#Avalon (P5 Verse)

[deathboundinautumn]

@kissxfdeathdxc​

A turn down a street here, a turn there.  He’s starting to have doubts about having a check-up at this clinic, why does it seem so far off the beaten path?  Weren’t doctor’s offices supposed to be easily accessible?  All doubt and questions can be easily explained by more rational thought; a simple fact that he’s all too aware of as a business owner: Rent is expensive.

He stops in front of what can only be the place, confirming the address on his phone screen before stepping inside and approaching the counter.

“Uh, hello.  I’m here for my appointment.  Should be under Shinjiro Aragaki”

[deathboundinautumn]

lawxjudgement​:

{Open Starter for Post P5S Shadow Sae Event}

Sae pinched her brows as a sigh of annoyance left her lips. Several old case files were laid out in front of her as she compared them to the case that the Phantom Thieves handled that past summer. She was hoping that she wouldn’t need to be involved further with weird nonsense like this – yet, here she was.

The original creator of the AI ‘EMMA’, Ichinose Kuon, should have been arrested along with Akira Konoe. However, according to a few notes left by Zenkichi, she supposedly had a change of heart.

If this was true, then why were civilians that held the app still being rushed to the hospital and announced that they were in a coma state or suddenly dropping like flies in the middle of the street?

It didn’t make any damn sense!

She couldn’t prove that this woman was still up to no good. .but this was getting out of hand and she couldn’t stand watching innocent people get hurt.

She needed solid proof to condemn this woman and place her where she belonged – behind bars. At this rate, she would be doing more overnights than she cared for. Well, she had best buckle in for the long run.

________ Within the Metaverse, a pale shadow of the Palace of Envy slowly started to flicker around the Court House. After a few seconds, the casino was solidly in place as Shadow Sae sat in her security camera room. A dark grin slowly crept over her lips, eyes closed for a moment. “It’s been so long since we’ve had a decent game. Let’s see if we can shake things up a little bit.” A soft mocking chuckle left her lips, “I bet my best hand on this wager. This case will win in my favor , no matter what…and I challenge anyone who thinks different to meet me at my table.

Let’s play a game, fair and square…!” Her golden glowing eyes burned through the screens, solidifying the appearance of the palace.

Those that had the Metaverse app would get a notification that Sae’s palace was once again active.

He can’t believe his luck.  Closing up early?  That never happens, Koro-chan will be elated at his early arrival.  A smile cracks his usually stoic visage, its a shame no one’s around to see it.  The Hierophant is drying off his hands when his phone screen lights up.  His smile fades as eyes narrow suspiciously.

Nobody ever texts him

“....”

Honestly he would’ve preferred a text.  Weren’t these palaces supposed to be gone?  Didn’t the Phantom Thieves take care of this?  And Sae Nijima?  Hadn’t they already gotten rid of her palace specifically?  What the hell is going on?

So many questions...too many questions in fact and only one thing for certain.  The longer these palaces are active, the more people will get hurt and with the Phantom Thieves on vacation taking down palaces across the damn country there’s no Persona users to deal with it.  

He’s startled from his thoughts as his phone buzzes and a familiar caller ID pops up: Mitsuru

“Fuck” he mutters before picking up.

Guess he’s not making it home early tonight

________

After a short chat with a certain red-headed Empress, the Hierophant finds himself in Mementos standing outside Sae’s massive casino.  He rotates his shoulders a few times, getting in a couple last minute stretches.  Mementos is different than the Dark Hour.  Things are easier here, he can’t explain it but he feels stronger.  Way stronger than he ever did during the Dark Hour.  Yamagishi and Aigis have a couple theories about it.  Something about the Dark Hour causing additional physical and mental strain that is absent in both the Inaba fog/TV Realm and Mementos.  

He doesn’t even feel like he needs his Evoker here.

“Let’s see what sort of trouble the Lawyer’s been getting up to lately” He muses before calmly opening the door.  Just a quick peak shouldn’t hurt...right?

