#p3 timeloop au

[nero-vanderwolf]

Mitsuru stands on the rooftop, cold wind whipping her hair away from her face. It’s always peaceful up here- whenever she has free time outside of studying or fencing, she comes up here. Just for a few moments. Up here, she can let go of her responsibilities. Just for a moment. 

For just a moment, she isn’t a member of S.E.E.S. For a moment, she isn’t the heiress to the Kirijo Group. For a moment, she isn’t Kirijo-senpai. 

For a moment, she’s just Mitsuru, an eighteen year old who had lost track of time and her thoughts. For a moment, she’s just another face in a sea of strangers, simply going about her daily life in the face of all her anxieties. For a moment, she’s content to simply be... someone. No one important. Just another face. 

But then Yuki comes up to the rooftop, his footsteps hurried, and all the weight of the world comes crashing back onto her shoulders. She starts towards him, intending to ask him why he’s up so late and fully expecting him to return the question. 

She doesn’t expect the fall. 

It feels as though her soul has been yanked out of her body. Someone is screaming with her voice, someone’s pulling her away from the edge, someone else is puppeteering her legs for her as she flies down the many flights of stairs two at a time to the ground, punching numbers into her phone with trembling hands as she bolts out of the door to the back. 

Akihiko ended up at her side at some point in the run, taking his phone from her to talk to the emergency services while she skids on her knees beside Yuki- never mind the blood that blossoms to the surface of her skin as she does. 

He’s sprawled on his side in the grass, quivering like a wounded animal. His hair looks damp and matted, and she barely bites back a retch at the idea of what it could be. Still, she gently runs her fingers through his hair as she shifts his head into her lap. He’s bleeding all over her uniform. She doesn’t care. 

He curls up into himself, his eyelids fluttering. “Mitsuru-senpai...” He whispers. His voice is weak, tremulous. He turns his head to look up at her- his cold eyes shiny with tears. This is the first time she’s seen him scared, seen him crying. Mitsuru knows he’s just two years younger than her, but he looks so much like a terrified child, hands stained with the blood of an innocent woman he didn’t mean to kill- 

A scared child. That’s what they all are, in the end, isn’t it? They’re all just scared children. 

“Mitsuru-senpai,” Makoto Yuki whispers again, “am I going to die?” 

Mitsuru lifts his body so she’s hugging him close, and presses a kiss to his blood-damp hair. Like she used to do when Akihiko woke up from a nightmare about his sister, or when Shinjiro was having a particular rough day. She hugs him close and kisses his hair, and a single sob escapes her lips. 

Makoto takes her lack of response with all the solemnity of a man at the gallows. He is. 

“I didn’t want you to see... I’m sorry,” he mumbles, and she grips the cloth of his pyjamas as though it could keep him anchored to this life. As though that alone could save him. He’s dying, and his last words are an apology. 

“You don’t need to apologise. You have nothing to be sorry for,” she whispers. She has reason to apologise, to beg forgiveness. She should have tried to be there more, should have asked if he wanted to share the responsibility of being leader, if he even wanted to join S.E.E.S in the first place- 

“I’m tired, Misturu-senpai...” Makoto mumbles, and she cups his cheek with her hand. He looks peaceful, despite everything. She wipes the earth and blood from his face as best she can. He smiles at the effort, and she knows she would do anything to have seen that smile in a different light, in a better situation. 

“Go to sleep, then. We’ll be here when you wake up,” she chokes out, as though she’s speaking to a sleepy child who doesn’t want to miss something with the adults. He nods, resting against her shoulder. 

Mitsuru spends an hour sobbing over his body. 

She jolts awake in the middle of the night, hands grasping for a boy that isn’t there. Her pillow and face are wet with tears, and she covers her mouth with her hands to stifle a sob. She would swear she could still smell the dirt and blood, still feel the tackiness of his hair as she combed her fingers through it. She could still hear laboured breathing, still feel the weight of a head against her shoulder. 

She spends the rest of the night grieving a still-living boy. 

