social_linked | Meet, greet and eat

Meet, greet and eat

(To be perfectly honest, Cornelius didn't expect to find other persona users outside of himself and Guzma. The head of the Skull gang was a stroke of luck, but to have found so many others who can tap into that power and help fight off the shadows...it's a welcome relief.

Not to mention the large, large expansion to Cornelius' circle of friends.

So what's a rich kid to do when he's happy to have an extended circle like this? Throw down. A bunch of money to get everyone nice and fed for a day. He arranged for a catered picnic and invited his fellow persona-users and any friends they wanted to bring along. There's a bit of something for everyone, so pizzas, sandwiches, whatever, really. It's a large, open space, too, of anyone's in the mood for playing around. Just like the food, there's plenty of options there.

Cornelius would be lying if he said he wasn't thrilled to have so many people to hang out with. He just hopes they'll have fun while they're here.)

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[He quietly recalled that text and felt the prickles rise in his face. That was no gobbledy-gook, but the purplest, most gushy declarations of adoration he'd ever read. He'd been told he was a 'warrior poet' once, but never had he sat down to really put anything to paper.]

Y-yeah, ya just... ya blew the crap outta my scanners.

[Huh, what's this little latch on the nape of the neck?]

Oh? You didn't try scanning everyone right now, did you?

[Searching around, ah, there appeared to be something suspicious at the nape of his neck. Raising her hands to it, what would happen if she fiddled with this latch?]

N-no... just y-

[The latch was undone, and with a puff of blue light and smoke, the armor faded and Kanji landed on the backside with a leg pinned underneath.]

Whoa, what'd you find!?

[Huh, simple enough.]

There was a latch on the collar of your suit back here.

Oh... so I had a fancy robot zipper or somethin'! Good to know. I'll see if it's there next time I shift in. Thanks, Naoto.

[He pushed himself upright and dusted off. That was the answer to that, but in his next thought, he realized he wasn't talking on the phone with her, video chatting with her, sending her LINE stickers. She was here in the flesh, and it made his heart clench.]

...Let's take a walk, yeah?

You're welcome.

[Now that he was up, she was... well, she hadn't grown so she was looking up at him. She chuckled.]

I was wondering if you would ask sooner or later... Yes, let's walk.

[He's sorry he's a goddamn tree. It seemed his high school days hadn't seen the last of his growth, finishing off with another 2-3 inches of height just a year after his senior year.

Yet he never minded reaching down for her hand - public place or not - to take hold before he led the way. The park was big enough to get a little privacy, and the murmuring would just get in the way of a little catching up.]

Heh. Well, I'm still learning a thing or two, ain't I? One'a these days, I'll get a moment of intuition and climb in through your office window just when yer feelin' that little burn for company.

[Bah, she's surrounded by giants. No final growths from her... except for her hair, but that always got a slight trim back anyway.]

[Hand holding had become fine around others... took a while though. First, general appearance, and second, mild embarrassment at people always liking to comment (even if wholly unnecessary).]

Haha, you might give the chief a heart attack.

Maybe, but when's the guy ever gonna lemme in the front door after hours, huh? I'd look like a hoodlum! Nah, the window adds mystery... adds romance too, I think.

I'll sneak in and be gone before anybody knows it! Or I'll hide under the desk or somethin'.

I mean, if you called I could let you in. If they catch you coming in through the window, that would be breaking and entering...

... Though, I guess there might be some appeal if you tried.

Aw, jeez- I've spent enough nights in holding as it is. My only crime is p-passion!

But think of the story: A rogue that slipped in, scattered up those papers, left fingerprints everywhere...

[He may or may not have been reading a few choice books lately, and he subtly brought his free hand to his nose to press it closed. A nosebleed would not interrupt his imagination, damn it!]

The 'victim' is instead an accomplice...! Yet the rogue disappeared without much trace, a copycat Phantom Thief. The treasure? A detective's heart.

Passion? How devious...

