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

1, part three

[biddentodance]

[It looks like an interrogation room. Given what he knows about the Thieves, and about Akechi as a detective, he's pretty sure it is one.

There is something utterly thrilling about the way Akana pulls apart what was clearly a carefully calculated plan with just a single line. Minato cannot keep himself from smiling.]

[hairpincurves]

[When Akira catches Minato smiling, she can't help but smile as well.]

... Confusing as it is... that's pretty cool, I have to admit.

[This other her is pretty damn badass.]

[biddentodance]

[He admittedly doesn't look like he's really okay, but the smile is genuine.]

Future looks pretty bright, huh? [He's not sure that's what's going on here. But what he saw....and Akana looks older there.]

[hairpincurves]

I dunno if that's necessarily the future. One of the other visions I've seen like this had one of the Phantom Thieves' previous targets getting arrested...

[biddentodance]

.....Really?

[He sounds hopeful, almost desperately hopeful.]

-Sorry. [He didn't mean to get that into it.] ....Pretty awesome either way. Right out of Mission Improbable or something.

[hairpincurves]

[She reaches over to put a hand on his shoulder and squeezes gently.]

... Huh, you're right... Kinda cool.

[Conveniently, comes another vision--that world's Akira and Akechi in a much less tense situation, discussing a plan. Akechi jumps a bit when a voice comes out of the vent, soon revealed to be Andy.

Akira carries on the conversation entirely unperturbed, though clearly amused at how Akechi keeps glancing over at the vent.

Which Andy just keeps nonchalantly dangling from.]

[biddentodance]

[The comfort is appreciated.

The vision, too, because it's somehow both bizarre and mundane. At the same time. There's no sound to tell, but Minato's shoulders shake in a way that might be a laugh.]

Now that's just mean. [Trolling Akechi like that. It's harmless, though, so in the end it's just amusing.]

[hairpincurves]

[She laughs, both at the vision and at Minato's laugh as well.]

Perhaps a bit. I do have to wonder how much Akechi-san lets Futaro-kun get away with in that world, though...

[biddentodance]

Ah? Your computer friend.

[He remembers these things!]

[hairpincurves]

Mhm! ... He's probably even more incredible in that world, if he's got more experience under his belt...

[The kid's already one hell of a hacker...]

[biddentodance]

Nowhere to go but up?

[Every day, people become more of themselves, after all. That probably goes double for Persona-users.]

[hairpincurves]

For better or for worse...

[biddentodance]

...wonder what he'd think of Aigis...

[hairpincurves]

Aigis?

[biddentodance]

Member of SEES. Anti-Shadow Weapon Mechanical Maiden.

[Robot.]

[hairpincurves]

... You have a robot on your team. An actual, honest-to-god robot.

[Holy. Shit.

... Shocked as she is, she does seem impressed.]

[biddentodance]

[He seems amused.]

Sure do. ...Might've told you before, think you were distracted by mentioning the dog at the same time.

[hairpincurves]

... Yeah, that'd do it. [She chuckles.]

[biddentodance]

Best dog ever. Aigis is kind of...weird, though. Like in a watching me sleep way.

[He is not bothered.]

[hairpincurves]

... And that doesn't bother you...?

[Akira freezes at the next vision, though, because it's Kamoshida's Palace.

The male Akira and Morgana are engaging a Shadow in a fight, with the female Akira standing back and... apparently guarding Ryuji... unfortunately more Shadows swarm while the male Akira and Morgana are busy, and the female Akira shoves Ryuji out of the way of what would almost certainly be a mortal blow.

"Dude, your sister just--"

"Akana!"

The male Akira runs over, but stops short when he notices something. "Akana" is pushing herself to her feet, almost entirely unbothered by the, uh.

The hole in her gut.

The hole in her gut that has sparking circuitry. Okay. That sure is a thing.

"Akira. Sakamoto. Please, stand back... I'll take care of these guys." She grins, maybe a touch too sharply, before--okay. She just summoned a Persona. This is fine.

"Let's go, Fiend with Twenty Faces."]

[biddentodance]

Not the only--

[They're cut off by another vision playing out. He jolts badly when Akana protects the blonde boy (Sakamoto?), immediately distressed...

..but then....sparks and circuitry...? And a.... Oh god.]

Just like when Aigis is injured...

[hairpincurves]

That... sure just... happened, I guess?

[... Don't mind as she scoots a bit closer to you, Minato, that kind of unnerved her, too.]

[biddentodance]

...Don't understand... All of Aigis's sisters were destroyed in the explosion...?

[Also he is pretty sure Akira is not a robot?]

[hairpincurves]

I guess we're not really limited to the stuff that actually could've happened. Great.

[She's just... going to let her head all but flop against Minato.]

[biddentodance]

...Kind of...comforting, actually. If these can be that far from reality.

[He's seen something awful. He lets her rest against him.]

Maybe next one will be silly?