Chapter Text
Safe rooms were… strange to Makoto. In Tartarus, the only "safe" place to be was the lobby, and even then, they had to worry about Shadows wandering down or inside. Even in floors with few enemies or only gate guardians, they still had to worry about the Reaper the entire time. Nowhere in Tartarus was truly safe.
That's why he found it so hard to relax like the Thieves seemed to be doing. They, of course, were worried about Ren, but there was nothing they could do, so they simply tried to recuperate. Makoto had Ren resting in his lap, running his hands through Ren's hair much like 'Arsène' had been doing earlier. Despite Ryoji being by his side, Crow sitting nearby Ren, and 'Arsène' floating behind them, he still couldn't help the restlessness running through his veins. He needed to do something. He wanted to go out and blow off some steam on a few Shadows, but he knew no one would let him do that. He tried earlier, and 'Arsène' had plopped Ren onto him in order to keep him from moving. Dirty trick, but it worked.
"You're called Arsène, is that right?" Crow turned to look at 'Arsène'. "Mind answering a few questions of mine?"
'Hah. Mon corbeau, you know mon voleur could never deny a question from you.'
"Ooh!" Futaba butted in as Crow was too busy sputtering about some brainless sentimentality, "Can we ask questions too?! It's not fair that only Skull and Mona have seen you for more than a second!"
'Hmm. I suppose it could not do much harm. Take heed, however, that I retain the right to refuse any questions I believe too invasive.'
Futaba stuck her tongue out at the demon. "Fair, but I can't believe I'm catching strays."
"Ahem," Crow cleared his throat, leveling a glare at 'Arsène' for a few seconds for embarrassing him, "so, you're Ren's initial Persona, is that right? Why are you summoned right now? That shouldn't be possible if he's unconscious, as far as I know."
'Curious, isn't it? I must admit, I do not exactly know the reason for it either. I was in the Trickster's heart as normal, but then his heart was… disrupted, in a way. When I awoke again, I was separated from the Trickster, and could not return. There was a disconnect in our bond that prevented me from returning to his soul.'
Makoto grimaced. That didn't sound good. He couldn't imagine having Orpheus physically separated from his soul. How did that even work?
'I see… perhaps this is why I could not feel my bond with him either.' Orpheus murmured contemplatively.
That meant it wasn't only 'Arsène'. Did that mean Ren was separated from all his Personas? That made him basically defenseless… Makoto should've just used Armageddon on Maruki when he had the chance.
"Wait, you can't go back? Could that be why he isn't waking up?" Queen theorized, a hand to her chin. "We already tried our cure sleep items and our revives. Maybe if we find some way to fix whatever's keeping the two of you separated, he'll wake up?"
'Arsène' seemed to shrug, which looked kind of ridiculous on such an imposing demon. 'You may try. If anything you do brings harm to my Trickster, however, I cannot promise I will not go berserk once more. You may have to defeat me once more.'
Queen grimaced, but Skull just gave 'Arsène' a thumbs up. "We already beat you before! We can do it again! You don't gotta worry about us!"
'Arsène' shook his head fondly. 'I have no doubt in your capabilities. I am simply informing you that my potential actions will not be out of ill will.'
"Hey, I just wanted to ask, why do you look so different?" Panther stared at 'Arsène' curiously. "I saw you for like— a few seconds back at Kamoshida's palace, and then another few seconds back when we fought the God of Control. You didn't look anything like…" Ann gestured vaguely around 'Arsène', "…this."
"He doesn't normally look like this?" Makoto asked in confusion. Did Ren's Persona change at some point between that October and now? "He looked like this back when Re—er—Joker first summoned him." Referring to Ren by that name was going to take some getting used to. "He's a lot stronger now, though."
'Hm. I presume it has something to do with the doctor. My Trickster has grown much during the time I slumbered, to where my chains had loosened once he properly awakened me. To be back in this attire… I must say, it is quite jarring.'
"Wait- so if you looked like that during all that Dark Hour stuff—" Ren told them about the Dark Hour? Well, they were all kind of running through something similar, so maybe Makoto shouldn't be so surprised. "—then… dang, Joker was an emo ass kid." Oracle glanced at Makoto. "Though, with that guy as an older brother, maybe I shouldn't be surprised. Must run in the family or something."
'Arsène' snorted, not expecting that turn around. 'Perhaps. It was a perilous time, back then.'
"If you were separated, how did you find Joker again?" Crow steered the conversation back. "You said your bond was disconnected, no? How did you find yourself right in front of a passage that lead to him? And why the hell were you able to clear the flowers blocking the entrance to… whatever the hell that place was?"
'Arsène' stayed silent for a while, staring at Crow with an unreadable face. It was hard to tell what the demon was thinking when his face was stuck in that fiery expression the entire time. Eventually, he simply said, 'I am thou, thou art I.'
"That doesn't answer my question."
''Twas not meant to, mon corbeau.'
"You and Joker are both utterly infuriating."
"Well, whatever the case is, we can figure it out while we fix this, right?" Ryoji stood up, stretching as he did. "Is everyone alright to go out? We'll probably find more answers exploring than being cooped up in here!"
Makoto glanced at 'Arsène'. As much as he loved his baby brother, Makoto was not going to carry him around the entire time, especially not if he was going to fight. And also he may or may not be petty about 'Arsène' throwing his brother down on his lap to prevent him from moving.
'Hmph. Don't look at me with such a gaze. You must understand, you gave me no other choice.' The demon said, picking Ren up with such care that almost seemed uncharacteristic from the last time Makoto saw him. At least he knew Ren's own heart wouldn't purposely hurt him. He could make peace with that.