dorking | Open Post - Persona 4 AU!Akechi

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Open Post - Persona 4 AU!Akechi

A. A Boy Jumps Out of a TV, When...

[For reasons you're not too sure about, you are in the Junes Department Store's electronics department.

Maybe you live in Inaba. Maybe you just walked through a door and ended up there. Regardless, there is a twelve year old boy climbing out of one of the TVs, with the screen rippling black and white, and it's probably all very unsettling.

He did not expect to have company, and so when he drops to the floor, he stops and stares.

He wanted recognition, but not like this.

He straightens his stance, removing his thin, brown-framed glasses, and blurts out a snappy-]

Don't mind what you just saw! It's all an elaborate magic trick.

[...That's a terrible excuse. More likely, he's going to have to explain.

Lovely.]

B. Damn it, Teddie! Where the hell are we?!

[Akechi meant to go into the TV to try and bribe Teddie with more snacks and perhaps, maybe, finally get a better feel for the TV world.

One problem: He did not end up in the TV world. He ended up where your character is, and now there's a very puzzled tween glancing around with thin, brown-framed glasses and a middle school uniform.

But he lifts the glasses. There's no fog. Everything's clear.]

What the hell is going on here?!

[Did he go in the wrong screen? But that makes no sense. He knows which screen to use!]

C. Wildcard

[Got another idea? Have at it!]

[ooc: This Akechi is from my currently ongoing fic. More info on his profile!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I see. So they thought they could make a difference in a situation that didn't warrant their intervention...

[Hmm. Akechi can relate. That was him with the TV world, but that paid off. He got the power, came to terms with his Shadow... And it was on a whole different scale, anyway.

Still, he nods, listening closely.]

I imagine it's quite time consuming to clean, anyway. This level of collateral is no small feat to contend with.

It's not like that. You should feel a little bad for them. [He does, despite everything.

Finally, he slips the COMP back into his back pocket. There's no use to have it out anymore, where it might be too alluring to resist. This is just a kid, after all.]

There were areas that were hit worse than this, but like I said: There's several reasons why no one has cleaned up here yet.

[And all of them relate to him, and the demons that lurk like vicious guard dogs that pounce people who aren't deterred by kinder methods of being shooed away.]

It's not that I don't feel bad. I've seen enough death to never wish it on anyone.

[Especially with the recent murders... heck, he's even avoiding staring at the corpses. He hasn't been up close to a body since...

Well, the less said about that, the better.]

But these demons aren't a threat to us? Because it seems you have them under control.

That's good to hear. [Because some people would say that they deserved it, and he knows exactly the people who would. They'd also tell him that he shouldn't feel bad at all, because they'd been trying to kill him.

Kazuya nods to the question, though stops halfway, considering.]

If I wasn't here you'd probably would have been attacked by now. The demons this close to the Hills Building were told to kill anyone that they weren't familiar with.

Is there some particular significance regarding this building?

[The pieces are all there. An area that hasn't been recovered, for starters. Ergo, there must be some reason behind that...

He doesn't wanna assume, but that instinctive urge to piece together a puzzle and reach a line of deduction nibbles at his brain. It's so enticing.]

Yeah. It's where the King of Bel, or the Demon Overlord resides. It's like this because some humans might try and use those restoration efforts to try to get in close to try to kill him at the angels behest.

[Even if he'd much prefer it cleaned up and looking less catastrophic. People either revere him, revile him, worship or hate him. He's gotten used to that, and the dead bodies that have accumulated from the angels witting and unwitting pawns alike.]

Not that they could, but the scarier and more deadly it looks, the fewer people will try and be heroes, you know?

Hmmm... I assume these angels aren't exactly beacons of purity as they are in religious doctrine?

[He hmmms to himself, fingers tapping on his hip.]

At the very least, I know better than to judge based on superficiality.

No, they are. They follow His word down to the letter. Seraphic puppets that have no freewill of their own, which is their problem. There are no shades of grey. You're either a sinner or you aren't.

