Mari Makinami for The Velvet Key

[zabeasto]

➥ Ｉ．

[ Prospero, say hello to the latest social link of the Death Arcana. Despite her obvious young age, she doesn't wake up in one of the dorms assigned to school appropriate students. Instead, she finds herself wandering the hotel lobby with an expression torn between complete boredom and shrill excitement over her new surroundings.

Shall you obtain your first rank in this social link? ]

➥ ＩＩ．

[ Despite it being winter, one can happen upon this young girl skipping through the blue water of the shore, her shoes and stockings in hand. ]

So this is what the ocean really smells like! [ It's almost as though it's Christmas morning and she's had everything she asked for under the tree judging by her joy. ] I always wondered what it would feel like to run through the sand like this!

➥ ＩＩＩ．

[ Oh no, a young girl is surrounded by shadows! But wait, she doesn't appear to be frightened in the least. No, in fact she seems to be drawing the attention of as many as she can by shouting gibberish in between shrieks of laughter. As soon as they begin to approach though, she falters back a few steps in a manner identical to a drunken stupor. Throwing out her arm towards them, an intimidating Persona suddenly appears and wipes the entire crowd out with a single attack. ]

Heeheehee, let's get more and more! I don't want a single shadow to remain! [ Does she appear a bit manic or is it simply the imagination of any onlooker? ] Let's kill them all!

Comments

[zabeasto]

But you have something on your face. It's distracting.

[croibhristeoir]

It's not exactly coming off.

[zabeasto]

Well, if you would just hold still and let me work at it a bit more, I'm sure it could.

[croibhristeoir]

You can't just wipe off a birthmark.

[Okay, it sort of was one. Close enough.]

[zabeasto]

Oh, is that what that is? Sort of unsightly for one, but whatever suits you best. So you're the welcoming committee right? Where's my information packet and luggage?

[ Peering towards him intently now. ]

And my mission. I need to have the dossier.

[croibhristeoir]

Your what and what now?

[zabeasto]

My mission. You didn't just drag me here just to enjoy the fresh air, did you?

[croibhristeoir]

I didn't drag you here at all.

[zabeasto]

You didn't? Well then how do you expla--listen I can't talk to you with that giant mark on your face just staring me down!

[croibhristeoir]

It's not 'giant' at all!

[YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE HIM A COMPLEX, WOMAN.]

[zabeasto]

It is! It so is!

[ E-Rank luck and all. ]

[croibhristeoir]

N-no it's not!

[zabeasto]

Have you considered plastic surgery?

[croibhristeoir]

Excuse me?

[zabeasto]

Plastic surgery. They can remove it by taking skin from your ass and slapping it on your face. [ A pause. ] Or something like that.

[croibhristeoir]

...what is wrong with you?

[zabeasto]

I'm not the one with a distracting smudge on my face.

[croibhristeoir]

It's hardly a smudge.

[zabeasto]

It's an eyesore.

[ Taking off her glasses, she'll look at him once more. ]

Hm, it's even visible with my poor eyesight. What will you do..

[croibhristeoir]

Nothing. Because there's no problem with it.

[zabeasto]

There's a huuuuuuuuuuuge problem with it. My visions shot to shit.

[croibhristeoir]

With all due respect, miss, I don't understand why that means you need to concern yourself with my face.

[zabeasto]

Because I can see it even though I'm practically blind!