cognitivism | ➵IC Contact

[He shrugs stiffly and fidgets with the water bottle, turning it end over end.]

I don't know... I want to know why everyone's willing to give you this second chance, but I don't know what to ask to figure that out.

If I am honest? I'm not entirely sure myself. My crimes are not something to forgive or even allow a second chance despite the lack of physical evidence on my part.

[ He has contemplated this for a while. ]

What have they told you about me? Perhaps we should start there.

I only know that you're a killer, and what I heard in that coffee shop.

[It...really wasn't a lot. Enough to be aware of the basics and to know that Akechi, at least, seemed to be more honest than Adachi. It was a small point in his favor.]

Simply that I murdered people? Well that's simply the tip of the iceberg.

[ He takes a deep breath, wondering where to begin. ]

Did they tell you that it started when I was fifteen? I learned I could summon a Persona and ran to the first person I knew who would appreciate it -- the man who groomed me into a murderer.

[For a long moment Yuri can only stare blankly at him. Knowing Akechi was a murderer was one thing. Being reminded that he was just another kid, and one who'd been led onto this path by someone he trusted, on the other hand, left a sick knot in his stomach and dried out his mouth. He finally takes a sip of that water.]

They...no. They didn't mention any of that. ...What kind of sick fuck taught you—that?

[ It takes him a moment to respond. The thought that his father had been behind so much of his actions, propping him up, telling him that this was the right path to take for the good of the country -- for the good of him -- caused bile to rise in his throat.

In the end, he still was the one who pulled the trigger in the cognitive world. Anything he says now is a poor excuse for his actions. ]

My father. [ It comes out quiet at first, his hands balling into fists to conceal his rage as best he can. ] I suppose at the time he didn't realize I was his son. I was, after all, simply his bastard in the way of his political gain until he realized I could use the Metaverse as a stepping stone to become Prime Minister.

That's... unfortunately not even scratching the surface.

What the fuck... [His fucking father? The knot in Yuri's stomach twists, and for a few uncomfortable moments he's sure he's going to be sick right there.]

That's—it's fucking sick no matter who you were to him, but that's— Holy shit.

[He opens his mouth like he wants to say something else, but there really aren't any words left in him. What is there to say about a situation that twisted?]

You took the words right out of my mouth. I.. lost control of myself, and in the end I was approached by a cognitive version of myself that proved that my father saw me only as a weapon to be disposed of.

[ He tries to relax his hands, before looking over to him. ]

My final act was to make sure the Phantom Thieves escaped to change his heart. I know my actions were wrong -- I have no excuse -- but if anyone could make sure he paid for his crimes... it was them.

Your final... [He couldn't possibly mean what Yuri thinks he means, right? There's no way... He doesn't realize he's squeezing the water bottle until a splash of water bursts from the top and over his hands.]

Uh— I...sorry. Even if what you did was awful, that's... That's fucking shit.

It's no excuse, I admit to that.

[ He pauses, taking a deep breath. After everything was said and done, he can't say he doesn't regret anything he's done. He regrets going to Shido in the first place, losing his vision of Justice in the name of petty revenge. ]

I'm afraid I don't know if I lived through the encounter. It is...complicated.

Has Kitagawa-san ever explained why the Phantom Thieves started?

Saying it's complicated is kind of... [Were there even words to say how much of an understatement that was? He leaves the statement incomplete rather than trying to search his weak vocabulary for the right phrase.]

He probably did, but there's been...a lot going on. [For a long time, at that.] I forgot it if he did say anything, so I'll listen to your explanation for it too.

...yeah.

[ He appreciates what Yuri is trying to say, despite being unable to find the right words. That was the most difficult thing about this situation: there was never a good word to use. ]

It was to change the hearts of corrupt adults that abuse their power. Their first target was a high school teacher who sexually assaulted female students and abused the team he coached -- it came out very quickly he was likely the reason for a young woman to attempt suicide.

It was their sense of rebellion that lead them into the Metaverse, that gave them their Persona.

[ That much he understood. To take back what Adults have ruined. To prove that they are worth it, and the world deserves better than those with twisted desires. His own sense of justice was lost to the whims of someone who used him, was he just as bad as the adults he hates?