PUNCHING THE WALLS OF MY ENCLOSURE??? this might be my favorite one yet holy moly. love the disorientation, like mitsuru couldnt even control herself, it was just instinct after he jumped. just pure adrenaline. fear. and ohgghh the way she comforts him... like how she would comfort akihiko. THE KISS?? THE HUG?? COMFORTING HIM LIKE A TIRED KID?? GUHHH... and they're just kids. they're kids and they have to go through this shit.

and of course the loop at the end. fuuuckkk...

[dreamingkatfish]

Am drunk enough to ramble about idea. So, I love timeloops and more specifically I love NG+ timeloops. Persona 3, NG+ timeloop. It's occurring b/c the Abyss of Time and just running on idea that Yukari and Mitsuru keep winning the fight to go back in time.

Except, no one but Minato remembers, mostly b/c he'd be fucked over by the whole not knowing why time is looping thing.

And I want a fix-it (it's just what I do) and more specifically I want more unethical science experiments to be the solution. (It's just not something that's done often from what I could glean and I think it'd be an interesting way of going about trying to do a Everyone Lives scenario for P3.) That's the jist of it, under read-more will be current thoughts.

It begins with Minato being, rightfully, confused. With it having him slowly try to work through figuring out why the loop is occurring. Eventually remembering how the whole goal of the initial experiments by the Kirjio Group was time manipulation, he goes to find the old research.

With a lot of looking he learns about the abyss, but still doesn't know how to stop it. Only thing he manages on his own is figuring out how to get other people to remember. I'm thinking there should be limits like has to be able to be aware during the Dark Hour ofc, but also a very mean one of: cannot have been present when time goes back. Meaning only two people he can get to help is Ryoji and Shinjiro. Also means, still no one knows why exactly time is looping. However, with Ryoji present, Minato can get the confirmation that it isn't b/c he fucked making The Seal somehow.

So, progress.

I think it'd be Shinjiro who'd suggest trying something else to stop Nyx. Like yeah, okay, The Seal isn't fucked up. But clearly it's caused some other problem, so maybe try something else. Except what to do instead? Because all they really have is information about experiments with shadows to work with. So unless they want to try fighting fire with fire, it's not very helpful.

They try fighting fire with fire. OR well, actually consider it. Problem is none of them are scientists who spent a large amount of time researching shadows, so now they got learn the science behind that. (This au is all in the name of seeing these three interacting. I hadn't originally intended it to be a ship-focused au, but here we are. (What would be the ship name for these three anyway? Guess I'm gonna invent one for the tags later, lmao.)) (Their time together in the timeloop creates an unshakable trust that the others are their ride or dies. It's the mad science which is where the inherent homoeroticism comes from.)

They ofc know there's no killing Nyx permanently, so what are the options? Idea, balancing it out with life. Life and death are meant to exist in cycles, but by having only Nyx and Erebus for death and no one for life, the balance is thrown off and the cycle grinds to a halt. Mind you, Nyx and Erebus are the personifications of night and darkness respectively in Greek mythology. In it they have counterparts for the day and (well kind of but not fully) light in Hemera and Aether. So, why not simply counteract them.

It's not the most reasonable solution ever. However, I think it's an interesting one to consider. Made more tense by the time crunch they'd be under to get that done before needing to just do The Seal anyway in order to ensure the loop continues so that they would have another chance at it.

I have some dubious considerations for how involved with the unethical science the rest of SEES will be. B/c on one hand, Dead Boys Club. On the other, that's gonna be a fuck ton of work for them to do. There's zero shot no one notices that they're doing things. So very much, hmmmmmmm for the role the rest of SEES will play. (Tbh rest of the entire game's cast really.)

But yes, NG+ timeloop au, now with 86% unethical science.

Sober edits to expand upon details added. Primarily after this point (Though one joke addition in brackets above.)

Re:Shinjiro never sticking around long enough to learn about the rest of SEES getting stuck in the Abyss of Time. There's just no world where he doesn't agree to Ken's request and tries to save him. Sure he could try to talk to Ken before that, but this is Shinjiro and man has guilt carved into his bones that the timeloop starting from after Ken's mother's death isn't helping.

