#Metaverse weapons

[thepoliticalvulcan]

Techno-apocalyptica & Schizophrenia

Spoilers for Fallout

The rational part of my brain recognizes that the timing is too close for that poor guy who self immolated in front of Trump's court proceedings to have seen it or know much about it. However, I'm struck by the big reveal of Vault-tec conspiring with other corporations, oligarchs really, to end the world so they can all be the unquestioned absolute rulers of their Vaults and then take a "free market approach" to rebuilding civilization. It is unsettling the degree to which this is reminiscent of the theses of the now deceased gentleman's manifesto, an admittedly deeply troubled document full of an inability to accept that despoilers and despots might arrive at similar processes by similar motives independent of one another, or the inability to distinguish between cautionary tales and propaganda.

Having skimmed that manifesto and then watching Fallout, it does make me wonder. Could there be ideologues and plutocrats who have talked themselves into razing entire economies and livelihoods, perhaps literally through violence, under the idea that this would be "creative destruction?"

Unfortunately the answer is actually yes and its no paranoid delusion since this is the fervent belief of those among the fever swamp religious right who believe that prodding Israel into first rebuilding their great temple and then getting eradicated for their trouble will kickstart the End Times. This is one of those instances where I think materialist philosophy and materialist explanations simply cannot account for the elite doing things that are against what a rational person would believe is against their interests: whether its starting wars, pumping money into obvious scams like NFTs, the metaverse, and now their new religion: AI; but ultimately even the rich are simply a variable number of monkeys who happen to own a stupendous number of typewriters mindlessly pounding away trying to create value.

It is fashionable on the materialist left to assume the rich know what they're doing and are pursuing their self interest at our expense in a lawful, rational evil way.

Unless they're not. Unless they're possessed of grandiose and mystical delusions, a spiritual level belief in the goodness and wisdom of the Free Market, or in a God that is whispering in their ear and confirming all of their biases.

What is clear to me is that Max Azzarello was a mentally ill man desperately trying to make sense of a deranged world that seems to offer cruelty from the top. He deserved intervention long before he met his fate. He deserved a kinder world. He definitely misjudged Matt Groening. He tried to find order in the madness of our variable number of unhinged billionaires blindly groping for profit and indifferent to who they smash. I disagree with that order. I disagree with him ending his life. I pity him, for I think our society and its cruel oligarchs failed him.

I think he was broken by a reality that was too grim to face and he resorted to connecting threads that had no business being connected, but the theses of mad oligarchs plotting to destroy the world because they know their positions are untenable, that they are unwilling or unable to live peaceably and sustainably with the goose that lays the golden eggs, and thus absolute rule must logically be their endgame since eventually, one would assume, perpetually failing upwards, scam after scam, like Sam Altman of Open AI, or Elon Musk, must cease to be satisfying.

What if they're not actually content to simply jockey for position on the leaderboard of capitalism, admittedly while trampling the rest of us? What if in their bones they think they're the only ones fit to rule and merely influencing society by creating incentives and disincentives, creating the structures we bounce around inside of, is not enough?

I think Mr. Azzarello was wrong about the tech oligarchs for the most part. Except for the ones who are mixing a toxic stew of Laissez Faire, Francoism, and their own personal bespoke interpretations of the Bible.

Those people are real, some of them are quite powerful, and I do think they'd end the world if they believed sincerely that it would kickstart the Rapture under the assumption Christ will anoint them as his ministers since they proved to be oh so good at wealth management.

I'm fine, really, I have no intent to harm myself or anyone literal or proverbial enemies of mankind. Please don't send that bot to inquire after me, unless Tumblr is going to start letting it speak aloud and sound like Matt Berry for an upgrade. That would actually be pretty rad.

[chalegirltepasas]

Aliens are just as fake as we all are

Overwhelmed !! Too much of this too much of that! So Fuck this and fuck that ! Fuck it through your eyes and even with your minds don't forget to overuse and abuse your phone like it's a fucking sexy blow up doll waiting for that doll to come to life so it can fuck us all right back blow us out of our fucking minds incredible things and apps was there ever even hope for our souls to cope in this current meta life or will we always reject the truth that it's all a lie oh no not that I googled it last night I figured it out everything goes and everything comes back all that information in my mind jump on the freeway open the windows of your heart even if you never find a way back just live your life don't you worry as long as you are alive but no one told us the heart and mind was something that can die while the body stayed alive and why are our actions so much harder to analyze then the garbage that's right Infront of us oh please just stop we are all awake now no need to complicate your thoughts look within yourself one eye in the brain will solve it all I read it online I know the answers to the universe itself I connected my brain to the five dimensions what an illumination to my mind would you look at that oh yes look at it right and follow the bright fucking light that guides your path the answer to all your questions and the problem it fucking self what an evolution of digital life it is so great so divine you couldn't even live without you'd loose touch with all the new vibes the rhythm that is now called our new way of life this a powerful device you can use it to search your thoughts and even find yourself anyways who gives a fuck make sure you put your phone to charge aliens could be showing up any time now you wouldn't wanna miss out on news like that. Bai ya chale wey

[invenblocker]

Persona 3: SEES are well connected and are able to buy weapons from a contact within the police force.

Persona 5: The weapons are actually just models that work within the Metaverse because they look real.

Persona 4: Alright, so Inaba has this blacksmith who sells guns to children.

[denizenhardwick]

thinking about how when the thieves first saw akechi's metaverse outfit, they kinda poked fun at it and were like "that's your image of what a rebel is?" and he deflected like "it's my idea of what a person who delivers justice is like" but like. no that IS what rebellion looks like for him, in a way that is perfectly consistent with robin hood's whole deal. robin hood is his perfect self-image, his ego, how he wants others to view him (and how he wants to view himself), but it's also a genuine reflection of his sense of justice, based on his childhood ideals - thus the superhero motif and toy weapons. and what's a more rebellious thing for a poor, unwanted bastard child to be than a prince?