[deathboundinautumn]

@mcmcntomorii​

The Hierophant runs the damp cloth over the bar in repeating circular motions before running back over the wooden countertop with a dry cloth.

Slow evenings are always a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the usual evening crowds that gather at Avalon.  He dare not think for a second he may, perhaps, get out of here a little bit earlier than usual...but he can hope.  Would be nice to have a bit more time in the evening to relax, maybe he could get an extra hour of sleep tonight.

Shinji pushes the thought from his mind.  There are other closing tasks that would need to be finished first and Avalon isn’t technically even closed for the night.

Dry the bar glasses, soak and wash the cookware, wipe the tables and floors.  Lots to do.  A curt nod or quiet “thanks for coming in” are given as stragglers head out till the little café finds itself empty.

Tables are wiped and dishes are in the process of being washed when the bell over the door chimes bringing his attention to the front door.  A new face, one he hadn’t seen before.

‘Damn.  Almost’ he thinks to himself as he shuts the water off and walks to the front

“Unusual for customers to come in this late.  ‘Specially new ones.  Welcome to Avalon.  Something I can help you with?”

[deathboundinautumn]

@finalhxaven​

The Hierophant stands behind the bar, cleaning a few mugs humming along softly with the music on the radio.  The day was winding down and as such only a few customers remained, though he’d stay open for another few hours or so he didn’t anticipate getting much foot traffic.   Kichijoji had been kind to him and by his standards, Avalon had been successful, though some of his mentors would disagree stating he was wasting his gifts cooking such simpleton dishes.  He didn’t mind though, Shinji would rather stay close to his roots, creating a place where anyone could come whether it be for a full meal or just dessert.  

The jingle of the door knocking against the bell snaps him from his reminiscing, looking up at the unfamiliar face.

“Ah, welcome.” 

[deathboundinautumn]

@beautifullilyblossom​ Cont. From Here: (X)

He gives pause as a familiar petite frame stumbles through his doors, watching her the entire time as she barely manages to make it to her regular spot which was, fortunately, unoccupied.  Seeing as it close to closing, the Hierophant steps out from behind the bar, taking a seat on a barstool across from her regular booth as she looks up at him.

Flushed cheeks, glossy eyes, holy shit is she drunk?  Who gave her alcohol?  Her slurred speech confirms his suspicions.

“Not so directly no, but thanks.  You-uh.  You doing alright?  Seems like you had one too many”

[deathboundinautumn]

@blond-haired-rebel​

The Hierophant leans forward against the bar idly flipping through a restaurant magazine.  Distributors trying to bleed him for everything he’s got in the guise of the latest and newest cash registers or industrial stoves or products that will surely get more customers in the door.  It won’t though.  Just a cheap tactic by corporations to take advantage of people that have already fallen on hard times and are desperate to boost sales.  Avalon’s gotten along well enough, four years, and counting and he hasn’t updated a damn thing.

Sure he was making more money as a sous-chef in one of those high-class restaurants in the Shibuya distract but Avalon was a place he could call his own and though business might be slow it generated enough income for him to live well within his means and that suited him just fine.  More importantly, it was widely accepted that the food served was good.

Two regulars throw him a goodbye and he, in turn, responds, glancing up from the magazine before flipping another page when the bell once again rings as the cafe door opens.

He lowers the magazine to see an unfamiliar face looking around the cafe.

“Oh, welcome to Avalon.”

[deathboundinautumn]

Avalon Menu

[deathboundinautumn]

takamakisu​:

@deathboundinautumn

Over the past months, Leblanc had become a sort of second home for Ann, a place she could always go to feel welcome. Boss's curry was delicious and so was the coffee he served, and coupled with the friends she'd made this past year; it was always a delight to visit with the homey atmosphere. In the attic of the store, study sessions and Phantom Thief meetings (along with sneaky texts to her friends when Makoto wasn't looking) often went underway as youths attempted to understand a realm completely different than that of their own- and the manifestations of their psyche, Persona. Yes, Ann had made many memories there.

