomed to wearing, as lamentable as it is." Ignoring the interloper's frown, he continued, "Misato's attempts at interrogating me — comparing me to Strega and Tohru Adachi in the process, which was just rude — are aborted early, thanks to the Reaper's untimely appearance; I return her to reality via one of Jose's portals, narrowly escaping before the Reaper arrives. Likewise, Shinji is pulled through a watery portal by Ryoji Kaji's Shadow...into a very strange realm, lying in-between in a manner similar to yet distinct from that of the Velvet Room...and it's in this space where Shinji meets Marie, Avatar of Arael, face-to-face." The penguin ignored Teddie's abrupt wail about 'Marie-chaaaaan~!'. "It is there where he learns about the disappearance of 'God' from his Throne...the struggle between ADAM, LILITH, and others for the Throne itself...the end of the War in Heaven, and the rise of the Usurper...their long and dreaded reign as the One Who Sits Upon the Throne, over countless timelines...the efforts of the Angels to break free, via their various manifestations, such as Nyx, Izanami-no-Mikoto, and Yaldabaoth...and, more importantly, the reality that the Velvet Room is another player on the board...and Kaji's Shadow, daredevil that he is, hands over a card for the Melon Patch...sneakily informing him of the identities of three former Wild Cards: Arisato, Narukami, and Amamiya." Pen-Pen chuckled at the illustration of Shinji's flabbergasted face. "Needless to say...it was a lot of information for the poor lad. And gaining the bond of the Hanged Man on top of it? Truly a busy and momentous day."
Glancing further onward, the interloper remarked, "A shame that it wasn't the end for him."
"Indeed," murmured Pen-Pen, looking at another drawing within the book: this time, it featured a cutout of Misato and Shinji on their phones, with the woman looking enraged and the boy looking flummoxed."Finding out that he met Kaji's Shadow, Misato is rather insistent the boy tells her about everything that he witnessed that day; denying her, she is rather angered, to the point their bond...reverses, shall we say; out of frustration, she hangs up. Before he has any time to process what had just happened, PILATE demands an answer to her prior question about the blatant reference to reality's JET ALONE project; the boy's answers are jeered to some degree by PILATE, who notes his apparent hypocrisies with regards to how he is willing to accept more pain when it comes to Gendo Ikari...yet would deny Misato the same opportunity when it comes to Ryoji Kaji. All told, the boy returns to his dorm with a dejected and almost defeated demeanor...and yet, a letter is waiting for him: written by his old custodian, inviting him for a summer vacation in Okayama Prefecture. The contents of that letter, alas, will not be unveiled until later...which leaves the matter of the day ending with Minako Arisato, stirring in response to a new assignment."
The interloper grimaced. "Such a euphemistic way of putting it."
"Reality is rarely euphemistic about anything."
xxxx
/driving ~2,000 miles over four days was tiring
//I think we have about two snippets of this recap left
///and then we'll be back to the main plot
Pen-Pen turned the page. "July the 28th. As the students of Hakone Academy celebrate the end of the current term, Principal Lorenz has a distinct warning for the student body regarding the Evangelion-users and their treatment thereof; Shinji confronts the principal afterwards, learning that Keel has a very low opinion of Strega."
"'Repugnant', hmm?" said the interloper, gazing at the dialogue on the page. "What an interesting turn..."
"If only Gendo Ikari were as pleasant, hmm?" murmured Pen-Pen. "But Shinji is barely able to show his gratitude before he receives word that Misato has been hospitalized...courtesy of a girl capable of wielding multiple Personas."
The interloper stared quietly at the illustration of Rei Ayanami and Lilith standing in front of an unconscious Katsuragi; the blunette was facing a red-eyed girl in black and the death-faced Persona known as Thanatos.
"It's thanks to Ayanami's interference that Misato was rescued; as Misato recuperates, she and Shinji have a brief heart-to-heart, coming to terms regarding their difficulties from the prior day; Rei, meanwhile, demands answers from the other three Wild Cards, gaining insight into the assailant's identity. It is here where she learns of Minako Arisato's existence...and comes to the epiphany about their possible connection with the Usurper."
"I couldn't even bear with it for five minutes, let alone whole lifetimes..." murmured Teddie's hand puppet.
