Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 45

"What do you think you're doing here!? You can get yourself killed!" The little boy hissed, scolding them before knowing it. He had to look up at them and have a rather sharp glare when facing them yet... Well, aside from looking adorable thanks to his babyface it was the tone which made them flinch in one go and take a step back.

He had dragged them downwards, at a place which was apparently safe. Said place was basically one of the stops the train took, or so they assumed. The colors were still the same and the look was just as distorted as always. Especially when looking a bit further, then only seeing black particles flying across the room in the back with a red background. Or something like that. And yet still no soul around outside of those odd beings...

Yet they soon had their attention back onto the boy who had been eyeing them still with this sharp glare of his. His tail had been standing up and so were his ears, all while his hands were on his hips... Or his sleeved covered hands but details. "If I hadn't been around the corner, you would have probably been killed! What made you think exploring this place on your own was a good idea anyways!?"

"I... I didn't see anyone earlier so I thought that maybe someone was here and then I just... Well..." They tried to explain yet that didn't make it any better. That was the truth at the very least, they just wanted to find someone at this place, whoever that would be. It only calmed the boy down a little it seemed yet his stern gaze was still on them.

"Hah... If it's your first time here then I won't blame you I suppose." He sighed. "You should've at least been more careful. I couldn't tell your mother anything. She wouldn't get it."

"Huh? Mom? Why bring her u—" Yet then they took a closer look at him, from head to toe. The size didn't match up and the clothes were way too big... And the hair was a little long. But when looking at the face and the clothing style at least... Especially the face profile – The slightly pointy chin as well as the somewhat small nose... Not to mention how one side of the head had been covered by the hair... This boy... He— "Dad?"

The boy looked a little shocked for a moment, as if he had not expected that assumption. However, he sighed shortly after, then crossed both of his arms. "Is that who I look like?"

"Eh? Look like?" Wait, he wasn't— Oh, right. Of course not... Or rather probably not.

"Then again, maybe I shouldn't be surprised that you don't recognize me right now. After all, I usually don't look like a human."

"W... We– Wait, you don't look like a human?" That was weird to hear and it made no sense at first... Until the boy had finally introduced himself.

"It's me, Ole."

"Wait... Hold on, you are— Ole!? But you don't even look like a cat! I mean you have your cat features and all but—"

"I'm aware of that." He sighed, slightly annoyed. "But who knew a human body could come in handy. It's a lot better than a cat one for here at least."

"But wait, if you're really Ole then—"

"Whoever takes my sofa shall feel my wrath!" He interrupted quickly, overly serious, as if he was going to cut something. And it hit hard too. And it sounded like something Ole would say. He was known for really liking his sofa. And it all sealed the deal when he added: "Also I should demand for some butter already! You two need to stop keeping it from me!"

"Ok ok! I get it! It sounds believable at least..." They admitted, sounding a little defeated however. "But why do you look like that?"

"I have no clue." The old man responded rather easily. "I'm pretty new to this place myself. I was only able to find out so much to be honest. I stumbled upon it by accident one day. I slept and then woke up here in this body."

"I... I see..." Of course Ole slept and has a gap on how he entered the place probably. Well, this entire location did look surreal. They still believed that they were dreaming in some way. What if this was all just a joke? "So uhm... Do you know where we are?"

"I have no terms nor names for it but from what I could piece together it's connected to... Uhm... The human mind I think."

"The human mind?" They repeated questioning, receiving a confirming nod from him.

"Yeah, the human mind. Or rather their perception of the world. Things are affected here and apparently there is also a way to affect the real world this way."

Huh? These terms... "Do you mean cognition?"

"Ah!" Ole's ears wagged upon hearing that word, as if this was a new realization to him. "Yes, that's the word! Cognition! This part is a representation of mankind's cognition!"

Is it? Could they really take this at face value? Even with Ole looking so serious at them, a bit more serious than when his food was on the line. So he meant it at the very least. But... "Can this even be possible? I mean—"

"Oh please. I'm in this human–like body and we're both in this realm of existence. And that is what you're questioning?"

"Ah– I... It's not just that I'm questioning!" They countered, becoming a little defensive perhaps. "I mean this is all a bit much to process you know! Especially at once!"

"You have a point but—"

"C... Could you give me some time at least? Please?" They asked, eyeing the boy carefully. This one eyed them as well for a moment, then looking around a few times with his own gaze, as if observing the area closely.

"Wouldn't you prefer to go back?"

"No! I still have some questions! Besides, I have a feeling that I may have to go here more often later down the line so we may as well keep exploring!"

"You say it as if I have already agreed to take you with me."

"So you did some exploring already?"

"Yes but I didn't start out defense—"

"Then it'll be a bit of a breeze! Let me take a break and then put me up to speed, alright?"

"Hah... You're as stubborn as always..."