[ He waves his hand dismissively, cold and uncaring. ]

They don't like that man no longer wants to be shackled to His whims, that humanity desires true freewill. They promise salvation to those willing to offer their lives in an attempt to slay the evil demon who has brainwashed the masses. Or the tyrant who rules by fear, leading humans away from His light.

Hmph. And I assume "his will" is shitty and restricting, more like shackles than a genuine, guiding "light."

[He rolls his eyes at the mere notion, bitterness dripping from his words.]

If given the choice, I'd certainly favor the demons if it meant living with the freedom to follow one's own path.

[ Kazuya blinks, and then perks up immediately at the words. This kid gets it. Gets things that are still too hard for adults to comprehend. That it's better to fight for true freedom than to be put in a cage, however large, only masked as it.

He grins. ]

You're a pretty smart kid. I was worried they might have sent you to play martyr, but no one they'd pick would ever speak like that.

[ He raises his hand, snaps his fingers and the demons rise to leave the area immediately at the sound, leaving the two alone. ]

So, you've ended up here, in my universe somehow. [ He starts appraising the kid again, only to shift into a flourish with a small bow that flutters his cape dramatically] You're lucky you ended up in front of me and not the angels. I'll help you figure out how to get home, no strings attached.

The name's Abel, King of Bel, and Demon Overlord. [ He pauses and looks up amused. ] You can just call me Kazuya, though. I like it more.

[Praise. Acknowledgement. That's just what he needs... and wait.

Wait a moment.

Demon Overlord.

He needs to make sure he heard that right.]

Wait. Just so we're clear. You rule over demons.

[Oh, that sparkle in his eyes. Kazuya, you have just appealed to this twelve year old boy in the most twelve year old appealing way possible.

Demons are cool.]

As long as they're not bound in a contract with someone else, that's right.

[He's right. Demons are cool. Most of them. Loki sucks, and isn't here right now, though.

But he's also preening a little under the clear look of awe that he's getting. It makes him feel cool as hell.]

I'll let everyone know you're free to roam this area as you please. No one and nothing should bother you, and if they do, just tell them to get me.

Impressive.

[Ah, but manners! He bows respectfully. Holy shit, it's a demon overlord who just gave him access to this highly dangerous area. Take that, Narukami! This is how you earn his trust!]

I'm deeply honored to have earned your blessing, Kazuya-san. If there is anything I can do in return, do let me know.

[There's probably an unspoken desire for something. Dealings with the supernatural are seldom a one-way street. The fox, the attendant... even Marie all have gotten something out of their alliances. He said no strings attached, but still.]

[The bow has him laugh, and he straightens up in turn for it.]

Don't worry about it. Mostly, I'm just curious to know how you even ended up here in the first place, if your TV world normally leads to the same place again and again.

[He waves his hand dismissively, but good naturedly.]

Honestly, I'd rather get you home safe than anything else... And you don't have anywhere to stay yet. [So he considers, looking up at the Hills building itself. It's certainly the safest spot in Tokyo, at least when it comes to humans and demons. Angels haven't made any attacks on it, but that's because he doesn't usually stray too far, and his power is threatening enough on it's own to keep it that way.]

I can have someone set something up for you inside, if you want? Though I'd also understand if you wanted somewhere a little less... apocalyptic. [He says, to throw Akechi's words back at him.]

Ha. If anything, I find it all rather fascinating.

[It's like something out of a movie, only real. And real people have died. That isn't pleasant, but if a Demon Overlord insists that he'll be safe, well... he tips his chin up, squares his shoulders, and tries to assume a posture that radiates confidence.]

I'm still grasping how to fight with a Persona, but I'm assuming that won't be necessary unless any "intrepid heroes" try to barge their way in again.

[It's kind of cute, the way he assumes that posture. He'll be just fine, Kazuya thinks.

Though he does raise a valid point, and he lifts his hand, snapping his fingers. Electricity crackles, and two demons step out of whirling dark portals. a Murmur and a Fafnir.]

Since you just said you're new to fighting, and I don't really want you going up against any hero types to begin with, these two will keep an eye on you while you're here if I'm not around.