But also that requires him knowing what the fuck to say in that situation while he's not dying. And I don't think he'd know. I think part of what gave his words so much meaning before was that he had the action of him protecting Ken to back it up. But without that, he would look like he's all talk. Which wouldn't help either one of them in trying to move on from what happened.

Additionally, even if it did work out he'd just forget that loop entirely bc the cant remember if present when the decision to go back was made. So, him living would not help matters and he'd only become more inclined to let himself die so that he would be able to remember all of the loops and not start forgetting the progress they made. (The alternative I just briefly considered is him forgetting everything but it made me sad, so it's only him forgetting the loop if he makes it to the abyss of time in the end.)

Also the more I think about a ship with the 3 of them, the more insane I get. The 3 people who (want to) die for the sake of others. The way it would bring only them any degree of peace but emotionally devastates everyone else who cares for them. But also then, 3 boys who were happy to give their lives for others now having to learn how to live and look towards a future they never thought they'd get to see, let alone have.

But also how in all versions of the game, in the male route these 3 are the ones who no matter what choices you make, you can never save. (I know there's also Akinari but his situation is one where there is no universe where any choice could be made to save him. Only advancements in medical science would. Meanwhile, the other 3 could technically be saved, but only really by basically abandoning the story playing out and acting as an outside party to it. Or by being someone other than themselves. And i mean you can see it happen in canon even with the femc route. So, while I love him, his death is an outlier among these 3 even if he also is someone who can't be saved in canon.)

And all I can think about is the post about love in tragedies and how it doesn't save anyone, but it was still there and that matters. It was still important even if it never helped. Which I think does a good job at like emphasizing the messages of the game. And I really love relationships that end up embodying the work they're from. (Also means interestingly I don't care as much for Shinjiro and the femc's relationship bc in that case love does succeed. Which while nice isn't quite as thematically satisfying even though it is narratively satisfying.)

[lolo3hwriting]

Persona 3/4/5 Fic Recommendations

A list of persona fics from ao3 that I particularly like and highly recommend to others. Not in any particular order

Daredevil, You’ve Hit A Wall - P5 Strikers where Sumire and Akechi appear in the story. One of my favorites, mostly focuses on Joker but has perspectives from all of the phantom thieves and lots of introspection. Also has a sequel for P5 Tactica

By @/ez-cookie on tumblr

Pleasant Boy - P5 Royal where Akechi gets taken by Maruki and turns into the polite detective prince, with the phantom thieves trying to revert him.

By @/ez-cookie on tumblr

The Definition of Insanity - P3 Timeloop where P3 Protag is stuck in a timeloop with Ryoji. One day, Kotonoe shows up and throws everything off

By @/BkZa555 on twitter

Double the Hope - P5 and P4 crossover where Yu helps Akria by erasing his criminal record and they take down the conspiracy together 

By Novirp13 on ao3

Is That Really How the World Should Be? - P5 and P4 crossover, Ren took Yaldaboath’s deal and the Investigation Team/Shadow Operatives comes together to figure out what’s going on

By Aurelius_Carlan on ao3

I’m Sitting Right Behind You (And Definitely Not Peeking) - A P4 and P5 crossover chatfic/regular fic where Rise is Joker’s classmate and watches the events of the P5 game unfold, with a few twists

By @/prettypinklass on tumblr

Someone Else’s Soul - Joker summons DLC personas and speaks with their original owners in his dreams. Sweet and hilarious at the same time

By @/prettypinklass on tumblr

Marigolds - P5 Akechi gets sent back in time to get another chance at life after dying in the boiler room. Has his own fool’s journey complete with new social links and palaces. A very long fic, but all of it is very good

By Colbub on ao3

Leave Out All The Rest - Part of a NG+ protagonist au where the P3/4/5 protags go back in time. In this instance, Ren is genderfluid and adopts Akechi and tries to be a good parent. Also part of a whumptober 2020 collection that is also pretty good

By Missingwings on ao3

Life, Death, and the Events Between - Collection of fics from Ryomina week 2023. I particularly like Days 3/5, themed around a flower gifts leading up to a date and a school drama play respectively

By Missingwings on ao3

Can Shadows Find Love in the TV World? - P4 Shadow Kanji and Yu have a sweet conversation with each other. Author also has several other fics about the shadows interacting with each other 

By Unknown_Art on ao3

[nero-vanderwolf]

Junpei Iori is sixteen when he meets Makoto. 

