#p5s timeloop au

[senblades]

Hi :)

I love your art and your writing, and you have such a great grasp of these characters that I was wondering if you have any fic recs? Rating doesn't matter ;)

boy do I! (and ty for the compliment <3 <3 <3)

[cracks knuckles] alrighty:

The Dissapearence of Goro Akechi by Kupowonders - Probably my favourite fic ever, honestly- it's like. derailing the plot of persona 5 post-medjed thanks to the persona 4 accomplice ending years prior. (So, spoilers for p4 in that, too) it's. very good.

Marigolds by Colbub - Akechi gets ng+'ed to right when he started working for Shido, and has to take a good look at the future to come and be like "Aight how the fuck do I fix this". Fun times!

Daredevil, You've hit the wall by ez_cookie. Essentially, p5 Strikers but Sumire and Goro get to be in on the fun, too. And, there's a direct sequel currently being updated that's a similar premise for p5 Tactica. very very good stuff

A Tale of Two Tricksters by Zoe2k8 - Murder boyfriends! ...sort of? Angst! Angst and murder boyfriends! An oversimplification, obviously, but I'm not kidding when I say this fic is amazing and is also over a million words holy shit-

Throw away your mask by MollyPollyKinz - Another ng+ situation for Akechi, but this time the poor guy gets thrown all the way to 2009. You can imagine how well that goes (For the audience, less so for Akechi himself.)

The Crow Cries at Midnight by Dorked. hehe this one is very fun. Basically, a series of coincedencs causes Akechi to get thrown into the plot of persona 4. No time travel here! Just a grumpy 12/13 year-old Akechi trying to solve a murder mystery

The entire Tales of Chaos series by Eternalmomentss (The first one is called Like sand between your fingers) Very very good stuff! Something of a character study, I would say, of Ren and Goro. Plus, all the funky plot stuff that comes from trickster-typical bad luck and poor descision making. I really love this series hehe

uhh this post is getting very long I need to make this less wordy- lightning round?

Hunger for a life by Leonawriter - do you like vampires? I sure do! Mix that and the p5 plot and you get shenanigins. [evil laughter] a lot of shenanigins

Fishbowl by KivaEmber - Akechi has a terrible time in Maruki's reality. And I mean a terrible time

You have a beautiful smile underneath that mask by Saposaki - Akechi has a crush on Akira and Joker has a crush on Crow. No one is aware of the other's secret identity. Dramatic irony and hilarity ensues.

MASTERMiND by StumblingBlock - No Metaverse au where Akira really doesn't want to follow in the footsteps of his crime family, and fails miserably

Rose and Rot by SixteenJuniper - Read this!! I'm serious!! "A fun fantasy adventure" don't listen to Juniper. You'll be in tears by chapter two. (/pos, of course) (Seriously this fic is incredible)

Redressing the Balance by Convocated - ...almost a ng+? Ng+, in the sense that shuake are getting funky visions that are very quickly derailing the standard plot of p5r. This causes problems of the "Someone get the popcorn and maybe the tissues" variety

She's got a heartbeat full of lead (And she's aiming straight for the head) by Dots - This fic haunts me, often. In the best way possible, of course; but seriously, read it

Cracked into by SydneyHorses - Ren makes bad descisions and it becomes Akechi's problem. 2/2 timeloop, perhaps most notably featuring HaruGoro friendship! Love love love this fic

Okay that wasn't as "less wordy" as I intended but it'll do

Aaaand that's a wrap! Sorry for the long post.. and this is by no means all of the fics that I've ever loved (nor are the ones here in any particular order) but I swear we'll be here all week if I keep going HAHA

ty for the ask (and again for the kind words), anon! Hope this was helpful and to your tastes! (I... hope you like Shuake HAHA it's present in most of these- I assume you do, since you came to me (points at literally everything shuake I've made) of all people, but uh. Some of these fics are gen if it's not to your liking?)

[akechi-stole-my-heart]

my favorite persona 5 fics

a while ago i made a post that listed all the fics i'd read over the course of my first year in the persona 5 fandom that i enjoyed. i've been thinking about making a post of all the fics i've read since then, but i actually decided to do something different this time. if you want a complete list of every fic i've read and enjoyed, check out my bookmarks on ao3. this, on the other hand, is a list of only my absolute favorite fics. i will continue to update it as i read more fics that i love.

these are the fics that occupy my thoughts to this very day and changed my perception of these characters. that made me cry and laugh and changed me forever. in no particular order, without further ado, these are my favorite p5 fics of all time.

