I Won't Lose my Way

{Open Starter for Post P5S Shadow Sae Event}

Sae pinched her brows as a sigh of annoyance left her lips. Several old case files were laid out in front of her as she compared them to the case that the Phantom Thieves handled that past summer. She was hoping that she wouldn’t need to be involved further with weird nonsense like this – yet, here she was.

The original creator of the AI ‘EMMA’, Ichinose Kuon, should have been arrested along with Akira Konoe. However, according to a few notes left by Zenkichi, she supposedly had a change of heart.

If this was true, then why were civilians that held the app still being rushed to the hospital and announced that they were in a coma state or suddenly dropping like flies in the middle of the street?

It didn’t make any damn sense!

She couldn’t prove that this woman was still up to no good. .but this was getting out of hand and she couldn’t stand watching innocent people get hurt.

She needed solid proof to condemn this woman and place her where she belonged – behind bars. At this rate, she would be doing more overnights than she cared for. Well, she had best buckle in for the long run.

________ Within the Metaverse, a pale shadow of the Palace of Envy slowly started to flicker around the Court House. After a few seconds, the casino was solidly in place as Shadow Sae sat in her security camera room. A dark grin slowly crept over her lips, eyes closed for a moment. “It’s been so long since we’ve had a decent game. Let’s see if we can shake things up a little bit.” A soft mocking chuckle left her lips, “I bet my best hand on this wager. This case will win in my favor , no matter what…and I challenge anyone who thinks different to meet me at my table.

Let’s play a game, fair and square…!” Her golden glowing eyes burned through the screens, solidifying the appearance of the palace.

Those that had the Metaverse app would get a notification that Sae’s palace was once again active.

He can’t believe his luck.  Closing up early?  That never happens, Koro-chan will be elated at his early arrival.  A smile cracks his usually stoic visage, its a shame no one’s around to see it.  The Hierophant is drying off his hands when his phone screen lights up.  His smile fades as eyes narrow suspiciously.

Nobody ever texts him

“....”

Honestly he would’ve preferred a text.  Weren’t these palaces supposed to be gone?  Didn’t the Phantom Thieves take care of this?  And Sae Nijima?  Hadn’t they already gotten rid of her palace specifically?  What the hell is going on?

So many questions...too many questions in fact and only one thing for certain.  The longer these palaces are active, the more people will get hurt and with the Phantom Thieves on vacation taking down palaces across the damn country there’s no Persona users to deal with it.  

He’s startled from his thoughts as his phone buzzes and a familiar caller ID pops up: Mitsuru

“Fuck” he mutters before picking up.

Guess he’s not making it home early tonight

________

After a short chat with a certain red-headed Empress, the Hierophant finds himself in Mementos standing outside Sae’s massive casino.  He rotates his shoulders a few times, getting in a couple last minute stretches.  Mementos is different than the Dark Hour.  Things are easier here, he can’t explain it but he feels stronger.  Way stronger than he ever did during the Dark Hour.  Yamagishi and Aigis have a couple theories about it.  Something about the Dark Hour causing additional physical and mental strain that is absent in both the Inaba fog/TV Realm and Mementos.  

He doesn’t even feel like he needs his Evoker here.

{Closed for @deathboundinautumn }

Though she was up to her ears with work on Christmas, she was thankful to have time to herself at the end of the year. With it being New Years Eve, she slid to the side of her favorite patron, a pair of slender pale arms wrapping around him. “Happy New Years, Shinji-kun.~” She purred softly. “Oh, and I got you a little something. It isn’t much but I hope you like it.” Tae pulled out a small box from inside her coat and handed it to him. Inside the plain box was a dog tag that had their names engraved on the front and hearts intertwining etched with the words ‘My love for you is set in stone and beyond.’ It was cheesy, but romantic…or at least, that was the vibe she was going for anyway.

The Hierophant can’t help the small crooked smirk that tugs at his lips as Tae presses against his side.  Her frequent yet unexpected acts of affection never cease to surprise him...oh and she got him a new years gift!

A raised brow gives away his piqued interest.  Material gifts, unlike acts of affection, weren’t as common in their relationship but were always meaningful.

Shinji gently takes the box from her, placing the top on the nearby counter before pulling out the dog-tag.  His crooked smirk melts into a soft smile while his thumb rolls over the engraving.  He quickly throws the chain around his neck and slides the tag under his shirt close to his heart.  

His arm wraps around her waist, giving it a light squeeze before leaning down to plant a long kiss on her lips.  As she’s distracted, the Hierophant pulls his own box from his coat pocket wrapped in a simple black bow.

“Got you something too”