Almost immediately after, weird shit starts happening. People turn into coffins around him, the moon turns green, and blood splatters from an unknown source at his feet. It gets all over his shoes and pants. It’s no wonder Sanada-senpai found him crying in the convenience store like a wimp. He would never admit it, but he kind of is. 

A bright side to the weird shit is the fact that he moved into the dorm the others all lived in- and that he can fight the weird blob creatures that they call Shadows. 

A downside is that Makoto is the leader. Always. The leader. 

It sucks, sure, but Junpei knows better than to try and fuck off on his own in the tower. Who knows what could be waiting for him there? Shadows and monsters galore, probably. 

Yeah. Better safe than sorry. Even if safe is a really crappy situation. 

Junpei wants to hate Makoto. He really, truly, sincerely does. He wishes he could punch the stupid blank expression off of that bastard’s face, wishes he could toss him around just to see him show any sort of emotion. 

He realises he can’t hate him when he hears glass shattering, and his first instinct is to check on him. 

Makoto stands in his room, staring at the broken mirror on the floor. Maybe it’s just the dim light of the moon outside, but the guy looks pale. Like, unnervingly pale. He isn’t normally white as a damn sheet. Is he? 

Makoto’s eyes dart up to Junpei’s, and he swallows visibly. Gesturing weakly towards the mess, he struggles for words for a minute. He doesn’t normally struggle with speaking. He just doesn’t do it. 

“I’ll be right back,” he mumbles, and staggers past Junpei like he’s drunk. It’s concerning, to say the least. 

So Junpei makes the decision to follow him. Just to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself, he thinks. Just to make sure everything is hunky dorey in Makoto-land. 

Everything is not fine. Nothing is fine, it’s all gone to shit, he can barely breathe- 

He watched Makoto fucking fall off the goddamn roof and he did nothing. He could have gone after him, could have offered to help clean up the glass, could have- 

Kirijo-senpai grips his arm like a vice, her shiny nails digging into his skin. It hurts like a bitch, but it’s nothing compared to whatever Makoto must be feeling right now. If he can feel anything at all anymore. 

Junpei is going to be sick. He’s going to be sick and he feels like he’s going to die because he can’t fucking breathe- 

Distantly, he can hear the others rushing up to the roof to check out the commotion. He doesn’t care. He just watched a friend fall to his death. 

And goddammit, that’s what Makoto was. Forget the fucking Dark Hour, forget the fucking shadows. Makoto was a friend, and Junpei’s last real interaction with him was him being an ass. 

He doesn’t know if he’ll ever forgive himself for this. He doesn’t think he can. 

He sinks to his knees on the cold concrete, staring at his hands. His vision is fading. He’s definitely blacking out. 

The last thing he thinks is how maybe, if he wishes hard enough, Makoto will be brought back. 

Then it all fades to darkness, and Junpei Iori is lost to the nothingness of a loop’s end. 

Junpei jerks awake, safe and warm in his bed. The sun is shining outside, and the birds are singing. A glance at his calendar tells him it’s summer break, and a glance at his hands tells him it was nothing but a nightmare. 

And yet, somehow, it felt horrifically real. Like he could actually feel the concrete under his knees, like he could actually smell and feel Makoto brushing past him on his way to the roof. Like Makoto really had fallen- 

He stands up, hurrying to get dressed. There’s no point in dwelling on weird dreams, he knows this. He’s had them before- odd senses of deja vú, like he’s seen or felt something before, like he’s had the same conversation time and time again. 

But that’s all it is. A bad case of deja vú. 

Nothing more. Nothing less. 

OHHH AAHGGHH NOT JUNPEI!!! AAAAAAA hes getting trapped in the timeloop too AHHH also this loop was seemingly very early unless im reading wrong. and quick. i feel like makoto is just losing it. hes just growing more hopeless every loop and resetting more often. :( guhh why cant they have a break..