Shapeshifter - Persona 5

8: A Beautiful Rose

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As Morgana walks up, Ryuji gives me a light smile. The tension in my body eases ever so slightly.

Morgana explains the concept of the palace and our plan to steal his desires. Her face lights up with every word. For a moment, I swear I can see a tear in her eye.

"So, these... 'Personas'..." She says, looking curiously at us. "...How do I get one?"

I blink in surprise. "Well, It's kind of like-"

"Hey," Morgana says sternly.

I tilt my head.

"Trying to force an awakening will only make it more difficult," He whispers.

"But if she doesn't awaken, how will she fight? We can't just bring her in without a way to defend herself!"

"If what she knows hasn't triggered it already, it won't be possible to do it here," he says.

I tense. I turn my eyes towards her, staring until the sight is more of a concept than reality. Bad things happen when you expect all to go well. Bad things happen when another life is on the line. Because of you.

I turn back towards Morgana. "She can't go in defenseless...!" I say, my lip nearly curling into a snarl.

"She won't be," he affirms. "With the three of us, we should be able to handle things for some time."

I sneak a glance back at her, then to Morgana, then to myself. I take a slow breath in and out. "Fine..."

"It's not easy to explain," Morgana says to Takamaki. "But you'll understand in due time, milady."

"...Oh," She says, disappointed.

"Don't worry 'bout it," Ryuji says. "We'll protect you until it happens."

"Speaking of protection," Morgana chimes in. "We need to come up with code names!"

"Code names?" I repeat.

He nods. "No good phantom thief infiltrates a palace without a good code name. Besides, with the way palaces are connected to their rulers... there's no way to tell how using our names could affect things." My ears flatten against my head.

Ryuji scratches his head. "Oh! I have an idea for me! I can be... Skull! I thought of it 'cause of how cool my mask is!" I smile at his enthusiasm.

"I was gonna name you 'Thug', but whatever..." Morgana whispers.

"What was that?!" Ryuji seethes. "Hey, what're we gonna call you, anyway? Funny-lookin-cat-thing? Monamona? Mr. Meow-Meow?"

"Those all sound stupid!" He yowls.

"I kinda like 'Mona', though..." Takamaki remarks.

Morgana pauses. Is he blushing...? He grins. "W-Well, if Lady Ann likes it, then maybe it's not that bad..."

"Do uh... Do I need a name too?" She asks.

"It would be safer, Lady Ann."

"I'm not gonna be 'Lady Ann', am I? Feels a bit weird..."

"We can't use your name, anyway," I say. "Maybe... Maybe we just take out your name? 'Lady'? Or..." I look around, passing a glance at Morgana. "Milady, maybe?"

She toys with her hair. "Umm... yeah, I guess 'Milady' would be alright..."

"Okay Ren, you're the last one," Morgana says. "Any ideas?"

I look down at my paws, then wave around my tailcoat. "I got nothing..."

"Uh... Magician? Magic Cat?" Ryuji tries.