iridescentfrontiers | Persona AU meme

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meme

Persona AU meme

Personas are manifestations of the soul, a mask worn by the wielder to face life and its hardships. Those with the ability to summon their persona are able to do battle against shadows, which embody the negative aspects of the heart. Shadows, much like personas, can take countless forms based on the person themselves. Despite the distinctions, both are derived from people, typically with shadows representing the part of yourself you deny and personas the parts you accept.

Both come from you. How you deal with both is entirely up to you.

NOW THAT WE GOT THE FLUFF OUT OF THE WAY, it's a generic persona AU meme. Borrow elements from the games, make up your own shit, it's your life; shape it to what you want it to be. The games generally mix slice of life with RPG shenanigans and both allow your characters to draw strength from their personas, from their true selves. Have fun with that.

A better summary of personas
Arcana alignments since every persona has one. Your call if you wanna bother with these.

How much you wanna AU your characters is up to you! Literally canon but with personas, suddenly high school setting with magical spirit monsters, whatever as long as you're having fun! Find your characters' arcana, make or borrow personas

SOME PROMPTS I GUESS:

1. Awakening: Sometimes, people gain the ability to summon personas after a crucial moment of intense emotion. A desire to protect, a yearning for revenge, maybe even the will to live. What's just as important as what brought on your awakening is who's around for it and who's about to get their asses kicked?

2. Shadow self: Those who have difficulty accepting who they are may have to deal with their shadows, their "darker" selves. Shadows emphasize (even exacerbate) the traits the person denies, growing violent and murderous when denied and potentially becoming personas when accepted. If you find your shadow, chances are you're in serious trouble. This could end in a fight if talking doesn't work. Just be careful about fighting a being that represents part of someone...

3. Dungeon crawling: Maybe this'll lead to a shadow confrontation, maybe it won't. Good on you if you're honing your fighting skills! Regardless, you're probably not alone in doing this, so take your pals and go beat up shadows. Dungeons shape themselves after a person's desires and personality, much like the shadows that inhabit them. If you're gonna go to a friend's dungeon, at least make sure they're okay with it; it might be too personal for them to deal with.

4. Social links: As most of the persona and shadow stuff happens behind the scenes, there's still the rest of your life to deal with. School stuff, work life, personal problems, it's all here. These are people you ride into battle with, so it's good to know who's on your side. It's as if actually being friends with someone will make them stronger allies or something!

5. Persona vs Persona: I mean. No one's stopping you from fighting. Maybe shadows aren't enough training for you. Maybe you're practicing tactics. Maybe it's a social link thing, maybe one or both of you are really pissed at each other. Your personas are doing the talking now, so ~~hopefully you remembered your opponent's weaknesses~~ you're unquestionably giving it everything you've got.

6. Mandatory smut option I guess: It doesn't count if we touch personas, right?

7. Wildcard joke goes here: I'm not your dad; make up your own damn prompts if you want!

But Riki, I want more details than this! What about a setting, better prompts or less vagueness on your part?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[OOC: He hasn't had the most fortunate life. Representing the Tower Arcana, he's not the easiest to get along with, but he's worth having as a friend or ally. His Persona is Lü Bu.]

(While the two certainly had difficult lives of their own (comparing them was admittedly pointless), it didn't stop Cornelius from trying to get to know one of his few remaining family members. The recent discovery of that fact came as a shock, as he thought himself the only child had between his father and his uncle.

The Titania Corps heirs were basically the Mishima family but with hopeful kids.

Still, Cornelius remains determined, inviting Oswald to train with him after school. There's common ground to be found, he's certain, and being persona users in the same family offers plenty. There's still the matter of his form changing into an animal upon entering the other realm, a change that happens the instant they cross over. Cornelius himself doesn't seem bothered by this.)

Just as I thought; the atmosphere is the same as before. Perhaps our training will truly be without interruption.

[It was worth noting that Oswald was making an effort to go along with Cornelius and get to know him better. However, it was apparent enough that he was still... outside of his element. It just wasn't possible to go from being raised as a hitman back to being the heir of a corporation overnight... or after several weeks.]

[But he was better being around large groups of people and not being overwhelmed... and not resorting to threats.]

[So today was just another step going with his cousin to train. Fighting and training were fortunately two things they were both familiar with. It still weirds him out though that Cornelius turned into a rabbit upon entering the other realm, but he's better about staring.]

It would still be wise to keep our guard up. We don't want to waste our energy on healing or use up our rati-- supplies. [He almost said rations again.]

Indeed. Peace will not make Shadows any less dangerous.