But today, her feet led her elsewhere. A new café had rose up recently, and Ann was curious as to what it sold. So after school, (and sending her friends a text so they knew she wouldn't be around) instead of going to Leblanc as usual, the blonde weaved her way through a sea of people towards..hold on, what was the name again? Oh right- Avalon! It sounded kinda fancy..almost regal, even. It almost felt like betraying Leblanc, to go to another cafe, but Ann assured herself that Boss wouldn't mind a bit. Pushing open the door, the blonde peeked her head around somewhat nervously, eyebrows raised in excitement. 

"Hello!" she chirped to the tall individual behind the counter, waving. Sometimes Ann felt a little awkward meeting new people, but she'd found that "fake it till you make it" worked wonders for confidence: usually, nobody could tell that you weren't on your A game (maybe her acting practice had come in handy after all?). Boots clunking on the floor, she took in the scenery. "Nice place you got here, it's cozy." Taking a seat, Ann picked up a menu and began looking through, getting familiar. "Everything looks really good, what do you recommend?"

With a small huff the Hierophant rotates his head a few times to stretch his neck and turns away from the television.  The Hierophant works quietly, prepping ingredients for the dinner rush with speed and proficiency that would make any individual question why he was running a small cafe like this.  If anyone cared to notice that is.

The mentioning of the Phantom Thieves from the newscasters cuts through his routine and catches his interest..  He doesn’t look but he does listen.  Seems like that’s all anyone talks about these days.  Adults hate them, kids love them.  He’s largely undecided how he feels about them.  They’re outing bad people so that’s good.  But the how is what concerns him.  Shinji’s been following the story for some time now and it all sounded a little...unbelievable.  Like all that business back in high school and then a few years later in Inaba.

Steel hues are drawn to the framed photo of Mitsuru, Aki, and himself in front of Avalon on opening day.  A few years after Inaba.  His gaze is dropped back down to the cutting board as he begins to chop green onions.  He should really call them...it’s been awhile.

Such things would have to wait however as the bell hanging above the door rings with the opening door.  Eyes rise to meet the blonde who responds with a greeting and a wave.  

“Oh, welcome to Avalon.  You can have a seat at either the bar or a booth.  I’ll be with you in a second”

The Hierophant sets ingredients aside before washing his hands and drying them on the towel that hangs from a pocket on his apron as he walks up to the bar.

“Well the house ramen is usually the most popular but given the heat lately people have been opting for Katsudon Rice Bowl or Yakitori.  As far as beverages go the most popular thing we serve right now is the fresh strawberry juice we make in house daily and people have been getting their teas iced instead of hot as for desserts-” he looks over at the freshly stocked case of sweets “-I couldn’t really pick one since I usually sell out twice a day.  We do have a seasonal dessert, Patbingsu that comes in strawberry, green tea, or mango flavored that’s really popular.  I’d go with that one if you’re trying to cool off but that’s just me.”

[deathboundinautumn]

@femmefatalepanther​ asked for a starter

The Hierophant breaths a sigh of relief, taking a step back from the display case before stretching his back with hands on his hips.  The cafe is filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked sweetbreads and other various confections.  Enough to last the day this time...or so he hopes.  He’s been running out lately which is technically a good thing.  Means business is good. 

Shinjiro walks around the counter towards the front door turning the deadbolt till it clicks and unlocks.  He pauses for a moment, eyes resting on one of two framed photographs in the entire cafe.  A picture of Mitsuru, Akihiko, and him right after they’d finished all that business with the Shadow Operatives four years ago.  Avalon’s opening day.  A small smile paints his face as he heads back behind the counter.  He should call them soon, it’s been a while.

The faint jingle of the door hitting the bell above it pulls him from his thoughts, eyes rising to meet the customer.

“Oh, welcome to Avalon.”

