1/11 training and breakfast

[citta]

[ As last minute prep for the dungeon, everybody has been called to get together for a training session during midnight at Lockdown, with promise of a light breakfast at the clubhouse afterwards and the suggestion that people take it easy during the day before they split up into their respective teams and head to the castle and the mountains.

Training is largely done in the school shrine, on the second floor where there's wide empty space without the maze to account for, where you can practice tactics together, or take on the Minato challenge where he has Messiah blast you apart in half a second and then immediately heals you and asks if you want to go again.

Breakfast at the clubhouse is split between western and traditional styles, whether you crave fluffy pancakes, or are more of a miso soup and grilled fish on rice sort of person. If you want anything in particular for lunch, Kido is on lunch duty and promises to make whatever you want, so long as you go out to the store and bring the ingredients back.

Thanks to everybody's efforts so far during the month, whether it's interacting with the townspeople or talking with the mayor or donating gemstones to the mountain shrine, the effects can already be seen around town, with the townspeople less wary of the Persona users, allowing them to purchase what they want in the stores if they want to have their own supplies to take into the dungeon later.

Now go out there and get along and learn to work together or is2g ]

Comments

[yokeye]

Thank you.

[For saying it's okay, and for helping him. The box, he hadn't know what to do with. While he's feeling the groove for the arrow, something clicks in his head.]

Wait, Zen? Not the wolf. Neechan mentioned a Zen. That he was your friend and he was... Death.

[flowerclips]

[ That's right, she never told him about Zen. It's funny. When she first arrived, she couldn't stop talking and thinking about him, but it's changed over the months. She still thinks of him, but she's gotten more independent because he wasn't there to coddle her anymore. ]

Mmhm. I met Zen after I died, but that was before he named himself that. His first name was Chronos, but I called him Mister Death, and he was going to take me to the Sea of Souls.

[ It's easier for her to talk about her death and what happened after it. She would have had a lot of difficulty and be hesitant to speak on the topic months ago, but she has accepted and gotten used to everything that has happened to her. It's also Toki that she's talking with, so she's honest and open with him. ]

These crossbows belonged to him. He used them to protect me and fight off Shadows.

[ She sounds nostalgic, describing who he is and the purpose behind his crossbows. He's the reason why she's Rei and not Niko and played a significant part in her afterlife. She still misses him. ]

[yokeye]

After you died.

[He sounds more upset about it than she does, but it's because that's still something he thinks about. Ever since the shrine dungeon. It doesn't change his feelings for her, but it was still an impactful revelation.

It makes sense to him now why Kido assumed the Reaper was Zen. Because that's what he was, if he was going to escort Rei to the Sea of Souls. Toki's hold on the crossbow tightens again.]

I'm grateful he was there to help you. That you had someone.

[That she wasn't alone after, like she had been before. He holds the crossbow out towards her.]

I shouldn't have something that means so much. I might break it.

[flowerclips]

[ She looks down at the outheld crossbow, but she only gently pushes it back towards him. She smiles as she looks up at him. ]

You mean a lot to me too. Zen would want me to be happy and knowing that you'd be safe would make me happy.

[ After talking with Kido and being reminded that Zen would care far more about her own safety and happiness than the state of his belongings, she's all right with giving away his things or modifying them. If Toki breaks it, she wouldn't get mad. She'd just look for a way to fix it. Perhaps Leader could help her again, just like when he helped her make a gift for Zen when she wasn't able to work with the materials. ]

I hope you can meet him one day. He's... really important to me and is the reason why I'm Rei.

[yokeye]

[Toki reluctantly keeps the crossbow. If he doesn't break it, he'll hurt someone with it. Projectiles are dangerous.]

I'd like to meet him.

[He already has, but he doesn't realize it. His brief encounter with Zen only lasted long enough for Toki to scream at the wolf Persona and run away.]

I owe him a lot.

[For bringing Rei into the world, and giving Toki so many happy moments.]

[flowerclips]

[ She trusts him that he'll get used to it and won't accidentally fire it again. He can use it in emergencies. ]

You do?

