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[heartsteals]

#B91600

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[scooptimistic]

... Right, sorry. Outside of circumstances beyond my control, I promise to bring a buddy.

[ Lupin has helped her out this much, she can listen, if just for that reason. ]

[heartsteals]

I'll be holding you to that promise. No taking it back, all right?

[ the last thing they need is more people wandering into the woods and getting hurt - and she seems like a good person, so Lupin doesn't want to see her suffer. As they approach the edge of the forest, he takes a small switchblade out from one of his pockets, cutting a vertical line into the bark of one of the trees. ]

... Honestly, this place moves around on its own, so it might not do us much good, but it's better than nothing.

[ he doesn't want to get lost in here. ]

[scooptimistic]

One of those mazes with a mind of its own, huh...

[ apparently she's used to them. But Maya nods, sticking close to him as they step inside.

And in the distance, a honk. ]

Aha!

[heartsteals]

[ apparently, she is?! Lupin raises an eyebrow at her response, but before he can ask about it, the sound of their quarry rings in the distance... ]

Looks like my memory was right. [ he starts moving forward, then hesitates a little, glancing over at her. ] ... Just so you know, these geese aren't just normal geese.

[scooptimistic]

Demon geese?

[ ... promptly. ]

If that's the case, I have a few tricks up my sleeves.

[heartsteals]

Do you? Now you've got me curious.

[ literally, though, she seems perfectly average, aside from the evident fact that her world has some kind of magic in it... he can't imagine what she has in mind. ]

[scooptimistic]

I'll show you when we're a little closer. Doing it now wouldn't be too helpful.

[heartsteals]

[ As long as she's not about to shoot herself in the head, Lupin's fine with that. He quirks an eyebrow at her, but starts heading towards the sound anyway, apparently willing to put his curiosity on hold until they find the actual geese.

He's prepared to fight off devil dogs or get lost in a haunted corn maze mysteriously in the middle of the forest - but, miraculously, no such things appear in their path. After a minute or two of walking, they happen upon a small clearing around a pond, and the source of that honk: geese, of course. They look pretty average, except for the fact that they're... lime green? ]

... I think those are geese?

[scooptimistic]

... Not exactly a color I'm used to, but they look goose-like enough! So we just need to get twelve of them to head this way...

[ She's going to try to mimic the honk.

It sounds terrible and the geese all ignore her. ]

[heartsteals]

W... What was that?

[ MAYA?? he really hopes that isn't the trick she supposedly had up her sleeve.... but it might be... he just sort of stares at her. ]

[scooptimistic]

... Well, it was my best attempt at a honk, but I guess subtlety doesn't always work.

[ But as she extends her arm to the side, a metallic figure shimmers into existence and the temperature around them drops. ]

That's fine; Plan B!!

[heartsteals]

I know that, but what were you --

[ he cuts himself off when she's suddenly summoning devils out of nowhere with little to no fanfare, jumping back an inch or two in spite of himself. When are people going to stop doing this?! At least she didn't shoot herself in the head, says some part of Lupin's brain, and he realizes sadly that it's the second time he's thought that on this trip so far. ]

-- Y-you too?! Can everyone here do that or something?!

[scooptimistic]

... Eh?

[ Maya looks genuinely confused by this, even as a fully-formed Artemis hovers protectively beside her. ]

I've only met about... five or so?

[heartsteals]

Five is a lot!

[ he stares at Artemis - who is by far the oddest-looking one he's seen yet, for the record - even as he talks to to Maya. ]

... Geez. I'm starting to feel like I'm missing out.

[scooptimistic]

Well, having a Persona usually means you get involved in a lot of fighting... so it's not really something I'd want for anyone.

[heartsteals]

That wouldn't be so much of a change for me, [ he responds offhandedly, still looking at the strange Persona. So Maya can summon one of these, too. Minato mentioned that only certain people are able to summon them, but he can't think of any common features shared between Minato, Maya and Yusuke aside from all of them being Japanese.

(Maybe that's it? Probably not, right...) ]

So. What's yours called?

[scooptimistic]

Artemis.

... By any chance, have you seen any of the others summon theirs with, ah... a gun?

[ BECAUSE THAT'S STILL HIGHLY CONCERNING. What's also a little concerning is that Lupin is apparently no stranger to fighting, but. Well. He's an adult, he can probably handle himself. ]

[heartsteals]

[ he just gets into lots of trouble...

the comment gets a wry-but-troubled look out of Lupin. ]

I see you've also met Orpheus.

[ Minato, why are you doing that in front of nice ladies?! ]

[scooptimistic]

[ Orpheus... had that Persona been Orpheus? It hadn't been one she was familiar with, either way, but it still makes Maya frown. ]

Is it just Minato-kun?

[heartsteals]

I hope so. He's the only one I've seen do it that way.

[ he said there were others like him back home, but as far as Lupin knows, they're not here. Sorry, Ryoji... ]

I'm glad it's different for you.

[scooptimistic]

I am, too. Fundamentally, the manner of summoning should be the same, so I don't know why--

... Oh.

[ wow, those geese sure did olly out while they were talking?? ]

[heartsteals]

[ yup... they've all heard the noise (either Maya's honking or their idle chatter - maybe both) and have decided to depart for the pond itself, floating in a cute little green flock. Lupin sighs. ]

... Well, I can't exactly go for a swim with you around. Let's see... [ he rubs his chin. ] Got any spells that could help?

[scooptimistic]

[ wow, why not? Maybe he doesn't have swim trunks??

Strange! ]

Mm... I could freeze the pond, or I could try to put them to sleep. They shouldn't sink if that happens, right?

[heartsteals]

[ she's not wrong... he does not have swim trunks... this is part of the issue. ]

Maybe not, but they'd still be stuck out in the water. Freezing the water might not be such a bad idea. That would leave them stuck, and we could just walk out and grab them. Theoretically.

[ if something doesn't go tragically and hilariously wrong, which it will, absolutely. ]

[scooptimistic]

All right... just the water. Artemis!

[ the Persona gracefully extends an arm and the temperature drops even more dramatically. Ice races across the water, and while it does indeed freeze the pond, it's a little too strong.

Hello, several geesesicles. ]

Shit--!