destinystrings | (no subject)

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Who: The Investigation Team and Nanako plus one death goddess.
Where: Yu and Nanako's apartment.
Summary: The IT celebrates Christmas together away from home... more or less.
Warnings: Yu trying to keep up his mission to bring a Green Christmas to Hinoto-ri. Horrible singing. lulz

It was a bit rushed and last minute -- and most of the work had to be done by other people because a certain grey haired leader was currently acting like an idiot -- but the apartment that Yu and Nanako shared was currently decked out for the winter holiday. Streamers hung around door frames and windows, and someone had even managed to bring in a little fake pine tree to be decorated.

There's also food, of course, though how good it is depends greatly on who cooked it. Taste with care, least you end up poisoned on Christmas.

It might not seem very festive at the moment, especially considering the current state (and presence) of certain individuals... but that will change at midnight at least.

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Yu gave a nod, before considering a moment. With Nanako asleep, that meant the kitchen was probably the most private place to talk... He took her there, setting the present on the table and pressing his hands on the flat surface. This was... seriously humiliating, and it was still taking him a bit to get his thoughts together.

Finally, though, he managed to piece his courage levels back together enough so that he could turn to face her, hands in his pockets.

"I... want to thank you," Yu finally began. "You helped everyone, helped them against me, even though you knew they wouldn't trust you. I... owe you a lot for that, and I can't thank you enough."

Now that he thought about it... he ended up in trouble, and Izanami ended up with all the social links. Funny how that works.

Izanami chuckled for a moment, before following him to the kitchen. At least for the moment there was no Mystery Liquid Concoction X. That... had nearly been a disaster no one would have recovered from.

Still, to say that she was not at least somewhat surprised by his words would have been an understatement and distortion of the "truth" they claim to hold so dear.

"You do not need to thank me," she replied without skipping a beat. "-and you owe me nothing. It is I that owed you and your friends. Rather, I will in yours and Amagi's futures."

Only one, technically. Silly normally silent protagonists.

"Still, it was a risk you took," he replied. Heck, for all he knew, they could have viewed her as a bigger threat, and decided to attack her instead. Or maybe even worse; blame her for him acting like an idiot. He tilted himself forward, giving her a respectful half bow.

"Thank you very much."

Yu turned his attention back to the present he had brought in with him, finally handing it to her.

"...I got this for you," he explained softly. "I was afraid you wouldn't come, so... thank you for accepting my invitation. Merry Christmas."

That he could have, and a shame too considering it would have ruined the home videos she left for a few of them.

...What?

She nodded faintly, trying not to show much beyond her usual mask of amusement and friendliness. However, there was a moment of surprise when a gift was given. Why spend anything on her, when she was as fleeting as the snow on the ground outside? As a goddess, she was used to at least seeing flowers being placed at where they believed the entrance of Yomi to be. Yet to be given something that likely did not wither...

Blinking once, she began to open it with ease...

The wrapping paper gave way to reveal a small, simple white box, just large enough to hold something no bigger than perhaps six inches tall. And inside...

There was a little clip at the top, as if it were meant to be clipped to a school girl's briefcase. Beyond that was a grey mask and banchou coat that was probably more than a little familiar, despite the super deformed cute look to it.

Yu, meanwhile, almost looks like he's holding his breath despite the fact that his expression didn't change. He had gone through hell to get it, spending whatever change he had left over every single night to get such a rare plush, instead of the hundreds of other common plushes (including Mara... why was that a common...) that was in his way. He had almost given up... but as usual, a spark of determination and slipping on his Midnight Channel glasses got him exactly what he needed.

...now, hopefully she'd actually like it...

A clip? And attached to it was...

Edited 2012-12-26 23:33 (UTC)

...

Oh. Oh.

Izanami grew silent, and for a brief moment, something indescribable in any human vocabulary crossed her expression as she placed the box down and gazed down at the small doll. She knew how rare these were; she had traded a few Pyro Jacks for Yomotsu Shikome, after all, and those were common as dirt. Brushing a thumb against the mask was enough to bring her own words to mind, especially as to why she had begun to bear a mask herself.

And how she had lied to Hanamura about the reason she believed why she was brought here.

She smiled faintly, far too natural for the acting she always did around humanity as she held it close. There was no way he could have known, neither of them would. She had disguised her own emotions so well behind he mask and the part of herself she'd cast aside.

'If I make a move and reclaim my emotions, will I be damned?', indeed...

"...I prepared something for you and your friends as well, though it is up to them whether they accept it or not."

... There was another small box on the counter.

Open it?

She... liked it.

He had to admit, he was afraid the plush would have the opposite effect, and she would scorn the attempt at not only peace between the two of them, but peace between her and Izanagi as well. When he sat that smile, that genuine smile, however, he knew he had hit the mark. He felt himself wilt a little in relief, a smile coming to his own face.

The new present suddenly appearing on the counter next to him still gave him a start though. He paused, looking back to her, before accepting it without question, beginning to unwrap it.

Well, surprise. She loved it (and no, those were not tears forming in her momentarily closed eyes).

The paper seemed to disappear as it opened, revealing only a small note wrapping over what looked like an old bamboo charm with an engraving on it. Remember the scent of something burning in the apartment the last couple of days? Suddenly the reason had been revealed.

"It is a little late, though you may find it increases resistance of many mind-altering ailments so long as it remains on your person."

Yu blinked in surprise for a moment, before a smile broke out on his face, and he let out a laugh before he could stop himself. The timing... it was perfect and horrible at the same time, and he couldn't help but be amused by it.

