#implied tatsujun

[brillantiny]

we were so in love it hurts now

[imaginarydaydreams]

Picking Flowers on Devils Point: Prologue

Fandom: Persona 2 Eternal Punishment (ft. Innocent Sin) Concept: “A bouquet for the boy who loved too much. That way, you never forget the sin you committed.” A retelling of Persona 2 Eternal Punishment, but Tatsuya Suou has hanahaki disease. A retelling of Persona 2 Eternal Punishment, but Tatsuya Suou has Hanahaki disease. Heavily implied Tatsujun but this ain't about them. Date Written: 7/22/2023 Thoughts: Welcome…to the Sky Museum—Thunderdome. Welcome to the Thunderdome. This is the first part in what I hope to be a multi chapter fic that I will actually finish. Thank you to my collaborator, @thatrandomlittlegirl, for being my enabler and most importantly, helping me fact check everything because god knows my memory in terms of events that happened in Persona 2 IS and EP is shaky at best, despite us playing the games together. AO3 Link | Tagging: @pieuteu

"You know what? I'm glad we met again. Next time, you're gonna join my band, got that? It's a promise; don't forget." "Chinyan, darling...remember me, no matter what. I love you..." "I won't forget; not my sin, not you, not anyone. We'll meet again, and together, we'll save Maya. So I won't say goodbye, only...thank you." "I shall always watch over you from within, and pray that you break through the unwritten laws of destiny and remember each other...Farewell." Farewell.  That was such a finite word, Tatsuya thought as he watched his friends leave one by one through the portal connecting the new world to the old, into the new timeline they had created. With each tearful goodbye, each back turned on him, he could only stare silently while they disappeared into the void, the memories reclaimed after years apart melting away in exchange for a hopeful future where their big sister figured lived once more.  But was that not such a steep price to pay? They had only just found each other again. Saving Jun from the clutches of a demented god; clearing up the misconceptions from ten years ago; fighting for humanity’s future with the power of the friendships once forged at an unassuming shrine so long ago… A mere few days wasn’t enough when the world sought to fall apart around them before they could even play catch-up. Especially when a majority of that time was spent ignorant to the truth and each other’s identities.  Tatsuya clenched his fists at the unfairness of it all. He didn’t want to do this—to forget his time with his beloved friends. He had only just gotten them back. It wasn’t fair that they were so cruelly taken away because of a stupid bet between gods and a cheating prophecy that they couldn’t ever hope of beating.  And yet, he didn’t really have a choice in the matter anymore. Eikichi, Lisa, Jun, and he had all made their decisions immediately. Their memories as payment for Maya’s life. To go back on his promise now was to trample the hopes and dreams they carried for this new world. One where humanity’s dark wish didn’t follow them and bring to fruition a future of ruin. He didn’t have a right to step back on that decision. But that didn’t mean that he wasn’t upset about everything. Heaving a sigh, Tatsuya took a step towards the portal, readying himself to pass through and lose everything, when he was stopped by a hand roughly grabbing the sleeve of his blazer. “And just where do you think you’re going?” The voice was as distorted as ever, but he recognized it all the same. He turned around and came face to face with his shadow, its bright red eyes gazing back at him with scorn, just like back in the Leo Temple. Tatsuya unconsciously moved to flick his lighter, but the comforting feeling of metal clasped between his fingers was nowhere to be found. Ah, that’s right. This was the passage between dimensions; if he was going to move on, then in this new world, he and Jun technically would never have met—never would have exchanged their personal treasures with each other in front of that shop once upon a time. It made sense if he was already being stripped of everything that connected him to this side.  The loss of yet another precious memory burned in his chest.  Instead, Tatsuya shoved at the hand still holding him in a vice grip as irritation began prickling at his skin. His other hand, still seeking out the cool metal of his once prized possession, clenched and unclenched at his side. This only made his shadow laugh, the harsh sound carried through the vastness of the void around them.

