Okay I know I said Thursdays. And every other week. But I'm having such a great time writing rn after having writer's Block for months so I'm gonna just post updates when I like I'm sorry lmao
Anyways. This covers the rest of April 11 to April 12! I'm so super proud of this one compared to the last chapters, and I intend to keep updating at this quality
I really wanna keep writing my Fool Makoto au. But the lack of motivation I feel (in general) is strangling me so. I'm gonna start posting about it more (and if y'all have asks or little goofy things to send I'll respond eagerly)
So. Lemme talk about their post treasure parties
After each infiltration, after each successful calling card and treasure acquisition, this group of Thieves get together at the Takemi house for a night of snacks, greasy food, and movies, all up in the landing of the attic. Right outside Makoto's room. They always fall asleep up there,
So here's the sleeping arrangements after the palaces
Shido's Palace
With only three thieves in the real world, it's rather simple. Fool Makoto in the centre of the couch, head tilted back in sleep, the blanket only over her lap.
Chariot Goro has his back to the arm rest, head against the back of the couch, arms crossed even when he's under. His knees are bent, so his feet are against Makoto, not thrown over her lap. He starts out covered in the blanket normally, but "someone" pulls at is so it's only on his legs by morning
And, Lovers Haru. Head on Makoto's shoulder, hugging her arm, curled up under the most of the blanket. She fell asleep first, wakes up second.
Kamoshida's palace
The new joining member here is Emperor Ryuji, and before their sleepover this time, between palaces, Makoto would have picked up a set of bean bags from the second hand shop.
Goro takes both bean bags, lays them out in front of the couch like a really laughable mattress, but he moves his "bed" after Ryuji accidentally steps on him. Twice. By morning the two beanbags are on the other side of the coffee table, and Goro has his own blanket
Ryuji snores. Sprawled over two cushions on the 3 seater, maybe drooling a little onto the tiger plush he brought to hold onto. One of his socked feet is tucked under Makoto
Makoto, and Haru, take up the last cushion. They're, not fully together. Not yet. But theres, something there. Makoto is seated close to normal, Haru sideways on her lap, bundled up in a particular Buchimaru-kun blanket. Their heads are leaned together
Kobayakawa's palace
Newest member here? Priestess Ren,
The rooms had some more added furniture, mainly a plush lazy boy type chair that Makoto and Haru share. Very much like the last sleepover, Haru is bundled into Makoto's side, and even wearing her blue and black hoodie. Makoto falls asleep holding her close,
Ryuji ran up the stairs to claim a beanbag early this time, and he ends up asleep with his head down, legs over the "top" of his chair. Ren is on the other beanbag, curled up kind of like a cat
That leaves the couch to just Goro. When everyone wakes up, they notice he slept like a fucking vampire and believe me, they never let him live that down
Morgana's Palace
Added member? Hermit Morgana!
The couch has three members once again, with Makoto huddled between her little brother/nephew Morgana, and her girlfriend Haru. The three are practically on one cushion, and, yeah. Sae sneaks up to get a photo before she leaves for work
Goro has the arm chair to himself, his feet tucked up under himself because when he tried to recline it, the chair did hit Ryuji-
Ryuji, who takes his beanbag as far away from the chair as possible, winding up right next to Ren. Ren is sleeping like a sickly little Victorian orphan, and Ryuji is as close to the Family Guy death pose as naturally possible
The sleepover for Madarame's palace doesn't happen, with their newest member, Empress Yusuke, mourning
Similarly, there is no actual sleepover after Nov 20, Wakaba's Palace, the interrogation. Each thief spends a night in Makoto's room as she recovers, tho Haru and Morgana are around so much more
Kaneshiro's palace
The first real sleepover Yusuke gets to attend! The gang collapse up on the floor together after the world almost ends. Moon Akira is there with them. The floor of the landing is covered in unrolled futons, the Thieves one big pile of sleeping saviours
Unable to join, due to recovering from being brought back to the real world after so long, Magician Futaba sleeps in the hospital with her mother asleep in a stiff hospital chair
Kawakami's Reality Palace
And. In the aftermath of it all, with Faith Ann, and Justice Hifumi slipping out before morning, it's much the same.
