DUNGEON - BELLMARE ENCLAVE (BELLMARE MOUNTAINS, PT 2)

[phantasmods]

The shadows are starting to grow very long as you crest his particular ridge - it's not night yet, but it will be soon. In the shadows of the afternoon, with a tall mountain already blocking the sun, lies a snow-covered valley that is different from the ones you've come across thus far in your investigation.

This valley is home to a town, and unlike all the settlements you've seen so far - Incendia, the Telovia mining town, and the manor - it's very much active. There are actual people in the streets, visible from above, going through their days on snow-free streets, bundled up against the cold.

Those of you who asked were told of the handful of people who didn't go into the slumber of stasis as the Fissure conditions of the world grew worse and worse, instead isolating themselves and trying to continue living their lives as they could. Now, it seems, you've found exactly such a group.

Welcome to the Bellmare Enclave, and enjoy your stay.

[[OOC: Welcome to part 2 of the dungeon! For the most part, interaction with the town's NPCs can be handwaved as described on the main information post. Worth noting are the following major things: The Bellmare Enclave isn't expecting visitors, though the people are generally friendly to the new arrivals. They don't know about the time dilation effect of their Fissure - to them, it's only been about eighteen years since the Slumber Plan was put in place and they withdrew from the world. And finally, by a similar token, they have no idea how far the Fissures outside of their own have grown - while it's not uncommon for them to find odd objects from time to time, they'll assume that the characters are just arrivals from other places within their own world, rather than outsiders, until told otherwise.]]

Comments

[foolishjustice]

She used to be very compassionate, even friendly at times. We actually met because she noticed I was working through lunch and decided to bring me something to eat. She even had a sense of humor back then...I haven't quite forgotten what her laugh sounds like.

[But boy does he sound nostalgic for it.]

[hairpincurves]

You really do miss how she used to be, huh?

[foolishjustice]

...I do.

[He rests his head against Akira's with a soft sigh.]

She's...one of my Confidants, actually. But with the person she's become, we've ended up fighting the last couple of times we tried to talk...and our bond has felt fragile ever since that first major argument.

[hairpincurves]

[She reaches up to comb her fingers through his hair, frowning faintly.]

I'm sorry to hear it. I wish I could help or something, but...

[foolishjustice]

This is why I arranged for her Palace to be the one I entered with the Phantom Thieves. Her cognition has clearly become distorted, so I'd hoped making her a target would both save her from herself and ensure I wouldn't be forced to kill her.

[hairpincurves]

Then things went a little awry, huh.

[It's the understatement of the year and she knows it.]

[foolishjustice]

I never got to see the results, myself. I missed the confrontation with her Shadow, and then I came here before I had the chance to talk to her.

[hairpincurves]

Well, you'll be able to when you do go back...

[foolishjustice]

I know.

[...]

But, I'm a little scared. She'll know the truth about me by now, and with our bond already feeling strained close to the breaking point...

[hairpincurves]

... I can't say I know her or your bond with her all that well, but... if I may... You said something similar happened to that vision around your birthday, right? I think it's... worth considering that if she did take you out to dinner, then, she was volunteering her own time for that. Even if your bond is strained, I think... I think it might be a little stronger than you may think.

[Of course, that's just speculation on her part, but...]

[foolishjustice]

Maybe...she did once care about me. But the Sae-san I used to know had a very strong sense of justice, and she would have learned of my involvement in the mental shutdowns without any sort of context.

[hairpincurves]

... Then I hope she'll at least hear you out. [...] Provided you give her context that doesn't accentuate the negative about yourself.

[foolishjustice]

I...do have a difficult time explaining things without my guilt influencing what seems important enough to say.

[hairpincurves]

Even if your guilt says it shouldn't be important enough, people do need certain details if they want the clearest picture.

[That gets punctuated with her reaching up and poking at his cheek.]

[foolishjustice]

[He swats at that hand, then sighs.]

I'll...do my best to be thorough.

[hairpincurves]

[She puffs her cheeks out a bit.]

You'd better.

[foolishjustice]

R-right, right.

[He holds his hands up placatingly.]

[hairpincurves]

Promise me you will. Please?

[foolishjustice]

...I promise. When I talk to Sae-san, I'll tell her the full circumstances.

[hairpincurves]

... Good. Thank you.

[And with that, she pulls him into another hug.]

[foolishjustice]

[...Well, who is he to turn down a hug?]

[hairpincurves]

[She pulls back a bit to smile at him, before her attention is torn away by another vision.

It starts out with Akira, cornered by Shadows--notably, while the surroundings are definitely Okumura's Palace, Akira's in her school uniform. There's alarmed shouting from the other Phantom Thieves--which in this vision include Panther, Skull, Crow, Fox, Noir, all in slightly different outfits (Panther in something more practical, notably, and Crow looking more highwayman than prince), a short boy with bright blue eyes, and what appears to be a mouse with Futaba's goggles--in various states of injury. Akira's not actually in a much better state herself. As the Shadows close in, her eyes suddenly turn yellow, as Arsene's voice goes on a spiel about Akira taking action. With a scream, Akira rips the mask off, and is engulfed by the tell-tale blue fire. When it's vanished, Arsene looking... almost the same as ever, floats behind her, Akira herself in what appears to be a men's suit, with the jacket worn like a cape. She looks down at her outfit, adjusts her gloves, then looks back up, with a serene smile on her face. "Ah, this is wonderful... now then, shall we put them in their place, Arsene?" Her tone is perfectly even despite having only just Awakened, and she leaps into action.

... Particularly observant will note that the vision's version of Crow has a look on his face that can, even with the mask, only be interpreted as "shit, that's hot."]

... holy shit.

[foolishjustice]

[...Let's be honest, this version of Crow isn't any less impressed. But he also looks...confused.]

That was...President Okumura's Palace.

[hairpincurves]

Well, I guess that's one way of getting a preview of the place... but what am I doing Awakening there...?

[... That's not the only confusing thing, but, you know what, it's the most obvious thing, from her perspective.]

[foolishjustice]

I'm not sure. And...while I did follow the Phantom Thieves into that Palace, I didn't let them know I was there until after it had already collapsed.