“What? You think I’m stepping out of line?” His facial features twisted into a cruel grin, eyes practically gleaming with derision. “I’m only telling the truth, Tatsuya; after all, that’s why I’m here in the first place. “I’ve told you before, you self-righteous hypocrite, your weakness is a sin. What makes you think that you can take on the necessary burden to save the world? “You couldn’t even save the life of your beloved older sister figure.” At those words, Tatsuya grabbed his shadow by the collar, arm poised at the ready to strike. However, his shadow didn’t even bother gracing him with a flinch, as if expecting this of his other self. Rather, he only looked unamused, eyes watching Tatsuya like a hawk, waiting.  "If you really want to go to the Other Side, go ahead. Strike me down. Forget about your friends, your memories—all of the things you did, here and now. Your other half isn’t here to shelter you like before. So let's see your resolve.”  Tatsuya’s fist shook with barely restrained anger.  How dare he. Was he not already proving his resolve by choosing to give up everything for this slim chance at a better future? Was he not already showing how strong he was—giving up the sliver of happiness he was denied after ten long, long years of loneliness and isolation? He didn’t have his friends by his side for so long yet, through a chance meeting, met them again… only to have them ripped away oh-so suddenly because some god decided he wanted to win a stupid bet that damn badly? And now his shadow of all things was saying that he didn’t have the strength to move on?  He could kill his shadow right here and now with his bare hands. Prove his resolve and leave this doomed world behind. All he had to do was let go of everything holding him back.   But as his mind filled with the last words spoken to him in the Sea of Souls, he hesitated. He thought back on everything that happened—the impromptu Joker game at Sumaru Prison leading a ragtag group on a wild goose chase throughout the entire city; finally getting closure for the Alaya Shrine incident; and reuniting with people he thought he would never see again. Could he really give all of that up? It was such a short amount of time they had together…  “I don’t…I don’t want to forget what happened. How could I forget…?”  Tatsuya’s fist dropped, his grip on his shadow’s collar loosening ever so slightly.  His shadow sneered. "Oh you can't? Figures. You’ve never been able to make decisions for yourself, always relying on the strengths of others. Pathetic, aren’t you? You can't do anything, the way you are now. 

“And this is why you don’t deserve this second chance.”  The split second hesitation was all that was needed as hands shot out and wrapped themselves around Tatsuya’s neck, squeezing and constricting his air flow immediately. The crushing weight of the memories that clung to him like a vice felt suffocating in the grip his shadow had around his neck. Tatsuya tried to scramble to break the hold on him—to shove his shadow away, kick him, bite even, anything to just breathe—but his shadow was relentless. The fluttering of his heart pounding incessantly against his rib cage spoke to the very real part of him that didn’t want to die yet, fear crawling down his spine. Was he really going to die here? Was he really not going to be able to fulfill his promise? After a few moments, the grip loosened and Tatsuya fell to the floor, lungs burning and coughs racking his body as he tried to take in the oxygen he was deprived of.  His shadow looked at him, disgusted. “Whatever. In the end, you’re free to continue to cling to those damnable memories of yours. But—“ Hands immediately pulled Tatsuya back up to his feet and every nerve in his being seized up on instinct, moving his arms sluggishly to protect his throat. His body was pulled forward with such force that he stumbled, face to face with red eyes that glowed with an ethereal anger. “—just know you can never outrun the guilt of your sins.” With that, a rough shove propelled Tatsuya backwards and he fell through the portal. A darkness unlike any other began to overtake his vision. Right as he was carried to the new world, Tatsuya could have sworn he heard muttered words in the distance. “For your sake, I can only hope the consequences of your actions come back to bite you.”