[chatlote]

Very Evil Stafford Gambit ❗

(Symbolism breakdown undercut)

(Watching the original video of the song will probably help so I recommend looking it up on youtube shorts!)

The Stafford Gambit starts with the Petrov's Defence, which has both players repeating each others moves, this represents the fact that Akechi and Joker are two sides of the same coin, equally matched.

White is Akechi. Black is Joker

But as the game unfolds, white makes mistakes by being greedy or acting without thinking. This is a game where black uses aggressive play against white.

So as Akechi starts slipping, that's when the PT prevails, even if there are certain victories Joker gets from Akechi that don't feel good. (Engine Room Sacrifice)

The game is set when Akechi comes back to life.

But the Stafford Gambit is about sacrifice. To achieve victory, Black must put the Knight at risk (the PT) and allow his Queen (Akechi) to die. In the end, they both thought that they were playing the same gambit and would win because Akechi too has made plenty of sacrifices himself, but he messed up.

But it all comes down to the line of 'Take the Queen' by white, the one who has to be greedy and make the move that dooms himself is Akechi. Taking the queen will be his loss, by 2/2 he already knows there's no winning-so he is encouraging Joker to finish the game and win like he is meant to. White takes Queen, as self-sabotage. Giving up on the game.

The thing is that Akechi is wrong about one thing. He is not helping Joker win against Maruki by doing this, the game of chess is between the two of them from the start. And Joker does win, but his win is against Akechi by proving to Akechi that he survived on the last three shots. From belief alone.

Joker wins the Stafford Gambit. He sacrificed, Akechi took bait, Joker uses his two weapons, metaverse and being a hopeful fool, so they get their happy ending.

(Hope this made sense AND hope you enjoyed the animatic <3)

[vashtijoy]

Idk if you’ve talked about this before, but in the event where ren and akechi are playing that shooting game together there is a very funny interaction and my fellow shuake fans and I are unsure what it means.

In English, Akechi jokes that he’s practicing gunplay to take ren out. Clearly this could either be a murder joke or a date joke. In Spanish, he apparently uses a phrase that can only mean a date.

What does he say in japanese? Was it ambiguous there too or was it clearly a murder joke or date joke? Again, sorry if you already explained it lol

…also this is kinda awkward but was the usage of the term gunplay intentional or does it have multiple meanings and fanfic has just ruined me orrr…

Hello! I am so happy to be able to go over this with you. Many thanks to @platinumdream, @minkhollow42, @somethingpersonarelated and the r/spanish subreddit for verifying this one for me.

This line stands out because the Japanese and English (and also the Spanish) translations are all radically different—different enough that what we have here is a stellar example of "the Xerox effect".

Let's take a look.

the scene in japanese

Akechi 気付いた? そうだよ、いつか君も懐に忍ばせたこれで⋯ kizuita? sou da yo, itsuka kimi mo futokoro ni shinobaseta kore de... [lit. you noticed? that's right, some day <see below>...]

Let's take a quick look at the grammar of this line, which I think is dual-meaning in Japanese just as it was in English (and if any of this seems like bullshit please get in touch, as it never ends well when I try to produce sentences of my own):

Akechi does not finish this sentence—he's left off the verb. So, as often happens with him, his meaning is ambiguous. Let's take the obvious one first:

いつか君も懐に忍ばせたこれで【ある】 itsuka kimi mo futokoro ni shinobaseta kore de [aru] Some day you, too, will have one of these concealed in your pocket.

Short and sweet: "I carry one of these, concealed, and some day you will too". Note that there's nothing here about practicing, as there is in the English.

But there's another possible meaning here:

いつか君も懐に忍ばせたこれで【撃ってあげる】 itsuka kimi mo futokoro ni shinobaseta kore de [utte ageru] Some day I'll [shoot] you, too, with this thing concealed in my pocket.

WELP. Like I say, I'm not entirely sure, but I do think the strong likelihood is that this dual meaning exists in Japanese.

I should say I don't think there's necessarily a suggestion here that he carries an illegal gun (though since Naoto has one in P4, it's very possible)—I think it's a metaphorical pocket, his inventory in the Metaverse.

Though I don't think this is really what's going on, there are also a startling number of idioms with futokoro that suggest embracing....

but what is the futokoro?

Idiomatically speaking, 懐 futokoro often translates pretty cleanly as "pocket". But something else is going on: your futokoro is explicitly your breast pocket.

Originally, it was the flap in the front of your kimono where you tucked things away. And so it also appears in a lot of idioms relating to the bosom, or the heart. 懐に飛び込む futokoro ni tobikomu is to throw yourself into someone's arms. 懐に入る futokoro ni hairu, for instance, means to worm your way into someone's affections, or to win someone's confidence—sound familiar at all?

But there's something else going on, of course, with Akechi concealing a weapon in his breast pocket:

Yep. Here's the payoff for this line in rank 5. Akechi tucks that silencer away in his breast pocket—just like he told Joker he would. And then he laughs. So did he know at rank 5 that this was going to happen, or did he bring this up for some other reason? Well, you decide.

By the way, here's Joker's question about gunplay:

Joker 撃ち慣れ��る? uchi nareteru? Are you used to gunplay?

The Japanese just means "Are you used to shooting guns?"—I'm not sure it has any of the more, er, fanfic connotations of the English "gunplay". @specterthief agrees there doesn't seem to be any innuendo to the Japanese line.

the scene in english

Akechi: Ah, you noticed? Well, I'll need as much practice as I can get if I'm going to take you out.

Let's look at what's happening here, because it happens very often. Like much of Akechi's dialogue, this line in rank 5 was originally a double entendre—it has a very obvious, and relatively innocuous, meaning, but if you squint, you can see Akechi is hinting at something far less innocuous.

Wordplay of this kind takes a lot of time, thought and skill to translate. So what happens in practice is that the translator has to choose one meaning to put front and centre. The English translator has decided, very reasonably, that Akechi's implied "I will kill you" is more important than the joke about the concealed weapon.

