#peppino spaghetti is ren's dad

[sonicasura]

Persona 5: Tower Scramble

Yup. I'm expanding more on the crack idea of Peppino being Ren's biological dad. This is basically a deeper dive into the concept like worldbuilding, further shenanigans and a slice of some plot. Hope you enjoy! Link to alternate version here! Make sure to check the reblogs for extra stuff.

First thing to start with is actually the Pizza Tower universe. I decided that there needs to be more stuff involving the Who Framed Rodger Rabbit dynamic aka toons interacting alongside normal people. Everyone in PT are cartoons in nature which includes Ren/Joker. Arséne nor his adjacent forms doesn't escape this either since he was born from Ren's heart.

Due to the Velvet Room contract, our hero is forced to take on the appearance of those in Personaverse to not draw attention. Although it doesn't fully suppress his toon capabilities. If I can summarize Ren and Arséne's appearance as Toons then it's the Persona 5 Tactica iteration but mixed alongside some Pizza Tower aesthetics.

Like any other cartoon, Joker and his Persona have cartoon abilities. There's the basics like the hammer space but unique ones that suit a toon's particular trope. Ren alongside Arséne have the escape artist/thief type which means they can break in or retreat in various cartoony ways. EX: Instantly teleport via smoke bombs to slipping under doors.

Like I said in the previous post, Ren did inherit some of Peppino's abilities such as incredible speed and strength that can be boosted through rage. Although being in the Personaverse suppresses a good chunk specifically his unique trope. Ren sulked a bit when he couldn't stretch his arm under a door to unlock it or pull a keyring from outta his hair.

Only his dad's abilities remains untouched by the change. Being in the Metaverse actually loosens the restraints on Ren's toon abilities. How a Toon interacts with the normal is much different than vice versa. Toons can subject others to cartoon shenanigans on varying degrees that usually depends on their trope.

For example a Toon with Magician trope can successfully do extreme tricks like sawing someone in half on a normal person without killing them and undo the damage easily. The non-toon will feel degrees of pain though. How bad it is depends on whether the act is malicious or not. Death is too cheap for a toon.

The new contract Ren receives after Royal's events freely allows him to shift into his toon form without being in the PTverse. Arséne was unaware about Ren's cartoony heritage would affect him too. The Persona found out very quickly when he manifested at Peppino's Diner and notice the place was a bit too roomy. Cartoon heights vary erratically from normal people.

Peppino is barely 4'8 ft, Ren is around 4'4 as he still has a growth spurt awaiting him, and Toon!Arséne's height about 10'2. The toon Persona got noogied by Captain Kidd who thought the new difference was funny. Jokes about Toon!Arséne being fun size will never die amongst the Persona.

(Unrelated note, Ren as an adult will be much taller than Peppino. His forms heavily contrast at that point. Under a human guise, Ren is about 5'8 and looks barely different despite being more physically fit alongside having a mustache. His real toon self is the epitome of a fucking bear. Adult Toon!Ren is 7'2 feet tall, beefy and quite hairy. He does take more after Peppino than his 'mom'.)

Toons are prone to comical gags with Ren being no different. He's quite happy to show it to his friends as well. Casually stretching his arm from the kitchen to snag some chips outta Ryuji's snack bag whilst his friends sits at the farthest booth by the door... Sojiro did his absolute best not to drop a fresh pot of coffee on his feet via sheer shock.

Arséne couldn't resist the pull of mischief either. You know the Genie In The Lamp? Let me present Arséne in a Teapot! Milady and Haru were the only ones who knew something was up when Ren brought over a closed up teapot. (He barely hid a smile too big for a normal person before reaching the table.) An awareness that kept their dango from going airborne once Arséne shot out of the teapot the gremlin he is.

Unintentional gags are also prone to happen around a toon which includes the infamous banana peel. Yusuke was planning to paint around the subject of litter and gotten a fresh one from Ryuji. What do you get when you add: 1 Clueless Ren, 1 Banana Peel and 1 Ghost Mushroom(an invasive partially sentient powerup which turns a toon into a ghost)?

You get Yusuke panicking as he believes he just killed their leader while Gustavo calls a priest over to unghost a Teru Teru Bōzu!Ren. (His Japanese heritage changed the form to that instead of being the normal bedsheet ghost.) Peppino feels like he went from a father of one to ten(pending) at this point.

It isn't uncommon for his son's friends to the visit his pizzeria. Sometimes it is a study group where Peppino prepares some snacks for them and help with some of the questions. He makes sure Ren's Stupid Rats get a cheese log to keep them occupied as Crouton likes eating schoolwork. (Makoto got to use the rats ate her homework excuse at least.)

They often show up to help around the restaurant and hang out on slow days. Having extra hands to help around made things easier especially when it came to deliveries. Peppino wholeheartedly agrees on why Ren thought Morgana was a Toon as a cat becoming a van is very toonlike.