"July the 29th. In the midst of a dream, Rei confirms with Elizabeth that Minako is in fact a pawn of the Usurper...not that Shinji will have context for any of this, as he awakens. Kaworu and Phanuel seem to reflect upon this revelation, of memories reclaimed...but, that seems rather trifling, compared to the meeting between Shinji and Gendo, where the boy asks for permission to leave for the Aida District during the summer break. Though he obtains his father's permission...Shinji, more importantly, learns that his father is aware of the One Who Sits Upon the Throne. Yet, his animus is still for Shinji alone...because of an event long ago, where the boy 'threw it all away'...and though he looks forward to the time when Shinji finally remembers, Gendo can only bitterly ruminate on the similarities between father and son."
"A very telling point: unless the tree grows upon a hill, or there is a gardener to carry the fruit away...the apple doesn't fall far from where it grows."
"Later, at Neo Hagakure, Shinji invites Hikari, Toji, Kensuke, Kaworu, and Mana to join him on his summer trip; Hikari turns him down due to her sister returning home for the break, whereas Kaworu's time is already taken by the upcoming boxing tournament...but Kensuke, Toji, and Mana are free. A quick phone call to Mayumi to lessen the lopsided ratio of the sexes puts the Class Rep's mind at ease...and, as far as the chaperone is concerned, Ren Amamiya steps up to serve that role with aplomb...whilst subtly hinting at the possibility of schooling Shinji in the ways of the Wild Card. With lunch taken care of, Shinji opts for a mission with Goro Akechi-"
"Hey, you skipped the part where Mana-chan learned about harems!" protested Teddie's hand puppet.
The interloper and Pen-Pen slapped the bear upside the head, eliciting a pained grunt from the blue ursa. "That's no way for a gentleman to act over such silliness. As I was saying: Shinji goes on a mission with Akechi, where they are tasked with subjugating and serving a judicial notice to the Shadow of a court clerk by the name of Maiko Oohashi. There's no doubt about their success...yet, although her motives are rooted in good sentiments, it provides an opportunity for Akechi to give a lesson, about the nature of authority, of the reasons why one wields power, and of the limits binding one's capacity to change things...as he ponders these things, Shinji ends the day by venturing into the Velvet Room, where he and Sokila both comfort each other; after the girl falls asleep, Shinji wonders about whether he's even capable of fighting someone like the Usurper...but given the Velvet Room's existence, the defiance of the Angels, and humanity's capacity for change, such a task is far from impossible, or so Igor counsels."
"Wise words."
"July the 30th. Shinji meets Rei at the LeNoir Café for a morning drink; Rei turns down his offer to go on the summer trip before she inquiries about the earth-shattering revelations he's learned. She is...unwilling, to speak of that time, given the outcome of those days. Yet, despite the daunting nature of the battles awaiting Shinji, she still has faith in him...even though she doesn't have faith in herself. As she departs, her mind drifts back to a memory of a life long gone, from the last days of the War in Heaven...recounting her first meeting with one Naoya Toudou."
"How come I haven't seen him? Shouldn't he be on sensei's team?" wondered Teddie, his hand puppet flailing about.
The interloper and the penguin were momentarily silent. Pen-Pen continued on without answering. "We turn to an awkward meeting between Kensuke and his father, setting the seeds for a relationship to be mended between father and son...meanwhile, thanks to some aggressive negotiations from Ryuji Sakamoto and Misato Katsuragi, Sae Niijima is convinced to allow Toji and Mana to accompany Shinji on his vacation. As for Mayumi, well...we see her household, where she unknowingly struggles with a sensation that will not become known in full until the 14th of August...but she nevertheless gets approval to go on vacation as well from parents who aren't all there. Speaking of parents, Shinji — once more in The Tube™ — has an illuminating discussion with Ritsuko about mothers, and the unwillingness of the living to let go of the dead..."
The interloper smiled sadly. "I wonder if she is aware of her own hypocrisy?"
"The day ends with dinner at Jazz Jingisukan, where Ren Amamiya and Goro Akechi speak frankly about the former's upcoming stint as a chaperone; Ren confides in Akechi that part of his motive is a need to get out of Tokyo-3, and away from so many familiar faces. As they speak, it is made clear that they operate in different spheres, knowing certain things but not others." Pen-Pen looked intently at the interloper before continuing. "A brief recollection of the prior timeline emerges...of a choice made whose meaning was rendered both less and more important with the passage of time..."
"I wonder how Dr. Maruki would react, if he knew to what extent the Usurper's hand allowed him to succeed in the last timeline..."