To be clear, this was probably the right call. I love the relative subtlety of the Japanese and the 11/20 callback, but it's important that people playing the game understand what's going on—even if, over here in blorboland, it's clear that He Would Not Fucking Say That.

the scene in spanish

Do sit down.

Akechi: ¿Te has dado cuenta? Bueno, tengo que practicar todo lo que pueda si quiero invitarte a salir.

Now, I need to be as up front as I can possibly be about the fact that I do not speak Spanish. But I know a lot of people who do, and they have responded with one voice:

...

"Ask you out"? "ASK YOU OUT"?????

This is what is meant by "the Xerox effect".

We start in Japanese, with the relatively subtle "I have a concealed weapon", which becomes "I'm going to shoot you with a concealed weapon" if you think about it a little more. Then, in English, we become more blatant, with "take you out" having the up front meaning that Akechi will shoot Joker; rather than being subtext, it's now the point of what he's saying. And it's introduced something new—the alternate alternate meaning, of "take you out [on a date]".

It is possible that the Japanese line has a third meaning, very similar to this reading of "take you out"—you would have to torture the context here to get dating from the English, in the same way you'd have to torture the Japanese to get embracing from it.

But there's no torture in the Spanish. Oh, no. Spanish Akechi, as they say, just fucking goes for it. and why the hell not.

but what happened here?

The Spanish localisation is an indirect translation, translated not from the Japanese original, but from the existing English translation. It retains any and all errors in the English script because of this. And when the Spanish translator looked at this line of Akechi's, they saw not the original Japanese dual meaning, the one the English translator saw, but the one the English translator introduced—the dual meanings of the English "take you out".

And the Spanish translator, again, had to choose which of Akechi's seeming dual meanings to keep. Should they keep the line about shooting Joker? Or should they keep the line about taking Joker on a date?

Just like photocopying a photocopy, detail and accuracy are progressively lost, and errors accumulate. Of course, these indirect translations are not without their positives—translating from English allows for a far wider range of translations to be done quicker and more cheaply. Without them, far fewer languages would see official translations at all.

Also, it's really funny and that Spanish translation is a gift.

revision history

click here for the latest version.

v1.1 (2024/01/11)—confirmed no innuendo on uchi nareteru.

v1.0 (2024/01/10)—first posted.

[princedetectives]

in my last post i mentioned at the end how goro akechi's "detective prince" outfit looks a hell of a lot like naoto's persona. well im still thinking about it. sit down

like. when you see them side by side the resemblance IS pretty uncanny isnt it? im not crazy??

my thesis: akechi's detective prince outfit is a mix of symbols he sees as upholders of justice. aka, his role models. aka, mainly naoto and the neo featherman rangers. you know, because he's a nerd.

the latter is even more obvious in robin hood. i could swear it's canon but i for the life of me cannot remember where from. but i KNOW he is a featherman fan. it makes sense, watching a show where heroes of justice fight against evil and forming an image of justice based on that. it's further supported by his weapons, described as kids' toys. it's very likely his image of justice was formed when he was pretty young, the perfect age to form role models like this. this resemblance has been pointed out before im sure youve heard it

but i digress. you know who ELSE is a featherman fan?

(really really cute that both of them are featherman nerds. comes with being a detective prince i suppose)

that's already a pretty strong link between them -- i bet featherman ranger influenced naoto's persona, too. at least a little bit. but the resemblance to the cartoon isn't as strong with naoto. it's there, but the bird-like theme can also be explained by yamato-takeru's mythology (when he died, he turned into a great white bird and flew away).

so naoto's persona is mostly original. which means the resemblance can only be explained by respect for naoto. and i guarantee you he doesnt even realize it. (unless he's seen naoto's persona before, which might be true if you want to get funky with AUs, but probably not.) and you might look at me and think the link is kind of farfetched... but come on. the resemblance is too much to ignore to me. and even if it wasn't intentional it's interesting and fun to look at it like it is.

but what does this mean

as i mentioned in my last post, akechi's status as the first detective prince is vital to his self-image. self-image affects metaverse appearance deeply, ESPECIALLY with akechi, since his personas work differently than everyone else's. it feels easy to write this off as "oh it's just his public mask" but remember both detective prince and black mask and equally essential.

and again, it's not like naoto's popularity gets in the way of his. akechi has garnered respect on his own (or by shido's tampering, but that's a whole other can of worms). even so, the detective prince name is directly congruent with his predecessor. naoto's shadow looms over it. it's only natural that his "detective prince" form, as i've been calling it, reflects this. it's a LEGACY!

of course, naoto definitely wouldn't have a metaverse outfit like this, even with the same influences. crow is uniquely akechi, because the detective prince title is just as much his as it is naoto's.

p.s. i usually avoid the existence of persona x detective naoto as much as possible but.. but the new persona he gets there... i couldnt help but notice....

okay, genuinely don't get me started on this one LMAO

[lizardsfromspace]

The stereotypical cultural horizons of tech people weren't broad before - mainly focusing on a few mainstream sci-fi and fantasy franchises - but that's miles better than AI (and, before them, NFT) people, who seem to like no art at all. Even the Metaverse people have, at the least, read Snow Crash and Ready Player One. But here we have people claiming they're creating the future of art whose media consumption appears to be primarily podcasts about Efficiency and That Grindset. They badly misunderstand any medium they talk about in a fundamental way ("wouldn't it be cool if you could bring weapons from one game into every game?"). They not only fail to have any creative drive of their own, which heretofore seemed like it was impossible for human beings, they don't...seem to engage with creativity, either. Which also seemed impossible for human beings. Watching This Type of Guy post about reading a hundred books a year & they're all business-brain nonfiction pablum and speak even about the monkey JPEGs and AI sludge they share primarily in financial terms and wondering: God, do they even play video games

[drarry-lets-play]

🎮 DLP 2024 | Fic Master List 🎮

🎮 The road to Baldur's Gate 🎮

16th september, by @gnarf

Rating: Explicit Word count: 19.360k Warnings/Tags: Alternative Universe - Baldur's Gate, Abduction, Tadpole | Illithid Parasite Powers (Baldur's Gate), We'll fuck because we'll die mindset, Blow Jobs, semi public blowjob, Rimming, Bathtub Sex, Fast Paced Enemies To Lovers, everyone is horny, Poisoning, Ambushes and Sneak Attacks, Explosions Summary: Waking up in a fucking pod on a fucking Mindflayer ship with a worm dangling in front of his eye was one of the weirder experiences Harry had during his short life. Twenty-one years of absolute fuckery made him immune to most of the bullshit happening around him, but this must have made it into the top five immediately, making it into the top three the second the Mindflayer attempted to put a parasite into his eyes.