"Thank you," he replied. He didn't say he was going to keep it on him always; after this week, it went without saying.

Izanami nodded faintly, and it was with that small notion that wheels that had screeched to a standstill went into motion once more. After all, he had taken the chance before anyone else had in this small group of strong-willed children.

Edited 2012-12-27 00:54 (UTC)

Yu's amused smile toned down to one that was much more kind, feeling the warmth of an established Social Link spread through him. He knew that Izanami could hear the same in her head, and he wasn't regretting it in the slightest.

Neither was the god in his head.

"Have you had any of the cake yet?" he asked; hey, social link established, the small talk was okay now. "I've been told it was safe for consumption."

And there went Izanami's smile into a vaguely teasing, yet worried one. "Are you certain I should trust that? After all, the hot chocolate..."

Was she joking? But then, it is also likely she heard stories of their inedible products before...

"...Yukiko..."

Aw, man... how does someone screw up hot chocolate?! What did she put in it?!

"To be fair, I believe it might have been Kujikawa-san when she began speaking with her." ...Was that a laugh.

That was a laugh, and it wasn't the "yu dun fucked up" one.

Wow... a genuine smile, and a normal laugh all in one night... It was... really nice to hear, and he could feel that warm feeling coming from Izanagi in his soul again.

...

Why couldn't he start this social link before coming here?

Because ~~Hisano Kuroda was your Death Social Link~~ ~~you are not the female MC~~ ~~you kind of did in one reality with the Aeon Social Link~~ reasons we would not be going into on Rank One. That's why.

She gave him a knowing look before nodding to the rest of the party. It's only really starting now that he walked in sane.

He gave a nod, turning to go back to the party... when he paused a moment, looking like he was listening to something very far away and straining to hear it. After a long moment, he finally turned back to her, a solemn look on his face.

"...he still loves you," he said softly. "He knows that... there's a chance you'll never forgive him, but... he wanted you to know that."

You know, now that he's not singing obnoxious Christmas songs and is actually in his right mind.

... That... little confession.

"...Come with me. I'd... like to see him, face to face." Outside, because summoning in a crowded apartment equated to bad things.

Yeah, he's pretty sure a Persona couldn't fit in this apartment anyway, unless it was the size of Naoto's or Nanako's. He nodded, heading out first; the best way to get outside was probably the balcony, as heading downstairs in the middle of the party probably would not have been the best idea. He used the excuse that he was checking on Nanako (which was partially true) when he came out through the living room, fairly confident that Izanami would be able to find her own way to the balcony.

He paused to tuck Nanako in, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead, before going outside, shuddering at the cold. Even if Izanami was not there yet, he reached inside of himself, bringing Izanagi out. The god came out a bit reluctantly, as if he hadn't anticipated Izanami would want to talk to him directly.

Seriously, head god. Seriously.

Izanagi, you said it to her through the child after how long of speaking to her through whispers of the heart? Thou should have realized it by then that she would wish to speak with thee. And it was not long (she had to drop off the other gifts and collect her thoughts, okay) before Izanami was floating there, just outside the balcony. For a moment, it was as if she were wearing her own mask again as she looked into those yellow eyes.

SLAP.

...and then she slapped him across the 'face', lighter than she likely would have otherwise. Even odder still because it is the 13th Hour and she has access to all of her powers, considering she is, quite literally, in her human-shaped goddess form.

"...You left me."

At least it was not a legion of demons?

Edited 2012-12-27 04:05 (UTC)

...small favor that.

Still, though it was just a "light slap" for a goddess, and Izanagi barely flinched at the strike, it was enough to knock Yu on his ass. He let out a grunt of surprise as he landed on the snow covered balcony, feeling like he had just been punched in the face. He blinked, more perplex than hurt; oh... so that's how it feels like. He'd have to apologize to Yosuke at some point...

Izanagi reached up, a clawed hand touching where she had struck him. There was silence for a very long moment, and Yu was almost afraid that his Persona was incapable of speaking. Finally, though, the god shifted, coming down so that, even though he was still floating, it gave the illusion he was standing on the balcony.

"...I was a coward, sister."

...wow, that was the first time Yu heard his Persona's voice outside of his head. It was weird... like a deeper version of his own voice...?

She would likely apologize for that later if she needed to, but until then she simply stared at him in the awkward silence that followed. There was no sound aside from Yu tumbling to the floor. Even as she floated there, almost-glowing yellow in the eerie light of the moon during this time. The only thing that changed was the fact that she no longer seemed angered... only hurt.

Yet, he likely noticed before... how her curse had ended many years ago.

"Yet you did not trust me, either." Her gaze averted for a moment, and she nearly did transform into her own Persona self, before stopping herself. No. She would not hide behind that particular mask this time. "Though I cannot say you were the only coward..."

You weren't the only one that was hurt, Izanami; despite the mask, the sadness was there in his eyes.

"I was unsure as to your intentions," he replied softly. "Mine fate is shared with my keeper; though I had seen the signs, I could not say for sure that thou were the one responsible for the happenings of the year, nor could I convey as much. The visions of the future thou had imparted upon us were difficult for me to accept."

...even though his host had been rather forgiving, but that was very much like him to extend a hand to someone in need, even if their intentions were not entirely honorable.

An honest moment of truth from his wife... or perhaps she had always been honest (or at least partially so) since coming to this place? He couldn't say, though he could feel her sincerity right now; that was enough for the moment.

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