[ If they haven't met, how does Toki owe him? Oh, is it because of the crossbow that she's giving him? ]

[yokeye]

Mmmhmm.

[Toki nods decisively.]

If Zen is responsible for you becoming Rei, then he helped make you who you are - the woman I love. So, I kind of owe him for making me happy, right?

[flowerclips]

Ehehe, that's true!

[ That's such a sweet way of looking it. She'll tug on his shirt so he can lean down and she can stand on her toes to give him a quick kiss. She really needs to start stuffing things into her shoes as Ala told her to do. It'd make it so much easier for her to kiss him without silently asking him to get down to her height. ]

Oh, he's really overprotective, though, so if we meet him together, you should let me talk first. He nearly shot Leader's team because he thought that they might hurt me.

[yokeye]

[Toki leans down; he knows the cues by now. If they survive the dungeon, they need to buy Rei some cute platform shoes she can constantly trip with.]

You definitely talk first!

[Kido did say he liked to threaten to shoot people.]

[flowerclips]

[ Cute platform shoes that she can constantly trip with, but refuse to ever take off, even in the bath and in bed. She has tasted the strength and power of being taller and will never go back. ]

Mmhm! Oh, um...

[ Suddenly, she remembers something. They made a promise that they should be honest and she doesn't want this to come up later, as if it seemed like she was hiding it so she should just bring it up now. ]

I... I used to really like Zen, um, ro--romantically. I used to think that he was my Prince Charming... but I love you now! And you're my prince! But I just wanted to let you know because I want to be honest... I hope it's okay...

[yokeye]

Oh.

[It's a neutral tone. Toki can't help but feel a little twinge in his heart, a feeling that if Zen returns, Rei will want to go back to him. He has crossbows, which automatically makes him cool and impressive. There's a history with Zen, and surely he's a more worthy person to have Rei's love.

At the same time, Rei has shown she does love Toki, and she's been there for him when anyone else would have left. Toki has his own past too, but Rei is his present and his future. Feelings of love can change to friendship, and still be treasured.]

Of course it's okay. You'll always have a place in your heart for him, because you did love him once, and I'd never want to take that from you. We're here together now, and that's what matters to me.

[flowerclips]

[ Toki's so kind and understanding. People can judge all they want for their rushed marriage. Rei doesn't regret it and she definitely won't leave him for Zen. She will still love Zen for all that he's done for her, but her heart now belongs to Toki and she wants to spend whatever life she has left with him. ]

Mm. I love you.

[ She reaches out to hold his hand, squeezing it tightly. ]

After this dungeon, let's go into the mountains and find somewhere nice for our new house.

[yokeye]

I love you too.

[He squeezes back, and smiles brightly.]

We'll find the perfect spot.

[Even as the words leave his mouth, he doesn't believe them. All his experiences have lead him to think that planning for the future like this will leave him disappointed. They may never make it out alive. But he wants Rei to have this dream, so he says nothing to the contrary.]

[flowerclips]

We'll find the perfect spot!

[ Hopefully, Toki can be pleasantly surprised with this future. Now that the mountain isn't turning into a dungeon, they can probably live through February peacefully. Probably. ]

Do you want to start training now?

[ Or does he just want to lie down and wait until it's time to go home ]

[yokeye]

[If they even get out of the dungeon before February, and the ic consequences don't involve avalanches.]

Urgh...

[A slow whine. he wants to sleep.]

[flowerclips]

[ I am praying for this dungeon to be completed by the end of the month because everyone desperately needs a break for Feb... ]

Ehehe, do you want to rest? You can take a break with Zhn while Ananke and I practise.

[yokeye]

Yes!

[He'll jump at the chance for a break before he even gets started; even if it's being left alone with a wolf.]

[flowerclips]

Okay, Zhn, be a good boy and keep Tokidoki safe!

[ Zhn lets out a small boof and he goes to wrap himself around Toki's legs. He'll lie down and take a nap or something while acting as a warm pillow. Rei will give Toki a quick kiss before she runs off to trip a bunch of times on the cape and have Ananke heal her as a result. Will they take their bath later or will they just collapse in bed until it's time for the dungeon? It is a mystery. ]