🎮 A Boyfriend Among Us🎮

17th september, by @Skotini

Rating: T Word count: 6,636 Warnings/Tags: Impostors to lovers, Humor, Getting Together, Flirting, Secret Crush, POV Harry Potter, Characters Playing Among Us (Video Game) Summary: There's something sus about one of the players in Harry's new game. And Harry's got to work it out, even if it means tailing Eltanin all over the ship. Repeatedly. He’s just doing it because he’s dedicated to justice… right?

🎮Gems 🎮

18th september, by @definitelynotafanficwriter

Rating: M Word count: 20,413 Warnings/Tags: No Archive Warnings Apply, Getting Together, Crime Fighting, Metaverse (Persona 5), Palaces (Persona 5), Guns, Masks, Fights, Infiltration, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Pining, Mutual Pining, Flirting, Cafe Leblanc (Persona 5), Banter, Kissing, Justice, Past, Fluff, Coffee Shop Owner Harry Potter, Shop Owner Harry Potter, POV Harry Potter, Games, Teasing, Good Draco Malfoy, Sassy, Partners in Crime, Post-Second Wizarding War with Voldemort (Harry Potter), Fans, feathers - Freeform, Harry Potter loves his life in Japan Summary: Harry Potter was done with the war. He packed all his stuff, said his goodbyes to his friends, and left for the muggle world... in Japan. It was a last minute decision, just like opening a coffee shop was. Good thing he found a last-minute supplier. Then, one fateful morning, everything went crazy and it had something to do with Draco Malfoy.

🎮 Lesson Learnt, Vault Dweller 🎮

19th september by @xrvge

Rating: E Word count: 6,343 Warnings/Tags: Post-Apocalypse, Kidnapped Draco Malfoy, Fallout Video Games References, Gun Violence, Smut, Virgin Draco Malfoy Summary: In the post-apocalyptic wasteland, lone wanderer Harry Potter happens to stumble upon a vault dweller trapped within a raider camp.  Well, there's rarely any stumbling when Harry is involved. Maybe he just loves running head first into danger. 

🎮 Mnemosyne 🎮

20th september by @thunderfiction

Rating: Mature Word count: 20,442 Warnings/Tags: Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Department of Mysteries (Harry Potter), Unspeakable Harry Potter, Unspeakable Draco Malfoy, Pensieves (Harry Potter), Memory Magic, Ancient Greece, Glamour Charms (Harry Potter), Secret Identity, Identity Porn, Identity Reveal, simulated character death, Blood and Injury, Grieving Someone Who Isn't Even Dead, Presumed Dead Character, Demisexual Harry Potter, Demisexual Awakening, Swearing, POV Harry Potter, POV Third Person Limited, Past Tense, Inspired by Assassin's Creed, Drarry Let’s Play Fest 2024 Summary: Deep within the Ministry of Magic lies the Department of Mysteries — and within that, the Animus Chamber. When Harry gets recruited as an Unspeakable, he embarks on a quest into his ancestor’s memories, searching for a mystical weapon that could wreak havoc in the wrong hands. What he does not expect to find inside the Animus, though, is a mentor, a companion, a friend and a lover — especially not all wrapped up in one prickly coworker whose true identity he can never know.

[randomkposts]

A thing I think we should consider more about Makoto's character when writing her is that she knows Aikido and is not using it in the Metaverse.

Let me explain.

Martial arts come with a philosophy. They are a synthisis of a founders philosaphical and religious beliefs and their martial studies.

Aikido's founder was Morihei Ueshiba, and his goal was creating a fighting style that lets the user defend themselves, while also protecting the attacker from injury. Aikido can be translated as "the way of harmonious spirit", or "the way of unifying with life energy."

The goal is to avoid cultivating violence or aggressiveness. Its tecquniques include attack redirection, throws, pins, strikes, and joint locks. When using weapons, it uses staffs, knives, and wodden katanas.

Its fitness goals are less about strength training and more about flexibility, endurance, and controled relaxation.

All of the above, establishes that it is Not Aikido, Makoto is using in the Metaverse. She may have learned how to strike in Aikido class, but in the Metaverse she is going for all out attacking.

It could have been possible to tie in take down tactics to her and add ways to force shadow negotiation as her confidant incresed, but it doesn't. Instead its about analyzing the shadows.

She trains in a martial art whose goal is "to overcome ones self instead of culivating violence or agression", and when she comes face to face with an opponent in the metaverse she throws all that philosophy out the window in favor of agressive striking.

Her magic attack, is necular- an energy at which is produced by splitting the nuculus of atoms (particles) apart, or fuse them togther.

Her rebellion does not begin and end with her bike.

[beezonia]

Brains been thinking of confidants

——

So we’ve got the thieves but now I’m thinking of how to designate the other arcana for the rest of the cast

——-

Isshiki Wakaba - Devil - The mischievous owner of the Internet cafe 8Bit, she tells Goro a lot about her youth and how she used to be quite the misfit (she was in a rock band, played drums) also tells him really bad jokes

Wakaba will sometimes talk about her former job and how it effected her, especially when she found out she was pregnant with futaba

Her confidant allows Goro to take more risks in battle each rank he gets more guts to pull of more then one attack

Sakura Sojiro - Hanged Man - Sojiro owns a small bar in Yongen-Jaya which is home to some shady characters (it’s a back alley bar what would you expect)

His Confidant is him talking a lot about his journey and the crowds he got into when he was younger, he’s a lot more blunt and rough around the edges now those experiences shaped him into a bit of a hard boiled guy

But he talks about how Wakaba inspired him to change and open up his own spot also talks about how he fell in love with her

Sells Goro weapons (usually on a Tuesday/Thursday) in the back of the bar

I’m not entirely sure what his confidant would give Goro maybe some sort of defence buff?

