Takoyaki Boyfriend - Part 5

P3P Minako x Theo

Synopsis: None of the SEES gang had the foggiest idea who this mysterious Theo is,
yet Minako seemed awfully cosy with him. Could he be a cosplay/otaku pervert who
preys on underage girls? The bold Junpei investigates.
Genre: Romance/Humour/Tragedy

SMT Persona series and all its known characters belong to Atlus
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Chapter 5: Igor's Wisdom

Igor knew Theo had a bee in his bonnet about something. The young man had been
nothing but fidgety ever since he got back from his outing. The card master lost
count of the times he heard Theo mumbling to himself and at one point even chewing
his thumb in an agitated manner.

Igor smiled, half-concentrating on the Solitare game spread before him on the table.
He knew it took only one question to end his assistant's misery, yet he rather enjoyed
seeing this flustered side of him.

"Master…"

"Yes?"

"Would it be terribly inconvenient if we had an escalator installed inside-"

"Out of the question."

"Oh. Very well, then."

Igor silently counted to three.

"Master?"

"Hmm?"

"About our guest…what else did her card reading say?"

"There's no such thing as a fixed card reading, my dear boy. The choices our guest
made has led her to the point where she is now, thus shifting her fate considerably.
I may as well try to read the river."

"No, I meant her first reading, during the first few times she came in here."

"Ah, that. I can't possibly remember, boy," Igor lied with a chuckle. He could perfectly
remember the reading of every single guest that had ever walked through the doors
of the Velvet Room. "My mind's not what it used to be. Why the sudden interest?
You've never asked me this before."

"She's collecting Personas at an alarming rate. I believe she'll be our most powerful
guest to date."

"Every guest has the potential to become the most powerful. It's all up to them.
The Velvet Room does not discriminate who it chooses to help. Remember that, Theodore.
But you misunderstand my question. Allow me to rephrase: what is  your interest in  her?"

"I don't see how that is relevent to you, master." A rather bold answer, yet it told
Igor everything.

The old man smiled sinisterly. "I  see. Well, I won't tell you what her cards reveal, save
for one: The Devil. A symbol of pleasure and temptation. Soon she will…surrender to
her desires unless the force driving her to such a state ceases to do so." He paused,
giving his assistant a sly look. "But even you can't resist her, can you?"

Theo stiffened. "Master, that is a very serious allegation!"

Igor chuckled again. There's a reason why Theo was the worst poker player he'd ever
played against. "Yet you don't deny them. You still possess your senses, I see. Good.
You're aware of the ramifications should you choose to pursue this path. I ought to
punish you, you know. But I believe the one already waiting for you at the end is
adequate enough. You know about the thing residing inside her?"

"Death."

"More of a physical manifestation, but yes: Death."

"But she's mortal. Of course she'll die eventually."

"Death is but an eternal slumber. Do you know what is far more painful than death?
Life. Love. Love is a cruel emotion. It leaves no survivors and imprisons you forever.
Is that what you want?"

"Love is not like that! Love is a splendid thing. It – it creates miracles-"

"Enough to prevent death itself? Or perhaps to resurrect her? Make no mistake: there's
no Balm of Life that can help prevent the final judgement. Orpheus descends to Hell
for love, yet ended up with nothing in the end. Learn from his tale, boy."

Theo nodded mutely, turning around to resume his post.

"An interesting point of note," Igor said to his back. "I wonder who is the true Fool
here: our guest, or you?" He grinned at the assistant's lack of response. "My, how I
laugh at the irony."

TO BE CONTINUED