"As Ren bids farewell to Shimaru Shido — Akechi's 'real' name in this timeline — both boys ponder their current circumstances, and the trials that undoubtedly lie ahead...thus does the page turn to July the 31st: the beginning of a fateful summer road trip."
Pen-Pen relayed the events of that day — of Ryuji introducing his old subordinates Junpei Iori and Ken Amada as additional chaperones; of Ren Amamiya driving Shinji, Toji, Kensuke, Mana, and Mayumi in HiAce van, with Ryuji leading the way on motorbike, and Junpei and Ken following in a literal DeLorean; of Misato finding out by implication that Ryoji Kaji knew of Mister P's existence; of Shuzo Ubukata's leaking of Shinji and Mana's departure from Tokyo-3, the unfortunate portents of that action, and his mysterious demise at Gendo Ikari's hands; of the first leg of the road trip, and all the various exploits of the Hakone Caravan at Hamamatsu and Cape Irago — before closing the book. "Thus the curtain closes on the month of July, 2015."
"A momentous month," murmured the interloper. "The question is...what now?"
of Shuzo Ubukata's leaking of Shinji and Mana's departure from Tokyo-3, the unfortunate portents of that action, and his mysterious demise at Gendo Ikari's hands;
Especially since Gendo's Persona seems to be on a similar level of power as Maruki's Persona in P5 Royal (if it even is a Persona and not Gendo's Shadow which he's somehow in synch with via metaphysical bullshit (Think about it, the reason why he has such insane power and control over Tokyo-3 could be because it's his Shadow's Domain)).
Especially since Gendo's Persona seems to be on a similar level of power as Maruki's Persona in P5 Royal (if it even is a Persona and not Gendo's Shadow which he's somehow in synch with via metaphysical bullshit (Think about it, the reason why he has such insane power and control over Tokyo-3 could be because it's his Shadow's Domain)).
Pen-Pen looked intently at the interloper, letting the sound of waves provide a serene ambience...before, without warning, he said, "Teddie, could you please leave? I need some...privacy."
"Aw, do I have to-?"
"I insist. Keep your nose out in the Metaverse for anything unusual."
Teddie harrumphed. "Fine, I get it. I'll just go and be cool all by myself!" The bear pocketed his hand puppet before waddling away, disappearing beyond the edge of the shore.
The moment Teddie vanished, everything faded away: the setting sun, the crimson waters, the weathered sand, the melancholy tune; Pen-Pen now sat at a table in front of the interloper, amidst the void.
"The state of the world is in flux, as ever...but we are nearing quite a few crossroads." Pen-Pen, manifesting a deck of cards, shuffled them quietly. "Both in the mundane, and in the extreme."
"Indeed. There are many things to keep track of..."
"I could recap the month of August, if you desire."
"I think I'll be fine," remarked the interloper with a smile.
Pen-Pen laid down several cards, face-up. "The Usurper's direct attention is on Minako Arisato, as her battle against Phanuel rages on...but for how much longer, I can only hazard a guess," he said, tapping the image of a redhead crying tears of blood. "With their passive capacity directed otherwise towards restraining ADAM, this is a period where the world is surprisingly free of surveillance...hence why, I assume, certain parties are feeling more adventurous."
"You among them, I would hope?"
"It all depends on the risk...and the reward." Tapping a card depicting broken pawns, he continued, "Strega. They seek to implement the will of the Angels...whatever that may be. Takaya Sakaki is the unquestioned leader; Jin Shirato is bound to him by a persistent loyalty; Sho Minazuki is motivated more by his own nihilism more than anything else, alas...and the two newest members, Musashi and Keita...are simply being led along, uncaring for possible alternatives...what is the ultimate plan, now that they've begun striking at the MAGI outside of Japan? All it will do is motivate the other governments of the world, unrestrained as they are by the Ghosts and Acolytes, to focus their attention to a greater extent..."
"A very good question. I suppose it all depends on what the Angels themselves desire..."
Pen-Pen nodded, tapping a card featuring a deathly skull. "Zeruel...the Angel of Might, and the acting head of the Angels. What is his desire? He will inevitably face Shinji Ikari again...but by what means? Given the stakes involved in this timeline, I thought he would have been more overt, by this point..."
"...I suppose we can only wait and see, for when he decides to act."