Kawakami Sadayo - Fortune - Goro’s teacher, has a bit of a fortune telling gig on the side of her teaching (yeah cause I’m not doing the maid shit here)

More upbeat then her cannon counterpart Sadayo works hard to keep her students engaged and feeling good in her lessons which does bring her spirits up

however she’s still the tired teacher deep down inside since her part time job does fuck her over a bit with all the crappy costumers she gets

If Goro goes to get a telling from her depending on what she says it either effects buffs positively or negatively in the metaverse

Takemi Tae - Tower - Still a doctor just not a back alley one, has a small clinic that goro and takuto frequent (takuto to talk about therapy and goro for any phantom thief stuff)

Raging lesbian

I’m not entirely sure what I want to do with her confidant tbh

——-

That’s all I’ve got so far! Probably need to figure out what I want to do with Iwai, Chihaya, Ohya and Toranosuke now

@39tn39

[may-lutlone]

So, while I was playing Reload (great game 10/10), I was brainstorming about using the android that kills Shadows in P5. So, I came up with an AU where Akechi is an Anti-Shadow weapon. Well he is inspired by one.

Of course, there are fanarts (better than mine) or fics where he is that Anti-Shadow weapon, but I have never really seen anything dwelling into lore that much? I just saw the concept being thrown around or Phantom Thieves just being a part of Shadow Ops (feel free to correct me, I haven't been everywhere in Persona fandom ehsjskks) So here's my take, which contains spoilers for Persona 5 (obvs) and some angsty themes:

Spoilers obvs!!!!!!!!

-Wakaba killed Akechi during one of Metaverse's experiments (oops),

-she felt so guilty about it that she secretly retrieved his consciousness from there,

-using plans for an Anti-Shadow weapon

by the Kirijo Group that she somehow got hold of (maybe she stole it, maybe she just got it idc), she rebuilt him as an android and put his consciousness there (although it exists with the programming, because she wasn't that knowledgeable about robotics - she was a cognitive psicentist at heart, after all),

-was it a good decision? idk but Wakaba kinda strike me as a scientist who would think that was an excellent idea,

-Akechi disagrees, he hates her for that because now he is forever stuck as a thing that is forced to listen to orders (being forever stuck in one body also doesn't feel right I suppose),

-but they have a neutral and professional relationship that revolves around exploring the Metaverse (Akechi can still use Loki, just like Aigis can use Palladion),

-Conspiracy, learning about this, hacks Akechi-android to use him as a weapon in the Metaverse (so he still is a Black Mask, although everything is done completely without his input),

-Akechi then kills Wakaba, which she anticipated and before that she had given Futaba a copy of her research and Akechi’s plans - although she said to never use them without a really serious reasoning,

-yada, yada, yada we're in original game timeline,

-Akechi as a Detective Prince doesn't exist,

-but he does exist like a obstacle in Palaces/Mementos that hunts down the Thieves,

-let’s just say they would be able to fight him back around the time their lvl in Okumura's Palace,

-Morgana doesn't know wtf Akechi is,

-Joker has some suspicion that Akechi isn't just a machine, but he doesn't really voice it at that point,

-when they are in Futaba's palace, on one of the wall arts (the one where Wakaba works on something and Futaba is begging for her attention) they notice that Wakaba was working on one of Akechi's parts (probably his arm idk),

-so they ask Futaba (post-change of heart) what’s going on, but she has to do research,

-when Futaba joins the team, Akechi always targets her (due to his resent to Wakaba),

-they finally learn what Akechi is and that he is malfunctioning (y'know being a serial killer weapon) due to being hacked, so they decide to help him (bonus point if they can get him on their team),

-so in Okumura palace arc they set on changing the CEO heart and capturing Akechi (who is also there, because he has to get rid of Okumura),

-during the fight in that Palace, Futaba manages to free him from Conspiracy’s control (bonus point if he awakes to Robin Hood),

-when they get him back to Leblanc's attic, Futaba repairs him (because I feel like she would be into robotics just like her mom) and they learn that even if he is on their side now, he doesn't remember who he really was (even first his name, only Akechi).

So, my AU would revolve around Akechi re-learning about his past (he can bond over his amnesia with Morgana) and being as human as possible.

I have a few ideas that I probably will draw (or write, who knows), but that's all for now. Thanks for coming for my ted talk.

Bonus comic - very messy, sorry:

[nardaviel]

Been doing some thinking about the characterization implications of Makoto's aikido black belt, and the interesting contrast between aikido and her Metaverse weapon.

Like, to start with, the fact that Makoto knows aikido specifically says a lot. Aikido is extremely not an aggressive martial art. It's a little difficult to translate something like a martial art name from Japanese into English, but the one I always heard was "way of the harmonious spirit". I'm not going to do a deep dive on it, just summarize a couple of the most relevant points, but it was created by a war veteran who was inspired by a spiritual experience. His guiding concept was like... self-defense without hurting the aggressor.

(Disclaimer: I obviously only studied in one school! Although all of aikido shares the same overall principles, there may be some schools out there that are extra-aggressive. However, given that we lack any indication of what style of aikido Makoto studies, I would guess that it's not anything wild or unusual.)

Aikido focuses on using an attacker's energy and momentum against them. You learn throwing and pinning techniques to defend against various attacks, but specifically techniques where you can pull back before you cause serious damage. You don't learn barehanded strikes at all, except as much as you need to know to initiate fake attacks to help your partners practice. And you don't need to know how to throw a really good, dangerous punch for that. I had years of aikido training and I still sure as fuck can't. At more advanced levels, you start to learn other things such as weapons forms, but even those aren't really attacks. You just perform a ritualized series of movements against imaginary enemies.