Daredevil, You've Hit the Wall

A Persona 5 Strikers rewrite with Sumire and Akechi. Cookie is a phenomenal writer, and she'll be showing up on this list at a later point. Her characterization of both Akira and Akechi are absolutely godly, and their arcs in this fic are incredibly satisfying for someone who loved Strikers but was left disappointed by the lack of Akechi.

Read this if you like Akira angst, want to see Akechi improve himself and befriend the Thieves (and all the complications that come with that), like Strikers (or don't like Strikers), or love akeshu. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Love is a game (and I only play to lose)

The worst possible outcome to the Interrogation Room. This one is Dark, but the akeshu is absolutely phenomenal. Definitely heed the tags, this one isn't for everyone, but I was hooked from beginning to end. While I don't normally read Hurt No Comfort, I am very glad I gave this one a chance.

watching all the stars burn out

Are you in need of some incredible Royal Trio polycule fluff and angst? Would you like to read some of the most in-character fic I've ever read? Are you in need of a good cry today? Well, then have I got a fic for you!

This is a beautiful, heartwrenching, very sweet Royal Trio polycule fic that takes place during the final week of January when Akechi tells Sumi and Akira about his impeding demise early. It's so good. I cried. You will too. And if you're scared, I promise there is so much fluff here too. My babies,,,

Interminable Ballistics

Time loop of the interrogation room scene. Akira and Akechi are Not Okay. This fic makes me go hnnngh it's so well written the prose is beautiful and everyone is so in character it hurts. I love my bois please someone get them therapy.

goro akechi's waxed asshole

Ehehehe yeah well. This one is nsfw, but it doesn't actually have a whole lot of sex. It's more of a character study than anything, and despite the title and crack concept, is actually really beautiful and sweet? If the title doesn't scare you off please check it out I promise it is incredibly good.

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

AKESHU PIRATE AU!! Goro is a prisoner at a lighthouse and Akira is a pirate. The ways the author plays with their backstories in this AU is fascinating. I'm obsessed with this version of Akira and Goro and I really really wish a sequel existed that explored Sumire because my god-

If you like AUs, pirates, angst, and themes about self loathing and redemption, then check this one out. I think about it constantly.

Flight through fall

Okay....this one is probably the heaviest of all the fics on this list. Severe trigger warning for suicide, self harm, and medical stuff. It's...a lot. But it is also very very good. Akira is Not Doing Well after the events of Royal, and Akechi showing up in his life only makes things worse. This fic is not for everyone, but I personally found it very cathartic and poetic, to the point where I read it two times in a row.

Once More, With Feeling

Another akeshu timeloop, but this time, it's the day of the engine room scene. (I really like timeloop stories.) And then halfway through it also becomes a Palace fic (I won't say whose for the sake of spoilers). I love the characterization of Akechi and Akira here. The way they both handle the time loop is so very Them. It explores ideas of redemption, guilt, and finding a way to move on. I love this Akira so much please someone give him a hug <3

Falling Up

This is one of the only short one shots that have made such an impression on me to make it to this list. Akira and Akechi in the third semester. Akechi has...Feelings about having killed Akira. I don't want to say too much else for fear of giving too much away. Please read this. It's short and powerful and beautiful.

why don't we spin the wheel

Sae Niijima has a cognition of Akechi, and he's really fucked up. Please make sure to heed the warnings, this one's pretty violent. The exploration of Akechi is phenomenal and I think about the ending (and the rest of it) all of the time constantly.

When it's over, you're the start

Everyone starts to forget Akechi ever existed. This longer one shot made me fucking cry. It's so mean, incredibly mean, but don't worry, it has a happy ending. Nothing can erase the power of akeshu.

Please Don't Take My Sunshine Away

A what-if Mamakechi didn't die, but instead was kidnapped by Shido and her suicide faked? The characterization for Misato (Mamakechi) is sooo good, and while this fic does travel some dark places, it ultimately does result in some heartwrenching comfort for both Goro and his mama. I love this fic so fucking much, Misato is such a fantastic interpretation of Goro's mother and the the angst is sublime.

the first step to find your way is to mark where you have been

The best Akechi Palace fic I've read by a landslide, to the point where it's inspired my own Akechi Palace fic quite a bit. I had my kink awakening thanks to this fic (while reading That Scene in the middle seat on an airplane. Sorry, strangers). It's mostly an Akechi character study and an incredibly good one at that. I wish it existed as a game. It did what p5t did with Toshiro with Akechi and it did it so incredibly well. This fic makes me insane. Read it.