The penguin moved onto the next card, depicting a lost zealot, reaching for the heavens. "Shuji Ikutsuki. Enraptured by a hidden design...and his Prometheans, empowered by the flesh of fallen Angels, will now be making an appearance the world over. For good, or for ill? We can only wait and see." He then tapped another card, featuring a Hanged Man that had broken free of his noose. "All on top of various Shadows that have broken free in the wake of the Great Northern Tower's fall; a symbol of humanity's own darkness, now running amok, and running wild..."
"I imagine Shinji Ikari and his fellows will run into at least one."
Pen-Pen snorted. "In a sense, they have." He tapped the last card, which depicting a jester with a bag of popcorn and a bloody knife. "Tohru Adachi. A wild card in and of himself. What game is he seeking to play? What are the rules...and are they only in his own mind?" He then glanced to another card, showing an imposing statue of a bald man with glasses. "From that icon of chaos, we turn to a model of authoritarian order: Masayoshi Shido. In a matter of weeks, he's gone from being subordinate to Kyoto's Governor to being the President of the new Japanese Confederation...and though the various Prefectures will likely try and test the waters as to what sort of arrangements they can make with the other nations of the world, habit and force of personality alone may make him a very formidable figure, indeed...but as friend? Foe? Or neither?"
"His presence has certainly been a vexing one...but in the grand scheme of things, is he not a mere figurehead, compared to him?"
Pen-Pen chuckled, gesturing towards the last card: depicting a humanoid devil, wrapped in a hermit's cloak...whose shadow nonetheless covered everything, as though he were the emperor of the world. "Gendo Ikari...is he truly motivated by only spite? I can only wonder...if the boy can break through to him."
The interloper smiled cherubically. "Never say never...but it is a formidable array of forces that our fellows must navigate through...forces that are often working together, or at cross purposes."
"Life's tricky that way." Pen-Pen put down the deck of cards, sliding it towards the interloper. "But what do you think can help make a difference, to help make a bridge over these chaotic waters?"
The interloper smiled, drawing a card; it depicted a handgun, a pair of glasses, a domino mask, and a shackled crow. "We cannot afford such strong pieces to get rusty, can we?"
"...you know about the rules that govern this world," murmured the penguin. "Your boy is one thing: he never established a contract. But the other three? The very act of reaching for their power will trigger a resonance with the Velvet Room...and that resonance will unlock all of their metaphysical bonds. They will be as beacons in the sight of the Usurper."
"A cunning alert system, indeed: they may not yet possess the power to break into the Velvet Room of their own volition...but are not Fools supposed to go where Angels fear to tread?"
Pen-Pen frowned, suddenly feeling an idea emanate from the interloper. "...what are you getting at...?"
"There is a reason I felt confident enough to seek you out, in this dream-that's-not-a-dream," murmured the interloper. "Though it is a subtle means of communicating, it is inherently lacking in means of defense...which means the Usurper, if they were to catch wind of us, would easily snatch us up. And yet..."
"Their attention is divided, at the moment..."
"Imagine, if you will: anything can theoretically happen, in a dream...but without a means of actualizing it, a dream remains just that. What if the principle could be applied in a more roundabout manner, giving those old heroes a place where they can let loose to their heart's content...a place where Shinji Ikari would be able to practice, without holding back...?"
Pen-Pen thought...and pondered...and suddenly grinned. "You're a right bloody genius...but I'll have to be quick about it."
The interloper smiled, rising to his feet. "Then I suppose I should be off, then...I think he's about to wake up."
"Farewell to you then, my lad...it's always a pleasure speaking with you. But do try and not show up without an invitation next time, hm?"
Smiling, the interloper said nothing as he withdrew...
xxxx
/Meanwhile, in the Real World/
...and quietly gazed upon Goro Akechi. "Having a bad dream?"
Goro Akechi jolted out of his bed, impulsively wiping at the sweat on his brow. "...I thought it felt strangely...empty..."
The quiet stranger smiled serenely. "I wanted to give you some space. Is this not what you wanted?"
"...I suppose I've gotten used to your presence."
"A very touching admission!"
Akechi scowled, impulsively slamming a pillow over his head.
"Don't rub it in."
"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul...by the way, Mister P says hello."
"...say what now-?"
"Let's wait until morning. There's a possible proposition in the works that might make you quite happy..."
"A likely story."
"Sometimes, it's the most unlikely of stories that bring the most joy..."
Thus did a boy and the stranger within his head let the night pass away, in tired yet contemplative silence...
xxxx
END OF JULY RECAP
xxxx
/y'all might want to reread this recap now
//given the additional context
///of the interloper being the Quiet Stranger™
]