Yusuke lying on the coffee table, still as a plank.
Ren and Ryuji tangled on one beanbag, Ann on the other.
The trio of Makoto, Morgana, and Haru on the couch.
Goro on the recliner, though he's no longer alone. Akira forced him to share his space with him
And, for the first time, Futaba is able to join, sleeping on a mattress dragged out to the landing so she could be as comfortable as possible
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Anyways. Yes. I'm not done with the Fool Makoto au. I will try to cling to any motivation to keep writing it I promise I'm trying
okay im curious about magician!futaba! especially after the sleeping arrangements post brought up her 'real mother' 👀
Mwehehehehe yes lemme tell you a little more about the situation going on with Futaba, aka Cyber
So. At the point the fic is at, all I've been able to reveal so far is she can't leave the Metaverse. Unlike Morgana in base P5, she's trapped, unable to return to the real world
Why?
Her mother's research.
Wakaba is still alive. She's gone kind of off the end of things since her daughter disappeared, and has been working with Kaneshiro (the big bad) this whole time, desperate to keep her research funded, anything to bring back Futaba
Her palace is about how the distortion for her has been focusing on doing anything to keep her research going. It's a bad science laboratory, filled with traps and such-
Cause I am not doing Judgement palace. Hers replaces Sae's, and the Judgement from this au doesn't have a palace (trust me on this)
So. Yeah. At the end, after the Metaverse is "no more" at the end of the Yaldaboi fight, there's no more response from Futaba, who has been communicating through the navigator/as an alien keychain. There's no navigator on anyone's phone, and the lights in the eyes of the keychain won't turn on. They think they failed, until Wakaba calls that Futaba's body, which has been in a coma for 5 years, is finally waking up-
So. Yeah. That's what I'm working with for Magician Futaba! Rather than give her a marketable plushies form, I've gone with this, and having her make a special keychain charm for Makoto's phone for her to see through and use to speak to them all outside the metaverse
Fool Makoto AU; Makoto Niijima, the World, aka 'Monk'
It's time for the post about our protag here, Makoto! This one will have the most "spoilers" aka info on the au, since, well, protag and all.
Makoto before the plot
Things start so much earlier than in regular Persona 5. The big bad ruins Makoto's life when she's 10. Her parents, a criminal investigator and a police captain, they were close to taking down Kaneshiro despite how he corrupted most of the force. They don't listen to his threats, so they have mental shut downs, leading to a car crash where they die, and Sae and Makoto survive
Makoto was separated from her sister, and adopted by a couple from Takahashi. They didn't treat her all that well, took her in for the money and shit. Whole bunch of rules, don't let her really be a kid. Y'know. Not great, but not bad enough that it would raise alarms
But, right before her second year of high school, Makoto messes up. Breaks a rule. She, was caught kissing a girl from her class. So, they accused her of stealing from them, and had her case worker take her from their care. No charges were pressed, but word still gets around that she "did that"
Sae fights to get custody of her sister again after like 6 years, and Makoto is shipped up to Tokyo with a small duffle bag. She hasn't heard from Sae this whole time, not knowing it was her guardians who were throwing out her letters and blocking her calls
Makoto's Persona, Element, and Wreapon
So. Her persona is D'Aubingey, as in Julie D'Aubingey. Why? Cause she was fucking awesome, of course. Famously gay, rebellious, and a fighter of a woman. And because of this, her element? Fire
I did not change her physical weapon, so it's variations of brass knuckles and punchy things. Six shooter for her gun as well, I'm not changing perfection
Makoto's Phantom Thief Identity; Monk
Makoto's rebellion in this au is based on pursuing herself and her desires, which she had been barred from for so long. She'd, been secretly trying to keep up with her Aikido all this time, so yeah. Instead of biker rebel, she's fighter rebel. Hence, she goes by Monk as her codename! It's partially cause of her devotion and drive, and cause of her fit, you'll see
Her mask will still be metal, dark grey, with white bolts on it. Shaped to fit her face this time, and I'm gonna be using a lot of words to describe this so hold on. Doesn't cover her whole forehead, goes up to just about the eyebrows, shaped and sloping downwards in a curve down from eye brow to cheekbone, then it goes down to her jaw in a spike, comes back up to go over the nose. Symmetrical and all that.
