Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 129

The days as a mere man doing patrols… Being responsible for nothing more but to ensure public safety, which meant that it was nothing more than having a close eye on the traffic and some passersby. Honestly, Eli had not imagined that his work would look like this at the time but, to be fair, everyone had to start small. It was also the time where he may have acted out of line and got into a scolding a few times. Just like that day when he had met a certain man… One who would nudge him into the right direction with his words alone.

It was shortly after yet another scolding. All he did was stop some guy who was running with a bag not belonging to him, just after he had heard the scream of a woman. Honestly, it was the biggest clichée in the world yet he knew that he had to do something. After all, that was part of his job, helping those in need. And that was what he had done. By some sheer luck the guy had run right into his direction after all. So he just grabbed him and threw him onto the ground with his face down, no questions asked, and kept him down by stepping on his back. He then retrieved the bag and returned it to the woman. An officer of higher rank had seen it however and while he commended the action there was also a scolding for ‘not keeping his eyes where they should have been’. As if that was more important. He had only scoffed at that time and not saying a word, not wanting to get deeper into trouble. It wasn’t worth it. Though he had ended up annoyed and his face had shown it. Was he just supposed to stand by and let the shitty thief escape or something? Ugh… 

That was where the man had come in however. At the time it was an unfamiliar, deep voice which had spoken to him however, one praising him nonetheless. “Don’t let it get to you boy. You did the right thing.”

Eli had turned after hearing that, only to be met with a sight of a different guy. This man was taller than most people he knew and slightly taller than him. Pale skin and wearing the typical formal clothes for a guy, meaning a black suit with a tie matching the color. His hair was short and wavy yet also just as black. It made his eyes stand out however, a deep, dark green. Or eye rather as he had one side covered by the hair. All while a gentle smile was plastered onto his face. It was simple enough. He looked old too but not too old. At least older than Eli. Mid 40s maybe? That was his best guess. But… That didn’t seem right.

In any case, it was a little suspicious at first so the young man had to ask: “What are you talking about?”

“You helped that woman over there, didn’t you?” The man responded, his voice overall calm. “And yet you got a bit of a scolding.”

“And you know that how exactly?”

“I happened to see it.” He responded. 

Eli only scoffed at that claim at first, turning his gaze away for a moment. “And?” He didn’t get it, why would that man bother? The two were total strangers after all. So what was the point? “You want something?”

“Haha, no. I just wanted to let you know that you did a good job.” The man had laughed at the beginning. Though it was not a laugh to look down on him, no. It was one which seemed to be a bit more light hearted, as if taking Eli’s attitude with a bit of humor. He wasn’t annoyed or anything however. Or it didn't sound like that at least. No, he was actually taking this rather well. No screaming, no scolding, no yelling. None of that. 

In fact it had Eli caught off guard so much that he just turned back to the man, his own eyes shot wide open in disbelief. H… How? “Uhm… Thanks?”

“Stick to your guns, alright?” The man added while petting the police man’s shoulder for a moment, then walking past him and heading off. “Good luck to you son!”

To say that he had been dumbfounded would have been an understatement. After all, this came out of nowhere. But… He would lie if he didn’t say that this didn’t give him the motivation he needed. Because it did.

But… Who was that man? Well, to anyone’s surprise hearing the story it was no other than Karl Wolf. Yes, the same one. It had been Eli’s first interaction with the man and the both had then bumped into another more often than not. Each time he would congratulate Eli and tell him to keep going if not help out in some way. It wasn’t much, usually he was just treated to dinner after a late shift or something but the thought was there. It was during those times where he had learned more about the guy and slowly grew to… Trust was the wrong word actually but there was some deep respect there at least.

Karl loved talking about his family, his daughter and wife especially. But even the old cat from time to time. He really cherished them, anyone could tell. When it wasn’t that though he often talked about stories from abroad, when he was still working in the textile industry as a businessman. He described some fun stories yet also the cruel work environment. Eli had not been envying that part honestly, even if the old man had been able to travel around the world. It was… Surprisingly pleasant. At a point a little too pleasant, it awoke some suspicion at first.

Hence why he had asked one time for the reason. “Why are you bothering with me?” He had asked. He didn’t expect Karl to drop his face in any way yet he had looked a little more amused that time when being asked, as if he had been waiting for this. Then again, he admitted something himself.

“I get it. A man approaching you out of nowhere might seem sketchy. I won’t blame you for that.” He said. That sounded fair enough. Though the last part Eli had not expected. “It might be because I didn’t get to live my dream back then.”

His… Dream? “What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, right. You don’t know that. Sorry.”

“We’re that deep into it, you may as well just say it.”

“Haha, fair enough.” Though honestly, Eli was just curious. What dream had this man been talking about? What could be so important for him? Well… It was one sentence yet it clicked when Karl said it. It all made sense. “I once wanted to work for the police as well. But that didn’t lead anywhere.”

The policeman had looked a little shocked yet this… He couldn’t argue against that either.”You… Did?”

“Yeah. Protecting people, just like you. But unfortunately they wouldn’t let me in, so I had to give it up.”

“Why?”

“Health related reasons boy. I’m not cut out for this line of work.” He admitted. “Maybe seeing you just takes me back a little.”

“Does it now?”

“An old man like me can only do so much, even back then. But you have been given a chance. So give it your all and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,alright?”

At the time Eli nodded. However, if he had to put things into perspective nowadays… Would Karl still say that? After all, his downfall… It was all on Eli, no one else. It was his fault. He went with it, even if it was hard to believe. Someone like Karl… He could have never murdered someone. Not a man who cared more about others than himself, even if it was just his small circle at that point in life. 

But now he was gone. And it was all thanks to Eli. There was no way around it. When it comes to being the worst… Surely Eli would qualify for the top spot. And that was a fact.

‘You put too much faith into me old man…’