(His ears twitch at Oswald's little slip, but Cornelius does little else. This is as much an adjustment period for his cousin as it is for himself.

The pooka's blue sword remains strapped to his back as he steps forward, giving a moment's pause for consideration before looking back at his cousin.)

Often does my training lead me back to my own dungeon. To regularly face my shadows provides assurance; doing so reminds me of what I regularly face, what I must accept if I am to be true to myself and keep my persona.

(His ears splay slightly with a look of uncertainty.)

Is that...odd?

[He could comment on that, but Oswald just bites his tongue. Peace was just... not a concept to him. A word that is defined, but it doesn't exist otherwise.]

[His own blade already drawn, he meets his cousin's stare.]

If you find it helps, I don't mind.

[Rather Cornelius's Dungeon anyway than seeing his again. Oswald knows it's a mess and his cousin doesn't need to keep seeing that. Though, he does notice the shift in Cornelius's behavior already.]

What is it?

(A pensive moment passes with Cornelius casting a look of uncertainty. It ends quickly with a shake of his head.)

Thinking of my dungeon still draws hesitance. Not in battle, but enough to remind me of what I have yet to overcome.

(Accepting it was one thing. Learning to defeat his shadows and move on with his life? He has a long way to go, for sure.

The trip to the dungeon is uneventful. It's the dungeon itself that has his fur starting to stand up and his paws clenching into fists. The exterior is a castle surrounded by dense forest, though the bars on the windows and reinforced areas shape it more into a prison than anything else.)

... Right.

[Similar reason why Oswald didn't like his own dungeon.]

[As Cornelius said earlier, it was rather uneventful traversing their way through, but his cousin still remained tense. It wasn't the time to speak up, but only to observe and get an idea of his family's mental workings.]

[A castle surrounded by a forest, but more suitably looked like a prison itself. Looking at it left Oswald feeling a similar, but different discomfort, and his grip on his weapon tightened. He never met his grandfather, but he hated the man with ever fiber of his being.]

... Are you sure you don't want to go back?

(Cornelius also never met his grandfather, but after hearing about uncle Edgar, especially Oswald's perspective on that? It's for the best that he didn't. He relaxes slightly and nods his head.)

If I cannot face my own dungeon again, I have no right to bear a persona.

(Battling shadows is only part of his training, as he said. He must be able to handle the mental stress of this realm and no place pushes Cornelius to his limits like his own dungeon. Despite his bristled fur, the pooka holds a look of resolve and draws his sword. To be fearless is one thing. To act in the face of fear is another.

Despite stepping through the gates towards the forest, the dungeon takes them directly into the castle, in one of its highest rooms. A window provides a view of the forest and the dungeon exit, but with no visible way of climbing down. There aren't any shadows in this room, but stepping outside is another story...)

[Oswald again said nothing. It was one thing to face his dungeon again, but was he not pushing himself? Trying to consider the feelings of others was... complicated. Nonetheless, he followed after his bunnified cousin, already feeling the difference between the castle exterior and interior as they ventured forward.]

[No shadows... yet.]

(The dungeon interior is also a blend between a prison and a castle, with gorgeous decorations tucked beneath rusty chains or stained glass windows behind steel bars. The aforementioned stained glass windows depict your typical fairy tale scenarios, especially those involving a brave and knightly man rescuing a lady from the clutches of evil, whether it be dragons, a curse...the works.

The first set of shadows become visible down the first hallway, with Cornelius steeling himself as he and his cousin approach. They take the form of standard knights. Palace guards, perhaps, with one of them a bit larger in size than the others.)

Keep your blade steady; they will not show restraint.

[His cousin had an interesting mind dreaming of a fairy tale dungeon between castle and prison. Though, considering his may as well have been Hell, he can't say anything about it. At least it was still bright here.]

[When the Shadows finally make their appearance, Oswald's eyes narrowed and he adjusted his grip on his blade. He almost doesn't hear Cornelius's warning, feet carrying him forward with his mind set to attack.]

[Slay the threat no matter what before they slay you...]

(And a threat they'll continue to be, so long as they live. With a light and quick step, Cornelius sprints forward and wastes no more time hiding from the enemy. With his usual springy step, he's able to leap forward and ready the ambush.

The strike against a knight's back doesn't down it immediately, but it staggers forward with a harsh slash in its armor, the wound hissing with the dark mist all shadows are composed of.

The follow-up's all yours, cousin.)

[Cornelius was good for speedy ambush strikes, and agile enough to continue his momentum to either retreat or strike again. Oswald was always prepared to follow-up if he didn't get there first.]