And for the suit? Inspiration here is from D&D monks. Base black tunic, doesn't have sleeves, v neck. Black base layer bottoms, down to the ankle. Over top of the base bottoms are loose, blue wide style shorts??? Goes just to just below the knee. Best tunic over the base tunic, dark blue with black linings, no sleeves again, like a vest. Dark blue wrappings on her hands and forearms, wrapped belt over all the tunics, low ankle boots. I'll have the inspo photo below a cut
Makoto's Velvet Room, and Attendant
The first time Makoto is in the Velvet Room, she dreams of being underwater. Dark currents race around her. The second time, she sees a hand, and reaches out. She's lifted from the waters, and finds herself on a dark fishing boat, and it's hard to make out details. "Igor" sits across from her, out of place with the rocking and creaking of the vessel
As her journey goes on, the surroundings become more clear. The waters and sky lighten, more of the boat is revealed, and she can see through the thick fog that used to blind her path. As she completes Palaces and moves forward, the boat seems to change coarse and stuff. Oh, and when she agrees to the Contract, Yuuki raises the anchor, and they drift forward into the fog
Her Strength Arcana and Velvet Room Attendant is Yuuki Mishima. He's dressed in dark blue fishing gear, with a net over his shoulder. It's also tied to his ankle, which is revealed later
Makoto's Outfits
Makoto starts out in the standard uniform. Doesn't have a reason to change it up yet. But, after the first palace, she switches things up just like her fellow second years and thieves, Lovers Haru and Chariot Goro! And, as she meets new people and makes new confidants, parts of her outfits change and stuff. Y'know. Influence of her new friends, so it's mostly the other Thieves, but eh
Okay, spring and fall uniform, the base one. Over the turtleneck uniform top, Makoto wears a blue and black hoodie. It's black on the main part of it, with blue for the sleeves, hood, and pocket, and the drawstrings. She wears the blazer still, open, but has swapped to the uniform pants.
Summer uniform! The uniform shirt is on, but over it is a short sleeved plaid shirt, blue and black, with a hood. Uniform pants still, but suspenders down
Spring and Fall Outfit! So, it's the hoodie on top, but under it would be a tight, plain black t-shirt. Like, the kind you wear for exercise. Pants? Relaxed fit, black utility style pants, with the jogger style sinch at the bottom. Buchimaru socks, always
For summer? Black tank under the hooded shirt form her summer uniform, long Cycling shorts down to just below the knee, and then light beige cargo shorts over top.
And, winter. Bulky black coat, blue and black plaid scarf, dark red, fitted tech pants, and big bulky winter boots, with a steel toe in them. Gloves are black, with little red snowflakes on the backs
Social Link Influences
I'm separating this from the outfit one cause some of these aren't just clothing or accessories. It'll be as close to the order she meets them as possible, so like, it's plot stuff here.
Sae, the Hierophant - the Buchimaru socks. Sae had been buying Buchimaru stuff the entire time they were apart, to remind her to keep fighting to get Makoto back. So, they have matching socks! And, there's a big plush that sits on Makoto's bed. It's not the exact one she had as a kid, but it's the same model as the one she had
Tae, the Death - an undercut. Tae is the one who gives her a fresh haircut before her first day at Shujin, since her guardians made her keep it long. So it's her canon bob, but a little more choppy. She asked for the shaved bit when she noticed her sister-in-law had one. So, yeah her hair is less strict looking
Futaba, the Magician - a small phone charm of an alien, it lights up when Futaba is using Makoto's phone to communicate with those outside the Metaverse!
Haru, the Lovers - a little keychain of My Melody on her school bag. Haru has a matching Kuromi one, says it's to remind them of their friendship. And then relationship cause Haru is the canon romance for this au
Goro, the Chariot - from her first friend, she gets her drive for competition back. A reason to try to stay on top as a student
Akira, the Moon - social skills. This is not a joke, she learns to be more social and more like a real teenager
Ryuji, the Emperor - new sneakers! They go out and buy shoes together when Ryuji becomes a thief, and she picks out a pair of high top runners, blue and black
Takuto, the Sun - emotional health. He's her therapist, like for real. And ways to move forward and shit
Ren, the Priestess - new piercings! Both had their ears pierced to begin with, but they go and get new ones. Makoto gets two bar helix piercings, to start
Morgana, the Hermit - a hand made bracelet. He wears a matching one, and they're meant to signify their promise to each other to move forward, and help others
Hifumi, the Justice - a trick chess piece. A Queen, with a small blade inside. Makoto has the white queen.