——————

When the world came back into focus, Tatsuya was lying on a dark checkered tile floor, marble pillars positioned in a semi-circle reaching into a starry sky. Glowing runes floated around him, undulating with magic that seemed to keep the entire place together. He slowly sat up, taking in his surroundings. He was back in the Sea of Souls. But why? Didn't he just come from there, or some extension thereof? And where was Philemon?  However, before Tatsuya could stand and start to look around, the sound of loud clapping and thunderous laughter reverberated through the space, bouncing off the shadows that enveloped him. "Let's give it up for Tatsuya Suou, Philemon's beloved champion! The boy who doomed the whole world with his selfishness!” From the darkness, a sharp click was heard before a tall figure stepped out, the edges of a Sevens uniform coming into view and fluffy brown hair illuminated by the runes that surrounded them. A gleam caught Tatsuya’s eye, a familiar sight of a metal lighter held between the figure’s hands.  For a moment, he thought that his shadow had followed him across universes to perhaps finish him off—his muscles tensed in the case of a fight breaking out—but the golden eyes that stared down at him with contemptuous condescension spoke to who it was that greeted him. The creature wearing his face gave him a mouth-splitting smile, the corners of its lips curling impossibly far as it delighted in Tatsuya’s shock. “Don’t you think this visage suits me? Or, perhaps—“  A blinding flash of light forced Tatsuya to close his eyes and, when it was once again safe to open them, he found a mockery of his best friend, eyes closed and a sweet smile on his face, standing in its place. A silver watch adorned his wrist, catching the light as if to further taunt Tatsuya on what he couldn’t have.  “—you’re more inclined towards his face, hmm? After all, this is your beloved, the one you yearn to see most.” Even the voice was the same. Yet the distortion underlying the words served as a reminder to who was truly in front of him.  Tatsuya immediately lunged at the cruel god, the burning embers of rage licking at his veins as hands readied to rip him to shreds. He already played his asinine game; no way in hell was he going to let this farce continue for even a second. Not on his nor Jun’s honor.  However, inky black hands sprouted from the floor below, grabbing onto his limbs and pinning him down with an inhuman strength. The pressure was enough to force Tatsuya in a kneeling position no matter how much he struggled. A smile began to slowly spread across Nyarlathotep’s lips at the sight of the proud lion reduced to a mere docile kitten.  “Ah, ah, ah, watch that temper of yours, Sun Arcana. You wouldn’t want to hurt the face of the one you hold dearest, no?” Another haughty and malicious laugh echoed through the void as Tatsuya snarled but didn’t make any further movement. The nails digging into his skin served as a well-needed distraction because, loathe as he was to admit it, Tatsuya couldn’t bear to attack any version of Jun. 

Even if that version was currently a monster wearing his face. Swallowing his pride, Tatsuya just bowed his head, hiding his eyes behind his bangs. At least this way, he didn’t have to witness this disgusting display before him. Nyarlathotep resumed his closed-eyed fox smile, head tilted in contented glee as he circled Tatsuya like a predator to prey. “In the end, you chose to forgo the parameters you yourself decided and kept your memories in an act of pure selfishness. You pushed all the pain upon your friends, yet retained your memories…you claim that I’m evil, but I would say you’re just as heartless as you say I am."  The footsteps stopped directly in front of Tatsuya but he refused to look up. Nyarlathotep instead bent down at the waist and hooked a finger under Tatsuya’s chin, forcing his head up so their faces were leveled with one another. “So tell me, how does it feel to sit upon your throne of lies and broken promises, knowing that everything is and was futile in the end?”  Tatsuya flinched at the words. The Crawling Chaos cackled.  “What will you do now, hmm? Doom this world like you did the other, on account of your selfish wish? Start over again anew? You had your one chance and yet you squandered it, all in the name of the tepid things you humans call bonds.” From his spot, Tatsuya began to curl into himself, fists clenching tighter. He hated this. He hated the fact that he had done the one thing he swore he wouldn’t while he was still battling with uncertainty towards the decision to start the world anew. And in doing so, he had betrayed his friends’ feelings. And for what? Because he himself didn’t want to let them go so soon? Maybe his shadow was right about him being a hypocrite… “No need to feel bad—this is what you humans wanted after all. But perhaps you wish for some comfort? A shoulder to cry on? You’re looking for the wrong person if you think I can provide that. But maybe…” The monster knelt down in front of Tatsuya and slowly reached a hand out to touch his hair, fingers tracing down—past his bangs, the curve of his cheekbone, under his chin—before settling back against his cheek in a tender caress. It felt cold. Tatsuya closed his eyes.  “Tatsuya…” 

No… “Tatsuya, it’s alright…”