[Lunging in after, his sword pierces the opening Cornelius left behind, he finishes running it through before tearing his blade out of its shoulder and neck... what a Shadow might constitute as a neck anyway.]

[Still a second one left cousin...]

(There's no doubt that Oswald's sword arm surpasses Cornelius'. The hitman has more than enough power to balance out his lesser agility. With such a powerful strike, the first shadow falls to the ground and dissipates into dark mist.

The second and third are more ready for the pair's assault, if a bit startled by their ambush. Cornelius rushes the second knight, with the first attack knocking it down to the floor. The axe comes crashing down and keeps Cornelius from performing a follow-up. Instead, the shadow lifts the large axe and turns it to Oswald to try and give its ally breathing room.)

[Not that Oswald minds this third target focusing on him. Instead, he's elated, but irritated to be doing something familiar. Fight for yourself, he reminds himself again.]

[As he moves around the raised axe, he swings his strike at the Shadow's arm, swiftly bringing back a second to break its armor.]

(Both attacks connect and even stagger the large shadow, but it isn't out just yet. As it struggles to strike Oswald with its axe, it notices a blue fog coming from the smaller attacker.)

Persona!

(Liu Bei appears with a focused look in his eyes, crossing his blades as he channels a Zionga aimed directly for the larger shadow, striking it down into nothingness.

The second, smaller shadow gets back onto his feet and also decides to face Oswald in combat. His sword is ready and he tries leaping upward to perform a downward strike.)

[He notices the shadow from the corner of his eyes coming despite the flash of Zionga, and just remains calm.]

Persona...

[Lü Bu appears, the warrior looking demonic as ever as he blocks the Shadow's strike and pushes it back before bringing his pike around to cleave it in half.]

(With the first group of shadows cleared out, Cornelius and Oswald have a moment to compose themselves, with the pooka offering his cousin and his persona a nod.)

I still wonder if coincidence caused our personas to match or something greater.

[Looking back at his cousin and accompanying Persona, Oswald doesn't comment. Instead, he soon looked over at Lü Bu.]

Coincidence I'm sure... We should move on.

(It was something he still considered, but Cornelius ultimately shakes his head and dismisses the subject for now. Conjecture can wait until after training, perhaps. They earned their breather, if nothing else.

The following hallways follow a similar scheme of palace/prison hybrid, with a particular stained glass catching Cornelius' eyes. It depicted a heroic prince riding off on his noble steed, his standard matching those of the castle behind him. The castle is in ruins as the prince leaves, blindingly ignoring the destruction taking place behind him.)

[It's... strange. Continuing through the dungeon. He's aware of where they are, and aware of who it came from, but he wasn't used to wondering why. He wasn't used to caring to know either, but... this was family and maybe he should make a better attempt.]

... What was Gallon like in person?

(Cornelius bristles slightly at the question, the pooka shaking his head as he stops.)

He was driven by the success of the company; with the exception of his family, other matters hardly concerned him. He wishes to play a direct part in our lives. I didn't realize it at that age, but he detested any deviance in his "guidelines." Father was afraid of him; even now, it is a subject he will not willingly approach.

(Cornelius is certain he doesn't have to say why; Gallon's response to uncle Edgar was far harsher than necessary. It gave Edmund plenty to fear, especially as Cornelius was seemingly following his uncle's footsteps.)

...

[That explained a little more about Cornelius's dungeon - a bit more about the actions against his parents. Just for being in love; for being happy, his father meant nothing by ignoring an arranged marriage, but Gallon.]

[Being raised by... that man, he knew plenty of what happened behind the scenes at Titania now. A slight blessing in the hell he'd been through.]

... I will not allow that name to retain its power. One day...

(Cornelius' head hangs as he sighs wistfully.)

'Twill be difficult. Father lives by his rules as if Gallon's specter will appear otherwise. Even so, there are members of the board who still serve as his marionettes. Urzur is one of them...

(The pooka speaks as if he shared the same thought Oswald has now. How can they move on from such an abusive man if no one will let him stay dead?

But that was before. It was only him trying to right the wrongs of the company before, but Oswald is as much of an heir as Cornelius. They're not just united by blood or their ability to summon personas; it dawns on him that they share the goal of ejecting Gallon from their lives.)

...But we are not alone in this crusade, cousin. It will take time, but our combined efforts will put an end to his phantom reign and free our bloodline from his influence. Our lives are not his to lead.

I know of Urzur. He accomplices himself with two others name Skuldi and Beldor.

[Considering who Oswald used to... work for, he knew some inside information and had no qualms gathering more.]

No, they are not. Edgar... father will have no objection.

Persona AU meme

Oswald | Odin Sphere

3/4

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