[To which they nod, subtly, and seem to vanish into thin air.]

They won't get in the way of whatever it is you choose to do, but they'll appear in an instant if it looks like you've found yourself some trouble.

[Akechi looks at the two demons and whistles in approval. Very, very cool. Very impressive. He can certainly work with this.]

So I get my Persona and some reinforcements. Sounds like a rather convenient arrangement, all things considered.

[Though that begs a very important question...]

What shall I do in the mean time?

[ Of course, he can't have this interesting kid be grabbed up by any of the angels, especially not Remiel, who is particularly good at sweet talking with his whole son-of-man bullshit.

As for what he should do in the mean time... that's a good question. He himself should bother Naoya, who might know something for all of the lives he's lived. ]

What do you want to do? I'm guessing you wanna at least get back to your Tokyo as soon as you can, right? And to do that you need TVs?

Well, that's where it gets tricky...

[A small sigh slips out, and he droops slightly.]

Normally, I enter and exit through a very specific TV in the Junes in Inaba. Any other TV runs the risk of getting stranded in the TV world, which has potentially lethal consequences if one doesn't safely escape before the fog falls over Inaba.

So if we're in Tokyo, it'd probably be quite a distance from that TV.

[He reaches forward as Akechi droops, putting his hand on his head comfortingly, like he'd do with Yuzu or Atsuro.]

But the TV you went in from spat you out here. Whose to say that the TV you're looking for in Inaba will lead you back home? It could be just as dangerous.

[Which are all things to consider. Along with... something slightly more pressing:]

What if the Junes you're looking for doesn't even exist where it does for you normally?

[Normally, Akechi would be bristly about the sudden contact with someone he doesn't know all that well, but he's been working on that since he faced his Shadow, and also...

This is a demon king.

He relaxes a little.]

Hmm, so what you're proposing is that I've not only been transported to Tokyo, but potentially to a different Tokyo, which could lead to an entirely different Inaba.

[Hmm... Given the circumstances, it's not too unreasonable.]

In that case, I wonder if the TVs will even function as they did at all.

I mean, it's Tokyo. Theres no way the news wouldn't have covered the lockdown that happened here, and not to sound too self important, but there's also no way they wouldn't report on me being here at the Hills Building.

[ Shoji wouldn't have let him down. He knows that she'd have made the news of him and his fight against the angels and God public immediately. And the SDF would have also reported that to the government, which had no way of enforcing a media blackout with Shoji being a friend of his. There's no way this wasn't national news, if not international by now.

He removes his hand from Akechi's head.]

So if you hadn't heard it on the news in Inaba, I feel like that's a pretty safe guess. Though I definitely can't speak for the TVs working the same way or not. There's a few inside, if you wanna give it a go?

...True. We haven't heard of anything particularly newsworthy in Tokyo for a while, though I admit our local media's been primarily focused on the serial murders.

[So... definitely some interdimensional travel involved. On one hand, that's fascinating. On the other hand, it means he truly is far from home.

And just when he'd started to truly value his growing friend group, that's all torn away.

His head turns downcast for a moment. His posture slightly droops, but... No. He can't lose heart.]

I suppose the least we can do is try. And if it turns out my ability is limited to the TVs in Inaba, we'll just have to find another way.

[He doesn't like that look, the way that Akechi's shoulders droop. He's is a long way from home, and Kazuya doesn't blame him. It's a hard situation to even imagine, let alone live, and he's more or less stranded for the moment with no one he even knows.]

Hey, chin up. I'm stronger than God, you know.

[It's why he's currently the winning party as far as the war is going.]

If your TV method doesn't work, there's no way I won't be able to do something about it.

[... Even if he doesn't know what that something could potentially be yet. He's still too new with this power.]

Have you ever considered punching God in the face? I would probably do so, had I the power to.

[It's said half as a joke, half as a genuine inquiry. Is it sacrilegious? Yes. Does he care? No. If God were merciful, he would still have his mother.

Regardless, he'll follow Kazuya's lead.]

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