Fools Rush In

Akira speedruns Akechi's confidant in a day. This is one of the first fics I ever read, and when I did, I went "this is it. this is Them." The characterization is *chef's kiss.* I'm running out of new ways to compliment incredible writing help-

Pleasant Boy

This fic should be required reading for all Goroboys. No one is allowed to have an opinion on him (especially in third sem) before reading this fic. Akechi is actualized by Maruki in third sem, and Akira hates it. I love this fic so much. It heavily inspired code violet and changed the way I look at and think about Goro forever and ever I love it so much read it read it read it

it takes a village

Or, as I like to call it, The Akechi Fic. I legit had a major hyperfixation on this fic to the point where I read it three times in a row. It's more or less a NG+ where everyone remembers except Akechi. It is quite literally everything you could ever want from an Akechi redemption fic. After reading this I wondered if I ever needed to read another fic about him in my life because everything I ever wanted had already been delivered. There are so many moments in this masterpiece that make me go completely insane. This is my favorite fic of all time. Read it. Read it read it read it Please

[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

[lavendorii]

one thing I think p5 timeloop aus miss is the fact that Akira's obsessive replaying to try and save someone is not exclusive to akechi. I'm not gonna pretend like shuake isn't an appealing part but I feel like I need to clarify that I think akira would be voluntarily destroying himself if it was any of his friends or confidants. It doesn't sound like a big deal but the intense need to save everyone and then subsequent guilt when he fails is an incredibly important and interesting part of his character (ie. the way he reacted when he was keeping maruki from falling, even after everything). he's just a lover and can't bear to lose anyone which welcomes in a myriad of other questions as to why

[argentsunshine]

For the writer asks game: 4, 11 and 30!

4. a story idea you haven’t written yet

maybe i will make it some day but i keep having ideas for an akechis palace au but if i were to make it id probably make it a fangame rather than a fic

11. a WIP you’d like to finish someday

of my unpublished stuff literally my first p5 fic was an 11/20 timeloop that me and my friend have been occasionally chipping away at

30. share a fic you’re especially proud of

hm i already said a shorter fic so i'll say my fantasy au when the heart would cease, i think it has the strongest opening of any of my fics even if it's not as strong the whole way through

[voltdracoatl]

Thoughts on NG+ AUs?

Basically a story concept where writers take the in game concept of New Game Plus and turn it into a Timeloop story, usually with the player character as the main character (and sometimes they do something a little unique)

I especially like reading NG+ stories for P5 and FE3H

New game plus aus are fun to think about! Especially in a game like say, three houses where you can get multiple routes!

Hmmm, i like to think any remake/remaster is a new game plus, as well as spin offs! So lets say three houses had a bunch of time loops for byleth, azure moon, silver snow, crimson flower, verdant wind, about a hundred times by now. But the one time, it’s different. In this one timeline, they didn’t kill this rando purple haired mercenary in their one of their many mercenary jobs. And what happened? Shez got to the three lords before them, and Byleth never became a teacher. Byleth, completely and utterly confused that such a small thing they didn’t do evolved into something bigger.

Monastery shut down, Slithers were out of Edelgard’s empire, Dimitri became king early, Claude deals with Almyra directly, there was 2 years of peace, and this purple haired person is now starting to make a name for themselves, Byleth keeps their mercenary job and their dad and Sothis around for much longer, its so… weird. And at the end of Shez’s journey, Edelgard and Dimitri are… alive, they don’t die unlike what Byleth went through. And Claude, well he sometimes die, he’s much more involved with Fodlan’s war than before. When Byleth finds out that Dimitri, Edelgard, and Claude CAN in fact, work together, even briefly, it makes them feel a bit… empty.

It like, was Byleth’s involvement the reason why the three lords could never work together? Were they the one holding them back? Would it have been better if they weren’t in the story at all?

And then three hopes happen.

On the other side, i like to think p5r is a new game plus for the og p5! In p5, Sumire died in the car crash instead, hence Maruki never got to see how far his experiment can go, and due to Akechi not being acquainted with the Yoshizawa’s due to Sumire dying instead if Kasumi, he never got THEIR phone number (remember he called the Yoshizawa household in 3rd semester to check on Sumire) and because he never got the phone number, he is reluctant to give out his phone number (or maybe due to thinking that their is no point giving out phone numbers if people are going to die).