[She was still listening. Sounded like he had been reading a few things... quite a few things.]

Oh... are you saying you might be the Phantom Thief?

I-I might be! With the calling card of a tiny stuffed rabbit.

[But as he lifted their entwined fingers, he brought them to his lips.]

Definitely an accomplice. Or maybe a mastermind... who stole whose heart before a guy could even get a chance to realize, huh?

A rabbit might throw the officers off.

[After all who would suspect this 'thief' to leave a rabbit? Her face flushed and she smiled at his kiss.]

Indeed. It sounds like this thief just... wanted to reciprocate and steal the heart of the person who already stole theirs.

[He was redder for it, and put his face in his free hand. This was fun, he fully understood why people did this together.]

A d-double heist! Yeah, it makes total sense! Nabbed before the other can realize... the treasure I kept locked up never had a chance!

Well... she can keep it! 'Cause it ain't goin' anywhere else! She takes good care of it, y'know? But lemme see...

[He raised a finger matter-of-factly.]

Can a phantom take a fellow phantom for coffee or tea? Especially now that I've stolen her away from a noisy party in my next finest heist...

[She smirked. So, she got to be the Master Phantom Thief? She was fine with this.]

Good. She didn't intend on returning it.

[But now, she was listening again.]

Hm... They're supposed to mingle with the others... but it has been a while since two phantoms have had tea together, hasn't it?

Way too long. How often do I get ta see the Mastermind?

I know a damn good spot. They finally got me into coffee. ...Sort of. Cappuccinos are coffee, right?

When we're not using video chat? It certainly isn't often enough.

Mm, then let's go there. Yes, Cappuccinos count as coffee drink.

[Weird, he could have sworn cappuccinos were cold blendy things. He's not really up for drinkable desserts, so the clarification was greatly appreciated.

The great thing about Tokyo was the sheer number of places there were if you threw a rock. If you needed a bite to eat? Yes. Clothes? Yes. Souvenirs? Sure. You didn't have to be a salaryman to make it around here, something that left Kanji the country boy feeling pretty damn relieved. But shit, they weren't kidding about the capsule hotels.]

There it is! They got a 'Tour of Europe' theme and pastries from different parts of it. It's kinda been nursing a little dream of mine...

[He shrugged and ruffled his hair a bit.]

I mean, I'm in Tokyo, right? Never thought I'd be here and in college. It's wild. So I thought, holy crap, what if I got to see France? Italy? Germany? Hell, Hawaii! Alaska!

Hm, I can't recall coming here before. Then again, this place is never really stagnant when it comes to stores.

[Tilting her head, she chuckled.]

Kanji-kun, continue on your path now, and I'm certain those dreams will be obtainable.

Seriously! I feel like there's a new place around here every time I blink. I wonder how business majors hold up.

[He brightened, opening the door for her.]

Y-yeah? Hell yeah! Kanji Tatsumi, globetrotter! I wanna try all the food, get craptons of souvenirs, get my hands on some fabrics and see how they feel, take craptons of pictures...

And... and you could come with me! Y'know, if you ain't too busy! Turn the world upside down!

I'm not sure, but I wouldn't try having my first business here.

[She smiled and entered the small cafe.]

If you don't mind having company on your venture, and if I do have the time, I wouldn't mind joining you.

You kiddin' me? I'd love the company! Cappuccinos in Paris, gondolas in Venice, exploring caves in Kauai, wrestling bears in the Kodiak...!

[He oh-so-casually pulled up a couple of chairs.]

You're not wrestling bears, Kanji-kun.

[She was putting her foot down now... and taking her seat.]

[He had to grab the back of his chair to support himself while he bust into laughter.]

But Naoto, my dream...! Nah, nah, I'm just- I'm messin' with ya! Bears are dangerous and I like life! I ain't a total meathead.

[He settled into his seat and smiled.]

Shit, that'd blow my degree and tuition, wouldn't it? Dead by bears...

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