It's not the world's most practical martial art, to be honest, although someone who's really skilled can get good use out of it. If Makoto claims she can use it to ensure her safety, she must be that good, because I expect she's too practical to delude herself with false confidence. More importantly! It takes years to get a black belt, like it does in any martial art. So little middle-schooler Makoto looked at all the martial arts on offer in Tokyo, which I imagine is pretty much every martial art on earth, and decided aikido was the one for her.

It suits her, and continues to suit her up through the end of canon. She's not Ryuji; outside the Metaverse, she's not going to start a physical fight. But she's perfectly willing to finish one. Given her family history and personal values, it makes sense that she'd be drawn to the idea of defending herself, but not in a way that causes unnecessary pain. It's also considered a good martial art for women, due to the lack of emphasis on size and strength.

But pre-canon Makoto is also very repressed, very focused on being composed and perfect. Aikido promises self-defense and an outlet, but nothing too aggressive. Nothing that looks too loud or rebellious. Martial arts are male-dominated practices; by studying one at all, she's already being a little bit out of the ordinary. Best not to stand out too much.

And then she gets into the Metaverse.

It's easy to think that the brass knuckles and the punching make use of her martial arts background, but they don't. At all. Makoto has absolutely not learned how to strike with her fists to cause damage during her training, at least not like people envision. If Atlus wanted to go that route, they'd have given her a karate backstory or something similar.

And if they wanted her to know aikido and wanted to carry her training into the Metaverse, they could've given her a staff, which she will have learned forms for during aikido training. The other classic aikido weapons are already taken, or at least the non-wooden versions are lol. But no one else among the Thieves uses a staff. Makoto the warrior monk with her jo staff and her Pope persona would be a coherent design.

But Atlus didn't do that either. Instead, they gave her brass knuckles (among other fist weapons, I know, I know) and let her punch the shit out of her enemies. That's not merely unlike her training; it's in total opposition to the core tenets of aikido. No "way of the harmonious spirit", no self-reflection, no pacifism. She's going to beat up Shadows for justice.

In short, the brass knuckles are an emblem of her rebellion within the Metaverse. They come from the same place as her spiky leather outfit and motorcycle Persona. In the real world, student council president Makoto isn't afraid of anyone hitting her or grabbing her because she can put them on the ground before they can blink. Like I said, I think aikido suits her really well, even without her pre-canon baggage. But in the Metaverse, Queen doesn't bother to wait for an attack. She hits first. <3

[honestlyboringperson]

This alliance dissolved faster than sugar in hot water. (Persona 5 AU)

Also I know Bigb and Lizzie have similar outfits and themes and Ren is more red than Pearl, who’s codename is literally just another word for “red”. Eh, oh well.

Southlanders

Team B.E.S.T.

The Scottage + Gem

Magic Mountain + Cub

More under the cut!

Lizzie - “Flora” - The Tower Arcana - Carabosse/Persephone

Once the leader of a sorority and with sky-high academics, Lizzie has since fallen from grace after allegations of foul play were revealed. Even if Lizzie didn’t commit such actions, the label stuck and she has since been outcasted from the student body and now spends her days in the shadows, taking care of quite a few stray cats. Despite these setbacks, she still retains her gleam of authority and tries to help lead the phantom thieves, using some of her old connections & IOUs from her days as an honour student. She’s in an active and loving relationship with a certain former delinquent.

Within the metaverse, Lizzie uses Carabosse. Carabosse is more well known as “Maleficent” or the thirteenth fairy from sleeping beauty. As revenge for not being invited to a party, she curses the newborn princess to prick her finger and die, which another fairy changes to simply falling asleep after pricking her finger. I wanted to combine the two aesthetics and themes Lizzie finds herself in; cutesy fairy and supervillain mastermind.

Her Ultimate persona is Persephone. Persephone is the wife of Hades, and queen of the underworld and goddess of spring. Persephone is often equated and conflated with Despoina, who’s real name isn’t revealed to anyone but those who initiate her mysteries. She is noted to be so terrifying, one must never utter her by name out loud unless they want to catch her attention. This is heavily contrasted by the later interpretations of Persephone as a simple spring goddess.

Ren - “King” - The Emperor Arcana - Arthur/Fenrir

Ren is a prodigy actor at a local theatre, with his acting skills being matched by no one in the theatre. He specializes in dramatic characters with flowery speech and theatrical monologues, to the point whenever he’s in the metaverse, he LARPs as an Evil King. He helps hook the Phantom Thieves up with a weapons expert, who for some reason wears a goat mask 24/7. Upbeat and Loud, he and Skizz helps keep morale high in the phantom thieves. He’s very close with Martyn, despite Martyn insisting he’s just using them as pawns. Whether or not this is true or not is yet to be determined.

His persona is Arthur, namely King Arthur. He is a famed king, known for his sword Excalibur and his large entourage of knights. His story lives on through media, be it through simple books to as grand as whole stage plays. He is often portrayed as a well meaning king who defends the land from both human and supernatural threats. Although his legend has changed throughout history, his story is one bedecked by both tragedy and grandeur.

His Ultimate Persona is Fenrir, a key figure in Ragnarok and killer of Odin. A child of Loki, he and his siblings were foretold to bring the end of the universe and in Odin’s attempt to escape this prophecy, he ends up giving them the power and motives needed to enact the tragedy. In Fenrir’s case, he was brought up the wolf in their home where only Tyr had the courage to approach him to give him food, which sparked a friendship between the two. However, due to his rapid growth everyday the gods made three leg cuffs and had Tyr helped trick Fenrir into putting the cuffs on. When he realizes the trick, he bites Tyr’s hand off. In Ragnarok,he breaks free of his chains and swallow Odin whole, killing him.

