destinystrings | (no subject)

[After four days of wandering around aimlessly, the inevitable has finally happened. The two Atsuros stand in the middle of Sagittarius district, facing each other down. The Shadow is no longer withdrawn and timid. Bolstered by the promises it had heard, it stares at its counterpart now with a faint smile.]

I really thought you were going to complain about how we've never beaten Hizumi at that stupid drum game.

...

...And the dancing game, come to think of it.

Why do you do that? Whenever there's a problem... that's all you do. Laugh it off.

What? ...You want me to whine about it? Like you?

I want you to face it. All of your friends... All of your friends know how you really feel now. Everything you're afraid of. Everything you try to hide.

[The brown-eyed boy stiffens at this statement and averts his gaze with a slight shrug.]

I don't hide anything from them.

[His doppelganger pauses before calling out in a trembling, petulant, high-pitched tone.]

'They don't really like me... They don't really want me around...... Nano hates me, Midori probably can't wait to get rid of me, and Yuzu... Yuzu just deals with me 'cause she wants to be around Kazuya. ...Kazuya. Perfect hero Kazuya. The guy I stick to like a leech so maybe I feel a little more worthwhile.'

...That's not what I think at all.

'Maybe if I act like a clown, people will like me. Maybe if I make myself try harder, people will have to like me.

.......Maybe if I were a better kid, Mommy and Daddy wouldn't have ditched me like a -- '

Shut up.

[A brilliant flash of light, and the street is suddenly filled to the brim. Two demons, a Persona, and Atsuro himself stand ready on both sides, each facing their counterparts. Four on four. Atsuro clenches a trembling fist tight as his allies ready themselves to fight.]

I've never believed that. I've never believed any of those things.

...Ehehe. The sad thing is.... they all know now. They all know how you really feel, and... they still want to be your friend. -- Oh... sorry. They want to be my friend. Because you were too much of a coward to ever tell them the truth.

...I think we'll be fine without you.

Enki!

((Warning - Atsuro is Level Max, so the Shadow will pack a pretty hefty punch! There will be two threads for fighting with the Shadow and the Persona or fighting with the demons.))

Shadow and Persona (Enki Prime)

Demons (Power and Seiten Taisei)