Why did they even bother with him? ]

I hope that helps your understanding to some extent. Their "victims", so to speak, were those who held power and abused those below them. Their targets removed the agency of those around them... thus the Phantom Thieves of Hearts were born.

[ H O L Y S H I T ]

[Yuri had known they were changing the hearts of criminals, and he'd understood the vague concept of criminal as "Bad People" who were hurting others, but he hadn't considered just how awful the gritty details of it might be. He turns a sickly shade of gray while the information about the teacher—and the implications about the caliber of criminals they faced in general—sinks in.]

It...yeah. It helps. [A shaky breath.] They're doing work even more important than I thought.

You are close with Kitagawa-san, are you not? I'm surprised he hasn't told you much. If you want the details of their endeavors I would be happy to explain.

[ Close was an understatement. He noticed his reaction to him when he kissed Yuri, he realized something more was going on. He didn't dare assume, but it was a little obvious. ]

Would you like some more water?

[ He noticed his expression, trying to at least be a better host before the soft mew from Justine. He smiles softly, rubbing her head before he returns his gaze to Yuri ]

Or you could hold Justine. She is a lap cat, apparently.

He has, but it wasn't... I mean—I didn't know anything about that teacher.

[He glances down at the nearly empty water bottle he's still holding and then up again, shrugging vaguely.]

...The cat might be better. If she doesn't mind sitting with a stranger.

She is very friendly. I am grateful that she's rather easy going.

[ He nods, before he moves to lift Justine off the ground and set her in Yuri's lap. She's content, turning in a circle before curling up. ]

Do you have questions about their targets then?

[Yuri turns his attention to the cat as soon as she's settled down. It does look like petting the animal is helping to relax him. He's still bothered by the topic, brows drawn together and frowning, but he's not as pale or tense as he was a moment ago.]

...No. No, I think I get just how bad their targets are now. Were, I guess. The actual monsters of society.

It's a slippery slope, however. If they continued to enter the Metaverse and target those they deemed monsters, where do they draw the line? I was openly critical of them despite what I was doing behind the scenes.

I still feel that way, but they had their rules, their lines in the sand.

[ He takes a deep breath, returning to his seat. ]

It's difficult to say what they intend to do now.

Do you want to help them?

[Yuri moves to scratching lightly at the base of Justine's ears, frowning uncomfortably for a long moment before he finally looks up with a shrug that's meant to make him look unaffected. It definitely doesn't do that.]

Yeah, I'm going to. Supposed to. I've got some training to do to catch up to the rest of them so I can help without getting in the way first.

If you need any assistance with that, I am more then happy to help -- if you wish my help that is.

[ He doesn't expect Yuri to take him up on his offer. Goro couldn't help but assume he would be brushed off, that his training would be with the other Phantom Thieves, that they would never have any sort of mutual trust.

Yuri knew Yusuke. Yuri probably knew all the venom that came from that association. Why should he assume otherwise? ]

I think Yusuke would have a heart attack if I took you up on that. And I've got a lot of trainers already...

[Between Viktor, Yusuke, and Magnus it was a wonder he hadn't been told to cut himself some slack yet. Probably because they didn't all know about each other yet.]

Ah, then good luck in that.

[ He's not wrong though. ]

Then at least allow me to provide you information when you feel like they are hiding something from you. Things about the past, their work, or their skills -- I don't have much to hide.

You and I are both outsiders among the Phantom Thieves. [ He looks at his hands, the words escaping him before he was able to stop them. ] They may promise honesty, but there is always something to hide.

Are you sure that's not just because you're a murderer?

[...Look. Yuri only has so much tact, and he's used up a lot of it in this conversation already.]

What kind of stuff are you saying they'd hide anyway?

[ Deep breaths. Seriously Yuri? Seriously? He shoots him a glare before he turns from him. ]

They've been through a lot. I can't tell you what they'd hide but it's always a possibility. You can't be that short sighted.

[Yes, seriously. Akechi is earning some points with him for not snapping at him about the jab. It's a nice change from dealing with Adachi.]

Yeah, I get they've been through a lot. But if they don't tell me something, I think... [He frowns, unsure how to explain exactly what he's thinking in words. He might be hurt if the Thieves kept something from him, but he wouldn't begrudge them their secrets. He certainly had plenty of things he didn't like to talk about either.]

I guess I just think they'll tell me what's important when I need to know it.

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