Peppino can't help eavesdropping on Phantom Thieves discussion though. Some of the requests these kids get can be really concerning even for an adult like him. Morgana had been kind enough to explain the 'Changing Hearts' and 'Metaverse' spiel.

If this is what they want to do then Peppino wouldn't stop them. The Persona already promised to keep the group safe. (Not like there was any chance to turn back.) He doesn't know who made those Golden Pizza Cutters but they definitely are there for the purpose of helping his son if needed. (Or help with his stress as beating up Shadows is therapeutic.)

On some occasions one kid from the Phantom Thieves would show up at odd hours. Whether it be looking for advice or have someone listen to their problems. Peppino does his best to help as he understands how hard and suffocating life can get at times. (If he's ordering a few adoption papers then no one will know or stop him.)

They definitely left their mark on his diner though. Paintings, group photos, books, little knickknacks from Japan and ironically Phantom Thief merch. Peppino picked up some Japanese vocabulary too as much the teens learn a bit of Italian outta him. The Persona just add more languages to the table.

Now I mentioned how Ren practically gets shoved into a non-toon form when entering the Personaverse. Well the same DOESN'T apply to other Toons. If one ends up there then they won't be restricted to a human form and everyone sees their true appearance.

The new Velvet Room contract does provide a neat effect though where Toons companions(keyword there) only look like normal people/allies to those who aren't Ren's confidants, other Toons or Persona Users. It makes things easier for Peppino alongside his toon companions. Whether it be attending the kids' special events or take a simple break around Japan.

Peppino isn't the only getting dragged into Metaverse. The Golden Pizza Cutter isn't restricted just to him as Gustavo, Brick and Pep(Fake Peppino) also join in on the mayhem. Sometimes on accident when you consider Persona's habit of snatching someone into the Metaverse unexpectedly.

Gustavo and Brick are the only ones who aren't as off put about the Phantom Thief business. The pizza chef had help raise Ren whenever Peppino couldn't so he's used to the chaos this kid gets into. Brick is from the Pizza Tower thus any oddities are ignored since that place is just as weird.

While they can't break through Physical resistances like Peppino, the duo's teamwork makes recon, item searches or corralling various enemies much easier. Gustavo tends to snag little knickknacks from any Metaverse excursion. Brick just munches on whatever he can find since various snacks can be found there.

Pep is someone Ren hadn't expected to meet upon going home. Although finding a malformed froggish clone shapeshifter of your father made by an insane pizza toon that definitely squat in the pizzeria and eat what is most likely roadkill for dinner is a given at this point. Ren pulls the Clone = Your Kid card, like the little shit he is, on Peppino.

Man had no room for rebuttal either since Pep took a liking to the younger Spaghetti. When you consider Ren's more eerie Personas such Legion, Abbadon or Mara, none of the Phantom Thieves were bothered by the clone's Eldritch Horror trope. Although Joker is the only unfazed when it comes to surprise goopy hugs.

Like Peppino, Pep tends to be very protective of the Phantom Thieves. Sometimes hitching a ride in Ren's bag much to Morgana's annoyance upon discovery. (Can I say Strikers with a shit ton of Pep antics?)

Some Shadows learned the hard way on why not to piss off a clone who can shapeshift into man eating giant monster. Nevermind that Pep has amped up versions of Peppino's abilities alongside his own. The Phantom Thieves have various allies to call when needed.

Although trouble won't just be from the Personaverse. Peppino has his own rogue gallery specifically one who ain't too happy about this new predicament. Nor the existence of Ren Amamiya Spaghetti.

Hope the Phantoms been taking on the Tower Scramble mode in the Thieves' Den. Toons fight way different from Shadows. Nor do they have limits to the chaos one can cause.

[sonicasura]

Here's another crack idea that popped into my head. Persona 5's Ren Amamiya/Joker being the biological son of Pizza Tower's Peppino Spaghetti.

Is it dumb? Yes. Is it absurdly stupid and insane? Yes. Do I regret this? FUCK NO. Let Joker be half crazy Italian with an even more nutty father who WILL pile drive god if he has to. Also his last name for this shall be Spaghetti, Amamiya being his middle, cause I ain't half assing things.

(Putting a link to Part 2 here and make sure people check the reblogs for this as I added an extra page!)

Peppino is the anxious father that does his best to raise his kid despite the various issues he has to face. Whether it be finding a decent school, make sure there's some money for a little rare treat, or keep Ren's awful mother from breaking shared custody rules. Do not trifle with this man.

Any rat/mouse/raccoon in the restaurant? Those are Ren's pets who eat the insects and scare off the bad customers. (Kid does lemonade stands to buy pet friendly soap alongside basic necessities.) Peppino doesn't question it since they make his son happy and take care of the pests.