So, he NEVER gave Joker his phone number in og p5, and Joker and Akechi’s bond doesn’t grow as strong as it could than p5r. And 3rd semester never happens because there is no reason for Maruki to go into Shujin (because Sumire died, so he can’t check on her).

Basically, p5 story got done, then there is a time loop to go back, and the only thing that changed is Sumire is alive this time. Hence, p5r!

I do think they are interesting but i love to see the butterfly effect in canon when the games can afford a spinoff or remake, because this time we can see what actually happens when something is different from the company. And you can always spin it to a new game plus au when you experience it!

[caramellody]

3am P5 strikers timeloop au time baybey: [Natrually MAJOR p5s spoilers]

- So everyone who's in the PT remembers everything. it takes some of them a while but they all remember

- sophia also remembers (and even gets pandora from the getgo) once they release her from the box again

-the gang (now with Zenkichi) basically speedrun through the palaces

-Notably, the gang realizes that Zenkichi never left with them. to whuch they realize that its the night they first meet him

-Push comes to shove, one haru says acab later and gang suddenly realized that

1. Zenkichi doesnt remember them (even thoguh he was WITH them in the jails) and

2. Zenkichi (at least one that does remember everything is now living in Ryuji's phone)

-turns out that everyone with a persona remembers what's happend. which would technically include Zen if it wasnt for the fact that he doesn't get his persona until Kyoto.

-so now there are actually two halves of him that are co-existing: one that doesnt remember the loop and is blissfully unaware of the impening future, and one who did come from the prior loop but lacks a proper body to travel to the real world to since his real body lacks the will power to posses a persona and thus has to resort to being in ryuji's phone praying to any god that ryuji doesnt drop his phone again

[unfunny-quips]

Was thinking about your shuffled deck AU.

1- How does Akira meet Boss

2- What exactly do the PTs led by Makoto do? Since Yaldy messed with their memories what bad things did they do.

3- what happened to Shiho.

4- Do the PTs led by Makato get along with the pure Jose.

5- what did the PTs led by Goro do?

6- what led to Goro getting the balls to smooch Akira?

Yay, an ask about one of my AUs!! ❤️😄❤️

1 - They actually meet because of Goro. He meets Akira on his first day in Tokyo, and out of habit brings Akira with him to LeBlanc. Akira and Sojiro hit it off and become crossword/coffee buddies from there. 

Eventually Boss hires Akira as a barista when he realizes that Akira is running around Tokyo trying to get any and every job he can. (and also ends up taking over as Akira’s guardian after he finds out that Akira listed Sojiro as his emergency contact at school thanks to Akira getting sick and Sojiro finding out about his living situation.

2 - At first they’d largely try to just do what they did the first time, going after the same Palaces in the same order, though they’d be a confused since their memories have gaps in them (from all of Yaldy’s interference). As the year progresses though things change more and more and they end up focusing on trying hunt down/stop Akira & Goro (who they think are their main enemies).

3. Shiho! So in this story Akira interferes with Komashida trying to target Shiho and ends up getting pretty badly beaten up for his trouble. Shiho helps him, thankful for his help, and she ends up meeting Goro in the process. 

I haven’t figured out exactly how it’s going to work out yet, but all 3 end up in Komashida’s palace (while the PTs aren’t there). Shiho, when faced with Komashida’s Shadow, ends up Awakening her Persona (I’m feeling Medusa for her, though might go with Boudicca as her first Persona and Medusa as her second tier Persona). Goro explains what’s going on, and Shiho asks them to let her help steal his Treasure and trigger his change of heart. 

Goro & Akira agree and they end up stealing Komashida’s Treasure the day before the PTs plan to do it (PTs still get the credit since they were more public with their calling card, but Shiho is the one that gets the finishing blow on Komashida).

From there Shiho is all in on the stealing hearts train, learning from Goro about the the PTs (including Ann) and how they’re at risk with Yaldy looming. She becomes second in command of the New Crew to Akira & Goro.

4 - The PTs actually don’t run in to Jose in this run because Lavenza & Igor - having trouble maintaining the real Velvet Room with all of Yaldy’s interference, have set him up with a little pocket of the Velvet Room. 

In this AU Jose was originally meant to be Goro’s Velvet Room attendant but Yaldy did his Yaldy thing when he chose Goro as his champion in the original run and removed Jose’s memories. Jose doesn’t have his memories back entirely for most of this AU, but he slowly regains them as the year goes on. He serves as Goro’s Velvet Room attendant in the little pocket VR, helping him fuse personas and being a go between for Goro and Igor.

