[video]

[redpeacoat]

[The grouchy kid in the beanie makes a rare appearance over the network, but this time with a familiar feline on his shoulder; Yu's kitten, Banchou. He's also holding two handcrafted plush toys that are the work of Kanji Tatsumi: a mint-colored bunny rabbit and a Jack Frost. That little cat can wake the soundest sleepers, and by the wrinkles in his turtleneck and even more disheveled hair than usual to frame his tired eyes, it's obvious.]

Don't know how long I've been out. Everyone still closing up shop early? [He references the ordeal with the strange symbol, and panicked residents closing business early in the evening when it appeared.]

[Later, he sends a private video message to the remaining Persona users.]
So who's left?

[He's not sounding optimistic.]

Comments

[Action]

[redpeacoat]

[The hallway light illuminates under the door, and Shinjiro opens it about a minute after the knock.]

Hey.

[Action]

[callmewhateveryuwant]

[Relief man. Thought he lost you too.]

Hey, I'm glad to see you're alright.

[Tempted to hug him to be honest.]

Re: [Action]

[redpeacoat]

[He wouldn't see it coming, truth be told. There's a coldness to his apartment when he opens the door fully.]

No need to... You'll worry anyway, won't you? [He says, with a tone that's difficult to judge between joking and serious.]

[Action]

[callmewhateveryuwant]

[Good that Banchou came after all, it's rather chilly in here.]

It's what friends do. Now let me get you something warm and I'll tell you what's been going on.

[Action]

[redpeacoat]

[Hosting is his job; Yu is a guest in his apartment. He'll make an effort to handle the task himself. He closes the door behind his friend and re-enters the quiet abode. Junpei's chocobo chick is asleep in a nest of abandoned clothes, but everything else lacks life.]

Those symbols. What are they?

[Action]

[callmewhateveryuwant]

[It's almost haunting to think about. So much has happened and it's like Death decided to suck the life out of this place.]

They were from a group called Rangar. Some of their...more younger members thought it would be fun apparently. Their leader wasn't amused by it.

[Action]

[redpeacoat]

[That opens up a lot of other questions. Is it the entirety of the Rangar or just the kids capable of those damages? If that symbol is their own, and it invokes fear into all of the natives, then age has no meaning if one holds that title.]

Must be a hell of a bunch of kids if they have the city forced into hiding at night.

[Wandering into the kitchen, he searches for two clean cups.]

[Action]

[callmewhateveryuwant]

They're actually older than we think. Everyone in the city has stopped aging after the miasma came.

Also their leader...he and Rhea-san are brother and sister.

[Action]

[redpeacoat]

[He was right, in a way. A bit of disbelief is present on his face as he turns back to Yu while the water warms up on the stove, and he idly turns one of the tea cups in his hands.]

Have we stopped aging too?

[Brother and sister...]

He turns into a cat too, doesn't he?

[His weakness is cute little animals, but it might come to bite him in the ass if he accidentally takes in a member of the city or the Rangar.]

[Action]

[callmewhateveryuwant]

I haven't felt much in a year but we could be different.

As for the changing, I don't know what animal he becomes.

[Action]

[redpeacoat]

...Bunch of new faces, and little info to work with. Just a bunch of scare tactics to rattle the locals.

[When the tea is ready, he offers Yu a cup.]