[deathboundinautumn]

@psychcdelica​ is a mind reader and sends in:

The lawyer is new to the area, bag slung over the shoulder she finds her way into a quaint restaurant. " Excuse me," she greets as she enters, " may I have the special ?" // Sae :>

Door knocks against the bell hanging above it, pulling his attention away from the T.V. to a well-dressed young woman he’s never seen before.  Before he can say so much as ‘welcome’ she’s already asking for the special.  Temporarily stunned by her speed, he’s quick to recover.

“Welcome to Avalon.  You may have a seat at either an open booth or the bar here.  Do you...want to know what the special is before ordering it?”

[deathboundinautumn]

@rock-you-like-a-hurricxne​ completely hating (loving) my proposal of potentially making the same au future verse where Shinji and Makoto 1. not only both live but 2. Get married and have a daughter also take place in the same avalon verse as the one where a Takaya is also still alive and kicking sends in:

give hippie jesus some kombucha maybe he'll go away :T

“I don’t know what he wants.  That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”  The Hierophant takes another sip of hot, bitter coffee.   Normally he wouldn’t touch the stuff but he didn’t get much sleep that night and was going to need the caffeine to help keep him awake throughout the day.  “I already tried kicking him out but he just keeps coming back.  I think he’s up to something.  He keeps mentioning something about the collective unconscious??”

Brows are furrowed in concentration as he stares at the wall across from him.  He’d already called Mitsuru about it.   They’d spoken.  Twice.  The first saying she’d look into how he even survived but also this collective unconscious.  The second phone call happened yesterday.  She was bringing the team, the whole team.  Even some from that Inaba investigation a few years back.  Shinji hasn’t told Makoto yet.

If that wasn’t surprising enough, Mitsuru asked him a very specific question: Did Takaya ever mention something called the Metaverse?

[deathboundinautumn]

“Yikes kid...that was not the move”

[deathboundinautumn]

Would Shinji consider a relationship with Tae Takemi?

“...who?”

[deathboundinautumn]

“...damn kids”

[deathboundinautumn]

@psychcdelica​ is giving me one of my first headcanon prompts in a good while and sends:

How does Shinji feel about having kids? ( w Mitsuru or Red esp )

ooc: Hooo boi do I have some thoughts.  This is headcanon stuff right? Haven’t done stuff like this in a minute so lets do et.

P3 Verse (or no tags because by default everything occurs here)

This is so far off his radar it’s not even something he’s ever considered in recent memory.  Maybe as a kid/before Oct 4th (the first one) he’s maybe considered it in a ‘well one day i’d like to be successful and have a family’ but even then he might just have only considered that because that’s what most people say?

Growing up as an orphan meant that he never really had the traditional family dynamic.  He had to create his own which he found in Mikki and Akihiko and then later Mitsuru.  In a lot of the commentary from the character designer/concept artist they really reinforce this idea of Shinji and Akihiko’s relationship being stronger and closer than most familial bonds and I really do believe that those two (and Mitsuru) are each others family and since they’re so young he’s never really considered (seriously) the idea of having kids.

Let’s talk about after Oct. 4th.  Everything changes after Oct. 4th (duh) so this is something he definitely would be strongly against.  He already feels like a danger to himself and everyone else around him which is why he mostly keeps to himself.  On top of that the whole ‘looming death’ thing and living on limited time makes the thought of having kids something he can’t even consider since he won’t be alive long enough to make that a reality (since I can’t even imagine him being a father while they’re still in highschool).

Let’s say he lives past P3 aka P4 or P5 verse (Road to Avalon/Avalon)

Shinji living past Oct 4th (round 2) does spark a change in his personality/resolve and if anything its more of a revert to how he used to be before Oct 4th (1st one) but he’s wiser and more mature due to the trauma/experience he’s gained from walking the other path (one much closer to Strega) more so than Akihiko and Mitsuru he understands pain and guilt in a way they cannot having been engrossed so deeply by it to the point of exiling himself from his own family. 