BigB - “Spectre” - The Temperance Arcana - Winchester/Eshu

A velvet room attendant who is currently abandoning his duties as an Attendant in the first place. Since the new velvet room manifested, he has since been shirking his duties to explore the outside world, never really returning to the Velvet Room. He still speaks in a somewhat strange manner but is polite and charismatic, making him well liked by the people around him. He initially joins the Phantom Thieves to keep Watch of Grian, as he is aware of his true nature, but eventually finds more reasons he desires to stay. He is especially gifted with persuasive speech and helps come up with alibis for the Phantom Thieves whenever they get into shady business. He has an odd habit of exiting rooms through doors that weren’t originally there.

His persona is Winchester, both the person and the mansion. Sarah Winchester was the wife of the inventor of the Winchester rifle. After she was widowed, she was told she would be haunted by those whose lives were stolen by the rifle her husband created. In order to prevent the ghosts from harming her as well as to possibly contact the ghosts of her lost loved ones, she turned her farmhouse into a strange, maze like mansion with doors and windows that lead to nowhere, stairs that end in ceilings, trapdoors, and barred windows.

His Ultimate Persona is Eshu or Èṣù, a Yoruba Orisha who specializes in divination and acts as a messenger between heaven and earth. He was known to have tricked Ifa out of his secrets of divination, and another where he frees Ifa from his imprisonment within a palm tree and casts him as a founder of the Ifa religion.

[inkhornism]

DESPITE HIS FOOL DESIGNATION, AKIRA ISN’T STUPID BY ANY MEANS. He’s more than aware that coming to Mementos with only the crow for company can’t spell anything good, not with what he knows, but curiosity, little regard for himself and a constant bleeding heart are a too terrible combination hanging heavily on his already fractured soul for him to turn down such a request. They’ve explored just the two of them before, when they’d occasionally split into pairs in order to cover more ground a lot quicker, so he’s not worried about Shadows possibly getting the better of them – after all, there are safe rooms every five floors or so and he has a multitude of Personas he can call upon for any kind of situation ( as one does when running solo trips ).

A big, spacious room that until recently housed only a lonely Shadow and two chests is where all pretences are dropped similar to the way a chill suddenly turns the air around them frigid. Trickster senses are a lot sharper than even the other Thieves think they are, help him narrowly avoid being skewered by a bright lightsaber ironically bought by the raven himself. So long Goro is accompanying them, Akira is responsible for making sure that his gear is up to snuff ( though, always, the highest quality ) no matter how many times he tries to stop him from spending all that money on ‘things that aren’t necessary’. And always, always, Akira only shakes his head and just hands the stuff over, saying that the only way to repay him is to make good use of the items; no doubt pissing the other off considerably.

In the darkness only illuminated by the odd stray light and red wisps, the sparks flying off every time they cross weapons are the only way to reliably follow the fight. Two steps forward, a step backward, a long swipe that would normally leave him open, but he’s nimble and the gymnastics learnt from Kasumi have come in handy more times than not. His opponent moves to mirror his approach, elegantly avoiding even letting the knife graze him, quickly slashing at any opportunity should he catch the dancing shadow on the wrong foot. This back and forth of theirs feels wrong, feels right, feels strangely familiar in ways Akira doesn’t want to think about because thinking about it means inviting the scrapes he’s already acquired to end up as permanent marks on his heart instead.

( It’s far too late, a voice whispers bitterly at the back of his mind. )

But Akira started the fight already exhausted from a previous run through Mementos by himself and this confrontation is starting to wear what little energy ( and confidence to not let the pain he’s in show on his face ) wear thin. Equally matched by their temporary ally, blows traded almost one for one, he still finds himself somehow cornered in spite of the space chosen to be their one-off arena. Backed against the wall, this surely must be the end of their little scuffle – whatever it is that Goro wanted to test for himself, to see in opposing the Leader of the Phantom Thieves, he must have certainly gotten it by now.

Or not.

Definitely not.

It’s impossible to not feel his heart skip a beat, then, when the barrel of a gun is pressed against his chest. Goro is an excellent shot, he’d already known this from back when they played that game at the arcade for the first time and he wiped the floor with him flawlessly. He’d seen it in the Metaverse as well, how calmly he wields such a weapon, firing it with a precision that even he doesn’t quite have yet – and only makes up for by being as extra about it as possible.

Strangely enough, Akira doesn’t fear death. Or, rather, it would be more accurate to say that Joker doesn’t. Joker would gladly die for his friends if it meant that they escape alive. After all, it’s his own fault that they are in this situation to begin with, that they are risking their lives every day for something that may or may not work, for something that may fail them one day, for somebody who they fully believe in as if he were incapable of making any mistakes – why don’t they hate him? They have every reason to do so, to leave the team, to back out and never return. And he’d never blame them for any of it, would probably, quite honestly, quietly thank them for it.

Why is the boy currently pinning him against the wall, a gun they both know is fake, but not, pressed firmly in the center of his chest also listening to him? Because Akira Joker is the leader? Because Akira Joker can be trusted to make the right call no matter the situation?

( He wants to crumble to dust, but he feels as if he’s been affixed to the wall by a giant metal pin. )

He’s not sure when he finds his voice again, nor is he sure who is talking; ❝ This is not the most efficient way and you know it, darling. ❞ accompanied by a hand heavy as lead and yet moving as if it doesn’t belong to him reaching to correct the gun’s aim ❝ You know that the most vulnerable spot, especially in the Metaverse, is the heart. ❞ the Phantom Thieves’ heart, hisheart. Shoot him and watch everything fold onto itself akin to a house of cards that never stood a chance against the wind’s howl.