Eiko, the Devil - self care. This social link is gonna be real special, since I love their canon friendship, so. Makoto learns actual skin care, and also, to slowly love herself despite everything
Yusuke, the Empress - a tattoo. Yup. He designs one for himself, based on his mother, and she asks him to design one for her, too. A little motorcycle, with a peony. For her parents.
Zenkichi, the Judgement - a second chance. He believes her, despite it all, and saves her from the Nov 20 plot.
I'm stopping here, cause the others are tough to explain in so little words, but I'll make sure to mention it in their posts
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THERES GONNA BE A CUT. TELL ME WHAT YALL THINK OF THIS, CAUSE IVE STARTED WRITING THIS AU! I'd really appreciate feedback, questions, even suggestions! Not everything is fully figured out, so ye
Below will be details about the Royal Semester, and Strikers, along with the photo refs for Makoto's Phantom Attire
Makoto in the Royal Semester
So for Royal, I'm taking a different approach. With Kawakami as the Councillor Arcana, things are of course, different
The Royal Semester plot is essentially the Royal Trio for the au (Makoto, Justice Hifumi, and Faith Ann) trying to work together to think through the things Kawakami has promised to them, as all three have different feelings on it. Theyre mainly leading the charge alone, and working through their stuff together
For Makoto, Kawakami has offered her EVERYTHING. What this means, is she's offering a world where her parents never died, and she still came to be as she is now, with her friends. A "perfect" reality, just for free
And, Makoto is really fucking angry about it. She fought for this world, and the idea of just being handed everything and more? Oh, that's the worst. For Makoto, fighting is her rebellion, her purpose those last few months.
How can she just, let Kawakami erase that struggle? It's what made her-
That's her side of it. She spends days around Tokyo with the other two, and in the Palace, working through their feelings and her own too.
Makoto in Strikers
Okay so for the main plot? Makoto was in second year. For Strikers, it's the winter break of her first year of college/university.
She and Haru have an apartment or dorm at their school, I'm thinking Kyoto University, cause there's a culinary school in the city too, for Haru. Makoto is studying Engineering and Mechanics, with the goal of making safer motorcycles and vehicles. The hands on type of engineer, the building kind
Makoto will be so different than she was at the start of the plot. So, healed. She'd still have her hoodie from above, with any holes or rips fixed up with a cross style of stitching. She'd have dark overalls, the cargo kind, and when she has her arms out, it is shown she's been getting more tattoos. Some gears, and vines
Also, I think Strikers will have a Shadow Operatives theme to the plot. Still working on it
Okay! Ref images!
These are what I looked at for Makoto's Monk fit, but with alterations of course
Also, this is as close to the base mask design idea I have as I could find, so this is just the shape, kinda
So, things start much earlier. The one running the scene in the bad guy sense is Kaneshiro, and he takes care of anyone investigating him. Which includes taking out two investigators about to blow things wide open.
He goes to their private office, threatens them to back off, and they don't. On the way out, he's seen, heard making his threats. Makoto is ten when she watches him walk away. She's ten when her parents drive off the road later that night. She's ten when she's separated from her older sister by adoptive parents who couldn't care less about her, only took her in cause of the money they'd get
Makoto doesn't hear from her sister for years. She believes the whole time that Sae didn't wanna have anything to do with her. She keeps her head down, does as she's told. Until, she gets caught breaking one of the house rules. She kisses a girl.