5 - They largely take on any and every Palace they can, being as careful as possible to not be found out and to be sure that they aren’t being setup by Yaldy. This results in a bit of “kill stealing” with Palaces that the PTs are after, but this is usually for Palaces that - if handled by the PTs - would benefit Yaldy in some way.

They’re a lot more sneaky and subtle about their thieving than the PTs are, making their calling cards viewed only by their target/destroying them after the target has seen them to obscure their trail. The downside of this of course is that the PTs are highly suspicious about all these Palaces who are “handled” before they get the chance to steal the Treasures.

6 - Partially it’s the fact that he did die in the Engine Room in the first run and he’s determined to take this second chance he has and run with it. 

Mostly though it’s the fact that he and Shiho are friends in this AU and that she’s been the world’s best wing man for him haha She uses every opportunity available to both make it clear that Akira feels the same for Goro and also - when necessary - calling Goro out for being a chicken shit when he lets moments slide. 

Shiho may or may not have figured out she can get Goro to do things by challenging him that he can’t do them. He knows what she’s doing too and still can’t stop himself from being baited.

He got the guts to kiss Akira because Shiho spent the entire trip at the ice rink goading him into actually showing affection for Akira and then getting fully swept up into the moment.

[danidoesathing]

I accidentally made a kinda sad p5 au and im subjecting you all to it whether you like it or not

alright so I was thinking about how certain persona’s have certain abilities right? Like Azathoth’s subtle reality altering or Loki’s fabrications. So I had an idea, what if the protag could do the same thing. 

What if he basically could reset the entire year, starting right at the beginning with all his memories intact? He’s confused at first, cause first off, what the fuck? Sure there’s a lot of impossible things in his life but what the fuck? But he gets an idea. What if he can change things, do everything better this time? (Like new game+ but he can now alter the story)

So he tries. He does everything again, but a bit better this time. He’s a bit quicker, a bit smarter, a bit kinder. He learns what to say and when, how to gain people’s trust much quicker. No one really noticed, cause why would they? They didn’t know him, maybe that’s just how he was. Maybe he was just that good both in combat and with people. They weren’t complaining 

His first goal is to try to save Akechi. He knows he can save him this time, if he just convince him to listen. If he just says the right things, truly earn his trust, then maybe he can do it. But he fails. He has to watch Akechi die all over again, unable to do anything.

So he tries again. And again. And again.

He probably gets there, eventually. After a lot of trial and error, he’s able to save Akechi from his fate, whether through the discovery palace or some insane kind of luck. 

But of course that doesn’t really last long. Maybe he wants to help Maruki this time, or stop Okumura’s murder, or some other thing that went wrong over the year. So he tries again. He keeps telling himself, if he just do better this time, if he can just be better, maybe he can do it right this time. He has this power, right? If he cant use it to help people than what good is it.

I’m not sure what happens next yet. Maybe he gets the timeline perfect and can finally relax for the first time in a long time. Maybe he doesn’t. Maybe he becomes like Yabaloth over time, attempting to have control over others’ fate. Maybe he develops a palace, his own desire to help people becoming twisted like Maruki. His inability to tell anyone what hes really doing through and feeling of emotional isolation from teammates combining with his new found hero complex. Maybe he starts to feel the strain of using his extending abilities over and over, and it slowly begins to take its toll on him after traveling through so many different timelines.

Who knows

[thieves-in-the-palace]

one big factor of the reincarnation au is the lack of communication between minato/yu/akira and his teams. telling his current team that he'll reincarnate into a different person would sound crazy, but they would believe him eventually. not telling causes issues. like if Yu dropped dead between p4 and p5 for the reincarnation and they grieve because they didn't know and get pissed when they find out.

Yu: “I could tell them that I’m going to die and reincarnate”

Yu: “…or I could keep that to myself so as to not put unnecessary stress on them and also to avoid spurring them into an ultimately fruitless endeavor to keep me alive :)))”

But yeah, as understandable as it is for Minato/Yu/Akira to not mention the whole reincarnation thing (esp. in a setting where NG+ timeloops apply), his past teammates are definitely varying levels of ticked off at him for not telling them. His CURRENT teammates are also kinda upset at not being told, too, though they’re more likely to set it aside in favor of figuring out how to keep their leader from dying again. (Cue some odd and frankly wild schemes to do so, especially when his former teammates join in on the planning.)

[caramellody]

P5 Strikers Time loop au my beloved

aka, Ryuji and Ren now have matching sentient beings living in their phones