The Army of Gluttony - Aftermath

[phantommods]

The Compound

As the team leaves the Metaverse, they are near enough to the compound to hear loud screaming as it erupts into chaos, with children and adults running around.

Those that stick around will hear the sirens of Fire Engines within minutes, followed soon after by Ambulances, and then after that by police. Those with access to James will see a truly gruesome sight - his eyes have gone completely white and black fluid is streaming out of his eyes and mouth. His body is stiff, his hands like claws as they clutch his throat. He is lying on the ground in a puddle of black fluid, neither moving nor breathing.

As the paramedics arrive on the scene they move to give aid with strict professionalism, but they can be seen making phone calls. When the police arrive, both Tamara and Bartholomew, as well as the other adult workers, are being led away in handcuffs, with social services descending upon the compound to liberate the children, including any Phantom Thieves who are willing to linger.

The Safehouse

For those returning to the safehouse, Shinji is grim when he hears the news. He orders in some pizza and puts some tea on before getting out of the way and letting the Thieves debrief in the living room.

Comments

[conquerorofwaves]

"What exactly happened?" Sinbad exclaimed as the group returned, half-hopping off the ladder he was on to replace the safehouse's light, looking between everyone.

[returnher]

"Another Persona user showed up and killed James Poplett's Shadow."

Locke looks tired, haggard, really. This was not a good day.

[conquerorofwaves]

"Killed..." He repeats softly, all the color draining from his face, a dozen questions bubbled up but he squashes it, realizing Locke was not in any shape to really to answer them.

Sinbad goes to get a cup of Tea for the an. "Here," he stated, almost putting Locke's hands around the cup.

[returnher]

"Thanks."

Locke sits back.

"There's another group out there. They don't want to reform people, they want to eliminate them."

[dotes]

For those that were aware when the group returned, there is a new face among them and it's this little girl with shabby clothes and a tired expression. May takes a seat on the couch, leaning her head and arms on the arm of the couch for support. While she may be exhausted, she is still awake for talking.

It also doesn't help that she has a lot of her mind while also accepting her new power and new freedom.

[cybermaskara]

Upon seeing a familiar face from the Pray-In, Cyan is the first one to rush to her side.

"M-May?! What are you doing here?! And why did you guys bring her here? Unless... She awakened her power, correct?"

[dotes]

"You are correct, Cyan." May answers. "I helped them fight against the pastor."

Her tone is grim when saying James' title, knowing that she was there on his murder.

[cybermaskara]

While he is shocked that she's joining the group, he is happy that she was free from the pastor's torment.

"I'm glad you're alright. I would welcome you, but..."

He then frowns upon remembering the news the other group gave them. "I still can't believe that someone killed him..."

[kotoritori]

Mato recognizes the girl from both the pray-in and the events in the Palace, and while she's pretty shaken up herself from what she saw in there, she can only imagine how May herself must be feeling. Walking over, she takes a seat on the couch next to her.

"...Um, hi."

[dotes]

"Hello." May responds. "You are the one with that gun girl and flying pumpkin, correct?"

She's still learning names after all, but she does recognize Mato a little.

[kotoritori]

"Huh...?"

There's some momentary confusion until she realizes what the girl is talking about.

"Oh! Yeah. That's my Persona, Black Rock Shooter. Well, my first one, anyway. The other guy is Jack-o'-lantern. And I'm Mato."

[runicking]

For the most part, Celeste tries to let the younger girl have her space. Considering what happened, both in and out of the palace, it's a surprise May isn't in a complete state of shock. But after some time, the older woman walks up to her, tapping her arm gently with something warm.

A mug, filled with what smells like hot chocolate.

[dotes]

She looks up to Celeste, tilting her head at the mug when she notices the nice smell. "For me?" she asks before sitting herself up and gently taking the mug. A small blow on the cup before she takes a small sip. It does make her smile a little.

"Thank you. It tastes nice."

[runicking]

Celeste sits on the opposite end of the couch, a glimmer of a smile painted on her lips. "It helps to have something nice and warm, especially at times like this. It isn't much, I know, but..."

She pauses then, gaze fixed on something over the girl's shoulder. She should say something, but this isn't her strong suit. She isn't the type who comforts others, but she should say something. Taking a breath, that smile slips away. "I'm sorry. We tried to help, but we weren't fast enough."

She wasn't fast enough.

The Compound

[megacurious]

When he first joined the Phantom Thieves, he was told that there would be a chance that their target dies if something happens to their Shadow. That fact became a reality when he sees not only ambulances and a crowd of horrified people but also the body of Pastor James.

Whether May releases her grip on his hand or not, he is still speechless and horrified at this twisted sight.

[dotes]

The sight of the body of James is disgusting, horrifying that she cannot look much any longer. She tugs onto Augustine's hand as she can hear people running around.

"We need to go!"

[megacurious]

May's voice is enough to bring him back to his senses as he looks away from the scene and leaves with May. When they are far away from the crowded people, he takes the time to absorb what just happened.

"This is wrong. We just need to steal the Treasure, but why did it end up like this?!" He said as he rubs the bridge of his nose, trying not to open his eyes after seeing the horrifying sight of the dead body.

The Safehouse

[cybermaskara]

It was supposed to be a peaceful night as Cyan spends the rest of the day playing his handheld video game console. However, the peacefulness ends when he sees the Thieves who were in charge of steal James and Tamara's Treasure return, which they looked very distraught rather than relief from the battle.

It wasn't until they shared the news about it that caused his eyes widen in horror. "P-Pastor James... died?!"

[runicking]

"There was another phantom thief in the metaverse with us. He executed James's shadow before we had a chance to intervene." Her words measured and slow, she sounds and looks tired, the normal intensity in her countenance tempered by physical and emotional fatigue.

"By the time we made it back... it was already too late."

[cybermaskara]

Cyan was a loss for words. He was warned that something may happen to the real person if their Shadow is killed. But he never expects the consequences are horrifying.

"So he uses the Metaverse to kill him instead of leaving him under the law..." He then hits on a nearby wall as his anger flares up. "That duwag... If he thinks he can get away with that heinous act, then he's dead wrong!"

Safehouse

[disgrunkled]

Stan has only a single thing to say after watching the eventual news report about the pastor and turning off the television in the safehouse.

"...Well, that happened."

Re: Safehouse

[returnher]

"Tell me about it. Can't wait for the cops to start flipping their shit."

Re: Safehouse

[disgrunkled]

Stan's face turns serious at that.

"Yeah, we're gonna need to lay low for a while. Couple weeks, minimum, until the heat's off. Trust me on this one."

Phone

[bejustorbedead]

[The group chat lights up as a hurried string of texts came through]

Posted By: Keeper7Keys
Date: April 29, 2018

The whole block is lit up like the 4th of July.

Popletts was your bird, what on earth happened?

Why is he dead?

[returnher]

Posted By: TreasureHunter
Date: April 29, 2018

Another Phantom Group, calling themselves the Inquisitors. Talking about purging people.