❝ Just pull the trigger, ❞ Crow Akechi ❝ Goro. ❞

[bayothemayo]

OMFGGG (ﾉ´ з `)ノ HI HI I RQ THAT AKIRA X YOR BASED READER AND UGGHGHGHGH YOU WROTE IT SO WELL !!!!!!! ESP WHEN YOU ADDED AMAGI (」°ロ°)」 !! ♡♡♡♡ I also saw you opening reqs again (or like, recently made a post abt it and putting it in some tags (￣▽￣;)ゞHEHE) and wanted to request AGAIN!!: this time for the Persona Protags (Seperately) with reader who is a persona user just like them, but reader's persona method is completely different to theirs?? (EXAMPLE: Akira x P4!reader, Yu x P3!reader, and Minato x P5!reader) HCs again!! I've seen other Persona blogs get similar req like this, where they write the reactions to the boys seeing reader using a persona different from theirs BUT!! (｡•́︿•̀｡) wouldn't it... lowk be funny if reader and the boys met after encountering each other in the Metaverse and getting into a fight with them?? LIKE in Akira's case where he and the other PTs learnt abt another intruder and they're on edge, imagine they meet reader and think she's the intruder ლ(ಠ_ಠ ლ)!!?? you can branch off whatever ideas you have for this since, tbh, IM NOT TOO SURE ABT IT EITHER!! i thoguht abt it in the spur of the moment ig but this can be optional for whether or not you want to write this in!! (っ˘з(˘⌣˘ ) ♡ hehe this ask is longer than the last one I sent in SO SORRY YOU HAVE TO READ MY INFO DUMP .. BUT WHATEVES!! TY AGAIN FOR ANSWERING MY LAST REQS AND REMEMBER, STAY SLAYING!!!!!!

Akira Kurusu, Yu Narukami, and Minato Arisato Mets Reader Who Summons Their Persona Differently

Note: This is a little bit of swearing and very long.

Akira Kurusu

After hearing about another person running around in the Metaverse, the group was on edge.

One time they were at the Mementos and Oracle detects a presence, a human presence.

Naturally, they thought the person were the Black Mask.

When they met you, they accused you of being the Black Mask

Obviously you were confused, “Black Mask? Causing mental shutdowns? Are you good?”

Then you got into the fight with them

If you used an Evoker, they would freak out. They literally thought you were going to…make yourself sleep forever. The entire team’s heart basically skipped a beat. Akira just stared at you with wide eyes and mouth open.

If you used a Tarot card, the team will be confused. Akira will notice what kind of card will be floating in your hand. The Fool, Emperor, Lovers, etc. You destroyed your Tarot card with your weapon

He got to hand it out to you, you are pretty good. You even got some critical hits, and able to get the correct weakness of Joker's Personas.

You were defeated

However, you convinced them that you were not the Black Mask. Oracle also agrees with you as she analyzes your Persona and their levels and concludes that you would be at a higher level.

The group apologizes, but you forgave them.

You join their group to take down the Black Mask.

You seem to get along with Akira the most. Most likely due to your other friend is almost like them.

You chat to him a how you summon your Persona. Accepting death or accepting yourself.

You help out the group if they are struggling on fighting shadows.

Akira, in turn, helps you out with all the Phantom Thieve stuff.

Being sneaky wasn't the main factor in your last adventure, so you often get caught by a shadow.

Yu Narukami

The Investigate Team was training inside the Midnight Channel when Kujikawa sense a presence.

Believing that this could be the person who keeps throwing people into the Midnight Channel, they immediately went to the area where the presence is at.

The team met you, who was wandering around because you can't see anything.

They accuse you of being the person who caused the killings. You objected to the accusation, saying that you would never attempt to kill someone.

Though they didn't seem to be convinced as they decide to start a fight with you.

If you summon your Persona with a Mask, which is most likely the reason why they thought you were a killer, they flinch at the sight of blood going down your face and the blood dripping down the floor. You seem unfazed by this, which make them a little concerned.

If you summon using an Evoker, expect the same reaction as the Phantom Thieves. When they saw you took out the Evoker. They thought it was a real gun and start to freak out. Pretty sure Yosuke will pee himself. The group will run to what ever object nearby in hopes that the bullet won't go through the object. Instead, you put the Evoker towards your head. Rise let out a shout, which in turn made the team look at you as you just pulled the trigger. Instead of seeing a corpse, they instead saw your Persona. Narukami was wide-eyed the entire event

During the battle, Rise senses another presence. However, the presence was weak and surrounded by shadows.

They stopped the fight after Rise told them that they believed that another victim was just thrown into the Midnight Channel.

Since you were with them while the person was thrown into here, they are now convinced you are not the killer.

You joined the Investigate Team!

Narukami asks you about your previous adventures when he hangs out with you. You always recount the good memories of your old teammates, and how Narukami reminds them of their old leaders.

If you are able to get your old teammates to help you with the investigation, you give Narukmai a nudge, "Don't mess with Kirijo-san/Niijima-san, they WILL whoop your ass."

Minato Arisato

While they were approaching the boss, Yamagishi sense a different presence.

The group got concern considering that ordinary people get stranded in the Dark Hour.

They quickly went to the location, and then they met you.

However, Yamagishi notices that you were quite strong. S.E.E.S immediately thought you were a member of Strega. You objected the claim.

"What the hell is Strega?"

You got into the fight, sadly.

If you summon through a Mask, he will be shock about the amount of blood on your face. It will take a little time for him to get used to it.

If you summon through a Tarot Card, they would be confused as how you summoned the card above your hand. Minato knows the card is, since they appear in his head time from time. Because of the Social Links, he can tell what card you had in your hand.

Kirijo stopped the battle when she notices that you didn't summon your Persona with an Evoker. She tells the group that summoning through a Mask/Card will be near impossible, because it will be difficult to make them function to summon a Persona just from Crushing/Ripping them.

The revelation was short-lived when the boss interrupted the conversation.

You fight alongside the S.E.E.S after that.

You talked about your old members to Arisato. Sometimes talked about your struggles in your adventures, either personal or the fighting.

All of Them

The year got closer to end. You were alone with Akira/Yu/Minato having small talk. You tap their shoulder, and you got close to their ear, "Someone might die in this journey...and a god might be behind all this. Be careful." They looked at you, to see a serious look in your eyes. A look of someone who seen a tragedy... Before they ask about what you are talking about, someone calls you over. You give them a pat on the back before walking over to the person that called you over. They are left to ponder on what you said.