Ren absolutely helped around the pizzeria whenever he could. First time Peppino cries is when his kid made his first pizza. The second being a 12 year old Ren getting him a well made chef's hat for a birthday present. (You can say our boy already has Rank 3 proficiency.)

All the Pizza Tower weirdness can be considered normal for Joker as he doesn't exactly come from the Personaverse. (I wholeheartedly believe in Ren being a sheer cryptid, even more after seeing this comic.) His mother just dumped him there during her turn and left Ren in that neighborhood where he comes across Shido. Yes, Peppino absolutely lost it when his precious little Spaghetti didn't come home that night.

He looked everywhere for Ren and the events of Pizza Tower only put a big fat Stop Sign to that for quite awhile. Meanwhile the younger Spaghetti didn't have a fun time adjusting until Persona 5 truly kicked off. He wasn't thrown in a rigged court trial.

Ren just knocked Shido's lights out then fucking outran the cops like his Pops would on a 3rd lap game wise. He finds Leblanc and camps out there for two months. Well until Sojiro barely manages to drag Ren inside as his sanity(heart) couldn't handle this strange homeless teen facing the harsh elements. The kid running like an insane Usain Bolt when startled didn't help too.

Ren is absolutely homesick thus his Persona get to hear it the most. (I'm aware of the sheer irony with a French Persona having an half Italian wielder.) Arséne is very curious to meet Ren's father at some point and cackled upon hearing his charge's antics.

The other Thieves have no clue about how bizarre their leader's origins is. Funnily enough, Haru wholeheartedly believes in Ren's stories despite even Morgana considering it a crazy tall tale. (She got rewarded with a video of an 8 year old Ren having a breakdancing contest against his dad while sentient pizza toppings cheered them on.) The guy doesn't blame his other friends and is instead waiting for the chance to blow their minds like the gremlin he is.

Well Ren can thank Royal's Third Semester cause guess who shows up for the true boss fight?! A wild Peppino at Mach 4 speed about to pile drive his kid's former councilor. Haru is the only person not gawking when Ren's dad drags the unconscious man out before FINALLY being able to hug his kid.

Joker gets an extra gift than just him and his friends being able to keep their Persona. He can now visit everyone with a simple press of his phone. Sojiro and Peppino absolutely butt heads in a mostly friendly father flavored rivalry. (Ren doesn't notice at first as he's too busy showing One Shot Kill Medjed to Gustavo.)

Peppino absolutely fainted when his son drops an entire suitcase with enough money to not only pay off the debt but to even refurbish the diner and still have cash leftover. Maximum money perks can make Mementos a good place to grind. Ren always converted a chunk of his spoils to the appropriate currency so he can help his dad.

Peppino's Pizzeria is a secondary hangout for the Phantom Thieves and absolutely gets subjected to Persona shenanigans. Game Night is for everyone despite the fact Carmen/Milady/Arséne tend to cheat at cards. Peppino takes it as an excuse to do it too.

The older Spaghetti does his best to support his son and his friends. Whether it be making pizza that grant great stat buffs, help in battle if Ren can find a Golden Pizza Cutter whenever traversing a dungeon or offer some simple advice. Peppino will continue to drop kick anyone who gets in the way of that.

And this anxiety driven beat shall play at maximum volume.

[sonicasura]

Persona 5: Blast Tower Scramble

You can thank this post I stumbled upon for the further ramped up version of 'Peppino being P5 Joker's Dad. Going to get my hand on Antonblast once it comes out so there might be more whacky stuff. Enjoy.

This is similar to my original post but Peppino Spaghetti AND Anton Blast are Ren's parents. I won't go into details about how our boy is born other than it was unexpected with a side of cartoon nonsense. Universe figured might as drop a kid on them like a eldritch troll. Also considering Anton's design is partly based on Oni Masks, there is a personal headcanon that he has some Japanese heritage.

The two definitely had quite an interesting time when it came to raising Ren B(last) Spaghetti. Moles somehow joined the list of animal friends much to Anton's despair. Do know he was an exterminator at the time and the underground dwellers love to mess with him on the job.

Kid Ren said 'Too bad' so Anton has to be friendly to his son's three moles: Chomp, Scratch and A.B (short for Ankle Biter). Peppino was chuckling at the irony in the background cause his husband teased him about the rats/mice/raccoons. Maxxie, Anton's dog, doesn't really care much. Ren is like a Disney Princess but the kind who would sick his animal friends on someone.

Annie is the chaotic aunt to go with Gustavo's responsible uncle schtick. Half of the money in the swear jar is from her. (Anton makes up 38% while Peppino gets the remaining 12%.) She absolutely gave him a small hammer as a little kid and encourage him to whack his Pops Anton on the toes a few times. Or gave Ren enough sugar so he will torture his parents with a sugar rush later before babysitting time is up.

