Joel stares at the ceiling. It’s sure a hospital ceiling alright. Grey tiles, fluorescent lights, a steady beep in the background. Great. He’s in the hospital his first day in town. He’s sure that bodes well for the future of his time in Hermiton, truly. What had he been saying to himself before he arrived? That he just had to survive one more year of high school and then he could go be a hermit in the woods or at least pass his exams to get that architecture degree he used to dream about.
“Oh, you’re awake! You’re the last to wake up. It’s just exhaustion, don’t worry. That always happens the first few times you summon your Persona. Your body gets used to it and stops trying to force you into the ground the moment you enter Real Space again eventually.”
He tries very hard not to groan out loud. If he doesn’t move or make any noise, maybe the weird guy won’t notice he’s awake. Maybe he’ll go away and like, whatever adult in town is currently supposed to be in charge of him will show up and sign some paperwork and Joel can leave.
There’s a long, awkward silence.
“You know, I can tell you’re awake. I already said so,” the stranger says.
“Shut up, I’m trying to make you go away,” Joel says.
The stranger snorts. “What, you don’t want information on your two friends you apparently risked your life to save?”
Joel… would kind of like that information, actually, but he’s not just going to say so.
“It’s not like I know them. I’ve been here five days. Idiot,” Joel says.
“I don’t know. Seems a lot like you know them,” the stranger says. “You’ll probably get to know them even more soon, after we do an assessment to make sure it’s safe for you all to enter Altered Space. It’s just been me and Scar for so long, I didn’t think other Persona users would ever show up!”
“What,” Joel says. “I don’t believe in Personas. They’re stupid. I was lucid dreaming. This is stupid.”
“Can’t you still hear yours? I think I’d go insane if I stopped.”
Yes.
“No.”
“Well then, maybe you’re the weak one. A strong Persona user would definitely still hear their Persona,” the stranger says, and look man, Joel doesn’t want to be doing this, but he can’t let ‘maybe you’re the weak one’ stand. It’s a matter of honor. Of pride.
“No, buzz off. I’m the strong one. I didn’t just awaken Pygmalion, I kicked ass using Pygmalion. Stupid Skizz and Impulse passed out immediately. And I was the only one who knew how to get to Skizz so, so, screw you, I’m super strong with your fake brain ghost thing.”
The stranger is quiet for a long moment. “Did you say you knew how to get to Skizz?”
“Yeah you just follow the evil butterflies. You should know, since you’re crazy,” Joel says.
“Oh my god,” the stranger says. “Oh my god. This changes everything.”
Something sinks in Joel’s stomach. “Wait, what does that—”
“I have to go tell Mr. Hills. Meet us when you get out of here, a doctor should let you out once you’re awake! But I have to tell him! Being able to preemptively find entrances to Altered Space! Fighting off a shadow and rescuing people your first time summoning a Persona! Me and Scar won’t have to be alone anymore!”
“No, I, uh, was lying, stop that,” Joel says unconvincingly.
“See you!” the stranger says.
“You forgot to tell me what happened to Skizz,” Joel says, finally sitting up to try to stop the stranger, but it’s too late. He’s already gone. Joel stares blankly after the space where he’d once been.
“You also forgot to tell me your name, you moron,” Joel says weakly.
He buries his head in his hands, breathes, and calls the nurse. If his strange classmate isn’t going to tell him what’s actually happening, then Joel’s going to find out for himself.
(Power throbs beneath a scar on his hand. A voice whispers agreeing remarks in the back of his head. He has way too many aches and pangs for last night—or, well, however many nights ago it was now—to be fake. But for now, he just wants to know Skizz is okay and go back to his stupid apartment and pretend none of this happened. Is that too much to ask?)
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Jazz found billboards all over the city, although according to Tucker they were all over the country, it was an invitation for "The beast bat-tle", the winner will be crowned "Pun King" for a guy called the Rid- or something.
Danny was decided, he will be the Pun King, no one can stop him from getting the title, he is already the Ghost king but this is the kingdom he really wants.
On the other hand Dick Grayson was excited cause for the first time ¡undercover work was exciting!
The Riddler organized a pun battle, it was an open invitation for all the villains (and pun enjoyers), although Batman was sure no one "good" will show up, ¿what idiot will come to a competition organized by the Riddler?
it was impossible that you didn't know about him, you had to live in a town in the middle of nowhere.
Jason was regretting offering help, he wanted to punch (or shoot) villains no the knowledge that THERE ARE TWO OF THEM (although the Twink was cute, Dick agreed)
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Okay but, Elle with an obsession with travel would fucking *adore* the speedsters. Their speed lets them go to so many places (and times!) so quickly! And their connection with the speed force makes them kinda eldritch and spooky in a way that's probably comforting away from home, and they're all the same kind of little shit ADHD sweethearts that remind her of Danny.
And like, I just *love* the idea that Clockwork shows up to swat at the FlashFam with the Ancient of Time equivalent of a rolled up newspaper for fucking with the time stream (again!) only for Elle to be there with the big eyes like "Grampa CW you're not going to be mean to my friends are you?" 🥺🥺🥺
And Clockwork just sighs and ages in a way that has nothing to go with actual time and everything to do with Elle being a hellion and is just like "okay but you have *got* to keep their time travel shenanigans under control"
Elle does not keep their time travel shenanigans under control. They in fact get much, much worse with her around. But like, it's TRAVEL through TIME! How can she possibly say no to joining in on that???
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