I strongly recommend taking a look at this fan-comic as it explains the revert in his personality + gaining his newfound resolve/will to live and while I headcanon that Shinji would NOT gain a new persona, rather Castor will be made available to its fullest potential instead.  I have been very heavily considering adapting/adopting this same exact persona later down the line around/during the events of Persona 5 (while giving due credit to the original origins of this headcanon as its not technically mine of course).

While you might be thinking but he’s already had to go through so much more than everyone else!  Why not just give him a new persona after taking a bullet from evil Jesus and living???  To that I say you, you’re wrong. The rest of the Senpai Squad has gone through just as much as he has.

Mitsuru feels the guilt of her family’s legacy (grandpa did the bad thing), the despair of (assuming Shinji lives) maybe losing Shinji/him being in a coma forever AND mourning the loss of her father PLUS the responsibility of the Kirjio company being thrust upon her.  

Akihiko has to deal with the guilt of losing his sister which blindly motivates him to become even stronger, sacrificing his own mental well-being and healing for the sake of training.  The despair at losing his best friend (Oct 4th round 1) and not being able to save him (Shinji) from himself only for that to be taken a step further by not being able to bring him back to them which results in Shinji getting fucking shot and maybe dying in a hospital bed before he gains his resolve (for Shinji’s sake).

Shinji has always been different from the other two.  While information is scarce, Shinji has always struggled much more with mastering Persona than Mitsuru or Akihiko did and mostly forced himself to do so out of fear of being left behind by his friends.  So I believe gaining a new Persona would be more difficult for him than it was for them.  The difference between Shinji’s journey and theirs is that he’s the only one that took an actual bullet for the cause.  Besides I think unlocking Castor’s true potential is a much more profound way of telling the story of self-acceptance than just giving him a new persona outright.   The way i’ve always thought about it is after surviving P3 Castor’s appearance would change.  Castor would no longer be impaled on his own sword, instead he’d be wielding both sword and shield.  A representation of Shinjiro’s own will/determination to defend his friends family.

In fact I believe another major change would have to occur in his life for such a change in resolve to also occur.

Long tangent but I feel to fully explain myself I need people to understand where I’m coming from.

I think Shinji would still feel kind of bad initially at finding out they’d be having kids.  Mainly because ‘holy shit you already work so hard and now you’re pregnant’ also, despite knowing it doesn’t matter to her, the backlash she may face for being with this nobody isn’t a great look for the company and again adds more work she has to do to prove herself.  All that being said, it’d be impossible to deny how happy he would be at having a child with the woman he’s loved for so long.  He never thought he’d ever get this far much less with her.  So he’d do everything he can to be there to love and support both of them in every way he could.  She’s not in this alone.  He’s not in this alone.

Hey remember that major life changing event that would need to occur for his Persona to evolve?  Yeah this would be it.

With Red AKA the Transistor-verse (See You In the Country)

I definitely think something like this would be something they’d actually talk about.  While Shinji or Castor in this verse wouldn’t be against the idea of having kids with Red he would float the idea of considering adoption being an orphan himself (though whether she knows that or not depends).  That being said if they chose to have their own I’d imagine what the outcome would do to their respective careers.  Obviously she’d have to take time off from her busy career during the pregnancy and after, but having grown up without any sort of parental figure he wouldn’t want to be absent from their life as much as he might be running the Phlegethôn.  So it’s very likely that leading up to their kids’ birth that he’d have the Phlegethôn open every day for longer hours than he’s ever done before to bring in as much revenue as possible to support the fact that for almost half a year he’d shut the restaurant down to help out after their child is born.  

Once they’ve gotten the swing of things he’s start opening up again with shorter hours so that his days aren’t ending at 2 AM.  He’d definitely not want for her to give up her career either and I definitely believe the two could create a schedule where both of them can still be doing their own thing while also making time for their family.

Also at some point during the pregnancy I’d imagine he would come clean (if he hasn’t already) about his origins and his life before he took the name Castor.  

[deathboundinautumn]

ooc: So with the Avalon (P5 Verse) AU growing more popular I’ll probably be adding a description of what the cafe itself actually looks like and throwing together an actual menu that would be served there