So, she's accused of stealing money from her adoptive parents, and they throw her out. Luckily, they don't actually file charges against her. But, she's 15, and with nowhere. Until she's told she's being sent to Tokyo, cause she's going to live with her older sister
Sae Takemi, as she's known now, is a Criminal Investigator like their parents were. She's married to a doctor, Tae, and they've recently adopted a son. Morgana. She's missed her sister all this time, tried to call and send letters, but of course it was all blocked or burned
Makoto lives in the main house in this au, and Morgana as the Hermit is introduced from the start. As many of them as possible are, but that's semantics. Makoto lives in the basement, so she has her own space away to get used to things, and she adjusts to being allowed to be a teenager
She's less ostracised than Joker was. But, rumours start coming around. That she reason she's in Tokyo was cause her adoptive parents didn't want her anymore. Lies about how her sister only took her in cause she had to. Add on the fact that she shows up quiet, with her head down? Yeah. She's not really popular
(everyone is a year younger here so I can have Makoto and crew be in second year cause I want to)
Anyways. On her walk to her first day, she spots a girl. A kind of sad look to her, standing with an umbrella. And Makoto just stands there getting soaked in the rain, and maybe feeling a little gay, and before the other girl can say something, a car pulls up
It's Shido, a boy in his passenger seat. He greets the girl, Haru Okumura, and kicks his son out of the car so he can give her a ride
And that's how Makoto meets Goro. He scowls at the car driving off, curses out his perverted father, and they walk together. But they get sidetracked when they pass the local gov building two streets from the school
PALACE ONE IS SHIDO
He's using internships with Shujin to get at young girls. Keeps Goro there as an assistant to do dirty work in exchange for supporting his mom. Haru is only there cause her dad wants her to help the business from the gov side
Magician is Futaba. She's in the Metaverse kinda like Sophie I'll figure it out
They take shit down and I'm working on stuff past this but I do wanna say Makoto's persona? Based on Julie D'Aubigny. Fire Protag
After the first palace the gang all change up their school uniforms a bit. They all were proper before, because two of them were in political internships and one of them didn't want to do anything to draw attention
Goro adds a vest of some sort. Not uniform, and dark red. Haru gets like themed socks? Maybe kitty socks, something else that's kinda cute maybe. Makoto has a hoodie on under her blazer, dark blue and black. Also, pants.
Next palace? KAMOSHIDA. Ryuji comes in here, but he lives in Yongen, so he's run into Makoto during a jog here and there. He's a first year at Kosei, and he's been working with the track team and they're improving so Kamoshida starts taking the credit for it. Says if Ryuji says anything, his scholarship will go away
Then, idk who the palace ruler for 3 will be but the Priestess is Ren. He and his brother, Akira, are twin former child actors at Shujin, and are now trying to live normally. Says Ren, at least. Ren is the quieter twin, whereas Akira is snarky and known to be trouble in a kind of flirty, fun way
Ren, Akira, and Makoto are all members of Student Council together, so that's how they're shown earlier.
Hermit Palace is Morgana, it's like a cursed mausoleum, cause he thinks he curses those around him. Thinks he's responsible for the death of his parents, and for the misfortune he sees happening to his new moms, Sae and Tae
He's 10, as old as Makoto was when her life fell apart. So, she really feels for him. He's been silent since they met, withdrawn, all sad and shit. He doesn't go to school regularly either, and Sae and Tae mention to Makoto that he's nervous about a lot of things. That he sees the same therapist they have her going to as well
(Maruki, the Sun Confidant)
Morgana and Makoto really bond in this, as mock Big Sister Little Brother, cause she's technically his aunt. A big thing is he starts going to school again in the fall semester, and starts acting like a normal kid more
Like. I'm really centering on making this little family very healing. Sae and Tae are home as much as possible despite their busy jobs, and they make a show of celebrating accomplishments with dinner out
After that, well, it's Madarame Palace. Empress Yusuke! Still working on the details here, but Makoto would've encountered him by now so he's not just introduced in the second to last act and not getting development
Oh and I'm working on Faith Ann, too
Justice in this? It's Akira. The Palace before Kaneshiro is Wakaba, whose daughter is in a coma cause of the research she was doing for Kaneshiro (psst that's the Futaba origin story) and then the holy grail and shit
I think that's most of what I have for this?? But yeah. The Thieves here would be very close, and I'd make sure they're shown as actual friends, like the IT. Almost like family, y'know?
I'm thinking for the Temperance, I might do Iwai. I havent done that variation of him yet, and I think it could work. And maybe Counselor Yoshida? That or Kawakami