There is going to be further differences with Ren thanks to this change in parents. He looks the same as a human but in toon form, his skin is sheer lobster red. The group honestly thought Ren and his dad were Tengus for a hot second. Both are mischievously destructive after all.

I'm also in the group that supports Anton being demonic headcanon so guess whose half demon! Ren's demon nature had remained dormant for most his life as he never gotten into a situation to flare it awake. Well not for long thanks to Kaneshiro's Palace!

Ren was already feeling shitty and stressed at this point. The Palace of Avarice further eggs him on since Oni type Shadows are a common enemy throughout it so they are extra hostile in a territorial manner to him. Piggytron boss is what breaks the camel's back though.

Ren's demon form definitely takes after how Anton's is usually depicted. (Haven't made my design for him sadly. 🥲) Thick black fluffy fur covering his entire lower half alongside his upper arms, side burns to go along with his now long curly mane around the neck and go down the entire back. Goat hooves replacing his toes while his fingers are replaced for razor sharp claws.

Can't forget the Oni like fangs, serpent like tongue, long spade ending obsidian tail or black with yellow slit eyes. There are differences though as some of Ren's demon form take after Arséne/Satanael. Mainly two pairs of black feathery bat wings and large horns highlighted in glowing red fiery markings.

His friends than just obvious enemies freaked out while Ren is just screaming 'FINALLY' in his head. (The boy been trying to awaken it with some help from his four year old pink little hedgehog sister.) Other than being a 10 ft(human)/12 ft(toon) devil, Ren's personality remains mostly the same except for a touch of very affectionate puppy.

This form isn't restricted by the Velvet Room Contract as it hadn't been awake at the time. Poor Sojiro since Demon Ren is a pouncing hugger when he gets the zoomies and is HEAVY. He's also a cuddler with a steel grip so good luck with that.

Ren's demon heritage does give some credibility to his other world story. It isn't the toon part although Haru still believes him. Speaking of that, Anton wasn't happy either when Ren vanished.

How he disappears is a bit different from the original version. It been out of hatred by someone hates Peppino and Anton so malicious intent remains as the main motive. Ren still punches Shido's lights out alongside camping outside Leblanc.

Anton goes after Satan thinking he's responsible while Peppino is stuck dealing with the events of Pizza Tower. Both reunite at the final Palace in Royal and help beat up Ren's former councilor. Anton is bringing in his hammer from his new demolition job.

The Golden Pizza Cutter is joined with a Silver Hammer which summons the construction worker alongside his coworker Annie. Both are heavy hitters that prioritize in striking large groups and can shatter Physical resistances with their hammer/mace. The Thieves' Den also comes with an additional mode called Ballbreaker.

A combination of Anton's sewer adventure in Anton Ball and the game's Punchball Tournament mode. Though Pops is banned from both. He had a large problem in the past that took time to get rid of. Peppino rather not fix up his pizzeria and ban his husband again.

Anton was definitely ecstatic when he found out Ren gotten his demon form. The two absolutely roughhouse like that, often dragging a reluctant Arséne into the mayhem. It's usually done away from Peppino's Pizzeria as they rather not cause the pizza chef more trouble with repairs. Anton is a bad influence on the Phantom Thieves.

He indulges in the chaotic antics with Johanna, Zorro and Goemon usually reigning him in than just the teenagers. Anton absolutely let them join in on a few shifts at his job cause why not? Getting to wreck old abandoned buildings is a nice stress reliever for humans, half demons and Persona.

Plus he can give Ren his late Christmas present. Considering Anton uses a giant hammer while Annie has a mace, he thought his son deserved his own tool of destruction. Thus Ren becomes the proud owner to a anchor sized pickaxe! Good thing Brulo added an enchantment so he could wield it in his non-toon form.

Rip the Shadows when Ren brings out his new weapon. I don't know what's worse. Being stabbed by a knife, shot in the face, or bludgeon via giant pickaxe. Although all three can happen at the same knowing how much of a chaos agent Ren is.

Anton definitely took meeting the Persona a lot better than Peppino. If he isn't trying to cheat at Tycoon, then he indulges in an game of arm wrestling or pool. No tables were harmed when Anton went against Zorro. (Complete lie as they shattered one to splinters just like that one match with Peppino.)

He loves the insane things the Phantom Thieves get into. Anton got a translated replica of their Calling Cards and figurines from the Thieve's Den Palace Maker. He was over the moon when Futaba gave him a video recording about the time his son summoned a demon lord to kill a god on Christmas Eve.

Overall Anton ramps up the shenanigans into a chaotically explosive cocktail. Hope he doesn't overdo it as Sojiro won't hesitate to ban him from Leblanc. And Coffee Dad is armed with One Shot Medjed for extra incentive.