Anything but this… The hand cupping his cheek was so achingly gentle. The telltale distortion marking the cruel, faceless god had disappeared, the voice calling out to him light and soft, so much like the voice he was so familiar with. Flashes of memories exploded behind his mind’s eye—small touches here and there, a dazzling smile, bright laughter, and the scent of floral notes mixed with a mild perfume… He should know better. He should know better, but a part of him wanted to give in, to chase after the siren’s song that lured him in. Even though Tatsuya knew—knew that behind those closed eyelids awaited, not the beautiful brown irises he loved, but a cold, unfeeling golden glare—it was the closest he could ever be to his beloved in a world that pegged them as strangers.  But still, Tatsuya remained quiet. Silence passed for a beat or two and, ever the hopeful one, Tatsuya thought that perhaps Nyarlathotep had given up on this charade and gotten bored. However, the sound of feet shuffling closer and a body shifting positions gave the answer. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything, Tatsuya. I’m never leaving your side…” Something soft pressed against his forehead.  The tender dissonance of the action caused Tatsuya to jerk his head to the side, away from the offending figure, biting down on his tongue as his body shook with unbridled rage. He thrashed against the hands holding him down but they didn’t let up. This only caused the figure—brash, cold, and threatening; nothing like the soft and sweet memories of his Jun—to cackle. "Now, now, don't turn away. You and I both know that this is the one face you could never deny," ‘Jun' opened his eyes and instead of the warm browns that Tatsuya knew and loved, they shone gold, glimmering with malice. “Brilliant. Look at that expression, teeming with desolation." “As much as I would like to keep you here to torment for eternity, that’s not what I’m here for.” Having said that, the fake doppelgänger stood up. With a snap of his fingers, a crown of red flowers materialized into his hands. It seemed to pulsate, swaying in an invisible wind as a few petals dropped to the floor like droplets of fresh blood. Between each bloom, the same inky hands that held Tatsuya down linked together in a mass of writhing limbs, forming a monstrous Mobius strip of sorts.  “A gift for you, Paradox Boy. The first of two. I think you’ll find it quite thoughtful.” Nyarlathotep chuckled as if proud of himself. “A crown for the king of fools May it serve as a testament to your greatest sin, the reminder of the point at which this world was doomed by your own hands.” Another silence rang out in the Sea of Souls and Tatsuya peered up cautiously, bracing himself for whatever that monster had in store. He could still see the image of Jun—‘not Jun,’ he reminded himself; the unnatural gold staring coldly down at him shattered all illusion he could have deluded himself into—looking at him with an expression he never thought his Jun could have.  “I won’t give you an explanation for what this does. That would ruin the fun. But considering all the time you’ve spent with my previous pawn, you’ll know what these mean.” Bending down slightly, the Crawling Chaos placed the flower crown upon Tatsuya’s head.

As soon as the crown touched his brow, a sharp pain coursing through his body caused his sight to become blurry, body quaking and writhing from the shock. Tatsuya wanted to scream, cry, curl up onto the floor–anything to get away from the pain assaulting his body—but the hands still gripping onto him kept him upright. At least there was the comfort that they loosened enough to give him back mobility in his arms, even if it was slight. An involuntary cough left him, shaky as the breaths he tried to take in through the hands that covered his mouth. When he pulled one hand away, Tatsuya could barely make out the blobs of red that coated his fingers. They smelled slightly floral with a hint of iron.  He could only stare bleary-eyed at the god in question. Said god only huffed in response. “Oh don’t worry. This won’t be enough to kill you. After all, this is meant to be a punishment. There would be no fun if I just allowed you to simply die. “No, no. I want you to remember your sins with every breath you take and have carved into your heart the reminder that no one can escape Fate so easily. “That is my final mercy to you, Paradox Boy,” Nyarlathotep said, his voice still distinctly Jun’s but now carrying the power of the monstrous god behind it. “And one that is far more kind than anything Philemon could ever give you.” As the Crawling Chaos dissipated into the shadows, the echoes of maniacal laughter leaving Tatsuya alone in the Sea of Souls, he swore he could see the faint, weak fluttering of golden butterfly wings in the corner of his eye.

——————

At the front of an unassuming train station, six strangers met for the first time.

[robaggot]

drew something somft...