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]

[ Walks away cause who wants to bother with ranking up with the Tower Arcana seriously. Oh hey, a person. She'll pause in her wandering aimlessly about to focus on pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. ]

Can't I just look or are you here to enforce otherwise?

[croibhristeoir]

[PLZ, TOWER ARCANA HAS SOME SWEET PERSONAS]

Ah--no, that's not what I meant. I just thought perhaps you were lost or in search of something.

[zabeasto]

[ Like what? ]

And if I am both? [ That's enough to get her to flash a grin at him. ] You must be the welcoming committee. Not too bad looking.

[croibhristeoir]

E-er...something like that, I suppose. Have you only just arrived?

[zabeasto]

[ How well does he handle little girls getting ALL UP IN HIS GRILL? Because Mari is just going to close the distance and still be short stand on the tips of her toes to inspect him further. ]

You've got something on your face.

[croibhristeoir]

[OH GOD WHY]

[actually he's kind of used to it]

I'm sorry? I wasn't aware of anything...

[zabeasto]

[ She might be significantly taller than Saber, alright. ]

No, you really do. Some kind of weird mark. [ Just... going to raise her hand to try to rub at it with her fingers. ] Just a bit of elbow grease will clean you right up.

[ Personal space? What's that again? ]

[croibhristeoir]

Wh--hey, stop that!

[zabeasto]

[ Look at your life choices, Lancer. ]

Just-[ Grunt. ]-a-[ Grunt. ]-bit-[ Grunt. ]-more!

[ Being pushed around by short little girls and all. ]

[croibhristeoir]

Ow--please stop, that actually kind of hurts...!

[NOT THE FACE]

[zabeasto]

You look tough enough to handle it.

[ Did she just spit into her hand?
Is said hand rapidly approaching his face again?
The answer to both of those questions is yes. ]

This ought to get it.

[croibhristeoir]

[DODGE!]

Now wait just a second--!

[zabeasto]

[ WOW RUDE SHE'S JUST TRYING TO HELP... ]

I'm waiting.

[croibhristeoir]

First of all, please stop trying to do that.

[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. ]